Sophocles, Electra, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 1050

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

So will ich gehen; du gewinnst es nie von dir,

Mein Wort zu loben, noch belob' ich deinen Sinn.

Elektra.

Ja, gehe nur: ich folge niemals deinem Pfad,
1030

Und wenn du noch so dringend mich bestürmst; es zeugt

Von großer Thorheit auch die Jagd um Nichtiges.

Chrysothemis.

Nun, wenn du selbst in stolzem Wahne klug dich dünkst,

Sei klug in solcher Weise! Wenn das Ungemach

Dereinst dich heimsucht, lobst du meine Worte noch.
1035
Elektra. Der Chor. Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Electra. Sophocles. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1050 focus

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσιθ'. οὔ σοι οὗ σοὶ L. οὔ σοι AFL20. οὗ L2. μὴ μεθέψομαί ποτε,

οὐδ᾽ ἣν ἦν L. ἣν A. σφόδρ᾽ ἱμείρουσα τυγχάνῃς τυγχάνης L. τυγχάνης A. τυγχάνεις Γ.· ἐπεὶ

πολλῆς ἀνοίας καὶ τὸ θηρᾶσθαι κενά.
1055

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι

φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς

ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ.
στρ. α.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1060-1096 focus

Χορός

τί τοὺς ἄνωθεν φρονιμωτάτους οἰωνοὺς ἐσορώμενοι τροφᾶς
1060

κηδομένους ἀφʼ ὧν τε βλάστωσιν ἀφʼ ὧν τʼ ὄνασιν εὕρ-

ωσι, τάδʼ οὐκ ἐπʼ ἴσας τελοῦμεν;

ἀλλʼ οὐ τὰν Διὸς ἀστραπὰν

καὶ τὰν οὐρανίαν Θέμιν,

δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι.
1065

ὦ χθονία βροτοῖσι φάμα, κατά μοι βόασον οἰκτρὰν

ὄπα τοῖς ἔνερθʼ Ἀτρείδαις, ἀχόρευτα φέρουσʼ

ὀνείδη·

1070

Χορός

ὅτι σφὶν ἤδη τὰ μὲν ἐκ δόμων νοσεῖ δή, τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων διπλῆ
1070

φύλοπις οὐκέτʼ ἐξισοῦται φιλοτασίῳ διαί-

τᾳ· πρόδοτος δὲ μόνα σαλεύει

Ἠλέκτρα, τὸν ἀεὶ πατρὸς
1075

δειλαία στενάχουσʼ, ὅπως

ἁ πάνδυρτος ἀηδών,

οὔτε τι τοῦ θανεῖν προμηθὴς τό τε μὴ βλέπειν ἑτοίμα,

διδύμαν ἑλοῦσʼ Ἐρινύν· τίς ἂν εὔπατρις ὧδε βλάστοι;
1080

1082

Χορός

οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀγαθῶν γὰρ

ζῶν κακῶς εὔκλειαν αἰσχῦναι θέλει

νώνυμος, ὦ παῖ παῖ.

ὡς καὶ σὺ πάγκλαυτον αἰῶνα κοινὸν εἵλου,
1085

τὸ μὴ καλὸν καθοπλίσασα, δύο φέρειν ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ,

σοφά τʼ ἀρίστα τε παῖς κεκλῆσθαι.

1090

Χορός

ζῴης μοι καθύπερθεν
1090

χειρὶ καὶ πλούτῳ τεῶν ἐχθρῶν ὅσον

νῦν ὑπόχειρ ναίεις·

ἐπεί σʼ ἐφηύρηκα μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ

βεβῶσαν, ἃ δὲ μέγιστʼ ἔβλαστε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
1095

ἄριστα τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1050 focus

Then I will go. Thy heart will ne’er be brought

To praise my words, nor I thine action here.

EL

Then go within! I will not follow thee,

Though thou desire it vehemently. None

Would be so fond to hunt on a cold trail.
1055

CHR

If this seem wisdom to thee, then be wise

Thy way: but in the hour of misery,

When it hath caught thee, thou wilt praise my words.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1050 focus

Then fare thee well ! Thou canst not bear my

words,

Nor I thy actions.

Electra

Go thy ways. Henceforth

I will not commune with thee. Nor thy prayers —

No, nor thy tears — should ever bend me to it ;

Such idle commerce were the height of folly.
1055

Chrysothemis

If thou dost think this wisdom, think so still ;

But when destruction comes, thou wilt approve

My better counsel, and be wise too late. \Exeunt.-

Man's ungrateful wretched race

Shall the birds of heaven disgrace.

Whose ever-watchful, ever-pious young

Protect the feeble parent whence they sprung ?

But if the blast of angry Jove

Hath power to strike, or justice reigns above,

Not long unpunished shall such crimes remain ;

When thou, O Fame ! the messenger of woe,

Shalt bear these tidings to the realms below,

Tidings to Grecia's chiefs of sorrow and of pain.

Bid the sad Atridnc mourn

Their house by cruel faction torn ;

Tell em, no longer, by afl'ection joined,

The tender sisters bear a friendly mind ;

]\laking her fruitless solitary moan,

Lil^e Philomela, weeps her father's fate ;

Fearless of death and every human ill,

Eesohed her steady vengeance to fultil —

Was ever cliild so good, or piety so great !

Still are the virtuous and the good

By adverse fortune unsubdued.

Nor e'er will stoop to infamy and shame ;

The war to wage with virtue's foes,

To gain the meed of never-ending fame,

Far, far above thine enemies.

In power and splendour mayst thou rise,

And future bliss compensate present woe !

For thou hast shown thy pious love,

By all that's dear to heaven above,

Or sacred held by mortals here below. [^Exeunt.

Orestes
Scene II. Strophe i. Antistrophe. Strophe 2. Antistrojyhe 2. ACT IV. Scene J.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1050 focus

Then shall this hand alone perform the deed,

Nor uneffected leave the glorious work.

CHRY. Oh, had this spirit, when our father died

Been thine! What deeds had then thy hand achieved!

Electra

Such was my nature then, but less confirm'd

My spirit.

May thy spirit through thy life

Remain the same!

These cold monitions show

Thou wilt not give me aid.

For ill designs

May be repaid with ills.

I must applaud

Thy prudence, but abhor thy timid mind.

CHRY. This I can bear to hear: and when to me

Thou givest applause--

Never: applause from me

Thou never shalt receive.

That in its length

Of course will time decide.

Away; in thee

I have no aid.

Thou hast, were but thy hand

Open to reason.

To thy mother go,
1055

Tell her these things.
1055

I harbour not such hate
1055

Against thee.
1055

Yet thy mind can harbour thoughts
1055

To lead me to disgrace.
1055

Not to disgrace,
1055

But prudence.
1055

Must I follow what to thee
1055

Seems right?
1055

Chrysothemis

When reason does her office, thou

Shalt be my guide.

What shame to speak so well,

And act so ill!

Thou clearly hast explain'd

Thy own disease.

What, seem I not to speak

With justice?

There are times when justice leads

To ruin.

By such laws I will not live.

CHRY. But if thou dost these things, thou wilt applaud

Me, and my prudence.

These things I will do,

Nothing appall'd by thee.

Art thou resolved?

And will no counsel move thee?

To my soul

Ill counsels are most hateful.

Much averse

Thy mind appears to all I say.

By long

Deliberate thought my purpose firm is fix'd.

CHRY. I leave thee, since thy mind with scorn rejects

My words, nor can I favour thy designs.

ELEC. Go then; and wish it with what warmth thou may'st,

I never will hold converse with thee more.

Folly alone a thing so slight would court.

CHRY. This may thy mind think wisdom; think so still:

But 'midst thy sufferings thou wilt deem me wise.

Chorus
CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY, CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. STRO. 1. ELECTRA, CHORUS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1058-1095 focus

Chorus

Why, though we see the birds above, most thoughtful creatures, taking care for the sustenance

of those from whom they derived life and enjoyment, why do we not pay these debts in like measure? No, by the lightning-flash of Zeus, by Themis throned in the sky,
1060

we are not long unpunished. O Voice of the underworld that reaches to mortals, shout for me a piteous cry to the sons of Atreus below. Carry the reproaches not appropriate to my dancing!
1065

1070

Chorus

Tell them the affairs of their house, how it is now diseased; how among his children, double-sided strife has overwhelmed their loving manner.
1070

Electra, betrayed, braves the storm alone. In misery she bewails her father’s fate without pause, like the all-grieving nightingale. She cares not at all about death, but is ready for that eternal blindness,
1075

could she but subdue the double Erinys of her house. Who could grow to be so noble a daughter of so noble a father?
1080

1082

Chorus

None of the good willingly clouds his fair repute and becomes nameless by leading a corrupt life, my child.

Similarly, you, too, have chosen a lifetime of shared mourning and have armed against dishonor, so that you might win in one breath a twofold praise as wise, and as the best of daughters.
1085

1090

Chorus

May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
1090

for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1095

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-577-1 ἀνέξομαι ¹

mvp-comment-578-1 μὴ πάθῃς τόδε ²

mvp-comment-579-1 τὸ κρῖναι ³ μακρὸς ⁴

mvp-comment-579-2 χὡ λοιπὸς χρόνος ⁵

mvp-comment-580-1 μητρὶ … σῇ ⁶

mvp-comment-581-1 οὐδ’ αὖ ⁷ οὐδ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-581-2 ἔχθος ⁹

mvp-comment-582-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν … γ’ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-582-2 οἷ … ἀτιμίας ¹¹

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

1033. mvp-comment-491-1 σῇ] i.e. ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐμῇ. Cp. Ant. 549, Κρέοντ᾽ ἐρώτα· τοῦδε γὰρ σὺ κηδεμών.

1034. mvp-comment-492-1 Nay but I do not hate thee to that extent'-i. e. though I am vexed with you.

1035. mvp-comment-493-1 But at least you should understand into what dishonour you would bring me.' Electra's tone is softened for the moment by the affectionate tone of the previous line.

1036. mvp-comment-494-1 It is not dishonour I intend, but rather care for thee.' προμηθίας follows the case of ἀτιμίας, without having any definite construction with the preceding words. See Essay on L. $ 35. p. 60 с. The bisection of the line here and in 1038 helps to mark the earnestness of Chrysothemis, and has something of a lyric effect.

Sophocles Electra 1050

Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

So will ich gehen; du gewinnst es nie von dir,

Mein Wort zu loben, noch belob' ich deinen Sinn.

Elektra.

Ja, gehe nur: ich folge niemals deinem Pfad,
1030

Und wenn du noch so dringend mich bestürmst; es zeugt

Von großer Thorheit auch die Jagd um Nichtiges.

Chrysothemis.

Nun, wenn du selbst in stolzem Wahne klug dich dünkst,

Sei klug in solcher Weise! Wenn das Ungemach

Dereinst dich heimsucht, lobst du meine Worte noch.
1035
Elektra. Der Chor. Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Current edition Experimental

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι

φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς

ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ.
στρ. α.

Then I will go. Thy heart will ne’er be brought

To praise my words, nor I thine action here.

EL

Then go within! I will not follow thee,

Though thou desire it vehemently. None

Would be so fond to hunt on a cold trail.
1055

CHR

If this seem wisdom to thee, then be wise

Thy way: but in the hour of misery,

When it hath caught thee, thou wilt praise my words.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Then fare thee well ! Thou canst not bear my

words,

Nor I thy actions.

Electra

Go thy ways. Henceforth

I will not commune with thee. Nor thy prayers —

No, nor thy tears — should ever bend me to it ;

Such idle commerce were the height of folly.
1055

Orestes
Scene II. Strophe i. Antistrophe. Strophe 2. Antistrojyhe 2. ACT IV. Scene J.

Then shall this hand alone perform the deed,

Nor uneffected leave the glorious work.

CHRY. Oh, had this spirit, when our father died

Been thine! What deeds had then thy hand achieved!

Chorus
CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY, CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. STRO. 1. ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Chorus

May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
1090

for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1095

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

So will ich gehen; du gewinnst es nie von dir, Mein Wort zu loben, noch belob' ich deinen Sinn.

Elektra. Ja, gehe nur: ich folge niemals deinem Pfad, 1030 Und wenn du noch so dringend mich bestürmst; es zeugt Von großer Thorheit auch die Jagd um Nichtiges.

Chrysothemis. Nun, wenn du selbst in stolzem Wahne klug dich dünkst, Sei klug in solcher Weise! Wenn das Ungemach Dereinst dich heimsucht, lobst du meine Worte noch. 1035 Elektra. Der Chor. Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Current edition Experimental

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΧΡ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ. στρ. α.

Then I will go. Thy heart will ne’er be brought To praise my words, nor I thine action here.

EL Then go within! I will not follow thee, Though thou desire it vehemently. None Would be so fond to hunt on a cold trail. 1055

CHR If this seem wisdom to thee, then be wise Thy way: but in the hour of misery, When it hath caught thee, thou wilt praise my words.

CHORUS CHORUS .

Then fare thee well ! Thou canst not bear my words, Nor I thy actions.

Electra Go thy ways. Henceforth I will not commune with thee. Nor thy prayers — No, nor thy tears — should ever bend me to it ; Such idle commerce were the height of folly. 1055

Orestes Scene II. Strophe i. Antistrophe. Strophe 2. Antistrojyhe 2. ACT IV. Scene J.

Then shall this hand alone perform the deed, Nor uneffected leave the glorious work. CHRY. Oh, had this spirit, when our father died Been thine! What deeds had then thy hand achieved!

Chorus CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY, CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. STRO. 1. ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Chorus May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet 1090 for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus. 1095

Commentary

Stable identifiers

So will ich gehen; du gewinnst es nie von dir,

Mein Wort zu loben, noch belob' ich deinen Sinn.

Elektra.

Ja, gehe nur: ich folge niemals deinem Pfad,
1030

Und wenn du noch so dringend mich bestürmst; es zeugt

Von großer Thorheit auch die Jagd um Nichtiges.

Chrysothemis.

Nun, wenn du selbst in stolzem Wahne klug dich dünkst,

Sei klug in solcher Weise! Wenn das Ungemach

Dereinst dich heimsucht, lobst du meine Worte noch.
1035
Elektra. Der Chor. Erste Strophe.

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη

τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι

φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθ᾽. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς

ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμ᾽ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

ΧΟ.
στρ. α.

Then I will go. Thy heart will ne’er be brought

To praise my words, nor I thine action here.

EL

Then go within! I will not follow thee,

Though thou desire it vehemently. None

Would be so fond to hunt on a cold trail.
1055

CHR

If this seem wisdom to thee, then be wise

Thy way: but in the hour of misery,

When it hath caught thee, thou wilt praise my words.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Then fare thee well ! Thou canst not bear my

words,

Nor I thy actions.

Electra

Go thy ways. Henceforth

I will not commune with thee. Nor thy prayers —

No, nor thy tears — should ever bend me to it ;

Such idle commerce were the height of folly.
1055

Orestes
Scene II. Strophe i. Antistrophe. Strophe 2. Antistrojyhe 2. ACT IV. Scene J.

Then shall this hand alone perform the deed,

Nor uneffected leave the glorious work.

CHRY. Oh, had this spirit, when our father died

Been thine! What deeds had then thy hand achieved!

Chorus
CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY, CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. STRO. 1. ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Chorus

May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
1090

for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1095