§1166στένωσι δʼ οἵπερ κἄμʼ ἔθηκαν ἄθλιον.
Let them groan, who made me miserable.
§1167Ἀγαμέμνονός τοι παῖς πέφυχʼ, ὃς Ἑλλάδος §1168ἦρξʼ ἀξιωθείς, οὐ τύραννος, ἀλλʼ ὅμως §1169ῥώμην θεοῦ τινʼ ἔσχε· ὃν οὐ καταισχυνῶ §1170δοῦλον παρασχὼν θάνατον, ἀλλʼ ἐλευθέρως §1171ψυχὴν ἀφήσω, Μενέλεων δὲ τείσομαι.
Indeed I am born the son of Agamemnon, who of Greece ruled, being deemed worthy, not as a tyrant, but nevertheless held a certain strength of a god; whom I will not disgrace by showing a death of a slave, but freely I will release my life, and I will take vengeance on Menelaus.
§1172ἑνὸς γὰρ εἰ λαβοίμεθʼ, εὐτυχοῖμεν ἄν, §1173εἴ ποθεν ἄελπτος παραπέσοι σωτηρία §1174κτανοῦσι μὴ θανοῦσιν· εὔχομαι τάδε.
For if we should grasp one thing, we would be fortunate, if from somewhere unexpected salvation should fall to us, to us who have killed but do not die; I pray for these things.
For what I wish, it is sweet even through the mouth with winged words to delight the mind without expense.
I, brother, think I have this very thing, salvation for you, for this man, and thirdly for me.
§1179θεοῦ λέγεις πρόνοιαν.
You speak of a god's providence.
ἀλλὰ ποῦ τόδε;
But where is this?
§1180ἐπεὶ τὸ συνετόν γʼ οἶδα σῇ ψυχῇ παρόν.
Since indeed I know that intelligence is present in your soul.
§1181ἄκουε δή νυν· καὶ σὺ δεῦρο νοῦν ἔχε.
Listen indeed now; and you also turn your mind here.
§1182λέγʼ· ὡς τὸ μέλλειν ἀγάθʼ ἔχει τινʼ ἡδονήν.
Speak; for delay of good things holds a certain pleasure.
§1183Ἑλένης κάτοισθα θυγατέρʼ;
Do you know Helen's daughter?
εἰδότʼ ἠρόμην.
I asked one who knows.
§1184οἶδʼ, ἣν ἔθρεψεν Ἑρμιόνην μήτηρ ἐμή.
I know her, Hermione, whom my mother raised.
§1185αὕτη βέβηκε πρὸς Κλυταιμήστρας τάφον.
She has gone to Clytemnestra's tomb.
§1186τί χρῆμα δράσουσʼ;
To do what?
ὑποτίθης τίνʼ ἐλπίδα;
What hope do you suggest?
§1187χοὰς κατασπείσουσʼ ὑπὲρ μητρὸς τάφῳ.
To pour libations on the tomb on behalf of her mother.
§1188καὶ δὴ τί μοι τοῦτʼ εἶπας ἐς σωτηρίαν;
And indeed how did you say this points to our salvation?
§1189ξυλλάβεθʼ ὅμηρον τήνδʼ, ὅταν στείχῃ πάλιν.
Seize her as a hostage, when she walks back.
§1190τίνος τόδʼ εἶπας φάρμακον τρισσοῖς φίλοις;
Of what did you say this is a remedy for the three friends?
§1191Ἑλένης θανούσης, ἤν τι Μενέλεώς σε δρᾷ §1192ἢ τόνδε κἀμέ — πᾶν γὰρ ἓν φίλον τόδε — §1193λέγʼ ὡς φονεύσεις Ἑρμιόνην· ξίφος δὲ χρὴ §1194δέρῃ πρὸς αὐτῇ παρθένου σπάσαντʼ ἔχειν.
If Helen dies, and if Menelaus does anything to you or this man or me—for all this is one friendly group— say that you will kill Hermione; and it is necessary to hold a drawn sword right at the virgin's neck.
§1195κἂν μέν σε σῴζῃ μὴ θανεῖν χρῄζων κόρην §1196Ἑλένης Μενέλεως πτῶμʼ ἰδὼν ἐν αἵματι, §1197μέθες πεπᾶσθαι πατρὶ παρθένου δέμας· §1198ἢν δʼ ὀξυθύμου μὴ κρατῶν φρονήματος §1199κτείνῃ σε, καὶ σὺ σφάζε παρθένου δέρην.
And if indeed Menelaus saves you, wishing his daughter not to die, when Menelaus sees the corpse of Helen in blood, let the virgin's body go for her father to keep; but if, not controlling his angry mind, he kills you, you too slaughter the virgin's neck.
§1200καί νιν δοκῶ, τὸ πρῶτον ἢν πολὺς παρῇ, §1201χρόνῳ μαλάξειν σπλάγχνον· οὔτε γὰρ θρασὺς §1202οὔτʼ ἄλκιμος πέφυκε.
And I think he, even if at first he is very fierce, in time will soften his heart; for he is born neither bold nor brave.
τήνδʼ ἡμῖν ἔχω §1203σωτηρίας ἔπαλξιν.
This I hold for us as a bulwark of safety.
εἴρηται λόγος.
The speech is finished.
§1204ὦ τὰς φρένας μὲν ἄρσενας κεκτημένη, §1205τὸ σῶμα δʼ ἐν γυναιξὶ θηλείαις πρέπον, §1206ὡς ἀξία ζῆν μᾶλλον ἢ θανεῖν ἔφυς.
Oh you who possess indeed a male mind, but a body fitting among female women, how worthy you were born to live rather than to die.
Pylades, will you indeed be deprived, wretched man, of such a woman, or living will you obtain a blessed marriage?
(Pylades) May it indeed happen, and may she come to the city of Phocians, deemed worthy with beautiful wedding songs.
§1211ἥξει δʼ ἐς οἴκους Ἑρμιόνη τίνος χρόνου;
(Orestes) And at what time will Hermione come to the house?
Since the other things you said indeed, if we are to be fortunate, are most excellent, when we have seized the cub of the unholy father.
(Electra) And indeed I think she is near the house; for the very length of time runs together with it.
§1216καλῶς· σὺ μέν νυν, σύγγονʼ Ἠλέκτρα, δόμων §1217πάρος μένουσα παρθένου δέχου πόδα, §1218φύλασσε δʼ ἤν τις, πρὶν τελευτηθῇ φόνος, §1219ἢ ξύμμαχός τις ἢ κασίγνητος πατρός, §1220ἐλθὼν ἐς οἴκους φθῇ, γέγωνέ τʼ ἐς δόμους, §1221ἢ σανίδα παίσασʼ ἢ λόγους πέμψασʼ ἔσω·
Excellent; you indeed now, sister Electra, before the house remaining, await the virgin's footstep, and watch if anyone, before the murder is completed, either some ally or the brother of our father, coming to the house should forestall us, and shout into the dwellings, either by striking the door or sending words inside.
§1222ἡμεῖς δʼ ἔσω στείχοντες ἐπὶ τὸν ἔσχατον §1223ἀγῶνʼ ὁπλιζώμεσθα φασγάνῳ χέρας, §1225ὦ δῶμα ναίων νυκτὸς ὀρφναίας πάτερ, §1226καλεῖ σʼ Ὀρέστης παῖς σὸς ἐπίκουρον μολεῖν §1227τοῖς δεομένοισι.
But we, entering inside, for the ultimate contest, let us arm our hands with the sword, Oh father, dwelling in the house of dark night, Orestes, your son, calls you to come as a helper to those in need.
διὰ σὲ γὰρ πάσχω τάλας §1228ἀδίκως· προδέδομαι δʼ ὑπὸ κασιγνήτου σέθεν, §1229δίκαια πράξας· οὗ θέλω δάμαρθʼ ἑλὼν §1230κτεῖναι· σὺ δʼ ἡμῖν τοῦδε συλλήπτωρ γενοῦ.
For because of you I suffer, wretched, unjustly; and I have been betrayed by your brother, having done what is right; whose wife I wish to seize and kill; you, be a helper to us in this.
(Electra) Oh father, come indeed, if you hear beneath the earth your children calling, who are dying on your behalf.
(Pylades) Oh kinsman of my father, my prayers too, Agamemnon, hearken to; save your children.
§1235ἔκτεινα μητέρα — §1235bἡψάμην δʼ ἐγὼ ξίφους — §1236ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπεβούλευσα κἀπέλυσʼ ὄκνου — §1237σοί, πάτερ, ἀρήγων.
(Orestes) I killed my mother— (Electra) and I laid hand on the sword— (Pylades) and I planned and released the hesitation— (Orestes) helping you, father.
§1237bοὐδʼ ἐγὼ προύδωκά σε.
(Pylades) Nor did I betray you.
§1238οὔκουν ὀνείδη τάδε κλύων ῥύσῃ τέκνα;
Will you not then, hearing these reproaches, rescue your children?
§1239δακρύοις κατασπένδω σε.
I pour libations of tears over you.
§1239bἐγὼ δʼ οἴκτοισί γε.
And I indeed with laments.
§1240παύσασθε, καὶ πρὸς ἔργον ἐξορμώμεθα.
(Orestes) Cease, and let us set out for the deed.
For if indeed curses strike into the earth, he hears.
σὺ δʼ, ὦ Ζεῦ πρόγονε καὶ Δίκης σέβας, §1243δότʼ εὐτυχῆσαι τῷδʼ ἐμοί τε τῇδέ τε· §1244τρισσοῖς φίλοις γὰρ εἷς ἀγών, δίκη μία, §1245ἢ ζῆν ἅπασιν ἢ — θανεῖν ὀφείλεται.
And you, oh ancestral Zeus and revered Justice, grant success to this man, to me, and to her; for to the three friends there is one contest, one justice, either to live for all, or—to die is due.