Sophocles, Electra, Robert Potter (Translator), 23

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Electra

Have then my ills a bound? Say, can the heart

Feel a just sense of virtue, and forget

A murder'd parent? Nature at the thought

Is shock'd. From them no honour would I have;

Nor, were I wedded to some worthy man,

Would I live with him hushing all my griefs

To peace, and checking their shrill-sounding flight,

My father so disgracing. If the dead,

As earth, and nothing more, neglected lies,

And if no vengeance waits their crimes, farewell

To shame, farewell to piety 'mongst men.

Electra. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 23 focus

ὦ φίλτατ᾿ ἀνδρῶν προσπόλων, ὥς μοι σαφῆ

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-120 focus

Παιδαγωγός

ὦ τοῦ στρατηγήσαντος ἐν Τροίᾳ ποτὲ
1

Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ, νῦν ἐκεῖνʼ ἔξεστί σοι

παρόντι λεύσσειν, ὧν πρόθυμος ἦσθʼ ἀεί.

τὸ γὰρ παλαιὸν Ἄργος οὑπόθεις τόδε,

τῆς οἰστροπλῆγος ἄλσος Ἰνάχου κόρης·
5

αὕτη δʼ, Ὀρέστα, τοῦ λυκοκτόνου θεοῦ

ἀγορὰ Λύκειος· οὑξ ἀριστερᾶς δʼ ὅδε

Ἥρας ὁ κλεινὸς ναός· οἷ δʼ ἱκάνομεν,

φάσκειν Μυκήνας τὰς πολυχρύσους ὁρᾶν

πολύφθορόν τε δῶμα Πελοπιδῶν τόδε,
10

ὅθεν σε πατρὸς ἐκ φονῶν ἐγώ ποτε

πρὸς σῆς ὁμαίμου καὶ κασιγνήτης λαβὼν

ἤνεγκα κἀξέσωσα κἀξεθρεψάμην

τοσόνδʼ ἐς ἥβης, πατρὶ τιμωρὸν φόνου.

νῦν οὖν, Ὀρέστα καὶ σὺ φίλτατε ξένων
15

Πυλάδη, τί χρὴ δρᾶν ἐν τάχει βουλευτέον·

ὡς ἡμὶν ἤδη λαμπρὸν ἡλίου σέλας

ἑῷα κινεῖ φθέγματʼ ὀρνίθων σαφῆ

μέλαινά τʼ ἄστρων ἐκλέλοιπεν εὐφρόνη.

πρὶν οὖν τινʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐξοδοιπορεῖν στέγης,
20

ξυνάπτετον λόγοισιν· ὡς ἐνταῦθʼ ἐμέν,

ἵνʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀκνεῖν καιρός, ἀλλʼ ἔργων ἀκμή.

Ὀρέστης

ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν προσπόλων, ὥς μοι σαφῆ

σημεῖα φαίνεις ἐσθλὸς εἰς ἡμᾶς γεγώς.

ὥσπερ γὰρ ἵππος εὐγενής, κἂν ᾖ γέρων,
25

ἐν τοῖσι δεινοῖς θυμὸν οὐκ ἀπώλεσεν,

ἀλλʼ ὀρθὸν οὖς ἵστησιν, ὡσαύτως δὲ σὺ

ἡμᾶς τʼ ὀτρύνεις καὐτὸς ἐν πρώτοις ἕπει.

τοιγὰρ τὰ μὲν δόξαντα δηλώσω, σὺ δὲ

ὀξεῖαν ἀκοὴν τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις διδούς,
30

εἰ μή τι καιροῦ τυγχάνω, μεθάρμοσον.

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡνίχʼ ἱκόμην τὸ Πυθικὸν

μαντεῖον, ὡς μάθοιμʼ ὅτῳ τρόπῳ πατρὶ

δίκας ἀροίμην τῶν φονευσάντων πάρα,

χρῇ μοι τοιαῦθʼ ὁ Φοῖβος ὧν πεύσει τάχα·
35

ἄσκευον αὐτὸν ἀσπίδων τε καὶ στρατοῦ

δόλοισι κλέψαι χειρὸς ἐνδίκους σφαγάς.

ὅτʼ οὖν τοιόνδε χρησμὸν εἰσηκούσαμεν,

σὺ μὲν μολών, ὅταν σε καιρὸς εἰσάγῃ,

δόμων ἔσω τῶνδʼ, ἴσθι πᾶν τὸ δρώμενον,
40

ὅπως ἂν εἰδὼς ἡμὶν ἀγγείλῃς σαφῆ.

οὐ γάρ σε μὴ γήρᾳ τε καὶ χρόνῳ μακρῷ

γνῶσʼ, οὐδʼ ὑποπτεύσουσιν ὧδʼ ἠνθισμένον.

λόγῳ δὲ χρῶ τοιῷδʼ, ὅτι ξένος μὲν εἶ

Φωκέως παρʼ ἀνδρὸς Φανοτέως ἥκων· ὃ γὰρ
45

μέγιστος αὐτοῖς τυγχάνει δορυξένων.

ἄγγελλε δʼ ὅρκον προστιθεὶς ὁθούνεκα

τέθνηκʼ Ὀρέστης ἐξ ἀναγκαίας τύχης,

ἄθλοισι Πυθικοῖσιν ἐκ τροχηλάτων

δίφρων κυλισθείς· ὧδʼ ὁ μῦθος ἑστάτω.
50

Ὀρέστης

ἡμεῖς δὲ πατρὸς τύμβον, ὡς ἐφίετο,

λοιβαῖσι πρῶτον καὶ καρατόμοις χλιδαῖς

στέψαντες εἶτʼ ἄψορρον ἥξομεν πάλιν,

τύπωμα χαλκόπλευρον ἠρμένοι χεροῖν,

ὃ καὶ σὺ θάμνοις οἶσθά που κεκρυμμένον,
55

ὅπως λόγῳ κλέπτοντες ἡδεῖαν φάτιν

φέρωμεν αὐτοῖς, τοὐμὸν ὡς ἔρρει δέμας

φλογιστὸν ἤδη καὶ κατηνθρακωμένον.

τί γάρ με λυπεῖ τοῦθʼ, ὅταν λόγῳ θανὼν

ἔργοισι σωθῶ κἀξενέγκωμαι κλέος;
60

δοκῶ μέν, οὐδὲν ῥῆμα σὺν κέρδει κακόν.

ἤδη γὰρ εἶδον πολλάκις καὶ τοὺς σοφοὺς

λόγῳ μάτην θνῄσκοντας· εἶθʼ, ὅταν δόμους

ἔλθωσιν αὖθις, ἐκτετίμηνται πλέον·

ὡς κἄμʼ ἐπαυχῶ τῆσδε τῆς φήμης ἄπο
65

δεδορκότʼ ἐχθροῖς ἄστρον ὣς λάμψειν ἔτι.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ πατρῴα γῆ θεοί τʼ ἐγχώριοι,

δέξασθέ μʼ εὐτυχοῦντα ταῖσδε ταῖς ὁδοῖς,

σύ τʼ, ὦ πατρῷον δῶμα· σοῦ γὰρ ἔρχομαι

δίκῃ καθαρτὴς πρὸς θεῶν ὡρμημένος·
70

καὶ μή μʼ ἄτιμον τῆσδʼ ἀποστείλητε γῆς,

ἀλλʼ ἀρχέπλουτον καὶ καταστάτην δόμων.

εἴρηκα μέν νυν ταῦτα· σοὶ δʼ ἤδη, γέρον,

τὸ σὸν μελέσθω βάντι φρουρῆσαι χρέος.

νὼ δʼ ἔξιμεν· καιρὸς γάρ, ὅσπερ ἀνδράσιν
75

μέγιστος ἔργου παντός ἐστʼ ἐπιστάτης.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰώ μοί μοι δύστηνος.

Παιδαγωγός

καὶ μὴν θυρῶν ἔδοξα προσπόλων τινὸς

ὑποστενούσης ἔνδον αἰσθέσθαι, τέκνον.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ ἐστὶν ἡ δύστηνος Ἠλέκτρα· θέλεις
80

μείνωμεν αὐτοῦ κἀπακούσωμεν γόων;

Παιδαγωγός

ἥκιστα· μηδὲν πρόσθεν ἢ τὰ Λοξίου

πειρώμεθʼ ἔρδειν κἀπὸ τῶνδʼ ἀρχηγετεῖν,

πατρὸς χέοντες λουτρά· ταῦτα γὰρ φέρει

νίκην τʼ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν καὶ κράτος τῶν δρωμένων.
85

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ φάος ἁγνὸν

καὶ γῆς ἰσόμοιρʼ ἀήρ, ὥς μοι

πολλὰς μὲν θρήνων ᾠδάς,

πολλὰς δʼ ἀντήρεις ᾔσθου

στέρνων πληγὰς αἱμασσομένων,
90

ὁπόταν δνοφερὰ νὺξ ὑπολειφθῇ·

τὰ δὲ παννυχίδων ἤδη στυγεραὶ

ξυνίσασʼ εὐναὶ μογερῶν οἴκων,

ὅσα τὸν δύστηνον ἐμὸν θρηνῶ

πατέρʼ, ὃν κατὰ μὲν βάρβαρον αἶαν
95

φοίνιος Ἄρης οὐκ ἐξένισεν,

μήτηρ δʼ ἡμὴ χὠ κοινολεχὴς

Αἴγισθος ὅπως δρῦν ὑλοτόμοι

σχίζουσι κάρα φονίῳ πελέκει,

κοὐδεὶς τούτων οἶκτος ἀπʼ ἄλλης
100

ἢ ʼμοῦ φέρεται, σοῦ, πάτερ, οὕτως

αἰκῶς οἰκτρῶς τε θανόντος.

103

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὲν δὴ

λήξω θρήνων στυγερῶν τε γόων,

ἔστʼ ἂν παμφεγγεῖς ἄστρων
105

ῥιπάς, λεύσσω δὲ τόδʼ ἦμαρ,

μὴ οὐ τεκνολέτειρʼ ὥς τις ἀηδὼν

ἐπὶ κωκυτῷ τῶνδε πατρῴων

πρὸ θυρῶν ἠχὼ πᾶσι προφωνεῖν.

ὦ δῶμʼ Ἀΐδου καὶ Περσεφόνης,
110

ὦ χθόνιʼ Ἑρμῆ καὶ πότνιʼ Ἀρὰ

σεμναί τε θεῶν παῖδες Ἐρινύες,

αἳ τοὺς ἀδίκως θνῄσκοντας ὁρᾶθʼ,

αἳ τοὺς εὐνὰς ὑποκλεπτομένους,

ἔλθετʼ, ἀρήξατε, τίσασθε πατρὸς
115

φόνον ἡμετέρου,

καί μοι τὸν ἐμὸν πέμψατʼ ἀδελφόν·

μούνη γὰρ ἄγειν οὐκέτι σωκῶ

λύπης ἀντίρροπον ἄχθος.
120

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 23 focus

EL

Full well I feel that too impatiently
145

I seem to multiply the sounds of woe.
145

Yet suffer me, dear women! Mighty force
145

Compels me. Who that had a noble heart
145

And saw her father’s cause, as I have done,
145

By day and night more outraged, could refrain?
145

Are my woes lessening? Are they not in bloom?—
145

My mother full of hate and hateful proved,
145

Whilst I in my own home must dwell with these,

My father’s murderers, and by them be ruled,

Dependent on their bounty even for bread.

And then what days suppose you I must pass,

When I behold Aegisthus on the throne

That was my father’s; when I see him wear

Such robes, and pour libations by the hearth

Where he destroyed him; lastly, when I see

Their crowning insolence,—our regicide

Laid in my father’s chamber beside her,

My mother—if she still must bear the name

When resting in those arms? Her shame is dead.

She harbours with blood-guiltiness, and fears

No vengeance, but, as laughing at the wrong,

She watches for the hour wherein with guile

She killed our sire, and orders dance and mirth

That day o’ the month, and joyful sacrifice

Of thanksgiving. But I within the house

Beholding, weep and pine, and mourn that feast

Of infamy, called by my father’s name,

All to myself; for not even grief may flow

As largely as my spirit would desire.

That so-called princess of a noble race

O’ercrows my wailing with loud obloquy:

‘Hilding! are you alone in grief? Are none

Mourning for loss of fathers but yourself?

‘Fore the blest Gods! ill may you thrive, and ne’er

Find cure of sorrow from the powers below!’

So she insults: unless she hear one say

‘Orestes will arrive’: then standing close,

She shouts like one possessed into mine ear,

‘These are your doings, this your work, I trow.
150

You stole Orestes from my gripe, and placed
150

His life with fosterers; but you shall pay
150

Full penalty.’ So harsh is her exclaim.
150

And he at hand, the husband she extols,
150

Hounds on the cry, that prince of cowardice,
150

From head to foot one mass of pestilent harm.
150

Tongue-doughty champion of this women’s-war.
150

I, for Orestes ever languishing

To end this, am undone. For evermore

Intending, still delaying, he wears out

All hope, both here and yonder. How, then, friends,

Can I be moderate, or feel the touch

Of holy resignation? Evil fruit

Cannot but follow on a life of ill.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 23 focus

bester Diener, liebster Mann, wie legst du mir

Der Treue Zeichen gegen uns so deutlich dar!

Denn wie das Noß aus edler Art, obschon betagt,
25

In keiner Schreckniß und Gefahr den Muth verliert,

Nein, stolz das Ohr aufrichtet: also du, der uns

Zum Kampfe treibt und selbst der Ersten Einer folgt.

Drum will ich offenbaren, was ich ausgedacht;

Doch du vergönne meinem Wort ein scharfes Ohr,
30

Und traf ich nicht das Rechte, gib mir andern Rath.

Nachdem ich angekommen war bei'm pythischen

Orakel, dort zu fragen, wie des Vaters Tod

Ich rächen mög' an jenen, die ihn mordeten,

Gebot mir Phöbos also, wie du gleich vernimmst:
35

Den Streich gerechter Rache mit geheimer List

Allein zu führen, nicht bewehrt mit Schild und Heer.

Nun, da mir solcher Gottesspruch verkündet ward,

Tritt du, sobald die Stunde dich gelegen führt,

Zu diesem Haus ein, auszuspäh'n, was hier geschieht,
40

Auf daß du klar uns meldest, was du wohl erforscht.

Unkenntlich schuf dich Alter und die lange Zeit,

Und vor Verdacht bewahrt dich dieser Blumenschmuck.¹

Doch also sprich zu jenen, daß ein Fremdling du,

Ein Phoker seiest, abgesandt von Phanoteus;²
45

Denn dieser Mann ist ihres Hauses bester Freund.

Mit Eid betheuernd, melde dann, Orestes sei

Dahingeschieden durch ein unerbittlich Loos,

Bei Kämpfen Pytho's aus dem raschhinrollenden³

Rennwagen stürzend. Also sei der Rede Sinn.
50

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 23 focus

Chorus
233

Things of moment

Require deliberation and delay.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-120 focus

Paedagogus

Son of him who once commanded our forces at Troy , son of Agamemnon!—now you may survey all that your heart has desired for so long. There is the ancient Argos of your yearning,
1

that consecrated land from which the gad-fly drove the daughter of Inachus; there, Orestes, is the Lycean market place, named from the wolf-slaying god; there on the left is Hera’s famous temple; and in this place to which we have come, know that you see Mycenae , the rich in gold,
5

and here the house of Pelops’ heirs, so often stained with bloodshed. Long ago from here, away from the murder of your father, I carried you for her whose blood is yours, your sister, and saved you and reared you up to manhood to be the avenger of your murdered father.

10

Now, therefore, Orestes, and you, best of allies, Pylades, our plan of action must be quickly laid; for look, already the sun’s bright ray is stirring the birds’ songs into clarity, and the kindly darkness of the stars is spent.
15

Before, then, anyone comes out from the house, we must make our plans, since we are at the point where it is no longer opportune to hesitate, but it is the moment for action.
20

Orestes

True friend and follower, how well you prove your loyalty to our house!

Just as a thoroughbred mount, even if advanced in years, does not lose courage in danger, but pricks up his ears, so you speed us forward and follow in the first ranks. I will tell you, then, what I have determined.
25

Listen closely to my words and correct me, if I miss the mark in any way.
When I went to the Pythian oracle to learn how I might avenge my father on his murderers,
30

Phoebus gave me the commandment which you will now hear: that alone, and by stealth, without the aid of arms or large numbers, I should carry off my right hand’s just slaughters. Accordingly, since I received this divine declaration, you must go into that house there
35

when opportunity gives you entrance, and learn all that is happening, so that you may report to us out of sure knowledge. Your age and the lapse of time will prevent them from recognizing you; they will never suspect who you are with that silvered hair. Let your story be that you are a Phocian stranger
40

sent by Phanoteus, since he is the greatest of their allies. Tell them, and affirm it with your oath, that Orestes has perished by a fatal chance, hurled at the Pythian games
45

from his speeding chariot. Let that be the substance of your message. Meanwhile, we will first crown my father’s tomb as the god ordered with libations and the luxuriant tribute of a severed lock; then we will return here, bearing in our hands an urn of hammered bronze
50

—now hidden, as you no doubt know, in the brushwood—so that we may gladden them with the false tidings that this body of mine exists no more, but has been consumed with fire and reduced to ashes. How does it hurt me, when by feigned death
55

I find true life and win renown? No word is ill-omened, I trust, if it yields gain. For often before now I have seen clever men die in false report; then, when they return home, they are held in greater honor.
60

And so for myself I trust that as a result of this rumor I, too, shall live, shining down like a star upon my enemies.
But you, O my fatherland and native gods of my soil, receive me with good fortune in this journey, and you also, house of my ancestors,
65

since I come by divine mandate to cleanse you as justice demands. Do not dismiss me from this land in dishonor, but grant that I may rule over my possessions and restore my house!
I have said enough. Go now, old one, and take care to watch over your task.
70

The two of us will depart; for so opportunity bids, chief ruler of every enterprise for men.
75

77 Within.

Electra

ah, me, ah, joyless me!

Paedagogus

Listen, my son; from the doors of the house, I think, came the sound of some serving girl moaning inside.

Orestes

Can it be my joyless Electra? Shall we remain here and listen to her cries?
80

Paedagogus

No, no; before all else, let us strive to obey the commands of Loxias and from them make a fair beginning by pouring libations to your father. For such actions bring

victory within our grasp and give us mastery in all our doings. Exeunt Paedagogus on the spectators left, Orestes and Pylades on the right.
85

86 Enter Electra, from the house.

Electra

O you pure sunlight, and you air, light’s equal partner over earth, how often have you heard the chords of my laments

and the thudding blows against this bloodied breast at the time of gloomy night’s leaving off! My accursed bed in that house of suffering there knows well already how I observe my night-long rites—how often I bewail my miserable
90

father, whom bloody Ares did not welcome with deadly gifts in a foreign land, but my mother and her bedfellow Aegisthus split his head with murderous axe, just as woodmen chop an oak.
95

And for this crime no pitying cry bursts from any lips but mine, when you, Father, have died a death so cruel and so deserving of pity!
100

103

But never will I end from cries and bitter lamentation,

while I look on the stars’ glistening flashes or on this light of day. No, like the nightingale, slayer of her offspring, I will wail without ceasing, and cry aloud to all here at the doors of my father.

105

O House of Hades and Persephone! O Hermes of the shades! O potent Curse, and you fearsome daughters of the gods, the Erinyes, who take note when a life is unjustly taken, when a marriage-bed is thievishly dishonored,
110

come, help me, bring vengeance for the murder of my father and send me my brother. I no longer have the strength to hold up alone against
115

the load of grief that crushes me.
120

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-137-1 καὶ τί μέτρον ¹ κακότατος ²

mvp-comment-137-2 φέρε ³

mvp-comment-137-3 ἐπὶ τοῖς φθ. ⁴

mvp-comment-138-1 ἔβλαστ’ ⁵

mvp-comment-139-1 τούτοις ⁶

mvp-comment-140-1 εἴ τῳ πρόσκειμαι χρηστῷ ⁷

mvp-comment-141-1 ξυνναίοιμ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-141-2 εὔκηλος ⁹

mvp-comment-141-3 γονέων ¹⁰ ἐκτίμους ¹¹

mvp-comment-141-4 ἐκτίμους ἵσχουσα ¹²

mvp-comment-141-5 πτέρυγας … γόων ¹³

mvp-comment-141-6 ὀξυτόνων ¹⁴

mvp-comment-142-1 εἰ γὰρ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-142-2 γᾶ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-142-3 οὐδὲν ¹⁷ ὢν ¹⁸ εἰ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-142-4 Electra is contrasting her father, whose earthly life has been cut short, with his murderers, who survive. But she believes that his spirit lives in the world below, and will be active in aiding the vengeance (453 ff.).

mvp-comment-142-5 πάλιν ²⁰

mvp-comment-142-6 ἀντιφόνους δίκας ²¹

mvp-comment-143-1 ἔρροι τ’ ²²

mvp-comment-143-2 αἰδὼς ²³ εὐσέβεια ²⁴

mvp-comment-144-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ²⁵

mvp-comment-144-2 καὶ ²⁶ τὸ σὸν … καὶ τοὐμὸν ²⁷

mvp-comment-145-1 νίκα ²⁸

mvp-comment-145-2 ἅμα ²⁹

mvp-comment-146-1 πολλοῖσι θρήνοις ³⁰

mvp-comment-147-1 ἀλλὰ … γὰρ ³¹

mvp-comment-148-1 ἥτις εὐγενὴς γυνή ³²

mvp-comment-149-1 πατρῷα … πήματα ³³

mvp-comment-150-1 κατ’ εὐφρόνην ³⁴

mvp-comment-150-2 θάλλοντα ³⁵

mvp-comment-151-1 ᾗ ³⁶

mvp-comment-151-2 πρῶτα μὲν … εἶτα … ἔπειτα ³⁷ ᾗ ³⁸

mvp-comment-151-3 τὰ μητρὸς ³⁹

mvp-comment-151-4 ἔχθιστα συμβέβηκεν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-152-1 κἀκ τῶνδ’ ἄρχομαι ⁴¹

mvp-comment-153-1 λαβεῖν … τὸ τητᾶσθαι ⁴²

mvp-comment-154-1 ποίας ⁴³ δοκεῖς ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-155-1 ἴδω ⁴⁵ εἰσίδω δ’ ⁴⁶ ἴδω δὲ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-155-2 μὲν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-156-1 ἐσθήματα ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-156-2 ἐκείνῳ ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-156-3 παρεστίους … λοιβάς ⁵¹ ἔνθ’ ἐκεῖνον ὤλεσεν ⁵²

mvp-comment-156-4 Acc. to Homer. Hymn. 29. 4 ff., feasts began and ended with libations to Hestia:

οὐ γὰρ ἄτερ σοῦ

εἰλαπίναι θνητοῖσιν, ἵν’ οὐ πρώτῃ πυμάτῃ τε

Ἱστίῃ ἀρχόμενος σπένδει μελιηδέα οἶνον

. Soph. fr. 658

<*> πρῷρα λοιβῆς Ἑστία

. Other divinities, including Zeus

σωτήρ

, were similarly honoured; then the paean was sung, and the

πότος

began ( Plat. Symp.p. 176 A).

mvp-comment-157-1 τούτων ⁵³

mvp-comment-158-1 αὐτοέντην ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-158-2 Brunck first adopted αὐτοέντην ⁵⁵ αὐτοφόντην ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-158-3 ἡμὶν ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-159-1 ταλαίνῃ ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-160-1 ταύτην … τῷδε ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-161-1 μιάστορι ⁶⁰ Ἐρινὺν ⁶¹

mvp-comment-162-1 ἐγγελῶσα τοῖς ποιουμένοις ⁶²

mvp-comment-163-1 εὑροῦς’ ⁶³ τότε ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-163-2 The conjecture φρουροῦς’ ⁶⁵ τηροῦς’ ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-164-1 χοροὺς ἵστησι ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-164-2 μηλοσφαγεῖ … ἱερὰ ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-164-3 ἔμμην’ ἱερά ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-164-4 τοῖς σωτηρίοις ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-164-5 Argive tradition placed Agamemnon's death on the 13th of Gamelion (about the end of January). So said ‘the Argive historians’ (

οἱ Ἀργολικοὶ συγγραφεῖς

),— according to an Argive writer named Deinias, who lived about 225 B.C. (Schol. here: Müller, Frag. Hist. vol. III. p. 25.) Possibly, then, the idea of Clytaemnestra's hideous festival may have been suggested to the poet by some actual commemoration of the event in Argolis. There was a cult of Agamemnon in various places,—notably in Laconia. (Cp. Roscher's Lexicon, p. 96.)

mvp-comment-165-1 ἡ δύσμορος ⁷¹ κατὰ στέγας ⁷²

mvp-comment-166-1 τέτηκα ⁷³

mvp-comment-166-2 πατρὸς ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-166-3 The

δαίς

is the feast which, in Homeric fashion ( Il. 1. 467 ), would follow the sacrifice (281). Acc. to Eustathius p. 1507. 61 (on Hom. Od. 4. 524 ff.),

Ἀγαμεμνόνειος δαὶς

(or

τράπεζα

) was a proverb

ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπ’ ὀλέθρῳ εὐωχουμένων

. The poet may mean that Clytaemnestra called the festival

Ἀγαμεμνόνειος δαίς

, in direct allusion to

δεῖπνα ἄρρητα

(203): and this would give a special point to

ἐγγελῶσα

(277). Cp. Eur. Or. 1008

τά τ’ ἐπώνυμα δεῖπνα Θυέστου

. But the words do not necessarily imply more than that she called it

Ἀγαμεμνόνεια

mvp-comment-167-1 αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτήν ⁷⁵ αὑτήν ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-167-2 κλαῦσαι ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-167-3 ἡδονὴν φέρει ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-168-1 ἡ λόγοισι γενναία ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-169-1 φωνοῦσα ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-170-1 δύσθεον ⁸¹

mvp-comment-170-2 μίσημα ⁸²

mvp-comment-170-3 σοὶ μόνῃ ⁸³

mvp-comment-170-4 τέθνηκεν ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-170-5 ἐν πένθει ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-171-1 ἐκ γόων ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-171-2 οἱ κάτω θεοί ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-172-1 τάδ’ ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-172-2 ἥξοντ’ Ὀρέστην ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-173-1 παραστᾶς’ ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-174-1 ἥτις ⁹¹

mvp-comment-174-2 ὑπεξέθου ⁹²

mvp-comment-175-1 ἀλλ’ ἴσθι τοι τείσουσά γ’ ⁹³

mvp-comment-176-1 ὑλακτεῖ ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-176-2 σὺν ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-176-3 πέλας ⁹⁶ παρών ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-176-4 301 The adv. πάντα ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-176-5 ἄναλκις ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-176-6 ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-177-1 σὺν γυναιξὶ ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-177-2 τὰς μάχας ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-178-1 ἐφήξειν ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-179-1 μέλλων … δρᾶν τι ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-179-2 τὰς οὔσας τε … καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-179-3 μου ¹⁰⁶ μοι ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-179-4 διέφθορεν ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-180-1 σωφρονεῖν ¹⁰⁹ εὐσεβεῖν ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-180-2 ἔν τοι κακοῖς ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-180-3 πολλή )στ’ ἀνάγκη ¹¹² κἀπιτηδεύειν κακά ¹¹³

mvp-comment-180-4 I place only a comma, not a colon, after πάρεστιν ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-181-1 ὄντος … βεβῶτος ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-182-1 ἦ κάρτα ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-182-2 θυραῖον ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-182-3 οἰχνεῖν ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-182-4 ἀγροῖσι ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-182-5 τυγχάνει ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-183-1 ἦ κἂν … ἱκοίμην ¹²¹ ἦ τ<*>ν ¹²² ἦ δἂν ¹²³

mvp-comment-183-2 ἐς λόγους τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-184-1 ὡς νῦν ¹²⁵ ὥς νυν ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-184-2 ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον ¹²⁷ τό ¹²⁸ τά ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-184-3 With the other punctuation, ἱστόρει τί σοι φίλον ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-185-1 καὶ δὴ ¹³¹

mvp-comment-185-2 τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής ¹³²

mvp-comment-185-3 ἥξοντος ¹³³ ἢ μέλλοντος ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-186-1 φησίν γε ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-186-2 ποεῖ ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-187-1 καὶ μὴν ἔγωγ’ ¹³⁷ γε ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-187-2 οὐκ ὄκνῳ ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-188-1 ἀρκεῖν ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-189-1 ἐπεί ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-189-2 μακρὰν ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-189-3 324 Here, as in 316, νῦν ¹⁴³ νυν ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-189-4 δόμων ¹⁴⁵ φέρουσαν ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-190-1 ὅμαιμον ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-190-2 φύσιν ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-191-1 Χρυσόθεμιν ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-192-1 οἷα ¹⁵⁰ νομίζεται ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-193-1 πρὸς θυρῶνος ἐξόδοις ¹⁵² φωνεῖς ¹⁵³ ἐλθοῦσα ¹⁵⁴ αὖ ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-193-2 330 For the absence of caesura, cp. Ph. 101 n.

mvp-comment-194-1 θυμῷ … χαρίζεσθαι ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-195-1 καίτοι τοσοῦτόν γ’ οἶδα ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-195-2 κἀμαυτήν, ὅτι ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-195-3 333 f. For the repeated ἄν ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-195-4 οἶ) αὐτοῖς φρονῶ ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-196-1 ὑφειμένῃ ¹⁶¹ πλεῖν ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-196-2 For the image, cp. Eur. Med. 524

ἄκροισι λαίφους κρασπέδοις

(with close-reefed sails)

ὑπεκφυγεῖν

τὴν σὴν στόμαργον, ὦ γύναι, γλωσσαλγίαν

: Ar. Ran. 997

ἀλλ’ ὅπως, ὦ γεννάδα

, |

μὴ πρὸς ὀργὴν ἀντιλέξεις

, |

ἀλλὰ συστείλας, ἄκροισι

χρώμενος τοῖς ἱστίοις κ.τ.λ.

: and conversely Soph. Ant. 715

ναὸς ὅστις ἐγκρατῆ πόδα

τείνας ὑπείκει μηδέν

. Ovid Epist. 1. 8. 71

moderatius opta, | Et voti, quaeso, contrahe vela tui.

Shakesp. Henry VI., pt. iii, act 3 sc. 3. 5

‘Now Margaret | Must strike her sail, and learn awhile to serve | Where kings command.’

mvp-comment-197-1 καὶ μὴ δοκεῖν ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-198-1 τοιαῦτα δ’ ἄλλα ¹⁶⁴ ἀλλὰ ¹⁶⁵ ἄλλα ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-199-1 καίτοι τὸ μὲν δίκαιον ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-199-2 κρίνεις ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-199-3 εἰ … με δεῖ ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-199-4 ἐλευθέραν ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-199-5 ζῆν ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-199-6 πάντ’ ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-199-7 ἀκουστέα ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-200-1 δεινόν γε ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-201-1 τῆς … τικτούσης ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-201-2 μέλειν ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-202-1 τἀμὰ νουθετήματα ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-202-2 κείνης διδακτά ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-202-3 ἐκ σαυτῆς ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-203-1 The text, which has been suspected (cr. n.), is sound; but the train of thought is somewhat obscured by compression.

mvp-comment-203-2 ‘You forget your father, and care only for your mother. All your counsels to me come from her. Then (

ἔπειτα

),—that being so,—give up the attempt at a compromise. Make a choice (

ἑλοῦ γε

). You can be imprudent (

φρονεῖν κακῶς

),—as you say that I am,—and loyal to your dead father. Or you can be prudent (

φρονοῦσα

), and forgetful of him,—as you actually are; you who (

ἥτις

) say, indeed, that you would show your hatred of the murderers if you could; and yet, when I do resist them, you try to turn me from my purpose. You merely add the shame of cowardice to our woes.’

mvp-comment-203-3 ἔπειθ’ ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-203-4 ἑλοῦ γε ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-203-5 φρονεῖν κακῶς ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-203-6 Other explanations are:—(1) ‘Choose to be thought either lost to right feeling, or, if you have such feeling, then at least forgetful of your duty.’ (2) ‘Choose to seem either unintelligent (if you are merely the blind instrument of our rulers); or, if you act with clear understanding (

φρονοῦσα

),—thinking to benefit me,—at least forgetful of your father.’ Both these views assume that the question is merely between two interpretations which might be placed on the present conduct of Chrysothemis. But Electra is putting the dilemma between imprudent loyalty and prudent disloyalty.

mvp-comment-204-1 τῶν φίλων ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-205-1 ἥτις ¹⁸⁴ φρονοῦσα ¹⁸⁵ μῖσος ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-206-1 πάντα ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-206-2 τιμωρουμένης ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-207-1 οὔτε … τε ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-207-2 τήν τε δρῶσαν ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-208-1 πρὸς κακοῖσι ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-208-2 δειλίαν ἔχει ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-209-1 ἐπεὶ ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-209-2 ἢ μάθ’ ἐξ ἐμοῦ ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-210-1 ἐπαρκούντως ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-211-1 προσάπτειν ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-211-2 εἴ τις ἔστ’ ἐκεῖ χάρις ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-212-1 ἡμὶν ¹⁹⁸ ξύνει ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-213-1 τὰ σὰ … δῶῤ ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-213-2 ἐφ’ οἶσι ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-213-3 χλιδᾷς ²⁰²

mvp-comment-214-1 ὑπεικάθοιμι ²⁰³

mvp-comment-214-2 πλουσία ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-214-3 περιρρείτω ²⁰⁵

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

86-250. mvp-comment-59-1 In this long lament there are two principal movements, each of which admits of subdivision. First, the monody of Electra, consisting of two anapaestic systems, of which one (ll. 86-102) is retrospective, and the other (ll. 103-120) is prospective. Secondly, there is the commatic parodos :-the chorus on their entrance address Electra with lyric strains, to which she responds also in lyric measures. This movement consists of three strophes and antistrophes. In στρ. and ἀντ. α' (ll. 121-152), the chorus gently, but gloomily, expostulate with Electra, who is inconsolable. In στρ. and ἀντ. β΄ (ll. 153-192), they vainly try to cheer her. In στρ. and ἀντ. γ΄ (ll. 193- 232), they remind her of her past and present troubles, and exhort her not to add to them. All this is followed by a ῥῆσις of Electra (ll. 254-309) in reply to the coryphaeus, who, at l. 324, again speaks to call attention to Chrysothemis' approach.

86-250. mvp-comment-59-2 Metres. The anapaests in 86-120, although for the most part regular are in so far of the freer kind which belong to laments as to admit the spondaic paroemiacs near the commencement of each system in ll. 88, 9, 105, 6, which, with the opening half line, have a strange effect of heaviness and of struggle and pain. The two systems so nearly correspond, both in this respect and in the number of the lines, that one is tempted to believe that the half line that would complete the antistrophic effect has been lost somewhere between 113 and 117. But anapaestic systems are seldom exactly antistrophic, and the pause after the (dactylic) invocation in l. 115 may be intentional.

236. mvp-comment-137-1 καὶ τί μέτρον κακότατος ἔφυ;] 'And is not my trouble infinite?' (So the Scholiast, -πρὸς γὰρ ἄμετρον κακὸν καὶ ἀμέτρων δεῖται θρήνων.) Cp. infr. 1249, 50, ἁμέτερον οἷον ἔφυ κακόν. For the meaning, cp. Shak. Ant. and Cleo. 4. 15. 4, But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow, Proportioned to our cause, must be as great As that which makes it.'

237. mvp-comment-138-1 ἐπὶ τοῖς φθιμένοις ἀμελεῖν] To treat the dead with forgetfulness.' E. on L. § 19. p. 27.

238. mvp-comment-139-1 ἐν τίνι . . ἀνθρώπων] 'Where amongst men hath such a mind sprung up?'

239. mvp-comment-140-1 τούτοις] Sc. ἐν οἷς τοῦτο ἔβλαστε, the indefinite plural taking the place of the indefinite singular. E. on L. § 20. p. 31. 3. Cp. Hdt. 9. 79. § 3. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν τούτου εἵνεκα μήτε Αἰγινήτῃσι ἅδοιμι, μήτε τοῖσι ταῦτα ἀρέσκεται· ἀποχρᾷ δ᾽ ἐμοί, Σπαρτιήτῃσι ἀρεσκόμενον, ὅσια μὲν ποιέειν, ὅσια δὲ καὶ λέγειν.

240. mvp-comment-141-1 εἴ τῳ πρόσκειμαι χρηστῷ] · If I have near me any good,' = εἴ τι χρηστὸν πρόσκειταί μοι : Ε. on L. § 42. p. 80 β. Cp. infr. 1040, ᾧ σὺ πρόσκεισαι κακῷ.

241-243. mvp-comment-142-1 γονέων .. γόων] • Holding back the wings of my shrill wailings from doing honour to my sire.' Each fresh utterance of the unabating sorrow is imagined as a bird that is eager to fly. ἐκτίμους is predicative and proleptic, = ὥστε ἔξω εἶναι τοῦ τιμᾶν. See E. on L. $ 54. p. 100 d, § 10. p. 16 f., § 23. p. 38 81, § 38. p. 71.

244. mvp-comment-143-1 ya] Prof. Jebb reads ya, i.e. 'buried,' adding, 'it is difficult to believe that yῆ could stand for σποδός.' But the expression is hyperbolical-' mere clay.' Cp. ψήγμα in Aesch. Ag. 442.

251-252. mvp-comment-144-1 καὶ τὸ σὸν.. καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς] 'More in care for thee than for myself. This is really the meaning, although, by the usual Greek litotes, 'as much as' is put for more than.' The most important matter is put first. E. on L. § 41. p. 78.

253. mvp-comment-145-1 ἑψόμεσθ'] Cp. infr. 1052.

254-255. mvp-comment-146-1 I am ashamed of seeming to you, as I must seem, to be too impatient in multiplying lamentations.' δοκῶ is indicative.

258. mvp-comment-147-1 πατρῷ᾽ ὁρῶσα πήματ'] 'Seeing woful things performed against her sire.' Electra's filial affection for Agamemnon is kept prominently before us as her chief motive; and every insult to his memory, including her own sufferings, is regarded by her as part of the wrong done to him. πατρῷα is at first general, but in the antecedent to a it becomes individual, -' of my father.'

260. mvp-comment-148-1 θάλλοντα .. καταφθίνονθ'] “Not lessening but increasing.'

260-261. mvp-comment-149-1 ᾖ.. συμβέβηκεν] 'Since, first of all, I have found in my own mother the deepest cause for hatred.' This (Paley, etc.) is better than my mother is my enemy.'

264. mvp-comment-150-1 κἀκ τῶνδ᾽ ἄρχομαι] ‘And I am in subjection to them. Cp. O. C. 67, ἐκ τοῦ κατ᾿ ἄστυ βασιλέως τάδ' ἄρχεται.

270. mvp-comment-151-1 ἔνθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον ὤλεσεν] Here again Sophocles seems to follow the account that is given in the fourth book of the Odyssey, ll. 529 foll., according to which Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon at or after a banquet. Hence he is said to have destroyed him beside the hearth. Cp. infr. 1495.

271-274. mvp-comment-152-1 Further, when I see their crowning insult, when I see, forsooth, the author of his death reclining on my father's couch, beside my wretched mother, if so I must call this woman, when cohabiting with him!' The clause τὸν αὐτοφόντην κ.τ.λ. is in the same construction with ὕβριν, governed by ἴδω. ἡμίν is ethical dative, and has a sarcastic force; i.e. That is what I am compelled to look upon.' The participle (κείμενον) which should have gone with ἐν κοίτῃ is absorbed and resumed in συγκοιμωμένην.

Sophocles Electra 23

Robert Potter (Translator)

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Ἠλέκτρα

ἰώ μοί μοι δύστηνος.

Παιδαγωγός

καὶ μὴν θυρῶν ἔδοξα προσπόλων τινὸς

ὑποστενούσης ἔνδον αἰσθέσθαι, τέκνον.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ ἐστὶν ἡ δύστηνος Ἠλέκτρα· θέλεις
80

μείνωμεν αὐτοῦ κἀπακούσωμεν γόων;

Chorus
233

Things of moment

Require deliberation and delay.

Electra

ah, me, ah, joyless me!

Paedagogus

Listen, my son; from the doors of the house, I think, came the sound of some serving girl moaning inside.

Orestes

Can it be my joyless Electra? Shall we remain here and listen to her cries?
80

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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Ἠλέκτρα ἰώ μοί μοι δύστηνος.

Παιδαγωγός καὶ μὴν θυρῶν ἔδοξα προσπόλων τινὸς ὑποστενούσης ἔνδον αἰσθέσθαι, τέκνον.

Ὀρέστης ἆρʼ ἐστὶν ἡ δύστηνος Ἠλέκτρα· θέλεις 80 μείνωμεν αὐτοῦ κἀπακούσωμεν γόων;

Chorus 233 Things of moment Require deliberation and delay.

Electra ah, me, ah, joyless me!

Paedagogus Listen, my son; from the doors of the house, I think, came the sound of some serving girl moaning inside.

Orestes Can it be my joyless Electra? Shall we remain here and listen to her cries? 80

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Ἠλέκτρα

ἰώ μοί μοι δύστηνος.

Παιδαγωγός

καὶ μὴν θυρῶν ἔδοξα προσπόλων τινὸς

ὑποστενούσης ἔνδον αἰσθέσθαι, τέκνον.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ ἐστὶν ἡ δύστηνος Ἠλέκτρα· θέλεις
80

μείνωμεν αὐτοῦ κἀπακούσωμεν γόων;

Chorus
233

Things of moment

Require deliberation and delay.

Electra

ah, me, ah, joyless me!

Paedagogus

Listen, my son; from the doors of the house, I think, came the sound of some serving girl moaning inside.

Orestes

Can it be my joyless Electra? Shall we remain here and listen to her cries?
80