Euripides, Electra, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 880

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Electra

O glorious victor, Orestes, son of a father victorious in battle under Troy , receive this band for the locks of your hair. You have come home, running a contest of the stadium that was not useless, but rather killing
880

Aegisthus, the murderer of your father and mine. And you, his companion, Pylades, taught by a most pious father, receive a garland from my hand; for you also bear an equal part of the contest, with Orestes. May you always seem to me fortunate!
885

Orestes

First believe that the gods, Electra, are the leaders of our fortune, and then praise me as the servant of them and of fate. I come, having killed Aegisthus not in word but in deed; to add this proof to your knowledge,
890

I am bringing you his corpse, which, if you wish, you may expose as prey for wild animals or impale and press it down on a stake as spoil for birds, the children of the air; for now he is your slave, once called your master.
895

Electra

I am ashamed, but equally I wish to speak.
900

Orestes

What is it? Speak, as you are free from fear.

Electra

I am ashamed to insult the dead, for fear someone might hurl malice at me.

Orestes

There is no one who would blame you.

Electra

Our citizens are hard to please, and love scandal.

Orestes

Speak, if you need to say anything, sister; for we engaged in hostilities with him on terms without truce.
905

Electra. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Electra (English) (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Editions (1)

Ἠλέκτρα Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962)) — 880 focus

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ καλλίνικε, πατρὸς ἐκ νικηφόρου
880

γεγώς, Ὀρέστα, τῆς ὑπʼ Ἰλίῳ μάχης,

δέξαι κόμης σῆς βοστρύχων ἀνδήματα.

ἥκεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀχρεῖον ἔκπλεθρον δραμὼν

ἀγῶνʼ ἐς οἴκους, ἀλλὰ πολέμιον κτανὼν

Αἴγισθον, ὃς σὸν πατέρα κἀμὸν ὤλεσε.
885

σύ τʼ, ὦ παρασπίστʼ, ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβεστάτου

παίδευμα Πυλάδη, στέφανον ἐξ ἐμῆς χερὸς

δέχου· φέρῃ γὰρ καὶ σὺ τῷδʼ ἴσον μέρος

ἀγῶνος· αἰεὶ δʼ εὐτυχεῖς φαίνοισθέ μοι.

Ὀρέστης

θεοὺς μὲν ἡγοῦ πρῶτον, Ἠλέκτρα, τύχης
890

ἀρχηγέτας τῆσδʼ, εἶτα κἄμʼ ἐπαίνεσον

τὸν τῶν θεῶν τε τῆς τύχης θʼ ὑπηρέτην.

ἥκω γὰρ οὐ λόγοισιν ἀλλʼ ἔργοις κτανὼν

Αἴγισθον· ὡς δὲ τῷ σάφʼ εἰδέναι τάδε

προσθῶμεν, αὐτὸν τὸν θανόντα σοι φέρω,
895

ὃν εἴτε χρῄζεις θηρσὶν ἁρπαγὴν πρόθες,

ἢ σκῦλον οἰωνοῖσιν, αἰθέρος τέκνοις,

πήξασʼ ἔρεισον σκόλοπι· σὸς γάρ ἐστι νῦν

δοῦλος, πάροιθε δεσπότης κεκλημένος.

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχύνομαι μέν, βούλομαι δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅμως.
900

Ὀρέστης

τί χρῆμα; λέξον· ὡς φόβου γʼ ἔξωθεν εἶ.

Ἠλέκτρα

νεκροὺς ὑβρίζειν, μή μέ τις φθόνῳ βάλῃ.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεὶς ὅστις ἂν μέμψαιτό σε.

Ἠλέκτρα

δυσάρεστος ἡμῶν καὶ φιλόψογος πόλις.

Ὀρέστης

λέγʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις, σύγγονʼ· ἀσπόνδοισι γὰρ
905

νόμοισιν ἔχθραν τῷδε συμβεβλήκαμεν.

Translations (2)

Electra (OCR draft) Experimental (Electra. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 880 focus

Siegreicher Sohn des Helden, der den Sieg gewann

Im Kampf um Troja's stolze Stadt, Orestes, nimm,

Nimm diesen Kranz, der deine Locken schmucken soll!
870

Denn auf der Rennbahn rangst du nicht in eitlem Kampf,

Nein, kommst zuruck, nachdem du deinen Feind erlegt,

Aegisthos, der den Vater dir und mir erschlug.

Auch du, des frommsten Mannes Kind, o Pylades,

Der ihm zur Seite kämpfte, nimm aus meiner Hand
875

Den Kranz: du hast im Kampfe gleiches Theil mit ihm

Errungen. Mög' ich allezeit euch glucklich sehn!

Orestes.

Zuerst, Elektra, glaube mir: die Götter sind

Urheber dieses Glückes; dann auch preise mich,

Der seinen Arm den Göttern und dem Glucke lieh.
880

Ich kampste nicht mit Worten, nein, durch meine That

Erlag Aegisthos: und damit ich's Allen klar

Vor Augen stelle, bring' ich dir den Todten selbst.

Wirf ihn zum Kaube, wenn du willst, den Thieren hin,

Hang' ihn am Pfahle schwebend auf, dem Luftgeschlecht
885

Zum Mahl, den Vögeln: ist er doch dein Sklave nun,

Der dein Gebieter ehedem geheißen war!

Euripides Electra 880

Edward P. Coleridge (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Electra

I am ashamed, but equally I wish to speak.
900

Orestes

What is it? Speak, as you are free from fear.

Electra

I am ashamed to insult the dead, for fear someone might hurl malice at me.

Orestes

There is no one who would blame you.

Electra

Our citizens are hard to please, and love scandal.

Orestes

Speak, if you need to say anything, sister; for we engaged in hostilities with him on terms without truce.
905

Current edition Perseus

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχύνομαι μέν, βούλομαι δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅμως.
900

Ὀρέστης

τί χρῆμα; λέξον· ὡς φόβου γʼ ἔξωθεν εἶ.

Ἠλέκτρα

νεκροὺς ὑβρίζειν, μή μέ τις φθόνῳ βάλῃ.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεὶς ὅστις ἂν μέμψαιτό σε.

Ἠλέκτρα

δυσάρεστος ἡμῶν καὶ φιλόψογος πόλις.

Ὀρέστης

λέγʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις, σύγγονʼ· ἀσπόνδοισι γὰρ
905

νόμοισιν ἔχθραν τῷδε συμβεβλήκαμεν.

Elektra.

Ich muß erröthen, (aber doch erklar' ich mich) -

Orestes.

Wovor? O rede! Denn befürchten darfst du nichts.

Elektra.

Auf Todte Schmach zu häufen: Haß war' unser Lohn.
890

Orestes.

Hier gibt es Niemand, der dich darum schelten wird.

Elektra.

Reizbar, zu Tadel aufgelegt ist unser Volk.

Orestes.

Sprich, was du willst, o Schwester; unversöhnliche

Feindschaft, ein ewig bittrer Haß trennt ihn und uns.

(zu der Leiche tretend)

Elektra.

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Electra I am ashamed, but equally I wish to speak. 900

Orestes What is it? Speak, as you are free from fear.

Electra I am ashamed to insult the dead, for fear someone might hurl malice at me.

Orestes There is no one who would blame you.

Electra Our citizens are hard to please, and love scandal.

Orestes Speak, if you need to say anything, sister; for we engaged in hostilities with him on terms without truce. 905

Current edition Perseus

Ἠλέκτρα αἰσχύνομαι μέν, βούλομαι δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅμως. 900

Ὀρέστης τί χρῆμα; λέξον· ὡς φόβου γʼ ἔξωθεν εἶ.

Ἠλέκτρα νεκροὺς ὑβρίζειν, μή μέ τις φθόνῳ βάλῃ.

Ὀρέστης οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεὶς ὅστις ἂν μέμψαιτό σε.

Ἠλέκτρα δυσάρεστος ἡμῶν καὶ φιλόψογος πόλις.

Ὀρέστης λέγʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις, σύγγονʼ· ἀσπόνδοισι γὰρ 905 νόμοισιν ἔχθραν τῷδε συμβεβλήκαμεν.

Elektra. Ich muß erröthen, (aber doch erklar' ich mich) -

Orestes. Wovor? O rede! Denn befürchten darfst du nichts.

Elektra. Auf Todte Schmach zu häufen: Haß war' unser Lohn. 890

Orestes. Hier gibt es Niemand, der dich darum schelten wird.

Elektra. Reizbar, zu Tadel aufgelegt ist unser Volk.

Orestes. Sprich, was du willst, o Schwester; unversöhnliche Feindschaft, ein ewig bittrer Haß trennt ihn und uns. (zu der Leiche tretend)

Elektra.

Stable identifiers

Electra

I am ashamed, but equally I wish to speak.
900

Orestes

What is it? Speak, as you are free from fear.

Electra

I am ashamed to insult the dead, for fear someone might hurl malice at me.

Orestes

There is no one who would blame you.

Electra

Our citizens are hard to please, and love scandal.

Orestes

Speak, if you need to say anything, sister; for we engaged in hostilities with him on terms without truce.
905

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχύνομαι μέν, βούλομαι δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅμως.
900

Ὀρέστης

τί χρῆμα; λέξον· ὡς φόβου γʼ ἔξωθεν εἶ.

Ἠλέκτρα

νεκροὺς ὑβρίζειν, μή μέ τις φθόνῳ βάλῃ.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεὶς ὅστις ἂν μέμψαιτό σε.

Ἠλέκτρα

δυσάρεστος ἡμῶν καὶ φιλόψογος πόλις.

Ὀρέστης

λέγʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις, σύγγονʼ· ἀσπόνδοισι γὰρ
905

νόμοισιν ἔχθραν τῷδε συμβεβλήκαμεν.

Elektra.

Ich muß erröthen, (aber doch erklar' ich mich) -

Orestes.

Wovor? O rede! Denn befürchten darfst du nichts.

Elektra.

Auf Todte Schmach zu häufen: Haß war' unser Lohn.
890

Orestes.

Hier gibt es Niemand, der dich darum schelten wird.

Elektra.

Reizbar, zu Tadel aufgelegt ist unser Volk.

Orestes.

Sprich, was du willst, o Schwester; unversöhnliche

Feindschaft, ein ewig bittrer Haß trennt ihn und uns.

(zu der Leiche tretend)