Sophocles, Electra, ed. Francis Storr, 1232

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Ἠλέκτρα

ἰὼ γοναί,

γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,

ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως,

ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε.
1235

Ὀρέστης

πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Ὀρέστης

σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν,

τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι,
1240

περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον

γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.

Ὀρέστης

ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης

ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ,
1245

ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,

οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον

οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.
1250

Ὀρέστης

ἔξοιδα, παῖ, ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουσία

φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.

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)) — 1232 focus

ἰὼ γοναί,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

γοναὶ add σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,

ἐμόλετ᾿ ἀρτίως,

ἐφεύρετ᾽, ἤλθετ᾽, εἴδεθ᾽ οὓς ἐχρήζετε.
1235

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγ᾽ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν ἔστι ἔστιν ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τὰν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὰ τὰν οὓ τἂν Ἄρτεμιν τὰν αἰὲν ἀδμήταν

τόδε μὲν οὐ ποτ᾿ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι
1240

περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον

γυναικῶν ὂν ἀεί.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης

ἔνεστιν· εὖ δ᾽ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

*ὀτοτοτοῖ ὀττοτοῖ ,
1245

ἀνέφελον ἐπέβαλες 2nd ε from ι ὑπέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον, ἁμέτερον

οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἔξοιδα καὶ ταῦτ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν παρουσία

φράζῃ, τότ᾽ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.
1250

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1232 focus

O dearest women, Argives of my home!

Ye see Orestes, dead in craft, but now

By that same craft delivered and preserved.

CH

We see, dear daughter, and the gladsome tear

Steals from our eye to greet the bright event.

EL

Offspring of him I loved beyond all telling!

Ah! thou art come,—hast found me, eye to eye

Behold’st the face thou didst desire to see.
1235

OR

True, I am here; but bide in silence still.

EL

Wherefore?

OR

Hush! speak not loud, lest one within should hearken.

EL

By ever-virgin Artemis, ne’er will I

Think worthy of my fear

This useless mass of woman-cowardice
1240

Burdening the house within,

Not peering out of door.

OR

Yet know that women too have might in war.

Of that methinks thou hast feeling evidence.

EL

Ah me! thou hast unveiled
1245

And thrust before my gaze

That burning load of my distress

No time will soothe, no remedy will heal.

OR

I know that too. But when we are face to face

With the evildoers,—then let remembrance work.
1250

EL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1232 focus

Otheurer Sproß,

Strophe.

Elektra.

Sproß jenes uns, ach, so geliebten Manns,

Du kamst endlich, ja,

Du kamest, fandest, sahest, die dein Herz ersehnt!
1210

Orestes.

Ich bin gekommen; aber schweigend harre noch.

Warum das?

Wohl ziemt zu schweigen, eh man uns im Haus vernimmt.

Elektra.

Nein, bei der ewig unbezwungnen Artemis!¹

Wahrlich, ich fürchte nicht die nuzlose Last,
1215

Dies Volk der Weiber mehr, das im Haus stets sich umtreibt.

Orestes.

Doch sei behutsam, auch in Weiberseelen glüht

Kampfmuth: du weißt es; denn Erfahrung lehrte dich's.

Elektra.

Oweh, o Graun, o Graun!

Du nennst unverhüllt das unvertilgbare,
1220

In der Erinnerung nie zu verschmerzende,

Das Leid, das ich litt!

Orestes.

Wohl weiß ich das; doch dieses Jammers mußt du mir

Dann erst gedenken, wann die rechte Zeit erscheint.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1232 focus

Oh ! ye are come, my friends, in happiest hour,

E'en to behold, to find again the man

Whom your souls wished for, ye are come.

Chorus

We are ;

Electra

Wherefore in silence ?

Chorus

Lest our foes within

Should hear thee.

Electra

Never, by the virgin power

Of chaste Diana, will I hide my joys,
1240

Nor meanly stoop to fear an idle throng

Of helpless women.

Orestes

Women have their power,

And that thou knowest.

Electra

Alas ! and so I do ;
1245

For oh ! thou hast called back the sad remembrance

Of that misfortune which admits no cure,

And ne'er can be forgot.

Orestes

A fitter time

May come when we must think of that.
1250

Electra

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1232 focus

And henceforth ever may'st thou hold him thus!

Electra

You see Orestes but by fiction dead,

And by that honest fiction thus preserved.

Chorus

Thou gem, thou offspring of the dearest man,
1245

To me for ever dear, art thou then come-

Thus hast thou found-at length art thou arrived---

And dost thou see whom thou hast wish'd to see!

Orestes

Behold me here: but check thy transports, wait

In silence the event.
1250

Electra

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1232 focus

Electra

O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come,

you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired!
1235

Orestes

I am with you; but keep silence and wait.

Electra

What do you mean?

Orestes

It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear.

Electra

No, by ever-virgin Artemis,

I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground!
1240

Orestes

Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe.

Electra

oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled,
1245

cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten!
1250

Orestes

I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-692-1 A

μέλος ἀπὸ σκηνῆς

between Electra and Orestes. Strophe, 1232—1352,=antistr. 1253—1272 (a verse being lost after 1264). Epode, 1273— 1287. For metres see Metrical Analysis.

mvp-comment-693-1 γοναὶ σωμάτων ¹

mvp-comment-694-1 ἀρτίως ²

mvp-comment-694-2 οὓς ³

mvp-comment-694-3 ἐχρήζετε ⁴

mvp-comment-695-1 σῖγ’ ἔχουσα ⁵

mvp-comment-696-1 ἀλλ’ οὐ μὰ ⁶

mvp-comment-696-2 τὴν ἄδμητον ⁷

mvp-comment-696-3 Ἄρτεμιν ⁸

mvp-comment-697-1 τόδε μὲν … ὂν ἀεί ⁹

mvp-comment-697-2 περισσὸν ἄχθος ¹⁰

mvp-comment-697-3 ἔνδον … ὂν ἀεί ¹¹

mvp-comment-698-1 γε μὲν δὴ ¹²

mvp-comment-698-2 Ἄρης ¹³

mvp-comment-698-3 εὖ δ’ ἔξοισθα ¹⁴

mvp-comment-699-1 ἀνέφελον … κακόν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-699-2 The author of the scholium on 1245 read ἐνέβαλες ¹⁶ ἐπέβαλες ¹⁷ ὑπέβαλες ¹⁸

mvp-comment-699-3 καταλύσιμον ¹⁹

mvp-comment-699-4 λησόμενον ²⁰

mvp-comment-699-5 The usual explanation is, ‘that cannot be forgotten’; but

λήσομαι

is nowhere passive. There is, indeed, no classical fut. pass. of

λανθάνω

, for (

ἐπι

)

λησθήσομαι

occurs only in later Greek (LXX. Ps. ix. 19 , etc.). Even

λελήσεται

=‘will forget,’ Eur. Alc. 198. —

λησόμενον

could mean, ‘that cannot escape notice’; for, though the act.

λήσω

is more usual in this sense ( Soph. Tr. 455 , Il. 23. 416 ), the midd.

λήσομαι

is so used by Hippocrates (2. 170), Arist. ( Pr. Anal. 2. 19), Lucian, etc. But here, especially after

ἀνέφελον

, such a sense would evidently be too weak.

mvp-comment-700-1 ἔξοιδα καὶ ταῦτ’ ²¹ καὶ ²²

mvp-comment-700-2 παρουσία ²³ φράζῃ ²⁴ ἔργων τῶνδε ²⁵

mvp-comment-700-3 The scholia attest

παρουσία

as the traditional reading, and suggest two explanations. (1)

ὅταν ἐπιτρέπῃ ὁ καιρὸς καὶ καλῇ

: i.e.,

παρουσία

τὰ παρόντα

, the circumstances of the moment. Cp. cum res ipsa feret. (2)

ὁπόταν ἡ παρουσία τούτων ᾖ καὶ ὁ καιρὸς ἐπιτήδειος

. Here

τούτων

is evidently neuter, and the meaning is, ‘when these topics come before us,’—when it is the fitting time to discuss them. Neither view is satisfactory.

mvp-comment-700-4 The v.l. παρρησία ²⁶ φράζῃ ²⁷

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

1232. mvp-comment-588-1 In the following passage Electra in her ecstasy utters lyric (chiefly dochmiac) strains, to which Orestes, who is trying to calm her, replies in senarii. The lyric metres may be arranged (though, as the text stands, not perfectly) in a scheme of strophe, antistrophe, and epode, as follows:—
στρ. (ll. 1232-1252).
- u - - - | - u - -
- u u - u - | - u - -
u - u - u - -
1 Senarius.
1 Senarius.
- u - u - | - u - -
u - u - | u - -
1 Senarius.
1 Senarius.
- u - u - | - u u | - u u | u - -
- u - - | u - - -
u - u - u - | u - u -
- u - -
2 Senarii.

ἀντ. (ll. 1253-1263).
- u - | u - -
u u - u - | u u - u - -
u - - u u -
1 Senarius.
1 Senarius.
u u - u - u u -
u - u - | u - u - u - -
2 Senarii.

ἐπ. (ll. 1273-1287).
u u - u - u - -
- - - u -
u u - | u u - | u u - | u u -
- u - | - u -
1 Senarius.
2 - - u u - -
2 Senarii.
¹²

1232. mvp-comment-588-2 1 The correspondence of στρ. and ἀντ. here is doubtful.

1232. mvp-comment-588-3 2 In the Epode Orestes also for a moment becomes lyrical.

1232-1233. mvp-comment-589-1 γοναὶ .. φιλτάτων] 'Offspring of one most dear to me;' i.e. of Agamemnon. Poetical plural. E. on L. § 20. p. 30.

1234-1235. mvp-comment-590-1 For the aorists, see Essay on L. § 32. p. 55 , and for the feeling in οὓς ἐχρήζετε, cp. O. T. 1274, οὓς δ᾽ ἔχρῃζεν οὐ γνωσοίατο.

1236. mvp-comment-591-1 'We are here. Only abide the event in silence.' In πάρεσμεν Orestes probably includes Pylades, but not necessarily. Cp. the doubt in Trach. 390.

1239. mvp-comment-592-1 This line as in L, which is followed in the text, has an iambic rhythm which in so far corresponds to 1260. In a passage of so much wildness there may have been a special motive for using long syllables in the strophe where in the antistrophe the iambics are 'pure.' Wecklein reads in στρ., μὰ τὰν ᾿Αρτεμιν | τὰν ἀδμῆτ᾽ ἀεί, and in ἀντ., τίς οὖν ἀξίαν | σοῦ γε πεφηνότος?

1240-1242. mvp-comment-593-1 τόδε.. ἀεί] 'Never will I account as worthy of my fear this unprofitable burden of womankind that never stirs abroad.' Electra does not remember that she is a woman. She is one with Orestes, who is come to vindicate the man. She might say with Athena in the Eumenides 738, κάρτα δ᾽ εἰμὶ τοῦ πατρός. Orestes reminds her that Clytemnestra is not an enemy to be despised.

1246-1247. mvp-comment-594-1 Thou hast brought to my remembrance the undisguised horror of our situation, not to be forgotten or undone.' For ἐπέβαλες, cp. Thuc. 8. 108, καὶ ἀλλὰ ἐπιβάλλοντος αὐτοῦ ἁ φέρειν οὐκ ἠδύναντο. The figure seems to be that of laying on (or adding to) a burden. Cp. O. C. 1730, τί τόδ᾽ ἐπέπληξας; λησόμενον is literally, 'That will not forget.' See Essay on L. § 30. p. 51 a.

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Ἠλέκτρα ἰὼ γοναί, γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων, ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως, ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε. 1235

Ὀρέστης πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

Ἠλέκτρα τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Ὀρέστης σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν, τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι, 1240 περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.

Ὀρέστης ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

Ἠλέκτρα ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ, 1245 ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον, οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον οἷον ἔφυ κακόν. 1250

Ὀρέστης ἔξοιδα, παῖ, ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουσία φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.

Current edition Experimental

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. γοναὶ add σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων, ἐμόλετ᾿ ἀρτίως, ἐφεύρετ᾽, ἤλθετ᾽, εἴδεθ᾽ οὓς ἐχρήζετε. 1235

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγ᾽ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τί δ᾽ ἔστιν ἔστι ἔστιν ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τὰν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὰ τὰν οὓ τἂν Ἄρτεμιν τὰν αἰὲν ἀδμήταν τόδε μὲν οὐ ποτ᾿ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι 1240 περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον γυναικῶν ὂν ἀεί.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης ἔνεστιν· εὖ δ᾽ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. *ὀτοτοτοῖ ὀττοτοῖ , 1245 ἀνέφελον ἐπέβαλες 2nd ε from ι ὑπέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον, ἁμέτερον οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἔξοιδα καὶ ταῦτ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν παρουσία φράζῃ, τότ᾽ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών. 1250

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

O dearest women, Argives of my home! Ye see Orestes, dead in craft, but now By that same craft delivered and preserved.

CH We see, dear daughter, and the gladsome tear Steals from our eye to greet the bright event.

EL Offspring of him I loved beyond all telling! Ah! thou art come,—hast found me, eye to eye Behold’st the face thou didst desire to see. 1235

OR True, I am here; but bide in silence still.

EL Wherefore?

OR Hush! speak not loud, lest one within should hearken.

EL By ever-virgin Artemis, ne’er will I Think worthy of my fear This useless mass of woman-cowardice 1240 Burdening the house within, Not peering out of door.

OR Yet know that women too have might in war. Of that methinks thou hast feeling evidence.

EL Ah me! thou hast unveiled 1245 And thrust before my gaze That burning load of my distress No time will soothe, no remedy will heal.

OR I know that too. But when we are face to face With the evildoers,—then let remembrance work. 1250

EL

Otheurer Sproß, Strophe.

Elektra. Sproß jenes uns, ach, so geliebten Manns, Du kamst endlich, ja, Du kamest, fandest, sahest, die dein Herz ersehnt! 1210

Orestes. Ich bin gekommen; aber schweigend harre noch. Warum das? Wohl ziemt zu schweigen, eh man uns im Haus vernimmt.

Elektra. Nein, bei der ewig unbezwungnen Artemis! 1 Wahrlich, ich fürchte nicht die nuzlose Last, 1215 Dies Volk der Weiber mehr, das im Haus stets sich umtreibt.

Orestes. Doch sei behutsam, auch in Weiberseelen glüht Kampfmuth: du weißt es; denn Erfahrung lehrte dich's.

Elektra. Oweh, o Graun, o Graun! Du nennst unverhüllt das unvertilgbare, 1220 In der Erinnerung nie zu verschmerzende, Das Leid, das ich litt!

Orestes. Wohl weiß ich das; doch dieses Jammers mußt du mir Dann erst gedenken, wann die rechte Zeit erscheint.

Oh ! ye are come, my friends, in happiest hour, E'en to behold, to find again the man Whom your souls wished for, ye are come.

Chorus We are ;

Electra Wherefore in silence ?

Chorus Lest our foes within Should hear thee.

Electra Never, by the virgin power Of chaste Diana, will I hide my joys, 1240 Nor meanly stoop to fear an idle throng Of helpless women.

Orestes Women have their power, And that thou knowest.

Electra Alas ! and so I do ; 1245 For oh ! thou hast called back the sad remembrance Of that misfortune which admits no cure, And ne'er can be forgot.

Orestes A fitter time May come when we must think of that. 1250

Electra

And henceforth ever may'st thou hold him thus!

Electra

You see Orestes but by fiction dead, And by that honest fiction thus preserved.

Chorus

Thou gem, thou offspring of the dearest man, 1245 To me for ever dear, art thou then come- Thus hast thou found-at length art thou arrived--- And dost thou see whom thou hast wish'd to see!

Orestes Behold me here: but check thy transports, wait In silence the event. 1250

Electra

Electra O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come, you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired! 1235

Orestes I am with you; but keep silence and wait.

Electra What do you mean?

Orestes It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear.

Electra No, by ever-virgin Artemis, I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground! 1240

Orestes Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe.

Electra oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled, 1245 cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten! 1250

Orestes I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰὼ γοναί,

γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,

ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως,

ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε.
1235

Ὀρέστης

πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Ὀρέστης

σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν,

τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι,
1240

περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον

γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.

Ὀρέστης

ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης

ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ,
1245

ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,

οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον

οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.
1250

Ὀρέστης

ἔξοιδα, παῖ, ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουσία

φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

γοναὶ add σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,

ἐμόλετ᾿ ἀρτίως,

ἐφεύρετ᾽, ἤλθετ᾽, εἴδεθ᾽ οὓς ἐχρήζετε.
1235

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγ᾽ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν ἔστι ἔστιν ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τὰν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὰ τὰν οὓ τἂν Ἄρτεμιν τὰν αἰὲν ἀδμήταν

τόδε μὲν οὐ ποτ᾿ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι
1240

περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον

γυναικῶν ὂν ἀεί.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης

ἔνεστιν· εὖ δ᾽ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

*ὀτοτοτοῖ ὀττοτοῖ ,
1245

ἀνέφελον ἐπέβαλες 2nd ε from ι ὑπέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον, ἁμέτερον

οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἔξοιδα καὶ ταῦτ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν παρουσία

φράζῃ, τότ᾽ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.
1250

O dearest women, Argives of my home!

Ye see Orestes, dead in craft, but now

By that same craft delivered and preserved.

CH

We see, dear daughter, and the gladsome tear

Steals from our eye to greet the bright event.

EL

Offspring of him I loved beyond all telling!

Ah! thou art come,—hast found me, eye to eye

Behold’st the face thou didst desire to see.
1235

OR

True, I am here; but bide in silence still.

EL

Wherefore?

OR

Hush! speak not loud, lest one within should hearken.

EL

By ever-virgin Artemis, ne’er will I

Think worthy of my fear

This useless mass of woman-cowardice
1240

Burdening the house within,

Not peering out of door.

OR

Yet know that women too have might in war.

Of that methinks thou hast feeling evidence.

EL

Ah me! thou hast unveiled
1245

And thrust before my gaze

That burning load of my distress

No time will soothe, no remedy will heal.

OR

I know that too. But when we are face to face

With the evildoers,—then let remembrance work.
1250

Otheurer Sproß,

Strophe.

Elektra.

Sproß jenes uns, ach, so geliebten Manns,

Du kamst endlich, ja,

Du kamest, fandest, sahest, die dein Herz ersehnt!
1210

Orestes.

Ich bin gekommen; aber schweigend harre noch.

Warum das?

Wohl ziemt zu schweigen, eh man uns im Haus vernimmt.

Elektra.

Nein, bei der ewig unbezwungnen Artemis!¹

Wahrlich, ich fürchte nicht die nuzlose Last,
1215

Dies Volk der Weiber mehr, das im Haus stets sich umtreibt.

Orestes.

Doch sei behutsam, auch in Weiberseelen glüht

Kampfmuth: du weißt es; denn Erfahrung lehrte dich's.

Elektra.

Oweh, o Graun, o Graun!

Du nennst unverhüllt das unvertilgbare,
1220

In der Erinnerung nie zu verschmerzende,

Das Leid, das ich litt!

Orestes.

Wohl weiß ich das; doch dieses Jammers mußt du mir

Dann erst gedenken, wann die rechte Zeit erscheint.

Oh ! ye are come, my friends, in happiest hour,

E'en to behold, to find again the man

Whom your souls wished for, ye are come.

Chorus

We are ;

Electra

Wherefore in silence ?

Chorus

Lest our foes within

Should hear thee.

Electra

Never, by the virgin power

Of chaste Diana, will I hide my joys,
1240

Nor meanly stoop to fear an idle throng

Of helpless women.

Orestes

Women have their power,

And that thou knowest.

Electra

Alas ! and so I do ;
1245

For oh ! thou hast called back the sad remembrance

Of that misfortune which admits no cure,

And ne'er can be forgot.

Orestes

A fitter time

May come when we must think of that.
1250

You see Orestes but by fiction dead,

And by that honest fiction thus preserved.

Thou gem, thou offspring of the dearest man,
1245

To me for ever dear, art thou then come-

Thus hast thou found-at length art thou arrived---

And dost thou see whom thou hast wish'd to see!

Orestes

Behold me here: but check thy transports, wait

In silence the event.
1250

Electra

O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come,

you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired!
1235

Orestes

I am with you; but keep silence and wait.

Electra

What do you mean?

Orestes

It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear.

Electra

No, by ever-virgin Artemis,

I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground!
1240

Orestes

Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe.

Electra

oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled,
1245

cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten!
1250

Orestes

I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes.