Sófocles Antigone 1155

Table of Contents

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Card By Turn
← Previous Next →
¡Vecinos de Tebas y de la mansión de Anfión! Nunca más yo admiraré como feliz ni compadeceré como desgraciado a ningún hombre mientras le dure la vida; porque la suerte ensalza y la suerte abate sin cesar al hombre feliz y al hombre desgraciado. Y no hay quien adivine lo que le ha de suceder a ningún mortal. Porque Creonte era digno de envidia, a mi parecer, cuando después de haber libertado de enemigos a esta tierra cadmea y apoderarse del mando supremo de la región, la gobernaba y vivía lleno de alegría por la generosa indole índole de sus hijos. Mas ahora se ha desvanecido toda esa dicha; pues cuando el hombre llega a perder la alegria alegría y el placer, en mi concepto ya no vive, y lo considero como un cadáver animado. Amontona, pues, riquezas en tu casa, si te place, y vive fastuosamente con el aparato de un tirano; que si con todo eso te falta la alegria alegría, todo lo demás, comparado con el placer, no lo compraría yo para el hombre por la sombra del humo.

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)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον 1 στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
1150
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταῤῥέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτὸς 2 , ὡς ἐμοὶ, ποτὲ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα·
1155
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν,
εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
1160
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῇ, τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
οὐχ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1155 focus
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ·
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ Τύχη καταῤῥέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα, τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽, ἀεί·
1135
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτὸς, ὡς ἐμοὶ, ποτὲ,
σώσας μὲν ἔχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβὼν δὲ χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
1140
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῇν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν ·
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων, ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
1145
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλουτεῖ τε γὰρ κατ' οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῇ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων, ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ·
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὁποῖον στάντ’ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ’ αἰνέσαιμ’ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ·
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ’ ἀεί,
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ’ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ’ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ’ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ’ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ’ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ’ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁπηιοῦν στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ·
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
ηὔθυνε θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾶι·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὔτι φήμ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῆι
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1140
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπων βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἄν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ, καὶ τύχη καταῤῥέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα, τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί.
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1145
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα·
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ.
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1150
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι, νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1155
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλῃ, μέγα
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων, ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 1155 focus
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 1155 focus
Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾶι·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,
καὶ ζῇ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῆι
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Translations (10)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1155 focus
Die ihr des Kadmos und Amphions Haus umwohnt,
kein Menschenleben, wenn es wohl steht, würd' ich mir
1
nicht loben, und nicht tadeln doch ein ander Mal.
1100
Das Glück ja hebet und das Glück stürzt jederzeit
den Hochbeglückten und den Unglückseligen;
und was bestimmt ist, kündet kein Wahrsager uns.
Denn Kreon war einst, denk' ich mir, beneidenswerth,
als er vom Feind errettet dies Kadmeierland;
1105
in sich vereinend dieses Staats gesammte Macht
regiert' er, blühend in der Kinder edler Saat.
Und jetzt — dahin ist Alles. Wenn die Freuden erst
der Mensch sich hingeopfert, nicht mehr denk' ich dann
er lebe, sondern acht' ihn für lebendig todt.
1110
Denn habe Reichthums Fülle, wenn du willst, im Haus,
und leb' in stolzem Fürstenscheine: mangelt dir
dabei die Freude, kauf' um Rauches Schatten nicht
dem Menschen ich das Andre, gegen Freud' und Lust.
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1155 focus
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)) — 1155 focus
Neighbours of Cadmus and Amphion’s halls,
1155
No life of mortal, howsoe’er it stand,
Shall once have praise or censure from my mouth;
Since human happiness and human woe
Come even as fickle Fortune smiles or lours;
And none can augur aught from what we see.
1160
Creon erewhile to me was enviable,
Who saved our Thebè from her enemies;
Then, vested with supreme authority,
Ruled her aright; and flourish’d in his home
With noblest progeny. What hath he now?
1165
Nothing. For when a man is lost to joy,
I count him not to live, but reckon him
A living corse. Riches belike are his,
Great riches and the appearance of a King;
But if no gladness come to him, all else
1170
Is shadow of a vapour, weighed with joy.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1155 focus
Ihr, die ihr Kadmos' und Amphions Haus umwohnt!
1120
Kein Menschenleben gibt es, wie's auch stehen mag,
Das ich hinfort je preisen oder schelten will.
Erhöht das Glück doch, stürzt doch allezeit das Glück
Den Reichbegabten und den Unglückseligen,
Und was bevorsteht, kündet uns kein Seher an.
1125
Auch Kreon, dünkt mich, war beneidenswerth zuvor,
Er, der vom Feind befreite dies Kadmeiervolk,
Hierauf des Landes ungetheilte Macht empfing
Und herrschte, von der Kinder edler Saat umblüht.
Und nun dahin ist Alles. Wenn die Freude sich
1130
Treulos dem Menschen abgewandt, so glaub' ich nicht,
Er lebe, lebend acht' ich ihn des Todes Raub.
Denn hab' im Hause, wenn du willst, der Güter viel,
Und leb' in stolzem Herrscherglanz: wenn dir dabei
Die Freude mangelt, kauf' ich dir das Andere
1135
Nicht um des Rauches Schatten ab für frohen Muth.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1155 focus
Chorus.
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 1155 focus
Habitantes del palacio de Cadmo y de Anfion, á ningún ser viviente se puede considerar como dichoso ni como desgraciado, mientras existe; porque sin cesar la voluble Fortuna nos levanta ó nos abate, nos envía la prosperidad ó nos sume en la desgracia, sin que haya adivino que pueda leexnos lo porvenir por lo presente. Creonte era, á mi juicio, digno ha poco de ser envidiado; él había librado de sus enemigos á esta tierra de Cadmo; él reinaba prósperamente como señor absoluto del pais; una prole generosa aumentaba su gloria... hoy todo ha desaparecido. Que el hombre cuando picrde la dicha, ante mis ojos ya no vive; para mi es un cadáver que respira. En vano posees en tu palacio inmensos tesoros; el regio fausto en vano te circunda. Si has perdido la alegría, todo lo demás, comparado con ella, es menos que humo, menos que vana sombra.
German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 1155 focus
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 1155 focus
Dwellers by the house of Cadmus and of Amphion, there is no estate of mortal life that I would ever praise or blame as settled. Fortune raises and Fortune humbles the lucky or unlucky from day to day, and 1160 no one can prophesy to men concerning those things which are established. For Creon was blest once, as I count bliss; he had saved this land of Cadmus from its foes; he was clothed with sole dominion in the land ; he reigned, the glorious sire of princely children. And now all hath been lost. For when a man hath forfeited his pleasures, I count him not as living—I hold him but a breathing corpse. Heap up riches in thy house, if thou wilt; live in kingly state; yet, if there be no 1170 gladness therewith, I would not give the shadow of a vapour for all the rest, compared with joy.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1155 focus
Inhabitants of Thebes, the honour'd seat
1155
Of Cadmus and Amphion, such the life
1155
Of man, so unassured his fickle state,
I cannot prize it high, nor would dispraise:
For fortune ever raises or casts down..
The happy, and th' unhappy, at her will,
And no man can divine the fates to come.
1160
Such was the state of Creon, it from me
Excited admiration; from its foes
He saved this land, o'er all its realms obtain'd
The monarchy, reign'd sole with sovereign pow'r,
And flourish'd in a noble race of sons.
Now all is lost: for when the joys of life
1165
Man knows no more, may he be said to live?
He breathes, but hath not life. Nay, let his house
Be stored with riches, let a monarch's pomp
Attend him; yet 'midst these if heart-felt joy
Be absent, all the rest I would not prize,
1170
Nor purchase with the shadow e'en of smoke.
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1155-1260 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-132-1 ἀνθ’ οὗ 1

mvp-comment-132-2 τὸ γὰρ | πρᾶγμ’ 2 γάρ 3

mvp-comment-133-1 εὖ γε στοχάζει 4 στοχάζει 5 ἀποφράγνυσαι 6 στοχάζομαι 7

mvp-comment-133-2 κἀποφράγνυσαι 8

mvp-comment-133-3 τὸ πρᾶγμα 9

mvp-comment-134-1 δηλοῖς δ’ ὥς τι ς. 10

mvp-comment-135-1 τὰ δεινά 11 γάρ 12

mvp-comment-135-2 ποτ 13

mvp-comment-135-3 ἀπαλλαχθείς 14

mvp-comment-136-1 καὶ δή 15

mvp-comment-136-2 θάψας 16 κἀπί 17

mvp-comment-136-3 διψίαν 18

mvp-comment-136-4 κἀφαγιστεύσας 19 ἃ χρή 20

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.

236. mvp-comment-145-1 That I cannot suffer anything but what is fated for me. Cp. Aesch. S. c. Τ. 263, πείσομαι τὸ μόρσιμον.

238. mvp-comment-146-1 τὸ γάρ For the light ending, cp infr. 327, 409, Ο. Τ. 553-554. τὸ δὲ | πάθημ᾽ ὁποῖον φῇς παθεῖν δίδασκέ με, ib. 995-996, 1056-1057.

239. mvp-comment-147-1 ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν i. e. τὸν δρῶντα, ὅστις ἦν, The unknown doer of the deed.

241-242. mvp-comment-148-1 (1) You aim carefully, and fence the business off from yourself all round. Some editors read τί φροιμιάζει; from Ar. Rhet. 3. 14, § 10, quoted above. But though the Scholiast of the Rhetoric says τὸ δὲ τί φροιμιάζῃ τοῦ Κρέοντός ἐστι λέγοντος, it is much more probable that the words are a separate quotation from Eur. I. T. 1162. See Cope's edition of Ar. Rhet. vol. 3. p. 175. Others explain the text (2), You lay the ground carefully and hedge your approaches closely round, as if in preparing a stance to watch for game. According to Pollux, 5, 36, στοχασμός, στοχάς, and στόχος, were terms used in describing the setting of a hunting-net: καλεῖται δ᾽ αὐτῶν (τῶν ἀρκύων) ἡ στάσις, στοιχισμός, στοίχος, στόχος, στοχὰς καὶ στοχασμός· στοχὰς δὲ καλεῖται καὶ χειροποιητά τινα οἰκοδομήματα ἐκ λίθων, ἢ ὕλης ὑπὲρ τὴν γῆν ἀναστήματα, κατὰ χρείαν τῆς τῶν δικτύων ἐξ ἴσου στάσεως, εἴ τι κοῖλον εἴη περὶ τὸ ἀρκύστατον.

243. mvp-comment-149-1 τὰ δεινὰ .. πολύν The reply, as often elsewhere, refers to the first part of the previous speech. Cp. O. Т. 361. The frigid tautology belongs to the character of the Φύλαξ.

244. mvp-comment-150-1 εἰτ᾿ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει And be off with you. The Scholiast acutely remarks that these impatient words are intended to hold out the hope of impunity, which is withdrawn again in the angry threats of ll. 305, foll.

246. mvp-comment-151-1 Some one has buried the corpse and has disappeared, after not only sprinkling dry dust upon the flesh, but adding all due rites. This last refers to the libation. Cp. supr. 196-197: infr. 430-431. The surprise was increased by observing the completeness of the act. There is a stress on the participles. Essay on Language p. 75 β, 94, 4.