Sophocles, Electra, ed. Francis Storr, 1232-1287

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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.

1253

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.

1273

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν

ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,

μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν
1275

Ὀρέστης

τί μὴ ποήσω;

Ἠλέκτρα

μή μʼ ἀποστερήσῃς

τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν μεθέσθαι.

Ὀρέστης

ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

Ἠλέκτρα

ξυναινεῖς;
1280

Ὀρέστης

τί μὴν οὔ;

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἃν ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἤλπισʼ αὐδάν,

οὐδʼ ἂν ἔσχον ὁρμὰν

ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,

τάλαινα. νῦν δʼ ἔχω σε· προυφάνης δὲ
1285

φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν,

ἇς ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν.

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.

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.

ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν

ὁδὸν ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,

μή τί με, πολύπονον πολύστονον ὧδ᾿ ἰδὼν

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τί μὴ ποιήσω;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μή μ᾿ ἀποστερήσῃς
1275

τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν ἡδονὰν ἡδονὴν μεθέσθαι.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἢ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ξυναινεῖς ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τί *μὴν μὴ οὔ;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἂν ἂν av ἄν ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἤλπισ᾿ αὐδάν.

ἔσχον ὀργὰν
1280

ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τάλαινα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἔχω σε· προὐφάνης δὲ

φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν,

ἃς ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν.
1285

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

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

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

Oh! after all these years,

Now thou at length hast sped

Thy dearest advent on the wished-for way,

Do not, in all this woe

Thou seest surrounding me—

OR

What means this prayer?

EL

Forbid me not my joy,
1275

Nor make me lose the brightness of thy face!

OR

Deep were my wrath at him who should attempt it.

EL

Is my prayer heard?

OR

Why doubt it?

EL

Friends, I learned

A tale beyond my thought; and hearing I restrained
1280

My passion, voiceless in my misery,

Uttering no cry. But now

I have thee safe; now, dearest, thou art come,

With thy blest countenance, which I

Can ne’er forget, even at the worst of woe.
1285

OR

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.

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.

Du, der mich seines Anblickes würdigend,

Auf langersehntem Pfade mir erschienen,

O, weil du so mich siehst in Noth,

Orestes.

Was soll ich?
1245

Elektra.

Naube mir doch nicht die Wonne,

An deinem Anblick, Trauter, mich zu weiden!

Orestes.

Selbst Andern zürnt' ich, gönnten sie dir solches nicht.

Elektra.

Du gönnst mir's?

Orestes.

Warum nicht?

Elektra.

Eben ward mir eine Kunde,

Die ich nie geahnt, ihr Theuren:
1250

Alles Leid ertrug ich lautlos,

Sonder Angstausruf es hörend.

Jezo hab' ich dich; du kamest,

Zeigtest mir dein theures Antliz,

Das ich auch im Leide nie vergäße.²
1255

Orestes.

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

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

Oh, no !

But after so long absence^ thus returned

To thy afflicted sister, sure thou wouldst not

Orestes

Do what?

Electra

Thou wouldst not grudge me the dear pleasure
1275

Of looking on thee.

Orestes

No ; nor suffer any

To rob thee of it.

Electra

Shall I then !

Orestes

No doubt.

Electra

I hear that voice, my friends, I never thought

To hear again. Ye know, when I received
1280

The dreadful news, I kept my grief witliin,

Silent and sad ; but now I have thee here.

Now I behold thee, now I fix my eyes

On that dear form, which never was forgotten.

Orestes

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

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

Hath silence then such merit, that my words

Must yield to it, whilst thou art in my sight,

Thus unexpected, thus beyond my hopes?

Orestes

Soon as the gods commanded me, I came.

Electra

This to my former pleasure gives new life :
1275

If by the mandate of the gods thou comest,
1275

That gives a presage of their heav'nly aid.

Orestes

I would not check thy pleasure; but I fear

Its wild excess thy reason will o'erpow'r.

Electra

After such length of time since thou hast deign'd

To make me happy with thy dear return,

Do not, since thou hast found me thus oppress'd

With many sorrows, do not take from me

The heart-felt pleasure which thy presence gives.

Orestes

That pleasure none shall dare to take from thee.

Electra

Dost thou assent?

Orestes

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1232-1285 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.

1253

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.

1273

Electra

O you who, after such a long time, saw fit to make your most happy journey and appear to me,

do not, now that you have seen me in all my misery—
1275

Orestes

What should I not do?—

Electra

—Do not rob me of the comfort of your face; do not force me to forego it!

Orestes

I would be angry, indeed, if I saw another attempt it.

Electra

You give your consent?

Orestes

Why would I not?
1280

Electra

My friends, I heard a voice that I could never have hoped to hear; nor could I have restrained my emotion in silence and without a cry, when I heard it.

ah, me! But now I have you. You have appeared with that dear face, which I could never, even in misery, forget.
1285

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

mvp-comment-701-1 ὁ πᾶς … χρόνος ²⁸ παρὼν ²⁹ δίκᾳ ³⁰ ἐννέπειν ³¹ πρέποι ³²

mvp-comment-701-2 μόλις γὰρ ³³ ἔσχον ³⁴

mvp-comment-702-1 σῴζου τόδε ³⁵

mvp-comment-703-1 μακρὰν … λέγειν ³⁶

mvp-comment-704-1 τίς οὖν ³⁷ ἀξίαν ³⁸ σοῦ πεφηνότος ³⁹ λόγων ⁴⁰ μεταβάλοιτ’ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-704-2 <*>δε ⁴²

mvp-comment-704-3 1264 After τότ’ εἶδες ⁴³ ὅτε ⁴⁴ εὖτε ⁴⁵ ὅτε ⁴⁶ θεοὶ ⁴⁷ ὅτε ⁴⁸ τότ’ ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-704-4 ἐπώτρυναν ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-705-1 χάριτος ⁵¹

mvp-comment-705-2 ἐπόρισεν ⁵²

mvp-comment-706-1 δαιμόνιον ⁵³

mvp-comment-706-2 τίθημ’ ⁵⁴

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 ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-708-1 ὁδὸν … φανῆναι ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-709-1 τί μὴ ποήσω ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-710-1 μή μ’ ἀποστερήσῃς … ἁδονὰν ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-710-2 μεθέσθαι ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-711-1 ξυναινεῖς ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-711-2 τί μὴν οὔ ⁶¹

mvp-comment-712-1 ὦ φίλαι ⁶² ὦ φίλ’, ὅτ’ ⁶³ φίλαι ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-712-2 αὐδάν ⁶⁵ οὐδ’ ἂν ἤλπις’ ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-712-3 1283 f. There can be no doubt that something has been lost before ἔσχον ⁶⁷ οὐδ’ ἂν ⁶⁸ ὁρμὰν ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-712-4

ὀργή

in Sophocles means either (1) ‘anger,’ or (2) ‘disposition’: Ant. 875

αὐτόγνωτος..ὀργά

: ib. 355

ἀστυνομους ὀργάς

: Ai. 639

συντρόφοις ὀργαῖς

. Neither sense can be fitted into any probable interpretation. Some have supposed the meaning to be that Electra ‘restrained her anger in silence,’ when Clyt. was exulting in the death of Orestes; but, in fact, her anger found a voice (see 792). Others understand that she ‘restrained her emotion’ (of grief), on hearing the sad news; but she did not do so (see 823—870): nor could

ὀργὰν

mean ‘emotion’ in that sense.

mvp-comment-712-5 On the other hand

ὀργή

and

ὁρμή

were easily confused in MSS. Thus in Tr. 720 , where

ὁρμῇ

is right,

has been written over

in L, and

ὀργῇ

is actually the reading of A, and of the Aldine. Cp. also O. T. 337.

mvp-comment-712-6 The context is the best guide to the sense which should be restored. Through out these lyrics, Orestes has been endeavouring to repress Electra's cries, lest she should be overheard (1236, 1238, 1251 f., 1257, 1259, 1271 f.). The corrupt words probably referred to this. ὁρμὰν ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-712-7 οὐδ’ ἂν ἔσχον ⁷¹ ἄναυδον ⁷²

mvp-comment-712-8 Other interpretations and conjectures will be found in the Appendix.

mvp-comment-713-1 τάλαινα ⁷³

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.

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.

1276-1277. mvp-comment-602-1 In speaking 1271, 2, Orestes has turned aside, as if debating with himself how to calm Electra. At this her over-wrought affection takes alarm, lest for a moment she should lose the brightness of his countenance. μεθέσθαι ( sc. τὸ ἐμὲ μ.) is epexegetic infinitive.

1278. mvp-comment-603-1 κἂν ἄλλοισι] ‘Even as the act of another,'— i.e. how much less am I likely myself to do it? καί points the à fortiori argument.

1280. mvp-comment-604-1 τί *μὴν οὔ] The correction is supported by Eur. Rhes. 706.

1281. mvp-comment-605-1 Reassured as to the main point, Electra turns to her companions, and relieves her overcharged feelings by speaking to them of the contrast between the present and the immediate past, when she had heard the false tidings of her brother's death. The rhythm of these lines is somewhat broken. But it is not necessary with some editors to suppose that words have been lost. 'O friends, I heard a sound which I could never have thought to hear. I restrained my emotion at hearing it, in speechless silence.' αὐδάν is rightly explained by the Scholiast of the tidings of Orestes' death. Perhaps οὐδάμ' should be read for οὐδ᾽ ἄν, - 'Which I had never thought to hear.' (Wecklein reads, ὦ φίλ᾽, ἁνίκ᾽ ἔκλυον ἂν | ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἤλπισ᾽ αὐδάν, | ἔσχον ὀργὰν ἄναυδον | οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ, τάλαινα, - 'Dear one, when first I heard the news I could not have hoped to hear'—that thou wast alive—'I had a voiceless emotion with no outcry.')

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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.

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.

Ἠλέκτρα ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι, μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν 1275

Ὀρέστης τί μὴ ποήσω;

Ἠλέκτρα μή μʼ ἀποστερήσῃς τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν μεθέσθαι.

Ὀρέστης ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

Ἠλέκτρα ξυναινεῖς; 1280

Ὀρέστης τί μὴν οὔ;

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.

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.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τί μὴ ποιήσω;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. μή μ᾿ ἀποστερήσῃς 1275 τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν ἡδονὰν ἡδονὴν μεθέσθαι.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. ἢ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ξυναινεῖς ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ. τί *μὴν μὴ οὔ;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἂν ἂν av ἄν ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἤλπισ᾿ αὐδάν. ἔσχον ὀργὰν 1280 ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ. τάλαινα. νῦν δ᾽ ἔχω σε· προὐφάνης δὲ φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν, ἃς ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν. 1285

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

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

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

Oh! after all these years, Now thou at length hast sped Thy dearest advent on the wished-for way, Do not, in all this woe Thou seest surrounding me—

OR What means this prayer?

EL Forbid me not my joy, 1275 Nor make me lose the brightness of thy face!

OR Deep were my wrath at him who should attempt it.

EL Is my prayer heard?

OR Why doubt it?

EL Friends, I learned A tale beyond my thought; and hearing I restrained 1280 My passion, voiceless in my misery, Uttering no cry. But now I have thee safe; now, dearest, thou art come, With thy blest countenance, which I Can ne’er forget, even at the worst of woe. 1285

OR

Otheurer Sproß, Strophe.

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.

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.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν

ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,

μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν
1275

Ὀρέστης

τί μὴ ποήσω;

Ἠλέκτρα

μή μʼ ἀποστερήσῃς

τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν μεθέσθαι.

Ὀρέστης

ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

Ἠλέκτρα

ξυναινεῖς;
1280

Ὀρέστης

τί μὴν οὔ;

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

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

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τί μὴ ποιήσω;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

μή μ᾿ ἀποστερήσῃς
1275

τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν ἡδονὰν ἡδονὴν μεθέσθαι.

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

ἢ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ξυναινεῖς ;

ΟΡΕΣΤΗΣ.

τί *μὴν μὴ οὔ;

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἂν ἂν av ἄν ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἤλπισ᾿ αὐδάν.

ἔσχον ὀργὰν
1280

ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ.

τάλαινα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἔχω σε· προὐφάνης δὲ

φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν,

ἃς ἐγὼ οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν.
1285

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

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

Oh! after all these years,

Now thou at length hast sped

Thy dearest advent on the wished-for way,

Do not, in all this woe

Thou seest surrounding me—

OR

What means this prayer?

EL

Forbid me not my joy,
1275

Nor make me lose the brightness of thy face!

OR

Deep were my wrath at him who should attempt it.

EL

Is my prayer heard?

OR

Why doubt it?

EL

Friends, I learned

A tale beyond my thought; and hearing I restrained
1280

My passion, voiceless in my misery,

Uttering no cry. But now

I have thee safe; now, dearest, thou art come,

With thy blest countenance, which I

Can ne’er forget, even at the worst of woe.
1285

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.

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.