Euripides, Orestes, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 1246

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Mykenische Freundinnen,

Ihr Edelsten im Pelasgersiz, Argos' und Land!

Chor.

Herrscherinn, welches Wort riefest du? Noch gebührt,

Herrinn genannt zu sein, dir in der Ahnen Stadt.
1240

Elektra.

Ihr Einen hier, stellt euch an diese Wagenbahn,¹

Und Ihr bewahret jenen Weg, zu des Hauses Hut!

Strophe. 2.

Chor.

Warum gebeutst du mir dies Geschäft?

Sag', o Geliebte, mir.

Elektra.

Weil ich befürchte, daß Einer an's Haus heran
1245

Zum Morde, dem blutigen, schleiche, neues Leid

Häufe zum alten Leid.

Erster Halbchor.

Wir wollen eilen, kommt heran! Hier diesen Pfad,

Dem Sonnenaufgang zugewandt, bewachen wir.

Zweiter Halbchor.

Und wir den andern, weicher schaut zum Niedergang.
1250
Strophe. 3.

Elektra.

Wendet die Augen nun spåhend umher, von hier

Dorthin, und dann spåht wieder nach jenem Bezirk.

Chor.

Wie du gebotst, thun wir.

Gegenstrophe 1.

Elektra.

Orestes. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1841; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 1, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1841. 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.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ὀρέστης Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978)) — 1246-1285 focus

Ἠλέκτρα

Μυκηνίδες ὦ φίλαι,

τὰ πρῶτα κατὰ Πελασγὸν ἕδος Ἀργείων.

Χορός

τίνα θροεῖς αὐδάν, πότνια; παραμένει

γὰρ ἔτι σοι τόδʼ ἐν Δαναϊδῶν πόλει.
1250

Ἠλέκτρα

στῆθʼ αἳ μὲν ὑμῶν τόνδʼ ἁμαξήρη τρίβον,

αἳ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἄλλον οἶμον ἐς φρουρὰν δόμων.

Χορός

τί δέ με τόδε χρέος ἀπύεις;

ἔνεπέ μοι, φίλα.

Ἠλέκτρα

φόβος ἔχει με μή τις ἐπὶ δώμασι
1255

σταθεὶς ἐπὶ φοίνιον αἷμα

πήματα πήμασιν ἐξεύρῃ.

Ἡμίχορος Α

χωρεῖτʼ, ἐπειγώμεσθʼ· ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τρίβον

τόνδʼ ἐκφυλάξω, τὸν πρὸς ἡλίου βολάς.

Ἡμίχορος Β

καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ τόνδʼ, ὃς πρὸς ἑσπέραν φέρει.
1260

Ἠλέκτρα

δόχμιά νυν κόρας διάφερʼ ὀμμάτων.

Χορός

ἐκεῖθεν ἐνθάδʼ, εἶτα παλινσκοπιὰν

ἔχομεν, ὡς θροεῖς.
1265

1266

Ἠλέκτρα

ἑλίσσετέ νυν βλέφαρα,

κόραισι δίδοτε πάντα διὰ βοστρύχων.

Ἡμίχορος Α

ὅδε τις ἐν τρίβῳ προσέρχεται. τίς ὅδʼ ἄρʼ ἀμ-

φὶ μέλαθρον πολεῖ σὸν ἀγρότας ἀνήρ;
1270

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀπωλόμεσθʼ ἄρʼ, ὦ φίλαι· κεκρυμμένους

θῆρας ξιφήρεις αὐτίκʼ ἐχθροῖσιν φανεῖ.

Ἡμίχορος Α

ἄφοβος ἔχε· κενός, ὦ φίλα,

στίβος ὃν οὐ δοκεῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δέ; τὸ σὸν βέβαιον ἔτι μοι μένει;
1275

δὸς ἀγγελίαν ἀγαθάν τινʼ,

εἰ τάδʼ ἔρημα τὰ πρόσθʼ αὐλᾶς.

Ἡμίχορος Β

καλῶς τά γʼ ἐνθένδʼ. ἀλλὰ τἀπὶ σοῦ σκόπει·

ὡς οὔτις ἡμῖν Δαναϊδῶν πελάζεται.

Ἡμίχορος Α

ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥκεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τῇδʼ ὄχλος.
1280

Ἠλέκτρα

φέρε νυν ἐν πύλαισιν ἀκοὰν βάλω.

Χορός

τί μέλλεθʼ οἱ κατʼ οἶκον ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

σφάγια φοινίσσειν;
1285

Translations (2)

Orestes Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1246-1285 focus

Electra

My dear friends of Mycenae , of foremost rank in Argos , the home of the Pelasgians.

Chorus

What are you saying to us, mistress?

For this honored name is still left for you in the Danaid town.
1250

Electra

Station yourselves, some here along the high road, others there on some other path, to watch the house.

Chorus

But why do you call me to this service? Tell me, my dear.

Electra

I am afraid that some one, who is stationed at the house for slaughter, may find trouble upon trouble.
1255

First Semi-Chorus

Let us make haste and go on; I will keep careful watch upon this road towards the east.

Second Semi-Chorus

And I on this one, that leads westward.
1260

Electra

Throw a glance sideways.

Chorus

Here and there, then we are looking back again,

as you tell us.
1265

1266

Electra

Cast your eyes around, let them see everything, through your tresses.

First Semi-Chorus

Who is that on the road? Who is this

country-man wandering round your house?
1270

Electra

Ah! friends, we are ruined; he will at once reveal to our enemies the armed ambush.

Second Semi-Chorus

(Reconnoitring. Calm your fears; the road is not occupied, as you think, my dear.

Electra

(Turning to the other watchers.) Well? Is your side still secure? Give me a good report, if the space before the court-yard is deserted.
1275

First Semi-Chorus

All goes well here; look to your own watch, for no Danaid is approaching us.

Second Semi-Chorus

Your report agrees with mine; there is no noise here either.
1280

Electra

Well then, I will listen in the gateway.

Chorus

(Calling through the door.) You within the house, why are you delaying to spill your victim’s blood,

now that all is quiet?
1285

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

No corresponding passage available

Notes on the current edition

Orestes

1. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] Wagenbahn, Fahrweg, Landstraße.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Mykenische Freundinnen, Ihr Edelsten im Pelasgersiz, Argos' und Land!

Chor. Herrscherinn, welches Wort riefest du? Noch gebührt, Herrinn genannt zu sein, dir in der Ahnen Stadt. 1240

Elektra. Ihr Einen hier, stellt euch an diese Wagenbahn, 1 Und Ihr bewahret jenen Weg, zu des Hauses Hut! Strophe. 2.

Chor. Warum gebeutst du mir dies Geschäft? Sag', o Geliebte, mir.

Elektra. Weil ich befürchte, daß Einer an's Haus heran 1245 Zum Morde, dem blutigen, schleiche, neues Leid Häufe zum alten Leid.

Erster Halbchor. Wir wollen eilen, kommt heran! Hier diesen Pfad, Dem Sonnenaufgang zugewandt, bewachen wir.

Zweiter Halbchor. Und wir den andern, weicher schaut zum Niedergang. 1250 Strophe. 3.

Elektra. Wendet die Augen nun spåhend umher, von hier Dorthin, und dann spåht wieder nach jenem Bezirk.

Chor. Wie du gebotst, thun wir. Gegenstrophe 1.

Elektra.

Current edition Experimental

Ἠλέκτρα Μυκηνίδες ὦ φίλαι, τὰ πρῶτα κατὰ Πελασγὸν ἕδος Ἀργείων.

Χορός τίνα θροεῖς αὐδάν, πότνια; παραμένει γὰρ ἔτι σοι τόδʼ ἐν Δαναϊδῶν πόλει. 1250

Ἠλέκτρα στῆθʼ αἳ μὲν ὑμῶν τόνδʼ ἁμαξήρη τρίβον, αἳ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἄλλον οἶμον ἐς φρουρὰν δόμων.

Χορός τί δέ με τόδε χρέος ἀπύεις; ἔνεπέ μοι, φίλα.

Ἠλέκτρα φόβος ἔχει με μή τις ἐπὶ δώμασι 1255 σταθεὶς ἐπὶ φοίνιον αἷμα πήματα πήμασιν ἐξεύρῃ.

Ἡμίχορος Α χωρεῖτʼ, ἐπειγώμεσθʼ· ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τρίβον τόνδʼ ἐκφυλάξω, τὸν πρὸς ἡλίου βολάς.

Ἡμίχορος Β καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ τόνδʼ, ὃς πρὸς ἑσπέραν φέρει. 1260

Ἠλέκτρα δόχμιά νυν κόρας διάφερʼ ὀμμάτων.

Χορός ἐκεῖθεν ἐνθάδʼ, εἶτα παλινσκοπιὰν ἔχομεν, ὡς θροεῖς. 1265

Ἠλέκτρα ἑλίσσετέ νυν βλέφαρα, κόραισι δίδοτε πάντα διὰ βοστρύχων.

Ἡμίχορος Α ὅδε τις ἐν τρίβῳ προσέρχεται. τίς ὅδʼ ἄρʼ ἀμ- φὶ μέλαθρον πολεῖ σὸν ἀγρότας ἀνήρ; 1270

Ἠλέκτρα ἀπωλόμεσθʼ ἄρʼ, ὦ φίλαι· κεκρυμμένους θῆρας ξιφήρεις αὐτίκʼ ἐχθροῖσιν φανεῖ.

Ἡμίχορος Α ἄφοβος ἔχε· κενός, ὦ φίλα, στίβος ὃν οὐ δοκεῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα τί δέ; τὸ σὸν βέβαιον ἔτι μοι μένει; 1275 δὸς ἀγγελίαν ἀγαθάν τινʼ, εἰ τάδʼ ἔρημα τὰ πρόσθʼ αὐλᾶς.

Ἡμίχορος Β καλῶς τά γʼ ἐνθένδʼ. ἀλλὰ τἀπὶ σοῦ σκόπει· ὡς οὔτις ἡμῖν Δαναϊδῶν πελάζεται.

Ἡμίχορος Α ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥκεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τῇδʼ ὄχλος. 1280

Ἠλέκτρα φέρε νυν ἐν πύλαισιν ἀκοὰν βάλω.

Χορός τί μέλλεθʼ οἱ κατʼ οἶκον ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ σφάγια φοινίσσειν; 1285

Electra My dear friends of Mycenae , of foremost rank in Argos , the home of the Pelasgians.

Chorus What are you saying to us, mistress? For this honored name is still left for you in the Danaid town. 1250

Electra Station yourselves, some here along the high road, others there on some other path, to watch the house.

Chorus But why do you call me to this service? Tell me, my dear.

Electra I am afraid that some one, who is stationed at the house for slaughter, may find trouble upon trouble. 1255

First Semi-Chorus Let us make haste and go on; I will keep careful watch upon this road towards the east.

Second Semi-Chorus And I on this one, that leads westward. 1260

Electra Throw a glance sideways.

Chorus Here and there, then we are looking back again, as you tell us. 1265

Electra Cast your eyes around, let them see everything, through your tresses.

First Semi-Chorus Who is that on the road? Who is this country-man wandering round your house? 1270

Electra Ah! friends, we are ruined; he will at once reveal to our enemies the armed ambush.

Second Semi-Chorus (Reconnoitring. Calm your fears; the road is not occupied, as you think, my dear.

Electra (Turning to the other watchers.) Well? Is your side still secure? Give me a good report, if the space before the court-yard is deserted. 1275

First Semi-Chorus All goes well here; look to your own watch, for no Danaid is approaching us.

Second Semi-Chorus Your report agrees with mine; there is no noise here either. 1280

Electra Well then, I will listen in the gateway.

Chorus (Calling through the door.) You within the house, why are you delaying to spill your victim’s blood, now that all is quiet? 1285

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Mykenische Freundinnen,

Ihr Edelsten im Pelasgersiz, Argos' und Land!

Chor.

Herrscherinn, welches Wort riefest du? Noch gebührt,

Herrinn genannt zu sein, dir in der Ahnen Stadt.
1240

Elektra.

Ihr Einen hier, stellt euch an diese Wagenbahn,¹

Und Ihr bewahret jenen Weg, zu des Hauses Hut!

Strophe. 2.

Chor.

Warum gebeutst du mir dies Geschäft?

Sag', o Geliebte, mir.

Elektra.

Weil ich befürchte, daß Einer an's Haus heran
1245

Zum Morde, dem blutigen, schleiche, neues Leid

Häufe zum alten Leid.

Erster Halbchor.

Wir wollen eilen, kommt heran! Hier diesen Pfad,

Dem Sonnenaufgang zugewandt, bewachen wir.

Zweiter Halbchor.

Und wir den andern, weicher schaut zum Niedergang.
1250
Strophe. 3.

Elektra.

Wendet die Augen nun spåhend umher, von hier

Dorthin, und dann spåht wieder nach jenem Bezirk.

Chor.

Wie du gebotst, thun wir.

Gegenstrophe 1.

Ἠλέκτρα

Μυκηνίδες ὦ φίλαι,

τὰ πρῶτα κατὰ Πελασγὸν ἕδος Ἀργείων.

Χορός

τίνα θροεῖς αὐδάν, πότνια; παραμένει

γὰρ ἔτι σοι τόδʼ ἐν Δαναϊδῶν πόλει.
1250

Ἠλέκτρα

στῆθʼ αἳ μὲν ὑμῶν τόνδʼ ἁμαξήρη τρίβον,

αἳ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἄλλον οἶμον ἐς φρουρὰν δόμων.

Χορός

τί δέ με τόδε χρέος ἀπύεις;

ἔνεπέ μοι, φίλα.

Ἠλέκτρα

φόβος ἔχει με μή τις ἐπὶ δώμασι
1255

σταθεὶς ἐπὶ φοίνιον αἷμα

πήματα πήμασιν ἐξεύρῃ.

Ἡμίχορος Α

χωρεῖτʼ, ἐπειγώμεσθʼ· ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τρίβον

τόνδʼ ἐκφυλάξω, τὸν πρὸς ἡλίου βολάς.

Ἡμίχορος Β

καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ τόνδʼ, ὃς πρὸς ἑσπέραν φέρει.
1260

Ἠλέκτρα

δόχμιά νυν κόρας διάφερʼ ὀμμάτων.

Χορός

ἐκεῖθεν ἐνθάδʼ, εἶτα παλινσκοπιὰν

ἔχομεν, ὡς θροεῖς.
1265

Ἠλέκτρα

ἑλίσσετέ νυν βλέφαρα,

κόραισι δίδοτε πάντα διὰ βοστρύχων.

Ἡμίχορος Α

ὅδε τις ἐν τρίβῳ προσέρχεται. τίς ὅδʼ ἄρʼ ἀμ-

φὶ μέλαθρον πολεῖ σὸν ἀγρότας ἀνήρ;
1270

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀπωλόμεσθʼ ἄρʼ, ὦ φίλαι· κεκρυμμένους

θῆρας ξιφήρεις αὐτίκʼ ἐχθροῖσιν φανεῖ.

Ἡμίχορος Α

ἄφοβος ἔχε· κενός, ὦ φίλα,

στίβος ὃν οὐ δοκεῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δέ; τὸ σὸν βέβαιον ἔτι μοι μένει;
1275

δὸς ἀγγελίαν ἀγαθάν τινʼ,

εἰ τάδʼ ἔρημα τὰ πρόσθʼ αὐλᾶς.

Ἡμίχορος Β

καλῶς τά γʼ ἐνθένδʼ. ἀλλὰ τἀπὶ σοῦ σκόπει·

ὡς οὔτις ἡμῖν Δαναϊδῶν πελάζεται.

Ἡμίχορος Α

ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥκεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τῇδʼ ὄχλος.
1280

Ἠλέκτρα

φέρε νυν ἐν πύλαισιν ἀκοὰν βάλω.

Χορός

τί μέλλεθʼ οἱ κατʼ οἶκον ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

σφάγια φοινίσσειν;
1285

Electra

My dear friends of Mycenae , of foremost rank in Argos , the home of the Pelasgians.

Chorus

What are you saying to us, mistress?

For this honored name is still left for you in the Danaid town.
1250

Electra

Station yourselves, some here along the high road, others there on some other path, to watch the house.

Chorus

But why do you call me to this service? Tell me, my dear.

Electra

I am afraid that some one, who is stationed at the house for slaughter, may find trouble upon trouble.
1255

First Semi-Chorus

Let us make haste and go on; I will keep careful watch upon this road towards the east.

Second Semi-Chorus

And I on this one, that leads westward.
1260

Electra

Throw a glance sideways.

Chorus

Here and there, then we are looking back again,

as you tell us.
1265

Electra

Cast your eyes around, let them see everything, through your tresses.

First Semi-Chorus

Who is that on the road? Who is this

country-man wandering round your house?
1270

Electra

Ah! friends, we are ruined; he will at once reveal to our enemies the armed ambush.

Second Semi-Chorus

(Reconnoitring. Calm your fears; the road is not occupied, as you think, my dear.

Electra

(Turning to the other watchers.) Well? Is your side still secure? Give me a good report, if the space before the court-yard is deserted.
1275

First Semi-Chorus

All goes well here; look to your own watch, for no Danaid is approaching us.

Second Semi-Chorus

Your report agrees with mine; there is no noise here either.
1280

Electra

Well then, I will listen in the gateway.

Chorus

(Calling through the door.) You within the house, why are you delaying to spill your victim’s blood,

now that all is quiet?
1285