Sophocles, Electra, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 1372

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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.)

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!

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)) — 1372 focus

οὐκ ἂν μακρῶν ἔθ᾽ ἡμὶν ἡμιν ἡμῖν οὐδὲν ἂν λόγων,

Πυλάδη, τόδ' εἴη τοὔργον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον τάχος

χωρεῖν ἔσω, πατρῷα p προσκύσανθ᾽ ἕδη

θεῶν, ὅσοιπερ ὅσοι πρόπυλα ναίουσιν τάδε.
1375

ΗΛ.

ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεως αὐτοῖν κλύε,

ἐμοῦ τε πρὸς τούτοισιν, ἤ σε πολλὰ δὴ

ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔχοιμι λιπαρεῖ προὔστην προστην προὔστῃν χερί.

νῦν δ᾽, ὦ Λύκει Ἄπολλον, ἐξ οἵων ἔχω

αἰτῶ αἰτῶ, προπίτνω προπιτνῶ προσπιτνῶ, λίσσομαι, γενοῦ πρόφρων
1380

ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸς τῶνδε τῶν βουλευμάτων,

καὶ δεῖξον ἀνθρώποισι τἀπιτίμια

τῆς στ δυσσεβείας οἷα δωροῦνται θεοί.

ΧΟ.

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

1391

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.

1397

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα

τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

Χορός

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
1400

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

Ἠλέκτρα

φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.
1405

Ἠλέκτρα

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

Χορός

ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
1410

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

Χορός

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι

μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

Ἠλέκτρα

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.

Ἠλέκτρα

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Χορός

τελοῦσʼ ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον γὰρ αἷμʼ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν
1420

κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.

1422

Χορός

καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ

στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδʼ ἔχω ψέγειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;

Ὀρέστης

τἀν δόμοισι μὲν

καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.
1425

Ἠλέκτρα

τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;

Ὀρέστης

μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ

μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

Χορός

παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;
1430

Ὀρέστης

εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου

χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς

Χορός

βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα,

νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν.
1435

Ὀρέστης

θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

Ἠλέκτρα

τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.

Χορός

διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν

πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς
1440

ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1372 focus

Then, Pylades, we need no more to dwell

On words, but enter on this act with speed,

First worshipping the holy shrines o’ the Gods

That were my father’s, harboured at the gate.
1375

EL

O King Apollo! hear them graciously,

And hear me too, that with incessant hand

Honoured thee richly from my former store!

And now, fierce slayer, I importune thee,

And woo thee with such gifts as I can give,

Be kindly aidant to this enterprise,

And make the world take note, what meed of bane

Heaven still bestows on man’s iniquity.

Lo, where the War-god moves

With soft, sure footstep, on to his design,

Breathing hot slaughter of an evil feud!

Even now the inevitable hounds that track
1380

Dark deeds of hideous crime
1380

Are gone beneath the covert of the domes.
1380

Not long in wavering suspense shall hang

The dreaming presage of my wistful soul.

For lo! within is led

With crafty tread the avenger of the shades,

Even to his father’s throne of ancient power,

And in his hand the bright new-sharpened death!

And Hermes, Maia’s son,

Is leading him, and hath concealed the guile

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1372 focus

Its welcome succour. But, oh ! why deceive me 1

Why wouldst thou kill me with thy dreadful tiilo,

E'en when thou hadst such happiness in store?

Hail ! father, hail ! — for I must caU thee so —
1380

Know, thou hast been to me, in one short day,

Both the most hated and most loved of men.

Governor

We will not talk, my Pylades, but act.

Let us go in. But to the gods who guard

This place be first due adoration paid.

Electra

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1372 focus

Not words, my Pylades, but deeds must now

Take place: this instant let us enter, first

With reverence bending to my father's gods,

That in this portal have their hallow'd seats.
1375

Electra

Royal Apollo, hear them, favouring hear;

Me too, for oft before thee have I stood,

Offering with pious hand whate'er was mine

To offer, hear me. Now, Lycæan king,

I bring thee all I have, my pray'rs, my vows,
1380

My adoration: in our great attempt

Propitious give us aid, and show mankind

The vengeance of the gods on impious deeds!

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

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

1391

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

1398

Enter Electra from the house.

Electra

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

Electra

She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.

Chorus

And why have you hurried out?

Electra

To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Oh! Oh! Our house

is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
1405

Electra

Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?

Chorus

I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?

Electra

Look, once more someone cries out!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
1410

Electra

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!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Oh, I am wounded!
1415

Electra

Stab her doubly, if you can!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Ah, wounded again!

Electra

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

1422

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.

Electra

Orestes, what happened?

Orestes

All is well within the house,

if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
1425

Electra

The miserable woman is dead?

Orestes

Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.

Chorus

Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.

Electra

You, young men, get back inside!
1430

Orestes

Where do you see the man?

Electra

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.

Orestes

Have courage. We will accomplish it.
1435

Electra

Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.

Orestes

See, I am gone.

Electra

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

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-742-1 ὑπάρχει ¹ σε … τινά ²

mvp-comment-743-1 ὡς ἔοικεν, ὡς τεθν ³

mvp-comment-744-1 εἷς τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου … ἀνήρ ⁴ ἐνθάδε ⁵

mvp-comment-745-1 χαίρουσιν οὖν τούτοισιν ⁶ ἐν ⁷ οὖν ⁸

mvp-comment-746-1 τελουμένων ⁹

mvp-comment-746-2 ὡς δὲ νῦν ἔχει ¹⁰ τὰ κείνων πάντα καλῶς ¹¹ καὶ τὰ μὴ καλῶς ¹²

mvp-comment-747-1 οὐχὶ ξυνίης ¹³

mvp-comment-747-2 οὐδέ γ’ εἰς θυμὸν φέρω ¹⁴ οὐδέ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-748-1 ποίῳ ¹⁶ ὅτῳ ¹⁷ οἶσθα ¹⁸

mvp-comment-748-2 οὗ … χεροῖν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-748-3 πέδον ²⁰

mvp-comment-748-4 ὑπεξεπέμφθην ²¹

mvp-comment-748-5 σῇ προμηθίᾳ ²²

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

1342. mvp-comment-628-1 'I would have you know that you are the only dead man who is in the light of day.'

1343. mvp-comment-629-1 τίνες λόγοι] Sc. εἰσί.

1344. mvp-comment-630-1 τελουμένων] Sc. τῶν πραγμάτων. Cp. ἐπ' ἐξειργασμένοις. The present has a quasi-perfect sense, 'When these things have their completion.' Cp. Hdt. 1. 206, οὐ γὰρ ἂν εἰδείης εἴ τοι ἐς καιρὸν ἔσται ταῦτα τελεύμενα.

1345. mvp-comment-631-1 ὡς.. ἔχει] Supply ἐρῶ τάδε. 'All is well in that quarter, even what is not well,'-viz. Clytemnestra's unnatural joy.

1347. mvp-comment-632-1 οὐδέ γ' ἐς θυμὸν φέρω] (I do not perceive:) no, nor can I bring to mind.' θυμός, as in θυμῷ βάλλειν (Aesch. Prom. 706), is used after the Epic manner, so as to include the understanding. See Essay on L. § 49. P. 92, 1.

1349-1350. mvp-comment-633-1 Join οὗ χεροῖν.

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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.)

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

Χορός πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

Ἠλέκτρα ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον 1400 λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

Χορός σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

Ἠλέκτρα φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

Κλυταιμνήστρα αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι. 1405

Ἠλέκτρα βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

Χορός ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν. 1410

Ἠλέκτρα ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

Χορός ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.

Κλυταιμνήστρα ὤμοι πέπληγμαι. 1415

Ἠλέκτρα παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.

Ἠλέκτρα εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Χορός 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.

Ἠλέκτρα Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;

Ὀρέστης τἀν δόμοισι μὲν καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν. 1425

Ἠλέκτρα τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;

Ὀρέστης μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

Χορός παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον; 1430

Ὀρέστης εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;

Ἠλέκτρα ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς

Χορός βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα, νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν. 1435

Ὀρέστης θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.

Ἠλέκτρα ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

Ὀρέστης καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

Ἠλέκτρα τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.

Χορός διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς 1440 ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

Then, Pylades, we need no more to dwell On words, but enter on this act with speed, First worshipping the holy shrines o’ the Gods That were my father’s, harboured at the gate. 1375

Its welcome succour. But, oh ! why deceive me 1 Why wouldst thou kill me with thy dreadful tiilo, E'en when thou hadst such happiness in store? Hail ! father, hail ! — for I must caU thee so — 1380 Know, thou hast been to me, in one short day, Both the most hated and most loved of men.

Governor

We will not talk, my Pylades, but act. Let us go in. But to the gods who guard This place be first due adoration paid.

Electra

Not words, my Pylades, but deeds must now Take place: this instant let us enter, first With reverence bending to my father's gods, That in this portal have their hallow'd seats. 1375

Chorus STRO. ANTIS.

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

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

Electra 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

Electra She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.

Chorus And why have you hurried out?

Electra To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.

Clytaemnestra Within. Oh! Oh! Our house is empty of friends and filled with murderers! 1405

Electra Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?

Chorus I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!

Clytaemnestra Within. Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?

Electra Look, once more someone cries out!

Clytaemnestra Within. My son, my son, have pity on your mother! 1410

Electra 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!

Clytaemnestra Within. Oh, I am wounded! 1415

Electra Stab her doubly, if you can!

Clytaemnestra Within. Ah, wounded again!

Electra 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

Chorus And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.

Electra Orestes, what happened?

Orestes All is well within the house, if Apollo’s oracle spoke well. 1425

Electra The miserable woman is dead?

Orestes Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.

Chorus Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.

Electra You, young men, get back inside! 1430

Orestes Where do you see the man?

Electra 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.

Orestes Have courage. We will accomplish it. 1435

Electra Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.

Orestes See, I am gone.

Electra 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

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.)

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα

τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

Χορός

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
1400

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

Ἠλέκτρα

φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.
1405

Ἠλέκτρα

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

Χορός

ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
1410

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

Χορός

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι

μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

Ἠλέκτρα

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.

Ἠλέκτρα

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

Χορός

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.

Ἠλέκτρα

Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;

Ὀρέστης

τἀν δόμοισι μὲν

καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.
1425

Ἠλέκτρα

τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;

Ὀρέστης

μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ

μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

Χορός

παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;
1430

Ὀρέστης

εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου

χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς

Χορός

βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα,

νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν.
1435

Ὀρέστης

θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.

Ἠλέκτρα

ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.

Ἠλέκτρα

τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.

Χορός

διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν

πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς
1440

ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

Then, Pylades, we need no more to dwell

On words, but enter on this act with speed,

First worshipping the holy shrines o’ the Gods

That were my father’s, harboured at the gate.
1375

Its welcome succour. But, oh ! why deceive me 1

Why wouldst thou kill me with thy dreadful tiilo,

E'en when thou hadst such happiness in store?

Hail ! father, hail ! — for I must caU thee so —
1380

Know, thou hast been to me, in one short day,

Both the most hated and most loved of men.

We will not talk, my Pylades, but act.

Let us go in. But to the gods who guard

This place be first due adoration paid.

Not words, my Pylades, but deeds must now

Take place: this instant let us enter, first

With reverence bending to my father's gods,

That in this portal have their hallow'd seats.
1375

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

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

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

Electra

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

Electra

She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.

Chorus

And why have you hurried out?

Electra

To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Oh! Oh! Our house

is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
1405

Electra

Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?

Chorus

I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?

Electra

Look, once more someone cries out!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
1410

Electra

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!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Oh, I am wounded!
1415

Electra

Stab her doubly, if you can!

Clytaemnestra
Within.

Ah, wounded again!

Electra

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

Chorus

And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.

Electra

Orestes, what happened?

Orestes

All is well within the house,

if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
1425

Electra

The miserable woman is dead?

Orestes

Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.

Chorus

Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.

Electra

You, young men, get back inside!
1430

Orestes

Where do you see the man?

Electra

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.

Orestes

Have courage. We will accomplish it.
1435

Electra

Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.

Orestes

See, I am gone.

Electra

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