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Date: 2019-12-17 02:36:20+00:00

OXFORD GREEK AND L ATIN COLLEGE COMMENTARIES

Sophocles’ Electra

OXFORD GREEK AND L ATIN COLLEGE COMMENTARIES

The Oxford Greek And Latin College Commentaries series is designed for students in intermediate or advanced Greek or Latin at colleges and universities. Each volume includes, on the same page, the ancient text, a running vocabulary, and succinct notes focusing on grammar and syntax, distinctive features of style, and essential context. The Greek and Latin texts are based on the most recent Oxford Classical Text (OCT) editions whenever available; otherwise, other authoritative editions are used.

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Bowdoin College

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Boston University

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Ovid, Ars Amatoria Book 3

Commentary by Christopher M. Brunelle

Selected Letters from Pliny the Younger’s Epistulae

Commentary by Jacqueline Carlon

Aristophanes’ Wasps

Commentary by Kenneth S. Rothwell, Jr.

Sophocles’ Electra

Commentary by Hanna M. Roisman

OXFORD GREEK AND L ATIN COLLEGE COMMENTARIES

Sophocles’ Electra

Commentary by

Hanna M. Roisman

1

1

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FOR

Yossi, Elad, Shalev, Helaina, and Diana Roisman

And my granddaughters Talia, Noa, Yael, and Esti Roisman
and

IN MEMORY OF

David P. Mankin

C O N T E N T S

Acknowledgments xi

INTRODUCTION 1

GUIDELINES FOR USING THE COMMENTARY 17

METER AND PROSODY 19

DEFINITIONS OF GRAMMATICAL, RHETORICAL, AND LITERARY FIGURES

USED IN THE COMMENTARY 23

MAIN ABBREVIATIONS 25

COMMENTARY ON SOPHOCLES’ ELECTRA 27

IRREGULAR (AND UNPREDICTABLE) PRINCIPAL PARTS 205

Appendix A: Metrical Analysis 211

Appendix B: Lexical Analysis 219

Glossary 225

Bibliography 243
ix

AC K N OW L E D G M E N T S

I wish to thank the many students in both Tel Aviv University and Colby College who studied Greek drama with me over the years. Their enthusiasm, original thinking, keen eye for the text, and questioning of accepted views made me repeatedly look at the play with fresh perspectives. I owe special thanks and gratitude to Stephen Esposito, editor of Oxford Greek and Latin Commentaries. His encouragement, patience, and insights were invaluable. My friend Cecilia Luschnig was always there for me and I owe much to her kind and unceasing support and learned comments. The patient staff at OUP that guided this book through production deserve my special thanks.

I dedicate the book to my beloved family that makes my life so worthwhile: Yossi, Elad, Helaina, Talia, Yael, Shalev, Diana, Noa, and Esti.

xi

I N T RO D U C T I O N

SOPHOCLES AND HIS PLAYS

Not much is known about Sophocles’ life. We know that he was born in 496/ 5 bce and died in 406/ 5, in the same year as Euripides.1 Sophocles showed promise as a child in both wrestling and music, and at age fifteen was selected to lead the chorus that sang the paean at the sacrifice after the Athenian victory at Salamis. He held several political offices in Athens. He served as State Treasurer in 443/ 2 bce, and was elected to be a general in the war between Athens and Samos in 441/ 0 bce. He was known for his genial personality, which may have helped him win the respect of his fellow citizens. In 411 bce he was one of the old men appointed to be one of the commissioners ( probouloi) who decided to put the government of Athens in the hands of the oligarchic Four Hundred. It has also been recorded that Sophocles was unusually pious. He established a shrine to Heracles Informer and was also said to have been the priest of an otherwise unknown hero, Halon, who shared a shrine with Asclepius. Several late sources say that he was worshiped as the hero Dexion. By later antiquity a monument outside of the city wall had been identified as Sophocles’ tomb, with an epitaph portraying the poet as “a most holy figure.”

Sophocles won his first victory in the yearly dramatic competitions for performances at the City Dionysia (or Great Dionysia) in 469/ 8 bce, when he was twenty- seven, defeating Aeschylus, his elder. In the course of his lifetime he is said to have written a total of 113 or 123 dramas. It is impossible now to know which of the two totals is correct, since some plays were known by more than one title, and thus may have been counted more than once.2 In either case Sophocles wrote more plays than any other poet, including Aeschylus, who is said to have written ninety or Euripides, who according to some sources wrote seventy- five, and others ninety- two.

Sophocles won some twenty- first prizes in his sixty- two years as a playwright, while Euripides seems to have won only five prizes. It is noteworthy that Sophocles did not 1. I have discussed this material (especially the sections “Theater and Performance” and “Dramatic Treatments of the Myth”) elsewhere and have incorporated some of these discussions here. See Roisman (2008), 3– 15, 95– 111 with the interpretative notes; Roisman and Luschnig (2011), 6– 11; Roisman (2017). For a summary of the myth in art see Lloyd (2005), 25– 27.

2. For titles of tragedy, see Kaimio (2014).

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win the first prize with the trilogy that included Oedipus Tyrannus, a tragedy that Aristotle in his Poetics (1452a33, 1455a18) regards as a model of plot construction.

From over one hundred plays that Sophocles composed, only seven have survived complete: Ajax, Electra, Oedipus Tyrannus, Antigone, Women of Trachis, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. Of these only two can be dated without doubt: Philoctetes, which won first prize in 409 bce, and Oedipus at Colonus, which was produced in 401 bce after Sophocles’ death by his grandson Sophocles II. All the surviving dramas feature intense characters remarkable for their fierce and inflexible determination, worthy of awe, respect, and also sympathy, but who remain isolated literally or figuratively from other people, seldom expressing remorse.3

THEATER AND PERFORMANCE

We learn from ancient sources that Electra, like most of the extant Greek tragedies, was performed at the City Dionysia of Athens, a religious festival held in late March in honor of Dionysus, god of wine and vegetation. This was the largest and most magnificent of Athens’

annual state- sponsored religious festivals. By the time the Electra was performed, the Dionysia had become a major Greek festival with an international audience.4

The tragic competition lasted three days of the five- day festival. On each of the three days a different playwright mounted three tragedies, followed by a satyr play. The three tragedies, or trilogy, could tell a single story based on sequential events in a particular myth, or different ones, as most probably did. Sophocles, unlike Aeschylus, opted for the latter. The satyr play was a raucous production, rife with obscenity, which provided relief from the emotional intensity of the tragedies.5

Like the rest of the festival, the tragedies were sponsored by the state and their production overseen by the archon eponymos, the chief official after whom the calendar year was called.

This official selected the year’s tragedians from among the contestants and assigned each the choregos (literally chorus leader, in effect financer and producer)6 who would mount his plays and, later in the century, the actors who would perform in them. From the mid- fifth century on, the state paid the lead actors and the tragedians. While the playwrights were not quite state employees, they were not independent of the state, either.

Being state sponsored, the plays had a strong didactic element. They familiarized the public with the myths that comprised their cultural heritage and engaged them in considering the myths’ meanings and implications. The involvement of the state seems to have ensured that the issues treated in the plays were of public interest, and probably defined the outer 3. Knox [1964] (1983), 28– 44. For a literary biography of Sophocles see Lefkowitz (2014) 4. On the Dionysia, see Csapo and Slater (1995), 103– 21, 287.

5. On the satyr plays, see Sutton (1980).

6. On the institution of the choregoi see Wilson (2000).

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INTRODuCTION
boundaries to the questioning and criticism found in many of the plays.7 It did not, however, have the stultifying effect one might expect.

The plays were produced before huge audiences of between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators.

The first few rows of the theater were occupied by the elite,8 but most of the audience consisted of the ordinary citizens of Athens— by definition adult males— though women and children were also permitted to attend the tragic performances.9 From the middle of the fifth century, tickets were subsidized for those who could not afford them.

The plays were part of the formal competitions that were held at the festival. They were judged by a panel formed through a combination of selection and lot.10 Although the judges were probably chosen from among the educated elite, they were often swayed, even intimidated, by the reactions of the audiences11— making it likely that the winning playwrights were appreciated by the ordinary folk as well as the upper tiers.

Classical Greek drama was thus also popular drama, in the best sense of the term: drama that was written not for the elite, but for the entire polis, and that moved the ordinary Athenians of the time, addressed their concerns, and was fairly congruous with their thinking and worldview.

The plays were performed in the open- air Theater of Dionysus, on the southeast slopes of the Acropolis. The performances began in the early morning and continued, with breaks, through the day. The performing area, located on a leveled space at the bottom of the hillside, consisted of a large orchestra,12 or dancing place, for the Chorus and a narrow, elevated plat-form that served as a stage for the actors and was connected to the orchestra by several steps in the center.

Behind the playing area stood a stage building, about twelve meters long and four meters high. It was termed a skēnē, after its origin as a tent or hut. When Electra was produced, it was probably still a temporary wooden structure that could be dismantled after the festival.

Most of the action took place in the outdoor space in front of the skēnē, with offstage actions occurring inside the structure, which also served as a changing room and storage space. The skēnē represented whatever edifice the play referred to (e.g., palace, temple, cottage, tent, cave). It had a doorway in the middle and possibly two smaller doors, one at each side, for the actors to pass between the outdoor and indoor spaces. On either side of the orchestra, 7. See Griffin (1999a) on the impact of the historical events and democratic ideology of fifth- century Athens on the tragic drama.

8. See also Csapo and Slater (1995), 289– 90.

9. On women in the audience, see Csapo and Slater 1995), 286– 87, 290– 93; Taplin (1978), 193– 94.

10. Pickard- Cambridge (1988), 96– 98. For the problematics of the lottery and the decision procedure, see Csapo and Slater (1995), 158– 60.

11. Pickard- Cambridge (1988), 97– 98.

12. Wiles (1997), 44– 52 maintains the orchestra was circular; others that it was rectangular or trapezoidal.

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running up to the stage building, were two broad aisles, referred to as eisodoi or parodoi, which served as entrances for the Chorus and characters arriving from the outside.

The seating area was large enough to seat all the 15,000 to 20,000 spectators. Stage fur-niture was minimal. According to Aristotle ( Poetics 1449a16), Sophocles introduced scene painting ( skēnographia), done on cloth or wooden panels. Since most of the audience sat too far away to see the details, we can assume that the painting depicted little more than the type of location (e.g., urban, rural, seashore) and the type of edifice the stage building represented.

Greek tragedies can be described as verse musicals. The entire script was in verse of various types. Most was in iambic trimeter, conventionally the meter of speech, which served as the basis for the spoken dialogues and monologues (see the following “Meter and Prosody”). The rest consisted of recitative (declamatory chanting) and of song in a variety of lyric meters (see Lyric Meters), accompanied by double- reed flutes and dancing. Every Greek tragedy featured a chorus, initially of twelve members, later fifteen, who danced and sang, whether alone or in dialogues (termed kommoi) with the other characters.

The structure of Greek tragedy is fairly predictable.13 It typically begins with a prologos (prologue), which sets the scene and provides the background to the action. In Electra, it is the conversation between the Tutor and Orestes. The prologue comes to an end with the entrance of the Chorus, singing their entry song, or parodos, which provides additional background information and strikes the play’s key emotional chord.14 In Electra, this is pathos for the suffering heroine. The rest of the play consists of between three and five epeisodia (episodes, acts, or scenes), separated by stasima (sg. stasimon), antiphonal odes sung by the Chorus. In Electra, there are four epeisodia (lines 251– 471, 516– 822, 871– 1057, 1098– 1383), and three stasima (472– 515, 1058– 97, 1384– 97). The epeisodia consist mainly of spoken dialogue between characters or recitatives between a character and the Chorus, but also contain lyrical passages, lamentations, or incidental songs by the Chorus. The Choral antiphonal odes are composed in variety of lyrical meters and are sung. The action is brought to a height and the tensions resolved in the last episode, termed the exodos. The play generally ends with a brief choral song.15

The tragedians also tended to observe conventions of plot and character. Most of the plots were based on well- known myths. The main characters were larger- than- life mythical figures: usually great warriors or members of ruling houses. The plays were thus invested with a primal quality that is inherent in myth.

13. For the main features of Greek tragic performance see Dugdale (2014a).

14. For general overview of the Chorus and its function in Greek tragedy, see Ley (2014), Vol. I: 220– 204.

For discussion of the choral innovations Sophocles introduces in his Electra and compared to the role and function of his other choruses, see Esposito (1996), 96– 100.

15. For a detailed breakdown of the play’s parts, see Dugdale (2014b), Vol. III: 1278– 79; Sale (1973), 11– 24.

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INTRODuCTION

The Chorus consisted of characters from all walks of life; in Electra, they were well- born Argive women. Speaking with one voice, the Chorus provided information, commented on the action, and sometimes participated in the action as well. It generally expressed the norma-tive view— which may or may not have been the playwright’s. The action, as Aristotle would observe a century later, was usually compacted into a single day and restricted to a single place. These conventions meant that the dramatized action was generally the culmination of events before the play started, action that the playwright had to relate to the audience without boring them. Violence was generally not displayed on stage, but usually recounted by the Chorus or a messenger. In Electra, the revenge murder is overheard from inside the palace.

Classical Greek tragedy was formal, stylized, nonrealistic, and removed from the eve-ryday. Both the actors and Chorus wore masks that completely covered their heads in front and back, with openings only for the eyes and mouth. The tragic costume consisted of a tunic and two mantles, one long and one short, and was worn by nearly all the characters.

The masks and costumes identified the plays as tragedies, as opposed to comedies, and as dramas, as opposed to “real life.” Along with the minimalist scenery and props, the formal structure, and the mythic background, they announced that the events portrayed took place in another realm, beyond the mundane.

Early Greek tragedies were performed with two speaking actors and one or two non-speaking mutes. Aristotle credits Sophocles with adding a third speaking actor ( Poetics 1449a17). The lead actor was termed the protagonist, the second the deuteragonist, and the third the tritagonist. All the actors were male. Since the tragedies routinely had more characters than actors, actors played multiple roles. The masks were obviously an asset here.

THE MYTH

Sophocles’ Electra presents a chapter in the gruesome history of the House of Atreus: Orestes’

return to Argos, his reunion with his sister Electra, their plans to avenge Agamemnon’s murder, and the culminating act of matricide. While the dramatic events of the play stand alone, the Athenian audience would have been familiar with the mythical background of a story beginning when Agamemnon’s earliest ancestor, Tantalus, earned a punishment in Hades for his hubristic attempts to deceive the gods. Tantalus’ son Pelops carried out his own pair of treacheries. Needing to win a chariot race against King Oenomaus in order to marry the king’s daughter Hippodamia, Pelops bribed Myrtilus, Oenomaus’ charioteer, to remove a linchpin from a wheel of his master’s chariot, as a result of which Oenomaus was killed in the race. Then, instead of granting Myrtilus the promised reward of lying with Hippodamia, Pelops threw the charioteer into the sea. Before dying, Myrtilus cursed Pelops’ descendants. The sons of Pelops and Hippodamia, Thyestes and Atreus, eventually quarreled over the kingship of Argos. After Atreus became king, he discovered that his wife Aerope had betrayed him with his brother Thyestes. In a vile act of revenge, Atreus invited Thyestes to a supposedly reconciliatory feast 5

Sophocles’ Electra
that included the cooked pieces of Thyestes’ own two sons. When Thyestes realized what he had eaten, he called down his own curse on the House of Atreus. This curse was actualized in a succession of disasters. On his way to fight in the Trojan War, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to recompense the goddess Artemis for a wrong he had inadvertently committed. Then upon his return from Troy ten years later, Agamemnon himself was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus.

While Sophocles’ Electra focuses on this final manifestation of the curse, the family background informs the play. Not only would the audience have been familiar with the general outlines of the story, but Sophocles also reminds them by specific references. In the very first speech, the Tutor refers to the palace of Pelops’ sons (10); the grieving Electra invokes the spirit of Niobe, Pelops’ sister, whose own hubris caused the death of her fourteen children (150); immediately after the matricide, the Chorus state, “the curses are doing their work!

Those who lie underground are alive” (1418– 19); the Chorus end the play by addressing the children of Atreus. However, like the other ancient tragedians, Sophocles provided his audience only with the specific mythical information necessary for understanding the dramatized events. Like them, he was highly selective about the details he chose to include. He does not, for example, explicitly mention Pelops’ treacheries, the fact that Agamemnon and Aegisthus are first cousins, the cannibalistic feast or its cause, or any of the reasons that Aegisthus might have for hating Agamemnon.

Although there has always been speculation about which details of the myth the audience might have known, the general outlines would have been familiar. The story had a long history. The earliest and fullest extant account of the section of the myth covered in the play, the revenge killing, is found in Homer’s Odyssey, where the gods were discussing the murder of Aegisthus by Orestes. The discussion involved the dilemma facing Telemachus, who was being eaten out of house and home by his mother’s suitors on the assumption that Odysseus was never going to return. Orestes’ actions could serve as an example for Telemachus, who must take some kind of action against the men courting his mother. In the Odyssey Aegisthus is drawn as a villain, a seducer, and a murderer who killed Agamemnon in a cowardly ambush ( Odyssey 3.193– 98, 256– 61, 4.524– 37).

One of the most problematic issues in the various treatments of Agamemnon’s murder concerns Clytemnestra’s character and culpability. In the Odyssey, her character is not developed. The surviving fragments of the sixth- century Oresteia by the first great lyric poet of the West, Stesichorus of Himera in Sicily (640– 555 bce) describe Clytemnestra’s anxious dream anticipating the revenge ( PMG 219), indicating her guilt- driven fear of retribution.16

The dream is also included in the treatments of the myth by Aeschylus ( Cho. 32– 41, 523– 53) and Sophocles ( El. 417– 30). By the fifth century, Clytemnestra’s character has been further blackened by the suggestions that this husband slayer would not even flinch from killing her 16. Davies and Finglass (2014), frg.180: 488– 91, 503– 7; Swift (2015), 127.

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own son. In two vase paintings of the era she brandishes an ax in the direction of Orestes, who has just killed Aegisthus (see also Prag 1985).17 Pindar (ca. 522– ca. 443), a Theban poet who wrote Choral lyric poetry, describes Clytemnestra as a ruthless and treacherous woman from whom Orestes had to be rescued after she killed his father ( Pythian 11.17– 21).

Although Orestes is consistently portrayed as a dutiful son in the case of his father, his role as a matricide is variously treated. In the Odyssey, he is cast as a heroic son avenging his father’s murder, thus serving as a positive role model for Telemachus. Details of his mother’s death are left vague, and moral questions that might undermine Orestes’ heroic stature avoided. Alongside the gradually intensifying focus on Clytemnestra’s guilt, the matricide motif becomes more prominent in later works. The fragmentary pseudo- Hesiodic Catalogue of Women (sixth century bce) is the first known source to state clearly that Orestes killed not only his father’s murderer (Aegisthus) but also his “man- slaying mother” (from 23 [a] M– W, 27– 30). In a lost epic that recounts the heroes’ return from Troy titled Nostoi, and Pindar ( Pythian 11.36– 37), he kills both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.

The act of matricide was deemed such an abominable crime that it could not be justified even in the case of a depraved murderess with the potential to kill her own son. Therefore, a further exculpatory device was introduced: Apollo. As Jebb ([1894] 2004: xiii) explains, the god of light and all- seeing arbiter of purity had the power to measure homicidal guilt and to cleanse killers of the pollution caused by the shedding of kindred blood. All three tragedians present Apollo’s oracle authorizing the vengeance and giving instructions for carrying it out.

Apollo seems to have entered the story in the Nostoi, a lost epic that recounts the heroes’ return from Troy in which Pylades of Phocis helps Orestes kill his father’s murderers. In a poem by Stesichorus of Himera ( PMG 217), Apollo gives Orestes a bow to fend off the Erinyes, or Furies, the primitive powers that punished the murderer of kin.18

Finally, Electra herself is a relative latecomer to the myth. In the Iliad (9.145, 287) Agamemnon is said to have three daughters, but Electra is not named among them.

Proclus’ fifth- century ce summary of the Cypria (of ca. late seventh century bce) a post-Homeric epic, names four daughters: Chrysothemis, Laodice, Iphigenia, and Iphianassa.

Aelian reports the first known reference to Electra in the now- lost Oresteia by Xanthus (seventh century bce), who claimed she was the daughter Homer calls Laodice, nicknamed ‘Electra’ because she remained so long ‘un- married,’ a- lektros in Greek. The pseudo- Hesiodic Catalogue of Women identifies Electra as the daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, and Orestes as their son. It is also very likely that Stesichorus’ Oresteia, P. Oxy. 2506 ( PMG

217) mentioned Electra’s recognition of Orestes by the lock of hair left on his father’s grave, thereby placing Electra firmly in the story of the revenge and suggesting she played a role in it.

17. A red- figure pelikē by the Berlin Painter, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 3725, and a red- figure stamnos by the Copenhagen Painter, once Berlin F2184, now lost.

18. Davies and Finglass (2014), frg. 181a.14– 24: 488– 91, 509: Swift (2015), 127– 32.

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However, none of these sources indicate much about Electra’s character, her role in avenging her father’s murder, or her culpability.

DRAMATIC TREATMENTS OF THE MYTH

We have extant treatments by all three of the great Athenian tragedians of the revenge murders of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers, the second part of his Oresteia, dated to 458 bce, describes the revenge, as do the Electra plays of both Sophocles and Euripides. Scholars still debate the order of Sophocles’ and Euripides’ plays because of their many similarities and echoes. Sophocles’ version is tentatively placed between 418 and 410, while that of Euripides might be between 422 and 417 or 415 and 413. In any case, the view maintained here is that both Sophocles and Euripides were reacting to Aeschylus’ treatment, and that Sophocles’ play preceded Euripides’.19

In Aeschylus, Orestes, the hero of both Libation Bearers and Eumenides, is alone responsible, while Electra plays a subordinate and limited role. Both Sophocles and Euripides shift the focus from Orestes to Electra, who is the protagonist, remaining on stage throughout most of the action. Sophocles’ Electra enters at line 86 and, with the exception of one brief exit (lines 1383– 98), stays on stage until the end of the play. The Sophoclean and Euripidean heroines are more complex characters than the younger, more innocent girl presented by Aeschylus. They both suffer from the loss of their father, hate his murderers, and eagerly await Orestes’ return to wreak vengeance on them, then actively instigate the matricide after his arrival. Sophocles depicts an Electra absorbed by grief and emphasizes her deprivations and servitude in the home of the royal couple. Euripides’ Electra resents her forced marriage to a poor peasant farmer and the loss of amenities due her royal status. Despite these differences, both playwrights show women whose bitterness, anger, and intransigence detract from the unadulterated sympathy the Aeschylean Electra could claim.

The playwrights also differ in their treatment of the central tension inherent in the myth: the collision of two strongly held moral injunctions: that sons must avenge wrongs to their fathers and that killing a parent is prohibited in all circumstances. A revenge beginning and ending with the killing of Aegisthus would have been unproblematic but also of little dramatic interest. In the moral code of the day, Orestes would have been entirely justified in killing the man who had stolen his father’s wife, usurped his father’s throne, murdered his father, and robbed him of his patrimony, while Electra’s support would have been equally proper. They would have been remiss had they behaved differently. Matricide, however, is an instinctively heinous act, which violates the most basic of human obligations.

19. For discussion see Roisman and Luschnig (2011), 28– 32 with bibliography; Finglass (2005); Finglass (2007), 1– 3; Roisman (2017); see also Conacher (1967), 202n9.

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Therefore, in doing right by their father, Orestes and Electra had to commit an act that no society sanctions.

Aeschylus deals with this dilemma by portraying Clytemnestra as ruthless and justifying Orestes’ killing of her.20 While revenge as a solution to a wrong was accepted in Athens in the first half of the fifth century when Aeschylus was writing, this view gradually lost its attractive-ness in the wake of the protracted Peloponnesian War (431– 404 bce) and the ensuing political strife.21 The rampant retaliations provoked fear and threatened civic order. Against this background, neither Euripides’ nor Sophocles’ play justifies the matricide. Euripides’ Electra condemns the matricide; Sophocles’ position is more ambiguous. While his Chorus repeatedly warn Electra of the disastrous consequences of her wallowing in grief and of opposing the royal couple, they also consistently remind the audience of the misdeeds of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus and endorse the vengeance. Neither Orestes nor Electra doubts the morality of their actions. Furthermore, both Orestes and Electra have qualities of character— Orestes’ cold rationality and practicality, Electra’s self- destructive hatred and grief— that raise questions about the rightness of their deeds.22

SETTING

In the following section I examine the significance of the setting of the play, that is, I ask what is the possible interrelationships between the fixed settings: the city (the macro level) and the palace (the micro level), and the texts, as the play progresses from scene to scene, with changes in content, theme, and mood. The settings would necessarily have had an affect on the audience both when the characters were addressing the audience and when they were engaged in dialogue with one another. Indeed, the visual presentation must have contributed to the audience’s interpretation of the performance as a whole.

The City

Sophocles chose the city of Argos as the setting for his play, with the skēnē representing the palace of the rulers. By choosing the city, Sophocles avails himself of the conventional perception of the urban environment. The city was perceived to be positive in its offerings of education, culture, government, law, and civic engagement, but negative in its sophistry, immorality, political conniving, and betrayal. In setting his play in the city of Argos in front of the royal palace, Sophocles follows the Libation Bearers of Aeschylus, whose Oresteia is believed 20. For further discussion see Roisman (2008), 13.

21. Burnett (1998), xvi, 225– 26.

22. For an overview of the play see Dugdale (2014b).

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to have been revived a few years earlier.23 This setting allows him to tap into both the political and the personal- familial dimensions of the myth of the House of Atreus.

The city location is particularly fitting for the political slant that Sophocles gives his rendition of the myth. Sophocles frames the revenge as much as an ideological and political act as a personal one.24 Agamemnon’s murder is presented as the source of a multitude of ills: the pollution that emanates from the murder of a king, cousin, and husband; the usurpation of the throne by his murderers; the sexual corruption of their adulterous affair; and the deprivations of the children: Orestes’ exile and loss of his home and throne and Electra’s pauperization, servitude, and exclusion. Each of these ills calls for rectification, which cannot be accomplished so long as Clytemnestra and Aegisthus are on the throne. All but the last, the deprivations of Agamemnon’s children, are ills that damage the polity.

Because of the public ramifications of Agamemnon’s murder, the revenge in this play is not only a private act to restore the avengers’ personal honor and rights, but also a political act required to cleanse and restore order to the polity. Electra is characterized not only in personal terms as a lonely and frustrated woman, living under the thumb of her father’s murderers and prevented by them from marrying (164– 65, 187– 88, 961– 66). She is also, in political terms, a courageous idealist and revolutionary, determined to see justice done for her murdered father and to bring down a corrupt and illegitimate regime.25 Sophocles endows his Electra with a 23. The assumption of the revival is based mainly on a reference from Aristophanes’ Acharnians, produced in 425, in which Dicaeopolis describes how he had breathlessly anticipated a new performance of Aeschylus (Aristoph. Ach. 9– 10), and a reference from the Clouds, first performed in 423 (though our version is a revi-sion from 418/ 17), where Strepsiades, an Athenian man of the older generation, asks his son, Pheidippides, to recite for him something from the works of Aeschylus (Aristoph. Cl. 1365). Cf. Vita Aeschyli 12.

24. There is some debate as to the political dimensions of Sophocles’ Electra. Knox (1982) contends that despite the fact that Sophocles’ Electra opens with “the most precise location of the action in a city landscape to be found in extant Greek tragedy” (p. 7), and Euripides’ play is set in a remote country farm, Sophocles’

Electra is the least political of the three extant Electra plays and Euripides’ Electra the most. According to Knox, Sophocles “concentrates our attention almost exclusively on the violent hatreds and internecine violence of a doomed and cursed family” (p. 8). The word polis is rarely mentioned, he points out, and the word freedom, he contends, usually refers to the characters’ personal freedom rather than freedom from political tyranny. Griffin (1999a), 78– 79 points out that Sophocles’ Electra “mourns Agamemnon not as a political figure, a rightful king assassinated and replaced by a usurper, but as her father, pitifully dead.” In contrast, Whitman (1951), 157, holds that “[o] f the three dramatists, Sophocles makes the most definite use of the political implications of the murder of Agamemnon.” Blundell (1989), 154– 55, points out that “[t]he language of rule and subjection suggest a political sphere extending beyond the household.” Easterling (1987), 20, observes that “Aegisthus . . . is characterized as a cruel tyrant” and, more recently, MacLeod (2001), passim emphasizes the connection of the plot to the polis. Finglass (2005), attempting a middle road, suggests that

“. . . occasional glimpses into the world of the polis cannot be ignored by interpreters of the play” and that “[s]

uch hints of a broader reality behind the play’s main action lend the events of the drama added significance”

(p. 205). In my view, a play can be “political” without explicitly referring to the polis, and there is no reason to read the play in an either/ or manner. Sophocles also combines the personal and political in Philoctetes; see Roisman (2005), passim, and Antigone.

25. The fact that her immediate focus is personal does not disqualify this view of her, as Aegisthus’ wish to get rid of her if she does not stop her laments indicates.

10

INTRODuCTION
high moral tone, as he has her emphasize the moral imperative of remembering the dead and giving them their due, rail against the affront to public decency in the royal couple’s behavior, and excoriate her sister’s accommodation to power in exchange for a comfortable life.

Two of the play’s key themes are political in nature. One, explored in the scenes between Electra and Chrysothemis, is the question of how to behave in the face of immoral but superior political power. Chrysothemis counsels safe acquiescence, Electra reckless defiance. The play shows neither course to be entirely satisfactory. Chrysothemis is depicted as the kinder, more flexible, and more realistic sister, but Electra’s heroic response is acknowledged as the morally right one.

Electra’s high- minded pursuit of vengeance is repeatedly described as just by the Chorus (473– 77, 1386– 88, 1422– 23, 1440– 1441), but she herself is depicted as rigid, fanatic, unrealistic, and life denying (e.g., 121– 26, 137– 79, 215– 20, 231– 32, 387– 89, 399, 954– 57, 1165– 70).

The other related theme is the inevitable corruption of ideals as they are pursued in the real world. Sophocles suggests that to attain their idealistic goals, the avengers must act as political beings, with all the moral shortcomings of politicians. Orestes carries out the vengeance by using dolos (cunning, guile, stealth, trickery). The means he chooses, disseminating a false report of his death, is lying, which fifth- century Athenian audiences, no less than we, would have recognized as the staple of the politician (59– 66).26 He shows the politician’s thick skin as he justifies the means with the morally compromising generalization that “no speech that brings profit is bad” (61) and the politician’s opportunism as he instructs the Tutor to go into the palace to gather intelligence “when the opportunity arises” (39).27

Electra also acts like a politician. As she laments Agamemnon’s death in public, her repeated, detailed descriptions of her father’s murder and of the royal couple’s mistreatment of her become public protests of the conduct of the ruling powers and reinforce the public perception of the illegitimacy of their rule. Her speech aimed at persuading Chrysothemis to join her in avenging their father’s murder (954– 89) demonstrates her own readiness to use misleading words to attain her ends. She pretends warmth and candor she does not really have, plays on the emotional bonds and mutual obligations that family members are supposed to feel for one another by referring to herself as Chrysothemis’ sister (956, cf. 461), and keeps the horror of her intended matricide from Chrysothemis by implying that the sole target of their revenge will be their father’s murderer ( ton autocheira, 955)— that is, Aegisthus.28

26. Cf. Roisman (2005), 42– 45, 57– 71, 89– 105 for Odysseus’ rhetoric to convince Neoptolemus to use trickery in order to bring Philoctetes to Troy.

27. The translations of Sophocles’ Electra are based on Roisman (2008) 2017.

28. Scholars have used three ways to explain Electra’s not mentioning her mother as a target of her revenge: as an unconscious act, which serves to keep her true intentions not only from Chrysothemis but also from herself; as one of the many means Sophocles uses to suppress all mention of matricide in the play; and as an indication that Clytemnestra is not part of Electra’s plan. For bibliography, see Macleod (2001), 141
n.7, who subscribes to the last view, as does March (2001) on 955– 57. However, already in 582– 83 and 604, Electra hints that her mother should be killed.

11

Sophocles’ Electra

The vengeance is drawn as a horrific act, in which the avengers lose much of their humanity.

In the choral ode preceding the vengeance (1384– 97) the avengers are described as “inescapable hounds/ hunting down evil” (1387– 88) and are identified with the Furies.29 When her mother cries that she has been stabbed, Electra brutally cheers Orestes on to “[s] trike her a second time, if you have the strength” (1415). The cool calculation with which she gets Orestes out of the way when Aegisthus approaches (1430, 1435), the deftness with which she sweet- talks Aegisthus into believing that she has turned over a new leaf, her gratuitous rejection of his request to be allowed to say some last words, and her urging to decline him proper burial (1487– 88), all combine to appall and horrify. So does Orestes’ conduct. His tricking Aegisthus into lifting the cover from Clytemnestra’s corpse is positively grisly. His candid determination to make sure that Aegisthus’ death will be bitter (1504) marks him as no less cruel and tyrannical than Aegisthus himself. Orestes’ cavalier assertion that a painful death is the proper punishment for lawbreakers and the way to ensure there will be fewer criminals (1505– 7) is the statement of a callow youth without clemency to match his power.

Sophocles’ point is not that Orestes and Electra are to be condemned for their real- politik or that the revenge is wrong. Orestes acted as he had to under the circumstances. Young and robbed of his home and wealth, he is the weaker party in an uneven battle with powerful adver-saries. Moving against them openly would be suicide. Failing to act quickly and to seize the opportunity would be risking detection. Electra, for her part, is a victim of her own heroic fantasies and desires. Sophocles’ point is that however right the ideal, however just the cause, its realization is inevitably tainted. This is what makes the revenge so terrible even as it is both essential and just.

The Royal Palace

There are only two verbal indications that Sophocles’ Electra is set in the city: at the beginning, directly, when the Tutor tells Orestes where they are (1– 14) and later on indirectly, when Electra tells the Chorus that Aegisthus is not at home, but in the country (313). In contrast, the royal residence, variously designated,30 is frequently referred to, thereby increasing the salience of its visual presence for the audience. The visual presence of the “house” functions, first and foremost, to support the point in the play that, as horrific as it is, the revenge, which will bring an end to the royal couple’s unjust rule, is morally essential and cannot rightly be neglected.

It does so in two ways. The first is by keeping firmly in the audience’s mind the crimes that must be punished. If, as is believed, Aeschylus’ Oresteia had been revived some years earlier, many of the spectators had probably seen it. They would have seen Clytemnestra standing in 29. Winnington- Ingram (1980), 228; cf. Sale (1973), 6.

30. E.g., by δῶμα, στέγη, θύραι, θυράιος, θυρῶν, ἀντιθύρων, οἶκος.

12

INTRODuCTION
front of the palace and luring her husband to his death. They would have seen Agamemnon walk into the palace on crimson tapestries, heard his cries as he was being murdered, seen his corpse (along with Cassandra’s) brought outside, and seen and heard Clytemnestra and Aegisthus justifying and vaunting their deed as they stood nearby. Even if nothing were said about the house in Sophocles’ play, its representation on the stage would have recalled the treachery of Agamemnon’s murder and the murderers’ lack of repentance.

The second way the palace setting underscores the morality of the revenge is through the jarring visual contrast, maintained throughout the play, between the royal palace and Electra’s appearance as a distraught and mourning woman, emaciated and poorly dressed (189– 92, 360– 361, 448– 52, 1181– 99). This visual contrast underlines both Electra’s own sense of isolation and the tremendous wrong of her marginalization and exclusion by the royal couple, who have reduced her to a servant in her father’s home. The sight of the palace, with its connotations of luxury and status, constantly reminds the audience that Electra, the king’s daughter, has been wrongly deprived of her rightful place in the house and her station in the polity as the price for her principled decision to remember her father’s wrongful death.

By virtue of the associations it triggers and the contrasts it highlights, the representation of the palace on the stage supports the claims in the play that Agamemnon’s murderers cannot be allowed to remain in power and that the deprivations of his children must not go unrectified. However, Sophocles does more than rely on the mere presence of the house on stage to provide subliminal support for the revenge. He foregrounds the house in the audience’s consciousness by the Tutor’s and Orestes’ frequent mention of it as a house “plagued by disasters,” or in need of restoration and purification. Such references make the house an important image, highlighting the violent history and pollution of the dynasty and endowing the physical stage house (which also represents the family) with the aura of violence and impurity.

The complexity of Sophocles’ message in the play makes it vital that the audience constantly bear in mind the crimes that must be punished. Euripides’ play explicitly condemns the matricide as morally wrong. Its message is quite clear. Sophocles’ play, on the other hand, shows how revenge corrupts and dehumanizes its perpetrators, but no one in Sophocles’

play ever says that it is morally wrong. The message of the play is that the revenge must be carried out despite the enormous damage it causes those who must commit it. This is a far more sophisticated message, and therefore more difficult to grasp. It is all too easy to see the perpetrators’ corruption and dehumanization as a condemnation of the revenge, with this interpretation occasionally being presented.31 Keeping Aegisthus’ and Clytemnestra’s crimes constantly in the eyes and minds of the spectators helps to avoid this oversimplification.

31. E.g., Sheppard (1927), 2– 9; Kells (1973), 6– 12.

13

Sophocles’ Electra

The presence of the representation of the royal palace also serves to emphasize the contrast between inside and outside that is first made, then reimagined in the play. Early on the Tutor describes the house as “plagued by disasters” (10). Then, Orestes states that he will have to go into the house to purify it (69– 70), and asks to be its restorer (72). These two statements are followed by Electra’s highlighting that the murder was committed inside the house, where Aegisthus now sits on her father’s chair, pours libations at his hearth, and sleeps with her mother in Agamemnon’s bed (268– 74). All of these references combine to identify the inside of the house as the place of evil. The outside, where the good Tutor delivers his prologue and Electra stands lamenting her father’s death and telling of the ruling couple’s crimes, is identified as the “good” or “moral” place from where their punishment will come.

This contrast between “inside” and “outside” the house is more or less maintained up until the end of the fourth episode; the sight of the house, laden with associations, reinforces it. In the reunion scene, the house is not mentioned during the recognition itself (1220– 87), so as not to spoil the joy that bursts forth when brother and sister finally recognize each other. After the recognition, the house’s presence in front of the audience’s eyes lends validity to Orestes’

and the Tutor’s cautions, and helps to bring home the deadly consequences that Electra’s ec-static and overly loud expressions of joy could have. However, with Orestes’ reminder that they will soon be going into the palace to carry out the revenge and with the Tutor’s emer-gence from the palace, where Orestes had sent him to spy out the situation (39– 43), the distance between inside and outside is reduced, as is the spatial and visual distinction between evil and good that had largely prevailed till this point in the play.

In the dramatization of the vengeance in the fifth episode, the distance between the evil of the inside and goodness of the outside is eliminated. Even though the stage- building-palace continues to stand as a visible reminder of the crimes that must be punished, it is now foregrounded in a way that blurs the distinction between inside and outside. The foregrounding occurs through the interplay of words that the audience hears and actions that they see. Orestes and Pylades go into the house to kill Clytemnestra. Then, for the first time in the play, Electra goes into the house (1383) with neither explanation nor evident reason.

After she goes in, the Chorus inform the audience that “they’ve just gone into the house, /
these inescapable hounds / hunting down evil” (1386– 88). Fifteen lines later Electra rushes out again, telling the Chorus that she did so to make sure that Aegisthus does not surprise them with his return (1398– 403). Those who entered the house are now tainted by its evil, and in turn taint the outside into which they emerge with the matricide committed within.

Thus in the depiction of the matricide, inside and outside intermingle. As Clytemnestra is being murdered in the palace, Electra stands outside, describing the action. Clytemnestra’s cries are heard outside, where they are duly noted by Electra and the Chorus (1406– 10).

From outside the house, Electra shouts into it to reject her mother’s plea for pity (1411–

12) and to encourage Orestes to strike their mother a second time (1415). After killing his mother, Orestes emerges from the house with his bloodied sword (1422) and coldly declares 14

INTRODuCTION
that “all is well in the house, if Apollo prophesized well” (1424– 25), before going back inside to wait for Aegisthus. By the end of the play, the evil inside/ good outside dichotomy has been eradicated. The outside and those who enter the house from it can no longer be identified with the good. Likewise, the royal palace ceases to be identified solely with the evils that were committed within its walls. The purpose of this eradication of distinctions, however, is not to create a moral equivalence between Agamemnon’s murderers and those who avenge his murder. The point is that the two worlds cannot be kept apart. When the justice and ideals of the world outside are brought into the world represented by the house, they inevitably partake of its corruption.

15

GUIDELINES FOR USING THE COMMENTARY

1. The commentary is based on Sophoclis Fabulae, edited by H. Lloyd- Jones and N.G.

Wilson, Oxford Classical Texts (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990).

The commentary also refers to the following commentaries in English: Campbell, L. 1881

Sophocles. Vol. II. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Jebb, R.C. 1894

Sophocles. Electra. Part VI. Cambridge: Cambridge

(repr. 2004)

University Press; repr. London: Bristol Classical Press

Kells, J.H. 1973

Sophocles: Electra. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press

Kamerbeek, J.C. 1974

The Plays of Sophocles, Part V: The Electra. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill

March, J. 2001

Sophocles: Electra. Warminster, UK: Aris and Phillips

Finglass, P.J. 2007

Sophocles. Electra. Cambridge and

New York: Cambridge University Press

2. The commentary offers grammatical and syntactical explanations as well as translations. For enabling further study, references to relevant grammar and syntax books are included (see “Main Abbreviations”).

3. The commentary offers a running vocabulary in the Notes and in the Glossary at the end of the Commentary, according to the following guidelines:

Words are given as much as possible in their dictionary form to replicate the use of dictionaries. Usually next to the lemma of a verb in its lexical form, the text’s form is also given in parenthesis to help the student. When a verb should be known, but the form in the text might be difficult to identify, I have put this form as a lemma, and in parentheses the verb in its lexical form.

Words that appear only twice in the play are listed both times in the Commentary, unless the occurrences are fewer than fifty lines apart. These words are not listed in the Glossary.

Words that appear more than twice are marked by a + sign. These are mentioned usually only once in the Notes, but are included in the Glossary . The student is expected to memorize these words.

Words in the Glossary are given the range of meanings appearing in the play.

Students are expected to learn these upon each word’s first occurrence and 17

Sophocles’ Electra
subsequently to choose the meaning that best fits the context. The words in the glossary, especially their verbal forms, might be mentioned again in the commentary if they seem to need further comment, but their meanings are not usually repeated.

See the list in “Main Abbreviations” for further instructions.

4. All irregular verbs are marked by * sign. Their forms are to be found in the “Irregular (and Unpredictable) Principal Parts” list.

5. Translations are usually marked by single quotation marks, while double quotation marks represent the translation, or direct comment, of the preceded or following cited work.

Grammatical and syntactical pointers appear alongside the translations, which use de-notative and connotative meanings of the words. It is important for students to notice that translations do not always match the lexical notes. This distinction should help them understand the concept that literal translations are not always possible or should be preferred.

Sometimes the preferable meaning of the Greek word is underlined.

6. Resolutions are noted in the spoken parts only (see “Meter and Prosody”).

7. After line 100, crasis is not pointed out unless of special importance or difficulty. After about line 300, there are no longer page- references to the definitions of grammatical, rhetorical, literary figures, or metrical features. After about line 750, common syntactical features like genitive partitive or possessive are no longer noted. The last 400 lines have fewer references to syntactical sources and to literary devices if the phenomena have been frequently referenced before.

8. Line numbers for the notes are inserted for facilitating readability and do not necessarily relflect the syntax. Notes relate to the Greek text on top of the page. If any overflow is necessary, it will appear BENEATH the Greek text on the following page, e.g., p. 64.

18

M E T E R A N D P RO S O DY

Classical drama is written in verse. The dialogue parts are spoken, mostly in iambs. The choral odes and some other parts (e.g., kommoi) are sung (see Appendix A: “Metrical Analysis”).

SCANNING GREEK IAMBS

Greek meters are described as the alterations of long and short syllables in regular patterns. The iambic metron is the closest to the rhythm of ordinary conversation (Aristotle, Poetics 1449a19; Demetrius, On Style 43). A syllable is long if it contains a long vowel or diphthong, or a short vowel followed by two or more consonants or a double consonant (ψ, ξ, ζ). The two consonants need not be in the same word. A mute (labial π, β, φ; guttural κ, γ, χ; dental τ, ζ, θ) followed by a liquid (λ or ρ), may not cause the preceding vowel to count as long. A syllable is short when its vowel is short (and is followed by only one consonant or be mute plus liquid). A vowel or diphthong at the end of a word, followed by a word beginning with a vowel, usually counts as short.

Iamb ⏑ – (short/ long)

In dramatic verse iambs appear in groups of two, that is to say, in dipodic units. The most common line of dialogue consists of six iambs or three such groups:

⏑ – ⏑ – | ⏑ – ⏑ – | ⏑ – ⏑ –

The following substitutions are permitted:

Spondee

– – (two longs) may substitute the first iamb of each
unit, that is, the first, third, and fifth iamb

Tribrach

⏑ ⏑ ⏑ (three shorts) may be used for the first five iambs

Anapest

⏑ ⏑ – (short long short) may be used anywhere a spondee
can occur, i.e., instead of the first iamb of each unit, that
is, the first, third, and fifth iamb

19

Sophocles’ Electra

Dactyl

– ⏑ ⏑ (long, short short) may be used anywhere a spondee can
occur, i.e., in the first iamb of each unit, that is, the first, third, and fifth iamb

A final short in any line is counted as long ( syllaba anceps X).

RESOLUTION

Resolution is the substitution of two shorts for either a long or a short in the iambic trimeter.

The most common place for resolution is in position six, otherwise termed as third longum (Devine and Stephens [1980], 66– 67).

The choral odes and lyric dialogues between a character and the Chorus ( kommoi) are composed in lyric meters (for the analysis of which see Appendix A: “Metrical Analysis”).

Electra’s monody heard from the palace (86– 120) is in chanted anapests.

Examples ( Electra, lines 1– 3)

Ὦ τοῦ στρατηγήσαντος ἐν Τροίᾳ ποτὲ

– – ⏑ – |– – ⏑ – | – – ⏑ Χ

Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ, νῦν ἐκεῖν᾿ ἔξεστι σοι

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ | – – ⏑ – | – – ⏑ Χ resolution in first position παρόντι λεὺσσειν, ὧν πρόθυμος ἦσθ᾿ ἀεί.

⏑ – ⏑ – | – – ⏑ – |⏑ – ⏑ Χ

CHORAL SONGS

In tragedy lyric meters, that is to say, meters that are sung rather than chanted or recited, are organized according to strophic structure.1 This is a structure of pairs of stanzas, strophē
and antistrophē, that have different words but the same metrical structure line by line (resolutions are often allowed). The metrical structure of each strophē/ antistrophē unit is 1. For an excellent overview of meter in tragedy, see Battezatto (2014).

20

MEtER AnD PRoSoDy
unique. occasionally, after the last antistrophē in a song there follows a stanza with no metrical responsion; it is called an epode. An epode ends the song.

In its lyrics Electra uses a variety of meters, of which the more recurrent are the following: 1. of Aeolic meters one finds the following: the glyconic ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ; pherecratean ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑

⏑ – – ; tellesileus ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ; reizianum ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – – ; aristophanean – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – – ; lecythion

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ; anacreontic ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ; ithyphallic – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅. The Aeolic meters are analyzed not into feet but into cola of various kinds. A colon is a metrical sequence of not more than twelve syllables with a recognizable recurring pattern. A line of poetry can consist of one colon, or two or three cola may be strung together. In Aeolic meter there is no resolution (i.e., — into ⏑ ⏑) or contraction (i.e., ⏑ ⏑ into – , and the number of syllables in a given c olon is always the same

2. one also finds dochmiacs in various configurations. Because of the various resolutions the dochmiac metron can be represented as ⏑̅ ⏑⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑̅ ⏑⏑

3. of dactylic meters one finds dactylic tetrameter (– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑) and dimeter (– ⏑ ⏑

– ⏑ ⏑). Dactylic sequences in this play are often combined with Aeolic or other meter.

4. one also finds the chroriamb – ⏑ ⏑ – ; the iamb ⏑ – ; the cretic – ⏑ – ; and the bacchiac

⏑ – – in various configurations with the previously mentioned meters.

21

D E F I N I T I O N S O F G R A M M AT I C A L ,

R H E TO R I C A L , A N D L I T E R A RY F I G U R E S

U S E D I N T H E C O M M E N TA RY

alliteration the repetition of consonant and vowel sounds in successive words or stressed syllables.

anaphora the repetition of word, group of words, phrase, or cognate words at the beginning of successive verses, phrases, or lines (S #3010).

anastrophe a shift back of an accent to the penult when preposition follows its noun or pronoun (S #175).

aphaeresis the elision of ε at the beginning of a word after a word ending in a long vowel or diphthong (S #76).

apocope in poetry a short vowel is sometimes cut off before a consonant.

apokoinu (ἀπὸ κοινοῦ) (‘in common’) a word common to two clauses or two syntactical structures, carrying two syntactical functions.

asyndeton absence of conjunction in a series of related and grammatically coordinated words or phrases (S #3016).

chiasmus a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form (S #3020).

correption the shortening of a long vowel before another vowel.

crasis blending of syllables, contraction of vowels or diphthong at the end of a word with a vowel or diphthong at the beginning of the next word. It is marked with — ‘— , termed “coronis.”

enallage the substitution of one grammatical form in place of another; e.g., plural for singular (S #3023).

enjambment the carrying over of a word or phrase to the next line; the breaking of a syntactical unit between two verses.

epanaphora, epanalepsis see anaphora.

figura etymologica the use of two or more words from the same root in close proximity; e.g., πρᾶγμα πράσσειν, πάθεα παθεῖν.

hendiadys (one through two) one idea expressed by through two coordinate words, usually nouns connected by ‘and’: e.g., ‘dangerous and divisive,’ i.e., ‘dangerously divisive’ (S #3025).

hiatus a break between two vowel sounds in adjoining syllables (S #46).

23

Sophocles’ Electra
hypallage an interchange in relationship among words in a phrase from a more fitting to a less appropriate one. When a word, instead of agreeing with a noun that it logically qualifies, grammatically agrees with another noun.

hyperbaton the separation of words that naturally belong together; used for emphasis (S

#3028).

metonymy the substitution of one word for another that is closely associated with it (S

#3033).

pluralis maiestatis majestic plural, the royal ‘we.’ The use of plural to refer to a single person.

polyptoton the repetition of words derived from the same root but with different endings in close proximity; a rhetorical device that can be used to reinforce the concept inherent in the repeated words.

pregnant construction two actions condensed into one; the one stated implies more than it says. A form of brachyology.

prolepsis the representation or assumption of a future act or situation as if existing in anticipation/ before it actually happens.

resolution the substitution of two shorts for a long or short element in the iambic trimeter (see “Meter and Prosody”).

synecdoche the use of part for whole, whole for part (S #3047).

synizesis two vowels, or a vowel and a diphthong in successive syllables uniting to form a single syllable when pronounced but not in writing (S #60, 61).

tmesis the separation of preposition from its verb (S #1650).

zeugma a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to two or more words while appropriate to only one of them or making a different sense with each (S #3048).

24

M A I N A B B R E V I AT I O N S

GMT W.W. Goodwin, Syntax of the Moods and Tenses of the Greek Verb GP

J.D. Denniston, The Greek Particles (2nd ed. rev. K.J. Dover) LSJ

Liddell, Scott, Jones, A Greek- English Lexicon, 9th ed. with rev. supplement S

H.W. Smyth, Greek Grammar, revised by G. M. Messing

SS

A.C. Moorhouse, The Syntax of Sophocles

SYMBOLS USED IN THE NOTES

+
words marked by a raised plus sign should be learned as they come up in the text. Their meaning won’t be repeated, but each word appears in the Glossary at the end of the commentary

*
marks irregular and unpredictable verbs. Their forms are to be found in the

“Irregular (Unpredictable) Principal Parts” list

*
hypothetical reconstruction, i.e., unattested form; or, see “Irregular (and Unpredictable) Principal Parts” list

+
and, i.e., compounded with, or with suffix

×
times (i.e., 8× = eight times)

<
comes from, is derived from

>
becomes, develops into

=
equals, equivalent to, identical with

/
varies between

(. . .)

usually the material within parentheses is grammatical explanation, cross-reference, occasionally translation

[. . .]

usually the material within square brackets contains words that do not occur in the text but need to be inserted in translation. Square brackets are also used to mark a single occurrence of a word in the play or in the extant plays of Sophocles, e.g., [1× Soph.] means that the word appears once in Sophocles 25

Sophocles’ Electra

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES
acc. accusative
obj. object
act.

active (voice)

oft. often
adj.

adjective, adjectively
opt.

optative (mood)

adv. adverb(ial)

partit. genit. partitive genitive
aor.

aorist (tense)

pass.

passive (voice)

artic. articular
pcl. particle
compd. compound
pers.

person(s)/ personal(ly)

conj. conjunction
pf.

perfect (tense)

correl. correlative
pl. plural
dat. dative
plupf.

pluperfect (tense)

demon. demonstrative
possess.

possession/ possessive
dep.

deponent (voice)

postpos. postpositive
enclit. enclitic
predicat. predicative
etc.

Latin et cetera, ‘and the rest,’ prep. preposition

‘and so on’

pres.

present (tense)

fem. feminine
privat. privative
fut. future
pron. pronoun
genit. genitive
ptc. participle
impv.

imperative (mood)

relat.

relative, related
indecl. indeclinable
seq. sequence
indef. indefinite
sg. singular
indic.

indicative (mood)

subjv.

subjunctive (mood)

inf. infinitive
substant.

substantive, substantival,
intrans. intransitive
substantivizing
l. line
supplem. supplementary
lit. literally
temp. temporal
masc. masculine
trans. transitive
mid.

middle (voice)

usu. usually
n. note
vb. verb
neut. neuter
voc. vocative

26

C O M M E N TA RY O N S O P H O C L E S ’ ELECTRA

Commentary 1–9

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ

ΠΑΙΔΑΓΩΓΟϹ

Ὦ τοῦ ϲτρατηγήϲαντοϲ ἐν Τροίᾳ ποτὲ

Ἀγαμέμνονοϲ παῖ, νῦν ἐκεῖνʼ ἔξεϲτί ϲοι
παρόντι λεύϲϲειν, ὧν πρόθυμοϲ ἦϲθʼ ἀεί.

PROLOGUE 1– 120

Scene: Dawn, before the royal palace of the Pelopidae at Mycenae, some eighteen years after the Trojan War and eight years after the murder of Agamemnon by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

Enter Tutor, leading Orestes and Pylades along a ramp ( eisodos) on the spectators’ right, indicating arrival from somewhere else in the territory of Mycenae. The Tutor (παιδαγωγός) is the faithful old servant who smuggled Orestes to Phocis and raised him.

The prologue consists of a dialogue between the Tutor and Orestes (lines 1– 85) and Electra’s anapestic lament delivered from the skēnē (86– 120). Her lament is mostly ‘recitative,’ chanted with music but not sung.

LINE 1
ὦ . . . ποτὲ

The Oxford Classical Texts editors and many other editors consider line 1 authentic, but there are also major scholars (e.g., Haslam (1975), West (1984), Finglass) who consider it spurious, since, the argument goes, it’s a feeble initial verse lacking the force of other Sophoclean openings and makes a “pur-poseless reference to Agamemnon’s command at Troy” (Finglass 2007: on line). But ποτέ in line 1 is echoed in line 11 (both in final position) the first regarding Ag. as victor of Troy, the second as victim of assassination (so Pelliccia, CR 59.1, 2009, 35).

στρατ- ηγέω, - ήγησα

(στρατός + ἄγω) be a general (ptc. qualifies the noun as an attributive adj.: S #2049; SS 256– 57; GMT

#824); > ‘Son of Ag., who once commanded.’ Denominative vbs. in - έω are often intrans. (S#866.2).

[1× El]

+ποτε (indef. adv.)

(enclitic) at some time; once upon a time (esp. in telling a story: LSJ III.1a)

+Ἀγαμέμνων, ονος, ὁ
murdered king of Mycenae. Resolution of 1st anceps in a trimeter is common with proper names (pp. 20–21, 24)

+παῖς, παιδός, ὁ/ ἡ
child (voc.: S #248; ὦ for politeness: S #1284– 85). The unit Ὦ . . . παῖ is separated by τοῦ . . . Ἀγαμέμνονος.

Such transposition of words belonging together is called hyperbaton (S #3028); here it stresses the inter-vening clause.

+ἐκεῖνος (3)

(demon. pron.) that person/ thing. ἐκεῖν᾿ (acc. neut. pl.) = direct object of λεύσσειν and antecedent of ὧν (< ἐκεῖ there + suffix – ενος: S #333c)

+ἔξεστι (< ἔξ- ειμι)

it is possible for someone ( dat.) + inf.; (+λεύσσειν = subject: S #1984– 85)

+πάρ- ειμι

(ptc. παρ- ών, - όντος: S #305, 768) be present/ near. σοι παρόντι = ‘ now when you are here (i.e., with present eyes) you can look upon those things’

+λεύσσω
see/ look upon + acc. (poetic verb; pres. and impf. only)

πρό- θῡμος, ον
willing, eager, eager for + objective genit., (LSJ I.2; S #1328; SS 52– 53 §4); >‘you can look upon those things which (ὧν) you were eager to see’; [1× El. ]

+*εἰμί, ἦν
be (impf. ἦν, ἦσθα, ἦν, ἦμεν, ἦτε, ἦσαν: S #768)

+ἀεί (adv.)

[ᾰ/ ᾱ] ever, always (old locative < αἰών < αἰϝών, eternity: S #38) 28

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
τὸ γὰρ παλαιὸν Ἄργοϲ οὑπόθειϲ τόδε,
τῆϲ οἰϲτροπλῆγοϲ ἄλϲοϲ Ἰνάχου κόρηϲ·

5
αὕτη δʼ, Ὀρέϲτα, τοῦ λυκοκτόνου θεοῦ
ἀγορὰ Λύκειοϲ· οὑξ ἀριϲτερᾶϲ δʼ ὅδε

Ἥραϲ ὁ κλεινὸϲ ναόϲ· οἷ δʼ ἱκάνομεν,
φάϲκειν Μυκήναϲ τὰϲ πολυχρύϲουϲ ὁρᾶν,

LINE 4

Ἄργος, εος, τὸ
a city in NE Peloponnese, 6 miles from Mycenae; here = Argolid plain; [1× El. ]

+παλαιός (3)

(πάλαι, long ago) old in years, old in date, ancient

+*ποθέω
long for, yearn after (what is absent) + acc. (S #1349); οὑπόθεις = ὃ ἐ- πόθε- ε- ς (relative pron. contracts with vb. by crasis, i.e., mingling of a vowel at end of one word with initial vowel of following word: S #62)

+ὅ- δε, ἥ- δε, τό- δε

(demon. pron., S #333) this (ὅ - δε points out what is present or before one; hence it is called deictic: S

#1241); > ‘here (τόδε) is the (τό) ancient Argos’

LINE 5
οἰστρο- πλήξ, πλῆγος ὁ/ ἡ

(οἰστράω, sting + πλήσσω, strike) stung by a gadfly, driven wild; [1× Soph.]

ἄλσος, εος, τό
grove; esp. a sacred grove. Here in apposition to Argos.

Ἴναχος, ὁ

Inachus, the eponymous god of the river, which flows into the Argolid from the NW. He was the first king of Argos and father of Io; [1× Soph.]

+κόρη, ἡ
girl; daughter (refers to Io, priestess of Hera)

+οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο

(demon. pron.: S #333) this, that one (sc. ἐστί); > ‘ this is the Lycean agora’

+Ὀρέστης, ου, ὁ

(ὄρος, mountain) masculines in – της have vocative in short α (S #226); Soph. omits ὦ with names of persons that are without modification or complement; hence here plain Ὀρέστα (SS 27) λῠκό- κτονος, ον

(λύκος, wolf + κτείνω) wolf- slaying; epithet of Apollo; [1× Soph.]

LINE 7
ἀγορά, ἡ

[ᾰ] (ἀγείρω, gather) marketplace; αὕτη . . . ἀγορά = hyperbaton; [1× Soph.]

+Λύκειος, ον

[ῠ] belonging to a wolf (λύκος). As an epithet of Apollo, ‘Lycean’ sometimes refers to his role as wolf-slayer (protector of flocks), sometimes to his role as god of light (< *λύκη, light). >‘Lycean market’

alludes to Apollo’s temple by the agora.

+ἐκ (+genit.)

out of (ἐξ before a vowel, movable σ :S #136); οὑξ = ὁ ἐξ ( crasis: S #62) ἀριστερός (3)

[ᾰ] left; ominous. οὑξ ἀριστερᾶς sc. χειρός (in common expressions a definite noun, e.g., χείρ, is often implied: S #1027 b); > ‘and there [from the] on the left’

Ἥρα, ἡ
wife of Zeus, main goddess of the Argives. The Heraion was situated near Mt. Euboia, 5 miles NE of Argos and 2 miles SE of Mycenae; [1× Soph.]

+κλεινός (3)

(κλέος, rumor; good report; fame) renowned; ὁ κλεινός νᾱός: the article is used of the familiar/ well known and often with κλεινός (SS 144 §13)

ναός, ὁ
temple (Doric form is metrically easier than Attic νεώς: S #238c); [1× El. ]

+οἷ (relat. adv.)

to which place, whither (cf. correl. advs. ποῖ, ποι , ὅποι: S #346) ἱκάνω, ἵκᾱνον
come; lengthened form of ἵκω, found in Epic and Lyric poetry, sometimes in Tragedy.

φά- σκω
say, think, believe (infinitive is often used as imperative in poetry: S #2013) Μῠκῆναι, ῶν, αἱ

[ῠ] = ἡ Μῠκήνη (plural prevails in Attic, singular in Homer metri causā); [1× El. ]

πόλυ- χρῡσος, ον

(χρῡσός, gold) rich in gold (fem. acc. pl.: only 2 endings, like most compd. adjectives: S #288). Homeric epithet of Mycenae. [1× El. ]

+*ὁράω, εἶδον

(aor.2 stem ἰδ- : S #529.2) see; > ‘where we came now you may say you see’

29

Commentary 10–19
πολύφθορόν τε δῶμα Πελοπιδῶν τόδε ,

10
ὅθεν ϲε πατρὸϲ ἐκ φόνων ἐγώ ποτε
πρὸϲ ϲῆϲ ὁμαίμου καὶ καϲιγνήτηϲ λαβὼν
ἤνεγκα κἀξέϲωϲα κἀξεθρεψάμην
τοϲόνδʼ ἐϲ ἥβηϲ, πατρὶ τιμωρὸν φόνου.

LINE 10
πολύ- φθορος, ον

(φθόρος, ruin) of much destruction (strong antithesis in 9– 10: ‘rich in gold’ vs. ‘rich in murder’); cf.

πολυφθόρος (act.) ‘destroying many’; [1× El.]

+δῶμα, ατος, τό
house (goes with τόδε; > ‘and there [is] the house of the sons of Pelops’) Πελοπίδης, ου, ὁ

(Πέλοψ, - οπος) son or descendant of Pelops (– ιδης patronymic: S #845.4); Μυκήνας . . . πολυχρύσους/
πολύφθορόν . . . δῶμα (chiasmus); [1× Soph.]

LINE 11
ὅθεν (relat. adv.)

whence, from where (S #346); [1× El. ]

+πᾰτήρ, πᾰτρός, ὁ
father (syncopated noun: S #44, 262)

+φόνος, ὁ
murder; homicide (generalizing plural refers to one deed: S #1000; SS 7 §4c); > ‘(whence I took/ rescued) you away from/ after the scene of your father’s murder’ (SS 108 §9); cf. φόνους πατρῴους, 779. Some editors (e.g., Finglass) read not φόνων but φονῶν (< φονή, bloodshed, carnage ; always pl.); > ‘ from the moment of your father’s bloody slaughter.’

+πρός (+ genit.)

from, at the hand of (with verbs of having, receiving, etc.: LSJ A.II.1)

+ὅμαιμος, ὁ/ ἡ

(ὁμός, one and the same + αἷμα, blood) of the same blood, kinswoman (the motif of blood relations is highlighted from the outset)

+κᾰσιγνήτη, ἡ

(κάσις, brother/ sister; γίγνομαι, be born) sister; ὁμάιμου καὶ κασιγνήτης = hen- dia- dys, i.e., one idea expressed by two words (S #3025)

+*λαμβάνω, ἔλαβον

(aor.2 ptc. act.) take, receive (circumstantial aor.2 ptc. denoting time: S #1872c); ‘taking/ after taking’

+*φέρω, ἤνεγκα
bring, carry, bear; endure (on this irregular aor.1 form see S #539.10) ἐκ- +*σῴζω, - έσωσα
save, preserve from danger (κἀξέσωσα = καὶ ἐξέσωσα by crasis: S #67; in compd. vbs. ἐκ can signify ‘utterly,’ ‘completely’: S #1688.2; SS 111 §9)

ἐκ- τρέφω, - έθρεψα
rear from childhood, raise (the middle of the vb. does not differ semantically from the active. The tricolon crescendo of three successive actions rising to a climax [cf. 283, 1235] emphasizes the personal involvement of the Tutor in rescuing Orestes, as is the three- word trimeter, of which there are only 17 in Soph., see Marcovich 1984: 59– 60, and see also 1002); > ‘once after taking you from . . . I carried you, and saved you, and raised you.’

LINE 14

+τοσόσ- δε, τοσή- δε,
so great (demon. pron. τόσος with stronger demonstrative sense: S #340); > ‘and raised you to this stage τοσόν- δε
of youthful vigor’; cf. 961

+εἰς/ ἐς (+ acc. only)

into; up to, until (in poetry many prepositions are postpositive: S # 1675a) ἥβη, ἡ
manhood, youth, youthful prime

+τιμωρός, ὁ
avenger (with objective genit.: S #1331; SS 53 §4); πατρί = dat. of advantage, oft. translated as dat. of possess. (SS 85 §9); > ‘avenger of your father’s murder’

πατρὶ τιμωρὸν φόνου
creates a ring composition with πατρὸς ἐκ φόνων at line 11 (Finglass) 30

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
νῦν οὖν, Ὀρέϲτα καὶ ϲὺ φίλτατε ξένων

15

Πυλάδη, τί χρὴ δρᾶν ἐν τάχει βουλευτέον·
ὡϲ ἡμὶν ἤδη λαμπρὸν ἡλίου ϲέλαϲ
ἑῷα κινεῖ φθέγματʼ ὀρνίθων ϲαφῆ
μέλαινά τʼ ἄϲτρων ἐκλέλοιπεν εὐφρόνη.

LINE 15

+οὖν (pcl.)

so now, therefore (marks transition to a new thought: S #2964; GP 426)

+ξένος, ὁ
host, guest- friend; stranger (superlative with partit. genit.: #1306, 1315; SS 58 §10) Πυλάδης, ου, ὁ

(< πύλη, gate; patronymic in form: S #845.2) voc. coordinated with Ὀρέστα (SS 31 §14); note the emphatic enjambment. He is son of Strophius and Ag.’s sister in Phocis; they gave Orestes refuge. He is a κωφόν πρόσωπον, mute character

+τίς, τί

[ῐ] (interrog. pron.; genit. τίνος: S #334) who? what? L. quis? quid?

+χρή

(indecl. noun: ‘necessity ’; supply ἐστί: S #793) it is necessary + infinitive

+τάχος, εος, τό

[ᾰ] swiftness, speed; ἐν τάχει ‘quickly’ (LSJ II)

βουλευτέος, τέον

(verbal adj. +βουλεύω) it must be decided (S #358.2.b; impersonal: S #2149.2); > ‘so now . . . what is necessary to do must be decided quickly [by you]’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 17

+ὡς (conj.)

inasmuch as, since, seeing that (causal, LSJ B.IV; S #3000)

ἡμίν

(ῐ, metri causā; cf. ἡμῖν: S #325f) for our sake (ethical dat. or dat. of feeling to denote the speaker’s interest: S #1486; SS 85§10)

+ἤδη (adv.)

(ἤ, really + δή, even) already, by this time, now, immediately

+λαμπρός (3)

(λάμπω shine) bright, brilliant, radiant

+ἥλιος, ὁ
sun
σέλας, αος, τό
bright light/ ray, brightness, flame; lightning flash; [1× El. ]

ἑῷος (2/ 3)

(ἕως, ἡ: cf. Ionic ἠώς) at daybreak, in/ of the morning; [1× Soph.]

κῑνέω
set in motion, arouse, stir up; [1× El.)

φθέγμα, ατος, τό

(φθέγγομαι, utter a sound) sound, voice; word

+ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ/ ἡ
bird; omen (declension S #285.20)

+σαφής, ές
clear, distinct (proleptic predicat. adj.; anticipates result of vb.’s action: S #3045; SS 167 §6: “arouses the birds’ songs so that they are clearly heard.”)

μέλᾱς, μέλαινα, μέλαν
black, dark (S #298; cf. τᾱλας, τάλαινα, τάλαν); [1× El.]

+ἀστήρ, έρος, ὁ
star; > ‘starry night’ (genit. of quality: S #1320; SS 54 §6)

+ἐκ- +*λείπω, - λέλοιπα
leave out, pass over; (intrans.) leave off, cease (LSJ II.4); > ‘has departed’

εὐφρόνη, ης, ἡ

(εὔφρων, cheerful) the kindly time; euphemism for νύξ, night, mainly poetic; μέλαινα . . . εὐφρόνη, hyperbaton (p. 24) bracketing the line (S #3028); [1× El.]

31

Commentary 20–29
πρὶν οὖν τινʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐξοδοιπορεῖν ϲτέγηϲ,

20
ξυνάπτετον λόγοιϲιν· ὡϲ ἐνταῦθʼ †ἐμὲν
ἵνʼ οὐκέτʼ ὀκνεῖν καιρόϲ, ἀλλʼ ἔργων ἀκμή.

ΟΡΕϹΤΗϹ
ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν προϲπόλων, ὥϲ μοι ϲαφῆ
ϲημεῖα φαίνειϲ ἐϲθλὸϲ εἰϲ ἡμᾶϲ γεγώϲ.

LINE 20

+πρίν (conj.)

[ῐ] before (usually takes an inf. when subordinated to an affirmative clause: S #2454)

+τῐς, τι (indef. pron.)

anyone, anything; τιν᾿ = acc. subject of inf. ἐξοδοιπορεῖν (S #1972)

+ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ
man (syncopated noun: S #44, 262; ἀνδρῶν, partit. genit.: SS 57– 58 §10; S #1306, 1317); > ‘before any of the men/ any man exits’

ἐξ- οδοιπορέω
go out of, exit; [1× Soph.]

+στέγη, ἡ
roof; roofed place; house

LINE 21
συν- άπτω

(ξυνάπτετον = 2nd dual pres. impv.: S #462); tie together, unite; (intrans.) enter into conversation (LSJ B

II); > ‘you two take joint counsel’; [1× El.]

+λόγος, ὁ

(+*λέγω, tell) word (λόγοισιν, dative of means: S #1507)

ἐνταῦθα (adv.)

there; ἐνταῦθα . . . ἵνα at the point . . . where (ἵνα for οὗ, S #2498); > ‘since it is a point where it is no longer the time to hold back, but high time to act’

†ἐμέν

† ‘dagger’ or ‘obelus’ marks an insoluble textual problem. ἐμέν is not Attic, and ἐσμέν would not scan.

+ἵνα (relat. adv.)

where (S #2498; poetic)

+οὐκ- έτι (adv.)

no longer, no more, no further

+ὀκνέω
hesitate, hold back, shrink from doing (physically or morally)

+καιρός, ὁ
right point of anything, right time for action, critical moment; supply ἐστί; > ‘since in this place it is no longer the right time to hesitate . . .’; the motif of ‘the right time’ recurs often: 75, 1259, 1368; cf. 1251

+ἔργον, τό
deed, action; (Doric: ϝέργον: S #122)

+ἀλλά (conj.)

(neut. pl. of ἄλλος with changed accent) but, but rather (LSJ I; S #2775) ἀκμή, ἡ
best or highest point of anything, most fitting time (LSJ III)

+πρόσ- πολος, ον

(προσ- πολέω, attend, wait upon) servant, attendant; ὦ φίλτατ᾿ προσπόλων ‘dearest of my servants’; superlative with partitive genit.; cf. 15

+ὡς (relat adv.)

how! what! (exclamatory ὡς following the vocative: S #2682a, 2998) LINE 24
σημεῖον, τό

(σῆμα, sign) mark, sign of token by which something is inferred; σαφῆ σημεία = object of φαίνεις, ‘clear signs’)

+*φαίνω
bring to light, reveal, show, disclose

+ἐσθλός (3)

(poetic) good (= ἀγαθός); (of persons) brave, noble; (morally) faithful ἡμᾶς
us = me; pl. for sg. in pronouns can be used to enhance one’s own importance, pluralis maiestatis (as probably here), or to de- emphasize one’s uniqueness by avoiding specificity, pluralis modestiae (SS 6 §4a, 8– 10 §5); +εἰς with persons indicates attitude (SS 104– 5 §7; S #1675a)

+*γίγνομαι

(γεγώς, perf.2 ptc.: S #704b), become, be; (the perf. refers to the pres. state of the subject resulting from a completed action: S #1945; SS 197). Supplem. ptc. in indirect discourse depending on a verb of showing, φαίνεις

(S #2106; GMT #904; SS 260 §12); > ‘how you are showing me with clear signs that you are loyal to me’

32

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ὥϲπερ γὰρ ἵπποϲ εὐγενήϲ, κἂν ᾖ γέρων,

25
ἐν τοῖϲι δεινοῖϲ θυμὸν οὐκ ἀπώλεϲεν,
ἀλλʼ ὀρθὸν οὖϲ ἵϲτηϲιν, ὡϲαύτωϲ δὲ ϲὺ
ἡμᾶϲ τʼ ὀτρύνειϲ καὐτὸϲ ἐν πρώτοιϲ ἕπῃ.

τοιγὰρ τὰ μὲν δόξαντα δηλώϲω, ϲὺ δὲ

LINE 25

+ὥσπερ (conj.)

just as (introduces a comparative clause of quality: SS 305– 6 §1)

+γάρ (postpos. conj.)

for (introducing a reason for the preceding statement: S #2803, 2810)

+ἵππος, ὁ
horse
εὐ- γενής, ές

(+. *γίγνομαι) high- bred, noble
κἂν

= καὶ ἐάν ( crasis) although, even if; (concessive clause: S #2372; SS 282– 83 §5)

+*εἰμί, ἦν
be (subjv. ὦ, ᾖς, ᾖ, . . . ; opt. εἴην, εἴης, εἴη . . . S #768)

+γέρων, ον

(γέρων, οντος, old man) aged

+ἐν (+ dat)

in, at; (SS 106 §8: “denotes situation . . . in which the action takes place”)

+δεινός (3)

(δέος, fear) fearful; τὰ δεινά, terrible moment, danger (attributive adjs. with the article are often used as nouns: S #1021, 1153a; SS 163 §1)

+θῡμός, ου, ὁ
breathe; soul; desire; temper; spirit, courage (LSJ II.3)

+ἀπ- όλλῡμι, - ώλεσα
kill, lose (gnomic aor. in pres. general condition: [S #2338; GMT #466] expresses a general truth:

[S #1931; GMT #154; SS 196– 97 §17] here with a punctual aspect); >‘even though old, does not lose his courage in time of danger’

LINE 27

+ὀρθός (3)

straight, erect, upright

+οὖς, ὠτός, τό

(declension S #285.22) ear; handle

+*ἵ- στη- μι
cause to stand (transitive forms are in the pres., impf., fut., and aor.1 act.); > ‘but pricks up his ear’

ὡσαύτως (adv.)

just so, in the same manner (note the apodotic δέ, rare in Tragedy after the comparative protasis: S #2837, #2837; GP 179– 80); > ‘ just like a horse . . ., in the same way . . . ’; [1× El. ]

ὀτρύνω

[ῡ] stir up, rouse, urge; > ‘. . . you urge us forward’; [1× El. ]

+αὐτός, αὐτή, αὐτό

(intensive pron.) - self; καὐτός = καὶ αὐτός ( crasis); > ‘and you yourself’; (in oblique cases personal pronoun of 3rd pers.: S #325d, 328)

+πρῶτος (3)

first (substant. adj. without article: SS 163 §1); > ‘among the foremost [men]’

+*ἕπομαι
follow; > ‘and you yourself follow among the foremost men’

τοί- γαρ (pcl.)

so then, thus, therefore (usually first word in an iambic line: GP 565– 56)

+δοκέω, ἔδοξα
form an opinion, think (neut. acc. pl. aor1. ptc.; articular substantive participle: S #2050– 52; S 257–

58 §9; GMT #825); ‘thoughts’

+δηλόω, - ώσω
make known, disclose, reveal; > ‘I will tell/ disclose my thoughts’

33

Commentary 30–37
ὀξεῖαν ἀκοὴν τοῖϲ ἐμοῖϲ λόγοιϲ διδούϲ,

30
εἰ μή τι καιροῦ τυγχάνω, μεθάρμοϲον.

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡνίχʼ ἱκόμην τὸ Πυθικὸν
μαντεῖον, ὡϲ μάθοιμʼ ὅτῳ τρόπῳ πατρὶ
δίκαϲ ἀροίμην τῶν φονευϲάντων πάρα,

LINE 30
ὀξυς, ὀξεῖα, ὀξύ
sharp, keen
ἀκοή, ἡ

[ᾰ] (ἀκούω, hear, give ear) listening, the ear; [1× El.]

+*δίδωμι
give (the present ptc. emphasizes the continuous listening: SS 210 §33)

+τι
in some respect, somehow, by chance; either acc. of respect (S #1601c; SS 43 §14), or internal (adverbial) acc. (S #1607)

+*τυγχάνω, ἔτυχον

(τύχη, coincidence, chance) happen (+ ptc.); meet, hit (+ genit.: καιροῦ) μεθ- αρμόζω

(aor.1 act. impv.) correct; > ‘if I fail to hit the mark, correct . . .’; (the direct obj. is probably implied με, but could be τὰ δόξαντα); [1× Soph.]

LINE 32

+γάρ (pcl.)

the fact is that (explanatory, often found “after an expression denoting the giving or receiving of information” GP 59.2)

+ἡνίκα (adv.)

at the time when (S #346, 2383A)

+*ἱκνέομαι, ἱκόμην

(aor.2 with - ῑ- ; lengthened form of ἵκω, come, reach) come, arrive Πῡθικός (3)

(Πῡθώ, Pytho, region where Delphi was) Pythian (Delphic oracle was the most important oracle in Greece, belonging to the god Apollo)

μαντεῖον, τό

(μάντις, diviner) oracle, seat of an oracle (terminal acc. after a vb. of motion without preposition: S

#1588); emphatic enjambment; [1× El. ]

+ὡς (conj.)

in order to, so that (opens a final clause ὡς μάθοιμι: S #3000)

+*μανθάνω, ἔμαθον

(μάθοιμι, aor.2 opt.) learn by inquiry (final clause in secondary sequence, following ἱκόμην: S #2197) >

‘when I went to the Pythian oracle in order to learn’

ὅτῳ τρόπῳ

(ὅτῳ = ᾧτινι: S #339b) how, in what way

+δίκη, ἡ
custom; justice; consequence of action, penalty, retribution (LSJ IV.3) ἄρνυμαι, ἠρόμην

(ἀροίμην, aor.2 opt.) win, gain, exact (indirect question in secondary sequence, ἱκόμην: S #2663; SS 236; GMT #669.2); > ‘to learn how I might exact retribution for my father from his murderers’; [1× Soph.]

φονεύω, ἐφόνευσα
murder, kill (τῶν φονευσάντων, articular substantive participle: S # 2050– 52; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT

#825); > ‘the murderers’; [1× El.]

+παρά (+ genit.)

from (πάρα: accent thrown back when disyllabic prep. follows its case; called anastrophe: S #175a) 34

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
χρῇ μοι τοιαῦθʼ ὁ Φοῖβοϲ ὧν πεύϲῃ τάχα·

35
ἄϲκευον αὐτὸν ἀϲπίδων τε καὶ ϲτρατοῦ
δόλοιϲι κλέψαι χειρὸϲ ἐνδίκου ϲφαγάϲ.

LINE 35
χράω
utter an oracle, proclaim (- άω contracted to η: S #394); (Tragedy prefers historical pres. for vivid portrayal of a past action. Usually translated by a past tense: S #1883; SS 184 §5; GMT #33); >‘Phoebus gave me this prophecy’; [1× El.]

+τοιοῦτος, - αύτη, - οῦτο
such, of such kind, nature, quality, such as this (direct οbject of χρῇ: >‘Phoebus proclaimed these things to me/ gave me this prophecy’; antecedent of ὧν; correption - οι- shortened before the following diphthong; cf. 1001, 1024, 1338)

Φοῖβος, ὁ
epithet of Apollo; (as adj.) pure, bright, radiant, beaming

*πυνθάνομαι, πεύσομαι

(fut. indic. mid. 2sg.) inquire, hear, learn of + genit.· ὧν (S #1361); > ‘which you will hear soon’

LINE 36
ἄ- σκευος, ον

(ἀ privat., σκεύη, equipment) unfurnished; [1× El. ]

+αὐτόν

(intensive pron.) - self; > ‘myself alone’

ἀσπίς, ίδος, ἡ
shield (ἄσκευον + genit.: SS 54– 55 §7, 68– 69 §31); [1× El. ]

+στρατός, ὁ
army, people crowd; (ἀσπίδων τε καὶ στρατοῦ > ‘unfurnished with [either shields or army=] armed force; hendiadys, one idea expressed by two words: S #3025)

+δόλος, ὁ
cunning, trickery (– οισι[ν] oft. in poetry: S #234; dat. of means: S #1507)

+κλέπτω, ἔκλεψα

(κλέψαι, aor.1 act. inf.) steal; cheat; do secretly or treacherously (LSJ IV.1: “execute slaughter by secret frauds”; inf. in acc. and inf. construction after χρῇ; the subj. of the inf. is αὐτόν: S #1972)

+χείρ, χειρός, ἡ
hand (χειρὸς ἐνδίκου subjective genit.: S #1330; SS 53 §4); > ‘that . . . by guile I should steal the slaughter with my own righteous hand’

ἐν- δῐκ- ος, ον
just, righteous (emendation to ἐνδίκου is an easy fix for the codd. ἐνδίκους, which leaves χειρός alone without an epithet: Finglass); [1× El. ]

σφαγή, ἡ

(σφάζω, slay) slaughter, killing (generalizing plural: SS 7 §4b) 35

Commentary 38–46
ὅτʼ οὖν τοιόνδε χρηϲμὸν εἰϲηκούϲαμεν,
ϲὺ μὲν μολών, ὅταν ϲε καιρὸϲ εἰϲάγῃ,
δόμων ἔϲω τῶνδʼ, ἴϲθι πᾶν τὸ δρώμενον,

40
ὅπωϲ ἂν εἰδὼϲ ἡμὶν ἀγγείλῃϲ ϲαφῆ.

LINE 38

+ὅτε (relat. adv.)

since (causal: S #2240; LSJ B)

+τοιόσδε, τοιάδε, τοιόνδε
such (in quality: S #333d, 340)

χρησμός, ὁ

(χράω, give an oracle) oracle; [1× El. ]

+εἰσ- +*ᾰκούω
hear, listen (either pluralis maiestatis, emphasizing his importance: S #1006; SS 6 §4a, or the plural includes Pylades)

σὺ μὲν . . . ἡμεῖς δὲ
σὺ μὲν corresponds to ἡμεῖς δὲ in 51; > ‘you must go inside this house and learn . . ., we, on the other hand/ meanwhile, . . .’

+*βλώσκω, ἔμολον

(μολών, aor.2 ptc.) come, go (poetic vb. occurring in Soph., only in aor.2) ὅταν = ὅτε + ἄν
when (temporal clauses referring indefinitely to the future take subjv. with ἄν, or opt. without ἄν: S #2399, 1768; SS 294 §4)

εἰσ- +*άγω
lead in, into (subjv. in indef. temp. clause of single fut. act [SS 294 §4] with primary vb: ἴσθι; impv.

moods count as primary because they point to the fut.: S #1858a); > ‘when chance leads you in . . .’;

[1× El.]

+δόμος, ὁ
house, chamber (pl. because of the collection of rooms: SS 4 §3)

+ἔσω (=εἴσω + genit.)

to within, into (improper prep., i.e., an adv. used as a prep. but incapable of forming compounds: S #1647, 1700)

+*οἶδα

(ἴσθι, pf. impv.) know (pregnant construction: two actions condensed into one with the action stated implying more than it says: S #3044. ἴσθι = πυνθανόμενος ἴσθι ‘know after having learned’ > ‘make sure to know.’ The emphasis is on the ‘learning,’ although not mentioned explicitly)

+πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν
all, every, everything (S #299)

+*δράω
do, accomplish (neut. articular substantive participle: S #2050– 52; SS 257 §9; GMT #825); > ‘all that is going on’; cf. 85, 1333

LINE 41

+ὅπως (conj.)

so that (opens final clause with subjv., ἀγγείλῃς, may or may not have ἄν without affecting meaning: SS 285– 86 §3; S #2193, 2196; GMT #328)

+*ἀγγέλλω
bring tidings, announce, report (final clause in primary sequence, ἴσθι: S #2196, 1858a)

+σαφής, ές
clear, distinct (σαφῆ = neut. pl. acc. as adverb); > ‘so that you can report to us with clear/ accurate knowledge (εἰδώς= knowing clearly)’

36

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
οὐ γάρ ϲε μὴ γήρᾳ τε καὶ χρόνῳ μακρῷ
γνῶϲʼ, οὐδʼ ὑποπτεύϲουϲιν, ὧδʼ ἠνθιϲμένον.

λόγῳ δὲ χρῶ τοιῷδʼ, ὅτι ξένοϲ μὲν εἶ

Φωκέωϲ παρʼ ἀνδρὸϲ Φανοτέωϲ ἥκων· ὁ γὰρ

45
μέγιϲτοϲ αὐτοῖϲ τυγχάνει δορυξένων.

LINE 42
γῆρας, αος, τό
old age (γήρᾳ Attic, contraction of γήραϊ) dat. of cause (S #1517; SS 89 §17); [1× El.]

+χρόνος, ὁ
time

+μᾰκρός (3)

long, large

+*γιγνώσκω

(γνῶσι, aor.2 subjv. S #687) know by observation, recognize (οὐ . . . μή + aor. subjv. indicates strong future denial [S #1804, 2754; GMT #295] linked here to an ordinary future denial: οὐδ᾿ ὑποτεύσουσιν: SS

337); > ‘they will never recognize you or suspect’; emphatic enjambment ὑπ- οπτεύω
suspect; [1× Soph.]

+ὧδε (adv.)

in this way, thus; so very, so exceedingly
ἀνθ- ίζω, ἤνθισμαι

(ἠνθίσμενον, pf. ptc. pass.) (ἄνθος, flower) strew/ deck with flowers; dye, color, stain; > ‘thus d isguised’ or

‘with silvered hair’ (LSJ 2); [1× Soph.]

LINE 44
χράομαι

(pres. impv. dep. 2nd sg., χρῶ < χράου: S #395) use, avail oneself of + dat., λόγῳ τοιῷδε (S #1509); > ‘ use such a story as this, that . . .’

+ὅτι (conj.)

that (introduces indirect discourse with verb of saying/ thinking, generally expresses objective fact whether true or not: S #2582; SS 313 §1)

+Φωκέυς, έως, ὁ

Phocian (Phocis, a region in northern Greece that includes Delphi; - εως in Φωκέως is pronounced as one syllable by synizesis: S #60– 61)

ἀνδρός

+ἀνήρ indicates respect when attached to a character not mentioned beforehand; > ‘the Phocian gen-tleman, Phanoteus’

Φανοτεύς, έως, ὁ
uncle and enemy of Strophius, Pylades’ father, who was Ag.’s ally; Φανοτέως resolution in 6th position, pp. 20–21, 24

+ἥκω
have come/ arrived (like +*οἴχομαι, a present with perfect sense: S #1886)

+αὐτοῖς
dat. of possession (S #1480; SS 83– 84 ῾8); > ‘their,’ i.e., of Clyt. and Aeg.

+*τυγχάνω

(intrans.) happen to (often with supplementary participle which tells what the main action is, while the finite verb tells something about how the action is occurring: S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261§12f; here ὤν is omitted: S #2119); > ‘for he ( happens to be =) really is their . . .’

δορύ- ξενος, ον

(δόρυ, spear; ξένος, friend) spear- friend, war- friend, ally (partitive genit. with superlative: S #1306, 1315; SS 58 §10); [1× El.]

37

Commentary 47–58
ἄγγελλε δʼ ὅρκον προϲτιθεὶϲ, ὁθούνεκα
τέθνηκʼ Ὀρέϲτηϲ ἐξ ἀναγκαίαϲ τύχηϲ,
ἄθλοιϲι Πυθικοῖϲιν ἐκ τροχηλάτων
δίφρων κυλιϲθείϲ· ὧδʼ ὁ μῦθοϲ ἑϲτάτω.

50
ἡμεῖϲ δὲ πατρὸϲ τύμβον, ὡϲ ἐφίετο,
λοιβαῖϲι πρῶτον καὶ καρατόμοιϲ χλιδαῖϲ
ϲτέψαντεϲ, εἶτʼ ἄψορρον ἥξομεν πάλιν,

LINE 47
ὅρκος, ὁ
oath; [1× El. ]

προσ- +*τί- θη- μι

(προστιθείς, pres. ptc. act.: S #419) bestow, add

+ὁθούνεκα (conj.)

that (= ὅτι, introduces dependent sentence after verbs of ‘saying’; restricted to Tragedy, especially Soph.: SS 313– 14 §1; S #2578; GMT #710)

+*θνῄσκω

(τέθνηκε, pf. act.) die; be dead (S #1946); > ‘report that Or. is dead’

+ἐξ

SS 110 §9: “introduces the cause, the ground of action: ‘ as the result of an accident fate- ordained’ ”

ἀναγκαῖος (3)

(ἀνάγκη, constraint, necessity) constraining; [1× El. ]

+τύχη, ἡ
fate, good/ bad luck, chance, accident; > ‘from a (constraining) fatal accident’

ἆθλος, ὁ
contest (- οισι: dat. of place: SS 87 §13; S #1530– 31). The Pythian games were founded in 582 bce.

Tragedy is indifferent to anachronism; [1× El. ]

τροχ- ήλατος, ον

(τροχός, wheel + ἐλαύνω, ride, drive) moved on wheels, rapid; [1× Soph.]

+διφρός, ὁ

(δι- φόρος, bearing 2) chariot board (for both the driver and combatant)

*κυλίνδω, ἐκύλῑσα

(κυλισθείς aor.1 ptc. pass.) roll; > ‘rolled from his rapid chariot’; [1× El. ]

+μῦθος, ὁ
word, speech; conversation; rumor, report; story

+*ἵ- στη- μι, ἕστηκα

(ἑστάτω, pf.2 impv.: S #417) intransitive: stand (S #819; SS 218 §5); Kamerbeek: “let such be the basis of the story”

LINE 51
ἡμεῖς δὲ
answers σὺ μὲν of 39: ‘we (Or. and Pyl.) on the other hand/ meanwhile’

+τύμβος, ὁ
tomb, grave

+ὡς (relat. adv.)

as (S #2992)

+ἐφ- +*ίη- μι

(ἐφίετο, impf.) mid.: command (LSJ B) (the imperfect is often used in oracular responses and with verbs of command: SS 191 §11); ὡς ἐφίετο = ‘as [the god, 38] commanded’

λοιβή, ἡ

(λείβω, pour) pouring, libation (in words denoting liquids, the plural indicates abundance, SS 6 §3) καρά- τομος, ον

[ᾰ] (κάρα, head; τέμνω, cut) cut from the head; [1× Soph.]

χλῐδή, ἡ
luxury; > ‘with luxuriant hair cut from my head’

στέφω, ἔστεψα

(στέφος, poetic for στέφανος); crown, wreathe, honor; emphatic enjambment; > ‘after having first honored . . .’; [1× El. ]

+εἶτα (adv.)

then; πρῶτον . . . εἶτα ’first . . . then . . .’

ἄψορρον (adv.)

(ἄψ, backward, back; ῥέω, flow) backward, back again

+πάλιν (adv.)

again, once more; > ‘we will come back once more’

38

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
τύπωμα χαλκόπλευρον ἠρμένοι χεροῖν,
ὃ καὶ ϲὺ θάμνοιϲ οἶϲθά που κεκρυμμένον,

55
ὅπωϲ λόγῳ κλέπτοντεϲ ἡδεῖαν φάτιν
φέρωμεν αὐτοῖϲ, τοὐμὸν ὡϲ ἔρρει δέμαϲ
φλογιϲτὸν ἤδη καὶ κατηνθρακωμένον.

LINE 54
τυπώμα, ατος, τό
that which is formed or molded; [1× Soph.]

χαλκό- πλευρος, ον
with sides of bronze; > ‘brazen urn,’ ‘urn of beaten bronze’; (1× Soph.)

*αἴρω, ἦρμαι

(ἐρμήνοι, pf. mid. ptc.) raise, carry; > ‘ carrying in our hands’; [1× El. ]

+χεροῖν
dual is used for certain parts of the body (SS 2– 3 §2; S #285– 28)

+καί (adv.)

also, even (usually stresses the idea in the word that follows: S #2881) θάμνος, ὁ
bush, shrub (dat. of place: SS 87 §13; S #1530– 31); [1× Soph.]

+που (enclit. adv.)

Frequently qualifies an expression (οἶσθα):‘I suppose,’ ‘surely,’ ‘no doubt’

+κρύπτω, κέκρυμμαι

(κεκρυμμένον, pf. pass. ptc.) hide; > ‘which, as I believe you know, is hidden in the bushes’

LINE 56

+λόγος, ὁ
word, story, tale, fiction

+κλέπτω
cheat, steal, deceive; > ‘deceiving them with our story’

+*φέρω
bring, carry, bear; endure (ὅπως . . . φέρωμεν final clause in 1st seq., ἥξομεν: S #2196; the subjv. is an emendation of the opt. φέροιμεν that appears in most mss. but is an anomaly after a primary tense: GMT

#322); > ‘so that . . . we may bring’

+ἡδύς, ἡδεῖα, ἡδύ
sweet, pleasant, welcome (S #296, 297); (667)

+φά- τις, εως, ἡ

[ᾰ] (+*φημί, speak) (oracular) speech, rumor, report, story (S #257)

+ὡς (conj.)

that (introduces indirect discourse in which what is said is false as it is here, or uncertain, or after negated verbs: S #3000; SS 314 §1); cf.1289

+ἔρρω
come to ruin, perish; go, vanish; > ‘that my body is no more’

+δέμας, τό

(δέμω build) bodily frame, living/ dead body; used in nom./ acc.; τοὐμὸν = τὸ ἐμόν ( crasis) φλογιστός (3)

(φλόξ, flame, blaze) burnt up, set on fire; [1× Soph.]

κατ- ανθρακόω

(pf. ptc. pass.) (κατά, completely; ἄνθραξ, ὁ, charcoal) burnt to ashes; > ‘that my body is no more and already burnt to ashes’; [1× Soph.]

39

Commentary 59–70
τί γάρ με λυπεῖ τοῦθʼ, ὅταν λόγῳ θανὼν
ἔργοιϲι ϲωθῶ κἀξενέγκωμαι κλέοϲ;

60
δοκῶ μέν, οὐδὲν ῥῆμα ϲὺν κέρδει κακόν.

ἤδη γὰρ εἶδον πολλάκιϲ καὶ τοὺϲ ϲοφοὺϲ
λόγῳ μάτην θνῄϲκονταϲ· εἶθʼ, ὅταν δόμουϲ
ἔλθωϲιν αὖθιϲ, ἐκτετίμηνται πλέον·

LINE 59

+λῡπέω

(λύπη, pain, grief, distress) cause pain, grief, annoy

+ὅτε (adv.)

when (ὅταν = ὅτε + ἄν; temporal clauses referring indefinitely to the future take subjv. with ἄν, or opt.

without ἄν: S #2399, 1768; SS 294 §4; the ὅταν- clause provides the subject); > ‘For what harm does this do me, when in words I’m dead but in fact I am safe/ alive and win renown?’

+ἔργον, τό
deed, action, work ; ἔργοισι ‘in fact’; (for the pl.: SS 4 §3); one of the most frequent antitheses in Greek literature is between ‘word’ and ‘deed’; cf. 319, 357– 58, 624– 625

+*σώζω

(σωθῶ, aor.1 subjv. pass.) save, keep, keep alive
ἐκ- +*φέρω

(ἐξ- ενέγκωμαι, aor.2 subjv. pass.) carry off; κἀξενέγκωμαι = καὶ ἐξενέγκωμαι ( crasis) κλέος, τό
fame, glory, renown (used only in nom. and acc., sg. and pl.; the very word used by Homer of Orestes’

revenge at Od. 1.298; 3.204)

+δοκέω
think, imagine (personal construction of the vb. [S #1983] governs indir. statement in acc. & inf.: οὐδὲν

. . . κακόν [εἶναι]); > ‘ I really (μέν) think that no word with gain [i.e., that brings gain] is bad’

+μέν
surely, indeed, really (μέν solitarium, i.e., with no corresponding δέ clause, is emphatic. Here stressing and affirming the idea of the verb: S #2896– 98; GP 359– 60).

ῥῆμα, ατος, τό

(ἐρῶ, will say) that which is said/ spoken, word; [1× El. ]

+κέρδος, εος, τό

(κερδοσύνη, ἡ, cunning, shrewdness) gain, profit

+κακός (3)

bad (not in a moral sense), ill- omened (supply εἶναι)

LINE 62

+ἤδη (adv.)

already, by this time, now, immediately, in the past
πολλάκις (adv.)

many times, often; > ‘I have in the past often seen even . . .’

+σοφός (3)

clever, wise, prudent

+μάτην (adv.)

[ᾰ] in vain, falsely

+*ἔρχομαι, ἦλθον

(ἔλθωσιν, aor.2 subjv.) come (see ὅταν with subjv. on 59; SS 295 §4: “I have observed many cases of men falsely reported dead; then, when they have come home again, they have been held in greater honour”) αὖθις (adv.)

back, again, hereafter; [1× El. ]

ἐκ- τῑμάω

(ἐκτετίμηνται, pf. indic. pass.) honor highly (gnomic/ empiric pf. of general description: S #1948; SS

200 §21; GMT #154); [1× Soph.]

+πλέον (comparative adv.) (+πολύς, πολλή, πολύ, much) more; = μᾶλλον (S #1068) 40

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ὣϲ κἄμʼ ἐπαυχῶ τῆϲδε τῆϲ φήμηϲ ἄπο

65
δεδορκότʼ ἐχθροῖϲ ἄϲτρον ὣϲ λάμψειν ἔτι.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ πατρῴα γῆ θεοί τʼ ἐγχώριοι,
δέξαϲθέ μʼ εὐτυχοῦντα ταῖϲδε ταῖϲ ὁδοῖϲ,
ϲύ τʼ, ὦ πατρῷον δῶμα· ϲοῦ γὰρ ἔρχομαι
δίκῃ καθαρτὴϲ πρὸϲ θεῶν ὡρμημένοϲ·

70

LINE 65

+ὥς (adv. of manner)

just so, thus; = οὕτως (with an accent, LSJ Aa); some print ὡς = ‘as’

κἄμ᾿ = καί ἐμέ
crasis; acc. for expected nom. with inf. construction, since the subject of the inf. and the governing verb, ἐπαυχῶ, is the same (S #1973– 74); κἄμ᾿ parallels τοὺς σοφούς at 62, and emphasizes Or.’s position: (SS

317 §4)

ἐπ- αυχέω
lit.: boast of, exult in; with acc. and inf.: be confident that; [1× El. ]

+φήμη, ἡ

(+*φημί, say) utterance, rumor

+ἀπό (+ genit.)

from, after, by, because of, as a result of; ἄπο anastrophe, see παρά 34n

+*δέρκομαι, δέδορκα

(δεδορκότα, pf. act. ptc.; pf. as pres) see (the Greeks equated seeing the light with being alive; praedicative function with ἐμέ: ‘alive.’)

+ἐχθρός (3)

hating, hostile, hateful (substant. adj. without article: SS 163 §1) λάμπω

(λάμψειν, aor.1 act. inf.) shine; metaphorically: ‘blaze’; [1× El. ]

+ἔτι (adv.)

yet, still; > ‘I am confident (lit.: I boast) that as result of this report, I too (καί ), alive, shall yet shine as a star upon my enemies’

LINE 67
πατρώα/ πατρῶον (l. 69)

Emphatic repetition that reflects Or.’s double goal: avenging his father and reclaiming his patrimony , repetition of words derived from the same root but with different ending. Play on different forms of the same word was greatly appreciated by the Greeks.

ἀλλά (pcl.)

but (with a prayer, making a transition to a desired future: GP 15)

+πατρῴος (3)

of one’s father (Both Or.’s and El.’s prayers [110– 18, 1376– 83] will be fulfilled, but not Clyt.’s [634– 59].

Clyt.’s belief in its immediate fulfillment will assure the success of Or.’s deceit.)

+γῆ, ἡ
earth, land

+θεός, ὁ
god
ἐγ- χώριος (2/ 3)

(χώρα, country) in/ of the country; [1× El. ]

+*δέχομαι, ἐδεξάμην

(δέξασθε, aor.1 impv.) receive

+εὐ- τῠχέω

(εὖ, τύχη, chance, fortune) be lucky, be well off, succeed; > ‘receive’ me with good fortune’

+ὁδός, ἡ
road, way, journey; (the plural according to SS 4 §3: “refers to the sum of the action, ‘my journeying,’ in the course of which many ὁδοί would be traversed”)

κᾰθαρθής, οῦ, ὁ

(κᾰθαίρω, purify) purifier, cleanser (σοῦ objective genit.: SS 53 §4; S #1328; Kamerbeek notes that the word is “important for the understanding of Orestes’ role as seen by himself.”); > ‘for I come in justice as your purifier’; [1× Soph.; not found in Aesch. or Eur.]

πρὸς θεῶν

= ὑπὸ θεῶν (πρός with genit. of agent is common in poetry: S#1678) ὁρμάω

(ὡρμημένος, pf. mid. ptc.) speed, hasten, rush on; > ‘sped by the gods’; Or. has no doubt that he has the gods on his side in seeking vengeance.

41

Commentary 71–81
καὶ μή μʼ ἄτιμον τῆϲδʼ ἀποϲτείλητε γῆϲ,
ἀλλʼ ἀρχέπλουτον καὶ καταϲτάτην δόμων.

εἴρηκα μέν νυν ταῦτα· ϲοὶ δʼ ἤδη, γέρον,
τὸ ϲὸν μελέϲθω βάντι φρουρῆϲαι χρέοϲ.

νὼ δʼ ἔξιμεν· καιρὸϲ γάρ, ὅϲπερ ἀνδράϲιν

75
μέγιϲτοϲ ἔργου παντόϲ ἐϲτʼ ἐπιϲτάτηϲ.

LINE 71

+ἄ- τῑμος, ον

(ἀ privat., τῑμή, honor, respect) without honor, dishonored
ἀπο- *στέλλω, - έστειλα

(ἀποστείλητε, aor.1 subjv.) send away from (μή + prohibitive aorist subjv.: S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT

#259); > ‘ do not send me away’

ἀλλ᾿ . . .

Supply a positive verb: > ‘but [receive] me as’; cf. 650
ἀρχέ- πλουτος, ον

(ἀρχε- , πλοῦτος) master of one’s wealth / riches; [1× Soph.]

κατα- στάτης, ου, ὁ

(καθ- +*ίστημι, set down) establisher; [1× Soph.]

LINE 73
εἴρηκα

(pf.) I said (S #529.3; +*φημί, +*λέγω, ἀγορεύω are used for the pres. tense); εἴρηκα μέν νυν . . . σοὶ δ᾿ +ἤδη

> ‘this is what I had to say, but you now . . .’

+μέλω

(pres. impv. mid. 3sg.) be an object of care (+ dat., σοί: S #1467)

+*βαίνω, ἔβην

(βάντι, aor.2 ptc.) go (modifies σοι); > ‘make it your business to go’

φρουρέω

(προ + +*ὁράω) keep watch, guard
χρέος, ους, τό
duty, task ; > ‘ . . . and keep watching over your task’; [1× El.]

νώ
we two, the two of us (nom. dual of ἐγώ: S #325 D1)

ἔξ- +ειμι
go out (εἶμι serves as the future of ἔρχομαι: S #773); > ‘we two will be on our way’; [1× El. ]

ἐπι- στάτης, ὁ

(ἐφ- +*ἵσταμαι, be set over) master, overseer (ὅσπερ . . . ἐπιστάτης, emphatic hyperbaton); > ‘for it is the right time, which is the greatest master/ ruler of every action for men.’ The emphasis on proper timing continues, cf. 22, 39.

Electra is heard from the doorway of the stage building that represents the palace.

42

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ
ἰώ μοί μοι δύϲτηνοϲ.

ΠΑ.

καὶ μὴν θυρῶν ἔδοξα προϲπόλων τινὸϲ
ὑποϲτενούϲηϲ ἔνδον αἰϲθέϲθαι, τέκνον.

ΟΡ. ἆρʼ ἐϲτὶν ἡ δύϲτηνοϲ Ἠλέκτρα; θέλειϲ

80
μείνωμεν αὐτοῦ κἀπακούϲωμεν γόων;

LINE 77

+ἰώ

(ῑ) Οh! (Exclamation frequently repeated twice; exclamations are inarticulate expressions represented in our texts by repeated letters, mainly vowels, sometimes separated by consonants. The line is in catalectic anapestic dimeter — — ˘ ˘— — , and as such a prelude to her monody: Kamerbeek)

+δύστηνος, ον
wretched, unhappy, unfortunate
καὶ μήν

Why! (calls attention to something just heard or seen: GP 356 §7) θύρα, ἡ
door (genit. of place, largely poetic: ‘from the doorway’: SS 59 §11)

+προσπόλων
partitive genit. (S #1306; SS 58). The Tutor cannot imagine El., the princess, at the gates, and at such an early hour.

ὑπο- +στένω
sigh or groan softly/ in a low tone (supplementary ptc. [not in indir. disc.] with vb. expressing feeling, αἰσθέσθαι: S #2088; GMT #877, 884; SS 260 §12); [1× El.]

+ἔνδον (+ genit.)

within

+*αἰσθάνομαι, ᾐσθόμην

(αἰσθέσθαι, aor.2 inf. dep.) perceive or apprehend by senses, hear (with acc. or genit., here τινὸς; when a subject of an inf. is the same as that of the governing vb., +ἔδοξα, it is omitted: S #1973); > ‘ I thought I heard from the doorway one of the servants moaning inside the house’

+τέκνον, τό

(+*τίκτω, bear, beget) child (often in addresses from elder to younger person, LSJ); > ‘my son’

+ἆρα
interrog. pcl. indicating anxiety and impatience (LSJ 1; GP 46)

ἡ δύστηνος Ἐλέκτρα
either Ἐλέκτρα is a predicate, i.e., ‘Can the poor/ wretched woman be El.?’, or, the δύστηνος serves as attribute to Ἐλέκτρα, i.e., ‘Is this the poor/ wretched El.?’ If the latter, and Or. is aware of El.’s pitiful state, he would be remarkably callous.

+θέλω

= *ἐθέλω, poetic; will, desire, wish (θέλεις = ‘do you wish’ often precedes deliberative subjv: S #1806; GMT #287; SS 223– 25 §11)

+*μένω, ἔμεινα

(μείνωμεν, aor.1 subjv., deliberative) stay, wait
αὐτοῦ (adv.)

there, here, on the spot (properly genit. neut. of αὐτός); [1× El.]

ἐπ- +*ακούω, - ήκουσα

(ἐπακούσωμεν, aor.1 subjv., deliberative) listen, overhear + genit; κἀπακούσωμεν = καὶ ἐπακούσωμεν

( crasis); >‘should we stay and listen . . . ?’; [1× El.]

+γόος, ὁ
weeping, wailing, groaning (often in the plural· SS 4 §3)

43

Commentary 82–91

ΠΑ. ἥκιϲτα. μηδὲν πρόϲθεν ἢ τὰ Λοξίου
πειρώμεθʼ ἔρδειν κἀπὸ τῶνδʼ ἀρχηγετεῖν,
πατρὸϲ χέοντεϲ λουτρά· ταῦτα γὰρ φέρειν
νίκην τέ φημι καὶ κράτοϲ τῶν δρωμένων.

85

LINE 82

+ἥκιστα (adv.)

least (in emphatic reply to a question: ‘not at all, no’)

+μηδείς, μία, έν
no one, nothing

+πρόσθεν ἤ
sooner than, before (S #2459)

Λοξίας, ου, ὁ

(λοξιός, slanting, crosswise) epithet of Apollo (either because the sun traverses the ecliptic, or because of Apollo’s ‘crooked,’ i.e., ambiguous, oracles, LSJ); τὰ Λοξίου = ‘Apollo’s commands’; [1× El.]

+πειράομαι
try, attempt (construe: μηδὲν πειρώμεθα ἔρδειν πρόσθεν ἢ τὰ Λοξίου; hortatory subjv.: S #1797; SS 222–

23 §10; GMT #256)

ἔρδω
work, accomplish, do (inf. as complement of vbs. of wishing, striving, daring, trying; here: πειρώμεθα: SS

239 §4); Kells: “let us attempt to do nothing before [we do] the behest of Apollo”

ἀρχηγετέω

(ἀρχηγέτης, founder of a city) begin; solemn word; > ‘ and [let us attempt to] start with this, pouring libations to your father’; [1× Soph.]

χέω
pour (in its simple form used mostly by poets); [1× El.]

+λούτρον, τό

(λούω, wash) bath, washing (of the corpse); poetic: libations

+*φημί

(φα- , φη- ) say, say yes (S #783); > ‘I say that this brings victory and success . . .’

+κράτος, εος, τό
strength, might, power, mastery (i.e., success)

τῶν +δρωμένων

(objective genit.: SS 53 §4; S #1328; articular substant. ptc.: S#2050– 2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT

#825); > ‘in [of] what needs to be done’; cf. 40, 1333

44

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

ὦ φάοϲ ἁγνὸν
καὶ γῆϲ ἰϲόμοιρʼ ἀήρ, ὥϲ μοι
πολλὰϲ μὲν θρήνων ᾠδάϲ,
πολλὰϲ δʼ ἀντήρειϲ ᾔϲθου
ϲτέρνων πλαγὰϲ αἱμαϲϲομένων,

90
ὁπόταν δνοφερὰ νὺξ ὑπολειφθῇ·

The Tutor, Orestes, and Pylades exit on the left of the spectators, through the eisodos leading both to Agamemnon’s tomb and the city. Electra comes out of the central door of the stage building.

Lines 86– 120 are termed θρῆνος ἀπὸ σκηνῆς, a lyric lament from the stage building, delivered by the actor alone, not jointly with the Chorus (κομμός). Electra’s lament is in mainly recitative anapests, not sung ones. Electra’s garb befits a slave rather than a princess (cf. 190– 191), and she probably wears a mask with short hair, a characteristic of women in mourning.

LINE 86
φάος, εος, τό
light, daylight; we know from lines 17– 19 that dawn has already broken; [1× El. ]

ἁγνός (3)

pure, holy, sacred; [1× El. ]

+γῆς

‘the air, whose portion is equal to that of the earth’ (the genit. can be explained as genit. following compd.

adj. that includes a noun as its base [ἰσόμοιρ᾿]: SS 54 §7; and as following adjective of sharing, SS 60 §13:

“Heaven, whose domain is equal to that of earth”)

ἰσό- μοιρος, ον

[ῐ] ἴσος, equal; μοῖρα, part, portion) having an equal part; [1× Soph.]

ἀήρ, ἀέρος, ἡ

[ᾰ] air; [1× Soph.]

μοι

(dat. of possession: S #1480; SS 83– 84 §8); > ‘my’

+πολύς, πολλή, πολύ
many; > ‘how many of my doleful laments, how many blows aimed straight at my breast till it was bloodied have you heard . . . ?’

πολλὰς μὲν . . . πολλὰς δ᾿
anaphora; repetition with emphasis of the same word at the beginning of successive clauses (S #3010), here with antithesis

+θρῆνος, ὁ

(θρέομαι, lament) lamenting, funeral song, dirge
ᾠδή, ἡ

(ἀείδω, ᾄδω, sing) song, lay (contraction for ἀοιδή); [1× El.]

LINE 89
ἀντήρης, ες

(ἀντί, against) set over against, opposite; [1× Soph.]

στέρνον, τό
breast, chest (objective genit.: S #1331– 32; SS 52– 53 §4); [1× El.]

πληγή, ἡ

(πλήσσω, strike) a blow, stroke, beating (πλαγάς: the only Doric alpha in 86– 120; repeated Doricism is usually a mark of lyric, i.e., song with music; this is a recitative) αἱμάσσω

(αἷμα, blood) to make bloody (attributive ptc.: S #2049; SS 256– 57 §8; GMT #824; lit.: ‘blows to my bloodied breast’; prolepsis, the participle denotes what the blows will cause); [1× El. ]

+ὁπόταν
when, whenever (= ὁπότε + ἄν; temporal clauses referring indefinitely to the future take subjv. with ἄν, ὑπολειφθῇ, or opt. without ἄν: S #2399, 1768; SS 294 §4)

δνοφερός, ον

(δνόφος, darkness, gloom) dark, dusky, murky; [1× Soph.]

+νύξ, νυκτός, ἡ
night
ὑπο- +*λείπω

(ὑπολειφθῇ, aor.1 pass., subjv.) fail; pass.: be left behind; >‘ whenever dusky night has been left behind’;

[1× Soph.]

45

Commentary 92–104
τὰ δὲ παννυχίδων κήδη ϲτυγεραὶ
ξυνίϲαϲʼ εὐναὶ μογερῶν οἴκων,
ὅϲα τὸν δύϲτηνον ἐμὸν θρηνῶ
πατέρʼ, ὃν κατὰ μὲν βάρβαρον αἶαν

95
φοίνιοϲ Ἄρηϲ οὐκ ἐξένιϲεν,
μήτηρ δʼ ἡμὴ χὠ κοινολεχὴϲ

LINE 92
παννῠχις, ίδος, ἡ
a vigil, keeping awake all night (genit. of explanation/ apposition, explains the meaning of a more general word: S #1322); > ‘sorrows of my sleepless nights’; [1× Soph.]

κῆδος, εος, τό

(κήδω, trouble) trouble, sorrow (conjecture for the not objectionable ἤδη [codd.] ‘ere now,’ “pointing to her prolonged grief” [Jebb]); [1× Soph.]

στῠγερος (3)

(στῠγέω, hate) hated, hateful, abominated; [1× El.]

+συν- είδω

(ξυνίσασι, pf. indic. act. 3pl.) share in the knowledge (pf. with pres. sense)

+εὐνή, ἡ
bed (often in plural: SS 6 §3); > ‘and my hateful bed in this afflicted house knows of . . .’

μογερός (3)

toilsome, grievous, afflicted; [1× Soph.]

+οἶκος, ὁ
house, abode, dwelling (pl. often stands for a single house)

+ὅσος (3)

as much as; (cf. correl. pron.: S #340); > ‘how much I lament . . .’

θρενέω

(θρῆνος, ὁ, dirge, lament) bewail, lament

LINE 95

+κατά (+ acc.)

over, throughout, among all along
βάρβᾰρος, ον
barbarian, foreign; [1× El.]

αἶα, ἡ
earth, land (poetic for γαῖα, γῆ); βάρβαρον αἶαν = Troy; [1× El.]

+φοίνιος (2/ 3)

bloody (poetic for φόνιος)

+῎Ᾱρης, ὁ
god of war/ warlike frenzy; (decln., S #285.1); son of Zeus and Hera ξενίζω

(ξένος, host) entertain hospitably; > ‘whom the bloody War- god did not make his guest in a foreign land’; (irony— Ares’ hospitality is wounds and death); [1× Soph.]

+μήτηρ, μητρός, ἡ
mother (syncopated noun, S #44, 262)

ἡμή

= ἡ ἐμή ( aphaeresis, initial ε elides with a long vowel or diphthong of the preceding word: S #76); χὠ = καὶ
ὁ ( crasis)

κοινολεχής, ές

(κοινός, shared, λέχος, bed) sharing the same bed; [1× Soph.]

46

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

Αἴγιϲθοϲ ὅπωϲ δρῦν ὑλοτόμοι
ϲχίζουϲι κάρα φονίῳ πελέκει.

κοὐδεὶϲ τούτων οἶκτοϲ ἀπʼ ἄλληϲ

100
ἢ ʼμοῦ φέρεται, ϲοῦ, πάτερ, οὕτωϲ
αἰκῶϲ οἰκτρῶϲ τε θανόντοϲ.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὲν δὴ
λήξω θρήνων ϲτυγερῶν τε γόων,

LINE 98

+Αἴγισθος, ὁ
son of Pelops and his daughter (Pelopia), cousin of Agamemnon

+ὅπως (conj.)

as, like (opens a comparative clause of quality or manner: S #2463) δρῦς, δρυός, ἡ
oak, any timber tree; [1× El.]

ὑλο- τόμος, ὁ
ὕλή, wood, forest; τεμεῖν < τέμνω, cut) woodcutter; [1× Soph.]

σχίζω
split, cleave (historical pres. for vividness: S #1883; SS 186 §5: “note the change to the present for the violent action . . .”; GMT #33); [1× Soph.]

+κάρᾱ, τό

[ᾰ] head; poetic for κεφαλή; > ‘whom bloody Ares did not make his guest . . . but my mother and her bedfellow, Aegisthus, split his head . . .’

πέλεκῠς, εως, ὁ
double- edged ax; [1× Soph.]

LINE 100
οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν
and not one, not even one (S #349b); κοὐδεὶς = καὶ οὐδεὶς ( crasis)

+τούτων

(objective genit.: SS 52– 53 §4; S #1328); > ‘ and for this no pity is offered by/ comes from . . .’

οἶκτος, ὁ

(οἴζω, cry οἴ, lament) pity, compassion, lamentation; [1× El.]

ἀπ᾿ ἄλλης ἢ ᾿μοῦ
ἢ ᾿μοῦ = ἢ ἐμοῦ ( aphaeresis, p. 23; emphatic genit. of ἐγώ; the fem. replaces the more general masc. ἄλλου, by attraction to the gender of Electra); > ‘from/ by anyone but me’

σοῦ . . . θανόντος
hyperbaton (p. 24); concessive or temporal genit. absolute (S #2070); > ‘although/ when you have died’

+οὕτως (adv.)

(+οὗτος, this) so, thus, in this manner

+αἰκῶς (adv.)

poetic = ἀεικῶς (ἀεικής, unseemly, shameful) shamefully; according to Kamerbeek, a keyword of this play; cf. 206, 216, 487, 511, 515
οἰκτρῶς (adv.)

(+οἰκτρός, pitiable, lamentable) pitiably; [1× El.]

ἀλλ᾿ . . . μὲν δή

‘yet for all that . . .’; (adversative: GP 394)

+λήγω
cease from + genit.

47

Commentary 105–120
ἔϲτʼ ἂν παμφεγγεῖϲ ἄϲτρων

105
ῥιπάϲ, λεύϲϲω δὲ τόδʼ ἦμαρ,
μὴ οὐ τεκνολέτειρʼ ὥϲ τιϲ ἀηδὼν
ἐπὶ κωκυτῷ τῶνδε πατρῴων
πρὸ θυρῶν ἠχὼ πᾶϲι προφωνεῖν.

ὦ δῶμʼ Ἀίδου καὶ Περϲεφόνηϲ,

110
ὦ χθόνιʼ Ἑρμῆ καὶ πότνιʼ Ἀρά,
ϲεμναί τε θεῶν παῖδεϲ Ἐρινύεϲ,

LINE 105
ἔσ- τε (conj.)

as long as ( ἐστ᾿ἄν . . . + subjv., λεύσσω: SS 295 §7: “Subjunctive [pres. usually with ἄν] is used where the duration [of the act] is lying in the future . . .”); > ‘I will not cease my pain- filled lamentations, as long as I look at the radiant sweep of the stars and this daylight’

παμ- φεγγής, ές

(πᾶς, all; φάος, light) all- shining, radiant; [1× Soph.]

ῥῑπή, ἡ

(ῥίπτω, throw) quivering, twinkling light (LSJ 3); [1× El.]

ἦμαρ, ἤμᾰτος, τό
day (poetic for ἥμέρα)

μὴ οὐ . . . προφονεῖν
μὴ οὐ ( synizesis, p. 24; with inf. after a vb. of denying that is itself negated; the inf. here can be an object, epexegetic, or consecutive; the sense would be the same if the infinitive had no negative attached: SS 328– 29 §7i); > ‘[No,] I will not cease from lament . . . from raising/ uttering a cry to all’

τεκν- ολέτειρα, ἡ

If we think of the myth in which Procne kills her son, Itys, for revenge on his father, it is ‘having killed its young,’ if not, ‘having lost its young’; [1× Soph.]

ἀηδών, ἡ, Attic ὁ,
genit.: ἀηδόνος/ ἀηδοῦς; (ἀείδω, sing) songstress, i.e., the nightingale LINE 108
κωκῡτος, ὁ

(κωκύω [ῡ], shriek, wail, lament) shrieking, wailing; [1× El.]

+πρό (+ genit.)

before, in front of
ἠχώ, - όος/ - οῦς, ἡ

(acc. ἠχώ) ringing sound; loud cries (LSJ); [1× El.]

προ- +φωνέω
utter [1× El.]

LINE 110

+Ἀίδης, Ἀίδᾱο, ὁ

(ἀ privat., + ἰδεῖν, unseen) Hades, the god of the world below

Περσεφόνη, ἡ
daughter of Zeus and Demeter, carried off by Hades; [1× El.]

χθόνιος (2/ 3)

(χθών, earth) in/ under the earth; χθόνιος Ἑρμῆς, conductor of the dead πότνιᾰ, ἡ
as substant.: mistress, lady; adj.: revered, august, awful (only in nom. and voc.); [1× El. ]

Ἀρά, ἡ

Curse (personified; probably the curse uttered by the dying Ag.) σεμνός (3)

(σέβομαι, awe) august, solemn, holy; cult title of the Erinyes; [1× El.]

+Ἐρῑνυς, ύος, ἡ
deity avenging wrongs done to kindred, both murder and adultery

48

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
αἳ τοὺϲ ἀδίκωϲ θνῄϲκονταϲ ὁρᾶθʼ,
αἳ τοὺϲ εὐνὰϲ ὑποκλεπτομένουϲ,
ἔλθετʼ, ἀρήξατε, τείϲαϲθε πατρὸϲ

115
φόνον ἡμετέρου,
καί μοι τὸν ἐμὸν πέμψατʼ ἀδελφόν.

μούνη γὰρ ἄγειν οὐκέτι ϲωκῶ
λύπηϲ ἀντίρροπον ἄχθοϲ.

120

LINE 113
ἀ- δίκως (adv.)

(ἄδῐκος, unjust: ἀ privat., + δίκη) unjustly; [1× Soph.]

αἳ . . .αἳ
anaphora in asyndeton (p. 23; according to Kamerbeek, it stresses both the double function of the Erinyes and the double crime committed by Clyt. and Aeg. against Ag.); > ‘you who see . . . [you who see, supplement ὁρᾶτε])’

ὑπο- +κλέπτω
steal surreptitiously (verbs of depriving take double acc., the person deprived of and the object taken; when the verb is used passively, as here, the 2nd acc. is often retained: SS 39 §8); > ‘you who see those who are robbed of their marriage beds (εὐνάς)’; cf. κτῆσιν at 960; [1× Soph.]

LINE 115
ἀρήγω
help, aid

*τίνω, ἔτεισα/ ἔτισα
mid.: (poetic) take payment, avenge (ἔλθετε, ἀρήξατε, τείσασθε— vivid rising tricolon [cf. l. 13] with asyndeton [p. 23], which lends the imperative its great force: S #3016)

+*πέμπω

(πομπή, solemn procession) send

+ἀδελφός, ὁ

[ᾰ] (α copulative, δελφύ, womb) son of the same mother, brother

+μοῦνος (3)

alone, forsaken (Ion. for μόνος)

+οὐκ- έτι (adv.)

no more, no longer, no further
σωκέω

(σῶκος, the stout, strong one) to be strong or powerful; with inf.: to be in condition or state to do something; [1× El. ]

+λῡπή, ἡ
pain of body or mind, grief
ἀντίρροπος, ον ἄχθος,
counterpoising, compensating for; weight, burden (the ‘burden of grief’ is ‘counterpoised’ to Electra

- εος, τό
herself); > ‘For I am no longer strong enough to hold up alone against the burden of grief that weights me down’; [1× Soph.]

49

Commentary 121–133

ΧΟΡΟϹ
ὦ παῖ παῖ δυϲτανοτάταϲ
στρ. α’

Ἠλέκτρα ματρόϲ, τίνʼ ἀεὶ
λάϲκειϲ ὧδʼ ἀκόρεϲτον οἰμωγὰν
τὸν πάλαι ἐκ δολερᾶϲ ἀθεώτατα
ματρὸϲ ἁλόντʼ ἀπάταιϲ Ἀγαμέμνονα

125
κακᾷ τε χειρὶ πρόδοτον; ὣϲ ὁ τάδε πορὼν

PARODOS (entrance song), LINES 121– 250

Chorus of women of Mycenae have entered the orchestra from entry ramp during Electra’s delivery of the last lines. Their song consists of three strophic pairs and an epode, each divided between themselves and Electra.

Choral passages admit some Doric forms: ᾱ for η (S Introduction C, D #30, 32, 214.D1): e.g., δυστᾱνοτάτας = δυστηνοτάτης; μᾱτρός = μητρός; γενέθλᾱ = γενέθλη; Doric genit. pl. - άων > - ᾶν (S #214.D8).

FIRST STROPHE, Lines 121– 136

LINE 121
λάσκω
scream, shout out (codd. have τάκεις [=τήκεις] ‘melt away’; λάσκω governs two objects: an inner one: οἰμογάν: ‘What lamentation do you shout out?’ expanded by ὡδ᾿ ἀκόρεστον ‘so insatiably’; and an external object τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονα, which is governed also by the verbal noun οἰμογάν); > ‘Why do you shout out so insatiably a lamentation for Ag. trapped long ago most godlessly by the wiles of your deceitful mother . . . ?’; [1× El. ]

ἀ- κόρεστος, ον

(ἀ privat., κορέννῡμι, satisfy) insatiate, unceasing; [1× El.]

οἰμωγή, ἡ

(οἰμώζω, cry οἴμοι) lamentation (verbal noun in acc. governing τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονα, ‘lament for Agamemnon’: SS 37 §5; τὸν . . . ἁλόντα . . . Ἀγαμέμνονα, hyperbaton); [1× El.]

+πάλαι (adv.)

long ago
δολερός (3)

(+δόλος) deceitful, treacherous; [1× El.]

ἀθέως (adv.)

in a godless fashion, in unholy fashion

LINE 125

*ἁλίσκομαι, ἑάλων/ ἥλων

(ἁλόντα, aor.2 ptc. defective pass., +αἱρέω supplies active voice) be captured, seized (often used of enemies being overthrown and ruined); [1× El.]

ἀπατή, ἡ
guile, deceit (dat. of means: S #1507; SS 88– 89 §16); [1× El.]

+πρό- δοτος, ον

(προ- δίδωμι, betray) betrayed, abandoned

+ὥς
the unaccented exclamatory ὡς, which would equal εἰ γάρ, εἴθε (S #1815, 2999), seems to be preferred: ‘if only’ ‘may,’ ‘would that’

*πόρω, ἔπορον

(aor.2 ptc. act. masc. sg.) bring to pass, contrive (*πόρω, obsolete pres. of aor.2; articular substant. ptc.: S

#2050– 2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825; the masc. serves as a generalizing masc. gender. The Chorus refer to anyone whom the description fits, whether Clyt. or Aeg., or both: S #1015; SS 12– 13 §8); > may the doer perish/ die’

50

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ὄλοιτʼ, εἴ μοι θέμιϲ τάδʼ αὐδᾶν.

ΗΛ.

ὦ γενέθλα γενναίων,

ἥκετʼ ἐμῶν καμάτων παραμύθιον·

130
οἶδά τε καὶ ξυνίημι τάδʼ, οὔ τί με
φυγγάνει, οὐδʼ ἐθέλω προλιπεῖν τόδε,
μὴ οὐ τὸν ἐμὸν ϲτενάχειν πατέρʼ ἄθλιον.

LINE 127

+*ὄλ- λῡμι

(aor.2 mid. opt.) destroy, ruin; mid.: perish, come to an end (optative of wish with an introductory word ὡς: SS 232 §15; GMT #726)

+θέμις, θέμιστος, ἡ
law, right (agreed- upon common consent or prescription); > ‘if it is right for me to . . .’

αὐδάω

(αὐδή, human voice) speak, talk, say

LINE 129
γενέθλη, ἡ
race, stock, family, offspring (LSJ I.2)

γενναῖος (2/ 3)

(γέννᾰ poetic for γένος, birth) true to one’s descent, noble, high born, high minded κάμᾰτος, ὁ

(κάμνω, be tired, distressed) weariness, distress, toil, trouble παρα- μύθιον, τό

(παρα- μῡθέομαι, console) address; comfort, consolation (acc. in apposition to the sentence: the comforting is the purpose of their coming: SS 45 §17; Kamerbeek, Campbell, Jebb, Kells, Finglass: ‘as a consolation’); > ‘Oh offspring of noble parents, you have come to console (as a consolation to) my distress’;

[1× Soph.]

+ξυν- *ίημι

= συν- ίημι, metaphorically: perceive, understand, know

LINE 132
φυγγάνω

(collateral form of φεύγω) flee, escape; > ‘it does not escape me’; [1× Soph.]

προ- +*λείπω, - έλιπον

(προλιπεῖν, aor.2 inf. act.) leave by going forth, forsake, i.e., give up (doing something); [1× El. ]

μὴ οὐ
synizesis, adjacent vowels are pronounced together to give a single long syllable (S #60, 61)

+στενάχω

[ᾰ ](lengthened for στένω) trans.: bemoan, bewail, lament (μὴ οὐ . . . στενάχειν, doubled negative as if a negated verb of preventing had preceded, see 107n; a sense construction, constructio ad sensum); > ‘I do not wish to give this up, not to lament my poor father’

+ἄθλιος (2/ 3)

wretched, poor (the play abounds in words signifying misery, cf. δύστηνος, τάλας) 51

Commentary 134–146
ἀλλʼ ὦ παντοίαϲ φιλότητοϲ ἀμειβόμεναι χάριν,
ἐᾶτέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀλύειν ,

135
αἰαῖ, ἱκνοῦμαι.

ΧΟ. ἀλλʼ οὔτοι τόν γʼ ἐξ Ἀίδα
ἀντ. α’

παγκοίνου λίμναϲ πατέρʼ ἀν-
ϲτάϲειϲ οὔτε γόοιϲιν, οὐ λιταῖϲ·

LINE 134
παντοῖος (3)

(πᾶς, all every) of all sorts or kinds; [1× El. ]

φῐλότης, ητος, ἡ

(φίλος, friend) friendship, love, affection; [1× El. ]

ἀμείβω

[ᾰ] mid.: change with one another, exchange (with another) (ὦ . . . ἀμειβόμεναι the voc. does not always necessitate the exclamatory ὦ, but it is needed when a participle takes the place of a substantive to indicate that the participle is not a predicative but attributive: SS 27, §9, 30 §10); > “You who repay kindness (χάριν) in every sort of friendship [with me]” (Lloyd- Jones); [1× El.]

+χάρις, - ιτος, ἡ

[ᾰ] (χάριν, acc. sg.) favor, pleasure, gratitude (declension: S #257)

+*ἐάω

[ᾱ] let, suffer, allow, permit
ἀλύω

[ᾰ, ῡ] be distraught, beside oneself

+αἰαῖ
alas (interjection of grief)

FIRST ANTISTROPHE, Lines 137– 152

LINE 137

+οὔ- τοι (adv.)

indeed not
τόν . . . πατέρα
hyperbaton (p. 24); > ‘you will never bring your father back from the lake of Hades (Ἀίδα = Ἀίδου), where all of us will have to go’

+γε
at least (postpositive and enclitic particle in limitative function, i.e., “whether or not prayer is likely to be successful in other cases”: GP 140– 41)

παγ- κοίνος (3)

common to all; [1× El. ]

λίμνη, ἡ
lake (SS 108 §9: “ἐκ is used with ablatival genitive . . . to denote motion out of, or away from”; λίμνᾱς = λίμνης); [1× El. ]

ἀν- +*ίστημι, - στάσεις

(fut. act.) raise up (ἀνστάσεις, apocope: cutting off a short vowel before a consonant, here ἀν for ἀνά);

[1× El. ]

λῐτή, ἡ

(λίσσομαι, pray) prayer (mostly in plural); [1× El. ]

52

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν μετρίων ἐπʼ ἀμήχανον

140
ἄλγοϲ ἀεὶ ϲτενάχουϲα διόλλυϲαι,
ἐν οἷϲ ἀνάλυϲίϲ ἐϲτιν οὐδεμία κακῶν.

τί μοι τῶν δυϲφόρων ἐφίῃ;

ΗΛ. νήπιοϲ ὃϲ τῶν οἰκτρῶϲ

145
οἰχομένων γονέων ἐπιλάθεται.

LINE 140

+ἀπό (+genit. )

from (with ablatival genit. indicates departure or absence from: SS 99 §5); > ‘but (away from moderation =) leaving moderation behind you are destroying yourself [plunging] into incurable grief while lamenting forever’

μέτριος (2/ 3)

(μέτρον, measure) moderate; τὰ μέτρια, moderation; [1× El. ]

+ἐπί (+ acc.)

to, toward, for (the acc. indicates here the goal attained or aimed at: S #1676 SS 113 §10); > ‘into incurable grief’

ἀ- μήχᾰνος, ον

(ἀ privat., μηχανή) incurable, without remedy (LSJ 2b); [1× El. ]

+ἄλγος, εος, τό
pain, sorrow, grief, distress
δι- +*όλλῡμι
mid.: destroy utterly, bring to naught
οἷς

The antecedent is in the general sense of what precedes (Kamerbeek); > ‘in which there is no release whatsoever from your sorrows’

ἀνάλῠσις, εως, ἡ

(ἀναλύω, set free) loosing, releasing, dissolution (with objective genitive, κακῶν: SS 52– 53 §4; S #1328);

[1× Soph.]

LINE 144
τί (adv.)

why? how? wherefore? (LSJ B 8d); [1× Soph.]

μοι
ethical dat., indicates assurance of close concern or involvement (S #1486); SS 85 §10: “why, I ask you (why, pray), do you desire troubles?”

δύσ- φορος, ον

(δυσ- , φέρω) hard to bear, oppressive, insufferable, grievous; [1× El. ]

+ἐφ- *ίη- μι
mid.: aim at, long, desire + genit. (LSJ B2; S #777)

νήπῐος, ον
infant, child; childish, silly; generalizing masc. (SS 12– 13 §8; see πάσχοντι 771n; νήπιος ὃς, epic expression, only here in Τragedy: Finglass); [1× El.]

+οἴχομαι

(dep.) come, go, be gone (of persons euphemistically for θνῄσκω, to have departed: LSJ II)

+γονεύς, έος, ὁ

(+*γίγνομαι, be, become) begetter, father (mostly in pl.: parents; genitive with verbs of forgetting: SS

65 §23)

ἐπι- λήθομαι
forget, lose thought of + genit. (Doric: ἐπι- λάθομαι [ᾱ]); > ‘only a simpleton forgets parents who died piteously’

53

Commentary 147–160
ἀλλʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἁ ϲτονόεϲϲʼ ἄραρεν φρέναϲ,
ἃ Ἴτυν αἰὲν Ἴτυν ὀλοφύρεται,
ὄρνιϲ ἀτυζομένα, Διὸϲ ἄγγελοϲ.

ἰὼ παντλάμων Νιόβα, ϲὲ δʼ ἔγωγε νέμω θεόν,

150
ἅτʼ ἐν τάφῳ πετραίῳ,
αἰαῖ, δακρύειϲ.

LINE 147
στονόεις, - εσσα, - εν

(στόνος, στένω) mournful, wretched (= ἡ στονόεσσα); [1× El. ]

ἀρᾰρίσκω, ἤραρον

(ἄραρεν, aor.2 indic. act. without temp. augment) intrans.: suit, fit (usually with dat. here with two accs.; Finglass views it as an intransitive pf.2: “is fixed in my mind”; in either case the accs. are of the whole and of the part: the first, ἐμέ, refers to the person, i.e., ‘me,’ and the second, φρένας, specifies the part, i.e., ‘mind’: SS 41 §11); > ‘but she who laments suits me, [that is, suits] my mind’; [1× Soph.]

+φρήν, φρενός, ἡ
midriff, mind (LSJ 3; often in plural)

Ἴτυς, ῠος, ὁ
son of Procne and Tereus; the length of - υ- changes: ἃ Ἴτῠν αἰέν Ἴτῡν; [1× Soph.]

ὀλοφύρομαι
lament (Procne, changed into a nightingale, mourns her son eternally); [1× Soph.]

+ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ/ ἡ
here: the nightingale
ἀτύζομαι
be distraught (from fear) (attributive participle: SS 256– 57 §8); [1× Soph.]

+Ζεύς, Διός, ὁ

(Διϝός, declension: S #285.12)

ἄγγελος, ὁ/ ἡ
messenger; the traditional messenger was the eagle. Jebb and Kells suggest that the nightingale was considered Zeus’ messenger since his return to Attica heralds the Spring, which is sacred to Zeus, as are all the seasons, Ὧραι, who are his daughters; [1× El. ]

LINE 150
παν- τλήμων, ον
all- wretched (genit. – ονος; = παντάλᾱς, αινα, αν; Doric: τλάμων [ᾱ]); (1× El. ) Νιόβη, ἡ
voc. (she had 6 sons and 6 daughters [or 7 and 7] and boasted that she was superior to Leto, who had only 1 each. In revenge, Apollo and Artemis killed Niobe’s children. She turned into a rock on Mt.

Sipylus in Lydia, with a spring of water forever flowing down her face like tears); Sophocles sees her as a goddess (Sale); (1× El. )

+ἔγωγε
emphatic for ἐγώ (S #325b)

+*νέμω
hold, consider as; apportion, assign, distribute; (Νέμεσις = Retribution) ἅτ᾿

= ἅ τε (ἥ τε); here ὅς τε in its epic use indicates permanent/ timeless action (SS 263 §2); > ‘ you who forever shed tears in your rocky tomb’

+τάφος, ὁ

[ᾰ] (θάπτω, bury) grave, tomb
πετραῖος (3)

(πέτρα, rock) rock; (1× El. )

+δακρύω
weep, shed tears

54

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΟ. οὔτοι
ϲοὶ μούνᾳ ,
στρ. β’

τέκνον, ἄχοϲ ἐφάνη βροτῶν,
πρὸϲ ὅ τι ϲὺ τῶν ἔνδον εἶ περιϲϲά,

155
οἷϲ ὁμόθεν εἶ καὶ γονᾷ ξύναιμοϲ,
οἵα Χρυϲόθεμιϲ ζώει καὶ Ἰφιάναϲϲα,
κρυπτᾷ τʼ ἀχέων ἐν ἥβᾳ
ὄλβιοϲ, ὃν ἁ κλεινὰ

160

SECOND STROPHE, Lines 153– 172

LINE 153

+βροτός, ὁ
mortal person (poetic opposite to ἀθάνατος or θεός; as adj.: mortal); partitive genit. following adj. μούνᾳ

(SS 58 §10)

ἄχος, εως, τό
pain, distress; [1× El.]

+*φαίνω

(ἐφάνη [ᾱ] = ἐφήνη, aor.2); bring to light, show, make known, reveal, disclose; intransitive: appear

+ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι
whoever, any one who, whatever, anything which (indefinite/ general relative pron.: S #339); ὅ τι = acc.

of respect; > ‘Not to you alone among mortals, child, has grief appeared, in regard to which you are beyond (i.e., more afflicted than, Kamerbeek) those within/ indoors’

+ἔνδον (adv.)

τῶν +ἔνδον supply ἀνθρώπων; an adv. with an article may be used to qualify a noun which is often omitted (S #1153e); genit. of comparison (S #1401– 3); antecedent of οἷς, the masculine form can stand also for feminine, here referring to Chrysothemis and Iphianassa (S #105l SS 12– 13 §8) περισσός (3)

(περί, exceedingly) more than sufficient, superfluous, beyond (LSJ 3) LINE 156
ὁμόθεν (adv.)

(ὁμός, same) from the same origin; [1× Soph.]

γονή, ἡ

(+*γίγνομαι be, become), race, stock, family, lineage (LSJ 2); γονᾷ = γονῇ
ξύν- αιμος, ὁ/ ἡ

= σύν- αιμος (σύν, αῖμα) brother, sister, kinsman, kinswoman; > ‘with whom by lineage you are sister; [1× El.]

+οἷος, οἵα, οἷον
such as, of which sort (correl. pron., S #340) οἷα clarifies τῶν ἔνδον > ‘such as Chr. who is living and Iph.’; some connect the words to περισσά and understand: ‘considering the manner in which Chr. lives . . .’

Χρυσόθεμις . . .Ἰφιάνασσα
according to Homer, Ag. had three daughters: Chrysothemis, Laodicē, and Iphianassa, the last sometimes identified with Iphigenia ( Iliad 9.145); Euripides ( Or. 23) mentions Chrysothemis, Iphianassa, and Electra; (Ἰφιϝάνασσα, ‘ruling with power’)

+*ζάω
live (contracts to η when we expect ᾱ: S #395); Ion.: ζώει = Attic: ζῇ

LINE 159

+κρυπτός (3)

(κρύπτω, hide) hidden, secret, concealed, secluded
ἀχέων
either genit. pl. following κρυπτᾷ, from τὸ ἄχος [ᾰ] = sorrow, i.e., ‘[lives] in youth secluded from sorrows’

(SS 68 §30, Finglass, Kells, Kamerbeek); or an uncontracted pres. ptc. from ἀχέω, grieve, i.e., ‘who

[lives] in sorrow/ sorrowing . . . ’, i.e., he too is grieving (Jebb, Sale. Synizesis, adjacent vowels are pronounced together to give a single long syllable: S #60)

ἥβη, ἡ
youth
ὄλβιος (2/ 3)

(ὄλβος, happiness) happy, blest; [1× El.]

ὃν

The subject of the supplied ζώει/ ζῇ, Orestes, is the antecedent; > ‘[he lives] . . . whom . . . ’

ἁ κλεινά

= ἡ κλεινή; see κλεινός 8n

55

Commentary 161–178
γᾶ ποτε Μυκηναίων
δέξεται εὐπατρίδαν, Διὸϲ εὔφρονι
βήματι μολόντα τάνδε γᾶν Ὀρέϲταν.

ΗΛ.

ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ἀκάματα προϲμένουϲʼ ἄτεκνοϲ,
τάλαινʼ ἀνύμφευτοϲ αἰὲν οἰχνῶ ,

165
δάκρυϲι μυδαλέα, τὸν ἀνήνυτον
οἶτον ἔχουϲα κακῶν· ὁ δὲ λάθεται
ὧν τʼ ἔπαθʼ ὧν τʼ ἐδάη. τί γὰρ οὐκ ἐμοὶ

LINE 161

+Μῠκηναῖος (3)

Mycenaean
εὐ- πᾰτρίδης, ου, ὁ

(εὖ, πᾰτήρ) of a noble sire, of a noble family
εὔ- φρων, ον

(εὖ, φρήν) cheerful; well minded, well disposed, kind; [1× El.]

βῆμα, ατος, τό

(+*βαίνω, go) pace, step, footstep, guidance (LSJ); [1× El.]

ὅν . . .Ὀρέσταν
hyperbaton (p. 24). The name is emphatically put last, and is attracted to the case of the relative pronoun;

> ‘whom the famous Mycenaean land will one day accept as heir of his noble father when he comes with the kindly guidance of Zeus to this land, Orestes.’

LINE 164
ὅν
the antecedent is Orestes
ἀ- κάμᾰτος (2/ 3)

(ἀ privat., κάμᾰτος) untiring, unresting (ἀκάμᾰτα = neut. acc. pl. as adv. = untiringly); [1× El.]

+προσ- +*μένω
abide, wait still or longer; await
ἄ- τεκνος, ον

(ἀ privat., τέκνον) childless; [1× Soph.]

+τάλᾱς, τάλαινᾰ, τάλᾰν

(*τλάω, suffer) suffering, wretched, enduring
ἀ- νύμφευτος, ον

(ἀ privat., νυμφεύω, wed) unwedded (ἄτεκνος, ἀνύμφευτος, hysteron proteron: arrangement reversing the natural order of events: S #3030. The more important reason for her unhappiness is stated first [her childlessness] although it depends on the latter, i.e., not being married); > ‘Yes! And in waiting for whom without rest, I childless, without a husband live miserable forever’; [1× El.]

οἰχνέω

= +*οἴχομαι go; generally: walk, live
δάκρυ, υος, τό
tear (= δάκρῠον, τό); [1× Soph]

μῡδᾰλέος (3)

wet, dripping, soaked; > ‘drenched in tears’; [1× Soph.]

ἀν- ήνῠτος, ον

(ἀ privat., ἀνύω, accomplish) endless (= ἀν- ήνυστος); [1× Soph.]

LINE 167
οἶτος, ὁ
ill fate, lot, doom; > ‘having an endless fate of sorrows’

+λήθω, λήθομαι
mid. and pass.: forget, lose the memory of + genit.

+*πάσχω, ἔπαθον

(ἔπαθε, aor.2 act.) suffer, experience

*δάω

(ἐδάη, aor.2 indic.) learn (an old root); > ‘he forgets what (the things) he has suffered and what (the things) he has learned’; [1× El. ]

56

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἔρχεται ἀγγελίαϲ ἀπατώμενον;

170
ἀεὶ μὲν γὰρ ποθεῖ,
ποθῶν δʼ οὐκ ἀξιοῖ φανῆναι.

ΧΟ. θάρϲει μοι, θάρϲει ,
ἀντ. β’

τέκνον. ἔτι μέγαϲ οὐρανῷ

Ζεύϲ, ὃϲ ἐφορᾷ πάντα καὶ κρατύνει·

175
ᾧ τὸν ὑπεραλγῆ χόλον νέμουϲα
μήθʼ οἷϲ ἐχθαίρειϲ ὑπεράχθεο μήτʼ ἐπιλάθου·
χρόνοϲ γὰρ εὐμαρὴϲ θεόϲ.

LINE 170
ἀγγελία, ἡ

(ἀγγέλλω, bear a message) message (partitive genit.: SS 57 §10); [1× El. ]

ἀπᾰτάω

(ἀπατή, cheating) cheat, trick, beguile; pass.: deceived, belied > ‘what (τί) message (lit.: of his message) comes to me that is not belied? ’; [1× El. ]

+*ποθῶν

(ποθέω) concessive ptc. (SS 252 §3; S #2066); ποθεῖ . . . ποθῶν wordplay on different forms of the same word was greatly appreciated by the Greeks, here for emphasis.

ἀξιόω
think/ deem worthy; think fit (with limiting/ explanatory inf. φανῆναι: SS 238– 39 §3a); Kells: “For he is always ‘yearning’ (to come); but although yearning, he does not think fit to appear.”

SECOND ANTISTROPHE, Lines 173– 192

LINE 173

+θαρσέω

(θάρσος, courage) be of good courage; θάρσει = impv.: take courage μοι . . .τέκνον

‘my child’ (dat. of possession: S #1480; SS 83– 84 §8)

οὐρᾰνός, ὁ
heaven (dat. of place: S #1531; SS 87 §13); > ‘Zeus is still great in heaven’

ἐφ- +*οράω
look over/ on, oversee, observe, survey
κρᾰτύνω

[ῡ] (κράτος, rule) rule, govern; [1× El. ]

LINE 176
ὑπερ- αλγής, ὲς

(ὑπερ, ἄλγος) exceedingly grievous, painful; [1× Soph.]

χόλος, ὁ
gall, bile; bitter anger, wrath; [1× El. ]

+οἷς
by attraction for οὕς, because ὑπερ- άχθομαι requires dat.; μήθ᾿ ὑπεράχθεο ( τούτοις) οὓς ἐχθαίρεις μήτε
ἐπιλάθου = > ‘commit (lit.: committing) to him (i.e., to Zeus) your grievous anger; do not be excessively vexed with those whom you hate, or forget them’

+ἐχθαίρω

(ἔχθος, hatred) hate
ὑπερ- άχθομαι

(ὑπεράχθέο = ὑπεράχθου, impv.) be exceedingly vexed + dative
εὐ- μᾰρής, ές
easy, convenient; gentle (LSJ 2); [1× Soph.]

θεός
synizesis (p. 24)

57

Commentary 180–196
οὔτε γὰρ ὁ τὰν Κρῖϲαν

180
βούνομον ἔχων ἀκτὰν
παῖϲ Ἀγαμεμνονίδαϲ ἀπερίτροποϲ
οὔθʼ ὁ παρὰ τὸν Ἀχέροντα θεὸϲ ἀνάϲϲων.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν ὁ πολὺϲ ἀπολέλοιπεν ἤδη

185
βίοτοϲ ἀνέλπιϲτον, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀρκῶ·
ἅτιϲ ἄνευ τεκέων κατατάκομαι,

LINE 180

Κρῖσα, ἡ
a city in Phocis, about two miles WSW of Delphi; includes the land stretching southward from the town to its harbor (see Jebb); [1× Soph.]

ἀκτή, ἡ

(ἄγνῡμι, break) place where the waves break, i.e., beach, shore; [1× El. ]

βού- νομος, ον

(βοῦς, νέμω, drive to pasture) cattle feeding; > ‘for neither he who holds/ occupies (*+ἔχων) the cattle-feeding coast at Crisa . . .’ (the Crisean plain southward from Delphi to the Corinthian Gulf became untilled and sacred to Apollo [‘cattle feeding’] only after ca. 585 bce, when Delphi took over this region

[Jebb]. Tragedy is indifferent to anachronism; cf. Πυθικοῖσιν 49n) Ἀγαμεμνονίδης, ου, ὁ
son of Agamemnon (– ιδης patronymic: S #845.4); [1× Soph.]

ἀ- περί- τροπος, ον

(ἀ privat., περιτρέπω, turn round about) not returning, heedless (predicate to both Orestes, and Hades/

Agamemnon); > ‘For neither is he who holds the cattle- feeding shore of Crisa heedless, the son of Ag., nor . . . ’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 183

+παρά (+ acc.)

running along, beside

Ἀχέρων, ὁ
river in the Netherworld; [1× El.]

ἀνάσσω

[ᾰ] rule, hold sway (poetic verb mostly in present. Scholars who read ὁ θεός as subject: “nor is the god ruling” would assume him to be Hades [Jebb, Sale, March, Finglass], those who read θεός as predicate: “nor is he who rules as a god,” would see reference to the spirit of Ag. [Kamerbeek, Kells]. El. has invoked the ‘house of Hades and Persephone’ at 110)

LINE 185
ἐμὲ +μὲν
μέν solitarium emphasizes ἐμέ; see 61n
ἀπο- +*λείπω, - λέλοιπα

(ἀπολέλοπεν, pf. act.) leave behind one, abandon
βίοτος, ὁ

(βιόω, live) life
ἀν- έλπιστος, ον

(ἐλπίζω, hope) hopeless; > ‘but best part/ much of my life has already abandoned me without hope’;

[1× El.]

+ἀρκέω
be strong, avail; aid, assist (+ dat.); > ‘I have no strength anymore’

+ἄνευ (+ genit.)

without
τέκος, εος, τό
offspring, child (poetic for τέκνον); [1× Soph.]

κατα- τήκω

(Doric: τάκω); pass.: melt away; > ‘I who melt away with no offspring’; (1× El.) 58

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἇϲ φίλοϲ οὔτιϲ ἀνὴρ ὑπερίϲταται,
ἀλλʼ ἁπερεί τιϲ ἔποικοϲ ἀναξία
οἰκονομῶ θαλάμουϲ πατρόϲ, ὧδε μὲν

190
ἀεικεῖ ϲὺν ϲτολᾷ,
κεναῖϲ δʼ ἀμφίϲταμαι τραπέζαιϲ.

ΧΟ.

οἰκτρὰ μὲν νόϲτοιϲ αὐδά ,
στρ. γ’

οἰκτρὰ δʼ ἐν κοίταιϲ πατρῴαιϲ,
ὅτε οἱ παγχάλκων ἀνταία

195
γενύων ὡρμάθη πλαγά.

LINE 188

+φίλος (2/ 3)

loved, near and dear (poetic with active sense: loving)

ὑπερ- ίστᾰμαι
to stand over so as to protect one, shield, guard + genit.; > ‘whom (ἇς = ἧς) no loving husband protects’;

[1× Soph.]

ἁπερεῖ (adv.)

(ἅπερ, as, so as) just as if, even as (= ὡσπερεί); [1× Soph.]

ἔπ- οικος, ον
stranger, alien; [1× Soph.]

ἀν- άξιος (2/ 3)

(ἀ privat., ἄξιος) unworthy, worthless; [1× El.]

LINE 190
οἰκο- νομέω

(οἰκονόμος, οἶκος, νέμω) be a steward; > ‘but as some worthless alien I serve/ tend to the chambers of my father’; [1× Soph.]

θάλᾰμος ὁ
chamber; [1× El.]

ἀ- εικής, ές

(ἀ privat., εἶκος, fair, reasonable) unseemly, shameful; [1× Soph.]

στολή, ἡ

(στέλλω, furnish) fitting out, clothes; [1× El.]

+κενός (3)

empty, destitute, vain, mean
ἀμφ- +*ίστημι
pass.: stand around; [1× El.]

τράπεζα, ἡ

[τρᾰ] table, dinner, meal; >’in such mean clothes I stand around bare tables’

THIRD STROPHE, Lines 193– 212

LINE 193

+οἰκτρός (3)

pitiable, lamentable (οἰκτρά . . . οἰκτρά: anaphora, p. 23) νόστος, ὁ

(νέομαι, go, come) return home (SS 4 §3: “perhaps the abstract action causes the plural of νόστος.” Dat.

of time (SS 88 §3; S #1528b); [1× El. ].

μέν . . . δέ
complementary not adversative, common in anaphora. Here, emphasizing οἰκτρά; > ‘pitiful was the cry at his homecoming, and pitiful was the cry when your father lay on the couch (lit.: on your father’s couch)’

αὐδή, ἡ
human voice; metaphorically: any other sound
κοίτη, ἡ

(κεῖμαι, lie down) bed, couch; the plural probably imitates νόστοις, in preceding line.

ὅτε (correl. adv.)

when (usually denotes same time as that of the main verb: S 2383a) οἱ
dat. sg. 3rd pers. ( hiatus, see p. 23) here between ὅτε and οἱ. Dat. of disadvantage or incommodi: S #1481);

> ‘when the stroke of the brazen blade of an axe came down straight (lit.: hastened) at him. ’

παγχάλκος, ον

(πᾶς, χαλκός, bronze) all- brazen, all of brass; [1× El. ]

ἀνταῖος (3)

(ἄντα, over against) set over, against, right opposite; [1× Soph.]

γένῠς, υος, ἡ
lit.: jaw; edge of an axe, axe, blade of an axe (LSJ II)

59

Commentary 197–212
δόλοϲ ἦν ὁ φράϲαϲ, ἔροϲ ὁ κτείναϲ,
δεινὰν δεινῶϲ προφυτεύϲαντεϲ
μορφάν, εἴτʼ οὖν θεὸϲ εἴτε βροτῶν
ἦν ὁ ταῦτα πράϲϲων.

200

ΗΛ.

ὦ παϲᾶν κείνα πλέον ἁμέρα
ἐλθοῦϲʼ ἐχθίϲτα δή μοι·
ὦ νύξ, ὦ δείπνων ἀρρήτων
ἔκπαγλʼ ἄχθη·
ὁρμάω, ὡρμήθην

(Doric: ὡρμάθη, aor.1 pass.) pass.: speed, hasten, rush on, make a start πληγή, ἡ

(Doric: πλαγά) blow, stroke

LINE 197

+δόλος, ὁ
cunning, deceit

+φράζω, ἔφρασα
devise, plan (artic. substant. ptc.: S #2050, 2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825) ἔρος, ὁ
love, desire (Homeric form of ἔρως; occurs only here in Sophocles, does not appear in Aeschylus and only once in Euripides)

+*κτείνω, ἔκτεινα
kill (see ὁ φράσας previously; > ‘guile was the plotter, passion was the killer’

+δεινὰν δεινῶς
extension of polyptoton (p. 24); play on different forms of the same word was greatly appreciated by the Greeks; δεινῶς (adv.)

προ- φῠτεύω

(προφυτεύσαντες, aor.1 act. ptc.) plant before; metaphorically: engender; [1× Soph.]

μορφή, ἡ
shape, form, figure; > ‘[the two] terribly bred a terrible shape’

+εἶ- τε οὖν . . . εἶ- τε
either . . . or, whether . . . or; often for εἶτε . . . εἶτε

+*πράσσω
do, achieve, effect, bring to pass (Kamerbeek = εἴτ᾿ οὖν ὁ ταῦτα πράσσων ἦν θεός [τις], εἴτε [τις] βροτῶν)

> ‘whether [some] god or [someone] of mortals brought this to pass’

LINE 201

+πασᾶν

= πασῶν; comparative genit. (S #1069; SS 69– 70 §32)

κεῖνος (3)

poetic for +ἐκεῖνος (3)

+πλέον (adv.)

neut. of πλέων used here instead of μᾶλλον (S #1068) to create comparative of the omitted ἐχθρά; > ‘Oh, that day by far most hateful, more [hateful] than all days that have come to me’

+ἡμέρα, ἡ

(Doric: ἁμέρα) day

LINE 203
ἔχθιστος (3)

irregular superlative of +ἐχθρός (3); = ἐχθίστη
δή (postpos. pcl.)

emphasizes the superlative ἐχθίστα (GP 206); > ‘by far most hateful’

δείπνον, τό
meal, feast (poetic plural: SS 7§4); [1× El. ]

ἄρρ- ητος (2/ 3)

(ἀ privat., ῤηθῆναι > ἐρῶ, say) that cannot be told, unspeakable ἔκ- παγλος, ον
metathesis: ἐκπλᾰγος (ἐκπλαγῆναι, ἐκπλήσσω, scare) frightful; > ‘Oh, fearful anguish (lit.: ‘burdens’) of the unspeakable feast’

60

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
τοῖϲ ἐμὸϲ ἴδε πατὴρ

205
θανάτουϲ αἰκεῖϲ διδύμαιν χειροῖν,
αἳ τὸν ἐμὸν εἷλον βίον
πρόδοτον, αἵ μʼ ἀπώλεϲαν·
οἷϲ θεὸϲ ὁ μέγαϲ Ὀλύμπιοϲ
ποίνιμα πάθεα παθεῖν πόροι,

210
μήδε ποτʼ ἀγλαΐαϲ ἀποναίατο
τοιάδʼ ἀνύϲαντεϲ ἔργα.

LINE 205
τοῖς

= οἷς (antecedent: δείπνων ἀρρήτων)

ἴδε

(aor.2 act. 3sg., +*ὁράω); temporal augment omitted = εἶδε
αἰκής, ές

= +ἀεικής, ές
θάνᾰτος, ὁ

[ᾰ] death (probably poetic plural for emphasis: SS 6– 7 4a); [1× El. ]

δίδῠμος (3/ 2)

(δίς, twice) double (δυδύμαιν χειροῖν, dat. dual. The hand of Clyt. and the hand of Aegisthus;); > ‘at which my father saw his shameful death by their twin hands’; [1× El. ].

+*αἱρέω
take away, seize, overpower; see ἁλίσκομαι 125n
πρόδοτον
predicative and proleptic (see p. 24; Kamerbeek; SS 167– 68 §6); > ‘hands] that took away (εἷλον) my betrayed life’ i.e., ‘[hands] that betrayed me and took away my life’

+*ἀπ- +*όλλῡμι, - ώλεσα

(ἀπώλεσαν, aor.1 act.) destroy utterly, kill, slay; > ‘[hands] that utterly destroyed me’; αἳ . . . αἵ = anaphora in asyndeton (p. 23) between the two relative clauses, cf. 113– 14

LINE 209

+οἷς
the antecedent is Clyt. and Aeg.

Ὀλύμπιος (3)

dwelling on Olympus; i.e., Zeus; [1× El. ]

ποίνῐμος, ον

(ποινή vengeance) avenging, punishing; [1× El. ]

πάθος, εος, τό

(παθεῖν, πάσχω suffer) suffering, misfortune; [1× El. ]

+*πάσχω, ἔπαθον

(παθεῖν, aor.2 inf. act.) suffer, be affected by anything good or bad (πάθεα παθεῖν— figura etymologica, see p. 23. παθεῖν, final/ consecutive inf. following vb. of giving, πόροι: SS 237§2: “May the god give them in return [i.e., as revenge] sufferings to endure”)

+*πόροι

(aor.2 opt.) bring to pass (opt. of wish: S #1814; GMT #721, 722); π alliteration , here repetition of word-initial consonant sounds.

ἀγλᾰία, ἡ
ἀγλαός, splendid) splendor, beauty, festive joy; (1× Soph.)

ἀπ- ονίνημαι, - ωνήμην

(Attic: ἀπόναιντο, aor.2 opt. mid.) mid.: have enjoyment (opt. of wish negated by μή: S #1814; GMT

#721, 722); [1× Soph.]

ἀνύω
accomplish; > ‘may they who accomplished such things never have joy of their splendor’; (1× El. ) 61

Commentary 213–232

ΧΟ.

φράζου μὴ πόρϲω φωνεῖν.

ἄντ. γ’

οὐ γνώμαν ἴϲχειϲ ἐξ οἵων
τὰ παρόντʼ; οἰκείαϲ εἰϲ ἄταϲ

215
ἐμπίπτειϲ οὕτωϲ αἰκῶϲ;
πολὺ γάρ τι κακῶν ὑπερεκτήϲω,
ϲᾷ δυϲθύμῳ τίκτουϲʼ αἰεὶ
ψυχᾷ πολέμουϲ· τάδε— τοῖϲ δυνατοῖϲ
οὐκ ἐριϲτά— τλᾶθι.

220

THIRD ANTISTROPHE, Lines 213– 232

LINE 213
πόρσω (adv.)

hereafter, forward; (1× El. )

+φωνέω

(φωνή, sound) speak loud or clearly (Jebb: “Be advised to say no more”)

+γνωμή, ἡ

(γνῶναι, γιγνώσκω, perceive) mind, judgment
ἴσχω
hold, restrain (γνώμαν ἴσχεις periphrasis for γιγνώσκεις: Finglass)

+πάρ- +*ειμι
be present (τὰ παρόντα = present situation); > ‘don’t you understand from what kind of things [words/
deeds] the present situation [emerged]?’

οἰκεῖος (2/ 3)

(οἶκος, house) belonging to the house; one’s own (LSJ III.2); >‘disasters of your own making’; [1× El. ]

+ἄτη, ἡ

(ἀάω, infatuate) state of infatuation or the ruin arising from it, disaster ἐμ- +*πίπτω
fall upon, plunge; [1× El. ]

LINE 217
ὑπερ- κτάομαι

(ὑπερεκτήσω, aor.1 mid.) acquire over and above; [1× Soph.]

δύς- θῡμος, ον

(δυς- , θῡμος) dispirited, despondent, anxious, disaffected

+*τίκτω
give birth, beget

+ψῡχή, ἡ
spirit, soul
πόλεμος, ὁ
war, battle; >‘you have acquired a large portion of your suffering over and above by constantly breeding battles for your disaffected soul’; [1× El. ]

τάδε . . . τλᾶθι

(= τλῆθι, aor.2 impv., < *τλάω, ἔτλην, endure) ‘endure this’ (τάδε . . . τλᾶθι is conjecture of Jackson’s for τά δὲ, and of Wakefield’s for codd. πλάθειν: ‘to approach [in hostile sense].’ Jebb accepts the codd. and sees πλάθειν as epexegetic inf. that further explains the meaning of ἐριστά: “but those things [i.e., such wars] cannot be waged against the powerful, so that one should come in conflict with them.” The Jackson-Wakefield conjecture is recommended due to its simplicity and is in line with the core advice of the Chorus: ‘Endure this [i.e., the situation]! You cannot struggle against those in power.’) δῠνατός (3)

(δύναμαι, be able) strong, mighty, powerful; [1× El. ]

ἐριστός (3)

(ἐρίζω, rival with) be disputed; [1× Soph.]

62

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

ἐν δεινοῖϲ δείνʼ ἠναγκάϲθην·
ἔξοιδʼ, οὐ λάθει μʼ ὀργά.

ἀλλʼ ἐν γὰρ δεινοῖϲ οὐ ϲχήϲω
ταύταϲ ἄταϲ,
ὄφρα με βίοϲ ἔχῃ.

225
τίνι γάρ ποτʼ ἄν, ὦ φιλία γενέθλα,
πρόϲφορον ἀκούϲαιμʼ ἔποϲ,
τίνι φρονοῦντι καίρια;
ἄνετέ μʼ ἄνετε παράγοροι.

τάδε γὰρ ἄλυτα κεκλήϲεται·

230
οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐκ καμάτων ἀποπαύϲομαι
ἀνάριθμοϲ ὧδε θρήνων.

LINE 221

+δεινοῖς δείνά
polyptoton, see δεινὰν δεινῶς 198n

+ἀναγκάζω

(ἠναγκάσθην, aor.1 pass.) force a person to do something; > ‘I’ve been forced [to do] dreadful things in dreadful circumstances’

+ἔξ- +*οιδα

I know full well (for +οἶδ, see 40, 41, 55; for ἐκ, see 7, 13)

+* λήθω

(Doric: λάθει) act.: escape or elude notice (+ acc. of person: μέ); > ‘ I know it well; my passion does not escape me. ’

ἀλλ᾿ . . . γὰρ
assumes an ellipse (GP 101: “what precedes is irrelevant unimportant, or subsidiary, and is consequently to be ruled out of discussion”); >‘But no! For I shall not curb these disastrous ways’

+*ἔχω, σχήσω/ ἕξω
have, hold (for 2 futures, see S #1911. In verse ἔχω is often used as κατέχω, hold back, curb) LINE 225
ὄφρα (conj.)

so long as (ἄν omitted; ἔχῃ, subjv. pres. act. in primary sequence, σχήσω (S #2193 a); > ‘as long as life keeps hold of me’; [1× Soph.]

+βίος, ὁ
life

+τίνι

Moorhouse sees it as dat. with verbs of obeying or addressing, 82 §5: “from whom could I hear a suitable word (of comfort) from whom that thinks aright?”

πρόσ- φορος, ον

(προσφέρω, bring to) useful, profitable, suitable; [1× El. ]

+*ἀκούω

(ἀκούσαιμι, aor.1 act. opt.) hear, listen (potential opt. in independent clause with ἄν for timeless reference to the future: S #1824; SS 230 §14); > ‘ could I hear (possibly in the future)’

+ἔπος, εος, τό
word

+φρονέω
think, have an understanding
καίριος (3/ 2)

(+καιρός) seasonable, happening at the right/ critical time; [1× El. ]

LINE 229

+ἀν- *ίημι

(ἄν- ετε, aor.2 impv. act) let go (S #777)

παρήγορος, ον

(παρα, ἀγορεύω) consoling, soothing; > ‘leave me, leave me, you who console me’; [1× Soph.]

ἄλῠτος, ον

(ἀ privat., λύω loosen) not to be loosed, insoluble; [1× Soph.]

+*κᾰλέω
call, call by name (fut. pf. pass. indic., κεκλήσεται, indicates a completed action in the future with permanent result: S #1852 b3) > ‘for these things/ this will be called insoluble’

63

Commentary 233–248

ΧΟ. ἀλλʼ οὖν εὐνοίᾳ γʼ αὐδῶ ,
ἐπ.

μάτηρ ὡϲεί τιϲ πιϲτά,
μὴ τίκτειν ϲʼ ἄταν ἄταιϲ.

235

ΗΛ.

καὶ τί μέτρον κακότατοϲ ἔφυ; φέρε,
πῶϲ ἐπὶ τοῖϲ φθιμένοιϲ ἀμελεῖν καλόν;
κάμᾰτος, ὁ

(κάμνω, be tired) toil, trouble, weariness, distress
ἀπο- παύω
mid.: cease from; [1× El. ]

ἀν- άριθμος, ον

(ἀ privat., ἀριθμός, number) without number; > ‘for I will never cease from my labors and am in this way infinite in my lamentations’; [1× El. ]

LINE 233
ἀλλ᾿ οὖν . . . γε
well, at least (GP 442– 43: “following upon the rejection of a suggestion . . . usually . . . introduces a more moderate suggestion”)

εὔνοιᾰ, ἡ
goodwill, loyalty (dat. of cause or reason: SS 89 §17); > because of/ out of goodwill’; [1× El. ]

αὐδάω

(αὐδή, human voice) speak, talk, say
ὡσ- εί (adv.)

as if, just as (GMT #873); > ‘as some faithful mother’; (in a ring composition the Chorus conclude with the theme of the mother image, they started at 112, casting themselves as the opposite of Clytemnestra);

[1× El. ]

+πιστός (3)

reliable, faithful, loyal
ἄταν ἄταις
polyptoton (see δεινὰν δεινῶς, 198n) for effect and emphasis. Dat. of what is added to; SS 85 §9: “I tell you not to breed misery upon misery.”

LINE 236

+καί (adv.)

and (for stress, the query is an indignant comment on the preceding statement); > ‘ and what has nature produced as a measure of evil?’

μέτρον, τό
measure, standard, rule; [1× El.]

κᾰκότης, ητος, ἡ

(κακός, bad) badness, wickedness; [1× El.]

+*φύω, ἔφυν

[ῡ] (aor.2 act) bring forth, produce

+*φέρε

‘come,’ ‘now,’ ‘well’ (used like ἄγε: S #2010)

+πῶς
how?

+ἐπί (+ dat.)

on, by, upon, on the surface of, in addition to; for, over

+φθίω/ φθίνω
decline, decay, wane (φθίμενοι = the dead; τοῖς φθινομένοις artic. substant. ptc.: S #2050; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825)

ἀ- μελέω

(ἀμελής, uncared for) be careless, negligent, not to care; > ‘Come, how can it be honorable not to care for the dead?’ [1× El.]

+κᾰλος (3)

beautiful, good, noble

64

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἐν τίνι τοῦτʼ ἔβλαϲτʼ ἀνθρώπων;
μήτʼ εἴην ἔντιμοϲ τούτοιϲ
μήτʼ, εἴ τῳ πρόϲκειμαι χρηϲτῷ ,

240
ξυνναίοιμʼ εὔκηλοϲ, γονέων
ἐκτίμουϲ ἴϲχουϲα πτέρυγαϲ
ὀξυτόνων γόων.

εἰ γὰρ ὁ μὲν θανὼν γᾶ τε καὶ οὐδὲν ὢν

245
κείϲεται τάλαϲ,
οἱ δὲ μὴ πάλιν
δώϲουϲʼ ἀντιφόνουϲ δίκαϲ,

LINE 238
τοῦτ᾿

= τοῦτο, ‘this’ (i.e., the idea that such a behavior would be καλόν)

+*βλαστάνω, ἔβλαστον

(ἔβλαστε, aor.2 act.) bud, sprout; > ‘in whom among men has this shot forth?’ = “Who among men has such an instinct?” (Lloyd-Jones) (Verbs denoting creation and breeding are recurrent in El.’s language.) μήτ’ . . . μήτ᾿
anaphora (p. 23)

ἔν- τῑμος, ον

(ἐν, τιμή) in honor, honored; [1× El.]

μήτ᾿ εἴην ἔν- τῑμος

‘may I never be honored among those’ (optative of wish in independent sentence: S #1814; GMT

#721– 22)

+προς- +κείμαι
lie with, lie near, be attached, placed near
χρηστός (3)

(χράομαι, use) useful, good; > ‘if I am attached to any good thing’

LINE 241
συν- ναίω
dwell along with (μήτ’. . . ξυναίοιμι opt. of wish in independent sentence: S #1814; GMT #721– 22); >

‘may I never dwell in tranquility . . .’; [1× El.]

εὔκηλος, ον

(lengthened form of ἕκηλος) tranquil, free from care, fear; [1× El.]

+γονέων

Electra puts ‘parents’ in the plural even though she must be referring only to her father, cf. 146, 187.

Objective genit.: ‘dishonor my father’ (SS 53; §4; S #1328) ἔκ- τῑμος, ον

(ἐκ, τῑμή) without honor, dishonoring; [1×Soph.]

πτέρυξ, ῠγος, ἡ
wing; [1× El.]

ὀξύ- τονος, ον

(ὀξύς, τόνος; τείνω, stretch) stretched to a point, piercing, sharp; > ‘if I hold back (ἴσχουσα) the wings of piercing lamentation so as to dishonor my father’; [1× El. ]

LINE 245
οὐδὲν ὢν
οὐδέν negates ὤν

+κεῖμαι
lie down, be situated, be placed/ laid; ὁ μέν is opposed by οἱ δέ; > ‘for if he . . . while they . . .’

+*δίδωμι

(δώσουσι, fut. act.) + δίκας: give satisfaction/ suffer punishment ἀντί- φονος, ον
in return for slaughter; [1× El.]

65

Commentary 249–263
ἔρροι τʼ ἂν αἰδὼϲ
ἁπάντων τʼ εὐϲέβεια θνατῶν.

250

ΧΟ.

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ παῖ, καὶ τὸ ϲὸν ϲπεύδουϲʼ ἅμα
καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆϲ ἦλθον· εἰ δὲ μὴ καλῶϲ
λέγω, ϲὺ νίκα· ϲοὶ γὰρ ἑψόμεϲθʼ ἅμα.

ΗΛ. αἰϲχύνομαι μέν, ὦ γυναῖκεϲ, εἰ δοκῶ
πολλοῖϲι θρήνοιϲ δυϲφορεῖν ὑμῖν ἄγαν.

255

LINE 249
εἰ κείσεται . . . μὴ

This is a mixed condition constructed with fut. indic. in protasis and potential opt. in apodosis. The po-δώσουσι . . . ἔρροι τ᾿ἄν
tential opt. either can have its distinctive force or can express a softened expression of fut. indic. (GMT

#505c). Fut. indic. in protasis (instead of ἐάν with subjv.) contains a strong appeal to the feelings, or a threat, or warning, and therefore a favorite construction in Tragedy (GMT #447; SS 277– 78 §1a); > ‘if the dead man (ὁ μὲν θανὼν) is to lie as earth and nothingness (οὐδὲν ὢν), a wretched being, and they (οἱ
δ ᾿) are not to pay back a penalty in return for slaughter . . .’; +πάλιν, ‘in return’ points to retributory justice.

αἰδώς, όος/ οῦς, ἡ
sense of shame; [1× El.]

+ἅ- πᾱς, ἅπᾱσα, ἅπαν

(ἅμα, πᾶς, strengthened for πᾶς) quite all, all together

+εὐσέβεια, ἡ
reverence toward the gods, piety

+θνητός (2/ 3)

mortal (θνητοί = ‘mortals’); > ‘shame and reverence of all mortals would vanish’

FIRST EPISODE, LINES 251– 471

In lines 251– 327, Electra continues to justify her behavior. The Coryphaeus (Chorus leader) comforts her with the hope of Orestes’

return. The dialogue is conducted in ordinary iambic trimeters. Lines 328– 471 present a new character. Chrysothemis enters from the palace, sent by Clytemnestra to take offerings to Agamemnon’s tomb. A dialogue between the two sisters ensues from which we learn about the different temperaments and attitudes of the two sisters.

LINE 251

+μέν
surely, indeed; μέν solitarium; see μέν 61n
τὸ σὸν, τοὐμόν αὐτῆς

‘your interest,’ ‘my very own interest’; τοὐμόν = τὸ ἐμόν; αὐτῆς stresses ἐμόν, which is the equivalent of ἐμοῦ; > ‘promoting your cause and at the same time my very own’ (possessive genit.: SS 51 §3, 140– 141 §9)

σπέυδω
promote/ further zealously (exceptionally the pres. ptc. serves in final capacity; usually it is the function of fut. ptc.: SS 252 §3); ‘I came in order to further your cause and my own at the same time’

+ἅμα (adv.)

at the same time

LINE 254
νῑκάω
win, win over, overcome (εἰ . . . νίκα simple condition (implies nothing as to actual fulfillment)

*αἰσχύνω

(αἰσχύνη, dishonor) shame, dishonor; mid.: feel shame

+δοκέω
seem, appear (πολλοῖσι θρήνοις, dat. of cause or reason: SS 89 §17) δυσ- φορέω
be impatient, vexed, angry; [1× Soph.]

+ἄγᾱν (adv.)

very, much, very much; too much; > ‘if I seem too impatient with my numerous laments’

66

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἀλλʼ ἡ βία γὰρ ταῦτʼ ἀναγκάζει με δρᾶν,
ϲύγγνωτε. πῶϲ γάρ, ἥτιϲ εὐγενὴϲ γυνή,
πατρῷʼ ὁρῶϲα πήματʼ, οὐ δρῴη τάδʼ ἄν,
ἁγὼ κατʼ ἦμαρ καὶ κατʼ εὐφρόνην ἀεὶ
θάλλοντα μᾶλλον ἢ καταφθίνονθʼ ὁρῶ;

260
ᾗ πρῶτα μὲν τὰ μητρόϲ, ἥ μʼ ἐγείνατο,
ἔχθιϲτα ϲυμβέβηκεν· εἶτα δώμαϲιν
ἐν τοῖϲ ἐμαυτῆϲ τοῖϲ φονεῦϲι τοῦ πατρὸϲ

LINE 256
ἀλλ᾿ . . . γὰρ
unlike in 223, both particles are independent: while ἀλλά goes with the main clause, γάρ with the dependent one (GP 98); > ‘ but forgive me, since a violent force compels me to do this’

+βίᾱ, ἡ
violent force, might
συγ- +*γιγνώσκω

(σύγνωτε, aor.2 impv. act) excuse, pardon (LSJ IV); emphatic enjambment; [1× El. ]

ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι
any- who, any- which, any one who, whatever, etc. (S #339)

εὐ- γενής, ές
high bred, noble

+γῠνή, γυναικός, ἡ
woman

+πῆμα, ατος, τό
misery, calamity, suffering (antecedent of ἃ in ἁγὼ, i.e., ἃ ἐγὼ) δρῴη

(+δράω, pres. act. opt.) potential optative; > ‘looking at the sufferings of her father, how (πῶς) could any noble woman not do this. . . ?’

LINE 258
ἦμαρ, ἤμᾰτος, τό
day (poetic for ἡμέρα) (κατ᾿ ἦμαρ = ‘day by day’)

εὐφρόνη, ης, ἡ
the kindly time; euphemistically: night
θάλλω
bloom, flourish, swell, shoot out

+μᾶλλον ἤ

(comparative of μάλα) more than, rather than (S #1065)

κατα- +φθίνω
waste away, decay; > ‘sufferings that I see . . . always grow and flourish rather than wither’; [1× El. ]

Line 261
ᾗ
relat. pron. with causal force = ἐμοὶ γάρ (dat. required by συμβέβηκεν); ‘ for, first, my relationship with my mother (τὰ μητρός) turned (fell upon me as) hostile’

πρῶτα μέν . . . εἶτα . . .

first . . . next . . .

γείνομαι
trans.: bear, bring forth; beget; [1× El. ]

ἐχθιστός (3)

irregular superlative of +ἐχθρός; most hateful, hostile, rancorous συμ- +*βαίνω, - βέβηκa

(συμβέβηκε, perf. act.) fall in with, fall to one’s lot (+ dat.; usually with either infinitive or participle, but is found often just as τυγχάνω without the expected participle; [1× El. ]

δώμασιν τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς

‘next, I am living in my own home’ (El. as the rightful heiress of Ag. should own the palace.)

+φονεύς, έως, ὁ
murderer, slayer

67

Commentary 264–274
ξύνειμι, κἀκ τῶνδʼ ἄρχομαι κἀκ τῶνδέ μοι
λαβεῖν θʼ ὁμοίωϲ καὶ τὸ τητᾶϲθαι πέλει.

265
ἔπειτα ποίαϲ ἡμέραϲ δοκεῖϲ μʼ ἄγειν,
ὅταν θρόνοιϲ Αἴγιϲθον ἐνθακοῦντʼ ἴδω
τοῖϲιν πατρῴοιϲ, εἰϲίδω δʼ ἐϲθήματα

LINE 264

+σύν- +*ειμι
associate, live with (emphatic enjambment)

κἀκ
καὶ +ἐκ ( crasis) = καὶ ὑπό (+ τῶνδε, genit. of agent: S #1678, SS 109 §9); > ‘I am ruled by them’

κἀκ τῶνδε . . . κἀκ τῶνδε
a variation on epanaphora, epanalepsis, or anaphora (p. 23), rhetorical figure in which successive phrases or clauses begin with the same word, phrase, or cognate words; see below ἴδω 267, εἰσίδω 268, ἴδω 271.

+*ἄρχω
begin; govern, rule
ὁμοίως (adv.)

(ὅμοιος, like, resembling) in like manner, like, alike
τητάομαι
pass.: be in want, bereft, deprived (while the aorist aspect of λαβεῖν points to a punctual act of receiving, the present infinitive τετᾶσθαι indicates a continuous state of deprivation); [1× El. ]

πέλω
be (the articular infs. [τό] λαβεῖν and τό τετᾶσθαι are subjects of πέλει: SS 241– 42 §5, 153 §21. The article makes the infinitive more prominent as a noun in the sentence: GMT #789. The articular inf. was especially developed in Tragedy and favored by Soph., who used it more frequently in dialogue than in lyric: SS 245– 46 §10); > ‘[and my receiving or being left deprived is up to them’ =] ‘and it is up to them whether I receive or am left deprived’; [1× El. ].

LINE 266

+ἔπειτα (adv.)

(ἐπί, εἶτα) then, thereafter, thereupon (El. loses sight of her own question as she continues to enumerate her unhappy experiences)

+ποῖος (3)

of what sort, what kind
μ᾿ ἄγειν
hiatus: μὲ ἄγειν (p. 23; acc. and inf. required by δοκεῖς); > ‘And then what kind of days do you think I pass/ spend’

θρόνος, ὁ
chair of state, throne; [1× El. ]

ἐν- θᾱκέω
sit in/ on; [1× El. ]

ὅταν . . . +*ἴδω . . .

‘when I see Aegisthus sitting on my father’s throne . . .’ (temporal clauses referring indefinitely to the future take subjunctive with ἄν [ὅτε + ἄν], or optative without ἄν: S #2399; SS 294 §4) ἴδω (267), εἰσίδω (268),
a variation on epanaphora, epanalepsis, or anaphora; see κἀκ τῶνδ᾿. . . κἀκ τῶνδε 264n, indicating El.’s ἴδω (271)

growing indignation

+εἰσ- +*οράω, - εῖδον

(εἰσίδω, aor.2 subjv.) look at/ upon
ἔσθημα, ατος, τό

(ἐσθής, clothe) garment, dress; [1× Soph.]

68

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
φοροῦντʼ ἐκείνῳ ταὐτά, καὶ παρεϲτίουϲ
ϲπένδοντα λοιβὰϲ ἔνθʼ ἐκεῖνον ὤλεϲεν,

270
ἴδω δὲ τούτων τὴν τελευταίαν ὕβριν,
τὸν αὐτοέντην ἡμὶν ἐν κοίτῃ πατρὸϲ
ξὺν τῇ ταλαίνῃ μητρί, μητέρʼ εἰ χρεὼν
ταύτην προϲαυδᾶν τῷδε ϲυγκοιμωμένην·

LINE 269

+φορέω
carry constantly, wear (frequentative of φέρω, implying repeated or habitual action: LSJ III; S #867)

+ἐκεῖνος (3)

the person there, that person/ thing (usually with reference to what has gone before; ἐκείνῳ = πατρός; dat. of possession: S #1476, SS 83– 84 §8)

ταὐτά

= τὰ αὐτά ( crasis); > ‘wearing the same clothes that he did’

παρ- έστιος, ον

(παρά, ἑστία) by/ at the hearth (at a sacrifice or feast the first libation was made to Hestia by the master of the house); [1× El. ]

σπένδω
pour drink offering; [1× El. ]

λοιβή, ἡ
libation; see 52n

+ἔνθα (relat. adv.)

where; > ‘and pouring libations at the very hearth at which he murdered him’

LINE 271
τελευταῖος (3)

(τελευτή, end) final, last; [1× El. ]

τούτων
can be neut. pl; > ‘and when I see the final outrage of all this’; or fem., i.e., ὕβρεων > ‘outrage of outrages’; or, masc., i.e., Αἰγίσθου καὶ Κλυταιμνήστρας

+ὕβρις, εος, ἡ

[ῠ] outrage
αὐτο- έντης, ου, ὁ
murderer; [1× El. ]

κοίτη, ἡ
bed, couch;
ἡμίν
for accent see ἡμίν 17n; dat. of possession: SS 84 §8: “when I see the murderer in our father’s bed”

+χρεών (indecl.)

that which must be (ἐστί omitted after expression of necessity: S #944b);> ‘[if there is a need to =] if one should address her as/ call her a mother . . .’

προσ- αυδάω
speak to, address, accost
συγ- κοιμάομαι
sleep with, lie with; > ‘who sleeps with him’; [1× Soph.]

69

Commentary 275–286
ἡ δʼ ὧδε τλήμων ὥϲτε τῷ μιάϲτορι

275
ξύνεϲτʼ, Ἐρινὺν οὔτινʼ ἐκφοβουμένη·
ἀλλʼ ὥϲπερ ἐγγελῶϲα τοῖϲ ποιουμένοιϲ,
εὑροῦϲʼ ἐκείνην ἡμέραν, ἐν ᾗ τότε
πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν ἐκ δόλου κατέκτανεν,
ταύτῃ χοροὺϲ ἵϲτηϲι καὶ μηλοϲφαγεῖ

280
θεοῖϲιν ἔμμηνʼ ἱερὰ τοῖϲ ϲωτηρίοιϲ.

LINE 275
ὧδε . . . +ὥστε . . . +ξύνεστι

‘she is so reckless that she lives with the polluter’ (ὥστε with indic. implies an actual result: S #2251, 2257; SS 311 §3; GMT #601. ξύνεστι, emphatic enjambment)

+τλήμων, ονος, ὁ/ ἡ

(*τλάω) suffering, endwretched, abandoned (with moral connotation) μῐάστωρ, ορος, ὁ

(μῐαίνω, defile, pollute) polluter (Aeg. is the polluter not only because of adultery, but because as Ag.’s cousin, he also spilled kindred blood)

ἐκ- φοβέω
pass.: fear greatly (with acc.; Kells: “the compound verb used [as frequently in Sophocles] not intensively, but in the same sense as the simple verb φοβουμένη”)

ἐγ- γελάω

[ᾰ] laugh at, mock (Sophoclean heroes are oversensitive to mockery); [1× El. ]

+ποιέω
make, do (articular substant. ptc.: S #2050; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825); > ‘gloating over what she has done’

+*εὑρίσκω, ηὗρον/ εὗρον

(εὑροῦσα, aor.2 ptc. act.) find (since the verb indicates Clyt. has not remembered the exact day, scholars suspect the soundness of the verb, but time has elapsed between the murder and the institution of this custom. The calendar was by no means as easy to manage as nowadays); > ‘ having [ found]= ascertained that day on which . . . ’

+τότε (adv.)

at that time, then, next.

LINE 279
ἀμός (3)

[ᾱ] in Attic, poetic for ἐμός (S #330D, 1)

κατα- +*κτείνω,

(κατέκτανε, poetic aor.2 act.) kill, slay, put to death
χόρος, ὁ
dance; chorus; [1× El. ]

μηλο- σφᾰγέω

(μῆλον, σφᾰγέω) slay sheep, offer sheep (in sacrifice) (compound verbs made of a noun and a verb may take an acc. object, here ἱερά: SS 38 §6: “[she]sacrifices sheep as monthly offerings”); [1× Soph.]

ἔμ- μηνος, ον

(ἐν, μήν) in a month, monthly; [1× El. ]

ἱερός (2/ 3)

sacred (as substantive: ἱερά =‘offerings’, LSJ III.1); [1× El. ]

σωτήριος, ον

(σωτήρ, savior) saving, delivering (Zeus and Apollo were the main θεοὶ σωτήριοι associated with the house. Clyt. has a celebratory thanksgiving every month on the day of Ag.’s murder. Soph. may be offering an etiology for an existing ritual); > ‘on that day she holds dances and offers monthly sheep sacrifice to the gods who saved her.’

70

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρῶϲα δύϲμοροϲ κατὰ ϲτέγαϲ
κλαίω, τέτηκα, κἀπικωκύω πατρὸϲ
τὴν δυϲτάλαιναν δαῖτʼ ἐπωνομαϲμένην
αὐτὴ πρὸϲ αὐτήν· οὐδὲ γὰρ κλαῦϲαι πάρα

285
τοϲόνδʼ ὅϲον μοι θυμὸϲ ἡδονὴν φέρει.

LINE 282
δυσ- μόρος, ον
ill fated, ill starred
κατὰ στέγας

‘in the house’ (El. cries in her room, staying away from the celebration)

+*κλαίω
weep, lament, wail ( enjambment. The tricolon crescendo of three successive actions rising to a climax. Cf.

ἐκτρέφω13n; τίνω 115n; ἐμόλετ᾿ . . . εἴδεσθ᾿1235n)

+*τήκω
pine, melt away (pf. act. is used as intransitive and denotes a state achieved in the pres. The asyndeton, i.e., absence of conjunction, between κλαίω and τέτηκα functions as a hendiadys [p. 23] = ‘I melt in tears’) ἐπι- κωκύω

[ῡ] lament over (κἀπικωκύω = καὶ ἐπικωκύω, crasis; ὁ Κωκῡτός, Cocytus, the River of Wailing in the Netherworld)

δυσ- +ταλάς, ᾰν
very wicked, most miserable; [1× El. ]

δαίς, δαιτός, ἡ
meal, feast (usually a meal following a sacrifice. It is unclear whether El. refers to the ‘original’ banquet in which Ag. was killed and of which the current ones remind her, or to the feast inaugurated by Clyt.);

[1× El. ]

ἐπ- ονομάζω, - ωνόμασμαι

(ἐπωνομασμένη, pass. ptc.) name after (+ genit. ); > ‘I lament over the abominable feast named after my father’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 285
αὐτὴ πρός αὐτήν

‘all by myself and to myself alone’ (since lamentation is usually a communal experience, El. points again to her isolation, emphasized even further by the enjambment) οὐδέ (μηδέ) (adv.)

not even (S #2931)

+*κλαῦσαι
the aor.1 inf. rather than the present +κλαίειν points out that she not only is not allowed to indulge continuously in weeping, but not even on one occasion
πάρα
impersonal use: it is allowed, it may be done (= πάρεστι: S #175b)

+τοσόνδ᾿ +ὅσον
as much as

+θῡμος, ὁ
soul, spirit, heart (any vehement passion: anger, wrath, courage)

+ἡδονή, ἡ
delight, enjoyment, pleasure; > ‘as much as my heart takes pleasure in’

71

Commentary 287–304
αὕτη γὰρ ἡ λόγοιϲι γενναία γυνὴ
φωνοῦϲα τοιάδʼ ἐξονειδίζει κακά,

"ὦ δύϲθεον μίϲημα, ϲοὶ μόνῃ πατὴρ
τέθνηκεν; ἄλλοϲ δʼ οὔτιϲ ἐν πένθει βροτῶν;

290
κακῶϲ ὄλοιο, μηδέ ϲʼ ἐκ γόων ποτὲ
τῶν νῦν ἀπαλλάξειαν οἱ κάτω θεοί.”

τάδʼ ἐξυβρίζει· πλὴν ὅταν κλύῃ τινὸϲ
ἥξοντʼ Ὀρέϲτην· τηνικαῦτα δʼ ἐμμανὴϲ

LINE 287
γενναῖος (2/ 3)

noble

+λόγοισι

‘this high- born woman, as shown by her words’ (modal dat.: SS 90– 92 §19. αὕτή = ἡ αὐτή, crasis.

Sarcasm: Clyt.’s following words show what her ‘nobility’ consists of [Kamerbeek]) ἐξ- ονειδίζω

(strengthened for ὀνεδίζω) cast in one’s teeth; reproach; > ‘[shouting =] cries out and casts insults such as these’; [1× El. ]

δύσ- θεος, ον
godless (= hated by the gods [Finglass]. Since Clyt. thinks the gods are on her side, El., in Clyt.’s mind, must be hated by the gods); [1× Soph.]

μίσημα, ατος, τό

(μισέω, hate) an object of hate; > ‘godless, hateful creature’; [1× Soph.]

+ἄλλος, η, ο
other (of several: S #335, 1271)

+οὔ- τις, οὔ- τινος
no one, nobody (for accent: S #164a)

σοὶ μόνῃ

‘Are you the only one whose father has died? No one else of men is in mourning? (El. recasts the Chorus’

words to her [153], but without the consolatory tone. +*τέθνηκεν, emphatic enjambment) πένθος, εος, τό
grief, sorrow; misfortune

LINE 291

+ἀπ- αλλάσσω
set free, release (+*ὄλοιο . . . μηδέ . . . ἀπαλλάξειαν = opt. of wish without an introductory word: SS

232 §15, GMT #721.I, 722; S #1814); > ‘may you perish miserably . . . and may the gods below never release you . . .’

+κάτω (adv.)

below (οἱ κάτω θεοί = ‘the gods below.’ Substant. use of article with an adverb: S #1153e. El. invoked these deities as avengers in 110– 18)

τάδ᾿
one would expect therefore ταῦτ᾿ and not τάδ᾿, but for El. everything Clyt. says is hybristic ἐξ- υβρίζω
break into insolence; [1× Soph.]

+πλήν (adv.)

besides, unless, save, except

+κλύω
hear, listen (with genit.: S #1361, 1365. ὅταν κλύῃ, relative pres. condition, with subjv. in protasis, and pres. indic. in apodosis, βοᾷ: S #2295.1, 2561); > ‘she upbraids me, except whenever she hears from someone that . . . then maddened with rage she stands by me and shouts’

LINE 294

+ἥξοντ᾿ +Ὀρέστην

(+ἥκω) supplem. ptc. in indir. disc after vb. of perception, κλύῃ (S #2110, 2112.b; SS 318 §6; GMT #904, 914); > ‘ that Orestes will come’

τηνῐκαῦτα (adv.)

at this particular time, then; [1× El. ]

ἐμ- μᾰνής, ές
mad, frantic, raving; [1× Soph.]

72

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
βοᾷ παραϲτᾶϲʼ, "οὐ ϲύ μοι τῶνδʼ αἰτία;

295
οὐ ϲὸν τόδʼ ἐϲτὶ τοὔργον, ἥτιϲ ἐκ χερῶν
κλέψαϲʼ Ὀρέϲτην τῶν ἐμῶν ὑπεξέθου;
ἀλλʼ ἴϲθι τοι τείϲουϲά γʼ ἀξίαν δίκην."

τοιαῦθʼ ὑλακτεῖ, ϲὺν δʼ ἐποτρύνει πέλαϲ
ὁ κλεινὸϲ αὐτῇ ταὐτὰ νυμφίοϲ παρών,

300
ὁ πάντʼ ἄναλκιϲ οὗτοϲ, ἡ πᾶϲα βλάβη,
ὁ ϲὺν γυναιξὶ τὰϲ μάχαϲ ποιούμενοϲ.

ἐγὼ δʼ Ὀρέϲτην τῶνδε προϲμένουϲʼ ἀεὶ
παυϲτῆρʼ ἐφήξειν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἀπόλλυμαι.

LINE 295

+*βοάω
shout
παρ- +*ίστημι

(παραστᾶσα, aor.2 ptc. fem. sg.) make stand beside; aor.2 = stand beside μοι
dat. of disadvantage (SS 84– 85 §9)

αἴτιος (3)

blamable, guilty; [1× El. ]

ὑπ- εκ- +*τίθημαι

(ἔθου, aor.2 indic. mid. 2sg.) carry safely away; [1× Soph.]

+τοι
therefore, accordingly; in truth, verily

*τίνω, τείσω/ τίσω
pay a price, pay a penalty, repay, atone, expiate

+ἄξιος (3)

worthy, befitting, deserving
ἀλλ᾿ ἴσθι . . .τείσουσα

‘well, know that you really will pay’ (τείσουσα, supplem. ptc. in indirect discourse after vb. of knowing, ἴσθι.

The fut. tense corresponds to the tense of indic. as if it were a finite vb.: S # 2106, 2112.b; SS 318 §6; GMT

#904, 914)

LINE 299
ὑλακτέω

[ῠ] (= ὑλάω) bark, bay, howl (used in pres. and impf.); [1× Soph.]

+σύν
adv. (Jebb): together, at once, jointly, besides, moreover; or (less likely in tmesis [p. 23] with ἐποτρύνω; LSJ offers the latter under σύν (B) and under συν- επ- οτρύνω = join in urging on) ἐπ- οτρύνω
excite, stir up, urge on

+πέλᾰς
near, hard by, close (improper prep. with genit. and also with dat.: S #1699) ταὐτα

= τὰ αὐτά ‘the same things’ preferable to the codd. ταῦτα = ‘these things’

+κλεινός (3)

renowned (ὁ κλεινὸς νύμφιος: see κλεινός 8n, SS 145 §13: “ironical of Aeg.: followed by three further uses of the article, spoken in contempt.”)

νυμφίος, ὁ

(νύμφη, young wife, bride) bridegroom, husband; > ‘and her illustrious bridegroom, always at her side (+πάρ- +*ειμι + dat.) eggs her on [in her abuse]’; [1× El. ]

LINE 301
πάντ᾿

‘completely,’ ‘utterly’ (adv. acc., or acc. of respect: S #1600; SS 42– 43 §13,14) ἄν- αλκις, ιδος, ὁ/ ἡ

(ἀ privat., ἀλκή, bodily strength) without strength, impotent, unwarlike; [1× Soph.]

ὁ . . . ὁ . . . ὁ
anaphora in three consecutive lines (300– 302)

+βλάβη, ἡ

[ᾰ] (βλάπτω, hinder, harm) harm, damage; > ‘a complete bane’

μάχη, ἡ

[ᾰ] battle, fight; > ‘one who fights his battles with women’s help’; [1× El. ]

παυστήρ, ῆρος, ὁ

(παύω, stop) one who stays/ calms, an allayer, assuager (Ὀρέστην . . . παυστῆρ᾿ hyperbaton. With objective genit., +τῶνδε :S #1328); [1× El. ]

ἐφ- +ήκω
to have arrived at ( a rare verb); > ‘But I’m forever waiting for Orestes to come (as one who stops =) and stop these things’; [1× El. ]

73

Commentary 305–319
μέλλων γὰρ ἀεὶ δρᾶν τι τὰϲ οὔϲαϲ τέ μου

305
καὶ τὰϲ ἀπούϲαϲ ἐλπίδαϲ διέφθορεν.

ἐν οὖν τοιούτοιϲ οὔτε ϲωφρονεῖν, φίλαι,
οὔτʼ εὐϲεβεῖν πάρεϲτιν· ἀλλʼ ἐν τοῖϲ κακοῖϲ
πολλή ʼϲτʼ ἀνάγκη κἀπιτηδεύειν κακά.

ΧΟ. φέρʼ εἰπέ, πότερον ὄντοϲ Αἰγίϲθου πέλαϲ

310
λέγειϲ τάδʼ ἡμῖν, ἢ βεβῶτοϲ ἐκ δόμων;

ΗΛ.

ἦ κάρτα. μὴ δόκει μʼ ἄν, εἴπερ ἦν πέλαϲ,
θυραῖον οἰχνεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἀγροῖϲι τυγχάνει.

LINE 305

+μέλλω
be on the point of doing (with pres./ fut. inf. forms the periphrastic fut. pres. inf. usually expresses will: S

#1959); > ‘for by always intending to do something (τι, Finglass: “something of value, cf. 336”)’

+ἄπ- +*ειμι
be away, be absent (ἀπούσας, attributive ptc.: SS 25 7§8. Τhe polar expression οὐσας/ ἀπούσας covers all of El.’s hopes. Cf. similar polar expression in Clyt.’s words in 780– 781, pointing further to the resemblance between mother and daughter.); >‘ he has utterly destroyed the hopes I had and the hopes I didn’t have.

+ἐλπίς, ίδος, ἡ
hope
δια- *φθείρω, - έφθορα

(2nd pf.) destroy utterly; [1× El. ]

σωφρονέω

(σώφρων, of sound mind) be temperate, moderate, of sound mind

+φίλη, ἡ
near and dear, friend

LINE 307
εὐσεβέω

(εὐσεβής, pious) be pious; [1× El. ]

+πάρεστι

(+πάρειμι) impersonal: it is in one’s power (+ dat.)

ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς

‘in [the existing] bad circumstances’ (+πολλή ᾿στ᾿ = πολλή ἐστί aphaeresis and elision, p. 23) ἐπιτηδεύω

(ἐπιτηδές adv. formed from ἐπὶ τάδε, for a special purpose) pursue (Τhe vb. formed as if it were a compd.

of ἐπί and τηδεύω that does not exist. El. ends her speech in a ring composition, returning to both the idea of a bad situation and the need to behave in the same manner, as well as her direct address to the Chorus, 256– 57); [1× Soph.]

LINE 310
φέρ᾿
φέρε, ἄγε, ἴθι may emphasize the imperative and its subject (S #1010; GMT #251); > ‘ come, tell me . . .’

+εἶπον

(ἐπ- for ϝεπ- , defective, other tenses supplied by +*λέγω) said (εἰπέ, aor.2 impv., for accent: S #424.b)

+πότερον/ πότερα . . . ἤ
whether . . . or (S #2656. Ιntroduces direct alternative questions with πότερον/ πότερα frequently left untranslated in English)

+*ὄντος Αἰγίστου . . .

genits. absolute; > ‘is Aegisthus nearby when you are saying these things, or staying away from home?’

+*βεβῶτος

+ἦ (adv.)

in truth, truly, verily (confirms with κάρτᾰ [adv.], very, very much); > ‘Of course he is away’

74

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΟ.

ἦ δὴ ἂν ἐγὼ θαρϲοῦϲα μᾶλλον ἐϲ λόγουϲ
τοὺϲ ϲοὺϲ ἱκοίμην, εἴπερ ὧδε ταῦτʼ ἔχει.

315

ΗΛ. ὡϲ νῦν ἀπόντοϲ ἱϲτόρει· τί ϲοι φίλον;

ΧΟ.

καὶ δή ϲʼ ἐρωτῶ, τοῦ καϲιγνήτου τί φήϲ,
ἥξοντοϲ, ἢ μέλλοντοϲ; εἰδέναι θέλω.

ΗΛ. φηϲίν γε· φάϲκων δʼ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποεῖ.

οἰχνέω

= +*οἴχομαι go (contrary- to- fact statement in acc. and inf., ἄν . . . οἰχνεῖν, following δόκει [impv.] μ᾿ ἄν); >

‘do not think that I would be going outdoors, if he were close by’

θῠραῖος (2/ 3)

(θύρα, door) outside the door
ἀγρός, ὁ
land, field; country (dat. of place: SS 87; S #1528); [1× El. ]

+*τυγχάνει

‘but now ( he happens to be =) he is in the country’ (ὤν omitted, see 46n) LINE 314

+δή (pcl.)

of course, indeed, quite (postpositive; adds explicitness [ voilà], i.e., marks something as immediately present and clear to the mind: S #2840; S #2865: “ἦ δή expresses lively surprise.” δή ἂν synizesis, see p. 24)

+εἴπερ
if indeed, if at all events (introduces sort of concessive meaning, especially when the truth of the statement is implicitly denied or doubted: S #2379)

ἂν ἐγὼ . . . ἔχει

‘I would (come into words =) talk to you with more confidence, if this is indeed so’ (a combination of a mixed condition: protasis in pres. indic., ἔχει, and apodosis with potential opt. + ἄν, ἱκοίμην, each clause maintaining its proper force: GMT #503a)

LINE 316
ἱστορέω

(pres. impv.) learn by inquiry, question, inquire (punctuation after ἱστόρει makes τί σοι φίλον, a direct question: = ‘He is away now [ἀπόντος genit. absolute], so ask your question; what do you want to know?’: SS 266– 67 §5)

καὶ δή

‘very well then’ (GP 251: “in response to a definite command, often with word of command echoed”) ἐρωτάω
ask; [1× El. ]

+κᾰσίγνητος, ὁ

(κάσις, brother/ sister, γενέσθαι, be, become) brother
τοῦ κασιγνήτου . . . ἥξοντος ‘what do you say of your brother, will he come, or is he delaying? (The simple genit. without περί is frequent in Soph. [Kells])

+*φησίν γε

‘Well (γε), he says [he is coming] (γε = ‘yes, well . . .’; confirmative, as often in replies: S #2825; GP 130, II, i)

φά- σκω
say (concessive ptc.: SS 252 §3, S #2066. φησίν, φάσκων, λέγει: Soph. favors variation, i.e., instead of repeating a word, an exact synonym is being used [Kells]; cf. 350); > ‘but although he says so’

οὐδὲν ὧν λέγει ποιεῖ

= οὐδὲν τούτων ἃ λέγει ποιεῖ (relative attraction with omitted antecedent, S #2522); > ‘he does none of the things that he says [he will do]’

75

Commentary 320–334

ΧΟ.

φιλεῖ γὰρ ὀκνεῖν πρᾶγμʼ ἀνὴρ πράϲϲων μέγα.

320

ΗΛ.

καὶ μὴν ἔγωγʼ ἔϲωϲʼ ἐκεῖνον οὐκ ὄκνῳ.

ΧΟ. θάρϲει· πέφυκεν ἐϲθλόϲ, ὥϲτʼ ἀρκεῖν φίλοιϲ.

ΗΛ. πέποιθʼ, ἐπεί τἂν οὐ μακρὰν ἔζων ἐγώ.

ΧΟ.

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ εἴπῃϲ μηδέν· ὡϲ δόμων ὁρῶ
τὴν ϲὴν ὅμαιμον, ἐκ πατρὸϲ ταὐτοῦ φύϲιν,

325

Χρυϲόθεμιν, ἔκ τε μητρόϲ, ἐντάφια χεροῖν
φέρουϲαν, οἷα τοῖϲ κάτω νομίζεται.

LINE 320

+φίλέω
love, welcome = be wont to, use to, tend to (+ inf.)

+ὀκνέω
hesitate, hold back, shrink from doing (physically or morally)

+πρᾶγμα, ατος, τό

(+πράσσω, do) deed (πρᾶγμα πράσσειν = figura etymologica, p. 23); > ‘When a man is engaged in a great undertaking he tends to hesitate’

καὶ μήν
and yet (a strong adversative: GP 357– 58)

ὄκνος, ὁ
hesitation, shrinking (from doing); [1× El. ]

+ἐσθλός (3)

(poetic adj.) good; (of persons) brave, noble (morally); faithful

+ὥστε (conj.)

so as to (with inf. [outside indirect discourse] opens a result clause, it implies a possible or intended result or a tendency rather than actual fact: S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587); > ‘so as to help those dear to him’

LINE 323

+*πείθω
persuade; pf.2 πέποιθα = trust, believe, rely, have confidence in (S #1946: “When the perfect marks the enduring result rather than the completed act, it may often be translated by the present”) μακράν (adv.)

(acc. f. of μακρός, used as adv.) long (μακρὰν ζῆν = ‘livelong’) πέποιθ᾿. . . ἔζων

‘I believe it . . .otherwise I would not have lived this long’ (contrary- to- fact statement for the present time)

μὴ

‘say no more now’ (prohibitive subjv.; μή with aor. subjv. in 2nd. pers.: S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259)

+δόμων

‘carrying from home’ (genit. with verbs of motion: SS 66 §26)

LINE 325
τὴν σὴν ὅμαιμον . . .

two instances of hyperbaton (p. 24) expressing the Chorus' sense of urgency Χρυσόθεμιν . . . φέρουσαν
ταὐτοῦ

= τοῦ αὐτοῦ

+φύσις, εως, ἡ

[ῠ] (φύω, bring forth) nature, inborn quality; natural origin (acc. of respect: S #1601b, 1516a, SS

43 §14); > ‘by birth’

Χρῡσόθεμις, εως, ἡ
resolutions in positions 2 and 10 (Χρῡσόθεμιν), 10 (ἐντάφια), (see pp. 20–21, 24) ἐν- τάφιος, ον

(ἐν, τάφος) of or used for burial (τὰ ἐντάφια = obsequies, burial offerings; [1× Soph.]

+*νομίζω
believe, think, hold as custom or usage, practice as custom; > ‘such as are customary for those below’

76

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΡΥϹΟΘΕΜΙϹ
τίνʼ αὖ ϲὺ τήνδε πρὸϲ θυρῶνοϲ ἐξόδοιϲ
ἐλθοῦϲα φωνεῖϲ, ὦ καϲιγνήτη, φάτιν,
κοὐδʼ ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ διδαχθῆναι θέλειϲ

330
θυμῷ ματαίῳ μὴ χαρίζεϲθαι κενά;
καίτοι τοϲοῦτόν γʼ οἶδα κἀμαυτήν, ὅτι
ἀλγῶ ʼπὶ τοῖϲ παροῦϲιν· ὥϲτʼ ἄν, εἰ ϲθένοϲ
λάβοιμι, δηλώϲαιμʼ ἂν οἷʼ αὐτοῖϲ φρονῶ.

LINE 328
τίν᾿ . . . τήνδε . . . φάτιν
through the hyperbaton emphasizing +φάτιν and the figura etymologica (p. 23) +φωνεῖς . . . +φάτιν, Chr.

underscores her concern that El. is talking too much.

+αὖ (adv.)

again, anew, once more (cf. Clyt.’s words in 516– 17)

+πρός (+ dat.)

hard by, near, at (LSJ B)

θυρών, ῶνος, ὁ

[ῠ] hall, antechamber, vestibule, space immediately inside the main door; [1× El. ]

ἔξ- οδος, ἡ
way out, exit (LSJ II, 1); > ‘What sort of remarks are you making again, Oh sister having come near the exit from the vestibule . . . ?’

+*δῐδάσκω

(διδαχθῆναι, aor.1 pass. inf.) teach, explain

LINE 331
μάταιος (3/ 2)

[ᾰ] (μάτη, folly, fault) foolish, vain, idle, trifling, thoughtless (θῡμῷ ματαίῳ: dat. after a verb indicating attitude or feeling toward it: SS 82– 83 §6: “not to give vain indulgence [χαρίζεσθαι κενά] to pointless anger”)

χᾰρίζομαι
to gratify or indulge (a passion) + dat.; [1× Soph.]

+κενός (3)

empty, destitute, vain, futile

+καί- τοι (pcl.)

and yet, although (GP 556, S #2893); κἀμαυτήν = καὶ ἐμαυτήν

+ἀλγέω
suffer pain, grieve, be troubled, distressed (ἀλγῶ᾿πί = ἀλγῶ ἐπί, aphaeresis, p. 23 . ὅτι ἀλγῶ, indirect statement after vb. signifying knowledge, οἶδα: GMT #912); > ‘and yet this much I know about myself, that I too am distressed because of/ by the present circumstances’

τοῖς παροῦσιν
τὰ πάροντα = ‘circumstances’ (dat. of means/ cause: SS 88– 89 §§16,17, S #1507) σθένος, εος, τό
strength, might, power
ὥστ᾿ ἄν, εἰ . . . +δηλώσαιμ᾿ ἄν ‘so that if I had the strength, I would show them the thoughts I have about them’ (fut. less vivid condition: S #2297, 2329; GMT #392.2 with repeated ἄν to emphasize the result: S #1765; GMT #223). The protasis pointing to what is unlikely or impossible. SS 279 §1d,i: “Chr. would like to have the strength to oppose, but rules it out as not practicable”; for doubling of ἄν, cf. ἄν . . . +*γένοιτ᾿ ἄν 558– 59n) 77

Commentary 335–350
νῦν δʼ ἐν κακοῖϲ μοι πλεῖν ὑφειμένῃ δοκεῖ,

335
καὶ μὴ δοκεῖν μὲν δρᾶν τι, πημαίνειν δὲ μή.

τοιαῦτα δʼ ἄλλα καὶ ϲὲ βούλομαι ποεῖν.

καίτοι τὸ μὲν δίκαιον οὐχ ᾗ ʼγὼ λέγω,
ἀλλʼ ᾗ ϲὺ κρίνειϲ. εἰ δʼ ἐλευθέραν με δεῖ
ζῆν, τῶν κρατούντων ἐϲτὶ πάντʼ ἀκουϲτέα.

340

ΗΛ.

δεινόν γέ ϲʼ οὖϲαν πατρὸϲ οὗ ϲὺ παῖϲ ἔφυϲ
κείνου λελῆϲθαι, τῆϲ δὲ τικτούϲηϲ μέλειν.

ἅπαντα γάρ ϲοι τἀμὰ νουθετήματα

LINE 335
πλέω
sail (a nautical metaphor, cf. 730)

ὑφ- ίημι

(ὑφειμένη, pf. ptc. mid., agrees with μοι) mid.: lower one’s sails (LSJ III; descriptive ptc. of attending circumstances: S #2068; GMT #843); > ‘But now, in these bad circumstances, it seems best to me to sail with slackened sail’; [1× El. ]

+*δοκεῖ
it seems (quasi- impersonal when the indefinite ‘it’ anticipates an infinitive as the subject, δρᾶν: S #933b; SS 241 §5. δρᾶν τι ‘to do something of value’, cf. μέλλω 305n)

μὴ δοκεῖν

The inf. depends on +*δοκεῖ in 335. Fifth- century poets were not subjected to the modern convention of refraining from using the same word twice if it was the right word to employ (Kamerbeek, Finglass) πημαίνω
make suffer, harm, distress; > ‘and not on the one hand, to appear to be doing something, while on the other, not to do [them] harm’; [1× El. ]

τοιαῦτα δ᾿ ἄλλα

‘And I wish you would do the same [lit.: such and other things]’

LINE 338

+ᾗ (adv.)

(dat. sg. fem. relat. pron.) in the way in which; i.e., ‘as’;᾿ γώ᾿ = ἐγώ aphaeresis (p. 23)

+*κρίνω

[ῑ] put apart, pick out, choose; judge; > ‘And yet (καίτοι) the right course is not as/ in what I say, but as/
in what you have chosen’ (Chr. objects to her own course of action)

+ἐλεύθερος (3)

free

+δεῖ
it is necessary (quasi- impers. vb.: S #933b); > lit.: ‘but if it is necessary that I live as a free woman’, i.e.,

‘but if I am to (should) live a free woman’

+κρᾰτέω

(κράτος, rule, power) rule, be master, lord (τῶν κρατούντων articular substant. ptc.: S #2052; SS 257–

58 §9; GMT #825); > ‘those in power’

ἀκουστέον/ ἀκουστέα

(verbal adj., ἀκούω, hear) one must hear, one must hearken to (+ genit., τῶν κρατούντων); > ‘I [supply μοι] must listen to those in power in everything’

LINE 341
δεινόν
supply ἐστί; the subjects are λελῆσθαι and μέλειν
τῆς +τικτούσης

(+τίκτω pres. act ptc.) articular substant. ptc. (S #2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825). Note the present aspect of the participle, which emphasizes Chr.’s relation with her mother.

+*λελῆσθαι

(λανθάνω, pf. inf. mid.) ‘to be in a state of forgetfulness’ (i.e., to have forgotten completely [Kells]. σέ
οὖσαν subject of the inf. The two infs. λελῆσθαι and μέλειν: and genits. κείνου and τικτούσης, parallel the antithesis between Ag. and Clyt.); > ‘it is terrible that you (lit.: being, οὖσαν, of your father) daughter of your father, whose child you are, forget him, but think [only] of your mother’

78

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
κείνηϲ διδακτά, κοὐδὲν ἐκ ϲαυτήϲ λέγειϲ.

ἐπεί γʼ ἑλοῦ ϲὺ θἄτερʼ, ἢ φρονεῖν κακῶϲ,

345
ἢ τῶν φίλων φρονοῦϲα μὴ μνήμην ἔχειν·
ἥτιϲ λέγειϲ μὲν ἀρτίωϲ, ὡϲ εἰ λάβοιϲ
ϲθένοϲ, τὸ τούτων μῖϲοϲ ἐκδείξειαϲ ἄν·
ἐμοῦ δὲ πατρὶ πάντα τιμωρουμένηϲ
οὔτε ξυνέρδειϲ τήν τε δρῶϲαν ἐκτρέπειϲ.

350
νουθέτημα, ατος, τό

(+νοῦς, +*τίθημι) admonition, warning (τἀμὰ = τὰ ἐμά, poss. adj. for the expected objective genit.: τὰ
νουθτήματα μου: SS 53 §4, S #1328); > ‘all your warnings/ scolding of me’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 344

+κείνης
possibly genit. of agent (SS 75– 76 §41). Finglass suggests that the genit. might be formed by analogy with μανθάνω + genit: ‘I learn from’; > ‘you have learned from her’

δῐδακτός (3)

(verbal adj. +*δίδάσκω) taught, learnt (with the force of pf. pass. ptc., S #358.2b); [1× El. ]

σαυτοῦ, σαυτῆς
thyself (= σεαυτοῦ, σεαυτῆς reflexive pron. referring back to the subject of the sentence: S #329); >

‘nothing of what you say comes from yourself’

θἄτερα
other of two (= τὰ ἕτερα: S #69, 1271); > ‘Then choose (ἑλοῦ < +*αἱρέω, aor.2 mid. impv.) one or the other’

μνήμη, ἡ

(μνάομαι, remember) remembrance, memory; [1× El. ]

ἢ . . . ἔχειν

‘either to think wrongly, or, to think rightly (φρονοῦσα [εῦ]) but forgetful of your nearest and dearest’

(El. gives Chr. a choice between being ‘imprudent,’ i.e., if she is to follow El.’s example, or being ‘prudent’

i.e., compliant, as Chr. is now, which necessitates forgetting her loved ones [Jebb]) LINE 347

+ἥτις

‘you who’ (marking the character and quality of a person: S #2496)

+ἀρτίως (adv.)

(ἄρτιος, complete) just now, exactly

+μῖσος, εος, τό
hatred, grudge (with τούτων as objective genit. [S #1328, SS 53 §4]) ἐκ- +*δείκνῠμι,
show off, display (εἰ λάβοις . . . ἐκδείξειας ἄν, future less vivid condition, protasis: εἰ + opt., apodosis: optative + ἄν :GMT #392.2; S #2561); > ‘if you had the strength, you would show your hatred of them.’ El.

recites Chr.’s words at 333– 34, and uses them against Chr.); [1× El. ]

τῑμωρέω

(τῑμωρός, ον, avenging) avenge one, exact vengeance for (middle voice, τιμωρουμένης, equals active voice = τῑμωρεῖν [τινί]. ἐμοῦ . . . τιμωρουμένης temporal genit. absolute: S #2058, 2070a; SS 76– 77 §42, in a hyperbaton.); ‘ but while I do all I can to avenge my/ our father . . .’

συν- έρδω
join in a work, cooperate; [1× El. ]

ἐκ- τρέπω
divert, deter, dissuade (τήν . . . δρῶσαν articular substant. ptc. Moorhouse points out that the pres. ptc.

δρῶσαν, is timeless, or of conative function, and the pres. indic. ἐκτρέπεις may also be conative: SS 257–

58 §9, 183 §2, S #1878a); ‘you do not cooperate [with me] and even ( try to) deter [me] the one ( who attempts to take)/ takes action’; [1× El. ]

79

Commentary 351–365
οὐ ταῦτα πρὸϲ κακοῖϲι δειλίαν ἔχει;
ἐπεὶ δίδαξον, ἢ μάθʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ, τί μοι
κέρδοϲ γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδε ληξάϲῃ γόων.

οὐ ζῶ; κακῶϲ μέν, οἶδʼ, ἐπαρκούντωϲ δʼ ἐμοί.

λυπῶ δὲ τούτουϲ, ὥϲτε τῷ τεθνηκότι

355
τιμὰϲ προϲάπτειν, εἴ τιϲ ἔϲτʼ ἐκεῖ χάριϲ.

ϲὺ δʼ ἡμὶν ἡ μιϲοῦϲα μιϲεῖϲ μὲν λόγῳ,
ἔργῳ δὲ τοῖϲ φονεῦϲι τοῦ πατρὸϲ ξύνει.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ, οὐδʼ εἴ μοι τὰ ϲὰ

LINE 351
δειλία, ἡ
cowardice, timidity (Kamerbeek: “does not this [have] involve cowardice in addition to our misery?”; οὐ
can introduce a question expecting the answer ‘yes,’ or imply that it should be so: SS 320 §3)

+ἐπεί (conj.)

since, seeing that (causal ἐπεί with imperative is used paratactically according to SS 303– 4, §3 it

“introduces a fact which proves the correctness of what has been said [and which was not previously known to, or adequately recognized by the person addressed]”; GMT #718); > ‘ For explain to me, or learn from me’

+* διδάσκω, ἐδίδαξα

(δίδαξον, aor.1 impv.) teach, explain (the aorist aspect pointing to a single act, is more suitable than the present: SS 217– 18 §5)

τί . . . γένοιτ᾿ ἂν . . . +ληξάσῃ ληξάσῃ = εἰ λήξαιμι, ptc. for the protasis of future less vivid condition (GMT #392.2, S #2297, 2329); >

‘what gain would I have, if I should cease from these lamentations’

ἐπ- αρκούντως (adv.)

(ἐπαρκέω, be sufficient) sufficiently; [1× Soph.]

LINE 354
τῑμή, ἡ
honor
προσ- άπτω
attach to, apply to, confer upon

+ὥστε . . . προσάπτειν

‘s o as to confer on the dead’ (τῷ τεθνηκότι, articular substant. ptc. ὥστε with inf. [outside indirect discourse] opens an alleged result clause; it implies a possible or intended result or a tendency rather than actual fact: S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587)

+*ἔστι

‘if any pleasure exists there (where the dead are)’ (accented on the penult ἔστι expresses existence: S

#187b)

ἐκεῖ
there

LINE 357
μῑσέω

(+μῖσος, hatred) hate (ἡ μισοῦσα = articular substant. ptc. see τῆς τικτούσης, line 342n. μισοῦσα
μισεῖς = the brachylogy served by the figura etymologica; p. 23; emphasizes the vehemence of El.’s accusa-tion. According to Finglass ἥ μισοῦσα = ἥ μισεῖν φάσκουσα, i.e., ‘you who claim to hate’); [1× El. ]

μὲν λόγῳ, ἔργῳ δὲ

‘but you who would like us/ me (ἡμίν, ethical dat., for accent, see ἡμίν 17n), to believe that you hate, you hate [only] in word, but in deed/ in fact you are on the side of your father’s murderers.’ The antithesis between ‘word’ and ‘deed’ runs as a leitmotif through the play’ see at lines 59– 60

80

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
μέλλοι τιϲ οἴϲειν δῶρʼ, ἐφʼ οἷϲι νῦν χλιδᾷϲ ,

360
τούτοιϲ ὑπεικάθοιμι· ϲοὶ δὲ πλουϲία
τράπεζα κείϲθω καὶ περιρρείτω βίοϲ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἔϲτω τοὐμὲ μὴ λυπεῖν μόνον
βόϲκημα· τῆϲ ϲῆϲ δʼ οὐκ ἐρῶ τιμῆϲ λαχεῖν.

οὐδʼ ἂν ϲύ, ϲώφρων γʼ οὖϲα. νῦν δʼ ἐξὸν πατρὸϲ

365

LINE 360
δῶρον, τό

(δίδωμι, give) gift; here: ‘privileges’ (the word implies reward for Chr.’s compliance [Kamerbeek]); [1×

El. ]

χλῐδάω

(χλῐδή, luxury) live luxuriously; + ἐπὶ τινι = pride oneself upon a thing, revel in; [1× Soph.]

ὑπ- είκω, - εἴκαθον

(ὑπεικάθοιμι, aor.2 opt., poetic) yield (with dat. LSJ 2; οὐκ ἄν ποτ᾿ . . . ὑπεικάθοιμι = hyperbaton, p. 24.

Fut. less vivid condition, see 353n: εἰ μέλλοι . . . ἄν ὑπεικάθοιμι); > ‘I would never yield to them, not even if someone were to bestow (μέλλοι οἴσειν) on me your (τὰ σά; contemptuous) privileges in which you now revel’; [1× El. ]

πλούσιος (3)

rich, wealthy; abundant, ample; [1× El. ]

τράπεζα, ἡ

[ᾱ] table, dinner, meal
περι- ρρέω

(περιρρείτω, impv. pres. 3sg.) overflow on all sides (LSJ II,4) ( chiasmus: τράπεζα κείσθω/ περιρρείτω
βίος); > ‘let your life overflow with abundance’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 363

+λῡπέω

(λύπη, pain, distress) cause pain, distress, annoy (τοὐ μέ μὴ λυπεῖν = τὸ ἐμέ μὴ λυπεῖν, articular inf. as nom. taking an object, ἐμέ: Kamerbeek; SS 246 §11. The article makes the inf. more prominent as a noun: GMT #789); > ‘may not causing pain to myself be my only sustenance’

βόσκημα, ατος, τό

(βόσκω, feed) food, sustenance (emphatic enjambment)

ἐράω
desire passionately (only in pres., impf., and aor.1); [1× El. ]

+*λαγχάνω, ἔλαχον

[ᾰν] (λαχεῖν, aor.2 act. inf.) obtain by lot (+ partit. genit. = become possessed of a thing, LSJ II. Ιnfinitive as complement of ἐρῶ: SS 239 §4); > ‘I have no desire to obtain any of your honors’

σώφρων, ον, ονος

(σῶς, φρήν) of sound mind, temperate; [1× El. ]

οὐδ᾿ σύ ἂν . . . οὖσα

‘neither would you [desire them], if you were of sound mind’ (ellipsis of vb.: ἐρῴης [opt.]/ ἤρας [indic.]

‘desire’ in apodosis after ἄν; protasis: οὖσα = εἰ εἴης [opt.]/ ἦσθα [indic.]. Either less vivid fut. condition, or contrary to fact for pres. time: GMT #410; S #2564; SS 280– 281 §3a) ἐξ- όν

(+ἔξ- εστι, it is allowed, possible) it being possible (impers. ptc. in acc. absolute with inf. +*κεκλῆσθαι: S

#2076; GMT #851); > lit.: ‘it is possible [for you] to be called’

81

Commentary 366–381
πάντων ἀρίϲτου παῖδα κεκλήϲθαι, καλοῦ
τῆϲ μητρόϲ. οὕτω γὰρ φανῇ πλείϲτοιϲ κακή,
θανόντα πατέρα καὶ φίλουϲ προδοῦϲα ϲούϲ.

ΧΟ.

μηδὲν πρὸϲ ὀργὴν πρὸϲ θεῶν· ὡϲ τοῖϲ λόγοιϲ
ἔνεϲτιν ἀμφοῖν κέρδοϲ, εἰ ϲὺ μὲν μάθοιϲ

370
τοῖϲ τῆϲδε χρῆϲθαι, τοῖϲ δὲ ϲοῖϲ αὕτη πάλιν.

ΧΡ.

ἐγὼ μέν, ὦ γυναῖκεϲ, ἠθάϲ εἰμί πωϲ
τῶν τῆϲδε μύθων· οὐδʼ ἂν ἐμνήϲθην ποτέ,
εἰ μὴ κακὸν μέγιϲτον εἰϲ αὐτὴν ἰὸν
ἤκουϲʼ, ὃ ταύτην τῶν μακρῶν ϲχήϲει γόων.

375

LINE 366

+*κεκλῆσθαι

(καλέω, pf. pass. inf.) pass.: be called by name; > ‘But now, though you could be called the daughter of the noblest father of all men, be called (καλοῦ, impv.) the daughter [supply παῖδα with μητρός] of your mother’ (for the use of the same vb. see μὴ δοκεῖν 335– 36n.)

πλειστοῖς

(superlative of +πολύς) (substantival use of adj. without the article: SS 163 §1); > ‘indeed (γάρ) you’ll appear to most people . . .’

προ- +*δίδωμι

(προδοῦσα, aor.2 ptc. act.) betray; > ‘as one who betrayed your dead father and your own’; [1× El. ]

μηδὲν πρὸς +ὀργήν

‘nothing in [the manner of] anger’ (for πρὸς with acc. of manner, see 464, 921, 1462, S #1608.

Understand εἴπῃς. For prohibition with omission of vb., see Diggle 1996: 8. πρὸς +θεῶν ‘in gods’ name!’)

+ἔν- +*ειμι
be within, be in or among (ἔνεστι . . . εἰ μάθοις = mixed conditional construction: pres. indic. in the apodosis and opt. in the protasis “is sometimes merely emphatic future expression”: GMT #500.b); > ‘there is profit to be had in both your words, if you [El.] would learn to make use of hers, and she in turn, of yours’

ἄμφω
both; ἀμφοῖν dual genit. and dat. (S #349e; SS 2– 3); [1× El. ]

LINE 371

+χράομαι
mid.: use (+ dat. LSJ CII2; S #1509, 1734.20)

ἠθάς, άδος, ὁ, ἡ

(ἦθος, custom) used, accustomed, habituated (to a thing) + genit.; [1× Soph.]

+πως (adv.)

somehow, in any way

*μιμνῄσκω, ἐμνήσθην

(aor.2 pass.) mid. and pass.: remember, call to mind, remind oneself; (apodosis: ἂν ἐμνήσθην; protasis: εἰ
μὴ . . . ἤκουσ᾿; contrary- to- fact condition for the past: S #2564; GMT #410; SS 281 §3b); > ‘I would never have mentioned [this, what she said in 328– 29], had I not heard . . .’

LINE 373

+*εἶμι

(ἰόν, neut. sg. acc. ptc.) (will) go (for its future meaning see S #1880, for conjugation S #773. Ptc. ἰών, ἰοῦσα, ἰόν. Supplem. ptc. in indir, disc. following vb. of perception, ἤκουσα: S #2145; GMT #904); > ‘ had I not heard that great evil coming upon her.’

+μᾰκρός (3)

long, large (τῶν μακρῶν . . . +γόων anaphoric article, i.e., refers to what has been mentioned already beforehand: SS 143– 44 §13: “which will restrain her [*σχήσει, ἔχω] from these long laments of hers.”)

+γόων
repeated at the end of l. 379 as well; an emphatic repetition: neither Clyt. nor Aeg. can stop El.’s lamentations that are her sole weapon.

82

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ. φέρʼ εἰπὲ δὴ τὸ δεινόν. εἰ γὰρ τῶνδέ μοι
μεῖζόν τι λέξειϲ, οὐκ ἂν ἀντείποιμʼ ἔτι.

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ ἐξερῶ ϲοι πᾶν ὅϲον κάτοιδʼ ἐγώ.

μέλλουϲι γάρ ϲʼ, εἰ τῶνδε μὴ λήξειϲ γόων,
ἐνταῦθα πέμψειν ἔνθα μή ποθʼ ἡλίου

380
φέγγοϲ προϲόψῃ, ζῶϲα δʼ ἐν κατηρεφεῖ

LINE 376

+φέρ’ +εἰπέ
see 310n

+μείζων, μεῖζον
bigger (comparative of +μέγας; with genit.: τῶνδε: S #1066, 1431) ἀντ- εῖπον

(ἀντείποιμι, aor.2 without pres.) speak in answer, gainsay (εἰ λέξεις . . . ἂν ἀντείποιμ᾿, fut. indic. in protasis instead of ἐάν with subjv., contains a strong appeal to the feelings, or a threat, or warning, and therefore a favorite construction in Tragedy: GMT #447; SS 277– 78 §1a. When a fut. indic. in protasis is followed by a potential opt. in the apodosis, “there is sometimes a distinct potential force in the apodosis, and sometimes the optative with ἄν is merely a softened expression for the fut. indic.”: GMT #505c); > ‘for if you are going to tell me something bigger (i.e., worse) than these things (i.e., my present circumstances), I will not argue with you anymore’; [1× El. ]

LINE 378
ἀλλ᾿
well (with fut. [ἐξερῶ] expresses “practical cοnsent . . . willingness to act in a certain way” after the first speaker speaks in imperative: φέρ᾿ εἰπέ: GP 17)

+ἐξ- ερῶ
speak out, proclaim (fut. without any present in use)

+κατ- +*οῖδα
know well, be assured of

+γάρ

‘the fact is that’ (explanatory; see 32n)

+*μέλλουσι . . . εἰ μὴ +*λήξεις condition with fut. indic. in protasis may express present intention, threat, or necessity for the future with no commitment for realization (SS 277– 78 §1a; GMT #447); > ‘they plan/ intend to . . . if you do not [intend to] stop’

LINE 380
ἐνταῦθα . . . +ἔνθᾰ
there . . . where
φέγγος, εος, τό
light; [1× El. ]

προσ- +*οράω, - όψομαι

(indic. fut. dep. 2sg.) look at (μή . . . προσόψῃ, Soph. is fond of μή with indic. rather than οὐ); > ‘there where you will never see the light of the sun’

κατ- ηρεφής, ές

(κατά, ἐρέφω) covered over, roofed over, vaulted; [1× El. ]

+χθών, χθονός, ἡ
the earth, ground, land, country

83

Commentary 383–395
ϲτέγῃ χθονὸϲ τῆϲδʼ ἐκτὸϲ ὑμνήϲειϲ κακά.

πρὸϲ ταῦτα φράζου, καί με μή ποθʼ ὕϲτερον
παθοῦϲα μέμψῃ. νῦν γὰρ ἐν καλῷ φρονεῖν.

ΗΛ.

ἦ ταῦτα δή με καὶ βεβούλευνται ποεῖν;

385

ΧΡ. μάλιϲθʼ· ὅταν περ οἴκαδʼ Αἴγιϲθοϲ μόλῃ.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ ἐξίκοιτο τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν τάχει.

LINE 382

+ἐκτός
without, outside, out of, beyond (+ genit.)

ὑμνέω
tell over and over again, sing; > ‘you will tell your troubles over and over again’; [1× El. ]

πρὸς ταῦτα
in regard to this, therefore (the phrase often comes with an impv. [φράζου] in warning or menace

[Jebb]); > ‘in view of these things, think’

ὕστερον (adv.)

(ὕστερος, the latter) after, afterward, hereafter, in the future μέμφομαι
blame, reproach, find fault with (+ acc.); > “and do not blame me later, after you have suffered (παθοῦσα)”

(Lloyd- Jones); [1× El. ]

ἐν καλῷ φρονεῖν

‘it is high time to think/ be prudent (i.e., use your head)’ (supply ἐστι) Lines 385– 404 are structured in stichomythia, a rapid exchange of one- or two- liners, a common rhetorical device in Greek tragedy to convey emotional agitation. It is concise in expression, and grammatical constructions are at times extended from line to line for the sake of speed and brevity.

LINE 385
ἦ . . . δή
really? (formula that points to El.’s great surprise and astonishment)

+καί (conj.)

GP 316, iv: “καί without an interrogative, and not opening a question, sometimes means ‘actually,’ and conveys surprise or indignation . . . and coheres closely with the following word and emphasizes it.”

+βουλεύω

(βεβούλευνται, pf. mid.) to take counsel, consider, determine (the perfect emphasizes the decisiveness of their resolve; cf. at 947; με secondary acc. to an already complete verbal phrase: SS 37 §5); > ‘Really?!

Are they actually determined to do this to me?’

+μάλιστα (adv.)

(superlative of μάλα, exceedingly) ye s (emphatic), of course, especially

+πέρ

(postpos. and enclit.) much, very, just, even (adds force to the word to which it is annexed: S #2965.

ὅταν περ = ‘just as soon as’)

ὅταν . . . +*μόλῃ

(+*βλώσκω. subjv. aor.2 act.) Subjv. with ἄν in a temporal clause referring indefinitely to the future (S

#2399, 1768; SS 294 §4); > ‘just as soon as Aeg. comes home’

οἰκάδε (adv.)

[ᾰ] to one’s house, home, homeward; [1× El. ]

ἐξ- +*ικνέομαι, -ικόμην

(ἐξίκοιτο, aor.2 opt) arrive, reach (optative of wish without an introductory word εἴθ᾿· SS 232 §15; GMT

#721,723); [1× El. ]

LINE 387

+οὕνεκα
on account of, for the sake of (+ genit., τοῦδε; usually postpositive); > ‘as far as this is concerned’

+τάχος, εος, τό

[ᾰ] swiftness, speed; ἐν τάχει ‘quickly’ (LSJ II)

84

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΡ. τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τόνδʼ ἐπηράϲω λόγον;

ΗΛ.

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον, εἴ τι τῶνδε δρᾶν νοεῖ.

ΧΡ.

ὅπωϲ πάθῃϲ τί χρῆμα; ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ φρενῶν;

390

ΗΛ. ὅπωϲ ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ὡϲ προϲώτατʼ ἐκφύγω.

ΧΡ.

βίου δὲ τοῦ παρόντοϲ οὐ μνείαν ἔχειϲ;

ΗΛ. καλὸϲ γὰρ οὑμὸϲ βίοτοϲ ὥϲτε θαυμάϲαι.

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄν, εἰ ϲύ γʼ εὖ φρονεῖν ἠπίϲταϲο.

ΗΛ.

μή μʼ ἐκδίδαϲκε τοῖϲ φίλοιϲ εἶναι κακήν.

395

LINE 388
ὦ τάλαινα
the voc. does not always necessitates the exclamat. ὦ, but in Soph. it is needed when the adj. is not accompanied by a noun (SS 27 §8ii)

ἐπ- αράομαι, - ηρᾰσάμην

(ἐπηράσω, aor.1 indic. mid. 2sg) imprecate curses upon (the instantaneous, immediate, or contemporary aorist indicates an action that has occurred just a moment before. English uses a present tense: Kells; SS

196 §16. ἐπαρᾶσθαι λόγον = ‘utter an imprecation’; τόνδε λόγον = internal acc. of ἐπηράσω: SS 34– 35 §2, S #1554a, 1555); > ‘what curse is this you utter . . . ?’; [1× Soph.]

ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖνον

‘that he should come’ (acc. and inf. required by supplied ἐπηρασάμην understood from the preceding ἐπηράσσω; syntax in stichomythia extends from line to line) νοέω
think, mind, deem

LINE 390

+ὅπως . . . ὅπως
anaphora (p. 23); final clause with subjv. (+*πάθῃς, ἐκ- +*φύγω) in Soph. usually follows a primary tense in the main clause, but here subjv. follows a secondary tense: ἐπηράσσω (SS 284– 85 §2); according to GMT #321, the subjv. “makes the language more vivid by introducing more nearly the original form of thought of the person whose purpose is stated”

χρῆμα, ατος, τό

(χράομαι, experience) matter, business; τὶ χρῆμα = τί ‘what’; [1× El. ]

+ποῦ (adv.)

where? > ‘So that you may suffer what? Where are you in your mind (i.e., What are you thinking?)?’

προσώτατα (adv.)

(προσώτατος, superlative of πρόσω) furthest, as far as possible; [1× El. ]

ἐκ- +*φεύγω, - έφυγον

(ἐκφύγω, aor.2 subjv.) flee out/ away, escape; > “So that I can escape as far as possible from you people”

(March); [1× El. ]

βίου . . . τοῦ +παρόντος

‘you have no concern for the life you still have?’ (objective genit.: SS 53 §4; S #1328) μνεία, ἡ
remembrance, memory; care, thought, concern; [1× Soph.]

LINE 393

+γάρ
indeed, forsooth (according to Jebb, ironic)

βίοτος, ὁ

(βιόω, live) life
θαυμάζω

(θαυμάσαι, aor.1 inf. act.) wonder (ὥστε with inf. [outside indirect discourse] opens a result clause implying a possible or intended result rather than actual fact: S #2254; GMT #582, 587); lit.: ‘because (γάρ, laden with irony if intonated rightly) my life is wonderful so as to wonder [at it]’ [1× El. ]

+ἐπίστᾰμαι
know how (to do) (contrary- to- fact condition for pres. time. The aor. in the apodosis refers to the present time— as the protasis does, but without the duration of time a vb. in the impf. would express, GMT

#414); > ‘it would be, if you knew how to be sensible’

*ἐκ- διδάσκω
teach thoroughly; (621)

85

Commentary 396–410

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ οὐ διδάϲκω· τοῖϲ κρατοῦϲι δʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

ΗΛ.

ϲὺ ταῦτα θώπευʼ· οὐκ ἐμοὺϲ τρόπουϲ λέγειϲ.

ΧΡ.

καλόν γε μέντοι μὴ ᾿ξ ἀβουλίαϲ πεϲεῖν.

ΗΛ. πεϲούμεθʼ, εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι.

ΧΡ.

πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, ϲυγγνώμην ἔχει.

400

ΗΛ. ταῦτʼ ἐϲτὶ τἄπη πρὸϲ κακῶν ἐπαινέϲαι.

ΧΡ.

ϲὺ δʼ οὐχὶ πείϲῃ καὶ ϲυναινέϲειϲ ἐμοί;

LINE 396
οὐ διδάσκω
supplement: τοῖς φίλοις εἶναι κακήν
τοῖς +κρατοῦσι

‘the rulers, those in power’ (articular substant. ptc.: S #2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825. Dat. with vbs.

of withdrawing or giving up, εἰκαθεῖν: SS 82 §4)

εἴκω, εἴκᾰθον

(aor.2 inf., poetic) yield, give way, draw back, retire; > ‘I am not teaching you [that], but to yield to those in power’

θωπεύω
flatter on (ταῦτα as adv. or internal acc.: SS 34– 35 §2, 41– 42 §12; S #1554. Supply external object: αὐτούς); > ‘you flatter them like that!’; [1× El. ]

ἐμούς

SS 168 §6 : “the ways of which you are speaking are not mine”; predicative adjective that emphatically affirms the noun

+γε μέντοι (pcl.)

(μέν+τοί) all the same, and yet, however (combination found in drama. Adversative and here introduces an objection in dialogue: GP 412,1)

ἀ- βουλία, ἡ

(ἀ privat.) ill council, thoughtlessness; [1× El. ]

+*πίπτω, ἔπεσον

(πεσεῖν, aor.2 inf. act.) fall, fail; > ‘and yet, it is as well not to fall (i.e., come to grief) through folly’

LINE 399
τῑμωρούμενοι
see 349n (masc. pl. is used of and by a single woman in self- reference: SS 10 §5, 14– 15 §8. Morwood attributes this usage of masc. gender to “boldness and resolution” on El.’s part. The use of participial masc. for women is most frequent in the speeches of El.: SS 9 §5); > ‘I’ll come to grief, if need be, avenging my father’

συγ- γνώμη, ἡ

(συγ- γιγνώσκω) forgiveness (with objective genit., τούτων: SS 53 §4; S #1328); > Kells: “But our father makes allowances (συγγνώμην ἔχει), Ι know, for this situation”, i.e., yielding to their enemies; [1× El. ]

τἄπη

= τὰ +ἔπη

+ἐπ- *αινέω, - ῄνεσα

(ἐπαινέσαι, inf. aor.1 act.) approve, sanction, commend (αἰνέω keeps a short vowel in the aor. and fut.: S

#488b. ταῦτα here amounts to τοιαῦτα [Kamerbeek] followed by epexegetic inf.: SS 238– 39b; GMT

#759); > ‘Such words are (lit.: on the side of, πρός) for the base persons to commend’

συν- *αινέω
agree or come to terms with a person (notice the wordplay on El.’s ἐπαινέσαι, which may indicate that Chr. is annoyed as well as calm)

86

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

οὐ δῆτα. μή πω νοῦ τοϲόνδʼ εἴην κενή.

ΧΡ. χωρήϲομαί τἄρʼ οἷπερ ἐϲτάλην ὁδοῦ.

ΗΛ.

ποῖ δʼ ἐμπορεύῃ; τῷ φέρειϲ τάδʼ ἔμπυρα ;

405

ΧΡ.

μήτηρ με πέμπει πατρὶ τυμβεῦϲαι χοάϲ.

ΗΛ. πῶϲ εἶπαϲ; ἦ τῷ δυϲμενεϲτάτῳ βροτῶν;

ΧΡ.

ὃν ἔκτανʼ αὐτή· τοῦτο γὰρ λέξαι θέλειϲ.

ΗΛ.

ἐκ τοῦ φίλων πειϲθεῖϲα; τῷ τοῦτʼ ἤρεϲεν;

ΧΡ.

ἐκ δείματόϲ του νυκτέρου, δοκεῖν ἐμοί.

410

LINE 403

+οὐ δῆτα
indeed/ certainly not! (emphatic negative answer. Here the denial is expected: GP 274, II.ii) πώ (enclit. pcl.)

up to this time, ever yet (μή πω = never. εἴην, opt. of wish); > ‘Certainly not! May I never be so (τοσόνδε) devoid of thought’

+νοῦς, ὁ
mind, thought

+χωρέω
go forward, advance, go, come
τἄρ = +τοι ἄρα

+ἄρα then, therefore (postpostive confirmatory pcl. marking the immediate succession of events and thoughts while adding a lively feeling of interest: S #2787; GP 32– 35);‘Well! Then . . .’

οἷπερ
whither (S #346)

*στέλλω, ἐστάλην

(aor.2 pass.) send

+ὁδός, ἡ
partit. genit. with adv. (S #1306; SS 58 §10) separated from οἷπερ by hyperbaton (p. 24) and semantically superfluous: > ‘where I was sent to on my journey’

LINE 405

+ποῖ
where? (S #346)

ἐμ- πορεύομαι
be on a journey; [1× El. ]

τῷ

‘for whom?’ (= τινι, interrog. pron.: S #343)

ἔμ- πῠρος, ον

(ἐν, πῦρ) in/ on the fire, burnt; ἔμπυρα (ἱερά) = burnt offerings; [1× El. ]

χοή, ἡ

(χέω, pour) drink- offering for the dead mixed of honey, wine and water τυμβεύω

(τύμβος, mound of earth heaped over ashes) bury, burn, entomb a corpse (χοὰς τυμβεῦσαι τινι = pour libations as an offering on one’s grave. Final infinitive ‘to pour libations’ after a verb of motion, πέμπει: GMT #770; SS 237 §2); [1× El. ]

+δυσ- μενής, ές
bearing ill will, hostile

LINE 408
ἐκ τοῦ φίλων

= ὑπὸ τινὸς φίλων; > ‘convinced by whom of her friends?’; τινος = genit. of agent (S #1491; SS 109 §9); φίλων, partit. genit. (S #1306, 1317)

*ἀρέσκω, ἤρεσα

(aor.1 act.) be pleasing to, gratify, please, be agreeable + dat.; > ‘to whom was this pleasing?; [1× El. ]

δεῖμα, ατος, τό

(δείδω, be afraid) fear, terror (του = τινός, indefinite. pron., S #334) νύκτερος (3)

(νύξ) nighttime (note the anaphora of ἐκ in 409–10);> ‘from/ by some night terror’; [1× El. ]

+δοκεῖν
limiting inf. closely allied with epexegetic and consecutive uses of the inf, and thus should be preceded by ὡς or ὥστε, often omitted in familiar speech (Kells; GMT #778); > ‘as it seems to me’

87

Commentary 411–427

ΗΛ.

ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, ϲυγγένεϲθέ γʼ ἀλλὰ νῦν.

ΧΡ. ἔχειϲ τι θάρϲοϲ τοῦδε τοῦ τάρβουϲ πέρι;

ΗΛ.

εἴ μοι λέγοιϲ τὴν ὄψιν, εἴποιμʼ ἂν τότε.

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ οὐ κάτοιδα πλὴν ἐπὶ ϲμικρὸν φράϲαι.

ΗΛ. λέγʼ ἀλλὰ τοῦτο. πολλά τοι ϲμικροὶ λόγοι

415
ἔϲφηλαν ἤδη καὶ κατώρθωϲαν βροτούϲ.

ΧΡ. λόγοϲ τιϲ αὐτήν ἐϲτιν εἰϲιδεῖν πατρὸϲ
τοῦ ϲοῦ τε κἀμοῦ δευτέραν ὁμιλίαν
ἐλθόντοϲ ἐϲ φῶϲ· εἶτα τόνδʼ ἐφέϲτιον

LINE 411
συν- +*γίγνομαι

[ῑ] be with, come to assist [1× Soph.]

+ἀλλὰ νῦν
now at least, now at long last (GP 13.3)

+θάρσος, εος, τό

[ᾰ] courage, boldness, confidence
τάρβος, εος, τό
fright, alarm, terror; [1× El. ]

+πέρι

= +περί, of, about, concerning (+ genit.; anastrophe, p. 23; S #175) ὄψις, εως, ἡ

(ὄψομαι) sight, vision, apparition; [1× El. ]

LINE 414
σμῑκρός (3)

= μῑκρός; small, little, trivial, insignificant; [1× El. ]

+φράσαι
epexegetic inf. almost redundant; can depend either on κάτοιδα, or on ἐπὶ σμκρόν; ‘I do not know and can tell only a little’ or ‘I do not know except for a very little to tell.’ The essential meaning is the same.

+πολλά
often (adverbial acc.: SS 42 §12)

εἰ +λέγοις . . . +εἴποιμ᾿ ἂν
future less vivid condition (S #2297, 2329; GMT #392.2)

*σφάλλω, ἔσφηλα
trip up, deceive
κατ- ορθόω
set up straight, erect (both verbs stand in a gnomic aorist expressing general truth: S #1931); [1× El. ]

LINE 417
αὐτήν . . . +εἰσιδεῖν

(εἰσ- +*οράω, aor.2 inf act.) (acc. and inf. construction following λόγος τις . . . ἐστιν: S #1972, 2016) πατρὸς . . . +*ἐλθόντος
temporal genit. absolute in a hyperbaton (p. 24); (S #2058, 2070a; SS 76– 77 §42) δεύτερος (3)

second, once more; [1× El. ]

ὁμῑλία, ἡ
being/ living together, intercourse, companionship (some assume companionship [Jebb, Finglass].

Others assume sexual intercourse [Kamerbeek, Kells]); > ‘there is a word that she saw a second companionship with your father and mine after he had come to the daylight/ life [again]’; [1× El. ]

+φῶς, φωτός, τό
light, daylight (usually signifies life versus the darkness of the Netherworld.) ἐφ- έστιος, ον

(ἐπὶ ἑστία) by the hearth (predicative and proleptic, see p. 24; SS 167– 68 §6. I.e., he planted it in a way it would be by the hearth); > ‘having taken the scepter, he planted it by the hearth’; [1× El. ]

88

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
πῆξαι λαβόντα ϲκῆπτρον οὑφόρει ποτὲ

420
αὐτόϲ, τανῦν δʼ Αἴγιϲθοϲ· ἔκ τε τοῦδʼ ἄνω
βλαϲτεῖν βρύοντα θαλλόν, ᾧ κατάϲκιον
πᾶϲαν γενέϲθαι τὴν Μυκηναίων χθόνα.

τοιαῦτά του παρόντοϲ, ἡνίχʼ Ἡλίῳ
δείκνυϲι τοὔναρ, ἔκλυον ἐξηγουμένου.

425
πλείω δὲ τούτων οὐ κάτοιδα, πλὴν ὅτι
πέμπει μʼ ἐκείνη τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου χάριν.

LINE 420

*πήγνῡμι, ἔπηξα
fix in, make fast, plant
σκῆπτρον, τό

(σκήπτω, prop, support) a staff, scepter; (ὑφόρει = ὃ +ἐφόρει)

+τανῦν (adv.)

now at present (= τὰ νῦν)

τοῦδε
ὅδε in anaphoric (referring back) use; > ‘and from it (i.e., the staff) grew up a fruitful young shoot’

+ἄνω (adv.)

(ἀνά) upward, up
βρύω

[ῡ] full of, swell, teem with; [1× El. ]

θαλλός, ὁ

(θάλλω) a young shoot (ᾧ = dat. of means: SS 88– 89 §16); [1× El. ]

κατά- σκῐος, ον

(κατά, σκία) overshadowed (acc. and inf. following λόγος τις ἐστιν: κατάσκιον τὴν χθόνα γένεσθαι, into the relative clause starting with ᾧ: SS 262– 63 §1: “[it is said that] a fruitful bough grew up from it, and with it (ᾧ) all the land was overshadowed”); [1× Soph.]

LINE 424

+του +παρόντος

‘someone (= τινός) present’; indef. pron. and pres. ptc. of +πάρειμι in genit. after +ἔκλυον

+*δείκνῠμι
show, declare, reveal (historical present for vividness, standing mostly for narrative aorist or descriptive imperfect: S #1883; SS 186 §5; GMT #33)

ὄναρ, τό
dream (used in nom. and acc. only τοὔναρ = τὸ ὄναρ. Occurs only here in Soph. and in a fragment); [1×

Soph.]

ἐξ- ηγέομαι
narrate, describe, tell at length (LSJ III); > ‘This is what I heard told in detail by someone (present) who was there when . . .’; [1× El. ]

πλείω

= πλείονα (acc. pl. neut. comparative of +πολύς: S #319.8, with genit. of comparison τούτων: SS 69– 70);

> ‘more than this I do not know’

+φόβος, ὁ
fear, terror, fright, dismay

+χάριν + genit.

for the sake of, on account of (χάρις, acc. sg. as a postpositive improper prep., i.e., an adv. used as a prep.

but unable to form compounds: S #1665a, 1700; LSJ A VI,1)

89

Commentary 428–443

[πρόϲ νυν θεῶν ϲε λίϲϲομαι τῶν ἐγγενῶν
ἐμοὶ πιθέϲθαι μηδʼ ἀβουλίᾳ πεϲεῖν·
εἰ γὰρ μʼ ἀπώϲῃ, ϲὺν κακῷ μέτει πάλιν.]

430

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη, τούτων μὲν ὧν ἔχειϲ χεροῖν
τύμβῳ προϲάψῃϲ μηδέν· οὐ γάρ ϲοι θέμιϲ
οὐδʼ ὅϲιον ἐχθρᾶϲ ἀπὸ γυναικὸϲ ἱϲτάναι
κτερίϲματʼ οὐδὲ λουτρὰ προϲφέρειν πατρί·
ἀλλʼ ἢ πνοαῖϲιν ἢ βαθυϲκαφεῖ κόνει

435
κρύψον νιν, ἔνθα μή ποτʼ εἰϲ εὐνὴν πατρὸϲ
τούτων πρόϲειϲι μηδέν· ἀλλʼ ὅταν θάνῃ,

LINE 428

Most mss. assign lines 428– 30 to Chr., others to El. Jebb, Kamerbeek, Kells attribute them to Chr.; Finglass assumes that they are a reworking and amplification of l. 398 and square- brackets them.

λίσσομαι
beg, pray, entreat
ἐγ- γενής, ές

(ἐν, γένος) native, inborn (ἐγγενεῖς . . . θεοί = gods of the family or country. Hyperbaton, p. 24)

+ἀπ- ωθέω, - ωσα

(ἀπώσῃ, ind. fut. mid. 2sg.) mid.: reject, disdain, repulse; > ‘for if you reject me’

μέτ- ειμι

(μετά, εῖμι) go to, approach, go after, visit with vengeance (the indic. pres. of εῖμι has a future meaning: S

#774, 1880); > ‘you will come to me when things are bad (lit.: with / ) for you’

LINE 431
προσ- άπτω

(προσάψῃς, subjv. aor.1 act.) attach to, apply to, confer upon (prohibitive subjunctive: ‘do not . . . ’: S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259)

τούτων . . . μηδέν
partitive genit., (SS 57– 58 §10; S #1306, 1317); ὧν = ἅ, relative attraction in which the relat. pron. is attracted from its proper case into the case of its antecedent— τούτων; i.e., instead of acc. ἅ, there is genit.

ὧν (S #2522a); > ‘do not (attach to) place on the tomb any of the things in your hands’

ὅσῐος (3)

pious, scrupulous; > ‘it is not lawful nor pious for you to . . . ’; [1× El. ]

κτερίσματα, τά

(κτερίζω, bury with due honors) funeral honors, obsequies (= κτέρεα, in 931 the term includes libations; here it doesn’t)

προσ- +*φέρω
bring to

+πατρί
apokoinu, ἀπὸ κοινοῦ, a word common to two clauses or two syntactical structures, carrying two syntactical functions; here with both infinitives, ἱστάναι and προσφέρειν; > ‘to place funeral honors ( to our father) or bring libations to our father’

LINE 435

+ἀλλ᾿
but (with commands and exhortations: GP 13– 14; repeated twice more in this speech, 435, 437) πνοή, ἡ
wind, blast, air, breath
βαθυ- σκᾰφής, ές

(βαθύς, σκάπτω) deep dug; [1× Soph.]

+κόνις, εως, ἡ
dust; > ‘hide them deep in the dust’

+κρύψον
zeugma (p. 24). The verb goes only with βαθυσκαφεῖ κόνει. δός or μεθές, to be supplied with πνοαῖσιν.

The aorist imperative indicates a specific action to be begun and whose termination is also envisaged (SS 217 §5): it will be hidden until Clyt. dies.

νιν

= αὐτά (S #325e)

+ἔνθα μὴ ποτ᾿

+ἔνθᾰ: where (μή reflects the subjective wish and thought of El.) πρόσ- +*εἶμι
approach, come to (+*εἶμι and its compounds serve as future); [1× Soph.]

τούτων . . . μηδέν
partit. genit. (S #1306; SS 58); > ‘where nothing of them will ever come to our father’s resting place’

90

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
κειμήλιʼ αὐτῇ ταῦτα ϲῳζέϲθω κάτω.

ἀρχὴν δʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τλημονεϲτάτη γυνὴ
παϲῶν ἔβλαϲτε, τάϲδε δυϲμενεῖϲ χοὰϲ

440
οὐκ ἄν ποθʼ ὅν γʼ ἔκτεινε τῷδʼ ἐπέϲτεφε.

ϲκέψαι γὰρ εἴ ϲοι προϲφιλῶϲ αὐτῇ δοκεῖ
γέρα τάδʼ οὑν τάφοιϲι δέξεϲθαι νέκυϲ

LINE 438
κειμήλιον, τό

(+κεῖμαι, lie down) anything stored up as valuable, treasure (predicative: ‘as a treasure’); [1× Soph.]

+αὐτῇ
dat. of advantage ( commodi) often translated as dat. of possession (SS 84 §9); > ‘as a treasure for her/
for her sake’

+σῳζέσθω
the aspect of the pres. impv. points to action to be begun and be continued (SS 217 §5); > ‘ let these be kept safely for her as a treasure below for whenever she dies.’ (a sarcastic comment suggesting that no one else will offer libations for Clyt, when she dies, whenever it that may be: ὅταν +*θάνῃ) ἀρχή, ἡ
a beginning, first cause, origin (ἀρχήν, adverbial acc., = ‘to begin with,’ ‘at all.’ Mostly preceding negative sentences. SS 42 §13: “ ‘would not have poured libations for a start’, i.e., ‘not at all’ ” ); [1× El. ]

+τλήμων, ονος, ὁ/ ἡ
suffering, enduring, wretched, miserable; bold, daring, reckless, rash (superlative with partit. genit.

πασῶν: S #1306, 1315; SS 58 §10)

+*ἔβλαστε

(βλαστάνω, aor.2 act.); ἔβλ(αστε) counted as a short syllable, but long in 238. Soph. tends to use this verb as variation of φύομαι, γίγνομαι, and even εἰμί more often than Aesch. or Eur. (in El. : 238, 590, 966, 1060, 1081, 1095, Kamerbeek)

LINE 441

+τῷδε

‘to the man whom she killed’; antecedent of ὅν in an inverted order ἐπι- στέφω
surround with (χοὰς ἐπιστέφειν τινι = offer libations as an honor to the dead; ἀρχήν ἄν, εἰ . . . ἔβλαστε . . .

ἄν . . . ἐπέστεφε: contrary- to- fact condition: protasis for past time, apodosis for pres. time; repeated ἄν
emphasizes the impropriety of the libations: S #1765, 2297, GMT #223); > ‘ had she not been the most shameless of all women, she would certainly never have offered these hateful libations to begin with’; [1×

Soph.]

σκέπτομαι

(σκέψαι, aor.1 impv. mid.) look to, view, examine, consider; [1× El. ]

προσφιλῶς (adv.)

kindly (here with αὐτῇ); [1× Soph.]

γέρας, αος, τό
gift of honor (Epic contraction: γέρα = γέρατα, nom. pl.)

οὑν

= ὁ ἐν with νέκυς

+δέξεσθαι
δέξασθαι in codd., but the sense demands future (SS 209 §31), thus the emendation δέξεσθαι is a preferable reading.

νεκύς, ῠος, ὁ
a dead body, corpse; dead man; > ‘for consider if you believe (σοι δοκεῖ) that the dead man in the tomb would receive these honors with kindly feelings toward the woman’; [1× El. ]

91

Commentary 444–459
ὑφʼ ἧϲ θανὼν ἄτιμοϲ ὥϲτε δυϲμενὴϲ
ἐμαϲχαλίϲθη κἀπὶ λουτροῖϲιν κάρᾳ

445
κηλῖδαϲ ἐξέμαξεν. ἆρα μὴ δοκεῖϲ
λυτήριʼ αὐτῇ ταῦτα τοῦ φόνου φέρειν;
οὐκ ἔϲτιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν μέθεϲ· ϲὺ δὲ
τεμοῦϲα κρατὸϲ βοϲτρύχων ἄκραϲ φόβαϲ
κἀμοῦ ταλαίνηϲ, ϲμικρὰ μὲν τάδʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅμωϲ

450
ἅχω, δὸϲ αὐτῷ, τήνδε λιπαρῆ τρίχα
καὶ ζῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐ χλιδαῖϲ ἠϲκημένον.

αἰτοῦ δὲ προϲπίτνουϲα γῆθεν εὐμενῆ

LINE 444
ὑφ᾿ ἧς

‘by whose hand he died’ (+ὑπό with genit. of personal agent: S #1493; the antecedent is αὐτῇ, 442) μασχᾰλίζω
put under the armpits, mutilate; > either ‘he died without honor as an enemy and his corpse was mutilated,’ or ‘he died without honor and was mutilated as an enemy’; [1× Soph.]

κηλίς, ῖδος, ἡ
stain, spot, defilement; [1× El. ]

ἐκ- μάσσω
wipe off; > ‘and by way of cleaning, she wiped off the [blood]stains on his head’; [1× Soph.]

+ἆρα μή

‘You don’t think that . . . do you?’ (= μῶν); interrogative pcl. expecting the answer ‘no’: SS 320)

+λῠτήριος (3)

(+λύω, loosen) losing, delivering; λουτήρια atonement (LSJ II) (substantival use of adj. without article: SS 163 §1. Predicative with τοῦ φόνοῦ as objective genit.: SS 53 §4, S #1328); > ‘ as atonement /
absolution for her [αὐτῇ] of the murder’

LINE 448
οὐκ ἔστιν
it is impossible (the supposition is rejected; a quasi- impersonal use of +*εἰμί = +ἔξεστι. The subject, ταῦτα, is omitted: S #1985)

+μεθ- *ίημι,

(μέθες, aor.2 impv.: S #777) set loose, let go; + acc. throw

*τέμνω, ἔτεμον

(τεμοῦσα, aor.2 ptc. act.) cut
βόστρῠχος, ὁ
curl, lock of hair

+ἄκρος (3)

(ἀκή, edge) at the end
φόβη, ἡ
lock, curl, hair; foliage; > ‘having cut the tips of your locks’; [1× El. ]`

+ὅμως (adv.)

nevertheless, still (ἀλλ᾿ ὅμως = but still: S #2786)

LINE 451
ἅχω

= ἃ ἐχω; > ‘and from poor me, these [are] small things, but [all] I have’

λῑπᾰρής, ές
persisting, persevering, earnest (Scholia: λιπαρῆ, the codd. have ἀλῐπαρῆ = ‘not sleek’; however, the quantity of the iota disagrees, and the word is found nowhere else. The text calls for ‘unkempt,’ which λιπαρῆ does not fit semantically, unless iironic. The epithet of τρίχα remains a crux: Kamerbeek) θρίξ, τριχός
hair; [1× El. ]

ζῶμα, ατος, τό

(ζώννυμι, gird) girdle, belt; [1× Soph.]

χλιδή, ἡ
luxury, adorments

+ἀσκέω

(ἠσκημένον, pf. pass. ptc.) adorn, fashion, dress up, decorate; > ‘and give them to him, this earnst (?) hair and my girdle not decorated with adornments’

αἰτέω

(pres. impv. mid.) ask, beg, request (followed by two acc. and inf. structures: εὐμενῆ . . . ἀρωγὸν αὐτὸν
and . . . μολεῖν and παῖδ᾿ Ὀρέστην . . . ἐπεμβῆναι)

92

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸν αὐτὸν εἰϲ ἐχθροὺϲ μολεῖν,
καὶ παῖδʼ Ὀρέϲτην ἐξ ὑπερτέραϲ χερὸϲ

455
ἐχθροῖϲιν αὐτοῦ ζῶντʼ ἐπεμβῆναι ποδί,
ὅπωϲ τὸ λοιπὸν αὐτὸν ἀφνεωτέραιϲ
χερϲὶ ϲτέφωμεν ἢ τανῦν δωρούμεθα.

οἶμαι μὲν οὖν, οἶμαί τι κἀκείνῳ μέλειν
προσ- πίτνω
fall upon, embrace; prostrate, supplicate (poetic for προσ- +*πίπτω) εὐμενής, ές
well disposed, kind, propitious, beneficent; [1× El. ]

LINE 454
ἡμῖν

‘request that he come to us as a beneficent helper’; (dat. of advantage: SS 845 §9)

+ἀρωγός, ὁ
helper
ὑπέρτερος (3)

(comparative adj. of ὑπέρ) upper, higher; stronger, mightier (ἐκ ὑπερτέρας χερός = ‘with upper hand.’ For ἐκ see ἐξ at 48)

+*ζῶντ᾿

= ζῶντα (pres. ptc. acc. sg. masc., not dat. sg., because dat. sg. of 3rd declension does not elide in Tragedy: Finglass)

ἐπ- εμ- +*βαίνω

(ἐπεμβῆναι, aor.2 inf. act.) step upon, tread upon; trample upon (with dat., ἐχθροῖσιν)

+πούς, ποδός, ὁ
foot (dat. of means: SS 88– 89 §16); > ‘that his (αὐτοῦ) son Orestes, with upper hand, alive, trample his enemies under/ with his foot’

LINE 457

+λοιπός (3)

(+*λείπω, leave) remaining (τὸ λοιπόν = the remainder, the future) ἀφνεός (3)

rich, wealthy (= ἀφνειός, 3/ 2); [1×Soph.]

ὅπως . . . +στέφωμεν

‘so that in the future we may honor him with richer hands than [with which] we now bring him gifts.’

Final clause in subjv. in primary sequence, αἰτοῦ. Imperative moods count as primary because they point to the future (S #1858a; SS 284– 85 §2)

δωρέομαι
give, present one with, bring a gift

+*οἶμαι

(= οἴομαι) think, suppose (emphatic repetition. οὖν emphasizes prospective μέν: GP 473. οἶμαι μέν is answered by ὅμως δ᾿ in 461); > ‘Yes, (although) I think, I think that he . . . but nonetheless’

+μέλειν + dat.

A necessary emendation (Blaydes) to codd. μέλον. οἶμαι requires usually an inf., not a participial construction; >‘Yes, I think that it was of some (τι) interest (care) to him (ἐκείνῳ) to send these horrible dreams to her’

93

Commentary 460–476
πέμψαι τάδʼ αὐτῇ δυϲπρόϲοπτʼ ὀνείρατα·

460
ὅμωϲ δʼ, ἀδελφή, ϲοί θʼ ὑπούργηϲον τάδε
ἐμοί τʼ ἀρωγά, τῷ τε φιλτάτῳ βροτῶν
πάντων, ἐν Ἅιδου κειμένῳ κοινῷ πατρί.

ΧΟ. πρὸϲ εὐϲέβειαν ἡ κόρη λέγει· ϲὺ δέ,
εἰ ϲωφρονήϲειϲ, ὦ φίλη, δράϲειϲ τάδε.

465

ΧΡ. δράϲω· τὸ γὰρ δίκαιον οὐκ ἔχει λόγον
δυοῖν ἐρίζειν, ἀλλʼ ἐπιϲπεύδει τὸ δρᾶν.

πειρωμένῃ δὲ τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων ἐμοὶ
ϲιγὴ παρʼ ὑμῶν πρὸϲ θεῶν ἔϲτω, φίλαι·

LINE 460
δυσ- πρόσωπτος, ον

(δυσ- , πρόσωπον) of ill aspect, sour looks; [1× El. ]

+ὄνειρον, τό
dream (pl. ὀνείρατα)

+ἀδελφή, ἡ (ᾰ)

(ἀ copulative, δελφύς, womb) daughter of the same mother, sister (it is the first time, El. addresses Chr.

as her sister.)

σοί

= σεαυτῇ; together with μοι depends on ἀρωγά
ὑπουργέω

(ὑπουργός, rendering service) assist, serve, render; [1× El. ]

ἀρωγός, ον
helping, aiding

+κοινός (3/ 2)

shared in common, kindred; > ‘but nevertheless/ all the same, do these things as a service both to yourself and to me, and to the dearest of all mortals, the father of us both who lies in Hades’

τῷ . . . πατρί
an emphatic hyperbaton, see p. 24
πρὸς εὐσέβειαν

‘the girl speaks out of reverence’ (πρὸς with acc. of manner: S #1608, = εὐσεβῶς, cf. 369, 921, 1462) σωφρονέω
be of sound mind (the future indic. is especially emphatic when the condition contains a strong appeal to the feelings of the addressee, as such is a favorite construction with the tragedians: GMT #447); >

‘and you, if you are of sound mind, my dear, you will do as she says’

LINE 466
δύο
two (declension S #349; dual; enjambment)

ἐρίζω

(ἔρις, strife) strive, wrangle, quarrel; [1× Soph.]

ἐπι- σπεύδω
urge on; hasten (codd. have the inf. ἐπισπεύδειν. In either case, it takes the articular inf. τὸ +*δρᾶν either as a complementary inf. to mean ‘urges to do.’ Or if it is transitive, τὸ +*δρᾶν is a direct object in acc. ‘urges/
hastens doing/ accomplishing [it]’: SS 239 §4; GMT #791 ); [1× Soph.]

τὸ . . . δίκαιον . . . δρᾶν
τὸ δίκαιον: either (a) anticipatory acc. of respect, with οὐκ ἔχει λόγον as impersonal with the epexegetic infs. ἐρίζειν and ἐπισπεύδειν: ‘for in regard to what is right, it makes no sense for two people to argue about it, but to urge accomplishing/ doing it.’ Or, (b) subject of οὐκ ἔχει: ‘for what is right ( to do) does not permit (οὐκ ἔχει λόγον) two persons to argue about it, but urges accomplishing/ doing it.’

+*πειράομαι

(pres. ptc. dep.) try, attempt; the participle agrees with μοι.

τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων
objective genit. (SS 52– 53 §4; S #1331– 32); > ‘while I attempt these things’

σιγή, ἡ
silence
παρ᾿ ὑμῶν

‘on your part’

ἔστω

(εἰμί, impv. pres. 3g.) ‘let there be’

94

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ὡϲ εἰ τάδʼ ἡ τεκοῦϲα πεύϲεται, πικρὰν

470
δοκῶ με πεῖραν τήνδε τολμήϲειν ἔτι.

ΧΟ.

εἰ μὴ ʼγὼ παράφρων μάντιϲ ἔφυν καὶ
στρ.

γνώμαϲ λειπομένα ϲοφᾶϲ,
εἶϲιν ἁ πρόμαντιϲ

475

Δίκα, δίκαια φερομένα χεροῖν κράτη·

LINE 470
ἡ τεκοῦσα

(+*τίκτω, aor.2 act.) mother, the one who give birth (articular substantive participle: S #2050– 2052; SS

257– 58 §9; GMT #825)

πυνθάνομαι, πεύσομαι

(fut.) hear, earn, inquire (fut. condition with fut. indic. in protasis; see μέλλουσι . . . λήξεις 379n); > ‘for if my mother will hear of this . . .’

+πικρός (2/ 3)

bitter, harsh, cruel (predicative adj.: ‘as a bitter one’)

πεῖρα, ἡ
experience (internal acc.: S #1554, recalling πειρωμένῃ in 468); [1× El. ]

τολμάω
undergo, endure, venture, risk (με τολμήσειν = acc. with inf. for expected nominative with infinitive because of the personal construction in which the leading verb δοκῶ and the infinitive share the same subject: S #1973– 74, cf. at 65– 66; με is thus emphasized.)

+ἔτι
menacing as in 66: ‘I think I will yet venture this endeavor as a bitter one’

Chrysothemis exits via the eisodos on the spectators’ left, indicating she is going to Agamemnon’s tomb outside the city.

FIRST STASIMON, LINES 472– 515

The first Choral song that the Chorus sing and dance after they position themselves in the orchestra. Electra, who remains onstage, is silent. Encouraged by the account of Clytemnestra’s dream, they envision a personified Justice, the axe that had been used to murder Agamemnon, and the Furies all coming together to punish the murderers. The song divides into strophe, 472– 487, antistrophe, 488–

503, and epode, 504– 515.

STROPHE, Lines 472– 487

LINE 472
μὴ ᾿γὼ

= μὴ ἐγὼ; aphaeresis (p. 23)

παρά- φρων, ον

(παρά, φρήν) out of one’s right mind, out of one’s wits; false; [1× Soph.]

+μάντῐς, εως, ὁ

(μαίνομαι) a diviner, soothsayer, seer, prophet; (as fem.) a prophetess; > ‘If I was not born (+*ἔφυν) a deranged prophetess’

γνώμας λειπομένα σοφᾶς

= +γνώμης +*λειπομένη +σοφῆς; > ‘bereft of sound judgment’

πρό- μαντις, εως
prophetic (ἁ πρόμαντις Δίκα, Justice gave forewarning on the issue via Clyt.’s dream); > ‘Justice, who has already sent a sign, will come carrying just victory in her hands’; [1× Soph.]

95

Commentary 478–497
μέτειϲιν, ὦ τέκνον, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου.

ὕπεϲτί μοι θάρϲοϲ
ἁδυπνόων κλύουϲαν

480
ἀρτίωϲ ὀνειράτων.

οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἀμναϲτεῖ γʼ ὁ φύ-
ϲαϲ ϲʼ Ἑλλάνων ἄναξ,
οὐδʼ ἁ παλαιὰ χαλκόπλη-
κτοϲ ἀμφήκηϲ γένυϲ,

485
ἅ νιν κατέπεφνεν αἰϲχίϲταιϲ ἐν αἰκείαιϲ.

LINE 477
μέτ- +*ειμι

(μετα, εἶμι; μέτεισι, pres. with future indication) go after, visit with vengeance, go to, approach; > ‘she will visit in vengeance, soon, my child’

+μακροῦ +χρόνου
genit. of time is used of the period of time within which something happens (SS 58– 59 §11.i; S #1444);

> ‘in no short space of time’

ὕπ- *ειμι
be under; support; > ‘confidence supports me’; [1× Soph.]

ἡδύ- πνοος (2)

(ἡδύς, πνοή) sweet- breathing; [1× Soph.]

κλύουσαν

(+κλύω); acc. qualifies the dat. μοι, because of construction according to the sense, as if ὑπέρχεται με
θάρσος preceded κλύουσαν; > ‘confidence supports me, now that I have heard the sweet- breathing dream’

LINE 482
ἀμνηστέω
be unmindful, forget; [1× Soph.]

+*φύσας

(φύω, aor.1 act. ptc.) ‘your begetter,’ ‘who begot you.’ Articular substantive participle; see ἡ τεκοῦσα, line 470

Ἕλλην, ηνος, ὁ

Greek

+ἄναξ, ακτος, ὁ
lord, king; > ‘For he who sired you, the lord of the Greeks, is never unmindful’

LINE 485
χαλκό- πληκτος (2)

(χαλκός, πλήσσω) forged or welded of brass; [1× Soph.]

ἀμφ- ήκης, ες

(ἀμφί, ἀκή) two edged; [1× El. ]

γένῠς, υος, ἡ

(blade of an) axe; > ‘nor is the ancient two- edged bronze axe’

κατα- φένω

(reduplicated aor.2 with no pres. in use) kill, slay; [1× Soph.]

αἴσχιστος (3)

Superlative of +αἰσχρός (2/ 3) (αἶσχος, τό, shame) shameful, disgraceful

+αἰκία, ἡ

[ῑ] injurious treatment, outrage (codd.: αἰκίας; αἰκείαις: Porson); > ‘that killed him in a most despicable assault’

96

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἥξει καὶ πολύπουϲ καὶ πολύχειρ ἁ
ἄντ.

δεινοῖϲ κρυπτομένα λόχοιϲ

490
χαλκόπουϲ Ἐρινύϲ.

ἄλεκτρʼ ἄνυμφα γὰρ ἐπέβα μιαιφόνων
γάμων ἁμιλλήμαθʼ οἷϲιν οὐ θέμιϲ.

πρὸ τῶνδέ τοι θάρϲοϲ

495
μήποτε μήποθʼ ἡμῖν
ἀψεγὲϲ πελᾶν τέραϲ

ANTISTROPHE, Lines 489– 503

LINE 489
πολύ- πους, ποδος, ὁ/ ἡ

(πολύς, πούς) many footed; [1× Soph.]

πολύ- χειρ, χειρος, ὁ/ ἡ

(πολύς, χείρ) many handed; [1× Soph.]

λόχος, ὁ

(λέγω, lay to sleep; λέγομαι, lie down) ambush, place of lying in wait; [1× El. ]

χαλκό- πους, ποδος, ὁ/ ἡ

(χαλκός, πούς) brazen footed; [1× El. ]

LINE 492
ἄ- λεκτρος, ον

(ἀ privat., λέκτρον, marriage bed) without a marriage bed, unwedded, unhallowed marriage (LSJ) ἄ- νυμφος, ον

(ἀ privat., νύμφη, bride) not bridal, unwedded
ἐπι- +*βαίνω + dat

(ἐπέβα = ἐπέβη, aor.2) attack, set upon, assault; [1× El. ]

μῐαι- φόνος (2)

(μιαίνω, defile; φόνος) blood stained, defiled with blood; [1× Soph.]

γάμος, ὁ

[ᾰ] marriage, wedding (some think the plural comes from repeated intercourse; others note the use of plural for festivals and festivities: SS 6 §3)

ἁμίλλημα, ατος, τό

(ἁμιλλάομαι, compete) contest, conflict, striving, craving (logically the epithets ἄλεκτρα and ἄνυμφα describe the γάμοι, but are transferred here to the passionate craving for the marriage); > ‘for an unwedded, brideless craving for a blood- defiled marriage came upon those who had no right [to marry]’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 495
πρὸ τῶνδε

‘for (= on account of) these things’ (Jebb)

μήποτε
μή is usually the negation of the infinitive, here with πελᾶν (SS 327 §6) ἡμῖν
the Chorus refer to itself in both singular and plural, combined at times in the same passage (SS 10 §6);

> ‘because of this, I am sure beyond doubt (+τοι)’

ἀ- ψεγής, ές

(ἀ privat., ψέγω, blame) unblamed, blameless, harmless (predicative adj.: ‘as harmless’; [1× Soph.]

πελάω

Attic fut. of πελάζω; approach, draw near; [1× El. ]

τέρας, ατος, τό
portent, sign

97

Commentary 498–518
τοῖϲ δρῶϲι καὶ ϲυνδρῶϲιν. ἤ-
τοι μαντεῖαι βροτῶν
οὐκ εἰϲὶν ἐν δεινοῖϲ ὀνεί-
ροιϲ οὐδʼ ἐν θεϲφάτοιϲ,

500
εἰ μὴ τόδε φάϲμα νυκτὸϲ εὖ καταϲχήϲει.

ὦ Πέλοποϲ ἁ πρόϲθεν
ἐπ.

πολύπονοϲ ἱππεία ,

505
ὡϲ ἔμολεϲ αἰανὴϲ
τᾷδε γᾷ.

εὖτε γὰρ ὁ ποντιϲθεὶϲ

Μυρτίλοϲ ἐκοιμάθη,

LINE 498
συν- +*δράω

[ᾱ] do together; τοῖς δρῶσι καὶ συνδρῶσιν = articular substantive participles (S #2050– 52; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825) and a wordplay on Clyt. and Aeg.; > ‘that never ever will the nightmare come harmless upon the killers and their accomplices’

+ἤτοι (conj.)

probably disjunctive: ‘or else’ (GP 554)

μαντεία, ἡ
prophesying; prophesy (with objective genit. βροτῶν: SS 52– 53 §4; S #1328); > ‘divination for men’

θέσφᾰτος (2)

(θεός, φημί) spoken by god, decreed (τὰ θέσφατα = oracles); [1× El. ]

+φάσμα, ατος, τό

(φαίνω) apparition, phantom

+κατ- +*έχω
hold, withhold; reach destination safely (ἤ- τοι . . . εἰσὶν . . . κατασχήσει; future condition with fut. indic.

in protasis commitment of realization: SS 277– 78 §1a; GMT #447; cf. μέλλουσι . . . εἰ μὴ λήξεις 379); >

‘or else there is no prophecy for humankind in dreadful dreams and oracles, if this nighttime portent is not to reach its due fulfillment’

EPODE, Lines 504– 515

LINE 504
ἱππεία, ἡ
driving, racing, horsemanship (Pelops’ race to win Oenomaus’ daughter, Hippodemeia, was the origin of the woes of the house of Atreus); [1× Soph.]

+πολύ- πονος, ον

(πολύς, πόνος) much- suffering; causing much pain, painful (repeated in 515 in the same metrical spot.) αἰᾱνής, ές

(probably < αἰεί) everlasting; dismal, horrible; > ‘Oh, Pelops’ ancient horsemanship, cause of so much suffering, how you came without end upon this land’; [1× El. ]

εὖτε (adv.)

when, at the time when, since, seeing that (poetic for of ὅτε)

ποντίζω

(ποντισθείς, aor.1 pass. ptc.) (πόντος, sea) plunge in the sea, pass.: be drowned; [1× Soph.]

Μύρτιλος, ὁ
the charioteer of Oenomaus, bribed and thrown into the sea by Pelops; [1× Soph.]

κοιμάω

(ἐκοιμάθη = ἐκοιμήθη, aor.1 pass. ptc.) lull to sleep; > ‘sunk to sleep’; [1× Soph.]

98

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
παγχρύϲων δίφρων

510
δυϲτάνοιϲ αἰκείαιϲ
πρόρριζοϲ ἐκριφθείϲ,
οὔ τί πω
ἔλιπεν ἐκ τοῦδʼ οἴκου
πολύπονοϲ αἰκεία.

515

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗϹΤΡΑ
ἀνειμένη μέν, ὡϲ ἔοικαϲ, αὖ ϲτρέφῃ.

οὐ γὰρ πάρεϲτʼ Αἴγιϲθοϲ, ὅϲ ϲʼ ἐπεῖχʼ ἀεὶ
μή τοι θυραίαν γʼ οὖϲαν αἰϲχύνειν φίλουϲ·

LINE 510
πάγ- χρῡσος, ον

(πᾶς, χρύσος) all gold, of solid gold; [1× El. ]

πρό- ρριζος, ον

(πρό, ῥίζα, root) by the roots
ἐκ- ρίπτω

(ἐκριφθείς, aor.1 pass. ptc.) throw out, cast off; [1× El. ]

πω (pcl.)

up to this time, yet, ever (mostly with negative); > ‘For since Myrtilus was plunged into the sea, sunk to sleep, hurled in an execrable outrage headlong from a golden chariot, since then never has affliction, full of trouble, left this house’; [1× El. ]

SECOND EPISODE, LINES 516– 822

The Episode divides into two parts: lines 516– 659 and 660– 822.

LINES 516– 659: Clytemnestra enters from the palace, accompanied by a maidservant carrying fruit offerings for Apollo. She engages in a formal debate ( agōn) with Electra about the justice of Agamemnon’s murder.

LINE 516

+ἀν- +*ειμένη

(ἀνίημι, pf. pct. pass.: S #777) let go; > ‘on the loose,’ ‘at large’

+μέν
μέν solitarium often begins speeches in drama (Finglass); emphasizes ἀνειμένη; see 61n

+*ἔοικα

(pf. with pres. sense) seem (personal use of impersonal ἔοικε.) English idiom is impersonal: ‘it seems’

+αὖ (adv.)

cf. Chr.’s words in 328– 29; > ‘So you are out and about again, it seems’

στρέφω
turn; mid. > ‘you are turning’, ‘you are out and about’; [1× El. ]

ἐπ- +*έχω
keep in, hold back (the impf. expresses frequent repetitive/ customary act: S #1893, emphasized by ἀεί);

> ‘who always kept you in/ restrained you’

θῠραῖος (2/ 3)

(θύρα, door) outside the door
μή τοι . . . γε
in indirect discourse with inf. ‘at any rate not’ (GP 546– 47). The limiting γε stresses the adj. θυραίαν (GP

141). μή with inf., αἰσχύνειν, in forbidding function (SS 328 §6 iv); > ‘(restrained you) from shaming your kin, at least (γε) outside the house’

*αἰσχύνω

(αἰσχύνη, shame, dishonor) shame, dishonor

99

Commentary 519–536
νῦν δʼ ὡϲ ἄπεϲτʼ ἐκεῖνοϲ, οὐδὲν ἐντρέπῃ
ἐμοῦ γε· καίτοι πολλὰ πρὸϲ πολλούϲ με δὴ

520
ἐξεῖπαϲ ὡϲ θραϲεῖα καὶ πέρα δίκηϲ
ἄρχω, καθυβρίζουϲα καὶ ϲὲ καὶ τὰ ϲά.

ἐγὼ δʼ ὕβριν μὲν οὐκ ἔχω, κακῶϲ δέ ϲε
λέγω κακῶϲ κλύουϲα πρὸϲ ϲέθεν θαμά.

πατὴρ γάρ, οὐδὲν ἄλλο, ϲοὶ πρόϲχημʼ ἀεί ,

525
ὡϲ ἐξ ἐμοῦ τέθνηκεν. ἐξ ἐμοῦ· καλῶϲ
ἔξοιδα· τῶνδʼ ἄρνηϲιϲ οὐκ ἔνεϲτί μοι.

ἡ γὰρ Δίκη νιν εἷλεν, οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνη,
ᾗ χρῆν ϲʼ ἀρήγειν, εἰ φρονοῦϲʼ ἐτύγχανεϲ.

LINE 519
ἐν- τρέπω
mid.: give heed or regard; respect, pay deference + genit. of person; [1× El. ]

ἐμοῦ γε (520), ἄρχω (522), enjambment s; Clyt. emphasizes her stance and role ἔξοιδα (527), λύπης (533),
δύσθυμος (550)

+καιτοί (pcl.)

adversative: ‘you don’t heed me at all, and yet . . .,’‘. . . and further. . . ’

+πολλά adv. acc.

= πολλάκις; often, many times; πολλὰ πρὸς πολλούς polyptoton, see δεινὰν δεινῶς 198n.

+ἐξ- +*εῖπον

(aor.2 act. indic.) tell of (in use for ἐξ- αγορεύω, +ἐξ- ερῶ); > ‘ you have reported often many things about me to many people that . . .’

θρασύς, εῖα, ύ
bold

+πέρᾱ + genit.

beyond, exceeding; πέρᾱ δίκης = ‘above justice,’ ‘unjustly’; > that I am (bold) insolent and that I rule unjustly’

καθ- +υβρίζω

(pres. act. ptc.) treat despitefully, insult + acc.; > ‘insulting you and what’s yours’; [1× El. ]

LINE 523

+σέθεν
old poetic form of σοῦ, genit. of σύ
θαμά (adv.)

often, ofttimes, frequently; [1 × El.]

πρόσχημα, ατος, τό

(προ- +*έχω, hold before) what is held forth, pretext; ornament, showpiece LINE 526
ἐξ ἐμοῦ
genit. of agent, comes with ἐκ, πρός and ὑπό (SS 75 §41; S #1678; note the emphatic repetition); > ‘for your father, nothing else, is always your pretext, how he died by my hand. [Yes] by my hand’

ἄρνησις, εως, ἡ

(ἀρνέομιαι, deny) denial; > ‘I can’t deny it’; [1× El. ]

νῐν
acc. of 3rd pers. pron. sg.

χρῆν

= +χρή +ἦν (S #793) ‘it was necessary’ (with inf. it takes the acc.: σ’: S #1562); > ‘whom (ᾗ, ‘Justice’ is the antecedent) you should have helped’

ἀρήγω
help, aid

+*ἐτύγχανες
with φρονοῦσα, as supplem. ptc., which tells what the main action is, while the main verb tells something about how the action is occurring (S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261 §12f); > ‘if ( you happened to have any sense =) if you had any sense’

100

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἐπεὶ πατὴρ οὗτοϲ ϲόϲ, ὃν θρηνεῖϲ ἀεί,

530
τὴν ϲὴν ὅμαιμον μοῦνοϲ Ἑλλήνων ἔτλη
θῦϲαι θεοῖϲιν, οὐκ ἴϲον καμὼν ἐμοὶ
λύπηϲ, ὅτʼ ἔϲπειρʼ, ὥϲπερ ἡ τίκτουϲʼ ἐγώ.

εἶἑν· δίδαξον δή με

〈τοῦτο 〉· τοῦ χάριν
ἔθυϲεν αὐτήν; πότερον Ἀργείων ἐρεῖϲ;

535
ἀλλʼ οὐ μετῆν αὐτοῖϲι τήν γʼ ἐμὴν κτανεῖν.

LINE 530
πατὴρ οὗτος σός

Finglass: “The combination of οὗτος and σός is prοbably contemptuous (‘that father of yours,’ Lloyd-Jones, similarly Jebb)”

+ἐπεί (conj.)

since, seeing that (LSJ; S #2240, cf. 352n); > ‘ for that father of yours . . . alone of all the Greeks, had the heart to sacrifice your sister. . . ’

θρηνέω

(θρῆνος, ὁ, dirge, lament) bewail, lament

Ἑλλήνων
partitive genit. with +μοῦνος: SS 58 §10; > ‘alone of the Greeks’

*τλάω, ἔτλην

(aor.2, never found in pres.) endure, dare

+θύω
sacrifice

+ἴσος (3)

equal in size, strength, or number + dat.; here an adv.

*κάμνω, ἔκαμον

(καμών, aor.2 ptc.) labor, be weary or sick; [1× El. ]

*σπείρω, ἔσπειρα

(aor.1) sow; engender, beget

+ὥσπερ (conj.)

as (introducing a comparison: SS 305– 6 §1)

+*τίκτουσα

(pres. act. ptc.) articular substant. ptc. (cf. 342, 470); note the present aspect: the pain of labor is still with her; > ‘although he did not suffer the same amount of pain when he sired her, as did I who bore her’

LINE 534
εἶεν (pcl.)

well, good, quite so; used in oratory in passing to the next point

+*δίδαξον

(διδάσκω, aor.1 impv.) the aorist aspect is more suitable than the present (SS 217– 18 §5)

+χάριν + genit.

τοῦ χάριν = τινὸς χάριν; > ‘Fine. Just (δή) explain this to me, for whose sake did he sacrifice her’

+Ἀργεῖος (3)

of or from Argos, Argive
πότερον . . ., ἀλλὰ . . . δῆτα πότερον is here continued not by ἤ, but by ἀλλὰ . . . ἀλλὰ . . . δῆτα used in questions that follow a rejected suggestion (GP 273), usually left untranslated in English; > ‘ Will you say it was for the Argives? But they had no right to kill who was mine. But then having killed/ if he killed my child because of his brother Menelaus, was he not to/ ought he not (οὐκ +*ἔμελλε) pay the penalty to me?’ πότερον: resolution in 6th position; in line 539 the resolution in 1st position.

+ἐρῶ

I will say; +*φημί, +*λέγω, and ἀγορεύω used as pres. and εἶπον as aor.2
μέτ- +*ειμι

(μετῆν, impf. 3sg.) impers.; have share in, claim to + dat., αὐτοῖσι; > ‘but they (αὐτοῖσι) had no claim/ no right to kill my daughter’; [1× in El. ]

101

Commentary 537–549
ἀλλʼ ἀντʼ ἀδελφοῦ δῆτα Μενέλεω κτανὼν
τἄμʼ οὐκ ἔμελλε τῶνδέ μοι δώϲειν δίκην;
πότερον ἐκείνῳ παῖδεϲ οὐκ ἦϲαν διπλοῖ,
οὓϲ τῆϲδε μᾶλλον εἰκὸϲ ἦν θνῄϲκειν, πατρὸϲ

540
καὶ μητρὸϲ ὄνταϲ, ἧϲ ὁ πλοῦϲ ὅδʼ ἦν χάριν;
ἢ τῶν ἐμῶν Ἅιδηϲ τινʼ ἵμερον τέκνων

LINE 537

+ἀντί (+ genit.)

instead of; because of (SS 99 §4)

+Μενέλαος, ὁ

(genit.) resolution in 8th position, Μενέλεω; cf. 545, 576.

τἄμ᾿

= τὰ ἐμά neuter used for persons, cf. 972, 1208 (SS 14– 15 §10)

+*δώσειν δίκας
give satisfaction/ suffer punishment
ἐκείνῳ
dat. of possession (S #1476; SS 83 §8)

+διπλοῦς, ῆ, οῦν
two, twofold

LINE 540

+οὕς
acc., subject of the infinitive θνῄσκειν.

+ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε
τῆσδε, genit. of comparison with μᾶλλον. According to Morwood, the pron. τῆσδε refers “to what is especially prominent in the speaker’s mind” (SS 155 §23); > ‘who (antecedent: παῖδες) should have properly (εἶκος ἦν) died rather than she (i.e., my daughter, Iphigenia)’

+εἰκός

(neut. pct. of +ἔοικα) probable, reasonable, proper
πατρός καὶ μητρὸς ὄντας
possessive genits. in adverbial use; > ‘since they were children of the father and the mother’

ἧς
the antecedent is Helen, the cause of the voyage is in Clyt.’s mind. Menelaus is irrelevant to her; > (mother) for whose sake the voyage took place’

πλοῦς, ὁ
sailing voyage; [1× in El. ]

+ἤ (conj.)

or (continues πότερον in 539. Notice the anaphora in lines 542, 543, 544. Clyt. must have considered the reasons repeatedly)

ἵμερος, ὁ

[- ῑ- ] longing, desire; [1× in El. ]

102

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἢ τῶν ἐκείνηϲ ἔϲχε δαίϲαϲθαι πλέον;
ἢ τῷ πανώλει πατρὶ τῶν μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ
παίδων πόθοϲ παρεῖτο, Μενέλεω δʼ ἐνῆν;

545
οὐ ταῦτʼ ἀβούλου καὶ κακοῦ γνώμην πατρόϲ;
δοκῶ μέν, εἰ καὶ ϲῆϲ δίχα γνώμηϲ λέγω.

φαίη δʼ ἂν ἡ θανοῦϲά γʼ, εἰ φωνὴν λάβοι.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν οὐκ εἰμὶ τοῖϲ πεπραγμένοιϲ

LINE 543
δαίνῠμαι

(δαίσασθαι, aor.1 inf. mid.) feast (epexegetic inf. with τἀμὰ τέκνα to be understood as the object: Kamerbeek. ἤ . . . πλέον frame the line in reverse order); > ‘or (ἤ, l. 542) did Hades have some desire to feast on my children more (πλέον) than (ἤ, line 543) on hers?; [1× in El. ]

παν- ώλης, ες

(+πᾶς, +*ὀλλῡμι, destroy) all- destructive, murderous (alliteration, 5× π, in the most important words might indicate Clyt.’s passionate indignation: Kamerbeek); [1× El. ]

πόθος, ὁ

(ποθέω, love, yearn for) love, desire

+παρ- *ίημι, - εῖμαι

(παρεῖτο, aor.2 indic. pass.) give up, slacken; > ‘Or (ἤ, l. 544) had your murderous father’s love for my children abated, while [his love] for Menelaus’ [children] stayed the same (+ἐν +*ῆν)?’

ἄ- βουλος, ον

(ἀ privat., βουλή) inconsiderate, ill- advised, thoughtless

+γνώμην
acc. of respect (S #1601c; SS 43); > ‘wasn’t this [the conduct] of a thoughtless father, one with poor judgment?’ Note the triple use of γνώμη in lines 546, 547, 551, in which Clyt. tries to set a contrast between her ‘standards’ and El.’s. For the repetition see 67n on πατρώα/ πατρῶον.

LINE 547

+δοκέω
think, imagine (personal constr.: S #1983 with μέν solitarium, see 61n); > ‘I certainly think so’

εἰ καί
even if (concessive clause. Pres. indic. in protasis admits the condition, but denies the difficulty: S #2372; SS 282– 83 §5)

δίχᾰ + genit.

(- ῐ- ) apart from; > ‘even if I differ from your judgment’

+*φαίη . . . ἄν . . ., εἰ . . .

(+*φημί, pres. opt.: S #783– 86) say (less vivid condition, opt. in protasis and in apodosis, λάβοι [λαμβάνω,

+*λάβοι
aor.2 opt.], with ἄν for what is impossible: SS 279 §1d, ii); > ‘she who had died (ἡ +*θανοῦσα) would surely ( γ᾿) say so, if she could acquire a voice’

φώνη, ἡ
voice; [1× in El. ]

+οὖν (conj.)

so now, therefore, then, in fact, at all events (inferential: marks transition to a new thought: S #2964; GP 426)

τοῖς +*πεπραγμένοις

(πράσσω, pf. pass. ptc.) do (articular substant. ptc.: S #2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825. Dat. of cause/
reason: S #1517; SS 89 §17); > ‘by what was done’

103

Commentary 550–568
δύϲθυμοϲ· εἰ δὲ ϲοὶ δοκῶ φρονεῖν κακῶϲ,

550
γνώμην δικαίαν ϲχοῦϲα τοὺϲ πέλαϲ ψέγε.

ΗΛ. ἐρεῖϲ μὲν οὐχὶ νῦν γέ μʼ ὡϲ ἄρξαϲά τι
λυπηρὸν εἶτα ϲοῦ τάδʼ ἐξήκουϲʼ ὕπο·
ἀλλʼ ἢν ἐφῇϲ μοι, τοῦ τεθνηκότοϲ θʼ ὕπερ
λέξαιμʼ ἂν ὀρθῶϲ τῆϲ καϲιγνήτηϲ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

555

ΚΛ.

καὶ μὴν ἐφίημʼ· εἰ δέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀεὶ λόγουϲ
ἐξῆρχεϲ, οὐκ ἂν ἦϲθα λυπηρὰ κλύειν.

ΗΛ.

καὶ δὴ λέγω ϲοι. πατέρα φὴϲ κτεῖναι. τίϲ ἂν

LINE 550
δύσ- θῡμος, ον

(δυσ- , +*θῡμος) dispirited, anxious, disaffected (emphatic enjambment); > So, for my part I am not upset because of/ by what was done’

+*σχοῦσα

(ἔχω, aor.2 pass. ptc.) temporal ptc. (SS 252– 53 §4; GMT §833)

τοὺς +πέλας

‘those near by’; substantival use of article with an adverb (S #1153e) ψέγω
blame, find fault with; > ‘acquire (after having acquired) a just perception [then] find fault with those around you’)

LINE 552

+ἐρεῖς . . . μ᾿

‘This time you shall not say about me’

+ὡς (conj.)

that (‘subjective’ use introducing indirect discourse after negated vb.: SS 314 §1)

+*ἄρξασα

(ἄρχω, aor.1 act. ptc.) Kells: “legalistic, since Greek law laid guilt on anyone who began a dispute”

λῡπηρός (3)

(+λύπη [ῡ]) painful, distressing; [1× El. ]

ἐξ- +*ακούω

(aor.1 act.) give an ear to + acc.; > ‘that I have started something hurtful, before (εἶτα) I heard such things (the same kind of things, i.e., hurtful) from you’; [1× El. ]

+ἐφ- *ίη- μι

(ἐφῇς, aor.2 subjv. act.) metaphorically: permit, allow (mixed condition: ἤν [ἐάν] with subjv. in protasis and potential opt., λέξαιμι ἄν, in apodosis. The latter implies a softened expression of the fut. indic.: GMT #505); > ‘but if you permit, I should like to speak truthfully on behalf of the dead man and my sister as well (ὁμοῦ)’

+ὀρθῶς (adv.)

+(ὀρθός, straight) rightly, truthfully, justly

- +ὁμοῦ (adv.)

(neut. genit. of ὁμός, joint) together, at once

LINE 556
ἐξ- +*άρχω
begin (the verb has an internal object, λόγους, and an external object μέ: S #1619– 20; SS 37 §5. In a contrary- to- fact condition, it is sometimes difficult to decide if the impf. denotes present or past time: SS

280 §3a; GMT #410, 412); > ‘If you had always begun your speeches to me in such a manner you would have not be hurtful to listen to’; [1× Soph.]

+κλύειν
limiting (explanatory) infinitive with adjective (SS 239 §3b)

πατέρα
resolution in 6th position: πατέρα.

+*φὴς +*κτεῖναι
indirect discourse, same subject for main verb and inf. (S #1982): ‘ you say that you killed’

ἄν . . . +*γένοιτ᾿ ἄν

(γίγνομαι, aor.2 opt.) potential optative. The doubling of ἄν has no syntactical significance, but semantically it can emphasize the words with which the ἄν is joined (GMT #223), here possibly the disgrace of Clyt’s utterance. Cf. ὥστ᾿ ἄν, εἰ . . . δηλώσαιμ᾿ ἄν 333n

104

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
τούτου λόγοϲ γένοιτʼ ἂν αἰϲχίων ἔτι,
εἴτʼ οὖν δικαίωϲ εἴτε μή; λέξω δέ ϲοι,

560
ὡϲ οὐ δίκῃ γʼ ἔκτειναϲ, ἀλλά ϲʼ ἔϲπαϲεν
πειθὼ κακοῦ πρὸϲ ἀνδρόϲ, ᾧ τανῦν ξύνει.

ἐροῦ δὲ τὴν κυναγὸν Ἄρτεμιν τίνοϲ
ποινὰϲ τὰ πολλὰ πνεύματʼ ἔϲχʼ ἐν Αὐλίδι·
ἢ ʼγὼ φράϲω· κείνηϲ γὰρ οὐ θέμιϲ μαθεῖν.

565
πατήρ ποθʼ οὑμόϲ, ὡϲ ἐγὼ κλύω, θεᾶϲ
παίζων κατʼ ἄλϲοϲ ἐξεκίνηϲεν ποδοῖν
ϲτικτὸν κεράϲτην ἔλαφον, οὗ κατὰ ϲφαγὰϲ

LINE 559

+εἶ- τε οὖν . . . εἶ- τε
whether . . . or ; > ‘whether you [did it] justly or not’

σπάω, ἔσπᾰσα
draw, drag aside, pervert; [1× in El. ]

πειθώ, οῦς, ἡ
persuasion, influence; > ‘but the influence of the wicked man with whom you are living now, lured you on’; [1× in El. ]

LINE 563
ἔρομαι, ἠρόμην

(ἐροῦ, aor.2 impv. dep. 2sg.) ask, inquire; [1× El. ]

κῠν- ᾱγός (2)

dog- leading; hunter; [1× Soph.]

+Ἄρτεμις, ιδος, ἡ

Artemis (hunting is among her functions)

ποινή, ἡ
price paid, satisfaction, penalty (τινός objective genit.: SS 53, S #1328); > ‘as a penalty for what’; [1×

Soph.]

πνεῦμα, ατος, τό
wind; [1× in El. ]

Αὖλις, ιδος, ἡ
port town in Boeotia, where the Greek fleet gathered to set off for Troy; [1× Soph.]

᾿γὼ

= ἐγὼ; aphaeresis.

κείνης

= +ἐκείνης; genit. of source after verbs of learning (S #1361, SS 66– 67 §28); > ‘for from her it is forbidden to learn’

+θέμις [ἐστί]

‘it is right’

LINE 566
οὑμός

= ὁ ἐμός
παίζω
make sport (contemporary pres. ptc. sets the context: SS 210 §33); [1× Soph.]

ἄλσος, εος, τό
grove; especially a sacred grove; > ‘when he was having sport in a sacred grove of the goddess’

ἐκ- κῑνέω, - ηκίνησα
move out: out up, rouse; [1× El. ]

+πούς, ποδός, ὁ
foot (Soph. usually uses dual when metrically convenient, but here ποσί would have been also been metrically suitable: S #999; SS 2 §2)

στικτός (3)

(στίζω, make a mark, brand) marked, spotted, dappled; [1 × in El. ]

κεραστής, οῦ, ὁ

(κέρας, τό, horn) horned; [1× El. ]

ἔλᾰφος, ὁ/ ἡ
deer, stag/ hind (resolution in 6th position; [1× El. ]

σφαγή, ἡ

(σφάζω, slay, kill) slaughter, killing (generalizing plural (SS 7 §4b) 105

Commentary 569–584
ἐκκομπάϲαϲ ἔποϲ τι τυγχάνει βαλών.

κἀκ τοῦδε μηνίϲαϲα Λητῴα κόρη

570
κατεῖχʼ Ἀχαιούϲ, ἕωϲ πατὴρ ἀντίϲταθμον
τοῦ θηρὸϲ ἐκθύϲειε τὴν αὑτοῦ κόρην.

ὧδʼ ἦν τὰ κείνηϲ θύματʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἦν λύϲιϲ
ἄλλη ϲτρατῷ πρὸϲ οἶκον οὐδʼ εἰϲ Ἴλιον.

ἀνθʼ ὧν βιαϲθεὶϲ πολλά τʼ ἀντιβὰϲ μόλιϲ

575
ἔθυϲεν αὐτήν, οὐχὶ Μενέλεω χάριν.

LINE 569
ἐκ- κομπάζω

+κατὰ τι (aor.1 ptc. act.) boast loudly; [1× Soph.]

+*τυγχάνει
historical present for vividness, standing mostly for narrative aorist (with supplem. ptc. ἐκκομπάσας: S

#1883; SS 186 §5; GMT #33. When an aorist ptc. is used with τυγχάνω, λαγχάνω or φθάνω in present or imperfect indicative, it is not coincidental with the finite verb but retains its own reference to past time: S #2096b, GMT #146; SS 261 §12f); > ‘about whose killing (οὗ κατὰ σφάγας) he (happened to have slipped) slipped some boastful word after hitting (βαλών) it’

*βάλλω, ἔβαλον

(βαλών, aor.2 ptc. act.) throw, cast, hurl in, strike, hit; [1× El. ]

μηνίω

(μηνίσασα, aor.1 ptc. act.) (μῆνις, wrath) be wroth against; [1× El. ]

Λητῷος (3)

born of Leto (Λητώ), the mother of Artemis and Apollo; [1× in Soph.]

Ἀχαιός (3)

Achaean
ἕως (conj.)

as long as, until (referring to coextensive actions: S #2383 C)

ἀντί- σταθμος, ον

(ἀντί, στάθμή carpenter’s line) counterposing, balancing; metaphorically: in compensation for; [1× in extant Tragedy]

LINE 572
θήρ, θηρός, ὁ
wild beast (genit. after compound adjs., ἀντίσταθμον: SS 54 §7); [1× El. ]

ἐκ- +*θύω

[ῡ] (ἐκθύσειε, aor.1 opt. act.) sacrifice (the compd. vb. is used in the same sense as the simple vb; see ἐκφοβουμένη 276n, ἐξαπώλεσας 588n. After a secondary tense, κατεῖχε, ἕως with aor. opt. in temporal clause may imply a purpose, the attainment of which is aimed or expected by the subject of the main vb.: S #2418, 2420; GMT #614.1); > ‘She detained the Achaeans, until the time when in requital for the beast my father sacrificed his own (αὑτοῦ = ἑαυτοῦ) daughter.’

θῦμα, ατος, τό

(+*θύω, sacrifice) sacrifice (the plural might indicate the occurrences behind the act: SS 4– 6 §3); > ‘This is how she came to be sacrificed’

λύσις, εως, ἡ

[ῠ] (λύω, loosen) release; [1× El. ]

Ἴλιος, ου, ἡ

[ῑλ] the city of Ilus (mythic founder of Troy), Troy; [1× El. ]

LINE 575

+ἀντί (+ genit.)

in return for, in retribution for; ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ‘in exchange for these things’ = ‘wherefore,’ ‘because of’ (SS

99 §4, 303 §1)

βῐάζω

(βιασθείς, aor.1 pass. ptc.) constrain; pass.: be hard pressed; [1× El. ]

+πολλά
adverbial acc.: greatly, much (Kells sees it as apokoinou, here with both participles βιασθείς and ἀντιβάς: ‘after being hard pressed and resisting mightily’

106

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
εἰ δʼ οὖν, ἐρῶ γὰρ καὶ τὸ ϲόν, κεῖνον θέλων
ἐπωφελῆϲαι ταῦτʼ ἔδρα, τούτου θανεῖν
χρῆν αὐτὸν οὕνεκʼ ἐκ ϲέθεν; ποίῳ νόμῳ;
ὅρα τιθεῖϲα τόνδε τὸν νόμον βροτοῖϲ

580
μὴ πῆμα ϲαυτῇ καὶ μετάγνοιαν τίθηϲ.

εἰ γὰρ κτενοῦμεν ἄλλον ἀντʼ ἄλλου, ϲύ τοι
πρώτη θάνοιϲ ἄν, εἰ δίκηϲ γε τυγχάνοιϲ.

ἀλλʼ εἰϲόρα μὴ ϲκῆψιν οὐκ οὖϲαν τίθηϲ.

ἀντι- +*βαίνω

(ἀντιβάς, aor.2 act. pct.) go against, withstand, resist; [1× Soph.]

+μόλῐς (adv.)

with difficulty, hardly, scarcely

+χάριν

+ genit.; > ‘For which reason he sacrificed her after being hard pressed and resisting mightily, not for sake of Menelaus’

+εἰ δ᾿οὖν

GP 465: “particularly used when a speaker hypothetically grants a supposition which he denies, doubts, or reprobates”; > ‘but if so- and- so did happen’

τὸ σόν

‘for I will state your claim, ’ referring to 537– 45

LINE 578
ἐπ- ωφελέω

(aor.1 act. inf.) help, succor; > ‘he did (ἔδρα) this wishing to help him τούτου . . . +οὕνεκα
emphatic hyperbaton for Clyt.’s reason; χρῆν = χρὴ ἦν

+ἐκ +σέθεν

= ὑπὸ σοῦ (see κἀκ 264n); > ‘was that a reason he had to die by your hand?’

+νόμος, ὁ

(νέμω, assign) custom, convention, law; > ‘according to what law?’

+*τίθημι

(pres. act. ptc.) put, establish; τιθεῖσα . . . τίθης enforcing rhetorical repetition.

μὴ . . . +*τίθης
emphatic hyperbaton; μή with pres. indic. after a verb of caution (ὅρα) expresses a danger that is very actual in the present (GMT #369); > ‘see that in making this rule, you are not establishing suffering and remorse for yourself’

μετά- γνοιᾰ, ἡ
repentance, remorse; [1× Soph.]

LINE 582
εἰ . . . +*θανοῖς ἄν
mixed condition: fut. indic. in protasis and potential opt., in apodosis not as a softened future (GMT

#505), but in a potential sense (Jebb) > ‘if we kill . . . then you would be the first to die’

εἰ . . . +*τυγχάνοις
second protasis in opt. with preceding apodosis with potential opt. to describe “an ideal or imaginary case which is proposed for the sake of argument, and the interest of drawing conclusion from it in the

[preceding] apodosis” (SS 279d, §1), as such it creates a future less vivid condition (S #2297, 2329; GMT #392.2); > ‘if you should meet with justice’

σκῆψις, εως, ἡ

(σκήπτω, defend oneself) pretext, excuse; legally: plea; [1× Soph.]

οὐκ οὖσαν

‘unreal,’ ‘false’; > ‘Be very careful not to put forth a false excuse’

107

Commentary 585–598
εἰ γὰρ θέλειϲ, δίδαξον ἀνθʼ ὅτου τανῦν

585
αἴϲχιϲτα πάντων ἔργα δρῶϲα τυγχάνειϲ,
ἥτιϲ ξυνεύδειϲ τῷ παλαμναίῳ, μεθʼ οὗ
πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν πρόϲθεν ἐξαπώλεϲαϲ,
καὶ παιδοποιεῖϲ, τοὺϲ δὲ πρόϲθεν εὐϲεβεῖϲ
κἀξ εὐϲεβῶν βλαϲτόνταϲ ἐκβαλοῦϲʼ ἔχειϲ.

590

LINE 585
ἀνθ᾿ ὅτου
wherefore, for what reason (S #1683.2)

αἴσχιστος (3)

(superlative of +αἰσχρός) most shameful, disgraceful

+*δρῶσα τυγχάνεις
τυγχάνω with supplem. ptc., δρῶσα, which tells what the main action is, while the main vb. tells something about how the action is occurring (S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261 §12f); > ‘Explain to me, if you will, for what reason you are right now (τανῦν) committing the most disgraceful acts of all (πάντων, partit. genit.)’

+ἥτις
indefinite/ general relative pron., here marking the character and quality of a person (S #2496); > ‘you who’

ξυν- εύδω
sleep with; [1× in El.]

πᾰλαμναῖος, ὁ

(πᾰλάμη, palm of the hand, hand) murderer; [1× El. ]

ἀμός (3)

[ᾱ] in Attic poetic for ἐμός (S #330D, 1)

ἐξ- απ- +*όλλυμι

(ἐξαπώλεσας, aor.1 indic. act.) destroy utterly (Kells: “the compound verb used . . . not intensively, but in the same sense as the simple verb”; see ἐκφοβουμένη 276n, ἐκθύσειε 572n); [1× El. ]

LINE 589
παιδο- ποιέω

(παῖς, ποιέω) bear children; [1× El. ]

τοὺς . . . +πρόσθεν

(sc. παῖδας) substantival use of article (S #1153e); > ‘but your earlier lawful [children] born of lawful marriage you cast out’

εὐσεβής, ές
pious, hallowed, legitimate (εὐσεβεῖς . . . εὐσεβῶν polyptoton. Such wordplay was highly appreciated);

[1× El. ]

+ἐκ- *βάλλω

(ἐκβαλοῦσα, aor.2 ptc.) throw out, cast out (ἐκ- βαλοῦσ᾿ ἔχεις— +*ἔχω as an auxiliary verb with aorist participle yields a “transitive, resultative perfect”: SS 206 §29d, which emphasizes the present existence of the result. Characteristic usage of Soph.)

108

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
πῶϲ ταῦτʼ ἐπαινέϲαιμʼ ἄν; ἢ καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐρεῖϲ
ὡϲ τῆϲ θυγατρὸϲ ἀντίποινα λαμβάνειϲ;
αἰϲχρῶϲ δʼ, ἐάν περ καὶ λέγῃϲ. οὐ γὰρ καλὸν
ἐχθροῖϲ γαμεῖϲθαι τῆϲ θυγατρὸϲ οὕνεκα.

ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ οὐδὲ νουθετεῖν ἔξεϲτί ϲε,

595
ἣ πᾶϲαν ἵηϲ γλῶϲϲαν ὡϲ τὴν μητέρα
κακοϲτομοῦμεν. καί ϲʼ ἔγωγε δεϲπότιν
ἢ μητέρʼ οὐκ ἔλαϲϲον εἰϲ ἡμᾶϲ νέμω,

LINE 591

+ἐπ- *αινέω

(ἐπαινέσαιμι, aor.1 act. opt.) αἰνέω keeps a short vowel in the aorist and future (S #488b). Potential optative with ἄν (GMT #236, S #1824); > ‘How can I praise these things?’

θυγάτηρ, θυγατρός, ἡ
daughter; [1× El. ]

ἀντί- ποινα, τά

(ἀντί- ποινος, ον, in requital) requital, retribution; > ‘Or will you say that in this too you are taking as retaliation for your daughter?’; [1× El.]

ἐάν . . . λέγῃς
the protasis ἐάν + subjv. expresses a general present supposition (GMT #394– 95, a); +περ see 386n; > ‘if you do (καί) in fact (περ) say it’

+ἐχθροῖς
substantival use of adj. without the article (SS 163 §1) and generalizing plural (SS 7 §2b) > ‘it is not honorable to mate with enemies.’ El. scrutinizes Clyt.’s conduct in terms of a general maxim.

γᾰμέω
in mid. = give oneself in marriage; [1× El. ]

LINE 595
νουθετέω

(+νοῦς, +*τίθημι) bring to mind, warn, admonish, advise

+ἔξεστι

(ἔξ- +*ειμι) it is possible, in one’s power (with inf. νουθετεῖν as subject: S #1984– 1985); > ‘for it is not possible to admonish you’

*ἵημι

(ἵης, pres. act. 2sg) send away, dismiss, let go; [1× El. ]

γλῶσσα, ἡ
tongue
κακο- στομέω

(κακός, στόμα) speak evil of; > ‘(lit.: you send your whole tongue) i.e., you raise every manner of outcry that I speak evil of my mother’; [1× Soph.]

καί

‘and indeed’

δεσπότις, ιδος, ἡ

= δέσποινα, mistress; [1× in El. ]

ἐλάσσον

(< ἐλάσσων, ον, comparative of +μικρός); in a lesser degree (neuter as adv.) ἡμᾶς

‘indeed I consider you (lit.: a tyrant no less than a mother =) more a tyrant than a mother toward us’

(unclear whether referring to Electra alone or to both Electra and Orestes) 109

Commentary 599–616
ἣ ζῶ βίον μοχθηρόν, ἔκ τε ϲοῦ κακοῖϲ
πολλοῖϲ ἀεὶ ξυνοῦϲα τοῦ τε ϲυννόμου.

600
ὁ δ’ ἄλλοϲ ἔξω, χεῖρα ϲὴν μόλιϲ φυγών,
τλήμων Ὀρέϲτηϲ δυϲτυχῆ τρίβει βίον·
ὃν πολλὰ δή μέ ϲοι τρέφειν μιάϲτορα
ἐπῃτιάϲω· καὶ τόδ’, εἴπερ ἔϲθενον,
ἔδρων ἄν, εὖ τοῦτʼ ἴϲθι. τοῦδέ γʼ οὕνεκα

605
κήρυϲϲέ μʼ εἰϲ ἅπανταϲ, εἴτε χρῇϲ κακὴν

LINE 599

+*ζάω
meaning enables only internal object: βίον μοχθηρόν (SS 34– 35 §2) μοχθηρός (3/ 2)

suffering hardship, in sore distress, wretched; [1× Soph.]

σύν- νομος, ἡ/ ὁ

(+συν, +*νέμω) partnermate, paramour (ἐκ τε σοῦ . . . [ἐκ] τοῦ τε συννόμου); > ‘with many miseries that come from you and your paramour’; [1× El. ]

ὁ δ ᾿ἄλλος

‘and that other one’ (i.e., of your children, a male one, i.e., Orestes) ἔξω (adv.)

(ἐξ) outside

+*φεύγω

(φυγών, aor.2 act. ptc.) flee, run away; > ‘having barely escaped’

+δυσ- τυχής, ές

(δυσ- , τύχη) unlucky, unfortunate
τρίβω
rub away; τρίβειν βίον wear away life; [1× Soph.]

LINE 603
μῐάστωρ, ορος, ὁ

(μῐαίνω, defile, pollute) polluter, avenger (σοι dat. of disadvantage: SS 84– 85 §9); > ; ‘as an avenger to you (= your avenger) ’

ἐπ- αιτιάομαι

(ἐπῃτιάσω, aor.1 indic. dep. 2nd sg;) bring a charge against one, accuse (requires με . . . τρέφειν as acc.

and inf.; emphatic enjambment); > ‘many times you have accused me that that I brought him up (ὅν ) as your (σοι) avenger’

καί

‘and indeed’)

+σθένω
have power, be strong (εἴπερ ἔσθενον ἔδρων ἄν ‘if I had had the power I would have done this’; contrary-to- fact condition, the impf. sometimes can refer to past time: SS 280 §3a; S #2304; GMT #410) κηρύσσω
proclaim, announce
χράω
eager for (LSJ AIII) (χρῇς 2 sg. pres. indic. = χρήζεις ‘you wish.’ Contracts to - η- instead of - α- : S #395.

The rare use of the verb in this meaning must have caused the mss corruption to χρή); [1× El. ]

110

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
εἴτε ϲτόμαργον εἴτʼ ἀναιδείαϲ πλέαν.

εἰ γὰρ πέφυκα τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων ἴδριϲ,
ϲχεδόν τι τὴν ϲὴν οὐ καταιϲχύνω φύϲιν.

ΧΟ. * * * * *
ὁρῶ μένοϲ πνέουϲαν· εἰ δὲ ϲὺν δίκῃ

610
ξύνεϲτι, τοῦδε φροντίδʼ οὐκέτʼ εἰϲορῶ.

ΚΛ. ποίαϲ δʼ ἐμοὶ δεῖ πρόϲ γε τήνδε φροντίδοϲ,
ἥτιϲ τοιαῦτα τὴν τεκοῦϲαν ὕβριϲεν,
καὶ ταῦτα τηλικοῦτοϲ; ἆρά ϲοι δοκεῖ
χωρεῖν ἂν ἐϲ πᾶν ἔργον αἰϲχύνηϲ ἄτερ;

615

ΚΛ.

εὖ νυν ἐπίϲτω τῶνδέ μʼ αἰϲχύνην ἔχειν,

LINE 607
στομαργός, ον
noisily prating, loud mouthed; [1× Soph.]

πλέος, α, ον

+ genit., ἀναιδείας: full, filled
ἀναίδεια, ἡ
shamelessness; > ‘proclaim to all, if you wish, that I am bad, or strident, or full of shamelessness’; [1×

Soph.]

+*πέφυκα

(φύω, pf. act.) πέφυκα . . . φύσιν wordplay, a pun (Kells), figura etymologica. > ‘For if by nature I am accomplished in any of these deeds (τῶνδε τῶν ἔργων)’

ἴδρις, εως, ο/ ἡ

(οἶδα); + genit.; experienced in, knowing, skillful, accomplished; [1× El. ]

σχέδον (adv.)

(ἔχω, σχεῖν) perhaps (σχέδον τι ‘perhaps in some way’; ‘almost’); [1× El. ]

κατ- +*αισχύνω
shame, disgrace, dishonor; [1× El. ]

LINE 610
μένος, εος, τό
force, strength; ardor, fury; [1× El.]

πνέω
breathe; [1× El. ]

φροντίς, ίδος

(φρονέω, think) thought, care, consideration (+ποίας . . . φροντίδος, hyperbaton framing the line); > ‘but whether she has justice on her side, I no longer see her giving any thought to this’

+*δεῖ
it is necessary (quasi- impersonal verb, i.e., its subject may be derived from the context: S #933b. δεῖ μοι
τινος “I have need of something”: S #1400); > ‘what sort of consideration must I have for her . . . ?’

τοιαῦτα

(+τοιοῦτος, τοιαύτη, τοιοῦτο) such (usually refers to what precedes: S #333e, 1245. Adverbial accusative

‘in such a way’ ‘so’)

+ὑβρίζω
outrage, insult, maltreat

LINE 614
καὶ ταῦτα

‘and that’; SS 157 §24: “she who has so abused her mother, and that too at such an age as she is”

τηλῐκοῦτος, - αύτη
of such an age (SS 13 §8); [1× El. )

or - οῦτος, - οῦτο

+ἆρα
according to context here it stands for ἆρ᾿ οὐ = ‘ don’t you think?’ (Kells)

+χωρεῖν +πρὸς +ἔργον
come to action (χωρεῖν ἄν = ὅτι χωροίη ἄν); > ‘don’t you think that she would proceed to any deed without shame?’ Clyt. talks ‘at’ El., not to her, although El. addresses her mother directly.

αἰσχύνη, ἡ

(ῡ) shame, disgrace, dishonor
ἄτερ (+ genit.)

without, except, besides (usually postpositive improper prep.: S #1647, 1700) 111

Commentary 617–633
κεἰ μὴ δοκῶ ϲοι· μανθάνω δʼ ὁθούνεκα
ἔξωρα πράϲϲω κοὐκ ἐμοὶ προϲεικότα.

ἀλλʼ ἡ γὰρ ἐκ ϲοῦ δυϲμένεια καὶ τὰ ϲὰ
ἔργʼ ἐξαναγκάζει με ταῦτα δρᾶν βίᾳ·

620
αἰϲχροῖϲ γὰρ αἰϲχρὰ πράγματʼ ἐκδιδάϲκεται.

ΚΛ.

ὦ θρέμμʼ ἀναιδέϲ, ἦ ϲʼ ἐγὼ καὶ τἄμʼ ἔπη
καὶ τἄργα τἀμὰ πόλλʼ ἄγαν λέγειν ποεῖ.

LINE 617

+ἐπίστω

= ἐπίστασο, pres. impv. dep. 2sg.

μ’ . . . ἔχειν
acc. and inf. after a verb of knowing, ἐπίστω (SS 317 §4; GMT 915.2b); > ‘Do know that I (have) feel shame for this (τῶνδε objective genit.: S #1328; SS 53 §4)’

κεἰ

= καὶ εἰ ‘even if’ opens concessive condition (S #2369– 72, SS 282– 83 §5) ἔξ- ωρος, ον

(ὥρα, season) untimely, out of season, unfitting; [1× Soph.]

προσ- +έοικα

(προσεικότα, pf. act. ptc. acc. pl. neut.) be like, seem fit (pf. with pres. sense); > ‘And I know that (ὁθούνεκα = ὅτι) my behavior is unfitting (ἔξωρα πράσσω) and (unlike me =) contrary to my nature’;

[1× El. ]

ἀλλ᾿ . . . γάρ

GP 101: “ ‘but, as a matter of fact,’ is the meaning in the great majority of cases . . . The sense conveyed is that what precedes is irrelevant, unimportant, or subsidiary, and is consequently to be ruled out of discussion. . . .” Kells: “But (I cannot help myself) for . . . ”

δυσ- μένεια, ἡ

(δυσ- , μένος) ill will, enmity (ἐκ σοῦ points to actual activity on Clyt.’s part and hence more emphatic than ἡ σὴ δυσ- μένεια); > ‘the enmity that comes from you’

LINE 620
ἐξ- ᾰναγκάζω
force, compel utterly; [1× El. ]

αἰσχροῖς . . . αἰσχρά
polyptotpon, although here αἰσχρά accompanies πράγματα.

ἐκ- +*διδάσκω
teach thoroughly
θρέμμα, ατος, τό

(τρέφω, nourish) nursling, creature (here as a term of reproach); [1× El.]

ἀν- αίδης, ες

(ἀ privat., αἰδώς, shame) shameless; [1× El.]

+ἦ
in truth, in sooth, verily (asseverative prepositive pcl.: S #2866); > ‘Truly, I and my words and my deeds make you say (σέ . . . λέγειν) too much’

τἄμ᾿, τἄργα, τἀμά

= τὰ ἐμά, τά ἔργα, τὰ ἐμά

112

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

ϲύ τοι λέγειϲ νιν, οὐκ ἐγώ. ϲὺ γὰρ ποεῖϲ
τοὔργον· τὰ δʼ ἔργα τοὺϲ λόγουϲ εὑρίϲκεται.

625

ΚΛ. ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν δέϲποιναν Ἄρτεμιν θράϲουϲ
τοῦδʼ οὐκ ἀλύξειϲ, εὖτʼ ἂν Αἴγιϲθοϲ μόλῃ.

ΗΛ. ὁρᾷϲ; πρὸϲ ὀργὴν ἐκφέρῃ, μεθεῖϲά με
λέγειν ἃ χρῄζοιμʼ, οὐδʼ ἐπίϲταϲαι κλύειν.

ΚΛ.

οὔκουν ἐάϲειϲ οὐδʼ ὑπʼ εὐφήμου βοῆϲ

630
θῦϲαί μʼ, ἐπειδὴ ϲοί γʼ ἐφῆκα πᾶν λέγειν;

ΗΛ.

ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε, μηδʼ ἐπαιτιῶ
τοὐμὸν ϲτόμʼ· ὡϲ οὐκ ἂν πέρα λέξαιμʼ ἔτι.

LINE 624
νιν

(= αὐτά; enclitic 3rd pers. pron.) the plural is rare; here refers to everything Clyt. has said.

μά

[ᾰ] asseverative adv. + acc. of the deity or thing appealed to. Neither affirmative nor negative by itself (LSJ; S #2894); > ‘Now, by the mistress Artemis.’ Elsewhere in Tragedy only unmarried girls invoke Artemis.

+θράσος, εος, τό

= +θάρσος; courage, confidence, overboldness, rashness, insolence ἀλύσκω

[ᾰ] shun, avoid, escape (with genit. of cause, τοῦδε. SS 68 §30: “you will not go scot- free because of this

[yours] boldness”; cf. Jebb, Campbell); [1× El. ]

εὖτε (adv.)

when, at the time when, since, seeing that (poetic for ὅτε. εὖτ᾿ἄν = ὅταν, opens temporal clause referring indefinitely to the future: S #2399, 1768; SS 294 §4. Here with aorist subjv., +*μόλῃ, for a single occurrence); > ‘when Aeg. comes’

LINE 628
ἐκ- +*φέρω

(ἐκφέρῃ, pres. pass.) pass.: being carried away beyond bounds (LSJ 3); > ‘You see? You are carried away onto anger’

+χρῄζω

(χρῄζοιμι, opt. pres. act.) desire, like, wish (opt. depending on μεθεῖσα < μεθίημι, aor.2 act. ptc.; the opt.

reflects ἄν + subjv. of the direct speech in which Clyt. is imagined to have said, ‘I grant you permission to say ἃ ἂν χρῄζῃς: ‘whatever you like’); > ‘after having set me free to say, whatever I liked’

+οὔκουν (adv.)

(= οὐκ οὖν) and so not? not therefore? not then? (often with 2nd pers. fut. indic., or opt. with ἄν, at an opening of a speech: GP 431); > ‘won’t you let me [+*ἐάσεις] then . . . ?’

οὐδέ . . . +*θῦσαι
οὐδέ reinforces οὔκουν
εὔ- φημος, ον

(+εὖ, +φήμη) abstaining from inauspicious words (i.e., religiously silent)

+βοή, ἡ
cry, shout, outcry; > ‘in silent clamor,’ i.e., ‘in silence’

LINE 632
κελεύω
bid, command (ἐῶ, κελεύω, θῦε in asyndeton: S #2165, 3016) θῦε
pres. impv. indicates an action that is to be begun and continued, or just continued. SS 217 §5: “you can proceed with the offering.”

ἐπ- αιτιάομαι

(ἐπαιτιῶ= ἐπαιτιάου; impv. pres. dep. 2sg).; blame; > ‘do not blame’

στόμα, τος, τό
mouth, speech, words, language
πέρᾱ (adv.)

beyond measure, excessively
ἄν . . . λέξαιμι
potential opt. in 1st pers. pointing to the fut. indicating intention with some reserve or reluctance (SS 230– 31 §14); > ‘for I will say no more’

113

Commentary 634–647

ΚΛ.

ἔπαιρε δὴ ϲὺ θύμαθʼ ἡ παροῦϲά μοι
πάγκαρπʼ, ἄνακτι τῷδʼ ὅπωϲ λυτηρίουϲ

635
εὐχὰϲ ἀνάϲχω δειμάτων, ἃ νῦν ἔχω.

κλύοιϲ ἂν ἤδη, Φοῖβε προϲτατήριε,
κεκρυμμένην μου βάξιν. οὐ γὰρ ἐν φίλοιϲ
ὁ μῦθοϲ, οὐδὲ πᾶν ἀναπτύξαι πρέπει
πρὸϲ φῶϲ παρούϲηϲ τῆϲδε πληϲίαϲ ἐμοί,

640

LINE 634
ἐπ- αίρω
lift, raise (Clyt. walks away from El. toward the statue of Apollo, turns here to the maidservant, who holds the fruit offerings, and turns back to Apollo); [1× El. ]

θῦμα, ατος, τό

(+*θύω, sacrifice) offering, sacrifice
ἥ +παρ- +*οῦσα

(πάρειμι, pres. ptc. act. fem. sg.) SS 25 §5: “The articular use of the nominative of a noun [here substantive participle, in apposition to σύ] in address generally occurs in speech to inferiors.”; > ‘you who are with me’

πάν- καρπος, ον
of all kinds of fruit (θύματα . . . πάγκαρπα), hyperbaton and enjambment for emphasis; [1× El. ]

+ἄναξ, ακτος, ὁ
lord, king; here Apollo
ἀν- +*έχω

(ἀνάσχω, aor.2 subjv.) offer prayers (perhaps with uplifted hands. Subjv. in final clause may or may not have ἄν without affecting meaning, in primary sequence, ἔπαιρε: SS 284– 86 §1– 3; S #2193). Impv.

moods count as primary because they point to the future: S #2196, 1858a) εὐχή, ἡ

(εὐχομαι, pray) prayer, vow; [1× El. ]

δεῖμα, ατος, τό

(δείδω, be afraid) fear, terror; > ‘so that (+ὅπως ) I offer up prayers for release from the fears I now (have) suffer’

LINE 637

+κλύω
κλύοις ἄν, 2nd pers. potential opt. + ἄν can have a force of exhortation or a respectful form of a wish (GMT §237; SS 231§14); > ‘please hear me now’

Φοῖβος, ὁ
epithet of Apollo; (as adj.) pure, bright, radiant, beaming
προστᾰτήριος, ον

(προ- ΐσταμαι, stand before) protecting, guarding
βάξις, εως, ἡ

(βάζω, speak) saying, report, announcement; > ‘my secret words’

ἀνα- πτύσσω

(ἀναπτύξαι, aor.1 act. inf.) unfold, disclose; [1× El. ]

πρέπω
fit, be proper (mostly impersonal. ‘It is proper’ both of outward circumstances and moral fitness) πλήσιος (3)

(πέλας, near, close) near, hard by, close to

+παρ- +*ούσης +τῆσδε
genit. absolute expressing attending circumstances (S #2058, 2070e; SS 76– 77 §42); > ‘with her pre-πλησίας
sent/ standing beside me’

114

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
μὴ ϲὺν φθόνῳ τε καὶ πολυγλώϲϲῳ βοῇ
ϲπείρῃ ματαίαν βάξιν εἰϲ πᾶϲαν πόλιν.

ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἄκουε· τῇδε γὰρ κἀγὼ φράϲω.

ἃ γὰρ προϲεῖδον νυκτὶ τῇδε φάϲματα
διϲϲῶν ὀνείρων, ταῦτά μοι, Λύκειʼ ἄναξ,

645
εἰ μὲν πέφηνεν ἐϲθλά, δὸϲ τελεϲφόρα,
εἰ δʼ ἐχθρά, τοῖϲ ἐχθροῖϲιν ἔμπαλιν μέθεϲ·

LINE 641
φθόνος, ὁ
ill will, envy, jealousy, grudge, malice
πολύ- γλωσσος, ον

(πολύς, γλῶσσα) many tongued, loud voiced, often repeated

*σπείρω, ἔσπειρα

(σπείρῃ, aor.1. subjv.) sow; engender, beget (μὴ . . . σπείρῃ— μή introduces a fear clause with subjv. after primary tense, πρέπει: S # 2221; SS 227 §12.iv; GMT #365); > ‘lest with her malice and garrulous tongue she spread vain rumor all over the city’

μάταιος (3/ 2)

[ᾰ] (μάτη, folly, fault) foolish, vain, idle, trifling, thoughtless ὧδε . . . τῇδε

‘But listen to me like this, for in this way I too (for my part) will speak,’ i.e., cryptically

+*ἄκουε

(pres. impv.) In Soph. aorist imperative is much more common in prayers than the present imperative.

The latter is used when there is a close link between the request and the situation at hand, and when the action is required to begin at once and not left to the discretion of the addressee. The opposite is true of the aorist, i.e., the action is not expected to be performed at once. In an address of a human to a god, the present imperative is thus rare. It occurs in only four passages: two in Ajax (74, 844), and two in El. here and 792 (SS 218– 19 §5).

LINE 644
ἅ
relative pronoun precedes the antecedent φάσματα, which is kept for the main clause (S #2541). The two frame the line. +γάρ is explanatory: ‘the fact is that’; see 32n προσ- +*οράω

(προσεῖδον, aor.2) look at

+νυκτί
dat. of time. SS 88 §15: “I saw last night”; (S #1447, 1539– 40) δίσσος (3)

(δίς) twofold, double, of two kinds, ambiguous; [1× El. ]

+*πἐφηνεν

(φαίνω, pf. act.) > ‘on the one hand, if they reveal good [tidings]’

+*δός

(δίδωμι, aor.2 impv.); see ἄκουε 643n
τελεσ- φόρος, ον
able to fulfill, or accomplish; > ‘grant their realization’; [1× El. ]

+ἐχθρά . . . ἐχθροῖσιν
polyptoton, see 198n on δεινὰν δεινῶς.

ἔμπαλιν (adv.)

back, backward; . > ‘make them rebound on my enemies’; [1× El. ]

+μἐθ- *ες

(μεθίημι, aor.2 impv.), see ἄκουε 643n

115

Commentary 648–664
καὶ μή με πλούτου τοῦ παρόντοϲ εἴ τινεϲ
δόλοιϲι βουλεύουϲιν ἐκβαλεῖν, ἐφῇϲ,
ἀλλʼ ὧδέ μʼ αἰεὶ ζῶϲαν ἀβλαβεῖ βίῳ

650
δόμουϲ Ἀτρειδῶν ϲκῆπτρά τʼ ἀμφέπειν τάδε,
φίλοιϲί τε ξυνοῦϲαν οἷϲ ξύνειμι νῦν,
εὐημεροῦϲαν καὶ τέκνων ὅϲων ἐμοὶ
δύϲνοια μὴ πρόϲεϲτιν ἢ λύπη πικρά.

LINE 648

+πλοῦτος, ὁ
wealth, riches (genit. required by ἐκ- *βαλεῖν)

ἐκ- *βάλλω

(ἐκβαλεῖν, aor.2 inf.) + genit.: throw out, cast out; > ‘cast me out / rob me of the wealth’) μή . . . ἐφῇς; με . . . ἐκβαλεῖν two long instances of hyperbaton in one sentence emphasizing her request ἀλλ᾿ ὧδε μ᾿
zeugma (S #3048) in which the positive concept needs to be supplied out of the negative one, supply: ἐφῇς or δός; > ‘do not allow . . ., but grant that. . . . Accusative and infinitive structure follows the imperative: μέ . . . +ζῶσαν . . . ἀμφέπειν; cf. ἀλλ᾿ . . . 72n ἀ- βλᾰβής, ές

(ἀ privat., βλάβη, harm) without harm (ἀβλαβεῖ +βίῳ dat. of accompanying circumstances that here parallels internal accusative, i.e., ἀβλαβῆ βίον: SS 91 §19); > ‘that I forever live life unharmed’ [1× El. ]

+δόμος, ὁ
house (plural probably because of the notion of collection of rooms: SS 4§3) Ἀτρείδης, ὁ
son of Atreus (– ιδης patronymic: S #845.4)

σκῆπτρον, τό

(σκήπτω, prop, support) a staff, scepter (τ᾿ connects it to δόμους, whose plural it might be imitating, i.e., a ‘sympathetic’ plural: SS 7 §4)

ἀμφι- έπω
be busy about, look after; > ‘but grant that I, living (+ζῶσαν) always as I am now in an unharmed way of life looking after the house of the Atreidae and this scepter (i.e., kingdom) . . .’; [1× El. ]

LINE 652

+ξυν- +*οῦσαν

(σύνειμι, pres. act. ptc.) circumstantial ptc. ξυνοῦσα . . . ξύνειμι, figura etymologica. Here the use of a verb together with a cognate participle. > ‘living with friends with whom I now live’

εὐ- ημερέω
spend one’s days cheerfully; > ‘enjoying my days with cheer’

+τέκνων
probably partit. genit., in which case an antecedent needs to be supplied: [τοσούτοις] τέκνων ὅσων. SS

57 §9: “in company with friends and [ those] of my children who have [= from who there is] no enmity for me.” It could also be the case of the inverse relative attraction in which τέκνοις assumes the case of ὅσων (S #2533).

δύσ- νοια, ἡ
ill will, malevolence; [1× Soph.]

πρός- +*ειμι
be there, be present; [1× El. ]

116

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ταῦτʼ, ὦ Λύκειʼ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεωϲ κλυὼν

655
δὸϲ πᾶϲιν ἡμῖν ὥϲπερ ἐξαιτούμεθα.

τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πάντα καὶ ϲιωπώϲηϲ ἐμοῦ
ἐπαξιῶ ϲε δαίμονʼ ὄντʼ ἐξειδέναι·
τοὺϲ ἐκ Διὸϲ γὰρ εἰκόϲ ἐϲτι πάνθʼ ὁρᾶν.

ΠΑ.

ξέναι γυναῖκεϲ, πῶϲ ἂν εἰδείην ϲαφῶϲ

660
εἰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματ‘ Αἰγίϲθου τάδε;

ΧΟ. τάδʼ ἐϲτίν, ὦ ξένʼ· αὐτὸϲ ᾔκαϲαϲ καλῶϲ.

ΠΑ.

ἦ καὶ δάμαρτα τήνδʼ ἐπεικάζων κυρῶ
κείνου; πρέπει γὰρ ὡϲ τύραννοϲ εἰϲορᾶν.

LINE 655
ἵλεως
propitious, gracious, kindly (declension S #289); resolution in 8th position: ἵλεως.

+κλυών

According to West (1984:174– 75), it is aor.2 act. ptc. giving the sense that the god “hears” the prayer, accepts it and decides to respond.

ἐξ- αιτέω
mid.: ask for oneself; > ‘mercifully hearing these [prayers] grant them to us all as we ask’; [1× El. ]

τὰ δ᾿ἄλλα πάντα

‘as for all the rest’

σῐωπάω

(σιωπώσης, pres. act. ptc.) keep silent, say nothing (concessive genit. absolute: SS 76 §42; S #2070); >

‘even if I say nothing’; [1× El. ]

LINE 658
ἐπ- αξιόω

(ἄξιος, worthy) deem it right; expect, believe (with acc. and inf.)

+δαίμων, ονος, ὁ
god, fate; > ‘I believe that you, being a god, know [it] full well’

τοὺς ἐκ +Διός
noun- forming use of article with genit. (S #1153d); > ‘the sons of Zeus’

LINES 660– 822: The Tutor enters from the wing ( eisodos) on the spectators’ right, indicating arrival from somewhere else in the territory of Mycenae. He poses as a stranger from Phocis (44– 45), who comes to report Orestes’ death. Dramatically he functions as a conventional tragic messenger. However, unlike a conventional messenger, his report is false. To Clytemnestra the news will seem like the answer to her prayer.

πῶς ἄν +*εἰδείην

(*οἶδα, pf. opt. act.) potential opt. used to indicate a polite request (S #1824; SS 231 §14); > ‘how can I know’

σαφῶς (adv.)

(+σαφής, distinct) clearly, for certain; [1× El. ]

τύραννος, ὁ/ ἡ

[ῠ] ruler, sovereign; [1× El. ]

+δῶμα, ατος, τό
house (usually plural form in Tragedy, probably because it is a collection of rooms: SS 7 §3; with τάδε

‘this house’. τοῦ τυράννου δώματ’ Αἰγίσθου τάδε chiasmus: S #3020) LINE 662
εἰκάζω; ἐπ- εικάζω

(ᾔκασας, aor.1 act.) make a guess; surmise, guess; >‘you yourself have guessed right’; [1× El. ]

+ἦ (pcl.)

asseverative; with καί in animated questions (S #2864– 65); > ‘Am I also right . . . ?’

δάμᾰρ, αρτος, ἡ

[ᾰ ] (δαμάζω, make subject to) wife

+κῠρέω

(poetic for τυγχάνω) hit the mark (with supplem. ptc. containing the main idea, ἐπεικάζων: S #2096 a, b.

κείνου emphatic enjambment); > ‘in guessing that this is his wife?’

+εἰσ- +*ορᾶν
limiting (explanatory) infinitive. SS 238 §3a: “she is like a royal person to look at”; with partitive genit.

πάντων of supreme reality (LSJ iii); > ‘most assuredly’

117

Commentary 665–679

ΧΟ. μάλιϲτα πάντων· ἥδε ϲοι κείνη πάρα.

665

ΠΑ.

ὦ χαῖρʼ, ἄναϲϲα. ϲοὶ φέρων ἥκω λόγουϲ
ἡδεῖϲ φίλου παρʼ ἀνδρὸϲ Αἰγίϲθῳ θʼ ὁμοῦ.

ΚΛ.

ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν· εἰδέναι δέ ϲου
πρώτιϲτα χρῄζω τίϲ ϲʼ ἀπέϲτειλεν βροτῶν.

ΠΑ. Φανοτεὺϲ ὁ Φωκεύϲ, πρᾶγμα πορϲύνων μέγα.

670

ΚΛ.

τὸ ποῖον, ὦ ξένʼ; εἰπέ. παρὰ φίλου γὰρ ὢν

LINE 665
ἥδε . . . κείνη

+ὅδε “refers primarily to what is present or near in place (deictic).” Often translated by ‘here.’ +κείνη

“refers to the mention by the previous speaker of one being sought” (SS 154 §23); > ‘ here is the one you asked about.’ Cf. τόνδε 1228n, ἐκεῖνο 1178n
πάρα
in poetry = πάρεστι (< πάρ- +*ειμι) (S #175b)

LINE 666

+ὦ
exclamatory ὦ linked with impv. rather than with the voc. (SS 28 §9)

+*χαίρω
rejoice (impv. a common form of greeting either at meeting or parting) ἄνασσα, ἡ
queen, lady; [1× El. ]

+λόγους/ +ἡδεῖς
ἡδεῖς stands in enjambment ; > ‘ welcome news’

ἐδεξάμην

(*δέχομαι, aor.1 act.) receive (dramatic/ instantaneous aorist, used often in dialogues in 1st pers. implying that the expressed judgment was already formed while the other person was speaking. Translated usually in the present. Here it expresses politeness: Lloyd 1999: 36; S #1937); > ‘I accept what has been said/
the message’

τὸ ῥηθέν

(aor.1 ptc. pass. in acc. neut. sg., +ἐρῶ) say, proclaim, announce πρώτιστα (adv.)

(+πρῶτος) first of all; [1× El. ]

ἀπο- *στέλλω, - έστειλα

(aor.1) send away; > ‘who among mortals sent you?’

LINE 670

Φανοτεύς, έως, ὁ
uncle and enemy of Strophius, Pylades’ father, who was Ag.’s ally (and brother- in- law)

+Φωκέυς, έως, ὁ

Phocian; Phocis = a region in northern Greece that includes Delphi πορσύνω

(ῡ) forward; > ‘conveying a great/ important matter’; [1× El. ]

+μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα
big, large, great
τὸ +ποῖον
anaphoric article, i.e., refers to what has been mentioned already. SS 143- 4 §13: “What was that?”; (S #1120b)

εἰπέ

(+*λέγω) (aor.2 ); the imperative of εἶπον is oxytone (S #424b) 118

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἀνδρόϲ, ϲάφʼ οἶδα, προϲφιλεῖϲ λέξειϲ λόγουϲ.

ΠΑ. τέθνηκʼ Ὀρέϲτηϲ· ἐν βραχεῖ ξυνθεὶϲ λέγω.

ΗΛ. οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινʼ, ὄλωλα τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

ΚΛ.

τί φήϲ, τί φήϲ, ὦ ξεῖνε; μὴ ταύτηϲ κλύε.

675

ΠΑ. θανόντʼ Ὀρέϲτην νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι λέγω.

ΗΛ.

ἀπωλόμην δύϲτηνοϲ, οὐδέν εἰμʼ ἔτι.

ΚΛ.

ϲὺ μὲν τὰ ϲαυτῆϲ πρᾶϲϲʼ, ἐμοὶ δὲ ϲὺ, ξένε,
τἀληθὲϲ εἰπέ, τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται;

LINE 672
σάφᾰ
adv. (+σαφής) clearly, plainly, assuredly; [1× El. ]

προσ- φῐλής, ές
friendly, well disposed; [1× El. ]

+*τέθνηκε
the perfect denotes a completed action, the effects of which continue in the present (S#1852b, 1945);

> ‘Orestes is dead’

+βραχύς, εῖα, ύ
short, brief; ἐν βραχεῖ in short, briefly
συν- +*τίθημι

[ῐ] (ξυνθείς, aor.2 ptc. act.) put together; > ‘I say, having put it succinctly’; [1× El. ]

LINE 674
οἴ

Exclamation of pain. Here with nom. οἳ ’γώ— aphaeresis.

+τάλαινᾰ
nom. used in exclamation; here in reference to self (SS 23 §4)

+*ὄλωλα

(ὄλλυμι, pf.2 indic. act.) pf.2: “I am undone/ ruined” (S #819, LSJ Biii) ταύτης
genit. demanded by +κλύω; > ‘Don’t listen to her!’

+*θανόντα
ptc. in indirect discourse extended from verbs of knowing and perceiving. Since λέγω takes regulary the inf. or ὡς and ὅτι in indir. disc., the use of a ptc. might suggest emphasis on the Tutor’s part, effected further by νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι (SS 318 §6; GMT #910; Finglass); > ‘ Orestes is dead, I say now and [as I said]

before.’ Cf. ἐκεῖνον ὡς παρόντα 882n
ἀπ- +*ωλόμην

(+ἀπ- όλλῡμι, aor.2 indic.) mid.: perish, die (S #819) (the immediate or contemporary aor. indicates here an action that has just taken place or is contemporary: SS 317– 18 §16). Translate in pres. tense: > ‘I am no more’

τὰ σαυτῆς +*πρᾶσσε

‘you mind your own affairs!’

ἀληθής, ές

(ἀ privat., λήθω, escape notice) truthful, sincere; τἀληθές = τὸ ἀληθές; substantival use of article with an adjective (S #1021, 1153a; SS 163 §1); > ‘the truth’; (1046)

τῷ

= +τίνι interrog. pron. (S #340, 1263)

δι- +*όλλῡμι
mid.: destroy utterly, bring to naught (historical pres.: S #1883); > ‘In what way/ how did he die?’

119

Commentary 680–697

ΠΑ.

κἀπεμπόμην πρὸϲ ταῦτα καὶ τὸ πᾶν φράϲω.

680
κεῖνοϲ γὰρ ἐλθὼν ἐϲ τὸ κλεινὸν Ἑλλάδοϲ
πρόϲχημʼ ἀγῶνοϲ Δελφικῶν ἄθλων χάριν,
ὅτʼ ᾔϲθετʼ ἀνδρὸϲ ὀρθίων γηρυμάτων
δρόμον προκηρύξαντοϲ, οὗ πρώτη κρίϲιϲ,
εἰϲῆλθε λαμπρόϲ, πᾶϲι τοῖϲ ἐκεῖ ϲέβαϲ·

685
δρόμου δʼ ἰϲώϲαϲ τῇ φύϲει τὰ τέρματα
νίκηϲ ἔχων ἐξῆλθε πάντιμον γέραϲ.

χὤπωϲ μὲν ἐν παύροιϲι πολλά ϲοι λέγω,
οὐκ οἶδα τοιοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸϲ ἔργα καὶ κράτη·

LINE 680
καί . . . καί

“as I was sent for that purpose, so . . .” (Jebb)

κἀπεμπόμην

= καὶ +*ἐπεμπόπμην. imperfect rather than the aorist because the mission has not been full executed yet.

The aorist would have pointed out to its completion (SS 191 §11)

+γάρ

‘the fact is that’; explanatory, see 32n

Ἑλλάς, άδος, ἡ

Greece (possessive genit.: S #1297)

προόσχημα, ατος, τό

(+προ- +*έχω, hold before) what is held forth, showpiece

+ἀγών, ῶνος, ὁ

[ᾰ] gathering, place of contest, games (epexegetic/ appositional genit.: #1322); > ‘having gone to the renowned showpiece of Greece, the contest’

Δελφικός (3)

(Δέλφποι) Dephic, Delphian; [1 × El.]

ἆθλον, τό
prize of contest; > ‘for the sake of Delphic prizes’; [1× El. ]

LINE 683
ὄρθιος (3)

(ὀρθός, straight, excited) high pitched, shrill, loud; [1× El. ]

γήρῡμα, ατος, τό

(γηρύω speak) sound (genit. following ᾔσθετο: S#1361); [1× Soph.]

+δρόμος, ὁ

(δραμεῖν, run) course, race; lap
προ- κηρύσσω

(προκηρύξαντος, aor.1 ptc. act.) proclaim publically, proclaim by herald; > ‘when he heard the ringing proclamation of the man who proclaimed the race’; [ × Soph . ]

κρίσις, εως, ἡ

[ῐ] (κρίνω decide) decision, judgment; > ‘(the race) of which deciding was first,’ i.e., which was held first;

[1× El. ]

+εἰσ- +*έρχομαι

(εἰσῆλθε, aor.2) come into, enter (technical term of entering a race) ἐκεῖ
there (τοῖς ἐκεῖ [ἀνθρώποις]. Substantival use of article with an adv. to qualify a noun that is often omitted: S #1153e); > ‘those there’

σέβας, τό

(σέβομαι feel awe or fear) reverential awe (only in nom. acc. and voc.); [1× El.]

LINE 686
ἰσόω

[ῐ] make equal (τίνι τι); (1× El. )

τέρμα, ατος, τό
end, goal; > ‘having matched the result of the race to his looks’

νίκη, ἡ
victory
πάν- τῑμος, ον

(πᾶς, τίμη) all- honorable; [1× El. ]

γέρᾰς, αος, τό
gift of honor, prize

+ἐξ- +*έρχομαι

(ἐξῆλθε, aor.2) come out of/ away; > ‘he came away with a (all- honorable =) celebrated prize of victory’

120

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἓν δʼ ἴϲθʼ· ὅϲων γὰρ εἰϲεκήρυξαν βραβῆϲ,

690

[†δρόμων διαύλων πένταθλʼ ἃ νομίζεται , †]

τούτων ἐνεγκὼν πάντα τἀπινίκια
ὠλβίζετʼ, Ἀργεῖοϲ μὲν ἀνακαλούμενοϲ,
ὄνομα δʼ Ὀρέϲτηϲ, τοῦ τὸ κλεινὸν Ἑλλάδοϲ

Ἀγαμέμνονοϲ ϲτράτευμʼ ἀγείραντόϲ ποτε.

695
καὶ ταῦτα μὲν τοιαῦθʼ· ὅταν δέ τιϲ θεῶν
βλάπτῃ, δύναιτʼ ἂν οὐδʼ ἂν ἰϲχύων φυγεῖν.

χὤπως

= καὶ ὅπως with final subjv. λέγω in hyperbaton

+παῦρος (3)

little, small, short; > ‘and in order to tell much in few words’

+κράτη

‘I do not know the achievements and victories/ strengths of any other such man’

LINE 690

+εἷς, μία, ἕν
one (declension: S #349)

εἰς- κηρύσσω

(εἰσεκήρυξαν, aor.1 act.) proclaim by herald; [1× Soph.]

βρᾰβεύς, εως, ὁ
judge at the games; [1× Soph.]

δίαλυος, ὁ

[ῐ] double track; [1× Soph.]

πέντ- αθλον, τό

(πέντε, ἆθλον prize for contest) contest of five exercises (jumping, discus throwing, racing, wrestling, boxing. Line 691 is assumed to be corrupt due to unsatisfactory scanning and meaning); > Lloyd- Jones:

[“the races on the double track that are the custom”]; [1× Soph.]

ἐνεγκών

< +*φέρω, aor.2 ptc. act.

ἐπι- νίκιον, τό

(ἐπι, νίκη) victory song; τἀπινίκια = τὰ ἐπινίκια > ‘prizes’; [1× El. ]

LINE 693
ὀλβίζω
deem or pronounce happy ( enjambment); >‘for of every contest the judges announced, having carried off all the prizes he was deemed happy/ fortunate’; [1× El. ]

ἀνα- κᾰλέω
call again and again; [1× El. ]

ὄνομα, ατος, τό
name (acc. of respect: S #1601c; SS 43); > ‘he was announced as an Argive, by name Orestes, son of . . . ’; [1× El. ]

τὸ κλεινὸν . . . στράτευμα

The article is used of the familiar/ well known, often with κλεινός (SS 144 §13); hyperbaton with στράτευμα, army; [1× El. ]

ἀγείρω, ἤγειρα

(ἀγείραντος, aor.1 act.) collect, gather; [1× El. ]

LINE 696
καὶ . . . τοιαῦθ’

‘this is how things were’

ὅταν

= ὅτε + ἄν; just as soon as, when
βλάπτω

(βλάπτῃ, subjv.) damage, hurt; [1× El. ]

δύνᾰμαι

[ῠ] be able, strong enough; [1× El. ]

ὅταν . . . βλάπτῃ . . . δύναιτ᾿ mixed condition. When subjv. with ἄν (ὅταν) in protasis has potential opt. in apodosis, there is some-ἄν . . . ἄν
times a “distinct potential force in the apodosis, and sometimes the opt. with ἄν is merely a softened expression for the future indicative” (GMT #505). The implication here, however, is a rather clear statement of impossibility, emphasized perhaps further by the repetition of ἄν (Kells); > ‘but when one of the gods sends harm, not even a strong man can possibly (following such a deed) get away’

121

Commentary 698–711
κεῖνοϲ γὰρ ἄλληϲ ἡμέραϲ, ὅθʼ ἱππικῶν
ἦν ἡλίου τέλλοντοϲ ὠκύπουϲ ἀγών,
εἰϲῆλθε πολλῶν ἁρματηλατῶν μέτα.

700
εἷϲ ἦν Ἀχαιόϲ, εἷϲ ἀπὸ Ϲπάρτηϲ, δύο

Λίβυεϲ ζυγωτῶν ἁρμάτων ἐπιϲτάται·
κἀκεῖνοϲ ἐν τούτοιϲι Θεϲϲαλὰϲ ἔχων
ἵππουϲ, ὁ πέμπτοϲ· ἕκτοϲ ἐξ Αἰτωλίαϲ
ξανθαῖϲι πώλοιϲ· ἕβδομοϲ Μάγνηϲ ἀνήρ·

705
ἰσχύω
be strong in one’s body (non- articular substant. ptc. for indefinite or general reference: SS 258– 59 §10; GMT #827. Should have been τὶς ἰσχύων ‘someone strong.’ ‘a strong man’); [1× El. ]

LINE 698

+ἄλλης +ἡμέρας
genit. of time is used of the period of time within which something happens (SS 58– 59 §11.i; S #1444);

> ‘on another day’

τέλλω

= ἀνα- τέλλω rise (temporal genit. absolute: S #2058); > ‘at sun rise’; [1× Soph.]

ὠκύ- πους, ὁ, ἡ, - πουν, τό
swift footed; > ‘swift contest of horse chariots’; [1× El. ]`
ἁρμα- τηλάτης, ου, ὁ

[λᾰ] charioteer (nine altogether); [1× Soph.]

μέτα (+ genit.)

= +μετά; together with ( anastrophe: S #175a)

LINE 701

Ἀχαιός (3)

Achaean; probably from the area on the south side of the Gulf of Corinth Σπάρτη, ἡ

Sparta; [1× El. ]

δύο
two (declension: S #349. With plural rather than with dual form: SS 3 §2) Λίβῠς, ῠος, ὁ

[ῐ] form Libyan; [1× Soph.]

ζῠγωτός (3)

(ζῠγόω yoke) yoked; [1× Soph.]

ἅρμα, ατος, τό
chariot
ἐπιστάτης, ὁ

(ἐφ- ίσταμαι, be set over) master, overseer; > ‘masters of yoked chariots’

ἐν τούτοισι

‘then he (Orestes) among them with his Thessalian mares was the fifth.’ Kamerbeek: “Orestes and the four mentioned before evidently form a group, among which he is the fifth”

Θεσσαλός (3)

Thessalian, from the region of northern Greece; [1× Soph.]

LINE 704
πέμπτος (3)

(πέντε five) fifth; κἀκεῖνος . . . ὁ πέμπτος emphatic hyperbaton; [1× El. ]

ἕκτος (3)

(ἕξ six) sixth

Αἰτωλία, ἡ

Aetolia, region on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth; [1× Soph.]

ξανθός (3)

yellow, chestnut; [1× Soph.]

+πῶλος, ὁ
young horse, whether colt or filly (dat. of accompaniment: SS 90 §19; S #1526); > ‘with chestnut fillies’

ἕβδομος (3)

(ἑπτά, seven) seventh

Μάγνης, ητος, ὁ

Magnesian (i.e., dweller of Magnesia in Thessaly); [1× Soph.]

122

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ὁ δʼ ὄγδοοϲ λεύκιπποϲ, Αἰνιὰν γένοϲ·
ἔνατοϲ Ἀθηνῶν τῶν θεοδμήτων ἄπο·

Βοιωτὸϲ ἄλλοϲ, δέκατον ἐκπληρῶν ὄχον.

ϲτάντεϲ δʼ ὅθʼ αὐτοὺϲ οἱ τεταγμένοι βραβῆϲ
κλήροιϲ ἔπηλαν καὶ κατέϲτηϲαν δίφρουϲ ,

710
χαλκῆϲ ὑπαὶ ϲάλπιγγοϲ ᾖξαν· οἱ δʼ ἅμα

LINE 706
ὄγδοος (3)

eighth; [1× Soph.]

λεύκ- ιππος, ον
riding or driving white horses (usually owned by gods or heroes); [1× Soph.]

Αἰνίαν
the Aenianes tribe dwelt in the south of Thessaly

+γένος
accusative of respect (S #1601c; SS 43 §14)

ἔνατος (3)

(ἐννέα nine) ninth; [1× Soph.]

Ἀθῆναι, αἱ

Athens
θεό- δμητος (3/ 2)

(θεός, δέμω) god- built; [1× Soph.]

ἄπο + genit.

(=+ἀπό) from; anastrophe

Βοιωτός, ὁ

Boeotian; [1× Soph.]

ἐκ- πληρόω
fill up, make up (to a certain number); [1× Soph.]

ὄχος, ὁ
carriage, chariot; > ‘ another, a Boeotian, filling the tenth chariot’; [1× El. ]

LINE 709

+*στάντες

(+*ἵστημι, aor.2 ptc. act.) ‘having taken their spots,’ ‘standing’

ὅθι
poetic for οὗ ’where’ (S #346 D2,); [1× El. ]

+*τάττω

(τεταγμένοι, pf. pass. ptc.) form, arrange; pass.: be posted, stationed; > ‘ the appointed judges’

κλῆρος, ὁ
that which is assigned by lot; [1× El.]

πάλλω, ἔπηλα

(aor.1, act.) sort by lot; > ‘where the appointed judges had sorted them by lot’; [1× Soph.]

καθ- +*ίστημι

(κατέστησαν, aor.1 act.) station, set; > ‘and stationed their chariots’; [1× El.]

χάλκεος, έα, εον
brazen; [1× El.]

σάλπιγξ, ιγγος, ἡ
trumpet (ὑπαί poetic for ὑπό) >‘at the sound of the brazen trumpet’

ἀίσσω

[ῑ] (ᾖξαν, aor.1 act.) shoot, dart
οἱ δ᾿ἅμα

‘and they at the same moment’; i.e., all together at the same moment 123

Commentary 712–727
ἵπποιϲ ὁμοκλήϲαντεϲ ἡνίαϲ χεροῖν
ἔϲειϲαν· ἐν δὲ πᾶϲ ἐμεϲτώθη δρόμοϲ
κτύπου κροτητῶν ἁρμάτων· κόνιϲ δʼ ἄνω
φορεῖθʼ· ὁμοῦ δὲ πάντεϲ ἀναμεμειγμένοι

715
φείδοντο κέντρων οὐδέν, ὡϲ ὑπερβάλοι
χνόαϲ τιϲ αὐτῶν καὶ φρυάγμαθʼ ἱππικά.

ὁμοῦ γὰρ ἀμφὶ νῶτα καὶ τροχῶν βάϲειϲ
ἤφριζον, εἰϲέβαλλον ἱππικαὶ πνοαί.

κείνοϲ δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτὴν ἐϲχάτην ϲτήλην ἔχων

720

LINE 712
ὁμοκλάω

+ dat.; call or shout to, encourage; [1× Soph.]

ἡνία, ἡ
bridle, reins
σείω
shake (οἱ δ᾿ἅμα . . . ἔσεισαν emphatic hyperbaton); [1× El.]

ἐμ- μεστόομαι

(ἐμεστώθη, aor.1 pass.) be filled (ἐν . . . ἐμεστώθη either adv. ἐν, or in tmesis: S #1650; SS 94 §1b); [1× El.]

κτύπος, ὁ

[ῠ] crash, bang, din; [1× El.]

κροτητός (3)

rattling, bumping (onomatopoeia with κ, τ, ρ, (S #3034); > ‘and the entire racetrack filled with the din of rattling chariots’; [1× Soph.]

+φορεῖτο
like φείδοντο in the following line, the syllabic augment is omitted. A phenomenon common in choral odes, rare in dialogue parts. Outside lyrics, there are 17 unaugmented past tense verbs in Tragedy; all occur in messenger speeches (Finglass; S #438); > ‘and dust rose up’

ἀνα- μείγνῡμι

(pf. pass. ptc.) often in pass.: be mixed with; [1× Soph.]

LINE 716
φείδομαι

(ind. impf.); spare; augment omitted. See φορεῖτο in previous line. [1 × El.]

κέντρον, τό

(κεντέω prick, goad) horse goad, spur; partit. genit. (S #1306; SS 58 §10); [1 × El.]

ὑπερ- *βάλλω, - έβαλον

(ὑπερβάλοι, aor.2 opt.) overtake, outstrip, pass (final clause in secondary sequence, (ἐ)φείδοντο: S #2197);

[1× Soph.]

χνόη, ἡ
the iron box of a wheel in which the axle turns, nave, axle; [1× El.]

τις αὐτῶν

= ἕκαστος τις αὐτῶν (Kamerbeek)

φρύαγμα, ατος, τό

[ῠ] neighing; > ‘so that each would overtake the axle- naves and neighing horses of the others’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 718

+ἀμφί (+ acc.)

about
νῶτον, τό
back; [1× El.]

τρόχος, ὁ

(τρέχω run) wheel (genit. of definition: SS 53 §5); [1× El.]

βάσις, εως, ἡ

[ᾰ] (βαίνω step) stepping, step (Jebb: τροχῶν βάσεις = τρχοὺς βαινόντας); > ‘whirling wheels’; [1× El.]

ἀφρίζω

(ἀφρέω, foam) foam; [1× Soph.]

εἰσ- *βάλλω
intransitive: throw oneself into (LSJ ii) ( asyndeton, with ἤφριζον for emphasis); [1× El.]

πνοή, ἡ
wind, blast, breathing hard, panting; > ‘at once for the horses’ breaths foamed and flung (about) against their backs and the whirling wheels’

+ὑπό (+ acc.)

indicates motion to (SS 129 §19)

124

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἔχριμπτʼ ἀεὶ ϲύριγγα, δεξιὸν δʼ ἀνεὶϲ
ϲειραῖον ἵππον εἶργε τὸν προϲκείμενον.

καὶ πρὶν μὲν ὀρθοὶ πάντεϲ ἕϲταϲαν δίφροιϲ·
ἔπειτα δʼ Αἰνιᾶνοϲ ἀνδρὸϲ ἄϲτομοι
πῶλοι βίᾳ φέρουϲιν, ἐκ δʼ ὑποϲτροφῆϲ

725
τελοῦντεϲ ἕκτον ἕβδομόν τʼ ἤδη δρόμον
μέτωπα ϲυμπαίουϲι Βαρκαίοιϲ ὄχοιϲ·
ἔσχᾰτος (3/ 2)

farthest (probably predicative usage: ‘the edge of the turning post’ rather than attributive: ‘the farthest turning post at the end of the course’)

στήλη, ἡ
stone, monument, pillar, turning post

+*ἔχων
supply: τοὺς ἵππους

LINE 721
χρίμπτω
bring near; [1× Soph.]

σύρινξ, ιγγος, ἡ
pipe (anything like a pipe, including a hole in the nave of a wheel: LSJ ii.2, and by metonymy the nave, the wheel itself); > ‘Orestes having/ driving [his horses] close to the edge of the turning post, grazed it each time with his wheel’

δέξιος (3)

on the right hand or side; [1× El.]

σειραῖος (3)

(σεῖρα cord) joined by a cord (of a horse: ‘fastened by a rope outside’); [1× El.]

εἴργω

= ἔργω confine in, check; [1× El.]

+προς- +κείμενον

‘placed near’; > ‘having loosened (ἀνείς, < ἀνὶημι) the reins of his right- hand trace- horse he held back the horse on the inner side (placed near)’.

The most dangerous places in a chariot race were the two turning points, each marked by a stone post or pillar. The skilled charioteer would try to make the most economical turn possible by getting as close as possible to the post without touching it, lest he brake his wheel. Orestes was driving a four- horse chariot. The two middle horses were fastened by harness to the chariot- pole, whereas the outer two horses were secured by a trace— a strap connecting the horse’s harness to the chariot— and controlled by the reins. This helped the charioteer manage the chariot on the turn. Orestes was turning the post from right to left. He thus retained the inner horse, which was on his left and closest to the post, while giving room to the right trace- horse to make a larger turn. In other words, he did what had to be done to round the post as close to it as possible. There were twelve rounds of the course, which is thought to be almost five and a half miles (Jebb on 726f). Until the accident, Orestes managed to bring his nave as close as possible to the post in each of the rounds.

Scholars assume that the disaster happened in the twelfth round.

LINE 723

+*ἔστασαν

(ἵστημι, aor.1 act.) stood; > ‘at first they all stood upright/ safely in their chariots’

ἄ- στομος, ον

(ἀ privat., στόμα) hard- mouthed (i.e., insensitive to the bit); [1× Soph.]

+φέρουσιν

Historical present most often replaces a narrative aorist, but at times a descriptive imperfect (S #1883).

According to Morwood (SS 185 §5), the historical present of φέρουσιν 725, ἀνοκωχεύει 732, διώκει 738, ἑλίσσεται 746, stands for the descriptive imperfect.

+βίᾳ

‘the hard- mouthed colts carrying him with violent force/ bolted’

ὑπο- στροφή, ἡ
turning about, wheeling round; > ‘in wheeling around [the turning post]’; [1× Soph.]

+τελέω
accomplish; > ‘having finished the sixth lap [and starting on the seventh]’

125

Commentary 728–740
κἀντεῦθεν ἄλλοϲ ἄλλον ἐξ ἑνὸϲ κακοῦ
ἔθραυε κἀνέπιπτε, πᾶν δʼ ἐπίμπλατο
ναυαγίων Κριϲαῖον ἱππικῶν πέδον.

730
γνοὺϲ δʼ οὑξ Ἀθηνῶν δεινὸϲ ἡνιοϲτρόφοϲ
ἔξω παραϲπᾷ κἀνοκωχεύει παρεὶϲ
κλύδωνʼ ἔφιππον ἐν μέϲῳ κυκώμενον.

μέτωπον, τό

(μετά, ὄψ) space between the eyes, forehead, front; (1× Soph.)

συμ- παίω
dash together/ against (historical present: S #1883. According to Morwood [SS 185 §5], the historical present of συμπαίουσι 727, παρασπᾷ 732, λανθάνει [παίσας] 744– 45, stands for the narrative aorist, see φέρουσιν 725n); [1× Soph.]

Βαρκαῖος (3)

Barcan, Libyan; Barca was a city in Cyrenaica; > ‘and they dashed their heads against/ ran head- first into the chariot from Barca’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 728
ἐντεῦθεν (adv.)

hence, henceforth
θραύω
break in pieces, shatter; [1 × El.]

ἀνα- +*πίπτω
fall back, recline; > ‘from this one mishap one chariot shattered another and smashed up’; [1× Soph.]

πίμπλημι
fill
ναυᾱγία, ἡ
shipwreck (nautical metaphor, cf. 335)

Κρισαῖος (3)

of Crisa, a city in Phocis near Delphi; chiastic structure of the line; [1× Soph.]

LINE 731

+*γνοῦς

(γιγνώσκω aor.2 act. ptc.) ‘having realized [this]’

ἡνιοστροφός, ὁ

(ἡνία, στρέφω) guiding by reins, charioteer; > ‘the cunning charioteer from Athens’; [1× Soph.]

ἔξω (adv.)

(ἐξ) on the outside
παρα- σπάω
pull forcibly aside (historical present, see συμπαίουσι 727n); [1× El. ]

ἀνοκωχεύω
hold back, stay (historical present, see φέρουσιν); [1× Soph.]

+παρ- *είς

(παρίημι, aor.2 act. ptc.) ‘bypassing’

κλύδων, ωνος, ὁ

[ῠ] wave, billow, surge; [1× El. ]

ἔφ- ιππος, ον

(ἐπί, ἵππος) on horseback (κλύδων ἔφιππος ‘wave of horses’: LSJ 2. I.e., ‘surge of chariots’); [1× Soph.]

+μέσος (3)

middle
κῠκάω
pass.: be thrown into confusion; > ‘pulls [his horses] forcibly away and holds them back, bypassing the tumultuous surge of chariots in the middle’; [1× Soph.]

126

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἤλαυνε δʼ ἔϲχατοϲ μέν, ὑϲτέραϲ ἔχων
πώλουϲ, Ὀρέϲτηϲ, τῷ τέλει πίϲτιν φέρων·

735
ὅπωϲ δʼ ὁρᾷ μόνον νιν ἐλλελειμμένον,
ὀξὺν διʼ ὤτων κέλαδον ἐνϲείϲαϲ θοαῖϲ
πώλοιϲ διώκει, κἀξιϲώϲαντε ζυγὰ
ἠλαυνέτην, τότʼ ἄλλοϲ, ἄλλοθʼ ἅτεροϲ
κάρα προβάλλων ἱππικῶν ὀχημάτων.

740

LINE 734
ἐλαύνω
drive
ἔσχᾰτος (3)

the farthest, uttermost, extreme
ὕστερος (3)

latter; [1 × El.]

τέλος, εος, τό
an end; [1× El. ]

πίστις, εως, ἡ
trust, that which gives trust, assurance, proof of reliability; > ‘Orestes was driving last, having/ keeping his horses in the rear, trusting the end [result]’

+ὅπως (conj.)

when (S #2383)

ἐλ- +*λείπω

(ἐλλελειμένον, pf. pass. ptc.) leave in; > ‘but when he saw that he [the Athenian] was the only one remaining/
left’; [1× El. ]

ὀξύς, ὀξεῖα, ὀξύ
sharp, keen;

+διά (prep.)

through (in Soph. mostly with genit. ὤτων: SS #102– 4 §6)

κέλᾰδος, ὁ
clamor, din, cry; [1× Soph.]

ἐν- σείω
shake in or into, hurl; [1× El. ]

θόος, (3)

swift, fast; [1× El. ]

LINE 738
δῐώκω
pursue, go after (historical present, see φέρουσιν 725n); > ‘having sent a sharp cry through the ears of his swift fillies, he gives chase’

+ἐξ- ῐσόω

(aor.1 ptc. dual) make equal, level; pass.: be equal, be match for (κἀξισώσαντε = καὶ ἀξισώσαντε, dual) ζῠγόν, τό
yoke (ἀξισώσαντε ζυγά: ‘bring the teams abreast’; ἠλαυνέτην, dual): > ‘and the two of them after they brought their teams abreast, they drove on’; [1× El. ]

ἄλλοτε (adv.)

(ἄλλος, ὅτε) at another time
ἅτερος

= ἕτερος other of the two
προ- *βάλλω
throw before, put forward, hold before; [1× El. ]

ὄχημα, τό

(ὀχέω hold) carriage, chariot; > ‘now one driver, then the other, thrusts (thrusting) his horse chariot ahead of [his rival’s]’; [1× Soph.]

127

Commentary 741–760
καὶ τοὺϲ μὲν ἄλλουϲ πάνταϲ ἀϲφαλὴϲ δρόμουϲ
ὠρθοῦθʼ ὁ τλήμων ὀρθὸϲ ἐξ ὀρθῶν δίφρων·
ἔπειτα λύων ἡνίαν ἀριϲτερὰν
κάμπτοντοϲ ἵππου λανθάνει ϲτήλην ἄκραν
παίϲαϲ· ἔθραυϲε δʼ ἄξονοϲ μέϲαϲ χνόαϲ,

745
κἀξ ἀντύγων ὤλιϲθε· ϲὺν δʼ ἑλίϲϲεται
τμητοῖϲ ἱμᾶϲι· τοῦ δὲ πίπτοντοϲ πέδῳ
πῶλοι διεϲπάρηϲαν ἐϲ μέϲον δρόμον.

LINE 741
ἀσφάλης, ες

[ᾰ] steadfast; [1× El. ]

ὀρθόω
pass.: stand straight; [1× El. ]

+ὀρθός . . . ὀρθῶν
polyptoton for emphasis (SS 169– 70 §10)

ὁ +τλήμων
proleptic, refers to Or. > ‘Unfortunate Orestes stood safely upright throughout all the other laps, upright in his upright chariot’

+λύω

[ῡ] loosen
ἀριστερός (3)

[ᾰ] (lit.: better, ἄριστος, best) left; ominous
κάμπτω
guide a horse around the turning post; [1× El. ]

+*λανθάνω
escape notice of (historical present with supplementary participle παίσας (see next line); see συμπαίουσι

727n

+ἄκραν
predicative: ‘edge of the turning post’

LINE 745
παίω
strike, strike against (supplem. ptc. with λανθάνει in emphatic enjambment, carries the main idea. When an aorist participle is used with λανθάνω, τυγχάνω or φθάνω in the present or imperfect, it does not coincide with the verb but retains its own reference to past time: S #1873, 2096b; GMT #146); > ‘and unawares (it was unknown to him that he had struck) he struck the edge of the turning post . . .’

ἄξων, ονος, ὁ
axle; > ‘he broke the axle- box right in the center’; [1× Soph.]

ὀλισθάνω, ὤλισθον

(ὤλισθε, aor.2 act.) slip, slide, fall; [1× Soph.]

ἄντυξ, ῠγος, ἡ
rail round the front of the chariot rail; > ‘and slid over the rail’; [1× El. ]

ἑλίσσω
turn round, roll (σὺν . . . ἑλίσσεται tmesis. SS 94 §1b: “he was entangled in the reins.” Ηistorical present, see φέρουσιν 725n); [1× El. ]

τμητός (3)

(τέμνω cut) cut, shaped by cutting
ἱμάς, αντος, ὁ

[ῐ] leathern strap, thong, reins; > ‘sharp- cut reins’; [1× Soph.]

τοῦ . . . +*πίπτοντος
temporal genitive absolute (S #2070)

πέδον, τό

(πούς foot) earth, ground (dat. of place: SS 87 §13; S #1530– 1) δια- σπείρω

(διεσπάρησαν, aor.1 pass) scatter, spread about; pass.: be scattered; > ‘and when he fell to the ground, his mares bolted wildly into the center of the course’

128

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ϲτρατὸϲ δʼ ὅπωϲ ὁρᾷ νιν ἐκπεπτωκότα
δίφρων, ἀνωτότυξε τὸν νεανίαν,

750
οἷʼ ἔργα δράϲαϲ οἷα λαγχάνει κακά,
φορούμενοϲ πρὸϲ οὖδαϲ, ἄλλοτʼ οὐρανῷ
ϲκέλη προφαίνων, ἔϲτε νιν διφρηλάται,
μόλιϲ καταϲχεθόντεϲ ἱππικὸν δρόμον,
ἔλυϲαν αἱματηρόν, ὥϲτε μηδένα

755
γνῶναι φίλων ἰδόντʼ ἂν ἄθλιον δέμαϲ.

καί νιν πυρᾷ κέαντεϲ εὐθὺϲ ἐν βραχεῖ
χαλκῷ μέγιϲτον ϲῶμα δειλαίαϲ ϲποδοῦ
φέρουϲιν ἄνδρεϲ Φωκέων τεταγμένοι,
ὅπωϲ πατρῴαϲ τύμβον ἐκλάχῃ χθονόϲ.

760

LINE 749
ἐκ- +*πίπτω

(pf. act. pct.) fall out of/ down from (+*ὅρᾷ historical present: S #1883); [1× El. ]

ἀνοτοτύζω
break out into wailing; > ‘and when the crowd saw him falling out of the chariot they broke out into wailing for the young man’; [1× Soph.]

νεᾱνίας, ου, ὁ
young man; [1× El. ]

*λαγχάνω

[χᾰ] obtain by lot; > ‘the kind of deeds he accomplished, and the kind of misfortune that befell him’

οὖδας, εος, τό
surface of the earth, ground; [1× Soph.]

οὐρᾰνός, ὁ
sky, heaven
σκέλος, εος, τό
leg; [1× Soph.]

προ- +*φαίνω
show forth; > ‘at one moment borne earthward, at another flinging his legs to the sky’

ἔσ- τε (conj.)

(ἐς, τε) till, until
διφρηλάτης, ου, ὁ

[ᾰ] charioteer; [1× Soph.]

LINE 752
αἱμᾰτηρός (3)

(αἷμα blood) bloody; > ‘having with difficulty stopped (κατασχεθόντες <+κατ- +*έχω aor.2 act. ptc.) the horses, they untangled him all covered with blood’

+*γνῶναι

(γιγνώσκω, aor.2 act. inf.) ὥστε with inf. implies a possible result or a tendency, here underscored by ἄν as representing potential opt. (S #2250– 54, 2270), the subject of which is μηδένα accompanied by ἰδόντα; > ‘so that none of his friends who saw him could possibly have recognized his wretched body’

+ἄθλιον
the play abounds in words signifying misery, cf. +δύστηνος, +τάλας, +δείλαιος

LINE 757
πῠρά, ἡ
funeral pyre
καίω

(κέαντες, aor.1 act. ptc. nom. pl., epic and poetic) burn (the subject is a vague. Kamerbeek, Jebb: ‘they’);

[1× El.]

+εὐθύς (adv.)

straightaway, at once; > ‘and straightaway they burned him on a pyre’

χαλκός, ὁ

(poetic) anything made of brass or metal, a brazen vessel, urn; [1× Soph.]

+σῶμα, ατος, τό
body, dead body; > ‘in a little urn his mighty body’

+δείλαιος (3)

(lengthened form of δειλός, miserable, wretched) wretched, sorry, paltry

+σποδός, ἡ
ashes (genit. of definition SS 53 §5: “the body which is [reduced to] sad dust”) 129

Commentary 761–779
τοιαῦτά ϲοι ταῦτʼ ἐϲτὶν, ὡϲ μὲν ἐν λόγοιϲ
ἀλγεινά, τοῖϲ δʼ ἰδοῦϲιν, οἵπερ εἴδομεν,
μέγιϲτα πάντων ὧν ὄπωπʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

ΧΟ.

φεῦ φεῦ·τὸ πᾶν δὴ δεϲπόταιϲι τοῖϲ πάλαι
πρόρριζον, ὡϲ ἔοικεν, ἔφθαρται γένοϲ.

765

ΚΛ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί ταῦτα, πότερον εὐτυχῆ λέγω,
ἢ δεινὰ μέν, κέρδη δέ; λυπηρῶϲ δʼ ἔχει,
εἰ τοῖϲ ἐμαυτῆϲ τὸν βίον ϲῴζω κακοῖϲ.

+ἄνδρες . . . +*τεταγμένοι

(+*τάττω, pf. pass. ptc.); > ‘men appointed from the Phocians’

ἐκ- *λαγχάνω

[χᾰ] obtain by lot or fate (final clause in primary sequence, φέρουσιν: S #2196; GMT #317); > ‘so that he draws a lot for a grave in his father’s land’

LINE 761
σοι
ethical dat. with pers. pronouns; SS 85 §10: “a form of dat. of interest used in intimate address”; > ‘such is the story for you’

ὡς (conj.)

limitative: so far as (introducing comparative clause. SS 305 §1: “ ‘painful if only [as far as] in report’

[contrasted with the effect on those who saw it])”

ἀλγεινός (3)

(ἄλγος pain) painful; [1× El. ]

τοῖς ἰδοῦσιν

(ὁράω, εἴδομαι aor.2 ptc. act. dat. pl.) articular substant. ptc. (S #2050– 52; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825.

ἰδοῦσιν . . . εἴδομεν, wordplay for emphasis); > ‘to those who saw’

ὧν
relative attraction for ἅ (S #2522a)

ὄπωπα

(Ion. pf. mid. of +*ὁράω) see; > ‘as much as painful in words, to those who saw it, (we who did) as we did, the greatest disaster of all that I have ever seen’

LINE 764
δεσπότης, ου, ὁ
master (dat. of possession: S #1476); [1× El. ]

τοῖς +πάλαι
an article and adverb following in attributive function a noun with no article, δεσπόταισι. In this arrangement the adverb is added by way of explanation (S #1159); > ‘of our masters, those of old’

πρό- ρριζος, ον

(πρό, ῥίζα root) by the roots, root and branch (neut. πρόρριζον, adv.)

*φθείρω

(ἔφθαρται, pf. pass) ruin, destroy
τὸ πᾶν . . . +γένος
hyperbaton; > ‘Alas, alas! The whole family of our ancient masters, it seems, is all destroyed root and branch’

LINE 766
πότερον . . . ἤ
whether . . . or (S #2656; introduces direct alternative questions with πότερον, frequently left untranslated in English)

εὐ- τῠχής, ές
successful, lucky, fortunate

+*λέγω
deliberative subjv. (S #2639; SS 223– 25 §11); > ‘what am I to say of these things; are they fortunate, or terrible yet profitable?’

λῡπηρῶς
painfully (ἔχω with adv. is often used as a periphrasis for an adj. with εἶναι: S #1438; apodosis to the following protasis); > ‘it is painful’; [1× El. ]

+*σῴζω
present condition whose protasis can be seen as causal clause (SS 279– 80 §2); > ‘if/ since I save my life through my own misfortunes’

130

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΠΑ.

τί δʼ ὧδʼ ἀθυμεῖϲ, ὦ γύναι, τῷ νῦν λόγῳ;

ΚΛ.

δεινὸν τὸ τίκτειν ἐϲτίν· οὐδὲ γὰρ κακῶϲ

770
πάϲχοντι μῖϲοϲ ὧν τέκῃ προϲγίγνεται.

ΠΑ.

μάτην ἄρʼ ἡμεῖϲ, ὡϲ ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν.

ΚΛ.

οὔτοι μάτην γε. πῶϲ γὰρ ἂν μάτην λέγοιϲ;
εἴ μοι θανόντοϲ πίϲτʼ ἔχων τεκμήρια
προϲῆλθεϲ, ὅϲτιϲ τῆϲ ἐμῆϲ ψυχῆϲ γεγώϲ,

775
μαϲτῶν ἀποϲτὰϲ καὶ τροφῆϲ ἐμῆϲ, φυγὰϲ
ἀπεξενοῦτο· καί μʼ, ἐπεὶ τῆϲδε χθονὸϲ
ἐξῆλθεν, οὐκέτʼ εἶδεν· ἐγκαλῶν δέ μοι
φόνουϲ πατρῴουϲ δείνʼ ἐπηπείλει τελεῖν·

LINE 769
ἀ- θυμέω

(ἀ privat., +θυμος spiritless) be disheartened, despair at; [1× El. ]

+*πάσχω
the masculine participle, πάσχοντι, indicates the proverbially generalizing nature of Clyt.’s comment, even though the person can be only a woman here (S #1015; SS 12 §8); see νήπιος 145n

+*τέκῃ

(τίκτω, aor.2 subjv.) generalizing subjv. in relative clause without ἄν (SS 225– 26 §12); see +*βλάστωσιν

. . . +*εὕρωσι 1060– 62n

+μῖσος, εος, τό
hatred, grudge (ὧν: relative attraction = [τινὶ] τούτων οὕς: S #2522) προσ- +*γίγνομαι

[ῑ] + dat.: τινὶ; accrue, come to, happen to; > ‘It is a wondrous thing to give birth. For even when one is wronged (κακῶς πάσχοντι), (there is no hatred for =) one does not hate those one has borne’; [1× El. ]

+μάτην (adv.)

in vain, pointelessly
ἡμεῖς

(ἐγώ) majestic plural (poetic) to lend dignity (SS 6 §4; S #1006) > ‘so I’ve come, it seems, pointlessly’

LINE 773

+πῶς . . . +*λέγοις
potential optative with ἄν > ‘how can you say “pointlessly”?’; apodosis to the following protasis.

+*θανόντος

(θνῄσκω, aor.2 act. ptc.) non- articular substant. ptc. for indefinite or general reference (SS 258– 59 §10).

Clyt. continues to generalize and not mention her son’s name (cf. lines 770– 1) in spite of a clearly understood reference to Orestes. Does she try to distance herself emotionally?

+τεκμήριον, τό
proof, sign
προσ- +*έρχομαι

(προσῆλθες, aor.2 act.) come forth; [1× El. ]

+ὅστις

(indefnite/ general relative pron.) whoever (antecedent: θανόντος; the generalization continues) εἴ . . .προσῆλθες
the εἰ has again a causal tilt; see 768; Clyt. must be using it as causal while the spectators know better (Finglass); >’ if/ since you came bringing me a reliable proof of the death of one who . . .’

+*γεγώς

(γίγνομαι, pf. act. ptc.); > ‘who sprang from my life’ (metaphoric) LINE 776
μαστός, ὁ
breast; [1× El. ]

+τροφή, ἡ

(τρέφω, make firm) nourishment, rearing (note the repeating possessives that are not necessary) ἀφ- +*ίστημι

(ἀποστάς, aor.2 inf. act.) stand away, withdraw, keep off
φῠγάς, -άδος, ὁ

(+*φεύγω) fugitive, banished person;
ἀπο- ξενόω

(+ξένος) pass.: live away from home; > ‘having left my breast and my nurture, he lived away from his home as a fugitive’; [1× Soph.]

131

Commentary 780–798
ὥϲτʼ οὔτε νυκτὸϲ ὕπνον οὔτʼ ἐξ ἡμέραϲ

780
ἐμὲ ϲτεγάζειν ἡδύν, ἀλλʼ ὁ προϲτατῶν
χρόνοϲ διῆγέ μʼ αἰὲν ὡϲ θανουμένην.

νῦν δʼ— ἡμέρᾳ γὰρ τῇδʼ ἀπηλλάγην φόβου
πρὸϲ τῆϲδʼ ἐκείνου θʼ· ἥδε γὰρ μείζων βλάβη
ξύνοικοϲ ἦν μοι, τοὐμὸν ἐκπίνουϲʼ ἀεὶ

785
ψυχῆϲ ἄκρατον αἷμα— νῦν δʼ ἕκηλά που
τῶν τῆϲδʼ ἀπειλῶν οὕνεχʼ ἡμερεύϲομεν.

καὶ μ᾿ . . . οὐκετ᾿ +*εἶδεν
hyperbaton; > ‘and after he left this land he never saw me again’

ἐγ- +*κᾰλέω
blame, censure; [1× El. ]

ἐπ- ᾰπειλέω
hold out a threat to one, threaten besides; > ‘but charging me with his father’s murder he threatened to do horrible things’; [1× El. ]

LINE 780
στεγάζω
cover, protect (ὥστε with inf., outside indirect discourse, implies a possible result or a tendency: S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587. The negation by οὐ is an exception it should have been μή with the inf.: SS

322 §4.c.i; GMT #598); > ‘so that neither by night nor by day would sweet sleep cover me’; [1× Soph.]

νυκτός . . . ἡμέρας

(+νύξ, +ἡμέρα) genit. of time (S #1444; SS 58– 59 §11.i)

προ- στᾰτέω

(προστάτης chief, ruler) stand before, rule; [1× Soph.]

δι- +*άγω
carry over; [1× El. ]

ὡς +*θανουμένην

(θνῄσκω, fut. dep. ptc.) > ‘but time standing over me kept me always as one about to die’

LINE 783

+πρός (+ genit.)

from the side of (SS 153, 157 §23: “+ὅδε refers primarily to what is present or near in place [deictic]”;

+ἐκεῖνος refers to what is more distant”); > ‘for on this day I’ve been released (+ἀπ- αλάσσω, aor.2 pass.) from the dread ( from the side of) of this girl here and of him’

ξύν- +οικος, ον

= σύνοικος (σύν, οἰκέω inhabit) living with
ἐκ- πίνω

[ῑ] drink out, drain; [1× El. ]

ἄ- κρᾱτος, ον

(κεράννυμι, mix) unmixed, pure (ἄκρατον πιεῖν: ‘to drink umixed wine.’ It was a sign of hard drinking.);

> ‘For she was the greater harm, living at my side and constantly drinking up my true life’s blood’; [1× El. ]

ἕκηλος (3)

at rest, at one’s ease (neut. pl. used adverbially)

που (pcl.)

GP 491.i: “ironically expressing quiet assurance” to the effect of “Now, if I mistake not, I shall have peace.”

ἀπειλή, ἡ
usually in plural; threats (LSJ ii); [1× El. ]

ἡμερεύω
pass the day; > ‘now we shall spend our days, I think, in peace from any threats of hers’; [1× Soph.]

132

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαινα· νῦν γὰρ οἰμῶξαι πάρα,

Ὀρέϲτα, τὴν ϲὴν ξυμφοράν, ὅθʼ ὧδʼ ἔχων
πρὸϲ τῆϲδʼ ὑβρίζῃ μητρόϲ. ἆρʼ ἔχω καλῶϲ;

790

ΚΛ. οὔτοι
ϲύ· κεῖνοϲ δʼ ὡϲ ἔχει καλῶϲ ἔχει.

ΗΛ.

ἄκουε, Νέμεϲι τοῦ θανόντοϲ ἀρτίωϲ.

ΚΛ. ἤκουϲεν ὧν δεῖ κἀπεκύρωϲεν καλῶϲ.

ΗΛ.

ὕβριζε· νῦν γὰρ εὐτυχοῦϲα τυγχάνειϲ.

ΚΛ.

οὔκουν Ὀρέϲτηϲ καὶ ϲὺ παύϲετον τάδε;

795

ΗΛ. πεπαύμεθʼ ἡμεῖϲ, οὐχ ὅπωϲ ϲὲ παύϲομεν.

ΚΛ.

πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοιϲ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἄξιοϲ φίλοϲ,
εἰ τήνδʼ ἔπαυϲαϲ τῆϲ πολυγλώϲϲου βοῆϲ.

LINE 788
οἰμώζω
cry οἴμοι, wail, lament; [1× El. ]

πάρα

(+πάρειμι) = πάρεστι + dat. (missing here) (impersonal: it is in one’s power: S #175b); > ‘for now it is allowed [to me] =) now I can lament your misfortune, Orestes’

+Ὀρέστα
masculines in – της have voc. in short α (S #226). (Soph. omits ὦ with persons’ names without modification or complement: SS 27 §9)

+ξύμφορα, ἡ

= σύμφορα (σύν, φέρω) bringing together, event, mishap, misfortune

+πρός

‘by’ with genit. of agent is common in poetry (S #1755); > ‘when this is your situation and you are insulted by this mother of yours’

+ἆρα
interrog. pcl. indicating anxiety and impatience (LSJ 1; GP 46); > ‘Am I not well off?’

LINE 791

+οὔ- τοι (adv.)

‘You are certainly not [well off], but he, as he is, is well off’

+*ἄκουε

(pres. impv.) see 643n on ἄκουε

Νέμεσις, εως, ἡ
impersonation of divine retribution. (resolution in 4th position Νέμεσι); > ‘Hear [this] Nemesis, of the one who just (+ἀρτίως) died’

ὧν
probably masculine for Clyt. and Aeg.; > ‘She heard those who should (δεῖ) be heard’

ἐπι- κῡρόω

= καὶ ἐπεκύρωσεν; confirm, sanction, ratify; > ‘and ratified these matters well’; (1× Soph.) LINE 794

+εὐ- τῠχέω

(εὖ, τύχη, chance, fortune) be lucky, be well off, succeed (supplem. ptc. with +*τῠγχάνω, which contains the main idea: S #2096a, GMT #887, SS 261 §12f); > ‘go on with your insults; for now is your moment of luck’

+οὔκουν
often with 2nd pers. fut. indic. or opt. with ἄν (GP 431)

+παύσετον

(+παύω, 2nd pers. dual. fut. indic.) stop (notice the repetition of the verb framing the following line); >

‘Then will you two not stop this?’

οὐχ +ὅπως

Kells: “elliptical for οὐ (λέγω) ὅπως”; > ‘we ourselves have been stopped; I can’t say how we shall stop you’; GMT #708: “we have been stopped ourselves; there is no talk of our stopping you”

+πολλῶν
genit. following +ἄξιος (LSJ ii.2); > ‘worthy of great reward’

ἄν +ἥκοις
opt. with ἄν might indicate here a cautious variant of the present = “urbane ἥκεις” (Kamerbeek); > ‘you are coming, stranger, as a friend worthy of . . .’

133

Commentary 799–816

ΠΑ.

οὔκουν ἀποϲτείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τάδʼ εὖ κυρεῖ;

ΚΛ. ἥκιϲτʼ· ἐπείπερ οὔτʼ ἐμοῦ κατάξιʼ ἂν

800
πράξειαϲ οὔτε τοῦ πορεύϲαντοϲ ξένου.

ἀλλʼ εἴϲιθʼ εἴϲω· τήνδε δʼ ἔκτοθεν βοᾶν
ἔα τά θʼ αὑτῆϲ καὶ τὰ τῶν φίλων κακά.

ΗΛ. ἆρʼ ὑμὶν ὡϲ ἀλγοῦϲα κὠδυνωμένη
δεινῶϲ δακρῦϲαι κἀπικωκῦϲαι δοκεῖ

805
τὸν υἱὸν ἡ δύϲτηνοϲ ὧδʼ ὀλωλότα;

+ἔπαυσας
εἰ with the aorist indicative “introduces a supposition that is regarded as certain: ‘if really you did . . .’ ”

(Kamerbeek)

πολύ- γλωσσος, ον

(πολύς, γλῶσσα) many- tongued, loud- voiced, oft repeated (LSJ)

+βοή, ἡ
cry, shout, outcry (genit. with verbs of separating. SS 67 §30: “stopped her from [making] her noise”) LINE 799
ἀπο- στείχω
go away, go back; [1× El. ]

+εὖ κῠρεῖ

(poetic for εὖ τυγχάνει); > ‘Then may I be on my way, if all is well?’

ἥκιστα (adv.)

least; in reply to a question: not at all, no (emphatic)

κατάξιος, ον
quite worthy of (κατάξια acc. neut. plural, adverbial)

+*πράξειας

(πράττω, aor. opt. act); potential optative with ἄν, expressing an opinion (S #1826) πορεύω
bring, carry, convey; > ‘since you would not fare worthily of me and of the friend who sent you.’ Clyt.

refers to Phanoteus, cf. 670– 72; [1× El.]

+εἴσ- +*ειμι

(εἴσιτε, impv. ) go in, go into

+εἴσω
to, within, into; + genit.; to within, into
ἔκτοθεν

(adv. ἐκτός, ἐκ) outside, from without; [1× Soph.]

+*ἐάω

[ᾱ] (impv.) > ‘let her to scream outside about her own sorrows and those of her near and dear.’ This is the last time we see Clyt. and hear her before her death cry.

Clytemnestra, the maidservant, and the Tutor go into the palace. Electra and the Chorus remain outside.

LINE 804
ἆρα
interrog. pcl. indicating anxiety and impatience; here expecting the answer ‘no’ (GP 46 II.2) ἀλγέω
suffer pain, grieve, be troubled, distressed
ὀδῠνάω
κὠδυνωμένη = καὶ ὀδυνωμένη; cause pain; pass: feel pain, suffer; [1× El. ]

ἐπι- κωκύω

[ῡ] κἀπικωκῦσαι = καὶ ἐπικωκῦσαι; (κωκῡτός, ὁ, Cocytus, the river of Wailing in the Netherworld); lament over
δοκεῖ
personal use sharing a subject with infs. δακρῦσαι and ἐπικωκῦσαι: ‘she,’ accompanied by two circumstancial ptcs. in nom.: ἀλγοῦσα and ὀδυνωμένη (S #1973); > ‘ Does she seem to you to cry in pain and suffering, the poor woman, and lament her son who died in this way?’

υἱός, ὁ
son; [1× El. ]

+*ὀλωλότα

(ὄλλῡμι, pf. act. ptc.) τὸν . . . ὀλωλότα hyperbaton sandwiching the subject ἡ δύστηνος, ‘the poor woman,’

in between.

134

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἀλλʼ ἐγγελῶϲα φροῦδοϲ. ὢ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ·

Ὀρέϲτα φίλταθʼ, ὥϲ μʼ ἀπώλεϲαϲ θανών.

ἀποϲπάϲαϲ γὰρ τῆϲ ἐμῆϲ οἴχῃ φρενὸϲ
αἵ μοι μόναι παρῆϲαν ἐλπίδων ἔτι ,

810
ϲὲ πατρὸϲ ἥξειν ζῶντα τιμωρόν ποτε
κἀμοῦ ταλαίνηϲ. νῦν δὲ ποῖ με χρὴ μολεῖν;
μόνη γάρ εἰμι, ϲοῦ τʼ ἀπεϲτερημένη
καὶ πατρόϲ. ἤδη δεῖ με δουλεύειν πάλιν
ἐν τοῖϲιν ἐχθίϲτοιϲιν ἀνθρώπων ἐμοί,

815
φονεῦϲι πατρόϲ. ἆρά μοι καλῶϲ ἔχει;

LINE 807
ἐγγελάω

[ᾰ] laugh at, mock, jeer; [1× El.]

+φροῦδος (2/ 3)

(contracted from πρὸ ὁδοῦ, farther on the road; S #124a) gone away, gone, away (understand ἐστιν or οἴχεται); > ‘No, she has gone off exulting’

+ὡς
exclamatory: how (S #2682a, 2998)

+ἀπ- +*ώλεσας

(ἀπόλλυμι, aor.1 indic. act.) ‘how have you destroyed me with your death!’

ἀπο- σπάω

(ἀποσπάσας, aor.1 ptc. act.) tear or drag away; sever, rip out (her emotions come through the confusing hyperbatic structure of the sentence, which syntactically reads οἴχῃ γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς +φρενὸς ἀποσπάσας [τῶν]

+ἐλπίδων [ταύτας], αἵ μοι μόναι ἔτι παρῆσαν: Kells); > ‘you’ve gone, ripping out from my heart/ mind the only hopes I still had left’; [1× El.]

LINE 810
σὲ . . . ταλαίνης

The content of her hopes is structured in indirect discourse of accusative with infinitive: σὲ . . . ἥξειν ζῶντα
τιμωρόν; > ‘that you would come alive one day as an avenger of our father and wretched me’

κἀμοῦ ταλαίνης; καὶ
enjambment s indicating further her emotional upheaval
πατρός; φονεῦσι πατρός

LINE 813

+ἀπο- στερέω

(ἀπεστερημένη, pf. mid. ptc.) rob, bereave; pass: be robbed or in want of + genit.; > ‘For I am alone, deprived of both you and our father’

δουλεύω
be a slave (με δουλεύειν accusative + infinitive following δεῖ: S #1985b); > ‘now (it is necessary that I . . . ) = I must again be a slave’

ἔχθιστος (3)

(irregular superlative of +ἐχθρός: S #318) most hateful (with ἐμοί, dat. of disadvantage: S #1481; SS

84– 85 §9); > ‘among those most hateful of mortals to me’

ἆρὰ μοι καλῶς ἔχει
cf. 790, except that here ἔχει must be impersonal. μοι ethical dat. or dat. of feeling to denote the speaker’s interest (S #1486; SS 85§10); > ‘aren’t things good for me?’

135

Commentary 817–840
ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴν ἔγωγε τοῦ λοιποῦ χρόνου
ἔϲομαι ξύνοικοϲ, ἀλλὰ τῇδε πρὸϲ πύλῃ
παρεῖϲʼ ἐμαυτὴν ἄφιλοϲ αὐανῶ βίον.

πρὸϲ ταῦτα καινέτω τιϲ, εἰ βαρύνεται,

820
τῶν ἔνδον ὄντων· ὡϲ χάριϲ μέν, ἢν κτάνῃ,
λύπη δʼ, ἐὰν ζῶ· τοῦ βίου δʼ οὐδεὶϲ πόθοϲ.

ΧΟ
ποῦ ποτε κεραυνοὶ Διόϲ, ἢ ποῦ
στρ. ἀ’

φαέθων Ἅλιοϲ, εἰ ταῦτʼ ἐφορῶντεϲ
κρύπτουϲιν ἕκηλοι ;

825

ΗΛ.

ἒ ἔ, αἰαῖ.

ΧΟ.

ὦ παῖ, τί δακρύειϲ;

LINE 817

+λοιποῦ +χρόνου

‘from this time on, henceforth’ (genit. of time)

πύλη, ἡ

[ῠ] gate, entrance, door; ἔσομαι, resolutiοn of 1st anceps

+παρ- *εῖσα

(παρίημι, aor.2 ptc. act.) ‘letting myself fall’

ἄ- φιλος, ον

(ἀ privat., φίλος) without friends; resolution in 6th position ἄφιλος; [1× El. ]

αὐαίνω

(fut. act.) dry, wither; [1× El. ]

LINE 820
πρὸς ταῦτα
in regard to this, therefore, in face of that; see 383n
καίνω

(impv. pres. 3sg.) kill; [1× El. ]

βαρύνω, ῠνῶ

[ῡ] torment; pass. be vexed, annoyed
τῶν +ἔνδον
supply ἀνθρώπων. Adv. with an article may be used to qualify a noun that is often omitted (S #1153e).

Partit. genit. (S #1306, 1315; SS 58 §10. Cf. ἔνδον 155n.); > ‘in face of that, let any of those inside kill me if he is annoyed [with me]’

+χάρις, – ιτος, ἡ

[ᾰ] favor, pleasure, gratification, gratitude (declension S #257) ἢν (= ἐὰν) +*κτάνῃ

(κτείνω, aor.2 subjv. act.) protasis of pres. general condition as is ἐὰν ζῶ (S #2295.1; S #2565). The apodoses are χάρις [ἐστί] and λύπη [ἐστί]; > ‘it is a favor, if someone kills me, but pain if I live’

πόθος, ὁ

(ποθέω, love, yearn for) love, desire (LSJ II) (with τοῦ βίου as objective genit.: SS 53, S #1328); > ‘there is no desire for life’

KOMMOS (Lyric Dialogue), LINES 823– 870

This is a short lyric duet consisting of two strophic pairs between the Coryphaeus, who represents the Chorus, and Electra. The Coryphaeus tries to assuage Electra’s grief over the news of Orestes’ death by comparing it with a similar mythic situation, but Electra refuses to be comforted by the comparison.

FIRST STROPHE, Lines 823– 836

LINE 823
κεραυνός, ὁ
thunderbolt, lightening (often weapon of divine justice); [1× El. ]

φαέθω

(φάος, light) (pres. ptc. act.) shine; [1× El. ]

Ἅλιος, ὁ

= +Ἥλιος, Sun >‘blazing Sun’ (the sun is thought to see everything); [1× El. ]

ἐφ- +*οράω

(pres. ptc. act.) look at, observe (circumstantial ptc. expresses protasis of simple condition reflecting the tense in which the vb. itself would have stood, here in indic.: εἰ ἐφορῶσιν: S #2060, 2057; GMT #472, 841); > ‘if looking at these things they complacently keep them hidden?’

136

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

φεῦ. ΧΟ. μηδὲν μέγʼ ἀύϲῃϲ. ΗΛ. ἀπολεῖϲ.

ΧΟ. πῶϲ;

830

ΗΛ.

εἰ τῶν φανερῶϲ οἰχομένων
εἰϲ Ἀίδαν ἐλπίδʼ ὑποίϲειϲ, κατʼ ἐμοῦ
τακομέναϲ

835
μᾶλλον ἐπεμβάϲῃ.

ΧΟ.

οἶδα γὰρ ἄνακτʼ Ἀμφιάρεων χρυ-
ἀντ. α’

ϲοδέτοιϲ ἕρκεϲι κρυφθέντα γυναικῶν
καὶ νῦν ὑπὸ γαίαϲ—

ΗΛ.

ἒ ἔ, ἰώ.

840

LINE 829

+μέγ᾿

= +μέγᾰ (acc. neut. sg.) used as adv.: very much, exceedingly ἀύω

(ἀύσῃς, aor.1 subjv.) shout (μή with prohibitive subjv.: S #1800a; SS 219– 20 §6; GMT #259); [1× El. ]

φᾰνερῶς (adv.)

(φᾰνερός visible) clearly, openly, manifestly; [1× Soph.]

ὑπο- +*φέρω

(ὑποίσεις, ind. fut. act.) hold out, suggest (fut. indic. is often used in the protasis to express a future condition. This is an emphatic form, stronger than the subjv., especially common when the condition contains a strong appeal to the feelings of the addressee or a threat or warning. Common in Tragedy

[GMT #447]) > ‘If you shall hold out hope for those who have clearly gone to Hades’); [1× Soph.]

ἐπ- εμ- +*βαίνω

(ἐπεμβάσῃ, indic. fut. dep. 2sg.) step upon, tread upon; trample upon (apodosis of future condition; > ‘you will be trampling yet harder [μᾶλλον] on me as I waste away [τακομένας = +τηκομένης, genit. sg. fem.])’

FIRST ANTISTROPHE, Lines 837– 848

LINE 837

Ἀμφῐάρεως, ω

= Ἀμφιάραον; Argive hero and seer (acc. sg.: S #237– 38. One of the Seven who fought in the expedition against Thebes, after being persuaded by Eriphyle, his wife, whom Polyneices bribed with a golden necklace. He was driven off during the attack, but the gods thought he was too good a man to be killed there, and had him swallowed up by earth instead. Amphiaraus retained his faculties in the Netherworld, where he rules. Synizesis of - εω- ); [1× El. ]

+κρυφθέντα

(κρύπτω, aor.1 pass. ptc.) with Ἀμφιάρεων, participle after verb of knowing and perceiving, οἶδα (S #2106, 2592c; SS 260 §12, 318 §6)

χρῡσό- δετος, ον
bound with gold, set in gold; [1× Soph.]

ἕρκος, εος, τό

(ἔργω, εἴργω, shut in) enclosure (dat. of means. Kells: “plural for singular. Sophocles telescoped two meanings. For ἕρκεσι describes both the necklace that Eriphyle put on . . . and the ‘snare’ that the proceeding represented for Amphiaraus”); [1× El. ]

137

Commentary 843–870

ΧΟ. πάμψυχοϲ ἀνάϲϲει.

ΗΛ.

φεῦ. ΧΟ. φεῦ δῆτʼ· ὀλοὰ γὰρ— ΗΛ. Δάμαρ
ἦν. ΧΟ. ναί.

845

ΗΛ. οἶδʼ οἶδʼ· ἐφάνη γὰρ μελέτωρ
ἀμφὶ τὸν ἐν πένθει· ἐμοὶ δʼ οὔτιϲ ἔτʼ ἔϲθʼ· ὃϲ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἦν,
φροῦδοϲ ἀναρπαϲθείϲ.

ΧΟ.

δειλαία δειλαίων κυρεῖϲ.

στρ. β’

ΗΛ.

κἀγὼ τοῦδʼ ἴϲτωρ, ὑπερίϲτωρ ,

850
πανϲύρτῳ παμμήνῳ πολλῶν
δεινῶν ϲτυγνῶν τʼ αἰῶνι.

+γυναικῶν
the reference is to Eriphyle; the plural might be influenced by the plural of ἕρκεσι (SS 7 §4c); > ‘For I know that the lord Amphiareus who was entombed through a woman’s golden snare, now underground . . .’

LINE 843
πάμ-ψῡχος, ον

(πᾶς, ψυχή) in full possession of life, with spirit full of power; [1× Soph.]

ἀνάσσω

[ᾰ] rule, hold sway (poetic verb mostly in pres.)

φεῦ +δῆτ᾿
alas indeed (S #2851, GP 277)

ὀλοός (3)

= ὀλοή (+*ὄλλῡμι, destroy) destructive, destroying; > ‘Indeed, for the destructive . . .’; [1× El. ]

δάμᾰρ, αρτος, ἡ

[ᾰ] (δαμάζω, make subject to) wife

+ναί (adv.)

yea, verily
μελέτωρ, ορος, ὁ

(μέλω, care) one who cares for, comforter, avenger (Amphiareus’ son Alcmaeon, avenged his father by killing his mother); [1× Soph.]

+ἀμφί (+ acc.)

about; for, for the sake of
πένθος, εος, τό
grief, sorrow; misfortune; > ‘an avenger appeared for him in his sorrow’

ἔστι
accented on the penult in existential use (S #187b); > ‘but for me there is none’

ἀν- αρπάζω

(ἀναρπασθείς, aor.1 ptc. pass.) snatch up; > ‘for he whom I had, is gone, carried off’; (1× El. ) SECOND STROPHE, Lines 849– 858

LINE 849

+κῠρεῖς

(poetic for τυγχάνεις) ‘unhappy woman, you meet with unhappy circumstances (+δειλαίων)’; δειλαία
δειλαίων polyptoton.

ἴστωρ, ορος, ὁ/ ἡ

(+*οἶδα, know) one who knows (agent noun: S #839.3); [1× Soph.]

ὑπερ- ίστωρ, ορος, ὁ/ ἡ
knowing but too well (with genit. Intensified repetition); [1× Soph.]

πάν- συρτος, ον

(πᾶς, σύρω) swept together from every side, accumulated; [1× Soph.]

πάμ- μηνος, ον

(πᾶς, μήν) through every month, through the livelong year (notice the alliteration of π); [1× Soph.]

στῠγνός (3)

hateful, abhorred; sad, gloomy

+αἰών, ῶνος, ὁ
period of existence; > ‘I know this well, all too well, I, whose life through all the months that flow one into the other is one of many hateful afflictions’

138

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΟ.

εἴδομεν ἃ θροεῖϲ.

ΗΛ.

μή μέ νυν μηκέτι
παραγάγῃϲ, ἵνʼ οὐ— ΧΟ. τί φήϲ;

855

ΗΛ. πάρειϲιν ἐλπίδων ἔτι κοινοτόκων
εὐπατριδᾶν ἀρωγαί.

ΧΟ. πᾶϲιν θνατοῖϲ ἔφυ μόροϲ.

ἀντ. β’

ΗΛ.

ἦ καὶ χαλάργοιϲ ἐν ἁμίλλαιϲ 861
οὕτωϲ, ὡϲ κείνῳ δυϲτάνῳ,
τμητοῖϲ ὁλκοῖϲ ἐγκῦρϲαι;

ΧΟ. ἄϲκοποϲ ἁ λώβα.

ΗΛ. πῶϲ γὰρ οὔκ; εἰ ξένοϲ

865
ἄτερ ἐμᾶν χερῶν— ΧΟ. παπαῖ.

ΗΛ.

κέκευθεν, οὔτε του τάφου ἀντιάϲαϲ
οὔτε γόων παρʼ ἡμῶν.

870

LINE 853
ἅ
relative pronoun; antecedent omitted: [ταῦτα] ἅ (S #2509)

θροέω

(θρόος, a confused noise) cry aloud; speak, declare; > ‘we know what you are shouting about’

+μηκέτι (adv.)

(μή, ἔτι) no longer, no more, no further (notice the alliteration of μ) παρ- άγω, - ήγαγον

(παραγάγῃς, aor.2 subjv.) lead aside, divert (μή + prohibitive subjv.: S #1800a; SS 219– 220 §6; GMT

#259); > ‘ Do not divert me any longer to where there are not . . .’

ἐλπίδων
genit. of definition or explanatory/ appositional genit. (S. #1322; SS 53 §5); > ‘consisting of hopes ’

κοινό- τοκος, ον

(κοινός, τεκεῖν) born of common parents; [1× El. ]

εὐ- πᾰτρίδης, ου, ὁ

(εὖ, πᾰτήρ, genit. pl.) of a noble sire, of a noble family; > ‘where there are no longer present aids (+ἀρωγαί) consisting of hopes that come from noble ones of the same stock’

SECOND ANTISTROPHE, Lines 860– 870

LINE 860

+*ἔφυ

(φύω, aor.2); ‘is a law of nature’ (gnomic aorist expressing general truth: S #1931; GMT #154; SS 196– 97 §17) μόρος, ὁ
death; > ‘death is the fate of all mortals’; [1× El. ]

ἦ καί
interrogative ἦ usually followed by καί often introduces a suggested answer (GP 282– 83) χᾱλαργός (3)

Doric for χηλαργός (χηλή, horse hoof) with fleet hoofs; [1× Soph.]

ἅμιλλα, ἡ
contest; [1× El. ]

τμητός (3)

(τέμνω cut) cut, shaped by cutting (here it clearly suggests cutting Orestes’ body proper, see 747) ὁλκός, ὁ

(ἕλκω, draw) that which draws, i.e., dragging rein; [1× El. ]

ἐγ- *κῠρέω

(ἐγκῦρσαι, aor.1 inf. act.) meet, to fall in with + dat.; > ‘But to meet [death] thus, in a contest of swift hooves, such [as happened] to the unhappy one, by the raw- cutting, dragging reins?’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 864
ἄ- σκοπος, ον

(ἀ privat., σκοπέω) not to be seen: incredible
λώβη, ἡ
ill- usage (by word or deed), outrage, mutilation, maiming; Chorus’ comment serves as apodosis to the following protasis; [1× El. ]

ἄτερ (+ genit.)

without, apart from, away from

139

Commentary 871–882

ΧΡ. ὑφʼ ἡδονῆϲ τοι, φιλτάτη, διώκομαι
τὸ κόϲμιον μεθεῖϲα ϲὺν τάχει μολεῖν.

φέρω γὰρ ἡδονάϲ τε κἀνάπαυλαν ὧν
πάροιθεν εἶχεϲ καὶ κατέϲτενεϲ κακῶν.

κεύθω
cover up, hide, conceal (the perfect indicates a completed action the effects of which still continue into the present: S #1945); > ‘lies buried.’ (The present and perfect of the verb are used intransitively of the dead in Tragedy: Kamerbeek)

οὔτε . . . οὔτε
the protasis explains the apodosis: ‘How not? If as an exile without my hands [tending to him] . . . he lies buried, having met with no rites of burial or lament from me.’ The use of οὐ (οὔτε . . . οὔτε) rather than μή
in the protasis comes from the explanatory content that El. regards as reality (SS 321– 22 §4b; Finglass) του

= τινός, any, some (indefinite pron. used here adj.: S #1266)

ἀντιάω

(ἀντιάσας, aor.1 act. ptc.) meet with + genit.; as participle: ‘having obtained’ (LSJ I.1); [1× El. ]

THIRD EPISODE, LINES 871– 1057

The Third Episode divides into two parts: Part A: lines 871– 937, and Part B, lines 938– 1057.

Each part is subdivided into three sections:

Part A: Lines 871–937: (1) 871– 891: After being sent to Agamemnon’s grave Chrysothemis arrives with great excitement: she is convinced that she has proof that Orestes has arrived. (2) 892– 919: Chrysothemis reports what she has seen on the tomb. (3) 920–

937: In the ensuing conversation Electra convinces Chrysothemis of her error.

Part A: (1) Lines 871– 891

LINE 871

+τοι

‘you know,’ ‘I tell you’ (according to GP 541.6, reveals “the speaker’s emotional . . . state”. Chr. wants El.

to know of her joy: GP 537, 539. I.e.: ‘I am so excited’)

δῐώκω
pursue, go after; impel; mid.: ‘impelled myself’

κόσμιος (3/ 2)

well ordered; τὸ κόσμιον order, decorum (substantival use of article with adjective. : S #1021, 1153a; SS

163 §1. Neuter expresses a general, abstract idea: S #1023); [1× Soph.]

+*μολεῖν

(βλώσκω, aor.2 inf. act.) poetic verb occurring 89× in Sophocles, always in aor.2; dependent on διώκομαι;

> ‘My dearest, I am impelled by joy to come here quickly having put aside all decorum’

ἀνά- παυλα, ἡ

(ἀναπαύω, make cease) ease (from a thing), rest; [1× El. ]

τε . . . καὶ
sometimes couples opposites, “and therefore rest from” (Kamerbeek) ὧν

(a) the antecedent κακῶν is put into the relative clause and postponed to the end of the sentence; (b) the relative is attracted into the case of the antecedent: ἀνάπαυλαν τούτων τῶν κακῶν ἃ πάροιθεν εἶχες
πάροιθε(ν) (adv.)

formerly, erst, before
κατα- στένω
sigh over, lament; [1× El. ]

140

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

πόθεν δʼ ἂν εὕροιϲ τῶν ἐμῶν ϲὺ πημάτων

875
ἄρηξιν, οἷϲ ἴαϲιϲ οὐκ ἔνεϲτʼ ἔτι;

ΧΡ. πάρεϲτʼ Ὀρέϲτηϲ ἡμίν, ἴϲθι τοῦτʼ ἐμοῦ
κλύουϲʼ, ἐναργῶϲ, ὥϲπερ εἰϲορᾷϲ ἐμέ.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ ἦ μέμηναϲ, ὦ τάλαινα, κἀπὶ τοῖϲ
ϲαυτῆϲ κακοῖϲι κἀπὶ τοῖϲ ἐμοῖϲ γελᾷϲ;

880

ΧΡ.

μὰ τὴν πατρῴαν ἑϲτίαν, ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὕβρει
λέγω τάδʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνον ὡϲ παρόντα νῷν.

LINE 875
πόθεν
whence
ἂν +*εὕροις

(εὑρίσκω, aor.2) potential opt. (S #1824). At times potential opt. is used to express irony (S #1826), here mixed with bitterness. To some the late placing of σύ suggests contempt; > ‘And where could you find help for my sufferings?’

ἄρεξις, εως, ἡ

(ἀρήγω, help) help, succor; [1× El. ]

ἴᾱσις, εως, ἡ

(ἰάομαι, cure) cure, remedy; (1× El. )

+ἔν- +*εστι

+ dat. (οἶς) > ‘for which there is no more remedy’

LINE 877
ἡμίν
the - ι- is shortened even though the pronoun is emphatic (S #325f). Dat. of advantage ( commodi) (S

#1481; SS 84– 85 §9); > ‘Orestes is here for/ with us’

+*ἴσθι

(+*οἶδα, pf. impv. act. 2sg.)

+κλύουσα
supplem. ptc. after vb. of knowing, +*ἴσθι, (S #2106; SS 260 §12e, 318 §6) in nominative agreement with the subject S #2108); >‘ know this, hearing it from me’

ἐναργῶς (adv.)

(ἐναργής, visible) distinctly, visibly; [1× Soph.]

LINE 879
ἀλλ᾿ ἦ

‘Why . . . ?’ (GP 27.4: “starts “an objection in interrogative form, giving lively expression to a feeling of surprise or incredulity”)

μαίνω

(μέμηνας, pf. act. with pres. sense) be mad (usually poetic)

+γελάω
laugh; γελάω ἐπί τινι— laugh at, mock something; > ‘Are you mocking both your suffering and mine?’

μά

[ᾰ] asseverative adv. + acc. of the deity or thing appealed to, by itself neither affirming nor negating (LSJ; S #2894)

ἑστία, ἡ

(ἕζομαι, sit) hearth of a house (accusative used in oaths: S #1596b; SS 47 §19); > ‘by our father’s hearth’ [1× El. ]

ἀλλ᾿
as a strong adversative should be first in its clause, except when an oath or apostrophe precedes (GP

22– 23, iii). The second ἀλλά is a simple repetition. While artistic repetition was considered stylistically effective, an accidental repetition was “a thing to be sedulously and artificially avoided” (GP lxii) οὐχ +ὕβρει

[ῠ] ‘I say this not in hybris/ mockery’

ἐκεῖνον ὡς +παρ- +*όντα

Chr. reasserts her former message. The sense of λέγω is carried into this clause. Since λέγω regularly takes the infinitive or ὡς and ὅτι in indirect discourse, the use of a participle might suggest emphasis on Chr.’s insist-ence that Or. is alive and present (SS 318 §6; GMT #910, cf. Finglass on 676). The participial construction can come with or without ὡς. If it accompanies the participle it is often used to indicate the mental attitude of the subject of the main verb or another prominent person in the sentence (S #2120– 2121); > ‘I do not say this in mockery, but that both of us have him here (lit.: he is present for both of us). Cf. ἤγγειλας 1341n 141

Commentary 883–898

ΗΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαινα· καὶ τίνοϲ βροτῶν λόγον
τόνδʼ εἰϲακούϲαϲʼ ὧδε πιϲτεύειϲ ἄγαν;

ΧΡ.

ἐγὼ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ τε κοὐκ ἄλλου ϲαφῆ

885
ϲημεῖʼ ἰδοῦϲα τῷδε πιϲτεύω λόγῳ.

ΗΛ. τίνʼ, ὦ τάλαινʼ, ἰδοῦϲα πίϲτιν; ἐϲ τί μοι
βλέψαϲα θάλπῃ τῷδʼ ἀνηφαίϲτῳ πυρί;

ΧΡ. πρόϲ νυν θεῶν ἄκουϲον, ὡϲ μαθοῦϲά μου
τὸ λοιπὸν ἢ φρονοῦϲαν ἢ μώραν λέγῃϲ.

890

ΗΛ.

ϲὺ δʼ οὖν λέγʼ, εἴ ϲοι τῷ λόγῳ τιϲ ἡδονή.

LINE 883

+καί (adv.)

and (for stress. The query is an indignant comment on the preceding statement)

+ὧδε (adv.)

emphatic by anaphoric use, i.e., refers to what has immediately preceded: Chr.’s confidence (SS 155; S #1247)

+πιστεύω
believe, trust, put faith in; > ‘from whom of men have you heard this story in which you place too much (ἄγαν) belief? ’

μέν
either emphatic (Kamerbeek), i.e., emphasizes her confident belief, or antithetical (Kells), i.e., rejecting El.’s insinuation; > ‘No, I . . .’

τε καὶ
see 873n: ‘(and) by me and not by anyone else’

σημεῖον, τὸ

(σῆμα, sign) mark, sign of token by which something is inferred; > ‘I believe this story after having seen clear signs by my own eyes not [hearing] from anyone else’

LINE 887
πίστις, εως, ἡ
trust, that which gives trust, assurance, proof, proof of reliability; > ‘ What proof have you seen, poor girl?’

μοι

‘tell me for my sake; ‘I would like to know,’ sets a scornful tone here; ‘ethical dat.’ or ‘dat. of feeling’ to denote the speaker’s interest (S #1486; SS 85 §10)

+*βλέπω

(βλέψασα, aor.1 act. ptc.) see (refers to Chr.’s ἰδοῦσα)

θάλπω

(pres. ind. pass.) warm, heat; metaphorically: inflame; [1× El. ]

τῷδε
in anaphoric use, see ὧδε 884n
ἀν- ήφαιστος, ον

(ἀ privat. + Ἥφαιστος) without real fire (this is an emendation and unattested in Soph.; the codd. reading of ἀνηκέστῳ [1× El. ]: incurable, desperate, fatal, is preferable) πῦρ, πῠρός, τὸ
fire (declension: S #285); > ‘(having looked at what =) what did you look at, I would like to know, that you are inflamed by this fire not from Hephaestus?’

+ὡς . . . +*λέγῃς
final clause. subjv. after primary sequence of aor.1 impv., ἄκουσον: S #2196; GMT #317. Impv. moods point to the future and thus considered as primary (S #1858a)

μου
ablatival genit., answers ‘from where’; follows a verb of learning, +*μαθοῦσα; (S #1391; SS 66– 67 §28); > ‘so that after having learned/ heard from me, you can say then . . .’

τὸ +λοιπόν
the remainder, the future
ἤ . . . ἤ
either . . . or
μῶρος (3)

stupid, silly, foolish; > ‘whether I am sensible or addled’

δ’οὖν
permissive, used in drama according to GP 466.4: “to denote that the speaker waives any objection . . . to something being done, or contemplated, by another person . . . the tone is usually defiant.” The following verb is usually in impv.; > ‘All right, then, . . .’

142

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΡ.

καὶ δὴ λέγω ϲοι πᾶν ὅϲον κατειδόμην.

ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἦλθον πατρὸϲ ἀρχαῖον τάφον,
ὁρῶ κολώνηϲ ἐξ ἄκραϲ νεορρύτουϲ
πηγὰϲ γάλακτοϲ καὶ περιϲτεφῆ κύκλῳ

895
πάντων ὅϲʼ ἔϲτιν ἀνθέων θήκην πατρόϲ.

ἰδοῦϲα δʼ ἔϲχον θαῦμα, καὶ περιϲκοπῶ
μή πού τιϲ ἡμῖν ἐγγὺϲ ἐγχρίμπτει βροτῶν.

Part A: (2) Lines 892– 919

LINE 892
καὶ δή

‘very well then’ (GP 251: “in response to a definite command, often with word of command echoed”) καθ- +*οράω, - εῖδον

(κατειδόμην, aor.2 mid.) look down; see distinctly (Kells: “Soph. not infrequently uses the middle of ὁρᾶν in the same sense as the active”); > ‘exactly as I saw it’; [1× El. ]

+γάρ (pcl.)

‘the fact is that’ (explanatory, see 32n)

ἀρχαῖος (3)

(ἀρχή, beginning) ancient, ancestral (containing the ashes of Ag.’s ancestors as well as his); [1× El. ]

+τάφον

[ᾰ] the tomb consisted of a mound of earth beneath which there was a stone chamber where the dead were buried
κολώνη, ἡ
hill, mound, especially a sepulchral mound; [1× Soph.]

νεό- ρρῠτος, ον

(νέος, ῥέω) fresh flowing; [1× Soph.]

LINE 895
πηγή, ἡ
stream; [1× El. ]

γάλᾰ, γάλακτος, τὸ

[ᾰ] milk (genit. of material: S #1323); > ‘I saw rivulets of milk new- flowing from the top of the mound’;

[1× Soph.]

περι- στεφής, ές
wreathed, crowned; [1× Soph.]

κύκλος, ὁ
ring, circle; [1× El. ]

ἄνθος, εος, τό
flower; > ‘and decked all around with every sort (ὅσα) of flower’; [1× El. ]

θήκη, ἡ

(+*τίθημι) general term for sepulcher whatever the form (Jebb)

+*ἰδοῦσα δ᾿
repeats ὁρῶ from l. 894. Circumstantial participle denoting time (S #2060; SS 252– 53 §4). Connective δέ (GP 162.I– 165); > ‘ and when I saw [this] I was amazed’

θαῦμα, ατος, τὸ
wonder, marvel
περι- σκοπέω
look at from all sides, look about, watch and see (historical present for vividness: S #1883; SS 183 §3.1);

[1× Soph.]

που (adv.)

somewhere
ἐγ- χρίμπτω
dash against, fall upon, attack; approach (περισκοπέω expresses apprehension with μή and fear clause. The fear can be present or past; μή therefore can be used with present or past of indicative: S #2224.a; GMT

#369); > ‘I looked around lest (someone of people =) anyone was approaching nearby; [1× Soph.]

ἐγγύς (adv.)

near; [1× El. ]

143

Commentary 899–912
ὡϲ δʼ ἐν γαλήνῃ πάντʼ ἐδερκόμην τόπον,
τύμβου προϲεῖρπον ἆϲϲον· ἐϲχάτηϲ δʼ ὁρῶ

900
πυρᾶϲ νεώρη βόϲτρυχον τετμημένον·
κεὐθὺϲ τάλαινʼ ὡϲ εἶδον, ἐμπαίει τί μοι
ψυχῇ ϲύνηθεϲ ὄμμα, φιλτάτου βροτῶν
πάντων Ὀρέϲτου τοῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τεκμήριον·

LINE 889
γαλήνη, ἡ
calm, stillness; [1× Soph.]

+*δέρκομαι
look, see, behold
τόπος, ὁ
place; [1× El. ]

προσ- έρπω

(impf. indic.) creep, steal on, draw near; [1× El. ]

ἆσσον (adv.)

(comparative of ἄγχι) nearer; [1× El. ]

ἔσχᾰτος (3)

the farthest, uttermost, extreme
πῠρά, ἡ
funeral pyre (genit. of place, within which or at which an action happens: S #1448; SS 59 §11.ii: “on the edge of the mound”)

νε- ωρής, ές

(νέος, ὥρα) new, fresh, late; [1× El. ]

βόστρῠχος, ὁ
curl, lock of hair
τέμνω, τέτημαι

(τετμημένον, pf. pass. pct.) cut; > ‘lock of hair just cut off’

LINE 902
ἐμπαίω
strike in; intransitive: burst in upon (historical present for vividness: S #1883; SS 183 §3.1; GMT #33);

[1× Soph.]

συνηθής, ές
dwelling, living together; well acquainted, familiar; [1× El. ]

+ὄμμα, ατος, τὸ
eye; image; illumination; poetic word; > ‘as soon as I saw it, unhappy me, some familiar image struck my mind’

ὁρᾶν

Understand: ‘[I felt] that I saw.’ The infinitive depends on the notion of her feeling implied in previous words (Kamerbeek)

φιλτάτου . . . Ὀρέστου
for emphasis in a/ b/ b/ a chiastic structure: φιλτάτου βροτῶν / πάντων Ὀρέστου

144

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
καὶ χερϲὶ βαϲτάϲαϲα δυϲφημῶ μὲν οὔ,

905
χαρᾷ δὲ πίμπλημʼ εὐθὺϲ ὄμμα δακρύων.

καὶ νῦν θʼ ὁμοίωϲ καὶ τότʼ ἐξεπίϲταμαι
μή του τόδʼ ἀγλάιϲμα πλὴν κείνου μολεῖν.

τῷ γὰρ προϲήκει πλήν γʼ ἐμοῦ καὶ ϲοῦ τόδε;
κἀγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἔδραϲα, τοῦτʼ ἐπίϲταμαι,

910
οὐδʼ αὖ ϲύ· πῶϲ γάρ; ᾗ γε μηδὲ πρὸϲ θεοὺϲ
ἔξεϲτʼ ἀκλαύτῳ τῆϲδʼ ἀποϲτῆναι ϲτέγηϲ.

LINE 905

+χερσί
dat. of means (S #1507; SS 88– 89 §16); > ‘with my hands’

+βαστάζω

(aor.1 ptc. act.) lift, lift up
δυσφημέω
utter an ill- omened word (οὔ at the end of a line is emphatic)

+χᾰρά, ἡ
joy, delight pleasure (dat. of means: S #1507; SS 88– 89 §16)

πίμπλημι
fill

+δάκρυ, υος, τό

(= δάκρῠον, τό) tear (genit. of material: S #1323); > ‘but at once my eye[s] filled [I filled in respect to my eye; ὄμμα acc. of respect] with tears of joy [with joy consisting of tears])’

νῦν θ᾿ . . . καὶ τότ᾿

‘both now and then’

ὁμοίως (adv.)

(ὅμοιος, like, resembling) in like manner, like, alike
ἐξ- επίσταμαι
know thoroughly (completive sense of ἐξ- ‘thoroughly,’ ‘fully’: S #1688.2; SS 111§9), lending emphasis to the following negative statement. Verbs of knowing take an accusative and infinitive structure: τόδ’

ἀγλάισμα . . . μή . . . μολεῖν (S #2106); > ‘and I fully believe that . . .’; [1× El. ]

ἀγλάϊσμα, τὸ
ornament, pleasing gift; [1× El. ]

του . . . κείνου

(= τινός) ablatival genit. with verb of motion, ‘from what source’(S #1391; SS 66 §26); > ‘I fully believe that this pleasing gift came from no one but him’

LINE 909

+προσ- +ήκει
impersonal with dat. (τῷ = τίνι) beseems, belongs, befits; > ‘ for to whom does this belong besides me and you ?’

πῶς γάρ
elliptical interrogative formula indicating that something is impossible (S #2805b; GP 86); > ‘how should that be?’

ᾗ γε μηδέ
not οὐδε, because the causal relative clause has idea of classification (‘of such a sort’: S #2555b; SS

262 §1); > ‘neither did you— for how could you?— to whom it is not allowed . . .’

+ἔξ- +*εστι

+ inf. ἀποστῆναι as subject + dat. (S #1984, 1985)

ἄ- κλαυτος, ον

(κλαίω, weep) without tears, without lamentation (dat. of manner: S #1516; SS 90– 92 §19. The punishment indicates that the restriction is specific to El. rather than to women at large); [1× El. ]

ἀφ- +*ίστημι, - έστην

(ἀποστῆναι, aor.2 inf. act.) stand away, withdraw, keep off; > ‘to go out of the house even to make offerings to the gods without (tears =) being punished’

145

Commentary 913–937
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὲν δὴ μητρὸϲ οὔθʼ ὁ νοῦϲ φιλεῖ
τοιαῦτα πράϲϲειν οὔτε δρῶϲʼ ἐλάνθανʼ ἄν·
ἀλλʼ ἔϲτʼ Ὀρέϲτου ταῦτα τἀπιτύμβια.

915
ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη, θάρϲυνε. τοῖϲ αὐτοῖϲί τοι
οὐχ αὑτὸϲ αἰεὶ δαιμόνων παραϲτατεῖ.

νῷν δʼ ἦν ὁ πρόϲθε ϲτυγνόϲ· ἡ δὲ νῦν ἴϲωϲ
πολλῶν ὑπάρξει κῦροϲ ἡμέρα καλῶν.

ΗΛ.

φεῦ, τῆϲ ἀνοίαϲ ὥϲ ϲʼ ἐποικτίρω πάλαι.

920

LINE 913
ἀλλ᾿ οὐδὲ μὲν δή

‘but as for’ (Jebb: “rejecting an alternative”)

φιλεῖ
here in its ‘philosophical’ sense: “is accustomed”; > ‘but as for our mother, her mind is not accustomed to do such things’

+*οὔτε +*δρῶσ᾿ +*ἐλάνθαν᾿ λανθάνω is supplemented by δρῶσα, which points to the main action while the ἐλάνθανε tells something ἄν
about how the action occurred (S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261 §12f). ἐλάνθαν᾿ ἄν is a potential indic.

ἄν with the indic. of secondary tenses, generally imperfect and aorist, expresses past possibility, probability, or necessity (S #1784; GMT #198, 243– 44); > ‘nor could she have done it escaping [our] notice’

ἐπι- τύμβιος (3)

(ἐπι, τύμβος) at a tomb (‘offerings at the tomb.’ ἔστι existential); > ‘No, these are offerings at the tomb are from Orestes’; [1× El. ]

θαρσύνω

[ῡ] be of good courage; [1× Soph.]

αὑτός

= ὁ αὐτός (S #1322) (ὁ αὐτός δαιμόνων: αὐτός in attributive position meaning ‘same’: S #1163, 1204.2, 1210. δαιμόνων is genit. of definition: SS 53 §5); lit.: ‘the same one of the daimons’ i.e., ‘the same daimon/ fortune’

παρα- στᾰτέω
stand by, attend; > ‘the same fortune doesn’t always attend the same people’; [1× El. ]

LINE 918
στῠγνός (3)

hateful, abhorred; sad, gloomy (νῷν dual. dat. of possession: S #1476) ἴσως (adv.)

perhaps; [1× El. ]

ὑπ- άρχω
make a beginning (intransitive)

κῦρος, εος, τό
authority, validity (nom. without article serves as predicative to ἡμέρα. Note the emphatic two instances of hyperbaton of ἡ . . . ἡμέρα and πολλῶν . . . καλῶν that end Chr.’s speech); > ‘the present day perhaps will begin as ratification of many good things’; [1× El. ]

Part A (3), Lines 920– 937
ἄνοια, ἡ

(ἄ- νοος, without understanding) lack of understanding (either genit. of cause: S #1405; SS 70–

71 §34iii: “alas, how I have been pitying you for your folly all this while [πάλαι].” Or genit. after an exclamation, with comma following: SS 71– 72 §35); > ‘ Alas for your folly! I pity you . . .’

+ἐπ- οικτίρω
have compassion for, pity

146

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΡ.

τί δʼ ἔϲτιν; οὐ πρὸϲ ἡδονὴν λέγω τάδε;

ΗΛ.

οὐκ οἶϲθʼ ὅποι γῆϲ οὐδʼ ὅποι γνώμηϲ φέρῃ.

ΧΡ. πῶϲ δʼ οὐκ ἐγὼ κάτοιδʼ ἅ γʼ εἶδον ἐμφανῶϲ;

ΗΛ.

τέθνηκεν, ὦ τάλαινα· τἀκ κείνου δέ ϲοι
ϲωτήριʼ ἔρρει· μηδὲν ἐϲ κεῖνόν γʼ ὅρα.

925

ΧΡ.

οἴμοι τάλαινα· τοῦ τάδʼ ἤκουϲαϲ βροτῶν;

ΗΛ.

τοῦ πληϲίον παρόντοϲ, ἡνίκʼ ὤλλυτο.

ΧΡ.

καὶ ποῦ ʼϲτιν οὗτοϲ; θαῦμά τοί μʼ ὑπέρχεται.

ΗΛ. κατʼ οἶκον, ἡδὺϲ οὐδὲ μητρὶ δυϲχερήϲ.

ΧΡ.

οἴμοι τάλαινα· τοῦ γὰρ ἀνθρώπων ποτʼ ἦν

930
τὰ πολλὰ πατρὸϲ πρὸϲ τάφον κτερίϲματα;

ΗΛ.

οἶμαι μάλιϲτʼ ἔγωγε τοῦ τεθνηκότοϲ
μνημεῖʼ Ὀρέϲτου ταῦτα προϲθεῖναί τινα.

ΧΡ.

ὦ δυϲτυχήϲ· ἐγὼ δὲ ϲὺν χαρᾷ λόγουϲ
τοιούϲδʼ ἔχουϲʼ ἔϲπευδον, οὐκ εἰδυῖʼ ἄρα

935
ἵνʼ ἦμεν ἄτηϲ· ἀλλὰ νῦν, ὅθʼ ἱκόμην,
τά τʼ ὄντα πρόϲθεν ἄλλα θʼ εὑρίϲκω κακά.

LINE 921
τί δ᾿ἔστιν;

‘What’s the matter?’ (conversational)

+πρὸς +ἡδονήν

‘to your pleasure’ (for πρὸς with acc. of manner, see 369, 464, 1462, S #1608) ὅποι
where, to what place (S #2498) (with genit. γῆς: ‘where in the world?’; with genit. partit. of an abstract noun, +γνώμης: SS 58 §10); > ‘to what place in your mind, you are being carried’

κάτοιδα . . . εἶδον
etymologically connected. κάτοιδα answers emphatically the preceding οἶσθα. ‘Seeing’ and ‘knowing’

are connected in Greek thought.

ἐμφανῶς (adv.)

(ἐμφανής appearing, manifest) visibly; [1× El. ]

σωτήριος, ον

(σωτήρ, savior) saving, delivering; > ‘the means of deliverance from him are gone/ lost (ἔρρει) for you’

μηδὲν . . . +*ὅρα
negated impv. (S #1835); > ‘Don’t look at all to him!’

LINE 926
πλήσιος (3)

(πέλας, near, close) near, hard by, close to (here an adv.: near) τοῦ . . . +παρ- +*όντος
genit. as object of preceding ἤκουσας (S #1361); > ‘ from the man who was close by when he perished’

ὑπ- +*έρχομαι
steal over; Kells: “really (τοι) wonder is stealing over me”

δυσ- χρής, ές

(δυσ- , χείρ) unpleasant, troublesome (μητρί, apokoinou, see p. 000. οὐδὲ . . . δυσχερής: litotes: S #3032, for intensification); > ‘not at all displeasing’; [1× El. ]

LINE 930
κτέρισματα, τά

(κτερίζω, bury with due honors) funeral honors, obsequies (= κτέρεα) (here includes libations; in 434, it doesn’t.) hyperbaton: τοῦ = τινός ‘whose,’ ‘from whom’

μνημεῖον, τό
memorial
προσ- +*τί- θη- μι

(προσθεῖναι, aor.2 inf. act.) bestow, add; > ‘I think that someone placed/ bestowed them [on the grave] as memorials of the dead Orestes’

σπέυδω
hasten; promote/ further zealously

147

Commentary 938–953

ΗΛ. οὕτωϲ ἔχει ϲοι ταῦτʼ· ἐὰν δʼ ἐμοὶ πίθῃ,
τῆϲ νῦν παρούϲηϲ πημονῆϲ λύϲειϲ βάροϲ.

ΧΡ.

ἦ τοὺϲ θανόνταϲ ἐξαναϲτήϲω ποτέ;

940

ΗΛ.

†οὐκ ἔϲθʼ ὅ γʼ † εἶπον· οὐ γὰρ ὧδʼ ἄφρων ἔφυν.

ΧΡ.

τί γὰρ κελεύειϲ ὧν ἐγὼ φερέγγυοϲ;

ΗΛ. τλῆναί
ϲε δρῶϲαν ἃν ἐγὼ παραινέϲω.

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ εἴ τιϲ ὠφέλειά γʼ, οὐκ ἀπώϲομαι.

ΗΛ.

ὅρα, πόνου τοι χωρὶϲ οὐδὲν εὐτυχεῖ.

945

+ἄρα (pcl.)

really, truly (indicates realization of the truth of past event: GP 36.2); > ‘not knowing in what a predicament we really were’

+ἵνα (relat. adv.)

where (S #2498; poetic) (with genit. of place); > lit.: “where of ruin we after all were,” i.e., “not knowing in what sort of plight we really were” (Kells)

+ὅτε (adv.)

‘but now when/ that I’ve come, I find our former troubles and others also’

Part B: Lines 938-1057. (1) 938– 946 Electra prepares the ground to convince Chrysothemis to take part in the revenge. (2) 947– 1016: Electra’s speech explaining why the two of them should exact revenge all by themselves and Chrysothemis’ refusal. (3) 1017– 1057 the disagreement between the two sisters in the form of stichomythia.

Part B: (1) Lines 938– 946

LINE 938

+*πείθω

(πίθῃ, aor.2 mid. subjv. 2sg) mid.: obey, listen to (protasis of fut. more vivid condition, the apodosis is in fut. indicat, λύσεις: S #2297, 2321, 2323)

πημονή, ἡ
calamity, trouble
βάρος, εος, τό
weight, burden; > ‘but if you listen to me, you'll lighten the weight of our present misery’

+ἦ (adv.)

introduces interrogative rhetorical sentence (GP 283.2)

ἐξ- αν- +*ίστημι

(ἐξαναστήσω, indic. fut. act.) make rise from; > ‘What? Will I ever bring the dead to life?’; [1× El]

†οὐκ ἔσθ᾿ὅ γ†

‘that is not what I said’ (Lloyd- Jones, following Kaibel). Τhe relative pron., ὅ, lacks an antecedent, and is often emended to οὐκ ἐς τόδε εἶπον; > ‘I did not speak with reference to that’, or οὐ τοῦτό γ᾿εἶπον > ‘ I did not say this’

ἄ- φρων, ονος
senseless, witless, foolish; [1× Soph.]

+*ἔφυν

(aor.2) grew, was; > ‘I am not such a fool’

κελεύω
urge on, exhort, bid, command
φερέγγῠος (3)

(φέρω, ἐγγύη, surety) capable (only here with genit., usually with inf.); > ‘why (γάρ), what of the things I’m capable of doing you command?’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 943

**τλάω, ἔτλην

(τλῆναι, inf. aor.2, never found in pres.) endure, dare (understand κελεύω from previous line with acc.

and inf.: σε τλῆναι. δρῶσαν supplem. ptc. following vb. of enduring, τλῆναι: SS 260 §12a; S #2127; Campbell); > ‘[I bid] you to dare doing’

παρ- *αινέω

(παραινέσω, aor.1 subjv.) advise, recommend, counsel (αἰνέω keeps a short vowel in the aor. and fut.: S #488b). Indefinite subjv., the reference not being to any particular thing, “but to any, or all”: SS 225– 56

§12; S #2545c); > ‘whatever/ what (ἅν = ἁ ἄν) I am going to advise’

ὠφέλεια, ἡ
help; profit, gain; > ‘well, if there is any help [in it]’; [1× Soph.]

148

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΡ.

ὁρῶ. ξυνοίϲω πᾶν ὅϲονπερ ἂν ϲθένω.

ΗΛ.

ἄκουε δή νυν ᾗ βεβούλευμαι τελεῖν.

παρουϲίαν μὲν οἶϲθα καὶ ϲύ που φίλων
ὡϲ οὔτιϲ ἡμῖν ἐϲτιν, ἀλλʼ Ἅιδηϲ λαβὼν
ἀπεϲτέρηκε καὶ μόνα λελείμμεθον.

950
ἐγὼ δʼ ἕωϲ μὲν τὸν καϲίγνητον βίῳ
θάλλοντʼ ἔτʼ εἰϲήκουον, εἶχον ἐλπίδαϲ
φόνου ποτʼ αὐτὸν πράκτορʼ ἵξεϲθαι πατρόϲ·

+ἀπ- ώσομαι

(+ἀπ- ωθέω); > ‘I will not reject it’

+πόνος, ὁ
pain, toil
χωρίς + genit.

without; > ‘(see, i.e.) remember, nothing truly (τοι) succeeds without pain’; [1× El. ]

LINE 946

+συμ- +*φέρω, - οίσω
gather, contribute, help
ὅσοσ- περ, ὅση- περ,
as much as, as many as
ὅσον- περ

+σθένω
fut. more vivid condition (S #2297; GMT #444); > ‘I shall help in everything as much as I have strength for’

Part B: (2) Lines 947– 1016

+ᾗ
which way, how (S #346)

+βεβούλευμαι
the perfect tense emphasizes the decisiveness of her resolve; cf. at 385

+παρουσία, ἡ
presence (acc. of respect: S #1601c; SS 43 §14. φίλων subjective genit.: S #1330; SS 53 §4); > ‘I suppose you know that as to the presence/ existence of our friends, that we have no one’

Ἅιδης
resolution in 9th position Ἅιδης.

LINE 950

+μόνα +λελείμμεθον
dual of the adj. and 1st pers.; > ‘but Hades robbed us, having taken [them] away, and we two are left alone’

ἕως (conj.)

as long as, until ( referring to coextensive actions: S #2383 C) θάλλω
bloom, flourish, swell, shoot out (ptc. in acc., θάλλοντα, required by verb of perception, εἰσήκουσον, in indirect discourse: S #2012); > ‘so long as I still heard that our brother was flourishing in life’

πράκτωρ, ορος, ὁ

(πράσσω) one who exacts punishment, avenger (acc. as the subject of the inf., ἵξεσθαι: S #1868a);

[1× El. ]

+*ἵξεσθαι

(inf. fut. dep.) come, arrive (εἶχον ἐλπίδας = ἐλπίζω. Vbs. of hoping take fut. inf. in indirect discourse φόνου . . . πατρός; note how the two words round the line); > ‘I had hopes that he would come some day, an avenger of our father’s murder’

149

Commentary 954–967
νῦν δʼ ἡνίκʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔϲτιν, ἐϲ ϲὲ δὴ βλέπω,
ὅπωϲ τὸν αὐτόχειρα πατρῴου φόνου

955
ξὺν τῇδʼ ἀδελφῇ μὴ κατοκνήϲειϲ κτανεῖν

Αἴγιϲθον· οὐδὲν γάρ ϲε δεῖ κρύπτειν μʼ ἔτι.

ποῖ γὰρ μενεῖϲ ῥάθυμοϲ, ἐϲ τίνʼ ἐλπίδων
βλέψαϲʼ ἔτʼ ὀρθήν; ᾗ πάρεϲτι μὲν ϲτένειν
πλούτου πατρῴου κτῆϲιν ἐϲτερημένῃ,

960

LINE 954

+*ἔστιν

‘but now, when he is no more . . .’

+ὅπως
opens object clause with μή with and fut. indic. for urgent exhortation (S #1920), following βλέπω as if it were verb of exhorting; > ‘I look to you (δή emphasizes σέ) that you will not shrink from killing with your sister the agent of our father’s murder’

αὐτό- χειρ, ρος, ὁ, ἡ

(αὐτός, χείρ) working with one’s own hand, agent, murderer
κατ- οκνέω
shrink from doing (a thing); [1× Soph.]

+Αἴγισθον
in powerfully emphatic enjambment; El. deliberately avoids mentioning matricide, although it is clear from 929 that Clyt. is on her mind; cf. also 604– 5.

+κρύπτειν
acc., με, and inf., κρύπτειν, construction after δεῖ (S #1895b). El. does hide from Chr. that she means to kill their mother as well.

LINE 958

+ποῖ (adv.)

whither?; > ‘to what end’

ῥάθῡμος, ον

[ᾱ] (ῤάδιος, θῡμός) lazy; > ‘to what end will you remain inactive?’ (1× Soph.)

+*μενεῖς

(μὲνω, fut.) some prefer the present μένεις because the waiting is already in process (Finglass).

+ὀρθήν

‘having fixed your gaze to what hope that is still upright/ unshaken?’

ᾗ
dat. required by +πάρεστι. Relative pron. whose antecedent is the subject of the former sentence: ‘you to whom. . . .’ πάρεστι is repeated in 961 in an emphatic anaphora.

+στένω

(στενός, narrow) sigh, trans.: bemoan, lament, deplore, complain (only in pres. and impf.) κτῆσις, εως, ἡ

(κτάομαι, acquire) possession, property (acc. after a passive vb.; cf. 114. genit. was expected as στερέω
takes acc. of person and genit. of thing: SS 39 §8)

στερέω, ἐστέρημαι

(ἐστερημένη, pf. pass. ptc.) deprive, rob; > ‘you who could (i.e., for whom after being robbed, it was possible to) complain of being robbed of the possession of your father’s wealth’

150

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
πάρεϲτι δʼ ἀλγεῖν ἐϲ τοϲόνδε τοῦ χρόνου
ἄλεκτρα γηράϲκουϲαν ἀνυμέναιά τε.

καὶ τῶνδε μέντοι μηκέτʼ ἐλπίϲῃϲ ὅπωϲ
τεύξῃ ποτʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὧδʼ ἄβουλόϲ ἐϲτʼ ἀνὴρ

Αἴγιϲθοϲ ὥϲτε ϲόν ποτʼ ἢ κἀμὸν γένοϲ

965
βλαϲτεῖν ἐᾶϲαι, πημονὴν αὑτῷ ϲαφῆ.

ἀλλʼ ἢν ἐπίϲπῃ τοῖϲ ἐμοῖϲ βουλεύμαϲιν,

LINE 961
ἐς τοσόνδε χρόνου

‘to this point of time’; cf. τοσόνδε ἐς ἥβης at 14
ἄ- λεκτρος, ον

(ἀ privat., λέκτρον, marriage bed) without marriage bed, unwedded γηράσκω
grow old (inceptive/ inchoative vb., points to a beginning of a process: S #526a). The acc. ptc., γηράκουσαν, is subject of the inf. ἀλγεῖν; [1× El. ]

ἀν- ῠμέναιος, ον

(ἀ privat., ὑμεναῖος, wedding song) unwedded (ἄλεκτρα and ἀνυμέναια neuter plural internal acc. as adv.

= ἀλγεῖν ἄλεκτρον and ἀνύμεναιον γῆρας: SS 41 §12. Resolution in 8th position: ᾰν- ῠμ.); > ‘You must feel pain at this point of time [i.e., of your life], growing old unmarried and unwedded’; [1× El]

καὶ . . . μέντοι
and however, and of course (S #2880) (GP 413: “sometimes introduces a new point or argument,” as El. does here)

τῶνδε
refers to the ancestral possessions and above all to the marriage stressed in 965– 96. The hyperbaton with τεύξῃ and the enjambments stress the loss of both.

ἐλπίζω

(ἐλπίς) hope (μή with prohibitive aorist subjv.: S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259); > ‘No, no longer hope’

+*τεύξῃ, τεύξομαι

(τυγχάνω, fut. mid. 2sg.) + genit.: τῶνδε (ὅπως with fut. indic. denotes urgent exhortation: S #2213, and keeps strong modal sense, ‘that’, after a negated main verb μηκέτι ἐλπίσῃς: SS 314 §2); > ‘No, no longer hope that you will ever chance upon them now’

ἄ- βουλος, ον

(ἀ privat., βουλή) fool, ill advised; Αἴγισθος in emphatic enjambment.

LINE 965

+*βλαστεῖν

(βλαστάνω, aor.2 act. inf.); see 546n

+*ἐᾶσαι

(ἐάω, aor.1 inf. act.) ὥστε with inf. for an anticipated or possible result (S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587);

> ‘Aegisthus is not so foolish as ever to permit children . . .’

αὑτῷ

= ἃ αὐτῷ +σαφῆ. dat. of disadvantage (S #1481; SS 84 §9); > ‘as an obvious calamity for himself’

ἐφ- +*έπομαι

(ἐπί- σπῃ, stem σπ- ; aor.2 subjv. mid. 2sg.) comply with (ἤν = ἐάν with subjv, and fut. indic. in apodosis, οἴσῃ [φέρω] mid. 2sg., fut. more vivid condition S #2297, 2321, 2323); > ‘if you comply with . . . you will win [carry for yourself]’

βούλευμα, ατος, τό

(βολεύω) plan, design

151

Commentary 968–985
πρῶτον μὲν εὐϲέβειαν ἐκ πατρὸϲ κάτω
θανόντοϲ οἴϲῃ τοῦ καϲιγνήτου θʼ ἅμα·
ἔπειτα δʼ, ὥϲπερ ἐξέφυϲ, ἐλευθέρα

970
καλῇ τὸ λοιπὸν καὶ γάμων ἐπαξίων
τεύξῃ· φιλεῖ γὰρ πρὸϲ τὰ χρηϲτὰ πᾶϲ ὁρᾶν.

λόγων γε μὴν εὔκλειαν οὐχ ὁρᾷϲ ὅϲην
ϲαυτῇ τε κἀμοὶ προϲβαλεῖϲ πειϲθεῖϲʼ ἐμοί;
τίϲ γάρ ποτʼ ἀϲτῶν ἢ ξένων ἡμᾶϲ ἰδὼν

975
τοιοῖϲδʼ ἐπαίνοιϲ οὐχὶ δεξιώϲεται,

LINE 968
πρῶτον μέν . . . ἔπειτα δέ
first, in the first place . . . second, further . . .

+κᾰσιγνήτου

‘from our dead father below, and from our brother at the same time’

ἐκ- +*φύω

[ῠ] (ἐξέφυς, aor.2 ) intransitive: grow from, born from; > ‘as you were born’

+*κᾰλῇ

(καλέω, fut. mid. used as pass. only here. Cf. λησόμενον 1247n); > ‘in the future (τὸ λοιπόν) you’ll be called free’

γάμος, ὁ

[ᾰ] marriage, wedding (for the plural see γάμων 494n)

ἐπ- άξιος (2/ 3)

(+ἐπί, ἄξιος) worthy, deserving; > ‘and you’ll obtain a worthy marriage’; [1× El. ]

φιλεῖ

Here in its ‘philosophical’ sense: is accustomed
χρηστός (3)

(χράομαι, use) useful, serviceable, good, favorable (τὰ χρηστά, a neuter used for persons; cf. 538, 1208: SS 14– 15§10); > ‘for everyone is accustomed to look toward what is good (i.e., a good woman)’

LINE 973
γε μήν
points to a new point (GP 349.3); > ‘as to the renown on the lips of men’

εὔ- κλειᾰ, ἡ
good fame, renown (+λόγων subjective genit.: S #1330; SS 53 §4. The genit. plural is preferred to the codd. dat. sg., λόγῳ,: ‘renown of/ in words,’ i.e., words telling of the renown) προσ- *βάλλω, - βαλῶ

(προσβαλεῖς, fut. indic.) add, attach; [1× El.]

+πεισθεῖσα

(πείθω, aor.1 pass. ptc.) ‘as to renown in words, don’t you see how much (+ὅσην) you’ll procure for yourself and me if you listen to me?’

ἀστός, ὁ

(ἄστυ) townsman, fellow citizen; [1× El.]

ἀστῶν ἢ +ξένων
emphatic polar expression, which does not limit the praise to the polis alone.

ἔπ- αινος, ὁ

(ἐπί, αἶνος) approval, commendation; [1× El.]

δεξιόομαι
greet with the right hand; > ‘won’t greet us with the following words of praise’; [1× Soph.]

152

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

"ἴδεϲθε τώδε τὼ καϲιγνήτω, φίλοι,
ὣ τὸν πατρῷον οἶκον ἐξεϲωϲάτην,
ὣ τοῖϲιν ἐχθροῖϲ εὖ βεβηκόϲιν ποτὲ
ψυχῆϲ ἀφειδήϲαντε προὐϲτήτην φόνου.

980
τούτω φιλεῖν χρή, τώδε χρὴ πάνταϲ ϲέβειν·
τώδʼ ἔν θʼ ἑορταῖϲ ἔν τε πανδήμῳ πόλει
τιμᾶν ἅπανταϲ οὕνεκʼ ἀνδρείαϲ χρεών."

τοιαῦτά τοι νὼ πᾶϲ τιϲ ἐξερεῖ βροτῶν,
ζώϲαιν θανούϲαιν θʼ ὥϲτε μὴ ʼκλιπεῖν κλέοϲ.

985

LINE 977
τὼ κασιγνήτω . . . ὣ
dual: ‘the two sisters who’

ἐκ- +*σῴζω, - έσωσα

(ἐξεσωσάτην, aor.1 dual) utterly save, preserve from danger (completive sense of ἐκ- ‘thoroughly,’ ‘fully’: S #1688.2; SS 111§9)

+*εὖ βεβηκόσιν

(βαίνω, pf. ptc. act.) the perfect “is used as a stronger equivalent of εἰμί ‘be’, emphasizing the stability of the state reached”: SS 198 §18); > ‘enemies firmly established’

ἀ- φειδέω

(ἀφειδήσαντε, aor.1 masc. dual forms of participles serve as feminine: SS 13 §9) be unsparing; > ‘unsparing of their own lives’; [1× Soph.]

προ- +*ΐστημι, - έστην

(=προ- εστάτην, aor.2 dual) + genit.: to place oneself in front of (with φόνου “be the author of slaughter”: LSJ); > ‘placed themselves as “champions of the murder” ’(Kamerbeek) σέβω
worship, revere (τούτω . . . τώδε stylistic variation (dual). πάντας subject of the infinitives φιλεῖν and σέβειν; > everyone should love them both; everyone should honor them’; [1× El. ]

LINE 982
ἑορτή, ἡ
festival; [1× El. ]

πάν- δεμος, ον

(πᾶς, δῆμος) belonging to all the people (πανδήμῳ πόλει ‘whole body of the city’) τιμάω

(inf. pres. act.) hold worthy, honor, respect (+ἅπαντας is the subject; [1× El. ]

ἀνδρεία, ἡ
manliness, manly spirit (rare word in high poetic style before Eur.: Finglass, and an odd quality to ascribe to women); > ‘on account of (+οὕ ν εκα) their manliness’; [1× Soph.]

+χρεών
copula (ἐστί) omitted after expression of necessity (S #944b)

LINE 984

+τοι
postpositive and enclitic pcl. with general reflection: ‘you know,’ ‘be sure of it’

νώ
dual nom. and acc. of ἐγώ (S #325)

+ἐξ- +ερῶ
speak out, proclaim (fut. without any pres. in use. The vb. sometimes takes the acc. of the person spoken about); > ‘be sure that everyone will proclaim such things about us (νώ)’

+*ζώσαιν +*θανούσαιν θ᾿

(dual) temporal genit. absolute without its subject, which can be easily supplied from the context: ‘we’

(S #2058, 2070a, 2072)

+ἐκ- +*λείπω, -έλιπον

(ἐκλιπεῖν, aor.2 inf.) intrans.: leave off, cease (LSJ II.4) (ὥστε with inf. for an anticipated or possible result: S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587)

κλέος, τό
fame, glory, renown (only nom. and acc., sg. and pl.); > ‘so that our fame will not (leave us =) die whether we are alive or dead’

+*πείσθητι

(πείθω, aor.2 impv. pass.) ‘obey’ (Finglass points out that the aorist passive of this verb is “much rarer than the middle in classical and Hellenistic Greek,” which would have drawn special attention of the spectators and gave further prominence to El.’s plea.)

συμ- πονέω

(pres. impv.) work with, help

153

Commentary 986–1004
ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη, πείϲθητι, ϲυμπόνει πατρί,
ϲύγκαμνʼ ἀδελφῷ, παῦϲον ἐκ κακῶν ἐμέ,
παῦϲον δὲ ϲαυτήν, τοῦτο γιγνώϲκουϲʼ, ὅτι
ζῆν αἰϲχρὸν αἰϲχρῶϲ τοῖϲ καλῶϲ πεφυκόϲιν.

ΧΟ.

ἐν τοῖϲ τοιούτοιϲ ἐϲτὶν ἡ προμηθία

990
καὶ τῷ λέγοντι καὶ κλύοντι ϲύμμαχοϲ.

ΧΡ.

καὶ πρίν γε φωνεῖν, ὦ γυναῖκεϲ, εἰ φρενῶν
ἐτύγχανʼ αὕτη μὴ κακῶν, ἐϲῴζετʼ ἂν
τὴν εὐλάβειαν, ὥϲπερ οὐχὶ ϲῴζεται.

LINE 986
συγ- κάμνω
labor, suffer with; [1× El. ]

παῦσον . . . παῦσον

(παύω, aor.1 impv.) ‘stop!’ ( anaphora. El. tends to repeat this vb., cf. 796. The aor. points to the single occurrence versus the continuous aspect of συμπόνει and σύγκαμνε): > ‘free me from evil, and free yourself as well’

+*γιγνώσκουσα

(pres. act. ptc.); > ‘realizing that to those noble by nature (+*πεφυκόσιν) it is shameful to live (+*ζῆν) shamefully’

+αἰσχρὸν αἰσχρῶς
play on different forms of the same word was greatly appreciated by the Greeks. Here each word has a different syntactic function: αἰσχρὸν ἐστι ζῆν αἰσχρῶς.

LINE 990

+προμήθια, ἡ
forethought, consideration
σύμ- μᾰχος, ον

(σύν, μάχη) ally (supply τῷ before κλύοντι: SS 153 §21. Cf. μέλλοντα in 1498 ); > ‘In such matters, foresight is an ally both to the one who speaks and to the one who listens.’ A noncommittal statement;

[1× El. ]

+πρίν (conj.)

[ῐ] before (when subordinated to an affirmative clause, usually takes infinitive: S #2431, 2454, φωνεῖν);

> ‘Yes, and before speaking’

+*ἐτύγχανε
impf. indic. in protasis and apodosis (+*ἐσῴζετο ἄν) of contrary- to- fact conditio n. Ιn a contrary- to- fact condition sometimes it is difficult to decide if the imperfect denotes present or past time (SS 280 §3a; S #2304; GMT #410). μή belongs to the entire sentence but its position emphasizes both the negation and the epithet κακῶν (Campbell); > ‘if she (αὕτη = ἡ αὔτη) (had happened to have=) really had good sense, she would have preserved caution for herself), but she does not preserve [it]’

εὐλάβεια, ἡ

[ᾰ] discretion, caution

154

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ποῖ γάρ ποτε βλέψαϲα τοιοῦτον θράϲοϲ

995
αὐτή θʼ ὁπλίζῃ κἄμʼ ὑπηρετεῖν καλεῖϲ;
οὐκ εἰϲορᾷϲ; γυνὴ μὲν οὐδʼ ἀνὴρ ἔφυϲ,
ϲθένειϲ δʼ ἔλαϲϲον τῶν ἐναντίων χερί.

δαίμων δὲ τοῖϲ μὲν εὐτυχὴϲ καθʼ ἡμέραν,
ἡμῖν δʼ ἀπορρεῖ κἀπὶ μηδὲν ἔρχεται.

1000
τίϲ οὖν τοιοῦτον ἄνδρα βουλεύων ἑλεῖν
ἄλυποϲ ἄτηϲ ἐξαπαλλαχθήϲεται;
ὅρα κακῶϲ πράϲϲοντε μὴ μείζω κακὰ
κτηϲώμεθʼ, εἴ τιϲ τούϲδʼ ἀκούϲεται λόγουϲ.

LINE 995
ὁπλίζω

(pres. mid. 2sg) arm (αὐτή emphasizes the 2nd pers.); > ‘What have you set your eyes on that you’v e armed yourself with such boldness . . . ?’; [1× El. ]

ὑπηρετέω
serve, work for, help; > ‘and call on me to help you?’

ἐλάσσον
neuter as adv. (ἐλάσσων, ον); in lesser degree (comparative of μικρός: S #319.6, with genit. of comparison, τῶν ἐναντίων: S #1069)

ἐν- αντίος (3)

opposing (substantival use of article with adj.: S #1021, 1153a; SS 163 §1 = enemy); > ‘in power (χερί) you are less strong than [our] enemies’); [1× El. ]

+δαίμων
τοῖς μὲν . . . ἡμῖν δέ, dat. οf possession; > ‘ Their luck, on the one hand . . ., ours, on the other . . . ’

εὐ- τῠχής, ές
successful, lucky, fortunate
ἀπο- ρρέω
flow away from, run off like water; > ‘drains away’; [1× El. ]

καὶ ἐπὶ μηδὲν ἔρχεται

‘and comes to nothing’; μηδέν, not οὐδέν, to convey the idea of ‘nothingness’

LINE 1001
τοιοῦτον
correption: - οι- shortened before the following diphthong; cf. 35, 1024, 1338
ἄ- λῡπος, ον

(ἀ privat., λύπη) without pain or grief; [1× El. ]

ἐξ- απ- αλάσσω

(ἐξαπαλλαχθήσεται, fut. indic., pass.) free from (the pass. of the vb. does not differ semantically from the mid. The three- word trimeter marks a climax in the argument: Finglass. Cf. 13 on: κἀξεθρεψάμην. Note the accumulation of alphas); > ‘Who then shall plan to kill such a man and escape unhurt by disaster?’;

[1× Soph.]

+*πράσσω κακῶς

‘fare badly.’ Masc. dual forms of participle serve usually as feminine (SS 13 §9). Pres. ptc. indicates continuous aspect with antecedent action (S #1872 a.1). SS 210 §32– 33: “Take care that we, in an evil plight as we are, do not incur worse [μείζω = μείζωνα] evil”

κτάομαι

(κτησώμεθα, aor.1 subjv.) acquire, procure, get for oneself (subjv. in fear clause in primary sequence, ὅρα: S #2221, 2223; GMT #365. Impv. moods point to the fut. and thus considered as primary: S #1858a; ὅρα implies the idea of fear; enjambment)

+*ἀκούσεται

(fut. dep.) acc. λόγους, with ἀκούω, points to the words and/ or sound that is heard; genit. is used for the person whose words are heard (S #1361); for the fut. indic. in protasis, see ὑποίσεις 834n 155

Commentary 1005–1020
λύει γὰρ ἡμᾶϲ οὐδὲν οὐδʼ ἐπωφελεῖ

1005
βάξιν καλὴν λαβόντε δυϲκλεῶϲ θανεῖν.

[οὐ γὰρ θανεῖν ἔχθιϲτον, ἀλλʼ ὅταν θανεῖν
χρῄζων τιϲ εἶτα μηδὲ τοῦτʼ ἔχῃ λαβεῖν.]

ἀλλʼ ἀντιάζω, πρὶν πανωλέθρουϲ τὸ πᾶν
ἡμᾶϲ τʼ ὀλέϲθαι κἀξερημῶϲαι γένοϲ,

1010
κατάϲχεϲ ὀργήν. καὶ τὰ μὲν λελεγμένα
ἄρρητʼ ἐγώ ϲοι κἀτελῆ φυλάξομαι,

LINE 1005
ἐπ- ωφελέω
aid, succor (with inf. +*θανεῖν)

βάξις, εως, ἡ

(βάζω, speak, say) saying, report, announcement; [1 × El.]

+*λαβόντε

(λαμβάνω, aor.2 ptc.) masculine dual forms of participles serve as feminine (SS 13 §9); > ‘it brings no relief or benefit to die ingloriously after having acquired a fine reputation’

δυσ- κλεῶς (adv.)

(δυσ- κλεής) ingloriously; [1× Soph.]

γάρ
explains δυσ- κλεῶς. Those, e.g., Finglass, who excise 1007– 8 claim that Chr. is “concerned not with the manner of their death but with the fact of dying.”

+χρῄζων
temporal ptc. (S #2060, 20161; SS 252– 3 §4). Indefinite relative temporal clause with subjv., ὅταν . . .

μηδὲ . . . ἔχῃ (SS 294 §4; GMT #462). ἔχω with an inf. (λαβεῖν) can mean ‘can,’ ‘able to’ (S 2000a); > ‘for the worst thing is not to die, but when one wishes to die, yet (εἶτα) is unable to accomplish that.’ Cf. +ὅτε

59n.

LINE 1009
ἀντιάζω
entreat, approach as suppliant; [1× Soph.]

πᾰν-ώλεθρος, ον (3)

(πᾶς, ὄλεθρος, ὄλλυμι) utterly ruined; [1 × El.]

+* ὀλέσθαι

(ὄλλυμι, aor.2 inf. mid.) mid.: perish, come to an end
ἐξ- ερημόω
make utterly desolate, desert utterly (ἡμᾶς is proably subject of both infinitives. Kells suggests a supplied σέ subject of ἐξερημῶσαι: ‘and you leave . . .’); > ‘before we’re totally destroyed and leave our family completely desolate, rein in your anger’; [1× Soph.]

+*λελεγμένα

(pf. ptc. pass.) things said, words
ἄρρ- ητος (2/ 3)

(ἀ privat., ῤηθῆναι, < ἐρῶ, say) that cannot be told, shocking ἀ- τελής, ές

(ἀ privat., τέλος) without end, unaccomplished, ineffectual; [1× El. ]

+φῠλάσσω
guard; mid.: keep in one’s mind (σοι dat. of advantage: S #1481; SS 84– 85 §9); > ‘I for my part will guard your word unspoken and unrealized for your own good’

156

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
αὐτὴ δὲ νοῦν ϲχὲϲ ἀλλὰ τῷ χρόνῳ ποτέ,
ϲθένουϲα μηδὲν τοῖϲ κρατοῦϲιν εἰκαθεῖν.

ΧΟ.

πείθου. προνοίαϲ οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποιϲ ἔφυ

1015
κέρδοϲ λαβεῖν ἄμεινον οὐδὲ νοῦ ϲοφοῦ.

ΗΛ. ἀπροϲδόκητον οὐδὲν εἴρηκαϲ· καλῶϲ δʼ
ᾔδη ϲʼ ἀπορρίψουϲαν ἁπηγγελλόμην.

ἀλλʼ αὐτόχειρί μοι μόνῃ τε δραϲτέον
τοὔργον τόδʼ· οὐ γὰρ δὴ κενόν γʼ ἀφήϲομεν.

1020

LINE 1013
ἀλλὰ τῷ +χρόνῳ
now at least, now at long last (GP 13.3)

+σθένουσα
time/ causal participle (S #2060, 2061, 2064; SS 251– 52 §3; conjunctive [i.e., coordinated with the existing principal verb] with εἰκαθεῖν. μηδέν negates the participle: SS 332 §8b) τοῖς +κρατοῦσι

‘the rulers, those in power’; see τοῖς +κρατοῦσι 396n
εἴκω, εἴκᾰθον

(aor.2 inf., poetic) yield, give way (depends on νοῦν σχές; result clause without ὥστε: S #2011a; SS

2382); > ‘and you yourself have the sense at long last [so as you yield] to yield to those in power, since you have no strength’

+*πείθου

(pres. impv. mid. 2sg.) mid.: obey, listen to
πρόνοια, ἡ
foresight (the two genits. of comparison προνοίας and νοῦ σοφοῦ bracket the statement); [1× El.]

+*λαβεῖν
with ἄμεινον, limiting or explanatory inf. (SS 240 §3, S #1712) > ‘no better advantage to gain than . . .’

ἀμείνων, ον
better; comparative of ἀγαθός (S #319, 319a)

Part B: (3) Lines 1017– 1057

LINE 1017
ἀ- προσ- δόκητος, ον
unexpected; > ‘you’ve said nothing unexpected’ [1× Soph.]

+*οἶδα, ᾔδη

(plupf.) know
ἀπο- ρρίπτω
throw away (supplementary participle in indirect discourse following verb of knowing, ᾔδη: S 2106);

[1× El. ]

ἀπ- αγγέλλω

= ἃ ἀπηγγελλόμην; bring tidings, tell; > ‘I knew quite well that you’d refuse what I proposed.’ Does El.

sound convincing here?; [1× El. ]

αὐτό- χειρ, ρος, ὁ, ἡ

(αὐτός, χείρ) working with one’s own hand, agent, murderer

+*δραστέον

‘must be done’ (verbal adj. with dat. of agent: S #1488); > ‘(it must be done by me, my own hand alone =) I have to this deed by my own hand and alone’

οὐ γὰρ δὴ . . . γε
certainly not (GP 243(2))

ἀφ- *ίημι

(ἀφήσομεν, fut. indic.) give up (m ajestic plural for impressive effect: S #1006; SS 6 §4); > ‘Ι (we) certainly won’t leave it (empty, futile =) undone’

157

Commentary 1021–1038

ΧΡ. φεῦ·
εἴθʼ ὤφελεϲ τοιάδε τὴν γνώμην πατρὸϲ
θνῄϲκοντοϲ εἶναι· πᾶν γὰρ ἂν κατειργάϲω.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ ἦ φύϲιν γε, τὸν δὲ νοῦν ἥϲϲων τότε.

ΧΡ. ἄϲκει τοιαύτη νοῦν διʼ αἰῶνοϲ μένειν.

ΗΛ. ὡϲ οὐχὶ ϲυνδράϲουϲα νουθετεῖϲ τάδε.

1025

ΧΡ. εἰκὸϲ γὰρ ἐγχειροῦντα καὶ πράϲϲειν κακῶϲ.

ΗΛ. ζηλῶ
ϲε τοῦ νοῦ, τῆϲ δὲ δειλίαϲ ϲτυγῶ.

LINE 1021
εἴθ᾿ ὤφελες
fusion of two constructions: εἴθε [ἦσθα] and ὤφελες εἶναι (S #1780, 1781; GMT #734). Kells: “Would that such and such a thing had happened”

+γνώμην
acc. of respect (S #1608; SS 43 §14)

+πατρὸς +*θνῄσκοντος
temporal genit. absolute (S #2070f) > ‘If only you had been of such mind [of such nature (+τοιάδε) in respect to your mind] when our father was murdered’

κατ- εργάζομαι

(aor.1 mid. 2sg.) effect, accomplish (ἄν with indic. for potential past action: S #1784; GMT #243– 44); >

‘ you could have achieved anything’; [1 × El.]

ἦ
for ἦν 1sg. impf. of +*εἰμί (S #768)

+φύσιν . . . τὸν +νοῦν
accs. of respect (S #1608; SS 43 §14)

ἥσσων

(comparative of κακός) weaker, inferior (S #319.2) > ‘by nature I was [the same] but in my understanding I was weaker then’; [1× El. ]

+ἄσκει

(pres. impv. act.) with infinitive: practice

+τοιοῦτος, - αύτη, - οῦτο
such, of such kind, such as this ( correption, cf. 35, 1001, 1338); > ‘practice so as always to remain of such understanding (νοῦν acc. of respect)’

LINE 1025
συν- +*δράω

[ᾱ] (fut. ptc.) do together (circumstantial autonomous ptc. [i.e., expresses attendant or underlying circumstance: SS 250 §1, 251 §3], replaces finite verb συνδράσεις, hence the negation οὐ. SS 331 §8.b: “you give advice as one not intending to share the deed [i.e., ‘implying that you will not . . .’]”) νουθετέω

(νοῦς, τίθημι) bring to mind, warn, admonish, advise
ἐν- χειρέω

(ἐν, χείρ) take in hand, undertake (+εἰκός [ἐστι] ‘it is likely’ + inf., πράσσειν κακῶς and its subject ἐγχειροῦντα); > ‘For, it is likely that one who embarks upon/ undertakes it, should even (καί) fare badly’; Campbell: “the masculine gender of the participle and the present tense of the infinitive give generality to the expression”; [1× Soph.]

ζηλόω

(ζῆλος, emulation, envy) envy, admire, commend; [1× El. ]

δειλία, ἡ
cowardice, timidity (τοῦ νοῦ and δειλίας genits. of cause after verbs of indicating emotion. SS 71 §34: “I admire you for your prudence, but loathe you for your cowardice”) στῠγέω
loathe, hate; [1× El. ]

158

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΡ.

ἀνέξομαι κλύουϲα χὤταν εὖ λέγῃϲ.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ οὔ ποτʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ γε μὴ πάθῃϲ τόδε.

ΧΡ. μακρὸϲ τὸ κρῖναι ταῦτα χὠ λοιπὸϲ χρόνοϲ.

1030

ΗΛ. ἄπελθε·
ϲοὶ γὰρ ὠφέληϲιϲ οὐκ ἔνι.

ΧΡ. ἔνεϲτιν· ἀλλὰ ϲοὶ μάθηϲιϲ οὐ πάρα.

ΗΛ. ἐλθοῦϲα μητρὶ ταῦτα πάντʼ ἔξειπε ϲῇ.

ΧΡ. οὐδʼ αὖ τοϲοῦτον ἔχθοϲ ἐχθαίρω ϲʼ ἐγώ.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ οὖν ἐπίϲτω γʼ οἷ μʼ ἀτιμίαϲ ἄγειϲ.

1035

ΧΡ. ἀτιμίαϲ μὲν οὔ, προμηθίαϲ δὲ ϲοῦ.

ΗΛ. τῷ
ϲῷ δικαίῳ δῆτʼ ἐπιϲπέϲθαι με δεῖ;

ΧΡ.

ὅταν γὰρ εὖ φρονῇϲ, τόθʼ ἡγήϲῃ ϲὺ νῷν.

LINE 1028
ἀν- +*έχω
mid.: to endure, allow (with supplem. ptc. +κλύουσα, after verb of enduring [SS 260 §12a]); > ‘I will endure hearing [this]’

καὶ ὅταν εὖ +λέγῃς
ἄν with subjv. in fut. indefinite temporal clause (S #2399, 1768; SS 294 §4); > ‘also when you speak well of me’

+*πάθῃς

(πάσχω, aor.2 subjv.) οὐ . . . μή with aor. subjv. for strong denial. Cf. +*γιγνώσκω 43n; > ‘you will never experience that [i.e., praise] from me’

+*κρῖναι
articular infinitive as epexegetic after an adjective (SS 248 §12; GMT #795); > ‘the future is long enough to decide that’

ἀπ- +*έρχομαι

(ἄπελθε, aor.2 impv.) go away; [1× El. ]

ὠφέλησις, ἡ

(ὠφελέω) helping, aiding; advantage; [1× El. ]

ἔνι

= +ἔν- εστι + dat.; πάρα = +πάρ- εστι (S #175b)

μάθησις, ἡ

(μαθεῖν) act of learning (the antithetical attitudes are reflected in the two - σις nouns: ὠφέλησις and μάθησις); > ‘I do have (help) in me, but you are unable to learn’; [1 × El.]

LINE 1033

+ἐξ- *εῖπον

(aor.2 act. impv.) tell of (σῇ emphatic at the end of the line and sentence) ἔχθος, τό
hatred (with +ἐχθαίρω cognate accusative: S #1564; SS 35 §2; double accusative: ἔχθος and σέ: S #1620, SS 41 §10) > ‘On the contrary, I don’t hate you as much as that’; [1× El. ]

ἀλλ᾿ οὖν . . . γε
well, at least (see 233n)

+ἐπίστω

= ἐπίστασο (pres. impv. mid.) know how; > ‘Well, at least know. . .’

+οἷ
hither, how far (S #346. Often with genit.)

ἀ- τῑμία, ἡ
disgrace (genit. partitive of an abstract noun following οἷ: SS 58 §10. Cf. γνώμης following ὅποι at 922); > ‘to what point of disgrace you are bringing me.’ (The following genitives ἀτιμίας and προμηθίας are adopted from the previous line. σοῦ objective genit.: S #1331; SS 53 §4); > ‘not of dishonor but of concern for you’; [1 × El.]

LINE 1036

+δῆτα (pcl.)

really (emphatic: S #2851; GP 269– 79)

ἐφ- +*έπομαι, - εσπόμην

(ἐπισπέσθαι, aor. stem σπ- , aor.2 inf. mid.) comply with

+δίκαιος (3/ 2)

right, righteous, just (substantivial use of article with adj.; i.e., attributive adjs. together with the article are often used as nouns: S #1021, 1153a; SS 163 §1. The neuter expresses a general abstract idea: S #1023)

+δεῖ
quasi- impersonal verb; i.e., its subject may be derived from the context (S #933b); ‘is it necessary that I . . .’; > ‘Really, do I have to comply with what is right in your eyes?’

159

Commentary 1039–1057

ΗΛ.

ἦ δεινὸν εὖ λέγουϲαν ἐξαμαρτάνειν.

ΧΡ. εἴρηκαϲ ὀρθῶϲ ᾧ ϲὺ πρόϲκειϲαι κακῷ.

1040

ΗΛ.

τί δʼ; οὐ δοκῶ ϲοι ταῦτα ϲὺν δίκῃ λέγειν;

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ ἔϲτιν ἔνθα χἠ δίκη βλάβην φέρει.

ΗΛ. τούτοιϲ ἐγὼ ζῆν τοῖϲ νόμοιϲ οὐ βούλομαι.

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ εἰ ποήϲειϲ ταῦτʼ, ἐπαινέϲειϲ ἐμέ.

ΗΛ.

καὶ μὴν ποήϲω γʼ οὐδὲν ἐκπλαγεῖϲά ϲε.

1045

ΧΡ.

καὶ τοῦτʼ ἀληθέϲ, οὐδὲ βουλεύϲῃ πάλιν;

ΗΛ. βουλῆϲ γὰρ οὐδέν ἐϲτιν ἔχθιον κακῆϲ.

ΧΡ.

φρονεῖν ἔοικαϲ οὐδὲν ὧν ἐγὼ λέγω.

ΗΛ.

πάλαι δέδοκται ταῦτα κοὐ νεωϲτί μοι.

ἡγέομαι

(ἡγήσῃ, aor.1 subjv. 2sg.) lead (ὅταν +φρονῇς . . . ἡγήσῃ indefinite temporal clause for a single occurrence in the future. See ὅταν εὖ +λέγῃς 1028n); > ‘Yes; when you think sensibly, you’ll lead us both’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1039

+ἦ
asseverative (prepositive) pcl.: in truth, in sooth, verily (S #2864) ἐξ- *ᾰμαρτάνω
mistake utterly (ἐξ), err greatly (the inf., ἐξαμαρτάνειν, is the subject of δεινόν [ἐστί]); > ‘It is really terrible when a person who speaks so well is so off the mark’; [1× El. ]

+πρός- +κειμαι
be attached to (with dat.: κακῷ; the antecedent, κακῷ, is attracted into the case of the relative: ᾧ, should have been κακόν)

+ὀρθῶς (adv.)

(+ὀρθός) accurately, truthfully; > ‘You’ve described accuratel y the evil to which you are attached’

τί δ᾿
what?

+ἔνθᾰ (adv.)

when; > ‘But there is/ exists (ἔστι) a time when even (καί) justice brings harm (+βλάβη)’

LINE 1043
ἐκ- *πλήσσω

(ἐκπλαγεῖσα, aor.2 pass. ptc.) strike out; aor. pass.: be panic- stricken (with acc. on analogy of a non-passive verb; e.g., φοβοῦμαι with acc.: SS 38 §8); > ‘And indeed (καὶ μὴν) I will do it, not being alarmed/
scared by you’; [1× El. ]

ἀληθής, ές

(ἀ privat., λήθω, escape notice) truthful, sincere; ; > ‘Is that really so? Will you not consider/ think again?’

LINE 1047
βουλή, ἡ
counsel, advice (genit. of comparison: S #1431; SS 69 §32); [1× El. ]

ἐχθίων, ον

(irregular comparative of +ἐχθρός); > ‘For there is nothing more loathsome than bad advice’

+ἔοικας

‘ You do not seem to take account of anything I say’

+*δέδοκται

(δοκέω, pf. indic. mid.- pass.) with dat. of agent, μοι
νεωστί (adv.)

(νέος) lately, just now, recently (as opposed to +πάλαι); > ‘(These things have been decided by me =) I made up my mind long ago, not just now’; [1× Soph.]

160

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

[ΧΡ. ἄπειμι τοίνυν· οὔτε γὰρ ϲὺ τἄμʼ ἔπη

1050
τολμᾷϲ ἐπαινεῖν οὔτʼ ἐγὼ τοὺϲ ϲοὺϲ τρόπουϲ.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ εἴϲιθʼ. οὔ ϲοι μὴ μεθέψομαί ποτε,
οὐδʼ ἢν ϲφόδρʼ ἱμείρουϲα τυγχάνῃϲ· ἐπεὶ
πολλῆϲ ἀνοίαϲ καὶ τὸ θηρᾶϲθαι κενά.]

ΧΡ. ἀλλʼ εἰ ϲεαυτῇ τυγχάνειϲ δοκοῦϲά τι

1055
φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦθʼ· ὅταν γὰρ ἐν κακοῖϲ
ἤδη βεβήκῃϲ, τἄμʼ ἐπαινέϲειϲ ἔπη.

Lloyd- Jones and Wilson excise lines 1050– 1054 (1990: 92) and Dawe (1973: 191– 92) places a lacuna after 1052 and gives 1053– 57
to Chr. For a summary of views, see Finglass on lines. A playwright might not necessarily wish his characters to sound ‘logical’ or to avoid repetition in a heated conversation.

LINE 1050
ἄπ- ειμι

(ἀπό, εἶμι, S #773– 76) go away; > ‘ I shall go’; [1× El. ]

τολμάω
undergo, endure, venture, risk (followed by a complementary infinitive ἐπαινεῖν: SS 239 §4); > ‘. . . neither can you bring yourself to praise my words, nor can I (approve] your ways (+τρόπους)’

μεθ- +*έπω

(μεθέψομαι, fut. mid.) follow, search for (the mid. of this vb. is not found until the imperial period: Finglass. Notice that El. tends to use rare forms of verbs, see πείσθητι 996n. What impact could this have on the audience? οὐ μή with fut. indic. of 1st and 3rd pers. denotes negative prediction with strong denial: ‘I will never follow you’: S #2755b, GMT #294– 95); [1× Soph.]

σφόδρα (adv.)

very much, exceedingly; [1× El. ]

ἱμείρω

(ἵμερος, longing) long for, yearn for (supplem. ptc. ἱμείρουσα with τυγχάνω: S #2096a; GMT #887; SS

261 §12f . ἤν [= ἐάν] τυγχάνῃς, protasis of future more vivid condition: S #2297); > ‘not even if you you’d like me to very much . . .’; [1 × El.]

ἄνοια, ἡ

(ἄ- νοος, without understanding) lack of understanding (genit. of definition: SS 55 §5) θηράω
hunt, chase (articular inf. as nom. taking an object: κενά: SS 246 §11. The article makes the inf. more prominent as a noun: GMT #789. The preceding καί marks a descending climax. Difficult to translate: GP 293 IIA2); > ‘since it is completely senseless to chase after nothing’ or ‘since chasing after nothing is completely senseless’; [1× El.]

LINE 1055
τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσα
supplemen. ptc. with τυγχάνω (S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261 §12f). τυγχάνεις picks up from τυγχάνῃς
of 1053 (Kells)

φρονεῖν, φρόνει

(φρόνει, pres. impv.) Repetition of words derived form the same root but with different endings is favored, but difficult to effect in translation; > ‘If you (happen to think =) think you are showing any sense, then (think =) go ahead with this sort of sense’

ὅταν . . . +*βεβήκῃς
temporal clause; see ὅταν εὖ +λέγῃς 1028n. For the perfect +*βέβηκα, see 979n. SS 198 §18: “when you are in a state of misfortune”

161

Commentary 1058–1077

ΧΟ.

τί τοὺϲ ἄνωθεν φρονιμωτάτουϲ οἰωνοὺϲ
στρ. α’

ἐϲορώμενοι τροφᾶϲ κη-

δομένουϲ ἀφʼ ὧν τε βλάϲτω-

1060
ϲιν ἀφʼ ὧν τʼ ὄνηϲιν εὕρω-
ϲι, τάδʼ οὐκ ἐπʼ ἴϲαϲ τελοῦμεν;
ἀλλʼ οὐ τὰν Διὸϲ ἀϲτραπὰν
καὶ τὰν οὐρανίαν Θέμιν
δαρὸν οὐκ ἀπόνητοι.

1065

Chrysothemis exits through the palace doors (she will never reemerge). Electra remains as she was, close to the palace doors.

SECOND STASIMON, LINES 1058– 1097

The second Choral song takes place after Chrysothemis enters the palace. Electra remains at the entrance to the palace as the Chorus sing and dance in the orchestra. The strong support the Chorus express for Electra here is very different from the caution they had recommended earlier, both in lines 990– 991 and in their first encounter with Electra.

The stasimon consists of two strophic pairs with no epode. Both strophes begin with a comment of general application and turn to a specific situation in the antistrophe. Basing its argument on the conduct of birds toward their parents, the first strophic pair, 1058–

1069, focuses on the correct forms of filial piety. Birds’ care for their parents is contrasted with human negligence. Electra’s devotion is thus praised. The second pair, 1070– 1097, states in the beginning that no noble man consents to sully his name, and goes on to portray Electra’s choice as right, although she lives a life of suffering.

FIRST STROPHE, Lines 1058– 1069

LINE 1058
ἄνωθεν (adv.)

(ἄνω, upward) from above; [1× El. ]

φρόνῐμος, ον

(φρονέω) sensible wise, prudent; [1× El. ]

οἰωνός, ὁ
a (solitary) bird (especially a bird of prey); [1× El. ]

κήδομαι
take care of, be concerned for (with genit. τροφᾶς = τροφῆς)

+*βλάστωσιν . . . +*εὕρωσι

(βλαστάνω, εὑρίσκω, aor.2 subjv.) generalizing subjvs. in relative clause without ἄν, the reference “not being to any particular thing, but to any, or all” (SS 225– 26 §12). Cf. +*τέκῃ 771n ὄνεσις, εως, ἡ

(ὀνίνημι, profit) profit, advantage; [1× El. ]

ἀφ᾿ ὧν . . . ἀφ᾿ ὧν
supply τούτων as antecedent. The repetition “lends urgency to the words” (Kamerbeek); > ‘Why when we see the most wise birds above solicitous for the feeding [of those] from whom they sprang and from whom they benefited’

ἐπ᾿ +ἴσας
i.e., μοίρας, equal shares, equal portions/ duties

+τελοῦμεν

(τελέω) ‘do we not fulfill in equal measure?’

LINE 1063
ἀστρᾰπή, ἡ
lightning (before τὰν Διὸς ἀστραπάν and τὰν . . . Θέμιν asseverative μά with acc. of divinity is understood: S #1596b, 2894); [1× El. ]

οὐράνιος (3/ 2)

heavenly; [1× El. ]

Θέμις, ἡ
goddess of law and order, Justice
δᾱρόν (adv.)

(Doric = δηρόν) all too long; [1× El. ]

ἀ- πόνητος, ον

(ἀ privat., πονέω, toil) without trouble; > ‘No, by the lightening of Zeus, and by heavenly Themis, trouble won’t be long in coming’; [1× Soph.]

162

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ὦ χθονία βροτοῖϲι φάμα,
κατά μοι βόαϲον οἰκτρὰν
ὄπα τοῖϲ ἔνερθʼ Ἀτρείδαιϲ,
ἀχόρευτα φέρουϲʼ ὀνείδη.

ὅτι ϲφὶν ἤδη τὰ μὲν ἐκ δόμων νοϲεῖται,
ἀντ. α’

τὰ δὲ πρὸϲ τέκνων διπλῆ φύ-

1071
λοπιϲ οὐκέτʼ ἐξιϲοῦται
φιλοταϲίῳ διαίτᾳ.

πρόδοτοϲ δὲ μόνα ϲαλεύει
ἁ παῖϲ, οἶτον ἀεὶ πατρὸϲ

1075
δειλαία ϲτενάχουϲʼ ὅπωϲ
ἁ πάνδυρτοϲ ἀηδών,

LINE 1066
χθόνιος (3/ 2)

(+χθών) below the earth

+βροτοῖσι
ethical dat./ of feeling, denoting the interest of the speaker (S #1486; SS 82– 83 §6); ‘on behalf of the mortals’

φάμα

(Doric) = +φήμη
κατα- +*βοάω

(βόασον, aor.1 impv. act.) cry down ( tmesis. μοι ethical dat./ of feeling; see 1066n; ‘on my behalf’); [1× Soph.]

+οἰκτρός (3)

pitiable, lamentable
ὄψ, ὀπός, ἡ
voice, discourse, word; [1× Soph.]

ἔνερθε
from beneath; [1× El. ]

Ἀτρείδης, ὁ
son of Atreus (– ιδης patronymic: S #845.4)

ἀ- χόρευτος, ον

(ἀ privat., χορεύω, dance) not attended by dance, joyless (for the Chorus, lack of dance is an indication of sadness); [1× Soph.]

ὄνειδος, τό
reproach, dishonor; > ‘Oh rumor who goes beneath the earth, on behalf of mortals send down to Atreus’

sons a pitiful cry, (on my behalf =) I pray you, carrying a joyless report of dishonor’; [1× El. ]

FIRST ANTISTROPHE, Lines 1070– 1081

LINE 1070
σφίν

[ῐ] dat. pl. of σφεῖς, 3rd pers. they; ‘their’ (dat. of possess.: S #1480; SS 83- 4) τὰ . . . ἐκ +δόμων
the article makes into a noun a preposition and its case (S #1153c); >‘the tidings that come out of their house,’ i.e., ‘what relates to their house.’ The parallel is τὰ πρὸς . . . +τέκνων, ‘ things on the children’s side’

νοσέω

(νόσος, sickness) to be sick; [1× El. ]

φύλοπις, ἡ

[ῡ] battle cry, battle; [1× Soph.]

φιλοτήσιος (3)

(φιλότης, friendship) of friendship, of love; [1× Soph.]

δίαιτα, ἡ
way of life; > ‘that now their house is sick, and a double battle cry between the children is no longer moderated by loving behavior’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1074
πρό- δοτος, ον

(προ- δίδωμι, betray) betrayed, abandoned
σᾰλεύω
move to and fro, roll or toss like a ship; [1× El. ]

οἶτος, ὁ
ill fate, lot, doom
πάν- δυρτος, ον
poetic for πανόδυρτος (πᾶς, ὀδυρτός, mourned) all- lamentable, all- plaintive; [1× Soph.]

163

Commentary 1078–1097
οὔτε τι τοῦ θανεῖν προμηθὴϲ
τό τε μὴ βλέπειν ἑτοίμα,
διδύμαν ἑλοῦϲʼ Ἐρινύν.

1080
τίϲ ἂν εὔπατριϲ ὧδε βλάϲτοι;
οὐδεὶϲ τῶν ἀγαθῶν 〈ἂν 〉

στρ. β’

ζῶν κακῶϲ εὔκλειαν αἰϲχῦναι θέλοι
νώνυμοϲ, ὦ παῖ παῖ·
ὡϲ καὶ ϲὺ πάγκλαυτον αἰ-

1085
ῶνα κλεινὸν εἵλου,
ἄκοϲ καλὸν καθοπλίϲα-
ϲα δύο φέρειν

〈ἐν 〉

ἑνὶ λόγῳ,
ϲοφά τʼ ἀρίϲτα τε παῖϲ κεκλῆϲθαι.

ἀηδών, ἡ, Attic ὁ,

[ᾰ] genit.: ἀηδόνος/ ἀηδοῦς; (ἀείδω, sing) singer, songstress, i.e., the nightingale; > ‘But the daughter betrayed, all alone tosses like a ship at sea, miserable forever lamenting the fate of her father, like the ever- plaintive nightingale’

LINE 1078
προ- μηθής, ές

(προ, μῆτις, wisdom) fore- thinking, cautious (with genit. of articular inf. τοῦ θανεῖν: S #2032; SS 248–

49 §13; GMT #798); > ‘( Does not consider=) Reckless of death’; [1× Soph.]

ἑτοῖμος (3)

ready (τὸ . . . μὴ +βλέπειν not seeing [the light] equals +θανεῖν, see 66n on δέρκομαι. For the articular infinitive, see τὸ κρῖναι 1030n); [1× El. ]

οὔτε . . . τε

‘ both reckless of death . . . and ready to. . . .’ (LSJ 4)

+*ἑλοῦσα

(αἱρέω, aor.2 ptc. act. fem.) participle expresses condition’s protasis: ἂν [μόνον] ἕλῃ διδύμαν Ἐρινύν; >

‘reckless of death and ready not to see [the light], if [ only] she could overcome the twin Erinys/ Fury’

δίδῠμος (3)

[ῐ] twin; double +Ἐρῑνυς refers to Clyt, and Aeg.; [1× El. ]

εὔ-πᾰτρις, ιδος, ὁ/ἡ

(εὖ, πατήρ) nobly born, worthy of noble descent (now that Or. is thought to be dead, El. receives his epithet [162, 858]. ἂν βλάστοι potential optative); > ‘Who could be born so noble?’; [1× Soph.]

SECOND STROPHE, Lines 1082– 1089

LINE 1082

[ἄν]

deleted to restore strophic responsion
εὔ- κλειᾰ, ἡ
good fame, renown
νώνῠμος, ον

(νη- , ὄνυμα Aeolic for ὄνομα) without name, inglorious; > ‘No one of the nobility (genit. partitive) wants to shame a good reputation by living ingloriously, my child, my child’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1085
πάγ- κλαυτος, ον

(πᾶς, κλαίω, weep) all- lamented, most woeful; [1× El. ]

+*εἵλου

(aor.2 2sg.) mid. of +*αἱρέω: ‘choose’; > ‘Thus you have chosen a renowned life of tears’

ἄκος, τό
remedy; [1× El. ]

καθ- οπλίζω
equip, array fully; [1× El. ]

+*κεκλῆσθαι

(καλέω, perf. inf. pass.) final/ consecutive inf. after vb. of choosing (SS 237– 38 §2; GMT #770); > ‘having armed a noble remedy so as to be called at once (ἑνί λόγῳ, in one word) wise and the best daughter’

164

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ζῴηϲ μοι καθύπερθεν
ἀντ. β’

χειρὶ καὶ πλούτῳ τεῶν ἐχθρῶν ὅϲον

1091
νῦν ὑπόχειρ ναίειϲ·
ἐπεί ϲʼ ἐφηύρηκα μοί-
ρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐϲθλᾷ
βεβῶϲαν, ἃ δὲ μέγιϲτʼ ἔβλα-

1095
ϲτε νόμιμα, τῶνδε φερομέναν
ἄριϲτα τᾷ Ζηνὸϲ εὐϲεβείᾳ.

SECOND ANTISTROPHE, Lines 1090– 1097

LINE 1090

+*ζῴης
optative of wish without introductory particle (SS 232 §15; GMT 721– 22). With dat. μοι, ethical/ of feeling (S #1486; SS 82– 83 §6); > ‘ May you live, I pray’

καθ- ύπερθε(ν) (adv.)

[ῠ] + genit. (τέων +ἐχθρῶν) above, over; [1× Soph.]

+χειρὶ καὶ +πλούτῳ
dat. of means (S #1507a; SS 88– 89 §16)

ὑπο- χείρ, ὁ/ ἡ
under control/ command; [1× Soph.]

+ναίω
dwell; > ‘May you live, I pray, as much above your enemies in power and possessions, as now you dwell beneath them’

LINE 1092
ἐφ- +*ευρίσκω

(ἐφηύρηκα, pf. act.) detect, discover (ἐπεί opens causal clause of independent status: SS 304. σε . . .

βεβῶσαν, see 979n)

μοῖρα, ἡ
fate; > ‘I’ve found you placed/ living in no happy fate’

νόμῐμος (3)

substantival use of adjective without article (SS 163 §1). Neut. pl.: customs, laws; [1× El. ]

+εὐσεβείᾳ

Kamerbeek: “In a less emotional style: τὰ δὲ μέγιστα νόμιμα τὰ τοῦ Διὸς σέβουσαν, ἄριστα σ᾿ ἐφηύρηκα
φερομένην.” τῶνδε, genit. of cause, is ‘postcedent,’ i.e., the relative clause precedes it (S #2541); > ‘and yet with respect to the greatest laws that have arisen, (I’ve found you) winning the highest prize/ noblest renown (ἄριστα) by your piety toward Zeus, on account of [your observance of] these (τῶνδε)’

165

Commentary 1098–1114

ΟΡ. ἆρʼ, ὦ γυναῖκεϲ, ὀρθά τʼ εἰϲηκούϲαμεν
ὀρθῶϲ θʼ ὁδοιποροῦμεν ἔνθα χρῄζομεν;

ΧΟ.

τί δʼ ἐξερευνᾷϲ καὶ τί βουληθεὶϲ πάρει;

1100

ΟΡ. Αἴγιϲθον ἔνθʼ ᾤκηκεν ἱϲτορῶ πάλαι.

ΧΟ. ἀλλʼ εὖ θʼ ἱκάνειϲ χὠ φράϲαϲ ἀζήμιοϲ.

ΟΡ. τίϲ οὖν ἂν ὑμῶν τοῖϲ ἔϲω φράϲειεν ἂν
ἡμῶν ποθεινὴν κοινόπουν παρουϲίαν;

Orestes, Pylades, and at least two attendants enter through one of the side entrances. One attendant carries a small bronze urn. All the party are disguised as Phocians. The audience, having seen them at the start of the play, know who they are, but the Chorus do not.

FOURTH EPISODE, 1098– 1383

The Fourth Episode is divided into two scenes: Scene A, lines 1098– 1287, and Scene B, lines 1288– 1383.

Scene A divides further into two: (1) lines 1098– 1231: The news brought by the newcomers deepens Electra’s misery. She sings a heart- wrenching lament over the urn that supposedly contains the ashes of her brother. This is one of the most memorable expressions of sorrow in Greek literature. Aulus Gellius ( Attic Nights 6.5) tells a story about the actor Polus (4th century bce) returning to the Athenian stage after the loss of his son, and reciting Electra’s lament while holding the ashes of his own son. Electra’s grief impels Orestes to reveal himself to her. (2) Lines 1232– 1287: A joyful reunion sung in a duet between Electra and Orestes, in which Electra sings in a variety of lyric meters expressing her intense excitement, while Orestes mainly responds in spoken iambic trimeters, indicating his cool rationality (see Roisman 2000). In Scene B Electra, Orestes, and the Tutor converse as they prepare themselves for their revenge.

Scene A: (1) Lines 1098– 1231

LINE 1098

+ἆρα
interrogative pcl. indicating anxiety and impatience (LSJ 1; GP 46) which are further emphasized by the illogicality of the question: Or. wants to know if he is on the right path without telling the Chorus where he wants to go.

+ὀρθά

(neut. acc. pl.) adverbial acc. (SS 41 §12). The follοwing adv. ὀρθῶς emphasizes the concern further.

ὁδοιπορέω
travel, journey; > ‘Ladies, did we hear it right, are we traveling in the right way to where we need to go?’; [1× El. ]

ἐξ- ερευνάω
search out, look for; > ‘What are you looking for? And what do you want here [= and you are here wanting what]?’ [1× El. ]

ἱστορέω
learn by inquiry, question, inquire
οἰκέω, ᾤκηκα

(pf. indic. act.) inhabit; intransitive: live, dwell; > ‘I’ve been asking all along about Aeg., where he has fixed his abode (pf., i.e., lives now)’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1102
ἵκάνω
come (lengthened form of ἵκω, found in Epic and Lyric poetry, sometimes in Tragedy) ἀ- ζήμιος, ον

(ἀ privat., ζημία, punishment) without loss, scot- free, without punishment; [1 × El.]

+*φράσας

(φράζω, aor.1 ptc. act.) ὁ φράσας, articular substant. ptc. (S #2050– 2052; S 257– 58 §9; GMT #825); >

‘the man who guided you deserves no blame’

τοῖς ἔσω
substantival use of article with an adverb ( S #1153 e; SS 151 §19) ‘to those inside’. +*φράσειεν ἄν: aor.1, potential optative for polite request: ‘Could one of you report . . . ?’ (S #1824; SS 231 §14) ποθεινός (2/ 3)

(ποθέω) desired (ambiguous: desired by Clyt. and Aeg., but also by Or. [1× El. ]

κοινό- πους, ὁ/ ἡ

(κοινός, ποῦς) with common foot, of persons all together; [1× Soph.]

ἡμῶν . . . +παρ- ουσίαν
ἡμῶν subjective genit. (S #1330; SS 53 §4); > ‘of the desired presence of the two of us’

166

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΟ. ἥδʼ, εἰ τὸν ἄγχιϲτόν γε κηρύϲϲειν χρεών.

1105

ΟΡ. ἴθʼ, ὦ γύναι, δήλωϲον εἰϲελθοῦϲʼ ὅτι

Φωκῆϲ ματεύουϲʼ ἄνδρεϲ Αἴγιϲθόν τινεϲ.

ΗΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ, οὐ δή ποθʼ ἧϲ ἠκούϲαμεν
φήμηϲ φέροντεϲ ἐμφανῆ τεκμήρια;

ΟΡ.

οὐκ οἶδα τὴν ϲὴν κληδόνʼ· ἀλλά μοι γέρων

1110
ἐφεῖτʼ Ὀρέϲτου Ϲτροφίοϲ ἀγγεῖλαι πέρι.

ΗΛ.

τί δʼ ἔϲτιν, ὦ ξένʼ; ὥϲ μʼ ὑπέρχεται φόβοϲ.

ΟΡ. φέροντεϲ αὐτοῦ ϲμικρὰ λείψανʼ ἐν βραχεῖ
τεύχει θανόντοϲ, ὡϲ ὁρᾷϲ, κομίζομεν.

LINE 1105
ἄγχιστος (2)

(superlative of ἄγχι, adv., near) nearest relative (for masc. gender see πάσχοντι 771n); [1 × El.]

κηρύσσω
proclaim, announce

+χρεών

(indecl.) copula (ἐστί) omitted after expression of necessity with inf. (S #944b); > ‘This lady, if the closest relative is the one who should announce it’

+δήλωσον

(δηλόω, aor.1 impv. act.) verb of declaring following by ὅτι introducing clause that is objectively factual.

SS 313 §1: “go in and report that men from Phocis are looking for Aeg.”

+*εἰσελθοῦσα

(εἰσέρχομαι, aor.2 act. ptc.) ‘having gone in declare that . . .’

+Φωκῆς . . . ἄνδρες . . . τινες Does the hyperbaton bring “an off- hand, aloof effect?” as Kells suggests?

μᾰτεύω
seek, search after; [1× El. ]

LINE 1108
οὐ δή
following by ποτε introduces in Soph. and Herodotus “a surprised or incredulous question” (GP 223ii; Finglass); “ ‘Surely not . . .?’ ‘You don’t mean . . .?” ’

ἧς . . . +φήμης
antecedent reserved for the main clause, which follows the relative clause (S #2541).

ἐμ- φᾰνής, ές

(φαίνω) visible, manifest; > ‘surely you are not bringing concrete proofs of the rumor we’ve heard?’

κληδών, όνος, ἡ
rumor; reputation, glory; Why does Soph. have Or. use a synonym and not repeat his sister’s noun φήμη?; [1× El. ]

+ἐφ- *εῖτο

(ἐφίημι, aor.2 ind. mid.) middle: command (with dat., μοι, that follows verbs of command: SS 83 §7) πέρι

= περί, anastrophe.

Στρόφιος, ὁ

Strophius is a Phocian. Father of Pylades, to whose house El. sent Or. after Ag.’s murder. [1× El. ]

LINE 1112

+ὥς
exclamatory: how (S #2682a)

ὑπ- έρχομαι
steal over, come upon; > ‘What is it, stranger? How fear comes over me!’

+σμῑκρός (3)

= μῑκρός; small, little, trivial, insignificant
λείψᾰνον, τό

(+*λείπω) pl.: remnants, remains; [1× Soph.]

τεῦχος, εος, τό
a vessel of any kind
κομίζω
bring, provide (note the two instances of hyperbaton: φέροντες . . . κομίζομεν and αὐτοῦ . . . θανόντος); >

‘He is dead, and as you see we bring the scanty remains, carrying them in a small urn’; [1× El. ]

167

Commentary 1115–1135

ΗΛ. οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα, τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ, ἤδη ϲαφέϲ·

1115
πρόχειρον ἄχθοϲ, ὡϲ ἔοικε, δέρκομαι.

ΟΡ.

εἴπερ τι κλαίειϲ τῶν Ὀρεϲτείων κακῶν,
τόδʼ ἄγγοϲ ἴϲθι ϲῶμα τοὐκείνου ϲτέγον.

ΗΛ.

ὦ ξεῖνε, δόϲ νυν πρὸϲ θεῶν, εἴπερ τόδε
κέκευθεν αὐτὸν τεῦχοϲ, ἐϲ χεῖραϲ λαβεῖν,

1120
ὅπωϲ ἐμαυτὴν καὶ γένοϲ τὸ πᾶν ὁμοῦ
ξὺν τῇδε κλαύϲω κἀποδύρωμαι ϲποδῷ.

ΟΡ. δόθʼ, ἥτιϲ ἐϲτί, προϲφέροντεϲ· οὐ γὰρ ὡϲ
ἐν δυϲμενείᾳ γʼ οὖϲʼ ἐπαιτεῖται τόδε,
ἀλλʼ ἢ φίλων τιϲ, ἢ πρὸϲ αἵματοϲ φύϲιν.

1125

LINE 1115
οἴ
exclamation of pain; here with nom. οἴ ’γώ— aphaeresis.

τοῦτ᾿ ἐκεῖν᾿

‘that is it’ (Finglass: “as an independent sense- unit is a colloquialism”) πρό- χειρος, ον

(πρό, χείρ) at hand, close; handy, ready

+ἄχθος, - εος, τό
burden, load of grief; > ‘it seems I see a burden ready to be grasped’

ἄγγος, εος, τό
a vessel of any kind; [1× El. ]

στέγω

(pres. ptc. act. neut.) hide, conceal, shroud; (τόδε ἄγγος . . . στέγον acc. and ptc. structure in indirect discourse following ἴσθι: S #2123, 2139); > ‘If indeed (+εἴπερ) you weep about anything (τι) of the misfortunes of Or., know that this small urn conceals his body’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1119

+*δός

(δίδωμι, aor.2 impv.) give (answered by δόθ᾿ [pl.] in 1123)

κεύθω
cover up, hide, conceal; > if this vessel really holds him’

ἀπο- δύρομαι

[ῡ] (pres. subjv.) lament bitterly (with aor. subjv., κλαύσω, final clause in primary sequence, δός. Impv.

moods count as primary because they point to the fut.: S #2196, 1858a); > ‘ so that with these ashes here I may weep and bitterly lament for myself and all my family together’; [1× Soph.]

τῇδε . . . +σποδῷ
the slight hyperbaton “gives dignity and finality to her lines” (Kells) LINE 1123
προσ- +*φέρω
bring to
δυσ- μένεια, ἡ

(δυσ- , μένος) ill will, enmity (ἐν δυσ- μενείᾳ, prep. + dat. denote situation in which the action takes place: SS 106 §8). +*οὖσα (+*εἰμί, pres. ptc.); > ‘Take it and give it [to her], whoever she is, for not as if she [being] were (in enmity =) a hostile person she asks or it’.

ἐπ- αιτέω
ask, solicit; [1× El. ]

αἷμα, ατος, τό
blood (+φύσιν, acc. of respect/ adverbial); > ‘but as someone of his friends, or one of his blood by nature. ’

168

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

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.

1130
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.

1135

LINE 1126
μνημεῖον, τό
memorial (it runs thus: ὦ μνημεῖον λοιπόν ψυχῆς Ὀρέστου, φιλτάτου ἀνθρώπων ἐμοὶ [ethical dat./ of feeling]); > ‘Oh last memento of Orestes’ life, for me the dearest of men’

ἐκ- +*πέμπω
send out, send forth;
εἰσ- +*δέχομαι
take into, admit; [1× El. ]

οὐχ ὧνπερ
relative attraction to the antecedent ἐλπίδων (S #2532) for αἷσπερ. Kamerbeek: οὐχ “repeats the negative notion in ἀπό”; > ‘how differently from the hopes with which I sent you away, have I received you back’

LINE 1131
πάροιθε(ν) (adv.)

formerly, erst, before
ὤφελον . . . +ἐκ- +*λιπεῖν
aor. inf. in unattainable wish for past time (S #1780, 1781; GMT #734). ὡς is less common than εἴθε; >

‘For now I hold you as nothingness (you being nothing) in my two hands, but, my child, I sent you forth from home (+δόμων, genit. following ἐξ έπεμψα) resplendent. Would that I had died before that moment. ’

ξένος (3)

foreign

+κλέπτω

(κλέψασα, aor.1 act. ptc.) steal
ἀνα- +*σῴζω, - έσωσα

(ἀνασώσασθαι, aor.1 inf. mid.) rescue (πρίν with the two infs. ‘before’: S #2431); > ‘ before I stole you with these two hands and sent you to a foreign land and saved you from murder’; [1× El. ]

ὅπως . . . +ἔκεισο

(κεῖμαι, impf. indic. 2sg.) secondary tenses of indic. are used in final clauses with ὅπως or ὡς to denote that the purpose depends upon some unaccomplished action or unfulfilled condition, and thus was not attained. Ιn this case, El.’s death before sending Orestes away (GMT #333); > ‘so that on that day (θανών, having died =) you’d have died and lain here’

*λαγχάνω

[χᾰ] (εἰληχώς, pf. act. ptc.) obtain by lot
μέρος, εος, τό
share, part; > ‘and had your portion in common (+κοινόν, i.e., with the rest of family) in your father’s grave’; [1× El. ]

169

Commentary 1136–1155
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,

1140
ἀλλʼ ἐν ξένηϲι 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

1145
μητρὸϲ ϲύ γʼ ἦϲθα μᾶλλον ἢ κἀμοῦ φίλοϲ,

LINE 1136
φῠγάς, αδος, ὁ

(+*φεύγω) fugitive, banished person

+*ἀπ- ώλου

(ἀπόλλῠμαι, aor.2 mid. 2sg.) perish, die
δίχᾰ (+ genit.)

(- ῐ- ) apart from
κοσμέω

(κόσμος, order) deck, adorn, dress (ἐν denotes the means: SS 107 §8); > ‘but, I, alas, did not dress you and wash you with loving hand s’

πάμ- φλεκτος, ον

(πᾶς, φλέγω, burn) all- consuming; all- blazing; [1× El. ]

ἀν- +*αιρέω, - ειλόμην

(aor.2) take up, lift, bear away; [1× El. ]

βάρος, εος, τό
weight, burden; > ‘nor did I take up the sad burden, from the all- consuming fire as would have been fitting (ὡς εἰκός)’

LINE 1141
κηδεύω

(κηδευθείς, aor.1 pass. ptc.) pay the last rites of the dead; > ‘but you, miserable one, had your last rites from alien (ξένησι = ξέναισι) hands’; [1× El. ]

ὄγκος, ὁ
bulk, weight (σμικρός . . . ὄγκος oxymoron: ‘small bulk’; [1× El. ]

κύτος, εος, τό

[ῠ] a hollow vessel, urn (σμικρὸς . . . σμικρῷ emphatic; polyptoton); > ‘you’ve arrived as small bulk in a small urn’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1143

+τροφῆς
genit. of cause used in exclamation (SS 71– 72 §35, S #1407)

ἀν- ωφέλητος, ον

(ἀ privat., ὠφελέω, help) fruitless, worthless; > ‘Oh miserable me for my fruitless nurture of you long ago’; [1 × El.]

θαμά (adv.)

often, ofttimes, frequently
τήν

= ἥν (the pronoun ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally demonstrative, appears occasionally in lyric and dialogue as a substitute for relative pronoun: SS 267 §6. Here probably to avoid immediate succession of two vowel sounds: ἀν- ωφέλητου ἣν)

γλῠκύς, εῖα,ύ
sweet; [1× El. ]

παρ- +*έχω, - έσχον

(aor.2) render, provide (sometimes aorist refers to an action of long duration or consisting of repeated acts over a period of time. Here with emphasis on its termination, unlike the following imperfects: ἦσθα, προσηυδώμην, in which “she wishes to dwell on the former state with remembrance”: SS 193 §13); [1× El. ]

οὔτε γάρ . . . φίλος

Kamerbeek: “you were not your mother’s darling more than (by implication ‘so much as’) mine.’ καί
stresses ἐμοῦ”

170

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
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,

1150
θύελλʼ ὅπωϲ, βέβηκαϲ. οἴχεται πατήρ·
τέθνηκʼ ἐγὼ ϲοί· φροῦδοϲ αὐτὸϲ εἶ θανών·
γελῶϲι δʼ ἐχθροι· μαίνεται δʼ ὑφʼ ἡδονῆϲ
μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ, ἧϲ ἐμοὶ ϲὺ πολλάκιϲ
φήμαϲ λάθρᾳ προὔπεμπεϲ ὡϲ φανούμενοϲ

1155

LINE 1147
οἱ κατ᾿ οἶκον
substantival use of article with a prep. (S #1153 c; SS 151–152 §20): ‘those in the house,’ i.e., servants from among whom a ‘nanny’ (τρόφος) would have been provided.

προσ- αυδάω

(impf. pass.) speak to, address (σοί, dat. of agent with προσηυδώμην or dat. of possession with τροφή, or both; > ‘but I was your nurse, always called sister by you’

συν- αρπάζω
carry off; [1× El. ]

θύελλα, ἡ

[ῡ] storm, whirlwind (+*βέβηκας; for the perfect, see 979n); > ‘now with your death, in one day all this is ended, like a whirlwind you are gone having snatched up everything’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1152
τέθνηκ᾿ ἐγὼ σοί
dat. of agent (S #1488; SS 85– 86 §12). +*θνῄσκω serves as pass. for +*κτείνω (LSJ 2); > ‘ I’ve been killed by you; you yourself are dead and gone (φροῦδος)’

μαίνω
be mad (usually poetic)

ἀμήτωρ, ορος
unmotherly (μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ, a well- known wordplay, which also prepares the stage for the upcoming

‘justified’ matricide); [1× Soph.]

ἧς
antecedent: μήτηρ. Either to be taken with λάθρᾳ ‘without whose knowledge you often sent me messages that you in person would come as an avenger’; or as a subject of φήμας and objective genit. of +τιμωρός

(LSJ I.2; S #1328; SS 52– 53 §4); > ‘about whom you often send me messages in secret, that you would come in person to punish’

πολλάκις (adv.)

many times, often
λάθρᾳ (adv.)

secretly (with genit.: without one’s knowledge); [1× El. ]

προ- πέμπω

(= προ- έπεμπες (impf.) send beforehand; [1× El. ]

+*φανούμενος

(φαίνομαι, fut. mid. ptc.) ὡς with future participle explaining the content of the +φήμας; > ‘that you would appear as an avenger’

171

Commentary 1156–1177
τιμωρὸϲ αὐτόϲ. ἀλλὰ ταῦθʼ ὁ δυϲτυχὴϲ
δαίμων ὁ ϲόϲ τε κἀμὸϲ ἐξαφείλετο,
ὅϲ ϲʼ ὧδέ μοι προὔπεμψεν ἀντὶ φιλτάτηϲ
μορφῆϲ ϲποδόν τε καὶ ϲκιὰν ἀνωφελῆ.

οἴμοι μοι.

1160
ὦ δέμαϲ οἰκτρόν. φεῦ φεῦ.

ὦ δεινοτάταϲ, οἴμοι μοι,
πεμφθεὶϲ κελεύθουϲ, φίλταθʼ, ὥϲ μʼ ἀπώλεϲαϲ·
ἀπώλεϲαϲ δῆτʼ, ὦ καϲίγνητον κάρα.

τοιγὰρ ϲὺ δέξαι μʼ ἐϲ τὸ ϲὸν τόδε ϲτέγοϲ ,

1165
τὴν μηδὲν ἐϲ 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.

1170

LINE 1156
ἐξ- αφ- +*αιρέω, - εῖλον

(ἐξαφείλετο, aor.2 mid.) mid: take away; > ‘took them away’ [1× Soph.]

προὔπεμψεν

= πρὸ ἔπεμψεν
μορφή, ἡ
shape, form, figure
σκῐά, ἡ
shade, shadow, phantom; [1× El. ]

ἀν- ωφελής, ές

(ἀ privat., ὠφελέω) useless; > ‘sent you to me in this way (as you are now) as ashes and useless shadow instead of your most beloved form; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1160
κέλευθος, ἡ
road, path; [1× El. ]

ὦ . . . φίλτατε
voc. following a participial phrase ὦ πεμφθείς in apposition to it (SS 30 §10). δεινοτάτας . . . κελεύθους
acc. of extent with verb of motion denoting area covered. SS 44 §15: “sent (implying ‘traveling on’) on a most dreadful journey (internal accusative).” I.e., from Crisa to Mycenae, coming back as dust.

+δῆτα (pcl.)

really, assuredly, in truth (S #2851) (echoes or endorses emphatically the speaker’s own words: GP

277.3 ); > ‘how you have destroyed me (+ἀπ- +*ώλεσας)! Yes, you’ve destroyed me for sure, dearest brother’

κασίγνητος (3)

brotherly, sisterly (κασίγνητον +κάρα intense metonymy for ‘dearest / my brother’; [1× El. ) LINE 1165
τοί- γαρ (pcl.)

so then, thus, therefore (usually first word in an iambic line GP 565– 66) στέγος, τό

=+στέγη, ἡ; house; > ‘Therefore, receive me (+*δέξαι, aor.1 impv. act.) into this [little] house of yours’; [1× El.]

τὴν μηδέν
μηδέν can be used indeclinably. τήν fem. article used for herself; > ‘nothing [i.e., herself] to nothing’

+κάτω
below (the earth) as opposed to +ἄνω above (the earth)

ὡς . . . +ναίω
subjv. in final clause in primary sequence, δέξαι; see δός 1119n μετ- +*έχω
partake of, have a share of + genit.; > ‘I shared with you equally in all things (= τῶν +ἴσων).’ τῶν: all-inclusive article (Kells); [1× El. ]

ποθέω
long for, yearn after (with complementary inf. ἀπο- +λείπεσθαι ‘be wanting’ with genit., τοῦ . . . +τάφου.

The latter embraces the line in emphatic hyperbaton) . +*θανοῦσα, conjunctive ptc. with μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι, to be translated as an inf. (SS 250– 51 §2); > ‘and now I wish to die [and] not to be denied/ wanting (of your grave =) a share in your grave.’ μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι— synizesis); [1× El. ]

172

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΟ.

θνητοῦ πέφυκαϲ πατρόϲ, Ἠλέκτρα, φρόνει·
θνητὸϲ δʼ Ὀρέϲτηϲ· ὥϲτε μὴ λίαν ϲτένε·
πᾶϲιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτʼ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.

ΟΡ.

φεῦ φεῦ, τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχανῶν
ἔλθω; κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώϲϲηϲ ϲθένω.

1175

ΗΛ.

τί δʼ ἔϲχεϲ ἄλγοϲ; πρὸϲ τί τοῦτʼ εἰπὼν κυρεῖϲ;

ΟΡ. ἦ
ϲὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδοϲ Ἠλέκτραϲ τόδε;

LINE 1171
λίαν (adv.)

too much
ὥστε μή . . . στένε
ὥστε in an independent clause has no effect on the mood of its verb, it can take a potential opt. or indic.

with ἄν, a prohibitive subjv., an interrogative, or an imperative, as here (GMT #602); > ‘ so do not lament too much.’

+ὀφείλω
be under obligation

+*λέξω

(λέγω aor.1 subjv) deliberative subjv. as the following ἔλθω (S #1805; SS 223– 25 §12); > ‘What shall I say?’

+ποῖ
whither? (with partitive genit. +λόγων. SS 58 §10: “to what form of speech am I to come?”) ἀμηχᾰνέω

(ἀμήχανος, without resources) (pres. act. ptc.) be at a loss (conjunctive participle, i.e., coordinate with the principal verb of the clause: SS 250– 251 §2); +λόγων goes with both ποῖ and ἀμηχανῶν (Kells); >

‘being at a loss for words?’; [1× Soph.]

γλῶσσα, ἡ
tongue (genit. following +κρατέω)

LINE 1176

+*ἔσχες

(ἔχω, aor.2) instantaneous aorist, see ἐπ- αράομαι (ἐπηράσω) 388n; > ‘What is your trouble?’

+κῠρεῖς

(κυρέω is poetic for τυγχάνω) with supplem. ptc. +εἰπών, that contains the main idea. When an aor. ptc. follows forms of τυγχάνω, λανθάνω, φθάνω in pres. or impf., it is not coincidental with the finite verb, but retains its own reference to past time (S #2096b; GMT #145, 146; SS 261 §12f); > Why did you say that?’

εἶδος, εος, τό
that which is seen, form ( hypallage. +κλεινόν is a transferred epithet; should be describing the genit.

Ἠλέκτρας: [S #3023; SS 165 §4c] but goes with εἶδος); > ‘Is this the sight of the illustrious El.?’; [1× El. ]

173

Commentary 1178–1197

ΗΛ. τόδʼ ἔϲτʼ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλʼ ἀθλίωϲ ἔχον.

ΟΡ.

οἴμοι ταλαίνηϲ ἆρα τῆϲδε ϲυμφορᾶϲ.

ΗΛ.

οὐ δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀμφʼ ἐμοὶ ϲτένειϲ τάδε;

1180

ΟΡ. ὦ
ϲῶμʼ ἀτίμωϲ κἀθέωϲ ἐφθαρμένον.

ΗΛ.

οὔτοι ποτʼ ἄλλην ἢ ʼμὲ δυϲφημεῖϲ, ξένε.

ΟΡ.

φεῦ τῆϲ ἀνύμφου δυϲμόρου τε ϲῆϲ τροφῆϲ.

ΗΛ.

τί δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπιϲκοπῶν ϲτένειϲ;

ΟΡ. ὅϲʼ οὐκ ἄρʼ ᾔδη τῶν ἐμῶν ἐγὼ κακῶν.

1185

ΗΛ.

ἐν τῷ διέγνωϲ τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

ΟΡ. ὁρῶν
ϲε πολλοῖϲ ἐμπρέπουϲαν ἄλγεϲιν.

ΗΛ.

καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷϲ γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.

LINE 1178

+ἐκεῖνο

‘this is it’ (refers to εἶδος)

ἀθλίως (adv.)

miserably (ἀθλίως ἔχω ‘fare miserably,’ the subject is εἶδος); [1× El. ]

+σύμφορα, ἡ
event, mishap, misfortune (for the genit., see +τροφῆς 1143n; > ‘Alas, then (ἆρα), for this unhappy misfortune.’

οὐ δὴ ποτ᾿
see οὐ δή, 1108n

+ἀμφί (+ dat.)

on account of, about, concerning, for the sake of

+στένεις τάδε
τάδε internal acc. treated as neuter substantive or adverbial acc. (S #1573, 1607; SS 39 §9, 42 §13) > ‘that you sigh ( these sighs) in this wa y’

LINE 1181

+ἀ- τίμως (adv.)

(+ἄ- τῑμος) without honor, in dishonored way; [1× El. ]

ἀ- θέως (adv.)

(ἀ privat., θεός) in an ungodly way, unholy fashion, godless manner

*φθείρω, ἔφθαρμαι

(ἐφθαρμένον, 2nd pf. ptc.): be ruined
δυσφημέω
utter ill- omened word (the words are ‘ill omened’ because of ἀ- θέως); > ‘There is none other than (ἄλλην
ἢ) I that your ill- omened words describe’ (Lloyd- Jones partially) ἄ- νυμφος, ον

(ἀ privat., + νύμφη, bride) unwedded
δυσ- μόρος, ον
ill fated, ill starred (for genits., see +τροφῆς 1143n)

ἐπι- σκοπέω
look upon/ at, gaze; > ‘Why, then (δή), stranger, do you sigh, gazing at me this way?’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1185

+*ᾔδη

(οἶδα, plupf. 1sg.) ‘how much (+ὅσα, i.e., how little) I knew of my own sorrows.’

δια- +*γιγνώσκω, - έγνων

(διέγνως, aor.2 indic. 2sg.) discern, distinguish; [1× Soph.]

τῶν +*εἰρημένων

(λέγω, pf. ptc. pass.) say (see τοῖς κρατοῦσι 1014n; partit. genit. describing τῷ [=+τίνι]: S #1306– 7); > ‘In what of the things that have been sai d did you discern this?’

ἐμ- πρέπω
be conspicuous for (supplemen. ptc. after verb of perceiving, ὁρῶν: S #2110– 2112a; SS 260 §12c.

oxymoron: ἐμπρέπω is usually connected with rich garments); > ‘Seeing you conspicuous for / in many sorrows’; [1× Soph.]

καὶ μήν
and yet (a strong adversative: GP 357– 58)

174

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΟΡ.

καὶ πῶϲ γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδʼ ἔτʼ ἐχθίω βλέπειν;

ΗΛ. ὁθούνεκʼ εἰμὶ τοῖϲ φονεῦϲι ϲύντροφοϲ.

1190

ΟΡ. τοῖϲ τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτʼ ἐξεϲήμηναϲ κακόν;

ΗΛ. τοῖϲ πατρόϲ. εἶτα τοῖϲδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

ΟΡ. τίϲ γάρ ϲʼ ἀνάγκῃ τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν;

ΗΛ.

μήτηρ καλεῖται· μητρὶ δʼ οὐδὲν ἐξιϲοῖ.

ΟΡ.

τί δρῶϲα; πότερα χερϲίν, ἢ λύμῃ βίου;

1195

ΗΛ.

καὶ χερϲὶ καὶ λύμαιϲι καὶ πᾶϲιν κακοῖϲ.

ΟΡ. οὐδʼ οὑπαρήξων οὐδʼ ὁ κωλύϲων πάρα;

LINE 1189

+καί (conj.)

in an astonished question, see καί 385n; > ‘And how’

+*γένοιτ᾿ ἄν
potential optative, here close to a gnomic question (S #1824; SS 230 §14); > ‘ And how can anything be more hateful to behold than this?’

ἐχθίων, ον

(irregular comparative of +ἐχθρός) acc. pl. neut. (ἐχθίονα) with genit. of comparison τῶνδε (S #1431; SS

69– 70 §32)

+*βλέπειν

‘hateful to behold’; limiting/ explanatory inf. with adj. (SS 239 §3b)

+ὁθούνεκα (conj.)

because
σύν- τροφος, ον

(< συν- τρέφω) living with; [1× El. ]

LINE 1191
τοῖς τοῦ

= τοῖς φονεῦσι τίνος; answered by τοῖς [φονεῦσι] πατρός; > ‘With whose murderers?’ How can we explain Or.’s questions?

πόθεν
whence (= πόθεν ἐστὶ τοῦτο τὸ κακὸν ὃ ἐξεσήμηνας); > ‘ From where is the evil that you hint at?’

ἐκ- *σημαίνω

(ἐξεσήμηνας, aor.1 act.) hint at (instantaneous aor., see ἐπ- αράομαι [ἐπηράσω] 388n); [1× Soph.]

+εἶτα (adv.)

then (Jebb: “marks a further aggravation of her lot” )

δουλεύω
be a slave (with τοῖσδε [φονεῦσι])

+βίᾳ

‘perforce/ by necessity’; (dat. of means: S #1507; SS 88– 89 §16) προ- τρέπω
drive to do a thing; > ‘who of men subjects you to this constraint?’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1195
πότερα . . . ἤ
introducing direct alternative question: ‘whether . . . or’ (S #2656). πότερα is frequently left untranslated in English. Resolution in 4th position: πότερα.

λύμη, ἡ

[ῡ] outrage, affront, disgrace, general maltreatment; > ‘by violence, or by maltreatment in [daily] life?’

Notice that we have never heard that El. was beaten.

ἐπ- ᾰρήγω
οὑπαρήξων=ὁ ἐπαρήξων; come to help, aid; [1× Soph.]

κωλύω

[ῡ] prevent, hinder (articular substant. ptcs.: ὁ ἐπαρήξων and ὁ κωλύσων:S #2050– 2052; SS 257– 258 §9; GMT #825); [1× El. ]

πάρα

= +*πάρεστι (S #175b); > ‘And there is no one at hand who will help you or stop her?’

175

Commentary 1198–1218

ΗΛ.

οὐ δῆθʼ· ὃϲ ἦν γάρ μοι ϲὺ προὔθηκαϲ ϲποδόν.

ΟΡ.

ὦ δύϲποτμʼ, ὡϲ ὁρῶν ϲʼ ἐποικτίρω πάλαι.

ΗΛ. μόνοϲ βροτῶν νυν ἴϲθʼ ἐποικτίραϲ ποτέ.

1200

ΟΡ. μόνοϲ γὰρ ἥκω τοῖϲι ϲοῖϲ ἀλγῶν κακοῖϲ.

ΗΛ.

οὐ δή ποθʼ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴϲ ἥκειϲ ποθέν;

ΟΡ.

ἐγὼ φράϲαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδʼ εὔνουν πάρα.

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ ἐϲτὶν εὔνουν, ὥϲτε πρὸϲ πιϲτὰϲ ἐρεῖϲ.

ΟΡ. μέθεϲ τόδʼ ἄγγοϲ νυν, ὅπωϲ τὸ πᾶν μάθῃϲ.

1205

ΗΛ.

μὴ δῆτα πρὸϲ θεῶν τοῦτό μʼ ἐργάϲῃ, ξένε.

ΟΡ.

πιθοῦ λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήϲῃ ποτέ.

LINE 1198

+οὐ δῆτα

‘No!’; see 403n
ὃς ἦν

‘ he who was’ (omitted antecedent: S #2509)

+προ- *τίθημι

= προ- έθηκας (aor.1) set before (the verb also denotes laying out the corpse.); > ‘No, for you have placed before me the ashes of the one who was’

δύσ- ποτμος, ον
unlucky, ill starred; [1× El. ]

+ὡς (conj.)

exclamatory: how (S #2682a, 2998)

+ἐπ- οικτίρω
be filled with pity (strong emotional verb repeated by El. in the following line in the same place in line.

For the repetition, see 67n on πατρῴα/ πατρῷον. It emphasizes El.’s bewilderment, and Or.’s callousness in not revealing himself.)

+πάλαι (adv.)

before; > ‘How I’ve been filled with pity since I saw you’

+μόνος
μόνος . . . μόνος anaphora. The siblings repeat the words of each other. What does this anaphora effect?

+*ἴσθι +ἐποικτίρας
verb of knowing with supplemen. ptc. (aor.1) in indirect discourse (S #2106; SS 260 §12e); > ‘pity [for me])’

LINE 1201
τοῖσι σοῖς κακοῖς

Kells: “A quasi- instrumental dative”; > ‘I alone have come feeling pain (+ἀλγῶν) for your afflictions’

οὐ δή ποθ᾿
see οὐ δή 1108n; ’Surely not . . . ?’ ‘You don’t mean . . . ?’

συγγενής, ές

(σύν, +*γενέσθαι) congenital, kin

+*φράσαιμι ἄν

(aor.1 opt.) mixed condition: pres. indic. in protasis (πάρεστι) with potential opt. in apodosis. Each clause has its proper force (GMT #503)

εὔνους, ουν

(εὖ, νοῦς) well minded, benevolent, loyal (τῶνδε refers to the women of the Chorus, subjective genit.); >

‘I would tell you, if a benevolent element/ disposition is present in these women’

ὥστε . . . +*ἐρεῖς

(λέγω, fut.) result clause with finite verb for actual result (S #2250, 2251, 2257; SS 311 §3; GMT #601);

> ‘Indeed there is, so you will speak to loyal women’

LINE 1205

+*μάθῃς

(μανθάνω, aor.2 subjv.) final clause in primary sequence, μέθ- ες (μεθίημι, aor.2 impv). See δός 1119n (S

#2196, 1858a; GMT #317); > ‘Let go of this vessel , so that you can learn all’

πρὸς θεῶν

‘By the gods!’; θεῶν— synizesis.

ἐργάζομαι

(ἐργάσῃ, aor.1 subjv.) work (+ double acc.; μὴ δῆτα . . . ἐργάσῃ prohibitive subjv.: S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259); > ‘No! By the gods, do not do this to me, stranger!’

+*πιθοῦ

(πείθω, aor.2 impv. mid.) mid. and pass.: obey. The aorist is preferable to pres. impv. πείθου (as in 1015
where it implies mental process), because it is a single definite action. Cf. the aorist +μέ- *θες in 1205.

*ἁμαρτάνω

(ἁμαρτήσῃ, fut. indic. mid./ dep.) go wrong; > ‘and you will never go wrong.’

176

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

μὴ πρὸϲ γενείου μὴ ʼξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

ΟΡ.

οὔ φημʼ ἐάϲειν. ΗΛ. ὤ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ ϲέθεν,

Ὀρέϲτα, τῆϲ ϲῆϲ εἰ ϲτερήϲομαι ταφῆϲ.

1210

ΟΡ.

εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸϲ δίκηϲ γὰρ οὐ ϲτένειϲ.

ΗΛ. πῶϲ τὸν θανόντʼ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ ϲτένω;

ΟΡ. οὔ
ϲοι προϲήκει τήνδε προϲφωνεῖν φάτιν.

ΗΛ. οὕτωϲ ἄτιμόϲ εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότοϲ;

ΟΡ. ἄτιμοϲ οὐδενὸϲ ϲύ· τοῦτο δʼ οὐχὶ ϲόν.

1215

ΗΛ.

εἴπερ γʼ Ὀρέϲτου ϲῶμα βαϲτάζω τόδε.

ΟΡ. ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ὀρέϲτου, πλὴν λόγῳ γʼ ἠϲκημένον.

ΗΛ.

ποῦ δʼ ἔϲτʼ ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφοϲ;

LINE 1208
γένειον, τό
beard (touching the chin was customary in supplication. However, this appeal must be figurative, as it is unlikely that El. would withdraw one of her hands from the urn); [1× El. ]

ἐξ- +*αιρέω, - εῖλον

(ἐξέλῃ, aor.2 mid. subjv.) mid.: take away from (prohibitive subjv.: S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259); >

‘No, by your beard, don’t take away [from me] what’s most precious to me!’ [1× El. )

+*ἐάσειν
φημί requires infinitive. The finite verb and infinitive share the same subject: >‘ I say I will not let [you keep it]’ (SS 316 §4). The division of a line between two speakers is called antilabe, which marks emotional agitation on the part of both siblings.

+σέθεν
old poetic form of σοῦ, genit. of σύ; genit. of exclamation/ cause (S #1407; SS 72 §35: “unhappy am I on your account, Orestes, if I am robbed of your urn.”). For the vocative, Ὀρέστα, see 6n.

στερέω
deprive, rob; pass.: be derived, robbed
τᾰφή, ἡ

(θάπτω, bury) burial. El. thinks she won’t be able to bury Or.’s ashes; [1× El. ]

LINE 1211
εὔ- φημος, ον

(εὖ, φήμη) abstaining from inauspicious words, i.e., being religiously silent

+φώνει

(pres. impv.) ‘Utter only auspicious words! You do not lament with justice.’ First clue to El. that Or. is alive, which she does not grasp.

+προσ- ήκει (+ dat.)

(σοι) beseems, belongs, befits (quasi- impersonal when the indefinite ‘it’ anticipates an infinitive as the subject: S # 933b; SS §5)

προσ- φωνέω
speak; > ‘it does not befit you to speak this way (to utter this speech’)

+ἄ- τῑμος, ον

SS 54 §7: “compound adj. which includes a noun in its base may take a genit. in the same way as the noun itself”; > ‘ Am I so without honor from the dead (τοῦ τεθνηκότος)? You are not without honor from anyone (οὐδενός)’

LINE 1215

+εἴπερ γ᾿

‘ Surely it is (γε), if indeed this is the body of Orestes that I hold’

+ἠσκημένον

(ἀσκέω, pf. ptc. pass.) ‘But it is not Orestes except as adorned with words’ (LSJ i2).

τᾰλαίπορος, ον

(+τάλας) suffering hardship, miserable; [1× El. ]

177

Commentary 1219–1242

ΟΡ.

οὐκ ἔϲτι· τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντοϲ οὐκ ἔϲτιν τάφοϲ.

ΗΛ.

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ; ΟΡ. ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λὲγω.

1220

ΗΛ.

ἦ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνὴρ; ΟΡ. εἴπερ ἔμψυχόϲ γʼ ἐγώ.

ΗΛ.

ἦ γὰρ ϲὺ κεῖνοϲ; ΟΡ. τήνδε προϲβλέψαϲά μου
ϲφραγῖδα πατρὸϲ ἔκμαθʼ εἰ ϲαφῆ λέγω.

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλτατον φῶϲ. ΟΡ. φίλτατον, ϲυμμαρτυρῶ.

ΗΛ.

ὦ φθέγμʼ, ἀφίκου; ΟΡ. μηκέτʼ ἄλλοθεν
πύθῃ.

1225

ΗΛ. ἔχω
ϲε χερϲίν; ΟΡ. ὡϲ τὰ λοίπʼ ἔχοιϲ ἀεί.

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκεϲ, ὦ πολίτιδεϲ,
ὁρᾶτʼ Ὀρέϲτην τόνδε, μηχαναῖϲι μὲν
θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖϲ ϲεϲωμένον.

ΧΟ.

ὁρῶμεν, ὦ παῖ, κἀπὶ ϲυμφοραῖϲί μοι

1230
γεγηθὸϲ ἕρπει δάκρυον ὀμμάτων ἄπο.

LINE 1219
τοῦ +*ζῶντος

(ζάω, pres. ptc. act.) articular substant. ptc. (S #2050– 52; S 257– 58 §9; GMT #825) ψεῦδος, εος, τό
falsehood; > ‘Nothing of what I say is a lie’; [1× El. ]

ἦ
interrogative pcl.: in truth?

ἔμ- ψῡχος, ον

(ἐν, +ψῡχή) living; > ‘If I am living, indeed’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1222
προσ- +*βλέπω

(προσβλέψασα, aor.1 act. ptc. f.) look at (circumstantial temporal ptc.: S #2055; SS 252– 53 §4); [1× El. ]

σφραγίς, ῖδος, ἡ
signet ring; [1× El. ]

ἐκ- +*μανθάνω

(ἔκμαθε, aor.2 impv.) learn thoroughly; [1× El. ]

συμ- μαρτῠρέω
bear witness with; > ‘Dearest [light], I do bear witness!’ [1× Soph.]

φθέγμα, ατος, τό

(φθέγγομαι, utter a sound) sound, voice; word
ἀφ- +*ικνέομαι

(ἐφίκου, aor.2 indic.) arrive, come; >‘Oh voice, have you come?’; [1× El. ]

ἄλλοθεν (adv.)

(ἄλλος) from another place; [1× El. ]

*πυνθάνομαι

[ᾰ] (πύθῃ, aor.2 subjv.) inquire; hear, learn of (with genit. μή with prohibitive subjv.: S #1800a; SS

220 §6; GMT #259); > ‘ Do not inquire/ ask [about me] from another source’

LINE 1226

+*ἔχοις +ἀεί
opt. with ὡς (S #1814– 15; SS 231– 32 §15); > ‘ So may you always hold me for the remainder of our days.’

πολῖτις, ιδος, ἡ
female citizen of the polis; [1× Soph.]

Ὀρέστην τόνδε
the demonstrative pronoun sometimes is used to call attention to the presence of a person (SS 154 §23)

> ‘Orestes here’; cf. ἥδε . . . κείνη 665n
μηχᾰνή, ἡ
contrivance; [1 × El.]

+*σεσωμένον

(σῴζω, pf. pass. ptc.) ‘dead by contrivance, and now saved (i.e., alive) by contrivance.’ Note the positive spin on guile.

γηθέω

(γεγηθός, pf. act. ptc) be delighted, rejoice ( hypallage; transferred epithet from μοι to δάκρυον.

ἕρπω
crawl, creep; glide
δάκρυον, τό

(= +δάκρυ) tear; > ‘and a tear of joy for good fortune creeps from our eyes’; [1× El. ]

178

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

ἰὼ γοναί ,
στρ.

γοναὶ ϲωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,
ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίωϲ,
ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓϲ ἐχρῄζετε.

1235

ΟΡ. πάρεϲμεν· ἀλλὰ ϲῖγʼ ἔχουϲα πρόϲμενε.

ΗΛ.

τί δʼ ἔϲτιν;

ΟΡ.

ϲιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τιϲ ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

ΗΛ.

μὰ τὰν Ἄρτεμιν τὰν ἀεὶ ἀδμήταν,
τόδε μὲν οὔποτʼ ἀξιώϲω τρέϲαι,

1240
περιϲϲὸν ἄχθοϲ ἔνδον
γυναικῶν ὃ ναίει.

SCENE A: (2) Lines 1232– 1287

STROPHE, Lines 1232– 1252

LINE 1232
γονή, ἡ

(+*γενέσθαι, be, become), race, stock family (LSJ 2)

σωμάτων
refers to Ag. A ‘sympathetic’ plural influenced by the plural of γοναί (SS 7 §4); > ‘O child— child of the bodies dearest to me.’

ἐφ- +*ευρίσκω, - ηῦρον

(ἐφηύρετε, aor.2 act.) detect, discover
ἐμόλετ᾿ . . . εἴδεσθ᾿
the three vbs. ἐφηύρετ, ἤλθετ᾿, εἴδεσθ᾿, in asyndeton suggest high emotion (Finglass). The emphasis is on Orestes’ coming: ἔμολετε (βλώσκω), ἐφηύρετε, ἤλθετε. For the rising tricolon of three successive actions with the last one as culminating one, see ἐκτρέφω 13n

+ἐχρῃζετε

‘you’ve come [and] you’ve found, you’ve come [and] you’ve seen her whom you longed for.’ οὕς masculine for feminine “by neutralization” (SS 12 §8, 8– 10 §5) and in majestic plural.

σῖγα (adv.)

silently (an adverb with ἔχειν is often used as a periphrastic expression for an adj. with εἶναι or for a verb, i.e., = σιγᾶν (S #1438).

+πρόσ- +*μενε
wait; > ‘I am here (πάρεσμεν majestic plural); but wait in silence.’

LINE 1237
ἔνδοθεν (adv.)

(+ἔνδον) from within

+κλύῃ
subjv. in fear clause in primary sequence [supply ἐστί] (S #2221, 2223; GMT #365); > ‘It is better to be silent, lest someone indoors (from indoors) should hear. ’

+Ἄρτεμις, ιδος, ἡ

Artemis (usually invoked in Tragedy by unmarried women, but see 626) ἄ- δμητος (3)

(ἀ privat., δαμάω tame) untamed, wild; [1× El. ]

ἀξιόω
think/ deem worthy (with limiting/ explanatory inf.: SS 238– 39; μέν solitarium, see μέν 61n, stresses the idea of the finite verb and infinitive.

*τρέω

(τρέσαι, aor.1 inf. act.) tremble, fear; [1× El.]

περισσός (3)

(περί, exceedingly) more than sufficient, superfluous (LSJ 3)

+γυναικῶν
genit. of definition, describes the content of the word attached to, ἄχθος (SS 53 §5); > ‘I will never think it worthy to tremble because of this superfluous burden of women, that dwells [inside]’

179

Commentary 1243–1272

ΟΡ.

ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡϲ Ἄρηϲ
ἔνεϲτιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοιϲθα πειραθεῖϲά που.

ΗΛ. ὀττοτοῖ

〈ὀττοτοῖ 〉,

1245
ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλεϲ οὔποτε καταλύϲιμον,
οὐδέ ποτε ληϲόμενον ἁμέτερον
οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.

1250

ΟΡ.

ἔξοιδα καὶ ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅταν παρουϲία
φράζῃ, τότʼ ἔργων τῶνδε μεμνῆϲθαι χρεών.

ΗΛ.

ὁ πᾶϲ ἐμοί
ἀντ.

ὁ πᾶϲ ἂν πρέποι παρὼν ἐννέπειν
τάδε δίκᾳ χρόνοϲ.

1255
μόλιϲ γὰρ ἔϲχον νῦν ἐλεύθερον ϲτόμα.

ΟΡ.

ξύμφημι κἀγω· τοιγαροῦν ϲῴζου τόδε.

ΗΛ.

τί δρῶϲα;

LINE 1243
γε μὲν δή
strongly adversative: ‘Yes, but see/ mark . . .’ (GP 396 [3])

+που (enclit. adv.)

frequently qualifies an expression = ‘I suppose,’ ‘I think’ (LSJ II); > ‘from your own experience (+*πειραθεῖσα, πειράομαι, aor.1 ptc. pass.), I think’

ἀ- νέφελος, ον

(ἀ privat., νεφέλη, cloud) cloudless, unveiled; [1× Soph.]

ἐμ- *βάλλω, - έβαλον

(ἐνέβαλες, aor.2) throw in; put in mind, remind; [1× El. ]

κατα- λύσιμος, ον

[ῡ] (κατα- λύω, terminate) be made an end of, be resolved; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1247

+*λησόμενον

(λανθάνομαι or λήθομαι, fut. pass. ptc.) pass.: forget (fut. mid. used as pass. only here in Classical Greek: Kells. Cf. καλῇ 971n); > ‘Alas, alas! You have reminded me of what (+οἷον) my sorrow (κακόν) was (+ἔφυ), never to be veiled, never to be resolved, never to be forgotten.’

ὅταν . . . +φράζῃ
indefinite temporal clause for the future with subjv. and ἄν (S #2399, 1768; SS 294 §4)

*μιμνῄσκω, μέμνημαι

(pf. inf. mid. pass.) mid.: remember, remind (+ genit. The inf. follows +χρεών); > ‘I know this too (καί), but when occasion/ opportunity prompts/ comes, then will be the moment to recall these deeds’.

ANTISTROPHE, Lines 1253– 1272

LINE 1253
πρέπω
fit (often impersonal but here with noun subject; potential opt.: S #1824; SS 230 §14)

+ἐννέπω
poetic lengthening for ἐνέπω tell, speak (epexegetic inf. following πρέποι); > ‘Every moment, every present moment would be rightfully fit to tell these things’

στόμα, τος, τό
mouth, speech, words, language
ξύμ- +*φημι
agree; > ‘I do agree. Therefore keep guarding this (i.e., ἐλεύθερον στόμα)’; [1× El. ]

τοι- γαρ- οῦν (pcl.)

therefore (strongly emphatic, strengthened τοιγάρ: GP 568– 69); [1× El. ]

180

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΟΡ.

οὗ μή ʼϲτι καιρὸϲ μὴ μακρὰν βούλου λέγειν.

ΗΛ. τίϲ ἀνταξίαν ϲοῦ γε πεφηνότοϲ

1260
μεταβάλοιτʼ ἂν ὧδε ϲιγὰν λόγων;
ἐπεί ϲε νῦν ἀφράϲτωϲ
ἀέλπτωϲ τʼ ἐϲεῖδον.

ΟΡ. τότʼ εἶδεϲ, ὅτε θεοί μʼ ἐπώτρυναν μολεῖν

〈 x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ – 〉

ΗΛ. ἔφραϲαϲ ὑπερτέραν

1265
τᾶϲ πάροϲ ἔτι χάριτοϲ, εἴ ϲε θεὸϲ ἐπόριϲεν
ἁμέτερα πρὸϲ μέλαθρα· δαιμόνιον
αὐτὸ τίθημʼ ἐγώ.

1270

ΟΡ.

τὰ μέν ϲʼ ὀκνῶ χαίρουϲαν εἰργαθεῖν, τὰ δὲ
δέδοικα λίαν ἡδονῇ νικωμένην.

LINE 1259
οὗ μή ᾿στι +καιρός

‘When it is not the right moment’

μᾰκράν (adv.)

(from fem. acc. of +μᾰκρός) ‘at length’

ἀντ- άξιος (3)

worthy, equivalent to (+ genit.); [1× Soph.]

μετα- *βάλλω, - έβαλον

(μεταβάλοιτ᾿, aor.2 mid. opt.) mid.: exchange (potential opt.: S #1824; SS 230 §14); [1 × El.]

+*πεφηνότος

(φαίνω, pf. ptc. act.) genit. depending on ἀνταξίαν.

σιγή, ἡ
silence; > ‘Who then could thus (as you order me) exchange speech for silence as the price of your appearance?’

ἀφράστως (adv.)

(ἀ privat., +*φράζω) unexpectedly; [1× Soph.]

ἀέλπτως (adv.)

(ἀ privat., ἔλπομαι, hope) beyond all hope; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1264
ἐπ- οτρύνω
excite, stir up, urge on. Does Or. feel guilty for not returning earlier?

ὑπέρτερος (3)

comparative adjective of ὑπέρ; upper, higher; stronger, mightier

+πάρος (adv.)

before
πορίζω
bring, fetch (past condition with no implication as to non- fulfillment: SS 280 §2c); > ‘You’ve told me of an even greater grace (ὑπερτέραν . . . +χάριτος, genit. of comparison) than the last [one], if a god has brought you to our house’; [1× El. ]

μέλαθρον, τό

[ᾰ/ ᾱ] rafter in a room, roof; pl.: house; [1× El. ]

δαιμόνιος (3)

divine; > ‘I reckon (+*τίθημι) it was a god’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1271
τά μέν . . . τὰ δέ

(adverbial, no noun to be understood) ‘on the one hand . . . . on the other hand’

εἰργαθεῖν

(poetic aor.2 inf. of εἴργω) hinder, prevent, check; [1× Soph.]

λίαν (adv.)

too much
νῑκάω
win over, overcome
δείδω, δέδοικα

(pf. with pres meaning) fear

181

Commentary 1273–1292

ΗΛ.

ἰὼ χρόνῳ
ἐπ.

μακρῷ φιλτάταν ὁδὸν ἐπαξιώ-
ϲαϲ ὧδέ μοι φανῆναι,
μή τί με, πολύπονον ὧδʼ ἰδὼν—

1275

ΟΡ.

τί μὴ ποήϲω; ΗΛ. μή μʼ ἀποϲτερήϲῃϲ
τῶν ϲῶν προϲώπων ἡδονὰν μεθέϲθαι.

ΟΡ.

ἦ κάρτα κἂν ἄλλοιϲι θυμοίμην ἰδών.

ΗΛ. ξυναινεῖϲ; ΟΡ. τί μὴν οὔ;

1280

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλʼ, ἔκλυον
ἃν ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἤλπιϲʼ αὐδάν.

〈ἀλλʼ ὅμωϲ ἐπ〉έϲχον ὀργὰν ἄναυδον

EPODE. Lines 1273– 1287

LINE 1273
ἐπ- αξιόω

(< ἄξιος, worthy) deem it right

+φιλτάταν +ὁδόν
cognate/ internal acc. with +φανῆναι. SS 39– 40 §9: “to make the most welcome journey and appear.”

“Sophocles made ample use,” according to Morwood, of internal acc. and “its possibilities.” Here he allies a noun, ὁδός, connected semantically but not formally to the vb. φαίνω, but omitting the verb of ‘going,’

which is implied; > ‘Oh you who deemed it right after so long a time [to make] a journey most dear to me and appear like this, do not, having seen me like this full of suffering . . . ’

τί μὴ +ποιήσω
negative form of deliberative subjv.; > ‘What am I not to do?’

LINE 1276
μὴ μ +ἀπο- στερήσῃς
μή with prohibitive subjv. (S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259). With acc. of pers. (μέ) and acc. of thing (ἡδονάν); cf. κτῆσιν 960n
πρόσωπον, τό
face (appears 3× in plural in Soph, and 6× in singular, all of a single face: SS 5 §3)

+μέθεσθαι

(μεθ- *ίημι, aor.2 inf. mid.) lose, forego (redundant epexegetic inf.); > ‘Don’t deprive me of the pleasure of your face, so that I lose [it]’

κάρτᾰ (adv.)

certainly, indeed, surely
θυμόω
be angry (fut. less vivid condition, opt. with ἄν in apodosis and aor.2 ptc. ἰδών, as protasis instead of εἰ with a verb in aor.2 opt.: GMT 472; S #2297); > ‘I would certainly be angry if I saw this in another’; [1× El. ]

συν- αινέω
agree or come to terms with a person

LINE 1280
ἐγὼ οὐδ᾿
synizesis at 1282 and 1287.

ἐλπίζω

(ἐλπίς) hope, expect (ἂν ἤλπισα potential indic. ἄν with the indic. of secondary tenses, generally impf. and aor., expresses past possibility, probability, or necessity: S #1784; GMT #198, 243– 44. Sometimes ἄν is repeated to give prominence to particular words. Here it might be underscoring ἐγώ: S #1765); > ‘a vοice I could not have hoped [to hear].’

αὐδή, ἡ
human voice
ἀλλ᾿ +ὅμως (adv.)

but still (S #2786)

ἄν- αυδος, ον

(ἀ privat., αὐδή) unutterable, without a voice, silent; > ‘But still I held my passion in silence listening without a cry, unhappy as I am’; [1× El. ]

182

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
οὐδὲ ϲὺν βοᾷ κλύουϲʼ ἁ τάλαινα.

νῦν δʼ ἔχω ϲε· προὐφάνηϲ δὲ

1285
φιλτάταν ἔχων πρόϲοψιν,
ἇϲ ἐγὼ οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν κακοῖϲ λαθοίμαν.

ΟΡ.

τὰ μὲν περιϲϲεύοντα τῶν λόγων ἄφεϲ,
καὶ μήτε μήτηρ ὡϲ κακὴ δίδαϲκέ με
μήθʼ ὡϲ πατρῴαν κτῆϲιν Αἴγιϲθοϲ δόμων

1290
ἀντλεῖ, τὰ δʼ ἐκχεῖ, τὰ δὲ διαϲπείρει μάτην·
χρόνου γὰρ ἄν ϲοι καιρὸν ἐξείργοι λόγοϲ.

LINE 1284
προ- +φαίνω, - έφηνα

(προὐφάνης = προ- έφηνης) show forth
πρόσοψις, ἡ
appearance, aspect; > ‘you’ve appeared with your dearest countenance’; [1× El. ]

+*ἂν . . . λαθοίμαν

(λανθάνομαι, aor.2 opt. mid.) mid. and pass.: forget (with genit.: ἇς= ἧς. Potential opt.); > ‘which I could never, even in my troubles, forget.’

SCENE B, Lines 1288–1383

LINE 1288
περισσεύω
be over and above (τὰ περισσεύοντα articular substant. ptc.: S #2050 52; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825);

[1× Soph]

ἀφ- +*ίημι

(ἄφης, aor.2 impv.) give up; > ‘spare the superfluity of words’

+ὡς (conj.)

that (introduces indirect discourse where what is said is false or uncertain, or after negated verbs. The latter applies here: μήτε δίδασκε: S #3000; SS 314 §1)

κτῆσις, εως, ἡ

(κτάομαι) possession, property
ἀντλέω
squander; (1× Soph.)

ἐκ- χέω
pour forth in vain, lavish, squander; [1× El. ]

τὰ δέ
resolution in 6th position: τὰ δέ.

δια- σπείρω
scatter, spread about; > ‘nor how Aeg. is draining our father’s wealth from the household, or how he is squandering it or throwing it about’

ἐξείργω
shut out, hinder, block (potential opt.; σοι ethical dat., or of feeling indicating her interest but often not translatable: S #1486); > ‘for the telling might block the opportune moment of time [for action]’;

[1× Soph.]

183

Commentary 1293–1318
ἃ δʼ ἁρμόϲει μοι τῷ παρόντι νῦν χρόνῳ
ϲήμαινʼ, ὅπου φανέντεϲ ἢ κεκρυμμένοι
γελῶνταϲ ἐχθροὺϲ παύϲομεν τῇ νῦν ὁδῷ

1295
τούτῳ 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.

1300

ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ, ὦ καϲίγνηθʼ, ὧδʼ ὅπωϲ καὶ ϲοὶ φίλον
καὶ τοὐμὸν ἔϲται, τάϲδʼ ἐπεὶ τὰϲ ἡδονὰϲ
πρὸϲ ϲοῦ λαβοῦϲα κοὐκ ἐμὰϲ ἐκτηϲάμην.

κοὐδʼ ἄν ϲε λυπήϲαϲα δεξαίμην βραχὺ
αὐτὴ μέγʼ εὑρεῖν κέρδοϲ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν καλῶϲ

1305
ὑπηρετοίην τῷ παρόντι δαίμονι.

LINE 1293
ἁρμόζω
intransitive: fit (well), suit (ἅ antecedent omitted; happens especially with neuter relative: S #2511);

[1× El. ]

σημαίνω
signal; > ‘But signal me (μοι) what will now suit the present moment’; enjambment; [1 × El. ]

ὅπου (adv.)

where

+γελῶντας

(γελάω) supplem. ptc. following vb. of stopping (S #2098; SS 260 §12a); > ‘where through appearing (φανέντες < φαίνω) or hiding (κεκρυμμένοι < κρύπτω) we will stop the laughter of our enemies by our present expedition.’

LINE 1296
τούτῳ

Or. continues telling El. how to help him now: ‘And by this . . . ’

ἐπι- +*γιγνώσκω
discover, detect ( aphaeresis; ὅπως with future denotes a warning or urgent exhortation. One could supply σκόπει or ὅρα ὅπως ‘see that’: S #1920, 2213; SS 289 §7, 308 §4); > ‘so that our mother does not detect your state/ you when the two of us (νῷν ἐπελθόντοιν, temporal genit. absolute dual for Or. and Pylades) enter the house by/ because of your radiant face’; [1× El. ]

φαιδρός (3)

beaming, radiant
στενάζω
lament (emphatic enjambment); > ‘but lament as if οver [my] ruin although falsely reported (+λελεγμένῃ

+μάτην)’; [1× El. ]

+εὐ- τῠχήσωμεν

(εὐτυχέω, aor.2 subjv.) protasis of relative future more vivid condition, with future ind. παρέσται in the apodosis (S #2297, 2323, 2565; GMT #529); > ‘for when we succeed, then it will be possible (+παρέσται) to . . .’

LINE 1301
ὧδ᾿ ὅπως . . . ἔσται

‘just so as pleases you, will be also (καί, adverbial: GP 324 2i) mine [conduct].’

κτάομαι
acquire, procure; > ‘since I have acquired these pleasures received (+*λαβοῦσα, having received) from you, not as my own.’

+*δέχομαι

(δεξαίμην, aor.1opt.) accept as mental reception. Here with inf., +*εὑρεῖν, accompanied by a conditional participle, +λῡπήσασα (Jebb). The idea could have been expressed by λυπῆσαι μέν . . . εὑρεῖν δέ following δεξαίμην (SS 251 §2); > ‘I would not (accept =) agree to win a great benefit for myself, at the cost of vexing you even a little’.

184

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἀλλʼ οἶϲθα μὲν τἀνθένδε, πῶϲ γὰρ οὔ; κλυὼν
ὁθούνεκʼ Αἴγιϲθοϲ μὲν οὐ κατὰ ϲτέγαϲ,
μήτηρ δʼ ἐν οἴκοιϲ· ἣν ϲὺ μὴ δείϲῃϲ ποθʼ ὡϲ

γέλωτι τοὐμὸν φαιδρὸν ὄψεται κάρα.

1310
μῖϲόϲ τε γὰρ παλαιὸν ἐντέτηκέ μοι,
κἀπεί ϲʼ ἐϲεῖδον, οὔ ποτʼ ἐκλήξω χαρᾷ
δακρυρροοῦϲα. πῶϲ γὰρ ἂν λήξαιμʼ ἐγὼ,
ἥτιϲ μιᾷ ϲε τῇδʼ ὁδῷ θανόντα τε
καὶ ζῶντʼ ἐϲεῖδον; εἴργαϲαι δέ μʼ ἄϲκοπα·

1315
ὥϲτʼ, εἰ πατήρ μοι ζῶν ἵκοιτο, μηκέτʼ ἂν
τέραϲ νομίζειν αὐτό, πιϲτεύειν δʼ ὁρᾶν.

ὅτʼ οὖν τοιαύτην ἡμὶν ἐξήκειϲ ὁδόν,
ὑπηρετέω

(ὑπηρετοίην, opt.) serve, help (potential opt.); > ‘for I would not be serving well the god (+δαίμων) who is with us now.’

LINE 1307
μέν
μέν solitarium, see μέν 61n, stresses the idea of the finite verb ἐνθένδε (adv.)

thence (τἀνθένδε “what must be done next”: Finglass); [1× El. ]

+ὁθούνεκα (conj.)

because, that (analogous to ὅτι and ὡς introducing dependent sentence. Restricted to Tragedy especially Soph.: SS 313– 14; S #2578; GMT #710)

δείδω

(δείσῃς, aor.1 subjv.) μή with prohibitive subjv. (S #1800a; SS 220 §6; GMT #259) ὡς . . . +*ὄψεται
usually verb of fearing takes μή with subjv. in the fear clause (i.e., μὴ ἴδῃ, ‘lest she may see’), but in Soph.

one finds ὡς followed by the fut. indic. when the fear verb is negated (GMT #341; SS 292); > ‘and do not fear that she will ever see. . . .’ Cf. ὡς ἀτιμάσει 1426– 27n.

LINE 1311
ἐν- +τήκω, τέτηκα

(ἐντέτηκε, pf. act.) be melted, sink deep, seep; > ‘For ancient hatred has seeped into me’; [1× Soph.]

ἐκλήγω
stop; [1× Soph.]

δακρυρροέω
melt into tears, weep (oxymoron with χαρᾷ; for ptc. δακρυρροοῦσα, see +γελῶντας 1295n); > ‘I will never stop weeping with joy’; [1× El. ]

πῶς . . . ἐγώ, ἥτις
potential optative > ‘How indeed could I stop, I who . . .’

ἄ- σκοπος, ον

(ἀ privat., σκοπέω) not seeing; not to be seen: incredible

*ἐργάζομαι

(εἴργασαι, pf. dep. 2sg.) work (+ double acc.); > ‘you’ve done to me incredible things’

LINE 1316
τέρας, ατος, τό
portent, sign
ἄν νομίζειν . . . πιστεύειν
ὥστε with inf. to denote a possible result with negative μή (S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587). The result clause is apodosis of less vivid condition, hence ἄν. ὁρᾶν, an inf. in indirect discourse depending on πιστεύειν sharing the same subject (S #1972); > ‘so that if my father should come back to life, I would not think it a prodigy, but believe I saw him’

ἡμίν

For the accent, see ἡμίν 17n
ἐξ- ήκω
arrived at; > ‘since you’ve come to me on such a journey, command as your heart [moves you]’; [1× El. ]

185

Commentary 1319–1338
ἄρχʼ αὐτὸϲ ὥϲ ϲοι θυμόϲ. ὡϲ ἐγὼ μόνη
οὐκ ἂν δυοῖν ἥμαρτον· ἢ γὰρ ἂν καλῶϲ

1320
ἔϲωϲʼ ἐμαυτήν, ἢ καλῶϲ ἀπωλόμην.

ΟΡ.

ϲιγᾶν ἐπῄνεϲʼ· ὡϲ ἐπʼ ἐξόδῳ κλύω
τῶν ἔνδοθεν χωροῦντοϲ. ΗΛ. εἴϲιτʼ, ὦ ξένοι,
ἄλλωϲ τε καὶ φέροντεϲ οἷʼ ἂν οὔτε τιϲ
δόμων ἀπώϲαιτʼ οὔτʼ ἂν ἡϲθείη λαβών.

1325

ΠΑ.

ὦ πλεῖϲτα μῶροι καὶ φρενῶν τητώμενοι,
πότερα παρʼ οὐδὲν τοῦ βίου κήδεϲθʼ ἔτι,

LINE 1319

*ἁμαρτάνω, ἥμαρτον

(aor.2) go wrong (contrary- to- fact condition for past time: S #2292.2); > ‘For alone, I’d have not gone wrong in both things (δυοῖν, dual; i.e., I’d have achieved one of two things), either I’d have saved myself nobly, or died nobly’

+ἐπ- *αινέω

(ἐπῃνεσα, aor.1) commend, counsel (αἰνέω keeps a short vowel in the aor. and fut.: S #488b.

Instantaneous aorist, see ἐπηράσω 388n); >’ I counsel to be silent’

ἔξ- οδος, ἡ
way out, exit, outlet (LSJ II, 1)

ἔνδοθεν (adv.)

(+ἔνδον) from within

+χωρέω

(χωροῦντος, pres. ptc.) go forth, advance, come (genit. following κλύω, supply τινός with χωροῦντος.

τῶν ἔνδοθεν, genit. partit.); > ‘for / as (ὡς) I hear someone of those inside coming out at the doors’

LINE 1324
ἄλλως τε καί . . .

both otherwise and . . . ; i.e., especially, above all (LSJ 3)

+*φέροντες
circumstantial causal participle (S #2064; SS 251 §3); > ‘Go in, strangers, especially since you bring such objects as no one in the palace would reject, or be pleased to receive.’

+ἀπ- ωθέω

(ἀπώσαιτο, aor.1 opt.) mid.: reject, disdain, repulse (potential optative) ἥδομαι, ἥσθεν

(ἡσθείη, aor.1 opt.) be pleased (potential optative); [1× El. ]

LINE 1326
πλεῖστα (adv.)

(superlative < πολύς) exceedingly
μῶρος (3)

stupid, silly, foolish
τητάω
pass.: be in want, bereft, deprived; > ‘deprived of wits’

πότερα . . .ἤ
whether . . . or (introduces direct alternative questions with πότερα; frequently left untranslated in English)

παρά (+ acc.)

in comparison with (παρ᾿οὐδέν ‘compared with nothing,’ i.e., ‘of no account,’ ‘worth nothing’) παρ᾿οὐδὲν τοῦ βίου κήδεσθε
mixture of two constructions: πότερα παρ᾿ οὐδὲν ἔτι [τίθεσθε] τὸν βίον: ‘Do you deem your life worth nothing?’ And πότερα οὐδὲν ἔτι κήδεσθε τοῦ βίου: ‘Don’t you care about your life anymore?’

(Kamerbeek, Kells); > ‘Don’t you care for your lives at all anymore?’

κήδομαι
take care of, be concerned for (+ genit.: τοῦ βίου)

186

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ἢ νοῦϲ ἔνεϲτιν οὔτιϲ ὑμὶν ἐγγενήϲ,
ὅτʼ οὐ παρʼ αὐτοῖϲ ἀλλʼ ἐν αὐτοῖϲιν κακοῖϲ
τοῖϲιν μεγίϲτοιϲ ὄντεϲ οὐ γιγνώϲκετε;

1330
ἀλλʼ εἰ ϲταθμοῖϲι τοῖϲδε μὴ ʼκύρουν ἐγὼ
πάλαι φυλάϲϲων, ἦν ἂν ἡμὶν ἐν δόμοιϲ
τὰ δρώμενʼ ὑμῶν πρόϲθεν ἢ τὰ ϲώματα·
νῦν δʼ εὐλάβειαν τῶνδε προὐθέμην ἐγώ.

καὶ νῦν ἀπαλλαχθέντε τῶν μακρῶν λόγων

1335
καὶ τῆϲ ἀπλήϲτου τῆϲδε ϲὺν χαρᾷ βοῆϲ
εἴϲω παρέλθεθʼ, ὡϲ τὸ μὲν μέλλειν κακὸν
ἐν τοῖϲ τοιούτοιϲ ἔϲτʼ, ἀπηλλάχθαι δʼ ἀκμή.

LINE 1328
ἐγ- γενής, ές

(ἐν, γένος) inborn, native (see ἡμίν 17n for accent); > ‘or is there no intelligence born in you . . . ?’

+*γιγνώσκω
know (verb of knowing with supplem. ptc. ὄντες, which represents the corresponding tense of the indic.

in direct discourse: ἐστέ; S #2106; SS 260 §12.e; GMT #904); > ‘since (ὅτε, not ὅτι, which does not elide) you don’t understand that you’re not merely on the threshold (παρ᾿) of the greatest evils, but right in the middle of them?’

LINE 1331
σταθμός, ὁ
doorpost; [1× El. ]

+ἐκύρουν

(κυρέω, poetic for τυγχάνω) aphaeresis. Protasis of contrary- to- fact condition for the present time, the apodosis is also in imperfect: ἦν ἂν (GMT #410).

φῠλάσσω
guard (supplem. ptc. following κῠρέω, completes the idea the main verb: S #2088; GMT #877, 884; SS

260 §12); > ‘But if I had not been keeping guard at the doorposts here . . .’

+* τὰ δρώμενα
articular substantive participle (S #2050– 2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825). ἡμίν dat. of disadvantage (S #1481; SS 84– 85 §9); > ‘your plans/ doings would have been unluckily for us (to our disadvantage) in the house before your persons (lit.: bodies).’ Cf. Or. bidding the Tutor to report to him τὸ δρώμενον in the palace at 40– 41, and the Tutor’s using the plural τῶν δρωμένων in 85, in a similar meaning to the one here.

νῦν δ᾿ . . . καὶ νῦν
νῦν in successive lines with different meanings: “but as it is . . . now” (Jebb) εὐλάβεια, ἡ

[ᾰ] discretion, caution (τῶνδε objective genit.: S #1328; SS 52– 53 §4)

+προὐθέμην

(=προ- εθέμην, προ- τίθημι, aor.2 mid.); > ‘But as it is, I (exhibited caution =) took care in advance of these things myself’

LINE 1335

+ἀπ- αλάσσω

(ἀπαλλαχθέντε, aor.1 ptc. pass. dual) intransitive: release, leave off, escape ἄ- πληστος, ον

(ἀ privat., πίμπλημι) insatiate; > ‘having done with your long speeches and insatiate cry of joy’; [1× Soph.]

παρ- +*έρχομαι

(παρέλθετε, aor.2 impv. pl.) go; > ‘go within (+εἴσω)’; [1× El. ]

*μέλλω
be on the point of doing, to be always going to do (without doing), hence delay, put off, hesitate (τὸ
μέλλειν articular inf.; see 265 note on πελει. τοιούτοις correption. Cf. 35, 1001, 1024, 1338); > ‘for on the one hand, delay is bad in matters like this’

+ἀπηλλάχθαι

(ἀπ- αλάσσω, pf. inf. pass) to have done, cease with the connotation of ‘make an end’ (the perfect implies immediacy: Jebb, Finglass)

ἀκμή, ἡ
right point of anything, most fitting time (LSJ III); > ‘it is the moment to make an end [of it] (ἀπηλλάχθαι)’

187

Commentary 1339–1363

ΟΡ. πῶϲ οὖν ἔχει τἀντεῦθεν εἰϲιόντι μοι;

ΠΑ. καλῶϲ· ὑπάρχει γάρ ϲε μὴ γνῶναί τινα.

1340

ΟΡ. ἤγγειλαϲ, ὡϲ ἔοικεν, ὡϲ τεθνηκότα.

ΠΑ. εἷϲ τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου μάνθανʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὢν ἀνήρ.

ΟΡ. χαίρουϲιν οὖν τούτοιϲιν; ἢ τίνεϲ λόγοι;

ΠΑ.

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

1345

ΗΛ. τίϲ οὗτόϲ ἐϲτʼ, ἀδελφέ; πρὸϲ θεῶν φράϲον.

ΟΡ.

οὐχὶ ξυνίηϲ; ΗΛ. οὐδέ γʼ †ἐϲ θυμὸν φέρω†.

ΟΡ.

οὐκ οἶϲθʼ ὅτῳ μʼ ἔδωκαϲ ἐϲ χεῖράϲ ποτε;

ΗΛ.

ποίῳ; τί φωνεῖϲ; ΟΡ. οὗ τὸ Φωκέων πέδον
ὑπεξεπέμφθην ϲῇ προμηθίᾳ χεροῖν.

1350

LINE 1339
ἐντεῦθεν (adv.)

hence, thence (= τὰ ἐντεῦθεν. Jebb’s and Kamerbeek’s understanding “the next things” is preferable to Campbell’s ‘matters here’); > ‘What comes next for me when I go in (+*εἰσιόντι μοι)?’

ὑπ- άρχει
here impersonal with inf.: it is possible, the fact is (τινα subject of +*γνῶναι [γιγνώσκω, aor. 2 inf.] without indication of time. Possible to translate by future: Kamerbeek); > ‘Well! It is certain that no one will recognize you’

+*ἤγγειλας

(ἀγγείλω, aor.1 indic.) followed by supplem. ptc. in indirect discourse (S #2106). The ptc. in indirect discourse can come with or without ὡς (ὡς [με] τεθνηκότα). When ὡς accompanies the ptc. it is often used to indicate the mental attitude of the subject of the finite verb or another prominent person in the sentence.

Here it might show Or.’s focus on his assumed death (S #2120– 2121; SS 318 §6). Cf. ἐκεῖνον ὡς +παρ-

+*όντα 882n; > ‘ you’ve reported, it seems, that I am dead. ’

+εἷς, μία, ἕν
one (declension S #349)

τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου +*μανθάνω learn, study (supply ptc. ὤν to complete its meaning: SS 260 §12c) ἐνθάδε (adv.)

here
τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου

The word on which the possessive genit. depends may be omitted after ἐν, thus ‘in [the abodes] of Hades’

(S #1302); > ‘Know that here you are one of those in [the abodes] of Hades’

+τελουμένων
temporal genit. absolute without expressed subject occurs when it is easy to supply it from the context (SS

76 §42; S #2072a). The phrasing seems vague on purpose. εἴποιμ᾿ ἄν potential opt., the present and aorist opt. with ἄν are used for what will be (S #1828); > ‘ when things come to an end, I will tell you, as things are, everything on their part (Clyt. and Aeg.) is good [for us], even what is not good [for them].’

LINE 1346

+συν- +*ίημι

(ξυνίης, pres. indic.) metaphorically: perceive, understand, know (οὐδέ γ᾿ ‘no’ ‘not even’: GP 156.i.

ἐς θυμὸν φέρω does not appear elsewhere, but should not be suspected); > ‘You don’t know?— No, I [can’t] bring [him] to mind’

ὅτῳ

= ᾧτινι (S #339)

πέδον, τό

(πούς foot) earth, ground
ὑπ- εκ- +*πέμπω

(ὑπεξεπέμφθην, aor.1 pass.) to send away in secret (οὗ . . . χεροῖν [dual] — hyperbaton. οὗ, relative pronoun missing antecedent, or gathered from ποίῳ); > ‘[The man] by whose hands, through your planning, I was sent in secret to the land of the Phocians’; [1× Soph.]

188

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

ἦ κεῖνοϲ οὗτοϲ ὅν ποτʼ ἐκ πολλῶν ἐγὼ
μόνον προϲηῦρον πιϲτὸν ἐν πατρὸϲ φόνῳ;

ΟΡ. ὅδʼ ἐϲτί. μή μʼ ἔλεγχε πλείοϲιν λόγοιϲ.

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλτατον φῶϲ, ὦ μόνοϲ ϲωτὴρ δόμων

Ἀγαμέμνονοϲ, πῶϲ ἦλθεϲ; ἦ ϲὺ κεῖνοϲ εἶ ,

1355
ὃϲ τόνδε κἄμʼ ἔϲωϲαϲ ἐκ πολλῶν πόνων;
ὦ φίλταται μὲν χεῖρεϲ, ἥδιϲτον δʼ ἔχων
ποδῶν ὑπηρέτημα, πῶϲ οὕτω πάλαι
ξυνών μʼ ἔληθεϲ οὐδʼ ἔϲαινεϲ, ἀλλά με
λόγοιϲ ἀπώλλυϲ, ἔργʼ ἔχων ἥδιϲτʼ ἐμοί;

1360
χαῖρʼ, ὦ πάτερ· πατέρα γὰρ εἰϲορᾶν δοκῶ·
χαῖρʼ· ἴϲθι δʼ ὡϲ μάλιϲτά ϲʼ ἀνθρώπων ἐγὼ
ἤχθηρα κἀφίληϲʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

LINE 1351
προσ- +*ευρίσκω, - ηῦρον

(aor.2 indic.) find besides; [1× Soph.]

ἐλέγχω
cross- examine; [1× El. ]

ὦ φίλτ. φῶς, ὦ μόνος
nom. in exclamation in both parts, without making the second into voc. SS 23 §4: “Ah, sweetest (+ἥδιστον) light of day! Sole savior of the house of Agamemnon! how have you come?”. +Ἀγαμέμνονος, resolution, of 1st anceps in a trimeter is common with proper names. Cf. Ἀγαμέμνονος 2n.

LINE 1357
ὑπηρέτημα, ατος, τό
service rendered; >‘you who have (ἔχων) the (sweetest service of feet =) sweetest feet to do your errands’; [1× Soph.]

λήθω
see +*λανθάνω (ἔληθες, impf. act.) escape notice (with supplem, ptc. +ξυνών [+σύνειμι] completing its meaning: S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261 §12f); > ‘how could you be with me for so long unrecognized ( eluding my notice) . . . ?’

σαίνω
cheer, greet, please; > ‘and not greet me’; [1× El.]

+ἀπ- +*όλλῡμι

(ἀπώλλυς, impf. indic. 2sg.) act.: destroy utterly; > ‘but you were killing me with your words, although you had the sweetest (deeds =) reality for me’

LINE 1361
χαῖρε

Greetings! (πατερ· πατέρα polyptoton. Play on different forms of the same word was greatly appreciated by the Greeks.)

+μάλιστα (adv.)

(superlative of μάλα, exceedingly) especially (with ὡς for heightened emphasis)

+ἐχθαίρω

(aor.1 indic.) (ἔχθος, hatred) hate (κἀφίλησ᾿= καὶ ἐφίλησα); > ‘know that in one day I hated you and loved you exceedingly, more than any other man’

189

Commentary 1364–1383

ΠΑ.

ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ μοι· τοὺϲ γὰρ ἐν μέϲῳ λόγουϲ —
πολλαὶ κυκλοῦνται νύκτεϲ ἡμέραι τʼ ἴϲαι,

1365
αἳ ταῦτά ϲοι δείξουϲιν, Ἠλέκτρα, ϲαφῆ.

ϲφῷν δʼ ἐννέπω ʼγὼ τοῖν παρεϲτώτοιν ὅτι
νῦν καιρὸϲ ἔρδειν· νῦν Κλυταιμήϲτρα μόνη·
νῦν οὔτιϲ ἀνδρῶν ἔνδον· εἰ δʼ ἐφέξετον,
φροντίζεθʼ ὡϲ τούτοιϲ τε καὶ ϲοφωτέροιϲ

1370
ἄλλοιϲι τούτων πλείοϲιν μαχούμενοι.

ΟΡ.

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.

1375

LINE 1364

+ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ μοι
lit.: this seems enough to me = ‘I think that is enough’

τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους

The phrase ἐν +μέσῳ (‘in the middle’) refers here to the period of time between the present and the moment in the past when Or. left Mycenae (Jebb, Finglass); > as for the (words =) story between the present and the past’

κυκλέω
revolve, circle; > ‘many nights and the same number of days revolve around, which will show you these things clearly, Electra’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1367
παρ- +*ίστημι

(παρεστώτοιν, pf. ptc. dual) make stand besides; pf.: stand besides (articular substant. ptc.: S #2050–

2052; SS 257– 58 §9; GMT #825; σφῷν also dual. The Tutor moves from El. to Or. and Pyl.); >

‘I say to you two who stand here . . . ’

ἔρδω
work, accomplish, do (νῦν . . . νῦν . . . νῦν the anaphora and asyndeton are greatly emphatic) ἐπ- +*έχω

(ἐφέξετον, fut. dual); keep in, hold back
φροντίζω
consider, reckon, bear in mind (this verb does not usually take a participial construction in indirect discourse; when it does, the participle is in acc., or nom. with ὡς: ὡς μαχούμενοι: GMT #919); [1× El. ]

+πλείων, ον

(comparison of +πολύς) more (with genit. of comparison τούτων)

*μάχομαι, μαχοῦμαι

(μαχούμενοι, fut. dep. ptc.) > ‘consider that you will be fighting with them (τούτοις: the domestics inside) and with others more numerous and skilled (σοφώτεροις) than these’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1372
τόδε εἴη τὄυργον
οὐδὲν ἔργον with genit. means “there is no need of” (Jebb, Finglass). (The phrase governs both the preceding μακρῶν λόγων and χωρεῖν in 1374. The opt. εἴη with ἄν for excitement: Finglass. Cf. ἂν μέλοιτο
at 1436); > ‘Pylades, we do not (οὐδέν) need any longer long words; our task is to go inside at once’

Πῠλάδη

[ᾰ] resolution of 1st anceps: Πῠλάδη; see Ἀγ. 2n.

ὅσον +τάχος

= ὡς τάχιστα as quickly as possible, at once
ἔδος, εος, τό

(ἕζομαι) seat, pedestal of a statue ( enallage; SS 164– 65 §4b). Here acc. for genit.: πατρῷα . . . ἔδη
θεῶν = πατρῴων ἔδη θεῶν; > seats of my father’s gods’; [1× El. ]

προσ- *κῠνέω

(προσκύσαντε, aor.1 ptc. dual) render homage to; > ‘after having rendered homage to’; (1× El. ) ὅσοσ- περ, ὅση- περ, ὅσον- περ as many as
πρό- πῠλον, τό

(πρό, πύλη) portico, vestibule (resolution in position 6; [1× Soph.]

190

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΗΛ.

ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἵλεωϲ αὐτοῖν κλύε,
ἐμοῦ τε πρὸϲ τούτοιϲιν, ἥ ϲε πολλὰ δὴ
ἀφʼ ὧν ἔχοιμι λιπαρεῖ προὔϲτην χερί.

νῦν δʼ, ὦ Λύκειʼ Ἄπολλον, ἐξ οἵων ἔχω
αἰτῶ, προπίτνω, λίϲϲομαι, γενοῦ πρόφρων

1380
ἡμῖν ἀρωγὸϲ τῶνδε τῶν βουλευμάτων
καὶ δεῖξον ἀνθρώποιϲι τἀπιτίμια
τῆϲ δυϲϲεβείαϲ οἷα δωροῦνται θεοί.

Orestes, Pylades, and the Tutor enter the palace. Electra remains alone in front of the skēnē and addresses the statue of Apollo LINE 1376
ἵλεως
propitious, gracious, kindly; > ‘Lord Apollo hear them (αὐτοῖν dual. genit.) kindly, and [hear] me also’

πολλά (adv.)

many times
ἀφ᾿ὧν +*ἔχοιμι

Kells: “from what store I might have.” Opt. of indefinite frequency for past time (Jebb).

λῑπᾰρής, ές
persisting, insisting, persevering, earnest
προ- +*ΐστημι

(προὔστην = προ- ἔστην, aor.2) approach, place oneself in front of (with acc. σε); > ‘ I who have approached you many times with insistent [praying] hand’

LINE 1379
ἐξ οἵων ἔχω

Kells (with Jebb and the Schol.): “on the basis of (i.e., ‘at the price of’) such possessions as I have.” I.e., with no offerings at all, since she has none.

αἰτέω
ask, beg, request; Notice the following emphatic asyndeton.

προσ- πίτνω

(poetic for προσ- πίπτω); fall upon, embrace; prostrate, supplicate λίσσομαι
beg, pray, entreat

+*γενοῦ

(γίγνομαι, aor.2 impv. 2sg.) be
πρό- φρων, ονος, ὁ/ ἡ

(+πρό, +φρήν) with forward mind, kindly, willing; [1× Soph.]

βούλευμα, ατος, τό

(βολεύω) plan, design (objective genit.); > (lit.: be a helper in this plans, = ) help us in these plans’

+*δεῖξον

(δείκνῠμι, aor.1 impv. act.) show, reveal
ἐπι- τίμιος, ον

(ἐπί, τιμή) as substantive: assessment of damages, penalty; [1× El. ]

δυσσέβεια, ἡ
impiety; [1× El. ]

δωρέομαι
give, present one with, bring a gift, bestow (ironic choice of a verb); > ‘and show mortals what kind of wages/ penalty gods bestow for impiety’

191

Commentary 1384–1401

ΧΟ.

ʹἴδεθʼ ὅπου προνέμεται
στρ. α’

τὸ δυϲέριϲτον αἷμα φυϲῶν Ἄρηϲ.

1385
βεβᾶϲιν ἄρτι δωμάτων ὐπόϲτεγοι
μετάδρομοι κακῶν πανουργημάτων
ἄφυκτοι κύνεϲ,
ὥϲτʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἔτʼ ἀμμενεῖ
τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον αἰωρούμενον.

1390

Electra goes into the palace

THIRD STASIMON, LINES 1384–1397

The stasimon is comprised of a short strophic pair (1384– 1390 = 1391– 1397). The Chorus visualize the entry of the avengers as the arrival of inescapable hounds. The avengers are the embodiments of the spirits of the dead who demand the blood of their murderers.

STROPHE, Lines 1384– 1390

LINE 1384
ὅπου (adv.)

where
προ- νέμω
mid.: gain ground, advance, spread; [1× Soph.]

δυσ- έριστος, ον

(δυσ- , ἐρίζω, quarrel) caused by evil strife; [1× Soph.]

αἷμα, ατος, τό
blood
φῡσάω

(φυσῶν, pres. ptc.) blow up, pant; > ‘See where Ares advances panting with blood born of strife’; [1× El.]

LINE 1386
ἄρτῐ (adv.)

right now; [1× El.]

+*βαίνω

(βεβᾶσιν, 2nd pf. 3pl.) go (for the perfect, see εὖ βεβηκόσιν 979n) ὑπό- στεγος, ον

(ὑπό, στεγή) under the roof, in the house; >‘Right now they are beneath the house’s roof; [1× El.]

μετά- δρομος, ον

(μέτα, δραμεῖν) pursuing, hunting; [1× Soph.]

πᾰνούργημα, ατος, τό
a knavish, roguish act, crime (κακῶν πανουργημάτων objective genit. with μετάδρομοι); > ‘inescapable hounds pursuing evil crimes’ [1× Soph.]

ἄ- φυκτος, ον

(ἀ privat., φυκτός) inescapable; [1× El.]

κύων, κυνός ὁ/ ἡ

[ῠ] dog, hound; [1× El.)

μᾰκράν (adv.)

(from fem. acc. of +μᾰκρός) ‘at length’

ἀμμένω

= ἀνα- +*μένω (ἀμμενεῖ, fut. indic.) await, delay, tarry (ὥστε with finite verb for actual result: S #2250, 2551, 2257; SS 311 §3; GMT #601)

αἰωρέομαι

(αἱωρούμεννον, pres. pass. ptc.) pass. metaphorically: be in suspense; > ‘ so that the vision of my mind will not for long hover in suspense’; [1× Soph.]

192

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
παράγεται γὰρ ἐνέρων
ἀντ. α’

δολιόπουϲ ἀρωγὸϲ εἴϲω ϲτέγαϲ,
ἀρχαιόπλουτα πατρὸϲ εἰϲ ἑδώλια,
νεακόνητον αἷμα χειροῖν ἔχων·
ὁ Μαίαϲ δὲ παῖϲ

1395

Ἑρμῆϲ ϲφʼ ἄγει δόλον ϲκότῳ
κρύψαϲ πρὸϲ αὐτὸ τέρμα κοὐκέτʼ ἀμμένει.

ΗΛ.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκεϲ, ἅνδρεϲ αὐτίκα
στρ.

τελοῦϲι τοὔργον· ἀλλὰ ϲῖγα πρόϲμενε.

ΧΟ. πῶϲ δή; τί νῦν πράϲϲουϲιν; ΗΛ. ἡ μὲν ἐϲ τάφον
λέβητα κοϲμεῖ, τὼ δʼ ἐφέϲτατον πέλαϲ.

1401

ANTISTROPHE, Lines 1391– 1397

LINE 1391
παρ- άγω
lead aside, lead insidiously
ἔνεροι, οἱ
those beneath the earth, the dead; [1× Soph.]

δολιόπους, ὁ/ ἡ, πουν, τό

(δόλιος, πούς) of stealthy foot; [1× Soph.]

ἀρχαιόπλουτος, ον

(ἁρχαῖος, πλοῦτος) rich from olden times; [1× Soph.]

ἑδώλιον, τό

(ἕδος) seat; [1× El.]

νεᾱκόνητος, ον

(νέος, ἀκόνη, whetstone) newly sharpened; > ‘For the champion of those beneath the earth stealthily moves into the house, into the seats of his father’s house rich of old, with new- sharpened death (αἷμα) in his hands’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1395
σκότος, ὁ
darkness
τέρμα, ατος, τό
end, goal; > ‘And Maia’s son, Hermes, hiding his guile in darkness, leads him to the goal itself, and no longer delays.’

KOMMOS (Lyric Dialogue), LINES 1398– 1441

The kommos is comprised of a strophic pair: 1398– 1421 = 1422– 1441. A lyric exchange between Electra, Chorus, Orestes, and Clytemnestra off- stage. The high point of this scene is the murder of Clytemnestra, followed by preparation for ensnaring Aegisthus.

STROPHE, LINES 1398– 1421

LINE 1398
σῖγα (adv.)

silently
λέβης, ητος, ὁ

(λείβω, pour) cinerary urn; [1× El. ]

κοσμέω

(κόσμος, order) order, deck, adorn
ἐφ- +*ίστημι

(τὼ ἐφέστατον, pf. indic. act. dual): stand by or over (articular substantive participle); > ‘she is adorning the urn for burial, and those two stand near her’; [1× El. ]

193

Commentary 1402–1425

ΧΟ.

ϲὺ δʼ ἐκτὸϲ ᾖξαϲ πρὸϲ τί; ΗΛ. φρουρήϲουϲʼ ὅπωϲ

Αἴγιϲθοϲ

〈ἡμᾶϲ 〉

μὴ λάθῃ μολὼν ἔϲω.

ΚΛ.

αἰαῖ. ἰὼ ϲτέγαι
φίλων ἐρῆμοι, τῶν δʼ ἀπολλύντων πλέαι.

1405

ΗΛ.

βοᾷ τιϲ ἔνδον. οὐκ ἀκούετʼ, ὦ φίλαι;

ΧΟ. ἤκουϲʼ ἀνήκουϲτα δύϲ-
τανοϲ, ὥϲτε φρῖξαι.

ΚΛ.

οἴμοι τάλαινʼ. Αἴγιϲθε, ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν κυρεῖϲ;

ΗΛ.

ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖ θροεῖ τιϲ. ΚΛ. ὦ τέκνον
τέκνον,

1410
οἴκτιρε τὴν τεκοῦϲαν. ΗΛ. ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκ ϲέθεν

LINE 1402

+ἐκτός
outside
ἀίσσω

[ῑ] (ᾖξας, aor.1 act.) shoot, dart; > ‘Why did you dart outside?’

φρουρέω

(φρουρήσουσα, fut. ptc.) keep watch, guard (final ptc. following vb. of coming [ᾖξα]:S #2065; SS 252 §3.

ὅπως with aor.2 subjv., +*λάθῃ, opens an object clause after verb of effort, φρουρέω: S #2214. +*μολών

[βλώσκω, aor.2 ptc.] is supplem. ptc. following +*λανθάνω: S #2096; SS 261 §12f); > ‘in order to keep watch that Aeg. does not come in unobserved’; [1× El. ]

ἐρῆμος (3/ 2)

deserted; [1× El. ]

πλέος, α, ον

+ genit.; full, filled
τῶν ἀπ- +*ολλύντων

(ἀπ- όλλυμι, pres. act. ptc.) articular substantive participle; > ‘the house is empty of friends, but full of murderers.’

LINE 1406
ἀν- ήκουστος, ον

(ἀ privat., ἀκούω) unheard of (ἤκουσα ἀνήκουστα— word- play for emphasis in this crucial moment of the play); [1× Soph.]

δύστανος

= +δύστηνος
φρίσσω

(φρῖξαι, aor.1 inf. act.) shudder, horrify (ὥστε with inf. for intended result rather than an actual one: S

#2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587); > ‘so that made me shudder’; [1× El.]

+κῠρέω

(poetic for τυγχάνω) with supplementary participle ὤν, which states what the main action is (S #2096a; GMT #887; SS 261 §12f); > ‘Aeg., where (do you happen to be =) are you?’

LINE 1409
θροέω

(θρόος, a confused noise) cry aloud; speak, declare
οἰκτείρω
pity
τὴν +*τεκοῦσαν

(τίκτω, aor.2 act. ptc.) articular substant. ptc. See ἡ τεκοῦσα 470n.

+ἐκ

= ὑπό with genit. of agent (+σέθεν see1209n)

γεννάω

(γεννήσας, aor.1 ptc.) to beget (of the father); (ptc. in attributive position); > ‘But he was not pitied by you, nor was his father who begot him’; [1× El. ]

194

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
ᾠκτίρεθʼ οὗτοϲ οὐδʼ ὁ γεννήϲαϲ πατήρ.

ΧΟ.

ὦ πόλιϲ, ὦ γενεὰ τάλαινα, νῦν ϲοι
μοῖρα καθημερία φθίνει φθίνει.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι πέπληγμαι. ΗΛ. παῖϲον, εἰ ϲθένειϲ, διπλῆν.

ΚΛ.

ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθιϲ. ΗΛ. εἰ γὰρ Αἰγίϲθῳ γʼ
ὁμοῦ.

1416

ΧΟ. τελοῦϲʼ ἀραί· ζῶϲιν οἱ
γᾶϲ ὑπαὶ κείμενοι.

παλίρρυτον γὰρ αἷμʼ ὑπεξαιροῦϲι τῶν
κτανόντων

1420
οἱ πάλαι θανόντεϲ.

καὶ μὴν πάρειϲιν οἵδε· φοινία δὲ χεὶρ
ἀντ.

ϲτάζει θυηλῆϲ Ἄρεοϲ, οὐδʼ ἔχω ψέγειν.

ΗΛ. Ὀρέϲτα, πῶϲ κυρεῖ τάδʼ; ΟΡ. ἐν δόμοιϲι μὲν
καλῶϲ, Ἀπόλλων εἰ καλῶϲ ἐθέϲπιϲεν.

1425

LINE 1412
μοῖρα, ἡ
fate
καθ- ημέριος (3)

(= καθ᾿ ἡμέραν) every day, daily, from day to day; [1× Soph.]

φθίνω
perish, waste away, decline, die; [1× El. ]

*πλήσσω

(πέπληγμαι, pf. indic. pass.) strike; [1× El. ]

παίω

(παῖσον, aor. act. impv.) hit, smite (with omitted internal object, leaving only the adjectival attribute διπλῆν: S #1272); > ‘ strike, if you have the strength, twice/ a double blow; [1× El. ]

ὁμοῦ (adv.)

(neut. genit. of ὁμός, joint) together, at once (εἰ γάρ opens an unattainable wish, here elliptical [no verb]); > ‘if only Aeg. were [struck] too’

LINE 1417
ἀρά, ἡ
curse
οἱ +κείμενοι
articular substantive participle; > ‘The curses are being realized; those who lie beneath the earth are living.’

πᾰλίρρῠτος, ον
flowing in retribution; [1× Soph.]

ὑπ- εξ- αιρέω
take away privily, remove secretly; [1× El. ]

τῶν +*κτανόντων

(κτείνω, aor.2 act. ptc.) kill, slay (articular substantive participle); > ‘those who perished long ago are in secret draining from their killers blood in return for blood.’

Orestes and Pylades emerge from the palace. Orestes is carrying a bloody sword.

ANTISTROPHE, Lines 1422– 1441

LINE 1422
καὶ μήν

Look! (calls attention to something just heard or seen: GP 356 §7); > ‘Look, they are here!’

στάζω
let drop, drip; [1× Soph.]

θῠηλή, ἡ

(θύω, to sacrifice) a sacrifice; > ‘and a bloody hand drips with a sacrifice to Ares’; [1× Soph.]

ψέγω
find fault with (ἔχω can mean ‘I can,’ especially with inf. of vb. of saying: S #2000a); > ‘and I can find no fault with it.’

195

Commentary 1426–1441

ΗΛ.

τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα; ΟΡ. μηκέτʼ ἐκφοβοῦ
μητρῷον ὥϲ ϲε λῆμʼ ἀτιμάϲει ποτέ.

ΗΛ. 〈– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ x
x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ –

ΟΡ.

x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ –〉

ΧΟ. παύϲαϲθε, λεύϲϲω γὰρ Αἴ-
γιϲθον ἐκ προδήλου.

ΟΡ. 〈x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ – x – ⏑ –〉

ΗΛ.

ὦ παῖδεϲ, οὐκ ἄψορρον; ΟΡ. εἰϲορᾶτε ποῦ

1430
τὸν ἄνδρʼ; ΗΛ. ἐφʼ ἡμῖν οὗτοϲ ἐκ προαϲτίου
χωρεῖ γεγηθὼϲ

〈– ⏑ – x – ⏑ –〉

.

+Ὀρέστα
voc., see 6n; > ‘Orestes, how are things?’

θεσπίζω
declare by oracle, prophesy (μέν solitarium, see 61n; notice the repetition of καλῶς); Is Orestes expressing doubt here, or rather confidence? Is the comment ironic?; [1× El. ]

LINE 1426
ἐκ- φοβέω
to frighten
ἀ-τῑμάζω

(ἀ privat., τῑμή) disrespect (μηκέτι ἐκφοβοῦ ὡς ἀτιμάσει. Vb. of fearing takes usually μή with subjv. for the fear clause. I.e., μὴ σε ἀτιμάσῃ, ‘lest her arrogance may disrespect you.’ But in Soph. ὡς followed by the fut. indic. is also found when the fear verb is negated, as it is here μηκέτι ἐκφοβοῦ: GMT #341; SS 292);

> ‘ do not fear any more that your mother’s arrogance will disrespect you again’; cf. ὡς . . . ὄψεται 1309– 10n;

[1× El. ]

μητρῷος (3)

motherly; [1× El. ]

λῆμα, τό
wish, will; in bad sense: pride, arrogance; [1× El. ]

Since it is assumed that 1422– 41 are antistrophic to 1398– 421, it appears that three lines following 1427 have been lost; and an iambic line following 1429 and corresponding to 1409 has been lost; as well as the second half of the iambic 1431. The unfortunate losses do not, however, have an impact on the general sense.

+παύω
stop
πρό- δηλος, ον

(πρό, δῆλος) clear beforehand; ἐκ προδήλου ‘manifestly’; [1× Soph.]

LINE 1430
ἄψορρον (adv.)

(ἄψ, backwards, back; ῥέω, flow) backward, back again
προ- άστειον, τό

(πρό, ἄστυ) outskirts of the city; [1× Soph.]

γηθέω

(γηγηθώς, pf. ptc. act.) be delighted, rejoice (supplem. ptc. sometimes accompanies a vb. of motion, χωρεῖ, to specify the manner of the coming, and contains the main idea: S#2099; GMT #895); >

‘there he is, walking toward us full of joy from the outskirts of the city’

196

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΧΟ.

βᾶτε κατʼ ἀντιθύρων ὅϲον τάχιϲτα,
νῦν, τὰ πρὶν εὖ θέμενοι, τάδʼ ὡϲ πάλιν —

ΟΡ. θάρϲει· τελοῦμεν. ΗΛ. ᾗ νοεῖϲ ἔπειγε νῦν.

1435

ΟΡ.

καὶ δὴ βέβηκα. ΗΛ. τἀνθάδʼ ἂν μέλοιτʼ ἐμοί.

ΧΟ. διʼ ὠτὸϲ ἂν παῦρά γʼ ὡϲ
ἠπίωϲ ἐννέπειν
πρὸϲ ἄνδρα τόνδε ϲυμφέροι, λαθραῖον ὡϲ
ὀρούϲῃ

1440
πρὸϲ δίκαϲ ἀγῶνα.

LINE 1433

+*βᾶτε

(βαίνω, aor.2 impv. 2pl.) go
κατά (+ genit.)

down from
ἀντί- θῠρον, τό

(ἀντί, θύρα) inner part of the house opposite the door, vestibule (κατ᾿ ἀντυθύρων a rare use of κατά with genit. Kells suggests “ ‘go down from the vestibule,’ i.e., retire from the vestibule into the inward parts of the house.” The vestibule is thought as ‘high,’ i.e., exposed part of the palace); [1× Soph.]

τὰ πρὶν
substantival making power of the article with adverbs (S #1153e); > ‘the earlier (things) business’

εὖ +*θέμενοι

(τίθημι, aor.2 ptc. mid.); > ‘having settled the earlier business well, so now may you settle [= εὖ θῆσθε]

this one in turn’

+ᾗ (adv.)

(dat. sg. fem. of relative pron.) which way, where, in/ at what place νοέω
think, mind, deem, intend, mean
ἐπείγω
hasten, hurry on; > ‘hurry now to wherever you mean to go’; [1× El. ]

LINE 1436
καὶ δή

‘very well then’ (GP 251: “in response to a definite command, often with word of command echoed”);

> ‘Very well then, I am on my way!’

ἐνθάδε (adv.)

here
ἂν +μέλοιτο

The middle is used here like active (Kamerbeek). The opt. εἴη with ἄν for excitement (Finglass). Cf. ἂν
εἴη 1372– 73n; > ‘I’ll take care of matters here.’

+παῦρα

(acc. pl. neut.) internal object leaving only the adjectival attribute (S #1272) ἠπίως
gently, mildly; ὡς ἠπίως ‘as if kindly’; [1× Soph.]

ἂν +συμ- φέροι
potential opt.; > ‘it might help to whisper as if kindly a few [words] in his ear’

λαθραῖος (2/ 3)

secret, hidden, stealthy; [1× El. ]

ὀρούω

(ὀρούσῃ, aor.1 act. subjv.) rush violently forward (potential opt., συμφέροι, as main vb. takes a subjv. in dependent final clause: GMT #180); [1× El. ]

+ἀγών, ῶνος, ὁ
contest, trial, struggle; > ‘so that he may rush into the stealthy trial of justice.’

197

Commentary 1442–1459

ΑΙΓΙϹΘΟϹ
τίϲ οἶδεν ὑμῶν ποῦ ποθʼ οἱ Φωκῆϲ ξένοι,
οὕϲ φαϲʼ Ὀρέϲτην ἡμὶν ἀγγεῖλαι βίον
λελοιπόθʼ ἱππικοῖϲιν ἐν ναυαγίοιϲ;
ϲέ τοι, ϲὲ κρίνω, ναὶ ϲέ, τὴν ἐν τῷ πάροϲ

1445
χρόνῳ θραϲεῖαν· ὡϲ μάλιϲτα ϲοὶ μέλειν
οἶμαι, μάλιϲτα δʼ ἂν κατειδυῖαν φράϲαι.

ΗΛ.

ἔξοιδα· πῶϲ γὰρ οὐχί; ϲυμφορᾶϲ γὰρ ἂν
ἔξωθεν εἴην τῶν ἐμῶν γε φιλτάτων.

ΑΙ.

ποῦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἶεν οἱ ξένοι; δίδαϲκέ με.

1450

ΗΛ.

ἔνδον· φίληϲ γὰρ προξένου κατήνυϲαν.

EXODOS, LINES 1442–1510

Aegisthus enters and addresses himself to the Chorus and Electra. A recognition between Aegisthus and Orestes follows, and Aegisthus is marched off to his death.

LINE 1442
ποῦ (adv.)

where? > ‘where the Phocian strangers are?’

+*φασί

(pres. indic. 3pl.) (φα- , φη- ) φημί with acc. and inf. construction οὕς . . .+*ἀγγεῖλαι
ἡμίν
for accent, see17n; > ‘who they say have reported to us the that . . .+’

+*λελοιπότα

(λείπω, pf. ptc. act.) supplem. ptc. following vb. of saying ἀγγεῖλαι (S #2106; SS 318 §6) ναυᾱγία, ἡ
shipwreck (nautical metaphor. Cf. 335); > ‘Orestes lost his life in a chariot wreck.’

LINE 1445
κρίνω
judge
ναί

‘yes’ (asseverative pcl. in affirmative sentences) ; [1× El. ]

+πάρος (adv.)

before
θρασύς, εῖα, ύ
bold; > ‘you, you, I think, yes, you, so bold in former times, since I think it concerns you most especially’

+κατ- ειδυῖαν +φράσαι

(κατοῖδα, pf. act. ptc. fem.) acc. and inf. construction depending on οἶμαι; the infinitive reflects potential optative, hence ἄν; > ‘since I think that you are most likely to tell me from sure knowledge’

LINE 1448
ἔξωθεν (adv.)

(ἔξω) from without; [1× Soph.]

ἂν . . . εἴην
potential opt.; > ‘I know it well, of course, for otherwise I would be distant from the calamity of those dearest to me.’

ἂν εἶεν (οἱ ξένοι)

‘Where may the strangers be/ are likely to be?’ I.e., “Where it is likely to turn out that they are?”: GMT

238; (SS 230 §14ii)

πρό- ξενος, ὁ
host/ hostess; [1× Soph.]

κατ- ᾰνύω
arrive at a place, reach (with genit.); > ‘They have come upon a friendly hostess’; [1× El. ]

198

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΑΙ.

ἦ καὶ θανόντʼ ἤγγειλαν ὡϲ ἐτητύμωϲ;

ΗΛ.

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀπέδειξαν, οὐ λόγῳ μόνον.

ΑΙ. πάρεϲτʼ ἄρʼ ἡμῖν ὥϲτε κἀμφανῆ μαθεῖν;

ΗΛ. πάρεϲτι δῆτα καὶ μάλʼ ἄζηλοϲ θέα.

1455

ΑΙ.

ἦ πολλὰ χαίρειν μʼ εἶπαϲ οὐκ εἰωθότωϲ.

ΗΛ. χαίροιϲ ἄν, εἴ ϲοι χαρτὰ τυγχάνει τάδε.

ΑΙ.

οἴγειν πύλαϲ ἄνωγα κἀναδεικνύναι
πᾶϲιν Μυκηναίοιϲιν Ἀργείοιϲ θʼ ὁρᾶν,

LINE 1452
ἐτητύμως (adv.)

really (ὡς ἐτητύμως can connect either with θανόντ᾿ or ἤγγειλαν); > Kamerbeek: “did they actually (καί) report that he really died?”; [1× Soph.]

οὔκ
ambiguous: for Aeg. it negates only the previous finite verb ἤγγειλαν; i.e., they did not only report but also showed. On another level, it denies the entire former sentence.

ἐπι- +*δείκνυμι

(= καὶ ἐπέδειξαν) show forth; display; > ‘they even (showed =) proved it, not by word alone’; [1× El. ]

+πάρεστι (+ dat.)

impersonal: it is in one’s power (= ἔξεστι). Although Aeg. uses πάρεστι as an impersonal vb., the meaning of ‘he is here’ ‘he is present’ (πάρειμι), i.e., Orestes, is also there. El.’s repetition of the vb. in the next line plays further on the two meanings.

ἐμ-φᾰνής, ές

(φαίνω) visible, manifest (usually ὥστε with inf., μαθεῖν, implies a possible or intended result or a tendency rather than actual fact, but here it seems redundant. The inf. can follow πάρεστι directly: GMT

#588); ‘Is it possible for me/ (us) to learn (these things as visible, i.e.) this with my own eyes?’

LINE 1455
ἄ- ζηλος, ον
unenviable, miserable; [1× El. ]

θέα, ἡ
sight; [1× El. ]

ἦ (adv.)

in truth, truly, verily
εἰωθότως (adv.)

in the usual way; > ‘indeed you are saying [things] that give me great pleasure, not in [your] usual way’;

[1× Soph.]

χαρτός (3)

delightful, gladdening; [1× El. ]

+τυγχάνει

‘then you may be pleased, if this really brings you pleasure.’ (ὄντα [with τάδε] omitted. See τύγχάνω 46n) LINE 1458
οἴγω
open; [1× Soph.]

ἄνωγα

I order; [1× El. ]

ἀνα- +*δείκνυμι

(= καὶ ἀναδεικνύναι, pres. inf. act.); make public (with ὁρᾶν limiting/ explanatory infinitive: SS 238–

39 §3); [1× Soph.]

+πᾶσιν Μυκηναίοισιν
the townsfolk and the people of the neighboring district (Jebb). See also Ἄργος 4n Ἀργείοις θ᾿

199

Commentary 1460–1478
ὡϲ εἴ τιϲ αὐτῶν ἐλπίϲιν κεναῖϲ πάροϲ

1460
ἐξῄρετʼ ἀνδρὸϲ τοῦδε, νῦν ὁρῶν νεκρὸν
ϲτόμια δέχηται τἀμά, μηδὲ πρὸϲ βίαν
ἐμοῦ κολαϲτοῦ προϲτυχὼν φύϲῃ φρέναϲ.

ΗΛ.

καὶ δὴ τελεῖται τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ· τῷ γὰρ χρόνῳ
νοῦν ἔϲχον, ὥϲτε ϲυμφέρειν τοῖϲ κρείϲϲοϲιν.

1465

ΑΙ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, δέδορκα φάϲμʼ ἄνευ φθόνου μὲν οὐ
πεπτωκόϲ· εἰ δʼ ἔπεϲτι νέμεϲιϲ οὐ λέγω.

LINE 1460
ἐξ- αίρω

(ἐξῄρετο, impf. ind.) pass.: be raised (past condition with no implication as to fulfillment. εἰ with indicative ἐξῄρετο followed by two final subjunctives ὡς . . . +δέχηται, μηδέ φύσῃ; SS 279– 80 §2b: “ . . . in order that, if anyone of them previously was buoyed up with vain hopes . . . he may now be subject to my curb”);

[1× El. ]

στόμιον, τό
bridle bit, bit (tools appear often in pl., because of their composite nature: SS 4– 5 §3. στόμια resolution in 2nd position: στόμια); [1× El. ]

πρὸς +βίαν

= βιαίως. explained by ἐμοῦ κολαστοῦ προστυχών (Kamberbeek). See μηδὲν πρὸς +ὀργήν 369n.

κολαστής, ὁ
punisher; [1× El. ]

προσ- +*τυγχάνω

(προστυχών, aor.2 ptc.) meet with (with genit. ἐμοῦ κολαστοῦ); [1× El. ]

+*φύσῃ

(φύω, aor.1 subjv.) with +φρένας, acc. of manner; > ‘ nor may he become wise against his will (πρὸς +βίαν) through meeting me, his punisher.’

LINE 1464
καὶ δή
see 1436n

+τελεῖται

(τελέω, pres./ fut. ind. mid.) Either the present tense, if El. is opening the doors as she speaks, or future tense indicating what she is about to do. (ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ genit. of agent); > ‘these things are/ will be accomplished by me’

τῷ γὰρ +χρόνῳ

‘for at long last’

ὥστε συμφέρειν
ὥστε with inf. (outside indirect discourse) opens an result clause: it implies a possible or intended result or a tendency rather than actual result (S #2251, 2254; GMT #582, 587). Ironically echoes 1013– 14. >

‘for long last I’ve acquired the wisdom so as to come to terms with those who are more powerful.’

κρείσσων, ον
stronger (comparison of ἀγαθός: S #319.1. τοῖς κρείσοσιν, substantival article with adj.: S #1021, 1153a; SS 163 §1); El. is echoing the words of Chr. in 340, 396, 1014. The spectators know, of ocourse, that she does not mean them, but they flatter Aeg.; [1× El. ]

The ekkyklema is rolled out of the palace door, bearing the shrouded corpse of Clytemnestra. Orestes and Pylades emerge from the palace as the messengers who brought the news.

φθόνος, ὁ
ill will, envy, jealousy, grudge, malice; > ‘O Zeus, I see a vision that has befallen, not without the ill will

[of the gods]’;
ἐπ- +*ειμι
be upon/ at, attend; [1× El. ]

νέμεσις, εως, ἡ
just or deserved anger; > ‘but if righteous anger attends it, I say nothing [of it]’

200

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A
χαλᾶτε πᾶν κάλυμμʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅπωϲ
τὸ ϲυγγενέϲ τοι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ.

ΟΡ. αὐτὸϲ ϲὺ βάϲταζʼ. οὐκ ἐμὸν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ ϲόν,

1470
τὸ ταῦθʼ ὁρᾶν τε καὶ προϲηγορεῖν φίλωϲ.

ΑΙ. ἀλλʼ εὖ παραινεῖϲ, κἀπιπείϲομαι· ϲὺ δέ,
εἴ που κατʼ οἶκον ἡ Κλυταιμήϲτρα, κάλει.

ΟΡ.

αὕτη πέλαϲ ϲοῦ· μηκέτʼ ἄλλοϲε ϲκόπει.

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, τί λεύϲϲω; ΟΡ. τίνα φοβῇ; τίνʼ ἀγνοεῖϲ;

ΑΙ.

τίνων ποτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐν μέϲοιϲ ἀρκυϲτάτοιϲ

1476
πέπτωχ' ὁ τλήμων; ΟΡ. οὐ γὰρ αἰϲθάνῃ πάλαι
ζῶν τοῖϲ θανοῦϲιν οὕνεκʼ ἀνταυδᾷϲ ἴϲα;

LINE 1468
χᾰλάω
loose, loosen (the order is directed to Or. and Pyl.); [1× El. ]

κάλυμμα, ατος, τό

(καλύπτω) covering; [1× El. ]

ὀφθαλμός, ὁ
eye; [1× El. ]

συγγενής, ές

(σύν, γενέσθαι) congenital, kin
ὅπως . . . τύχῃ

(τυγχάνω, aor.2 subjv.) Final clause following primary sequence, χάλατε; imperative moods count as primary because they point to the future (S #2196, 1858a); > ‘ so that kinship, at least (τοι) may receive lamentations from my side as well’

LINE 1470
προσ- ηγορέω

(προσήγορος) address kindly, console; [1× Soph.]

οὐκ ἐμὸν . . . +*ὁρᾶν
τὸ ὁρᾶν is the subject, supply ἐστί. ταῦθ᾿ refers to what is underneath the cover; > ‘It is not mine, but yours to look upon this and address it lovingly.’

*παρ- αινέω
advise, recommend, counsel
ἐπι- *πείθομαι

(κἀπιπείσομαι =καὶ ἐπιπείσομαι); comply with, obey; [1× Soph.]

σὺ δέ

Addressed to El.; > ‘if Clyt. is somewhere in the house, call [her]’

LINE 1474
ἄλλοσε (adv.)

(+ἄλλος) in another place; [1× El. ]

σκοπέω
look after (used only in pres. and impf.); [1× El. ]

φοβέω
pass.: fear; > ‘Whom/ what are you afraid of?’ Resolution in 6th position: τινα; [1× El. ]

ἀγνοέω
not to know, not recognize; [1× El. ]

LINE 1476
ἀρκύ- στᾰτον, τό
place in which the nets are set; > ‘In the midst of what men’s nets have I fallen, poor me!’; Is there a mythic allusion here to Clyt.’s ensnaring Ag. in a net in his bath when murdering him?; [1× Soph.]

οὕνεκα (conj.)

(= ὅτι) that (introducing dependent statement: S #2578e; SS 313– 14 §1; GMT #710); [1× El. ]

ἀντ- αυδάω
speak against, answer ( hapax legomenon, a word occurring only once in the Greek corpus); > ‘For have you not noticed that you, while still alive, were (answering =) exchanging words with the dead on equal terms?’

201

Commentary 1479–1500

ΑΙ.

οἴμοι, ξυνῆκα τοὔποϲ· οὐ γὰρ ἔϲθʼ ὅπωϲ
ὅδʼ οὐκ Ὀρέϲτηϲ ἔϲθʼ ὁ προϲφωνῶν ἐμέ.

1480

ΟΡ.

καὶ μάντιϲ ὢν ἄριϲτοϲ ἐϲφάλλου πάλαι;

ΑΙ.

ὄλωλα δὴ δείλαιοϲ. ἀλλά μοι πάρεϲ
κἂν ϲμικρὸν εἰπεῖν. ΗΛ. μὴ πέρα λέγειν ἔα,
πρὸϲ θεῶν, ἀδελφέ, μηδὲ μηκύνειν λόγουϲ.

[τί γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν ϲὺν κακοῖϲ μεμειγμένων

1485
θνῄϲκειν ὁ μέλλων τοῦ 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.

1490

LINE 1479

+ξυν- +*ῆκα

(συνίημι, aor.1 act.); > ‘I understand (your word, +ἔπος =) what you’re saying’

οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾿ ὅπως

‘it is not possible that’ (ὅπως introduces a subordinated clause following verb of thinking, ξυν- ἧκα. In Soph. all examples follow negated main verb. Here: οὐκ ἔστι: SS 314) προσ- +φωνέω
speak to, address; > ‘that this man is not Or. who is speaking to me.’ [1× El. ]

*σφάλλω
trip up, deceive; > ‘And (καί in sarcastic questions: GP 311, iI) although such a good prophet you were deceived for so long?’

LINE 1482

+πάρ- +*ες

(παρίημι, aor.2 impv. 2sg.) allow
κἄν

= καὶ ἐὰν with παρῇς (‘allow’). ἄν is not to be connected with the infinitive εἰπεῖν (GMT #211); > ‘yet, allow me to say one thing.’

πρὸς θεῶν
synizesi s.

μηκύνω

[ῡ] lengthen, prolong; [1× El. ]

LINE 1485
μίγνῠμι
mix (temporal genit. absolute: S #2070a; SS 76 §42. Lines 1485– 86 are suspected by some, mostly on stylistic grounds: Finglass); > ‘When mortals are involved with troubles’; [1× El. ]

ὁ +*μέλλων
substantival article with ptc. (S 1153b); > ‘one who is about to die’

τί . . . ἂν . . .φέροι

‘ what benefit can he who is about to die gain from time’ (i.e., from delay; τοῦ χρόνου genit. of explanation; S #1322; potential opt.)

LINE 1487

+*κτεῖνε καὶ κτανών

(pres. impv.; aor.2 ptc.) > ‘kill him, and after killing him . . .’ (For etymological and semantic repetition, see 67n on πατρῴα/ πατρῷον); El. is about to leave the stage while she is impressing on the audience her burning and unmitigated hatred.

τᾰφεύς, έως, ὁ
gravedigger; [1× El. ]

+εἰκός ἐστι
with inf. (+*τυγχάνειν) and its subject in acc. (τόνδε ); > ‘expose (πρόθες) him to [such] gravediggers as it is appropriate that this man meet with (usually assumed: birds and dogs)’

ἄπ- οπτος, ον
seen at a distance; > ‘far from our sight’; [1× El. ]

ἄν . . . +*γένοιτο

‘since for me only this could be the release from my past sufferings’ (potential opt.) 202

SOPHOCLES’ ELECTR A

ΟΡ. χωροῖϲ ἂν εἴϲω ϲὺν τάχει· λόγων γὰρ οὐ
νῦν ἐϲτιν ἁγών, ἀλλὰ ϲῆϲ ψυχῆϲ πέρι.

ΑΙ.

τί δʼ ἐϲ δόμουϲ ἄγειϲ με; πῶϲ, τόδʼ εἰ καλὸν
τοὔργον, ϲκότου δεῖ, κοὐ πρόχειροϲ εἶ κτανεῖν;

ΟΡ.

μὴ τάϲϲε· χώρει δʼ ἔνθαπερ κατέκτανεϲ

1495
πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν, ὡϲ ἂν ἐν ταὐτῷ θάνῃϲ.

ΑΙ.

ἦ πᾶϲʼ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν ϲτέγην ἰδεῖν
τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα Πελοπιδῶν κακά;

ΟΡ.

τὰ γοῦν ϲʼ· ἐγώ ϲοι μάντιϲ εἰμὶ τῶνδʼ ἄκροϲ.

ΑΙ. ἀλλʼ οὐ πατρῴαν τὴν τέχνην ἐκόμπαϲαϲ.

1500

LINE 1491

+χώροις ἅν

2nd pers. opt. with ἄν can be sometimes a ‘polite’ command (as κλύοις ἄν 637n), but here it is just a command or sarcastic politeness (SS 231 §14); > ‘Go inside quickly’

πέρι (prep.)

anastrophe; see παρά 34n.

πρό- χειρος, ον

(πρό, χείρ) close; ready; > ‘and why are you not ready to kill me?’

ἔνθᾰ- περ (adv.)

there where, where; [1× El. ]

κατα- +*κτείνω, - έκτανον

(κατὲκτανες, aor.2 act.) kill, slay, put to death
ὡς ἂν . . . +*θάνῃς

(aor.2 subjv.) final clause in 1st sequence, χώρει. ὡς with subjunctive sometimes takes ἄν in positive clauses (S #2201); > ‘go where you killed my father, so that you may die in the same place.’

LINE 1497
ἦ πᾶσ᾿ ἀνάγκη

‘ Is it really necessary that this house see . . . ?’ (with inf. +*ἰδεῖν and its subject τήνδε τὴν στέγην) τὰ +*ὄντα καὶ +*μέλλοντα
τά is understood with μέλλοντα as well (SS 153 §21). Cf. κλύοντι at 991.

γοῦν (pcl.)

(γε οῦν) at least (limitative: GP 450– 454. Frequent in answers); > ‘yours, at least (τὰ . . . σά, i.e., κακά).

I am your consummate prophet of these’; [1× El. ]

κομπάζω
brag; > ‘you cannot boast about this art as inherited from your father’; [1× El. ]

203

Commentary 1501–1510

ΟΡ. πόλλʼ ἀντιφωνεῖϲ, ἡ δʼ ὁδὸϲ βραδύνεται.

ἀλλʼ ἕρφʼ. ΑΙ. ὑφηγοῦ. ΟΡ. ϲοὶ βαδιϲτέον
πάροϲ.

ΑΙ.

ἦ μὴ φύγω ϲε; ΟΡ. μὴ μὲν οὖν καθʼ ἡδονὴν
θάνῃϲ· φυλάξαι δεῖ με τοῦτό ϲοι πικρόν.

χρῆν δʼ εὐθὺϲ εἶναι τήνδε τοῖϲ πᾶϲιν δίκην ,

1505
ὅϲτιϲ πέρα πράϲϲειν γε τῶν νόμων θέλοι,
κτείνειν· τὸ γὰρ πανοῦργον οὐκ ἂν ἦν πολύ.

ΧΟ. ὦ
ϲπέρμʼ Ἀτρέωϲ, ὡϲ πολλὰ παθὸν
διʼ ἐλευθερίαϲ μόλιϲ ἐξῆλθεϲ
τῇ νῦν ὁρμῇ τελεωθέν .

1510

LINE 1501
ἀντι- φωνέω
reply; [1× El. ]

βρᾰδύνω
delay; > ‘the journey is delayed’; [1× El. ]

ἕρπω
crawl, creep; glide
ὑφ- ηγέομαι
guide, lead the way; (1× Soph.]

βᾰδιστέον

(βαδίζω, go) must go (with dat. of agent σοί: S #1488a); > ‘You need to go first’

μὴ +*φύγω

(φεύγω, aor.2 subjv.) supply φοβεῖς, followed by fear clause in subjv. (S #2220b); > ‘Lest I escape you?’

μὴ . . . +*θάνῃς

= ἵνα μὴ . . . θάνῃς (aor.2 subjv.) final clause; > ‘No, so that you may not die as you please’

+φῠλάξαι

(aor.1 inf. act.) inf. required by *δεῖ, with acc. με as subject; > ‘it is necessary that I make sure that this (i.e., death) is bitter for you.’

LINE 1505

+χρῆν

(= χρὴ + ἦν, impf.) when χρῆν is used alone, the denial of the action of the inf., here εἶναι, is always implied (GMT #419). Jebb: “The imperf. χρῆν with εἶναι, implies that though it ought to be so, it is not.”

+*θέλοι
opt. without ἄν indicates the generality of the statement; > ‘This punishment should be instantaneous upon all, whoever likes to act outside the laws— death.’

+*κτείνειν
rather than +*θνῄσκειν. Or. speaks from the point of view of the executioner.

παν- οῦργος, ον

(πᾶν, ἔργον) ready to do anything; mostly in a bad sense: villainous; > ‘for then there would be little crime’; [1× El.]

LINE 1508
σπέρμα, ατος, τό

(σπείρω) metaphorically: offspring, issue; [1× El. ]

+*πάθον

(πάσχω, aor.2 ptc.) suffer, experience
ἐλευθερία, ἡ
freedom (SS 103: “after much suffering, with the spirit of freedom you have at last reached the end crowned by this present enterprise.” Mοrwοοd also maintains: “. . . the phrase with διά indicates the route followed . . . and not the end reached . . . hence the Chorus must be referring by δι᾿ ἐλευθερίας to the attitude of independence and resolution that led Orestes and Electra to their present consummation.”);

[1× Soph.]

ὁρμή, ἡ
attack, onset, enterprise; [1× El.]

τελεωθέν

Kamerbeek: “ ‘confirmed’ [in the possession of your royal rights]”

204

I R R E G U L A R ( A N D U N P R E D I C TA B L E )

P R I N C I PA L PA RT S

Α
ἀγγέλω, ἀγγελῶ, ἤγγειλα, ἤγγελκα, ἤγγελμαι, ἠγγέλθην announce
ἄγω, ἄξω, ἤγαγον, (ἀγαγ- ), ἦχα, ἦγμαι, ἤχθην ῝ἀχθ- ) lead
αἰνέω, usually in compounds with ἐπί, παρά, etc. - αινέσω, - ῄνεσα, - ῄνεκα, ῄνεμαι,

- ῄνεθην praise
αἱρέω, αἱρήσω, εἷλον (ἑλ- ), ᾕρηκα, ᾕρμαι, ᾑρέσθην take, mid.: choose
αἴρω, ἀρῶ, ἦρα, ἦρκα, ἦρμαι, ἤρθην, ἀρθήσομαι raise
αἰσθάνομαι, αἰσθήσομαι, αἰσθήσομαι, ᾐσθόμην, ᾔσθμαι perceive or apprehend by
senses, hear
αἰσχύνω, αἰσχυνῶ, ᾔσχυνα, ᾐσχύνθην disgrace; mid.: feel ashamed
ἀκούω, ἀκούσομαι, ἤκουσα, (plpf. ἀκήκοα/ ἠκηκόη), ἠκούσθην hear
ἁλίσκομαι, αλώσομαι, ἑάλων/ ἥλων, ἑάλωκα/ ἥλωκα be captured
ἁμαρτάνω [ᾰ] ἁμαρτήσομαι, ἥμαρτον, ἡμάρτηκα, ἡμάρτημαι, ἡμάρτην err
ἀρᾰρίσκω, ἦρσα, aor.2 ἤραρον, transitive and intransitive, pf.2 ἄρᾱρα, ἤρθην fit, join
ἀρέσκω, ἀρέσω, ἤρεσα please
ἄρχω, ἄρξω, ἦρξα, ἦρχα, ἦργμαι, ἤρχθην begin, rule
ἀπόλλῡμι, ἀπολῶ, ἀπώλεσα, ἀπωλόμην (aor.2 mid.), ἀπολώλεκα/ ἀπόλωλα destroy

Β
βαίνω, βήσομαι, ἔβην, βέβηκα come, go
βάλλω, βαλῶ, ἔβαλον, βέβληκα, βέβλημαι, ἐβλήθην throw, hit
βλαστάνω, ἔβλαστον, βεβλάστηκα (ἐβλάστηκα) bud, sprout
βλέπω, βλέψομαι, ἔβλεψα see
βλώσκω, μολοῦμαι, ἔμολον, μέμβλωκα go
βοάω, βοήσομαι, ἐβόησα shout

205

Sophocles’ Electra

Γ
γίγνομαι, γενήσομαι, ἐγενόμην, γέγονα ( I am; pf. ptc. γεγώς), γεγένημαι, (late: ἐγενήθην)

become, be
γιγνώσκω, γνώσομαι, ἔγνων, ἔγνωκα, ἔγνωσμαι, ἐγνώσθην know

Δ
δείκνυμι, δεικνύω, δείξω, ἔδειξα, δέδειχα, δέδειγμαι, ἐδείχθην show, reveal
δέρκομαι, aor.2 ἔδρακον, pf. δέδορκα as pres.; pass. aor. 1 ἐδέρχηθν (in Tragedy), aor.2 ἐδράκην saw
δέχομαι, δέξομαι, ἐδεξάμην, δέδεγμαι, - εδέχθην receive, await
δέω, δήσω, ἐδέησα, δεδέηκα, δεδέημαι, ἐδεήθην need, lack, mid.: ask; impersonal: δεῖ, (ἔδει
impf.) δεήσει, ἐδέησε it is necessary
διδάσκω, διδάξω, ἐδίδαξα, δεδίδαχα, δεδίδαγμαι, ἐδιδάχθην teach, explain
δίδωμι, δώσω, ἔδωκα (aor. pl.) ἔδομεν, δέδωκα, δέδομαι, ἐδόθην give
δοκέω, δόξω, ἔδοξα, δέδογμαι, - εδόχθην think, seem
δράω, δράσω, ἔδρασα, δέδρακα, δέδραμαι, ἐδράσθην do, accomplish

Ε
ἐάω (impf. εἴων), ἐάσω, εἴασα, εἴακα, εἴαμα, εἰάθην permit, allow, let alone
ἐθέλω, ἐθελήσω, ἐθέλησα, ἐθέληκα wish, be willing
εἴκω, no pres. in use, εἴξω, ἔοικα, resemble, appear (impersonal: ἔοικε, it seems) εἶμι (S #773) ( will) go
εἰμί, ἔσομαι, ἦν be
εἶπον, see
λέγω
ἕπομαι (impf. εἱπόμην), ἕψομαι, ἑσπόμην (aor. stem σπ- ) follow
ἐργάζομαι augments to ἠ- and εἰ- , reduplicated to εἰ: ἔγαζόμην, ἐργάσομαι, ἠργάσαμην, εἴργασμαι, ἠργάσθην, ἐργασθήσομαι work
εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω, ηὗρον/ εὗρον, ηὕρηκα/ εὕρηκα, εὕρημαι, εὑρέθην find
ἔρχομαι, ἐλεύσομαι, ἦλθον, ἐλήλυθα come, go
ἐφ- ίημι, - ἥσω, - ἧκα, - εἷκα, - εἷμαι, - εἵθην send against, let go, loosen
ἔχω (impf. εἶχον), ἕξω and σχήσω, ἔσχον (aor. stem σχ- ), ἔσχηκα, - έσχημαι, ἐσχέθην have

Ζ
ζάω, ζήσω/ ζήσομαι, ἔζησα, ἔζηκα live

206

IRREGUALR (And UnPREdICTABLE) PRInCIPAL PARTS

Η
ἤδομαι, ἡσθήσομαι, ἥσθεν be pleased

Θ
θέλω, see ἐθέλω
θνῄσκω, ἀπο- θανοῦμαι, ἀπ- έθανον die, be killed τέθνηκα I am dead
θύω, θύσω, ἔθυσα, τέθυκα, τέθυμαι, ἐτύθην sacrifice

Ι
ἵημι, - ἥσω, - ἥκα, εἷκα, - εἷμαι, - εἵθην send
ἵστημι, στήσω, ἔστησα and ἔστην, ἕστηκα (plpf. εἱστήκη, fut. pf. ἑστήξω), ἕσταμαι, ἐστάθην
stand, make stand, cause to stand
ἱκνέομαι, ἵξομαι, ἱκόμην come, arrive

Κ
καλέω, καλῶ, ἐκάλεσα, κέκληκα, κέκλημαι, ἐκλήθην call
κάμνω, καμοῦμαι, ἔκαμον, κέκμηκα labor, be weary, be sick
κλαίω, κλαιήσω/ κλᾱήσω (κλαύσομαι shall suffer for it), ἔκλαυσα weep
κρίνω, κρινῶ, ἔκρῑνα, κέκρικα, κέκριμαι, ἐκρίθην judge
κτείνω, κτενῶ, ἔκτεινα, - έκτονα kill
κυλίνδω, ἐκύλῑσα, κατα- κεκύλῑσμαι, ἐκυλίσθην [ῑ], ἐκ- κυλῑστήσομαι roll
κῠνέω, κυνήσομαι, ἔκυσα kiss; poetic: προσκυνέω render homage to
κῠρέω/ κύρω, κύρσω, ἔκυρσα meet, happen to

Λ
λαγχάνω, λήξομαι, aor.2 ἔλαχον, pf.2 εἴληχα, εἴληγμαι, ἐλήχθην obtain by lot
λαμβάνω, λήψομαι, ἔλαβον, εἴληφα, εἴλημμαι, ἐλήφθην take, receive
λανθάνω, λήσω, ἔλαθον, λέληθα escape notice, lie hidden
λέγω, λέξω and ἐρῶ, ἔλεξα and εἶπον, εἴρηκα, λέλεγμαι and εἴρημαι, ἐλέχθην and ἐρρήθην say, proclaim
λείπω, λείψω, ἔλιπον, λέλοιπα, λέλειμμαι, ἐλείφθην leave

207

Sophocles’ Electra

Μ
μανθάνω, μαθήσομαι, ἔμαθον, μεμάθηκα learn by inquiry
μάχομαι, μαχοῦμαι, ἐμαχεσάμην, μεμάχημαι fight
μέλλω, μελλήσω, ἐμέλλησα be at the point of doing, intend, be about to
μένω, μενῶ, ἔμεινα, μεμένηκα remain
μιμνήσκω, - μνήσω, - έμνησα, μέμνημαι, ἐμνήσθην remind; mid.: remember

Ν
νέμω, νεμῶ, ἔνειμα, νενέμηκα, νενέμημαι, ἐνεμήθην distribute
νομίζω, νομιῶ, ἐνόμισα, νενόμικα, νενόμισμαι, ἐνομίσθην believe, think

Ο
οἶδα, plupf. ᾔδη, εἴσομαι know
οἶμαι = οἴομαι, impf. ᾤμην, οὐήσομαι, ᾠήθην think, suppose
ὄλ- λῡμι see under ἀπόλλῡμι
ὁράω (impf. ἑώρων), ὄψομai, εἶδον (aor. stem ιδ- ), ἑόρακα/ ἑώρακα, ἑώραμαι/ ὦμμαι, ὤφθην see

Π
πάσχω, πείσομαι, ἔπαθον, πέπονθα suffer, experience
πείθω, πείσω, ἔπεισα (aor. 2 ἔπιθον), πέπεικα/ πέποιθα ( trust), πέπεισμαι, ἐπείσθην persuade,
mid.: obey
πέμπω, πέμψω, ἔπεμψα, πέπομφα, πέμπεμμαι, ἐπέμφθην send
πειράομαι, πειράσομαι, ἐπειρασάμην, πεπείραμαι, ἐπειράθην try, attempt
πήγνῡμι, πήξω, ἔπηξα, pf.2 πέπηγα am fixed, aor.2 pass.: ἀπάγην fix, make fast
πίπτω, πεσοῦμαι, ἔπεσον, πέπτωκα fall
πλήσσω, - πλήξω, - ἐπληξα, pf. 2 πέπληγα, πέπληγμαι, aor.2 ἐπλήγην but in compound - επλάγην, πληγήσομαι strike
ποθέω, ποθήσω or ποθέσομαι, ἐπόθησα desire, miss
πράσσω, πράξω, ἔπραξα, πέπραχα/ πέπραγα, πέπραγμαι, ἐπράχθην do
πυνθάνομαι, πεύσομαι, ἐπυθόμην, πέπυσμαι learn, inquire

208

IRREGUALR (And UnPREdICTABLE) PRInCIPAL PARTS

Σ
σημαίνω, σημανῶ, ἐσήμηνα, σεσήμασμαι, ἐσημάνθην show
σπείρω, σπερῶ, ἔσπειρα, ἔσπαρμαι, ἐσπάρην sow
στέλλω, στελῶ, ἔστειλα, - έσταλκα, ἔσταλμαι, ἐστάλην send
σφάλλω, σφαλῶ, ἔσφηλα, ἔσφαλμαι, aor.2 pass.: ἐσφάλην, σφαλήσομαι trip up, deceive
σῴζω, σώσω, ἔσωσα, σέσωκα, σέσωμαι, ἐσώθην save, keep

Τ
τάττω, τάξω, ἔταξα, τέταχα, τέταγμαι, ἐτάχθην arrange
τέμνω, τεμῶ, ἔτεμον, - τέτμηκα, τέτμημαι, ἐτμήθην cut
τήκω, τήξω, ἔτηξα, pf.2 τέτηκα ‘am melted.’ aor.2 pass. as intransitive: ἐτάκην ‘melted,’ melt
τίκτω, τέξομαι, ἔτεκον, τέτοκα bring forth, bear, beget
τίθημι, θήσω, ἔθηκα (pl. ἔθεμεν), τέθηκα, τέτειμαι, ἐτέθην put
τίνω, τείσω, ἔτεισα, τέτεικα, - τέτεισμαι, - ετείσθην pay, expiate

*τλάω, not found in pres., τλήσομαι, ἐτάλασσα Epic aor.2 ἔτλην, τέτληκα usually as pres. pf.2
τέτλαμεν endure
τρέω, ἔτρεσα tremble
τῠγχάνω, τεύξομαι, ἔτυχον, τετύχηκα happen, hit, obtain

Χ
χαίρω, χαιρήσω, κεχάρηκα, ἐχάρην rejoice
χράομαι, χρήσομαι, ἐχρησάμην, κέχρημαι, ἐχρήσθην use

Φ
φαίνω, φανῶ, ἔφηνα, πέφαγκα/ πέφηνα, πέφασμαι, ἀφάνθην/ ἐφάνην show
φέρω, οἴσω, ἤνεγκον/ ἤνεγκα, ἐνήνοχα, ἐνήνεγμαι, ἠνέχθην carry, bear
φεύγω, φεύξομαι/ φευξοῦμαι, ἔφυγον, πέφευγα flee, run away
φημί, φήσω, ἔφησα say
φθείρω, φθερῶ, ἔφθειρα, ἔφθαρκα, and έφθορα, ἔφθαρμαι, ἐφθάρην corrupt, destroy, pf.2
be ruined
φράζω, φράσω, ἔφρασα, πέφρακα, πέφρασμαι, ἐφράστην tell, declare, mid.: devise, plan
φύω, φύσω, ἔφυσα/ ἔφυν, πέφυκα produce aor.2 grew, was; pf. be by nature

209

APPENDIX A

M E T R I C A L A NA LYS I S

⏑ means that the first of the two lines in question has a short in this position and the second a long.

⏑̅ means that the first of the two lines has a long in this position and the second a short.

⏑⏑ means that the first of the two lines in question has two shorts and the second a long.

⏑̅⏑̅ means that the first of the two lines in question has a long and the second two shorts.

⏑⏑ (no space between the two marks for a short) resolution, i.e., two short syllables standing for a long one.

For the various meters see “Meter and Prosody.”

PARODOS 121– 250

121– 36 (first strophe) = 137– 52 (first antistrophe)

– – – – – ⏑ ⏑ –

121 ~ 137 choriambic dimeter

– – – – – ⏑ ⏑ –

122 ~ 138 choriambic dimeter

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – – –

123 ~139 glyconic, spondee, or catalectic iamb

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

124 ~ 140 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

125 ~ 141 dactylic tetrameter

⏑ – ⏑ – / ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑/ – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – 126 ~ 142 iambic trimeter

⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

127 ~ 143 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic

– ⏑⏑ – – – –

129 ~145 dactylic trimeter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

130 ~ 146 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

131 ~ 147 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

132 ~ 148 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

133 ~ 149 dactylic tetrameter

– – – – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

134 ~ 150 dactylic hexameter

⏑/ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

135 ~ 151 iambic dimeter catalectic

– – ⏑ – –

136 ~ 152 iambic penthemimer

APPENDIX A

153– 72 (second strophe) = 173– 92 (second antistrophe)

– – – – –

153 ~ 173 contracted hemiepes

⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

154 ~ 174 lecythion

⏑ / – ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

155 ~ 175 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic or iambic
monometer, ithyphallic

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑

156 ~ 176 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic or iambic
monometer, ithyphallic

– – – ⏑⏑ – ⏑̅⏑̅ – ⏑̅⏑̅ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑

157 ~ 177 dactylic hexameter

⏑̅ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

159 ~179 iambic dimeter catalectic

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

160 ~ 180 iambic dimeter catalectic or iamb, spondee

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

161 ~ 181 iambic dimeter catalectic or iamb, spondee

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

162 ~ 182 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑̅⏑̅ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑̅⏑̅ ⏑ – –

164 ~ 184 iambic trimeter catalectic

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑̅⏑̅ ⏑ – ⏑ – –

165 ~ 185 iambic trimeter catalectic

⏑ ⏑̅⏑̅ ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

166 ~ 186 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic or iamb ithyphallic

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

168 ~ 187 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

167 ~ 187 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

169 ~ 189 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

170 ~ 190 dactylic tetrameter

⏑ – – – ⏑ –

171 ~ 191 syncopated iambic dimeter

⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

172 ~ 192 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic

193– 212 (third strophe) = 213– 32 (third antistrophe)

– – – – – – –

193 ~ 213 paroemiac

– – – – – – – –

194 ~ 214 anapestic dimeter

⏑ ⏑ – – – – – – –

195 ~ 215 anapestic dimeter

⏑⏑ – – – – – –

196 ~ 216 paroemiac

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – – –

197 ~ 217 anapestic dimeter

– – – – ⏑⏑ – – –

198 ~ 218 anapestic dimeter

– – ⏑̅⏑̅ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ –

199 ~ 219 anapestic dimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅

200 ~ 220 ithyphallic

– – – – – ⏑⏑ – ⏑⏑

201 ~ 221 anapestic dimeter

– – – – – – –

202 ~ 222 paroemiac

– – – – – – – –

203 ~ 223 anapestic dimeter

– – – –

204 ~ 224 anapestic monometer

⏑̅ ⏑⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ –

205 ~ 225 dochmiac

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑̅⏑̅ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑̅⏑̅ –

206 ~ 226 anapestic dimeter

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ –

207 ~ 227 syncopated iambic dimeter

212

APPENDIX A

⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

208 ~ 228 lecythion

⏑̅ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

209 ~ 229 iambic dimeter

⏑̅ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

210 ~ 230 iambic dimeter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

211 ~ 231 dactylic tetrameter

⏑̅ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑

212 ~ 232 iambic dimeter catalectic

233– 50 (epode)

– – – – – – –

233 paroemiac

– – – – – – –

234 paroemiac

– – – – – – –

235 paroemiac

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

236 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

237 dactylic tetrameter

– ⏑ ⏑ – – – – – –

238 dactylic tetrameter

– – – – – – – –

239 anapestic dimeter

– – – – – – – –

240 anapestic dimeter

– – – – – – ⏑ ⏑ –

241 anapestic dimeter

– – – – – – ⏑ ⏑ ⏑

242 anapestic dimeter

– ⏑⏑ – ⏑ –

243 dochmiac

– ⏑⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑⏑ – ⏑ –

245 dochmiac dimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ –

246 hypodochmius

– ⏑ – ⏑ –

247 hypodochmius

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

248 glyconic

– – ⏑ – –

249 iambic penthemimer

⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

250 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic

FIRST STASIMON 472– 515

472– 86 (strophe) = 488– 501 (antistrophe)

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – –

472 ~ 489 choriambic hendecasyllable OR asclepiadean

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

473 ~ 490 glyconic

– ⏑ – ⏑ – –

475 ~ 491 ithyphallic

⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

476 ~ 492 iambic trimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

477 ~ 493 syncopated iambic trimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑

479 ~ 495 contracted iambic dimeter

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑

480 ~ 496 aristophanean

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

481 ~ 497 lecythion

– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –

482 ~ 498 iambic dimeter

– – – – ⏑ –

483 ~ 499a syncopated iambic dimeter

213

APPENDIX A

– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –

484 ~ 499b iambic dimeter

⏑ – – – ⏑ ⏑

485 ~ 500 syncopated iambic dimeter

– – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅ – ⏑ – – –

486 ~ 501 telesilleus and syncopated iambic dimeter

504– 515 (epode)

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

504 iambo- dochmiac

⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

505 iambo- dochmiac

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

506 iambo- dochmiac

– ⏑ –

507 cretic

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

508 iambo- dochmiac

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

509 iambo- dochmiac

– – – ⏑ –

510 dochmiac

– – – – – –

511 molossus dimeter

– – ⏑ – – –

512 iambo- dochmiac

– ⏑ –

513 cretic

⏑ ⏑⏑ – – – –

514 iambo- dochmiac

⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – –

515 iambo- dochmiac

KOMMOS (LYRIC DIALOGUE) 823– 70

823– 36 (first strophe) = 837– 48 (second antistrophe)

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – –

⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – –

823– 24 ~ 837 = 38 iamb, 3 choriambs, adoneum

– – ⏑ ⏑ – –

825 ~ 839 reizianum

⏑ ⏑ – –

826 ~ 840 ionic monometer

– – ⏑ ⏑ – –

828 ~ 841 reizianum

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – –

830 ~845 pherecratean augmented by choriamb

– – ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ –

– ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ –

– ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – – –

831– 835 ~ 846– 848 telesilleus with choriambic expan-
sion, ending in molossus (OR per-
haps: with dragged ending)

849– 58 (second strophe) = 859– 70 (second antistrophe)

– ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ –

849 ~ 860 cretic, hypodochmius

– – – – – ⏑⏑ – –

850 ~ 861 anapestic dimeter

– – – – – – – –

851 ~ 862 anapestic dimeter

– – – – – – ⏑

852 ~ 863 anapestic dimeter catalectic

214

APPENDIX A

– ⏑⏑ – ⏑ –

853 ~ 864 dochmiac

– ⏑ – – ⏑/ –

854 ~ 865 hypodochmiac

⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

855 ~ 866 lecythion

⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ –

856 ~ 869 iambelegus

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – –

857 ~ 870 aristophanean

SECOND STASIMON 1058– 97

1058– 69 (first strophe) = 1070– 81 (first antistrophe)

⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1058 ~ 1070 iamb, choriambic enneasyllable

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1059 ~ 1071 anacreontic

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1060 ~ 1072 anacreontic

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1061 ~ 1073 anacreontic

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑

1062 ~ 1074 ionic

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

1063 ~ 1075 glyconic

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

1064 ~ 1076 glyconic

– ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – –

1065 ~ 1077 pherecratean

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1066 ~ 1078 choriambic enneasyllable

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1067 ~ 1079 anacreontic

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1068 ~ 1080 anacreontic

⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1069 ~ 1081 ionic

1082– 89 (second strophe) = 1090– 1097 (second antistrophe)

– – – ⏑ ⏑ – –

1082 ~ 1090 pherecratean

– ⏑ – – – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –

1083 ~ 1091 syncopated iambic trimeter

– ⏑ ⏑ – – –

1084 ~ 1092 dodrans

– / ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1085 ~ 1093 syncopated iambic dimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1086 ~ 1094 ithyphallic

⏑ – ⏑ ⏑̅⏑̅ ⏑ – ⏑ –

1087 ~ 1095 iambic dimeter

⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ –

1088 ~ 1096 iambic dimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1089 ~ 1097 syncopated iambic trimeter catalectic

RECOGNITION DUET 1232– 87

1232– 52 (strophe) = 1253– 72 (antistrophe)

⏑ – ⏑ –

1232 ~ 1253 iambic monometer

⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1233 ~ 1254 dochmiac dimeter

215

APPENDIX A

⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ –

1234 ~ 1255 dochmiac

(1235– 36 ~ 1256– 57 iambic trimeters)

⏑ – ⏑̅

1237 ~ 1258 bacchiac

(1238 ~ 1259 iambic trimeter)

⏑̅ – – ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑̅ –

1239 ~ 1260 dochmiac dimeter

⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1240 ~ 1261 dochmiac dimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1241 ~ 1262 iambic dimeter catalectic

⏑ – – ⏑ – –

1242 ~ 1263 bacchiac dimeter

(1243– 44 ~ 1264 + lost line iambic trimeters)

– ⏑ ⏑̅⏑̅ – ⏑ –

1245 ~ 1265 cretic dimeter

⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑

1246 ~ 1267 dochmiac dimeter

– ⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ ⏑⏑

1247 ~ 1269 cretic trimeter

– ⏑⏑ – ⏑ ⏑

1250 ~ 1270 dochmiac

(1251– 52 ~ 1271– 72 iambic trimeters)

1273– 87 (epode)

⏑ – ⏑ –

1273 iambic monometer

⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ –

– – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1274 dochmiac dimeter, iambic dimeter catalectic

– ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ –

1275 iambic dimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1276 iambic trimeter catalectic

– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1277 iambic trimeter catalectic

– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –

1279 iambic trimeter

⏑ – – ⏑ – –

1280 bacchiac dimeter

– ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑

1281 trochaic monometer

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1282 trochaic dimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑

1283 syncopated trochaic trimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ – ⏑

1284 syncopated trochaic trimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑

1285 trochaic dimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑

1286 trochaic dimeter

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1287 trochaic trimeter catalectic

THIRD STASIMON 1384– 97

1384– 90 (strophe) = 1391– 97 (antistrophe)

⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑⏑ ⏑ –

1384 ~ 1391 cretic dimeter

⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1385 ~ 1392 dochmiac dimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

1386 ~ 1393 iambic trimeter

216

APPENDIX A

⏑ ⏑⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1387 ~ 1394 dochmiac dimeter

⏑ – – ⏑ –

1388 ~ 1395 dochmiac

– – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

1389 ~ 1396 iambic dimeter

– – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅. – ⏑ ⏑

1390 ~ 1397 iambic trimeter

KOMMOS (LYRIC DIALOGUE) 1398– 1441

1398– 1421 (strophe) = 1422– 41 (antistrophe)

(1398– 1403 ~ 1422– 27 6 iambic trimeters)

– ⏑⏑ – ⏑ –

1404 ~ (line lost) dochmiac OR dodrans

(1405– 6 ~ 2 lines lost) 2 iambic trimeters

– – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1407 ~ 1428 iambic dimeter catalectic

– ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1408 ~ 1429 ithyphallic

(1409– 12 ~ lost line, 1430– 32) 4 iambic trimeters

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅

13 ~ 1433 dactylic dimeter and ithyphallic

– ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –

1414 ~ 1434 dactylic dimeter and hypodochmiac

(1415– 16 ~ 1435– 36) 2 iambic trimeters

⏑ – ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1417 ~ 1437 syncopated iambic dimeter

– ⏑ – – ⏑ –

1418 ~ 1439 syncopated iambic dimeter

⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅ – ⏑ – ⏑ – –

1420 ~ 1440 iambic tetrameter catalectic

– ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑̅

1421 ~ 1441 ithyphallic or syncopated iambic dimeter
catalectic

217

APPENDIX B

L E X I C A L A NA LYS I S

I.

The occurrence of each word in the play (except prepositions, conjunctions, particles, etc.) is documented in the notes, whether it is its sole occurrence in the play or in the extant Sophoclean corpus (not including fragments). In this appendix I offer a Lexical Table of the entire play. It includes separate word counts for all the parts of the play, enabling a comparison of the incidence of hapax- words in various sections of the play and in the entire Sophoclean corpus. This kind of analysis is not typically found in Classical scholarship. However, we do know from Aristotle that usage of common ( kyrioi) and uncommon (rarely used, xenikoi) words was a critical consideration in ancient times for assessment of the style’s register, as it is today. Aristotle claims that a composition overburdened with uncommon words (loan words, metaphors, etc.) would suffer from a lack of clarity, while being limited to ordinary or common words would result in a banal, platitudinous, or dull style. Aristotle therefore suggests a moderate mix of common and uncommon words to render the style pleasant and to maintain clarity ( Poetics 1458a– b).1 Furthermore, he recommends a stricter regulation of the use of un-familiar and uncommon words in iambic poetry, because the iambic meter is largely an imitation of ordinary speech, which calls for immediate intelligibility.

Scrutiny of the Lexical Table below clearly demonstrates that in Sophocles’ Electra, recitative and singing parts are richer in hapax- words than the spoken parts. The latter mainly accord with Aristotle’s recommendation that iambic poetry mostly use words common to ordinary conversation. (This will of course explain to the students why they might need to look up more words when reading lyric passages.) The lexical overview is intended mainly to help students wishing to undertake further research of lexical usages. To draw fully fledged conclusions about the significance of the occurrences of common or uncommon words, a student would need to study not only Electra but all the extant Sophoclean plays as well. This kind of lexical research is rather technical, but engaging in such an endeavor can provide a wealth of insights.

1. See also discussion in Larkin (1971), 56– 71.

APPENDIX B

Scholarship in Greek tragedy has sporadically engaged with word usage. In the case of the disputed authorship of the Rhesus, for instance, some scholars who claim it was not composed by Euripides point out that it contains a high percentage of words that are not used elsewhere in extant tragedy or in classical Greek literature.2 However, this phenomenon has primarily been used as evidence for disputing Euripides’ authorship. One could ask whether the presence of uncommon words is actually because the main characters in the play are non-Greek, and whether Euripides wished to emphasize their foreign identity by giving them a more bombastic vocabulary. Is it possible that because Rhesus might have been a prosatyric play, the playwright wanted it to be distinct from a play in a trilogy?3 Another example of a higher incidence of rare word usage is found in Hecuba’s agōn with Helen in Trojan Women.

Euripides gives Hecuba eleven rare words that appear only there, or in a few other places in extant tragedy, while Helen has only one such word. Without further study of word occurrences, it is impossible to know whether this use of non- common vocabulary makes Hecuba sound more old- fashioned and thus in some way more authoritative, or just underscores her non-Greekness in contrast to Helen.4

The study of word usage could be profitable in gaining more insights into characterization.

For example, are some hapax- words used more frequently by certain characters? If so, what features did the tragedian mean to underscore in these characters? Do rare and bombastic words elevate the style for the purpose of excitement, aloofness, or some other emotional effect? Taking stock and renegotiating our relationship with the text is always a good idea, and the significance of this kind of approach can be assessed only by testing it.

II.

The following Lexical Tables provide word counts and word percentages for each integral part of this play. To demonstrate what can be gleaned from the examination of this table, and how we can connect the usage of words with content, I offer the following examples, which include two cases of spoken parts, and one of a choral ode.

The first eighty- five lines of the prologue, which form a dialogue between the Tutor and Orestes, attract attention because of having a significantly higher percentage of hapax- words 2. Liapis (2012), liii– lviii. It is noteworthy that when the percentage frequency of hapax- words of the Rhesus was compared to that of Euripides’ undisputedly genuine play s, it was calculated not by number of words, but by number of lines.

3. For seeing the Rhesus as a pro- satyric play, see Roisman 2018; Rhesus is surpassed only by the Cyclops in hapax- words: 2.81% to 3.1%, which is undisputedly by Euripides.

4. Eu . TW, Hecuba: ἐξεμαργώθης (992), κατακλύζω (995), ἐγκαθυβρίζειν (997), ἀνολολύζω (1000), δοριπετής (1003), ἀγωνία (1003), ἀνταγωνιστής (1006), ἀκουσίως (1011), συνεκκλέπτω (1018), κατάπτυστος (1024), ἀποσκυθίζω (1026). Helen has one word that is attested only once more in Euripides but not in any other extant tragedy: θεοπόνητος (953).

220

APPENDIX B
than any other spoken part in the play: 8.8% appear only once in this play, and 4.7% appear only once in extant Sophocles. The average percentage of hapax- words in other spoken parts in Electra and extant Sophocles is 6.9% and 3.4% respectively. However, the overall percentage of rare words both in the first eighty- five lines and in overall spoken parts (i.e., in iambic trimeter) is still lower than the percentages of uncommon words in the recitative or sung parts: 10.8% and 8% in Electra and extant Sophocles respectively. How can we explain this higher ratio of hapax- words in the prologue? Did Sophocles wish to have a grand opening? Is this type of speech a characteristic of the Tutor and Orestes? After all, the prologue is crucial for rendering a play clear and accessible, and the use of nonordinary words stands in the way of clarity. To reach a conclusion, one needs to analyze other lines delivered by both the Tutor and Orestes, and see whether they contain the high percentage of uncommon words spotted in the Prologue.

At the other end of the spectrum of uncommon word usage we find the Fourth Episode, in which the spoken lines offer only an average of 4.1% of hapax- words in Electra and 1.5%
in extant Sophocles. Because this is one of the lowest percentages of uncommon words in iambic trimeter, it requires some explanation. Does the high percentage of stichomythic verses (5.9% of all the verses in the episode) play a role in the low count of uncommon words?

It might be interesting for a student to compare the usage of common and uncommon words in stichomythic passages, and attempt to find explanations for the relatively low number of uncommon words in these passages. Could it be because stichomythic language tends to be restricted, mundane, and easily accessible?

In the sung part of the play, the Second Stasimon (472– 515) stands out. The Chorus sing after hearing from Chrysothemis that there are freshly poured libations and a freshly cut lock of hair on Agamemnon’s previously untended grave. Of the choral ode’s words, 25.2% occur only once in the entire extant Sophoclean corpus, the highest percentage of hapax- words of any sung part of the play (8% in average). Is the extremely elevated diction meant to suggest the Chorus’ newly gained confidence that Justice will soon overtake Clytemnestra and Aegisthus? If not, what could the explanation be?

The following Lexical Table offered opens a window to many other questions that students can pursue.

LEXICAL TABLES

Abbreviations: 1× El.

= words occurring only once in the play Electra.

1× Soph. = words occurring only once in the extant Sophoclean corpus (not including fragments)

221

APPENDIX B

PROLOGUE

Lines 1– 120
ll. 1– 85 ( dialogue)

489 words

1× El. : 43 wds = 8.8%

1× Soph. 23 wds = 4.7%
ll. 86– 120 (El.’s

170 words

1× El. : 19 wds = 11.7%

1× Soph. 17 wds = 10%
recitative)

total

659 words

1× El. : 62 wds = 9.5%

1× Soph. 40 wds = 6%

PARODOS

Lines 121– 250
total (song)

556 words

1× El. : 72 wds = 12.9%

1× Soph. 30 wds = 5.4%

FIRST EPISODE

Lines 251– 471
total (dialogue)

1380 words

1× El. : 82 wds = 5.9%

1× Soph. 31
wds = 2.25%

FIRST STASIMON

Lines 472– 515
total (song)

123 words

1× El. : 10 wds = 8.1%

1× Soph. 31
wds = 25.2%

SECOND EPISODE

Lines 516– 822
ll. 516– 659

913 words

1× El. : 54 wds = 5.9%

1× Soph. 13 wds = 1.4%

(dialogue)

ll. 660– 822

925 words

1× El. : 84 wds = 9%

1× Soph. 44 wds = 4.7%

(dialogue)

total

1838 words

1× El. : 138 wds = 7.5%

1× Soph. 57 wds= 3.1%

KOMMOS (Lyric Dialogue)

Lines 823– 870
total (song)

150 words

1× El. : 14 wds = 9.3%

1× Soph. 10 wds = 6.6%

222

APPENDIX B

THIRD EPISODE

Lines 871– 1057
ll. 871– 937

419 words

1× El. : 26 wds = 6.2%

1× Soph. 10 wds = 2.3%
ll. 938– 1057

723 words

1× El. : 35 wds = 4.8%

1× Soph. 14 wds = 1.9%
total

1142 words

1× El. : 61 wds = 5.3%

1× Soph. 24 wds = 2.1%

SECOND STASIMON

Lines 1058– 1097
total (song)

164 words

1× El. : 19 wds = 11.5%

1× Soph. 11 wds = 6.7%

FOURTH EPISODE

Lines 1098– 1383
ll. 1098– 1231

822 words

1× El. : 47 wds = 5.7%

1× Soph. 14 wds = 1.7%
ll. 1232– 1287

235 words

1× El. : 11 wds = 4.6%

1× Soph. 4 wds = 1.7%
ll. 1288– 1383

685 words

1× El. : 15 wds = 2.1%

1× Soph. 8 wds = 1.1%
total

1742 words

1× El. : 73 wds = 4.1%

1× Soph. 26 wds = 1.5%

THIRD STASIMON

Lines 1384– 1397
total (song)

56 words

1× El. : 6 wds = 10.7%

1× Soph. 9 wds = 16%

KOMMOS (Partially Lyric Dialogue)

Lines 1398– 1441
total (partially

224 words

1× El. : 16 wds = 7.1%

1× Soph. 8 wds = 3.5%
song)

EXODOS

Lines 1442– 1510
total (dialogue)

453 words

1× El. : 34 wds = 7.5%

1× Soph. 11
wds = 2.4%Play’s

Total play’s words: 8487

1× El. : 587 wds = 6.9 %

1× Soph. 288
wds = 3.4%

223

APPENDIX B

Averages of uncommon words for spoken and sung passages:

Spoken passages*:

7044 wds
g1× El. 431 wds = 6.1%

1× Soph. 172 wds = 2.4%

*iambic trimeter included in choral odes or lyric dialogue is not included in the count.

Song (and

1443 wds

1× El. 156 wds = 10.8%

1× Soph. 116 wds = 8%
recitative):

224

G LO S S A RY

Because of their frequency in the play, it is highly recommended that the student memorize the following words upon their first occurrence.

Α
ἄγᾱν (adv.)

very, much, very much; too much

*ἀγγέλω
announce
ἄγω

[ᾰ] draw, hold
ἀγών, ῶνος, ὁ
place of contest, contest
ἀδελφή, ἡ (ᾰ)

daughter of the same mother, sister
ἀδελφός, ὁ (ᾰ)

son of the same mother, brother
ἀεί (adv.)

(the ᾰ/ ᾱ) ever, always
ἄθλιος (2/ 3)

wretched
αἰαῖ
interjection of grief; alas

Ἀίδης, Ἀίδᾱο, ὁ

Hades, the god of the Netherworld
αἰεί
see ἀεί
αἰκία, ἡ

[ῑ] injurious treatment, outrage
αἰκῶς (adv.)

poetic = ἀεικῶς (ἀεικής) unseemly, shamefully

*αἱρέω
take away, seize, overpower, overcome; mid.: choose

*αἰσθάνομαι
perceive or apprehend by senses, hear; + acc. / genit.

αἰσχρός (2/ 3)

shameful, disgraceful
αἰών, ῶνος, ὁ
period of existence

*ἀκούω
hear, listen; +acc. for words, sound, etc., that one hears; + genit.

for the person whose words are heard
ἄκρος (3)

at the end, topmost
ἀλγέω
suffer pain, grieve, be troubled, distressed
ἄλγος, εος, τό
pain, sorrow, grief, distress
ἀλλά (conj.)

but; (neut. pl. of ἄλλος with changed accent); with commands and exhortations; well
glossary
ἀλλὰ νῦν
now at least, now at long last
ἄλλος, η, ο
other (of several)

ἅμα (adv.)

at the same time
ἀμφί (prep.)

+acc. about; for, for the sake of; + dat. on account of, about concerning, for the sake of
ἀνάγκη, ἡ
constraint, necessity
ἄναξ, ακτος, ὁ
lord, king
ἄνευ (prep.)

+ genit.; without
ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ
man
ἀν- *ίημι
let go
ἀντί (prep.)

+ genit.; instead of; for the sake of; because of
ἄνω (adv.)

upward, up
ἄξιος (3)

worthy, befitting, deserving
ἀπ- αλάσσω
set free, release; in pass. sometimes: to have done
ἅ- πᾱς, ἅπᾱσα, ἅπαν

(ἅμα, πᾶς, strengthened for πᾶς) quite all, all together
ἄπ- *ειμι

(ἀπό, εἰμί) be away, be absent
ἀπό (prep.)

+ genit.; from, after, by, because, as a result of
ἀπ- *όλλῡμι
act.: destroy utterly; mid.: ἀπ- όλλῠμαι perish, die, cease to exist ἀπο- στερέω
rob, bereave; pass: robbed or in want of + genit.

ἀπ- ωθέω, -ωσα
mid.: reject, disdain, repulse
ἄρα

(postpositive pcl.) then, therefore (connective, confirmatory and inferential marking the immediate succession of events and
thoughts, adding lively feeling of interest)

ἆρα
interrog. pcl. indicating anxiety and impatience
ἆρα μή

= μῶν; interrog. pcl. expecting the answer ‘no’; ‘ You don’t

[think] that . . . , do you?

+Ἀργεῖος (3)

of or from Argos, Argive

῎Ᾱρης, ὁ

Ares, god of war/ warlike frenzy
ἀρκέω
be strong, avail; aid, assist (+ dat.); impersonal: ἀρκεῖ μοί = it is enough for me; ἀρκεῖν δοκεῖ = it seems enough, seems good Ἄρτεμις, ιδος, ἡ

Artemis

+ἀρτίως (adv.)

just now, exactly

*ἄρχω
be first whether of time: begin, or of place or station: govern, command, rule + genit.

ἀρωγός, ὁ
helper
ἀσκέω
adorn, fashion, decorate; + inf.: practice, train
ἀστήρ, - έρος, ὁ
star
ἄτη, ἡ
state of infatuation or the ruin arising from it ἄ- τῑμος, ον
without honor, dishonored

226
glossary
αὖ (adv.)

of time: again, anew, once more; pcl. (postpositive) adversative: on the other hand, again
αὐτός, αὐτή, αὐτό

(intensive pron.) – self; in oblique cases pers. pron. of 3rd pers.

ἄχθος, - εος, τό
weight, burden, load of grief

Β

*βαίνω
go
βαστάζω
lift, lift up, clasp
βίᾱ, ἡ
violent force, might
βίος, ὁ
life
βλάβη, ἡ

[ᾰ] harm, damage

*βλαστάνω
bud, sprout, burst forth

*βλέπω
see

*βλώσκω, ἔμολον
come, go; (tenses formed from root μόλω); poetic verb

*βοάω
shout
βοή, ἡ
cry, shout, outcry
βουλεύω
take counsel, consider, determine
βραχύς, εῖα, ύ
short, brief; ἐν βραχεῖ shortly, briefly
βροτός, ὁ
mortal person; (poetically opposed to ἀθάνατος or θεός; as adj.: mortal)

Γ
γάρ

(postpositive conj.) for; introduces a reason for the preceding statement, explanatory; the fact is that
γε
at least; postpositive enclitic pcl., used to emphasize a word; sometimes attached to the word: ἔμοιγε to me at least; in conversation to be transl.: ‘yes’

γε μέντοι (pcl.)

all the same, and yet, however
γελάω
laugh; γελάω ἐπί τινι— laugh at, mock over something γένος, ους, τό
race, stock, kin
γέρων, ον
old, aged
γῆ, ἡ
earth, land

*γίγνομαι
become, be

*γιγνώσκω
know
γνωμή, ἡ
mind, judgment
γονεύς, έος, ὁ
begetter, father; mostly in pl.: parents
γόος, ὁ
weeping, wailing, groaning; often in the plural
γῠνή, γυναικός, ἡ
woman

227
glossary

Δ
δαίμων, ονος, ὁ
god; fate
δάκρυ, υος, τό
tear (= δάκρῠον, τό)

δακρύω
weep, shed tears

*δεῖ
it is necessary

*δέω
need, lack + genit.; mid.: ask

*δείκνῠμι
show, reveal
δείλαιος (3)

(lengthened form of δειλός, miserable, wretched) wretched, sorry, paltry
δεινός (3)

fearful, terrible, shrewd
δέμας, τό
bodily frame, living/ dead body; used in nom/ acc.

*δέρκομαι
see, look, behold

*δέχομαι
receive; accept (mental reception, i.e., agree)

δή (pcl.)

postpositive; of course, indeed, quite (adds explicitness ( voilà), marks something as immediately present and clear to the mind);
ἦ δή “expresses lively surprise” (s #2865)

δηλόω
make known, disclose, reveal
δῆτα (pcl.)

(emphatic) assuredly, really, in truth
διά (prep.)

through; in sophocles with genit., rarely with acc.

*δῐδάσκω
teach, explain

*δίδωμι
give
δίκαιος (3/ 2)

right, righteous, just
δίκη, ἡ
order, right; atonement, satisfaction, penalty, retribution διπλοῦς, ῆ, οῦν
twofold; pl.: both, two
δοκέω
form an opinion, think, imagine; intransitive: seem, appear δόλος, ὁ
cunning, trickery, deceit
δόμος, ὁ
house, chamber

*δράω
do, accomplish
δρόμος, ὁ
course, race; lap
δυσ- μενής, ές
bearing ill will, hostile
δύστηνος (2)

wretched, unhappy, unfortunate (sometimes without moral
connotation)

δυσ- τυχής, ές
unlucky, unfortunate
δῶμα, ατος, τό
house

Ε

*ἐάω

[ᾱ] permit, let, suffer, allow, let alone
ἔγωγε
emphatic for ἐγώ

228
glossary

*ἐθέλω

= θέλω; wish, be willing, desire
εἰ δ᾿οὖν
but if so- and- so does happen
εἰκός
like truth, likely, probable, reasonable; ὡς
εἰκός as is proper

*εἰμί, ἔσομαι, ἦν
be
εἴπερ
if indeed, if at all events (expresses concessive meaning, especially when the truth of the statement is implicitly denied or doubted) εἶπον
said (aor.2· εἴπω, εἴποιμι, εἰπέ, εἰπεῖν, εἰπών); defective verb for pres. +λέγω
εἰς/ ἐς (prep.)

+acc.; into; up to, until, toward, to
εἷς, μία, ἕν
one

+εἰσ- *ᾰκούω
hear, listen
εἴσ- *ειμι
go in, go into
εἰσ- *έρχομαι
come into, enter; technical term of entering a race
εἰσ- *οράω
look at/ upon, behold; pay attention
εἴσω
to, within, into; + genit. (improper prep., i.e., an
adv. used as a prep. but incapable of forming compounds)

εἶτα (adv.)

then
εἶ- τε . . . εἶ- τε
either . . . or, whether . . . or
ἐκ, ἐξ (prep.)

+ genit. (ἐξ before a vowel); out of, from, after, as the result of;

= ὑπό + genit. of agent: by
ἐκεῖνος (3)

(demons. pron.) the person there, that person/ thing (usually with reference to what has gone before)

ἐκ- *λείπω
leave out, pass over; intransitive: leave off, cease ἐκ- *πέμπω
send out, send forth
ἐκτός
without, outside, out of beyond +gen. (improper prep., i.e., an adv.

used as a prep. but incapable of forming compounds)

ἐλεύθερος (3)

free
ἐλπίς, ίδος, ἡ
hope
ἐν (prep.)

+ dat. in, at
ἔνδον (adv. and prep.)

+ genit.; within
ἔν- *ειμι
be within, be in or among; impersonal: ἔνεστι τινί it is in one’s power, one may or one can
ἔνθᾰ
where (correl. relative adv. taking the place of οὗ); when ἐννέπω
poetic lengthening for ἐνέπω tell, speak
ἐξ
see ἐκ
ἐξ- ερῶ
speak out, proclaim; fut. without any pres. in use
ἔξ- εστι

(ἔξ- ειμι) it is allowed, possible, in one’s power; ἐξόν = it being possible or with inf. as its subject

229
glossary
ἐξ- ῐσόω
make equal, level; pass.: be equal, be match for
ἔοικα
be like; seem (+ inf.); it seems (impersonal)

ἐξ- *εῖπον

(aor.2 act. indic.) tell of + double acc.; in use of ἐξ- αγορεύω,

+ἐξ- ερῶ
ἐξ- *έρχομαι
come out of
ἐξ- ερῶ
speak out, proclaim; fut. without any pres. in use
ἔξ- *οιδα

(pf. with pres. sense) know thoroughly well, know well
ἔοικα, ας, ε, etc.

pf. with present sense of εἴκω to seem likely, seem; ἔοικε it seems; ὡς ἔοικε as it seems, as is fitting
ἐπ- *αινέω,
approve, sanction, commend
ἔπειτα (adv.)

(ἐπί, εἶτα) then, thereafter, thereupon
ἐπί (prep.)

+ acc.: to, toward, for; + dat.: on, by, in addition to, for, over ἐπίστᾰμαι
know how (to do), be able (to do)

ἐπ- οικτίρω
have compassion for, pity
ἔπομαι
follow
ἔπος, εος, τό
word

Ἐρῑνυς, ύος, ἡ

Erinys, Fury
ἔρρω
come to ruin, perish, disappear
ἔργον, τό
deed, action, work

*ἔρχομαι
come, go
ἐρῶ
will say, proclaim, tell, announce, order (φημί, λέγω, and ἀγορεύω used as pres. and εἶπον as aor.2)

ἐσθλός (3)

(poetic adj.) good (ἀγαθός); (of persons) brave, noble; morally: faithful
ἔσω
see εἴσω
ἔτι (adv.)

generally: yet, still, besides
εὐθύς (adv.)

straightaway, at once
εὐνή, ἡ
bed; often pl.; figuratively resting place

*εὑρίσκω
find; win
εὐσέβεια, ἡ
reverence toward the gods, piety; respect, devotion
εὐ- τῠχέω

(εὖ, τύχη, chance, fortune) be lucky, be well off, succeed ἐχθαίρω

(ἔχθος, hatred) hate

*ἔχω
have, hold ; be able to; in verse ἔχω is often used as κατέχω, hold back, curb; keep away from + genit.

ἐχθρός (3)

hating, hostile, hated, hateful; as substantive = enemy ἐφ- *ίη- μι
permit, allow; mid.: command; impf. often used in oracular responses and with verbs of command; + genit.: aim at, long, desire

230
glossary

Ζ

*ζάω
live

Ζεύς, Διός, ὁ

(Διϝός, s #285.12) Zeus

Η
ἤ (conj.)

disjunctive: or; comparative: than; interrog. in indirect question ἤ . . . ἤ
either . . . or
ἦ (adv.)

(a) strengthens or confirms: in truth, truly, verily; (b) in interrog.

sentence
ᾗ (adv.)

(dat. sg. fem. of relative pron.) which way, where, in/ at what place ἦ δή
see δή
ἤ- τοι (conj.)

indeed, surely, verily (= ἦ τοι)

ἤδη (adv.)

already, by this time, now, immediately, in the past
ἡδονή, ἡ
delight, enjoyment, pleasure
ἡδύς, ἡδεῖα, ἡδύ
sweet, pleasant, welcome
ἥκιστα (adv.)

least; in reply to a question: not at all, no (emphatic) ἥκω
have come, have arrived (like οἴχομαι, a pres. with pf. sense) ἥλιος, ὁ
sun
ἡμέρα, ἡ
day; καθ῾ ἡμέραν every day
ἡνίκα (adv.)

at the time when
ἤτοι (conj.)

or else

Θ
θαρσέω
be of good courage
θάρσος, τό = θράσος [ᾰ]

confidence, courage, overboldness, rashness, insolence
θέλω

= *ἐθέλω.

θέμις, θέμιστος, ἡ
law, right (agreed- upon common consent or prescription); θέμις
ἐστί [ this] is right
θεός, ὁ
god

*θνῄσκω
die; be killed
θνητός (2/ 3)

mortal; θνητοί = mortals
θρῆνος, ὁ
lamenting, funeral song, dirge
θῡμος, ὁ
breath; soul; desire; temper; spirit, courage

*θύω
sacrifice

231
glossary

Ι

*ἱκνέομαι

(with - ῑ- ; lengthened form of ἵκω, come, reach) come, arrive; poetic in pres., come as a suppliant, beseech, entreat
ἱππικός (3)

of a horse or horses
ἴσος (3)

equal in size, strength, or number + dat.

*ἵστημι
cause to stand, set (transitive forms are in the pres., impf., fut., and aor.1 act.)

ἰώ

(ῑ) Οh!

Κ
καί (adv.)

also, even; usually stresses the idea in the word that follows καί (conj.)

and; actually
καιρός, ὁ
right point of anything, right time for action, critical moment, opportunity
καί- τοι (pcl.)

adversative: and yet, although; rarely continuative: and so then, and further
κακός (3)

bad, ill omened

*κᾰλέω
call, call by name
κᾰλος (3)

beautiful, good, noble
κάρᾱ, τό

[ᾰ] head; poetic for κεφαλή
κᾰσίγνητος, ὁ/ ἡ
brother/ sister, adj. ος, η, ον
κατά (prep.)

+ acc.: over, throughout, among all along; + genit.: down from κατ- *έχω
hold, withhold, come from high sea to shore, reach destination safely κατ- *οῖδα
know well, be assured of (*κατ- είδω)

κάτω (adv.)

down, below; οἱ κάτω θεοί = the gods below; οἱ κάτω =
the dead
κεῖμαι
lie down, be situated, be placed/ laid
κεῖνος (3)

see ἐκεῖνος
κενός (3)

empty, destitute, vain, futile, mean
κέρδος, εος, τό
gain, profit
κλαίω
weep, lament, wail
κλεινός (3)

renowned
κλέπτω
steal, accomplish by stealth; cozen, cheat, deceive
κλύω
hear, give ear, listen to + genit.

κοινός (3/ 2)

shared in common, kindred
κόνις, εως, ἡ
dust
κόρη, ἡ
girl; daughter
κρᾰτέω
rule, be master, lord

232
glossary
κράτος, εος, τό
strength, might, power, mastery, victory
κρυπτός (3)

hidden, secret, concealed, secluded
κρύπτω
hide

*κτείνω
kill, slay
κῠρέω

(poetic for τυγχάνω) hit the mark

Λ

*λαγχάνω
obtain by lot; + partit. genit.: become possessed of a thing

*λαμβάνω
take, receive
λαμπρός (3)

bright, brilliant, radiant

*λανθάνω
act.: escape notice; mid. and pass.: forget, lose the memory of + genit.

*λέγω
say, proclaim

*λείπω
leave
λεύσσω
look; (poetic verb; pres. and impf. only)

λήγω
cease from + genit.

λήθω, λήθομαι
collateral forms of +λανθάνω
λόγος, ου, ὁ
word, story, tale, fiction
λοιπός (3)

remaining, surviving; last; τὸ λοιπόν = the remainder, the future; τοῦ λοιποῦ (supply χρόνου) for the rest of the time, henceforward; τά λοιπά the rest, for the future
λούτρον, τό
bath, washing (of the corpse); poetic word libations Λύκειος, ον
belonging to a wolf (λύκος) (an epithet of apollo, ‘lycean’

sometimes refers to apollo’s role as wolf- slayer, i.e., protector of flocks, sometimes to his role as god of light, <*λύκη, morning light)

λῡπέω
give pain, pain, distress, annoy
λύπη ἡ

[ῡ] pain of body or mind, grief, distress, suffering
λῠτήριος (3)

+ genit.: losing, delivering, setting free from; substantivized: atonement
λύω

[ῡ] loosen

Μ
μᾰκρός (3)

long, large
μάλιστα (adv.)

(superlative of μάλα, exceedingly) yes (emphatic), of course, especially
μᾶλλον (adv.)

(comparison of μάλα) more, more strongly, rather
μάντῐς, εως, ὁ

(μαίνομαι) a diviner, soothsayer, seer, prophet; (as fem.) a prophetess

233
glossary

*μανθάνω
learn, study
μάτην (adv.)

[ᾰ] in vain, falsely, at random, pointlessly
μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα
big, large, great
μέγιστος (3)

biggest, greatest, closest; superlative οf μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα
μεθ- *ίημι,
set loose, let go; + acc.· throw; mid.: loose, forego μείζων, μεῖζον
bigger, greater; comparison of μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα

*μέλλω
be on the point of doing; + pres./ fut. inf. forms the periphrastic future; pres. inf. usually expressing will; be on the point of doing; to be always going to do (without doing), hence: delay, put off, hesitate μέλω
be an object of care; impersοnal use + dat.: it is a care ( to me) μέν
surely, certainly, indeed; μέν solitarium (i.e., with no δέ clause) emphatic, stressing and affirming

*μένω
remain
μέσος (3)

middle
μήτηρ, μητρός, ἡ
mother
μῑκρός (3)

small, little, trivial, insignificant
μῖσος, εος, τό
hate, hatred, grudge
μόλῐς (adv.)

with difficulty, hardly, scarcely, only just
μόνος (3)

alone, forsaken, only
μοῦνος

Ion. for μόνος

Μῠκηναῖος (3)

Mycenaean

Ν
ναίω
dwell
νομίζω
hold as custom or usage, practice as custom
νόμος, ὁ
custom, convention, law
νοῦς, ὁ
mind, thought
νύξ, νυκτός, ἡ
night
νῦν (adv.)

now, at present, as things are

Ξ
ξένος, ὁ
host, guest- friend; stranger
ξυν- see συν-
ξυν- ίημι
see συν- ίημι, metaphorically: perceive, understand, know

Ο
ὅ- δε, ἥ- δε, τό- δε

(demon. pron.) this (points out what is present or before one) ὁδός, ἡ
road, way, journey, wayfaring

234
glossary
ὁθούνεκα (conj.)

because, that (causal, but analogously to ὅτι introduces dependent sentence after verbs of ‘saying’; restricted to Tragedy.)

οἷ (relative adv.)

to which place, whither

*οἶδα
see with the mind’s eye; know (old pf. used as pres.)

οἶκος, ὁ
house, abode, dwelling; home
οἰκτρός (3)

pitiable, lamentable
οἷος, οἵα, οἷον
such as, of which sort

*οἴχομαι
come, go, be gone
ὀκνέω
hesitate, hold back, shrink from doing (physically or morally)

*ὄλ- λῡμι,
destroy, ruin; mid.: perish, come to an end
ὅμαιμος, ὁ/ ἡ
of the same blood, kinswoman
ὄμμα, ατος, τὸ
eye; light; illumination; poetic word
ὁμοῦ (adv.)

together, at once
ὅμως (adv.)

nevertheless, still; ἀλλ᾿ ὅμως = but still
ὄνειρον, τό
dream
ὁπόταν

= ὁπότε + ἄν; when, as long as, whenever
ὅπως (conj.)

with purpose clause: so that; comparative: as; time: when

*ὁράω

(aor. stem ἰδ- ) see
ὀργή, ἡ
natural impulse, temperament, disposition, anger, wrath passion ὀρθός (3)

straight, erect, upright; right, true,
ὀρθῶς (adv.)

rightly, truthfully, justly
ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ/ ἡ
bird; omen
ὅς, ἥ, ὅ

(relative pron.) who, that
ὅσος (3)

how much, as great, as many
ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι

(indefinite/ general relative pron.) whoever, any one who,
whatever, anything which
ὅτε (adv.)

when (ὅταν = ὅτε + ἄν, temporal clauses referring indefinitely to the fut. take subjv. with ἄν, or opt. without ἄν); ὅταν περ = just as soon as; since
ὅτι (conj.)

that (introduces indirect discourse after phrases/ verbs of ‘saying’

and ‘thinking.’ so do οὕνεκα, ὁθούνεκα, ὡς, ὅπως)

οὐ δῆτα
indeed/ certainly not! (in emphatic negative answers)

οὐκ- έτι, μη- κέτι (adv.)

no longer, no more, no further
οὔκουν (adv.)

(= οὐκ οὖν) and so not? not therefore? not then? (often with 2nd pers. fut. indic., or opt. with ἄν, at an opening of a speech) οὖν (conj.)

so now, therefore, then, in fact, at all events (inferential: marks transition to a new thought)

οὕνεκα
on account of for the sake of + genit., usually postpositive; (improper prep., i.e., an adv. used as a prep. but cannot form
compounds); conj. introducing dependent statement = ὅτι

235
glossary
οὖς, ὠτός, τό
ear, handle
οὔ- τις, οὔ- τινος
no one, nobody
οὔ- τοι (adv.)

indeed not
οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο

(demon. pron.) this, that (designates the nearer of two things, place, time, thought); opposed to ἐκεῖνος
οὕτως (adv.)

so, thus, in this manner
ὀφείλω
be under obligation

Π
παῖς, παιδός, ὁ/ ἡ
child
πάλαι (adv.)

long ago, formerly, before
παλαιός (3)

old in years, old in date, ancient
πάλιν (adv.)

again, once more, in turn
παρά (prep.)

+ genit.: from; + acc.: running along, beside; in comparison with; παρ᾿οὐδέν compared with nothing, i.e., of no account, worth nothing; + dat. by the side of
πάρ- *ειμι
be by, be present / near; πάρεστι + dat.; impersonal: it is in one’s power
παρ- *ίημι
let drop beside, let fall, give up, slacken, disregard, pass by, allow
πάρος (adv.)

before
παρ- ουσία, ἡ
presence
πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν
all, every, everything

*πάσχω
suffer, experience, be affected by anything (whether good or bad) πατήρ, πατρός, ὁ
father
πατρῴος (3)

of one’s father
παῦρος (3)

little, small, short
παύω
stop

*πείθω
persuade (πείσω, ἔπεισα, πέπεικα); 2 pf. πέποιθα : trust, believe, rely; have confidence in; πέπεισμαι, ἐπείσθην, πεισθήσομαι pf. and aor.2 mid. and pass.: obey

*πειράομαι
try, attempt
πέλᾰς
near, hard by, close (improper prep., i.e., cannot form compounds.,

+ genit. and also + dat.); adv.: near, by

*πέμπω
send
πέρ

(postpositive and enclit. pcl.) much, very, just, even (adds force to the word to which it is annexed)

πέρᾱ
beyond measure, across, over, further, excessively; (improper prep., i.e., cannot form compounds)

236
glossary
πῆμα, ατος, τό
misery, calamity, suffering
πικρός (2/ 3)

bitter, harsh, cruel

*πίπτω
fall
πιστεύω
believe, trust, put faith in
πιστός (3)

reliable, faithful, loyal
πλήν (prep.)

+ genit. except, save; (adv.) besides, unless, save, except πλέον (comparative adv.) (+πολύς, πολλή, πολύ, much) more πλοῦτος, ὁ
wealth, riches
ποῖ
whither?; to what end? sometimes + genit.

ποῖος (3)

(interrog. adj.) of what sort
πολύς, πολλή, πολύ
much; πολλά (adv.) many times
πολύ- πονος (2)

much- suffering; causing much pain, painful
πόνος, ὁ
pain, toil

*πόρω
bring, pass, contrive
πότερον/ πότερα . . . ἤ
whether . . . or (introduces direct alternative questions with πότερον/ πότερα frequently left untranslated in English)

που (enclit. adv.)

frequently qualifies an expression (οἶσθα) = ‘I suppose’

ποῦ (interrog. adv.)

where?

πούς, ποδός, ὁ
foot
πρᾶγμα, ατος, τό
deed, matter

*πράσσω
do, achieve, effect, bring about bring to pass
πρέπω
be like, resemble; quasi impersonal: it beseems
πρίν (conj.)

[ῐ] before, erst, formerly (when subordinated to an affirmative clause usually takes inf.)

πρό (prep.)

+ genit.: before, in front of
πρό- δοτος (2)

betrayed, abandoned
προμήθια, ἡ
forethought, consideration
πρός (prep.)

+ genit.: from, at the hand of (with verbs of having, receiving, etc.); + genit. of agent: by is common in poetry; + dat.: agreeable, becoming, be on the side of, hard by, near, at; in addition to
προσ- ήκω
have come/ arrived; be near, be at hand; impersonal + dat.: beseems, belongs, befits
πρόσθε(ν)(adv . )

before, formerly, long ago, previously
προς- +κείμαι

+ dat .: lie with, lie near, placed near; be attached to
προσ- *μένω

+ acc.: wait for, await
πρόσ- πολος (2)

servant, attendant
προ- *τίθημι
place, set before; lay out a dead body; mid.: exhibit πρῶτον (adv.)

first
πρῶτος (3)

first, foremost, front

237
glossary
πῶλος, ὁ
foal, whether a colt or filly
πως (adv.)

somehow, in any way
πῶς (adv.)

how?

Σ
σαφής, ές
clear, distinct, plain
σέθεν
old poetic form of σοῦ, genit. of σύ
σθένω
have power, be strong
σμῑκρος (3)

= μῑκρός
σοφός (3)

clever, wise, prudent, skilled
σποδός, ἡ
ashes
στέγη, ἡ
house; lit.: roof
στενάχω

[ᾰ] (lengthened for στένω) transitive: bemoan, bewail, lament στένω

(στενός, narrow) sigh; transitive: bemoan, lament, deplore, complain; only in pres. and impf.

στέφω
crown, wreathe, honor
στρατός, ὁ
army, people, crowd
συμ- φέρω
gather, contribute, help
συμφορά, ἡ
bringing together, event, mishap, misfortune, calamity
σύν (prep.)

+ dat.: with; (adv.) together, at once, jointly; besides, moreover συν-είδω
share in the knowledge; (σύνοιδα, pf. with present sense) σύν- *ειμι
associate, live with
συν- ίημι
metaphorically: perceive, understand, know

*σῴζω
save, keep, keep alive
σῶμα, ατος, τό
body, dead body

Τ
τάλᾱς, τάλαινᾰ, τάλᾰν

(*τλάω, suffe r) suffering, wretched, enduring;
τανῦν (adv.)

= τὰ νῦν; now, at present

*τάττω
arrange, form, array, order, dictate pass.: be posted, stationed τάχος, εος, τό
swiftness, speed; ἐν τάχει quickly
τᾰφος, ὁ
grave, tomb; rites of burial
τέκνον, τό
child
τεκμήριον, τό
proof, sign
τελέω
accomplish, finish
τήκω
pine, melt away (pf. act. is used intransitively = pres. pass);

*τίκτω
bring forth, bear, beget

238
glossary

*τίθημι
place, put, set
τιμωρός, ὁ
avenger
τίς, τί

[ῐ] (interrog. pron.) who? which? what?

τῐς, τι

(indefinite pron.) anyone, anything
τλήμων, ονος, ὁ/ ἡ
suffering, enduring, wretched, miserable; bold, daring, reckless, rash
τοι
postpositive and enclitic particle of inference: therefore,
accordingly; strengthening an assertion: in truth, verily τοιοῦτος, τοιαύτη,

(demon. pron.) such (in quality)

τοιοῦτο(ν)

τοιόσδε, τοιάδε, τοιόνδε
such (in quality)

τοιοῦτος, - αύτη, - οῦτο
such, of such kind, nature, quality, such as this
τοσόσ- δε, τοσή- δε, τοσόν- δε so great; demon. pron. τόσος (3) with stronger demon. sense τοσόνδε (adv.)

so very, so much, to such a degree
τότε (adv.)

at that time, then, next
τρόπος, ὁ
way, mode
τροφή, ἡ
nourishment, food, rearing, nursing

*τῠγχάνω
happens to be, meet, hit, obtain, chance, fall with, hit upon (+
genit.)

τύμβος, ὁ
tomb, grave
τύχη, ἡ
fate, good/ bad luck, chance, accident; fatal accident/ chance Υ
ὑβρίζω
outrage, insult, maltreat
ὕβρις, εος, ἡ

[ῠ] outrage

Φ

*φαίνω
bring to light, show, make known, reveal, disclose; aor.2 fut.

pass./ intrans.: appear
φάσμα, ατος, τό
apparition, phantom
φά- τις, εως, ἡ

(oracular) speech, rumor, report, story
φέρε
come, now, well (used like ἄγε, as an adv.)

*φέρω
bring, carry, bear; endure

*φεύγω
flee, run away
φήμη, ἡ

(Doric = φάμα) voice, rumor, message

*φημί
say, say yes
φθίω/ φθίνω
decline, decay, wane

239
glossary
φίλέω
love, treat affectionately, welcome; + inf.: be wont to, use to, tend to
φίλη, ἡ
near and dear, friend
φίλος, ὁ
near and dear, friend
φίλος (2/ 3)

loved, near and dear (poetic adj. with active sense: loving) φόβος, ὁ
fear, terror, fright, dismay
φοίνιος (2/ 3)

bloody (poetic for φόνιος)

φονεύς, έως, ὁ
murderer, slayer
φόνος, ὁ
murder, slaughter; homicide; (plural refers to one deed) φορέω
constantly bear; frequentative of φέρω, implying repeated or habitual action

*φράζω
tell, declare, pronounce (stronger than λέγω); devise, plan; mid.: devise, consider, plan for (a person)

φρήν, φρενός, ἡ
midriff; mind (often in plural)

φρονέω
to be so minded towards, have certain thoughts for/ toward (+
dat. and acc.); think, have an understanding
φῠλάσσω
guard; mid.: keep in one’s mind
φύσις, εως, ἡ

[ῠ] nature, inborn quality; natural origin

*φύω
bring forth, produce; aor.2 grew, was; pf. be by nature φροῦδος (2/ 3)

gone away
φωνέω
speak loud or clearly

Φωκέυς, έως, ὁ

Phocian (from Phocis, a region in northern greece that includes Delphi)

φῶς, φωτός, τό

= φάος, εος, τό light, daylight (usually signifies life versus the darkness of the otherworld)

Χ

*χαίρω
rejoice; impv. is a common form of greeting either at meeting or parting: hail or farewell
χᾰρά, ἡ
joy, delight pleasure
χάρις, – ιτος, ἡ

[ᾰ] favor, pleasure, gratification, gratitude; χάριν + genit.: for the sake of, on account of (acc. sg. as a postpositive improper prep., i.e., an adv. used as a prep. but cannot form compounds)

χείρ, χειρός, ἡ
hand; metaphorically: force, power
χθών, χθονός, ἡ
the earth, ground, land, country
χράομαι

+ dat.: use, avail oneself of
χρεών

(indecl.) which must be, necessary
χρῄζω
desire, long for; want, have need for, like

240
glossary
χρόνος, ὁ
time
χρή
it is necessary (indecl. noun, ‘necessity, ’ with ἐστί supplied) χωρέω
go forward, advance, go, come

Ψ
ψῡχή, ἡ
breath, soul, life

Ω
ὧδε (adv.)

in this way, thus; so very, so exceedingly; hither
ὡς (conj.)

causal: inasmuch as, since, seeing that (= ὅτι); temporal: after, when (= ἐπεί); indicating purpose: in order that; so that (= ὅπως); restrictive as, for as for; introduces indirect discourse (= ὅτι): that ὡς
relat adv.: as; with comparative force as; heightens superlative: as much, as possible; exclamatory: how; in wishes: if only ὥς
adv. of manner: just so, thus; demon. (with an accent) =
οὕτως: thus
ὥσπερ (conj.)

just as, as (introduces comparative clause of quality)

ὥστε (conj.)

so that, so as to; (ὡς + connective τέ that has lost its meaning; opens result clause with finite verb or inf.)

241

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Document Outline

- Cover
- Series
- Series
- Sophocles’ Electra
- Copyright
- Dedication
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Guidelines FOR USING THE COMMENTARY
- Meter and Prosody

- Definitions of Grammatical, Rhetorical, and Literary Figures USED IN THE COMMENTARY

- Main Abbreviations

- Commentary on Sophocles’ Electra

- Irregular (and Unpredictable) Principal Parts

- Appendix A: Metrical Analysis
- Appendix B: Lexical Analysis
- Glossary
- Bibliography

Table of Contents

- Cover
- Series
- Series
- Sophocles’ Electra
- Copyright
- Dedication
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Guidelines FOR USING THE COMMENTARY
- Meter and Prosody

- Definitions of Grammatical, Rhetorical, and Literary Figures USED IN THE COMMENTARY

- Main Abbreviations

- Commentary on Sophocles’ Electra

- Irregular (and Unpredictable) Principal Parts

- Appendix A: Metrical Analysis
- Appendix B: Lexical Analysis
- Glossary
- Bibliography