Then, for a second sign, foot-prints I find Like to my own in shape and measurement. For there were two imprints, one of his own, The other of a fellow-traveller's foot; And those of his own foot, compared with mine, In their whole shape exactly correspond. I am all anguish and bewilderment. ORESTES (_suddenly entering_). Pray for whatever else thy soul desires, And may a like fulfilment crown the prayer. ELECTRA. What prayer of mine now have the gods fulfilled? ORESTES. Whom thou didst yearn to see is now before thee. ELECTRA. Whom I did yearn to see? What was his name? ORESTES. Orestes, by thy craving lips pronounced. ELECTRA. In what respect, then, has my prayer been heard? ORESTES. The bearer of that name beloved am I. ELECTRA. Stranger, is this some trick thou playest on me? ORESTES. An 'twere, I should conspire against myself. ELECTRA. Sure thou art sporting with my misery. ORESTES. Sporting with thine were sporting with my own. ELECTRA. And is it to Orestes' self I speak? ORESTES. Orestes' self, whom seeing thou dost doubt Thine eyesight, though a lock of hair or prints Of feet that tallied with thine own could raise My apparition in thy fluttering heart. Apply the lock which tallies with thy hair To this my head from which it was cut off. Look on this robe, the work of thine own hand, And trace the figures which thy shuttle wrought. But calm thee, let not joy distract thy soul, For near of kin we know is far from kind. ELECTRA. O hope and darling of my father's house, Seed of redemption, watered with my tears, Trust thy right arm; it shall win back thy home. Thou art the fourfold object of my love: Electra has no father left but thee; No mother--hateful she who bears that name; Thou art to me in my lost sister's place; The brother thou that dost my name uphold; Only let might and justice and the king Of gods and men be with thee in the fight. ORESTES. Zeus, Zeus, look down on what is passing here, Take pity on the eagle's brood, whose sire, Trapped in the coils of a most deadly snake, Was stung to death and left his orphan brood A prey to hunger. For no strength have they To bring the quarry home, as did their sire. In me and my Electra here thou seest Two eaglets of their sire alike bereft, And outcasts both from what was once their home. ELECTRA. High honour did our father pay to thee, Rich gifts he gave thy shrine; his offspring gone, Who will be left to heap thy altars more? Thy race of eagles lost, thou wilt have none To be the herald of thy will to man. This royal stock blasted, thou wilt have none To tend thy shrine on days of sacrifice. Watch o'er us, and the house that now seems fallen Past hope, may to its ancient greatness rise. CHORUS. My children, of your line sole trust and stay, Be silent lest your words be overheard, And borne by some loose babbler to the ear Of those in power, whom soon I hope to see Laid smouldering on the pitchy funeral pile. ORESTES.