Sophocles, Trachiniae, Richard Jebb (Translator), 620

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Lichas

If I practice Hermes’ art of heraldry with any skill, I certainly will never slip up while doing your errand. I will not fail to carry and present this chest in the same condition, nor to add to it the proper assurance of the reasons which you have for sending it.
620

Deianeira

You may go now, for you know well

how things are with us in the house.
625

Lichas

I know and will report that all is well.

Deianeira

And you know, further, from your own eyes my greeting to the foreign girl, how I welcomed her warmly.

Lichas

So much so that my heart was struck with joy.

Deianeira

What more, then, is there for you to tell him? I am afraid that it would be too soon to speak of the longing on my part, before I know if I am longed for there. Exit Lichas on one side and Deianeira into the house.
630

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1892.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Trachiniae (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 5: The Trachiniae. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1892. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 620 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ῾Ερμοῦ τήνδε πομπεύω τέχνην
620

βέβαιον, οὔ τι τοι τι μὴ σφαλῶ γ᾽ ἐν σοί ποτε,

τὸ μὴ οὐ μὴν μὴ οὐ μὴ τόδ᾽ ἄγγος ὡς ἔχει δεῖξαι φέρων,

λόγων τε πίστιν ὧν ἔχεις ἐφαρμόσαι.

ΔΗ.

στείχοις ἂν ἤδη. καὶ γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι

τά γ'᾽ ἐν δόμοισιν ὡς ἔχοντα τυγχάνει τυγχάνει..
625

ΛΙ.

ἐπίσταμαί τε καὶ φράσω σεσωσμένα.

ΔΗ.

ἀλλ᾽ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν

προσδέγματ᾽, αὐτήν θ᾽ om. ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

ΛΙ.

ὥστ᾽ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

ΔΗ.

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο γ' ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ
630

μὴ πρῷ πρῶι πρῶι πρῶτον λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν τὰ κεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

ΧΟ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 620 focus

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ εἴπερ Ἑρμοῦ τήνδε πομπεύω τέχνην
620

βέβαιον, οὔ τι μὴ σφαλῶ γʼ ἐν σοί ποτε,

τὸ μὴ οὐ τόδʼ ἄγγος ὡς ἔχει δεῖξαι φέρων,

λόγων τε πίστιν ὧν λέγεις ἐφαρμόσαι.

Δηιάνειρα

στείχοις ἂν ἤδη· καὶ γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι

τά γʼ ἐν δόμοισιν ὡς ἔχοντα τυγχάνει.
625

Λίχας

ἐπίσταμαί τε καὶ φράσω σεσωσμένα.

Δηιάνειρα

ἀλλʼ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν

προσδέγματʼ, αὐτὴν ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

Λίχας

ὥστʼ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

Δηιάνειρα

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἄλλο γʼ ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ
630

μὴ πρῲ λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 620 focus

If this my Hermes-craft be firm and sure,
620

Then never will I fail thee, O my Queen!
620

But I will show the casket as it is

To whom I bear it, and in faithfulness

Add all the words thou sendest in fit place.

DÊ

Go, then, at once. Thou hast full cognizance

How things within the palace are preserved?
625

LICH

I know, and will declare. There is no flaw.

DÊ

Methinks thou knowest too, for thou hast seen,

My kind reception of the stranger-maid?

LICH

I saw, and was amazed with heart-struck joy.

DÊ

What more is there to tell?—Too rash, I fear,
630

Were thy report of longing on my part,

Till we can learn if we be longed for there.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 620 focus

Ja, wenn ich anders meine Kunst in Hermes' Hut¹

Wohl übe, werd' ich keinen Fehl an dir begehn:
610

Ich überbringe, wie es ist, ihm dies Gefäß,

Und füge treu die Worte, die du sprachst, hinzu.

Deianeira.

Nun magst du hingeh'n: ist es dir doch wohlbekannt,

Wie dort die Sachen alle steh'n in unserm Haus.

Lichas.

Ich weiß und werde sagen, daß es glücklich steht.
615

Deianeira.

Auch weißt du denn du sahst es ja - wie liebevoll

Von mir die fremde Dirne jüngst empfangen ward.

Lichas.

Daß frohes Staunen meine Brust durchschütterte.

Deianeira.

Was kannst du sonst noch sagen? Bangt mir doch, du wirst

Von meiner Sehnsucht früher ihm verkündigen,
620

Bevor dir kund ist, ob auch er nach mir sich sehnt.

(Lichas und Deianeira nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 620 focus

Lie. Speak thy last commands,

Daughter of CEneus, for already long

Have we delayed our journey.

Deianira

Know then, Lichas,

That whilst thou commun'dst with thy friends, myself

Have hither brought a garment which I wove

For my Alcides ; thou must bear it to him.

Tell him, no mortal must with touch profane

Pollute the sacred gift, nor sun behold it,

Nor holy temple, nor domestic hearth,

Ere at the altar of paternal Jove

Himself shall wear it. 'Twas my solemn vow

Whene'er he should return, that, clothed in this,

He to the gods should offer sacrifice.
625

Bear too this token : he will know it well.
625

Away ! Remember to perform thy office,
625

But go no farther, so shall double praise
625

And favour from us both reward thy duty.
625

Lie. If I have aught of skill, by Hermes right
625

Instructed in his art, I will not fail
625

To bear thy gift, and faithful to report
625

What thou hast said.
625

Deianira

Begone ! What here hath passeO

Thou knowst.

Lie. I do, and shall bear back the news

That all is well.

Deianira

Thou art thyself a witness
630

How kindly I received the guest he sent me.

Lie. It filled my heart with pleasure to behold it.

Deianira

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 620 focus

The duty of an herald it is mine
620

With firmness to discharge; nor e'er to thee

Will I be false; but, as it is, present

This chest, and faithfully relate thy words,

Deianira

Go then: the state of my domestic charge

Lichas

Thou know'st.

I know it, Lady, and shall say

That all things by thy prudent care are safe.

Deianira

Thou know'st, for thou hast seen, how I received

This stranger, with what friendly courtesy.

Lichas

I saw it, and my heart was rapt with joy.

Deianira

Is there aught else I wish thee to relate?
630

My love to him, I fear, thou may'st report,

Ere of his love to me I am assured.

Chorus
STRO. 1.

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-319-1 εἴπερ Ἑρμοῦ ¹

mvp-comment-319-2 πομπεύω ² τέχνην ³ βέβαιον ⁴

mvp-comment-319-3 οὔ τι μὴ ⁵ οὔ τοι μὴ ⁶

mvp-comment-319-4 τὸ μὴ οὐ ⁷

mvp-comment-319-5 ἄγγος ⁸

mvp-comment-319-6 ὡς ἔχει ⁹

mvp-comment-320-1 λόγων … πίστιν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-320-2 ἐφαρμόσαι ¹¹

mvp-comment-320-3 λέγεις ¹² ἔχεις ¹³ ἔχει ¹⁴ ἐφεῖς’ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-321-1 στείχοις ἂν ἤδη ¹⁶

mvp-comment-322-1 σεσωσμένα ¹⁷

mvp-comment-322-2 627 f. For ἀλλὰ … μὲν δὴ ¹⁸ αὐτὴν ¹⁹ αὐτήν θ’ ²⁰ τὰ τῆς ξένης προσδέγματα ²¹ αὐτὴν ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως ²² οἶσθα ²³ τὰ τῆς ξένης προσδέγματα ²⁴ φίλως ²⁵ αὐτήν θ’ ²⁶ θ’ ²⁷

mvp-comment-323-1 ἐκπλαγῆναι ²⁸

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

531-632. mvp-comment-400-1 Deianira, who has already prepared the charmed robe, confides her intention to the Trachinian maidens, and, on Lichas' coming forth, entrusts the gift to him, with the appropriate commands.

620. mvp-comment-466-1 πομπεύω τέχνην = χρῶμαι πομπίμῳ τέχνῃ, just as τυμβεῦσαι χοάς in Εl. 406 = χέαι ἐπιτυμβίους χοάς. The chief stress is on βέβαιον. If this art of Hermes which I practise be securely mine; i. e. 'May I lose it, if I play false.'

621. mvp-comment-467-1 οὗ τι μὴ σφαλῶ γ᾽ ἐν σοί] i. e. οὐ μὴ τι σφαλῶ ἐν σοί γε. “I will not offend in anything concerning thee.

622. mvp-comment-468-1 τόδ᾽ ἄγγος] 'This casket.' ἄγγος here is the κοῖλον ζύγαστρον (infr. 692) in which Deianira had enclosed the robe. ὡς ἔχει] • As it is,' ie. With the seal unbroken.

623. mvp-comment-469-1 λόγων τε πίστιν ὧν ἔχεις ἐφαρμόσαι] ‘And add thereto the fitting assurance of thy very words.' The Scholiasts misinterpret this passage, taking ἐφαρμόσαι (which they must have read ἐφάρμοσαι) for an imperative. The use of the word ἁρμόζω, cp. supr. l. 494, προσαρμόσαι, has no reference (as Schndw. supposes) to the closely-fitting robe (πλευραῖσιν ἀρτίκολλος, infr. l. 768). ἔχεις has been suspected: but cp. El. 934, 5, λόγους τοιούσδ᾽ ἔχουσ': Ant. 635,6, σύ μοι γνώμας ἔχων | χρηστὰς ἀπορθοῖς. ἔχω has a wide range of meaning in Sophocles. Thus explained, the line may be translated, And adding therewith faithfully the words you use,' referring to ll. 604-613. The words λόγων πίστιν may be explained as = λόγους πιστῶς λεχθέντας (abstract for concrete), cp. supr. l. 173, τῶνδε ναμέρτεια= τάδε νημερτῶς γενησόμενα. But λόγων πίστιν may also mean, 'A verbal confirmation,' and the words of Deianira, including ll. 614.5, may be regarded as the proof that Lichas is to give of the reality of his mission from her. The seal would be enough, but the repetition of her vow, and the injunction not to display the robe too soon (of which Lichas did not know the real reason) may have been felt by him to add likelihood to his assertion that this was Deianira's gift. Cp. infr. ll. 775, 6, τὸ σὸν μόνης δώρημ᾽ ἔλεξεν. ἔχεις then = παρέχεις, and, possibly, ἥν should be read for ὧν.

628. mvp-comment-470-1 αὐτήν θ] The opposition between Iole and her reception is merely verbal, but it justifies the position of αὐτήν. See v. rr.

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Lichas If I practice Hermes’ art of heraldry with any skill, I certainly will never slip up while doing your errand. I will not fail to carry and present this chest in the same condition, nor to add to it the proper assurance of the reasons which you have for sending it. 620

Deianeira You may go now, for you know well how things are with us in the house. 625

Lichas I know and will report that all is well.

Deianeira And you know, further, from your own eyes my greeting to the foreign girl, how I welcomed her warmly.

Lichas So much so that my heart was struck with joy.

Deianeira What more, then, is there for you to tell him? I am afraid that it would be too soon to speak of the longing on my part, before I know if I am longed for there. Exit Lichas on one side and Deianeira into the house. 630

Current edition Experimental

ΔΗ. στείχοις ἂν ἤδη. καὶ γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι τά γ'᾽ ἐν δόμοισιν ὡς ἔχοντα τυγχάνει τυγχάνει.. 625

ΛΙ. ἐπίσταμαί τε καὶ φράσω σεσωσμένα.

ΔΗ. ἀλλ᾽ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν προσδέγματ᾽, αὐτήν θ᾽ om. ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

ΛΙ. ὥστ᾽ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

ΔΗ. τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο γ' ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ 630 μὴ πρῷ πρῶι πρῶι πρῶτον λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ, πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν τὰ κεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

ΧΟ.

Δηιάνειρα στείχοις ἂν ἤδη· καὶ γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι τά γʼ ἐν δόμοισιν ὡς ἔχοντα τυγχάνει. 625

Λίχας ἐπίσταμαί τε καὶ φράσω σεσωσμένα.

Δηιάνειρα ἀλλʼ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν προσδέγματʼ, αὐτὴν ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

Λίχας ὥστʼ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

Δηιάνειρα τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἄλλο γʼ ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ 630 μὴ πρῲ λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ, πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

If this my Hermes-craft be firm and sure, 620 Then never will I fail thee, O my Queen! 620 But I will show the casket as it is To whom I bear it, and in faithfulness Add all the words thou sendest in fit place.

DÊ Go, then, at once. Thou hast full cognizance How things within the palace are preserved? 625

LICH I know, and will declare. There is no flaw.

DÊ Methinks thou knowest too, for thou hast seen, My kind reception of the stranger-maid?

LICH I saw, and was amazed with heart-struck joy.

DÊ What more is there to tell?—Too rash, I fear, 630 Were thy report of longing on my part, Till we can learn if we be longed for there.

CHORUS CHORUS .

Ja, wenn ich anders meine Kunst in Hermes' Hut 1 Wohl übe, werd' ich keinen Fehl an dir begehn: 610 Ich überbringe, wie es ist, ihm dies Gefäß, Und füge treu die Worte, die du sprachst, hinzu.

Deianeira. Nun magst du hingeh'n: ist es dir doch wohlbekannt, Wie dort die Sachen alle steh'n in unserm Haus.

Lichas. Ich weiß und werde sagen, daß es glücklich steht. 615

Deianeira. Auch weißt du denn du sahst es ja - wie liebevoll Von mir die fremde Dirne jüngst empfangen ward.

Lichas. Daß frohes Staunen meine Brust durchschütterte.

Deianeira. Was kannst du sonst noch sagen? Bangt mir doch, du wirst Von meiner Sehnsucht früher ihm verkündigen, 620 Bevor dir kund ist, ob auch er nach mir sich sehnt. (Lichas und Deianeira nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Lie. Speak thy last commands, Daughter of CEneus, for already long Have we delayed our journey.

Deianira Begone ! What here hath passeO Thou knowst. Lie. I do, and shall bear back the news That all is well.

Deianira Thou art thyself a witness 630 How kindly I received the guest he sent me. Lie. It filled my heart with pleasure to behold it.

Deianira

The duty of an herald it is mine 620 With firmness to discharge; nor e'er to thee Will I be false; but, as it is, present This chest, and faithfully relate thy words,

Deianira Go then: the state of my domestic charge

Lichas Thou know'st. I know it, Lady, and shall say That all things by thy prudent care are safe.

Deianira Thou know'st, for thou hast seen, how I received This stranger, with what friendly courtesy.

Lichas I saw it, and my heart was rapt with joy.

Deianira Is there aught else I wish thee to relate? 630 My love to him, I fear, thou may'st report, Ere of his love to me I am assured.

Chorus STRO. 1.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Lichas

If I practice Hermes’ art of heraldry with any skill, I certainly will never slip up while doing your errand. I will not fail to carry and present this chest in the same condition, nor to add to it the proper assurance of the reasons which you have for sending it.
620

Deianeira

You may go now, for you know well

how things are with us in the house.
625

Lichas

I know and will report that all is well.

Deianeira

And you know, further, from your own eyes my greeting to the foreign girl, how I welcomed her warmly.

Lichas

So much so that my heart was struck with joy.

Deianeira

What more, then, is there for you to tell him? I am afraid that it would be too soon to speak of the longing on my part, before I know if I am longed for there. Exit Lichas on one side and Deianeira into the house.
630

ΔΗ.

στείχοις ἂν ἤδη. καὶ γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι

τά γ'᾽ ἐν δόμοισιν ὡς ἔχοντα τυγχάνει τυγχάνει..
625

ΛΙ.

ἐπίσταμαί τε καὶ φράσω σεσωσμένα.

ΔΗ.

ἀλλ᾽ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν

προσδέγματ᾽, αὐτήν θ᾽ om. ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

ΛΙ.

ὥστ᾽ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

ΔΗ.

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο γ' ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ
630

μὴ πρῷ πρῶι πρῶι πρῶτον λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν τὰ κεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

Δηιάνειρα

στείχοις ἂν ἤδη· καὶ γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι

τά γʼ ἐν δόμοισιν ὡς ἔχοντα τυγχάνει.
625

Λίχας

ἐπίσταμαί τε καὶ φράσω σεσωσμένα.

Δηιάνειρα

ἀλλʼ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν

προσδέγματʼ, αὐτὴν ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

Λίχας

ὥστʼ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

Δηιάνειρα

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἄλλο γʼ ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ
630

μὴ πρῲ λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

If this my Hermes-craft be firm and sure,
620

Then never will I fail thee, O my Queen!
620

But I will show the casket as it is

To whom I bear it, and in faithfulness

Add all the words thou sendest in fit place.

DÊ

Go, then, at once. Thou hast full cognizance

How things within the palace are preserved?
625

LICH

I know, and will declare. There is no flaw.

DÊ

Methinks thou knowest too, for thou hast seen,

My kind reception of the stranger-maid?

LICH

I saw, and was amazed with heart-struck joy.

DÊ

What more is there to tell?—Too rash, I fear,
630

Were thy report of longing on my part,

Till we can learn if we be longed for there.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Ja, wenn ich anders meine Kunst in Hermes' Hut¹

Wohl übe, werd' ich keinen Fehl an dir begehn:
610

Ich überbringe, wie es ist, ihm dies Gefäß,

Und füge treu die Worte, die du sprachst, hinzu.

Deianeira.

Nun magst du hingeh'n: ist es dir doch wohlbekannt,

Wie dort die Sachen alle steh'n in unserm Haus.

Lichas.

Ich weiß und werde sagen, daß es glücklich steht.
615

Deianeira.

Auch weißt du denn du sahst es ja - wie liebevoll

Von mir die fremde Dirne jüngst empfangen ward.

Lichas.

Daß frohes Staunen meine Brust durchschütterte.

Deianeira.

Was kannst du sonst noch sagen? Bangt mir doch, du wirst

Von meiner Sehnsucht früher ihm verkündigen,
620

Bevor dir kund ist, ob auch er nach mir sich sehnt.

(Lichas und Deianeira nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Lie. Speak thy last commands,

Daughter of CEneus, for already long

Have we delayed our journey.

Deianira

Begone ! What here hath passeO

Thou knowst.

Lie. I do, and shall bear back the news

That all is well.

Deianira

Thou art thyself a witness
630

How kindly I received the guest he sent me.

Lie. It filled my heart with pleasure to behold it.

The duty of an herald it is mine
620

With firmness to discharge; nor e'er to thee

Will I be false; but, as it is, present

This chest, and faithfully relate thy words,

Deianira

Go then: the state of my domestic charge

Lichas

Thou know'st.

I know it, Lady, and shall say

That all things by thy prudent care are safe.

Deianira

Thou know'st, for thou hast seen, how I received

This stranger, with what friendly courtesy.

Lichas

I saw it, and my heart was rapt with joy.

Deianira

Is there aught else I wish thee to relate?
630

My love to him, I fear, thou may'st report,

Ere of his love to me I am assured.

Chorus
STRO. 1.