Sófocles Antigone 236

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CORO

1115 ¡Oh dios de muchos nombres, que de la ninfa Cadmea eres orgullo, y del altitonante Júpiter hijo; que te complaces de vivir en la inclita ínclita Italia y reinas en los valles, comunes a todos, de Ceres Eleusinia! ¡Oh Baco, que habitas en Tebas, metrópoli de las bacantes, junto a la liquida líquida corriente del Ismeno, donde fueron sembrados los dientes del feroz dragón! 1126 Hacia ti se dirige la llama que brilla sobre este monte de dos cimas, por donde corren las Coricias ninfas bacantes y la fuente de Castalia. Y a ti, las escarpadas alturas de los montes de Nisa, cubiertos de hiedra, y la verde falda en que abunda la vid, envian envían, resonando los inmortales himnos evohé, evohé, a visitar las calles de Tebas, a la cual 1137 extraordinariamente honras sobre todas las ciudades, con tu madre, la herida del rayo. Y ahora que toda nuestra ciudad está infestada de violenta pestilencia, ven con saludable pie por encima del monte Parnaso y el resonante estrecho. 1146 ¡Oh jefe del coro de los astros que respiran fuego, inspector de las nocturnas músicas, niño hijo de Júpiter, hazte presente, ¡oh rey!, junto con tus compañeras las Tiadas, que enfurecidas celebran en coros todas las noches a Baco su señor!

Antigone. Sófocles. Madrid. 1921.

Sponsored by Perseus Digital Library.

Current edition Experimental

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) (Spanish) (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 236 focus

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 236 focus

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 236 focus

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 236.mvp-line-236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 236.mvp-line-236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 236 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν. ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Translations (9)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 236 focus

CHOR.

O Sohn Menökeus' Menökeus’ Kreon, noth thut weiser Rath.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 236 focus

Nuntius

1155 Cadmi Amphionisque aedium incolae, nulla est hominis vita superstes, quam vel laudare vel culpare velim: Fortuna enim erigit, et Fortuna deprimit felicem et infelicem semper: meque de vita, quae agitur, mortalium licetaugurari. Quippe Creon, si quisquam alius, ne iudice, beatus erat, qui terram hanc quidem Cadmeam ab hostibus liberaverat, imperioque totius terrae potitus eam regebat, florens generosa liberorum prole: at nunc dilapsa sunt omnia. Voluptates autem siquis vir amiserit, haud equidem puto illum vivere, sed animatum esse mortuum. Opibus enim polleas quaniumvis domi, et vivas regio splendore; tamen si absit his gaudium, cetera ego fumi umbra haud emerim viro prae voluptate.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 236 focus

CH

The slayer, who?

And who the slain? Declare.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 237 focus

Was ist's, warum befiel dich solche Bangigkeit?

Der Wächter.

Erst laß dir sagen, was mich selbst betrifft: die That

Verübt' ich nicht, noch sah ich, wer der Thäter war;

Und nur mit Unrecht widerführe mir ein Leid.
240

Kreon.

Du zielst behutsam und verschanzest dich geschickt

Ringsher; du bringst uns, seh' ich wohl, ein schweres Wort.

Der Wächter.

Das Arge freilich regt die Furcht gewaltig auf.

Kreon.

Nun, wirst du reden endlich und dann weiter geh'n?

Der Wächter.

Wohlan, so sag' ich's: Einer, der sofort verschwand,
245

Begrub den Todten eben, hat mit trocknem Staub

Bestreut den Leichnam, und geweiht, was üblich ist.

Kreon.

Was sagst du? Wer auf Erden hat sich deß erkühnt?

Der Wächter.

Ich weiß es nicht; denn weder eines Beiles Hieb

War dort, noch einer Hacke Wurf, der Boden dicht
250

Und fest und bruchlos, auch mit Wagenrädern nicht

Befahren; spurlos blieb es, wer der Thäter war.

Und wie es uns der erste Tageswächter zeigt,¹

Erschien es Allen unerklärlich wunderbar.

Die Leiche war verschwunden, nicht begraben zwar;
255

Dünn, wie den Fluch zu meiden, lag der Staub darauf.²

Von einem Raubthier oder Hund war keine Spur,

Die hergekommen und an ihr herumgezerrt.

Nun schollen böse Reden auf einander los,

Der Wächter zich den Wächter; wohl auch endet' es
260

Zulezt mit Schlägen; Keiner war zu wehren da.

Denn Einer wie der Andre war der Thäter hier,

Und Keiner überführbar; Jeder stritt es ab.

Mit Händen fassen wollten wir ein glühend Erz,³

Durch Feuer gehen, schwören bei den Göttern selbst,
265

Daß wir es nicht verübten noch im Bunde sei'n

Mit Einem, der's ersonnen oder ausgeführt.

Am Ende, da kein Forschen mehr uns weiter half,

Sprach Einer, der uns alle zwang, vor Furcht das Haupt

Zur Erd' hinabzusenken denn wir wußten nicht
270

Zu widersprechen, noch wiefern wir, thäten wir's,

Uns helfen könnten dieser rieth, man müsse dir

Die Sache hinterbringen, nicht verheimlichen.

Und seine Meinung siegte: mich Unseligen

Verdammt zu diesem schönen Glück des Looses Wurf.
275

Nun steh' ich hier, nicht willig vor Unwilligen:

Niemand ja liebt den Boten unwillkommner Mähr.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 236 focus

Chorus

Touching our royal master, bringst thou news

Of sorrow to us?

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 236 focus

CREONTE

No conseguirás de ninguna manera enga- ñarmoe.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 236 focus

DER BOTE

Hämon ist hin, von eignen Händen blutend.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 236 focus

Chorus

And what is this new grief that thou hast to tell for our princes?

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 162-330 focus

Enter Creon, with two attendants.

Creon

My fellow citizens! First, the gods, after tossing the fate of our city on wild waves, have once more righted it. Second, I have ordered you through my messengers to come here

apart from all the rest, because I knew, first of all, how constant was your reverence for the power of the throne of Laius; how, again, you were reverent, when Oedipus was guiding our city; and lastly, how, when he was dead, you still maintained loyal thoughts towards his children.
165

Since, then, these latter have fallen in one day by a twofold doom—each striking, each struck, both with the stain of a brother’s murder—I now possess all the power and the throne according to my kinship with the dead.
170

Now, it is impossible to know fully any man’s character, will, or judgment, until he has been proved by the test of rule and law-giving. For if anyone who directs the entire city does not cling to the best and wisest plans,
175

but because of some fear keeps his lips locked, then, in my judgment, he is and has long been the most cowardly traitor. And if any man thinks a friend more important than his fatherland, that man, I say, is of no account. Zeus, god who sees all things always, be my witness—
180

I would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, marching upon the citizens. Nor would I ever make a man who is hostile to my country a friend to myself, because I know this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only when
185

we sail her on a straight course can we make true friends. Such are the rules by which I strengthen this city. Akin to these is the edict which I have now published to the citizenry concerning the sons of Oedipus: Eteocles, who fell fighting
190

in behalf of our city and who excelled all in battle, they shall entomb and heap up every sacred offering that descends to the noblest of the dead below. But as for his brother, Polyneices, I mean, who on his return from exile wanted to burn to the ground
195

the city of his fathers and his race’s gods, and wanted to feed on kindred blood and lead the remnant into slavery—it has been proclaimed to the city that no one shall give him funeral honors or lamentation,
200

but all must leave him unburied and a sight of shame, with his body there for birds and dogs to eat. This is my will, and never will I allow the traitor to stand in honor before the just. But whoever has good will to Thebes ,
205

he shall be honored by me in death as in life.
210

211

Chorus

That is your will, Creon, towards this city’s enemy and its friend. And the power is yours, I believe, to make use of every law whatsoever, both concerning the dead and all us who live.

Creon

See, then, that you be guardians of my commands.
215

Chorus

Lay the weight of this task on some younger man.

Creon

That is not what I meant—the guards for the corpse are already in place.

Chorus

Then what is this other command that you would give?

Creon

That you not give way to the breakers of my commands.

Chorus

There is no one so foolish as to crave death.
220

Creon

I assure you, that is the wage for disobedience. Yet by just the hope of it, money has many times corrupted men.

Enter Guard.

Guard

My king, I will not say that I arrive breathless because of speed, or from the action of a swift foot.

For often I brought myself to a stop because of my thoughts, and wheeled round in my path to return. My mind was telling me many things: Fool, why do you go to where your arrival will mean your punishment? Idiot, are you dallying again? If Creon learns it from another, must you not suffer for it?
225

So debating, I made my way unhurriedly, slow, and thus a short road was made long. At last, however, the view prevailed that I should come here—to you. Even if my report brings no good, still will I tell you,
230

since I come with a good grip on one hope, that I can suffer nothing except what is my fate.
235

237

Creon

And what is it that so disheartens you?

Guard

I want to tell you first about myself—I did not do the deed, nor did I see the doer,

so it would be wrong that I should come to any harm.
240

Creon

Like a bowman you aim well at your target from a distance, and all around you hedge yourself off well from the deed. It is clear that you have some unheard-of thing to tell.

Guard

That I do, for terrible news imposes great hesitation.

Creon

Then tell it, will you, and so unburdened go away?

Guard

Well, here it is. The corpse—some one has just given it burial and disappeared after sprinkling thirsty dust on the flesh and performing the other rites that piety demands.
245

Creon

What are you saying? What man dared do this?

Guard

I do not know. For there was no scar of a pickax to be seen there,

no earth thrown up by a mattock. The ground was hard and dry, unbroken, not rolled over by wheels. The doer was someone who left no trace. When the first day-watchman showed it to us, a discomforting amazement fell on us all.
250

The dead man was veiled from us—not shut within a tomb, but a light cover of dust was on him, as if put there by the hand of one who shunned a curse. And no sign was visible that any beast of prey or any dog had approached or torn him. Then evil words flew thick and loud among us,
255

guard accusing guard. It would even have come to blows in the end, nor was there anyone there to prevent it: every man was the culprit, and no one was plainly guilty, while all disclaimed knowledge of the act. We were ready to take red-hot iron in our hands,
260

to walk through fire and to swear oaths by the gods that we had neither done the deed, nor shared knowledge of the planning or the doing. At last, when our investigating got us nowhere, someone spoke up and made us all bend our faces
265

in fear towards the earth. For we did not know how we could argue with him, nor yet prosper, if we did what he said. His argument was that the deed must be reported to you and not hidden. This view prevailed, and so it was that
270

the lot doomed miserable me to win this prize. So here I stand, as unwelcome to you as I am unwilling, I well know. For no man delights in the bearer of bad news.
275

278

Chorus

My king, my thoughts have long been deliberating whether this deed is somehow the work of gods?

Creon

Quiet, before your words truly fill me with rage, so that you not be found at the same time foolish as well as old. You say what is intolerable when you claim that the gods have concern for that corpse. Was it in high esteem for his benefactions
280

that they sought to hide him, when he had come to burn their columned shrines, their sacred treasures and their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or do you see the gods honoring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the very first
285

certain men of the city were chafing at this edict and muttering against me, tossing their heads in secret, and they did not keep their necks duly under the yoke in submission to me. By those men, I am certain, they were led astray and bribed to do this deed.
290

Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This destroys cities, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest minds to set themselves to works of shame,
295

this teaches people to practise villainies, and to know every act of unholiness. But all the men who did this job for hire have made sure that, sooner or later, they shall suffer the punishment. Now, as Zeus still has my reverence, know this well—
300

I tell you on my oath. If you do not find the very hand that made this burial, and reveal him before my eyes, mere death shall not suffice for you, not before, hung up alive, you have made this outrage plain,
305

so that hereafter you may thieve with better knowledge of where your money should be received from, and learn that it is best not to be fond of money-making from any and every source. For you will find that ill-gotten gains bring more men to ruin than to safety.
310

315

Guard

Will you allow me to speak? Or shall I just turn and go?
315

Creon

Do you not know even now how much your voice sickens me?

Guard

Is the pain in your ears, or in your soul?

Creon

And why would you define the seat of my pain?

Guard

He who did it hurts your heart, but I, your ears.

Creon

God! How plain it is that you are a born babbler.
320

Guard

Perhaps, but never the author of this action.

Creon

Yes, and what is more, you sold your life for silver.

Guard

Ah! It is truly sad when the judge judges wrong .

Creon

Expound on judgment as you will. But, if you fail to

show me the perpetrators of these crimes, you will avow that money basely earned wreaks sorrows. Exit Creon.
325

Guard

Well, may the man be found! That would be best. But, whether he be caught or not—for fortune must decide that—I assure you that you will not see me come here again.

Saved just now beyond hope and belief, I owe the gods great thanks. Exit the Guard.
330

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-675-1 πολυώνυμε ¹

mvp-comment-675-2 Καδμείας ³

mvp-comment-675-3 ἄγαλμα ⁴

mvp-comment-675-4 νύμφας ⁵ βαρυβρεμέτα ⁶

mvp-comment-676-1 The traditional reading, Ἰταλίαν ⁷

mvp-comment-676-2 The only worthy rival of

Ἰταλίαν

is the conjecture Ἰκαρίαν ⁸ Ἰταλίαν ⁹

mvp-comment-677-1 παγκοίνοις ¹⁰

mvp-comment-677-2

πάγκοινον ἐς χώραν

(Olympia).

mvp-comment-677-3 κόλποις ¹¹

mvp-comment-677-4 Ἐλευσι^νίας ¹² ι^ ¹³

mvp-comment-678-1 Βακχεῦ ¹⁴ ὦ ¹⁵ ὁ ¹⁶ ματρόπολιν ¹⁷

mvp-comment-678-2 ματρόπολιν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-679-1 L has ὑγρὸν … ῥέεθρον ¹⁹ ὑγρῶν … ῥεέθρων ²⁰ ῥεῖθρον ²¹ ὑγρόν ²² παρά ²³ ῥεῖθρον ²⁴ ὑγρόν ²⁵

mvp-comment-679-2 Ἰσμηνοῦ ²⁶

mvp-comment-680-1 ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δρ. ²⁷

mvp-comment-681-1 The general sense is: ‘and on the heights of Parnassus thou holdest thy revels by night amid the Corycian Nymphs, who brandish torches.’

mvp-comment-681-2 διλόφου πέτρας ²⁸

mvp-comment-681-3 By ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας ²⁹

mvp-comment-681-4 λιγνύς ³⁰ στέροψ ³¹

mvp-comment-681-5 ὄπωπε ³²

mvp-comment-681-6 Κωρύκιαι … Νύμφαι ³³

mvp-comment-681-7 The simple transposition, στείχουσι νύμφαι ³⁴

mvp-comment-682-1 Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα ³⁵

mvp-comment-683-1 καί σε Νυσαίων ³⁶

mvp-comment-684-1 κισσήρεις ὄχθαι ³⁷

mvp-comment-684-2 for the fact was noticed in antiquity (schol. on Aratus Phaenom. 33). Thus Pind. P. 1. 64

ὄχθαις ὕπο Ταϋγέτου

: Eur. Suppl. 655

Ἰσμήνιον πρὸς ὄχθον

.—The

κισσός

was to Dionysus what the

δάφνη

was to Apollo. The crowning with ivy (

κίσσωσις

) was a regular incident of his festivals: he was called

κισσεύς, κισσοκόμης, κισσοχαίτης

. Cp. Alciphron Epist. 2. 3 § 10

μὰ τὸν Διόνυσον καὶ τοὺς Βακχικοὺς αὐτοῦ κισσούς

. F. 3. 767

hedera est gratissima Baccho.

mvp-comment-685-1 πολυστάφυλος ³⁸

mvp-comment-685-2 πέμπει ³⁹

mvp-comment-686-1 The words ἀμβρότων ἐπέων ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-686-2 εὐαζόντων ⁴¹

mvp-comment-687-1 τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν ⁴² τάν ⁴³ ἐκ ⁴⁴ ὑπερτάταν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-688-1 κεραυνίᾳ ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-689-1 ἔχεται ἐπὶ βιαίας νόσου ⁴⁷ ὑπό ⁴⁸ ἔχεται ⁴⁹ βιαι^ας ⁵⁰ ἀμὰ ⁵¹ πόλις ⁵²

mvp-comment-689-2 πάνδαμος ⁵³

mvp-comment-690-1 μολεῖν ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-690-2 καθαρσίῳ ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-690-3 κλιτύν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-690-4 πορθμόν ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-690-5 στονόεντα ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-691-1 πνειόντων ⁵⁹ πνειόντων ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-691-2 Other conjectures are: (1) ἰὼ πύρπνων ἄστρων χοραγὲ καὶ νυχίων ⁶¹ πῦρ πνεόντων χοραγὲ καὶ νυχίων ⁶² χοραγὲ ἄστρων ⁶³

mvp-comment-691-3 originally preceded

χοραγέ

. Neglect of elision is frequent in L: thus, to take one play only, the O. C. supplies these examples: 266

τἀμά· ἐπεὶ

: 694

ἔστιν δὲ οἶον

: 883

τάδε. ὕβρις

: 915

κύρια ὦδε

: 1026

θηρῶντα ἡ τύχη

: 1210

ἴσθι, ἐάνπερ

. The deletion of καί ⁶⁴ νυχίων ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-691-4 χοράγ’ ἄστρων ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-691-5 νυχίων φθεγμάτων ⁶⁷

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

1115. mvp-comment-644-1 In the excitement of a desperate hope caused by the late repentance of Creon, the chorus break forth into a joyous invocation to Dionysus, accompanied with dancing or gesticulation, as appears in comparing the similar canticle in Aj. 693, where the chorus are under the excitement of a similar delusive expectation. Cp. Tr. 205-224. The Dionysiac worship, of which the tragic poet is a votary, is associated with the mystic hopes which Creon denied, supr. 780.

1115. mvp-comment-644-2 Glory of Semele, child of Zeus, Thou that tendest Campania And rulest in Eleusis' mystic vale, Dwelling, where thy votaries dwell, In Thebes by Ismenus' waters, Presiding o'er the dragon's brood: Seen o'er the forked height By the pitchy flame, Where move the Bacchic nymphs of Corycus, Where is the Castalian fount: And ushered on thy way to visit Thebe's roads By the ivy-clad banks of Nysean mountains, And the bloomy shore with many a cluster, While the shout of the immortal strain resounds. Thebè thou honourest far above all cities, Thou and thy mother whom the lightning glorified. And now that our whole multitude Is overtaken by misfortune dire, Appear with healing tread, Over the Parnassian steep Or groaning narrow sea. Thou that leadest up the dance of the fire-breathing stars, Visitant of nightly voices, Son born of Zeus, Rise with thy attendant Maenads, Who, all night long. Celebrate thee with dances, Iacchus, the dispenser of their joys.

1115. mvp-comment-644-3 This ode has been variously arranged. The arrangement in the text is that of Böckh, with a few slight changes. a'. First strophe and antistrophe. ICICIC lululuclalalclcl luclcla 5----- 다 !トーートしcita ICICーートト β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. トCICICに The prevailing rhythm is logaoedic, with frequent syncope (or antispastic movement), long syllables in thesi, and occasional resolution both of arsis and thesis. Each strophe begins with an anacrusis.

1115. mvp-comment-644-4 πολυώνυμε Schol. ὦ Διόνυσε· οἱ μὲν γὰρ Βάκχον, οἱ δὲ Ιακχον, οἱ δὲ Λύαιον, οἱ δὲ Εὔιον, οἱ δὲ Διθύραμβον αὐτὸν καλοῦσιν. Bacchus is claimed as a Theban God, and at the same time, the wide extent of his dominion is celebrated.

1115. mvp-comment-644-5 ἄγαλμα Delight, or Glory. The word expresses the pride taken by a mother in her child. Plat. Tim. 37 D, τῶν ἀϊδίων θεῶν γεγονὸς ἄγαλμα: Eur. Suppl. 370, ματέρος ἄγαλμα.

1118. mvp-comment-645-1 κλυτὰν .. Ἰταλίαν The mention of Italy is singular, but hardly more so than that of Naxos in connection with Dionysus. The aim of the song being to celebrate the universality of his empire, it is not wonderful that allusion should be made to Italy, quam gravidae fruges et Bacchi Massicus humor Implevere, Virg. Georg. 2. 143. And if Italy was mentioned by Sophocles in the Triptolemus in connection with Demeter, why not here in connection with Bacchus? Fr. 540 N. Ut.. Sophocles poeta in fabula Triptolemo frumentum Italicum ante cuncta laudaverit, ad verbum translata sententia Et fortunatam Italiam frumento canere candido. Plin. H. N. 18. 12. Some edd. substitute Ἰκαρίαν, an eastward deme of Attica, and a seat of Dionysiac worship.

1120. mvp-comment-646-1 In the all-receiving bosom of Eleusinian Demeter;' i. e. In the vale of Eleusis, where the mystae from all parts of Greece were received. Cp. Pind. Ol. 14. 23, κόλποις Πίσας: Hdt. 4.99, κόλπου . . ἀγομένου τῆς γῆς ταύτης, and esp. Aristoph. Ran. 373, χώρει νυν πᾶς ἀνδρείως | ἐς τοὺς εὐανθεῖς κόλπους | λειμώνων, κ.τ.λ.

1123-1124. mvp-comment-647-1 παρ' ὑγρὸν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρον] Some have preferred, chiefly for metrical reasons, the Triclinian reading παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν .. ῥεέθρων, for which compare supr. 1. 966.

1125. mvp-comment-648-1 ἐπί Cp. Τr. 356, τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς.

1126-1127. mvp-comment-649-1 στέροψ.. λιγνύς The blinding torch-flame hath beheld. There is an opposition of sound rather than of sense in στέροψ ὄπωπε. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 226, ὦ λάμπουσα πέτρα πυρὸς | δικόρυφον σέλας ὑπὲρ ἄκρων | Βακχείων Διονύσου, where the succeeding lines also deserve to be compared with the description of Mount Parnassus in this passage. The fabled fire on Mount Parnassus was commonly explained of the torches of the Maenads, and seems to have been so understood by Sophocles.

1128. mvp-comment-650-1 Κωρύκιαι So named from the Corycian cave on Mount Parnassus. Aesch. Eum. 22, σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα, | κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφαί.

1130. mvp-comment-651-1 Κασταλίας.. νᾶμα (1) Sc.

1130. mvp-comment-651-2 ὄπωπέ σε, or (2) ἔνθα Κασταλίας νᾶμα, sc. ἐστί. Probably the latter (2).

1131-1136. mvp-comment-652-1 Νυσαίων. ἀγυιάς Bacchus is imagined as leaving the throng of revellers, who follow in his train along the Nysaean slopes in Euboea, and as crossing the sounding frith' (1. 1145) to visit the streets of Thebes.

1133. mvp-comment-653-1 χλωρά Lustrous with fresh green. The word suggests the richness of young vegetation, especially of the vine. See Essay on Language p. 103. Stephanus in Νύσαι .. δεκάτη ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ, ἔνθα διὰ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τὴν ἄμπελόν φασιν ἀνθεῖν, καὶ τὸν βότρυν πεπαίνεσθαι.

1134. mvp-comment-654-1 By adding *τῶν in this line, and reading ῥεῖθρον in 1124, we obtain ーーム, a diiambus followed by an epitritus, and a trochee or spondee.

1140. mvp-comment-655-1 νύν, νῦν, as in Pindar.

1141. mvp-comment-656-1 έχεται Cp. Plat. Legg. 10. 887 Ε, ἐν συμφοραῖς παντοίαις ἐχομένων.

1141. mvp-comment-656-2 ἐπὶ νόσου] See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27.

1143. mvp-comment-657-1 μολεῖν

Der Inf. giebt etwas kindlich frommes.

Wecklein.

1146-1147. mvp-comment-658-1 πῦρ πνεόντων *ἄστρων χοραγέ*] Cp. Ar. Ran. 341-342, Ιακχ᾽, ὦ Ιακχε, νυκτέρου τελετῆς φωσφόρος ἀστήρ. Bacchus is lord and leader of the sights and sounds of night. The stars in their courses hold revel with his torchbearers: the voices of the night are wakened by their shouting. This is more probable than an allusion to the mystical notion that Bacchus was an impersonation of the sun. I have ventured to retain καί, transposing the two preceding words and scanning πνεόντων as a spondee by synizesis.

1146-1147. mvp-comment-658-2 πυρπνεόντων may be taken as a compound. Cp. Hom. Il. 7. 310, άελπτεοντες.