---
title: "Electra · Ἠλέκτρα"
author: "Sophocles"
translator: "Richard Jebb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 3 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-electra/3/
cite: "Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb, Electra · Ἠλέκτρα, section 3. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-electra/3/"
---

# Electra · Ἠλέκτρα

*Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb*

Electra waits for her brother Orestes to come home and avenge their father.

> Greek: ed. Francis Storr, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0011.tlg005, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Richard Jebb, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0011.tlg005.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 3. Lines 1029–1510

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-electra/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-electra/3/#p-N

[¶0] Electra:
Never fear to suffer that from me, at least.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ οὔ ποτʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ γε μὴ πάθῃς τόδε.

[¶1] Chrysothemis:
There is time enough in the future to decide that.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
μακρὸς τὸ κρῖναι ταῦτα χὠ λοιπὸς χρόνος.

[¶2] Electra:
Leave! You have no power to help.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἄπελθε· σοὶ γὰρ ὠφέλησις οὐκ ἔνι.

[¶3] Chrysothemis:
No, I have it, but you lack the ability to listen and learn.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ἔνεστιν· ἀλλὰ σοὶ μάθησις οὐ πάρα.

[¶4] Electra:
Go, reveal everything to your mother!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐλθοῦσα μητρὶ ταῦτα πάντʼ ἔξειπε σῇ.

[¶5] Chrysothemis:
But, again, I do not hate you with so great a hate.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
οὐδʼ αὖ τοσοῦτον ἔχθος ἐχθαίρω σʼ ἐγώ.

[¶6] Electra:
Yet know at least to what dishonor you drive me.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ οὖν ἐπίστω γʼ οἷ μʼ ἀτιμίας ἄγεις.

[¶7] Chrysothemis:
Dishonor, no! It is forethought for you.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ἀτιμίας μὲν οὔ, προμηθίας δὲ σοῦ.

[¶8] Electra:
Am I bound, then, to follow your rule of right?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τῷ σῷ δικαίῳ δῆτʼ ἐπισπέσθαι με δεῖ;

[¶9] Chrysothemis:
Yes, for when you are sensible, then at that time you shall lead the both of us.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ὅταν γὰρ εὖ φρονῇς, τόθʼ ἡγήσει σὺ νῷν.

[¶10] Electra:
How terrible it is that one who speaks so well should be so wrong!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἦ δεινὸν εὖ λέγουσαν ἐξαμαρτάνειν.

[¶11] Chrysothemis:
You have well described the fault to which you devotedly cling.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
εἴρηκας ὀρθῶς ᾧ σὺ πρόσκεισαι κακῷ.

[¶12] Electra:
What? Do you think that my words are not the words of Justice?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δʼ; οὐ δοκῶ σοι ταῦτα σὺν δίκῃ λέγειν;

[¶13] Chrysothemis:
But sometimes even Justice herself causes harm.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἔνθα χἠ δίκη βλάβην φέρει.

[¶14] Electra:
I do not care to live where that attitude is lawful.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τούτοις ἐγὼ ζῆν τοῖς νόμοις οὐ βούλομαι.

[¶15] Chrysothemis:
Well, if you must do this, you will commend me yet.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ἀλλʼ εἰ ποήσεις ταῦτʼ, ἐπαινέσεις ἐμέ.

[¶16] Electra:
And do it I will, not a bit disturbed by you.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὶ μὴν ποήσω γʼ οὐδὲν ἐκπλαγεῖσά σε.

[¶17] Chrysothemis:
Is this true? You will not reconsider your plan?

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
καὶ τοῦτʼ ἀληθές, οὐδὲ βουλεύσει πάλιν;

[¶18] Electra:
No, for no enemy is more damaging than bad advice.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
βουλῆς γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστιν ἔχθιον κακῆς.

[¶19] Chrysothemis:
You seem to agree with nothing that I say.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
φρονεῖν ἔοικας οὐδὲν ὧν ἐγὼ λέγω.

[¶20] Electra:
My resolve is not new, but long since fixed.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πάλαι δέδοκται ταῦτα κοὐ νεωστί μοι.

[¶21] Chrysothemis:
Then I will go. You cannot be brought to approve my words, nor I your conduct.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμʼ ἔπη
τολμᾷς ἐπαινεῖν οὔτʼ ἐγὼ τοὺς σοὺς τρόπους.

[¶22] Electra:
No, go inside. I will never come after you, even though you may strongly desire it, since it is great folly even to attempt a useless quest.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ. οὔ σοι μὴ μεθέψομαί ποτε,
οὐδʼ ἢν σφόδρʼ ἱμείρουσα τυγχάνῃς· ἐπεὶ
πολλῆς ἀνοίας καὶ τὸ θηρᾶσθαι κενά.

[¶23] Chrysothemis:
Well, if you seem to think straight in your own eyes, may you go on thinking so. Eventually, when you have fallen into trouble, you will approve my advice. Exit Chrysothemis into the house.

> Greek: Χρυσόθεμις:
ἀλλʼ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι
φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθʼ. ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖς
ἤδη βεβήκῃς, τἄμʼ ἐπαινέσεις ἔπη.

[¶24] Chorus:
Why, though we see the birds above, most thoughtful creatures, taking care for the sustenance
of those from whom they derived life and enjoyment, why do we not pay these debts in like measure? No, by the lightning-flash of Zeus, by Themis throned in the sky,
we are not long unpunished. O Voice of the underworld that reaches to mortals, shout for me a piteous cry to the sons of Atreus below. Carry the reproaches not appropriate to my dancing!

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τοὺς ἄνωθεν φρονιμωτάτους οἰωνοὺς ἐσορώμενοι τροφᾶς
κηδομένους ἀφʼ ὧν τε βλάστωσιν ἀφʼ ὧν τʼ ὄνασιν εὕρ-
ωσι, τάδʼ οὐκ ἐπʼ ἴσας τελοῦμεν;
ἀλλʼ οὐ τὰν Διὸς ἀστραπὰν
καὶ τὰν οὐρανίαν Θέμιν,
δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι.
ὦ χθονία βροτοῖσι φάμα, κατά μοι βόασον οἰκτρὰν
ὄπα τοῖς ἔνερθʼ Ἀτρείδαις, ἀχόρευτα φέρουσʼ
ὀνείδη·

[¶25] Chorus:
Tell them the affairs of their house, how it is now diseased; how among his children, double-sided strife has overwhelmed their loving manner.
Electra, betrayed, braves the storm alone. In misery she bewails her father’s fate without pause, like the all-grieving nightingale. She cares not at all about death, but is ready for that eternal blindness,
could she but subdue the double Erinys of her house. Who could grow to be so noble a daughter of so noble a father?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅτι σφὶν ἤδη τὰ μὲν ἐκ δόμων νοσεῖ δή, τὰ δὲ πρὸς τέκνων διπλῆ
φύλοπις οὐκέτʼ ἐξισοῦται φιλοτασίῳ διαί-
τᾳ· πρόδοτος δὲ μόνα σαλεύει
Ἠλέκτρα, τὸν ἀεὶ πατρὸς
δειλαία στενάχουσʼ, ὅπως
ἁ πάνδυρτος ἀηδών,
οὔτε τι τοῦ θανεῖν προμηθὴς τό τε μὴ βλέπειν ἑτοίμα,
διδύμαν ἑλοῦσʼ Ἐρινύν· τίς ἂν εὔπατρις ὧδε βλάστοι;

[¶26] Chorus:
None of the good willingly clouds his fair repute and becomes nameless by leading a corrupt life, my child.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀγαθῶν γὰρ
ζῶν κακῶς εὔκλειαν αἰσχῦναι θέλει
νώνυμος, ὦ παῖ παῖ.

[¶27] Similarly, you, too, have chosen a lifetime of shared mourning and have armed against dishonor, so that you might win in one breath a twofold praise as wise, and as the best of daughters.

> Greek: ὡς καὶ σὺ πάγκλαυτον αἰῶνα κοινὸν εἵλου,
τὸ μὴ καλὸν καθοπλίσασα, δύο φέρειν ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ,
σοφά τʼ ἀρίστα τε παῖς κεκλῆσθαι.

[¶28] Chorus:
May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
Enter Orestes, with Pylades and two attendants.

> Greek: Χορός:
ζῴης μοι καθύπερθεν
χειρὶ καὶ πλούτῳ τεῶν ἐχθρῶν ὅσον
νῦν ὑπόχειρ ναίεις·
ἐπεί σʼ ἐφηύρηκα μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ
βεβῶσαν, ἃ δὲ μέγιστʼ ἔβλαστε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
ἄριστα τᾷ Ζηνὸς εὐσεβείᾳ.

[¶29] Orestes:
Ladies, have we been directed aright, and are we on the right path to our goal?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἆρʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες, ὀρθά τʼ εἰσηκούσαμεν
ὀρθῶς θʼ ὁδοιποροῦμεν ἔνθα χρῄζομεν;

[¶30] Chorus:
What do you seek? What desire brings you here?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ ἐξερευνᾷς καὶ τί βουληθεὶς πάρει;

[¶31] Orestes:
I have long been searching for the home of Aegisthus.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
Αἴγισθον ἔνθʼ ᾤκηκεν ἱστορῶ πάλαι.

[¶32] Chorus:
Well, you have found it, and your guide is blameless.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ εὖ θʼ ἱκάνεις χὠ φράσας ἀζήμιος.

[¶33] Orestes:
Which of you, then, would tell those inside of the long-desired presence of us travelers?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τίς οὖν ἂν ὑμῶν τοῖς ἔσω φράσειεν ἂν
ἡμῶν ποθεινὴν κοινόπουν παρουσίαν;

[¶34] Chorus:
She will, if the nearest in kin should announce it.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἥδʼ, εἰ τὸν ἄγχιστόν γε κηρύσσειν χρεών.

[¶35] Orestes:
Go, lady, enter and make it known that certain men of Phocis seek Aegisthus.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἴθʼ, ὦ γύναι, δήλωσον εἰσελθοῦσʼ ὅτι
Φωκῆς ματεύουσʼ ἄνδρες Αἴγισθόν τινες,

[¶36] Electra:
Ah, miserable me! Surely you do not bring proof positive of that rumor which we heard?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οἴμοι τάλαινʼ, οὐ δή ποθʼ ἧς ἠκούσαμεν
φήμης φέροντες ἐμφανῆ τεκμήρια;

[¶37] Orestes:
I know nothing of your “rumor”; but the aged Strophius ordered me to give report of Orestes.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κληδόνʼ· ἀλλά μοι γέρων
ἐφεῖτʼ Ὀρέστου Στρόφιος ἀγγεῖλαι πέρι.

[¶38] Electra:
What is it, sir? Ah, how fear creeps over me!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ ξένʼ; ὥς μʼ ὑπέρχεται φόβος.

[¶39] Orestes:
We come bearing his scanty remains in a small urn, as you see.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φέροντες αὐτοῦ σμικρὰ λείψανʼ ἐν βραχεῖ
τεύχει θανόντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, κομίζομεν.

[¶40] Electra:
Oh, the misery! Here, at last, my eyes look for certain, it seems, upon that grievous burden in your hand.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα, τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἤδη σαφὲς
πρόχειρον ἄχθος, ὡς ἔοικε, δέρκομαι.

[¶41] Orestes:
If your tears are for any of Orestes’ tribulations, know that this vessel is his body’s home.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εἴπερ τι κλαίεις τῶν Ὀρεστείων κακῶν,
τόδʼ ἄγγος ἴσθι σῶμα τοὐκείνου στέγον.

[¶42] Electra:
Ah, sir, if this urn indeed contains him, then allow me,
by the gods, to take it in my hands, so that I may weep and wail, not for these ashes alone, but for myself and for all our house with them!
Orestes: To the attendants.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ ξεῖνε, δός νυν, πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τόδε
κέκευθεν αὐτὸν τεῦχος, εἰς χεῖρας λαβεῖν,
ὅπως ἐμαυτὴν καὶ γένος τὸ πᾶν ὁμοῦ
ξὺν τῇδε κλαύσω κἀποδύρωμαι σποδῷ.

[¶43] Take it and give it to her, whoever she may be. For she asks this for herself not as if with hostile intent,
but like one who is his friend, or a kinswoman by blood. The urn is placed in Electra’s hands.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
δόθʼ, ἥτις ἐστί, προσφέροντες· οὐ γὰρ ὡς
ἐν δυσμενείᾳ γʼ οὖσʼ ἐπαιτεῖται τάδε,
ἀλλʼ ἢ φίλων τις ἢ πρὸς αἵματος φύσιν.

[¶44] Electra:
Memorial of him whom I loved best on earth, sole remnant of Orestes’ vitality! How contrary to the hopes with which I sent you away do I receive you back! Now I raise your nothingness in my hands;
but then, my child, you were radiant, when I sent you away from home! Would that I had first abandoned life, before, stealing you away with these hands, I sent you to a strange land and rescued you from death, in order that you might have lain dead on that same day
and had your share in the tomb of our father! But now, an exile from home and fatherland, you have perished miserably, far from your sister. Ah, me, these loving hands have not washed or decked your corpse, nor taken up
their sad burden from the all-consuming pyre, as was proper. No! At the hands of strangers, poor Orestes, you have been tended, and so have come to us, a small bulk in a small urn. Ah, I grieve at the uselessness of my nursing long ago, the service that I often bestowed
on you in sweet labor! For you were never your mother’s darling so much as mine, nor was any in the house your nurse but I, and by you I was ever called “sister.” But now all this has vanished in a day
with your death. Like a whirlwind you have swept everything away with you. Our father is gone; I am dead because of you; you yourself are dead and gone; our enemies laugh at us; and our mother, who is no mother, raves with joy. Unknown to her, you often
sent me messages about her, saying that you yourself would appear for vengeance. But our evil fortune, yours and mine, has torn all that away, and has sent you back to me in this state, ash and a useless shade in place of your beloved form.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φιλτάτου μνημεῖον ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ
ψυχῆς Ὀρέστου λοιπόν, ὥς σʼ ἀπʼ ἐλπίδων
οὐχ ὧνπερ ἐξέπεμπον εἰσεδεξάμην.
νῦν μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν ὄντα βαστάζω χεροῖν,
δόμων δέ σʼ, ὦ παῖ, λαμπρὸν ἐξέπεμψʼ ἐγώ.
ὡς ὤφελον πάροιθεν ἐκλιπεῖν βίον,
πρὶν ἐς ξένην σε γαῖαν ἐκπέμψαι χεροῖν
κλέψασα ταῖνδε κἀνασώσασθαι φόνου,
ὅπως θανὼν ἔκεισο τῇ τόθʼ ἡμέρᾳ,
τύμβου πατρῴου κοινὸν εἰληχὼς μέρος.
νῦν δʼ ἐκτὸς οἴκων κἀπὶ γῆς ἄλλης φυγὰς
κακῶς ἀπώλου, σῆς κασιγνήτης δίχα,
κοὔτʼ ἐν φίλαισι χερσὶν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ
λουτροῖς σʼ ἐκόσμησʼ οὔτε παμφλέκτου πυρὸς
ἀνειλόμην, ὡς εἰκός, ἄθλιον βάρος,
ἀλλʼ ἐν ξέναισι χερσὶ κηδευθεὶς τάλας
σμικρὸς προσήκεις ὄγκος ἐν σμικρῷ κύτει.
οἴμοι τάλαινα τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς
ἀνωφελήτου, τὴν ἐγὼ θάμʼ ἀμφὶ σοὶ
πόνῳ γλυκεῖ παρέσχον· οὔτε γάρ ποτε
μητρὸς σύ γʼ ἦσθα μᾶλλον ἢ κἀμοῦ φίλος,
οὔθʼ οἱ κατʼ οἶκον ἦσαν, ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τροφός,
ἐγὼ δʼ ἀδελφὴ σοὶ προσηυδώμην ἀεί.
νῦν δʼ ἐκλέλοιπε ταῦτʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
θανόντι σὺν σοί· πάντα γὰρ συναρπάσας
θύελλʼ ὅπως βέβηκας. οἴχεται πατήρ·
τέθνηκʼ ἐγὼ σοί· φροῦδος αὐτὸς εἶ θανών·
γελῶσι δʼ ἐχθροί· μαίνεται δʼ ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς
μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ, ἧς ἐμοὶ σὺ πολλάκις
φήμας λάθρᾳ προύπεμπες ὡς φανούμενος
τιμωρὸς αὐτός. ἀλλὰ ταῦθʼ ὁ δυστυχὴς
δαίμων ὁ σός τε κἀμὸς ἐξαφείλετο,
ὅς σʼ ὧδέ μοι προύπεμψεν ἀντὶ φιλτάτης
μορφῆς σποδόν τε καὶ σκιὰν ἀνωφελῆ.

[¶45] ah, me, ah, me! O pitiable body! Alas, dear one sent on a most dire journey, how you have destroyed me, destroyed me indeed, my brother!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οἴμοι μοι.
ὦ δέμας οἰκτρόν. φεῦ φεῦ.
ὦ δεινοτάτας, οἴμοι μοι,
πεμφθεὶς κελεύθους, φίλταθʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας·
ἀπώλεσας δῆτʼ, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.

[¶46] Therefore accept me into this abode of yours—me, a nothing, into your nothingness,—so that I may dwell with you hereafter below. For when you were on earth, we shared equally, and now I wish to die and not to be left out of your grave,
since I see that the dead are relieved of pain.

> Greek: τοιγὰρ σὺ δέξαι μʼ ἐς τὸ σὸν τόδε στέγος,
τὴν μηδὲν εἰς τὸ μηδέν, ὡς σὺν σοὶ κάτω
ναίω τὸ λοιπόν· καὶ γὰρ ἡνίκʼ ἦσθʼ ἄνω,
ξὺν σοὶ μετεῖχον τῶν ἴσων, καὶ νῦν ποθῶ
τοῦ σοῦ θανοῦσα μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι τάφου.
τοὺς γὰρ θανόντας οὐχ ὁρῶ λυπουμένους.

[¶47] Chorus:
Remember, Electra, you are the child of a mortal father, and Orestes was mortal. Therefore do not grieve too much. Death is a debt which all of us must pay.

> Greek: Χορός:
θνητοῦ πέφυκας πατρός, Ἠλέκτρα, φρόνει,
θνητὸς δʼ Ὀρέστης. ὥστε μὴ λίαν στένε.
πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτʼ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.

[¶48] Orestes:
Ah, what shall I say? I am at a loss. To what words
can I turn? I no longer have the strength to master my tongue!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φεῦ φεῦ. τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχανῶν
ἔλθω; κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώσσης σθένω.

[¶49] Electra:
What has troubled you? Why did you say that?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δʼ ἔσχες ἄλγος; πρὸς τί τοῦτʼ εἰπὼν κυρεῖς;

[¶50] Orestes:
Is this the illustrious form of Electra?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἦ σὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδος Ἠλέκτρας τόδε;

[¶51] Electra:
It is, though in a very wretched state.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τόδʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλʼ ἀθλίως ἔχον.

[¶52] Orestes:
What pity, then, for this miserable fortune!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οἴμοι ταλαίνης ἆρα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

[¶53] Electra:
Surely, stranger, you are not saddened like this on my account?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐ δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀμφʼ ἐμοὶ στένεις τάδε;

[¶54] Orestes:
O frame dishonorably, godlessly wasted!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ σῶμʼ ἀτίμως κἀθέως ἐφθαρμένον.

[¶55] Electra:
Those ills of which you speak, stranger, are none other’s than mine.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὔτοι ποτʼ ἄλλην ἢ ʼμὲ δυσφημεῖς, ξένε.

[¶56] Orestes:
Ah, pity for your unwed, ill-fated life!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φεῦ τῆς ἀνύμφου δυσμόρου τε σῆς τροφῆς,

[¶57] Electra:
Why, stranger, do you stare and grieve in this way?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπισκοπῶν στένεις;

[¶58] Orestes:
How I knew nothing, it seems, of my own sorrows!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὡς οὐκ ἄρʼ ᾔδη τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν κακῶν.

[¶59] Electra:
What that has been said made you realize this?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐν τῷ διέγνως τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

[¶60] Orestes:
It was the sight of you conspicuous in your many sufferings.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὁρῶν σε πολλοῖς ἐμπρέπουσαν ἄλγεσιν.

[¶61] Electra:
And yet you see but a few of my troubles.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.

[¶62] Orestes:
And how could there be any more odious to look on than these?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδʼ ἔτʼ ἐχθίω βλέπειν;

[¶63] Electra:
Because I share house and table with the murderers.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὁθούνεκʼ εἰμὶ τοῖς φονεῦσι σύντροφος

[¶64] Orestes:
Whose murderers? Where lies the guilt at which you point?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τοῖς τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτʼ ἐξεσήμηνας κακόν;

[¶65] Electra:
The murderers of my father. And, further, I am forced to slave for them.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τοῖς πατρός· εἶτα τοῖσδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

[¶66] Orestes:
Who is it that binds you with this compulsion?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τίς γάρ σʼ ἀνάγκῃ τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν;

[¶67] Electra:
She is called my mother, but in no respect is she like a mother.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
μήτηρ καλεῖται, μητρὶ δʼ οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ.

[¶68] Orestes:
How does she do it? By violence or by inflicting hardship?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δρῶσα; πότερα χερσὶν ἢ λύμῃ βίου;

[¶69] Electra:
By violence and hardships and all manner of evil.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὶ χερσὶ καὶ λύμαισι καὶ πᾶσιν κακοῖς.

[¶70] Orestes:
And is there no one to help, or to prevent it?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐδʼ οὑπαρήξων οὐδʼ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα;

[¶71] Electra:
No one. The one I had, his ashes you have put before me.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐ δῆθʼ. ὃς ἦν γάρ μοι σὺ προὔθηκας σποδόν.

[¶72] Orestes:
Unfortunate girl, how seeing you stirs my pity!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ δύσποτμʼ, ὡς ὁρῶν σʼ ἐποικτίρω πάλαι.

[¶73] Electra:
Then know that you are the first who ever pitied me.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
μόνος βροτῶν νυν ἴσθʼ ἐποικτίρας ποτέ.

[¶74] Orestes:
Yes, for I alone have come and been pained by your troubles.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις ἀλγῶν κακοῖς.

[¶75] Electra:
Surely you are not some unknown kinsman?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐ δή ποθʼ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴς ἥκεις ποθέν;

[¶76] Orestes:
I would tell you, if these women bear you goodwill.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἐγὼ φράσαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδʼ εὔνουν πάρα.

[¶77] Electra:
Indeed they do, so you will speak to trustworthy companions.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν εὔνουν, ὥστε πρὸς πιστὰς ἐρεῖς.

[¶78] Orestes:
Give up this urn, then, and you shall know everything.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μέθες τόδʼ ἄγγος νῦν, ὅπως τὸ πᾶν μάθῃς.

[¶79] Electra:
No, by the gods, do not do this to me, stranger!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μʼ ἐργάσῃ, ξένε.

[¶80] Orestes:
Do as I say, and you will never be mistaken.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πείθου λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήσει ποτέ.

[¶81] Electra:
No, I beg you, do not rip from me what I hold most dear!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
μή, πρὸς γενείου, μὴ ʼξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

[¶82] Orestes:
You must not keep it.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

[¶83] Electra:
Ah, what misery I will have because of you,
Orestes, if I am robbed of your burial!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ σέθεν,
Ὀρέστα, τῆς σῆς εἰ στερήσομαι ταφῆς.

[¶84] Orestes:
Hush! No ill-omened words! You have no right to grieve.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

[¶85] Electra:
How is it not right for me to grieve for my dead brother?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πῶς τὸν θανόντʼ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ στένω;

[¶86] Orestes:
It is not proper for you to speak of him as you do.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὔ σοι προσήκει τήνδε προσφωνεῖν φάτιν.

[¶87] Electra:
Am I so without rights in the dead?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὕτως ἄτιμός εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότος;

[¶88] Orestes:
You are without rights in nothing; but this burial is not your concern.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ· τοῦτο δʼ οὐχὶ σόν.

[¶89] Electra:
Yes it is, if these are the remains of Orestes that I hold.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
εἴπερ γʼ Ὀρέστου σῶμα βαστάζω τόδε;

[¶90] Orestes:
They are not his, except inasmuch as fiction alone contrives to make them so. He gently takes the urn from her.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γʼ ἠσκημένον.

[¶91] Electra:
And where is that sufferer’s tomb?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ποῦ δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφος;

[¶92] Orestes:
There is none; the living have no tomb.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐκ ἔστι· τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐκ ἔστιν τάφος.

[¶93] Electra:
What are you saying, boy?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;
Ὀρέστης:
ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω.

[¶94] Orestes:
Nothing that is untrue.
Electra:
The man is alive?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἦ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνήρ;
Ὀρέστης:
εἴπερ ἔμψυχός γʼ ἐγώ.

[¶95] Orestes:
If there is life in me.
Electra:
What? Are you he?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἦ γὰρ σὺ κεῖνος;

[¶96] Orestes:
Look at this signet, once our father’s, and know if I speak the truth.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τήνδε προσβλέψασά μου
σφραγῖδα πατρὸς ἔκμαθʼ εἰ σαφῆ λέγω.

[¶97] Electra:
O blissful day!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλτατον φῶς.

[¶98] Orestes:
Blissful, I am your witness!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φίλτατον, συμμαρτυρῶ.

[¶99] Electra:
Is this your voice?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φθέγμʼ, ἀφίκου;

[¶100] Orestes:
Hear it from no other.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μηκέτʼ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ,

[¶101] Electra:
Do I hold you in my arms?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἔχω σε χερσίν;

[¶102] Orestes:
May you hold me so always hereafter!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὡς τὰ λοίπʼ ἔχοις ἀεί.

[¶103] Electra:
Ah, dear friends and fellow-citizens, see Orestes here, who was dead by design, and now by design has come safely home!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ὦ πολίτιδες,
ὁρᾶτʼ Ὀρέστην τόνδε, μηχαναῖσι μὲν
θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖς σεσωσμένον.

[¶104] Chorus:
We see him, daughter, and for this happy turn of fortune a tear of joy trickles from our eyes.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁρῶμεν, ὦ παῖ, κἀπὶ συμφοραῖσί μοι
γεγηθὸς ἕρπει δάκρυον ὀμμάτων ἄπο.

[¶105] Electra:
O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come,
you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἰὼ γοναί,
γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,
ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως,
ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε.

[¶106] Orestes:
I am with you; but keep silence and wait.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

[¶107] Electra:
What do you mean?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δʼ ἔστιν;

[¶108] Orestes:
It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

[¶109] Electra:
No, by ever-virgin Artemis,
I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν,
τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι,
περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον
γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.

[¶110] Orestes:
Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης
ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

[¶111] Electra:
oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled,
cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ,
ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,
οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον
οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.

[¶112] Orestes:
I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔξοιδα, παῖ, ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουσία
φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆσθαι χρεών.

[¶113] Electra:
Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion
for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὁ πᾶς ἐμοί,
ὁ πᾶς ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν
τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνος·
μόλις γὰρ ἔσχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον στόμα.

[¶114] Orestes:
Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ξύμφημι κἀγώ· τοιγαροῦν σῴζου τόδε.

[¶115] Electra:
What must I do?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δρῶσα;

[¶116] Orestes:
When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὗ μή ʼστι καιρὸς μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

[¶117] Electra:
No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τίς οὖν ἂν ἀξίαν γε σοῦ πεφηνότος
μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε σιγὰν λόγων;
ἐπεί σε νῦν ἀφράστως
ἀέλπτως τʼ ἐσεῖδον.

[¶118] Orestes:
You saw me when the gods moved me to come. …

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τότʼ εἶδες, εὖτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν
…

[¶119] Electra:
You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house;
I acknowledge in it the work of the divine.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἔφρασας ὑπερτέραν
τᾶς πάρος ἔτι χάριτος, εἴ σε θεὸς ἐπόρισεν
ἁμέτερα πρὸς μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον
αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ.

[¶120] Orestes:
On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τὰ μέν σʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουσαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ
δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.

[¶121] Electra:
O you who, after such a long time, saw fit to make your most happy journey and appear to me,
do not, now that you have seen me in all my misery—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἰὼ χρόνῳ μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν
ἐπαξιώσας ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,
μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν

[¶122] Orestes:
What should I not do?—

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί μὴ ποήσω;

[¶123] Electra:
—Do not rob me of the comfort of your face; do not force me to forego it!
Orestes:
I would be angry, indeed, if I saw another attempt it.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
μή μʼ ἀποστερήσῃς
τῶν σῶν προσώπων ἁδονὰν μεθέσθαι.

[¶124] Electra:
You give your consent?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοισι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

[¶125] Orestes:
Why would I not?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ξυναινεῖς;

[¶126] Electra:
My friends, I heard a voice that I could never have hoped to hear; nor could I have restrained my emotion in silence and without a cry, when I heard it.
ah, me! But now I have you. You have appeared with that dear face, which I could never, even in misery, forget.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί μὴν οὔ;
Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλαι, ἔκλυον ἃν ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἤλπισʼ αὐδάν,
οὐδʼ ἂν ἔσχον ὁρμὰν
ἄναυδον οὐδὲ σὺν βοᾷ κλύουσα,
τάλαινα. νῦν δʼ ἔχω σε· προυφάνης δὲ
φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόσοψιν,
ἇς ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν κακοῖς λαθοίμαν.

[¶127] Orestes:
Spare all superfluous words, and inform me neither of our mother’s wickedness,
nor how Aegisthus drains the wealth of our father’s house—what part he pours on the ground and what he squanders at random. For the story would preclude you from the opportunity afforded by the moment. Instead tell me that which will suit our present circumstances: where, either openly or in ambush,
we may put an end to our enemies’ laughter by means of my coming. Make sure that our mother does not discover you by your radiant face, when we two have gone into the house. Rather, make lament, as if for the feigned disaster. For when we succeed, then
there will be opportunity to rejoice and exult in freedom.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τὰ μὲν περισσεύοντα τῶν λόγων ἄφες,
καὶ μήτε μήτηρ ὡς κακὴ δίδασκέ με,
μήθʼ ὡς πατρῴαν κτῆσιν Αἴγισθος δόμων
ἀντλεῖ, τὰ δʼ ἐκχεῖ, τὰ δὲ διασπείρει μάτην·
χρόνου γὰρ ἄν σοι καιρὸν ἐξείργοι λόγος.
ἃ δʼ ἁρμόσει μοι τῷ παρόντι νῦν χρόνῳ
σήμαινʼ, ὅπου φανέντες ἢ κεκρυμμένοι
γελῶντας ἐχθροὺς παύσομεν τῇ νῦν ὁδῷ.
οὕτω δʼ ὅπως μήτηρ σε μὴ ʼπιγνώσεται
φαιδρῷ προσώπῳ νῷν ἐπελθόντοιν δόμους·
ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐπʼ ἄτῃ τῇ μάτην λελεγμένῃ
στέναζʼ· ὅταν γὰρ εὐτυχήσωμεν, τότε
χαίρειν παρέσται καὶ γελᾶν ἐλευθέρως.

[¶128] Electra:
Brother, be assured that my conduct will be as pleases you, since all my joy derives from you, and is not my own. Nor would I consent
to win a great good for myself at the cost of the slightest pain to you. For in doing so I would not honorably support the divine power that attends us now. But you know how matters stand here. I do not doubt it. You must have heard that Aegisthus is away from home, but that our mother is inside. And never fear that she
will ever see my face lit up with smiles. My old hatred of her has been welded to my heart, and since I have seen you, for very joy I will never cease to weep. How indeed could I stop when I have seen you come home on this one day first as dead,
and then in life? What you have done to me is inconceivable—so much so that, if my father were to return to me alive, I would no longer think it a portent, but would believe that I truly saw him. Therefore now that you have come to me by such a path, command me as your spirit bids you. For had I been alone,
I would not have failed in one of two things: a noble salvation, or a noble destruction.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ ὦ κασίγνηθʼ, ὧδʼ ὅπως καὶ σοὶ φίλον
καὶ τοὐμὸν ἔσται τῇδʼ· ἐπεὶ τὰς ἡδονὰς
πρὸς σοῦ λαβοῦσα κοὐκ ἐμὰς ἐκτησάμην,
κοὐδʼ ἄν σε λυπήσασα δεξαίμην βραχὺ
αὐτὴ μέγʼ εὑρεῖν κέρδος· οὐ γὰρ ἂν καλῶς
ὑπηρετοίην τῷ παρόντι δαίμονι.
ἀλλʼ οἶσθα μὲν τἀνθένδε, πῶς γὰρ οὔ; κλύων
ὁθούνεκʼ Αἴγισθος μὲν οὐ κατὰ στέγας,
μήτηρ δʼ ἐν οἴκοις· ἣν σὺ μὴ δείσῃς ποθʼ ὡς
γέλωτι τοὐμὸν φαιδρὸν ὄψεται κάρα.
μῖσός τε γὰρ παλαιὸν ἐντέτηκέ μοι,
κἀπεί σʼ ἐσεῖδον, οὔ ποτʼ ἐκλήξω χαρᾷ
δακρυρροοῦσα· πῶς γὰρ ἂν λήξαιμʼ ἐγώ,
ἥτις μιᾷ σε τῇδʼ ὁδῷ θανόντα τε
καὶ ζῶντʼ ἐσεῖδον; εἴργασαι δέ μʼ ἄσκοπα·
ὥστʼ εἰ πατήρ μοι ζῶν ἵκοιτο, μηκέτʼ ἂν
τέρας νομίζειν αὐτό, πιστεύειν δʼ ὁρᾶν.
ὅτʼ οὖν τοιαύτην ἡμὶν ἐξήκεις ὁδόν,
ἄρχʼ αὐτὸς ὥς σοι θυμός· ὡς ἐγὼ μόνη
οὐκ ἂν δυοῖν ἥμαρτον· ἢ γὰρ ἂν καλῶς
ἔσωσʼ ἐμαυτὴν ἢ καλῶς ἀπωλόμην.

[¶129] Orestes:
Silence! I hear someone walking inside as if to come out.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σιγᾶν ἐπῄνεσʼ ὡς ἐπʼ ἐξόδῳ κλύω τῶν ἔνδοθεν χωροῦντος.

[¶130] Electra: To Orestes and Pylades.
Go in, strangers, especially since you bring a thing which no one
could either turn away from these doors, or rejoice at receiving.
Enter the Paedagogus.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
εἴσιτʼ, ὦ ξένοι,
ἄλλως τε καὶ φέροντες οἷʼ ἂν οὔτε τις
δόμων ἀπώσαιτʼ οὔτʼ ἂν ἡσθείη λαβών.

[¶131] Paedagogus:
Utterly foolish and senseless children! Are you weary of your lives, or is there no wit inborn in you, that you do not see how you stand not on the brink, but in the very midst
of immense danger? Had I not long kept watch at these doors, your doings would have been in the house before your bodies. But as it was, I put myself the task of averting that.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
ὦ πλεῖστα μῶροι καὶ φρενῶν τητώμενοι,
πότερα παρʼ οὐδὲν τοῦ βίου κήδεσθʼ ἔτι
ἢ νοῦς ἔνεστιν οὔτις ὑμὶν ἐγγενής,
ὅτʼ οὐ παρʼ αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐν αὐτοῖσιν κακοῖς
τοῖσιν μεγίστοις ὄντες οὐ γιγνώσκετε;
ἀλλʼ εἰ σταθμοῖσι τοῖσδε μὴ ʼκύρουν ἐγὼ
πάλαι φυλάσσων, ἦν ἂν ὑμὶν ἐν δόμοις
τὰ δρώμενʼ ὑμῶν πρόσθεν ἢ τὰ σώματα·
νῦν δʼ εὐλάβειαν τῶνδε προυθέμην ἐγώ.

[¶132] Be done now with your long speeches and this insatiable shouting for joy, and go inside. In dealings of this sort delay is harmful, but the time is ripe for being done.

> Greek: καὶ νῦν ἀπαλλαχθέντε τῶν μακρῶν λόγων
καὶ τῆς ἀπλήστου τῆσδε σὺν χαρᾷ βοῆς
εἴσω παρέλθεθʼ, ὡς τὸ μὲν μέλλειν κακὸν
ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ἔστʼ, ἀπηλλάχθαι δʼ ἀκμή.

[¶133] Orestes:
Then how will things inside stand when I enter?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πῶς οὖν ἔχει τἀντεῦθεν εἰσιόντι μοι;

[¶134] Paedagogus:
All is well. The fact is that no one will know you.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
καλῶς· ὑπάρχει γάρ σε μὴ γνῶναί τινα.

[¶135] Orestes:
You have reported me as dead, I presume?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἤγγειλας, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὡς τεθνηκότα.

[¶136] Paedagogus:
Know that here you are a man numbered with the shades.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
εἷς τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου μάνθανʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὢν ἀνήρ.

[¶137] Orestes:
Do they rejoice, then, at the news? Or what do they say?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
χαίρουσιν οὖν τούτοισιν; ἢ τίνες λόγοι;

[¶138] Paedagogus:
I will tell when all is completed. Meanwhile,
all is favorable for us on their part, even that which is not favorable.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
τελουμένων εἴποιμʼ ἄν· ὡς δὲ νῦν ἔχει,
καλῶς τὰ κείνων πάντα, καὶ τὰ μὴ καλῶς.

[¶139] Electra:
Who is this, brother? By the gods, tell me.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τίς οὗτός ἐστʼ, ἀδελφέ; πρὸς θεῶν φράσον.

[¶140] Orestes:
Do you not know who he is?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐχὶ ξυνίης;

[¶141] Electra:
No, nor can I imagine.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐδέ γʼ ἐς θυμὸν φέρω.

[¶142] Orestes:
Do you not know the man to whose hands you gave me once?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτῳ μʼ ἔδωκας εἰς χέρας ποτέ;

[¶143] Electra:
What man? What do you mean?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ποίῳ; τί φωνεῖς;

[¶144] Orestes:
I mean him, by whose hands and through your forethought
I was secretly conveyed away to Phocian soil.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὗ τὸ Φωκέων πέδον
ὑπεξεπέμφθην σῇ προμηθίᾳ χεροῖν.

[¶145] Electra:
Is this he in whom alone out of many I once found a true ally at the time of our father’s murder?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἦ κεῖνος οὗτος, ὅν ποτʼ ἐκ πολλῶν ἐγὼ
μόνον προσηῦρον πιστὸν ἐν πατρὸς φόνῳ;

[¶146] Orestes:
This is he; question me no further.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὅδʼ ἐστί· μή μʼ ἔλεγχε πλείοσιν λόγοις.

[¶147] Electra:
O joyous day! O sole preserver of Agamemnon’s house,
how did you come here? Are you indeed the man who saved my brother and myself from many sorrows? O dearest hands, O messenger whose feet were kindly servants! How could you be with me so long and remain unknown, without giving a ray of illumination,
but instead afflicting me with stories, while possessed of sweetest reality? Welcome, Father, for it is a father that I seem to behold! Welcome, and know that in one day I have hated you and loved you as no man ever before!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλτατον φῶς, ὦ μόνος σωτὴρ δόμων
Ἀγαμέμνονος, πῶς ἦλθες; ἦ σὺ κεῖνος εἶ,
ὃς τόνδε κἄμʼ ἔσωσας ἐκ πολλῶν πόνων;
ὦ φίλταται μὲν χεῖρες, ἥδιστον δʼ ἔχων
ποδῶν ὑπηρέτημα, πῶς οὕτω πάλαι
ξυνών μʼ ἔληθες οὐδʼ ἔφαινες, ἀλλά με
λόγοις ἀπώλλυς, ἔργʼ ἔχων ἥδιστʼ ἐμοί;
χαῖρʼ, ὦ πάτερ· πατέρα γὰρ εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ·
χαῖρʼ· ἴσθι δʼ ὡς μάλιστά σʼ ἀνθρώπων ἐγὼ
ἤχθηρα κἀφίλησʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

[¶148] Paedagogus:
That is enough, I think. As for the recounting of intervening events,
many are the circling nights and an equal number of days which will reveal them to you clearly, Electra.
To Orestes and Pylades.

> Greek: Παιδαγωγός:
ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ μοι· τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους
πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται νύκτες ἡμέραι τʼ ἴσαι,
αἳ ταῦτά σοι δείξουσιν, Ἠλέκτρα, σαφῆ.

[¶149] And this is my advice to you two, since you stand there: now is your opportunity to act, now Clytaemnestra is alone, now no man is inside. But if you pause,
consider that you will have to fight both those inside and others mightier and better skilled.

> Greek: σφῷν δʼ ἐννέπω γε τοῖν παρεστώτοιν ὅτι
νῦν καιρὸς ἔρδειν· νῦν Κλυταιμνήστρα μόνη,
νῦν οὔτις ἀνδρῶν ἔνδον· εἰ δʼ ἐφέξετον,
φροντίζεθʼ ὡς τούτοις τε καὶ σοφωτέροις
ἄλλοισι τούτων πλείοσιν μαχούμενοι.

[¶150] Orestes:
Pylades, in no way does our task call any longer for many words, but rather demands that we enter the house immediately, after first adoring the shrines of my father’s
gods, the keepers of these gates. Orestes and Pylades enter the house, followed by the Paedagogus. Electra remains outside.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐκ ἂν μακρῶν ἔθʼ ἡμὶν οὐδὲν ἂν λόγων,
Πυλάδη, τόδʼ εἴη τοὔργον, ἀλλʼ ὅσον τάχος
χωρεῖν ἔσω, πατρῷα προσκύσανθʼ ἕδη
θεῶν, ὅσοιπερ πρόπυλα ναίουσιν τάδε.

[¶151] Electra:
King Apollo! Hear them with favor, and hear me besides, who so often have come before your altar with hands rich in such gifts as I could obtain! And now, O Lycean Apollo, with what means I have
I pray to you, I supplicate you, I implore you, be our ready champion in these designs, and show what rewards the gods bestow on humans in return for their impiety! Exit Electra, into the house.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεως αὐτοῖν κλύε
ἐμοῦ τε πρὸς τούτοισιν, ἥ σε πολλὰ δὴ
ἀφʼ ὧν ἔχοιμι λιπαρεῖ προύστην χερί.
νῦν δʼ, ὦ Λύκειʼ Ἄπολλον, ἐξ οἵων ἔχω
αἰτῶ, προπίτνω, λίσσομαι, γενοῦ πρόφρων
ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸς τῶνδε τῶν βουλευμάτων,
καὶ δεῖξον ἀνθρώποισι τἀπιτίμια
τῆς δυσσεβείας οἷα δωροῦνται θεοί.

[¶152] Chorus:
Behold how Ares stalks onward,
breathing bloody vengeance that is hard to oppose. Just now have the hunters of wicked crimes passed beneath that roof there, the hounds which none may flee. And so not long shall
the vision of my soul hang in suspense.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴδεθʼ ὅποι προνέμεται
τὸ δυσέριστον αἷμα φυσῶν Ἄρης.
βεβᾶσιν ἄρτι δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι
μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων ἄφυκτοι κύνες,
ὥστʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτʼ ἀμμενεῖ
τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον.

[¶153] Chorus:
The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered on guileful feet into the house, the rich, ancestral palace of his father, and he bears keen-edged death in his hands.
Maia’s son Hermes, who has shrouded the guile in darkness, leads him right to his goal and delays no longer.
Enter Electra from the house.

> Greek: Χορός:
παράγεται γὰρ ἐνέρων
δολιόπους ἀρωγὸς εἴσω στέγας,
ἀρχαιόπλουτα πατρὸς εἰς ἑδώλια,
νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων· ὁ Μαίας δὲ παῖς
Ἑρμῆς σφʼ ἄγει δόλον σκότῳ
κρύψας πρὸς αὐτὸ τέρμα κοὐκέτʼ ἀμμένει.

[¶154] Electra:
My dearest friends, in a moment the men will do the deed. But wait in silence.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἅνδρες αὐτίκα
τελοῦσι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε.
Χορός:
πῶς δή; τί νῦν πράσσουσιν;

[¶155] Chorus:
How do they fare? What are they doing now?
Electra:
She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἡ μὲν ἐς τάφον
λέβητα κοσμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέστατον πέλας.

[¶156] Chorus:
And why have you hurried out?

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ᾖξας πρὸς τί;

[¶157] Electra:
To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.
Clytaemnestra: Within.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
φρουρήσουσʼ ὅπως
Αἴγισθος ἡμᾶς μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔσω.

[¶158] Oh! Oh! Our house
is empty of friends and filled with murderers!

> Greek: Κλυταιμνήστρα:
αἰαῖ. ἰὼ στέγαι
φίλων ἔρημοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

[¶159] Electra:
Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
βοᾷ τις ἔνδον· οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

[¶160] Chorus:
I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!
Clytaemnestra: Within.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἤκουσʼ ἀνήκουστα δύστανος, ὥστε φρῖξαι.

[¶161] Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?

> Greek: Κλυταιμνήστρα:
οἴμοι τάλαινʼ· Αἴγισθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖς;

[¶162] Electra:
Look, once more someone cries out!
Clytaemnestra: Within.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

[¶163] My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
Electra:
Why? You had none for him, nor for the father that begot him.

> Greek: Κλυταιμνήστρα:
ὦ τέκνον τέκνον, οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦσαν.
Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ σέθεν
ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτος οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.

[¶164] Chorus:
Wretched city, wretched race, now the fate that has held you day by day perishes—it perishes!
Clytaemnestra: Within.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ πόλις, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν σοι
μοῖρα καθαμερία φθίνει φθίνει.

[¶165] Oh, I am wounded!
Electra:
Stab her doubly, if you can!
Clytaemnestra: Within.

> Greek: Κλυταιμνήστρα:
ὤμοι πέπληγμαι.

[¶166] Ah, wounded again!
Electra:
Would that Aegisthus, too, were wounded!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
παῖσον, εἰ σθένεις, διπλῆν.
Κλυταιμνήστρα:
ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις.

[¶167] Chorus:
The curses bring fulfillment: those who are buried live.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίσθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.
Χορός:
τελοῦσʼ ἀραί· ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ κείμενοι.

[¶168] For men long dead are draining their killers’ blood in a stream of requital.
Enter Orestes and Pylades from the house.

> Greek: παλίρρυτον γὰρ αἷμʼ ὑπεξαιροῦσι τῶν
κτανόντων οἱ πάλαι θανόντες.

[¶169] Chorus:
And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν πάρεισιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ
στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος, οὐδʼ ἔχω ψέγειν.

[¶170] Electra:
Orestes, what happened?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
Ὀρέστα, πῶς κυρεῖτε;

[¶171] Orestes:
All is well within the house,
if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τἀν δόμοισι μὲν
καλῶς, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶς ἐθέσπισεν.

[¶172] Electra:
The miserable woman is dead?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;

[¶173] Orestes:
Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ
μητρῷον ὥς σε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάσει ποτέ.

[¶174] Chorus:
Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.

> Greek: Χορός:
παύσασθε· λεύσσω γὰρ Αἴγισθον ἐκ προδήλου.

[¶175] Electra:
You, young men, get back inside!
Orestes:
Where do you see the man?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ παῖδες, οὐκ ἄψορρον;

[¶176] Electra:
He is at our mercy walking from the suburb, full of joy.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εἰσορᾶτε ποῦ τὸν ἄνδρʼ;
Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐκ προαστίου
χωρεῖ γεγηθὼς …

[¶177] Chorus:
Go with all speed to the vestibule, so that, just as your first task prospered, so this one again may prosper now.
Orestes:
Have courage. We will accomplish it.

> Greek: Χορός:
βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅσον τάχιστα,
νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡς πάλιν.

[¶178] Electra:
Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
θάρσει· τελοῦμεν.

[¶179] Orestes:
See, I am gone.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.

[¶180] Electra:
Things here will be my concern. Exeunt Orestes and Pylades, into the house.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ δὴ βέβηκα.
Ἠλέκτρα:
τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.

[¶181] Chorus:
It would be well to whisper into this man’s ear some few words of seeming gentleness,
so that he may rush blindly upon his trial before Justice.
Enter Aegisthus.

> Greek: Χορός:
διʼ ὠτὸς ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡς ἠπίως ἐννέπειν
πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε συμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡς
ὀρούσῃ πρὸς δίκας ἀγῶνα.

[¶182] Aegisthus:
Which of you can tell me where those Phocian strangers are, who are said to have brought report for us that Orestes passed away amidst the shipwrecked chariots?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
τίς οἶδεν ὑμῶν ποῦ ποθʼ οἱ Φωκῆς ξένοι,
οὕς φασʼ Ὀρέστην ἡμὶν ἀγγεῖλαι βίον
λελοιπόθʼ ἱππικοῖσιν ἐν ναυαγίοις;

[¶183] You, you I ask, yes, you, who were in former days so bold. It seems to me that this concerns you most, so you must know best, and can best tell me.

> Greek: σέ τοι, σὲ κρίνω, ναὶ σέ, τὴν ἐν τῷ πάρος
χρόνῳ θρασεῖαν· ὡς μάλιστα σοὶ μέλειν
οἶμαι, μάλιστα δʼ ἂν κατειδυῖαν φράσαι.

[¶184] Electra:
I do know. How could I not? Otherwise I would be an alien to the fortune of my nearest kinsmen.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἔξοιδα· πῶς γὰρ οὐχί; συμφορᾶς γὰρ ἂν
ἔξωθεν εἴην τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης.

[¶185] Aegisthus:
Where, then, may the strangers be? Tell me.

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ποῦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἶεν οἱ ξένοι; δίδασκέ με.

[¶186] Electra:
Inside. They have found a way to the heart of their hostess.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἔνδον· φίλης γὰρ προξένου κατήνυσαν.

[¶187] Aegisthus:
Have they in fact reported him truly dead?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ἦ καὶ θανόντʼ ἤγγειλαν ὡς ἐτητύμως;

[¶188] Electra:
No, not reported only. They have shown him.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν, οὐ λόγῳ μόνον.

[¶189] Aegisthus:
Then I can identify the corpse myself?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
πάρεστʼ ἄρʼ ἡμῖν ὥστε κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν;

[¶190] Electra:
You can, indeed, though it is no enviable sight.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πάρεστι δῆτα, καὶ μάλʼ ἄζηλος θέα.

[¶191] Aegisthus:
You have indeed given me a joyful greeting, beyond your custom.

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ἦ πολλὰ χαίρειν μʼ εἶπας οὐκ εἰωθότως.

[¶192] Electra:
May joy be yours, if joy is what you find in these things.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
χαίροις ἄν, εἴ σοι χαρτὰ τυγχάνοι τάδε.

[¶193] Aegisthus:
Silence, I say, and throw wide the gates for all Mycenaeans and Argives to see,
so that, if any one of them were once buoyed by empty hopes in this man, now by seeing his corpse, he may welcome my bit in his mouth, instead of waiting until my punishment makes him grow wits by force!

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
σιγᾶν ἄνωγα κἀναδεικνύναι πύλας
πᾶσιν Μυκηναίοισιν Ἀργείοις θʼ ὁρᾶν,
ὡς εἴ τις αὐτῶν ἐλπίσιν κεναῖς πάρος
ἐξῄρετʼ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, νῦν ὁρῶν νεκρὸν
στόμια δέχηται τἀμὰ μηδὲ πρὸς βίαν
ἐμοῦ κολαστοῦ προστυχὼν φύσῃ φρένας.

[¶194] Electra:
All will be done on my part. Time
has given me the sense to comply with the stronger.
A shrouded corpse is disclosed. Orestes and Pylades stand near it.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὶ δὴ τελεῖται τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ· τῷ γὰρ χρόνῳ
νοῦν ἔσχον, ὥστε συμφέρειν τοῖς κρείσσοσιν.

[¶195] Aegisthus:
O Zeus, I see an image which could not have fallen without divine spite—but, if Nemesis attend what I say, let it be unsaid! To Orestes. Undo the coverings from his eyes, so that our kinship, at least, may receive due mourning from me also.

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ὦ Ζεῦ, δέδορκα φάσμʼ ἄνευ φθόνου μὲν οὐ
πεπτωκός· εἰ δʼ ἔπεστι νέμεσις, οὐ λέγω.
χαλᾶτε πᾶν κάλυμμʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅπως
τὸ συγγενές τοι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

[¶196] Orestes:
Lift the veil yourself. It is not for me, but for you to look upon these remains and greet them kindly.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
αὐτὸς σὺ βάσταζʼ· οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ σόν,
τὸ ταῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προσηγορεῖν φίλως.

[¶197] Aegisthus:
You advise well, and I will obey you. To Electra. But you, call Clytaemnestra for me, if she is at home.

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ἀλλʼ εὖ παραινεῖς κἀπιπείσομαι· σὺ δέ,
εἴ που κατʼ οἶκόν μοι Κλυταιμνήστρα, κάλει.

[¶198] Orestes:
She is near you; do not look elsewhere.
Aegisthus: Aegisthus removes the cloth from the face of the corpse.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
αὕτη πέλας σοῦ· μηκέτʼ ἄλλοσε σκόπει.

[¶199] O, what sight is this!
Orestes:
Why so scared? Is the face so strange?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
οἴμοι, τί λεύσσω;

[¶200] Aegisthus:
Who are the men into whose nets I have miserably fallen?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τίνα φοβεῖ; τίνʼ ἀγνοεῖς;
Αἴγισθος:
τίνων ποτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέσοις ἀρκυστάτοις πέπτωχʼ ὁ τλήμων;

[¶201] Orestes:
Do you not perceive how you have long been addressing the living in terms suited to the dead?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐ γὰρ αἰσθάνει πάλαι
ζῶντας θανοῦσιν οὕνεκʼ ἀνταυδᾷς ἴσα;

[¶202] Aegisthus:
Ah, I read the riddle! It cannot be that
this is not Orestes who speaks to me!
Orestes:
And, though so good a prophet, were you deceived so long?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔπος· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως
ὅδʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστης ἔσθʼ ὁ προσφωνῶν ἐμέ.

[¶203] Aegisthus:
Oh, I am destroyed, undone! Yet allow me to speak just a little.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ μάντις ὢν ἄριστος ἐσφάλλου πάλαι.
Αἴγισθος:
ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιος. ἀλλά μοι πάρες
κἂν σμικρὸν εἰπεῖν.

[¶204] Electra:
By the gods, brother, do not allow him to speak any more or to plead at length!
When mortals are embroiled in misfortunes, how can one who is to die benefit from lapse of time? No, kill him as quickly as you can, and throw his corpse to the creatures from whom his kind should have burial, throw it far from our sight! For in my eyes this
alone can bring us release from the misery of the past.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα
πρὸς θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγους.
τί γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων
θνῄσκειν ὁ μέλλων οὐ χρόνου κέρδος φέροι;
ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα κτεῖνε καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες
ταφεῦσιν, ὧν τόνδʼ εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν,
ἄποπτον ἡμῶν· ὡς ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἂν κακῶν
μόνον γένοιτο τῶν πάλαι λυτήριον.

[¶205] Orestes:
To Aegisthus. Go in, and quickly. Words are not at stake here, but your life.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω σὺν τάχει· λόγων γὰρ οὐ
νῦν ἐστιν ἁγών, ἀλλὰ σῆς ψυχῆς πέρι.

[¶206] Aegisthus:
Why take me into the house? If this deed is just, what need is there of darkness? Why is your hand not quick to strike?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
τί δʼ ἐς δόμους ἄγεις με; πῶς, τόδʼ εἰ καλὸν
τοὔργον, σκότου δεῖ κοὐ πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν;

[¶207] Orestes:
Do not give orders, but go to where you struck down my father, so that in that very place you may die.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μὴ τάσσε· χώρει δʼ ἔνθαπερ κατέκτανες
πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν, ὡς ἂν ἐν ταὐτῷ θάνῃς.

[¶208] Aegisthus:
Is this dwelling doomed to see all the sufferings of us descendants of Pelops, both now and in time to come?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ἦ πᾶσʼ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν στέγην ἰδεῖν
τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα Πελοπιδῶν κακά;

[¶209] Orestes:
Yours, at least. I am for you a consummate prophet in these matters.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τὰ γοῦν σʼ· ἐγώ σοι μάντις εἰμὶ τῶνδʼ ἄκρος.

[¶210] Aegisthus:
The skill you boast about did not belong to your father.

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ἀλλʼ οὐ πατρῴαν τὴν τέχνην ἐκόμπασας.

[¶211] Orestes:
You bandy words, and our going is delayed. Move forward!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πόλλʼ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἡ δʼ ὁδὸς βραδύνεται.
ἀλλʼ ἕρφʼ.

[¶212] Aegisthus:
You lead.

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ὑφηγοῦ.

[¶213] Orestes:
You must go first.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σοὶ βαδιστέον πάρος.

[¶214] Aegisthus:
Lest I escape you?

> Greek: Αἴγισθος:
ἦ μὴ φύγω σε;

[¶215] Orestes:
No, lest you die in a manner which pleases you. I must be sure that your death is bitter for you.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μὴ μὲν οὖν καθʼ ἡδονὴν
θάνῃς· φυλάξαι δεῖ με τοῦτό σοι πικρόν.

[¶216] This just penalty ought to come straightaway upon all who would break the laws: the penalty of death. Then wrongdoing would not abound.

> Greek: χρῆν δʼ εὐθὺς εἶναι τήνδε τοῖς πᾶσιν δίκην,
ὅστις πέρα πράσσειν τι τῶν νόμων θέλει,
κτείνειν· τὸ γὰρ πανοῦργον οὐκ ἂν ἦν πολύ.

[¶217] Chorus:
O seed of Atreus, through how many sufferings have you sprouted up at last in freedom,
fulfilled by this day’s enterprise!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ σπέρμʼ Ἀτρέως, ὡς πολλὰ παθὸν
διʼ ἐλευθερίας μόλις ἐξῆλθες
τῇ νῦν ὁρμῇ τελεωθέν.