Sophocles, Electra 77–85

Extract

In the two speeches with which the play opens the paedagogus has asked Orestes and Pylades to determine the course of action (15-16, 20-21), while Orestes has informed him of the oracle of Apollo and given him instructions about what is required of him (39ff.). In the lines reproduced above the roles are reversed: the paedagogus is asked whether it is his wish that they should stay, a question which goes back upon the words with which Orestes had just concluded his speech at 73-5: σοὶ δ᾿ἤδη, γερον, | τὸ σὸν μελέσθω βαντί φρουρῆσαι χρέος, | νὼ δ᾿ ἔξιμεν· καιρὸς γάρ. He replies decisively that Apollo's orders must come first.