Sophocles
ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου πρώτιστα χρῄζω τίς σ᾿ ἀπέστειλεν βροτῶν.
670Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα.
τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξέν᾿; εἰπέ. παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ὢν ἀνδρός, σάφ᾿ οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.
τέθνηκ᾿ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.
οἲ ᾿γὼ τάλαιν᾿, ὄλωλα τῇδ᾿ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.
675τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε.
θανόντ᾿ Ὀρέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω.
ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμ᾿ ἔτι.
σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσ᾿, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε, τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται;
680κἀπεμπόμην πρὸς ταῦτα καὶ τὸ πᾶν φράσω. κεῖνος γὰρ ἐλθὼν ἐς τὸ κλεινὸν Ἑλλάδος πρόσχημ᾿ ἀγῶνος Δελφικῶν ἄθλων χάριν,
Electra
I accept the omen! But first I want to know from you who among mortals sent you.
Phanoteus the Phocian, furthering an important matter.
What is that, stranger? Tell me, for you come, I know, from a friend, and the words you utter will be friendly words.
Orestes is dead! There you have it in a word!
Ah me, misery! I am lost this day!
What are you saying? What, stranger? Do not listen to her!
I said then and I say now that Orestes is dead.
Misery, I am ruined, I am no more!
Do you mind your own business; but do you, stranger, tell me the truth! How did he die?
I was sent for this purpose and I will tell you all! He came to the pride of Greece, the contest, for the sake of Delphic