Sophocles, Electra, ed. Francis Storr, 1253

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Ἠλέκτρα

ὁ πᾶς ἐμοί,

ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν

τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνος·
1255

μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.

Ὀρέστης

ξύμφημι κἀγώ· τοιγαροῦν σῴζου τόδε.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δρῶσα;

Ὀρέστης

οὗ μή ʼστι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

τίς οὖν ἂν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος
1260

μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;

ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως

ἀέλπτως τʼ ἐσεῖδον.

Ὀρέστης

τότʼ εἶδες, εὖτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν

1265

Ἠλέκτρα

ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν

τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς ἐπόρισεν

ἁμέτερα πρὸς μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον

αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ.
1270

Ὀρέστης

τὰ μέν σʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ

δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.

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)) — 1253 focus

ὁ πᾶς ἐμοὶ

ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν

τάδε δίκᾳ τάδε δίκαια γρ. τάδε δίκα χρόνος.

μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον ἔχων ἔσχον ἔχω νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ξύμφημι κἀγώ, τοιγαροῦν σώζου τόδε.
1255

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τί δρῶσα;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὗ μή ᾿στι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τίς οὖν ἂν add ἂν οὖν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος

μεταβάλοιτ᾽ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;

ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως

ἀέλπτως τ᾽ ἐσεῖδον.
1260

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τότ᾽ εἶδες, ὅτε θεοί μ' *ἐπώτρυναν ώτρυναν μολεῖν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς *ἐπόρισεν ἐπόρσεν ἐπῶρσεν ἐπῶρ. σεν ἐπῶσεν

ἁμέτερα ἀμετρα or ἀμτερα ἁμετερα πρὸς μέλαθρα, δαιμόνιον

αὐτὸ τίθημ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τὰ μέν σ᾽ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργάθειν, τὰ δὲ

δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.
1270

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1253 focus

All times alike are fit with instant pain

Justly to mind me of that dreadful day;

Even now but hardly hath my tongue been free.

OR

Yes, that is it. Therefore preserve this boon.
1255

EL

Whereby?

OR

Put limits to unseasonable talk.

EL

Ah! brother, who, when thou art come,

Could find it meet to exchange

Language for silence, as thou bidst me do?

Since beyond hope or thought

Was this thy sight to me.
1260

OR

God gave me to your sight when so he willed.

EL

O heaven of grace beyond

The joy I knew but now!

If God hath brought thee to our roof,

A miracle of bounty then is here.

OR

I hate to curb the gladness of thy spirit,

But yet I fear this ecstasy of joy.
1270

EL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1253 focus

Zu jeder Zeit,
1225
Gegenstrophe.

Elektra.

Ja wohl jeder Zeit geziemt's uns mit Fug

Sein zu gedenken, Kind;

Denn kaum gewann ich eben erst die Zunge frei.

Orestes.

Das mein' ich selbst auch; schüze dir denn solches Gut.

Wie soll ich das?
1230

Wo nicht die Zeit ist, fasse dich in Neden kurz.

Elektra.

Wer mag mit Recht, o Bruder, nun du mir erschienst,

Hemmen der Worte Strom, scheu zu verstummen hier?

Denn plözlich, ungeahnt, unverhofft, kamst du wieder.

Orestes.

Du sahst mich, als zu kommen mir ein Gott gebot.
1235

Elektra.

Noch größ're Freude, denn zuvor,

Kündest du' da mir an, wenn dich in unser Haus

Himmlische Götter gesendet: ein göttliches

Walten erkenn' ich hier.

Orestes.

Zwar deiner Freude wehren will ich nicht; indeß
1240

Ich fürchte, daß die Freude dich zu sehr beherrscht.

Schlußgesang.

Elektra.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1253 focus

All times.

All hours are fit to talk of justice in,

And best the present, now when I am free.

Orestes

Thou art so, be so still.
1255

Electra

What's to be done?

Orestes

Talk not, when prudence should restrain tliy

tongue.

Electra

Who shall restrain it? Who shall bind Electra

To fearful silence, when Orestes comes?

When thus I see thee here, beyond my thoughts,

Beyond my hopes !
1260

Orestes

The gods have sent me to thee ;

Xliey bade me come.

Electra

Indeed ! More grateful still

Is thy return. If by the gods' command

Thou cam'st, the gods will sure protect thee here.

Orestes

I would not damp thy joys, and yet I fear-

Lest they should carry thee too far.
1270

Electra

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1253 focus

Why silent wait?

Orestes

Within these hostile gates lest any hear.
1255

Electra

Now by Diana, chaste unconquer'd queen,

My soul disdains to tremble at a rout

Of helpless women here for ever throng'd.

Orestes

Yet women sometimes feel the martial flame,

And greatly dare: of this thou hast strong proof.

Electra

Oh, thou hast touch'd upon a dreadful ill,

For ever open to the light of heav'n,

Inexpiable, monstrous, from the mind

Never to be effaced, our mournful lot.
1260

Orestes

I know it well; and when the proper time

Shall warn me, will remember the foul deed.

Electra

All times to me are proper, and all times

Warn me to speak what justly I may speak:

Scarce is the liberty of speech now mine.

Orestes

Preserve that liberty, by knowing well

This is no time to give thy speech free scope.
1270

Electra

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1253 focus

Electra

Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion

for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free.
1255

Orestes

Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom.

Electra

What must I do?

Orestes

When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much.

Electra

No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope!
1260

Orestes

You saw me when the gods moved me to come.

Electra

You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house;
1265

I acknowledge in it the work of the divine.
1270

Orestes

On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-701-1 ὁ πᾶς … χρόνος ¹ παρὼν ² δίκᾳ ³ ἐννέπειν ⁴ πρέποι ⁵

mvp-comment-701-2 μόλις γὰρ ⁶ ἔσχον ⁷

mvp-comment-702-1 σῴζου τόδε ⁸

mvp-comment-703-1 μακρὰν … λέγειν ⁹

mvp-comment-704-1 τίς οὖν ¹⁰ ἀξίαν ¹¹ σοῦ πεφηνότος ¹² λόγων ¹³ μεταβάλοιτ’ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-704-2 <*>δε ¹⁵

mvp-comment-704-3 1264 After τότ’ εἶδες ¹⁶ ὅτε ¹⁷ εὖτε ¹⁸ ὅτε ¹⁹ θεοὶ ²⁰ ὅτε ²¹ τότ’ ²²

mvp-comment-704-4 ἐπώτρυναν ²³

mvp-comment-705-1 χάριτος ²⁴

mvp-comment-705-2 ἐπόρισεν ²⁵

mvp-comment-706-1 δαιμόνιον ²⁶

mvp-comment-706-2 τίθημ’ ²⁷

mvp-comment-706-3 Electra remembers the warning dream (417 ff.), in which she had already surmised a supernatural agency (411: 459). It is indeed

δαιμόνιον

that Orestes, sent by Apollo, should arrive at this moment.

mvp-comment-706-4 The punctuation given in the text seems best. The Aldine has only a comma after

μέλαθρα

: but then we should need a colon after

χάριτος

mvp-comment-707-1 τὰ μὲν … τὰ δὲ ²⁸

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

1251. mvp-comment-595-1 ἔξοιδα καὶ ταῦτ’] ‘Even so, I know it.' For καί, which has been rejected, see Essay on L. § 25. p. 42. παῖ, which has been substituted for it, is inappropriate, as addressed by a younger person to an elder. ὅταν παρουσία | φράζῃ] i.e. 'Not now, but when their presence brings to mind their guilt.' Orestes is striving to recall Electra from feeling to action. For the personification of the abstract word, cp. supr. 39, ὅταν σε καιρὸς εἰσάγῃ.

1253-1254. mvp-comment-596-1 ὁ πᾶς.. χρόνος] ‘All time alike, all time will justly suit to tell of that, as if it were present now.' Electra goes off upon the word παρουσία. Orestes had urged her to wait until the presence of Clytemnestra made it fitting to remember what she had done. Electra answers in effect, 'She and her deeds are ever present with me.' But in the refining manner of Sophocles this is otherwise expressed:—'All time alike for that purpose is present time to me.'

1255. mvp-comment-597-1 'Hardly have I now obtained a moment's freedom of speech.' This confirms what has been said, that the pressure of persecution is constant,—and also pleads a reason for continuing to speak. 'Having this rare liberty, I ought to use it.'

1260-1261. mvp-comment-598-1 Schol. τίς ἂν σοῦ φανέντος δικαίως ἕλοιτο ἀντὶ λόγων σιωπήν; i.e. ἀξίαν is predicative, and has the force of an adverb. Essay on L. § 23. p. 38, 1.

1262. mvp-comment-599-1 ὧδε] ‘As thou biddest me do.' So Paley. Wecklein renders, 'In such circumstances.'

1265. mvp-comment-600-1 Electra has not yet heard of the oracle. She has nursed her one idea in solitude. And now she has not only her brother at her side, but learns that he is sent by a god. This re-

1265. mvp-comment-600-2 doubles her joy, which is not the less striking for being simply expressed,— δαιμόνιον αὐτὸ τίθημ᾽ ἐγώ.

1266. mvp-comment-601-1 *ἐπόρισεν] Paley quotes O. C. 1458, πῶς ἂν .. δεῦρο Θησέα πόροι? The MS. reading ἐπῶρσεν is possible.

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Ἠλέκτρα ὁ πᾶς ἐμοί, ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνος· 1255 μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.

Ὀρέστης ξύμφημι κἀγώ· τοιγαροῦν σῴζου τόδε.

Ἠλέκτρα τί δρῶσα;

Ὀρέστης οὗ μή ʼστι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

Ἠλέκτρα τίς οὖν ἂν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος 1260 μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων; ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως ἀέλπτως τʼ ἐσεῖδον.

Ὀρέστης τότʼ εἶδες, εὖτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν 1265

Ἠλέκτρα ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς ἐπόρισεν ἁμέτερα πρὸς μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ. 1270

Ὀρέστης τὰ μέν σʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.

Current edition Experimental

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ξύμφημι κἀγώ, τοιγαροῦν σώζου τόδε. 1255

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τί δρῶσα;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. οὗ μή ᾿στι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τίς οὖν ἂν add ἂν οὖν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος μεταβάλοιτ᾽ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων; ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως ἀέλπτως τ᾽ ἐσεῖδον. 1260

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τότ᾽ εἶδες, ὅτε θεοί μ' *ἐπώτρυναν ώτρυναν μολεῖν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τὰ μέν σ᾽ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργάθειν, τὰ δὲ δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην. 1270

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

All times alike are fit with instant pain Justly to mind me of that dreadful day; Even now but hardly hath my tongue been free.

OR Yes, that is it. Therefore preserve this boon. 1255

EL Whereby?

OR Put limits to unseasonable talk.

EL Ah! brother, who, when thou art come, Could find it meet to exchange Language for silence, as thou bidst me do? Since beyond hope or thought Was this thy sight to me. 1260

OR God gave me to your sight when so he willed.

EL O heaven of grace beyond The joy I knew but now! If God hath brought thee to our roof, A miracle of bounty then is here.

OR I hate to curb the gladness of thy spirit, But yet I fear this ecstasy of joy. 1270

EL

Zu jeder Zeit, 1225 Gegenstrophe.

Elektra. Ja wohl jeder Zeit geziemt's uns mit Fug Sein zu gedenken, Kind; Denn kaum gewann ich eben erst die Zunge frei.

Orestes. Das mein' ich selbst auch; schüze dir denn solches Gut. Wie soll ich das? 1230 Wo nicht die Zeit ist, fasse dich in Neden kurz.

Elektra. Wer mag mit Recht, o Bruder, nun du mir erschienst, Hemmen der Worte Strom, scheu zu verstummen hier? Denn plözlich, ungeahnt, unverhofft, kamst du wieder.

Orestes. Du sahst mich, als zu kommen mir ein Gott gebot. 1235

Elektra. Noch größ're Freude, denn zuvor, Kündest du' da mir an, wenn dich in unser Haus Himmlische Götter gesendet: ein göttliches Walten erkenn' ich hier.

Orestes. Zwar deiner Freude wehren will ich nicht; indeß 1240 Ich fürchte, daß die Freude dich zu sehr beherrscht. Schlußgesang.

Elektra.

All times. All hours are fit to talk of justice in, And best the present, now when I am free.

Orestes Thou art so, be so still. 1255

Electra What's to be done?

Orestes Talk not, when prudence should restrain tliy tongue.

Electra Who shall restrain it? Who shall bind Electra To fearful silence, when Orestes comes? When thus I see thee here, beyond my thoughts, Beyond my hopes ! 1260

Orestes The gods have sent me to thee ; Xliey bade me come.

Electra Indeed ! More grateful still Is thy return. If by the gods' command Thou cam'st, the gods will sure protect thee here.

Orestes I would not damp thy joys, and yet I fear- Lest they should carry thee too far. 1270

Electra

Why silent wait?

Orestes Within these hostile gates lest any hear. 1255

Electra Now by Diana, chaste unconquer'd queen, My soul disdains to tremble at a rout Of helpless women here for ever throng'd.

Orestes Yet women sometimes feel the martial flame, And greatly dare: of this thou hast strong proof.

Electra Oh, thou hast touch'd upon a dreadful ill, For ever open to the light of heav'n, Inexpiable, monstrous, from the mind Never to be effaced, our mournful lot. 1260

Orestes I know it well; and when the proper time Shall warn me, will remember the foul deed.

Electra All times to me are proper, and all times Warn me to speak what justly I may speak: Scarce is the liberty of speech now mine.

Orestes Preserve that liberty, by knowing well This is no time to give thy speech free scope. 1270

Electra

Electra Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free. 1255

Orestes Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom.

Electra What must I do?

Orestes When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much.

Electra No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope! 1260

Orestes You saw me when the gods moved me to come.

Electra You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house; 1265 I acknowledge in it the work of the divine. 1270

Orestes On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Ἠλέκτρα

ὁ πᾶς ἐμοί,

ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν

τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνος·
1255

μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.

Ὀρέστης

ξύμφημι κἀγώ· τοιγαροῦν σῴζου τόδε.

Ἠλέκτρα

τί δρῶσα;

Ὀρέστης

οὗ μή ʼστι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

Ἠλέκτρα

τίς οὖν ἂν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος
1260

μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;

ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως

ἀέλπτως τʼ ἐσεῖδον.

Ὀρέστης

τότʼ εἶδες, εὖτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν

1265

Ἠλέκτρα

ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν

τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς ἐπόρισεν

ἁμέτερα πρὸς μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον

αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ.
1270

Ὀρέστης

τὰ μέν σʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ

δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ξύμφημι κἀγώ, τοιγαροῦν σώζου τόδε.
1255

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τί δρῶσα;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

οὗ μή ᾿στι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τίς οὖν ἂν add ἂν οὖν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος

μεταβάλοιτ᾽ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;

ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως

ἀέλπτως τ᾽ ἐσεῖδον.
1260

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τότ᾽ εἶδες, ὅτε θεοί μ' *ἐπώτρυναν ώτρυναν μολεῖν.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τὰ μέν σ᾽ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργάθειν, τὰ δὲ

δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.
1270

All times alike are fit with instant pain

Justly to mind me of that dreadful day;

Even now but hardly hath my tongue been free.

OR

Yes, that is it. Therefore preserve this boon.
1255

EL

Whereby?

OR

Put limits to unseasonable talk.

EL

Ah! brother, who, when thou art come,

Could find it meet to exchange

Language for silence, as thou bidst me do?

Since beyond hope or thought

Was this thy sight to me.
1260

OR

God gave me to your sight when so he willed.

EL

O heaven of grace beyond

The joy I knew but now!

If God hath brought thee to our roof,

A miracle of bounty then is here.

OR

I hate to curb the gladness of thy spirit,

But yet I fear this ecstasy of joy.
1270

Zu jeder Zeit,
1225
Gegenstrophe.

Elektra.

Ja wohl jeder Zeit geziemt's uns mit Fug

Sein zu gedenken, Kind;

Denn kaum gewann ich eben erst die Zunge frei.

Orestes.

Das mein' ich selbst auch; schüze dir denn solches Gut.

Wie soll ich das?
1230

Wo nicht die Zeit ist, fasse dich in Neden kurz.

Elektra.

Wer mag mit Recht, o Bruder, nun du mir erschienst,

Hemmen der Worte Strom, scheu zu verstummen hier?

Denn plözlich, ungeahnt, unverhofft, kamst du wieder.

Orestes.

Du sahst mich, als zu kommen mir ein Gott gebot.
1235

Elektra.

Noch größ're Freude, denn zuvor,

Kündest du' da mir an, wenn dich in unser Haus

Himmlische Götter gesendet: ein göttliches

Walten erkenn' ich hier.

Orestes.

Zwar deiner Freude wehren will ich nicht; indeß
1240

Ich fürchte, daß die Freude dich zu sehr beherrscht.

Schlußgesang.

All times.

All hours are fit to talk of justice in,

And best the present, now when I am free.

Orestes

Thou art so, be so still.
1255

Electra

What's to be done?

Orestes

Talk not, when prudence should restrain tliy

tongue.

Electra

Who shall restrain it? Who shall bind Electra

To fearful silence, when Orestes comes?

When thus I see thee here, beyond my thoughts,

Beyond my hopes !
1260

Orestes

The gods have sent me to thee ;

Xliey bade me come.

Electra

Indeed ! More grateful still

Is thy return. If by the gods' command

Thou cam'st, the gods will sure protect thee here.

Orestes

I would not damp thy joys, and yet I fear-

Lest they should carry thee too far.
1270

Orestes

Within these hostile gates lest any hear.
1255

Electra

Now by Diana, chaste unconquer'd queen,

My soul disdains to tremble at a rout

Of helpless women here for ever throng'd.

Orestes

Yet women sometimes feel the martial flame,

And greatly dare: of this thou hast strong proof.

Electra

Oh, thou hast touch'd upon a dreadful ill,

For ever open to the light of heav'n,

Inexpiable, monstrous, from the mind

Never to be effaced, our mournful lot.
1260

Orestes

I know it well; and when the proper time

Shall warn me, will remember the foul deed.

Electra

All times to me are proper, and all times

Warn me to speak what justly I may speak:

Scarce is the liberty of speech now mine.

Orestes

Preserve that liberty, by knowing well

This is no time to give thy speech free scope.
1270

Electra

Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion

for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free.
1255

Orestes

Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom.

Electra

What must I do?

Orestes

When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much.

Electra

No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope!
1260

Orestes

You saw me when the gods moved me to come.

Electra

You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house;
1265

I acknowledge in it the work of the divine.
1270

Orestes

On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy.