ἀλλ᾽
1
ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ.
κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Antigone. Sophocles. Paris, France. 1858.
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Funding provided by Tufts University.
Table of Contents
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Current edition Experimental
Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (11)
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποίᾳ σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ·
κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 71 focus
ἄλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 71.mvp-line-71 focus
ἀλλ’ ἴσθ’ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ’ ἐγὼ
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποίᾳ σοι δοκεῖ. κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ·
κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 71.mvp-line-71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 71 focus
ἀλλʼ ἴσθʼ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δʼ ἐγὼ
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 71 focus
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
Translations (11)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 71 focus
KREON
Und wie ergriffst du sie denn und an welchem Ort?
Und wie ergriffst du sie denn und an welchem Ort?
Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 71 focus
EL CENTINELA
407
La cosa ocurrió de esta manera: cuando yo llegué asustado por las terribles amenazas tuyas, después de quitar todo el polvo que cubría al cadáver y dejar bien al desnudo el cuerpo, que estaba ya en putrefacción, nos apostamos en lo alto de un otero, resguardados del aire y bastante lejos para que no nos diera el mal olor de aquél, excitando a la vigilancia cada uno a su compañero con eficaces reproches, si es que alguien se descuidaba de su tarea. Esto duró hasta la hora en que en medio del cielo se coloca el brillante astro del día y abrasa el calor. Entonces, de repente, un tifón levantando de tierra terrible tempestad con un rayo que
parecia
parecía grito del cielo, invadió la campiña, devastando el follaje de la campestre selva. Se llenó de polvo todo el aire; y nosotros, con los ojos cerrados, aguantábamos el castigo que el cielo nos enviaba. Cuando se apaciguó la tempestad, después de mucho tiempo, vimos a la muchacha que se quejaba dando agudos lamentos, como el ave dolorida cuando advierte vacío el lecho de su nido por haberle arrebatado los . polluelos. Así también ésta, cuando
vió
vio el cadáver al desnudo, rompió en amargo llanto y lanzó horribles maldiciones contra los que le
habian
habían inferido el ultraje. Recogió en seguida con las manos polvo seco; y vertiendo de un vaso de bronce bien forjado tres libaciones sobre el cadáver, lo cubrió. Nosotros que la vimos, nos abalanzamos y la cogimos en seguida, sin que ella se asustara de nada: la acusamos del hecho anterior y del presente, y no negó nada, con gusto mio y con pena a la vez; porque el quedar uno libre del castigo es muy dulce; pero implicar a un amigo en la desgracia, es doloroso. No obstante, natural es que esto último tenga para mi menos importancia que mi propia salvación.
407
La cosa ocurrió de esta manera: cuando yo llegué asustado por las terribles amenazas tuyas, después de quitar todo el polvo que cubría al cadáver y dejar bien al desnudo el cuerpo, que estaba ya en putrefacción, nos apostamos en lo alto de un otero, resguardados del aire y bastante lejos para que no nos diera el mal olor de aquél, excitando a la vigilancia cada uno a su compañero con eficaces reproches, si es que alguien se descuidaba de su tarea. Esto duró hasta la hora en que en medio del cielo se coloca el brillante astro del día y abrasa el calor. Entonces, de repente, un tifón levantando de tierra terrible tempestad con un rayo que
parecia
parecía grito del cielo, invadió la campiña, devastando el follaje de la campestre selva. Se llenó de polvo todo el aire; y nosotros, con los ojos cerrados, aguantábamos el castigo que el cielo nos enviaba. Cuando se apaciguó la tempestad, después de mucho tiempo, vimos a la muchacha que se quejaba dando agudos lamentos, como el ave dolorida cuando advierte vacío el lecho de su nido por haberle arrebatado los . polluelos. Así también ésta, cuando
vió
vio el cadáver al desnudo, rompió en amargo llanto y lanzó horribles maldiciones contra los que le
habian
habían inferido el ultraje. Recogió en seguida con las manos polvo seco; y vertiendo de un vaso de bronce bien forjado tres libaciones sobre el cadáver, lo cubrió. Nosotros que la vimos, nos abalanzamos y la cogimos en seguida, sin que ella se asustara de nada: la acusamos del hecho anterior y del presente, y no negó nada, con gusto mio y con pena a la vez; porque el quedar uno libre del castigo es muy dulce; pero implicar a un amigo en la desgracia, es doloroso. No obstante, natural es que esto último tenga para mi menos importancia que mi propia salvación.
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 71 focus
Custos
407
Sic acta res est.
Postquam enim eo venimus, tuis illis minis atrocibus perterriti, primum terram omnem, qua contectum erat cadaver, everrimus, putreque corpus nudavimus plane, tum editis in tumulis consedimus aversi ab aura, ne nobis teter odor ex illo adflaret, caventes; ubi vigilantes nos excitabamus conviciis, si quis vellet huic labori parcere.
Tantisper in eo res fuit; donec aethere in medio constitit lucidus Solis orbis, aestusque flagravit :
atque tum derepente vehemens flatus e terra coortus, turbinem in altum tollens, aeream pestem, implet campum, omnem deturpans comam campestris silvae :
immensusque repletur aër:
nos vero clausis oculis divinitus missum tolerabamus malum.
Quo post longum tempus tandem sedato, puella conspicitur, et acerbe quidem lamentans, in modum acuta voce questaeaviculae, cum vacuum midi cubile pullis orbatum videt.
Sic et illa; nudum ut cernit cadaver, lamentis eiulavit , dirasque [acti auctoribus poenas imprecata est.
Nec mora, collectum manibus aridum affert pulverem , et ex aereo affabre facto gutto, triplici fuso libamine, mortuo inferias facit.
Nos vero conspicati irruimus, eamque comprehendimus illico nullo perculsam metu, et utriusque facti, tum illius prioris, tum huius recentis , convincimus:
nihil enim negavit.
Quod quidem mihi gratum et friste simul auditu fuit:
ipsum enim me ex malis evasisse, gratissimum: sed in malum amicos ducere, id triste est;
at omnia ista prae mea salute parvi me pendere par est.
407
Sic acta res est.
Postquam enim eo venimus, tuis illis minis atrocibus perterriti, primum terram omnem, qua contectum erat cadaver, everrimus, putreque corpus nudavimus plane, tum editis in tumulis consedimus aversi ab aura, ne nobis teter odor ex illo adflaret, caventes; ubi vigilantes nos excitabamus conviciis, si quis vellet huic labori parcere.
Tantisper in eo res fuit; donec aethere in medio constitit lucidus Solis orbis, aestusque flagravit :
atque tum derepente vehemens flatus e terra coortus, turbinem in altum tollens, aeream pestem, implet campum, omnem deturpans comam campestris silvae :
immensusque repletur aër:
nos vero clausis oculis divinitus missum tolerabamus malum.
Quo post longum tempus tandem sedato, puella conspicitur, et acerbe quidem lamentans, in modum acuta voce questaeaviculae, cum vacuum midi cubile pullis orbatum videt.
Sic et illa; nudum ut cernit cadaver, lamentis eiulavit , dirasque [acti auctoribus poenas imprecata est.
Nec mora, collectum manibus aridum affert pulverem , et ex aereo affabre facto gutto, triplici fuso libamine, mortuo inferias facit.
Nos vero conspicati irruimus, eamque comprehendimus illico nullo perculsam metu, et utriusque facti, tum illius prioris, tum huius recentis , convincimus:
nihil enim negavit.
Quod quidem mihi gratum et friste simul auditu fuit:
ipsum enim me ex malis evasisse, gratissimum: sed in malum amicos ducere, id triste est;
at omnia ista prae mea salute parvi me pendere par est.
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 71 focus
WATCH
407
It fell in this wise. We were come to the spot,
Bearing the dreadful burden of thy threats;
And first with care we swept the dust away
From round the corse, and laid the dank limbs bare:
410
Then sate below the hill-top, out o’ the wind,
Where no bad odour from the dead might strike us,
Stirring each other on with interchange
Of loud revilings on the negligent
In ’tendance on this duty. So we stayed
415
Till in mid heaven the sun’s resplendent orb
Stood high, and the heat strengthened. Suddenly,
The Storm-god raised a whirlwind from the ground,
Vexing heaven’s concave, and filled all the plain,
Rending the locks of all the orchard groves,
420
Till the great sky was choked withal. We closed
Our lips and eyes, and bore the God-sent evil.
When after a long while this ceased, the maid
Was seen, and wailed in high and bitter key,
Like some despairing bird that hath espied
425
Her nest all desolate, the nestlings gone.
So, when she saw the body bare, she mourned
Loudly, and cursed the authors of this deed.
Then nimbly with her hands she brought dry dust,
And holding high a shapely brazen cruse,
430
Poured three libations, honouring the dead.
We, when we saw, ran in, and straightway seized
Our quarry, nought dismayed, and charged her with
The former crime and this. And she denied
Nothing;—to my delight, and to my grief.
435
One’s self to escape disaster is great joy;
Yet to have drawn a friend into distress
Is painful. But mine own security
To me is of more value than aught else.
It fell in this wise. We were come to the spot,
Bearing the dreadful burden of thy threats;
And first with care we swept the dust away
From round the corse, and laid the dank limbs bare:
410
Then sate below the hill-top, out o’ the wind,
Where no bad odour from the dead might strike us,
Stirring each other on with interchange
Of loud revilings on the negligent
In ’tendance on this duty. So we stayed
415
Till in mid heaven the sun’s resplendent orb
Stood high, and the heat strengthened. Suddenly,
The Storm-god raised a whirlwind from the ground,
Vexing heaven’s concave, and filled all the plain,
Rending the locks of all the orchard groves,
420
Till the great sky was choked withal. We closed
Our lips and eyes, and bore the God-sent evil.
When after a long while this ceased, the maid
Was seen, and wailed in high and bitter key,
Like some despairing bird that hath espied
425
Her nest all desolate, the nestlings gone.
So, when she saw the body bare, she mourned
Loudly, and cursed the authors of this deed.
Then nimbly with her hands she brought dry dust,
And holding high a shapely brazen cruse,
430
Poured three libations, honouring the dead.
We, when we saw, ran in, and straightway seized
Our quarry, nought dismayed, and charged her with
The former crime and this. And she denied
Nothing;—to my delight, and to my grief.
435
One’s self to escape disaster is great joy;
Yet to have drawn a friend into distress
Is painful. But mine own security
To me is of more value than aught else.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 69 focus
Nicht mehr verlang' ich's, möchte dich zur Helferin
Nicht mehr, erklärtest du dich auch bereit dazu.
70
Nein, wähle deinem Sinne nach: ihn werd' ich selbst
Bestatten; ruhmvoll ist der Tod für diese That.
Bei ihm, dem Lieben, werd' ich ruh'n, die Liebende,
Die frommen Frevel übte; muß ich länger doch
Den Todten dort gefallen, als den Lebenden.
75
Denn dort ja ruh' ich ewig; du, wenn dir's gefällt,
Entehre, was in Ehre selbst bei Göttern steht.
Ich acht' es auch der Ehre werth; indeß der Stadt
Zum Troz zu handeln, fühl ich mich nicht stark genug.
Nicht mehr verlang' ich's, möchte dich zur Helferin
Nicht mehr, erklärtest du dich auch bereit dazu.
70
Nein, wähle deinem Sinne nach: ihn werd' ich selbst
Bestatten; ruhmvoll ist der Tod für diese That.
Bei ihm, dem Lieben, werd' ich ruh'n, die Liebende,
Die frommen Frevel übte; muß ich länger doch
Den Todten dort gefallen, als den Lebenden.
75
Denn dort ja ruh' ich ewig; du, wenn dir's gefällt,
Entehre, was in Ehre selbst bei Göttern steht.
Ich acht' es auch der Ehre werth; indeß der Stadt
Zum Troz zu handeln, fühl ich mich nicht stark genug.
Antigone.
So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt,
80
Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.
So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt,
80
Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.
Ismene.
Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!
Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!
Antigone.
Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!
Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!
Ismene.
Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That;
Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon.
85
Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That;
Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon.
85
Antigone.
Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir
Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.
Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir
Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.
Ismene.
Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.
Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.
Antigone.
Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.
Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.
Ismene.
Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90
Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab.
Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.
Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90
Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab.
Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.
Antigone.
Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt,
Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort.
Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand
95
Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch
1
Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.
Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt,
Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort.
Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand
95
Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch
1
Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.
Ismene.
Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich
Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch.
(Sie gehen nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor tritt auf.)
Erste Strophe.
Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich
Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch.
Der Chor.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 71 focus
Creon
(5 uard. Thus then it waa, No sooner had J left thee
441
Speak thou, who bendst to earth thy droopiiig
head;
Dost thou deny the fact 1
Speak thou, who bendst to earth thy droopiiig
head;
Dost thou deny the fact 1
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 71 focus
EL CENTINELA
¡Oh Príncipe! al hombre no le es dado jurar nada: pues con frecuencia nos convence de nuestro error una reflexión posterior. Yo juraba que jamás volvería á comparecer ante tí: de tal modo me habían aterrado tus amenazas; y sin embargo, por una inesperada felicidad (á ninguna dicha del mundo comparable) vuelvo ante tu presencia (á pesar de mis juramentos) trayéndote á esta joven á quien he sorprendido preparando la tumba para el cadáver. Esta vez no ha sido preciso echar suertes: el descubrimiento ha sido mío, únicamente mío. Ahora tú la cogerás y la examinarás y convencerás según te parezca. En cuanto á mí, me creo ya con derecho á ser declarado libre y absuelto.
¡Oh Príncipe! al hombre no le es dado jurar nada: pues con frecuencia nos convence de nuestro error una reflexión posterior. Yo juraba que jamás volvería á comparecer ante tí: de tal modo me habían aterrado tus amenazas; y sin embargo, por una inesperada felicidad (á ninguna dicha del mundo comparable) vuelvo ante tu presencia (á pesar de mis juramentos) trayéndote á esta joven á quien he sorprendido preparando la tumba para el cadáver. Esta vez no ha sido preciso echar suertes: el descubrimiento ha sido mío, únicamente mío. Ahora tú la cogerás y la examinarás y convencerás según te parezca. En cuanto á mí, me creo ya con derecho á ser declarado libre y absuelto.
German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 71 focus
BOTE
So war dieSache. Wie wir weggegangen
Von dir, als du Gewaltiges gedrohet,
So wischten allen Staub wir ab, der um
425
Den Todten, wohl den nassen Leib entblöfsend ;
Und sezten uns auf hohen Hügel, an die Luft;
Dafs er Geruch nicht von sich gebe, fürchtend.
Es regt’ ein Mann den andern auf und drohte,
Wenn einer nicht die Arbeit achten würde.
430
Und lange blieb es so, bis auseinander brechend
Der Sonne Kreis sich bükte grad herab +
Vom Aether, und der Brand erglühte .Plözlich hub
Vom Boden dann ein warmer Sturm den Wirbel,
Der Himmlisches betrübt, das Feld erfüllt und reifst
435
Die Haare rings vom Wald des Thals, und voll ward
Davon der grofse Aether; wir verschlossen
Die Augen, hatten göttlich Weh, und als
Wir frei davon, in guter Zeit hernach,
So wird das Kind gesehn und weinet auf
440
Mit scharfer Stimme, wie ein Vogel trauert,
Wenn in dem leeren Nest verwaist von Jungen er
Das Lager sieht. So sie, da sie entblöfst
Erblikt den Todten , jammerte sie laut auf,
Und fluchte böse Flüche, wers gethan,
445
Und bringet Staub mit beiden Händen, schnell,
Und aus dem wohlgeschlagnen Eisenkruge kränzt
Sie dreimal mit Ergielsungen den Todten.
Wir, die’s gesehen, kamen, haschten sie,
Die nicht betroffen war, und klagten sie
450
Des jezigen und schongeschehnen an.
Sie läugnet’ aber nichts mir ab, und war
Lieblich zugleich und auch betrübt, vor mir.
Denn, dass man selbst entflieht aus Uebeln, ist
Das angenehmste. Doch ins Unglük Freunde
455
Zu bringen, ist betrübt. Doch dieses alles
Ist kleiner, als mein eignes Heil zu nehmen.
So war dieSache. Wie wir weggegangen
Von dir, als du Gewaltiges gedrohet,
So wischten allen Staub wir ab, der um
425
Den Todten, wohl den nassen Leib entblöfsend ;
Und sezten uns auf hohen Hügel, an die Luft;
Dafs er Geruch nicht von sich gebe, fürchtend.
Es regt’ ein Mann den andern auf und drohte,
Wenn einer nicht die Arbeit achten würde.
430
Und lange blieb es so, bis auseinander brechend
Der Sonne Kreis sich bükte grad herab +
Vom Aether, und der Brand erglühte .Plözlich hub
Vom Boden dann ein warmer Sturm den Wirbel,
Der Himmlisches betrübt, das Feld erfüllt und reifst
435
Die Haare rings vom Wald des Thals, und voll ward
Davon der grofse Aether; wir verschlossen
Die Augen, hatten göttlich Weh, und als
Wir frei davon, in guter Zeit hernach,
So wird das Kind gesehn und weinet auf
440
Mit scharfer Stimme, wie ein Vogel trauert,
Wenn in dem leeren Nest verwaist von Jungen er
Das Lager sieht. So sie, da sie entblöfst
Erblikt den Todten , jammerte sie laut auf,
Und fluchte böse Flüche, wers gethan,
445
Und bringet Staub mit beiden Händen, schnell,
Und aus dem wohlgeschlagnen Eisenkruge kränzt
Sie dreimal mit Ergielsungen den Todten.
Wir, die’s gesehen, kamen, haschten sie,
Die nicht betroffen war, und klagten sie
450
Des jezigen und schongeschehnen an.
Sie läugnet’ aber nichts mir ab, und war
Lieblich zugleich und auch betrübt, vor mir.
Denn, dass man selbst entflieht aus Uebeln, ist
Das angenehmste. Doch ins Unglük Freunde
455
Zu bringen, ist betrübt. Doch dieses alles
Ist kleiner, als mein eignes Heil zu nehmen.
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 71 focus
Guard
407
It befell on this wise. When we had come to the place,—with those dread menaces of thine upon
410
us,—we swept away all the dust that covered the corpse, and bared the dank body well; and then sat us down on the brow of the hill, to windward, heedful that the smell from him should not strike us; every man was wide awake, and kept his neighbour alert with torrents of threats, if any one should be careless of this task, So went it, until the sun’s bright orb stood in mid heaven, and the heat began to burn: and then suddenly a whirlwind lifted from the earth a storm of dust, a trouble in the sky, and filled the plain, marring all the
420
leafage of its woods; and the wide air was choked therewith: we closed our eyes, and bore the plague from the gods. And when, after a long while, this storm had passed, the maid was seen; and she cried aloud with the sharp cry of a bird in its bitterness,—even as when, within the empty nest, it sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she also, when she saw the corpse bare, lifted up a voice of wailing, and called down curses on the doers of that deed. And straightway she brought thirsty
430
dust in her hands; and from a shapely ewer of bronze, held high, with thrice-poured drink-offering she crowned the dead. We rushed forward when we saw it, and at once closed upon our quarry, who was in no wise dismayed. Then we taxed her with her past and present doings; and she stood not on denial of aught,—at once to my joy and to my pain. To have escaped from ills one’s self is a great joy; but ‘tis painful to bring friends to
440
ill. Howbeit, all such things are of less account to me than mine own safety.
407
It befell on this wise. When we had come to the place,—with those dread menaces of thine upon
410
us,—we swept away all the dust that covered the corpse, and bared the dank body well; and then sat us down on the brow of the hill, to windward, heedful that the smell from him should not strike us; every man was wide awake, and kept his neighbour alert with torrents of threats, if any one should be careless of this task, So went it, until the sun’s bright orb stood in mid heaven, and the heat began to burn: and then suddenly a whirlwind lifted from the earth a storm of dust, a trouble in the sky, and filled the plain, marring all the
420
leafage of its woods; and the wide air was choked therewith: we closed our eyes, and bore the plague from the gods. And when, after a long while, this storm had passed, the maid was seen; and she cried aloud with the sharp cry of a bird in its bitterness,—even as when, within the empty nest, it sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she also, when she saw the corpse bare, lifted up a voice of wailing, and called down curses on the doers of that deed. And straightway she brought thirsty
430
dust in her hands; and from a shapely ewer of bronze, held high, with thrice-poured drink-offering she crowned the dead. We rushed forward when we saw it, and at once closed upon our quarry, who was in no wise dismayed. Then we taxed her with her past and present doings; and she stood not on denial of aught,—at once to my joy and to my pain. To have escaped from ills one’s self is a great joy; but ‘tis painful to bring friends to
440
ill. Howbeit, all such things are of less account to me than mine own safety.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 71 focus
Antigone
Ask Creon: thy regard
555
Is paid to him.
555
Ask Creon: thy regard
555
Is paid to him.
555
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 100-160 focus
Enter the Chorus on the right.
110
Chorus
Shaft of the sun, fairest light of all that have dawned on
Thebes
of the seven gates, you have shone forth at last, eye of golden day, advancing over Dirce’s streams!
100
You have goaded with a sharper bit the warrior of the white shield, who came from
Argos
in full armor, driving him to headlong retreat.
105
Shaft of the sun, fairest light of all that have dawned on
Thebes
of the seven gates, you have shone forth at last, eye of golden day, advancing over Dirce’s streams!
100
You have goaded with a sharper bit the warrior of the white shield, who came from
Argos
in full armor, driving him to headlong retreat.
105
Chorus
He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing,
110
with a mass of weapons and crested helmets.
115
He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing,
110
with a mass of weapons and crested helmets.
115
Chorus
He paused above our dwellings; he gaped around our sevenfold portals with spears thirsting for blood; but he left
before his jaws were ever glutted with our gore, or before the Fire-god’s pine-fed flame had seized our crown of towers.
120
So fierce was the crash of battle swelling about his back, a match too hard to win for the rival of the dragon.
125
He paused above our dwellings; he gaped around our sevenfold portals with spears thirsting for blood; but he left
before his jaws were ever glutted with our gore, or before the Fire-god’s pine-fed flame had seized our crown of towers.
120
So fierce was the crash of battle swelling about his back, a match too hard to win for the rival of the dragon.
125
Chorus
For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood,
arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts.
130
For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood,
arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts.
130
Chorus
Staggered, he fell to the earth with a crash,
torch in hand, a man possessed by the frenzy of the mad attack, who just now was raging against us with the blasts of his tempestuous hate. But his threats did not fare as he had hoped, and to the other enemies mighty Ares dispensed each their own dooms with hard blows,
135
Ares, our mighty ally at the turning-point.
140
Staggered, he fell to the earth with a crash,
torch in hand, a man possessed by the frenzy of the mad attack, who just now was raging against us with the blasts of his tempestuous hate. But his threats did not fare as he had hoped, and to the other enemies mighty Ares dispensed each their own dooms with hard blows,
135
Ares, our mighty ally at the turning-point.
140
Chorus
For the seven captains, stationed against an equal number at the seven gates, left behind their brazen arms in tribute to Zeus the turner of battle—all but the accursed pair who, born of one father and one
mother, set against each other their spears, both victorious, and who now share in a common death.
145
For the seven captains, stationed against an equal number at the seven gates, left behind their brazen arms in tribute to Zeus the turner of battle—all but the accursed pair who, born of one father and one
mother, set against each other their spears, both victorious, and who now share in a common death.
145
Chorus
But since Victory whose name is glory has come to us, smiling in joy equal to the joy of chariot-rich
Thebes
,
let us make for ourselves forgetfulness after the recent wars, and visit all the temples of the gods with night-long dance and song. And may Bacchus, who shakes the earth of
Thebes
, rule our dancing!
150
But since Victory whose name is glory has come to us, smiling in joy equal to the joy of chariot-rich
Thebes
,
let us make for ourselves forgetfulness after the recent wars, and visit all the temples of the gods with night-long dance and song. And may Bacchus, who shakes the earth of
Thebes
, rule our dancing!
150
Chorus
But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion,
155
that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate?
160
But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion,
155
that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate?
160
Notes on the current edition
Antigone
1.
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-1-1 Prologue. At daybreak ( v. 100 ) on the morning after the fall of the two brothers and the flight of the Argives, Antigone calls Ismene forth from the house, in order to speak with her apart. She tells her that Creon has forbidden the burial of Polyneices, and declares her resolve to perform it herself. Ismene declines to assist, and endeavours to dissuade her. Antigone then goes alone to the task.
mvp-comment-2-1 The words κοινὸν 1 αὐτάδελφον 2
mvp-comment-2-2 κάρα 3
mvp-comment-3-1 ἆρ’ οἶσθ’ … τελεῖ 4 ὅ τι 5 ὅτι 6 ὅ τι 7 ὅτι 8
mvp-comment-3-2 τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδ. κακῶν 9 ἔτι ζώσαιν 10 ἔτι 11
mvp-comment-4-1 Paley ( Journ. Ph. 10. 16) regards these three verses as interpolated, because (1) Antigone, like Ismene, should have only seven verses: (2) the words only repeat vv. 2, 3: (3) the double negative offends. But we have no warrant for requiring such a correspondence; and this is not repetition, but development. On (3), see below.
mvp-comment-5-1 οὔτ’ ἄτης ἄτερ 12 ἄτης ἄτερ 13 οὐδ’ 14 οὔτ’ 15
mvp-comment-6-1 αἰσχρόν 16 ἄτιμον 17
mvp-comment-6-2 ὁποῖον οὐ … οὐκ ὄπωπα 18
mvp-comment-6-3 τῶν … κακῶν 19 ὄπωπα 20
mvp-comment-7-1 αὖ 21
mvp-comment-7-2 πανδήμῳ πόλει 22
mvp-comment-8-1 θεῖναι 23
mvp-comment-8-2 τὸν στρατηγόν 24
mvp-comment-9-1 ἔχεις 25
mvp-comment-9-2 κεἰσήκουσας 26
mvp-comment-10-1 τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά 27
mvp-comment-11-1 μέν 28 ἐμοί 29
mvp-comment-11-2 Ἀντιγόνη 30
mvp-comment-11-3 φίλων 31 μῦθος 32
mvp-comment-11-4 ἐξ ὅτου 33
mvp-comment-12-1 δυοῖν … δύο 34 δύο 35
mvp-comment-13-1 θανόντοιν 36
mvp-comment-13-2 διπλῇ χερί 37
mvp-comment-14-1 ἐπεί 38
mvp-comment-14-2 ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν 39
mvp-comment-14-3 ὑπέρτερον 40
mvp-comment-14-4
As
οἶδ’ εὐτυχοῦσα = οἶδ’ ὅτι εὐτυχῶ, so the participles
εὐτυχοῦσα
41
ἀτωμένη
42
mvp-comment-15-1 ᾔδη 43 καλῶς 44
mvp-comment-15-2 αὐλείων πυλῶν 45
mvp-comment-15-3 ἐξέπεμπον 46
mvp-comment-16-1 τί δ’ ἔστι 47 δηλοῖς 48
mvp-comment-16-2 καλχαίνουσ’ ἔπος τι 49
mvp-comment-16-3
is figuratively used like the Homeric
πορφύρω. In
πορφύρω the idea of trouble precedes that of colour: in
καλχαίνω,
vice versa.
mvp-comment-17-1 οὐ γάρ 50
mvp-comment-17-2 τὼ κασιγνήτω … τὸν μὲν … τὸν δέ 51
mvp-comment-17-3 The place of τάφου 52 προτίσας 53 τάφου 54 ἀτιμάσας 55
mvp-comment-17-4 ἀτιμάσας ἔχει 56
mvp-comment-18-1 σὺν δίκῃ | χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ 57 χρησθεὶς 58 σὺν δίκης | χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου 60 δίκης 61 σύν 62 δίκῃ 63 χρήσει 64 χρησθείς 65 χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν 66
mvp-comment-18-2 νόμου 67
mvp-comment-19-1 τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς 68 πᾶσι κλεινός 69
mvp-comment-20-1 θανόντα … Πολυνείκους νέκυν 70
mvp-comment-21-1 ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι 71
mvp-comment-21-2 τὸ μὴ … καλύψαι 72
mvp-comment-22-1 ἐᾶν δ’ 73 ἄταφον ἄκλαυτον 74
mvp-comment-23-1 θησαυρόν 75
mvp-comment-23-2 εἰσορῶσι 76 εἰσορμῶσι 77
mvp-comment-23-3 Take πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς 78
mvp-comment-23-4 πρὸς χάριν 79
mvp-comment-24-1 σοί 80 κἀμοί 81 κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν 82
mvp-comment-24-2 τὸν ἀγαθόν 83
mvp-comment-24-3 λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ 84
mvp-comment-24-4 Two other explanations may be noticed. Both make σοι 85 σοι 86 τοιαῦτα 87 κἀμοί 88 σοι 89 σοι 90 ἀγαθόν 91
mvp-comment-25-1 νεῖσθαι 92
mvp-comment-25-2 τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν 93
mvp-comment-26-1 παρ’ οὐδέν 94 ὡς 95
mvp-comment-26-2 ὃς ἂν … δρᾷ 96
mvp-comment-27-1 προκεῖσθαι 97
mvp-comment-27-2 δημόλευστον 98
mvp-comment-28-1 σοι 99
mvp-comment-28-2 ἐσθλῶν 100
mvp-comment-29-1 ὦ ταλαῖφρον 101
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1-17. mvp-comment-1-1 The opening speeches reveal the contrast between the sisters, while the affectionate address of Antigone in l. 1 gives greater emphasis to her violent outbreak in l. 69. Cp. О. Т. 85, and note.
1. mvp-comment-2-1 κοινόν not only means Of common parentage, but has the further significance of common interests and feelings. See Essay on Language p. 96, and for αὐτάδελφον (where the compound merely adds a pathetic emphasis), Essay on Language p. 91, 6. Ismene, my own sister, who sharest all with me. Antigone and Ismene were united by a common grief in an affection Dearer than the natural bond of sisters.
2-3. mvp-comment-3-1 (1) Do you know, that of the ills derived from Oedipus there is not one which Zeus will not bring upon us two before we die? ὁποῖον οὐχί is the indirect form of ποῖον οὐχί ; = all without exception. So Böckh: and this agrees better with what follows in ll. 7, 9, 10, 11 ff. than (2) reading ὅ, τι with the Schol. and rendering, 'Know'st thou which of the evils is such that Zeus will not accomplish it?' or (3) (ὁποῖον α resumption of ὅ, τι), 'Know'st thou what of all the evil Zeus will not accomplish?' or (4) supposing ὅτι pleonastic: 'Know'st thou what' etc.
2-3. mvp-comment-3-2 τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου Oedipus in the Antigone is simply the author of misery to his race: infr. 49 ff., 864 ff., although the misery has an earlier source in the Doom of the Labdacidae. The action of the O. T. and O. C. must not be presupposed. See Introd. p. 452.
3. mvp-comment-4-1 vῷv is dative. (Essay on Language § 12. p. 18). For ἔτι ζώσαιν, cp. Hom. Il. 18. 10, Μυρμιδόνων τὸν ἄριστον ἔτι ζώοντος ἐμεῖο | χερσὶν ὑπὸ Τρώων λείψειν φάος ἠελίοιο.
4. mvp-comment-5-1 ἄτης †ἄτερ Neither the defence of these words by Böckh, who places them between commas, Calamity apart, i.e. no disgrace, not to speak of calamity, (cp. Dem. de Cor. p. 255); nor that of Wecklein, who treats the privative as a redundant negative, i. e.
4. mvp-comment-5-2 ἄτερ = οὐ πλέων, nor Linwood's, who makes ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ = άλγεινὸν ἀτηρόν τε, is satisfactory. Yet Didymus knew of no other reading, and interlinear glosses before the Christian era can hardly be assumed. Else there is much plausibility in Porson's conjecture that a gloss ἀτηρ', i. e. ἀτηρόν, has taken the place of ἔχον (sc. μετέχον), or some other word. The corruption occurring at such an early period is more probably due to the confusion to which all negative expressions are liable (Essay on Language § 29. 2, p. 49), but which in the present instance cannot be attributed to the poet; i. e. οὐδὲν ἀτηρόν ἐσθ᾽ ὁποῖον οὐκ ὄπωπα, has become confused in the mind of some early interpreter with οὐδέν ἐσθ᾽ ὁποῖον οὐκ ἀτηρόν = οὐδέν ἐστ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ. Qy. ἄτης πλέων? The emphasis culminates on ἄτιμον, which pointedly refers to the dishonour she is now to speak of.
6. mvp-comment-6-1 τῶν.. κακῶν, partitive genitive, as supplementary predicate. See Essay on Language § 10. p. 15.
7-8. mvp-comment-7-1 πανδήμῳ.. στρατηγόν The Thebans had gone forth πανδημεί under Creon's generalship, and he had made the proclamation as στρατηγός, before assuming the civil power. Cp. Thuc. 5. 60, § 5, τὰς ἀπὸ στρατείας δίκας πρὶν ἐσιέναι κρίνουσιν. The publicity of the edict makes it more painful. Antigone knows what she is doing. Infr. 44, 907.
9. mvp-comment-8-1 τι is adverbial.
10. mvp-comment-9-1 τῶν ἐχθρῶν When evils devised by enemies are threatening those we love. In the vehemence of her resentment she already speaks of Creon as an enemy. Cp. infr. 62. τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά, Schol. According to others τῶν ἐχθρῶν is abl. gen. passing from enemies, i.e. no longer directed towards them, or descriptive, evils which belong to enemies, i. e. which should be confined to them.
11. mvp-comment-10-1 οὐδεὶς μῦθος.. φίλων Νo word concerning any of our friends. Essay on Language § 9. p. 13.
12. mvp-comment-11-1 ἐξ ὅτου Sophocles has not been careful to mark the exact sequence of the events preceding the action of the Play. (See Introduction.) But the death of the brothers is supposed to have taken place some little time before the rout of the Argive host. Infr. 144-148.
14. mvp-comment-12-1 μιᾷ.. διπλῇ Essay on Language p. 69.
17. mvp-comment-13-1 μᾶλλον is redundant, the whole expression being epexegetic of οὐδὲν ὑπέρτερον, and in construction with οἶδα.
18-19. mvp-comment-14-1 καί σ'.. ἐξέπεμπον And it is for this that I have been leading thee forth. Thus a probable reason is given for the appearance of the two maidens before the gate. Their usual seclusion has been somewhat relaxed during the absence of Creon and Eteocles with the army. Infr. 578-579. Cp. El. 517.
20. mvp-comment-15-1 δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος It is plain that your thoughts are darkening with some troublous word.
20. mvp-comment-15-2 καλχαίνω is formed on a fancied analogy to πορφύρω, as this is used in Homer of the agitation of the sea, and, metaphorically, of the mind. According to others the first notion of καλχαίνω is to stir from the depths, as in dredging for the murex (κάλχη).
21. mvp-comment-16-1 τάφου is genitive of respect with both participles, but chiefly privative genitive ve ἀτιμάσας. See Essay on Language p. 66, 1, 68. She implies that both brothers had been dishonoured by the decree. Cp. infr. 515-517, οὐ μαρτυρήσει ταῦθ᾽ ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς.. οὐ γάρ τι δοῦλος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὤλετο.
23. mvp-comment-17-1 ὡς λέγουσι, resumed in φασιν l. 27, φασι l. 31, points to the fact that the maidens in their seclusion could only know of the edict from hearsay.
23. mvp-comment-17-2 σὺν δίκῃ | †χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ χρησθείς has been generally condemned, and ἐχρήσθην only occurs elsewhere in a strictly passive sense. Yet, as Shilleto observes (Journ. of Phil. No. 13, p. 149), ᾐδεσάμην and ᾐδέσθην, the former in lyric verse, the latter in senarii, are found within a few lines of each other in O. T. 647, 651; and χρησάμενος does not occur in Sophocles.
23. mvp-comment-17-3 Ἐτεοκλέα ἔκρυψε, χρησθεὶς (αὐτῷ) σὺν δίκῃ, is not impossible in point of syntax. On the other hand neither χρησθεὶς δίκαια, nor χρηστοῖς δικαίᾳ, nor προσθεὶς δίκαια, can be approved. In 1871 I suggested προθείς. After laying him out in state, with the righteous meed of honour and all customary observance, he has covered him in earth. Cp. Hdt. 1.112-115. 8, τρεῖς μὲν ἡμέρας προτιθέασι τὸν νεκρόν: inf. 196, καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι. This part of the treatment of Eteocles would contrast with the prohibition even to mourn for Polynices. Cp. Thuc. 2. 34, where the words καὶ ἐπιφέρει τῷ αὑτοῦ ἕκαστος ἤν τι βούληται throw some light on the custom implied in σὺν δίκῃ δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ. For the emphatic δικαίᾳ, cp. Αj. 1100, ἐς ταφὰς ἐγὼ θήσω δικαίως: Hdt. 8. 106, νόμῳ δικαίῳ χρεώμενοι. προθείς may have been changed to προσθείς (which Donaldson conjectured), and to this may have been added an interlinear gloss ἃ χρή. Cp. 1. 243. κάφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή. Another guess is χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν (sc. αὐτῷ). For similar fullness of expression on a solemn occasion, cp. O. T. 219, 259.
25. mvp-comment-18-1 τοῖς .. νεκροῖς Holding his honours amongst the dead; i.e. not ἄτιμος, or deprived of common rights.
26. mvp-comment-19-1 θανόντα .. νέκυν Cp. infr. 515, ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς.
27. mvp-comment-20-1 ἐκκεκηρύχθαι Passive. That proclamation has been made. Cp. προκεῖσθαι, l. 36 .
29. mvp-comment-21-1 ἐἂν. Sc. πάντας. The affirmative subject is supplied from the negative Cp. the language of the proclamation in O. T. 241, and see Essay on Language p. 59.
29. mvp-comment-21-2 ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον Cp. Od. 11. 72; Il. 22. 386; Eur. Hec. 30.
29-30. mvp-comment-22-1 οἰωνοῖς .. βορᾶς (1) To the vultures a sweet treasure as they eye him with a view to the gratification of food. Cp. infr. 371 τόλμας χάριν : 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω; Or, perhaps. (2) To the vultures, eyeing him, a glad store of food to gratify their desire. For πρὸς χάριν in the latter rendering, cp. Phil. 1156, ἀντίφονον κορέσαι στόμα πρὸς χάριν, and for the combination of adverbial phrase and noun, El. 1336, σὺν χαρᾷ βοῆς.
31. mvp-comment-23-1 τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα Cp. Phil. 873, ἁγαθοὶ στρατηλάται.
31-32. mvp-comment-24-1 σοι | κάμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ] Antigone first says, There is Creon's proclamation for you! (σοι unemphatic as in l. 37:) then, going off upon the word, For you, did I say? ay, and for me too, for I count myself also amongst those forbidden. This is said with bitter emphasis, showing that she has fully counted the cost of the act she meditates. The proclamation extends to me-I accept the consequences. For λέγω in this sense, cp. Aesch. Prom. 973, καὶ σὲ δ᾽ ἐν τούτοις λέγω: Cho. 989, Αἰγίσθου γὰρ οὐ λέγω μόρον. Others take κἀμέ as κάμοί, Το me, I say! (whose spirit he little knows).
35. mvp-comment-25-1 ὃς ἄν Essay on Language § 22. p. 35, 2. §39. p. 72.
35. mvp-comment-25-2 τούτων τι For this idiomatic use of τι, cp. Thuc. 5. 13, δρᾶν τι ὧν ἐκεῖνος ἐπενόει.
36. mvp-comment-26-1 δημόλευστον By stoning of the people. Essay on Language p. 98, a, line 15.
38. mvp-comment-27-1 For εὐγενής in the ethical sense, cp. Eur. El. 363, οὔτοι τό γ' ἦθος δυσγενές παρέξομαι. And for the genitive ἐσθλῶν, cp. Αj. 763, ἄνους καλῶς λέγοντος εὑρέθη πατρός.
39-40. mvp-comment-28-1 Alas for thy rash spirit! What help, if things be at this pass, can I afford, either to undo what is done, or to confirm it?' ταλαῖφρον points to the daring spirit of Antigone and to the tone of her last words. For λύουσα, cp. Aesch. S. c. Т. 270, λύουσα πολεμίων φόβον. The choice lies between ἢ 'φάπτουσα and εἴθ' ἅπτουσα. The implied negative is in favour of εἴθ' ἅπτουσα, which comes near the first hand of L. Cp. О. Т. 517, λόγοισιν εἴτ᾿ ἔργοισιν, where, however, ei precedes. But εἴτε is slightly too emphatic, and ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα is an early reading. The expression is proverbial. Cp. Aj. 1317.