πολλαὶ
κυκλοῦνται
κυκλοῦσι
κυκλοῦνται νύκτες ἡμέραι τ᾽ ἴσαι,
1365
Electra. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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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)) — 1384-1441 focus
Χορός
ἴδεθʼ ὅποι προνέμεται
τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα φυσῶν Ἄρης.
1385
βεβᾶσιν ἄρτι δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι
μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων ἄφυκτοι κύνες,
ὥστʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτʼ ἀμμενεῖ
τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον.
1390
ἴδεθʼ ὅποι προνέμεται
τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα φυσῶν Ἄρης.
1385
βεβᾶσιν ἄρτι δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι
μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων ἄφυκτοι κύνες,
ὥστʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτʼ ἀμμενεῖ
τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον.
1390
Χορός
παράγεται γὰρ ἐνέρων
δολιόπους ἀρωγὸς εἴσω στέγας,
ἀρχαιόπλουτα πατρὸς εἰς ἑδώλια,
νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων· ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς
Ἑρμῆς σφʼ ἄγει δόλον σκότῳ
1395
κρύψας πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα κοὐκέτʼ ἀμμένει.
παράγεται γὰρ ἐνέρων
δολιόπους ἀρωγὸς εἴσω στέγας,
ἀρχαιόπλουτα πατρὸς εἰς ἑδώλια,
νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων· ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς
Ἑρμῆς σφʼ ἄγει δόλον σκότῳ
1395
κρύψας πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα κοὐκέτʼ ἀμμένει.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα
τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.
ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα
τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.
Χορός
πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;
πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;
Ἠλέκτρα
ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
1400
λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.
ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
1400
λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.
Χορός
σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;
σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;
Ἠλέκτρα
φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως
Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.
φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως
Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι
φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.
1405
αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι
φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.
1405
Ἠλέκτρα
βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;
βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;
Χορός
ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.
ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;
οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;
Ἠλέκτρα
ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.
ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
1410
ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
1410
Ἠλέκτρα
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν
ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν
ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.
Χορός
ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι
μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.
ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι
μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415
ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415
Ἠλέκτρα
παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.
παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.
Κλυταιμνήστρα
ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.
ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.
Ἠλέκτρα
εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.
εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.
Χορός
τελοῦσʼ ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ κείμενοι.
παλίρρυτον γὰρ αἷμʼ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν
1420
κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.
τελοῦσʼ ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ κείμενοι.
παλίρρυτον γὰρ αἷμʼ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν
1420
κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.
Χορός
καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ
στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδʼ ἔχω ψέγειν.
καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ
στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδʼ ἔχω ψέγειν.
Ἠλέκτρα
Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;
Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;
Ὀρέστης
τἀν δόμοισι μὲν
καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.
1425
τἀν δόμοισι μὲν
καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.
1425
Ἠλέκτρα
τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;
τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;
Ὀρέστης
μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ
μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.
μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ
μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.
Χορός
παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.
παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;
1430
ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;
1430
Ὀρέστης
εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;
εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;
Ἠλέκτρα
ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου
χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς
ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου
χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς
Χορός
βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα,
νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν.
1435
βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα,
νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν.
1435
Ὀρέστης
θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.
θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.
Ἠλέκτρα
ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.
ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.
Ὀρέστης
καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.
καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.
Ἠλέκτρα
τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.
τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.
Χορός
διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν
πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς
1440
ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.
διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν
πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς
1440
ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1372 focus
Zu langen Reden haben wir, o Pylades,
1340
Jezt keine Zeit mehr; nein, es gilt nur ungesäumt
Hineinzutreten und der Götter altes Bild
Zu grüßen, die hier walten auf des Hauses Flur.
(Sie knieen vor dem Altar des Apollon nieder, und gehen dann in den Palast.)
Zu langen Reden haben wir, o Pylades,
1340
Jezt keine Zeit mehr; nein, es gilt nur ungesäumt
Hineinzutreten und der Götter altes Bild
Zu grüßen, die hier walten auf des Hauses Flur.
Elektra.
O Fürst Apollon, höre sie voll Gnaden an,
Und mich mit ihnen, die ich dir so Vieles schon,
1345
Was ich vermochte, dargebracht mit voller Hand!
Auch nun, Lykeier Phöbos, wie ich's jezt vermag,
Beschwör' ich, knieend ruf' ich dich: willfährig sei
Ein Helfer uns bei dieser wohlerwognen That,
Und zeige du den Menschen, welch gerechten Lohn
1350
Ruchlosigkeit aus hoher Götter Hand empfängt!
O Fürst Apollon, höre sie voll Gnaden an,
Und mich mit ihnen, die ich dir so Vieles schon,
1345
Was ich vermochte, dargebracht mit voller Hand!
Auch nun, Lykeier Phöbos, wie ich's jezt vermag,
Beschwör' ich, knieend ruf' ich dich: willfährig sei
Ein Helfer uns bei dieser wohlerwognen That,
Und zeige du den Menschen, welch gerechten Lohn
1350
Ruchlosigkeit aus hoher Götter Hand empfängt!
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1384-1440 focus
Chorus
Behold how Ares stalks onward,
breathing bloody vengeance that is hard to oppose. Just now have the hunters of wicked crimes passed beneath that roof there, the hounds which none may flee. And so not long shall
1385
the vision of my soul hang in suspense.
1390
Behold how Ares stalks onward,
breathing bloody vengeance that is hard to oppose. Just now have the hunters of wicked crimes passed beneath that roof there, the hounds which none may flee. And so not long shall
1385
the vision of my soul hang in suspense.
1390
Chorus
The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered on guileful feet into the house, the rich, ancestral palace of his father, and he bears keen-edged death in his hands.
Maia
’s son Hermes, who has shrouded the guile in darkness, leads him right to his goal and delays no longer.
1395
The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered on guileful feet into the house, the rich, ancestral palace of his father, and he bears keen-edged death in his hands.
Maia
’s son Hermes, who has shrouded the guile in darkness, leads him right to his goal and delays no longer.
1395
Enter Electra from the house.
1422
Electra
My dearest friends, in a moment the men will do the deed. But wait in silence.
My dearest friends, in a moment the men will do the deed. But wait in silence.
Chorus
How do they fare? What are they doing now?
1400
How do they fare? What are they doing now?
1400
Electra
She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.
She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.
Chorus
And why have you hurried out?
And why have you hurried out?
Electra
To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.
To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.
Clytaemnestra
Within.
Oh! Oh! Our house
is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
1405
Oh! Oh! Our house
is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
1405
Electra
Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?
Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?
Chorus
I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!
I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!
Clytaemnestra
Within.
Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?
Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?
Electra
Look, once more someone cries out!
Look, once more someone cries out!
Clytaemnestra
Within.
My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
1410
My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
1410
Electra
Why? You had none for him, nor for the father that begot him.
Why? You had none for him, nor for the father that begot him.
Chorus
Wretched city, wretched race, now the fate that has held you day by day perishes—it perishes!
Wretched city, wretched race, now the fate that has held you day by day perishes—it perishes!
Clytaemnestra
Within.
Oh, I am wounded!
1415
Oh, I am wounded!
1415
Electra
Stab her doubly, if you can!
Stab her doubly, if you can!
Clytaemnestra
Within.
Ah, wounded again!
Ah, wounded again!
Electra
Would that Aegisthus, too, were wounded!
Would that Aegisthus, too, were wounded!
Chorus
The curses bring fulfillment: those who are buried live.
For men long dead are draining their killers’ blood in a stream of requital.
1420
The curses bring fulfillment: those who are buried live.
For men long dead are draining their killers’ blood in a stream of requital.
1420
Enter Orestes and Pylades from the house.
Chorus
And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.
And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.
Electra
Orestes, what happened?
Orestes, what happened?
Orestes
All is well within the house,
if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
1425
All is well within the house,
if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
1425
Electra
The miserable woman is dead?
The miserable woman is dead?
Orestes
Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.
Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.
Chorus
Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.
Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.
Electra
You, young men, get back inside!
1430
You, young men, get back inside!
1430
Orestes
Where do you see the man?
Where do you see the man?
Electra
He is at our mercy walking from the suburb, full of joy.
He is at our mercy walking from the suburb, full of joy.
Chorus
Go with all speed to the vestibule, so that, just as your first task prospered, so this one again may prosper now.
Go with all speed to the vestibule, so that, just as your first task prospered, so this one again may prosper now.
Orestes
Have courage. We will accomplish it.
1435
Have courage. We will accomplish it.
1435
Electra
Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.
Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.
Orestes
See, I am gone.
See, I am gone.
Electra
Things here will be my concern.
Exeunt Orestes and Pylades, into the house.
Things here will be my concern.
Exeunt Orestes and Pylades, into the house.
Chorus
It would be well to whisper into this man’s ear some few words of seeming gentleness,
so that he may rush blindly upon his trial before Justice.
1440
It would be well to whisper into this man’s ear some few words of seeming gentleness,
so that he may rush blindly upon his trial before Justice.
1440
Commentary
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1365. mvp-comment-642-1 κυκλοῦνται] The change to κυκλοῦσι in some MSS. may have been occasioned either by the wish to obtain a construction for λόγους, or by the similarity of δείξουσι. It is better therefore to retain κυκλοῦνται.