Sophocles Electra 1384-1441

mvp-comment-764-1 ἴδεθ’ ¹ ὅπου ²

mvp-comment-764-2 προνέμεται ³

mvp-comment-764-3 Campbell suggests that the image in

is from fire ‘eating its way’ forward, and compares Her. 5. 101 . This hardly agrees so well with the idea of a stealthy advance.

mvp-comment-765-1 τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα ⁴

mvp-comment-765-2 φυσῶν ⁵

mvp-comment-766-1 δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι ⁶

mvp-comment-767-1 μετάδρομοι … κύνες ⁷

mvp-comment-768-1 ἀμμενεῖ ⁸

mvp-comment-769-1 τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον ⁹

mvp-comment-769-2 αἰωρούμενον ¹⁰

mvp-comment-770-1 ἐνέρων … ἀρωγός ¹¹

mvp-comment-771-1 ἀρχαιόπλουτα ¹²

mvp-comment-772-1 νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων ¹³

mvp-comment-772-2 The bold use of αἷμα ¹⁴ χειροῖν ἔχων ¹⁵ αἷμα ¹⁶

mvp-comment-772-3 If νεάκονητον ¹⁷ α ¹⁸

mvp-comment-773-1 ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς ¹⁹

mvp-comment-773-2 Ἑρμῆς σφ’ ἄγει ²⁰ ς ²¹ σφ’ ²²

mvp-comment-774-1 A kommos. It falls into two principal parts. (1) 1398—1421; the death of Clytaemnestra. (2) 1422— 1441; Orestes and Pylades re-enter; Aegisthus approaches; and they prepare to receive him.

mvp-comment-774-2 The general structure of this kommos is clearly strophic; but critics differ on details. The simplest view is that of Dindorf and others, that vv. 1398—1421 form a single strophe,=antistr. 1422— 1441. The lyric verses 1407, 1413—4, and 1419—1421, correspond respectively with 1428, 1433—4, and 1439—1441: for these, see Metrical Analysis. It is usually held, with Hermann, that the correspondence of the iambic trimeters also must be exact. This makes it necessary to assume a gap in our text after v. 1427 (n.), and a second after 1429 (n.), besides the defect in 1432. See Appendix.

mvp-comment-774-3 Electra hastens out of the house. She performs the part of an

, so far as to describe the situation at this moment in the house: then Clytaemnestra's cry is heard, like that of the dying king in Aesch. Ag. 1343 ff. In the Orestes (408 B.C.) Electra has a similar part, perhaps suggested by this. Helen's cry is heard within, and Electra says to the Chorus (1297), .

mvp-comment-775-1 τελοῦσι ²³

mvp-comment-776-1 τάφον ²⁴

mvp-comment-776-2 λέβητα ²⁵

mvp-comment-776-3 κοσμεῖ ²⁶

mvp-comment-777-1 αἰαῖ· ἰὼ στέγαι ²⁷

mvp-comment-778-1 ἀνήκουστα ²⁸

mvp-comment-779-1 ἰδού ²⁹

mvp-comment-779-2 μάλ’ αὖ ³⁰

mvp-comment-780-1 ἐκ σέθεν ³¹

mvp-comment-780-2 ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ ³²

mvp-comment-780-3 1413 f. The traditional reading φθίνει φθίνει ³³ σε ³⁴ σοι ³⁵ μοῖρα καθαμερία ³⁶ φθίνει ³⁷

mvp-comment-780-4 Others explain as follows. (1) Keeping both σε ³⁸ φθίνει φθίνει ³⁹ σε ⁴⁰ φθίνειν φθίνειν ⁴¹

mvp-comment-780-5 Nor is the objection to these interpretations merely verbal. They represent the Chorus as deploring that doom of the race which entails yet another deed of bloodshed. But, as Whitelaw well observes, this commits Sophocles to the Aeschylean view of the vengeance ‘as a new crime in the series of crimes’ (Translation, p. 437). The Chorus are in the fullest sympathy with the avengers. They regard the slaying of Clytaemnestra not as a new calamity, but as a welcome retribution: cp. 1434

, and 1508 ff. The words express the feeling of these (1227) that the cause of the house is that of the city. They hail the approaching deliverance of Mycenae from the tyrants. The change of into (cr. n.) is equally rash and infelicitous.

mvp-comment-780-6 1415 f. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1343

... 1345

mvp-comment-780-7 διπλῆν ⁴²

mvp-comment-780-8 εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ γ’ ὁμοῦ ⁴³

mvp-comment-781-1 τελοῦς ἀραί ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-781-2 οἱ … κείμενοι ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-781-3 ὑπαὶ ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-782-1 παλίρρυτον ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-782-2 ὑπεξαιροῦσι ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-783-1 καὶ μὴν ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-783-2 στάζει θυηλῆς ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-783-3 ψέγειν ⁵¹ λέγειν ⁵²

mvp-comment-784-1 κυρεῖτε ⁵³ κυρεῖ ⁵⁴ κυρεῖ δὲ ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-785-1 ἐθέσπισεν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-786-1 ἐκφοβοῦ … ὡς ⁵⁷ λῆμα ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-786-2 After v. 1427 Erfurdt and others suppose the loss of three verses answering to vv. 1404—1406 (

): see note in Appendix on 1398. The context itself, however, does not indicate any lacuna. In a calmer scene, doubtless, we might have looked for some comment from Electra on the announcement that Clytaemnestra is dead. But this is a passage full of excitement and hurrying action. The warning παύσασθε ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-787-1 ἐκ προδήλου ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-787-2 Here, again, it is supposed that we have lost a trimeter, answering to 1409. (Hermann suggests

.) But the context, at least, does not show any gap in the sense.

mvp-comment-788-1 ὦ παῖδες ⁶¹ οὐκ ἄψορρον ⁶²

mvp-comment-789-1 ἐφ’ ἡμῖν ⁶³

mvp-comment-789-2 Some have thought that the words of Orestes in this v. should be metrically equivalent to those of Clyt. in 1411,

. Nauck, for example, proposes ; This seems, however, a groundless assumption.

mvp-comment-790-1 χωρεῖ γεγηθώς ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-791-1 βᾶτε κατ’ ἀντιθύρων ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-791-2 The word

is known only from the following passages. (1) Od. 16. 159 , describing a position outside of the hut: usually rendered, ‘he stood over against the doorway.’ (2) In Lucian Alex. 16 is the wall opposite to the door of a room; in this wall a second door is made, to admit of a crowd streaming through the room. In Lucian Symp. 8 the sense is the same.

mvp-comment-791-3 Here,

seems to mean, as in the Odyssey, a place close to the doors; probably just inside of them, and (from that point of view) ‘over against them’; a vestibule, or entrance-hall. Cp. 328 . As was a collateral form of ( Etym. Magn. 806. 4, etc.), may have been such a form of . If so, the desirable accus. for could be at once obtained by κατ’ ἀντιθυρῶν’ ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-791-4 βᾶτε κάταντα θυρῶν’ ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-792-1 εὖ θέμενοι ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-792-2 τάδ’ ὡς πάλιν ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-793-1 ᾗ νοεῖς ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-793-2 The ground for giving the words ᾗ νοεῖς ⁷¹ τελοῦμεν ⁷²

mvp-comment-794-1 καὶ δὴ βέβηκα ⁷³

mvp-comment-795-1 These verses are antistrophic to 1417—1421. δἰ ὠτὸς ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-795-2 ὡς ἠπίως ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-795-3 λαθραῖον ⁷⁶

1384ff. mvp-comment-652-1 In a single strophe and antistrophe (cp. O. C. 1556-1578) the Chorus (1) augur the success of the dreadful enterprize, and (2) recognise the presence of Hermes, who is conducting it. Beginning with a resolved cretic (the fourth paeon) the rhythm becomes first dochmiac and then iambic.

1384-1385. mvp-comment-653-1 'Behold ye, where the God of Strife advances panting forth the eager blood-drops of a fatal feud;' i. e. full of his slaughterous intent. προνέμεσθαι is said to mean literally, To go forward in grazing' (L. and S.). But the image immediately suggested is rather that of a fire, which may also be said 'to eat its way.' Cp. Aj. 197 foll., and notes: Hdt. 5. 101, αὐτίκα ἀπ᾿ οἰκίης ἐς οἰκίην ἰὸν τὸ πῦρ, ἐπενέμετο τὸ ἄστυ ἅπαν : ib. τὰ περιέσχατα νεμομένου τοῦ πυρός : Thuc. 2. 54, ἡ νόσος . . ἐπενείματο ᾿Αθήνας μὲν μάλιστα, ἔπειτα δέ, κ.τ.λ. δυσέριστον is either (1) as the Scholiast explains it, δι' ἔριν γινόμενον κακόν, Instinct with the evil of contention;' or (2) Irresistible; ' ' ineluctabilem caedem spirans' (Jacobs). αἷμα is here the spirit of bloodshed. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 β, and for a similar confusion, cp. Aesch. Ag. 1428, λίπος ἐπ᾿ ὀμμάτων αἵματος ἐμπρέπει,

1387-1388. mvp-comment-654-1 Clytemnestra and Aegisthus were above spoken of as an embodiment of the Alastor (supr. 198-200). Similarly, Orestes and Pylades are here identified with the Erinyes. In the antistrophe, ll. 1391, 2, Orestes is described in vaguely impressive language as the ‘ helper of the powers below,’ ἐνέρων .. ἀρωγές. For 'help' = 'vengeance,' cp. supr. 811, and note.

1389. mvp-comment-655-1 The emendation suggested by Wunder, consisting only in the change of an accent (see v. rr.), seems to be required by the sense. 'My soul's-vision (supr. 479-81) has not long to linger unaccomplished' (lit. in suspense, cp. supr. 501).

1392. mvp-comment-656-1 εἴσω στέγας] The construction is Homeric, cp. Il. 21. 124, 5, ἀλλὰ Σκάμανδρος | οἴσει δινήεις εἴσω ἁλὸς εὐρέα κόλπον.

1395. mvp-comment-657-1 νεακόνητον.. ἔχων] ‘Holding with his hands the newly - whetted Death.' In αἷμα the effect is put by metonymy for the cause. Essay on L. § 42. p. 81. For νεακόνητον, cp. Aesch. Ag. 1535, 6, δίκην δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλο πρᾶγμα θηγάνει βλάβης | πρὸς ἄλλαις θηγάναισι Μοῖρα. The quantity probably, though not certainly, follows the analogy of νεᾶκονής (Doric for νεηκονής). Hermann's νεο-κόνητον involves an awkward prolepsis.

1396. mvp-comment-658-1 δόλον σκότῳ κρύψας] Cp. Aesch. Cho. 812-8. The words πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα, though joined primarily with ἄγει, are to be resumed with κρύψας ('Concealing the guile till close upon the goal ').

1397. mvp-comment-659-1 After this line there is a pause, in which Electra comes forth to watch for Aegisthus. In tones of suppressed excitement she tells what is going on within.

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.

1399. mvp-comment-661-1 τελοῦσι is future. πρόσμενε] Addressed to the Coryphaeus.

1401. mvp-comment-662-1 λέβητα κοσμεῖ] ‘ She is decking the urn,' adorning it with wreaths for funeral consecration. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 686. Mr. Paley doubts, surely unnecessarily, if the cinerary urn be meant here as in Aesch. Cho. 686.

1407. mvp-comment-663-1 ἀνήκουστα] ‘What is horrible to hear,-as ἄρρητα are 'things horrible to tell.'

1411-1412. mvp-comment-664-1 ἀλλ᾽.. οὗτος] Cp. supr. 296, 7,601.

1413-1414. mvp-comment-665-1 If the text is sound, φθίνει is transitive here. καθαμερία is predicative and adverbial, Is destroying thee this very day.' This brief lyrical utterance fills the moment of dread suspense before the falling of the blow.

1417. mvp-comment-666-1 εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ *γ᾿ ὁμοῦ] ‘Ay, would that you were crying "Oh!" for Aegisthus too.' Αἰγίσθῳ follows the construction of μοί in ὤμοι. The reading of the MSS., θ', can only be defended on the questionable ground that Te may be used in tragedy, as in Homer, as an expletive adverb. But on the other hand γε following γάρ is awkward.

1419. mvp-comment-667-1 τελοῦσι] 'Are finishing,' i. e. are accomplishing their end.

1420. mvp-comment-668-1 παλίρρυτον] 'Flowing in return.' Cp. supr. 246, 7, οἱ δὲ μὴ πάλιν δώσουσ᾽ ἀντιφόνους δίκας.

1422. mvp-comment-669-1 The MSS. have HA. prefixed both to l. 1422 and l. 1424. It cannot stand in both places, and Hermann rightly deleted it before l. 1422. Prof. Paley objects that the antistrophe should begin with a new person. But a change of person is still possible, for ll. 1419-21 need not be given to the coryphaeus. Hermann's arrangement, besides the appropriateness of giving ll. 1422, 3 to the coryphaeus, has the further advantage of making a change of person at the beginning of l. 1424 corresponding to that in l. 1400.

1423. mvp-comment-670-1 'Is dripping from the War-god's sacrifice.' For the genitive, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 15, 3 a. οὐδ᾽ ἔχω λέγειν] And I am speechless,' i.e. the moment is too great for words. Erfurdt's conjecture, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω ψέγειν, has been commonly received. But it is intolerably frigid, and although οὐκ ἔχω τί φῶ is more usual, the other expression, οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν, is quite possible, and it is a natural thing for the Chorus here to say.

1425. mvp-comment-671-1 ᾿Απόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν] The horror which pervades the Choëphori is present also here, but is subdued beneath the sense of pious duty. Orestes is now thrilled by the dreadful nature of his act. Electra is simply eager to know whether it has been accomplished.

1429. mvp-comment-672-1 ἐκ προδήλου] ἐκ with the genitive (cp. supr. 78, θυρῶν) marks the point from which the object strikes the sense. 'Lit. "from a position where he is visible before his arrival."' Paley. Hence there is now no fear of his entering the house unperceived (supr. 1403).

1430-1431. mvp-comment-673-1 εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ | τὸν ἄνδρ᾽;] 'Where do ye see him?' This is addressed to the Chorus. The next moment Electra has perceived Aegisthus, and cries out exultingly (l. 1431), 'Here he is at our mercy (ἐφ' ἡμῖν), joyously advancing from the open ground.' Others explain ἐφ' ἡμῖν to mean either with χωρεῖ, 'He comes close upon us,' or with γεγηθώς, Triumphing over us,' or (as the MSS.) with the preceding words, 'Do you see him anywhere near us?'

1432. mvp-comment-674-1 Some words are wanted to complete the senarius, perhaps indicating the absence of the guard, e.g. οὐδ᾽ ὑπηρέτης πάρα.

1433. mvp-comment-675-1 κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων] Either (1), Towards the place over against the door.' Cp. the use of ἐπί with the genitive in such expressions as ἐπ᾿ οἴκου. Or (2), 'Go and take your position from over against the door.' Supposing the ἀντίθυρα to have been raised in some way above the vestibule, the preposition with the genitive may suggest the idea of holding a vantage-ground, down from which one may strike with effect.

1434. mvp-comment-676-1 τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν] Sc. εὖ θῆσθε.

1435. mvp-comment-677-1 It is unnecessary, with Erfurdt, to take the words ᾖ νοεῖς from Orestes. The Chorus had not completed their sentence, and Orestes wishes to show that he understands their drift. Thus, 'Thought leaps out to wed with thought, Ere thought can wed itself to speech.' Electra wants neither thoughts nor words, but action. Hence she briefly says, ἔπειγέ νυν.

1436. mvp-comment-678-1 τἀνθάδ᾽.. ἐμοί] Electra says this when Orestes is already out of sight of the audience. As he disappears, Aegisthus approaches, and the Chorus make their speech (ll. 1439-41), sotto voce, with their eyes turned towards him.

1439. mvp-comment-679-1 ὡς ἠπίως] 'With feigned gentleness.' A few MSS. have ὡς νηπίως, 'With feigned simplicity.' See Scholia.