Sófocles Antigone 30

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Creonte

162 ¡Ciudadanos! Los dioses al fin han enderezado los asuntos de la ciudad, después de haberla agitado en revuelta confusión. Y yo os mandé por mis emisarios que os reunierais aquí, separadamente de todos los demás, porque sé que siempre respetasteis como es debido las órdenes del trono de Layo, lo mismo que luego, cuando Edipo regía la ciudad; y después que él cayó, persististeis también en vuestra constante fidelidad alrededor de sus hijos. Mas cuando éstos, por doble fatalidad, han muerto en un mismo día al herir y ser heridos con sus propias y mancilladas manos, quedo yo en poder del imperio y del trono, por ser el pariente más próximo de los muertos.

Difícil es conocer la índole, los sentimientos y opinión de un hombre antes de que se le vea en el ejercicio de la soberanía y aplicación de la ley. Pues a mí, quien gobernando a una ciudad no se atiene a los mejores consejos, sino que procura que el miedo tenga amordazada la lengua, ése me parece ser el peor gobernante, ahora y siempre; y a quien estime a un amigo más que a su propia patria, no lo estimo en nada. Pues yo, juro por Júpiter, que todo lo tiene presente siempre, nunca ocultará el daño que vea amenace la salvación de los ciudadanos, ni concederé mi amistad a ningún hombre enemigo de la patria, porque sẻ sé que ésta es la que nos conserva, y que si la goberna · mos gobernamos con recto timón, logramos amigos.

Con estas leyes voy a procurar el fomento de la ciudad, y conformes con ellas, he promulgado a los ciudadanos las referentes a los hijos de Edipo. A Eteocles, que murió luchando por la ciudad después de hacer prodigios con su lanza, que se le entierre en un sepulcro y se le hagan todos los sacrificios expiatorios que deben acompañar a los manes de los valientes que bajan a los infiernos. Pero al hermano de éste, a Polinices me refiero, que volviendo de su destierro quería abrasar por todos lados a la patria y a los dioses tutelares, y quería además beberse la sangre de su hermano y hacer esclavos a los ciudadanos, para ése, he mandado pregonar por toda la ciudad que nadie le honre con sepultura ni le llore; sino que lo dejen insepulto y su cuerpo expuesto ignominiosamente ignominiosamente a las aves y a los perros para que lo devoren. Tal es mi determinación; pues nunca de mí alcanzarán los malos el honor que se debe a los hombres de bien. Pero cualquiera que sea el que haga bien a la ciudad, ése, lo mismo vivo que muerto, será honrado por mí.

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)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι ¹ πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν, εἰσορμῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

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Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 30.mvp-line-30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χαρὰν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 30.mvp-line-30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

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Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 30 focus

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.

30

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 30 focus

ISMENE

Wohl, dünkt es dir, so gehe; aber wisse, dafs

du thöricht gehst, ob ächte Freundin auch dem Freund.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 30 focus

Creon

162 Viri, civitatem hanc, quam multis quassarunt fluctibus, iam in tuto di erexerunt denuo: vos autem per muntios iussi seorsum ab omnibus convenire, quia vos movi cum Laii imperium sedulo semper coluisse, tum regnante Oedipo, illoque exstincto etiam erga eius gnatos in eadem fide constantianimo permansisse. Quando igitur illi gemino fato una die periere, mutuis ictibus peremti nefaria manu, ego iam imperium omne et solium obtineo, ut qui defunctis cognatus sum proximus. Vix autem virum quempiam noris quo sit ingenio, quasolertia, quidve consilio valeat, antequam in administratione rei publicae et legum tritum eum videris. Quicumque enim, civitatem universam regens, non optimis adhaeret consiliis, sed formidine aliqua linguam comprimit, is pessimus esse et nunc et dudum mihi videtur: et quicumque patria sua potiorem iudicat amicum, illum nullo in loco pono. Ego enim (testor Iovem omnia semper cernentem) silere nollem, damnum si viderem ingruere civibus loco salutis; neque umquam, si quis patriae hostis sit, eius viri amicitiam amplectar: quippe compertum est mihi, patriam servare quoque, quos, ipsa salva, amicos paramus. Talibus ego placitis obsecutus hanc augebo urbem, nuncque horum adfinia civibus edicere iussi, circa Oedipi filios: Etooclem quidem, qui pro hac urbe pugnando, re fortissime gesta, periit, ut condant sepulchro, omnibusque condecorent inferiis, quas strenuorum virorum Manibus ferre solemne est; illius autem fratrem , Polynicen dico, qui exsul huc reversus, urbem patriam et deos patrios flammis abolere voluit, voluitque sanguinem haurire cognatum, civesque suos in servitutem abducere, hunc civibus interdictum est ne quis tumu« lo mandet, neque defleat, sed sinant insepultum, alitibus canibusque praedam, visu foedissimam. Haec mea est sententia, neque a me unquam honorem improbi consequentur práe iustis, sed quicunqne benevolus huic urbi est, mortuus et vivus pariter a me quidem honorabitur.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 30 focus

CREON
Enter CREON . 162

My friends, the noble vessel of our State,

After sore shaking her, the Gods have sped

On a smooth course once more. I have called you hither,

By special messengers selecting you

From all the city, first, because I knew you
165

Aye loyal to the throne of Laïus;

Then, both while Oedipus gave prosperous days,

And since his fall, I still beheld you firm

In sound allegiance to the royal issue.

Now since the pair have perished in an hour,
170

Twinned in misfortune, by a mutual stroke

Staining our land with fratricidal blood,

All rule and potency of sovereign sway,

In virtue of next kin to the deceased,

Devolves on me. But hard it is to learn
175

The mind of any mortal or the heart,

Till he be tried in chief authority.

Power shows the man. For he who when supreme

Withholds his hand or voice from the best cause,

Being thwarted by some fear, that man to me

Appears, and ever hath appeared, most vile.
180

He too hath no high place in mine esteem,

Who sets his friend before his fatherland.

Let Zeus whose eye sees all eternally

Be here my witness. I will ne’er keep silence

When danger lours upon my citizens
185

Who looked for safety, nor make him my friend

Who doth not love my country. For I know

Our country carries us, and whilst her helm

Is held aright we gain good friends and true.

Following such courses ’tis my steadfast will
190

To foster Thebè’s greatness, and therewith

In brotherly accord is my decree

Touching the sons of Oedipus. The man—

Eteocles I mean—who died for Thebes

Fighting with eminent prowess on her side,

Shall be entombed with every sacred rite
195

That follows to the grave the lordliest dead.

But for his brother, who, a banished man,

Returned to devastate and burn with fire

The land of his nativity, the shrines

Of his ancestral gods, to feed him fat
200

With Theban carnage, and make captive all

That should escape the sword—for Polynices,

This law hath been proclaimed concerning him:

He shall have no lament, no funeral,

But he unburied, for the carrion fowl
205

And dogs to eat his corse, a sight of shame.

Such are the motions of this mind and will.

Never from me shall villains reap renown

Before the just. But whoso loves the State,

I will exalt him both in life and death.
210

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 39 focus

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige,¹

Hier, lösend oder bindend, uns zum Frommen thun?
40

Antigone.

Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene.

Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone.

Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene.

Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone.

Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du
45

Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n!²

Ismene.

Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone.

Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Ismene.

Weh mir! Bedenk', o Schwester, wie der Vater uns,

Mit Haß und Hohn belastet, ruhmlos unterging,
50

Nachdem er selbst um Gräuel, die er selbst enthüllt,

Der Augen Sterne sich zerriß mit eigner Hand;

Wie dann die Mutter, Mutter ihm und Weib zugleich,

Schmachvoll mit frevlem Strange sich das Leben nahm;

Zum dritten, wie die Brüder beid' an Einem Tag
55

Im Wechselmord sich ein gemeinsam Todesloos,

Die Armen, schufen, Einer durch des Andern Hand!

Wir sind allein jezt übrig; du bedenke denn,

Wie schmählich wir verdürben, wenn wir wider Necht

Der Herrscher Ausspruch und Gewalt mißachteten.
60

Wohl mußt du doch erwägen, daß wir Frauen sind,

Und nicht geschaffen, Männern kühn im Kampf zu steh'n,

Dann aber, daß wir, weil beherrscht von Stärkeren,

Hier folgen müssen und sogar in Härterem.

Drum will ich jene, die der Erde Schooß verbirgt,³
65

Anfleh'n um Nachsicht, weil Gewalt mich bindet hier,

Und ihm gehorchen, dem die Macht geworden ist;

Denn Unverstand ist's, über seine Kraft zu thun.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 30 focus

Chorus
100

O sir ! to younger hands commit the task.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 30 focus

CORO

117 Despues de haber amenazado nuestros hogares, y de haber corrido jadeantes en derredor de las siete puertas, con sus lanzas ávidas de exterminio, huyeron antes de abrevarse en nuestra sangre, y de que el fuego abrasador invadiera las alturas de nuestras fortalezas; de tal manera la voz rugiente de Marte resonó en torno de ellos, causando el espanto del dragón enemigo. 127 Júpiter que abomina el orgullo y la jactancia, viendo á los argivos precipitarse á modo de impetuoso torrente, ensoberbecidos con las doradas armas, que movían con estruendo, fulminó su rayo y aniquiló al guerrero que ya se preparaba á dar el grito de ¡victoria! desde lo alto de nuestras murallas.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 30 focus

KREON

Ihr Männer, wärs die Stadt allein, die haben

Nachdem in grofser Fluth sie die geschüttert ,

Nun wiederum gestaltet unsre Götter.
170

Euch aber rief aus zwei Ursachen ich

Aus den Gesammten, einmal, weil ich weiss,

Ihr achtet überhaupt von Lajos Thron die Herrschaft,

Dann auch, als Oedipus die Stadt errichtet,

Und nachher untergieng, seid treugesinnt
175

Geblieben ihr den Kindern jener Eltern,

Da nun aus doppeltem Verhängnis diese

An einem Tag’ umkamen, schlagend und

Geschlagen in der eigenhändgen Schande,

Hab’ ich die Kraft alsb und Thron durchaus,
180

Aus Folge des Geschlechts von den Gestorbnen.

Doch nur mit solchen, die Recht und Befehl gewohnt sind,

Kann einer, in der Seel’ und Sinnesart und Meinungen,

Verstehn sich, allenfalls, mit andern schwerlich.

Mir nemlich scheint, wenn einer vornehm ist,
185

Und nicht sich hält im höchsten Sinn’, hingegen

In einer Furcht verschlofsne Zunge führet,

Ein schlechtes Leben das, jezt und von jeher.

Und wenn für gröfser, als sein Vaterland,

Das liebste jemand hält, der gilt mir ganz nichts.
190

Ich nemlich, weiss es Zevs, der alles schauet, allzeit,

Ich werd’ es nicht verschweigen, seh’ ich Irrung

Den Städtern gehen gegen ihre Wohlfahrt, nicht,

Wenn auf dem Grund hier ein Verdrofsner ist,

Den mir zum Freunde machen, denn ich weiß,
195

Der hält zusammen, und so wir auf diesem

Recht fahren, mögen Freunde wir gewinnen.

Nach solcher Sazung will die Stadt ich fördern.

Dermalen aber hab’ ich Aehnliches verkündet

Den Städtern wegen Oedipus Geschlecht.
200

Eteokles wohl, der kämpfend für die Stadt ist

Gestorben, all anordnend mit dem Speer’,

Ihn deket mit dem Grab’ und fertiget,

Was nur gehört, den besten Todten drunten.

Doch jenem, der sein Blutsverwandter ist,
205

Polynikes, der das väterliche Land,

Der Heimath Götter, kommend von der Flucht,

Vom Gipfel an, mit Feuer, wollte stürzen,

Sich waiden an verwandtem Blut und diese

Wegführen in Gefangenschaft, von diesem
210

Sag’ ich und in der Stadt ists ausgerufen,

Dafs keiner ihn begrabe, keiner traure,

Dafs unbegraben er gelassen sey, zu schaun

Ein Mahl, zerfleischt von Vögeln und von Hunden.

Difs ist mein Sinn und niemals werden mir
215

Die Schlimmen mehr geehrt seyn, als die Guten.

Doch wer es gut meint mit der Stadt, todt oder

Lebendig, immer sey er gleich von mir geschäzet.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 30 focus

Creon

162 Sirs, the vessel of our State, after being tossed on wild waves, hath once more been safely steadied by the gods: and ye, out of all the folk, have been called apart by my summons, because I knew, first of all, how true and constant was your reverence for the royal power of Larus; how, again, when Oedipus was ruler of our land, and when he had perished, your steadfast 170 loyalty still upheld their children. Since, then, his sons have fallen in one day by a twofold doom,—each smitten by the other, each stained with a brother's blood,—I now possess the throne and all its powers, by nearness of kinship to the dead.

No man can be fully known, in soul and spirit and mind, until he hath been seen versed in rule and lawgiving. For if any, being supreme guide of the State, 180 cleaves not to the best counsels, but, through some fear, keeps his lips locked, I hold, and have ever held, him most base and if any makes a friend of more account than his fatherland, that man hath no place in my regard, For I—be Zeus my witness, who sees all things always—would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, coming to the citizens; nor would I ever decm the country’s foe a friend to myself; remembering this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that 190 only while she prospers in our voyage can we make true friends.

Such are the rules by which I guard this city’s greatness, And in accord with them is the edict which I have now published to the folk touching the sons of Oedipus ;—that Eteocles, who hath fallen fighting for our city, in all renown of arms, shall be entombed, and crowned with every rite that follows the noblest dead to their rest. But for his brother, Polyneices,—who 200 came back from exile, and sought to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the shrines of his fathers’ gods,—sought to taste of kindred blood, and to lead the remnant into slavery ;—touching this man, it hath been proclaimed to our people that none shall grace him with sepulture or lament, but leave him unburied, a corpse for birds and dogs to eat, a ghastly sight of shame. Such the spirit of my dealing; and never, by deed of mine, shall the wicked stand in honour before the just ; but whoso hath good will to Thebes, he shall be 210 honoured of me, in his life and in his death.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 30 focus

Creon

For gold

Thou didst it; bartering thy vile life away.

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-91-1 There is a general dramatic analogy between this speech and that of Oedipus in O. T. 216 —275. In each case a Theban king addresses Theban elders, announcing a stern decree, adopted in reliance on his own wisdom, and promulgated with haughty consciousness of power; the elders receive the decree with a submissive deference under which we can perceive traces of misgiving; and as the drama proceeds, the elders become spectators of calamities occasioned by the decree, while its author turns to them for comfort.

mvp-comment-91-2 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος . . ὑμᾶς δ’ ¹

mvp-comment-91-3 πόλεος ² πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ³

mvp-comment-91-4 The image of the State as a ship dates in Greek literature from Alcaeus (whom Horace copied, Carm. 1. 14 ), fr. 18. The ship of Alcaeus is labouring in the trough of a wild sea,—water is coming in,—the sail is torn,—the anchor will not hold:

νᾶϊ φορήμεθα σὺν μελαίνᾳ | χείμωνι μοχθεῦντες μεγάλῳ μάλα, κ.τ.λ.

It is only through Heracleides Alleg. Homer. 5 that we know the meaning of Alcaeus to have been figurative and political. Aesch. often uses the image ( Aesch. Th. 2 , Aesch. Th. 62 , Aesch. Th. 208 etc.). Creon returns to it at 189. It is peculiarly well suited to his point,—the unity of the public interest.

mvp-comment-91-5 ὤρθωσαν ⁴

mvp-comment-92-1 ἐκ πάντων ⁵ δίχα ⁶

mvp-comment-92-2 ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι ⁷ τοῦτο μέν ⁸

mvp-comment-92-3 σέβοντας ⁹

mvp-comment-92-4 θρόνων . . κράτη ¹⁰

mvp-comment-93-1 ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους ¹¹ κείνων ¹² κείνων παῖδας ¹³ ἡνίκ’ . . ὤρθου πόλιν ¹⁴ ἐπεὶ διώλετο ¹⁵ τοῦτο μέν . . τοῦτ’ αὖθις ¹⁶

mvp-comment-93-2 καί ¹⁷ καί ¹⁸

mvp-comment-93-3 ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν ¹⁹ ἐμπέδους ²⁰ ἐμπέδοις ²¹

mvp-comment-94-1 ὅτε ²²

mvp-comment-94-2 πρὸς διπλῆς μ. ²³ διπλῆς . . μίαν ²⁴

mvp-comment-94-3 παίσαντες . . πληγέντες ²⁵

mvp-comment-94-4 αὐτόχειρι … μιάσματι ²⁶

mvp-comment-95-1 ἐγὼ . . δή ²⁷

mvp-comment-95-2 κράτη ²⁸

mvp-comment-95-3 γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλ. ²⁹

mvp-comment-96-1 ἀμήχανον δέ ³⁰ δέ ³¹ δέ ³²

mvp-comment-96-2 Demosthenes, in his speech on the Embassy (343 B.C.), quotes this passage (vv. 175—190) as illustrating maxims

mvp-comment-96-3 which Aeschines had violated, though, accustomed as he had been to play tritagonists' parts, he ought to have known them by heart (or. 19 § 247).

mvp-comment-97-1 ψυχήν ³³ φρόνημα ³⁴ γνώμην ³⁵

mvp-comment-98-1 ἀρχαῖς ³⁶ νόμοισιν ³⁷

mvp-comment-98-2 ἐντριβής ³⁸

mvp-comment-98-3 φανῇ ³⁹

mvp-comment-99-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ ⁴⁰ γάρ ⁴¹ πᾶσαν … πόλιν ⁴²

mvp-comment-99-2 μὴ … ἅπτεται ⁴³ ὅστις μὴ ἅπτεται ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-99-3 ἐκ φ. του ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-99-4 ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-99-5 νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-100-1 μείζον’ ⁴⁸ ἀντὶ τῆς...πάτρας ⁴⁹ ἤ ⁵⁰ μεῖζον ⁵¹

mvp-comment-100-2 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω ⁵²

mvp-comment-101-1 ἐγὼ γάρ ⁵³ γάρ ⁵⁴ τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ⁵⁵ ἴστω ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-102-1 οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-103-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ⁵⁸ ὁμοῦ ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-103-2 ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ⁶⁰ τῆς ⁶¹

mvp-comment-104-1 ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονός ⁶²

mvp-comment-104-2 ἐμαυτῷ ⁶³ φίλον ⁶⁴ θείμην ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-105-1 ἡ σῴζουσα ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-105-2 ταύτης ⁶⁷ ὀρθῆς ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-105-3 τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-105-4

εὐτυχούσῃ πολλῷ μᾶλλον διασῴζεται

. ‘Pericles Thucydidis 11. 60 Sophoclem videtur respexisse, vel eum Sophocles,’ is Dobree's remark ( Adv. 2. 37 ); but there is no adequate ground for such a view. The verbal coincidence of

ὀρθῆς

with

ὀρθουμένην

may well have been accidental. What is really common to poet and historian is the general sentiment of Periclean Athens. For another example of this, cp. O. C. 116 n.

mvp-comment-106-1 νόμοισι ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-106-2 αὔξω ⁷¹

mvp-comment-107-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε ⁷²

mvp-comment-107-2 τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου ⁷³

mvp-comment-108-1 δορί ⁷⁴ δόρει ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-109-1 τὰ πάντ’ ἐφαγνίσαι ⁷⁶ ἐπί ⁷⁷ ἐφαγνίσαι ⁷⁸ ἀφαγνίσαι ⁷⁹ ἀπό ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-110-1 τοῖς ἀρίστοις ⁸¹

mvp-comment-110-2 ἔρχεται κάτω ⁸²

mvp-comment-111-1 L has Πολυνείκην ⁸³

mvp-comment-111-2 λέγω ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-112-1 γτ=ν πατρῴαν . . καὶ θεοὺς . . πρῆσαι ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-112-2 θ. τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-112-3 κατελθών ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-112-4 γ)θέλησε μέν … ἠθέλ. δέ ⁸⁸ ἠθέλησε μὲν ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-112-5 πρῆσαι ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-112-6 κατ’ ἄκρας ⁹¹

mvp-comment-112-7 αἵματος κ. πάσασθαι ⁹²

mvp-comment-112-8 τοὺς δὲ … ἄγειν ⁹³

mvp-comment-113-1 The traditional ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ ⁹⁴ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ ⁹⁵ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι λέγω ⁹⁶ τάφῳ ⁹⁷ κτερίζειν ⁹⁸ τάφῳ ⁹⁹ κτερίζειν ¹⁰⁰ μήτε ¹⁰¹ κωκῦσαι ¹⁰² τάφῳ ¹⁰³ λέγω ¹⁰⁴ τάφῳ ¹⁰⁵ ἐκκεκ ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-114-1 ἐᾶν δ ¹⁰⁷ ἄθαπτον, αἰκισθέντ’ ἰδεῖν ¹⁰⁸ δέμας καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστόν ¹⁰⁹ αἰκισθέντ ¹¹⁰ αἰκισθέντ ¹¹¹ ἐδεστόν ¹¹² αἰκισθέν τ’, δέμας ¹¹³

mvp-comment-114-2 δέμας ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-114-3 ἰδεῖν ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-115-1 φρόνημα ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-115-2 ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ ¹¹⁷

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

162. mvp-comment-101-1 κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας Having cited us by a message sent to us all.

162. mvp-comment-101-2 κοινῷ = Inclusive. πέμψας] i. e. στείλας πομποῖσιν, as Creon expresses himself in ll. 164-165. 162-210. Creon's first error is not mere self-will, but an excessive zeal for the honour of the state, to which all private feelings must give way (183-184, 187-190). His spirit of self-assertion is however already felt, esp. in ll. 173, 191, 207-10. And the unconsciousness of one young in power is shown in the self-inculpating words in ll. 175-177. He characteristically dwells on the virtue of loyalty (165-169, 209-210) and the crime of rebellion (199-202): and his passionate nature is betrayed by the exaggerated expression in l. 208. Cp. O. T. 216 ff. and note. The frequent occurrence of the Ist personal pronoun is a significant feature of both these speeches.

162. mvp-comment-101-3 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος As for the state. This form of expression suits the introduction of a subject before the form of sentence is determined. πόλιν, rather than τὰ πόλεος, is the object of σείσαντες and ὤρθωσαν.

162. mvp-comment-101-4 ἀσφαλῶς Unharmed, = ἄνεν τοῦ σφαλῆναι,

163. mvp-comment-102-1 ὥρθωσαν Have righted the vessel of the state.

165-166. mvp-comment-103-1 τὰ Λαΐου. κράτη Knowing that you ever duly reverenced the enthroned authority of Laius. Λαΐου is governed by θρόνων κράτη taken as one word, θρόνων being added to supplement κράτη. σέβοντας and μένοντας, infr. 166, 169, are imperfects = ὅτι ἐσέβετε .. ἐμένετε,

167. mvp-comment-104-1 ὤρθου Kept on a safe course: i. e. Governed prosperously. The word recalls the happiness of the first period of Oedipus' rule. Cp. Plat. Men. P. 99 C, ᾗ οἱ πολιτικοὶ ἄνδρες χρώμενοι τὰς πόλεις ὀρθοῦσιν : Phaedr. 244 B. 168-169. ἀμφὶ .. φρονήμασιν]. Ye still remained loyal to their issue with unshaken minds. ἀμφί, Surrounding, as ready to defend. The apodosis is made to suit the latter protasis, ἐπεὶ διώλετο, and that of the former protasis, ἡνίκ' . . πόλιν (viz. ἐκείνῳ ὁμοίως πειθομένους οι the like), is thus absorbed.

167. mvp-comment-104-2 κείνων . . παῖδας i. e. Sons of Oedipus and grandsons of Laius.

172. mvp-comment-105-1 αὐτόχειρι Fratricidal. See Essay on Language p. 91.

174. mvp-comment-106-1 γένους κατ᾿ ἀγχιστεῖα By privilege of being nearest in kindred (ὡς ἀγχιστεύων) to the dead. Cp. πρωτεία, etc.

175. mvp-comment-107-1 παντὸς ἀνδρός Of any man, and therefore of me.

176. mvp-comment-108-1 ψυχήν. . φρόνημα.. γνώμην As observed in the Essay on Language pp. 91-3, the opposition between these words is chiefly formal. So far as there is any difference between them, ψυχήν is mind, or nature, φρόνημα, spirit, or way of thinking, (cp. infr. 207), and γνώμην, judgment or meaning.

176-177. mvp-comment-109-1 πρὶν ἂν ἀρχαῖς.. φανῇ “Until he be seen in his true colours through being tried in office and administration.' According to the saying of Bias, ἀρχὴ τὸν ἄνδρα δείξει (Arist. Eth. Nic. 5. 1. 16). There is an allusion to the detection of spurious coin through wear. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 390-392, κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόπον | τρίβῳτε καὶ προσβολαῖς | μελαμπαγὴς πέλει | δικαιωθείς (where Herm. says, 'Vereor autem ne non de lapide Lydio loquatur poeta, sed aes adulterinum dicat, quod usu tritum amisso falso splendore cognoscitur'): Hdt. 7. 10, ὥσπερ τὸν χρυσὸν τὸν ἀκήρατον, αὐτὸν μὲν ἐπ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ οὐ διαγινώσκομεν, ἐπεὰν δὲ

178. mvp-comment-110-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ The connection is not strictly logical. γάρ explains not the difficulty of discerning the difference between rulers, but the essential point on which the difference turns. In setting forth this, Creon also declares the spirit of his own policy. He is feeling his way with the elders, of whose submission he is not perfectly sure, and beats about the bush before coming to the point with them. Hence he repeats the same thought in different words.

178-183. mvp-comment-111-1 The sentiment of these lines is closely parallel to Plat. Legg. 9. 856 B, ὃς ἂν ἄγων εἰς ἀρχὴν ἄνθρωπον δουλῶται μὲν τοὺς νόμους, ἑταιρείας δὲ τὴν πόλιν ὑπήκοον ποιῇ, καὶ βιαίως δὲ πᾶν τοῦτο πράττων καὶ στάσιν ἐγείρων παρανομῇ· τοῦτον δὴ διανοεῖσθαι δεῖ πάντων πολεμιώτατον ὅλῃ τῇ πόλει, τὸν δὲ κοινωνοῦντα μὲν τῶν τοιούτων μηδενί, τῶν μεγίστων δὲ μετέχοντα ἀρχῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, λεληθότα τε ταῦτα αὐτὸν ἢ μὴ λεληθότα, δειλίᾳ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ πατρίδος αὑτοῦ μὴ τιμωρούμενον, δεῖ δεύτερον ἡγεῖσθαι τὸν τοιοῦτον πολίτην κακῇ.

180. mvp-comment-112-1 ἐγκλείσας Locked up. Cp. Shakespeare, Richard II, 1. 3,

Within my mouth you have engaoled my tongue, | Doubly portcullised with my teeth and lips.

Infr. 505, εἰ μὴ γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσαι φόβος.

182. mvp-comment-113-1 μείζον᾽.. ἀντί Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. Cp. Od. 7. 216, στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον.

183. mvp-comment-114-1 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω Plat. Gorg. 456 C, οὐδαμοῦ ἂν φανῆναι, supr. 32. 184 ff. Having shown what makes the good and bad ruler, Creon declares his own intentions, first generally, and then (192 ff.) with reference to Eteocles and Polynices. γάρ implies that his opinion will be proved by his acts. In both statements (178-183, 184-190) the stress is laid on the duty of renouncing friendship with the public enemy (182-183, 187-188), which is the ground of the present edict, Polynices being presumably Creon's private friend: supr. 174.

186. mvp-comment-115-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς Menacing my people. Cp. supr. l. 10: Aesch. Prom. 1089-1090, τοιάδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ ῥιπὴ Διόθεν, | τεύχουσα φόβον, στείχει φανερῶς. For the dative, Essay on Language § 12. p. 18.

187. mvp-comment-116-1 δυσμενή χθονός Who is my country's foe. The genitive avoids the awkwardness of two datives, χθονί and ἐμαυτῷ, coming close together.

189-190. mvp-comment-117-1 She it is who preserves us, and we make friends only while she carries us in the course of public safety; i. e. The friendship that is made against the interest of the state is hollow and insecure. Cp. Thuc. 2. 60: (Pericles loq.) ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι πόλιν πλείω ξύμπασαν ὀρθουμένην ὠφελεῖν τοὺς ἰδιώτας, ἢ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον τῶν πολιτῶν εὐπραγοῦσαν, ἀθρόαν δὲ σφαλλομένην, κ.τ.λ.: Zaleuc. ap. Stob. (Mullach, p. 543), πόλις γὰρ εὖ ἀγομένη μεγίστη ὄρθωσίς ἐστι, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ πάντα ἔνι, καὶ τούτου σωζομένου πάντα σώζεται καὶ τούτου φθειρομένου πάντα διαφθείρεται: Shakespeare. King John, 3. 1, Pand.

All form is formless, order orderless, | Save what is opposite to England's love.

On the change of pronouns (ἥδε.. ταύτης), see Essay on Language § 22. p. 32. The article in τοὺς φίλους points the reference to ll. 182-183.

191. mvp-comment-118-1 τοιοίσδε νόμοισι By such principles as these. Cp. infr. 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

192. mvp-comment-119-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε i. e. In full accord with them. Cp. Plat. Rep. 4. 421 C, ἆρ᾽ οὖν .. καὶ τὸ τούτου ἀδελφὸν δύξω σοι μετρίως λέγειν; Lys. 2. 64, ἀδελφὰ τὰ βουλεύματα τοῖς ἔργοις : Ο. C. 1262, ἀδελφὰ . . τούτοισιν.

193. mvp-comment-120-1 τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οιδίπου For the pleo- 190 195 200 nastic use of the preposition, see above 150, 182, and notes.

195. mvp-comment-121-1 πάντ᾿ ἀριστεύσας δορί After proving himself in all ways the bravest in the war. For the aor., cp. Hdt. 9. 74, alib.

196. mvp-comment-122-1 τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι ‘Το add all sacred offerings.'

199. mvp-comment-123-1 θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς The gods of his race; i. e. Those honoured by the Cadmeans. The gods of the race also include the ancestors of the race. Infr. 938, θεοὶ προγενεῖς.

201. mvp-comment-124-1 πρῆσαι κατάκρας The city (γῆν = πόλιν) is thought of as the main object of the verb.

201. mvp-comment-124-2 ἠθέλησε δ' The correspondence of clauses (with μέν and δέ) is not perfect, the antithesis being due to afterthought.

201. mvp-comment-124-3 αἵματος .. πάσασθαι ‘Το repast him with blood of his own kin.' The expression suits the Epic colouring of the whole speech.

202. mvp-comment-125-1 τοὺς δέ The rest; i. e. Those not slain, as implied in the opposition το αἵματος κοινοῦ πάσασθαι. 203.

202. mvp-comment-125-2 ἐκκεκήρυκται Musgrave's correction has been generally adopted, lopted, and is probably right. The impersonal verb gives absoluteness to the expression. Wolff construes the inf. with λέγω in 198 (deleting the comma after τοῦδε), and Wecklein reads λέγω for τάφῳ. The slight corruption is probably due to a reminiscence of supr. 27.

205. mvp-comment-126-1 δέμας is accusative of limitation, and ἄθαπτον and ἐδεστόν are masculine. To leave him unburied, to have his flesh consumed by birds and dogs.

206. mvp-comment-127-1 αἰκισθέντ᾿ ἰδεῖν A spectacle of indignity. Lit. Outraged to behold. The infinitive is added after the participle, which is masculine.

207. mvp-comment-128-1 Cp. 176, ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην.