Sophocles, Electra, Richard Jebb (Translator), 1354

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Electra

O joyous day! O sole preserver of Agamemnon’s house,

how did you come here? Are you indeed the man who saved my brother and myself from many sorrows? O dearest hands, O messenger whose feet were kindly servants! How could you be with me so long and remain unknown, without giving a ray of illumination,
1355

but instead afflicting me with stories, while possessed of sweetest reality? Welcome, Father, for it is a father that I seem to behold! Welcome, and know that in one day I have hated you and loved you as no man ever before!
1360

Paedagogus

That is enough, I think. As for the recounting of intervening events,

many are the circling nights and an equal number of days which will reveal them to you clearly, Electra.
1365

To Orestes and Pylades.

And this is my advice to you two, since you stand there: now is your opportunity to act, now Clytaemnestra is alone, now no man is inside. But if you pause,

consider that you will have to fight both those inside and others mightier and better skilled.
1370

Electra. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1894.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Electra (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 6: The Electra. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1894. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1354 focus

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς, ὦ μόνος σωτὴρ δόμων

Ἀγαμέμνονος, πῶς ἦλθες; ἢ σὺ κεῖνος εἶ,
1355

ὃς τόνδε κἄμ᾽ ἔσωσας ἐκ πολλῶν πόνων;

ὦ φίλταται μὲν χεῖρες, ἥδιστον δ᾽ ἔχων

ποδῶν ὑπηρέτημα, πῶς οὕτω πάλαι

ξυνών μ᾽ ἔληθες, οὐδ᾽ ἔφαινες, ἀλλά με

λόγοις ἀπώλλυς, ἔργ᾽ ἔχων ἥδιστ᾽ ἐμοί;
1360

χαῖρ, ὦ πάτερ· πατέρα γὰρ εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ·

χαῖρ᾽· ἴσθι δ' ἰσθ ἴσθι δ' ἴσθι ὡς μάλιστά σ᾽ ἀνθρώπων μάλιστα τἀνθρώπων ἐγὼ

ἤχθηρα κἀφίλησ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

ΠΑ.

ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ μοι· τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους,

πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται κυκλοῦσι κυκλοῦνται νύκτες ἡμέραι τ᾽ ἴσαι,
1365

αὶ ταῦτά σοι δείξουσιν, Ηλέκτρα, σαφῆ.

σφῶν δ᾽ ἐννέπω γε τοῖν παρεστώτοιν ὅτι

νῦν καιρὸς ἔρδειν· νῦν Κλυταιμνήστρα μόνη·

νῦν οὔτις ἀνδρῶν ἔνδον· εἰ δ᾽ ἐφέξετον,

φροντίζεθ᾽ ὡς τούτοις τε καὶ σοφωτέροις
1370

ἄλλοισι τούτων πλείοσιν μαχούμενοι.

ΟΡ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1354 focus

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς, ὦ μόνος σωτὴρ δόμων

Ἀγαμέμνονος, πῶς ἦλθες; ἦ σὺ κεῖνος εἶ,
1355

ὃς τόνδε κἄμʼ ἔσωσας ἐκ πολλῶν πόνων;

ὦ φίλταται μὲν χεῖρες, ἥδιστον δʼ ἔχων

ποδῶν ὑπηρέτημα, πῶς οὕτω πάλαι

ξυνών μʼ ἔληθες οὐδʼ ἔφαινες, ἀλλά με

λόγοις ἀπώλλυς, ἔργʼ ἔχων ἥδιστʼ ἐμοί;
1360

χαῖρʼ, ὦ πάτερ· πατέρα γὰρ εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ·

χαῖρʼ· ἴσθι δʼ ὡς μάλιστά σʼ ἀνθρώπων ἐγὼ

ἤχθηρα κἀφίλησʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

Παιδαγωγός

ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ μοι· τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους

πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται νύκτες ἡμέραι τʼ ἴσαι,
1365

αἳ ταῦτά σοι δείξουσιν, Ἠλέκτρα, σαφῆ.

σφῷν δʼ ἐννέπω γε τοῖν παρεστώτοιν ὅτι

νῦν καιρὸς ἔρδειν· νῦν Κλυταιμνήστρα μόνη,

νῦν οὔτις ἀνδρῶν ἔνδον· εἰ δʼ ἐφέξετον,

φροντίζεθʼ ὡς τούτοις τε καὶ σοφωτέροις
1370

ἄλλοισι τούτων πλείοσιν μαχούμενοι.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1354 focus

O gladsome day!

Dear only saviour of our father’s house,

How earnest thou hither? Art thou he indeed,

That didst preserve Orestes and myself
1355

From many sorrows? O dear hands, kind feet,
1355

Swift in our service,—how couldst thou so long

Be near, nor show one gleam, but didst destroy

My heart with words, hiding the loveliest deeds?

Father!—in thee methinks I see my father.

O welcome! thou of all the world to me

Most hated and most loved in one short hour.

OLD M

Enough, dear maiden! Many nights and days

Are circling hitherward, that shall reveal
1365

In clear recountment all that came between.

But to you two that stand beside I tell,

Now is your moment, with the Queen alone,

And none of men within; but if you pause,

Know that with others of profounder skill
1370

You’ll have to strive, more than your present foes.

OR

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1354 focus

schönster Tag! Des Vaterhauses einziger

Erretter! Wie nur kamst du? Bist du wirklich der,

Der ihn und mich gerettet aus so vielem Leid?

Ihr theuren Hände! Du getreuer, süßer Dienst
1325

Der Füße! Wie nur warst du mir so lange nah,

Und warst mir doch verborgen und vernichtetest

Durch Worte mich, indeß du Wonnethaten bringst?

Heil, Vater! Denn den Vater, dünkt mir, seh' ich hier:

Heil! Wisse, daß ich unter allen Menschen dich
1330

Gehaßt am meisten und geliebt an Einem Tag!

Der Pfleger.

Nun scheint's genug mir. Wohl, Elektra, werden ja

Sich viele Tag' und Nächte noch im Kreise dreh'n,

Die dir getreu verkünden, was indeß geschah.

Euch Beiden sag' ich, die ihr hier noch steht: es ist
1335

Zum Handeln Zeit; die Tochter Tyndars ist allein,

Der Männer keiner innen! Wenn ihr säumen wollt,

So wißt: ihr müßt mit diesen und mit anderen

Zahlreichern und Geschicktern noch den Kampf besteh'n.

Orestes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1354 focus

\io the Governor]. Deax'est of men, great

guardian of our race,
1355

Art thou then here 1 Thou, who hast saved us both

From countless woes ! Swift were thy feet to bring

Glad tidings to me, and thy hand stretched forth

ISTo more of that We shall have time enough

To talk of it hereafter. Let us go.
1365

This is the hour ; the queen is now alone.

And not a man within. If ye delay,

Expect to meet more formidable foes,

In wisdom and in numbers far superior.

Orestes

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1354 focus

O thou dear light! Preserver of the house

Attendant

Of Agamemnon, sole preserver! How-

Art thou come back? Art thou that faithful man,

Who from a thousand threatening ills preserved

My brother and myself? Blest be thy hands
1365

That bore him hence. How pleasant are the steps
1365

Of thy return! But when we late conversed,

Why keep thyself unknown? Why not disclose

The ancient friend? Why pierce my heart with words

When thou hadst deeds to fill my soul with joy?

Hail, O my father! For methinks I see

My father: hail! Of all mankind this day

Thee have I hated most, and most have loved.

Cease thy inquiries. What remains untold

The rolling course of many nights and days:

Will show thee. Now, O princes, is the time

To act; now Clytemnestra is alone;
1370

Now not a man is in the house; if now
1370

You make delay, with others wiser far

Than these, and more in number, you must fight,

Orestes

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-750-1 φῶς ¹

mvp-comment-751-1 τόνδε κἄμ’ ²

mvp-comment-751-2 ἔσωσας ³ κεῖνος ⁴

mvp-comment-752-1 ὦ … χεῖρες ⁵

mvp-comment-753-1 οὐδ’ ἔφαινες ⁶ ἀλλά με ⁷

mvp-comment-754-1 ἔργ’ ἔχων ⁸ ἐμοί ⁹ με ¹⁰

mvp-comment-755-1 πατέρα ¹¹ χαῖῤ, ὦ πάτερ ¹² πατέρα ¹³

mvp-comment-756-1 τοὺς … ἐν μέσῳ λόγους ¹⁴

mvp-comment-756-2 The acc. τοὺς … λόγους ¹⁵ ταῦτα ¹⁶

mvp-comment-756-3 κυκλοῦνται ¹⁷ κυκλοῦσι ¹⁸

mvp-comment-757-1 σφῷν δ’ ἐννέπω γε ¹⁹ γε ²⁰

mvp-comment-758-1 τούτοις ²¹ ἄλλοισι ²² σοφωτέροις ²³ τούτων ²⁴

mvp-comment-758-2 Another view is that

ἀνδρῶν

in 1369 refers to Aegisthus and his armed followers, while τούτοις ²⁵

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

1354. mvp-comment-634-1 ὦ.. φῶς] ‘O joyful day!' The words have the same meaning as in supr. 1224, though they do not carry the same strength of feeling.

1356. mvp-comment-635-1 The Paedagogus had proved his faithfulness by saving both Electra and Orestes from danger, before she entrusted him with the precious charge. Cp. supr. 1351, 2.

1357. mvp-comment-636-1 'She addresses the hands, which she is holding in her own.' Wecklein.

1357-1358. mvp-comment-637-1 ἥδιστον.. ὑπηρέτημα] ‘And thou whose feet have done most precious service;' viz. in going to and returning from Phocis.

1359. mvp-comment-638-1 οὐδ᾽ ἔφαινες] 'And not make thyself known.' The use of the active voice is softened by the possible resumption of ξυνών, i. e. συνόντα σέ. But it is also justified by the implied metaphor from a body shining with its own light. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 101, 2, ἀγανὰ φαίνουσ᾽ | ἐλπίς.

1360. mvp-comment-639-1 ἔργ᾽.. ἐμοί] 'While engaged in a course of action most delightful to me.'

1361. mvp-comment-640-1 'Hail, father! For methinks I see a father in thee.' In such words of affection, Electra's long repressed feelings naturally overflow. Cp. supr. 1220, πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ; and note.

1364. mvp-comment-641-1 τοὺς . . λόγους] ‘For as to what has happened in the interval.' The turn of expression in the next line (πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται, κ.τ.λ.) leaves this accusative out of construction, and it is resumed in ταῦτα (1366).

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.

1370-1371. mvp-comment-643-1 σοφωτέροις πλείοσιν] 'Not only with these, but with others who have superior cunning and superior numbers.' σοφωτέροις, because men and not women; πλείοσιν, because the guards of Aegisthus would overpower the Phocian men.'

Sophocles Electra 1354

Richard Jebb (Translator)

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Paedagogus

That is enough, I think. As for the recounting of intervening events,

many are the circling nights and an equal number of days which will reveal them to you clearly, Electra.
1365

To Orestes and Pylades.

And this is my advice to you two, since you stand there: now is your opportunity to act, now Clytaemnestra is alone, now no man is inside. But if you pause,

consider that you will have to fight both those inside and others mightier and better skilled.
1370

Current edition Experimental

ΟΡ.

OR

Orestes.

\io the Governor]. Deax'est of men, great

guardian of our race,
1355

Art thou then here 1 Thou, who hast saved us both

From countless woes ! Swift were thy feet to bring

Glad tidings to me, and thy hand stretched forth

ISTo more of that We shall have time enough

To talk of it hereafter. Let us go.
1365

This is the hour ; the queen is now alone.

And not a man within. If ye delay,

Expect to meet more formidable foes,

In wisdom and in numbers far superior.

Orestes

O thou dear light! Preserver of the house

Orestes

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Paedagogus That is enough, I think. As for the recounting of intervening events, many are the circling nights and an equal number of days which will reveal them to you clearly, Electra. 1365

To Orestes and Pylades. And this is my advice to you two, since you stand there: now is your opportunity to act, now Clytaemnestra is alone, now no man is inside. But if you pause, consider that you will have to fight both those inside and others mightier and better skilled. 1370

Current edition Experimental

ΟΡ.

OR

Orestes.

\io the Governor]. Deax'est of men, great guardian of our race, 1355 Art thou then here 1 Thou, who hast saved us both From countless woes ! Swift were thy feet to bring Glad tidings to me, and thy hand stretched forth

ISTo more of that We shall have time enough To talk of it hereafter. Let us go. 1365 This is the hour ; the queen is now alone. And not a man within. If ye delay, Expect to meet more formidable foes, In wisdom and in numbers far superior.

Orestes

O thou dear light! Preserver of the house

Orestes

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Paedagogus

That is enough, I think. As for the recounting of intervening events,

many are the circling nights and an equal number of days which will reveal them to you clearly, Electra.
1365

To Orestes and Pylades.

And this is my advice to you two, since you stand there: now is your opportunity to act, now Clytaemnestra is alone, now no man is inside. But if you pause,

consider that you will have to fight both those inside and others mightier and better skilled.
1370

\io the Governor]. Deax'est of men, great

guardian of our race,
1355

Art thou then here 1 Thou, who hast saved us both

From countless woes ! Swift were thy feet to bring

Glad tidings to me, and thy hand stretched forth

ISTo more of that We shall have time enough

To talk of it hereafter. Let us go.
1365

This is the hour ; the queen is now alone.

And not a man within. If ye delay,

Expect to meet more formidable foes,

In wisdom and in numbers far superior.