The Priestess of Pythian Apollo:First, in this prayer of mine, I give the place of highest honor among the gods to the first prophet, Earth; and after her to Themis, for she was the second to take this oracular seat of her mother, as legend tells.And in the third allotment, with Themis’ consent and not by force, another Titan, child of Earth, Phoebe, took her seat here. She gave it as a birthday gift to Phoebus, who has his name from Phoebe. Leaving the lake and ridge of Delos,he landed on Pallas’ ship-frequented shores, and came to this region and the dwelling places on Parnassus. The children of Hephaistos, road-builders taming the wildness of the untamed land, escorted him with mighty reverence.
Πυθιάς:πρῶτον μὲν εὐχῇ τῇδε πρεσβεύω θεῶντὴν πρωτόμαντιν Γαῖαν· ἐκ δὲ τῆς Θέμιν,ἣ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδʼ ἕζετομαντεῖον, ὡς λόγος τις· ἐν δὲ τῷ τρίτῳλάχει, θελούσης, οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός,Τιτανὶς ἄλλη παῖς Χθονὸς καθέζετο,Φοίβη· δίδωσι δʼ ἣ γενέθλιον δόσινΦοίβῳ· τὸ Φοίβης δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔχει παρώνυμον.λιπὼν δὲ λίμνην Δηλίαν τε χοιράδα,κέλσας ἐπʼ ἀκτὰς ναυπόρους τὰς Παλλάδος,ἐς τήνδε γαῖαν ἦλθε Παρνησοῦ θʼ ἕδρας.πέμπουσι δʼ αὐτὸν καὶ σεβίζουσιν μέγακελευθοποιοὶ παῖδες Ἡφαίστου, χθόναἀνήμερον τιθέντες ἡμερωμένην.
And at his arrival, the people and Delphus, helmsman and lord of this land, made a great celebration for him. Zeus inspired his heart with prophetic skill and established him as the fourth prophet on this throne; but Loxias is the spokesman of Zeus, his father.
μολόντα δʼ αὐτὸν κάρτα τιμαλφεῖ λεώς,Δελφός τε χώρας τῆσδε πρυμνήτης ἄναξ.τέχνης δέ νιν Ζεὺς ἔνθεον κτίσας φρέναἵζει τέταρτον τοῖσδε μάντιν ἐν θρόνοις·Διὸς προφήτης δʼ ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός.
These are the gods I place in the beginning of my prayer. And Pallas who stands before the temple is honored in my words; and I worship the Nymphs where the Corycian rock is hollow, the delight of birds and haunt of gods. Bromius has held the region —I do not forget him—ever since he, as a god, led the Bacchantes in war, and contrived for Pentheus death as of a hunted hare. I call on the streams of Pleistus and the strength of Poseidon, and highest Zeus, the Fulfiller; and then I take my seat as prophetess upon my throne.
τούτους ἐν εὐχαῖς φροιμιάζομαι θεούς.Παλλὰς προναία δʼ ἐν λόγοις πρεσβεύεται·σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρακοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφή·Βρόμιος ἔχει τὸν χῶρον, οὐδʼ ἀμνημονῶ,ἐξ οὗτε Βάκχαις ἐστρατήγησεν θεός,λαγὼ δίκην Πενθεῖ καταρράψας μόρον·Πλειστοῦ τε πηγὰς καὶ Ποσειδῶνος κράτοςκαλοῦσα καὶ τέλειον ὕψιστον Δία,ἔπειτα μάντις ἐς θρόνους καθιζάνω.
And may they allow me now to have the best fortune, far better than on my previous entrances. And if there are any from among the Hellenes here, let them enter, in turn, by lot, as is the custom. For I prophesy as the god leads. She enters the temple and after a brief interval returns terror-strickenHorrors to tell, horrors for my eyes to see, have sent me back from the house of Loxias,so that I have no strength and I cannot walk upright. I am running on hands and knees, with no quickness in my limbs; for an old woman, overcome with fright, is nothing, or rather she is like a child. I was on my way to the inner shrine, decked with wreaths;
καὶ νῦν τυχεῖν με τῶν πρὶν εἰσόδων μακρῷἄριστα δοῖεν· κεἰ παρʼ Ἑλλήνων τινές,ἴτων πάλῳ λαχόντες, ὡς νομίζεται.μαντεύομαι γὰρ ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται θεός.Πυθιάς:ἦ δεινὰ λέξαι, δεινὰ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς δρακεῖν,πάλιν μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἐκ δόμων τῶν Λοξίου,ὡς μήτε σωκεῖν μήτε μʼ ἀκταίνειν βάσιν,τρέχω δὲ χερσίν, οὐ ποδωκείᾳ σκελῶν·δείσασα γὰρ γραῦς οὐδέν, ἀντίπαις μὲν οὖν.ἐγὼ μὲν ἕρπω πρὸς πολυστεφῆ μυχόν·
I saw on the center-stone a man defiled in the eyes of the gods, occupying the seat of suppliants. His hands were dripping blood; he held a sword just drawn and an olive-branch, from the top of the tree, decorously crowned with a large tuft of wool,a shining fleece; for as to this I can speak clearly. Before this man an extraordinary band of women slept, seated on thrones. No! Not women, but rather Gorgons I call them; and yet I cannot compare them to forms of Gorgons either.
ὁρῶ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀμφαλῷ μὲν ἄνδρα θεομυσῆἕδραν ἔχοντα προστρόπαιον, αἵματιστάζοντα χεῖρας καὶ νεοσπαδὲς ξίφοςἔχοντʼ ἐλαίας θʼ ὑψιγέννητον κλάδον,λήνει μεγίστῳ σωφρόνως ἐστεμμένον,ἀργῆτι μαλλῷ· τῇδε γὰρ τρανῶς ἐρῶ.πρόσθεν δὲ τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε θαυμαστὸς λόχοςεὕδει γυναικῶν ἐν θρόνοισιν ἥμενος.οὔτοι γυναῖκας, ἀλλὰ Γοργόνας λέγω,οὐδʼ αὖτε Γοργείοισιν εἰκάσω τύποις.
Once before I saw some creatures in a painting, carrying off the feast of Phineus; but these are wingless in appearance, black, altogether disgusting; they snore with repulsive breaths, they drip from their eyes hateful drops;
εἶδόν ποτʼ ἤδη Φινέως γεγραμμέναςδεῖπνον φερούσας· ἄπτεροί γε μὴν ἰδεῖναὗται, μέλαιναι δʼ ἐς τὸ πᾶν βδελύκτροποι·ῥέγκουσι δʼ οὐ πλατοῖσι φυσιάμασιν·ἐκ δʼ ὀμμάτων λείβουσι δυσφιλῆ λίβα·
their attire is not fit to bring either before the statues of the gods or into the homes of men.I have never seen the tribe that produced this company, nor the land that boasts of rearing this brood with impunity and does not grieve for its labor afterwards.
καὶ κόσμος οὔτε πρὸς θεῶν ἀγάλματαφέρειν δίκαιος οὔτʼ ἐς ἀνθρώπων στέγας.τὸ φῦλον οὐκ ὄπωπα τῆσδʼ ὁμιλίαςοὐδʼ ἥτις αἶα τοῦτʼ ἐπεύχεται γένοςτρέφουσʼ ἀνατεὶ μὴ μεταστένειν πόνον.
Let what is to come now be the concern of the master of this house, powerful Loxias himself. He is a prophet of healing, a reader of portents, and for others a purifier of homes. ExitThe interior of the temple is disclosed. Enter, from the inner sanctuary, Apollo, who takes his stand beside Orestes at the center-stone. Near the suppliant are the Furies asleep. Hermes in the background.
τἀντεῦθεν ἤδη τῶνδε δεσπότῃ δόμωναὐτῷ μελέσθω Λοξίᾳ μεγασθενεῖ.ἰατρόμαντις δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τερασκόποςκαὶ τοῖσιν ἄλλοις δωμάτων καθάρσιος.
Apollo:No! I will not abandon you. Your guardian to the end,close by your side or far removed, I will not be gentle to your enemies. So now you see these mad women overcome; these loathsome maidens have fallen asleep, old women, ancient children, with whomno god or man or beast ever mingles. They were even born for evil, since they live in evil gloom and in Tartarus under the earth, creatures hateful to men and to the Olympian gods. Nevertheless, escape and do not be cowardly.
Ἀπόλλων:οὔτοι προδώσω· διὰ τέλους δέ σοι φύλαξἐγγὺς παρεστὼς καὶ πρόσω δʼ ἀποστατῶνἐχθροῖσι τοῖς σοῖς οὐ γενήσομαι πέπων.καὶ νῦν ἁλούσας τάσδε τὰς μάργους ὁρᾷς·ὕπνῳ πεσοῦσαι δʼ αἱ κατάπτυστοι κόραι,γραῖαι παλαιαὶ παῖδες, αἷς οὐ μείγνυταιθεῶν τις οὐδʼ ἄνθρωπος οὐδὲ θήρ ποτε.κακῶν δʼ ἕκατι κἀγένοντʼ, ἐπεὶ κακὸνσκότον νέμονται Τάρταρόν θʼ ὑπὸ χθονός,μισήματʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων.ὅμως δὲ φεῦγε μηδὲ μαλθακὸς γένῃ.
For as you go always over the earth that wanderers tread, they will drive you on, even across the wide mainland, beyond the sea and the island cities. Do not grow weary too soon, brooding on this labor, but when you have come to Pallas’ city,sit down and hold in your arms her ancient image. And there, with judges of your case and speeches of persuasive charm, we shall find means to release you completely from your labors. For I persuaded you to take your mother’s life.
ἐλῶσι γάρ σε καὶ διʼ ἠπείρου μακρᾶςβιβῶντʼ ἀνʼ αἰεὶ τὴν πλανοστιβῆ χθόναὑπέρ τε πόντον καὶ περιρρύτας πόλεις.καὶ μὴ πρόκαμνε τόνδε βουκολούμενοςπόνον· μολὼν δὲ Παλλάδος ποτὶ πτόλινἵζου παλαιὸν ἄγκαθεν λαβὼν βρέτας.κἀκεῖ δικαστὰς τῶνδε καὶ θελκτηρίουςμύθους ἔχοντες μηχανὰς εὑρήσομεν,ὥστʼ ἐς τὸ πᾶν σε τῶνδʼ ἀπαλλάξαι πόνων·καὶ γὰρ κτανεῖν σʼ ἔπεισα μητρῷον δέμας.
Orestes:Lord Apollo, you know how to do no wrong; and, since you know this, learn not to be neglectful also. For your power to do good is assured.
Ὀρέστης:ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, οἶσθα μὲν τὸ μὴ ʼδικεῖν·ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐπίστᾳ, καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼμελεῖν μάθε.σθένος δὲ ποιεῖν εὖ φερέγγυον τὸ σόν.
Apollo:Remember, do not let fear overpower your heart. You, Hermes, my blood brother, born of the same father,watch over him; true to your name, be his guide, shepherding this suppliant of mine—truly Zeus respects this right of outlaws—as he is sped on towards mortals with the fortune of a good escort. Exit. Orestes departs escorted by Hermes. The Ghost of Clytaemestra appears.
Ἀπόλλων:μέμνησο, μὴ φόβος σε νικάτω φρένας.σὺ δʼ, αὐτάδελφον αἷμα καὶ κοινοῦ πατρός,Ἑρμῆ, φύλασσε· κάρτα δʼ ὢν ἐπώνυμοςπομπαῖος ἴσθι, τόνδε ποιμαίνων ἐμὸνἱκέτην—σέβει τοι Ζεὺς τόδʼ ἐκνόμων σέβας—ὁρμώμενον βροτοῖσιν εὐπόμπῳ τύχῃ.
Ghost of Clytaemestra:Sleep on! Aha! Yet what need is there of sleepers?
Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:εὕδοιτʼ ἄν, ὠή, καὶ καθευδουσῶν τί δεῖ;
It is due to you that I am thus dishonored among the other dead; because of those I killed the dead never cease to reproach me, and I wander in disgrace. I tell you that I am most greatly accused by them.
ἐγὼ δʼ ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ὧδʼ ἀπητιμασμένηἄλλοισιν ἐν νεκροῖσιν, ὧν μὲν ἔκτανονὄνειδος ἐν φθιτοῖσιν οὐκ ἐκλείπεται,αἰσχρῶς δʼ ἀλῶμαι· προυννέπω δʼ ὑμῖν ὅτιἔχω μεγίστην αἰτίαν κείνων ὕπο·
And yet, although I have suffered cruelly in this way from my nearest kin, no divine power is angry on my behalf, slaughtered as I have been by the hands of a matricide. See these gashes in my heart, and from where they came! For the sleeping mind has clear vision,but in the daytime the fate of mortals is unforeseeable. Truly, you have lapped up many of my offerings—wineless libations, a sober appeasement; and I have sacrificed banquets in the solemn night upon a hearth of fire at an hour unshared by any god.
παθοῦσα δʼ οὕτω δεινὰ πρὸς τῶν φιλτάτων,οὐδεὶς ὑπέρ μου δαιμόνων μηνίεται,κατασφαγείσης πρὸς χερῶν μητροκτόνων.ὁρᾶτε πληγὰς τάσδε καρδίας ὅθεν.εὕδουσα γὰρ φρὴν ὄμμασιν λαμπρύνεται,ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δὲ μοῖρʼ ἀπρόσκοπος βροτῶν.ἦ πολλὰ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐλείξατε,χοάς τʼ ἀοίνους, νηφάλια μειλίγματα,καὶ νυκτίσεμνα δεῖπνʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρᾳ πυρὸςἔθυον, ὥραν οὐδενὸς κοινὴν θεῶν.
I see all this trampled under foot. But he has escaped and is gone, like a fawn; lightly indeed, from the middle of snares, he has rushed away mocking at you. Hear me, since I plead for my life,awake to consciousness, goddesses of the underworld! For in a dream I, Clytaemestra, now invoke you.
καὶ πάντα ταῦτα λὰξ ὁρῶ πατούμενα.ὁ δʼ ἐξαλύξας οἴχεται νεβροῦ δίκην,καὶ ταῦτα κούφως ἐκ μέσων ἀρκυστάτωνὤρουσεν ὑμῖν ἐγκατιλλώψας μέγα.ἀκούσαθʼ ὡς ἔλεξα τῆς ἐμῆς περὶψυχῆς, φρονήσατʼ, ὦ κατὰ χθονὸς θεαί.ὄναρ γὰρ ὑμᾶς νῦν Κλυταιμήστρα καλῶ.
Chorus:(whine) The Chorus begins to move uneasily, uttering a whining sound.
Χορός:(μ̔υγμός.)
Ghost of Clytaemestra:Whine, if you will! But the man is gone, fled far away. For he has friends that are not like mine!
Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:μύζοιτʼ ἄν, ἁνὴρ δʼ οἴχεται φεύγων πρόσω·φίλοι γάρ εἰσιν οὐκ ἐμοῖς προσεικότες.
Chorus:(whine) The Chorus continues to whine.
Χορός:(μ̔υγμός.)
Ghost of Clytaemestra:You are too drowsy and do not pity my suffering. Orestes, the murderer of me, his mother, is gone!
Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:ἄγαν ὑπνώσσεις κοὐ κατοικτίζεις πάθος·φονεὺς δʼ Ὀρέστης τῆσδε μητρὸς οἴχεται.
Chorus:(moan) The Chorus begins to moan
Χορός:(ὡ̓γμός.)
Ghost of Clytaemestra:You moan, you drowse—will you not get up at once? Is it your destiny to do anything other than cause harm?
Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:ᾤζεις, ὑπνώσσεις· οὐκ ἀναστήσῃ τάχος;τί σοι πέπρωται πρᾶγμα πλὴν τεύχειν κακά;
Chorus:(moan) The Chorus continues to moan.
Χορός:(ὡ̓γμός.)
Ghost of Clytaemestra:Sleep and toil, effective conspirators, have destroyed the force of the dreadful dragoness.Chorus: With whining redoubled and intensified.
Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:ὕπνος πόνος τε κύριοι συνωμόταιδεινῆς δρακαίνης ἐξεκήραναν μένος.
Catch him! Catch him! Catch him! Catch him! Look sharp!
Χορός:(μ̔υγμὸς διπλοῦς ὀξύς.)λαβὲ λαβὲ λαβὲ λαβέ, φράζου.
Ghost of Clytaemestra:In a dream you are hunting your prey, and are barking like a dog that never leaves off its keenness for the work. What are you doing? Get up; do not let fatigue overpower you, and do not ignore my misery because you have been softened by sleep.
Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:ὄναρ διώκεις θῆρα, κλαγγαίνεις δʼ ἅπερκύων μέριμναν οὔποτʼ ἐκλείπων πόνου.τί δρᾷς; ἀνίστω, μή σε νικάτω πόνος,μηδʼ ἀγνοήσῃς πῆμα μαλθαχθεῖσʼ ὕπνῳ.
Sting your heart with merited reproaches; for reproach becomes a spur to the right-minded. Send after him a gust of bloody breath, shrivel him with the vapor, the fire from your guts, follow him, wither him with fresh pursuit! The Ghost of Clytaemestra disappears; the Furies, roused by their leader, awake one after the other.
ἄλγησον ἧπαρ ἐνδίκοις ὀνείδεσιν·τοῖς σώφροσιν γὰρ ἀντίκεντρα γίγνεται.σὺ δʼ αἱματηρὸν πνεῦμʼ ἐπουρίσασα τῷ,ἀτμῷ κατισχναίνουσα, νηδύος πυρί,ἕπου, μάραινε δευτέροις διώγμασιν.
Chorus:Awake! Wake her up, as I wake you. Still asleep? Get up, shake off sleep, let us see if any part of this beginning is in vain.
Χορός:ἔγειρʼ, ἔγειρε καὶ σὺ τήνδʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ σέ.εὕδεις; ἀνίστω, κἀπολακτίσασʼ ὕπνον,ἰδώμεθʼ εἴ τι τοῦδε φροιμίου ματᾷ.
Chorus:Oh, oh! Alas! We have suffered, friends. Indeed I have suffered much and all in vain.We have suffered very painfully, oh! an unbearable evil. The beast has escaped from our nets and is gone. Overcome by sleep, I have lost my prey.
Χορός:ἰοὺ ἰοὺ πύπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι,—ἦ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ,—ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχές, ὦ πόποι,ἄφερτον κακόν·ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θʼ ὁ θήρ.—ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσʼ ἄγραν ὤλεσα.
Chorus:Oh! Child of Zeus, you have become a thief—you, a youth, have ridden down old divinities—by showing respect to your suppliant, a godless man and cruel to a parent; although you are a god, you have stolen away a man that killed his mother. What is there here that anyone shall call just?
Χορός:ἰὼ παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέλῃ,—νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,—τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶτοκεῦσιν πικρόν·τὸν μητραλοίαν δʼ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.—τί τῶνδʼ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;
Chorus:Reproach, coming to me in a dream, struck me like a charioteer with goad held tight, under my heart, under my vitals.I can feel the cruel, the very cruel chill of the executioner’s destroying scourge.
Χορός:ἐμοὶ δʼ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸνἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτουμεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν.—πάρεστι μαστίκτορος δαΐου δαμίουβαρὺ τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
Chorus:They do such things, the younger gods, who rule, wholly beyond justice, a throne dripping blood,about its foot, about its head. I can see the center-stone of the earth defiled with a terrible pollution of blood.
Χορός:τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοί,κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέονφονολιβῆ θρόνονπερὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα.—πάρεστι γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν προσδρακεῖν αἱμάτωνβλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον ἄγος ἔχειν.
Chorus:Although he is a prophet, he has stained his sanctuarywith pollution at its hearth, at his own urging, at his own bidding; against the law of the gods, he has honored mortal things and caused the ancient allotments to decay.
Χορός:ἐφεστίῳ δὲ μάντις ὢν μιάσματιμυχὸν ἐχράνατʼ αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,παλαιγενεῖς δὲ μοίρας φθίσας.
Chorus:And he brings distress to me too, but he shall not win his release;even if he escapes beneath the earth, he is never set free. A suppliant, he will acquire another avenger from his family.Enters from the inner sanctuary.
Χορός:κἀμοί γε λυπρός, καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν οὔ ποτʼ ἐλευθεροῦται.ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δʼ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳμιάστορʼ ἐκ γένους πάσεται.
Apollo:Out, I order you! Go away from this house at once,leave my prophetic sanctuary, so that you may not be struck by a winged glistening snake shot forth from a golden bow-string, and painfully release black foam, vomiting the clots of blood you have drained from mortals.
Ἀπόλλων:ἔξω, κελεύω, τῶνδε δωμάτων τάχοςχωρεῖτʼ, ἀπαλλάσσεσθε μαντικῶν μυχῶν,μὴ καὶ λαβοῦσα πτηνὸν ἀργηστὴν ὄφιν,χρυσηλάτου θώμιγγος ἐξορμώμενον,ἀνῇς ὑπʼ ἄλγους μέλανʼ ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων ἀφρόν,ἐμοῦσα θρόμβους οὓς ἀφείλκυσας φόνου.
It is not right for you to approach this house; no, your place is where the punishments are beheading, gouging out of eyes, cutting of throats, and where young men’s virility is ruined by destruction of seed; where there is mutilation and stoning, and where those who are impaled beneath their spine moan long and piteously.Do you hear what sort of feast is your delight? You are detested by the gods for it. The whole fashion of your form sets it forth. Creatures like you should live in the den of a blood-drinking lion, and not inflict pollutionon all near you in this oracular shrine. Be gone, you goats without a herdsman! No god loves such a flock.
οὔτοι δόμοισι τοῖσδε χρίμπτεσθαι πρέπει·ἀλλʼ οὗ καρανιστῆρες ὀφθαλμωρύχοιδίκαι σφαγαί τε σπέρματός τʼ ἀποφθορᾷπαίδων κακοῦται χλοῦνις, ἠδʼ ἀκρωνία,λευσμός τε, καὶ μύζουσιν οἰκτισμὸν πολὺνὑπὸ ῥάχιν παγέντες. ἆρʼ ἀκούετεοἵας ἑορτῆς ἔστʼ ἀπόπτυστοι θεοῖςστέργηθρʼ ἔχουσαι; πᾶς δʼ ὑφηγεῖται τρόποςμορφῆς. λέοντος ἄντρον αἱματορρόφουοἰκεῖν τοιαύτας εἰκός, οὐ χρηστηρίοιςἐν τοῖσδε πλησίοισι τρίβεσθαι μύσος.χωρεῖτʼ ἄνευ βοτῆρος αἰπολούμεναι.ποίμνης τοιαύτης δʼ οὔτις εὐφιλὴς θεῶν.
Chorus:Lord Apollo, hear our reply in turn. You yourself are not partially guilty of this deed;you alone have done it all, and are wholly guilty.
Χορός:ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἀντάκουσον ἐν μέρει.αὐτὸς σὺ τούτων οὐ μεταίτιος πέλῃ,ἀλλʼ εἷς τὸ πᾶν ἔπραξας ὢν παναίτιος.
Apollo:What do you mean? Draw out the length of your speech this much.
Ἀπόλλων:πῶς δή; τοσοῦτο μῆκος ἔκτεινον λόγου.
Chorus:Through your oracle, you directed the stranger to kill his mother.
Χορός:ἔχρησας ὥστε τὸν ξένον μητροκτονεῖν.
Apollo:Through my oracle, I directed him to exact vengeance for his father. What of it?
Ἀπόλλων:ἔχρησα ποινὰς τοῦ πατρὸς πρᾶξαι. τί μήν;
Chorus:And then you agreed to take the fresh blood on yourself.
Χορός:κἄπειθʼ ὑπέστης αἵματος δέκτωρ νέου.
Apollo:And I ordered him to turn for expiation to this house.
Ἀπόλλων:καὶ προστραπέσθαι τούσδʼ ἐπέστελλον δόμους.
Chorus:And do you then rebuke us, the ones who escorted him here?
Χορός:καὶ τὰς προπομποὺς δῆτα τάσδε λοιδορεῖς;
Apollo:Yes, for you are not fit to approach this house.
Ἀπόλλων:οὐ γὰρ δόμοισι τοῖσδε πρόσφορον μολεῖν.
Chorus:But this has been assigned to us—
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἡμῖν τοῦτο προστεταγμένον.
Apollo:What is this office of yours? Boast of your fine privilege!
Ἀπόλλων:τίς ἥδε τιμή; κόμπασον γέρας καλόν.
Chorus:We drive matricides from their homes.
Χορός:τοὺς μητραλοίας ἐκ δόμων ἐλαύνομεν.
Apollo:But what about a wife who kills her husband?
Ἀπόλλων:τί γὰρ γυναικὸς ἥτις ἄνδρα νοσφίσῃ;
Chorus:That would not be murder of a relative by blood.
Χορός:οὐκ ἂν γένοιθʼ ὅμαιμος αὐθέντης φόνος.
Apollo:Then truly you dishonor and bring to nothing the pledges of Hera, the Fulfiller, and Zeus.
Ἀπόλλων:ἦ κάρτʼ ἄτιμα καὶ παρʼ οὐδὲν εἰργάσωἭρας τελείας καὶ Διὸς πιστώματα.
Cypris too is cast aside, dishonored by this argument, and from her come the dearest things for mortals. For marriage ordained by fate for a man and a woman is greater than an oath and guarded by Justice. If, then, one should kill the other and you are so lenientas not to punish or visit them with anger, I claim that you unjustly banish Orestes from his home. For I see you taking the one cause very much to heart, but clearly acting more leniently about the other. But the goddess Pallas will oversee the pleadings in this case.
Κύπρις δʼ ἄτιμος τῷδʼ ἀπέρριπται λόγῳ,ὅθεν βροτοῖσι γίγνεται τὰ φίλτατα.εὐνὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ μόρσιμοςὅρκου ʼστὶ μείζων τῇ δίκῃ φρουρουμένη.εἰ τοῖσιν οὖν κτείνουσιν ἀλλήλους χαλᾷςτὸ μὴ τίνεσθαι μηδʼ ἐποπτεύειν κότῳ,οὔ φημʼ Ὀρέστην σʼ ἐνδίκως ἀνδρηλατεῖν.τὰ μὲν γὰρ οἶδα κάρτα σʼ ἐνθυμουμένην,τὰ δʼ ἐμφανῶς πράσσουσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν.δίκας δὲ Παλλὰς τῶνδʼ ἐποπτεύσει θεά.
Chorus:I will never, never leave that man!
Χορός:τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἐκεῖνον οὔ τι μὴ λίπω ποτέ.
Apollo:Pursue him then and get more trouble for yourself.
Ἀπόλλων:σὺ δʼ οὖν δίωκε καὶ πόνον πλείω τίθου.
Chorus:Do not cut short my privileges by your words.
Χορός:τιμὰς σὺ μὴ σύντεμνε τὰς ἐμὰς λόγῳ.
Apollo:I would not take your privileges as a gift.
Ἀπόλλων:οὐδʼ ἂν δεχοίμην ὥστʼ ἔχειν τιμὰς σέθεν.
Chorus:No, for in any case you are called great at the throne of Zeus.
Χορός:μέγας γὰρ ἔμπας πὰρ Διὸς θρόνοις λέγῃ.
But as for me—since a mother’s blood leads me, I will pursue my case against this man and I will hunt him down. Exeunt.
ἐγὼ δʼ, ἄγει γὰρ αἷμα μητρῷον, δίκαςμέτειμι τόνδε φῶτα κἀκκυνηγετῶ.
Apollo:And I will aid my suppliant and rescue him! For the wrath of the one who seeks purification is terrible among mortals and gods, if I intentionally abandon him. Enters the Sanctuary.The scene changes to Athens, before the temple of Athena. Enter Hermes with Orestes, who embraces the ancient image of the goddess.
Ἀπόλλων:ἐγὼ δʼ ἀρήξω τὸν ἱκέτην τε ῥύσομαι·δεινὴ γὰρ ἐν βροτοῖσι κἀν θεοῖς πέλειτοῦ προστροπαίου μῆνις, εἰ προδῶ σφʼ ἑκών.
Orestes:Lady Athena, at Loxias’ command I have come. Receive kindly an accursed wretch, not one who seeks purification, or with unclean hand, but with my guilt’s edge already blunted and worn away at other homes and in the travelled paths of men.
Ὀρέστης:ἄνασσʼ Ἀθάνα, Λοξίου κελεύμασινἥκω, δέχου δὲ πρευμενῶς ἀλάστορα,οὐ προστρόπαιον οὐδʼ ἀφοίβαντον χέρα,ἀλλʼ ἀμβλὺς ἤδη προστετριμμένος τε πρὸςἄλλοισιν οἴκοις καὶ πορεύμασιν βροτῶν.
Going over land and sea alike, keeping the commands of Loxias’ oracle, I now approach your house and image, goddess. Here I will keep watch and await the result of my trial.The Furies enter dispersedly, hunting Orestes’ trail by scent.
ὅμοια χέρσον καὶ θάλασσαν ἐκπερῶν,σῴζων ἐφετμὰς Λοξίου χρηστηρίους,πρόσειμι δῶμα καὶ βρέτας τὸ σόν, θεά.αὐτοῦ φυλάσσων ἀναμένω τέλος δίκης.Χορός:εἶεν· τόδʼ ἐστὶ τἀνδρὸς ἐκφανὲς τέκμαρ.
Chorus:Aha! This is a clear sign of the man. Follow the hints of a voiceless informer. For as a hound tracks a wounded fawn, so we track him by the drops of blood. My lungs pant from many tiring struggles, for I have roamed over the whole earth,and I have come over the sea in wingless flight, pursuing him, no slower than a ship. And now he is here somewhere, cowering. The smell of human blood gives me a smiling welcome.
ἕπου δὲ μηνυτῆρος ἀφθέγκτου φραδαῖς.τετραυματισμένον γὰρ ὡς κύων νεβρὸνπρὸς αἷμα καὶ σταλαγμὸν ἐκματεύομεν.πολλοῖς δὲ μόχθοις ἀνδροκμῆσι φυσιᾷσπλάγχνον· χθονὸς γὰρ πᾶς πεποίμανται τόπος,ὑπέρ τε πόντον ἀπτέροις ποτήμασινἦλθον διώκουσʼ, οὐδὲν ὑστέρα νεώς.καὶ νῦν ὅδʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐστί που καταπτακών.ὀσμὴ βροτείων αἱμάτων με προσγελᾷ.
Look! Look again!Look everywhere, so that the matricide will not escape by secret flight, with his debt unpaid! Yes, here he is again with a defense; his arms twisted around the image of the immortal goddess,he wishes to be tried for his debt. But that is not possible; a mother’s blood upon the earth is hard to recover—alas, the liquid poured on the ground is gone. But you must allow me in return to suckthe red blood from your living limbs. May I feed on you—a gruesome drink! I will wither you alive and drag you down, so that you pay atonement for your murdered mother’s agony. And you will see any other mortal who has sinned by not honoringa god or a stranger or dear parents, each having a just punishment. For Hades is mighty in holding mortals to account under the earth,and he observes all things and within his mind inscribes them.
Χορός:ὅρα ὅρα μάλʼ αὖ,λεύσσετε πάντα, μὴλάθῃ φύγδα βὰς[ὁ ] ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.ὁ δʼ αὖτέ γʼ [οὖν] ἀλκὰν ἔχωνπερὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότουὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χρεῶν.τὸ δʼ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῷον χαμαὶδυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ,τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.ἀλλʼ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σʼ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖνἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πέλανον· ἀπὸ δὲ σοῦφεροίμαν βοσκὰν πώματος δυσπότου·καὶ ζῶντά σʼ ἰσχνάνασʼ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,ἀντίποινʼ ὡς τίνῃς ματροφόνου δύας.ὄψει δὲ κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἤλιτεν βροτῶνἢ θεὸν ἢ ξένοντινʼ ἀσεβῶν ἢ τοκέας φίλους,ἔχονθʼ ἕκαστον τῆς δίκης ἐπάξια.μέγας γὰρ Ἅιδης ἐστὶν εὔθυνος βροτῶνἔνερθε χθονός,δελτογράφῳ δὲ πάντʼ ἐπωπᾷ φρενί.
Orestes:Taught by misery, I know many purification rituals, and I know where it is right to speak and equally to be silent; and in this case, I have been ordered to speak by a wise teacher.
Ὀρέστης:ἐγὼ διδαχθεὶς ἐν κακοῖς ἐπίσταμαιπολλοὺς καθαρμούς, καὶ λέγειν ὅπου δίκησιγᾶν θʼ ὁμοίως· ἐν δὲ τῷδε πράγματιφωνεῖν ἐτάχθην πρὸς σοφοῦ διδασκάλου.
For the blood is slumbering and fading from my hand, the pollution of matricide is washed away; while it was still fresh, it was driven away at the hearth of the god Phoebus by purifying sacrifices of swine. It would be a long story to tell from the beginning,how many people I have visited, with no harm from association with me. [Time purges all things, aging with them.] So now with a pure mouth I piously invoke Athena, lady of this land, to come to my aid. Without the spear,she will win me and my land and the Argive people as faithful and true allies for all time. But whether in some region of the Libyan land, near the waters of Triton, her native stream, she is in action or at rest,aiding those whom she loves, or whether, like a bold marshal, she is surveying the Phlegraean plain, oh, let her come—as a goddess, she hears even from far away—to be my deliverer from distress!
βρίζει γὰρ αἷμα καὶ μαραίνεται χερός,μητροκτόνον μίασμα δʼ ἔκπλυτον πέλει·ποταίνιον γὰρ ὂν πρὸς ἑστίᾳ θεοῦΦοίβου καθαρμοῖς ἠλάθη χοιροκτόνοις.πολὺς δέ μοι γένοιτʼ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς λόγος,ὅσοις προσῆλθον ἀβλαβεῖ ξυνουσίᾳ.[χρόνος καθαιρεῖ πάντα γηράσκων ὁμοῦ.]καὶ νῦν ἀφʼ ἁγνοῦ στόματος εὐφήμως καλῶχώρας ἄνασσαν τῆσδʼ Ἀθηναίαν ἐμοὶμολεῖν ἀρωγόν· κτήσεται δʼ ἄνευ δορὸςαὐτόν τε καὶ γῆν καὶ τὸν Ἀργεῖον λεὼνπιστὸν δικαίως ἐς τὸ πᾶν τε σύμμαχον.ἀλλʼ εἴτε χώρας ἐν τόποις Λιβυστικοῖς,Τρίτωνος ἀμφὶ χεῦμα γενεθλίου πόρου,τίθησιν ὀρθὸν ἢ κατηρεφῆ πόδα,φίλοις ἀρήγουσʼ, εἴτε Φλεγραίαν πλάκαθρασὺς ταγοῦχος ὡς ἀνὴρ ἐπισκοπεῖ,ἔλθοι—κλύει δὲ καὶ πρόσωθεν ὢν θεός—ὅπως γένοιτο τῶνδʼ ἐμοὶ λυτήριος.
Chorus:No, neither Apollo nor Athena’s strengthcan save you from perishing abandoned, not knowing where joy is in your heart—a bloodless victim of the gods below, a shadow. You do not answer, but scorn my words, you who are fattened and consecrated to me?
Χορός:οὔτοι σʼ Ἀπόλλων οὐδʼ Ἀθηναίας σθένοςῥύσαιτʼ ἂν ὥστε μὴ οὐ παρημελημένονἔρρειν, τὸ χαίρειν μὴ μαθόνθʼ ὅπου φρενῶν,ἀναίματον βόσκημα δαιμόνων, σκιάν.οὐδʼ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἀλλʼ ἀποπτύεις λόγους,ἐμοὶ τραφείς τε καὶ καθιερωμένος;
Living, you will be my feast, not slain at an altar; now you will hear this hymn, a spell to bind you.
καὶ ζῶν με δαίσεις οὐδὲ πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς·ὕμνον δʼ ἀκούσῃ τόνδε δέσμιον σέθεν.
Chorus:Come now, let us also join the dance, since we are resolved to display our hated songand to declare our allotted office, how our party directs the affairs of men. We claim to be just and upright. No wrath from us will come stealthily to the one who holds out clean hands,and he will go through life unharmed; but whoever sins, as this man has, and hides his blood-stained hands, as avengers of bloodshed we appear against him to the end, presenting ourselves as upright witnesses for the dead.
Χορός:ἄγε δὴ καὶ χορὸν ἅψωμεν, ἐπεὶμοῦσαν στυγερὰνἀποφαίνεσθαι δεδόκηκεν,λέξαι τε λάχη τὰ κατʼ ἀνθρώπουςὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις ἁμά.εὐθυδίκαιοι δʼ οἰόμεθʼ εἶναι·τὸν μὲν καθαρὰς χεῖρας προνέμοντʼοὔτις ἐφέρπει μῆνις ἀφʼ ἡμῶν,ἀσινὴς δʼ αἰῶνα διοιχνεῖ·ὅστις δʼ ἀλιτὼν ὥσπερ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρχεῖρας φονίας ἐπικρύπτει,μάρτυρες ὀρθαὶ τοῖσι θανοῦσινπαραγιγνόμεναι πράκτορες αἵματοςαὐτῷ τελέως ἐφάνημεν.
Chorus:O mother Night, hear me, mother who gave birth to me as a retribution for the blind and the seeing. For Leto’s son dishonors meby snatching away this cowering wretch, a proper expiation for his mother’s blood.
Χορός:μᾶτερ ἅ μʼ ἔτικτες, ὦ μᾶτερΝύξ, ἀλαοῖσι καὶ δεδορκόσινποινάν, κλῦθʼ. ὁ Λατοῦς γὰρ ἶ-νίς μʼ ἄτιμον τίθησιντόνδʼ ἀφαιρούμενοςπτῶκα, ματρῷον ἅ-γνισμα κύριον φόνου.
Chorus:This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied,maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
Χορός:ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳτόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.
Chorus:For this is the office that relentlessFate spun for us to hold securely: when rash murders of kin come upon mortals, we pursue them until they go under the earth; and after death,they have no great freedom.
Χορός:τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταίαΜοῖρʼ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαιξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρʼ ἂνγᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δʼοὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
Chorus:This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn,a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
Χορός:ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳτόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.
Chorus:This office was ordained for us at birth;
Χορός:γιγνομέναισι λάχη τάδʼ ἐφʼ ἁμὶν ἐκράνθη·
but the immortal gods must hold back their hands from us, nor does any of them share a feast in common with us; and I have neither lot nor portion of pure white ceremonial robes …Chorus:For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. So speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.
ἀθανάτων δʼ ἀπέχειν χέρας, οὐδέ τις ἐστίσυνδαίτωρ μετάκοινος·παλλεύκων δὲ πέπλων ἀπόμοιρος ἄκληρος ἐτύχθην¯˘¯˘¯˘¯Χορός:⟨δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν⟩⟨ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης⟩⟨τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.⟩⟨ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι⟩⟨κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-⟩⟨ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.⟩
Chorus:We are eager to take these cares away from another, and to establish for the gods exemption from my concerns, so that it will not come to trial;
Χορός:σπεύδομεν αἵδʼ ἀφελεῖν τινὰ τάσδε μερίμνας,θεῶν δʼ ἀτέλειαν ἐμαῖς μελέταις ἐπικραίνειν,μηδʼ εἰς ἄγκρισιν ἐλθεῖν·
for Zeus has considered us, a blood-dripping, hateful band, unworthy of his council.Chorus:For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. Speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.
Ζεὺς δʼ αἱμοσταγὲς ἀξιόμισον ἔθνος τόδε λέσχαςἇς ἀπηξιώσατο.Χορός:⟨δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν⟩⟨ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης⟩⟨τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.⟩⟨ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι⟩⟨κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-⟩⟨ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.⟩
Chorus:And men’s thoughts, very proud under the sky, waste away and dwindle in dishonor beneath the earth,at our attack in black robes and the vindictive dance of our feet.
Χορός:δόξαι τʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρι σεμναὶτακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοιἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχη-σμοῖς τʼ ἐπιφθόνοις ποδός.
Chorus:For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.
Χορός:μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομέναἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆκαταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,σφαλερὰ ⟨καὶ⟩ τανυδρόμοιςκῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.
Chorus:But, as he falls, he does not know it, because of his senseless folly; pollution hovers over the man in such darkness, and mournful rumor speaks ofa dark mist over his house.
Χορός:πίπτων δʼ οὐκ οἶδεν τόδʼ ὑπʼ ἄφρονι λύμᾳ·τοῖον [γὰρ] ἐπὶ κνέφας ἀνδρὶ μύσος πεπόταται,καὶ δνοφεράν τινʼ ἀχλὺν κατὰ δώματος αὐδᾶ-ται πολύστονος φάτις.
Chorus:For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.
Χορός:⟨μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα⟩⟨ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ⟩⟨καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,⟩⟨σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις⟩⟨κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.⟩
Chorus:For it remains. We are skilled in plotting, powerful in execution, and we remember evil deeds; we are revered and hard for mortals to appease,pursuing our allotted office which is without rights, without honor, separated from the gods in sunless light—our office that makes the path rough for seeing and dim-sighted alike.
Χορός:μένει γάρ. εὐμήχανοίτε καὶ τέλειοι, κακῶντε μνήμονες σεμναὶκαὶ δυσπαρήγοροι βροτοῖς,ἄτιμʼ ἀτίετα διόμεναιλάχη θεῶν διχοστατοῦντʼ ἀνηλίῳλάμπᾳ, δυσοδοπαίπαλαδερκομένοισι καὶ δυσομμάτοις ὁμῶς.
Chorus:What mortal, then, does notstand in awe and dread of this, when he hears from me the law ordained by Fate, given by the gods for perfect fulfilment? My ancient privilege still remains, I do not meet with dishonor,although I have my place under the earth and in sunless darkness.Enter Athena, wearing the aegis.
Χορός:τίς οὖν τάδʼ οὐχ ἅζεταίτε καὶ δέδοικεν βροτῶν,ἐμοῦ κλύων θεσμὸντὸν μοιρόκραντον ἐκ θεῶνδοθέντα τέλεον; ἔτι δέ μοι⟨μένει⟩ γέρας παλαιόν, οὐδʼ ἀτιμίαςκύρω, καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνατάξιν ἔχουσα καὶ δυσήλιον κνέφας.
Athena:From afar I heard the call of a summons, from the Scamander, while I was taking possession of the land, which the leaders and chiefs of the Achaeansassigned to me, a great portion of the spoil their spears had won, to be wholly mine forever, a choice gift to Theseus’ sons. From there I have come, urging on my tireless foot, without wings rustling the folds of my aegis,[yoking this chariot to colts in their prime.] As I see this strange company of visitors to my land, I am not afraid, but it is a wonder to my eyes. Who in the world are you? I address you all in common—this stranger sitting at my image,and you, who are like no race of creatures ever born, neither seen by gods among goddesses nor resembling mortal forms. But it is far from just to speak ill of one’s neighbor who is blameless, and Right stands aloof.
Ἀθηνᾶ:πρόσωθεν ἐξήκουσα κληδόνος βοὴνἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου γῆν καταφθατουμένη,ἣν δῆτʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἄκτορές τε καὶ πρόμοι,τῶν αἰχμαλώτων χρημάτων λάχος μέγα,ἔνειμαν αὐτόπρεμνον εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἐμοί,ἐξαίρετον δώρημα Θησέως τόκοις·ἔνθεν διώκουσʼ ἦλθον ἄτρυτον πόδα,πτερῶν ἄτερ ῥοιβδοῦσα κόλπον αἰγίδος.[πώλοις ἀκμαίοις τόνδʼ ἐπιζεύξασʼ ὄχον]καινὴν δʼ ὁρῶσα τήνδʼ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸςταρβῶ μὲν οὐδέν, θαῦμα δʼ ὄμμασιν πάρα.τίνες ποτʼ ἐστέ; πᾶσι δʼ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω·βρέτας τε τοὐμὸν τῷδʼ ἐφημένῳ ξένῳ,ὑμᾶς θʼ ὁμοίας οὐδενὶ σπαρτῶν γένει,οὔτʼ ἐν θεαῖσι πρὸς θεῶν ὁρωμέναςοὔτʼ οὖν βροτείοις ἐμφερεῖς μορφώμασιν.λέγειν δʼ ἄμομφον ὄντα τοὺς πέλας κακῶςπρόσω δικαίων ἠδʼ ἀποστατεῖ θέμις.
Chorus:Daughter of Zeus, you will hear it all in brief. We are the eternal children of Night. We are called Curses in our homes beneath the earth.
Χορός:πεύσῃ τὰ πάντα συντόμως, Διὸς κόρη.ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν Νυκτὸς αἰανῆ τέκνα.Ἀραὶ δʼ ἐν οἴκοις γῆς ὑπαὶ κεκλήμεθα.
Athena:I now know your family and the names by which you are called.
Ἀθηνᾶ:γένος μὲν οἶδα κληδόνας τʼ ἐπωνύμους.
Chorus:You will soon learn my office.
Χορός:τιμάς γε μὲν δὴ τὰς ἐμὰς πεύσῃ τάχα.
Athena:I shall understand, if someone would tell the story clearly.
Ἀθηνᾶ:μάθοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ λέγοι τις ἐμφανῆ λόγον.
Chorus:We drive murderers from their homes.
Χορός:βροτοκτονοῦντας ἐκ δόμων ἐλαύνομεν.
Athena:And where is the end of flight for the killer?
Ἀθηνᾶ:καὶ τῷ κτανόντι ποῦ τὸ τέρμα τῆς φυγῆς;
Chorus:Where joy is absent and unknown.
Χορός:ὅπου τὸ χαίρειν μηδαμοῦ νομίζεται.
Athena:And would you drive this man with your shrieks to such flight?
Ἀθηνᾶ:ἦ καὶ τοιαύτας τῷδʼ ἐπιρροιζεῖς φυγάς;
Chorus:Yes, for he thought it right to be his mother’s murderer.
Χορός:φονεὺς γὰρ εἶναι μητρὸς ἠξιώσατο.
Athena:Through other compulsions, or in fear of someone’s wrath?
Ἀθηνᾶ:ἄλλαις ἀνάγκαις, ἤ τινος τρέων κότον;
Chorus:Where is there a spur so keen as to compel the murder of a mother?
Χορός:ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτο κέντρον ὡς μητροκτονεῖν;
Athena:Two parties are present; only half the case is heard.
Ἀθηνᾶ:δυοῖν παρόντοιν ἥμισυς λόγου πάρα.
Chorus:But he will not receive an oath nor does he want to give one.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ὅρκον οὐ δέξαιτʼ ἄν, οὐ δοῦναι θέλοι.
Athena:You want to be called just rather than to act justly.
Ἀθηνᾶ:κλύειν δίκαιος μᾶλλον ἢ πρᾶξαι θέλεις.
Chorus:How so? Teach me. For you are not poor in subtleties.
Χορός:πῶς δή; δίδαξον· τῶν σοφῶν γὰρ οὐ πένῃ.
Athena:I say that oaths must not win victory for injustice.
Ἀθηνᾶ:ὅρκοις τὰ μὴ δίκαια μὴ νικᾶν λέγω.
Chorus:Well then, question him, and make a straight judgment.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ἐξέλεγχε, κρῖνε δʼ εὐθεῖαν δίκην.
Athena:Then would you turn over the decision of the charge to me?
Ἀθηνᾶ:ἦ κἀπʼ ἐμοὶ τρέποιτʼ ἂν αἰτίας τέλος;
Chorus:How not?—since we honor you because you are worthy and of worthy parentage.
Χορός:πῶς δʼ οὔ; σέβουσαί γʼ ἀξίαν κἀπʼ ἀξίων.
Athena:What do you want to say to this, stranger, in turn? After you name your country and family and fortunes, then defend yourself against this charge; if indeed, relying on the justice of your case,you sit clinging to my image near my hearth, as a sacred suppliant, like Ixion. To all this give me a plain answer.
Ἀθηνᾶ:τί πρὸς τάδʼ εἰπεῖν, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐν μέρει θέλεις;λέξας δὲ χώραν καὶ γένος καὶ ξυμφορὰςτὰς σάς, ἔπειτα τόνδʼ ἀμυναθοῦ ψόγον·εἴπερ πεποιθὼς τῇ δίκῃ βρέτας τόδεἧσαι φυλάσσων ἑστίας ἁμῆς πέλαςσεμνὸς προσίκτωρ ἐν τρόποις Ἰξίονος.τούτοις ἀμείβου πᾶσιν εὐμαθές τί μοι.
Orestes:Lady Athena, first of all I will take away a great anxiety from your last words.
Ὀρέστης:ἄνασσʼ Ἀθάνα, πρῶτον ἐκ τῶν ὑστάτωντῶν σῶν ἐπῶν μέλημʼ ἀφαιρήσω μέγα.
I am not a suppliant in need of purification, nor did I sit at your image with pollution on my hands. I will give you strong proof of this. It is the law for one who is defiled by shedding blood to be barred from speech until he is sprinkled with the blood ofa new-born victim by a man who can purify from murder. Long before at other houses I have been thus purified both by victims and by flowing streams. And so I declare that this concern is out of the way. As to my family, you will soon learn.
οὐκ εἰμὶ προστρόπαιος, οὐδʼ ἔχων μύσοςπρὸς χειρὶ τἠμῇ τὸ σὸν ἐφεζόμην βρέτας.τεκμήριον δὲ τῶνδέ σοι λέξω μέγα.ἄφθογγον εἶναι τὸν παλαμναῖον νόμος,ἔστʼ ἂν πρὸς ἀνδρὸς αἵματος καθαρσίουσφαγαὶ καθαιμάξωσι νεοθήλου βοτοῦ.πάλαι πρὸς ἄλλοις ταῦτʼ ἀφιερώμεθαοἴκοισι, καὶ βοτοῖσι καὶ ῥυτοῖς πόροις.ταύτην μὲν οὕτω φροντίδʼ ἐκποδὼν λέγω.γένος δὲ τοὐμὸν ὡς ἔχει πεύσῃ τάχα.
I am an Argive; my father—you rightly inquire about him—was Agamemnon, the commander of the naval forces; along with him, you made Troy, the city of Ilion, to be no city. He did not die nobly, after he came home; but my black-heartedmother killed him after she covered him in a crafty snare that still remains to witness his murder in the bath. And when I came back home, having been an exile in the time before, I killed the woman who gave birth to me, I will not deny it, as the penalty in return for the murder of my dearly-loved father.
Ἀργεῖός εἰμι, πατέρα δʼ ἱστορεῖς καλῶς,Ἀγαμέμνονʼ, ἀνδρῶν ναυβατῶν ἁρμόστορα,ξὺν ᾧ σὺ Τροίαν ἄπολιν Ἰλίου πόλινἔθηκας. ἔφθιθʼ οὗτος οὐ καλῶς, μολὼνεἰς οἶκον· ἀλλά νιν κελαινόφρων ἐμὴμήτηρ κατέκτα, ποικίλοις ἀγρεύμασινκρύψασʼ, ἃ λουτρῶν ἐξεμαρτύρει φόνον.κἀγὼ κατελθών, τὸν πρὸ τοῦ φεύγων χρόνον,ἔκτεινα τὴν τεκοῦσαν, οὐκ ἀρνήσομαι,ἀντικτόνοις ποιναῖσι φιλτάτου πατρός.
Together with me Loxias is responsible for this deed, because he threatened me with pains, a goad for my heart, if I should fail to do this deed to those who were responsible. You judge whether I acted justly or not; whatever happens to me at your hands, I will be content.
καὶ τῶνδε κοινῇ Λοξίας ἐπαίτιος,ἄλγη προφωνῶν ἀντίκεντρα καρδίᾳ,εἰ μή τι τῶνδʼ ἔρξαιμι τοὺς ἐπαιτίους.σὺ δʼ εἰ δικαίως εἴτε μὴ κρῖνον δίκην·πράξας γὰρ ἐν σοὶ πανταχῇ τάδʼ αἰνέσω.
Athena:The matter is too great, if any mortal thinks to pass judgment on it; no, it is not lawful even for me to decide on cases of murder that is followed by the quick anger of the Furies, especially since you, by rites fully performed, have come a pure and harmless suppliant to my house;
Ἀθηνᾶ:τὸ πρᾶγμα μεῖζον, εἴ τις οἴεται τόδεβροτὸς δικάζειν· οὐδὲ μὴν ἐμοὶ θέμιςφόνου διαιρεῖν ὀξυμηνίτου δίκας·ἄλλως τε καὶ σὺ μὲν κατηρτυκὼς ἐμοῖςἱκέτης προσῆλθες καθαρὸς ἀβλαβὴς δόμοις·
and so I respect you, since you do not bring harm to my city. Yet these women have an office that does not permit them to be dismissed lightly; and if they fail to win their cause, the venom from their resentment will fall upon the ground, an intolerable, perpetual plague afterwards in the land.
οὕτως δʼ ἄμομφον ὄντα σʼ αἰδοῦμαι πόλει.αὗται δʼ ἔχουσι μοῖραν οὐκ εὐπέμπελον,καὶ μὴ τυχοῦσαι πράγματος νικηφόρου,χώρᾳ μεταῦθις ἰὸς ἐκ φρονημάτωνπέδοι πεσὼν ἄφερτος αἰανὴς νόσος.
So stands the case: either course—to let them stay, to drive them out—brings disaster and perplexity to me. But since this matter has fallen here, I will select judges of homicide bound by oath, and I will establish this tribunal for all time.
τοιαῦτα μὲν τάδʼ ἐστίν· ἀμφότερα, μένεινπέμπειν τε δυσπήμαντʼ ἀμηχάνως ἐμοί.ἐπεὶ δὲ πρᾶγμα δεῦρʼ ἐπέσκηψεν τόδε,φόνων δικαστὰς ὁρκίους αἱρουμένηθεσμὸν τὸν εἰς ἅπαντʼ ἐγὼ θήσω χρόνον.
Summon your witnesses and proofs, sworn evidence to support your case; and I will return when I have chosen the best of my citizens, for them to decide this matter truly, after they take an oath that they will pronounce no judgment contrary to justice. ExitChorus:Here is the overturning of new laws, if the wrongful cause of this matricide is to triumph. Now his deed will accustom all mento recklessness; many sorrowful wounds, given in truth by children, wait for parents in the future time.
ὑμεῖς δὲ μαρτύριά τε καὶ τεκμήριακαλεῖσθʼ, ἀρωγὰ τῆς δίκης ὁρκώματα·κρίνασα δʼ ἀστῶν τῶν ἐμῶν τὰ βέλταταἥξω, διαιρεῖν τοῦτο πρᾶγμʼ ἐτητύμως,ὅρκον πορόντας μηδὲν ἔκδικον φράσειν.Χορός:νῦν καταστροφαὶ νέωνθεσμίων, εἰ κρατή-σει δίκα ⟨τε⟩ καὶ βλάβατοῦδε ματροκτόνου.πάντας ἤδη τόδʼ ἔργον εὐχερεί-ᾳ συναρμόσει βροτούς·πολλὰ δʼ ἔτυμα παιδότρωταπάθεα προσμένει τοκεῦ-σιν μεταῦθις ἐν χρόνῳ.
Chorus:For the wrath of us, the Furies who keep watch on mortals,will not come stealthily upon such deeds—I will let loose death in every form. And as he anticipates his neighbor’s evils, one manwill ask of another when hardship is to end or to decrease; and the poor wretch offers the vain consolation of uncertain remedies.
Χορός:οὐδὲ γὰρ βροτοσκόπωνμαινάδων τῶνδʼ ἐφέρ-ψει κότος τις ἐργμάτων—πάντʼ ἐφήσω μόρον.πεύσεται δʼ ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν, προφω-νῶν τὰ τῶν πέλας κακά,λῆξιν ὑπόδοσίν τε μόχθων·ἄκεά τʼ οὐ βέβαια τλά-μων [δέ τις ] μάταν παρηγορεῖ.