ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες,
ἄνδρες
ἄνδρες αὐτίκα
Electra. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
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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)) — 1397 focus
O liebe, theure Frauen, gleich vollenden nun
Das Werk die Männer: also harrt ihr schweigend noch!
O liebe, theure Frauen, gleich vollenden nun
Das Werk die Männer: also harrt ihr schweigend noch!
Der Chor.
Wie? Was beginnen jene?
Wie? Was beginnen jene?
Elektra.
Sie bereitet jezt
Zum Grab die Urne, nahe steh'n die Beiden ihr.
1
Sie bereitet jezt
Zum Grab die Urne, nahe steh'n die Beiden ihr.
1
Der Chor.
Und du, was eiltest du heraus?
1370
Und du, was eiltest du heraus?
1370
Elektra.
Zu wachen, daß
1370
Aegisthos uns nicht unbemerkt das Haus betritt.
(im Hause)
Zu wachen, daß
1370
Aegisthos uns nicht unbemerkt das Haus betritt.
Klytämnestra.
Ach, ach, o Graun! Das Haus
Ist öde rings von Freunden, und von Mördern voll.
Ach, ach, o Graun! Das Haus
Ist öde rings von Freunden, und von Mördern voll.
Elektra.
Es jammert innen. Hört ihr nicht, o Freundinnen?
Es jammert innen. Hört ihr nicht, o Freundinnen?
Der Chor.
Wohl hört' ich Wehklageruf, daß mir Armen schaudert.
1375
Wohl hört' ich Wehklageruf, daß mir Armen schaudert.
1375
Klytämnestra.
Ich Arme, weh! Aegisthos, ach, wo bist du doch?
Ich Arme, weh! Aegisthos, ach, wo bist du doch?
Elektra.
Schon wieder klagt es: hört ihr?
Schon wieder klagt es: hört ihr?
Klytämnestra.
Sohn, geliebter Sohn,
Erbarme dich der Mutter!
Sohn, geliebter Sohn,
Erbarme dich der Mutter!
Elektra.
Auch bei dir ja fand
Er kein Erbarmen, wie der Mann, der ihn gezeugt.
Auch bei dir ja fand
Er kein Erbarmen, wie der Mann, der ihn gezeugt.
Der Chor.
Weh dir, o Stadt, o Geschlecht der Herrscher! Heute
1380
Rafft dich hinab das Geschick, du sinkst, du sinkst!
Weh dir, o Stadt, o Geschlecht der Herrscher! Heute
1380
Rafft dich hinab das Geschick, du sinkst, du sinkst!
Klytämnestra.
Weh, weh! Verwundet
Weh, weh! Verwundet
Elektra.
Triff noch Einmal, wenn du kannst!
Triff noch Einmal, wenn du kannst!
Klytämnestra.
Schon wieder
weh mir!
Schon wieder
weh mir!
Elektra.
Träfst du doch Aegisthos auch!
Träfst du doch Aegisthos auch!
Der Chor.
Erfüllt der Fluch! Die das Grab drunten barg, leben jezt!
Denn Blut in reichen Strömen, Blut entzieh'n die längst
1385
Gestorb'nen Rächend ihren Mördern.
Orestes. Pylades. Der Pfleger. Die Vorigen.
Erfüllt der Fluch! Die das Grab drunten barg, leben jezt!
Denn Blut in reichen Strömen, Blut entzieh'n die längst
1385
Gestorb'nen Rächend ihren Mördern.
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 (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-774-1 A kommos. It falls into two principal parts. (1) 1398—1421; the death of Clytaemnestra. (2) 1422— 1441; Orestes and Pylades re-enter; Aegisthus approaches; and they prepare to receive him.
mvp-comment-774-2 The general structure of this kommos is clearly strophic; but critics differ on details. The simplest view is that of Dindorf and others, that vv. 1398—1421 form a single strophe,=antistr. 1422— 1441. The lyric verses 1407, 1413—4, and 1419—1421, correspond respectively with 1428, 1433—4, and 1439—1441: for these, see Metrical Analysis. It is usually held, with Hermann, that the correspondence of the iambic trimeters also must be exact. This makes it necessary to assume a gap in our text after v. 1427 (n.), and a second after 1429 (n.), besides the defect in 1432. See Appendix.
mvp-comment-774-3
Electra hastens out of the house. She performs the part of an
<*>ξάγγελος, so far as to describe the situation at this moment in the house: then Clytaemnestra's cry is heard, like that of the dying king in
Aesch.
Ag. 1343
ff. In the
Orestes (408 B.C.) Electra has a similar part, perhaps suggested by this. Helen's cry is heard within, and Electra says to the Chorus (1297),
ἠκούσαθ); ἅνδρες χεῖρ’ ἔχουσιν ἐν φόνῳ.
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1398-1441. mvp-comment-660-1 The following passage (1398-1441), although consisting largely of senarii, appears to be antistrophic, nearly corresponding even in the division of the lines. According to this view ll. 1404-1406 are either (1) not to be counted in the strophe, or (2) lines answering to them after l. 1427 must be supposed to have been lost. As the lines in question relate to the sudden cry of Clytemnestra from within, the former supposition is sufficiently probable. Cp. note on O. C. 117 foll., vol. i. p. 298 (Ist column). In the 'strophe,' ll. 1398-1421, Clytemnestra is put to death, -in the 'antistrophe,' ll. 1422-41, the bleeding sword is displayed, and Aegisthus is descried. The young men then retire into the palace, and Electra waits outside.
1399. mvp-comment-661-1 τελοῦσι is future. πρόσμενε] Addressed to the Coryphaeus.