Sophocles Trachiniae 1

Robert Potter (Translator)

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OF old this saying hath 'mongst men been famed,
1
That of man's life, till death hath closed the scene
1
We know not to decide, to term it blest,
1
Or wretched. Of my life I can decide,
1
Ere to the regions of the dead I go;
1
I know it to misfortune doom'd, and grief.
1
E'en with my father Eneus when I dwelt
1
At Pleuron, much I suffer'd through the dread,
More than Ætolian virgin ever felt,
Of hated nuptials; for the River came
My wooer, Achelöus; in three forms
Me of my father he demanded; now
He walk'd a Bull, a Dragon now he roll'd
His spotted wreaths, now wore the human form
With a Bull's head disfigured, copious streams
Of fountain water flowing down his cheeks
With hair thick-shaded. Dreading to receive
A wooer so abhorr'd, my constant wish
Was death, to such a bridal bed preferr'd.
At length, though late, th' illustrious son of Jove
And of Alcmena came, to me what joy!
He with the monster in fierce fight engaged,
And set me free: his dangerous toils distinct
I cannot tell thee, for I know them not;
Whoe'er unterrified beheld that sight,
Let him relate it; all my sense was lost
In fear, lest sorrows fatal to my peace
5
My beauty should perchance produce. At length
5
The arbiter of battles, sovereign Jove,
5
Disposed th' event to glory and to joy,
5
If joy: for wedded now to Hercules,
5
My much-loved hero, fear succeeding fear
5
Anxious for his dear sake I still sustain;
cause.
The inhabitants of Memphis, he says, ended their harvest about the
time when the Sun enters the Bull; that animal therefore became the symbol
of harvest and plenty in that distinguished province: and they gave the Nile
the head of a Bull, to shew that he was the father of the harvests of Ægypt;
and this is the reason why other rivers are described under the same form;
for though they do not overflow, like the Nile, yet they never fail to fertilize
the plains through which they wind their course. Histoire du Ciel poetique.
For the night brings him to me, and the night
Drives him away to toil that follows toil.
I bore him children; these he seldom sees;
As one that hath acquired far distant fields,

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1 focus
ΛΟΓΟΣ μέν ἐστ᾽ ἀρχαῖος ἀνθρώπων φανείς,
1
ὡς οὐκ ἂν αἰῶν᾽ ἐκμάθοις ἐκμάθοι ἐκμάθης βροτῶν, πρὶν ἂν
θάνῃ θάνοι τις, οὔτ᾽ εἰ χρηστὸς οὔτ᾽ εἴ τῳ κακός·
ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν ἐμόν, καὶ πρὶν εἰς "Αιδου ῞Αδου μολεῖν,
ἔξοιδ᾽ ἔχουσα δυστυχή τε καὶ βαρύν·
5
ἥτις πατρὸς μὲν ἐν δόμοισιν δόμοισ δόμοισιν σιν Οἰνέως
ναίουσ᾽ ἐνί ναίουσ᾽ ἐν ναίουσ᾽ ἐνὶ ναίουσά γ᾽ ἐν Πλευρῶνι νυμφείων νυμφίων ὄκνον ὅτλον ὄκνον ὄγκον
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-93 focus
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1 focus
Men say,—’twas old experience gave the word,
1
—‘No lot of mortal, ere he die, can once
1
Be known for good or evil.’ But I know,
1
Before I come to the dark dwelling-place,
1
Mine is a lot, adverse and hard and sore.
1
Who yet at Pleuron, in my father’s home,
1
Of all Aetolian women had most cause
1
To fear my bridal. For a river-god,
Swift Achelôüs, was my suitor there
And sought me from my father in three forms;
Now in his own bull-likeness, now a serpent
Of coiling sheen, and now with manlike build
But bovine front, while from the shadowy beard
Sprang fountain-waters in perpetual spray.
Looking for such a husband, I, poor girl!
Still prayed that Death might find me, ere I knew
That nuptial.—Later, to my glad relief,
Zeus’ and Alcmena’s glorious offspring came,
And closed with him in conflict, and released
My heart from torment. How the fight was won
I could not tell. If any were who saw
Unshaken of dread foreboding, such may speak.
But I sate quailing with an anguished fear,
Lest beauty might procure me nought but pain,
Till He that rules the issue of all strife,
Gave fortunate end—if fortunate! For since,
Assigned by that day’s conquest, I have known
The couch of Heracles, my life is spent
In one continual terror for his fate.
5
Night brings him, and, ere morning, some fresh toil
5
Drives him afar. And I have borne him seed;
5
Which he, like some strange husbandman that farms
5
A distant field, finds but at sowing time
5
And once in harvest. Such a weary life
5
Still tossed him to and fro,—no sooner home
5
But forth again, serving I know not whom.
And when his glorious head had risen beyond
These labours, came the strongest of my fear.
For since he quelled the might of Iphitus,
We here in Trachis dwell, far from our home,
Dependent on a stranger, but where he
Is gone, none knoweth. Only this I know,
His going pierced my heart with pangs for him,
And now I am all but sure he bears some woe.
These fifteen months he hath sent me not one word.
And I have cause for fear. Ere he set forth
He left a scroll with me, whose dark intent
I oft pray Heaven may bring no sorrow down.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus
Wohl sagt ein Spruch der Menschen schon in alter Zeit, 1
1
Kein irdisch Leben könne man, bevor es schloß,
Erkennen, ob es glücklich, ob unselig sei:
Ich aber weiß von meinem, eh' in Hades' Haus
Ich wandre, daß es bitter ist und jammervoll.
5
Schon, als in Deneus', meines Vaters, Haus ich war, 2
Und noch zu Pleuron wohnte, litt ich herbe Qual
Der Ehe wegen, wie noch kein Aetolerweib.
Ein Strom, genannt Acheloos, war mein Freier, der 3
Um mich in drei Gestalten bei dem Vater warb:
10
Leibhaft erschien er als ein Stier, dann wand er sich
Als bunter Drache, kam darauf in Mannsgestalt
Mit Stiereshaupte; von dem dichtbeschatteten
Barthaare strömten Bäche lautern Quellentranks.
So war der Freier, dessen ich gewärtig war,
15
Und täglich sehnt' ich Arme mir den Tod herbei,
Bevor ich solchem Manne mich als Braut gesellt.
Doch endlich, spät erst, aber vielwillkommen mir,
Erschien Alkmene's und des Zeus gepries'ner Sohn,
Der mit dem Strome kühn bestand den Kampf der Schlacht,
20
Und mich erlöste. Zwar des Kampfes Gang und Art
Beschreib' ich nicht; wie könnt ich's auch? Wer ohne Furcht
Dem grausen Schauspiel zugeseh'n, erzähle der's!
Denn ich erschüttert saß ich da, voll banger Angst,
Daß mir die Schönheit herben Gram bereite noch.
25
Doch gab ein gutes Ende Zeus, der Kampfeshort,
Wenn's anders gut war. Denn nachdem Herakles mich
Zum Weib erkoren, nähr' ich Sorg' um Sorge ſtets,
Um ihn mich härmend; zeugt ja doch die eine Nacht,
Die andre Nacht, ihr folgend, treibt hinweg das Leid.
30
Ich gab ihm Kinder, die der Vater irgendwann,
So wie der Landmann, der ein fernes Feld bebaut,
Nur bei der Aussaat und der Ernt' Einmal geseh'n.
So war das Leben, welches mir den Gatten stets
In's Haus und aus dem Hause trieb in fremdem Dienst. 4
35
Doch nun, nachdem er seiner Kämpfe Ziel errang,
Durchwühlt die Sorge mein Gemüth am heftigsten.
Denn seit den tapfern Iphitos sein Arm erschlug,
Sind wir in Trachis, wohnen als Vertrieb'ne hier
Bei'm alten Gastfreund; doch wohin Herakles sich 5
40
Gewendet, Niemand weiß es; mir nur ließ der Held,
Von hinnen ziehend, bittre Weh'n um sich zurück.
Ia, fast gewiß erkenn' ich's, daß ein Leid ihn traf.
Denn lange her schon ist es, fünfzehn Monde weilt
Er außen, ohne daß von ihm mir Kunde kam.
45
Ein schweres Leid ist's: also zeigt das Blatt mir an,
Das er zurückließ, als er schied; daß dieses mir
Kein Leiden bringe, fleh' ich oft die. Götter an.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1 focus
Of ancient fame, and long for truth received,
1
Hath been the maxim, tliat nor good nor ill
1
Can mortal life be called before we die.
1
Alas ! it is not so ; for, oh ! my friends,
1
Ere to the shades of Orcus I descend,
1
Too well I know that Deianira's life
1
Hath ever been, and ever must be, wretched.
Whilst in my native Pleuron ^neus watched
My tender years with kind paternal care,
If ever woman suffered from the dread
Of hated nuptials, I endured the worst
And bitterest woes, when Achelous came,
The river-god, to ask a father's voice,
And snatched me to his arms. With triple form
He came affrighting — now to sight appeared
A bull, and i»w with motley scales adorned
A wreathed serpent, now with human shape
And bestial head united ; from his beard.
Shadowed with hair, as from a fountain, dripped
The ever-llo\nng water. Horrid form !
This to escape my prayers incessant rose
That I might ratlier die than e'er approach
His hated bed. When lo ! the welcome hovir,
5
Though late, arrived, that brought the son of Jove
5
And fair Alcmena to my aid. He came,
5
He fought, he freed me. How the battle passed
5
Who unconcerned beheld it best can tell.
5
Alas ! I saw it not, oppressed with fear
5
Lest from my fatal beauty should arise
Some sad event. At length, deciding Jove
Gave to the doubtful fight a happy end,
If I may call it so ; for, since the hour
That gave me to Alcides' wished-for bed
Fears rise on fears ; still is my anxious heart
Solicitous for him ; oftiraes the night.
Which brings him to me, bears him from my arms
To other labours and a second toil.
Our children too, alas ! he sees them not,
But as the husbandman who ne'er beholds
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-92 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-1-1 λόγος … ἀνθρώπων 1 φανείς 2 ἔστ’ 3

mvp-comment-1-2 Boissonade ( Notul. in Trach., 1), replying to the criticism that this

γνώμη
passed as Solon's, quotes a remark of Balzac's to this effect: ‘though Deianeira was older than Solon, she was younger than proverbial philosophy.’ So Ajax cites a maxim ascribed to Bias ( Soph. Ai.679 ).

mvp-comment-2-1 θάνῃ 4 θάνοι 5

mvp-comment-2-2 οὔτ’ εἴ τῳ 6

mvp-comment-3-1 ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν ἐμόν 7

mvp-comment-4-1 πατρὸς μὲν 8

mvp-comment-5-1 ναίουσ’ <ἔτ’> ἐν Πλευρῶνι 9 ἔτ’ 10

mvp-comment-5-2 To A's reading,

ναίουσ’ ἐνὶ Πλευρῶνι
, there are two objections. ( a) While
ἔνι
(=
ἔνεστι
) is frequent, there is no instance of
ἐνί
for
ἐν
in tragic iambics; though Eur. admits it in lyrics. ( b) There is no example in tragic iambics of a short vowel thus lengthened before πλ 11 ναίουσα δ’ 12

mvp-comment-5-3 Πλευρῶνι 13

mvp-comment-5-4 Calydon was usually represented as the seat of Oeneus ( Il.9. 529 ff.: Apollod.2. 7. 5 : Diod.4. 34 ); and Ovid calls Deianeira Calydonida ( Ov. Met.9. 112 ). It is not known whether Sophocles was following some earlier poet in preferring Pleuron. But it is noteworthy that a tragedy of Phrynichus, dealing with the death of Meleager, was called

Πλευρώνιαι
( Paus. 10. 31 § 4 ); and the Chorus would naturally belong to the home of Althaea (the wife of Oeneus).

mvp-comment-5-5 ὄκνον 14 ὄτλον 15

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

1. mvp-comment-1-1 Λόγος μέν ἐστ᾽ ἀρχαῖος ἀνθρώπων φανείς] «Men have indeed declared of old.' ἐστί is the copula connecting λόγος, κ.τ.λ., as subject, with ὡς, κ.τ.λ., as predicate. Cp. Εl. 417, λόγος τις αὐτὴν ἐστιν εἰσιδεῖν, κ.τ.λ. φανείς, Made known,' is added epexegetically (cp. Phil. 3, κρατίστου πατρὸς Ἑλλήνων τραφείς), to strengthen ἀρχαῖος, which thus acquires the force of a supplementary predicate. ἀνθρώπων is possessive genitive with λόγος, not = ἐξ ἀνθρώπων. The chief stress is on λόγος. For this very prevalent γνώμη, cp. amongst other places Fragm. 583. The contradiction of old maxims sometimes gives point to tragic situations, though the confirmation of them is the more usual form. Deianira's trouble is beyond the experience of the wise.

2. mvp-comment-2-1 αἰῶνα . . βροτῶν] ‘A mortal life, i.e. αἰῶνά τινος βροτῶν. The missing indefinite pronoun is supplied afterwards in tis and τῳ.

3. mvp-comment-3-1 θάνῃ] θάνοι (indirect speech in past time, cp. 687) is another reading.

4. mvp-comment-4-1 τὸν ἐμόν is the object primarily of ἔξοιδα, and secondarily of ἔχουσα, which is introduced by a change of construction. δυστυχῆ and βαρύν agree with it in the latter connection. ἔχουσα has a pathetic force, 'The life which I live,' cp. the dative in εἴ τῳ supr.

5. mvp-comment-5-1 ἔξοιδα] ἐξ, as in ἐκμάθοις = 'fully,' with still stronger emphasis. 'One cannot clearly tell, -but I clearly know.'

6. mvp-comment-6-1 ἥτις] In dwelling on her misery, Deianira's mind goes back to her first great trouble (cp. 144 foll.), the wooing of Achelous, from which Heracles had delivered her. But this deliverance had been the beginning of her sorrows. μέν opposes the ancient trouble to her subsequent life, 11. 27 foll., where, however, the verbal opposition is lost.

7. mvp-comment-7-1 ναίουσα] ‘Having my home.' ἐνί] This reading, which has some MS. authority, and involves the least alteration from ev, has the merit of not clogging the sense. And the slight change in the form of the word makes its repetition after ἐν δόμοισι less objectionable. Even Erfurdt's ἔτ' ἐv is unnecessary and weak. ἐví does not occur again in Sophocles as a preposition; but cp. ὑπαί, Ant. 1035: Wund. reads ἔτι Πλευρῶνι, Mr. Paley, ναίουσα δ᾽ ἐν with Par. B.

7-8. mvp-comment-8-1 νυμφείων.. γυνή] ‘Was afflicted with terror as to my nuptials beyond all my countrywomen.' ὄκνον] ὅτλον is a possible reading, but is probably only an early emendation.