Electra. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Current edition Experimental
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)) — 788 focus
Ἠλέκτρα
οἴμοι τάλαινα· νῦν γὰρ οἰμῶξαι πάρα,
Ὀρέστα, τὴν σὴν ξυμφοράν, ὅθʼ ὧδʼ ἔχων
πρὸς τῆσδʼ ὑβρίζει μητρός. ἆρʼ ἔχει καλῶς;
790
οἴμοι τάλαινα· νῦν γὰρ οἰμῶξαι πάρα,
Ὀρέστα, τὴν σὴν ξυμφοράν, ὅθʼ ὧδʼ ἔχων
πρὸς τῆσδʼ ὑβρίζει μητρός. ἆρʼ ἔχει καλῶς;
790
Κλυταιμνήστρα
οὔτοι σύ· κεῖνος δʼ ὡς ἔχει καλῶς ἔχει.
οὔτοι σύ· κεῖνος δʼ ὡς ἔχει καλῶς ἔχει.
Ἠλέκτρα
ἄκουε, Νέμεσι τοῦ θανόντος ἀρτίως.
ἄκουε, Νέμεσι τοῦ θανόντος ἀρτίως.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
ἤκουσεν ὧν δεῖ κἀπεκύρωσεν καλῶς.
ἤκουσεν ὧν δεῖ κἀπεκύρωσεν καλῶς.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὕβριζε· νῦν γὰρ εὐτυχοῦσα τυγχάνεις.
ὕβριζε· νῦν γὰρ εὐτυχοῦσα τυγχάνεις.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
οὔκουν Ὀρέστης καὶ σὺ παύσετον τάδε.
795
οὔκουν Ὀρέστης καὶ σὺ παύσετον τάδε.
795
Ἠλέκτρα
πεπαύμεθʼ ἡμεῖς, οὐχ ὅπως σὲ παύσομεν.
πεπαύμεθʼ ἡμεῖς, οὐχ ὅπως σὲ παύσομεν.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἄξιος τυχεῖν,
εἰ τήνδʼ ἔπαυσας τῆς πολυγλώσσου βοῆς.
πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοις, ὦ ξένʼ, ἄξιος τυχεῖν,
εἰ τήνδʼ ἔπαυσας τῆς πολυγλώσσου βοῆς.
Παιδαγωγός
οὐκοῦν ἀποστείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τάδʼ εὖ κυρεῖ.
οὐκοῦν ἀποστείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τάδʼ εὖ κυρεῖ.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
ἥκιστʼ· ἐπείπερ οὔτʼ ἐμοῦ κατάξιʼ ἂν
800
πράξειας οὔτε τοῦ πορεύσαντος ξένου.
ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ εἴσω· τήνδε δʼ ἔκτοθεν βοᾶν
ἔα τά θʼ αὑτῆς καὶ τὰ τῶν φίλων κακά.
ἥκιστʼ· ἐπείπερ οὔτʼ ἐμοῦ κατάξιʼ ἂν
800
πράξειας οὔτε τοῦ πορεύσαντος ξένου.
ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ εἴσω· τήνδε δʼ ἔκτοθεν βοᾶν
ἔα τά θʼ αὑτῆς καὶ τὰ τῶν φίλων κακά.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 836 focus
’Tis well that he is gone, not that you live.
840
’Tis well that he is gone, not that you live.
840
EL
Hear, ’venging spirits of the lately dead!
840
Hear, ’venging spirits of the lately dead!
840
CLY
The avenging spirits have heard and answered well.
The avenging spirits have heard and answered well.
EL
Insult us now, for thou art fortunate!
Insult us now, for thou art fortunate!
CLY
You and Orestes are to quench my pride.
You and Orestes are to quench my pride.
EL
Our pride is quenched. No hope of quenching thee!
Our pride is quenched. No hope of quenching thee!
CLY
A world of good is in thy coming, stranger,
Since thou hast silenced this all-clamorous tongue.
A world of good is in thy coming, stranger,
Since thou hast silenced this all-clamorous tongue.
OLD M
Then I may go my way, seeing all is well.
845
Then I may go my way, seeing all is well.
845
CLY
Nay, go not yet! That would disgrace alike
845
Me and the friend who sent you to our land.
845
But come thou in, and leave her out of door
845
To wail her own and loved ones’ overthrow.
845
Nay, go not yet! That would disgrace alike
845
Me and the friend who sent you to our land.
845
But come thou in, and leave her out of door
845
To wail her own and loved ones’ overthrow.
845
EL
Think you the wretch in heartfelt agony
Weeps inconsolably her perished son?
She left us with a laugh! O misery!
How thou hast ruined me, dear brother mine,
By dying! Thou hast torn from out my heart
The only hope I cherished yet, that thou
Living wouldst come hereafter to avenge
Thy father’s woes and mine. Where must I go?
Since I am left of thee and of my sire
Bereaved and lonely, and once more must be
The drudge and menial of my bitterest foes,
My father’s murderers. Say, is it well?
Nay, nevermore will I consort with these,
But sinking here before the palace gate,
Thus, friendless, I will wither out my life.
Hereat if any in the house be vexed,
Let them destroy me; for to take my life
Were kindness, and to live is only pain:
Life hath not kindled my desires with joy.
O ever-blazing sun!
O lightning of the eternal Sire!
Can ye behold this done
And tamely hide your all-avenging fire?
Ah me!
My daughter, why these tears?
Woe!
Weep not, calm thy fears.
You kill me.
How?
To breathe
A hope for one beneath
So clearly sunk in death,
’Tis to afflict me more
Already pining sore.
Think you the wretch in heartfelt agony
Weeps inconsolably her perished son?
She left us with a laugh! O misery!
How thou hast ruined me, dear brother mine,
By dying! Thou hast torn from out my heart
The only hope I cherished yet, that thou
Living wouldst come hereafter to avenge
Thy father’s woes and mine. Where must I go?
Since I am left of thee and of my sire
Bereaved and lonely, and once more must be
The drudge and menial of my bitterest foes,
My father’s murderers. Say, is it well?
Nay, nevermore will I consort with these,
But sinking here before the palace gate,
Thus, friendless, I will wither out my life.
Hereat if any in the house be vexed,
Let them destroy me; for to take my life
Were kindness, and to live is only pain:
Life hath not kindled my desires with joy.
O ever-blazing sun!
O lightning of the eternal Sire!
Can ye behold this done
And tamely hide your all-avenging fire?
Ah me!
My daughter, why these tears?
Woe!
Weep not, calm thy fears.
You kill me.
How?
To breathe
A hope for one beneath
So clearly sunk in death,
’Tis to afflict me more
Already pining sore.
CH. 5
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 788 focus
Weh, weh mir Armen! Jezt, Crestes, muß ich wohl
Dein Mißgeschick bejammern, da bei solchem Loos
Dich noch verhöhnt die Mutter. Ist so recht geschehn?
Dir nicht; dem Andern, wie's geschah, ist recht geschehu.
775
Weh, weh mir Armen! Jezt, Crestes, muß ich wohl
Dein Mißgeschick bejammern, da bei solchem Loos
Dich noch verhöhnt die Mutter. Ist so recht geschehn?
Dir nicht; dem Andern, wie's geschah, ist recht geschehu.
775
Elektra.
höre, du, des kaum Verblich'nen Nemesis!
1
höre, du, des kaum Verblich'nen Nemesis!
1
Klytämnestra.
Sie hörte, wen sie mußte: recht hat sie's gefügt.
Sie hörte, wen sie mußte: recht hat sie's gefügt.
Elektra.
Nun, spotte! Denn jezt bist du ja die Glückliche.
Nun, spotte! Denn jezt bist du ja die Glückliche.
Klytämnestra.
Und du und dein Orestes wehrt nicht unser Glück.
Und du und dein Orestes wehrt nicht unser Glück.
Elektra.
luns ist gewehrt schon, daß wir dir nicht wehren mehr.
780
luns ist gewehrt schon, daß wir dir nicht wehren mehr.
780
Klytämnestra.
Freund, wehrtest du dem ungestümen Lästermund,
Du hättest durch dein Kommen großen Dank verdient.
Freund, wehrtest du dem ungestümen Lästermund,
Du hättest durch dein Kommen großen Dank verdient.
Der Pfleger.
So kann ich weiter gehen, ist's hier wohl bestellt.
So kann ich weiter gehen, ist's hier wohl bestellt.
Klytämnestra.
Mit nichten: also würd'st du mein nicht Würdiges
Erfahren, noch des Freundes, der dich mir gesandt.
785
Nein, tritt in's Haus ein; diese laß hier außen schrei'n,
Ihr Leid bejammernd und das Leid der Ihrigen!
(sie geht mit dem Pfleger in's Hans.)
Elektra. Der Chor.
Mit nichten: also würd'st du mein nicht Würdiges
Erfahren, noch des Freundes, der dich mir gesandt.
785
Nein, tritt in's Haus ein; diese laß hier außen schrei'n,
Ihr Leid bejammernd und das Leid der Ihrigen!
Elektra.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 836 focus
Miu-ked ye, my friends, did ye observe her
840
tears ?
840
Did she lament him ? Did the mother weep
840
For her lost child ? Oh, no ; she smiled and left me.
840
Thou hast undone me ; thou wert all my hope :
840
I thought thou wouldst have lived to aid my vengeance
840
For our loved father's death ; deprived of both
840
Whither shall I betake me 'i Left at last
840
A slave to those whom most on earth I hate,
840
The cruel murderers — must it then be so ?
840
Never, oh never ! Thus bereft of all.
840
Here will I lay me down, and on this spot
840
End my sad days. If it offend the t}Tants,
840
Let 'em destroy me — 'twill be kindly done.
840
Life is a pain ; I would not wish to keep it.
840
Miu-ked ye, my friends, did ye observe her
840
tears ?
840
Did she lament him ? Did the mother weep
840
For her lost child ? Oh, no ; she smiled and left me.
840
Thou hast undone me ; thou wert all my hope :
840
I thought thou wouldst have lived to aid my vengeance
840
For our loved father's death ; deprived of both
840
Whither shall I betake me 'i Left at last
840
A slave to those whom most on earth I hate,
840
The cruel murderers — must it then be so ?
840
Never, oh never ! Thus bereft of all.
840
Here will I lay me down, and on this spot
840
End my sad days. If it offend the t}Tants,
840
Let 'em destroy me — 'twill be kindly done.
840
Life is a pain ; I would not wish to keep it.
840
Chorus
Where is thy thunder, Jove ? or where thy
power,
O Phcebus ! if thou dost behold this' deed
And not avenge it ?
Chor
Oh
Alas
Why mournst thou thus ?
Oh ! do not gi'oan thus.
How have I huit thee ?
Thou destroyst me.
Where is thy thunder, Jove ? or where thy
power,
O Phcebus ! if thou dost behold this' deed
And not avenge it ?
Chor
Oh
Alas
Why mournst thou thus ?
Oh ! do not gi'oan thus.
How have I huit thee ?
Thou destroyst me.
Electra
Why thus vainly try
To give me comfort, when I know he's dead ?
You but insult my woes.
Why thus vainly try
To give me comfort, when I know he's dead ?
You but insult my woes.
Chorus
Yet weep not thus.
Think on the golden bracelet that betrayed
Amphiaraus, who now
Yet weep not thus.
Think on the golden bracelet that betrayed
Amphiaraus, who now
Electra
Oh me !
Oh me !
Chorus
In bliss
845
Immortal reigns among the shades below.
845
In bliss
845
Immortal reigns among the shades below.
845
Electra
Alas !
Alas !
Chorus
No more ; a woman was the cause,
Th' accursed cause.
Eleo. She suffered, did she not ?
No more ; a woman was the cause,
Th' accursed cause.
Eleo. She suffered, did she not ?
Chorus
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 836 focus
Hear, Nemesis, avenger of the dead!
840
Hear, Nemesis, avenger of the dead!
840
Clytemnestra
She heard whom she should hear, and well decreed.
She heard whom she should hear, and well decreed.
Electra
Triumph, insult; for prosperous is thy state.
Triumph, insult; for prosperous is thy state.
Clytemnestra
That state wilt thou and thy Orestes sink?
That state wilt thou and thy Orestes sink?
Electra
No: we are sunk, and therefore sink not thee.
No: we are sunk, and therefore sink not thee.
Clytemnestra
Great is thy merit, stranger, great thy meed,
If thou hast check'd that ever-clamourous tongue.
Great is thy merit, stranger, great thy meed,
If thou hast check'd that ever-clamourous tongue.
Attendant
Now, if these things are well, I would depart.
845
Now, if these things are well, I would depart.
845
Clytemnestra
Not so; that would reflect disgrace on me,
845
And on the friend who sent thee. Go thou in,
845
And leave her here with clamourous grief to wail
845
The ruin which hath sunk her, and her friends.
845
Not so; that would reflect disgrace on me,
845
And on the friend who sent thee. Go thou in,
845
And leave her here with clamourous grief to wail
845
The ruin which hath sunk her, and her friends.
845
Electra
ELECTRA, CHORUS.
Did this unnatural mother show one sign
Of grief or pity? Did she shed a tear?
Or once lament a son by such a fate
Cut off? She left us with a smile of joy.
My dear Orestes, how hast thou destroy'd
Thy poor unhappy sister by thy death!
Thou hast torn from me the fond hope, which cheer'd
Alone my sinking mind, that thou wouldst live,
Live to avenge my father's death, and me,
Unhappy me. Now whither shall I go?
Did this unnatural mother show one sign
Of grief or pity? Did she shed a tear?
Or once lament a son by such a fate
Cut off? She left us with a smile of joy.
My dear Orestes, how hast thou destroy'd
Thy poor unhappy sister by thy death!
Thou hast torn from me the fond hope, which cheer'd
Alone my sinking mind, that thou wouldst live,
Live to avenge my father's death, and me,
Unhappy me. Now whither shall I go?
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 788 focus
Electra
Ah, what misery! Now, indeed, Orestes, I must mourn your misfortune, since even dead as you are
you are abused by this woman, your mother! Is it not just fine?
790
Ah, what misery! Now, indeed, Orestes, I must mourn your misfortune, since even dead as you are
you are abused by this woman, your mother! Is it not just fine?
790
Clytaemnestra
You certainly are not, but he is fine as he is.
You certainly are not, but he is fine as he is.
Electra
Listen to her, Nemesis of the recently departed!
Listen to her, Nemesis of the recently departed!
Clytaemnestra
She has heard who should be heard, and has ordained well.
She has heard who should be heard, and has ordained well.
Electra
Abuse us! Fortune is with you today.
Abuse us! Fortune is with you today.
Clytaemnestra
You and Orestes will not stop me, then, will you?
795
You and Orestes will not stop me, then, will you?
795
Electra
It is we who are stopped; we cannot stop you.
It is we who are stopped; we cannot stop you.
Clytaemnestra
Your coming, sir, deserves large recompense, if you have stopped her clamorous tongue.
Your coming, sir, deserves large recompense, if you have stopped her clamorous tongue.
Paedagogus
Then I would take my leave, if all is well.
Then I would take my leave, if all is well.
Clytaemnestra
Not so; your welcome would then be unworthy of me, and of my ally who sent you. No, come in. Leave her out here to shout out loud her misfortunes and those of her friends.
Clytaemnestra and the Paedagogus enter the house.
800
Not so; your welcome would then be unworthy of me, and of my ally who sent you. No, come in. Leave her out here to shout out loud her misfortunes and those of her friends.
Clytaemnestra and the Paedagogus enter the house.
800