Sophocles, Electra, Richard Jebb (Translator), 310

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Chorus

Tell me, is Aegisthus nearby as you speak these words to us, or has he left the house?
310

Electra

He is gone, to be sure. Do not think that I would have come to the doors, if he were nearby. He happens now to be in the country.

Chorus

Might I converse with you

more boldly, if this is so?
315

Electra

He is not here, so question me. What is it you want?

Chorus

I ask you, then, what report can you give of your brother? Will he come soon, or is he delaying? I wish to know.

Electra

He says he will come, but although he promises he never does what he says.

Chorus

True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking.
320

Electra

And yet I saved him with no hesitation.

Chorus

Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.

Electra

I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.

Chorus

Say no more now, since I see your sister

coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below.
325

Enter Chrysothemis, from the house.

Chrysothemis

What is this speech of yours, sister, which you have come forth yet again to speak at the public doors?

Will you not learn with any lapse of time to end your vain indulgence in futile anger? Yet this much I know—that I myself am saddened by our present circumstances; indeed so much so that, could I find the strength, I would bare my feelings towards them.
330

But now, in these evil times I think it best to navigate with shortened sail so that I may not seem to be on the attack, when I am unable to cause harm. I wish that your own conduct were the same! Nevertheless, right is on the side which you favor, not on that which I advise. But if I am to live the life of the freeborn,
335

those in power must be obeyed in all things.
340

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)) — 310 focus

ἡ δ᾽ ἤδ' L Pal. Schaef. corr. ἡ δ' A. ὧδε τλήμων ὥστε τῷ μιάστορι
275

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 310 focus

Χορός

φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντος Αἰγίσθου πέλας
310

λέγεις τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἢ βεβῶτος ἐκ δόμων;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ κάρτα· μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλας,

θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖσι τυγχάνει.

Χορός

ἦ κἂν ἐγὼ θαρσοῦσα μᾶλλον ἐς λόγους

τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει;
315

Ἠλέκτρα

ὡς νῦν ἀπόντος ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον;

Χορός

καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ· τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής,

ἥξοντος ἢ μέλλοντος; εἰδέναι θέλω.

Ἠλέκτρα

φησίν γε· φάσκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

Χορός

φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράσσων μέγα.
320

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔσωσʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

Χορός

θάρσει· πέφυκεν ἐσθλός, ὥστʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοις.

Ἠλέκτρα

πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

Χορός

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ εἴπῃς μηδέν· ὡς δόμων ὁρῶ

τὴν σὴν ὅμαιμον ἐκ πατρὸς ταὐτοῦ φύσιν,
325

Χρυσόθεμιν, ἔκ τε μητρός, ἐντάφια χεροῖν

φέρουσαν, οἷα τοῖς κάτω νομίζεται.

Χρυσόθεμις

τίνʼ αὖ σὺ τήνδε πρὸς θυρῶνος ἐξόδοις

ἐλθοῦσα φωνεῖς, ὦ κασιγνήτη, φάτιν,

κοὐδʼ ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ διδαχθῆναι θέλεις
330

θυμῷ ματαίῳ μὴ χαρίζεσθαι κενά;

καίτοι τοσοῦτόν γʼ οἶδα κἀμαυτήν, ὅτι

ἀλγῶ ʼπὶ τοῖς παροῦσιν· ὥστʼ ἄν, εἰ σθένος

λάβοιμι, δηλώσαιμʼ ἂν οἷʼ αὐτοῖς φρονῶ.

νῦν δʼ ἐν κακοῖς μοι πλεῖν ὑφειμένῃ δοκεῖ,
335

καὶ μὴ δοκεῖν μὲν δρᾶν τι, πημαίνειν δὲ μή·

τοιαῦτα δʼ ἄλλα καὶ σὲ βούλομαι ποεῖν.

καίτοι τὸ μὲν δίκαιον οὐχ ᾗ ʼγὼ λέγω,

ἀλλʼ ᾗ σὺ κρίνεις· εἰ δʼ ἐλευθέραν με δεῖ

ζῆν, τῶν κρατούντων ἐστὶ πάντʼ ἀκουστέα.
340

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 251 focus

No more! I see approaching from the house

Thy sister by both parents of thy blood,

Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering,

Such as old custom yields to those below.

CHRYSOTHEMIS
Enter CHRYSOTHEMIS .

What converse keeps thee now beyond the gates,

Dear sister? why this talk in the open day?

Wilt thou not learn after so long to cease

From vain indulgence of a bootless rage?

I know in my own breast that I am pained

By what thou griev’st at, and if I had power,

My censure of their deeds would soon be known.

But in misfortune I have chosen to sail

With lowered canvas, rather than provoke

With puny strokes invulnerable foes.

I would thou didst the like: though I must own

The right is on thy side, and not on mine.

But if I mean to dwell at liberty,

I must obey in all the stronger will.

EL

’Tis strange and pitiful, thy father’s child

Can leave him in oblivion and subserve

The mother. All thy schooling of me springs

From her suggestion, not of thine own wit.

Sure, either thou art senseless, or thy sense

Deserts thy friends. Treason or dulness then?

Choose!—You declared but now, if you had strength,

You would display your hatred of this pair.

Yet, when I plan full vengeance for my sire,

You aid me not, but turn me from the attempt.

What’s this but adding cowardice to evil?
255

For tell me, or be patient till I show,
255

What should I gain by ceasing this my moan?
255

I live to vex them:—though my life be poor,
255

Yet that suffices, for I honour him,
255

My father,—if affection touch the dead.
255

You say you hate them, but belie your word,
255

Consorting with our father’s murderers.
255

I then, were all the gifts in which you glory
255

Laid at my feet, will never more obey
255

This tyrant power. I leave you your rich board

And life of luxury. Ne’er be it mine to feed

On dainties that would poison my heart’s peace!

I care not for such honour as thou hast.

Nor wouldst thou care if thou wert wise. But now,

Having the noblest of all men for sire,

Be called thy mother’s offspring; so shall most

Discern thine infamy and traitorous mind

To thy dead father and thy dearest kin.

CH

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 310 focus

Auf, sage, weilt Aegisthos hier, indeß du so

Mir redest, oder ging er aus dem Hause fort?

Elektra.

Ja freilich. Wär' er nahe, traun, ich würde nicht

Hier außen umgeh'n! Nein, er ging auf's Feld hinaus.
305

Der Chor.

So darf auch ich beherzter, darf mich freier wohl

Mit dir ergeh'n in Reden, wenn es also steht.

Elektra.

Sezt ist er ferne; frage denn, was dir beliebt.

Der Chor.

Nun wohl, ich frage: was du mir vom Bruder sagst,

Ob er zurückkehrt oder säumt, das wüßt' ich gern.
310

Elektra.

Er sagt es, aber was er sagt, vollbringt er nicht.

Der Chor.

Zu säumen liebt ja, wer ein großes Werk beginnt,

Elektra.

Und ich gerettet hab' ich ihn und säume nicht.

Der Chor.

Sei ruhig; edel denkt er, hilft den Seinen gern.

Elektra.

Ich glaub' es; denn ich lebte sonst nicht lange mehr.
315

Der Chor.

Nun rede mir nicht weiter: denn Chrysothemis

Tritt aus dem Hause, seh' ich, die vom Vater und

Der Mutter deine Schwester ist, in ihrer Hand

Die Grabesopfer, wie man sie den Schatten weiht.

Chrysothemis. Die Vorigen.

Chrysothemis.

Geliebte Schwester, was erhebst du wiederum,
320

Zum Thor des Hofes kommend, solchen Klageruf?

Und willst du noch nicht lernen in der langen Zeit,

Machtlosem Unmuth nicht umsonst zu huldigen?

Wohl fühl ich selbst auch dieses Leid, das uns betraf,

Bin tief davon ergriffen, und, o würde mir
325

Die Macht, ich zeigte, wie gesinnt ich ihnen sei!

Nun aber zieh' ich in der Noth die Segel ein,

Vor Schein mich hütend, wo die Macht zu schaden fehlt,¹

Und wünsche, Schwester, daß du selbst ein Gleiches thust.

Zwar immer sei das Rechte nicht wo mir's gefällt,
330

Nein dort, wo du dich hingewandt; doch wenn ich frei

Soll leben, muß ich hören auf die Herrscher mur.

Elektra.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 251 focus

He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er

Forget his friends : be confident.

Electra

I am,

Were I not so I had not lived till now.

Chorus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 251 focus

Our duty, by our zeal for thee enforced,

Induced us hither: if our friendly words

Offend thy sense of honour, we desist;

Thine be the conquest, and to follow, ours,

Electra

I am ashamed, my friends, if deem'd by you

Indulging an excess of grief and tears;
255

But they are wrung from me by bitter force;

Electra

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-181-1 ὄντος … βεβῶτος ¹

mvp-comment-182-1 ἦ κάρτα ²

mvp-comment-182-2 θυραῖον ³

mvp-comment-182-3 οἰχνεῖν ⁴

mvp-comment-182-4 ἀγροῖσι ⁵

mvp-comment-182-5 τυγχάνει ⁶

mvp-comment-183-1 ἦ κἂν … ἱκοίμην ⁷ ἦ τ<*>ν ⁸ ἦ δἂν ⁹

mvp-comment-183-2 ἐς λόγους τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην ¹⁰

mvp-comment-184-1 ὡς νῦν ¹¹ ὥς νυν ¹²

mvp-comment-184-2 ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον ¹³ τό ¹⁴ τά ¹⁵

mvp-comment-184-3 With the other punctuation, ἱστόρει τί σοι φίλον ¹⁶

mvp-comment-185-1 καὶ δὴ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-185-2 τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής ¹⁸

mvp-comment-185-3 ἥξοντος ¹⁹ ἢ μέλλοντος ²⁰

mvp-comment-186-1 φησίν γε ²¹

mvp-comment-186-2 ποεῖ ²²

mvp-comment-187-1 καὶ μὴν ἔγωγ’ ²³ γε ²⁴

mvp-comment-187-2 οὐκ ὄκνῳ ²⁵

mvp-comment-188-1 ἀρκεῖν ²⁶

mvp-comment-189-1 ἐπεί ²⁷

mvp-comment-189-2 μακρὰν ²⁸

mvp-comment-189-3 324 Here, as in 316, νῦν ²⁹ νυν ³⁰

mvp-comment-189-4 δόμων ³¹ φέρουσαν ³²

mvp-comment-190-1 ὅμαιμον ³³

mvp-comment-190-2 φύσιν ³⁴

mvp-comment-191-1 Χρυσόθεμιν ³⁵

mvp-comment-192-1 οἷα ³⁶ νομίζεται ³⁷

mvp-comment-193-1 πρὸς θυρῶνος ἐξόδοις ³⁸ φωνεῖς ³⁹ ἐλθοῦσα ⁴⁰ αὖ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-193-2 330 For the absence of caesura, cp. Ph. 101 n.

mvp-comment-194-1 θυμῷ … χαρίζεσθαι ⁴²

mvp-comment-195-1 καίτοι τοσοῦτόν γ’ οἶδα ⁴³

mvp-comment-195-2 κἀμαυτήν, ὅτι ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-195-3 333 f. For the repeated ἄν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-195-4 οἶ) αὐτοῖς φρονῶ ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-196-1 ὑφειμένῃ ⁴⁷ πλεῖν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-196-2 For the image, cp. Eur. Med. 524

ἄκροισι λαίφους κρασπέδοις

(with close-reefed sails)

ὑπεκφυγεῖν

τὴν σὴν στόμαργον, ὦ γύναι, γλωσσαλγίαν

: Ar. Ran. 997

ἀλλ’ ὅπως, ὦ γεννάδα

, |

μὴ πρὸς ὀργὴν ἀντιλέξεις

, |

ἀλλὰ συστείλας, ἄκροισι

χρώμενος τοῖς ἱστίοις κ.τ.λ.

: and conversely Soph. Ant. 715

ναὸς ὅστις ἐγκρατῆ πόδα

τείνας ὑπείκει μηδέν

. Ovid Epist. 1. 8. 71

moderatius opta, | Et voti, quaeso, contrahe vela tui.

Shakesp. Henry VI., pt. iii, act 3 sc. 3. 5

‘Now Margaret | Must strike her sail, and learn awhile to serve | Where kings command.’

mvp-comment-197-1 καὶ μὴ δοκεῖν ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-198-1 τοιαῦτα δ’ ἄλλα ⁵⁰ ἀλλὰ ⁵¹ ἄλλα ⁵²

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Chorus Tell me, is Aegisthus nearby as you speak these words to us, or has he left the house? 310

Electra He is gone, to be sure. Do not think that I would have come to the doors, if he were nearby. He happens now to be in the country.

Chorus Might I converse with you more boldly, if this is so? 315

Electra He is not here, so question me. What is it you want?

Chorus I ask you, then, what report can you give of your brother? Will he come soon, or is he delaying? I wish to know.

Electra He says he will come, but although he promises he never does what he says.

Chorus True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking. 320

Electra And yet I saved him with no hesitation.

Chorus Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.

Electra I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.

Chorus Say no more now, since I see your sister coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below. 325

Current edition Experimental

ἡ δ᾽ ἤδ' L Pal. Schaef. corr. ἡ δ' A. ὧδε τλήμων ὥστε τῷ μιάστορι 275

Χορός φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντος Αἰγίσθου πέλας 310 λέγεις τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἢ βεβῶτος ἐκ δόμων;

Ἠλέκτρα ἦ κάρτα· μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλας, θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖσι τυγχάνει.

Χορός ἦ κἂν ἐγὼ θαρσοῦσα μᾶλλον ἐς λόγους τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει; 315

Ἠλέκτρα ὡς νῦν ἀπόντος ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον;

Χορός καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ· τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής, ἥξοντος ἢ μέλλοντος; εἰδέναι θέλω.

Ἠλέκτρα φησίν γε· φάσκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

Χορός φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράσσων μέγα. 320

Ἠλέκτρα καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔσωσʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

Χορός θάρσει· πέφυκεν ἐσθλός, ὥστʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοις.

Ἠλέκτρα πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

No more! I see approaching from the house Thy sister by both parents of thy blood, Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering, Such as old custom yields to those below.

CH

Auf, sage, weilt Aegisthos hier, indeß du so Mir redest, oder ging er aus dem Hause fort?

Elektra. Ja freilich. Wär' er nahe, traun, ich würde nicht Hier außen umgeh'n! Nein, er ging auf's Feld hinaus. 305

Der Chor. So darf auch ich beherzter, darf mich freier wohl Mit dir ergeh'n in Reden, wenn es also steht.

Elektra. Sezt ist er ferne; frage denn, was dir beliebt.

Der Chor. Nun wohl, ich frage: was du mir vom Bruder sagst, Ob er zurückkehrt oder säumt, das wüßt' ich gern. 310

Elektra. Er sagt es, aber was er sagt, vollbringt er nicht.

Der Chor. Zu säumen liebt ja, wer ein großes Werk beginnt,

Elektra. Und ich gerettet hab' ich ihn und säume nicht.

Der Chor. Sei ruhig; edel denkt er, hilft den Seinen gern.

Elektra. Ich glaub' es; denn ich lebte sonst nicht lange mehr. 315

Der Chor. Nun rede mir nicht weiter: denn Chrysothemis Tritt aus dem Hause, seh' ich, die vom Vater und Der Mutter deine Schwester ist, in ihrer Hand Die Grabesopfer, wie man sie den Schatten weiht. Chrysothemis. Die Vorigen.

Elektra.

He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er Forget his friends : be confident.

Electra I am, Were I not so I had not lived till now.

Chorus

Our duty, by our zeal for thee enforced, Induced us hither: if our friendly words Offend thy sense of honour, we desist; Thine be the conquest, and to follow, ours,

Electra I am ashamed, my friends, if deem'd by you Indulging an excess of grief and tears; 255 But they are wrung from me by bitter force;

Electra

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Chorus

Tell me, is Aegisthus nearby as you speak these words to us, or has he left the house?
310

Electra

He is gone, to be sure. Do not think that I would have come to the doors, if he were nearby. He happens now to be in the country.

Chorus

Might I converse with you

more boldly, if this is so?
315

Electra

He is not here, so question me. What is it you want?

Chorus

I ask you, then, what report can you give of your brother? Will he come soon, or is he delaying? I wish to know.

Electra

He says he will come, but although he promises he never does what he says.

Chorus

True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking.
320

Electra

And yet I saved him with no hesitation.

Chorus

Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.

Electra

I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.

Chorus

Say no more now, since I see your sister

coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below.
325

ἡ δ᾽ ἤδ' L Pal. Schaef. corr. ἡ δ' A. ὧδε τλήμων ὥστε τῷ μιάστορι
275

Χορός

φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντος Αἰγίσθου πέλας
310

λέγεις τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἢ βεβῶτος ἐκ δόμων;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ κάρτα· μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλας,

θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖσι τυγχάνει.

Χορός

ἦ κἂν ἐγὼ θαρσοῦσα μᾶλλον ἐς λόγους

τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει;
315

Ἠλέκτρα

ὡς νῦν ἀπόντος ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον;

Χορός

καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ· τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής,

ἥξοντος ἢ μέλλοντος; εἰδέναι θέλω.

Ἠλέκτρα

φησίν γε· φάσκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

Χορός

φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράσσων μέγα.
320

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔσωσʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

Χορός

θάρσει· πέφυκεν ἐσθλός, ὥστʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοις.

Ἠλέκτρα

πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

No more! I see approaching from the house

Thy sister by both parents of thy blood,

Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering,

Such as old custom yields to those below.

Auf, sage, weilt Aegisthos hier, indeß du so

Mir redest, oder ging er aus dem Hause fort?

Elektra.

Ja freilich. Wär' er nahe, traun, ich würde nicht

Hier außen umgeh'n! Nein, er ging auf's Feld hinaus.
305

Der Chor.

So darf auch ich beherzter, darf mich freier wohl

Mit dir ergeh'n in Reden, wenn es also steht.

Elektra.

Sezt ist er ferne; frage denn, was dir beliebt.

Der Chor.

Nun wohl, ich frage: was du mir vom Bruder sagst,

Ob er zurückkehrt oder säumt, das wüßt' ich gern.
310

Elektra.

Er sagt es, aber was er sagt, vollbringt er nicht.

Der Chor.

Zu säumen liebt ja, wer ein großes Werk beginnt,

Elektra.

Und ich gerettet hab' ich ihn und säume nicht.

Der Chor.

Sei ruhig; edel denkt er, hilft den Seinen gern.

Elektra.

Ich glaub' es; denn ich lebte sonst nicht lange mehr.
315

Der Chor.

Nun rede mir nicht weiter: denn Chrysothemis

Tritt aus dem Hause, seh' ich, die vom Vater und

Der Mutter deine Schwester ist, in ihrer Hand

Die Grabesopfer, wie man sie den Schatten weiht.

Chrysothemis. Die Vorigen.

He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er

Forget his friends : be confident.

Electra

I am,

Were I not so I had not lived till now.

Our duty, by our zeal for thee enforced,

Induced us hither: if our friendly words

Offend thy sense of honour, we desist;

Thine be the conquest, and to follow, ours,

Electra

I am ashamed, my friends, if deem'd by you

Indulging an excess of grief and tears;
255

But they are wrung from me by bitter force;