Sophocles, Electra, Richard Jebb (Translator), 385

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Electra

Have they in fact decided to do this to me?
385

Chrysothemis

They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra

Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis

Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra

That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis

So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits?
390

Electra

So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis

Have you no care for the life you lead now?

Electra

oh, yes, my life is so wondrously fine.

Chrysothemis

It would be, if only you learned good sense.

Electra

Do not teach me to betray my friends.
395

Chrysothemis

I do not, but to bend before the strong.

Electra

Keep your flattery to yourself; it is not in my character.

Chrysothemis

Regardless, it brings no honor to fall through senselessness.

Electra

I will fall, if need be, while honoring my father.

Chrysothemis

But our father, I know, pardons me for this.
400

Electra

It is for cowards to commend such sentiments.

Chrysothemis

So you will not be persuaded to agree with me?

Electra

No, indeed; may I not yet be so devoid of intelligence.

Chrysothemis

Then I will move on to where I was sent.

Electra

And where is it that you go? For whom do you take these offerings to be burned?
405

Chrysothemis

Mother sends me with funeral libations for our father.

Electra

What are you saying? For her deadliest enemy?

Chrysothemis

Whom she herself killed, no doubt you wanted to say this as well.

Electra

What friend persuaded her? Whose idea was it?

Chrysothemis

The cause, I think, was fear induced by some vision in the night.
410

Electra

My father’s Gods! Stand with me now at last!

Chrysothemis

Do you find something heartening in this terror?

Electra

If you would tell me the vision, then I could answer.

Chrysothemis

I know no more than a small part of the story.

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)) — 385 focus

ἢ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποιεῖν πο(ι)εῖν ? L. ;
385

ΧΡ.

μάλισθ'· ὅταν περ οἴκαδ᾽ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γ' οἵνεκ᾽ ἐν τάχει.

ΧΡ.

τίν, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδ᾽ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

ΗΛ.

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

ΧΡ.

ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτ᾽ εἶ φρενῶν ;
390

ΗΛ.

ὅπως ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὡς προσώτατ᾽ ἐκφύγω.

ΧΡ.

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

ΗΛ.

καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γ' εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

ΗΛ.

μή μ᾽ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν.
395

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν εἰκάθειν LA Pal. (gl. ὑποτάσσεσθαι) Elms. corr..

ΗΛ.

σὺ ταῦτα θώπευ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

ΧΡ.

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ἐξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

ΗΛ.

πεσούμεθ᾽, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

ΧΡ.

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει.
400

ΗΛ.

ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

ΧΡ.

σὺ δ᾽ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

ΗΛ.

οὐ δῆτα, μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδ᾽ εἴην κενή.

ΧΡ.

χωρήσομαί ο from a L. τἄρ᾽ οἶπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

ΗΛ.

ποῖ δ᾽ ἐμπορεύει ἐμπορεύηι L (μ from v C¹) A Pal.; τῷ φέρεις τάδ᾽ ἔμπυρα ;
405

ΧΡ.

μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

ΗΛ.

πῶς εἶπας; ἢ ἡ εἰ L. 7 C5 or 8 A. L2. τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

ΧΡ.

ὃν ἔκταν᾿ αὐτή, τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

ΗΛ͵

ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτ᾽ ἤρεσεν ;

ΧΡ.

ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί.
410

ΗΛ.

ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γ᾽ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

ΧΡ.

ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

ΗΛ.

εἴ μοι λέγοις λέγεις LAΓ. λέγεις Pal. Tricl. corr. τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμ᾽ ἂν τότε.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν σμικροῦ, ων L pr. v into v and ων C5. σμικρῶι AL2. σμικρὸν Γ. φράσαι.

ΗΛ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 385 focus

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν;
385

Χρυσόθεμις

μάλισθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

Χρυσόθεμις

τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

Χρυσόθεμις

ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν;
390

Ἠλέκτρα

ὅπως ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡς προσωτάτω φύγω.

Χρυσόθεμις

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

Ἠλέκτρα

καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

Ἠλέκτρα

μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν.
395

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

σὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

Χρυσόθεμις

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ʼξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

πεσούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

Χρυσόθεμις

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει.
400

Ἠλέκτρα

ταῦτʼ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

σὺ δʼ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δῆτα· μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδʼ εἴην κενή.

Χρυσόθεμις

χωρήσομαί τἄρʼ οἷπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῖ δʼ ἐμπορεύει; τῷ φέρεις τάδʼ ἔμπυρα;
405

Χρυσόθεμις

μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

Χρυσόθεμις

ὃν ἔκτανʼ αὐτή· τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτʼ ἤρεσεν;

Χρυσόθεμις

ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί;
410

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γʼ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

Ἠλέκτρα

εἴ μοι λέγοις τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμʼ ἂν τότε.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν φράσαι.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 385 focus

And have they so determined on my life?
385

CHR

’Tis certain; when Aegisthus comes again.

EL

If that be all, let him return with speed!

CHR

Unhappy! why this curse upon thyself?

EL

If this be their intent, why, let him come!

CHR

To work such harm on thee! What thought is this!
390

EL

Far from mine eye to banish all your brood.

CHR

Art not more tender of the life thou hast?

EL

Fair, to a marvel, is my life, I trow!

CHR

It would be, couldst thou be advised for good.

EL

Never advise me to forsake my kin.
395

CHR

I do not: only to give place to power.

EL

Thine be such flattery. ’Tis not my way.

CHR

Sure, to be wrecked by rashness is not well.

EL

Let me be wrecked in ’venging my own sire.

CHR

I trust his pardon for my helplessness.
400

EL

Such talk hath commendation from the vile.

CHR

Wilt thou not listen? Wilt thou ne’er be ruled?

EL

No; not by thee! Let me not sink so low.

CHR

Then I will hie me on mine errand straight.

EL

Stay; whither art bound? For whom to spend those gifts?
405

CHR

Sent by my mother to my father’s tomb

To pour libations to him.

EL

How? To him?

Most hostile to her of all souls that are?

CHR

Who perished by her hand—so thou wouldst say.

EL

What friend hath moved her? Who hath cared for this?

CHR

Methinks ’twas some dread vision, seen by night.
410

EL

Gods of my father, O be with me now!

CHR

What? art thou hopeful from the fear I spake of?

EL

Tell me the dream, and I will answer thee.

CHR

I know but little of it.

EL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 385 focus

So hätten sie beschlossen, das mir anzuthun?

Chrysothemis.

Gewiß, sobald Aegisthos wieder heimgekehrt.

Elektra.

Er komme deßhalb immerhin sogleich zurück!

Chrysothemis.

Unsel'ge, was erflehst du dir mit diesem Wort?
380

Elektra.

Er möge kommen, wenn er so zu thun gedenkt.

Chrysothemis.

Nach welchem Leid verlangt dich? Wo geräthst du hin?

Elektra.

In fernste Fernen wünsch' ich wegzuflieh'n von euch.

Chrysothemis.

Und dieses Leben, das dir blüht, Nichts achtest du's?

Elektra.

Traun, herrlich ist mein Leben, zum Bewundern schön.
385

Chrysothemis.

Wohl wär' es also, kenntest du Besonnenheit.

Elektra.

Mich lehre nicht, den Meinen ungetreu zu sein.

Chrysothemis.

Das lehr' ich nicht; doch vor den Mächtigen beuge dich!

Elektra.

So schmiege du dich; meiner Art ist dieses fremd.

Chrysothemis.

Doch rus' ich: Heil dir, fällst du nicht durch Unbedacht.
390

Elektra.

Den Vater rächend fall' ich, wenn ich fallen muß.

Chrysothemis.

Der Vater, weiß ich, er vergibt mir dieses wohl.

Elektra.

Ein solches Wort zu loben, steht nur Feigen an.

Chrysothemis.

Du willst auf mich nicht hören, ſtimmst nicht ein mit mir?

Elektra.

Nein, wahrlich! Nimmer sei ich so von Sinne leer!
395

Chrysothemis.

So werd' ich gehen, wo ich hingesendet ward.

Elektra.

Wo gehst du hin? Wem bringst du dieses Opfer hier?

Chrysothemis.

Des Vaters Grab zu weihen, schickt die Mutter mich.

Elektra.

Wie sagst du? Solches thäte sie dem ärgsten Feind?

Chrysothemis.

Ihm, den sie selbst erschlagen: denn dies meinst du doch.
400

Elektra.

Durch welches Freundes Nath bestimmt? Wer hieß ihr das?

Chrysothemis.

Ein nächtlich Graunbild ängstet sie, so scheint es mir.

Ihr Ahnengötter, nun gewährt uns Hülfe doch!

Hat diese Furcht der Mutter deinen Muth geweckt?

Elektra.

Erzählst dy, was ihr träumte, dann erklär' ich mich.
405

Chrysothemis.

Doch was ich anzugeben weiß, ist wenig nur.

Elektra.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 385 focus

Tell me this mighty danger ; if aught more
385

T yield me to thy counsels.
385

Chrysothemis

Hear me then :

Know, thou art doomed, unless thou dost refrain

Tiiy clamorous griefs, far from the light of day

And this thy native soil, within a cell

Dismal and dark, to spend the poor remains

Of thy sad life, and tliere lament thy fate.

Electra

Is it decreed ? Must it in truth be so ?

Chrysothemis

Soon as ^Egisthus shall return, it must.

Electra

Quick let him come : I long to see him here.

Chrysothemis

Alas ! what dreadful imprecations these !
390

Electra

Would he were present, if foi' this he comes !

Chrysothemis

What ! to destroy thee ! Is thy mind dis-

turbed i

Electra

That I might fly for ever from thy sight.

Chrysothemis

Wilt thou not think how to preserve thy life ;

Electra

Mine is a blessed hfe indeed to think of.
395

Chrysothemis

It might be blest, if thou wouldst have it so.

Electra

Teach me not basely to betray my friends.

Chrysothemis

I do not ; all I ask thee is to yield

To powers superior.

Electra

Fawn on them thyself ;

Chrysothemis

Sure it better
400

Deserves the name of wisdom to avoid
400

Than hasten thy destruction.
400

Electra

N'o, to die

Were pleasure, could I but avenge my father.

Chrysothemis

Our father, doubt it not, will pardon thee.

Electra

'Tis mean to think so.

Chrysothemis

Wilt thou not consent 1

Electra

Never, oh never, be my soul so weak !
405

Chrysothemis

Then to my errand : fare thee well.

Electra

To whom,

Chrysothemis

and whither dost thou bear

Those sacred ofF'rings ?

Chrysothemis

To our father's tomb.
410

From Clytemnestra.
410

Electra

To the man she hated ?

The man, my sister

Chrysothemis

Thou would have said^,,,—
410

Electra
(^ Chry. Whom she killed, I know,

Why, what shou'd move her to it?

Chrysothemis

If I mistake not, horrors late impressed jl

From a sad vision. '^

Electra

O my country's gods !

Succour me now !

Chrysothemis

- What hopes dost thou conceive

From this ?

Electra

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 385 focus

Think then what grief-embitter'd days I pass,
385

Chrysothemis

When seated on my father's throne I see

Aegisthus

Far distant in the country: were he near,

Think not I thus might walk before the gates.

Chorus

If it be so, more freely may we hold

Discourse, and unrestrain'd inquiry make.

Electra

What thy mind prompts thee, ask, from him secure.

Chorus

First of thy brother then it is my wish
390

To know. Returns he, or delays he still?
390

Electra

Oft hath he promised; nothing he performs.

Chorus

In arduous actions men must oft delay.

Electra

But him without delay I fondly saved.

Chorus

But of his noble nature be assured;

This will impel him to protect his friends.

Electra

Of this my soul hath ever been assured;
395

Else in this state I had not lived so long.!!
395

Chorus

Speak now no more; for from the gates I see

Chrysothemis advance, thy sister sprung

From the same parents: in her hands she bears

Sepulchral offerings, honours to the dead.

CHRY. Why, O my sister, is thy voice thus raised

Before the portal? Will no length of time

Teach thee no more to feed thy feeble rage

With thoughts as vain? I feel these present ills,

And, if I know myself, had I the pow'r,

Would show my thoughts: but while the storm is high,

I deem it prudent to let down my sails,

Nor dream of mighty deeds, while void of force

I cannot hurt. Thus would I thou shou'dst act.

Yet what I say perhaps hath not such strength

Of reason as thy firmer conduct shows;

But, as becomes my birth if I would live,

The potent must in all things be obey'd.

Electra

How shameful this, descended as thou art

From such a father, to forget his worth,

And court thy mother's favour! For by her

All thy monitions to me were enjoin'd,

Her teaching, not the dictates of thy heart.

What should I think? Thy nature must be base;

Or, if not base, no memory of thy friends

Dost thou retain. Thou said'st, hadst thou the pow'r,

Chrysothemis

Thy hate thou soon wou'dst show them: yet with me,

On vengeance for my father always bent,

Thou wilt not act, but rather wish to check

My purpose. Is not this to add to ills

Base cowardice? But tell me, or learn thou

From me, what good should I obtain, my griefs

Should I command to cease? Do I not live?

But ill, I know; yet I am satisfied.

I grieve their hearts in paying to the dead.

Theseus

if the dead have yet a sense

Of honours. Thou dost hate them: but thy hate

Is in words only; thou canst bear to live

Amidst thy father's murderers. But my soul

Would never bend, would never yield to them,

No, should they bring me all those gorgeous gifts

With which thou now art deck'd. To thee be placed

A table richly spread, with dishes piled;

But let my homely fare be only such

As nature loaths not. I have not a wish

To gain thy honours; nor indeed wou'dst thou,

Did reason rule thee. Now thou might'st he call'd

The daughter of a father first in fame;

Be call'd thy mother's: so shalt thou appear,

To all that judge aright, of nature base,

False to thy murder'd father, and his friends.

Chorus

Now, by the gods, let nothing pass in wrath.
400

Much mutual good your reasonings might produce,
400

Wert thou to hers attentive, she to thine.
400

CHRY. I have been long accustom'd to such words
400

From her, my friends; and never had I touch'd
400

This tender point, but that some dreadful ill
400

Advances on her, which will check her griefs.
400

Electra

What dreadful ill is this? If more severe

Than these, thy counsel I no more oppose.

CHRY. Far as I know it I will tell thee all.

They purpose, if thou cease not thy loud griefs,

Chrysothemis

To send thee where no more thou shalt behold

The sun's bright radiance, in some cheerless vault

To live, far distant, there to chant thy woes.

Reflect; nor henceforth blame me when these ills

Fall heavy on thee: this is wisdom's hour.

Electra

Thus will they treat me? Is their purpose fix'd?..

CHRY. Soon as Ægisthus shall return.

And soon

May he for this return.

What dreadful wish

Hast thou thus rashly form'd?

That he may come,

If thus he thinks to act.

That thou may'st feel

Chrysothemis

Their vengeance! What thy meaning?

Far from you

That I may fly.

And hast thou for thy life

No care, no thought?

Mine is a glorious life,

Exciting admiration!

Wou'dst thou take

Calm prudence for thy guide, it might be such.

Electra
CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY.

Teach me not baseness to my friends.
405

I teach
405

No baseness, but submission to the great,
405

Who hold the sovereign pow'r.
405

Cringe to them thou;
405

I scorn to cringe.
405

Well were it not to fall
405

Through wayward wilfulness.
405

If I must fall,
405

My father's death avenging let me fall.
405

CHRY. Of us our father, well am I assured,
405

Requires not this.
405

Chrysothemis

Such words the base alone

Can e'er applaud.

Will no persuasions move

Thy heart to yield assent?

None: from my heart

Far be such weakness.

Hence then will I go,

And execute my charge.

What charge? To whom

Bear'st thou those offerings?

By my mother sent

She most abhorr'd!

To pour libations at my father's tomb.

Electra
CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY. CHRY.

What say'st thou? Sent to him whom, when he lived,

And with her own hand slew,

So wou'dst thou say.

Persuaded by her friends?

Chrysothemis

Who thus advised her ?

She was moved, I think,

By dreadful visions, terrors of the night.

Electra
CHRY.

Gods of my fathers, give us now your aid !

Chrysothemis

CHRY. What from these terrors animates thy hope ?
410

Electra

Tell me the vision, thou shalt know my hopes.

Chrysothemis

CHRY. I know not all; but little can I speak.

Electra

Tell me that little: oft imperfect words

Sink mortals low, or raise their spirits high.

Chorus

This is the voice of rumour, that she saw

Thine and my father, to the light return'd,

Once more her husband; in the earth he fix'd

The sceptre of his ancestors, which once

He bore, but now Ægisthus; from its top

Sprouted a vigorous branch, and spread its shade

Wide o'er Mycenæ and its ample realms...

This from one present, when she told her dream

To the bright Sun, I heard. No more than this

I know, but that she sent me to the tomb

Struck with this fear. Now by our country's gods

I pray thee, be persuaded; do not rush、

On ruin through perverseness: shou'dst thou now

Reject me, thou wilt seek me in thy ills.

Electra

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-229-1 ἦ ταῦτα δὴ ¹ ἦ … δὴ ² ἦ … γὰρ ³

mvp-comment-229-2 καὶ βεβούλευνται ⁴

mvp-comment-230-1 ἀλλ’ ἐξίκοιτο ⁵

mvp-comment-230-2 τοῦδέ γ’ οὕνεκ’ ⁶

mvp-comment-231-1 τίνα … τόνδ’ ⁷

mvp-comment-231-2 τάλαινα ⁸

mvp-comment-232-1 εἴ τι τῶνδε ⁹

mvp-comment-233-1 ποῦ ποτ’ εἶ φρενῶν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-234-1 ὅπως ¹¹ ὑμῶν ¹²

mvp-comment-234-2 προσώτατ’ ¹³ προσωτάτω φύγω ¹⁴

mvp-comment-235-1 βίου … τοῦ παρόντος ¹⁵

mvp-comment-236-1 καλὸς γὰρ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-236-2 θαυμάσαι ¹⁷

mvp-comment-237-1 τοῖς φίλοις ¹⁸

mvp-comment-238-1 εἰκαθεῖν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-239-1 ταῦτα ²⁰ οὐκ ἐμοὺς ²¹

mvp-comment-240-1 γε ²² μέντοι ²³

mvp-comment-240-2 μὴ )ξ ²⁴

mvp-comment-240-3 πεσεῖν ²⁵

mvp-comment-240-4 399 A woman, speaking of herself in the plur., uses the masc.: Ant. 926

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες

mvp-comment-241-1 συγγνώμην ²⁶

mvp-comment-242-1 τἄπη ²⁷

mvp-comment-242-2 πρὸς κακῶν ²⁸

mvp-comment-243-1 μή πω ²⁹

mvp-comment-244-1 οἷπερ … ὁδοῦ ³⁰

mvp-comment-245-1 τῷ φέρεις ³¹

mvp-comment-245-2 ἔμπυρα ³²

mvp-comment-246-1 τυμβεῦσαι χοάς ³³

mvp-comment-247-1 βροτῶν ³⁴

mvp-comment-248-1 ὃν ἔκταν’ αὐτή ³⁵ ὅν γ’ ³⁶

mvp-comment-249-1 τῷ τοῦτ’ ἤρεσεν ³⁷

mvp-comment-250-1 δείματος ³⁸

mvp-comment-250-2 δοκεῖν ἐμοί ³⁹

mvp-comment-251-1 θεοὶ πατρῷοι ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-251-2 συγγένεσθέ γ’ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-251-3 ἀλλὰ νῦν ⁴²

mvp-comment-252-1 εἴποιμ’ ἂν τότε ⁴³

mvp-comment-253-1 ἐπὶ σμικρὸν ⁴⁴ ἐπὶ σμικρῶν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-253-2 φράσαι ⁴⁶

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

385. mvp-comment-163-1 And have they really determined to do this to me?' καί adds a sarcastic emphasis.

390. mvp-comment-164-1 ποῦ ποτ᾽ εἰ φρενῶν;] 'What are you thinking of?' Cp. Ant. 42, ποῦ γνώμης ποτ' εἶ; There is the same doubt in both cases, whether el is from εἰμί or εἶμι. For the latter, which gives greater liveliness, cp. Eur. Iph. Α. 479, 80, καὶ τῶν παλαιῶν ἐξαφίσταμαι λόγων, | οὐκ εἰς σὲ δεινός· εἶμι δ᾽ οὗπερ εἶ σὺ νῦν. On the other hand it may be urged that ποῖ would be more natural with the verb of motion. Electra in supra l. 354 has said, οὐ ζῶ; κακῶς μὲν, οἶδ᾽, ἐπαρκούντως δ᾽ ἐμοί. Chrysothemis interprets this as if she had meant that she had something to lose.

395. mvp-comment-165-1 τοῖς φίλοις] Viz. τῷ πατρί.

397. mvp-comment-166-1 ταῦτα is an adverbial accusative. οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις] 'You speak not of my ways; i.e. Your words indicate a line of conduct that can never be mine.

399. mvp-comment-167-1 τιμωρούμενοι] Cp. supr. 349.

400. mvp-comment-168-1 τούτων.. συγγνώμην] For this genitive, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 12, d 2, and cp. esp. Trach. 250, τοῦ λόγου .. φθόνον.

401. mvp-comment-169-1 Such words are for the base to approve.' Although, grammatically speaking, ἔπη is the subject of the sentence, and ἐπαινέσαι is epexegetic infinitive, the real meaning is, πρὸς κακῶν ἐστὶ τὸ ἐπαινέσai ταῦτα τὰ ἔπη. As constantly happens in Greek, an attribute which belongs to the verb is attached to the noun.

403. mvp-comment-170-1 μή πω .. κενή] 'I trust I may not prove so void of understanding!' For this use of πω, in which the temporal meaning has disappeared, cp; Ο. Τ. 105, οὐ γὰρ εἰσεῖδόν γέ πω, and note. The adverbial use of τοσόνδε is an Epic touch; cp. Od. 21. 253, 4, ἀλλ᾽ ἐἰ δὴ τοσσόνδε βίης ἐπιδευέες εἰμὲν | ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος, ὅτ᾽ οὐ δυνάμεσθα, κ.τ.λ.

404. mvp-comment-171-1 οἶπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ] ‘To the place whither I was sent upon my way.' For the idiomatic partitive genitive, cp. supr. 390, ποῦ ποτ' εἶ φρενῶν ; Phil. 899, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἤδη τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους κυρῶ.

405. mvp-comment-172-1 τῷ] 'For whom?' i.e. 'To be offered to whom?'

406. mvp-comment-173-1 τυμβεῦσai χοάς] Το pour libation on his tomb;' i.e. ἐπιτυμβίους χέαι χοάς,-the attribute of the noun being attached to the verb. See Essay on L. § 17. p. 25 с.

409. mvp-comment-174-1 τῷ τοῦτ᾽ ἤρεσεν] 'Whose pleasure was this?' Cp. Aj. 1243, & τοῖς πολλοῖσιν ἤρεσκεν κριταῖς.

410. mvp-comment-175-1 ἐκ δείματος] Sc. πεισθεῖσα.

411. mvp-comment-176-1 At the mention of 'nightly fear,' Electra instantly rushes to the conclusion that Clytemnestra has had some Divine warning. Her hope at once revives, and she looks up to heaven. For ἀλλὰ νῦν, 'now, though not heretofore,' cp. Ant. 552, τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἀλλὰ νῦν σ᾽ ἔτ᾿ ὠφελοῖμ᾽ ἐγώ. And for the connection, cp. Aesch. Cho. 515, 6, ΟΡ. πόθεν χοὰς ἔπεμψεν, ἐκ τίνος λόγου | μεθύστερον τιμῶσ᾽ ἀνήκεστον πάθος; ib. 523-5, ΧΟ. οἶδ', ὦ τέκνον· παρῆ γάρ. ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνειράτων | καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη | χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή. In this line and supr. 345 γε belongs in sense to the word that follows it. Or rather, the particle emphasizes the whole sentence as a comment on the preceding words. 'Ay, now, at last, come to our aid!'

413. mvp-comment-177-1 Electra is eager to know the vision, and will not confess her hopes till she has heard it.

414. mvp-comment-178-1 ἐπὶ σμικρόν is to be resumed with φράσai, which is epexegetic infinitive.

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Electra Have they in fact decided to do this to me? 385

Chrysothemis They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits? 390

Electra So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis Have you no care for the life you lead now?

Electra oh, yes, my life is so wondrously fine.

Chrysothemis It would be, if only you learned good sense.

Electra Do not teach me to betray my friends. 395

Chrysothemis I do not, but to bend before the strong.

Electra Keep your flattery to yourself; it is not in my character.

Chrysothemis Regardless, it brings no honor to fall through senselessness.

Electra I will fall, if need be, while honoring my father.

Chrysothemis But our father, I know, pardons me for this. 400

Electra It is for cowards to commend such sentiments.

Chrysothemis So you will not be persuaded to agree with me?

Electra No, indeed; may I not yet be so devoid of intelligence.

Chrysothemis Then I will move on to where I was sent.

Electra And where is it that you go? For whom do you take these offerings to be burned? 405

Chrysothemis Mother sends me with funeral libations for our father.

Electra What are you saying? For her deadliest enemy?

Chrysothemis Whom she herself killed, no doubt you wanted to say this as well.

Electra What friend persuaded her? Whose idea was it?

Chrysothemis The cause, I think, was fear induced by some vision in the night. 410

Electra My father’s Gods! Stand with me now at last!

Chrysothemis Do you find something heartening in this terror?

Electra If you would tell me the vision, then I could answer.

Chrysothemis I know no more than a small part of the story.

Current edition Experimental

ἢ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποιεῖν πο(ι)εῖν ? L. ; 385

ΧΡ. μάλισθ'· ὅταν περ οἴκαδ᾽ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

ΗΛ. ἀλλ᾽ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γ' οἵνεκ᾽ ἐν τάχει.

ΧΡ. τίν, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδ᾽ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

ΗΛ. ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

ΧΡ. ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτ᾽ εἶ φρενῶν ; 390

ΗΛ. ὅπως ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὡς προσώτατ᾽ ἐκφύγω.

ΧΡ. βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

ΗΛ. καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

ΧΡ. ἀλλ᾽ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γ' εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

ΗΛ. μή μ᾽ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν. 395

ΧΡ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν εἰκάθειν LA Pal. (gl. ὑποτάσσεσθαι) Elms. corr..

ΗΛ. σὺ ταῦτα θώπευ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

ΧΡ. καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ἐξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

ΗΛ. πεσούμεθ᾽, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

ΧΡ. πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει. 400

ΗΛ. ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

ΧΡ. σὺ δ᾽ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

ΗΛ. οὐ δῆτα, μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδ᾽ εἴην κενή.

ΧΡ. χωρήσομαί ο from a L. τἄρ᾽ οἶπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

ΗΛ. ποῖ δ᾽ ἐμπορεύει ἐμπορεύηι L (μ from v C¹) A Pal.; τῷ φέρεις τάδ᾽ ἔμπυρα ; 405

ΧΡ. μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

ΗΛ. πῶς εἶπας; ἢ ἡ εἰ L. 7 C5 or 8 A. L2. τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

ΧΡ. ὃν ἔκταν᾿ αὐτή, τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

ΗΛ͵ ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτ᾽ ἤρεσεν ;

ΧΡ. ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί. 410

ΗΛ. ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γ᾽ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

ΧΡ. ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

ΗΛ. εἴ μοι λέγοις λέγεις LAΓ. λέγεις Pal. Tricl. corr. τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμ᾽ ἂν τότε.

ΧΡ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν σμικροῦ, ων L pr. v into v and ων C5. σμικρῶι AL2. σμικρὸν Γ. φράσαι.

ΗΛ.

Ἠλέκτρα ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν; 385

Χρυσόθεμις μάλισθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

Χρυσόθεμις τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

Ἠλέκτρα ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

Χρυσόθεμις ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν; 390

Ἠλέκτρα ὅπως ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡς προσωτάτω φύγω.

Χρυσόθεμις βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

Ἠλέκτρα καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

Ἠλέκτρα μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν. 395

Χρυσόθεμις ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα σὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

Χρυσόθεμις καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ʼξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα πεσούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

Χρυσόθεμις πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει. 400

Electra

Have they in fact decided to do this to me?
385

Chrysothemis

They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra

Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis

Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra

That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis

So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits?
390

Electra

So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis

Have you no care for the life you lead now?

Electra

oh, yes, my life is so wondrously fine.

Chrysothemis

It would be, if only you learned good sense.

Electra

Do not teach me to betray my friends.
395

Chrysothemis

I do not, but to bend before the strong.

Electra

Keep your flattery to yourself; it is not in my character.

Chrysothemis

Regardless, it brings no honor to fall through senselessness.

Electra

I will fall, if need be, while honoring my father.

Chrysothemis

But our father, I know, pardons me for this.
400

Electra

It is for cowards to commend such sentiments.

Chrysothemis

So you will not be persuaded to agree with me?

Electra

No, indeed; may I not yet be so devoid of intelligence.

Chrysothemis

Then I will move on to where I was sent.

Electra

And where is it that you go? For whom do you take these offerings to be burned?
405

Chrysothemis

Mother sends me with funeral libations for our father.

Electra

What are you saying? For her deadliest enemy?

Chrysothemis

Whom she herself killed, no doubt you wanted to say this as well.

Electra

What friend persuaded her? Whose idea was it?

Chrysothemis

The cause, I think, was fear induced by some vision in the night.
410

Electra

My father’s Gods! Stand with me now at last!

Chrysothemis

Do you find something heartening in this terror?

Electra

If you would tell me the vision, then I could answer.

Chrysothemis

I know no more than a small part of the story.

ἢ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποιεῖν πο(ι)εῖν ? L. ;
385

ΧΡ.

μάλισθ'· ὅταν περ οἴκαδ᾽ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

ΗΛ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γ' οἵνεκ᾽ ἐν τάχει.

ΧΡ.

τίν, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδ᾽ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

ΗΛ.

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

ΧΡ.

ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτ᾽ εἶ φρενῶν ;
390

ΗΛ.

ὅπως ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὡς προσώτατ᾽ ἐκφύγω.

ΧΡ.

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

ΗΛ.

καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γ' εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

ΗΛ.

μή μ᾽ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν.
395

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν εἰκάθειν LA Pal. (gl. ὑποτάσσεσθαι) Elms. corr..

ΗΛ.

σὺ ταῦτα θώπευ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

ΧΡ.

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ἐξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

ΗΛ.

πεσούμεθ᾽, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

ΧΡ.

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει.
400

ΗΛ.

ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

ΧΡ.

σὺ δ᾽ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

ΗΛ.

οὐ δῆτα, μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδ᾽ εἴην κενή.

ΧΡ.

χωρήσομαί ο from a L. τἄρ᾽ οἶπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

ΗΛ.

ποῖ δ᾽ ἐμπορεύει ἐμπορεύηι L (μ from v C¹) A Pal.; τῷ φέρεις τάδ᾽ ἔμπυρα ;
405

ΧΡ.

μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

ΗΛ.

πῶς εἶπας; ἢ ἡ εἰ L. 7 C5 or 8 A. L2. τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

ΧΡ.

ὃν ἔκταν᾿ αὐτή, τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

ΗΛ͵

ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτ᾽ ἤρεσεν ;

ΧΡ.

ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί.
410

ΗΛ.

ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γ᾽ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

ΧΡ.

ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

ΗΛ.

εἴ μοι λέγοις λέγεις LAΓ. λέγεις Pal. Tricl. corr. τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμ᾽ ἂν τότε.

ΧΡ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν σμικροῦ, ων L pr. v into v and ων C5. σμικρῶι AL2. σμικρὸν Γ. φράσαι.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν;
385

Χρυσόθεμις

μάλισθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

Χρυσόθεμις

τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

Χρυσόθεμις

ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν;
390

Ἠλέκτρα

ὅπως ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡς προσωτάτω φύγω.

Χρυσόθεμις

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

Ἠλέκτρα

καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

Ἠλέκτρα

μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν.
395

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

σὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

Χρυσόθεμις

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ʼξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

πεσούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

Χρυσόθεμις

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει.
400

Ἠλέκτρα

ταῦτʼ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

σὺ δʼ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δῆτα· μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδʼ εἴην κενή.

Χρυσόθεμις

χωρήσομαί τἄρʼ οἷπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.