ELECTRA (catching sight of ORESTES AND PYLADES) Ha! Friends, I break off my lament; yonder are strangers just leaving the place of ambush where they were couching, and making for the house. We must seek to escape the villains by flying, thou along the path and I into my cottage.

ORESTES Stay, poor maid; fear no violence from me.

ELECTRA O Phoebus Apollo I beseech thee spare my life.

ORESTES Give me the lives of others more my foes than thou!

ELECTRA Begone! touch me not! thou hast no right to.

ORESTES There is none I have a better right to touch.

ELECTRA How is it then thou waylayest me, sword in hand, near my house?

ORESTES Wait and hear, and thou wilt soon agree with me

ELECTRA Here I stand; I am in thy power in any case, since thou art the stronger.

ORESTES I am come to thee with news