Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

Das Schwert, gezückt auf Frevlerbrust,

Es stürmt grad' ein bitterscharf, und mordet

Durch Dike's Hand. In Staub hinab
640

Tritt ihr Fuß die Missethat,

Die sich von aller Furcht des Zeus frevelnd abgewendet.

Vierte Gegenstrophe.

Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1854; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (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.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (8)

Χοηφóρoι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 652-782 focus

Ὀρέστης

παῖ παῖ, θύρας ἄκουσον ἑρκείας κτύπον.

τίς ἔνδον, ὦ παῖ, παῖ, μάλ᾽ αὖθις, ἐν δόμοις;

τρίτον τόδ᾽ ἐκπέραμα δωμάτων καλῶ,
655

εἴπερ φιλόξεν᾽ ἐστὶν Αἰγίσθου διαί.¹

Οἰκέτης

εἶεν, ἀκούω: ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;

Ὀρέστης

ἄγγελλε τοῖσι κυρίοισι δωμάτων,

πρὸς οὕσπερ ἥκω καὶ φέρω καινοὺς λόγους.

τάχυνε δ᾽, ὡς καὶ νυκτὸς ἅρμ᾽ ἐπείγεται
660

σκοτεινόν, ὥρα² δ᾽ ἐμπόρους καθιέναι

ἄγκυραν ἐν δόμοισι πανδόκοις ξένων.

ἐξελθέτω τις δωμάτων τελεσφόρος

γυνὴ τόπαρχος,³ ἄνδρα δ᾽⁴ εὐπρεπέστερον:

αἰδὼς γὰρ ἐν λεχθεῖσιν οὐκ ἐπαργέμους
665

λόγους τίθησιν: εἶπε θαρσήσας ἀνὴρ

πρὸς ἄνδρα κἀσήμηνεν ἐμφανὲς τέκμαρ.

Κλυταιμηστρα

ξένοι, λέγοιτ᾽ ἂν εἴ τι δεῖ: πάρεστι γὰρ

ὁποῖάπερ δόμοισι τοῖσδ᾽ ἐπεικότα,

καὶ θερμὰ λουτρὰ καὶ πόνων θελκτήριος⁵
670

στρωμνή, δικαίων τ᾽ ὀμμάτων παρουσία.

εἰ δ᾽ ἄλλο πρᾶξαι δεῖ τι βουλιώτερον,

ἀνδρῶν τόδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἔργον, οἷς κοινώσομεν.

Ὀρέστης

ξένος μέν εἰμι Δαυλιεὺς ἐκ Φωκέων:

στείχοντα δ᾽ αὐτόφορτον οἰκείᾳ σαγῇ⁶
675

εἰς Ἄργος, ὥσπερ δεῦρ᾽ ἀπεζύγην πόδα,⁷

ἀγνὼς πρὸς ἀγνῶτ᾽ εἶπε συμβαλὼν ἀνήρ,

ἐξιστορήσας καὶ σαφηνίσας ὁδόν,

Στροφίος ὁ Φωκεύς: πεύθομαι γὰρ ἐν λόγῳ:

“ἐπείπερ ἄλλως, ὦ ξέν᾽, εἰς Ἄργος κίεις,
680

πρὸς τοὺς τεκόντας πανδίκως μεμνημένος

τεθνεῶτ᾽ Ὀρέστην εἰπέ, μηδαμῶς λάθῃ.

εἴτ᾽ οὖν κομίζειν δόξα νικήσει φίλων,

εἴτ᾽ οὖν μέτοικον, εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἀεὶ ξένον,

θάπτειν, ἐφετμὰς τάσδε πόρθμευσον πάλιν.
685

νῦν γὰρ λέβητος χαλκέου πλευρώματα

σποδὸν κέκευθεν ἀνδρὸς εὖ κεκλαυμένου.”

τοσαῦτ᾽ ἀκούσας εἶπον. εἰ δὲ τυγχάνω

τοῖς κυρίοισι καὶ προσήκουσιν λέγων

οὐκ οἶδα, τὸν τεκόντα δ᾽ εἰκὸς εἰδέναι.
690
691

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οἲ ʼγώ, κατ᾽ ἄκρας εἶπας⁸ ὡς πορθούμεθα.

ὦ δυσπάλαιστε τῶνδε δωμάτων Ἀρά,

ὡς πόλλ᾽ ἐπωπᾷς, κἀκποδὼν εὖ κείμενα

τόξοις πρόσωθεν εὐσκόποις χειρουμένη,

φίλων ἀποψιλοῖς με τὴν παναθλίαν.
695

καὶ νῦν Ὀρέστης, ἦν γὰρ εὐβούλως ἔχων,

ἔξω κομίζων⁹ ὀλεθρίου πηλοῦ πόδα,—

νῦν δ᾽ ἥπερ¹⁰ ἐν δόμοισι βακχείας καλῆς

ἰατρὸς ἐλπὶς ἦν, προδοῦσαν ἔγγραφε.¹¹

Ὀρέστης

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ξένοισιν ὧδ᾽ εὐδαίμοσιν
700

κεδνῶν ἕκατι πραγμάτων ἂν ἤθελον

γνωστὸς γενέσθαι καὶ ξενωθῆναι: τί γὰρ

ξένου ξένοισίν ἐστιν εὐμενέστερον;

πρὸς δυσσεβείας <δ᾽¹²> ἦν ἐμοὶ τόδ᾽ ἐν φρεσίν,

τοιόνδε πρᾶγμα μὴ καρανῶσαι φίλοις,
705

καταινέσαντα καὶ κατεξενωμένον.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔτοι κυρήσεις μεῖον ἀξίων¹³ σέθεν,

οὐδ᾽ ἧσσον ἂν γένοιο δώμασιν φίλος.

ἄλλος δ᾽ ὁμοίως ἦλθεν ἂν τάδ᾽ ἀγγελῶν.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁ καιρὸς ἡμερεύοντας ξένους
710

μακρᾶς κελεύθου τυγχάνειν τὰ πρόσφορα.

ἄγ᾽ αὐτὸν εἰς ἀνδρῶνας εὐξένους δόμων,

ὀπισθόπους τε¹⁴ τόνδε καὶ ξυνέμπορον:¹⁵

κἀκεῖ κυρούντων δώμασιν τὰ πρόσφορα.

αἰνῶ δὲ πράσσειν ὡς ὑπευθύνῳ¹⁶ τάδε.
715

ἡμεῖς δὲ ταῦτα τοῖς κρατοῦσι δωμάτων

κοινώσομέν τε κοὐ σπανίζοντες φίλων

βουλευσόμεσθα¹⁷ τῆσδε συμφορᾶς πέρι.

719

Χορός

εἶεν, φίλιαι δμωίδες οἴκων,

πότε δὴ στομάτων
720

δείξομεν ἰσχὺν ἐπ᾽ Ὀρέστῃ;

ὦ πότνια χθὼν καὶ πότνι᾽ ἀκτὴ

χώματος, ἣ νῦν ἐπὶ ναυάρχῳ

σώματι κεῖσαι τῷ βασιλείῳ,

νῦν ἐπάκουσον, νῦν ἐπάρηξον:
725

νῦν γὰρ ἀκμάζει Πειθὼ δολίαν¹⁸

ξυγκαταβῆναι, χθόνιον δ᾽ Ἑρμῆν¹⁹

[καὶ τὸν νύχιον²⁰] τοῖσδ᾽ ἐφοδεῦσαι

ξιφοδηλήτοισιν ἀγῶσιν.

730

ἔοικεν ἁνὴρ²¹ ὁ ξένος τεύχειν κακόν:
730

τροφὸν δ᾽ Ὀρέστου τήνδ᾽ ὁρῶ κεκλαυμένην.

ποῖ δὴ πατεῖς, Κίλισσα, δωμάτων πύλας;

λύπη δ᾽ ἄμισθός ἐστί σοι ξυνέμπορος;

Τροφος

Αἴγισθον ἡ κρατοῦσα τοῖς ξένοις²² καλεῖν

ὅπως τάχιστ᾽ ἄνωγεν, ὡς σαφέστερον
735

ἀνὴρ ἀπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς τὴν νεάγγελτον φάτιν

ἐλθὼν πύθηται τήνδε, πρὸς μὲν οἰκέτας

†θέτο σκυθρωπῶν²³ ἐντὸς ὀμμάτων γέλων

κεύθουσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔργοις διαπεπραγμένοις καλῶς

κείνῃ,²⁴ δόμοις δὲ τοῖσδε παγκάκως ἔχειν,
740

φήμης ὕφ᾽ ἧς ἤγγειλαν οἱ ξένοι τορῶς.

ἦ δὴ κλύων ἐκεῖνος²⁵ εὐφρανεῖ νόον,

εὖτ᾽ ἂν πύθηται μῦθον. ὦ τάλαιν᾽ ἐγώ:

ὥς μοι τὰ μὲν παλαιὰ συγκεκραμένα

ἄλγη δύσοιστα τοῖσδ᾽ ἐν Ἀτρέως δόμοις
745

τυχόντ᾽ ἐμὴν ἤλγυνεν ἐν στέρνοις φρένα.

ἀλλ᾽ οὔτι πω τοιόνδε πῆμ᾽ ἠνεσχόμην.²⁶

τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλα τλημόνως ἤντλουν κακά:

φίλον δ᾽ Ὀρέστην, τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς τριβήν,

ὃν ἐξέθρεψα μητρόθεν δεδεγμένη,—
750

κἀκ²⁷ νυκτιπλάγκτων ὀρθίων κελευμάτων

καὶ πολλὰ καὶ μοχθήρ᾽ ἀνωφέλητ᾽ ἐμοὶ

τλάσῃ:—τὸ μὴ φρονοῦν γὰρ ὡσπερεὶ βοτὸν

τρέφειν ἀνάγκη, πῶς γὰρ οὔ; τρόπῳ φρενός:

οὐ γάρ τι φωνεῖ παῖς ἔτ᾽ ὢν ἐν σπαργάνοις,
755

εἰ²⁸ λιμός, ἢ δίψη τις, ἢ λιψουρία

ἔχει: νέα δὲ νηδὺς αὐτάρκης τέκνων.

τούτων πρόμαντις οὖσα, πολλὰ δ᾽, οἴομαι,

ψευσθεῖσα παιδὸς σπαργάνων φαιδρύντρια,

γναφεὺς τροφεύς²⁹ τε ταὐτὸν εἰχέτην τέλος.
760

ἐγὼ διπλᾶς δὲ τάσδε χειρωναξίας

ἔχουσ᾽ Ὀρέστην ἐξεδεξάμην πατρί:³⁰

τεθνηκότος δὲ νῦν τάλαινα πεύθομαι.

στείχω³¹ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄνδρα τῶνδε λυμαντήριον

οἴκων, θέλων δὲ τόνδε πεύσεται λόγον.³²
765
766

Χορός

πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;

Τροφός

ἦ πῶς;³³ λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.

Χορός

εἰ³⁴ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.

Τροφός

ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.

Χορός

μή νυν σὺ ταῦτ᾽ ἄγγελλε δεσπότου στύγει:
770

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐλθεῖν, ὡς ἀδειμάντως κλύῃ,

ἄνωχθ᾽ ὅσον τάχιστα γηθούσῃ³⁵ φρενί.

ἐν ἀγγέλῳ γὰρ κυπτὸς ὀρθοῦται³⁶ λόγος.

Τροφός

ἀλλ᾽ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;

Χορός

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ.
775

Τροφός

καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.

Χορός

οὔπω: κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.

Τροφός

τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;

Χορός

ἄγγελλ᾽³⁷ ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα.

μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ³⁸ πέρι.
780

Τροφός

ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις.

γένοιτο δ᾽ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.

783

Χοηφóρoι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 653-782 focus

Ὀρέστης

παῖ παῖ, θύρας ἄκουσον ἑρκείας κτύπον.

τίς ἔνδον, ὦ παῖ, παῖ, μάλʼ αὖθις, ἐν δόμοις;

τρίτον τόδʼ ἐκπέραμα δωμάτων καλῶ,
655

εἴπερ φιλόξενʼ ἐστὶν Αἰγίσθου διαί.

Οἰκέτης

εἶεν, ἀκούω· ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;

Ὀρέστης

ἄγγελλε τοῖσι κυρίοισι δωμάτων,

πρὸς οὕσπερ ἥκω καὶ φέρω καινοὺς λόγους.

τάχυνε δʼ, ὡς καὶ νυκτὸς ἅρμʼ ἐπείγεται
660

σκοτεινόν, ὥρα δʼ ἐμπόρους καθιέναι

ἄγκυραν ἐν δόμοισι πανδόκοις ξένων.

ἐξελθέτω τις δωμάτων τελεσφόρος

γυνὴ τόπαρχος, ἄνδρα δʼ εὐπρεπέστερον·

αἰδὼς γὰρ ἐν λεχθεῖσιν οὐκ ἐπαργέμους
665

λόγους τίθησιν· εἶπε θαρσήσας ἀνὴρ

πρὸς ἄνδρα κἀσήμηνεν ἐμφανὲς τέκμαρ.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

ξένοι, λέγοιτʼ ἂν εἴ τι δεῖ· πάρεστι γὰρ

ὁποῖά περ δόμοισι τοῖσδʼ ἐπεικότα,

καὶ θερμὰ λουτρὰ καὶ πόνων θελκτηρία
670

στρωμνή, δικαίων τʼ ὀμμάτων παρουσία.

εἰ δʼ ἄλλο πρᾶξαι δεῖ τι βουλιώτερον,

ἀνδρῶν τόδʼ ἐστὶν ἔργον, οἷς κοινώσομεν

Ὀρέστης

ξένος μέν εἰμι Δαυλιεὺς ἐκ Φωκέων·

στείχοντα δʼ αὐτόφορτον οἰκείᾳ σαγῇ
675

εἰς Ἄργος, ὥσπερ δεῦρʼ ἀπεζύγην πόδα,

ἀγνὼς πρὸς ἀγνῶτʼ εἶπε συμβαλὼν ἀνήρ,

ἐξιστορήσας καὶ σαφηνίσας ὁδόν,

Στροφίος ὁ Φωκεύς· πεύθομαι γὰρ ἐν λόγῳ

ἐπείπερ ἄλλως, ὦ ξένʼ, εἰς Ἄργος κίεις,
680

πρὸς τοὺς τεκόντας πανδίκως μεμνημένος

τεθνεῶτʼ Ὀρέστην εἰπέ, μηδαμῶς λάθῃ.

εἴτʼ οὖν κομίζειν δόξα νικήσει φίλων,

εἴτʼ οὖν μέτοικον, εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἀεὶ ξένον,

θάπτειν, ἐφετμὰς τάσδε πόρθμευσον πάλιν.
685

νῦν γὰρ λέβητος χαλκέου πλευρώματα

σποδὸν κέκευθεν ἀνδρὸς εὖ κεκλαυμένου.

τοσαῦτʼ ἀκούσας εἶπον. εἰ δὲ τυγχάνω

τοῖς κυρίοισι καὶ προσήκουσιν λέγων

οὐκ οἶδα, τὸν τεκόντα δʼ εἰκὸς εἰδέναι.
690

691

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οἲ ʼγώ, κατʼ ἄκρας εἶπας ὡς πορθούμεθα.

ὦ δυσπάλαιστε τῶνδε δωμάτων Ἀρά,

ὡς πόλλʼ ἐπωπᾷς, κἀκποδὼν εὖ κείμενα

τόξοις πρόσωθεν εὐσκόποις χειρουμένη,

φίλων ἀποψιλοῖς με τὴν παναθλίαν.
695

καὶ νῦν Ὀρέστης—ἦν γὰρ εὐβούλως ἔχων,

ἔξω κομίζων ὀλεθρίου πηλοῦ πόδα,—

νῦν δʼ ἥπερ ἐν δόμοισι βακχείας καλῆς

ἰατρὸς ἐλπὶς ἦν, προδοῦσαν ἔγγραφε.

Ὀρέστης

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ξένοισιν ὧδʼ εὐδαίμοσιν
700

κεδνῶν ἕκατι πραγμάτων ἂν ἤθελον

γνωστὸς γενέσθαι καὶ ξενωθῆναι· τί γὰρ

ξένου ξένοισίν ἐστιν εὐμενέστερον;

πρὸς δυσσεβείας δʼ ἦν ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἐν φρεσίν,

τοιόνδε πρᾶγμα μὴ καρανῶσαι φίλοις,
705

καταινέσαντα καὶ κατεξενωμένον.

Κλυταιμνήστρα

οὔτοι κυρήσεις μεῖον ἀξίως σέθεν,

οὐδʼ ἧσσον ἂν γένοιο δώμασιν φίλος.

ἄλλος δʼ ὁμοίως ἦλθεν ἂν τάδʼ ἀγγελῶν.

ἀλλʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ καιρὸς ἡμερεύοντας ξένους
710

μακρᾶς κελεύθου τυγχάνειν τὰ πρόσφορα.

ἄγʼ αὐτὸν εἰς ἀνδρῶνας εὐξένους δόμων,

ὀπισθόπους τε τούσδε καὶ ξυνέμπορον·

κἀκεῖ κυρούντων δώμασιν τὰ πρόσφορα.

αἰνῶ δὲ πράσσειν ὡς ὑπευθύνῳ τάδε.
715

ἡμεῖς δὲ ταῦτα τοῖς κρατοῦσι δωμάτων

κοινώσομέν τε κοὐ σπανίζοντες φίλων

βουλευσόμεσθα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς πέρι.

719

Χορός

εἶεν, φίλιαι δμωίδες οἴκων,

πότε δὴ στομάτων
720

δείξομεν ἰσχὺν ἐπʼ Ὀρέστῃ;

ὦ πότνια χθὼν καὶ πότνιʼ ἀκτὴ

χώματος, ἣ νῦν ἐπὶ ναυάρχῳ

σώματι κεῖσαι τῷ βασιλείῳ,

νῦν ἐπάκουσον, νῦν ἐπάρηξον·
725

νῦν γὰρ ἀκμάζει Πειθὼ δολίαν

ξυγκαταβῆναι, χθόνιον δʼ Ἑρμῆν

καὶ τὸν νύχιον τοῖσδʼ ἐφοδεῦσαι

ξιφοδηλήτοισιν ἀγῶσιν.

730

Χορός

ἔοικεν ἁνὴρ ὁ ξένος τεύχειν κακόν·
730

τροφὸν δʼ Ὀρέστου τήνδʼ ὁρῶ κεκλαυμένην.

ποῖ δὴ πατεῖς, Κίλισσα, δωμάτων πύλας;

λύπη δʼ ἄμισθός ἐστί σοι ξυνέμπορος;

Τροφός

Αἴγισθον ἡ κρατοῦσα τοῖς ξένοις καλεῖν

ὅπως τάχιστʼ ἄνωγεν, ὡς σαφέστερον
735

ἀνὴρ ἀπʼ ἀνδρὸς τὴν νεάγγελτον φάτιν

ἐλθὼν πύθηται τήνδε, πρὸς μὲν οἰκέτας

θετοσκυθρωπῶν ἐντὸς ὀμμάτων γέλων

κεύθουσʼ ἐπʼ ἔργοις διαπεπραγμένοις καλῶς

κείνῃ, δόμοις δὲ τοῖσδε παγκάκως ἔχειν,
740

φήμης ὕφʼ ἧς ἤγγειλαν οἱ ξένοι τορῶς.

ἦ δὴ κλύων ἐκεῖνος εὐφρανεῖ νόον,

εὖτʼ ἂν πύθηται μῦθον. ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ·

ὥς μοι τὰ μὲν παλαιὰ συγκεκραμένα

ἄλγη δύσοιστα τοῖσδʼ ἐν Ἀτρέως δόμοις
745

τυχόντʼ ἐμὴν ἤλγυνεν ἐν στέρνοις φρένα.

ἀλλʼ οὔτι πω τοιόνδε πῆμʼ ἀνεσχόμην·

τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλα τλημόνως ἤντλουν κακά·

φίλον δʼ Ὀρέστην, τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς τριβήν,

ὃν ἐξέθρεψα μητρόθεν δεδεγμένη,—
750

κἀκʼ νυκτιπλάγκτων ὀρθίων κελευμάτων

καὶ πολλὰ καὶ μοχθήρʼ ἀνωφέλητʼ ἐμοὶ

τλάσῃ·—τὸ μὴ φρονοῦν γὰρ ὡσπερεὶ βοτὸν

τρέφειν ἀνάγκη, πῶς γὰρ οὔ; τρόπῳ φρενός·

οὐ γάρ τι φωνεῖ παῖς ἔτʼ ὢν ἐν σπαργάνοις,
755

εἰ λιμός, ἢ δίψη τις, ἢ λιψουρία

ἔχει· νέα δὲ νηδὺς αὐτάρκης τέκνων.

τούτων πρόμαντις οὖσα, πολλὰ δʼ, οἴομαι,

ψευσθεῖσα παιδὸς σπαργάνων φαιδρύντρια,

γναφεὺς τροφεύς τε ταὐτὸν εἰχέτην τέλος.
760

ἐγὼ διπλᾶς δὲ τάσδε χειρωναξίας

ἔχουσʼ Ὀρέστην ἐξεδεξάμην πατρί·

τεθνηκότος δὲ νῦν τάλαινα πεύθομαι.

στείχω δʼ ἐπʼ ἄνδρα τῶνδε λυμαντήριον

οἴκων, θέλων δὲ τόνδε πεύσεται λόγον.
765

766

Χορός

πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;

Τροφός

ἦ πῶς; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.

Χορός

εἰ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.

Τροφός

ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.

Χορός

μή νυν σὺ ταῦτʼ ἄγγελλε δεσπότου στύγει·
770

ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἐλθεῖν, ὡς ἀδειμάντως κλύῃ,

ἄνωχθʼ ὅσον τάχιστα γηθούσῃ φρενί.

ἐν ἀγγέλῳ γὰρ κυπτὸς ὀρθοῦται λόγος.

Τροφός

ἀλλʼ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;

Χορός

ἀλλʼ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ.
775

Τροφός

καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.

Χορός

οὔπω· κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.

Τροφός

τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;

Χορός

ἄγγελλʼ ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα.

μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ πέρι.
780

Τροφός

ἀλλʼ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις.

γένοιτο δʼ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 639 focus

τὸ δ᾽ ἄγχι πνευμόνων ξίφος

διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ

640

διαὶ Δίκας. τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ οὐ

λὰξ πέδον πατούμενον,

τὸ πᾶν Διὸς σέβας παρεκβάντες οὐ θεμιστῶς.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 639 focus

τὸ δ᾽ ἄγχι πνευμόνων ξίφος

Χορός

διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ
630

διαὶ Δίκας· τὸ μὴ θέμις γάρ, οὐ

λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον, τὸ πᾶν Διὸς

σέβας παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς.

ἀντ. δ'.

ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 639 focus

Τὸ δ' ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφος

Str. 4.

διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ σοῦται

† διαὶ Δίκας. τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ οὐ

¹

λὰξ πέδον πατούμενον
640

τὸ πᾶν Διὸς

σέβας παρεκβάντες οὐ θεμίστως. †

²

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 639 focus

τὸ δ᾽ ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφος

διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς αὐτῷ

διαὶ Δίκας. τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ οὐ

λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον,

640

τὸ πᾶν Διὸς

σέβας παρεκβάντες οὐ θεμιστῶς.

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²¹³¹⁴

γυναικείαν τ' Hermann. αἰχμᾶν ante corr. M. δὴ ποθει Μ. λόγῳ γιατᾷ δὲ δὴ ῥοθεῖ Merkel. ἤκασεν Μ. ἂν αὖ Μ. πήμασι Μ. ἄγει ἄγει Auratus ἄχει Μ. fort. γάνος. οὐτᾷ οὐτᾷ Hermann σοῦται Μ. ὀξυπευκὲσ | . . δίκασ | . οὐ | Μ. διαὶ Δίκας, τὸ μὴ θέμις, λὰξ πέδοι πατουμένας HL Ahrens. πέδοι πέδοι Hermann πέδον Μ. οὐ θεμιστῶς παρεκβάντας Ο Mueller. οὐ θεμιστῶς Dindorf (οὐ θεμίστως Porson) ἀδεμίστωσ, a mutato in ou, M.

CHOEPHOROE.

ΧΟ.
antistr. 4.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 639 focus

τόδ’ ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφος

διανταίαν
640

ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾶι

διαὶ Δίκας· τὸ μὴ θέμις, {γὰρ οὐ}

λὰξ πέδον πατουμένας —

τὸ πᾶν Διὸς σέβας παρεκ-

βάντες οὐ θεμιστῶς.
645

Aeschyli Choephori (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Choephori. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 639 focus

τὸ δ᾽ ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφος

διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾶι

640

διαὶ Δίκας τομήν· θέμις γὰρ οὖν

λάξ πέδοι πατούμενον

τὸ πᾶν Διὸς σέβας παρεκ-

βάντας οὐ θεμιστῶς –

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.)) — 652-781 focus

Enter, with attendants, Orestes and Pylades before the palace

Orestes

Boy! Boy! Hear my knocking at the outer door! Who is inside? Boy! Boy! I say again, who is at home?

Again for the third time I call for some one to come out of the house, if by Aegisthus’ will it offers welcome to strangers.
655

Servant

Yes, yes, I hear. Of what land is the stranger, and whence?

Orestes

Announce me to the masters of the house, for it is in fact to them that I come bearing news.

And hurry, since the chariot of night is speeding on with darkness, and it is time for wayfarers to drop anchor in some house friendly to all guests. Tell some one to come forth who has authority over the house, the mistress in charge. But the master would be more fitting,
660

for then no delicacy in speaking makes words obscure: man speaks boldly to man and reveals his meaning without reserve. The Servant withdraws. Clytaemestra appears at the door with a maid-servant in attendance
665

Clytaemestra

Strangers, you have only to declare your need, for we have everything that suits this house: warm baths, beds to charm away fatigue,

and the presence of honest faces. But if there is another matter requiring graver counsel, that is the concern of men, and we will communicate with them.
670

Orestes

I am a stranger, a Daulian of the Phocians. As I was on my way, carrying my pack on business of my own to Argos ,

just as I ended my journey here,¹ a man, a stranger to me as I to him, fell in with me, and inquired about my destination and told me his. He was Strophius, a Phocian (for as we talked I learned his name), and he said to me,
675

Stranger, since in any case you are bound for Argos , keep my message in mind most faithfully and tell his parents Orestes is dead, and by no means let it escape you. Whether his friends decide to bring him home or to bury him in the land of his sojourn, a foreigner utterly forever,
680

convey their wishes back to me. In the meantime a bronze urn contains the ashes of a man rightly lamented. This much I tell you as I heard it. Whether by any chance I am speaking to those with whom the question rests and whose concern it is,
685

I do not know. But his parent should know the truth.
690

691

Clytaemestra

Oh no! Your story spells our utter undoing. O curse that haunts this house, so hard to wrestle down: how far forward you look! Even what was laid well out of harm’s way you bring down with your well-aimed shafts from far off,

and you strip me of those I love, utterly wretched as I am. And now Orestes: he was indeed prudent in keeping his foot out of the mire of destruction, but now mark down as having abandoned us what was once the one hope in our house of a cure for its fine revelry.²
695

Orestes

As for me, I am sure that with hosts so prosperous I would rather have been made known and welcomed for favorable news. For where is goodwill greater than from guest to host? Yet to my mind it would have been irreverent
700

not to fulfill for friends a charge like this when I was bound by promise and hospitality pledged to me.
705

Clytaemestra

Rest assured you will receive no less a reward than you deserve nor be the less welcome to this house: someone else might just as well have brought your message.

But it is the hour when strangers who have been travelling on a long day’s journey should have their proper entertainment. To an attendant Conduct him to the rooms where the men are hospitably lodged, him and his attendants here and his fellow-traveller, and let them be tended to there as is proper in our house.
710

I command you to do this as you shall be held to strict account. Meantime we will communicate this matter to the master of the house, and since we have no lack of friends we will confer on this occurrence.
715

719

All withdraw except the Chorus

Chorus

Ah, loyal handmaidens of the house,

low long will it be before we display the power that lies in our mouths to do Orestes service?
O hallowed earth, and hallowed barrow raised high that now lies on the royal form of the commander of the fleet,
720

now hear me, now lend me aid! Now is the hour for Persuasion with her guile to join forces with him, and for Hermes of the nether world, who works in stealth, to direct this encounter of the deadly sword. Enter Orestes’ Nurse
725

730

Our stranger, I think, is working mischief: for over there I see Orestes’ nurse all in tears. Cilissa³! Where are you going? Why as you set foot in the palace gate do you have a grief as an unhired companion?
730

Nurse

My mistress commands me to summon Aegisthus for the strangers

in all haste, so that he may come and learn more clearly, from man to man, these tidings that have just arrived. Indeed, before the servants, behind eyes that feigned grief she hid her laughter over what has occurred fortunately for her.
735

But the news so plainly told by the strangers means utter ruin for this house. I expect that when he hears it he will rejoice in his heart to know the story. Miserable woman that I am! How the old unbearable troubles of every sort
740

that occurred in this house of Atreus have always made my heart ache within my breast! But never yet have I endured a blow like this. For all the other troubles I bore patiently, but my beloved Orestes, on whom I spent my soul,
745

whom I took from his mother at birth and nursed, and the many and troublesome tasks, fruitless for all my enduring them, when his loud and urgent cries broke my rest.... For one must nurse the senseless thing like a dumb beast, of course one must, by following its humor.
750

For while it is still a baby in swaddling clothes, it has no speech at all, whether hunger moves it, or thirst perhaps, or the call of need: children’s young insides work their own relief. I would anticipate these needs. Yet many a time, I think, having to wash the child’s linen because of my own errors,
755

laundress and nurse had the same function. It was I who, with these two handicrafts, received Orestes for his father. And now, wretch that I am, I hear that he is dead. But I am on my way to fetch the man who wrought destruction on
760

our house, and he will be glad enough to hear this news.
765

766

Chorus

Then arrayed how does she tell him to come?

Nurse

Arrayed how? Say it again so that I may catch your meaning better.

Chorus

With his guards or perhaps unattended?

Nurse

She tells him to come with his retinue of spearmen.

Chorus

Well, do not give this message to our loathed master, but with all haste and with a cheerful heart tell him to come himself, alone, so that he may be told without alarm. For in the mouth of a messenger a crooked message is made straight.⁴
770

Nurse

What! Are you gladdened at heart by the present news?

Chorus

Why not, if Zeus at last may cause our ill wind to change?
775

Nurse

But how can that be? Orestes, the hope of our house, is gone.

Chorus

Not yet; he would be a poor prophet who would so interpret.

Nurse

What are you saying? Do you know something beyond what has been told?

Chorus

Go, deliver your message! Do what you are asked to do!

The gods take care of what they take care of.
780

Nurse

Well, I will go and do your bidding. With the gods’ blessing may everything turn out for the best! Exit

The Libation Bearers (OCR draft) Experimental (The Libation Bearers. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 639 focus

But the sword, sharp and bitter, inflicts a wound right through the lungs, driven by the hand of Justice. For the lawless conduct of him that hath lawlessly trespassed against every awful attribute of Jupiter, is not trampled under foot on the ground.

LES CHOÉPHORES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES CHOÉPHORES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 639 focus

personne qui honore ce qu'abominent les dieux. Quelle est de ces vérités celle que je n'aie pas le droit de rappeler ?
Le glaive aigu vise au cœur et le transperce, au nom de la Justice ¹. Elle a tous les droits sur ceux qui, contre tout

The Choephoræ (OCR draft) Experimental (The Choephoræ. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 639 focus

Thro' the gored breast

With rage impreſt

The ſword of justice hews the dreadful wound;

And haughty might

715

That mocks at right,

Like the vile duſt is trampled on the ground.

CHORUS.

Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 639 focus

Immerge al reo nel petto

del ferro suo la punta aspra Giustizia:

a mortal non concede

che deluda il rispetto

dovuto al re dei Superi,

515

né su vi calchi iniquamente il piede.

4 Antistrofe IV.

Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 639 focus

Enſis uerò prope pulmones

Per contrarietatem amarus

Per pænas mouetur.

Non fas est enim, non

595

Calcitrando campum conculcare.

Omnem Iouis

Cultum prætergredientes nefariè.

Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 639 focus

Das bohrt in die Seele

mir stechende Wunde;

Gerechtigkeit fordr' ich. Wo bleibt sie?

640 Wenn jegliche Scheu

vor Gottes Gesetzen sie schmählich

mit Füfsen treten dürfen

645

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.) — 639 focus

It is well of these tales to tell; for the sword in the grasp of Right
720

With a cleaving, piercing blow to the innermost heart doth smite,

And the deed unlawfully done is not trodden down nor forgot,

When the sinner out-steppeth the law and heedeth the high God not;

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

636-638. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-411

τέκνον δ᾽ ἐπειςφέρει δόμοισιν, ἐκ δ' αἱμάτων παλαιτέρων τίνει μύσος χρόνῳ κλυτὰ βυσσόφρων Ἐρινύς: τέκνον δ᾽ ἐπεισφέρει διμασε | δωμάτων παλαιτέρων M. Eodem modo G. A. nisi quod δίμασε habent. Pro eo δόμασι Rob. δώμασι Turn. Scholiastes haec adnotavit, ἀντὶ τοῦ ποινήν. ἐπεισφέρει δὲ τοῖς οἴκοις τέκνον παλαιῶν αἱμάτων· ὅ ἐστι, τίκτει ὁ φόνος ἄλλον φόνον. Eum non δωμάτων legisse, sed αἱμάτων, animadvertit Stephanus. Edidit αἱμάτων Canterus. Deinde τείνει M. G. Ald. Rob. Scholiastes ἀπαιτεῖ. Recte τίνει Turn. In ultimo chori versu libri κλυτή. Denique ἐρινὺς M. G. Ald. Rob. ἐρινὸς Turn. Ita scribendi videntur hi versus, τέκνον δ᾽ ἐπειςφέρει δόμοισιν, ἐκ δὲ αἱμάτων παλαιτέρων τίνει μύσος χρόνῳ κλυτὰ βυσσόφρων Ἐρινύς.

639. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-412

παῖ, παῖ,: Personae notam omittunt G. Ald. Linea praefixa est in M.

639

641. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-413

τίς: τίς recte Rob. Ceteri τις.

641

642. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-414

εἴπερ φιλόξεν᾽ ἐστίν, Αἰγίσθου βίᾳ: εἴπερ φιλόξεν᾽ ἐστιν αἰγίσθου διαι• sic M. Ita etiam G. Ald. Rob. nisi quod diu habent. Robortellus in margine * Bíg addidit, εἴπερ φιλόξενος ἐστιν Αιγίσθου βία Turn. et reliqui ante Porsonum. Porsonus in editione Aeschyli et in praefatione ad Hecubam p. IX. ɛɛg φιλοξένη στον Αιγίσθου βία. Non probo. Nam quod in hoc, ψυχὴ Τειρεσίας, χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων, ut insolentius dictum notatur, id in his, Bin Hoaxhrein et similibus, usitatum est. II. XI. 690. 29Dór γάρ δ' εκάκωσε βίη Ηρακληείη. Aeschylus infra v. 881. φίλτατ' Αι- rio9ov Bía. Atque ipse Porsonus recte de hoc usu iudicavit ad Hec. v. 293. Sponte autem patet diversa esse talia ut icon is Trkeμázoro, quae eadem necessitate sic dicuntur, qua r' 'Odvooćws ßía apud Sophoclem. Elmsleius ad Med. v. 807. scribendum putabat eineo qikó§e- νός τις Αιγίσθου βία, recepitque hoc Blomfieldius. Sed non recte se habere illud ris indicavi in Opusc. III. p. 217. Neque sane tireo qió- ξεν᾽ ἐστὶν Αιγίσθου διαί ferri potest. Verum ex illo διαι lenissima mutatione fit Biar. Quare scripsi τρίτον τόδ᾽ ἐκπέραμα δωμάτων καλῶ, εἴπερ φιλόξεν᾽ ἐστίν, Αιγίσθου βίαν. Structura verborum non fallet nisi imperitissimos. Hoc dicit, tertium dico Aegisthum e domo, si quidem hospitibus amica est, exire. Eandem emendationem fecit Bambergerus.

642

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Das Schwert, gezückt auf Frevlerbrust, Es stürmt grad' ein bitterscharf, und mordet Durch Dike's Hand. In Staub hinab 640 Tritt ihr Fuß die Missethat, Die sich von aller Furcht des Zeus frevelnd abgewendet. Vierte Gegenstrophe.

Current edition Experimental

Οἰκέτης εἶεν, ἀκούω: ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;

ἔοικεν ἁνὴρ 21 ὁ ξένος τεύχειν κακόν: 730 τροφὸν δ᾽ Ὀρέστου τήνδ᾽ ὁρῶ κεκλαυμένην. ποῖ δὴ πατεῖς, Κίλισσα, δωμάτων πύλας; λύπη δ᾽ ἄμισθός ἐστί σοι ξυνέμπορος;

Χορός πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;

Τροφός ἦ πῶς; 33 λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.

Χορός εἰ 34 ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.

Τροφός ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.

Τροφός ἀλλ᾽ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;

Χορός ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ. 775

Τροφός καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.

Χορός οὔπω: κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.

Τροφός τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;

Χορός ἄγγελλ᾽ 37 ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα. μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ 38 πέρι. 780

Τροφός ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις. γένοιτο δ᾽ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει. 783

Οἰκέτης εἶεν, ἀκούω· ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;

Χορός πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;

Τροφός ἦ πῶς; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.

Χορός εἰ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.

Τροφός ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.

Τροφός ἀλλʼ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;

Χορός ἀλλʼ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ. 775

Τροφός καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.

Χορός οὔπω· κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.

Τροφός τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;

Χορός ἄγγελλʼ ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα. μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ πέρι. 780

Τροφός ἀλλʼ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις. γένοιτο δʼ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.

τὸ δ᾽ ἄγχι πνευμόνων ξίφος

Χορός διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ 630 διαὶ Δίκας· τὸ μὴ θέμις γάρ, οὐ λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον, τὸ πᾶν Διὸς σέβας παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς. ἀντ. δ'.

CHOEPHOROE.

ΧΟ. antistr. 4.

Orestes Boy! Boy! Hear my knocking at the outer door! Who is inside? Boy! Boy! I say again, who is at home? Again for the third time I call for some one to come out of the house, if by Aegisthus’ will it offers welcome to strangers. 655

Servant Yes, yes, I hear. Of what land is the stranger, and whence?

Our stranger, I think, is working mischief: for over there I see Orestes’ nurse all in tears. Cilissa 3 ! Where are you going? Why as you set foot in the palace gate do you have a grief as an unhired companion? 730

Chorus Then arrayed how does she tell him to come?

Nurse Arrayed how? Say it again so that I may catch your meaning better.

Chorus With his guards or perhaps unattended?

Nurse She tells him to come with his retinue of spearmen.

Chorus Well, do not give this message to our loathed master, but with all haste and with a cheerful heart tell him to come himself, alone, so that he may be told without alarm. For in the mouth of a messenger a crooked message is made straight. 4 770

Nurse What! Are you gladdened at heart by the present news?

Chorus Why not, if Zeus at last may cause our ill wind to change? 775

Nurse But how can that be? Orestes, the hope of our house, is gone.

Chorus Not yet; he would be a poor prophet who would so interpret.

Nurse What are you saying? Do you know something beyond what has been told?

Chorus Go, deliver your message! Do what you are asked to do! The gods take care of what they take care of. 780

Nurse Well, I will go and do your bidding. With the gods’ blessing may everything turn out for the best! Exit

CHORUS.

4 Antistrofe IV.

It is well of these tales to tell; for the sword in the grasp of Right 720 With a cleaving, piercing blow to the innermost heart doth smite, And the deed unlawfully done is not trodden down nor forgot, When the sinner out-steppeth the law and heedeth the high God not;

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Das Schwert, gezückt auf Frevlerbrust,

Es stürmt grad' ein bitterscharf, und mordet

Durch Dike's Hand. In Staub hinab
640

Tritt ihr Fuß die Missethat,

Die sich von aller Furcht des Zeus frevelnd abgewendet.

Vierte Gegenstrophe.

Οἰκέτης

εἶεν, ἀκούω: ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;

Χορός

πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;

Τροφός

ἦ πῶς;³³ λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.

Χορός

εἰ³⁴ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.

Τροφός

ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.

Τροφός

ἀλλ᾽ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;

Χορός

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ.
775

Τροφός

καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.

Χορός

οὔπω: κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.

Τροφός

τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;

Χορός

ἄγγελλ᾽³⁷ ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα.

μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ³⁸ πέρι.
780

Τροφός

ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις.

γένοιτο δ᾽ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.

783

Οἰκέτης

εἶεν, ἀκούω· ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;

Χορός

πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;

Τροφός

ἦ πῶς; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.

Χορός

εἰ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.

Τροφός

ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.

Τροφός

ἀλλʼ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;

Χορός

ἀλλʼ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ.
775

Τροφός

καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.

Χορός

οὔπω· κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.

Τροφός

τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;

Χορός

ἄγγελλʼ ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα.

μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ πέρι.
780

Τροφός

ἀλλʼ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις.

γένοιτο δʼ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.

Χορός

διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ
630

διαὶ Δίκας· τὸ μὴ θέμις γάρ, οὐ

λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον, τὸ πᾶν Διὸς

σέβας παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς.

ἀντ. δ'.

ΧΟ.
antistr. 4.

Orestes

Boy! Boy! Hear my knocking at the outer door! Who is inside? Boy! Boy! I say again, who is at home?

Again for the third time I call for some one to come out of the house, if by Aegisthus’ will it offers welcome to strangers.
655

Servant

Yes, yes, I hear. Of what land is the stranger, and whence?

Our stranger, I think, is working mischief: for over there I see Orestes’ nurse all in tears. Cilissa³! Where are you going? Why as you set foot in the palace gate do you have a grief as an unhired companion?
730

Chorus

Then arrayed how does she tell him to come?

Nurse

Arrayed how? Say it again so that I may catch your meaning better.

Chorus

With his guards or perhaps unattended?

Nurse

She tells him to come with his retinue of spearmen.

Chorus

Well, do not give this message to our loathed master, but with all haste and with a cheerful heart tell him to come himself, alone, so that he may be told without alarm. For in the mouth of a messenger a crooked message is made straight.⁴
770

Nurse

What! Are you gladdened at heart by the present news?

Chorus

Why not, if Zeus at last may cause our ill wind to change?
775

Nurse

But how can that be? Orestes, the hope of our house, is gone.

Chorus

Not yet; he would be a poor prophet who would so interpret.

Nurse

What are you saying? Do you know something beyond what has been told?

Chorus

Go, deliver your message! Do what you are asked to do!

The gods take care of what they take care of.
780

Nurse

Well, I will go and do your bidding. With the gods’ blessing may everything turn out for the best! Exit

It is well of these tales to tell; for the sword in the grasp of Right
720

With a cleaving, piercing blow to the innermost heart doth smite,

And the deed unlawfully done is not trodden down nor forgot,

When the sinner out-steppeth the law and heedeth the high God not;