Sophocles, Electra, Robert Potter (Translator), 251cont2

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see him in my father's robes

Array'd, and pouring to the household gods

Libations on the spot where his curs'd hand

Shed the king's blood. And (oh that blackest stain !)

I see the murderer in my father's bed

With my abandon'd mother, if the name
255

Of mother be her due, who shares this bed
255

With him, unblushing with this man of blood
255

Cohabits, and no vengeful Fury fears;
255

But, as exulting in her horrid deeds,
255

Oft as the month leads round the welcome day

In which my father by her wiles she slew,

She forms the festal dance, and to the gods,

As guardians of her house, the victims slays.

Chorus

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)) — 251 focus

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσ᾽ ἅμα

καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶς

λέγω, σὺ νίκα· σοὶ γὰρ ἐψόμεσθ᾽ ἅμα.

ΗΛ.

αἰσχύνομαι μέν, ὦ γυναῖκες, εἰ δοκῶ

πολλοῖσι θρήνοις δυσφορεῖν ὑμῖν ἄγαν.
255

ἀλλ᾽ ἡ βία γὰρ ταῦτ᾽ ἀναγκάζει με δρᾶν,

σύγγνωτε, πῶς γὰρ ἥτις εὐγενὴς γυνή,

πατρῷ ὁρῶσα πήματ', οὐ δρῴη τάδ᾽ ἄν,

ἁγὼ κατ᾿ ἡμαρ καὶ κατ᾿ εὐφρόνην ἀεὶ

θάλλοντα μᾶλλον ἢ καταφθíνονθ᾽ ὁρῶ;
260

ᾗ πρῶτα μὲν τὰ om. L add C². μητρός, ἥ μ᾿ ἐγείνατο,

ἔχθιστα συμβέβηκεν· εἶτα δώμασιν

ἐν τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς τοῖς φονεῦσι τοῦ πατρὸς

ξύνειμι, κἀκ τῶνδ᾽ ἄρχομαι κἀκ τῶνδέ μοι

λαβεῖν β from θ L pr. λαθεῖν Pal. pr. θ' ὁμοίως καὶ τὸ τητᾶσθαι πέλει.
265

ἔπειτα ποίας ἡμέρας δοκεῖς μ' ἄγειν,

ὅταν θρόνοις Αἴγισθον ἐνθακοῦντ᾽ ἴδω

τοῖσιν πατρῴοις, εἰσίδω δ᾽ ἐσθήματα

φοροῦντ᾽ ἐκείνῳ ταὐτά, καὶ παρεστίους

σπένδοντα λοιβὰς ἔνθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον ὤλεσεν,
270

ἴδω δὲ τούτων τὴν τελευταίαν ὕβριν,

τὸν αὐτοφόντην γρ. αὐτοέντην C3. ἡμὶν ἐν κοίτῃ πατρὸς

ξὺν τῇ ταλαίνῃ μητρί, μητέρ' εἰ χρεὼν χρεῶν L. χρεὼν A.

ταύτην προσαυδᾶν τῷδε συγκοιμωμένην·

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 251-471 focus

Χορός

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσʼ ἅμα

καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶς

λέγω, σὺ νίκα· σοὶ γὰρ ἑψόμεσθʼ ἅμα.

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχύνομαι μέν, ὦ γυναῖκες, εἰ δοκῶ

πολλοῖσι θρήνοις δυσφορεῖν ὑμῖν ἄγαν.
255

ἀλλʼ ἡ βία γὰρ ταῦτʼ ἀναγκάζει με δρᾶν,

σύγγνωτε· πῶς γὰρ ἥτις εὐγενὴς γυνή,

πατρῷʼ ὁρῶσα πήματʼ, οὐ δρῴη τάδʼ ἄν;

ἁγὼ κατʼ ἦμαρ καὶ κατʼ εὐφρόνην ἀεὶ

θάλλοντα μᾶλλον ἢ καταφθίνονθʼ ὁρῶ·
260

ᾗ πρῶτα μὲν τὰ μητρός, ἥ μʼ ἐγείνατο,

ἔχθιστα συμβέβηκεν· εἶτα δώμασιν

ἐν τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς τοῖς φονεῦσι τοῦ πατρὸς

ξύνειμι, κἀκ τῶνδʼ ἄρχομαι κἀκ τῶνδέ μοι

λαβεῖν θʼ ὁμοίως καὶ τὸ τητᾶσθαι πέλει.
265

ἔπειτα ποίας ἡμέρας δοκεῖς μʼ ἄγειν,

ὅταν θρόνοις Αἴγισθον ἐνθακοῦντʼ ἴδω

τοῖσιν πατρῴοις, εἰσίδω δʼ ἐσθήματα

φοροῦντʼ ἐκείνῳ ταὐτὰ καὶ παρεστίους

σπένδοντα λοιβὰς ἔνθʼ ἐκεῖνον ὤλεσεν,
270

ἴδω δὲ τούτων τὴν τελευταίαν ὕβριν,

τὸν αὐτοέντην ἡμὶν ἐν κοίτῃ πατρὸς

ξὺν τῇ ταλαίνῃ μητρί, μητέρʼ εἰ χρεὼν

ταύτην προσαυδᾶν τῷδε συγκοιμωμένην·

ἡ δʼ ὧδε τλήμων ὥστε τῷ μιάστορι
275

ξύνεστʼ, ἐρινὺν οὔτινʼ ἐκφοβουμένη·

ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἐγγελῶσα τοῖς ποιουμένοις,

εὑροῦσʼ ἐκείνην ἡμέραν, ἐν ᾗ τότε

πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν ἐκ δόλου κατέκτανεν,

ταύτῃ χοροὺς ἵστησι καὶ μηλοσφαγεῖ
280

θεοῖσιν ἔμμηνʼ ἱερὰ τοῖς σωτηρίοις.

282

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρῶσʼ ἡ δύσμορος κατὰ στέγας

κλαίω, τέτηκα, κἀπικωκύω πατρὸς

τὴν δυστάλαιναν δαῖτʼ ἐπωνομασμένην

αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτήν. οὐδὲ γὰρ κλαῦσαι πάρα
285

τοσόνδʼ ὅσον μοι θυμὸς ἡδονὴν φέρει.

αὕτη γὰρ ἡ λόγοισι γενναία γυνὴ

φωνοῦσα τοιάδʼ ἐξονειδίζει κακά·

ὦ δύσθεον μίσημα, σοὶ μόνῃ πατὴρ

τέθνηκεν; ἄλλος δʼ οὔτις ἐν πένθει βροτῶν;
290

κακῶς ὄλοιο, μηδέ σʼ ἐκ γόων ποτὲ

τῶν νῦν ἀπαλλάξειαν οἱ κάτω θεοί.

τάδʼ ἐξυβρίζει· πλὴν ὅταν κλύῃ τινὸς

ἥξοντʼ Ὀρέστην· τηνικαῦτα δʼ ἐμμανὴς

βοᾷ παραστᾶσʼ· οὐ σύ μοι τῶνδʼ αἰτία;
295

οὐ σὸν τόδʼ ἐστὶ τοὔργον, ἥτις ἐκ χερῶν

κλέψασʼ Ὀρέστην τῶν ἐμῶν ὑπεξέθου;

ἀλλʼ ἴσθι τοι τίσουσά γʼ ἀξίαν δίκην.

τοιαῦθʼ ὑλακτεῖ, σὺν δʼ ἐποτρύνει πέλας

ὁ κλεινὸς αὐτῇ ταὐτὰ νυμφίος παρών,
300

ὁ πάντʼ ἄναλκις οὗτος, ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη,

ὁ σὺν γυναιξὶ τὰς μάχας ποιούμενος.

ἐγὼ δʼ Ὀρέστην τῶνδε προσμένουσʼ ἀεὶ

παυστῆρʼ ἐφήξειν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἀπόλλυμαι.

μέλλων γὰρ ἀεὶ δρᾶν τι τὰς οὔσας τέ μου
305

καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ἐλπίδας διέφθορεν.

ἐν οὖν τοιούτοις οὔτε σωφρονεῖν, φίλαι,

οὔτʼ εὐσεβεῖν πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ἔν τοι κακοῖς

πολλή ʼστʼ ἀνάγκη κἀπιτηδεύειν κακά.

310

Χορός

φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντος Αἰγίσθου πέλας
310

λέγεις τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἢ βεβῶτος ἐκ δόμων;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ κάρτα· μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλας,

θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖσι τυγχάνει.

Χορός

ἦ κἂν ἐγὼ θαρσοῦσα μᾶλλον ἐς λόγους

τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει;
315

Ἠλέκτρα

ὡς νῦν ἀπόντος ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον;

Χορός

καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ· τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής,

ἥξοντος ἢ μέλλοντος; εἰδέναι θέλω.

Ἠλέκτρα

φησίν γε· φάσκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

Χορός

φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράσσων μέγα.
320

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔσωσʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

Χορός

θάρσει· πέφυκεν ἐσθλός, ὥστʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοις.

Ἠλέκτρα

πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

Χορός

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ εἴπῃς μηδέν· ὡς δόμων ὁρῶ

τὴν σὴν ὅμαιμον ἐκ πατρὸς ταὐτοῦ φύσιν,
325

Χρυσόθεμιν, ἔκ τε μητρός, ἐντάφια χεροῖν

φέρουσαν, οἷα τοῖς κάτω νομίζεται.

Χρυσόθεμις

τίνʼ αὖ σὺ τήνδε πρὸς θυρῶνος ἐξόδοις

ἐλθοῦσα φωνεῖς, ὦ κασιγνήτη, φάτιν,

κοὐδʼ ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ διδαχθῆναι θέλεις
330

θυμῷ ματαίῳ μὴ χαρίζεσθαι κενά;

καίτοι τοσοῦτόν γʼ οἶδα κἀμαυτήν, ὅτι

ἀλγῶ ʼπὶ τοῖς παροῦσιν· ὥστʼ ἄν, εἰ σθένος

λάβοιμι, δηλώσαιμʼ ἂν οἷʼ αὐτοῖς φρονῶ.

νῦν δʼ ἐν κακοῖς μοι πλεῖν ὑφειμένῃ δοκεῖ,
335

καὶ μὴ δοκεῖν μὲν δρᾶν τι, πημαίνειν δὲ μή·

τοιαῦτα δʼ ἄλλα καὶ σὲ βούλομαι ποεῖν.

καίτοι τὸ μὲν δίκαιον οὐχ ᾗ ʼγὼ λέγω,

ἀλλʼ ᾗ σὺ κρίνεις· εἰ δʼ ἐλευθέραν με δεῖ

ζῆν, τῶν κρατούντων ἐστὶ πάντʼ ἀκουστέα.
340

341

Ἠλέκτρα

δεινόν γέ σʼ οὖσαν πατρὸς οὗ σὺ παῖς ἔφυς,

κείνου λελῆσθαι, τῆς δὲ τικτούσης μέλειν.

ἅπαντα γάρ σοι τἀμὰ νουθετήματα

κείνης διδακτά, κοὐδὲν ἐκ σαυτῆς λέγεις.

ἔπειθʼ ἑλοῦ γε θάτερʼ, ἢ φρονεῖν κακῶς
345

ἢ τῶν φίλων φρονοῦσα μὴ μνήμην ἔχειν·

ἥτις λέγεις μὲν ἀρτίως ὡς, εἰ λάβοις

σθένος, τὸ τούτων μῖσος ἐκδείξειας ἄν,

ἐμοῦ δὲ πατρὶ πάντα τιμωρουμένης

οὔτε ξυνέρδεις τήν τε δρῶσαν ἐκτρέπεις.
350

οὐ ταῦτα πρὸς κακοῖσι δειλίαν ἔχει;

ἐπεὶ δίδαξον, ἢ μάθʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ, τί μοι

κέρδος γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδε ληξάσῃ γόων.

οὐ ζῶ; κακῶς μέν, οἶδʼ, ἐπαρκούντως δʼ ἐμοί.

λυπῶ δὲ τούτους, ὥστε τῷ τεθνηκότι
355

τιμὰς προσάπτειν, εἴ τις ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ χάρις.

σὺ δʼ ἡμὶν ἡ μισοῦσα μισεῖς μὲν λόγῳ,

ἔργῳ δὲ τοῖς φονεῦσι τοῦ πατρὸς ξύνει.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ, οὐδʼ εἴ μοι τὰ σὰ

μέλλοι τις οἴσειν δῶρʼ, ἐφʼ οἷσι νῦν χλιδᾷς,
360

τούτοις ὑπεικάθοιμι· σοὶ δὲ πλουσία

τράπεζα κείσθω καὶ περιρρείτω βίος.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἔστω τοὐμὲ μὴ λυπεῖν μόνον

βόσκημα· τῆς σῆς δʼ οὐκ ἐρῶ τιμῆς τυχεῖν,

οὐδʼ ἂν σύ, σώφρων γʼ οὖσα. νῦν δʼ ἐξὸν πατρὸς
365

πάντων ἀρίστου παῖδα κεκλῆσθαι, καλοῦ

τῆς μητρός· οὕτω γὰρ φανεῖ πλείστοις κακή,

θανόντα πατέρα καὶ φίλους προδοῦσα σούς.

369

Χορός

μηδὲν πρὸς ὀργήν, πρὸς θεῶν· ὡς τοῖς λόγοις

ἔνεστιν ἀμφοῖν κέρδος, εἰ σὺ μὲν μάθοις
370

τοῖς τῆσδε χρῆσθαι, τοῖς δὲ σοῖς αὕτη πάλιν.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ γυναῖκες, ἠθάς εἰμί πως

τῶν τῆσδε μύθων· οὐδʼ ἂν ἐμνήσθην ποτέ,

εἰ μὴ κακὸν μέγιστον εἰς αὐτὴν ἰὸν

ἤκουσʼ, ὃ ταύτην τῶν μακρῶν σχήσει γόων.
375

Ἠλέκτρα

φέρʼ εἰπὲ δὴ τὸ δεινόν· εἰ γὰρ τῶνδέ μοι

μεῖζόν τι λέξεις, οὐκ ἂν ἀντείποιμʼ ἔτι.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ ἐξερῶ σοι πᾶν ὅσον κάτοιδʼ ἐγώ.

μέλλουσι γάρ σʼ, εἰ τῶνδε μὴ λήξεις γόων,

ἐνταῦθα πέμψειν ἔνθα μή ποθʼ ἡλίου
380

φέγγος προσόψει, ζῶσα δʼ ἐν κατηρεφεῖ

στέγῃ χθονὸς τῆσδʼ ἐκτὸς ὑμνήσεις κακά.

πρὸς ταῦτα φράζου καί με μή ποθʼ ὕστερον

παθοῦσα μέμψῃ· νῦν γὰρ ἐν καλῷ φρονεῖν.

385

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν;
385

Χρυσόθεμις

μάλισθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

Χρυσόθεμις

τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

Χρυσόθεμις

ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν;
390

Ἠλέκτρα

ὅπως ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡς προσωτάτω φύγω.

Χρυσόθεμις

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

Ἠλέκτρα

καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

Ἠλέκτρα

μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν.
395

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

σὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

Χρυσόθεμις

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ʼξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

πεσούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

Χρυσόθεμις

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει.
400

Ἠλέκτρα

ταῦτʼ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

σὺ δʼ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δῆτα· μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδʼ εἴην κενή.

Χρυσόθεμις

χωρήσομαί τἄρʼ οἷπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῖ δʼ ἐμπορεύει; τῷ φέρεις τάδʼ ἔμπυρα;
405

Χρυσόθεμις

μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

Χρυσόθεμις

ὃν ἔκτανʼ αὐτή· τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτʼ ἤρεσεν;

Χρυσόθεμις

ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί;
410

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γʼ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

Ἠλέκτρα

εἴ μοι λέγοις τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμʼ ἂν τότε.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν φράσαι.

415

Ἠλέκτρα

λέγʼ ἀλλὰ τοῦτο· πολλά τοι σμικροὶ λόγοι
415

ἔσφηλαν ἤδη καὶ κατώρθωσαν βροτούς.

Χρυσόθεμις

λόγος τις αὐτήν ἐστιν εἰσιδεῖν πατρὸς

τοῦ σοῦ τε κἀμοῦ δευτέραν ὁμιλίαν

ἐλθόντος ἐς φῶς· εἶτα τόνδʼ ἐφέστιον

πῆξαι λαβόντα σκῆπτρον οὑφόρει ποτὲ
420

αὐτός, τανῦν δʼ Αἴγισθος· ἐκ δὲ τοῦδʼ ἄνω

βλαστεῖν βρύοντα θαλλόν, ᾧ κατάσκιον

πᾶσαν γενέσθαι τὴν Μυκηναίων χθόνα.

τοιαῦτά του παρόντος, ἡνίχʼ Ἡλίῳ

δείκνυσι τοὔναρ, ἔκλυον ἐξηγουμένου.
425

πλείω δὲ τούτων οὐ κάτοιδα, πλὴν ὅτι

πέμπει με κείνη τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου χάριν.

πρός νυν θεῶν σε λίσσομαι τῶν ἐγγενῶν

ἐμοὶ πιθέσθαι μηδʼ ἀβουλίᾳ πεσεῖν·

εἰ γάρ μʼ ἀπώσει, σὺν κακῷ μέτει πάλιν.
430

431

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη, τούτων μὲν ὧν ἔχεις χεροῖν

τύμβῳ προσάψῃς μηδέν· οὐ γάρ σοι θέμις

οὐδʼ ὅσιον ἐχθρᾶς ἀπὸ γυναικὸς ἱστάναι

κτερίσματʼ οὐδὲ λουτρὰ προσφέρειν πατρί·

ἀλλʼ ἢ πνοαῖσιν ἢ βαθυσκαφεῖ κόνει
435

κρύψον νιν, ἔνθα μή ποτʼ εἰς εὐνὴν πατρὸς

τούτων πρόσεισι μηδέν· ἀλλʼ ὅταν θάνῃ

κειμήλιʼ αὐτῇ ταῦτα σῳζέσθω κάτω.

ἀρχὴν δʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τλημονεστάτη γυνὴ

πασῶν ἔβλαστε, τάσδε δυσμενεῖς χοὰς
440

οὐκ ἄν ποθʼ ὅν γʼ ἔκτεινε, τῷδʼ ἐπέστεφε.

σκέψαι γὰρ εἴ σοι προσφιλῶς αὐτῇ δοκεῖ

γέρα τάδʼ οὑν τάφοισι δέξεσθαι νέκυς,

ὑφʼ ἧς θανὼν ἄτιμος, ὥστε δυσμενής,

ἐμασχαλίσθη, κἀπὶ λουτροῖσιν κάρᾳ
445

κηλῖδας ἐξέμαξεν. ἆρα μὴ δοκεῖς

λυτήριʼ αὐτῇ ταῦτα τοῦ φόνου φέρειν;

οὐχ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν μέθες· σὺ δὲ

τεμοῦσα κρατὸς βοστρύχων ἄκρας φόβας

κἀμοῦ ταλαίνης, σμικρὰ μὲν τάδʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅμως
450

ἅχω, δὸς αὐτῷ, τήνδʼ ἀλιπαρῆ τρίχα

καὶ ζῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐ χλιδαῖς ἠσκημένον.

αἰτοῦ δὲ προσπίτνουσα γῆθεν εὐμενῆ

ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸν αὐτὸν εἰς ἐχθροὺς μολεῖν,

καὶ παῖδʼ Ὀρέστην ἐξ ὑπερτέρας χερὸς
455

ἐχθροῖσιν αὐτοῦ ζῶντʼ ἐπεμβῆναι ποδί,

ὅπως τὸ λοιπὸν αὐτὸν ἀφνεωτέραις

χερσὶν στέφωμεν ἢ τανῦν δωρούμεθα.

οἶμαι μὲν οὖν, οἶμαί τι κἀκείνῳ μέλον

πέμψαι τάδʼ αὐτῇ δυσπρόσοπτʼ ὀνείρατα·
460

ὅμως δʼ, ἀδελφή, σοί θʼ ὑπούργησον τάδε

ἐμοί τʼ ἀρωγὰ τῷ τε φιλτάτῳ βροτῶν

πάντων, ἐν Ἅιδου κειμένῳ κοινῷ πατρί.

464

Χορός

πρὸς εὐσέβειαν ἡ κόρη λέγει· σὺ δέ,

εἰ σωφρονήσεις, ὦ φίλη, δράσεις τάδε.
465

Χρυσόθεμις

δράσω· τὸ γὰρ δίκαιον οὐχ ἔχει λόγον

δυοῖν ἐρίζειν, ἀλλʼ ἐπισπεύδειν τὸ δρᾶν.

πειρωμένῃ δὲ τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων ἐμοὶ

σιγὴ παρʼ ὑμῶν, πρὸς θεῶν, ἔστω, φίλαι·

ὡς εἰ τάδʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα πεύσεται, πικρὰν
470

δοκῶ με πεῖραν τήνδε τολμήσειν ἔτι.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 251 focus

No more! I see approaching from the house

Thy sister by both parents of thy blood,

Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering,

Such as old custom yields to those below.

CHRYSOTHEMIS
Enter CHRYSOTHEMIS .

What converse keeps thee now beyond the gates,

Dear sister? why this talk in the open day?

Wilt thou not learn after so long to cease

From vain indulgence of a bootless rage?

I know in my own breast that I am pained

By what thou griev’st at, and if I had power,

My censure of their deeds would soon be known.

But in misfortune I have chosen to sail

With lowered canvas, rather than provoke

With puny strokes invulnerable foes.

I would thou didst the like: though I must own

The right is on thy side, and not on mine.

But if I mean to dwell at liberty,

I must obey in all the stronger will.

EL

’Tis strange and pitiful, thy father’s child

Can leave him in oblivion and subserve

The mother. All thy schooling of me springs

From her suggestion, not of thine own wit.

Sure, either thou art senseless, or thy sense

Deserts thy friends. Treason or dulness then?

Choose!—You declared but now, if you had strength,

You would display your hatred of this pair.

Yet, when I plan full vengeance for my sire,

You aid me not, but turn me from the attempt.

What’s this but adding cowardice to evil?
255

For tell me, or be patient till I show,
255

What should I gain by ceasing this my moan?
255

I live to vex them:—though my life be poor,
255

Yet that suffices, for I honour him,
255

My father,—if affection touch the dead.
255

You say you hate them, but belie your word,
255

Consorting with our father’s murderers.
255

I then, were all the gifts in which you glory
255

Laid at my feet, will never more obey
255

This tyrant power. I leave you your rich board

And life of luxury. Ne’er be it mine to feed

On dainties that would poison my heart’s peace!

I care not for such honour as thou hast.

Nor wouldst thou care if thou wert wise. But now,

Having the noblest of all men for sire,

Be called thy mother’s offspring; so shall most

Discern thine infamy and traitorous mind

To thy dead father and thy dearest kin.

CH

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 251 focus

Ich bin gekommen, Tochter, um dein Wohl zugleich

Und meins bekümmert. Sprech' ich denn das Rechte nicht,

So möge dein Wort gelten; denn dir folgen wir.
245

Elektra.

Erröthen muß ich, Frauen, schein' ich euch zu sehr

Von meines Jammers Uebermaß bewältiget.

Doch weil Gewaltthat also mich zu handeln zwingt,

Vergebt mir: denn wie möchte wohl ein edles Weib

Des Hauses Unglück sehen und nicht also thun?
250

Und dieses muß ich jeden Tag und jede Nacht

In neuer Fülle mehr erblüh'n als welken sehn.

Mir wird von meiner Mutter, ihr, die mich gebar,

Gelohnt mit bitterm Hasse nur; im eignen Haus

Wohn' ich mit ihnen, die den Vater mordeten,
255

Zusammen, ihnen unterthan, und sie allein

Bestimmen, ob ich darben, ob empfangen soll.

Und welche Tage glaubet ihr, verleb' ich wohl,

Wenn ich Aegisthos sizen seh' auf jenem Thron,

Dem Thron des Vaters, sehe mit Gewanden ihn,
260

Die dieser trug, bekleidet, und am Hausaltar

Trankopfer spenden, wo er ihn ermordete?

Und wenn ich dann der Frevel höchsten sehen muß,

Im Lager meines Vaters ihn, den Mörder selbst,

Mit meiner Unglücksmutter, darf ich Mutter noch
265

Die Freche nennen, die mit ihm das Lager theilt,

Die sonder Scham dem fluchbeladnen Manne sich

Verband, von keiner Rachegöttin Zorn geschreckt,

Nein, wie zum Hohne dessen, was sie frevelte,

Bei jenes Tages Wiederkehr, an welchem einst¹
270

Sie meinen Vater tückevoll gemordet hat,

Festreigentänze feiert und den rettenden

Gottheiten Lämmer jeden Mond als Opfer weiht.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 251 focus

He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er

Forget his friends : be confident.

Electra

I am,

Were I not so I had not lived till now.

Chorus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 251-470 focus

Chorus

I came, my child, mindful of your interests no less than my own. But if what I say is wrong, let your way prevail; for united we will follow you.

Electra

I am ashamed, my friends, if you judge me

too intolerant with my many laments; but, since rough compulsion forces me to act this way, forgive me. How indeed could any woman of noble nature not act, when she sees her father’s sufferings as I see them day and night continually,
255

and flourishing rather than fading? First, everything to do with the mother who bore me has become most hateful towards me; next, in my own home I live with my father’s murderers; they rule over me and from them
260

equally I either have or do without.
And then think what manner of days I pass, when I see Aegisthus sitting on my father’s throne; when I look on him wearing the very robes which my father wore and
265

pouring libations at the hearth where he killed him; and when I see the chief outrage of them all, the murderer in my father’s bed at my wretched mother’s side, if I must call her mother, even though she shares her bed with that man.
270

So hardened is she that she joins with this polluter, fearing no Erinys. No, as if laughing at her deeds, having found the day on which in the past she treacherously killed my father,
275

she celebrates it with dance and song, and in monthly rites she sacrifices sheep to the gods who worked her deliverance.
280

282

But I, as I joylessly witness it, cry out, waste away in the house and bewail the unholy feast named after my father,

in solitary weeping. For I cannot even grieve to the full extent which would please my heart, since this lady, who is in fact no lady, loudly reproaches me with such shameless taunts as these: Wicked and hateful girl, have you alone lost your father,and is no one else in the world grieving? May your death be harsh, and may the gods below never free you from your current mourning. Just so she abuses me, except when she gets word that Orestes is coming. Then, infuriated,
285

she comes up to me and cries;— Have you not brought this upon me? Is this not your doing, since you stole Orestes from my hands and secretly sent him away? Yes—but rest assured that you will be justly punished. Like this she barks, and in agreement
295

her glorious bridegroom by her side urges her on—that total impotent, that utter plague who fights his battles with the help of women. But my heart is broken by my suffering as I constantly wait for Orestes to come and end these troubles.

300

For the perpetual imminence of his actions has eradicated every hope that I could conceive. In such a state of affairs, then, friends, there is no room for self-restraint or for reverence. Rather, in these dire straits there is much need to pursue a dire course.
305

310

Chorus

Tell me, is Aegisthus nearby as you speak these words to us, or has he left the house?
310

Electra

He is gone, to be sure. Do not think that I would have come to the doors, if he were nearby. He happens now to be in the country.

Chorus

Might I converse with you

more boldly, if this is so?
315

Electra

He is not here, so question me. What is it you want?

Chorus

I ask you, then, what report can you give of your brother? Will he come soon, or is he delaying? I wish to know.

Electra

He says he will come, but although he promises he never does what he says.

Chorus

True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking.
320

Electra

And yet I saved him with no hesitation.

Chorus

Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.

Electra

I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.

Chorus

Say no more now, since I see your sister

coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below.
325

Enter Chrysothemis, from the house.

Chrysothemis

What is this speech of yours, sister, which you have come forth yet again to speak at the public doors?

Will you not learn with any lapse of time to end your vain indulgence in futile anger? Yet this much I know—that I myself am saddened by our present circumstances; indeed so much so that, could I find the strength, I would bare my feelings towards them.
330

But now, in these evil times I think it best to navigate with shortened sail so that I may not seem to be on the attack, when I am unable to cause harm. I wish that your own conduct were the same! Nevertheless, right is on the side which you favor, not on that which I advise. But if I am to live the life of the freeborn,
335

those in power must be obeyed in all things.
340

341

Electra

It is strange, indeed, that you, the daughter of our father from whom you grew, should forget him and instead show concern for your mother! All your admonitions to me have been taught by her; you speak no word of your own.

So now take your choice: be imprudent, or be prudent, but forgetful of your friends. You have just said that if could you find the strength, you would show your hatred of them; yet, when I am doing my utmost to avenge our father,
345

you do not work with me, but seek to deflect your sister from her deed.
Does this not add cowardice to our miseries? Therefore instruct me, or rather learn from me what gain there might be for me if I ended my lamentation. Am I not now alive? Miserably so, I know, but well enough for me.
350

And I hurt them, and thereby affix an honorable tribute to the dead, in case those in that world can enjoy it and feel gratitude. But you, who tell me of your hatred, hate in word alone, while by your behavior you unite with the murderers of our father. I, however, would never yield to them, not even if
355

one of them were to bring to me the gifts in which you now glory. Let yours be the richly-spread table and superabundant lifestyle. As for me, let my sustenance be only that I do not wound my own conscience—I do not covet such privilege as yours and
360

neither would you, if you had self-control. But now, when you could be called the child of the noblest father among men, be called instead your mother’s daughter, for in this way your corruptness will be evident to the greatest number as you betray your dead father and your true friends.
365

369

Chorus

Away with anger, for the gods’ sake! There is

advantage for both of you in what is urged, if you, Electra, would learn to implement her advice, and she, again, yours.
370

Chrysothemis

For my part, friends, I am not at all unaccustomed to her insults, nor would I have mentioned this, if I had not heard that the greatest disaster is now rushing down on her,

one which will restrain her from her long mourning.
375

Electra

Come then, name this terror! If you can tell me of anything worse than my present condition, I would resist no more.

Chrysothemis

I will tell you all that I know. If you will not cease from your mourning, they intend

to send you where you will never look upon the sun’s brilliance, but passing your life in a covered chamber beyond this land’s borders you will make hymns of your calamity. Think on this, and do not blame me later, when you suffer. Now is the time to think wisely.
380

385

Electra

Have they in fact decided to do this to me?
385

Chrysothemis

They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra

Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis

Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra

That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis

So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits?
390

Electra

So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis

Have you no care for the life you lead now?

Electra

oh, yes, my life is so wondrously fine.

Chrysothemis

It would be, if only you learned good sense.

Electra

Do not teach me to betray my friends.
395

Chrysothemis

I do not, but to bend before the strong.

Electra

Keep your flattery to yourself; it is not in my character.

Chrysothemis

Regardless, it brings no honor to fall through senselessness.

Electra

I will fall, if need be, while honoring my father.

Chrysothemis

But our father, I know, pardons me for this.
400

Electra

It is for cowards to commend such sentiments.

Chrysothemis

So you will not be persuaded to agree with me?

Electra

No, indeed; may I not yet be so devoid of intelligence.

Chrysothemis

Then I will move on to where I was sent.

Electra

And where is it that you go? For whom do you take these offerings to be burned?
405

Chrysothemis

Mother sends me with funeral libations for our father.

Electra

What are you saying? For her deadliest enemy?

Chrysothemis

Whom she herself killed, no doubt you wanted to say this as well.

Electra

What friend persuaded her? Whose idea was it?

Chrysothemis

The cause, I think, was fear induced by some vision in the night.
410

Electra

My father’s Gods! Stand with me now at last!

Chrysothemis

Do you find something heartening in this terror?

Electra

If you would tell me the vision, then I could answer.

Chrysothemis

I know no more than a small part of the story.

415

Electra

Tell me that, anyway; a small tale has often before now tripped men up, or set them upright.
415

Chrysothemis

It is said that she saw the father of you and of me restored to the sunlight and to her company once more. Then he took the scepter—

once his own, but now carried by Aegisthus—and planted it at the hearth. From it branched upward a flourishing limb, by which the whole land of the Mycenaeans was overshadowed. Such was the tale that I heard told by one who was present
420

when she revealed her dream to the Sun-god. More than this I do not know, except that she sent me by reason of this fear of hers. Now, I beg you by our ancestral gods, obey me, and do not fall in your senselessness!
425

If you reject me now, it is in misery that you will next seek me out.
430

431

Electra

Dear sister, let none of these offerings in your hands touch the tomb. For neither divine law nor piety allows you to dedicate funeral gifts or bring libations to our father from his hateful wife.

No! To the winds with them! Or cover them in a deep, dusty hole, where not one of them will ever come near our father’s resting place. Rather let these treasures be preserved for her below when she dies. Were she not by nature the most audacious
435

of all women, she would never at all have tried to pour these ill-willed offerings to the man she killed. Consider whether you believe that the dead in his tomb will welcome this tribute with affection towards her, by whose hand he died dishonored and was mutilated
440

like an enemy? She, who, as if to wash herself clean, wiped off the bloodstains on his head? Surely you do not believe that your bringing these things will absolve her of the murder?
It is not possible. No, be rid of them. Give him instead a lock of your hair’s ends, cut from your own head,
445

and from wretched me, too, give these gifts, poor as they are, though all I have. Take this hair, not glossy with unguents, and this girdle, decked with no rich ornament. Then fall down and pray that he himself may come in kindness to us from the world below, a helper against our enemies;
450

and that young Orestes may live to set his foot upon our enemies in superior might, so that hereafter we may crown our father’s tomb with wealthier hands than those with which we honor him now.
I think, yes, I think that he too had some part
455

in sending her these appalling dreams. Still, sister, do yourself this service and help me, and him, too, that most beloved of all men, who rests in Hades’ domain, our shared father.
460

464

Chorus

The girl’s advice is pious; you,

dear friend, will do what she says, if you are wise.
465

Chrysothemis

I will. In regard to a just deed, it is unreasonable for two people to argue, but reasonable to jump to action. But, by the gods, my friends, when I attempt this task, let me have your silence,

since if my mother hears of it, I believe that this attempt which I will dare shall in the end cause me bitterness. Exit Chrysothemis on the spectators’ right.
470

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-146-1 πολλοῖσι θρήνοις ¹

mvp-comment-147-1 ἀλλὰ … γὰρ ²

mvp-comment-148-1 ἥτις εὐγενὴς γυνή ³

mvp-comment-149-1 πατρῷα … πήματα ⁴

mvp-comment-150-1 κατ’ εὐφρόνην ⁵

mvp-comment-150-2 θάλλοντα ⁶

mvp-comment-151-1 ᾗ ⁷

mvp-comment-151-2 πρῶτα μὲν … εἶτα … ἔπειτα ⁸ ᾗ ⁹

mvp-comment-151-3 τὰ μητρὸς ¹⁰

mvp-comment-151-4 ἔχθιστα συμβέβηκεν ¹¹

mvp-comment-152-1 κἀκ τῶνδ’ ἄρχομαι ¹²

mvp-comment-153-1 λαβεῖν … τὸ τητᾶσθαι ¹³

mvp-comment-154-1 ποίας ¹⁴ δοκεῖς ¹⁵

mvp-comment-155-1 ἴδω ¹⁶ εἰσίδω δ’ ¹⁷ ἴδω δὲ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-155-2 μὲν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-156-1 ἐσθήματα ²⁰

mvp-comment-156-2 ἐκείνῳ ²¹

mvp-comment-156-3 παρεστίους … λοιβάς ²² ἔνθ’ ἐκεῖνον ὤλεσεν ²³

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 ²⁴

mvp-comment-158-1 αὐτοέντην ²⁵

mvp-comment-158-2 Brunck first adopted αὐτοέντην ²⁶ αὐτοφόντην ²⁷

mvp-comment-158-3 ἡμὶν ²⁸

mvp-comment-159-1 ταλαίνῃ ²⁹

mvp-comment-160-1 ταύτην … τῷδε ³⁰

mvp-comment-161-1 μιάστορι ³¹ Ἐρινὺν ³²

mvp-comment-162-1 ἐγγελῶσα τοῖς ποιουμένοις ³³

mvp-comment-163-1 εὑροῦς’ ³⁴ τότε ³⁵

mvp-comment-163-2 The conjecture φρουροῦς’ ³⁶ τηροῦς’ ³⁷

mvp-comment-164-1 χοροὺς ἵστησι ³⁸

mvp-comment-164-2 μηλοσφαγεῖ … ἱερὰ ³⁹

mvp-comment-164-3 ἔμμην’ ἱερά ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-164-4 τοῖς σωτηρίοις ⁴¹

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 ⁴² κατὰ στέγας ⁴³

mvp-comment-166-1 τέτηκα ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-166-2 πατρὸς ⁴⁵

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 ⁴⁶ αὑτήν ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-167-2 κλαῦσαι ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-167-3 ἡδονὴν φέρει ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-168-1 ἡ λόγοισι γενναία ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-169-1 φωνοῦσα ⁵¹

mvp-comment-170-1 δύσθεον ⁵²

mvp-comment-170-2 μίσημα ⁵³

mvp-comment-170-3 σοὶ μόνῃ ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-170-4 τέθνηκεν ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-170-5 ἐν πένθει ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-171-1 ἐκ γόων ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-171-2 οἱ κάτω θεοί ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-172-1 τάδ’ ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-172-2 ἥξοντ’ Ὀρέστην ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-173-1 παραστᾶς’ ⁶¹

mvp-comment-174-1 ἥτις ⁶²

mvp-comment-174-2 ὑπεξέθου ⁶³

mvp-comment-175-1 ἀλλ’ ἴσθι τοι τείσουσά γ’ ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-176-1 ὑλακτεῖ ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-176-2 σὺν ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-176-3 πέλας ⁶⁷ παρών ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-176-4 301 The adv. πάντα ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-176-5 ἄναλκις ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-176-6 ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη ⁷¹

mvp-comment-177-1 σὺν γυναιξὶ ⁷²

mvp-comment-177-2 τὰς μάχας ⁷³

mvp-comment-178-1 ἐφήξειν ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-179-1 μέλλων … δρᾶν τι ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-179-2 τὰς οὔσας τε … καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-179-3 μου ⁷⁷ μοι ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-179-4 διέφθορεν ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-180-1 σωφρονεῖν ⁸⁰ εὐσεβεῖν ⁸¹

mvp-comment-180-2 ἔν τοι κακοῖς ⁸²

mvp-comment-180-3 πολλή )στ’ ἀνάγκη ⁸³ κἀπιτηδεύειν κακά ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-180-4 I place only a comma, not a colon, after πάρεστιν ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-181-1 ὄντος … βεβῶτος ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-182-1 ἦ κάρτα ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-182-2 θυραῖον ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-182-3 οἰχνεῖν ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-182-4 ἀγροῖσι ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-182-5 τυγχάνει ⁹¹

mvp-comment-183-1 ἦ κἂν … ἱκοίμην ⁹² ἦ τ<*>ν ⁹³ ἦ δἂν ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-183-2 ἐς λόγους τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-184-1 ὡς νῦν ⁹⁶ ὥς νυν ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-184-2 ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον ⁹⁸ τό ⁹⁹ τά ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-184-3 With the other punctuation, ἱστόρει τί σοι φίλον ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-185-1 καὶ δὴ ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-185-2 τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-185-3 ἥξοντος ¹⁰⁴ ἢ μέλλοντος ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-186-1 φησίν γε ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-186-2 ποεῖ ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-187-1 καὶ μὴν ἔγωγ’ ¹⁰⁸ γε ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-187-2 οὐκ ὄκνῳ ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-188-1 ἀρκεῖν ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-189-1 ἐπεί ¹¹²

mvp-comment-189-2 μακρὰν ¹¹³

mvp-comment-189-3 324 Here, as in 316, νῦν ¹¹⁴ νυν ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-189-4 δόμων ¹¹⁶ φέρουσαν ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-190-1 ὅμαιμον ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-190-2 φύσιν ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-191-1 Χρυσόθεμιν ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-192-1 οἷα ¹²¹ νομίζεται ¹²²

mvp-comment-193-1 πρὸς θυρῶνος ἐξόδοις ¹²³ φωνεῖς ¹²⁴ ἐλθοῦσα ¹²⁵ αὖ ¹²⁶

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

mvp-comment-194-1 θυμῷ … χαρίζεσθαι ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-195-1 καίτοι τοσοῦτόν γ’ οἶδα ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-195-2 κἀμαυτήν, ὅτι ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-195-3 333 f. For the repeated ἄν ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-195-4 οἶ) αὐτοῖς φρονῶ ¹³¹

mvp-comment-196-1 ὑφειμένῃ ¹³² πλεῖν ¹³³

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 ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-198-1 τοιαῦτα δ’ ἄλλα ¹³⁵ ἀλλὰ ¹³⁶ ἄλλα ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-199-1 καίτοι τὸ μὲν δίκαιον ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-199-2 κρίνεις ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-199-3 εἰ … με δεῖ ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-199-4 ἐλευθέραν ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-199-5 ζῆν ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-199-6 πάντ’ ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-199-7 ἀκουστέα ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-200-1 δεινόν γε ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-201-1 τῆς … τικτούσης ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-201-2 μέλειν ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-202-1 τἀμὰ νουθετήματα ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-202-2 κείνης διδακτά ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-202-3 ἐκ σαυτῆς ¹⁵⁰

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’ ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-203-4 ἑλοῦ γε ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-203-5 φρονεῖν κακῶς ¹⁵³

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 ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-205-1 ἥτις ¹⁵⁵ φρονοῦσα ¹⁵⁶ μῖσος ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-206-1 πάντα ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-206-2 τιμωρουμένης ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-207-1 οὔτε … τε ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-207-2 τήν τε δρῶσαν ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-208-1 πρὸς κακοῖσι ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-208-2 δειλίαν ἔχει ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-209-1 ἐπεὶ ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-209-2 ἢ μάθ’ ἐξ ἐμοῦ ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-210-1 ἐπαρκούντως ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-211-1 προσάπτειν ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-211-2 εἴ τις ἔστ’ ἐκεῖ χάρις ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-212-1 ἡμὶν ¹⁶⁹ ξύνει ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-213-1 τὰ σὰ … δῶῤ ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-213-2 ἐφ’ οἶσι ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-213-3 χλιδᾷς ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-214-1 ὑπεικάθοιμι ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-214-2 πλουσία ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-214-3 περιρρείτω ¹⁷⁶

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

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.

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Chorus

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ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσ᾽ ἅμα καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶς λέγω, σὺ νίκα· σοὶ γὰρ ἐψόμεσθ᾽ ἅμα.

ΗΛ. αἰσχύνομαι μέν, ὦ γυναῖκες, εἰ δοκῶ πολλοῖσι θρήνοις δυσφορεῖν ὑμῖν ἄγαν. 255 ἀλλ᾽ ἡ βία γὰρ ταῦτ᾽ ἀναγκάζει με δρᾶν,

Χορός ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσʼ ἅμα καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶς λέγω, σὺ νίκα· σοὶ γὰρ ἑψόμεσθʼ ἅμα.

Χορός φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντος Αἰγίσθου πέλας 310 λέγεις τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἢ βεβῶτος ἐκ δόμων;

Ἠλέκτρα ἦ κάρτα· μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλας, θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖσι τυγχάνει.

Χορός ἦ κἂν ἐγὼ θαρσοῦσα μᾶλλον ἐς λόγους τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει; 315

Ἠλέκτρα ὡς νῦν ἀπόντος ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον;

Χορός καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ· τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής, ἥξοντος ἢ μέλλοντος; εἰδέναι θέλω.

Ἠλέκτρα φησίν γε· φάσκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

Χορός φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράσσων μέγα. 320

Ἠλέκτρα καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔσωσʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

Χορός θάρσει· πέφυκεν ἐσθλός, ὥστʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοις.

Ἠλέκτρα πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

Χορός μηδὲν πρὸς ὀργήν, πρὸς θεῶν· ὡς τοῖς λόγοις ἔνεστιν ἀμφοῖν κέρδος, εἰ σὺ μὲν μάθοις 370 τοῖς τῆσδε χρῆσθαι, τοῖς δὲ σοῖς αὕτη πάλιν.

Ἠλέκτρα φέρʼ εἰπὲ δὴ τὸ δεινόν· εἰ γὰρ τῶνδέ μοι μεῖζόν τι λέξεις, οὐκ ἂν ἀντείποιμʼ ἔτι.

Ἠλέκτρα ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν; 385

Χρυσόθεμις μάλισθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

Χρυσόθεμις τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

Ἠλέκτρα ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

Χρυσόθεμις ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν; 390

Ἠλέκτρα ὅπως ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡς προσωτάτω φύγω.

Χρυσόθεμις βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

Ἠλέκτρα καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

Ἠλέκτρα μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν. 395

Χρυσόθεμις ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα σὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

Χρυσόθεμις καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ʼξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα πεσούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

Χρυσόθεμις πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει. 400

Ἠλέκτρα ταῦτʼ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις σὺ δʼ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

Ἠλέκτρα οὐ δῆτα· μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδʼ εἴην κενή.

Χρυσόθεμις χωρήσομαί τἄρʼ οἷπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

Ἠλέκτρα ποῖ δʼ ἐμπορεύει; τῷ φέρεις τάδʼ ἔμπυρα; 405

Χρυσόθεμις μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

Ἠλέκτρα πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

Χρυσόθεμις ὃν ἔκτανʼ αὐτή· τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

Ἠλέκτρα ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτʼ ἤρεσεν;

Χρυσόθεμις ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί; 410

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γʼ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

Χρυσόθεμις ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

Ἠλέκτρα εἴ μοι λέγοις τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμʼ ἂν τότε.

Χρυσόθεμις ἀλλʼ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν φράσαι.

Ἠλέκτρα λέγʼ ἀλλὰ τοῦτο· πολλά τοι σμικροὶ λόγοι 415 ἔσφηλαν ἤδη καὶ κατώρθωσαν βροτούς.

Χορός πρὸς εὐσέβειαν ἡ κόρη λέγει· σὺ δέ, εἰ σωφρονήσεις, ὦ φίλη, δράσεις τάδε. 465

No more! I see approaching from the house Thy sister by both parents of thy blood, Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering, Such as old custom yields to those below.

CH

Ich bin gekommen, Tochter, um dein Wohl zugleich Und meins bekümmert. Sprech' ich denn das Rechte nicht, So möge dein Wort gelten; denn dir folgen wir. 245

He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er Forget his friends : be confident.

Electra I am, Were I not so I had not lived till now.

Chorus

Chorus I came, my child, mindful of your interests no less than my own. But if what I say is wrong, let your way prevail; for united we will follow you.

Chorus Tell me, is Aegisthus nearby as you speak these words to us, or has he left the house? 310

Electra He is gone, to be sure. Do not think that I would have come to the doors, if he were nearby. He happens now to be in the country.

Chorus Might I converse with you more boldly, if this is so? 315

Electra He is not here, so question me. What is it you want?

Chorus I ask you, then, what report can you give of your brother? Will he come soon, or is he delaying? I wish to know.

Electra He says he will come, but although he promises he never does what he says.

Chorus True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking. 320

Electra And yet I saved him with no hesitation.

Chorus Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.

Electra I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.

Chorus Say no more now, since I see your sister coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below. 325

Chorus Away with anger, for the gods’ sake! There is advantage for both of you in what is urged, if you, Electra, would learn to implement her advice, and she, again, yours. 370

Chrysothemis For my part, friends, I am not at all unaccustomed to her insults, nor would I have mentioned this, if I had not heard that the greatest disaster is now rushing down on her, one which will restrain her from her long mourning. 375

Electra Come then, name this terror! If you can tell me of anything worse than my present condition, I would resist no more.

Electra Have they in fact decided to do this to me? 385

Chrysothemis They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits? 390

Electra So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis Have you no care for the life you lead now?

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσ᾽ ἅμα

καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶς

λέγω, σὺ νίκα· σοὶ γὰρ ἐψόμεσθ᾽ ἅμα.

ΗΛ.

αἰσχύνομαι μέν, ὦ γυναῖκες, εἰ δοκῶ

πολλοῖσι θρήνοις δυσφορεῖν ὑμῖν ἄγαν.
255

ἀλλ᾽ ἡ βία γὰρ ταῦτ᾽ ἀναγκάζει με δρᾶν,

Χορός

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσʼ ἅμα

καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶς

λέγω, σὺ νίκα· σοὶ γὰρ ἑψόμεσθʼ ἅμα.

Χορός

φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντος Αἰγίσθου πέλας
310

λέγεις τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἢ βεβῶτος ἐκ δόμων;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ κάρτα· μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλας,

θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖσι τυγχάνει.

Χορός

ἦ κἂν ἐγὼ θαρσοῦσα μᾶλλον ἐς λόγους

τοὺς σοὺς ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει;
315

Ἠλέκτρα

ὡς νῦν ἀπόντος ἱστόρει· τί σοι φίλον;

Χορός

καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ· τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής,

ἥξοντος ἢ μέλλοντος; εἰδέναι θέλω.

Ἠλέκτρα

φησίν γε· φάσκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

Χορός

φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράσσων μέγα.
320

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔσωσʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

Χορός

θάρσει· πέφυκεν ἐσθλός, ὥστʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοις.

Ἠλέκτρα

πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

Χορός

μηδὲν πρὸς ὀργήν, πρὸς θεῶν· ὡς τοῖς λόγοις

ἔνεστιν ἀμφοῖν κέρδος, εἰ σὺ μὲν μάθοις
370

τοῖς τῆσδε χρῆσθαι, τοῖς δὲ σοῖς αὕτη πάλιν.

Ἠλέκτρα

φέρʼ εἰπὲ δὴ τὸ δεινόν· εἰ γὰρ τῶνδέ μοι

μεῖζόν τι λέξεις, οὐκ ἂν ἀντείποιμʼ ἔτι.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν;
385

Χρυσόθεμις

μάλισθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγισθος μόλῃ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

Χρυσόθεμις

τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράσω λόγον;

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

Χρυσόθεμις

ὅπως πάθῃς τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν;
390

Ἠλέκτρα

ὅπως ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡς προσωτάτω φύγω.

Χρυσόθεμις

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντος οὐ μνείαν ἔχεις;

Ἠλέκτρα

καλὸς γὰρ οὑμὸς βίοτος ὥστε θαυμάσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ σύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίστασο.

Ἠλέκτρα

μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν.
395

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάσκω· τοῖς κρατοῦσι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

σὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺς τρόπους λέγεις.

Χρυσόθεμις

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ʼξ ἀβουλίας πεσεῖν.

Ἠλέκτρα

πεσούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

Χρυσόθεμις

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει.
400

Ἠλέκτρα

ταῦτʼ ἐστὶ τἄπη πρὸς κακῶν ἐπαινέσαι.

Χρυσόθεμις

σὺ δʼ οὐχὶ πείσει καὶ συναινέσεις ἐμοί;

Ἠλέκτρα

οὐ δῆτα· μή πω νοῦ τοσόνδʼ εἴην κενή.

Χρυσόθεμις

χωρήσομαί τἄρʼ οἷπερ ἐστάλην ὁδοῦ.

Ἠλέκτρα

ποῖ δʼ ἐμπορεύει; τῷ φέρεις τάδʼ ἔμπυρα;
405

Χρυσόθεμις

μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦσαι χοάς.

Ἠλέκτρα

πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τῷ δυσμενεστάτῳ βροτῶν;

Χρυσόθεμις

ὃν ἔκτανʼ αὐτή· τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πεισθεῖσα; τῷ τοῦτʼ ἤρεσεν;

Χρυσόθεμις

ἐκ δείματός του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί;
410

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γʼ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἔχεις τι θάρσος τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβους πέρι;

Ἠλέκτρα

εἴ μοι λέγοις τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμʼ ἂν τότε.

Χρυσόθεμις

ἀλλʼ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ σμικρὸν φράσαι.

Ἠλέκτρα

λέγʼ ἀλλὰ τοῦτο· πολλά τοι σμικροὶ λόγοι
415

ἔσφηλαν ἤδη καὶ κατώρθωσαν βροτούς.

Χορός

πρὸς εὐσέβειαν ἡ κόρη λέγει· σὺ δέ,

εἰ σωφρονήσεις, ὦ φίλη, δράσεις τάδε.
465

No more! I see approaching from the house

Thy sister by both parents of thy blood,

Chrysothemis; in her hand an offering,

Such as old custom yields to those below.

Ich bin gekommen, Tochter, um dein Wohl zugleich

Und meins bekümmert. Sprech' ich denn das Rechte nicht,

So möge dein Wort gelten; denn dir folgen wir.
245

He boasts a noble nature, and will ne'er

Forget his friends : be confident.

Electra

I am,

Were I not so I had not lived till now.

Chorus

I came, my child, mindful of your interests no less than my own. But if what I say is wrong, let your way prevail; for united we will follow you.

Chorus

Tell me, is Aegisthus nearby as you speak these words to us, or has he left the house?
310

Electra

He is gone, to be sure. Do not think that I would have come to the doors, if he were nearby. He happens now to be in the country.

Chorus

Might I converse with you

more boldly, if this is so?
315

Electra

He is not here, so question me. What is it you want?

Chorus

I ask you, then, what report can you give of your brother? Will he come soon, or is he delaying? I wish to know.

Electra

He says he will come, but although he promises he never does what he says.

Chorus

True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking.
320

Electra

And yet I saved him with no hesitation.

Chorus

Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.

Electra

I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.

Chorus

Say no more now, since I see your sister

coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below.
325

Chorus

Away with anger, for the gods’ sake! There is

advantage for both of you in what is urged, if you, Electra, would learn to implement her advice, and she, again, yours.
370

Chrysothemis

For my part, friends, I am not at all unaccustomed to her insults, nor would I have mentioned this, if I had not heard that the greatest disaster is now rushing down on her,

one which will restrain her from her long mourning.
375

Electra

Come then, name this terror! If you can tell me of anything worse than my present condition, I would resist no more.

Electra

Have they in fact decided to do this to me?
385

Chrysothemis

They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra

Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis

Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra

That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis

So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits?
390

Electra

So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis

Have you no care for the life you lead now?

Electra

oh, yes, my life is so wondrously fine.

Chrysothemis

It would be, if only you learned good sense.

Electra

Do not teach me to betray my friends.
395

Chrysothemis

I do not, but to bend before the strong.

Electra

Keep your flattery to yourself; it is not in my character.

Chrysothemis

Regardless, it brings no honor to fall through senselessness.