ELECTRA
Electra
’Tis she, and very wretched is her state.
Orestes
O for the heavy change! Alas, alas!
Electra
Surely thy pity, sir, is not for me.
Orestes
O beauty marred by foul and impious spite!
Electra
Yea, sir, this wreck of womanhood am I.
Orestes
Alas, how sad a life of singleness!
Electra
Why gaze thus on me, stranger, and lament?
Orestes
Of my own ills how little then I knew!
Electra
Was this revealed by any word of mine?
Orestes
By seeing thee conspicuous in thy woes.
Electra
And yet my looks reveal but half my woes.
Orestes
Could there be woes more piteous to behold?
Electra
Yea, to be housemate with the murderers—
Orestes
Whose murderers? at what villainy dost hint?
Electra
My father’s; and their slave am I perforce.
Orestes
Who is it puts upon thee this constraint?
