Aeschylus, Libation Bearers, Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator), 471

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There is in the house a styptic remedy for these things, and that not from others from abroad, but from themselves, in that I pursue

the quarrel of blood shedeling ; this is the song of the powers beneath the earth.

Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Volunteer.

Current edition Experimental

The Libation Bearers (OCR draft) (English) (The Libation Bearers. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (8)

Χοηφóρoι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 479-584 focus

Ὀρέστης

πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών,

αἰτουμένῳ¹ μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων.
480

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε² σου χρείαν ἔχω,

φυγεῖν μέγαν προσθεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ <φθόρον³ >.

Ὀρέστης

οὕτω γὰρ ἄν σοι δαῖτες ἔννομοι βροτῶν

κτιζοίατ᾽: εἰ δὲ μή, παρ᾽ εὐδείπνοις ἔσει

ἄτιμος ἐμπύροισι⁴ κνισωτοῖς χθονός.
485

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας

οἴσω πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους:

πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον.

Ὀρέστης

ὦ Γαῖ᾽, ἄνες μοι πατέρ᾽⁵ ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ⁶ Περσέφασσα, δὸς δέ γ᾽ εὔμορφον κράτος.
490

Ὀρέστης

μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα

μέμνησο δ᾽ ἀμφίβληστρον ὡς ἐκαίνισας⁷—

Ὀρέστης

πέδαις δ᾽ ἀχαλκεύτοις θηρευθείς,⁸ πάτερ,—

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρ᾽ ἐξεγείρει τοῖσδ᾽ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ;
495

Ἠλέκτρα

ἆρ᾽ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;

Ὀρέστης

ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις,

ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς⁹ λαβεῖν,

εἴπερ κρατηθείς γ᾽ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ τῆσδ᾽ ἄκουσον λοισθίου βοῆς, πάτερ,
500

ἰδὼν νεοσσοὺς τούσδ᾽ ἐφημένους τάφῳ:

οἴκτιρε θῆλυν ἄρσενός θ᾽ ὁμοῦ γόνον,¹⁰

καὶ μὴ ᾽ξαλείψῃς σπέρμα Πελοπιδῶν τόδε.

οὕτω γὰρ οὐ τέθνηκας οὐδὲ περ θανών:

παῖδες γὰρ ἀνδρὶ κληδόνες σωτήριοι
505

θανόντι: φελλοὶ δ᾽ ὣς ἄγουσι δίκτυον,

τὸν ἐκ βυθοῦ κλωστῆρα σῴζοντες λίνου.¹¹

ἄκου᾽, ὑπὲρ σοῦ τοιάδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ὀδύρματα.

αὐτὸς δὲ σῴζῃ τόνδε τιμήσας λόγον.

510

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ἀμεμφῆ τόνδ᾽¹² ἐτείνατον λόγον,
510

τίμημα τύμβου τῆς ἀνοιμώκτου τύχης.

τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δρᾶν κατώρθωσαι φρενί,

ἔρδοις ἂν ἤδη δαίμονος πειρώμενος.

Ὀρέστης

ἔσται: πυθέσθαι δ᾽ οὐδέν ἐστ᾽ ἔξω δρόμου,

πόθεν χοὰς ἔπεμψεν, ἐκ τίνος λόγου
515

μεθύστερον¹³ τιμῶσ᾽ ἀνήκεστον πάθος;

θανόντι¹⁴ δ᾽ οὐ φρονοῦντι δειλαία χάρις

ἐπέμπετ᾽: οὐκ ἔχοιμ᾽ ἂν εἰκάσαι τόδε:¹⁵

τὰ δῶρα μείω¹⁶ δ᾽ ἐστὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας.

τὰ πάντα γάρ τις ἐκχέας ἀνθ᾽ αἵματος
520

ἑνός, μάτην ὁ μόχθος: ὧδ᾽ ἔχει λόγος.

θέλοντι δ᾽, εἴπερ οἶσθ᾽, ἐμοὶ φράσον τάδε.

Χορός

οἶδ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, παρῆ¹⁷ γάρ: ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνειράτων

καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη

χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή.
525

Ὀρέστης

ἦ καὶ πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστ᾽ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;

Χορός

τεκεῖν δράκοντ᾽ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾷ καὶ καρανοῦται λόγος;

Χορός

ἐν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.

Ὀρέστης

τίνος¹⁸ βορᾶς χρῄζοντα, νεογενὲς¹⁹ δάκος;
530

Χορός

αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν²⁰ ἐν τὠνείρατι.²¹

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς ἄτρωτον οὖθαρ ἦν²² ὑπὸ στύγους;²³

Χορός

ὥστ᾽ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.

Ὀρέστης

οὔτοι μάταιον ἀνδρὸς ὄψανον πέλει.²⁴

Χορός

ἡ δ᾽ ἐξ ὕπνου κέκλαγγεν²⁵ ἐπτοημένη.
535

πολλοὶ δ᾽ ἀνῇθον,²⁶ ἐκτυφλωθέντες σκότῳ,

λαμπτῆρες ἐν δόμοισι δεσποίνης χάριν:

πέμπει τ᾽ ἔπειτα τάσδε κηδείους χοάς,

ἄκος τομαῖον ἐλπίσασα πημάτων.

540

Ὀρέστης

ἀλλ᾽ εὔχομαι γῇ τῇδε καὶ πατρὸς τάφῳ
540

τοὔνειρον εἶναι τοῦτ᾽ ἐμοὶ τελεσφόρον.

κρίνω δέ τοί νιν ὥστε συγκόλλως²⁷ ἔχειν.

εἰ γὰρ τὸν αὐτὸν χῶρον ἐκλιπὼν²⁸ ἐμοὶ

οὕφις ἐμοῖσι σπαργάνοις ὡπλίζετο,²⁹

καὶ μαστὸν³⁰ ἀμφέχασκ᾽ ἐμὸν θρεπτήριον,
545

θρόμβῳ δ᾽ ἔμειξεν αἵματος φίλον γάλα,

ἡ δ᾽ ἀμφὶ τάρβει τῷδ᾽³¹ ἐπῴμωξεν πάθει,

δεῖ τοί νιν, ὡς ἔθρεψεν ἔκπαγλον τέρας,

θανεῖν βιαίως: ἐκδρακοντωθεὶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ

κτείνω νιν, ὡς τοὔνειρον ἐννέπει τόδε.
550

Χορός

τερασκόπον δὴ³² τῶνδέ σ᾽ αἱροῦμαι πέρι.

γένοιτο δ᾽ οὕτως. τἄλλα δ᾽ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις,

τοὺς μέν³³ τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.

Ὀρέστης

ἁπλοῦς ὁ μῦθος: τήνδε μὲν στείχειν³⁴ ἔσω,

αἰνῶ δὲ κρύπτειν τάσδε συνθήκας ἐμάς,
555

ὡς ἂν δόλῳ κτείναντες³⁵ ἄνδρα τίμιον

δόλοισι³⁶ καὶ ληφθῶσιν ἐν ταὐτῷ βρόχῳ

θανόντες, ᾗ καὶ Λοξίας ἐφήμισεν,

ἄναξ Ἀπόλλων, μάντις ἀψευδὴς τὸ πρίν.

ξένῳ γὰρ εἰκώς, παντελῆ σαγὴν ἔχων,
560

ἥξω σὺν ἀνδρὶ τῷδ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἑρκείους³⁷ πύλας

Πυλάδῃ, ξένος τε καὶ δορύξενος δόμων.

ἄμφω δὲ φωνὴν ἥσομεν³⁸ Παρνησσίδα,

γλώσσης ἀυτὴν Φωκίδος μιμουμένω.

καὶ δὴ θυρωρῶν οὔτις ἂν φαιδρᾷ φρενὶ
565

δέξαιτ᾽,³⁹ ἐπειδὴ δαιμονᾷ δόμος κακοῖς:

μενοῦμεν οὕτως ὥστ᾽ ἐπεικάζειν τινὰ

δόμους⁴⁰ παραστείχοντα⁴¹ καὶ τάδ᾽ ἐννέπειν:

“τί δὴ πύλαισι⁴² τὸν ἱκέτην ἀπείργεται

Αἴγισθος, εἴπερ οἶδεν ἔνδημος παρών;”
570

εἰ δ᾽ οὖν ἀμείψω βαλὸν⁴³ ἑρκείων⁴⁴ πυλῶν

κἀκεῖνον ἐν θρόνοισιν εὑρήσω πατρός,

ἢ καὶ μολὼν ἔπειτά μοι κατὰ στόμα

ἀρεῖ,⁴⁵ σάφ᾽ ἴσθι, καὶ κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμοὺς βαλεῖ,⁴⁶

πρὶν αὐτὸν εἰπεῖν “ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος;” νεκρὸν
575

θήσω, ποδώκει περιβαλὼν χαλκεύματι.

φόνου δ᾽ Ἐρινὺς οὐχ ὑπεσπανισμένη

ἄκρατον αἷμα πίεται τρίτην πόσιν.

νῦν⁴⁷ οὖν σὺ μὲν φύλασσε τἀν οἴκῳ καλῶς,

ὅπως ἂν ἀρτίκολλα συμβαίνῃ τάδε:
580

ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἐπαινῶ γλῶσσαν εὔφημον φέρειν,

σιγᾶν θ᾽ ὅπου δεῖ καὶ λέγειν τὰ καίρια.

τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα τούτῳ δεῦρ᾽ ἐποπτεῦσαι λέγω,

ξιφηφόρους ἀγῶνας ὀρθώσαντί μοι.

585

Χοηφóρoι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 479-584 focus

Ὀρέστης

πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών,

αἰτουμένῳ μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων.
480

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε σου χρείαν ἔχω,

φυγεῖν μέγαν προσθεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ φθόρον.

Ὀρέστης

οὕτω γὰρ ἄν σοι δαῖτες ἔννομοι βροτῶν

κτιζοίατʼ· εἰ δὲ μή, παρʼ εὐδείπνοις ἔσῃ

ἄτιμος ἐμπύροισι κνισωτοῖς χθονός.
485

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας

οἴσω πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους·

πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον.

Ὀρέστης

ὦ Γαῖʼ, ἄνες μοι πατέρʼ ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ Περσέφασσα, δὸς δʼ ἔτʼ εὔμορφον κράτος.
490

Ὀρέστης

μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα

μέμνησο δʼ ἀμφίβληστρον ὡς ἐκαίνισαν.

Ὀρέστης

πέδαις δʼ ἀχαλκεύτοις ἐθηρεύθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ ἐξεγείρῃ τοῖσδʼ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ;
495

Ἠλέκτρα

ἆρʼ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;

Ὀρέστης

ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις,

ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς λαβεῖν,

εἴπερ κρατηθείς γʼ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

Ἠλέκτρα

καὶ τῆσδʼ ἄκουσον λοισθίου βοῆς, πάτερ,
500

ἰδὼν νεοσσοὺς τούσδʼ ἐφημένους τάφῳ·

οἴκτιρε θῆλυν ἄρσενός θʼ ὁμοῦ γόνον,

καὶ μὴ ʼξαλείψῃς σπέρμα Πελοπιδῶν τόδε

οὕτω γὰρ οὐ τέθνηκας οὐδὲ περ θανών·

παῖδες γὰρ ἀνδρὶ κληδόνες σωτήριοι
505

θανόντι· φελλοὶ δʼ ὣς ἄγουσι δίκτυον,

τὸν ἐκ βυθοῦ κλωστῆρα σῴζοντες λίνου.

ἄκουʼ, ὑπὲρ σοῦ τοιάδʼ ἔστʼ ὀδύρματα.

αὐτὸς δὲ σῴζῃ τόνδε τιμήσας λόγον.

510

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ἀμεμφῆ τόνδʼ ἐτείνατον λόγον,
510

τίμημα τύμβου τῆς ἀνοιμώκτου τύχης.

τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ, ἐπειδὴ δρᾶν κατώρθωσαι φρενί,

ἔρδοις ἂν ἤδη δαίμονος πειρώμενος.

Ὀρέστης

ἔσται· πυθέσθαι δʼ οὐδέν ἐστʼ ἔξω δρόμου,

πόθεν χοὰς ἔπεμψεν, ἐκ τίνος λόγου
515

μεθύστερον τιμῶσʼ ἀνήκεστον πάθος;

θανόντι δʼ οὐ φρονοῦντι δειλαία χάρις

ἐπέμπετʼ· οὐκ ἔχοιμʼ ἂν εἰκάσαι τόδε.

τὰ δῶρα μείω δʼ ἐστὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας.

τὰ πάντα γάρ τις ἐκχέας ἀνθʼ αἵματος
520

ἑνός, μάτην ὁ μόχθος· ὧδʼ ἔχει λόγος.

θέλοντι δʼ, εἴπερ οἶσθʼ, ἐμοὶ φράσον τάδε.

Χορός

οἶδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, παρῆ γάρ· ἔκ τʼ ὀνειράτων

καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη

χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή.
525

Ὀρέστης

ἦ καὶ πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστʼ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;

Χορός

τεκεῖν δράκοντʼ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾷ καὶ καρανοῦται λόγος;

Χορός

ἐν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.

Ὀρέστης

τίνος βορᾶς χρῄζοντα, νεογενὲς δάκος;
530

Χορός

αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν ἐν τὠνείρατι.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς ἄτρωτον οὖθαρ ἦν ὑπὸ στύγους;

Χορός

ὥστʼ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.

Ὀρέστης

οὔτοι μάταιον· ἀνδρὸς ὄψανον πέλει.

Χορός

ἡ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου κέκλαγγεν ἐπτοημένη.
535

πολλοὶ δʼ ἀνῇθον, ἐκτυφλωθέντες σκότῳ,

λαμπτῆρες ἐν δόμοισι δεσποίνης χάριν·

πέμπει τʼ ἔπειτα τάσδε κηδείους χοάς,

ἄκος τομαῖον ἐλπίσασα πημάτων.

540

Ὀρέστης

ἀλλʼ εὔχομαι γῇ τῇδε καὶ πατρὸς τάφῳ
540

τοὔνειρον εἶναι τοῦτʼ ἐμοὶ τελεσφόρον.

κρίνω δέ τοί νιν ὥστε συγκόλλως ἔχειν.

εἰ γὰρ τὸν αὐτὸν χῶρον ἐκλιπὼν ἐμοὶ

οὕφις ἐμοῖσι σπαργάνοις ὡπλίζετο,

καὶ μαστὸν ἀμφέχασκʼ ἐμὸν θρεπτήριον,
545

θρόμβῳ δʼ ἔμειξεν αἵματος φίλον γάλα,

ἡ δʼ ἀμφὶ τάρβει τῷδʼ ἐπῴμωξεν πάθει,

δεῖ τοί νιν, ὡς ἔθρεψεν ἔκπαγλον τέρας,

θανεῖν βιαίως· ἐκδρακοντωθεὶς δʼ ἐγὼ

κτείνω νιν, ὡς τοὔνειρον ἐννέπει τόδε.
550

Χορός

τερασκόπον δὴ τῶνδέ σʼ αἱροῦμαι πέρι.

γένοιτο δʼ οὕτως. τἄλλα δʼ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις,

τοὺς μέν τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.

Ὀρέστης

ἁπλοῦς ὁ μῦθος· τήνδε μὲν στείχειν ἔσω,

αἰνῶ δὲ κρύπτειν τάσδε συνθήκας ἐμάς,
555

ὡς ἂν δόλῳ κτείναντες ἄνδρα τίμιον

δόλοισι καὶ ληφθῶσιν ἐν ταὐτῷ βρόχῳ

θανόντες, καὶ Λοξίας ἐφήμισεν,

ἄναξ Ἀπόλλων, μάντις ἀψευδὴς τὸ πρίν.

ξένῳ γὰρ εἰκώς, παντελῆ σαγὴν ἔχων,
560

ἥξω σὺν ἀνδρὶ τῷδʼ ἐφʼ ἑρκείους πύλας

Πυλάδῃ, ξένος τε καὶ δορύξενος δόμων.

ἄμφω δὲ φωνὴν ἥσομεν Παρνησσίδα,

γλώσσης ἀυτὴν Φωκίδος μιμουμένω.

καὶ δὴ θυρωρῶν οὔτις ἂν φαιδρᾷ φρενὶ
565

δέξαιτʼ, ἐπειδὴ δαιμονᾷ δόμος κακοῖς·

μενοῦμεν οὕτως ὥστʼ ἐπεικάζειν τινὰ

δόμους παραστείχοντα καὶ τάδʼ ἐννέπειν·

τί δὴ πύλαισι τὸν ἱκέτην ἀπείργεται

Αἴγισθος, εἴπερ οἶδεν ἔνδημος παρών;
570

εἰ δʼ οὖν ἀμείψω βαλὸν ἑρκείων πυλῶν

κἀκεῖνον ἐν θρόνοισιν εὑρήσω πατρός,

ἢ καὶ μολὼν ἔπειτά μοι κατὰ στόμα

ἀρεῖ, σάφʼ ἴσθι, καὶ κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς βαλεῖ,

πρὶν αὐτὸν εἰπεῖν ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; νεκρὸν
575

θήσω, ποδώκει περιβαλὼν χαλκεύματι.

φόνου δʼ Ἐρινὺς οὐχ ὑπεσπανισμένη

ἄκρατον αἷμα πίεται τρίτην πόσιν.

νῦν οὖν σὺ μὲν φύλασσε τἀν οἴκῳ καλῶς,

ὅπως ἂν ἀρτίκολλα συμβαίνῃ τάδε·
580

ὑμῖν δʼ ἐπαινῶ γλῶσσαν εὔφημον φέρειν,

σιγᾶν θʼ ὅπου δεῖ καὶ λέγειν τὰ καίρια.

τὰ δʼ ἄλλα τούτῳ δεῦρʼ ἐποπτεῦσαι λέγω,

ξιφηφόρους ἀγῶνας ὀρθώσαντί μοι.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 471 focus

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον

τῶνδ᾽ ἄκος, οὐδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν

δι ὠμὰν ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν τῶν κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος.

475

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 471 focus

Ἡμιχόριον Β
ἀντ. ια'.

δώμασι δ᾽ ἔμμοτον
465

τῶνδ᾽ ἄκος, οὐδ᾽ ἀπ' ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν

Ἡμιχόριον Β

δι' ὠμὰν ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν τῶν κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος.

ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 471 focus

Δώμασιν ἔμμοτον
470
Ant. 2.

τῶνδ' ἄκος ἑκὰς, οὐδ' ἀπ' ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν,

δι' ὠμὰν αιωμαν ἔριν αιρειν αἱματηράν·

θεῶν <τῶν> om. κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ' ὕμνος.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 471 focus

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹

nullae personarum notae in M. φίλοις φίλοις Porson φίλοισι Μ. ἄρηξον Heimsoeth. ξυμβαλεῖ ξυμβαλεῖ Pauw ξυμβάλλει Μ. κραίν * * * δίκωσ Μ, κραίνετ' ἐνδίκωσ m, qui idem in marg. adscripsit. ὦ ὦ Hermann ἰὼ Μ. universis omnibus (Oresti, Electrae, choro) tribuit Kirchhoff. ἄτας Hermann. πληγη Μ, αι superscr. m. scribendum δυσκατάπαυτον.

τῶνδ᾽ ἄκος, οὐδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλων

470

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν

δι' ὠμὰν ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν τῶν κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 471 focus

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον

τῶνδ’ ἄκος, οὐδ’ ἀπ᾽ ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν

δι᾽ ὠμὰν Ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν ⟨τῶν⟩ κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος·
475

Aeschyli Choephori (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Choephori. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 471 focus

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον

τῶνδ᾽ ἄκος, οὐδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν

δι᾽ ὠμὰν ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν (τῶν) κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος. =

475

Translations (8)

Libation Bearers Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 479-580 focus

Orestes

O father, who perished by a death unbefitting a king,

grant in answer to my prayer the lordship over your halls!
480

Electra

And I too, father, have a like request of you: to escape when I have wrought great destruction on Aegisthus.

Orestes

Yes, for then the customary funeral feasts of men would be established in your honor. But otherwise, at the rich and savory banquet

of burnt offerings made to the earth, you will be without a portion of honor.
485

Electra

And I will likewise at my wedding offer libations to you out of the fullness of my inheritance from my father’s house, and before all else I will hold this tomb of yours in the highest honor.

Orestes

O Earth, send up my father to watch my battle!

Electra

O Persephone, grant us indeed a glorious victory!
490

Orestes

Father, remember the bath where you were robbed of life.

Electra

And remember how they devised a strange net to cast about you.

Orestes

You were caught, my father, in fetters forged by no smith’s hand.

Electra

And in a fabric shamefully devised.

Orestes

Father, are you not roused by taunts such as these?
495

Electra

Are you not raising that dearest head of yours?

Orestes

Either send Justice to battle for those dear to you, or grant us in turn to get a similar grip¹ on them, if indeed after defeat you would in turn win victory.

Electra

So listen, father, to this last appeal of mine as you behold these fledglings crouching at your tomb. Have compassion on your offspring, on the woman and on the man as well, and let not this seed of Pelops’ line be blotted out: for then, in spite of death, you are not dead.
500

For children are voices of salvation to a man, though he is dead; like corks, they buoy up the net, saving the flaxen cord from out of the deep. Hear! For your own sake we make this lament. By honoring this plea of ours you save yourself.
505

510

Chorus

In truth you have drawn out this plea of yours to your own content in showing honor to this unlamented tomb. As for the rest, since your heart is rightly set on action, put your fortune to the test and get to your work at once.
510

Orestes

It will be so. But it is in no way amiss to inquire how, from what motive,

she came to send her libations, seeking too late to make amends for an irremediable deed. They would be a sorry gift to send to the senseless dead: I cannot guess what they mean. The gifts are too paltry for her offence.
515

For though a man may pour out all he has in atonement for one deed of blood, it is wasted effort. So the saying goes. If indeed you know, tell me: I wish to learn.
520

Chorus

I know, my child, for I was there. It was because she was shaken by dreams and wandering terrors of the night

that she sent these offerings, godless woman that she is.
525

Orestes

And have you learned the nature of the dream so as to tell it properly?

Chorus

She dreamed she gave birth to a serpent: that is her own account.

Orestes

And where does the tale end, and what is its consummation?

Chorus

She laid it to rest as if it were a child, in swaddling clothes.

Orestes

What food did it crave, the newborn viper?
530

Chorus

In her dream she offered it her own breast.

Orestes

Surely her nipple was not unwounded by the loathsome beast?

Chorus

No: it drew in clotted blood with the milk.

Orestes

Truly it is not without meaning: the vision signifies a man!

Chorus

Then from out of her sleep she raised a shriek and awoke appalled, and many lamps that had been blinded in the darkness flared up in the house to cheer our mistress. Then she sent these libations for the dead in the hope that they might be an effective cure for her distress.
535

540

Orestes

Well then, I pray to this earth and to my father’s grave that this dream may come to its fulfilment in me. As I understand it, it fits at every point. For if the snake left the same place as I; if it was furnished with my swaddling clothes;
540

if it sought to open its mouth to take the breast that nourished me and mixed the sweet milk with clotted blood while she shrieked for terror at this, then surely, as she has nourished a portentous thing of horror, she must die by violence. For I, turned serpent,
545

am her killer, as this dream declares.
550

Chorus

I choose your reading of this portent. Let it be so. As for the rest, give your friends their parts. Tell some what to do, others what to leave undone.

Orestes

It is a simple story. My sister must go inside, and I charge her to keep concealed this pact with me,

so that as by craft they killed a worthy man, so by craft they may likewise be caught and perish in the very same snare, even as Loxias decreed, lord Apollo, the prophet who has never before been false.
555

In the guise of a stranger, one fully equipped,I will come to the outer gate, and with me Pylades, whom you see here, as a guest and ally of the house. Both of us will speak the speech of Parnassus , imitating the accent of a Phocian tongue. And in case none of the keepers of the door will give us a hearty welcome
560

on the plea that the house is afflicted with trouble by the gods, then we will wait so that anyone passing the house will consider and say: Why then does Aegisthus have his door shut on his suppliant, if in fact he is at home and knows?
565

But if I indeed pass the outermost threshold of the gate and find that man sitting on my father’s throne, or if then coming face to face with me he lifts and casts down his eyes, know well:

before he can even say Of what land is this stranger? I will skewer him with my swift sword and lay him dead. The fury that has no fill of slaughter shall for her third and crowning drink drink unmixed blood!
Now you, Electra, keep strict watch over what happens inside the house,
575

so that our plans may fit together well. You addressing the Chorus had best keep a discreet tongue: be silent when there is need and speak only what the occasion demands. As for the rest, I call on him² to cast his glance this way and direct the contest of the sword for me. Exeunt Orestes, Pylades, and Electra
580

LES CHOÉPHORES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES CHOÉPHORES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 471 focus

invétérée de la race ! coup lugubre et sanglant du Malheur ! Hélas ! intolérables et gémissantes angoisses !
hélas ! souffrances sans terme !

The Choephoræ (OCR draft) Experimental (The Choephoræ. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 471 focus

Not with a diſtant foe the war to wage,

But on this house to pour their rage.

Theſe are the ſtrains, that to the Gods below,

Th' avenging Gods, in rude notes flow:

540

Hear us, dread pow'rs;

and this imperial race,

Victorious in your might, with glory grace!

ORESTES.

Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 471 focus

V'è nella casa un farmaco;

né mano lo prepara

340

estrania, anzi domestica:

tale è la cruda gara

del sangue: cosí gl'inni

suonano dell'Erinni!

CORIFEA

Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 471 focus

Domui ægrotus,

Ab ijs uerò procul & non ab alijs

Extra, sed ab ipſis

445

Vitam auferre cruentam,

Deorum in terra Hymnus. ſed audi et me beati terreſtres

Cho.

Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 471 focus

Einzig der Erbe

heilet des Hauses

eiternde Wunde,

einzig mit blut'gem Schnitt.

English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1889, second edition) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, The Libation-Bearers — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 471 focus

It shall be stanched, the task is ours,—

Not by a stranger's, but by kindred hand,

Shall be chased forth the blood-fiend of our land.
550

Be this our spoken spell, to call Earth's nether powers!

Chorus.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1854; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylos. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Stuttgart: Hoffmann, 1854. Native Donner line citations, Smyth card correspondence, selected textual readings and metrical facsimiles. Remaining OCR differences and unattributed reading notes are documented in the linked review inventory.) — 471 focus

Nicht aus der Ferne kommt

Rettendes Heil dem Hause;

Nein, es erlöst sich selbst nur,

Wenn der blutige Streit sich fortspinnt.
475

Also singen die Götter drunten.

Die Chorführerin.

Commentary

Critical apparatus to The Libation Bearers (OCR draft) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of The Libation Bearers.) focus

161. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-94

ὀρχεῖται Hinc usque ad v. 176. G. Ald. personarum vices invertunt. In M. lineolae singulis versibus praefixae sunt.

ἂν, ὀρχεῖται

Turn.

ἀνορχεῖται

M. G. Ald. Rob.

161

Wecklein’s commentary on Choephoroi / Libation Bearers (1888; German; OCR draft) (Explanatory commentary, pp. 163–234; single HW42J8 OCR witness, conservatively retained. Unresolved OCR and provisional reference mappings are explicitly marked.) focus

83-582. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-38

erstes Epeisodion, geteilt durch einen Kommos (305— 476). Anagnorismos und Vorbereitung der Rache.

152-163. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-81

Dieses (nach der Überlieferung wenigstens) nicht antistrophische Lied, dessen Mafs Dochmien untermischt mit Kretikern und Jamben bilden, wird, wie es scheint, von dem Koryphaios allein oder von dem Koryphaios als Halbchorführer und (von 158 an) von dem anderen Halbchorführer vorgetragen, während die übrigen Choreuten den Gesang mit dem Ausdruck des Schmerzes begleiten.

160. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-86

⁴

Ein Ares (ein Rächer, der Blut vergierst, zu Ag. 1511 f. ), welcher thatkräftig sowohl von dem Bogen als von dem Schwerte Gebrauch macht. Σκυθικά παλίν τονα βέλη: nach einem Bruchstück des Agathon bei Athen. X p. 454 d Σκυθικῷ τε τόξῳ τὸ τρίτον (der dritte Buchstabe des Namens Θησεύς) ἦν προσεμφερές war der skythische Bogen einem nicht unähnlich, weil dessen Enden stark aufwärts gebogen waren. παλίντονα τόξα auch Hom. Θ 266, Herod. VII 69, Soph. Trach. 511 . σχέδια αὐτόκωπα βέλη, die Waffe für den Nahkampf, die man gleich am eigenen Griff fafst, nicht erst durch andere Mittel, wie den Pfeil durch den Bogen, in Bewegung setzt. Zu αὐτόκωπα vgl. Hesych. αὐτόλαβον· ἑαυτοῦ λαβὴν ἔχον.

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Current edition Experimental

Ὀρέστης πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών, αἰτουμένῳ 1 μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων. 480

Ἠλέκτρα κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε 2 σου χρείαν ἔχω, φυγεῖν μέγαν προσθεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ <φθόρον 3 >.

Ὀρέστης οὕτω γὰρ ἄν σοι δαῖτες ἔννομοι βροτῶν κτιζοίατ᾽: εἰ δὲ μή, παρ᾽ εὐδείπνοις ἔσει ἄτιμος ἐμπύροισι 4 κνισωτοῖς χθονός. 485

Ἠλέκτρα κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας οἴσω πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους: πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον.

Ὀρέστης ὦ Γαῖ᾽, ἄνες μοι πατέρ᾽ 5 ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ 6 Περσέφασσα, δὸς δέ γ᾽ εὔμορφον κράτος. 490

Ὀρέστης μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα μέμνησο δ᾽ ἀμφίβληστρον ὡς ἐκαίνισας 7 —

Ὀρέστης πέδαις δ᾽ ἀχαλκεύτοις θηρευθείς, 8 πάτερ,—

Ἠλέκτρα αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

Ὀρέστης ἆρ᾽ ἐξεγείρει τοῖσδ᾽ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ; 495

Ἠλέκτρα ἆρ᾽ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;

Ὀρέστης ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις, ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς 9 λαβεῖν, εἴπερ κρατηθείς γ᾽ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

Χορός οἶδ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, παρῆ 17 γάρ: ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνειράτων καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή. 525

Ὀρέστης ἦ καὶ πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστ᾽ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;

Χορός τεκεῖν δράκοντ᾽ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.

Ὀρέστης καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾷ καὶ καρανοῦται λόγος;

Χορός ἐν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.

Ὀρέστης τίνος 18 βορᾶς χρῄζοντα, νεογενὲς 19 δάκος; 530

Χορός αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν 20 ἐν τὠνείρατι. 21

Ὀρέστης καὶ πῶς ἄτρωτον οὖθαρ ἦν 22 ὑπὸ στύγους; 23

Χορός ὥστ᾽ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.

Ὀρέστης οὔτοι μάταιον ἀνδρὸς ὄψανον πέλει. 24

Χορός τερασκόπον δὴ 32 τῶνδέ σ᾽ αἱροῦμαι πέρι. γένοιτο δ᾽ οὕτως. τἄλλα δ᾽ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις, τοὺς μέν 33 τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.

Ὀρέστης πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών, αἰτουμένῳ μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων. 480

Ἠλέκτρα κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε σου χρείαν ἔχω, φυγεῖν μέγαν προσθεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ φθόρον.

Ὀρέστης οὕτω γὰρ ἄν σοι δαῖτες ἔννομοι βροτῶν κτιζοίατʼ· εἰ δὲ μή, παρʼ εὐδείπνοις ἔσῃ ἄτιμος ἐμπύροισι κνισωτοῖς χθονός. 485

Ἠλέκτρα κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας οἴσω πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους· πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον.

Ὀρέστης ὦ Γαῖʼ, ἄνες μοι πατέρʼ ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.

Ἠλέκτρα ὦ Περσέφασσα, δὸς δʼ ἔτʼ εὔμορφον κράτος. 490

Ὀρέστης μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα μέμνησο δʼ ἀμφίβληστρον ὡς ἐκαίνισαν.

Ὀρέστης πέδαις δʼ ἀχαλκεύτοις ἐθηρεύθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

Ὀρέστης ἆρʼ ἐξεγείρῃ τοῖσδʼ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ; 495

Ἠλέκτρα ἆρʼ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;

Ὀρέστης ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις, ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς λαβεῖν, εἴπερ κρατηθείς γʼ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

Χορός οἶδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, παρῆ γάρ· ἔκ τʼ ὀνειράτων καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή. 525

Ὀρέστης ἦ καὶ πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστʼ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;

Χορός τεκεῖν δράκοντʼ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.

Ὀρέστης καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾷ καὶ καρανοῦται λόγος;

Χορός ἐν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.

Ὀρέστης τίνος βορᾶς χρῄζοντα, νεογενὲς δάκος; 530

Χορός αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν ἐν τὠνείρατι.

Ὀρέστης καὶ πῶς ἄτρωτον οὖθαρ ἦν ὑπὸ στύγους;

Χορός ὥστʼ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.

Ὀρέστης οὔτοι μάταιον· ἀνδρὸς ὄψανον πέλει.

Χορός τερασκόπον δὴ τῶνδέ σʼ αἱροῦμαι πέρι. γένοιτο δʼ οὕτως. τἄλλα δʼ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις, τοὺς μέν τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.

Ἡμιχόριον Β ἀντ. ια'. δώμασι δ᾽ ἔμμοτον 465 τῶνδ᾽ ἄκος, οὐδ᾽ ἀπ' ἄλλων ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν

Ἡμιχόριον Β δι' ὠμὰν ἔριν αἱματηράν. θεῶν τῶν κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος.

Δώμασιν ἔμμοτον 470 Ant. 2. τῶνδ' ἄκος ἑκὰς, οὐδ' ἀπ' ἄλλων ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν, δι' ὠμὰν αιωμαν ἔριν αιρειν αἱματηράν· θεῶν <τῶν> om. κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ' ὕμνος.

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον τῶνδ’ ἄκος, οὐδ’ ἀπ᾽ ἄλλων ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν δι᾽ ὠμὰν Ἔριν αἱματηράν. θεῶν ⟨τῶν⟩ κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος· 475

Orestes O father, who perished by a death unbefitting a king, grant in answer to my prayer the lordship over your halls! 480

Electra And I too, father, have a like request of you: to escape when I have wrought great destruction on Aegisthus.

Orestes Yes, for then the customary funeral feasts of men would be established in your honor. But otherwise, at the rich and savory banquet of burnt offerings made to the earth, you will be without a portion of honor. 485

Electra And I will likewise at my wedding offer libations to you out of the fullness of my inheritance from my father’s house, and before all else I will hold this tomb of yours in the highest honor.

Orestes O Earth, send up my father to watch my battle!

Electra O Persephone, grant us indeed a glorious victory! 490

Orestes Father, remember the bath where you were robbed of life.

Electra And remember how they devised a strange net to cast about you.

Orestes You were caught, my father, in fetters forged by no smith’s hand.

Electra And in a fabric shamefully devised.

Orestes Father, are you not roused by taunts such as these? 495

Electra Are you not raising that dearest head of yours?

Orestes Either send Justice to battle for those dear to you, or grant us in turn to get a similar grip 1 on them, if indeed after defeat you would in turn win victory.

Chorus In truth you have drawn out this plea of yours to your own content in showing honor to this unlamented tomb. As for the rest, since your heart is rightly set on action, put your fortune to the test and get to your work at once. 510

Chorus I know, my child, for I was there. It was because she was shaken by dreams and wandering terrors of the night that she sent these offerings, godless woman that she is. 525

Orestes And have you learned the nature of the dream so as to tell it properly?

Chorus She dreamed she gave birth to a serpent: that is her own account.

Orestes And where does the tale end, and what is its consummation?

Chorus She laid it to rest as if it were a child, in swaddling clothes.

Orestes What food did it crave, the newborn viper? 530

Chorus In her dream she offered it her own breast.

Orestes Surely her nipple was not unwounded by the loathsome beast?

Chorus No: it drew in clotted blood with the milk.

Orestes Truly it is not without meaning: the vision signifies a man!

Ὀρέστης

πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών,

αἰτουμένῳ¹ μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων.
480

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε² σου χρείαν ἔχω,

φυγεῖν μέγαν προσθεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ <φθόρον³ >.

Ὀρέστης

οὕτω γὰρ ἄν σοι δαῖτες ἔννομοι βροτῶν

κτιζοίατ᾽: εἰ δὲ μή, παρ᾽ εὐδείπνοις ἔσει

ἄτιμος ἐμπύροισι⁴ κνισωτοῖς χθονός.
485

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας

οἴσω πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους:

πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον.

Ὀρέστης

ὦ Γαῖ᾽, ἄνες μοι πατέρ᾽⁵ ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ⁶ Περσέφασσα, δὸς δέ γ᾽ εὔμορφον κράτος.
490

Ὀρέστης

μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα

μέμνησο δ᾽ ἀμφίβληστρον ὡς ἐκαίνισας⁷—

Ὀρέστης

πέδαις δ᾽ ἀχαλκεύτοις θηρευθείς,⁸ πάτερ,—

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρ᾽ ἐξεγείρει τοῖσδ᾽ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ;
495

Ἠλέκτρα

ἆρ᾽ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;

Ὀρέστης

ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις,

ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς⁹ λαβεῖν,

εἴπερ κρατηθείς γ᾽ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

Χορός

οἶδ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, παρῆ¹⁷ γάρ: ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνειράτων

καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη

χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή.
525

Ὀρέστης

ἦ καὶ πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστ᾽ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;

Χορός

τεκεῖν δράκοντ᾽ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾷ καὶ καρανοῦται λόγος;

Χορός

ἐν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.

Ὀρέστης

τίνος¹⁸ βορᾶς χρῄζοντα, νεογενὲς¹⁹ δάκος;
530

Χορός

αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν²⁰ ἐν τὠνείρατι.²¹

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς ἄτρωτον οὖθαρ ἦν²² ὑπὸ στύγους;²³

Χορός

ὥστ᾽ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.

Ὀρέστης

οὔτοι μάταιον ἀνδρὸς ὄψανον πέλει.²⁴

Χορός

τερασκόπον δὴ³² τῶνδέ σ᾽ αἱροῦμαι πέρι.

γένοιτο δ᾽ οὕτως. τἄλλα δ᾽ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις,

τοὺς μέν³³ τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.

Ὀρέστης

πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών,

αἰτουμένῳ μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων.
480

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε σου χρείαν ἔχω,

φυγεῖν μέγαν προσθεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ φθόρον.

Ὀρέστης

οὕτω γὰρ ἄν σοι δαῖτες ἔννομοι βροτῶν

κτιζοίατʼ· εἰ δὲ μή, παρʼ εὐδείπνοις ἔσῃ

ἄτιμος ἐμπύροισι κνισωτοῖς χθονός.
485

Ἠλέκτρα

κἀγὼ χοάς σοι τῆς ἐμῆς παγκληρίας

οἴσω πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων γαμηλίους·

πάντων δὲ πρῶτον τόνδε πρεσβεύσω τάφον.

Ὀρέστης

ὦ Γαῖʼ, ἄνες μοι πατέρʼ ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.

Ἠλέκτρα

ὦ Περσέφασσα, δὸς δʼ ἔτʼ εὔμορφον κράτος.
490

Ὀρέστης

μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα

μέμνησο δʼ ἀμφίβληστρον ὡς ἐκαίνισαν.

Ὀρέστης

πέδαις δʼ ἀχαλκεύτοις ἐθηρεύθης, πάτερ.

Ἠλέκτρα

αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

Ὀρέστης

ἆρʼ ἐξεγείρῃ τοῖσδʼ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ;
495

Ἠλέκτρα

ἆρʼ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;

Ὀρέστης

ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις,

ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς λαβεῖν,

εἴπερ κρατηθείς γʼ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

Χορός

οἶδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, παρῆ γάρ· ἔκ τʼ ὀνειράτων

καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη

χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή.
525

Ὀρέστης

ἦ καὶ πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστʼ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;

Χορός

τεκεῖν δράκοντʼ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾷ καὶ καρανοῦται λόγος;

Χορός

ἐν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.

Ὀρέστης

τίνος βορᾶς χρῄζοντα, νεογενὲς δάκος;
530

Χορός

αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν ἐν τὠνείρατι.

Ὀρέστης

καὶ πῶς ἄτρωτον οὖθαρ ἦν ὑπὸ στύγους;

Χορός

ὥστʼ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.

Ὀρέστης

οὔτοι μάταιον· ἀνδρὸς ὄψανον πέλει.

Χορός

τερασκόπον δὴ τῶνδέ σʼ αἱροῦμαι πέρι.

γένοιτο δʼ οὕτως. τἄλλα δʼ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις,

τοὺς μέν τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.

Ἡμιχόριον Β
ἀντ. ια'.

δώμασι δ᾽ ἔμμοτον
465

τῶνδ᾽ ἄκος, οὐδ᾽ ἀπ' ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν

Ἡμιχόριον Β

δι' ὠμὰν ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν τῶν κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος.

Δώμασιν ἔμμοτον
470
Ant. 2.

τῶνδ' ἄκος ἑκὰς, οὐδ' ἀπ' ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν,

δι' ὠμὰν αιωμαν ἔριν αιρειν αἱματηράν·

θεῶν <τῶν> om. κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ' ὕμνος.

δώμασιν ἔμμοτον

τῶνδ’ ἄκος, οὐδ’ ἀπ᾽ ἄλλων

ἔκτοθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν

δι᾽ ὠμὰν Ἔριν αἱματηράν.

θεῶν ⟨τῶν⟩ κατὰ γᾶς ὅδ᾽ ὕμνος·
475

Orestes

O father, who perished by a death unbefitting a king,

grant in answer to my prayer the lordship over your halls!
480

Electra

And I too, father, have a like request of you: to escape when I have wrought great destruction on Aegisthus.

Orestes

Yes, for then the customary funeral feasts of men would be established in your honor. But otherwise, at the rich and savory banquet

of burnt offerings made to the earth, you will be without a portion of honor.
485

Electra

And I will likewise at my wedding offer libations to you out of the fullness of my inheritance from my father’s house, and before all else I will hold this tomb of yours in the highest honor.

Orestes

O Earth, send up my father to watch my battle!

Electra

O Persephone, grant us indeed a glorious victory!
490

Orestes

Father, remember the bath where you were robbed of life.

Electra

And remember how they devised a strange net to cast about you.

Orestes

You were caught, my father, in fetters forged by no smith’s hand.

Electra

And in a fabric shamefully devised.

Orestes

Father, are you not roused by taunts such as these?
495

Electra

Are you not raising that dearest head of yours?

Orestes

Either send Justice to battle for those dear to you, or grant us in turn to get a similar grip¹ on them, if indeed after defeat you would in turn win victory.

Chorus

In truth you have drawn out this plea of yours to your own content in showing honor to this unlamented tomb. As for the rest, since your heart is rightly set on action, put your fortune to the test and get to your work at once.
510

Chorus

I know, my child, for I was there. It was because she was shaken by dreams and wandering terrors of the night

that she sent these offerings, godless woman that she is.
525

Orestes

And have you learned the nature of the dream so as to tell it properly?

Chorus

She dreamed she gave birth to a serpent: that is her own account.

Orestes

And where does the tale end, and what is its consummation?

Chorus

She laid it to rest as if it were a child, in swaddling clothes.

Orestes

What food did it crave, the newborn viper?
530

Chorus

In her dream she offered it her own breast.

Orestes

Surely her nipple was not unwounded by the loathsome beast?

Chorus

No: it drew in clotted blood with the milk.

Orestes

Truly it is not without meaning: the vision signifies a man!

Chorus

Then from out of her sleep she raised a shriek and awoke appalled, and many lamps that had been blinded in the darkness flared up in the house to cheer our mistress. Then she sent these libations for the dead in the hope that they might be an effective cure for her distress.
535

Chorus

I choose your reading of this portent. Let it be so. As for the rest, give your friends their parts. Tell some what to do, others what to leave undone.

and this imperial race,

Victorious in your might, with glory grace!

It shall be stanched, the task is ours,—

Not by a stranger's, but by kindred hand,

Shall be chased forth the blood-fiend of our land.
550

Be this our spoken spell, to call Earth's nether powers!