Aeschylus, Libation Bearers, Paul Mazon (Editor), 631

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d'un guerrier, d'un
roi dont le courroux en imposait à ses ennemis mêmes ¹ ? tandis qu'il garde ses respects pour le foyer paisible où la femme exerce douce royauté. Entre tous les crimes, l'histoire met à part celui qu'a vu Lemnos. La voix publique le maudit avec horreur ; les pires
calamités sont encore appelées du nom de « lemnien ² ». La race où s'est commis ce crime haï des dieux périt dans le mépris des hommes : il n'est

Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Paul Mazon (Editor). Paris. 1920-1925.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Schmidt Sciences.

Current edition Experimental

LES CHOÉPHORES (OCR draft) (fra) (LES CHOÉPHORES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.)

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.) — 631 focus

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

λόγῳ· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ ποθει κατάπτυστον· ἥκασεν

δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν ἂν Λημνίοισι πήμασι.

θεοστυγήτῳ δ᾽ ἄχει

635

βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος.

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.

τί τῶνδ᾽ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 631 focus

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

λόγῳ· γοᾶται δὲ δήποθεν πάθος κατὰ

πτυστόν· ᾔκασεν δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.

θεοστυγήτῳ δ᾽ ἄγει
625

βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος.

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυςφιλὲς θεοῖς.

τί τῶνδ᾽ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;

στρ. δ'.

ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 631 focus

Κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

Ant. 3.

λόγῳ· βοᾶται γοᾶται δὲ δημόθεν δὴ ποθει (ι supra ει) κατά-
630

πτυστον· ᾔκασεν δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν -σι·

θεοστυγήτῳ δ' ἄχει

βροτοῖς βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος·

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.
635

Τί τῶνδ' οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω ;

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 631 focus

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

λόγῳ· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ ποθει κατά-

630

πτυστον. ᾤκασεν δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν ἂν Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.

θεοστυγήτῳ δ᾽ ἄγει

βροτῶν ἀτιμωδὲν οἴχεται γένος.

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.

635

τί τῶνδ᾽ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 631 focus

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

λόγωι· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ τόδ’ ἕν κατά-

πτυστον, ἤικασεν δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²

θεοστυγήτωι δ’ ἄχει
635

βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος·

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.

τί τῶνδ’ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;

Aeschyli Choephori (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Choephori. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 631 focus

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

λόγωι, γοᾶται δὲ δημόθεν κατά-

πτυστον. ἤικασεν δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν αὐ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.

θεοστυγήτωι δ᾽ ἄχει

635

βροτοῖς ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος.

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλές θεοῖς.

τί τῶνδ᾽ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω; =

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.) — 631 focus

Of horrors, indeed, that of Lemnos holds the first place in story; and it is deplored in every clime as an abomination, and a man is wont to compare what is dreadful to Lemnian sufferings . And by reason of heaven-detested guilt the race of mortals perishes in infamy; for no one reveres that which is offensive to the gods. Which of these hideous facts do I unreasonably reckon up?

The Choephoræ (OCR draft) Experimental (The Choephoræ. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 631 focus

In the black annals of far distant time

The Lesbian dames recorded stand ;

705

But the ſoul ſhudders at the crime,

And execrates the murders of their hand:

Baſely at once the husbands bleed;

Th' indignant Gods abhor the deed.

And ſhall man dare with impious voice t' approve
710

Deeds, that offend the pow'rs above?

Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 631 focus

Come mi curvo a femminil talento?

510

4 Strofe IV.

Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 631 focus

Horum uerò ignauum larem domuum,

Muliebrem timidam hastam,

585

Malorum uerò honorat Lemnium

Sermone, luget uerò utiq; execrandum. aſsimilauit uerò aliquis

Atrocitatem Lemnicis malis impio dolore

Mortalium ignominioſum uenit genus.

Colit nullus inimicum dijs.

590

Quid hos non iuſtè congregos?

Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 631 focus

Von Weiberhand

ausgerottet

fiel Lemnos' Männervolk.

Das Sprichwort nennt lemnisch drum

das ärgste Greul. Als lemnisch wird

verflucht auch dies.

635 Verworfen von den Göttern,

verschmäht, verfehmt muſs das Haus zu Grunde geh'n.

Wen Gott verstiefs, niemand ehrt noch achtet ihn.

So ist's. Sagt' ich zu viel?

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.) — 631 focus

But the summit and crown of all crimes is that which in Lemnos befel;¹

A woe and a mourning it is, a shame and a spitting to tell;
715

And he that in after time doth speak of his deadliest thought,

Doth say It is like to the deed that of old time in Lemnos was wrought;

And loathed of men were the doers, and perished, they and their seed,

For the gods brought hate upon them; none loveth the impious deed.

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.) — 631 focus

Vor allen Unthaten ragt im Lied hervor,
630

Was Lemnos' Frau'n übten, was, weithin beklagt,

Als ein Fluch gilt; doch mit Recht

Wird dieser Gräul Lemnos' Unthat gleichgestellt.

Durch blut'ge Schuld, die den Haß

Der Götter weckt, sinkt ein Menschenstamm in Schmach.
635

Denn Keiner mag ehren, was ein Gott verwarf.

Gerecht, wahrhaftig sprach mein Mund hier.

Vierte Strophe.

Notes on the current edition

Libation Bearers

1. Texte douteux.

2. Les Lemniennes avaient assassiné tous les hommes de leur île, et l'expression de « crime lemnien » avait passé en proverbe, pour désigner un forfait particulièrement odieux.

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

630. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-406

διανταίαν ... οὐτᾷ: δι' ἀνταίαν Ald. Turn. Deinde libri σοῦται. Glossa in G. ὁρμα. Scholiastes τὸ δὲ ξίφος τῆς Δίκης τὸ ἔχον πικρίαν ἀντικρὺ διὰ πνευμόνων ὁρμα. Scribendum erat οὐτῷ, ut in Elem. doctr. metr. p. 236. indicavi. Hoc ipsum οὐτῷ legisse videtur scholiastes, cuius non rectam horum verborum explicationem ad v. 628. adscripsi: dicit enim νύσσει.

630

631-632. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-407

διαὶ Δίκας· τὸ μὴ θέμις γάρ, οὐ λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον: διαὶ Μ. G. Ald. Rob. διὰ Turn. Deinde οὔ, ] λὰξ G. Ald. οὐ | λαξ Rob. οὐ | λὰς Turn. Deinde libri πέδον πατούμενον. Id ferri nequit. V. ad Ag. v. 1317. Schützius in postrema editione ex mea emendatione dedit πεδοῖ πατούμενον. Sed scribendum erat πέδοι.

633. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-408

παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς: Libri παρεκβάντες. Scholiastes λείπει ὁ γάρ καὶ ἔστι, τὸ γὰρ πᾶν τοῦ Διὸς σέβας παρεξήβησαν ἀθεμίστως οἱ περὶ τὸν Αίγισ- 2ον. Item ad παρεκβάντες haec adscripsit, ἀντὶ παρεξέβησαν· καὶ ἔστι μετοχὴ ἀντὶ ῥήματος, ὡς τὸ “καρπῷ βριθομένη” (II. VIII. 307). Immo scribendum est παρεκβάντος, ut Stanleius quoque in curis secundis et Musgravius viderunt. Deinde οὐθεμίστως Μ. sed ut or litterae a simile sit. Ceteri αθεμίστως. Porsonus οὐ θεμίστως. Scribendum esse οὐ θεμιστῶς monuit Dindorfius. Hoc autem dicitur, scelus cius, qui Iovis reverentiam impie violavit, non negligitur. Non satis recte scholiastes τὸ γὰρ μὴ δίκαιον οὐ δεῖ ἀμελεῖσθαι, οὐδὲ παρασιωπᾶ- σθαι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκδικήσεως τυγχάνειν.

633

634. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-409

Δίκας: δίκης, supra scripto a, Μ. δίκας, supra scripto η, G. δίκης Rob. δίκας Ald. Turn.

634

635. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-410

προχαλκεύει: Libri προσχαλκεύει, nisi quod Ald. πρὸς χαλκεύει. Scribendum esse προχαλκεύει indicavi in El. doctr. metr. p. 236.

635

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

630-631. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-339

λόγω γιατᾷ (vgl. 818) ῥοθεῖ κατάπτυστον, in Klagereden hört man es allenthalben als etwas Verabscheuungswürdiges nennen und hin und wieder verglich man das Schlimmste lemnischem Weh d. h. lemnisches Leid ist sprichwörtlich geworden für die ärgste Missthat. Vgl. Herod. VI 138 ἀπὸ τούτου δὲ τοῦ ἔργου καὶ τοῦ προτέρου τούτων, τὸ ἐργάσαντο αἱ γυ ναῖκες τοὺς ἅμα Θόαντι ἄνδρας σφετέρους ἀποκτείνασαι, νενόμισται ἀνὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα τὰ σχέτλια ἔργα πάντα Λήμνια καλέεσθαι, Hesych. Λήμνιον κακόν· παροιμία κτἑ., Pind. Pyth. IV 252 Λαμνιᾶν τ᾽ ἔθνει γυναικῶν ἀνδροφόνων, Eur. Hek. 886 τί δ᾽; οὐ γυναῖκες εἷλον Αἰγύπτου τέκνα καὶ Λήμνον ἄρδην ἀρσένων ἐξώκισαν. Mit δοθεί vgl. Soph. ῥοθεῖ Ant. 259

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί

. ᾔκασεν ἄν: Kr. I § 53, 10, 3. δεινός mit Artikel bezeichnet häufig das vorzugsweise Schlimme, das Allerärgste.

633-634. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-340

Durch gottverhafste Greuel verliert alle Zier der Sterblichen ( γάνος, zu Ag. 383 ) Ehre und Achtung d. h. was den Menschen als hoch und erhaben gilt (wie königliche Würde, vgl. 53), büfst die Verehrung ein, wenn gottverhafste Schuld auf ihm ruht.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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.

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον λόγωι· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ τόδ’ ἕν κατά- πτυστον, ἤικασεν δέ τις τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.

θεοστυγήτωι δ’ ἄχει 635 βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος· σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς. τί τῶνδ’ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;

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

Baſely at once the husbands bleed; Th' indignant Gods abhor the deed. And ſhall man dare with impious voice t' approve 710 Deeds, that offend the pow'rs above?

4 Strofe IV.

Notes on the current edition

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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.

κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον

λόγωι· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ τόδ’ ἕν κατά-

πτυστον, ἤικασεν δέ τις

τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.

θεοστυγήτωι δ’ ἄχει
635

βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος·

σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.

τί τῶνδ’ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;

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

Baſely at once the husbands bleed;

Th' indignant Gods abhor the deed.

And ſhall man dare with impious voice t' approve
710

Deeds, that offend the pow'rs above?