Sophocles, Electra, Richard Jebb (Translator), 804

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Electra

What do you think? Does it seem to you that she, poor woman, wept and wailed terribly,

like a grieving, anguished woman, over her son thus destroyed? No, she left us with a laugh! Ah, miserable me! Dearest Orestes, how your death has destroyed me! For your passing has torn from my heart
805

the only hopes which still were mine: that you would live to return some day as the avenger of our father, and also of me in my misery. But now, where shall I turn? I am alone, cheated of you, as of my father. Hereafter I must be a slave again
810

among those I most hate, my father’s murderers. Am I not in a fine way? But at least in the time remaining me I will never enter the house to dwell with them. No, lying down at these gates, without a friend, I shall wither away my days.
815

Therefore, if anyone in the house be angry, let him kill me. It is a favor, if I die, but a pain, if I live. I desire life no more.
820

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)) — 804 focus

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 804 focus

Ἠλέκτρα

ἆρʼ ὑμὶν ὡς ἀλγοῦσα κὠδυνωμένη

δεινῶς δακρῦσαι κἀπικωκῦσαι δοκεῖ
805

τὸν υἱὸν ἡ δύστηνος ὧδʼ ὀλωλότα;

ἀλλʼ ἐγγελῶσα φροῦδος· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.

Ὀρέστα φίλταθʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας θανών.

ἀποσπάσας γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς οἴχει φρενὸς

αἵ μοι μόναι παρῆσαν ἐλπίδων ἔτι,
810

σὲ πατρὸς ἥξειν ζῶντα τιμωρόν ποτε

κἀμοῦ ταλαίνης. νῦν δὲ ποῖ με χρὴ μολεῖν;

μόνη γάρ εἰμι, σοῦ τʼ ἀπεστερημένη

καὶ πατρός. ἤδη δεῖ με δουλεύειν πάλιν

ἐν τοῖσιν ἐχθίστοισιν ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ
815

φονεῦσι πατρός. ἆρά μοι καλῶς ἔχει;

ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοιποῦ χρόνου

ξύνοικος, εἴσειμʼ, ἀλλὰ τῇδε πρὸς πύλῃ

παρεῖσʼ ἐμαυτὴν ἄφιλος αὐανῶ βίον.

πρὸς ταῦτα καινέτω τις, εἰ βαρύνεται,
820

τῶν ἔνδον ὄντων· ὡς χάρις μέν, ἢν κτάνῃ,

λύπη δʼ, ἐὰν ζῶ· τοῦ βίου δʼ οὐδεὶς πόθος.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 836 focus

’Tis well that he is gone, not that you live.
840

EL

Hear, ’venging spirits of the lately dead!
840

CLY

The avenging spirits have heard and answered well.

EL

Insult us now, for thou art fortunate!

CLY

You and Orestes are to quench my pride.

EL

Our pride is quenched. No hope of quenching thee!

CLY

A world of good is in thy coming, stranger,

Since thou hast silenced this all-clamorous tongue.

OLD M

Then I may go my way, seeing all is well.
845

CLY

Nay, go not yet! That would disgrace alike
845

Me and the friend who sent you to our land.
845

But come thou in, and leave her out of door
845

To wail her own and loved ones’ overthrow.
845

EL

Think you the wretch in heartfelt agony

Weeps inconsolably her perished son?

She left us with a laugh! O misery!

How thou hast ruined me, dear brother mine,

By dying! Thou hast torn from out my heart

The only hope I cherished yet, that thou

Living wouldst come hereafter to avenge

Thy father’s woes and mine. Where must I go?

Since I am left of thee and of my sire

Bereaved and lonely, and once more must be

The drudge and menial of my bitterest foes,

My father’s murderers. Say, is it well?

Nay, nevermore will I consort with these,

But sinking here before the palace gate,

Thus, friendless, I will wither out my life.

Hereat if any in the house be vexed,

Let them destroy me; for to take my life

Were kindness, and to live is only pain:

Life hath not kindled my desires with joy.

O ever-blazing sun!

O lightning of the eternal Sire!

Can ye behold this done

And tamely hide your all-avenging fire?

Ah me!

My daughter, why these tears?

Woe!

Weep not, calm thy fears.

You kill me.

How?

To breathe

A hope for one beneath

So clearly sunk in death,

’Tis to afflict me more

Already pining sore.

CH. 5

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 804 focus

Dünkt euch, o Frauen, daß das unheilvolle Weib,

Von Schmerz erfüllt, wie eine trostlos trauernde,

Den Sohn bejammre, der so kläglich unterging?
790

Nein, lachend ging sie weiter! Ich Unselige!

O mein Orestes, sterbend gabst du mir den Tod!

Denn weggerissen aus der Brust entführst du mir

Die lezte Hoffnung, welche noch mir Armen blieb,

Du würdest lebend kommen einst, des Vaters Tod
795

Und mich zu rächen. Nun - wohin flieh'n soll ich nun?

Denn einsam steh' ich und allein, bin dein beraubt,

Beraubt des Vaters. Sklavin muß ich wieder sein

Von diesen Menschen, die mein Herz vor Allen haßt,

Des Vaters Mördern. Wäre mir das recht gescheh'n?
800

Doch wahrlich fortan will ich nicht in Einem Haus

Mit ihnen wohnen, nein, hinaus vor dieses Thor

Mich werfend, schmacht' ich ohne Freund mein Leben hin.

Dann möge mich ermorden, wer im Hause sich

Hievon beschwert hält: Wonne wird der Tod mir sein,
805

Wie Qual das Leben; beut es mir doch keine Lust.

Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 836 focus

Miu-ked ye, my friends, did ye observe her
840

tears ?
840

Did she lament him ? Did the mother weep
840

For her lost child ? Oh, no ; she smiled and left me.
840

Thou hast undone me ; thou wert all my hope :
840

I thought thou wouldst have lived to aid my vengeance
840

For our loved father's death ; deprived of both
840

Whither shall I betake me 'i Left at last
840

A slave to those whom most on earth I hate,
840

The cruel murderers — must it then be so ?
840

Never, oh never ! Thus bereft of all.
840

Here will I lay me down, and on this spot
840

End my sad days. If it offend the t}Tants,
840

Let 'em destroy me — 'twill be kindly done.
840

Life is a pain ; I would not wish to keep it.
840

Chorus

Where is thy thunder, Jove ? or where thy

power,

O Phcebus ! if thou dost behold this' deed

And not avenge it ?

Chor

Oh

Alas

Why mournst thou thus ?

Oh ! do not gi'oan thus.

How have I huit thee ?

Thou destroyst me.

Electra

Why thus vainly try

To give me comfort, when I know he's dead ?

You but insult my woes.

Chorus

Yet weep not thus.

Think on the golden bracelet that betrayed

Amphiaraus, who now

Electra

Oh me !

Chorus

In bliss
845

Immortal reigns among the shades below.
845

Electra

Alas !

Chorus

No more ; a woman was the cause,

Th' accursed cause.

Eleo. She suffered, did she not ?

Chorus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 836 focus

Hear, Nemesis, avenger of the dead!
840

Clytemnestra

She heard whom she should hear, and well decreed.

Electra

Triumph, insult; for prosperous is thy state.

Clytemnestra

That state wilt thou and thy Orestes sink?

Electra

No: we are sunk, and therefore sink not thee.

Clytemnestra

Great is thy merit, stranger, great thy meed,

If thou hast check'd that ever-clamourous tongue.

Attendant

Now, if these things are well, I would depart.
845

Clytemnestra

Not so; that would reflect disgrace on me,
845

And on the friend who sent thee. Go thou in,
845

And leave her here with clamourous grief to wail
845

The ruin which hath sunk her, and her friends.
845

Electra
ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Did this unnatural mother show one sign

Of grief or pity? Did she shed a tear?

Or once lament a son by such a fate

Cut off? She left us with a smile of joy.

My dear Orestes, how hast thou destroy'd

Thy poor unhappy sister by thy death!

Thou hast torn from me the fond hope, which cheer'd

Alone my sinking mind, that thou wouldst live,

Live to avenge my father's death, and me,

Unhappy me. Now whither shall I go?

Sophocles Electra 804

Richard Jebb (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

’Tis well that he is gone, not that you live.
840

EL

Hear, ’venging spirits of the lately dead!
840

CLY

The avenging spirits have heard and answered well.

EL

Insult us now, for thou art fortunate!

CLY

You and Orestes are to quench my pride.

EL

Our pride is quenched. No hope of quenching thee!

CLY

A world of good is in thy coming, stranger,

Since thou hast silenced this all-clamorous tongue.

OLD M

Then I may go my way, seeing all is well.
845

CLY

Nay, go not yet! That would disgrace alike
845

Me and the friend who sent you to our land.
845

But come thou in, and leave her out of door
845

To wail her own and loved ones’ overthrow.
845

CH. 5

Der Chor.

Chorus

Where is thy thunder, Jove ? or where thy

power,

O Phcebus ! if thou dost behold this' deed

And not avenge it ?

Chor

Oh

Alas

Why mournst thou thus ?

Oh ! do not gi'oan thus.

How have I huit thee ?

Thou destroyst me.

Electra

Why thus vainly try

To give me comfort, when I know he's dead ?

You but insult my woes.

Chorus

Yet weep not thus.

Think on the golden bracelet that betrayed

Amphiaraus, who now

Electra

Oh me !

Chorus

In bliss
845

Immortal reigns among the shades below.
845

Electra

Alas !

Chorus

No more ; a woman was the cause,

Th' accursed cause.

Eleo. She suffered, did she not ?

Chorus

Hear, Nemesis, avenger of the dead!
840

Clytemnestra

She heard whom she should hear, and well decreed.

Electra

Triumph, insult; for prosperous is thy state.

Clytemnestra

That state wilt thou and thy Orestes sink?

Electra

No: we are sunk, and therefore sink not thee.

Clytemnestra

Great is thy merit, stranger, great thy meed,

If thou hast check'd that ever-clamourous tongue.

Attendant

Now, if these things are well, I would depart.
845

Clytemnestra

Not so; that would reflect disgrace on me,
845

And on the friend who sent thee. Go thou in,
845

And leave her here with clamourous grief to wail
845

The ruin which hath sunk her, and her friends.
845

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

’Tis well that he is gone, not that you live. 840

EL Hear, ’venging spirits of the lately dead! 840

CLY The avenging spirits have heard and answered well.

EL Insult us now, for thou art fortunate!

CLY You and Orestes are to quench my pride.

EL Our pride is quenched. No hope of quenching thee!

CLY A world of good is in thy coming, stranger, Since thou hast silenced this all-clamorous tongue.

OLD M Then I may go my way, seeing all is well. 845

CLY Nay, go not yet! That would disgrace alike 845 Me and the friend who sent you to our land. 845 But come thou in, and leave her out of door 845 To wail her own and loved ones’ overthrow. 845

CH. 5

Der Chor.

Chorus Where is thy thunder, Jove ? or where thy power, O Phcebus ! if thou dost behold this' deed And not avenge it ? Chor Oh Alas Why mournst thou thus ? Oh ! do not gi'oan thus. How have I huit thee ? Thou destroyst me.

Electra Why thus vainly try To give me comfort, when I know he's dead ? You but insult my woes.

Chorus Yet weep not thus. Think on the golden bracelet that betrayed Amphiaraus, who now

Electra Oh me !

Chorus In bliss 845 Immortal reigns among the shades below. 845

Electra Alas !

Chorus No more ; a woman was the cause, Th' accursed cause. Eleo. She suffered, did she not ?

Chorus

Hear, Nemesis, avenger of the dead! 840

Clytemnestra She heard whom she should hear, and well decreed.

Electra Triumph, insult; for prosperous is thy state.

Clytemnestra That state wilt thou and thy Orestes sink?

Electra No: we are sunk, and therefore sink not thee.

Clytemnestra Great is thy merit, stranger, great thy meed, If thou hast check'd that ever-clamourous tongue.

Attendant Now, if these things are well, I would depart. 845

Clytemnestra Not so; that would reflect disgrace on me, 845 And on the friend who sent thee. Go thou in, 845 And leave her here with clamourous grief to wail 845 The ruin which hath sunk her, and her friends. 845

Commentary

Stable identifiers

’Tis well that he is gone, not that you live.
840

EL

Hear, ’venging spirits of the lately dead!
840

CLY

The avenging spirits have heard and answered well.

EL

Insult us now, for thou art fortunate!

CLY

You and Orestes are to quench my pride.

EL

Our pride is quenched. No hope of quenching thee!

CLY

A world of good is in thy coming, stranger,

Since thou hast silenced this all-clamorous tongue.

OLD M

Then I may go my way, seeing all is well.
845

CLY

Nay, go not yet! That would disgrace alike
845

Me and the friend who sent you to our land.
845

But come thou in, and leave her out of door
845

To wail her own and loved ones’ overthrow.
845

Chorus

Where is thy thunder, Jove ? or where thy

power,

O Phcebus ! if thou dost behold this' deed

And not avenge it ?

Chor

Oh

Alas

Why mournst thou thus ?

Oh ! do not gi'oan thus.

How have I huit thee ?

Thou destroyst me.

Electra

Why thus vainly try

To give me comfort, when I know he's dead ?

You but insult my woes.

Chorus

Yet weep not thus.

Think on the golden bracelet that betrayed

Amphiaraus, who now

Electra

Oh me !

Chorus

In bliss
845

Immortal reigns among the shades below.
845

Electra

Alas !

Chorus

No more ; a woman was the cause,

Th' accursed cause.

Eleo. She suffered, did she not ?

Hear, Nemesis, avenger of the dead!
840

Clytemnestra

She heard whom she should hear, and well decreed.

Electra

Triumph, insult; for prosperous is thy state.

Clytemnestra

That state wilt thou and thy Orestes sink?

Electra

No: we are sunk, and therefore sink not thee.

Clytemnestra

Great is thy merit, stranger, great thy meed,

If thou hast check'd that ever-clamourous tongue.

Attendant

Now, if these things are well, I would depart.
845

Clytemnestra

Not so; that would reflect disgrace on me,
845

And on the friend who sent thee. Go thou in,
845

And leave her here with clamourous grief to wail
845

The ruin which hath sunk her, and her friends.
845