Electra. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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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)) — 804 focus
Ἠλέκτρα
ἆρʼ ὑμὶν ὡς ἀλγοῦσα κὠδυνωμένη
δεινῶς δακρῦσαι κἀπικωκῦσαι δοκεῖ
805
τὸν υἱὸν ἡ δύστηνος ὧδʼ ὀλωλότα;
ἀλλʼ ἐγγελῶσα φροῦδος· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
Ὀρέστα φίλταθʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας θανών.
ἀποσπάσας γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς οἴχει φρενὸς
αἵ μοι μόναι παρῆσαν ἐλπίδων ἔτι,
810
σὲ πατρὸς ἥξειν ζῶντα τιμωρόν ποτε
κἀμοῦ ταλαίνης. νῦν δὲ ποῖ με χρὴ μολεῖν;
μόνη γάρ εἰμι, σοῦ τʼ ἀπεστερημένη
καὶ πατρός. ἤδη δεῖ με δουλεύειν πάλιν
ἐν τοῖσιν ἐχθίστοισιν ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ
815
φονεῦσι πατρός. ἆρά μοι καλῶς ἔχει;
ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοιποῦ χρόνου
ξύνοικος, εἴσειμʼ, ἀλλὰ τῇδε πρὸς πύλῃ
παρεῖσʼ ἐμαυτὴν ἄφιλος αὐανῶ βίον.
πρὸς ταῦτα καινέτω τις, εἰ βαρύνεται,
820
τῶν ἔνδον ὄντων· ὡς χάρις μέν, ἢν κτάνῃ,
λύπη δʼ, ἐὰν ζῶ· τοῦ βίου δʼ οὐδεὶς πόθος.
ἆρʼ ὑμὶν ὡς ἀλγοῦσα κὠδυνωμένη
δεινῶς δακρῦσαι κἀπικωκῦσαι δοκεῖ
805
τὸν υἱὸν ἡ δύστηνος ὧδʼ ὀλωλότα;
ἀλλʼ ἐγγελῶσα φροῦδος· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
Ὀρέστα φίλταθʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας θανών.
ἀποσπάσας γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς οἴχει φρενὸς
αἵ μοι μόναι παρῆσαν ἐλπίδων ἔτι,
810
σὲ πατρὸς ἥξειν ζῶντα τιμωρόν ποτε
κἀμοῦ ταλαίνης. νῦν δὲ ποῖ με χρὴ μολεῖν;
μόνη γάρ εἰμι, σοῦ τʼ ἀπεστερημένη
καὶ πατρός. ἤδη δεῖ με δουλεύειν πάλιν
ἐν τοῖσιν ἐχθίστοισιν ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ
815
φονεῦσι πατρός. ἆρά μοι καλῶς ἔχει;
ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοιποῦ χρόνου
ξύνοικος, εἴσειμʼ, ἀλλὰ τῇδε πρὸς πύλῃ
παρεῖσʼ ἐμαυτὴν ἄφιλος αὐανῶ βίον.
πρὸς ταῦτα καινέτω τις, εἰ βαρύνεται,
820
τῶν ἔνδον ὄντων· ὡς χάρις μέν, ἢν κτάνῃ,
λύπη δʼ, ἐὰν ζῶ· τοῦ βίου δʼ οὐδεὶς πόθος.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 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)) — 804 focus
Dünkt euch, o Frauen, daß das unheilvolle Weib,
Von Schmerz erfüllt, wie eine trostlos trauernde,
Den Sohn bejammre, der so kläglich unterging?
790
Nein, lachend ging sie weiter! Ich Unselige!
O mein Orestes, sterbend gabst du mir den Tod!
Denn weggerissen aus der Brust entführst du mir
Die lezte Hoffnung, welche noch mir Armen blieb,
Du würdest lebend kommen einst, des Vaters Tod
795
Und mich zu rächen. Nun - wohin flieh'n soll ich nun?
Denn einsam steh' ich und allein, bin dein beraubt,
Beraubt des Vaters. Sklavin muß ich wieder sein
Von diesen Menschen, die mein Herz vor Allen haßt,
Des Vaters Mördern. Wäre mir das recht gescheh'n?
800
Doch wahrlich fortan will ich nicht in Einem Haus
Mit ihnen wohnen, nein, hinaus vor dieses Thor
Mich werfend, schmacht' ich ohne Freund mein Leben hin.
Dann möge mich ermorden, wer im Hause sich
Hievon beschwert hält: Wonne wird der Tod mir sein,
805
Wie Qual das Leben; beut es mir doch keine Lust.
Erste Strophe.
Dünkt euch, o Frauen, daß das unheilvolle Weib,
Von Schmerz erfüllt, wie eine trostlos trauernde,
Den Sohn bejammre, der so kläglich unterging?
790
Nein, lachend ging sie weiter! Ich Unselige!
O mein Orestes, sterbend gabst du mir den Tod!
Denn weggerissen aus der Brust entführst du mir
Die lezte Hoffnung, welche noch mir Armen blieb,
Du würdest lebend kommen einst, des Vaters Tod
795
Und mich zu rächen. Nun - wohin flieh'n soll ich nun?
Denn einsam steh' ich und allein, bin dein beraubt,
Beraubt des Vaters. Sklavin muß ich wieder sein
Von diesen Menschen, die mein Herz vor Allen haßt,
Des Vaters Mördern. Wäre mir das recht gescheh'n?
800
Doch wahrlich fortan will ich nicht in Einem Haus
Mit ihnen wohnen, nein, hinaus vor dieses Thor
Mich werfend, schmacht' ich ohne Freund mein Leben hin.
Dann möge mich ermorden, wer im Hause sich
Hievon beschwert hält: Wonne wird der Tod mir sein,
805
Wie Qual das Leben; beut es mir doch keine Lust.
Der Chor.
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)) — 804 focus
Electra
What do you think? Does it seem to you that she, poor woman, wept and wailed terribly,
like a grieving, anguished woman, over her son thus destroyed? No, she left us with a laugh! Ah, miserable me! Dearest Orestes, how your death has destroyed me! For your passing has torn from my heart
805
the only hopes which still were mine: that you would live to return some day as the avenger of our father, and also of me in my misery. But now, where shall I turn? I am alone, cheated of you, as of my father. Hereafter I must be a slave again
810
among those I most hate, my father’s murderers. Am I not in a fine way? But at least in the time remaining me I will never enter the house to dwell with them. No, lying down at these gates, without a friend, I shall wither away my days.
815
Therefore, if anyone in the house be angry, let him kill me. It is a favor, if I die, but a pain, if I live. I desire life no more.
820
What do you think? Does it seem to you that she, poor woman, wept and wailed terribly,
like a grieving, anguished woman, over her son thus destroyed? No, she left us with a laugh! Ah, miserable me! Dearest Orestes, how your death has destroyed me! For your passing has torn from my heart
805
the only hopes which still were mine: that you would live to return some day as the avenger of our father, and also of me in my misery. But now, where shall I turn? I am alone, cheated of you, as of my father. Hereafter I must be a slave again
810
among those I most hate, my father’s murderers. Am I not in a fine way? But at least in the time remaining me I will never enter the house to dwell with them. No, lying down at these gates, without a friend, I shall wither away my days.
815
Therefore, if anyone in the house be angry, let him kill me. It is a favor, if I die, but a pain, if I live. I desire life no more.
820