Orestes Reveals His Identity and the Siblings' Reunion — Sophocles, Electra, lines 1167–1250, Greek & English

1167

ναίω τὸ λοιπόν· καὶ γὰρ ἡνίκʼ ἦσθʼ ἄνω,

Electra: I shall dwell for the future; for indeed when you were above,

ξὺν σοὶ μετεῖχον τῶν ἴσων, καὶ νῦν ποθῶ

I shared equal things with you, and now I desire,

τοῦ σοῦ θανοῦσα μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι τάφου.¹

dying, not to be left behind from your tomb.

1170

τοὺς γὰρ θανόντας οὐχ ὁρῶ λυπουμένους.

For I do not see the dead suffering pain.

θνητοῦ πέφυκας πατρός, Ἠλέκτρα, φρόνει,

Orestes: You were born of a mortal father, Electra, understand,

θνητὸς δʼ Ὀρέστης. ὥστε μὴ λίαν στένε.

and Orestes was mortal; therefore do not lament too much.

πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτʼ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.

For to suffer this is a debt owed by us all.

φεῦ φεῦ. τί λέξω; ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχανῶν

Orestes: Alas, alas, what shall I say? Whither of helpless words

1175

ἔλθω;² κρατεῖν γὰρ οὐκέτι γλώσσης σθένω.

shall I go? For I no longer have strength to control my tongue.

τί δʼ ἔσχες ἄλγος; πρὸς τί τοῦτʼ εἰπὼν κυρεῖς;

Electra: What pain have you conceived? At what point of saying this do you happen to be?

ἦ σὸν τὸ κλεινὸν εἶδος Ἠλέκτρας τόδε;

Orestes: Is this indeed that famous form of Electra?

τόδʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνο, καὶ μάλʼ ἀθλίως ἔχον.

Electra: This is it, and indeed in a most miserable state.

οἴμοι ταλαίνης ἆρα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

Orestes: Alas, then, for this wretched misfortune.

1180

οὐ δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀμφʼ ἐμοὶ στένεις τάδε;

Electra: Surely, stranger, you are not lamenting these things for me?

ὦ σῶμʼ ἀτίμως κἀθέως ἐφθαρμένον.

Orestes: O body dishonorably and godlessly ruined.

οὔτοι ποτʼ ἄλλην ἢ ʼμὲ δυσφημεῖς, ξένε.

Electra: You surely speak ill of no other than me, stranger.

φεῦ τῆς ἀνύμφου δυσμόρου τε σῆς τροφῆς,

Orestes: Alas for your unwedded and ill-fated life!

τί δή ποτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπισκοπῶν στένεις;

Electra: Why indeed, stranger, do you look upon me thus and lament?

1185

ὡς οὐκ ἄρʼ ᾔδη τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν κακῶν.³

Orestes: How then I knew nothing of my own misfortunes!

ἐν τῷ διέγνως τοῦτο τῶν εἰρημένων;

Electra: By what of the things said did you discern this?

ὁρῶν σε πολλοῖς ἐμπρέπουσαν ἄλγεσιν.

Orestes: By seeing you pre-eminent in many pains.

καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς γε παῦρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.

Electra: And yet you see but few of my misfortunes.

καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδʼ ἔτʼ ἐχθίω βλέπειν;

Orestes: And how could there be anything more hateful than these to look upon?

1190

ὁθούνεκʼ εἰμὶ τοῖς φονεῦσι σύντροφος

Electra: Because I live together with the murderers—

τοῖς τοῦ; πόθεν τοῦτʼ ἐξεσήμηνας κακόν;

Orestes: Of whom? From where did you signal this evil?

τοῖς πατρός· εἶτα τοῖσδε δουλεύω βίᾳ.

Electra: Of my father; and then I serve them by force.

τίς γάρ σʼ ἀνάγκῃ τῇδε προτρέπει βροτῶν;

Orestes: Who indeed of mortals drives you to this necessity?

μήτηρ καλεῖται, μητρὶ δʼ οὐδὲν ἐξισοῖ.

Electra: She is called my mother, but she has nothing equal to a mother.

1195

τί δρῶσα; πότερα χερσὶν ἢ λύμῃ βίου;

Orestes: By doing what? By hands, or by outrage to your life?

καὶ χερσὶ καὶ λύμαισι καὶ πᾶσιν κακοῖς.

Electra: Both by hands, and by outrages, and by all evils.

οὐδʼ οὑπαρήξων οὐδʼ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα;

Orestes: And is there no one to assist, nor anyone to prevent?

οὐ δῆθʼ. ὃς ἦν γάρ μοι σὺ προὔθηκας σποδόν.

Electra: Indeed not; for the one who was mine, you have presented to me as dust.

ὦ δύσποτμʼ, ὡς ὁρῶν σʼ ἐποικτίρω πάλαι.

Orestes: O ill-fated one, how looking upon you I have long pitied you!

1200

μόνος βροτῶν νυν ἴσθʼ ἐποικτίρας ποτέ.

Electra: Know that you are the only one of mortals who has ever pitied me.

μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις ἀλγῶν κακοῖς.⁴

Orestes: For I am the only one who has come grieving for equal evils.

οὐ δή ποθʼ ἡμῖν ξυγγενὴς ἥκεις ποθέν;

Electra: Surely you have not come as a relative of ours from somewhere?

ἐγὼ φράσαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τῶνδʼ εὔνουν πάρα.

Orestes: I would speak, if the goodwill of these women is present.

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν εὔνουν, ὥστε πρὸς πιστὰς ἐρεῖς.

Electra: Indeed it is present, so you will speak to faithful ones.

1205

μέθες τόδʼ ἄγγος νῦν, ὅπως τὸ πᾶν μάθῃς.

Orestes: Release this vessel now, so that you may learn the whole.

μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μʼ ἐργάσῃ, ξένε.

Electra: Do not indeed, by the gods, do this to me, stranger!

πείθου λέγοντι κοὐχ ἁμαρτήσει ποτέ.

Orestes: Obey me in what I say, and you will never err.

μή, πρὸς γενείου, μὴ ʼξέλῃ τὰ φίλτατα.

Electra: Do not, by your beard, do not take away what is dearest to me!

οὔ φημʼ ἐάσειν.

Orestes: I say I will not permit it.

ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ σέθεν,

Electra: O wretched me for you,

1210

Ὀρέστα, τῆς σῆς εἰ στερήσομαι ταφῆς.

Orestes, if I am to be deprived of your tomb!

εὔφημα φώνει· πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

Orestes: Speak words of good omen; for you do not lament with justice.

πῶς τὸν θανόντʼ ἀδελφὸν οὐ δίκῃ στένω;

Electra: How do I not lament my dead brother with justice?

οὔ σοι προσήκει τήνδε προσφωνεῖν φάτιν.

Orestes: It does not belong to you to address this speech.

οὕτως ἄτιμός εἰμι τοῦ τεθνηκότος;

Electra: Am I so dishonored by the dead?

1215

ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ· τοῦτο δʼ οὐχὶ σόν.

Orestes: Dishonored by no one are you; but this is not yours.

εἴπερ γʼ Ὀρέστου σῶμα βαστάζω τόδε;

Electra: If indeed I carry this body of Orestes?

ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γʼ ἠσκημένον.⁵

Orestes: But it is not of Orestes, except as adorned in word.

ποῦ δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνου τοῦ ταλαιπώρου τάφος;

Electra: And where is the tomb of that wretched one?

οὐκ ἔστι· τοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐκ ἔστιν τάφος.

Orestes: There is none; for there is no tomb for the living.

1220

πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;

Electra: How did you say, O youth?

ψεῦδος οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω.

Orestes: There is no lie in what I say.

ἦ ζῇ γὰρ ἁνήρ;

Electra: Is the man indeed alive?

εἴπερ ἔμψυχός γʼ ἐγώ.

Orestes: Yes, if indeed I am alive.

ἦ γὰρ σὺ κεῖνος;

Electra: Are you indeed he?

τήνδε προσβλέψασά μου

Orestes: Having looked upon this

σφραγῖδα πατρὸς ἔκμαθʼ εἰ σαφῆ λέγω.

signet ring of my father, learn if I speak the truth.

ὦ φίλτατον φῶς.

Electra: O dearest light!

φίλτατον, συμμαρτυρῶ.

Orestes: Dearest indeed, I bear witness.

1225

ὦ φθέγμʼ, ἀφίκου;

Electra: O voice, have you arrived?

μηκέτʼ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ,

Orestes: Learn it no longer from elsewhere.

ἔχω σε χερσίν;

Electra: Do I hold you in my hands?

ὡς τὰ λοίπʼ ἔχοις ἀεί.

Orestes: May you hold me so for the rest of time.

ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ὦ πολίτιδες,

Electra: O dearest women, O citizens,

ὁρᾶτʼ Ὀρέστην τόνδε, μηχαναῖσι μὲν

look upon this Orestes, who by devices

θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖς σεσωσμένον.

died, but now by devices is saved.

1230

ὁρῶμεν, ὦ παῖ, κἀπὶ συμφοραῖσί μοι

Chorus: We see him, child, and at this fortune

γεγηθὸς ἕρπει δάκρυον ὀμμάτων ἄπο.

a tear of joy creeps from my eyes.

ἰὼ γοναί,

Electra: O offspring,

γοναὶ σωμάτων ἐμοὶ φιλτάτων,

offspring of bodies most dear to me,

ἐμόλετʼ ἀρτίως,

you have come just now,

1235

ἐφηύρετʼ, ἤλθετʼ, εἴδεθʼ οὓς ἐχρῄζετε.

you have found, you have come, you have seen those whom you desired.

πάρεσμεν· ἀλλὰ σῖγʼ ἔχουσα πρόσμενε.

Orestes: We are present; but keep silent and wait.

τί δʼ ἔστιν;

Electra: What is it?

σιγᾶν ἄμεινον, μή τις ἔνδοθεν κλύῃ.

Orestes: Silence is better, lest someone inside should hear.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ τὴν ἄδμητον αἰὲν Ἄρτεμιν,

Electra: But no, by the ever-virgin Artemis,

1240

τόδε μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀξιώσω τρέσαι,

I shall never think this worthy of fear,

περισσὸν ἄχθος ἔνδον

this useless burden inside,

γυναικῶν ὂν αἰεί.

which the women ever are.

ὅρα γε μὲν δὴ κἀν γυναιξὶν ὡς Ἄρης

Orestes: See indeed, however, that even in women Ares

ἔνεστιν· εὖ δʼ ἔξοισθα πειραθεῖσά που.

is present; and you know this well, having experienced it, I suppose.

1245

ὀτοτοτοτοῖ τοτοῖ,

Electra: Oh, oh, oh,

ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον,⁶

you have brought upon us a cloudless, never-to-be-undone,

οὐδέ ποτε λησόμενον ἁμέτερον

and never-to-be-forgotten, our own

1250

οἷον ἔφυ κακόν.

evil, such as it arose.

Syntax notes6 items

1169τοῦ σοῦ θανοῦσα μὴ ἀπολείπεσθαι τάφου
The participle θανοῦσα agrees in gender, number, and case with the subject of the main verb ποθῶ (Electra). The infinitive ἀπολείπεσθαι ("to be left behind from") governs the genitive of separation τοῦ σοῦ ... τάφου ("from your tomb").
1174ποῖ λόγων ἀμηχανῶν ἔλθω
The verb ἔλθω is a deliberative subjunctive in the first person singular. The genitive plural phrase λόγων ἀμηχανῶν ("of helpless words") functions partitively with the adverb of direction ποῖ ("whither"), representing the state or realm of speechlessness into which the speaker is driven.
1185ὡς οὐκ ἄρʼ ᾔδη τῶν ἐμῶν οὐδὲν κακῶν
ὡς introduces an exclamation, and the particle ἄρα combined with the pluperfect ᾔδη (which functions as an imperfect of οἶδα, "I knew") expresses sudden realization ("as it turns out, I did not know..."). The phrase τῶν ἐμῶν ... κακῶν is a partitive genitive depending on οὐδὲν ("nothing of my evils").
1201μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις ἀλγῶν κακοῖς
The present participle ἀλγῶν ("grieving") agrees with the subject of ἥκω ("I have come", which has a present-perfect force) and explains the state or reason of his arrival. The dative τοῖς ἴσοις ... κακοῖς is a dative of cause governed by the verb of emotion ἀλγέω.
1217ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ὀρέστου, πλὴν λόγῳ γʼ ἠσκημένον
The accusative noun σῶμα ("body") from the preceding line (§1216) is omitted; the genitive Ὀρέστου ("of Orestes") modifies this understood noun. The perfect passive participle ἠσκημένον ("adorned, prepared") is in the neuter accusative singular to agree with the omitted σῶμα, and is accompanied by the dative of means λόγῳ ("by word").
1246ἀνέφελον ἐνέβαλες οὔ ποτε καταλύσιμον
The adjectives ἀνέφελον ("cloudless, clear," meaning manifest) and the subsequent καταλύσιμον ("soluble, undoable") modify the neuter singular noun κακόν ("evil") in §1250. This constitutes a hyperbaton, with the verb ἐνέβαλες ("you cast upon") placed between them.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg005.humanitext-grc2:1167-1250