Sophocles, Electra, ed. Francis Storr, 1090

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Χορός

ζῴης μοι καθύπερθεν
1090

χειρὶ καὶ πλούτῳ τεῶν ἐχθρῶν ὅσον

νῦν ὑπόχειρ ναίεις·

ἐπεί σʼ ἐφηύρηκα μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ

βεβῶσαν, ἃ δὲ μέγιστʼ ἔβλαστε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
1095

ἄριστα τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ.

Electra. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Ἠλέκτρα (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 2. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1913.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1090 focus

ζῴης μοι καθύπερθεν καθύπερθε LA. καθύπερθεν Pal.

χειρὶ χερὶ L. καὶ πλούτῳ *τεῶν τῶν MSS. Herm. corr. ἐχθρῶν ὅσον
1090

νῦν ὑπὸ †χεῖρα ναίεις·

ἐπεί σ᾽ ἐφεύρηκα μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν om. LFL2? V³M² add A Vat. ac. ἐπ᾿ Pal. M. ἐσθλᾷ

βεβῶσαν· ἃ δὲ μέγιστ᾽ ἔβλαστε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
1095

ἄριστα τᾷ Ζηνὸς διὸς LL2 Vat, ac VV3. γρ. ἀρίστα ταζηνός C². εὐσεβείᾳ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἆρ' om. L. & add C² Pal., ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τ' εἰσηκούσαμεν,

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1098 focus

Say, dames and damsels, have we heard aright,

And speed we to the goal of our desire?

CH

And what desire or quest hath brought thee hither?
1100

OR

I seek Aegisthus’ dwelling all this while.

CH

Welcome. The tongue that told thee hath no blame.

OR

Which of you all will signify within

Our joint arrival,—not unwelcome here.

CH

This maiden, if the nearest should report.
1105

OR

Mistress, wilt thou go yonder and make known,

That certain Phocians on Aegisthus wait?

EL

Oh! can it be that you are come to bring

Clear proofs of the sad rumour we have heard?

OR

I know not what ye have heard. Old Strophius
1110

Charged me with tidings of Orestes’ fate.

EL

What, stranger? How this terror steals on me!

OR

Bearing scant remnants of his body dead

In this small vase thou seest, we bring them home.

EL

O sorrow! thou art here: I see full well
1115

That burden of my heart in present view.

OR

If thou hast tears for aught Orestes suffered,

Know that he lies within this vessel’s room.

EL

Ah, sir! by all in Heaven, if yonder urn

Hide him, ah! give it once into my hand,
1120

That o’er that dust I may lament and mourn

Myself and mine own house and all our woe!

OR

Bring it and give her, whosoe’er she be.

For not an enemy—this petition shows it—

But of his friends or kindred, is this maid.
1125

EL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1090 focus

Siegreich über den Feind

Leb' in Macht fortan und Reichthum, wie du jezt

Seiner Gewalt dich beugst.

Obwohl ein unselig Loos über dir gewaltet,

Doch fand ich, wie du dir den Preis errangst, den höchster Pflichten treu,
1070

Indem du Zeus fromme Scheu bewiesest.

Orestes. Pylades. Diener, die eine Urne tragen. Die Vorigen.

Orestes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1098 focus

Say, virgins, if by right instruction led

This way, I tend to

Chorus

Whither wouldst thou 1100

Orestes

The palace of ^gisthus.

Chorus

Sti'iinger, well

Wert thou directed ; thou art there already.

Orestes

Who then amongst your train shall Idndly

speak

A friend's approach, who comes with joyful news

Of highest import?

Chorus

{jpointing to Electra]. Be that office hers

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1098 focus

Say, female Argives, are we well inform'd,

Our steps unerring guided as we wish?

Chorus

What wou'dst thou ask? Why hither art thou come?
1100

Orestes

I seek the mansion where Ægisthus dwells.

Chorus

Right are thy steps: no blame thy guide deserves.

Orestes

To those within which of you will announce

Our presence, charged in common with affairs

Of no unwelcome nature to your lords?

Chorus

She, as by birth nearest to them allied.
1105

Orestes

Go, lady, let them be with speed inform'd

That men from Phocis sent Ægisthus seek.

Electra

Unhappy me! Bring you undoubted proofs

Of that report, which reach'd our ears before ?

Orestes

I know not: of Orestes is my charge
1110

To speak, by aged Strophius hither sent.

Electra

What, stranger? How am I oppress'd with fear!

Orestes

Of the dead youth the poor remains we bear,

As thou may'st see, in this small vase enclosed.

Electra

Then I indeed am wretched: now my grief
1115

Is certain; it is brought before my eyes.

Orestes

If for the poor Orestes flow thy tears,

Know that within this urn his body lies.

Electra

Now by the gods, O stranger, if this vase

Contain Orestes, give it to my hands;
1120

That o'er his ashes as I pour my tears,

Myself and all my race I may bewail.

Orestes

Whoe'er she be, entrust it to her hands;

For not in hatred makes she this request,

But as a friend, or one by blood allied.
1125

Electra

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1090 focus

Chorus

May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
1090

for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1095

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-619-1 καθύπερθεν ¹

mvp-comment-619-2 τεῶν ² τῶν ³ τοσόνδ’ ⁴

mvp-comment-620-1 ὑπόχειρ ⁵

mvp-comment-621-1 μοίρᾳ … οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ βεβῶσαν ⁶

mvp-comment-622-1 μέγιστα … νόμιμα ⁷

mvp-comment-622-2 ἔβλαστε ⁸

mvp-comment-622-3 τῶνδε φερομέναν ἄριστα ⁹ τῶνδε ¹⁰

mvp-comment-622-4 I formerly understood:—‘in respect to these laws, prospering full well’:

ἄριστα

being then an adv., while

φερομέναν

is used as in Thuc. 2. 60 § 3

καλῶς..φερόμενος τὸ καθ’ ἑαυτόν

: 5. 15 § 2

εὖ φερόμενοι

: 5. 16 § 1

εὖ φερόμενος ἐν στρατηγίαις

. This view is recommended by the fact that

φερομέναν ἄριστα

then forms a clear antithesis to

μοίρᾳ..οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ βεβῶσαν

. But two points are against it. (1)

τῶνδε

, as a genitive of relation, is somewhat awkward; though we might compare Thuc. 3. 92 § 4

τοῦ πρὸς Ἀθηναίους πολέμου καλῶς ἐδόκει αὐτοῖς ἡ πόλις καθίστασθαι...τῆς τε ἐπὶ Θρᾴκης παρόδου χρησίμως ἕξειν

: and id. 1. 36 § 2

Σικελίας καλῶς παράπλου κεῖται

. (2) The poet's usage, as we have seen, favours the other sense of

φερομέναν

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

1058-1097. mvp-comment-504-1 The Chorus lament, for Agamemnon's sake, over the quarrel between his daughters, which is added to the other troubles of his house, including the supposed death of Orestes, and express their admiration of Electra's attitude. Addressing her in the second strophe, they encourage her with words of sympathy and commendation. While Orestes lived, they bade her hope and trust. Now that they believe him to be dead, they are carried away by the heroism of her despair. That Electra remains upon the stage appears from infr. 1105.

1089. mvp-comment-524-1 σοφά τ᾿ ἀρίστα τε] 'Wise, as well as bravest,' or 'best, Wise, i. e. because holding fast the higher law. Cp. l. 1094.

1089. mvp-comment-524-2 Enter Orestes and Pylades, with attendants, as the ἄνδρες Φωκέων τεταγμένοι of supr. 759. The urn is carried, not by Orestes as might be expected from supr. 54. but by one of the attendants ( infr. 1123).

1090. mvp-comment-525-1 'Mayest thou live, I pray, as far superior to thy foes in wealth and might as now thou art fallen beneath them!' Cp. Hdt. 8. 60, τῶν ἐχθρῶν κατύπερθε γενέσθαι: ΙΙ. 16. 722.

1091. mvp-comment-526-1 *τεῶν is Hermann's correction of τῶν. Others (Lange, Wecklein) read τοσόνδ'.

1093. mvp-comment-527-1 ὑπὸ †χεῖρα] Hermann's conjecture, ὑπόχειρ (cp. ἐπίχειρ), has been received by subsequent editors. But, although it gives regularity to the metre, the word is not found elsewhere, and ὑπὸ χεῖρα appears idiomatic. Hermann himself (1839) read ὑπὸ χέρα.

1094-1095. mvp-comment-528-1 μοίρᾳ . . βεβῶσαν] Not placed in happy fortune.' Cр. О. С. 1358, 59, ὅτ᾽ ἐν πόνῳ | ταὐτῷ βεβηκὼς τυγχάνεις κακῶν ἐμοί.

1095-1097. mvp-comment-529-1 ἃ δὲ μέγιστ᾽ ἔβλαστε.. εὐσεβεία] Either (1) But prospering most highly, through Zeus-loved piety, in respect of those laws that are mightiest in their origin,' or (2) But endowed with the noblest gifts from those laws which are of mightiest origin, because of thy piety to Zeus.' For μέγιστ' ἔβλαστε, ср. О. Т. 865-72, Ant. 454-7. For the genitive τῶνδε in (2), see Essay on L. § 10. p. 14 b. And for τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ in (1), cp. Phil. 1442, 3, ὡς τἄλλα πάντα δεύτερ᾽ ἡγεῖται πατὴρ | Ζεύς· ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνήσκει βροτοῖς. Wecklein reads ἄριστον αἶνον δι' εὐσέβειαν, Nauck, ἄριστα τὰν σὰν δι᾽ εὐσέβειαν.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἆρ' om. L. & add C² Pal., ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τ' εἰσηκούσαμεν,

Say, dames and damsels, have we heard aright, And speed we to the goal of our desire?

CH And what desire or quest hath brought thee hither? 1100

OR I seek Aegisthus’ dwelling all this while.

CH Welcome. The tongue that told thee hath no blame.

OR Which of you all will signify within Our joint arrival,—not unwelcome here.

CH This maiden, if the nearest should report. 1105

OR Mistress, wilt thou go yonder and make known, That certain Phocians on Aegisthus wait?

EL Oh! can it be that you are come to bring Clear proofs of the sad rumour we have heard?

OR I know not what ye have heard. Old Strophius 1110 Charged me with tidings of Orestes’ fate.

EL What, stranger? How this terror steals on me!

OR Bearing scant remnants of his body dead In this small vase thou seest, we bring them home.

EL O sorrow! thou art here: I see full well 1115 That burden of my heart in present view.

OR If thou hast tears for aught Orestes suffered, Know that he lies within this vessel’s room.

EL Ah, sir! by all in Heaven, if yonder urn Hide him, ah! give it once into my hand, 1120 That o’er that dust I may lament and mourn Myself and mine own house and all our woe!

OR Bring it and give her, whosoe’er she be. For not an enemy—this petition shows it— But of his friends or kindred, is this maid. 1125

EL

Orestes.

Say, virgins, if by right instruction led This way, I tend to

Chorus Whither wouldst thou 1100

Orestes The palace of ^gisthus.

Chorus Sti'iinger, well Wert thou directed ; thou art there already.

Orestes Who then amongst your train shall Idndly speak A friend's approach, who comes with joyful news Of highest import?

Chorus {jpointing to Electra]. Be that office hers

Say, female Argives, are we well inform'd, Our steps unerring guided as we wish?

Chorus What wou'dst thou ask? Why hither art thou come? 1100

Orestes I seek the mansion where Ægisthus dwells.

Chorus Right are thy steps: no blame thy guide deserves.

Orestes To those within which of you will announce Our presence, charged in common with affairs Of no unwelcome nature to your lords?

Chorus She, as by birth nearest to them allied. 1105

Orestes Go, lady, let them be with speed inform'd That men from Phocis sent Ægisthus seek.

Electra Unhappy me! Bring you undoubted proofs Of that report, which reach'd our ears before ?

Orestes I know not: of Orestes is my charge 1110 To speak, by aged Strophius hither sent.

Electra What, stranger? How am I oppress'd with fear!

Orestes Of the dead youth the poor remains we bear, As thou may'st see, in this small vase enclosed.

Electra Then I indeed am wretched: now my grief 1115 Is certain; it is brought before my eyes.

Orestes If for the poor Orestes flow thy tears, Know that within this urn his body lies.

Electra Now by the gods, O stranger, if this vase Contain Orestes, give it to my hands; 1120 That o'er his ashes as I pour my tears, Myself and all my race I may bewail.

Orestes Whoe'er she be, entrust it to her hands; For not in hatred makes she this request, But as a friend, or one by blood allied. 1125

Electra

Chorus May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet 1090 for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus. 1095

Commentary

Stable identifiers

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἆρ' om. L. & add C² Pal., ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τ' εἰσηκούσαμεν,

Say, dames and damsels, have we heard aright,

And speed we to the goal of our desire?

CH

And what desire or quest hath brought thee hither?
1100

OR

I seek Aegisthus’ dwelling all this while.

CH

Welcome. The tongue that told thee hath no blame.

OR

Which of you all will signify within

Our joint arrival,—not unwelcome here.

CH

This maiden, if the nearest should report.
1105

OR

Mistress, wilt thou go yonder and make known,

That certain Phocians on Aegisthus wait?

EL

Oh! can it be that you are come to bring

Clear proofs of the sad rumour we have heard?

OR

I know not what ye have heard. Old Strophius
1110

Charged me with tidings of Orestes’ fate.

EL

What, stranger? How this terror steals on me!

OR

Bearing scant remnants of his body dead

In this small vase thou seest, we bring them home.

EL

O sorrow! thou art here: I see full well
1115

That burden of my heart in present view.

OR

If thou hast tears for aught Orestes suffered,

Know that he lies within this vessel’s room.

EL

Ah, sir! by all in Heaven, if yonder urn

Hide him, ah! give it once into my hand,
1120

That o’er that dust I may lament and mourn

Myself and mine own house and all our woe!

OR

Bring it and give her, whosoe’er she be.

For not an enemy—this petition shows it—

But of his friends or kindred, is this maid.
1125

Say, virgins, if by right instruction led

This way, I tend to

Chorus

Whither wouldst thou 1100

Orestes

The palace of ^gisthus.

Chorus

Sti'iinger, well

Wert thou directed ; thou art there already.

Orestes

Who then amongst your train shall Idndly

speak

A friend's approach, who comes with joyful news

Of highest import?

Chorus

{jpointing to Electra]. Be that office hers

Say, female Argives, are we well inform'd,

Our steps unerring guided as we wish?

Chorus

What wou'dst thou ask? Why hither art thou come?
1100

Orestes

I seek the mansion where Ægisthus dwells.

Chorus

Right are thy steps: no blame thy guide deserves.

Orestes

To those within which of you will announce

Our presence, charged in common with affairs

Of no unwelcome nature to your lords?

Chorus

She, as by birth nearest to them allied.
1105

Orestes

Go, lady, let them be with speed inform'd

That men from Phocis sent Ægisthus seek.

Electra

Unhappy me! Bring you undoubted proofs

Of that report, which reach'd our ears before ?

Orestes

I know not: of Orestes is my charge
1110

To speak, by aged Strophius hither sent.

Electra

What, stranger? How am I oppress'd with fear!

Orestes

Of the dead youth the poor remains we bear,

As thou may'st see, in this small vase enclosed.

Electra

Then I indeed am wretched: now my grief
1115

Is certain; it is brought before my eyes.

Orestes

If for the poor Orestes flow thy tears,

Know that within this urn his body lies.

Electra

Now by the gods, O stranger, if this vase

Contain Orestes, give it to my hands;
1120

That o'er his ashes as I pour my tears,

Myself and all my race I may bewail.

Orestes

Whoe'er she be, entrust it to her hands;

For not in hatred makes she this request,

But as a friend, or one by blood allied.
1125

Chorus

May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
1090

for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1095