occasion, set me right. For when I came a suppliant to the Pythian oracle, that I might learn in what way I should exact justice for my father from his murderers, Phoebus gave me an answer, such as thou presently shalt hear : "That alone, with armour and with martial host alike unfurnished, by craft I should steal the lawful slaughter of mine hand." Since then we have heard such an oracle as this, do thou entering, when opportunity shall introduce thee, into this house, learn all that there is doing, that being informed thou mayest tell us sure tidings. For fear not that with both thine own age and the long lapse of time they shall recognize thee, or even suspect thee thus tricked out. But make use of some such tale as this, that thou art a Phocian stranger, coming from Phanoteus, since he happens to be the chiefest of their foreign allies. But announce, joining on [thy tidings] to an oath, that Orestes is dead by a violent death, having been tumbled from his swift car at the Pythian games. So let thy story stand. But we having, as he enjoined, first crowned my father's sepulchre with libations and locks e Musgrave objects to this meaning of the word voévoy and also, to the Scholiast's idea; he proposes himself to render it canis capil· lis variegatum." f The objection of Camerarius, that Orestes should not be made to advise perjury, has given Musgrave great trouble; and he proposes for gx to read "yn. But it is too true that Orestes, by his own admissions just after, could make, like Ulysses, his own principles and those of others equally subservient to his interests, without much remorse. For the suppressed word ayyıλíav, see Brunck's note. * Literally," from his chariot seat speeded by wheels;" rgoXÚλKTOS, rotis agitatus. Scap. on this place. L cropped from my head will then come back again, bearing in our hands a brazen-sided vessel, which thou also knowest is somewhere hidden among the brushwood, that cheating them with words we may bring them pleasant tidings, how that my body is perished, already consumed by fire and reduced to ashes. For what does this pain me, when, dead in words, in deeds I shall be safe, and bear away renown? I indeed think no expression ill-omened which gain attends. For already have I frequently seen the wise also in story falsely dying: then afterwards, when they shall again have returned home, they have been the more honoured. As I presume that I also, coming to life subsequently to this report, shall yet blaze forth, as á star, to my foes. But O land of my forefathers, and ye, its Gods indigenous, welcome me as prosperous in this my journey; and thou too, O abode of my ancestors, for, urged by an impulse from heaven, I come to purge thee by my just revenge: then dismiss me not in dishonour from this my country, but [make me] master of my wealth and the restorer of my house. This now have I said, but, old man, be it at once thy care, having Thus Menelaus in Euripides: κακὸς μὲν ὄρνις· εἰ δὲ κερδανῶ λέγων i This alludes to Pythagoras, who feigned himself dead to acquire the reputation of prophetic skill. Zamolxis and Aristeus of Proconnesus, who wrote the Arimaspians, have similar stories told of them by Herodotus, B. IV. k This may be given better thus, perhaps : "And make me not a dishonoured outcast from my country, but a master," &c. gone, to execute with caution thy duty, while we will go forth, for it is the season; which in fact is to mankind the greatest arbiter of every act. ELECTRA. Alas! ah me unhappy! Ar. Nay, but methought I heard some female servant inside the doors heaving a suppressed sigh, my son. OR. Can it be the hapless Electra? wilt thou we tarry here and listen to her cries? AT. By no means. Let us attempt to execute nothing prior to the commands of "Loxius, and from these to commence our course, pouring out the water of purification to thy father, for this brings us both victory and strength in action. EL. O holy light, and air that sharest equal space with earth, how many a strain of mournful dirges, how many a blow against my bleeding breast hast thou witnessed for me, when murky night shall have "retired! 1 Thus in Philoctetes, v. 837. καιρός τοι πάντων γνώμαν ἴσχων πολὺ παρά πόδα κράτος ἄρνυται. "The epithet 'Loxian,' so constantly used by the Greek poets, is interpreted by the Scholia in two ways, either as referring to the oblique direction of his voice, (i. e. the ambiguity of his oracles,) or as belonging to him from the oblique path of the sun through the ecliptic." Oxf. Trans. of Aristoph. 'You Schol. agiady, Brunck. recessit. Musgrave says, “¿ñoλíñuv, quod pro deficere, minui positum citat Budæus ex Aristotele, melius omninò hìc convenit quàm passivum iwokeπeodai, quod But for my livelong nights, already the hateful couches of this house of woes are conscious, how oft I mourn for mine unhappy sire, whom in a foreign country gory Mars entertained not, but my mother, and Ægisthus the partner of her bed, lop off his head with murderous axe, as wood-cutters an oak. And for all this no pity is felt by any other save me, when thou, my father, hast perished so disgracefully and piteously. But never then will I desist from laments and bitter cries, as long as I look on the all-glowing beams of the stars, as I look on this daylight; so as not, like some nightingale that has lost her young, in my shrill outcry to pour forth its echo to all, before these gates of my native home. O abode of Pluto and of Proserpine, Onether Mercury and awful Curse, and ye venerable children of the Gods, ye Furies, who behold them that unjustly resto, supersum valet. Utrum tamen legendum sit voλ an Ay, mihi non satis liquet." υπο • Brunck translates the Greek word "pullis orbata." Musgrave, however, considering it an allusion to the fate of Philomela and Itys, renders it “liberorum suorum interfectrix.” As Franklin observes on v. 147, Procue, who put Itys to death, is supposed by Eschylus, Euripides, and Aristophanes, (in his play of the Birds,) to have been changed into a nightingale. P Mercury is addressed by this name in allusion to his office as conductor of the dead : : Animas ille evocat Orco Pallentes, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit; Dat somnos adimitque, et lumina morte resignat." From the third office enumerated by Virgil, we may suppose that Electra's prayers had already been effectually addressed to this God, as Clytemnestra shortly after sends offerings to Agamemnon's tomb in consequence of having had her rest disturbed by dreams of ill omen. perish, them that by stealth usurp another's bed, come ye, lend aid, avenge the murder of our father, and to me send my brother, for alone I have no longer strength to bear the burden of affliction that presses against me. CHORUS. Ah! Electra, child, child of a most wretched mother, why thus insatiably dost thou pine in lamentation, for Agamemnon long since ensnared [or cut off] by the treachery of thy crafty and most godless mother, and to an evil hand betrayed? O that he who is the worker of this might perish, if it be lawful for me to utter this. EL. Offspring of noble parents, ye are come as the solace of my troubles; I both know and am conscious of this; in no wise does it escape me, nor will I forsake this [task] so as not to groan for my wretched father. But, ye that requite the boon of universal friendship, leave me thus to languish, alas! alas! I implore. CHO. But bethink thee, thou wilt never resuscitate thy father at least from the lake of Pluto, man's common bourne, neither by shrieks nor prayers. But from moderate [laments] to a grief past help, thou ever with groans art wearying thyself to death. In matters wherein there is no deliverance from evil, say, why art thou fond of misery intolerable? EL. A fool is he, who is forgetful of his parents 4 « Δυστανοτάτας, Schol. ἐξωλέστατης recte. Vide Musgravium ad Euripidis Herc. Fur. 1349." Brunck. |