Sophocles Antigone 6

ed. August Boeckh

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ANTIGONE

Eteokles barg er, wie sie sagen, rechtem Recht,

Gesetz und Brauche folgend in der Erde Schofs,

daſs er geehret unten bei den Todten sei;
25

doch des Polyneikes elend hingestreckten Leib,

hat er verkündet, sagt man, solle nimmer wer

mit Grabeshülle decken, noch wehklagen ihn,

nein, unbeweint ihn lassen, ohne Grab, ein Mahl

den Vögeln, welche lauern ob des süssen Raubs.
30

Desgleichen, sagt man, liefs der gute

Kreon dir

und mir, denn mir auch, mein' ich wohl, verkündigen,

und komme hierher, denen dies noch unbekannt,

es deutlich anzusagen; und es gelte nicht

für nichts die Sach' ihm, sondern wer deſs Eines thut,
35

Tod treffe diesen in der Stadt durch Steinigung.

So steht dir dieses; zeigen wirst alsbald du nun,

ob edel du entsprossen, ob von Guten schlecht.

Antigone. Sophocles. ed. August Boeckh. Leipzig. 1884.

Current edition Experimental

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) (German) (German (A. Boeckh, 1884))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κᾀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐχ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 6.mvp-line-6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ’ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 6.mvp-line-6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 6 focus

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

Translations (10)

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 6 focus

Ismena

39 ¿Y qué, ¡oh desdichada!, si las cosas están así, podré remediar yo, tanto si desobedezco como si acato esas órdenes?

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 6 focus

Ismene

39 Nam quid, o misera, quum res in eo loco sit, facitis meis ego vel solvens vel adstringens, prodesse possim?

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 6 focus

ISM
39

Unhappy one! But what can I herein

Avail to do or undo?
40

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus

Ismene, traute Schwester, vielgeliebtes Haupt,¹
1

Weißt du von einem Leide, das vom Vater her

Zeus nicht an uns vollendet, die wir leben noch?

Denn keinen Jammer gibt es, nichts Entsezliches,

Nichts Arges, nichts Schmachvolles, das ich nicht bereits
5

In deiner Noth gesehen und in meiner Noth.

Und welche Botschaft, heißt es, ließ jezt eben erst

Der Herrscher wieder allem Volk verkündigen?

Weißt du's, vernahmst du's, oder blieb dir unbekannt,

Daß unsern Lieben Böses naht von Feindesmacht?
10

Ismene.

Zu mir gelangte keine Kund', Antigone,

Von unsern Lieben, frohe nicht noch traurige,

Seitdem das Paar der Brüder uns entrissen ward,

Die Eines Tages fielen durch zwiefachen Mord.

Und seit in dieser jüngsten Nacht sich Argos' Heer
15

Zur Flucht gewendet, wurde mir nichts weiter kund,

Nicht, ob mir mehr des Glückes, ob des Leides ward.

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Antigone.

Hat Kreon nicht dem Einen Bruder nur gegönnt

Des Grabes Ehre, jenem sie schmachvoll versagt?

Den Eteokles hat er, wie man sagt, gerecht

Gerechter Ordnung huldigend, in der Erde Schooß

Geborgen, daß ihm Ehre sei im Todtenreich;²
25

Doch Polyneikes' jammervoll entseelten Leib

Verbot er, heißt es, allem Volk durch lauten Ruf

Im Grab zu bergen und um ihn zu klagen; nein,

Daliegen soll er unbeweint, grablos, ein Mahl

Den Vögeln, die zum süßen Raube niederschau'n.
30

Und solches, sagt man, ließ der edle Kreon dir

Und mir, ich sage mir sogar, verkündigen;

Er komme selbst, es deutlich Allen kundzuthun,

Die nicht davon vernommen, und er achte nicht

Für Nichts die Sache; sondern wer deß Eines thut,
35

Den trifft an offner Stätte Tod durch Steinigung.

So ward's von ihm beschlossen, und du zeigst sofort,

Ob edel, ob unedel du von Edlen stammst.

Ismene.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 6 focus

Antigone

To act with me, or not :

Consider and resolve.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 6 focus

ISMENA

¡Ah, infortunada de mí!... Y en tal estado las cosas, ¿qué puedo yo hacer ó deshacer que sea ya provechoso?

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 6 focus

ISMENE

Wasaber, o du Arme, wenn es so steht?

Soll ich es lassen oder doch zu Grab gehn?

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 6 focus

Ismene

39 Poor sister,—and if things stand thus, what 40 could I help to do or undo?

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 6 focus

Chorus
STRO. 1. 100

Thou Sun, whose orient ray
100

On rampired Thebes ne'er rose so bright,
100

At length hast thou display'd thy light,

Eye of the golden day,

Hasting o'er Dirce's sacred streams

To roll sublime thy glorious beams!
105

The Argive first, who dared to wield

With hostile rage his silver shield,

(His thick-embattled martial train

110

Defeated on th' ensanguin'd plain)
110

Thou madest to turn his sharp-rein'd steed,

And urge his flight with headlong speed.

He, in the cause of Polynices arm'd,

Our sons with doubtful war alarm'd;

Soar'd like an Eagle o'er the plains below,

And cover'd with his wings of snow
115

Shrill-screaming hurtled o'er the realm,

117

With many a glittering lance, and many a crested helm.

Impatient of delay

High o'er our bulwarks on a mound,
120

With purple spears encircled round,

He ravin'd for his prey.

At our seven gates his warlike pow'rs

In deep array assail'd our tow'rs;

But his pride sunk, to flight constrain'd

127

Ere with our blood his beak was stain'd;

Ere to our rampires' height aspire

The dark-wreath'd smoke and wasting fire;

Such roar of war, such rout, such dread

The dragon race around him spread.
130

From our high tow'rs we view the Argive host,.

Their white shields glittering to the sun.—Pheniss. 1242.

For Jove indignant hears the vaunts of pride,

134

And checks its frenzy's swelling tide;

He sees them in th' impetuous torrent roll'd,
135

And glorying in the clash of gold :

He hurls his flames; the Boaster falls,

The shouts of conquest now loud raising on our walls.

As high the fire he bore

Jove's lightening dash'd him to the ground;
140

The corse and clashing arms rebound;
140
141

The warrior is no more,

Who rushing with resistless force,

Impetuous, frentic in his course,

Breath'd but one little moment past

A sweeping whirlwind's horrid blast.
145

Undaunted and with matchless might

The sons of Thebes maintain'd the fight,

148

And Mars triumphant on his car

Directed all the storm of war.

At the seven gates seven Argive warriors raged,
150

But, Chief with daring Chief engaged,

Left to Tropæan Jove their glittering spoils.

Not such th' unhappy Brothers' toils;

With ruthless spears and ruthless hate

They rush'd victorious both, both shared one common fate.

155

The queen of glorious name,
155

To grace her Thebes, in gorgeous state

Her high cars rolling through each gate,

Resplendent Conquest came.

Let war, and arms, and hostile rage
160

No more your anxious thoughts engage;

211

To all the temples now advance,

Devote the night to festive dance;

The allusion to a battle between the dragon and the eagle has here a singular

propriety on account of the dragon race of Thebes.

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1-98 focus

1

Antigone

Ismene, my sister, true child of my own mother, do you know any evil out of all the evils bequeathed by Oedipus that Zeus will not fulfil for the two of us in our lifetime? There is nothing—no pain, no ruin,
1

no shame, nor dishonor—that I have not seen in your sufferings and mine. And now what is this new edict that they say the general has just decreed to all the city? Do you know anything? Have you heard? Or does it escape you that
5

evils from our enemies are on the march against our friends?
10

Ismene

To me no word of our friends, Antigone, either bringing joy or bringing pain has come since we two were robbed of our two brothers who died in one day by a double blow.

And since the Argive army has fled during this night, I have learned nothing further, whether better fortune is mine, or further ruin.
15

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Antigone

Why not? Has not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honored burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he has laid in the earth

for his honor among the dead below. As for the poor corpse of Polyneices, however, they say that an edict has been published to the townsmen that no one shall bury him or mourn him, but instead leave him unwept, unentombed, for the birds a pleasing store
25

as they look to satisfy their hunger. Such, it is said, is the edict that the good Creon has laid down for you and for me—yes, for me—and it is said that he is coming here to proclaim it for the certain knowledge of those who do not already know. They say that he does not conduct this business lightly,
30

but whoever performs any of these rites, for him the fate appointed is death by public stoning among the entire city. This is how things stand for you, and so you will soon show your nature, whether you are noble-minded, or the corrupt daughter of a noble line.
35

39

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

Ah, no! Think, sister, how our father

perished in hatred and infamy, when, because of the crimes that he himself detected, he smashed both his eyes with self-blinding hand; then his mother-wife, two names in one, with a twisted noose destroyed her life;
50

lastly, our two brothers in a single day, both unhappy murderers of their own flesh and blood, worked with mutual hands their common doom. And now we, in turn—we two who have been left all alone—consider how much more miserably we will be destroyed, if in defiance of the law
55

we transgress against an autocrat’s decree or his powers. No, we must remember, first, that ours is a woman’s nature, and accordingly not suited to battles against men; and next, that we are ruled by the more powerful, so that we must obey in these things and in things even more stinging.
60

I, therefore, will ask those below for pardon, since I am forced to this, and will obey those who have come to authority. It is foolish to do what is fruitless.
65

69

Antigone

I would not encourage you—no, nor, even if you were willing later,

would I welcome you as my partner in this action. No, be the sort that pleases you. I will bury him—it would honor me to die while doing that. I shall rest with him, loved one with loved one, a pious criminal. For the time is greater
70

that I must serve the dead than the living, since in that world I will rest forever. But if you so choose, continue to dishonor what the gods in honor have established.
75

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-18-1 σὺν δίκῃ | χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ ¹ χρησθεὶς ² σὺν δίκης | χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου ⁴ δίκης ⁵ σύν ⁶ δίκῃ ⁷ χρήσει ⁸ χρησθείς ⁹ χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-18-2 νόμου ¹¹

mvp-comment-19-1 τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς ¹² πᾶσι κλεινός ¹³

mvp-comment-20-1 θανόντα … Πολυνείκους νέκυν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-21-1 ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι ¹⁵

mvp-comment-21-2 τὸ μὴ … καλύψαι ¹⁶

mvp-comment-22-1 ἐᾶν δ’ ¹⁷ ἄταφον ἄκλαυτον ¹⁸

mvp-comment-23-1 θησαυρόν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-23-2 εἰσορῶσι ²⁰ εἰσορμῶσι ²¹

mvp-comment-23-3 Take πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς ²²

mvp-comment-23-4 πρὸς χάριν ²³

mvp-comment-24-1 σοί ²⁴ κἀμοί ²⁵ κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν ²⁶

mvp-comment-24-2 τὸν ἀγαθόν ²⁷

mvp-comment-24-3 λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ ²⁸

mvp-comment-24-4 Two other explanations may be noticed. Both make σοι ²⁹ σοι ³⁰ τοιαῦτα ³¹ κἀμοί ³² σοι ³³ σοι ³⁴ ἀγαθόν ³⁵

mvp-comment-25-1 νεῖσθαι ³⁶

mvp-comment-25-2 τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν ³⁷

mvp-comment-26-1 παρ’ οὐδέν ³⁸ ὡς ³⁹

mvp-comment-26-2 ὃς ἂν … δρᾷ ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-27-1 προκεῖσθαι ⁴¹

mvp-comment-27-2 δημόλευστον ⁴²

mvp-comment-28-1 σοι ⁴³

mvp-comment-28-2 ἐσθλῶν ⁴⁴

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

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.