Sophocles Electra 314

Robert Potter (Translator)

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Aegisthus
Be silent, and set wide the gates, that all
Of Argos and Mycense may behold :
That if a man of them had in his thoughts
Cherish'd vain hopes, he now may view this corse,
1466
And bear my curb; nor, hardening in his pride,
Draw on his head the terrors of my wrath.

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)) — 275 focus
ἡ δ᾽ ἤδ' L Pal. Schaef. corr. ἡ δ' A. ὧδε τλήμων ὥστε τῷ μιάστορι
275
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 251-471 focus
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 314 focus
OLD M
I will report, when all is done. Meanwhile,
Know, all is well with them, even what is evil.
1345
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 310 focus
Auf, sage, weilt Aegisthos hier, indeß du so
Mir redest, oder ging er aus dem Hause fort?
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 314 focus
Aegisthus
^Gis. Shall we see him then ?
1450
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 251-470 focus

Commentary

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

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

mvp-comment-804-2 1457 While τυγχάνοι 2 τυγχάνει 3

mvp-comment-805-1 κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας 4

mvp-comment-806-1 Μυκηναίοισιν 5 Ἀργείοις 6

mvp-comment-806-2 πᾶσιν 7

mvp-comment-807-1 ἐλπίσιν … ἀνδρὸς 8

mvp-comment-808-1 στόμια 9

mvp-comment-808-2 φύσῃ φρένας 10

mvp-comment-809-1 καὶ δὴ 11 τἀπ’ ἐμοῦ 12

mvp-comment-809-2 τελεῖται 13

mvp-comment-809-3 τῷ … χρόνῳ 14

mvp-comment-809-4 συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν 15

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

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

mvp-comment-810-1 δέδορκα φάσμ’ 16

mvp-comment-810-2 The invocation, ὦ Ζεῦ 17 φθόνου 18 φάσμα 19 δέδορκα 20 πεπτωκός 21

mvp-comment-810-3 ἔπεστι 22

mvp-comment-810-4 νέμεσις 23

mvp-comment-810-5 οὐ λέγω 24

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.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.