συμφορᾶς, which can denote either good fortune (1230) or evil, suits the purposed ambiguity. For the ear of Aegisthus, her reply means: ‘Of course I know; else I should be a stranger to the fortune of my nearest kinswoman,’— viz., her mother. She leaves him to decide whether she means that Clytaemnestra is afflicted or rejoiced by the news. And meanwhile “ἡ συμφορὰ τῆς φιλτάτης” has a further meaning—Clytaemnestra<*>s death—which he cannot yet surmise. Possibly this is the only ambiguity intended. But “τῆς συμφορᾶς..τῶν ἐμῶν τῆς φιλτάτης” might be genitive of “ἡ συμφορὰ τῶν ἐμῶν ἡ φιλτάτη”, ‘the most welcome fortune of my kindred,’—i.e., ‘my brother's return.’ Cp. 1273 “φιλτάταν” | “ὁδόν”. To intend this as an inner meaning would certainly be quite in the manner of Sophocles; cp. O. T. 337“ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δ᾽ ὁμοῦ” | “ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες”.—For other views, see Appendix.
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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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