Sophocles, Antigone, 49

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Creon

Desine dicere, priusquam tua loquela in iram me*concites, ne insipiens simul ac senex deprehendaris: dicis enim non toleranda,quum dicis,deos huius mortui curam gerere. An nimis honorantes sepultura eum affecerunt, ut bene meritum, qui fulta olumnis templa cum donariis crematurus venit, terramque eorum et cultum disiecturus? Num deos vides honore malos prosequi? Non est; sed et haec aegre ferentes cives dudum obmurmurabant mihi, clam capita, quassantes, neque sub iugo cervicem, ut decet, habebant, ut imperio meo acquiescerent. Ab illis hos probe scio mercede inductos haec perpetrasse; nullus enim hominibus damnosior mos invaluit, quam uti argento ; hoc et urbes devastat, hoc viros submovet domibus, hoc edocet et bonas pervertit mentes hominum, ut ad. turpia facta se applicent, dolosque monstravit. hominibus nectere, et quodvis impium facinus admittere. At qui spe praemii haec perpetrarunt, hoc adepti sunt, ut aliquando daturi sint poenas. Verum, si quid apud me valet Iovis reverentia, pro certo hoc scias (iuratus autem ibi dico), nisi ipsum auctorem huius sepulturae inventum produxeritis ob oculos me- 0s, non una morte satis dabitis supplicii, sed vivi pendentes hanc indicabitis iniuriam, ut, edocti lucrum unde petendum, in posterum inde rapiatis, et discatis, noh qualibet ex re quaestum comparandum esse: namque ex turpibus lucris plures malo mactatos videas, quam servatos.

Antigone. Sophocles. Berlin. 1806.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) (Latin) (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι, φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 49 focus

οἵ μοι, φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 49.mvp-line-49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 49.mvp-line-49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 49 focus

οἴμοι. φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 49 focus

WÄCHTER

Weifs nicht. Es war dort weder eines Beiles Hieb
245

zu sehn noch einer Hacke Wurf; der Boden fest

und trocken, undurchbrochen, auch mit Rädern nicht

befahren; spurlos blieb es, wer der Thäter war.

Und wie es uns der erste Tageswächter zeigt,

erschien es allen unbegreiflich wunderbar.
250

Denn jener war verschwunden, nicht begraben zwar:

nur dünn, wie Fluch zu meiden, lag darauf der Staub.

Nicht eines Raubthiers Zeichen fand sich, keines Hunds,

der hergekommen und an ihm herumgezerrt.

Schimpfworte rauschten wechselseitig unter uns;
255

der Wächter zieh den Wächter, und es gab zuletzt

wohl gar noch Schläge; keiner war zu wehren da.

Denn jeder war der Thäter dieser Frevelthat,

und keiner klar doch, sondern jeder stritt es ab.

An bot sich jeder glühend Eisen mit der Hand
260

zu fassen, und durch Feuer durchzugehn, und Eid

zu schwören bei den Göttern, daſs er's nicht gethan,

mitwissend nicht Anstiftern oder Thätern sei.

Zuletzt, wie alles Forschen nichts uns fruchtete,

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 49 focus

Creonte

Calla, antes de que me llenes de cólera con tu discurso; no descubras que eres mentecato y viejo a la vez. Porque dices lo que no se puede aguantar, al indicar que los dioses tengan cuidado de lo que a ese cadáver se refiere. ¿Cómo ellos, honrándolo como a un benemérito, pueden haber sepultado al mismo que venia a incendiar sus templos asentados sobre columnas, y sus ofrendas, y a destruir su país y su culto? ¿Has visto jamás que los dioses honren a los malvados? No es posible; sino que algunos ciudadanos, que hace ya tiempo llevan esto a mal, murmuran de mí; y sacudiendo en secreto la cabeza, no tienen a bien sujetar su cerviz al yugo para complacerme. Por ésos, lo sé muy bien, inducidos otros por los premios que les han ofrecido, han hecho esto. No ha habido entre los hombres invención más funesta que la del dinero : ella devasta las ciudades, ella saca a los hombres de su casa, ella los industria y pervierte sus buenos sentimientos, disponiéndolos para todo hecho punible; ella enseñó a los hombres a valerse de todos los medios y a ingeniarse para cometer toda clase de impiedad. Pero los que dejándose corromper por el dinero han perpetrado esto, lo han hecho de manera que con el tiempo pagarán su culpa. Porque tan cierto como Júpiter obtiene todavía mi veneración — fijate fíjate bien en esto; te lo digo con juramento —, si al autor de ese enterramiento no me descubrís y presentáis ante mis ojos, la sola muerte no será bastante para vosotros, que seréis colgados vivos hasta que me denunciéis al culpable; para que, advertidos, saquéis provecho en adelante de donde sea lícito sacarlo, y aprendáis que no debe uno querer lucrar en todo negocio. [Pues por mor de ilícitas ganancias, más hombres verás perdidos que salvados.]

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 49 focus

CR

Cease, ere thou quite enrage me, and appear
280

Foolish as thou art old. Talk not to me

Of Gods who have taken thought for this dead man!

Say, was it for his benefits to them

They hid his corse, and honoured him so highly,

Who came to set on fire their pillared shrines,
285

With all the riches of their offerings,

And to make nothing of their land and laws?

Or, hast thou seen them honouring villany?

That cannot be. Long time the cause of this

Hath come to me in secret murmurings
290

From malcontents of Thebes, who under yoke

Turned restive, and would not accept my sway.

Well know I, these have bribed the watchmen here

To do this for some fee. For nought hath grown

Current among mankind so mischievous
295

As money. This brings cities to their fall:

This drives men homeless, and moves honest minds

To base contrivings. This hath taught mankind

The use of wickedness, and how to give

An impious turn to every kind of act.
300

But whosoe’er hath done this for reward

Hath found his way at length to punishment.

If Zeus have still my worship, be assured

Of that which here on oath I say to thee—

Unless ye find the man who made this grave
305

And bring him bodily before mine eye,

Death shall not be enough, till ye have hung

Alive for an example of your guilt,

That henceforth in your rapine ye may know

Whence gain is to be gotten, and may learn
310

Pelf from all quarters is not to be loved.

For in base getting, ’tis a common proof,

More find disaster than deliverance.

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)) — 49 focus

Creon

Knowst thou not

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 49 focus

CREONTE

¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 49 focus

KREON

Lafs das! damit du nicht zum Zorngericht auch mich noch

Beredest, und ein Narr erfunden seyst und Alter.

Denn allzuschwer fällt dieses, dass du sagst,
295

Die Geister aus jenseitigem Lande können

Nachdenklich seyn um dieses Todten willen.

So zärtlich ehren sollten sie, unıschatten einen,

Der doch die Gruppen ihrer Tempelsäulen

Und Opfer zu verbrennen kam, ihr Land
300

Und ihr Gesez zu sprengen ; oder siehest du,

Dafs Schlimme von den Himmlischen sind geehrt?

Mit nichten. Doch es nehmen einige

Von sonst her mir diess übel in der Stadt,

Und murren ingeheim die Häupter schüttelnd,
305

Und im Geschirre biegen diese mir

Den Naken so nicht ein, dass Menschlichs kommen könnte.

Von diesen sind Geschenke worden diesen,

Das weiss ich wohl, dass sie derlei gestiftet.

Denn unter allem, was gestempelt ist,
310

Ist schlimm nichts, wie das Silber. Ganze Städte

Verführet diess, reizt Männer aus den Häufsern.

Verbilden und verwandeln kanns aufrichtige Sinne,

Dafs sie der Sterblichen ihr schändlich Werk erkennen.

Und viel Geschäft den Menschen weist es an,
315

Und jeder That Gottlosigkeit zu wissen.

So viele diess gethan, durch Lohn bewegt,

Sie thatens in der Zeit, zu Rechenschaft.

Wenn aber Leben hat der Erde Herr, in mir auch,

So weißs ich diess, und, dargestellt zum Eide,
320

Sag’ ich dir diess: den Thäter müfst ihr liefern,

Der hakt die Todten, den vors Auge mülst ihr

Mir schaffen, oder leben erst, ans Kreuz gehängt,

Das üppige Beginnen mir verrathen,

Dann könnet ihr gefafst seyn auf die Hölle.
325

Da schaut ihr dann, woher man den Gewinn hohlt,

Vermacht die Plünderung einander, und erfahrt,

Dafs alles nicht gemacht ist zum Erwerbe.

Das weifst du gut, durch schlimmen Vortheil sind

Betrogen mehrere, denn wohlbehalten.
330

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 49 focus

Creon

Cease, ere thy words fill me utterly with wrath, lest thou be found at once an old man and foolish. For thou sayest what is not to be borne, in saying that the gods have care for this corpse. Was it for high reward of trusty service that they sought-to hide his nakedness, who came to burn their pillared\shrines and sacred treasures, to burn their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or dost thou behold the gods honouring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the first there were 290 ago certain in the town that muttered against me, chafing at this edict, wagging their heads in secret; and kept not their necks duly under the yoke, like men contented with my sway.

'Tis by them, well I know, that these have been beguiled and bribed to do this deed. Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This lays cities low, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest souls till they set themselves to works 300 of shame; this still teaches folk to practise villanies, and to know every godless deed. But all the men who wrought this thing for hire have made it sure that, soon or late, they shall pay the price. Now, as Zeus still hath my reverence, know this— I tell it thee on my oath :—If ye find not the very author of this burial, and produce him before mine eyes, death alone shall not be enough for you, till first, hung up alive, ye have revealed this outrage,—that henceforth 310 ye may thieve with better knowledge whence lucre should be won, and learn that it is not well to love gain from every source. For thou wilt find that ill-gotten pelf brings more men to ruin than to weal.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 49 focus

Antigone

Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1-98 focus

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

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

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-82-1 πυρφόρος ¹

mvp-comment-82-2 βακχεύων ²

mvp-comment-82-3 ῥιπαῖς...ἀνέμων ³

mvp-comment-83-1 εἶχε δ’ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν ⁴ εἶχε δ’ ἄλλαι τὰ μὲν ἄλλαι τὰ δ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ⁵ τὰ μέν ⁶ ἄλλα δέ ⁷ τὰ μέν ⁸ ἄλλᾳ ⁹

mvp-comment-83-2 ἐπενώμα ¹⁰ στυφελίζων ¹¹

mvp-comment-83-3 δεξιόσειρος ¹²

mvp-comment-83-4 The old v.l. δεξιόχειρος ¹³

mvp-comment-84-1 ἑπτὰ λοχαγοί ¹⁴

mvp-comment-84-2 ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ¹⁵

mvp-comment-84-3 Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-84-4 πάγχαλκα τέλη ¹⁷

mvp-comment-84-5 It was the ordinary practice to set up a

τρόπαιον

(old

αττ.τροπαῖον

) after a victory, on the spot where it had been won, or, in the case of a sea-fight, on the nearest land ( Thuc. 2.92 ). Such a trophy ordinarily consisted of shields, helmets, and weapons, conspicuously displayed on wooden supports, and dedicated, with an inscription, to a deity. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 1473 (of the Thebans after the victory)

οἱ μὲν Διὸς τροπαῖον ἵστασαν βρέτας

(i.e. a wooden image of

Ζεὺς Τροπαῖος

), |

οἱ δ’ ἀσπίδας συλῶντες Ἀργείων νεκρῶν | σκυλεύματ’ εἴσω τειχέων ἐπέμπομεν

. Part of the armour would be affixed to the walls of Theban temples (cp. Aesch. Ag. 577 , Th. 276 ).

mvp-comment-85-1 πλὴν τ. στυγεροῖν ¹⁸ πατρός ¹⁹

mvp-comment-85-2 καθ’ αὑτοῖν ²⁰

mvp-comment-85-3 δικρατεῖς λόγχας ²¹

mvp-comment-85-4 στήσαντε ²²

mvp-comment-86-1 ἀλλὰ γάρ ²³ γάρ ²⁴ γάρ ²⁵

mvp-comment-86-2 μεγαλώνυμος ²⁶

mvp-comment-86-3 πολυαρμάτῳ ²⁷

mvp-comment-86-4 ἀντιχαρεῖσα ²⁸

mvp-comment-87-1 ἐκ...πολέμων τῶν νῦν ²⁹ ἐκ ³⁰ νῦν ³¹

mvp-comment-87-2 θέσθαι ³² θέσθε ³³ παννυχίοις ³⁴

mvp-comment-87-3 ὁ Θήβας ³⁵ ἐλελίχθων ³⁶

mvp-comment-87-4 Βάκχιος ³⁷

mvp-comment-87-5 ἄρχοι ³⁸

mvp-comment-88-1 ἀλλὰ … γάρ ³⁹ Κρέων ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-88-2 Μενοικέως ⁴¹

mvp-comment-88-3 νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι ⁴²

mvp-comment-88-4 their equivalents. See Appendix I prefer the first of these views. An anapaest or spondee, meaning ‘ruler,’ has probably dropped out before νεοχμός ⁴³ κρείων ⁴⁴ ἄρχων ⁴⁵ ταγός ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-88-5 θεῶν … συντυχίαις ⁴⁷ ἐπί ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-89-1 μῆτιν ἐρέσσων ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-89-2 σύγκλητον ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-89-3 προὔθετο ⁵¹ λέσχην ⁵²

mvp-comment-89-4 not the meeting, but the discussion which is to take place there: thus the poet's phrase, true to Attic usage, corresponds with

γνώμας προθεῖναι

rather than with

ἐκκλησίαν προθεῖναι

. Herod. uses

λέσχη

of a public discussion (9. 71): cp. O. C. 167 . The midd. προὔθετο ⁵³

mvp-comment-89-5 κοινῷ κ. πέμψας ⁵⁴

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’ ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-91-3 πόλεος ⁵⁶ πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ⁵⁷

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 ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-92-1 ἐκ πάντων ⁵⁹ δίχα ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-92-2 ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι ⁶¹ τοῦτο μέν ⁶²

mvp-comment-92-3 σέβοντας ⁶³

mvp-comment-92-4 θρόνων . . κράτη ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-93-1 ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους ⁶⁵ κείνων ⁶⁶ κείνων παῖδας ⁶⁷ ἡνίκ’ . . ὤρθου πόλιν ⁶⁸ ἐπεὶ διώλετο ⁶⁹ τοῦτο μέν . . τοῦτ’ αὖθις ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-93-2 καί ⁷¹ καί ⁷²

mvp-comment-93-3 ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν ⁷³ ἐμπέδους ⁷⁴ ἐμπέδοις ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-94-1 ὅτε ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-94-2 πρὸς διπλῆς μ. ⁷⁷ διπλῆς . . μίαν ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-94-3 παίσαντες . . πληγέντες ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-94-4 αὐτόχειρι … μιάσματι ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-95-1 ἐγὼ . . δή ⁸¹

mvp-comment-95-2 κράτη ⁸²

mvp-comment-95-3 γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλ. ⁸³

mvp-comment-96-1 ἀμήχανον δέ ⁸⁴ δέ ⁸⁵ δέ ⁸⁶

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 ⁸⁷ φρόνημα ⁸⁸ γνώμην ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-98-1 ἀρχαῖς ⁹⁰ νόμοισιν ⁹¹

mvp-comment-98-2 ἐντριβής ⁹²

mvp-comment-98-3 φανῇ ⁹³

mvp-comment-99-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ ⁹⁴ γάρ ⁹⁵ πᾶσαν … πόλιν ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-99-2 μὴ … ἅπτεται ⁹⁷ ὅστις μὴ ἅπτεται ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-99-3 ἐκ φ. του ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-99-4 ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-99-5 νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-100-1 μείζον’ ¹⁰² ἀντὶ τῆς...πάτρας ¹⁰³ ἤ ¹⁰⁴ μεῖζον ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-100-2 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-101-1 ἐγὼ γάρ ¹⁰⁷ γάρ ¹⁰⁸ τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ¹⁰⁹ ἴστω ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-102-1 οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-103-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ¹¹² ὁμοῦ ¹¹³

mvp-comment-103-2 ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ¹¹⁴ τῆς ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-104-1 ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονός ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-104-2 ἐμαυτῷ ¹¹⁷ φίλον ¹¹⁸ θείμην ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-105-1 ἡ σῴζουσα ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-105-2 ταύτης ¹²¹ ὀρθῆς ¹²²

mvp-comment-105-3 τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα ¹²³

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 ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-106-2 αὔξω ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-107-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-107-2 τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-108-1 δορί ¹²⁸ δόρει ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-109-1 τὰ πάντ’ ἐφαγνίσαι ¹³⁰ ἐπί ¹³¹ ἐφαγνίσαι ¹³² ἀφαγνίσαι ¹³³ ἀπό ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-110-1 τοῖς ἀρίστοις ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-110-2 ἔρχεται κάτω ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-111-1 L has Πολυνείκην ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-111-2 λέγω ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-112-1 γτ=ν πατρῴαν . . καὶ θεοὺς . . πρῆσαι ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-112-2 θ. τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-112-3 κατελθών ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-112-4 γ)θέλησε μέν … ἠθέλ. δέ ¹⁴² ἠθέλησε μὲν ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-112-5 πρῆσαι ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-112-6 κατ’ ἄκρας ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-112-7 αἵματος κ. πάσασθαι ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-112-8 τοὺς δὲ … ἄγειν ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-113-1 The traditional ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ ¹⁴⁸ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ ¹⁴⁹ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι λέγω ¹⁵⁰ τάφῳ ¹⁵¹ κτερίζειν ¹⁵² τάφῳ ¹⁵³ κτερίζειν ¹⁵⁴ μήτε ¹⁵⁵ κωκῦσαι ¹⁵⁶ τάφῳ ¹⁵⁷ λέγω ¹⁵⁸ τάφῳ ¹⁵⁹ ἐκκεκ ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-114-1 ἐᾶν δ ¹⁶¹ ἄθαπτον, αἰκισθέντ’ ἰδεῖν ¹⁶² δέμας καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστόν ¹⁶³ αἰκισθέντ ¹⁶⁴ αἰκισθέντ ¹⁶⁵ ἐδεστόν ¹⁶⁶ αἰκισθέν τ’, δέμας ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-114-2 δέμας ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-114-3 ἰδεῖν ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-115-1 φρόνημα ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-115-2 ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-116-1 The MSS. have τιμὴν προέξουσ’ ..τῶν ἐνδ. ¹⁷² τιμήν ¹⁷³ τιμῆ ¹⁷⁴ προσέξους ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-117-1 τιμήσεται ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-118-1 I print Dindorf's κἀς ¹⁷⁷ καὶ ¹⁷⁸ σοὶ ταῦτ’ ἀρέσκει ¹⁷⁹ Κρέον ¹⁸⁰ ταὔτ ¹⁸¹ ταῦτ’ ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-119-1 In παντί πού γ’ ¹⁸³ σοί γ’ … που ¹⁸⁴ ἔνεστι ¹⁸⁵ χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν ¹⁸⁶ πέρι ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-120-1 ὡς ἂν … ἦτε ¹⁸⁸ πῶς ἂν … εἶτε ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-120-2 σκοποί ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-120-3 νυν ¹⁹¹ νῦν ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-120-4 τῶν εἰρ ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-121-1 πρόθες τοῦτο ¹⁹⁴ βαστάζειν ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-121-2 τοῦ νεκροῦ γ’ ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-122-1 τί δῆτ’ ἂν … ἐπεντέλλοις ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-122-2 The reading ἄλλῳ ¹⁹⁸ τοῦτο ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-122-3 ἐπιχωρεῖν ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-122-4 ἀπιστοῦσιν ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-122-5 τάδε, ²⁰²

mvp-comment-123-1 ὃς ²⁰³ ἐρᾷ ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-123-2 καὶ μὴν ²⁰⁵ γε ²⁰⁶ μισθός ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-123-3 requital of disobedience is that.’ For

καὶ μήν

so used, cp. O. T. 836 , 1004 f., El. 556 .

mvp-comment-123-4 τὸ κέρδος ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-123-5 διώλεσεν ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-124-1 ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-124-2 ὅπως ²¹¹

mvp-comment-124-3 τάχους ὕπο ²¹² τάχους ²¹³

mvp-comment-125-1 ἐξάρας ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-125-2 φροντίδων ²¹⁵ ἐπιστάσεις ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-125-3 ὁδοῖς ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-125-4 κυκλῶν ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-126-1 ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα ²¹⁹ πολλὰ ²²⁰ μυθουμένη ²²¹

mvp-comment-127-1 τάλας … τλήμων ²²²

mvp-comment-127-2 μένεις ²²³ μενεῖς ²²⁴ αὖ ²²⁵

mvp-comment-127-3 πῶς … οὐκ ²²⁶

mvp-comment-127-4 ἀλγυνεῖ ²²⁷

mvp-comment-128-1 ἑλίσσων ²²⁸

mvp-comment-128-2 ἤνυτον ²²⁹

mvp-comment-128-3 σχολῇ βραδύς ²³⁰

mvp-comment-129-1 τέλος γε μέντοι ²³¹

mvp-comment-129-2 ἐνίκησεν ²³²

mvp-comment-129-3

ἐκλιπεῖν τὴν πόλιν

. That

μολεῖν

should not be regarded as the subject to

ἐνίκησε

, is shown by such an example as Her. 8.9

ἐνίκα τὴν ἡμέρην ἐκείνην αὐτοῦ μείναντάς τε καὶ αὐλισθέντας μετέπειτα νύκτα μέσην παρέντας πορεύεσθαι

, where the length of the interval excludes such a view. The personal constr. occurs below, 274; cp. Thuc. 2.12

ἦν...Περικλέους γνώμη...νενικηκυῖα

mvp-comment-130-1 σοί ²³³ μολεῖν ²³⁴ σοί ²³⁵ φράσων ²³⁶ φράσω δ ²³⁷ κεἰ ²³⁸ κεἴ σοι ²³⁹ σοί. ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-130-2 τὸ μηδέν ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-131-1 τῆς ἐλπίδος ²⁴²

mvp-comment-131-2 δεδραγμένος ²⁴³ πεφραγμένος ²⁴⁴ πεπραγμένος ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-131-3 τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἄν ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-131-4

πάθοιμι ἄν

, depending on

ἐλπίδος...δεδρ

. as=

ἐλπίζων

: for the art. with infin., cp. 78 n.

mvp-comment-131-5 τὸ μόρσιμον ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-132-1 ἀνθ’ οὗ ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-132-2 τὸ γὰρ | πρᾶγμ’ ²⁴⁹ γάρ ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-133-1 εὖ γε στοχάζει ²⁵¹ στοχάζει ²⁵² ἀποφράγνυσαι ²⁵³ στοχάζομαι ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-133-2 κἀποφράγνυσαι ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-133-3 τὸ πρᾶγμα ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-134-1 δηλοῖς δ’ ὥς τι ς. ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-135-1 τὰ δεινά ²⁵⁸ γάρ ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-135-2 ποτ ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-135-3 ἀπαλλαχθείς ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-136-1 καὶ δή ²⁶²

mvp-comment-136-2 θάψας ²⁶³ κἀπί ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-136-3 διψίαν ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-136-4 κἀφαγιστεύσας ²⁶⁶ ἃ χρή ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-137-1 ἀνδρῶν ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-137-2 οὔτε του γενῇδος … οὐ δικέλλης ²⁶⁹ οὔτε … οὐ ²⁷⁰ γενῄς ²⁷¹ γενῄς ²⁷² δίκελλα ²⁷³

mvp-comment-137-3 δικ. ἐκβολή ²⁷⁴ ἐκβ. ²⁷⁵ στύφλος ²⁷⁶ χέρσος ²⁷⁷ ἀρρώξ ²⁷⁸

mvp-comment-137-4 ἐπημαξευμένη ²⁷⁹ ἐπ‐ ²⁸⁰ ἐφ‐ ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-137-5 ἀλλ’ ὁ ἐργάτης ἄσημός τις ἦν ²⁸²

mvp-comment-138-1 It is still the early morning of the day on which the drama opens. The Argives having fled in the night, Creon had published his edict shortly before dawn. Antigone had done her deed in the short interval between the publication of the edict and the beginning of the watch over the corpse. ὁ πρῶτος ἡμεροσκόπος ²⁸³ ἡμεροσκ. ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-138-2 δείκνυσι … παρῆν ²⁸⁵

mvp-comment-138-3 δυσχερές ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-139-1 ὁ μὲν ²⁸⁷

mvp-comment-139-2 τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ ²⁸⁸ τυμβ. ²⁸⁹ λεπτὴ δ’ … ἐπῆν ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-139-3 ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς ²⁹¹ ἄγος ²⁹²

mvp-comment-140-1 θηρός ²⁹³

mvp-comment-140-2 του ²⁹⁴ θηρός ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-140-3 οὐ σπάσαντος ²⁹⁶ οὐ ²⁹⁷ σπάσαντος ²⁹⁸ σπάσαντος οὐδ’ ἐλθόντος ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-141-1 λόγοι δ’ … φύλακα ³⁰⁰ λόγοι κακοὶ ἐρρόθουν ³⁰¹ ἐρρόθουν ³⁰²

mvp-comment-141-2

γλώσσης ῥόθος

, of an unintelligible jargon.

mvp-comment-141-3 ἐλέγχων ³⁰³

mvp-comment-141-4 κἂν ἐγίγνετο ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-141-5 τελευτῶς ³⁰⁵

mvp-comment-141-6 ὁ κωλύσων ³⁰⁶

mvp-comment-142-1 ἦν … οὑξειργ. ³⁰⁷

mvp-comment-142-2 ἐναργής ³⁰⁸

mvp-comment-142-3 ἀλλ’ ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-142-4 ἕφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-142-5 μὴ ³¹¹ εἰδέναι ³¹²

mvp-comment-143-1 μύδρους ³¹³

mvp-comment-143-2 a red-hot mass of metal, and that the custom was symbolical of an older use of the

μύδρος

in ordeals by fire. This would explain how the Alexandrian poets of the 3rd cent. B.C. (Lycophron, Callimachus) came to use the word

μύδρος

, in defiance of its etymology, as simply ‘a lump’ (or even ‘a stone’). They supposed that the

μύδροι

had been cold masses.

mvp-comment-144-1 πῦρ διέρπειν ³¹⁴

mvp-comment-144-2 θεοὺς ὁρκ. ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-144-3 τὸ μήτε δρ ³¹⁷

mvp-comment-144-4 μήτ’ είργασμένῳ ³¹⁸ μηδ ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-145-1 πλέον ³²⁰

mvp-comment-145-2 λέγει ³²¹

mvp-comment-145-3 τις εἷς ³²²

mvp-comment-146-1 προὔτρεψεν ³²³

mvp-comment-146-2 οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν ³²⁴

mvp-comment-146-3 As ἀντιφωνεῖν ³²⁵ δρῶντες ³²⁶ ὅπως δρῶντες ³²⁷ εἴχομεν ³²⁸

mvp-comment-147-1 σοί ³²⁹

mvp-comment-147-2 ταῦτ’ ἐνίκα ³³⁰

mvp-comment-147-3 πάλος ³³¹ καθαιρεῖ ³³²

mvp-comment-147-4 τἀγαθόν ³³³ —ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν ³³⁴

mvp-comment-148-1 ἐμοί ³³⁵ βουλεύει ³³⁶ μή ³³⁷

mvp-comment-148-2 τι ³³⁸

mvp-comment-148-3 θεήλατον, ³³⁹

mvp-comment-148-4 ἡ ξύννοια ³⁴⁰

mvp-comment-148-5 πάλαι ³⁴¹

mvp-comment-149-1 πρὶν ὀργῆς καί με μεστῶσαι ³⁴² καί ³⁴³ πρίν ³⁴⁴ μεστῶσαι ³⁴⁵ καί ³⁴⁶ με ³⁴⁷

mvp-comment-149-2 κἀμέ ³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-149-3 μεστῶσαι ³⁴⁹

mvp-comment-150-1 πότερον ³⁵⁰ ἔκρυπτον ³⁵¹

mvp-comment-150-2 ἀμφικίονας ναούς ³⁵²

mvp-comment-150-3 κἀναθήματα ³⁵³

mvp-comment-150-4 Her. 1.50 ; Thuc. 6.46 ; Isae. or. 7 § 41.) The wealth of Delphi in

ἀναθήματα

is already proverbial in Il. 9.404 ; at Thebes the

Ἰσμήνιον

( O. T. 21 ) also seems to have been rich in them. After

ἀνάθημα

the gen. denotes either

ὁ ἀναθείς

(as more oft.), or, as here, the divine owner.

mvp-comment-150-5 γῆν ἐκείνων ³⁵⁴ πυρώσων ³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-150-6 νόμους διασκεδῶν ³⁵⁶

mvp-comment-150-7 διασκεδῶν ³⁵⁷

mvp-comment-151-1 τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας … θεούς; ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-152-1 ταῦτα ³⁵⁹ μόλις φέροντες ³⁶⁰ καὶ πάλαι ³⁶¹

mvp-comment-152-2 πόλεως ἄνδρες ³⁶²

mvp-comment-152-3 ἐρρόθουν ³⁶³

mvp-comment-152-4 ἐμοί ³⁶⁴

mvp-comment-152-5 κάρα σείοντες ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-152-6 ὑπὸ ζυγῷ ³⁶⁶

mvp-comment-152-7 λόφον ³⁶⁷

mvp-comment-152-8 δικαίως ³⁶⁸

mvp-comment-152-9 equal poise’ ( New Crat. 371).—

ὡς = ὥστε

( O. T. 84 ): στέργειν ³⁶⁹

mvp-comment-153-1 τῶνδε ³⁷⁰ ἐκ ³⁷¹

mvp-comment-153-2 τούτους, ³⁷²

mvp-comment-153-3 εἰργάσθαι ³⁷³ ἐξεπίσταμαι ³⁷⁴ παρηγμένους ³⁷⁵

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

135. mvp-comment-82-1 πυρφόρος With the fire in his hand, with which he had threatened the town. O. C. 1318: Aesch. S. c. T. 422, ff.

135. mvp-comment-82-2 ὁρμᾷ Observe the tautology after ὁρμῶντ', supra.

136-137. mvp-comment-83-1 Had breathed against us in frenzy with blasts of malignant winds. Cp. infra 929-930: O. C. 612 and note: Aesch. S. c. T. 115, πνοαῖς Ἄρεος.

138. mvp-comment-84-1 εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν· κτ.λ.] This was in one direction: whilst on other men terrible fortune was dispensed by mighty Ares rushing on them like a steed harnessed upon our right hand. For the use of ἔχω with the locative adv., see L. and S. s. v. ἔχω, Β. 11. Ι. The reading in the text is suggested by that of V (Ven. 468), a MS. of the 13th century, which, together with many obvious corruptions, has preserved some good readings. See on O. T. 1526. This MS. reading is curiously near the conj. of Musgrave, εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ δείν᾽. The epithet, as read in the text, may be suggested by a forefeeling of what is coming. Even the end of Capaneus is less awful than that of Eteocles and Polynices (144 ff.). Hermann's reading, εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ μὲν ἄλ | λᾳ· τὰ δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις, makes good enough sense; Plat. Rep. 2. 369 Β, οὕτω δὴ ἄρα παραλαμβάνων ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐπ᾿ ἄλλου, τὸν δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλου χρείᾳ : but the synaphea between the cretics and the choriambi is questionable. And the same objection applies to Wecklein's εἶχε δ' ἄλλᾳ τὰ τοῦδ᾽· | ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις.

140. mvp-comment-85-1 δεξιόσειρος The War-god taking part with Thebes and bounding hither and thither over the plain is compared to the σειραῖος ἵππος, whose free action was so important at critical moments in the chariot-race. Cp. El. 721-722, δεξιὸν δ᾽ ἀνεὶς | σειραῖον ἵππον εἶργε τὸν προσκείμενον: Aesch. Agam. 841-842, μόνος δ' Οδυσσεύς, ὅσπερ οὐχ ἑκὼν ἔπλει | ζευχθείς ἕτοιμος ἦν ἐμοὶ σειραφόρος. The reading δεξιόχειρος is probably erroneous. It is acknowledged as a variant by the Scholiast.

141. mvp-comment-86-1 Capaneus, who is one of the seven adversaries, is already disposed of. But the general description in 141-143, is only preparatory to the chief statement, 144-147, from which, however, the chorus pass quickly, as they approach it with aversion. What is of the best omen must be kept to the front. For ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους, cp. Hdt. 9. 49, ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἄριθμον μαχεσόμεθα.

142-143. mvp-comment-87-1 'Left the tribute of their brazen panoplies to Zeus, who turns the battle.'

144-147. mvp-comment-88-1 Neither could despoil the other, since both were slain. And the citizens could not dedicate to Zeus arms polluted with kindred blood.

145. mvp-comment-89-1 αὑτοῖν i. e. ἀλλήλοιν: ἑαυτούς, ἀλλήλους. Hesych.

146. mvp-comment-90-1 δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντε Having pointed their two spears, of which either was victorious. The spears are not hurled, as commonly in the Iliad, but held firmly as the combatants rush at each other. Cp. Hom. Il. 4. 307 (quoted by Donaldson), ὃς δέ κ᾿ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὧν ὀχέων ἕτερ᾽ ἅρμαθ' ἵκηται | ἔγχει ὀρεξάσθω, ἐπεὶ ἢ πολὺ φέρτερον οὕτως.

147. mvp-comment-91-1 'Both have their portion in mutual death: i.e. Each strove for sole inheritance, but they share equally-in a death;' which each has given and each has received. See on l. 57. The spirit of the words is the same as those of Aesch. S. c. T. 726 ff.: O. C. 790.

149. mvp-comment-92-1 ἀντιχαρεῖσα Exchanging looks of joy. Cp. χαίρειν γέλωτι, Χen. Cyr. 8.1.33.

149. mvp-comment-92-2 Θήβη, as in Pindar, is the personification of Θήβαι, for which it is used consistently throughout this play. Cp. Od. 7. 80, εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην.

150. mvp-comment-93-1 ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων .. λησμοσύvav Turning from the present wars, appoint ye forgetfulness of them. For the pleonastic use of ἐκ, see Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. The reading θέσθαι, which has good MS. authority and preserves the metrical correspondence with l. 137, is retained by some editors as an infinitive for imperative. Cp. infr. 1142, μολεῖν. For the expression, cp. Eur. Phoen. 1584,5, ὡς ὥρα τάφου | μνήμην τίθεσθαι.

153. mvp-comment-94-1 παννυχίοις Cp. Ο. Τ. 1090: Aesch. Ag. 23, 24. καὶ χορῶν κατάστασιν | πολλῶν ἐν Ἄργει τῆσδε συμφορᾶς χάριν.

153. mvp-comment-94-2 ὁ Θήβας δ'. . ἄρχοι And let Bacchus, Thebe's God. who shakes the earth (with revelry), lead on the dance. Schol. ὁ Θήβας Βακχεῖος, ὁ Θηβαγενὴς Διόνυσος, ὁ τῆς Θήβης πολίτης, ὁ ἐλελίχθων, ἄρχοι τῆς χορείας. See Essay on Language § 9. p. 11.

156. mvp-comment-95-1 The metre requires either the addition of one (or three) anapaests or the omission of νεοχμός. Dindorf's supposition that νεοχμός νεαραῖσι has grown in some way out of νεοχμοῖσι is in itself probable enough, but the omission of some word like *ἄρχων after βασιλεύς is equally so. The spectator is thus reminded that Creon is young in power.

157-158. mvp-comment-96-1 νεαραῖσι .. συντυχίαις In consequence of the recent god-sent fortune. These words are to be joined with the whole sentence, though chiefly with ἐρέσσων. Creon's accession, his coming, and the counsel which he brings, all follow closely on the events of the war. The question is, what is that counsel?

159. mvp-comment-97-1 τίνα δή This is preferable to τινὰ δή, which Aldus printed from Ven. 467 (V3).

159. mvp-comment-97-2 On ἐρέσσων = Moving, Advancing. see Essay on Language p. 87, and cp. Aj. 251, τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλάς.

160-161. mvp-comment-98-1 ὅτι. προὔθετο That he hath appointed. ὅτι gives the reason of the question.

160. mvp-comment-99-1 σύγκλητον Specially convened. The word is used, after the analogy of the σύγκλητος ἐκκλησία at Athens, for an assembly specially summoned by the στρατηγός. λέσχη is less formal than βουλή. Cp. Ο. C. 166.

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,

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.

209-210. mvp-comment-129-1 θανών | καὶ ζῶν In death as well as in life. The first word is the more emphatic. Essay on Language p. 78.

211-212. mvp-comment-130-1 For the construction of the accusatives τὸν .. δύσνουν. . τὸν εὐμενῆ, after σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει as = οὕτω τάσσεις, or the like, cр. О. С. 1120, τέκν᾽ εἰ φανέντ᾽ ἄελπτα μηκύνω λόγον, and see Essay on Language § 16. p. 22. No emendation is necessary.

213. mvp-comment-131-1 παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι γε has been thought a useless insertion, and Dindorf reads πάντι που πάρεστί σοι. But δέ γε is not unsuitable to the connection, introducing the second premiss of an implied argument. The words of the chorus express the barest acquiescence in the will of the ruler. Cp. infr. 509, σοὶ δ᾽ ὑπίλλουσι στόμα. They hide their disapproval, and that is all. Cp. Richard III, 4. 2, 21, Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure.

215. mvp-comment-132-1 ὡς ἂν.. εἰρημένων Sc. οὕτω πράσσετε. The subjunctive with ὡς ἄν follows the implied imperative. Act, then, so as to see my words obeyed. Cp. Ο. Τ. 325, ὡς οὖν μηδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταὐτὸν πάθω : Plat. Phaedo 59 Ε, παραγγέλλουσιν, ὅπως ἂν τῇδε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τελευτήσῃ. The ellipse is idiomatic. It is not to be supposed either that Creon hesitates, or that the elders interrupt him.

218. mvp-comment-133-1 τί.. ἔτι 'What means then this charge further given by you to another?' τοῦτο, cogn. acc. = σκοποὶ εἶναι τῶν εἰρημένων : τί, suppl. predic. = With what meaning?' To what effect? ἄλλῳ = to another than the appointed guards. ἄλλο gives a poorer sense, What then is this other thing which you enjoin besides?

220. mvp-comment-134-1 ὃς .. ἐρᾷ As to be in love with death. For the irregular correlative (οὕτω .. ὅς), see Essay on Language § 22. p. 36. There is a confusion of οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἐρᾷ and οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὥστε ἐρᾶν.

222. mvp-comment-135-1 The emphatic position of ἄνδρας at the beginning of the line shows that the word is intended to mark Creon's unconsciousness of the real source of danger. So infr. 1. 248. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1110: O. T. 928, al. So ὑπ᾿ ἐλπίδων shows how incapable he is of divining the motive of Antigone.

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.

223-224. mvp-comment-137-1 I am out of breath, but not with speed. It is not that I ran nimbly hither. Aristotle, Rhet. 3. 14. § 10, quotes 223 thus, Ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως σπουδῆς ὕπο.., adding, as if from the reply of Creon, τί φροιμιάζῃ; But it is as unsafe to follow his authority in this line, as it would be to substitute τί φροιμιάζῃ for εὖ γε στοχάζει in l. 241. It is evident that he is quoting from memory: and, although it is curious that the Scholiast uses the same word in his explanation, οὐ τοῦτο λέγω, ὅτι μετὰ σπουδῆς ἀσθμαίνων πρὸς σὲ πορεύομαι, yet this does not amount to a proof that this is the right reading. σπουδῆς may be the word which would be more naturally used in prose, but it is less pointed than τάχους in this connection. κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα is added in explanation of τάχους ὕπο. ἐξάρας, having set forth from the point of departure, like αἴρειν στόλον.

225. mvp-comment-138-1 For I had many stoppages by reason of thoughts, i. e. My thoughts cried halt to me (ἐπέστησάν με) again and again. Cp. Αj. 869, κοὐδεὶς ἐφίσταταί με συμμαθεῖν τόπος. The genitive φροντίδων is part causal, My thoughts checked me,' and part final, I stopped to think.

226. mvp-comment-139-1 ὁδοῖς As I came. Essay on Language § 14. p. 20. Ср. О. С. 553, ὁδοῖς ἐν ταῖσδ᾽ ἀκούων. Hearing of you on your coming hither.

227. mvp-comment-140-1 This mockery of dialectic is curiously significant of the earlier stage of rhetoric.

229. mvp-comment-141-1 κεἰ has the authority of the oldest MS. The reading of Par. A, καὶ .. ἀνδρός, has a certain liveliness, but is perhaps too abrupt.

231. mvp-comment-142-1 τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων Turning round and round such thoughts as these. Cp. Plat. Phil. 19 (of the boyish dialectician), πάντα κινεῖ λόγον ἄσμενος, τότε μὲν ἐπὶ θάτερα κυκλῶν καὶ συμφορῶν εἰς ἕν, τότε δὲ πάλιν ἀνειλίττων καὶ διαμερίζων.

231. mvp-comment-142-2 σπουδῇ βραδύς The reading of L, σχολῇ βραδύς, Slowly because I stopped, is not pointed enough, and it seems probable that an oxymoron is intended in this as in the following line. The correction adopted by the Scholiast, σχολῇ ταχύς, secures this in rather an awkward way. That of Seyffert, which is here adopted (for the collocation of words, cp. the proverb σπεῦδε βραδέως), appears far more probable.

234. mvp-comment-143-1 This line was well explained by Dindorf in 1860: Dicturus erat σοὶ φράσοντα, sed propter verba interposita, κεί τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, mutata orationis forma infert φράσω δ ὅμως cum δε particula, ut Oed. T. 302, πόλιν μέν, εἰ καὶ μὴ βλέπεις, φρονεῖς δ' ὅμως | οἷᾳ νόσῳ σύνεστιν.' Essay on Language § 35. p. 59.

234. mvp-comment-143-2 τὸ μηδέν ῾Α vain report,' because the doer of the deed was still unknown.

235. mvp-comment-144-1 τῆς has the emphatic force of an antecedent: This hope, that ... δεδραγμένος] This reading is implied in the second scholium on the passage, ἀντειλημμένος τῆς ἐλπίδος ἐλήλυθα, and appears in the text of E and V³. (whence Aldus had it), and as a marginal reading of Aug. b. and of V¹. Clinging fast by the hope, is a natural and forcible expression, well suited to the style of the Φύλαξ : whereas ἐλπίδος πεφραγμένος or πεφαργμένοs, whether in the sense of Shut out from hope,' or Fortified by the hope, is not really admissible.

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.

248. mvp-comment-152-1 τίς ἀνδρῶν Cp. supra 222, and note.

249. mvp-comment-153-1 οὔτε .. ἐκβολή No dint of pick-axe, nor earth turned up with hoe.'

250. mvp-comment-154-1 στύφλος .. καὶ χέρσος Hard and bare. χέρσος γῆ is untilled land, and so here, Undisturbed by implements of husbandry. Cp. infr. 773, 1197.

251. mvp-comment-155-1 ἀρρώξ .. τροχοῖσιν Unbroken, and with no mark of wheels. ἐπημαξευμένη τροχοῖσιν] Lit. Carted over with wheels.' Essay on Language p. 88, note.

252. mvp-comment-156-1 ἀλλ'.. ἦν But whoever did it was one who left no trace.

253. mvp-comment-157-1 ὁ πρῶτος .. ἡμεροσκόπος Our first look-out-man for the day. ἡμεροσκόπος in Xen. Hell. 1. 1. 2, is a watchman who stands at his post at daybreak. Cp. ἡμεροφύλαξ, ib. 7. 2. 6, 7. Antigone's act preceded the setting of this watch.

254. mvp-comment-158-1 θαῦμα δυσχερές Α sight of wonder and dismay.

255. mvp-comment-159-1 τυμβήρης.. κόνις Not covered with a mound, but sprinkled with dust as by one avoiding pollution. Hor. Od. 1. 28,

Debita jura vicesque superbae | Te maneant ipsum: precibus ibus non linquar inultis | Teque piacula nulla resolvent. | Quamquam festinas, non est mora longa, licebit | Injecto ter pulvere curras.

For the gen., cp. Tr. 768.

255. mvp-comment-159-2 τυμβήρης For this use of the adjective, see Essay on Language § 23. p. 38.

258. mvp-comment-160-1 οὐ σπάσαντος Cp. Aesch. Prom. 451, οὔτε.. δόμους.. οὐ ξυλουργίαν.

259. mvp-comment-161-1 ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν Sc. τοῖς φύλαξιν. Words of abuse were loudly bandied to and fro. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 200, στάσις δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ὠροθύνετο, sc.

259. mvp-comment-161-2 τοῖς δαίμοσιν.

260. mvp-comment-162-1 φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα On the nominative out of construction in the clause in apposition, see Essay on Language § 33. p. 57. § 15. p. 21.

260. mvp-comment-162-2 κἂν ἐγίγνετο And it was threatening to come to blows at last. The combination of the imperfect with av here is peculiar, having a force intermediate between ἐγίγνετο and ἐγένετο ἄv; i. e. it was coming to this, that we should have come to blows.

262-263. mvp-comment-163-1 The subtlety of the Φύλαξ deserts him in attempting to express his meaning. The perpetrator was every one and no one of us all every one in vague suspicion, and no one evidently: he escaped being known.' τις gives the indefiniteness required by the sense, = πως.

263. mvp-comment-164-1 ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε *μὴ εἰδέναι (1) But he (the perpetrator) always escaped, so that we could not know him. Böckh and Donaldson read as in the text, interpreting (2) Every man' (πᾶς implied in οὐδείς, the affirmative elicited from the negative) defended himself by pleading ignorance of the matter. For φεύγειν, * to urge a defensive plea,' cp. Aesch. Suppl. 390, and for the plea, μὴ εἰδέναι, Plat. Legg. 11. 936 E. But the plea of ignorance, although suitable in l. 266, is too special for this place, wherethe non-appearance of the criminal alone is in question. The meaning given above (1) is the same as that required by Hermann (see below), but is more simply expressed by the epexegesis, and the imperfect tense expresses the frustration of continued search. This interpretation involves a rare use of φεύγω, which is, however, analogous to a meaning of ἐκφεύγω that is not uncommon. Cp. Ο. Τ. 111, ἐκφεύγει δὲ τἀμελούμενον : Plat. Phil. 17, τὰ δὲ μέσα αὐτοὺς ἐκφεύγει. Other emendations are ἔφυγε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι (Porson), explained by Erfurdt to mean amoliens a se accusationem scire sese negaverat ; ἔφυγε τῷ μὴ εἰδέναι (Herm. 1839), effugit, eo quod nesciebamus; ἔφευγε πᾶς τὸ μή, every man pled Not guilty. (Dind.). 264-265. There are few traces of anything corresponding to the trial by ordeal in ancient times. Brunck quotes Virg. Aen. 11. 787,

Et medium freti pietate per ignem | Cultores multa premimus vestigia prima.

It seems to have existed in different places as a popular belief, but nowhere to have received positive legal sanction. For a trace of trial by combat' (in Scythia), see Hdt. 4. 180. Cp. also Ar. Lys. 133.

269. mvp-comment-165-1

His verbis et sequentibus significatur terror quem Creontis auctoritas custodibus incutit.

(Dind.).

269. mvp-comment-165-2 λέγει, κ.τ.λ. The sense is interrupted by the relative clause, but resumed in the words ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος in l. 272. For τις εἷς, cp. Thuc. 6. 61, καί τινα μίαν νύκτα, κ.τ.λ. The emphatic use of little words shows the common mind; cp. infr. 404, ὃν σὺ τὸν νέκυν, κ.τ.λ. Wolff and Weckl. join els with what follows: but the antithesis of eἷς πάντας is too pointless here. Cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 496 D, εἰς πᾶσιν ἀγρίοις ἀντέχειν.

274-275. mvp-comment-166-1 κἀμὲ.. λαβεῖν And the lot devotes me, wretched man, to be the recipient of this piece of luck. καθαιρεῖ is used much as in ἡ καθαιροῦσα ψῆφος, not by an extension of the technical sense, but with the same general mean- ing of Fastening upon, Bringing down, Overtaking and subduing.

279. mvp-comment-167-1 *1 This is Nauck's emendation for ἡ. It involves a very slight change, and is extremely probable. Reflection suggests the fear that' (not 'the question whether') this may be some visitation from the gods. The conscience of the elders, which was stifled at first, begins to awaken in the presence of the mysterious fact. For the pause after the 2nd iambus, here and supr. 269, cp. Aj. 340, 342, 719, 791, 803, 988, 1050, 1077, 1140, 1332.

280. mvp-comment-168-1 Cease, ere you have quite filled me with wrath. καί, which is combined with πρίν, according to the common idiom (πρὶν καὶ..), is slightly displaced so as to emphasize the phrase ἐμὲ μεστῶσαι. The language is made clearer by the emendation καί με, but the emphatic ἐμέ is more suitable in the mouth of Creon. Cp. Phil. 1042.

281. mvp-comment-169-1 ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων Cp. О. С. 930-931, καί σ᾽ ὁ πληθύων χρόνος | γέρονθ' ὁμοῦ τίθησι καὶ τοῦ νοῦ κενόν. See Essay on Language § 41. p. 78. 285-286. Who came to burn their pillared shrines and offerings, and to break in pieces their land and laws. It seems more likely that the ἀναθήματα are joined in one expression with ναούς than with γῆν and νόμους, which are in a different category.

289-290. mvp-comment-170-1 ἀλλὰ ταῦτα.. ἐμοί But this explains the murmurs I have long been hearing from men in the city against me;' i. e. Those murmurs have become explicit in this act. Οη ταῦτα, see Essay on Language § 17. p. 25; and for the dative ἐμοί, at me, ib. § 12. p. 18. μόλις φέροντες, which some have connected with ταῦτα (ταῦτα μόλις φέροντες, 'Bearing my edict ill'), seems to be used absolutely, sc. τὸ ἐμὸν ζυγόν, with an allusion to the metaphor in what follows. Cp. Thuc. 5. 80, θυμῷ ἔφερον, sc. τὸν πόλεμον ἢ τὰ πράγματα.

291. mvp-comment-171-1 'Covertly shaking the head,' like an animal preparing to throw off the yoke.

292. mvp-comment-172-1 δικαίως Rightly; i. e. As I had a right to expect that they should.

292. mvp-comment-172-2 ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ So as to accept my sway. To this it has been objected that στέργω implies affectionate allegiance. But this notion, although inherent in the etymology of the word, is dropped in use. Cp. Phil. 538, ἐγὼ δ' ἀνάγκῃ προὔμαθον στέργειν κακά : Aesch. Prom. 11, τὴν Δίος τυραννίδα | στέργειν. What hope was there that Prometheus would be made loyal by loyal torments? The other interpretation, So that I should be content (cp. Phil. 458, τούτους ἐγὼ τοὺς ἄνδρας οὐ στέρξω ποτέ), would give but feeble expression to the self-will of Creon. The substitution for these words of εὐλόφως φέρειν from the citation of Eustathius, with the further change of νῶτον for λόφον, is rightly rejected by Dind., who points out that Eustathius, probably quoting from memory, has confused this passage with one of Lycophron.

293. mvp-comment-173-1 ἐκ τῶνδε By these malcontents. Supr. 290.

293. mvp-comment-173-2 τούτους (1) These guards. Infr. ll. 304 ff., supr. 260 ff.: or (2) simply τοὺς εἰργασμένους. The whole of this picture of discontent is the creation of Creon's anger from the hesitation of the chorus when told to see to the execution of the decree. Supr. 215 ff.

294. mvp-comment-174-1 There is a stress on μισθοῖσιν, preparing for what follows.

Sophocles Antigone 49

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Current edition Experimental

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.

Creon

Knowst thou not

CREONTE

¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

Antigone

Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

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

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

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

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

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.

Creon Knowst thou not

CREONTE ¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

Antigone Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

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

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 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

Stable identifiers

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.

Creon

Knowst thou not

CREONTE

¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

Antigone

Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

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

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

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.