The Supernatiiral in the Tragedies of Euripides 71 



15. The Orestes 



The Orestes was acted in 408. The first part of the play tells 

 us that after the murder of Aigisthus and Clytemnestra Orestes 

 was haunted by the Furies. In torment thereof he continued six 

 days. Then both, Orestes and Electra were condemned to death 

 by the Argive people. The later portion of the play contains the 

 intrigues for their rescue and the final achievement for their de- 

 liverance. 



Orestes desires to pray at the grave of his father : 



Or. 796-97 : 



/cat /xe Trpos rvfi^ov iropevaov irarpos, 

 (hs VLV iKerevao} /xe acoaai. 



" Even to ray father's grave-mound guide me on. 

 I would pray him to dehver." 



Orestes, Electra, and Pylades pray to Agamemnon in Hades : 



Or. 1225 £F. : 



0. 0: Sco/jia valoiv vvktos opcjivaias iraTcp, k. t. X. 

 H. CO irarep, Ikov Sfir', el K\vei.s e'iao: x^ovos 



TtKvoiv Ka\ovvT03v, ot aei}ev ^vqaKovcr inrep. 

 n. CO uvyyeveLa irarpos ip.ov, Kanas Xtras, 



' Ayanefivov, eiaaKovaov, tKcrcocrov TtKva. 



O. " Father, who dwellest in dark halls of night, 



Thy son Orestes bids thee come to help 



Those in sore need. For thy sake suffer I 



Wrongfully — by thy brother am betrayed. 



Though I wrought righteousness. I fain would seize 



His wife, and slay : be thou our help therein ! " 

 E. " Come, father, come, if thou in earth's embrace 



Hearest thy children cry, who die for thee ! " 

 P. " My father's kinsman, to my prayers withal, 



Agamemnon, hearken ; save thy children thou ! etc." 



and Pylades adds : 

 Or. 1240-43 : 



Travaaa^e, Kal Trpos epyov e^opfxwfxe^a. 

 e'iirep yap e'iaco yrjs aKovri^ova apai, 

 KXuet. cru 5', 6) Zev irpoyove Kal ALktjs ael3as, 

 dor' eurux'jcrat ruid' kp,oi re rfide re. 



" Cease ye, and let us haste unto the deed ; 

 For if prayers, javelin-like, pierce earth, he hears. 



125 



