Chorus:I choose your reading of this portent. Let it be so. As for the rest, give your friends their parts. Tell some what to do, others what to leave undone.
Χορός:τερασκόπον δὴ τῶνδέ σʼ αἱροῦμαι πέρι.γένοιτο δʼ οὕτως. τἄλλα δʼ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις,τοὺς μέν τι ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή τι δρᾶν λέγων.
Orestes:It is a simple story. My sister must go inside, and I charge her to keep concealed this pact with me,so that as by craft they killed a worthy man, so by craft they may likewise be caught and perish in the very same snare, even as Loxias decreed, lord Apollo, the prophet who has never before been false.
Ὀρέστης:ἁπλοῦς ὁ μῦθος· τήνδε μὲν στείχειν ἔσω,αἰνῶ δὲ κρύπτειν τάσδε συνθήκας ἐμάς,ὡς ἂν δόλῳ κτείναντες ἄνδρα τίμιονδόλοισι καὶ ληφθῶσιν ἐν ταὐτῷ βρόχῳθανόντες, καὶ Λοξίας ἐφήμισεν,ἄναξ Ἀπόλλων, μάντις ἀψευδὴς τὸ πρίν.
In the guise of a stranger, one fully equipped, I will come to the outer gate, and with me Pylades, whom you see here, as a guest and ally of the house. Both of us will speak the speech of Parnassus, imitating the accent of a Phocian tongue. And in case none of the keepers of the door will give us a hearty welcomeon the plea that the house is afflicted with trouble by the gods, then we will wait so that anyone passing the house will consider and say: “Why then does Aegisthus have his door shut on his suppliant, if in fact he is at home and knows?”
ξένῳ γὰρ εἰκώς, παντελῆ σαγὴν ἔχων,ἥξω σὺν ἀνδρὶ τῷδʼ ἐφʼ ἑρκείους πύλαςΠυλάδῃ, ξένος τε καὶ δορύξενος δόμων.ἄμφω δὲ φωνὴν ἥσομεν Παρνησσίδα,γλώσσης ἀυτὴν Φωκίδος μιμουμένω.καὶ δὴ θυρωρῶν οὔτις ἂν φαιδρᾷ φρενὶδέξαιτʼ, ἐπειδὴ δαιμονᾷ δόμος κακοῖς·μενοῦμεν οὕτως ὥστʼ ἐπεικάζειν τινὰδόμους παραστείχοντα καὶ τάδʼ ἐννέπειν·τί δὴ πύλαισι τὸν ἱκέτην ἀπείργεταιΑἴγισθος, εἴπερ οἶδεν ἔνδημος παρών;
But if I indeed pass the outermost threshold of the gate and find that man sitting on my father’s throne, or if then coming face to face with me he lifts and casts down his eyes, know well:before he can even say “Of what land is this stranger?” I will skewer him with my swift sword and lay him dead. The fury that has no fill of slaughter shall for her third and crowning drink drink unmixed blood! Now you, Electra, keep strict watch over what happens inside the house,so that our plans may fit together well. You addressing the Chorus had best keep a discreet tongue: be silent when there is need and speak only what the occasion demands. As for the rest, I call on him to cast his glance this way and direct the contest of the sword for me. Exeunt Orestes, Pylades, and ElectraChorus:Many are the horrors, dread and appalling, bred of earth, and the arms of the deep teem with hateful monsters. Likewise between heaven and earthlights hung high in the air draw near; and winged things and things that walk the earth can also tell of the stormy wrath of whirlwinds.
εἰ δʼ οὖν ἀμείψω βαλὸν ἑρκείων πυλῶνκἀκεῖνον ἐν θρόνοισιν εὑρήσω πατρός,ἢ καὶ μολὼν ἔπειτά μοι κατὰ στόμαἀρεῖ, σάφʼ ἴσθι, καὶ κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς βαλεῖ,πρὶν αὐτὸν εἰπεῖν ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; νεκρὸνθήσω, ποδώκει περιβαλὼν χαλκεύματι.φόνου δʼ Ἐρινὺς οὐχ ὑπεσπανισμένηἄκρατον αἷμα πίεται τρίτην πόσιν.νῦν οὖν σὺ μὲν φύλασσε τἀν οἴκῳ καλῶς,ὅπως ἂν ἀρτίκολλα συμβαίνῃ τάδε·ὑμῖν δʼ ἐπαινῶ γλῶσσαν εὔφημον φέρειν,σιγᾶν θʼ ὅπου δεῖ καὶ λέγειν τὰ καίρια.τὰ δʼ ἄλλα τούτῳ δεῦρʼ ἐποπτεῦσαι λέγω,ξιφηφόρους ἀγῶνας ὀρθώσαντί μοι.Χορός:πολλὰ μὲν γᾶ τρέφειδεινὰ [καὶ] δειμάτων ἄχη,πόντιαί τʼ ἀγκάλαι κνωδάλωνἀνταίων βρύουσι·πλάθουσι [βλαστοῦσι] καὶ πεδαίχμιοιλαμπάδες πεδάοροι,πτανά τε καὶ πεδοβά-μονα κἀνεμοέντʼ ἂναἰγίδων φράσαι κότον.
Chorus:But who can tell of man’s overweening spirit,and of the reckless passions of women hardened of soul, partners of the woes of mortals? Inordinate passion, overmastering the female,gains a fatal victory over the wedded unions of beasts and humans alike.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ὑπέρτολμον ἀν-δρὸς φρόνημα τίς λέγοικαὶ γυναικῶν φρεσὶν τλαμόνων [καὶ]παντόλμους ἔρωταςἄταισι συννόμους βροτῶν;ξυζύγους δʼ ὁμαυλίαςθηλυκρατὴς ἀπέρω-τος ἔρως παρανικᾷκνωδάλων τε καὶ βροτῶν.
Chorus:Let whoever is not flighty in his wits know this, when he has learned of the device of a lit brand contrivedby Thestius’ heartless daughter: she destroyed her own child by burning the charred brand of the same age as he when, coming from his mother’s womb, he cried out,and it aged in pace with him through his life to the day decreed by fate.
Χορός:ἴστω δʼ, ὅστις οὐχ ὑπόπτεροςφροντίσιν, δαεὶςτὰν ἁ παιδολυ-μὰς τάλαινα Θεστιὰς μήσατοπυρδαῆτιν πρόνοιαν,καταίθουσα παιδὸς δαφοινὸνδαλὸν ἥλικʼ, ἐπεὶ μολὼνματρόθεν κελάδησε,ξύμμετρόν τε διαὶ βίουμοιρόκραντον ἐς ἆμαρ.
Chorus:And there is in legend another murderous virgin to be loathed,who ruined a loved one at the bidding of his foes, when, lured by Minos’ gift, the Cretan necklace forged of gold, she with her dog’s heart despoiled Nisus of his immortal lockas he drew breath in unsuspecting sleep. And Hermes overtook him.
Χορός:ἄλλαν δεῖ τινʼ ἐν λόγοις στυγεῖνφοινίαν κόραν,ἅτʼ ἐχθρῶν ὑπαὶφῶτʼ ἀπώλεσεν φίλον Κρητικοῖςχρυσοκμήτοισιν ὅρμοιςπιθήσασα δώροισι Μίνω,Νῖσον ἀθανάτας τριχὸςνοσφίσασʼ ἀπροβούλωςπνέονθʼ ἁ κυνόφρων ὕπνῳ.κιγχάνει δέ μιν Ἑρμῆς.
Chorus:But since I have recalled tales of pitiless afflictions, it is the right time to tell of a marriage void of love,an abomination to the house, and the plots devised by a wife’s cunning against her warrior lord, against her lord revered with reason by his foes. But I honor the hearths of homes not heated by passion’s fires,and in woman a spirit that shrinks from audacious deeds.
Χορός:ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐπεμνασάμαν ἀμειλίχωνπόνων, ὁ καιρὸς δὲ δυσφιλὲς γαμή-λευμʼ ἀπεύχετον δόμοιςγυναικοβούλους τε μήτιδας φρενῶνἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ τευχεσφόρῳ,ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ δᾴοις ἐπεικότως σέβαι.τίω δʼ ἀθέρμαντον ἑστίαν δόμωνγυναικείαν ⟨τʼ⟩ ἄτολμον αἰχμάν.
Chorus:Indeed the Lemnian holds first place among evils in story: it has long been told with groans as an abominable calamity. Men compare each new horror to Lemnian troubles;
Χορός:κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιονλόγῳ· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ πάθος κατά-πτυστον· ᾔκασεν δέ τιςτὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.
and because of a woeful deed abhorred by the gods a race has disappeared, cast out in infamy from among mortals. For no man reveres what is hated by the gods. Is there one of these tales I have gathered that I do not justly cite?
θεοστυγήτῳ δʼ ἄχειβροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος.σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.τί τῶνδʼ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;
Chorus:But the keen and bitter sword is near the breast and drives home its blow at the bidding of Justice.For truly the injustice of him who has unjustly transgressed the sovereign majesty of Zeuslies on the ground trampled under foot.
Χορός:τὸ δʼ ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφοςδιανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷδιαὶ Δίκας. τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ οὖνλὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον, τὸ πᾶν Διὸςσέβας παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς.
Chorus:The anvil of Justice is planted firm. Destiny fashions her arms and forges her sword quickly, and the famed and deeply brooding Fury is bringing the son into our house,to requite at last the pollution of blood shed long ago.Enter, with attendants, Orestes and Pylades before the palace
Χορός:Δίκας δʼ ἐρείδεται πυθμήν·προχαλκεύει δʼ Αἶσα φασγανουργός·τέκνον δʼ ἐπεισφέρει δόμοισιναἱμάτων παλαιτέρων τίνειν μύσοςχρόνῳ κλυτὰ βυσσόφρων Ἐρινύς.
Orestes:Boy! Boy! Hear my knocking at the outer door! Who is inside? Boy! Boy! I say again, who is at home?
Ὀρέστης:παῖ παῖ, θύρας ἄκουσον ἑρκείας κτύπον.τίς ἔνδον, ὦ παῖ, παῖ, μάλʼ αὖθις, ἐν δόμοις;
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.
τρίτον τόδʼ ἐκπέραμα δωμάτων καλῶ,εἴπερ φιλόξενʼ ἐστὶν Αἰγίσθου διαί.
Servant:Yes, yes, I hear. Of what land is the stranger, and whence?
Οἰκέτης:εἶεν, ἀκούω· ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;
Orestes:Announce me to the masters of the house, for it is in fact to them that I come bearing news.
Ὀρέστης:ἄγγελλε τοῖσι κυρίοισι δωμάτων,πρὸς οὕσπερ ἥκω καὶ φέρω καινοὺς λόγους.
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,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 attendanceClytaemestra: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.
τάχυνε δʼ, ὡς καὶ νυκτὸς ἅρμʼ ἐπείγεταισκοτεινόν, ὥρα δʼ ἐμπόρους καθιέναιἄγκυραν ἐν δόμοισι πανδόκοις ξένων.ἐξελθέτω τις δωμάτων τελεσφόροςγυνὴ τόπαρχος, ἄνδρα δʼ εὐπρεπέστερον·αἰδὼς γὰρ ἐν λεχθεῖσιν οὐκ ἐπαργέμουςλόγους τίθησιν· εἶπε θαρσήσας ἀνὴρπρὸς ἄνδρα κἀσήμηνεν ἐμφανὲς τέκμαρ.Κλυταιμνήστρα:ξένοι, λέγοιτʼ ἂν εἴ τι δεῖ· πάρεστι γὰρὁποῖά περ δόμοισι τοῖσδʼ ἐπεικότα,καὶ θερμὰ λουτρὰ καὶ πόνων θελκτηρίαστρωμνή, δικαίων τʼ ὀμμάτων παρουσία.εἰ δʼ ἄλλο πρᾶξαι δεῖ τι βουλιώτερον,ἀνδρῶν τόδʼ ἐστὶν ἔργον, οἷς κοινώσομεν
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, 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,“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,”“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,I do not know. But his parent should know the truth.
Ὀρέστης:ξένος μέν εἰμι Δαυλιεὺς ἐκ Φωκέων·στείχοντα δʼ αὐτόφορτον οἰκείᾳ σαγῇεἰς Ἄργος, ὥσπερ δεῦρʼ ἀπεζύγην πόδα,ἀγνὼς πρὸς ἀγνῶτʼ εἶπε συμβαλὼν ἀνήρ,ἐξιστορήσας καὶ σαφηνίσας ὁδόν,Στροφίος ὁ Φωκεύς· πεύθομαι γὰρ ἐν λόγῳἐπείπερ ἄλλως, ὦ ξένʼ, εἰς Ἄργος κίεις,πρὸς τοὺς τεκόντας πανδίκως μεμνημένοςτεθνεῶτʼ Ὀρέστην εἰπέ, μηδαμῶς λάθῃ.εἴτʼ οὖν κομίζειν δόξα νικήσει φίλων,εἴτʼ οὖν μέτοικον, εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἀεὶ ξένον,θάπτειν, ἐφετμὰς τάσδε πόρθμευσον πάλιν.νῦν γὰρ λέβητος χαλκέου πλευρώματασποδὸν κέκευθεν ἀνδρὸς εὖ κεκλαυμένου.τοσαῦτʼ ἀκούσας εἶπον. εἰ δὲ τυγχάνωτοῖς κυρίοισι καὶ προσήκουσιν λέγωνοὐκ οἶδα, τὸν τεκόντα δʼ εἰκὸς εἰδέναι.
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.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οἲ ʼγώ, κατʼ ἄκρας εἶπας ὡς πορθούμεθα.ὦ δυσπάλαιστε τῶνδε δωμάτων Ἀρά,ὡς πόλλʼ ἐπωπᾷς, κἀκποδὼν εὖ κείμενατόξοις πρόσωθεν εὐσκόποις χειρουμένη,φίλων ἀποψιλοῖς με τὴν παναθλίαν.καὶ νῦν Ὀρέστης—ἦν γὰρ εὐβούλως ἔχων,ἔξω κομίζων ὀλεθρίου πηλοῦ πόδα,—νῦν δʼ ἥπερ ἐν δόμοισι βακχείας καλῆςἰατρὸς ἐλπὶς ἦν, προδοῦσαν ἔγγραφε.
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 irreverentnot to fulfill for friends a charge like this when I was bound by promise and hospitality pledged to me.
Ὀρέστης:ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ξένοισιν ὧδʼ εὐδαίμοσινκεδνῶν ἕκατι πραγμάτων ἂν ἤθελονγνωστὸς γενέσθαι καὶ ξενωθῆναι· τί γὰρξένου ξένοισίν ἐστιν εὐμενέστερον;πρὸς δυσσεβείας ⟨δʼ⟩ ἦν ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἐν φρεσίν,τοιόνδε πρᾶγμα μὴ καρανῶσαι φίλοις,καταινέσαντα καὶ κατεξενωμένον.
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.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οὔτοι κυρήσεις μεῖον ἀξίως σέθεν,οὐδʼ ἧσσον ἂν γένοιο δώμασιν φίλος.ἄλλος δʼ ὁμοίως ἦλθεν ἂν τάδʼ ἀγγελῶν.
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.
ἀλλʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ καιρὸς ἡμερεύοντας ξένουςμακρᾶς κελεύθου τυγχάνειν τὰ πρόσφορα.ἄγʼ αὐτὸν εἰς ἀνδρῶνας εὐξένους δόμων,ὀπισθόπους τε τούσδε καὶ ξυνέμπορον·κἀκεῖ κυρούντων δώμασιν τὰ πρόσφορα.
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.All withdraw except the ChorusChorus: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,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’ NurseOur stranger, I think, is working mischief: for over there I see Orestes’ nurse all in tears. Cilissa! Where are you going? Why as you set foot in the palace gate do you have a grief as an unhired companion?
αἰνῶ δὲ πράσσειν ὡς ὑπευθύνῳ τάδε.ἡμεῖς δὲ ταῦτα τοῖς κρατοῦσι δωμάτωνκοινώσομέν τε κοὐ σπανίζοντες φίλωνβουλευσόμεσθα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς πέρι.Χορός:εἶεν, φίλιαι δμωίδες οἴκων,πότε δὴ στομάτωνδείξομεν ἰσχὺν ἐπʼ Ὀρέστῃ;ὦ πότνια χθὼν καὶ πότνιʼ ἀκτὴχώματος, ἣ νῦν ἐπὶ ναυάρχῳσώματι κεῖσαι τῷ βασιλείῳ,νῦν ἐπάκουσον, νῦν ἐπάρηξον·νῦν γὰρ ἀκμάζει Πειθὼ δολίανξυγκαταβῆναι, χθόνιον δʼ Ἑρμῆνκαὶ τὸν νύχιον τοῖσδʼ ἐφοδεῦσαιξιφοδηλήτοισιν ἀγῶσιν.Χορός:ἔοικεν ἁνὴρ ὁ ξένος τεύχειν κακόν·τροφὸν δʼ Ὀρέστου τήνδʼ ὁρῶ κεκλαυμένην.ποῖ δὴ πατεῖς, Κίλισσα, δωμάτων πύλας;λύπη δʼ ἄμισθός ἐστί σοι ξυνέμπορος;
Nurse:My mistress commands me to summon Aegisthus for the strangersin 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.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 sortthat 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,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.
Τροφός:Αἴγισθον ἡ κρατοῦσα τοῖς ξένοις καλεῖνὅπως τάχιστʼ ἄνωγεν, ὡς σαφέστερονἀνὴρ ἀπʼ ἀνδρὸς τὴν νεάγγελτον φάτινἐλθὼν πύθηται τήνδε, πρὸς μὲν οἰκέταςθετοσκυθρωπῶν ἐντὸς ὀμμάτων γέλωνκεύθουσʼ ἐπʼ ἔργοις διαπεπραγμένοις καλῶςκείνῃ, δόμοις δὲ τοῖσδε παγκάκως ἔχειν,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 συγκεκραμέναἄλγη δύσοιστα τοῖσδʼ ἐν Ἀτρέως δόμοιςτυχόντʼ 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,—κἀκʼ νυκτιπλάγκτων ὀρθίων κελευμάτωνκαὶ πολλὰ καὶ μοχθήρʼ ἀνωφέλητʼ ἐμοὶτλάσῃ·—τὸ μὴ φρονοῦν γὰρ ὡσπερεὶ βοτὸντρέφειν ἀνάγκη, πῶς γὰρ οὔ; τρόπῳ φρενός·
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,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 onour house, and he will be glad enough to hear this news.
οὐ γάρ τι φωνεῖ παῖς ἔτʼ ὢν ἐν σπαργάνοις,εἰ λιμός, ἢ δίψη τις, ἢ λιψουρίαἔχει· νέα δὲ νηδὺς αὐτάρκης τέκνων.τούτων πρόμαντις οὖσα, πολλὰ δʼ, οἴομαι,ψευσθεῖσα παιδὸς σπαργάνων φαιδρύντρια,γναφεὺς τροφεύς τε ταὐτὸν εἰχέτην τέλος.ἐγὼ διπλᾶς δὲ τάσδε χειρωναξίαςἔχουσʼ Ὀρέστην ἐξεδεξάμην πατρί·τεθνηκότος δὲ νῦν τάλαινα πεύθομαι.στείχω δʼ ἐπʼ ἄνδρα τῶνδε λυμαντήριονοἴκων, θέλων δὲ τόνδε πεύσεται λόγον.
Chorus:Then arrayed how does she tell him to come?
Χορός:πῶς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;
Nurse:Arrayed how? Say it again so that I may catch your meaning better.
Τροφός:ἦ πῶς; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.
Chorus:With his guards or perhaps unattended?
Χορός:εἰ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.
Nurse:She tells him to come with his retinue of spearmen.
Τροφός:ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.
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.
Χορός:μή νυν σὺ ταῦτʼ ἄγγελλε δεσπότου στύγει·ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἐλθεῖν, ὡς ἀδειμάντως κλύῃ,ἄνωχθʼ ὅσον τάχιστα γηθούσῃ φρενί.ἐν ἀγγέλῳ γὰρ κυπτὸς ὀρθοῦται λόγος.
Nurse:What! Are you gladdened at heart by the present news?
Τροφός:ἀλλʼ ἦ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις;
Chorus:Why not, if Zeus at last may cause our ill wind to change?
Χορός:ἀλλʼ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ.
Nurse:But how can that be? Orestes, the hope of our house, is gone.
Τροφός:καὶ πῶς; Ὀρέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.
Chorus:Not yet; he would be a poor prophet who would so interpret.
Χορός:οὔπω· κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.
Nurse:What are you saying? Do you know something beyond what has been told?
Τροφός:τί φής; ἔχεις τι τῶν λελεγμένων δίχα;
Chorus:Go, deliver your message! Do what you are asked to do!
Χορός:ἄγγελλʼ ἰοῦσα, πρᾶσσε τἀπεσταλμένα.
The gods take care of what they take care of.
μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ πέρι.
Nurse:Well, I will go and do your bidding. With the gods’ blessing may everything turn out for the best! Exit
Τροφός:ἀλλʼ εἶμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι λόγοις.γένοιτο δʼ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.
Chorus:Now at my supplication, O Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, grant that the fortunes of our house be firmly established,so that those who rightly desire the rule of order may behold it. Every word of mine has been uttered in justice. O Zeus, may you safeguard it!
Χορός:νῦν παραιτουμένᾳ μοι, πάτερΖεῦ θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων,δὸς τύχας τυχεῖν δόμου κυρίωςτὰ σώφρονʼ εὖ μαιομένοις ἰδεῖν.διὰ δίκας πᾶν ἔποςἔλακον· ⟨ὦ⟩ Ζεῦ, σύ νιν φυλάσσοις.
Chorus:O Zeus, set him who is within the palace before his foes;since, if you exalt him, he will gladly pay you with double and triple recompense.
Χορός:ἓ ἕ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ʼχθρῶντὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,θές, ἐπεί νιν μέγαν ἄρας,δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶπαλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.
Chorus:Know that the orphaned colt of a loved one is harnessed to the chariot of distress.And by setting bounds to his course may you grant that we see him keep a steady pace through this race and win the goal in the straining stride of a gallop.
Χορός:ἴσθι δʼ ἀνδρὸς φίλου πῶλον εὖ-νιν ζυγέντʼ ἐν ἅρμασινπημάτων. ⟨σὺ δʼ⟩ ἐν δρόμῳ προστιθεὶςμέτρον κτίσον σῳζόμενον ῥυθμὸντοῦτʼ ἰδεῖν διὰ πέδονἀνομένων βημάτων ὄρεγμα;
Chorus:And you who within the house inhabit the inner chamber that exults in its wealth, hear me, you gods, that feel with us! By a fresh award redeem the blood of deeds done long ago.
Χορός:οἵ τʼ ἔσω δωμάτωνπλουτογαθῆ μυχὸν νομίζετε,κλῦτε, σύμφρονες θεοί·[ἄγετε] τῶν πάλαι πεπραγμένωνλύσασθʼ αἷμα προσφάτοις δίκαις.
May aged Murder cease begetting offspring in our house!
γέρων φόνος μηκέτʼ ἐν δόμοις τέκοι.
Chorus:And you who occupy the mighty, gorgeously built cavern, grant that the man’s house may lift up its eyes again in joy, and that with gladeyes it may behold from under its veil of gloom the radiant light of freedom.
Χορός:τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτίμενον ὦ μέγα ναίωνστόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνιδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,καί νιν ἐλευθερίας ⟨φῶς⟩λαμπρὸν ἰδεῖν φιλίοιςὄμμασιν ⟨ἐκ⟩ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.
Chorus:May Maia’s son, as he rightfully should, lend his aid, for no one can better sail a deed on a favoring course, when he would do so.
Χορός:ξυλλάβοι δʼ ἐνδίκωςπαῖς ὁ Μαίας, ἐπεὶ φορώτατοςπρᾶξιν οὐρίαν θέλων·
But by his mysterious utterance he brings darkness over men’s eyes by night, and by day he is no more clear at all.
[πολλὰ δʼ ἄλλα φανεῖ χρηίζων κρυπτά].ἄσκοπον δʼ ἔπος λέγωννύκτα πρό τʼ ὀμμάτων σκότον φέρει,καθʼ ἡμέραν δʼ οὐδὲν ἐμφανέστερος.
Chorus:And then at last with a loud voice we shall sing a song of the deliverance of our house,the song that women raise when the wind sits fair, and not the shrill strain of those who mourn: “The ship goes well. This grows to profit for me, for me, and calamity holds off from those I love.”
Χορός:καὶ τότʼ ἤδη κλυτὸνδωμάτων λυτήριον,θῆλυν οὐριοστάταν οὐδʼὀξύκρεκτον γοα-τᾶν νόμον θήσομεν· πλεῖ τάδʼ εὖ·ἐμὸν ἐμὸν κέρδος αὔξεται τόδʼ· ἄ-τα δʼ ἀποστατεῖ φίλων.
Chorus:But may you with good courage, when the part of action comes, cry out loud the name “Father” when she exclaims “Son,”and accomplish the baneful but irreproachable deed.
Χορός:σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,ἐπαΰσας πατρὸς αὐδὰνθροούσᾳ [πρὸς σὲ] τέκνον [πατρὸς αὐδὰν][καὶ] πέραινʼ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
Chorus:Raise up Perseus’ spirit within my breast. And for those dear to you below the earth, and for those above, exact satisfaction for their dire wrathby working bloody ruin in our house and obliterating the guilt of murder.Enter Aegisthus
Χορός:Περσέως τʼ ἐν φρεσὶνκαρδίαν ἀνασχεθών,τοῖς θʼ ὑπὸ χθονὸς φίλοισιν,τοῖς τʼ ἄνωθεν πρόπρασ-σε χάριν ὀργᾶς λυγρᾶς, ἔνδοθενφόνιον ἄταν τιθείς, τὸν αἴτιον δʼἐξαπολλύων μόρου.
Aegisthus:I have come not unasked but summoned by a messenger. I heard startling news told by some strangers who have arrived, tidings far from welcome:—that Orestes is dead. To lay this too upon our house would be a fearful burden when it is still festering and galled by the wound inflicted by an earlier murder. How can I believe this tale is the living truth? Or is it merely a panic-stricken report spread by womenwhich leaps up to die away in nothingness? What can you tell me of this to make it plain to my mind?
Αἴγισθος:ἥκω μὲν οὐκ ἄκλητος, ἀλλʼ ὑπάγγελος·νέαν φάτιν δὲ πεύθομαι λέγειν τινὰςξένους μολόντας οὐδαμῶς ἐφίμερον,μόρον δʼ Ὀρέστου. καὶ τόδʼ ἀμφέρειν δόμοιςγένοιτʼ ἂν ἄχθος δειματοσταγὲς φόνῳτῷ πρόσθεν ἑλκαίνουσι καὶ δεδηγμένοις.πῶς ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ καὶ βλέποντα δοξάσω;ἢ πρὸς γυναικῶν δειματούμενοι λόγοιπεδάρσιοι θρῴσκουσι, θνῄσκοντες μάτην;τί τῶνδʼ ἂν εἴποις ὥστε δηλῶσαι φρενί;
Chorus:We heard the tale, it is true. But go inside and inquire of the strangers. The certainty of a messenger’s reportis nothing compared with one’s own interrogation of the man himself.
Χορός:ἠκούσαμεν μέν, πυνθάνου δὲ τῶν ξένωνἔσω παρελθών. οὐδὲν ἀγγέλων σθένοςὡς αὐτὸν αὐτῶν ἄνδρα πεύθεσθαι πάρα.
Aegisthus:I wish to see the messenger and put him to the test again—whether he himself was present at the death or merely repeats from vague reports what he has heard. No! Be sure he cannot deceive a mind with eyes open. Exit
Αἴγισθος:ἰδεῖν ἐλέγξαι τʼ αὖ θέλω τὸν ἄγγελον,εἴτʼ αὐτὸς ἦν θνῄσκοντος ἐγγύθεν παρών,εἴτʼ ἐξ ἀμαυρᾶς κληδόνος λέγει μαθών.οὔτοι φρένʼ ἂν κλέψειεν ὠμματωμένην.
Chorus:O Zeus, O Zeus, what should I say? Where shall I begin this prayer of mine, this appeal to the gods? How in my loyal zeal can I succeed in finding words to match need? Now is the moment when the blood-stained edges of the blades that lay men loware utterly forever to destroy the house of Agamemnon. Or else, kindling a flaming light in the cause of freedom, Orestes will win both the rule over his realm and the rich possessions of his fathers.Our gallant Orestes, with no one to assist him, is now to meet with two in such a contest. And may it be to triumph!A shriek is heard from within
Χορός:Ζεῦ Ζεῦ, τί λέγω, πόθεν ἄρξωμαιτάδʼ ἐπευχομένη κἀπιθεάζουσʼ,ὑπὸ δʼ εὐνοίαςπῶς ἴσον εἰποῦσʼ ἀνύσωμαι;νῦν γὰρ μέλλουσι μιανθεῖσαιπειραὶ κοπάνων ἀνδροδαΐκτωνἢ πάνυ θήσειν Ἀγαμεμνονίωνοἴκων ὄλεθρον διὰ παντός,ἢ πῦρ καὶ φῶς ἐπʼ ἐλευθερίᾳδαίων ἀρχάς τε πολισσονόμουςπατέρων ⟨θʼ⟩ ἕξει μέγαν ὄλβον.τοιάνδε πάλην μόνος ὢν ἔφεδροςδισσοῖς μέλλει θεῖος Ὀρέστηςἅψειν. εἴη δʼ ἐπὶ νίκῃ.
Aegisthus:within Oh! Oh! O woe!
Αἴγισθος:ἒ ἔ, ὀτοτοτοῖ.
Chorus:Ah! Ah! Alas! What is happening? What is being accomplished for our house? Let us stand apart while the matter is still unsettled so that we may be considered blameless in these ills. For the issue of the fighting has now been decided. The Chorus withdraws to the side of the scene; then a servant of Aegisthus rushes in
Χορός:ἔα ἔα μάλα·πῶς ἔχει; πῶς κέκρανται δόμοις;ἀποσταθῶμεν πράγματος τελουμένου,ὅπως δοκῶμεν τῶνδʼ ἀναίτιαι κακῶνεἶναι· μάχης γὰρ δὴ κεκύρωται τέλος.
Servant:O woe, oh utter woe! My master is slain! O woe! I cry yet again, for the third time. Aegisthus is no more! Come, with all speed! Unbar and open the women’s door! And a strong arm indeed is needed, but not to help him who is already slain: what good is there in that?Help! Help! Am I shouting to the deaf and fruitlessly wasting my voice on people who are asleep? Where has Clytaemestra gone? What is she doing? Her own neck, near the razor’s edge, is now ready to fall beneath the stroke.Clytaemestra hurries in unattended
Οἰκέτης:οἴμοι, πανοίμοι δεσπότου πεπληγμένου·οἴμοι μάλʼ αὖθις ἐν τρίτοις προσφθέγμασιν.Αἴγισθος οὐκέτʼ ἔστιν. ἀλλʼ ἀνοίξατεὅπως τάχιστα, καὶ γυναικείους πύλαςμοχλοῖς χαλᾶτε· καὶ μάλʼ ἡβῶντος δὲ δεῖ,οὐχ ὡς δʼ ἀρῆξαι διαπεπραγμένῳ· τί γάρ;ἰοὺ ἰού.κωφοῖς ἀυτῶ καὶ καθεύδουσιν μάτηνἄκραντα βάζω; ποῖ Κλυταιμήστρα; τί δρᾷ;ἔοικε νῦν αὐτῆς ἐπὶ ξυροῦ πέλαςαὐχὴν πεσεῖσθαι πρὸς δίκην πεπληγμένος.
Clytaemestra:What is this? What cry for help are you raising in our house?
Κλυταιμνήστρα:τί δʼ ἐστὶ χρῆμα; τίνα βοὴν ἵστης δόμοις;
Servant:I tell you the dead are killing the living.
Οἰκέτης:τὸν ζῶντα καίνειν τοὺς τεθνηκότας λέγω.
Clytaemestra:Ah! Indeed I grasp the meaning of the riddle. We are to perish by treachery, just as we committed murder. Someone give me a battle-axe, and quickly! Let us know if we are victors or vanquished:
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οἲ ʼγώ. ξυνῆκα τοὔπος ἐξ αἰνιγμάτων.δόλοις ὀλούμεθʼ, ὥσπερ οὖν ἐκτείναμεν.δοίη τις ἀνδροκμῆτα πέλεκυν ὡς τάχος·
for I have even come to this in this wretched business. Exit Servant. The door is opened and the corpse of Aegisthus is discovered. Nearby stands Orestes, and at a distance PyladesOrestes:It is you I seek. He over there has had enough.
εἰδῶμεν εἰ νικῶμεν, ἢ νικώμεθα·ἐνταῦθα γὰρ δὴ τοῦδʼ ἀφικόμην κακοῦ.Ὀρέστης:σὲ καὶ ματεύω· τῷδε δʼ ἀρκούντως ἔχει.
Clytaemestra:Oh no! My beloved, valiant Aegisthus! You are dead!
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οἲ ʼγώ. τέθνηκας, φίλτατʼ Αἰγίσθου βία.
Orestes:You love this man? Then you will lie in the same grave,and you will never abandon him in death.
Ὀρέστης:φιλεῖς τὸν ἄνδρα; τοιγὰρ ἐν ταὐτῷ τάφῳκείσῃ· θανόντα δʼ οὔτι μὴ προδῷς ποτε.
Clytaemestra:Wait, my son! Have pity, child, upon this breast at which many times while you slept you sucked with toothless gums the milk that nourished you.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ἐπίσχες, ὦ παῖ, τόνδε δʼ αἴδεσαι, τέκνον,μαστόν, πρὸς ᾧ σὺ πολλὰ δὴ βρίζων ἅμαοὔλοισιν ἐξήμελξας εὐτραφὲς γάλα.
Orestes:Pylades, what shall I do? Shall I spare my mother out of pity?
Ὀρέστης:Πυλάδη τί δράσω; μητέρʼ αἰδεσθῶ κτανεῖν;
Pylades:What then will become in the future of Loxias’ oracles declared at Pytho, and of our sworn pact? Count all men your enemies rather than the gods.
Πυλάδης:ποῦ δὴ τὰ λοιπὰ Λοξίου μαντεύματατὰ πυθόχρηστα, πιστὰ δʼ εὐορκώματα;ἅπαντας ἐχθροὺς τῶν θεῶν ἡγοῦ πλέον.
Orestes:I judge you victor: you advise me well. To Clytaemestra Come, this way! I mean to kill you by his very side. For while he lived, you thought him better than my father.
Ὀρέστης:κρίνω σὲ νικᾶν, καὶ παραινεῖς μοι καλῶς.ἕπου, πρὸς αὐτὸν τόνδε σὲ σφάξαι θέλω.
Sleep with him in death, since you love him but hate the man you were bound to love.
καὶ ζῶντα γάρ νιν κρείσσονʼ ἡγήσω πατρός·τούτῳ θανοῦσα ξυγκάθευδʼ, ἐπεὶ φιλεῖςτὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον, ὃν δʼ ἐχρῆν φιλεῖν στυγεῖς.
Clytaemestra:It was I who nourished you, and with you I would grow old.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ἐγώ σʼ ἔθρεψα, σὺν δὲ γηράναι θέλω.
Orestes:What! Murder my father and then make your home with me?
Ὀρέστης:πατροκτονοῦσα γὰρ ξυνοικήσεις ἐμοί;
Clytaemestra:Fate, my child, must share the blame for this.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ἡ Μοῖρα τούτων, ὦ τέκνον, παραιτία.
Orestes:And fate now brings this destiny to pass.
Ὀρέστης:καὶ τόνδε τοίνυν Μοῖρʼ ἐπόρσυνεν μόρον.
Clytaemestra:Have you no regard for a parent’s curse, my son?
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οὐδὲν σεβίζῃ γενεθλίους ἀράς, τέκνον;
Orestes:You brought me to birth and yet you cast me out to misery.
Ὀρέστης:τεκοῦσα γάρ μʼ ἔρριψας ἐς τὸ δυστυχές.
Clytaemestra:No, surely I did not cast you out in sending you to the house of an ally.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οὔτοι σʼ ἀπέρριψʼ εἰς δόμους δορυξένους.
Orestes:I was sold in disgrace, though I was born of a free father.
Ὀρέστης:αἰκῶς ἐπράθην ὢν ἐλευθέρου πατρός.
Clytaemestra:Then where is the price I got for you?
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ποῦ δῆθʼ ὁ τῖμος, ὅντινʼ ἀντεδεξάμην;
Orestes:I am ashamed to reproach you with that outright.
Ὀρέστης:αἰσχύνομαί σοι τοῦτʼ ὀνειδίσαι σαφῶς.
Clytaemestra:But do not fail to proclaim the follies of that father of yours as well.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:μὴ ἀλλʼ εἴφʼ ὁμοίως καὶ πατρὸς τοῦ σοῦ μάτας.
Orestes:Do not accuse him who suffered while you sat idle at home.
Ὀρέστης:μὴ ʼλεγχε τὸν πονοῦντʼ ἔσω καθημένη.
Clytaemestra:It is a grief for women to be deprived of a husband, my child.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ἄλγος γυναιξὶν ἀνδρὸς εἴργεσθαι, τέκνον.
Orestes:Yes, but it is the husband’s toil that supports them while they sit at home.
Ὀρέστης:τρέφει δέ γʼ ἀνδρὸς μόχθος ἡμένας ἔσω.
Clytaemestra:You seem resolved, my child, to kill your mother.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:κτενεῖν ἔοικας, ὦ τέκνον, τὴν μητέρα.
Orestes:You will kill yourself, not I.
Ὀρέστης:σύ τοι σεαυτήν, οὐκ ἐγώ, κατακτενεῖς.
Clytaemestra:Take care: beware the hounds of wrath that avenge a mother.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ὅρα, φύλαξαι μητρὸς ἐγκότους κύνας.
Orestes:And how shall I escape my father’s if I leave this undone?
Ὀρέστης:τὰς τοῦ πατρὸς δὲ πῶς φύγω, παρεὶς τάδε;
Clytaemestra:I see that though living I mourn in vain before a tomb.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:ἔοικα θρηνεῖν ζῶσα πρὸς τύμβον μάτην.
Orestes:Yes, for my father’s fate has marked out this destiny for you.
Ὀρέστης:πατρὸς γὰρ αἶσα τόνδε σοὐρίζει μόρον.
Clytaemestra:Oh no! I myself bore and nourished this serpent!
Κλυταιμνήστρα:οἲ ʼγὼ τεκοῦσα τόνδʼ ὄφιν ἐθρεψάμην.
Orestes:Yes, the terror from your dream was indeed a prophet. You killed him whom you should not; so suffer what should not be.
Ὀρέστης:ἦ κάρτα μάντις οὑξ ὀνειράτων φόβος.
He forces Clytaemestra within; Pylades followsChorus:Truly I grieve even for these in their twofold downfall. Yet since long-suffering Orestes has reached the peak of many deeds of blood, we would rather have it so, that the eye of the house should not be utterly lost.
ἔκανες ὃν οὐ χρῆν, καὶ τὸ μὴ χρεὼν πάθε.Χορός:στένω μὲν οὖν καὶ τῶνδε συμφορὰν διπλῆν.ἐπεὶ δὲ πολλῶν αἱμάτων ἐπήκρισετλήμων Ὀρέστης, τοῦθʼ ὅμως αἱρούμεθα,ὀφθαλμὸν οἴκων μὴ πανώλεθρον πεσεῖν.
Chorus:As to Priam and his sons justice came at last in crushing retribution, so to Agamemnon’s house came a twofold lion, twofold slaughter.The exile, the suppliant of Pytho, has fulfilled his course to the utmost, justly urged on by counsels from the gods.
Χορός:ἔμολε μὲν δίκα Πριαμίδαις χρόνῳ,βαρύδικος ποινά·ἔμολε δʼ ἐς δόμον τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονοςδιπλοῦς λέων, διπλοῦς Ἄρης.ἔλασε δʼ ἐς τὸ πᾶνὁ πυθόχρηστος φυγὰςθεόθεν εὖ φραδαῖσιν ὡρμημένος.
Chorus:Oh raise a shout of triumph over the escape of our master’s house from its misery and the wasting of its wealth by two who were unclean,its grievous fortune!
Χορός:ἐπολολύξατʼ ὦ δεσποσύνων δόμωνἀναφυγᾶς κακῶν καὶ κτεάνων τριβᾶςὑπαὶ δυοῖν μιαστόροιν,δυσοίμου τύχας.
Chorus:And he has come whose part is the crafty vengeance of stealthy attack, and in the battle his hand was guided by her who is in very truth daughter of Zeus, breathing murderous wrath on her foes.We mortals aim true to the mark when we call her Justice.
Χορός:ἔμολε δʼ ᾧ μέλει κρυπταδίου μάχαςδολιόφρων ποινά·ἔθιγε δʼ ἐν μάχᾳ χερὸς ἐτήτυμοςΔιὸς κόρα—Δίκαν δέ νινπροσαγορεύομεν βροτοὶ τυχόντες καλῶς—ὀλέθριον πνέουσʼ ἐν ἐχθροῖς κότον.
Chorus:Oh raise a shout of triumph over the escape of our master’s house from its misery and the wasting of its wealth by two who were unclean,its grievous fortune!
Χορός:⟨ἐπολολύξατʼ ὦ δεσποσύνων δόμων⟩⟨ἀναφυγᾶς κακῶν καὶ κτεάνων τριβᾶς⟩⟨ὑπαὶ δυοῖν μιαστόροιν,⟩⟨δυσοίμου τύχας.⟩
Chorus:The commands proclaimed loudly by Loxias, tenant of the mighty cavern shrine of Parnassus, assail with guileless guilethe mischief now become inveterate. May the divine word prevail that so I may not serve the wicked!
Χορός:τά περ ὁ Λοξίας ὁ Παρνασσίαςμέγαν ἔχων μυχὸν χθονὸς ἐπωρθία-ξεν ἀδόλως δόλοιςβλάβαν ἐγχρονισθεῖσαν ἐποίχεται.κρατεῖταί πως τὸ θεῖον παρὰ τὸ μὴὑπουργεῖν κακοῖς.
It is right to revere the rule of heaven.
ἄξια δʼ οὐρανοῦχον ἀρχὰν σέβειν.
Chorus:Look, the light has come, and I am freed from the cruel curb that restrained our household. House, rise up! You have lain too long prostrate on the ground.
Χορός:πάρα τε φῶς ἰδεῖνμέγα τʼ ἀφῃρέθην ψάλιον οἰκέων.ἄναγε μὰν δόμοι· πολὺν ἄγαν χρόνονχαμαιπετεῖς ἔκεισθʼ ἀεί.
Chorus:But soon time that accomplishes all will pass the portals of our house, and then all pollution will be expelled from the hearth by cleansing rites that drive out calamity. The dice of fortune will turn as they fall and liewith faces all lovely to behold, favorably disposed to whoever stays in our house.
Χορός:τάχα δὲ παντελὴς χρόνος ἀμείψεταιπρόθυρα δωμάτων, ὅταν ἀφʼ ἑστίαςπᾶν ἐλαθῇ μύσοςκαθαρμοῖσιν ἀτᾶν ἐλατηρίοις.τύχαι δʼ εὐπροσωποκοῖται τὸ πᾶνἰδεῖν [ἀκοῦσαι] πρευμενεῖςμετοίκοις δόμων πεσοῦνται πάλιν.
Chorus:Look, the light has come,and I am freed from the cruel curb that restrained our household. House, rise up! You have lain too long prostrate on the ground.Orestes with the branch and wreath of a suppliant is disclosed standing by the bodies. With him are Pylades and attendants who display the robe of Agamemnon
Χορός:πάρα τε φῶς ἰδεῖν⟨μέγα τʼ ἀφῃρέθην ψάλιον οἰκέων.⟩⟨ἄναγε μὰν δόμοι· πολὺν ἄγαν χρόνον⟩⟨χαμαιπετεῖς ἔκεισθʼ ἀεί.⟩
Orestes:Behold this pair, oppressors of the land, who murdered my father and ransacked my house! They were majestic then, when they sat on their thrones,and are lovers even now, as one may judge by what has happened to them, and their oath holds true to their pledges. Together they vowed a league of death against my unhappy father, and together they vowed to die, and they have kept their promise well. But now regard again, you who hear this account of ills,the device for binding my unhappy father, with which his hands were manacled, his feet fettered. Spread it out! Stand around in a circle, and display this covering for a man, that the Father may see—not mine, but he who surveys all this, the Sun—that he may see the impious work of my own mother, that he may be my witness in court that I justly pursued this death, my own mother’s. For I do not speak of Aegisthus’ death: he has suffered the penalty prescribed for adulterers.
Ὀρέστης:ἴδεσθε χώρας τὴν διπλῆν τυραννίδαπατροκτόνους τε δωμάτων πορθήτορας.σεμνοὶ μὲν ἦσαν ἐν θρόνοις τόθʼ ἥμενοι,φίλοι δὲ καὶ νῦν, ὡς ἐπεικάσαι πάθηπάρεστιν, ὅρκος τʼ ἐμμένει πιστώμασι.ξυνώμοσαν μὲν θάνατον ἀθλίῳ πατρὶκαὶ ξυνθανεῖσθαι· καὶ τάδʼ εὐόρκως ἔχει.ἴδεσθε δʼ αὖτε, τῶνδʼ ἐπήκοοι κακῶν,τὸ μηχάνημα, δεσμὸν ἀθλίῳ πατρί,πέδας τε χειροῖν καὶ ποδοῖν ξυνωρίδα.ἐκτείνατʼ αὐτὸ καὶ κύκλῳ παρασταδὸνστέγαστρον ἀνδρὸς δείξαθʼ, ὡς ἴδῃ πατήρ,οὐχ οὑμός, ἀλλʼ ὁ πάντʼ ἐποπτεύων τάδεἭλιος, ἄναγνα μητρὸς ἔργα τῆς ἐμῆς,ὡς ἂν παρῇ μοι μάρτυς ἐν δίκῃ ποτέ,ὡς τόνδʼ ἐγὼ μετῆλθον ἐνδίκως μόροντὸν μητρός· Αἰγίσθου γὰρ οὐ λέγω μόρον·
But she who devised this abhorrent deed against her husband, whose children she bore, a burden under her belt, a burden once dear, but now a hateful ill, as it seems: what do you think of her? Had she been born a seasnake or a viper, I think her very touch without her bite would have caused anyone else to rot,if shamelessness and an immoral disposition could do so. He again takes up the bloody robe What name shall I give it, however tactful I may be? A trap for a wild beast? Or a shroud for a corpse in his bier, wrapped around his feet? No, rather it is a net: you might call it a hunting net, or robes to entangle a man’s feet.This would be the kind of thing a highwayman might posses, who deceives strangers and earns his living by robbery, and with this cunning snare he might kill many men and warm his own heart greatly. May such a woman not live with me in my house!
ἔχει γὰρ αἰσχυντῆρος, ὡς νόμος, δίκην·ἥτις δʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ τοῦτʼ ἐμήσατο στύγος,ἐξ οὗ τέκνων ἤνεγχʼ ὑπὸ ζώνην βάρος,φίλον τέως, νῦν δʼ ἐχθρόν, ὡς φαίνει, κακόν,τί σοι δοκεῖ; μύραινά γʼ εἴτʼ ἔχιδνʼ ἔφυσήπειν θιγοῦσʼ ἂν ἄλλον οὐ δεδηγμένοντόλμης ἕκατι κἀκδίκου φρονήματος.τί νιν προσείπω, κἂν τύχω μάλʼ εὐστομῶν;ἄγρευμα θηρός, ἢ νεκροῦ ποδένδυτονδροίτης κατασκήνωμα; δίκτυον μὲν οὖν,ἄρκυν τʼ ἂν εἴποις καὶ ποδιστῆρας πέπλους.τοιοῦτον ἂν κτήσαιτο φηλήτης ἀνήρ,ξένων ἀπαιόλημα κἀργυροστερῆβίον νομίζων, τῷδέ τʼ ἂν δολώματιπολλοὺς ἀναιρῶν πολλὰ θερμαίνοι φρένα.
Before that may the gods grant me to perish childless!
τοιάδʼ ἐμοὶ ξύνοικος ἐν δόμοισι μὴγένοιτʼ· ὀλοίμην πρόσθεν ἐκ θεῶν ἄπαις.
Chorus:Alas! Alas! Sorrowful work! You were done in by a wretched death. Alas! Alas! And for the survivor also suffering blossoms.
Χορός:αἰαῖ ⟨αἰαῖ⟩ μελέων ἔργων·στυγερῷ θανάτῳ διεπράχθης.ἒ ἔ,μίμνοντι δὲ καὶ πάθος ἀνθεῖ.
Orestes:Did she do the deed or not? No, this is my witness, dyed by Aegisthus’ sword. This is a stain of blood that helps time to spoil the many tinctures of embroidered fabric. Now at last I speak his praises. Now at last I am present to lament him, as I address this web that wrought my father’s death.Yet I grieve for the deed and the punishment and for my whole clan. My victory is an unenviable pollution.
Ὀρέστης:ἔδρασεν ἢ οὐκ ἔδρασε; μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοιφᾶρος τόδʼ, ὡς ἔβαψεν Αἰγίσθου ξίφος.φόνου δὲ κηκὶς ξὺν χρόνῳ ξυμβάλλεται,πολλὰς βαφὰς φθείρουσα τοῦ ποικίλματος.νῦν αὐτὸν αἰνῶ, νῦν ἀποιμώζω παρών,πατροκτόνον θʼ ὕφασμα προσφωνῶν τόδε.ἀλγῶ μὲν ἔργα καὶ πάθος γένος τε πᾶν,ἄζηλα νίκης τῆσδʼ ἔχων μιάσματα.
Chorus:No mortal being shall pass his life unscathed, free from all suffering to the end.
Χορός:οὔτις μερόπων ἀσινὴς βίοτονδιὰ παντὸς ἀπήμονʼ ἀμείψει.
Alas! Alas! One tribulation comes today, another tomorrow.
ἒ ἔ,μόχθος δʼ ὁ μὲν αὐτίχʼ, ὁ δʼ ἥξει.
Orestes:But since I would have you know, for I do not know how it will end: I think I am a charioteer driving my team far beyond the course. For my ungoverned wits are whirling me away overmastered, and at my heart fear wishes to sing and dance to a tune of wrath.But while I am still in my senses, I proclaim to those who hold me dear and declare that not without justice did I slay my mother, the unclean murderess of my father, and a thing loathed by the gods. And for the spells that gave me the courage for this deed I count Loxias, the prophet of Pytho,my chief source. It was he who declared that, if I did this thing, I would be acquitted of wrongdoing. But if I refrained—I will not name the penalty; for no bowshot could reach such a height of anguish. And now observe me, how armed with this branch and wreath I go as a suppliant, an outcast for the shedding of kindred blood, to the temple set square on the womb of the earth,the precinct of Loxias, and to the bright fire said to be imperishable. To no other hearth did Loxias bid me turn. And as to the manner in which this evil deed was wrought, I charge all men of Argos in time to come to bear me witness.I go forth a wanderer, estranged from this land, leaving this repute behind, in life or death.
Ὀρέστης:ἀλλʼ, ὡς ἂν εἰδῆτʼ, οὐ γὰρ οἶδʼ ὅπη τελεῖ,ὥσπερ ξὺν ἵπποις ἡνιοστροφῶ δρόμουἐξωτέρω· φέρουσι γὰρ νικώμενονφρένες δύσαρκτοι· πρὸς δὲ καρδίᾳ φόβοςᾄδειν ἕτοιμος ἠδʼ ὑπορχεῖσθαι κότῳ.ἕως δʼ ἔτʼ ἔμφρων εἰμί, κηρύσσω φίλοιςκτανεῖν τέ φημι μητέρʼ οὐκ ἄνευ δίκης,πατροκτόνον μίασμα καὶ θεῶν στύγος.καὶ φίλτρα τόλμης τῆσδε πλειστηρίζομαιτὸν πυθόμαντιν Λοξίαν, χρήσαντʼ ἐμοὶπράξαντι μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐκτὸς αἰτίας κακῆςεἶναι, παρέντα δʼ—οὐκ ἐρῶ τὴν ζημίαν·τόξῳ γὰρ οὔτις πημάτων ἐφίξεται.καὶ νῦν ὁρᾶτέ μʼ, ὡς παρεσκευασμένοςξὺν τῷδε θαλλῷ καὶ στέφει προσίξομαιμεσόμφαλόν θʼ ἵδρυμα, Λοξίου πέδον,πυρός τε φέγγος ἄφθιτον κεκλημένον,φεύγων τόδʼ αἷμα κοινόν· οὐδʼ ἐφʼ ἑστίανἄλλην τραπέσθαι Λοξίας ἐφίετο.καὶ μαρτυρεῖν μὲν ὡς ἐπορσύνθη κακὰτάδʼ ἐν χρόνῳ μοι πάντας Ἀργείους λέγω·ἐγὼ δʼ ἀλήτης τῆσδε γῆς ἀπόξενος,ζῶν καὶ τεθνηκὼς τάσδε κληδόνας λιπών.
Chorus:And you have done well. Therefore do not yoke your tongue to an ill-omened speech, nor let your lips give vent to evil forebodings,since you have freed the whole realm of Argos by lopping off the heads of two serpents with a fortunate stroke.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ εὖ γʼ ἔπραξας, μηδʼ ἐπιζευχθῇς στόμαφήμῃ πονηρᾷ μηδʼ ἐπιγλωσσῶ κακά,ἐλευθερώσας πᾶσαν Ἀργείων πόλιν,δυοῖν δρακόντοιν εὐπετῶς τεμὼν κάρα.
Orestes:Ah, ah! You handmaidens, look at them there: like Gorgons, wrapped in sable garments, entwined withswarming snakes! I can stay no longer.
Ὀρέστης:ἆ, ἆ.δμωαὶ γυναῖκες, αἵδε Γοργόνων δίκηνφαιοχίτωνες καὶ πεπλεκτανημέναιπυκνοῖς δράκουσιν· οὐκέτʼ ἂν μείναιμʼ ἐγώ.
Chorus:What fantasies disturb you, dearest of sons to your father? Wait, do not be all overcome by fear.
Χορός:τίνες σε δόξαι, φίλτατʼ ἀνθρώπων πατρί,στροβοῦσιν; ἴσχε, μὴ φόβου νικῶ πολύ.
Orestes:To me these are no imagined troubles. For there indeed are the hounds of wrath to avenge my mother.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ εἰσὶ δόξαι τῶνδε πημάτων ἐμοί·σαφῶς γὰρ αἵδε μητρὸς ἔγκοτοι κύνες.
Chorus:It is that the blood is still fresh on your hands; this is the cause of the disorder that assails your wits.
Χορός:ποταίνιον γὰρ αἷμά σοι χεροῖν ἔτι·ἐκ τῶνδέ τοι ταραγμὸς ἐς φρένας πίτνει.
Orestes:O lord Apollo, look! Now they come in troops, and from their eyes they drip loathsome blood!
Ὀρέστης:ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, αἵδε πληθύουσι δή,κἀξ ὀμμάτων στάζουσιν αἷμα δυσφιλές.
Chorus:There is one way to cleanse you: the touch of Loxiaswill set you free from this affliction.
Χορός:εἷς σοὶ καθαρμός· Λοξίας δὲ προσθιγὼνἐλεύθερόν σε τῶνδε πημάτων κτίσει.
Orestes:You do not see them, but I see them. I am pursued. I can stay no longer. Rushes out
Ὀρέστης:ὑμεῖς μὲν οὐχ ὁρᾶτε τάσδʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρῶ·ἐλαύνομαι δὲ κοὐκέτʼ ἂν μείναιμʼ ἐγὼ.
Chorus:Then may blessings go with you, and may the god watch benevolently over you and guard you with favorable fortunes!
Χορός:ἀλλʼ εὐτυχοίης, καί σʼ ἐποπτεύων πρόφρωνθεὸς φυλάσσοι καιρίοισι συμφοραῖς.
Look! Now again, for the third time, has the tempest of this clan burst on the royal house and run its course. First, at the beginning, came the cruel woes of children slain for food; next, the fate of a man, a king,when the warlord of the Achaeans perished, murdered in his bath. And now, once again, there has come from somewhere a third, a deliverer, or shall I say a doom?
Χορός:ὅδε τοι μελάθροις τοῖς βασιλείοιςτρίτος αὖ χειμὼνπνεύσας γονίας ἐτελέσθη.παιδοβόροι μὲν πρῶτον ὑπῆρξανμόχθοι τάλανές [τε Θυέστου]·δεύτερον ἀνδρὸς βασίλεια πάθη·λουτροδάικτος δʼ ὤλετʼ Ἀχαιῶνπολέμαρχος ἀνήρ·νῦν δʼ αὖ τρίτος ἦλθέ ποθεν σωτήρ,ἢ μόρον εἴπω;
Oh when will it finish its work, when will the fury of calamity, lulled to rest, find an end and cease?
ποῖ δῆτα κρανεῖ, ποῖ καταλήξειμετακοιμισθὲν μένος ἄτης;