ORES. _Either send justice fighting on our side, If thou wouldst gain requital for thy fall, Or grant us to catch them as they caught thee._ ELEC. _Hear this last cry, my father! Look with pity On these thy young ones sitting at thy grave, And feel for both, the maiden and the man._[16] The real crisis of the tragedy is in this wonderful ode, although the action has all to follow. Doubts and fears are now subdued: Orestes and Electra have risen to a height of stern conviction which will carry them to the fulfilment of their purpose, although neither it nor the sanction of Apollo will save them from remorse. The action moves rapidly now, as though the revenge must be accomplished at once, in the heat of this terrible purpose. Orestes is told of Clytemnestra’s dream—that she had borne a serpent which had turned and rent her breast. He welcomes it gladly, as an auspicious omen for him; and forms a hasty plan of action. He and Pylades will apply for entrance at the palace gates, with a feigned story of Orestes’ death. Electra must make ready for them within, and secure their admittance. They will kill Egisthus first, and afterward complete the revenge by the murder of Clytemnestra. It is not a very skilful plot, but it succeeds. Clytemnestra receives Orestes and his friend, believing them to be strangers from Phokis. She is grieved and shocked at their story of Orestes’ death; and goes out to apprise Egisthus of it. Presently Egisthus passes across the stage alone, on his way to give an audience to the guests and, though he does not know it, to pay the penalty for his crime. He goes into the palace, and an instant afterward he is heard to utter a dreadful cry. Attendants rush forth, calling upon the name of the queen. CLYTEM. _What cry is here? What dost thou by the gate?_ ATTEN. _I say, the dead have slain the living there._ CLYTEM. _Ay me! I read thy riddle! Oh! undone! By guile, even as we slew! Give me an axe, A strong one; quickly too! I’ll dare the issue, Be it for me or against me! I am come To the utterance in this fight with Fate and Doom._[16] Then there follows an awful scene between Orestes and Clytemnestra, as she grieves over the body of Egisthus. ORES. _Was he so dear to thee? Then thou shalt lie In the same grave with blameless constancy._ CLYTEM. _Oh son, forbear! O child, respect and pity This breast, whereat thou often, soothed to slumber, Drainèdst with baby mouth the bounteous milk._[16] For an instant these poignant words make Orestes waver; and he half turns to Pylades with an appeal for counsel. But the answer is a stern reminder of the oracular command; and the pitying moment passes. ORES. _How should I live with her who killed my sire?_ CLYTEM. _The destinies wrought there. My son! my son!_