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410 BC
ELECTRA
by Sophocles
translated by R。 C。 Jebb
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
ORESTES； son of Agamemnon and CLYTEMNESTRA
ELECTRA ｝ sister of ORESTES
CHRYSOTHEMIS｝ 〃 〃 〃
AN OLD MAN； formerly the PAEDAGOGUS or Attendant Of ORESTES
CLYTEMNESTRA
AEGISTHUS
CHORUS OF WOMEN OF MYCENAE
Mute Persons
PYLADES； son of Strophius； King of Crisa； the friend Of ORESTES。
A handmaid of CLYTEMNESTRA。 Two attendants of ORESTES
ELECTRA
ELECTRA
（SCENE：… At Mycenae； before the palace of the Pelopidae。 It is morning
and the new…risen sun is bright。 The PAEDAGOGUS enters on the left
of the spectators； accompanied by the two youths； ORESTES and
PYLADES。）
PAEDAGOGUS
SON of him who led our hosts at Troy of old； son of Agamemnon！… now
thou mayest behold with thine eyes all that thy soul hath desired so
long。 There is the ancient Argos of thy yearning；… that hallowed scene
whence the gadfly drove the daughter of Inachus； and there； Orestes；
is the Lycean Agora； named from the wolf…slaying god； there； on the
left； Hera's famous temple； and in this place to which we have come；
deem that thou seest Mycenae rich in gold； with the house of the
Pelopidae there； so often stained with bloodshed； whence I carried
thee of yore； from the slaying of thy father； as thy kinswoman； thy
sister； charged me； and saved thee； and reared thee up to manhood；
to be the avenger of thy murdered sire。
Now； therefore； Orestes； and thou； best of friends； Pylades； our
plans must be laid quickly； for lo； already the sun's bright ray is
waking the songs of the birds into clearness； and the dark night of
stars is spent。 Before； then； anyone comes forth from the house；
take counsel； seeing that the time allows not of delay； but is full
ripe for deeds。
ORESTES
True friend and follower； how well dost thou prove thy loyalty
to our house！ As a steed of generous race； though old； loses not
courage in danger； but pricks his ear； even so thou urgest us forward；
and art foremost in our support。 I will tell thee； then； what I have
determined； listen closely to my words； and correct me； if I miss
the mark in aught。
When I went to the Pythian oracle； to learn how I might avenge
my father on his murderers； Phoebus gave me the response which thou
art now to hear：… that alone； and by stealth； without aid of arms or
numbers； I should snatch the righteous vengeance of my hand。 Since；
then； the god spake to us on this wise； thou must go into yonder
house； when opportunity gives thee entrance； and learn all that is
passing there； so that thou mayest report to us from sure knowledge。
Thine age； and the lapse of time； will prevent them from recognising
thee； they will never suspect who thou art； with that silvered hair。
Let thy tale be that thou art a Phocian stranger； sent by Phanoteus；
for he is the greatest of their allies。 Tell them； and confirm it with
thine oath； that Orestes hath perished by a fatal chance；… hurled at
the Pythian games from his rapid chariot； be that the substance of thy
story。
We； meanwhile； will first crown my father's tomb； as the god
enjoined； with drink…offerings and the luxuriant tribute of severed
hair； then come back； bearing in our hands an urn of shapely
bronze；…now hidden in the brushwood； as I think thou knowest；… so to
gladden them with the false tidings that this my body is no more；
but has been consumed with fire and turned to ashes。 Why should the
omen trouble me； when by a feigned death I find life indeed； and win
renown？ I trow； no word is ill…omened； if fraught with gain。 Often ere
now have I seen wise men die in vain report； then； when they return
home； they are held in more abiding honour： as I trust that from
this rumour I also shall emerge in radiant life； and yet shine like
a star upon my foes。
O my fatherland； and ye gods of the land； receive me with good
fortune in this journey；… and ye also； halls of my fathers； for I come
with divine mandate to cleanse you righteously； send me not
dishonoured from the land； but grant that I may rule over my
possessions； and restore my house！
Enough；… be it now thy care； old man； to go and heed thy task；
and we twain will go forth； for so occasion bids； chief ruler of every
enterprise for men。
ELECTRA （within）
Ah me； ah me！
PAEDAGOGUS
Hark； my son；… from the doors； methought； came the sound of some
handmaid moaning within。
ORESTES
Can it be the hapless Electra？ Shall we stay here； and listen to
her laments？
PAEDAGOGUS
No； no： before all else； let us seek to obey the command of
Loxias； and thence make a fair beginning； by pouring libations to
thy sire； that brings victory within our grasp； and gives us the
mastery in all that we do。
（Exeunt PAEDAGOGUS on the spectators' left； ORESTES and PYLADES
the right。… Enter ELECTRA； from the house。 She is meanly clad。）
ELECTRA （chanting）
systema
O thou pure sunlight； and thou air； earth's canopy； how often have
ye heard the strains of my lament； the wild blows dealt against this
bleeding breast； when dark night fails！ And my wretched couch in
yonder house of woe knows well； ere now； how I keep the watches of the
night；… how often I bewail my hapless sire； to whom deadly Ares gave
not of his gifts in a strange land； but my mother； and her mate
Aegisthus； cleft his head with murderous axe； as woodmen fell an
oak。 And for this no plaint bursts from any lip save mine； when
thou； my father； hath died a death so cruel and so piteous！
antisystema
But never will I cease from dirge and sore lament； while I look on
the trembling rays of the bright stars； or on this light of day； but
like the nightingale； slayer of her offspring； I will wail without
ceasing； and cry aloud to all； here； at the doors of my father。
O home of Hades and Persephone！ O Hermes of the shades！ potent
Curse； and ye； dread daughters of the gods； Erinyes；… Ye who behold
when a life is reft by violence； when a bed is dishonoured by
stealth；… come； help me； avenge the murder of my sire；… and send to me
my brother； for I have no more the strength to bear up alone against
the load of grief that weighs me down。
（As ELECTRA finishes her lament；
the CHORUS OF WOMEN OF MYCENAE enter。 The following
lines between ELECTRA and the CHORUS are chanted responsively。）
CHORUS
strophe 1
Ah； Electra； child of a wretched mother； why art thou ever
pining thus in ceaseless la