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601–750

ὁ δ᾽ ἄλλος ἔξω] 'And he, moreover, in a foreign land. The article is demonstrative, and ἄλλοs is predicative or adverbial. See Essay on L. § 21. pp. 33, 5. χεῖρα . . φυγών] Electra implies that Clytemnestra would have killed Orestes

if she could, either at the time of Agamemnon's murder, or afterwards.

σοὶ .. μιάστορα] ‘An avenger of blood against thee.' μιάστωρ is properly one who stains others with his own guilt; here it is one who fixes the stain of guilt by executing vengeance for it. Compare the use of the verb 'to stain' in Elizabethan English: e.g. Shaksp. Ant. and Cleo. 3. 4, 'I'll raise the preparation of a War | Shall stain your brother.'

εἴτε † χρή) ‘Whether you must call me,' etc. Here, as in Aj. 1373, the reading of the MSS, which is possibly idiomatic, is preferred το χρῇς = χρήζεις, which is a doubtful emendation.

τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων] ‘Of actions which have this character.' Cp. O. T. 864, 5, τὰν εὔσεπτον ἁγνείαν λόγων ἔργων τε πάντων, ὧν, κ.τ.λ., and note.

καταισχύνω] Cp. Aj. 1304, 5. ἆρ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἄριστος ἐξ ἀριστέοιν δυοῖν | βλαστὼν ἂν αἰσχύνοιμι τοὺς πρὺς αἵματος;

ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν] Sc. τὴν Κλυταιμνήστραν. This appears from her reply, and also from the comparison οἱ εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ, κ.τ.λ, with supr. 528. Here, as in O. T. 746, Aesch. Ag. 1306, τί δ' ἐστὶ χρῆμα; τίς σ᾽ ἀποστρέφει φόβος; -the dialogue contains a reference to by-play.

τηλικοῦτος] 'At her age.' Cp. infr. 961, 2:-i.e. Her words are not those of a petulant girl, which might be safely disregarded.

The harshness of Electra is not native to her character, but superinduced, and she is painfully conscious of this.

πόλλ᾽ ἄγαν λέγειν ποιεῖ] 'Make you to say too much: '-i.e. Are too much the theme of your discourse, in which you say much that you should not.

viv is here neuter plural = αὐτά.

Translated by Milton:-''Tis you that say it, not I; you do the deeds, And your ungodly deeds find me the words.'

μὰ τὴν .. "Αρτεμιν] Cp. supr. 565, and note. θράσους is genitive of cause.

For the repetition of οὐκ, see Essay on L. § 29. p. 48. We are again reminded that Aegisthus is from home. Cp. supr. 517.

μεθεῖσά μοι χρήζοιμ 'After giving me leave to say what I chose.' Supr. 556.

οὐδ᾽ ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς], 'Not even in silence from clamour:' - i. e. Not even without being pestered by your noise.

κελεύω] 'I urge it on you:'- i.e. as knowing what need you have to propitiate the gods.

ἡ παροῦσά μοι] ‘Thou that art with me.' Cp. supr. 424. In Sophocles the attendants are never called by name, -as the Nurse is in Aesch. Cho. 732.

θύμαθ᾽.. πάγκαρπ'] 'Rich offerings of various produce.'

ἄνακτι . . τῷδ'] 'The king in presence here; '-Apollo Lyceius, infr. 645: ср. О. Т. 919, supr. l. 7.

ὅπως.. ἔχω] 'That I may offer up a prayer for release from the terrors which are now haunting me.' The words, δειμάτων & νῦν ἔχω, are added in construction with λυτηρίους. For the sense, cp. O. Τ. 921, ὅπως λύσιν τιν' ἡμὶν εὐαγῆ πόρῃς.

οὐδὲ πᾶν . . ἐμοί] 'Nor is it fitting that I unfold everything to light while she is near me.' In listening to these words the spectator recollects

that Electra is already in possession of the whole truth about the dream. Cp. supr. 417 foll.

'Lest with inauspicious and noisy outcry she disseminate a lewd report throughout the city.' φθόνῳ is lit. *odium.' ματ ματαίαν is not merely 'causeless,' but 'wanton,' conveying the notion of positive mischief. In πολυγλώσσῳ the first part of the compound is intensive. Cp. supr. 488, 9, infr. 798.

But hear it, even in the (vague) form in which I will make it known.' Cp. O. C. 484, for the importance attached to the form of words used in prayer.

γάρ introduces the promised statement.

δισσῶν is supposed by some to mean, 'Ambiguous; but it is simpler and more natural to understand it either of two different dreams, or of the same dream repeated. Cp. Plat. Phaedo, 60 E, πολλάκις μοι φοιτῶν τὸ αὐτὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐν τῷ παρελθόντι βίῳ, ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐν ἄλλῃ ὄψει φαινόμενον, τὰ αὐτὰ δὲ λέγον, κ.τ.λ.

ἔμπαλιν] 'On the contrary,'- because ἐμοί is understood with τελεσφόρα in l. 646. μέθες] 'Let it fall instead.'

'And if there is one who plans to cast me forth by guile from my present high estate, do not permit it to him.' Though τινες is plural, Orestes is meant, just as Aegisthus is indicated by the vague φίλοισι in infr. 652. Cp. supr. 590. The spectator knows that the will of Apollo is directly opposed to this petition. For it is difficult to suppose either here or in O. Τ. 908, 919, an entire separation of the Lyceian from the Pythian Apollo. See Introduction.

καὶ τέκνων ὅσων] ‘And with the children from whom." τέκνοις, the antecedent to ὅσων, is attracted into the case of the relative. Essay on L. § 35. p. 59. She is thinking of Chrysothemis and Iphianassa ( supr. 157) to the exclusion of Electra.

λύπη] ‘Vexation,' in an active sense.

This part of the prayer is merely formal, and is uttered in a loud voice, the rest having been spoken aside.

The coming-in of the Old Man prepares the way for the peripeteia by obtaining entrance for the disguised Orestes. It also brings out the heroic character of Electra, by reducing her to a position of despair, and makes more effective her subsequent recognition of Orestes.

ξέναι] He speaks as a Phocian.

δάμαρτα] Sc. οὖσαν.

πρέπει . . εἰσορᾶν] Though no longer Queen of Agamemnon, the daughter of Tyndareus still wears a royal mien.

φίλου παρ᾿ ἀνδρός] Phanoteus, as the enemy of Strophius, Agamemnon's friend, is imagined to be the close ally of Aegisthus. Cp. supr. 45, and note.

φίλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός] Phanoteus, as the enemy of Strophius, Agamemnon's friend, is imagined to be the close ally of Aegisthus. Cp. supr. 45, and note.

ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν] I accept the omen.' For this customary mode of appropriating auspicious words, cp. Hdt. 1. 63, Πεισίστρατος δέ, συλλαβὼν τὸ χρηστήριον, καὶ φὰς δέκεσθαι τὸ χρησθέν, ἐπῆγε τὴν στρατιήν: Aesch. Ag. 1652, 3, ΑΙ. .. πρόκωπος οὐκ ἀναίνομαι θανεῖν. | ΧΟ. δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε.

πρᾶγμα.. μέγα] 'Having on his hands the care of a great matter.' The report is identified with the event.

τί φής, τί φής...] For this eager repetition, cp. O. C. 1099, ΟΙ. ποῦ ποῦ; τί φής; πῶς εἶπας; ΑΝ. ὦ πάτερ, πάτερ, κ.τ.λ.

I have been saying all this while, and now repeat, that Orestes is dead.' For the participial construction, ср. О. Т. 463-5, and note.

σὺ μὲν . . πρᾶσσ'] 'You, mind your own affairs!' i. e. Do not interrupt us.

The Old Man now fills up with great spirit (though without an 'oath') the outline which Orestes gave him, supr. 48-50. This narrative, while directly pertinent to the action, also helps to relieve it at a point where it was becoming monotonous. The ornate and exaggerated diction (especially in 730-3) is suited to a fabricated account. Contrast in this respect the speech of Hyllus in Trach. 749 foll.

εἰς τὸ κοινὸν . . ἀγῶνος] ‘Το that contest which is the universal pride of Hellas.' ἀγῶνος is to be taken closely with πρόσχημα, as a genitive of definition. Essay on L. § 10. p. 17, 6.

He entered the arena, glorious to behold, and drew all men's eyes towards him.' For λαμπρός, cp. Plat. Rep. 8. 560 E, λαμπρὰς μετὰ πολλοῦ χοροῦ κατάγουσιν : Aeschin. 34. 40.

And having finished his courses in a manner worthy of his looks.' Lit. 'Having made the completion of his courses adequate to his personal appearance.' This line has been needlessly and mistakenly altered. φύσις, the outward promise of the man, is an abridgment or resumption of εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός. Cp. Trach. 308, where πρὸς μὲν . . φύσιν is To judge from her appearance:' Pind. Isthm. 6. 30, φέρει γὰρ Ἰσθμοῖ νίκαν παγκρατίου· σθένει τ' ἔκπαγλος ἰδεῖν τε μορφάεις· ἄγει δ' ἀρετὰν οὐκ αἴσχιον φυᾶς: Nem. 3. 32, ἐὼν καλὸς ἔρδων τ' ἐοικότα μορφᾷ. The conjecture of Musgr. (ἰσώσας τἀφέσει τὰ τέρματα, Having finished at the starting-place') is forced and meaningless. On the verb ἰσόω, see E. on L. § 51. p. 96.

And I know not, indeed, how to tell you a few out of the many successful exploits of such a hero.' This is naturally opposed to what follows, where, instead of selecting particular feats, the Old Man sums up all in a single statement. A slight

emendation of l. 688, χὤπως μὲν ἐν παύροισι πολλά, κ.τ.λ., Το tell you much in few, I know of no such (other) hero's achievements and victories,' would make the line clearer in itself, but would destroy the connection with ἓν δ᾽ ἴσθι. But see the end of note on l. 691.

emendation of 1. 688, χὤπως μὲν ἐν παύροισι πολλά, κ.τ.λ., Το tell you much in few, I know of no such (other) hero's achievements and victories,' would make the line clearer in itself, but would destroy the connection with ἓν δ᾽ ἴσθι. But see the end of note on 1. 691.

Porson's emendation of this line is extremely probable. If the letters περ were displaced, πεν(τ)άθλα might easily be suggested. The relation of ll. 686, 7, to 688- 695, may be questioned. He is describing the first day's performances, and in ll. 686, 7, either (1) states generally what is expanded afterwards, or (2) describes the first race, and then in what follows sums up the remaining contests of the same day. The plural τέρματα, and the structure of the whole passage, decide the point in favour of (1), making each of the two sentences refer to all the foot-races together. Otherwise (3), supposing the language to be more than usually inexact, the lines may be taken to mean, To tell only a little when there is much to tell, I know no feats to be compared with his. One thing you may know,' etc.

Porson's emendation of this line is extremely probable. If the letters περ were displaced, πεν(τ)άθλα might easily be suggested. The relation of 11. 686, 7, to 688- 695, may be questioned. He is describing the first day's performances, and in 11.686, 7, either (1) states generally what is expanded afterwards, or (2) describes the first race, and then in what follows sums up the remaining contests of the same day. The plural τέρματα, and the structure of the whole passage, decide the point in favour of (1), making each of the two sentences refer to all the foot-races together. Otherwise (3), supposing the language to be more than usually inexact, the lines may be taken to mean, To tell only a little when there is much to tell, I know no feats to be compared with his. One thing you may know,' etc.

He received the congratulations of the crowd, being known by proclamation as an Argive, named Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who levied once the famous armament of Hellas.'

ὅταν . . βλάπτῃ] 'But when some god is thwarting.'

ἡλίου τέλλοντος] “At sunrise:' i.e. beginning then.

ζυγωτῶν ἁρμάτων ἐπιστάται] Masters of yoked cars.' Hdt. 4. 189, τέσσερας ἵππους συζευγνύναι παρὰ Λιβύων οἱ Ἕλληνες μεμαθήκασι. Hence, possibly, the position of this general epithet. The fame of Cyrene in chariot-racing is known to us from Pindar.

Θεσσαλάς] Orestes was exiled from the plain of ῎Αργος ἱππόβοτον, and Phocis was too mountainous for horse-breeding.' The Athenian spectator might here be reminded of his faithful allies, the Thessalian horsemen. The five first mentioned come from Dorian states, the rest being either Ionic or Aeolian. ἐν τούτοισι, ' Enter-

ing himself with the foregoing,' calls attention to this difference.

The descriptive epithets in this and the next line, while adding vividness to the picture, may have had some special appropriateness that would be felt by the Greek hearer.

Αἰνιάν] Hdt. 7. 132, 198.

The ornate epithet is reserved for Athens.

δέκατον ἐκπληρῶν ὄχον] ‘Making ten chariots in all.' Cp. Hdt. 9. 30, σὺν δὲ Θεσπιέων τοῖσι παρεοῦσι ἐξεπληροῦντο αἱ ἕνδεκα μυριάδες, -and, for the use of the ordinal numeral, ib. 1. 51, ἕλκων σταθμὸν ἔννατον ἡμιτάλαντον, and the like expressions. There is a slight confusion or condensation of δέκατον ὄχον ἐλαύνων and ἐκπληρῶν τοὺς δέκα ὄχους.

'Had set the chariots in order after sorting them with lots.' κλήρους ἔπηλαν would have been a simpler construction, but πάλλειν is used absolutely of casting lots, and then receives the addition of an instrumental dative. Cp. supr. l. 21, and note. The construction of the whole line is paratactic for πήλαντες κατέστησαν. Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. αὐτούς in the previous line is in a general construction with what follows.

ήξαν] 'The start was made.' The verb has a vague subject in which horses, charioteers, and chariots, are included in one notion. Off they went!' Hence in what follows the charioteers are particularized with the demonstrative οἱ.

ἅμα] 'At the same moment;' i. e. All together at the moment of the start.

κροτητῶν] 'Rattling along:' i.e. the parts of each chariot being rattled against each other, and all against the ground, made a din which filled the place. On the use of the verbal adj., see E. on L. § 53. p. 98.

ὡς .. ἱππικά] Either (1) Whenever any one of them shot ahead of the axle-ends (of the others) and the snorting of the steeds;' i.e. For the most part they were mingled in a confused throng; but when one drew before the rest, then was the moment of excitement, -for the breath of the foaming steeds immediately behind him was an incentive to make him drive faster still. Or (2) Each of them that he might get away from the wheel-naves and the snorting of the steeds :'- each was eager to escape from the neighbourhood of the rest, so as to have free course. But the following lines, which speak of a rival pursuing

closely in the rear, cannot be equally applicable to all the ten. For the phraseology, cp. Eur. Iph. A. 228-30, οἷς παρεπάλλετο | Πηλείδας σὺν ὅπλοισι παρ᾿ ἄντυγα | καὶ σύριγγας ἁρματείους. (3) Supposing the general sense to be as in (1), χνόας and φρυάγματα may possibly be accusatives of 'limitation,' 'drew ahead with car and team.'

For close about his back and whirling wheels the breath of horses cast its foam.' Cp. Il. 23.373- 81, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι | .. τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου | φαίνετ᾽, ἄφαρ δ' ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δ' ἔπειτα | αἱ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι. | τὰς δὲ μετ᾿ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι, | Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθ᾽ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ ἐγγύς· αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐἰκτην, | πνοιῇ τ᾿ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ᾿ ὤμα | θέρμετ᾽· ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.

κεῖνος] Orestes. ὑπ᾿ αὐτὴν . . ἔχων] 'Driving close under the last pillar.' ἐσχάτην, i. e. at the extreme end of the spina. ἔχων] Sc. τοὺς ἵππους.

ἔχριμπτ᾿ ἀεὶ σύριγγα] ‘Grazed the nave of his wheel every time:' i.e. all but made it touch, or seemed to graze-real contact is of course not meant.

δεξιὸν .. προσκείμενον] 'And, letting go the trace-horse on the right, held in the one that was nearest to the inside of the course.' The two σειραῖοι ἵπποι, so called because not harnessed to the yoke but attached by traces right and left, were practically the leaders of the τέθριππον, or team; and their movements at the critical moment of turning the goal were of the greatest consequence. Cp. Eur. Iph. A. 221-4, τοὺς μὲν μέσους ζυγίους, | .. τοὺς δ᾽ ἔξω σειροφόρους, | ἀντήρεις καμπαῖσι δρόμων. They must be supposed to know their duty, and only to need a reminder from the charioteer, who holds each of them by a single rein (single, i.e. in his hand). The language of the present passage proves that the direction of the running was from right to left, and the δεξιός σειραῖος had consequently to describe a larger semicircle while the 'near' horse was making the turn. That the right hand horse may perform this movement successfully and thus swing the chariot round without mishap, the charioteer gives him the rein, and at the same time holds in the left-hand trace-horse, who, as nearest to the goal, is called προσκείμενος. As soon as this evolution is accomplished, however, the driver must slacken again the left-hand rein, so that both steeds may cover the θάτερον κῶλον of the race-course with equal strides. And if from over-eagerness he does this an instant too soon, he is obviously in great danger of striking the nave of the left-hand wheel against the goal, because the horse when let go will instinctively 'cut off a corner' and pull the car along a chord of the circle instead of completing the arc. This is what is supposed to happen to Orestes, infr. 743-5. (So Wecklein also explains.)

βίᾳ φέρουσιν] Sc. τὸ ἅρμα, 'Became unmanageable.' Essay on L. §53. p. 98. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 1224.

ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφῆς] Either (1) 'After turning the goal,' or (2) 'Having turned sharply aside.' See next note.

When finishing the sixth and now (running) the seventh course.' Not τελοῦντες, but a more general word, e.g. θέοντες, is to be supplied with ἔβδομον. Essay on L. § 36. pp. 65, 6, 2. The grammatical irregularity assists the graphic effect. The scene changes while it is being described. Ср. О. С. 1648-50, ἐξαπείδομεν | τὸν ἄνδρα, τὸν μὲν οὐδαμοῦ παρόντ᾽ ἔτι, | ἄνακτα δ᾽ αὐτόν, κ.τ.λ., and note. The masculine τελοῦντες either (1) implies that the white horses of the Aenian were, like those of Diomede in Il. 23 (1. c. supr. 718, 9), ἄρσενες ἵπποι, - which may part account for their behaviour; or (2) τελοῦντες is a nominative absolute having for subject the charioteers collectively. This line seems at first sight to support the former interpretation (1) of l. 725, ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφής. But the point in the course is sufficiently indicated without such an addition; and in the other sense (2) the phrase forms a suitable preparation for l. 727. The imagination is assisted if we suppose these chariots to be somewhat wide of the goal, so that one of them might face about without striking the στήλη. In μέτωπα, as in κάρα infr. 740, the chariot and horses are thought of together as a single object. The accident happens just when the race is half finished, -six of the twelve customary courses having being run. Cp. Pind. O1. 2. 88-90, Πυθῶνι . . Χάριτες ἄνθεα τεθρίππων δυωκαιδεκαδρόμων | ἄγαγον.

When finishing the sixth and now (running) the seventh course.' Not τελοῦντες, but a more general word, e.g. θέοντες, is to be supplied with ἔβδομον. Essay on L. § 36. pp. 65, 6, 2. The grammatical irregularity assists the graphic effect. The scene changes while it is being described. Ср. О. С. 1648-50, ἐξαπείδομεν | τὸν ἄνδρα, τὸν μὲν οὐδαμοῦ παρόντ᾽ ἔτι, | ἄνακτα δ᾽ αὐτόν, κ.τ.λ., and note. The masculine τελοῦντες either (1) implies that the white horses of the Aenian were, like those of Diomede in Il. 23 (1. c. supr. 718, 9), ἄρσενες ἵπποι, - which may part account for their behaviour; or (2) τελοῦντες is a nominative absolute having for subject the charioteers collectively. This line seems at first sight to support the former interpretation (1) of 1. 725, ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφής. But the point in the course is sufficiently indicated without such an addition; and in the other sense (2) the phrase forms a suitable preparation for 1. 727. The imagination is assisted if we suppose these chariots to be somewhat wide of the goal, so that one of them might face about without striking the στήλη. In μέτωπα, as in κάρα infr. 740, the chariot and horses are thought of together as a single object. The accident happens just when the race is half finished, -six of the twelve customary courses having being run. Cp. Pind. O1. 2. 88-90, Πυθῶνι . . Χάριτες ἄνθεα τεθρίππων δυωκαιδεκαδρόμων | ἄγαγον.

The Athenian charioteer is represented as the most skilful. It is obvious how this is calculated to sustain the interest of the audience. See also ll. 738-40.

The Athenian charioteer is represented as the most skilful. It is obvious how this is calculated to sustain the interest of the audience. See also 11. 738-40.

Pulls aside out of the way and heaves to, letting go by the surge of horses and their riders that was boiling there.' Not content with the hyperbole in supr. 730, the Old Man adds this yet stronger expression. See above, note on 680 foll.

'Now Orestes was driving last, holding his horses back, relying on the finish.' There were six courses yet to be. See note on 726, supr. According to this reading the participial clause is explanatory of ἤλαυνε, and μέν points forward, opposing the position of Orestes before and after he saw that the Athenian alone was left. Some MSS. read ὑστέρας δ', opposing ἔσχατος to ὑστέρας ἔχων πώλους. He was last, indeed, but was holding back.'

When Orestes saw that the Athenian remained alone.' So Mr. Paley, rightly.

ὀξὺν . . διώκει] • He urged his swift steeds vehemently with shouts that pierced their ears, and makes for him.' ἐνσείειν is a vivid word (Essay on L. § 56. p. 102) which is more properly applicable to hurling hounds at game, throwing an attacking force into a town, etc. Cp. Eur. Or. 255, 6, ὦ μῆτερ, ἱκετεύω σε, μὴ πίσειε μοι | τὰς αἱματωποὺς καὶ δρακοντώδεις κόρας.

κἀξισώσαντε ζυγὰ | ἠλαυνέτην] 'And now they were yoke by yoke, and on they drave.'

τότ᾿ ἄλλος . . ὀχημάτων] 'Now one, and then the other drawing ahead.' κάρα is used analogically of man, car, and steeds, considered as one object; and the genitive ἱππικῶν ὀχημάτων is added to make this clear. (Not 'Putting his head forth from the car.') For the variation of the language in τότε-ἄλλοτε, ἄλλος - ἅτερος, cp. Trach. 457, δέδοικας . . ταρβεῖς.

It is implied that Orestes' fall took place in the middle of the twelfth and last course.

The ill-starred youth stood safely on a steady car.'

Then in slackening the left-hand rein while the horse was making the turn, unawares he struck the edge of the goal and splintered the end of his axle-tree.' Cp. supr. 721, 2, and note. The horse making the turn is ὁ προσκείμενος.

κἀξ ἀντύγων .. τμητοῖς ἱμᾶσι] And in a moment he had slipped over the rim of the chariot, and was rolled along together with it by means of the sharp-cut thongs.' Here it must be borne in mind that the reins were passed round the body of the charioteer, as, for instance, in the marble reliefs in the 'Sala della Biga' in the Vatican. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 1221, 2. This point has not escaped Mr. Browning :-' The prince around his body flung the rein.' Artemis Prologizes. Hence, when the body of the chariot was arrested by some sudden obstacle, instead of being jerked from his grasp, they would pull him over the ἄντυξ, and would drag him when the car was again in motion. σύν, sc. ταῖς ἵπποις οι τῷ ἅρματι. ἱμᾶσι is dative of the instrument. τμητοῖς, lit. 'cut,' is suggestive of the sharp edges of the reins. Cp. infr. 862, τμητοῖς ὁλκοῖς ἐγκύρσαι.

διεσπάρησαν ἐς μέσον δρόμον]

'Plunged wildly about the course.' μέσον, SC. ἐν μέσῳ τῶν θεατῶν, vaguely distinguishes the field generally from the line of running. διεσπάρησαν, lit. 'were scattered,' is used inaccurately to suggest aimless movement.

στρατός] 'The assembly.' Cp. Aesch. Eum. 762, χώρᾳ τῇδε καὶ τῷ σῷ στρατῷ.

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

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 610 focus

ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν· εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ
610

ξύνεστι, τοῦδε φροντίδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσορῶ.

ΚΛ.

ποίας δέ μοι δεῖ πρός γε τήνδε φροντίδος,

ἥτις τοιαῦτα τὴν τεκοῦσαν ὕβρισεν,

καὶ ταῦτα τηλικοῦτος τηλικούτως LF. τηλικοῦτος CAL2.? ἆρά ἆρ᾽ οὐ C. ἆρ᾽ οὔ ΑΓ. ἆρά σοι 12. σοι δοκεῖ

χωρεῖν ἂν εἰς πᾶν ἔργον αἰσχύνης ἄτερ;
615

ΗΛ.

εὖ νυν νῦν L. ἐπίστω τῶνδέ μ' αἰσχύνην ἔχειν,

κεἰ μὴ δοκῶ σοι· μανθάνω δ᾽ ὁθούνεκα

ἔξωρα πράσσω κοὐκ ἐμοὶ προσεικότα.

ἀλλ᾽ ἡ γὰρ ἐκ σοῦ δυσμένεια καὶ τὰ σὰ

ἔργ᾽ ἐξαναγκάζει με ταῦτα δρᾶν βίᾳ.
620

αἰσχροῖς γὰρ αἰσχρὰ πράγματ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκεται.

ΚΛ.

ὦ θρέμμ᾽ ἀναιδές, ἢ σ᾽ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλ᾽ ἄγαν λέγειν ποιεῖ ποιεῖ L. ποεῖ Γ. ποιεῖ Pal..

ΗΛ.

σύ τοι λέγεις νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ. σὺ γὰρ ποιεῖς ποεῖσ LΓ. ποιεῖς Pal.

τοὔργον· τὰ δ᾽ ἔργα τοὺς λόγους εὑρίσκεται.
625

ΚΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὰ τὴν οὐμάτην L. οὔ μὰ τὴν C. δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράσους

τοῦδ᾽ οὐκ ἀλύξεις, εὐτ᾿ ἂν Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

ΗΛ.

ὁρᾷς; πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐκφέρει, μεθεῖσά μοι

λέγειν ἃ χρήζοιμ', οὐδ᾽ ἐπίστασαι κλύειν.

ΚΛ.

οὔκουν ἐάσεις οὐδ᾽ ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς
630

θῦσαί μ', ἐπειδὴ σοί γ᾽ σύ γ' L. σοί γ' C. ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν ;

ΗΛ.

ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε· μηδ᾽ ἐπαιτιῶ

τοὐμὸν στόμ᾽, ὡς οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμ᾽ ἔτι.

ΚΛ.

ἔπαιρε δὴ σὺ θύμαθ᾽ ἡ παροῦσά μοι

πάγκαρπ᾽, ἄνακτι τῷδ᾽ ὅπως λυτηρίους
635

εὐχὰς ἀνάσχω δειμάτων, ἃ νῦν ἔχω.

κλύοις ἂν ἤδη, Φοῖβε προστατήριε,

κεκρυμμένην μου βάξιν. οὐ γὰρ ἐν φίλοις

ὁ μῦθος, οὐδὲ πᾶν ἀναπτύξαι πρέπει

πρὸς φῶς παρούσης τῆσδε πλησίας ἐμοί,
640

μὴ σὺν φθόνῳ τε καὶ πολυγλώσσῳ ποιγλώσσαι or πουγλώσσωι or παγγλώσσῳ L. πολυγλώσσω A. βοῇ

σπείρῃ ματαίαν βάξιν εἰς πᾶσαν πόλιν.

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἄκουε· τῇδε γὰρ κἀγὼ φράσω.

ἃ γὰρ προσεῖδον νυκτὶ τῇδε φάσματα

δισσῶν ὀνείρων, ταῦτά μοι, Λύκει ἄναξ,
645

εἰ μὲν πέφηνεν ἐσθλά, δὸς τελεσφόρα,

εἰ δ᾽ ἐχθρά, τοῖς ἐχθροῖσιν ἔμπαλιν μέθες·

καὶ μή με πλούτου τοῦ παρόντος εἴ τινες

δόλοισι βουλεύουσιν ἐκβαλεῖν, ἐφῇς ἐφ..ς L. ἐφῇς AΓ. ἐφεὶς L' ἐφῆς gl. παραχωρήσης Pal.,

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδε μ' αἰεὶ ζῶσαν ἀβλαβεῖ εὐλαβεῖ M. βίῳ
650

δόμους Ἀτρειδῶν σκῆπτρά τ᾿ ἀμφέπειν ἀμφ᾿ ἕπειν L. τάδε,

φίλοισί τε ξυνοῦσαν οἷς ξύνειμι νῦν

εὐημεροῦσαν εὐημεροῦσάν C5. καὶ τέκνων ὅσων ἐμοὶ

δύσνοια μὴ πρόσεστιν πρόεστιν L. πρόσεστιν C2. ἢ λύπη πικρά.

ταῦτ᾽, ὦ Λύκει Ἄπολλον, ἵλεως κλύων
655

δὸς πᾶσιν ἡμῖν ὥσπερ ἐξαιτούμεθα.

τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα πάντα καὶ σιωπώσης ἐμοῦ

ἐπαξιῶ σε δαίμον ὄντ᾽ ἐξειδέναι.

τοὺς ἐκ Διὸς γὰρ εἰκός ἐστι πάνθ᾽ πᾶνθ᾽ L. ὁρᾶν ὁραῖν LA..

ΠΑΙΔΑΓΩΓΟΣ.

ξέναι γυναῖκες, πῶς ἂν εἰδείην σαφῶς
660

εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματ᾿ Αἰγίσθου τάδε;

ΧΟ.

τάδ᾽ ἐστίν, ὦ ξέν. αὐτὸς εἴκασας καλῶς.

ΠΑ.

ἢ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδ᾽ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ

κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τύραννος εἰσορᾶν.

ΧΟ.

μάλιστα πάντων· ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα.
665

ΠΑ.

ὦ χαῖρ᾽, ἄνασσα. σοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγους

ἡδεῖς φίλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς Αἰγίσθῳ θ᾽ ὁμοῦ.

ΚΛ.

ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου

πρώτιστα χρήζω, τίς σ᾽ om. LF add C2 or 4 ἀπέστειλεν ἀπέστειλεν L. ἀπέστειλε A. βροτῶν.

ΠΑ.

Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα.
670

ΚΛ.

τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξέν'; εἰπέ, παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ἂν

ἀνδρός, σάφ' οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.

ΠΑ.

τέθνηκ᾽ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.

ΗΛ.

ο ἰ ἐγὼ ἐγὼ LAFL Pal. τάλαιν, ὄλωλα τῇδ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

ΚΛ.

τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε.
675

ΠΑ.

θανόντ᾽ Ορέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω γρ. τότ᾽ ἐννέπω Co interl. πάλαι λέγω Γ. πάλιν λέγω Pal..

ΗΛ.

ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμ᾿ ἔτι.

ΚΛ.

σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσ᾽, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε,

τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται ;

ΠΑ.

κἀπεμπόμην πρὸς ταῦτα καὶ τὸ πᾶν φράσω.
680

κεῖνος γὰρ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸ κοινὸν ῾Ελλάδος

πρόσχημ᾽ ἀγῶνος Δελφικῶν ἄθλων χάριν,

ὅτ᾽ ᾔσθετ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ὀρθίων κηρυγμάτων

δρόμον δρόμου LA. δρόμον ΓL² Pal. προκηρύξαντος, οὗ πρώτη κρίσις,

εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός, πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκεῖ σέβας·
685

δρόμου δρομω L. δρόμου C3 or 6. δ᾽ ἰσώσας τῇ φύσει τὰ τέρματα,

νίκης ἔχων ἐξῆλθε πάντιμον γέρας.

χὤπως μὲν ἐν πολλοῖσι παῦρά σοι λέγω

οὐκ οἶδα τοιοῦδ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἔργα καὶ κράτη·

ἓν δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽· ὅσων γὰρ εἰσεκήρυξαν βραβῆς βραβῆς Cο. βραβεῖς AΓL2.
690

δρόμων διαύλων ἆθλ᾽ ἅπερ πένταθλ' ἃ LFL2 Pal. Vat. ac VM. πενταέθλ᾽ ἃ Aº M². Porson corr. νομίζεται,

τούτων ἐνεγκὼν πάντα τἀπινίκια

ὠλβίζετ᾽, Ἀργεῖος μὲν ἀνακαλούμενος,

ὄνομα δ᾽ Ορέστης, τοῦ τὸ κλεινὸν ῾Ελλάδος

Ἀγαμέμνονος στράτευμ᾽ ἀγείραντός (?) ἐγειράντός L pr. retouched C6. ἀγείραντος Pal. ποτε.
695

καὶ ταῦτα μὲν τοιαῦθ᾽· ὅταν δέ τις θεῶν

βλάπτῃ, δύναιτ᾽ δύναι ...τ᾿ C¹. ἂν οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἰσχύων φυγεῖν.

κεῖνος γὰρ ἄλλης ἡμέρας, ὅθ᾽ ἱππικῶν

ἦν ἡλίου τέλλοντος ὠκύπους ἀγών,

εἰσῆλθε πολλῶν ἁρματηλατῶν μέτα.
700

εἰς ἦν Ἀχαιός, εἷς ἀπὸ Σπάρτης, δύο

Λίβυες ζυγωτῶν ἁρμάτων ἐπιστάται·

κἀκεῖνος ἐν τούτοισι Θεσσαλὰς α from o C². ἔχων

ἵππους, ὁ πέμπτος· ἕκτος ἐξ Αἰτωλίας

ξανθαῖσι πώλοις· ἔβδομος Μάγνης ἀνήρ·
705

ὁ δ᾽ ὄγδοος λεύκιππος, Αἰνιὰν αἰνειᾶν L. αἰνειὰν A. ἀνειᾶν ΓL2. γένος·

ἔνατος Ἀθηνῶν τῶν θεοδμήτων ἄπο·

Βοιωτὸς ἄλλος, δέκατον ἐκπληρῶν ὄχον.

στάντες δ᾽ ὅθ᾽ θ from τ L. ὅτ' Lª Pal. V. ὅ' Vat ac V³. αὐτοὺς οἱ τεταγμένοι βραβῆς βραβῆς C. βραβεῖς A Pal.

κλήροις ἔπηλαν καὶ κατέστησαν δίφρους,
710

χαλκῆς ὑπαὶ σάλπιγγος ᾖξαν· οἱ δ᾽ ἅμα

ἵπποις ὁμοκλήσαντες ἡνίας χεροῖν

ἔσεισαν· ἐν δὲ πᾶς ἐμεστώθη δρόμος

κτύπου κροτητῶν ἁρμάτων ἀρμάτων L.· κόνις δ᾽ ἄνω

φορεῖθ᾽· ὁμοῦ δὲ πάντες ἀναμεμιγμένοι
715

φείδοντο κέντρων οὐδέν, ὡς ὑπερβάλοι

χνόας τις αὐτῶν καὶ φρυάγμαθ᾽ ἱππικά.

ὁμοῦ γὰρ ἀμφὶ νῶτα καὶ τροχῶν βάσεις

ἤφριζον, εἰσέβαλλον εἰσ ἔβαλλον L. ἱππικαὶ πνοαί.

κεῖνος δ᾽ ὑπ᾿ αὐτὴν ἐσχάτην αὐτὴν ἐσχατην L. στήλην ἔχων
720

ἔχριμπτ᾽ ἔχριπτ᾿ LF. ἔχριπτ᾿ Pal. ἔχριμπτ᾿ A. ἔγχριμπτ᾿ L2. ἀεὶ σύριγγα, δεξιὸν δ᾽ δεξιὸν L. δεξιὸν δ᾽ ACTL2. δεξιόν τ' Tricl. ἀνεὶς

σειραῖον ἵππον εἶργε τὸν προσκείμενον.

καὶ πρὶν μὲν ὀρθοὶ πάντες ἕστασαν ἔστασαν L Pal. δίφροι·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ Αἰνιᾶνος αἰνειᾶνος MSS. ἀνδρὸς ἄστομοι

πῶλοι βίᾳ φέρουσιν, ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφῆς,
725

τελοῦντες ἕκτον ἔβδομόν τ᾽ ἤδη δρόμον,

μέτωπα συμπαίουσι Βαρκαίοις ὄχοις·

κἀντεῦθεν ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐξ ἑνὸς κακοῦ

ἔθραυε κἀνέπιπτε, πᾶν δ᾽ ἐπίμπλατο

ναυαγίων Κρισαῖον κρισσαῖον LA. κρϊσαῖον Pal. ἱππικῶν ἱππικὸν LF. πέδον.
730

γνοὺς δ᾽ οὐξ Ἀθηνῶν δεινὸς ἡνιοστρόφος

ἔξω παρασπᾷ κἀνακωχεύει παρεὶς

κλύδων᾽ ἔφιππον έφιππων L. ἔφιππον C². ἐν μέσῳ κυκώμενον.

ἤλαυνε δ᾽ ἔσχατος μέν, ὑστέρας ὑστέρας δ' AC7 or 8 F Vat. ac V³MM². ἔχων

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 516-822 focus

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἀνειμένη μέν, ὡς ἔοικας, αὖ στρέφει·

οὐ γὰρ πάρεστʼ Αἴγισθος, ὅς σʼ ἐπεῖχʼ ἀεὶ

μή τοι θυραίαν γʼ οὖσαν αἰσχύνειν φίλους·

νῦν δʼ ὡς ἄπεστʼ ἐκεῖνος, οὐδὲν ἐντρέπει

ἐμοῦ γε· καίτοι πολλὰ πρὸς πολλούς με δὴ
520

ἐξεῖπας ὡς θρασεῖα καὶ πέρα δίκης

ἄρχω, καθυβρίζουσα καὶ σὲ καὶ τὰ σά·

ἐγὼ δʼ ὕβριν μὲν οὐκ ἔχω, κακῶς δέ σε

λέγω κακῶς κλύουσα πρὸς σέθεν θαμά.

πατὴρ γάρ, οὐδὲν ἄλλο, σοὶ πρόσχημʼ ἀεὶ
525

ὡς ἐξ ἐμοῦ τέθνηκεν. ἐξ ἐμοῦ· καλῶς

ἔξοιδα· τῶνδʼ ἄρνησις οὐκ ἔνεστί μοι·

ἡ γὰρ Δίκη νιν εἷλεν, οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνη,

ᾗ χρῆν σʼ ἀρήγειν, εἰ φρονοῦσʼ ἐτύγχανες·

ἐπεὶ πατὴρ σὸς οὗτος, ὃν θρηνεῖς ἀεί,
530

τὴν σὴν ὅμαιμον μοῦνος Ἑλλήνων ἔτλη

θῦσαι θεοῖσιν, οὐκ ἴσον καμὼν ἐμοὶ

λύπης, ὅς ἔσπειρʼ, ὥσπερ ἡ τίκτουσʼ ἐγώ.

εἶεν, δίδαξον δή με τοῦ χάριν, τίνων

ἔθυσεν αὐτήν· πότερον Ἀργείων ἐρεῖς;
535

ἀλλʼ οὐ μετῆν αὐτοῖσι τήν γʼ ἐμὴν κτανεῖν.

ἀλλʼ ἀντʼ ἀδελφοῦ δῆτα Μενέλεω κτανὼν

τἄμʼ, οὐκ ἔμελλε τῶνδέ μοι δώσειν δίκην;

πότερον ἐκείνῳ παῖδες οὐκ ἦσαν διπλοῖ,

οὓς τῆσδε μᾶλλον εἰκὸς ἦν θνῄσκειν, πατρὸς
540

καὶ μητρὸς ὄντας, ἧς ὁ πλοῦς ὅδʼ ἦν χάριν;

ἢ τῶν ἐμῶν Ἅιδης τινʼ ἵμερον τέκνων

ἢ τῶν ἐκείνης ἔσχε δαίσασθαι πλέον;

ἢ τῷ πανώλει πατρὶ τῶν μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ

παίδων πόθος παρεῖτο, Μενέλεω δʼ ἐνῆν;
545

οὐ ταῦτʼ ἀβούλου καὶ κακοῦ γνώμην πατρός;

δοκῶ μέν, εἰ καὶ σῆς δίχα γνώμης λέγω·

φαίη δʼ ἂν ἡ θανοῦσά γʼ, εἰ φωνὴν λάβοι.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν οὐκ εἰμὶ τοῖς πεπραγμένοις

δύσθυμος· εἰ δὲ σοὶ δοκῶ φρονεῖν κακῶς,
550

γνώμην δικαίαν σχοῦσα τοὺς πέλας ψέγε.

552

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐρεῖς μὲν οὐχὶ νῦν γέ μʼ ὡς ἄρξασά τι

λυπηρὸν εἶτα σοῦ τάδʼ ἐξήκουσʼ ὕπο·

ἀλλʼ ἢν ἐφῇς μοι, τοῦ τεθνηκότος θʼ ὕπερ

λέξαιμʼ ἂν ὀρθῶς τῆς κασιγνήτης θʼ ὁμοῦ.
555

Κλυταιμνήστρα

καὶ μὴν ἐφίημʼ· εἰ δέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀεὶ λόγους

ἐξῆρχες, οὐκ ἂν ἦσθα λυπηρὰ κλύειν.

558

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. πατέρα φὴς κτεῖναι. τίς ἂν

τούτου λόγος γένοιτʼ ἂν αἰσχίων ἔτι,

εἴτʼ οὖν δικαίως εἴτε μή; λέξω δέ σοι
560

ὡς οὐ δίκῃ γʼ ἔκτεινας, ἀλλά σʼ ἔσπασεν

πειθὼ κακοῦ πρὸς ἀνδρός, ᾧ τανῦν ξύνει.

ἐροῦ δὲ τὴν κυναγὸν Ἄρτεμιν, τίνος

ποινὰς τὰ πολλὰ πνεύματʼ ἔσχʼ ἐν Αὐλίδι·

ἢ ʼγὼ φράσω· κείνης γὰρ οὐ θέμις μαθεῖν.
565

πατήρ ποθʼ οὑμός, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω, θεᾶς

παίζων κατʼ ἄλσος ἐξεκίνησεν ποδοῖν

στικτὸν κεράστην ἔλαφον, οὗ κατὰ σφαγὰς

ἐκκομπάσας ἔπος τι τυγχάνει βαλών.

κἀκ τοῦδε μηνίσασα Λητῴα κόρη
570

κατεῖχʼ Ἀχαιούς, ὡς πατὴρ ἀντίσταθμον

τοῦ θηρὸς ἐκθύσειε τὴν αὑτοῦ κόρην.

ὧδʼ ἦν τὰ κείνης θύματʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἦν λύσις

ἄλλη στρατῷ πρὸς οἶκον οὐδʼ εἰς Ἴλιον.

ἀνθʼ ὧν, βιασθεὶς πολλὰ κἀντιβάς, μόλις
575

ἔθυσεν αὐτήν, οὐχὶ Μενέλεω χάριν.

εἰ δʼ οὖν, ἐρῶ γὰρ καὶ τὸ σόν, κεῖνον θέλων

ἐπωφελῆσαι ταῦτʼ ἔδρα, τούτου θανεῖν

χρῆν αὐτὸν οὕνεκʼ ἐκ σέθεν; ποίῳ νόμῳ;

ὅρα τιθεῖσα τόνδε τὸν νόμον βροτοῖς
580

μὴ πῆμα σαυτῇ καὶ μετάγνοιαν τιθῇς.

εἰ γὰρ κτενοῦμεν ἄλλον ἀντʼ ἄλλου, σύ τοι

πρώτη θάνοις ἄν, εἰ δίκης γε τυγχάνοις.

ἀλλʼ εἰσόρα μὴ σκῆψιν οὐκ οὖσαν τίθης.

εἰ γὰρ θέλεις, δίδαξον ἀνθʼ ὅτου τανῦν
585

αἴσχιστα πάντων ἔργα δρῶσα τυγχάνεις,

ἥτις ξυνεύδεις τῷ παλαμναίῳ, μεθʼ οὗ

πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν πρόσθεν ἐξαπώλεσας,

καὶ παιδοποιεῖς, τοὺς δὲ πρόσθεν εὐσεβεῖς

κἀξ εὐσεβῶν βλαστόντας ἐκβαλοῦσʼ ἔχεις.
590

πῶς ταῦτʼ ἐπαινέσαιμʼ ἄν; ἢ καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐρεῖς

ὡς τῆς θυγατρὸς ἀντίποινα λαμβάνεις;

αἰσχρῶς δʼ, ἐάν περ καὶ λέγῃς· οὐ γὰρ καλὸν

ἐχθροῖς γαμεῖσθαι τῆς θυγατρὸς οὕνεκα.

ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ οὐδὲ νουθετεῖν ἔξεστί σε,
595

ἣ πᾶσαν ἵης γλῶσσαν ὡς τὴν μητέρα

κακοστομοῦμεν. καί σʼ ἔγωγε δεσπότιν

ἢ μητέρʼ οὐκ ἔλασσον εἰς ἡμᾶς νέμω,

ἣ ζῶ βίον μοχθηρόν, ἔκ τε σοῦ κακοῖς

πολλοῖς ἀεὶ ξυνοῦσα τοῦ τε συννόμου·
600

ὃ δʼ ἄλλος ἔξω, χεῖρα σὴν μόλις φυγών,

τλήμων Ὀρέστης δυστυχῆ τρίβει βίον·

ὃν πολλὰ δή με σοὶ τρέφειν μιάστορα

ἐπῃτιάσω· καὶ τόδʼ, εἴπερ ἔσθενον,

ἔδρων ἄν, εὖ τοῦτʼ ἴσθι· τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκα
605

κήρυσσέ μʼ εἰς ἅπαντας, εἴτε χρῇς κακὴν

εἴτε στόμαργον εἴτʼ ἀναιδείας πλέαν.

εἰ γὰρ πέφυκα τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων ἴδρις,

σχεδόν τι τὴν σὴν οὐ καταισχύνω φύσιν.

610

Χορός

ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν· εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ
610

ξύνεστι, τοῦδε φροντίδʼ οὐκέτʼ εἰσορῶ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ποίας δʼ ἐμοὶ δεῖ πρός γε τήνδε φροντίδος,

ἥτις τοιαῦτα τὴν τεκοῦσαν ὕβρισεν,

καὶ ταῦτα τηλικοῦτος; ἆρά σοι δοκεῖ

χωρεῖν ἂν εἰς πᾶν ἔργον αἰσχύνης ἄτερ;
615

Ἠλέκτρα

εὖ νυν ἐπίστω τῶνδέ μʼ αἰσχύνην ἔχειν,

κεἰ μὴ δοκῶ σοι· μανθάνω δʼ ὁθούνεκα

ἔξωρα πράσσω κοὐκ ἐμοὶ προσεικότα.

ἀλλʼ ἡ γὰρ ἐκ σοῦ δυσμένεια καὶ τὰ σὰ

ἔργʼ ἐξαναγκάζει με ταῦτα δρᾶν βίᾳ·
620

αἰσχροῖς γὰρ αἰσχρὰ πράγματʼ ἐκδιδάσκεται.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ θρέμμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σʼ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμʼ ἔπη

καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλʼ ἄγαν λέγειν ποεῖ.

Ἠλέκτρα

σύ τοι λέγεις νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ· σὺ γὰρ ποεῖς

τοὔργον· τὰ δʼ ἔργα τοὺς λόγους εὑρίσκεται.
625

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράσους

τοῦδʼ οὐκ ἀλύξεις, εὖτʼ ἂν Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὁρᾷς; πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐκφέρει, μεθεῖσά μοι

λέγειν ἃ χρῄζοιμʼ, οὐδʼ ἐπίστασαι κλύειν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔκουν ἐάσεις οὐδʼ ὑπʼ εὐφήμου βοῆς
630

θῦσαί μʼ, ἐπειδὴ σοί γʼ ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε· μηδʼ ἐπαιτιῶ

τοὐμὸν στόμʼ, ὡς οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμʼ ἔτι.

634

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἔπαιρε δὴ σὺ θύμαθʼ ἡ παροῦσά μοι

πάγκαρπʼ, ἄνακτι τῷδʼ ὅπως λυτηρίους
635

εὐχὰς ἀνάσχω δειμάτων, ἃ νῦν ἔχω.

κλύοις ἂν ἤδη, Φοῖβε προστατήριε,

κεκρυμμένην μου βάξιν· οὐ γὰρ ἐν φίλοις

ὁ μῦθος, οὐδὲ πᾶν ἀναπτύξαι πρέπει

πρὸς φῶς παρούσης τῆσδε πλησίας ἐμοί,
640

μὴ σὺν φθόνῳ τε καὶ πολυγλώσσῳ βοῇ

σπείρῃ ματαίαν βάξιν εἰς πᾶσαν πόλιν.

ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἄκουε· τῇδε γὰρ κἀγὼ φράσω.

ἃ γὰρ προσεῖδον νυκτὶ τῇδε φάσματα

δισσῶν ὀνείρων, ταῦτά μοι, Λύκειʼ ἄναξ,
645

εἰ μὲν πέφηνεν ἐσθλά, δὸς τελεσφόρα,

εἰ δʼ ἐχθρά, τοῖς ἐχθροῖσιν ἔμπαλιν μέθες·

καὶ μή με πλούτου τοῦ παρόντος εἴ τινες

δόλοισι βουλεύουσιν ἐκβαλεῖν, ἐφῇς,

ἀλλʼ ὧδέ μʼ αἰεὶ ζῶσαν ἀβλαβεῖ βίῳ
650

δόμους Ἀτρειδῶν σκῆπτρά τʼ ἀμφέπειν τάδε,

φίλοισί τε ξυνοῦσαν οἷς ξύνειμι νῦν

εὐημεροῦσαν καὶ τέκνων ὅσων ἐμοὶ

δύσνοια μὴ πρόσεστιν ἢ λύπη πικρά.

ταῦτʼ, ὦ Λύκειʼ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεως κλύων
655

δὸς πᾶσιν ἡμῖν ὥσπερ ἐξαιτούμεθα.

τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πάντα καὶ σιωπώσης ἐμοῦ

ἐπαξιῶ σε δαίμονʼ ὄντʼ ἐξειδέναι·

τοὺς ἐκ Διὸς γὰρ εἰκός ἐστι πάνθʼ ὁρᾶν.

660

Παιδαγωγός

ξέναι γυναῖκες, πῶς ἂν εἰδείην σαφῶς
660

εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματʼ Αἰγίσθου τάδε;

Χορός

τάδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ξένʼ· αὐτὸς ᾔκασας καλῶς.

Παιδαγωγός

ἦ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδʼ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ

κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τύραννος εἰσορᾶν.

Χορός

μάλιστα πάντων· ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα.
665

Παιδαγωγός

ὦ χαῖρʼ, ἄνασσα· σοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγους

ἡδεῖς φίλου παρʼ ἀνδρὸς Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου

πρώτιστα χρῄζω τίς σʼ ἀπέστειλεν βροτῶν.

Παιδαγωγός

Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα.
670

Κλυταιμνήστρα

τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξένʼ; εἰπέ· παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ὢν

ἀνδρός, σάφʼ οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.

Παιδαγωγός

τέθνηκʼ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινʼ, ὄλωλα τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε.
675

Παιδαγωγός

θανόντʼ Ὀρέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμʼ ἔτι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσʼ, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε,

τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται;

680

Παιδαγωγός

κἀπεμπόμην πρὸς ταῦτα καὶ τὸ πᾶν φράσω.
680

κεῖνος γὰρ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸ κλεινὸν Ἑλλάδος

πρόσχημʼ ἀγῶνος Δελφικῶν ἄθλων χάριν,

ὅτʼ ᾔσθετʼ ἀνδρὸς ὀρθίων κηρυγμάτων

δρόμον προκηρύξαντος, οὗ πρώτη κρίσις,

εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός, πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκεῖ σέβας·
685

δρόμου δʼ ἰσώσας τἀφέσει τὰ τέρματα

νίκης ἔχων ἐξῆλθε πάντιμον γέρας.

χὤπως μὲν ἐν πολλοῖσι παῦρά σοι λέγω

οὐκ οἶδα τοιοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς ἔργα καὶ κράτη·

ἓν δʼ ἴσθʼ· ὅσων γὰρ εἰσεκήρυξαν βραβῆς
690

δρόμων διαύλων πένταθλʼ ἃ νομίζεται,

τούτων ἐνεγκὼν πάντα τἀπινίκια

ὠλβίζετʼ, Ἀργεῖος μὲν ἀνακαλούμενος,

ὄνομα δʼ Ὀρέστης, τοῦ τὸ κλεινὸν Ἑλλάδος

Ἀγαμέμνονος στράτευμʼ ἀγείραντός ποτε.
695

καὶ ταῦτα μὲν τοιαῦθʼ· ὅταν δέ τις θεῶν

βλάπτῃ, δύναιτʼ ἂν οὐδʼ ἂν ἰσχύων φυγεῖν.

κεῖνος γὰρ ἄλλης ἡμέρας, ὅθʼ ἱππικῶν

ἦν ἡλίου τέλλοντος ὠκύπους ἀγών,

εἰσῆλθε πολλῶν ἁρματηλατῶν μέτα.
700

εἷς ἦν Ἀχαιός, εἷς ἀπὸ Σπάρτης, δύο

Λίβυες ζυγωτῶν ἁρμάτων ἐπιστάται·

κἀκεῖνος ἐν τούτοισι, Θεσσαλὰς ἔχων

ἵππους, ὁ πέμπτος· ἕκτος ἐξ Αἰτωλίας

ξανθαῖσι πώλοις· ἕβδομος Μάγνης ἀνήρ·
705

ὁ δʼ ὄγδοος λεύκιππος, Αἰνιὰν γένος·

ἔνατος Ἀθηνῶν τῶν θεοδμήτων ἄπο·

Βοιωτὸς ἄλλος, δέκατον ἐκπληρῶν ὄχον.

στάντες δʼ ἵνʼ αὐτοὺς οἱ τεταγμένοι βραβῆς

κλήροις ἔπηλαν καὶ κατέστησαν δίφρους,
710

χαλκῆς ὑπαὶ σάλπιγγος ᾖξαν· οἱ δʼ ἅμα

ἵπποις ὁμοκλήσαντες ἡνίας χεροῖν

ἔσεισαν· ἐν δὲ πᾶς ἐμεστώθη δρόμος

κτύπου κροτητῶν ἁρμάτων· κόνις δʼ ἄνω

φορεῖθʼ· ὁμοῦ δὲ πάντες ἀναμεμιγμένοι
715

φείδοντο κέντρων οὐδέν, ὡς ὑπερβάλοι

χνόας τις αὐτῶν καὶ φρυάγμαθʼ ἱππικά.

ὁμοῦ γὰρ ἀμφὶ νῶτα καὶ τροχῶν βάσεις

ἤφριζον, εἰσέβαλλον ἱππικαὶ πνοαί.

κεῖνος δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτὴν ἐσχάτην στήλην ἔχων
720

ἔχριμπτʼ ἀεὶ σύριγγα, δεξιὸν δʼ ἀνεὶς

σειραῖον ἵππον εἶργε τὸν προσκείμενον.

καὶ πρὶν μὲν ὀρθοὶ πάντες ἕστασαν δίφροι·

ἔπειτα δʼ Αἰνιᾶνος ἀνδρὸς ἄστομοι

πῶλοι βίᾳ φέρουσιν· ἐκ δʼ ὑποστροφῆς
725

τελοῦντες ἕκτον ἕβδομόν τʼ ἤδη δρόμον

μέτωπα συμπαίουσι Βαρκαίοις ὄχοις·

κἀντεῦθεν ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐξ ἑνὸς κακοῦ

ἔθραυε κἀνέπιπτε, πᾶν δʼ ἐπίμπλατο

ναυαγίων Κρισαῖον ἱππικῶν πέδον.
730

731

Παιδαγωγός

γνοὺς δʼ οὑξ Ἀθηνῶν δεινὸς ἡνιοστρόφος

ἔξω παρασπᾷ κἀνακωχεύει παρεὶς

κλύδωνʼ ἔφιππον ἐν μέσῳ κυκώμενον.

ἤλαυνε δʼ ἔσχατος μέν, ὑστέρας δʼ ἔχων

πώλους Ὀρέστης, τῷ τέλει πίστιν φέρων·
735

ὅπως δʼ ὁρᾷ μόνον νιν ἐλλελειμμένον,

ὀξὺν διʼ ὤτων κέλαδον ἐνσείσας θοαῖς

πώλοις διώκει, κἀξισώσαντε ζυγὰ

ἠλαυνέτην, τότʼ ἄλλος, ἄλλοθʼ ἅτερος

κάρα προβάλλων ἱππικῶν ὀχημάτων.
740

καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους πάντας ἀσφαλεῖς δρόμους

ὡρμᾶθʼ ὁ τλήμων ὀρθὸς ἐξ ὀρθῶν δίφρων·

ἔπειτα λύων ἡνίαν ἀριστερὰν

κάμπτοντος ἵππου λανθάνει στήλην ἄκραν

παίσας· ἔθραυσε δʼ ἄξονος μέσας χνόας
745

κἀξ ἀντύγων ὤλισθεν· ἐν δʼ ἑλίσσεται

τμητοῖς ἱμᾶσι· τοῦ δὲ πίπτοντος πέδῳ

πῶλοι διεσπάρησαν ἐς μέσον δρόμον.

στρατὸς δʼ ὅπως ὁρᾷ νιν ἐκπεπτωκότα

δίφρων, ἀνωλόλυξε τὸν νεανίαν,
750

οἷʼ ἔργα δράσας οἷα λαγχάνει κακά,

φορούμενος πρὸς οὖδας, ἄλλοτʼ οὐρανῷ

σκέλη προφαίνων, ἔς τέ νιν διφρηλάται,

μόλις κατασχεθόντες ἱππικὸν δρόμον,

ἔλυσαν αἱματηρόν, ὥστε μηδένα
755

γνῶναι φίλων ἰδόντʼ ἂν ἄθλιον δέμας.

καί νιν πυρᾷ κέαντες εὐθὺς ἐν βραχεῖ

χαλκῷ μέγιστον σῶμα δειλαίας σποδοῦ

φέρουσιν ἄνδρες Φωκέων τεταγμένοι,

ὅπως πατρῴας τύμβον ἐκλάχῃ χθονός.
760

τοιαῦτά σοι ταῦτʼ ἐστίν, ὡς μὲν ἐν λόγῳ

ἀλγεινά, τοῖς δʼ ἰδοῦσιν, οἵπερ εἴδομεν,

μέγιστα πάντων ὧν ὄπωπʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

764

Χορός

φεῦ φεῦ· τὸ πᾶν δὴ δεσπόταισι τοῖς πάλαι

πρόρριζον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθαρται γένος.
765

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί ταῦτα, πότερον εὐτυχῆ λέγω,

ἢ δεινὰ μέν, κέρδη δέ; λυπηρῶς δʼ ἔχει,

εἰ τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς τὸν βίον σῴζω κακοῖς.

Παιδαγωγός

τί δʼ ὧδʼ ἀθυμεῖς, ὦ γύναι, τῷ νῦν λόγῳ;

Κλυταιμνήστρα

δεινὸν τὸ τίκτειν ἐστίν· οὐδὲ γὰρ κακῶς
770

πάσχοντι μῖσος ὧν τέκῃ προσγίγνεται.

Παιδαγωγός

μάτην ἄρʼ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔτοι μάτην γε· πῶς γὰρ ἂν μάτην λέγοις,

εἴ μοι θανόντος πίστʼ ἔχων τεκμήρια

προσῆλθες, ὅστις τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς γεγώς,
775

μαστῶν ἀποστὰς καὶ τροφῆς ἐμῆς, φυγὰς

ἀπεξενοῦτο καί μʼ, ἐπεὶ τῆσδε χθονὸς

ἐξῆλθεν, οὐκέτʼ εἶδεν, ἐγκαλῶν δέ μοι

φόνους πατρῴους δείνʼ ἐπηπείλει τελεῖν;

ὥστʼ οὔτε νυκτὸς ὕπνον οὔτʼ ἐξ ἡμέρας
780

ἐμὲ στεγάζειν ἡδύν, ἀλλʼ ὁ προστατῶν

χρόνος διῆγέ μʼ αἰὲν ὡς θανουμένην.

νῦν δʼ—ἡμέρᾳ γὰρ τῇδʼ ἀπήλλαγμαι φόβου

πρὸς τῆσδʼ ἐκείνου θʼ· ἥδε γὰρ μείζων βλάβη

ξύνοικος ἦν μοι, τοὐμὸν ἐκπίνουσʼ ἀεὶ
785

ψυχῆς ἄκρατον αἷμα—νῦν δʼ ἕκηλά που

τῶν τῆσδʼ ἀπειλῶν οὕνεχʼ ἡμερεύσομεν.

788

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι τάλαινα· νῦν γὰρ οἰμῶξαι πάρα,

Ὀρέστα, τὴν σὴν ξυμφοράν, ὅθʼ ὧδʼ ἔχων

πρὸς τῆσδʼ ὑβρίζει μητρός. ἆρʼ ἔχει καλῶς;
790

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔτοι σύ· κεῖνος δʼ ὡς ἔχει καλῶς ἔχει.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἄκουε, Νέμεσι τοῦ θανόντος ἀρτίως.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἤκουσεν ὧν δεῖ κἀπεκύρωσεν καλῶς.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὕβριζε· νῦν γὰρ εὐτυχοῦσα τυγχάνεις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔκουν Ὀρέστης καὶ σὺ παύσετον τάδε.
795

Ἠλέκτρα

πεπαύμεθʼ ἡμεῖς, οὐχ ὅπως σὲ παύσομεν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἄξιος τυχεῖν,

εἰ τήνδʼ ἔπαυσας τῆς πολυγλώσσου βοῆς.

Παιδαγωγός

οὐκοῦν ἀποστείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τάδʼ εὖ κυρεῖ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἥκιστʼ· ἐπείπερ οὔτʼ ἐμοῦ κατάξιʼ ἂν
800

πράξειας οὔτε τοῦ πορεύσαντος ξένου.

ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ εἴσω· τήνδε δʼ ἔκτοθεν βοᾶν

ἔα τά θʼ αὑτῆς καὶ τὰ τῶν φίλων κακά.

804

Ἠλέκτρα

ἆρʼ ὑμὶν ὡς ἀλγοῦσα κὠδυνωμένη

δεινῶς δακρῦσαι κἀπικωκῦσαι δοκεῖ
805

τὸν υἱὸν ἡ δύστηνος ὧδʼ ὀλωλότα;

ἀλλʼ ἐγγελῶσα φροῦδος· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.

Ὀρέστα φίλταθʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας θανών.

ἀποσπάσας γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς οἴχει φρενὸς

αἵ μοι μόναι παρῆσαν ἐλπίδων ἔτι,
810

σὲ πατρὸς ἥξειν ζῶντα τιμωρόν ποτε

κἀμοῦ ταλαίνης. νῦν δὲ ποῖ με χρὴ μολεῖν;

μόνη γάρ εἰμι, σοῦ τʼ ἀπεστερημένη

καὶ πατρός. ἤδη δεῖ με δουλεύειν πάλιν

ἐν τοῖσιν ἐχθίστοισιν ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ
815

φονεῦσι πατρός. ἆρά μοι καλῶς ἔχει;

ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοιποῦ χρόνου

ξύνοικος, εἴσειμʼ, ἀλλὰ τῇδε πρὸς πύλῃ

παρεῖσʼ ἐμαυτὴν ἄφιλος αὐανῶ βίον.

πρὸς ταῦτα καινέτω τις, εἰ βαρύνεται,
820

τῶν ἔνδον ὄντων· ὡς χάρις μέν, ἢν κτάνῃ,

λύπη δʼ, ἐὰν ζῶ· τοῦ βίου δʼ οὐδεὶς πόθος.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 610 focus

().
610

I see her fuming with fresh wrath: the thought
610

Of justice enters not her bosom now.

CLY

What thought of justice should be mine for her,

Who at her age can so insult a mother?

Will shame withhold her from the wildest deed?

EL

Not unashamed, assure thee, I stand here,

Little as thou mayest deem it. Well I feel

My acts untimely and my words unmeet.

But your hostility and treatment force me

Against my disposition to this course.
620

Harsh ways are taught by harshness.

CLY

Brazen thing!

Too true it is that words and deeds of mine

Are evermore informing thy harsh tongue.

EL

The shame is yours, because the deeds are yours.

My words are but their issue and effect.
625

CLY

By sovereign Artemis, whom still I serve,

You’ll rue this boldness when Aegisthus comes.

EL

See now, your anger bears you off, and ne’er

Will let you listen, though you gave me leave.

CLY

Must I not even sacrifice in peace
630

From your harsh clamour, when you’ve had your say?

EL

I have done. I check thee not. Go, sacrifice!

Accuse not me of hindering piety.

CLY

().

Then lift for me those fruitful offerings,

While to Apollo, before whom we stand,

I raise my supplication for release

From doubts and fears that shake my bosom now.

And, O defender of our house! attend
635

My secret utterance. No friendly ear
635

Is that which hearkens for my voice. My thought
635

Must not be blazoned with her standing by,
635

Lest through her envious and wide-babbling tongue

She fill the city full of wild surmise.

List, then, as I shall speak: and grant the dreams

Whose two-fold apparition I to-night

Have seen, if good their bodement, be fulfilled:

If hostile, turn their influence on my foes.

And yield not them their wish that would by guile

Thrust me from this high fortune, but vouchsafe

That ever thus exempt from harms I rule

The Atridae’s home and kingdom, in full life,

Partaking with the friends I live with now

All fair prosperity, and with my children,

Save those who hate and vex me bitterly.

Lykeian Phoebus, favourably hear

My prayer, and grant to all of us our need!

More is there, which, though I be silent here,

A God should understand. No secret thing

Is hidden from the all-seeing sons of Heaven.

OLD M
Enter the Old Man .

Kind dames and damsels, may I clearly know
660

If these be King Aegisthus’ palace-halls?

CH

They are, sir; you yourself have guessed aright.

OLD M

May I guess further that in yonder dame

I see his queen? She looks right royally.

CH

’Tis she,—no other,—whom your eyes behold.
665

OLD M

Princess, all hail! To thee and to thy spouse

I come with words of gladness from a friend.

CLY

That auspice I accept. But I would first

Learn from thee who of men hath sent thee forth?

OLD M

Phanoteus the Phocian, with a charge of weight.
670

CLY

Declare it, stranger. Coming from a friend,

Thou bring’st us friendly tidings, I feel sure.

OLD M

Orestes’ death. Ye have the sum in brief.

EL

Ah me! undone! This day hath ruined me.

CLY

What? Let me hear again. Regard her not.
675

OLD M

Again I say it, Orestes is no more.

EL

Undone! undone! Farewell to life and hope!

CLY

().

See thou to thine own case! () Now, stranger, tell me

In true discourse the manner of his death.

OLD M

For that I am here, and I will tell the whole.

He, entering on the great arena famed

As Hellas’ pride, to win a Delphian prize,

On hearing the loud summons of the man

Calling the foot-race, which hath trial first,

Came forward, a bright form, admired by all.

And when his prowess in the course fulfilled

The promise of his form, he issued forth

Dowered with the splendid meed of victory.—

To tell a few out of the many feats

Of such a hero were beyond my power.

Know then, in brief, that of the prizes set

For every customary course proclaimed

By order of the judges, the whole sum

Victoriously he gathered, happy deemed

By all; declared an Argive, and his name

Orestes, son of him who levied once

The mighty armament of Greeks for Troy.

So fared he then: but when a God inclines

To hinder happiness, not even the strong

Are scatheless. So, another day, when came

At sunrise the swift race of charioteers,

He entered there with many a rival car:—

One from Achaia, one from Sparta, two

Libyan commanders of the chariot-yoke;

And he among them fifth, with steeds of price

From Thessaly;—the sixth Aetolia sent

With chestnut mares; the seventh a Magnete man;

The eighth with milk-white colts from Oeta’s vale;

The ninth from god-built Athens; and the tenth

Boeotia gave to make the number full.

Then stood they where the judges of the course

Had posted them by lot, each with his team;

And sprang forth at the brazen trumpet’s blare.

Shouting together to their steeds, they shook

The reins, and all the course was filled with noise

Of rattling chariots, and the dust arose

To heaven. Now all in a confusèd throng

Spared not the goad, each eager to outgo

The crowded axles and the snorting steeds;

For close about his nimbly circling wheels

And stooping sides fell flakes of panted foam.

Orestes, ever nearest at the turn,

With whirling axle seemed to graze the stone,

And loosing with free rein the right-hand steed

That pulled the side-rope, held the near one in.

So for a time all chariots upright moved,

But soon the Oetaean’s hard-mouthed horses broke

From all control, and wheeling as they passed

From the sixth circuit to begin the seventh,

Smote front to front against the Barcan car.

And when that one disaster had befallen,

Each dashed against his neighbour and was thrown,

Till the whole plain was strewn with chariot-wreck.

Then the Athenian, skilled to ply the rein,

Drew on one side, and heaving to, let pass

The rider-crested surge that rolled i’ the midst.

Meanwhile Orestes, trusting to the end,

Was driving hindmost with tight rein; but now,

Seeing him left the sole competitor,

Hurling fierce clamour through his steeds, pursued:

So drave they yoke by yoke—now this, now that

Pulling ahead with car and team. Orestes,

Ill-fated one, each previous course had driven

Safely without a check, but after this,

In letting loose again the left-hand rein,

He struck the edge of the stone before he knew,

Shattering the axle’s end, and tumbled prone,

Caught in the reins, that dragged him with sharp thongs.

Then as he fell to the earth the horses swerved,

And roamed the field. The people when they saw

Him fallen from out the car, lamented loud

For the fair youth, who had achieved before them

Such glorious feats, and now had found such woe,—

Dashed on the ground, then tossed with legs aloft

Against the sky,—until the charioteers,

Hardly restraining the impetuous team,

Released him, covered so with blood that none,—

No friend who saw—had known his hapless form.

Which then we duly burned upon the pyre.

And straightway men appointed to the task

From all the Phocians bear his mighty frame—

Poor ashes! narrowed in a brazen urn,—

That he may find in his own fatherland

His share of sepulture.—Such our report,

Painful to hear, but unto us, who saw,

The mightiest horror that e’er met mine eye.

CH

Alas! the stock of our old masters, then,

Is utterly uprooted and destroyed.

CLY

O heavens! what shall I say? That this is well?

Or terrible, but gainful? Hard my lot,

To save my life through my calamity!

OLD M

Lady, why hath my speech disheartened thee?

CLY

To be a mother hath a marvellous power:

No injury can make one hate one’s child.

OLD M

Then it should seem our coming was in vain.

CLY

In vain? Nay, verily; thou, that hast brought
680

Clear evidences of his fate, who, sprung
680

Prom my life’s essence, severed from my breast

And nurture, was estranged in banishment,

And never saw me from the day he went

Out from this land, but for his father’s blood

Threatened me still with accusation dire;

That sleep nor soothed at night nor sweetly stole

My senses from the day, but, all my time,

Each instant led me on the way to death!—
685

But this day’s chance hath freed me from all fear
685

Of him, and of this maid: who being at home

Troubled me more, and with unmeasured thirst

Kept draining my life-blood; but now her threats

Will leave us quiet days, methinks, and peace

Unbroken.—How then shouldst thou come in vain?

EL

O misery! ’Tis time to wail thy fate,

Orestes, when, in thy calamity,

Thy mother thus insults thee. Is it well?

CLY

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 610 focus

Ich sehe sie Zorn athmen; aber ob mit Recht

Sie zürne, dieses, seh' ich, wird nicht mehr bedacht.
595

Klytämnestra.

Und was bedenken soll ich denn bei dieser auch,

Die so mit frecher Rede mich, die Mutter, höhnt,

Und das in solchem Alter? Hegst du Zweifel noch,

Daß die sich schamlos jeder That erdreisten wird?

Elektra.

So wisse, daß mich solches Thun mit Scham erfüllt,
600

Wenn du daran auch zweifelst; denn ich handle nicht,

Wie's mir und meinem Alter ziemt, das fühl ich wohl.

Doch dieser Feindeshaß von dir, dein arges Thun,

Sie zwingen mich zu solchem Handeln mit Gewalt.

An bösen Thaten lernt sich fort die böse That.
605

Klytämnestra.

Schamlos Gezücht! Ich freilich und mein Reden und

Mein Thun verstatten allzuviel Schmähworte dir.

Elektra.

Nicht ich, du selber schmähst dich ja; denn du begehst

Die That, und Thaten finden ihre Worte dann.

Klytämnestra.

Ha, bei der Fürstin Artemis, für solchen Troz
610

Entrinnst du nicht der Strafe, kehrt Aegisthos heim!

Elektra.

Siehst du's? Der Unmuth reißt dich fort! Du gönntest mir

Nach Wunsch zu reden, doch zu hören weißt du nicht.

Klytämnestra.

So wirst du selbst nicht ungestört von bösem Laut

Mich opfern lassen, nun ich frei dich reden ließ?
615

Ich duld' es, will es, opfre nur, beschuldige

Nicht meinen Mund mehr; denn ich rede weiter nicht.

(zu einer von ihren Begleiterinnen)

Du hebe denn das Opfer, du die Nächste mir,

Die Früchte, daß ich mein Gebet zu diesem Gott

Entsende, mich zu retten aus der schweren Angst.
620
(sie tritt vor den Altar des Apollon)

Wohl hörst du jezt, o Phöbos, unsers Hauses Hort,¹

Auf mein verborgnes Beten. Nicht vor Freunden wird's

Gesprochen, und nicht Alles darf dem Lichte sich

Entfalten, da mir diese nah zur Seite steht,

Daß nicht in tausendfachem Ruf aus Tücke sie
625

Ein leer Gered' aussprenge durch die ganze Stadt.

Nein, so vernimm mich, sprech' ich's aus in dieser Art.

Des Doppeltraumes Bilder, die in dieser Nacht²

An mir vorübergingen, laß, Lykeierfürst,

Wofern sie günstig nahten, sich bestätigen,
630

Wenn feindlich, wend' auf unsre Feinde sie zurück!

Und nicht gestatt' es, wenn mich Einer ränkevoll

Herab von meines Glückes Höh'n zu stürzen sinnt!

Nein laß mich also lebend, nie von Gram getrübt,

Im Haus des Atreus walten mit dem Herrscherstab,
635

Vereint den Lieben, die mir jezt verbunden sind,

In heitern Tagen, und umringt von Kindern, die

Kein bittrer Unmuth gegen mich, kein Haß erfüllt!

Dies, o Lykeier Phöbos, hör' in Gnaden an,

Und dies gewähr' uns allen, wie wir's fleh'n von dir;
640

Doch alles Andre, hüllt es auch mein Schweigen ein,

Das ist, eracht' ich, dir dem Gott nicht unbekannt:

Denn die von Zeus sind, müssen wohl allsehend sein.

Der Pfleger des Orestes. Die Vorigen.

Der Pfleger.

Ihr fremden Frauen, ich vernähme gern von euch,

Ob dies das Haus Aegisthos', eures Herrschers, ist.
645

Der Chor.

Das ist es, Fremdling: recht gerathen hast du selbst.

Der Pfleger.

Und rath' ich recht auch: steht sie hier, des Königes

Gemahl? Ihr Anblick kündet ja die Herrin an.

Der Chor.

Du trasst es richtig: eben sie erblickst du hier.

Der Pfleger.

Heil dir, o Fürstin! Frohe Kunden bring' ich dir
650

Und auch Aegisthen, abgesandt von einem Freund.

Klytämnestra.

Willkommen sei die Rede; doch vor Allem laß

Mich erst erfahren, welcher Mann dich uns gesandt.

Der Pfleger.

Euch schickt der Phoker Phanoteus ein großes Wort.

Klytämnestra.

Was ist es, Fremdling? Rede! Denn vom Freund gesandt,
655

Das weiß ich, bringst du sicher mir ein freundlich Wort.

Der Pfleger.

Todt ist Orestes; kurzgefaßt verkünd' ich es.

Elektra.

Weh mir! Des Todes bin ich, ach, an diesem Tag!

Klytämnestra.

Wie sagst du, Freund, was sagst du? Hör' auf diese nicht.

Der Pfleger.

Todt ist Orestes, sag' ich jezt, und sagt' ich schon.
660

Elektra.

Ich Arme bin verloren, ach, ich bin dahin!

Klytämnestra.

Du treibe nur das Deine; mir indeß, o Freund,

Sag' an die Wahrheit: wie ereilt' ihn sein Geschick?

Der Pfleger.

Dazu bin ich gesendet; Alles meld' ich denn.

Er war gekommen zu der stolzen Feste Glanz³
665

Von Hellas, kühn zu ringen um den Delpherpreis;

Und als er Heroldsrufe nun mit hellem Schall

Zum Laufe rufen hörte, der den Kampf beginnt:

Da trat er strahlend, Allen dort ein Wunder, ein.

Drauf als er stolzen Fluges stolz erreicht das Ziel,
670

Verließ er, hoch mit Siegesruhm gekrönt, die Bahu.

Und bei so Vielem sag' ich dir nur Weniges:

Nie sah ich solches Mannes Kraft und Thaten noch.

In allen fünf Wettkämpfen auf der Doppelbahn,

(Dies Eine meld' ich,) die das Kampfgericht entbot,
675

In allen trug er jeden Siegespreis davon:

Man pries ihn selig, rief ihn als Argeier aus,

Genannt Orestes, Agamemnons Heldensohn,

Der einst Achäa's stolzes Heer versammelte.

So war der Anfang: aber wenn Unglück ein Gott
680

Verhängt, entrinnen mag ihm auch der Starke nicht.

Des andern Tages, als begann der Rosse Kampf,

Der raschen Renner, mit der Sonne frühstem Strahl,

Trat jener auch mit vielen Wagenführern ein.

Es kam ein Sparter, Einer aus Achäa, Zwei,
685

Im Wagenrennen wohlgeübt, aus Libya;

Er unter ihnen folgte mit thessalischem

Gespann, der fünfte; sechstens ein Aetolier

Mit braunen Füllen; siebtens ein Magnesier;

Sodann mit weißen Rossen kam ein Aenier;
690

Der neunte war aus Pallas' gotterbauter Stadt,⁴

Und ein Böoter schloß den Zug im zehnten Siz.

Und als sie standen, wie des Kampfes Richter dort

Die Loose schwangen und die Wagen ordneten,

Da schmettert' Erzdrommetenschall, fort stürmten sie,
695

Befeu'rten ihrer Rosse Muth, und schüttelten

Die Zügel; weithin füllte da den ganzen Plan

Der Wagen dumpfes Nasseln; hochauf wölkte sich

Der Staub, und alle rannten durch einander hin,

Und schonten nicht der Geißeln, an des Andern Rad
700

Und schnaubend wildem Roßgespann vorbeizufliehn.

Denn wie der Männer Schultern, so der Räder Spur

Benezte dampfend Schaum und Hauch der Rosse rings.

Schon lenkt' Orestes um die lezte Säul' herum,

Ließ stets die Nabe streifen, und dem rechten Roß
705

Den Zügel laffend, zog er mehr sein linkes an.

Anfänglich fuhren regelrecht die Wagen all,

Bis jene Renner Aenia's mit hartem Maul

In Sturmeseil' ausrissen, und rechtshin gewandt,

Den sechsten Lauf vollendend und den siebenten,
710

Die Stirne ranmuten auf die Wagen Libya's.

Und nun zerschmettert' einer durch den Einen Fehl

Den andern, stürzte nieder, und zerbrochener

Rennwagen Trümmer deckten rings das Phokerfeld.

Das nimmt Athens gewandter Zügellenker wahr;
715

Drum lenkt er auswärts, hemmt der Rosse Lauf, und läßt

Vorbei der Wagen Strudel, der die Bahn durchwogt.

Am lezten fuhr Orestes, der wohlkundig sein

Gespann zurückhielt, banend auf des Kampfes Schluß.

Als aber jener ihn allein noch übrig sah,
720

Da jagt' er, hell aufdröhnend traf sein Ruf das Ohr

Der schnellen Renner; Soch an Soch, in gleichem Schritt,

Flog hin das Paar, nun Einer, nun der Andere

Der Wagenrosse stolzes Haupt vorangestreckt.

Und aller andern Bahnen Lauf vollendete
725

Der Arme sonder Fährde, fest auf festem Siz:

Da ließ er nach den Zügel, als das linke Roß

Sich wendend umbog, und den Rand der Säule traf

Er unversehens; mitten brach die Nabe durch;

Er glitt vom Kranz des Wagens und verwirrte sich
730

Im langen Riemzeug; als er dann zu Boden sank,

Floh'n seine Nosse durch die Bahn in wilder Flucht.

Und wie das Volk den Jüngling so vom Wagensiz

Herabgestürzt sah, schrie es jammernd auf um ihn,

Der, solcher Thaten Meister, solches Leid erfuhr,
735

Am Boden bald hinschleifend, bald zum Himmel hoch

Die Füße kehrend, bis die Wagenführer selbst,

Kaum hemmend seiner Rosse Lauf, ablösten ihn,

Den so mit Blut bedeckten, daß kein Freund ihn mehr

Erkennen mochte, wenn er sah die Schmerzgestalt.
740

Die Glut verzehrt' ihn schleunig, und es bringen nun

In kleinem Erz des großen Körpers Aschenrest

Erles'ne Männer aus dem Phokervolk hieher,

Auf daß in seiner Väter Land ihm werd' ein Grab.

So hat sich das begeben, selbst in Worten schon
745

Betrübend, doch für Alle, die's mit angeseh'n,

Wie wir, der Uebel größtes, das mein Auge sah.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 610 focus

And should have had Electra's. Well thou knowst

That cruel father, for whom thus thy tears

Incessant flow, that father slew his child :

He, he alone of all the Grecian host
615

Gave up his daughter — horrid sacrifice —

To the offended gods : he never felt

A mother's pangs, and therefore thought not of them,

Or, if he did, why slay the innocent?

For Greece, thou tellst me ! Greece could never claim

A right to what was mine. Or did she fall
630

For Menelaus? He had children too :

Why might not they have died ? Their parent's guilt,

Source of the war, more justly had deserved it.
635

Or thinkst thou death with keener appetite

Could feast on mine, and Helen's not aflbrd

As sweet a banquet? Whv was all the lo_ve,

To me and to my child so justly dUe,

With lavish hand bestowed on Menelaus?

Was he not then a base inhuman father \

I am not base, nor shameless, as thou callst

me,

For know, even now I blush for what is past —

Indecent warmth, and words that ill became

My tender years and virgin modesty ;

But 'twas thy guilt, thy malice urged me to it :

From bad examples bad alone we learn —

I only erred because I followed thee.
620

Cly. Impudent wretch ! And am I then the cause
620

Of all thy clamorous insolence?

Electra

Thou art :

Foul is thy speech, because thy deed was foul ;

For words from actions flow.

Cly. By chaste Diana,
625

Soon as j^gisthus comes thy boldness meets
625

Its just reward.
625

Electra

Is this thy promised leave,

So lately granted, freely to unfold

What, now incensed, thou dost refuse to hear ?

Cly. Have I not heard thee, and in base return

With luckless omen dost thou now retard

My pious sacrifice?

Electra

Oh ! far from me

Be guilt like that ; perform it, I beseech thee.

In holy silence shall these lips be closed,

And not a word escape to thwart thy purpose.

Cly. [speaking to one of her atteyidcints]. Hither do thou

the sacred offerings bring,

Of various fruits composed, that to the god

Whose altars we adorn my fervent prayer

May rise ac«.'ei>leil, ain.!

Hear theu, Apollo ! great protector, hear

My secret vows, for with no friendly ear

My voice is heard : her malice would hetray,

Should I unveil my heart, each word 1 uttered,

And sc«atter idle rumours through the crowd.

Thus then accept my prayers, Lycean Phoebus I [uloiaL

If in the doubtful visions of the night

Which broke my slumbers, aught presaging good

Thou seest, propitious, oh ! confirm it all ;

But if of dire portent, and fraught with ill

To me and mine they came, avert the omen,

And send the evil back upon my foes !

Oh ! if there are whose fraudful arts conspire

To cast me foi'th from all my present bliss,

Let them not prosper, but protect me still !

Grant me to live and i-eign in quiet here,

To spend each happy hour with those I love —

With those my children who have ne'er offended

By malice, pride, and bitterness of soul —

Grant this, indulgent Phoebus ! What remains

I^nasked thou seest ; for nought escapes the eye

Of gods, such knowledge have the sons of Jove.

Governor
SOEN^E II.

Is this the royal palace of ^gisthus ?

Chorus

Stranger, it is.

Governor

And this — for such her form

And look majestic speak her — is his queen ;

Is it not so?

Chorus

It is.
665

Governor

Great sovereign, hail !

With joyful news I come, and from a friend,

To thee and to ^-Egisthus.

C^LY. Strangei', welcome !

Say, first, from whom thy message 1

Governor

From Phanoteus
670

A Phocian sends thee things of utmost nioment.
670

Cly. Of moment gayst thou 1 What ? Impart them
670

quick !
670

Of friendly import, if from thence they come,
670

I know they must be.
670

Governor

Briefly then, 'tis this :

Orestes is no more.

Now am I lost indeed.

Cly. What sayst thou 1 Speak !

Regard not her — go on !

Governor

I say again,

Orestes is no more.

Electra

Then what am I?

I too am nothing.

Disturb us not — most welcome messenger !

Go on, I beg thee, let me hear it all !

Say how he died, tell every circumstance.

Governor
[to the Governor.

For that I came, and I will tell thee all.

Know then, Orestes at the Pythian games,

Eager for glory, met assembled Greece.

Soon as the herald's far-resounding voice

Proclaimed the course, the p^racpfnt ynnth appeared^

And was by all admired. Successful soon

He reached the goal, and bore his prize away.

Ne'er did these eyes behold such feats performed

By mortal strength ; in every course superior,

He rose victorious. Theme of every tongue

Was the brave Argive, great Atrides' son,

Who led the Grecian host. But oh ! in vain

Doth human valour strive when power divine

Pursues vindictive ! The succeeding morn

Uprose the sun, and with him all the train

Of youthful rivals in the chariot race :

One from Achaia, one from Sparta came,

Of Afric's sons advanced a noble pair.

And joined the throng. With these Orestes drove

His swift Thessalian steeds ; ^tolia next,

ELECTl

For yellow coursers famed ; and next Magnesin ;

And Athens, built by hands divine, sent forth

Her skilful charioteer ; an .^nian next

Drove his white liorses through the field ; and last

A brave Bieotian closed the warrior train.

And now in order ran/^ed, as each by lot

Determined stood, forth at the trumpet's sound

They rushed together, shook their gUttering reins,

And lashed their foaming coursers o'er the plain.

Loud was the din of rattling cars involved

In dusty clouds ; close on each other pressed

Tlie rival youths, together stopped, and turned

Together all, the hapless ^nian first :

His fiery steeds impatient of subjection,

Entangled on the Lybian chariot hung.

Confusion soon and terror through the crowd

Disastrous spread ; the jarring axles rung ;

Wheel within wheel now cracked, till Chrysa's field

Was with the scattered ruins quite o'erspread.

Th' Athenian cautious viewed the distant danger,

Drew in the rein, and turned his car aside,

Then passed them all. Orestes, who, secure

Of conquest, lagged behind, with eager pace

Now urged his rapid course, and swift pursued.

Sharp was the contest : now th' Athenian first,

And now Orestes o'er his coursers hung.

Now side by tide they ran. When to the last

And fatal goal, they came, Atrides' son,

As chance with slackened rein he turned the car,

Full on the pillar struck, tore from the wheel

Its brittle spokes, and from his seat down dropped

Precipitate. Entangled in the reins

His fiery coursers dragged him o'er the field,

Whilst shrieking crowds with pity viewed the

youth.

Whose gallant deeds deserved a better fate.

Scarce could they stop the rapid car, or loose

His mangled corse, so drenched in blood, so changed,

That scarce a friend could say it was Orestes.

Straight on the pile they burnt his sad remains,

And, in an urn enclosed, a chosen few

From Phocis sent have brought his ashes home,

To reap due honours in his native land.

Thus have I told thee all, a dreadful tale !

But, oh ! how far more dreadful to behold it.

And be like me a witness of the scene !

Chorus

Ah me ! the royal race, the ancient house
675

Of my loved master is no more !
675

Cly. Great Jove !
675

Th' event was happy, but 'tis mixed with woe.
675

//For, oh ! 'tis bitter to reflect that life V \
675

Governor
[/ And safety must be purchased by misfortunes. ^

Why grieve you, madam ?

Cly. 'Tis a bitter task

To bring forth children ; though a mother 's wronged,

A mother cannot hate the babe she bore.

"TjI^ov. Then with ungrateful news in vain I came.

Cly. Oh no ! Most welcome is the man who brings

Such joyful tidings, that a thankless child

Is gone, who left a tender mother's arms

To live a voluntary exile from me \

Ne'er to these eyes returned, but absent raged.

And threatened vengeance for his murdered father.

Day had no rest for me, nor did the night

Bring needful slumbers — thoughts of instant death

Appalled me ever. But my fears are gone !

He cannot hurt me now, nor, worse than him,

This vile domestic plague, who haunts me still

To suck my vital blood \ but henceforth safe,

Spite of her threats, shall Clytemnestra live.

Electra

Now, my Orestes, I indeed must mourn

Thy cruel fate, embittered by reproach,

And from a mother's tongue. This is not v/ell.

Cly. With him it is, and would it were with thee !

Electra

Attend, O Nemesis ! and hear the dead !

Cly. She heard that voice which best deserved her

ear.

And her decrees are just.

Electra

Go on, proud woman ;

Insult us now, whilst fortune smiles upon thee

Cly. Dost thou then hope that we shall fall hei-e-

after?

Electra

No ; we are fallen ourselves, and cannot hurt

thee.

Cly. Thiice worthy is that messenger of joy

Whose gladsome news shall stop thy clamorous tongue.

Governor

My task performed, permit me to retire.
680

Cly. No, stranger, that were an aftront to thee,

And to our friend who sent thee here. Go in,

And leave that noisy wretch to bellow forth

Her sorrows, and bewail her lost Orestes. [Exeunt.

Electra
Scene III.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 610 focus

I see she burns with anger: whether justas
610

That anger, no regard, I see, is paid.

Clytemnestra

And what regard from me to her is due,

Who with such rude revilings dares insult

And at that age, her mother? What base deed

Would she not dare unblushing to attempt?
615

Electra

At what hath pass'd, believe me, I now blush.

Whate'er thy thought, I am not now to learn

That nor my age, nor me these things become:

But thy unkindness, and thy deeds, by force

Constrain me. By the base base deeds are taught.

Clytemnestra

Unblushing insolence! Do I, my words,

My deeds, give birth to thy intemperate speech?

Electra

It is thy speech, not mine; for thine the deed;

And deeds will always find according speech.
625

Clytemnestra

Now by Diana, when Ægisthus comes,

This arrogance unpunish'd shall not pass.

Electra

I had thy leave to speak; yet see, with rage

Thou art inflamed: thy passion will not hear.

Clytemnestra

Because thou hadst my leave to speak thy thoughts,
630

Wilt thou disturb me with ill-omen'd words,
630

Nor suffer my oblations to the gods?

Electra

I suffer, I encourage, I approve;:!

Present thy offerings; blame my voice no more;

No word the holy silence shall disturb.

Clytemnestra

Thou, my attendant, the oblations bring

Of the earth's various fruits, that I may pour

My pray'rs to royal Phoebus, from my soul
635

To chase the terrors that appal me now.
635

O thou, who hold'st thy guardian station here,

Now, Phoebus, hear the whispers of my voice:

I am not 'mongst my friends; nor to the light,

While she is near, behoves me all unfold.

By envy moved her ever-clamorous tongue

Through all the city wild reports would spread.

Hear me e'en thus; thus low must be my voice.

The nightly visions of this doubtful dream,

Attendant

If they portend me good, Lycæan king,

Bring thou to good effect: if ill, avert

That ill from me, and turn it on my foes!

From this high state if treacherous malice works
635

To sink me, crush, oh crush the close design,
635

Protect me always in this life of bliss,
635

To sway the sceptre, and to rule the house

Of the Atridæ, happy in those friends

Whose pleasing converse daily I enjoy,

And in those children, who ne'er grieve my heart

With wayward clamours and malignant hate.

Hear me, Lycæan Phœbus, favouring hear,

Grant to us all, as we implore thy grace:

All other things, though silence chains my tongue,

Thou, as a god, my soul confides, must know:

Nought from the sons of Jove can be conceal'd.

Chorus
ATTENDANT, CLYTEMNESTRA, ELECTRA,

From you, ye female Argives, may I learn,
660

Is this the mansion of Mycenæ's king?

Chorus

Stranger, it is: thou hast conjectured well.

Attendant

And this, if not amiss I judge, his queen :

For in her port are dignity and grace.

Chorus

Well hast thou mark'd our sovereign: this is she.
665

Attendant

Hail queen. I bring thee grateful tidings, sent
665

By one to thee and to Ægisthus dear.
665

Clytemnestra

I welcome thy address. But say by whom,

Bearing this friendly message, thou art sent.

From Phanoteus of Phocis, mighty queen :

Important are the tidings which he sends.

Clytemnestra

What are they, stranger? Tell me: from a friend

Nothing but friendly tidings wilt thou bring.

To speak in brief, Orestes is no more.

Attendant

FLEC. O wretched me! This day I am undone.
670

Clytemnestra

What say'st thou, stranger, what? Regard not her.

Attendant

Again I say Orestes is no more.

Electra

Then I am nothing; I too am no more.

Clytemnestra

Attend thou to thine own concerns. To me

Attendant

Speak truly, stranger; tell me how he died.

And therefore was I sent: hear then the whole.

The glorious contest of the Grecian games

Led him to Delphi: when the herald's voice

Loudly proclaim'd the first, the rapid race,

He enter'd with a splendor that from all

Drew wonder and applause: that graceful form

Deceived not expectation; he first reach'd

The goal, and bore the honour'd prize away.

But, of his many deeds to speak in brief,

In skill and strength one equal I ne'er saw.

Know then at once 'midst the heroic games

In the five contests, as by law ordain'd,

To him the praise of conquest was assign'd,

By the presiding umpires' voice announced.

Applauding Greece the happy victor hail'd,

Call'd him an Argive, sounding loud his name,

Orestes

son of Agamemnon once

The leader of th' illustrious host of Greece.

Such was this day: but when some god decrees

His doom, not e'en the mighty can escape.

The next day's contest was the rapid course

Of rolling chariots. With the orient sun

Ardent 'midst many rivals he advanced;

One an Achæan, one from Sparta, two

From Libya, skill'd to rule the harness'd car:

With these Orestes, his Thessalian mares

Restraining: From Ætolia came a youth,

His coursers colour'd like the burnish'd gold:

Nor was Magnesia wanting to the course:

Proud of his snow white steeds an Ænian came,

One came from Athens built by hands divine;

The list of heroes a Bœotian closed.

Now standing where th' appointed umpires fix'd

By lot their stations, and arranged the cars,

Soon as the trumpet gave the signal, swift

They bounded from the barrier, cheer'd their steeds,

And tost their slacken'd reins; the rolling wheels

With thunder shook the plain, and clouds of dust

Rose to the skies. Together all were mix'd,

Nor spared the lash, impatient each to pass

The others axle and high-snorting steeds;

For o'er their backs and summits of the wheels

Their whitening foam they threw, and fiery breath.

But ever, the last pillar as he reach'd,

He drew his axle nigh, for on the right

He gave his steed the reins, the nearer curb'd.

Thus far the rapid cars roll'd on erect;

Till now the Ænian's wild unmanaged steeds

Broke from the ground, and at the seventh return

Reckless their fronts with headstrong fury dash'd

Against the Lybian chariot. From this shock

Of one, wheel clash'd with shatter'd wheel, and fell;

The wreck of cars fill'd all the Phocian plain.

This saw th' Athenian, and, with skilful hand

Wheeling aloof, his courser's speed restrain'd,

And pass'd the wide confusion of the storm

Roll'd in the middle course. His steeds behind

Orestes

the last, but high in hope

Foremost to reach the goal: but when he saw

One only left his rival for the prize,

With sharper voice he cheer'd his flying mares,

And follow'd close. Now side by side they drove,

Now one, the other now, his coursers' heads-

Push'd forward. All his other courses safe

Now pass'd, firm in his car, its wheels erect,

Orestes on the left relax'd the rein,

And, as his courser round the pillar wheel'd,

Dash'd unawares against it; in the nave

The axle broke, and roll'd him o'er the car

Entangled in the reins: his steeds uncheck'd

Break forth at large, and bound amidst the course.

But when th' assembly saw him from the car

Hurl'd headlong, they with cries deplored the youth,

His gallant actions, and his hapless fate,

As low his head was trail'd along the ground.

And now th' attendant train, his fiery steeds

Scarce check'd, unbound him so deform'd with gore

That not a friend could know the mangled corse.

The funeral pile was raised, the body burn'd,

And to some Phocians is the charge assign'd

With speed to his paternal land to bear

The poor cold ashes of the mighty man

Closed in a narrow urn, that this dear land,

Which gave him birth, may bear his honour'd tomb.

Theseus

lady, are the tidings which I bring,
675

How mournful to relate! But to behold,
675

As we beheld it-misery never show'd
675

Chorus
Scene of like horror to my aching eyes.

Alas, alas! Our lord's imperial stem,
675

Honour'd so long, is perish'd from its roots.
675

Clytemnestra

What an event is this! Almighty Jove,
675

Shall I with joy receive it, or with grief?
675

It brings advantage: yet it grieves my soul
675

To gain the safety of my life by ills.
675

Attendant

Why at these tidings, lady, sink with grief?
675

Clytemnestra

Nature will touch a mother: though with wrongs
675

Attendant

Her heart be rent, she cannot hate her child.
675

Unthank'd is he that brings unwelcome news.
675

Clytemnestra

Why should'st thou say unwelcome and unthank'd?

It is not so: thou bring'st me certain proofs

That he is dead, who, born of me, renounced

My breasts, and all a mother's nurturing care,

Became a fugitive, with strangers lived,

And never saw me since he left this land,

But charged his father's murder on my head,

And menaced fierce revenge; so that by night

Sleep never closed mine eyes, nor sweet repose

By day was mine; but each imperious hour

Appall'd me as a victim mark'd for death.

But now, this day, my terrors are no more

From her, or him; she was the greater pést, ***

A fury nourish'd in my house, that wish'd

To lap my blood: but from their threats secure

I now shall pass my fearless life in peace.

Electra

A wretched me! I now have cause to mourn

Thy wretched fate, Orestes, e'en in death

Thus taunted by a mother. Is this well?

Clytemnestra

Not well with thee; but it is well with him..

Electra

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 516-820 focus

Enter Clytaemnestra, with attendants, from the house.

Clytaemnestra

You run loose again, it seems, since Aegisthus is not here, who used always to keep you at least from coming out to the gates and shaming your family. But now, since he is absent, you pay

me no mind. And yet you have said of me often and to many listeners that I am a rash and unjust tyrant, who violently abuse you and yours. But it is not I who do violence; I only return the insults that I so often hear from you.

520

Your father—this and nothing else is your constant pretext—was slain by me. Yes, by me. I know it well. I make no denial. Justice took hold of him, not I alone—Justice, whom you ought to have supported, if you had been in your right mind.
525

For this father of yours whom you constantly bewail alone of all the Greeks had the heart to sacrifice your own blood, your sister, to the gods—he, who, when sowing his seed, felt none of the pains I did when I gave birth.
Come, tell me now, why, or to please whom,
530

did he sacrifice her? To please the Argives, you will say? No, they had no right to kill my daughter. Or, if indeed it was for the sake of his brother Menelaus that he killed my child, was he not to pay me the penalty for that? Did Menelaus not have two children,
535

who should in fairness have died instead of my daughter, since the father and mother from whom they were sprung had caused that voyage? Did Hades have some greater desire to feast on my offspring than on hers? Or had all love of the children of my womb been
540

abandoned by their accursed father, while love for the children of Menelaus filled him? Were these not the marks of a thoughtless and malicious parent? I think so, even if I differ from your judgment. So, too, would the dead girl speak, if she could find a voice. For myself, then, I view the past without
545

dismay; but if you think my attitude criminal, see that your own judgment is just before you blame your neighbor.
550

552

Electra

This time, at least, you cannot say that I first gave you cause for upset and thereby provoked such words from you. But, if you will permit me,

I would gladly declare the truth, on behalf of my dead father and my sister alike.
555

Clytaemnestra

Certainly I permit you; and if you always addressed me in such a tone, you would not be difficult to listen to.

558

Electra

Then I will speak. You admit that you killed my father. What statement could be more shameful still than that,

whether you did it justly or not? But I will demonstrate to you that you did not justly kill him. No, the persuasion of that wicked man with whom you now sleep dragged you to it.
Ask the huntress Artemis what wrong she punished when she stayed the frequent winds at Aulis;
560

or I will tell you, since we may not learn from her. My father, as I have heard, was once hunting in the grove of the goddess, when his footfall flushed a dappled and antlered stag; he shot it, and chanced to make a certain boast concerning its slaughter.
565

Angered by this, Leto’s daughter detained the Greeks so that in requital for the beast’s life my father should sacrifice his own daughter. So it was that she was sacrificed, since the fleet had no other release, neither homeward nor to Troy .
570

For that reason, under fierce constraint and with much resistance, at last he sacrificed her—but it was not for the sake of Menelaus.
But suppose—for I will make your own plea—suppose that the motive of his deed was to benefit his brother. Should you have killed him because of that? Under what sort of law?
575

See that by laying down such a law for men, you do not lay down trouble and remorse for yourself. For, if we are to take blood for blood, you surely would be the first to die, if you were to meet with justice.
But consider whether this pretext is any excuse at all.
580

For tell me, if you please, what crime it is that you requite by doing the most shameless deeds of all: sharing your bed with that blood-guilty one, with whom you first destroyed my father and now bear his children
585

while you have cast out the earlier born, the pious offspring of a pious marriage? How can I commend these deeds? Or will you claim that this, too, is recompense for your daughter? No, it is a shameful plea, if you so plead, for there is nothing noble in marrying an enemy for a daughter’s sake.

590

But no, I can hardly even admonish you, when your every cry is that I slander my mother. I think, rather, that you are no less a mistress to me than a mother; so lowly is the life that I live,
595

ever beset with miseries come from you and your consort. And your other child, the exile who scarcely escaped your hand, poor Orestes, wastes away his unhappy life. You have often accused me of rearing him to punish your crime,
600

and I would have done so, if I could, you may be sure. As far as he is concerned, you can denounce me to all as disloyal, if you like, or loud-mouthed, or impudent. For if my nature is familiar with such wrongdoings, I hardly bring disgrace upon your nature.
605

610

Chorus

I see her breathing fury; but whether justice is with her, her concern for this I see no longer.
610

Clytaemnestra

And what manner of concern should I use against her, who has abused her mother like this at her mature age? Do you not think

that she would go forward to any deed without shame?
615

Electra

Now be assured that I do feel shame for it, though I seem not to you. I know that my behavior is unsuited to my age and inappropriate. But then the enmity I get from you and your

behavior compel me with harsh necessity to do this; for reprehensible deeds are learned from reprehensible examples.
620

Clytaemnestra

You shameless creature! Truly I and my speech and my deeds give you too much to talk about.

Electra

The words are yours, not mine; for yours

are the deeds, and they find their own expression.
625

Clytaemnestra

Now by our mistress Artemis, you shall not escape the consequences of this audacity once Aegisthus returns.

Electra

You see? You are driven to rage and, even though you grant me free speech, you have no patience to listen.

Clytaemnestra

Will you not allow me to sacrifice without ominous shouting, when I have permitted you to say anything and everything you wished?
630

Electra

I allow it; I exhort you to it: sacrifice! But do not blame my voice, for I would not say another word.

634

Clytaemnestra

Raise then, my attendant, the offerings

of many fruits, so that I may uplift my prayers for release from my present fears to this image of our King. Please, O Phoebus our defender, may you now listen to my prayer, though it is muffled; for I do not make my plea among friends, nor does it suit me to unfold it all
635

to the light while she stands near me, lest by her malice and a cry of her clamorous tongue she sow reckless rumors through the whole city. Nevertheless, hear me thus, since in this way I will speak. That vision which I saw last night
640

in ambiguous dreams—if its appearance was to my good, grant, Lycean king, that it be fulfilled; but if to my harm, then hurl it back upon those who would harm me. And if any are plotting to eject me by treachery from my present prosperity, do not permit them.
645

Rather grant that living forever unharmed as I am I may govern the house of the sons of Atreus and their throne, sharing prosperous days with the friends who share them now, and with those of my children who feel no enmity or bitterness towards me.
650

O Lycean Apollo, hear these prayers with favor, and grant them to us all just as we ask! As for all my other prayers, though I am silent, I judge that you, a god, must know them, since it is appropriate that Zeus’s children see all.
655

660 Enter the Paedagogus from the left.

Paedagogus

Foreign ladies, how might I know for certain if this be the palace of the king Aegisthus?
660

Chorus

This is the palace, stranger; you yourself have guessed correctly.

Paedagogus

And am I on target when I surmise that this lady is his wife? She is indeed regal to look upon.

Chorus

Exactly right; this is she before you.
665

Paedagogus

Greetings, royal lady! I bring happy news to you and to Aegisthus from a friend.

Clytaemnestra

I welcome your greeting; but I would like first to know who may have sent you.

Paedagogus

Phanoteus the Phocian provided me the weighty task.
670

Clytaemnestra

And what is it, sir? Tell me. Coming from a friend you will bring, I know, a kindly message.

Paedagogus

Orestes is dead, to put it briefly.

Electra

Oh, miserable me! My ruin comes today!

Clytaemnestra

What, friend? What did you say? Do not listen to her!
675

Paedagogus

I said, and say again, Orestes is dead.

Electra

This is my wretched end! I am no more!

Clytaemnestra
To Electra.

You, go about your business! But you, sir, tell me exactly in what manner he was destroyed.

680

Paedagogus

I was sent for that purpose, and will tell you all. Having gone to the shrine which is Greece ’s common glory in order to compete for Delphi ’s prizes and having heard the herald’s loud summons to the foot-race, the first contest,
680

he entered the lists, a brilliant form, a wonder in the eyes of all there. When he had finished the race at the point where it began, he went out with the glorious honor of victory. To say the most with the least words, I do not know the man whose deeds and triumphs have matched his.
685

But this one thing you must know: in all the contests that the judges announced, he carried away the prize, and men deemed him happy as often as the herald proclaimed him an Argive , by name Orestes, son of
690

Agamemnon, who once marshalled Greece ’s famous expedition.
So far Orestes fared as I described. But when a god sends harm, not even the strong man can escape. For on another day, when with the rising sun there was held the race of the swift-footed horses,
695

he entered it along with many charioteers. One was an Achaean, one from Sparta ; two masters of yoked cars were Libyans; Orestes, driving Thessalian mares, came fifth among them; the sixth was from Aetolia ,
700

with chestnut colts; a Magnesian was the seventh; the eighth, with white horses, was of Aenian stock; the ninth hailed from Athens , built of gods; there was a Boeotian too, making the tenth chariot. They took their stations where the appointed umpires
705

placed them by lot and ranged the cars. Then at the sound of the bronze trumpet, they started. All shouted to their horses, and shook the reins in their hands; the whole course was filled with the clatter of rattling chariots; and the dust flew upward.
710

All of them in a confused throng kept plying their goads unsparingly, so that one of them might pass the wheel-hubs and the snorting steeds of his rivals; for both at their backs and at their rolling wheels the breath of the horses foamed and smattered.
715

Orestes, driving close to the near edge of the turning-post, almost grazed it with his wheel each time and, giving rein to the trace-horse on the right, he checked the horse on the inner side. To this point, all the chariots still stood upright. But then the Aenian’s
720

hard-mouthed colts carried him out of control as they passed out of the turn from the sixth into the seventh lap and dashed their foreheads against the rig of the Barcaean. Next, as a result of this one mishap, the cars kept smashing and colliding with each other, and the whole
725

race-ground of Crisa swelled with shipwrecked chariots.
730

731

Seeing this, the clever charioteer from Athens drew aside and paused, allowing the equestrian flood to pass in mid-crest. Orestes was driving last, keeping his horses

behind, as his trust was in the race’s end. But when he sees that the Athenian is alone left in, he sends a shrill cry ringing through the ears of his swift colts, and gives chase. Bringing yoke level with yoke the two of them raced, first one man, then the other,
735

showing his head in front of the other’s chariot. Up to now the ill-fated Orestes had driven upright safely through every circuit, upright in his upright car. But then he slackened his left rein while the horse was turning and unwittingly struck the edge of the pillar,
740

breaking the axle-box in two. He spilled forward over the chariot-rail and was caught in the trim reins, and as he fell to the ground, his colts were scattered into the middle of the course.
But when the crowd saw that he had fallen
745

from the chariot, a cry of pity went up for the young man who had done such deeds and was allotted such bad fortune—now dashed against the earth, now tossed with his feet to the sky until the charioteers with difficulty reigned in the gallop of his horses and
750

freed him, so covered with blood that no friend who saw it would have known the pitiful corpse. Immediately they burned him on a pyre, and chosen men of Phocis now bring the sad dust of that mighty form in a small urn of bronze,
755

so that he may find due burial in his fatherland.
Such is my story—it is grievous even to hear, but for us witnesses who looked on, it was the greatest of sorrows that these eyes have seen.
760

764

Chorus

Oh, sorrow! It seems now that all the stock of our ancient masters

has been leveled clean down to the roots.
765

Clytaemnestra

O Zeus, how shall I name this news—fortunate? Or terrible, but beneficial? It is a bitter thing, when by my own misery I preserve my life.

Paedagogus

Why are you so despondent, lady, at my news?

Clytaemnestra

There is a terrible power in motherhood; a mother may be wronged, but she can feel no hate for those whom she bore.
770

Paedagogus

Then it seems that we have come in vain.

Clytaemnestra

No, not in vain; how can you say in vain when you have brought me sure proofs of his death?

He sprang from my own life, yet deserting my breast and my nurture he became a fugitive, completely alien from me. And me, once he left this land, he saw no more; but, charging me with the murder of his father, he made terrible threats,
775

so that neither by night nor by day could sweet sleep cover me, but the imminent moment made me live always as if I were about to die. Now, however, since today I am rid of terror of him and of this girl—that greater plague
780

who shared my home while consuming undiluted my life-blood—now, I think, for all her threats, I shall pass my days in peace.
785

788

Electra

Ah, what misery! Now, indeed, Orestes, I must mourn your misfortune, since even dead as you are

you are abused by this woman, your mother! Is it not just fine?
790

Clytaemnestra

You certainly are not, but he is fine as he is.

Electra

Listen to her, Nemesis of the recently departed!

Clytaemnestra

She has heard who should be heard, and has ordained well.

Electra

Abuse us! Fortune is with you today.

Clytaemnestra

You and Orestes will not stop me, then, will you?
795

Electra

It is we who are stopped; we cannot stop you.

Clytaemnestra

Your coming, sir, deserves large recompense, if you have stopped her clamorous tongue.

Paedagogus

Then I would take my leave, if all is well.

Clytaemnestra

Not so; your welcome would then be unworthy of me, and of my ally who sent you. No, come in. Leave her out here to shout out loud her misfortunes and those of her friends. Clytaemnestra and the Paedagogus enter the house.
800

804

Electra

What do you think? Does it seem to you that she, poor woman, wept and wailed terribly,

like a grieving, anguished woman, over her son thus destroyed? No, she left us with a laugh! Ah, miserable me! Dearest Orestes, how your death has destroyed me! For your passing has torn from my heart
805

the only hopes which still were mine: that you would live to return some day as the avenger of our father, and also of me in my misery. But now, where shall I turn? I am alone, cheated of you, as of my father. Hereafter I must be a slave again
810

among those I most hate, my father’s murderers. Am I not in a fine way? But at least in the time remaining me I will never enter the house to dwell with them. No, lying down at these gates, without a friend, I shall wither away my days.
815

Therefore, if anyone in the house be angry, let him kill me. It is a favor, if I die, but a pain, if I live. I desire life no more.
820

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-352-1 ὁ δ’ ἄλλος ¹

mvp-comment-352-2 χεῖρα σὴν ²

mvp-comment-352-3 τρίβει βίον ³

mvp-comment-352-4 603 The reason for writing δή με σοὶ ⁴ δή μέ σοι ⁵

mvp-comment-352-5 μιάστορα ⁶

mvp-comment-353-1 τοῦδέ γ’ οὕνεκα ⁷

mvp-comment-354-1 εἰς ἅπαντας ⁸

mvp-comment-354-2 χρῇς ⁹

mvp-comment-354-3 στόμαργον ¹⁰

mvp-comment-355-1 τῶνδε τῶν ἔ|ργων ἴδρις ¹¹

mvp-comment-355-2 σχεδόν τι ¹²

mvp-comment-355-3 οὐ καταισχύνω ¹³

mvp-comment-356-1 ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν ¹⁴ μένος πνέουσαν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-356-2 σὺν δίκῃ ξύνεστι ¹⁶

mvp-comment-356-3 Other interpretations are:—(1) ‘I see that Electra is wroth; but as to whether she is in the right, I see no concern (anywhere),’—a timid way of saying that Clytaemnestra shows no such concern. So the schol. (2) ‘I see that Clytaemnestra is angry, but not that she cares whether she is right’:—an inference from some gesture. Both these versions rely on the fact that

φροντίδος

(612) is plainly an echo of

φροντίδ’

(611). But: ( a) it does not follow that

φροντίδ’

is not Electra's thought. ( b) It is surely clear that

πνέουσαν

must be Electra; and ( c) as in Ant. 471 f., the second clause naturally refers to the same person.

mvp-comment-357-1 ποίας δ’ ἐμοὶ δεῖ ¹⁷ ἐμοὶ ¹⁸ μοι ¹⁹ δεῖ ²⁰

mvp-comment-357-2 Others understand: (1) ‘If Electra has no consideration for justice, why should I have any consideration for her,— i.e., show her any tenderness?’ Or: (2) ‘If she heeds not justice, why should I heed her?’ Neither view seems well suited to the context.

mvp-comment-358-1 καὶ ταῦτα ²¹

mvp-comment-358-2 τηλικοῦτος ²²

mvp-comment-358-3 ἆρα ²³

mvp-comment-358-4 χωρεῖν ἂν ²⁴ εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ²⁵

mvp-comment-359-1 εὖ νυν ἐπίστω ²⁶

mvp-comment-359-2 ἔξωρα ²⁷

mvp-comment-359-3 προσεικότα ²⁸

mvp-comment-360-1 ἀλλὰ … γὰρ ²⁹

mvp-comment-360-2 ἡ … ἐκ σοῦ δυσμένεια ³⁰

mvp-comment-360-3 ἐξαναγκάζει ³¹ αἰσχροῖς ³²

mvp-comment-360-4 622 f. The word θρέμμα ³³

mvp-comment-360-5 ἦ σ’ ἐγὼ ³⁴

mvp-comment-361-1 νιν ³⁵

mvp-comment-361-2 εὑρίσκεται ³⁶

mvp-comment-361-3 Cp. Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus (in his Prose Works, ed. Symmons, vol. I. p. 236): ‘I might also tell them [the prelates], what Electra in Sophocles, a wise virgin, answered her wicked mother, who thought herself too violently reproved by her the daughter: ‘' Tis you that say it, not I; you do the deeds, | And your ungodly deeds find me the words.’’

mvp-comment-362-1 οὐ μὰ ³⁷

mvp-comment-362-2 δέσποιναν ³⁸

mvp-comment-362-3 Ἄρτεμιν ³⁹

mvp-comment-362-4 θράσους τοῦδ’ οὐκ ἀλύξεις ⁴⁰ μόλῃ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-363-1 ὁρᾷς ⁴²

mvp-comment-363-2 ἐκφέρει ⁴³

mvp-comment-363-3 The v. l. παρεῖσα ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-364-1 οὐδὲ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-364-2 ὑπ’ εὐφήμου βοῆς ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-364-3 ἐπειδὴ σοί γ’ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-364-4 πᾶν λέγειν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-365-1 κελεύω ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-365-2 τοὐμὸν στόμ’ ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-365-3 634 f. An altar, and probably an image, of Apollo stand before the palace. The attendant of Clytaemnestra carries offerings of various fruits, which she is now commanded to raise, as with a gesture of solemn oblation ( ἔπαιρε ⁵¹

mvp-comment-365-4 ἡ παροῦσά μοι ⁵²

mvp-comment-365-5 θύματα … πάγκαρπα ⁵³

mvp-comment-366-1 λυτηρίους … δειμάτων ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-366-2 ἀνάσχω ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-367-1 κλύοις ἂν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-367-2 προστατήριε ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-368-1 κεκρυμμένην ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-368-2 οὐ γὰρ ἐν φίλοις ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-369-1 πρὸς φῶς ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-370-1 πολυγλώσσῳ ⁶¹

mvp-comment-370-2 σπείρῃ ⁶²

mvp-comment-370-3 ματαίαν ⁶³

mvp-comment-371-1 ὧδ’ ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-372-1 γὰρ ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-372-2 δισσῶν ὀνείρων ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-372-3 Jacobs Fr.( ap. Wunder) understood, ‘ two dreams,’—as if Clyt.'s vision consisted of two parts,—the return of Agamemnon, and the growth from the sceptre (417—423). This seems forced. Still less can we assume that there was some second dream which Clyt. did not relate even to the Sun-god (425).

mvp-comment-372-4 Λύκεἰ ἄναξ ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-373-1 ἐσθλά … ἐχθρά ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-373-2 Cp. Aesch. Pers. 217 , where the Chorus are advising Atossa how to propitiate the gods after her dream:

εἴ τι φλαῦρον εἶδες, αἰτοῦ τῶνδ’ ἀποτροπὴν τελεῖν

, |

τὰ δ’ ἀγάθ’ ἐκτελῆ γενέσθαι σοί τε καὶ τέκνῳ σέθεν κ.τ.λ.

mvp-comment-373-3 ἔμπαλιν μέθες ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-374-1 εἴ τινες ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-375-1 ἀλλ’ ὧδε ⁷¹

mvp-comment-375-2 ἀβλαβεῖ βίῳ ⁷²

mvp-comment-376-1 δόμους ⁷³

mvp-comment-376-2 ἀμφέπειν ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-376-3 φίλοισι ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-377-1 εὐημεροῦσαν ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-377-2 καὶ τέκνων ⁷⁷ ὅσων ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-377-3 We might also take

τέκνων

as standing, by attraction, for

τέκνοις

. When the antecedent is thus attracted, it usually comes after the relative ( O.C. 56); but sometimes precedes it, as in Tr. 151 f.

τότ’ ἄν τις εἰσίδοιτο

... | ...

κακοῖσιν

(for

κακά

)

ο<*>ς ἐγὼ βαρύνομαι

. In examples of the latter kind, however, the acc. (and not, as it would be here, the dat.) is elsewhere the case attracted. In favour of taking

τέκνων

as partitive, it may be added that this suits the distinction between two groups of

τέκνα

. By

ὅσων

she means Chrysothemis, Iphianassa, and the offspring o<*> her union with Aegisthus (157; 589).

mvp-comment-377-4 ἐμοὶ … πρόσεστιν ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-378-1 πᾶσιν ἡμῖν ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-379-1 τὰ δ’ ἄλλα πάντα ⁸¹

mvp-comment-379-2 660 Following the directions given in vv. 39 ff., the Paedagogus now appears as a

ξένος Φωκεύς

. Cp. O.T. 924 ff., where the messenger from Corinth presents himself to Iocasta and the Chorus.

mvp-comment-379-3 πῶς ἂν εἰδείην ⁸²

mvp-comment-380-1 ἦ καὶ ⁸³

mvp-comment-380-2 ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-380-3 πρέπ<*> γὰρ ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-381-1 μάλιστα πάντων ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-381-2 ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-381-3 666 f. The ὦ ⁸⁸ χαῖρε ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-382-1 ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-382-2 Instant recognition of an utterance as well-omened was a way of appropriating the omen. The proper formula was

δέχομαι τὸν οἰωνόν

τὸν ὄρνιν

( Her. 9. 91 ; Ar. Pl. 63 ). But

δέχομαι

alone was enough ( Xen. An. 1. 8. 17 : cp. Aesch. Ag. 1653

δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε

). The phrase used here recurs in Her. 8. 114

δεξάμενος τὸ ῥηθὲν ἀπαλλάσσετο

: cp. also Eur. El. 622

προσηκάμην τὸ ῥηθέν

mvp-comment-382-3 εἰδέναι … σου ⁹¹

mvp-comment-383-1 Φανοτεὺς ⁹²

mvp-comment-383-2 πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα ⁹³

mvp-comment-384-1 τὸ ποῖον ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-385-1 ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-386-1 τί φής, τί φής ⁹⁶ ξεῖνε ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-386-2 ταύτης ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-387-1 νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-388-1 οὐδέν εἰμ’ ἔτι ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-389-1 τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσς’ ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-389-2 διόλλυται ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-390-1 κἀπεμπόμην ¹⁰³ καὶ … φράσω ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-391-1 γὰρ ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-392-1 πρόσχημ’ ἀγῶνος ¹⁰⁶ Ἑλλάδος ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-392-2 πρόσχημα ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-392-3 Δελφ. ἄθλων ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-393-1 ὀρθίων ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-393-2 δρόμον … οὗ πρώτη κρίσις ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-394-1 εἰσῆλθε ¹¹²

mvp-comment-395-1 ἰσώσας * τἀφέσει ¹¹³ τῇ φύσει ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-395-2 Now there is evidence that the customary order for the foot-races was, 1.

δόλιχος

, 2.

στάδιον

, 3.

δίαυλος

. See Boeckh C. I. G. no. 1590 and 1591 (referring to games at Thespiae, circ. 240 B.C.): also no. 2214 (games at Chios, circ. 100—80 B.C.). Paus. 6. 13. 3 (of the athlete Polites at Olympia),

δολίχου τε ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ καὶ παραυτίκα σταδίου λαβὼν νίκην προσέθηκε διαύλου σφίσι τὴν τρίτην

. It would agree, then, with the words

οὗ πρώτη κρίσις

(684) if the

δόλιχος

were meant here. [As to Legg. 833 D, see Appendix.]

mvp-comment-395-3 For

ἄφεσις

as=‘starting-place,’ cp. Suidas ( s.v.

ἀπὸ γραμμῆς

γραμμῆς, ἣν ἄφεσιν καὶ βαλβῖδα καλοῦσιν

: Paus. 6. 20. 9

ᾗ τοῖς σταδιοδρόμοις ἄφεσις πεποίηται

: id. 5. 15. 5

ἐν δὲ τῶν ἵππων τῇ

ἀφέσει, ἐν μὲν τῷ ὑπαίθρῳ τῆς ἀφέσεως κ.τ.λ.

—Dindorf notes that in Aristeides vol. I. p. 339 the words

τῆς ἀφέσεως

were corrupted to

τῆς φύσεως

mvp-comment-395-4 The proposed versions of the vulgate τῇ φύσει ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-396-1 νίκης … γέρας ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-397-1 χὥπως μὲν ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-397-2 Others explain:—

οὐκ οἶδα δὲ ὅπως τοιοῦδ’ ἀνδρὸς ἔργα καὶ κράτη λέγω σοι παῦρα ἐν πολλοῖς

: ‘I do not know how to describe his deeds to you briefly, when they were so many.’ The place of

οἶδα

can be justified by O.T. 1251. But: (1) thus construed, the words ought to mean, ‘I do not know how to describe his deeds as few.’ The other meaning would require

ἐν παύροις

, or the like. And (2)

ἐν πολλοῖσι

is then awkward.

mvp-comment-398-1 ὅσων ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-398-2 εἰσεκήρυξαν ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-398-3 βραβῆς ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-399-1 δρομων διαύλων ¹²¹

mvp-comment-399-2 On the whole, I should incline to delete 691, and alter

τούτων

in 692 to

ἄθλων

mvp-comment-400-1 ἐνεγκὼν ¹²²

mvp-comment-400-2 τἀπινίκια ¹²³

mvp-comment-401-1 ὠλβίζετ’ ¹²⁴ ἀνακαλ ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-401-2 Ἀγαμέμνονος ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-401-3 ἀγείραντος ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-402-1 καὶ ταῦτα μὲν τοιαῦθ’ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-402-2 βλάπτῃ ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-402-3 ἰσχύων ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-403-1 ἄλλης ἡμέρας ¹³¹

mvp-comment-403-2 ἱππικῶν ¹³²

mvp-comment-404-1 ἡλίου τέλλοντος ¹³³

mvp-comment-404-2 The Pythian hippodrome was in the Crisaean plain (180 n.), near its upper or northern end, where the rocky gorge of the river Pleistus opens upon a level tract. The site of Crisa, on a spur of Parnassus, overlooked it from the north, and Delphi from the north-east. Beautiful as was Olympia, the scene of the Pythian festival was unrivalled in the grandeur of its natural surroundings.

mvp-comment-405-1 Ἀχαιός ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-406-1 Λίβυες ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-406-2 ζυγωτῶν ¹³⁶ ἐπιστάται ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-407-1 κἀκεῖνος ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-407-2 ἐν τούτοισι ¹³⁹ ἐπὶ ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-407-3 Θεσσαλὰς … ἵππους ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-408-1 ξανθαῖσι ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-408-2 πώλοις ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-408-3 Μάγνης ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-409-1 λεύκιππος ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-409-2 Αἰνιὰν ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-410-1 τῶν θεοδμήτων ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-411-1 ἄλλος ¹⁴⁸ ἐκπληρῶν ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-412-1 στάντες ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-412-2 †ὅθ’ αὐτοὺς ¹⁵¹ ὅθ’ ¹⁵² ἵν’ ¹⁵³ ὅτ’ ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-412-3 βραβῆς ¹⁵⁵ οἱ τεταγμένοι ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-412-4 710 *

κλήρους ἔπηλαν

. I should much prefer to read

αὐτοῖς

in 709: but

αὐτοὺς

is defensible, and I refrain from change. Two views are possible; the first is generally received, and is perhaps simplest. (1)

αὐτοὺς

depends on

κλήρους ἔπηλαν

as=

ἐκλήρωσαν

: cp. Ar. Eccl. 683

κληρώσω πάντας

, ‘I will place them all by lot,’

ἕως ἂν

εἰδὼς ὁ λαχὼν ἀπίῃ κ.τ.λ.

See above on 123, Ar. Eccl. 556. (2)

κλήρους ἔπηλαν καὶ

κλήρους πήλαντες

, a parenthetic construction (

διὰ μέσου

), so that

αὐτοὺς

is governed by

κατέστησαν

only, and

δίφρους

is a second acc., defining

αὐτούς

, as in

μέθες με...χεῖρα

( Soph. Ph. 1301 ). f.

mvp-comment-412-5 ἔπηλαν ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-413-1 χαλκῆς ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-413-2 ὑπαὶ ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-413-3 οἱ δ’ ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-414-1 ὁμοκλήσαντες ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-415-1 ἐν δὲ ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-415-2 κροτητῶν ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-415-3 I formerly took

κροτητῶν

as=‘welded,’ ‘hammered,’ with ref. to the metal-work of the chariots: cp. Il. 23. 503

ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε

: 10. 438

ἅρμα δέ οἱ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ εὖ ἤσκηται

: 4. 226

ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ

. (Cp. Helbig, H. E. p. 90.) For this sense of

κροτεῖν

, cp. Pind. fr. 194

κεκρότηται χρυσέα κρηπὶς...ἀοιδαῖς

mvp-comment-416-1 φορεῖθ’ ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-417-1 κέντρων ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-417-2 ὡς ὑπερβάλοι ¹⁶⁶ τις ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-417-3 χνόας ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-417-4 φρυάγμαθ’ ἱππικά ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-418-1 ὁμοῦ γὰρ ἀμφὶ νῶτα ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-418-2 τροχῶν βάσεις ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-418-3 εἰσέβαλλον ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-419-1 ὑπ’ αὐτὴν ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-419-2 ἐσχάτην στήλην ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-420-1 ἔχριμπτ’ ἀεὶ σύριγγα ¹⁷⁵ ἔχριμπτ’ ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-420-2 δεξιὸν δ’ ἀνεὶς κ.τ.λ. ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-420-3 Sophocles has in mind the words of Nestor to Antilochus, Il. 23. 336

τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον

κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν·

ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω

, |

ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι

κύκλου ποιητοῖο

(‘so that just the nave of the well-wrought wheel may seem to graze it’).

mvp-comment-421-1 πρὶν μὲν ¹⁷⁸ ἔπειτα δ’ ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-421-2 ἕστασαν ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-422-1 ἄστομοι ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-422-2 βίᾳ φέρουσιν ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-422-3 ἐκ δ’ ὑποστροφῆς ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-423-1 τελοῦντες κ.τ.λ. ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-423-2 The Aenian, closely followed by the others, had just completed his sixth

δίαυλος

, or double course, in the hippodrome: i.e., he had just passed, for the sixth time, round the goal nearest to the starting-place, and was on the point of beginning his seventh course. Just as he was passing the goal, his horses bolted. Hence he could not work them quite round into the track. They turned out of the left-ward curve (

ἐξ ὑποστροφῆς

), and ran straight on. Meanwhile, one of the two Libyan chariots had swept round the goal in a wider circle, on the Aenian's right. The Aenian's horses dashed head-foremost into the Libyan's team, striking it on the left side.

mvp-comment-423-3 In the four - horse chariot - race at Olympia the number of double courses was twelve. Hence the goal farthest from the starting-place is

δωδεκάγναμπτον... τέρμα δρόμου

ἵππων

( Pind. O. 3. 33 : cp. Pind. O. 2. 55 , Pind. O. 6. 75 , Pind. P. 5. 33 ). If the

ἱππικὸν

(=4 stadia) be taken as the length of one double course in the hippodrome, twelve such courses give about 51/2 English miles. (Cp. art. Hippodromus in Smith's Dict. Ant., 3rd ed., p. 965 a.)

mvp-comment-423-4 Βαρκαίοις ὄχοις ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-424-1 ἐξ ἑνὸς κακοῦ ¹⁸⁶ ἔθραυε καὶ ἐνέπιπτε ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-424-2 ναυαγίων ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-424-3 Κρισαῖον … πέδον ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-425-1 γνοὺς δ’ ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-425-2 κἀνοκωχεύει ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-425-3 κλύδων’ ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-426-1 ἔσχατος μὲν ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-426-2 ὑστέρας ἔχων ¹⁹⁴ φέρων ¹⁹⁵ πίστιν φέρων ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-426-3 Those who read

ὑστέρας δ’

understand, ‘last, indeed, but last by his own choice.’ This is possible, but less simple. The

μὲν

after

ἔσχατος

probably led to the insertion of

δ’

mvp-comment-426-4 Wunder cp. Acad. Pr. 2. 29. 94 Ego enim, ut agitator callidus, prius quam ad finem veniam, equos sustinebo.

mvp-comment-427-1 ὅπως δ’ ὁρᾷ ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-428-1 ἐνσείσας. ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-429-1 κἀξισώσαντε ζυγὰ ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-429-2 τότ’ … ἄλλοθ’ ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-429-3 ἄλλος … ἅτερος ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-429-4 κάρα προβάλλων ²⁰²

mvp-comment-429-5 For προβάλλων ²⁰³

mvp-comment-430-1 τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους πάντας ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-430-2 ἀσφαλεῖς ²⁰⁵

mvp-comment-430-3 ὠρθοῦθ’ ²⁰⁶ ὀρθὸς ἐξ ὀρθῶν δί‐ ²⁰⁷ φρων ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-431-1 λύων ἡνίαν ἀριστερὰν ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-432-1 χνόας ²¹⁰ μέσας ²¹¹

mvp-comment-433-1 ἀντύγων ²¹²

mvp-comment-433-2 σὺν δ’ ἑλίσσεται ²¹³ τμητοῖς ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-434-1 διεσπάρησαν εἰς μέσον δρόμον ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-434-2 Cp. Il. 23. 467

ἔνθα μιν ἐκπεσέειν ὀΐω σύν θ’ ἅρματα ἆξαι

, |

αἱ δ’

[ sc.

ἵπποι

]

ἐξηρώησαν, ἐπεὶ μένος ἔλλαβε θυμόν

(‘rushed out of the course’).

mvp-comment-435-1 στρατὸς ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-435-2 δίφρων ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-435-3 ἀνωλόλυξε ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-435-4 οἷ’ … οἷα ²¹⁹

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

601. mvp-comment-268-1 ὁ δ᾽ ἄλλος ἔξω] 'And he, moreover, in a foreign land. The article is demonstrative, and ἄλλοs is predicative or adverbial. See Essay on L. § 21. pp. 33, 5. χεῖρα . . φυγών] Electra implies that Clytemnestra would have killed Orestes

601-602. mvp-comment-269-1 if she could, either at the time of Agamemnon's murder, or afterwards.

603. mvp-comment-270-1 σοὶ .. μιάστορα] ‘An avenger of blood against thee.' μιάστωρ is properly one who stains others with his own guilt; here it is one who fixes the stain of guilt by executing vengeance for it. Compare the use of the verb 'to stain' in Elizabethan English: e.g. Shaksp. Ant. and Cleo. 3. 4, 'I'll raise the preparation of a War | Shall stain your brother.'

606. mvp-comment-271-1 εἴτε † χρή) ‘Whether you must call me,' etc. Here, as in Aj. 1373, the reading of the MSS, which is possibly idiomatic, is preferred το χρῇς = χρήζεις, which is a doubtful emendation.

608. mvp-comment-272-1 τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων] ‘Of actions which have this character.' Cp. O. T. 864, 5, τὰν εὔσεπτον ἁγνείαν λόγων ἔργων τε πάντων, ὧν, κ.τ.λ., and note.

609. mvp-comment-273-1 καταισχύνω] Cp. Aj. 1304, 5. ἆρ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἄριστος ἐξ ἀριστέοιν δυοῖν | βλαστὼν ἂν αἰσχύνοιμι τοὺς πρὺς αἵματος;

610. mvp-comment-274-1 ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν] Sc. τὴν Κλυταιμνήστραν. This appears from her reply, and also from the comparison οἱ εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ, κ.τ.λ, with supr. 528. Here, as in O. T. 746, Aesch. Ag. 1306, τί δ' ἐστὶ χρῆμα; τίς σ᾽ ἀποστρέφει φόβος; -the dialogue contains a reference to by-play.

614. mvp-comment-275-1 τηλικοῦτος] 'At her age.' Cp. infr. 961, 2:-i.e. Her words are not those of a petulant girl, which might be safely disregarded.

616-619. mvp-comment-276-1 The harshness of Electra is not native to her character, but superinduced, and she is painfully conscious of this.

623. mvp-comment-277-1 πόλλ᾽ ἄγαν λέγειν ποιεῖ] 'Make you to say too much: '-i.e. Are too much the theme of your discourse, in which you say much that you should not.

624. mvp-comment-278-1 viv is here neuter plural = αὐτά.

624-625. mvp-comment-279-1 Translated by Milton:-''Tis you that say it, not I; you do the deeds, And your ungodly deeds find me the words.'

626. mvp-comment-280-1 μὰ τὴν .. "Αρτεμιν] Cp. supr. 565, and note. θράσους is genitive of cause.

627. mvp-comment-281-1 For the repetition of οὐκ, see Essay on L. § 29. p. 48. We are again reminded that Aegisthus is from home. Cp. supr. 517.

628-629. mvp-comment-282-1 μεθεῖσά μοι χρήζοιμ 'After giving me leave to say what I chose.' Supr. 556.

630. mvp-comment-283-1 οὐδ᾽ ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς], 'Not even in silence from clamour:' - i. e. Not even without being pestered by your noise.

632. mvp-comment-284-1 κελεύω] 'I urge it on you:'- i.e. as knowing what need you have to propitiate the gods.

634. mvp-comment-285-1 ἡ παροῦσά μοι] ‘Thou that art with me.' Cp. supr. 424. In Sophocles the attendants are never called by name, -as the Nurse is in Aesch. Cho. 732.

634-635. mvp-comment-286-1 θύμαθ᾽.. πάγκαρπ'] 'Rich offerings of various produce.'

635. mvp-comment-287-1 ἄνακτι . . τῷδ'] 'The king in presence here; '-Apollo Lyceius, infr. 645: ср. О. Т. 919, supr. l. 7.

635-636. mvp-comment-288-1 ὅπως.. ἔχω] 'That I may offer up a prayer for release from the terrors which are now haunting me.' The words, δειμάτων & νῦν ἔχω, are added in construction with λυτηρίους. For the sense, cp. O. Τ. 921, ὅπως λύσιν τιν' ἡμὶν εὐαγῆ πόρῃς.

639-640. mvp-comment-289-1 οὐδὲ πᾶν . . ἐμοί] 'Nor is it fitting that I unfold everything to light while she is near me.' In listening to these words the spectator recollects

640-642. mvp-comment-290-1 that Electra is already in possession of the whole truth about the dream. Cp. supr. 417 foll.

641-642. mvp-comment-291-1 'Lest with inauspicious and noisy outcry she disseminate a lewd report throughout the city.' φθόνῳ is lit. *odium.' ματ ματαίαν is not merely 'causeless,' but 'wanton,' conveying the notion of positive mischief. In πολυγλώσσῳ the first part of the compound is intensive. Cp. supr. 488, 9, infr. 798.

643. mvp-comment-292-1 But hear it, even in the (vague) form in which I will make it known.' Cp. O. C. 484, for the importance attached to the form of words used in prayer.

644. mvp-comment-293-1 γάρ introduces the promised statement.

645. mvp-comment-294-1 δισσῶν is supposed by some to mean, 'Ambiguous; but it is simpler and more natural to understand it either of two different dreams, or of the same dream repeated. Cp. Plat. Phaedo, 60 E, πολλάκις μοι φοιτῶν τὸ αὐτὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐν τῷ παρελθόντι βίῳ, ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐν ἄλλῃ ὄψει φαινόμενον, τὰ αὐτὰ δὲ λέγον, κ.τ.λ.

647. mvp-comment-295-1 ἔμπαλιν] 'On the contrary,'- because ἐμοί is understood with τελεσφόρα in l. 646. μέθες] 'Let it fall instead.'

648-649. mvp-comment-296-1 'And if there is one who plans to cast me forth by guile from my present high estate, do not permit it to him.' Though τινες is plural, Orestes is meant, just as Aegisthus is indicated by the vague φίλοισι in infr. 652. Cp. supr. 590. The spectator knows that the will of Apollo is directly opposed to this petition. For it is difficult to suppose either here or in O. Τ. 908, 919, an entire separation of the Lyceian from the Pythian Apollo. See Introduction.

653. mvp-comment-297-1 καὶ τέκνων ὅσων] ‘And with the children from whom." τέκνοις, the antecedent to ὅσων, is attracted into the case of the relative. Essay on L. § 35. p. 59. She is thinking of Chrysothemis and Iphianassa ( supr. 157) to the exclusion of Electra.

654. mvp-comment-298-1 λύπη] ‘Vexation,' in an active sense.

655. mvp-comment-299-1 This part of the prayer is merely formal, and is uttered in a loud voice, the rest having been spoken aside.

655. mvp-comment-299-2 This part of the prayer is merely formal, and is uttered in a loud voice, the rest having been spoken aside.

660. mvp-comment-300-1 The coming-in of the Old Man prepares the way for the peripeteia by obtaining entrance for the disguised Orestes. It also brings out the heroic character of Electra, by reducing her to a position of despair, and makes more effective her subsequent recognition of Orestes.

660. mvp-comment-300-2 ξέναι] He speaks as a Phocian.

660. mvp-comment-300-3 The coming-in of the Old Man prepares the way for the peripeteia by obtaining entrance for the disguised Orestes. It also brings out the heroic character of Electra, by reducing her to a position of despair, and makes more effective her subsequent recognition of Orestes.

660. mvp-comment-300-4 ξέναι] He speaks as a Phocian.

663. mvp-comment-301-1 δάμαρτα] Sc. οὖσαν.

663. mvp-comment-301-2 δάμαρτα] Sc. οὖσαν.

664. mvp-comment-302-1 πρέπει . . εἰσορᾶν] Though no longer Queen of Agamemnon, the daughter of Tyndareus still wears a royal mien.

664. mvp-comment-302-2 πρέπει . . εἰσορᾶν] Though no longer Queen of Agamemnon, the daughter of Tyndareus still wears a royal mien.

667. mvp-comment-303-1 φίλου παρ᾿ ἀνδρός] Phanoteus, as the enemy of Strophius, Agamemnon's friend, is imagined to be the close ally of Aegisthus. Cp. supr. 45, and note.

667. mvp-comment-303-2 φίλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός] Phanoteus, as the enemy of Strophius, Agamemnon's friend, is imagined to be the close ally of Aegisthus. Cp. supr. 45, and note.

668. mvp-comment-304-1 ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν] I accept the omen.' For this customary mode of appropriating auspicious words, cp. Hdt. 1. 63, Πεισίστρατος δέ, συλλαβὼν τὸ χρηστήριον, καὶ φὰς δέκεσθαι τὸ χρησθέν, ἐπῆγε τὴν στρατιήν: Aesch. Ag. 1652, 3, ΑΙ. .. πρόκωπος οὐκ ἀναίνομαι θανεῖν. | ΧΟ. δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε.

668. mvp-comment-304-2 ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν] I accept the omen.' For this customary mode of appropriating auspicious words, cp. Hdt. 1. 63, Πεισίστρατος δέ, συλλαβὼν τὸ χρηστήριον, καὶ φὰς δέκεσθαι τὸ χρησθέν, ἐπῆγε τὴν στρατιήν: Aesch. Ag. 1652, 3, ΑΙ. .. πρόκωπος οὐκ ἀναίνομαι θανεῖν. | ΧΟ. δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε.

670. mvp-comment-305-1 πρᾶγμα.. μέγα] 'Having on his hands the care of a great matter.' The report is identified with the event.

670. mvp-comment-305-2 πρᾶγμα.. μέγα] 'Having on his hands the care of a great matter.' The report is identified with the event.

675. mvp-comment-306-1 τί φής, τί φής...] For this eager repetition, cp. O. C. 1099, ΟΙ. ποῦ ποῦ; τί φής; πῶς εἶπας; ΑΝ. ὦ πάτερ, πάτερ, κ.τ.λ.

675. mvp-comment-306-2 τί φής, τί φής...] For this eager repetition, cp. O. C. 1099, ΟΙ. ποῦ ποῦ; τί φής; πῶς εἶπας; ΑΝ. ὦ πάτερ, πάτερ, κ.τ.λ.

676. mvp-comment-307-1 I have been saying all this while, and now repeat, that Orestes is dead.' For the participial construction, ср. О. Т. 463-5, and note.

676. mvp-comment-307-2 I have been saying all this while, and now repeat, that Orestes is dead.' For the participial construction, ср. О. Т. 463-5, and note.

678. mvp-comment-308-1 σὺ μὲν . . πρᾶσσ'] 'You, mind your own affairs!' i. e. Do not interrupt us.

678. mvp-comment-308-2 σὺ μὲν . . πρᾶσσ'] 'You, mind your own affairs!' i. e. Do not interrupt us.

680. mvp-comment-309-1 The Old Man now fills up with great spirit (though without an 'oath') the outline which Orestes gave him, supr. 48-50. This narrative, while directly pertinent to the action, also helps to relieve it at a point where it was becoming monotonous. The ornate and exaggerated diction (especially in 730-3) is suited to a fabricated account. Contrast in this respect the speech of Hyllus in Trach. 749 foll.

680. mvp-comment-309-2 The Old Man now fills up with great spirit (though without an 'oath') the outline which Orestes gave him, supr. 48-50. This narrative, while directly pertinent to the action, also helps to relieve it at a point where it was becoming monotonous. The ornate and exaggerated diction (especially in 730-3) is suited to a fabricated account. Contrast in this respect the speech of Hyllus in Trach. 749 foll.

681-682. mvp-comment-310-1 εἰς τὸ κοινὸν . . ἀγῶνος] ‘Το that contest which is the universal pride of Hellas.' ἀγῶνος is to be taken closely with πρόσχημα, as a genitive of definition. Essay on L. § 10. p. 17, 6.

681-682. mvp-comment-310-2 εἰς τὸ κοινὸν . . ἀγῶνος] ‘Το that contest which is the universal pride of Hellas.' ἀγῶνος is to be taken closely with πρόσχημα, as a genitive of definition. Essay on L. § 10. p. 17, 6.

685. mvp-comment-311-1 He entered the arena, glorious to behold, and drew all men's eyes towards him.' For λαμπρός, cp. Plat. Rep. 8. 560 E, λαμπρὰς μετὰ πολλοῦ χοροῦ κατάγουσιν : Aeschin. 34. 40.

685. mvp-comment-311-2 He entered the arena, glorious to behold, and drew all men's eyes towards him.' For λαμπρός, cp. Plat. Rep. 8. 560 E, λαμπρὰς μετὰ πολλοῦ χοροῦ κατάγουσιν : Aeschin. 34. 40.

686. mvp-comment-312-1 And having finished his courses in a manner worthy of his looks.' Lit. 'Having made the completion of his courses adequate to his personal appearance.' This line has been needlessly and mistakenly altered. φύσις, the outward promise of the man, is an abridgment or resumption of εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός. Cp. Trach. 308, where πρὸς μὲν . . φύσιν is To judge from her appearance:' Pind. Isthm. 6. 30, φέρει γὰρ Ἰσθμοῖ νίκαν παγκρατίου· σθένει τ' ἔκπαγλος ἰδεῖν τε μορφάεις· ἄγει δ' ἀρετὰν οὐκ αἴσχιον φυᾶς: Nem. 3. 32, ἐὼν καλὸς ἔρδων τ' ἐοικότα μορφᾷ. The conjecture of Musgr. (ἰσώσας τἀφέσει τὰ τέρματα, Having finished at the starting-place') is forced and meaningless. On the verb ἰσόω, see E. on L. § 51. p. 96.

686. mvp-comment-312-2 And having finished his courses in a manner worthy of his looks.' Lit. 'Having made the completion of his courses adequate to his personal appearance.' This line has been needlessly and mistakenly altered. φύσις, the outward promise of the man, is an abridgment or resumption of εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός. Cp. Trach. 308, where πρὸς μὲν . . φύσιν is To judge from her appearance:' Pind. Isthm. 6. 30, φέρει γὰρ Ἰσθμοῖ νίκαν παγκρατίου· σθένει τ' ἔκπαγλος ἰδεῖν τε μορφάεις· ἄγει δ' ἀρετὰν οὐκ αἴσχιον φυᾶς: Nem. 3. 32, ἐὼν καλὸς ἔρδων τ' ἐοικότα μορφᾷ. The conjecture of Musgr. (ἰσώσας τἀφέσει τὰ τέρματα, Having finished at the starting-place') is forced and meaningless. On the verb ἰσόω, see E. on L. § 51. p. 96.

688-689. mvp-comment-313-1 And I know not, indeed, how to tell you a few out of the many successful exploits of such a hero.' This is naturally opposed to what follows, where, instead of selecting particular feats, the Old Man sums up all in a single statement. A slight

688-689. mvp-comment-313-2 And I know not, indeed, how to tell you a few out of the many successful exploits of such a hero.' This is naturally opposed to what follows, where, instead of selecting particular feats, the Old Man sums up all in a single statement. A slight

688-691. mvp-comment-314-1 emendation of l. 688, χὤπως μὲν ἐν παύροισι πολλά, κ.τ.λ., Το tell you much in few, I know of no such (other) hero's achievements and victories,' would make the line clearer in itself, but would destroy the connection with ἓν δ᾽ ἴσθι. But see the end of note on l. 691.

688-691. mvp-comment-314-2 emendation of 1. 688, χὤπως μὲν ἐν παύροισι πολλά, κ.τ.λ., Το tell you much in few, I know of no such (other) hero's achievements and victories,' would make the line clearer in itself, but would destroy the connection with ἓν δ᾽ ἴσθι. But see the end of note on 1. 691.

691. mvp-comment-315-1 Porson's emendation of this line is extremely probable. If the letters περ were displaced, πεν(τ)άθλα might easily be suggested. The relation of ll. 686, 7, to 688- 695, may be questioned. He is describing the first day's performances, and in ll. 686, 7, either (1) states generally what is expanded afterwards, or (2) describes the first race, and then in what follows sums up the remaining contests of the same day. The plural τέρματα, and the structure of the whole passage, decide the point in favour of (1), making each of the two sentences refer to all the foot-races together. Otherwise (3), supposing the language to be more than usually inexact, the lines may be taken to mean, To tell only a little when there is much to tell, I know no feats to be compared with his. One thing you may know,' etc.

691. mvp-comment-315-2 Porson's emendation of this line is extremely probable. If the letters περ were displaced, πεν(τ)άθλα might easily be suggested. The relation of 11. 686, 7, to 688- 695, may be questioned. He is describing the first day's performances, and in 11.686, 7, either (1) states generally what is expanded afterwards, or (2) describes the first race, and then in what follows sums up the remaining contests of the same day. The plural τέρματα, and the structure of the whole passage, decide the point in favour of (1), making each of the two sentences refer to all the foot-races together. Otherwise (3), supposing the language to be more than usually inexact, the lines may be taken to mean, To tell only a little when there is much to tell, I know no feats to be compared with his. One thing you may know,' etc.

693-695. mvp-comment-316-1 He received the congratulations of the crowd, being known by proclamation as an Argive, named Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who levied once the famous armament of Hellas.'

693-695. mvp-comment-316-2 He received the congratulations of the crowd, being known by proclamation as an Argive, named Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who levied once the famous armament of Hellas.'

696-697. mvp-comment-317-1 ὅταν . . βλάπτῃ] 'But when some god is thwarting.'

696-697. mvp-comment-317-2 ὅταν . . βλάπτῃ] 'But when some god is thwarting.'

699. mvp-comment-318-1 ἡλίου τέλλοντος] “At sunrise:' i.e. beginning then.

699. mvp-comment-318-2 ἡλίου τέλλοντος] “At sunrise:' i.e. beginning then.

702. mvp-comment-319-1 ζυγωτῶν ἁρμάτων ἐπιστάται] Masters of yoked cars.' Hdt. 4. 189, τέσσερας ἵππους συζευγνύναι παρὰ Λιβύων οἱ Ἕλληνες μεμαθήκασι. Hence, possibly, the position of this general epithet. The fame of Cyrene in chariot-racing is known to us from Pindar.

702. mvp-comment-319-2 ζυγωτῶν ἁρμάτων ἐπιστάται] Masters of yoked cars.' Hdt. 4. 189, τέσσερας ἵππους συζευγνύναι παρὰ Λιβύων οἱ Ἕλληνες μεμαθήκασι. Hence, possibly, the position of this general epithet. The fame of Cyrene in chariot-racing is known to us from Pindar.

703. mvp-comment-320-1 Θεσσαλάς] Orestes was exiled from the plain of ῎Αργος ἱππόβοτον, and Phocis was too mountainous for horse-breeding.' The Athenian spectator might here be reminded of his faithful allies, the Thessalian horsemen. The five first mentioned come from Dorian states, the rest being either Ionic or Aeolian. ἐν τούτοισι, ' Enter-

703. mvp-comment-320-2 Θεσσαλάς] Orestes was exiled from the plain of ῎Αργος ἱππόβοτον, and Phocis was too mountainous for horse-breeding.' The Athenian spectator might here be reminded of his faithful allies, the Thessalian horsemen. The five first mentioned come from Dorian states, the rest being either Ionic or Aeolian. ἐν τούτοισι, 'Enter-

703-706. mvp-comment-321-1 ing himself with the foregoing,' calls attention to this difference.

703-706. mvp-comment-321-2 ing himself with the foregoing,' calls attention to this difference.

705-706. mvp-comment-322-1 The descriptive epithets in this and the next line, while adding vividness to the picture, may have had some special appropriateness that would be felt by the Greek hearer.

705-706. mvp-comment-322-2 The descriptive epithets in this and the next line, while adding vividness to the picture, may have had some special appropriateness that would be felt by the Greek hearer.

706. mvp-comment-323-1 Αἰνιάν] Hdt. 7. 132, 198.

706. mvp-comment-323-2 Αἰνιάν] Hdt. 7. 132, 198.

707. mvp-comment-324-1 The ornate epithet is reserved for Athens.

707. mvp-comment-324-2 The ornate epithet is reserved for Athens.

708. mvp-comment-325-1 δέκατον ἐκπληρῶν ὄχον] ‘Making ten chariots in all.' Cp. Hdt. 9. 30, σὺν δὲ Θεσπιέων τοῖσι παρεοῦσι ἐξεπληροῦντο αἱ ἕνδεκα μυριάδες, -and, for the use of the ordinal numeral, ib. 1. 51, ἕλκων σταθμὸν ἔννατον ἡμιτάλαντον, and the like expressions. There is a slight confusion or condensation of δέκατον ὄχον ἐλαύνων and ἐκπληρῶν τοὺς δέκα ὄχους.

708. mvp-comment-325-2 δέκατον ἐκπληρῶν ὄχον] ‘Making ten chariots in all.' Cp. Hdt. 9. 30, σὺν δὲ Θεσπιέων τοῖσι παρεοῦσι ἐξεπληροῦντο αἱ ἕνδεκα μυριάδες, -and, for the use of the ordinal numeral, ib. 1. 51, ἕλκων σταθμὸν ἔννατον ἡμιτάλαντον, and the like expressions. There is a slight confusion or condensation of δέκατον ὄχον ἐλαύνων and ἐκπληρῶν τοὺς δέκα ὄχους.

710. mvp-comment-326-1 'Had set the chariots in order after sorting them with lots.' κλήρους ἔπηλαν would have been a simpler construction, but πάλλειν is used absolutely of casting lots, and then receives the addition of an instrumental dative. Cp. supr. l. 21, and note. The construction of the whole line is paratactic for πήλαντες κατέστησαν. Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. αὐτούς in the previous line is in a general construction with what follows.

710. mvp-comment-326-2 'Had set the chariots in order after sorting them with lots.' κλήρους ἔπηλαν would have been a simpler construction, but πάλλειν is used absolutely of casting lots, and then receives the addition of an instrumental dative. Cp. supr. l. 21, and note. The construction of the whole line is paratactic for πήλαντες κατέστησαν. Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. αὐτούς in the previous line is in a general construction with what follows.

711. mvp-comment-327-1 ήξαν] 'The start was made.' The verb has a vague subject in which horses, charioteers, and chariots, are included in one notion. Off they went!' Hence in what follows the charioteers are particularized with the demonstrative οἱ.

711. mvp-comment-327-2 ήξαν] 'The start was made.' The verb has a vague subject in which horses, charioteers, and chariots, are included in one notion. Off they went!' Hence in what follows the charioteers are particularized with the demonstrative οἱ. ἅμα] 'At the same moment;' i. e. All together at the moment of the start.

711-712. mvp-comment-328-1 ἅμα] 'At the same moment;' i. e. All together at the moment of the start.

714. mvp-comment-329-1 κροτητῶν] 'Rattling along:' i.e. the parts of each chariot being rattled against each other, and all against the ground, made a din which filled the place. On the use of the verbal adj., see E. on L. § 53. p. 98.

714. mvp-comment-329-2 κροτητῶν] 'Rattling along:' i.e. the parts of each chariot being rattled against each other, and all against the ground, made a din which filled the place. On the use of the verbal adj., see E. on L. § 53. p. 98.

716-717. mvp-comment-330-1 ὡς .. ἱππικά] Either (1) Whenever any one of them shot ahead of the axle-ends (of the others) and the snorting of the steeds;' i.e. For the most part they were mingled in a confused throng; but when one drew before the rest, then was the moment of excitement, -for the breath of the foaming steeds immediately behind him was an incentive to make him drive faster still. Or (2) Each of them that he might get away from the wheel-naves and the snorting of the steeds :'- each was eager to escape from the neighbourhood of the rest, so as to have free course. But the following lines, which speak of a rival pursuing

716-717. mvp-comment-330-2 ὡς .. ἱππικά] Either (1) Whenever any one of them shot ahead of the axle-ends (of the others) and the snorting of the steeds;' i.e. For the most part they were mingled in a confused throng; but when one drew before the rest, then was the moment of excitement, -for the breath of the foaming steeds immediately behind him was an incentive to make him drive faster still. Or (2) Each of them that he might get away from the wheel-naves and the snorting of the steeds :'- each was eager to escape from the neighbourhood of the rest, so as to have free course. But the following lines, which speak of a rival pursuing

717-719. mvp-comment-331-1 closely in the rear, cannot be equally applicable to all the ten. For the phraseology, cp. Eur. Iph. A. 228-30, οἷς παρεπάλλετο | Πηλείδας σὺν ὅπλοισι παρ᾿ ἄντυγα | καὶ σύριγγας ἁρματείους. (3) Supposing the general sense to be as in (1), χνόας and φρυάγματα may possibly be accusatives of 'limitation,' 'drew ahead with car and team.'

717-719. mvp-comment-331-2 closely in the rear, cannot be equally applicable to all the ten. For the phraseology, cp. Eur. Iph. A. 228-30, οἷς παρεπάλλετο | Πηλείδας σὺν ὅπλοισι παρ᾿ ἄντυγα | καὶ σύριγγας ἁρματείους. (3) Supposing the general sense to be as in (1), χνόας and φρυάγματα may possibly be accusatives of 'limitation,' 'drew ahead with car and team.'

718-719. mvp-comment-332-1 For close about his back and whirling wheels the breath of horses cast its foam.' Cp. Il. 23.373- 81, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι | .. τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου | φαίνετ᾽, ἄφαρ δ' ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δ' ἔπειτα | αἱ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι. | τὰς δὲ μετ᾿ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι, | Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθ᾽ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ ἐγγύς· αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐἰκτην, | πνοιῇ τ᾿ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ᾿ ὤμα | θέρμετ᾽· ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.

718-719. mvp-comment-332-2 For close about his back and whirling wheels the breath of horses cast its foam.' Cp. Il. 23.373- 81, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι | .. τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου | φαίνετ᾽, ἄφαρ δ' ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δ' ἔπειτα | αἱ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι. | τὰς δὲ μετ᾿ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι, | Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθ᾽ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ ἐγγύς· αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐἰκτην, | πνοιῇ τ᾿ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ᾿ ὤμα | θέρμετ᾽· ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.

720. mvp-comment-333-1 κεῖνος] Orestes. ὑπ᾿ αὐτὴν . . ἔχων] 'Driving close under the last pillar.' ἐσχάτην, i. e. at the extreme end of the spina. ἔχων] Sc. τοὺς ἵππους.

720. mvp-comment-333-2 κεῖνος] Orestes. ὑπ᾿ αὐτὴν . . ἔχων] 'Driving close under the last pillar.' ἐσχάτην, i. e. at the extreme end of the spina. ἔχων] Sc. τοὺς ἵππους.

721. mvp-comment-334-1 ἔχριμπτ᾿ ἀεὶ σύριγγα] ‘Grazed the nave of his wheel every time:' i.e. all but made it touch, or seemed to graze-real contact is of course not meant.

721. mvp-comment-334-2 ἔχριμπτ᾿ ἀεὶ σύριγγα] ‘Grazed the nave of his wheel every time:' i.e. all but made it touch, or seemed to graze-real contact is of course not meant.

721-722. mvp-comment-335-1 δεξιὸν .. προσκείμενον] 'And, letting go the trace-horse on the right, held in the one that was nearest to the inside of the course.' The two σειραῖοι ἵπποι, so called because not harnessed to the yoke but attached by traces right and left, were practically the leaders of the τέθριππον, or team; and their movements at the critical moment of turning the goal were of the greatest consequence. Cp. Eur. Iph. A. 221-4, τοὺς μὲν μέσους ζυγίους, | .. τοὺς δ᾽ ἔξω σειροφόρους, | ἀντήρεις καμπαῖσι δρόμων. They must be supposed to know their duty, and only to need a reminder from the charioteer, who holds each of them by a single rein (single, i.e. in his hand). The language of the present passage proves that the direction of the running was from right to left, and the δεξιός σειραῖος had consequently to describe a larger semicircle while the 'near' horse was making the turn. That the right hand horse may perform this movement successfully and thus swing the chariot round without mishap, the charioteer gives him the rein, and at the same time holds in the left-hand trace-horse, who, as nearest to the goal, is called προσκείμενος. As soon as this evolution is accomplished, however, the driver must slacken again the left-hand rein, so that both steeds may cover the θάτερον κῶλον of the race-course with equal strides. And if from over-eagerness he does this an instant too soon, he is obviously in great danger of striking the nave of the left-hand wheel against the goal, because the horse when let go will instinctively 'cut off a corner' and pull the car along a chord of the circle instead of completing the arc. This is what is supposed to happen to Orestes, infr. 743-5. (So Wecklein also explains.)

721-722. mvp-comment-335-2 δεξιὸν .. προσκείμενον] 'And, letting go the trace-horse on the right, held in the one that was nearest to the inside of the course.' The two σειραῖοι ἵπποι, so called because not harnessed to the yoke but attached by traces right and left, were practically the leaders of the τέθριππον, or team; and their movements at the critical moment of turning the goal were of the greatest consequence. Cp. Eur. Iph. A. 221-4, τοὺς μὲν μέσους ζυγίους, | .. τοὺς δ᾽ ἔξω σειροφόρους, | ἀντήρεις καμπαῖσι δρόμων. They must be supposed to know their duty, and only to need a reminder from the charioteer, who holds each of them by a single rein (single, i.e. in his hand). The language of the present passage proves that the direction of the running was from right to left, and the δεξιός σειραῖος had consequently to describe a larger semicircle while the 'near' horse was making the turn. That the right hand horse may perform this movement successfully and thus swing the chariot round without mishap, the charioteer gives him the rein, and at the same time holds in the left-hand trace-horse, who, as nearest to the goal, is called προσκείμενος. As soon as this evolution is accomplished, however, the driver must slacken again the left-hand rein, so that both steeds may cover the θάτερον κῶλον of the race-course with equal strides. And if from over-eagerness he does this an instant too soon, he is obviously in great danger of striking the nave of the left-hand wheel against the goal, because the horse when let go will instinctively 'cut off a corner' and pull the car along a chord of the circle instead of completing the arc. This is what is supposed to happen to Orestes, infr. 743-5. (So Wecklein also explains.)

725. mvp-comment-336-1 βίᾳ φέρουσιν] Sc. τὸ ἅρμα, 'Became unmanageable.' Essay on L. §53. p. 98. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 1224.

725. mvp-comment-336-2 βίᾳ φέρουσιν] Sc. τὸ ἅρμα, 'Became unmanageable.' Essay on L. §53. p. 98. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 1224.

725-726. mvp-comment-337-1 ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφῆς] Either (1) 'After turning the goal,' or (2) 'Having turned sharply aside.' See next note.

725-726. mvp-comment-337-2 ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφῆς] Either (1) 'After turning the goal,' or (2) 'Having turned sharply aside.' See next note.

726. mvp-comment-338-1 When finishing the sixth and now (running) the seventh course.' Not τελοῦντες, but a more general word, e.g. θέοντες, is to be supplied with ἔβδομον. Essay on L. § 36. pp. 65, 6, 2. The grammatical irregularity assists the graphic effect. The scene changes while it is being described. Ср. О. С. 1648-50, ἐξαπείδομεν | τὸν ἄνδρα, τὸν μὲν οὐδαμοῦ παρόντ᾽ ἔτι, | ἄνακτα δ᾽ αὐτόν, κ.τ.λ., and note. The masculine τελοῦντες either (1) implies that the white horses of the Aenian were, like those of Diomede in Il. 23 (1. c. supr. 718, 9), ἄρσενες ἵπποι, - which may part account for their behaviour; or (2) τελοῦντες is a nominative absolute having for subject the charioteers collectively. This line seems at first sight to support the former interpretation (1) of l. 725, ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφής. But the point in the course is sufficiently indicated without such an addition; and in the other sense (2) the phrase forms a suitable preparation for l. 727. The imagination is assisted if we suppose these chariots to be somewhat wide of the goal, so that one of them might face about without striking the στήλη. In μέτωπα, as in κάρα infr. 740, the chariot and horses are thought of together as a single object. The accident happens just when the race is half finished, -six of the twelve customary courses having being run. Cp. Pind. O1. 2. 88-90, Πυθῶνι . . Χάριτες ἄνθεα τεθρίππων δυωκαιδεκαδρόμων | ἄγαγον.

726. mvp-comment-338-2 When finishing the sixth and now (running) the seventh course.' Not τελοῦντες, but a more general word, e.g. θέοντες, is to be supplied with ἔβδομον. Essay on L. § 36. pp. 65, 6, 2. The grammatical irregularity assists the graphic effect. The scene changes while it is being described. Ср. О. С. 1648-50, ἐξαπείδομεν | τὸν ἄνδρα, τὸν μὲν οὐδαμοῦ παρόντ᾽ ἔτι, | ἄνακτα δ᾽ αὐτόν, κ.τ.λ., and note. The masculine τελοῦντες either (1) implies that the white horses of the Aenian were, like those of Diomede in Il. 23 (1. c. supr. 718, 9), ἄρσενες ἵπποι, - which may part account for their behaviour; or (2) τελοῦντες is a nominative absolute having for subject the charioteers collectively. This line seems at first sight to support the former interpretation (1) of 1. 725, ἐκ δ᾽ ὑποστροφής. But the point in the course is sufficiently indicated without such an addition; and in the other sense (2) the phrase forms a suitable preparation for 1. 727. The imagination is assisted if we suppose these chariots to be somewhat wide of the goal, so that one of them might face about without striking the στήλη. In μέτωπα, as in κάρα infr. 740, the chariot and horses are thought of together as a single object. The accident happens just when the race is half finished, -six of the twelve customary courses having being run. Cp. Pind. O1. 2. 88-90, Πυθῶνι . . Χάριτες ἄνθεα τεθρίππων δυωκαιδεκαδρόμων | ἄγαγον.

731. mvp-comment-339-1 The Athenian charioteer is represented as the most skilful. It is obvious how this is calculated to sustain the interest of the audience. See also ll. 738-40.

731. mvp-comment-339-2 The Athenian charioteer is represented as the most skilful. It is obvious how this is calculated to sustain the interest of the audience. See also 11. 738-40.

732-733. mvp-comment-340-1 Pulls aside out of the way and heaves to, letting go by the surge of horses and their riders that was boiling there.' Not content with the hyperbole in supr. 730, the Old Man adds this yet stronger expression. See above, note on 680 foll.

732-733. mvp-comment-340-2 Pulls aside out of the way and heaves to, letting go by the surge of horses and their riders that was boiling there.' Not content with the hyperbole in supr. 730, the Old Man adds this yet stronger expression. See above, note on 680 foll.

734-735. mvp-comment-341-1 'Now Orestes was driving last, holding his horses back, relying on the finish.' There were six courses yet to be. See note on 726, supr. According to this reading the participial clause is explanatory of ἤλαυνε, and μέν points forward, opposing the position of Orestes before and after he saw that the Athenian alone was left. Some MSS. read ὑστέρας δ', opposing ἔσχατος to ὑστέρας ἔχων πώλους. He was last, indeed, but was holding back.'

734-735. mvp-comment-341-2 'Now Orestes was driving last, holding his horses back, relying on the finish.' There were six courses yet to be. See note on 726, supr. According to this reading the participial clause is explanatory of ἤλαυνε, and μέν points forward, opposing the position of Orestes before and after he saw that the Athenian alone was left. Some MSS. read ὑστέρας δ', opposing ἔσχατος to ὑστέρας ἔχων πώλους. He was last, indeed, but was holding back.'

736. mvp-comment-342-1 When Orestes saw that the Athenian remained alone.' So Mr. Paley, rightly.

737-738. mvp-comment-343-1 ὀξὺν . . διώκει] • He urged his swift steeds vehemently with shouts that pierced their ears, and makes for him.' ἐνσείειν is a vivid word (Essay on L. § 56. p. 102) which is more properly applicable to hurling hounds at game, throwing an attacking force into a town, etc. Cp. Eur. Or. 255, 6, ὦ μῆτερ, ἱκετεύω σε, μὴ πίσειε μοι | τὰς αἱματωποὺς καὶ δρακοντώδεις κόρας.

738-739. mvp-comment-344-1 κἀξισώσαντε ζυγὰ | ἠλαυνέτην] 'And now they were yoke by yoke, and on they drave.'

739-740. mvp-comment-345-1 τότ᾿ ἄλλος . . ὀχημάτων] 'Now one, and then the other drawing ahead.' κάρα is used analogically of man, car, and steeds, considered as one object; and the genitive ἱππικῶν ὀχημάτων is added to make this clear. (Not 'Putting his head forth from the car.') For the variation of the language in τότε-ἄλλοτε, ἄλλος - ἅτερος, cp. Trach. 457, δέδοικας . . ταρβεῖς.

741. mvp-comment-346-1 It is implied that Orestes' fall took place in the middle of the twelfth and last course.

742. mvp-comment-347-1 The ill-starred youth stood safely on a steady car.'

743-745. mvp-comment-348-1 Then in slackening the left-hand rein while the horse was making the turn, unawares he struck the edge of the goal and splintered the end of his axle-tree.' Cp. supr. 721, 2, and note. The horse making the turn is ὁ προσκείμενος.

746-747. mvp-comment-349-1 κἀξ ἀντύγων .. τμητοῖς ἱμᾶσι] And in a moment he had slipped over the rim of the chariot, and was rolled along together with it by means of the sharp-cut thongs.' Here it must be borne in mind that the reins were passed round the body of the charioteer, as, for instance, in the marble reliefs in the 'Sala della Biga' in the Vatican. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 1221, 2. This point has not escaped Mr. Browning :-' The prince around his body flung the rein.' Artemis Prologizes. Hence, when the body of the chariot was arrested by some sudden obstacle, instead of being jerked from his grasp, they would pull him over the ἄντυξ, and would drag him when the car was again in motion. σύν, sc. ταῖς ἵπποις οι τῷ ἅρματι. ἱμᾶσι is dative of the instrument. τμητοῖς, lit. 'cut,' is suggestive of the sharp edges of the reins. Cp. infr. 862, τμητοῖς ὁλκοῖς ἐγκύρσαι.

748. mvp-comment-350-1 διεσπάρησαν ἐς μέσον δρόμον]

748. mvp-comment-350-2 'Plunged wildly about the course.' μέσον, SC. ἐν μέσῳ τῶν θεατῶν, vaguely distinguishes the field generally from the line of running. διεσπάρησαν, lit. 'were scattered,' is used inaccurately to suggest aimless movement.

749. mvp-comment-351-1 στρατός] 'The assembly.' Cp. Aesch. Eum. 762, χώρᾳ τῇδε καὶ τῷ σῷ στρατῷ.

752-753. mvp-comment-352-1 φορούμενος προφαίνων] 'As he was dragged upon the ground, and now and then his legs were pointed to the sky.' The opposition with ἄλλοτε is suggested as the description proceeds. Hence not ἄλλοτε ἄλλοτε.

753. mvp-comment-353-1 διφρηλάται] Some of the charioteers from the other chariots, who had been thrown, but not seriously hurt.

758. mvp-comment-354-1 μέγιστον σῶμα δειλαίας σποδοῦ] His mighty frame reduced to' (lit. consisting of) hapless dust.' See E. on L. § 10. p. 17, 6. On the supposed great stature of Orestes, see Hdt. 1. 68, where his bones are found at Tegea :-ἐπέτυχον σόρῳ ἑπταπήχεϊ .. καὶ εἶδον τὸν νεκρὸν μήκεϊ ἴσον ἔοντα τῷ σόρῳ.

760. mvp-comment-355-1 ἐκλάχοι] The mood depends on the idea of past time contained either in φέρουσι . . τεταγμένοι, i.e. ἐτάχθησαν φέρειν, or in the whole of the previous sentence.

761. mvp-comment-356-1 τοιαῦτα . . ἐστίν] Cp. Ant. 37, οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, and note. ὡς μὲν ἐν λόγῳ] 'In description, indeed;' ὡς is pleonastic. Cp. О. С. 15, ὡς ἀπ᾿ ὀμμάτων.

764. mvp-comment-357-1 δεσπόταισι] δεσπότης is not used elsewhere of an Hellenic ruler. Can Sophocles have forgotten for a moment that the Chorus were freewomen ( infr. 1227)? Or should the speech be given to an οἰκέτης?

765. mvp-comment-358-1 Cp. Hdt. 6. 86, Γλαύκου νῦν οὔτε ἀπόγονόν ἐστι οὐδέν,.. ἐκτέτριπταί τε πρόρριζος ἐκ Σπάρτης.

766-768. mvp-comment-359-1 Clytemnestra is awed for the moment, and her profound relief is mingled with a pang of sorrow.

770. mvp-comment-360-1 δεινὸν . . ἐστίν] 'Motherhood has strange power.'

770-771. mvp-comment-361-1 κακῶς | πάσχοντι] She regards herself as ill-treated by Orestes, because she knew that he would avenge his father if he could. Cp. supr. 293 foll., 603 foll., infr. 779.

771. mvp-comment-362-1 ὧν τέκῃ] ἄv is omitted. See Essay on L. § 27. P. 45.

772. mvp-comment-363-1 μάτην .. ἥκομεν] 'I have made a mistake in coming;' i.e. I see that I have given no satisfaction, and therefore shall receive no reward.

775. mvp-comment-364-1 τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς γεγώς] 'Sprung from my very life.' For this pathetic use of ψυχή, cp. Aesch. Cho. 749, τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς τριβήν. Το mark the horror of the situation she expresses Orestes' original nearness to her in the strongest manner. Cp. Shak. Macbeth, 2. 3, 'The near in blood, The nearer bloody.'

776. mvp-comment-365-1 μαστῶν . . ἐμῆς] 'Going aloof from my breast that gave him suck.' The words μαστῶν καὶ τροφῆς are used figuratively for the debt of obligation due from a son to his mother. Orestes at the time of Agamemnon's death must have been at least ten years old.

780-781. mvp-comment-366-1 ὥστ᾽ οὔτε νυκτός. . ἡδύν] 'So that I have no rest by night, nor can I snatch from the day a sweet moment of repose to enfold me.' στεγάζειν is adapted to ἐξ ἡμέρας-some more general word, such as ἴσχειν, being understood with νυκτός. ἐξ implies that the time is taken from the day, and would not naturally be given to sleep. ἡδύν means, if I do fall asleep, I am terrified with dreams;' i.e. I can neither sleep comfortably at night, nor take a quiet nap in the day-time.

781-782. mvp-comment-367-1 ἀλλ᾽ ὁ προστατῶν.. θανουμένην] But Time ever standing over me was a jailor who conducted me to death. The inversion (for χρόνον διῆ-

782-784. mvp-comment-368-1 yov, see Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 ß) is here forcible in personifying χρόνος. For προστατῶν, instans, cp. Aesch. Agam. 976, δείγμα προστατήριον.

783-784. mvp-comment-369-1 But then, to-day's event has rid me once for all of fears from him and her.' The suppressed or deferred apodosis is resumed in 1. 786. In τῆσδ᾽ ἐκείνου θ' the more emphatic pronoun is put first.

784-785. mvp-comment-370-1 ἥδε γὰρ . . ἦν μοι] For she, dwelling under the same roof, has been a greater bane to me.' οὖσα must be supplied either with βλάβη or with ξύνοικος, and μοι belongs to both.

785-786. mvp-comment-371-1 τοὐμὸν αἷμα] 'Incessantly draining my very life-blood.' ἄκρατον πιεῖν, 'to drink wine unqualified,' seems to have become a synonym for hard drinking. Cp. Od. 9. 297, ἀνδρόμεα κρέ᾽ ἔδων καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἄκρητον γάλα πίνων: Aesch. Cho. 577, 8, φόνου δ' Ἐρινὺς οὐχ ὑπεσπανισμένη | ἄκρατον αἷμα πίεται, τρίτην πόσιν. The force of the adjective here is simply intensive. The addition of ψυχῆς marks the figurative nature of the expression.

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601–750

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ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν· εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ 610 ξύνεστι, τοῦδε φροντίδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσορῶ.

ΚΛ. ὦ θρέμμ᾽ ἀναιδές, ἢ σ᾽ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλ᾽ ἄγαν λέγειν ποιεῖ ποιεῖ L. ποεῖ Γ. ποιεῖ Pal..

ΗΛ. σύ τοι λέγεις νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ. σὺ γὰρ ποιεῖς ποεῖσ LΓ. ποιεῖς Pal. τοὔργον· τὰ δ᾽ ἔργα τοὺς λόγους εὑρίσκεται. 625

ΚΛ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὰ τὴν οὐμάτην L. οὔ μὰ τὴν C. δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράσους τοῦδ᾽ οὐκ ἀλύξεις, εὐτ᾿ ἂν Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

ΗΛ. ὁρᾷς; πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐκφέρει, μεθεῖσά μοι λέγειν ἃ χρήζοιμ', οὐδ᾽ ἐπίστασαι κλύειν.

ΚΛ. οὔκουν ἐάσεις οὐδ᾽ ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς 630 θῦσαί μ', ἐπειδὴ σοί γ᾽ σύ γ' L. σοί γ' C. ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν ;

ΗΛ. ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε· μηδ᾽ ἐπαιτιῶ τοὐμὸν στόμ᾽, ὡς οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμ᾽ ἔτι.

ΚΛ.

ΠΑΙΔΑΓΩΓΟΣ.

ξέναι γυναῖκες, πῶς ἂν εἰδείην σαφῶς 660 εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματ᾿ Αἰγίσθου τάδε;

ΧΟ. τάδ᾽ ἐστίν, ὦ ξέν. αὐτὸς εἴκασας καλῶς.

ΠΑ. ἢ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδ᾽ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τύραννος εἰσορᾶν.

ΧΟ. μάλιστα πάντων· ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα. 665

ΠΑ. ὦ χαῖρ᾽, ἄνασσα. σοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγους ἡδεῖς φίλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς Αἰγίσθῳ θ᾽ ὁμοῦ.

ΚΛ. ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου πρώτιστα χρήζω, τίς σ᾽ om. LF add C2 or 4 ἀπέστειλεν ἀπέστειλεν L. ἀπέστειλε A. βροτῶν.

ΠΑ. Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα. 670

ΚΛ. τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξέν'; εἰπέ, παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ἂν ἀνδρός, σάφ' οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.

ΠΑ. τέθνηκ᾽ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.

ΗΛ. ο ἰ ἐγὼ ἐγὼ LAFL Pal. τάλαιν, ὄλωλα τῇδ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

ΚΛ. τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε. 675

ΠΑ. θανόντ᾽ Ορέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω γρ. τότ᾽ ἐννέπω Co interl. πάλαι λέγω Γ. πάλιν λέγω Pal..

ΗΛ. ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμ᾿ ἔτι.

ΚΛ. σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσ᾽, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε, τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται ;

ΠΑ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα καὶ μὴν ἐφίημʼ· εἰ δέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀεὶ λόγους ἐξῆρχες, οὐκ ἂν ἦσθα λυπηρὰ κλύειν.

Χορός ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν· εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ 610 ξύνεστι, τοῦδε φροντίδʼ οὐκέτʼ εἰσορῶ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα ὦ θρέμμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σʼ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμʼ ἔπη καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλʼ ἄγαν λέγειν ποεῖ.

Ἠλέκτρα σύ τοι λέγεις νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ· σὺ γὰρ ποεῖς τοὔργον· τὰ δʼ ἔργα τοὺς λόγους εὑρίσκεται. 625

Κλυταιμνήστρα ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράσους τοῦδʼ οὐκ ἀλύξεις, εὖτʼ ἂν Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα ὁρᾷς; πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐκφέρει, μεθεῖσά μοι λέγειν ἃ χρῄζοιμʼ, οὐδʼ ἐπίστασαι κλύειν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα οὔκουν ἐάσεις οὐδʼ ὑπʼ εὐφήμου βοῆς 630 θῦσαί μʼ, ἐπειδὴ σοί γʼ ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν;

Ἠλέκτρα ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε· μηδʼ ἐπαιτιῶ τοὐμὸν στόμʼ, ὡς οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμʼ ἔτι.

Παιδαγωγός ξέναι γυναῖκες, πῶς ἂν εἰδείην σαφῶς 660 εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματʼ Αἰγίσθου τάδε;

Χορός τάδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ξένʼ· αὐτὸς ᾔκασας καλῶς.

Παιδαγωγός ἦ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδʼ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τύραννος εἰσορᾶν.

Χορός μάλιστα πάντων· ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα. 665

Παιδαγωγός ὦ χαῖρʼ, ἄνασσα· σοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγους ἡδεῖς φίλου παρʼ ἀνδρὸς Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου πρώτιστα χρῄζω τίς σʼ ἀπέστειλεν βροτῶν.

Παιδαγωγός Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα. 670

Κλυταιμνήστρα τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξένʼ; εἰπέ· παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ὢν ἀνδρός, σάφʼ οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.

Παιδαγωγός τέθνηκʼ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινʼ, ὄλωλα τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε. 675

Παιδαγωγός θανόντʼ Ὀρέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμʼ ἔτι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσʼ, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε, τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται;

Χορός φεῦ φεῦ· τὸ πᾶν δὴ δεσπόταισι τοῖς πάλαι πρόρριζον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθαρται γένος. 765

Κλυταιμνήστρα ὦ Ζεῦ, τί ταῦτα, πότερον εὐτυχῆ λέγω, ἢ δεινὰ μέν, κέρδη δέ; λυπηρῶς δʼ ἔχει, εἰ τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς τὸν βίον σῴζω κακοῖς.

Παιδαγωγός τί δʼ ὧδʼ ἀθυμεῖς, ὦ γύναι, τῷ νῦν λόγῳ;

Κλυταιμνήστρα δεινὸν τὸ τίκτειν ἐστίν· οὐδὲ γὰρ κακῶς 770 πάσχοντι μῖσος ὧν τέκῃ προσγίγνεται.

Παιδαγωγός μάτην ἄρʼ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν.

Ἠλέκτρα οἴμοι τάλαινα· νῦν γὰρ οἰμῶξαι πάρα, Ὀρέστα, τὴν σὴν ξυμφοράν, ὅθʼ ὧδʼ ἔχων πρὸς τῆσδʼ ὑβρίζει μητρός. ἆρʼ ἔχει καλῶς; 790

Κλυταιμνήστρα οὔτοι σύ· κεῖνος δʼ ὡς ἔχει καλῶς ἔχει.

Ἠλέκτρα ἄκουε, Νέμεσι τοῦ θανόντος ἀρτίως.

Κλυταιμνήστρα ἤκουσεν ὧν δεῖ κἀπεκύρωσεν καλῶς.

Ἠλέκτρα ὕβριζε· νῦν γὰρ εὐτυχοῦσα τυγχάνεις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα οὔκουν Ὀρέστης καὶ σὺ παύσετον τάδε. 795

Ἠλέκτρα πεπαύμεθʼ ἡμεῖς, οὐχ ὅπως σὲ παύσομεν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἄξιος τυχεῖν, εἰ τήνδʼ ἔπαυσας τῆς πολυγλώσσου βοῆς.

Παιδαγωγός οὐκοῦν ἀποστείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τάδʼ εὖ κυρεῖ.

(). 610 I see her fuming with fresh wrath: the thought 610 Of justice enters not her bosom now.

CLY What thought of justice should be mine for her, Who at her age can so insult a mother? Will shame withhold her from the wildest deed?

EL Not unashamed, assure thee, I stand here, Little as thou mayest deem it. Well I feel My acts untimely and my words unmeet. But your hostility and treatment force me Against my disposition to this course. 620 Harsh ways are taught by harshness.

CLY Brazen thing! Too true it is that words and deeds of mine Are evermore informing thy harsh tongue.

EL The shame is yours, because the deeds are yours. My words are but their issue and effect. 625

CLY By sovereign Artemis, whom still I serve, You’ll rue this boldness when Aegisthus comes.

EL See now, your anger bears you off, and ne’er Will let you listen, though you gave me leave.

CLY Must I not even sacrifice in peace 630 From your harsh clamour, when you’ve had your say?

EL I have done. I check thee not. Go, sacrifice! Accuse not me of hindering piety.

CLY

OLD M Enter the Old Man .

Kind dames and damsels, may I clearly know 660 If these be King Aegisthus’ palace-halls?

CH They are, sir; you yourself have guessed aright.

OLD M May I guess further that in yonder dame I see his queen? She looks right royally.

CH ’Tis she,—no other,—whom your eyes behold. 665

OLD M Princess, all hail! To thee and to thy spouse I come with words of gladness from a friend.

ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν· εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ
610

ξύνεστι, τοῦδε φροντίδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσορῶ.

ΚΛ.

ὦ θρέμμ᾽ ἀναιδές, ἢ σ᾽ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλ᾽ ἄγαν λέγειν ποιεῖ ποιεῖ L. ποεῖ Γ. ποιεῖ Pal..

ΗΛ.

σύ τοι λέγεις νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ. σὺ γὰρ ποιεῖς ποεῖσ LΓ. ποιεῖς Pal.

τοὔργον· τὰ δ᾽ ἔργα τοὺς λόγους εὑρίσκεται.
625

ΚΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὰ τὴν οὐμάτην L. οὔ μὰ τὴν C. δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράσους

τοῦδ᾽ οὐκ ἀλύξεις, εὐτ᾿ ἂν Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

ΗΛ.

ὁρᾷς; πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐκφέρει, μεθεῖσά μοι

λέγειν ἃ χρήζοιμ', οὐδ᾽ ἐπίστασαι κλύειν.

ΚΛ.

οὔκουν ἐάσεις οὐδ᾽ ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς
630

θῦσαί μ', ἐπειδὴ σοί γ᾽ σύ γ' L. σοί γ' C. ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν ;

ΗΛ.

ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε· μηδ᾽ ἐπαιτιῶ

τοὐμὸν στόμ᾽, ὡς οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμ᾽ ἔτι.

ξέναι γυναῖκες, πῶς ἂν εἰδείην σαφῶς
660

εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματ᾿ Αἰγίσθου τάδε;

ΧΟ.

τάδ᾽ ἐστίν, ὦ ξέν. αὐτὸς εἴκασας καλῶς.

ΠΑ.

ἢ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδ᾽ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ

κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τύραννος εἰσορᾶν.

ΧΟ.

μάλιστα πάντων· ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα.
665

ΠΑ.

ὦ χαῖρ᾽, ἄνασσα. σοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγους

ἡδεῖς φίλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς Αἰγίσθῳ θ᾽ ὁμοῦ.

ΚΛ.

ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου

πρώτιστα χρήζω, τίς σ᾽ om. LF add C2 or 4 ἀπέστειλεν ἀπέστειλεν L. ἀπέστειλε A. βροτῶν.

ΠΑ.

Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα.
670

ΚΛ.

τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξέν'; εἰπέ, παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ἂν

ἀνδρός, σάφ' οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.

ΠΑ.

τέθνηκ᾽ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.

ΗΛ.

ο ἰ ἐγὼ ἐγὼ LAFL Pal. τάλαιν, ὄλωλα τῇδ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

ΚΛ.

τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε.
675

ΠΑ.

θανόντ᾽ Ορέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω γρ. τότ᾽ ἐννέπω Co interl. πάλαι λέγω Γ. πάλιν λέγω Pal..

ΗΛ.

ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμ᾿ ἔτι.

ΚΛ.

σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσ᾽, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε,

τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται ;

Κλυταιμνήστρα

καὶ μὴν ἐφίημʼ· εἰ δέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀεὶ λόγους

ἐξῆρχες, οὐκ ἂν ἦσθα λυπηρὰ κλύειν.

Χορός

ὁρῶ μένος πνέουσαν· εἰ δὲ σὺν δίκῃ
610

ξύνεστι, τοῦδε φροντίδʼ οὐκέτʼ εἰσορῶ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ θρέμμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σʼ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμʼ ἔπη

καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλʼ ἄγαν λέγειν ποεῖ.

Ἠλέκτρα

σύ τοι λέγεις νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ· σὺ γὰρ ποεῖς

τοὔργον· τὰ δʼ ἔργα τοὺς λόγους εὑρίσκεται.
625

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράσους

τοῦδʼ οὐκ ἀλύξεις, εὖτʼ ἂν Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὁρᾷς; πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐκφέρει, μεθεῖσά μοι

λέγειν ἃ χρῄζοιμʼ, οὐδʼ ἐπίστασαι κλύειν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔκουν ἐάσεις οὐδʼ ὑπʼ εὐφήμου βοῆς
630

θῦσαί μʼ, ἐπειδὴ σοί γʼ ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε· μηδʼ ἐπαιτιῶ

τοὐμὸν στόμʼ, ὡς οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμʼ ἔτι.

Παιδαγωγός

ξέναι γυναῖκες, πῶς ἂν εἰδείην σαφῶς
660

εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματʼ Αἰγίσθου τάδε;

Χορός

τάδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ξένʼ· αὐτὸς ᾔκασας καλῶς.

Παιδαγωγός

ἦ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδʼ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ

κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τύραννος εἰσορᾶν.

Χορός

μάλιστα πάντων· ἥδε σοι κείνη πάρα.
665

Παιδαγωγός

ὦ χαῖρʼ, ἄνασσα· σοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγους

ἡδεῖς φίλου παρʼ ἀνδρὸς Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ σου

πρώτιστα χρῄζω τίς σʼ ἀπέστειλεν βροτῶν.

Παιδαγωγός

Φανοτεὺς ὁ Φωκεύς, πρᾶγμα πορσύνων μέγα.
670

Κλυταιμνήστρα

τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξένʼ; εἰπέ· παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ὢν

ἀνδρός, σάφʼ οἶδα, προσφιλεῖς λέξεις λόγους.

Παιδαγωγός

τέθνηκʼ Ὀρέστης· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶς λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινʼ, ὄλωλα τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

τί φής, τί φής, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτης κλύε.
675

Παιδαγωγός

θανόντʼ Ὀρέστην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐδέν εἰμʼ ἔτι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

σὺ μὲν τὰ σαυτῆς πρᾶσσʼ, ἐμοὶ δὲ σύ, ξένε,

τἀληθὲς εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται;

Χορός

φεῦ φεῦ· τὸ πᾶν δὴ δεσπόταισι τοῖς πάλαι

πρόρριζον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθαρται γένος.
765

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί ταῦτα, πότερον εὐτυχῆ λέγω,

ἢ δεινὰ μέν, κέρδη δέ; λυπηρῶς δʼ ἔχει,

εἰ τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς τὸν βίον σῴζω κακοῖς.

Παιδαγωγός

τί δʼ ὧδʼ ἀθυμεῖς, ὦ γύναι, τῷ νῦν λόγῳ;

Κλυταιμνήστρα

δεινὸν τὸ τίκτειν ἐστίν· οὐδὲ γὰρ κακῶς
770

πάσχοντι μῖσος ὧν τέκῃ προσγίγνεται.

Παιδαγωγός

μάτην ἄρʼ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι τάλαινα· νῦν γὰρ οἰμῶξαι πάρα,

Ὀρέστα, τὴν σὴν ξυμφοράν, ὅθʼ ὧδʼ ἔχων

πρὸς τῆσδʼ ὑβρίζει μητρός. ἆρʼ ἔχει καλῶς;
790

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔτοι σύ· κεῖνος δʼ ὡς ἔχει καλῶς ἔχει.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἄκουε, Νέμεσι τοῦ θανόντος ἀρτίως.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ἤκουσεν ὧν δεῖ κἀπεκύρωσεν καλῶς.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὕβριζε· νῦν γὰρ εὐτυχοῦσα τυγχάνεις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔκουν Ὀρέστης καὶ σὺ παύσετον τάδε.
795

Ἠλέκτρα

πεπαύμεθʼ ἡμεῖς, οὐχ ὅπως σὲ παύσομεν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἄξιος τυχεῖν,

εἰ τήνδʼ ἔπαυσας τῆς πολυγλώσσου βοῆς.

Παιδαγωγός

οὐκοῦν ἀποστείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τάδʼ εὖ κυρεῖ.

().
610

I see her fuming with fresh wrath: the thought
610

Of justice enters not her bosom now.

CLY

What thought of justice should be mine for her,

Who at her age can so insult a mother?

Will shame withhold her from the wildest deed?

EL

Not unashamed, assure thee, I stand here,

Little as thou mayest deem it. Well I feel

My acts untimely and my words unmeet.

But your hostility and treatment force me

Against my disposition to this course.
620

Harsh ways are taught by harshness.

CLY

Brazen thing!

Too true it is that words and deeds of mine

Are evermore informing thy harsh tongue.

EL

The shame is yours, because the deeds are yours.

My words are but their issue and effect.
625

CLY

By sovereign Artemis, whom still I serve,

You’ll rue this boldness when Aegisthus comes.

EL

See now, your anger bears you off, and ne’er

Will let you listen, though you gave me leave.

CLY

Must I not even sacrifice in peace
630

From your harsh clamour, when you’ve had your say?

EL

I have done. I check thee not. Go, sacrifice!

Accuse not me of hindering piety.

OLD M
Enter the Old Man .

Kind dames and damsels, may I clearly know
660

If these be King Aegisthus’ palace-halls?

CH

They are, sir; you yourself have guessed aright.

OLD M

May I guess further that in yonder dame

I see his queen? She looks right royally.

CH

’Tis she,—no other,—whom your eyes behold.
665

OLD M

Princess, all hail! To thee and to thy spouse

I come with words of gladness from a friend.

CLY

That auspice I accept. But I would first

Learn from thee who of men hath sent thee forth?

OLD M

Phanoteus the Phocian, with a charge of weight.
670

CLY

Declare it, stranger. Coming from a friend,

Thou bring’st us friendly tidings, I feel sure.

OLD M

Orestes’ death. Ye have the sum in brief.

EL

Ah me! undone! This day hath ruined me.

CLY

What? Let me hear again. Regard her not.
675

OLD M

Again I say it, Orestes is no more.

EL

Undone! undone! Farewell to life and hope!