Euripides, Orestes, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 1366

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Doch horch! Die Riegel drohnen laut am Königshaus;

Drum stille: denn der Phryger einer stürzt heraus,

Von dem wir horen wollen, wie's im Hause steht.
1350

Der Phryger.

Urgos Schwertern entrann ich, entrann dem Tode;

Leichtes Flugs eilt' ich in Phrygerschuh'n,

Hindurch die Hallen mit den Cederzinnen,

Mit der Dorersäulen Schmuck,

Flüchtig fort, (o Erde!)
1355

Fort in blindem Laufe.

Wohin soll ich fliehn, wohin, Frauen? Weh!

Flieg' ich zum Aether auf, oder zu dem Meere, das

Rings der Gott Okeanos,

Wie Arm', um die Erde schlingt?
1360

Chor.

Was ist es, Mann vom Ida, Diener Helena's?

Der Phryger.

Ilion, Ilion, weh mir, weh!

Phrygerstadt mit fettem Boden, du!

Heiliger Idaberg, wie, Unseliger!

Wie beklagt in Trauerweisen,
1365

Mit Barbarenton mein Lied

Dich, dem Helena's Auge Verderben schuf,

Der Unholdinn, die der Schwan Leda's Schooß

Entlockt! Ilions gottlichen Mauern ward

Sie zur Erinnys, ach!
1370

D Jammerloos, o Jammerloos!

Arme Dardania, wo Ganymedes die

Rosse getummelt, der Liebling Zeus'!

Chor.

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)) — 1366-1536 focus

Χορός

ἀλλὰ κτυπεῖ γὰρ κλῇθρα βασιλείων δόμων,

σιγήσατʼ· ἔξω γάρ τις ἐκβαίνει Φρυγῶν,

οὗ πευσόμεσθα τἀν δόμοις ὅπως ἔχει.

Φρύξ

Ἀργέϊον ξίφος ἐκ θανάτου πέφευγα

βαρβάροις ἐν εὐμάρι-
1370

σιν, κεδρωτὰ παστάδων ὑπὲρ τέραμνα

Δωρικάς τε τριγλύφους,

φροῦδα φροῦδα, γᾶ γᾶ,

βαρβάροισι δρασμοῖς.

αἰαῖ·
1375

πᾷ φύγω, ξέναι, πολιὸν αἰθέρʼ ἀμ-

πτάμενος ἢ πόντον, Ὠκεανὸς ὃν

ταυρόκρανος ἀγκάλαις

ἑλίσσων κυκλοῖ χθόνα;

Χορός

τί δʼ ἔστιν, Ἑλένης πρόσπολʼ. Ἰδαῖον κάρα;
1380

Φρύξ

Ἴλιον Ἴλιον, ὤμοι μοι,

Φρύγιον ἄστυ καὶ καλλίβωλον Ἴ-

δας ὄρος ἱερόν, ὥς σʼ ὀλόμενον στένω

ἁρμάτειον ἁρμάτειον μέλος

βαρβάρῳ βοᾷ διʼ ὀρνιθόγονον
1385

ὄμμα κυκνοπτέρου καλλοσύνας, Λήδας

σκύμνου, δυσελένας

δυσελένας,

ξεστῶν περγάμων Ἀπολλωνίων

ἐρινύν· ὀττοτοῖ·

ἰαλέμων ἰαλέμων
1390

Δαρδανία τλᾶμον Γανυμήδεος

ἱπποσύνᾳ, Διὸς εὐνέτα.

1393

Χορός

σαφῶς λέγʼ ἡμῖν αὔθʼ ἕκαστα τἀν δόμοις.

τὰ γὰρ πρὶν οὐκ εὔγνωστα συμβαλοῦσʼ ἔχω.

Φρύξ

αἴλινον αἴλινον ἀρχὰν θανάτου
1395

βάρβαροι λέγουσιν, αἰαῖ,

Ἀσιάδι φωνᾷ, βασιλέων

ὅταν αἷμα χυθῇ κατὰ γᾶν ξίφεσιν

σιδαρέοισιν Ἅιδα.

ἦλθον ἐς δόμους, ἵνʼ αὔθʼ ἕ-
1400

καστά σοι λέγω, λέοντες

Ἕλλανες δύο διδύμω·

τῷ μὲν ὁ στρατηλάτας πατὴρ ἐκλῄζεθʼ,

ὃ δὲ παῖς Στροφίου, κακόμητις ἀνήρ,

οἷος Ὀδυσσεύς, σιγᾷ δόλιος,

πιστὸς δὲ φίλοις, θρασὺς εἰς ἀλκάν,
1405

ξυνετὸς πολέμου, φόνιός τε δράκων.

ἔρροι τᾶς ἡσύχου

προνοίας κακοῦργος ὤν.

οἳ δὲ πρὸς θρόνους ἔσω

μολόντες ἇς ἔγημʼ ὁ τοξότας Πάρις

γυναικός, ὄμμα δακρύοις
1410

πεφυρμένοι, ταπεινοὶ

ἕζονθʼ, ὃ μὲν τὸ κεῖθεν, ὃ δὲ

τὸ κεῖθεν, ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν πεφραγμένοι.

περὶ δὲ γόνυ χέρας ἱκεσίους ἔβαλον ἔβαλον

Ἑλένας ἄμφω.
1415

ἀνὰ δὲ δρομάδες ἔθορον ἔθορον

ἀμφίπολοι Φρύγες·

προσεῖπε δʼ ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐν φόβῳ πεσών,

μή τις εἴη δόλος.

κἀδόκει τοῖς μὲν οὔ,
1420

τοῖς δʼ ἐς ἀρκυστάταν

μηχανὰν ἐμπλέκειν

παῖδα τὰν Τυνδαρίδʼ ὁ

μητροφόντας δράκων.

1425

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἦσθα ποῦ τότʼ; ἢ πάλαι φεύγεις φόβῳ,
1425

Φρύξ

Φρυγίοις ἔτυχον Φρυγίοισι νόμοις

παρὰ βόστρυχον αὔραν αὔραν

Ἑλένας Ἑλένας εὐπαγεῖ

κύκλῳ πτερίνῳ πρὸ παρηίδος

ἀίσσων βαρβάροις νόμοισιν.
1430

ἃ δὲ λίνον ἠλακάτᾳ

δακτύλοις ἕλισσεν,

νῆμα δʼ ἵετο πέδῳ,

σκύλων Φρυγίων ἐπὶ τύμβον ἀγάλ-

ματα συστολίσαι χρῄζουσα λίνῳ,
1435

φάρεα πορφύρεα, δῶρα Κλυταιμήστρᾳ.

προσεῖπεν δʼ Ὀρέστας

Λάκαιναν κόραν· ὦ

Διὸς παῖ, θὲς ἴχνος

πέδῳ δεῦρʼ ἀποστᾶσα κλισμοῦ,
1440

Πέλοπος ἐπὶ προπάτορος ἕδραν

παλαιᾶς ἑστίας,

ἵνʼ εἰδῇς λόγους ἐμούς. —

ἄγει δʼ ἄγει νιν· ἃ δʼ ἐφείπετʼ,

οὐ πρόμαντις ὧν ἔμελλεν·
1445

ὁ δὲ συνεργὸς ἄλλʼ ἔπρασσʼ

ἰὼν κακὸς Φωκεύς·

οὐκ ἐκποδὼν ἴτʼ; ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ κακοὶ Φρύγες.

ἔκλῃσε δʼ ἄλλον ἄλλοσʼ ἐν

στέγαισι· τοὺς μὲν ἐν σταθμοῖ-

σιν ἱππικοῖσι, τοὺς δʼ ἐν ἐξ-

έδραισι, τοὺς δʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἄλλον ἄλ-
1450

λοσε διαρμόσας ἀποπρὸ δεσποίνας.

Χορός

τί τοὐπὶ τῷδε συμφορᾶς ἐγίγνετο;

Φρύξ

Ἰδαία μᾶτερ

μᾶτερ ὀβρίμα ὀβρίμα,

αἰαὶ φονίων παθέων ἀνόμων
1455

τε κακῶν ἅπερ ἔδρακον ἔδρακον

ἐν δόμοις τυράννων.

ἀμφιπορφυρέων πέπλων

ὑπὸ σκότου ξίφη σπάσα-

ντες ἄλλος ἄλλοσʼ ἐν χεροῖν

δίνασεν ὄμμα, μή τις παρὼν τύχοι.

ὡς κάπροι δʼ ὀρέστεροι γυ-

ναικὸς ἀντίοι σταθέντες
1460

ἐννέπουσι· Κατθανῇ

κατθανῇ,

κακός σʼ ἀποκτείνει πόσις,

κασιγνήτου προδοὺς

ἐν Ἄργει θανεῖν γόνον.

ἃ δʼ ἀνίαχεν ἴ-
1465

αχεν· Ὤμοι μοι.

λευκὸν δʼ ἐμβαλοῦσα πῆχυν στέρνοις

κτύπησε κρᾶτα μέλεον πλαγᾷ·

φυγᾷ δὲ ποδὶ τὸ χρυσεοσάνδαλον

ἴχνος ἔφερεν ἔφερεν· ἐς

κόμας δὲ δακτύλους δικὼν Ὀρέστας,

Μυκηνίδʼ ἀρβύλαν προβάς,
1470

ὤμοις ἀριστεροῖσιν ἀνακλάσας δέρην,

παίειν λαιμῶν ἔμελ-

λεν εἴσω μέλαν ξίφος.

1473

Χορός

ποῦ δʼ ἦτʼ ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες;

Φρύξ

ἰαχᾷ

δόμων θύρετρα καὶ σταθμοὺς

μοχλοῖσιν ἐκβαλόντες, ἔνθʼ ἐμίμνομεν,

βοηδρομοῦμεν ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν στέγης,
1475

ὃ μὲν πέτρους, ὃ δʼ ἀγκύλας,

ὃ δὲ ξίφος πρόκωπον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων.

ἔναντα δʼ ἦλθε Πυλάδης

ἀλίαστος, οἷος οἷος Ἕκ-

τωρ ὁ Φρύγιος ἢ τρικόρυθος Αἴας,
1480

ὃν εἶδον εἶδον ἐν πύλαις

Πριαμίσι· φασγάνων δʼ ἀκμὰς

συνήψαμεν.

δὴ τότε διαπρεπεῖς τότʼ ἐγένοντο Φρύγες,

ὅσον Ἄρεως ἀλκὰν

ἥσσονες Ἑλλάδος ἐγενόμεθʼ αἰχμᾶς,
1485

ὃ μὲν οἰχόμενος φυγάς, ὃ δὲ νέκυς ὤν,

ὃ δὲ τραῦμα φέρων, ὃ δὲ λισσόμενος,

θανάτου προβολάν·

ὑπὸ σκότον δʼ ἐφεύγομεν·

νεκροὶ δʼ ἔπιπτον, οἳ δʼ ἔμελλον, οἳ δʼ ἔκειντʼ.

ἔμολε δʼ ἁ τάλαινʼ Ἑρμιόνα δόμους
1490

ἐπὶ φόνῳ χαμαιπετεῖ ματρός, ἅ

νιν ἔτεκεν τλάμων.

ἄθυρσοι δʼ

οἷά νιν δραμόντε Βάκχαι

σκύμνον ἐν χεροῖν ὀρείαν

ξυνήρπασαν· πάλιν δὲ τὰν Διὸς κόραν

ἐπὶ σφαγὰν ἔτεινον· ἃ δʼ

ἐκ θαλάμων

ἐγένετο διαπρὸ δωμάτων
1495

ἄφαντος, ὦ Ζεῦ καὶ γᾶ

καὶ φῶς καὶ νύξ,

ἤτοι φαρμάκοισιν ἢ

μάγων τέχναις ἢ θεῶν κλοπαῖς.

τὰ δʼ ὕστερʼ οὐκέτʼ οἶδα· δρα-

πέτην γὰρ ἐξέκλεπτον ἐκ δόμων πόδα.

πολύπονα δὲ πολύπονα πάθεα
1500

Μενέλεως ἀνασχόμενος ἀνόνητον ἀ-

πὸ Τροίας ἔλαβε τὸν Ἑλένας γάμον.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ἀμείβει καινὸν ἐκ καινῶν τόδε·

ξιφηφόρον γὰρ εἰσορῶ πρὸ δωμάτων

βαίνοντʼ Ὀρέστην ἐπτοημένῳ ποδί.
1505

1506

Ὀρέστης

ποῦ ʼστιν οὗτος ὃς πέφευγεν ἐκ δόμων τοὐμὸν ξίφος;

Φρύξ

προσκυνῶ σʼ, ἄναξ, νόμοισι βαρβάροισι προσπίτνων.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἐν Ἰλίῳ τάδʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονί.

Φρύξ

πανταχοῦ ζῆν ἡδὺ μᾶλλον ἢ θανεῖν τοῖς σώφροσιν.

Ὀρέστης

οὔτι που κραυγὴν ἔθηκας Μενέλεῳ βοηδρομεῖν;
1510

Φρύξ

σοὶ μὲν οὖν ἔγωγʼ ἀμύνειν· ἀξιώτερος γὰρ εἶ.

Ὀρέστης

ἐνδίκως ἡ Τυνδάρειος ἆρα παῖς διώλετο;

Φρύξ

ἐνδικώτατʼ, εἴ γε λαιμοὺς εἶχε τριπτύχους θανεῖν.

Ὀρέστης

δειλίᾳ γλώσσῃ χαρίζῃ, τἄνδον οὐχ οὕτω φρονῶν.

Φρύξ

οὐ γάρ, ἥτις Ἑλλάδʼ αὐτοῖς Φρυξὶ διελυμήνατο;
1515

Ὀρέστης

ὄμοσον — εἰ δὲ μή, κτενῶ σε — μὴ λέγειν ἐμὴν χάριν.

Φρύξ

τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν κατώμοσʼ, ἣν ἂν εὐορκοῖμʼ ἐγώ.

Ὀρέστης

ὧδε κἀν Τροίᾳ σίδηρος πᾶσι Φρυξὶν ἦν φόβος;

Φρύξ

ἄπεχε φάσγανον· πέλας γὰρ δεινὸν ἀνταυγεῖ φόνον.

Ὀρέστης

μὴ πέτρος γένῃ δέδοικας ὥστε Γοργόνʼ εἰσιδών;
1520

Φρύξ

μὴ μὲν οὖν νεκρός· τὸ Γοργοῦς δʼ οὐ κάτοιδʼ ἐγὼ κάρα.

Ὀρέστης

δοῦλος ὢν φοβῇ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὅς σʼ ἀπαλλάξει κακῶν;

Φρύξ

πᾶς ἀνήρ, κἂν δοῦλος ᾖ τις, ἥδεται τὸ φῶς ὁρῶν.

Ὀρέστης

εὖ λέγεις· σῴζει σε σύνεσις. ἀλλὰ βαῖνʼ ἔσω δόμων.

Φρύξ

οὐκ ἄρα κτενεῖς με;
1525

Ὀρέστης

ἀφεῖσαι.

Φρύξ

καλὸν ἔπος λέγεις τόδε.

Ὀρέστης

ἀλλὰ μεταβουλευσόμεσθα.

Φρύξ

τοῦτο δʼ οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

Ὀρέστης

μῶρος, εἰ δοκεῖς με τλῆναι σὴν καθαιμάξαι δέρην·

οὔτε γὰρ γυνὴ πέφυκας — οὔτʼ ἐν ἀνδράσιν σύ γʼ εἶ.

τοῦ δὲ μὴ στῆσαί σε κραυγὴν οὕνεκʼ ἐξῆλθον δόμων·

ὀξὺ γὰρ βοῆς ἀκοῦσαν Ἄργος ἐξεγείρεται.
1530

Μενέλεων δʼ οὐ τάρβος ἡμῖν ἀναλαβεῖν ἔσω ξίφους·

ἀλλʼ ἴτω ξανθοῖς ἐπʼ ὤμων βοστρύχοις γαυρούμενος·

εἰ γὰρ Ἀργείους ἐπάξει τοῖσδε δώμασιν λαβών,

τὸν Ἑλένης φόνον διώκων, κἀμὲ μὴ σῴζειν θέλει

σύγγονόν τʼ ἐμὴν Πυλάδην τε τὸν τάδε ξυνδρῶντά μοι,
1535

παρθένον τε καὶ δάμαρτα δύο νεκρὼ κατόψεται.

Translations (2)

Orestes Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1366-1535 focus

Chorus Leader

But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within.

Phrygian

(expressing the most abject terror.) I have escaped from death by Argive sword,

in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!
1370

Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace?
1375

Chorus Leader

What is it, Helen’s slave, creature from Ida?
1380

Phrygian

Ilium , Ilium , oh me! city of Phrygia , and Ida’s holy hill with fruitful soil, how I mourn for your destruction a shrill song

with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!
1385

woe to Dardania, its wailing, wailing, for the horsemanship of Ganymede, bedfellow of Zeus.
1390

1393

Chorus Leader

Tell us clearly each event within the house. for till now I have been guessing at what I do not clearly understand.

Phrygian

Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.
1395

To tell you everything in turn, they came into the house, two twin lions of Hellas ; one was called the general’s son; the other was the son of Strophius, a crafty plotter, like Odysseus, treacherous in silence,
1400

but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!
1405

In they came to the throne of the wife of Paris the archer,

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knees
1410

of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.
1415

To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot.
1420

1425

Chorus Leader

And where were you? fled long before in terror?
1425

Phrygian

It happened that I, in Phrygian style, Phrygian, was wafting the breeze, the breeze by the curls of Helen, Helen, with a round feathered fan, before her face,

in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth
1430

as adornment for the tomb from the Trojan spoils, a gift to Clytemnestra.
1435

Orestes said to the Spartan girl: Daughter of Zeus, get up from your chair

and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say. He led her, led her, and she followed,
1440

no prophet of the future. But his accomplice, the Phocian villain, was off on other business: Out of my way! Well, Phrygians always were cowards. So he shut them up in different parts of the house, some in the stables, others in the halls,
1445

one here, one there, disposing of them severally at a distance from their mistress.
1450

Chorus Leader

What happened next?

Phrygian

Mother of Ida, great, great mother!

Oh! the murderous scenes and lawless wickedness that I saw, I saw, in the palace! They drew forth swords from hiding under their purple-bordered cloaks, each darting his eye a different way, lest anyone should be near. Like boar of the hills,
1455

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .
1460

She screamed, oh, oh! she screamed, and brought down her white arm upon her breast and beat her poor head; then turned her golden-sandalled steps in flight, in flight; but Orestes got before her in his Mycenean boots and clutched his fingers in her hair,
1465

and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat.
1470

1473

Chorus Leader

Where were you Phrygians in the house to help her?

Phrygian

With a loud cry from the house we battered down with bars the doors and doorposts where we had been,

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like
1475

Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were,
1480

how much less we were in battle strength to the Hellene might. There was one man gone in flight, another slain, another wounded, yet another pleading to stave off death; but we escaped under cover of the darkness; while some were falling, some were about to fall, and others were lying dead.
1485

And just as her unhappy mother sank to the ground to die, the luckless Hermione came in. Those two, like Bacchantes when they drop the thyrsus for a mountain cub, rushed and seized her; then turned again to the daughter of Zeus to slay her; but she had vanished from the room,
1490

passing right through the house, O Zeus and Earth and light and night! whether by magic spells or wizards’ arts or heavenly theft.
1495

What happened afterwards I do not know; for I stole out of the palace, a runaway.

So Menelaus endured his painful, painful suffering to recover his wife Helen from Troy to no purpose.
1500

Chorus Leader

And look, here is a strange sight succeeding others; for I see Orestes sword in hand before the palace,

advancing with excited steps.
1505

1506

Orestes

Where is the one who fled from the palace to escape my sword?

Phrygian
falling at the feet of Orestes

Before you I prostrate myself, lord, and supplicate you in my foreign way.

Orestes

We are not in Ilium , but the land of Argos .

Phrygian

Everywhere, the wise find life sweeter than death.

Orestes

I suppose that shouting of yours was not for Menelaus to come to the rescue?
1510

Phrygian

Oh no! it was to help you I called out, for you are more deserving.

Orestes

Did the daughter of Tyndareus die justly, then?

Phrygian

Most justly, even if she had three throats to die with.

Orestes

Your cowardice makes you glib; this is not what you really think.

Phrygian

Why, surely she deserved it, the one who destroyed Hellas and the Phrygians too?
1515

Orestes

Swear you are not saying this to humor me, or I will kill you.

Phrygian

I swear by my life, an oath I would keep!

Orestes

Did every Phrygian in Troy show the same terror of steel as you do?

Phrygian

Take your sword away! Held so near it flashes a dreadful gleam of blood.

Orestes

Are you afraid of being turned to a stone, as if you had seen a Gorgon?
1520

Phrygian

To a stone, no! but to a corpse; I don’t know this Gorgon’s head.

Orestes

A slave, and yet you fear death, which will release you from trouble?

Phrygian

Slave or free, every one is glad to gaze upon the light.

Orestes

Well said! Your shrewdness saves you; go inside.

Phrygian

You will not kill me after all?
1525

Orestes

You are spared.

Phrygian

How well you said that!

Orestes

Now it’s time to change my plans.

Phrygian

You didn’t say that well!

Orestes

You fool! Do you think I could endure to make your throat bloody? You weren’t born a woman, nor do you belong among men. The reason I left the palace was to stop your shouting;

for Argos is quickly roused, once it hears a cry to the rescue. As for Menelaus, I am not afraid of measuring swords with him; let him come, proud of the golden ringlets on his shoulders; for if, to avenge the slaying of Helen, he gathers the Argives and leads them against the palace, refusing to attempt the rescue of me,
1530

my sister, and Pylades, my fellow conspirator, he will have two corpses to behold, his daughter’s as well as his wife’s. Exeunt Orestes and The Phrygian Slave.
1535

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

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Doch horch! Die Riegel drohnen laut am Königshaus; Drum stille: denn der Phryger einer stürzt heraus, Von dem wir horen wollen, wie's im Hause steht. 1350

Chor. Was ist es, Mann vom Ida, Diener Helena's?

Chor.

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἀλλὰ κτυπεῖ γὰρ κλῇθρα βασιλείων δόμων, σιγήσατʼ· ἔξω γάρ τις ἐκβαίνει Φρυγῶν, οὗ πευσόμεσθα τἀν δόμοις ὅπως ἔχει.

Χορός τί δʼ ἔστιν, Ἑλένης πρόσπολʼ. Ἰδαῖον κάρα; 1380

Χορός σαφῶς λέγʼ ἡμῖν αὔθʼ ἕκαστα τἀν δόμοις. τὰ γὰρ πρὶν οὐκ εὔγνωστα συμβαλοῦσʼ ἔχω.

Χορός σὺ δʼ ἦσθα ποῦ τότʼ; ἢ πάλαι φεύγεις φόβῳ, 1425

Χορός τί τοὐπὶ τῷδε συμφορᾶς ἐγίγνετο;

Χορός ποῦ δʼ ἦτʼ ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες;

Χορός καὶ μὴν ἀμείβει καινὸν ἐκ καινῶν τόδε· ξιφηφόρον γὰρ εἰσορῶ πρὸ δωμάτων βαίνοντʼ Ὀρέστην ἐπτοημένῳ ποδί. 1505

Ὀρέστης ποῦ ʼστιν οὗτος ὃς πέφευγεν ἐκ δόμων τοὐμὸν ξίφος;

Φρύξ προσκυνῶ σʼ, ἄναξ, νόμοισι βαρβάροισι προσπίτνων.

Ὀρέστης οὐκ ἐν Ἰλίῳ τάδʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονί.

Φρύξ πανταχοῦ ζῆν ἡδὺ μᾶλλον ἢ θανεῖν τοῖς σώφροσιν.

Ὀρέστης οὔτι που κραυγὴν ἔθηκας Μενέλεῳ βοηδρομεῖν; 1510

Φρύξ σοὶ μὲν οὖν ἔγωγʼ ἀμύνειν· ἀξιώτερος γὰρ εἶ.

Ὀρέστης ἐνδίκως ἡ Τυνδάρειος ἆρα παῖς διώλετο;

Φρύξ ἐνδικώτατʼ, εἴ γε λαιμοὺς εἶχε τριπτύχους θανεῖν.

Ὀρέστης δειλίᾳ γλώσσῃ χαρίζῃ, τἄνδον οὐχ οὕτω φρονῶν.

Φρύξ οὐ γάρ, ἥτις Ἑλλάδʼ αὐτοῖς Φρυξὶ διελυμήνατο; 1515

Ὀρέστης ὄμοσον — εἰ δὲ μή, κτενῶ σε — μὴ λέγειν ἐμὴν χάριν.

Φρύξ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν κατώμοσʼ, ἣν ἂν εὐορκοῖμʼ ἐγώ.

Ὀρέστης ὧδε κἀν Τροίᾳ σίδηρος πᾶσι Φρυξὶν ἦν φόβος;

Φρύξ ἄπεχε φάσγανον· πέλας γὰρ δεινὸν ἀνταυγεῖ φόνον.

Ὀρέστης μὴ πέτρος γένῃ δέδοικας ὥστε Γοργόνʼ εἰσιδών; 1520

Φρύξ μὴ μὲν οὖν νεκρός· τὸ Γοργοῦς δʼ οὐ κάτοιδʼ ἐγὼ κάρα.

Ὀρέστης δοῦλος ὢν φοβῇ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὅς σʼ ἀπαλλάξει κακῶν;

Φρύξ πᾶς ἀνήρ, κἂν δοῦλος ᾖ τις, ἥδεται τὸ φῶς ὁρῶν.

Ὀρέστης εὖ λέγεις· σῴζει σε σύνεσις. ἀλλὰ βαῖνʼ ἔσω δόμων.

Φρύξ οὐκ ἄρα κτενεῖς με; 1525

Ὀρέστης ἀφεῖσαι.

Φρύξ καλὸν ἔπος λέγεις τόδε.

Ὀρέστης ἀλλὰ μεταβουλευσόμεσθα.

Φρύξ τοῦτο δʼ οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

Chorus Leader But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within.

Chorus Leader What is it, Helen’s slave, creature from Ida? 1380

Chorus Leader Tell us clearly each event within the house. for till now I have been guessing at what I do not clearly understand.

Chorus Leader And where were you? fled long before in terror? 1425

Chorus Leader What happened next?

Chorus Leader Where were you Phrygians in the house to help her?

Chorus Leader And look, here is a strange sight succeeding others; for I see Orestes sword in hand before the palace, advancing with excited steps. 1505

Orestes Where is the one who fled from the palace to escape my sword?

Phrygian falling at the feet of Orestes Before you I prostrate myself, lord, and supplicate you in my foreign way.

Orestes We are not in Ilium , but the land of Argos .

Phrygian Everywhere, the wise find life sweeter than death.

Orestes I suppose that shouting of yours was not for Menelaus to come to the rescue? 1510

Phrygian Oh no! it was to help you I called out, for you are more deserving.

Orestes Did the daughter of Tyndareus die justly, then?

Phrygian Most justly, even if she had three throats to die with.

Orestes Your cowardice makes you glib; this is not what you really think.

Phrygian Why, surely she deserved it, the one who destroyed Hellas and the Phrygians too? 1515

Orestes Swear you are not saying this to humor me, or I will kill you.

Phrygian I swear by my life, an oath I would keep!

Orestes Did every Phrygian in Troy show the same terror of steel as you do?

Phrygian Take your sword away! Held so near it flashes a dreadful gleam of blood.

Orestes Are you afraid of being turned to a stone, as if you had seen a Gorgon? 1520

Phrygian To a stone, no! but to a corpse; I don’t know this Gorgon’s head.

Orestes A slave, and yet you fear death, which will release you from trouble?

Phrygian Slave or free, every one is glad to gaze upon the light.

Orestes Well said! Your shrewdness saves you; go inside.

Phrygian You will not kill me after all? 1525

Orestes You are spared.

Phrygian How well you said that!

Orestes Now it’s time to change my plans.

Phrygian You didn’t say that well!

Stable identifiers

Doch horch! Die Riegel drohnen laut am Königshaus;

Drum stille: denn der Phryger einer stürzt heraus,

Von dem wir horen wollen, wie's im Hause steht.
1350

Chor.

Was ist es, Mann vom Ida, Diener Helena's?

Χορός

ἀλλὰ κτυπεῖ γὰρ κλῇθρα βασιλείων δόμων,

σιγήσατʼ· ἔξω γάρ τις ἐκβαίνει Φρυγῶν,

οὗ πευσόμεσθα τἀν δόμοις ὅπως ἔχει.

Χορός

τί δʼ ἔστιν, Ἑλένης πρόσπολʼ. Ἰδαῖον κάρα;
1380

Χορός

σαφῶς λέγʼ ἡμῖν αὔθʼ ἕκαστα τἀν δόμοις.

τὰ γὰρ πρὶν οὐκ εὔγνωστα συμβαλοῦσʼ ἔχω.

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἦσθα ποῦ τότʼ; ἢ πάλαι φεύγεις φόβῳ,
1425

Χορός

τί τοὐπὶ τῷδε συμφορᾶς ἐγίγνετο;

Χορός

ποῦ δʼ ἦτʼ ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες;

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ἀμείβει καινὸν ἐκ καινῶν τόδε·

ξιφηφόρον γὰρ εἰσορῶ πρὸ δωμάτων

βαίνοντʼ Ὀρέστην ἐπτοημένῳ ποδί.
1505

Ὀρέστης

ποῦ ʼστιν οὗτος ὃς πέφευγεν ἐκ δόμων τοὐμὸν ξίφος;

Φρύξ

προσκυνῶ σʼ, ἄναξ, νόμοισι βαρβάροισι προσπίτνων.

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἐν Ἰλίῳ τάδʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονί.

Φρύξ

πανταχοῦ ζῆν ἡδὺ μᾶλλον ἢ θανεῖν τοῖς σώφροσιν.

Ὀρέστης

οὔτι που κραυγὴν ἔθηκας Μενέλεῳ βοηδρομεῖν;
1510

Φρύξ

σοὶ μὲν οὖν ἔγωγʼ ἀμύνειν· ἀξιώτερος γὰρ εἶ.

Ὀρέστης

ἐνδίκως ἡ Τυνδάρειος ἆρα παῖς διώλετο;

Φρύξ

ἐνδικώτατʼ, εἴ γε λαιμοὺς εἶχε τριπτύχους θανεῖν.

Ὀρέστης

δειλίᾳ γλώσσῃ χαρίζῃ, τἄνδον οὐχ οὕτω φρονῶν.

Φρύξ

οὐ γάρ, ἥτις Ἑλλάδʼ αὐτοῖς Φρυξὶ διελυμήνατο;
1515

Ὀρέστης

ὄμοσον — εἰ δὲ μή, κτενῶ σε — μὴ λέγειν ἐμὴν χάριν.

Φρύξ

τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν κατώμοσʼ, ἣν ἂν εὐορκοῖμʼ ἐγώ.

Ὀρέστης

ὧδε κἀν Τροίᾳ σίδηρος πᾶσι Φρυξὶν ἦν φόβος;

Φρύξ

ἄπεχε φάσγανον· πέλας γὰρ δεινὸν ἀνταυγεῖ φόνον.

Ὀρέστης

μὴ πέτρος γένῃ δέδοικας ὥστε Γοργόνʼ εἰσιδών;
1520

Φρύξ

μὴ μὲν οὖν νεκρός· τὸ Γοργοῦς δʼ οὐ κάτοιδʼ ἐγὼ κάρα.

Ὀρέστης

δοῦλος ὢν φοβῇ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὅς σʼ ἀπαλλάξει κακῶν;

Φρύξ

πᾶς ἀνήρ, κἂν δοῦλος ᾖ τις, ἥδεται τὸ φῶς ὁρῶν.

Ὀρέστης

εὖ λέγεις· σῴζει σε σύνεσις. ἀλλὰ βαῖνʼ ἔσω δόμων.

Φρύξ

οὐκ ἄρα κτενεῖς με;
1525

Ὀρέστης

ἀφεῖσαι.

Φρύξ

καλὸν ἔπος λέγεις τόδε.

Ὀρέστης

ἀλλὰ μεταβουλευσόμεσθα.

Φρύξ

τοῦτο δʼ οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

Chorus Leader

But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within.

Chorus Leader

What is it, Helen’s slave, creature from Ida?
1380

Chorus Leader

Tell us clearly each event within the house. for till now I have been guessing at what I do not clearly understand.

Chorus Leader

And where were you? fled long before in terror?
1425

Chorus Leader

What happened next?

Chorus Leader

Where were you Phrygians in the house to help her?

Chorus Leader

And look, here is a strange sight succeeding others; for I see Orestes sword in hand before the palace,

advancing with excited steps.
1505

Orestes

Where is the one who fled from the palace to escape my sword?

Phrygian
falling at the feet of Orestes

Before you I prostrate myself, lord, and supplicate you in my foreign way.

Orestes

We are not in Ilium , but the land of Argos .

Phrygian

Everywhere, the wise find life sweeter than death.

Orestes

I suppose that shouting of yours was not for Menelaus to come to the rescue?
1510

Phrygian

Oh no! it was to help you I called out, for you are more deserving.

Orestes

Did the daughter of Tyndareus die justly, then?

Phrygian

Most justly, even if she had three throats to die with.

Orestes

Your cowardice makes you glib; this is not what you really think.

Phrygian

Why, surely she deserved it, the one who destroyed Hellas and the Phrygians too?
1515

Orestes

Swear you are not saying this to humor me, or I will kill you.

Phrygian

I swear by my life, an oath I would keep!

Orestes

Did every Phrygian in Troy show the same terror of steel as you do?

Phrygian

Take your sword away! Held so near it flashes a dreadful gleam of blood.

Orestes

Are you afraid of being turned to a stone, as if you had seen a Gorgon?
1520

Phrygian

To a stone, no! but to a corpse; I don’t know this Gorgon’s head.

Orestes

A slave, and yet you fear death, which will release you from trouble?

Phrygian

Slave or free, every one is glad to gaze upon the light.

Orestes

Well said! Your shrewdness saves you; go inside.

Phrygian

You will not kill me after all?
1525

Orestes

You are spared.

Phrygian

How well you said that!

Orestes

Now it’s time to change my plans.

Phrygian

You didn’t say that well!