Euripides, Electra, ed. Gilbert Murray, 547

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Πρέσβυς

οἱ δὲ ξένοι ποῦ; βούλομαι γὰρ εἰσιδὼν

αὐτοὺς ἔρεσθαι σοῦ κασιγνήτου πέρι.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἵδʼ ἐκ δόμων βαίνουσι λαιψηρῷ ποδί.

Πρέσβυς

ἀλλʼ εὐγενεῖς μέν, ἐν δὲ κιβδήλῳ τόδε·
550

πολλοὶ γὰρ ὄντες εὐγενεῖς εἰσιν κακοί.

ὅμως δέ. — χαίρειν τοὺς ξένους προσεννέπω.

Ὀρέστης

χαῖρʼ, ὦ γεραιέ. — τοῦ ποτʼ, Ἠλέκτρα, τόδε

παλαιὸν ἀνδρὸς λείψανον φίλων κυρεῖ;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὗτος τὸν ἁμὸν πατέρʼ ἔθρεψεν, ὦ ξένε.
555

Ὀρέστης

τί φῄς; ὅδʼ ὃς σὸν ἐξέκλεψε σύγγονον;

Ἠλέκτρα

ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ σώσας κεῖνον, εἴπερ ἔστʼ ἔτι.

Ὀρέστης

ἔα·

τί μʼ ἐσδέδορκεν ὥσπερ ἀργύρου σκοπῶν

λαμπρὸν χαρακτῆρʼ; ἢ προσεικάζει μέ τῳ;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἴσως Ὀρέστου σʼ ἥλιχʼ ἥδεται βλέπων.
560

Ὀρέστης

φίλου γε φωτός. τί δὲ κυκλεῖ πέριξ πόδα;

Ἠλέκτρα

καὐτὴ τόδʼ εἰσορῶσα θαυμάζω, ξένε.

Πρέσβυς

ὦ πότνιʼ, εὔχου, θύγατερ Ἠλέκτρα, θεοῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί τῶν ἀπόντων ἢ τί τῶν ὄντων πέρι;

Πρέσβυς

λαβεῖν φίλον θησαυρόν, ὃν φαίνει θεός.
565

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰδού· καλῶ θεούς. ἢ τί δὴ λέγεις, γέρον;

Πρέσβυς

βλέψον νυν ἐς τόνδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τὸν φίλτατον.

Ἠλέκτρα

πάλαι δέδορκα, μὴ σύ γʼ οὐκέτʼ εὖ φρονῇς.

Πρέσβυς

οὐκ εὖ φρονῶ ʼγὼ σὸν κασίγνητον βλέπων;

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραίʼ, ἀνέλπιστον λόγον;
570

Πρέσβυς

ὁρᾶν Ὀρέστην τόνδε τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῖον χαρακτῆρʼ εἰσιδών, ᾧ πείσομαι;

Πρέσβυς

οὐλὴν παρʼ ὀφρύν, ἥν ποτʼ ἐν πατρὸς δόμοις

νεβρὸν διώκων σοῦ μέθʼ ᾑμάχθη πεσών.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς φῄς; ὁρῶ μὲν πτώματος τεκμήριον.
575

Πρέσβυς

ἔπειτα μέλλεις προσπίτνειν τοῖς φιλτάτοις;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ, ὦ γεραιέ· συμβόλοισι γὰρ

τοῖς σοῖς πέπεισμαι θυμόν. — ὦ χρόνῳ φανείς,

ἔχω σʼ ἀέλπτως —

Ὀρέστης

κἀξ ἐμοῦ γʼ ἔχῃ χρόνῳ.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐδέποτε δόξασα.
580

Ὀρέστης

οὐδʼ ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤλπισα.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐκεῖνος εἶ σύ;

Ὀρέστης

σύμμαχός γέ σοι μόνος.

ἢν δʼ ἀνσπάσωμαί γʼ ὃν μετέρχομαι βόλον —

πέποιθα δʼ· ἢ χρὴ μηκέθʼ ἡγεῖσθαι θεούς,

εἰ τἄδικʼ ἔσται τῆς δίκης ὑπέρτερα.

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.)) — 547 focus

Old man

Where are the guests? I want to see them and question them about your brother.

Electra

There they are, coming quickly out of the house.

Old man

They are well-born, but that may ring false; for many of the well-born are base. However; I give the guests welcome.
550

Orestes

Welcome, old man! To which of your friends, Electra, does this ancient remnant of a man belong?

Electra

This is the one who brought up my father, stranger.
555

Orestes

What are you saying? Is this the one who stole away your brother?

Electra

This is the one who saved him, if indeed he is still alive.

Orestes

Oh! Why does he look at me, as if he were examining the clear mark impressed on a silver coin? Is he comparing me to someone?

Electra

Perhaps he is glad to see in you a companion of Orestes.
560

Orestes

A beloved man, yes. But why is he circling all around me?

Electra

I too am amazed, looking at this, stranger.

Old man

O mistress, daughter Electra, pray to the gods.

Electra

For what thing, present or absent?

Old man

To have a beloved treasure, which the god is revealing.
565

Electra

See: I call on the gods. Or whatever do you mean, old man?

Old man

Look now at this man, my child, your dearest one.

Electra

I have been looking for a long time, to see whether you have lost your mind.

Old man

Lost my mind, because I see your brother?

Electra

What do you mean, old man, by this word, unhoped for?
570

Old man

That I see Orestes here, Agamemnon’s son.

Electra

What mark do you see, by which I shall be persuaded?

Old man

A scar along his brow, where he fell and drew blood one day in his father’s home when chasing a fawn with you.

Electra

What are you saying? I see the sign of the fall.
575

Old man

Then do you hesitate to embrace your dearest one?

Electra

Not any longer, old man; for my heart is persuaded by your tokens. O you who have appeared at last, I hold you, beyond all hope.

Orestes

And you are held by me at last.

Electra

I never expected it.
580

Orestes

Nor did I hope.

Electra

Are you that one?

Orestes

Yes, your one ally. If I draw back the cast of the net I am aiming for—but I have confidence; or else we must no longer believe in gods, if wrong is to be victorious over right.

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.) — 547 focus

Wo sind die fremden Männer? Denn ich will sie sehn,

Und deines Bruders wegen mich erkundigen.

Elektra.

Dort aus dem Hause kommen sie mit raschem Schritt.
540
Orestes. Pylades. Elektra. Der Greis.

Der Greis.

Sie scheinen edel: aber das ist trügerisch.

Denn Mancher hohen Standes ist doch båsgesinnt.

Indessen rus ich grüßend: Heil euch, Fremdlinge!

Orestes.

Heil dir auch, Alter! Welchem Freund aus alter Zeit

Gehört, Elektra, dieses alt verblichne Bild?
545

Elektra.

Der ist es, Freund, der meinen Vater auferzog.

Drestes.

Wie? Der Oresten ingeheim dem Tod entrückt?

Elektra.

Der ihn gerettet, wenn er noch am Leben ist.

Ha!

Orestes.

Was průst mich doch der Alte, wie des Silberstucks

Glanzhellen Stempel? Seh' ich sonst Jemanden gleich?
550

Elektra.

Ihn freut's, Orestes' Jugendfreund in dir zu sehn.

Orestes.

Des lieben Junglings! Sieh', er hupst um mich herum!

Elektra.

Cuch ich, o Fremdling, wundre mich, ihn so zu sehn.

Der Greis.

Elektra, Herrin, sage, Kind, den Göttern Dank

Elektra.

Für etwas Fernes oder was uns nahe liegt?
555

Der Greis.

Des theuren Schazes wegen, den ein Gott dir zeigt.

Elektra.

Wohlan, ich bete! - Willst du noch Etwas, o Greis?

Der Greis.

So blicke, Tochter, diesen an, den Theuersten!

Elektra.

Schon lange fürcht' ich, daß du nicht bei Sinnen seist.

Der Greis.

Von Sinnen ich und sehe deinen Bruder hier?
560

Elektra.

Was sprichst du doch ein Überraschend Wort, o Greis!

Der Greis.

Ich seh' Oresten, Agamemnons Sohn, vor dir.

Elektra.

Und welches Merkmal hast du, dem ich trauen darf?

Der Greis.

Die Narb' an seiner Braue: noch daheim, mit dir

Ein Reh verfolgend, fiel er und verlezte sich.
565

Elektra.

Wie, Greis? Das Zeichen dieses Falls bemerk' ich wohl.

Der Greis.

Und såumst zu stürzen an das Herz des Theuersten?

Elektra.

Nicht langer; denn dein Zeichen überzeugte mich,

Mein Alter!

(Dresten umarmend.)

Endlich kamst du mir, ich halte dich

Im Arme wider Hoffen!
570

Orestes.

Und ich endlich dich!
570

Elektra.

Ich ahnte dieses niemals.

Orestes.

Auch ich hofft' es nicht.

Elektra.

Du bist Orestes?

Orestes.

Und allein Erretter dir,

Gelingt der Raub mir, welchen ich erjagen will.

Vertrauend hoff' ich's; oder, wenn Gerechtigkeit

Erliegt dem Unrecht, glaub' ich nicht an Götter mehr.
575

Der Chor.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Πρέσβυς οἱ δὲ ξένοι ποῦ; βούλομαι γὰρ εἰσιδὼν αὐτοὺς ἔρεσθαι σοῦ κασιγνήτου πέρι.

Ἠλέκτρα οἵδʼ ἐκ δόμων βαίνουσι λαιψηρῷ ποδί.

Πρέσβυς ἀλλʼ εὐγενεῖς μέν, ἐν δὲ κιβδήλῳ τόδε· 550 πολλοὶ γὰρ ὄντες εὐγενεῖς εἰσιν κακοί. ὅμως δέ. — χαίρειν τοὺς ξένους προσεννέπω.

Ὀρέστης χαῖρʼ, ὦ γεραιέ. — τοῦ ποτʼ, Ἠλέκτρα, τόδε παλαιὸν ἀνδρὸς λείψανον φίλων κυρεῖ;

Ἠλέκτρα οὗτος τὸν ἁμὸν πατέρʼ ἔθρεψεν, ὦ ξένε. 555

Ὀρέστης τί φῄς; ὅδʼ ὃς σὸν ἐξέκλεψε σύγγονον;

Ἠλέκτρα ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ σώσας κεῖνον, εἴπερ ἔστʼ ἔτι.

Ὀρέστης ἔα· τί μʼ ἐσδέδορκεν ὥσπερ ἀργύρου σκοπῶν λαμπρὸν χαρακτῆρʼ; ἢ προσεικάζει μέ τῳ;

Ἠλέκτρα ἴσως Ὀρέστου σʼ ἥλιχʼ ἥδεται βλέπων. 560

Ὀρέστης φίλου γε φωτός. τί δὲ κυκλεῖ πέριξ πόδα;

Ἠλέκτρα καὐτὴ τόδʼ εἰσορῶσα θαυμάζω, ξένε.

Πρέσβυς ὦ πότνιʼ, εὔχου, θύγατερ Ἠλέκτρα, θεοῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα τί τῶν ἀπόντων ἢ τί τῶν ὄντων πέρι;

Πρέσβυς λαβεῖν φίλον θησαυρόν, ὃν φαίνει θεός. 565

Ἠλέκτρα ἰδού· καλῶ θεούς. ἢ τί δὴ λέγεις, γέρον;

Πρέσβυς βλέψον νυν ἐς τόνδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τὸν φίλτατον.

Ἠλέκτρα πάλαι δέδορκα, μὴ σύ γʼ οὐκέτʼ εὖ φρονῇς.

Πρέσβυς οὐκ εὖ φρονῶ ʼγὼ σὸν κασίγνητον βλέπων;

Ἠλέκτρα πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραίʼ, ἀνέλπιστον λόγον; 570

Πρέσβυς ὁρᾶν Ὀρέστην τόνδε τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος.

Ἠλέκτρα ποῖον χαρακτῆρʼ εἰσιδών, ᾧ πείσομαι;

Πρέσβυς οὐλὴν παρʼ ὀφρύν, ἥν ποτʼ ἐν πατρὸς δόμοις νεβρὸν διώκων σοῦ μέθʼ ᾑμάχθη πεσών.

Ἠλέκτρα πῶς φῄς; ὁρῶ μὲν πτώματος τεκμήριον. 575

Πρέσβυς ἔπειτα μέλλεις προσπίτνειν τοῖς φιλτάτοις;

Ἠλέκτρα ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ, ὦ γεραιέ· συμβόλοισι γὰρ τοῖς σοῖς πέπεισμαι θυμόν. — ὦ χρόνῳ φανείς, ἔχω σʼ ἀέλπτως —

Ὀρέστης κἀξ ἐμοῦ γʼ ἔχῃ χρόνῳ.

Ἠλέκτρα οὐδέποτε δόξασα. 580

Ὀρέστης οὐδʼ ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤλπισα.

Ἠλέκτρα ἐκεῖνος εἶ σύ;

Ὀρέστης σύμμαχός γέ σοι μόνος. ἢν δʼ ἀνσπάσωμαί γʼ ὃν μετέρχομαι βόλον — πέποιθα δʼ· ἢ χρὴ μηκέθʼ ἡγεῖσθαι θεούς, εἰ τἄδικʼ ἔσται τῆς δίκης ὑπέρτερα.

Current edition Perseus

Old man Where are the guests? I want to see them and question them about your brother.

Electra There they are, coming quickly out of the house.

Old man They are well-born, but that may ring false; for many of the well-born are base. However; I give the guests welcome. 550

Orestes Welcome, old man! To which of your friends, Electra, does this ancient remnant of a man belong?

Electra This is the one who brought up my father, stranger. 555

Orestes What are you saying? Is this the one who stole away your brother?

Electra This is the one who saved him, if indeed he is still alive.

Orestes Oh! Why does he look at me, as if he were examining the clear mark impressed on a silver coin? Is he comparing me to someone?

Electra Perhaps he is glad to see in you a companion of Orestes. 560

Orestes A beloved man, yes. But why is he circling all around me?

Electra I too am amazed, looking at this, stranger.

Old man O mistress, daughter Electra, pray to the gods.

Electra For what thing, present or absent?

Old man To have a beloved treasure, which the god is revealing. 565

Electra See: I call on the gods. Or whatever do you mean, old man?

Old man Look now at this man, my child, your dearest one.

Electra I have been looking for a long time, to see whether you have lost your mind.

Old man Lost my mind, because I see your brother?

Electra What do you mean, old man, by this word, unhoped for? 570

Old man That I see Orestes here, Agamemnon’s son.

Electra What mark do you see, by which I shall be persuaded?

Old man A scar along his brow, where he fell and drew blood one day in his father’s home when chasing a fawn with you.

Electra What are you saying? I see the sign of the fall. 575

Old man Then do you hesitate to embrace your dearest one?

Electra Not any longer, old man; for my heart is persuaded by your tokens. O you who have appeared at last, I hold you, beyond all hope.

Orestes And you are held by me at last.

Electra I never expected it. 580

Orestes Nor did I hope.

Electra Are you that one?

Orestes Yes, your one ally. If I draw back the cast of the net I am aiming for—but I have confidence; or else we must no longer believe in gods, if wrong is to be victorious over right.

Wo sind die fremden Männer? Denn ich will sie sehn, Und deines Bruders wegen mich erkundigen.

Elektra. Dort aus dem Hause kommen sie mit raschem Schritt. 540 Orestes. Pylades. Elektra. Der Greis.

Der Greis. Sie scheinen edel: aber das ist trügerisch. Denn Mancher hohen Standes ist doch båsgesinnt. Indessen rus ich grüßend: Heil euch, Fremdlinge!

Orestes. Heil dir auch, Alter! Welchem Freund aus alter Zeit Gehört, Elektra, dieses alt verblichne Bild? 545

Elektra. Der ist es, Freund, der meinen Vater auferzog.

Drestes. Wie? Der Oresten ingeheim dem Tod entrückt?

Elektra. Der ihn gerettet, wenn er noch am Leben ist. Ha!

Orestes. Was průst mich doch der Alte, wie des Silberstucks Glanzhellen Stempel? Seh' ich sonst Jemanden gleich? 550

Elektra. Ihn freut's, Orestes' Jugendfreund in dir zu sehn.

Orestes. Des lieben Junglings! Sieh', er hupst um mich herum!

Elektra. Cuch ich, o Fremdling, wundre mich, ihn so zu sehn.

Der Greis. Elektra, Herrin, sage, Kind, den Göttern Dank

Elektra. Für etwas Fernes oder was uns nahe liegt? 555

Der Greis. Des theuren Schazes wegen, den ein Gott dir zeigt.

Elektra. Wohlan, ich bete! - Willst du noch Etwas, o Greis?

Der Greis. So blicke, Tochter, diesen an, den Theuersten!

Elektra. Schon lange fürcht' ich, daß du nicht bei Sinnen seist.

Πρέσβυς

οἱ δὲ ξένοι ποῦ; βούλομαι γὰρ εἰσιδὼν

αὐτοὺς ἔρεσθαι σοῦ κασιγνήτου πέρι.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἵδʼ ἐκ δόμων βαίνουσι λαιψηρῷ ποδί.

Πρέσβυς

ἀλλʼ εὐγενεῖς μέν, ἐν δὲ κιβδήλῳ τόδε·
550

πολλοὶ γὰρ ὄντες εὐγενεῖς εἰσιν κακοί.

ὅμως δέ. — χαίρειν τοὺς ξένους προσεννέπω.

Ὀρέστης

χαῖρʼ, ὦ γεραιέ. — τοῦ ποτʼ, Ἠλέκτρα, τόδε

παλαιὸν ἀνδρὸς λείψανον φίλων κυρεῖ;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὗτος τὸν ἁμὸν πατέρʼ ἔθρεψεν, ὦ ξένε.
555

Ὀρέστης

τί φῄς; ὅδʼ ὃς σὸν ἐξέκλεψε σύγγονον;

Ἠλέκτρα

ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ σώσας κεῖνον, εἴπερ ἔστʼ ἔτι.

Ὀρέστης

ἔα·

τί μʼ ἐσδέδορκεν ὥσπερ ἀργύρου σκοπῶν

λαμπρὸν χαρακτῆρʼ; ἢ προσεικάζει μέ τῳ;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἴσως Ὀρέστου σʼ ἥλιχʼ ἥδεται βλέπων.
560

Ὀρέστης

φίλου γε φωτός. τί δὲ κυκλεῖ πέριξ πόδα;

Ἠλέκτρα

καὐτὴ τόδʼ εἰσορῶσα θαυμάζω, ξένε.

Πρέσβυς

ὦ πότνιʼ, εὔχου, θύγατερ Ἠλέκτρα, θεοῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί τῶν ἀπόντων ἢ τί τῶν ὄντων πέρι;

Πρέσβυς

λαβεῖν φίλον θησαυρόν, ὃν φαίνει θεός.
565

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰδού· καλῶ θεούς. ἢ τί δὴ λέγεις, γέρον;

Πρέσβυς

βλέψον νυν ἐς τόνδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τὸν φίλτατον.

Ἠλέκτρα

πάλαι δέδορκα, μὴ σύ γʼ οὐκέτʼ εὖ φρονῇς.

Πρέσβυς

οὐκ εὖ φρονῶ ʼγὼ σὸν κασίγνητον βλέπων;

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραίʼ, ἀνέλπιστον λόγον;
570

Πρέσβυς

ὁρᾶν Ὀρέστην τόνδε τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῖον χαρακτῆρʼ εἰσιδών, ᾧ πείσομαι;

Πρέσβυς

οὐλὴν παρʼ ὀφρύν, ἥν ποτʼ ἐν πατρὸς δόμοις

νεβρὸν διώκων σοῦ μέθʼ ᾑμάχθη πεσών.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς φῄς; ὁρῶ μὲν πτώματος τεκμήριον.
575

Πρέσβυς

ἔπειτα μέλλεις προσπίτνειν τοῖς φιλτάτοις;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ, ὦ γεραιέ· συμβόλοισι γὰρ

τοῖς σοῖς πέπεισμαι θυμόν. — ὦ χρόνῳ φανείς,

ἔχω σʼ ἀέλπτως —

Ὀρέστης

κἀξ ἐμοῦ γʼ ἔχῃ χρόνῳ.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐδέποτε δόξασα.
580

Ὀρέστης

οὐδʼ ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤλπισα.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐκεῖνος εἶ σύ;

Ὀρέστης

σύμμαχός γέ σοι μόνος.

ἢν δʼ ἀνσπάσωμαί γʼ ὃν μετέρχομαι βόλον —

πέποιθα δʼ· ἢ χρὴ μηκέθʼ ἡγεῖσθαι θεούς,

εἰ τἄδικʼ ἔσται τῆς δίκης ὑπέρτερα.

Old man

Where are the guests? I want to see them and question them about your brother.

Electra

There they are, coming quickly out of the house.

Old man

They are well-born, but that may ring false; for many of the well-born are base. However; I give the guests welcome.
550

Orestes

Welcome, old man! To which of your friends, Electra, does this ancient remnant of a man belong?

Electra

This is the one who brought up my father, stranger.
555

Orestes

What are you saying? Is this the one who stole away your brother?

Electra

This is the one who saved him, if indeed he is still alive.

Orestes

Oh! Why does he look at me, as if he were examining the clear mark impressed on a silver coin? Is he comparing me to someone?

Electra

Perhaps he is glad to see in you a companion of Orestes.
560

Orestes

A beloved man, yes. But why is he circling all around me?

Electra

I too am amazed, looking at this, stranger.

Old man

O mistress, daughter Electra, pray to the gods.

Electra

For what thing, present or absent?

Old man

To have a beloved treasure, which the god is revealing.
565

Electra

See: I call on the gods. Or whatever do you mean, old man?

Old man

Look now at this man, my child, your dearest one.

Electra

I have been looking for a long time, to see whether you have lost your mind.

Old man

Lost my mind, because I see your brother?

Electra

What do you mean, old man, by this word, unhoped for?
570

Old man

That I see Orestes here, Agamemnon’s son.

Electra

What mark do you see, by which I shall be persuaded?

Old man

A scar along his brow, where he fell and drew blood one day in his father’s home when chasing a fawn with you.

Electra

What are you saying? I see the sign of the fall.
575

Old man

Then do you hesitate to embrace your dearest one?

Electra

Not any longer, old man; for my heart is persuaded by your tokens. O you who have appeared at last, I hold you, beyond all hope.

Orestes

And you are held by me at last.

Electra

I never expected it.
580

Orestes

Nor did I hope.

Electra

Are you that one?

Orestes

Yes, your one ally. If I draw back the cast of the net I am aiming for—but I have confidence; or else we must no longer believe in gods, if wrong is to be victorious over right.

Wo sind die fremden Männer? Denn ich will sie sehn,

Und deines Bruders wegen mich erkundigen.

Elektra.

Dort aus dem Hause kommen sie mit raschem Schritt.
540
Orestes. Pylades. Elektra. Der Greis.

Der Greis.

Sie scheinen edel: aber das ist trügerisch.

Denn Mancher hohen Standes ist doch båsgesinnt.

Indessen rus ich grüßend: Heil euch, Fremdlinge!

Orestes.

Heil dir auch, Alter! Welchem Freund aus alter Zeit

Gehört, Elektra, dieses alt verblichne Bild?
545

Elektra.

Der ist es, Freund, der meinen Vater auferzog.

Drestes.

Wie? Der Oresten ingeheim dem Tod entrückt?

Elektra.

Der ihn gerettet, wenn er noch am Leben ist.

Ha!

Orestes.

Was průst mich doch der Alte, wie des Silberstucks

Glanzhellen Stempel? Seh' ich sonst Jemanden gleich?
550

Elektra.

Ihn freut's, Orestes' Jugendfreund in dir zu sehn.

Orestes.

Des lieben Junglings! Sieh', er hupst um mich herum!

Elektra.

Cuch ich, o Fremdling, wundre mich, ihn so zu sehn.

Der Greis.

Elektra, Herrin, sage, Kind, den Göttern Dank

Elektra.

Für etwas Fernes oder was uns nahe liegt?
555

Der Greis.

Des theuren Schazes wegen, den ein Gott dir zeigt.

Elektra.

Wohlan, ich bete! - Willst du noch Etwas, o Greis?

Der Greis.

So blicke, Tochter, diesen an, den Theuersten!

Elektra.

Schon lange fürcht' ich, daß du nicht bei Sinnen seist.

Der Greis.

Von Sinnen ich und sehe deinen Bruder hier?
560

Elektra.

Was sprichst du doch ein Überraschend Wort, o Greis!

Der Greis.

Ich seh' Oresten, Agamemnons Sohn, vor dir.