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1051–1200

τολμᾷς] 'Can bring yourself.' For a similar periphrasis with τολμάω, cp. Aesch. Prom. 999, 1000, τόλμησον, ὦ μάταιε, τόλμησόν ποτε | πρὸς τὰς παρούσας πημονὰς ὀρθῶς φρονεῖν.

Cp. Ant. 69, 70, οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι | πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.

θηρᾶσθαι κενά] ‘Το seek for what is vain,' as the sympathy of Chrysothemis has proved itself to be.

The Chorus lament, for Agamemnon's sake, over the quarrel between his daughters, which is added to the other troubles of his house, including the supposed death of Orestes, and express their admiration of Electra's attitude. Addressing her in the second strophe, they encourage her with words of sympathy and commendation. While Orestes lived, they bade her hope and trust. Now that they believe him to be dead, they are carried away by the heroism of her despair. That Electra remains upon the stage appears from infr. 1105.

Agamemnon is forgotten by his daughter Chrysothemis, and by others who owed him gratitude. In this the human race shows itself inferior to the prudent stork. But though men forget, the gods remember, and will soon exact the penalty.

φρονιμωτάτους] Cp. esp. Plat. Polit. 263 D, οἷον δοκεῖ τὸ τῶν γεράνων, where, in a similar spirit of bitterness, the stork is again preferred to man. The expression (οιωνούς) is generalized, as elsewhere in Sophocles.

τροφᾶς.. εὕρωσι] ‘Caring in respect of nurture for those from whom they are sprung, and from whom they have experienced good.' For the double genitive, cp. Trach. 108, ἀνδρὸς δεῖμα φέρουσαν ὁδοῦ, and for the subjunctive, cp. supr. 771, μίσος ὧν τέκῃ.

τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἴσας τελοῦμεν] 'Do we not equally fulfil this duty?' For the adverbial expression (ἐπ᾽ ἴσας, sc. μοίρας), cp. Trach. 727, ἐξ ἑκουσίας.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ *τάν] For the omission of μά, which the MSS. insert against the metre, cp. Ant. 758, ἀλλ᾿ οὐ, τόνδ' Ὄλυμπον : infr. 1239.

οὐρανίαν] Cp. Ο. Τ. 865-7, νόμοι . . οὐρανίαν | δι' αἰθέρα τεκνωθέντες.

δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι] Sc. οὐ τελοῦμεν ταῦτα. The subject is ἡμεῖς, i.e. οἱ ἄνθρωποι, but the sentence, although general in form, is pointed at

those who take part with Aegisthus. (In failing thus) 'we do not long escape from trouble.' For the passive form in ἀπόνητοι, see Essay on L. § 31. pp. 53. 4, § 53. p. 98 a, and cp. esp. Trach. 102, ποθουμένᾳ, and note.

ὦ χθονία.. φάμα] Ο human voice that piercest underground!' βροτοῖσι is really equivalent to a genitive, depending on the verbal notion in φάμα. More literally, Rumour on the part of mortals.' The language presupposes a communion of the living and the dead, so that the power of Rumour about things on earth is believed to extend to the world below.

οἰκτρὰν ὅπα] 'With lamentable sound.' ὅπα is cogn. acc. Compare with ll. 1066-8, Aesch. Pers. 639 foll. ἀχόρευτα φέρουσ᾽ ὀνείδη] · With saddening reproachful news.'

Various corrections of νοσεῖ have been attempted, of which Wecklein's ὀνοστά is the most ingenious. Others are νοσεῖ δή, νοσεῖται, νοσεύει, to which one more may be added, νοσώδη. The point especially indicated in this line is the supposed death of Orestes, which leaves the house of Agamemnon apparently without hope of healing or purgation.

τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων . . διαίτᾳ] (1) Most editors agree in understanding this to mean, 'While between his two children a quarrel has arisen that puts an end to the harmony of loving intercourse.' But (a) would Sophocles put φύλοπις for a private quarrel? Or (b) can φ. οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξισοῦται be construed so as to mean νείκει διίστανται? Another interpretation seems possible, if we may suppose the Chorus to have been carried away by the visionary hopes of Electra. Then (2) διπλή φύλοπις might be taken to mean the 'two-fold war-cry,' i.e. the combination of the two sisters for hostile purposes, which had seemed possible, supr. 448-71 (note esp. ll. 453-6), and which Electra had depicted in such glowing colours in supr. 967-89. This combination 'is no longer evenly maintained in concord,' since Chrysothemis has renounced her part in it. Or (3) φύλοπις may have lost its hostile association and be used etymologically (Essay on L. $ 54. p. 100 d) for 'the combined voice of the family' as a symbol of fraternal concord. The two sisters no longer 'speak the same thing.' This explanation may be further modified by taking διπλῆ τo mean 'divided.' 'The voices of their children are disparted and no longer harmoniously sustained in a life of affection.'

σαλεύει] 'Endures the storm.' Essay on L. § 58. p. 105.

τὸν ἀεὶ .. στενάχουσ] Everlastingly mourning for her sire (πατρός, gen. of cause), unhappy maiden.' τὸν ἀεί, sc. χρόνον. Cp. Ο. C. 1584, 1701, and notes. If this 'idiotism' is rejected, it is necessary to have recourse to conjecture here, as well as to a forced explanation of the passages in the Oedipus Coloneus. Schndw. conjectures Ηλέκτρα πότμον ἀεὶ πατρός (retaining μá in the strophe): and this is adopted by Wecklein. Paley, Ἠλ. τὸν ἀεὶ πότμον (‘The irrevocable fate of death'). Dind., τὸν ἑὸν πότμον.

For the correction, *πάνδυρτος for πανόδυρτος, cp. Ο. Τ. 1219, *δύρομαι

(MSS. ὀδύρομαι). And for the sense, cp. supr. 148 foll.

οὔτε. Ἐρινύν] ‘Not avoiding death, but willing to die, if she may but destroy the twofold Evil Power.' Cp. supr. 399, 956, 7. Electra has only spoken of killing Aegisthus. But see note on supr. 987 foll. There is here a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 438, ἔπειτ' ἐγὼ νοσφίσας ὀλοίμαν.

τίς ἂν.. βλάστοι] When shall one' (i. e. another) arise, so worthy of a noble sire?'-i. e. Noble at once in birth and nature. Cp. Ant. 38, εἴτ᾿ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ᾿ ἐσθλῶν κακή. And see the strained use of the same word in supr. 858 (ἐλπίδων) εὐπατρίδων.

οὐδεὶς.. εἵλου] (1) According to Hermann's explanation of these lines, they state with greater calmness the reason of Electra's action, for which the preceding words express unbounded admiration. It would be hard to find a parallel for Electra's conduct, and yet it is that which every noble mind would choose. The truth is (γάρ), no one of noble strain is willing to live on in misery, degradation, and oblivion. Even so thou, O my daughter, didst choose the lot which all men share and all lament' (viz. death), 'so as, arming' (against thyself acc. to Herm. acc. to Schol. 'subduing'-) 'the power of wrong, to win a twofold renown, in being celebrated for wisdom as well as for the highest filial duty.' Cp. Trach. 721, 2, ζῆν γὰρ κακῶς κλύουσαν οὐκ ἀνασχετόν, | ἥτις προτιμᾷ μὴ κακὴ πεφυκέναι : Αj. 479, 80, ἀλλ᾿ ἡ καλῶς ζῆν ἢ καλῶς τεθνηκέναι τὸν εὐγενῆ χρή. Two points in this interpretation admit of doubt, the use of αἰῶνα for the state of the dead, and the meaning given to καθοπλίσασα. For the former, cp. O. С. 1551, 2, τὸν τελευταῖον βίον κρύψων ἐς "Αιδην, and note. Hermann's explanation of καθοπλίσασα, sc. κατὰ σεαυτοῦ, was an expedient which he adopted in order to avoid that of the Scholiast, καταπολεμήσασα καὶ νικήσασα, which appeared impossible. Either (2) the Scholiast should be followed in spite of analogy, or there is some corruption. Herm. doubtfully suggested καθιππάσασα. Other conjectures are καθυπνίσασα, καταπτύσασα. Qy. καθαγνίσασα (?), i.e. ' purging away as if by fire;' cp. supr. 70, δίκῃ καθαρτὴς πρὸς θεῶν ὡρμημένος : Eur. Or. 39, 40. ἐξ ὅτου σφαγαῖς θανοῦσα μήτηρ πυρὶ καθήγνισται δέμας, According to another line of interpretation (3), the connection is to this effect :- Electra is peerless, for none amongst the nobly-born are found to allow their glory to be soiled in a life of misery, as Electra does, choosing to share the common lot of affliction, if only she may subdue the criminals, etc. But εὔκλεια cannot =ἀγλαΐα ( supr. 211), and although the sentiment that the greater number of mankind are born to trouble is not un-Greek, it is hardly Sophoclean or appropriate here. Others would read κλεινὸν for κοινόν.

σοφά τ᾿ ἀρίστα τε] 'Wise, as well as bravest,' or 'best, Wise, i. e. because holding fast the higher law. Cp. l. 1094.

Enter Orestes and Pylades, with attendants, as the ἄνδρες Φωκέων τεταγμένοι of supr. 759. The urn is carried, not by Orestes as might be expected from supr. 54. but by one of the attendants ( infr. 1123).

'Mayest thou live, I pray, as far superior to thy foes in wealth and might as now thou art fallen beneath them!' Cp. Hdt. 8. 60, τῶν ἐχθρῶν κατύπερθε γενέσθαι: ΙΙ. 16. 722.

*τεῶν is Hermann's correction of τῶν. Others (Lange, Wecklein) read τοσόνδ'.

ὑπὸ †χεῖρα] Hermann's conjecture, ὑπόχειρ (cp. ἐπίχειρ), has been received by subsequent editors. But, although it gives regularity to the metre, the word is not found elsewhere, and ὑπὸ χεῖρα appears idiomatic. Hermann himself (1839) read ὑπὸ χέρα.

μοίρᾳ . . βεβῶσαν] Not placed in happy fortune.' Cр. О. С. 1358, 59, ὅτ᾽ ἐν πόνῳ | ταὐτῷ βεβηκὼς τυγχάνεις κακῶν ἐμοί.

ἃ δὲ μέγιστ᾽ ἔβλαστε.. εὐσεβεία] Either (1) But prospering most highly, through Zeus-loved piety, in respect of those laws that are mightiest in their origin,' or (2) But endowed with the noblest gifts from those laws which are of mightiest origin, because of thy piety to Zeus.' For μέγιστ' ἔβλαστε, ср. О. Т. 865-72, Ant. 454-7. For the genitive τῶνδε in (2), see Essay on L. § 10. p. 14 b. And for τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ in (1), cp. Phil. 1442, 3, ὡς τἄλλα πάντα δεύτερ᾽ ἡγεῖται πατὴρ | Ζεύς· ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνήσκει βροτοῖς. Wecklein reads ἄριστον αἶνον δι' εὐσέβειαν, Nauck, ἄριστα τὰν σὰν δι᾽ εὐσέβειαν.

ᾤκηκεν] Hath his abode.' The perfect tense ironically suggests the supposed permanence of Aegisthus' rule.

ποθεινήν] ‘Wishful, i. e. with desire to see them. It is a courteous phrase, for which cp. Shak. Mids. N. D. 1. 1, 'With duty and desire we follow you,'-but may have suggested to the spectators Orestes longing for his home and Electra's longing for him. For the active use of ποθεινός, cp. Eur. Phoen. 1737, ποθεινὰ δάκρυα.

τὸν ἄγχιστον] 'Nearest,' i.e. as daughter to the Queen. But the word is calculated to move Orestes, to whom Electra is indeed nearest. The masculine gives generality. Cp. supr. 1026, and note.

οὐκ οἶδα .. κληδόν] ‘I know not what report you speak of.' Orestes must seem ignorant of the coming of the Paedagogus, who professed to have been sent by Phanoteus, and had therefore nothing to do with Strophius, from whom Orestes is supposed to come. The evidence appears to flow through two channels, which are independent of each other.

Some editors punctuate after ἐκεῖνο, some do not punctuate at all between τοῦτ᾽ .. ἄχθος. The pause at σαφές seems on the whole most probable. Ah! here is that we heard of now made clear. I see the burden ready (as it would seem) to my hand.'

πρόχειρον may either mean (1) 'Before my hand,' i. e. ready to be taken up; or (2) Held in the hand' of another.'

τι .. τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν] The litotes suggests not only his death, but the ruin of his house. Cp. ll. 1121, 2.

οὐ γὰρ οὐσ'] The form of expression may be simply occasioned by antithesis. But friends of Strophius might have reason to suspect those about Aegisthus of being unfriendly to Orestes.

ἢ.. φύσιν] ‘Or of his natural kin.' For πρὸς αἵματος, cp. Aj. 1305, τοὺς πρὸς αἵματος, and for φύσιν, see Essay on L. § 17. p. 25. 4, and cp. supr. 325-

O sole memorial and relic of the living Orestes, dearest of mankind to me, how far otherwise than I had hoped do I receive thee! with thoughts how different from those with which I sent thee forth!" By a confusion to which double negatives are liable (Essay on L. § 29. p. 49), the negative implied in ἀπό is first expanded in a negative sense, and then ἀπό is resumed with ὧνπερ in a different (positive) sense. For a negative similarly ignored in the relative clause, cp. Ant. 1064-7, κάτισθι, μὴ πολλοὺς .. τελῶν | ἐν οἷσι, κ.τ.λ. Wecklein in l. 1128 reads οὐχ ὅνπερ with an inferior MS. • How contrary to my hopes I receive- not him whom I sent forth.'

λαμπρόν] 'Bright,' i.e. full of promise. Cp. supr. 685, εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός. ἐγώ has a pathetic, not a logical emphasis, and reminds the spectator that Electra's action at the critical moment was the saving of her father's house. Cp. supr. 12.

The v. r. ὡς ὤφελες (suggested by 1134) is far inferior to ὡς ὤφελον. The struggle of the intervening years now seems worse than yain.

οὔτε .. βάρος] ‘Nor took up, as I should have done, from the all-consuming fire, the miserable remains.' See E. on L. § 8. p. 11. For βάρος, cp. Aesch. Ag. 442, βαρὺ ψήγμα, παμφλέκτου suggests that the fire has done its utmost. Cp. Od. 11. 220, 1, ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο | δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκ᾿ ὄστεα θυμός. See Essay on L. $ 53. p. 98.

She now goes back in memory to the happier time before the death of Agamemnon.

τῆς ἐμῆς ἀνωφελήτου] 'The care which of old I spent on thee-in vain!' τροφή is active here, as in Eur. Tro. 1187, αἵ τ᾿ ἐμαὶ τροφαί.

οὔτε . . φίλος] ‘For never wast thou bound to thy mother by such close ties as thou wast to me.' φίλος implies reciprocal affection. Clytemnestra was already alienated from Agamemnon's offspring in those early days. καί marks the stress on ἐμοῦ. Cp. Ο.Τ. 94, ἢ καὶ τῆς ἐμῆς, κ.τ.λ.

And I was more thy nurse than the domestics were.' A natural picture of the fondness of an elder sister for a little brother.

(1) 'And thou didst ever call me "sister."" Or (2) And the sister of Orestes was the name by which I was ever called,' ie. I was the one sister who was specially connected with thee. At this word, as Wecklein observes, all doubt is removed from the mind of Orestes.

τέθνηκ᾽ ἐγώ σοι] 'I am dead because of thee,' or 'Thou hast been the death of me.' Cp. supr. 808, ὥς μ' ἀπώλεσας θανών: Eur. Androm. 334, τέθνηκα τῇ σῇ θυγατρὶ καί μ᾿ ἀπώλεσε. E. on L. § 13. p. 20.

ἧς is governed first by φήμας, = περὶ ἧς, and is then placed in a more definite construction with τιμωρός. Essay on L. § 9. p. 13. 3.

προϋπεμψεν] The same word (l. 1155) is repeated in a different connection. See Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83, 84.

καὶ σκιὰν ἀνωφελῆ] 'And a vain shadow of thee;' i. e. the remembrance of him revived by the sight of the urn, an imagination which brought no help with it.

For this short lyric (anapaestic) outburst, cp. especially Trach. 1085, 6, ὦναξ ᾿Αίδη, κ.τ.λ.

ὦ δέμας οἰκτρόν] ‘Poor form!' She sees in imagination the mangled body of Orestes: supr. 756.

δεινοτάτας κελεύθους] Sent on a terrible journey;' i.e. dismissed from life by a calamitous death. Cp. Trach. 874, 5, βέβηκε Δῃάνειρα τὴν πανυστάτην | ὁδῶν ἁπασῶν ἐξ ἀκινήτου ποδός. Others explain this of the bringing of the ashes from Phocis to Argos.

Still gazing at the urn, she calls her brother by the most endearing name: Ant. 899, 915.

To die and share thy burial.'

She contrasts the tranquillity of the lifeless ashes before her with her own sorrow.

Unable to give real consolation, the Chorus fall back on the common-place that loss is common to the race.' Ср. О. Т. 1319, 20, and note. For a speech of three lines in a similar position, cp. Aj. 784-6.

Orestes is overcome by compassion in witnessing Electra's grief for him, and, contrary to his first intention, now prepares to disclose himself to her.

ποῖ .. ἔλθω] «Το what words must I have recourse, when I know not what to say?' Cp. Phil. 897-9, Ν. οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅποι χρὴ τάπορον τρέ τρέπειν ἔπος. Φ. ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγ', ὦ τέκνον, τάδε. Ν. ἀλλ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

Some omit the point after ἄλγος. Cp. supr. 316. In that case the pronoun í is again supposed to be equivalent to ὅ, τι.

Before revealing himself, Orestes gazes fixedly at Electra, as if to realize by actual observation the depth of her misery, and in doing so utters brief ejaculations, to which she replies amazedly.

O ruined form, disowned both of men and gods! ! El. Those inauspicious words of yours, O Stranger, can apply to none but me.'

'Alas, for thy forlorn and ill-starred life! For ἀνύμφου, cp. supr. 961, 2, πάρεστι δ᾽ ἀλγεῖν ἐς τοσόνδε τοῦ χρόνου | ἄλεκτρα γηράσκουσαν ἀνυμέναιά τε. And for τροφῆς = ' Condition,' cp. Ο. C. 362, ζητοῦσα τὴν σήν, ποῦ κατοικοίης, τροφήν.

Why, I pray thee, Stranger, dost thou thus look steadfastly and groan?' ἐπισκοπῶν] · With fixed look,'-as if studying something deeply.

How utterly ignorant was I of my own sorrow!'

ἐν τῷ .. τῶν εἰρημένων] · In what that has been said did you discern this?' τῶν εἰρημένων marks Electra's unconsciousness that it is the sight of herself and her condition, and not any word spoken, that has moved the 'stranger.'

In seeing the sight of thee clothed with many sorrows.' Perhaps a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 16-18, καὶ γὰρ Ἠλέκτραν δοκῶ | στείχειν ἀδελφὴν τὴν ἐμὴν πένθει λυγρῷ | πρέπουσαν. Cp. Eur. Suppl. 1056, πένθιμος πρέπεις ὁρᾶν.

πόθεν .. κακόν] Orestes, still maintaining his disguise, professes amazement at the sudden mention of a murder. In what quarter can have arisen the mischief you thus make known to me?' i. e. What crime is this, with the knowledge of which you seem so familiar? (Not, 'By whom perpetrated?' with which the answer of Electra does not correspond.)

Either (1) 'Who drives you into this bondage?' the dative being equivalent to εἰς with the acc.; cp. ἄχεϊ προτραπέσθαι. Or (2) 'Who thus compels you?'— ἀνάγκῃ, instr. dat. The former (1) is best. See Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, 3.

οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ = οὐδὲν ποιεῖ ἴσον : οὐδέν, cogn. acc.

χερσίν, ἢ λύμῃ βίου] 'By violence, or oppression?'

ὃς ἦν] Cp. supr. 847. σποδόν] Sc. (1) τούτου, or (2) τοῦτον.

μόνος ποτέ] i.e. οὐδείς ποτε ἄλλος ἐπῴκτειρεν.

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)) — 1050 focus

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσιθ'. οὔ σοι οὗ σοὶ L. οὔ σοι AFL20. οὗ L2. μὴ μεθέψομαί ποτε,

οὐδ᾽ ἣν ἦν L. ἣν A. σφόδρ᾽ ἱμείρουσα τυγχάνῃς τυγχάνης L. τυγχάνης A. τυγχάνεις Γ.· ἐπεὶ

πολλῆς ἀνοίας καὶ τὸ θηρᾶσθαι κενά.
1055

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι

φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς

ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ.
στρ. α.

τί τοὺς ἄνωθεν φρονιμωτάτους οἰωνοὺς

ἐσορώμενοι τροφᾶς κηδομένους ἀφ᾽ ὧν τε βλάστωσιν βλαστῶσιν MSS. Schaefer corr.
1060

ἀφ᾽ ὧν τ᾽ ὄνασιν ὄνησιν L. Brunck corr. εὕρωσι, τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἴσας

τελοῦμεν;

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ *τὰν οὐ μὰ τὰν MSS. (τὴν Γ). Turn. corr. Διὸς ἀστραπὰν

καὶ τὰν οὐρανίαν οὐρανία(σ) L. οὐρανίαν C2. Θέμιν,

δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι.
1065

ὦ χθονία βροτοῖσι φάμα, κατά μοι βόασον οἰκτρὰν

ὄπα τοῖς ἔνερθ᾽ Ἀτρείδαις, ἀχόρευτα φέρουσ᾽ ὀνείδη ει from η L.·

ἀντ. α.

ὅτι σφὶν σφίσιν LAL3 Vat. ac. σφισιν Pal. σφίσι V. Schaefer. corr. ἤδη τὰ μὲν ἐκ δόμων νοσεῖ † —,

τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων διπλῆ φύλοπις οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξισοῦται

φιλοτασίῳ διαίτᾳ. πρόδοτος δὲ μόνα σαλεύει

᾿Ηλέκτρα, τὸν ἀεὶ πατρὸς

δειλαία στενάχουσ᾽ ὅπως
1075

ἁ *πάνδυρτος πανόδυρτος LALª Pal. Vat. ac VV³. Porson corr. ἀηδών,

οὔτε τι τοῦ θανεῖν προμηθής, τό τε μὴ μὴ(ν) L. βλέπειν ἑτοίμα,

διδύμαν ἑλοῦσ᾽ ᾿Ερινύν. τίς ἂν ἂν οὖν LM. τίς τἆρ' οὖν Γ. Tricl. corr. εὔπατρις ὧδε βλάστοι βλαστοί L. βλαστή Γ. ;

στρ. β.

οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀγαθῶν γὰρ om. L Pal. add Herm.

ζῶν κακῶς εὔκλειαν αἰσχῦναι αἰσχύναι L. θέλει

νώνυμος νώνυμ(ν)ος L corr. C., ὦ (~) παῖ παῖ,

ὡς καὶ σὺ πάγκλαυτον αἰῶνα κοινὸν εἵλου,
1085

τὸ μὴ καλὸν †καθοπλίσασα δύο φέρειν *ἐν om. MSS. add Brunck. ἑνὶ λόγῳ,

σοφά τ᾿ ἀρίστα τε παῖς κεκλῆσθαι.

ἀντ. β΄.

ζῴης μοι καθύπερθεν καθύπερθε LA. καθύπερθεν Pal.

χειρὶ χερὶ L. καὶ πλούτῳ *τεῶν τῶν MSS. Herm. corr. ἐχθρῶν ὅσον
1090

νῦν ὑπὸ †χεῖρα ναίεις·

ἐπεί σ᾽ ἐφεύρηκα μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν om. LFL2? V³M² add A Vat. ac. ἐπ᾿ Pal. M. ἐσθλᾷ

βεβῶσαν· ἃ δὲ μέγιστ᾽ ἔβλαστε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
1095

ἄριστα τᾷ Ζηνὸς διὸς LL2 Vat, ac VV3. γρ. ἀρίστα ταζηνός C². εὐσεβείᾳ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἆρ' om. L. & add C² Pal., ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τ' εἰσηκούσαμεν,

ὀρθῶς θ᾽ ὁδοιποροῦμεν ἔνθα χρήζομεν ;

ΧΟ.

τί δ᾽ ἐξερευνᾷς καὶ τί βουληθεὶς πάρει;
1100

ΟΡ.

Αἴγισθον ἔνθ᾽ ᾤκηκεν ἱστορῶ γρ. μαστεύω C2. πάλαι.

ΧΟ.

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ θ᾽ ἱκάνεις χώ φράσας ἀζήμιος.

ΟΡ.

τίς οὖν ἂν ὑμῶν τοῖς ἔσω φράσειεν ἂν

ἡμῶν ποθεινὴν κοινόπουν παρουσίαν ;

ΧΟ.

ἥδ᾽, εἰ τὸν ἄγχιστόν γε κηρύσσειν χρεών.
1105

ΟΡ.

ἴθ᾽, ὦ γύναι, δήλωσον εἰσελθοῦσ᾽ ὅτι

Φωκῆς ματεύουσ᾽ μα. στεύουσ' L. ματεύουσ' A. μαστεύουσ᾽ FL2 Pal. ἄνδρες Αἴγισθόν τινες.

ΗΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαιν, οὐ δή ποθ᾿ ἧς ἠκούσαμεν

φήμης φέροντες ἐμφανῆ τεκμήρια;

ΟΡ.

οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κληδόν· ἀλλά μοι γέρων
1110

ἐφεῖτ᾽ Ὀρέστου Στρόφιος στροφίος L. ἀγγεῖλαι πέρι.

ΗΛ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ ξέν᾽; ὥς μ᾽ ὑπέρχεται φόβος.

ΟΡ.

φέροντες αὐτοῦ σμικρὰ λείψαν ἐν βραχεῖ

τεύχει θανόντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, κομίζομεν.

ΗΛ.

οἴ ἐγὼ οἱ ἐγὼ LA Pal. Vat. ac. τάλαινα, τοῦτ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἤδη σαφές.
1115

πρόχειρον ἄχθος, ὡς ἔοικε, δέρκομαι.

ΟΡ.

εἴπερ τι κλαίεις τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν,

τόδ᾽ ἄγγος ἴσθι σῶμα τοὐκείνου στέγον.

ΗΛ.

ὦ ξεῖνε, δός νυν δὸς νῦν LA Pal. πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τόδε

κέκευθεν αὐτὸν τεῦχος, εἰς χεῖρας λαβεῖν,
1120

ὅπως ἐμαυτὴν καὶ γένος τὸ πᾶν ὁμοῦ

ξὺν τῇδε κλαύσω κἀποδύρωμαι σποδῷ.

ΟΡ.

δόθ᾽ ἥτις ἐστὶ προσφέροντες· οὐ γὰρ ὡς

ἐν δυσμενείᾳ γ᾽ οὖσ᾽ ἐπαιτεῖται τάδε ἐπαιτεῖ τόδε L. ἐπαιτεῖται τάδε AC7.,

ἀλλ᾽ ἢ φίλων τις, ἢ πρὸς αἵματος φύσιν.
1125

ΗΛ.

ὦ φιλτάτου μνημεῖον ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ

ψυχῆς Ὀρέστου λοιπόν, ὥς σ᾽ om. MSS. add Brunck. ἀπ᾿ ἐλπίδων

οὐχ ὧνπερ ἐξέπεμπον εἰσέπεμπον LL2. ἐξέπεμπον CA. εἰσεδεξάμην.

νῦν μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν ὄντα βαστάζω χεροῖν·

δόμων δέ σ᾽, ὦ παῖ, λαμπρὸν ἐξέπεμψ᾽ ἐγώ.
1130

ὡς ὤφελον ὤφελες L Vat. a MCV30. ὤφελον C A FVV MM² Vat. c pr. V³ pr. L². γρ. ὤφελες Γ. ὄφελον Pal. πάροιθεν ἐκλιπεῖν βίον,

πρὶν ἐς ξένην σε γαῖαν ἐκπέμψαι ἐκπέμψαι C6 or 7. χεροῖν

κλέψασα κλεψασα" C7. ταῖνδε κἀνασώσασθαι κἀνασώσασθαι C'. φόνου·

ὅπως θανὼν ἔκεισο τῇ τόθ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ,

τύμβου πατρῴου κοινὸν εἰληχὼς μέρος.
1135

νῦν δ᾽ ἐκτὸς οἴκων κἀπὶ κἀπὸ L. κἀπὶ C6. γῆς ἄλλης φυγὰς

κακῶς κακῶ L. κακῶς C2. ἀπώλου, σῆς κασιγνήτης δίχα·

κοὔτ᾽ ἐν φίλαισι χερσὶν ἡ τάλαιν ἐγὼ

λουτροῖς σ᾽ om. L add L². ἐκόσμησ᾽ οὔτε παμφλέκτου πυρὸς πρ. σ L. πυρὸσ C2 or 3.

ἀνειλόμην, ὡς εἰκός, ἄθλιον βάρος.
1140

ἀλλ᾽ ἐν ξέναισι ξένηισι LPL2, ξέναισι A. χερσὶ κηδευθεὶς τάλας

σμικρὸς προσήκεις ὄγκος ἐν σμικρῷ κύτει.

οἴμοι τάλαινα τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς

ἀνωφελήτου, τὴν ἐγὼ θάμ᾽ ἀμφὶ σοὶ

πόνῳ γλυκεῖ παρέσχον, οὔτε γάρ ποτε
1145

μητρὸς σύ γ᾽ ἦσθα μᾶλλον ἢ κἀμοῦ φίλος,

οὔθ᾽ οἱ κατ᾿ οἶκον ἦσαν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ τροφός,

ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀδελφὴ σοὶ σοι L. σοὶ AM². σὴ VL2. σὴ M. προσηυδώμην προσηυδόμην LF Pal. προσηυδώμην CAL2. ἀεί.

νῦν δ᾽ ἐκλέλοιπε ταῦτ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ

θανόντι σὺν σοί. πάντα γὰρ συναρπάσας
1150

θύελλ᾽ ὅπως βέβηκας. οἴχεται πατήρ·

τέθνηκ᾽ ἐγώ σοι· φροῦδος αὐτὸς εἶ θανών·

γελῶσι δ᾽ ἐχθροί· μαίνεται δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς

μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ, ἧς ἐμοὶ σὺ πολλάκις

φήμας λάθρᾳ προὔπεμπες ὡς φανούμενος
1155

τιμωρὸς αὐτός, ἀλλὰ ταῦθ᾽ ὁ δυστυχὴς

δαίμων ὁ σός τε κἀμὸς ἐξαφείλετο ἐξαφείλατο LF. ἐξαφείλετο C.,

ὅς σ᾽ ὧδέ μοι προὔπεμψεν, ἀντὶ φιλτάτης φιλτάτου L.

μορφῆς σποδόν σπονδόν L. τε καὶ σκιὰν ἀνωφελῆ.

οἴμοι μοι οἴ μοι μοί L..
1160

ὦ δέμας οἰκτρόν.

φεῦ φεῦ.

ὦ δεινοτάτας,

οἴμοι μοι,

πεμφθεὶς κελεύθους κελεύθου LA. κελεύθους C., φίλταθ', ὥς μ᾿ ἀπώλεσας·
1165

ἀπώλεσας δῆτ᾽, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.

τοιγὰρ σὺ δέξαι μ᾽ ἐς τὸ σὸν τόδε στέγος,

τὴν μηδὲν εἰς τὸ μηδέν, ὡς σὺν σοὶ κάτω

ναίω τὸ λοιπόν, καὶ γὰρ ἡνίκ᾽ ἦσθ᾽ ἄνω,

ξὺν σοὶ μετεῖχον κατείχον L. μετεῖχον C6. τῶν ἴσων· καὶ νῦν ποθῶ
1170

τοῦ σοῦ θανοῦσα μἀπολείπεσθαι μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι L. μὴ ᾿πολείπεσθαι A Vat. ac. μὴ ἐξαπολείπεσθαι L2 Pal. μὴ ἐκλείπεσθαι Γ. τάφου.

τοὺς γὰρ θανόντας οὐχ ὁρῶ λυπουμένους.

ΧΟ.

θνητοῦ πέφυκας πατρός, Ηλέκτρα, φρόνει·

θνητὸς δ᾽ Ορέστης· ὥστε μὴ λίαν στένε.

πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτ᾽ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.
1175

ΟΡ.

φεῦ φεῦ. τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχάνων

ἔλθω; κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώσσης γνώσσης L. γλωσσης C¹. γνώμης ΓL2 Pal. σθένω.

ΗΛ.

τί δ᾽ ἔσχες ἄλγος; πρὸς τί τοῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν κυρεῖς;

ΟΡ.

ἢ σὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδος Ηλέκτρας ἠλέκτρα LF. ἠλέκτρας CAL2. Pal. τόδε ;

ΗΛ.

τόδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλ᾽ ἀθλίως ἔχον.
1180

ΟΡ.

οἴμοι ταλαίνης ἆρα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

ΗΛ.

ο ὐ ὐ] τί L. τί AFL3 δὴ] δὴ AΓL". δή ποτ', ὦ ξέν, ἀμφ᾿ ἐμοὶ στένεις τάδε;

ΟΡ.

ὦ σῶμ᾽ ἀτίμως κάθέως ἐφθαρμένον.

ΗΛ.

οὔτοι ποτ᾿ ἄλλην ἢ ἐμὲ δυσφημεῖς, ξένε.

ΟΡ.

φεῦ τῆς ἀνύμφου δυσμόρου τε σῆς τροφῆς.
1185

ΗΛ.

τί μοι μοι ποτ', ὦ ξέν, ὧδ᾽ ἐπισκοπῶν στένεις ;

ΟΡ.

ὡς οὐκ ἄρ᾽ ᾔδη ᾔδειν LA. ἤδειν Pal. Brunck corr. τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν ἐγὼ L. οὐδὲν C3 or 4. κακῶν.

ΗΛ.

ἐν τῷ διέγνως τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

ΟΡ.

ὁρῶν σε πολλοῖς ἐμπρέπουσαν ἄλγεσιν.

ΗΛ.

καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.
1190

ΟΡ.

καὶ πῶς γένοιτ' ἂν τῶνδ᾽ ἔτ᾽ τῶνδέτ᾽ LAL² Pal. ἐχθίω βλέπειν ;

ΗΛ.

ὁθούνεκ εἰμὶ τοῖς φονεῦσι σύντροφος.

ΟΡ.

τοῖς τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτ᾽ ἐξεσήμηνας ἐξεσήμηνες L. ἐξεσήμηνας CA. ἐξεσήμανας L2. κακόν;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τοῖς πατρός. εἶτα τοῖσδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τίς γάρ σ' γὰρ γὰρ σε ἀνάγκῃ ἀνάγκη τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν ;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μήτηρ καλεῖται, μητρὶ δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τί δρῶσα; πότερα χερσίν, ἢ λύμῃ βίου;
1195

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

καὶ χερσὶ καὶ λύμαισι καὶ πᾶσιν πᾶσι πᾶσιν κακοῖς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὐδ᾽ ὁ οὔθ᾽ ὁ παρήξων οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὐ δῆθ᾽ δῆτ' δῆθ᾽· ὃς ἦν γάρ μοι σὺ προὔθηκας προὔθηκα προὔθηκας σποδόν.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ὦ δύσποτμ, ὡς ὁρῶν σ᾽ ἐпоικτείρω πάλαι.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μόνος βροτῶν νυν νῦν ἴσθ᾽ ἐποικτείρας ποτέ.
1200

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις τοῖσι σοῖς σισοῖς τοῖς σοῖς ἀλγῶν κακοῖς.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὐ δή ποθ᾽ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴς ἥκεις ποθέν;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἐγὼ φράσαιμ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδ᾽ εὔνουν πάρα.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐστὶν εὔνουν, ὥστε πρὸς πιστὰς ἐρεῖς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

μέθες τόδ᾽ ἄγγος νῦν, ὅπως τὸ πᾶν μάθῃς.
1205

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μ᾽ ἐργάσῃ, ξένε.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

πείθου λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήσει ποτέ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μή, πρὸς γενείου, μὴ 'ξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὔ φημ᾽ ἐάσειν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ τάλαιν ἐγὼ σέθεν,
1210

Ὀρέστα, τῆς σῆς εἰ στερήσομαι ταφῆς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

πῶς τὸν θανόντ᾽ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ στένω;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὔ σοι προσήκει τήνδε προσφωνεῖν φάτιν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὕτως ἄτιμός εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότος;
1215

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ· τοῦτο δ᾽ οὐχὶ σόν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

εἴπερ γ' Ὀρέστου σῶμα βαστάζω βαστάσω βαστάζω τόδε.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γ' ἠσκημένον.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ποῦ δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἔστι ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφος;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὐκ κ from γ' ἔστι τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐκ ἔστιν τάφος.
1220

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἢ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνήρ ἀνὴρ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

εἴπερ ἔμψυχός γ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἢ γὰρ σὺ κεῖνος;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τήνδε προσβλέψασά μου

σφραγῖδα πατρὸς ἔκμαθ᾽ εἰ σαφῆ λέγω.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς.
1225

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

φίλτατον, συμμαρτυρῶ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φθέγμ᾽, ἀφίκου;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ (ψ)ύθῃ or (φ)ύθῃ πύθῃ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.
ἔχω σε χερσίν χεροῖν γρ. χερσὶ χερσίν ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.
ὡς ω from ο τὰ λοίπ᾽ ἔχοις ἔχεις ἄχοις ἀεί.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ὦ πολίτιδες,

ὁρᾶτ᾽ ὁραῖτ᾽ Ὀρέστην τόνδε, μηχαναῖσι μὲν

θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖς σεσωσμένον.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

ὁρῶμεν, ὦ παῖ, κἀπὶ συμφοραῖσί μοι
1230

γεγηθὸς ἕρπει δάκρυον ὀμμάτων ἄπο.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1060-1096 focus

Χορός

τί τοὺς ἄνωθεν φρονιμωτάτους οἰωνοὺς ἐσορώμενοι τροφᾶς
1060

κηδομένους ἀφʼ ὧν τε βλάστωσιν ἀφʼ ὧν τʼ ὄνασιν εὕρ-

ωσι, τάδʼ οὐκ ἐπʼ ἴσας τελοῦμεν;

ἀλλʼ οὐ τὰν Διὸς ἀστραπὰν

καὶ τὰν οὐρανίαν Θέμιν,

δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι.
1065

ὦ χθονία βροτοῖσι φάμα, κατά μοι βόασον οἰκτρὰν

ὄπα τοῖς ἔνερθʼ Ἀτρείδαις, ἀχόρευτα φέρουσʼ

ὀνείδη·

1070

Χορός

ὅτι σφὶν ἤδη τὰ μὲν ἐκ δόμων νοσεῖ δή, τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων διπλῆ
1070

φύλοπις οὐκέτʼ ἐξισοῦται φιλοτασίῳ διαί-

τᾳ· πρόδοτος δὲ μόνα σαλεύει

Ἠλέκτρα, τὸν ἀεὶ πατρὸς
1075

δειλαία στενάχουσʼ, ὅπως

ἁ πάνδυρτος ἀηδών,

οὔτε τι τοῦ θανεῖν προμηθὴς τό τε μὴ βλέπειν ἑτοίμα,

διδύμαν ἑλοῦσʼ Ἐρινύν· τίς ἂν εὔπατρις ὧδε βλάστοι;
1080

1082

Χορός

οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀγαθῶν γὰρ

ζῶν κακῶς εὔκλειαν αἰσχῦναι θέλει

νώνυμος, ὦ παῖ παῖ.

ὡς καὶ σὺ πάγκλαυτον αἰῶνα κοινὸν εἵλου,
1085

τὸ μὴ καλὸν καθοπλίσασα, δύο φέρειν ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ,

σοφά τʼ ἀρίστα τε παῖς κεκλῆσθαι.

1090

Χορός

ζῴης μοι καθύπερθεν
1090

χειρὶ καὶ πλούτῳ τεῶν ἐχθρῶν ὅσον

νῦν ὑπόχειρ ναίεις·

ἐπεί σʼ ἐφηύρηκα μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ

βεβῶσαν, ἃ δὲ μέγιστʼ ἔβλαστε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
1095

ἄριστα τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τʼ εἰσηκούσαμεν

ὀρθῶς θʼ ὁδοιποροῦμεν ἔνθα χρῄζομεν;

Χορός

τί δʼ ἐξερευνᾷς καὶ τί βουληθεὶς πάρει;
1100

Ὀρέστης

Αἴγισθον ἔνθʼ ᾤκηκεν ἱστορῶ πάλαι.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ εὖ θʼ ἱκάνεις χὠ φράσας ἀζήμιος.

Ὀρέστης

τίς οὖν ἂν ὑμῶν τοῖς ἔσω φράσειεν ἂν

ἡμῶν ποθεινὴν κοινόπουν παρουσίαν;

Χορός

ἥδʼ, εἰ τὸν ἄγχιστόν γε κηρύσσειν χρεών.
1105

Ὀρέστης

ἴθʼ, ὦ γύναι, δήλωσον εἰσελθοῦσʼ ὅτι

Φωκῆς ματεύουσʼ ἄνδρες Αἴγισθόν τινες,

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ, οὐ δή ποθʼ ἧς ἠκούσαμεν

φήμης φέροντες ἐμφανῆ τεκμήρια;

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κληδόνʼ· ἀλλά μοι γέρων
1110

ἐφεῖτʼ Ὀρέστου Στρόφιος ἀγγεῖλαι πέρι.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ ξένʼ; ὥς μʼ ὑπέρχεται φόβος.

Ὀρέστης

φέροντες αὐτοῦ σμικρὰ λείψανʼ ἐν βραχεῖ

τεύχει θανόντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, κομίζομεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα, τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἤδη σαφὲς
1115

πρόχειρον ἄχθος, ὡς ἔοικε, δέρκομαι.

Ὀρέστης

εἴπερ τι κλαίεις τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν,

τόδʼ ἄγγος ἴσθι σῶμα τοὐκείνου στέγον.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ ξεῖνε, δός νυν, πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τόδε

κέκευθεν αὐτὸν τεῦχος, εἰς χεῖρας λαβεῖν,
1120

ὅπως ἐμαυτὴν καὶ γένος τὸ πᾶν ὁμοῦ

ξὺν τῇδε κλαύσω κἀποδύρωμαι σποδῷ.

Ὀρέστης

δόθʼ, ἥτις ἐστί, προσφέροντες· οὐ γὰρ ὡς

ἐν δυσμενείᾳ γʼ οὖσʼ ἐπαιτεῖται τάδε,

ἀλλʼ ἢ φίλων τις ἢ πρὸς αἵματος φύσιν.
1125

1126

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φιλτάτου μνημεῖον ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ

ψυχῆς Ὀρέστου λοιπόν, ὥς σʼ ἀπʼ ἐλπίδων

οὐχ ὧνπερ ἐξέπεμπον εἰσεδεξάμην.

νῦν μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν ὄντα βαστάζω χεροῖν,

δόμων δέ σʼ, ὦ παῖ, λαμπρὸν ἐξέπεμψʼ ἐγώ.
1130

ὡς ὤφελον πάροιθεν ἐκλιπεῖν βίον,

πρὶν ἐς ξένην σε γαῖαν ἐκπέμψαι χεροῖν

κλέψασα ταῖνδε κἀνασώσασθαι φόνου,

ὅπως θανὼν ἔκεισο τῇ τόθʼ ἡμέρᾳ,

τύμβου πατρῴου κοινὸν εἰληχὼς μέρος.
1135

νῦν δʼ ἐκτὸς οἴκων κἀπὶ γῆς ἄλλης φυγὰς

κακῶς ἀπώλου, σῆς κασιγνήτης δίχα,

κοὔτʼ ἐν φίλαισι χερσὶν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ

λουτροῖς σʼ ἐκόσμησʼ οὔτε παμφλέκτου πυρὸς

ἀνειλόμην, ὡς εἰκός, ἄθλιον βάρος,
1140

ἀλλʼ ἐν ξέναισι χερσὶ κηδευθεὶς τάλας

σμικρὸς προσήκεις ὄγκος ἐν σμικρῷ κύτει.

οἴμοι τάλαινα τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς

ἀνωφελήτου, τὴν ἐγὼ θάμʼ ἀμφὶ σοὶ

πόνῳ γλυκεῖ παρέσχον· οὔτε γάρ ποτε
1145

μητρὸς σύ γʼ ἦσθα μᾶλλον ἢ κἀμοῦ φίλος,

οὔθʼ οἱ κατʼ οἶκον ἦσαν, ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τροφός,

ἐγὼ δʼ ἀδελφὴ σοὶ προσηυδώμην ἀεί.

νῦν δʼ ἐκλέλοιπε ταῦτʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ

θανόντι σὺν σοί· πάντα γὰρ συναρπάσας
1150

θύελλʼ ὅπως βέβηκας. οἴχεται πατήρ·

τέθνηκʼ ἐγὼ σοί· φροῦδος αὐτὸς εἶ θανών·

γελῶσι δʼ ἐχθροί· μαίνεται δʼ ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς

μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ, ἧς ἐμοὶ σὺ πολλάκις

φήμας λάθρᾳ προύπεμπες ὡς φανούμενος
1155

τιμωρὸς αὐτός. ἀλλὰ ταῦθʼ ὁ δυστυχὴς

δαίμων ὁ σός τε κἀμὸς ἐξαφείλετο,

ὅς σʼ ὧδέ μοι προύπεμψεν ἀντὶ φιλτάτης

μορφῆς σποδόν τε καὶ σκιὰν ἀνωφελῆ.

1160

Ἠλέκτρα

οἴμοι μοι.
1160

ὦ δέμας οἰκτρόν. φεῦ φεῦ.

ὦ δεινοτάτας, οἴμοι μοι,

πεμφθεὶς κελεύθους, φίλταθʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας·

ἀπώλεσας δῆτʼ, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.

τοιγὰρ σὺ δέξαι μʼ ἐς τὸ σὸν τόδε στέγος,
1165

τὴν μηδὲν εἰς τὸ μηδέν, ὡς σὺν σοὶ κάτω

ναίω τὸ λοιπόν· καὶ γὰρ ἡνίκʼ ἦσθʼ ἄνω,

ξὺν σοὶ μετεῖχον τῶν ἴσων, καὶ νῦν ποθῶ

τοῦ σοῦ θανοῦσα μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι τάφου.

τοὺς γὰρ θανόντας οὐχ ὁρῶ λυπουμένους.
1170

1171

Χορός

θνητοῦ πέφυκας πατρός, Ἠλέκτρα, φρόνει,

θνητὸς δʼ Ὀρέστης. ὥστε μὴ λίαν στένε.

πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτʼ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.

Ὀρέστης

φεῦ φεῦ. τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχανῶν

ἔλθω; κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώσσης σθένω.
1175

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δʼ ἔσχες ἄλγος; πρὸς τί τοῦτʼ εἰπὼν κυρεῖς;

Ὀρέστης

ἦ σὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδος Ἠλέκτρας τόδε;

Ἠλέκτρα

τόδʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλʼ ἀθλίως ἔχον.

Ὀρέστης

οἴμοι ταλαίνης ἆρα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀμφʼ ἐμοὶ στένεις τάδε;
1180

Ὀρέστης

ὦ σῶμʼ ἀτίμως κἀθέως ἐφθαρμένον.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὔτοι ποτʼ ἄλλην ἢ ʼμὲ δυσφημεῖς, ξένε.

Ὀρέστης

φεῦ τῆς ἀνύμφου δυσμόρου τε σῆς τροφῆς,

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπισκοπῶν στένεις;

Ὀρέστης

ὡς οὐκ ἄρʼ ᾔδη τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν κακῶν.
1185

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐν τῷ διέγνως τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

Ὀρέστης

ὁρῶν σε πολλοῖς ἐμπρέπουσαν ἄλγεσιν.

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδʼ ἔτʼ ἐχθίω βλέπειν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ὁθούνεκʼ εἰμὶ τοῖς φονεῦσι σύντροφος
1190

Ὀρέστης

τοῖς τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτʼ ἐξεσήμηνας κακόν;

Ἠλέκτρα

τοῖς πατρός· εἶτα τοῖσδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

Ὀρέστης

τίς γάρ σʼ ἀνάγκῃ τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν;

Ἠλέκτρα

μήτηρ καλεῖται, μητρὶ δʼ οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ.

Ὀρέστης

τί δρῶσα; πότερα χερσὶν ἢ λύμῃ βίου;
1195

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ χερσὶ καὶ λύμαισι καὶ πᾶσιν κακοῖς.

Ὀρέστης

οὐδʼ οὑπαρήξων οὐδʼ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δῆθʼ. ὃς ἦν γάρ μοι σὺ προὔθηκας σποδόν.

Ὀρέστης

ὦ δύσποτμʼ, ὡς ὁρῶν σʼ ἐποικτίρω πάλαι.

1200

Ἠλέκτρα

μόνος βροτῶν νυν ἴσθʼ ἐποικτίρας ποτέ.
1200

Ὀρέστης

μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις ἀλγῶν κακοῖς.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δή ποθʼ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴς ἥκεις ποθέν;

Ὀρέστης

ἐγὼ φράσαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδʼ εὔνουν πάρα.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν εὔνουν, ὥστε πρὸς πιστὰς ἐρεῖς.

Ὀρέστης

μέθες τόδʼ ἄγγος νῦν, ὅπως τὸ πᾶν μάθῃς.
1205

Ἠλέκτρα

μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μʼ ἐργάσῃ, ξένε.

Ὀρέστης

πείθου λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήσει ποτέ.

Ἠλέκτρα

μή, πρὸς γενείου, μὴ ʼξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

Ὀρέστης

οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ σέθεν,

Ὀρέστα, τῆς σῆς εἰ στερήσομαι ταφῆς.
1210

Ὀρέστης

εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς τὸν θανόντʼ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ στένω;

Ὀρέστης

οὔ σοι προσήκει τήνδε προσφωνεῖν φάτιν.

Ἠλέκτρα

οὕτως ἄτιμός εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότος;

Ὀρέστης

ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ· τοῦτο δʼ οὐχὶ σόν.
1215

Ἠλέκτρα

εἴπερ γʼ Ὀρέστου σῶμα βαστάζω τόδε;

Ὀρέστης

ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γʼ ἠσκημένον.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῦ δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφος;

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἔστι· τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐκ ἔστιν τάφος.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;
1220

Ὀρέστης

ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνήρ;

Ὀρέστης

εἴπερ ἔμψυχός γʼ ἐγώ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ γὰρ σὺ κεῖνος;

Ὀρέστης

τήνδε προσβλέψασά μου

σφραγῖδα πατρὸς ἔκμαθʼ εἰ σαφῆ λέγω.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς.

Ὀρέστης

φίλτατον, συμμαρτυρῶ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φθέγμʼ, ἀφίκου;
1225

Ὀρέστης

μηκέτʼ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ,

Ἠλέκτρα

ἔχω σε χερσίν;

Ὀρέστης

ὡς τὰ λοίπʼ ἔχοις ἀεί.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ὦ πολίτιδες,

ὁρᾶτʼ Ὀρέστην τόνδε, μηχαναῖσι μὲν

θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖς σεσωσμένον.

Χορός

ὁρῶμεν, ὦ παῖ, κἀπὶ συμφοραῖσί μοι
1230

γεγηθὸς ἕρπει δάκρυον ὀμμάτων ἄπο.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1050 focus

Then I will go. Thy heart will ne’er be brought

To praise my words, nor I thine action here.

EL

Then go within! I will not follow thee,

Though thou desire it vehemently. None

Would be so fond to hunt on a cold trail.
1055

CHR

If this seem wisdom to thee, then be wise

Thy way: but in the hour of misery,

When it hath caught thee, thou wilt praise my words.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Wise are the birds of air

That with true filial care

For those provide convenient food

Who gave them birth, who wrought their good.

Why will not men the like perfection prove?

Else, by the fires above,

And heavenly Rectitude,

Fierce recompense they shall not long elude.

O darkling rumour, world-o’er-wandering voice

That piercest to the shades beneath the ground,

To dead Atrides waft a sound

Of sad reproach, not bidding him rejoice.

Stained is the ancestral hall,

Broken the battle-call,

That heretofore his children twain

In loving concord did sustain.

Alone, deserted, vexed, Electra sails,

Storm-tossed with rugged gales,

Lamenting evermore

Like piteous Philomel, and pining sore

For her lost father;—might she but bring down

That two-fold Fury, caring not for death,

But ready to resign her breath,

What maid so worthy of a sire’s renown?

None who inherit from a noble race,

Complying with things base

Will let their ancient glory be defiled.

So ’twas thy choice, dear child,

Through homeless misery to win a two-fold prize,

Purging the sin and shame

That cloud the Argive name,

So to be called most noble and most wise.

May’st thou surpass thy foes in wealth and power

As o’er thee now they tower!

Since I have found thee, not in bright estate,

Nor blessed by wayward fate,

But through thy loyalty to Heaven’s eternal cause

Wearing the stainless crown

Of perfectest renown,

And richly dowered by the mightiest laws.

OR
Enter ORESTES and PYLADES , with the urn.

Say, dames and damsels, have we heard aright,

And speed we to the goal of our desire?

CH

And what desire or quest hath brought thee hither?
1100

OR

I seek Aegisthus’ dwelling all this while.

CH

Welcome. The tongue that told thee hath no blame.

OR

Which of you all will signify within

Our joint arrival,—not unwelcome here.

CH

This maiden, if the nearest should report.
1105

OR

Mistress, wilt thou go yonder and make known,

That certain Phocians on Aegisthus wait?

EL

Oh! can it be that you are come to bring

Clear proofs of the sad rumour we have heard?

OR

I know not what ye have heard. Old Strophius
1110

Charged me with tidings of Orestes’ fate.

EL

What, stranger? How this terror steals on me!

OR

Bearing scant remnants of his body dead

In this small vase thou seest, we bring them home.

EL

O sorrow! thou art here: I see full well
1115

That burden of my heart in present view.

OR

If thou hast tears for aught Orestes suffered,

Know that he lies within this vessel’s room.

EL

Ah, sir! by all in Heaven, if yonder urn

Hide him, ah! give it once into my hand,
1120

That o’er that dust I may lament and mourn

Myself and mine own house and all our woe!

OR

Bring it and give her, whosoe’er she be.

For not an enemy—this petition shows it—

But of his friends or kindred, is this maid.
1125

EL

O monument of him whom o’er all else

I loved! sole relic of Orestes’ life,

How cold in this thy welcome is the hope

Wherein I decked thee as I sent thee forth!

Then bright was thy departure, whom I now

Bear lightly, a mere nothing, in my hands.

Would I had gone from life, ere I dispatched

Thee from my arms that saved thee to a land

Of strangers, stealing thee from death! For then

Thou hadst been quiet on that far off day,

And had thy portion in our father’s tomb

Now thou hast perished in the stranger land

Far from thy sister, lorn and comfortless
1130

And I, O wretchedness! neither have bathed
1130

And laid thee forth, nor from the blazing fire
1130

Collected the sad burden, as was meet

But thou, when foreign hands have tended thee

Com’st a small handful in a narrow shell

Woe for the constant care I spent on thee

Of old all vainly, with sweet toil! For never

Wast thou thy mother’s darling, nay, but mine,

And I of all the household most thy nurse,

While ‘sister, sister,’ was thy voice to me

But now all this is vanished in one day,

Dying in thy death. Thou hast carried all away

As with a whirlwind, and art gone. No more

My father lives, thyself art lost in death,
1135

I am dead, who lived in thee. Our enemies
1135

Laugh loudly, and she maddens in her joy,
1135

Our mother most unmotherly, of whom

Thy secret missives ofttimes told me, thou

Wouldst be the punisher. But that fair hope

The hapless Genius of thy lot and mine

Hath reft away, and gives thee thus to me,—

For thy loved form thy dust and fruitless shade

O bitterness! O piteous sight! Woe! woe!

Oh! sent on thy dire journey, dearest one,

How thou hast ruined me! Thou hast indeed,

Dear brother! Then receive me to thyself,

Hide me in this thy covering, there to dwell,

Me who am nothing, with thy nothingness,

For ever! Yea, when thou wert here above,
1140

I ever shared with thee in all, and now
1140

I would not have thee shut me from thy tomb.
1140

Oh! let me die and follow thee! the dead,

My mind assures me now, have no more pain.

CH

Electra, think! Thou hadst a mortal sire,

And mortal was thy brother. Grieve not far.

OR

O me! What shall I speak, or which way turn

The desperate word? I cannot hold my tongue.

EL

What pain o’ercomes thee? Wherefore speak’st thou so?

OR

Can this be famed Electra I behold?

EL

No other. In sad case, as you may see
1180

OR

Ah! deep indeed was this calamity!

EL

Is’t possible that thou shouldst grieve for me?

OR

O ruined form! abandoned to disgrace!

EL

’Tis me you mean, stranger, I feel it now.

OR

Woe ’s me! Untrimmed for bridal, hapless maid!
1185

EL

Why this fixed gaze, O stranger! that deep groan?

OR

How all unknowing was I of mine ill!

EL

What thing hath passed to make it known to thee?

OR

The sight of thee attired with boundless woe.

EL

And yet thine eye sees little of my pain.
1190

OR

Can aught be still more hateful to be seen?

EL

I have my dwelling with the murderers—

OR

Of whom? What evil would thy words disclose?

EL

Of him who gave me birth. I am their slave.

OR

Whose power compels thee to this sufferance?

EL

One called my mother, most unmotherly.

OR

How? by main force, or by degrading shames?
1195

EL

By force and shames, and every kind of evil.

OR

And is there none to succour or prevent?

EL

None. Him I had, you give me here in dust.

OR

How mine eye pities thee this while, poor maid!

EL

Know now, none ever pitied me but you.
1200

OR

None ever came whose heart like sorrow wrung.

EL

Is’t possible we have some kinsman here?

OR

I will tell it, if these women here be friendly.

EL

They are. They may be trusted. Only speak.

OR

Let go yon vase, that thou may’st learn the whole.
1205

EL

Nay, by the Gods! be not so cruel, sir!

OR

Obey me and thou shalt not come to harm.

EL

Ah, never rob me of what most I love!

OR

You must not hold it.

EL

O me miserable
1210

For thee, Orestes, if I lose thy tomb!

OR

Speak no rash word. Thou hast no right to mourn.

EL

No right to mourn my brother who is gone?

OR

Such utterance belongs not to thy tongue,

EL

Oh, am I thus dishonoured of the dead?
1215

OR

Far from dishonour. But this ne’er was thine.

EL

Is’t not Orestes’ body that I bear?

OR

Nay, but the idle dressing of a tale.

EL

And where is his poor body’s resting-place?

OR

Nowhere. Seek not the living with the dead,
1220

EL

My son, what saidst thou?

OR

Nought but what is true.

EL

Doth he yet live?

OR

If I have life in me.

EL

Art thou Orestes?

OR

Let my signet here,

That was our father’s, tell thine eyes, I am.

EL

O day of days!
1225

OR

Time hath no happier hour.

EL

Is it thy voice?

OR

Hearken not otherwhere.

EL

Have my arms caught thee?

OR

Hold me so for aye!

EL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1050 focus

So will ich gehen; du gewinnst es nie von dir,

Mein Wort zu loben, noch belob' ich deinen Sinn.

Elektra.

Ja, gehe nur: ich folge niemals deinem Pfad,
1030

Und wenn du noch so dringend mich bestürmst; es zeugt

Von großer Thorheit auch die Jagd um Nichtiges.

Chrysothemis.

Nun, wenn du selbst in stolzem Wahne klug dich dünkst,

Sei klug in solcher Weise! Wenn das Ungemach

Dereinst dich heimsucht, lobst du meine Worte noch.
1035
Elektra. Der Chor. Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Wir sehen wohl sinnige Vögel droben sich

Treulich um jener Pflege müh'n,

Denen sie Leben, denen sie

Nahrung verdanken: sollten wir

Menschen das Gleiche zu thun verschmähen?
1040

Doch, bei'm Donnergeschoß des Zeus,

Bei der himmlischen Themis, nicht

Lange säumt die Vergeltung!¹

Die du das Grab hinunter dringst,

Phama, den Jammerruf hinab²
1045

Dröhne, des Atreus Söhnen dort

Meldend die Schmach und die bittre Trauer:

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Daß dieses Haus immer in schwerem Leide noch

Krankt, und der beiden Kinder Streit

Nimmer sich noch zu trauter Huld
1050
(geht ab.)

Freundlichem Bund verglichen hat.

Aber Elektra, verlassen, einsam,

Wallt vom Schicksal umhergestürmt,

Gleich der klagenden. Nachtigall,

Stets den Vater bejammernd.
1055

Nicht vor dem Tode zittert sie,

Scheidet vom Lichte freudenvoll,

Wenn sie vertilgt den Bund des Fluchs.

Liebte so innig ein Kind den Vater?

Zweite Strophe.

Wohl kein Edler, o Kind,³
1060

Wählt sich Unglück, daß hinfort ruhmlos in Nacht

Schwinde des Namens Glanz:

So wählst auch du, Kind, ein gramvolles, niedres Leben,

Du rufst die Schmach zum Kampfe, nimmst den Doppelpreis in Einem Wort:

Das weise Kind seist du, wie das frömmste.
1065
Zweite Gegenstrophe.

Siegreich über den Feind

Leb' in Macht fortan und Reichthum, wie du jezt

Seiner Gewalt dich beugst.

Obwohl ein unselig Loos über dir gewaltet,

Doch fand ich, wie du dir den Preis errangst, den höchster Pflichten treu,
1070

Indem du Zeus fromme Scheu bewiesest.

Orestes. Pylades. Diener, die eine Urne tragen. Die Vorigen.

Orestes.

Ihr Frauen, sagt uns, haben wir auch recht gehört,

Sind wir auf rechtem Wege hier nach unserm Ziel?

Der Chor.

Was willst du wissen, welch Verlangen führt dich her?

Orestes.

Wo hier Aegisthos wohne, forsch' ich lange schon.
1075

Der Chor.

Recht gingst du: der dir's sagte, hat dich nicht getäuscht.

Orestes.

Wer unter euch wohl kündet dort im Haus es an,

Daß wir zusammen, längstersehnt, gekommen sind?

(auf Elektra deutend)

Der Chor.

Hier diese, wenn's die Nächstverwandte melden soll.

Orestes.

Frau, geh' hinein und sage, daß hier Einige
1080

Den König suchen, Männer aus dem Phokerland.

Elektra.

Ihr kommt doch nicht, die Sage, die wir hörten, ach!

Mit klaren, sichern Zeichen uns bekräftigend?

Orestes.

Ich weiß von deiner Sache nicht; mit Kunden von

Orestes hat mich Strophios, der Greis, gesandt.
1085

Elektra.

Was ist es, Fremdling? Wie die Furcht mich übermannt!

Orestes.

In kleiner Urne bringen wir vom Todten hier

Die kleinen Ueberreste, wie du siehst, o Frau.

Elektra.

Ich Arme, weh! Das ist es: sichtbar seh' ich jezt

Vor meinen Augen, scheint es, diese Schmerzenslast!
1090

Orestes.

Wenn deine Klag' Orestes' herbem Loose gilt,

So wisse: dieses Erzgefäß birgt seinen Leib.

Gib denn, o Fremdling, wenn die Urne hier ihn birgt,

Gib, bei den Göttern, das Gefäß in meine Hand,

Auf daß ich mich und meinen ganzen Stamm zugleich
1095

Mit dieser Asche weinen und betrauern mag.

(zu den Dienern)

Gebt, wer sie sein mag, bringt es ihr; denn sicher nicht

Als eine Feindin bittet sie sich solches aus,

Nein, als die Freundin, oder ihm durch Blut verwandt.

(die Urne umfassend)

Elektra.

Denkmal des liebsten Menschen, das mir übrig blieb
1100

Von seinem Leben, wie so ganz mit anderen

Hoffnungen, als ich dich entließ, empfang' ich dich!

Nun Staub geworden trag' ich dich in meiner Hand,

Und sandte dich so blühend, Kind, von Haus himveg!

hätte diesem Leben mich ein Gott entrückt,
1105

Bevor mit diesen Händen ich dich raubte, dich

Hinsandt' in fremde Fernen und dem Mord entriß!

Dann lagst du jenes Tages todt als Leiche da,

Am Grab des Vaters hättest du dein Theil mit ihm.

Nun starbst du, fern von Hause, fern in fremdes Land
1110

Gebannt, in Elend, und der Schwesterlieb' entrückt,

Und nicht in treuen Händen hab' ich Arme dich

Geschmückt, gebadet, und aus flammenvoller Glut

Dich arme Last erhoben, wie mir's wohl gebührt.

Beschickt in fremden Händen, Unglückseliger,
1115

Ein kleiner Umfang nahst du mir in kleinem Raum.

Ich Arme, weh mir! Also war die Pflege denn

Unnüz, verloren, die ich einst an dich so oft

Gewandt mit süßer Mühe! Denn nie warest du

So heiß von unsrer Mutter, als von mir, geliebt;
1120

Nicht unsre Hausgenossen, ich nur pflegte dich,

lud mich, die Schwester, sprachest du beständig an.

Nun ist an Einem Tage dies entschwunden, ist

Mit dir gestorben: Alles ja, dem Sturme gleich,

Mit dir entraffend, schiedest du. Der Vater starb,
1125

Ich bin gestorben und du selbst dahin und todt:

Die Feinde lachen, und es tobt in wilder Lust

Die schnöde Mutter, der du selbst ein Nächer einst

Erscheinen wolltest, wie du mir durch Boten oft

Geheim verkünden ließest. Nun hat alles dies
1130

Dein böser Dämon und der meine mir entrückt,

Der also dich mir sandte, statt der theuersten

Gestalt, ein nichtig Schattenbild und Asche nur.

Ach, weh, weh!

klägliches Bild!
1135

Weh, weh!

Auf Pfaden des Grau'ns

(Weh, weh mir!)

Gesendet, o mein Trauter, gabst du mir den Tod,

Sa, gabst den Tod mir, mein geliebtes Bruderhaupt!
1140

So nimm mich auf in dieses enge Haus zu dir,

Zum Staub die Staubgewordne, daß ich drunten dir

Fortan gesellt sei! Als du noch hier oben warst,

Da theilt' ich gleiches Loos mit dir; mun drängt es mich,

Im Tode nicht von deinem Grabe fern zu sein.
1145

Denn nur die Todten, seh' ich, rührt kein Kummer mehr.

Der Chor.

Bedenk', Elektra: sterblich war, der dich gezeugt,

Orestes sterblich; jammre denn nicht allzusehr.

Orestes.

Was sag' ich? Weh mir! Wo verirrt mein zweifelnd Wort

Sich hin? Gebieten kann ich nicht der Zunge mehr.
1150

Elektra.

Was schmerzt dich also? Was bedeutet dieses Wort?

Orestes.

Du wärst Elektra? Wäre dies dein edles Bild?

Wohl ist es dieses, und ein unglückseliges.

Weh! Wie so graunvoll faßte dich dies Ungemach!

Elektra.

Doch nicht um mich, o Fremdling, rufst du solches Weh?
1155

Orestes.

Ha, dieser gottlos frevelhaft entstellte Leib!

Elektra.

Mir, Fremdling, keiner Andern, gilt dein Klageruf.

Orestes.

Weh, daß in Elend ehelos dein Leben schwand!

Elektra.

Was blickst du, Fremdling, so mich an, was jammerst du?

Orestes.

So hatt' ich also Nichts gewußt von meinem Leid.
1160

Elektra.

Und welche meiner Reden hat es dir enthült?

Orestes.

Mir sagt's des Jammers Uebermaß, das dich umringt.

Elektra.

Und meiner Leiden siehst du doch nur wenige.

Orestes.

Und wie vermöcht' ich schlimm're noch, als die, zu schaun?

Den Mördern leb' ich zugesellt in Einem Haus.
1165

Wie? Wessen Mördern? Welcher That gedenkst du da?

Elektra.

Des Vaters: und bei diesen muß ich Sklavin sein.

Orestes.

Doch wer auf Erden bürdet solchen Zwang dir auf?

Elektra.

Sie nennt sich Mutter; doch der Mutter gleicht sie nicht.

Orestes.

Wie? Zwingt sie dich durch Mangel oder durch Gewalt?
1170

Elektra.

Durch Mangel zwingt sie, durch Gewalt und jede Noth.

Orestes.

Ist nicht ein Helfer, Keiner da, der solches wehrt?

Elektra.

Nein; der's gewesen, dessen Asche bringst du mir.

Orestes.

Ach Arme, lange fühl ich schon Mitleid mit dir!

Elektra.

Allein auf Erden fühltest du Mitleid mit mir.
1175

Orestes.

Allein auch komm' ich schmerzerfüllt von gleicher Noth.

Elektra.

Doch nicht verwandt uns kommst du her aus fernem Land?

Orestes.

Ich werd' es sagen, sind die Frau'n hier wohlgesinnt.

Elektra.

Wohl sind sie das: zu Trenergebnen redest du.

Orestes.

So seze weg die Urne, daß du Alles hörst.
1180

Elektra.

Um alle Götter, thue das mir nicht, o Freund.

(die Urne umfassend)

Orestes.

O folge meinem Worte nur: dann fehlst du nie.

Elektra.

Bei deinem Antliz, nimm mir nicht mein Theuerstes!

Ich lass' es niemals.

(die Urne nehmend)

Weh mir Armen ohne dich,

Orestes! Auch von deiner Urne trennt man mich.
1185

Orestes.

Sprich gute Worte; denn du seufzest ohne Grund.

Elektra.

Was? Um den todten Bruder seufz' ich ohne Grund?

Orestes.

Den Namen ihm zu geben ziemt dir nimmermehr.

Elektra.

So sehr verschmäht der hingeschiedne Bruder mich?

Orestes.

Niemand verschmäht dich! aber dies berührt dich nicht.
1190

Elektra.

Doch, wenn Orestes' Asche ruht in meiner Hand!

Orestes.

Das ist Orestes' Asche ja zum Scheine nur.

Elektra.

Wo ist die Gruft denn dieses Unglückseligen?

Orestes.

Gar nirgend: hat doch keine Grust ein Lebender,

Elektra.

Wie sagst du, Jüngling?
1195

Orestes.

Keine Lüge sag' ich dir.

Elektra.

So lebt Orestes?

Orestes.

Wenn ich selbst am Leben bin.

Elektra.

Du bist es selber?

Orestes.

Sieh des Vaters Siegel hier

An meiner Hand, zum Zeichen, daß ich Wahres sprach.

Elektra.

schönster Tag!

Orestes.

schönster also sag' auch ich!

Elektra.

Du kamst?
1200

Stimme!

Orestes.

Hör' es nicht von Andern mehr!

Elektra.

Du bist in meinen Armen?

Orestes.

Bleib' es immer so!

Elektra.

Geliebte Frau'n, ihr Bürgerinnen dieser Stadt,

Seht hier Orestes, welcher erst durch schlaue List

Gestorben, nun durch schlaue List erhalten blieb!

Der Chor.

Wir sehen ihn, o Tochter, und die Thräne rinnt
1205

Bei solcher Fügung freudig aus dem Auge mir.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1050 focus

Then fare thee well ! Thou canst not bear my

words,

Nor I thy actions.

Electra

Go thy ways. Henceforth

I will not commune with thee. Nor thy prayers —

No, nor thy tears — should ever bend me to it ;

Such idle commerce were the height of folly.
1055

Chrysothemis

If thou dost think this wisdom, think so still ;

But when destruction comes, thou wilt approve

My better counsel, and be wise too late. \Exeunt.-

Man's ungrateful wretched race

Shall the birds of heaven disgrace.

Whose ever-watchful, ever-pious young

Protect the feeble parent whence they sprung ?

But if the blast of angry Jove

Hath power to strike, or justice reigns above,

Not long unpunished shall such crimes remain ;

When thou, O Fame ! the messenger of woe,

Shalt bear these tidings to the realms below,

Tidings to Grecia's chiefs of sorrow and of pain.

Bid the sad Atridnc mourn

Their house by cruel faction torn ;

Tell em, no longer, by afl'ection joined,

The tender sisters bear a friendly mind ;

]\laking her fruitless solitary moan,

Lil^e Philomela, weeps her father's fate ;

Fearless of death and every human ill,

Eesohed her steady vengeance to fultil —

Was ever cliild so good, or piety so great !

Still are the virtuous and the good

By adverse fortune unsubdued.

Nor e'er will stoop to infamy and shame ;

The war to wage with virtue's foes,

To gain the meed of never-ending fame,

Far, far above thine enemies.

In power and splendour mayst thou rise,

And future bliss compensate present woe !

For thou hast shown thy pious love,

By all that's dear to heaven above,

Or sacred held by mortals here below. [^Exeunt.

Orestes
Scene II. Strophe i. Antistrophe. Strophe 2. Antistrojyhe 2. ACT IV. Scene J.

Pi lades {with Attendant), Electra, Chorus.

Orestes

Say, virgins, if by right instruction led

This way, I tend to

Chorus

Whither wouldst thou 1100

Orestes

The palace of ^gisthus.

Chorus

Sti'iinger, well

Wert thou directed ; thou art there already.

Orestes

Who then amongst your train shall Idndly

speak

A friend's approach, who comes with joyful news

Of highest import?

Chorus

{jpointing to Electra]. Be that office hers

Whom bound by Nature's ties it best befits.

Orestes

Go then, and say from Phocis are arrived

Who beg admittance to the king.

Eleo. Alas !

And com'st thou then to prove the dreadful tale

Already told ?

Orestes

What you have heard I know not,
1110

But of Orestes came I here to speak

Electra
By Strophius's command.

What is it, say ;

Oh, how I dread thy message !

Orestes

[showing the l^rn]. Here behold

His poor remains

'Tis then too plain, and misery is complete.

Orestes

If for Orestes thus thy sorrows flow,

Know that within this urn his ashes lie.

Electra

Do they indeed ? Then let me, by the gods

1 do entreat thee, let me snatch them from thee !
1120

Let me embrace them — let me weep my fate,

And mourn our hapless race.

Orestes

Give her the urn,

Whoe'er she be ; for not with hostile mind

She craves the boon ; perhaps some friend, perhaps

By blood united.
1125

Electra

[taking the Urn]. O ye dear remains

Of my Orestes, the most loved of men !

How do I see thee now ! How much unlike

What my fond hopes presaged, when List we parted l

I sent thee forth with all the bloom of youth

Fresh on thy cheek, and now, O dismal change !

I bear thee in these hands an empty shade.

Would I had died ere X had sent thee hence,

Ere I had saved tliee from the tyrant's hand !

Would thou liadst died thyself that dreadful day,

And joined thy murdered father in the tomb,

Rather than thus a wretched exile fallen,
1130

Far from thy sister, in a foreign land I
1130

I was not there with pious hands to wash

Thy breathless corpse, or from the greedy flame

To gather up thy ashes. What have all

My pleasing toils, my fruitless cares availed,

E'en from thy infant years, that as a mother

I watched thee still, and as a mother loved ?

I would not trust thee to a servant's hand.

But was myself the guardian of thy youth,

Thy dear companion. All is gone with thee !

Alas ! thy death, like the devouring storm,

Hath borne down all. Thy father is no more,

And thou art gone, and I am going too.
1135

Our foes rejoice. Our mother, mad with joy,
1135

Smiles at our miseries — that unnatural mother,

She whom thou oft hast promised to destroy.

But cruel fate hath blasted all my hopes,

And for my dear Orestes left me naught

But this poor shadow. Oh ! th' accursed place

Where I had sent thee ! Oh ! my hapless brother,

Oh ! take me to thee ! Let this urn enclose

My ashes too, and dust to dust be joined,

That we may dwell together once again :

In life united by one hapless fate,

I would not wish in death to be divided.
1140

The dead are free from sorrows.
1140

Do not indulge thy griefs ; but, oh ! remember,
1140

Sprung from a mortal like thyself, Orestes

Was mortal too — that we are mortal all.

Orestes

[aside]. What shall I say? TI can refrain no

longer.

Electra

Why this emotion?

Orestes

\looMng at Electra]. Can it be Electra,

That lovely form ?

Electra

It is indeed that wretch.
1180

Orestes

Oh, dreadful !

Electra

Stranger, dost thou weep for me?

Orestes

By impious hands to perish thus !

Electra

For me

Doubtless thou weepst, for I am changed indeed.

Orestes

Of nuptial rites, and each domestic joy
1185

To live deprived !
1185

Electra

Why dost thou gaze upon me?

Orestes

Alas ! I did not know I was so wretched.

Electra

Why, what hath made thee so ?

Orestes

I see thy woes.

Electra

Not half of them.
1190

Orestes

Can there be worse than these ?

Electra

To live with murderers !

Orestes

What murderers, whom?

Electra

The murderers of my father ; bound to serve

them.

Orestes

Who binds thee ?

Electra

One who calls herself a mother;

A name she little merits.

Orestes

But say, how ]
1195

Doth she withhold the means of life, or act
1195

With brutal violence to thee?
1195

Electra

Both, alas !

Are my hard lot ; she tries a thousand means

To make me wretched.

Orestes

And will none assist,

Will none defend thee ?

Electra

None. My only hope

Lies buried there.

Orestes

Oh ! how I pity thee !

Electra

'Tis kindly done ; for none will pity me —
1200

None but thyself. Art thou indeed a stranger,
1200

Or doth some nearer tie unite our sorrows?
1200

Orestes

I could unfold a tale. But — say, these

virgins.

May I depend on them?

Electra

They are our friends,

And faithful all.

Orestes

Then lay the urn aside,

And I^vvill tell thee.

sr,

Elec'. Do not take it from me

Do not, dear stranger.

Orestes

But I must indeed.
1205

Electra

Do not, T beg thee.

Orestes

Come, you'll not repent it.

Electra

O my poor brother ! If thy dear remains

Are wrest-ed from me, I am most unhappy.

Orestes

No more ; fh

Eleo. Not grieve

For my Orestes ?

Orestes

No ; you should not weep.

Electra

Am I unwortliy of him then 1

Orestes

Oh, no !

But do not grieve.

Electra

Not when I bear the ashes
1215

Of my dear brother 1
1215

Orestes

But they are not tliere

"Unless by fiction and a well-wrought tale,

That hath deceived thee.

Electra

Where then is his tomb?

Orestes

The li\dng need none.

Electra

Ha ! what sayst thou 1

Orestes

' Truth.
1220

Electra

Does he then live 1

Orestes

If I have life, he lives.

Electra

And art thou he 1

Orestes

Look here, and be convinced ;

'i his mark, 'tis from our father.

Electra

O blest hour !

Orestes

Blessed indeed !

Electra

Art thou then here 1
1225

Orestes

I am.

Electra

Do I embrace thee ?

Orestes

Mayst thou do it long !

Electra

O my companions ! O my dearest friends !

Do ye not see Orestes, once by art

And cruel fiction torn from life and me,

But now by better art to life restored 1

Chorus

Daughter, we do ; and see 'midst all our
1230

woes
1230

From every eye fa,st flow the tears of jo.y.

Electra

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1050 focus

Then shall this hand alone perform the deed,

Nor uneffected leave the glorious work.

CHRY. Oh, had this spirit, when our father died

Been thine! What deeds had then thy hand achieved!

Electra

Such was my nature then, but less confirm'd

My spirit.

May thy spirit through thy life

Remain the same!

These cold monitions show

Thou wilt not give me aid.

For ill designs

May be repaid with ills.

I must applaud

Thy prudence, but abhor thy timid mind.

CHRY. This I can bear to hear: and when to me

Thou givest applause--

Never: applause from me

Thou never shalt receive.

That in its length

Of course will time decide.

Away; in thee

I have no aid.

Thou hast, were but thy hand

Open to reason.

To thy mother go,
1055

Tell her these things.
1055

I harbour not such hate
1055

Against thee.
1055

Yet thy mind can harbour thoughts
1055

To lead me to disgrace.
1055

Not to disgrace,
1055

But prudence.
1055

Must I follow what to thee
1055

Seems right?
1055

Chrysothemis

When reason does her office, thou

Shalt be my guide.

What shame to speak so well,

And act so ill!

Thou clearly hast explain'd

Thy own disease.

What, seem I not to speak

With justice?

There are times when justice leads

To ruin.

By such laws I will not live.

CHRY. But if thou dost these things, thou wilt applaud

Me, and my prudence.

These things I will do,

Nothing appall'd by thee.

Art thou resolved?

And will no counsel move thee?

To my soul

Ill counsels are most hateful.

Much averse

Thy mind appears to all I say.

By long

Deliberate thought my purpose firm is fix'd.

CHRY. I leave thee, since thy mind with scorn rejects

My words, nor can I favour thy designs.

ELEC. Go then; and wish it with what warmth thou may'st,

I never will hold converse with thee more.

Folly alone a thing so slight would court.

CHRY. This may thy mind think wisdom; think so still:

But 'midst thy sufferings thou wilt deem me wise.

Chorus
CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY, CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. STRO. 1. ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Mark you the birds that skim the air,

O'er their full nests they wave the busy wing,

By nature taught with pious care

Food to their callow young to bring,

To swell their plumes, and fit them for the skies.

Is man in nature's lore thus wise?

But, by the Thunderer's angry flame,

By Themis on her heavenly throne sublime,

Vengeance shall soon o'ertake the crime.

O thou, who fill'st this world, wide Fame,

Bear hence thy joyless voice of woe,

And fill with accents dread the world below!

ANTIS. 1. There 'midst the dead th' Atridæ tell

That guilt triumphant in their house remains;

That there the screaming Furies dwell;

That Discord 'twixt the sisters reigns.

Toss'd in the storms of fate, alone, betray'd,

Electra sighs in vain for aid;

Still for her father pours her tears,

Still in wild, melancholy notes complains,

Like Philomela's mournful strains:

No rage of tyrant pow'r she fears :

Content in death to close her eyes

These furies might her vengeful hand surprise.

Thus low sinks one of high-born race?

Thou art not sunk; to rise be thine :

The noble soul will ne'er disgrace

The glories of its ancient line;

Nor, when misfortune darkens round,

Obscure and dead to fame be found.

O'er thee, unhappy, generous maid,

Hath misery cast her baleful shade;

That shade thy choice, through high disdain,

Of guilt and all her gorgeous train,

Aspiring to enrich thy name

With wisdom's and with virtue's fame.

Oh may'st thou live in royal state,

Triumphant o'er thy prostrate foes,

As now beneath their hand thy fate

Hath sunk thee in disgrace and woes!

For I have seen thy generous soul

Burst from misfortune's harsh control;

Have seen thee with a fix'd disdain

Advance against her threat'ning train,

Bearing the high heroic thought

By heav'n-descended justice taught,

And all the firm mind's holy fires

Which piety to Jove inspires.

Orestes
STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2. ORESTES, PYLADES, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Say, female Argives, are we well inform'd,

Our steps unerring guided as we wish?

Chorus

What wou'dst thou ask? Why hither art thou come?
1100

Orestes

I seek the mansion where Ægisthus dwells.

Chorus

Right are thy steps: no blame thy guide deserves.

Orestes

To those within which of you will announce

Our presence, charged in common with affairs

Of no unwelcome nature to your lords?

Chorus

She, as by birth nearest to them allied.
1105

Orestes

Go, lady, let them be with speed inform'd

That men from Phocis sent Ægisthus seek.

Electra

Unhappy me! Bring you undoubted proofs

Of that report, which reach'd our ears before ?

Orestes

I know not: of Orestes is my charge
1110

To speak, by aged Strophius hither sent.

Electra

What, stranger? How am I oppress'd with fear!

Orestes

Of the dead youth the poor remains we bear,

As thou may'st see, in this small vase enclosed.

Electra

Then I indeed am wretched: now my grief
1115

Is certain; it is brought before my eyes.

Orestes

If for the poor Orestes flow thy tears,

Know that within this urn his body lies.

Electra

Now by the gods, O stranger, if this vase

Contain Orestes, give it to my hands;
1120

That o'er his ashes as I pour my tears,

Myself and all my race I may bewail.

Orestes

Whoe'er she be, entrust it to her hands;

For not in hatred makes she this request,

But as a friend, or one by blood allied.
1125

Electra

Thou sad memorial, now the sole remains

Of what was once Orestes, to my heart

Most dear, with other hopes I sent thee hence,

Not to receive thee thus; for in my hands

I bear thee, nothing now; a splendid Youth,

To glory born, I sent thee from this house.
1130

Oh hadst thou died, ere by these hands preserved,

And, snatch'd from slaughter, to a foreign land

I sent thee! Hadst thou died in that sad day,

Some little portion of thy father's tomb

Thou wou'dst have shared: but thou hast perish'd now
1135

Far from thy house, and from thy country far,

A wandering exile, from thy sister far.

Nor in the cleansing lavers did I bathe

With these fond hands thy corse, nor, as became

A sister, bear from the consuming flames
1140

The mournful burden. By a stranger's hands

Theseus

thou comest a little dust

Closed in a little urn. Unhappy me,

How vain is all my former nurturing care,

All the sweet toil for thee employ'd, how lost!

E'en for thy mother thou didst never show

More fondness than for me; no menial hand

Around thee was engaged; thou wast my charge,

And thy fond tongue still lisp'd thy sister's name.

All these endearments in one day are lost,
1130

With thee they died; thou, like a rushing storm
1130

Hast pass'd away, and with thee swept them all.

My father is no more, I am no more,

And death hath snatch'd thee hence; our foes exult;

My mother, how unworthy of that name!

Is wild with joy: yet secret message oft

Aforetime hast thou sent, that thou wou'dst come

Dreadful in vengeance; but unhappy fate,

Thy fate and mine, hath check'd the great intent,

And, for my loved Orestes, sent thee thus,
1135

Cold ashes, and an unavailing shade.
1135

Wretched remains! And what a wretch am I!

Thus art thou come? How mournful! Woe is me!

What ruin on thy sister hast thou brought!

Yes, dear Orestes, ruin on my head

Thy death hath brought. O miserable me!

Receive me then within thy sheltering urn.

Nothing to nothing; that henceforth with thee

I in the realms beneath may ever dwell.

For whilst thou here hadst life, with thee I shared
1140

One common fortune: now it is my wish
1140

In death to share thy tomb. The dead are free

From all the various woes of mortal life.

Chorus

Thou from a mortal father drew'st thy birth;

Thence be admonish'd: thy Orestes too

Was mortal; let that thought assuage thy grief.

Death is the debt of nature all must pay.
1175

Orestes

Oh, I must speak; to my distracted thoughts

I must give utterance; struggling in my breast

These strong emotions will break forth in words.

Electra

What grief is thine? Why this impassion'd speech?

Orestes

See I in thee Electra's honour'd form?

Electra

I am Electra, and a very wretch.
1180

Orestes

Ah, my heart bleeds to see thee thus.

Electra

For me

Why, stranger, dost thou grieve ?

Orestes

Oh, how disgraced

With foul and impious treatment!

Electra

Such my state,

Such as by thee deplored.

Orestes

Of nuptial rites
1185

Deprived, and train'd to misery!
1185

Electra

Thus on me

Why dost thou gaze, and sigh?

Orestes

I till this hour

Knew nothing of my ills.

Electra

How from my words

Dost thou now know them?

Orestes

I behold thee now

In many ills conspicuous.

Electra

Of my ills
1190

Thou seest but few.
1190

Orestes

How more abhorr'd than these

Can I behold?

Electra

With murderers that I dwell

By sad constraint.

Orestes

Murderers of whom? What ill

Doth this denote?

Electra

My father: and to them

I live perforce a slave.

Orestes

By whom compell'd

To this necessity?

Electra

A mother's name

She bears; a mother's tenderness for me

She never felt.

Orestes

How? Cruel is her hand?
1195

Or doth she feed thee 'mongst her slaves?
1195

Electra

E'en thus

She treats me, and with every barbarous ill.

Orestes

Has thou no friend to aid thee? From such wrongs

None to protect thee?

Electra

None; I had a friend,

His ashes thou hast brought.

Orestes

Thy wretched state

With pity I behold.

Electra

Of all mankind
1200

Thou alone pityest me.
1200

Orestes

For I alone

Am come with sorrow for thy sufferings moved.

Electra

Art thou by blood allied ?

Orestes

If these were friends,

I would speak freely.

Electra

Speak then: they are friends

In whom thou may'st confide.

Orestes

Give back that urn
1205

And thou shalt know the whole.
1205

Electra

Oh, by the gods,

Deal not thus with me!

Orestes

Let my words prevail;

No ill do they intend thee.

Electra

This dear pledge

I pray thee take not from me.

Orestes

To thy pray'r

I cannot yield.

Electra

How wretched shall I be,
1210

If, loved Orestes, of thy tomb deprived !

Orestes

Speak words of happier omen; for no cause

Hast thou to mourn.

Electra

Have I no cause to mourn

A brother's death?

Orestes

Thy state it suits not thus

To speak.

Electra

Am I unworthy of the dead?
1215

Orestes

Of none art thou unworthy: but to thee

This now is no concern.

Electra

Not though I bear

His ashes in this urn!

Orestes

That was a tale

Framed to deceive. Orestes lies not there.

Electra

Where then is my unhappy brother's tomb ?

Orestes

It is not: for the living hath no tomb.
1220

Electra

Young man, what say'st thou?

Orestes

Nothing false I speak.

Electra

Doth he then live?

Orestes

If here I stand alive.

Electra

Art thou Orestes ?

Orestes

Mark this signet well;

It was my father's: this will prove my truth.

Electra

O welcome day!
1225

Orestes

Most welcome to us both.

Electra

Is it thy voice I hear? Art thou then come?

And in these arms Orestes do I hold ?

Orestes

Ye daughters of Mycenæ, my loved friends,

We see him; in thy fortune we are blest,
1230

And tears of joy steal trickling from our eyes.

Electra

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1058-1095 focus

Chorus

Why, though we see the birds above, most thoughtful creatures, taking care for the sustenance

of those from whom they derived life and enjoyment, why do we not pay these debts in like measure? No, by the lightning-flash of Zeus, by Themis throned in the sky,
1060

we are not long unpunished. O Voice of the underworld that reaches to mortals, shout for me a piteous cry to the sons of Atreus below. Carry the reproaches not appropriate to my dancing!
1065

1070

Chorus

Tell them the affairs of their house, how it is now diseased; how among his children, double-sided strife has overwhelmed their loving manner.
1070

Electra, betrayed, braves the storm alone. In misery she bewails her father’s fate without pause, like the all-grieving nightingale. She cares not at all about death, but is ready for that eternal blindness,
1075

could she but subdue the double Erinys of her house. Who could grow to be so noble a daughter of so noble a father?
1080

1082

Chorus

None of the good willingly clouds his fair repute and becomes nameless by leading a corrupt life, my child.

Similarly, you, too, have chosen a lifetime of shared mourning and have armed against dishonor, so that you might win in one breath a twofold praise as wise, and as the best of daughters.
1085

1090

Chorus

May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
1090

for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1095

Enter Orestes, with Pylades and two attendants.

Orestes

Ladies, have we been directed aright, and are we on the right path to our goal?

Chorus

What do you seek? What desire brings you here?
1100

Orestes

I have long been searching for the home of Aegisthus.

Chorus

Well, you have found it, and your guide is blameless.

Orestes

Which of you, then, would tell those inside of the long-desired presence of us travelers?

Chorus

She will, if the nearest in kin should announce it.
1105

Orestes

Go, lady, enter and make it known that certain men of Phocis seek Aegisthus.

Electra

Ah, miserable me! Surely you do not bring proof positive of that rumor which we heard?

Orestes

I know nothing of your rumor; but the aged Strophius ordered me to give report of Orestes.
1110

Electra

What is it, sir? Ah, how fear creeps over me!

Orestes

We come bearing his scanty remains in a small urn, as you see.

Electra

Oh, the misery! Here, at last, my eyes look for certain, it seems, upon that grievous burden in your hand.
1115

Orestes

If your tears are for any of Orestes’ tribulations, know that this vessel is his body’s home.

Electra

Ah, sir, if this urn indeed contains him, then allow me,

by the gods, to take it in my hands, so that I may weep and wail, not for these ashes alone, but for myself and for all our house with them!
1120

Orestes
To the attendants.

Take it and give it to her, whoever she may be. For she asks this for herself not as if with hostile intent,

but like one who is his friend, or a kinswoman by blood. The urn is placed in Electra’s hands.
1125

1126

Electra

Memorial of him whom I loved best on earth, sole remnant of Orestes’ vitality! How contrary to the hopes with which I sent you away do I receive you back! Now I raise your nothingness in my hands;

but then, my child, you were radiant, when I sent you away from home! Would that I had first abandoned life, before, stealing you away with these hands, I sent you to a strange land and rescued you from death, in order that you might have lain dead on that same day
1130

and had your share in the tomb of our father!
But now, an exile from home and fatherland, you have perished miserably, far from your sister. Ah, me, these loving hands have not washed or decked your corpse, nor taken up
1135

their sad burden from the all-consuming pyre, as was proper. No! At the hands of strangers, poor Orestes, you have been tended, and so have come to us, a small bulk in a small urn.
Ah, I grieve at the uselessness of my nursing long ago, the service that I often bestowed
1140

on you in sweet labor! For you were never your mother’s darling so much as mine, nor was any in the house your nurse but I, and by you I was ever called sister. But now all this has vanished in a day
1145

with your death. Like a whirlwind you have swept everything away with you. Our father is gone; I am dead because of you; you yourself are dead and gone; our enemies laugh at us; and our mother, who is no mother, raves with joy. Unknown to her, you often
1150

sent me messages about her, saying that you yourself would appear for vengeance. But our evil fortune, yours and mine, has torn all that away, and has sent you back to me in this state, ash and a useless shade in place of your beloved form.
1155

1160

ah, me, ah, me! O pitiable body! Alas, dear one sent on a most dire journey, how you have destroyed me, destroyed me indeed, my brother!
1160

Therefore accept me into this abode of yours—me, a nothing, into your nothingness,—so that I may dwell with you hereafter below. For when you were on earth, we shared equally, and now I wish to die and not to be left out of your grave,
1165

since I see that the dead are relieved of pain.
1170

1171

Chorus

Remember, Electra, you are the child of a mortal father, and Orestes was mortal. Therefore do not grieve too much. Death is a debt which all of us must pay.

Orestes

Ah, what shall I say? I am at a loss. To what words

can I turn? I no longer have the strength to master my tongue!
1175

Electra

What has troubled you? Why did you say that?

Orestes

Is this the illustrious form of Electra?

Electra

It is, though in a very wretched state.

Orestes

What pity, then, for this miserable fortune!

Electra

Surely, stranger, you are not saddened like this on my account?
1180

Orestes

O frame dishonorably, godlessly wasted!

Electra

Those ills of which you speak, stranger, are none other’s than mine.

Orestes

Ah, pity for your unwed, ill-fated life!

Electra

Why, stranger, do you stare and grieve in this way?

Orestes

How I knew nothing, it seems, of my own sorrows!
1185

Electra

What that has been said made you realize this?

Orestes

It was the sight of you conspicuous in your many sufferings.

Electra

And yet you see but a few of my troubles.

Orestes

And how could there be any more odious to look on than these?

Electra

Because I share house and table with the murderers.
1190

Orestes

Whose murderers? Where lies the guilt at which you point?

Electra

The murderers of my father. And, further, I am forced to slave for them.

Orestes

Who is it that binds you with this compulsion?

Electra

She is called my mother, but in no respect is she like a mother.

Orestes

How does she do it? By violence or by inflicting hardship?
1195

Electra

By violence and hardships and all manner of evil.

Orestes

And is there no one to help, or to prevent it?

Electra

No one. The one I had, his ashes you have put before me.

Orestes

Unfortunate girl, how seeing you stirs my pity!

1200

Electra

Then know that you are the first who ever pitied me.
1200

Orestes

Yes, for I alone have come and been pained by your troubles .

Electra

Surely you are not some unknown kinsman?

Orestes

I would tell you, if these women bear you goodwill.

Electra

Indeed they do, so you will speak to trustworthy companions.

Orestes

Give up this urn, then, and you shall know everything.
1205

Electra

No, by the gods, do not do this to me, stranger!

Orestes

Do as I say, and you will never be mistaken.

Electra

No, I beg you, do not rip from me what I hold most dear!

Orestes

You must not keep it.

Electra

Ah, what misery I will have because of you,

Orestes, if I am robbed of your burial!
1210

Orestes

Hush! No ill-omened words! You have no right to grieve.

Electra

How is it not right for me to grieve for my dead brother?

Orestes

It is not proper for you to speak of him as you do.

Electra

Am I so without rights in the dead?

Orestes

You are without rights in nothing; but this burial is not your concern.
1215

Electra

Yes it is, if these are the remains of Orestes that I hold.

Orestes

They are not his, except inasmuch as fiction alone contrives to make them so. He gently takes the urn from her.

Electra

And where is that sufferer’s tomb?

Orestes

There is none; the living have no tomb.

Electra

What are you saying, boy?
1220

Orestes

Nothing that is untrue.

Electra

The man is alive?

Orestes

If there is life in me.

Electra

What? Are you he?

Orestes

Look at this signet, once our father’s, and know if I speak the truth.

Electra

O blissful day!

Orestes

Blissful, I am your witness!

Electra

Is this your voice?
1225

Orestes

Hear it from no other.

Electra

Do I hold you in my arms?

Orestes

May you hold me so always hereafter!

Electra

Ah, dear friends and fellow-citizens, see Orestes here, who was dead by design, and now by design has come safely home!

Chorus

We see him, daughter, and for this happy turn of fortune a tear of joy trickles from our eyes.
1230

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-593-1 τολμᾷς ¹

mvp-comment-594-1 οὔ σοι μὴ μεθέψομαι ²

mvp-comment-595-1 καὶ τὸ θηρᾶσθαι κενά ³ καὶ ⁴

mvp-comment-595-2 κενά ⁵

mvp-comment-596-1 ὅταν γὰρ ⁶

mvp-comment-596-2 βεβήκῃς ⁷

mvp-comment-597-1 ἄνωθεν ⁸

mvp-comment-597-2 οἰωνοὺς ⁹

mvp-comment-598-1 ἐσορώμενοι ¹⁰ ἀφ’ ὧν ¹¹

mvp-comment-599-1 εὕρωσι ¹²

mvp-comment-599-2 ἐπ’ ἴσας ¹³

mvp-comment-600-1 ἀλλ’ οὐ τὰν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-601-1 τὰν οὐρανίαν Θέμιν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-602-1 ἀπόνητοι ¹⁶

mvp-comment-603-1 χθονία ¹⁷ βροτοῖσι ¹⁸

mvp-comment-603-2 φάμα ¹⁹

mvp-comment-603-3 Some write Φάμα ²⁰

mvp-comment-604-1 κατά … βόασον ²¹

mvp-comment-604-2 μοι ²²

mvp-comment-605-1 Ἀτρείδαις ²³

mvp-comment-605-2 ἀχόρευτα ²⁴ ὀνείδη ²⁵

mvp-comment-606-1 νοσεῖ ²⁶ δή ²⁷

mvp-comment-607-1 τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων ²⁸

mvp-comment-607-2 διπλῆ φύλοπις ²⁹

mvp-comment-607-3 οὐκέτ’ ἐξισοῦται ³⁰ φιλοτασίῳ διαίτᾳ ³¹

mvp-comment-607-4 It is also possible, though (I think) less natural, to take the dat.

φιλοτασίῳ διαίτᾳ

as depending on

ἐξισοῦται

(‘is no longer compatible with friendly intercourse’).

mvp-comment-608-1 σαλεύει ³²

mvp-comment-609-1 Ἠλέκτρα, †τὸν ἀεὶ πατρὸς ³³

mvp-comment-609-2 Hence it is now generally held that this verse is corrupt. But no certain correction has yet been proposed. The word ἀεὶ ³⁴ πατρὸς ³⁵

mvp-comment-609-3 Far the best conjecture is Heath's, ἁ παῖς, οἶτον ἀεὶ πατρὸς ³⁶

mvp-comment-610-1 πάνδυρτος ³⁷

mvp-comment-611-1 οὔτε … τε ³⁸

mvp-comment-611-2 τὸ … μὴ βλέπειν ³⁹

mvp-comment-612-1 διδύμαν … Ἐρινύν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-613-1 τίς ἂν εὔπατρις ⁴¹

mvp-comment-614-1 οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀγαθῶν <γὰρ> ⁴² τῶν ἀγαθῶν ⁴³

mvp-comment-615-1 ζῶν κακῶς ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-615-2 νώνυμος ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-616-1 πάγκλαυτον αἰῶνα κοινὸν ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-616-2 εἵλου ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-617-1 τὸ μὴ καλὸν καθοπλίσασα ⁴⁸ ἀπολακτίσασα ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-617-2 If καθοπλίσασα ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-617-3 (1) ‘Having vanquished dishonour’ (schol.

καταπολεμήσασα τὸ αἰσχρόν

), i.e., having overcome the temptation of ignoble ease and security.

καθοπλίζω

elsewhere means to ‘arm’ or ‘equip,’ never ‘to subdue by arms’; if it has the latter sense here, it follows the analogy of such compounds as

κατακοντίζω, καταιχμάζω, κατατοξεύω

mvp-comment-617-4 (2) ‘Having made ready an unlovely deed’: i.e., the vengeance on the murderers.—See Appendix.

mvp-comment-618-1 φέρειν ⁵¹

mvp-comment-618-2 ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ ⁵²

mvp-comment-619-1 καθύπερθεν ⁵³

mvp-comment-619-2 τεῶν ⁵⁴ τῶν ⁵⁵ τοσόνδ’ ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-620-1 ὑπόχειρ ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-621-1 μοίρᾳ … οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ βεβῶσαν ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-622-1 μέγιστα … νόμιμα ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-622-2 ἔβλαστε ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-622-3 τῶνδε φερομέναν ἄριστα ⁶¹ τῶνδε ⁶²

mvp-comment-622-4 I formerly understood:—‘in respect to these laws, prospering full well’:

ἄριστα

being then an adv., while

φερομέναν

is used as in Thuc. 2. 60 § 3

καλῶς..φερόμενος τὸ καθ’ ἑαυτόν

: 5. 15 § 2

εὖ φερόμενοι

: 5. 16 § 1

εὖ φερόμενος ἐν στρατηγίαις

. This view is recommended by the fact that

φερομέναν ἄριστα

then forms a clear antithesis to

μοίρᾳ..οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ βεβῶσαν

. But two points are against it. (1)

τῶνδε

, as a genitive of relation, is somewhat awkward; though we might compare Thuc. 3. 92 § 4

τοῦ πρὸς Ἀθηναίους πολέμου καλῶς ἐδόκει αὐτοῖς ἡ πόλις καθίστασθαι...τῆς τε ἐπὶ Θρᾴκης παρόδου χρησίμως ἕξειν

: and id. 1. 36 § 2

Σικελίας καλῶς παράπλου κεῖται

. (2) The poet's usage, as we have seen, favours the other sense of

φερομέναν

mvp-comment-623-1 τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ ⁶³ Διὸς ⁶⁴ Ζηνὸς ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-624-1 εἰσηκούσαμεν ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-624-2 ὀρθῶς θ’ ⁶⁷ δ’ ⁶⁸ θ’ ⁶⁹ τε ⁷⁰ δέ ⁷¹

mvp-comment-624-3 ἔνθα ⁷²

mvp-comment-625-1 Αἴγισθον ⁷³ ᾤκηκεν ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-626-1 ἀλλ’ ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-626-2 χὡ φράσας ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-626-3 ἀζήμιος ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-627-1 τίς … φράσειεν ἄν ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-627-2 ποθεινὴν ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-627-3 κοινόπουν ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-628-1 τὸν ἄγχιστον ⁸¹

mvp-comment-629-1 ἴθ’, ὦ γύναι ⁸²

mvp-comment-630-1 οὐ δή ποθ’ ⁸³

mvp-comment-631-1 τὴν σὴν κληδόν’ ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-631-2 Στρόφιος ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-632-1 φέροντες ⁸⁶ κομίζομεν ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-633-1 τοῦτ’ ἐκεῖν’ ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-633-2 πρόχειρον ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-633-3 ἄχθος ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-634-1 κέκευθεν ⁹¹

mvp-comment-634-2 1122 Cp. Aesch. P. V. 637

ὡς τἀποκλαῦσαι κἀποδύρασθαι τύχας

mvp-comment-635-1 δότε ⁹² ἥτις ἐστί ⁹³

mvp-comment-635-2 ἐπαιτεῖται ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-635-3 πρὸς αἵματος ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-635-4 φύσιν ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-636-1 ψυχῆς Ὀρέστου λοιπόν ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-636-2 ἀπ’ ἐλπίδων ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-636-3 Then οὐχ ὧνπερ ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-636-4 Other possibilities are the following. (1) Keeping both

οὐχ ὧνπερ

and

ἀπ’

, to take

ἀπ’ ἐλπίδων

as=‘ with hopes.’ The prep. would then be used as when it denotes a resource: 1378

ἀφ’ ὧν ἔχοιμι

: Thuc. 1. 91 § 7

ἀπὸ ἀντιπάλου παρασκευῆς

. (Observe that in Soph. Tr. 667

ἀπ’ ἐλπίδος καλῆς

is not really similar; it means, ‘as the outcome of a fair hope.’) The prevailing usage of

ἀπό

condemns this view.

mvp-comment-636-5 (2) Still keeping

οὐχ ὧνπερ

, to change

ἀπ’

, with Schaefer, to

ὑπ’

. Cp. Eur. Hec. 351

ἐθρέφθην ἐλπίδων καλῶν ὕπο

. This is possible; though

ὑπό

, when thus used, commonly denotes an external accompaniment ( Soph. Tr. 419 n.); as, indeed, even in Hec. l. c., the hopes are not merely Polyxena's own, but those of her friends. Further:

ὥς σ’ ἀπ’ ἐλπίδων— ἀπό

meaning ‘contrary to’—strikes the note of despair more forcibly.

mvp-comment-636-6 (3) Keeping

ἀπ’

as=‘contrary to,’ to alter

οὐχ ὧνπερ

either to οὐχ ὅνπερ ¹⁰⁰ οὐχ ὥσπερ ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-636-7 On the whole, I retain the traditional reading, though not without a suspicion that either

ἀπ’

ὧνπερ

is unsound.

mvp-comment-637-1 νῦν μὲν γὰρ ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-637-2 οὐδὲν ὄντα ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-637-3 βαστάζω ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-637-4 λαμπρὸν ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-638-1 ὡς ὤφελον ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-638-2 The v.l. ὤφελες ¹⁰⁷ κλέψασα ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-638-3 τοῖνδε ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-638-4 κἀνασώσασθαι ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-638-5 φόνου ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-639-1 ὅπως … ἔκεισο ¹¹²

mvp-comment-639-2 τύμβου πατρῴου ¹¹³

mvp-comment-640-1 φυγὰς ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-641-1 ἐν ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-641-2 φίλαισι ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-642-1 λουτροῖς σ’ ἐκόσμης’ ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-643-1 ἄθλιον βάρος ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-644-1 ἐν ξέναισι χερσὶ κηδευθεὶς ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-644-2 σμικρὸς … ὄγκος ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-645-1 τῆς ἐμῆς … τρ. ἀνωφελήτου ¹²¹

mvp-comment-645-2 παρέσχον ¹²²

mvp-comment-646-1 ἢ κἀμοῦ ¹²³

mvp-comment-646-2 μητρὸς … φίλος ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-646-3 The schol. on 1146 has,

τὸ δὲ φίλος ἀντὶ ὄφελος

. But P. N. Papageorgius corrects

ὄφελος

ὦ φίλος

( Scholia in Soph. Trag. Vetera, Leipsic, 1888). And this is confirmed by the first part of the same scholium:

οὐκ ἦσθα τῆς μητρὸς ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον καὶ ἐμοῦ

: i.e., the scholiast understood, ‘for thou didst not belong to thy mother more than to me,’ and took

φίλος

as=a vocative.

mvp-comment-647-1 οἱ κατ’ οἶκον ¹²⁵ ἦσαν ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-647-2 ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τροφός ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-648-1 ἀδελφὴ σοὶ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-648-2 προσηυδώμην ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-649-1 ἐκλέλοιπε ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-649-2 θανόντι ¹³¹

mvp-comment-649-3 συναρπάσας ¹³²

mvp-comment-649-4 θύελλ’ ¹³³

mvp-comment-650-1 τέθνηκ’ ἐγὼ σοί ¹³⁴ σοί ¹³⁵ τέθνηκ’ ἐγώ σοι ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-650-2 Others explain: (1) ‘I am dead because of thee’; ‘thou hast been the death of me.’ The dat. is then like that in Ai. 1128

τῷδε δ’ οἴχομαι

(‘in his purpose, I am dead’). But this is less suitable to the context. (2) ‘I am dead to thee, as thou to me,’— i.e., we are now parted from each other by the barrier between earth and Hades.—The objection to τέθνηκ’ ἐγώ· σὺ ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-651-1 μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-651-2 ἧς ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-651-3 1160—

mvp-comment-652-1 οἴμοι μοί ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-653-1 κελεύθους ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-653-2 ἀπώλεσας ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-653-3 δῆτ’ ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-654-1 τοιγὰρ σὺ δέξαι μ’ ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-654-2 τὴν μηδὲν ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-654-3 τὸ μηδὲν ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-655-1 μετεῖχον τῶν ἴσων ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-655-2 μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-656-1 τοὺς ¹⁴⁹ θανόντας ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-657-1 θνητοῦ ¹⁵¹ θνητὸς ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-657-2 φρόνει ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-658-1 πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν ¹⁵⁴ τοῦτ’ ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-659-1 φεῦ φεῦ, τί λέξω ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-659-2 λόγων ¹⁵⁷ ποῖ ¹⁵⁸ ἀμηχανῶν ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-660-1 It is well to observe the delicately gradual process which leads up to the recognition.

mvp-comment-660-2 (i) 1176—1187. She is surprised that her woes should affect the stranger, and he hints that they are his own. (ii) 1188 —1198. She is thus led to speak more in detail of her sorrows, and of her despair,—caused by her brother's death. (iii) 1199—1204. He once more expresses his pity,—and this time in words which cause her to ask whether he can be a kinsman. He does not give a direct answer, but inquires whether the Chorus are friendly, and is assured that they are so.

mvp-comment-660-3 The preparation is now complete: the actual disclosure follows. (i) 1205— 1210. He asks her to give him the urn which is in her hands: she entreats that she may be allowed to keep it, and to pay it the last honours. (ii) 1211—1217. He tells her that she ought not to mourn for her brother. ‘Why,’ she asks: ‘if these are his ashes?’ ‘They are not so,’ he replies,—taking the urn from her hands. (iii) 1218—1221. ‘Where, then,’ she asks, ‘is his grave?’ ‘The living have no grave.’ ‘He lives?’ ‘Yes,—as surely as I live.’

mvp-comment-660-4 ἔσχες ἄλγος ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-661-1 κλεινὸν ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-662-1 Bergk has an ingenious (though, I think, mistaken) theory concerning this passage. Seeing that v. 1180 resembles v. 1184, he suggests that 1180 was an inferior variant for 1184: and, on similar grounds, that 1183 was a feebler substitute for 1179. That is, there were two different texts of this passage. ( a) In one of them, the better, verses 1180 and 1183 were absent, and the rest stood in this order, 1178, 1181, 1182, 1179, 1184. ( b) In the other, verses 1179 and 1184 were absent, and the rest stood in this order, 1178, 1181, 1182, 1183, 1180. The present text arose from an attempt to harmonise the other two.

mvp-comment-662-2 We have only to read the dialogue with attention to perceive that this hypothesis of variants is arbitrary. Verse 1183 expresses sympathy in a more definite and emphatic manner than v. 1179: verse 1184 expresses surprise more directly and decidedly than v. 1180. There is a gradual accentuation of the stranger's interest and of Electra's perplexity. This development is the internal proof that our text has not arisen from a dittographia.

mvp-comment-662-3 καὶ μάλ’ ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-663-1 ταλαίνης ¹⁶³ συμφορᾶς ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-664-1 οὐ ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-665-1 ἀτίμως ¹⁶⁶ κἀθέως ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-666-1 ἢ )μὲ ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-666-2 δυσφημεῖς ¹⁶⁹ ἄλλην ¹⁷⁰ ξένε ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-667-1 ἀνύμφου ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-667-2 τροφῆς ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-668-1 τί δή ποτ’ ¹⁷⁴ μοι ¹⁷⁵ ἐπισκοπῶν ¹⁷⁶ τί ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-669-1 ἐν τῷ … τῶν εἰρημένων ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-670-1 ὁρῶν σὲ ¹⁷⁹ σὲ ¹⁸⁰ σε ¹⁸¹ τῶν ἐμῶν ¹⁸² σέ ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-670-2 ἐμπρέπουσαν ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-671-1 πόθεν ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-672-1 εἶτα ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-672-2 δουλεύω ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-673-1 ἀνάγκῃ … προτρέπει ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-674-1 ἐξισοῖ ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-675-1 χερσὶν ¹⁹⁰ λύμη βίου ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-676-1 οὑπαρήξων ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-677-1 προὔθηκας ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-678-1 ποτέ ¹⁹⁴ ἐμέ ¹⁹⁵ νύν μ’ ¹⁹⁶

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

1053. mvp-comment-502-1 Cp. Ant. 69, 70, οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι | πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.

1054. mvp-comment-503-1 θηρᾶσθαι κενά] ‘Το seek for what is vain,' as the sympathy of Chrysothemis has proved itself to be.

1058-1097. mvp-comment-504-1 The Chorus lament, for Agamemnon's sake, over the quarrel between his daughters, which is added to the other troubles of his house, including the supposed death of Orestes, and express their admiration of Electra's attitude. Addressing her in the second strophe, they encourage her with words of sympathy and commendation. While Orestes lived, they bade her hope and trust. Now that they believe him to be dead, they are carried away by the heroism of her despair. That Electra remains upon the stage appears from infr. 1105.

1058-1065. mvp-comment-505-1 Agamemnon is forgotten by his daughter Chrysothemis, and by others who owed him gratitude. In this the human race shows itself inferior to the prudent stork. But though men forget, the gods remember, and will soon exact the penalty.

1058. mvp-comment-506-1 φρονιμωτάτους] Cp. esp. Plat. Polit. 263 D, οἷον δοκεῖ τὸ τῶν γεράνων, where, in a similar spirit of bitterness, the stork is again preferred to man. The expression (οιωνούς) is generalized, as elsewhere in Sophocles.

1059-1060. mvp-comment-507-1 τροφᾶς.. εὕρωσι] ‘Caring in respect of nurture for those from whom they are sprung, and from whom they have experienced good.' For the double genitive, cp. Trach. 108, ἀνδρὸς δεῖμα φέρουσαν ὁδοῦ, and for the subjunctive, cp. supr. 771, μίσος ὧν τέκῃ.

1060. mvp-comment-508-1 τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἴσας τελοῦμεν] 'Do we not equally fulfil this duty?' For the adverbial expression (ἐπ᾽ ἴσας, sc. μοίρας), cp. Trach. 727, ἐξ ἑκουσίας.

1061. mvp-comment-509-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὐ *τάν] For the omission of μά, which the MSS. insert against the metre, cp. Ant. 758, ἀλλ᾿ οὐ, τόνδ' Ὄλυμπον : infr. 1239.

1064. mvp-comment-510-1 οὐρανίαν] Cp. Ο. Τ. 865-7, νόμοι . . οὐρανίαν | δι' αἰθέρα τεκνωθέντες.

1065. mvp-comment-511-1 δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι] Sc. οὐ τελοῦμεν ταῦτα. The subject is ἡμεῖς, i.e. οἱ ἄνθρωποι, but the sentence, although general in form, is pointed at

1065-1066. mvp-comment-512-1 those who take part with Aegisthus. (In failing thus) 'we do not long escape from trouble.' For the passive form in ἀπόνητοι, see Essay on L. § 31. pp. 53. 4, § 53. p. 98 a, and cp. esp. Trach. 102, ποθουμένᾳ, and note.

1066. mvp-comment-513-1 ὦ χθονία.. φάμα] Ο human voice that piercest underground!' βροτοῖσι is really equivalent to a genitive, depending on the verbal notion in φάμα. More literally, Rumour on the part of mortals.' The language presupposes a communion of the living and the dead, so that the power of Rumour about things on earth is believed to extend to the world below.

1067. mvp-comment-514-1 οἰκτρὰν ὅπα] 'With lamentable sound.' ὅπα is cogn. acc. Compare with ll. 1066-8, Aesch. Pers. 639 foll. ἀχόρευτα φέρουσ᾽ ὀνείδη] · With saddening reproachful news.'

1070. mvp-comment-515-1 Various corrections of νοσεῖ have been attempted, of which Wecklein's ὀνοστά is the most ingenious. Others are νοσεῖ δή, νοσεῖται, νοσεύει, to which one more may be added, νοσώδη. The point especially indicated in this line is the supposed death of Orestes, which leaves the house of Agamemnon apparently without hope of healing or purgation.

1071-1072. mvp-comment-516-1 τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων . . διαίτᾳ] (1) Most editors agree in understanding this to mean, 'While between his two children a quarrel has arisen that puts an end to the harmony of loving intercourse.' But (a) would Sophocles put φύλοπις for a private quarrel? Or (b) can φ. οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξισοῦται be construed so as to mean νείκει διίστανται? Another interpretation seems possible, if we may suppose the Chorus to have been carried away by the visionary hopes of Electra. Then (2) διπλή φύλοπις might be taken to mean the 'two-fold war-cry,' i.e. the combination of the two sisters for hostile purposes, which had seemed possible, supr. 448-71 (note esp. ll. 453-6), and which Electra had depicted in such glowing colours in supr. 967-89. This combination 'is no longer evenly maintained in concord,' since Chrysothemis has renounced her part in it. Or (3) φύλοπις may have lost its hostile association and be used etymologically (Essay on L. $ 54. p. 100 d) for 'the combined voice of the family' as a symbol of fraternal concord. The two sisters no longer 'speak the same thing.' This explanation may be further modified by taking διπλῆ τo mean 'divided.' 'The voices of their children are disparted and no longer harmoniously sustained in a life of affection.'

1072. mvp-comment-517-1 σαλεύει] 'Endures the storm.' Essay on L. § 58. p. 105.

1075-1076. mvp-comment-518-1 τὸν ἀεὶ .. στενάχουσ] Everlastingly mourning for her sire (πατρός, gen. of cause), unhappy maiden.' τὸν ἀεί, sc. χρόνον. Cp. Ο. C. 1584, 1701, and notes. If this 'idiotism' is rejected, it is necessary to have recourse to conjecture here, as well as to a forced explanation of the passages in the Oedipus Coloneus. Schndw. conjectures Ηλέκτρα πότμον ἀεὶ πατρός (retaining μá in the strophe): and this is adopted by Wecklein. Paley, Ἠλ. τὸν ἀεὶ πότμον (‘The irrevocable fate of death'). Dind., τὸν ἑὸν πότμον.

1077. mvp-comment-519-1 For the correction, *πάνδυρτος for πανόδυρτος, cp. Ο. Τ. 1219, *δύρομαι

1077-1080. mvp-comment-520-1 (MSS. ὀδύρομαι). And for the sense, cp. supr. 148 foll.

1078-1080. mvp-comment-521-1 οὔτε. Ἐρινύν] ‘Not avoiding death, but willing to die, if she may but destroy the twofold Evil Power.' Cp. supr. 399, 956, 7. Electra has only spoken of killing Aegisthus. But see note on supr. 987 foll. There is here a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 438, ἔπειτ' ἐγὼ νοσφίσας ὀλοίμαν.

1081. mvp-comment-522-1 τίς ἂν.. βλάστοι] When shall one' (i. e. another) arise, so worthy of a noble sire?'-i. e. Noble at once in birth and nature. Cp. Ant. 38, εἴτ᾿ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ᾿ ἐσθλῶν κακή. And see the strained use of the same word in supr. 858 (ἐλπίδων) εὐπατρίδων.

1082-1086. mvp-comment-523-1 οὐδεὶς.. εἵλου] (1) According to Hermann's explanation of these lines, they state with greater calmness the reason of Electra's action, for which the preceding words express unbounded admiration. It would be hard to find a parallel for Electra's conduct, and yet it is that which every noble mind would choose. The truth is (γάρ), no one of noble strain is willing to live on in misery, degradation, and oblivion. Even so thou, O my daughter, didst choose the lot which all men share and all lament' (viz. death), 'so as, arming' (against thyself acc. to Herm. acc. to Schol. 'subduing'-) 'the power of wrong, to win a twofold renown, in being celebrated for wisdom as well as for the highest filial duty.' Cp. Trach. 721, 2, ζῆν γὰρ κακῶς κλύουσαν οὐκ ἀνασχετόν, | ἥτις προτιμᾷ μὴ κακὴ πεφυκέναι : Αj. 479, 80, ἀλλ᾿ ἡ καλῶς ζῆν ἢ καλῶς τεθνηκέναι τὸν εὐγενῆ χρή. Two points in this interpretation admit of doubt, the use of αἰῶνα for the state of the dead, and the meaning given to καθοπλίσασα. For the former, cp. O. С. 1551, 2, τὸν τελευταῖον βίον κρύψων ἐς "Αιδην, and note. Hermann's explanation of καθοπλίσασα, sc. κατὰ σεαυτοῦ, was an expedient which he adopted in order to avoid that of the Scholiast, καταπολεμήσασα καὶ νικήσασα, which appeared impossible. Either (2) the Scholiast should be followed in spite of analogy, or there is some corruption. Herm. doubtfully suggested καθιππάσασα. Other conjectures are καθυπνίσασα, καταπτύσασα. Qy. καθαγνίσασα (?), i.e. ' purging away as if by fire;' cp. supr. 70, δίκῃ καθαρτὴς πρὸς θεῶν ὡρμημένος : Eur. Or. 39, 40. ἐξ ὅτου σφαγαῖς θανοῦσα μήτηρ πυρὶ καθήγνισται δέμας, According to another line of interpretation (3), the connection is to this effect :- Electra is peerless, for none amongst the nobly-born are found to allow their glory to be soiled in a life of misery, as Electra does, choosing to share the common lot of affliction, if only she may subdue the criminals, etc. But εὔκλεια cannot =ἀγλαΐα ( supr. 211), and although the sentiment that the greater number of mankind are born to trouble is not un-Greek, it is hardly Sophoclean or appropriate here. Others would read κλεινὸν for κοινόν.

1089. mvp-comment-524-1 σοφά τ᾿ ἀρίστα τε] 'Wise, as well as bravest,' or 'best, Wise, i. e. because holding fast the higher law. Cp. l. 1094.

1089. mvp-comment-524-2 Enter Orestes and Pylades, with attendants, as the ἄνδρες Φωκέων τεταγμένοι of supr. 759. The urn is carried, not by Orestes as might be expected from supr. 54. but by one of the attendants ( infr. 1123).

1090. mvp-comment-525-1 'Mayest thou live, I pray, as far superior to thy foes in wealth and might as now thou art fallen beneath them!' Cp. Hdt. 8. 60, τῶν ἐχθρῶν κατύπερθε γενέσθαι: ΙΙ. 16. 722.

1091. mvp-comment-526-1 *τεῶν is Hermann's correction of τῶν. Others (Lange, Wecklein) read τοσόνδ'.

1093. mvp-comment-527-1 ὑπὸ †χεῖρα] Hermann's conjecture, ὑπόχειρ (cp. ἐπίχειρ), has been received by subsequent editors. But, although it gives regularity to the metre, the word is not found elsewhere, and ὑπὸ χεῖρα appears idiomatic. Hermann himself (1839) read ὑπὸ χέρα.

1094-1095. mvp-comment-528-1 μοίρᾳ . . βεβῶσαν] Not placed in happy fortune.' Cр. О. С. 1358, 59, ὅτ᾽ ἐν πόνῳ | ταὐτῷ βεβηκὼς τυγχάνεις κακῶν ἐμοί.

1095-1097. mvp-comment-529-1 ἃ δὲ μέγιστ᾽ ἔβλαστε.. εὐσεβεία] Either (1) But prospering most highly, through Zeus-loved piety, in respect of those laws that are mightiest in their origin,' or (2) But endowed with the noblest gifts from those laws which are of mightiest origin, because of thy piety to Zeus.' For μέγιστ' ἔβλαστε, ср. О. Т. 865-72, Ant. 454-7. For the genitive τῶνδε in (2), see Essay on L. § 10. p. 14 b. And for τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ in (1), cp. Phil. 1442, 3, ὡς τἄλλα πάντα δεύτερ᾽ ἡγεῖται πατὴρ | Ζεύς· ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνήσκει βροτοῖς. Wecklein reads ἄριστον αἶνον δι' εὐσέβειαν, Nauck, ἄριστα τὰν σὰν δι᾽ εὐσέβειαν.

1101. mvp-comment-530-1 ᾤκηκεν] Hath his abode.' The perfect tense ironically suggests the supposed permanence of Aegisthus' rule.

1104. mvp-comment-531-1 ποθεινήν] ‘Wishful, i. e. with desire to see them. It is a courteous phrase, for which cp. Shak. Mids. N. D. 1. 1, 'With duty and desire we follow you,'-but may have suggested to the spectators Orestes longing for his home and Electra's longing for him. For the active use of ποθεινός, cp. Eur. Phoen. 1737, ποθεινὰ δάκρυα.

1105. mvp-comment-532-1 τὸν ἄγχιστον] 'Nearest,' i.e. as daughter to the Queen. But the word is calculated to move Orestes, to whom Electra is indeed nearest. The masculine gives generality. Cp. supr. 1026, and note.

1110. mvp-comment-533-1 οὐκ οἶδα .. κληδόν] ‘I know not what report you speak of.' Orestes must seem ignorant of the coming of the Paedagogus, who professed to have been sent by Phanoteus, and had therefore nothing to do with Strophius, from whom Orestes is supposed to come. The evidence appears to flow through two channels, which are independent of each other.

1115. mvp-comment-534-1 Some editors punctuate after ἐκεῖνο, some do not punctuate at all between τοῦτ᾽ .. ἄχθος. The pause at σαφές seems on the whole most probable. Ah! here is that we heard of now made clear. I see the burden ready (as it would seem) to my hand.'

1116. mvp-comment-535-1 πρόχειρον may either mean (1) 'Before my hand,' i. e. ready to be taken up; or (2) Held in the hand' of another.'

1117. mvp-comment-536-1 τι .. τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν] The litotes suggests not only his death, but the ruin of his house. Cp. ll. 1121, 2.

1123-1124. mvp-comment-537-1 οὐ γὰρ οὐσ'] The form of expression may be simply occasioned by antithesis. But friends of Strophius might have reason to suspect those about Aegisthus of being unfriendly to Orestes.

1125. mvp-comment-538-1 ἢ.. φύσιν] ‘Or of his natural kin.' For πρὸς αἵματος, cp. Aj. 1305, τοὺς πρὸς αἵματος, and for φύσιν, see Essay on L. § 17. p. 25. 4, and cp. supr. 325-

1126-1128. mvp-comment-539-1 O sole memorial and relic of the living Orestes, dearest of mankind to me, how far otherwise than I had hoped do I receive thee! with thoughts how different from those with which I sent thee forth!" By a confusion to which double negatives are liable (Essay on L. § 29. p. 49), the negative implied in ἀπό is first expanded in a negative sense, and then ἀπό is resumed with ὧνπερ in a different (positive) sense. For a negative similarly ignored in the relative clause, cp. Ant. 1064-7, κάτισθι, μὴ πολλοὺς .. τελῶν | ἐν οἷσι, κ.τ.λ. Wecklein in l. 1128 reads οὐχ ὅνπερ with an inferior MS. • How contrary to my hopes I receive- not him whom I sent forth.'

1130. mvp-comment-540-1 λαμπρόν] 'Bright,' i.e. full of promise. Cp. supr. 685, εἰσῆλθε λαμπρός. ἐγώ has a pathetic, not a logical emphasis, and reminds the spectator that Electra's action at the critical moment was the saving of her father's house. Cp. supr. 12.

1131. mvp-comment-541-1 The v. r. ὡς ὤφελες (suggested by 1134) is far inferior to ὡς ὤφελον. The struggle of the intervening years now seems worse than yain.

1139-1140. mvp-comment-542-1 οὔτε .. βάρος] ‘Nor took up, as I should have done, from the all-consuming fire, the miserable remains.' See E. on L. § 8. p. 11. For βάρος, cp. Aesch. Ag. 442, βαρὺ ψήγμα, παμφλέκτου suggests that the fire has done its utmost. Cp. Od. 11. 220, 1, ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο | δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκ᾿ ὄστεα θυμός. See Essay on L. $ 53. p. 98.

1143. mvp-comment-543-1 She now goes back in memory to the happier time before the death of Agamemnon.

1143-1144. mvp-comment-544-1 τῆς ἐμῆς ἀνωφελήτου] 'The care which of old I spent on thee-in vain!' τροφή is active here, as in Eur. Tro. 1187, αἵ τ᾿ ἐμαὶ τροφαί.

1145-1146. mvp-comment-545-1 οὔτε . . φίλος] ‘For never wast thou bound to thy mother by such close ties as thou wast to me.' φίλος implies reciprocal affection. Clytemnestra was already alienated from Agamemnon's offspring in those early days. καί marks the stress on ἐμοῦ. Cp. Ο.Τ. 94, ἢ καὶ τῆς ἐμῆς, κ.τ.λ.

1147. mvp-comment-546-1 And I was more thy nurse than the domestics were.' A natural picture of the fondness of an elder sister for a little brother.

1148. mvp-comment-547-1 (1) 'And thou didst ever call me "sister."" Or (2) And the sister of Orestes was the name by which I was ever called,' ie. I was the one sister who was specially connected with thee. At this word, as Wecklein observes, all doubt is removed from the mind of Orestes.

1152. mvp-comment-548-1 τέθνηκ᾽ ἐγώ σοι] 'I am dead because of thee,' or 'Thou hast been the death of me.' Cp. supr. 808, ὥς μ' ἀπώλεσας θανών: Eur. Androm. 334, τέθνηκα τῇ σῇ θυγατρὶ καί μ᾿ ἀπώλεσε. E. on L. § 13. p. 20.

1154-1156. mvp-comment-549-1 ἧς is governed first by φήμας, = περὶ ἧς, and is then placed in a more definite construction with τιμωρός. Essay on L. § 9. p. 13. 3.

1158. mvp-comment-550-1 προϋπεμψεν] The same word (l. 1155) is repeated in a different connection. See Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83, 84.

1159. mvp-comment-551-1 καὶ σκιὰν ἀνωφελῆ] 'And a vain shadow of thee;' i. e. the remembrance of him revived by the sight of the urn, an imagination which brought no help with it.

1160-1162. mvp-comment-552-1 For this short lyric (anapaestic) outburst, cp. especially Trach. 1085, 6, ὦναξ ᾿Αίδη, κ.τ.λ.

1161. mvp-comment-553-1 ὦ δέμας οἰκτρόν] ‘Poor form!' She sees in imagination the mangled body of Orestes: supr. 756.

1162-1163. mvp-comment-554-1 δεινοτάτας κελεύθους] Sent on a terrible journey;' i.e. dismissed from life by a calamitous death. Cp. Trach. 874, 5, βέβηκε Δῃάνειρα τὴν πανυστάτην | ὁδῶν ἁπασῶν ἐξ ἀκινήτου ποδός. Others explain this of the bringing of the ashes from Phocis to Argos.

1164. mvp-comment-555-1 Still gazing at the urn, she calls her brother by the most endearing name: Ant. 899, 915.

1169. mvp-comment-556-1 To die and share thy burial.'

1170. mvp-comment-557-1 She contrasts the tranquillity of the lifeless ashes before her with her own sorrow.

1171-1173. mvp-comment-558-1 Unable to give real consolation, the Chorus fall back on the common-place that loss is common to the race.' Ср. О. Т. 1319, 20, and note. For a speech of three lines in a similar position, cp. Aj. 784-6.

1174. mvp-comment-559-1 Orestes is overcome by compassion in witnessing Electra's grief for him, and, contrary to his first intention, now prepares to disclose himself to her.

1174-1175. mvp-comment-560-1 ποῖ .. ἔλθω] «Το what words must I have recourse, when I know not what to say?' Cp. Phil. 897-9, Ν. οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅποι χρὴ τάπορον τρέ τρέπειν ἔπος. Φ. ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ; μὴ λέγ', ὦ τέκνον, τάδε. Ν. ἀλλ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

1176. mvp-comment-561-1 Some omit the point after ἄλγος. Cp. supr. 316. In that case the pronoun í is again supposed to be equivalent to ὅ, τι.

1179-1187. mvp-comment-562-1 Before revealing himself, Orestes gazes fixedly at Electra, as if to realize by actual observation the depth of her misery, and in doing so utters brief ejaculations, to which she replies amazedly.

1181-1182. mvp-comment-563-1 O ruined form, disowned both of men and gods! ! El. Those inauspicious words of yours, O Stranger, can apply to none but me.'

1183. mvp-comment-564-1 'Alas, for thy forlorn and ill-starred life! For ἀνύμφου, cp. supr. 961, 2, πάρεστι δ᾽ ἀλγεῖν ἐς τοσόνδε τοῦ χρόνου | ἄλεκτρα γηράσκουσαν ἀνυμέναιά τε. And for τροφῆς = ' Condition,' cp. Ο. C. 362, ζητοῦσα τὴν σήν, ποῦ κατοικοίης, τροφήν.

1184. mvp-comment-565-1 Why, I pray thee, Stranger, dost thou thus look steadfastly and groan?' ἐπισκοπῶν] · With fixed look,'-as if studying something deeply.

1185. mvp-comment-566-1 How utterly ignorant was I of my own sorrow!'

1186. mvp-comment-567-1 ἐν τῷ .. τῶν εἰρημένων] · In what that has been said did you discern this?' τῶν εἰρημένων marks Electra's unconsciousness that it is the sight of herself and her condition, and not any word spoken, that has moved the 'stranger.'

1187. mvp-comment-568-1 In seeing the sight of thee clothed with many sorrows.' Perhaps a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 16-18, καὶ γὰρ Ἠλέκτραν δοκῶ | στείχειν ἀδελφὴν τὴν ἐμὴν πένθει λυγρῷ | πρέπουσαν. Cp. Eur. Suppl. 1056, πένθιμος πρέπεις ὁρᾶν.

1191. mvp-comment-569-1 πόθεν .. κακόν] Orestes, still maintaining his disguise, professes amazement at the sudden mention of a murder. In what quarter can have arisen the mischief you thus make known to me?' i. e. What crime is this, with the knowledge of which you seem so familiar? (Not, 'By whom perpetrated?' with which the answer of Electra does not correspond.)

1193. mvp-comment-570-1 Either (1) 'Who drives you into this bondage?' the dative being equivalent to εἰς with the acc.; cp. ἄχεϊ προτραπέσθαι. Or (2) 'Who thus compels you?'— ἀνάγκῃ, instr. dat. The former (1) is best. See Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, 3.

1194. mvp-comment-571-1 οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ = οὐδὲν ποιεῖ ἴσον : οὐδέν, cogn. acc.

1195. mvp-comment-572-1 χερσίν, ἢ λύμῃ βίου] 'By violence, or oppression?'

1198. mvp-comment-573-1 ὃς ἦν] Cp. supr. 847. σποδόν] Sc. (1) τούτου, or (2) τοῦτον.

1200. mvp-comment-574-1 μόνος ποτέ] i.e. οὐδείς ποτε ἄλλος ἐπῴκτειρεν.

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1051–1200

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ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΧΡ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ. στρ. α.

τί τοὺς ἄνωθεν φρονιμωτάτους οἰωνοὺς

ὦ χθονία βροτοῖσι φάμα, κατά μοι βόασον οἰκτρὰν ὄπα τοῖς ἔνερθ᾽ Ἀτρείδαις, ἀχόρευτα φέρουσ᾽ ὀνείδη ει from η L.· ἀντ. α.

ἀντ. β΄.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἆρ' om. L. & add C² Pal., ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τ' εἰσηκούσαμεν,

ὀρθῶς θ᾽ ὁδοιποροῦμεν ἔνθα χρήζομεν ;

ΧΟ. τί δ᾽ ἐξερευνᾷς καὶ τί βουληθεὶς πάρει; 1100

ΟΡ. Αἴγισθον ἔνθ᾽ ᾤκηκεν ἱστορῶ γρ. μαστεύω C2. πάλαι.

ΧΟ. ἀλλ᾽ εὐ θ᾽ ἱκάνεις χώ φράσας ἀζήμιος.

ΟΡ. τίς οὖν ἂν ὑμῶν τοῖς ἔσω φράσειεν ἂν ἡμῶν ποθεινὴν κοινόπουν παρουσίαν ;

ΧΟ. ἥδ᾽, εἰ τὸν ἄγχιστόν γε κηρύσσειν χρεών. 1105

ΟΡ. ἴθ᾽, ὦ γύναι, δήλωσον εἰσελθοῦσ᾽ ὅτι Φωκῆς ματεύουσ᾽ μα. στεύουσ' L. ματεύουσ' A. μαστεύουσ᾽ FL2 Pal. ἄνδρες Αἴγισθόν τινες.

ΗΛ. οἴμοι τάλαιν, οὐ δή ποθ᾿ ἧς ἠκούσαμεν φήμης φέροντες ἐμφανῆ τεκμήρια;

ΟΡ. οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κληδόν· ἀλλά μοι γέρων 1110 ἐφεῖτ᾽ Ὀρέστου Στρόφιος στροφίος L. ἀγγεῖλαι πέρι.

ΗΛ. τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ ξέν᾽; ὥς μ᾽ ὑπέρχεται φόβος.

ΟΡ. φέροντες αὐτοῦ σμικρὰ λείψαν ἐν βραχεῖ τεύχει θανόντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, κομίζομεν.

ΗΛ. οἴ ἐγὼ οἱ ἐγὼ LA Pal. Vat. ac. τάλαινα, τοῦτ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἤδη σαφές. 1115 πρόχειρον ἄχθος, ὡς ἔοικε, δέρκομαι.

ΟΡ. εἴπερ τι κλαίεις τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν, τόδ᾽ ἄγγος ἴσθι σῶμα τοὐκείνου στέγον.

ΗΛ.

ΧΟ.

θνητοῦ πέφυκας πατρός, Ηλέκτρα, φρόνει· θνητὸς δ᾽ Ορέστης· ὥστε μὴ λίαν στένε. πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτ᾽ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν. 1175

ΟΡ. φεῦ φεῦ. τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχάνων ἔλθω; κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώσσης γνώσσης L. γλωσσης C¹. γνώμης ΓL2 Pal. σθένω.

ΗΛ. τί δ᾽ ἔσχες ἄλγος; πρὸς τί τοῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν κυρεῖς;

ΟΡ. ἢ σὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδος Ηλέκτρας ἠλέκτρα LF. ἠλέκτρας CAL2. Pal. τόδε ;

ΗΛ. τόδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλ᾽ ἀθλίως ἔχον. 1180

ΟΡ. οἴμοι ταλαίνης ἆρα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

ΗΛ. ο ὐ ὐ] τί L. τί AFL3 δὴ] δὴ AΓL". δή ποτ', ὦ ξέν, ἀμφ᾿ ἐμοὶ στένεις τάδε;

ΟΡ. ὦ σῶμ᾽ ἀτίμως κάθέως ἐφθαρμένον.

ΗΛ. οὔτοι ποτ᾿ ἄλλην ἢ ἐμὲ δυσφημεῖς, ξένε.

ΟΡ. φεῦ τῆς ἀνύμφου δυσμόρου τε σῆς τροφῆς. 1185

ΗΛ. τί μοι μοι ποτ', ὦ ξέν, ὧδ᾽ ἐπισκοπῶν στένεις ;

ΟΡ. ὡς οὐκ ἄρ᾽ ᾔδη ᾔδειν LA. ἤδειν Pal. Brunck corr. τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν ἐγὼ L. οὐδὲν C3 or 4. κακῶν.

ΗΛ. ἐν τῷ διέγνως τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

ΟΡ. ὁρῶν σε πολλοῖς ἐμπρέπουσαν ἄλγεσιν.

ΗΛ. καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν. 1190

ΟΡ. καὶ πῶς γένοιτ' ἂν τῶνδ᾽ ἔτ᾽ τῶνδέτ᾽ LAL² Pal. ἐχθίω βλέπειν ;

ΗΛ. ὁθούνεκ εἰμὶ τοῖς φονεῦσι σύντροφος.

ΟΡ. τοῖς τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτ᾽ ἐξεσήμηνας ἐξεσήμηνες L. ἐξεσήμηνας CA. ἐξεσήμανας L2. κακόν;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τοῖς πατρός. εἶτα τοῖσδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τίς γάρ σ' γὰρ γὰρ σε ἀνάγκῃ ἀνάγκη τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν ;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. μήτηρ καλεῖται, μητρὶ δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τί δρῶσα; πότερα χερσίν, ἢ λύμῃ βίου; 1195

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. καὶ χερσὶ καὶ λύμαισι καὶ πᾶσιν πᾶσι πᾶσιν κακοῖς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. οὐδ᾽ ὁ οὔθ᾽ ὁ παρήξων οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. οὐ δῆθ᾽ δῆτ' δῆθ᾽· ὃς ἦν γάρ μοι σὺ προὔθηκας προὔθηκα προὔθηκας σποδόν.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ὦ δύσποτμ, ὡς ὁρῶν σ᾽ ἐпоικτείρω πάλαι.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μόνος βροτῶν νυν νῦν ἴσθ᾽ ἐποικτείρας ποτέ. 1200

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις τοῖσι σοῖς σισοῖς τοῖς σοῖς ἀλγῶν κακοῖς.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. οὐ δή ποθ᾽ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴς ἥκεις ποθέν;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἐγὼ φράσαιμ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδ᾽ εὔνουν πάρα.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ἀλλ᾽ ἐστὶν εὔνουν, ὥστε πρὸς πιστὰς ἐρεῖς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. μέθες τόδ᾽ ἄγγος νῦν, ὅπως τὸ πᾶν μάθῃς. 1205

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μ᾽ ἐργάσῃ, ξένε.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. πείθου λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήσει ποτέ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. μή, πρὸς γενείου, μὴ 'ξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. οὔ φημ᾽ ἐάσειν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ὦ τάλαιν ἐγὼ σέθεν, 1210 Ὀρέστα, τῆς σῆς εἰ στερήσομαι ταφῆς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. πῶς τὸν θανόντ᾽ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ στένω;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. οὔ σοι προσήκει τήνδε προσφωνεῖν φάτιν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. οὕτως ἄτιμός εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότος; 1215

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ· τοῦτο δ᾽ οὐχὶ σόν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. εἴπερ γ' Ὀρέστου σῶμα βαστάζω βαστάσω βαστάζω τόδε.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γ' ἠσκημένον.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ποῦ δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἔστι ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφος;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. οὐκ κ from γ' ἔστι τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐκ ἔστιν τάφος. 1220

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ἢ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνήρ ἀνὴρ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. εἴπερ ἔμψυχός γ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ἢ γὰρ σὺ κεῖνος;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τήνδε προσβλέψασά μου σφραγῖδα πατρὸς ἔκμαθ᾽ εἰ σαφῆ λέγω.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ὦ φίλτατον φῶς. 1225

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι

φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς

ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ.
στρ. α.

ὦ χθονία βροτοῖσι φάμα, κατά μοι βόασον οἰκτρὰν

ὄπα τοῖς ἔνερθ᾽ Ἀτρείδαις, ἀχόρευτα φέρουσ᾽ ὀνείδη ει from η L.·

ἀντ. α.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἆρ' om. L. & add C² Pal., ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τ' εἰσηκούσαμεν,

ΧΟ.

τί δ᾽ ἐξερευνᾷς καὶ τί βουληθεὶς πάρει;
1100

ΟΡ.

Αἴγισθον ἔνθ᾽ ᾤκηκεν ἱστορῶ γρ. μαστεύω C2. πάλαι.

ΧΟ.

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ θ᾽ ἱκάνεις χώ φράσας ἀζήμιος.

ΟΡ.

τίς οὖν ἂν ὑμῶν τοῖς ἔσω φράσειεν ἂν

ἡμῶν ποθεινὴν κοινόπουν παρουσίαν ;

ΧΟ.

ἥδ᾽, εἰ τὸν ἄγχιστόν γε κηρύσσειν χρεών.
1105

ΟΡ.

ἴθ᾽, ὦ γύναι, δήλωσον εἰσελθοῦσ᾽ ὅτι

Φωκῆς ματεύουσ᾽ μα. στεύουσ' L. ματεύουσ' A. μαστεύουσ᾽ FL2 Pal. ἄνδρες Αἴγισθόν τινες.

ΗΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαιν, οὐ δή ποθ᾿ ἧς ἠκούσαμεν

φήμης φέροντες ἐμφανῆ τεκμήρια;

ΟΡ.

οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κληδόν· ἀλλά μοι γέρων
1110

ἐφεῖτ᾽ Ὀρέστου Στρόφιος στροφίος L. ἀγγεῖλαι πέρι.

ΗΛ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ ξέν᾽; ὥς μ᾽ ὑπέρχεται φόβος.

ΟΡ.

φέροντες αὐτοῦ σμικρὰ λείψαν ἐν βραχεῖ

τεύχει θανόντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, κομίζομεν.

ΗΛ.

οἴ ἐγὼ οἱ ἐγὼ LA Pal. Vat. ac. τάλαινα, τοῦτ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἤδη σαφές.
1115

πρόχειρον ἄχθος, ὡς ἔοικε, δέρκομαι.

ΟΡ.

εἴπερ τι κλαίεις τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν,

τόδ᾽ ἄγγος ἴσθι σῶμα τοὐκείνου στέγον.

θνητοῦ πέφυκας πατρός, Ηλέκτρα, φρόνει·

θνητὸς δ᾽ Ορέστης· ὥστε μὴ λίαν στένε.

πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτ᾽ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.
1175

ΟΡ.

φεῦ φεῦ. τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχάνων

ἔλθω; κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώσσης γνώσσης L. γλωσσης C¹. γνώμης ΓL2 Pal. σθένω.

ΗΛ.

τί δ᾽ ἔσχες ἄλγος; πρὸς τί τοῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν κυρεῖς;

ΟΡ.

ἢ σὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδος Ηλέκτρας ἠλέκτρα LF. ἠλέκτρας CAL2. Pal. τόδε ;

ΗΛ.

τόδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλ᾽ ἀθλίως ἔχον.
1180

ΟΡ.

οἴμοι ταλαίνης ἆρα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

ΗΛ.

ο ὐ ὐ] τί L. τί AFL3 δὴ] δὴ AΓL". δή ποτ', ὦ ξέν, ἀμφ᾿ ἐμοὶ στένεις τάδε;

ΟΡ.

ὦ σῶμ᾽ ἀτίμως κάθέως ἐφθαρμένον.

ΗΛ.

οὔτοι ποτ᾿ ἄλλην ἢ ἐμὲ δυσφημεῖς, ξένε.

ΟΡ.

φεῦ τῆς ἀνύμφου δυσμόρου τε σῆς τροφῆς.
1185

ΗΛ.

τί μοι μοι ποτ', ὦ ξέν, ὧδ᾽ ἐπισκοπῶν στένεις ;

ΟΡ.

ὡς οὐκ ἄρ᾽ ᾔδη ᾔδειν LA. ἤδειν Pal. Brunck corr. τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν ἐγὼ L. οὐδὲν C3 or 4. κακῶν.

ΗΛ.

ἐν τῷ διέγνως τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

ΟΡ.

ὁρῶν σε πολλοῖς ἐμπρέπουσαν ἄλγεσιν.

ΗΛ.

καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.
1190

ΟΡ.

καὶ πῶς γένοιτ' ἂν τῶνδ᾽ ἔτ᾽ τῶνδέτ᾽ LAL² Pal. ἐχθίω βλέπειν ;

ΗΛ.

ὁθούνεκ εἰμὶ τοῖς φονεῦσι σύντροφος.

ΟΡ.

τοῖς τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτ᾽ ἐξεσήμηνας ἐξεσήμηνες L. ἐξεσήμηνας CA. ἐξεσήμανας L2. κακόν;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τοῖς πατρός. εἶτα τοῖσδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τίς γάρ σ' γὰρ γὰρ σε ἀνάγκῃ ἀνάγκη τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν ;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μήτηρ καλεῖται, μητρὶ δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τί δρῶσα; πότερα χερσίν, ἢ λύμῃ βίου;
1195

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

καὶ χερσὶ καὶ λύμαισι καὶ πᾶσιν πᾶσι πᾶσιν κακοῖς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὐδ᾽ ὁ οὔθ᾽ ὁ παρήξων οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὐ δῆθ᾽ δῆτ' δῆθ᾽· ὃς ἦν γάρ μοι σὺ προὔθηκας προὔθηκα προὔθηκας σποδόν.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ὦ δύσποτμ, ὡς ὁρῶν σ᾽ ἐпоικτείρω πάλαι.

μόνος βροτῶν νυν νῦν ἴσθ᾽ ἐποικτείρας ποτέ.
1200

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις τοῖσι σοῖς σισοῖς τοῖς σοῖς ἀλγῶν κακοῖς.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὐ δή ποθ᾽ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴς ἥκεις ποθέν;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἐγὼ φράσαιμ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδ᾽ εὔνουν πάρα.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐστὶν εὔνουν, ὥστε πρὸς πιστὰς ἐρεῖς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

μέθες τόδ᾽ ἄγγος νῦν, ὅπως τὸ πᾶν μάθῃς.
1205

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μ᾽ ἐργάσῃ, ξένε.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

πείθου λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήσει ποτέ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μή, πρὸς γενείου, μὴ 'ξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὔ φημ᾽ ἐάσειν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ τάλαιν ἐγὼ σέθεν,
1210

Ὀρέστα, τῆς σῆς εἰ στερήσομαι ταφῆς.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

πῶς τὸν θανόντ᾽ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ στένω;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὔ σοι προσήκει τήνδε προσφωνεῖν φάτιν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὕτως ἄτιμός εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότος;
1215

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ· τοῦτο δ᾽ οὐχὶ σόν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

εἴπερ γ' Ὀρέστου σῶμα βαστάζω βαστάσω βαστάζω τόδε.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γ' ἠσκημένον.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ποῦ δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἔστι ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφος;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὐκ κ from γ' ἔστι τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐκ ἔστιν τάφος.
1220

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἢ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνήρ ἀνὴρ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

εἴπερ ἔμψυχός γ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἢ γὰρ σὺ κεῖνος;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τήνδε προσβλέψασά μου

σφραγῖδα πατρὸς ἔκμαθ᾽ εἰ σαφῆ λέγω.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς.
1225

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

φίλτατον, συμμαρτυρῶ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φθέγμ᾽, ἀφίκου;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ (ψ)ύθῃ or (φ)ύθῃ πύθῃ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.
ἔχω σε χερσίν χεροῖν γρ. χερσὶ χερσίν ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.
ὡς ω from ο τὰ λοίπ᾽ ἔχοις ἔχεις ἄχοις ἀεί.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ὦ πολίτιδες,

ὁρᾶτ᾽ ὁραῖτ᾽ Ὀρέστην τόνδε, μηχαναῖσι μὲν

θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖς σεσωσμένον.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

ὁρῶμεν, ὦ παῖ, κἀπὶ συμφοραῖσί μοι
1230

γεγηθὸς ἕρπει δάκρυον ὀμμάτων ἄπο.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τʼ εἰσηκούσαμεν

ὀρθῶς θʼ ὁδοιποροῦμεν ἔνθα χρῄζομεν;

Χορός

τί δʼ ἐξερευνᾷς καὶ τί βουληθεὶς πάρει;
1100

Ὀρέστης

Αἴγισθον ἔνθʼ ᾤκηκεν ἱστορῶ πάλαι.