ὦ σῶμ᾽ ἀτίμως κάθέως ἐφθαρμένον.
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)) — 1232-1287 focus
Ἠλέκτρα
ἰὼ γοναί,
γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,
ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως,
ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε.
1235
ἰὼ γοναί,
γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,
ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως,
ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε.
1235
Ὀρέστης
πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.
πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.
Ἠλέκτρα
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
Ὀρέστης
σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.
σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.
Ἠλέκτρα
ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν,
τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι,
1240
περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον
γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.
ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν,
τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι,
1240
περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον
γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.
Ὀρέστης
ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης
ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.
ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης
ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ,
1245
ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,
οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον
οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.
1250
ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ,
1245
ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,
οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον
οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.
1250
Ὀρέστης
ἔξοιδα, παῖ, ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουσία
φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.
ἔξοιδα, παῖ, ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουσία
φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὁ πᾶς ἐμοί,
ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν
τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνος·
1255
μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.
ὁ πᾶς ἐμοί,
ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν
τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνος·
1255
μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.
Ὀρέστης
ξύμφημι κἀγώ· τοιγαροῦν σῴζου τόδε.
ξύμφημι κἀγώ· τοιγαροῦν σῴζου τόδε.
Ἠλέκτρα
τί δρῶσα;
τί δρῶσα;
Ὀρέστης
οὗ μή ʼστι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.
οὗ μή ʼστι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.
Ἠλέκτρα
τίς οὖν ἂν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος
1260
μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;
ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως
ἀέλπτως τʼ ἐσεῖδον.
τίς οὖν ἂν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος
1260
μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;
ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως
ἀέλπτως τʼ ἐσεῖδον.
Ὀρέστης
τότʼ εἶδες, εὖτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν
1265
τότʼ εἶδες, εὖτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν
Ἠλέκτρα
ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν
τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς ἐπόρισεν
ἁμέτερα πρὸς μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον
αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ.
1270
ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν
τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς ἐπόρισεν
ἁμέτερα πρὸς μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον
αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ.
1270
Ὀρέστης
τὰ μέν σʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ
δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.
τὰ μέν σʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ
δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.
Ἠλέκτρα
ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν
ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,
μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν
1275
ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν
ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,
μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν
1275
Ὀρέστης
τί μὴ ποήσω;
τί μὴ ποήσω;
Ἠλέκτρα
μή μʼ ἀποστερήσῃς
τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν μεθέσθαι.
μή μʼ ἀποστερήσῃς
τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν μεθέσθαι.
Ὀρέστης
ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.
ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.
Ἠλέκτρα
ξυναινεῖς;
1280
ξυναινεῖς;
1280
Ὀρέστης
τί μὴν οὔ;
τί μὴν οὔ;
Ἠλέκτρα
ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἃν ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἤλπισʼ αὐδάν,
οὐδʼ ἂν ἔσχον ὁρμὰν
ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,
τάλαινα. νῦν δʼ ἔχω σε· προυφάνης δὲ
1285
φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν,
ἇς ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν.
ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἃν ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἤλπισʼ αὐδάν,
οὐδʼ ἂν ἔσχον ὁρμὰν
ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,
τάλαινα. νῦν δʼ ἔχω σε· προυφάνης δὲ
1285
φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν,
ἇς ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1171 focus
Bedenk', Elektra: sterblich war, der dich gezeugt,
Orestes sterblich; jammre denn nicht allzusehr.
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
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?
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!
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
Doch nicht um mich, o Fremdling, rufst du solches Weh?
1155
Orestes.
Ha, dieser gottlos frevelhaft entstellte Leib!
Ha, dieser gottlos frevelhaft entstellte Leib!
Elektra.
Mir, Fremdling, keiner Andern, gilt dein Klageruf.
Mir, Fremdling, keiner Andern, gilt dein Klageruf.
Orestes.
Weh, daß in Elend ehelos dein Leben schwand!
Weh, daß in Elend ehelos dein Leben schwand!
Elektra.
Was blickst du, Fremdling, so mich an, was jammerst du?
Was blickst du, Fremdling, so mich an, was jammerst du?
Orestes.
So hatt' ich also Nichts gewußt von meinem Leid.
1160
So hatt' ich also Nichts gewußt von meinem Leid.
1160
Elektra.
Und welche meiner Reden hat es dir enthült?
Und welche meiner Reden hat es dir enthült?
Orestes.
Mir sagt's des Jammers Uebermaß, das dich umringt.
Mir sagt's des Jammers Uebermaß, das dich umringt.
Elektra.
Und meiner Leiden siehst du doch nur wenige.
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?
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.
Des Vaters: und bei diesen muß ich Sklavin sein.
Orestes.
Doch wer auf Erden bürdet solchen Zwang dir auf?
Doch wer auf Erden bürdet solchen Zwang dir auf?
Elektra.
Sie nennt sich Mutter; doch der Mutter gleicht sie nicht.
Sie nennt sich Mutter; doch der Mutter gleicht sie nicht.
Orestes.
Wie? Zwingt sie dich durch Mangel oder durch Gewalt?
1170
Wie? Zwingt sie dich durch Mangel oder durch Gewalt?
1170
Elektra.
Durch Mangel zwingt sie, durch Gewalt und jede Noth.
Durch Mangel zwingt sie, durch Gewalt und jede Noth.
Orestes.
Ist nicht ein Helfer, Keiner da, der solches wehrt?
Ist nicht ein Helfer, Keiner da, der solches wehrt?
Elektra.
Nein; der's gewesen, dessen Asche bringst du mir.
Nein; der's gewesen, dessen Asche bringst du mir.
Orestes.
Ach Arme, lange fühl ich schon Mitleid mit dir!
Ach Arme, lange fühl ich schon Mitleid mit dir!
Elektra.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1232-1285 focus
Electra
O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come,
you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired!
1235
O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come,
you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired!
1235
Orestes
I am with you; but keep silence and wait.
I am with you; but keep silence and wait.
Electra
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Orestes
It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear.
It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear.
Electra
No, by ever-virgin Artemis,
I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground!
1240
No, by ever-virgin Artemis,
I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground!
1240
Orestes
Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe.
Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe.
Electra
oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled,
1245
cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten!
1250
oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled,
1245
cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten!
1250
Orestes
I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes.
I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes.
Electra
Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion
for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free.
1255
Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion
for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free.
1255
Orestes
Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom.
Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom.
Electra
What must I do?
What must I do?
Orestes
When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much.
When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much.
Electra
No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope!
1260
No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope!
1260
Orestes
You saw me when the gods moved me to come.
You saw me when the gods moved me to come.
Electra
You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house;
1265
I acknowledge in it the work of the divine.
1270
You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house;
1265
I acknowledge in it the work of the divine.
1270
Orestes
On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy.
On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy.
Electra
O you who, after such a long time, saw fit to make your most happy journey and appear to me,
do not, now that you have seen me in all my misery—
1275
O you who, after such a long time, saw fit to make your most happy journey and appear to me,
do not, now that you have seen me in all my misery—
1275
Orestes
What should I not do?—
What should I not do?—
Electra
—Do not rob me of the comfort of your face; do not force me to forego it!
—Do not rob me of the comfort of your face; do not force me to forego it!
Orestes
I would be angry, indeed, if I saw another attempt it.
I would be angry, indeed, if I saw another attempt it.
Electra
You give your consent?
You give your consent?
Orestes
Why would I not?
1280
Why would I not?
1280
Electra
My friends, I heard a voice that I could never have hoped to hear; nor could I have restrained my emotion in silence and without a cry, when I heard it.
ah, me! But now I have you. You have appeared with that dear face, which I could never, even in misery, forget.
1285
My friends, I heard a voice that I could never have hoped to hear; nor could I have restrained my emotion in silence and without a cry, when I heard it.
ah, me! But now I have you. You have appeared with that dear face, which I could never, even in misery, forget.
1285
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
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.
1185. mvp-comment-566-1 How utterly ignorant was I of my own sorrow!'