τὰ ποῖα, μῆτερ; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.
Trachiniae. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Current edition Experimental
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 94-140 focus
Χορός
ὃν αἰόλα νὺξ ἐναριζομένα
τίκτει κατευνάζει τε, φλογιζόμενον
95
Ἅλιον Ἅλιον αἰτῶ
τοῦτο καρῦξαι, τὸν Ἀλκμήνας πόθι μοι πόθι παῖς
ναίει ποτʼ, ὦ λαμπρᾷ στεροπᾷ φλεγέθων,
ἢ ποντίας αὐλῶνος ἢ δισσαῖσιν ἀπείροις κλιθείς,
100
εἴπʼ, ὦ κρατιστεύων κατʼ ὄμμα.
ὃν αἰόλα νὺξ ἐναριζομένα
τίκτει κατευνάζει τε, φλογιζόμενον
95
Ἅλιον Ἅλιον αἰτῶ
τοῦτο καρῦξαι, τὸν Ἀλκμήνας πόθι μοι πόθι παῖς
ναίει ποτʼ, ὦ λαμπρᾷ στεροπᾷ φλεγέθων,
ἢ ποντίας αὐλῶνος ἢ δισσαῖσιν ἀπείροις κλιθείς,
100
εἴπʼ, ὦ κρατιστεύων κατʼ ὄμμα.
Χορός
ποθουμένᾳ γὰρ φρενὶ πυνθάνομαι
τὰν ἀμφινεικῆ Δηιάνειραν ἀεί,
οἷά τινʼ ἄθλιον ὄρνιν,
105
οὔποτʼ εὐνάζειν ἀδακρύτων βλεφάρων πόθον, ἀλλʼ
εὔμναστον ἀνδρὸς δεῖμα τρέφουσαν ὁδοῦ
ἐνθυμίοις εὐναῖς ἀνανδρώτοισι τρύχεσθαι, κακὰν
110
δύστανον ἐλπίζουσαν αἶσαν.
ποθουμένᾳ γὰρ φρενὶ πυνθάνομαι
τὰν ἀμφινεικῆ Δηιάνειραν ἀεί,
οἷά τινʼ ἄθλιον ὄρνιν,
105
οὔποτʼ εὐνάζειν ἀδακρύτων βλεφάρων πόθον, ἀλλʼ
εὔμναστον ἀνδρὸς δεῖμα τρέφουσαν ὁδοῦ
ἐνθυμίοις εὐναῖς ἀνανδρώτοισι τρύχεσθαι, κακὰν
110
δύστανον ἐλπίζουσαν αἶσαν.
Χορός
πολλὰ γὰρ ὥστʼ ἀκάμαντος ἢ νότου ἢ βορέα τις
κύματʼ ἂν εὐρέϊ πόντῳ βάντʼ ἐπιόντα τʼ ἴδοι,
οὕτῶ δὲ τὸν Καδμογενῆ στρέφει, τὸ δʼ αὔξει,
βιότου πολύπονον ὥσπερ πέλαγος
115
Κρήσιον. ἀλλά τις θεῶν αἰὲν ἀναμπλάκητον Ἅιδα
120
σφε δόμων ἐρύκει.
πολλὰ γὰρ ὥστʼ ἀκάμαντος ἢ νότου ἢ βορέα τις
κύματʼ ἂν εὐρέϊ πόντῳ βάντʼ ἐπιόντα τʼ ἴδοι,
οὕτῶ δὲ τὸν Καδμογενῆ στρέφει, τὸ δʼ αὔξει,
βιότου πολύπονον ὥσπερ πέλαγος
115
Κρήσιον. ἀλλά τις θεῶν αἰὲν ἀναμπλάκητον Ἅιδα
120
σφε δόμων ἐρύκει.
Χορός
ὧν ἐπιμεμφομένα σʼ αἰδοῖα μέν, ἀντία δʼ οἴσω.
φαμὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἀποτρύειν ἐλπίδα τὰν ἀγαθὰν
125
χρῆναί σʼ· ἀνάλγητα γὰρ οὐδʼ ὁ πάντα κραίνων βασιλεὺς ἐπέβαλε θνατοῖς Κρονίδας·
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πῆμα καὶ χαρὰ πᾶσι κυκλοῦσιν, οἷον
ἄρκτου στροφάδες κέλευθοι.
130
μένει γὰρ οὔτʼ αἰόλα
ὧν ἐπιμεμφομένα σʼ αἰδοῖα μέν, ἀντία δʼ οἴσω.
φαμὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἀποτρύειν ἐλπίδα τὰν ἀγαθὰν
125
χρῆναί σʼ· ἀνάλγητα γὰρ οὐδʼ ὁ πάντα κραίνων βασιλεὺς ἐπέβαλε θνατοῖς Κρονίδας·
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πῆμα καὶ χαρὰ πᾶσι κυκλοῦσιν, οἷον
ἄρκτου στροφάδες κέλευθοι.
130
μένει γὰρ οὔτʼ αἰόλα
Χορός
νὺξ βροτοῖσιν οὔτε κῆρες
οὔτε πλοῦτος, ἀλλʼ ἄφαρ
βέβακε, τῷ δʼ ἐπέρχεται
χαίρειν τε καὶ στέρεσθαι.
135
ἃ καὶ σὲ τὰν ἄνασσαν ἐλπίσιν λέγω
τάδʼ αἰὲν ἴσχειν· ἐπεὶ τίς ὧδε
τέκνοισι Ζῆνʼ ἄβουλον εἶδεν;
140
νὺξ βροτοῖσιν οὔτε κῆρες
οὔτε πλοῦτος, ἀλλʼ ἄφαρ
βέβακε, τῷ δʼ ἐπέρχεται
χαίρειν τε καὶ στέρεσθαι.
135
ἃ καὶ σὲ τὰν ἄνασσαν ἐλπίσιν λέγω
τάδʼ αἰὲν ἴσχειν· ἐπεὶ τίς ὧδε
τέκνοισι Ζῆνʼ ἄβουλον εἶδεν;
140
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 78 focus
LICH
To Dêanira, Oeneus’ queenly child,
405
Heracles’ wife,—if these mine eyes be true,—
405
My mistress.
To Dêanira, Oeneus’ queenly child,
405
Heracles’ wife,—if these mine eyes be true,—
405
My mistress.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 79 focus
Entweder harre seiner dort der Tage Ziel,
So hieß es, oder wenn er sieg' in diesem Kampf,
80
Verfließ' in lautern Wonnen ihm des Lebens Rest.
Nun also seine Wage schwankt, so gehe, Kind,
Ihm beizustehen, da wir selbst gerettet sind,
Wenn er sich rettet, oder untergeh'n mit ihm.
Entweder harre seiner dort der Tage Ziel,
So hieß es, oder wenn er sieg' in diesem Kampf,
80
Verfließ' in lautern Wonnen ihm des Lebens Rest.
Nun also seine Wage schwankt, so gehe, Kind,
Ihm beizustehen, da wir selbst gerettet sind,
Wenn er sich rettet, oder untergeh'n mit ihm.
Hylos.
Ich gehe, Mutter; wäre mir der Götterspruch
85
Bekannt gewesen, wär' ich wohl schon lange dort.
Doch ließ für unsern Vater sein gewohntes Glück
Nichts uns befürchten, noch zu sehr in Sorgen sein.
Jezt, weil ich das vernommen, unterlass' ich Nichts,
Bis ich davon die ganze Wahrheit ausgeforscht.
90
Ich gehe, Mutter; wäre mir der Götterspruch
85
Bekannt gewesen, wär' ich wohl schon lange dort.
Doch ließ für unsern Vater sein gewohntes Glück
Nichts uns befürchten, noch zu sehr in Sorgen sein.
Jezt, weil ich das vernommen, unterlass' ich Nichts,
Bis ich davon die ganze Wahrheit ausgeforscht.
90
Deianeira.
So gehe, Theurer! Wenn man auch in später Zeit
Vernimmt von einem Glücke, bringt es noch Gewinn.
(Hyllos ab. Der Chor der Jungfrauen aus der Stadt tritt auf,
und ordnet sich vor dem Palaste.)
Deianeira. Der Chor.
Erste Strophe.
So gehe, Theurer! Wenn man auch in später Zeit
Vernimmt von einem Glücke, bringt es noch Gewinn.
Der Chor.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 78 focus
Deianira
531
'Tis my resolve to act as thou advisest.
I'll not resist the gods, nor add fresli weight
To my calamity. Let us go in.
That thou mayst bear my orders to Alcides,
And with them gifts in kind return for those
We have received from him. Thou must not hcn
With empty hand, who hither broughtst to me
Such noble presents and so fair a train. [Exeunt.
Thee, Venus, gods and men obey,
And universal is thy sway ;
Need I recount the powers subdued by love?
Neptune, who shakes the solid ground.
The king of Erebus profound,
Or, the great lord of all, Saturnian Jove ?
To mortals let the song descend,
To pity our afflicted friend.
And soothe the injurd Deianira's woes :
For her the angry rivals came.
535
For her they felt an equal flame,
535
For her, behold ! the doubtful battle glows.
535
In dreadful majesty arrayed,
535
Affrighting sore the fearful maid.
Uprose the horned monarch of the flood ;
He who through fair ^tolia's plain
Pours his rich tribute to the main :
A bull's tremendous form belied the god ;
From his own Thebes, to win her love,
With him the happier son of Jove,
The great Alcides came, and in his hand
The club, the bow, and glittering spear ;
Whilst Venus, to her votaries near,
Waved o'er their heads her all-deciding wand.
Epode.
Warm and more warm the conflict grows.
Dire was the noise of rattling bows.
Of front to front opposed, and hand to hand ;
Deep was the animated strife
For love, for conquest, and for life ;
540
Alternate groans re-echoed thro' the land :
540
Whilst pensive on the distant shore
540
She heard the doubtful battle roar,
540
Many a sad tear the hapless virgin shed ;
Far from her tender mother's arms.
She knows not yet for whom her charms
She keeps, or who shall share her bridal bed.
'Tis my resolve to act as thou advisest.
I'll not resist the gods, nor add fresli weight
To my calamity. Let us go in.
That thou mayst bear my orders to Alcides,
And with them gifts in kind return for those
We have received from him. Thou must not hcn
With empty hand, who hither broughtst to me
Such noble presents and so fair a train. [Exeunt.
Thee, Venus, gods and men obey,
And universal is thy sway ;
Need I recount the powers subdued by love?
Neptune, who shakes the solid ground.
The king of Erebus profound,
Or, the great lord of all, Saturnian Jove ?
To mortals let the song descend,
To pity our afflicted friend.
And soothe the injurd Deianira's woes :
For her the angry rivals came.
535
For her they felt an equal flame,
535
For her, behold ! the doubtful battle glows.
535
In dreadful majesty arrayed,
535
Affrighting sore the fearful maid.
Uprose the horned monarch of the flood ;
He who through fair ^tolia's plain
Pours his rich tribute to the main :
A bull's tremendous form belied the god ;
From his own Thebes, to win her love,
With him the happier son of Jove,
The great Alcides came, and in his hand
The club, the bow, and glittering spear ;
Whilst Venus, to her votaries near,
Waved o'er their heads her all-deciding wand.
Epode.
Warm and more warm the conflict grows.
Dire was the noise of rattling bows.
Of front to front opposed, and hand to hand ;
Deep was the animated strife
For love, for conquest, and for life ;
540
Alternate groans re-echoed thro' the land :
540
Whilst pensive on the distant shore
540
She heard the doubtful battle roar,
540
Many a sad tear the hapless virgin shed ;
Far from her tender mother's arms.
She knows not yet for whom her charms
She keeps, or who shall share her bridal bed.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 78 focus
Lichas
To Deianira, to the queen I speak,
405
Daughter of Œneus, wife of Hercules,
405
My royal mistress; or I see in vain.
To Deianira, to the queen I speak,
405
Daughter of Œneus, wife of Hercules,
405
My royal mistress; or I see in vain.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 94-140 focus
Enter the Chorus on the other side.
103
Chorus
You, to whom Night gives birth when she is vanquished and despoiled of her starry crown,
and whom, as you blaze, she lays to rest, I pray you, O Sun, Sun, tell me, where is Alcmena’s son, where dwells her child? O Shining god with your bright flash,
95
is he on the straits of the sea, or does he lean upon the twin continents? Speak, you who surpass all in sight!
100
You, to whom Night gives birth when she is vanquished and despoiled of her starry crown,
and whom, as you blaze, she lays to rest, I pray you, O Sun, Sun, tell me, where is Alcmena’s son, where dwells her child? O Shining god with your bright flash,
95
is he on the straits of the sea, or does he lean upon the twin continents? Speak, you who surpass all in sight!
100
Chorus
For with longing heart, as I hear, Deianeira, the battle-prize, now,
like some mournful bird, never rests her eyes’ longing that they might be without tears, but nourishing a well-remembered fear for her husband’s travels she is constantly afflicted
105
by her anxious, widowed marriage-bed and in her misery anticipates misfortune.
110
For with longing heart, as I hear, Deianeira, the battle-prize, now,
like some mournful bird, never rests her eyes’ longing that they might be without tears, but nourishing a well-remembered fear for her husband’s travels she is constantly afflicted
105
by her anxious, widowed marriage-bed and in her misery anticipates misfortune.
110
Chorus
For just as one may see billow after billow
advancing and passing over the wide deep before the tireless south-wind, or the north, so the great toil of his life, stormy as the Cretan sea, now whirls back the heir of Cadmus, now exalts him. But some god always
115
keeps him unerring from the house of Hades.
120
For just as one may see billow after billow
advancing and passing over the wide deep before the tireless south-wind, or the north, so the great toil of his life, stormy as the Cretan sea, now whirls back the heir of Cadmus, now exalts him. But some god always
115
keeps him unerring from the house of Hades.
120
To Deianeira.
132
Chorus
With respect I reproach you for your weeping, but still I will speak in dissent.
You must not, I say, wear away fair hope. Remember that the all-accomplishing king, the son of Cronus, does not appoint a painless lot for mortals. Sorrow and joy revolve to all, as the stars of the Bear
125
move in their circling paths.
130
With respect I reproach you for your weeping, but still I will speak in dissent.
You must not, I say, wear away fair hope. Remember that the all-accomplishing king, the son of Cronus, does not appoint a painless lot for mortals. Sorrow and joy revolve to all, as the stars of the Bear
125
move in their circling paths.
130
Chorus
Starry night does not remain constant with men, nor does tribulation, nor wealth; in a moment it is gone from us, and to another in his turn come both
gladness and bereavement. So I urge even you, our Queen, to keep these matters firmly in your outlook. You must, for who has
135
known Zeus to be so without care for his children?
140
Starry night does not remain constant with men, nor does tribulation, nor wealth; in a moment it is gone from us, and to another in his turn come both
gladness and bereavement. So I urge even you, our Queen, to keep these matters firmly in your outlook. You must, for who has
135
known Zeus to be so without care for his children?
140
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-44-1 ἀγνοῶ 1
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
67-78. mvp-comment-61-1 Hyllus has only just heard the rumour which he repeats; and Deianira is prompted by his mention of the new enterprise to communicate to him the special anxiety, over which she has hitherto brooded in solitude. The objection of Dobree, that she ought to have done so before, is like that made against the ignorance of Jocasta in the Oedipus Tyrannus. If such improbabilities in things external to the immediate action are not to be allowed, the composition of any drama becomes impossible.
78. mvp-comment-70-1 τὰ ποῖα] More precise than ποῖα. What were they exactly?' τὸν λόγον] The matter' to which you refer. Cp. Aj. 734, τοῖς κυρίοις γὰρ πάντα χρὴ δηλοῦν λόγον.