Electra. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 282 focus
Ἠλέκτρα
ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρῶσʼ ἡ δύσμορος κατὰ στέγας
κλαίω, τέτηκα, κἀπικωκύω πατρὸς
τὴν δυστάλαιναν δαῖτʼ ἐπωνομασμένην
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτήν. οὐδὲ γὰρ κλαῦσαι πάρα
285
τοσόνδʼ ὅσον μοι θυμὸς ἡδονὴν φέρει.
αὕτη γὰρ ἡ λόγοισι γενναία γυνὴ
φωνοῦσα τοιάδʼ ἐξονειδίζει κακά·
ὦ δύσθεον μίσημα, σοὶ μόνῃ πατὴρ
τέθνηκεν; ἄλλος δʼ οὔτις ἐν πένθει βροτῶν;
290
κακῶς ὄλοιο, μηδέ σʼ ἐκ γόων ποτὲ
τῶν νῦν ἀπαλλάξειαν οἱ κάτω θεοί.
τάδʼ ἐξυβρίζει· πλὴν ὅταν κλύῃ τινὸς
ἥξοντʼ Ὀρέστην· τηνικαῦτα δʼ ἐμμανὴς
βοᾷ παραστᾶσʼ· οὐ σύ μοι τῶνδʼ αἰτία;
295
οὐ σὸν τόδʼ ἐστὶ τοὔργον, ἥτις ἐκ χερῶν
κλέψασʼ Ὀρέστην τῶν ἐμῶν ὑπεξέθου;
ἀλλʼ ἴσθι τοι τίσουσά γʼ ἀξίαν δίκην.
τοιαῦθʼ ὑλακτεῖ, σὺν δʼ ἐποτρύνει πέλας
ὁ κλεινὸς αὐτῇ ταὐτὰ νυμφίος παρών,
300
ὁ πάντʼ ἄναλκις οὗτος, ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη,
ὁ σὺν γυναιξὶ τὰς μάχας ποιούμενος.
ἐγὼ δʼ Ὀρέστην τῶνδε προσμένουσʼ ἀεὶ
παυστῆρʼ ἐφήξειν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἀπόλλυμαι.
μέλλων γὰρ ἀεὶ δρᾶν τι τὰς οὔσας τέ μου
305
καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ἐλπίδας διέφθορεν.
ἐν οὖν τοιούτοις οὔτε σωφρονεῖν, φίλαι,
οὔτʼ εὐσεβεῖν πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ἔν τοι κακοῖς
πολλή ʼστʼ ἀνάγκη κἀπιτηδεύειν κακά.
ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρῶσʼ ἡ δύσμορος κατὰ στέγας
κλαίω, τέτηκα, κἀπικωκύω πατρὸς
τὴν δυστάλαιναν δαῖτʼ ἐπωνομασμένην
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτήν. οὐδὲ γὰρ κλαῦσαι πάρα
285
τοσόνδʼ ὅσον μοι θυμὸς ἡδονὴν φέρει.
αὕτη γὰρ ἡ λόγοισι γενναία γυνὴ
φωνοῦσα τοιάδʼ ἐξονειδίζει κακά·
ὦ δύσθεον μίσημα, σοὶ μόνῃ πατὴρ
τέθνηκεν; ἄλλος δʼ οὔτις ἐν πένθει βροτῶν;
290
κακῶς ὄλοιο, μηδέ σʼ ἐκ γόων ποτὲ
τῶν νῦν ἀπαλλάξειαν οἱ κάτω θεοί.
τάδʼ ἐξυβρίζει· πλὴν ὅταν κλύῃ τινὸς
ἥξοντʼ Ὀρέστην· τηνικαῦτα δʼ ἐμμανὴς
βοᾷ παραστᾶσʼ· οὐ σύ μοι τῶνδʼ αἰτία;
295
οὐ σὸν τόδʼ ἐστὶ τοὔργον, ἥτις ἐκ χερῶν
κλέψασʼ Ὀρέστην τῶν ἐμῶν ὑπεξέθου;
ἀλλʼ ἴσθι τοι τίσουσά γʼ ἀξίαν δίκην.
τοιαῦθʼ ὑλακτεῖ, σὺν δʼ ἐποτρύνει πέλας
ὁ κλεινὸς αὐτῇ ταὐτὰ νυμφίος παρών,
300
ὁ πάντʼ ἄναλκις οὗτος, ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη,
ὁ σὺν γυναιξὶ τὰς μάχας ποιούμενος.
ἐγὼ δʼ Ὀρέστην τῶνδε προσμένουσʼ ἀεὶ
παυστῆρʼ ἐφήξειν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἀπόλλυμαι.
μέλλων γὰρ ἀεὶ δρᾶν τι τὰς οὔσας τέ μου
305
καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ἐλπίδας διέφθορεν.
ἐν οὖν τοιούτοις οὔτε σωφρονεῖν, φίλαι,
οὔτʼ εὐσεβεῖν πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ἔν τοι κακοῖς
πολλή ʼστʼ ἀνάγκη κἀπιτηδεύειν κακά.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 251 focus
No more! I see approaching from the house
Thy sister by both parents of thy blood,
Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering,
Such as old custom yields to those below.
No more! I see approaching from the house
Thy sister by both parents of thy blood,
Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering,
Such as old custom yields to those below.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Enter CHRYSOTHEMIS .
What converse keeps thee now beyond the gates,
Dear sister? why this talk in the open day?
Wilt thou not learn after so long to cease
From vain indulgence of a bootless rage?
I know in my own breast that I am pained
By what thou griev’st at, and if I had power,
My censure of their deeds would soon be known.
But in misfortune I have chosen to sail
With lowered canvas, rather than provoke
With puny strokes invulnerable foes.
I would thou didst the like: though I must own
The right is on thy side, and not on mine.
But if I mean to dwell at liberty,
I must obey in all the stronger will.
What converse keeps thee now beyond the gates,
Dear sister? why this talk in the open day?
Wilt thou not learn after so long to cease
From vain indulgence of a bootless rage?
I know in my own breast that I am pained
By what thou griev’st at, and if I had power,
My censure of their deeds would soon be known.
But in misfortune I have chosen to sail
With lowered canvas, rather than provoke
With puny strokes invulnerable foes.
I would thou didst the like: though I must own
The right is on thy side, and not on mine.
But if I mean to dwell at liberty,
I must obey in all the stronger will.
EL
’Tis strange and pitiful, thy father’s child
Can leave him in oblivion and subserve
The mother. All thy schooling of me springs
From her suggestion, not of thine own wit.
Sure, either thou art senseless, or thy sense
Deserts thy friends. Treason or dulness then?
Choose!—You declared but now, if you had strength,
You would display your hatred of this pair.
Yet, when I plan full vengeance for my sire,
You aid me not, but turn me from the attempt.
What’s this but adding cowardice to evil?
255
For tell me, or be patient till I show,
255
What should I gain by ceasing this my moan?
255
I live to vex them:—though my life be poor,
255
Yet that suffices, for I honour him,
255
My father,—if affection touch the dead.
255
You say you hate them, but belie your word,
255
Consorting with our father’s murderers.
255
I then, were all the gifts in which you glory
255
Laid at my feet, will never more obey
255
This tyrant power. I leave you your rich board
And life of luxury. Ne’er be it mine to feed
On dainties that would poison my heart’s peace!
I care not for such honour as thou hast.
Nor wouldst thou care if thou wert wise. But now,
Having the noblest of all men for sire,
Be called thy mother’s offspring; so shall most
Discern thine infamy and traitorous mind
To thy dead father and thy dearest kin.
’Tis strange and pitiful, thy father’s child
Can leave him in oblivion and subserve
The mother. All thy schooling of me springs
From her suggestion, not of thine own wit.
Sure, either thou art senseless, or thy sense
Deserts thy friends. Treason or dulness then?
Choose!—You declared but now, if you had strength,
You would display your hatred of this pair.
Yet, when I plan full vengeance for my sire,
You aid me not, but turn me from the attempt.
What’s this but adding cowardice to evil?
255
For tell me, or be patient till I show,
255
What should I gain by ceasing this my moan?
255
I live to vex them:—though my life be poor,
255
Yet that suffices, for I honour him,
255
My father,—if affection touch the dead.
255
You say you hate them, but belie your word,
255
Consorting with our father’s murderers.
255
I then, were all the gifts in which you glory
255
Laid at my feet, will never more obey
255
This tyrant power. I leave you your rich board
And life of luxury. Ne’er be it mine to feed
On dainties that would poison my heart’s peace!
I care not for such honour as thou hast.
Nor wouldst thou care if thou wert wise. But now,
Having the noblest of all men for sire,
Be called thy mother’s offspring; so shall most
Discern thine infamy and traitorous mind
To thy dead father and thy dearest kin.
CH
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 282 focus
Ich Kind des Unglücks, muß ich das im Hause seh'n,
Vergehe, weine, schluchze laut zu diesem Mahl
275
Des Jammers, das sie meines Vaters Mahl benennt,
Allein für mich; denn auch zu weinen ist mir nicht
So viel vergönnt, als meines Herzens Drang genügt.
Denn diese nach dem Namen hochgesinnte Frau
1
Rust höhnend dann mir diese bösen Worte zu:
280
Gottloses Scheusal, ist der Vater dir allein
Gestorben? Trauert außer dir kein Mensch um ihn?
Stirb hin in Elend, und von diesem Fammer soll
Dich auch der Todesgötter Macht niemals befrein!
2
So ruft sie trozend. Aber hört sie dann einmal,
285
Orestes komme, rennt sie flugs auf mich daher,
Und schreit und wüthet: dir allein, dir dank' ich das!
Es war ja dein Werk; hast du doch aus meinem Arm
Entwandt Oresten, und geheim ihn fortgeschafft!
Doch wisse: büßen sollst du mir verdienten Lohn!
290
So bellt sie tobend, und an ihrer Seite reizt
Ihr hochgerühmter Buhle sie noch mehr dazu,
Der überall feigherzig Allverderbliche,
Der im Verein mit Frauen seine Schlachten schlägt.
Ich, ewig harrend, daß Orestes mein Geschick
295
Zu wenden komme, schwinde hin in meinem Gram.
Denn ewig zaudernd hat er meine Hoffnungen,
Die nahen, wie die fernen, mir in Nichts verkehrt.
In solcher Noth, ihr Lieben, wer mag Mäßigung,
Wer fromme Tugend üben? Traun, im Uebel drängt
300
Es uns gewaltsam, auch zu thun, was übel ist.
Ich Kind des Unglücks, muß ich das im Hause seh'n,
Vergehe, weine, schluchze laut zu diesem Mahl
275
Des Jammers, das sie meines Vaters Mahl benennt,
Allein für mich; denn auch zu weinen ist mir nicht
So viel vergönnt, als meines Herzens Drang genügt.
Denn diese nach dem Namen hochgesinnte Frau
1
Rust höhnend dann mir diese bösen Worte zu:
280
Gottloses Scheusal, ist der Vater dir allein
Gestorben? Trauert außer dir kein Mensch um ihn?
Stirb hin in Elend, und von diesem Fammer soll
Dich auch der Todesgötter Macht niemals befrein!
2
So ruft sie trozend. Aber hört sie dann einmal,
285
Orestes komme, rennt sie flugs auf mich daher,
Und schreit und wüthet: dir allein, dir dank' ich das!
Es war ja dein Werk; hast du doch aus meinem Arm
Entwandt Oresten, und geheim ihn fortgeschafft!
Doch wisse: büßen sollst du mir verdienten Lohn!
290
So bellt sie tobend, und an ihrer Seite reizt
Ihr hochgerühmter Buhle sie noch mehr dazu,
Der überall feigherzig Allverderbliche,
Der im Verein mit Frauen seine Schlachten schlägt.
Ich, ewig harrend, daß Orestes mein Geschick
295
Zu wenden komme, schwinde hin in meinem Gram.
Denn ewig zaudernd hat er meine Hoffnungen,
Die nahen, wie die fernen, mir in Nichts verkehrt.
In solcher Noth, ihr Lieben, wer mag Mäßigung,
Wer fromme Tugend üben? Traun, im Uebel drängt
300
Es uns gewaltsam, auch zu thun, was übel ist.
Der Chor.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 251 focus
He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er
Forget his friends : be confident.
He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er
Forget his friends : be confident.
Electra
I am,
Were I not so I had not lived till now.
I am,
Were I not so I had not lived till now.
Chorus
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 251 focus
Our duty, by our zeal for thee enforced,
Induced us hither: if our friendly words
Offend thy sense of honour, we desist;
Thine be the conquest, and to follow, ours,
Our duty, by our zeal for thee enforced,
Induced us hither: if our friendly words
Offend thy sense of honour, we desist;
Thine be the conquest, and to follow, ours,
Electra
I am ashamed, my friends, if deem'd by you
Indulging an excess of grief and tears;
255
But they are wrung from me by bitter force;
I am ashamed, my friends, if deem'd by you
Indulging an excess of grief and tears;
255
But they are wrung from me by bitter force;
Electra
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 282 focus
But I, as I joylessly witness it, cry out, waste away in the house and bewail the unholy feast named after my father,
in solitary weeping. For I cannot even grieve to the full extent which would please my heart, since this lady, who is in fact no lady, loudly reproaches me with such shameless taunts as these:
Wicked and hateful girl, have you alone lost your father,and is no one else in the world grieving? May your death be harsh, and may the gods below never free you from your current mourning. Just so she abuses me, except when she gets word that Orestes is coming. Then, infuriated,
285
she comes up to me and cries;—
Have you not brought this upon me? Is this not your doing, since you stole Orestes from my hands and secretly sent him away? Yes—but rest assured that you will be justly punished. Like this she barks, and in agreement
295
her glorious bridegroom by her side urges her on—that total impotent, that utter plague who fights his battles with the help of women. But my heart is broken by my suffering as I constantly wait for Orestes to come and end these troubles.
300
For the perpetual imminence of his actions has eradicated every hope that I could conceive. In such a state of affairs, then, friends, there is no room for self-restraint or for reverence. Rather, in these dire straits there is much need to pursue a dire course.
305
But I, as I joylessly witness it, cry out, waste away in the house and bewail the unholy feast named after my father,
in solitary weeping. For I cannot even grieve to the full extent which would please my heart, since this lady, who is in fact no lady, loudly reproaches me with such shameless taunts as these:
Wicked and hateful girl, have you alone lost your father,and is no one else in the world grieving? May your death be harsh, and may the gods below never free you from your current mourning. Just so she abuses me, except when she gets word that Orestes is coming. Then, infuriated,
285
she comes up to me and cries;—
Have you not brought this upon me? Is this not your doing, since you stole Orestes from my hands and secretly sent him away? Yes—but rest assured that you will be justly punished. Like this she barks, and in agreement
295
her glorious bridegroom by her side urges her on—that total impotent, that utter plague who fights his battles with the help of women. But my heart is broken by my suffering as I constantly wait for Orestes to come and end these troubles.
300
For the perpetual imminence of his actions has eradicated every hope that I could conceive. In such a state of affairs, then, friends, there is no room for self-restraint or for reverence. Rather, in these dire straits there is much need to pursue a dire course.
305