Electra
By Sophocles.
Translated by Francis Storr.
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Argument
Orestes, admonished by the Delphic oracle to avenge his murdered father, sets forth for Mycenae accompanied by his aged Paedagogus and Pylades. When in sight of the palace they lay their plot. The Paedagogus is to present himself as a Phocian messenger and announce to Clytemnestra that Orestes has been killed in a chariot race at the Pythian games. Meanwhile Orestes and Pylades are to make funeral offerings at the tomb of Agamemnon and then, disguised as Phocians, to carry to the Queen a funeral urn, telling her it holds the ashes of Orestes. Clytemnestra, warned by an evil dream, sends Chrysothemis to pour a libation on the tomb. Electra meets her on the way thither and persuades her to leave these impious offerings and take instead such gifts as the two sisters can make to their father’s ghost. Clytemnestra enters with a handmaid bearing fruits to be laid on the altar of Apollo. She rates Electra for beimg abroad without her leave, and defends her past acts against Electra’s reproaches. The announcement of a messenger ends the altercation, and the Queen hears with feigned sorrow and ill-concealed joy the news of Orestes’ death, and invites the messenger to accompany her to the palace. Chrysothemis returns from the tomb, reporting that someone has been there before her, has wreathed the mound with flowers, and left on the edge a lock of hair. Who can it be but Orestes? Electra disabuses her, repeating the messenger’s sad tale, and entreats her aid in executing the resolve to slay nith her own hands their unnatural mother and her paramour. Orestes joins them with Pylades and attendants bearing the funeral urn. She takes the urn in her hands and makes her moan over her lost brother. As they converse together Orestes by degrees reveals himself and discloses his purpose. With Pylades he enters the palace, and shortly a death-shriek is heard. He comes forth, and in answer to Electra replies that all is well in the house. Aegisthus is seen approaching, exultant at the report he has heard of Orestes’ death. Electra confirms it, and bids him enter the palace and see with his own eyes the corpse. At his bidding the palace doors are thrown open and on a bier is seen a veiled corpse. Aegisthus lifts the face cloth and beholds the corpse of Clytemnestra with Orestes standing hard by. He knows that his fate ts sealed, and is driven at the sword’s point by Orestes to be slain in the hall where Agamemnon was slain. The Chorus of free Mycenean women hail the death of the usurper which ends the curse on the house of Atreus.
Dramatis Personae
-
Aged servant of Orestes
-
Orestes, son of Agamemnon, the late king of Argos, and Clytemnestra
-
Electra and Chrysothemis, daughters of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra
-
Clytemnestra, Queen of Argos and Mycenae
-
Aegisthus, cousin of Agamemnon, sometime paramour of Clytemnestra and now prince consort
-
Chorus or Mycenean women
Scene: At Mycenae before the Palace of Agamemnon.
Electra
Enter Aged Servant with Orestes and Pylades. | |
Aged Servant |
O Child of Agamemnon, who sometime
|
Orestes |
Dearest of followers, how well thou show’st
|
Electra |
Within. Ah me! unhappy me! |
Aged Servant |
Hist! from the doors a voice, my son, methought,
|
Orestes |
Can it be sad Electra! Shall we stay
|
Aged Servant |
Not so; we first must strive before all else
|
Electra |
O holy light,
Yet never, while these eyes
|
Enter Chorus. | |
Chorus |
Strophe 1
Child of a mother all unblest,
|
Electra |
Ah, noble friends ye come, I see
|
Chorus |
Antistrophe 1
Yet him, thy sire, from Acheron’s dark shore
|
Electra |
That child’s insensate who remembers not
|
Chorus |
Strophe 2
Not thou alone, hast sorrow; others share
|
Electra |
Yea, for him long years I wait,
|
Chorus |
Antistrophe 2
Take heart, my child, Zeus still in heaven is king,
|
Electra |
Nay but for me is spent
|
Chorus |
Strophe 3
Dire was the voice that greeted first
|
Electra |
Dawn, the darkest of all morrows,
|
Chorus |
Antistrophe 3
O curb thy tongue! hast thou no thought
|
Electra |
Bitter constraint compelled me, and I know
|
Chorus |
O heap not misery on misery,
|
Electra |
No, for this villainy grows and knows no bound.
|
Chorus |
I came in thy behalf no less than mine,
|
Electra |
It shames me, friends, that ye should thus set down
|
Chorus |
Stay, tell me, is Aegisthus nigh at hand,
|
Electra |
From home, of course! Think you, were he within,
|
Chorus |
More freely then may I converse with thee,
|
Electra |
It is; ask what thou wilt. |
Chorus |
’Tis of thy brother I would question thee.
|
Electra |
He says “I come,” but does not what he says. |
Chorus |
A man thinks twice with some great work in hand. |
Electra |
I thought not twice when I delivered him. |
Chorus |
Take heart, he is loyal and will not fail his friends, |
Electra |
I trust him, else I had not lived so long. |
Chorus |
No more for this time; at the doors I see
|
Enter Chrysothemis. | |
Chrysothemis |
Sister, why com’st thou once more to declaim
|
Electra |
O shame that thou, the child of such a sire,
|
Chorus |
No angry words, I pray, for both of you
|
Chrysothemis |
I know her moods too well to take offence,
|
Electra |
Say what can be this terror; if ’tis worse
|
Chrysothemis |
All I have learnt in full I will impart.
|
Electra |
Have they indeed resolved to treat me thus? |
Chrysothemis |
The instant that Aegisthus is returned. |
Electra |
Well, for my part I would he came back soon. |
Chrysothemis |
Insensate girl! What mean’st thou by this prayer? |
Electra |
Would he were here, if this be his intent. |
Chrysothemis |
That thou mayst suffer—what? Hast lost thy wits? |
Electra |
A flight long leagues away from all of you. |
Chrysothemis |
Art thou indifferent to thy present life? |
Electra |
O ’tis a marvellously happy life! |
Chrysothemis |
It might have been, couldst thou have schooled thyself. |
Electra |
Teach me not basely to betray my friends. |
Chrysothemis |
Not I; I teach submission to the strong. |
Electra |
Fawn, if thou wilt; such cringing suits not me. |
Chrysothemis |
Yet not to fall through folly were no blame. |
Electra |
If needs be, in a father’s cause I’ll fall. |
Chrysothemis |
I trust our father pardons us for this. |
Electra |
Traitors take refuge in like sentiments. |
Chrysothemis |
Thou wilt not heed then or be ruled by me? |
Electra |
I am not in my dotage, save the mark! |
Chrysothemis |
Then I will do my errand. |
Electra |
Whither away?
|
Chrysothemis |
My mother bids me crown our father’s grave. |
Electra |
Her mortal enemy’s! How sayest thou? |
Chrysothemis |
The husband whom she slew, so thou wouldst say. |
Electra |
Which of her friends advised her? whence this whim? |
Chrysothemis |
A nightly vision warned her, so I think. |
Electra |
Gods of my fathers, aid me in this pass! |
Chrysothemis |
Dost thou take heart of courage from her dread? |
Electra |
Before I answer let me hear the dream. |
Chrysothemis |
There is but little that I have to tell. |
Electra |
Tell it no less. A little word, men say,
|
Chrysothemis |
’Tis said that she beheld thy sire and mine
|
Electra |
Nay, let not aught, my sister, touch the tomb,
|
Chorus |
’Tis piously advised, and thou, my daughter,
|
Chrysothemis |
I will. When duty calls, ’twere lack of sense
|
Chorus |
Strophe
Count me a prophet false, a witless wight,
Antistrophe
So leaping from her ambush, brazen-shod,
|
Enter Clytemnestra. | |
Clytemnestra |
So once again I find thee here at large,
|
Electra |
This time thou canst not say that I began
|
Clytemnestra |
My leave is given, and, hadst thou always shown
|
Electra |
Hear then. Thou say’st, “I slew thy father.” Who
|
Chorus |
I see she breathes forth fury and no more
|
Clytemnestra |
Why then should I heed one who thus insults
|
Electra |
Nay, I am shamefast, though to thee I seem
|
Clytemnestra |
Thou brazen monster! I, my words, my acts,
|
Electra |
The fault is thine, not mine; for thine the acts,
|
Clytemnestra |
Now, by our lady Artemis, thou shalt rue
|
Electra |
See, rage distracts thee; first thou grantest me
|
Clytemnestra |
I let thee have thy say, and wilt not thou
|
Electra |
Go, I adjure thee, sacrifice; nor blame
|
Clytemnestra |
Bear this, my maid, this offering of earth’s fruits,
|
Aged Servant |
Good ladies, might a stranger crave to learn
|
Chorus |
It is, Sir; thou thyself hast guessed aright. |
Aged Servant |
And am I right conjecturing that I see
|
Chorus |
Indeed thou art in presence of the queen. |
Aged Servant |
I greet thee, Madam, and I bear to thee
|
Clytemnestra |
I welcome thy fair words, but first would know
|
Aged Servant |
Phanoteus, the Phocian,
|
Clytemnestra |
Tell me, stranger, what.
|
Aged Servant |
Orestes’ death, to sum in brief my tale. |
Electra |
Me miserable! Now am I undone. |
Clytemnestra |
What say’st thou, man, what say’st thou? Heed not her. |
Aged Servant |
I say again, Orestes is no more. |
Electra |
Ah me, I’m lost, ah wretched me, undone! |
Clytemnestra |
Attend to thine own business. To Aged Servant. Tell me, Sir,
|
Aged Servant |
That was my errand, and I’ll tell thee all.
|
Chorus |
Alas, alas! our ancient masters’ line,
|
Clytemnestra |
Are these glad tidings? Rather would I say
|
Aged Servant |
Why, lady, why downhearted at my news? |
Clytemnestra |
Strange is the force of motherhood; a mother,
|
Aged Servant |
So it would seem our coming was in vain. |
Clytemnestra |
Nay, not in vain. How canst thou say “in vain,”
|
Electra |
Ah woe is me! now verily may I mourn
|
Clytemnestra |
Not well with thee, but it is well with him. |
Electra |
Hear her, Avenging Spirit of the dead
|
Clytemnestra |
The Avenger heard
|
Electra |
Mock on; this is thine hour of victory. |
Clytemnestra |
That hour Orestes shall not end, nor thou. |
Electra |
End it! ’Tis we are ended and undone. |
Clytemnestra |
Thy coming, Sir, would merit large reward,
|
Aged Servant |
Then I may take my leave, if all is well. |
Clytemnestra |
Not so; such entertainment would reflect
|
Electra |
Seemed she to you a mother woe-begone,
|
Chorus |
Strophe 1
Where, O Zeus, are thy bolts, O Sun-god, where is thy ray,
|
Electra |
Ah me! Ah me! |
Chorus |
Peuchter, why weepest thou? |
Electra |
Woe! |
Chorus |
Hush! No rash cry! |
Electra |
Thou’lt be my death. |
Chorus |
What meanest thou? |
Electra |
If ye would whisper hope
|
Chorus |
Antistrophe 1
Nay, I bethink me how
|
Electra |
Ah me! |
Chorus |
A living soul he reigns. |
Electra |
Ah woe! |
Chorus |
Aye woe! for the murderess— |
Electra |
Was slain. |
Chorus |
Aye, slain. |
Electra |
I know, I know. A champion was raised up
|
Chorus |
Strophe 2 A weary, weary lot is thine. |
Electra |
I know it well, too well,
|
Chorus |
We have watched its tearful course. |
Electra |
Cease then to turn it where— |
Chorus |
What wouldst thou say? |
Electra |
No comfort’s left of hope
|
Chorus |
Antistrophe 2 Death is the common lot. |
Electra |
To die as he died, hapless youth,
|
Chorus |
Torture ineffable! |
Electra |
Yea, in a strange land far away— |
Chorus |
Alas! |
Electra |
To lie untended by my hands,
|
Enter Chrysothemis. | |
Chrysothemis |
Joy, dearest sister, sped me hitherward,
|
Electra |
And where canst thou have found a remedy
|
Chrysothemis |
Orestes—hear it from my lips—is here,
|
Electra |
Art mad, poor sister, making mockery
|
Chrysothemis |
I mock not, by our father’s hearth I swear it;
|
Electra |
O misery! And, prithee, from whose mouth
|
Chrysothemis |
I trusted to none other than myself,
|
Electra |
What proof, what evidence! What sight, poor girl,
|
Chrysothemis |
O, as thou lov’st me, listen, then decide,
|
Electra |
Well, if it pleases thee to speak, speak on, |
Chrysothemis |
I will, and tell thee all that I have seen.
|
Electra |
Alas! I pity thy simplicity,
|
Chrysothemis |
Are not then my tidings glad? |
Electra |
Thou knowst not in what land of dreams thou art. |
Chrysothemis |
Wouldst have me doubt the evidence of my eyes? |
Electra |
He is dead, I tell thee; look not to the dead
|
Chrysothemis |
Ah woe is me! Who told thee of his death? |
Electra |
One who was present when he met his fate. |
Chrysothemis |
Where is the man? ’Tis strange, ’tis passing strange. |
Electra |
Within; our mother’s not unwelcome guest. |
Chrysothemis |
Ah me! Ah me! And whose then can have been
|
Electra |
To me it seems most like that they were brought
|
Chrysothemis |
And I, poor fool, was hurrying in hot haste
|
Electra |
So stands the case; but be advised by me
|
Chrysothemis |
Wouldst have me raise the dead to life again? |
Electra |
I meant not that; I am not so demented. |
Chrysothemis |
What wouldst thou then that lies within my powers? |
Electra |
Be bold to execute what I enjoin. |
Chrysothemis |
If it can profit, I will not refuse. |
Electra |
Success, remember, is the meed of toil. |
Chrysothemis |
I know it, and will help thee all I can. |
Electra |
Then listen how I am resolved to act.
|
Chorus |
Forethought for those that speak and those that hear,
|
Chrysothemis |
Before she spake, were not her mind perverse,
|
Chorus |
Hearken! for mortal man there is no gift
|
Electra |
’Tis as I thought: before thy answer came
|
Chrysothemis |
Ah well-a-way!
|
Electra |
My temper was the same, my mind less ripe. |
Chrysothemis |
Study to keep the same mind all thy days. |
Electra |
This counsel means refusal of thine aid. |
Chrysothemis |
Yes, for misfortune dogs such enterprise. |
Electra |
I praise thy prudence, hate thy cowardice. |
Chrysothemis |
E’en when thou shalt commend me, I will bear
|
Electra |
That trial thou wilt ne’er endure from me. |
Chrysothemis |
Who lives will see; time yet may prove thee wrong. |
Electra |
Begone! in thee there is no power to aid. |
Chrysothemis |
Not so; in thee there is no will to learn. |
Electra |
Go to thy mother; tell it all to her. |
Chrysothemis |
My hatred of thee does not reach so far. |
Electra |
Thou wouldst dishonour me; that much is sure. |
Chrysothemis |
Dishonour? No, I seek to save thine honour. |
Electra |
Am I to make thy rule of honour mine? |
Chrysothemis |
When thou art wise, then thou shalt guide us both. |
Electra |
Sound words; ’tis sad they are so misapplied. |
Chrysothemis |
Thou hittest well the blot that is thine own. |
Electra |
How? dost deny the plea I urge is just? |
Chrysothemis |
No; but e’en justice sometimes worketh harm. |
Electra |
I choose not to conform to such a rule. |
Chrysothemis |
Well, if thy purpose hold, thou’lt own me right. |
Electra |
It holds; I shall not swerve in awe of thee. |
Chrysothemis |
Is this thy last word? Wilt not be advised? |
Electra |
No, naught is loathlier than ill advice. |
Chrysothemis |
Thou seemest deaf to all that I can urge. |
Electra |
My resolution was not born to-day. |
Chrysothemis |
Then I will go, for thou canst not be brought
|
Electra |
Go in then; I shall never follow thee,
|
Chrysothemis |
Well, if thou art wise
|
Chorus |
Strophe 1
Wise nature taught the birds of air
Antistrophe 1
Tell him his house is stricken sore,
Disconsolate doth she her sire bewail,
Strophe 2
No generous soul were fain
Antistrophe 2
O may I see thee tower
|
Enter Orestes. | |
Orestes |
Pray tell me, ladies, were we guided right,
|
Chorus |
What seek’st thou, stranger, and with what intent? |
Orestes |
I seek and long have sought Aegisthus’ home. |
Chorus |
’Tis here; thy guide is nowise blameable. |
Orestes |
Would one of you announce to those within
|
Chorus |
This maiden, as the next of kin, will do it. |
Orestes |
Go, madam, say that visitors have come
|
Electra |
Ah woe is me! You come not to confirm
|
Orestes |
I’ve heard no “rumours.” Agèd Strophius
|
Electra |
Ha!
|
Orestes |
Ashes within this narrow urn we bear,
|
Electra |
Ah me unhappy! in my very sight
|
Orestes |
If for Orestes thou art weeping, know
|
Electra |
O if it hold his ashes, let me, friend,
|
Orestes |
Bring it and give it her, whoe’er she be;
|
Electra |
Last relics of the man I most did love,
|
Chorus |
Child of a mortal sire, Electra, think,
|
Orestes |
Ah me! what shall I say where all words fail?
|
Electra |
What sudden trouble made thee speak like this? |
Orestes |
Is this the famed Electra I behold? |
Electra |
’Tis she, and very wretched is her state. |
Orestes |
O for the heavy change! Alas, alas! |
Electra |
Surely thy pity, sir, is not for me. |
Orestes |
O beauty marred by foul and impious spite! |
Electra |
Yea, sir, this wreck of womanhood am I. |
Orestes |
Alas, how sad a life of singleness! |
Electra |
Why gaze thus on me, stranger, and lament? |
Orestes |
Of my own ills how little then I knew! |
Electra |
Was this revealed by any word of mine? |
Orestes |
By seeing thee conspicuous in thy woes. |
Electra |
And yet my looks reveal but half my woes. |
Orestes |
Could there be woes more piteous to behold? |
Electra |
Yea, to be housemate with the murderers— |
Orestes |
Whose murderers? at what villainy dost hint? |
Electra |
My father’s; and their slave am I perforce. |
Orestes |
Who is it puts upon thee this constraint? |
Electra |
My mother, not a mother save in name. |
Orestes |
By blows or petty tyrannies or how? |
Electra |
By blows and tyrannies of every kind. |
Orestes |
And is there none to help or stay her hand? |
Electra |
None; there was one, the man whose dust I hold. |
Orestes |
Poor maid! my pity’s stirred at sight of thee. |
Electra |
Thou art the first who ever pitied me. |
Orestes |
I am the first to feel a common woe. |
Electra |
What, canst thou be some kinsman from afar? |
Orestes |
If these are friends who hear us, I would answer. |
Electra |
Yes, they are friends; thou needst not fear to speak. |
Orestes |
Give back this urn, and then I’ll tell thee all. |
Electra |
Ask not so hard a thing, good sir, I pray. |
Orestes |
Do as I bid thee; thou shalt not repent it. |
Electra |
O, I adjure thee, rob me not of that
|
Orestes |
It may not be. |
Electra |
Ah! woe for thee, Orestes, woe is me,
|
Orestes |
Guard well thy lips; thou hast no right to mourn. |
Electra |
No right to mourn a brother who is dead! |
Orestes |
To speak of him in this wise is not meet. |
Electra |
What, am I so dishonoured of the dead? |
Orestes |
Of none dishonoured: this is not thy part. |
Electra |
Not if Orestes’ ashes here I hold? |
Orestes |
They are not his, though feigned to pass for his. |
Electra |
Where then is my unhappy brother’s grave? |
Orestes |
There is no grave; we bury not the quick. |
Electra |
What sayst thou, boy? |
Orestes |
Nothing that is not true. |
Electra |
He lives? |
Orestes |
As surely as I am alive. |
Electra |
What, art thou he? |
Orestes |
Look at this signet ring,
|
Electra |
O happy day! |
Orestes |
O, happy, happy day! |
Electra |
Thy voice I greet! |
Orestes |
My voice gives greeting back. |
Electra |
My arms embrace thee! |
Orestes |
May they clasp me aye! |
Electra |
My countrywomen, dearest friends, behold
|
Chorus |
We see him, daughter, and this glad surprise
|
Electra |
Strophe
Son of my best loved sire,
|
Orestes |
E’en so; but best keep silence for a while. |
Electra |
What need for silence? |
Orestes |
’Twere wise, lest someone from the house should hear. |
Electra |
Nay, by Queen Artemis the virgin maid,
|
Orestes |
Yet note that in the breasts of women dwells
|
Electra |
Ah me, ah me!
|
Orestes |
I know it too; but when the hour shall strike
|
Electra |
Antistrophe
All time, each passing hour
|
Orestes |
’Tis so; then forfeit not this liberty. |
Electra |
How forfeit it? |
Orestes |
By speaking out of season overmuch, |
Electra |
But who would barter speech for silence now,
|
Orestes |
That sight was then vouchsafed thee when the gods
|
Electra |
If a god guided thee
|
Orestes |
To check thy gladness I am loth, and yet
|
Electra |
O after many a weary year
|
Orestes |
What is thy prayer? |
Electra |
Forbear to rob me of the light,
|
Orestes |
If any dared essay it, I were wrath. |
Electra |
Dost thou consent? |
Orestes |
How could I otherwise? |
Electra |
To Chorus.
Friends, a voice is in my ear,
|
Orestes |
Spare me all superfluity of words—
|
Electra |
Yea, as it pleaseth thee it pleases me,
|
Orestes |
Hush, hush! I hear a stir within the house
|
Electra |
To Orestes and Pylades.
Pass in, good sirs,
|
Enter Aged Servant. | |
Aged Servant |
Fools! madmen! are ye weary of your lives,
|
Orestes |
How shall I fare within? |
Aged Servant |
Right well; to start with, thou art known to none. |
Orestes |
Thou hast reported, I presume, my death. |
Aged Servant |
They’ll speak of thee as though thou wert a shade. |
Orestes |
And are they glad thereat, or what say they? |
Aged Servant |
I’ll tell thee when the time is ripe: meanwhile
|
Electra |
I pray thee, brother, tell me who is this? |
Orestes |
Dost thou not see? |
Electra |
I know not, nor can guess. |
Orestes |
Not know the man to whom thou gav’st me once? |
Electra |
What man? how mean’st thou? |
Orestes |
He that stole me hence,
|
Electra |
Can this be he who, when our sire was slain,
|
Orestes |
’Tis he; let that suffice thee; ask no more. |
Electra |
O happy day! O sole deliverer
|
Aged Servant |
Enough methinks; the tale ’twixt then and now—
|
To Orestes and Pylades. | |
Why stand ye here! ’tis time for you to act,
|
|
Orestes |
Our business, Pylades, would seem to crave
|
Electra |
O King Apollo! lend a gracious ear
|
Chorus |
Strophe
Breathing out blood and vengeance, lo!
Antistrophe
For now within the house is led
|
Electra |
Strophe
O dearest women, even as I speak
|
Chorus |
What work? what are they at? |
Electra |
E’en now she decks
|
Chorus |
Why spedst thou forth? |
Electra |
To keep a watch for fear
|
Clytemnestra |
Within.
Woe! woe! O woeful house,
|
Electra |
Listen! acry within—hear ye not, friends? |
Chorus |
I heard and shuddered—oh, an awesome cry. |
Clytemnestra |
Ah woe is me! Aegisthus, where art thou? |
Electra |
Hark; once again a wail. |
Clytemnestra |
O son, my son,
|
Electra |
Thou hadst none
|
Chorus |
Unhappy realm and house,
|
Clytemnestra |
I am stricken, ah! |
Electra |
Strike, if thou canst, again. |
Clytemnestra |
Woe, woe is me once more! |
Electra |
I would that woe
|
Chorus |
The curses work; the buried live again,
|
Enter Orestes and Pylades from the palace. | |
Antistrophe
Lo they come forth with gory hands that reek
|
|
Electra |
How have ye sped, Orestes? |
Orestes |
All within
|
Electra |
The wretched woman’s dead? |
Orestes |
No longer fear
|
Chorus |
Cease, for I see Aegisthus full in sight. |
Electra |
Back, youths, back to the house! |
Orestes |
Where see ye him? |
Electra |
Approaching from the suburb with an air
|
Chorus |
Quick to the palace doorway! half your work
|
Orestes |
Fear not, we shall. |
Electra |
Then speed thee on thy way. |
Orestes |
See, I am gone. |
Electra |
Leave what is here to me. Exeunt Orestes and Pylades; Aegisthus approaches. |
Chorus |
’Twere not amiss to breathe some soft words in his ear,
|
Aegisthus |
Could any of you tell me where to find
|
Electra |
I know for sure, else were I unconcerned
|
Aegisthus |
Where then are these newcomers? Tell me straight. |
Electra |
Within; they’ve won their kindly hostess’ heart. |
Aegisthus |
Did they in very truth report his death? |
Electra |
They did; and more, they showed us the dead man. |
Aegisthus |
May I too view the body to make sure? |
Electra |
Thou mayst, but ’tis a gruesome spectacle. |
Aegisthus |
Thou givest me much joy against thy wont. |
Electra |
I wish thee joy, if here is food for joy. |
Aegisthus |
Silence! attend! throw open wide the gate,
|
Electra |
My lesson’s learnt already; time hath taught me
|
The scene opens showing a shrouded corpse with Orestes and Pylades beside it. | |
Aegisthus |
O Zeus, I look upon this form laid low
|
Orestes |
Lift it thyself; ’tis not for me but thee
|
Aegisthus |
Well said, so will I. To Electra. If she be within
|
Orestes |
She is beside thee; look not otherwhere. |
Aegisthus lifts the face-cloth. | |
Aegisthus |
O horror! |
Orestes |
Why dost start? is the face strange? |
Aegisthus |
Who spread the net wherein, O woe is me,
|
Orestes |
Hast thou not learnt ere this
|
Aegisthus |
Alas! I read thy riddle; ’tis none else
|
Orestes |
A seer so wise, and yet befooled so long! |
Aegisthus |
O I am spoiled, undone! yet suffer me,
|
Electra |
Brother, in heaven’s name
|
Orestes |
To Aegisthus.
Quick, get thee in; the issue lies not now
|
Aegisthus |
Why hale me indoors? if my doom be just,
|
Orestes |
“Tis not for thee to order; go within;
|
Aegisthus |
Ah! is there need this palace should behold
|
Orestes |
Thine own they shall; thus much I can predict. |
Aegisthus |
Thy skill as seer derives not from thy sire. |
Orestes |
Thou bandiest words; our going is delayed.
|
Aegisthus |
Lead the way. |
Orestes |
No, thou must go the first. |
Aegisthus |
Lest I escape? |
Orestes |
Nay, not to let thee choose
|
Chorus |
House of Atreus! thou hast passed
|
Endnotes
-
Inachus, the river god, was the legendary founder of Argos, whither his daughter Io, changed by the jealous Hera into a cow, was driven in her wanderings. ↩
-
Apollo Lukeios, the god of light, but by folk-etymology connected with λύκος, wolf. ↩
-
The full meaning is “to cut off the hands and feet and suspend them to the armpits.” This was done to prevent the victim from taking vengeance. ↩
-
The charioteer of Oenomaus. In the race for the hand of Hippodameia, the king’s daughter, he betrayed his master by removing a linchpin. Pelops won the race, but afterwards for an insult offered to his wife, he hurled into the sea Myrtilus, who invoked a dying curse on the house. ↩
-
Amphiaraus. Induced by his wife Eriphyle to join the expedition of Polyneices against Argos, he was swallowed up by an earthquake. His son (like Orestes) avenged his father and Amphiaraus was honoured as an earth-god. ↩
Colophon
Electra
was written between 420 and 410 BCE by
Sophocles.
It was translated from Ancient Greek in 1913 by
Francis Storr.
This ebook was transcribed and produced for
Standard Ebooks
by
Emma Sweeney,
and is based on digital scans from the
Internet Archive.
The cover page is adapted from
Lachrymae,
a painting completed circa 1895 by
Frederick Leighton.
The cover and title pages feature the
League Spartan and Sorts Mill Goudy
typefaces created in 2014 and 2009 by
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The first edition of this ebook was released on
January 21, 2025, 7:07 p.m.
You can check for updates to this ebook, view its revision history, or download it for different ereading systems at
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