Sophocles, Electra, Richard Jebb (Translator), 1372

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Orestes

Pylades, in no way does our task call any longer for many words, but rather demands that we enter the house immediately, after first adoring the shrines of my father’s

gods, the keepers of these gates. Orestes and Pylades enter the house, followed by the Paedagogus. Electra remains outside.
1375

Electra

King Apollo! Hear them with favor, and hear me besides, who so often have come before your altar with hands rich in such gifts as I could obtain! And now, O Lycean Apollo, with what means I have

I pray to you, I supplicate you, I implore you, be our ready champion in these designs, and show what rewards the gods bestow on humans in return for their impiety! Exit Electra, into the house.
1380

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)) — 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)) — 1372 focus

Ὀρέστης

οὐκ ἂν μακρῶν ἔθʼ ἡμὶν οὐδὲν ἂν λόγων,

Πυλάδη, τόδʼ εἴη τοὔργον, ἀλλʼ ὅσον τάχος

χωρεῖν ἔσω, πατρῷα προσκύσανθʼ ἕδη

θεῶν, ὅσοιπερ πρόπυλα ναίουσιν τάδε.
1375

Ἠλέκτρα

ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεως αὐτοῖν κλύε

ἐμοῦ τε πρὸς τούτοισιν, ἥ σε πολλὰ δὴ

ἀφʼ ὧν ἔχοιμι λιπαρεῖ προύστην χερί.

νῦν δʼ, ὦ Λύκειʼ Ἄπολλον, ἐξ οἵων ἔχω

αἰτῶ, προπίτνω, λίσσομαι, γενοῦ πρόφρων
1380

ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸς τῶνδε τῶν βουλευμάτων,

καὶ δεῖξον ἀνθρώποισι τἀπιτίμια

τῆς δυσσεβείας οἷα δωροῦνται θεοί.

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

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1372 focus

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!

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.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-759-1 οὐδὲν ¹

mvp-comment-760-1 πατρῷα ²

mvp-comment-760-2 ἕδη ³ πρόπυλα ⁴

mvp-comment-760-3 προσκύσαντε ⁵

mvp-comment-761-1 ἀφ’ ὧν ⁶

mvp-comment-761-2 ἔχοιμι ⁷

mvp-comment-761-3 λιπαρεῖ ⁸

mvp-comment-761-4 Blaydes and Wecklein read )πέστην ⁹

mvp-comment-762-1 ἐξ οἵων ἔχω ¹⁰ αἰτῶ ¹¹

mvp-comment-762-2 1380 I read προπίπτω ¹² προπίτνω ¹³ ι^ ¹⁴ ι— ¹⁵

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

1372-1373. mvp-comment-644-1 οὐκ ἂν . . τοὔργον] It would seem, Pylades, that our business here no longer has to do with words.'

1374. mvp-comment-645-1 χωρεῖν] Sc. ἔργον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν.

1374-1375. mvp-comment-646-1 'Having first bowed before the shrines of my father's gods.' ὅσοιπερ .. τάδε] Cp. Aesch. Ag. 509-19, where Zeus, Apollo (supr. 637), Hermes, are expressly mentioned, and other deities spoken of as δαίμονες ἀντήλιοι.

1375. mvp-comment-647-1 - After some moments of silent devotion, Orestes, Pylades, the Paedagogus, and their attendants, enter the palace. Electra remains outside and prays aloud to Apollo.

1377. mvp-comment-648-1 σε is governed by λιπαρεῖ προὔστην χερί = ἱκέτευσά σε.

1378. mvp-comment-649-1 λιπαρεῖ . . χερί] 'Came before thee with ever-instant hand.' The gloss of Suidas, λιπαρεῖ· ἀφθόνῳ, πλουσίᾳ, must be attributed to misapprehension.

1379. mvp-comment-650-1 ἐξ οἴων ἔχω] Sc. εὐχομένη, 'Vowing of such things as I have.' Cp. Aesch. Cho. 486-8, ΗΛ. κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας | οἴσω πατρῳων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους· | πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον. This and the following lines are said by Electra in an attitude of prayer, and fitly prepare the spectator for the solemn strain which is raised by the Chorus after she has entered the palace at l. 1383.

Sophocles Electra 1372

Richard Jebb (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

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

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.)

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.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

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

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.)

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.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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

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.)

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.