Sophocles, Antigone, 5

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Antigone

Nonne enim nobis Creon, decreto fratrum alteri sepulturae honore, alterum eo privat indignis modis? Eteoclem quidem, ut aiunt, iusto patrocinio fas observans, humo condidit, inferis honoratum Manibus: miseri autem mortui Polynicis cadaver civibus fertur edixisse ne quis sepulchro contegat, neque adeo lamentetur; sed sinant indefletum , insepultum , gratum thesaurum alitibus pastus gratia irruentibus. Talia dicunt bonum Creonta tibi mihique (dicere enim fastidivit) praeconatum esse, et huc venire, ut haec ipsa, si qui forte ignorent, clare pronuntiet, hancque rem non deputare esse nihili; sed quicumque horum quid fecerit, decretum esse, ut is a populo lapidibus obruatur. Ita tibi haec se habent: et mox ostendes, an generosa sis, an vero ex bonis ignava.

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)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ ¹

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ', ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρόν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ’, ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 5.mvp-line-5 focus

οὔτ’ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ’ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ’ ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ', ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρόν , οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμον ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον οὔ,

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 5.mvp-line-5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 5 focus

οὔτʼ αἰσχρὸν οὔτʼ ἄτιμόν ἐσθʼ, ὁποῖον οὐ

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 5 focus

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 5 focus

ANTIGONE

Ehrt nicht der Brüder jenen mit des Grabes Gunst

uns Kreon, und verweigert diesem schmählich sie?

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 5 focus

Antígona

¿Pues no ha dispuesto Creonte que, de nuestros dos hermanos, se le hagan a uno las honras fúnebres y se deje al otro insepulto? A Eteocles, según dicen, en cumplimiento de la ley divina y humana, sepultó en tierra para que obtenga todos los honores, allå allá bajo, entre los muertos. Y respecto del cadáver de Polinices, que miserablemente ha muerto, dicen que ha publicado un bando para que ningún ciudadano lo entierre ni lo llore; sino que insepulto y sin los honores del llanto, lo dejen para sabrosa presa de las aves que se abalancen a devorarlo. Ese bando dicen que el bueno de Creonte ha hecho pregonar por ti y por mi mí, quiero decir que por mi mí; y que vendrá aquí para anunciar en alta voz esa orden a los que no la conozcan; y que la cosa se ha de tomar no de cualquier manera, porque quien se atreva a hacer algo de lo que prohíbe, se expone a morir lapidado por el pueblo. Ya sabes lo que hay, y pronto podrás demostrar si eres de sangre noble o una cobarde que desdice de la nobleza de sus padres.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 5 focus

ANT

Why, hath not Creon, in the burial-rite,

Of our two brethren honoured one, and wrought

On one foul wrong? Eteocles, they tell,

With lawful consecration he lays out,

And after covers him in earth, adorned

With amplest honours in the world below.
25

But Polynices, miserably slain,

They say ’tis publicly proclaimed that none

Must cover in a grave, nor mourn for him;

But leave him tombless and unwept, a store

Of sweet provision for the carrion fowl
30

That eye him greedily. Such righteous law
30

Good Creon hath pronounced for thy behoof—

Ay, and for mine! I am not left out!—And now

He moves this way to promulgate his will

To such as have not heard, nor lightly holds

The thing he bids, but, whoso disobeys,
35

The citizens shall stone him to the death.

This is the matter, and thou wilt quickly show

If thou art noble, or fallen below thy birth.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus

Ismene, traute Schwester, vielgeliebtes Haupt,¹
1

Weißt du von einem Leide, das vom Vater her

Zeus nicht an uns vollendet, die wir leben noch?

Denn keinen Jammer gibt es, nichts Entsezliches,

Nichts Arges, nichts Schmachvolles, das ich nicht bereits
5

In deiner Noth gesehen und in meiner Noth.

Und welche Botschaft, heißt es, ließ jezt eben erst

Der Herrscher wieder allem Volk verkündigen?

Weißt du's, vernahmst du's, oder blieb dir unbekannt,

Daß unsern Lieben Böses naht von Feindesmacht?
10

Ismene.

Zu mir gelangte keine Kund', Antigone,

Von unsern Lieben, frohe nicht noch traurige,

Seitdem das Paar der Brüder uns entrissen ward,

Die Eines Tages fielen durch zwiefachen Mord.

Und seit in dieser jüngsten Nacht sich Argos' Heer
15

Zur Flucht gewendet, wurde mir nichts weiter kund,

Nicht, ob mir mehr des Glückes, ob des Leides ward.

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Antigone.

Hat Kreon nicht dem Einen Bruder nur gegönnt

Des Grabes Ehre, jenem sie schmachvoll versagt?

Den Eteokles hat er, wie man sagt, gerecht

Gerechter Ordnung huldigend, in der Erde Schooß

Geborgen, daß ihm Ehre sei im Todtenreich;²
25

Doch Polyneikes' jammervoll entseelten Leib

Verbot er, heißt es, allem Volk durch lauten Ruf

Im Grab zu bergen und um ihn zu klagen; nein,

Daliegen soll er unbeweint, grablos, ein Mahl

Den Vögeln, die zum süßen Raube niederschau'n.
30

Und solches, sagt man, ließ der edle Kreon dir

Und mir, ich sage mir sogar, verkündigen;

Er komme selbst, es deutlich Allen kundzuthun,

Die nicht davon vernommen, und er achte nicht

Für Nichts die Sache; sondern wer deß Eines thut,
35

Den trifft an offner Stätte Tod durch Steinigung.

So ward's von ihm beschlossen, und du zeigst sofort,

Ob edel, ob unedel du von Edlen stammst.

Ismene.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 5 focus

Ismene
39

What wouldst thou have me do ? — defy his

power?

Contemn the laws ?
40

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 5 focus

ANTÍGONA

¡Pues qué! ¿No acaba Creonte de conceder preferentemente á uno de nuestros dos hermanos el honor de la sepultura, privando de él al otro indignamente? — A Eteocles, por un decreto equitativo y justo, le ha hecho sepultar, dicen, con los honores debidos á los manes: — y, por lo que hace al cadáver del desgraciado Polynice, se ha pregonado una orden, prohibiendo á los ciudadanos que le sepulten ni le lloren, para que, abandonado, sin honras fúnebres, ni duelo, sirva de preciado pasto á las aves carniceras ¹. Ya sabes, hermana, lo que el generoso Creonte ha querido ordenarte á tí y á mí; ¡sí, á mi, á mi también! — y le verás venir aquí á proclamar muy clara su voluntad á todos cuantos pudieran ignorarla: — y para que esta prescripción sea severamente cumplida, conmina al que intente desobedecer su mandato, con la pena de morir en la ciudad apedreado á manos del pueblo. — Ya sabes lo que ansiaba comunicarte... ahora tú demostrarás si eres mujer ilustre ó una vil que desmiente su noble sangre.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 5 focus

ANTIGONAE

Hat mit der lezten Ehre denn nicht unsre Brüder

Kreon gekränzt, beschimpfet, wechselsweise ?

Eteokles zwar, sagt man, behandelt er

Mit rechtem Recht, gesezgemäls, und birgt
25

Ihn in der Erd’, ehrsam den Todten drunten.

Vom andern aber, der gestorben ist armseelig,

Von Polynikes Leibe sagen sie, man hab’

Es in der Stadt verkündet, dass man ihn

Mit keinem Grabe berg’ und nicht betraure.
30

Man soll ihn lassen unbeweint und grablos,,

Süfs Mahl den Vögeln, die auf Fralses Lust sehn.

So etwas, sagt man, hat der gute Kreon dir

Und mir, denn mich auch mein’ ich, kund gethan,

Und hierher kommt er, difs Unwissenden
35

Deutlich zu melden. Und die Sache sei

Nicht, wie für nichts. Wer etwas thut dabei,

Dem wird der Tod des Steinigens im Orte.

So steht esdir. Und gleich wirst du beweisen,

Ob gutgeboren, ob die Böse du der Guten?
40

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 5 focus

Antigone

What, hath not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honoured burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he hath laid in the earth, for his honour among the dead below. But the hapless corpse of Polyneices— as rumour saith, it hath been published to the town that none shall entomb him or mourn, but leave unwept, unsepulchred, 30 a welcome store for the birds, as they espy him, to feast on at will. Such, ’tis said, is the edict that the good Creon hath set forth for thee and for me,—yes, for me,—and is coming hither to proclaim it clearly to those who know it not; nor counts the matter light, but, whoso disobeys in aught, his doom is death by stoning before all the folk. Thou knowest it now; and thou wilt soon show whether thou art nobly bred, or the base daughter of.a noble line.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 5 focus

Ismene

Yet, O my sister, to remembrance call

Our father's fate; how odious, how defamed

He perish'd, when confounded with the sense

Of his offences, in his rage he rent

With his own hands his bleeding orbs of sight.

His mother then and wife, to ills on ills

A double title, in the wreathed noose

Died self-destroy'd. Our brothers now, both slain

Each by the other's spear, unhappy youths,

Have in one day one common fate achieved

We now remain sole relics of our house;

Think then how we shall perish by a fate

More wretched still, if we by force infringe

The sovereign pow'r and edict of our lords.

Consider too that we are women, weak

By nature, and unable to contend.

With men; thus subject to a stronger pow'r

We must hear this, and what may grieve us more.

I then (of those beneath the earth revered

Imploring pardon, since by force constrain'd)

Will yield obedience to our potent lords.

Attempts beyond our strength no prudence show....

I would not urge thee; nor, were now thy mind

Prompt to the deed, consent that thou shou'dst act

With me: be such as is thy will to be.

I will inter him; and performing this

Death will be glorious to me; I shall lie

With my dear brother, to my brother dear,

These pious rites discharged; for to the dead

Longer a grace is pleasing than to those

Who live; since there for ever I shall lie.

Do thou, if such thy pleasure, lightly deem

Of sacred things, the honours of the gods.

I hold them high in honour; but to act

By force against the state were rash and wild.

Make that thy fair pretence; but I will go,

And for my dearest brother raise a tomb.

Unhappy sister, how I fear for thee !

Fear not for me; be thy own life thy care.

Yet to none other thy intent disclose :

Conceal it: of my silence be assured.

No, speak it loud: more hateful wilt thou be

If silent; be it then proclaim'd to all.

Thou hast a warm heart in a dangerous act.

Pleasing, I know, this act to those whom most

Behoves it me to please.

Couldst thou effect

Thy purpose; but the deed exceeds thy pow'r.

When my pow'r fails, I from th' attempt will cease.

Attempt not things which cannot be achieved.

Thou wilt be hated e'en by me, if thus

Thou speak, and justly by the dead be held

In hatred. Leave me then, and my design

Thus rash, to put this danger to the proof.

To me no sufferings have that hideous form

Which can affright me from a glorious death.

Go then, since thus resolved; but know th' attempt

Shows frenzy, though strong friendship to thy friends.

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-10-1 τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά ¹

mvp-comment-11-1 μέν ² ἐμοί ³

mvp-comment-11-2 Ἀντιγόνη ⁴

mvp-comment-11-3 φίλων ⁵ μῦθος ⁶

mvp-comment-11-4 ἐξ ὅτου ⁷

mvp-comment-12-1 δυοῖν … δύο ⁸ δύο ⁹

mvp-comment-13-1 θανόντοιν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-13-2 διπλῇ χερί ¹¹

mvp-comment-14-1 ἐπεί ¹²

mvp-comment-14-2 ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν ¹³

mvp-comment-14-3 ὑπέρτερον ¹⁴

mvp-comment-14-4 As

οἶδ’ εὐτυχοῦσα = οἶδ’ ὅτι εὐτυχῶ

, so the participles εὐτυχοῦσα ¹⁵ ἀτωμένη ¹⁶

mvp-comment-15-1 ᾔδη ¹⁷ καλῶς ¹⁸

mvp-comment-15-2 αὐλείων πυλῶν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-15-3 ἐξέπεμπον ²⁰

mvp-comment-16-1 τί δ’ ἔστι ²¹ δηλοῖς ²²

mvp-comment-16-2 καλχαίνουσ’ ἔπος τι ²³

mvp-comment-16-3 is figuratively used like the Homeric

πορφύρω

. In

πορφύρω

the idea of trouble precedes that of colour: in

καλχαίνω

, vice versa.

mvp-comment-17-1 οὐ γάρ ²⁴

mvp-comment-17-2 τὼ κασιγνήτω … τὸν μὲν … τὸν δέ ²⁵

mvp-comment-17-3 The place of τάφου ²⁶ προτίσας ²⁷ τάφου ²⁸ ἀτιμάσας ²⁹

mvp-comment-17-4 ἀτιμάσας ἔχει ³⁰

mvp-comment-18-1 σὺν δίκῃ | χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ ³¹ χρησθεὶς ³² σὺν δίκης | χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου ³⁴ δίκης ³⁵ σύν ³⁶ δίκῃ ³⁷ χρήσει ³⁸ χρησθείς ³⁹ χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-18-2 νόμου ⁴¹

mvp-comment-19-1 τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς ⁴² πᾶσι κλεινός ⁴³

mvp-comment-20-1 θανόντα … Πολυνείκους νέκυν ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-21-1 ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-21-2 τὸ μὴ … καλύψαι ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-22-1 ἐᾶν δ’ ⁴⁷ ἄταφον ἄκλαυτον ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-23-1 θησαυρόν ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-23-2 εἰσορῶσι ⁵⁰ εἰσορμῶσι ⁵¹

mvp-comment-23-3 Take πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς ⁵²

mvp-comment-23-4 πρὸς χάριν ⁵³

mvp-comment-24-1 σοί ⁵⁴ κἀμοί ⁵⁵ κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-24-2 τὸν ἀγαθόν ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-24-3 λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-24-4 Two other explanations may be noticed. Both make σοι ⁵⁹ σοι ⁶⁰ τοιαῦτα ⁶¹ κἀμοί ⁶² σοι ⁶³ σοι ⁶⁴ ἀγαθόν ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-25-1 νεῖσθαι ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-25-2 τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-26-1 παρ’ οὐδέν ⁶⁸ ὡς ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-26-2 ὃς ἂν … δρᾷ ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-27-1 προκεῖσθαι ⁷¹

mvp-comment-27-2 δημόλευστον ⁷²

mvp-comment-28-1 σοι ⁷³

mvp-comment-28-2 ἐσθλῶν ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-29-1 ὦ ταλαῖφρον ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-29-2 εἰ τάδ’ ἐν τούτοις ⁷⁶ ἐν τούτοις ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-30-1 λύουσ’ … ἢ ’φάπτουσα ⁷⁸ εἵθ’ ἅπτουσα ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-30-2 προσθείμην ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-30-3 πλέον ⁸¹

mvp-comment-31-1 ξυμπονήσεις ⁸² ξυνεργάσει ⁸³

mvp-comment-31-2 ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-31-3 Read

ποῦ γνώμης...εἶ

(from

εἶναι

): cp. El. 390

ποῦ ποτ’ εἶ φρενῶν

. The question between ποῦ ⁸⁵ ποῖ ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-32-1 εἰ ⁸⁷ ξὺν τῇδε χερί ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-32-2 κουφιεῖς ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-32-3 ἦ γὰρ ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-32-4 σφε ⁹¹

mvp-comment-32-5 ἀπόρρητον ⁹²

mvp-comment-32-6 πόλει ⁹³

mvp-comment-33-1 τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν ⁹⁴ ἐμόν ⁹⁵ καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς ⁹⁶ τὸν ἐμόν ⁹⁷ τὸν σόν ⁹⁸ ἀδελφόν ⁹⁹ γοῦν ¹⁰⁰ τὸν … ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν ¹⁰¹ καὶ ¹⁰² ἤν ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-34-1 ἀδελφὸν … ἁλώσομαι ¹⁰⁴ ἀδελφόν ¹⁰⁵ οὐ γὰρ δή ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-35-1 ὦ σχετλία ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-35-2

σχετλία τόλμης

. ( b) ‘Suffering,’=

τλήμων

, as Aesch. PV 644 (of Io), Eur. Hec. 783 . Neither Homer nor Soph. has this use. (2) Of things, ‘cruel,’ ‘wretched,’—a use common to all the poets: so Ai. 887

σχέτλια γάρ

(‘'tis cruel’), Tr. 879 .

mvp-comment-36-1 οὐδέν ¹⁰⁸ μέτα ¹⁰⁹ τῶν ἐμῶν ¹¹⁰ εἴργειν ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-37-1 νῷν ¹¹² ἀπώλετο ¹¹³ ἀπεχθής ¹¹⁴ ἀπώλετο ¹¹⁵ ἔπειτα ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-38-1 πρὸς … ἀμπλακημάτων … ἀράξας ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-38-2 αὐτοφώρων ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-38-3 ἀράξας ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-38-4 αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί ¹²⁰ αὐτός ¹²¹ αὐτ. χερί ¹²²

mvp-comment-39-1 διπλοῦν ἔπος ¹²³ πάθος ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-39-2 ἀρτάναισι ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-40-1 δύο … μίαν ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-40-2 αὐτοκτονοῦντε ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-41-1 κατειργάσαντ’ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-41-2 ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν ¹²⁹ ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοιν ¹³⁰ χεροῖν ¹³¹ οιν ¹³² ἐπαλλήλοιν ¹³³ χεροῖν ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-42-1 νῦν δ’ αὖ ¹³⁵ δ’ ¹³⁶ νῦν αὖ ¹³⁷ αὖ ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-42-2 μόνα δή ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-43-1 ψῆφον ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-43-2 τυράννων ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-43-3 κράτη ¹⁴² ἢ ¹⁴³ καὶ ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-44-1 τοῦτο μὲν ¹⁴⁵ ἐννοεῖν ¹⁴⁶ ἔπειτα δ’ ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-44-2 ὡς ¹⁴⁸ οὐ μαχουμένα ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-45-1 οὕνεκ’ ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-45-2 ἐκ ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-45-3 ἀκούειν ¹⁵² ταῦτα ¹⁵³ ἀλγίονα ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-46-1 ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-46-2 τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονός ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-46-3 βιάζομαι τάδε ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-47-1 τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι ¹⁵⁸ βεβῶσι ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-47-2 τὸ γὰρ | ...πράσσειν ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-47-3 περισσὰ πρ ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-47-4 οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδ. ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-48-1 ἔτι ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-48-2 πράσσειν … δρῴης ¹⁶⁴ δρῴης ¹⁶⁵ ἄν ¹⁶⁶ ἡδέως ¹⁶⁷ γε ¹⁶⁸ ἡδέως γε ἂν ἐμοῦ ¹⁶⁹ <)μοῦ ¹⁷⁰ γε ¹⁷¹ ἐμοί γ’ ¹⁷² μέτα ¹⁷³ ἀσμένης ¹⁷⁴ ἡδέως ¹⁷⁵ ἐμοῦ γε ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-49-1 ἴσθ’ ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-49-2 όποία σοι δοκεῖ ¹⁷⁸ ἴσθ’ ¹⁷⁹ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-50-1 θάψω ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-50-2 φίλη … φίλου ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-50-3 μετ’ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι ¹⁸³ μετά ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-51-1 ὅσια πανουργήσασ’ ¹⁸⁵ ὅσια ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-51-2 ἐπεὶ κ.τ.λ. ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-51-3 τῶν ἐνθάδε ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-52-1 κείσομαι ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-52-2 σοὶ δ’ ¹⁹⁰ σὺ δ’ ¹⁹¹ εἰ δοκεῖ ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-52-3 τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμα ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-52-4 ἀτιμάσασ’ ἔχε ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-53-1 ἐγὼ ¹⁹⁵ μέν ¹⁹⁶ δέ ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-53-2 ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-53-3 τὸ δὲ | ...δρᾶν ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-54-1 τάδ’ ἂν προὔχοιο ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-54-2 δὴ ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-54-3 τάφον χώσουσ’ ²⁰²

mvp-comment-55-1 Join οἴμοι ταλαίνης ²⁰³

mvp-comment-55-2 μὴ ’μοῦ προτάρβει ²⁰⁴ τὸν σόν ²⁰⁵ μὴ ’μοῦ ²⁰⁶ προτάρβει ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-55-3 ἐξόρθου ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-56-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν … γε ²⁰⁹ ἀλλά ²¹⁰ οὖν ²¹¹

mvp-comment-56-2 κρυφῆ δέ ²¹²

mvp-comment-56-3 σὺν δ’ ²¹³

mvp-comment-56-4 αὔτως ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-57-1 καταύδα ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-57-2 πολλόν ²¹⁶ πολλὸν ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-57-3 σιγῶσ’ ²¹⁸ ἐὰν … τάδε ²¹⁹ πᾶσι ²²⁰

mvp-comment-58-1 θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι ²²¹ ἐπί ²²² θερμήν ²²³

mvp-comment-59-1 ἁδεῖν ²²⁴

mvp-comment-60-1 εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ’ ²²⁵ καὶ ²²⁶ δυνήσει ²²⁷ εἰ καί ²²⁸

mvp-comment-61-1 Since οὐκοῦν ²²⁹ δὴ ²³⁰ ὅταν ²³¹

mvp-comment-61-2 πεπαύσομαι ²³²

mvp-comment-62-1 ἀρχήν ²³³

mvp-comment-63-1 ἐχθαρεῖ ²³⁴

mvp-comment-63-2 ἐξ ἐμοῦ ²³⁵

mvp-comment-64-1 ἐχθρὰ...τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ ²³⁶ προσκείσει ²³⁷ ἐχθρά ²³⁸

mvp-comment-64-2 Lehrs proposed

Δίκῃ

, i.e. ‘you will fall under the chastisement of justice.’ Donaldson, following Emper, reads

ἐχθρᾷ... δίκῃ

, as iure inimicorum apud mortuum eris: i.e. on the part of the dead you will be deemed to have only the rights of a foe. This is impossible. The ordinary reading is sound.

mvp-comment-65-1 ἔα ²³⁹

mvp-comment-65-2 τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσββουλίαν ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-65-3 τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-65-4 πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ ²⁴³

mvp-comment-65-5 μὴ οὐ ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-66-1 τοῖς φίλοις δ’ ὀρθῶς φίλη ²⁴⁵ ἴσθι ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-68-1 ἀελίου ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-68-2 τὸ κάλλιστον ...φάος ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-68-3 ἑπταπύλῳ ²⁴⁹

mvp-comment-68-4 τῶν προτέρων ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-69-1 ἐφάνθης ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-69-2 χρυσέας ²⁵²

mvp-comment-69-3 βλέφαρον ²⁵³

mvp-comment-69-4 Διρκαίων ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-70-1 τὸν λεύκασπιν...φῶτα ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-70-2 The words

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν

answer metrically to 123

πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν

. Instead of

Ἀργόθεν

(¯˘¯) we therefore require ¯˘˘¯. The short final of

λεύκασπιν

is legitimate, the metre being Glyconic (see Analysis Metr.). In the antistrophic verse, the H of

Ἥφαιστον

is ‘irrational,’ i.e. is a long syllable doing duty for a short: and Nauck is incorrect in saying that the metre ‘requires’ (though it admits) a choriambus beginning with a consonant. The simplest remedy is to read Ἀργόθεν ἐκ | βάντα φῶτα ²⁵⁶ Ἰναχόθεν ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-71-1 πανσαγίᾳ ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-71-2 φυγάδα πρ. ²⁵⁹ κινήσασα ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-71-3 πρόδρομον ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-71-4 ὀξυτέρῳ...χαλινῷ ²⁶²

mvp-comment-71-5 ὀξυτέρῳ ²⁶³

mvp-comment-72-1 The MSS. have ὃν...Πολυνείκης ²⁶⁴ ὃς ...Πολυνείκους ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-72-2 Πολυνείκους … νεικέων ²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-72-3 ἀρθείς ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-72-4 νεικ. ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-73-1 ὀξέα κλάζων ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-73-2 αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα ²⁷⁰ ὥς ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-73-3 ὑπερέπτα ²⁷²

mvp-comment-74-1 λευκῆς χιόνος πτ. ²⁷³

mvp-comment-74-2 στεγανός ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-74-3 ὅπλων … κορύθεσσι ²⁷⁵ ξύν ²⁷⁶ μετά ²⁷⁷ ξύν ²⁷⁸

mvp-comment-75-1 In στὰς δ’ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων ²⁷⁹ πτάς ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-75-2 The words φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν... λόγχαις ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-75-3 φονώσαισιν ²⁸²

mvp-comment-75-4 ἑπτάπυλον στόμα ²⁸³

mvp-comment-76-1 ἔβα ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-76-2 πρίν ποθ’ ²⁸⁵ αἱμάτων ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-76-3 γἑνυσιν ²⁸⁷ πλησθῆναι ²⁸⁸ τε ²⁸⁹ τε ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-76-4 στεφάνωμα ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-76-5 πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ²⁹²

mvp-comment-77-1 τοῖος ²⁹³

mvp-comment-77-2 ἐτάθη ²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-77-3 πάταγος ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-77-4 ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος ²⁹⁶ ἀντιπάλῳ ... δράκοντι ²⁹⁷ ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος ²⁹⁸ ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντος ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-77-5 The interpretation of the passage turns primarily on two points.

mvp-comment-77-6 (1) The δράκων ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-77-7 (2) The δυς ³⁰¹ δυσχείρωμα ³⁰²

mvp-comment-77-8 Those who read ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντι ³⁰³ ὲτάθη ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-77-9 Those who read ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος ³⁰⁵

mvp-comment-78-1 μεγάλης ³⁰⁶

mvp-comment-78-2 ῥεύματι ³⁰⁷ ῥεύματι πολλῷ ³⁰⁸

mvp-comment-79-1 χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-79-2

μέγας

. In post-Homeric poetry

ὑπέροπλος

is a freq. epith. of overweening strength (

ἠνορέη, βίη, ἥβη

, etc.).—Other readings are:—(1)

χρυσοῦ καναχῇ θ’ ὑπερόπτας

, ‘and haughty in the clang of gold.’ This involves an improbable change; the subst.

ὑπερόπτης

, too, is unsuitable here, and cannot be defended by Theocr. 22. 58

πρὸς πάντα παλίγκοτος ἠδ’ ὑπερόπτης

. Wecklein, reading

ὑπερόπτας

, keeps

καναχῆς

in the sense, hoffärtig auf: but a genit. after

ὑπερόπτης

could not denote that in which one takes pride. (2)

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτης

, or

‐όπτα

, i.e., ‘Zeus, a despiser of the clang of gold.’ (3)

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπέροπτα

, adv. neut. plur. (as O. T. 883 ), ‘advancing haughtily in a great stream of clanging gold.’ But the adv. comes weakly at the end, and

χρυσοῦ κ

. is harshly joined with

π. ῥεύματι

.—Aesch. , too, gives prominence to gold in picturing the Argive chiefs: Capaneus has golden letters on his shield ( Aesch. Th. 434 ), Polyneices has the image of a warrior in golden armour, with a golden legend (644, Aesch. Th. 660 ).

mvp-comment-79-3 καναχῆς ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-80-1 παλτῷ πυρί ³¹¹

mvp-comment-80-2 βαλβίδων ἐπ’ ἄκρων ³¹²

mvp-comment-80-3 ὁρμῶντα ³¹³

mvp-comment-80-4 νίκην ³¹⁴ ἀλαλάξαι ³¹⁵

mvp-comment-81-1 ἀντιτύπᾳ ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-81-2 As regards the sense,

ἀντίτυπος

was regularly used of hard surfaces, which, as it were, repel that which strikes them (for the accent

ἀντίτυπος

, not

ἀντιτύπος

, though the sense is act., see on O. T. 460 ). Probl. 5. 40

οἱ...ἐν ἀντιτύποις περίπατοι

. Lucian Amor. 13

τὴν ἀντίτυπον οὕτω καὶ καρτερὰν τοῦ λίθου φύσιν

. So, fig., Plat. Crat. 420D

τὸ...ἀναγκαῖον καὶ ἀντίτυπον

, what is necessary, and what resists us.

mvp-comment-81-3 τανταλωθείς ³¹⁷

mvp-comment-82-1 πυρφόρος ³¹⁸

mvp-comment-82-2 βακχεύων ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-82-3 ῥιπαῖς...ἀνέμων ³²⁰

mvp-comment-83-1 εἶχε δ’ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν ³²¹ εἶχε δ’ ἄλλαι τὰ μὲν ἄλλαι τὰ δ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ³²² τὰ μέν ³²³ ἄλλα δέ ³²⁴ τὰ μέν ³²⁵ ἄλλᾳ ³²⁶

mvp-comment-83-2 ἐπενώμα ³²⁷ στυφελίζων ³²⁸

mvp-comment-83-3 δεξιόσειρος ³²⁹

mvp-comment-83-4 The old v.l. δεξιόχειρος ³³⁰

mvp-comment-84-1 ἑπτὰ λοχαγοί ³³¹

mvp-comment-84-2 ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ³³²

mvp-comment-84-3 Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ ³³³

mvp-comment-84-4 πάγχαλκα τέλη ³³⁴

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 ³³⁵ πατρός ³³⁶

mvp-comment-85-2 καθ’ αὑτοῖν ³³⁷

mvp-comment-85-3 δικρατεῖς λόγχας ³³⁸

mvp-comment-85-4 στήσαντε ³³⁹

mvp-comment-86-1 ἀλλὰ γάρ ³⁴⁰ γάρ ³⁴¹ γάρ ³⁴²

mvp-comment-86-2 μεγαλώνυμος ³⁴³

mvp-comment-86-3 πολυαρμάτῳ ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-86-4 ἀντιχαρεῖσα ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-87-1 ἐκ...πολέμων τῶν νῦν ³⁴⁶ ἐκ ³⁴⁷ νῦν ³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-87-2 θέσθαι ³⁴⁹ θέσθε ³⁵⁰ παννυχίοις ³⁵¹

mvp-comment-87-3 ὁ Θήβας ³⁵² ἐλελίχθων ³⁵³

mvp-comment-87-4 Βάκχιος ³⁵⁴

mvp-comment-87-5 ἄρχοι ³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-88-1 ἀλλὰ … γάρ ³⁵⁶ Κρέων ³⁵⁷

mvp-comment-88-2 Μενοικέως ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-88-3 νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι ³⁵⁹

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 ³⁶⁰ κρείων ³⁶¹ ἄρχων ³⁶² ταγός ³⁶³

mvp-comment-88-5 θεῶν … συντυχίαις ³⁶⁴ ἐπί ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-89-1 μῆτιν ἐρέσσων ³⁶⁶

mvp-comment-89-2 σύγκλητον ³⁶⁷

mvp-comment-89-3 προὔθετο ³⁶⁸ λέσχην ³⁶⁹

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 ³⁷⁰

mvp-comment-89-5 κοινῷ κ. πέμψας ³⁷¹

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’ ³⁷²

mvp-comment-91-3 πόλεος ³⁷³ πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ³⁷⁴

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 ³⁷⁵

mvp-comment-92-1 ἐκ πάντων ³⁷⁶ δίχα ³⁷⁷

mvp-comment-92-2 ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι ³⁷⁸ τοῦτο μέν ³⁷⁹

mvp-comment-92-3 σέβοντας ³⁸⁰

mvp-comment-92-4 θρόνων . . κράτη ³⁸¹

mvp-comment-93-1 ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους ³⁸² κείνων ³⁸³ κείνων παῖδας ³⁸⁴ ἡνίκ’ . . ὤρθου πόλιν ³⁸⁵ ἐπεὶ διώλετο ³⁸⁶ τοῦτο μέν . . τοῦτ’ αὖθις ³⁸⁷

mvp-comment-93-2 καί ³⁸⁸ καί ³⁸⁹

mvp-comment-93-3 ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν ³⁹⁰ ἐμπέδους ³⁹¹ ἐμπέδοις ³⁹²

mvp-comment-94-1 ὅτε ³⁹³

mvp-comment-94-2 πρὸς διπλῆς μ. ³⁹⁴ διπλῆς . . μίαν ³⁹⁵

mvp-comment-94-3 παίσαντες . . πληγέντες ³⁹⁶

mvp-comment-94-4 αὐτόχειρι … μιάσματι ³⁹⁷

mvp-comment-95-1 ἐγὼ . . δή ³⁹⁸

mvp-comment-95-2 κράτη ³⁹⁹

mvp-comment-95-3 γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλ. ⁴⁰⁰

mvp-comment-96-1 ἀμήχανον δέ ⁴⁰¹ δέ ⁴⁰² δέ ⁴⁰³

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 ⁴⁰⁴ φρόνημα ⁴⁰⁵ γνώμην ⁴⁰⁶

mvp-comment-98-1 ἀρχαῖς ⁴⁰⁷ νόμοισιν ⁴⁰⁸

mvp-comment-98-2 ἐντριβής ⁴⁰⁹

mvp-comment-98-3 φανῇ ⁴¹⁰

mvp-comment-99-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ ⁴¹¹ γάρ ⁴¹² πᾶσαν … πόλιν ⁴¹³

mvp-comment-99-2 μὴ … ἅπτεται ⁴¹⁴ ὅστις μὴ ἅπτεται ⁴¹⁵

mvp-comment-99-3 ἐκ φ. του ⁴¹⁶

mvp-comment-99-4 ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει ⁴¹⁷

mvp-comment-99-5 νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι ⁴¹⁸

mvp-comment-100-1 μείζον’ ⁴¹⁹ ἀντὶ τῆς...πάτρας ⁴²⁰ ἤ ⁴²¹ μεῖζον ⁴²²

mvp-comment-100-2 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω ⁴²³

mvp-comment-101-1 ἐγὼ γάρ ⁴²⁴ γάρ ⁴²⁵ τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ⁴²⁶ ἴστω ⁴²⁷

mvp-comment-102-1 οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι ⁴²⁸

mvp-comment-103-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ⁴²⁹ ὁμοῦ ⁴³⁰

mvp-comment-103-2 ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ⁴³¹ τῆς ⁴³²

mvp-comment-104-1 ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονός ⁴³³

mvp-comment-104-2 ἐμαυτῷ ⁴³⁴ φίλον ⁴³⁵ θείμην ⁴³⁶

mvp-comment-105-1 ἡ σῴζουσα ⁴³⁷

mvp-comment-105-2 ταύτης ⁴³⁸ ὀρθῆς ⁴³⁹

mvp-comment-105-3 τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα ⁴⁴⁰

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 ⁴⁴¹

mvp-comment-106-2 αὔξω ⁴⁴²

mvp-comment-107-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε ⁴⁴³

mvp-comment-107-2 τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου ⁴⁴⁴

mvp-comment-108-1 δορί ⁴⁴⁵ δόρει ⁴⁴⁶

mvp-comment-109-1 τὰ πάντ’ ἐφαγνίσαι ⁴⁴⁷ ἐπί ⁴⁴⁸ ἐφαγνίσαι ⁴⁴⁹ ἀφαγνίσαι ⁴⁵⁰ ἀπό ⁴⁵¹

mvp-comment-110-1 τοῖς ἀρίστοις ⁴⁵²

mvp-comment-110-2 ἔρχεται κάτω ⁴⁵³

mvp-comment-111-1 L has Πολυνείκην ⁴⁵⁴

mvp-comment-111-2 λέγω ⁴⁵⁵

mvp-comment-112-1 γτ=ν πατρῴαν . . καὶ θεοὺς . . πρῆσαι ⁴⁵⁶

mvp-comment-112-2 θ. τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς ⁴⁵⁷

mvp-comment-112-3 κατελθών ⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-112-4 γ)θέλησε μέν … ἠθέλ. δέ ⁴⁵⁹ ἠθέλησε μὲν ⁴⁶⁰

mvp-comment-112-5 πρῆσαι ⁴⁶¹

mvp-comment-112-6 κατ’ ἄκρας ⁴⁶²

mvp-comment-112-7 αἵματος κ. πάσασθαι ⁴⁶³

mvp-comment-112-8 τοὺς δὲ … ἄγειν ⁴⁶⁴

mvp-comment-113-1 The traditional ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ ⁴⁶⁵ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ ⁴⁶⁶ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι λέγω ⁴⁶⁷ τάφῳ ⁴⁶⁸ κτερίζειν ⁴⁶⁹ τάφῳ ⁴⁷⁰ κτερίζειν ⁴⁷¹ μήτε ⁴⁷² κωκῦσαι ⁴⁷³ τάφῳ ⁴⁷⁴ λέγω ⁴⁷⁵ τάφῳ ⁴⁷⁶ ἐκκεκ ⁴⁷⁷

mvp-comment-114-1 ἐᾶν δ ⁴⁷⁸ ἄθαπτον, αἰκισθέντ’ ἰδεῖν ⁴⁷⁹ δέμας καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστόν ⁴⁸⁰ αἰκισθέντ ⁴⁸¹ αἰκισθέντ ⁴⁸² ἐδεστόν ⁴⁸³ αἰκισθέν τ’, δέμας ⁴⁸⁴

mvp-comment-114-2 δέμας ⁴⁸⁵

mvp-comment-114-3 ἰδεῖν ⁴⁸⁶

mvp-comment-115-1 φρόνημα ⁴⁸⁷

mvp-comment-115-2 ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ ⁴⁸⁸

mvp-comment-116-1 The MSS. have τιμὴν προέξουσ’ ..τῶν ἐνδ. ⁴⁸⁹ τιμήν ⁴⁹⁰ τιμῆ ⁴⁹¹ προσέξους ⁴⁹²

mvp-comment-117-1 τιμήσεται ⁴⁹³

mvp-comment-118-1 I print Dindorf's κἀς ⁴⁹⁴ καὶ ⁴⁹⁵ σοὶ ταῦτ’ ἀρέσκει ⁴⁹⁶ Κρέον ⁴⁹⁷ ταὔτ ⁴⁹⁸ ταῦτ’ ⁴⁹⁹

mvp-comment-119-1 In παντί πού γ’ ⁵⁰⁰ σοί γ’ … που ⁵⁰¹ ἔνεστι ⁵⁰² χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν ⁵⁰³ πέρι ⁵⁰⁴

mvp-comment-120-1 ὡς ἂν … ἦτε ⁵⁰⁵ πῶς ἂν … εἶτε ⁵⁰⁶

mvp-comment-120-2 σκοποί ⁵⁰⁷

mvp-comment-120-3 νυν ⁵⁰⁸ νῦν ⁵⁰⁹

mvp-comment-120-4 τῶν εἰρ ⁵¹⁰

mvp-comment-121-1 πρόθες τοῦτο ⁵¹¹ βαστάζειν ⁵¹²

mvp-comment-121-2 τοῦ νεκροῦ γ’ ⁵¹³

mvp-comment-122-1 τί δῆτ’ ἂν … ἐπεντέλλοις ⁵¹⁴

mvp-comment-122-2 The reading ἄλλῳ ⁵¹⁵ τοῦτο ⁵¹⁶

mvp-comment-122-3 ἐπιχωρεῖν ⁵¹⁷

mvp-comment-122-4 ἀπιστοῦσιν ⁵¹⁸

mvp-comment-122-5 τάδε, ⁵¹⁹

mvp-comment-123-1 ὃς ⁵²⁰ ἐρᾷ ⁵²¹

mvp-comment-123-2 καὶ μὴν ⁵²² γε ⁵²³ μισθός ⁵²⁴

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 ⁵²⁵

mvp-comment-123-5 διώλεσεν ⁵²⁶

mvp-comment-124-1 ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ⁵²⁷

mvp-comment-124-2 ὅπως ⁵²⁸

mvp-comment-124-3 τάχους ὕπο ⁵²⁹ τάχους ⁵³⁰

mvp-comment-125-1 ἐξάρας ⁵³¹

mvp-comment-125-2 φροντίδων ⁵³² ἐπιστάσεις ⁵³³

mvp-comment-125-3 ὁδοῖς ⁵³⁴

mvp-comment-125-4 κυκλῶν ⁵³⁵

mvp-comment-126-1 ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα ⁵³⁶ πολλὰ ⁵³⁷ μυθουμένη ⁵³⁸

mvp-comment-127-1 τάλας … τλήμων ⁵³⁹

mvp-comment-127-2 μένεις ⁵⁴⁰ μενεῖς ⁵⁴¹ αὖ ⁵⁴²

mvp-comment-127-3 πῶς … οὐκ ⁵⁴³

mvp-comment-127-4 ἀλγυνεῖ ⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-128-1 ἑλίσσων ⁵⁴⁵

mvp-comment-128-2 ἤνυτον ⁵⁴⁶

mvp-comment-128-3 σχολῇ βραδύς ⁵⁴⁷

mvp-comment-129-1 τέλος γε μέντοι ⁵⁴⁸

mvp-comment-129-2 ἐνίκησεν ⁵⁴⁹

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 ⁵⁵⁰ μολεῖν ⁵⁵¹ σοί ⁵⁵² φράσων ⁵⁵³ φράσω δ ⁵⁵⁴ κεἰ ⁵⁵⁵ κεἴ σοι ⁵⁵⁶ σοί. ⁵⁵⁷

mvp-comment-130-2 τὸ μηδέν ⁵⁵⁸

mvp-comment-131-1 τῆς ἐλπίδος ⁵⁵⁹

mvp-comment-131-2 δεδραγμένος ⁵⁶⁰ πεφραγμένος ⁵⁶¹ πεπραγμένος ⁵⁶²

mvp-comment-131-3 τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἄν ⁵⁶³

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 ⁵⁶⁴

mvp-comment-132-1 ἀνθ’ οὗ ⁵⁶⁵

mvp-comment-132-2 τὸ γὰρ | πρᾶγμ’ ⁵⁶⁶ γάρ ⁵⁶⁷

mvp-comment-133-1 εὖ γε στοχάζει ⁵⁶⁸ στοχάζει ⁵⁶⁹ ἀποφράγνυσαι ⁵⁷⁰ στοχάζομαι ⁵⁷¹

mvp-comment-133-2 κἀποφράγνυσαι ⁵⁷²

mvp-comment-133-3 τὸ πρᾶγμα ⁵⁷³

mvp-comment-134-1 δηλοῖς δ’ ὥς τι ς. ⁵⁷⁴

mvp-comment-135-1 τὰ δεινά ⁵⁷⁵ γάρ ⁵⁷⁶

mvp-comment-135-2 ποτ ⁵⁷⁷

mvp-comment-135-3 ἀπαλλαχθείς ⁵⁷⁸

mvp-comment-136-1 καὶ δή ⁵⁷⁹

mvp-comment-136-2 θάψας ⁵⁸⁰ κἀπί ⁵⁸¹

mvp-comment-136-3 διψίαν ⁵⁸²

mvp-comment-136-4 κἀφαγιστεύσας ⁵⁸³ ἃ χρή ⁵⁸⁴

mvp-comment-137-1 ἀνδρῶν ⁵⁸⁵

mvp-comment-137-2 οὔτε του γενῇδος … οὐ δικέλλης ⁵⁸⁶ οὔτε … οὐ ⁵⁸⁷ γενῄς ⁵⁸⁸ γενῄς ⁵⁸⁹ δίκελλα ⁵⁹⁰

mvp-comment-137-3 δικ. ἐκβολή ⁵⁹¹ ἐκβ. ⁵⁹² στύφλος ⁵⁹³ χέρσος ⁵⁹⁴ ἀρρώξ ⁵⁹⁵

mvp-comment-137-4 ἐπημαξευμένη ⁵⁹⁶ ἐπ‐ ⁵⁹⁷ ἐφ‐ ⁵⁹⁸

mvp-comment-137-5 ἀλλ’ ὁ ἐργάτης ἄσημός τις ἦν ⁵⁹⁹

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 ⁶⁰⁰ ἡμεροσκ. ⁶⁰¹

mvp-comment-138-2 δείκνυσι … παρῆν ⁶⁰²

mvp-comment-138-3 δυσχερές ⁶⁰³

mvp-comment-139-1 ὁ μὲν ⁶⁰⁴

mvp-comment-139-2 τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ ⁶⁰⁵ τυμβ. ⁶⁰⁶ λεπτὴ δ’ … ἐπῆν ⁶⁰⁷

mvp-comment-139-3 ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς ⁶⁰⁸ ἄγος ⁶⁰⁹

mvp-comment-140-1 θηρός ⁶¹⁰

mvp-comment-140-2 του ⁶¹¹ θηρός ⁶¹²

mvp-comment-140-3 οὐ σπάσαντος ⁶¹³ οὐ ⁶¹⁴ σπάσαντος ⁶¹⁵ σπάσαντος οὐδ’ ἐλθόντος ⁶¹⁶

mvp-comment-141-1 λόγοι δ’ … φύλακα ⁶¹⁷ λόγοι κακοὶ ἐρρόθουν ⁶¹⁸ ἐρρόθουν ⁶¹⁹

mvp-comment-141-2

γλώσσης ῥόθος

, of an unintelligible jargon.

mvp-comment-141-3 ἐλέγχων ⁶²⁰

mvp-comment-141-4 κἂν ἐγίγνετο ⁶²¹

mvp-comment-141-5 τελευτῶς ⁶²²

mvp-comment-141-6 ὁ κωλύσων ⁶²³

mvp-comment-142-1 ἦν … οὑξειργ. ⁶²⁴

mvp-comment-142-2 ἐναργής ⁶²⁵

mvp-comment-142-3 ἀλλ’ ⁶²⁶

mvp-comment-142-4 ἕφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι ⁶²⁷

mvp-comment-142-5 μὴ ⁶²⁸ εἰδέναι ⁶²⁹

mvp-comment-143-1 μύδρους ⁶³⁰

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 ⁶³¹

mvp-comment-144-2 θεοὺς ὁρκ. ⁶³³

mvp-comment-144-3 τὸ μήτε δρ ⁶³⁴

mvp-comment-144-4 μήτ’ είργασμένῳ ⁶³⁵ μηδ ⁶³⁶

mvp-comment-145-1 πλέον ⁶³⁷

mvp-comment-145-2 λέγει ⁶³⁸

mvp-comment-145-3 τις εἷς ⁶³⁹

mvp-comment-146-1 προὔτρεψεν ⁶⁴⁰

mvp-comment-146-2 οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν ⁶⁴¹

mvp-comment-146-3 As ἀντιφωνεῖν ⁶⁴² δρῶντες ⁶⁴³ ὅπως δρῶντες ⁶⁴⁴ εἴχομεν ⁶⁴⁵

mvp-comment-147-1 σοί ⁶⁴⁶

mvp-comment-147-2 ταῦτ’ ἐνίκα ⁶⁴⁷

mvp-comment-147-3 πάλος ⁶⁴⁸ καθαιρεῖ ⁶⁴⁹

mvp-comment-147-4 τἀγαθόν ⁶⁵⁰ —ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν ⁶⁵¹

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

1-17. mvp-comment-1-1 The opening speeches reveal the contrast between the sisters, while the affectionate address of Antigone in l. 1 gives greater emphasis to her violent outbreak in l. 69. Cp. О. Т. 85, and note.

10. mvp-comment-9-1 τῶν ἐχθρῶν When evils devised by enemies are threatening those we love. In the vehemence of her resentment she already speaks of Creon as an enemy. Cp. infr. 62. τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά, Schol. According to others τῶν ἐχθρῶν is abl. gen. passing from enemies, i.e. no longer directed towards them, or descriptive, evils which belong to enemies, i. e. which should be confined to them.

11. mvp-comment-10-1 οὐδεὶς μῦθος.. φίλων Νo word concerning any of our friends. Essay on Language § 9. p. 13.

12. mvp-comment-11-1 ἐξ ὅτου Sophocles has not been careful to mark the exact sequence of the events preceding the action of the Play. (See Introduction.) But the death of the brothers is supposed to have taken place some little time before the rout of the Argive host. Infr. 144-148.

14. mvp-comment-12-1 μιᾷ.. διπλῇ Essay on Language p. 69.

17. mvp-comment-13-1 μᾶλλον is redundant, the whole expression being epexegetic of οὐδὲν ὑπέρτερον, and in construction with οἶδα.

18-19. mvp-comment-14-1 καί σ'.. ἐξέπεμπον And it is for this that I have been leading thee forth. Thus a probable reason is given for the appearance of the two maidens before the gate. Their usual seclusion has been somewhat relaxed during the absence of Creon and Eteocles with the army. Infr. 578-579. Cp. El. 517.

20. mvp-comment-15-1 δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος It is plain that your thoughts are darkening with some troublous word.

20. mvp-comment-15-2 καλχαίνω is formed on a fancied analogy to πορφύρω, as this is used in Homer of the agitation of the sea, and, metaphorically, of the mind. According to others the first notion of καλχαίνω is to stir from the depths, as in dredging for the murex (κάλχη).

21. mvp-comment-16-1 τάφου is genitive of respect with both participles, but chiefly privative genitive ve ἀτιμάσας. See Essay on Language p. 66, 1, 68. She implies that both brothers had been dishonoured by the decree. Cp. infr. 515-517, οὐ μαρτυρήσει ταῦθ᾽ ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς.. οὐ γάρ τι δοῦλος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὤλετο.

23. mvp-comment-17-1 ὡς λέγουσι, resumed in φασιν l. 27, φασι l. 31, points to the fact that the maidens in their seclusion could only know of the edict from hearsay.

23. mvp-comment-17-2 σὺν δίκῃ | †χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ χρησθείς has been generally condemned, and ἐχρήσθην only occurs elsewhere in a strictly passive sense. Yet, as Shilleto observes (Journ. of Phil. No. 13, p. 149), ᾐδεσάμην and ᾐδέσθην, the former in lyric verse, the latter in senarii, are found within a few lines of each other in O. T. 647, 651; and χρησάμενος does not occur in Sophocles.

23. mvp-comment-17-3 Ἐτεοκλέα ἔκρυψε, χρησθεὶς (αὐτῷ) σὺν δίκῃ, is not impossible in point of syntax. On the other hand neither χρησθεὶς δίκαια, nor χρηστοῖς δικαίᾳ, nor προσθεὶς δίκαια, can be approved. In 1871 I suggested προθείς. After laying him out in state, with the righteous meed of honour and all customary observance, he has covered him in earth. Cp. Hdt. 1.112-115. 8, τρεῖς μὲν ἡμέρας προτιθέασι τὸν νεκρόν: inf. 196, καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι. This part of the treatment of Eteocles would contrast with the prohibition even to mourn for Polynices. Cp. Thuc. 2. 34, where the words καὶ ἐπιφέρει τῷ αὑτοῦ ἕκαστος ἤν τι βούληται throw some light on the custom implied in σὺν δίκῃ δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ. For the emphatic δικαίᾳ, cp. Αj. 1100, ἐς ταφὰς ἐγὼ θήσω δικαίως: Hdt. 8. 106, νόμῳ δικαίῳ χρεώμενοι. προθείς may have been changed to προσθείς (which Donaldson conjectured), and to this may have been added an interlinear gloss ἃ χρή. Cp. 1. 243. κάφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή. Another guess is χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν (sc. αὐτῷ). For similar fullness of expression on a solemn occasion, cp. O. T. 219, 259.

25. mvp-comment-18-1 τοῖς .. νεκροῖς Holding his honours amongst the dead; i.e. not ἄτιμος, or deprived of common rights.

26. mvp-comment-19-1 θανόντα .. νέκυν Cp. infr. 515, ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς.

27. mvp-comment-20-1 ἐκκεκηρύχθαι Passive. That proclamation has been made. Cp. προκεῖσθαι, l. 36 .

29. mvp-comment-21-1 ἐἂν. Sc. πάντας. The affirmative subject is supplied from the negative Cp. the language of the proclamation in O. T. 241, and see Essay on Language p. 59.

29. mvp-comment-21-2 ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον Cp. Od. 11. 72; Il. 22. 386; Eur. Hec. 30.

29-30. mvp-comment-22-1 οἰωνοῖς .. βορᾶς (1) To the vultures a sweet treasure as they eye him with a view to the gratification of food. Cp. infr. 371 τόλμας χάριν : 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω; Or, perhaps. (2) To the vultures, eyeing him, a glad store of food to gratify their desire. For πρὸς χάριν in the latter rendering, cp. Phil. 1156, ἀντίφονον κορέσαι στόμα πρὸς χάριν, and for the combination of adverbial phrase and noun, El. 1336, σὺν χαρᾷ βοῆς.

31. mvp-comment-23-1 τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα Cp. Phil. 873, ἁγαθοὶ στρατηλάται.

31-32. mvp-comment-24-1 σοι | κάμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ] Antigone first says, There is Creon's proclamation for you! (σοι unemphatic as in l. 37:) then, going off upon the word, For you, did I say? ay, and for me too, for I count myself also amongst those forbidden. This is said with bitter emphasis, showing that she has fully counted the cost of the act she meditates. The proclamation extends to me-I accept the consequences. For λέγω in this sense, cp. Aesch. Prom. 973, καὶ σὲ δ᾽ ἐν τούτοις λέγω: Cho. 989, Αἰγίσθου γὰρ οὐ λέγω μόρον. Others take κἀμέ as κάμοί, Το me, I say! (whose spirit he little knows).

35. mvp-comment-25-1 ὃς ἄν Essay on Language § 22. p. 35, 2. §39. p. 72.

35. mvp-comment-25-2 τούτων τι For this idiomatic use of τι, cp. Thuc. 5. 13, δρᾶν τι ὧν ἐκεῖνος ἐπενόει.

36. mvp-comment-26-1 δημόλευστον By stoning of the people. Essay on Language p. 98, a, line 15.

38. mvp-comment-27-1 For εὐγενής in the ethical sense, cp. Eur. El. 363, οὔτοι τό γ' ἦθος δυσγενές παρέξομαι. And for the genitive ἐσθλῶν, cp. Αj. 763, ἄνους καλῶς λέγοντος εὑρέθη πατρός.

39-40. mvp-comment-28-1 Alas for thy rash spirit! What help, if things be at this pass, can I afford, either to undo what is done, or to confirm it?' ταλαῖφρον points to the daring spirit of Antigone and to the tone of her last words. For λύουσα, cp. Aesch. S. c. Т. 270, λύουσα πολεμίων φόβον. The choice lies between ἢ 'φάπτουσα and εἴθ' ἅπτουσα. The implied negative is in favour of εἴθ' ἅπτουσα, which comes near the first hand of L. Cp. О. Т. 517, λόγοισιν εἴτ᾿ ἔργοισιν, where, however, ei precedes. But εἴτε is slightly too emphatic, and ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα is an early reading. The expression is proverbial. Cp. Aj. 1317.

42. mvp-comment-29-1 ποῦ γνώμης ποτ' εἶ; Although ποῖ with the verb of motion is not unlikely (cp. El. 922, ὅποι γνώμης φέρει), the future tense does not suit the passage. Hence the reading of Par. A. (with εἶ from εἰμί) is preferable. Cp. Ε1. 390, ποῦ ποτ' εἶ φρενῶν; but see Eurip. Iph. A. 480, for el from εἶμι with present meaning.

43. mvp-comment-30-1 Antigone's first intention is to lift the body with Ismene's help and give it proper burial. Being unable to do this unaided, she sprinkles the dust. Cp. El. 938-1057.

43. mvp-comment-30-2 ξὺν τῇδε .. χερί Aiding this hand, i. e. taking part in my labour. Cp. Ο. Τ. 811 ἐκ τῆσδε χειρός. Essay on Language § 22. p. 34.

44. mvp-comment-31-1 ἀπόρρητον πόλει A thing forbidden to the whole city. ἀπόρρητον is neuter accusative in apposition to the action of θάπτειν. Essay on Language § 17. p. 25.

45-46. mvp-comment-32-1 I will certainly bury my brother and yours, though you do not choose to do your part. The second of these lines has been needlessly suspected. The rejoinder of Ismene comes in more effectively when the στιχομυθία is broken. ἣν = κἄν, cp. Phil. 52, ἄλλ' ἤν τι καινὸν .. κλύῃς, ὑπουργεῖν.

48. mvp-comment-33-1 He has no right in what is mine, to part me from my own. τῶν ἐμῶν is partitive genitive with οὐδὲν μέτα: privative genitive with εἴργειν. Essay on Language p. 61.

50. mvp-comment-34-1 vῷν Ethical dative.

51. mvp-comment-35-1 αὐτοφώρων Self-detected; i. e. Brought to light by his own act. πρός = In consequence of,' connects the phrase with the preceding rather than the following words. Although the action of O. T. is not presupposed, this part of the fable had been already developed by Aeschylus. See S. c. T. 778 ff. Others take αὐτοφώρων to mean clearly proved, manifest to all men: cp. Od. 11.247, ἄφαρ δ᾽ ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν. But the emphatic repetition of αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ in the next line agrees better with the more pregnant meaning. αὐτουργῷ = εἰς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα ἐρξάσῃ.

53. mvp-comment-36-1 διπλοῦν ἔπος A two-fold name, suggesting the horror of the double relationship. Cp. Ο. Τ. 928, γυνὴ δὲ μήτηρ ἥδε τῶν κείνου τέκνων.

54. mvp-comment-37-1 λωβᾶται βίον Destroys her own life. Cp. Tr. 887, τάνδ᾽ ὕβριν.

56. mvp-comment-38-1 αὐτοκτονούντε By mutual fratricidal slaughter. αὐτός in composition here is partly reciprocal and partly, as in αὐτόχειρ, suggestive of the murder of kindred: cp. 1. 172. The same is true of κοινόν: cp. 1. 147.

57. mvp-comment-39-1 ἐπαλλήλοιν Mutual. The read. ing of L and Hermann is justified by the awkwardness of the double genitive dual and the doubtful use of ἐπί in the other reading.

58. mvp-comment-40-1 δή emphasizes μόνα with reference to what precedes. Thus left alone.

60. mvp-comment-41-1 ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη The will or authority of the ruler. 64. For the epexegesis, see Essay on Language § 33. p. 57. And for the accusative, to obey in this, cp. infr. 666-667.

66. mvp-comment-42-1 βιάζομαι τάδε This passive use of βιάζομαι occurs again in l. 1073, ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

67. mvp-comment-43-1 τοῖς .. βεβῶσι Those whose position is supreme; i.e. the present ruling power.

68. mvp-comment-44-1 περισσὰ πράσσειν ‘Το act beyond one's sphere.' Cp. Tr. 617, τὸ μὴ πιθυμεῖν πομπὸς ὢν περισσὰ δρᾶν.

70. mvp-comment-45-1 ἐμοῦ.. μέτα Would your acting with me be any pleasure to me. For the adverb ἡδέως, implying a predicate, see Essay on Language § 24. p. 40.

71. mvp-comment-46-1 ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία This reading is acknowledged by the Scholiast equally with ἴσθ' ὁποῖα, the reading of LA. Be such as you choose to be' (i. e. base, cp. supr. 38) is more forcible than Hold what principles you please, even if εἰδέναι can have this meaning. Cp Phil. 1049, τοιοῦτός εἰμ' ἐγώ: Eur. Or. 1680, κἀγὼ τοιοῦτος. ὁποία is nominative by attraction to the antecedent. Hermann thought the dative ὁποίᾳ was required.

72. mvp-comment-47-1 Antigone knows clearly from the beginning, with the heightened consciousness of passion, the consequences of her act. There is no irony of fortune, so far as she is concerned.

74. mvp-comment-48-1 ὅσια πανουργ. Cp. infr. 924.

75. mvp-comment-49-1 τῶν ἐνθάδε See Essay on Language § 10. p.15. The form of expression resembles Hdt. 3. 124, βούλεσθαι οὖν παρθενεύεσθαι πλείω χρόνον ἢ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐστερῆσθαι. For the thought, cp. Plat. Legg. 9.881 Α, θάνατος μὲν οὐκ ἔστιν ἔσχατον, οἱ δὲ ἐν ῞Αιδου . πόνοι .. εἰσὶ μᾶλλον ἐν ἐσχάτοις : Sim. Am. 3, πολλὸς γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐστι τεθνάναι χρόνος, κ.τ.λ.

76. mvp-comment-50-1 σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ The emphasis really rests on the subject (σύ), but is transferred to the dative, as in Phil. 1395, ὡς ῥᾷστ᾽ ἐμοὶ μὲν τῶν λόγων λῆξαι, σὲ δὲ | κ.τ.λ. Essay on Language § 41. pp. 78-79. The change to σύ (see v. rr.) is slight, but rather weakens the expression.

77. mvp-comment-51-1 τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμα What is held honourable amongst the Gods. Cp. θεῶν νόμιμα, infr. 454-455: 1.ε. τὰ τῶν θεῶν ὄντα καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θεῶν ἀγόμενα ἐν τιμῇ. Hh ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε] Persist in slighting. 78. ἐγὼ ποιοῦμαι I do not mean to show disrespect. She shrinks from saying distinctly τὰ τῶν θεῶν.

79. mvp-comment-52-1 ἔφυν By nature and position.

82. mvp-comment-53-1 ταλαίνης after οἴμοι: σου after ὑπερδέδοικα. But this distinction is hardly felt in the Greek.

83. mvp-comment-54-1 ἐξόρθου Continue to direct safely, as if steering a vessel.

85. mvp-comment-55-1 σὺν δ' See Essay on Language § 18. p. 26.

86. mvp-comment-56-1 The Epic πολλόν is curious, but need not be changed. Cp. Tr. 1196, πολλὸν δ᾽ ἄρσεν᾽ ἐκτεμόνθ᾽ ὁμοῦ | ἄγριον ἔλαιον. Other Epic forms in this play are ὡσεί τε, infr. 653; ὑπαί, infr. 1035: εἰν ῞Αιδου δόμοις, 1241. A lukewarm spirit is above all hateful to Antigone. If Ismene disapproves her act, let her denounce it. ἐὰν μή, κ.τ.λ., further explains σιγῶσ'. Cp. Ο. Τ. 57, ἔρημος ἀνδρῶν μὴ ξυνοικούντων ἔσω.

88. mvp-comment-57-1 θερμὴν .. ἔχεις Your courage is hot upon a cold enterprize.

88. mvp-comment-57-2 ψυχροῖσι] Chilling, i.e. Causing a cold thrill of horror. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 691-693, οὐδ᾽ ὧδε δυσθέατα καὶ δυσοιστὰ ... ψύχειν ψυχὰν ἐμάν. Also with an association from the meaning fruitless; cp. Hdt. 9. 49, ἐπαρθεὶς ψυχρῇ νίκῃ.

91. mvp-comment-58-1 Cp. 1. 926, παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες.

94. mvp-comment-59-1 ἐχθρὰ .. δίκῃ And our dead brother will justly hold you as an enemy: ἐχθράν σε προσθήσεται: ср. Eur. Τr. 185, τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα; Who has me for his slave.

95. mvp-comment-60-1 τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ That proceeds from me; i. e. For which I alone am responsible. See Essay on Language § 19. p. 28.¹

96. mvp-comment-61-1 πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ The reading οὐ, for which some critics would substitute οὖν, is confirmed (1) by the tendency to a vehement accumulation of negatives in the speeches of Antigone in this scene: (2) by the similar emphatic inversions noticed in the Essay on Language § 41. p. 78.

99. mvp-comment-62-1 τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη But unfailing in kindness to thy friends; i. e. A faithful sister to thine own brother. Cp. Eur. Or. 424, ἀληθὴς δ᾽ ἐς φίλους ἔφυν φίλος. Antigone goes to perform the sepulture, and Ismene returns into the palace. The stage is left vacant. As in the Ajax, there is a distinct break after the prologue, which has laid the ground of the action so far as Antigone is concerned. The first episodion, ll. 163 ff., is in one sense a fresh beginning, as setting forth the motives of Creon, and still only preparing for the collision. The parados, ll. 100 ff., introduces us to the public feeling of Thebes, and to the wider sphere of which the action forms the central point. 100 ff. Instead of a long series of anapaests, followed by lyrical strophes and antistrophes, as in the Ajax (with which cp. Aesch. Agamemnon), we have here two strophes and antistrophes alternating with anapaestic systems of about seven lines each: making a form of parodos intermediate between that of the Ajax and that of the O. T., in which there are no anapaests. The α' (100-109=117-133). chorus on its first appearance chants ll. 100-109, then advances while the coryphaeus recites 110-116, then the antistrophe is chanted, then another advance is made during the recitative of 11. 127-133, then strophe B' is chanted, the chorus by this time standing near the stage; then they make a final advance, and, during the second antistrophe, are standing full in front of the stage. Lastly, as Creon is seen approaching, the coryphaeus chants ll. 155-162, which thus form at once the conclusion of the parodos and the introit or prelude of the first episodium.

99. mvp-comment-62-2 The total effect is that of a stately and solemn triumph, in which the bright influence of the glyconic opening is tempered with slow movements (---), as in ll. 106, 122, 137, 151, and interrupted rhythms, as in ll. 103, 120, 138, 152; the notes of triumph and solemnity being combined in the choriambi, which bring the lyrical part to a close. Thus we have- β΄ (134-140=148-154). CI IICCーしー CLトくトCCI 51--10CICIC ト 1001010110010||| ――トしてトー luclcclcULCII) C- 「SƆIDII7 5トレトしし LCCLLCCLLCCLLCCLI トリトー The culmination of feeling is marked by the dactylic opening of β'. The rhythms of a' 3. 4, 6, and β' 3, 4, show the correlation of the two movements. The adaptation of sound to sense is specially obvious in the resolved trochees of a' 7, while the concluding lines, a' 8, β' 7, serve to harmonize the logaoedic with the anapaestic measures. Cp. O. C. 135-137, 167-169.

99. mvp-comment-62-3 'Never did morning rise so fair as this which thou didst bring at length to waiting Thebè, O eye of golden day! For thy first beams, shooting over Dircè's rills, stirred into quicker flight the Argive warrior, who for Polynices' quarrel swooped upon our land on snow-white wing, with many a shield and many a plumèd helm.

99. mvp-comment-62-4 Threatening our halls in towering pride he stood, and gaped with bristling spears around our gates, thirsting for our blood: but he is gone, or ever his desire was slaked, or ever the fire-god caught our coronal of towers. Such fight displayed the serpent writhing in his gripe, not easily subdued. Such din of war assailed him as he turned to flee. For Zeus abhors the boaster and contemns the clank of gold. And when he saw them moving in a full proud stream, he smote with lightning from on high the daring climber who had gained the pinnacle and was eagerly preparing to shout victory. And swung to earth he fell with a rebound, the firebearer, who with mad rush was breathing his blast of enmity against the wall. And various was the fortune of the day. But terrible was the War-god as he plunged amidst our enemies, a mighty helper for us.

99. mvp-comment-62-5 'For at all our gates their captains, seven against seven, left their panoplies as trophies to our cause. All, save the horrid pair, who fell together with the guilt of mutual fratricide.

99. mvp-comment-62-6 But forget we the griefs of war. For victory came with smiles of joy to greet our smiling town. So visit we the temples of the gods with dances all night long: and let Theban Bacchus be the master of our revelry.

103. mvp-comment-63-1 χρυσέας χρυσέας, as in O. T. 158-187.

106. mvp-comment-64-1 The rivulet of Dircè was to the west of Thebes. The sun had risen just as the retreat of the Argives became a rout, and the army returning from pursuit would see the morning light reflected in the stream, which they would cross on their way back to the city. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 730. The ode is not chanted at sunrise, but celebrates the glorious morning which had seen the discomfiture of the enemy. The chorus of elders imagine themselves in the position of the victorious army.

106. mvp-comment-64-2 λεύκασπιν Cp. Aesch. S. c. Т. 96, λευκοπρεπή λέων: Eur. Phoen. 1099, λεύκασπιν εἰσορῶμεν Ἀργείων στράτον.

106. mvp-comment-64-3 Αργόθεν The correspondence of a dactyl in the antistrophe to the trochee Αργό- in this line justly leads to suspicion of the text, and Hermann conjectured Ἀργόθεν ἐκ. Qy. Ἀργόλεων ? or Ἀργογενή ?

108. mvp-comment-65-1 φυγάδα πρόδρομον (1) Running before us in flight. Said from the point of view of the pursuing host. Or (2), In the van of the flying host. The Schol. on Phoen. 409 says, φασὶ .. τὸν Ἀδραστον .. μόνον φυγάδα σωθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου ἵππου Ἀρείονος. Cp. Paus. 8.25. § 5.

109. mvp-comment-66-1 χαλινῷ Either (1) literally Riding with hastier rein, or (2) metaphorically, With thy hastening bridle in his lips. The first (1) is best. If (2) were adopted, the reading ὀξυτόρῳ, galling (see v. rr.), might be preferred.

110. mvp-comment-67-1 *ὃς .. *Πολυνείκους The emendation of Scaliger improves the sense as well as the grammar. The imagery throughout represents not Polynices, but his Argive ally. The subject of the single fight between the two brothers is passed lightly over, as unsuited to a triumphal hymn.

111. mvp-comment-68-1 ἀρθεὶς.. ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων Carried forth in consequence of the doubtful quarrel (the quarrel and debate) of Polynices. ἀρθείς is said with allusion to αἴρειν στόλον, but also suggests the image of the bird mounting in air. Cp. Il. 13. 63, of the hawk, ἀπ' αἰγίλιπος πέτρης περιμήκεος ἀρθείς, Eur. Phoen. 636-637. For the play on the name of Polynices, see Essay on Language § 44. p. 82.

113. mvp-comment-69-1 The omission of ὡs in this line, which Herm. suggested, is hardly necessary, although it does not impair the sense. The correspondence of strophe and antistrophe does not extend strictly to the anapaests, although the anapaestic systems in this passage are nearly of the same length.

114. mvp-comment-70-1 λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι See Essay on Language § 9. p. 11, and cp. l. 106.

114. mvp-comment-70-2 στεγανός Covered all over; i. e. There were no gaps in their array.

115-116. mvp-comment-71-1 πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων | ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσι Accompanied with many a shield and armed with many a helm.

117. mvp-comment-72-1 στάς Staying his flight, like the bird of prey preparing to stoop. At this point the image, which has hitherto grown in distinctness, becomes less definite, the figure of an eagle passing into that of a flying dragon, with spears for teeth. Cp. Shak. K. John, 2. 1, O, now doth Death Line his dead chaps with steel, etc. Also the image in Milton's Samson Agonistes, 11. 1692-1696.

117. mvp-comment-72-2 φονώσαισιν Boeckh's emendation at once cures the metre and supplies a poetical touch which corresponds to the explanation of the Scholiast, ταῖς τῶν φονῶν ἐρώσαις λόγχαις. It is confirmed by the reading of L² pr. See v. rr.

118. mvp-comment-73-1 ἀμφιχανὼν.. στόμα Yawning round our seven-mouthed gates.

120. mvp-comment-74-1 ἔβα He went his way. For the use of the aorist of βαίνω in this sense, cp. Od. 22. 249, καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη, κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών: Τr. 115, βάντ᾽ ἐπιόντα τ', Some gone, others coming on.

121. mvp-comment-75-1 γένυσιν With his jaws. Instrumental dative.

121. mvp-comment-75-2 πλησθῆναί τε καὶ ἑλεῖν For the change of subject in these lines, cp. Aj. 458, ἐχθαίρομαι, μισεῖ δέ, κ.τ.λ. And for στεφάνωμα πύργων, cp. Pind. Ol. 8. 32, Ἰλίῳ μέλλοντες ἐπὶ στέφανον τεύξαι : Hom. h. Dem. 151, .. κρήδεμνα πόληος | εἰρύαται ...

124. mvp-comment-76-1 τοῖος .. δράκοντι (1) Such din of war was spread about his rear by the reluctant snake, no easy matter to subdue. So the Scholiast, who wrote τὸ δὲ ἀντιπάλῳ δράκοντι ἀντὶ τοῦ ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀντιπάλου δράκοντος, ὡς Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμασθείς (Il. 22. 55). Or (2) δυσχείρωμα may be taken to mean the act rather than the object of victory (cp. O. Τ. 560, θανασίμῳ χειρώματι), and the sense may be, Such din of war encompassed him, issuing in a hard-won victory for the serpent matching his foe. In this case it will make little difference to read the genitive. Or, (3) if the genitive is read (Wecklein), the words may be taken in yet another way: Such din of war harassed him from behind, the hard-to-be-subdued might of the serpent, who was a match for his foe. The genitive is given as an alternative reading by the 1st hand of L, and is supported by V (Ven. 468). But the dative is alone recognised by the Scholiast.

124. mvp-comment-76-2 The δράκων is certainly the emblem of Thebes, and the eagle and snake are in conflict, as in Il. 12. 201, foll., where also the serpent struggles and escapes : ὁ δ᾽ οὔπω λήθετο χάρμης, | κόψε γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔχοντα κατὰ στήθος παρὰ δειρὴν | ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω· ὁ δ᾽ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἧκε χαμάζε, κ.τ.λ. Hor. Carm. 4. 4, 11, Nunc in reluctantes dracones | Egit amor dapis atque pugnae.

129. mvp-comment-77-1 πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους Coming on in full proud stream. Like a great river filling its banks.

130. mvp-comment-78-1 χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτης] Despiser of the clank of gold. Cp. Aesch. Agam. 776, τὰ χρυσόπαστα δ᾽ ἐσθλὰ σὺν πίνῳ χερῶν | παλιντρόποις ὄμμασιν | λιπούσ', ὅσια προσέβα: S. c. T. 481-485. The Scholiast, who wrote καὶ τὴν τοῦ χρυσοῦ φαντασίαν ὑπερβεβηκότας τῇ ἰδίᾳ ὑπεροψίᾳ, seems to have read ὑπερόπτας, which appears in the margin of some copies. The ὑπεροψία of his interpretation may have given rise to ὑπεροπτίας, as in conjunction with this it has suggested ὑπεροπλίαις, (Vauvillers, who compares II. 1. 205). Musgr. and Böckh are contented with ὑπεροπτείας, abstr. noun of ὑπερόπτης, gen. with ῥεύματι, In floods of supercilious pride.

131. mvp-comment-79-1 παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρί (1) Hurls down with brandished thunderbolt. Or possibly (2) ῥιπτεῖ is a more emphatic substitute for βάλλει = Smites from afar. The word παλτῷ suggests the zig-zag flicker of the lightning.

131. mvp-comment-79-2 βαλβίδων .. ἀλαλάζαι As, having reached the topmost goal, he was eager to raise the cry of victory. βαλβίδες are the end of the race-course, metaphorically applied here to the top of the wall to which Capaneus had climbed, and so receiving the epithet ἄκρων.

131. mvp-comment-79-3 βαλβίδων may be also taken as abl. gen, with ῥιπτεῖ, and only resumed with ἄκρων. But this is questionable.

133. mvp-comment-80-1 The subject of ὁρμῶντα (Capaneus) is anticipated from the following lines, viz. ὅς, κ.τ.λ.

134. mvp-comment-81-1 ἀντιτύπᾳ This conj. of Porson has been generally received. He fell upon the earth, that smote him again; i.e. He fell with a shock. The Scholia explain ἀντίτυπα, which is against metre.

134. mvp-comment-81-2 τανταλωθείς Swung. As if the scale that had been the lightest had suddenly become the heaviest. Cp. Hom. Il. 22. 212, ῥέπε δ᾽ Ἕκτορος αἴσιμον ἦμαρ, | ᾤχετο δ᾽ εἰς Ἀἰδαο.

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.

Sophocles Antigone 5

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Current edition Experimental

ANTIGONE

Ehrt nicht der Brüder jenen mit des Grabes Gunst

uns Kreon, und verweigert diesem schmählich sie?

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismene.

Ismene
39

What wouldst thou have me do ? — defy his

power?

Contemn the laws ?
40

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

ANTIGONE Ehrt nicht der Brüder jenen mit des Grabes Gunst uns Kreon, und verweigert diesem schmählich sie?

Antigone. Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene. Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort. 20

Ismene.

Ismene 39 What wouldst thou have me do ? — defy his power? Contemn the laws ? 40

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

ANTIGONE

Ehrt nicht der Brüder jenen mit des Grabes Gunst

uns Kreon, und verweigert diesem schmählich sie?

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismene
39

What wouldst thou have me do ? — defy his

power?

Contemn the laws ?
40

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.