Sophocles, Electra, ed. Francis Storr, 1466

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Αἴγισθος

ὦ Ζεῦ, δέδορκα φάσμʼ ἄνευ φθόνου μὲν οὐ

πεπτωκός· εἰ δʼ ἔπεστι νέμεσις, οὐ λέγω.

χαλᾶτε πᾶν κάλυμμʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅπως

τὸ συγγενές τοι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

Ὀρέστης

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζʼ· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ σόν,
1470

τὸ ταῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως.

Αἴγισθος

ἀλλʼ εὖ παραινεῖς κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,

εἴ που κατʼ οἶκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

Ὀρέστης

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ· μηκέτʼ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

Αἴγισθος

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;
1475

Ὀρέστης

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίνʼ ἀγνοεῖς;

Αἴγισθος

τίνων ποτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχʼ ὁ τλήμων;

Ὀρέστης

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶντας θανοῦσιν οὕνεκʼ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

Αἴγισθος

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως
1480

ὅδʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθʼ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου πάλαι.

Αἴγισθος

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα

πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.
1485

τί γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων

θνῄσκειν ὁ μέλλων οὐ χρόνου κέρδος φέροι;

ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα κτεῖνε καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες

ταφεῦσιν, ὧν τόνδʼ εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν,

ἄποπτον ἡμῶν· ὡς ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἂν κακῶν
1490

μόνον γένοιτο τῶν πάλαι λυτήριον.

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)) — 1466 focus

ὦ Ζεῦ, δέδορκα φάσμ᾽ ἄνευ φθόνου φόνου φθόνου μὲν οὐ

πεπτωκός· εἰ δ᾽ ἔπεστι εἰ δ᾽ ἐστι εἰ δ᾽ ἔπεστι(ν) εἰ δ᾽ ἔστιν εἰ δ᾽ ἔπεστι δέ τις ἐστὶ Νέμεσις, οὐ λέγω.
1465

χαλᾶτε πᾶν κάλυμμ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅπως

τὸ συγγενές τοι τε κἀπ᾿ καὶ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

ΟΡ.

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ᾽· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν,

τὸ ταῦθ᾽ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως φίλος φίλως.

ΑΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ παραινεῖς, κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,
1470

εἴ που κατ᾿ οἰκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ.

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

OP.

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίν ἀγνοεῖς;

ΑΙ.

τίνων ποτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις

πέπτωχ᾽ ὁ τλήμων ;
1475

OP.

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶν τοῖς θανοῦσιν οἵνεκ᾿ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος, οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως

ὅδ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθ᾽ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

ΟΡ.

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου ἐσφάλου ἐσφάλλου πάλαι;
1480

ΑΙ.

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπιμικρὸν κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπὶ μικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΗΛ.

μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα

πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.

¹

[ τί τί(σ) τί τίσ γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων
1485

θνήσκειν ὁ μέλλων τοῦ χρόνου κέρδος φέροι ;]

ἀλλ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα κτεῖνε, καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες πρό(σ)θες πρόθες πρόσθες

ταφεῦσιν ὧν ὦ ὧν τόνδ᾽ εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν

ἄποπτον ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐμοὶ τόδ᾽ ἂν κακῶν

μόνον γένοιτο om. add τῶν πάλαι λυτήριον.
1490

ΟΡ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1466 focus

Zeus! Divine envy surely hath laid low

The form I here behold. But if the truth

Provoke Heaven’s wrath, be it unexpressed.—Unveil!
1465

Off with all hindrance, that mine eye may see,
1465

And I may mourn my kinsman as I should.

OR

Thyself put forth thy hand. Not mine but thine

To look and speak with kindness to this corse.

AEG

I will, for thou advisest well; but thou,
1470

Call Clytemnestra, if she be within.

OR

She is beside thee, gaze not otherwhere.

AEG

What do I see! oh!

OR

Why so strange? Whom fear you?

AEG

Who are the men into whose midmost toils

All hapless I am fallen?
1475

OR

Ha! knowest thou not

Thou hast been taking living men for dead?

AEG

I understand that saying. Woe is me!

I know, Orestes’ voice addresseth me.

OR

A prophet! How wert thou so long deceived?
1480

AEG

Undone, undone! Yet let me speak one word.

EL

Brother, by Heaven, no more! Let him not speak.

When death is certain, what do men in woe

Gain from a little time? Kill him at once!

And, killed, expose him to such burial

From dogs and vultures, as beseemeth such,

Far from our view. Nought less will solace me

For the remembrance of a life of pain.

OR

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1466 focus

Zeus! Ein Opfer, hingestreckt durch Götterzorn,

Erblick' ich! Doch ich schweige, wenn ich Sünde sprach.

Löst ganz die Hülle meinem Blick, daß auch von mir
1430

Dem Anverwandten sei gebracht der Thränen Zoll!

Orestes.

Selbst hebe du sie; mir ja nicht, nur dir gebührt's,

Zu seh'n und hold zu grüßen, was die Hülle birgt.

Aegisthos.

Du räthst mir wohl, ich folge deinem Rath, und du

Berufe Klytämnestra, wenn sie drinnen weilt.
1435

Orestes.

Sie hast du nahe: suche nicht mehr anderwärts.

(hebt die Decke auf)

Aegisthos.

Weh! Was erblick' ich?

Orestes.

Wer erschreckt, wer irrt dich hier?

Aegisthos.

In welcher Männer Neze, ha! bin ich gestürzt,

Ich Sohn des Unglücks?

Orestes.

Merkst du nicht schon lange, daß

Du, wie mit Abgeschiednen, sprichst mit Lebenden?
1440

Aegisthos.

Weh mir! Das Wort versteh' ich: denn kein Andrer war's,

Es war Orestes, welcher eben sprach zu mir.

Orestes.

Du, Seher ohne Gleichen, warst so lange blind?

Aegisthos.

Verloren bin ich Armer! Doch vergönne mir

Ein kurzes Wort noch.
1445

Elektra.

Dulde nicht, bei'm Himmel, daß
1445

Er weiter spricht, o Bruder, und viel Worte macht!

Ein Mensch, umringt von Leiden und dem Tode nah,

Was hülf' es diesem, wenn der Tod noch zögerte?

Nein, ohne Säumen tödt' ihn, und den Todten gib

Den Todtengräbern, welchen er mit Recht verfällt,
1450

Von unserm Anblick ferne: dies allein genügt

Als Sühne mir für dieses alte lange Leid.

(zu Aegisthos)

Orestes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1466 focus

But by thy will ; and whether Nemesis

Shall still o'ertake me for my crime, I know not.

Take otF the veil, that I may view him well ;
1465

He was by blood allied, and therefore claims
1465

Our decent sorrows.

Orestes

Take it off thyself !

'Tis not my office ; thee it best behts

Aegisthus

To see and to lament.
1470

JEgis. And so it does ;
1470

And I will do it. Send Clytemnestra hither.

Orestes
[Taking of the ve^a

She is before thee.

Aegisthus

^Gis. Ha ! what do I see 1

Orestes

Why, what 's the matter ? What affrights th@C

so?

Aegisthus

Do you not see him ?

^Gis. In what dreadful snare

Am I then fallen ]
1475

Orestes

Dost thou not now behold

That thou art talking with the dead ?

Aegisthus

u:Egis. Alas I

Too well I see it, and thou art — Orestes.

Orestes

So great a prophet thou, and guess so iil !
1480

Aegisthus

^Gis. I know that I am lost, undone for evor;

But let me speak to thee.

Electra

Do not, Orestes ;

No, not a woi'd. What can a moment's spaoo

Profit a wretch like him, to death devoted'^

Qijck }et him die, and cast his carcase forth

To dogs and vultures ; tliey will best perform

Fit obsequies for him. By this alone

We can be free and htappy.

Orestes

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1466 focus

And bear my curb; nor, hardening in his pride,

Draw on his head the terrors of my wrath.

Electra

O Jove this is a sight, which hath not fall'n
1470

But to my wish. If Vengeance waits my joy,
1470

I know not. From the corse remove the veil,
1470

That he my lamentations may receive,

For nearly to my blood he was allied.

Orestes

Remove it thou: thy office this, not mine,

To view, and kindly to address the dead.

Aegisthus

I will: thou dost advise me well. Go thou,

Call Clytemnestra. Is she in the house ?

Orestes

Ay, she is near thee; seek her not elsewhere.

Aegisthus

Ah, what a sight is this!

Or whom not know?

Whom dost thou fear?

Ah me, amidst the toils
1475

Of what insidious hunters am I fall'n!
1475

Orestes
[removing the veil.

Dost thou not yet perceive that with the dead,

So deem'd by thee, long converse thou hast held?

Aegisthus

Ah me! too well I know it; and these words

Can from none other but Orestes come.

Orestes

Excellent prophet! But thy skill before
1480

Deceived thee.
1480

Aegisthus

I am lost, in ruin sunk :

Yet hear me; let me speak; I will be brief.

Electra

No: hear him not, my brother; by the gods,

Hear no protracted speech. What would a wretch

Plunged in the midst of evils, and to death

Devoted, profit by a short delay ?

No; let him die this instant, and when dead

Obtain such burial as his deeds deserve,

Far from our sight: for all his former wrongs

To me this vengeance only can atone.

Orestes

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1466 focus

A shrouded corpse is disclosed.Orestes and Pylades stand near it.

Aegisthus

O Zeus, I see an image which could not have fallen without divine spite—but, if Nemesis attend what I say, let it be unsaid! To Orestes. Undo the coverings from his eyes, so that our kinship, at least, may receive due mourning from me also.

Orestes

Lift the veil yourself. It is not for me, but for you to look upon these remains and greet them kindly.
1470

Aegisthus

You advise well, and I will obey you. To Electra. But you, call Clytaemnestra for me, if she is at home.

Orestes

She is near you; do not look elsewhere.

Aegisthus
Aegisthus removes the cloth from the face of the corpse.

O, what sight is this!
1475

Orestes

Why so scared? Is the face so strange?

Aegisthus

Who are the men into whose nets I have miserably fallen?

Orestes

Do you not perceive how you have long been addressing the living in terms suited to the dead?

Aegisthus

Ah, I read the riddle! It cannot be that

this is not Orestes who speaks to me!
1480

Orestes

And, though so good a prophet, were you deceived so long?

Aegisthus

Oh, I am destroyed, undone! Yet allow me to speak just a little.

Electra

By the gods, brother, do not allow him to speak any more or to plead at length!

When mortals are embroiled in misfortunes, how can one who is to die benefit from lapse of time? No, kill him as quickly as you can, and throw his corpse to the creatures from whom his kind should have burial, throw it far from our sight! For in my eyes this
1485

alone can bring us release from the misery of the past.
1490

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-810-1 δέδορκα φάσμ’ ¹

mvp-comment-810-2 The invocation, ὦ Ζεῦ ² φθόνου ³ φάσμα ⁴ δέδορκα ⁵ πεπτωκός ⁶

mvp-comment-810-3 ἔπεστι ⁷

mvp-comment-810-4 νέμεσις ⁸

mvp-comment-810-5 οὐ λέγω ⁹

mvp-comment-810-6 Aegisthus corrects himself with hypocritical piety; it is as if he said, ‘but it is not for me to judge my fellow-mortal.’

mvp-comment-811-1 τὸ συγγενές ¹⁰

mvp-comment-811-2 τοι ¹¹

mvp-comment-811-3 κἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ¹²

mvp-comment-811-4 θρήνων τύψῃ ¹³

mvp-comment-812-1 βάσταζ’ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-812-2 οὐκ ἐμὸν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-812-3 ταῦθ’ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-812-4 προσηγορεῖν φίλως ¹⁷

mvp-comment-813-1 σὺ δέ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-813-2 εἴ που κατ’ οἶκόν μοι ¹⁹ μοι ²⁰ κάλει ²¹

mvp-comment-814-1 μηκέτ’ ἄλλοσε σκόπει ²²

mvp-comment-815-1 τίνα φοβεῖ ²³

mvp-comment-815-2 Campbell remarks: ‘After a glance of horrified recognition at the corpse, Aegisthus looks strangely on Orestes.

τίνα

διὰ τί τόνδε

.’ He refers both

φοβεῖ

and

ἀγνοεῖς

, then, to the fear and bewilderment with which Aegisthus looks at Orestes. But the words of Orestes thus lose the grim force which belongs to them as a comment on

οἴμξι, τί λεύσσω

;

mvp-comment-816-1 ἀρκυστάτοις ²⁴

mvp-comment-816-2 For μέσοις ²⁵

mvp-comment-816-3 πέπτωκα ²⁶ ἐν ²⁷

mvp-comment-817-1 πάλαι ²⁸ αἰσθάνει ²⁹

mvp-comment-817-2 1478 In ἀνταυδᾷς ³⁰ ἴσα τοῖς θανοῦσιν ³¹ ζῶντας ³²

mvp-comment-817-3 Editors from Brunck onwards have been nearly unanimous in accepting ζῶντας ³³ ζῶν τοῖς ³⁴

mvp-comment-818-1 ξυνῆκα ³⁵

mvp-comment-818-2 οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ’ ὅπως … οὐκ ³⁶

mvp-comment-819-1 καὶ μάντις ³⁷

mvp-comment-820-1 πάρες κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν ³⁸

mvp-comment-821-1 βροτῶν ³⁹

mvp-comment-821-2 σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-821-3 θνῄσκειν ⁴¹

mvp-comment-821-4 τοῦ χρόνου ⁴²

mvp-comment-821-5 Many recent critics follow Dindorf in suspecting or bracketing these two verses. Two things should be clearly recognised at the outset. First, that no suspicion is warranted by the fact that the scribe of L accidentally omitted these verses from the text,—as he also omitted several lines elsewhere which are undoubtedly genuine. Secondly, that in the language of these verses there is nothing to which exception can fairly be taken. If they are rejected, it must be on the ground that the thought which they express is inappropriate. But is it so? Aegisthus has appealed to mercy, asking for a brief respite. Electra fears that her brother may relent. What gain, she asks, would such a respite be, even to the doomed wretch himself? And her own feeling requires his instant death. It should be noted also that such a pair of verses, containing a general sentiment in an interrogative form, is Sophoclean; cp. Ai. 475

τί γὰρ παρ’ ἦμαρ ἡμέρα τέρπειν ἔχει

προσθεῖσα κἀναθεῖσα τοῦ γε κατθανεῖν

; also Ant. 463 f.

mvp-comment-822-1 ταφεῦσιν ⁴³

mvp-comment-822-2 ἄποπτον ἡμῶν ⁴⁴

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

1464. mvp-comment-690-1 καὶ δὴ.. ἐμοῦ] 'My rebellious hopes (τὰ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ) are already at an end.' Cp. supr. 1344; also 1319-21.

1465. mvp-comment-691-1 ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν] Aegisthus understands, 'So as to submit to authority.' To herself she means, 'So as to be on the stronger side'-that of Orestes.

1466-1467. mvp-comment-692-1 By an ἐκκύκλημα, the body of Clytemnestra is brought out, covered, with Orestes standing by. Aegisthus imagines the corpse to be that of Orestes, and Orestes to be the Phocian messenger. What I see here cannot have fallen thus without Divine jealousy, but if to say so provokes Nemesis, I do not say it.' ἔπεστι, sc. τῷ λόγῳ. For οὐ λέγω, cp. Trach. 500. πίπτειν is used in the sense of 'to befall' (L. and S. s. v. V. 2), but also with an allusion to the fall of Orestes. Another way of taking the words has been suggested, What I see cannot have fallen thus without the Envy of the Gods, whether Just Retribution has also been at work, I do not say. But such an opposition between φθόνος and νέμεσις is hardly possible in tragic Greek.

1468. mvp-comment-693-1 'Take off all covering from before my sight, that I too may duly mourn over my kin.'

1470. mvp-comment-694-1 αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ'] 'Take it up yourself;' viz. τὸ κάλυμμα, which, like the corpse itself, should be sacred from a stranger's touch. οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν] Ostensibly, because Aegisthus is nearer of kin to Orestes than the Phocian man. Really, because Aegisthus loves Clytemnestra, whom her son has slain.

1472. mvp-comment-695-1 σὺ δέ] To Electra..

1474. mvp-comment-696-1 Aegisthus is waiting for Clytemnestra before completely withdrawing the covering, which Orestes finally removes with these words.

1475. mvp-comment-697-1 After a glance of horrified recognition at the corpse, Aegisthus looks strangely on Orestes. τίνα = διὰ τί τόνδε; Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, 4. Cp. supr. 122, and note.

1478. mvp-comment-698-1 'Why, dost thou not perceive that all this while thou, a living man, hast been replying to the dead in tones like theirs?' Cp. supr. 1342. τοῖς θανοῦσιν is resumed with ἴσα, i.e. Aegisthus has been answering Orestes, who has been given out as dead, with a tongue that is already doomed to death. Tyrwhitt unnecessarily conjectured ζῶντας θανοῦσιν, which Brunck and subsequent editors have adopted, That you have been addressing (?) living men for dead.' Schol. τοῖς θανοῦσιν] τῷ Ὀρέστῃ.

1481. mvp-comment-699-1 καὶ .. πάλαι] 'Are you so excellent a prophet, who, notwithstanding, have been all this while deceived?' καί (with μάντις) adds a concessive emphasis, as in καί περ. Ep. Pind. Ol. 7.56, παρέπλαγξαν καὶ σοφόν.

1485-1486. mvp-comment-700-1 'For wherein, when mortals are involved in misery, should he who defers his death be profited by the delay?' These lines have been not unnaturally suspected of interpolation, as the γνώμη is not dramatically appropriate. But the lines are Sophoclean, as Mr. Paley has remarked. As in Aj. 554, where see note, they may have been quoted in the margin of some early MS.

1487. mvp-comment-701-1 πρόθες] 'Lay him out for burial.'

1488. mvp-comment-702-1 i.e. κυσὶν ἠδ᾽ οἰωνοῖς. Cp. esp. Od. 3. 256, foll. εἰ ζώοντ' Αἴγισθον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔτετμεν | ᾿Ατρείδης Τροίηθεν ἰών, ξανθὸς Μενέλαος | τῷ κέ οἱ οὐδὲ θανόντι χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν, | ἀλλ᾿ ἄρα τόν γε κύνες τε καὶ οἰωνοὶ κατέδαψαν, | κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ ἑκὰς ῎Αργεος.

1489-1490. mvp-comment-703-1 ὡς ἐμοὶ.. λυτήριον] If Aegisthus dies the common death of all men, or if he obtains burial like other men, Electra will feel unsatisfied, to think that her oppressor is at rest. To see his grave beside her father's in the ἀρχαῖος τάφος (893) would be intolerable to her.

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Ὀρέστης αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζʼ· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ σόν, 1470 τὸ ταῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως.

Αἴγισθος ἀλλʼ εὖ παραινεῖς κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ, εἴ που κατʼ οἶκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

Ὀρέστης αὕτη πέλας σοῦ· μηκέτʼ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

Αἴγισθος οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω; 1475

Ὀρέστης τίνα φοβεῖ; τίνʼ ἀγνοεῖς;

Αἴγισθος τίνων ποτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχʼ ὁ τλήμων;

Ὀρέστης οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι ζῶντας θανοῦσιν οὕνεκʼ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

Αἴγισθος οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως 1480 ὅδʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθʼ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

Ὀρέστης καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου πάλαι.

Αἴγισθος ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

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τὸ συγγενές τοι τε κἀπ᾿ καὶ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

ΟΡ. αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ᾽· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν, τὸ ταῦθ᾽ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως φίλος φίλως.

ΑΙ. ἀλλ᾽ εὐ παραινεῖς, κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ, 1470 εἴ που κατ᾿ οἰκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ. αὕτη πέλας σοῦ μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

ΑΙ. οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

OP. τίνα φοβεῖ; τίν ἀγνοεῖς;

ΑΙ. τίνων ποτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχ᾽ ὁ τλήμων ; 1475

OP. οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι ζῶν τοῖς θανοῦσιν οἵνεκ᾿ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

ΑΙ. οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος, οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὅδ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθ᾽ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

ΟΡ. καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου ἐσφάλου ἐσφάλλου πάλαι; 1480

ΑΙ. ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπιμικρὸν κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπὶ μικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΗΛ. μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.

ΟΡ.

Zeus! Divine envy surely hath laid low The form I here behold. But if the truth Provoke Heaven’s wrath, be it unexpressed.—Unveil! 1465 Off with all hindrance, that mine eye may see, 1465 And I may mourn my kinsman as I should.

OR Thyself put forth thy hand. Not mine but thine To look and speak with kindness to this corse.

AEG I will, for thou advisest well; but thou, 1470 Call Clytemnestra, if she be within.

OR She is beside thee, gaze not otherwhere.

AEG What do I see! oh!

OR Why so strange? Whom fear you?

AEG Who are the men into whose midmost toils All hapless I am fallen? 1475

OR Ha! knowest thou not Thou hast been taking living men for dead?

AEG I understand that saying. Woe is me! I know, Orestes’ voice addresseth me.

OR A prophet! How wert thou so long deceived? 1480

AEG Undone, undone! Yet let me speak one word.

OR

Zeus! Ein Opfer, hingestreckt durch Götterzorn, Erblick' ich! Doch ich schweige, wenn ich Sünde sprach. Löst ganz die Hülle meinem Blick, daß auch von mir 1430 Dem Anverwandten sei gebracht der Thränen Zoll!

Orestes. Selbst hebe du sie; mir ja nicht, nur dir gebührt's, Zu seh'n und hold zu grüßen, was die Hülle birgt.

Aegisthos. Du räthst mir wohl, ich folge deinem Rath, und du Berufe Klytämnestra, wenn sie drinnen weilt. 1435

Orestes. Sie hast du nahe: suche nicht mehr anderwärts. (hebt die Decke auf)

Aegisthos. Weh! Was erblick' ich?

Orestes. Wer erschreckt, wer irrt dich hier?

Aegisthos. In welcher Männer Neze, ha! bin ich gestürzt, Ich Sohn des Unglücks?

Orestes. Merkst du nicht schon lange, daß Du, wie mit Abgeschiednen, sprichst mit Lebenden? 1440

Aegisthos. Weh mir! Das Wort versteh' ich: denn kein Andrer war's, Es war Orestes, welcher eben sprach zu mir.

Orestes. Du, Seher ohne Gleichen, warst so lange blind?

Aegisthos. Verloren bin ich Armer! Doch vergönne mir Ein kurzes Wort noch. 1445

Orestes.

But by thy will ; and whether Nemesis Shall still o'ertake me for my crime, I know not. Take otF the veil, that I may view him well ; 1465 He was by blood allied, and therefore claims 1465 Our decent sorrows.

Orestes Take it off thyself ! 'Tis not my office ; thee it best behts

Aegisthus To see and to lament. 1470 JEgis. And so it does ; 1470 And I will do it. Send Clytemnestra hither.

Orestes [Taking of the ve^a She is before thee.

Aegisthus ^Gis. Ha ! what do I see 1

Orestes Why, what 's the matter ? What affrights th@C so?

Aegisthus Do you not see him ? ^Gis. In what dreadful snare Am I then fallen ] 1475

Orestes Dost thou not now behold That thou art talking with the dead ?

Aegisthus u:Egis. Alas I Too well I see it, and thou art — Orestes.

Orestes So great a prophet thou, and guess so iil ! 1480

Aegisthus ^Gis. I know that I am lost, undone for evor; But let me speak to thee.

Electra Do not, Orestes ; No, not a woi'd. What can a moment's spaoo Profit a wretch like him, to death devoted'^ Qijck }et him die, and cast his carcase forth To dogs and vultures ; tliey will best perform Fit obsequies for him. By this alone We can be free and htappy.

Orestes

And bear my curb; nor, hardening in his pride, Draw on his head the terrors of my wrath.

Electra

O Jove this is a sight, which hath not fall'n 1470 But to my wish. If Vengeance waits my joy, 1470 I know not. From the corse remove the veil, 1470 That he my lamentations may receive, For nearly to my blood he was allied.

Orestes Remove it thou: thy office this, not mine, To view, and kindly to address the dead.

Aegisthus I will: thou dost advise me well. Go thou, Call Clytemnestra. Is she in the house ?

Orestes Ay, she is near thee; seek her not elsewhere.

Aegisthus Ah, what a sight is this! Or whom not know? Whom dost thou fear? Ah me, amidst the toils 1475 Of what insidious hunters am I fall'n! 1475

Orestes [removing the veil. Dost thou not yet perceive that with the dead, So deem'd by thee, long converse thou hast held?

Aegisthus Ah me! too well I know it; and these words Can from none other but Orestes come.

Orestes Excellent prophet! But thy skill before 1480 Deceived thee. 1480

Aegisthus I am lost, in ruin sunk : Yet hear me; let me speak; I will be brief.

Orestes

Aegisthus O Zeus, I see an image which could not have fallen without divine spite—but, if Nemesis attend what I say, let it be unsaid! To Orestes. Undo the coverings from his eyes, so that our kinship, at least, may receive due mourning from me also.

Orestes Lift the veil yourself. It is not for me, but for you to look upon these remains and greet them kindly. 1470

Aegisthus You advise well, and I will obey you. To Electra. But you, call Clytaemnestra for me, if she is at home.

Orestes She is near you; do not look elsewhere.

Aegisthus Aegisthus removes the cloth from the face of the corpse. O, what sight is this! 1475

Ὀρέστης

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζʼ· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ σόν,
1470

τὸ ταῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως.

Αἴγισθος

ἀλλʼ εὖ παραινεῖς κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,

εἴ που κατʼ οἶκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

Ὀρέστης

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ· μηκέτʼ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

Αἴγισθος

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;
1475

Ὀρέστης

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίνʼ ἀγνοεῖς;

Αἴγισθος

τίνων ποτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχʼ ὁ τλήμων;

Ὀρέστης

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶντας θανοῦσιν οὕνεκʼ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

Αἴγισθος

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως
1480

ὅδʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθʼ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου πάλαι.

Αἴγισθος

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΟΡ.

αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζ᾽· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδ', ἀλλὰ σόν,

τὸ ταῦθ᾽ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως φίλος φίλως.

ΑΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εὐ παραινεῖς, κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,
1470

εἴ που κατ᾿ οἰκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ.

αὕτη πέλας σοῦ μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

OP.

τίνα φοβεῖ; τίν ἀγνοεῖς;

ΑΙ.

τίνων ποτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις

πέπτωχ᾽ ὁ τλήμων ;
1475

OP.

οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι

ζῶν τοῖς θανοῦσιν οἵνεκ᾿ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος, οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως

ὅδ᾽ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθ᾽ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

ΟΡ.

καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου ἐσφάλου ἐσφάλλου πάλαι;
1480

ΑΙ.

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες

κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπιμικρὸν κἂν σμικρὸν κἂν ἐπὶ μικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

ΗΛ.

μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα

πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.

Zeus! Divine envy surely hath laid low

The form I here behold. But if the truth

Provoke Heaven’s wrath, be it unexpressed.—Unveil!
1465

Off with all hindrance, that mine eye may see,
1465

And I may mourn my kinsman as I should.

OR

Thyself put forth thy hand. Not mine but thine

To look and speak with kindness to this corse.

AEG

I will, for thou advisest well; but thou,
1470

Call Clytemnestra, if she be within.

OR

She is beside thee, gaze not otherwhere.

AEG

What do I see! oh!

OR

Why so strange? Whom fear you?

AEG

Who are the men into whose midmost toils

All hapless I am fallen?
1475

OR

Ha! knowest thou not

Thou hast been taking living men for dead?

AEG

I understand that saying. Woe is me!

I know, Orestes’ voice addresseth me.

OR

A prophet! How wert thou so long deceived?
1480

AEG

Undone, undone! Yet let me speak one word.

Zeus! Ein Opfer, hingestreckt durch Götterzorn,

Erblick' ich! Doch ich schweige, wenn ich Sünde sprach.

Löst ganz die Hülle meinem Blick, daß auch von mir
1430

Dem Anverwandten sei gebracht der Thränen Zoll!

Orestes.

Selbst hebe du sie; mir ja nicht, nur dir gebührt's,

Zu seh'n und hold zu grüßen, was die Hülle birgt.

Aegisthos.

Du räthst mir wohl, ich folge deinem Rath, und du

Berufe Klytämnestra, wenn sie drinnen weilt.
1435

Orestes.

Sie hast du nahe: suche nicht mehr anderwärts.

(hebt die Decke auf)

Aegisthos.

Weh! Was erblick' ich?

Orestes.

Wer erschreckt, wer irrt dich hier?

Aegisthos.

In welcher Männer Neze, ha! bin ich gestürzt,

Ich Sohn des Unglücks?

Orestes.

Merkst du nicht schon lange, daß

Du, wie mit Abgeschiednen, sprichst mit Lebenden?
1440

Aegisthos.

Weh mir! Das Wort versteh' ich: denn kein Andrer war's,

Es war Orestes, welcher eben sprach zu mir.

Orestes.

Du, Seher ohne Gleichen, warst so lange blind?

Aegisthos.

Verloren bin ich Armer! Doch vergönne mir

Ein kurzes Wort noch.
1445

But by thy will ; and whether Nemesis

Shall still o'ertake me for my crime, I know not.

Take otF the veil, that I may view him well ;
1465

He was by blood allied, and therefore claims
1465

Our decent sorrows.

Orestes

Take it off thyself !

'Tis not my office ; thee it best behts

Aegisthus

To see and to lament.
1470

JEgis. And so it does ;
1470

And I will do it. Send Clytemnestra hither.

Orestes
[Taking of the ve^a

She is before thee.

Aegisthus

^Gis. Ha ! what do I see 1

Orestes

Why, what 's the matter ? What affrights th@C

so?

Aegisthus

Do you not see him ?

^Gis. In what dreadful snare

Am I then fallen ]
1475

Orestes

Dost thou not now behold

That thou art talking with the dead ?

Aegisthus

u:Egis. Alas I

Too well I see it, and thou art — Orestes.

Orestes

So great a prophet thou, and guess so iil !
1480

Aegisthus

^Gis. I know that I am lost, undone for evor;

But let me speak to thee.

Electra

Do not, Orestes ;

No, not a woi'd. What can a moment's spaoo

Profit a wretch like him, to death devoted'^

Qijck }et him die, and cast his carcase forth

To dogs and vultures ; tliey will best perform

Fit obsequies for him. By this alone

We can be free and htappy.

And bear my curb; nor, hardening in his pride,

Draw on his head the terrors of my wrath.

O Jove this is a sight, which hath not fall'n
1470

But to my wish. If Vengeance waits my joy,
1470

I know not. From the corse remove the veil,
1470

That he my lamentations may receive,

For nearly to my blood he was allied.

Orestes

Remove it thou: thy office this, not mine,

To view, and kindly to address the dead.

Aegisthus

I will: thou dost advise me well. Go thou,

Call Clytemnestra. Is she in the house ?

Orestes

Ay, she is near thee; seek her not elsewhere.

Aegisthus

Ah, what a sight is this!

Or whom not know?

Whom dost thou fear?

Ah me, amidst the toils
1475

Of what insidious hunters am I fall'n!
1475

Orestes
[removing the veil.

Dost thou not yet perceive that with the dead,

So deem'd by thee, long converse thou hast held?

Aegisthus

Ah me! too well I know it; and these words

Can from none other but Orestes come.

Orestes

Excellent prophet! But thy skill before
1480

Deceived thee.
1480

Aegisthus

I am lost, in ruin sunk :

Yet hear me; let me speak; I will be brief.

Aegisthus

O Zeus, I see an image which could not have fallen without divine spite—but, if Nemesis attend what I say, let it be unsaid! To Orestes. Undo the coverings from his eyes, so that our kinship, at least, may receive due mourning from me also.

Orestes

Lift the veil yourself. It is not for me, but for you to look upon these remains and greet them kindly.
1470

Aegisthus

You advise well, and I will obey you. To Electra. But you, call Clytaemnestra for me, if she is at home.

Orestes

She is near you; do not look elsewhere.

Aegisthus
Aegisthus removes the cloth from the face of the corpse.

O, what sight is this!
1475

Orestes

Why so scared? Is the face so strange?

Aegisthus

Who are the men into whose nets I have miserably fallen?

Orestes

Do you not perceive how you have long been addressing the living in terms suited to the dead?

Aegisthus

Ah, I read the riddle! It cannot be that

this is not Orestes who speaks to me!
1480

Orestes

And, though so good a prophet, were you deceived so long?

Aegisthus

Oh, I am destroyed, undone! Yet allow me to speak just a little.