Sophocles, Electra, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 1397cont4

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Then vengeance is complete.

The dead arise and shed their murderers' blood

Electra. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1397 focus

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἄνδρες ἄνδρες αὐτίκα

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τελοῦσι εσω τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

ΧΟ.

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν ;
1400

ΗΛ.

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δ᾽ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

ΧΟ.

σὺ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

ΗΛ.

φρουρήσουσ᾽ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς om. μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

ΚΛ.

αἰαῖ ai ai ai ai ai ai αἳ aì aὶ αἱ. ἰὼ στέγαι
1405

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δ᾽ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

ΗΛ.

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ.

ἤκουσ᾽ ἀνήκουστα ἀνήκοστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρίξαι φρίξαι.

ΚΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαιν'. Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποῖ ποῦ ποτ᾿ ὢν κυρεῖς ;

ΗΛ.

ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις.
1410

ΚΛ.

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ὦ τέκνον ὦ τέκνον,

οἴκτειρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτείρεθ᾽ οὗτος οὐδ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

ΧΟ.

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σε

μοῖρα καθαμερία καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

ΗΛ.

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις.

ΗΛ.

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ᾿ θ' ὁμοῦ.

ΧΟ.

τελοῦσ᾽ τελοῦσιν ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ ὑπο κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον πολύρυτον πολύρροτον γὰρ αἷμ᾽ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν

κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.
1420

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)) — 1397 focus

Even to the fatal end in clouds of night.

His time of weary waiting all is o’er.

EL
Re-enter ELECTRA .

O dearest women! they are even now

About it. Only bide in silence still.

CH

She decks the vase

For burial, and they both are standing by.

CH

And wherefore hast thou darted forth?

EL

To watch

Aegisthus’ coming, that he enter not

At unawares.

CLY

().
1405

Ah! ah! Woe for the house,
1405

Desert of friends, and filled with hands of death!

EL

A cry within! Did ye not hear it, friends?

CH

Would I had not! I heard, and shivered through.

CLY

().

Oh me! Alas, Aegisthus! where art thou?

EL

Hark! yet again that sound!
1410

CLY

(). O son, have pity!

Pity the womb that bare thee.

EL

Thou hadst none

For him, nor for his father, in that day.

HALF-CH

Poor city! hapless race!

Thy destiny to-day

Wears thee away, away.

What morn shall see thy face?

CLY

(). Oh, I am smitten!
1415

EL

Give a second stroke,

If thou hast power.

CLY

(). Oh me! again, again!

EL

Would thou wert shrieking for Aegisthus too!

CH
Enter ORESTES and PYLADES .

The curse hath found, and they in earth who lie

Are living powers to-day.

Long dead, they drain away

The streaming blood of those who made them die.

Behold, they come, they come!
1420

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!

Der Chor.

Wie? Was beginnen jene?

Elektra.

Sie bereitet jezt

Zum Grab die Urne, nahe steh'n die Beiden ihr.¹

Der Chor.

Und du, was eiltest du heraus?
1370

Elektra.

Zu wachen, daß
1370

Aegisthos uns nicht unbemerkt das Haus betritt.

(im Hause)

Klytämnestra.

Ach, ach, o Graun! Das Haus

Ist öde rings von Freunden, und von Mördern voll.

Elektra.

Es jammert innen. Hört ihr nicht, o Freundinnen?

Der Chor.

Wohl hört' ich Wehklageruf, daß mir Armen schaudert.
1375

Klytämnestra.

Ich Arme, weh! Aegisthos, ach, wo bist du doch?

Elektra.

Schon wieder klagt es: hört ihr?

Klytämnestra.

Sohn, geliebter Sohn,

Erbarme dich der Mutter!

Elektra.

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!

Klytämnestra.

Weh, weh! Verwundet

Elektra.

Triff noch Einmal, wenn du kannst!

Klytämnestra.

Schon wieder

weh mir!

Elektra.

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.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1397 focus

My dearest friends, they now are in the act,

E'en now: in silence then await 'th' event..

Chorus

How! Tell us all. What are they doing now?
1400

Electra

A cauldron for the burial she prepares,

And they stand nigh.

Chorus

Why hither art thou come?

Electra

To watch: that should Ægisthus chance to come,

He may not enter ere they are aware.

Clytemnestra

O miserable me! Beneath this roof
1405

Have I no friends? Are none but murderers here?

Electra
[within.

One cries within. Hark!! Hear you not my friends ?

Chorus

I heard; and shuddering horror chills my blood.

Clytemnestra

Where art thou, O Ægisthus? Wretched me! [within.

Electra

Again that piercing cry!
1410

Clytemnestra

My son, my son

Have pity on thy mother!

Electra

But from thee

He found no pity, none his father found.

Chorus

Unhappy realm! Unhappy race! Now fate

Day after day destroys thee, quite destroys.

Clytemnestra
[within.

Oh! I am wounded.
1415

Electra
[within.

If thou canst, repeat

That stroke.

Clytemnestra

A wretched me, another wound!

Electra

Oh that Ægisthus had like cause to groan!

Chorus

The curse now hastes to be fulfill'd: they live,

Who lie beneath the earth; and streams of blood

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-782-1 παλίρρυτον ¹

mvp-comment-782-2 ὑπεξαιροῦσι ²

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.

1417. mvp-comment-666-1 εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ *γ᾿ ὁμοῦ] ‘Ay, would that you were crying "Oh!" for Aegisthus too.' Αἰγίσθῳ follows the construction of μοί in ὤμοι. The reading of the MSS., θ', can only be defended on the questionable ground that Te may be used in tragedy, as in Homer, as an expletive adverb. But on the other hand γε following γάρ is awkward.

1419. mvp-comment-667-1 τελοῦσι] 'Are finishing,' i. e. are accomplishing their end.

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Then vengeance is complete. The dead arise and shed their murderers' blood

Current edition Experimental

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἄνδρες ἄνδρες αὐτίκα

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τελοῦσι εσω τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

ΧΟ. πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν ; 1400

ΗΛ. ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δ᾽ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

ΧΟ. σὺ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

ΗΛ. φρουρήσουσ᾽ ὅπως Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς om. μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

ΚΛ. αἰαῖ ai ai ai ai ai ai αἳ aì aὶ αἱ. ἰὼ στέγαι 1405 φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δ᾽ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

ΗΛ. βοᾷ τις ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ. ἤκουσ᾽ ἀνήκουστα ἀνήκοστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρίξαι φρίξαι.

ΚΛ. οἴμοι τάλαιν'. Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποῖ ποῦ ποτ᾿ ὢν κυρεῖς ;

ΗΛ. ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις. 1410

ΚΛ. ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ὦ τέκνον ὦ τέκνον, οἴκτειρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.

ΗΛ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν ᾠκτείρεθ᾽ οὗτος οὐδ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

ΧΟ. ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σε μοῖρα καθαμερία καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ. ὤμοι πέπληγμαι. 1415

ΗΛ. παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ. ὤμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις.

ΗΛ. εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ᾿ θ' ὁμοῦ.

ΧΟ. τελοῦσ᾽ τελοῦσιν ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ ὑπο κείμενοι. παλίρρυτον πολύρυτον πολύρροτον γὰρ αἷμ᾽ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες. 1420

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.

Even to the fatal end in clouds of night. His time of weary waiting all is o’er.

EL Re-enter ELECTRA . O dearest women! they are even now About it. Only bide in silence still.

CH

She decks the vase For burial, and they both are standing by.

CH And wherefore hast thou darted forth?

EL To watch Aegisthus’ coming, that he enter not At unawares.

CLY (). 1405 Ah! ah! Woe for the house, 1405 Desert of friends, and filled with hands of death!

EL A cry within! Did ye not hear it, friends?

CH Would I had not! I heard, and shivered through.

CLY (). Oh me! Alas, Aegisthus! where art thou?

EL Hark! yet again that sound! 1410

CLY (). O son, have pity! Pity the womb that bare thee.

EL Thou hadst none For him, nor for his father, in that day.

HALF-CH Poor city! hapless race! Thy destiny to-day Wears thee away, away. What morn shall see thy face?

CLY (). Oh, I am smitten! 1415

EL Give a second stroke, If thou hast power.

CLY (). Oh me! again, again!

EL Would thou wert shrieking for Aegisthus too!

CH Enter ORESTES and PYLADES . The curse hath found, and they in earth who lie Are living powers to-day. Long dead, they drain away The streaming blood of those who made them die. Behold, they come, they come! 1420

O liebe, theure Frauen, gleich vollenden nun Das Werk die Männer: also harrt ihr schweigend noch!

Der Chor. Wie? Was beginnen jene?

Elektra. Sie bereitet jezt Zum Grab die Urne, nahe steh'n die Beiden ihr. 1

Der Chor. Und du, was eiltest du heraus? 1370

Elektra. Zu wachen, daß 1370 Aegisthos uns nicht unbemerkt das Haus betritt. (im Hause)

Then vengeance is complete.

The dead arise and shed their murderers' blood

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τελοῦσι εσω τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.

ΧΟ.

πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν ;
1400

ΗΛ.

ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον

λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δ᾽ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

ΧΟ.

σὺ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

ΗΛ.

φρουρήσουσ᾽ ὅπως

Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς om. μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

ΚΛ.

αἰαῖ ai ai ai ai ai ai αἳ aì aὶ αἱ. ἰὼ στέγαι
1405

φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δ᾽ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

ΗΛ.

βοᾷ τις ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ.

ἤκουσ᾽ ἀνήκουστα ἀνήκοστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρίξαι φρίξαι.

ΚΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαιν'. Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποῖ ποῦ ποτ᾿ ὢν κυρεῖς ;

ΗΛ.

ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις.
1410

ΚΛ.

ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ὦ τέκνον ὦ τέκνον,

οἴκτειρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν

ᾠκτείρεθ᾽ οὗτος οὐδ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

ΧΟ.

ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σε

μοῖρα καθαμερία καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.
1415

ΗΛ.

παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις.

ΗΛ.

εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ᾿ θ' ὁμοῦ.

ΧΟ.

τελοῦσ᾽ τελοῦσιν ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ ὑπο κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον πολύρυτον πολύρροτον γὰρ αἷμ᾽ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν

κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.
1420

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.

Even to the fatal end in clouds of night.

His time of weary waiting all is o’er.

EL
Re-enter ELECTRA .

O dearest women! they are even now

About it. Only bide in silence still.

She decks the vase

For burial, and they both are standing by.

CH

And wherefore hast thou darted forth?

EL

To watch

Aegisthus’ coming, that he enter not

At unawares.

CLY

().
1405

Ah! ah! Woe for the house,
1405

Desert of friends, and filled with hands of death!

EL

A cry within! Did ye not hear it, friends?

CH

Would I had not! I heard, and shivered through.

CLY

().

Oh me! Alas, Aegisthus! where art thou?

EL

Hark! yet again that sound!
1410

CLY

(). O son, have pity!

Pity the womb that bare thee.

EL

Thou hadst none

For him, nor for his father, in that day.

HALF-CH

Poor city! hapless race!

Thy destiny to-day

Wears thee away, away.

What morn shall see thy face?

CLY

(). Oh, I am smitten!
1415

EL

Give a second stroke,

If thou hast power.

CLY

(). Oh me! again, again!

EL

Would thou wert shrieking for Aegisthus too!

CH
Enter ORESTES and PYLADES .

The curse hath found, and they in earth who lie

Are living powers to-day.

Long dead, they drain away

The streaming blood of those who made them die.

Behold, they come, they come!
1420

O liebe, theure Frauen, gleich vollenden nun

Das Werk die Männer: also harrt ihr schweigend noch!

Der Chor.

Wie? Was beginnen jene?

Elektra.

Sie bereitet jezt

Zum Grab die Urne, nahe steh'n die Beiden ihr.¹

Der Chor.

Und du, was eiltest du heraus?
1370

Elektra.

Zu wachen, daß
1370

Aegisthos uns nicht unbemerkt das Haus betritt.

(im Hause)

Klytämnestra.

Ach, ach, o Graun! Das Haus

Ist öde rings von Freunden, und von Mördern voll.

Elektra.

Es jammert innen. Hört ihr nicht, o Freundinnen?

Der Chor.

Wohl hört' ich Wehklageruf, daß mir Armen schaudert.
1375

Klytämnestra.

Ich Arme, weh! Aegisthos, ach, wo bist du doch?

Elektra.

Schon wieder klagt es: hört ihr?