SEMICHOR. O eternal might of Jove, come to assist my friends in every way.
HEL. Menelaus, I die! But thou art at hand, and dost not help me!
ELEC. Kill, strike, slay, plunging with your hands the two double-edged swords into the deserter of her father, the deserter of her husband, who destroyed numbers of the Grecians perishing by the spear at the river, whence tears fell into conjunction with tears, fell on account of the iron weapons around the whirlpools of Scamander.
CHOR. Be still, be still: I heard the sound of some one coming along the path around the palace.
ELEC. O most dear women, in the midst of the slaughter behold Hermione is present; let us cease from our clamor, for she comes about to fall into the meshes of our toils. A goodly prey will she be, if she be taken. Again to your stations with a calm countenance, and with a color that shall not give evidence of what has been done. I too will preserve a pensive cast of countenance, as though perfectly unacquainted with what has happened.
HERMIONE, ELECTRA, CHORUS.
ELEC. O virgin, art thou come from crowning Clytæmnestra's tomb, and pouring libations to her manes?
HERM. I am come, having obtained her good services; but some terror has come upon me, on account of the noise in the palace, which I hear being a far distance off the house.
ELEC. But why? There have happened to us things worthy of groans.
HERM. Speak good words; but what news dost thou tell me?