Sophocles Antigone 615

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ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
595
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν, ὅτῳ φρένας
600
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.

Antigone. Sophocles. Leipzig. 1884.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

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)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς
πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν
615
ἕρπει, πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ 1 .
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν, ὅτῳ φρένας
620
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 615 focus
ἃ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς
πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα προσάψῃ.
610
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται·
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν, ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ᾅδαν,
615
πράσσειν δ᾽ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς
615
πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν
ἔρπει, πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ' ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
625
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ-
615
πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται·
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν, ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
625
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ-
615
πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ’ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ’ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται·
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ’ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ’ ἔμμεν, ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ’ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
625
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ-
615
πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνησις ἀνδρῶν
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῶι πόδα τις
προσαύσηι. σοφίαι γὰρ ἔκ του
620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῶιδ᾽ ἔμμεν, ὅτωι φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλίγιστον χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
625
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 615 focus
ἃ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς
πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύρῃ.
615
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν πότ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν, ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
620
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν, 1
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων· 2
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει, πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις 3
προσαύσῃ. σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται, 4
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν 5
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτῳ φρένας 6
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν· 7
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλίγιστον χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας. 8
625
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ-
615
πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλίγιστον χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
625
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 615 focus
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 615 focus
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ-
615
πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῶι πόδα τις προσαύσηι.
σοφίαι γὰρ ἔκ του
620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται,
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῶιδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτωι φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλίγιστον χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
625
Translations (11)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 615 focus
Denn die schweifende Hoffnung beut oft wohl vielen der Männer Segen,
doch vielen der leichtsinnigen Wünsche Täuschung;
595
Nimmer-bewuſstem kommt sie,
bis er den Fuſs senget an heifser Flamme.
Das gepries'ne Wort drum scholl von des Weisen Munde,
es bedünke Böses gut oft
dem, welchem den irren Sinn
600
der Gott lenkt zum Unheil.
Nur mindeste Zeit wandelt er sonder Unheil.
Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 615 focus
Pues, en verdad, la vagarosa esperanza que para muchos hombres es una ayuda, es para otros engaño de fútiles anhelos; pues se insinúa sin que uno lo advierta hasta que ponga el pie en el ardiente fuego. De la sabiduria sabiduría de alguien procede esta célebre máxima: El mal a veces parece bien a aquel cuya mente lleva un dios a la perdición; y pasa muy poco tiempo sin que caiga en la ruina.
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 615 focus
Spes quidem vaga multis mortalium — fructum — sui praebet;
multorum autem deludit leves cupidines, acceditque ad nihil sentientem prius quam igni ardenti pedem admoverit. Celebre dictum fertur a nescio quo sapienter prolatum: Malum aliquando videri bonum illi esse, cuius animum deus impellit ad mortem, eumque perexiguo tempore extra calamitatem versari.
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 615 focus
Now and eternally,
615
Not here or there, but everywhere,
A law of misery that shall not spare.
For Hope, that wandereth wide, comforting many a head,
Entangleth many more with glamour of desire:
Unknowing they have trode the fire.
620
Wise was the famous word of one who said,
‘Evil oft seemeth goodness to the mind
An angry God doth blind.’
Few are the days that such as he
May live untroubled of calamity.
625
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 615 focus
Hoffnung, die in der Irr' umherschweift,
So Vielen ein süßes Labsal,
610
Wird Vielen ein Trug flatternder eitler Wünsche:
Dieser beschleicht sie
Arglos, bis sie den Fuß sezen auf glühend Feuer.
Ein gepries'ner Ausspruch
Scholl von dem Mund der Weisheit:
615
Es erscheine gut das Böse
Dem, welchem ein Gott das Herz
In das Verderben lenke;
Nur flüchtige Zeit wandelt er frei von Leide.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 605 focus
The noble Hsemon. Lost in grief he seems.
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 615 focus
A muchos les colma con frecuencia sus deseos la inconstante esperanza ; pero también muchas veces desvanece en otros sus imprudentes ilusiones, pues se viene á introducir en el corazón secretamente, cuando está el pie próximo á pisar el ardiente fuego. Máxima célebre de un sabio es: que el mal se presenta bajo la apariencia del bien á todo aquel cuyos pensamientos quiere un dios que se encaminen hácia la perdición, y que no goce un momento de la vida, exento de pesar.
German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 615 focus
Die Hoffnung lebet, ruhlos irrend,
Und vielen Männern hilft sie,
Täuscht vieler leichte Sinne.
640
Bleibt, bis dem, der an nichts denkt,
Die Sohle brennet von heilsem Feuer.
Aus eines Mannes Weisheit ist
Ein rühmlich Wort gekommen;
Das Schlimme schein’ oft treflich
645
Vor einem, so bald ein Gott
Zu Wahn den Sinn hintreibet.
Er treibet’s aber die wenigste Zeit
Gescheuet, ohne Wahnsinn.
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 615 focus
For that hope whose wanderings are so wide is to many men a comfort, but to many a false lure of giddy 620 desires; and the disappointment comes on one who knoweth nought till he burn his foot against the hot fire. For with wisdom hath some one given forth the famous saying, that evil seems good, soon or late, to him whose mind the god draws to mischief; and but for the briefest space doth he fare free of woe.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 615 focus
Some god adds fury to its force,
And urges its resistless course;
No dams, no mounds the raging torrent stay,
Race after race it sweeps away.
O the last branch of this imperial line
A brighter sun now seem'd to shine;
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 631-780 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-348-1 ἀπαλλάσσει 1

mvp-comment-348-2 γενεὰν γένος 2 ἔχει 3

mvp-comment-348-3 λύσιν 4

mvp-comment-349-1 νῦν γὰρ ἐσχάτας 5 ὃ τέτατο 6 ἐτέτατο 7 κατ’ αὖ 8 ὑπέρ 9 ὅπερ 10 ὃ τέτατο 11 νιν 12 φάος 13 ἐσχάτη ῥίζα 14 φάος 15 νιν 16 φάος 17 θάλος 18 τέτατο 19 ῥίζας 20

mvp-comment-350-1 κατ’ αὖ … ἀμᾷ, 21 κοπίς 22 κόνις 23 κόνις 24

mvp-comment-350-2 (1) If κόνις 25 καταμᾷ 26

mvp-comment-350-3 (2) If we read κοπίς 27

mvp-comment-350-4 It has further been urged against

κοπίς
that the word is too homely. This may be so; but we lack proof.
κοπίς
seems to have been a large curved knife, known to the Greeks chiefly as ( a) a butcher's or cook's implement, ( b) an oriental military weapon. It does not follow, however, that the effect here would be like that of ‘chopper,’ or of ‘scimitar,’ in English. The dignity of a word may be protected by its simplicity; and
κοπίς
is merely ‘that which cuts.’ Pindar was not afraid of homeliness when he described a chorus-master as a
κρατήρ
, or an inspiring thought as an
ἀκόνα
(cp. O. C. 1052 n.). Nicander could say, of the scorpion,
τοίη οἱ κέντροιο κοπίς
( Ther. 780 ). If
κοπίς
be right, the change to
κόνις
may have been caused, not by a misreading of letters, but by mere inadvertence,—the copyist having the word
κόνις
in his thoughts at the moment: it has already occurred frequently ( 247 , 256 , 409 , 429 ).—See Appendix.

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

595. mvp-comment-347-1 The reading of this line has been much questioned, but the meaning is clear, although it is uncertain what word (whether φθιτῶν or some other) has been supplanted by the unmetrical φθιμένων: which may be due to a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 403. 4, παρὰ τῶν πρότερον φθιμένων ἄτην | ἑτέραν ἐπάγουσαν ἐπ᾿ ἄτῃ.

596. mvp-comment-348-1 γενεὰν γένος There is no distinction of meaning (such as One generation, .. 'The whole race'). Cp. O. C. 27, 28, ἐξοικήσιμος .. οἰκητός.

596. mvp-comment-348-2 ἐρείπει Sc. γενεὰν ἑκάστην. Cp. infra 601, κατ᾽ αὖ νιν, κ.τ.λ.

597. mvp-comment-349-1 οὐδ᾽ ἔχει Nor does the case admit of. Cp. Ο. C. 545, ἔχει δέ μοι ..

597. mvp-comment-349-2 πρὸς δίκας τι.

600. mvp-comment-350-1 ῥίζας Ἀντὶ τοῦ, ὅπερ ἔβλαστεν ἄνω τῆς ῥίζης, Schol. The root, for the plant.

600. mvp-comment-350-2 *ἐτέτατο The Scholiast notes the asyndeton (λείπει ἄρθρον τὸ ὅ): which is expressive and allows viv to be referred to ῥίζας, to which it naturally belongs. And in the reading ῥίζας δ τέτατο, the order of words is questionable. For ἐτέτατο φάος, cp. Phil. 831, αἴγλαν, ἃ τέταται τανῦν. The light is the grace and nobleness of Antigone, and her bright hopes. The conj. θάλος, for which, cp. Pind. Οl. 2. 45, Ἀδραστιδᾶν θάλος, is uncalled for.

601. mvp-comment-351-1 κατ' was rightly restored by Triclinius for κατ' (ⅰ.e. καὶ εἶτα), which had been introduced to avoid the asvndeton. (Schol. ἐάν στίξωμεν κᾷτ᾽ αὖ νιν, οὐδὲν λείπει τῷ λόγῳ.)

602-603. mvp-comment-352-1 ἀμᾷ θερίζει καὶ ἐκκόπτει. ἢ καλύπτει, Schol. The latter is right.

602-603. mvp-comment-352-2 Ας καταμᾶσθαι κόνιν is ‘Το cover oneself with dust,' so, by a poetical inversion, the dust may be said καταμᾶν, To cover, or Sweep out of sight. Essay on Language § 42. р. 80, β.

603. mvp-comment-353-1 λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν Ἐριvús The reasoning of Antigone in 450 ff. seems wild to the chorus, and her conduct shows her to them as possessed with a fatal frenzy. It may be thought strange that κόνις should be retained against a reading which has been so generally ap- proved as κόπις, first suggested by Jortin. But see Essay on Language pp. 92, 93. The grotesque image of Death, or Hades, armed with a bloody chopper or cleaver, however agreeable to the manner of Euripides, or some other poets, has no parallel in the language of Sophocles. And the transition from this concrete imagery to the spirits of fury and madness is, to say the least, awkwardly abrupt. The words λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν Ἐρινύς are most natural if they are added to expand an obscure allusion to the deed which had brought Antigone into danger. And the words φοινία θεῶν τῶν νερτέρων .. κόνις, The deadly dust sacred to the gods below, convey such an allusion not more obscurely than do the words in Tr. 836 ff., δεινοτάτῳ μὲν ὕδρας προστετακὼς φάσματι, κ.τ.λ., express the condition of Heracles in the poisoned robe. Triclinius was therefore not absurd in saying εἰκότως δὲ τὸ κόνις τέθειται. διότι γὰρ ἐκάλυψεν Ἀντιγόνη ἀδελφὸν Πολυνείκην κόνει, διὰ τοῦτο τεθνήξεσθαι ἔμελλε.

604. mvp-comment-354-1 This is suggested by the position of Antigone, whose offence brings swift retribution; but is felt by the spectator to be more applicable to that of Creon.