τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.
Antigone. Sophocles. Leipzig. 1884.
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Current edition Experimental
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (11)
Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 263 focus
ἦμεν
1
δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 263 focus
καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν,
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε *μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 263.mvp-line-263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ’ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφλεγε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 263.mvp-line-263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλʼ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 263 focus
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
Translations (10)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 263 focus
CHOR.
Ach daſs zu spät doch, seh' ich, du das Recht erkennst!
Ach daſs zu spät doch, seh' ich, du das Recht erkennst!
Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 263 focus
EL MENSAJERO
Ella, gravemente herida,
dió
dio reposo a sus ensombrecidos ojos alrededor del altar después de llorar la gloriosa muerte de su hijo Megareo, que
perdió
perdió antes, y luego la de éste; y lanzando últimamente maldiciones sobre ti por tus imprudentes determinaciones como asesino de tu hijo.
Ella, gravemente herida,
dió
dio reposo a sus ensombrecidos ojos alrededor del altar después de llorar la gloriosa muerte de su hijo Megareo, que
perdió
perdió antes, y luego la de éste; y lanzando últimamente maldiciones sobre ti por tus imprudentes determinaciones como asesino de tu hijo.
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 263 focus
Creon
1306
Heu, heu!
metu refugit animus.
Curnon mihi adversum aliquis infligit vulnus ancipiti gladio?
At miser ego, heu, heu! miseris sum immersus casibus!
1306
Heu, heu!
metu refugit animus.
Curnon mihi adversum aliquis infligit vulnus ancipiti gladio?
At miser ego, heu, heu! miseris sum immersus casibus!
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 263 focus
2ND MESS
Wounding herself to the heart, when she had heard
1315
The loud lamented death of Haemon here.
Wounding herself to the heart, when she had heard
1315
The loud lamented death of Haemon here.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 278 focus
Schon lang, o König, überlegt mein Inneres,
Ob eine Gottheit diese That nicht angeregt.
Schon lang, o König, überlegt mein Inneres,
Ob eine Gottheit diese That nicht angeregt.
Kreon.
Schweig', eh mich deine Rede gar mit Zorn erfüllt,
280
Daß du, der Alte, nicht zugleich als Thor erscheinst.
Denn unerträglich ist es, daß du sagen magst,
Die Götter trügen Sorge für den Todten dort.
Sie hätten, wie zu schöner That Verherrlichung,
Den Mann begraben, der mit Brand zu tilgen kam
285
Die säulumringten Tempel und der Gaben Schmuck,
Und ihre Fluren, ihr Gesez zu stürzen sann?
Wann sahst du Frevler je geehrt durch Götterhuld?
Nie wahrlich, nie! Doch lange murrten schon darum,
Ungern gehorsam, wider mich die Bürger hier,
290
Geheim die Häupter schüttelnd; ja, sie hielten nicht
Pflichttreu den Nacken unter'm Joch, wie's mir genügt.
Von ihnen wurden jene, sicher weiß ich das,
Durch Lohn verleitet und verübten diese That.
Denn wahrlich, nichts von Allem, was bei Menschen gilt,
295
Ist, wie das Geld, verderblich: dies mag Städte selbst
Zerstören, dies treibt Männer aus von Hof und Herd;
Dies unterweiset und verkehrt den edlen Sinn
Rechtschaff'ner Männer, nachzugeh'n ruchloser That,
Zeigt an die Wege böser List den Sterblichen,
300
Und bildet sie zu jedem gottverhaßten Werk.
Doch die für Lohn gedungen diese That vollbracht,
Erwirkten sich's nun endlich, daß sie Strafe trifft.
Ia, wenn noch irgend Ehre Zeus von mir empfängt,
So sei versichert, und mein Schwur betheur' es dir:
305
Wofern ihr nicht den Frevler, der den Todten dort
Bestattet, aufspürt und mir hier vor Augen stellt,
Genügt es nicht an eurem Tode nur, ihr sollt
Am Kreuze hängen, bis ihr offenbart die Schmach,
Auf daß ihr, wissend, wo Gewinn zu suchen sei,
310
Ihn künftig dort erhaschet und begreifen lernt,
Daß nicht in Allem nach Gewinn zu spähen frommt.
Denn mit dem Preis des Schlechten wirst du Mehrere
Unglücklich enden, als das Glück gewinnen seh'n.
Schweig', eh mich deine Rede gar mit Zorn erfüllt,
280
Daß du, der Alte, nicht zugleich als Thor erscheinst.
Denn unerträglich ist es, daß du sagen magst,
Die Götter trügen Sorge für den Todten dort.
Sie hätten, wie zu schöner That Verherrlichung,
Den Mann begraben, der mit Brand zu tilgen kam
285
Die säulumringten Tempel und der Gaben Schmuck,
Und ihre Fluren, ihr Gesez zu stürzen sann?
Wann sahst du Frevler je geehrt durch Götterhuld?
Nie wahrlich, nie! Doch lange murrten schon darum,
Ungern gehorsam, wider mich die Bürger hier,
290
Geheim die Häupter schüttelnd; ja, sie hielten nicht
Pflichttreu den Nacken unter'm Joch, wie's mir genügt.
Von ihnen wurden jene, sicher weiß ich das,
Durch Lohn verleitet und verübten diese That.
Denn wahrlich, nichts von Allem, was bei Menschen gilt,
295
Ist, wie das Geld, verderblich: dies mag Städte selbst
Zerstören, dies treibt Männer aus von Hof und Herd;
Dies unterweiset und verkehrt den edlen Sinn
Rechtschaff'ner Männer, nachzugeh'n ruchloser That,
Zeigt an die Wege böser List den Sterblichen,
300
Und bildet sie zu jedem gottverhaßten Werk.
Doch die für Lohn gedungen diese That vollbracht,
Erwirkten sich's nun endlich, daß sie Strafe trifft.
Ia, wenn noch irgend Ehre Zeus von mir empfängt,
So sei versichert, und mein Schwur betheur' es dir:
305
Wofern ihr nicht den Frevler, der den Todten dort
Bestattet, aufspürt und mir hier vor Augen stellt,
Genügt es nicht an eurem Tode nur, ihr sollt
Am Kreuze hängen, bis ihr offenbart die Schmach,
Auf daß ihr, wissend, wo Gewinn zu suchen sei,
310
Ihn künftig dort erhaschet und begreifen lernt,
Daß nicht in Allem nach Gewinn zu spähen frommt.
Denn mit dem Preis des Schlechten wirst du Mehrere
Unglücklich enden, als das Glück gewinnen seh'n.
Der Wächter.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 263 focus
Messenger
Close by the altar
She drew the sword, and closed her eyes in death,
Lamenting first her lost Megareus' fate
And Hsemon's death, with imprecations dire
Still poured on thee, the murderer of thy son.
Close by the altar
She drew the sword, and closed her eyes in death,
Lamenting first her lost Megareus' fate
And Hsemon's death, with imprecations dire
Still poured on thee, the murderer of thy son.
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 263 focus
EL CORO
1244
¿Pero qué debemos augurar de esto?... Esa mujer se ha marchado de nuevo sin contestar palabra mala ni buena.
1244
¿Pero qué debemos augurar de esto?... Esa mujer se ha marchado de nuevo sin contestar palabra mala ni buena.
German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 263 focus
BOTE
Sich selber auf die Leber schlug ste, da
1370
Des Kindes Leiden lautgeklagt an sie kan.
Sich selber auf die Leber schlug ste, da
1370
Des Kindes Leiden lautgeklagt an sie kan.
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 263 focus
Messenger
Yea, both this son’s doom, and that other’s, were laid to thy charge by her whose corpse thou seest.
Yea, both this son’s doom, and that other’s, were laid to thy charge by her whose corpse thou seest.
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 332-380 focus
Chorus
Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.
This power spans the sea, even when it surges white before the gales of the south-wind, and makes a path under swells that threaten to engulf him. Earth, too, the eldest of the gods, the immortal, the unwearied,
335
he wears away to his own ends, turning the soil with the offspring of horses as the plows weave to and fro year after year.
340
Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.
This power spans the sea, even when it surges white before the gales of the south-wind, and makes a path under swells that threaten to engulf him. Earth, too, the eldest of the gods, the immortal, the unwearied,
335
he wears away to his own ends, turning the soil with the offspring of horses as the plows weave to and fro year after year.
340
Chorus
The light-hearted tribe of birds
and the clans of wild beasts and the sea-brood of the deep he snares in the meshes of his twisted nets, and he leads them captive, very-skilled man. He masters by his arts
345
the beast who dwells in the wilds and roams the hills. He tames the shaggy-maned horse, putting the yoke upon its neck, and tames the tireless mountain bull.
350
The light-hearted tribe of birds
and the clans of wild beasts and the sea-brood of the deep he snares in the meshes of his twisted nets, and he leads them captive, very-skilled man. He masters by his arts
345
the beast who dwells in the wilds and roams the hills. He tames the shaggy-maned horse, putting the yoke upon its neck, and tames the tireless mountain bull.
350
Chorus
Speech and thought fast as the wind and the moods that give order to a city he has taught himself, and how to flee the arrows of the inhospitable frost under clear skies and the arrows of the storming rain.
He has resource for everything. Lacking resource in nothing he strides towards what must come. From Death alone he shall procure no escape, but from baffling diseases he has devised flights.
360
Speech and thought fast as the wind and the moods that give order to a city he has taught himself, and how to flee the arrows of the inhospitable frost under clear skies and the arrows of the storming rain.
He has resource for everything. Lacking resource in nothing he strides towards what must come. From Death alone he shall procure no escape, but from baffling diseases he has devised flights.
360
Chorus
Possessing resourceful skill, a subtlety beyond expectation he moves now to evil, now to good. When he honors the laws of the land and the justice of the gods to which he is bound by oath,
365
his city prospers. But banned from his city is he who, thanks to his rashness, couples with disgrace. Never may he share my home,
370
never think my thoughts, who does these things!
375
Possessing resourceful skill, a subtlety beyond expectation he moves now to evil, now to good. When he honors the laws of the land and the justice of the gods to which he is bound by oath,
365
his city prospers. But banned from his city is he who, thanks to his rashness, couples with disgrace. Never may he share my home,
370
never think my thoughts, who does these things!
375
Enter the Guard, on the spectators’ left, leading in Antigone.
Chorus
What marvel sent by the gods is this?—I am bewildered! I know her. How can I deny that this girl is Antigone? O unhappy child
of your unhappy father, of Oedipus! What can this mean? What! Surely they are not bringing you captive for disobeying the King’s laws and being caught in lunacy?
380
What marvel sent by the gods is this?—I am bewildered! I know her. How can I deny that this girl is Antigone? O unhappy child
of your unhappy father, of Oedipus! What can this mean? What! Surely they are not bringing you captive for disobeying the King’s laws and being caught in lunacy?
380
Commentary
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
223-330. mvp-comment-136-1 The half-comic or rustic character of the watchman in this play is an extension of the common character of the messenger, whose natural rudeness of speech and thought brings into greater prominence the horror or pathos of the events he describes. The grotesqueness disappears when he speaks of the action of Antigone in 407-440. The employment of this artifice by Sophocles arises from the same motive to which Shakespeare gave a far wider range in such creations as the gravediggers in Hamlet, and the rural fellow in Antony and Cleopatra. The Messenger in the Trachiniae, the Corinthian in the Oedipus Tyrannus, Menelaus in the Ajax, the pretended Shipmaster in the Philoctetes, afford the same sort of contrast to the more tragic personages: and the superstition of the Coloniatae may be compared with the cowardice of the Phrygian slave in the Orestes of Euripides.
223-330.
mvp-comment-136-2
The vulgarity of the common-place Athenian of the fifth century в.с. takes the form of misplaced subtlety of wit. Cp.
Shak. Hamlet, 5. 1
,
We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us. The age is grown so picked, that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he galls his kibe.
262-263. mvp-comment-163-1 The subtlety of the Φύλαξ deserts him in attempting to express his meaning. The perpetrator was every one and no one of us all every one in vague suspicion, and no one evidently: he escaped being known.' τις gives the indefiniteness required by the sense, = πως.
263.
mvp-comment-164-1
ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε *μὴ εἰδέναι (1) But he (the perpetrator) always escaped, so that we could not know him. Böckh and Donaldson read as in the text, interpreting (2) Every man' (πᾶς implied in οὐδείς, the affirmative elicited from the negative)
defended himself by pleading ignorance of the matter. For φεύγειν, * to urge a defensive plea,' cp. Aesch. Suppl. 390, and for the plea, μὴ εἰδέναι, Plat. Legg. 11. 936 E. But the plea of ignorance, although suitable in l. 266, is too special for this place, wherethe non-appearance of the criminal alone is in question. The meaning given above (1) is the same as that required by Hermann (see below), but is more simply expressed by the epexegesis, and the imperfect tense expresses the frustration of continued search. This interpretation involves a rare use of φεύγω, which is, however, analogous to a meaning of ἐκφεύγω that is not uncommon. Cp. Ο. Τ. 111, ἐκφεύγει δὲ τἀμελούμενον : Plat. Phil. 17, τὰ δὲ μέσα αὐτοὺς ἐκφεύγει. Other emendations are ἔφυγε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι (Porson), explained by Erfurdt to mean
amoliens a se accusationem scire sese negaverat ; ἔφυγε τῷ μὴ εἰδέναι (Herm. 1839),
effugit, eo quod nesciebamus; ἔφευγε πᾶς τὸ μή,
every man pled Not guilty. (Dind.). 264-265. There are few traces of anything corresponding to the trial by ordeal in ancient times. Brunck quotes Virg. Aen. 11. 787,
Et medium freti pietate per ignem | Cultores multa premimus vestigia prima. It seems to have existed in different places as a popular belief, but nowhere to have received positive legal sanction. For a trace of trial by combat' (in Scythia), see Hdt. 4. 180. Cp. also Ar. Lys. 133.