Sophocles Electra 1442

mvp-comment-796-1 ναυαγίοις ¹

mvp-comment-797-1 σέ τοι ² κρίνω ³

mvp-comment-798-1 συμφορᾶς ⁴

mvp-comment-798-2 Possibly this is the only ambiguity intended. But

might be genitive of , ‘ the most welcome fortune of my kindred,’— i.e., ‘my brother's return.’ Cp. 1273 | . To intend this as an inner meaning would certainly be quite in the manner of Sophocles; cp. O. T. 337 | .—For other views, see Appendix.

mvp-comment-799-1 φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν ⁵

mvp-comment-800-1 ἦ καὶ ⁶

mvp-comment-800-2 ὡς ἐτητύμως ⁷

mvp-comment-801-1 οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν ⁸ οὐ λόγῳ μόνον ⁹ οὔκ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-802-1 πάρεστ’ ¹¹

mvp-comment-802-2 ὥστε ¹²

mvp-comment-802-3 κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν ¹³

mvp-comment-803-1 πάρεστι δῆτα ¹⁴ δῆτα ¹⁵ καὶ μάλ’ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-804-1 ἦ πολλὰ χαίρειν μ’ εἶπας ¹⁷

mvp-comment-804-2 1457 While τυγχάνοι ¹⁸ τυγχάνει ¹⁹

mvp-comment-805-1 κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας ²⁰

mvp-comment-806-1 Μυκηναίοισιν ²¹ Ἀργείοις ²²

mvp-comment-806-2 πᾶσιν ²³

mvp-comment-807-1 ἐλπίσιν … ἀνδρὸς ²⁴

mvp-comment-808-1 στόμια ²⁵

mvp-comment-808-2 φύσῃ φρένας ²⁶

mvp-comment-809-1 καὶ δὴ ²⁷ τἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ²⁸

mvp-comment-809-2 τελεῖται ²⁹

mvp-comment-809-3 τῷ … χρόνῳ ³⁰

mvp-comment-809-4 συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν ³¹

mvp-comment-809-5 As Electra utters these words, the central doors are opened, and the eccyclema is pushed forward. This was a small and low stage. A corpse is seen upon it, the face and outlines concealed by a covering. Near it stand Orestes and Pylades—the ‘Phocians’ whom Aegisthus seeks. The eccyclema remains displayed to the end, and at v. 1507 Orestes and Pylades go out behind it. So in the Antigone the eccyclema is in view from 1293 to the close, and at 1347 Creon is led off behind it.

mvp-comment-809-6 The corpse here is an effigy, like that of Haemon in Ant. 1261 ff. The deuteragonist, who had played Clytaemnestra, is now playing Orestes.

1398-1441. mvp-comment-660-1 The following passage (1398-1441), although consisting largely of senarii, appears to be antistrophic, nearly corresponding even in the division of the lines. According to this view ll. 1404-1406 are either (1) not to be counted in the strophe, or (2) lines answering to them after l. 1427 must be supposed to have been lost. As the lines in question relate to the sudden cry of Clytemnestra from within, the former supposition is sufficiently probable. Cp. note on O. C. 117 foll., vol. i. p. 298 (Ist column). In the 'strophe,' ll. 1398-1421, Clytemnestra is put to death, -in the 'antistrophe,' ll. 1422-41, the bleeding sword is displayed, and Aegisthus is descried. The young men then retire into the palace, and Electra waits outside.

1440-1441. mvp-comment-680-1 λαθραῖον.. ἀγῶνα] 'That he may rush unawares upon the struggle of doom.' λαθραῖον (with ἀγῶνα) is predicative: i.e. That the struggle may be unforeseen.

1448-1449. mvp-comment-681-1 συμφορᾶς.. φιλτάτης] 'Else I had been a stranger to the fact which most concerns me.' Aegisthus understands, The event which touches Electra's heart most nearly;' to herself she means, 'The event that has filled me with joy.' τῶν ἐμῶν, (1) sc. συμφορῶν, or (2) gen. obj., 'What has happened to my friends.'

1451. mvp-comment-682-1 To Aegisthus Electra means, 'They succeeded in obtaining a kindly welcome'-from Clytemnestra in her gladness, supr. 800. And in this sense κατήνυσαν is construed with the genitive after the analogy of τυγχάνω οι κυρίω. But the word is chosen so as to convey the further meaning-They have made an end of her,' or 'Have accomplished the deed against her.' Cp. Eur. Or. 89.

1453. mvp-comment-683-1 'Nay, more, they showed him to our eyes, it was not a mere tale that came.' Aegisthus does not hear of the urn, but is made to believe that the body of Orestes is there. And so it is,' thinks Electra, 'but in full life.'

1455. mvp-comment-684-1 'There is indeed to be seen a sight I do not envy you.' Aegisthus understands the corpse of Orestes; Electra means that of Clytemnestra.

1457. mvp-comment-685-1 The optative, if right, is to be explained as hinting an uncertainty, 'If so it prove.'

1458. mvp-comment-686-1 σιγᾶν] In accordance with the εὐφημία which Greek sentiment prescribed in the presence of death. Mr. Paley unnecessarily conjectures οἴγειν. κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας] (1) The usual explanation of these words is that given in Wunder's note:- 'Notanda locutio est ἀναδεικνύναι πύλας, significans ἀνεῳγμένων τῶν πυλῶν δεικνύναι τὰ ἐντός, quum vulgo potius δόμον ἀναδεικνύναι dicatur, veluti apud Aristoph. Nub. 304, ἵνα μυστοδόκος δόμος ἐν τελεταῖς ἀναδεικνύται. Nam significat proprie ἀναδεικνύναι tollendo sive patefaciendo aliquid monstrare.' But (2) may not the words mean, by a change of subject, 'and that the gates disclose' what is to be seen within them (sc. ἄνδρα τόνδε νεκρόν)?

1460ff. mvp-comment-687-1 Aegisthus here betrays the fear in which he has been living. There is a reminiscence of Aesch. Ag. 1667, 8.

1461. mvp-comment-688-1 ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε] See Essay on L. § 9. p. 12, d 2.

1462-1463. mvp-comment-689-1 μηδὲ.. φρένας] ‘And may not, by encountering my chastisement, be made wise against his will.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 180, καὶ παρ᾿ ἄκοντας ἦλθε σωφρονεῖν : Ο. С. 172.