Euripides, Electra, ed. Gilbert Murray, 213

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

Χορός

πολλῶν κακῶν Ἕλλησιν αἰτίαν ἔχει

σῆς μητρὸς Ἑλένη σύγγονος δόμοις τε σοῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι, γυναῖκες, ἐξέβην θρηνημάτων.
215

ξένοι τινὲς παρʼ οἶκον οἵδʼ ἐφεστίους

εὐνὰς ἔχοντες ἐξανίστανται λόχου·

φυγῇ σὺ μὲν κατʼ οἶμον, ἐς δόμους δʼ ἐγὼ

φῶτας κακούργους ἐξαλύξωμεν ποδί.

Ὀρέστης

μένʼ, ὦ τάλαινα· μὴ τρέσῃς ἐμὴν χέρα.
220

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ Φοῖβʼ Ἄπολλον· προσπίτνω σε μὴ θανεῖν.

Ὀρέστης

ἄλλους κτάνοιμι μᾶλλον ἐχθίους σέθεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἄπελθε, μὴ ψαῦʼ ὧν σε μὴ ψαύειν χρεών.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅτου θίγοιμʼ ἂν ἐνδικώτερον.

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ πῶς ξιφήρης πρὸς δόμοις λοχᾷς ἐμοῖς;
225

Ὀρέστης

μείνασʼ ἄκουσον, καὶ τάχʼ οὐκ ἄλλως ἐρεῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἕστηκα· πάντως δʼ εἰμὶ σή· κρείσσων γὰρ εἶ.

Ὀρέστης

ἥκω φέρων σοι σοῦ κασιγνήτου λόγους.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα ζῶντος ἢ τεθνηκότος;

Ὀρέστης

ζῇ· πρῶτα γάρ σοι τἀγάθʼ ἀγγέλλειν θέλω.
230

Ἠλέκτρα

εὐδαιμονοίης, μισθὸν ἡδίστων λόγων.

Ὀρέστης

κοινῇ δίδωμι τοῦτο νῷν ἀμφοῖν ἔχειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῦ γῆς ὁ τλήμων τλήμονας φυγὰς ἔχων;

Ὀρέστης

οὐχ ἕνα νομίζων φθείρεται πόλεως νόμον.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὔ που σπανίζων τοῦ καθʼ ἡμέραν βίου;
235

Ὀρέστης

ἔχει μέν, ἀσθενὴς δὲ δὴ φεύγων ἀνήρ.

Ἠλέκτρα

λόγον δὲ δὴ τίνʼ ἦλθες ἐκ κείνου φέρων;

Ὀρέστης

εἰ ζῇς, ὅπως τε ζῶσα συμφορᾶς ἔχεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐκοῦν ὁρᾷς μου πρῶτον ὡς ξηρὸν δέμας.

Ὀρέστης

λύπαις γε συντετηκός, ὥστε με στένειν.
240

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ κρᾶτα πλόκαμόν τʼ ἐσκυθισμένον ξυρῷ.

Ὀρέστης

δάκνει σʼ ἀδελφὸς ὅ τε θανὼν ἴσως πατήρ.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι, τί γάρ μοι τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστὶ φίλτερον;

Ὀρέστης

φεῦ φεῦ· τί δαὶ σὺ σῷ κασιγνήτῳ, δοκεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀπὼν ἐκεῖνος, οὐ παρὼν ἡμῖν φίλος.
245

Ὀρέστης

ἐκ τοῦ δὲ ναίεις ἐνθάδʼ ἄστεως ἑκάς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐγημάμεσθʼ, ὦ ξεῖνε, θανάσιμον γάμον.

Ὀρέστης

ᾤμωξʼ ἀδελφὸν σόν. Μυκηναίων τίνι;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐχ ᾧ πατήρ μʼ ἤλπιζεν ἐκδώσειν ποτέ.

Ὀρέστης

εἴφʼ, ὡς ἀκούσας σῷ κασιγνήτῳ λέγω.
250

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐν τοῖσδʼ ἐκείνου τηλορὸς ναίω δόμοις.

Ὀρέστης

σκαφεύς τις ἢ βουφορβὸς ἄξιος δόμων.

Ἠλέκτρα

πένης ἀνὴρ γενναῖος ἔς τʼ ἔμʼ εὐσεβής.

Ὀρέστης

ἡ δʼ εὐσέβεια τίς πρόσεστι σῷ πόσει;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐπώποτʼ εὐνῆς τῆς ἐμῆς ἔτλη θιγεῖν.
255

Ὀρέστης

ἅγνευμʼ ἔχων τι θεῖον ἤ σʼ ἀπαξιῶν;

Ἠλέκτρα

γονέας ὑβρίζειν τοὺς ἐμοὺς οὐκ ἠξίου.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς γάμον τοιοῦτον οὐχ ἥσθη λαβών;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ κύριον τὸν δόντα μʼ ἡγεῖται, ξένε.

Ὀρέστης

ξυνῆκʼ· Ὀρέστῃ μή ποτʼ ἐκτείσῃ δίκην.
260

Ἠλέκτρα

τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ ταρβῶν, πρὸς δὲ καὶ σώφρων ἔφυ.

Electra. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (3)

Electra Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 213 focus

Chorus Leader

Helen, your mother’s sister, is the cause of many evils to the Hellenes and to your house.

Electra
Catching sight of Orestes and Pylades

Ah! Women, I have broken off my lament; strangers, who had their lair at the altar, are rising from ambush towards the household. Let us escape the villains by flight, you along the path and I to the house.
215

Orestes

Stay, poor girl; do not fear my hand.
220

Electra

O Phoebus Apollo! I beseech you to spare my life.

Orestes

May I kill others more hated than you!

Electra

Go away! Do not touch one whom you must not touch.

Orestes

There is no one I have a better right to touch.

Electra

Then why are you in ambush, with drawn sword, near my house?
225

Orestes

Wait and hear, and you will soon say the same.

Electra

I am still; in any case, I am yours, since you are the stronger.

Orestes

I have come to bring you word from your brother.

Electra

Oh best of friends! Is he alive or dead?

Orestes

Alive; for I want to tell you the good news first.
230

Electra

May you be happy, as a reward for your most welcome tidings.

Orestes

I give that blessing for us two to have in common.

Electra

Where does the unhappy one live, in his unhappy exile?

Orestes

He goes miserably about, not following the customs of any one city.

Electra

Surely he does not want for a living, day by day?
235

Orestes

He has that, but an exile is a helpless man at best.

Electra

What is this message you have come bringing from him?

Orestes

If you are alive, and if so, how you are.

Electra

Well then, you see first of all how withered my body is.

Orestes

Yes, so wasted with sorrow that I sigh for it.
240

Electra

And my head and hair, close shaven as if by a Scythian’s razor.

Orestes

Your brother and your dead father perhaps gnaw at your heart.

Electra

Alas! For what is dearer to me than they?

Orestes

Ah! What are you to your brother, do you think?

Electra

He is far away, not here to be my friend.
245

Orestes

Why are you living here, far from the city?

Electra

I am married, stranger; a deadly match.

Orestes

I pity your brother. Is your husband a Mycenaean?

Electra

Not one to whom my father ever hoped to give me.

Orestes

Tell me so that I may hear and inform your brother.
250

Electra

I live in his house, at a distance from the city.

Orestes

A ditch-digger or a herdsman is worthy of the house.

Electra

He is a man poor but noble, and respectful to me.

Orestes

What is this respect that your husband has?

Electra

He has never dared to touch me in bed.
255

Orestes

Does he hold some form of religious chastity, or does he think you unworthy?

Electra

He did not think himself worthy to insult my family.

Orestes

And how was he not delighted to make such a marriage?

Electra

He thinks the person who gave me did not have that right, stranger.

Orestes

I understand; he fears that he may someday be punished by Orestes.
260

Electra

He does fear that, but he is also a virtuous man.

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.) — 213 focus

Viel Leiden hat sie Hellas' Volk und deinem Haus

Gebracht, die Schwester deiner Mutter, Helena.
210

Elektra.

Ihr Frauen, weh! Von meinen Klagen lass ich nun.

Seht dort, die Fremden, die versteckt am Hause sich

Gelagert, kommen aus dem Hinterhalt hervor.

Flieht ihr den Pfad hin ungesäumt, ich eil' in's Haus,

Den frevelhaften Männern aus dem Weg zu gehn!
215
(vertritt ihr den Weg.)

Orestes

Verweil', o Arme, zittre nicht vor meiner Hand!

Elektra.

(O Phobos!) Knieend sich mich hier: nicht morde mich!

Orestes.

Ich todte lieber Andre, mir Verhaßtere.

Elektra.

Geh! Nicht beruhre, was du nicht berühren darfst !

Orestes.

Mit größerm Necht berühr' ich keines Menschen Hand.
220

Elektra.

Was lauerst du gewaffnet hier an meinem Haus?

Orestes.

Bleib' und vernimm mich: und du sagst bald ebenso.¹

Elektra.

Ich bleibe, bin ganz deine; du bist stärker ja.

Orestes.

Ich bringe dir von deinem Bruder Kunde, Frau.

Elektra.

Mein Theurer! Lebt
225

er oder deckt ihn Todesnacht?

Orestes.

Er lebt: das Gute

will ich dir kundthun zuerst.

Elektra.

O sei gesegnet für das hochwillkommne Wort!

Orestes.

Gemeinsam wünsch' ich solches Glück uns Beiden an.

Elektra.

Wo weilt in unglücksel'gem Bann der Arme denn?

Orestes.

Er übt die Bräuche manches Volk's und kämpft sich durch.
230

Elektra.

Und ihm gebricht wohl, was er Tag für Tag bedarf?

Orestes.

Dies hat er; hülflos aber ist ein Flüchtiger.

Elektra.

Nun, welche Botschaft meldest du vom Bruder mir?

Orestes.

Er möchte wissen, ob du lebst und wie du lebst.

Elektra.

Wohl siehst du, wie mein Körper hingeschwunden ist.
235

Orestes.

Von Gram verzehrt und Trauer: ich beklage dich.

Elektra.

Vom Messer abgeschoren auch des Hauptes Haar.

Orestes.

Du hårmst dich um den Bruder, um des Vaters Tod?

Elektra.

Was könnte mir auch theurer wohl als diese sein?

Orestes,

Was kann dem Bruder werther als die Schwester sein?
240

Elektra.

Fern, nicht an meiner Seite, weilt er, der mich liebt!

Orestes,

Weßwegen wohnst du, fern der Stadt, an diesem Ort?

Elektra.

Ein tödtlich Ehband fesselt mich, o Fremdling, hier.

Orestes,

Dein armer Bruder! Ist aus Argos dein Gemahl?²

Elektra.

Kein Gatte, wie der Vater mir ihn einst bestimmt.
245

Orestes.

Sprich, daß ich's deinem Bruder dann berichten kann.

Elektra,

In diesem Hause wohn' ich, fern der Stadt, mit ihm.³

Orestes.

So mag ein Gråber wohnen und ein Kinderhirt.

Elektra.

Arm ist der Mann, doch edel gegen mich und fromm.

Orestes.

Wodurch bewährt er diesen edel frommen Sinn?
250

Elektra.

Mein Lager anzurühren hat er nie gewagt.

Orestes.

Gelobt' er Keuschheit? Oder hålt er dich zu schlecht?

Elektra.

Er wollte nicht beschimpfen meiner Weltern Stamm.

Orestes.

Wie mochte solcher Ehe Gluck ihn nicht erfreun?

Elektra.

Der mich ihm schenkte, meint er, sei nicht Herr dazu.
255

Orestes.

Er denkt, Orestes rache sich dereinst an ihm.⁴

Elektra.

Das eben scheut er, und besonnen ist er auch.

Orestes.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Χορός πολλῶν κακῶν Ἕλλησιν αἰτίαν ἔχει σῆς μητρὸς Ἑλένη σύγγονος δόμοις τε σοῖς.

Ὀρέστης μένʼ, ὦ τάλαινα· μὴ τρέσῃς ἐμὴν χέρα. 220

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ Φοῖβʼ Ἄπολλον· προσπίτνω σε μὴ θανεῖν.

Ὀρέστης ἄλλους κτάνοιμι μᾶλλον ἐχθίους σέθεν.

Ἠλέκτρα ἄπελθε, μὴ ψαῦʼ ὧν σε μὴ ψαύειν χρεών.

Ὀρέστης οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅτου θίγοιμʼ ἂν ἐνδικώτερον.

Ἠλέκτρα καὶ πῶς ξιφήρης πρὸς δόμοις λοχᾷς ἐμοῖς; 225

Ὀρέστης μείνασʼ ἄκουσον, καὶ τάχʼ οὐκ ἄλλως ἐρεῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα ἕστηκα· πάντως δʼ εἰμὶ σή· κρείσσων γὰρ εἶ.

Ὀρέστης ἥκω φέρων σοι σοῦ κασιγνήτου λόγους.

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα ζῶντος ἢ τεθνηκότος;

Ὀρέστης ζῇ· πρῶτα γάρ σοι τἀγάθʼ ἀγγέλλειν θέλω. 230

Ἠλέκτρα εὐδαιμονοίης, μισθὸν ἡδίστων λόγων.

Ὀρέστης κοινῇ δίδωμι τοῦτο νῷν ἀμφοῖν ἔχειν.

Ἠλέκτρα ποῦ γῆς ὁ τλήμων τλήμονας φυγὰς ἔχων;

Ὀρέστης οὐχ ἕνα νομίζων φθείρεται πόλεως νόμον.

Ἠλέκτρα οὔ που σπανίζων τοῦ καθʼ ἡμέραν βίου; 235

Ὀρέστης ἔχει μέν, ἀσθενὴς δὲ δὴ φεύγων ἀνήρ.

Ἠλέκτρα λόγον δὲ δὴ τίνʼ ἦλθες ἐκ κείνου φέρων;

Ὀρέστης εἰ ζῇς, ὅπως τε ζῶσα συμφορᾶς ἔχεις.

Ἠλέκτρα οὐκοῦν ὁρᾷς μου πρῶτον ὡς ξηρὸν δέμας.

Ὀρέστης λύπαις γε συντετηκός, ὥστε με στένειν. 240

Ἠλέκτρα καὶ κρᾶτα πλόκαμόν τʼ ἐσκυθισμένον ξυρῷ.

Ὀρέστης δάκνει σʼ ἀδελφὸς ὅ τε θανὼν ἴσως πατήρ.

Ἠλέκτρα οἴμοι, τί γάρ μοι τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστὶ φίλτερον;

Ὀρέστης φεῦ φεῦ· τί δαὶ σὺ σῷ κασιγνήτῳ, δοκεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα ἀπὼν ἐκεῖνος, οὐ παρὼν ἡμῖν φίλος. 245

Ὀρέστης ἐκ τοῦ δὲ ναίεις ἐνθάδʼ ἄστεως ἑκάς;

Ἠλέκτρα ἐγημάμεσθʼ, ὦ ξεῖνε, θανάσιμον γάμον.

Ὀρέστης ᾤμωξʼ ἀδελφὸν σόν. Μυκηναίων τίνι;

Ἠλέκτρα οὐχ ᾧ πατήρ μʼ ἤλπιζεν ἐκδώσειν ποτέ.

Ὀρέστης εἴφʼ, ὡς ἀκούσας σῷ κασιγνήτῳ λέγω. 250

Ἠλέκτρα ἐν τοῖσδʼ ἐκείνου τηλορὸς ναίω δόμοις.

Ὀρέστης σκαφεύς τις ἢ βουφορβὸς ἄξιος δόμων.

Ἠλέκτρα πένης ἀνὴρ γενναῖος ἔς τʼ ἔμʼ εὐσεβής.

Ὀρέστης ἡ δʼ εὐσέβεια τίς πρόσεστι σῷ πόσει;

Ἠλέκτρα οὐπώποτʼ εὐνῆς τῆς ἐμῆς ἔτλη θιγεῖν. 255

Ὀρέστης ἅγνευμʼ ἔχων τι θεῖον ἤ σʼ ἀπαξιῶν;

Ἠλέκτρα γονέας ὑβρίζειν τοὺς ἐμοὺς οὐκ ἠξίου.

Ὀρέστης καὶ πῶς γάμον τοιοῦτον οὐχ ἥσθη λαβών;

Ἠλέκτρα οὐ κύριον τὸν δόντα μʼ ἡγεῖται, ξένε.

Ὀρέστης ξυνῆκʼ· Ὀρέστῃ μή ποτʼ ἐκτείσῃ δίκην. 260

Ἠλέκτρα τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ ταρβῶν, πρὸς δὲ καὶ σώφρων ἔφυ.

Current edition Perseus

Chorus Leader Helen, your mother’s sister, is the cause of many evils to the Hellenes and to your house.

Electra Catching sight of Orestes and Pylades Ah! Women, I have broken off my lament; strangers, who had their lair at the altar, are rising from ambush towards the household. Let us escape the villains by flight, you along the path and I to the house. 215

Orestes Stay, poor girl; do not fear my hand. 220

Electra O Phoebus Apollo! I beseech you to spare my life.

Orestes May I kill others more hated than you!

Electra Go away! Do not touch one whom you must not touch.

Orestes There is no one I have a better right to touch.

Electra Then why are you in ambush, with drawn sword, near my house? 225

Orestes Wait and hear, and you will soon say the same.

Electra I am still; in any case, I am yours, since you are the stronger.

Orestes I have come to bring you word from your brother.

Electra Oh best of friends! Is he alive or dead?

Orestes Alive; for I want to tell you the good news first. 230

Electra May you be happy, as a reward for your most welcome tidings.

Orestes I give that blessing for us two to have in common.

Electra Where does the unhappy one live, in his unhappy exile?

Orestes He goes miserably about, not following the customs of any one city.

Electra Surely he does not want for a living, day by day? 235

Orestes He has that, but an exile is a helpless man at best.

Electra What is this message you have come bringing from him?

Orestes If you are alive, and if so, how you are.

Electra Well then, you see first of all how withered my body is.

Orestes Yes, so wasted with sorrow that I sigh for it. 240

Electra And my head and hair, close shaven as if by a Scythian’s razor.

Orestes Your brother and your dead father perhaps gnaw at your heart.

Electra Alas! For what is dearer to me than they?

Orestes Ah! What are you to your brother, do you think?

Electra He is far away, not here to be my friend. 245

Orestes Why are you living here, far from the city?

Electra I am married, stranger; a deadly match.

Orestes I pity your brother. Is your husband a Mycenaean?

Electra Not one to whom my father ever hoped to give me.

Orestes Tell me so that I may hear and inform your brother. 250

Electra I live in his house, at a distance from the city.

Χορός

πολλῶν κακῶν Ἕλλησιν αἰτίαν ἔχει

σῆς μητρὸς Ἑλένη σύγγονος δόμοις τε σοῖς.

Ὀρέστης

μένʼ, ὦ τάλαινα· μὴ τρέσῃς ἐμὴν χέρα.
220

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ Φοῖβʼ Ἄπολλον· προσπίτνω σε μὴ θανεῖν.

Ὀρέστης

ἄλλους κτάνοιμι μᾶλλον ἐχθίους σέθεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἄπελθε, μὴ ψαῦʼ ὧν σε μὴ ψαύειν χρεών.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅτου θίγοιμʼ ἂν ἐνδικώτερον.

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ πῶς ξιφήρης πρὸς δόμοις λοχᾷς ἐμοῖς;
225

Ὀρέστης

μείνασʼ ἄκουσον, καὶ τάχʼ οὐκ ἄλλως ἐρεῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἕστηκα· πάντως δʼ εἰμὶ σή· κρείσσων γὰρ εἶ.

Ὀρέστης

ἥκω φέρων σοι σοῦ κασιγνήτου λόγους.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα ζῶντος ἢ τεθνηκότος;

Ὀρέστης

ζῇ· πρῶτα γάρ σοι τἀγάθʼ ἀγγέλλειν θέλω.
230

Ἠλέκτρα

εὐδαιμονοίης, μισθὸν ἡδίστων λόγων.

Ὀρέστης

κοινῇ δίδωμι τοῦτο νῷν ἀμφοῖν ἔχειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῦ γῆς ὁ τλήμων τλήμονας φυγὰς ἔχων;

Ὀρέστης

οὐχ ἕνα νομίζων φθείρεται πόλεως νόμον.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὔ που σπανίζων τοῦ καθʼ ἡμέραν βίου;
235

Ὀρέστης

ἔχει μέν, ἀσθενὴς δὲ δὴ φεύγων ἀνήρ.

Ἠλέκτρα

λόγον δὲ δὴ τίνʼ ἦλθες ἐκ κείνου φέρων;

Ὀρέστης

εἰ ζῇς, ὅπως τε ζῶσα συμφορᾶς ἔχεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐκοῦν ὁρᾷς μου πρῶτον ὡς ξηρὸν δέμας.

Ὀρέστης

λύπαις γε συντετηκός, ὥστε με στένειν.
240

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ κρᾶτα πλόκαμόν τʼ ἐσκυθισμένον ξυρῷ.

Ὀρέστης

δάκνει σʼ ἀδελφὸς ὅ τε θανὼν ἴσως πατήρ.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι, τί γάρ μοι τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστὶ φίλτερον;

Ὀρέστης

φεῦ φεῦ· τί δαὶ σὺ σῷ κασιγνήτῳ, δοκεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀπὼν ἐκεῖνος, οὐ παρὼν ἡμῖν φίλος.
245

Ὀρέστης

ἐκ τοῦ δὲ ναίεις ἐνθάδʼ ἄστεως ἑκάς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐγημάμεσθʼ, ὦ ξεῖνε, θανάσιμον γάμον.

Ὀρέστης

ᾤμωξʼ ἀδελφὸν σόν. Μυκηναίων τίνι;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐχ ᾧ πατήρ μʼ ἤλπιζεν ἐκδώσειν ποτέ.

Ὀρέστης

εἴφʼ, ὡς ἀκούσας σῷ κασιγνήτῳ λέγω.
250

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐν τοῖσδʼ ἐκείνου τηλορὸς ναίω δόμοις.

Ὀρέστης

σκαφεύς τις ἢ βουφορβὸς ἄξιος δόμων.

Ἠλέκτρα

πένης ἀνὴρ γενναῖος ἔς τʼ ἔμʼ εὐσεβής.

Ὀρέστης

ἡ δʼ εὐσέβεια τίς πρόσεστι σῷ πόσει;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐπώποτʼ εὐνῆς τῆς ἐμῆς ἔτλη θιγεῖν.
255

Ὀρέστης

ἅγνευμʼ ἔχων τι θεῖον ἤ σʼ ἀπαξιῶν;

Ἠλέκτρα

γονέας ὑβρίζειν τοὺς ἐμοὺς οὐκ ἠξίου.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς γάμον τοιοῦτον οὐχ ἥσθη λαβών;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ κύριον τὸν δόντα μʼ ἡγεῖται, ξένε.

Ὀρέστης

ξυνῆκʼ· Ὀρέστῃ μή ποτʼ ἐκτείσῃ δίκην.
260

Ἠλέκτρα

τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ ταρβῶν, πρὸς δὲ καὶ σώφρων ἔφυ.

Chorus Leader

Helen, your mother’s sister, is the cause of many evils to the Hellenes and to your house.

Electra
Catching sight of Orestes and Pylades

Ah! Women, I have broken off my lament; strangers, who had their lair at the altar, are rising from ambush towards the household. Let us escape the villains by flight, you along the path and I to the house.
215

Orestes

Stay, poor girl; do not fear my hand.
220

Electra

O Phoebus Apollo! I beseech you to spare my life.

Orestes

May I kill others more hated than you!

Electra

Go away! Do not touch one whom you must not touch.

Orestes

There is no one I have a better right to touch.

Electra

Then why are you in ambush, with drawn sword, near my house?
225

Orestes

Wait and hear, and you will soon say the same.

Electra

I am still; in any case, I am yours, since you are the stronger.

Orestes

I have come to bring you word from your brother.

Electra

Oh best of friends! Is he alive or dead?

Orestes

Alive; for I want to tell you the good news first.
230

Electra

May you be happy, as a reward for your most welcome tidings.

Orestes

I give that blessing for us two to have in common.

Electra

Where does the unhappy one live, in his unhappy exile?

Orestes

He goes miserably about, not following the customs of any one city.

Electra

Surely he does not want for a living, day by day?
235

Orestes

He has that, but an exile is a helpless man at best.

Electra

What is this message you have come bringing from him?

Orestes

If you are alive, and if so, how you are.

Electra

Well then, you see first of all how withered my body is.

Orestes

Yes, so wasted with sorrow that I sigh for it.
240

Electra

And my head and hair, close shaven as if by a Scythian’s razor.

Orestes

Your brother and your dead father perhaps gnaw at your heart.

Electra

Alas! For what is dearer to me than they?

Orestes

Ah! What are you to your brother, do you think?

Electra

He is far away, not here to be my friend.
245

Orestes

Why are you living here, far from the city?

Electra

I am married, stranger; a deadly match.

Orestes

I pity your brother. Is your husband a Mycenaean?

Electra

Not one to whom my father ever hoped to give me.

Orestes

Tell me so that I may hear and inform your brother.
250

Electra

I live in his house, at a distance from the city.

Orestes

A ditch-digger or a herdsman is worthy of the house.

Electra

He is a man poor but noble, and respectful to me.

Orestes

What is this respect that your husband has?