ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽ !
ἐὰν δέ τοι
Antigone. Sophocles. Berlin. 1806.
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Table of Contents
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Current edition Experimental
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (11)
Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 326 focus
ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽·
ἐὰν δέ τοι
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 326 focus
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 326.mvp-line-327 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 326.mvp-line-327 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 326 focus
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 315 focus
Herr, darf ich reden? Oder geh' ich so von dir?
315
Herr, darf ich reden? Oder geh' ich so von dir?
315
Kreon.
Gewahrst du noch nicht, wie verhaßt dein Wort mir ist?
Gewahrst du noch nicht, wie verhaßt dein Wort mir ist?
Der Wächter.
Verlezt es dir die Ohren oder dein Gemüth?
Verlezt es dir die Ohren oder dein Gemüth?
Kreon.
Wie? Nach dem Size meiner Unlust spähst du gar?
Wie? Nach dem Size meiner Unlust spähst du gar?
Der Wächter.
Der Thäter kränkte dir das Herz, und ich das Ohr.
Der Thäter kränkte dir das Herz, und ich das Ohr.
Kreon.
Was doch ein ganz durchtrieb'ner arger Schalk du bist!
320
Was doch ein ganz durchtrieb'ner arger Schalk du bist!
320
Der Wächter.
Doch nimmermehr bin ich es, der die That gethan.
Doch nimmermehr bin ich es, der die That gethan.
Kreon.
Du bist's, verkauftest deine Seel' um goldnen Lohn.
Weh!
Du bist's, verkauftest deine Seel' um goldnen Lohn.
Weh!
Der Wächter.
Schlimm wahrlich, wenn man, wähnend, auch noch Falsches wähnt!
Schlimm wahrlich, wenn man, wähnend, auch noch Falsches wähnt!
Kreon.
Ia, wizle mit dem Wahne nur; doch stellt ihr nicht
Die Thäter mir vor Augen, dann bekennt ihr noch,
325
Daß feige Habsucht überall Unsegen bringt.
(ab in den Palast.)
Ia, wizle mit dem Wahne nur; doch stellt ihr nicht
Die Thäter mir vor Augen, dann bekennt ihr noch,
325
Daß feige Habsucht überall Unsegen bringt.
Der Wächter.
Ia, fände man den Thäter! Aber ob man ihn,
Ob nicht ihn fahe denn das Glück entscheidet dies
Mich sollst du niemals wieder hier erscheinen seh'n!
Denn über all mein Hoffen, all mein Denken jezt
330
Gerettet, schuld' ich vielen Dank den Himmlischen.
(ab.)
Erste Strophe.
Ia, fände man den Thäter! Aber ob man ihn,
Ob nicht ihn fahe denn das Glück entscheidet dies
Mich sollst du niemals wieder hier erscheinen seh'n!
Denn über all mein Hoffen, all mein Denken jezt
330
Gerettet, schuld' ich vielen Dank den Himmlischen.
Der Chor.
Vieles Gewalt'ge lebt, und Nichts
Ist gewaltiger als der Mensch.
Denn selbst über die dunkele
Meerflut zieht er, vom Süd umstürmt,
335
Hinwandelnd zwischen den Wogen
Die rings umtoste Bahn.
Er müdet ab der Götter höchste,
1
Gäa, die ewige, nie zu ermattende,
Während die Pflüge sich wenden von Jahr zu Jahr,
340
Wühlt sie durch der Rosse Kraft um.
Erste Gegenstrophe.
Vieles Gewalt'ge lebt, und Nichts
Ist gewaltiger als der Mensch.
Denn selbst über die dunkele
Meerflut zieht er, vom Süd umstürmt,
335
Hinwandelnd zwischen den Wogen
Die rings umtoste Bahn.
Er müdet ab der Götter höchste,
1
Gäa, die ewige, nie zu ermattende,
Während die Pflüge sich wenden von Jahr zu Jahr,
340
Wühlt sie durch der Rosse Kraft um.
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 332-380 focus
Chorus
Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.
This power spans the sea, even when it surges white before the gales of the south-wind, and makes a path under swells that threaten to engulf him. Earth, too, the eldest of the gods, the immortal, the unwearied,
335
he wears away to his own ends, turning the soil with the offspring of horses as the plows weave to and fro year after year.
340
Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.
This power spans the sea, even when it surges white before the gales of the south-wind, and makes a path under swells that threaten to engulf him. Earth, too, the eldest of the gods, the immortal, the unwearied,
335
he wears away to his own ends, turning the soil with the offspring of horses as the plows weave to and fro year after year.
340
Chorus
The light-hearted tribe of birds
and the clans of wild beasts and the sea-brood of the deep he snares in the meshes of his twisted nets, and he leads them captive, very-skilled man. He masters by his arts
345
the beast who dwells in the wilds and roams the hills. He tames the shaggy-maned horse, putting the yoke upon its neck, and tames the tireless mountain bull.
350
The light-hearted tribe of birds
and the clans of wild beasts and the sea-brood of the deep he snares in the meshes of his twisted nets, and he leads them captive, very-skilled man. He masters by his arts
345
the beast who dwells in the wilds and roams the hills. He tames the shaggy-maned horse, putting the yoke upon its neck, and tames the tireless mountain bull.
350
Chorus
Speech and thought fast as the wind and the moods that give order to a city he has taught himself, and how to flee the arrows of the inhospitable frost under clear skies and the arrows of the storming rain.
He has resource for everything. Lacking resource in nothing he strides towards what must come. From Death alone he shall procure no escape, but from baffling diseases he has devised flights.
360
Speech and thought fast as the wind and the moods that give order to a city he has taught himself, and how to flee the arrows of the inhospitable frost under clear skies and the arrows of the storming rain.
He has resource for everything. Lacking resource in nothing he strides towards what must come. From Death alone he shall procure no escape, but from baffling diseases he has devised flights.
360
Chorus
Possessing resourceful skill, a subtlety beyond expectation he moves now to evil, now to good. When he honors the laws of the land and the justice of the gods to which he is bound by oath,
365
his city prospers. But banned from his city is he who, thanks to his rashness, couples with disgrace. Never may he share my home,
370
never think my thoughts, who does these things!
375
Possessing resourceful skill, a subtlety beyond expectation he moves now to evil, now to good. When he honors the laws of the land and the justice of the gods to which he is bound by oath,
365
his city prospers. But banned from his city is he who, thanks to his rashness, couples with disgrace. Never may he share my home,
370
never think my thoughts, who does these things!
375
Enter the Guard, on the spectators’ left, leading in Antigone.
Chorus
What marvel sent by the gods is this?—I am bewildered! I know her. How can I deny that this girl is Antigone? O unhappy child
of your unhappy father, of Oedipus! What can this mean? What! Surely they are not bringing you captive for disobeying the King’s laws and being caught in lunacy?
380
What marvel sent by the gods is this?—I am bewildered! I know her. How can I deny that this girl is Antigone? O unhappy child
of your unhappy father, of Oedipus! What can this mean? What! Surely they are not bringing you captive for disobeying the King’s laws and being caught in lunacy?
380
Commentary
Commentary (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
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
160-161. mvp-comment-98-1 ὅτι. προὔθετο That he hath appointed. ὅτι gives the reason of the question.
161. mvp-comment-100-1 προὔθετο The middle voice implies that Creon had summoned the elders of his own motion. So καλέσσατο of Achilles in Il. 1. 54.
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,