1398-1441
A kommos. It falls into two principal parts. (1)
1398—1421; the death of Clytaemnestra. (2)
1422— 1441; Orestes and Pylades re-enter; Aegisthus
approaches; and they prepare to receive him.
The general structure of this kommos is clearly strophic; but
critics differ on details. The simplest view is that of Dindorf
and others, that vv. 1398—1421 form a single
strophe,=antistr. 1422— 1441. The lyric verses 1407,
1413—4, and 1419—1421, correspond
respectively with 1428, 1433—4, and
1439—1441: for these, see Metrical Analysis. It is
usually held, with Hermann, that the correspondence of the
iambic trimeters also must be exact. This makes it necessary to
assume a gap in our text after v. 1427 (n.), and a second after
1429 (n.), besides the defect in 1432. See Appendix.
Electra hastens out of the house. She performs the part of an
“
<*>ξάγγελος”, so
far as to describe the situation at this moment in the house:
then Clytaemnestra's cry is heard, like that of the dying king
in
Aesch. Ag.
1343 ff. In the
Orestes (408 B.C.) Electra
has a similar part, perhaps suggested by this. Helen's cry is
heard within, and Electra says to the Chorus (1297), “
ἠκούσαθ̓; ἅνδρες χεῖρ᾽ ἔχουσιν ἐν
φόνῳ”.