Euripides, The Phoenician Women, ed. Gilbert Murray, 1625

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Κρέων

σοί τʼ εὖ λέλεκται γόνατα μὴ χρῴζειν ἐμά,
1625

ἐγὼ δὲ ναίειν σʼ οὐκ ἐάσαιμʼ ἂν χθόνα.

νεκρῶν δὲ τῶνδε τὸν μὲν ἐς δόμους χρεὼν

ἤδη κομίζειν, τόνδε δʼ, ὃς πέρσων πόλιν

πατρίδα σὺν ἄλλοις ἦλθε, Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἐκβάλετʼ ἄθαπτον τῆσδʼ ὅρων ἔξω χθονός.
1630

κηρύξεται δὲ πᾶσι Καδμείοις τάδε·

ὃς ἂν νεκρὸν τόνδʼ ἢ καταστέφων ἁλῷ

ἢ γῇ καλύπτων, θάνατον ἀνταλλάξεται.

ἐᾶν δʼ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς βοράν.

σὺ δʼ ἐκλιποῦσα τριπτύχους θρήνους νεκρῶν
1635

κόμιζε σαυτήν, Ἀντιγόνη, δόμων ἔσω

καὶ παρθενεύου τὴν ἰοῦσαν ἡμέραν

μένουσʼ, ἐν ᾗ σε λέκτρον Αἵμονος μένει.

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ πάτερ, ἐν οἵοις κείμεθʼ ἄθλιοι κακοῖς.

ὥς σε στενάζω τῶν τεθνηκότων πλέον·
1640

οὐ γὰρ τὸ μέν σοι βαρὺ κακῶν, τὸ δʼ οὐ βαρύ,

ἀλλʼ εἰς ἅπαντα δυστυχὴς ἔφυς, πάτερ.

ἀτὰρ σʼ ἐρωτῶ τὸν νεωστὶ κοίρανον·

τί τόνδʼ ὑβρίζεις πατέρʼ ἀποστέλλων χθονός;

τί θεσμοποιεῖς ἐπὶ ταλαιπώρῳ νεκρῷ;
1645

Κρέων

Ἐτεοκλέους βουλεύματʼ, οὐχ ἡμῶν, τάδε.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄφρονά γε, καὶ σὺ μῶρος ὃς ἐπίθου τάδε.

Κρέων

πῶς; τἀντεταλμένʼ οὐ δίκαιον ἐκπονεῖν;

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔκ, ἢν πονηρά γʼ ᾖ κακῶς τʼ εἰρημένα.

Κρέων

τί δʼ; οὐ δικαίως ὅδε κυσὶν δοθήσεται;
1650

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκ ἔννομον γὰρ τὴν δίκην πράσσεσθέ νιν.

Κρέων

εἴπερ γε πόλεως ἐχθρὸς ἦν οὐκ ἐχθρὸς ὤν.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν ἔδωκε τῇ τύχῃ τὸν δαίμονα.

Κρέων

καὶ τῷ τάφῳ νυν τὴν δίκην παρασχέτω.

Ἀντιγόνη

τί πλημμελήσας, τὸ μέρος εἰ μετῆλθε γῆς;
1655

Κρέων

ἄταφος ὅδʼ ἁνήρ, ὡς μάθῃς, γενήσεται.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἐγώ σφε θάψω, κἂν ἀπεννέπῃ πόλις.

Κρέων

σαυτὴν ἄρʼ ἐγγὺς τῷδε συνθάψεις νεκρῷ.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ εὐκλεές τοι δύο φίλω κεῖσθαι πέλας.

Κρέων

λάζυσθε τήνδε κἀς δόμους κομίζετε.
1660

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τοῦδʼ οὐ μεθήσομαι νεκροῦ.

Κρέων

ἔκρινʼ ὁ δαίμων, παρθένʼ, οὐχ ἃ σοὶ δοκεῖ.

Ἀντιγόνη

κἀκεῖνο κέκριται, μὴ ἐφυβρίζεσθαι νεκρούς.

Κρέων

ὡς οὔτις ἀμφὶ τῷδʼ ὑγρὰν θήσει κόνιν.

Ἀντιγόνη

ναὶ πρός σε τῆσδε μητρὸς Ἰοκάστης, Κρέον.
1665

Κρέων

μάταια μοχθεῖς· οὐ γὰρ ἂν τύχοις τάδε.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ νεκρῷ λουτρὰ περιβαλεῖν μʼ ἔα.

Κρέων

ἓν τοῦτʼ ἂν εἴη τῶν ἀπορρήτων πόλει.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ τραύματʼ ἄγρια τελαμῶνας βαλεῖν.

Κρέων

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως σὺ τόνδε τιμήσεις νέκυν.
1670

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἀλλὰ στόμα γε σὸν προσπτύξομαι.

The Phoenician Women. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Φοίνισσαι (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978))

Translations (3)

The Phoenician Maidens Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1625 focus

Creon

You have spoken well, in refusing to touch my knees, but I could not allow you to dwell in the land. Of these dead, bear one at once to the palace; but the other, who came with strangers to sack his native town, the dead Polyneices,
1625

cast forth unburied beyond the borders of this land. To all the race of Cadmus shall this be proclaimed: Whoever is caught decking his corpse with wreaths or giving it burial, shall be requited with death. let him be unwept, unburied, a meal for birds.
1630

As for you, Antigone, leave your mourning for these lifeless three and go indoors, to lead your maiden life until to-morrow, when Haemon waits to marry you.
1635

Antigone

O father, in what cruel misery are we plunged!

For you I mourn more than for the dead; for in your woes you do not have something that is grievous and something not; but you were born wholly unfortunate, father. As for you, new-made king, I ask you, who do you insult my father with banishment?
1640

Why do you make laws over a helpless corpse?
1645

Creon

This was Eteocles’ purpose, not mine.

Antigone

It is senseless, and you are a fool to obey it!

Creon

How so? Isn’t it right to carry out his commands?

Antigone

No; not if they are wrong and ill-advised.

Creon

What? Isn’t it right for that other to be given to the dogs?
1650

Antigone

No, for the vengeance you are exacting is not a lawful one.

Creon

Yes, if he was his country’s enemy, when not born an enemy.

Antigone

Well, he rendered up his destiny to fate.

Creon

Let him now pay the penalty in his burial too.

Antigone

What crime did he commit, in coming to claim his portion of the land?
1655

Creon

Be very sure of this, he shall have no burial.

Antigone

I will bury him, although the state forbids.

Creon

Do so, and you will be making your own grave by his.

Antigone

A noble end, for two so near and dear to lie side by side!

Creon

Seize and take her inside.
1660

Antigone

Oh, no! For I will not let go of this corpse.

Creon

These are the god’s decrees, my girl, not what seems good to you.

Antigone

And this has been decreed, not to insult the dead.

Creon

Be sure that no one will sprinkle over the corpse the moistened dust.

Antigone

O Creon, by my mother Jocasta, I implore you!
1665

Creon

Your labor is in vain; you will not gain your prayer.

Antigone

Let me only bathe the dead body.

Creon

That would be part of what is forbidden by the city.

Antigone

At least let me bandage the cruel wounds.

Creon

No; you will never pay honor to this corpse.
1670

Antigone

O my dearest! At least I will kiss your mouth.

The Phoenician Virgins (OCR draft) Experimental (The Phoenician Virgins. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1841; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 1, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1841. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 1625 focus

Gut, daß du meine Kniee nicht berühren willst;

Denn nie gestatt' ich, daß du hier im Lande wohnst.

Von diesen Todten tragt sofort den Einen mir

In's Haus; den Andern aber, der die Vaterstadt

Mit Fremden auszutilgen kam, Polyneikes, ihn
1605

Werft unbestattet aus des Landes Mark hinaus.

Und allen Kadmossohnen werd' es kundgethan:

Wer diesen Leichnam kränzend angetroffen wird,

Wer ihn bestattet, soll dafür den Tod empfahn.

Du, laß die Klagen um die drei Gestorbenen,
1610

In's Haus verfüge dich zurück, Antigone,

Und harr' im Frauenzimmer bis zu jenem Tag,

Der dich dem Hamon als Gemahl vereiniget.

Antigone.

In welche Leiden, Vater, ach, versanken wir!

Denn dich beklag' ich bittrer, als die Todten dort.
1615

Nicht Ein Verhängniß tras dich bloß, das andre nicht;

Nein, alles Unheil, Vater, hat dich heimgesucht.

Doch nun befrag' ich, neuer Herrscher, dich: warum

Schaffst du, zum Hohn dem Todten, uns ein neu Gesez?

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Κρέων Ἐτεοκλέους βουλεύματʼ, οὐχ ἡμῶν, τάδε.

Ἀντιγόνη ἄφρονά γε, καὶ σὺ μῶρος ὃς ἐπίθου τάδε.

Κρέων πῶς; τἀντεταλμένʼ οὐ δίκαιον ἐκπονεῖν;

Ἀντιγόνη οὔκ, ἢν πονηρά γʼ ᾖ κακῶς τʼ εἰρημένα.

Κρέων τί δʼ; οὐ δικαίως ὅδε κυσὶν δοθήσεται; 1650

Ἀντιγόνη οὐκ ἔννομον γὰρ τὴν δίκην πράσσεσθέ νιν.

Κρέων εἴπερ γε πόλεως ἐχθρὸς ἦν οὐκ ἐχθρὸς ὤν.

Ἀντιγόνη οὐκοῦν ἔδωκε τῇ τύχῃ τὸν δαίμονα.

Κρέων καὶ τῷ τάφῳ νυν τὴν δίκην παρασχέτω.

Ἀντιγόνη τί πλημμελήσας, τὸ μέρος εἰ μετῆλθε γῆς; 1655

Κρέων ἄταφος ὅδʼ ἁνήρ, ὡς μάθῃς, γενήσεται.

Ἀντιγόνη ἐγώ σφε θάψω, κἂν ἀπεννέπῃ πόλις.

Κρέων σαυτὴν ἄρʼ ἐγγὺς τῷδε συνθάψεις νεκρῷ.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλʼ εὐκλεές τοι δύο φίλω κεῖσθαι πέλας.

Κρέων λάζυσθε τήνδε κἀς δόμους κομίζετε. 1660

Ἀντιγόνη οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τοῦδʼ οὐ μεθήσομαι νεκροῦ.

Κρέων ἔκρινʼ ὁ δαίμων, παρθένʼ, οὐχ ἃ σοὶ δοκεῖ.

Ἀντιγόνη κἀκεῖνο κέκριται, μὴ ἐφυβρίζεσθαι νεκρούς.

Κρέων ὡς οὔτις ἀμφὶ τῷδʼ ὑγρὰν θήσει κόνιν.

Ἀντιγόνη ναὶ πρός σε τῆσδε μητρὸς Ἰοκάστης, Κρέον. 1665

Κρέων μάταια μοχθεῖς· οὐ γὰρ ἂν τύχοις τάδε.

Ἀντιγόνη σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ νεκρῷ λουτρὰ περιβαλεῖν μʼ ἔα.

Κρέων ἓν τοῦτʼ ἂν εἴη τῶν ἀπορρήτων πόλει.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ τραύματʼ ἄγρια τελαμῶνας βαλεῖν.

Κρέων οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως σὺ τόνδε τιμήσεις νέκυν. 1670

Ἀντιγόνη ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἀλλὰ στόμα γε σὸν προσπτύξομαι.

Current edition Perseus

Creon This was Eteocles’ purpose, not mine.

Antigone It is senseless, and you are a fool to obey it!

Creon How so? Isn’t it right to carry out his commands?

Antigone No; not if they are wrong and ill-advised.

Creon What? Isn’t it right for that other to be given to the dogs? 1650

Antigone No, for the vengeance you are exacting is not a lawful one.

Creon Yes, if he was his country’s enemy, when not born an enemy.

Antigone Well, he rendered up his destiny to fate.

Creon Let him now pay the penalty in his burial too.

Antigone What crime did he commit, in coming to claim his portion of the land? 1655

Creon Be very sure of this, he shall have no burial.

Antigone I will bury him, although the state forbids.

Creon Do so, and you will be making your own grave by his.

Antigone A noble end, for two so near and dear to lie side by side!

Creon Seize and take her inside. 1660

Antigone Oh, no! For I will not let go of this corpse.

Creon These are the god’s decrees, my girl, not what seems good to you.

Antigone And this has been decreed, not to insult the dead.

Creon Be sure that no one will sprinkle over the corpse the moistened dust.

Antigone O Creon, by my mother Jocasta, I implore you! 1665

Creon Your labor is in vain; you will not gain your prayer.

Antigone Let me only bathe the dead body.

Creon That would be part of what is forbidden by the city.

Antigone At least let me bandage the cruel wounds.

Creon No; you will never pay honor to this corpse. 1670

Antigone O my dearest! At least I will kiss your mouth.

Kreon. So wollt' es Eteokles, nicht mein Wille war's." 1620

Antigone. Er war von Sinnen, und ein Thor gehorchtest du.

Kreon. Wie? Soll man nicht ausführen, was befohlen ward?

Antigone. Nicht, wenn der Auftrag ungerecht und frevelnd ist.

Kreon. Was? War' es Unrecht, Hunden vorzuwerfen den?

Antigone. Die Strafe, die ihr ihm verhängt, ist ungerecht. 1625

Kreon. Er ward ein Feind des Volkes, dem er befreundet war.

Antigone. Dem Loos der Waffen stellt er sein Geschick anheim.

Kreon. Und mit dem Grabe bus' er jezo seine Schuld!

Antigone. Und welche Schuld? Sein Theil am Lande fodert' er.

Kreon. Kein Grab erhalten wird der Mann: das wiſſe nur. 1630

Antigone. Ich selbst begrab' ihn, wenn die Stadt es auch verbeut.

Kreon. So gråbst du neben seinem Grab dein eignes dir.

Antigone. Wie rühmlich, wenn zwei Freunde nah beisammen ruhn!

Kreon. Ergreift das Mädchen, führet sie in's Haus hinein.

Antigone. Niemals! Von diesem Todten lass ich nimmermehr, 1635

Kreon. Jungfrau, die 'Gottheit wollte nicht, was dir gefällt.

Antigone. Auch dieses will sie, daß man nicht die Todten höhnt.

Kreon. Niemand bedecke sein Gebein mit feuchtem Staub!

Antigone. Ja, bei Jokaste, meiner Mutter, fleh' ich dir.

Kreon. Du mühst umsonst dich: nimmermehr erlangst du das! 1640

Antigone. Doch nur zu baden seinen Leib verstatte mir.

Kreon. Auch dieses ist dem Volke Thebe's untersagt.

Antigone. So laß die grausen Wunden mich verbinden doch.

Kreon. Den Todten ehren sollst du mir in keiner Art.

Κρέων

Ἐτεοκλέους βουλεύματʼ, οὐχ ἡμῶν, τάδε.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄφρονά γε, καὶ σὺ μῶρος ὃς ἐπίθου τάδε.

Κρέων

πῶς; τἀντεταλμένʼ οὐ δίκαιον ἐκπονεῖν;

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔκ, ἢν πονηρά γʼ ᾖ κακῶς τʼ εἰρημένα.

Κρέων

τί δʼ; οὐ δικαίως ὅδε κυσὶν δοθήσεται;
1650

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκ ἔννομον γὰρ τὴν δίκην πράσσεσθέ νιν.

Κρέων

εἴπερ γε πόλεως ἐχθρὸς ἦν οὐκ ἐχθρὸς ὤν.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν ἔδωκε τῇ τύχῃ τὸν δαίμονα.

Κρέων

καὶ τῷ τάφῳ νυν τὴν δίκην παρασχέτω.

Ἀντιγόνη

τί πλημμελήσας, τὸ μέρος εἰ μετῆλθε γῆς;
1655

Κρέων

ἄταφος ὅδʼ ἁνήρ, ὡς μάθῃς, γενήσεται.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἐγώ σφε θάψω, κἂν ἀπεννέπῃ πόλις.

Κρέων

σαυτὴν ἄρʼ ἐγγὺς τῷδε συνθάψεις νεκρῷ.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ εὐκλεές τοι δύο φίλω κεῖσθαι πέλας.

Κρέων

λάζυσθε τήνδε κἀς δόμους κομίζετε.
1660

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τοῦδʼ οὐ μεθήσομαι νεκροῦ.

Κρέων

ἔκρινʼ ὁ δαίμων, παρθένʼ, οὐχ ἃ σοὶ δοκεῖ.

Ἀντιγόνη

κἀκεῖνο κέκριται, μὴ ἐφυβρίζεσθαι νεκρούς.

Κρέων

ὡς οὔτις ἀμφὶ τῷδʼ ὑγρὰν θήσει κόνιν.

Ἀντιγόνη

ναὶ πρός σε τῆσδε μητρὸς Ἰοκάστης, Κρέον.
1665

Κρέων

μάταια μοχθεῖς· οὐ γὰρ ἂν τύχοις τάδε.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ νεκρῷ λουτρὰ περιβαλεῖν μʼ ἔα.

Κρέων

ἓν τοῦτʼ ἂν εἴη τῶν ἀπορρήτων πόλει.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ τραύματʼ ἄγρια τελαμῶνας βαλεῖν.

Κρέων

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως σὺ τόνδε τιμήσεις νέκυν.
1670

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἀλλὰ στόμα γε σὸν προσπτύξομαι.

Creon

This was Eteocles’ purpose, not mine.

Antigone

It is senseless, and you are a fool to obey it!

Creon

How so? Isn’t it right to carry out his commands?

Antigone

No; not if they are wrong and ill-advised.

Creon

What? Isn’t it right for that other to be given to the dogs?
1650

Antigone

No, for the vengeance you are exacting is not a lawful one.

Creon

Yes, if he was his country’s enemy, when not born an enemy.

Antigone

Well, he rendered up his destiny to fate.

Creon

Let him now pay the penalty in his burial too.

Antigone

What crime did he commit, in coming to claim his portion of the land?
1655

Creon

Be very sure of this, he shall have no burial.

Antigone

I will bury him, although the state forbids.

Creon

Do so, and you will be making your own grave by his.

Antigone

A noble end, for two so near and dear to lie side by side!

Creon

Seize and take her inside.
1660

Antigone

Oh, no! For I will not let go of this corpse.

Creon

These are the god’s decrees, my girl, not what seems good to you.

Antigone

And this has been decreed, not to insult the dead.

Creon

Be sure that no one will sprinkle over the corpse the moistened dust.

Antigone

O Creon, by my mother Jocasta, I implore you!
1665

Creon

Your labor is in vain; you will not gain your prayer.

Antigone

Let me only bathe the dead body.

Creon

That would be part of what is forbidden by the city.

Antigone

At least let me bandage the cruel wounds.

Creon

No; you will never pay honor to this corpse.
1670

Antigone

O my dearest! At least I will kiss your mouth.

Kreon.

So wollt' es Eteokles, nicht mein Wille war's."
1620

Antigone.

Er war von Sinnen, und ein Thor gehorchtest du.

Kreon.

Wie? Soll man nicht ausführen, was befohlen ward?

Antigone.

Nicht, wenn der Auftrag ungerecht und frevelnd ist.

Kreon.

Was? War' es Unrecht, Hunden vorzuwerfen den?

Antigone.

Die Strafe, die ihr ihm verhängt, ist ungerecht.
1625

Kreon.

Er ward ein Feind des Volkes, dem er befreundet war.

Antigone.

Dem Loos der Waffen stellt er sein Geschick anheim.

Kreon.

Und mit dem Grabe bus' er jezo seine Schuld!

Antigone.

Und welche Schuld? Sein Theil am Lande fodert' er.

Kreon.

Kein Grab erhalten wird der Mann: das wiſſe nur.
1630

Antigone.

Ich selbst begrab' ihn, wenn die Stadt es auch verbeut.

Kreon.

So gråbst du neben seinem Grab dein eignes dir.

Antigone.

Wie rühmlich, wenn zwei Freunde nah beisammen ruhn!

Kreon.

Ergreift das Mädchen, führet sie in's Haus hinein.

Antigone.

Niemals! Von diesem Todten lass ich nimmermehr,
1635

Kreon.

Jungfrau, die 'Gottheit wollte nicht, was dir gefällt.

Antigone.

Auch dieses will sie, daß man nicht die Todten höhnt.

Kreon.

Niemand bedecke sein Gebein mit feuchtem Staub!

Antigone.

Ja, bei Jokaste, meiner Mutter, fleh' ich dir.

Kreon.

Du mühst umsonst dich: nimmermehr erlangst du das!
1640

Antigone.

Doch nur zu baden seinen Leib verstatte mir.

Kreon.

Auch dieses ist dem Volke Thebe's untersagt.

Antigone.

So laß die grausen Wunden mich verbinden doch.

Kreon.

Den Todten ehren sollst du mir in keiner Art.

Antigone.

Doch küssen will ich deinen Mund, Geliebtester!
1645