Antigone / Oedipus the King / Electra by Sophocles
Were filled with tears of joy; for I was sure,
As I am now, that none but he has laid
This tribute on the grave. Who else should do it
But he, or you, or I? It was not I,
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That is quite certain. You have not been there;
How could you? Even to worship at a shrine
They do not let you leave the house, unpunished.
As for our mother, she has little mind
To make such offerings—and we should have known it.
No, dear Electra, they are from Orestes.
Therefore take courage! There is no such thing
As joy unbroken, or unbroken sorrow.
We have known sorrow—nothing else; perhaps
Today great happiness begins for us.
ELECTRA. O you unhappy girl! You little know!
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CHRYSOTHEMIS. Unhappy? Is this not the best of news?
ELECTRA. The truth is very different from your fancy.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. This is the truth. Mayn’t I believe my eyes?
ELECTRA. Poor girl! He’s dead! We cannot look to him
For our deliverance; our hopes are gone.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Alas, alas!... Who told you this?
ELECTRA. One who was there; a man who saw him killed.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Where is the man? This fills me with dismay!
ELECTRA. At home; and, to our mother, very welcome.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Alas, alas! Who could it then have been
Who put those many offerings on the tomb?
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ELECTRA. It will be someone who has laid them there
As a memorial of Orestes’ death.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. O, this is ruin! I came hurrying back,
So happy, with my news, not knowing this
Calamity. But all the woes we had
Before are with us still, and worse are added!
ELECTRA. Yet even so, if you will work with me,
We can throw off the weight that wears us down.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. What, can I bring the dead to life again?
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ELECTRA. That’s not my meaning; I am not a fool.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Then what assistance can I give to you?
ELECTRA. I need your courage in a certain venture.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. If it will help us, I will not refuse.
ELECTRA. Remember: nothing prospers without effort.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. You may command whatever strength I have.
ELECTRA. This then is what I have resolved to do.
You know, as I do, we have no support
Of friends; of what we had we have been stripped
By death. We two are left; we are alone.
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For me, while I had news about our brother,
That he was well and strong, I lived in hope
That he would some time come and punish those
Who killed our father. Now that he is dead,
I turn to you, that you will join your hand
With mine, your sister’s; help me, do not flinch:
Aegisthus, who has murdered our dear father—
We’ll kill him! There’s no reason now to keep
It back from you. You cannot wait, inactive,
Hoping for—nothing. What hope was left to you
That is not shattered? This is what you have:
Lasting resentment that you have been robbed
Of all the wealth that rightly should be yours;
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Anger that they have let you live so long
Unmarried—and do not think that this will change:
Aegisthus is no fool; he can foresee,
If you or I had children, they would take
Revenge on him. Marriage is not for us.
Therefore be with me in my resolution.
This you will win: the praise of our dead father,
And of our brother, for your loyalty;
The freedom that is yours by right of birth;
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A marriage worthy of your station, since
All look admiringly upon the brave.
Do you not see what glory you will win
Both for yourself and me by doing this?
For all will cry, Argive or foreigner,
When they behold us: ‘See! there are the sisters
Who saved their father’s house from desolation;
Who, when their enemies were firmly set
In power, avenged a murder, risking all.
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Love and respect and honour are their due;
At festivals and public gatherings
Give them pre-eminence, for their bravery.’
So we shall be acclaimed by everyone;
As long as we shall live our glory will
Endure, and will not fade when we are dead.
My sister, give consent! Stand by your father,
Work with your brother, put an end to my
Calamities and yours; for to the noble
A life of shameful suffering is disgraceful.
CHORUS. In such a case, in speech or in reply,
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Forethought and prudence are the best of helpers.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Before she spoke at all, my friends, if she
Had any prudence she might have preserved
Some caution, not have thrown it to the winds.
For what can you be thinking of, to arm
Yourself with utter recklessness, and call
On me to help you? Do you not reflect
You are a woman, not a man? how weak
You are, how strong your foes? that day by day
Their cause grows stronger, ours diminishes
And dwindles into nothing? Who can hope,
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Plotting to overthrow so powerful
A man, not to be overwhelmed himself
In utter ruin? Our plight is desperate
Already; you will make it worse, far worse,
If you are heard saying such things as this.
It brings us nothing, if when we have won
That glorious repute, we die ignobly.
Mere death is not the worst; this is the worst,
To long for death and be compelled to live.
No, I implore you, keep your rage in check
Before you bring destruction on us both
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And devastation to our father’s house.
What you have said shall be as if unsaid,
Of no effect; and you, before it is
Too late, must learn that since you have no strength
You have to yield to those that are in power.
CHORUS. You must indeed. There is no better thing
For anyone than forethought and good sense.
ELECTRA. I had expected this; I thought that you
Would spurn the offer that I made. And so
My hand alone must do it—for be sure,
It is a task that cannot be neglected.
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CHRYSOTHEMIS. A pity you were not as bold as this
Before! You might have thwarted the assassins!
ELECTRA. I was too young to act. I had the will!
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Then try once more to be too young to act.
ELECTRA. It seems you are determined not to help me.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Not in a venture that would be our ruin.
ELECTRA. How wise you are! And what a coward too.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Some day you’ll praise my wisdom. I will bear it!
ELECTRA. I’ll never trouble you so far as that!
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Who’s wise, and who is foolish, time will show.
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ELECTRA. Out of my sight! You are no use to me.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. I am, if you were wise enough to
listen.
ELECTRA. Go to your mother; tell her everything!
CHRYSOTHEMIS. No; I refuse my help, but not
ELECTRA. But in contempt! You make that very plain.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Trying to save your life! Is that contempt?
ELECTRA. Am I to do what you imagine right?
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Yes; and when you are right, I’ll follow you.
ELECTRA. To be so plausible—and be so wrong!
CHRYSOTHEMIS. These are the very words I’d use of you.
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ELECTRA. The right is on my side. Do you deny it?
CHRYSOTHEMIS. The right may lead a man to his destruction.
ELECTRA. That is no principle for me to follow.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. You’ll think the same as I—when you have done it.
ELECTRA. Do it I will. You shall not frighten me.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Give up this folly! Be advised by me!
ELECTRA. No! There is nothing worse than bad advice.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Can I say nothing that you will accept?
ELECTRA. I have considered, and I have determined.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. Then I will go, since you do not approve
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Of what I say, nor I of what you do.
ELECTRA. Go then, for your ways never can be mine
However much you wish. It is mere folly
To go in quest of the impossible.
CHRYSOTHEMIS. If this, to you, is wisdom, follow it;
But when it leads you to disaster, then
At last you’ll learn mine was the better wisdom.
[Exit CHRYSOTHEMIS
Strophe 1
CHORUS [sings]. We see the birds of the air, with what
Sure instinct they protect and nourish
Those who brought them to life and tended them.
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How can man disobey the laws of Nature?
The anger of the gods, the law established,
Enthroned in Heaven,* will bring them retribution.
There is a Voice the dead can hear:
Speak, O Voice, to the King, to Agamemnon,
A message of shame and sorrow and deep dishonour.
Antistrophe 1
His house already was near to falling;
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Now a new cause of ruin threatens:
Discord comes to divide his champions.
Now no longer is daughter joined with daughter
In loyalty and love, but strife divides them.
Electra stands alone to face the tempest.
Never has she ceased to mourn,*
Faithful, careless of life, if she may purge this
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Palace of those two Furies,* a foul pollution.*
Strophe 2
He that is noble in spirit scorns
A life ignoble, darkened by shame,
And chooses honour, my daughter,
As you chose to cleave to your father,
Accepting a life of sorrow.
Spurning dishonour, you have won a double fame:
Courage is yours, and wisdom.
Antistrophe 2
Still may I see you triumph, raised
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Above your foes, restored to the power
And wealth of which they have robbed you.
You have known nothing but sorrow;
And yet by observing those great
Laws of the gods,* in piety* and reverence,
You crown your sorrow with glory.
Enter ORESTES, PYLADES, and attendants
ORESTES. Ladies, we wish to know if we have been
Rightly directed to the place we look for.
CHORUS. What is that you wish to find?
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ORESTES.
Aegisthus,
If you could tell us where to find his palace?
CHORUS. But it is here. You have been guided well.
ORESTES. Could one of you perhaps tell those within
That we have come, whom they have long awaited?
CHORUS [indicating ELECTRA]. She best might do it;
she is nearest to them.*
ORESTES. Madam, we are from Phokis; tell them, pray,
That we have certain business with Aegisthus.
ELECTRA. Alas, alas! You have not come with something
To prove it true—the rumour that we heard?
ORESTES. Of ‘rumours’ I know nothing. I am sent
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