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1351–1500

ὦ.. φῶς] ‘O joyful day!' The words have the same meaning as in supr. 1224, though they do not carry the same strength of feeling.

The Paedagogus had proved his faithfulness by saving both Electra and Orestes from danger, before she entrusted him with the precious charge. Cp. supr. 1351, 2.

'She addresses the hands, which she is holding in her own.' Wecklein.

ἥδιστον.. ὑπηρέτημα] ‘And thou whose feet have done most precious service;' viz. in going to and returning from Phocis.

οὐδ᾽ ἔφαινες] 'And not make thyself known.' The use of the active voice is softened by the possible resumption of ξυνών, i. e. συνόντα σέ. But it is also justified by the implied metaphor from a body shining with its own light. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 101, 2, ἀγανὰ φαίνουσ᾽ | ἐλπίς.

ἔργ᾽.. ἐμοί] 'While engaged in a course of action most delightful to me.'

'Hail, father! For methinks I see a father in thee.' In such words of affection, Electra's long repressed feelings naturally overflow. Cp. supr. 1220, πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ; and note.

τοὺς . . λόγους] ‘For as to what has happened in the interval.' The turn of expression in the next line (πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται, κ.τ.λ.) leaves this accusative out of construction, and it is resumed in ταῦτα (1366).

κυκλοῦνται] The change to κυκλοῦσι in some MSS. may have been occasioned either by the wish to obtain a construction for λόγους, or by the similarity of δείξουσι. It is better therefore to retain κυκλοῦνται.

σοφωτέροις πλείοσιν] 'Not only with these, but with others who have superior cunning and superior numbers.' σοφωτέροις, because men and not women; πλείοσιν, because the guards of Aegisthus would overpower the Phocian men.'

οὐκ ἂν . . τοὔργον] It would seem, Pylades, that our business here no longer has to do with words.'

χωρεῖν] Sc. ἔργον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν.

'Having first bowed before the shrines of my father's gods.' ὅσοιπερ .. τάδε] Cp. Aesch. Ag. 509-19, where Zeus, Apollo (supr. 637), Hermes, are expressly mentioned, and other deities spoken of as δαίμονες ἀντήλιοι.

- After some moments of silent devotion, Orestes, Pylades, the Paedagogus, and their attendants, enter the palace. Electra remains outside and prays aloud to Apollo.

σε is governed by λιπαρεῖ προὔστην χερί = ἱκέτευσά σε.

λιπαρεῖ . . χερί] 'Came before thee with ever-instant hand.' The gloss of Suidas, λιπαρεῖ· ἀφθόνῳ, πλουσίᾳ, must be attributed to misapprehension.

ἐξ οἴων ἔχω] Sc. εὐχομένη, 'Vowing of such things as I have.' Cp. Aesch. Cho. 486-8, ΗΛ. κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας | οἴσω πατρῳων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους· | πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον. This and the following lines are said by Electra in an attitude of prayer, and fitly prepare the spectator for the solemn strain which is raised by the Chorus after she has entered the palace at l. 1383.

τἀπιτίμια.. θεοί] ‘What reward the gods bestow upon impiety.'

In a single strophe and antistrophe (cp. O. C. 1556-1578) the Chorus (1) augur the success of the dreadful enterprize, and (2) recognise the presence of Hermes, who is conducting it. Beginning with a resolved cretic (the fourth paeon) the rhythm becomes first dochmiac and then iambic.

'Behold ye, where the God of Strife advances panting forth the eager blood-drops of a fatal feud;' i. e. full of his slaughterous intent. προνέμεσθαι is said to mean literally, To go forward in grazing' (L. and S.). But the image immediately suggested is rather that of a fire, which may also be said 'to eat its way.' Cp. Aj. 197 foll., and notes: Hdt. 5. 101, αὐτίκα ἀπ᾿ οἰκίης ἐς οἰκίην ἰὸν τὸ πῦρ, ἐπενέμετο τὸ ἄστυ ἅπαν : ib. τὰ περιέσχατα νεμομένου τοῦ πυρός : Thuc. 2. 54, ἡ νόσος . . ἐπενείματο ᾿Αθήνας μὲν μάλιστα, ἔπειτα δέ, κ.τ.λ. δυσέριστον is either (1) as the Scholiast explains it, δι' ἔριν γινόμενον κακόν, Instinct with the evil of contention;' or (2) Irresistible; ' ' ineluctabilem caedem spirans' (Jacobs). αἷμα is here the spirit of bloodshed. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 β, and for a similar confusion, cp. Aesch. Ag. 1428, λίπος ἐπ᾿ ὀμμάτων αἵματος ἐμπρέπει,

Clytemnestra and Aegisthus were above spoken of as an embodiment of the Alastor (supr. 198-200). Similarly, Orestes and Pylades are here identified with the Erinyes. In the antistrophe, ll. 1391, 2, Orestes is described in vaguely impressive language as the ‘ helper of the powers below,’ ἐνέρων .. ἀρωγές. For 'help' = 'vengeance,' cp. supr. 811, and note.

The emendation suggested by Wunder, consisting only in the change of an accent (see v. rr.), seems to be required by the sense. 'My soul's-vision (supr. 479-81) has not long to linger unaccomplished' (lit. in suspense, cp. supr. 501).

εἴσω στέγας] The construction is Homeric, cp. Il. 21. 124, 5, ἀλλὰ Σκάμανδρος | οἴσει δινήεις εἴσω ἁλὸς εὐρέα κόλπον.

νεακόνητον.. ἔχων] ‘Holding with his hands the newly - whetted Death.' In αἷμα the effect is put by metonymy for the cause. Essay on L. § 42. p. 81. For νεακόνητον, cp. Aesch. Ag. 1535, 6, δίκην δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλο πρᾶγμα θηγάνει βλάβης | πρὸς ἄλλαις θηγάναισι Μοῖρα. The quantity probably, though not certainly, follows the analogy of νεᾶκονής (Doric for νεηκονής). Hermann's νεο-κόνητον involves an awkward prolepsis.

δόλον σκότῳ κρύψας] Cp. Aesch. Cho. 812-8. The words πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα, though joined primarily with ἄγει, are to be resumed with κρύψας ('Concealing the guile till close upon the goal ').

After this line there is a pause, in which Electra comes forth to watch for Aegisthus. In tones of suppressed excitement she tells what is going on within.

The following passage (1398-1441), although consisting largely of senarii, appears to be antistrophic, nearly corresponding even in the division of the lines. According to this view ll. 1404-1406 are either (1) not to be counted in the strophe, or (2) lines answering to them after l. 1427 must be supposed to have been lost. As the lines in question relate to the sudden cry of Clytemnestra from within, the former supposition is sufficiently probable. Cp. note on O. C. 117 foll., vol. i. p. 298 (Ist column). In the 'strophe,' ll. 1398-1421, Clytemnestra is put to death, -in the 'antistrophe,' ll. 1422-41, the bleeding sword is displayed, and Aegisthus is descried. The young men then retire into the palace, and Electra waits outside.

τελοῦσι is future. πρόσμενε] Addressed to the Coryphaeus.

λέβητα κοσμεῖ] ‘ She is decking the urn,' adorning it with wreaths for funeral consecration. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 686. Mr. Paley doubts, surely unnecessarily, if the cinerary urn be meant here as in Aesch. Cho. 686.

ἀνήκουστα] ‘What is horrible to hear,-as ἄρρητα are 'things horrible to tell.'

ἀλλ᾽.. οὗτος] Cp. supr. 296, 7,601.

If the text is sound, φθίνει is transitive here. καθαμερία is predicative and adverbial, Is destroying thee this very day.' This brief lyrical utterance fills the moment of dread suspense before the falling of the blow.

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ *γ᾿ ὁμοῦ] ‘Ay, would that you were crying "Oh!" for Aegisthus too.' Αἰγίσθῳ follows the construction of μοί in ὤμοι. The reading of the MSS., θ', can only be defended on the questionable ground that Te may be used in tragedy, as in Homer, as an expletive adverb. But on the other hand γε following γάρ is awkward.

τελοῦσι] 'Are finishing,' i. e. are accomplishing their end.

παλίρρυτον] 'Flowing in return.' Cp. supr. 246, 7, οἱ δὲ μὴ πάλιν δώσουσ᾽ ἀντιφόνους δίκας.

The MSS. have HA. prefixed both to l. 1422 and l. 1424. It cannot stand in both places, and Hermann rightly deleted it before l. 1422. Prof. Paley objects that the antistrophe should begin with a new person. But a change of person is still possible, for ll. 1419-21 need not be given to the coryphaeus. Hermann's arrangement, besides the appropriateness of giving ll. 1422, 3 to the coryphaeus, has the further advantage of making a change of person at the beginning of l. 1424 corresponding to that in l. 1400.

'Is dripping from the War-god's sacrifice.' For the genitive, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 15, 3 a. οὐδ᾽ ἔχω λέγειν] And I am speechless,' i.e. the moment is too great for words. Erfurdt's conjecture, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω ψέγειν, has been commonly received. But it is intolerably frigid, and although οὐκ ἔχω τί φῶ is more usual, the other expression, οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν, is quite possible, and it is a natural thing for the Chorus here to say.

᾿Απόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν] The horror which pervades the Choëphori is present also here, but is subdued beneath the sense of pious duty. Orestes is now thrilled by the dreadful nature of his act. Electra is simply eager to know whether it has been accomplished.

ἐκ προδήλου] ἐκ with the genitive (cp. supr. 78, θυρῶν) marks the point from which the object strikes the sense. 'Lit. "from a position where he is visible before his arrival."' Paley. Hence there is now no fear of his entering the house unperceived (supr. 1403).

εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ | τὸν ἄνδρ᾽;] 'Where do ye see him?' This is addressed to the Chorus. The next moment Electra has perceived Aegisthus, and cries out exultingly (l. 1431), 'Here he is at our mercy (ἐφ' ἡμῖν), joyously advancing from the open ground.' Others explain ἐφ' ἡμῖν to mean either with χωρεῖ, 'He comes close upon us,' or with γεγηθώς, Triumphing over us,' or (as the MSS.) with the preceding words, 'Do you see him anywhere near us?'

Some words are wanted to complete the senarius, perhaps indicating the absence of the guard, e.g. οὐδ᾽ ὑπηρέτης πάρα.

κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων] Either (1), Towards the place over against the door.' Cp. the use of ἐπί with the genitive in such expressions as ἐπ᾿ οἴκου. Or (2), 'Go and take your position from over against the door.' Supposing the ἀντίθυρα to have been raised in some way above the vestibule, the preposition with the genitive may suggest the idea of holding a vantage-ground, down from which one may strike with effect.

τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν] Sc. εὖ θῆσθε.

It is unnecessary, with Erfurdt, to take the words ᾖ νοεῖς from Orestes. The Chorus had not completed their sentence, and Orestes wishes to show that he understands their drift. Thus, 'Thought leaps out to wed with thought, Ere thought can wed itself to speech.' Electra wants neither thoughts nor words, but action. Hence she briefly says, ἔπειγέ νυν.

τἀνθάδ᾽.. ἐμοί] Electra says this when Orestes is already out of sight of the audience. As he disappears, Aegisthus approaches, and the Chorus make their speech (ll. 1439-41), sotto voce, with their eyes turned towards him.

ὡς ἠπίως] 'With feigned gentleness.' A few MSS. have ὡς νηπίως, 'With feigned simplicity.' See Scholia.

λαθραῖον.. ἀγῶνα] 'That he may rush unawares upon the struggle of doom.' λαθραῖον (with ἀγῶνα) is predicative: i.e. That the struggle may be unforeseen.

συμφορᾶς.. φιλτάτης] 'Else I had been a stranger to the fact which most concerns me.' Aegisthus understands, The event which touches Electra's heart most nearly;' to herself she means, 'The event that has filled me with joy.' τῶν ἐμῶν, (1) sc. συμφορῶν, or (2) gen. obj., 'What has happened to my friends.'

To Aegisthus Electra means, 'They succeeded in obtaining a kindly welcome'-from Clytemnestra in her gladness, supr. 800. And in this sense κατήνυσαν is construed with the genitive after the analogy of τυγχάνω οι κυρίω. But the word is chosen so as to convey the further meaning-They have made an end of her,' or 'Have accomplished the deed against her.' Cp. Eur. Or. 89.

'Nay, more, they showed him to our eyes, it was not a mere tale that came.' Aegisthus does not hear of the urn, but is made to believe that the body of Orestes is there. And so it is,' thinks Electra, 'but in full life.'

'There is indeed to be seen a sight I do not envy you.' Aegisthus understands the corpse of Orestes; Electra means that of Clytemnestra.

The optative, if right, is to be explained as hinting an uncertainty, 'If so it prove.'

σιγᾶν] In accordance with the εὐφημία which Greek sentiment prescribed in the presence of death. Mr. Paley unnecessarily conjectures οἴγειν. κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας] (1) The usual explanation of these words is that given in Wunder's note:- 'Notanda locutio est ἀναδεικνύναι πύλας, significans ἀνεῳγμένων τῶν πυλῶν δεικνύναι τὰ ἐντός, quum vulgo potius δόμον ἀναδεικνύναι dicatur, veluti apud Aristoph. Nub. 304, ἵνα μυστοδόκος δόμος ἐν τελεταῖς ἀναδεικνύται. Nam significat proprie ἀναδεικνύναι tollendo sive patefaciendo aliquid monstrare.' But (2) may not the words mean, by a change of subject, 'and that the gates disclose' what is to be seen within them (sc. ἄνδρα τόνδε νεκρόν)?

Aegisthus here betrays the fear in which he has been living. There is a reminiscence of Aesch. Ag. 1667, 8.

ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε] See Essay on L. § 9. p. 12, d 2.

μηδὲ.. φρένας] ‘And may not, by encountering my chastisement, be made wise against his will.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 180, καὶ παρ᾿ ἄκοντας ἦλθε σωφρονεῖν : Ο. С. 172.

καὶ δὴ.. ἐμοῦ] 'My rebellious hopes (τὰ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ) are already at an end.' Cp. supr. 1344; also 1319-21.

ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν] Aegisthus understands, 'So as to submit to authority.' To herself she means, 'So as to be on the stronger side'-that of Orestes.

By an ἐκκύκλημα, the body of Clytemnestra is brought out, covered, with Orestes standing by. Aegisthus imagines the corpse to be that of Orestes, and Orestes to be the Phocian messenger. What I see here cannot have fallen thus without Divine jealousy, but if to say so provokes Nemesis, I do not say it.' ἔπεστι, sc. τῷ λόγῳ. For οὐ λέγω, cp. Trach. 500. πίπτειν is used in the sense of 'to befall' (L. and S. s. v. V. 2), but also with an allusion to the fall of Orestes. Another way of taking the words has been suggested, What I see cannot have fallen thus without the Envy of the Gods, whether Just Retribution has also been at work, I do not say. But such an opposition between φθόνος and νέμεσις is hardly possible in tragic Greek.

'Take off all covering from before my sight, that I too may duly mourn over my kin.'

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ'] 'Take it up yourself;' viz. τὸ κάλυμμα, which, like the corpse itself, should be sacred from a stranger's touch. οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν] Ostensibly, because Aegisthus is nearer of kin to Orestes than the Phocian man. Really, because Aegisthus loves Clytemnestra, whom her son has slain.

σὺ δέ] To Electra..

Aegisthus is waiting for Clytemnestra before completely withdrawing the covering, which Orestes finally removes with these words.

After a glance of horrified recognition at the corpse, Aegisthus looks strangely on Orestes. τίνα = διὰ τί τόνδε; Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, 4. Cp. supr. 122, and note.

'Why, dost thou not perceive that all this while thou, a living man, hast been replying to the dead in tones like theirs?' Cp. supr. 1342. τοῖς θανοῦσιν is resumed with ἴσα, i.e. Aegisthus has been answering Orestes, who has been given out as dead, with a tongue that is already doomed to death. Tyrwhitt unnecessarily conjectured ζῶντας θανοῦσιν, which Brunck and subsequent editors have adopted, That you have been addressing (?) living men for dead.' Schol. τοῖς θανοῦσιν] τῷ Ὀρέστῃ.

καὶ .. πάλαι] 'Are you so excellent a prophet, who, notwithstanding, have been all this while deceived?' καί (with μάντις) adds a concessive emphasis, as in καί περ. Ep. Pind. Ol. 7.56, παρέπλαγξαν καὶ σοφόν.

'For wherein, when mortals are involved in misery, should he who defers his death be profited by the delay?' These lines have been not unnaturally suspected of interpolation, as the γνώμη is not dramatically appropriate. But the lines are Sophoclean, as Mr. Paley has remarked. As in Aj. 554, where see note, they may have been quoted in the margin of some early MS.

πρόθες] 'Lay him out for burial.'

i.e. κυσὶν ἠδ᾽ οἰωνοῖς. Cp. esp. Od. 3. 256, foll. εἰ ζώοντ' Αἴγισθον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔτετμεν | ᾿Ατρείδης Τροίηθεν ἰών, ξανθὸς Μενέλαος | τῷ κέ οἱ οὐδὲ θανόντι χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν, | ἀλλ᾿ ἄρα τόν γε κύνες τε καὶ οἰωνοὶ κατέδαψαν, | κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ ἑκὰς ῎Αργεος.

ὡς ἐμοὶ.. λυτήριον] If Aegisthus dies the common death of all men, or if he obtains burial like other men, Electra will feel unsatisfied, to think that her oppressor is at rest. To see his grave beside her father's in the ἀρχαῖος τάφος (893) would be intolerable to her.

πῶς.. οὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν] Why not slay me out of hand?' More lit. Why not put forth your hand at once to slay me?' For this use of πρόχειρος, cp. πρόθυμος, πρόφρων, πρόγλωσσος.

The retributive justice of slaying Aegisthus by the hearth, where he slew Agamemnon, is made a reason for not despatching him in sight of the spectators. Cp. supr. 195 foll. and notes, 269, 70.

These words of Aegisthus, when about to die, are calculated to strike awe into the spectator, who reflects with himself, And is this the final consummation after all, even though it appear so to the Chorus (ll. 1508-10)?' So much is allowed to remain of the impression produced by the Choëphori, 1075, 6, ποῖ δῆτα κρανεῖ, ποῖ καταλήξει μετακοιμισθὲν μένος ἄτης;

πατρώαν] See Essay on L. § 23. p. 38, δ 1.

Electra. Lewis Campbell. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (English) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879))

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Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1354 focus

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς, ὦ μόνος σωτὴρ δόμων

Ἀγαμέμνονος, πῶς ἦλθες; ἢ σὺ κεῖνος εἶ,
1355

ὃς τόνδε κἄμ᾽ ἔσωσας ἐκ πολλῶν πόνων;

ὦ φίλταται μὲν χεῖρες, ἥδιστον δ᾽ ἔχων

ποδῶν ὑπηρέτημα, πῶς οὕτω πάλαι

ξυνών μ᾽ ἔληθες, οὐδ᾽ ἔφαινες, ἀλλά με

λόγοις ἀπώλλυς, ἔργ᾽ ἔχων ἥδιστ᾽ ἐμοί;
1360

χαῖρ, ὦ πάτερ· πατέρα γὰρ εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ·

χαῖρ᾽· ἴσθι δ' ἰσθ ἴσθι δ' ἴσθι ὡς μάλιστά σ᾽ ἀνθρώπων μάλιστα τἀνθρώπων ἐγὼ

ἤχθηρα κἀφίλησ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

ΠΑ.

ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ μοι· τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους,

πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται κυκλοῦσι κυκλοῦνται νύκτες ἡμέραι τ᾽ ἴσαι,
1365

αὶ ταῦτά σοι δείξουσιν, Ηλέκτρα, σαφῆ.

σφῶν δ᾽ ἐννέπω γε τοῖν παρεστώτοιν ὅτι

νῦν καιρὸς ἔρδειν· νῦν Κλυταιμνήστρα μόνη·

νῦν οὔτις ἀνδρῶν ἔνδον· εἰ δ᾽ ἐφέξετον,

φροντίζεθ᾽ ὡς τούτοις τε καὶ σοφωτέροις
1370

ἄλλοισι τούτων πλείοσιν μαχούμενοι.

ΟΡ.

οὐκ ἂν μακρῶν ἔθ᾽ ἡμὶν ἡμιν ἡμῖν οὐδὲν ἂν λόγων,

Πυλάδη, τόδ' εἴη τοὔργον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον τάχος

χωρεῖν ἔσω, πατρῷα p προσκύσανθ᾽ ἕδη

θεῶν, ὅσοιπερ ὅσοι πρόπυλα ναίουσιν τάδε.
1375

ΗΛ.

ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεως αὐτοῖν κλύε,

ἐμοῦ τε πρὸς τούτοισιν, ἤ σε πολλὰ δὴ

ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔχοιμι λιπαρεῖ προὔστην προστην προὔστῃν χερί.

νῦν δ᾽, ὦ Λύκει Ἄπολλον, ἐξ οἵων ἔχω

αἰτῶ αἰτῶ, προπίτνω προπιτνῶ προσπιτνῶ, λίσσομαι, γενοῦ πρόφρων
1380

ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸς τῶνδε τῶν βουλευμάτων,

καὶ δεῖξον ἀνθρώποισι τἀπιτίμια

τῆς στ δυσσεβείας οἷα δωροῦνται θεοί.

ΧΟ.

ἴδεθ᾽ ὅπου προνέμεται

τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα φυσῶν Ἄρης.

1385

βεβᾶσιν ἄρτι δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι

μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων

ἄφυκτοι κύνες,

ὥστ᾽ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτ᾽ ἀμμενεῖ ἀμμένει ἐμμένει

τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον αἰωρουμένων.
1390

παράγεται γὰρ ἐνέρων

δολιόπους ἀρωγὸς εἴσω στέγας,

ἀρχαιόπλουτα πατρὸς εἰς ἑδώλια,

νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ε χεροῖν ἔχων·

ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς

1395

Ἑρμῆς σφ᾽ ἄγει ἐξάγει ἐπάγει σφ᾽ ἄγει σφ᾽ ἐπάγει δόλον σκότῳ

κρύψας πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα, κοὐκέτ᾽ ἀμμένει.

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἄνδρες ἄνδρες αὐτίκα

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τελοῦσι εσω τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

ΧΟ.

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν ;
1400

ΗΛ.

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δ᾽ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

ΧΟ.

σὺ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

ΗΛ.

φρουρήσουσ᾽ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς om. μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

ΚΛ.

αἰαῖ ai ai ai ai ai ai αἳ aì aὶ αἱ. ἰὼ στέγαι
1405

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δ᾽ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

ΗΛ.

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ.

ἤκουσ᾽ ἀνήκουστα ἀνήκοστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρίξαι φρίξαι.

ΚΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαιν'. Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποῖ ποῦ ποτ᾿ ὢν κυρεῖς ;

ΗΛ.

ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις.
1410

ΚΛ.

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ὦ τέκνον ὦ τέκνον,

οἴκτειρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτείρεθ᾽ οὗτος οὐδ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

ΧΟ.

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σε

μοῖρα καθαμερία καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

ΗΛ.

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις.

ΗΛ.

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ᾿ θ' ὁμοῦ.

ΧΟ.

τελοῦσ᾽ τελοῦσιν ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ ὑπο κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον πολύρυτον πολύρροτον γὰρ αἷμ᾽ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν

κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.
1420

καὶ ΗΛ. καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ

στάζει θυηλῆς θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΗΛ.

Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε κυρεῖ ;

OP.

τὰν δόμοισι μὲν

καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.

ΗΛ.

τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;
1425

OP.

μηκέτ᾽ ἐκφοβοῦ

μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμ᾽ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

ΧΟ.

παύσασθε. λεύσσω λεύσω λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

ΗΛ.

ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;

OP.

εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ εἰσορᾶτε που εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ
1430

τὸν ἄνδρ᾽; τὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν;

ΗΛ.

ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν ΗΛ. οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου προαστείου

χωρεῖ γεγηθώς.

ΧΟ.

βᾶτε κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον ὅσον ὅσσον τάχιστα,

νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν.

ΟΡ.

θάρσει· τελοῦμεν ᾗ νοεῖς.
1435

ΗΛ.

ἔπειγέ νυν ἔπειγε νῦν.

ΟΡ.

καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

ΗΛ.

τἀνθάδ᾽ ἂν μέλοιτ᾽ ἐμοί.

ΧΟ.

δι ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γ᾽ ὡς ἠπίως νηπίωι ἠπίωσ ἐννέπειν

πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον λαθραῖο.. ὡς

ὀρούσῃ ὀροίσηι πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

ΑΙΓΙΣΘΟΣ.

τίς οἶδεν ὑμῶν ποῦ ποθ᾽ οἱ Φωκῆς φωκεις φωκῆς ξένοι,
1440

οὕς φασ᾽ Ὀρέστην ἡμὶν ἡμιν ἡμὶν ἀγγεῖλαι βίον

λελοιπόθ᾽ ἱππικοῖσιν ἐν ναυαγίοις ;

σέ τοι, σὲ κρίνω, ναὶ καὶ σέ, τὴν ἐν τῷ πάρος

χρόνῳ θρασεῖαν· ὡς μάλιστά σοι μέλειν

οἶμαι, μάλιστα δ᾽ ἂν κατειδυῖαν φράσαι.
1445

ΗΛ.

ἔξοιδα· πῶς γὰρ οὐχί; συμφορᾶς γὰρ ἂν

ἔξωθεν εἴην τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης τε φιλτάτων τε φιλτάτων τῆς φιλτάτης τῶν φιλτατῶν τῶν φιλτάτων.

ΑΙ.

ποῦ δῆτ᾽ ἂν εἶεν οἱ ξένοι; δίδασκέ με μήνυέ μοι δίδασκέ μοι.

ΗΛ.

ἔνδον· φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν.

ΑΙ.

ἢ καὶ θανόντ᾽ ἤγγειλαν ὡς ἐτητύμως;
1450

ΗΛ.

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν, οὐ λόγῳ μόνον.

ΑΙ.

πάρεστ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἡμῖν ὥστε κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν;

ΗΛ.

πάρεστι δῆτα καὶ μάλ᾽ ἄζηλος θέα.

ΑΙ.

ἢ πολλὰ χαίρειν μ' εἶπας οὐκ εἰωθότως.

ΗΛ.

χαίροις ἄν, εἴ σοι χαρτὰ χαρὰ χαρτὰ τυγχάνοι τυγχάνει τάδε.
1455

ΑΙ.

σιγᾶν ἄνωγα, κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας

πᾶσιν Μυκηναίοισιν Ἀργείοις θ᾽ ὁρᾶν,

ὡς εἴ τις αὐτῶν ἐλπίσιν κεναῖς πάρος

ἐξῄρετ᾽ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, νῦν ὁρῶν νεκρὸν

στόμια δέχηται τἀμά, μηδὲ πρὸς βίαν
1460

ἐμοῦ κολαστοῦ προστυχὼν φύσῃ φρένας.

ΗΛ.

καὶ δὴ τελεῖται τἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ· τῷ γὰρ χρόνῳ χονω

νοῦν ἔσχον, ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν.

ΑΙ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, δέδορκα φάσμ᾽ ἄνευ φθόνου φόνου φθόνου μὲν οὐ

πεπτωκός· εἰ δ᾽ ἔπεστι εἰ δ᾽ ἐστι εἰ δ᾽ ἔπεστι(ν) εἰ δ᾽ ἔστιν εἰ δ᾽ ἔπεστι δέ τις ἐστὶ Νέμεσις, οὐ λέγω.
1465

χαλᾶτε πᾶν κάλυμμ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅπως

τὸ συγγενές τοι τε κἀπ᾿ καὶ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

ΟΡ.

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ᾽· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν,

τὸ ταῦθ᾽ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως φίλος φίλως.

ΑΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ παραινεῖς, κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,
1470

εἴ που κατ᾿ οἰκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ.

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

OP.

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίν ἀγνοεῖς;

ΑΙ.

τίνων ποτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις

πέπτωχ᾽ ὁ τλήμων ;
1475

OP.

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶν τοῖς θανοῦσιν οἵνεκ᾿ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος, οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως

ὅδ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθ᾽ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

ΟΡ.

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου ἐσφάλου ἐσφάλλου πάλαι;
1480

ΑΙ.

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπιμικρὸν κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπὶ μικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΗΛ.

μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα

πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.

¹

[ τί τί(σ) τί τίσ γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων
1485

θνήσκειν ὁ μέλλων τοῦ χρόνου κέρδος φέροι ;]

ἀλλ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα κτεῖνε, καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες πρό(σ)θες πρόθες πρόσθες

ταφεῦσιν ὧν ὦ ὧν τόνδ᾽ εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν

ἄποπτον ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐμοὶ τόδ᾽ ἂν κακῶν

μόνον γένοιτο om. add τῶν πάλαι λυτήριον.
1490

ΟΡ.

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω σὺν τάχει· λόγων γὰρ οὐ

νῦν ἐστιν ἁγών ἀγὼν, ἀλλὰ σῆς ψυχῆς πέρι.

ΑΙ.

τί δ᾽ ἐς δόμους ἄγεις με; πῶς, τόδ᾽ εἰ καλὸν

τοὔργον, σκότου δεῖ, κοὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν ;

ΟΡ.

μὴ τάσσε· χώρει δ᾽ ἔνθαπερ κατέκτανες
1495

πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν, ὡς ἂν om. ἐν ταὐτῷ θάνῃς.

ΑΙ.

ἢ πᾶσ᾽ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν στέγην ἰδεῖν

τά τ᾿ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα Πελοπιδῶν κακά;

ΟΡ.

τὰ γοῦν σ᾽ τὰ γ' οὖν .. τὰ γ᾽ οὖν σ' τὰ γ᾽ οὖν σά τὰ γοῦν σὰ γὰρ· ἐγώ σοι μάντις εἰμὶ τῶνδ᾽ ἄκρος.

ΑΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πατρώαν τὴν τέχνην ἐκόμπασας.
1500

ΟΡ.

πόλλ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἡ δ᾽ ὁδὸς βραδύνεται.

ἀλλ᾽ ἕρφ᾽ ἕρπε ἔρφ'.

ΑΙ.

ὑφηγοῦ.

OP.

σοὶ βαδιστέον πάρος.

ΑΙ.

ἢ μὴ φύγω σε;

OP.

μὴ μὲν οὖν καθ᾽ ἡδονὴν

θάνῃς· φυλάξαι δεῖ με τοῦτό σοι πικρόν.

χρῆν δ᾽ εὐθὺς εἶναι τήνδε om. add τοῖς πᾶσιν δίκην,
1505

ὅστις πέρα πέραι πράσσειν γε τῶν νόμων θέλοι θέλει,

κτείνειν. τὸ γὰρ πανοῦργον οὐκ ἂν ἦν πολύ.

ΧΟ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1384-1441 focus

Χορός

ἴδεθʼ ὅποι προνέμεται

τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα φυσῶν Ἄρης.
1385

βεβᾶσιν ἄρτι δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι

μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων ἄφυκτοι κύνες,

ὥστʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτʼ ἀμμενεῖ

τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον.
1390

1391

Χορός

παράγεται γὰρ ἐνέρων

δολιόπους ἀρωγὸς εἴσω στέγας,

ἀρχαιόπλουτα πατρὸς εἰς ἑδώλια,

νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων· ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς

Ἑρμῆς σφʼ ἄγει δόλον σκότῳ
1395

κρύψας πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα κοὐκέτʼ ἀμμένει.

1397

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα

τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

Χορός

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
1400

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

Ἠλέκτρα

φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.
1405

Ἠλέκτρα

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

Χορός

ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
1410

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

Χορός

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι

μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

Ἠλέκτρα

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.

Ἠλέκτρα

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Χορός

τελοῦσʼ ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον γὰρ αἷμʼ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν
1420

κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.

1422

Χορός

καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ

στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδʼ ἔχω ψέγειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;

Ὀρέστης

τἀν δόμοισι μὲν

καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.
1425

Ἠλέκτρα

τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;

Ὀρέστης

μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ

μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

Χορός

παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;
1430

Ὀρέστης

εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου

χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς

Χορός

βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα,

νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν.
1435

Ὀρέστης

θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

Ἠλέκτρα

τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.

Χορός

διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν

πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς
1440

ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

Αἴγισθος

τίς οἶδεν ὑμῶν ποῦ ποθʼ οἱ Φωκῆς ξένοι,

οὕς φασʼ Ὀρέστην ἡμὶν ἀγγεῖλαι βίον

λελοιπόθʼ ἱππικοῖσιν ἐν ναυαγίοις;

σέ τοι, σὲ κρίνω, ναὶ σέ, τὴν ἐν τῷ πάρος
1445

χρόνῳ θρασεῖαν· ὡς μάλιστα σοὶ μέλειν

οἶμαι, μάλιστα δʼ ἂν κατειδυῖαν φράσαι.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἔξοιδα· πῶς γὰρ οὐχί; συμφορᾶς γὰρ ἂν

ἔξωθεν εἴην τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης.

Αἴγισθος

ποῦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἶεν οἱ ξένοι; δίδασκέ με.
1450

Ἠλέκτρα

ἔνδον· φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν.

Αἴγισθος

ἦ καὶ θανόντʼ ἤγγειλαν ὡς ἐτητύμως;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν, οὐ λόγῳ μόνον.

Αἴγισθος

πάρεστʼ ἄρʼ ἡμῖν ὥστε κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν;

Ἠλέκτρα

πάρεστι δῆτα, καὶ μάλʼ ἄζηλος θέα.
1455

Αἴγισθος

ἦ πολλὰ χαίρειν μʼ εἶπας οὐκ εἰωθότως.

Ἠλέκτρα

χαίροις ἄν, εἴ σοι χαρτὰ τυγχάνοι τάδε.

Αἴγισθος

σιγᾶν ἄνωγα κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας

πᾶσιν Μυκηναίοισιν Ἀργείοις θʼ ὁρᾶν,

ὡς εἴ τις αὐτῶν ἐλπίσιν κεναῖς πάρος
1460

ἐξῄρετʼ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, νῦν ὁρῶν νεκρὸν

στόμια δέχηται τἀμὰ μηδὲ πρὸς βίαν

ἐμοῦ κολαστοῦ προστυχὼν φύσῃ φρένας.

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ δὴ τελεῖται τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ· τῷ γὰρ χρόνῳ

νοῦν ἔσχον, ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν.
1465

1466

Αἴγισθος

ὦ Ζεῦ, δέδορκα φάσμʼ ἄνευ φθόνου μὲν οὐ

πεπτωκός· εἰ δʼ ἔπεστι νέμεσις, οὐ λέγω.

χαλᾶτε πᾶν κάλυμμʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅπως

τὸ συγγενές τοι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

Ὀρέστης

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζʼ· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ σόν,
1470

τὸ ταῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως.

Αἴγισθος

ἀλλʼ εὖ παραινεῖς κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,

εἴ που κατʼ οἶκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

Ὀρέστης

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ· μηκέτʼ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

Αἴγισθος

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;
1475

Ὀρέστης

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίνʼ ἀγνοεῖς;

Αἴγισθος

τίνων ποτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχʼ ὁ τλήμων;

Ὀρέστης

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶντας θανοῦσιν οὕνεκʼ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

Αἴγισθος

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως
1480

ὅδʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθʼ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου πάλαι.

Αἴγισθος

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα

πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.
1485

τί γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων

θνῄσκειν ὁ μέλλων οὐ χρόνου κέρδος φέροι;

ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα κτεῖνε καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες

ταφεῦσιν, ὧν τόνδʼ εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν,

ἄποπτον ἡμῶν· ὡς ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἂν κακῶν
1490

μόνον γένοιτο τῶν πάλαι λυτήριον.

1491

Ὀρέστης

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω σὺν τάχει· λόγων γὰρ οὐ

νῦν ἐστιν ἁγών, ἀλλὰ σῆς ψυχῆς πέρι.

Αἴγισθος

τί δʼ ἐς δόμους ἄγεις με; πῶς, τόδʼ εἰ καλὸν

τοὔργον, σκότου δεῖ κοὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν;

Ὀρέστης

μὴ τάσσε· χώρει δʼ ἔνθαπερ κατέκτανες
1495

πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν, ὡς ἂν ἐν ταὐτῷ θάνῃς.

Αἴγισθος

ἦ πᾶσʼ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν στέγην ἰδεῖν

τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα Πελοπιδῶν κακά;

Ὀρέστης

τὰ γοῦν σʼ· ἐγώ σοι μάντις εἰμὶ τῶνδʼ ἄκρος.

Αἴγισθος

ἀλλʼ οὐ πατρῴαν τὴν τέχνην ἐκόμπασας.
1500

Ὀρέστης

πόλλʼ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἡ δʼ ὁδὸς βραδύνεται.

ἀλλʼ ἕρφʼ.

Αἴγισθος

ὑφηγοῦ.

Ὀρέστης

σοὶ βαδιστέον πάρος.

Αἴγισθος

ἦ μὴ φύγω σε;

Ὀρέστης

μὴ μὲν οὖν καθʼ ἡδονὴν

θάνῃς· φυλάξαι δεῖ με τοῦτό σοι πικρόν.

χρῆν δʼ εὐθὺς εἶναι τήνδε τοῖς πᾶσιν δίκην,
1505

ὅστις πέρα πράσσειν τι τῶν νόμων θέλει,

κτείνειν· τὸ γὰρ πανοῦργον οὐκ ἂν ἦν πολύ.

1508

Χορός

ὦ σπέρμʼ Ἀτρέως, ὡς πολλὰ παθὸν

διʼ ἐλευθερίας μόλις ἐξῆλθες

τῇ νῦν ὁρμῇ τελεωθέν.
1510

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1354 focus

O gladsome day!

Dear only saviour of our father’s house,

How earnest thou hither? Art thou he indeed,

That didst preserve Orestes and myself
1355

From many sorrows? O dear hands, kind feet,
1355

Swift in our service,—how couldst thou so long

Be near, nor show one gleam, but didst destroy

My heart with words, hiding the loveliest deeds?

Father!—in thee methinks I see my father.

O welcome! thou of all the world to me

Most hated and most loved in one short hour.

OLD M

Enough, dear maiden! Many nights and days

Are circling hitherward, that shall reveal
1365

In clear recountment all that came between.

But to you two that stand beside I tell,

Now is your moment, with the Queen alone,

And none of men within; but if you pause,

Know that with others of profounder skill
1370

You’ll have to strive, more than your present foes.

OR

Then, Pylades, we need no more to dwell

On words, but enter on this act with speed,

First worshipping the holy shrines o’ the Gods

That were my father’s, harboured at the gate.
1375

EL

O King Apollo! hear them graciously,

And hear me too, that with incessant hand

Honoured thee richly from my former store!

And now, fierce slayer, I importune thee,

And woo thee with such gifts as I can give,

Be kindly aidant to this enterprise,

And make the world take note, what meed of bane

Heaven still bestows on man’s iniquity.

Lo, where the War-god moves

With soft, sure footstep, on to his design,

Breathing hot slaughter of an evil feud!

Even now the inevitable hounds that track
1380

Dark deeds of hideous crime
1380

Are gone beneath the covert of the domes.
1380

Not long in wavering suspense shall hang

The dreaming presage of my wistful soul.

For lo! within is led

With crafty tread the avenger of the shades,

Even to his father’s throne of ancient power,

And in his hand the bright new-sharpened death!

And Hermes, Maia’s son,

Is leading him, and hath concealed the guile

Even to the fatal end in clouds of night.

His time of weary waiting all is o’er.

EL
Re-enter ELECTRA .

O dearest women! they are even now

About it. Only bide in silence still.

CH

What is the present scene?

EL

She decks the vase

For burial, and they both are standing by.

CH

And wherefore hast thou darted forth?

EL

To watch

Aegisthus’ coming, that he enter not

At unawares.

CLY

().
1405

Ah! ah! Woe for the house,
1405

Desert of friends, and filled with hands of death!

EL

A cry within! Did ye not hear it, friends?

CH

Would I had not! I heard, and shivered through.

CLY

().

Oh me! Alas, Aegisthus! where art thou?

EL

Hark! yet again that sound!
1410

CLY

(). O son, have pity!

Pity the womb that bare thee.

EL

Thou hadst none

For him, nor for his father, in that day.

HALF-CH

Poor city! hapless race!

Thy destiny to-day

Wears thee away, away.

What morn shall see thy face?

CLY

(). Oh, I am smitten!
1415

EL

Give a second stroke,

If thou hast power.

CLY

(). Oh me! again, again!

EL

Would thou wert shrieking for Aegisthus too!

CH
Enter ORESTES and PYLADES .

The curse hath found, and they in earth who lie

Are living powers to-day.

Long dead, they drain away

The streaming blood of those who made them die.

Behold, they come, they come!
1420

His red hand dripping as he moves

With drops of sacrifice the War-god loves.

My ’wildered heart is dumb.

EL

How is it with you, brother?

OR

If Apollo

Spake rightfully, the state within is well.

EL

Wretched one, is she dead?
1425

OR

No more have fear

Thou shalt be slighted by thy mother’s will.

CH

Cease, for I see Aegisthus near in view.

EL

In, in again, boys!

OR

Where do ye behold
1430

The tyrant?

EL

To our hand from yonder gate

He comes with beaming look.

HALF-CH

Haste, with what speed ye may,

Stand on the doorway stone,

That, having thus much done,

Ye may do all to-day.

OR

Fear not: we will perform it.
1435

EL

Speed ye now:

Follow your thought.

OR

We are already there.

EL

Leave matters here to me. All shall go well.

CH

Few words, as if in gentleness, ’twere good

To utter in his ear,

That, eager and unware,

One step may launch him on the field of blood.

AEGISTHUS
Enter AEGISTHUS .

Which of you know where are the Phocian men
1440

Who brought the news I hear, Orestes’ life

Hath suffered shipwreck in a chariot-race?

You, you I question, you in former time

So fearless! You methinks most feelingly

Can tell us, for it touches you most near.
1445

EL

I know: assure thee. Else had I not heard

The dearest of all fortunes to my heart.

AEG

Where are the strangers then? Enlighten me.

EL

Yonder. Their hostess entertained them well.

AEG

And did they certainly report him dead?
1450

EL

Not only so. They showed him to our sight.

AEG

May this clear evidence be mine to see?

EL

I envy not the sight that waits you there.

AEG

Against their wont thy words have given me joy.

EL

Much joy be thine, if this be joy to thee!
1455

AEG

Silence, I say! Wide let the gates be flung!

For all the Myceneans to behold

And all in Argolis, that if but one

Hath heretofore been buoyed on empty hopes

Fixed in Orestes, seeing him now dead,

He may accept my manage, and not wait
1460

For our stern chastisement to teach him sense.

EL

My lesson is already learnt: at length

I am schooled to labour with the stronger will.

AEG

Zeus! Divine envy surely hath laid low

The form I here behold. But if the truth

Provoke Heaven’s wrath, be it unexpressed.—Unveil!
1465

Off with all hindrance, that mine eye may see,
1465

And I may mourn my kinsman as I should.

OR

Thyself put forth thy hand. Not mine but thine

To look and speak with kindness to this corse.

AEG

I will, for thou advisest well; but thou,
1470

Call Clytemnestra, if she be within.

OR

She is beside thee, gaze not otherwhere.

AEG

What do I see! oh!

OR

Why so strange? Whom fear you?

AEG

Who are the men into whose midmost toils

All hapless I am fallen?
1475

OR

Ha! knowest thou not

Thou hast been taking living men for dead?

AEG

I understand that saying. Woe is me!

I know, Orestes’ voice addresseth me.

OR

A prophet! How wert thou so long deceived?
1480

AEG

Undone, undone! Yet let me speak one word.

EL

Brother, by Heaven, no more! Let him not speak.

When death is certain, what do men in woe

Gain from a little time? Kill him at once!

And, killed, expose him to such burial

From dogs and vultures, as beseemeth such,

Far from our view. Nought less will solace me

For the remembrance of a life of pain.

OR

Go in and tarry not. No contest this

Of verbal question, but of life or death.

AEG

Why drive you me within? If this you do

Be noble, why must darkness hide the deed?

Why not destroy me out of hand?

OR

Command not!
1495

Enter, and in the place where ye cut down
1495

My father, thou shalt yield thy life to me.

AEG

Is there no help but this abode must see

The past and future ills of Pelops’ race?

OR

Thine anyhow. That I can prophesy

With perfect inspiration to thine ear.

AEG

The skill you boast belonged not to your sire.
1500

OR

You question and delay. Go in!

AEG

Lead on.

OR

Nay, go thou first.

AEG

That I may not escape thee?

OR

No, that thou may’st not have thy wish in death.

I may not stint one drop of bitterness.

And would this doom were given without reprieve,
1505

If any try to act beyond the law,

To kill them. Then the wicked would be few.

LEADER OF CH

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1354 focus

schönster Tag! Des Vaterhauses einziger

Erretter! Wie nur kamst du? Bist du wirklich der,

Der ihn und mich gerettet aus so vielem Leid?

Ihr theuren Hände! Du getreuer, süßer Dienst
1325

Der Füße! Wie nur warst du mir so lange nah,

Und warst mir doch verborgen und vernichtetest

Durch Worte mich, indeß du Wonnethaten bringst?

Heil, Vater! Denn den Vater, dünkt mir, seh' ich hier:

Heil! Wisse, daß ich unter allen Menschen dich
1330

Gehaßt am meisten und geliebt an Einem Tag!

Der Pfleger.

Nun scheint's genug mir. Wohl, Elektra, werden ja

Sich viele Tag' und Nächte noch im Kreise dreh'n,

Die dir getreu verkünden, was indeß geschah.

Euch Beiden sag' ich, die ihr hier noch steht: es ist
1335

Zum Handeln Zeit; die Tochter Tyndars ist allein,

Der Männer keiner innen! Wenn ihr säumen wollt,

So wißt: ihr müßt mit diesen und mit anderen

Zahlreichern und Geschicktern noch den Kampf besteh'n.

Orestes.

Zu langen Reden haben wir, o Pylades,
1340

Jezt keine Zeit mehr; nein, es gilt nur ungesäumt

Hineinzutreten und der Götter altes Bild

Zu grüßen, die hier walten auf des Hauses Flur.

(Sie knieen vor dem Altar des Apollon nieder, und gehen dann in den Palast.)

Elektra.

O Fürst Apollon, höre sie voll Gnaden an,

Und mich mit ihnen, die ich dir so Vieles schon,
1345

Was ich vermochte, dargebracht mit voller Hand!

Auch nun, Lykeier Phöbos, wie ich's jezt vermag,

Beschwör' ich, knieend ruf' ich dich: willfährig sei

Ein Helfer uns bei dieser wohlerwognen That,

Und zeige du den Menschen, welch gerechten Lohn
1350

Ruchlosigkeit aus hoher Götter Hand empfängt!

Seht ihn, seht Ares, wie

(allein.) Strophe. (sie folgt ihnen.)

Der Chor.

Er Blut schnaubend hin zum Kampf stürmt voll Wuth!

Des Fluches Hunde drangen schon in's Haus hinein,

Die an die Sohle sich hesten der Gräuelthat,
1355

Die Unentfliehbaren;

Und schwebend auf Entscheidung harrt,

Was träumend ahnte meinem Geist, nicht lange mehr.

Gegenstrophe.

Denu der Bluträcher trat

Im Haus eben ein mit trugvollem Schritt,
1360

Zu seines Vaters altem goldnem Herrschersiz,

Und in den Händen trägt er Mord, blutigroth.

Es führt Hermes ihu,

Der Maja Sohn, zum Ziel hinan,

Den Trug in Nacht einhüllend, säumt nicht länger mehr.
1365
Elektra (eilig zurückkommend). Der Chor.

Elektra.

O liebe, theure Frauen, gleich vollenden nun

Das Werk die Männer: also harrt ihr schweigend noch!

Der Chor.

Wie? Was beginnen jene?

Elektra.

Sie bereitet jezt

Zum Grab die Urne, nahe steh'n die Beiden ihr.¹

Der Chor.

Und du, was eiltest du heraus?
1370

Elektra.

Zu wachen, daß
1370

Aegisthos uns nicht unbemerkt das Haus betritt.

(im Hause)

Klytämnestra.

Ach, ach, o Graun! Das Haus

Ist öde rings von Freunden, und von Mördern voll.

Elektra.

Es jammert innen. Hört ihr nicht, o Freundinnen?

Der Chor.

Wohl hört' ich Wehklageruf, daß mir Armen schaudert.
1375

Klytämnestra.

Ich Arme, weh! Aegisthos, ach, wo bist du doch?

Elektra.

Schon wieder klagt es: hört ihr?

Klytämnestra.

Sohn, geliebter Sohn,

Erbarme dich der Mutter!

Elektra.

Auch bei dir ja fand

Er kein Erbarmen, wie der Mann, der ihn gezeugt.

Der Chor.

Weh dir, o Stadt, o Geschlecht der Herrscher! Heute
1380

Rafft dich hinab das Geschick, du sinkst, du sinkst!

Klytämnestra.

Weh, weh! Verwundet

Elektra.

Triff noch Einmal, wenn du kannst!

Klytämnestra.

Schon wieder

weh mir!

Elektra.

Träfst du doch Aegisthos auch!

Der Chor.

Erfüllt der Fluch! Die das Grab drunten barg, leben jezt!

Denn Blut in reichen Strömen, Blut entzieh'n die längst
1385

Gestorb'nen Rächend ihren Mördern.

Orestes. Pylades. Der Pfleger. Die Vorigen.

Da sind sie wieder: roth vom Blute triest die Hand,

Von Ares' Opfer; aber tadeln kann ich's nicht.²

Elektra.

Wie steht's, Orestes?

Orestes.

Dort im Hause steht es wohl,

Wenn mir's Apollons Sprüche wohl verkündigten.
1390

Elektra.

Todt ist die Unheilvolle?

Orestes.

Nimmer fürchte mehr,

Daß dich der Mutter stolzer Hohn entwürdige!

Der Chor.

Seid stille; dort sch' ich ganz deutlich nah'n Aegisthen.

(zu Drestes und Pylades)

Elektra.

In's Haus zurück, o Kinder!

Orestes.

Wo gewahret ihr

Den Mann?
1395

Elektra.

Von draußen kommend Er schreitet freudig dort auf uns heran,

Der Chor.

Hinter die Thore zurück mit schnellen Schritten!

Nun ihr das Erste vollbracht, vollbringt auch dies!

Orestes.

Getrost! Wir enden's.

Elektra.

Schon geh' ich weiter.
1400

Eile denn, wohin dich's treibt!
1400

Mir gebührt zu walten hier.
1400
(Orestes, Pylades und der Pfleger ab.)

Der Chor.

Nun flüstre (das frommt gewiß) diesem Mann hier in's Ohr

Nur wenig Worte sanft und still, damit er sonder Ahnung

Zum Kampf der Rache stürze!

Aegisthos. Elektra. Der Chor.

Aegisthos.

Wer unter euch weiß, wo die Phokergäste sind,

Die, heißt es, uns verkünden, daß Orestes jüngst
1405

Im Wagenkampfe scheitert' und das Leben ließ?

(zu Elektra)

Dich, dich, ja dich befrag' ich, die du früher stets

So trozig warest: dich am ersten kümmert's wohl;

So, denk' ich, weißt du's auch am ersten kundzuthun.

Elektra.

Ich weiß es; wie denn sollt' ich nicht? Fremd wär' ich sonst
1410

Dem Loos der Meinen, welche mir so theuer sind.

Aegisthos.

Wo sind sie denn, die Gäste? Das bedeute mir.

Elektra.

Im Hause, bei der lieben Wirthin eingeführt.

Aegisthos.

Und daß er todt sei, melden sie unzweifelhaft?

Elektra.

Und gaben auch Beweise, nicht durch Worte nur.
1415

Aegisthos.

So steht mir frei, mit eignen Augen es zu seh'n?

Elektra.

Frei steht der Anblick; doch er ist kein lieblicher.

Aegisthos.

Du sagst mir viel zur Freude, wie du nie gepflegt.

Elektra.

Wohl, freue du dich, wenn es dir erfreulich ist.

Aegisthos.

Nun still, gebiet' ich; thut des Hauses Pforten auf;
1420

Denn ganz Mykene soll es, Argos soll es schaun,

Daß Jeder, der sich etwa sonst auf diesen Mann

Mit eitler Hoffnung wiegte, todt ihn schaue nun,

Und mein Gebiß annehme, wenn nicht meine Zucht

Vorher gewaltsam zur Vernunft ihn bringen soll.
1425

Elektra.

Ich thue schon das Meine; denn mich hat die Zeit

Gelehrt, zu folgen, wenn gebeut ein Stärkerer.

(Sie öffnet die Thür; man erblickt die verhüllte Leiche Klytämnestra's.) Orestes. Pylades. Der Pfleger. Die Vorigen.

Aegisthos.

Zeus! Ein Opfer, hingestreckt durch Götterzorn,

Erblick' ich! Doch ich schweige, wenn ich Sünde sprach.

Löst ganz die Hülle meinem Blick, daß auch von mir
1430

Dem Anverwandten sei gebracht der Thränen Zoll!

Orestes.

Selbst hebe du sie; mir ja nicht, nur dir gebührt's,

Zu seh'n und hold zu grüßen, was die Hülle birgt.

Aegisthos.

Du räthst mir wohl, ich folge deinem Rath, und du

Berufe Klytämnestra, wenn sie drinnen weilt.
1435

Orestes.

Sie hast du nahe: suche nicht mehr anderwärts.

(hebt die Decke auf)

Aegisthos.

Weh! Was erblick' ich?

Orestes.

Wer erschreckt, wer irrt dich hier?

Aegisthos.

In welcher Männer Neze, ha! bin ich gestürzt,

Ich Sohn des Unglücks?

Orestes.

Merkst du nicht schon lange, daß

Du, wie mit Abgeschiednen, sprichst mit Lebenden?
1440

Aegisthos.

Weh mir! Das Wort versteh' ich: denn kein Andrer war's,

Es war Orestes, welcher eben sprach zu mir.

Orestes.

Du, Seher ohne Gleichen, warst so lange blind?

Aegisthos.

Verloren bin ich Armer! Doch vergönne mir

Ein kurzes Wort noch.
1445

Elektra.

Dulde nicht, bei'm Himmel, daß
1445

Er weiter spricht, o Bruder, und viel Worte macht!

Ein Mensch, umringt von Leiden und dem Tode nah,

Was hülf' es diesem, wenn der Tod noch zögerte?

Nein, ohne Säumen tödt' ihn, und den Todten gib

Den Todtengräbern, welchen er mit Recht verfällt,
1450

Von unserm Anblick ferne: dies allein genügt

Als Sühne mir für dieses alte lange Leid.

(zu Aegisthos)

Orestes.

Auf, geh' hinein und säume nicht! Denn traun, es gilt

Jezt keinen Kampf um Worte, nein, dein Leben gilt's.

Aegisthos.

Warum in's Haus mich führen? Ist dein Thun gerecht,³
1455

Wozu bedarf's des Dunkels? Gleich hier tödte mich!

Orestes.

Befiehl du nicht! Hin, wo du meinen Vater schlugst,

Entweiche, daß du sterbest an derselben Statt!

Aegisthos.

So wär' es also diesem Haus verhängt, zu schau'n

Der Pelopiden jezig und zukünftig Leid?
1460

Orestes.

Das deine sicher: ganz bestimmt weissag' ich dir's.

Aegisthos.

Nicht als ererbt vom Vater rühmst du diese Kunst.

Orestes.

Viel Gegenreden; doch der Gang verzögert sich!

Hinein!

Ich folge.

Nein, du selbst gehst mir voran!

Um nicht zu fliehen?
1465

Nein, um nicht nach deinem Wunsch
1465

Zu sterben: dieses Bittre sei dir noch bewahrt!

träfe Jeden ungesäumt dies Strafgericht,

Der wider Ordnung und Gesez zu thun gedenkt :

Der Tod! Der Frevel wären nicht so viele dann.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1397 focus

He was ; and so, could Iphigenia speak,
1405

Thy breathless sister, she too would declare.

Know then, I grieve not ; shame or penitence

I feel not for the deed ; and if to thee

It seems so heinous, weigh each circumstance,

Remember what he did, and lay the blame
1415

On him who well deserved the fate he suffered.

Electra

\io the Governor]. Deax'est of men, great

guardian of our race,
1355

Art thou then here 1 Thou, who hast saved us both

From countless woes ! Swift were thy feet to bring

Glad tidings to me, and thy hand stretched forth

Its welcome succour. But, oh ! why deceive me 1

Why wouldst thou kill me with thy dreadful tiilo,

E'en when thou hadst such happiness in store?

Hail ! father, hail ! — for I must caU thee so —
1380

Know, thou hast been to me, in one short day,

Both the most hated and most loved of men.

Governor

ISTo more of that We shall have time enough

To talk of it hereafter. Let us go.
1365

This is the hour ; the queen is now alone.

And not a man within. If ye delay,

Expect to meet more formidable foes,

In wisdom and in numbers far superior.

Orestes

We will not talk, my Pylades, but act.

Let us go in. But to the gods who guard

This place be first due adoration paid.

Electra

Hear, then, Apollo, great Lycnean, hear

Who with unsparing hand her choicest gifts

Hath never failed to lay before thy altars !

Accept the little all which now remains

For me to give, accept my humblest prayers,

My vows, my adorations ; smile propitious

On all our counsels ! Oh ! assist us now,

And show mankind what punishment remains

For guilty mortals from ofiended Heaven. [Exeunt.

JJehokl, lie comes ! the slaugliter-beariiig god

Mars, ever thirsting for the murderer's blood ;

And see ! the dogs of war are close behind ;

Naught can escape their all-devouring rage.

This did my conscious heart long since pi'esage,

And the fair dream that struck my raptured mind.

Th' avenger steals along with silent feet,

And sharpened sword, to his paternal seat,

His injured father's wrongs to vindicate ;

Concealed from all by Maia's fraudful son,

Who safe conducts him till the deed be done,

Nor longer will delay the needful work of fate.

Plectra. O my dear friends I they are about it now.

The deed is doing. But be still.

Chorus
StroiJhe. Antistrojjhe. [Exeunt ACT V. Scene I.

What deed ?

How? where ?

Electra

She doth prepare the funeral banquet ;

But they are not far from her.

Chorus

Why then leave them 1

Electra

To watch JEgisthus, lest he steal upon iis

And blast our purpose.

Cly. \heMnd tlie scenes]. Oh ! I am betrayed !

My palace full of murderei's ; not a friend

Left to protect me.

Electra

Some one aies within ;

Did you not hear ?

Chorus

It is too horrible

5'\)r mortal ear ; I tremble at the sound.

Cly. [wi

Electra

Hark! again
1410

The voice, and louder.
1410

Cly. \\oithiix\. O my child ! my child !
1410

Pity thy mother, pity her who bore thee !
1410

Electra

Be thine the pity which thou showedst to him,

And to his father.

Chorus

O unhappy kingdom !

O wretched race ! thy misery is full ;

This day will finish all.

Cxy. [within]. Oh! I am wounded!

Electra

Another stroke — another, if thou canst !

Cly. Ah me ! again !

Electra

Oh ! that ^gisthus too

Groaned with thee now !

Chorus

Then vengeance is complete.

The dead arise and shed their murderers' blood

In copious streams.

Orestes
Scene II.

Pylades, Governor of Orestes, Electra,

Electra

Behold them here ! their hands
1425

Dropping with gore, a pious sacrifice
1425

To the gi^eat god of war. How is 't, Orestes ?
1425

Orestes

'Tis very well. All 's well, if there be truth

In great ApoUo's oracles. She 's dead.

Thou needst not fear a cruel mother now.

Chorus

I^o more ! -ZEgisthus comes.

Electra

Instant go in ;

Do you not see him? Joyful he returns.

Chorus

Ketire. Thus far is right — ^go on, and prosper.

Orestes

Fear not ! We'll do it.

Chorus

But immediately.

Orestes

I'm gone.

Electra
\FjXPAmt Orestes, Pylades, and Governor.

For what remains here to be done.

Be it my care. I'll whisper in his ear

A few soft flattering words, that he may rush

Unknowing down precipitate on ruin.

Mgi^. Which of you knows aught of these Phocian

guests,

Who come to tell us of Orestes' death ?

And fierce of soul ; it doth concern you most ;

And therefore you, I think, can best inform me.

Electra
Scene III.

Yes, I can tell thee. Is it possible

I should not know it ? That were not to know

A circumstance of dearest import to me.

^Gis. Where are they then?

Electra

Within.

Aegisthus

^Gis. And spake they truth ?

Electra

They did ; a truth not proved by words alone,

But faots undoubted.

Aegisthus

^Gis. Shall we see him then ?
1450

Electra

Aye, and a dreadful sight it is to see.

^Gis. Thou art not wont to give me so much joy ;

Aegisthus

Now I am glad indeed.

Electra

Glad mayst thou be,

If aught there is in that can give thee joy.

Ateis. Silence within! and let my palace gates

Be opened all — that Argos and Mycenae

May send her millions forth to view the sight ;

Aegisthus

And if there are who nourish idle hopes

That still Orestes lives, behold him here,

And learn submission, nor inflame the crowd

Against their lawful sovereign, lest they feel

An angry monarch's heaviest vengeance on them.

Electra

Already I have learned the task, and yield
1455

To power superior.
1455

Opens and discovers tlie Body of Clytemxest BA extended
1455

on a biei'f and covered 'with a veil.
1455

Orestes
Scene IV.

Pylades, Governor of Orestes, Mgistr-jb,

Electra

Chorus, and a Croivd of Spectators frani

the city.

Miiia. What a sight is here '

O deity supreme ! this could not be

Aegisthus

But by thy will ; and whether Nemesis

Shall still o'ertake me for my crime, I know not.

Take otF the veil, that I may view him well ;
1465

He was by blood allied, and therefore claims
1465

Our decent sorrows.

Orestes

Take it off thyself !

'Tis not my office ; thee it best behts

Aegisthus

To see and to lament.
1470

JEgis. And so it does ;
1470

And I will do it. Send Clytemnestra hither.

Orestes
[Taking of the ve^a

She is before thee.

Aegisthus

^Gis. Ha ! what do I see 1

Orestes

Why, what 's the matter ? What affrights th@C

so?

Aegisthus

Do you not see him ?

^Gis. In what dreadful snare

Am I then fallen ]
1475

Orestes

Dost thou not now behold

That thou art talking with the dead ?

Aegisthus

u:Egis. Alas I

Too well I see it, and thou art — Orestes.

Orestes

So great a prophet thou, and guess so iil !
1480

Aegisthus

^Gis. I know that I am lost, undone for evor;

But let me speak to thee.

Electra

Do not, Orestes ;

No, not a woi'd. What can a moment's spaoo

Profit a wretch like him, to death devoted'^

Qijck }et him die, and cast his carcase forth

To dogs and vultures ; tliey will best perform

Fit obsequies for him. By this alone

We can be free and htappy.

Orestes

Get thee in !

This is no time for talk — thy life, thy life !

Aegisthus

^'Egis. But why go in ? If what thou meanst to do

Be just, what need of darkness to conceal it ?

Why not destroy me here ?

Orestes

It is not thine
1495

Now to command. Hence to the fatal place
1495

Where our dear father fell, and perish there.

Aegisthus

^Gis. This palace then is doomed to be the witness

Of all the present, all the future woes

Of Pelops' hapless race.

Orestes

Of thine, at least

It shall be witness ; that 's my prophecy.

Aegisthus

And a most true one.
1500

^Gis. 'Tig not from thy father.
1500

Orestes

Thou talkst, and time is lost. Away !

Aegisthus

^Gis. I follow.

Orestes

Thou shalt go first.

Aegisthus

^Gis. Thinkst thou I mean to fly ?

Orestes

No ; but I'd make thy end most bitter to thee

In every circumstance, nor let thee choose

The softest means. Were all like thee to perish
1505

Who violate the laws, ’twould lessen much

The guilt of mortals, aiKl reform mankind. \ExPAint.

Chorus

O race or Atreus ! after all thy woes,

How art thou thus by one adventurous deed

To freedom and to happiness restored 1

OF THE
1505

UNIVERSITY
1505

OF

DRAMATIS PERSONS.

Ulysses

King of Ithaca.

Neoptolemus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1354 focus

O thou dear light! Preserver of the house

Attendant

Of Agamemnon, sole preserver! How-

Art thou come back? Art thou that faithful man,

Who from a thousand threatening ills preserved

My brother and myself? Blest be thy hands
1365

That bore him hence. How pleasant are the steps
1365

Of thy return! But when we late conversed,

Why keep thyself unknown? Why not disclose

The ancient friend? Why pierce my heart with words

When thou hadst deeds to fill my soul with joy?

Hail, O my father! For methinks I see

My father: hail! Of all mankind this day

Thee have I hated most, and most have loved.

Cease thy inquiries. What remains untold

The rolling course of many nights and days:

Will show thee. Now, O princes, is the time

To act; now Clytemnestra is alone;
1370

Now not a man is in the house; if now
1370

You make delay, with others wiser far

Than these, and more in number, you must fight,

Orestes

Not words, my Pylades, but deeds must now

Take place: this instant let us enter, first

With reverence bending to my father's gods,

That in this portal have their hallow'd seats.
1375

Electra

Royal Apollo, hear them, favouring hear;

Me too, for oft before thee have I stood,

Offering with pious hand whate'er was mine

To offer, hear me. Now, Lycæan king,

I bring thee all I have, my pray'rs, my vows,
1380

My adoration: in our great attempt

Propitious give us aid, and show mankind

The vengeance of the gods on impious deeds!

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

See this Mars against his foes

Breathing slaughter furious goes.

Faithful to the scent of blood

On him waits a ravening brood,

Dogs of hell, with eager chase

Train'd the murderer's steps to trace:

On they rush with horrid joy,

Keen, and certain to destroy.
1385

Did not this my soul presage?
1385

Slumbers now his vengeful rage?
1385

See him prompt to aid the dead,
1385

Range these courts with secret tread.
1385

O'er each room his eyes are roll'd,
1385

With his father's treasures stor'd.

Fierce he grasps his keen-edged sword.

Hermes, brooking no delay,

Leads him on the destin'd way;

And the great avenger shrouds,

Guileful in a veil of clouds.

Electra
Scenes of royal pomp, of old ELECTRA, CHORUS.

My dearest friends, they now are in the act,

E'en now: in silence then await 'th' event..

Chorus

How! Tell us all. What are they doing now?
1400

Electra

A cauldron for the burial she prepares,

And they stand nigh.

Chorus

Why hither art thou come?

Electra

To watch: that should Ægisthus chance to come,

He may not enter ere they are aware.

Clytemnestra

O miserable me! Beneath this roof
1405

Have I no friends? Are none but murderers here?

Electra
[within.

One cries within. Hark!! Hear you not my friends ?

Chorus

I heard; and shuddering horror chills my blood.

Clytemnestra

Where art thou, O Ægisthus? Wretched me! [within.

Electra

Again that piercing cry!
1410

Clytemnestra

My son, my son

Have pity on thy mother!

Electra

But from thee

He found no pity, none his father found.

Chorus

Unhappy realm! Unhappy race! Now fate

Day after day destroys thee, quite destroys.

Clytemnestra
[within.

Oh! I am wounded.
1415

Electra
[within.

If thou canst, repeat

That stroke.

Clytemnestra

A wretched me, another wound!

Electra

Oh that Ægisthus had like cause to groan!

Chorus

The curse now hastes to be fulfill'd: they live,

Who lie beneath the earth; and streams of blood

The dead, from those who shed their blood, exact.

Electra
[within. ORESTES, PYLADES, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

See, they are here, their hands distain'd with blood
1425

From the first victim of their fury pour'd.
1425

I need not ask, Orestes, what is done.
1425

Orestes

All is well done within these gates, if well

The Oracle commanded. She is dead,

The wretched woman. Henceforth fear no more

Disgraceful insults from thy mother's pride.

Chorus

Forbear. Ægisthus plainly I perceive.

Electra

Go back, with speed go back.

Orestes

Comes he upon us?

Electra

See you this man?

He will soon be here;

Rejoicing from the suburbs he returns.

Chorus

Retire within the portal: as beforelia o')

You well condueted that attempt, so now

Orestes

Fear not: we will effect it to thy wish.
1435

Electra

Nay, linger not a moment.m

Orestes

I am gone.

Electra
ELECTRA, CHORUS

What here th' occasion calls for, be my care.

This man then It were well to sooth his ear

With a few gentle words, that he may rush

Without a thought on their avenging swords.

Aegisthus
ÆGISTHUS, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Where are these Phocian strangers, who, I hear,
1440

Have brought the tidings that amidst the wreck

Of clashing cars Orestes breath'd his last?

Which of you knows? Of thee I ask, of thee,

Thee in times past of soul untamed: as thee

It most imports, thou canst inform me best.

Electra

Too well I know: I were a stranger else

To what concerns the dearest of my friends.

AGIS. Where are the strangers? Tell me.

What, spoke they of his death

And welcome guests.

Aegisthus
Enter'd here,

As certain?
1450

Electra

What convinces more than words,

They brought undoubted proof.

Aegisthus

May I behold

That proof which carries certainty?

Electra

Thou may'st :

That sight thy envy will not raise.

Aegisthus

Great joy

Thou givest me now: not such hath been thy wont.

Electra

Go then: if this can give thee joy, rejoice.
1455

Aegisthus

Be silent, and set wide the gates, that all

Of Argos and Mycense may behold :

That if a man of them had in his thoughts

Cherish'd vain hopes, he now may view this corse,

And bear my curb; nor, hardening in his pride,

Draw on his head the terrors of my wrath.

Electra

I know my duty: for by time my mind

Is taught obedience to the sovereign pow'rs.

Aegisthus
The gates are thrown open; the body of Clytemnestra lies covered. ORESTES, PYLADES, ÆGISTHUS, ELECTRA,

O Jove this is a sight, which hath not fall'n
1470

But to my wish. If Vengeance waits my joy,
1470

I know not. From the corse remove the veil,
1470

That he my lamentations may receive,

For nearly to my blood he was allied.

Orestes

Remove it thou: thy office this, not mine,

To view, and kindly to address the dead.

Aegisthus

I will: thou dost advise me well. Go thou,

Call Clytemnestra. Is she in the house ?

Orestes

Ay, she is near thee; seek her not elsewhere.

Aegisthus

Ah, what a sight is this!

Or whom not know?

Whom dost thou fear?

Ah me, amidst the toils
1475

Of what insidious hunters am I fall'n!
1475

Orestes
[removing the veil.

Dost thou not yet perceive that with the dead,

So deem'd by thee, long converse thou hast held?

Aegisthus

Ah me! too well I know it; and these words

Can from none other but Orestes come.

Orestes

Excellent prophet! But thy skill before
1480

Deceived thee.
1480

Aegisthus

I am lost, in ruin sunk :

Yet hear me; let me speak; I will be brief.

Electra

No: hear him not, my brother; by the gods,

Hear no protracted speech. What would a wretch

Plunged in the midst of evils, and to death

Devoted, profit by a short delay ?

No; let him die this instant, and when dead

Obtain such burial as his deeds deserve,

Far from our sight: for all his former wrongs

To me this vengeance only can atone.

Orestes

Enter the gates this instant; for not words

Must now decide the contest, but thy life.

Aegisthus

Within these walls why lead me? If the deed

Be just and noble, why in darkness done?

Thy hand is ready, why not kill me here?

Orestes

Give not the law to me. Go; where thy hand
1495

Murder'd my father, there thy blood shall flow. i

Aegisthus

This is of strong necessity this house

Must see the present and the future illsai

Doom'd to the race of Pelops by the fatesdi.

Orestes

Ills doom'd to thee: prophetic is my voice.

Aegisthus

Thou canst not from thy father boast this skill
1500

Orestes

No more replies; no more delays: away.

Aegisthus

Lead thou the way.

Orestes

Before me thou shalt godt Losl

Aegisthus

Hast thou a fear I should escape thy sword?

Orestes

To make death bitter to thee, as thou wouldst

Thou shalt not die: now to command is mine)

Thus by swift-rushing vengeance perish all,
1505

Who dare to violate the sacred laws.

Less frequent: then would impious deeds be seen,

Chorus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1384-1440 focus

Chorus

Behold how Ares stalks onward,

breathing bloody vengeance that is hard to oppose. Just now have the hunters of wicked crimes passed beneath that roof there, the hounds which none may flee. And so not long shall
1385

the vision of my soul hang in suspense.
1390

1391

Chorus

The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered on guileful feet into the house, the rich, ancestral palace of his father, and he bears keen-edged death in his hands.

Maia ’s son Hermes, who has shrouded the guile in darkness, leads him right to his goal and delays no longer.
1395

1398

Enter Electra from the house.

Electra

My dearest friends, in a moment the men will do the deed. But wait in silence.

Chorus

How do they fare? What are they doing now?
1400

Electra

She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.

Chorus

And why have you hurried out?

Electra

To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Oh! Oh! Our house

is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
1405

Electra

Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?

Chorus

I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?

Electra

Look, once more someone cries out!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
1410

Electra

Why? You had none for him, nor for the father that begot him.

Chorus

Wretched city, wretched race, now the fate that has held you day by day perishes—it perishes!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Oh, I am wounded!
1415

Electra

Stab her doubly, if you can!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Ah, wounded again!

Electra

Would that Aegisthus, too, were wounded!

Chorus

The curses bring fulfillment: those who are buried live.

For men long dead are draining their killers’ blood in a stream of requital.
1420

1422

Enter Orestes and Pylades from the house.

Chorus

And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.

Electra

Orestes, what happened?

Orestes

All is well within the house,

if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
1425

Electra

The miserable woman is dead?

Orestes

Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.

Chorus

Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.

Electra

You, young men, get back inside!
1430

Orestes

Where do you see the man?

Electra

He is at our mercy walking from the suburb, full of joy.

Chorus

Go with all speed to the vestibule, so that, just as your first task prospered, so this one again may prosper now.

Orestes

Have courage. We will accomplish it.
1435

Electra

Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.

Orestes

See, I am gone.

Electra

Things here will be my concern. Exeunt Orestes and Pylades, into the house.

Chorus

It would be well to whisper into this man’s ear some few words of seeming gentleness,

so that he may rush blindly upon his trial before Justice.
1440

Enter Aegisthus.

Aegisthus

Which of you can tell me where those Phocian strangers are, who are said to have brought report for us that Orestes passed away amidst the shipwrecked chariots?

You, you I ask, yes, you, who were in former days so bold. It seems to me that this concerns you most, so you must know best, and can best tell me.
1445

Electra

I do know. How could I not? Otherwise I would be an alien to the fortune of my nearest kinsmen.

Aegisthus

Where, then, may the strangers be? Tell me.
1450

Electra

Inside. They have found a way to the heart of their hostess.

Aegisthus

Have they in fact reported him truly dead?

Electra

No, not reported only. They have shown him.

Aegisthus

Then I can identify the corpse myself?

Electra

You can, indeed, though it is no enviable sight.
1455

Aegisthus

You have indeed given me a joyful greeting, beyond your custom.

Electra

May joy be yours, if joy is what you find in these things.

Aegisthus

Silence, I say, and throw wide the gates for all Mycenaeans and Argives to see,

so that, if any one of them were once buoyed by empty hopes in this man, now by seeing his corpse, he may welcome my bit in his mouth, instead of waiting until my punishment makes him grow wits by force!
1460

Electra

All will be done on my part. Time

has given me the sense to comply with the stronger.
1465

1466 A shrouded corpse is disclosed.Orestes and Pylades stand near it.

Aegisthus

O Zeus, I see an image which could not have fallen without divine spite—but, if Nemesis attend what I say, let it be unsaid! To Orestes. Undo the coverings from his eyes, so that our kinship, at least, may receive due mourning from me also.

Orestes

Lift the veil yourself. It is not for me, but for you to look upon these remains and greet them kindly.
1470

Aegisthus

You advise well, and I will obey you. To Electra. But you, call Clytaemnestra for me, if she is at home.

Orestes

She is near you; do not look elsewhere.

Aegisthus
Aegisthus removes the cloth from the face of the corpse.

O, what sight is this!
1475

Orestes

Why so scared? Is the face so strange?

Aegisthus

Who are the men into whose nets I have miserably fallen?

Orestes

Do you not perceive how you have long been addressing the living in terms suited to the dead?

Aegisthus

Ah, I read the riddle! It cannot be that

this is not Orestes who speaks to me!
1480

Orestes

And, though so good a prophet, were you deceived so long?

Aegisthus

Oh, I am destroyed, undone! Yet allow me to speak just a little.

Electra

By the gods, brother, do not allow him to speak any more or to plead at length!

When mortals are embroiled in misfortunes, how can one who is to die benefit from lapse of time? No, kill him as quickly as you can, and throw his corpse to the creatures from whom his kind should have burial, throw it far from our sight! For in my eyes this
1485

alone can bring us release from the misery of the past.
1490

1491

Orestes

To Aegisthus. Go in, and quickly. Words are not at stake here, but your life.

Aegisthus

Why take me into the house? If this deed is just, what need is there of darkness? Why is your hand not quick to strike?

Orestes

Do not give orders, but go to where you struck down my father, so that in that very place you may die.
1495

Aegisthus

Is this dwelling doomed to see all the sufferings of us descendants of Pelops, both now and in time to come?

Orestes

Yours, at least. I am for you a consummate prophet in these matters.

Aegisthus

The skill you boast about did not belong to your father.
1500

Orestes

You bandy words, and our going is delayed. Move forward!

Aegisthus

You lead.

Orestes

You must go first.

Aegisthus

Lest I escape you?

Orestes

No, lest you die in a manner which pleases you. I must be sure that your death is bitter for you.

This just penalty ought to come straightaway upon all who would break the laws: the penalty of death. Then wrongdoing would not abound.
1505

1508

Chorus

O seed of Atreus, through how many sufferings have you sprouted up at last in freedom,

fulfilled by this day’s enterprise!
1510

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-750-1 φῶς ¹

mvp-comment-751-1 τόνδε κἄμ’ ²

mvp-comment-751-2 ἔσωσας ³ κεῖνος ⁴

mvp-comment-752-1 ὦ … χεῖρες ⁵

mvp-comment-753-1 οὐδ’ ἔφαινες ⁶ ἀλλά με ⁷

mvp-comment-754-1 ἔργ’ ἔχων ⁸ ἐμοί ⁹ με ¹⁰

mvp-comment-755-1 πατέρα ¹¹ χαῖῤ, ὦ πάτερ ¹² πατέρα ¹³

mvp-comment-756-1 τοὺς … ἐν μέσῳ λόγους ¹⁴

mvp-comment-756-2 The acc. τοὺς … λόγους ¹⁵ ταῦτα ¹⁶

mvp-comment-756-3 κυκλοῦνται ¹⁷ κυκλοῦσι ¹⁸

mvp-comment-757-1 σφῷν δ’ ἐννέπω γε ¹⁹ γε ²⁰

mvp-comment-758-1 τούτοις ²¹ ἄλλοισι ²² σοφωτέροις ²³ τούτων ²⁴

mvp-comment-758-2 Another view is that

ἀνδρῶν

in 1369 refers to Aegisthus and his armed followers, while τούτοις ²⁵

mvp-comment-759-1 οὐδὲν ²⁶

mvp-comment-760-1 πατρῷα ²⁷

mvp-comment-760-2 ἕδη ²⁸ πρόπυλα ²⁹

mvp-comment-760-3 προσκύσαντε ³⁰

mvp-comment-761-1 ἀφ’ ὧν ³¹

mvp-comment-761-2 ἔχοιμι ³²

mvp-comment-761-3 λιπαρεῖ ³³

mvp-comment-761-4 Blaydes and Wecklein read )πέστην ³⁴

mvp-comment-762-1 ἐξ οἵων ἔχω ³⁵ αἰτῶ ³⁶

mvp-comment-762-2 1380 I read προπίπτω ³⁷ προπίτνω ³⁸ ι^ ³⁹ ι— ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-763-1 τἀπιτίμια ⁴¹

mvp-comment-764-1 ἴδεθ’ ⁴² ὅπου ⁴³

mvp-comment-764-2 προνέμεται ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-764-3 Campbell suggests that the image in

προνέμεται

is from fire ‘eating its way’ forward, and compares Her. 5. 101

ἀπ’ οἰκίης ἐς οἰκίην ἰὸν τὸ πῦρ ἐπενέμετο τὸ ἄστυ

. This hardly agrees so well with the idea of a stealthy advance.

mvp-comment-765-1 τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-765-2 φυσῶν ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-766-1 δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-767-1 μετάδρομοι … κύνες ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-768-1 ἀμμενεῖ ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-769-1 τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-769-2 αἰωρούμενον ⁵¹

mvp-comment-770-1 ἐνέρων … ἀρωγός ⁵²

mvp-comment-771-1 ἀρχαιόπλουτα ⁵³

mvp-comment-772-1 νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-772-2 The bold use of αἷμα ⁵⁵ χειροῖν ἔχων ⁵⁶ αἷμα ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-772-3 If νεάκονητον ⁵⁸ α ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-773-1 ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-773-2 Ἑρμῆς σφ’ ἄγει ⁶¹ ς ⁶² σφ’ ⁶³

mvp-comment-774-1 A kommos. It falls into two principal parts. (1) 1398—1421; the death of Clytaemnestra. (2) 1422— 1441; Orestes and Pylades re-enter; Aegisthus approaches; and they prepare to receive him.

mvp-comment-774-2 The general structure of this kommos is clearly strophic; but critics differ on details. The simplest view is that of Dindorf and others, that vv. 1398—1421 form a single strophe,=antistr. 1422— 1441. The lyric verses 1407, 1413—4, and 1419—1421, correspond respectively with 1428, 1433—4, and 1439—1441: for these, see Metrical Analysis. It is usually held, with Hermann, that the correspondence of the iambic trimeters also must be exact. This makes it necessary to assume a gap in our text after v. 1427 (n.), and a second after 1429 (n.), besides the defect in 1432. See Appendix.

mvp-comment-774-3 Electra hastens out of the house. She performs the part of an

<*>ξάγγελος

, so far as to describe the situation at this moment in the house: then Clytaemnestra's cry is heard, like that of the dying king in Aesch. Ag. 1343 ff. In the Orestes (408 B.C.) Electra has a similar part, perhaps suggested by this. Helen's cry is heard within, and Electra says to the Chorus (1297),

ἠκούσαθ); ἅνδρες χεῖρ’ ἔχουσιν ἐν φόνῳ

mvp-comment-775-1 τελοῦσι ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-776-1 τάφον ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-776-2 λέβητα ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-776-3 κοσμεῖ ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-777-1 αἰαῖ· ἰὼ στέγαι ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-778-1 ἀνήκουστα ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-779-1 ἰδού ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-779-2 μάλ’ αὖ ⁷¹

mvp-comment-780-1 ἐκ σέθεν ⁷²

mvp-comment-780-2 ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ ⁷³

mvp-comment-780-3 1413 f. The traditional reading φθίνει φθίνει ⁷⁴ σε ⁷⁵ σοι ⁷⁶ μοῖρα καθαμερία ⁷⁷ φθίνει ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-780-4 Others explain as follows. (1) Keeping both σε ⁷⁹ φθίνει φθίνει ⁸⁰ σε ⁸¹ φθίνειν φθίνειν ⁸²

mvp-comment-780-5 Nor is the objection to these interpretations merely verbal. They represent the Chorus as deploring that doom of the race which entails yet another deed of bloodshed. But, as Whitelaw well observes, this commits Sophocles to the Aeschylean view of the vengeance ‘as a new crime in the series of crimes’ (Translation, p. 437). The Chorus are in the fullest sympathy with the avengers. They regard the slaying of Clytaemnestra not as a new calamity, but as a welcome retribution: cp. 1434

τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι

, and 1508 ff. The words

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ

express the feeling of these

πολίτιδες

(1227) that the cause of the house is that of the city. They hail the approaching deliverance of Mycenae from the tyrants. The change of

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ

into

ὦ Πέλοπος γενεὰ

(cr. n.) is equally rash and infelicitous.

mvp-comment-780-6 1415 f. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1343

ΑΓ. ὤμοι, πέπληγμαι καιρίαν πληγὴν ἔσω

... 1345

ὤμοι μάλ’ αὖθις, δευτέραν πεπληγμένος.

mvp-comment-780-7 διπλῆν ⁸³

mvp-comment-780-8 εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ’ ὁμοῦ ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-781-1 τελοῦς ἀραί ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-781-2 οἱ … κείμενοι ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-781-3 ὑπαὶ ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-782-1 παλίρρυτον ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-782-2 ὑπεξαιροῦσι ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-783-1 καὶ μὴν ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-783-2 στάζει θυηλῆς ⁹¹

mvp-comment-783-3 ψέγειν ⁹² λέγειν ⁹³

mvp-comment-784-1 κυρεῖτε ⁹⁴ κυρεῖ ⁹⁵ κυρεῖ δὲ ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-785-1 ἐθέσπισεν ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-786-1 ἐκφοβοῦ … ὡς ⁹⁸ λῆμα ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-786-2 After v. 1427 Erfurdt and others suppose the loss of three verses answering to vv. 1404—1406 (

αἰαῖ...φίλαι

): see note in Appendix on 1398. The context itself, however, does not indicate any lacuna. In a calmer scene, doubtless, we might have looked for some comment from Electra on the announcement that Clytaemnestra is dead. But this is a passage full of excitement and hurrying action. The warning παύσασθε ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-787-1 ἐκ προδήλου ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-787-2 Here, again, it is supposed that we have lost a trimeter, answering to 1409. (Hermann suggests

ἀλλ’ ἐξίκοιτό γ’, ὡς παρεσκευάμεθα

.) But the context, at least, does not show any gap in the sense.

mvp-comment-788-1 ὦ παῖδες ¹⁰² οὐκ ἄψορρον ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-789-1 ἐφ’ ἡμῖν ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-789-2 Some have thought that the words of Orestes in this v. should be metrically equivalent to those of Clyt. in 1411,

οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν

. Nauck, for example, proposes

τὸν ἄνδρ’ ἐφ’ ἡμῖν τοῦτον

; This seems, however, a groundless assumption.

mvp-comment-790-1 χωρεῖ γεγηθώς ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-791-1 βᾶτε κατ’ ἀντιθύρων ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-791-2 The word

ἀντίθυρον

is known only from the following passages. (1) Od. 16. 159

στῆ δὲ κατ’ ἀντίθυρον κλισίης

, describing a position outside of the hut: usually rendered, ‘he stood over against the doorway.’ (2) In Lucian Alex. 16

τὸ ἀντίθυρον

is the wall opposite to the door of a room; in this wall a second door is made, to admit of a crowd streaming through the room. In Lucian Symp. 8 the sense is the same.

mvp-comment-791-3 Here,

τὰ ἀντίθυρα

seems to mean, as in the Odyssey, a place close to the doors; probably just inside of them, and (from that point of view) ‘over against them’; a vestibule, or entrance-hall. Cp. 328

πρὸς θυρῶνος ἐξόδοις

. As

προθυρὼν

was a collateral form of

πρόθυρον

( Etym. Magn. 806. 4, etc.),

<*>ντιθυρὼν

may have been such a form of

ἀντίθυρον

. If so, the desirable accus. for

κατὰ

could be at once obtained by κατ’ ἀντιθυρῶν’ ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-791-4 βᾶτε κάταντα θυρῶν’ ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-792-1 εὖ θέμενοι ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-792-2 τάδ’ ὡς πάλιν ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-793-1 ᾗ νοεῖς ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-793-2 The ground for giving the words ᾗ νοεῖς ¹¹² τελοῦμεν ¹¹³

mvp-comment-794-1 καὶ δὴ βέβηκα ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-795-1 These verses are antistrophic to 1417—1421. δἰ ὠτὸς ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-795-2 ὡς ἠπίως ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-795-3 λαθραῖον ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-796-1 ναυαγίοις ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-797-1 σέ τοι ¹¹⁹ κρίνω ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-798-1 συμφορᾶς ¹²¹

mvp-comment-798-2 Possibly this is the only ambiguity intended. But

τῆς συμφορᾶς..τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης

might be genitive of

ἡ συμφορὰ τῶν ἐμῶν ἡ φιλτάτη

, ‘ the most welcome fortune of my kindred,’— i.e., ‘my brother's return.’ Cp. 1273

φιλτάταν

ὁδόν

. To intend this as an inner meaning would certainly be quite in the manner of Sophocles; cp. O. T. 337

ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δ’ ὁμοῦ

ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες

.—For other views, see Appendix.

mvp-comment-799-1 φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν ¹²²

mvp-comment-800-1 ἦ καὶ ¹²³

mvp-comment-800-2 ὡς ἐτητύμως ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-801-1 οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν ¹²⁵ οὐ λόγῳ μόνον ¹²⁶ οὔκ ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-802-1 πάρεστ’ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-802-2 ὥστε ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-802-3 κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-803-1 πάρεστι δῆτα ¹³¹ δῆτα ¹³² καὶ μάλ’ ¹³³

mvp-comment-804-1 ἦ πολλὰ χαίρειν μ’ εἶπας ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-804-2 1457 While τυγχάνοι ¹³⁵ τυγχάνει ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-805-1 κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-806-1 Μυκηναίοισιν ¹³⁸ Ἀργείοις ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-806-2 πᾶσιν ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-807-1 ἐλπίσιν … ἀνδρὸς ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-808-1 στόμια ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-808-2 φύσῃ φρένας ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-809-1 καὶ δὴ ¹⁴⁴ τἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-809-2 τελεῖται ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-809-3 τῷ … χρόνῳ ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-809-4 συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-809-5 As Electra utters these words, the central doors are opened, and the eccyclema is pushed forward. This was a small and low stage. A corpse is seen upon it, the face and outlines concealed by a covering. Near it stand Orestes and Pylades—the ‘Phocians’ whom Aegisthus seeks. The eccyclema remains displayed to the end, and at v. 1507 Orestes and Pylades go out behind it. So in the Antigone the eccyclema is in view from 1293 to the close, and at 1347 Creon is led off behind it.

mvp-comment-809-6 The corpse here is an effigy, like that of Haemon in Ant. 1261 ff. The deuteragonist, who had played Clytaemnestra, is now playing Orestes.

mvp-comment-810-1 δέδορκα φάσμ’ ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-810-2 The invocation, ὦ Ζεῦ ¹⁵⁰ φθόνου ¹⁵¹ φάσμα ¹⁵² δέδορκα ¹⁵³ πεπτωκός ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-810-3 ἔπεστι ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-810-4 νέμεσις ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-810-5 οὐ λέγω ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-810-6 Aegisthus corrects himself with hypocritical piety; it is as if he said, ‘but it is not for me to judge my fellow-mortal.’

mvp-comment-811-1 τὸ συγγενές ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-811-2 τοι ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-811-3 κἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-811-4 θρήνων τύψῃ ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-812-1 βάσταζ’ ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-812-2 οὐκ ἐμὸν ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-812-3 ταῦθ’ ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-812-4 προσηγορεῖν φίλως ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-813-1 σὺ δέ ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-813-2 εἴ που κατ’ οἶκόν μοι ¹⁶⁷ μοι ¹⁶⁸ κάλει ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-814-1 μηκέτ’ ἄλλοσε σκόπει ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-815-1 τίνα φοβεῖ ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-815-2 Campbell remarks: ‘After a glance of horrified recognition at the corpse, Aegisthus looks strangely on Orestes.

τίνα

διὰ τί τόνδε

.’ He refers both

φοβεῖ

and

ἀγνοεῖς

, then, to the fear and bewilderment with which Aegisthus looks at Orestes. But the words of Orestes thus lose the grim force which belongs to them as a comment on

οἴμξι, τί λεύσσω

;

mvp-comment-816-1 ἀρκυστάτοις ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-816-2 For μέσοις ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-816-3 πέπτωκα ¹⁷⁴ ἐν ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-817-1 πάλαι ¹⁷⁶ αἰσθάνει ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-817-2 1478 In ἀνταυδᾷς ¹⁷⁸ ἴσα τοῖς θανοῦσιν ¹⁷⁹ ζῶντας ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-817-3 Editors from Brunck onwards have been nearly unanimous in accepting ζῶντας ¹⁸¹ ζῶν τοῖς ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-818-1 ξυνῆκα ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-818-2 οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ’ ὅπως … οὐκ ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-819-1 καὶ μάντις ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-820-1 πάρες κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-821-1 βροτῶν ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-821-2 σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-821-3 θνῄσκειν ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-821-4 τοῦ χρόνου ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-821-5 Many recent critics follow Dindorf in suspecting or bracketing these two verses. Two things should be clearly recognised at the outset. First, that no suspicion is warranted by the fact that the scribe of L accidentally omitted these verses from the text,—as he also omitted several lines elsewhere which are undoubtedly genuine. Secondly, that in the language of these verses there is nothing to which exception can fairly be taken. If they are rejected, it must be on the ground that the thought which they express is inappropriate. But is it so? Aegisthus has appealed to mercy, asking for a brief respite. Electra fears that her brother may relent. What gain, she asks, would such a respite be, even to the doomed wretch himself? And her own feeling requires his instant death. It should be noted also that such a pair of verses, containing a general sentiment in an interrogative form, is Sophoclean; cp. Ai. 475

τί γὰρ παρ’ ἦμαρ ἡμέρα τέρπειν ἔχει

προσθεῖσα κἀναθεῖσα τοῦ γε κατθανεῖν

; also Ant. 463 f.

mvp-comment-822-1 ταφεῦσιν ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-822-2 ἄποπτον ἡμῶν ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-823-1 ἁγών ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-824-1 πρόχειρος … κτανεῖν ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-825-1 μὴ τάσσε ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-825-2 ἔνθαπερ ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-826-1 πᾶσ’ ἀνάγκη ¹⁹⁷ τά τ’ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-826-2 Aegisthus means: ‘Must this house witness, not only those sorrows of our family which exist already, but those others which are to come, if I am slain?’ He speaks of his impending doom as if it were due, not to his own crimes, but to the working of the hereditary

ἀρά

, and implies that it will be followed by other deeds of bloodshed. In saying Πελοπιδῶν ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-827-1 τὰ γοῦν ς’ ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-827-2 ἄκρος ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-828-1 τὴν τέχνην ²⁰²

mvp-comment-828-2 1501 Cp. O. C. 1628

πάλαι δὴ τἀπὸ σοῦ βραδύνεται

mvp-comment-828-3 1502 The double change of person within the verse ( Or.—Aeg.— Or.) is rare. As G. Wolff observes, there is no instance of it in Aesch. ; in Soph. the only other examples occur in the two latest plays, Soph. O. C. 832 , Soph. Ph. 810 , Soph. Ph. 814 , Soph. Ph. 816 , at moments of high excitement. A triple change within the verse occurs only once, in Soph. Ph. 753. This is another point which bcars on the date of the Electra: cp. 1160 n.

mvp-comment-828-4 ἕρφ’ ²⁰³

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

1354. mvp-comment-634-1 ὦ.. φῶς] ‘O joyful day!' The words have the same meaning as in supr. 1224, though they do not carry the same strength of feeling.

1356. mvp-comment-635-1 The Paedagogus had proved his faithfulness by saving both Electra and Orestes from danger, before she entrusted him with the precious charge. Cp. supr. 1351, 2.

1357. mvp-comment-636-1 'She addresses the hands, which she is holding in her own.' Wecklein.

1357-1358. mvp-comment-637-1 ἥδιστον.. ὑπηρέτημα] ‘And thou whose feet have done most precious service;' viz. in going to and returning from Phocis.

1359. mvp-comment-638-1 οὐδ᾽ ἔφαινες] 'And not make thyself known.' The use of the active voice is softened by the possible resumption of ξυνών, i. e. συνόντα σέ. But it is also justified by the implied metaphor from a body shining with its own light. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 101, 2, ἀγανὰ φαίνουσ᾽ | ἐλπίς.

1360. mvp-comment-639-1 ἔργ᾽.. ἐμοί] 'While engaged in a course of action most delightful to me.'

1361. mvp-comment-640-1 'Hail, father! For methinks I see a father in thee.' In such words of affection, Electra's long repressed feelings naturally overflow. Cp. supr. 1220, πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ; and note.

1364. mvp-comment-641-1 τοὺς . . λόγους] ‘For as to what has happened in the interval.' The turn of expression in the next line (πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται, κ.τ.λ.) leaves this accusative out of construction, and it is resumed in ταῦτα (1366).

1365. mvp-comment-642-1 κυκλοῦνται] The change to κυκλοῦσι in some MSS. may have been occasioned either by the wish to obtain a construction for λόγους, or by the similarity of δείξουσι. It is better therefore to retain κυκλοῦνται.

1370-1371. mvp-comment-643-1 σοφωτέροις πλείοσιν] 'Not only with these, but with others who have superior cunning and superior numbers.' σοφωτέροις, because men and not women; πλείοσιν, because the guards of Aegisthus would overpower the Phocian men.'

1372-1373. mvp-comment-644-1 οὐκ ἂν . . τοὔργον] It would seem, Pylades, that our business here no longer has to do with words.'

1374. mvp-comment-645-1 χωρεῖν] Sc. ἔργον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν.

1374-1375. mvp-comment-646-1 'Having first bowed before the shrines of my father's gods.' ὅσοιπερ .. τάδε] Cp. Aesch. Ag. 509-19, where Zeus, Apollo (supr. 637), Hermes, are expressly mentioned, and other deities spoken of as δαίμονες ἀντήλιοι.

1375. mvp-comment-647-1 - After some moments of silent devotion, Orestes, Pylades, the Paedagogus, and their attendants, enter the palace. Electra remains outside and prays aloud to Apollo.

1377. mvp-comment-648-1 σε is governed by λιπαρεῖ προὔστην χερί = ἱκέτευσά σε.

1378. mvp-comment-649-1 λιπαρεῖ . . χερί] 'Came before thee with ever-instant hand.' The gloss of Suidas, λιπαρεῖ· ἀφθόνῳ, πλουσίᾳ, must be attributed to misapprehension.

1379. mvp-comment-650-1 ἐξ οἴων ἔχω] Sc. εὐχομένη, 'Vowing of such things as I have.' Cp. Aesch. Cho. 486-8, ΗΛ. κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας | οἴσω πατρῳων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους· | πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον. This and the following lines are said by Electra in an attitude of prayer, and fitly prepare the spectator for the solemn strain which is raised by the Chorus after she has entered the palace at l. 1383.

1382-1383. mvp-comment-651-1 τἀπιτίμια.. θεοί] ‘What reward the gods bestow upon impiety.'

1384ff. mvp-comment-652-1 In a single strophe and antistrophe (cp. O. C. 1556-1578) the Chorus (1) augur the success of the dreadful enterprize, and (2) recognise the presence of Hermes, who is conducting it. Beginning with a resolved cretic (the fourth paeon) the rhythm becomes first dochmiac and then iambic.

1384-1385. mvp-comment-653-1 'Behold ye, where the God of Strife advances panting forth the eager blood-drops of a fatal feud;' i. e. full of his slaughterous intent. προνέμεσθαι is said to mean literally, To go forward in grazing' (L. and S.). But the image immediately suggested is rather that of a fire, which may also be said 'to eat its way.' Cp. Aj. 197 foll., and notes: Hdt. 5. 101, αὐτίκα ἀπ᾿ οἰκίης ἐς οἰκίην ἰὸν τὸ πῦρ, ἐπενέμετο τὸ ἄστυ ἅπαν : ib. τὰ περιέσχατα νεμομένου τοῦ πυρός : Thuc. 2. 54, ἡ νόσος . . ἐπενείματο ᾿Αθήνας μὲν μάλιστα, ἔπειτα δέ, κ.τ.λ. δυσέριστον is either (1) as the Scholiast explains it, δι' ἔριν γινόμενον κακόν, Instinct with the evil of contention;' or (2) Irresistible; ' ' ineluctabilem caedem spirans' (Jacobs). αἷμα is here the spirit of bloodshed. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 β, and for a similar confusion, cp. Aesch. Ag. 1428, λίπος ἐπ᾿ ὀμμάτων αἵματος ἐμπρέπει,

1387-1388. mvp-comment-654-1 Clytemnestra and Aegisthus were above spoken of as an embodiment of the Alastor (supr. 198-200). Similarly, Orestes and Pylades are here identified with the Erinyes. In the antistrophe, ll. 1391, 2, Orestes is described in vaguely impressive language as the ‘ helper of the powers below,’ ἐνέρων .. ἀρωγές. For 'help' = 'vengeance,' cp. supr. 811, and note.

1389. mvp-comment-655-1 The emendation suggested by Wunder, consisting only in the change of an accent (see v. rr.), seems to be required by the sense. 'My soul's-vision (supr. 479-81) has not long to linger unaccomplished' (lit. in suspense, cp. supr. 501).

1392. mvp-comment-656-1 εἴσω στέγας] The construction is Homeric, cp. Il. 21. 124, 5, ἀλλὰ Σκάμανδρος | οἴσει δινήεις εἴσω ἁλὸς εὐρέα κόλπον.

1395. mvp-comment-657-1 νεακόνητον.. ἔχων] ‘Holding with his hands the newly - whetted Death.' In αἷμα the effect is put by metonymy for the cause. Essay on L. § 42. p. 81. For νεακόνητον, cp. Aesch. Ag. 1535, 6, δίκην δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλο πρᾶγμα θηγάνει βλάβης | πρὸς ἄλλαις θηγάναισι Μοῖρα. The quantity probably, though not certainly, follows the analogy of νεᾶκονής (Doric for νεηκονής). Hermann's νεο-κόνητον involves an awkward prolepsis.

1396. mvp-comment-658-1 δόλον σκότῳ κρύψας] Cp. Aesch. Cho. 812-8. The words πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα, though joined primarily with ἄγει, are to be resumed with κρύψας ('Concealing the guile till close upon the goal ').

1397. mvp-comment-659-1 After this line there is a pause, in which Electra comes forth to watch for Aegisthus. In tones of suppressed excitement she tells what is going on within.

1398-1441. mvp-comment-660-1 The following passage (1398-1441), although consisting largely of senarii, appears to be antistrophic, nearly corresponding even in the division of the lines. According to this view ll. 1404-1406 are either (1) not to be counted in the strophe, or (2) lines answering to them after l. 1427 must be supposed to have been lost. As the lines in question relate to the sudden cry of Clytemnestra from within, the former supposition is sufficiently probable. Cp. note on O. C. 117 foll., vol. i. p. 298 (Ist column). In the 'strophe,' ll. 1398-1421, Clytemnestra is put to death, -in the 'antistrophe,' ll. 1422-41, the bleeding sword is displayed, and Aegisthus is descried. The young men then retire into the palace, and Electra waits outside.

1399. mvp-comment-661-1 τελοῦσι is future. πρόσμενε] Addressed to the Coryphaeus.

1401. mvp-comment-662-1 λέβητα κοσμεῖ] ‘ She is decking the urn,' adorning it with wreaths for funeral consecration. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 686. Mr. Paley doubts, surely unnecessarily, if the cinerary urn be meant here as in Aesch. Cho. 686.

1407. mvp-comment-663-1 ἀνήκουστα] ‘What is horrible to hear,-as ἄρρητα are 'things horrible to tell.'

1411-1412. mvp-comment-664-1 ἀλλ᾽.. οὗτος] Cp. supr. 296, 7,601.

1413-1414. mvp-comment-665-1 If the text is sound, φθίνει is transitive here. καθαμερία is predicative and adverbial, Is destroying thee this very day.' This brief lyrical utterance fills the moment of dread suspense before the falling of the blow.

1417. mvp-comment-666-1 εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ *γ᾿ ὁμοῦ] ‘Ay, would that you were crying "Oh!" for Aegisthus too.' Αἰγίσθῳ follows the construction of μοί in ὤμοι. The reading of the MSS., θ', can only be defended on the questionable ground that Te may be used in tragedy, as in Homer, as an expletive adverb. But on the other hand γε following γάρ is awkward.

1419. mvp-comment-667-1 τελοῦσι] 'Are finishing,' i. e. are accomplishing their end.

1420. mvp-comment-668-1 παλίρρυτον] 'Flowing in return.' Cp. supr. 246, 7, οἱ δὲ μὴ πάλιν δώσουσ᾽ ἀντιφόνους δίκας.

1422. mvp-comment-669-1 The MSS. have HA. prefixed both to l. 1422 and l. 1424. It cannot stand in both places, and Hermann rightly deleted it before l. 1422. Prof. Paley objects that the antistrophe should begin with a new person. But a change of person is still possible, for ll. 1419-21 need not be given to the coryphaeus. Hermann's arrangement, besides the appropriateness of giving ll. 1422, 3 to the coryphaeus, has the further advantage of making a change of person at the beginning of l. 1424 corresponding to that in l. 1400.

1423. mvp-comment-670-1 'Is dripping from the War-god's sacrifice.' For the genitive, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 15, 3 a. οὐδ᾽ ἔχω λέγειν] And I am speechless,' i.e. the moment is too great for words. Erfurdt's conjecture, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω ψέγειν, has been commonly received. But it is intolerably frigid, and although οὐκ ἔχω τί φῶ is more usual, the other expression, οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν, is quite possible, and it is a natural thing for the Chorus here to say.

1425. mvp-comment-671-1 ᾿Απόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν] The horror which pervades the Choëphori is present also here, but is subdued beneath the sense of pious duty. Orestes is now thrilled by the dreadful nature of his act. Electra is simply eager to know whether it has been accomplished.

1429. mvp-comment-672-1 ἐκ προδήλου] ἐκ with the genitive (cp. supr. 78, θυρῶν) marks the point from which the object strikes the sense. 'Lit. "from a position where he is visible before his arrival."' Paley. Hence there is now no fear of his entering the house unperceived (supr. 1403).

1430-1431. mvp-comment-673-1 εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ | τὸν ἄνδρ᾽;] 'Where do ye see him?' This is addressed to the Chorus. The next moment Electra has perceived Aegisthus, and cries out exultingly (l. 1431), 'Here he is at our mercy (ἐφ' ἡμῖν), joyously advancing from the open ground.' Others explain ἐφ' ἡμῖν to mean either with χωρεῖ, 'He comes close upon us,' or with γεγηθώς, Triumphing over us,' or (as the MSS.) with the preceding words, 'Do you see him anywhere near us?'

1432. mvp-comment-674-1 Some words are wanted to complete the senarius, perhaps indicating the absence of the guard, e.g. οὐδ᾽ ὑπηρέτης πάρα.

1433. mvp-comment-675-1 κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων] Either (1), Towards the place over against the door.' Cp. the use of ἐπί with the genitive in such expressions as ἐπ᾿ οἴκου. Or (2), 'Go and take your position from over against the door.' Supposing the ἀντίθυρα to have been raised in some way above the vestibule, the preposition with the genitive may suggest the idea of holding a vantage-ground, down from which one may strike with effect.

1434. mvp-comment-676-1 τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν] Sc. εὖ θῆσθε.

1435. mvp-comment-677-1 It is unnecessary, with Erfurdt, to take the words ᾖ νοεῖς from Orestes. The Chorus had not completed their sentence, and Orestes wishes to show that he understands their drift. Thus, 'Thought leaps out to wed with thought, Ere thought can wed itself to speech.' Electra wants neither thoughts nor words, but action. Hence she briefly says, ἔπειγέ νυν.

1436. mvp-comment-678-1 τἀνθάδ᾽.. ἐμοί] Electra says this when Orestes is already out of sight of the audience. As he disappears, Aegisthus approaches, and the Chorus make their speech (ll. 1439-41), sotto voce, with their eyes turned towards him.

1439. mvp-comment-679-1 ὡς ἠπίως] 'With feigned gentleness.' A few MSS. have ὡς νηπίως, 'With feigned simplicity.' See Scholia.

1440-1441. mvp-comment-680-1 λαθραῖον.. ἀγῶνα] 'That he may rush unawares upon the struggle of doom.' λαθραῖον (with ἀγῶνα) is predicative: i.e. That the struggle may be unforeseen.

1448-1449. mvp-comment-681-1 συμφορᾶς.. φιλτάτης] 'Else I had been a stranger to the fact which most concerns me.' Aegisthus understands, The event which touches Electra's heart most nearly;' to herself she means, 'The event that has filled me with joy.' τῶν ἐμῶν, (1) sc. συμφορῶν, or (2) gen. obj., 'What has happened to my friends.'

1451. mvp-comment-682-1 To Aegisthus Electra means, 'They succeeded in obtaining a kindly welcome'-from Clytemnestra in her gladness, supr. 800. And in this sense κατήνυσαν is construed with the genitive after the analogy of τυγχάνω οι κυρίω. But the word is chosen so as to convey the further meaning-They have made an end of her,' or 'Have accomplished the deed against her.' Cp. Eur. Or. 89.

1453. mvp-comment-683-1 'Nay, more, they showed him to our eyes, it was not a mere tale that came.' Aegisthus does not hear of the urn, but is made to believe that the body of Orestes is there. And so it is,' thinks Electra, 'but in full life.'

1455. mvp-comment-684-1 'There is indeed to be seen a sight I do not envy you.' Aegisthus understands the corpse of Orestes; Electra means that of Clytemnestra.

1457. mvp-comment-685-1 The optative, if right, is to be explained as hinting an uncertainty, 'If so it prove.'

1458. mvp-comment-686-1 σιγᾶν] In accordance with the εὐφημία which Greek sentiment prescribed in the presence of death. Mr. Paley unnecessarily conjectures οἴγειν. κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας] (1) The usual explanation of these words is that given in Wunder's note:- 'Notanda locutio est ἀναδεικνύναι πύλας, significans ἀνεῳγμένων τῶν πυλῶν δεικνύναι τὰ ἐντός, quum vulgo potius δόμον ἀναδεικνύναι dicatur, veluti apud Aristoph. Nub. 304, ἵνα μυστοδόκος δόμος ἐν τελεταῖς ἀναδεικνύται. Nam significat proprie ἀναδεικνύναι tollendo sive patefaciendo aliquid monstrare.' But (2) may not the words mean, by a change of subject, 'and that the gates disclose' what is to be seen within them (sc. ἄνδρα τόνδε νεκρόν)?

1460ff. mvp-comment-687-1 Aegisthus here betrays the fear in which he has been living. There is a reminiscence of Aesch. Ag. 1667, 8.

1461. mvp-comment-688-1 ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε] See Essay on L. § 9. p. 12, d 2.

1462-1463. mvp-comment-689-1 μηδὲ.. φρένας] ‘And may not, by encountering my chastisement, be made wise against his will.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 180, καὶ παρ᾿ ἄκοντας ἦλθε σωφρονεῖν : Ο. С. 172.

1464. mvp-comment-690-1 καὶ δὴ.. ἐμοῦ] 'My rebellious hopes (τὰ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ) are already at an end.' Cp. supr. 1344; also 1319-21.

1465. mvp-comment-691-1 ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν] Aegisthus understands, 'So as to submit to authority.' To herself she means, 'So as to be on the stronger side'-that of Orestes.

1466-1467. mvp-comment-692-1 By an ἐκκύκλημα, the body of Clytemnestra is brought out, covered, with Orestes standing by. Aegisthus imagines the corpse to be that of Orestes, and Orestes to be the Phocian messenger. What I see here cannot have fallen thus without Divine jealousy, but if to say so provokes Nemesis, I do not say it.' ἔπεστι, sc. τῷ λόγῳ. For οὐ λέγω, cp. Trach. 500. πίπτειν is used in the sense of 'to befall' (L. and S. s. v. V. 2), but also with an allusion to the fall of Orestes. Another way of taking the words has been suggested, What I see cannot have fallen thus without the Envy of the Gods, whether Just Retribution has also been at work, I do not say. But such an opposition between φθόνος and νέμεσις is hardly possible in tragic Greek.

1468. mvp-comment-693-1 'Take off all covering from before my sight, that I too may duly mourn over my kin.'

1470. mvp-comment-694-1 αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ'] 'Take it up yourself;' viz. τὸ κάλυμμα, which, like the corpse itself, should be sacred from a stranger's touch. οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν] Ostensibly, because Aegisthus is nearer of kin to Orestes than the Phocian man. Really, because Aegisthus loves Clytemnestra, whom her son has slain.

1472. mvp-comment-695-1 σὺ δέ] To Electra..

1474. mvp-comment-696-1 Aegisthus is waiting for Clytemnestra before completely withdrawing the covering, which Orestes finally removes with these words.

1475. mvp-comment-697-1 After a glance of horrified recognition at the corpse, Aegisthus looks strangely on Orestes. τίνα = διὰ τί τόνδε; Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, 4. Cp. supr. 122, and note.

1478. mvp-comment-698-1 'Why, dost thou not perceive that all this while thou, a living man, hast been replying to the dead in tones like theirs?' Cp. supr. 1342. τοῖς θανοῦσιν is resumed with ἴσα, i.e. Aegisthus has been answering Orestes, who has been given out as dead, with a tongue that is already doomed to death. Tyrwhitt unnecessarily conjectured ζῶντας θανοῦσιν, which Brunck and subsequent editors have adopted, That you have been addressing (?) living men for dead.' Schol. τοῖς θανοῦσιν] τῷ Ὀρέστῃ.

1481. mvp-comment-699-1 καὶ .. πάλαι] 'Are you so excellent a prophet, who, notwithstanding, have been all this while deceived?' καί (with μάντις) adds a concessive emphasis, as in καί περ. Ep. Pind. Ol. 7.56, παρέπλαγξαν καὶ σοφόν.

1485-1486. mvp-comment-700-1 'For wherein, when mortals are involved in misery, should he who defers his death be profited by the delay?' These lines have been not unnaturally suspected of interpolation, as the γνώμη is not dramatically appropriate. But the lines are Sophoclean, as Mr. Paley has remarked. As in Aj. 554, where see note, they may have been quoted in the margin of some early MS.

1487. mvp-comment-701-1 πρόθες] 'Lay him out for burial.'

1488. mvp-comment-702-1 i.e. κυσὶν ἠδ᾽ οἰωνοῖς. Cp. esp. Od. 3. 256, foll. εἰ ζώοντ' Αἴγισθον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔτετμεν | ᾿Ατρείδης Τροίηθεν ἰών, ξανθὸς Μενέλαος | τῷ κέ οἱ οὐδὲ θανόντι χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν, | ἀλλ᾿ ἄρα τόν γε κύνες τε καὶ οἰωνοὶ κατέδαψαν, | κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ ἑκὰς ῎Αργεος.

1489-1490. mvp-comment-703-1 ὡς ἐμοὶ.. λυτήριον] If Aegisthus dies the common death of all men, or if he obtains burial like other men, Electra will feel unsatisfied, to think that her oppressor is at rest. To see his grave beside her father's in the ἀρχαῖος τάφος (893) would be intolerable to her.

1493-1494. mvp-comment-704-1 πῶς.. οὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν] Why not slay me out of hand?' More lit. Why not put forth your hand at once to slay me?' For this use of πρόχειρος, cp. πρόθυμος, πρόφρων, πρόγλωσσος.

1495-1496. mvp-comment-705-1 The retributive justice of slaying Aegisthus by the hearth, where he slew Agamemnon, is made a reason for not despatching him in sight of the spectators. Cp. supr. 195 foll. and notes, 269, 70.

1497-1498. mvp-comment-706-1 These words of Aegisthus, when about to die, are calculated to strike awe into the spectator, who reflects with himself, And is this the final consummation after all, even though it appear so to the Chorus (ll. 1508-10)?' So much is allowed to remain of the impression produced by the Choëphori, 1075, 6, ποῖ δῆτα κρανεῖ, ποῖ καταλήξει μετακοιμισθὲν μένος ἄτης;

1500. mvp-comment-707-1 πατρώαν] See Essay on L. § 23. p. 38, δ 1.

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1351–1500

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ΟΡ.

ΧΟ.

μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων ἄφυκτοι κύνες, ὥστ᾽ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτ᾽ ἀμμενεῖ ἀμμένει ἐμμένει τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον αἰωρουμένων. 1390

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἄνδρες ἄνδρες αὐτίκα

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τελοῦσι εσω τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

ΧΟ. πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν ; 1400

ΗΛ. ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δ᾽ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

ΧΟ. σὺ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

ΗΛ. φρουρήσουσ᾽ ὅπως Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς om. μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

ΚΛ. αἰαῖ ai ai ai ai ai ai αἳ aì aὶ αἱ. ἰὼ στέγαι 1405 φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δ᾽ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

ΗΛ. βοᾷ τις ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ. ἤκουσ᾽ ἀνήκουστα ἀνήκοστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρίξαι φρίξαι.

ΚΛ. οἴμοι τάλαιν'. Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποῖ ποῦ ποτ᾿ ὢν κυρεῖς ;

ΗΛ. ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις. 1410

ΚΛ. ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ὦ τέκνον ὦ τέκνον, οἴκτειρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.

ΗΛ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν ᾠκτείρεθ᾽ οὗτος οὐδ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

ΧΟ. ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σε μοῖρα καθαμερία καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ. ὤμοι πέπληγμαι. 1415

ΗΛ. παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ. ὤμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις.

ΗΛ. εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ᾿ θ' ὁμοῦ.

ΧΟ. τελοῦσ᾽ τελοῦσιν ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ ὑπο κείμενοι. παλίρρυτον πολύρυτον πολύρροτον γὰρ αἷμ᾽ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες. 1420

καὶ ΗΛ. καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ στάζει θυηλῆς θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΗΛ. Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε κυρεῖ ;

OP. τὰν δόμοισι μὲν καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.

ΗΛ. τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα; 1425

OP. μηκέτ᾽ ἐκφοβοῦ μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμ᾽ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

ΧΟ. παύσασθε. λεύσσω λεύσω λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

ΗΛ. ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;

OP. εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ εἰσορᾶτε που εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ 1430 τὸν ἄνδρ᾽; τὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν;

ΗΛ. ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν ΗΛ. οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου προαστείου χωρεῖ γεγηθώς.

ΧΟ. βᾶτε κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον ὅσον ὅσσον τάχιστα, νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν.

ΟΡ. θάρσει· τελοῦμεν ᾗ νοεῖς. 1435

ΗΛ. ἔπειγέ νυν ἔπειγε νῦν.

ΟΡ. καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

ΗΛ. τἀνθάδ᾽ ἂν μέλοιτ᾽ ἐμοί.

ΧΟ. δι ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γ᾽ ὡς ἠπίως νηπίωι ἠπίωσ ἐννέπειν πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον λαθραῖο.. ὡς ὀρούσῃ ὀροίσηι πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

ΑΙΓΙΣΘΟΣ.

ΗΛ. ἔξοιδα· πῶς γὰρ οὐχί; συμφορᾶς γὰρ ἂν ἔξωθεν εἴην τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης τε φιλτάτων τε φιλτάτων τῆς φιλτάτης τῶν φιλτατῶν τῶν φιλτάτων.

ΑΙ. ποῦ δῆτ᾽ ἂν εἶεν οἱ ξένοι; δίδασκέ με μήνυέ μοι δίδασκέ μοι.

ΗΛ. ἔνδον· φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν.

ΑΙ. ἢ καὶ θανόντ᾽ ἤγγειλαν ὡς ἐτητύμως; 1450

ΗΛ. οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν, οὐ λόγῳ μόνον.

ΑΙ. πάρεστ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἡμῖν ὥστε κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν;

ΗΛ. πάρεστι δῆτα καὶ μάλ᾽ ἄζηλος θέα.

ΑΙ. ἢ πολλὰ χαίρειν μ' εἶπας οὐκ εἰωθότως.

ΗΛ. χαίροις ἄν, εἴ σοι χαρτὰ χαρὰ χαρτὰ τυγχάνοι τυγχάνει τάδε. 1455

ΗΛ. καὶ δὴ τελεῖται τἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ· τῷ γὰρ χρόνῳ χονω νοῦν ἔσχον, ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν.

ΑΙ.

τὸ συγγενές τοι τε κἀπ᾿ καὶ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

ΟΡ. αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ᾽· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν, τὸ ταῦθ᾽ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως φίλος φίλως.

ΑΙ. ἀλλ᾽ εὐ παραινεῖς, κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ, 1470 εἴ που κατ᾿ οἰκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ. αὕτη πέλας σοῦ μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

ΑΙ. οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

OP. τίνα φοβεῖ; τίν ἀγνοεῖς;

ΑΙ. τίνων ποτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχ᾽ ὁ τλήμων ; 1475

OP. οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι ζῶν τοῖς θανοῦσιν οἵνεκ᾿ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

ΑΙ. οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος, οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὅδ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθ᾽ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

ΟΡ. καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου ἐσφάλου ἐσφάλλου πάλαι; 1480

ΑΙ. ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπιμικρὸν κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπὶ μικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΗΛ. μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.

ΟΡ.

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω σὺν τάχει· λόγων γὰρ οὐ νῦν ἐστιν ἁγών ἀγὼν, ἀλλὰ σῆς ψυχῆς πέρι.

ΑΙ. τί δ᾽ ἐς δόμους ἄγεις με; πῶς, τόδ᾽ εἰ καλὸν τοὔργον, σκότου δεῖ, κοὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν ;

ΟΡ. μὴ τάσσε· χώρει δ᾽ ἔνθαπερ κατέκτανες 1495 πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν, ὡς ἂν om. ἐν ταὐτῷ θάνῃς.

ΑΙ. ἢ πᾶσ᾽ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν στέγην ἰδεῖν τά τ᾿ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα Πελοπιδῶν κακά;

ΟΡ. τὰ γοῦν σ᾽ τὰ γ' οὖν .. τὰ γ᾽ οὖν σ' τὰ γ᾽ οὖν σά τὰ γοῦν σὰ γὰρ· ἐγώ σοι μάντις εἰμὶ τῶνδ᾽ ἄκρος.

ΑΙ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πατρώαν τὴν τέχνην ἐκόμπασας. 1500

ΟΡ. πόλλ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἡ δ᾽ ὁδὸς βραδύνεται. ἀλλ᾽ ἕρφ᾽ ἕρπε ἔρφ'.

ΑΙ. ὑφηγοῦ.

OP. σοὶ βαδιστέον πάρος.

ΑΙ. ἢ μὴ φύγω σε;

ΧΟ.

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

Χορός πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων

ἄφυκτοι κύνες,

ὥστ᾽ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτ᾽ ἀμμενεῖ ἀμμένει ἐμμένει

τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον αἰωρουμένων.
1390

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τελοῦσι εσω τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

ΧΟ.

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν ;
1400

ΗΛ.

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δ᾽ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

ΧΟ.

σὺ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

ΗΛ.

φρουρήσουσ᾽ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς om. μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

ΚΛ.

αἰαῖ ai ai ai ai ai ai αἳ aì aὶ αἱ. ἰὼ στέγαι
1405

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δ᾽ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

ΗΛ.

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ.

ἤκουσ᾽ ἀνήκουστα ἀνήκοστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρίξαι φρίξαι.

ΚΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαιν'. Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποῖ ποῦ ποτ᾿ ὢν κυρεῖς ;

ΗΛ.

ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις.
1410

ΚΛ.

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ὦ τέκνον ὦ τέκνον,

οἴκτειρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτείρεθ᾽ οὗτος οὐδ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

ΧΟ.

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σε

μοῖρα καθαμερία καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

ΗΛ.

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις.

ΗΛ.

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ᾿ θ' ὁμοῦ.

ΧΟ.

τελοῦσ᾽ τελοῦσιν ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ ὑπο κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον πολύρυτον πολύρροτον γὰρ αἷμ᾽ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν

κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.
1420

καὶ ΗΛ. καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ

στάζει θυηλῆς θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΗΛ.

Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε κυρεῖ ;

OP.

τὰν δόμοισι μὲν

καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.

ΗΛ.

τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;
1425

OP.

μηκέτ᾽ ἐκφοβοῦ

μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμ᾽ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

ΧΟ.

παύσασθε. λεύσσω λεύσω λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

ΗΛ.

ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;

OP.

εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ εἰσορᾶτε που εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ
1430

τὸν ἄνδρ᾽; τὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν;

ΗΛ.

ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν ΗΛ. οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου προαστείου

χωρεῖ γεγηθώς.

ΧΟ.

βᾶτε κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον ὅσον ὅσσον τάχιστα,

νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν.

ΟΡ.

θάρσει· τελοῦμεν ᾗ νοεῖς.
1435

ΗΛ.

ἔπειγέ νυν ἔπειγε νῦν.

ΟΡ.

καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

ΗΛ.

τἀνθάδ᾽ ἂν μέλοιτ᾽ ἐμοί.

ΧΟ.

δι ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γ᾽ ὡς ἠπίως νηπίωι ἠπίωσ ἐννέπειν

πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον λαθραῖο.. ὡς

ὀρούσῃ ὀροίσηι πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

ΗΛ.

ἔξοιδα· πῶς γὰρ οὐχί; συμφορᾶς γὰρ ἂν

ἔξωθεν εἴην τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης τε φιλτάτων τε φιλτάτων τῆς φιλτάτης τῶν φιλτατῶν τῶν φιλτάτων.

ΑΙ.

ποῦ δῆτ᾽ ἂν εἶεν οἱ ξένοι; δίδασκέ με μήνυέ μοι δίδασκέ μοι.

ΗΛ.

ἔνδον· φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν.

ΑΙ.

ἢ καὶ θανόντ᾽ ἤγγειλαν ὡς ἐτητύμως;
1450

ΗΛ.

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν, οὐ λόγῳ μόνον.

ΑΙ.

πάρεστ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἡμῖν ὥστε κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν;

ΗΛ.

πάρεστι δῆτα καὶ μάλ᾽ ἄζηλος θέα.

ΑΙ.

ἢ πολλὰ χαίρειν μ' εἶπας οὐκ εἰωθότως.

ΗΛ.

χαίροις ἄν, εἴ σοι χαρτὰ χαρὰ χαρτὰ τυγχάνοι τυγχάνει τάδε.
1455

ΗΛ.

καὶ δὴ τελεῖται τἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ· τῷ γὰρ χρόνῳ χονω

νοῦν ἔσχον, ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν.

ΟΡ.

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ᾽· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν,

τὸ ταῦθ᾽ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως φίλος φίλως.

ΑΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ παραινεῖς, κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,
1470

εἴ που κατ᾿ οἰκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ.

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

OP.

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίν ἀγνοεῖς;

ΑΙ.

τίνων ποτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις

πέπτωχ᾽ ὁ τλήμων ;
1475

OP.

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶν τοῖς θανοῦσιν οἵνεκ᾿ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος, οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως

ὅδ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθ᾽ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

ΟΡ.

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου ἐσφάλου ἐσφάλλου πάλαι;
1480

ΑΙ.

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπιμικρὸν κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπὶ μικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΗΛ.

μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα

πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω σὺν τάχει· λόγων γὰρ οὐ

νῦν ἐστιν ἁγών ἀγὼν, ἀλλὰ σῆς ψυχῆς πέρι.

ΑΙ.

τί δ᾽ ἐς δόμους ἄγεις με; πῶς, τόδ᾽ εἰ καλὸν

τοὔργον, σκότου δεῖ, κοὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν ;

ΟΡ.

μὴ τάσσε· χώρει δ᾽ ἔνθαπερ κατέκτανες
1495

πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν, ὡς ἂν om. ἐν ταὐτῷ θάνῃς.

ΑΙ.

ἢ πᾶσ᾽ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν στέγην ἰδεῖν

τά τ᾿ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα Πελοπιδῶν κακά;

ΟΡ.

τὰ γοῦν σ᾽ τὰ γ' οὖν .. τὰ γ᾽ οὖν σ' τὰ γ᾽ οὖν σά τὰ γοῦν σὰ γὰρ· ἐγώ σοι μάντις εἰμὶ τῶνδ᾽ ἄκρος.

ΑΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πατρώαν τὴν τέχνην ἐκόμπασας.
1500

ΟΡ.

πόλλ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἡ δ᾽ ὁδὸς βραδύνεται.

ἀλλ᾽ ἕρφ᾽ ἕρπε ἔρφ'.

ΑΙ.

ὑφηγοῦ.

OP.

σοὶ βαδιστέον πάρος.

ΑΙ.

ἢ μὴ φύγω σε;

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα

τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

Χορός

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
1400

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

Ἠλέκτρα

φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.
1405

Ἠλέκτρα

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

Χορός

ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
1410

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

Χορός

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι

μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

Ἠλέκτρα

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.