"Speak not such idle words: thy sorrow is without cause."

"Sayest thou 'without cause' when my brother is dead?"

"Thou dost ill to speak thus of thy brother."

"Doth the dead then think so lightly of me?"

"No man thinketh lightly of thee; yet with these ashes thou hast no
concern."

"How so, if this is the body of my Orestes?"

"Here is no true body, only one that is feigned."

"Unhappy man! where, then, is his tomb?"

"He hath none--what need hath the living of a tomb?"

"Liveth he, then?"

"Yea, if I am alive."

"Art thou, then, he?"

"Yea; look at this my father's seal, and say whether I speak truly."

And when she saw the seal, she knew that it was her father's, and that
this stranger was indeed Orestes. And she cried aloud for joy, and
embraced him. Then, after the two had talked together for a very brief
space, Orestes said, "Tell me not how ill thy mother hath done, nor how
AEgisthus hath wasted the substance of my house; but rather instruct me
in this: shall I do this thing secretly or openly? Take heed also lest
thy mother see thee bear a joyful face, and so take warning."

And Electra made answer, "As for this present, know that AEgisthus is
absent, and that the Queen is alone. Therefore do as thou deemest best.
And as for me, be sure that I shall not cease from tears; for the old
sorrow is inveterate in me; and also, now that I have seen thee, I weep
for joy."

But while they talked together came the old man in haste, and rebuked
them that they so spent the time; and to Orestes he said that no one
knew him who he was, but that all deemed him dead, and that he must make
haste and do the deed; for that now the Queen was alone, nor was there
any man in the palace.

And Orestes, having prayed to the Gods, and especially to Apollo, who
indeed had bidden him do this work, went into the palace. And at the
first Electra went with him, but afterwards hastened out, to keep watch,
lest perchance King AEgisthus should return. So she and the woman waited
without and listened. And after a while there came a cry, "O my son, my
son, have pity on thy mother." And Electra said, "Aye, but thou hadst no
pity on him, or on the father that begat him." And then again a cry,
"Woe is me! I am smitten." And Electra said, "Smite, if thou canst, a
double blow." And then the voice came a third time, "I am smitten
again." But Electra made reply, "Would that AEgisthus were smitten with
thee!" After this Orestes ca