Oresteia lines

Scene 1 - Chorus A "Our fine linens and weaving are destroyed, ripped up in grief."

"The screams of nightmares from the palace were piercing and shrill, it made your hair stand on end. Something evil was breathing out of her dream."

Scene 1 - Chorus C "It was in the dead of night, a scream of terror from the Queen's quarters, waking all the women. An interpreter was called, and said the dead demand their dues"

"So she sends us with these empty gifts, trying to avert disaster. Godless woman. What good will these do, his blood is already spilt!"

Scene 1 - Electra "Then I will make this prayer for me and you together. Our side numbers so few…"

"Remember Orestes, even if he's abroad"

Scene 1 - Electra "That's well said, and not the least of your advice"

"And while you remember him, upon those guilty of the murder…"

Scene 1 - Electra "What am I to say? Tell me; I have no experience."

"… pray there comes upon them some god or man…"

Scene 1 - Chorus H "Who could it be from?"

"Nobody other than an enemy!"

Scene 2 - Chorus I "You great powers of Fate, may Zeus grant an ending here in which justice changes to our side!"

"As Justice says, 'In return for hostile words, let hostile words be paid!' 'In return for bloody blow, let bloody blow repay!'"

Scene 2 - Chorus F "You are wishing for things beyond the power of gold, greater, my child, than any great fortune."

"Wish for them, you can. Yet here is the thud of a double lash coming: Orestes has eyes below earth already, and our rulers' hands are impure."

Scene 2 - Electra "fenced off inside like a dangerous dog, tears rising readier than laughter, so many poured out in my isolated lament."

"Yes, tell him! Help the story pierce through his ears, to his mind's quiet depth. His fight needs unbending resolve!"

Scene 3 - Chorus I "for as long as a log went unburnt, and she burnt it all up anyway - burning him alive."

"Oh! And what about Syclla? All it took was a golden necklace from Minos, to make her kill her father. Greedy bitch - she cut off Nisus' hair and took his life away with it while he slept."

Scene 3 - Chorus C "While we're on the topic, what about their marriage, hated by the house. The woman's evil plans against her husband - respected even by his enemies."

"The best type of home is one without passion - where women are never bold enough to think they can have control."

Scene 5 - Chorus H "Bring new blood to wash away the old, Bring fresh justice to the house!"

"And you dead, grant that the man's house may look up again in well-being"

Scene 5 - Chorus A "It is my gain, mine, which is growing here; and ruin keeps away from my friends."

"Orestes! When the moment for action comes, cry out over her appeal of 'My son!'"

Scene 5 - Attendant (Murray SCREAMS)

"What?"

Scene 5 - Chorus H "The light is here for you and all to see! The house is freed from its slavery!"

"Rise up! Rise up! Their boot has been on your neck for too long!"

Scene 6 - Orestes "I am a wanderer banished from this land, hunted by living and dead with this fame left behind me."

"But what you did was good!"

Scene 6 - Chorus A "What fancies are swirling you round, you dearest of men to your father?"

"Hold on, do not be afraid; your victory is great."

Scene 8 - Chorus I "Oh, the outrage!"

"We have suffered, my friends - I laboured so much, and all of it in vain."

Scene 8 - Chorus E "I can see Delphi before me, it has taken his bloodshed on, a terrible defilement, horrific to see."

"A prophet with pollution sitting at his hearth! He tainted this place at his own urge, at his own call."

Scene 8 - Chorus E "just because he likes Orestes, a godless man, he is allowed to destroy his ancient fate."

"He will not release this boy. He isn't supposed to be free even in death."

Scene 8 - Apollo "It was my oracle's injunction to bring vengeance for his father. Of course!"

"Did you promise to give refuge to the murderer with the blood still fresh on him?"

Scene 9 - Chorus A "We're like dogs searching for a deer by the dripping of blood."

"This is exhausting! We've been lead all around the world!"

Scene 9 - Chorus D "Not Apollo, I tell you, nor mighty Athena could save you from wandering exile and neglect, with happiness unknown anywhere in your heart."

"You will become a shadow drained of blood to feed divine powers." [PAUSE - Orestes covers his ears] "Can you not even speak in reply, but spit my words back at me, when you have been raised and promised for my slaughter?"

Scene 9 - Chorus D "O Night my mother - as retribution for the blind and the seeing, listen! Apollo dishonours our rites! He has stolen our calf, promised with his mothers blood!"

"Over the one who is made our sacrifice this is our song: derangement, distraction, ruination of the mind in a hymn from the Furies which binds the mind, no lyre's music, withering mortal men dry."

Scene 9 - Chorus E "There is no god who shares a common table with us. Their clothing is unlike ours, as are their feasts."

"I have taken for myself the overturning of houses; whenever domestic warfare, raised in the house like a lion, kills family of friend, we go in pursuit of the man"

Scene 9 - Athena "Is it flight like that with which you hunt this man?"

"Yes; he saw fit to shed his mother's blood."

Scene 10 - Chorus I "will be eager to stem or escape from the long torment, and prescribe uncertain remedies in useless comfort"

"And let no one call out and implore when disaster strikes at him, crying the words, 'O Justice!' and 'O Furies enthroned!' Thus perhaps a father or mother with her pain still fresh may wail in lament and sob when Justice's house falls"

Scene 10 - Orestes "Yes, and up till now I do not blame my fortune."

"But if the vote finds you guilty, you'll start blaming your fortune."

Scene 10 - Orestes "I have my trust; and my father sends me support from the grave."

"Yes, put your trust in corpses now you have killed your mother!"

Scene 11 - Athena "seated on gleaming thrones by your altar-hearths, richly in honour from these citizens"

"You are laughing at me!"

Scene 11 - Athena "You can have a home in this land and be rightly held in honour forever"

"Queen Athena, what home do you say I have?"

Scene 11 - Athena "One untroubled by all distress. Accept it, I beg you!"

"And suppose we do accept, what duty would remain for us?"

Scene 11 - Chorus I "I shall accept a home with Athena, and I shall not dishonour this city."

"For this city I make my prayer, and prophesy with kind intent good fortune to benefit its life, prosperity blooming everywhere."