 But when it had been decided that, while one remained to be killed, the other should depart for Mycenae to bear a letter, each wished to remain for the sake of the other, considering that he himself lived in the survival of his friend.But Orestes refused to take the letter, claiming Pylades was the fitter person to do so, and thus showed himself almost to be the lover rather than the beloved.In 1734, George Frederic Handel's opera "Oreste" (based on Giangualberto Barlocci's Roman libretto of 1723), was premiered in London's Covent Garden.