had selected by the casting of lots and then, at

the sound of the bronze trumpet, they started

off, all shouting to their horses and urging

them on with their reins. The clatter of the rat-

tling chariots filled the whole arena, and the

dust flew up as they sped along in a dense

mass, each driver goading his team unmerci-

fully in his efforts to draw clear of the rival

axles and panting steeds, whose steaming

breath and sweat drenched every bending

back and flying wheel withfoam...

At every turn of the lap, Orestes reined in

his inner trace horse and gave his right horse

its head so skilfully that his hub just cleared

the turning post by a hair's breadth every

time; and so the poor fellow had safely round-

ed every lap but one, without mishap to him-

self or his chariot. But at the last bend he mis-

judged it, slackening his left reign before the

horse was safely round and so struck the

post. The hub was smashed across, and he

was hurled over the rail, entangled in the

reins; and as he fell his horses ran wild across

the course... [he was] whirled along the

ground...tossing up his limbs to heaven, until

the other charioteers stopped his horses and

released him, all covered with blood.

ELECTRA_by Sopocles