ὡς νῦν is better here than ὥς νυν. ἱστόρει: τί σοι φίλον; This punctuation is necessary unless the text is to be altered. It has been called ‘harsh.’ But it is not more abrupt than “εἰδέναι θέλω” in 318, and it suits the slight surprise with which Electra hears the question. The conjecture τό (or τά) “σοι φίλον” throws an awkward stress on the enclitic “σοι”: and “σοὶ” would be inappropriate. With the other punctuation, ἱστόρει τί σοι φίλον, the words could mean only, ‘ask what it is that you wish’; not, ‘ask whatever you wish.’ Classical Greek writers use “τίς” instead of “ὅστις” only where there is an indirect question (as “λέγε τί χρῄζεις”). In the Appendix I have examined the alleged exceptions to this rule. It will be found that, when they are real, they are post-classical.
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Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VI: The Electra. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1894.
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