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Commentary on lines 1051–1200

πλήρης Infected. Cp. supr. 1017.

λέγεις Sc. κακῶς τὸν μάντιν. Essay on Language § 39. p. 73, 6.

τὸ δ᾽ ἐκ τυράννων The mean- ing of the preposition is not to be pressed. It is merely an extension of the familiar metaphor of γένος, Kind for Class. Cobet conj. τὸ δέ γε τυράννων. But not to advert to the broken tribrach in the first place, so unlike the earlier manner of Sophocles, the expression is less forcible. It is like the difference between saying the class of tyrants and the breed of tyrants in English. Cp. Eur. Hec. 254-255, ἀχάριστον ὑμῶν σπέρμ᾽, ὅσοι δημηγόρους | ζηλοῦτε τιμάς. On the γένεσις of the tyrant, see Ο. Τ. 873, ὕβρις φυτεύει τύραννον.

The accusative ταγούς is in a double construction with λέγεις and λέγων. The construction of the participle is also twofold: i. e. οἶσθα ταγοὺς ὄντας οὓς λέγεις ἃ ἂν λέγῃς.

For you possess this city through saving it by my counsel. ἐξ ἐμοῦ depends partly on ἔχεις and partly on σώσας. The line has been supposed to refer to the self-immolation of the son of Creon by the advice of Teiresias. Eur. Phoen. 918, foll. Cp. supr. 933-935, infr. 1303. But it is not clear that Sophocles has any distinct incident in view. These things are ἔξω τοῦ μυθεύματος, Ar. Poet. 1460 a.

τἀκίνητα .. φράσαι Τo utter what ought not to be mooted even in thought.' 1062. (1) These words are generally interpreted as interrogative. Do I really seem in what I have already said to do so in regard to you? i. e. You at least are not likely to reward me for my prophecy. And this is on the whole the most pointed way of taking the words. Wecklein understands them to mean, (2) 'Methinks, so far as you are concerned, I do speak so; i. e. My speech will not bring you gain. In the former case (1) τὸ σὸν μέρος ίς τ. σ. μ. τῆς δοκήσεως: in the latter (2) it is τ. σ. μ. τῶν ἀποβησομένων ἐκ τοῦ λόγου.

'I tell thee thou shalt not make traffic of my purposes;' i. e. They shall not be changed so as to bring gain to you, whether it be from me or from others that you look for gain.

μή See Essay on Language § 29. p. 49, с.

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου Not many swift courses of the sun; i. e. The days will be short, and few. On the condensation of time in this play, see Introduction. Cp. Milton, Sonnet 7. My hasting days fly on with full career: Shakespeare, Sonnet 60, Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, | So do our minutes hasten to their end; | Each changing place with that which goes before, In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

τροχούς would mean, 'Not many turns of the sun's chariot wheel.'

ἐν οἷσι The regular construction after the negative would be πρὶν ἀντιδοῦναι: but the sentence takes an affirmative turn, and is continued as if the beginning were ὀλίγαι ἡμέραι ἔσονται .. ἐν ais. Essay on Language § 36. p. 64. Ср. О. С. 617 ff. μυρίας μυρίος | χρόνος τεκνοῦται νύκτας ἡμέρας τ᾿ ἰὼν | ἐν αἷς, κ.τ.λ. δ

νεκρῶν ἀμοιβόν For a kindred fancy, cp. Aesch. Agam. 437, ὁ χρυσαμοιβὸς δ' Ἄρης σωμάτων | καὶ ταλαντοῦχος ἐν μάχῃ δορός, κ.τ.λ.

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν The antecedent is to be gathered from νεκρῶν in l. 1067.

τῶν ἄνω Sc. τινά: i. e. Antigone.

ἀτίμως i. e. εἰς ἀτιμίαν. See Essay on Language § 24. p. 40.

i.e. ἔχεις δὲ αὐ ἐνθάδε, ἄμοιρον τῶν κάτωθεν θεῶν. On the order of words, see Essay on Language pp. 66, 67.

ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον Without funeral rites, and unsanctified. Cp. Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1. 5,

Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled.

βιάζονται (1) Sc. οἱ ἄνω θεοί, to whom it was an offence to have a dead body intruded into their realm: or, (2) the gods generally, including θεῶν in 1070, as well as θεοῖσιν in 1072. In support of the former interpretation (1), Mr. Evelyn Abbott has adduced Lys. 2. 7, Ἀδράστου δὲ καὶ Πολυνείκους ἐπὶ Θήβας στρατευσάντων καὶ ἡττηθέντων μάχῃ, οὐκ ἐώντων Καδμείων θάπτειν τοὺς νέκρους, Ἀθηναῖοι ἡγησάμενοι ἐκείνους μέν, εἴ τι ἠδίκουν, ἀποθανόντας δίκην ἔχειν τὴν μεγίστην, τοὺς δὲ κάτω τὰ VOL. I. Nn αὑτῶν οὐ κομίζεσθαι, ἱερῶν δὲ μιαινομένων τοὺς ἄνω θεοὺς ἀσεβεῖσθαι, κ.τ.λ.

φανεῖ Sc. ταῦτα, i. e. the truth of 11. 1074-1076. The cry of men and women in thy halls shall declare it ere long. For φαίνω in this sense, cp. O. C. 721, φαίνειν ἔπη. For the ellipse, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβή, sc. ἐγγενήσεται πρὶν ἂν φήνῃ αὐτό, cp. supr. 1. 577. This is more probable than the other explanation, which is certainly possible, A little while will bring forth lamentations, etc. Some MSS. have τριβή, i.e. τριβῇ.

For ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν, cp. Aristoph. Ran. 157, θιάσους εὐδαίμονας | ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν.

And all cities are (even now) being stirred up in leagued enmity (to Thebes), whose mangled citizens have found burial in being devoured by dogs, or by wild beasts, or by some winged bird, that bears an unholy savour into a city and its sacred hearths. This is probably intended by Sophocles as a prophecy of the war with the Epigoni, of which the seeds are said to be laid by the abomination of some bird carrying an inauspicious odour home. It is assumed, although not mentioned elsewhere in the play, that the bodies of the allies of Polynices had shared his fate, as there had been no truce for burying the dead. This is part of the legend as appears from the Supplices of Euripides. For the expression, cp. Aesch. S. c. T. 1020, οὕτω πετηνῶν τόνδ' ὑπ᾽ οἰωνῶν δοκεῖ | ταφέντ᾽ ἀτίμως τοὐπι· τίμιον λαβεῖν : Soph. El. 1487, καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες | ταφεῦσιν ὧν τόνδ' εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν: Gorg. ap. Long. 3. 2, γῦπες ἔμψυχοι τάφοι: Shaksp. Macbeth, 3. 4,

Our monuments | Shall be the maws of kites.

The conceit is common with the Elizabethan dramatists. Seyffert's conjecture, ὅσαν τὰ πράγματ' ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν, Whose business has been marred with pollution by dogs, etc., is rather pointless, and gives a very doubtful meaning to καθαγνίζειν = To affect with pollution. It is uncertain whether καθήγνισαν or καθήγισαν is the right word. The latter is somewhat more probable as the Ionic form. Cp. ἁγίζω.

ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν i. e. Not into the wastes, where such pollution can do no harm, but to a city, where it tends to injure the sacred fire on the public and private hearths, which are the pledge of safety to the citizens. Boeckh objects to the above interpretation of 11. 1080 ff., and supposes them to contain a general maxim pointed at the case of Thebes. Any state is sure to rise in enmity in which a mangled corse has been devoured, etc.

Such arrows like a bowman have I launched at you in wrath, for you provoke me, arrows that pierce the heart and fasten there, whose smart you will not escape.' He echoes ll. 1033, foll. καρδίας is objective genitive after the verbal notion in τοξεύματα.

τὸν νοῦν.. τῶν φρενῶν The spirit of his thoughts. Cp. γνώμη φρενῶν, Ο. Τ. 524: infr. 1228, τίνα | νοῦν ἔσχες;

βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας The stress is on the participle, as in 246 supra, θάψας βέβηκε.

ἐξ ὅτου.. τρίχα Since I have been crowned with these locks, once dark, which now are white with age. The expression is condensed by prolepsis, so that the phrase λευκὴν ἐκ μελαίνης, which, if the thought had been regularly developed, would have been added in apposition, has the place of an attribute.

μὴ .. λακεῖν μή is preferred to οὐ because of the abstract generality of the statement, which is also the reason of an implied precept not to disobey the seer. Cp supr. 1064 and note.

'But by resistance to bring the stroke of calamity upon one's soul is an alternative which presents a terrible aspect.' ἄτῃ = πρὸς ἄτην. Ε. on L. § II. p. 18. The words ἐν δεινῷ πάρα have been questioned by Nauck, but nothing better has been substituted; and the phrase is supported by the analogy of ἐν καλῷ El. 384, ἐν ὁμοίῳ, Thuc. 2. 53.

Κρέον, the reading of most of the later MSS, is not improbable, λαβεῖν οι λακεῖν of L. having come in accidentally from 1094. λαβεῖν, which Seyffert had conjectured, gives a kind of sense, and so does τάχα of E. But neither is satisfactory. The true reading is possibly lost.

The chorus think of first saving the living and then burying the dead: but Creon's superstition once awakened drives him to the opposite course. Infr. 1197 ff.

συντέμνουσι .. βλάβαι For the swiftly coming harms of the gods suddenly overtake (or 'make short work with') the evil-minded. συντέμνειν, in the generally neuter or absolute sense of To come quickly on, here acquires a new construction with the accusative. Essay on Language § 16. p. 23. Cp. Hdt. 5. 41, τοῦ χρόνου συντάμνοντος, i.e. Adpropinquante, instante tempore.

I find it hard indeed, but yet I wrench my soul from her place to do this thing. Cp. Plat. Rep. 10. 607 E, βίᾳ μέν, ὅμως δ᾽ ἀπέχονται.

τὸ δρᾶν For the article with epexegetic inf., cp. O. T. 1418, τὸ πράσ· σειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν.

ἐπ᾿ ἄλλ. τρ. i. e. ἐπίτρεπτε ἄλλ.

ἴτ' τ' This reading, which ap- pears only in the text of Triclinius, is more probable than any other, the broken tribrach being excused by the agitation of Creon.

οἵ τ᾿ ὄντες οἵ τ᾿ ἀπόντες ὄντες = παρόντες, as in El. 305, τὰς οὔσας τέ μου | καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ἐλπίδας διέφθορεν.

εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον To the place in view. Polynices was exposed on the highest part of the plain, and this may have been represented in outline as part of the scenery.

For the personification of δόξα, cp. Ο. Τ. 911, δόξα μοι παρεστάθη, and see Essay on Language pp. 91, 92, 105.

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καί For the sake of emphasis, what would naturally be expressed by the participle is made into a coordinate sentence with the finite verb. Cp. Ο. Τ. 413, σὺ καὶ δέδορκας κού βλέπεις ἵν' εἶ.. Ε. on L. p. 68.

In the excitement of a desperate hope caused by the late repentance of Creon, the chorus break forth into a joyous invocation to Dionysus, accompanied with dancing or gesticulation, as appears in comparing the similar canticle in Aj. 693, where the chorus are under the excitement of a similar delusive expectation. Cp. Tr. 205-224. The Dionysiac worship, of which the tragic poet is a votary, is associated with the mystic hopes which Creon denied, supr. 780.

Glory of Semele, child of Zeus, Thou that tendest Campania And rulest in Eleusis' mystic vale, Dwelling, where thy votaries dwell, In Thebes by Ismenus' waters, Presiding o'er the dragon's brood: Seen o'er the forked height By the pitchy flame, Where move the Bacchic nymphs of Corycus, Where is the Castalian fount: And ushered on thy way to visit Thebe's roads By the ivy-clad banks of Nysean mountains, And the bloomy shore with many a cluster, While the shout of the immortal strain resounds. Thebè thou honourest far above all cities, Thou and thy mother whom the lightning glorified. And now that our whole multitude Is overtaken by misfortune dire, Appear with healing tread, Over the Parnassian steep Or groaning narrow sea. Thou that leadest up the dance of the fire-breathing stars, Visitant of nightly voices, Son born of Zeus, Rise with thy attendant Maenads, Who, all night long. Celebrate thee with dances, Iacchus, the dispenser of their joys.

This ode has been variously arranged. The arrangement in the text is that of Böckh, with a few slight changes. a'. First strophe and antistrophe. ICICIC lululuclalalclcl luclcla 5----- 다 !トーートしcita ICICーートト β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. トCICICに The prevailing rhythm is logaoedic, with frequent syncope (or antispastic movement), long syllables in thesi, and occasional resolution both of arsis and thesis. Each strophe begins with an anacrusis.

πολυώνυμε Schol. ὦ Διόνυσε· οἱ μὲν γὰρ Βάκχον, οἱ δὲ Ιακχον, οἱ δὲ Λύαιον, οἱ δὲ Εὔιον, οἱ δὲ Διθύραμβον αὐτὸν καλοῦσιν. Bacchus is claimed as a Theban God, and at the same time, the wide extent of his dominion is celebrated.

ἄγαλμα Delight, or Glory. The word expresses the pride taken by a mother in her child. Plat. Tim. 37 D, τῶν ἀϊδίων θεῶν γεγονὸς ἄγαλμα: Eur. Suppl. 370, ματέρος ἄγαλμα.

κλυτὰν .. Ἰταλίαν The mention of Italy is singular, but hardly more so than that of Naxos in connection with Dionysus. The aim of the song being to celebrate the universality of his empire, it is not wonderful that allusion should be made to Italy, quam gravidae fruges et Bacchi Massicus humor Implevere, Virg. Georg. 2. 143. And if Italy was mentioned by Sophocles in the Triptolemus in connection with Demeter, why not here in connection with Bacchus? Fr. 540 N. Ut.. Sophocles poeta in fabula Triptolemo frumentum Italicum ante cuncta laudaverit, ad verbum translata sententia Et fortunatam Italiam frumento canere candido. Plin. H. N. 18. 12. Some edd. substitute Ἰκαρίαν, an eastward deme of Attica, and a seat of Dionysiac worship.

In the all-receiving bosom of Eleusinian Demeter;' i. e. In the vale of Eleusis, where the mystae from all parts of Greece were received. Cp. Pind. Ol. 14. 23, κόλποις Πίσας: Hdt. 4.99, κόλπου . . ἀγομένου τῆς γῆς ταύτης, and esp. Aristoph. Ran. 373, χώρει νυν πᾶς ἀνδρείως | ἐς τοὺς εὐανθεῖς κόλπους | λειμώνων, κ.τ.λ.

παρ' ὑγρὸν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρον] Some have preferred, chiefly for metrical reasons, the Triclinian reading παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν .. ῥεέθρων, for which compare supr. 1. 966.

ἐπί Cp. Τr. 356, τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς.

στέροψ.. λιγνύς The blinding torch-flame hath beheld. There is an opposition of sound rather than of sense in στέροψ ὄπωπε. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 226, ὦ λάμπουσα πέτρα πυρὸς | δικόρυφον σέλας ὑπὲρ ἄκρων | Βακχείων Διονύσου, where the succeeding lines also deserve to be compared with the description of Mount Parnassus in this passage. The fabled fire on Mount Parnassus was commonly explained of the torches of the Maenads, and seems to have been so understood by Sophocles.

Κωρύκιαι So named from the Corycian cave on Mount Parnassus. Aesch. Eum. 22, σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα, | κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφαί.

Κασταλίας.. νᾶμα (1) Sc.

ὄπωπέ σε, or (2) ἔνθα Κασταλίας νᾶμα, sc. ἐστί. Probably the latter (2).

Νυσαίων. ἀγυιάς Bacchus is imagined as leaving the throng of revellers, who follow in his train along the Nysaean slopes in Euboea, and as crossing the sounding frith' (1. 1145) to visit the streets of Thebes.

χλωρά Lustrous with fresh green. The word suggests the richness of young vegetation, especially of the vine. See Essay on Language p. 103. Stephanus in Νύσαι .. δεκάτη ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ, ἔνθα διὰ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τὴν ἄμπελόν φασιν ἀνθεῖν, καὶ τὸν βότρυν πεπαίνεσθαι.

By adding *τῶν in this line, and reading ῥεῖθρον in 1124, we obtain ーーム, a diiambus followed by an epitritus, and a trochee or spondee.

νύν, νῦν, as in Pindar.

έχεται Cp. Plat. Legg. 10. 887 Ε, ἐν συμφοραῖς παντοίαις ἐχομένων.

ἐπὶ νόσου] See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27.

μολεῖν

Der Inf. giebt etwas kindlich frommes.

Wecklein.

πῦρ πνεόντων *ἄστρων χοραγέ*] Cp. Ar. Ran. 341-342, Ιακχ᾽, ὦ Ιακχε, νυκτέρου τελετῆς φωσφόρος ἀστήρ. Bacchus is lord and leader of the sights and sounds of night. The stars in their courses hold revel with his torchbearers: the voices of the night are wakened by their shouting. This is more probable than an allusion to the mystical notion that Bacchus was an impersonation of the sun. I have ventured to retain καί, transposing the two preceding words and scanning πνεόντων as a spondee by synizesis.

πυρπνεόντων may be taken as a compound. Cp. Hom. Il. 7. 310, άελπτεοντες.

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον i.e. as Hermann says, παῖ Διὸς γεγώς. Ever youthful offspring of Zeus.

⁴

Ναξίαις i.e. From Ariadne's island.

τὸν ταμίαν The word ταμίας, as appears from its use in Pindar, had in Doric Greek the special meaning of Lord (cp. the Anglo-Saxon Hlafford): and may have been a favourite attribute of Bacchus in this sense.

στάντα (1) The participle is to be taken closely with the adjective = τινὰ στάσιν ἔχοντα, as in the gloss of V. There is no present position of a human life, in which I would praise it, or find fault with it. Cp. Phil. 174, ἐπὶ παντί τῳ χρείας ἱσταμένῳ, where the participle is similarly added in epexegesis. Or, χώρας] χέων Ε.

ἐμοί, ποτέ] 1164. θάλλων] possibly, (2) No settled condition, or (3), like στάντες τ' ἐς ὀρθών, Ο. Τ. 50, No life that is in prosperity. (1) is confirmed by 1160.

And no one can prophesy to mortals respecting their present state:' i.e. Whether it will continue or change.

σώσας.. εὔθυνε There is a change from the participial construction to the indicative as well as from μὲν.. δέ τo τε: ie. σώσας agrees with the subject of ἦν, and the finite verb εὔθυνε is substituted for εὐθύνων. This is more in accordance with the growing nature of the language of Sophocles, than to suppose, with Seyffert, that σώσας begins a new sentence in apposition to, and epexegetic of, the previous clause. 1165 ff. See v. rr. Seyffert conjectures καὶ γὰρ ἡδοναὶ ὅταν προδῶσιν ἀνδρός. Cp. supr. 578, and note. On the change from plural to singular, see Essay on Language §20. p. 31. And on the inversion (ἡδονὰς προδῶσιν ἄνδρες = ἡδοναὶ προδῶσιν ἄνδρας), ibid. § 42. p. 80, β. In favour of the reading of the MSS. it must be admitted that the plural ἄνδρες, in this pronominal sense, is unusual. The meaning of the MS. reading is, 'A man's pleasures, when they have deserted him, I hold of no account.' But this does not agree with the concluding lines of the speech. Line 1167 had been dropped, and then l. 1166 was altered so as to make sense.

πλουτεῖ.. καὶ ζῇ This is the first hand of L, and the words are so quoted by Athenaeus according to some MSS. I have always felt that the transition to the second person imperative (which has been suggested by εἰ βούλει) was somewhat harsh. The present indicative is sometimes used in putting a hypothetical case: (Plat. Theaet. 192 Ε, Σωκράτης ἐπιγιγνώσκει Θεόδωρον καὶ Θεαίτητον, ὁρᾷ δὲ μηδέτερον. So the aor. indicative in Hdt. 7. 10, καὶ δὴ καὶ συνήνεικε ἤτοι κατὰ γῆν ἢ καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν ἑσσωθῆναι, κ.τ.λ.) And the conversational use of εἰ βούλει (which assists the expression) is too familiar to need illustration. See L. and S. s. v. βούλομαι, 11. 2.

πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν resumes and supplements τὸ χαίρειν. Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

αἴτιοι θανεῖν Sc. τοὺς τεθνηκότας. 'Are guilty guilty of their death.

αὐτόχειρ On the indefiniteness of the compounds of αὐτός, see Essay on Language p. 101. This word, as here used, is extended from meaning By his own hand, to mean By unnatural violence. See above, l. 172 , and cp. the Latin parricida.

φόνου For the death of Antigone. This is better than φόνῳ, which, however, might mean In a murderous way, i.e. ξὺν φόνῳ. Cp. 1. 1233.

ἤνυσας Didst fulfil; i.e. How true it was, and how thou hast fulfilled it! Early language supposes a causal connection between the prophecy and the event. See on O. T. 156, 720. And for ὀρθόν, ibid. 853

κλύουσα παιδός Essay on Language § 9. p. 13. 1184-1185. Ср. О. T. 911 ff., El. 634 ff.

κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης Said by prolepsis and hypallage for τὴν πύλην, τῶν κλήθρων ἀνασπωμένων, with the same confusion between the door and the fastening which occurs elsewhere. I was opening the door, having drawn the bolt.

Here, and infr. 1203, 1312, as well as probably supr. 993, the death of Creon's son Megareus, elsewhere called Menoeceus, is alluded to.

παρών 'As an eye-witness of the fact. See Essay on Language § 32. P. 55.

ὧν Sc. τούτοις τοῖς ἔπεσι, περὶ ὧν. Essay on Language § 9. p. 13.

ὀρθὸν .. ἀεί Truth is always safe: i. e. never hurts him who tells it.

νηλεές Uncared for. О. Т. 180, νηλέα .. κεῖται ἀνοίκτως.

ἐνοδίαν θεόν Probably Hecate. Cp. Fr. 490. πῦρ ἱερόν, | τῆς εἰνοδίας Ἑκάτης ἔγχος.

εὐμενεῖς Supplementary predicate, agreeing with θεών and Πλούτωνα : i.e. ὥστε εὐμενεῖς εἶναι.

Antigone. Lewis Campbell. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ’ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τροχοὺς ¹ ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,
1060

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας·

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν·

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω
1065

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε².

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν ᾍδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος
1070

λέγω. φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν, γυναικῶν, σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι ξυνταράσσονται πόλεις,

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν ³,

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνὸς, φέρων
1075

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ⁴ ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά ⁵ σου (λυπεῖς γάρ) ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα
1080

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν,

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν, ἢ νῦν φέρει.

Χορός

ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ
1085

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λαχεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας.

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν· ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ⁶, ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.
1090

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾷν ; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν, κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης

ἄνες· κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν ;
1095

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα . ⁷συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι, μόλις μὲν ⁸, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι

τὸ δρᾷν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νῦν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε ⁹·
1100

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν. ἴτ᾽, ἴτ᾽, ὀπάονες,

οἵ ¹⁰ τ᾽ ὄντες, οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον. ¹¹

¹²

ἐγὼ δ᾽ (ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη),

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα, καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.
1105

δέδοικα γὰρ, μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σώζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός
¹³

a

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας

νύμφας ἄγαλμα, καὶ Διὸς

βαρυβρεμέτα γένος,
1110

κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν ¹⁴, μέδεις δὲ ¹⁵ παγ-

κοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις,

Βακχεῦ, Βακχᾶν ὁ μητρόπολιν Θήβαν
1115

ναίων παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν Ἰσμηνοῦ

ῥεέθρων, ἀγρίου τ᾽

ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος ¹⁶·

a

σε δ᾽ ὑπὲρ ¹⁷ διλόφου πέτρας

στέροψ ὄπωπε λιγνὺς, ἔν-
1120

θα ¹⁸ Κωρύκιαι Νύμφαι

στείχουσι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα· καὶ

σὲ Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι,
1125

χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκτὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀβρότων ἐπέων εὐαζόν-

των, Θηβαΐας

ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

b

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν
1130

τιμᾷς ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας

ἔχεται πάνδημος πόλις

ἐπὶ νόσου, ¹⁹ μολεῖν ποδὶ
1135

καθαρσίῳ Παρνασίαν

ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν, ἢ

στονόεντα πορθμόν.

b

ἰὼ πῦρ πνεόντων

χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων ²⁰ καὶ νυχίων
1140

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ ²¹, Διὸς γένεθλον,

προφάνηθι Ναξίαις

σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις (Θυιάσιν),

αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι τι
1145

χορεύουσι, τὸν

ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον ²² στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
1150

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταῤῥέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτὸς ²³, ὡς ἐμοὶ, ποτὲ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα·
1155

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν,

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
1160

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῇ, τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς

οὐχ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;
1165

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἵ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν, αὐτόχειρ ²⁴ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.
1170

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων,

ἤτοι ²⁵ κλύουσα παιδὸς, ἢ τύχῃ, πάρα.
1175

Εὐρυδίκη
²⁶

ὦ πάντες ἀστοὶ, τοῦ λόγου γ᾽ ἐπῃσθόμην,

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς ²⁷

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.

καὶ τυγχάνω γε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπάστου πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ
1180

βάλλει δι’ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι, κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος, αὖθις εἴπατε.

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγὼ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ,
1185

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν, ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽ ; ὀρθὸν ἡ ἀλήθει᾽ ἀεί.

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς
1190

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μὲν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχέθειν,

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρὸν, ἐν ²⁸ νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,
1195

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον ᾍδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,
1200

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι ²⁹ μᾶλλον ἄσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος

ἴησι δυσθρήνητον· « ὦ τάλας ἐγὼ,

« ἆρ’ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην
1205

« κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν ;

» παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλὰ, πρόσπολοι,

«ἴτ᾽ ἄσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ, παραστάντες τάφῳ,

« ἀθρήσαθ᾽ ³⁰ ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῇ,

« δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος
1210

« φθόγγον ξυνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι».

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1064 focus

Τειρεσίας

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τροχοὺς ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1020

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

ἀνθ’ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ' ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν
1025

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν·

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1030

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω. φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν, γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις,
1035

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν

ἢ θῆρες ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνὸς φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1040

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους. ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν,

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν, ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1045

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξότου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτός, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας.
1050

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέων.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1055

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1060

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, μηδ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· οἵ τ’ ὀπάονες,

οἵ τ’ ὄντες οἵ τ’ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον·
1065

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ' ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γάρ, μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σώζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

12. ΟΡΧΗΣΤΙΚΟΝ.

Χορός

1

πολυώνυμε, Καδμεΐας νύμφας ἄγαλμα,
1070

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις,

ὦ Βακχεῦ, Βακχᾶν μητρόπολιν Θήβαν
1075

ναίων παρ᾽ ὑγρὸν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥέεθρον

ἀγρίου τ᾽ ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος.

1

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφοιο πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι νύμφαι στείχουσι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα·
1080

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι

χλωρά τ' ἀκτὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀμβρότων ἐπέων εὐαζόντων,

Θηβαίας ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·
1085

2

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καί νυν, ὡς βιαίας

ἔχεται πάνδημος ἀμὰ πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνησσίαν
1090

ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.

2

ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον,

προφάνηθι Ναξίαις σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1095

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

13. ΕΞΟΔΟΣ.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἄν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
1100

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταῤῥέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,
1105

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ.

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
1110

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;
1115

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.
1120

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.
1125

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος;

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ
1130

βάλλει δι’ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι, κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος, αὖθις εἴπατε·

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ,
1135

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐσύστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽ ; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει ἀεί.

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ’ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς
1140

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχέθειν,

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,
1145

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα.,
1150

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην
1155

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλὰ, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ

ἀθρήσαθ', ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος
1160

φθόγγον ξυνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τροχοὺς ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω
1050

ψυχήν γ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατοικίσας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον, νέκυν ·

ὧν οὔτε σοι μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.
1055

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐριννύες,

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω· φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ
1060

ἀνδρῶν, γυναικῶν, σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα,

ἔχθρᾳ δὲ πᾶσαι ξυνταράσσονται πόλεις,

ὅσῳ σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν,

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνὸς, φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.
1065

τοιαῦτά σου (λυπεῖς γὰρ), ὥστε τοξότης,

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ, παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,
1070

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν,

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν, ὧν νῦν φέρει.

Χορός

ὥνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε, δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,
1075

μή πω ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δειλὸν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν, ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, Κρέον.
1080

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾷν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν, κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ
1085

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴ μοι! μόλις μὲν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι,

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νῦν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισι τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽, ὡς ἔχω, στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· οἱ δ᾽ ὀπάονες,
1090

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες, οἵ τ᾿ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον·

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα, καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι·

δέδοικα γὰρ, μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους
1095

ἄριστον ᾖ σώζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός

1

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας

νύμφας ἄγαλμα, καὶ Διὸς βα-

ρυβρεμέτα γέννα,

κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις
1100

Ἰταλίαν, μετεῖς δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις, ὦ Βακχεῦ,

Βακχᾶν ματρόπολιν ναίων,

παρ’ ὑδρηλῶν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεέθρων,
1105

ἀρχαίου τ᾽ ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος·

1

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας

στέροψ ὄπωπε λιγνὺς, ἔνθα

Κωρυκίαις Νύμφαις

στείχουσι Βακχίδες,
1110

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα,

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι, χλωρά τ᾽ ἀ-

κτὰ πουλυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἁβρότων ἐπέων εὐαζόντων,
1115

Θηβαίας ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

2

τὰν ἔμπας σὺ τιμᾷς

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων,

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται πόλις
1120

πάνδημος νόσου, ποδὶ καθαρσίω,

μολεῖν κλιτὺν ὑπὲρ Παρνασίαν,

ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν!

2

ἰὼ πῦρ πνεόντων

οἴστρων τε καὶ νυχίων
1125

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε

παῖ, Ζηνὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθι Να-

ξίαις Θυιάσι σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις,

μαινόμεναι χορεύουσ᾽ αἳ πάννυχοι

τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.
1130

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ·

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ Τύχη καταῤῥέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα, τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽, ἀεί·
1135

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτὸς, ὡς ἐμοὶ, ποτὲ,

σώσας μὲν ἔχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβὼν δὲ χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
1140

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῇν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν ·

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων, ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
1145

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν · οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος ; λέγε.
1150

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν, αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας!

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.
1155

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ,

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος · ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων,

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς, ἢ τύχῃ, περᾷ.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοὶ (τοῦ λόγου γ᾽ ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς
1160

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος ·

καὶ τυγχάνω γε κλεῖθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα. κᾀμὲ φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι' ὤτων, ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι, κἀποπλήσσομαι),
1165

ἀλλ’, ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος, αὖθις εἴπατε!

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγὼ, φίλη δέσποινα, καίπερ ὤμ᾽, ἐρῶ,

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος·

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν, ὧν ἐς ὕστερον
1170

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽ ; ὀρθὸν ἡ ᾿λήθει᾽ ἀεί.

ἔγωγε σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾿ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι.

καὶ τὸν μὲν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν Θεὸν,
1175

Πλούτωνά τ᾽, ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχέθειν,

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρὸν, ἐν νεοσπάσι

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ, τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης
1180

νυμφεῖον ᾅδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών ·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας εὔσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς,
1185

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἄσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον · ὦ, τάλας ἐγὼ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλὰ, πρόσπολοι,
1190

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον ξυνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι. —

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κακῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω. φανεῖ γάρ, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβή,

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ' ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων

61v

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾿ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, [Κρέον.]

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ' ἄν· ἴτ᾽ ἴτ᾿ ὀπάονες

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἱ τ᾿ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστώτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σώζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός
α

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ελευσινίας
1120

Δῃοῦς ἐν κόλποις,

ὦ Βακχεῦ, Βακχᾶν ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναίων παρ᾽ ὑγρὸν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρον,

ἀγρίου τ᾽ ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος·
1125
α

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι Νύμφαι στείχουσι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα.
1130
62r

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι

χλωρά τ᾿ ἀκτὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει

τῶν ἀμβρότων ἐπέων εὐαζόντων

Θηβαίας ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·
1135
β

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νύν, ὡς βιαίας
1140

ἔχεται πάνδαμος *ἀμὰ πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν

ὑπὲρ κλιτύν, ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145
β

ὦ πῦρ πνεόντων ἄστρων χοραγὲ* καὶ νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον,

προφάνηθι Ναξίαις σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

*Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλουτεῖ τε γὰρ κατ' οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῇ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων, ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ' ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ' αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

62v

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει διʼ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ,

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐσύστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾿ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα, *

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾿ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1215

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσῃ,

ἀνθ’ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἔχθρᾳ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις.
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν,

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνὸς φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμῇ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἀνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· ἴτ᾽, ἴτ᾽, ὀπάονες

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι·

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σῴζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός
1

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας
1120

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις, ὦ Βακχεῦ,

Βακχᾶν ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγρόν τ᾽

Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥέεθρον, ἀγρίου τ᾽

ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος·
1125
1

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι

στείχουσι Νύμφαι Βακχίδες

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα.
1130

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκ-

τὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀμβρότων ἐπέων

εὐαζόντων, Θηβαΐας
1135

ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

2

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν

ὑπὲρ κλιτύν, ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145
2

ἰὼ πῦρ πνεόντων

χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ, Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ᾽,

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ·

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι’ ὤτων, ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος·

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει᾽ ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν,
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· « ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1215

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ’ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσῃ,

ἀνθ’ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ’ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ’ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ’ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ’ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω· φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἔχθρᾳ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις,
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ’ ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν,

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνὸς φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμῇ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ’ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ’ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ’, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ’ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ’ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ’ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ’ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ’ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ’, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ’ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ’ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ’ ἐλθὼν μηδ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ’ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ’ ἄν· ἴτ’, ἴτ’, ὀπάονες

οἵ τ’ ὄντες οἵ τ’ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ’ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ’, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ’ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ’ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι·

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σῴζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός
1

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας
1120

Δῃοῦς ἐν κόλποις, ὦ Βακχεῦ,

Βακχᾶν ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναιετῶν παρ’ ὑγρόν τ’

Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥέεθρον, ἀγρίου τ’

ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος·
1125
1

σὲ δ’ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι

νύμφαι στίχουσι Βακχίδες

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα.
1130

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ’ ἀκ-

τὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀμβρότων ἐπέων

εὐαζόντων, Θηβαΐας
1135

ἐπισκοποῦντ’ ἀγυιάς·

2

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν

ὑπὲρ κλιτύν, ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145
2

ἰὼ πῦρ πνεόντων

χοράγ’ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ, Δῖον γένεθλον, προφάνηθ’,

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὁποῖον στάντ’ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ’ αἰνέσαιμ’ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ·

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ’ ἀεί,

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ’ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ’ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ’ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ’ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ’ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ’ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ’ αὖ τόδ’ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ’ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ’ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ’ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ’ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ’ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι' ὤτων, ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ’ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ’ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος·

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ’ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ’; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει' ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ’ ἄκρον, ἔνθ’ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ’ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν,
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ’ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ’ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ’ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· "ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ’ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ’ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1215

ἀθρήσαθ’, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ’, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι."

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἥλιον τελεῖν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσηι,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν γ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφωι κατοικίσας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θυῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν·

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζεται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ φθιτῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἔχθραι δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς † πόλιν †.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῶι καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμῆι.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῆι,

καὶ γνῶι τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ὧν νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

Ἄτη πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῶι πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, † λαβεῖν †.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῶι προκειμένωι τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖ παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας Βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκηι δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν. ἴτ᾽ ἴτ᾽, ὀπάονες,

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῆιδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ἦι σώιζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

1

Χορός

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας ἄγαλμα νύμφας
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Οἰχαλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας
1120

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις, ὦ Βακχεῦ,

Βακχᾶν ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγρὸν

†Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥέεθρον ἀγρίου † τ᾽

ἐπὶ σπορᾶι δράκοντος·
1125

1

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι

στείχουσι νύμφαι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα
1130

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀ-

κτὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀμβρότων ἑπετᾶν

εὐαζόντων Θηβαΐας
1135

ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

2

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾶις

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίαι·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίωι ποδὶ Παρνασίαν

ὑπὲρ κλειτὺν ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145

2

ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων

χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Ζηνὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ',

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁπηιοῦν στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ·

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

ηὔθυνε θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾶι·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὔτι φήμ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῆι

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν. οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει, τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος ; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν.· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρώιας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὖπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ,
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχηι περᾶι.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπηισθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῆιθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι’ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽ ; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει᾽ ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῶι ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν,
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ ᾿λέλειπτο συγκατήιθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότηι Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῶι δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφωι 1215
1215

ἀθρήσαθ᾽ ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽ ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τροχοὺς ἁμιλλητῆρας Ἡλίου τελῶν,

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,
1055

ψυχήν τ' ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας·

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.
1060

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐριννύες,

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς·

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω. φανεῖ γάρ, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβή,
1065

ἀνδρῶν, γυναικῶν, σοῖς, δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις,

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγισαν,

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων·

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.
1070

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,
1075

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν,

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν, ἢ νῦν φέρει.

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,
1080

μή πὼ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτός, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας.

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν· ἀντιστάντα δέ,

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον.
1085

Κρέων

τί δῆτα. χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης

ἄνες· κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα. συντέμνουσι γὰρ
1090

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ' ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· οἵ τ᾽ ὁπάονες,
1095

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες, οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἷς ἐπόψιον τόπον,

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα, καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γάρ. μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους
1100

ἄριστον ᾖ σώζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός

1

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας

νύμφας ἄγαλμα, καὶ Διὸς

βαρυβρεμέτα γένος,

κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις
1105

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ παγ-

κοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις,

Βακχεῦ, Βακχᾶν ὁ ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ἐνναίων παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν
1110

Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥείθρων, ἀγρίου τ᾽

ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος·

1

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας

στέροψ ὄπωπε λιγνύς, ἔν-

θα Κωρύκιαι νύμφαι
1115

στείχουσι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα· καί

σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι,

χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκτὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει
1120

ἀμβρότων ἐπέων

εὐαζόντων, Θηβαΐας

ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

2

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων
1125

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νύν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται πανδήμιος

πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου, μολεῖν

καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνησσίαν
1130

ὑπὲρ κλιτύν, ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.

2

ἰὼ τῶν πῦρ πνεόντων

χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθι Ναξίαις
1135

ἅμα περιπόλοισν σαῖ-

σιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι παννύχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1140

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπων βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἄν, οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ, καὶ τύχη καταῤῥέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα, τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί.

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1145

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα·

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

εὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ.

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1150

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι, νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1155

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος ; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.
1160

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ,
1165

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων,

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδός, ἢ τύχῃ, πάρα.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην,

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος
1170

καὶ τυγχάνω τὲ κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι᾽ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι, κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος, αὖθις εἴπατε.
1175

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ,

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἀλήθει᾽ ἀεί.
1180

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ’ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεόν,

Πλούτωνά τ᾽, ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχέθειν,
1185

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον, Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1190

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών.

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ' ἔπος
1195

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλὰ, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1200

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽ , ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω· φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις,
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖ παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· ἴτ᾽ ἴτ᾽ ὀπάονες,

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἵ τ᾿ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ' ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σῴζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός
1

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα 1
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα 2

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις 3

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ 4

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας 5
1120

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις, Βακχεῦ, Βακχᾶν 6

ὁ ματρόπολιν Θήβαν 7

ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγρὸν 8

Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρόν τ᾽ ἀγρίου τ᾽ ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος· 9

1

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ· ὄπωπε 1
1125

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι 2

στείχουσι Νύμφαι Βακχίδες, 3

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα. 4
1130

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων 5

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκτὰ 6

πολυστάφυλος πέμπει, 7

ἀμβρότων ἐπέων 8

εὐαζόντων, Θηβαΐας ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς. 9
1135
2

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς ὑπερτάταν πόλεων 1

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ· 2

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται 3
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου, 4

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν 5

ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν. 6
1145
2

ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων 1

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε, 2

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ᾽, 3

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις 4
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι χορεύουσι 5

τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον. 6

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι’ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ,

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει᾽ ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν,
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ ᾿λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες, αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1215

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσῃ,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω,

ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ' ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω· φανεῖ γάρ, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβή,

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἔχθρᾳ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν

ἢ θῆρες, ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν,

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμῇ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ὧν νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾿ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· ἴτ᾽ ἴτ᾽ ὀπάονες,

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σῴζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας ἄγαλμα νύμφας
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας
1120

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις, ὦ Βακχεῦ,

Βακχᾶν ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγροῖς Ἰ-

σμηνοῦ ῥείθροις, ἀγρίου τ᾽

ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος·
1125

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι

στείχουσι Νύμφαι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα.
1130

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀ-

κτὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει

ἀβρότων ἑπετᾶν εὐ-

αζόντων Θηβαΐας
1135

ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασσίαν

ὑπὲρ κλιτύν, ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145

ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων

χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ᾽,

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα,

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλῃ, μέγα

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων, ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ περᾷ.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι’ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ,

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει᾽ ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν,
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ ᾿λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς, καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1215

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 1064 focus

Τειρεσίας

ἀλλʼ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελεῖν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

ἀνθʼ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω

ψυχήν τʼ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδʼ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλʼ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω· φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις,
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματʼ ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν

ἢ θῆρες ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῷ καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δʼ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,

καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τʼ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δʼ, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδʼ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτʼ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας.
1095

τό τʼ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε. πείσομαι δʼ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ, τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γʼ, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δʼ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δʼ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδʼ ἐλθὼν μηδʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδʼ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἴτʼ ἴτʼ ὀπάονες,

οἵ τʼ ὄντες οἵ τʼ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθʼ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδʼ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τʼ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ᾖ σῴζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις, Ἐλευσινίας

Δῃοῦς ἐν κόλποις, Βακχεῦ Βακχᾶν
1120

ὁ ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναιετῶν παρʼ ὑγρῶν

Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥείθρων ἀγρίου τʼ ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος.
1125

Χορός

σὲ δʼ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι

στείχουσι νύμφαι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα.
1130

καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τʼ ἀκτὰ

πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀμβρότων ἐπέων

εὐαζόντων Θηβαΐας ἐπισκοποῦντʼ ἀγυιάς·
1135

Χορός

τὰν ἐκ πᾶσαι τιμᾷς ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν

ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145

Χορός

ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων χοράγʼ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθʼ,

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι χορεύουσι

τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὁποῖον στάντʼ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτʼ αἰνέσαιμʼ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντʼ ἀεί·

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημʼ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλʼ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατʼ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα

καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμʼ ἔχων· ἐὰν δʼ ἀπῇ

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλʼ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δʼ αὖ τόδʼ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν. οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δʼ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δʼ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρʼ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδʼ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος. ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρʼ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει διʼ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλʼ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσʼ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμʼ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθʼ; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθειʼ ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπʼ ἄκρον, ἔνθʼ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τʼ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ 'λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δʼ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών.

τῷ δʼ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δʼ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρʼ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλὰ πρόσπολοι,

ἴτʼ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ
1215

ἀθρήσαθʼ, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημʼ ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 1064 focus

ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι

τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελῶν,
1065

ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα

νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσηι,

ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω

ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφωι κατώικισας,

ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν
1070

ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.

ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω

θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι

λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες,
1075

ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος

λέγω· φανεῖ γάρ, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβή,

ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.

ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις,
1080

ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν

ἢ θῆρες ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων

ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.

τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης

ἀφῆκα θυμῶι καρδίας τοξεύματα
1085

βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμῆι.

ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα

τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῆι

καὶ γνῶι τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχωτέραν

τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει.
1090

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτηι πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῶι πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῶι προκειμένωι τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας Βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκηι δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Κρέων

ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· ἴτ᾽ ἴτ᾽ ὀπάονες,

οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν

ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον.
1110

ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῆιδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,

αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους

ἄριστον ἦι σώιζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.

Χορός

πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα
1115

καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα

γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις

Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ

παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας
1120

Δηοῦς ἐν κόλποις, ὦ Βακχεῦ, Βακ-

χᾶν ματρόπολιν Θήβαν

ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγρὸν

Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρον τ᾽ ἀγρίου τ᾽

ἐπὶ σπορᾶι δράκοντος·
1125

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε

λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι

στείχουσι Νύμφαι Βακχίδες,

Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα·
1130

καὶ σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων

κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκτὰ

πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,

ἀμβρότων ἑπετᾶν

εὐαζόντων Θηβαΐας
1135

ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾶις

ὑπερτάταν πόλεων

ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίαι·

καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται
1140

πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,

μολεῖν καθαρσίωι ποδὶ Παρνασίαν

ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν.
1145

ἰὼ πῦρ πνεόντων

χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων

φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,

παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ᾽,

ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
1150

Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι

χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

Ἄγγελος

Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος,
1155

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον

οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.

τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει

τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί,

καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς.
1160

Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,

σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα

λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν

ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾶι·

καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς
1165

ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ

ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.

πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα,

καὶ ζῇ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῆι

τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς
1170

οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρώιας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ' ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχηι περᾶι.

Εὐρυδίκη

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπηισθόμην

πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς

ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος.
1185

καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῆιθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης

χαλῶσα, καὶ με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ

βάλλει δι᾽ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι

δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε·
1190

κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.

Ἄγγελος

ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ

κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.

τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον

ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει᾽ ἀεί.
1195

ἐγὼ δὲ σῶι ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει

πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς

κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·

καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν

Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν,
1200

λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν

θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ ᾿λέλειπτο συγκατήιθομεν,

καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς

χώσαντες αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης

νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν.
1205

φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων

κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,

καὶ δεσπότηι Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών·

τῶι δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς

ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος
1210

ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,

ἆρ' εἰμι μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην

κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;

παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλά, πρόσπολοι,

ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς καὶ παραστάντες τάφωι
1215

ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ

δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος

φθόγγον συνίημ᾽, ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1064 focus

TEIRESIAS.

So wisse wohl auch, daſs der raschen Kreise du

des Sonnengotts nicht viele mehr durchleben wirst,
1020

bis einen Todten aus des eignen Blutes Stamm

den Todten zum Entgelte du darbringen muſst,

für dieses, daſs ein Ob'res du hinabgestürzt,

und eine Seele schmählich in ein Grab verpflanzt,

und dafs den Untergöttern du entzogen hältst
1025

hier einen Leichnam, unbestattet, ungeweiht,

woran du nicht betheiligt noch der Oberwelt

Gottheiten, sondern ihnen zwingst du dieses auf.

Drum lauern, Unheil brütend, dein im Hinterhalt

des Hades und der Götter Rach-Erinyen,
1030

dafs du ergriffen werdest in demselben Weh.

Und schaue zu nun, ob ich geldgedungen das

ausspreche. Denn nicht langer Zeit Frist bringt zu Tag

der Männer, Weiber Klagetöne deinem Haus.

Feindselig wird erschüttert jede Stadt, worin
1035

zerrifsnen Leichen Hunde geben Grabesweih'n,

Raubthier' und raschbeschwingter Vögel einer, der

zum Heerd der Heimath trägt den eklen Graungeruch.

Ja solche Pfeilgeschosse (denn schwer kränkst du mich),

dem Schützen gleich entsandt' ich dir, herztreffende:
1040

sie haften fest, und ihrem Brand entgehst du nicht.

O Knabe, du nun führ' uns wieder heim, damit

der seines Zornes sich entlad' auf Jüngere,

und seine Zunge lern' erziehen ruhiger,

und seinen Geist auch besser, als sie jetzo sind.
1045

(ab.)

CHOR.

Der Mann, o Herr, ging grauenvoll weissagend fort.

Wir wissen, niemals, seit mir dieses weiſse Haar,

aus schwarzgelocktem umgewandelt, kränzt das Haupt,

hat falschen Spruch er dieser Stadt verkündiget.

KREON.

Ich weifs weiß es selbst auch, und den Sinn verwirrt es mir.
1050

Denn schmerzlich ist zu weichen; doch der Widerstand

fügt leicht des Unheils Schläge noch zum Schmerzlichen.

CHOR.

O Sohn Menökeus' Menökeus’ Kreon, noth thut weiser Rath.

KREON.

Was soll ich thun? Sprich; gerne werd' werd’ ich folgen dir.

CHOR.

Geh hin, entlafs entlaß sie aus dem unterirdischen
1055

Gemach, und jenem Hingeworfnen weih' ein Grab.

KREON.

Und dieses räthst du? meinest, dafs daß ich weichen soll?

CHOR.

O eiligst, Herr; rasch schneiden die schnellfüſsigen schnellfüßigen

Unglücksdämonen irren Sinnen ab den Weg.

KREON.

Weh! Kaum vermag ich's ich’s; doch ich breche mir das Herz:
1060

ich thu' thu’ es; Schicksals Fügung wird umsonst bekämpft.

CHOR.

So geh' geh’ und thu' thu’ es: überlaſs überlaß es andern nicht.

KREON.

So wie ich bin, geh' hin ich: ihr, die Diener, auf,

die hier, die fern sind, nehmet Axt und Beil zur Hand,

und eilt dem Orte, den wir vor uns sehen, zu;
1065

ich aber, weil sich mein Entschlufs Entschluß dahin gewandt,

band ich sie selber, löse nun auch selber sie.

Denn sehr befürcht' befürcht’ ich, dafs daß das Beste dieses sei,

bestehend Recht zu wahren bis ans Lebensziel.

(ab.)

XII. CHORTANZ.

CHOR.
Str. 1.

Vielnam'ger, der Kadmischen Jungfrau wonnig Kleinod!
1070

Sprofs Sproß des hocherdonnernden Zeus, Italia's der herrlichen.

Schutz!

es beherrschet deine

Macht Eleusis' gastliche Flur

in Deo's Thalgrund!

O Baccheus, hier in Bacchischer Fraun Urland
1075

Theba, bei des Ismenos Stromflut

wohnend, wo des grimmen Drachen Saat sprofs!

Gegenstr. 1.

Dich schauet vom Doppelgeklipp' auflodernd helle

Dampfglut, wo Korykische Nymphen schreiten froh im Bacchoschor,

schauet der Born Kastalia's!
1080

Dich entsendet Nysa's Gebirg

und Epheuwaldhöh'n,

wo grünumlaubtem Ufer entlang Wein prangt!

Gottvoll schallet dann jauchzend Festlied,

weil du freundlich Thebens Gassen heimsuchst,
1085
Str. 2.

die weit du, weit vorziehst an Ehren jeglicher Stadt,

mit der Donnermutter du!

Komme jetzt, da graunvoll

das gesammte Land des Weh's herbe Gewalt erfafst,

sühnvollen Fufses über der Parnassoshöh'n
1090

Geklüft steigend oder die wilde Meerfurt!

Gegenstr. 2.

Io du, glutaussprühn'der Sterne führend den Chor,

Herr des Jubelschalls der Nacht,

Zeusentsprofsner Knabe!

O erscheine sammt der Schaar Naxischer Mägdelein,
1095

der Thyien, die durchschwärmend die Nacht dich entzückt

im Tanzreigen, Spender Iakchos, feiern!

XIII. EXODOS.

CHOR, BOTE; später EURYDIKE, KREON und ein HAUSDIENER.

BOTE.
(tritt auf)

Die ihr des Kadmos und Amphions Haus umwohnt,

kein Menschenleben, wenn es wohl steht, würd' ich mir

¹

nicht loben, und nicht tadeln doch ein ander Mal.
1100

Das Glück ja hebet und das Glück stürzt jederzeit

den Hochbeglückten und den Unglückseligen;

und was bestimmt ist, kündet kein Wahrsager uns.

Denn Kreon war einst, denk' ich mir, beneidenswerth,

als er vom Feind errettet dies Kadmeierland;
1105

in sich vereinend dieses Staats gesammte Macht

regiert' er, blühend in der Kinder edler Saat.

Und jetzt — dahin ist Alles. Wenn die Freuden erst

der Mensch sich hingeopfert, nicht mehr denk' ich dann

er lebe, sondern acht' ihn für lebendig todt.
1110

Denn habe Reichthums Fülle, wenn du willst, im Haus,

und leb' in stolzem Fürstenscheine: mangelt dir

dabei die Freude, kauf' um Rauches Schatten nicht

dem Menschen ich das Andre, gegen Freud' und Lust.

CHOR.

Welch neues Leid der Herrscher bringst du wiederum?
1115

BOTE.
(Eurydike öffnet die Thür.)

Todst sind sie; Schuld am Tode sind die Lebenden!

CHOR.

Wer ist der Mörder? welcher liegt gefallen? sprich!

BOTE.

Hämon ist nicht mehr, blutend durch nicht fremde Hand.

CHOR.

Durch Vaters Hand, wie? oder durch die eigne Hand?

BOTE.

Selbst that er's, grollend seinem Vater ob des Mords.
1120

CHOR.

O Seher, welch ein richtig Wort doch sprachest du!

BOTE.

Da dieses also, fordert Rath das Übrige.

(Eurydike naht mit ihren Frauen.)

CHOR.

Dort seh' ich schon die Arme nahn, Eurydike,

Kreons Gemahlin: aus dem Hause trat sie vor,

sei's hörend von dem Sohne, sei's von Ohngefähr.
1125

EURYDIKE.

O Bürger alle, welches Wort vernahm ich hier,

als ich zum Ausgang schreite, dafs der Pallas ich,

des Hauses Göttin, nahe mit Gelübd' und Flehn?

Und eben lös' ich an dem wohlverschloſsnen Thor

die Riegel, und mir trifft ein Ruf des eignen Leids
1130

das Ohr; ich sinke tief erschreckt rückwärts dahin

auf meine Frauen, und die Sinne schwinden mir.

Doch wie sie war, die Rede, saget noch einmal;

denn nicht im Leiden unerfahren hör' ich sie.

BOTE.

Ich, theure Herrin, werd' ein Augenzeuge dir
1135

es sagen und verschweigen kein wahrhaftes Wort.

Sollt' ich dir mildern, wo nachher als Lügner ich

erschiene? Wahrheit bleibet stets das Richtige.

Ich folgt' als Führer deinem Ehgemahl dahin

zum hochgelegnen Felde, dort wo jammervoll
1140

zerfleischt von Hunden noch Polyneikes' Körper lag.

Den nun, nachdem zur Wege-Göttin wir gefleht

und Pluton, daſs sie gnädig seien, wuschen wir

im Weihebad dann, und mit frischem Oelgezweig

verbrannten wir, was eben nun noch übrig war.
1145

Und als ein steilgestirntes Grab wir heimischer

Erd' aufgeworfen, gingen dann wir nach der Maid

felsblockbedachtem hohlen Todtenbrautgemach.

Da höret fernher Einer helles Wehgeheul,

von jener weihelosen Hochzeitkammer her,
1150

und kündet Kreon, unserm Herrn, es eilend an.

Doch den umtönt des Jammers Unglückszeichen schon,

indeſs er näher schreitet, und wehklagend ruft

er aus das thränenvolle Wort: Ich Armer, ach!

bin ich ein Seher? geh den unglückseligsten
1155

Weg ich von allen Wegen, die jemals ich ging?

Der Ruf des Sohnes trifft mich! Auf, ihr Diener, geht

in Eile näher, und am Grab seht, eingedrängt

durch weggebrochner Fugesteine Spaltenrifs

tief in die Mündung, ob es Hämons Stimme sei,
1160

die ich vernommen, oder ob ein Gott mich täuscht.

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 1064 focus

Pero tú también has de saber que ya no verificará el Sol muchas revoluciones en su lucha con la tiniebla, sin que en ellas tú mismo tengas que dar un muerto de tus propias entrañas a cambio de esos dos cadáveres, de los cuales has echado uno de la luz a las tinieblas, encerrando inicuamente a una alma viviente en la sepultura; y retienes aquí arriba al otro, privando de él a los dioses infernales por tenerlo insepulto y sin los debidos honores, en lo cual no tienes tú poder, ni tampoco los dioses de aquí arriba; procedes, pues, violentamente en todo esto. Por lo cual, las vengativas Furias de Plutón y de los dioses, que tras sí llevan la ruina, te están acechando para envolverte en males iguales à a éstos. Y considera si digo esto por amor al dinero. No pasará mucho tiempo sin que oigas en tu palacio los lamentos de los hombres y de las mujeres: ya se concitan contra ti, como enemigas, todas las ciudades en las que los perros o las fieras o algún ave voladora hayan depositado en sus aras algunos trozos del cadáver, llevando el impuro olor a los altares de la ciu- dad. Ahí tienes, aunque lo sientas, las certeras flechas que, cual si fuera arquero enfurecido, lanzo contra tu corazón, de las cuales no evitarás el dolor. ¡Oh niño!, guiame guíame a casa para que éste descargue su cólera en gente más joven, y aprenda a tener la lengua más sosegada y sentimientos mejores que los que ahora tiene.

CORO

Ese hombre, ¡oh rey!, se va después de anunciar terribles profecias profecías; y yo sé por experiencia que desde que cambié mi negro cabello por este blanco, nunca jamás ha dicho mentiras a la ciudad.

CREONTE

También lo sé yo, y mi mente se agita en un mar de confusiones; porque el ceder es terrible; pero si resisto, es posible que mi ira se estrelle en la terrible fatalidad.

CORO

Buen consejo es menester, Creonte, hijo de Meneceo.

CREONTE

¿Qué he de hacer, pues? Dimelo Dímelo, que yo obedeceré.

CORO

Corriendo saca a la muchacha de la subterránea prisión, y prepara sepultura para el que yace insepulto.

CREONTE

¿Y esto lo apruebas tú y crees que debo obedecerte?

CORO

Cuanto antes, ¡oh rey!; porque el castigo de los dioses, con sus ligeros pies, corta los pasos a los malaconsejados.

CREONTE

¡Ay de mí! Dificilmente Difícilmente, en verdad, y contra mi corazón, me decido a hacerlo; pero contra la necesidad no se puede luchar con éxito.

CORO

Hazlo, pues, corriendo, y no lo encargues a otros.

CREONTE

Pues así como estoy, me voy a ir. Venid, venid, compañeros los que estáis presentes y los ausentes; y con hachas en las manos corred hacia el lugar famoso ¹. Y yo, puesto que mi opinión así ha cambiado, y yo mismo la aprisioné, quiero estar presente para salvarla; pues temo no sea la mejor resolución el vivir observando las leyes establecidas.

CORO

¡Oh dios de muchos nombres, que de la ninfa Cadmea eres orgullo, y del altitonante Júpiter hijo; que te complaces de vivir en la inclita ínclita Italia y reinas en los valles, comunes a todos, de Ceres Eleusinia! ¡Oh Baco, que habitas en Tebas, metrópoli de las bacantes, junto a la liquida líquida corriente del Ismeno, donde fueron sembrados los dientes del feroz dragón!

Hacia ti se dirige la llama que brilla sobre este monte de dos cimas, por donde corren las Coricias ninfas bacantes y la fuente de Castalia. Y a ti, las escarpadas alturas de los montes de Nisa, cubiertos de hiedra, y la verde falda en que abunda la vid, envian envían, resonando los inmortales himnos evohé, evohé, a visitar las calles de Tebas, a la cual

extraordinariamente honras sobre todas las ciudades, con tu madre, la herida del rayo. Y ahora que toda nuestra ciudad está infestada de violenta pestilencia, ven con saludable pie por encima del monte Parnaso y el resonante estrecho.

¡Oh jefe del coro de los astros que respiran fuego, inspector de las nocturnas músicas, niño hijo de Júpiter, hazte presente, ¡oh rey!, junto con tus compañeras las Tiadas, que enfurecidas celebran en coros todas las noches a Baco su señor!

UN MENSAJERO

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

CORO

¿Qué nueva calamidad de los reyes vienes a anunciarnos?

EL MENSAJERO

Han muerto; y los que viven son, culpables de la muerte.

CORO

¿Y quién ha matado? ¿Quién yace muerto? Di.

EL MENSAJERO

Hemón ha muerto: con la propia mano se ha herido.

CORO

¿Cuál? ¿La del padre o la suya propia?

EL MENSAJERO

Él mismo se ha suicidado, rabioso contra su padre por la sentencia de muerte.

CORO

– ¡Oh adivino! ¡Cuán cumplidamente diste la profecia profecía!

EL MENSAJERO

Y siendo la cosa así, hay que pensar en lo demás.

CORO

Y en verdad que veo a la desdichada Eurídice, la esposa de Creonte, que sale de casa; ya sea por haber oido oído algo de su hijo, ya por casualidad.

EURÍDICE

¡Oh ciudadanos todos! Oi Oí algunas de vuestras palabras cuando iba a salir para llegarme a invocar con mis plegarias a la diosa Minerva. Y me hallaba aflojando la cerradura de la puerta para abrirla, cuando me hirió los oídos el rumor de alguna desgracia de mi familia. Llena de miedo, caí de espaldas sobre mis esclavas y perdi perdí el sentido. Pero cualquiera que fuese vuestra conversación, repetidmela; que no ignoro lo que son las desgracias, para poder escucharlas.

EL MENSAJERO

Yo, querida reina, que estuve presente, te contaré la verdad, y no omitiré palabra. ¿Pues para qué te he de sosegar con un relato que luego me ha de hacer aparecer como embustero? Lo mejor, siempre es la verdad. Yo seguía a tu marido acompañándolo hacia la eminencia del paraje donde aun yacía el no llorado cadáver de Polinices despedazado por los perros; y à a éste, después de suplicar a la diosa protectora del tránsito y a Plutón, para que benevolos benévolos aplacaran su ira, lavamos con agua lustral y quemamos sus restos sobre ramas recién cortadas; y habiéndole erigido un elevado túmulo con tierra de la patria, nos fuimos en seguida hacia la gruta que de piedras se había hecho para cámara nupcial de los desposorios de la muchacha con Plutón. Uno de nosotros oye el grito de agudos lamentos que lejanos resonaban en aquella cámara privada de los fúnebres honores, y corriendo, se lo anuncia al amo Creonte. Y cuando éste, que oia oía el confuso clamor de tristes lamentos, llegó más cerca de la tumba, rompiendo en llanto se arrojó con estas dolorosas palabras: «¡Ah infeliz de mí! ¿Será cierto lo que me dice el corazón? ¿Acaso me hallo en el tránsito más desdichado de los pasos de mi vida? Me suena la voz de mi hijo. Pero, ¡siervos!, venid aquí corriendo; y llegados a la tumba, arrancad la piedra que cierra la boca del hueco; y entrando en él, ved si es de Hemón la voz que oigo, o si me engañan los dioses.»

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1064 focus

Nam scito, prudentiam tibi meam quaestui non fore.

Teiresias

At tu vicissim probe hoc scito, tibi non multas circumvolutum iri solis rotas concertantes, quin tuis ipse ex visceribus quempiam mortuum pro mortuis vicissim daturussis ; quia superorum ad inferos demisisti viventem animam, atque ignominiose sepulcro condidisti, detinesque hic, inferorum expers deorum, insepultum, iustisque privatum, cadaver: quorum nec tibi est potestas, neque ad superorum deorum iura id pertinet, sed iniuriam sic illis facis. Quapropter ultrices, postmodo perdentes, insidiantur tibi Orci et deorum ceterorum Erinnyes, ut iisdem in his comprehendaris malis. Et haec vide an corruptus pecunia dicam: monstrabit enim non longi temporis mora virorum, mulierum, tuis in aedibus lamenta: odioque urbes omnes conturbantur, querentes, vel canes cadavera contaminasse, vel feras, aut praepetes aves, sceleratum ferentes odorem in publicum civitatis focum. Ista, molestus es enim, tamquam iaculator, in iras tuas emisi e corde tela haud irrita, quorum tu calidum vulnus haud effugies. Tu vero, puer, nos abduc domum, ut hic animi impetum in iuniores emittat, et discat habere linguam quietiorem, — mentemque meliorem animo, quem nunc fovet.

Chorus

Hic vir, o rex, abiit, dira vaticinatus;

scimusque, ex quo mihi nigris capillis canities obducta est, numquam illum huic urbi falsi quid cecinisse.

Creon

Novi et ipse, ideoque perturbor animum: cedere enim, ignavi et timidi est; reluctato vero Original from animus ne calamitate feriatur, timendum est.

Chorus

Bono consilio opus est, fili Menoecei Creon.

Creon

Quid igitur facere oportet? fare; ego autem parebo.

Chorus

Abi, ac puellam quidem defosso e specu dimitte, insepultutn autem cadaver tumulo conde.

Creon

Et ista probas, hisque obsequi me debere censes?

Chorus

Immo, rex, quam citissime: celeri enim pede malesanos adsequitur deorum vindicta.

Creon

Hei mihi? Vix quidem muto, muto tamen sententiam, hoc ut faciam. Necessitati frustra obluctandum non est.

Chorus

Abi ergo, ut haec facias, neque aliis committe.

Creon

Protinus ibo. Vos vero ministri, quique adestis, quique abestis, secures manibus capientes properate celsum ad locum: ego autem, quandoquidem sententiam eo converti , ut ipse ligavi, ita et ipse praesens exsolvam; metuo enim, ut statas leges optimum sit servantem vivere.

Chorus

Multis inclyte nominibus, Cadmeae decus puellae, et Iovis altitonantis proles, celebrem qui colis Italiam, versarisque una Cereris in sinu omnibus communi Eleusiniae, o Bacche, Baccharum metropolin habitans, ad Ismeni liquida fluenta, inter antiqui segetem draconis :

Te super bicipitem collem coruscans conspicit flamma, ubi Coryciis una cum Nymphis ambulant Bacchides , Castaliaeque fons, te et Nysaeorum montium hedera densa iuga, viridisque ora vitibus consita te mittit, immortali bacchante cantu, Thebana invisere compita :

Quam tu tantopere colis, maximam urbium, unacum matre, fulminis ventis adfata.

Quin et nunc, quando universa civitas fero colluctatur morbo, adveni salutifero pede, Parnasium superans iugum, aut resonans maris fretum.

O ignem spirantium furorum nocturnarumque vociferationum magister puer, Iovis proles, adpareas cum Naxii Thyiadibus, tuis comitibus, quae furentes pernoctibus lustrant choris praesidem Iacchum.

Nuntius

Cadmi Amphionisque aedium incolae, nulla est hominis vita superstes, quam vel laudare vel culpare velim:

Fortuna enim erigit, et Fortuna deprimit felicem et infelicem semper: meque de vita, quae agitur, mortalium licetaugurari. Quippe Creon, si quisquam alius, ne iudice, beatus erat, qui terram hanc quidem Cadmeam ab hostibus liberaverat, imperioque totius terrae potitus eam regebat, florens generosa liberorum prole: at nunc dilapsa sunt omnia. Voluptates autem siquis vir amiserit, haud equidem puto illum vivere, sed animatum esse mortuum. Opibus enim polleas quaniumvis domi, et vivas regio splendore; tamen si absit his gaudium, cetera ego fumi umbra haud emerim viro prae voluptate.

Chorus

Atquid novum hoc malum est, quod de regibus nuntiaturus venis?

Nuntius

Mortui sunt ; viventes autem fuere caussa mortis.

Chorus

Et quis peremit? quis veró peremtus est? ede.

Nuntius

Haemon interiit: violentae enim illatae illi manus fuere.

Chorus

Patrisne, an ipsius ?

Nuntius

Ipse se peremit, patri iratus ob necem.

Chorus

O vates, quam vera ergo praedixti nimis!

Nuntius

Nempe cum sic se res habeant, de ceteris consulere expedit.

Chorus

Atqui video miseram Eurydicen prope, uxorem Creontis: huc autem domo egressa se confert, vel audito filii casu, vel temere adest.

Euydice

O vos omnes, quicumque adestis, cives (sermonem enim vesirum audivi, quum ostio propinquarem, egressura, ut Palladis delubrum adirem, deaeque adhiberem preces;

et claustra quidem occlusae portae laxabam, quum aures mihi ferit rumor domestici mali, metuque perculsa revolvor supind inter famularum manus, et linquor animo), age quis fuit iste sermo, rursum dicite! malorum enim nequaquam inexperta audiam.

Nuntius

Equidem tibi, cara domina, dicam, quamvis acerba, nec quidquam praetermittam veri. Quid enim te deleniam verbis, quae postea falso dixisse deprehendar? recta semper res est veritas. Tuum quidem ego coniugem sectatus sum , viam ei praemonstrans extremum in campum, ubi nefando modo iacebat adhuc, canibus laceratum, Polynicis cadaver. Et illud quidem, precati Triviam deam, Plutonaque, ut propitium haberent animum , lavimus piis lavacris, congestisque ramis recens decerptis superstites reliquias combussimus: aggestoque excelso busto patriae terrae, dehinc repetimus lapideum specum, puellae Orcinum thalamum. Sonum vero procul clarorum eiulatuum ex inferis carente atrio sublatum audit aliquis, heroque Creonti nuntiat currens: huic autem, ubi propius accedit, offunditur facile agnoscendus infelicis clamoris sonus; suspiransque, luctuosam hanc emittit vocem: O miser ego, an vates sum? iterne nunc facio omnium, quae antea, infaustissimum ? vox me filii conturbat, At, vos famuli, accedite propius citi, et adstantes tumulo dispicite, compagem tumuli saxeam subeuntes ad ipsum ostium , num Haemonis veram audivivocem , an a diis fallor.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1064 focus

Not many courses of the racing sun

Shalt thou fulfil, ere of thine own true blood

Thou shalt have given a corpse in recompense
1065

For one on earth whom thou hast cast beneath,

Entombing shamefully a living soul,

And one whom thou hast kept above the ground

And disappointed of all obsequies,

Unsanctified and godlessly forlorn.
1070

Such violence the powers beneath will bear

Not even from the Olympian gods. For thee

The avengers wait. Hidden but near at hand,

Lagging but sure, the Furies of the grave

Are watching for thee to thy ruinous harm,

With thine own evil to entangle thee.
1075

Look well to it now whether I speak for gold!

A little while, and thine own palace-halls

Shall flash the truth upon thee with loud noise

Of men and women, shrieking o’er the dead.

And all the cities whose unburied sons,
1080

Mangled and torn, have found a sepulchre

In dogs or jackals or some ravenous bird

That stains their incense with polluted breath,

Are forming leagues in troublous enmity.

Such shafts, since thou hast stung me to the quick,

I like an archer at thee in my wrath
1085

Have loosed unerringly—carrying their pang,

Inevitable, to thy very heart.

Now, sirrah! lead me home, that his hot mood

Be spent on younger objects, till he learn

To keep a safer mind and calmer tongue.
1090

CH

Sire, there is terror in that prophecy.

He who is gone, since ever these my locks,

Once black, now white with age, waved o’er my brow,

Hath never spoken falsely to the state.

CR

I know it, and it shakes me to the core.
1095

To yield is dreadful: but resistingly

To face the blow of fate, is full of dread.

CH

The time calls loud on wisdom, good my lord.

CR

What must I do? Advise me. I will obey.

CH

Go and release the maiden from the vault,
1100

And make a grave for the unburied dead.

CR

Is that your counsel? Think you I will yield?

CH

With all the speed thou mayest: swift harms from heaven

With instant doom o’erwhelm the froward man.

CR

Oh! it is hard. But I am forced to this
1105

Against myself. I cannot fight with Destiny.

CH

Go now to do it. Trust no second hand.

CR

Even as I am, I go. Come, come, my people.

Here or not here, with mattocks in your hands

Set forth immediately to yonder hill!
1110

And, since I have ta’en this sudden turn, myself,

Who tied the knot, will hasten to unloose it.

For now the fear comes over me, ’tis best

To pass one’s life in the accustomed round.

CHORUS
CHORUS.

O God of many a name!
1115

Filling the heart of that Cadmeian bride
1115

With deep delicious pride,

Offspring of him who wields the withering flame!

Thou for Italia’s good
1120

Dost care, and ’midst the all-gathering bosom wide
1120

Of Dêo dost preside;

Thou, Bacchus, by Ismenus’ winding waters

’Mongst Thebè’s frenzied daughters,

Keep’st haunt, commanding the fierce dragon’s brood.
1125

Thee o’er the forkèd hill
1125

The pinewood flame beholds, where Bacchai rove,

Nymphs of Corycian grove,

Hard by the flowing of Castalia’s rill.
1130

To visit Theban ways,
1130

By bloomy wine-cliffs flushing tender bright

’Neath far Nyseian height

Thou movest o’er the ivy-mantled mound,

While myriad voices sound

Loud strains of ‘Evoe!’ to thy deathless praise.

For Thebè thou dost still uphold,
1135

First of cities manifold,

Thou and the nymph whom lightning made

Mother of thy radiant head.

Come then with healing for the violent woe
1140

That o’er our peopled land doth largely flow,

Passing the high Parnassian steep

Or moaning narrows of the deep!
1145

Come, leader of the starry quire
1145

Quick-panting with their breath of fire!

Lord of high voices of the night,

Child born to him who dwells in light,

Appear with those who, joying in their madness,

Honour the sole dispenser of their gladness,
1150

Thyiads of the Aegean main

Night-long trooping in thy train.

MESS
Enter Messenger .

Neighbours of Cadmus and Amphion’s halls,
1155

No life of mortal, howsoe’er it stand,

Shall once have praise or censure from my mouth;

Since human happiness and human woe

Come even as fickle Fortune smiles or lours;

And none can augur aught from what we see.
1160

Creon erewhile to me was enviable,

Who saved our Thebè from her enemies;

Then, vested with supreme authority,

Ruled her aright; and flourish’d in his home

With noblest progeny. What hath he now?
1165

Nothing. For when a man is lost to joy,

I count him not to live, but reckon him

A living corse. Riches belike are his,

Great riches and the appearance of a King;

But if no gladness come to him, all else
1170

Is shadow of a vapour, weighed with joy.

CH

What new affliction heaped on sovereignty

Com’st thou to tell?

MESS

They are dead; and they that live

Are guilty of the death.

CH

The slayer, who?

And who the slain? Declare.

MESS

Haemon is dead,
1175

And by a desperate hand.
1175

CH

His own, or Creon’s?

MESS

By his own hand, impelled with violent wrath

At Creon for the murder of the maid.

CH

Ah, Seer! how surely didst thou aim thy word!

MESS

So stands the matter. Make of it what ye list.

CH

See, from the palace cometh close to us
1180

Creon’s unhappy wife, Eurydicè.

Is it by chance, or heard she of her son?

EURYDICE
Enter EURYDICE .

Ye men of Thebes, the tidings met mine ear

As I was coming forth to visit Pallas

With prayerful salutation. I was loosening
1185

The bar of the closed gate, when the sharp sound

Of mine own sorrow smote against my heart,

And I fell back astonied on my maids

And fainted. But the tale? tell me once more;

I am no novice in adversity.

MESS

Dear lady, I will tell thee what I saw,

And hide no grain of truth: why should I soothe

Thy spirit with soft tales, when the harsh fact

Must prove me a liar? Truth is always best.

I duly led the footsteps of thy lord
1195

To the highest point of the plain, where still was lying,

Forlorn and mangled by the dogs, the corse

Of Polynices. We besought Persephonè

And Pluto gently to restrain their wrath,

And wash’d him pure and clean, and then we burned
1200

The poor remains with brushwood freshly pulled,

And heaped a lofty mound of his own earth

Above him. Then we turned us to the vault,

The maiden’s stony bride-chamber of death.

And from afar, round the unhallowed cell,
1205

One heard a voice of wailing loud and long,

And went and told his lord: who coming near

Was haunted by the dim and bitter cry,

And suddenly exclaiming on his fate

Said lamentably, ‘My prophetic heart
1210

Divined aright. I am going, of all ways

That e’er I went, the unhappiest to-day.

My son’s voice smites me. Go, my men, approach

With speed, and, where the stones are torn away,

Press through the passage to that door of death,
1215

Look hard, and tell me, if I hear aright

The voice of Haemon, or the gods deceive me.’

Thus urged by our despairing lord, we made

Th’ espial. And in the farthest nook of the vault

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1064 focus

So wisse denn auch sicher, daß nicht viele mehr

Der raschen Sonnenkreise du vollenden wirst,
1040

Bis aus dem eignen Blute du den Leichnamen

Selbst einen Leichnam als Ersaz darbringen mußt,

Weil du, in Nacht verstoßend, was dem Licht gehört,

Ein Leben schmachvoll banntest in des Grabes Haus,

Hier oben aber, unbestattet, ungeweiht,
1045

Den Todesgöttern vorenthältst den todten Leib,

An dem ein Theil dir weder, noch den oberen

Gottheiten zukommt; ihnen zwingst du diesen auf.

Drum lauern unheilsinnend und verderbenschwer

Des Hades und der Götter Straferinnyen,
1050

Verstricken bald in gleiches Ungemach dich selbst.

Nun magst du sehen, ob ich als Bestochener¹

So spreche: zeigen wird es dir nach kurzer Frist

Der Frau'n, der Männer Klageruf in deinem Haus.

Und alle Städte raffen sich feindselig auf,
1055

Worin zeriss'ne Leichen hier ein Hund entweiht,

Raubthiere dort, ein raschbeschwingter Vogel hier,

Der nach der Heimat Herde trägt den Graungeruch.

Sieh, solche Pfeile sandt' ich (denn tief kränkst du mich!)

Im Zorne dir, dem Bogenschüzen gleich, in's Herz:
1060

Sie treffen tödtlich, ihrem Brand entrinnst du nicht!

Du, Knabe, führ' uns wiederum nach Haus zurück,

Daß der entlade seinen Zorn auf Jüngere,

Und seine Zunge zähmen lern' in klugem Rath,

Und weiser denken lerne, denn er jezo denkt.
1065
Kreon. Der Chor. (ab mit dem Knaben.)

Der Chor.

Der Mann, o König, eilte Graun verkündend fort.

Ich aber weiß, so lange dieses weiße Haar

Anstatt der schwarzen Locken mir das Haupt umwallt,

Sprach der noch niemals Lügen aus vor dieser Stadt.

Kreon.

Ich weiß es selbst auch, und den Sinn erschüttert's mir.
1070

Schwer ist es nachzugeben, und bei Widerstand

Zerschellt an schwerem Schlage leicht der kecke Muth.

Der Chor.

O Sohn Menökeus', hier bedarf es weisen Rath.

Kreon.

Was soll ich also? Rede du, ich folge dir.

Der Chor.

Geh hin, entlaß sie aus dem unterirdischen
1075

Gemach und gib dem hingeworfnen Mann ein Grab.

Kreon.

Und dieses räthst du, wähnest, daß ich weichen soll?

Der Chor.

So schnell, o Fürst, als möglich; denn mit raschem Schritt

Ereilt der Götter Strafgericht den Unverstand.

Kreon.

Weh! Kaum vermag ich's; doch ich breche meinen Sinn:
1080

Der Noth gehorchend, lass' ich ab von eitlem Kampf.

Der Chor.

Auf, thu' es eilend, bürd' es nicht auf Andere.

Kreon.

So wie ich hier bin, geh' ich: auf, ihr Diener, auf,

Ihr, die ihr nah seid oder fern, nehmt Axt und Beil

Zur Hand und eilt dem weitgesch'nen Orte zu!²
1085

Ich aber, mun sich mein Entschluß hierher gewandt,

Selbst hab' ich sie gebunden, und selbst lös' ich sie.

Denn bange zweifl' ich, ob es nicht das Beste sei,

Besteh'ndes Recht zu schirmen all sein Leben lang.

(Kreon mit den Begleitern ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurüď.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Vielnamiger, wonnige Zier der Kadmosjungfrau,³⁴
1090

Und des hochherdonnernden Zeus Geschlecht!

Du, der Italia's⁵

Herrliche Gauen schirmt und

Ueber Deo's gastliche Flur⁶

In Eleusis waltet!
1095

O Baccheus, hier in bacchischer Frau'n Ursiz,

Thebä, wohnend am hellen Strom Ismenos,

Wo die Saat aussproß des wilden Drachen!⁷

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Dich sieht von dem doppelten Felshaupt hell erblizend⁸

Feuer, wo korykische Nymphen sich⁹
1100

In Jubelreih'n ergeh'n,

Dich der Kastalia Quellborn;

Dich geleiten nysischer Berg'¹⁰

Anhöh'n voll Epheu's;

Ihr grünes Ufer, traubenumkränzt, feiert,
1105

Und gottvolle Gesänge schallen festlich,

Wenn du Thebä's Gassen fröhlich heimsuchst,

Zweite Strophe.

Der Stadt, die du weit höher ehrst als jegliche Stadt,

Samt der Mutter, die des Zeus¹¹

Donner traf! Auch nun komm,
1110

Da gewaltig schwere Noth über das ganze Land

Einstürmte, rettend über des Parnassos Höh'n

Daher, oder über die wilde Meerfurt!

Zweite Gegenstrophe.

Wohlauf, du, glutaussprüh'nder Sterne Führer, o Herr¹²

Nächtlich frohen Jubelschalls,
1115

Zeusentspross'ner Knabe!

O erscheine, rings vom Chor naxischer Frau'n umschwärmt,¹³

Der Thyien, die dich Nächte hindurch wildentzückt¹⁴

Im Rheih'ntanze feiern, den Freudeſpender!

Ein Bote. Der Chor.

Der Bote.

Ihr, die ihr Kadmos' und Amphions Haus umwohnt!
1120

Kein Menschenleben gibt es, wie's auch stehen mag,

Das ich hinfort je preisen oder schelten will.

Erhöht das Glück doch, stürzt doch allezeit das Glück

Den Reichbegabten und den Unglückseligen,

Und was bevorsteht, kündet uns kein Seher an.
1125

Auch Kreon, dünkt mich, war beneidenswerth zuvor,

Er, der vom Feind befreite dies Kadmeiervolk,

Hierauf des Landes ungetheilte Macht empfing

Und herrschte, von der Kinder edler Saat umblüht.

Und nun dahin ist Alles. Wenn die Freude sich
1130

Treulos dem Menschen abgewandt, so glaub' ich nicht,

Er lebe, lebend acht' ich ihn des Todes Raub.

Denn hab' im Hause, wenn du willst, der Güter viel,

Und leb' in stolzem Herrscherglanz: wenn dir dabei

Die Freude mangelt, kauf' ich dir das Andere
1135

Nicht um des Rauches Schatten ab für frohen Muth.

Der Chor.

Welch neues Leid der Herrscher kommst du kundzuthun?

Der Bote.

Todt sind sie; Schuld am Tode sind die Lebenden.

Der Chor.

Wer ist der Mörder? Wer gefallen? Sage mir!

Der Bote.

Todt lieget Hämon, liegt entſeelt in seinem Blut.
1140

Der Chor.

Todt durch des Vaters oder durch die eigne Hand?

Der Bote.

Dem Vater grollend um den Mord, volführt' er's selbst.

Der Chor.

Seher, welch ein wahres Wort enthülltest du!

Der Bote.

In solchem Unheil fordert Rath das Uebrige.

Der Chor.

Dort seh' ich eben traurig nah'n Eurydike,
1145

Kreon's Gemahlin: aus dem Hause tritt sie, sei's,

Daß sie's gehört vom Sohne, sei's von ungefähr.

Eurydike. Die Vorigen.

Eurydike.

Ihr Bürger alle, welches Wort vernahm ich doch,

Als ich zum Ausgang eilte, hülfesuchend mich

Der Göttin Pallas mit Gelübd' und Fleh'n zu nah'n?
1150

Gerade wollt' ich an dem wohlverschloss'nen Thor

Die Riegel öffnen, als der Ruf von meinem Leid

Das Ohr mir traf; voll Grauen sank ich hinter mich

Zurück in meiner Frauen Arm, von Schreck betäubt.

Doch wie die Kunde lautet, sagt nochmals mir an:
1155

Denn nicht in Leiden ungeübt vernehm' ich sie.

Der Bote.

Ich war zugegen, theure Frau, und melde dir's,

Und vorenthalten werd' ich kein wahrhaftes Wort.

Wozu dir's mildern, daß hernach als Lügner ich

Erfunden würde? Stets besteht das Wahre nur.
1160

Ich folgte deinem Ehgemahl als Führer hin

Zum hochgeleg'nen Felde, wo, grausam zerfleischt

Von Hunden, Polyneikes' Leib noch immer lag.

Und als wir hier der Wege Göttin angefleht¹⁵

Und Pluton, huldreich uns zu sein, so wuschen wir
1165

Ihn erst in heiligem Wasser, und verbrannten dann

Auf frischgebrochnen Zweigen, was noch übrig war.¹⁶

Drauf als von heimischer Erde wir ein hohes Grab

Ihm aufgeworfen, gingen wir zum steinernen,

Gewölbten Todesbrautgemach des Mädchens hin.
1170

Und einer Stimme lauten Klageruf vernimmt

Von fern ein, Diener vor der opferlosen Gruft,

Und hinterbringt es Kreon, unserm Herrn, sofort.

Doch den umtönt, indeß er näher schreitet, rings

Ein dunkler Laut des Schmerzes, und wehklagend ruft
1175

Er aus das thränenschwere Wort: „ich Armer, ach!

Bin ich ein Seher? Geh' ich hier den traurigsten

Von allen Pfaden, die ich je gegangen bin?

Des Sohnes Stimme ruft mich! Auf, ihr Diener, auf!

Geht eilig näher, tretet an die Grust hinan,
1180

Und durch des Grabmals aufgeriss'nes Mauerwerk

Zur innern Wölbung dringend, späht, ob Hämons Laut

Ich jezt vernommen, oder ob ein Gott mich täuscht!"

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1064 focus

E«member this :

Not many days shall the bright sun perform

His stated course, ere, sprung from thy own loins,
1065

Thyself shall yield a victim. In thy turn

Thou too shalt weep, for that thy cruel sentence

Decreed a guiltless virgin to the tomb,

And kept on earth, unmindful of the gods,

Ungraced, unburied, an unhallowed corse.
1070

Which not to thee, nor to the gods above

Of right belonged. 'Twas arbitrary power :

But the avenging furies lie concealed.

The minister of death have spread the snare,

And with like woes await to punish thee.
1075

Do I say this from hopes of promised gold ?

Pass but a little time, and thou shalt hear

The shrieks of men, the women's loud laments

O'er all thy palace ; see th' offended people

Together rage ; thy cities all by dogs
1080

And beasts and birds polluted, and the stench

Of filth obscene on every altar laid.

Thus from my angry soul have I sent forth

Its keenest arrows — for thou hast provoked me—

Nor shall they fly in vain, or thou escape
1085

The destined blow. Now, boy, conduct me home,

On younger heads the tempest of his rage

Shall fall ; but, henceforth let him learn to speak

In humbler terms, and bear a better mind.

Oreon, Chorus.
1090

Chorus
[Exit TiRESIAS. Scene II.

He's gone, and dreadful were his prophecies ;

Since these grey hairs were o'er my temples spread

Nought from those lips hath flowed but sacred truth.

Creon

I know there hath not, and am troubled
1095

much
1095

For the event ; 'tis grating to submit.

And yet the mind spite of itself must yield

In such distress.

Chorus

Son of Menaeceus, now

Thou needst most counsel.

Creon

What wouldst thou advise ?

I will obey thee.

Chorus

Set the virgin free,
1100

And let a tomb be raised for Polynices.

Creon

And dost thou counsel thus ? — and must I

yield?

Chorus

Immediately, O king ! for vengeance falls

With hasty footsteps on the guilty head.

Creon

I cannot — yet I must reverse the sentence ;
1105

There is no struggling with necessity.

Chorus

Do it thyself, nor trust another hand.

Creon

I will ; and you my servants, be prepared ;

Each with his axe quick hasten to the place ;

Myself — for thus I have resolved — will go,

And the same hand that bound shall set her free ;

For, oh ! I fear 'tis wisest still through life

To keep our ancient laws, and follow virtue.

Bacchus, by vaiious names to mortals known,

Fair Semele's illustrious son,

Offspring of thunder-bearing Jove,

Who honourst famed Italia with thy love I

Who dwellst where erst the dragon's teeth were

strewed,
1110

Or where Ismenus pours his gentle flood ;
1110

Who dost o'er Ceres' hallowed rites preside,
1110

And at thy native Thebes propitious still reside.
1110

Where famed Parnassus' forked hills uprise.
1110

To thee ascends the sacritice ;

Corycia's nymphs attend below,

Whilst from Castalia's fount fresh waters flow :

O'er Nysa's mountains wreaths of ivy twine,

And mix their tendrils with the clustering vine :

Around their master crowd the virgin throng,

And praise the god of Thebes in never-dying song.

Happiest of cities, Thebes ! above the rest

By Semele and Bacchus blest !

Oh ! ^dsit now thy once beloved abode,

Oh ! heal our woes, thou kind protecting god !

From steep Parnassus, or th' Euboean sea.

With smiles auspicious come, and bring with thee

Health, joy, and peace, and fair prosperity.

Immortal leader of the maddening choir,

Whose torches blaze with unextinguished fire.

Great son of Jove, who guidst the tuneful throng,

Thou, who presidest o'er the nightly song.

Come with thy Naxian maids, a festive train,

Who, wild with joy, and raging o'er the plain,

For thee the dance prepare, to thee devote the strain.

Messenger
Scene III. Strophe i. Antistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. \ExQiint. ACT V. Scene I.

Chorus.

Messenger

Ye race of Cadmus, sons of ancient

Thebes,

Henceforth no state of human life by me

Shall be or valued or despised : for all

Depends on fortune ; she exalts the low.

And casts the mighty down. The fate of men

Can never be foretold. There was a time

When Creon lived in envied happiness,

Ruled o'er renowned Thebes, which from her foes

He had delivered, with successful power;

Blest in his kingdom, in his children blest,

He stretched o'er all his universal sway.

Now all is gone : when pleasure is no more,

Man is but an animated corse,

Nor can be said to live ; he may be rich.

Or decked with regal honours, but if joy

Be absent from him, if he tastes them not, I

'Tis useless grandeur all, and empty shade. \

Chorus

Touching our royal master, bringst thou news

Of sorrow to us?

Messenger

They are dead ; and those
1175

Who live the dreadful cause.
1175

Choe. Quick, tell us who —
1175

The slayer and the slain !
1175

Messenger

Hsemon is dead.

Cttor. Dead ! by what hand, his father's or his own ?

Mets. Enraged and grieving for liis murdered love,

He slew himself.

Chorus

O proijhet ! thy predictions

Were bnt too true !

Messenger

Since thus it be, 'tis fit

We should consult ; our present state demands it,

Chorus

But see ! Eurydice, the wretched wife
1180

Of Creon, comes this way ; or chance hath brought her.

Or Haemon's hapless fate hath reached her ear.

Eurydice
Scene II.

Messenger, Chorus.

EuB. O citizens ! as to Minerva's fane

E'en now I went to pay my vows, the doors
1185

I burst, and heard imperfectly the sound

Of most disastrous news which touched me near.

Breathless I fell amidst the virgin throng ;

And now I come to know the dreadful truth :

Whate'er it be, I'll hear it now ; for, oh !
1190

I am no stranger to calamity.

Messenger

Then mark, my mistress, I will tell thee all,

Nor will I j)ass a circumstance unmentioned.

Should I deceive thee with an idle tale

'Twere soon discovered. Truth is^lways best.

Know then, I followed Creon to tiie 'iieldT'"'

Where, torn by dogs, the wretched carcase lay

Of Polynices. First to Proserpine

And angry Pluto, to appease their wrath.

Our humble prayers addressing, there we laved

In the pure stream the body ; then, with leaves

Fresh gathered covering, burnt his poor remains,

And on the neighbouring turf a tomb upraised.
1185

Then, towards the virgin's rocky cave advanced.
1185

When from the dreadful chamber a sad cry
1185

As from afar was heard, a servant ran
1185

To tell the king, and still as we approached
1185

The sound of sorrow from a voice unknown

And undistinguished issued forth. Alas!

Said Creon : " Am I then a faithful prophet?

And do I tread a more unhappy path

Than e'er I went before? It is my son —

I know his voice ! But get ye to the door,

My servants, close, look through the stony heap ;

Mark if it be so. Is it Haemon's voice ? "

Again he cried : "Or have the gods deceived me ?"

Thus spoke the king. We, to our mournful lord

Down in the deepest hollow of the cave,

By her own vestments hung. Close by her side

The wretched youth, embracing in his arms

Her lifeless corse, weeping his father's crime.

His ravished bride, and horrid nuptial bed,

Creon beheld, and loud reproaching cried :

" What art thou doing] What's thy dreadful purpose?

What means my son ? Come forth, my Ilsemon, come !

Thy father begs thee." With indignant eye

The youth looked up, nor scornful deigned an answer,

But silent drew his sword, and with fell rnge

Struck at his father, who by flight escaped
1190

The blow ; then on himself bent all his wrath,
1190

Full in his side the weapon fixed ; but still,
1190

Whilst life remained, on the soft bosom hung
1190

Of the dear maid, and his lost spirit breathed
1190

O'er her pale cheek discoloured with his blood.

Thus lay the wretched pair in death united,

And celebrate their nuptials in the tomb —

To future times a terrible example

Of the sad woes which rashness ever brings.

Messenger
\fixit EURYDICE. Scene HI.

Chorus.

Chorus

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 1064 focus

Pues bien. Sábete que no terminará muchas veees el sol su earrera sin que un fruto de tu sangre haya pagado con su vida la muerte de la quo tú has aprisionado bárbaramente bajo tierra, de la que has encerrado viva en la tumba. Tú has arrebatado á los dioses infernales el cadáver de aquel á quien has privado de la sepultura y de los fúnebres honores: para lo que no tienes tú poder; para lo que no le tienen ni aun los númenes eclestes: que solo te lo ha otorgado la violencia. Las furias vengadoras, esas terribles divinidades del Ayerno, que persiguen el erimen para castigaxlo, se aprestan á enviarte la tremenda des gracia. Ve ahora si es la codicia quien ha dietado mi lenguaje. Bien pronto oirás en tu palacio los lamentos de los hombres y de las mujeres; bien pronto se levantarán contra ti las ciudades enemigas, las ciudades, en que los perros, los monstruos salvajes y los buitres han celebrado los funerales con los pedazos del difunto, llevando la impura fetidez á los hogares. Ahí tienes, ya que has eneendido mi cólera, el dardo que, como hábil ballestero, te clavo en el corazón, y euyo golpe flamante en vano tratarás de evitar. Tú, muehaeho, condúceme nuevamente 4 mi morada, y que en adelante desahogue éste su furor con otros más jóvenes, y aprenda á mantener su lengua en silencio, y á sentir en su alma con más moderación.— Márchase con el muchacho.

Creonte y el Coro

EL CORO

El adivino, principe, se ha marchado pronunciando terribles predicciones; y nos consta (desde nuestra juventud hasta ahora en que la edad ha blanqueado nuestros cabellos), que jamás han desmentido los hechos sus oráculos,

CREONTE

También yo lo reconozco... Mi espiritu se turba... Me es ingrato ceder;... pero si resisto veré también ingratamente castigada mi resistencia con la desgracia.

EL CORO

La prudencia es necesaria, hijo de Menecco.

CREONTE

¿Y qué es lo que debo hacer? Habla, estoy dispuesto á obedecer.

EL CORO

Marcha, pues, y saca á esa joven de su prisión subterránea: y después eleva una tumba al que tienes privado de ella.

CREONTE

¿Opinas de ese modo? ¿Crées que debo ceder? RL CORO Ciertamente, principe, y sin perder un solo momento: que los castigos del cielo contra los culpables vienen con rapidez y por el más corto camino.

CREONTE

¡Ay!... con cuánto pesar desisto de mi intención; pero no se puede luchar contra la fatalidad ( ἀνάγκη).

EL CORO

Apresúrate á ejecutar eso por tí mismo; no comisiones para ello a nadie.

CREONTE

Parto sin dilación. ¡Vosotros, siervos que estáis presentes y los que están ausentes, todos, coged vuestras hachas y corred á lo alto de la montaña! donde yace Polynico. ... ...

En cuanto á mi, puesto que he cambiado de resolución, puesto que yo la aprisioné, yo mismo voy á ponerla en libertad... Me temo que no sea el partido más prudente el aferrarme á la ley establecida. Márchase con sus criados.

Estrofa 1.a

CORO ¹

Tú, á quien los hombres adoran bajo nombres diversos; tú, gloria de Cadmo, hijo del poderoso señor del trueno, dios protector de la famosa Italia, que presides con Ceres las fiestas solemnes de Eleusis ¡oh, Baco! tú habitas la ciudad querida de las Bacantes, Thebas, junto á las márgenes del Ismeno, donde fueron diseminados los dientes del fiero dragón.

Antistrofa 1.a

CORO

En tu honor se cleva la brillante llama de los sacrificios en la montaña de doble cumbre que recorren las Bacantes, ninfas Corycias, y á la que riegan las aguas de la fuente Castalia, Tú atraviesas las colinas de la montaña de Nysa cubiertas de espesa yedra y sus verdes faldas de numerosos viñedos, y cantos de alegría saludan ta presencia, cuando visitas los muros de Thebas...

Estrofa 2.a

CORO

La ciudad honrada con su predilección entre todas, del propio modo que lo fué por tu madre herida por el rayo. ln estos momentos en que una plaga terrible amenaza á todos estos ciudadanos, ven á nosotros, salva con rápido pie la cumbre del Parnaso ó las olas mugidoras del Estrecho.

Antistrofa 2.a

CORO

¡Oh, tú, mancebo, que conduces el coro de los astros; tú que presides los cantos nocturnos, hijo de Júpiter, comparece ante nosotros acompañado de las hijas de Naxos, de las Thyadas que celebran en danzas delirantes 4 Baco su soberano.

Un Mensajero Criado or Siervo de Creonte, y el Coro

EL MENSAJERO

Habitantes del palacio de Cadmo y de Anfion, á ningún ser viviente se puede considerar como dichoso ni como desgraciado, mientras existe; porque sin cesar la voluble Fortuna nos levanta ó nos abate, nos envía la prosperidad ó nos sume en la desgracia, sin que haya adivino que pueda leexnos lo porvenir por lo presente. Creonte era, á mi juicio, digno ha poco de ser envidiado; él había librado de sus enemigos á esta tierra de Cadmo; él reinaba prósperamente como señor absoluto del pais; una prole generosa aumentaba su gloria... hoy todo ha desaparecido. Que el hombre cuando picrde la dicha, ante mis ojos ya no vive; para mi es un cadáver que respira. En vano posees en tu palacio inmensos tesoros; el regio fausto en vano te circunda. Si has perdido la alegría, todo lo demás, comparado con ella, es menos que humo, menos que vana sombra.

EL CORO

¿Qué nueva desgracia ocurrida á nuestros reyos vienes á anunciarnos?

EL MENSAJERO

¡Han muerto!... Y los que viven son la causa de su muerte.

EL CORO

¿Quién es el asesino? ¿Cuál es la victima? Habla.

EL MENSAJERO

Hemón ya no existe: con mano propia se ha desangrado.

EL CORO

¿Con la suya propia quieres decir, ó con la de su padre?

EL MENSAJERO

Él mismo se ha dado muerte, irritado con- tra su padre por el suplicio de su Antigona.

EL CORO

¡Oh, Tiresias, cuán verdaderas eran tus predicciones!

EL MENSAJERO

En tal estado estas cosas, me parece conveniente que se delibere sobre lo demás.—(Se ve salir de palacio á la Reina.)

EL CORO

Pero veo que se acerca la infortunada Eurydice, esposa de Creonte. Ella sale de palacio: ¿la trac la casualidad, ó se ha enterado de la desgracia de su hijo?

Los mismos y Eurydice

EURYDICE

¡Oh, vosotros, ciudadanos, cuantos estáis aquí presentes! He oído algo de lo que aquí se ha dicho en el momento en que salía para ir á ofrecer mis súplicas á Palas. Abrí las puer. tas de palacio y el rumor de las degracias de mi casa hirió mis oidos; trémula y yerta de espanto, caí desmayada en los brazos de mis siervas. Ahora, decidme lo que se ha contado; repctidmelo, todo lo escucharé, ya no hay desgracia que me quede por probar en el mundo.

EL MENSAJERO

Yo mismo, cara reina, he sido de cllo testigo, y hablaré sin ocultar nada de la verdad; puos ¿de qué serviria el mitigarla, cuando después tendría que descubrirse nuestro engaño? La verdad es siempre nuestro recto camino.— Yo seguía á tu esposo, guiándole hacia la extremidad de la llanura, donde yacía aún despiadadamente entregado á la voracidad de los perros, el cadáver de Polynice. Una vez allí, eleyvamos nuestras preces á la Trivia Diosa y á Plutón, demandándole que depusiesen su enojo y nos fuesen propicios; rociamos sobre el difunto el agua lustral; reunimos ramas recien cortadas; entregamos á la combustión aquellos restos, y lc crigimos una excelsa sepultura con tierra de la patria. Desde alli nos encaminamos seguidamente hacia la caverna donde la mísera doneella eneontró el tálamo nupcial de la Muerte. Aún nos hallábamos lejos, euando uno de nosotros oyó elaramente unos gritos que salian del fondo de aquella tumba privada de los honores fúnebres, y eorrió á anunciárselo al rey. Aproximóse Creonte, y no tardó en oir el sonido confuso de un elamor gemebundo, y exhalando un suspiro, dijo: «¡Ay, míisero de mil ¿Debo creer en mis pensamientos? ¿Es un eamino funestisimo el que sigo en estos instantes? La voz de mi hijo ha vibrado en mis oídos. Corred, volad, siervos hacia la tumba de Antígona, quitad el montón de piedras que eierra lá entrada, y examinad eon vuestros ojos en la eaverna si es realmente de Hemón la voz que estoy oyendo, ó si me veo engañado por los dioses.»

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 1064 focus

TIRESIAS

Wifs aber du, nicht lange Zeit mehr brütest

In eifersücht’ger Sonne du, von nun an;

Denn bald aus deinem Eingewaide zahlst

Du selber einen Todten für die Todten,

Für die, die du von oben warfst hinunter,
1110

Und deren Seele schmählich du im Grabe

Zu wohnen hast gesandt. Von unten hast

Auch oben einen du, den schiksaallosen ,

Den unbegrabenen, unheiligen Todtien

Des Todtes Todesgotts, der weder dich, noch obıe Götter
1115

Angehet, aber du brauchst so Gewalt.

Und darum lauern wunderlich verderblich

Im Jenseits dir die Spötter und die Richterinnen

Der Götter, also, dass da in denselben Uebeln

Du troffen werdest, und betrachte das,
1120

Ob ich das dunı von Silber spreche. Denn es kommt,

Nicht lange Zeit mehrists, von Männern, Weibern

In deinen Häufsern eine Weheklage.

In Misverstand muls aber jede Stadt

Vergehen, deren Leichname zur Ruhe
1125

Die Hund’ und wilden Thiere bringen, oder wenn

Mit Fittigen ein Vogel mit unheiligem

Geruche zum gesezten Heerd der Stadt kommt.

So stehts mit dir. Verdrossen bist du freilich;

Als wie ein Schüze sandt’ ich aus dem Muthe
1130

Des Herzens Pfeile vest. Und ihrer Wärme

Entgehst du nicht! O Kind! Du aber führ’ uns

Hinweg ins Haus, dass dieser seinen Muth

Auslasse gegen Jüngere. Und lernen

Mag er, die Zunge stiller zu gewöhnen,
1135

Und besser sein Gemüth gesinnt, denn’s jezt ist.

(Tiresias geht ab.) Dritter Scene DER CHOR. KREON.

CHOR

Der Mann, mein König, gieng viel prophezeiend,

Wir wissen aber, seit wir mit dem weissen

Das schwarze Haar vertauschet, wie du siehst,

Dafs nie er Lügen in der Stadt gebrauchet.
1140

KREON

Ich weiß es selbst, und bin verwirrt im Sinn ;

Denn weichen, ist ein Grofses. Doch wenn einer

Mit Wahn mir aufden Muthtritt, wird dasschwierig.

CHOR

Es brauchet guten Rath, Kreon, Menökeus Sohn!

KREON

Was ist zuthun? Sag’ es, ich will dir folgen.
1145

CHOR

Komm, lafs die Jungfrau aus dem Felsenhaufse,

Und schaff ein Grab, dem, welcher draussen liegt.

KREON

Du lobest diess und scheinst es gutzuheilsen.

CHOR

So schnell, mein König, als es möglich ist,

Denn in die Kürze falst den Schlimmgesinnten
1150

Die schnellgefüfste Züchtigung der Götter.

KREON

O mir. Kaum mag ich, denn mir fehlt das Herz

Dazu, doch mit der Noth ist nicht zu streiten.

CHOR

Thu nun diess, Komm. Komm nun nicht mehr auf anders.

KREON

So wie ich bin, will ich hinweggehn. Diener!
1155

Abwesend, gegenwärtig! nimmt zur Hand

Die Beil’ und eilt zum Orte, den ihr sehet.

Ich aber, weil für die sich kehrt die Meinung,

Und ich sie selbst band, will auch selbst sie lösen.

Ich fürcht’, es ist am besten, zu erhalten
1160

Bestehendes Gesez und so zu enden.

Fünfter Act CHOR der Thebanischen Alten

N ahmenschöpfer , der du von den Wassern, welche Kadmos

Geliebet, der Stolz bist, und defs, der im Echo donnert,

Ein Theil, des Vaters der Erd’,

Und Italia in Wachstum weit umschweifst,
1165

Die allbekannt ist. Allen gemein

Ist aber Undurchdringliches; denn auch waltest

Im Schoose du, zu Elevsis.

Hier aber, Freudengott,

In der Mutterstadt, der bacchantischen,
1170

In Thebe wohnest du, an Ismenos kaltem Bach,

Anden Zäunen, wo den Othem

Das Maul des Drachen haschet,

Der Opferrauch, der wohlgestalt ist über

Des Felses Schultern, hat dich gesehen; am
1175

Cocytus, wo die Wasser

Bacchantisch fallen, und

Kastalias Wald auch.

Und unter Nyssäischen Bergen regen

Fernhorchend Brunnen dich auf,
1180

Und grün Gestad,

Voll Trauben hängend,

Nach Thebes

Unsterblichen Worten zu gehn, |

In die Gassen, da sie frohlokten.
1185

Denn die ehrst du vor allen

Als höchste der Städte

Mit der blizgetroffenen Mutter.

Jezt aber, da von gewaltiger

Krankheit die ganze Stadt |
1190

Ist befangen, müssen wir

Der Bufse Schritte gehen über

Den Parnassischen Hügel oder

Die seufzende Furth.

Jo! du! in Feuer wandelnd!
1195

Chorführer der Gestirn’ und geheimer

Reden Bewahrer!

Sohn , Zevs Geburt!

Werd’ offenbar! mit den Naxischen

Zugleich, den wachenden
1200

Thyaden, die wahnsinnig

Dir Chor singen, dem jauchzenden Merrn.

Erste Scene EIN BOTE. DER CHOR. Hernach EURYDICE.

DER BOTE

O ihr des Kadmos Nachbarn und Amphions,

Es steht nicht so, dass ich des Menschen Leben,

Wie’s auch verfalst sey, loben möcht’ und tadeln.
1205

Undenklichs hebt , undenklichs stürzet nemlich

Allzeit den Glüklichen und den Unglüklichen.

Kein Schergeist erreicht nicht das, was da ist.

So war sonst Kreon mir beneidenswerth ,

Da cr von Feinden rettete das Land
1210

Des Kadmos und allein Herrschaft gewann,

In dieser Gegend, und regiert und blüht

In wohlgeborner Saat von Kindern. Nun

Geht alles hin. Das Angenehme nemlich,

Das untreu wird, halt’ ich des Mannes unwerth.
1215

Reich, wenn du willst, ist er im Hause sehr,

Und lebet in tyrannischer Gestalt.

Doch wenn von dem weggeht die Freude, möcht’

Um eines Rauches Schatten ich das andre nicht

Als angenehm für einen Mann verkaufen.
1220

CHOR

Wie kommt dir denn vom Fürsten diese Klage?

DER BOTE

Gestorben sind sie. Schuldig sind, die leben.

CHOR

Und welcher tödtet? welcher liegt? sag’ an!

DER BOTE

Hämon ist hin, von eignen Händen blutend.

CHOR

Was? von des Vaters oder eigner Hand?
1225

DERBOTE

Er selbst. Dem Vater zürnt’ in seinem Mord’ er.

CHOR

Wie führtest du ein richtig Wort, o Seher!

DER BOTE

So stehtes. Anderes ist zu bedenken.

CHOR

Ich sch’, Eurydice, die unglükliche,

Die Frau des Kreon eben. Ob im Hause sie’s
1230

Gehört hat, oder da aus Zufall ist.

EURYDICE

O all ihr Bürger! eine Rede merkt’ ich,

Da ich zur Pforte gieng der Göttin Pallas,

Damit ich käm’ und mit Gebet anspräche.

Da thu’ ich eben auf des T'hores Riegel;
1235

Es öffnet sich, und eirie Stimme trifft‘

Von Unglük in dem Haufse mich durchs Ohr.

Rüklings fall’ ich in Furcht ‚auf meine Mägde,

In Unmacht. Aber welch Gerücht es war,

Sagt esnoch einmal mir. Ich werde nicht
1240

In Uebeln unerfahren es vernehmen.

DER BOTE

Ich, liebe Frau, sag’ es, als Augenzeuge,

Kein Wort der Wahrheit lafs ich ungesagt,

Was sollt’ ich nemlich dich besänftigen,,

Wenn ich nachher als Lügner dir erschiene?
1245

Gerad ist immerhin die Wahrheit. Ich

Bin als Gefährte deinem Herrn gefolst,

Zum hohen Felde, wo, vom Hund zerfleischt,

Der arme Leichnam lag des Polynikes.

Enodia, die Göttin, bitten wir,
1250

Und Pluto, wohlgesinnten Zorn zu halten,

Bereiten heilig Bad, und legen ihn

In frische Zweige, so viel übrig war,

Und einen Hügel mit geradem Haupt

Erbauten wir von heimatlicher Erde.
1255

Und giengen dann zum hohlen, steinerbauten,

Nach Todter Art, vermählten Bett der Jungfrau.

Es höret aber einer eine Stimme,

Und laute Klage rufen in der Kammer,

Und nahet sich und deutet Kreon sie
1260

Dem Herren an. Und wie der gieng, umgab

Ihn merkbarer die dunkle, müheseel’ge Stimme,

Dann schrie er auf, nah.dran, und übel klagend

Sprach er das Wort, das ärmlich klagende:

Bin ich Wahrsager mir? geh’ich den unglüklichsten
1265

Wirklich der Wege, welche kommen können?

Mich rührt des Kindes Stimme. Doch ihr Diener

Geht schnell hinzu, zum Grab’ und seht genau

Den Riegel an, der aus der Mauer ist gerissen,

Geht in die Thüre selbst hinein, und sehet
1270

Ob ich des Hämons Stimme höre, oder

Göttlich getäuscht bin. Des geängsteten

Herrn Wort nach forschen wir. Darauf

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 1064 focus

But thou dost, in saying that I prophesy falsely.

Creon

Well, the prophet-tribe was ever fond of money.

Teiresias

And the race bred of tyrants loves base gain.

Creon

Knowest thou that thy speech is spoken of thy king?

Teiresias

I know it; for through me thou hast saved Thebes.

Creon

Thou art a wise seer; but thou lovest evil deeds. 1060

Teiresias

Thou wilt rouse me to utter the dread secret in my soul.

Creon

Out with it !—Only speak it not for gain.

Teiresias

Indeed, methinks, I shall not,—as touching thee.

Creon

Know that thou shalt not trade on my resolve.

Teiresias

Then know thou—aye, know it well—that thou shalt not live through many more courses of the sun’s swift chariot, ere one begotten of thine own loins shall have been given by thee, a corpse for corpses; because thou hast thrust children of the sunlight to the shades, 1070 and ruthlessly lodged a living soul in the grave; but keepest in this world one who belongs to the gods infernal, a corpse unburied, unhonoured, all unhallowed. In such thou hast no part, nor have the gods above, but this is a violence done to them by thee. Therefore the avenging destroyers lie in wait for thee, the Furies of Hades and of the gods, that thou mayest be taken in these same ills.

And mark well if I speak these things as a hireling. A time not long to be delayed shall awaken the wailing of men and of women in thy house. And a tumult of 1080 hatred against thee stirs all the cities whose mangled sons had the burial-rite from dogs, or from wild beasts, or from some winged bird that bore a polluting breath to each city that contains the hearths of the dead.

Such arrows for thy heart—since thou provokest me —have I launched at thee, archer-like, in my anger,— sure arrows, of which thou shalt not escape the smart.— Boy, lead me home, that he may spend his rage on younger men, and learn to keep a tongue more temperate, 1090 and to bear within his breast a better mind than now he bears. Exit TEIRESIAS.

Chorus

The man hath gone, O king, with dread prophecies. And, since the hair on this head, once dark, hath been white, I know that he hath never been a false prophet to our city.

Creon

I, too, know it well, and am troubled in soul. 'Tis dire to yield ; but, by resistance, to smite my pride with ruin--this, too, is a dire choice.

Chorus

Son of Menoeceus, it behoves thee to take wise: counsel.

Creon

What should I do, then? Speak, and I will obey. 1110

Chorus

Go thou, and free the maiden from her rocky chamber, and make a tomb for the unburied dead.

Creon

And this is thy counsel? Thou wouldst have me yield?

Chorus

Yea, King, and with all speed; for swift harms from the gods cut short the folly of men.

Creon

Ah me, ’tis hard, but I resign my cherished resolve,—I obey. We must not wage a vain war with destiny.

Chorus

Go, thou, and do these things; leave them not to others.

Creon

Even as I am I'll go:—on, on, my servants, each and all of you,—take axes in your hands, and 1110 hasten to the ground that ye see yonder! Since our judgment hath taken this turn, I will be present to unloose her, as I myself bound her. My heart misgives me, ’tis best to keep the established laws, even to life’s end.

Chorus

1

O thou of many names, glory of the Cadmeian bride, offspring of loud-thundering Zeus! thou who watchest over famed Italia, and reignest, where all guests 1120 are welcomed, in the sheltered plain of Eleusinian Deé! O Bacchus, dweller in Thebè, mother-city of Bacchants, by the softly-gliding stream of Ismenus, on the soil where the fierce dragon’s teeth were sown! 1

Thou hast been seen where torch-flames glare through smoke, above the crests of the twin peaks, where move 1130 the Corycian nymphs, thy votaries, hard by Castalia’s stream. Thou comest from the ivy-mantled slopes of Nysa’s hills, and from the shore green with many-clustered vines, while thy name is lifted up on strains of more than mortal power, as thou visitest the ways of Thebè: 2

Thebè, of all cities, thou holdest first in honour, thou, and thy mother whom the lightning smote; and 1140 now, when all our people is captive to a violent plague, come thou with healing feet over the Parnassian height, or over the moaning strait! 2

O thou with whom the stars rejoice as they move, the stars whose breath is fire; O master of the voices of the night; son begotten of Zeus; appear, O king, 1150 with thine attendant Thyiads, who in night-long frenzy dance before thee, the giver of good gifts, Iacchus! Enter MESSENGER, on the spectators left hand.

Messenger

Dwellers by the house of Cadmus and of Amphion, there is no estate of mortal life that I would ever praise or blame as settled. Fortune raises and Fortune humbles the lucky or unlucky from day to day, and 1160 no one can prophesy to men concerning those things which are established. For Creon was blest once, as I count bliss; he had saved this land of Cadmus from its foes; he was clothed with sole dominion in the land ; he reigned, the glorious sire of princely children. And now all hath been lost. For when a man hath forfeited his pleasures, I count him not as living—I hold him but a breathing corpse. Heap up riches in thy house, if thou wilt; live in kingly state; yet, if there be no 1170 gladness therewith, I would not give the shadow of a vapour for all the rest, compared with joy.

Chorus

And what is this new grief that thou hast to tell for our princes?

Messenger

Death; and the living are guilty for the dead.

Chorus

And who is the slayer? Who the stricken? Speak.

Messenger

Haemon hath perished; his blood hath been shed by no stranger.

Chorus

By his father’s hand, or by his own?

Messenger

By his own, in wrath with his sire for the murder.

Chorus

O prophet, how true, then, hast thou proved thy word!

Messenger

These things stand thus; ye must consider of the rest. 1180

Chorus

Lo, I see the hapless Eurydicé, Creon’s wife, approaching; she comes from the house by chance, haply,—or because she knows the tidings of her son.

Enter EURYDICE.

Eurydice

People of Thebes, I heard your words as I was going forth, to salute the goddess Pallas with my prayers. Even as I was loosing the fastenings of the gate, to open it, the message of a household woe smote on mine ear: I sank back, terror-stricken, into 1190 the arms of my handmaids, and my senses fled. But say again what the tidings were; I shall hear them as one who is no stranger to sorrow.

Messenger

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1064 focus

That she die not; or rather learn at length:

How little reverence to the dead avails. o. TON

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

Thus the beauteous Danae lay

Long doom'd in brass-girt walls to dwell,

Denied the sun's ethereal ray

Enclosed in her sepulchral cell :

Yet her rich illustrious blood

From a long line of Argive monarchs flow'd;

And she, unconscious of his secret love,

Cherish'd the golden gems of Jove.

O fate, resistless is thy pow'r,

Triumphant o'er the heav'n-descended show'r,

The rampired wall, war's furious train,

And the black bark that rides the roaring main !

Thus the Thracian king, whose pride

Dash'd the scorn'd Thyrsus to the ground,

And dared th' avenging god deride,

In chains of rigid rock lay bound:

Sunk his soul to deep dismay,

His fury melted by degrees away;

Now knew he that his rude unhallow'd pride,

By frenzy fired, a god defied;

For he severe with stern disdain

From their loved Orgies awed the raptured train,

Forbade the Bacchic torch to shine,

And scorn'd the tuneful Muses' song divine..

Nigh the clashing rocks, whose brow

Frowns o'er the double sea that roars

Foaming with angry waves below,

You saw, ye wild Bosphorean shores,

Thracian Salmydessus saw

(Where Mars the neighbouring cities holds in awe)

The sons of Phineus, and the wound abhorr'd ;

You saw their darken'd eye-balls gor'd;

Nor sword, nor spear, nor dart was found,

Unhappy youths, to give the wound :.

Creon
ANTIS. 1. STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2. TIR.

1. See where the savage stepdame stands,
1095

The pointed shuttle arms her bloody hands.
1095

Wasting in their dreary cel¹
1095

(The hope of nuptial joys no more)
1095

With woe and darkness doom'd to dwell,
1095

Their mother's miseries they deplore;
1095

Yet her pure and noble blood
1095

Rich from the high-born Erecthidæ flow'd;
1095

And where the rock its winding caverns forms,
1095

Nurtured amidst her father's storms,
1095

Swift as the courser's rapid flight
1095

The virgin bounded o'er the mountain's height:
1095

But fate with aged step and slow
1095

O'ertook her speed, and chain'd her down to woe.
1095

Ye rulers of the Theban state, we come
1095

As is our wont, both seeing with the eyes
1095

Of one: the blind some leading hand require.
1095

Aged Tiresias, what of import high
1095

Hath now arisen ?
1095

That I will impart :
1095

And thou ob ey the Seer.
1095

Did I e'er slight;
1095

The wisdom of thy mind?
1095

The realms of Thebes
1095

Through dangers therefore safely hast thou steer'd.
1095

To thy sage counsels much indeed I owe.
1095

Be counsell'd now: fate hangs upon this hour.
1095

What may this be? I tremble at thy words.
1095

Hear what my skill hath mark'd, and thou wilt know
1095

Placed on my ancient seat of augury,

Whence all my auspices I draw, the voice

Of birds I hear; unknown the sound; their screams

Were wild and strange, of ill presage; and fierce

With bloody talons each the other rent.

I knew this; for the clashing of their wings

Gave not dark signs: I trembled, and explored

The hallow'd fires that on the altars burn.

But from the sacrifice no flame shone bright,

Nor vapour from the humid flesh arose;

It wasted on the ashes, and roll'd low

A dull black smoke, exsuding on the fire; a

The entrails swell'd and burst; the melting thighs,

Shrunk from th' involving crawls, lay bare. These signs

Of dark and dangerous import from my boy

I learn'd; to me he shows them, and my voice

Explains to others. From thy harsh resolves

These omens threat the state; the birds of prey,

And dogs, whose ravenous hunger hath devour'd

The hapless Polynices slain in war,

Pollute our public altars: for this cause

Our pray'rs, our victims the offended gods

Accept no more; no hallow'd flames ascend;

No more are heard th' auspicious notes of birds

Gorged now with human flesh. Weigh these things well,

My son; to all of mortal race to err

Is common; but that man is not unblest,

Nor unadvised, who having err'd, and felt

The ill awaiting error, heals the wound,..

Nor perseveres unmoved: th' obdurate mind

Pays dear for its perverseness. To the slain.

Be then appeased: why woud'st thou wound a corse?

A brave man wars not with the dead. With thought

To thee benevolent I well advise.

Most pleasant is instruction when it comes,..

And with it comes advantage, from the wise.

I am your mark, old man; and all your shafts

At me are aim'd: nor are the prophet's arts

'Gainst me unpractised: by this venal race

I as a slave am sold, and led away.

Pursue your traffic; be the precious ore

Of Sardis, and the Indian gold, your gain;

Him in the earth you never shall entomb..

No; would the eagles of almighty Jove

Bear to their sovereign's throne his mangled flesh,

I would not, dreading that pollution, yield

To lay him in the tomb; for well I know

That mortals never can pollute the gods.

Yet there are men, thou aged Seer, held high

For various excellence, who basely fall,

By sordid lucre when allured they speak

The words of baseness urged in honour's style.

Is there a man that knows, is there a man

That comprehends.......

What wou'dst thou? To us all

Is this address'd?

With what high excellence

Wisdom transcends all treasures?

This he knows,

Who knows that folly is our greatest bane.

Heavy on thee hangs that disease.

Reproach

I would not harshly on the Seer retort.

Thou dost reproach me, when thou say'st my voice

Announces falsehoods.

You are fond of gold,

All the prophetic tribe.

The tyrant loves

Treasures by baseness gain'd.

Know'st thou thy words

Are to a king address'd?

I know it well;

For o'er a kingdom saved by me thy reign

Thou holdest.

As a Seer I deem thee wise,

But as a man unjust.

The dark decrees

Of fate, which in my breast I would have kept

Conceal'd thou wilt compel me to disclose.

Disclose them then, but not through hopes of gain.

Respecting thee I have no hope of gain.

But know, my purpose never shall be sold.

And know thou well that ere the rapid wheels

Of the sun's chariot many circles roll,

One sprung from thee, thy offspring, thou shalt pay

Dead for the dead a recompense, for those

Whom from the light of life to the dark realms

Thou hast sent down dishonour'd, and entomb'd

In the rock's dreary cavern; and for those

Whom of the honours to the gods below,

Of solemn obsequies, and hallow'd rites

Thou hast deprived; a deed, that nor to thee

Belongs, nor to the gods above; a deed

Of tyrant force: the slow-avenging pow'rs,

The Furies of th' infernal gods, for this

In ambush wait to seize thee, and in ills

Like these will plunge thee. Go now, see if gold

Hath bribed the prophet's mercenary voice :

Pass a few moments, the laments of men,

The shrieks of women through thy house shall sound.

Indignant all the hostile states are roused,

Whose mangled dead the dogs or beasts of prey

Have in these plains polluted, or the birds

Of obscene wing, bearing th' unhallow'd stench

E'en to the sacred altars of the gods.

These are the shafts (for thou hast moved my soul

To anger) which at thee I aim: their force

Strikes deep, nor shalt thou shun the burning wound.

Boy, lead me hence; and let him vent his rage

On those of fresher years; or curb his tongue

With modesty, and learn to train his mind

To gentler thoughts than those which now it bears.

Chorus
TIRESIAS, CREON, CHORUS. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR, TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. CREON, CHORUS.

The Seer is gone, O king, and hath foretold

Things dreadful: never from my earliest youth

To these grey hairs now scatter'd o'er my head,

Knew I his voice prophetic to the state

Aught false, or faithless in th' event pronounce.

I know it; and distraction rends my mind.

To yield, would wound me deep; but to oppose,

With keener agonies would pierce my soul.

Chorus

Son of Menæceus, prudence is required.
1100

What must I do? Thy counsel shall prevail.

Chorus

Go, from the rock's dark cave the virgin raise,

And for the outcast dead erect a tomb.

Creon

Dost thou approve this? Wou'dst thou that I yield?

Chorus

And instantly, Oʻking: malignant minds

The vengeance of the gods with speed o'ertakes.

Creon

.. My heart reluctant yields to thy advice;........

But with Necessity we may not strive.

Chorus

Go thou, nor others with this charge entrust.
1115

Instant I go. You, my attendants, haste,
1115

With axes in your hands haste to the plain...

And I (since now my sentence is reversed)

Who bound her, will in person set her free....

I fear that to preserve the ancient laws

Through all his life is man's discreetest part.
1120

O thou by various names renown'd,
1120

The Theban Nymph's illustrious grace,

Sprung from enraptur'd Jove's embrace,

While all his awful thunders roll'd around;

Who joy'st thy richest gifts to pour

O'er blest Italia's favour'd shore,

And on the hallow'd Eleusinian plain

Where Ceres waves her ripen'd gold,
1125

With her thy mystic reign dost hold;
1125

God of the shouting Thyad train,

Pleased o'er the walls, which thy loved Thebes enclose,

A present guardian to preside,

Where deep Ismenus rolls his tide,

'Midst the fierce race that from the dragon rose !
1130

Thee saw the wild and rocky steep,
1130

Whose forked summits proudly rise,

And stretch their rude brows to the skies,

Where the Corycian Nymphs their orgies keep:

Thee, the flames blazing on the mount:

• Thee, pure Castalia's sacred fount:

Thee, the Nysæan mountain's craggy sides,

O'er which the mantling ivy twines:

The swelling hillocks green with vines,

Whose purple fruit their foliage hides;
1135

And waking harmony's enchanting pow'rs,
1135

On thee attends thy raptur'd train,

Raises the high immortal strain,

And hails thee guardian of the Theban tow'rs.

The Theban tow'rs their rampires rear,

Thy guardian care their boast, their pride;
1140

They to thy mother too were dear,
1140

Who in the flaming thunder died.

Now, while her banners Discord waves,

While through our streets Confusion raves,

Prompt to avert our threaten'd woe

Haste from the steep Parnassian brow,
1145

Or from Euboea's groaning shore,
1145

And to thy Thebans peace restore!

Thou leader of the starry train

That flaming bursts upon the sight;

Director of th' harmonious strain

Whose sweet notes charm the ear of night,

Hear, son of Jove, O Bacchus, hear,

Bright in thy form divine appear
1150

Thy frentic Nymphs from Naxos lead,
1150

The frolic dance who lightly tread,

And, as around their god they stand,

Hail thee the leader of their band!

Messenger
STRO. 1. ANTIS. 1. STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2. MESSENGER, CHORUS.

Inhabitants of Thebes, the honour'd seat
1155

Of Cadmus and Amphion, such the life
1155

Of man, so unassured his fickle state,

I cannot prize it high, nor would dispraise:

For fortune ever raises or casts down..

The happy, and th' unhappy, at her will,

And no man can divine the fates to come.
1160

Such was the state of Creon, it from me

Excited admiration; from its foes

He saved this land, o'er all its realms obtain'd

The monarchy, reign'd sole with sovereign pow'r,

And flourish'd in a noble race of sons.

Now all is lost: for when the joys of life
1165

Man knows no more, may he be said to live?

He breathes, but hath not life. Nay, let his house

Be stored with riches, let a monarch's pomp

Attend him; yet 'midst these if heart-felt joy

Be absent, all the rest I would not prize,
1170

Nor purchase with the shadow e'en of smoke.

Chorus

What ills, that cause the royal house to mourn,

Comest thou to tell us?

Messenger

They are dead: those live

Who caused their death.

Chorus

Inform us whose this deed,

Who lies in death?

Messenger

Hæmon is dead; he lies
1175

Welt'ring in blood.
1175

Chorus

Slain by his father's hand,

Or by his own?

Messenger

By his own hand he died,

Against his father for the virgin's death

Enraged...!

Chorus

What truths, O Seer, thy voice announced !

Messenger

These are fulfill'd: yet others claim our thought.

Chorus

Bur see Eurydice, th' unhappy wife
1180

Of Creon: these sad tidings she hath heard,

Or chance hath brought her from the royal house.

Eurydice

EURY. Ye citizens of Thebes, I heard the voice!

Of rumour, as I came forth, at the shrine on

Of Pallas suppliant to address my vows:/

The bars, that closed the gates, it chanced my hand
1185

Was opening, at that instant the report

Of ill my house affecting reach'd my ear.

With terror struck in my attendants armsl

I sunk, and life forsook my fainting frame.

But tell me all; repeat the mournful tale;
1190

In woes not unexperienced I shall hear.

Messenger
EURYDICE, MESSENGER, CHORUS. GANE

My honour'd Mistress, I will tell thee all

(For I was present) nor conceal the truth.

Why should I flatter, when a little time

where exposed and torn by dogs

The wretched corse of Polynices lay:

Him (our vows first to Proserpine addressid

And Pluto, that propitious now their wrath
1195

They would avert) in hallow'd lavers cleansed

On a green pyre of new-pluck'd boughs we laid,

And burn'd the mangled relics; then raised high

The earth contiguous, a sepulchral mound.

Thence to the virgin's cavern'd rock we go,
1200

The nuptial couch of Death; when of our train

One heard the distant sounds of loud laments, .....,

Which echoed round that bridal bed of Death ill

With obséquies unhonour'd: to his dord

He bears the tidings. As the king approach'd
1205

The hollow murmurs of al voice resound; n la Al

Deeply he sigh'd, and spoke these mournful words,

"Are then my fears prophetic? Do I tread,t/

"Unhappy me, a path that leads to woe

"The most afflicting? Moaning to my ear
1210

"Comes my son's voice. You, that attend me, go,

"Haste to the cavern, from its mouth remove...

"The rock's obstructing mass; stand near, observe

« If Hamon’s voice I hear, or by the gods

" I am deceived." Obeying these commands,
1215

Utter'd in deep despair, we went, we look'd,

And in the cave's extreme recess beheld

The virgin strangled; round her neck the zone,

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1115-1150 focus

Chorus

God of many names, glory of the Cadmeian bride and offspring of loud-thundering Zeus, you who watch over far-famed Italy and reign
1115

in the valleys of Eleusinian Deo where all find welcome! O Bacchus, denizen of Thebes , the mother-city of your Bacchants, dweller by the wet stream of Ismenus on the soil
1120

of the sowing of the savage dragon’s teeth!
1125

1126

Chorus

The smoky glare of torches sees you above the cliffs of the twin peaks, where the Corycian nymphs move inspired by your godhead,

and Castalia’s stream sees you, too. The ivy-mantled slopes of Nysa ’s hills and the shore green with many-clustered vines send you, when accompanied by the cries of your divine words,
1130

you visit the avenues of Thebes .
1135

1137

Chorus

Thebes of all cities you hold foremost in honor, together with your lightning-struck mother.

And now when the whole city is held subject to a violent plague, come, we ask, with purifying feet over steep Parnassus ,
1140

or over the groaning straits!
1145

1146

Chorus

O Leader of the chorus of the stars whose breath is fire, overseer of the chants in the night, son begotten of Zeus,

appear, my king, with your attendant Thyiads, who in night-long frenzy dance and sing you as Iacchus the Giver!
1150

Enter Messenger, on the spectators’ left.

Messenger

Neighbors of the house of Cadmus and of Amphion, there is no station of human life that I would ever praise or blame as being settled. Fortune sets upright and Fortune sinks the lucky and unlucky from day to day,
1155

and no one can prophesy to men concerning the order that has just been established. For Creon, as I saw it, was once blest: he had saved this land of Cadmus from its enemies; and having won sole and total dominion in the land, he guided it on a straight course and flourished in his noble crop of children.
1160

And now all this has been lost. When a man has forfeited his pleasures, I do not reckon his existence as life, but consider him just a breathing corpse. Heap up riches in your house, if you wish! Live with a tyrant’s pomp! But if there is no joy
1165

along with all of that, I would not pay even the shadow of smoke for all the rest, compared with joy.
1170

Chorus

What is this new grief for our princes that you have come to report?

Messenger

They are dead, and the living are guilty of the deaths.

Chorus

Who is the murderer? Who the murdered? Tell us.

Messenger

Haemon is dead—his blood was shed by no strange hand.
1175

Chorus

Was it his father’s, or his own ?

Messenger

He did it by his own, enraged with his father for the murder.

Chorus

Ah, prophet, how true, then, you have proved your word!

Messenger

Knowing that these things are so, you must consider the rest.

Chorus

Wait, I see the unhappy Eurydice, Creon’s wife, nearby. She comes from the house either knowing of her son, or merely by chance.
1180

1183 Enter Eurydice.

Eurydice

People of Thebes , I heard your words as I was on my way to the gates to address divine Pallas with my prayers.

At one and the same time I was loosening the bolts of the gate to open it, and the sound of a blow to our house struck my ear. In terror I sank back into the arms of my handmaids, and my senses fled.
1185

But repeat what your news was, for I shall hear it with ears that are no strangers to sorrow.
1190

Messenger

Dear mistress, I will tell what I witnessed and leave no word of the truth unspoken. For what good would it do that should I soothe you with words in which I must later be found false?

The truth is always best. I attended your husband as his guide to the furthest part of the plain, where unpitied the body of Polyneices, torn by dogs, still lay. After we had prayed to the goddess of the roads
1195

and to Pluto to restrain their anger in mercy, we washed him with pure washing, and with freshly-plucked boughs we burned what remains there were. Lastly we heaped a high-mounded tomb of his native earth. Afterwards we turned away to enter the maiden’s stoney-bedded
1200

bridal chamber, the caverned mansion of Hades’ bride. From a distance, one of us servants heard a voice of loud wailing near that bride’s unwept bed and came to tell our master Creon. And as the King moved closer and closer, obscure signs rising from a bitter cry surrounded him—
1205

he groaned and said in bitter lament, Ah, misery, am I now the prophet of evil? Am I going on the path most lined with grief of all that I have walked before? My son’s voice greets me. Go, my servants,
1210

hurry closer, and when you have reached the tomb, enter the opening where the stones of the mound have been torn away, up to the cell’s very mouth. See if it is Haemon’s voice that I recognize, or if I am cheated by the gods.
1215

1219

This search, at our desperate master’s word,

we went to make, and in the furthest part of the tomb we saw her hanging by the neck, fastened by a halter of fine linen threads, while he was embracing her with arms thrown around her waist, bewailing the loss of his bride to the spirits below, as well as his father’s deeds, and his grief-filled marriage.
1220

But his father, when he saw him, cried aloud with a dreadful cry and went in and called to him with a voice of wailing: Ah, unhappy boy, what have you done! What plan have you seized on? By what misfortune have you lost your reason?
1225

Come out, my son, I pray you, I beg you! But the boy glared at him with savage eyes, spat in his face, and without a word in response drew his twin-edged sword. As his father rushed out in flight, he missed his aim. Then the ill-fated boy was enraged with himself
1230

and straightway stretched himself over his sword and drove it, half its length, into his side. Still conscious, he clasped the maiden in his faint embrace, and, as he gasped, he shot onto her pale cheek a swift stream of oozing blood.
1235

Corpse enfolding corpse he lay, having won his marriage rites, poor boy, not here, but in Hades’ palace, and having shown to mankind by how much the failure to reason wisely is the most severe of all afflictions assigned to man. Eurydice departs into the house.
1240

1244

Chorus

What would you infer from this? The lady

has turned back and gone without a word, either for good or for evil.
1245

Messenger

I, too, am startled. Still I am nourished by the hope that at the grave news of her son she thinks it unworthy to make her laments before the city, but in the shelter of her home will set her handmaids to mourn the house’s grief.

For she is not unhabituated to discretion, that she should err.
1250

Chorus

I do not know. But to me, in any case, a silence too strict seems to promise trouble just as much as a fruitless abundance of weeping.

Messenger

I will find out whether she is not, in fact, hiding some repressed plan in the darkness of her passionate heart.

I will go in, since you are right—in an excess of silence, too, there may be trouble. Exit Messenger.
1255

1257

Enter Creon, attended and carrying the shrouded body of Haemon, on the spectators’ left.

Chorus

Look, here is the King himself approaching, his hands grasping a monument plainly signing that his—if we may say it—and no one else’s,

was the madness of this error.
1260

Notes on the current edition

Antigone

1. Campbell cites line 1123-1124, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 1122-1125.

2. Campbell cites line 1131-1136, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 1131-1135.

3. Campbell cites line 1143, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 1142-1145.

4. Campbell cites line 1149, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 1148-1150.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-312-1 μή μ’ ἀτιμάσῃς ¹ τὸ μὴ οὐ ² ἁγνίσαι τὸν θ ³

mvp-comment-313-1 μή μοι ⁴ κοινά ⁵

mvp-comment-313-2 μηδ’ ἃ μὴ ’θιγες ⁶ ἅ ⁷ ἅ ⁸

mvp-comment-314-1 ποιοῦ σεαυτῆς ⁹

mvp-comment-314-2 ἀρκέσω ¹¹

mvp-comment-315-1 σοῦ λελειμμένῃ ¹²

mvp-comment-315-2 φίλος ¹³

mvp-comment-316-1 κηδεμών ¹⁴

mvp-comment-317-1 ἀλγοῦσα μὲν δῆτ’ ¹⁵ δῆτα ¹⁶

mvp-comment-317-2 ἐν σοί ¹⁷

mvp-comment-317-3 Heath's εἰ γελῶ γ’ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-318-1 ἀλλὰ νῦν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-319-1 κἀμπλάκω ²⁰

mvp-comment-319-2 fate? i.e. to be dissociated from it: delib. aor. subj., which can be used, not only in asking what one is to do, but also in expressions of despair as to what one must suffer ( Tr. 973

τί πάθω

;). For

ἀμπλακεῖν

cp. 910 , 1234.

mvp-comment-320-1 εἵλου ²¹

mvp-comment-320-2 ζῆν ²²

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐπ’ ἀρρήτοις … τοῖς ἐμ. λ. ²³

mvp-comment-322-1 σὺ μὲν τοῖς ²⁴

mvp-comment-323-1 καὶ μήν ²⁵

mvp-comment-324-1 θάρσει ²⁶

mvp-comment-324-2 ἡ ἐμὴ ψυχή ²⁷

mvp-comment-324-3 πάλαι ²⁸

mvp-comment-324-4 ὥστε τοῖς θ. ὠφελεῖν ²⁹

mvp-comment-325-1 L gives τὼ παῖδε φημὶ ³⁰

mvp-comment-325-2 τὼ παῖδε … τὴν μὲν … τὴν δέ ³¹

mvp-comment-325-3 ἀρτίως ³²

mvp-comment-326-1 The apology is for her sister as well as for herself: even such prudence ( cp. 68

νοῦν

) as may have been inborn forsakes the unfortunate under the stress of their misfortunes.

mvp-comment-326-2 βλάστῃ ³³

mvp-comment-326-3 τοῖς κ. πράσσουσιν ³⁴

mvp-comment-326-4 ἐξίσταται ³⁵

mvp-comment-327-1 σοὶ γοῦν ³⁶

mvp-comment-327-2 κακοῖς ³⁷

mvp-comment-328-1 τῆσδ’ ἄτερ ³⁸ μόνῃ ³⁹

mvp-comment-328-2 βιώσιμον ⁴⁰ τί ⁴¹

mvp-comment-329-1 ἀλλὰ … μέντοι ⁴²

mvp-comment-329-2 ἥδε μὴ λέγε ⁴³

mvp-comment-330-1 νυμφεῖα ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-331-1 ἀρώσιμοι ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-332-1 οὐχ ὥς γ’ ⁴⁶ ἡρμοσμένα ἦν ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-333-1 υἱέσι ⁴⁸ υἱάσιν ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-333-2

υἷα, υἷε, υἷες, υἷας

: cp. Monro Hom. Gr. § 107.—The dat. of interest goes with κακὰς γυναῖκας ⁵⁰ στυγῶ ⁵¹

mvp-comment-334-1 It is not of much moment that L, like the later MSS., gives this verse to Ismene. Errors as to the persons occur not seldom in L (see, e.g., cr. n. to O. C. 837 , and cp. ib. 1737 ); and here a mistake would have been peculiarly easy, as the dialogue from v. 561 onwards has been between Creon and Ismene. To me it seems certain that the verse is Antigone's, and that one of the finest touches in the play is effaced by giving it to Ismene. The taunt,

κακὰς γυναῖκας υἱέσι

, moves Antigone to break the silence which she has kept since v. 560: in all this scene she has not spoken to Creon, nor does she now address him: she is thinking of Haemon,—of the dishonour to him implied in the charge of having made such a choice, —

ὡς αἰεὶ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει θεὸς ὡς τὸν ὁμοῖον

. How little does his father know the heart which was in sympathy with her own. This solitary reference to her love heightens in a wonderful degree our sense of her unselfish devotion to a sacred duty. If Ismene speaks this verse, then

τὸ σὸν λέχος

in 573 must be, ‘the marriage of which you talk’ (like El. 1110

οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κλῄδον

'), which certainly is not its natural sense.

mvp-comment-334-2 Αἷμον ⁵²

mvp-comment-335-1 ἄγαν γε λυπεῖς ⁵³

mvp-comment-336-1 The MSS. give this verse to Ismene; but Boeckh is clearly right in giving it to the Chorus. Ismene asked this question in 568, and Creon answered: she rejoined to this answer (570), and Creon replied still more bitterly. She could not now ask her former question over again. But there is no unfitness in the question being repeated by a new intercessor, since to ask it thus is a form of mild remonstrance.

mvp-comment-337-1 ἐμοί ⁵⁴ ἔφυ ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-338-1 This verse clearly belongs to the Chorus, to whom L assigns it. The first words of the next verse show this. Hermann objected that in similar situations the Chorus usually has two verses. It is true that this is usually the case. But O. T. 1312 is enough to show that there was no rigid rule; why, indeed, should there be? And, here, surely,

πλέον ἥμισυ παντός.

mvp-comment-338-2 δεδογμένα ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-339-1 καὶ σοί γε κἀμοί ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-339-2 μὴ τριβάς ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-339-3 νιν ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-340-1 ἐκ δὲ τοῦδε ⁶⁰ γυναικας ⁶¹ ἀνειμένας ⁶²

mvp-comment-341-1 χοἱ θρασεῖς ⁶³ πέλας ⁶⁴ εἰσορῶσι ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-343-1 κακῶν ἄγευστος ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-344-1 σεισθῇ θεόθεν ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-344-2 ἄτας οὐδὲν ἐλλείπει ⁶⁸ ἐλλείπει ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-344-3 γενεᾶς ἐπὶ πλῆθος ⁷⁰ γενεᾶς ⁷¹

mvp-comment-345-1 ὅμοιον ⁷²

mvp-comment-345-2 ποντίαις ⁷³ πνοαῖς ⁷⁴ ὅταν οἶδμα ⁷⁵ ποντίαις δυσπν. Θρ. πνοαῖς ⁷⁶ ἐπιδράμῃ ἔρεβος ὕφαλον ⁷⁷ Θρῄσσαισιν ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-346-1 κελαινὰν θῖνα ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-346-2 δυσάνεμοι ⁸⁰ δυσάνεμον ⁸¹

mvp-comment-346-3 στόνῳ βρ.· ⁸²

mvp-comment-346-4 ἀντιπλῆγες ⁸³ ἀκταί ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-347-1 ἀρχαῖα ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-347-2 ὁρῶμαι ⁸⁶ οἴκων ⁸⁷ φθι^τῶν ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-348-1 ἀπαλλάσσει ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-348-2 γενεὰν γένος ⁹⁰ ἔχει ⁹¹

mvp-comment-348-3 λύσιν ⁹²

mvp-comment-349-1 νῦν γὰρ ἐσχάτας ⁹³ ὃ τέτατο ⁹⁴ ἐτέτατο ⁹⁵ κατ’ αὖ ⁹⁶ ὑπέρ ⁹⁷ ὅπερ ⁹⁸ ὃ τέτατο ⁹⁹ νιν ¹⁰⁰ φάος ¹⁰¹ ἐσχάτη ῥίζα ¹⁰² φάος ¹⁰³ νιν ¹⁰⁴ φάος ¹⁰⁵ θάλος ¹⁰⁶ τέτατο ¹⁰⁷ ῥίζας ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-350-1 κατ’ αὖ … ἀμᾷ, ¹⁰⁹ κοπίς ¹¹⁰ κόνις ¹¹¹ κόνις ¹¹²

mvp-comment-350-2 (1) If κόνις ¹¹³ καταμᾷ ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-350-3 (2) If we read κοπίς ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-350-4 It has further been urged against

κοπίς

that the word is too homely. This may be so; but we lack proof.

κοπίς

seems to have been a large curved knife, known to the Greeks chiefly as ( a) a butcher's or cook's implement, ( b) an oriental military weapon. It does not follow, however, that the effect here would be like that of ‘chopper,’ or of ‘scimitar,’ in English. The dignity of a word may be protected by its simplicity; and

κοπίς

is merely ‘that which cuts.’ Pindar was not afraid of homeliness when he described a chorus-master as a

κρατήρ

, or an inspiring thought as an

ἀκόνα

(cp. O. C. 1052 n.). Nicander could say, of the scorpion,

τοίη οἱ κέντροιο κοπίς

( Ther. 780 ). If

κοπίς

be right, the change to

κόνις

may have been caused, not by a misreading of letters, but by mere inadvertence,—the copyist having the word

κόνις

in his thoughts at the moment: it has already occurred frequently ( 247 , 256 , 409 , 429 ).—See Appendix.

mvp-comment-351-1 λόγου … ἄνοια ¹¹⁶ φρενῶν ἐρινύς ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-352-1 τεάν ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-352-2 δύνα^σιν ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-352-3 κατάσχοι ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-353-1 The MS. παντογήρως ¹²¹ παντοθήρας ¹²² παντόθηρος ¹²³ πάντ’ ἀγρεύων ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-354-1 The MS. οὔτ’ ἀκάματοι θεῶν ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-354-2

οὐδὲν ἕρπει

. Far the best emendation is οὔτε θεῶν ἄκματοι ¹²⁶ θεῶν ¹²⁷ θεῶν μῆνες ¹²⁸ θεῶν ¹²⁹ οὔτε ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-354-3 ἄκματοι ¹³¹

mvp-comment-355-1 I doubt whether the dat. χρόνῳ ¹³²

mvp-comment-355-2 μαρμαρόεσσαν ¹³³

mvp-comment-356-1 τό τ’ ἔπειτα ¹³⁴ τὸ μέλλον ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-356-2 καὶ τὸ πρίν ¹³⁹ ἐπαρκέσει ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-357-1 πάμπολύ γ’ ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-357-2 ἕρπει ¹⁴² ἕρπειν ¹⁴³ ἕρπει ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-357-3 πάμπολις ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-358-1 ἁ γὰρ δή ¹⁴⁶ γάρ ¹⁴⁷ πολύπλαγκτος ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-358-2 oft tossed up and down, ploughing a sea of vain deceits.’—

πολύπλαγκτος

might also be act., ‘causing men to err greatly’; but this is less fitting here.

mvp-comment-359-1 πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-360-1 ἀπάτα … ἐρώτων ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-360-2 κουφονόων ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-361-1 The

ἀπάτη

, or final frustration of his desires, ἕρπει ¹⁵² οὐδὲν εἰδότι ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-362-1 πρὶν … προσαύσῃ ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-362-2 προσαύσῃ ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-362-3 πόδα ¹⁵⁶ προσαύσῃ ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-363-1 σοφίᾳ ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-363-2 ἔκ του ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-363-3 πεφάνται ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-364-1 τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ’ ¹⁶¹ ποτέ ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-364-2 1676 Among them he a spirit of phrenzy sent, Who hurt their minds. Cp.

βλαψίφρων, φρενοβλαβής

. Il. 19.137

ἀλλ’ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην, καί μευ φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς

. Theognis 403

σπεύδει ἀνήρ, κέρδος διζήμενος, ὅν τινα δαίμων | πρόφρων εἰς μεγάλην ἀμπλακίην παράγει, | καί οἱ ἔθηκη δοκεῖν, ἃ μὲν ᾖ κακά, ταῦτ’ ἀγάθ’ εἶναι, | εὐμαρέως, ἃ δ’ ἂν ᾖ χρήσιμα, ταῦτα κακά

. Lycurgus in Leocr. § 92

οἱ γὰρ θεοὶ οὐδὲν πρότερον ποιοῦσιν ἢ τῶν πονηρῶν ἀνθρώπων τὴν διάνοιαν παράγουσι· καί μοι δοκοῦσι τῶν ἀρχαίων τινὲς ποιητῶν ὥσπερ χρησμοὺς γράψαντες τοῖς ἐπιγιγνομένοις ταῦτα τὰ ἰαμβεῖα καταλιπεῖν· ὅταν γὰρ ὀργὴ δαιμόνων βλάπτῃ τινά, | τοῦτ’ αὐτὸ πρῶτον, ἐξαφαιρεῖται φρενῶν | τὸν νοῦν τὸν ἐσθλόν, εἰς δὲ τὴν χείρω τρέπει | γνώμην, ἵν’ εἰδῇ μηδἐν ὧν ἁμαρτάνει

. The schol. on our verse quotes an unknown poet's lines,

ὅταν δ’ ὁ δαίμων ἀνδρὶ πορσύνῃ κακά, | τὸν νοῦν ἔβλαψε πρῶτον, ᾧ βουλευεται

. (‘Quem Iuppiter vult perdere, dementat prius.’ See n. in Appendix.)— The epic ἔμμεν ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-365-1 ὀλίγιστον ¹⁶⁴ ὀλιγοστόν ¹⁶⁵ πράσσει … ἐκτὸς ἄτας ¹⁶⁶ ἄτας ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-366-1 μήν ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-366-2 νέατον ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-366-3 to a person,

νέατος

could not be said of a sole survivor unless he was also the latest-born.

γέννημ’

: cp. 471 n.

mvp-comment-366-4 ἀχνύμενος ¹⁷⁰ μόρον ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-367-1 In the MS. reading (see cr. n.)

νύμφης

is a gloss on τάλιδος ¹⁷² τῆς μελλογάμου ¹⁷³ τῆς μελλογάμου ¹⁷⁴ τάλιδος ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-368-1 ἀπάτας ¹⁷⁶ λεχέων ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-370-1 μάντεων ὑπέρτερον ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-371-1 τελείαν ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-371-2 ψῆφο<*> ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-371-3 ἆρα μή ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-371-4 τῆς μελλονύμφου ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-371-5 λυσσαίνων ¹⁸³ σοὶ μέν ¹⁸⁴ θυμαίνων ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-372-1 σοὶ μέν ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-372-2 πανταχῇ δρῶντες ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-373-1 σός ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-373-2 γνώμας ἔχων χρηστάς ¹⁸⁹ ἀπορθοῖς ¹⁹⁰ μοι ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-374-1 ἀξιώσεται ¹⁹³ ἀξ. μείζων φέρεσθαι ¹⁹⁴ ἀξίως ἔσται ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-374-2 σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμ. ¹⁹⁶ μείζων ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-375-1 γάρ ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-375-2 διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν ¹⁹⁹ διά ²⁰⁰ ἔχειν ²⁰¹ οὕτω ²⁰² ἔχειν ²⁰³

mvp-comment-376-1 (One ought to think thus),—that is, ὄπισθεν ἑστάναι πατρ. γνώμης ²⁰⁴ πάντα ²⁰⁵ ἑστάναι ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-377-1 ὡς ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-377-2 ἀνταμύνωνται ²⁰⁸ κακοῖς ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-378-1 ἄλλο ²¹⁰ φῦσαι ²¹¹ πλήν ²¹² ἄλλο ²¹³ εἴποις ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-378-2 πόνους ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-378-3 γέλων ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-379-1 τὰς φρένας γ’ ²¹⁷ γε ²¹⁸ φρένας σύ γ’ ἡδονῇ ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-379-2 φρένας … ἐκβάλῃς ²²⁰

mvp-comment-379-3 ὑφ’ ἡδονῆς ²²¹

mvp-comment-380-1 ψυχρόν ²²²

mvp-comment-380-2 παραγκάλισμα ²²³

mvp-comment-381-1 δόμοις ²²⁴

mvp-comment-381-2 ἕλκος ²²⁵

mvp-comment-381-3 φίλος ²²⁶

mvp-comment-382-1 πτύσας ²²⁷

mvp-comment-382-2 ὠσεί τε δυσμενῆ ²²⁸ τε ²²⁹

mvp-comment-383-1 νυμφεύειν ²³⁰

mvp-comment-384-1 ἀπιστήσασαν ²³¹ ψευδῆ ²³²

mvp-comment-385-1 κτενῶ ²³³

mvp-comment-385-2 πρὸς ταῦτ ²³⁴

mvp-comment-385-3 ἐφυμνείτω ²³⁵

mvp-comment-385-4 Δία ξύναιμον ²³⁶

mvp-comment-386-1 τά γ’ ἐγγ. φύσει ²³⁷

mvp-comment-386-2 ἄκοσμα ²³⁸

mvp-comment-386-3 θρέψω ²³⁹

mvp-comment-386-4 κάρτα τοὺς ἔξω γ. ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-387-1 Seidler transposes vv. 663—667, placing them after 671. The object is to bring vv. 668—671 into immediate connection with 662. In this there is one slight grammatical gain; since, as the vv. stand in the MSS.,

τοῦτον ...τὸν ἄνδρα

(668) means, ‘the man who acts thus’ (viz., as described in vv. 666 f.). But the order given in the MSS. is right. The transposition obliterates one of the finest touches in the speech. Creon demands that the obedience of the citizens to the ruler shall be absolute (666 f.). And then he supplements this demand with a remark on the dignity of such obedience. The man who so obeys gives the best proof that he could also rule (668 ff.). Seidler destroys the point of vv. 668 ff. by placing them after 662.

mvp-comment-387-2 The connection of thought in the whole passage—which is slightly obscured by compression—may be most clearly shown by taking the verses in small consecutive groups. (1) 659 f. If I tolerate disloyalty

mvp-comment-387-3 in my own relatives, I shall encourage it in other citizens. (2) 661 f. For (

γάρ

) only a man who is firm (

χρηστός

) where his own relatives are concerned will be found to uphold justice in the State (i.e. will have the authority necessary for doing so). (3) 663 f. Now, I recognise disloyalty in any one who breaks the law and defies the government, as Antigone has done. (4) 666 f. Instead of so doing, the citizen is bound to obey the government in everything. (5) 668—671. There is nothing slavish in that; on the contrary, it shows that the citizen is not only a good subject, but would, if required, be a good ruler;—as he would also be a good soldier.—Then comes the general censure on unruliness (672—676). And then the conclusion:—I must vindicate my authority, and punish Antigone (677 —680).

mvp-comment-388-1 ὑπερβάς ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-388-2 τοὐπιτάσσειν ²⁴²

mvp-comment-388-3 νοεῖ ²⁴³

mvp-comment-389-1 στήσειε ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-389-2 καὶ τἀναντία ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-390-1 τοῦτον … τὸν ἄνδρα ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-390-2 καλῶς...εὖ ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-390-3 ἄν ²⁴⁸ ἄρχειν ²⁴⁹ θέλειν ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-391-1 δορὸς … χειμῶνι ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-391-2 προστεταγμένον ²⁵²

mvp-comment-391-3 παραστάτην ²⁵³

mvp-comment-392-1 πόλεις ὄλλυσιν, ἥδ’ ²⁵⁴ πόλεις τ’ … ἥδ’ ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-393-1 συμμάχου ²⁵⁶ συμμάχηι ²⁵⁷ σὺν μάχῃ ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-393-2 τροπὰς καταρρήγνυσι ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-393-3 τῶν δ’ ὀρθουμένων ²⁶⁰ τὰ πολλὰ σώματα ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-393-4 ἡ πειθαρχία ²⁶²

mvp-comment-394-1 ἀμυντέ’ ²⁶³

mvp-comment-394-2 τοῖς κοσμουμένοις ²⁶⁴ τοῖς κ. ²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-395-1 κοὔτοι … ἡσσητέα ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-396-1 δεῖ ²⁶⁸ ἐκπεσεῖν ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-396-2 thrust out: oft. of dethronement (

ἐκπ. τυραννίδος, ἀρχῆς, κράτους

, Aesch. ), or of exile (

χθονός

, O. C. 766 ).

mvp-comment-396-3 κοὐκ ἂν...καλοίμεθ’ ἄν ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-397-1 μέν ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-397-2 τῷ χρόνῳ ²⁷²

mvp-comment-397-3 κεκλέμμεθα ²⁷³

mvp-comment-398-1 δοκεῖς λέγειν φρονούντως περὶ ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-399-1 θεοί ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-399-2 κτημάτων ²⁷⁶

mvp-comment-400-1 ἐγὼ δ’ ὅπως ²⁷⁷

mvp-comment-400-2 μὴ ²⁷⁸ ὅπως ²⁷⁹ μή ²⁸⁰ ὀρθῶς ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-400-3 μήτ’ ἐπισταίμην ²⁸²

mvp-comment-401-1 καλῶς ἔχον ²⁸³ γένοιτο ἂν καὶ ἑτέρῳ ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-402-1 σοῦ δ’ οὖν ²⁸⁵ σοῦ ²⁸⁶ σοί ²⁸⁷ σὺ δ’ οὐ πέφυκας ²⁸⁸ τις ²⁸⁹ μῆνίν τιν’ ἢ κότον τιν ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-403-1 τὸ γὰρ σόν ²⁹¹ ὄμμα ²⁹²

mvp-comment-403-2 δημότῃ ²⁹³

mvp-comment-404-1 λόγοις τοιούτοις ²⁹⁴ λόγοις τοιούτοις ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-404-2 οἷς ²⁹⁶ τέρψει ²⁹⁷ κλύων ²⁹⁸ μή ²⁹⁹ τέρψῃ ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-405-1 ὑπὸ σκότον ³⁰¹ ἀκούειν ³⁰² ὀδύρεται ³⁰³

mvp-comment-406-1 κάκιστ’ … εὐκλεεστάτων ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-406-2 ἀπ’ ἔργων ³⁰⁵

mvp-comment-407-1 ἥτις ³⁰⁶ μήθ’ … μήθ’ ³⁰⁷ εἴασε ³⁰⁸ ὀλέσθαι ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-407-2 αὐτάδελφον ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-407-3 ἐνφοναῖς ³¹¹

mvp-comment-408-1 χρυσῆς ³¹²

mvp-comment-408-2 λαχεῖν ³¹³ ἀξία ³¹⁴

mvp-comment-409-1 ἐπέρχεται ³¹⁵

mvp-comment-410-1 θάλλοντος ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-410-2 μεῖζον εὐκλείας ³¹⁷

mvp-comment-410-3 πρὸς παίδων ³¹⁸ εὐκλεία ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-411-1 νυν ³²⁰

mvp-comment-411-2 φόρει ³²¹

mvp-comment-411-3 ἦθος ³²² ὡς φὴς σύ ³²³

mvp-comment-411-4 κοὐδέν ³²⁴

mvp-comment-411-5 τοῦτο ³²⁵

mvp-comment-412-1 μόνος ³²⁶ φρονεῖν ³²⁷ ψυχήν ³²⁸

mvp-comment-412-2

αὐτὸς μοῦνος ποικίλα δήνε’

(devices)

ἔχειν, | κεῖνός γ’ ἄφρων ἐστί, νόου βεβλαμμένος ἐσθλοῦ, | ἴσως γὰρ πάντες ποικίλ’ ἐπιστάμεθα

. Isocr. or. 3 § 43 joins Theognis, Hesiod and Phocylides as

ἀρίστους...συμβούλους τῷ βίῳ τῷ τῶν ἀνθρώπων

. They were read in schools.

mvp-comment-413-1 οὗτοι ³²⁹

mvp-comment-413-2 διαπτυχθέντες ³³⁰

mvp-comment-413-3 κενοί ³³¹

mvp-comment-414-1 ἄνδρα ³³² μανθάνειν ³³³ τό ³³⁴

mvp-comment-414-2 κεἰ … ᾖ ³³⁵

mvp-comment-414-3 τείνειν ³³⁶

mvp-comment-414-4 παρὰ ῥείθρ. ³³⁷

mvp-comment-414-5 χειμάρροις ³³⁸

mvp-comment-415-1 ὑπείκει ³³⁹

mvp-comment-415-2 αὐτόπρεμνα ³⁴⁰

mvp-comment-416-1 αὔτως ³⁴¹

mvp-comment-416-2 ναός ³⁴²

mvp-comment-416-3 ἐγκρατῆ ³⁴³

mvp-comment-416-4 πόδα ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-417-1 μηδέν ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-417-2 κάτω στρέψας ³⁴⁶ τὸ πλοῖον ³⁴⁷ τὸ λοιπόν ³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-417-3 σέλμασιν ³⁴⁹ ὑπτίοις ³⁵⁰

mvp-comment-418-1 εἶκε θυμοῦ ³⁵¹

mvp-comment-418-2 καὶ μετάστασιν δίδου ³⁵²

mvp-comment-418-3 δίδου ³⁵³ εἶκε ³⁵⁴ καί ³⁵⁵ καί ³⁵⁶

mvp-comment-419-1 εἴ τις γνώμη πρόσεστι καὶ ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ν. ³⁵⁷ καί ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-419-2 πρεσβεύειν ³⁵⁹

mvp-comment-420-1 φῦναι ³⁶⁰

mvp-comment-420-2 πάντ’ ³⁶¹

mvp-comment-421-1 εἰ δ’ οὖν ³⁶² φιλεῖ γάρ ³⁶³

mvp-comment-421-2 τοῦτο … ταύτῃ ³⁶⁴ ταύτῃ ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-421-3 ῥέπειν ³⁶⁶

mvp-comment-422-1 καὶ τὸ τῶν εὖ λεγόντων μανθάνειν καλόν ³⁶⁷

mvp-comment-423-1 σέ τ’ ³⁶⁸ διπλᾶι ³⁶⁹ διπλᾶ ³⁷⁰ διπλῇ ³⁷¹ διπλᾶ ³⁷²

mvp-comment-423-2 On the other hand, διπλῇ ³⁷³

mvp-comment-424-1 καὶ ³⁷⁴ διδαξ. ³⁷⁵

mvp-comment-424-2 δή ³⁷⁶

mvp-comment-424-3 τὴν φύσιν ³⁷⁷

mvp-comment-425-1 μηδέν ³⁷⁸ τὸ μὴ δίκ. ³⁷⁹

mvp-comment-425-2 τὸν χρόνον ³⁸⁰ τἄργα ³⁸¹

mvp-comment-426-1 ἔργον ³⁸²

mvp-comment-426-2 τοὺς ἀκοσμοῦντας ³⁸³

mvp-comment-426-3 σέβειν ³⁸⁴

mvp-comment-427-1 οὐδ’ ³⁸⁵

mvp-comment-428-1 τοιᾷδε … νοσῳ ³⁸⁶

mvp-comment-428-2 ἐπείληπται ³⁸⁷

mvp-comment-429-1 Θήβης ³⁸⁸ ὁμόπτολις ³⁸⁹

mvp-comment-430-1 ἡμῖν ³⁹⁰ ἐμέ ³⁹¹

mvp-comment-431-1 ὡς ἄγαν νέος ³⁹²

mvp-comment-432-1 Dobree's με ³⁹³ γε ³⁹⁴ χρή ³⁹⁵ ἄλλῳ ἢ ’μοί ³⁹⁶ ἐμοί ³⁹⁷ χρή γε ³⁹⁸

mvp-comment-433-1 πόλις γὰρ οὐκ ἔσθ’ ³⁹⁹

mvp-comment-433-2

τυραννίς

ἔσχατον πόλεως νόσημα

, Rep. 544 C. de Rep. 3. 31

ubi tyrannus est, ibi...dicendum est nullam esse rempublicam.

mvp-comment-434-1 νομίζεται ⁴⁰⁰

mvp-comment-435-1 καλῶς ἐρήμης γ’ ⁴⁰¹

mvp-comment-436-1 Though at least one late MS. (Paris E) has

συμμαχεῖν

, it is needless to assume here the same mixed constr. as Tr. 1238

ἁνὴρ δ’ ὅδ’, ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐ νεμεῖν ἐμοὶ | φθίνοντι μοῖραν

mvp-comment-437-1 οὖν ⁴⁰² προκήδομαι ⁴⁰³

mvp-comment-438-1 ὦ παγκάκιστε ⁴⁰⁴

mvp-comment-438-2 διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί ⁴⁰⁵

mvp-comment-439-1 ἀρχάς ⁴⁰⁶

mvp-comment-440-1 οὐ γὰρ σέβεις ⁴⁰⁷

mvp-comment-440-2 τιμάς ⁴⁰⁸

mvp-comment-441-1 ὦ μιαρόν ⁴⁰⁹ γυναικὸς ὕστερον ⁴¹⁰

mvp-comment-442-1 ‘I may be inferior to a woman, but at least you will never find me yielding to base temptations.’ It would have been

αἰσχρόν

if he had allowed fear or self-interest to deter him from pleading this cause. ( Cp. 509 .) Cp. Tr. 489

ἔρωτος...ἥσσων

: fr. 844

ἥσσων...ὀργῆς.

mvp-comment-442-2 οὔ τἄν ⁴¹¹

mvp-comment-442-3 γε ⁴¹²

mvp-comment-443-1 γοῦν ⁴¹³

mvp-comment-444-1 καὶ σοῦ γε ⁴¹⁴

mvp-comment-445-1 Objections have been made to the traditional order of these verses, chiefly in two respects. (1) 755

εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ’

is—it is argued—the strongest thing said by Haemon, and ought therefore to come immediately before Creon's final outburst,

ἄληθες

; (758). How could it be followed by merely so mild a phrase as

μὴ κώτιλλέ με

?—We may reply:— Haemon says that, if Creon were not his father, he would have thought him mad. It is to this that

μὴ κώτιλλέ με

refers, meaning, ‘Do not seek to deceive me by an affectation of filial deference.’ (2) 757

βούλει λέγειν τι

is too mild a remark—it is said—to form the climax of provocation to Creon's anger. We may reply:—It is in substance, if not in form, such a climax, —for a father who holds that unquestioning obedience (640) is a son's first duty. It asserts Haemon's right to maintain his own views against his father's,—

διὰ δίκης ἰέναι

, as Creon put it (742). The traditional order seems, therefore, to be right.

mvp-comment-445-2 Three modes of transposition have been proposed. (1) Enger puts 756 and 757 after 749. Then

κώτιλλε

(756) refers to Haemon's plea that he has his father's cause, and that of religion, at heart. We lose nothing by such a transposition; but neither do we gain.

mvp-comment-445-3 (2) Donner (in his transl., ed. 1863) simply transposed verses 755 and 757, leaving the rest as they stand. For this it may fairly be said that 757 comes very fitly after 754. On the other hand it seems to me that 756 does not aptly follow 757.

mvp-comment-445-4 (3) Pallis arranges thus:—749, 756, 755, 754, 757, 750—753. Thus

κενὰς γνώμας

(753) becomes the last sting.— The fact is that, in a stormy altercation, we do not look for a closely logical texture and a delicately graduated crescendo. The MS. order is (to my mind) the best; but other arrangements are possible, and would be nearly as good.

mvp-comment-445-5 Creon, instead of replying to v. 749, abruptly repeats his resolve.

οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ταύτην ἔτι ζῶσαν γαμεῖς

(fut.)

ποτέ

, it cannot be that you shall ever wed her while she yet lives; i.e. she is to die at once, and can become your bride, if ever, only

ἐν Ἅιδου

(654). Cp. 1240 .— ὡς ⁴¹⁵ ποτέ ⁴¹⁶ ταύτην ⁴¹⁷

mvp-comment-446-1 ἥδ’ ⁴¹⁸ ὀλεῖ τινά ⁴¹⁹

mvp-comment-447-1 ἦ ἐπεξέρχει και ἐπαπειλῶν ὧδε θρασύς; ⁴²⁰ καί ⁴²¹

mvp-comment-448-1 κλαίων ⁴²²

mvp-comment-448-2 φρενώσεις ⁴²³

mvp-comment-449-1 οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν ⁴²⁴

mvp-comment-450-1 δούλευμα ⁴²⁵

mvp-comment-450-2 μὴ κωτιλλέ με ⁴²⁶

mvp-comment-450-3 Cp. Theognis 363

εὖ κώτιλλε τὸν ἐχθρόν

(cajole)'

ὅταν δ’ ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ, | τῖσαί νιν, πρόφασιν μηδεμίαν θέμενος

: id. 851

Ζεὺς ἄνδρ’ ἐξολέσειεν Ὀλύμπιος, ὃς τὸν ἑταῖρον | μαλθακὰ κωτίλλων ἐξαπατᾶν ἐθέλει

mvp-comment-451-1 λέγειν … κλύειν; ⁴²⁷ λέγειν τι ⁴²⁸

mvp-comment-452-1 ἄληθες; ⁴²⁹

mvp-comment-452-2 οὐ τόνδ’ Ὄλ. ⁴³⁰

mvp-comment-452-3 ἴσθ’ ὅτι ⁴³¹

mvp-comment-453-1 χαίρων ⁴³²

mvp-comment-453-2 ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ⁴³³ ἐπί ⁴³⁴ ἔτι ⁴³⁵

mvp-comment-454-1 ἄγετε ⁴³⁶ ἄγ’ ἄγε ⁴³⁷ ἄγαγε ⁴³⁸

mvp-comment-454-2 τὸ μῖσος ⁴³⁹

mvp-comment-454-3 κατ’ ὄμματ’ ⁴⁴⁰

mvp-comment-454-4 παρόντι … πλησία ⁴⁴¹

mvp-comment-455-1 ἔμοιγε ⁴⁴² οὔτε ⁴⁴³ τε ⁴⁴⁴

mvp-comment-455-2 οὐδαμά ⁴⁴⁵

mvp-comment-455-3 ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ⁴⁴⁶

mvp-comment-456-1 ὡς ⁴⁴⁷

mvp-comment-456-2 τοῖς θέλουσι ⁴⁴⁸

mvp-comment-457-1 ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς ⁴⁴⁹

mvp-comment-457-2 βαρύς ⁴⁵⁰

mvp-comment-458-1 μεῖζον ἢ κατ’ ἄνδρα ⁴⁵¹

mvp-comment-458-2 ἰών ⁴⁵²

mvp-comment-458-3

αἱρήσοιμ’ ἰών

: Ai. 304

ὅσην κατ’ αὐτῶν ὕβριν ἐκτίσαιτ’ ἰών

. So here it scornfully suggests some daring enterprise.

mvp-comment-459-1 For δ’ οὖν ⁴⁵³

mvp-comment-459-2 τὼ … τώδε ⁴⁵⁴

mvp-comment-459-3 καί ⁴⁵⁵ κατακτ. νοεῖς ⁴⁵⁶ κατακτ ⁴⁵⁷

mvp-comment-460-1 θιγοῦσαν ⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-460-2 γὰρ οὖν ⁴⁵⁹

mvp-comment-461-1 καί ⁴⁶⁰ βουλεύει ⁴⁶¹

mvp-comment-461-2 σφε ⁴⁶²

mvp-comment-462-1 ἔνθα ⁴⁶³

mvp-comment-463-1 πετρώδει … ἐν κατώρυχι ⁴⁶⁴

mvp-comment-464-1 ὡς ἄγος μόνον ⁴⁶⁵ ὡς ⁴⁶⁶ ὅσον ⁴⁶⁷

mvp-comment-464-2 ἄγος ⁴⁶⁸

mvp-comment-464-3 Creon's edict had announced that the transgressor would be publicly stoned to death (36). It is to this that the anxious question of the Chorus alludes (772). Creon had already said that Antigone's doom was to be

κάκιστος

(489). But now, at least, he feels that he cannot inflict such a death on the maiden, his kinswoman. She shall die, not by stoning, but by starvation. The choice is not prompted by cruelty, but simply by the desire to avoid physical violence.

mvp-comment-464-4 The danger of a

μίασμα

—to be avoided by a dole of food—has no relation to the special circumstances,—Antigone's royal birth, and the nature of her offence. In the ancient belief, that danger existed whenever a person was put to death by starvation. Two notions were probably blended; ( a) that, if a little food was given, the death was nature's work, not man's; ( b) that the

νέρτεροι

claimed an indemnity for the usual

ἐναγίσματα

. So the Greeks put Philoctetes ashore on desolate Lemnos, —

ῥάκη προθέντες βαιὰ καί τι καὶ βορᾶς | ἐπωφέλημα σμικρόν

( Ph. 274 ). So, too, when a Vestal was to be buried alive, the small vault in the Campus Sceleratus was furnished with a couch, a burning lamp, and a small table, on which the dole was placed,—bread, olives, milk, and a jug of water ( Plut. Num. 10 ).

mvp-comment-465-1 πᾶσ’ ⁴⁶⁹

mvp-comment-466-1 ὃν μόνον σέβει ⁴⁷⁰

mvp-comment-466-2

ἐγγενεῖς

(199). By honouring him, and Hades (519), she has dishonoured those other gods.

mvp-comment-467-1 τὸ μὴ θανεῖν ⁴⁷¹ τεύξεται ⁴⁷²

mvp-comment-468-1 ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦτα ⁴⁷³ τἀν ⁴⁷⁴

mvp-comment-470-1 ἀνίκατε μάχαν ⁴⁷⁵

mvp-comment-471-1 ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις, ⁴⁷⁶

mvp-comment-472-1 ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς ⁴⁷⁷

mvp-comment-472-2 ἐννυχεύεις ⁴⁷⁸

mvp-comment-473-1 ὑπερπόντιος ⁴⁷⁹

mvp-comment-473-2 ἔν τ’ ἀγρ. αὐλαῖς ⁴⁸⁰

mvp-comment-474-1 οὔτ’ ἀθανάτων ⁴⁸¹

mvp-comment-474-2 σὲ … φύξιμός ἐστι ⁴⁸²

mvp-comment-475-1 σέ γ’ ⁴⁸³

mvp-comment-475-2 ὁ δ’ ἔχων ⁴⁸⁴

mvp-comment-476-1 ἀδίκους ⁴⁸⁵ παρασπᾷς ⁴⁸⁶

mvp-comment-477-1 ξύναιμον ⁴⁸⁷

mvp-comment-477-2 ἔχεις ⁴⁸⁸

mvp-comment-477-3 ταράξας ⁴⁸⁹

mvp-comment-478-1 ἐναργής ⁴⁹⁰

mvp-comment-478-2 βλεφάρωνἵμερος ⁴⁹¹ εὐλέκτρου νύμφας ⁴⁹²

mvp-comment-478-3 εὐλέκτρου ⁴⁹³

mvp-comment-479-1 πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς ⁴⁹⁴ πάρεδρος ⁴⁹⁵ ἐν ἀρχαῖς ⁴⁹⁶

mvp-comment-479-2 The words answer metrically to

φύξιμος οὐδείς

(788). The first two syllables of

πάρεδρος

therefore represent a resolved long syllable. Pindar affords some instances of such resolution (see Appendix), and there is a probable example below (970

ἀγχίπολις Ἄρης

, where see n.). But it is rare, and certainly unpleasing. As

mvp-comment-479-3 a whole, too, the phrase

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

is suspicious. A yet stronger objection is the strangeness of describing the power which is in conflict with the

θεσμοί

as their assessor, or peer, in sway; an expression which would seem appropriate only if that power was working in harmony with them; as when Eur. ( Eur. Med. 843 ) speaks of

σοφίᾳ παρέδρους...ἔρωτας, | παντοίας ἀρετᾶς ξυνεργούς

,—‘the loves that sit with wisdom, co-workers of all excellence,’—those aspirations of the soul which assist intellectual effort.

mvp-comment-479-4 The best line of emendation yet suggested is that of Semitelos, who writes ὥστε πέρα δρᾶν ⁴⁹⁷

mvp-comment-480-1 ἐμπαίζει ⁴⁹⁸ νικᾷ ⁴⁹⁹

mvp-comment-481-1 καὐτὸς θεσμῶν ἔξω ⁵⁰⁰

mvp-comment-481-2 φέρομαι ⁵⁰¹

mvp-comment-481-3 ἴσχειν δ’ ⁵⁰²

mvp-comment-482-1 πηγάς ⁵⁰³

mvp-comment-483-1 παγκοίτην ⁵⁰⁴

mvp-comment-483-2 of Antigone are brought into finer relief by the different tone of the choral anapaests. Cp. 822 , and see Appendix on 110.—Cp. O. C. 1578 (Death)

τὸν αἰένυπνον

. The word θάλαμον ⁵⁰⁵

mvp-comment-483-3 ἀνύτουσαν ⁵⁰⁶

mvp-comment-485-1 νεάταν … νέατον δέ ⁵⁰⁷

mvp-comment-485-2 νέατον ⁵⁰⁸

mvp-comment-485-3 κοὔποτ’ αὖθις ⁵⁰⁹

mvp-comment-486-1 παγκοίτας ⁵¹⁰ πάγκοινος ⁵¹¹

mvp-comment-487-1 ἄγει … ἀκτάν ⁵¹²

mvp-comment-488-1 οὔθ’ ὑμεναίων … οὔτ’ ἐπινύμφειος … ὕμνος ⁵¹³

mvp-comment-488-2 οὔτε … ἔγκληρον, … οὔτε … ὕμνησεν ⁵¹⁵

mvp-comment-488-3 ἐπινύμφειος ⁵¹⁶ ἐπινυμφίδιος ⁵¹⁷ ἐπὶ νυμφείοις ⁵¹⁸ ἐπινυμφίδιος ⁵¹⁹

mvp-comment-489-1 Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω ⁵²⁰

mvp-comment-490-1 ξιφέων ⁵²¹ ἐπίχειρα ⁵²²

mvp-comment-491-1 αὐτόνομος ⁵²³

mvp-comment-491-2 δή ⁵²⁴ μόνη ⁵²⁵ Ἀΐδην ⁵²⁶ Ἅιδην ⁵²⁷

mvp-comment-492-1 ἤκουσα δή ⁵²⁸

mvp-comment-492-2 λυγροτάταν ⁵²⁹

mvp-comment-492-3 ξέναν ⁵³⁰

mvp-comment-493-1 Ταντάλου ⁵³¹

mvp-comment-493-2 Σιπύλῳ ⁵³²

mvp-comment-494-1 ἀτενής ⁵³³

mvp-comment-494-2 πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν ⁵³⁴ αι^ ⁵³⁵

mvp-comment-495-1 καί νιν ὄμρροι ⁵³⁶ τέγγει δ’ ⁵³⁷ ὄμβρῳ ⁵³⁸ τακομέναν ⁵³⁹ τέγγει … δειράδας ⁵⁴⁰ ὄμβροι ⁵⁴¹ ὄμβρῳ ⁵⁴²

mvp-comment-495-2 χιών ⁵⁴³

mvp-comment-495-3 οὐδαμά ⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-496-1 τέγγει δ’ ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι … δειράδας ⁵⁴⁵

mvp-comment-496-2 The Niobe of Sipylus has usually been identified with a colossal rock-image on the N. side of the range. It is rudely carved in relief, within a rectangular niche on the face of a limestone cliff, and represents a woman seated on a throne. (See Stark, Niobe, pl. 1, Leips. 1863: cp. Baumeister, Denkm. p. 1029). Prof. W. M. Ramsay, however, holds that this image is the ‘very ancient’

ἄγαλμα

of Cybele mentioned by Paus. 3.22.4 . In two respects it differs from the ancient accounts of the Niobe (quoted below): ( a) it does not ‘weep,’—for the rainwater drops from the front of the niche, clear of the figure; and ( b) the likeness to a human form grows, instead of vanishing, as one approaches. ( Journ. Hellen. Studies III. 61 ff., 1882.) This has been confirmed by another traveller, Herr Schweisthal (as reported in the Berl. Phil. Wochenschr., May 28, 1887, p. 704). He finds the true Niobe at no great distance from the Cybele, but nearer Magnesia, and in the vicinity of a stream (the Jarikkaia) which Humann, in his ‘Excursion into Sipylus’ (1881), had already identified with the Achelous of Il. 24.616 . It is a natural phenomenon,—the semblance—as seen from a distance—of a draped woman, seated high on the rocks; she looks towards the right, and lifts her right arm, as if in lament.

mvp-comment-496-3 The best ancient description is by a poet whose native place was in that neighbourhood,—Quintus Smyrnaeus (1. 293— 306):—‘Her streaming tears still fall from the heights of the rugged cliff; and in sympathy with her the sounding waters of the Hermus make lament, and the lofty peaks of Sipylus, over which the mist that shepherds dread floats evermore. A great marvel is she to passers by, because she is like a sorrowful woman, who mourns some cruel grief, and weeps without stint. Such verily seems the figure, when thou gazest at it from afar; but when thou drawest near, lo, 'tis but a sheer rock, a cliff of Sipylus’ (

φαίνεται αἰπήεσσα πέτρη, Σιπύλοιό τ’ ἀπορρώξ

mvp-comment-496-4 Nonnus was thinking of the effect from the road, when he wrote (2. 160),

ἕσσομαι ὡς Νιόβη καὶ ἐγὼ λίθος, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὴν | λαϊνέην στενάχουσαν ἐποικτείρωσιν ὁδῖται

. Pausanias, too, says that, at a certain distance from the cliff,

δεδακρυμένην δόξεις ὁρᾶν καὶ κατηφῆ γυναῖκα

, but that the illusion vanishes on a nearer approach (1. 21 § 3).

mvp-comment-497-1 ὁμοιοτάταν ⁵⁴⁶

mvp-comment-498-1 ἀλλὰ … θανοῦσαν ⁵⁴⁷ καίτοι ⁵⁴⁸ ζῶσαν ⁵⁴⁹ θανοῦσαν ⁵⁵⁰ οἴμοι γελῶμαι ⁵⁵¹

mvp-comment-498-2 θεός ⁵⁵²

mvp-comment-498-3 θεογεννής ⁵⁵³ θειογενής ⁵⁵⁴

mvp-comment-499-1 καίτοι ⁵⁵⁵ φθιμένῃ ⁵⁵⁶

mvp-comment-499-2 κἀκοῦσαι ⁵⁵⁷ μέγ’ ἀκοῦσαι ⁵⁵⁸

mvp-comment-500-1 τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα ⁵⁵⁹ ἔγκληρα ⁵⁶⁰

mvp-comment-500-2 Hipp. 1011 : or (2) pass., included in one's

κλῆρος

, as H. F. 468

ἔγκληρα πεδία ...κεκτημένος

(‘by inheritance’). Here,

ἔγκληρα

was perh. partly due to a reminiscence of

ἔγκληρον

in 814.—The change of τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ⁵⁶¹ τοῖσι θεοῖσιν ⁵⁶² ι— ⁵⁶³ α— ⁵⁶⁴ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα ⁵⁶⁵

mvp-comment-501-1 ζῶσαν … θανοῦσαν ⁵⁶⁶

mvp-comment-502-1 γελῶμαι ⁵⁶⁷

mvp-comment-503-1 πολυκτήμονες ⁵⁶⁸

mvp-comment-504-1 κρῆναι ⁵⁶⁹

mvp-comment-504-2 εὐαρμάτου ⁵⁷⁰

mvp-comment-504-3 ἄλσος ⁵⁷¹

mvp-comment-504-4 ἔμπας ⁵⁷²

mvp-comment-505-1 ὔμμ’ ⁵⁷³

mvp-comment-505-2 ἐπικτῶμαι ⁵⁷⁴ ἐπί ⁵⁷⁵

mvp-comment-506-1 οἵα ⁵⁷⁶

mvp-comment-506-2 φίλων ἄκλαυτος ⁵⁷⁷

mvp-comment-507-1 ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ⁵⁷⁸ ἕρμα ⁵⁷⁹

mvp-comment-508-1 ποταινίου ⁵⁸⁰

mvp-comment-509-1 Though every treatment of this verse must remain subject to doubt, far the most probable (to my mind) is Seyffert's modification of Boeckh's βροτοῖς οὔτ’ ἐν νεκροῖς κυροῦσα ⁵⁸¹ οὔτε ⁵⁸² κυροῦσα ⁵⁸³ νεκροῖς ⁵⁸⁴

mvp-comment-510-1 μέτοικος ⁵⁸⁵

mvp-comment-511-1 προβᾶσ’ … πολύ ⁵⁸⁶ προσέπεσες ⁵⁸⁷

mvp-comment-511-2 πολύ ⁵⁸⁸ ἐσχάτου ⁵⁸⁹ προσέπεσες ⁵⁹⁰

mvp-comment-512-1 πατρῷόν τινα … ἆθλον ⁵⁹¹ τινά ⁵⁹²

mvp-comment-512-2 ἐκτίνεις ⁵⁹³

mvp-comment-513-1 μερίμνας ⁵⁹⁴ οἶκτον ⁵⁹⁵ πατρός ⁵⁹⁶ πότμου ⁵⁹⁷ οἶκτον ⁵⁹⁸

mvp-comment-513-2 to taking

οἶκτον

as acc. in apposition with

ἔψαυσας...μερίμνας

is that this would imply

τό

(

σε

)

ψαῦσαι ἀλγ. ἐμοὶ μερίμνης οἶκτός ἐστιν

: as Eur. Or. 1105

Ἑλένην κτάνωμεν, Μενέλεῳ λύπην πικράν

, implies,

τὸ Ἑλένην κτανεῖν Μενέλεῳ λύπη πικρὰ ἔσται

: Aesch. Ag. 224

ἔτλα δ’ οὖν | θυτὴρ γενέσθαι θυγατρός, γυναικοποίνων πολέμων ἀρωγάν

, implies,

τὸ θυτῆρα γενέσθαι ἀρωγὴ ἦν

. Now, if we had, for instance,

ἀνεμνήσθην μερίμνης

, it is conceivable that

οἶκτον

, as acc. in appos., should mean

οἴκτου ἀφορμήν

ἔγερσιν

. But when, as here, the subject of

ἔψαυσας

is distinct from the person who makes the lament, it seems impossible that

οἶκτον

should have this pregnant sense.

mvp-comment-513-3 ἀλγ. μερίμνας ⁵⁹⁹ οἶτον ⁶⁰⁰

mvp-comment-513-4 τριπόλιστον ⁶⁰¹

mvp-comment-513-5 κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν ⁶⁰² πότμου ⁶⁰³

mvp-comment-513-6 ἁμετέρου ⁶⁰⁴

mvp-comment-514-1 ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται ⁶⁰⁵ πατρῷαι ⁶⁰⁶

mvp-comment-514-2

λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ

; and ( b) with

πατρῷαι

the explanation by

ἐμῷ πατρί

, etc., would have been less needed.

mvp-comment-515-1 κοιμήματα . . αὐτογέννητα . . ματρός ⁶⁰⁷

mvp-comment-515-2 ἐμῷ πατρί ⁶⁰⁸

mvp-comment-515-3 δυσμόρου ⁶⁰⁹

mvp-comment-516-1 οἵων ⁶¹⁰ ποτέ ⁶¹¹ οἵων ⁶¹² ποτέ ⁶¹³ οὕς ⁶¹⁴ οἵων ⁶¹⁵ ματρός.—ἀραῖος ⁶¹⁶

mvp-comment-516-2 μέτοικος ⁶¹⁷

mvp-comment-517-1 κασίγνητε ⁶¹⁸

mvp-comment-518-1 θανὼν ἔτ’ οὖσαν ⁶¹⁹

mvp-comment-518-2 κατήναρες ⁶²⁰

mvp-comment-519-1 σέβειν ⁶²¹

mvp-comment-519-2 sense,

εὐσέβεια

’: i.e. though it is not complete

εὐσέβεια

—which the Chorus regard as including loyalty to the State's laws— yet, so far as it goes, it deserves praise of the same kind. Cp. 924

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ’ ἐκτησάμην

: by practising

εὐσέβεια

towards the dead, she had come to be thought, on the whole,

δυσσεβής

—as a law-breaker. The Chorus is here the apologist of Creon, and this concession is meant to emphasise the next sentence. Hence the purposed vagueness of σέβειν ⁶²²

mvp-comment-520-1 κράτος δὲ ⁶²³ ὅτῳ ⁶²⁴

mvp-comment-520-2 οὐδαμᾷ ⁶²⁵ μέλει ⁶²⁶

mvp-comment-521-1 αὐτόγνωτος ⁶²⁷ αὐτὴ γιγνώσκουσα ⁶²⁸

mvp-comment-521-2 ὀργά ⁶²⁹

mvp-comment-522-1 ἑτοίμαν ⁶³⁰

mvp-comment-523-1 τόδε λ. ἱρὸν ὄμμα ⁶³¹

mvp-comment-524-1 ἀδάκρυτον ⁶³²

mvp-comment-524-2 (and so it remains) unwept. Soph. has several instances of the predicative adj. thus added to a subst. which has the art. and possessive pron.; as O. T. 671

τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδ’, ἐποικτίρω στόμα | ἐλεινόν

(n.): El. 1143

τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς | ἀνωφελήτου

. Cp. 791 .

mvp-comment-525-1 ἆρ’ ἴστε ⁶³³ λέγειν ⁶³⁴ ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους ⁶³⁵ ἴστε ⁶³⁶

mvp-comment-525-2 οὐδ’ ἂν εἷς ⁶³⁷

mvp-comment-526-1 οὐκ ἄξεθ’ ⁶³⁸ τάχιστα.—κατηρεφεῖ ⁶³⁹

mvp-comment-527-1 περιπτύξαντες ⁶⁴⁰

mvp-comment-528-1 χρῇ ⁶⁴¹ ζῶσα ⁶⁴² χρῇ ⁶⁴³

mvp-comment-528-2

σιγῆν

; but the MSS. are supported by the testimony of Suidas and Hesychius to

χρῇς

as=

χρῄζεις

. In the other four places where these forms are usu. read, they are not indispensable,

χρή

being possible; but in two, at least, they are much better than

χρή

, viz. El. 606

κήρυσσέ μ’ εἰς ἅπαντας, εἴτε χρῇς κακήν, | εἴτε στόμαργον, κ.τ.λ.

: and Ai. 1373

σοὶ δὲ δρᾶν ἔξεσθ’ ἃ χρῇς

. In the other two,

χρή

might well stand: Eur. fr. 910

πρὸς ταῦθ’ ὅ τι χρῇ καὶ παλαμάσθω | καὶ πᾶν ἐπ’ ἐμοὶ τεκταινέσθω

: Cratinus

Νόμοι

fr. 2

νῦν γὰρ δή σοι πάρα μὲν θεσμοὶ | τῶν ἡμετέρων, πάρα δ’ ἄλλ’ ὅ τι χρῇς

. Except in Ach. 778 , the MSS. everywhere give

χρή

: and the variants in the next v. (see cr. n.) show that

χρῇ

was strange to the copyists, though known to the Scholiast.

mvp-comment-529-1 ζῶσα τυμβεύειν ⁶⁴⁴ νυμφεύειν ⁶⁴⁵

mvp-comment-529-2 στέγῃ ⁶⁴⁶

mvp-comment-530-1 ἁγνοί ⁶⁴⁷

mvp-comment-530-2 τοὐπὶ τήνδε ⁶⁴⁸

mvp-comment-531-1 μετοικίας ⁶⁴⁹

mvp-comment-531-2 δ’ οὖν ⁶⁵⁰

mvp-comment-531-3 στερήσεται ⁶⁵¹

mvp-comment-532-1 ὦ τύμβος ⁶⁵²

mvp-comment-532-2 νυμφεῖον ⁶⁵³

mvp-comment-532-3 κατασκαφής ⁶⁵⁴

mvp-comment-533-1 ἀριθμὸν … πλεϊστον ⁶⁵⁵

mvp-comment-533-2 ἐν νεκροῖς ⁶⁵⁶ δέδεκται ⁶⁵⁷

mvp-comment-533-3

πύλαι

to Hades ( O. C. 1569 f.). So Oedipus is led by

Ἑρμῆς ὁ πομπὸς ἥ τε νερτέρα θεός

( ib. 1548 ). As

ἡ ἀφανὴς θεός

she is associated with Hades ( ib. 1556 ).

mvp-comment-533-4 Φερσέφασσα ⁶⁵⁸ Φ ⁶⁵⁹

mvp-comment-534-1 κάκιστα ⁶⁶⁰ δή ⁶⁶¹

mvp-comment-534-2 μοῖραν … βίου ⁶⁶² ἐξήκειν ⁶⁶³

mvp-comment-535-1 ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω ⁶⁶⁴ φίλη μὲν … προσφιλὴς δέ ⁶⁶⁵

mvp-comment-536-1 κασίγνητον κάρα ⁶⁶⁶ νῦν δέ ⁶⁶⁷

mvp-comment-537-1 ὑμᾶς ⁶⁶⁸

mvp-comment-537-2 ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα ⁶⁶⁹

mvp-comment-537-3 χοάς ⁶⁷⁰

mvp-comment-537-4 περιστέλλουσα ⁶⁷¹

mvp-comment-537-5 δέμας ⁶⁷²

mvp-comment-538-1 Few problems of Greek Tragedy have been more discussed than the question whether these vv., or some of them, are spurious. Arist. ( Arist. Rhet. 3. 16 § 9) quotes vv. 911, 912 , and certainly had the whole passage in his text of The Soph. interpolation, then, if such it be, must have been made soon after the poet's death; and has been imputed to his son Iophon (

ὁ ψυχρός

), or some other sorry poet; or to the actors. I confess that, after long thought, I cannot bring myself to believe that Soph. wrote 905—912: with which 904 and 913—920 are in organic unity, and must now stand or fall. Some remarks will be found in the Appendix.

mvp-comment-538-2 The main points (to my mind) are briefly these. (1) The general validity of the divine law, as asserted in 450— 460, cannot be intelligibly reconciled with the limitation in vv. 905—907. (2) A still further limitation is involved in 911 f. She has buried her brother, not simply as such, but because, while he lived, he was an irreplaceable relative. Could she have hoped for the birth of another brother, she would not, then, have felt the duty to be so binding. (3) The composition of vv. 909—912 is unworthy of Sophocles.

mvp-comment-538-3 ’τίμησα ⁶⁷³ εὖ ⁶⁷⁴ τοῖς φρονοῦσιν ⁶⁷⁵

mvp-comment-539-1 ἐτήκετο ⁶⁷⁶

mvp-comment-540-1 βίᾳ πολιτῶν ⁶⁷⁷

mvp-comment-541-1 πρὸς χάριν ⁶⁷⁸

mvp-comment-542-1 Cp. Her. 3.119 , which clearly supplied, not merely the thought, but the form, of these verses:—

ἀνὴρ μέν μοι ἂν ἄλλος γένοιτο, εἰ δαίμων ἐθέλοι, καὶ τέκνα ἄλλα, εἰ ταῦτα ἀποβάλοιμι· πατρὸς δὲ καὶ μητρὸς οὐκέτι μοι ζωόντων, ἀδελφεὸς ἂν ἄλλος οὐδενὶ τρόπῳ γένοιτο

(3.119.6) . Arist. Rhet. 3.16 § 9 (if you introduce a trait of character which will seem improbable, the reason ofit should be added):

ἂν δ’ ἄπιστον ᾖ, τότε τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπιλέγειν, ὥσπερ Σοφοκλῆς ποιεῖ παράδειγμα τὸ ἐκ τῆς Ἀντιγόνης, ὅτι μᾶλλον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἐκήδετο ἢ ἀνδρὸς ἢ τέκνων· τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἂν γενέσθαι ἀπολόμενα

[this=vv. 909, 910]:

μητρὸς δ’ ἐν ᾅδου κ.τ.λ.

(he then quotes 911 f., with

βεβηκότων

,—a mere slip of memory: ).

mvp-comment-542-2 Three points in these vv. are strange. (1) The gen. abs. κατθανόντος ⁶⁷⁹ πόσις ⁶⁸⁰ ἀπ’ ἄλλου φωτός ⁶⁸¹

mvp-comment-543-1 ἐκπροτιμήσασ’ ⁶⁸²

mvp-comment-544-1 διὰ χερῶν … λαβών ⁶⁸³

mvp-comment-545-1 ἀνυμέναιον ⁶⁸⁴

mvp-comment-546-1 ἀλλ’ ⁶⁸⁵

mvp-comment-546-2 πρὸς φίλων ⁶⁸⁶ ἔρημος ⁶⁸⁷

mvp-comment-547-1 δαιμόνων δίκην ⁶⁸⁸

mvp-comment-548-1 If the gods allow her to suffer for obeying them, is it not vain for her to invoke them?

mvp-comment-548-2 βλέπειν ⁶⁸⁹

mvp-comment-548-3 τίνα … ξυμμάχων ⁶⁹⁰

mvp-comment-548-4 ἐπεί γε δή ⁶⁹¹

mvp-comment-548-5 τὴν δυσσέβειαν ⁶⁹²

mvp-comment-549-1 The gods are allowing her to perish. But it does not follow that they approve of her doom: for they are sometimes slow in punishing wrong ( O. C. 1536 ). Hence the dilemma, introduced

mvp-comment-549-2 by ἀλλ’ οὖν ⁶⁹³

mvp-comment-549-3 ἐν θεοῖς ⁶⁹⁴

mvp-comment-549-4 ξυγγνοῖμεν ⁶⁹⁵

mvp-comment-549-5 ἡμαρτηκότες ⁶⁹⁶ παθόντες ⁶⁹⁷

mvp-comment-550-1 οἵδε ⁶⁹⁸

mvp-comment-550-2 μὴ πλείω ⁶⁹⁹ μείω ⁷⁰⁰

mvp-comment-551-1 ἀνέμων‐ῥιπαὶ ψυχῆς ⁷⁰¹

mvp-comment-552-1 τούτων ⁷⁰²

mvp-comment-552-2 κλαύμαθ’ ⁷⁰³

mvp-comment-552-3 ὕπερ ⁷⁰⁴

mvp-comment-553-1 This threat (to the guards) ‘has come very near to death,’ i.e., ‘portends imminent death for me.’ The phrase is not fig., ‘is bitter as death to hear’ (being a prelude to death).

mvp-comment-554-1 Said by Creon, clearly—not by the Chorus. ‘I can give thee no encouragement ( οὐδέν ⁷⁰⁵

mvp-comment-554-2 the doom is not to be ratified on this wise’ (i.e., by death). μὴ οὐ ⁷⁰⁶

mvp-comment-554-3 κατακυροῦσθαι ⁷⁰⁷

mvp-comment-554-4 ταύτῃ ⁷⁰⁸ τάδε ⁷⁰⁹

mvp-comment-555-1 θεοὶ προγενεῖς ⁷¹⁰

mvp-comment-556-1 δή ⁷¹¹

mvp-comment-556-2 κοὐκέτι μέλλω ⁷¹²

mvp-comment-557-1 οἱ κοιρανίδαι ⁷¹³

mvp-comment-558-1 βασιλειδᾶν ⁷¹⁴ βασιλίδα ⁷¹⁵

mvp-comment-558-2 μούνην ⁷¹⁶

mvp-comment-559-1 εὐσεβίαν ⁷¹⁷ ια ⁷¹⁸ εια ⁷¹⁹

mvp-comment-559-2

εὐγενίας

. The motive was metrical convenience. Such forms are not Ionic, as Triclinius called them (cr. n.): thus Herod. used

ἀληθείη

, not

ἀληθίη

: though there are other cases in which Ionic substitutes

for

ει

(as

βαθέα, ἐπιτήδεος

, etc.).— σεβίσασα ⁷²⁰

mvp-comment-561-1 Acrisius, the father of Danaë, was king of Argos. The oracle at Delphi told him that he was to be slain by his daughter's son. He therefore immured the maiden in a chamber built for that purpose within the precincts of his house at Argos. Here Zeus visited her in the golden rain; she bore Perseus; and Acrisius sent mother and child adrift on the Aegean in a chest; but Zeus heard her prayer, and brought them safely to the island of Seriphus. Both Soph. and Eur. wrote a

Δανάη

: Soph. wrote also an

Ἀκρίσιος

mvp-comment-561-2 καὶ Δανάας δέμας ἔτλα ἀλλάξαι οὐράνιον φῶς ⁷²¹ ἔτλα καί ⁷²²

mvp-comment-561-3 δέμας ⁷²³

mvp-comment-561-4 χαλκοδέτοις αὐλαῖς ⁷²⁴

mvp-comment-562-1 τυμβήρει ⁷²⁵

mvp-comment-562-2 κατεζεύχθη ⁷²⁶

mvp-comment-563-1 τίμιος ⁷²⁷

mvp-comment-564-1 ταμιεύεσκε ⁷²⁸

mvp-comment-564-2 χρυσορύτους ⁷²⁹

mvp-comment-565-1 ἁ μοιριδία τις ⁷³⁰ τις ⁷³¹

mvp-comment-566-1 οὔτ’ … ὄλβος ⁷³²

mvp-comment-566-2

θνατοῖσι δ’ οὐκ αὐθαίρετοι | οὔτ’ ὄλβος οὔτ’ ἄκαμπτος Ἄρης οὔτε παμφθέρσης στάσις, | ἀλλ’ ἐπιχρίμπτει νέφος ἄλλοτ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλαν | γαῖαν ἁ πάνδωρος αἶσα.

mvp-comment-566-3 πύργος ⁷³³

mvp-comment-566-4 οὔτ’ … οὔτ’ ⁷³⁴ οὐ … οὐχ ⁷³⁵

mvp-comment-567-1 ζεύχθη ⁷³⁶

mvp-comment-567-2 ὀξύχολος ⁷³⁷

mvp-comment-567-3 The

Ἠδωνοί

, or

Ἠδῶνες

( Thuc. 2.99 ), occupied in historical times the part of Thrace E. of the Strymon and W. of the Nestus. In earlier times they had dwelt further west, but had been driven eastward by the Macedonian conquest of Mygdonia.

mvp-comment-567-4 Dionysus, when he came from Asia with his new rites, was opposed by Lycurgus in Thrace, as by Pentheus at Thebes. The

Λυκούργεια

of Aeschylus is known from the schol. on Ar. Th. 135. This trilogy consisted of

Ἠδωνοί, Βασσαρίδες, Νεανίσκοι

, with

Λυκοῦργος

as satyric drama. In Il. 6.130 ff. Dionysus, pursued by Lycurgus, dives beneath the sea; Thetis receives him; and Zeus blinds Lycurgus.

mvp-comment-568-1 κερτομίοις ὀργαῖς ⁷³⁸ ὀργαῖς ⁷³⁹ κερτομίοις ⁷⁴⁰

mvp-comment-569-1 ἐκ Διονύσου ⁷⁴¹

mvp-comment-569-2 πετρώδει … δεσμῷ ⁷⁴²

mvp-comment-569-3 κατάφαρκτος ⁷⁴³

mvp-comment-570-1 οὕτω ⁷⁴⁴

mvp-comment-570-2 ἀνθηρόν ⁷⁴⁵

mvp-comment-570-3 ἀποστάζει ⁷⁴⁶

mvp-comment-571-1 ἐπέγνω τὸν θεόν, μανίαις ψαύων ⁷⁴⁷

mvp-comment-571-2 μανίαις ⁷⁴⁸

mvp-comment-571-3 ψαύων ⁷⁴⁹

mvp-comment-571-4 ἐν ⁷⁵⁰

mvp-comment-571-5 γλώσσαις ⁷⁵¹

mvp-comment-572-1 παύεσκε ⁷⁵²

mvp-comment-572-2 ἐνθέους γυναῖκας ⁷⁵³

mvp-comment-572-3 εὔιον … πῦρ ⁷⁵⁴

mvp-comment-573-1 Μούσας ⁷⁵⁵

mvp-comment-573-2 save the nymph by changing her into a vine; and behind him stand his followers. At the extreme left are three Muses—Urania, with globe; Clio, with roll; Euterpè, prob. with flutes. (Zoega seems clearly right in thus explaining the three women: others have made them Moirae.)—The close relation of Dionysus with the Muses is marked by one of his Attic titles,

Μελπόμενος

( Paus. 1.2.5 ), as conversely Apollo had the title

Διονυσόδοτος

(id. 1. 31.4). Muses were sometimes said to have nursed him. (Cp. Welcker, Götterl. 2. 611.)

mvp-comment-573-3 The monuments relating to the myth of Lycurgus have been critically treated by Michaelis ( Annal. Inst. 1872, pp. 248— 270). The Italian vase-paintings follow a version different from that of Soph. , viz. that the frenzy of Lycurgus was wreaked on his own son and wife. A large Neapolitan vase gives two pictures: in one, we see his murderous rage; in the other, Dionysus sits on his throne in calm majesty, stroking his panther.

mvp-comment-574-1 Cleopatra is the third example. Her father was the wind-god, Boreas: her mother, the Athenian Oreithyia, whom he carried off to his wild home in Thrace. Cleopatra married Phineus, king of the Thracian Salmydessus, on the W. coast of the Euxine, not far from the entrance to the Bosporus. She bore him two sons. He afterwards put her away, and imprisoned her. Her imprisonment is not directly mentioned here: but cp. Diod. 4. 44 , who says of Heracles, when serving with the Argonauts,

τὴν Κλεοπάτραν ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς προαγαγεῖν

. Phineus then married Eidothea, sister of Cadmus. Eidothea put out the eyes of Cleopatra's two sons, and caused them also to be imprisoned.

mvp-comment-574-2 It is the fate of Cleopatra herself which Soph. means to compare with Antigone's: this is plain from 986. The fate of the sons is made so prominent only because nothing else could give us so strong a sense of the savage hatred which pursued the mother.

mvp-comment-574-3 Soph. supposes the outline of the story to be familiar. Cleopatra has already been divorced and imprisoned. The poet chooses the moment at which Cleopatra's sons are being blinded by Eidothea, with the sharp shuttle in her blood-stained hands. Ares, the god of cruel bloodshed, beholds with joy a deed so worthy of his Thracian realm.

mvp-comment-574-4 The name of Cleopatra (like that of Capaneus, 133) is not mentioned. Two strophes are given to this theme, partly, perh., as having an Attic interest (982). Soph. wrote two plays called

Φινεύς

. We know only that Cleopatra's sons were there called

Ὄαρθος

Παρθένιος

H. Weil) and

Κράμβος

: and that the subsequent blindness of Phineus was represented as a punishment of his cruelty (schol. Apoll. Rhod. 2. 178). Eidothea was mentioned by Soph. in his

Τυμπανισταί

(schol. on 980),—a play which perh. concerned the Dionysiac worship, since the

τύμπανον

(kettle-drum) was used in his

ὄργια

as well as in those of Cybelè. Another version called her Idaea, daughter of Dardanus.

mvp-comment-574-5 παρὰ δὲ Κυανεᾶν πελάγει δ. ἁλός ⁷⁵⁶ πετρῶν ⁷⁵⁷

mvp-comment-574-6 of

πελαγέων

into

σπιλάδων

is also erroneous.

mvp-comment-574-7 L's accent, πελάγεων ⁷⁵⁸ πελάγει ⁷⁵⁹ παρά ⁷⁶⁰ πελάγει ⁷⁶¹ Κυανεᾶν ⁷⁶²

mvp-comment-575-1 ἀκταὶ Βοσπόριαι ⁷⁶³ Θρῃκῶν ⁷⁶⁴ ἄξενος ⁷⁶⁵ κλῄζεται ⁷⁶⁶ ἠδ’ ⁷⁶⁷

mvp-comment-576-1 ἀγχίπολις Ἄρης ⁷⁶⁸ ἀγχίπτολις ⁷⁶⁹ Ἄρης ⁷⁷⁰ ἀρχαιογόνων ⁷⁷¹

mvp-comment-577-1 Φινεΐδαις ⁷⁷²

mvp-comment-577-2 ἀρατόν ⁷⁷³

mvp-comment-577-3 ἕλκος τυφλωθέν ⁷⁷⁴

mvp-comment-577-4 ἐξ ⁷⁷⁵

mvp-comment-578-1 ἀλαὸν … κύκλοις ⁷⁷⁶

mvp-comment-578-2 ἀλαστόροισιν ⁷⁷⁷

mvp-comment-579-1 ἀραχθέντων ⁷⁷⁸

mvp-comment-579-2 ὑπό ⁷⁷⁹

mvp-comment-580-1 κερκίδων ⁷⁸⁰

mvp-comment-580-2 at the loom, will I send the shuttle flying across the warp’).—Cp. Eur. Hec. 1170 , where the women blind Polymestor with their brooches (

πόρπαι = περόναι

); and O. T. 1269 n.

mvp-comment-581-1 κατά ⁷⁸¹

mvp-comment-581-2 μέλεοι μελέαν ⁷⁸²

mvp-comment-582-1 ματρὸς ἔχοντες ἀν. γονάν ⁷⁸³ γονάν ⁷⁸⁴ ματρός ⁷⁸⁵ ἀνύμφ. ⁷⁸⁶ ματρός ⁷⁸⁷ πάθαν ⁷⁸⁸ ματρὸς … γονάν ⁷⁸⁹

mvp-comment-583-1 σπέρμα ⁷⁹⁰

mvp-comment-583-2 ἀρχαιογ. ⁷⁹¹

mvp-comment-583-3 ἄντασ’ Ἐρ. ⁷⁹²

mvp-comment-584-1 τηλεπόροις ⁷⁹³

mvp-comment-585-1 ἅμιππος ⁷⁹⁴

mvp-comment-585-2 ὀρθόποδος ⁷⁹⁵

mvp-comment-586-1 κἀπ’ ἐκείνᾳ … ἔσχον ⁷⁹⁶ μακραίωνες ⁷⁹⁷

mvp-comment-588-1 ἄνακτες ⁷⁹⁸

mvp-comment-589-1 αὕτη κ. ⁷⁹⁹ πέλει ⁸⁰⁰

mvp-comment-590-1 τί δ’ ἔστιν ⁸⁰¹

mvp-comment-591-1 οὔκουν … γε ⁸⁰²

mvp-comment-591-2 δῑ ὀρθῆς ⁸⁰³

mvp-comment-591-3 ἐναυκλήρεις ⁸⁰⁴

mvp-comment-592-1 πεπονθὼς ὀνήσιμα, ἔχω μαρτυρεῖν ⁸⁰⁵

mvp-comment-593-1 φρόνει βεβώς ⁸⁰⁶

mvp-comment-593-2 τύχης ⁸⁰⁷

mvp-comment-594-1 ὡς ⁸⁰⁸

mvp-comment-595-1 θᾶκον ⁸⁰⁹

mvp-comment-595-2 λιμήν ⁸¹⁰

mvp-comment-596-1 κακῷ ⁸¹¹

mvp-comment-596-2 οἴστρῳ ⁸¹²

mvp-comment-596-3 κλάζοντας ⁸¹³

mvp-comment-596-4 βεβαρβαρωμένῳ ⁸¹⁴

mvp-comment-597-1 ἐν χηλαῖσιν ⁸¹⁵ φοναῖς ⁸¹⁶

mvp-comment-598-1 The feuds and friendships of birds (

ἔχθραι τε καὶ στέργηθρα

Aesch. PV 492 ) were among the signs noted by augurs. In this case there was a vague omen of bloodshed (

φοναῖς

), but no clear sign. The seer now sought further light by another mode of divination.

mvp-comment-598-2 ἐμπύρων ⁸¹⁷

mvp-comment-598-3 ἐγευόμην ⁸¹⁸

mvp-comment-599-1 παμφλέκτοισι ⁸¹⁹ θυμάτων ⁸²⁰

mvp-comment-600-1 Ἥφαιστος ⁸²¹

mvp-comment-600-2 a bad sign, if the fire was smothered in smoke, or played feebly around the flesh without consuming it. See Eur. Phoen. 1255

μάντεις δὲ μῆλ’ ἔσφαζον, ἐμπύρους τ’ ἀκμὰς | ῥήξεις τ’ ἐνώμων, ὑγρότητ’ ἐναντίαν, | ἄκραν τε λαμπάδ’, ἣ δυοῖν ὅρους ἔχει, | vίκης τε σῆμα καὶ τὸ τῶν ἡσσωμένων

: the seers ‘were watching for points of flame, or for breaks in it,—such flickering as portends evil’; i.e., they were watching to see whether it would blaze up or die down. The

ἄκρα λαμπάς

is prob. the highest point of the fire, which, if towards the right side, meant victory; if towards the left, defeat. So Statius, Theb. 10. 599 , where Teiresias offers

ἔμπυρα

, and his daughter reports the signs to him (as the

παῖς

does here):

Sanguineos flammarum apices

ἐμπύρους ἀκμάς

)

geminumque per aras | Ignem, et clara tamen mediae fastigia lucis

ἄκραν λαμπάδα

) |

Orta docet: tunc in speciem serpentis inanem | Ancipiti gyro volvi

(‘as if creeping on its way without an aim, the fire played timidly around the offering’). In Seneca Oed. 307 Teiresias asks,

Quid flamma? Larga iamne comprendit dapes? | Utrumne clarus ignis et nitidus stetit, | Rectusque purum verticem caelo tulit, | An latera circum serpit incertus viae, | Et fluctuante turbidus fumo labat?

mvp-comment-601-1 The fat wrapped about the thigh-bones ought to have caught fire, when the flesh on the bones would have been burned, and the bones themselves calcined. But here there was no flame; the kindled fuel lay in smouldering embers (

σποδός

). The heat caused a fatty moisture to exude from the covering of the thigh-bones. Trickling forth on the embers, this moisture emitted smoke, and sputtered as it threw particles of the fat upwards. The gall-bladder, too, which lay on the top of the thighbones, instead of catching fire, was gradually inflated by the heat, till it burst, scattering the gall into the air. And now the melting of the fat which covered the thigh-bones had gone so far that it was no longer a covering, but merely a liquid that was streaming off them, while they themselves were left naked and intact. So utterly had the gods refused the offering.

mvp-comment-601-2 μυδῶσα ⁸²²

mvp-comment-601-3 κηκὶς μηρίων ⁸²³

mvp-comment-601-4 ἐτήκετο ⁸²⁴ ἐπὶ σποδῷ ⁸²⁵

mvp-comment-601-5 ἀνέπτυε ⁸²⁶

mvp-comment-602-1 χολαί ⁸²⁷

mvp-comment-602-2 καταρρυεῖς ⁸²⁸

mvp-comment-603-1 μηροί … μηρίων ⁸²⁹

mvp-comment-603-2 καλυπτῆς ⁸³⁰

mvp-comment-603-3 πιμελῆς ⁸³¹ ἐξέκειντο ⁸³²

mvp-comment-604-1 τοιαῦτα ⁸³³

mvp-comment-604-2 ὀργίων μαντεύματα ⁸³⁴ φθίνοντα ⁸³⁵

mvp-comment-604-3 ἀσήμων ⁸³⁶

mvp-comment-605-1 ἡγεμών ⁸³⁷

mvp-comment-606-1 ἐκ ⁸³⁸

mvp-comment-606-2 φρενός ⁸³⁹

mvp-comment-606-3 νοσεῖ ⁸⁴⁰

mvp-comment-607-1 βωμοί ⁸⁴¹

mvp-comment-607-2 ἐσχάραι ⁸⁴²

mvp-comment-607-3 παντελεῖς ⁸⁴³

mvp-comment-608-1 πλήρεις ⁸⁴⁴ ὑπ’ οἰων. κ. κυνῶν ⁸⁴⁵ βορᾶς τοῦ...Οἰδ. γόνου ⁸⁴⁶ γόνου ⁸⁴⁷ δυσμόρου ⁸⁴⁸ πεπτῶτος ⁸⁴⁹ τοῦ … γόνου ⁸⁵⁰ βορᾶς ⁸⁵¹ τοῦ … γόνου ⁸⁵²

mvp-comment-609-1 κᾆτ’ ⁸⁵³

mvp-comment-609-2 θυστάδας ⁸⁵⁴

mvp-comment-610-1 ὅρνι^ς ⁸⁵⁵

mvp-comment-610-2 εὐσήμους ⁸⁵⁶

mvp-comment-610-3 βεβρῶτες ⁸⁵⁷

mvp-comment-610-4 ἀνδροφθόρου ⁸⁵⁸

mvp-comment-611-1 ἐπεί ⁸⁵⁹

mvp-comment-611-2 ἄνολβος ⁸⁶⁰

mvp-comment-612-1 ἀκεῖται ⁸⁶¹

mvp-comment-612-2 ἀκίνητος ⁸⁶²

mvp-comment-613-1 αὐθαδία ⁸⁶³ ὀφλισκάνει ⁸⁶⁴

mvp-comment-614-1 εἶκε τῷ θανόντι ⁸⁶⁵

mvp-comment-614-2 κέντει ⁸⁶⁶

mvp-comment-615-1 ἐπικτανεῖν ⁸⁶⁷

mvp-comment-616-1 εὖ φρονήσας ⁸⁶⁸

mvp-comment-616-2 μανθάνειν δ ⁸⁶⁹

mvp-comment-616-3 εἰ … λέγοι ⁸⁷⁰ ἥδιστον ⁸⁷¹

mvp-comment-617-1 ὥστε ⁸⁷² σκοποῦ ⁸⁷³

mvp-comment-618-1 κοὐδὲ μαντικῆς ⁸⁷⁴ ἄπρακτος ⁸⁷⁵ μαντικῆς ⁸⁷⁶ α ⁸⁷⁷ μαντικῇ ⁸⁷⁸ ἄπρατος ⁸⁷⁹

mvp-comment-618-2 τῶν δ’ ὑπαὶ γένους ⁸⁸⁰ τῶν ⁸⁸¹

mvp-comment-618-3 refer to ὑμῖν ⁸⁸² μαντικῆς ⁸⁸³ μαντικοῖς ⁸⁸⁴

mvp-comment-618-4 ὑπαί ⁸⁸⁵

mvp-comment-618-5 γένους ⁸⁸⁶

mvp-comment-619-1 ἐξημπόλημαι ⁸⁸⁷ ἐμπεφόρτισμαι ⁸⁸⁸ ἐκπεφόρτισμαι ⁸⁸⁹

mvp-comment-620-1 τἀπὸ Σάρδεων ἤλεκτρον ⁸⁹⁰

mvp-comment-620-2 τἀπὸ ⁸⁹¹

mvp-comment-620-3 Ἰνδικὸν χρυσόν ⁸⁹²

mvp-comment-621-1 οἱ Ζηνὸς αἰετοί ⁸⁹³

mvp-comment-622-1 οὐδ’ ὥς ⁸⁹⁴

mvp-comment-623-1 θεοὺς μιαίνειν ⁸⁹⁵

mvp-comment-623-2 This view seems to do some injustice to the poet's dramatic psychology. I read the words quite differently. The most orthodox Greek piety held that ‘no mortal could pollute the gods.’ See, for example, H. F. 1232. Heracles, having recovered sanity after slaying his children, has covered his face, to hide it from the holy light of the sun. Theseus —who is a type of normal

εὐσέβεια

— makes him uncover, saying,—

τί δ’; οὐ μιαίνεις θνητὸς ὢν τὰ τῶν θεῶν

. The sungod cannot be polluted by a mortal. The idea of religious

μίασμα

was that a mortal had contracted some impurity which disqualified him for communion with the gods. The tainting of an altar cut off such communion by bringing uncleanness to the very place where men sought to be cleansed. Creon excitedly imagines a seemingly worse profanation, and then excuses his apparent impiety by a general maxim which all would admit:—‘no man can pollute the gods.’

mvp-comment-623-3 ‘The sky-throne of Zeus is still more sacred than his altar on earth: if defilement cannot reach him there, much less here.’ The sophism is of the kind with which an honest but stubborn and wrongheaded man might seek to quiet his conscience. Creon reveres Zeus (304): he feels for the majesty of the gods, and refuses to believe that they can honour the wicked (284 ff.). But his religious sense is temporarily confused by his anger.

mvp-comment-624-1 πολλά ⁸⁹⁶

mvp-comment-625-1 καλῶς ⁸⁹⁷

mvp-comment-626-1 ἆρ’ οἶδεν ⁸⁹⁸

mvp-comment-627-1 τί χρῆμα ⁸⁹⁹

mvp-comment-627-2 πάγκοινον ⁹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-628-1 κτημάτων ⁹⁰¹

mvp-comment-628-2 ὅσῳπερ ⁹⁰² μὴ φρονεῖν ⁹⁰³

mvp-comment-629-1 νόσου ⁹⁰⁴ πλήρης ⁹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-630-1 In

ἀντειπεῖν κακῶς, ἀντί

qualifies the whole phrase: i.e., it means, ‘to revile in return,’

ἀντιλοιδορεῖν

, as

ἀντιδρᾶν κακῶς

( O. C. 1191 )=

ἀνταδικεῖν

mvp-comment-631-1 καὶ μήν ⁹⁰⁶ λέγεις ⁹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-632-1 γένος ⁹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-633-1 τὸ δ’ ἐκ τυράννων ⁹⁰⁹ ἐκ ⁹¹⁰

mvp-comment-633-2 αἰσχροκέρδειαν ⁹¹¹

mvp-comment-634-1 ἆρ’ οἶσθα ⁹¹² ἃ ἂν λέγῃς ⁹¹³ ταγούς ⁹¹⁴

mvp-comment-635-1 ἐξ ἐμοῦ ⁹¹⁵

mvp-comment-635-2 ἔχεις σώσας ⁹¹⁶

mvp-comment-636-1 τἀκίνητα διὰ φρενῶν ⁹¹⁷

mvp-comment-637-1 κίνει ⁹¹⁸

mvp-comment-637-2 μόνον δέ ⁹¹⁹

mvp-comment-637-3 ἐπὶ κέρδεσιν ⁹²⁰

mvp-comment-638-1 οὕτω γὰρ ἤδη ⁹²¹ τὸ σὸν μέρος ⁹²² καί ⁹²³

mvp-comment-639-1 ἴσθι ὡς μὴ ἐμπ. ⁹²⁴ ὡς ⁹²⁵

mvp-comment-639-2 φρένα ⁹²⁶

mvp-comment-640-1 ἀλλ’ εὺ= γέ τοι ⁹²⁷

mvp-comment-640-2 μη … τελῶν ⁹²⁸ ἥλιον τελεῖν ⁹²⁹ κάτισθι ⁹³⁰ τελῶν ⁹³¹

mvp-comment-640-3 τρόχους ⁹³² τροχους ⁹³³

mvp-comment-640-4 ἁμιλλητῆρας ⁹³⁴

mvp-comment-641-1 ἐν οἷσι ⁹³⁵

mvp-comment-641-2 τῶν σῶν … ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα ⁹³⁶

mvp-comment-642-1 νέκυν νεκρῶν ⁹³⁷ ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει ⁹³⁸

mvp-comment-643-1 ἀνθ’ ὧν ⁹³⁹

mvp-comment-643-2 ἔχεις βαλὼν κάτω τῶν ἄνω ⁹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-644-1 Bothe, omitting τε ⁹⁴¹ ψυχήν ⁹⁴² τῶν ἄνω ⁹⁴³ τῶν ἄνω ⁹⁴⁴ τῶν ἄνω … ψυχήν ⁹⁴⁵ ψυχήν τ’ … κατῴκισας ⁹⁴⁶ ἀνθ’ ὧν ⁹⁴⁷ τῶν ἄνω ⁹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-644-2 ἀτίμως ⁹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-645-1 ἔχεις δέ ⁹⁵⁰ τῶν κάτωθεν θεῶν ⁹⁵¹ νέκυν ⁹⁵²

mvp-comment-645-2 ἄμοιρον ⁹⁵³

mvp-comment-645-3

κ. θεῶν

with

ἄμοιρον

: ‘without a portion in the gods below,’ i.e., not admitted to communion with them. But the phrase is a strange one; and the leading thought here is that the

νέρτεροι

are robbed of one who belongs to them.

mvp-comment-645-4 ἀκτέριστον ⁹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-645-5 ἀνόσιον ⁹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-646-1 ὧν ⁹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-646-2 βιάζονται ⁹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-647-1 τούτων ⁹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-647-2 λωβητῆρες ⁹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-647-3 ὑστεροφθόροι ⁹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-648-1 λοχῶσιν ⁹⁶¹

mvp-comment-648-2 Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν ⁹⁶²

mvp-comment-648-3 ληφθῆναι ⁹⁶³

mvp-comment-649-1 κατηργ. ⁹⁶⁴ οὐ μακρ. χρόν. τριβή ⁹⁶⁵ φανεῖ ⁹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-650-1 The πόλεις ⁹⁶⁷ συνταράσσονται ⁹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-650-2 It has been objected that the play contains no hint of burial having been denied to any one except Polyneices. This is not exactly the case: the phrase

τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά

in v. 10 is such a hint. But it was unnecessary for the poet to state a fact which all his hearers would assume. Every one knew how Creon had refused burial to the Argives, and how Theseus had recovered their corpses by force of arms. In the Supplices of Eur. the Chorus consists of widows and mothers of the unburied warriors. No Athenian exploit was more famous ( Her. 9.27 ; Isocr. Paneg. § 52 , Encom. Helen. § 31, Panath. § 168; Plat. Menex. 244 ; [Lys. ] or. 2 §§ 4 ff. : [Dem. ] or. 60 §§ 7 ff. ). The war of the Epigoni, which was included in the epic Thebais ( Paus. 9. 9 § 5), was dramatised both by Aesch. and by Soph. (

Ἐπίγονοι

mvp-comment-650-3 Just as, in the O. C. (1410 n.), Soph. glances at the theme of his Antigone, so here he might naturally glance—however indirectly—at a later chapter of the Theban story,—whether his Epigoni already existed, or was still in the future. Dramatically, the reference is the more fitting, since the legend represented Teiresias as still living, and still zealous for Theban welfare, when the Epigoni came.—For other views of the passage, see Appendix.

mvp-comment-651-1 ὅσων ⁹⁶⁹ ὅσων ⁹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-651-2 L's καθήγνισαν ⁹⁷¹ καθήγισαν ⁹⁷² καθήγνισαν ⁹⁷³ καθήγισαν ⁹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-651-3 of

καθήγισαν

here. The Schol. read the latter (

μετὰ ἄγους ἐκόμισαν

). But the fact that L has

καθήγνισαν

must be set against these doubtful testimonies.—For the irony, cp. El. 1487

πρόθες | ταφεῦσιν, ὧν τόνδ’ εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν

(as Gorgias called vultures

ἔμψυχοι τάφοι

λονγιν. π. ὕψους

3 § 2): Aesch. Th. 1020

ὑπ’ οἰωνῶν ... | ταφέντ’ ἀτίμως

: Ennius Ann. 142

volturu' crudeli condebat membra sepulcro:

Lucr. 5. 993

viva videns vivo sepeliri viscera busto.

mvp-comment-652-1 ἑστιοῦχον … πόλιν ⁹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-653-1 σου ⁹⁷⁶ ἀφῆκα ⁹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-653-2 θυμῷ ⁹⁷⁸ καρδίας τοξεύματα ⁹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-654-1 ὦ παῖ ⁹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-655-1 τρέφειν ⁹⁸¹

mvp-comment-655-2 ἡσυχωτέραν ⁹⁸² ω ⁹⁸³ αι ⁹⁸⁴ αι ⁹⁸⁵ ω ⁹⁸⁶ ω ⁹⁸⁷ αι ⁹⁸⁸ αι ⁹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-656-1 τὸν νοῦν … τῶν φρενῶν ἀμείνω ⁹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-656-2 φέρει ⁹⁹¹ τῶν φρενῶν ⁹⁹² ἀμείνω ⁹⁹³ ἢ ⁹⁹⁴ ὧν ⁹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-657-1 ἐξ ὅτου ⁹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-657-2 λευκὴν … ἐκ μελαίνης ⁹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-657-3 ἀμφιβάλλομαι ⁹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-658-1 μὴ ⁹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-658-2 λακεῖν ¹⁰⁰⁰

mvp-comment-659-1 ἔγνωκα ¹⁰⁰¹

mvp-comment-660-1 For τε … δέ ¹⁰⁰² δέ ¹⁰⁰³ τ ¹⁰⁰⁴ τε … τε ¹⁰⁰⁵ τε … δέ ¹⁰⁰⁶ δέ ¹⁰⁰⁷

mvp-comment-661-1 ἄτῃ πατάξαι ¹⁰⁰⁸ θυμὸν ¹⁰⁰⁹ ἀντιστάντα ¹⁰¹⁰

mvp-comment-661-2 ἐν δεινῷ πάρα ¹⁰¹¹ πάρα ¹⁰¹² ἓν δεινοῦ πέρα ¹⁰¹³

mvp-comment-662-1 The question between L's λαβεῖν ¹⁰¹⁴ Κρέον ¹⁰¹⁵

mvp-comment-663-1 κατώρυχος ¹⁰¹⁶

mvp-comment-664-1 I read the impers. δοκεῖ ¹⁰¹⁷ δοκεῖς ¹⁰¹⁸ δοκεῖς ¹⁰¹⁹

mvp-comment-664-2 παρεικαθεῖν ¹⁰²⁰

mvp-comment-665-1 συντέμνουσι … τοὺς κ. ¹⁰²¹

mvp-comment-665-2 ποδώκεις ¹⁰²²

mvp-comment-665-3 βλάβαι ¹⁰²³

mvp-comment-665-4 κακόφρονας ¹⁰²⁴

mvp-comment-666-1 μόλις μέν ¹⁰²⁵

mvp-comment-666-2 ἐξίσταμαι καρδίας ¹⁰²⁶

mvp-comment-666-3 τὸ δρᾶν ¹⁰²⁷

mvp-comment-666-4 δυσμαχητέον ¹⁰²⁸

mvp-comment-667-1 ἐπ’ ἄλλ’. τρέπε ¹⁰²⁹

mvp-comment-668-1 ὡς ἔχω ¹⁰³⁰

mvp-comment-668-2 στείχοιμ’ ἄν ¹⁰³¹

mvp-comment-668-3 ἴτ’ ἴτ’ ¹⁰³² εἶ’ ¹⁰³³

mvp-comment-669-1 οἵ τ’ ὄντες οἵ τ’ ἀπόντες ¹⁰³⁴

mvp-comment-669-2 ἀξίνας ¹⁰³⁵

mvp-comment-670-1 ἐπόψιον ¹⁰³⁶

mvp-comment-671-1 ἐγὼ δ’ ¹⁰³⁷ ἐπιστράφη ¹⁰³⁸ τῇδ’ ¹⁰³⁹

mvp-comment-672-1 αὐτός τ’ ἔδησα ¹⁰⁴⁰

mvp-comment-673-1 δέδοικα μὴ … ᾖ ¹⁰⁴¹ τοὺς καθεστ. νόμους ¹⁰⁴²

mvp-comment-673-2 σῴζοντα … τὸν βίον τελεῖν ¹⁰⁴³

mvp-comment-675-1 πολυώνυμε ¹⁰⁴⁴

mvp-comment-675-2 Καδμείας ¹⁰⁴⁶

mvp-comment-675-3 ἄγαλμα ¹⁰⁴⁷

mvp-comment-675-4 νύμφας ¹⁰⁴⁸ βαρυβρεμέτα ¹⁰⁴⁹

mvp-comment-676-1 The traditional reading, Ἰταλίαν ¹⁰⁵⁰

mvp-comment-676-2 The only worthy rival of

Ἰταλίαν

is the conjecture Ἰκαρίαν ¹⁰⁵¹ Ἰταλίαν ¹⁰⁵²

mvp-comment-677-1 παγκοίνοις ¹⁰⁵³

mvp-comment-677-2

πάγκοινον ἐς χώραν

(Olympia).

mvp-comment-677-3 κόλποις ¹⁰⁵⁴

mvp-comment-677-4 Ἐλευσι^νίας ¹⁰⁵⁵ ι^ ¹⁰⁵⁶

mvp-comment-678-1 Βακχεῦ ¹⁰⁵⁷ ὦ ¹⁰⁵⁸ ὁ ¹⁰⁵⁹ ματρόπολιν ¹⁰⁶⁰

mvp-comment-678-2 ματρόπολιν ¹⁰⁶¹

mvp-comment-679-1 L has ὑγρὸν … ῥέεθρον ¹⁰⁶² ὑγρῶν … ῥεέθρων ¹⁰⁶³ ῥεῖθρον ¹⁰⁶⁴ ὑγρόν ¹⁰⁶⁵ παρά ¹⁰⁶⁶ ῥεῖθρον ¹⁰⁶⁷ ὑγρόν ¹⁰⁶⁸

mvp-comment-679-2 Ἰσμηνοῦ ¹⁰⁶⁹

mvp-comment-680-1 ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δρ. ¹⁰⁷⁰

mvp-comment-681-1 The general sense is: ‘and on the heights of Parnassus thou holdest thy revels by night amid the Corycian Nymphs, who brandish torches.’

mvp-comment-681-2 διλόφου πέτρας ¹⁰⁷¹

mvp-comment-681-3 By ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας ¹⁰⁷²

mvp-comment-681-4 λιγνύς ¹⁰⁷³ στέροψ ¹⁰⁷⁴

mvp-comment-681-5 ὄπωπε ¹⁰⁷⁵

mvp-comment-681-6 Κωρύκιαι … Νύμφαι ¹⁰⁷⁶

mvp-comment-681-7 The simple transposition, στείχουσι νύμφαι ¹⁰⁷⁷

mvp-comment-682-1 Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα ¹⁰⁷⁸

mvp-comment-683-1 καί σε Νυσαίων ¹⁰⁷⁹

mvp-comment-684-1 κισσήρεις ὄχθαι ¹⁰⁸⁰

mvp-comment-684-2 for the fact was noticed in antiquity (schol. on Aratus Phaenom. 33). Thus Pind. P. 1. 64

ὄχθαις ὕπο Ταϋγέτου

: Eur. Suppl. 655

Ἰσμήνιον πρὸς ὄχθον

.—The

κισσός

was to Dionysus what the

δάφνη

was to Apollo. The crowning with ivy (

κίσσωσις

) was a regular incident of his festivals: he was called

κισσεύς, κισσοκόμης, κισσοχαίτης

. Cp. Alciphron Epist. 2. 3 § 10

μὰ τὸν Διόνυσον καὶ τοὺς Βακχικοὺς αὐτοῦ κισσούς

. F. 3. 767

hedera est gratissima Baccho.

mvp-comment-685-1 πολυστάφυλος ¹⁰⁸¹

mvp-comment-685-2 πέμπει ¹⁰⁸²

mvp-comment-686-1 The words ἀμβρότων ἐπέων ¹⁰⁸³

mvp-comment-686-2 εὐαζόντων ¹⁰⁸⁴

mvp-comment-687-1 τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν ¹⁰⁸⁵ τάν ¹⁰⁸⁶ ἐκ ¹⁰⁸⁷ ὑπερτάταν ¹⁰⁸⁸

mvp-comment-688-1 κεραυνίᾳ ¹⁰⁸⁹

mvp-comment-689-1 ἔχεται ἐπὶ βιαίας νόσου ¹⁰⁹⁰ ὑπό ¹⁰⁹¹ ἔχεται ¹⁰⁹² βιαι^ας ¹⁰⁹³ ἀμὰ ¹⁰⁹⁴ πόλις ¹⁰⁹⁵

mvp-comment-689-2 πάνδαμος ¹⁰⁹⁶

mvp-comment-690-1 μολεῖν ¹⁰⁹⁷

mvp-comment-690-2 καθαρσίῳ ¹⁰⁹⁸

mvp-comment-690-3 κλιτύν ¹⁰⁹⁹

mvp-comment-690-4 πορθμόν ¹¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-690-5 στονόεντα ¹¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-691-1 πνειόντων ¹¹⁰² πνειόντων ¹¹⁰³

mvp-comment-691-2 Other conjectures are: (1) ἰὼ πύρπνων ἄστρων χοραγὲ καὶ νυχίων ¹¹⁰⁴ πῦρ πνεόντων χοραγὲ καὶ νυχίων ¹¹⁰⁵ χοραγὲ ἄστρων ¹¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-691-3 originally preceded

χοραγέ

. Neglect of elision is frequent in L: thus, to take one play only, the O. C. supplies these examples: 266

τἀμά· ἐπεὶ

: 694

ἔστιν δὲ οἶον

: 883

τάδε. ὕβρις

: 915

κύρια ὦδε

: 1026

θηρῶντα ἡ τύχη

: 1210

ἴσθι, ἐάνπερ

. The deletion of καί ¹¹⁰⁷ νυχίων ¹¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-691-4 χοράγ’ ἄστρων ¹¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-691-5 νυχίων φθεγμάτων ¹¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-692-1 παῖ Διὸς ¹¹¹¹

mvp-comment-693-1 ὦναξ ¹¹¹²

mvp-comment-694-1 Θυίαισιν ¹¹¹³

mvp-comment-694-2 χορεύουσι ¹¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-695-1 ταμίαν ¹¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-695-2 Ἴακχον ¹¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-697-1 δόμων ¹¹¹⁷ Κάδμου ¹¹¹⁸ πάροικοι ¹¹¹⁹ δόμων ¹¹²⁰

mvp-comment-698-1 οὐκ ἔστι ¹¹²¹ στάντα ¹¹²² στάντα ¹¹²³

mvp-comment-698-2 βίον ¹¹²⁴ ὁποίᾳ ¹¹²⁵

mvp-comment-699-1 μάντις … τῶν καθεστώτων ¹¹²⁶ ἐφεστώτων ¹¹²⁷

mvp-comment-700-1 ὡς ἐμοί ¹¹²⁸

mvp-comment-701-1 σώσας … ἐχθρῶν ¹¹²⁹ δέ ¹¹³⁰ τε ¹¹³¹ λαβών τε ¹¹³² ηὔθυνε ¹¹³³ παντελῆ ¹¹³⁴

mvp-comment-701-2 ηὔθυνε ¹¹³⁵

mvp-comment-701-3 εὐγενεῖ ¹¹³⁶

mvp-comment-702-1 ἀφεῖται πάντα ¹¹³⁷

mvp-comment-703-1 προδῶσιν ¹¹³⁸ προδῶσιν ¹¹³⁹ ἀνδρὸς ¹¹⁴⁰ προδῶσιν ¹¹⁴¹ ἄνδρες ¹¹⁴² ἀνδρός ¹¹⁴³ τὰς γὰρ ἡδονάς ¹¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-703-2 οὐ τίθημι ¹¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-704-1 For

ζῆν, ζών

has been proposed: but the Epic and Ionic

ζώς

does not occur in

mvp-comment-704-2 τοῦτον ¹¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-704-3 ἔμψ. νεκρόν ¹¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-705-1 πλούτει … ζῆ ¹¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-705-2 εἰ βούλει ¹¹⁴⁹ ζῆ ¹¹⁵⁰ σχῆμα ¹¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-706-1 τὸ χαίρειν ¹¹⁵²

mvp-comment-706-2 καπνοῦ σκιᾶς ¹¹⁵³

mvp-comment-707-1 πριαίμην ἀνδρί ¹¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-707-2 πρὸς τὴν ἡδ. ¹¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-708-1 βασιλέων ¹¹⁵⁶ αἴτιοι θανεῖν ¹¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-709-1 φονεύει ¹¹⁵⁸ ὁ κείμενος ¹¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-710-1 αὐτόχειρ ¹¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-711-1 φόνου ¹¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-711-2 ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας ¹¹⁶²

mvp-comment-712-1 ὡς ¹¹⁶³ πάρεστι βουλ. τὰ ἄλλα ¹¹⁶⁴ βουλεύειν ¹¹⁶⁵ τὰ ἄλλα ¹¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-712-2 ὧδ’ ἐχόντων ¹¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-713-1 καὶ μήν ¹¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-713-2 Εὐρυδίκην ¹¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-714-1 κλύουσα παιδός ¹¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-715-1 ὦ πάντες ἀστοί ¹¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-716-1 Παλλάδος προσήγορος εὐγμάτων ¹¹⁷²

mvp-comment-717-1 τυγχάνω τε … καὶ … βάλλει ¹¹⁷³

mvp-comment-717-2 the sound ( cp. 1172 f. n.). For the temporal parataxis with τε … καί ¹¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-717-3 κλῇθρα χαλῶσα πύλης ἀνασπαστοῦ ¹¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-717-4 κλῇθρα ¹¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-717-5 ἀνασπαστοῦ ¹¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-717-6 φθόγγος ¹¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-717-7 οἰκείου ¹¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-718-1 δῑ ὤτων ¹¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-718-2 πρὸς δμωαῖσι ¹¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-718-3 ἀποπλήσσομαι ¹¹⁸²

mvp-comment-719-1 καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ, κοὐδὲν παρήσω ¹¹⁸³ παρὠν ¹¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-720-1 ὧν ¹¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-720-2 ὧν ¹¹⁸⁶ ψεῦσται ¹¹⁸⁷ φανούμεθ’ ¹¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-720-3 ὀρθόν ¹¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-721-1 ποδαγός ¹¹⁹⁰ ἑσπόμην ¹¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-722-1 πεδίον … ἄκρον ¹¹⁹²

mvp-comment-722-2 νηλεές ¹¹⁹³

mvp-comment-723-1 κυνοσπάρακτον ¹¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-724-1 τὸν μέν ¹¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-724-2 ἐνοδίαν θεόν ¹¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-724-3 θεόν ¹¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-724-4 εὐμενεῖς ¹¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-724-5 κατασχεθεῖν ¹¹⁹⁹

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

545. mvp-comment-319-1 ἁγνίσαι τιμῆσαι Schol. Ismene means, Though I shrank from the deed, let me share the glory of it by accepting the consequences.

546. mvp-comment-320-1 ἅ = ταῦτα ὧν. Essay on Language § 35. P. 59. μή, ibid. § 29. p. 48.

548. mvp-comment-321-1 τίς βίος i. e. πῶς ὁ βίος; See Essay on Language § 22. p. 36.

549. mvp-comment-322-1 'Ask Creon. He has your care and duty;' i.e. Creon is more to you than your brother is.

551. mvp-comment-323-1 εἰ γέλωτ᾽ ἔν σοι γελῶ Schneidewin's explanation of this line, It is painful to me to be mocking you, my sister, is out of harmony with the tone of Antigone, although it is true that in this line her bitterness is somewhat softened. Either δή, κεἰ must be read, or εἰ explained as = κεἰ. I have grief enough, I assure you, though I laugh a bitter laugh at thee. Cp. 728, εἰ δ' ἐγὼ νέος = Though I am young: Eur. Or. 484, εἰ δὲ δυστυχεῖ, τιμητέος. See Essay on Language § 28. p. 47.

552. mvp-comment-324-1 ἀλλὰ νῦν Essay on Language § 26. p. 43. Par. E suggests ἐπωφελοῖμ᾽.

554. mvp-comment-325-1 κἀμπλάκω i. e. ἢ σώσω ἐμαυτὴν καὶ ἀμπλάκω.

556. mvp-comment-326-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ . . λόγοις But not without my saying what I said, was this choice made. Ismene would clear herself from the imputation of merely shrinking from the attempt through cowardice, or without laying before her sister the grounds of her own conduct, as she had done supr. 49 ff. She also wishes to remind Antigone of ll. 78, 99, which acquit her of indifference towards the dead. But Antigone only recalls the argument against opposing those in power. Wolff compares Eur. Ion 228, ἐπὶ δ' ἀσφάκτοις μήλοις μὴ πάριτε.

557. mvp-comment-327-1 Your counsel seemed wise to these' (Creon, etc., τοῖς ἐνθάδε), but mine to those (Polynices and the powers below, τοῖς ἐκεῖ). The form of the sentence is accommodated to the latter part of it. If the first part were fully expressed it would be ἐδόκεις ἄν. G. Wolff and Wecklein prefer the reading σὺ μὲν σοί. But the opposition of τοῖς μὲν, τοῖς δέ, is more pointed.

558. mvp-comment-328-1 (1) Ismene reiterates, still feebly, what she had asserted in 536-537. Or (2) 'We are both in equal error,'-you against the state, and I against the dead. The first (1) is best. In either case, Antigone rejoins, You need not trouble yourself to make confessions. You are safe.

559-560. mvp-comment-329-1 ἡ δ᾽ ἐμὴ.. ὠφελεῖν My soul has long been with the dead, to do them service. In these words Antigone may be supposed to say, either (1) From the moment when my resolution was taken, my life has been with the dead, devoted in sacrifice to their aid; cp. supr. 72 and note: or (2) I have long been dead to all the joys of life, and am therefore a fit sacrifice to the service of the dead. So Wecklein. Cp. Shak. Merch. of V. 4. 1, I am a tainted wether of the flock, etc. But the former meaning (1) is alone consistent with the betrothal of Antigone to Haemon.

562. mvp-comment-330-1 τὴν δ᾽.. ἔφυ We learn from this line, and from supr. 499-501, that there had never been much sympathy between Antigone and Creon.

563-564. mvp-comment-331-1 The unfortunate never retain even the reason that was born with them, but lose it in distraction. Ismene intends her excuse to cover Antigone.

564. mvp-comment-332-1 Creon echoes κακῶς πράσσουσιν. You lost your wits when you chose to share the guilt of the wicked. Cp. 536 ff., 558.

566. mvp-comment-333-1 Why, what life that deserves the name could be mine in loneliness apart from her?

567. mvp-comment-334-1 Say not "this maiden." She is no longer here. The word ἥδε remains in the nominative. This often happens when a word is quoted with the article; which, however, is elsewhere omitted in similar cases, as for instance when the word so quoted is the predicate of a sentence. Cp. Plato, Theaet. 164 Β, τὸ δέ γε οὐχ ὁρᾷ οὐκ ἐπίσταταί ἐστιν, εἴπερ καὶ τὸ ὁρᾷ ἐπίσταται, where ἐπίσταται is equally out of construction with ἥδε in this line.

568. mvp-comment-335-1 νυμφεῖα Essay on Language p. 94.

569. mvp-comment-336-1 Ср. О. Т. 1211, 1497-1498, foll.

570. mvp-comment-337-1 Not as their hearts were plighted. Literally, Not in such a way as harmony had been prepared between him and her. Cp. Pind. Pyth. 9.13, ξυνὸν ἁρμόζοισα θεῷ τε γάμον κούρᾳ θ' Ὑψέος εὐρυβία.

571. mvp-comment-338-1 The plural generalizes the expression.

571. mvp-comment-338-2 υἱέσι Dative of the person interested.

572. mvp-comment-339-1 *AN. The MSS. have ΙΣ. But Böckh has given strong reasons for following Aldus in assigning the line to Antigone. The last speech of Creon might well move her to break silence, which she does naturally by resenting the words not for herself, but for Haemon. There is also greater bitterness in this line than in any speech of Ismene. Then, granting that τὸ σὸν λέχος, addressed to Ismene, might mean The marriage you prate of, the words express a much deeper feeling as addressed to Antigone. Outwardly a mere expression of impatience, they convey the only touch of natural feeling which Creon betrays. 574 and 576 are then most naturally given to the chorus. The act of Creon in sacrificing his son's happiness is more solemnly marked when his words are addressed to the coryphaeus. While adhering to this view I am bound to add that some of the best critics prefer the other arrangement of the persons.

577. mvp-comment-340-1 καὶ σοί γε κάμοί Sc. δεδογ μένα: i. e. σὺ μὲν οὕτω δοκεῖς, ἐμοὶ δὲ δέδοκται. We are agreed so far.

577. mvp-comment-340-2 τριβάς Sc. ποιείσθε. Essay on Language §39. p. 74.

578. mvp-comment-341-1 'Henceforth these must be really women, and not left at large;' i. e. They must be treated as women. Cp. l. 484. This reading, although defaced in L, may well be defended against such would-be improvements as εὖ δὲ τάσδε χρὴ | γυναῖκας εἶλαι (Dind.), and εὖ δετὰς δὲ χρὴ | γυναῖκας εἶναι (Seyffert), which are to be condemned, amongst other reasons, for destroying the singleness of the emphasis. Creon, as usual, covers his self-will under the appearance of principle. Cp. Plat. Legg. 1.637, ταχὺ γάρ σου λάβοιτ᾽ ἄν τις τῶν παρ' ἡμῶν ἀμυνόμενος, δεικνὺς τὴν τῶν γυναικῶν παρ' ὑμῖν ἄνεσιν : Ar. Pol. 2. 6. The words indicate that Antigone's going beyond the gate, supr. 18, 19, was an exceptional freedom, consequent on the war. Thus Sophocles is contented with a hint, where Euripides thinks an explanation necessary: Phoen. 89-91.

582. mvp-comment-342-1 The fate of Antigone is sealed, and the chorus moralize over the power of fate and of Zeus, as shown in the continued calamities of the race of Labdacus, and the infatuation ('quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ') of Antigone. The spectator is left free to apply the same reflections to the case of Creon.

582. mvp-comment-342-2 'Calamity is like a storm that stirs the lowest depths and sounds afar. The race once touched is never free. Each generation as it rises is struck down.

582. mvp-comment-342-3 'The house of Labdacus has sorrow upon sorrow. Amidst the ruined grove one root was springing, only to be swept under by the cruel dues of Hades in a frenzy of infatuation.

582. mvp-comment-342-4 Who can restrain the power of Zeus? Unchecked by sleep or age he ever dwells in the light of Olympus. This was and shall be now and evermore, a truth that spareth not the lives of men, whom hope deceives, giving comfort indeed, but also inspiring passionate folly, till disappointment comes, before the man hath seen that he is treading on fire. Wise was he who said that evil seemeth good to one whom God is drawing to perdition. Few are the days of his exemption from that dark lot.

582. mvp-comment-342-5 The 1st strophe opens solemnly with three dactylo-epitritic or Doric lines, which are followed by iambic and trochaic rhythms. The 2nd strophe is logaoedic, with syncope of thesis in ll. 3, 5, 7, 11 a'. β'. ILCCICcl alcl- LullLCClcclcla 10101010 51-1 CLL下CICLI トCICICI CCICCICLI 1101007ID トトー CCCII 100II

582. mvp-comment-342-6 οἶσι .. αἰών Whose life is free from taste of misery. Blessed, because of the rarity of their lot, and because of the unsparing persistence of calamity when it comes to any. For κακῶν ἄγευστος, cp. Ο. Τ. 969, ἄψαυστος ἔγχους.

583. mvp-comment-343-1 θεόθεν The adverb of place supports the metaphor of a storm coming from a certain quarter. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1089, ῥιπὴ Διόθεν.

583-584. mvp-comment-344-1 ἄτας | οὐδὲν ἐλλείπει Cp. l. 2, ff.

585. mvp-comment-345-1 ἔρπον The real subject of this is πᾶσα ἄτη (or τὸ πᾶν ἄτης) implied in the preceding words, the positive being educed from the negative. Calamity stints not, but goes on till it fulfils the number of the race.

586-589. mvp-comment-346-1 ὅμοιον.. πνοαῖς Like as when the billow courses over the darkening deep before fell Thracian blasts from the Euxine sea. Some interpreters make ἔρεβος subj, and οἶδμα obj. of ἐπιδράμῃ, when the darkening wave courses over the main. But οἶδμα elsewhere in Sophocles is not the expanse (aequor) but the swelling of the sea, and ἔρεβος ὕφαλον can hardly be anything else than the nether darkness of the deep. For the accumulation of adjectives, see Essay on Language § 23. p. 37. Seyffert reads ὡς προποντίδος. 589 ff. It rolls from depths below the black tempestuous drift. 591. And the cliffs, returning the shock, groaningly resound.'

586-589. mvp-comment-346-2 δυσάνεμον A sign of tempest, 'Associated with bad winds, because only seen when the wind has been blowing hard on shore. Ventorum vehementiorum comitem.' Musgr. 593, foll. From of old I see with pain' (ὁρῶμαι, ethical middle, Essay on Language § 31. p. 52) 'the calamities of the house of Labdacus accumulating on the calamities of those that are gone; nor does one generation free another, but some god casts them down; nor is there hope of redemption.'

586-589. mvp-comment-346-3 ἀρχαῖα has the stress as suppl. predicate. Essay on Language § 23. p. 38.

595. mvp-comment-347-1 The reading of this line has been much questioned, but the meaning is clear, although it is uncertain what word (whether φθιτῶν or some other) has been supplanted by the unmetrical φθιμένων: which may be due to a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 403. 4, παρὰ τῶν πρότερον φθιμένων ἄτην | ἑτέραν ἐπάγουσαν ἐπ᾿ ἄτῃ.

596. mvp-comment-348-1 γενεὰν γένος There is no distinction of meaning (such as One generation, .. 'The whole race'). Cp. O. C. 27, 28, ἐξοικήσιμος .. οἰκητός.

596. mvp-comment-348-2 ἐρείπει Sc. γενεὰν ἑκάστην. Cp. infra 601, κατ᾽ αὖ νιν, κ.τ.λ.

597. mvp-comment-349-1 οὐδ᾽ ἔχει Nor does the case admit of. Cp. Ο. C. 545, ἔχει δέ μοι ..

597. mvp-comment-349-2 πρὸς δίκας τι.

600. mvp-comment-350-1 ῥίζας Ἀντὶ τοῦ, ὅπερ ἔβλαστεν ἄνω τῆς ῥίζης, Schol. The root, for the plant.

600. mvp-comment-350-2 *ἐτέτατο The Scholiast notes the asyndeton (λείπει ἄρθρον τὸ ὅ): which is expressive and allows viv to be referred to ῥίζας, to which it naturally belongs. And in the reading ῥίζας δ τέτατο, the order of words is questionable. For ἐτέτατο φάος, cp. Phil. 831, αἴγλαν, ἃ τέταται τανῦν. The light is the grace and nobleness of Antigone, and her bright hopes. The conj. θάλος, for which, cp. Pind. Οl. 2. 45, Ἀδραστιδᾶν θάλος, is uncalled for.

601. mvp-comment-351-1 κατ' was rightly restored by Triclinius for κατ' (ⅰ.e. καὶ εἶτα), which had been introduced to avoid the asvndeton. (Schol. ἐάν στίξωμεν κᾷτ᾽ αὖ νιν, οὐδὲν λείπει τῷ λόγῳ.)

602-603. mvp-comment-352-1 ἀμᾷ θερίζει καὶ ἐκκόπτει. ἢ καλύπτει, Schol. The latter is right.

602-603. mvp-comment-352-2 Ας καταμᾶσθαι κόνιν is ‘Το cover oneself with dust,' so, by a poetical inversion, the dust may be said καταμᾶν, To cover, or Sweep out of sight. Essay on Language § 42. р. 80, β.

603. mvp-comment-353-1 λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν Ἐριvús The reasoning of Antigone in 450 ff. seems wild to the chorus, and her conduct shows her to them as possessed with a fatal frenzy. It may be thought strange that κόνις should be retained against a reading which has been so generally ap- proved as κόπις, first suggested by Jortin. But see Essay on Language pp. 92, 93. The grotesque image of Death, or Hades, armed with a bloody chopper or cleaver, however agreeable to the manner of Euripides, or some other poets, has no parallel in the language of Sophocles. And the transition from this concrete imagery to the spirits of fury and madness is, to say the least, awkwardly abrupt. The words λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν Ἐρινύς are most natural if they are added to expand an obscure allusion to the deed which had brought Antigone into danger. And the words φοινία θεῶν τῶν νερτέρων .. κόνις, The deadly dust sacred to the gods below, convey such an allusion not more obscurely than do the words in Tr. 836 ff., δεινοτάτῳ μὲν ὕδρας προστετακὼς φάσματι, κ.τ.λ., express the condition of Heracles in the poisoned robe. Triclinius was therefore not absurd in saying εἰκότως δὲ τὸ κόνις τέθειται. διότι γὰρ ἐκάλυψεν Ἀντιγόνη ἀδελφὸν Πολυνείκην κόνει, διὰ τοῦτο τεθνήξεσθαι ἔμελλε.

604. mvp-comment-354-1 This is suggested by the position of Antigone, whose offence brings swift retribution; but is felt by the spectator to be more applicable to that of Creon.

604-605. mvp-comment-355-1 τίς .. κατάσχοι Essay on Language §36. p. 62. Ср. O. T. 937, and esp. Pind. Οl. 11. 20, 1, ἐμφυὲς οὔτ᾽ αἴθων ἀλώπηξ | οὐδ᾽ ἐρίβρομοι λέοντες διαλλάξαιντο ἦθος.

606. mvp-comment-356-1 Not slumber that brings age to all things.' Cp. Hom. Il. 14. 242, where Sleep says, ἄλλον μέν κεν ἔγωγε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων | ῥεῖα κατευνήσαιμι, καὶ ἂν ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα | Ὠκεανοῦ, ὅσπερ γένεσις πάντεσσι τέτυκται | Ζηνὸς δ' οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε Κρονίονος ἆσσον ἱκοίμην, οὐδὲ κατευνήσαιμ᾽, ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε κελεύοι. For αἱρεῖ, cp. Il. 24.5, οὐδέ μιν ὕπνος ἥρει πανδαμάτωρ: Od. 9. 372, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος ἥρει πανδαμάτωρ. The conjecture of Bamberger, παντοθήρας, is plausible. But for the closeness of the association between Age and Sleep, cp. O. T. 870-871, οὐδὲ λάθα κατακοιμάσει .. οὐδὲ γηράσκει.

607-608. mvp-comment-357-1 The reading adopted involves the simplest change which avoids a breach of metrical rules. Others suppose, the loss of a syllable after θεῶν, reading ἄκοποι for ἀκάματοι, with ἕρπει in the fourth line of the antistrophe. For θεῶν added as a sort of epithet = Divine, cp. supra 454, 369: Ο. Τ. 647 : Αj. 711, θεῶν.. πάνθυτα θέσμια : Phil. 198: also Tr. 1191, Ζηνός. The indefiniteness of this use obviates the objection of Schneidewin, that the months of the Gods are opposed to Zeus, who is generally the orderer of time, as in Hom. Il. 2. 134, Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί. There is possibly, however, in θεῶν some allusion to the heavenly bodies, who, as Plato says, are the ὄργανα χρόνου.

608. mvp-comment-358-1 ἀγήρῳ δὲ χρόνῳ δυνάστας With power whose duration is untouched by age. For the personification of χρόνος, see Essay on Language pp. 81, 82. The reading ἀγήρως seems to be of some antiquity, and is embodied in one of the Scholia.

610. mvp-comment-359-1 αἴγλαν Cp. Hom. Il. 1. 532, ἀπ᾿ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου. The conception of Olympus is here more Homeric than elsewhere in Sophocles. See on O. T. 867, О. С. 1655.

611-612. mvp-comment-360-1 τό τ᾽ ἔπειτα καὶ τὸ μέλλον καὶ τὸ πρίν] Cp. Thuc. 2. 64, § 8.

613. mvp-comment-361-1 The reading οὐδὲν *ἕρπων is to some extent confirmed by the Scholium ση πάμπολις, ὁ κατὰ πᾶσαν πόλιν ἕρπων νόμος, and is the most probable of the emendations of this passage. It has been supposed that οὐδὲν ἔρπει, and also ἐκτὸς ἄτας, have crept in from below; but this stasimon is peculiarly full of verbal echoes. See Essay on Language § 44. p. 76. This principle' (the sovereignty of Zeus) will last the coming time, and the time to come, as well as the time past, never swerving, as it moves onwards, from calamity to the life of mortals in all their cities. Lit. Coming to the life of mortals (a law of every city) in no respect out of the way of calamity. οὐδέν, adverbial.

613. mvp-comment-361-2 βιότῳ, dat. of reference (Essay on Language § 12. p. 18). πάμπολις, universal, i.e. law not of any one state, but embracing all. For ἕρπων ἐκτὸς ἅτας θνατῶν βιότῳ, cp. infra l. 1318: ἐμᾶς.. ἐξ αἰτίας (= ἐκτὸς αἰτίας ἐμοί): Ο. C. 1575, ἐν καθαρῷ βῆναι .. τῷ ξένῳ: Essay on Language § 42. p. 79.

615. mvp-comment-362-1 πολύπλαγκτος There is no clear instance of an active use of πολύπλαγκτος, for in Hom. Il. 13. 308, έξ ἀνέμοιο πολυπλάγκτοιο ἰωῆς, The fartravelled wind, is a probable enough meaning. Cp. Shakespeare's Empty, vast, and wandering air. So here Widely roving' is better than Muchdeceiving.' Cp. infr. 785-786.

617. mvp-comment-363-1 ἀπάτα . . ἐρώτων ἐρώτων is not genitive of object, but of cause: not Disappointment of desire, but De ception through desire. To many, hope is but the deceitfulness of winged desire.

618. mvp-comment-364-1 εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει And it comes to him all at unaware, i. e. The event or calamity comes. For the vague subject, cp. supra 597, οὐδ᾽ ἔχει λύσιν, and note. This is better than Nothing befals him while he is aware. 619. Till his foot be scorched in the hot blaze.' For the insertion of τις in the second clause, cp. Aj. 964, τἀγαθὸν χεροῖν | ἔχοντες οὐκ ἴσασι πρίν τις ἐκ βάλῃ : Τr. 2, 3, ὡς οὐκ ἂν αἰῶν᾽ ἐκμάθοις βροτῶν, πρὶν ἂν θάνῃ τις. Seidler's conj. προσαύρῃ is less good than the reading of L.

620. mvp-comment-365-1 σοφίᾳ Dative of manner. Essay on Language § 14. p. 20, 2.

625. mvp-comment-366-1 πράσσει, SC. ὁ τοιοῦτος, supr. l. 619, τις, l. 623 , τῷδ'. Cp. Aesch. ap. Plat. Rep. 2, p. 380 Α, θεὸς μὲν αἰτίαν φύει βροτοῖς | ὅταν κακῶσαι δῶμα παμπήδην θέλει.

625. mvp-comment-366-2 ὀλιγοστόν ὀλίγιστον has been read, and is possibly the Ist hand of L; see v. rr. But ὀλιγοστός χρόνος may mean a time that is one of few, i. e. one that comes rarely or seldom. πολλοστός in Legg. 10. 896 B, is not small, but many times removed, and has the force of a superlative, as it has also in Phileb. 44 E, where it means minutest.

626-627. mvp-comment-367-1 See Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

628. mvp-comment-368-1 νύμφης had probably been written over μελλογάμου or τάλιδος as a gloss. The words τῆς μελλογάμου νύμφης are omitted in VM¹. This whole expression may have been a gloss on τάλιδος, or on τῆς μελλονύμφου φου infr. 633.

629. mvp-comment-369-1 μόρον Ε. on L. § 16. p. 23.

630. mvp-comment-370-1 ἀπάτας (1) Gen. of cause; or (2) with ὑπερ. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 260.

631. mvp-comment-371-1 μαντέων ὑπέρτερον Better than a seer could tell us. Creon thus vents his impatience at the anticipation of the chorus, and also indicates his scorn of prophecy. Cp. infr. 1034 ff.

632. mvp-comment-372-1 τελείαν ψήφον The fixed, irreversible, decree. Creon means by his first words to exclude hope.

632. mvp-comment-372-2 ἆρα μή Can it be that.., expressing doubt mingled with surprise.

633. mvp-comment-373-1 τῆς μελλονύμφου Objective genitive. Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

633. mvp-comment-373-2 λυσσαίνων · Madly raging; as if opposition to a father could only be accounted for by madness. The word is ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, and is for this reason preferable to the weaker θυμαίνων.

634. mvp-comment-374-1 σοὶ μέν i.e. Whatever we may be to others.

635-765. mvp-comment-375-1 Haemon professes obedience to his father, but with the implied condition that his father commands what is right. Not heeding this, Creon welcomes his general profession, and enlarges on the blessings that follow from obedience in public and private. He urges Haemon to renounce Antigone. Haemon replies by repeating the praise of her which he has heard in the city (Ar. Rhet. 3. 17, ἕτερον χρὴ λέγοντα ποιεῖν.. ὡς Σοφοκλῆς τὸν Αἴμονα ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἀντιγόνης πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ὡς λεγόντων ἑτέρων), and begs his father not to be deaf to all opinions but his own. Creon is impatient at this, and, after an altercation, in which both speakers become exasperated, Creon orders Antigone to be brought for immediate execution, and Haemon breaks away in sullen anger. This episode interposes a necessary pause between the condemnation of Antigone and its results, i. e, between the two chief crises of the action, and assists the main impression by bringing the light of natural affection and common opinion to bear on the situation.

635-636. mvp-comment-376-1 σύ μοι γνώμας ἔχων | χρηστὰς ἀπορθοῖς Sc. ἐμέ. You, having good advice for me, direct me. μοι is in construction with the nearer word.

637. mvp-comment-377-1 No marriage can, if I think rightly, be a more valued prize to me. ἀξίως ἔσται has been changed to ἀξιώσεται. But ἀξιοῦσθαι μείζων φέρεσθαι, To be deemed of more importance to obtain, is an awkward and unauthorized expression and, for the position and emphatic use of the adverb, which is the only difficulty, see Essay on Language § 24. pp. 37, 38, and cp. the adverbial use of ἄξιος in El. 1260 ff., τίς .. ἀξίαν μεταβάλοιτ᾽ ἂν .. σιγὰν λόγων ;

638. mvp-comment-378-1 For μείζων, = τιμιώτερος, cp. Ο. Τ. 776, ἀστῶν μέγιστος τῶν ἐκεῖ.

638. mvp-comment-378-2 φέρεσθαι is in the middle voice.

638. mvp-comment-378-3 σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμένου Than you and your good guidance. The condition is assumed to be inseparable from the subject, as in Plat. Rep. 1. 335 A, τὸν μὲν φίλον ἀγαθὸν ὄντα εὖ ποιεῖν, τὸν δὲ ἐχθρὸν κακὸν ὄντα βλάπτειν.

639. mvp-comment-379-1 οὕτω .. διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν Το be thoroughly imbued with this.

640. mvp-comment-380-1 'In all things to follow your father's judgment.' The image is that of taking up a position behind a leader: i. e. Not to break rank, but to follow in good order. Cp. Plat. Protag. 315 B, (the disciples of Protagoras) εὖ πως καὶ ἐν κόσμῳ . . ἀεὶ εἰς τὸ ὄπισθεν καθίσταντο κάλλιστα.

643. mvp-comment-381-1 τὸν ἐχθρόν 'Their father's enemy.'

646. mvp-comment-382-1 τί .. ἄλλο is governed by the general verbal notion, without distinctly anticipating φῦσαι.

648. mvp-comment-383-1 τὰς φρένας γ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς The reading of Vat. is retained, not as clearly right, but as more probable than later corrections. γε may be supposed to give a strong emphasis to φρένας. Do not lose your wits, whatever you do. And this is rather confirmed by the way in which Haemon echoes the word in l. 683.

650-651. mvp-comment-384-1 ψυχρὸν παραγκάλισμα . . ἐν δόμοις 'Small comfort comes of such a union, of having a bad wife to share one's couch at home.'

653. mvp-comment-385-1 πτύσας Rejecting with abhorrence. Here and in l. 1232, πτύειν seems to imply a gesture of dislike or loathing, directed towards a person or thing. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1192, ἐν μέρει δ' ἀπέπτυσαν | εὐνὰς ἀδελφοῦ.

653. mvp-comment-385-2 ὡσεί τε Αn Epic or Ionic form. See Introd. p. 456.

654. mvp-comment-386-1 The construction is rather μέθες τήνδε τινὶ νυμφεύειν, Leave her for some one to wed, than μέθες τήνδε νυμφεύειν τινί, Leave her to wed some one.

657. mvp-comment-387-1 ψευδή .. πόλει I certainly will not break my word to the state.

658. mvp-comment-388-1 ἀλλὰ κτενῶ The abruptness of the pause helps the incisiveness of Creon's language.

659-660. mvp-comment-389-1 εἰ γὰρ .. γένους For if I fail to bring up orderly those born akin to me, most surely I shall fail with those remote. Creon turns Antigone's nearness of kindred to him into a reason for severity. If he cannot control his kinswoman, how much less can he control the state! Authority begins at home.

659. mvp-comment-390-1 For ἐγγενή φύσει, see Essay on Language § 40. p. 69, and p. 82, B.

661. mvp-comment-391-1 τοῖς .. οἰκείοισιν Neuter. Creon characteristically relies on commonplace maxims.

663. mvp-comment-392-1 The transgressor who either violates the laws. The alternative is thought of after the sentence is begun. νόμους is in two constructions, (1) with ὑπερβάς, (2) with βιάζεται.

664. mvp-comment-393-1 τοὐπιτάσσειν Cp. supr. 485, and note.

664. mvp-comment-393-2 τοῖς κρατύνουσιν νοεῖ The reading of L here is rather more uncommon than the alternative reading, which may notwithstanding be right.

666. mvp-comment-394-1 For the optative, in a perfectly general supposition, see Essay on Language §36. p. 61.

666. mvp-comment-394-2 κλύειν Το obey.

667. mvp-comment-395-1 τἀναντία τὰ μεγαλὰ καὶ ἄδικα.

668-671. mvp-comment-396-1 And of this man (the man who obeys the ruler) I would have no fear but that he would rule nobly, and be a good and willing subject, and if posted near me in the storm of battle, would stand firmly as a staunch and trusty comrade. For the vague reference of the pronoun, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 34. And for δορός .. χειμῶνι, ib.

673. mvp-comment-397-1 αὕτη .. τίθησιν The anacoluthon (for which see Essay on Language p. 65) has been avoided in two ways, (1) by omission of τε, (2) by reading ἠδ' for ἥδ'. This Homericism is defended by comparing ὥσει τε in l. 653. There is slight MS. authority for both these changes (see v. rr.). But strong reasons are required for the introduction of a particle not used elsewhere by Sophocles, and after the regularly balanced τε.. ἠδέ, the asyndeton in the next line would be too abrupt. If any change were necessary, the omission of τ' would be preferable, but the lines are more expressive as they are.

674. mvp-comment-398-1 σὺν μάχῃ δορός Bothe conjectured συμμάχου δορός, The rout of the leagued war. But the reading of the MS. has a more vivid meaning. This, aiding the conflict of the spear, breaks down (the vanquished) into shapeless rout: i. e. Disorder helps with battle to make utter rout. For μάχῃ δορός, see Essay on Language p. 75, and for the accusative τροπάς, ib. § 17. p. 25, etc.

675. mvp-comment-399-1 τῶν δ᾽ ὀρθουμένων Of those who are not routed, but are successful. Opposed to οἱ ἡσσώμενοι implied in τροπάς. Cp. El. 742, ὠρθοῦθ' ὁ τλήμων ὀρθὸς ἐξ ὀρθῶν δίφρων.

677. mvp-comment-400-1 οὕτως.. κοσμουμένοις 'Thus one ought to support one's own decrees.' Thus, viz. as I am doing. For this use of the passive participle, see Essay on Language § 17. p. 25, с. Some would explain the words as masculine, One must defend the cause of the orderly subject. Cp. Thuc. 8. 24, ἐκοσμοῦντο ἐχυρώτερον. But such an immediate application of the γνώμη is less in character than the arbitrary assertion of authority. Cp. Hdt. 1. 100, τὰ δὲ δὴ ἄλλα ἐκεκοσμέατό οἱ.

681. mvp-comment-401-1 The form κεκλίμεθα (supposed from κλίνω) was supported by the authority of Thomas Magister.

683. mvp-comment-402-1 θεοὶ.. ὑπέρτατον Wisdom, whose value is above all possessions in the world, is the Gods gift.' Haemon begins by echoing his father's thought, supr. 648, that sound sense is to be prized most highly, but gently hints that Heaven only knows on which side the true wisdom lies. The reading χρημάτων requires ὑπέρτερον, as in L2.

686. mvp-comment-403-1 μήτ᾽ ἐπισταίμην λέγειν i. e. And may I never bring myself to say it. Cp. Trach. 543. 4, θυμοῦσθαι μὲν οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι | νοσοῦντι κείνῳ πολλά.

687. mvp-comment-404-1 χἀτέρῳ Schol. δυνατὸν δὲ καὶ ἑτέρως καλῶς μεταβουλεύσασθαι. Hence Erfurdt and others conjectured χἀτέρως, χατέρα, χἄτερον. Hermann, retaining χἀτέρῳ, interprets, Another also may have wisdom as well as you: i.e. καλῶς ἔχον, sc. τὸ τῶν φρενῶν. But the context rather suggests καλῶς ἔχον, sc. τὸ λέγειν σὲ μὴ ὀρθῶς λέγειν. 'That you are wrong in what you now say I have no power, and may I never have the skill, to affirm. But it may be that from another's mouth such an assertion were not ungracious.' καί in this case belongs to the whole sentence. See Essay on Language § 25. p. 43. 4.

688. mvp-comment-405-1 σοῦ δ᾽ οὖν πέφυκα is decidedly better than σὺ δ᾽ οὐ πέφυκας, which seems to have been suggested by τὸ γὰρ σὸν ὄμμα δεινόν, κ.τ.λ., in what follows. The true connection is, It is not for me to say that you are wrong, though another might do so. However, as your son, it naturally belongs to me to consider in your interest what men do, or say, or find fault with. For the common citizen does not speak his mind in your presence, but I may freely hear. Haemon winds about his father with all this circumstance before pleading for Antigone under shelter of the common opinion, which he professes to quote in the interest of Creon. The tact shown in this is noticed by Aristotle (Rhet. 3. 17) and by the Scholiast. The reading of A, V pr., V³, σοὶ δ' οὖν πέφυκα, deserves consideration.

690-691. mvp-comment-406-1 τὸ γὰρ .. κλύων For your eye overawes the subject in conversation which will displease you to hear. λόγοις τοιούτοις is dative of the occasion or reason, assisted by the attraction of οἷς. Essay on Language § 14. p. 20.

690-691. mvp-comment-406-2 τὸ γὰρ σόν The order puts an emphasis on σόν, as in O. Τ. 671, τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδ᾽ ἐποικτείρω στόμα.

692. mvp-comment-407-1 ἐμοὶ δ᾽.. τάδε But I may hear all this under shadow (out of the light of your eye). The words ὑπὸ σκότου might equally have been connected with the following line. I hear in secret what is spoken in secret.

694. mvp-comment-408-1 ἀναξιωτάτη Sc. τοιαῦτα παθεῖν.

695. mvp-comment-409-1 ἀπ᾿ ἔργων See Essay on Language § 19. p. 28.

697. mvp-comment-410-1 πεπτῶτ᾽ ἄθαπτον i. e. πεπτώτα καὶ ἄθαπτον ὄντα.

697. mvp-comment-410-2 μήθ'.. μήθ' μή, not oὔ, because ἥτις, κ.τ.λ. = εἰ αὕτη, κ.τ.λ.

700. mvp-comment-411-1 ἐρεμνή Dark, i.e. Fraught with hidden danger. (Cp. ὑπὸ σκότου, supra). The word is used with something of the association of awe and dread attaching to night and darkness. Cp. Hom. Il. 1. 47. ὁ δ᾽ ἤτε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.

701. mvp-comment-412-1 σοῦ πράσσοντος εὐτυχῶς Cp. supra 638, σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμένου.

703. mvp-comment-413-1 πατρὸς θάλλοντος εὐκλείας The good renown of a prosperous sire. Haemon thus gently hints his fear of the effect of the sentence on Creon's reputation in the city.

704. mvp-comment-414-1 ἄγαλμα A cause of glorying or delight. Cp. infra 1115, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα.

704. mvp-comment-414-2 ἢ τί πρὸς παίδων πατρί ; Or what greater ornament (than their own good fame) can children confer upon their father?

705-706. mvp-comment-415-1 Do not, I beseech you, wear one unchanging temper in your breast, and hold that nothing else is right but as you say. τοῦτο is added because of the imperfect correlation of the clauses. See Essay on Language p. 75.

707-709. mvp-comment-416-1 For ὅστις .. οὗτοι, ib. § 20. p. 31.

707-709. mvp-comment-416-2 For the formal distinction of φρονεῖν, γλῶσσαν, ψυχήν, cp. supra 176, ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, and see Essay on Language pp. 92, 3.

710. mvp-comment-417-1 ἄνδρα Ε. on L. § 22. p. 37.

710. mvp-comment-417-2 κεἴ τις ᾖ Ε. on L. § 27. p. 44.

710. mvp-comment-417-3 τὸ μανθάνειν Essay on Language § 21. p. 34-38.

711. mvp-comment-418-1 καὶ τὸ μὴ τείνειν ἄγαν And not to hold too hard. This absolute use of τείνειν is generalized from the examples given below.

713-714. mvp-comment-419-1 Note the antithesis of κλῶνας .. αὐτόπρεμνα. The one save even their branches, the others are destroyed root and branch. For the image, cp. Webster's Appius and Virginia, p. 203. (iii. 3), The bending willow, yielding to each wind, | Shall keep his footing firm, when the proud oak, | Braving the storm, presuming on his root, | Shall have his body rent from head to foot.

715. mvp-comment-420-1 ναὸς .. ἐγκρατῆ πόδα The sheet which has power over the vessel. This is a more poetical and rhythmical expression than the other reading, ναὸς εἴ τις ἐγκρατής, πόδα | τείνας, ὑπείκει μηδέν.

716-717. mvp-comment-421-1 ὑπτίοις.. ναυτίλλεται Upsetting, makes the rest of his voyage with benches overturned. Join κάτω στρέψας. τὸ λοιπόν as in ll. 310, foll., where there is a similar contradictory expression. The omission of the accusative after στρέψας is natural in speaking of so familiar an occurrence as the over-setting of a boat. Essay on Language pp. 73, 98. τὸ πλοῖον, which Hermann reads for τὸ λοιπόν, is hardly a correct synonym for ναῦν or σκάφος.

718. mvp-comment-422-1 ἀλλ᾽.. δίδου Nay, yield. Be not wholly irremovable in anger. Lit. Afford also a removal from anger. This seems to be the best arrangement of this difficult line; i. e. εἰ θυμὸν ἔχεις, ἀλλὰ πεισθῆτι καὶ μεθίστασθαι τοῦ θυμοῦ. The asyndeton is expressive (Essay on Language § 34. P. 58). The reading of LA, ἀλλ᾽ εἶκε θυμῷ, is perhaps due to a false reminiscence of Il. 9.598, εἴξας ᾧ θυμῷ. Seyffert reads θυμῷ .. διδούς.

719-720. mvp-comment-423-1 γνώμη .. πρόσεστι For if any judgment proceed from me (ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ) though younger in years. Cp. Τr. 52, 3, εἰ δίκαιον τοὺς ἐλευθέρους φρενοῦν | γνώμαισι δούλοις; ib. 61, κἀξ ἀγεννήτων ἄρα | μύθοι καλῶς πίπτουσιν.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-1 The real stress is on the last line. The paratactic form of sentence is retained, the sense being, However excellent a thing perfect knowledge is, yet, since it is rare, it is well to take good advice.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-2 πρεσβεύειν] The active of this verb is rare in the metaphorical sense.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-3 πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμης Of knowledge in all things. Essay on Language § 17. p. 24, b.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-4 εἰ δ᾽ οὖν Sc. μή, which is to be assumed from the next clause, where μή has a strong emphasis. For the sentiment, Hermann compares Hesiod, Op. 293, ἐσθλὸς δ᾽ αὖ κἀκεῖνος, ὃς εὖ εἰπόντι πίθηται.

725. mvp-comment-425-1 διπλᾶ is better than διπλῇ, because dwelling merely on the two speeches, and not on their divergence from each other.

726-727. mvp-comment-426-1 And at our age shall we forsooth be schooled by one so juvenile? For the inverted order, see Essay on Language § 26. p. 44: § 41. p. 77.

727. mvp-comment-427-1 For φύσιν, see Essay on Language p. 96.

728. mvp-comment-428-1 μηδὲν τὸ μὴ δίκαιον The combination of the indefinite μηδέν with the definite article is curious, and suggests the idea that μηδέν is adverbial.. But the Scholiast is probably right in explaining the words as equivalent to μηδὲν διδάσκου ὁ μὴ δίκαιόν ἐστί σοι μανθάνειν. Cp. supra 360, οὐδὲν .. τὸ μέλλον. Essay on Language § 22. p. 36. And for emphatic el, ib. § 28. p. 47, supr. 551.

729. mvp-comment-429-1 You ought not to regard differences of time, but rather to face the actual requirements of the case.' τἄργα are not the merits of Haemon, but the truth of his plea.

730. mvp-comment-430-1 What? Is it a "requirement" to fall down and worship rebels? Creon, as usual, represents mercy as submission. ἔργον ἐστί seems to have the same meaning as in σὸν ἔργον, and the like phrases; i.e. ἔργον almost = Duty.

731. mvp-comment-431-1 Nay, I would not bid thee reverence the wicked.

732. mvp-comment-432-1 'Why, is not she possessed by this disease?" viz. τῇ κακίᾳ.

733. mvp-comment-433-1 Not so declare her fellow-citizens in this town of Thebes.

736. mvp-comment-434-1 Is it right, I say, for another than me to rule this land? The reading of L and most MSS, ἄλλῳ.. μοί, (cp. Eur. Ion 1317) is supported by Thom. M. s. v. χρή, and is certainly the durior lectio. But he may have reasoned from a faulty text. See note on l. 681. γε is expressive. For M4 see list of MSS. in the Preface to this edition.

737. mvp-comment-435-1 Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 370, σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ τὸ δήμιον; Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 1. 2,

When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome, | That her wide walls encompassed but one man? | Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, | When there is in it but one only man.

The genitive ἀνδρὸς .. ἑνός is ambiguous between possessive genitive and genitive of content. A city belonging to one man, and A city composed of one man.

738. mvp-comment-436-1 Is not the city counted a possession of the ruler? Essay on Language § 9. p. 12, b.

739. mvp-comment-437-1 A splendid monarch would you make to rule a desert land.

742. mvp-comment-438-1 This line is sometimes printed with a note of interrogation, as if the words διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί were epexegetic of σοῦ.. προκήδομαι. ('Villain, when you are wrangling with your father?') But the connection of the lines in this στιχομυθία is not very close, and the more obvious meaning (Villain, to wrangle with your father!') is more probable.

743-745. mvp-comment-439-1 οὐ γὰρ δίκαια .. οὐ γὰρ σέβεις] Here, as in 730, ἔργον γάρ ἐστι, there is the same tendency to play on the word (κομψεύειν) that was observed in the speeches of the Φύλαξ.

745. mvp-comment-440-1 οὐ.. σέβεις It is not reverence when you trample on the honours of the Gods. Essay on Language § 53. p. 98, с.

751. mvp-comment-441-1 τινά i. e. σέ. Essay on Language § 22. p. 34, 4. Interpreters have avoided taking these words in their obvious meaning as implying a threat, which Haemon all but carries into execution afterwards in ll. 1233-1234. It is true, however, that this intention is less distinctly present to his mind than the conviction that vengeance will come to Creon from the gods and from popular feeling.

752. mvp-comment-442-1 κἀπαπειλών For the participle, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 63, €, b.

753. mvp-comment-443-1 τίς Almost = πῶς. Cp. О. С. 775, τίς αὕτη τέρψις;

756. mvp-comment-444-1 'Woman's minion that you are, mince not your words with me.' The subdued tone of Haemon (εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ', εἶπον ἄν) only adds fuel to the wrath of Creon.

756. mvp-comment-444-2 For the contempt expressed in δούλευμα and μῖσος (760), see Essay on Language pp. 84, 85.

758. mvp-comment-445-1 άληθες See on O. T. 350.

759. mvp-comment-446-1 ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις Reproach and revile me. For the prepositional phrase, cp. El. 108, ἐπὶ κωκυτῷ, and see Essay on Language § 18. p. 27.

765. mvp-comment-447-1 So that you may exhibit your madness to those of your friends who can brook it. θέλουσι, sc. σοὶ μαινομένῳ ξυνεῖναι. There is a strong emphasis on this participle.

767. mvp-comment-448-1 And at his age the spirit, when chafed, is dangerous. Cp. O. C. 751, τηλικοῦτος, οὐ γάμων | ἔμπειρος ..: and for voûs, see Essay on Language p. 93.

768. mvp-comment-449-1 Cp. O. T. 1075, where Oedipus, with similar unconsciousness, says of Jocasta, who has just rushed out, ὁποῖα χρήζει ῥηγνύτω.

770. mvp-comment-450-1 The order of words shows that the chief emphasis is on ἄμφω : Essay on Language § 41. p. 77. Hence καί is to be taken with the whole sentence: ib. § 25. P. 43, 4. Do you really intend to put them both to death?

773. mvp-comment-451-1 ἔρημος.. στίβος Where track of human footstep there is none. The privative ἔρημος is used for the negative by a redundancy like those adduced in Essay on Language § 40. p. 75; and ἔρημος = ἄστειπτος (Phil. 2), so that the expression = Where no track of mortals has been trodden.

775. mvp-comment-452-1 i. e. τοσοῦτον μόνον, ὅσον ἄγος εἶναι. Essay on Language § 39. p. 74. For ἄγος = expiation, see Hesych., ἄγος· ἅγνισμα θυσίας, Σοφοκλῆς Φαίδρα.

776. mvp-comment-453-1 i. e. Lest the whole city might suffer pollution.

780. mvp-comment-454-1 περισσός Bootless. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 383, μόχθον περισσόν. It is characteristic of the time (cp. Thucydides) that the political energy of Creon is combined with scepticism.

781-800. mvp-comment-455-1 Haemon's disobedience to his father, against his own interest, is due to the might of love.

781-800. mvp-comment-455-2 'Never-vanquished love, that layest riches waste, keeping nightly watch in the fair, soft, youthful cheek: love that roamest over seas and findest out the wildest nook! No god, nor any mortal man, escapes thy maddening power. By love the upright mind is drawn to wrong unto its hurt. By love this present strife is kindled between kinsmen. And clearly triumphant is the influence of desire that cometh from the looks of the fair bride - desire that divides empire with the majestic law: so resistlessly doth goddess Aphrodite mock mankind.

781-800. mvp-comment-455-3 This little ode consists of a strophe and antistrophe, of which the scansion is as follows:- CCLトしてし CICCICII CCCICII IICIICCIト(CLトー 5-0-0-ICCICI-

781-800. mvp-comment-455-4 A glyconic quatrain is followed by two choriambic lines, and the strophe ends with a return to the glyconic rhythm. L. 7 admits of being otherwise divided, viz.: CCLCー.

781. mvp-comment-456-1 ἀνίκατε μάχαν Cp. the similar personification of θυμός by Heraclitus, χαλεπὸν θυμῷ μάχεσθαι, ψυχῆς γὰρ ὠνέεται.

782. mvp-comment-457-1 ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις (i. e.

782. mvp-comment-457-2 ἐμπίπτεις κτήμασι.) These words have been variously interpreted and emended. They probably mean, Who fallest upon wealth, i. e. art the destroyer of possessions, ruining worldly fortunes in various ways, as the love of Helen wasted Troy, etc. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 538, foll., Ἔρωτα δὲ τὸν τύραννον ἀνδρῶν |.. πέρθοντα καὶ διὰ πάσας | ἰόντα συμφορὰς | θνατοῖς, ὅταν ἔλθῃ. So, in this instance, Haemon is losing all for love. Others interpret, Desire who makest wealth thy object (Schol. rec.), Love, who by attacking enslavest, or Who makest victims of the wealthy.

783-784. mvp-comment-458-1 ὃς .. ἐννυχεύεις Cp. Milton, L'Allegro, 29, 30, 'Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, | And love to live in dimple sleek.' Love is still figured as an enemy, who keeps nightly watch where he is ready to spring forth armed on the unwary. Pind. Nem. 8. 2, ὥρα .. παρθενηΐοις .. ἐφίζοισι γλεφάροις.

785. mvp-comment-459-1 The poet is thinking of legendary examples, such as Paris, Leander, Anchises, etc.

786. mvp-comment-460-1 σε .. φύξιμος i.e. δύναταί σε φεύγειν. Cp. Hom. h. Ven. 34. 5, τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὐ πέρ τι πεφυγμένον ἔστ᾽ Ἀφροδίτην, | οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων, οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων. But see on 796 ff.

790. mvp-comment-461-1 ἁμερίων ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων The insertion of the preposition, although omitted with θεῶν, is no objection to this reading. See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27: and for ἐπί, with the genitive, meaning In the case of, So far as extends to, cp. Plato, Rep. 3. 406 C, 8.. ἐπὶ .. τῶν δημιουργῶν αἰσθανόμεθα, alib. The force of the preposition and case here is nearer to the original locative sense, = Extending over, 'Quantum hominum genus propagatum extenditur. (Ellendt.)

790. mvp-comment-461-2 ὁ ἔχων Sc. τὸ νόσημα. Wecklein compares ἔχει, he is wounded, with reference to the arrow of love. But this is fanciful.

791-792. mvp-comment-462-1 ἀδίκους.. παρασπᾷς i. e. εἰς ἀδικίαν παρασπᾷς. Drawest awry to wrong. For this proleptic use of the adjective, see Essay on Language § 23. P. 39; § 38. p. 71.

792. mvp-comment-463-1 ἐπὶ λώβᾳ ‘Το their hurt or disgrace.'

794. mvp-comment-464-1 ξύναιμον is an emphatic epithet added by an afterthought (Essay on Language § 23. p. 38) and by hypallage made to agree with the principal word, although more properly belonging to ἀνδρῶν. (Ibid. § 42. p. 80).

795. mvp-comment-465-1 νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργής i. e. ἐναργής ἐστι νικῶσα.

795. mvp-comment-465-2 βλεφάρων ἵμερος The modern poet speaks of love as engendered in the eyes, with gazing fed: the ancients rather spoke of an influence passing from the eye of the beloved (τὸ ἐρωτικὸν ὄμμα, Plat. Phaedr. 253 E) to the soul of the lover. Desire was viewed as an emanation from the object. Hence Plato's account of ἵμερος, Phaedr. 251 Β, C, δεξάμενος γὰρ τοῦ κάλλους τὴν ἀπορροὴν διὰ τῶν ὀμμάτων, ἐθερμάνθη ἢ ἡ τοῦ πτεροῦ φύσις ἄρδεται .. ὅταν μὲν οὖν βλέπουσα πρὸς τὸ κάλλος, ἐκεῖθεν μέρη ἐπιόντα καὶ ῥέοντα, ἃ δὴ διὰ τοῦτο ἵμερος καλεῖται, δεχομένη ἄρδηταί τε καὶ θερμαίνηται, λωφᾷ τε τῆς ὀδύνης καὶ γέγηθεν. This ancient conception, which had a root in language as well as in philosophy, is reflected even in Milton, L'Allegro, 1. 121, With store of ladies, whose bright eyes | Rain influence, though in this case probably with a further allusion to astrology.

796-799. mvp-comment-466-1 τῶν .. θεσμῶν In the counsels of princes holding an equal place with the majesty of law. This seems the best way of taking these words, which have been variously interpreted; e.g. Equal to the laws in power. 'Assessor in the authority of the laws, etc. There is an allusion to Haemon, who, though a prince, has been led to disobey his father, and to disregard the edict of the king. Cp. Hdt. 4. 165, ἐν βουλῇ παρίζουσα. The resolution of the arsis in πάρεδρος is extremely unusual; see Christ's Metrik, § 178; and Arndt suggested ξύνθρονος ἀρχαῖς, 'Assessor with the rule of majesticlaw. But qy. πάρεδρος *ἀρχαῖς, with "πέφευγεν οὐδείς in 786 ff.? (IILUCCICII).

800. mvp-comment-467-1 Wecklein finds here an oxymoron, turning on the opposition of μάχη and παιδιά. She is resistless, though sport is her only weapon. But this is doubtful.

804. mvp-comment-468-1 παγκοίταν.. θάλαμον The chamber where all must lie. The implied contrast between the fate of Antigone and her intended bridal recurs repeatedly throughout the latter part of the play. Supr. 575, Ἅιδης ὁ παύσων τούσδε τοὺς γάμους γάμ ἔφυ: infr. 891, νυμφεῖον : 1205, νυμφεῖον" Αιδου κοίλον.

806-802. mvp-comment-469-1 Antigone bewails her untimely death, and the chorus attempt to console her by pointing to the singularity of her end. She quotes the example of Niobe, who was encrusted with rock. But Niobe, rejoin the chorus, was a Divine Being. Then the maiden bursts into a cry against such vain comfort, and appeals to the forms of nature around Thebes to bear witness to the strangeness of her fate. The tone of the chorus changes to admonition. Thou hast offended against the majesty of law. Some curse, inherited from thy sire, must have led thee on. At last they have touched her, but it is only to aggravate her sorrow. Dire indeed had been the curse upon her parents; and now she is going to be with them, having never tasted any joy. Her brother's seeming success in marriage had been death to him and to her. The chorus reiterate that piety towards her brother should have yielded to authority. Selfwill has been thy ruin. Antigone: 'Friendless, unmourned, uncomforted, I leave the holy light of day. I die unmarried, and no one weeps for me.'

806-802. mvp-comment-469-2 The metres in this commos, ll. 806-833, chiefly logaoedic. and for the most part glyconic, are as follows:- α΄. 806-816, 823-833. 805 luclu IIC1CCI II1CCIC ―トしかしCICLL Anapaests of cho. 817-822, 834-837- β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. 51IC (トートートートー ICCICII にかくCIトトに CICLC- トトロー CCLCICIC 15010し! 이기 5- ἐπ. } Iambic. ひトしレトCCICI- 51110CIRKIICCI CICCートリート ―トしーしトー

806-802. mvp-comment-469-3 The effect produced by the epitrite rhythm in a' 9. β΄ 8, ἐπ. 5, and of the spondees in ß' 6, is especially noticeable.

808. mvp-comment-470-1 νέατον is an adjective. See on Ο. Τ. 155.

810. mvp-comment-471-1 κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις Sc. ὄψομαι φέγγος ἀελίου.

810. mvp-comment-471-2 παγκοίτας is here active='That seals up all in rest.' Essay on Language pp. 98, 101. The metre suggests πάγκοιτος, cp. infr. 828, the corresponding line of the antistrophe.

812-813. mvp-comment-472-1 Ἀχέροντος ἀκτάν Hom. Od. 10. 509, ἔνθ᾽ ἀκτή τε λάχεια: ib. 513, ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσι, κ.τ.λ.

815. mvp-comment-473-1 *ἐπινύμφειος, which Dindorf has restored for ἐπινυμφίδιος, is more probable than ἐπὶ νυμφείοις, although this appears to be supported by the note of the Scholiast, λείπει θύραις ἢ κοίταις.

816. mvp-comment-474-1 Ἀχέροντι As other maidens have been wedded to rivers upon the earth.

820. mvp-comment-475-1 ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα The wages of the sword; i.e. Death given by the sword.

821. mvp-comment-476-1 αὐτόνομος The Scholiast explains this, ἰδίοις αὐτῆς νόμοις χρησαμένη. This is not free from ambiguity; but the true meaning is rather By an ordinance peculiar to your case (ἰδίᾳ τινὶ σεαυτῆς νόμῳ), than In your independence of law, or As being a law to yourself. The chorus nowhere speak with admiration of the independent attitude of Antigone, although they secretly sympathize with her pious motive. The word is used with consciousness of the derivation. The νόμος which is peculiar to Antigone is the privilege of a living death.

823. mvp-comment-477-1 λυγροτάταν In sorriest plight. Supplementary predicate.

824-825. mvp-comment-478-1 τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν Ταντάλου] Our friend far off in Phrygia, Tantalus' daughter.' Sipylus was placed by some in Phrygia, by others in Lydia. (Strabo, 12. p. 571.) Donaldson well remarks that févar is applied to Niobe, because she married Amphion, king of Thebes.

828. mvp-comment-479-1 ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν The conjectural emendation ὄμβροι has been very generally received. But the Highlands of Phrygia are not subject to perpetual showers. It is more natural to think of a snow-capped peak ever running down with moisture from the melting snow. On the general sense thus given to ὄμβρος, see Essay on Language § 52. p. 98. And as she flows down with moisture, the snow leaves her not, but still she wets the ridges of her neck beneath her tearful brow. The position of T' need cause no difficulty. Essay on Language pp. 65,6. It has been observed that the words ὀφρύς and δειράς are equally applicable to a mountain and to a human being. The subj. of τέγγει is not χιών but ὁ Νιόβα.

834. mvp-comment-480-1 It is doubtful whether θειογενής οι θεογεννής (= θεογέννητος) should be read for the unmetrical θεογενής.

836. mvp-comment-481-1 Of the two readings, φθιμένα and φθιμένῳ, both of which are given by L, and were known to the Scholiast, the feminine is more likely to be due to a corrector.

837. mvp-comment-482-1 The words ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν have little point, and being omitted by Aldus (as in A), have never been restored except by Seyffert, who reads μέγα κἀκοῦσαι in l. 836. Those who omit 837, invert the preceding lines for the sake of the paroemiac, and read καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις | ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι. For ἀκοῦσαι, to have said of one, cp. Phil. 1074, ἀκούσομαι μὲν ὡς ἔφυν οἴκτου πλέως.

840. mvp-comment-483-1 *οὐλομέναν The conjecture of Martin. οἰχομέναν (Wunder) also deserves to be considered.

842. mvp-comment-484-1 She first turns from the elders to the city at large; and then, remembering how little sympathy she has had from man, she appeals, like Philoctetes (936 ff.), in a fresh outburst, to the familiar presences' of nature.

843. mvp-comment-485-1 πολυκτήμονες Thebes was proverbially a wealthy city.

844. mvp-comment-486-1 ἰώ Here she breaks into a louder cry.

845. mvp-comment-487-1 ἄλσος The open ground about the city. Cp. Εl. 5, τῆς οἰστροπλῆγος ἄλσος Ἰνάχου κόρης.

847. mvp-comment-488-1 οἷα, like ὀμοιοτάταν in 832, and λυγροτάταν in 823, is supplementary predicate, and equivalent to an adverb.

851. mvp-comment-489-1 Hermann (ed. 1839) was contented to read οὔτε βροτοῖσιν οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν, but remarked that the long anacrusis of the second part of the line, οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν = γάμων κυρήσας is very rare. Qu βροτοῖς, οὔτε τις ἐν νεκροίσιν? But the original line is probably lost.

852. mvp-comment-490-1 Advancing to the utmost verge of daring thou didst fall violently, my daughter, against the lofty throne of Right. ἐκτίνεισ Α.

854. mvp-comment-491-1 βάθρον is here the pedestal on which the image of justice is imagined to rest. Cp. Plat. Phaedr. 254 B, ἰδόντος δὲ τοῦ ἡνιόχου ἡ μνήμη πρὸς τὴν τοῦ κάλλους φύσιν ἠνέχθη. καὶ πάλιν εἶδεν αὐτὴν μετὰ σωφροσύνης ἐν ἁγνῷ βάθρῳ βεβῶσαν, Ο. Τ. 865, νόμοι. . ὑψίποδες.

855. mvp-comment-492-1 πολύ is allowed to pass by Hermann without comment, but has been more recently called in question, partly on the metrical ground that the line should end with a long syllable.

855. mvp-comment-492-2 πολύς is certainly no improvement. On the attempt to give special force to such a general word, see Essay on Language § 51. p. 97.

856. mvp-comment-493-1 But thou art paying some debt of expiation inherited from thy sire.' άθλος is here a task or burden imposed by some higher power, like the labours of Heracles, and is perhaps associated by Sophocles with the derivative ἄθλιος. The combined metaphorical use of ἆθλος and ἐκτίνειν is not too great a stretch of language for Sophocles. Essay on Language p. 105.

857. mvp-comment-494-1 Thou hast touched my saddest thought, the thrice-told tale of my father's sorrow.' Boeckh has cleared up the difficulties of this passage (1) by showing that οἶκτον harmonizes better with the context than οἶτον or οἶκον, and also gives a construction to πότμου: (2) by tracing the derivation of τριπόλιστον from πολίζω = πολέω, which occurs in the compound avναπολίζω : (3) by rightly explaining the dative Λαβδακίδαισιν. See Essay on Language § 13. p. 19. He also points out that μερίμνας is genitive, because the singular is more forcible, and μέριμναν would have suited the metre equally well. The only remaining doubt is the construction of οἶκτον.

857. mvp-comment-494-2 ψαύειν may govern the accusative, as appears from 961. But the change from the genitive to the accusative is still to be accounted for. (1) The word ἔψαυσας was chosen with special reference to μερίμνας. ἔλεξας, or some other general word, would have been sufficient if this had not intervened. Hence the general meaning of the verb (= ἔλεξας) is alone continued. (2) The case is partly governed by the verbal notion in μερίμνας = 8 μεριμνῶ. (3) The tendency of a Greek sentence is to pass from a more special to a more general construction. Essay on Language pp. 64, 5, οἶκτον is to be resumed with πότμου, which is co-ordinate with πατρός. Thou hast harped on what my mind broods over with saddest care, the thrice renewed pity for my father, and for the general fortune of our race, the lot that fell upon the famed Labdacidae. Seyffert thinks that in τριπόλιστον Antigone is thinking of her own ever-deepening grief. But the Scholiast and Boeckh are probably right in explaining the word (like κλεινοῖς) with reference to the widely felt compassion for Oedipus. Cp. O. C. 517, τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον: ib. 597, πᾶς τοῦτό γ' Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ. For τριπόλιστον, cp. Phil. 1238, δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν μ' ἔπη.

861. mvp-comment-495-1 κλεινοῖς is said with bitterness, as in O. T. 1207, κλεινὸν Οἰδίπου κάρα. The dative is used in explanation of ἁμετέρου, Ist as clearer than the genitive with so many genitives preceding; 2nd with an ethical' force; the lot that fell on us. 863. O my mother, to whom marriage was calamity, O my hapless father, who in wedlock with a mother, held guilty intercourse with her from whom he came.' ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται] ‘My mother's calamity in marriage.' λέκτρων is descriptive or distinctive genitive (Essay on Language § 9. p. 12), and the possessive ματρῷαι is joined to λέκτρων ἆται taken as one word. In observing Antigone's tenderness for her mother we are reminded that the plot of the Oedipus Tyrannus was not yet conceived.

865. mvp-comment-496-1 ματρός is objective genitive, after κοιμήματα = ξυνουσίαι, and also descriptive, like γάμοι τέκνων, Ο. C. 945. For the condensed expression κοιμήματά τ᾿ αὐτογέννητ᾽ = τὸ κοιμηθῆναι σὺν ταύτῃ ἐξ ἧς αὐτὸς ἐγεννήθη, see Essay on Language § 43. p. 81, and for the force of αὐτός in composition, ibid. p. 101. The dative ἐμῷ πατρί (Ε. on L. § 13. p. 19, see on l. 861) is occasioned by the adjective; i. e. αὐτογέννητ᾽ ἦν αὐτῷ τὰ κοιμήματα. The nature of constructions in such condensed expressions can only be explained by expanding each phrase into a sentence. The meaning of the passive verbal termination in αὐτογέννητα is extremely indefinite. The other way of taking the words ('Connubium dicit Jocastae cum Oedipo quem ipsa pepererat,' Dind.), although giving a more obvious construction to the dative, has the fatal blemish of making a twofold apostrophe to Jocasta, whereas οἵων implies a reference to both parents, which is much more forcible.

865. mvp-comment-496-2 The Laur. reading δυσμόρῳ is preferable, because of the peculiar significance of κοιμήματα ματρός.

866. mvp-comment-497-1 οἴων is to be immediately referred to κοιμήματα, Such wedlock as gave me birth.

868. mvp-comment-498-1 μέτοικος may possibly have the association of an alien,' because she could not expect to meet with proper burial. But for the generalised meaning of μέτοικος, cp. supr. 852: О. С. 934: infr. 890, μετοικίας.

872-875. mvp-comment-499-1 There is some piety in pious action; but, as towards him who wieldeth it, authority must in no wise be transgressed. A self-determined impulse hath undone thee.' Cp. Phil. 138, τέχνα γὰρ τέχνας ἑτέρας προὔχει | καὶ γνώμα παρ' ὅτῳ τὸ θεῖον | Διὸς σκῆπτρον ἀνάσσεται, where there is a similar ellipse of the antecedent. The meaning is, He who has authority must not suffer authority to be thwarted. This may be made clearer by supplying ἐκείνῳ, as dative of the person interested, for the antecedent to ὅτῳ. He must not have it (i.e. suffer it to be) transgressed.

877. mvp-comment-500-1 Unhappy, I am led the way that is here prepared for me.' Creon has already entered before these words are said. Cp. infr. 933-934. Mm

883. mvp-comment-501-1 ἀοιδὰς .. πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1444-1445, ἡ δέ τοι κύκνου δί· κην | τὸν ὕστατον μέλψασα θανάσιμον γόον | κεῖται φιλήτωρ τοῦδε.

884. mvp-comment-502-1 εἰ χρείη If it were allowed. Ср. О. Т. 1110, εἰ χρή τι κἀμὲ μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω, | πρέσβυ, σταθμᾶσθαι: Ο. C. 1711, πῶς με χρὴ τὸ σὸν τάλαιναν ἀφανίσαι τοσόνδ' ἄχος. This modified use of χρή = One is to, not One must,' is only possible in hypothetical or interrogative sentences.

887. mvp-comment-503-1 ἄφετε This is on the whole more probable than ἄπιτε. The change from the future with οὐκ to the imperative has probably occasioned the corruption of the text.

887. mvp-comment-503-2 χρή This the Scholiast explained by χρήσει, i. e. he read χρῇ. And this is necessary, if τυμβεύειν is read in 888. But τυμβεύσει, the reading of Triclinius, is supported by τυμβεύει in AV³. Whether she must die there, or shall live a buried life in that dark cell. For εἰ .. χρή, cp. Εl. 399, πεσούμεθ', εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι. And for τυμβεύσει, see Essay on Language p. 64 b. The intransitive use of τυμβεύειν occurs nowhere else.

889. mvp-comment-504-1 Creon claims to be pure from the blood of Antigone, because he has altered the doom of stoning (1. 36) to that of immurement, and because of the modicum of food that is to be shut in with her, ὡς ἄγος (1. 775).

890. mvp-comment-505-1 'At all events she shall no longer share the right of dwelling with us in the light of day.'

891-892. mvp-comment-506-1 'O cavernous abode of long imprisonment, at once my bridal-chamber and my tomb.'

896. mvp-comment-507-1 πρὶν .. βίου 'Before my allotted portion of life is spent.' Cp. Il. 4. 170, μοῖραν ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο. For ἐξήκειν, cp. Τr. 147, ἀλλ᾽ ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον | ἐς τοῦθ', ἕως ἄν, κ.τ.λ.

897. mvp-comment-508-1 κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω I do cherish it amongst my hopes.

899. mvp-comment-509-1 κασίγνητον κάρα This must be addressed to Polynices, who is most in the thoughts of the spectators, and is again invoked in the same words in 1.915: not to Eteocles, of whose burial Antigone only knew by hearsay, supr. 23 ff. The difficulty of reconciling this with the following lines has been adduced as one of several reasons for rejecting the passage from l. 900 to l. 928 in whole or in part. The lines 905-912 are apt to appear to modern readers, as they did to Goethe, a blemish in a place which might have been expected to be most carefully finished. The saying, which Herodotus, 3. 119, attributes almost in the same terms to the wife of Intaphernes, would seem from this to have had a wide currency in Ionia-for it is a precarious supposition that either author derived it from the other-and fell in with the natural tendency of Greek life to exalt the bond of brotherhood above all other ties of affection and kindred. The general feeling of the speech is well traced by Seyffert. Antigone, when brought face to face with death, in utter isolation from human sympathy, comes down from the lofty tone she had assumed in her first answer to Creon, and recognizes the simple fact that it was the strength of her affection which impelled her to defy the law. Her love for Poly- nices was wonderful, passing the love that could be felt for a husband or a child. She dilates on this and justifies it by a primitive sophism, which the passage of Herodotus cited above shows to be more in the spirit of the time of Sophocles or of the age preceding him than of any later period. If the Antigone is the earliest of the seven plays (see Introduction), we need not be surprised by an archaism of thought which is much less remarkable than several which occur in Aeschylus. In an early English ballad, called the Douglas Tragedy, a woman interceding for the life of her father, whom her lover would slay, gives the following reason :-'True lovers I can get many a one, | But a father I'll never get more.'

900-901. mvp-comment-510-1 In these lines she is thinking of her father and mother. The libation only had been given to Polynices, who is specially mentioned in the following line. Ll. 900, I could not have been written after O. C. 1756 ff.

903. mvp-comment-511-1 περιστέλλουσα Decking for burial,' and SO also protecting from insult. 904. And certainly those who consider rightly will say I did honour thee. For the dative, see Essay on Language § 13. p. 19. Others take e with ἐτίμησα, but for the stress, it was a real honour,'-cp. the emphatic use of ἄνηρ, Ο. C. 393, and of ὕβρις, ib. 882.

905. mvp-comment-512-1 Feeling the incongruity of saying, If I had lost a child, she says, If I had had children, leaving the further supposition to be implied. Mm2

906. mvp-comment-513-1 κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο Had been wasting in death. Cp. 1. 410, μυδῶν τε σῶμα γυμνώσαντες εὖ.

907. mvp-comment-514-1 βίᾳ πολιτών Cp. supr. 74, 5. Creon is the representative of the State, and the elders in supr. 872 ff. have confirmed his sentence. Antigone is throughout perfectly conscious of the nature of her action, and at this moment she sees more clearly than ever the audacity of it. But even after the impulse has subsided she goes resolutely, though sadly, to her fate.

908. mvp-comment-515-1 νόμου Principle. Cp. supr. ll. 191, 613.

909. mvp-comment-516-1 κατθανόντος Sc. τοῦ πόσεως.

910. mvp-comment-517-1 τοῦδε τοῦ παιδός.

912. mvp-comment-518-1 οὐκ ἔστ᾿ .. ποτέ Although not strictly logical, this is much more touching and expressive than οὐκ ἔσθ' ὅπως ἀδελφὸς ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ, which it has been proposed to substitute here.

916. mvp-comment-519-1 διὰ χερῶν .. λαβών διά lit. = Between. Cp. διαλαμβάνω in Hdt., e.g. 1. 114, ἐκέλευε αὐτὸν τοὺς ἄλλους παῖδας διαλαβεῖν: Plat. Rep. В. 10. p. 615 Ε, τοὺς μὲν διαλαβόντες ἦγον.

918. mvp-comment-520-1 παιδείου τροφῆς The rearing of children. This is censured by Dindorf as unmaidenly: but cp. El. 963-966, καὶ τῶνδε μέντοι μηκέτ᾽ ἐλπίσῃς ὅπως | τεύξει ποτ· οὐ γὰρ ὧδ᾽ ἄβουλός ἐστ᾿ ἀνὴρ | Αἴγισθος, ὥστε σόν ποτ᾿ ἡ κἀμὸν γένος | βλαστεῖν ἐᾶσαι, πημονὴν αὐτῷ σαφή : Eur. Ion 485 ff., ἐμοὶ μὲν πλούτου τε πάρος | βασιλικῶν τ' εἶεν θαλάμων | τροφαὶ κήδειοι κεδνῶν τέκνων, κ.τ.λ. For the active sense of τροφή in the passage last quoted and in the text, see Essay on Language $ 53. p. 98, and cp. El. 1143 ff., οἴμοι τάλαινα τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς | ἀνωφελήτου, τὴν ἐγὼ θάμ᾽ ἀμφί σοι | πόνῳ γλυκεῖ πάρεσχον.

919. mvp-comment-521-1 ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων For the redundant preposition, see Essay on Language §19. p. 28.

920. mvp-comment-522-1 θανάτων, which occurs only in L and M³, is very unlikely to have been changed to θανόντων in the Byzantine period. The latter is therefore probably the authentic reading, and not merely due to conjecture.

921-922. mvp-comment-523-1 ποίαν..; τί χρή ..; The suddenness of these transitions is very expressive of the agitation of Antigone's mind. Her fate leads her even to doubt the providence of the gods, but not to admit that she has done wrong. She will make the admission when death has taught it her, but not before. If her judges are wrong they will suffer too.

922-923. mvp-comment-524-1 ἐς θεοὺς .. βλέπειν Cp. El. 925, μηδὲν ἐς κεῖνόν γ᾽ ὅρα.

923. mvp-comment-525-1 ξυμμάχων ; The partitive genitive expresses with greater emphasis what might have been expressed by the accusative.

923. mvp-comment-525-2 ἐπεί γε δή The momentary doubt about the vindication of right in the world heightens the tragic effect. Cp. Phil. 428, τί δῆτα δεῖ σκοπεῖν; ib. 451, 2, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν, ὅταν | τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν, τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς; Trach. 1266: Aj. 950 ff.

924. mvp-comment-526-1 τὴν δυσσέβειαν The vice of impiety is confused with the blame of impiety, just as ἀρετή sometimes means a reputation for virtue. Cp. Phil. 1443, ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνήσκει βροτοῖς. Εςsay on L. p. 95.

925. mvp-comment-527-1 If, after all, this course of theirs is approved in heaven, when I have suffered I suppose I shall acknowledge my fault. The emphatic position of παθόντες implies, After I have suffered, but not before.' K εγ

927. mvp-comment-528-1 μὴ πλείω κακὰ | πάθοιεν This has actually been interpreted as a prayer of Antigone for her enemies. Others explain it as a warning to them Let them see to it that they do not suffer more. The real meaning is, that she cannot imprecate heavier sufferings on them than they are inflicting on her. Let them suffer, I will not say more, but the same evils which they unrighteously inflict on me. For a curse, similarly half-checked in utterance, with μή. cp. Phil. 961, ὅλοιο μή πω, πρὶν μάθοιμ᾽ εἰ καὶ πάλιν | γνώμην μετοίσεις. To translate this Mayest thou not perish yet, would be a similar mistake to that which has caused the difficulty about the present passage. It is true, however, that Antigone's tone is rather that of one who judges, than of one who condescends to ban her enemies.

927. mvp-comment-528-2 οἴδε Sc. οἱ πολίται. See above, 1.907 and note.

929-930. mvp-comment-529-1 For the addition of αὑταί, see Essay on Language § 40. p. 75, 2, and for ψυχῆς, which is added to soften the metaphor (since the chorus are less bold in an anapaestic than in a purely lyric passage, supr. 137), see ib. 5.

930. mvp-comment-530-1 τήνδε γ' γε gives a natural emphasis to τήνδε, and there is no ground for the conjecture τήνδ' ἐπέχουσιν.

931. mvp-comment-531-1 τούτων, which is genitive of the cause, is not likely to have been interpolated. It is more probable that the second τοι arose from διττογραφία.

933-934. mvp-comment-532-1 θανάτου ἀφίκται This word is nearest death of all that have come. Cp. Thuc. 3. 59, χαλεπώτατον τοῖς ὧδε ἔχουσι λόγου τελευτᾶν, διότι καὶ τοῦ βίου ὁ κίνδυνος ἐγγὺς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. The adverb of place is supplementary predicate; see Essay on Language § 24. p. 40. 935-936. μὴ οὐ follows the rule laid down in Essay on Language § 29. p. 49, 3 a. Böckh and Dindorf, taking a hint from the Scholia, give these lines to the chorus, on the ground that Creon has already withdrawn all hope. But the word κατακυροῦσθαι is characteristic of Creon, who may be thought not unlikely, even superfluously. to have made this final assertion of his will.

938. mvp-comment-533-1 θεοὶ προγενεῖς My divine ancestry, including Cadmus and Harmonia, and their parents. Cp. supr. 199, θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς, and note: Hdt. 2.143, Ἑκαταίῳ . . ἀναδήσαντι τὴν πατριὴν εἰς ἑκκαιδέκατον θεών.

940. mvp-comment-534-1 O royal line of Thebè!' This has usually been explained as an address to the chorus. But Antigone expects no more sympathy from them (least of all if ll. 935-936 are rightly given to the chorus). It is rather an apostrophe to the members of the princely family living and dead, including the θεοὶ προγενεῖς. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 800-802, οἱ τ' ἔσω δωμάτων πλουτογαθῆ μυχὸν νομίζετε | κλῦτε, σύμφρονες θεοί.

941. mvp-comment-535-1 *βασιλειδᾶν is Seyffert's ingenious emendation, based on Hesychius' βασιλείδης· ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως. Ismene is throughout only thought of as a foil for Antigone, and there is no more impropriety in Antigone speaking of herself as the last of her race than in the chorus (supr. 599 ff.) singing of the extinction of the light that was spreading over the last remaining shoot of the Labdacidae.

942. mvp-comment-536-1 πρὸς οἴων ἀνδρῶν As a princess, she speaks with scorn of Creon, who is not of royal birth. The words may also contain an allusion to the ἦθος of his (or the chorus'?) last speech.

944-987. mvp-comment-537-1 The chorus, in the manner of Pindar, moralise on the fate of Antigone through examples drawn from the circle of mythology and legend; and thus suggest the same cold comfort as in their mention of Niobe. The effect of this ode is to repress the excitement and solemnize the thoughts of the spectator. 'Danaë, though of royal lineage, and entrusted with the golden shower, was bound by all-constraining destiny in her brazen cell. 'Bound, too, in a prison of rock, was Lycurgus, who provoked the God. He knew his madness when it was too late. And on the Thracian promontory Phineus sons, blinded by their father's wife (Idothea), bewailed their rejected mother Cleopatra's hapless lot, who, descended from an ancient line, and endowed with swiftness by her divine sire, was notwithstanding overtaken by the long-lived fates.' Danae and Cleopatra were, like Antigone, of royal birth, and, like Antigone, were bound in a living tomb. So also was the son of Dryas, himself a king: and this, in his case, was the penalty of an impetuous and defiant spirit. Sophocles seems to have followed one version of the obscure and variable legend of Phineus, according to which Cleopatra did not die, but was rejected by Phineus for Idothea, and imprisoned in a cave, from which she was afterwards released by Heracles. The sons were blinded by their step-mother. The first strophe and antistrophe are choriambic with an iambic close; the second, logaoedic. The choriambi here were probably chanted slowly, so as to have a weighty, solemn effect. The scheme is as follows: a'. First strophe and antistrophe. IILUCI LUCILー LUCILIITUCICートに IICClluclトー IIICCILUCIトに ICICICI KLCICICI CトートUICIK β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. UCCTCCICCI IICCICCII!یں ILU TUCI くいくいトCICIK Cトートしーーー ―トビトCICIK CÚCCICICICC

944. mvp-comment-538-1 φῶς | ἀλλάξαι 'Το exchange the light' (for gloom), i. e. To lose the light. Cp. Phil. 1262, ἀμείψας ..

944. mvp-comment-538-2 στέγας.

945. mvp-comment-539-1 δέμας Form. This word reminds us of the beauty of Danaë, which increased the pathos of her fate.

945. mvp-comment-539-2 ἐν χαλκοδέτοις αὐλαῖς In a brassbound room. The compound of δέω merely suggests the general notion of confinement (Essay on Language § 55. 3, p. 101), and has nothing to do with the riveting of brazen plates to the walls.

949. mvp-comment-540-1 γενεᾷ τίμιος Because descended from Danaus the grandson of Poseidon.

951. mvp-comment-541-1 ὁ μοιριδία τις δύνασις The mysterious power of fate. For the combination of the article and indefinite pronoun, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 36.

952. mvp-comment-542-1 *ὄλβος is Erfurdt's ingenious and probable correction of ὄμβρος. He compares Bacchylides ap. Stob. Ecl. Phys. 1. 166, θνατοῖσι δ᾽ οὐκ αὐθαίρετοι | οὔτ᾽ ὄλβος οὔτ᾽ ἀκάματος Ἄρης οὔτε πάμφθερσις στάσις.

953. mvp-comment-543-1 Cp. Hor. Od. 2. 16, 21,

Scandit aeratas vitiosa naves | Cura.

ἁλίκτυποι is passive: Sea-beaten.

954. mvp-comment-544-1 κελαιναί The Epic νῆες μέλαιναι: i. e. Looking dark against the sea and sky.

955-957. mvp-comment-545-1 The punishment of Lycurgus was the subject of an Aeschylean trilogy. It was variously related. Sophocles chooses the version of the story that suits his purpose. For the earliest description of the crime, see Il. 6. 130-140.

955. mvp-comment-546-1 ζεύχθη resumes κατεζεύχθη, supr. 947.

955. mvp-comment-546-2 ὀξύχολος The very probable conjecture of Scaliger for ὀξυχόλως.

955. mvp-comment-546-3 παῖς ὁ Δρύαντος So Pind. O1. 8. 31, παῖς ὁ Λατούς.

956. mvp-comment-547-1 κερτομίοις όργαῖς Dative of the cause.

957. mvp-comment-548-1 ἐκ Διονύσου By the will of Dionysus. Cp. infr. 1219.

958-961. mvp-comment-549-1 So dire is the excess of rage that flows from madness. He learned at length that it was in madness that he provoked the God with biting speech.' The emphatic reivos applies the γνώμη to the case of Lycurgus. There is a stress on μανίαις.

959. mvp-comment-550-1 τᾶς μανίας Genitive of derivation, partly governed by ἀπό in comp.

959. mvp-comment-550-2 ἀποστάζει For the metaphorical use, cp. Aesch. Ag. 178, στάζει ἐν θ᾽ ὕπνῳ πρὸ καρδίας | μνησιπήμων πόνος. Others render, trickles away, i.e. comes to nought. But οὕτω is more naturally joined with the adjectives, whose position shows that they are emphatic, than with the verb.

960. mvp-comment-551-1 ἀνθηρόν 'Blooming, and so reaching its height: cp. Tr. 1089, ἤνθηκεν, ἐξώρμηκεν. A fury so over-powering, i.e. Leading inevitably to such calamitous issues.

960. mvp-comment-551-2 ἐπέγνω He recognised afterwards, i.e. when punished.

960. mvp-comment-551-3 μανίαις Dative of manner, expressing the predicate, quasi ἐν μανίαις. Essay on Language $ 14. pp. 20, 21. The v. r. μανίας (acc. plur.) is not so good.

961. mvp-comment-552-1 ψαύων In the rather unusual sense of Tempting, Provoking' (= έρε θίζων, cp. καθάπτεσθαι), and hence used, πρὸς τὸ σημαινόμενον, with the accusative. For the language of this passage, cp. Plat. Polit. 310 D, ἐξανθεῖν παντάπασι μανίαις: ib. 273 D, τελευτώντος δ᾽ ἐξανθεῖ τοῦ χρόνου : Legg. 6. 783 Α, διαπυρωτάτους . . μανίαις : ib. 9. 881 Β, μὴ μανίαις ἐχόμενος. And for the construction of κεῖνος.. θεόν, cp. Pind. Pyth. 8. 12, τὰν οὐδὲ Πορφυρίων μάθεν παρ' αἶσαν ἐξερεθίζων. For ἐν, of the instrument, see Essay on Language § 19. p. 27.

964. mvp-comment-553-1 The Bacchic fire,' i.e. The lighted torches of the Bacchanalian rout. Cp. O. T. 214: Eurip. Bacch. 146.

965. mvp-comment-554-1 Μούσας

Inter Bacchi comites a Diodoro 4. 4, recensentur Musae.

(Musgrave.) They are associated by Plato in the Laws, B. 2, p. 672 C. The Muses are here lovers of the flute, i.e. of the Phrygian orgiastic music.

966-968. mvp-comment-555-1 And hard by Cyanean rocks that divide the seas, are the cliffs of the Bosphorus and the Thracian promontory of Salmydessus, where,' etc. The genitive gives indefiniteness to the notion of place, and παρά implies neighbouring extent.

966. mvp-comment-556-1 πελαγέων, see v. rr., although metrically allowable (πελᾶγεων), is condemned by the vagueness of the meaning and the tautology in πελαγέων .. ἁλός. The ingenious conjecture of Wieseler is therefore adopted. It is confirmed by the gloss πετρῶν. The 1st syllable of Ἄρης is long in arsi supr. 139.

969. mvp-comment-557-1 The lost cretic has been differently supplied: ἄξevos Boeckh, ήτων Meineke. A verb is more wanted, e. g.

969. mvp-comment-557-2 ἵσταται, κλήζεται.

970. mvp-comment-558-1 ἀγχίπτολις Ἄρης This can only mean The War-god whose temple is near the city (of Salmydessus). Cp. Aesch. S. c. T. 501. The details of the legend as accepted by Sophocles are unknown to us, and hence we can hardly judge of the appropriateness of the epithet. The Thracian worship of Ares is well known.

971. mvp-comment-559-1 δισσοῖσι Φινεΐδαις Dative of direct reference depending on τυφλωθέν. Essay on Language § 12. p. 18.

972. mvp-comment-560-1 ἀρατόν Accursed; i.e. Bringing a curse on Phineus and Idothea.

972. mvp-comment-560-2 ἕλκος τυφλωθέν. The blinding wound inflicted.' The 'cognate verb᾽ τυφλωθέν is substituted for ποιηθέν or the like. Essay on Language § 17. p. 25, c.

973. mvp-comment-561-1 ἐξ ἀγρίας δάμαρτος For the preposition, see Essay on Language $ 19. p. 28, 2.

973. mvp-comment-561-2 δάμαρτος Idothea, who had been made the wife of Phineus through the repudiation of Cleopatra. 974- ἀλαὸν ἀλαστόροισιν ὀμμάτων κύκλοις] Sightless (i. e. producing blindness) on the vengeful orbits of their eyes. For the causative use of ἀλαόν, see Essay on Language §. 53. p. 98.

973. mvp-comment-561-3 ἀλαστόροισιν Bringing vengeance,' i. e. Pleading successfully though silently for retribution. The dative is partly dative of place and partly of direct reference. Causing blindness in or to the eyes.

975. mvp-comment-562-1 *ἀραχθέντων Lachmann's conjecture for ἀραχθὲν ἐγχέων. When they were smitten. Another is ἄτερθ' ἐγχέων.

976. mvp-comment-563-1 κερκίδων ἀκμαῖσιν A woman's weapon. The shuttle was sharpened at the point, so as to be inserted between the threads, in order to regulate the density of the web. This process was called κερκίζειν, and the art is named by Plato κερκιστική. Plat. Polit. 282 B, C: Sophist. 226 B: Crat. 388 A.

980. mvp-comment-564-1 κλαῖον ματρός, | ἔχοντες ἀνύμφευτον γονάν This punctuation is preferred to κλαῖον, ματρὸς ἔχοντες ἀνύμφευτον γονάν, simply because the fate of Cleopatra, and not that of the Phineidae, is the chief point of the illustration.

980. mvp-comment-564-2 ἔχοντες ἀνύμφευτον γονάν Having a birth not honoured by wedlock: because their mother's marriage was repudiated, and their legitimacy was therefore not acknowledged. Note the repetition of γονά γονάν in a different sense after yovás in 950.

981. mvp-comment-565-1 And she in lineage reached even unto the ancient race of the Erechtheidae.' Because her mother Orithyia, whom Boreas rapt from the Ilissus (Plat. Phaedr. 229 B), was a daughter of Erechtheus. Qy. ἀρχαιογενήτων?

983. mvp-comment-566-1 τηλεπόροις δ᾽ ἐν ἄντροις The exact meaning of the compound epithet is doubtful. Either (1) Far-piercing,' i. e. Extending far into the mountainside: or (2) Distant, the second part of the epithet being redundant, or merely repeating the notion of a hollow passage implied in ἄντροις, i.e. δι' ὧν τηλόσε πορευόμεθα.

985. mvp-comment-567-1 Βορεὰς ἅμιππος Cp. Ο. Τ. 466, and note. And for ἅμα, Hom. Il. 19.415. Keeping pace with the steed over the steep path of the hill. On the compounds of πούς, see Essay on Language $55. p. 101. ὀρθόπους is literally Raising the foot upright. The second part of the compound is subordinated, but in this connection must have reference to the foot of the climber, and not to the foot of the hill. The words ὀρθόποδος ὑπὲρ πάγου are in construction with the verbal notion in ἅμιππος, sc.

985. mvp-comment-567-2 ἅμα ταῖς ἵπποις τρέχειν δυναμένη.

986-987. mvp-comment-568-1 ἀλλὰ κἀπ᾿ ἐκείνᾳ .. ἔσχον But even on her the long-lived fates laid hold. Cp. Hom. Il. 21. 110, ἀλλ᾿ ἔπι τοι καὶ ἐμοὶ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή. ἐπέχειν is To extend to, and the tmesis gives the preposition a fresh construction with the dative. The Fates are ever-living, and therefore can afford to bide their time.

987. mvp-comment-569-1 ὦ παῖ Antigone is apostrophized after her departure, like Oedipus in Ο. C. 1567, πάλιν σε δαίμων δίκαιος αὔξοι. 988, foll. The coming of Teiresias is the beginning of the περιπέτεια, The change in the spirit of Creon's dream. The external marks of the prophet are noticed more prominently than in the Oedipus Tyrannus. Cp. especially 998-990, with O. T. 371, τυφλὸς τὰ τ᾽ ὦτα, κ.τ.λ., and 444, καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με: 992-995, with Ο. Τ. 436, γονεῦσι δ', οἵ σ᾽ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες. The figure of the blind prophet is more ideal in the Oedipus Tyrannus, and the peculiarity of his position is brought out, in a higher mode of art, with one or two light touches. On the other hand, his sudden and unlooked-for coming suits exactly with the purpose of this drama and the person of Creon.

990. mvp-comment-570-1 αὕτη Essay on Language § 22, p. 35.

992. mvp-comment-571-1 The authority of the seer is here simply asserted and acknowledged. Cp. 1053. In the Oedipus Tyrannus he appears with still higher claims, as a prince, whose honours are guarded by his lord Apollo.

993-994. mvp-comment-572-1 οὔκουν .. ἀπεστάτουν .. ναυκληρεῖς] I have not aforetime departed. ..'You have guided, and still guide.' Cp. Tr. 600, 601. The conjecture ένανκλήρεις is no improvement. The present means, You have hitherto guided safely, and this is not inconsistent with what follows. Cp. Aesch. Agam. 1, αἰτῶ, I have been asking.

994. mvp-comment-573-1 δι᾽ ὀρθῆς Sc. κελεύθου. On a safe and successful course.

995. mvp-comment-574-1 I have experienced benefits, and can bear witness of them. Essay on Language §36. p. 66. There is perhaps an allusion here to the sacrifice of Megareus, which was prompted by the prophecy of Teiresias. But cp. 1058 and note.

996. mvp-comment-575-1 φρόνει, κ.τ.λ. (1) Beware once more, as thou standest now upon an edge of peril. The participle is not to be construed with the verb, but is in apposition to the subject. For φρονεῖν absolute, cp. O. T. 617, φρονεῖν γὰρ οἱ ταχεῖς οὐκ ἀσφαλεῖς : ib. 649, πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τ', ἄναξ, λίσσομαι. Otherwise (2) Know that now again thou standest,' etc. Cp. Trach. 289, φρόνει νιν ὡς ἥξοντα: Phil. 810, σαφῶς φρόνει. The expression ἐπὶ ξυροῦ is proverbial: cp. Il. 10. 173: Eur. H. F. 630.

997. mvp-comment-576-1 ὡς .. στόμα How I shudder at thy speech. ὡs as in l. 82, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου. στόμα has the association of privileged, prophetic utterance, as in Ο. Τ. 426, τοὐμὸν στόμα.

999. mvp-comment-577-1 The οἰωνοσκοπεῖον of Teiresias was shown at Thebes in the time of Pausanias: Paus. 9. 16.

999. mvp-comment-577-2 παλαιόν i. e. consecrated by use from early times.

1000. mvp-comment-578-1 ἵν'.. λιμήν Where I had harbourage for every ominous bird. Essay on Language § 58. p. 105.

1002. mvp-comment-579-1 κλάζοντας Accusative πρὸς τὸ σημαινόμενον, as if ὄρνιθας ἄγνωτα φθεγγομένους had preceded.

1002. mvp-comment-579-2 βεβαρβαρωμένῳ Rendered unintelligible,' Confused. 1003. iv, of the instrument. Cp. supra. 1. 961. φοναῖς, In bloody fray. Dative of manner. Cp. supra, l. 960 .

1004. mvp-comment-580-1 πτερῶν.. ἦν For the whirring of their wings gave no uncertain sound: although their voices did. 1005 ἐγευόμην] By analogy for ἐπειρώμην, I made trial of the divination by burnt sacrifice,' similar to that used in the temple of Ismenus: O. Τ. 21.

1006. mvp-comment-581-1 βωμοῖσι παμφλέκτοισιν At the blazing altar. παν in composition is simply intensive, as in El. 1139: and the epithet is generally descriptive. See Essay on Language § 55. p. 101.

1006. mvp-comment-581-2 ἐκ δὲ θυμάτων 'But from the sacrifice the Fire-god refused to gleam; and on the ash a dank humour dripped from the thigh-bones, and fumed and sputtered, and the gall was sprinkled abroad in air, and the thighs wasted and lay bared of their enclosing fat.

1007. mvp-comment-582-1 For σποδός, cp Ο. Τ. 21: Hdt. 4.35, τῶν μηρίων καταγιζομένων ἐπὶ τῷ βωμῷ τὴν σποδόν.

1009. mvp-comment-583-1 μετάρσιοι is supplementary predicate. The preposition in ἐξέκειντο is emphatic. Cp. Od. 23. 179, ἔνθα οἱ ἐκθεῖσαι πυκινὸν λέχος: Thuc. 4. 129. § 3. ἔτυχον ἐξεστρατοπεδευμένοι ἔξω τῆς πόλεως.

1010. mvp-comment-584-1 καταρρυεῖς is explained to mean Flowing down with moisture,' but means rather Fallen away. Cp. Paus. 10. 2, 6 (L. and S s. ν. καταρρέω 1. 4), νεκροῦ κατερρυηκότος τὰς σάρκας.

1011. mvp-comment-585-1 The apparently active use of καλυπτῆς comes from καλύπτειν, in the sense of placing as a covering, i. e.

1011. mvp-comment-585-2 καλύπτειν πιμελὴν μηροῖς. For the meaning, cp. Aesch. Pr. 496, foll., κνισῇ τε κώλα συγκαλυπτά· καὶ μακρὰν | ὀσφὺν πυρώσας, δυστέκμαρτον ἐς τέχνην | ὥδωσα θνητούς· καὶ φλογωπὰ σήματα | ἐξωμμάτωσα, πρόσθεν ὄντ᾽ ἐπάργεμα.

1013. mvp-comment-586-1 Such failing tokens given by baffling auspices. Lit. Of victims giving no sign. Cp. Ps. 74. 9. We see not our signs; there is no more any prophet. φθίνοντα μαντεύματα are not Prophecies of decay,' but Rites of divination fading away, i. e. losing their virtue. Cp. Ο. Τ. 902, φθίνοντα.. Λαΐου | θέσφατα.

1015. mvp-comment-587-1 τῆς σῆς ἐκ φρενός From thy will. Cp. infr. 1063, ὡς μὴ ᾿μπολήσων ἴσθι τὴν ἐμὴν φρένα.

1016. mvp-comment-588-1 ἐσχάραι τε παντελεῖς And all the number of our sacred hearths. παντελεῖς is little more than πᾶσαι, but expresses that the word ἐσχάραι added to βωμοί comprises every consecrated spot in the whole city. Cp. El. 982, ἔν θ᾽ ἑορταῖς ἔν τε πανδήμῳ πόλει.

1017. mvp-comment-589-1 πλήρεις Infected. Cp. 1052.

1017. mvp-comment-589-2 πλήρης = ἀνάπλεως. Cp. infr. 1052: Phil. 1087-1088, ὦ πληρέστατον αὔλιον | λύπας τᾶς ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ. For the general notion, cp. Webster, Appius and Virg. p. 165, ed. Dyce, Come, you birds of death | And fill your greedy cups with human flesh; | Then to the city fly, disgorge it there | Before the senate, and from thence arise | A plague to choke all Rome. Join ὑπὸ .. βορᾶς, not as some edd. πλήρεις.. βορᾶς. By the act of dogs and birds in feeding, etc. So Ellendt. Cp. infr. 1083.

1021. mvp-comment-590-1 εὐσήμους Giving clear augury, opposed to ἄσημος supra 1013.

1021. mvp-comment-590-2 ἀπορροιβδεῖ Utters noisily. The word is not strictly applicable to the screaming of birds. But there is the same indefiniteness about words expressing sound as about the names of colours. This word, expressing a confused noise, is probably suggested by l. 1004.

1022. mvp-comment-591-1 After feeding on the fatness of human carnage.' On the change from singular to plural, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 65.

1025. mvp-comment-592-1 ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἁμάρτῃ For ἄν omitted, see Essay on. L. § 27. p. 44.

1026. mvp-comment-593-1 ἄνολβος here and in Aj. 1156 (τοιαῦτ᾽ ἄνολβον ἄνδρ᾽ ἐνουθέτει παρών) is a word of blame- Infatuated.'

1029. mvp-comment-594-1 εἶκε τῷ θανόντι Relent towards the dead.

1030. mvp-comment-595-1 ἐπικτανεῖν Το slay a second time.' For the meaning of ἐπί, cp.

1030. mvp-comment-595-2 ἐπεμβάλλω, ἐπιγαμέω, ἐπιπέμπω. For the idea, cp. II. 24. 54: Plat. Rep. 5. 469 D, E. 6 1031. (1) After careful consideration I speak to you with good heed. εὐ, Carefully,' as in O. T. 308, supr. 410, alib. Or (2) εὖ σοι φρ., Meaning well to thee.

1032. mvp-comment-596-1 εἰ κέρδος λέγοι For the optative, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 61, γ, α (1). φέρει or φέροι seems also to be an early reading.

1034. mvp-comment-597-1 ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε The genitive as after ἐφίεσθαι and the like words.

1034-1035. mvp-comment-598-1 κοὐδὲ.. εἰμί And you practise on me with divination too. By a not infrequent inexactness in the use of the Greek passive voice, from πράττειν κατά τινοs, To intrigue against a person, would come πράττεσθαι, 'Το be intrigued against,' and hence ἄπρακτος, Unattempted, Unpractised on, μαντικῆς is gen. of respect after the privative adjective. τὸν πρὸσ σάρδεον Ε. τὸν πρὸ

1035. mvp-comment-599-1 τῶν *ὑπαὶ γένους By whose fraternity, sc. τῶν μαντέων. This is Brunck's emendation, which gives better sense than any other that has been proposed. Creon's heated imagination suggests to him that the whole tribe of prophets and diviners (cp. 1055) have greedily marked him for their prey.

1036. mvp-comment-600-1 I am bartered away long since and turned to gain. Literally, Sold and shipped off. Although ἐμπεφόρτισμαι has the authority of the 1st hand of L, ἐκπεφόρτισμαι is more forcible.

1037. mvp-comment-601-1 *τἀπό Professor Geddes, in his Problem of the Homeric Poems,' p. 168, note 15, prefers ἤλεκτρος as the form of nominative, on analogy of other metals, such as χρυσός, etc., which are masculine. But the general opinion is in favour of ἥλεκτρον neuter, and although τὸν πρὸς Σαρδεῶν is not unmetrical, τᾶπό Σαρδέῶν is preferable here in point of rhythm. Granting that ἤλεκτρος is masculine in late Greek, it is unlikely that Herodotus, 3, 115, would write τὸ ἤλεκτρον, and Sophocles here τὸν .. ἤλεκτρον.

1040. mvp-comment-602-1 βοράν He echoes the word of Teiresias supr. 1017.

1042-1043. mvp-comment-603-1 οὐ μὴ .. παρήσω The future indicative after οὐ μή, as in O. C. 177, οὗ τοι μήποτέ σ᾽ ἐκ τῶνδ᾽ ἑδράνων, ὦ γέρον, ἄκοντά τις ἄξει : Εl. 1052, οὗ σοι μὴ μεθέψομαί ποτε. Cp. Phil. 612, οὐ μή ποτε | πέρσοιεν. In all these places there may be a slight confusion of two constructions. See Essay on Language § 36. p. 62, and for the slight redundancy of expression, which marks Creon's eagerness, ib. § 40. p. 75.

1044. mvp-comment-604-1 'There is no power in man to touch the gods with pollution.' Creon's scepticism (cp. Aesch. Ag. 369-372: Plat. Legg. B. 10) anticipates the Epicurean notion of the Divine Nature, which Nec bene promeritis capitur, neque tangitur ira. Cp. with this and with O. T. 964, foll., Hector's defiance of augury in Il. 12. 237, foll.

1048. mvp-comment-605-1 The sentence, interrupted by Creon's question, is continued in 1050.

1050. mvp-comment-606-1 Wherefore? What means this universal doubt?' πάγκοινον refers to ἀνθρώπων τις.

1052. mvp-comment-607-1 πλήρης Infected. Cp. supr. 1017.

1054. mvp-comment-608-1 λέγεις Sc. κακῶς τὸν μάντιν. Essay on Language § 39. p. 73, 6.

1056. mvp-comment-609-1 τὸ δ᾽ ἐκ τυράννων The mean- ing of the preposition is not to be pressed. It is merely an extension of the familiar metaphor of γένος, Kind for Class. Cobet conj. τὸ δέ γε τυράννων. But not to advert to the broken tribrach in the first place, so unlike the earlier manner of Sophocles, the expression is less forcible. It is like the difference between saying the class of tyrants and the breed of tyrants in English. Cp. Eur. Hec. 254-255, ἀχάριστον ὑμῶν σπέρμ᾽, ὅσοι δημηγόρους | ζηλοῦτε τιμάς. On the γένεσις of the tyrant, see Ο. Τ. 873, ὕβρις φυτεύει τύραννον.

1057. mvp-comment-610-1 The accusative ταγούς is in a double construction with λέγεις and λέγων. The construction of the participle is also twofold: i. e. οἶσθα ταγοὺς ὄντας οὓς λέγεις ἃ ἂν λέγῃς.

1058. mvp-comment-611-1 For you possess this city through saving it by my counsel. ἐξ ἐμοῦ depends partly on ἔχεις and partly on σώσας. The line has been supposed to refer to the self-immolation of the son of Creon by the advice of Teiresias. Eur. Phoen. 918, foll. Cp. supr. 933-935, infr. 1303. But it is not clear that Sophocles has any distinct incident in view. These things are ἔξω τοῦ μυθεύματος, Ar. Poet. 1460 a.

1060. mvp-comment-612-1 τἀκίνητα .. φράσαι Τo utter what ought not to be mooted even in thought.' 1062. (1) These words are generally interpreted as interrogative. Do I really seem in what I have already said to do so in regard to you? i. e. You at least are not likely to reward me for my prophecy. And this is on the whole the most pointed way of taking the words. Wecklein understands them to mean, (2) 'Methinks, so far as you are concerned, I do speak so; i. e. My speech will not bring you gain. In the former case (1) τὸ σὸν μέρος ίς τ. σ. μ. τῆς δοκήσεως: in the latter (2) it is τ. σ. μ. τῶν ἀποβησομένων ἐκ τοῦ λόγου.

1063. mvp-comment-613-1 'I tell thee thou shalt not make traffic of my purposes;' i. e. They shall not be changed so as to bring gain to you, whether it be from me or from others that you look for gain.

1064. mvp-comment-614-1 μή See Essay on Language § 29. p. 49, с.

1065. mvp-comment-615-1 τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου Not many swift courses of the sun; i. e. The days will be short, and few. On the condensation of time in this play, see Introduction. Cp. Milton, Sonnet 7. My hasting days fly on with full career: Shakespeare, Sonnet 60, Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, | So do our minutes hasten to their end; | Each changing place with that which goes before, In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

1065. mvp-comment-615-2 τροχούς would mean, 'Not many turns of the sun's chariot wheel.'

1066. mvp-comment-616-1 ἐν οἷσι The regular construction after the negative would be πρὶν ἀντιδοῦναι: but the sentence takes an affirmative turn, and is continued as if the beginning were ὀλίγαι ἡμέραι ἔσονται .. ἐν ais. Essay on Language § 36. p. 64. Ср. О. С. 617 ff. μυρίας μυρίος | χρόνος τεκνοῦται νύκτας ἡμέρας τ᾿ ἰὼν | ἐν αἷς, κ.τ.λ. δ

1067. mvp-comment-617-1 νεκρῶν ἀμοιβόν For a kindred fancy, cp. Aesch. Agam. 437, ὁ χρυσαμοιβὸς δ' Ἄρης σωμάτων | καὶ ταλαντοῦχος ἐν μάχῃ δορός, κ.τ.λ.

1068. mvp-comment-618-1 ἀνθ᾽ ὧν The antecedent is to be gathered from νεκρῶν in l. 1067.

1068. mvp-comment-618-2 τῶν ἄνω Sc. τινά: i. e. Antigone.

1069. mvp-comment-619-1 ἀτίμως i. e. εἰς ἀτιμίαν. See Essay on Language § 24. p. 40.

1070. mvp-comment-620-1 i.e. ἔχεις δὲ αὐ ἐνθάδε, ἄμοιρον τῶν κάτωθεν θεῶν. On the order of words, see Essay on Language pp. 66, 67.

1071. mvp-comment-621-1 ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον Without funeral rites, and unsanctified. Cp. Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1. 5,

Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled.

1073. mvp-comment-622-1 βιάζονται (1) Sc. οἱ ἄνω θεοί, to whom it was an offence to have a dead body intruded into their realm: or, (2) the gods generally, including θεῶν in 1070, as well as θεοῖσιν in 1072. In support of the former interpretation (1), Mr. Evelyn Abbott has adduced Lys. 2. 7, Ἀδράστου δὲ καὶ Πολυνείκους ἐπὶ Θήβας στρατευσάντων καὶ ἡττηθέντων μάχῃ, οὐκ ἐώντων Καδμείων θάπτειν τοὺς νέκρους, Ἀθηναῖοι ἡγησάμενοι ἐκείνους μέν, εἴ τι ἠδίκουν, ἀποθανόντας δίκην ἔχειν τὴν μεγίστην, τοὺς δὲ κάτω τὰ VOL. I. Nn αὑτῶν οὐ κομίζεσθαι, ἱερῶν δὲ μιαινομένων τοὺς ἄνω θεοὺς ἀσεβεῖσθαι, κ.τ.λ.

1078. mvp-comment-623-1 φανεῖ Sc. ταῦτα, i. e. the truth of 11. 1074-1076. The cry of men and women in thy halls shall declare it ere long. For φαίνω in this sense, cp. O. C. 721, φαίνειν ἔπη. For the ellipse, οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβή, sc. ἐγγενήσεται πρὶν ἂν φήνῃ αὐτό, cp. supr. 1. 577. This is more probable than the other explanation, which is certainly possible, A little while will bring forth lamentations, etc. Some MSS. have τριβή, i.e. τριβῇ.

1079. mvp-comment-624-1 For ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν, cp. Aristoph. Ran. 157, θιάσους εὐδαίμονας | ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν.

1080. mvp-comment-625-1 And all cities are (even now) being stirred up in leagued enmity (to Thebes), whose mangled citizens have found burial in being devoured by dogs, or by wild beasts, or by some winged bird, that bears an unholy savour into a city and its sacred hearths. This is probably intended by Sophocles as a prophecy of the war with the Epigoni, of which the seeds are said to be laid by the abomination of some bird carrying an inauspicious odour home. It is assumed, although not mentioned elsewhere in the play, that the bodies of the allies of Polynices had shared his fate, as there had been no truce for burying the dead. This is part of the legend as appears from the Supplices of Euripides. For the expression, cp. Aesch. S. c. T. 1020, οὕτω πετηνῶν τόνδ' ὑπ᾽ οἰωνῶν δοκεῖ | ταφέντ᾽ ἀτίμως τοὐπι· τίμιον λαβεῖν : Soph. El. 1487, καὶ κτανὼν πρόθες | ταφεῦσιν ὧν τόνδ' εἰκός ἐστι τυγχάνειν: Gorg. ap. Long. 3. 2, γῦπες ἔμψυχοι τάφοι: Shaksp. Macbeth, 3. 4,

Our monuments | Shall be the maws of kites.

1083. mvp-comment-626-1 ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν i. e. Not into the wastes, where such pollution can do no harm, but to a city, where it tends to injure the sacred fire on the public and private hearths, which are the pledge of safety to the citizens. Boeckh objects to the above interpretation of 11. 1080 ff., and supposes them to contain a general maxim pointed at the case of Thebes. Any state is sure to rise in enmity in which a mangled corse has been devoured, etc.

1084. mvp-comment-627-1 Such arrows like a bowman have I launched at you in wrath, for you provoke me, arrows that pierce the heart and fasten there, whose smart you will not escape.' He echoes ll. 1033, foll. καρδίας is objective genitive after the verbal notion in τοξεύματα.

1090. mvp-comment-628-1 τὸν νοῦν.. τῶν φρενῶν The spirit of his thoughts. Cp. γνώμη φρενῶν, Ο. Τ. 524: infr. 1228, τίνα | νοῦν ἔσχες;

1091. mvp-comment-629-1 βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας The stress is on the participle, as in 246 supra, θάψας βέβηκε.

1092-1093. mvp-comment-630-1 ἐξ ὅτου.. τρίχα Since I have been crowned with these locks, once dark, which now are white with age. The expression is condensed by prolepsis, so that the phrase λευκὴν ἐκ μελαίνης, which, if the thought had been regularly developed, would have been added in apposition, has the place of an attribute.

1094. mvp-comment-631-1 μὴ .. λακεῖν μή is preferred to οὐ because of the abstract generality of the statement, which is also the reason of an implied precept not to disobey the seer. Cp supr. 1064 and note.

1096. mvp-comment-632-1 'But by resistance to bring the stroke of calamity upon one's soul is an alternative which presents a terrible aspect.' ἄτῃ = πρὸς ἄτην. Ε. on L. § II. p. 18. The words ἐν δεινῷ πάρα have been questioned by Nauck, but nothing better has been substituted; and the phrase is supported by the analogy of ἐν καλῷ El. 384, ἐν ὁμοίῳ, Thuc. 2. 53.

1098. mvp-comment-633-1 Κρέον, the reading of most of the later MSS, is not improbable, λαβεῖν οι λακεῖν of L. having come in accidentally from 1094. λαβεῖν, which Seyffert had conjectured, gives a kind of sense, and so does τάχα of E. But neither is satisfactory. The true reading is possibly lost.

1100. mvp-comment-634-1 The chorus think of first saving the living and then burying the dead: but Creon's superstition once awakened drives him to the opposite course. Infr. 1197 ff.

1103-1104. mvp-comment-635-1 συντέμνουσι .. βλάβαι For the swiftly coming harms of the gods suddenly overtake (or 'make short work with') the evil-minded. συντέμνειν, in the generally neuter or absolute sense of To come quickly on, here acquires a new construction with the accusative. Essay on Language § 16. p. 23. Cp. Hdt. 5. 41, τοῦ χρόνου συντάμνοντος, i.e. Adpropinquante, instante tempore.

1105. mvp-comment-636-1 I find it hard indeed, but yet I wrench my soul from her place to do this thing. Cp. Plat. Rep. 10. 607 E, βίᾳ μέν, ὅμως δ᾽ ἀπέχονται.

1106. mvp-comment-637-1 τὸ δρᾶν For the article with epexegetic inf., cp. O. T. 1418, τὸ πράσ· σειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν.

1107. mvp-comment-638-1 ἐπ᾿ ἄλλ. τρ. i. e. ἐπίτρεπτε ἄλλ.

1108. mvp-comment-639-1 ἴτ' τ' This reading, which ap- pears only in the text of Triclinius, is more probable than any other, the broken tribrach being excused by the agitation of Creon.

1109. mvp-comment-640-1 οἵ τ᾿ ὄντες οἵ τ᾿ ἀπόντες ὄντες = παρόντες, as in El. 305, τὰς οὔσας τέ μου | καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ἐλπίδας διέφθορεν.

1110. mvp-comment-641-1 εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον To the place in view. Polynices was exposed on the highest part of the plain, and this may have been represented in outline as part of the scenery.

1111. mvp-comment-642-1 For the personification of δόξα, cp. Ο. Τ. 911, δόξα μοι παρεστάθη, and see Essay on Language pp. 91, 92, 105.

1112. mvp-comment-643-1 αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καί For the sake of emphasis, what would naturally be expressed by the participle is made into a coordinate sentence with the finite verb. Cp. Ο. Τ. 413, σὺ καὶ δέδορκας κού βλέπεις ἵν' εἶ.. Ε. on L. p. 68.

1115. mvp-comment-644-1 In the excitement of a desperate hope caused by the late repentance of Creon, the chorus break forth into a joyous invocation to Dionysus, accompanied with dancing or gesticulation, as appears in comparing the similar canticle in Aj. 693, where the chorus are under the excitement of a similar delusive expectation. Cp. Tr. 205-224. The Dionysiac worship, of which the tragic poet is a votary, is associated with the mystic hopes which Creon denied, supr. 780.

1115. mvp-comment-644-2 Glory of Semele, child of Zeus, Thou that tendest Campania And rulest in Eleusis' mystic vale, Dwelling, where thy votaries dwell, In Thebes by Ismenus' waters, Presiding o'er the dragon's brood: Seen o'er the forked height By the pitchy flame, Where move the Bacchic nymphs of Corycus, Where is the Castalian fount: And ushered on thy way to visit Thebe's roads By the ivy-clad banks of Nysean mountains, And the bloomy shore with many a cluster, While the shout of the immortal strain resounds. Thebè thou honourest far above all cities, Thou and thy mother whom the lightning glorified. And now that our whole multitude Is overtaken by misfortune dire, Appear with healing tread, Over the Parnassian steep Or groaning narrow sea. Thou that leadest up the dance of the fire-breathing stars, Visitant of nightly voices, Son born of Zeus, Rise with thy attendant Maenads, Who, all night long. Celebrate thee with dances, Iacchus, the dispenser of their joys.

1115. mvp-comment-644-3 This ode has been variously arranged. The arrangement in the text is that of Böckh, with a few slight changes. a'. First strophe and antistrophe. ICICIC lululuclalalclcl luclcla 5----- 다 !トーートしcita ICICーートト β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. トCICICに The prevailing rhythm is logaoedic, with frequent syncope (or antispastic movement), long syllables in thesi, and occasional resolution both of arsis and thesis. Each strophe begins with an anacrusis.

1115. mvp-comment-644-4 πολυώνυμε Schol. ὦ Διόνυσε· οἱ μὲν γὰρ Βάκχον, οἱ δὲ Ιακχον, οἱ δὲ Λύαιον, οἱ δὲ Εὔιον, οἱ δὲ Διθύραμβον αὐτὸν καλοῦσιν. Bacchus is claimed as a Theban God, and at the same time, the wide extent of his dominion is celebrated.

1115. mvp-comment-644-5 ἄγαλμα Delight, or Glory. The word expresses the pride taken by a mother in her child. Plat. Tim. 37 D, τῶν ἀϊδίων θεῶν γεγονὸς ἄγαλμα: Eur. Suppl. 370, ματέρος ἄγαλμα.

1118. mvp-comment-645-1 κλυτὰν .. Ἰταλίαν The mention of Italy is singular, but hardly more so than that of Naxos in connection with Dionysus. The aim of the song being to celebrate the universality of his empire, it is not wonderful that allusion should be made to Italy, quam gravidae fruges et Bacchi Massicus humor Implevere, Virg. Georg. 2. 143. And if Italy was mentioned by Sophocles in the Triptolemus in connection with Demeter, why not here in connection with Bacchus? Fr. 540 N. Ut.. Sophocles poeta in fabula Triptolemo frumentum Italicum ante cuncta laudaverit, ad verbum translata sententia Et fortunatam Italiam frumento canere candido. Plin. H. N. 18. 12. Some edd. substitute Ἰκαρίαν, an eastward deme of Attica, and a seat of Dionysiac worship.

1120. mvp-comment-646-1 In the all-receiving bosom of Eleusinian Demeter;' i. e. In the vale of Eleusis, where the mystae from all parts of Greece were received. Cp. Pind. Ol. 14. 23, κόλποις Πίσας: Hdt. 4.99, κόλπου . . ἀγομένου τῆς γῆς ταύτης, and esp. Aristoph. Ran. 373, χώρει νυν πᾶς ἀνδρείως | ἐς τοὺς εὐανθεῖς κόλπους | λειμώνων, κ.τ.λ.

1123-1124. mvp-comment-647-1 παρ' ὑγρὸν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρον] Some have preferred, chiefly for metrical reasons, the Triclinian reading παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν .. ῥεέθρων, for which compare supr. 1. 966.

1125. mvp-comment-648-1 ἐπί Cp. Τr. 356, τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς.

1126-1127. mvp-comment-649-1 στέροψ.. λιγνύς The blinding torch-flame hath beheld. There is an opposition of sound rather than of sense in στέροψ ὄπωπε. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 226, ὦ λάμπουσα πέτρα πυρὸς | δικόρυφον σέλας ὑπὲρ ἄκρων | Βακχείων Διονύσου, where the succeeding lines also deserve to be compared with the description of Mount Parnassus in this passage. The fabled fire on Mount Parnassus was commonly explained of the torches of the Maenads, and seems to have been so understood by Sophocles.

1128. mvp-comment-650-1 Κωρύκιαι So named from the Corycian cave on Mount Parnassus. Aesch. Eum. 22, σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα, | κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφαί.

1130. mvp-comment-651-1 Κασταλίας.. νᾶμα (1) Sc.

1130. mvp-comment-651-2 ὄπωπέ σε, or (2) ἔνθα Κασταλίας νᾶμα, sc. ἐστί. Probably the latter (2).

1131-1136. mvp-comment-652-1 Νυσαίων. ἀγυιάς Bacchus is imagined as leaving the throng of revellers, who follow in his train along the Nysaean slopes in Euboea, and as crossing the sounding frith' (1. 1145) to visit the streets of Thebes.

1133. mvp-comment-653-1 χλωρά Lustrous with fresh green. The word suggests the richness of young vegetation, especially of the vine. See Essay on Language p. 103. Stephanus in Νύσαι .. δεκάτη ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ, ἔνθα διὰ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τὴν ἄμπελόν φασιν ἀνθεῖν, καὶ τὸν βότρυν πεπαίνεσθαι.

1134. mvp-comment-654-1 By adding *τῶν in this line, and reading ῥεῖθρον in 1124, we obtain ーーム, a diiambus followed by an epitritus, and a trochee or spondee.

1140. mvp-comment-655-1 νύν, νῦν, as in Pindar.

1141. mvp-comment-656-1 έχεται Cp. Plat. Legg. 10. 887 Ε, ἐν συμφοραῖς παντοίαις ἐχομένων.

1141. mvp-comment-656-2 ἐπὶ νόσου] See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27.

1143. mvp-comment-657-1 μολεῖν

Der Inf. giebt etwas kindlich frommes.

Wecklein.

1146-1147. mvp-comment-658-1 πῦρ πνεόντων *ἄστρων χοραγέ*] Cp. Ar. Ran. 341-342, Ιακχ᾽, ὦ Ιακχε, νυκτέρου τελετῆς φωσφόρος ἀστήρ. Bacchus is lord and leader of the sights and sounds of night. The stars in their courses hold revel with his torchbearers: the voices of the night are wakened by their shouting. This is more probable than an allusion to the mystical notion that Bacchus was an impersonation of the sun. I have ventured to retain καί, transposing the two preceding words and scanning πνεόντων as a spondee by synizesis.

1146-1147. mvp-comment-658-2 πυρπνεόντων may be taken as a compound. Cp. Hom. Il. 7. 310, άελπτεοντες.

1149. mvp-comment-659-1 παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον i.e. as Hermann says, παῖ Διὸς γεγώς. Ever youthful offspring of Zeus.

1150. mvp-comment-660-1 Ναξίαις i.e. From Ariadne's island.

1152. mvp-comment-661-1 τὸν ταμίαν The word ταμίας, as appears from its use in Pindar, had in Doric Greek the special meaning of Lord (cp. the Anglo-Saxon Hlafford): and may have been a favourite attribute of Bacchus in this sense.

1156. mvp-comment-662-1 στάντα (1) The participle is to be taken closely with the adjective = τινὰ στάσιν ἔχοντα, as in the gloss of V. There is no present position of a human life, in which I would praise it, or find fault with it. Cp. Phil. 174, ἐπὶ παντί τῳ χρείας ἱσταμένῳ, where the participle is similarly added in epexegesis. Or, χώρας] χέων Ε.

1156. mvp-comment-662-2 ἐμοί, ποτέ] 1164. θάλλων] possibly, (2) No settled condition, or (3), like στάντες τ' ἐς ὀρθών, Ο. Τ. 50, No life that is in prosperity. (1) is confirmed by 1160.

1160. mvp-comment-663-1 And no one can prophesy to mortals respecting their present state:' i.e. Whether it will continue or change.

1162. mvp-comment-664-1 σώσας.. εὔθυνε There is a change from the participial construction to the indicative as well as from μὲν.. δέ τo τε: ie. σώσας agrees with the subject of ἦν, and the finite verb εὔθυνε is substituted for εὐθύνων. This is more in accordance with the growing nature of the language of Sophocles, than to suppose, with Seyffert, that σώσας begins a new sentence in apposition to, and epexegetic of, the previous clause. 1165 ff. See v. rr. Seyffert conjectures καὶ γὰρ ἡδοναὶ ὅταν προδῶσιν ἀνδρός. Cp. supr. 578, and note. On the change from plural to singular, see Essay on Language §20. p. 31. And on the inversion (ἡδονὰς προδῶσιν ἄνδρες = ἡδοναὶ προδῶσιν ἄνδρας), ibid. § 42. p. 80, β. In favour of the reading of the MSS. it must be admitted that the plural ἄνδρες, in this pronominal sense, is unusual. The meaning of the MS. reading is, 'A man's pleasures, when they have deserted him, I hold of no account.' But this does not agree with the concluding lines of the speech. Line 1167 had been dropped, and then l. 1166 was altered so as to make sense.

1168. mvp-comment-665-1 πλουτεῖ.. καὶ ζῇ This is the first hand of L, and the words are so quoted by Athenaeus according to some MSS. I have always felt that the transition to the second person imperative (which has been suggested by εἰ βούλει) was somewhat harsh. The present indicative is sometimes used in putting a hypothetical case: (Plat. Theaet. 192 Ε, Σωκράτης ἐπιγιγνώσκει Θεόδωρον καὶ Θεαίτητον, ὁρᾷ δὲ μηδέτερον. So the aor. indicative in Hdt. 7. 10, καὶ δὴ καὶ συνήνεικε ἤτοι κατὰ γῆν ἢ καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν ἑσσωθῆναι, κ.τ.λ.) And the conversational use of εἰ βούλει (which assists the expression) is too familiar to need illustration. See L. and S. s. v. βούλομαι, 11. 2.

1171. mvp-comment-666-1 πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν resumes and supplements τὸ χαίρειν. Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

1173. mvp-comment-667-1 αἴτιοι θανεῖν Sc. τοὺς τεθνηκότας. 'Are guilty guilty of their death.

1175. mvp-comment-668-1 αὐτόχειρ On the indefiniteness of the compounds of αὐτός, see Essay on Language p. 101. This word, as here used, is extended from meaning By his own hand, to mean By unnatural violence. See above, l. 172 , and cp. the Latin parricida.

1177. mvp-comment-669-1 φόνου For the death of Antigone. This is better than φόνῳ, which, however, might mean In a murderous way, i.e. ξὺν φόνῳ. Cp. 1. 1233.

1178. mvp-comment-670-1 ἤνυσας Didst fulfil; i.e. How true it was, and how thou hast fulfilled it! Early language supposes a causal connection between the prophecy and the event. See on O. T. 156, 720. And for ὀρθόν, ibid. 853

1182. mvp-comment-671-1 κλύουσα παιδός Essay on Language § 9. p. 13. 1184-1185. Ср. О. T. 911 ff., El. 634 ff.

1186. mvp-comment-672-1 κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης Said by prolepsis and hypallage for τὴν πύλην, τῶν κλήθρων ἀνασπωμένων, with the same confusion between the door and the fastening which occurs elsewhere. I was opening the door, having drawn the bolt.

1191. mvp-comment-673-1 Here, and infr. 1203, 1312, as well as probably supr. 993, the death of Creon's son Megareus, elsewhere called Menoeceus, is alluded to.

1192. mvp-comment-674-1 παρών 'As an eye-witness of the fact. See Essay on Language § 32. P. 55.

1194. mvp-comment-675-1 ὧν Sc. τούτοις τοῖς ἔπεσι, περὶ ὧν. Essay on Language § 9. p. 13.

1195. mvp-comment-676-1 ὀρθὸν .. ἀεί Truth is always safe: i. e. never hurts him who tells it.

1197. mvp-comment-677-1 νηλεές Uncared for. О. Т. 180, νηλέα .. κεῖται ἀνοίκτως.

1199. mvp-comment-678-1 ἐνοδίαν θεόν Probably Hecate. Cp. Fr. 490. πῦρ ἱερόν, | τῆς εἰνοδίας Ἑκάτης ἔγχος.

1200. mvp-comment-679-1 εὐμενεῖς Supplementary predicate, agreeing with θεών and Πλούτωνα : i.e. ὥστε εὐμενεῖς εἶναι.

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Commentary on lines 1051–1200

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Χορός

ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας. ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ 1085 τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα, μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λαχεῖν.

Κρέων ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας. τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν· ἀντιστάντα δὲ ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν 6 , ἐν δεινῷ πάρα. 1090

Χορός εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον.

Κρέων τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾷν ; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός ἐλθὼν, κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης ἄνες· κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν ; 1095

Χορός ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα . 7 συντέμνουσι γὰρ θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων οἴμοι, μόλις μὲν 8 , καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι τὸ δρᾷν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός δρᾶ νῦν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε 9 · 1100

Χορός 13 a

Ἄγγελος

Χορός τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων; 1165

Ἄγγελος τεθνᾶσιν· οἵ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος Αἵμων ὄλωλεν, αὐτόχειρ 24 δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου. 1170

Χορός ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων, ἤτοι 25 κλύουσα παιδὸς, ἢ τύχῃ, πάρα. 1175

Εὐρυδίκη 26

Χορός ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας. ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξότου λευκὴν ἐγὼ τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα, μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων ἔγνωκα καὐτός, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας. 1050 τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέων.

Κρέων τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης 1055 ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι 1060 τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, μηδ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

12. ΟΡΧΗΣΤΙΚΟΝ.

Χορός 1

13. ΕΞΟΔΟΣ.

Χορός τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων; 1115

Ἄγγελος τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου. 1120

Χορός ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα. 1125

Χορός

ὥνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε, δεινὰ θεσπίσας· ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα, 1075 μή πω ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας· τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δειλὸν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν, ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, Κρέον. 1080

Κρέων τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾷν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός ἐλθὼν, κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ 1085 θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων οἴ μοι! μόλις μὲν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι, τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός δρᾶ νῦν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισι τρέπε.

Χορός 1

Ἄγγελος

Χορός τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος τεθνᾶσιν · οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος ; λέγε. 1150

Ἄγγελος Αἵμων ὄλωλεν, αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας!

Ἄγγελος ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα. 1155

Χορός καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ, δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος · ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων, ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς, ἢ τύχῃ, περᾷ.

Εὐρυδίκη

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας. ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα, μή πώ ποτ᾿ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας· 1095 τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, [Κρέον.]

Κρέων τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης 1100 ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι 1105 τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Χορός α

ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ
1085

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λαχεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας.

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν· ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ⁶, ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.
1090

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾷν ; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν, κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης

ἄνες· κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν ;
1095

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα . ⁷συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι, μόλις μὲν ⁸, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι

τὸ δρᾷν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νῦν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε ⁹·
1100

Χορός
¹³

a

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;
1165

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἵ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν, αὐτόχειρ ²⁴ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.
1170

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων,

ἤτοι ²⁵ κλύουσα παιδὸς, ἢ τύχῃ, πάρα.
1175

Εὐρυδίκη
²⁶

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξότου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτός, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας.
1050

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέων.

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1055

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1060

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθών, μηδ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Χορός

1

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;
1115

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.
1120

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.
1125

ὥνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε, δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,
1075

μή πω ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς, καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·

τό τ᾽ εἰκάθειν γὰρ δειλὸν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν, ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, Κρέον.
1080

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾷν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν, κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς, καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικάθειν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ
1085

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴ μοι! μόλις μὲν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι,

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νῦν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν, μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισι τρέπε.

Χορός

1

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν · οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος ; λέγε.
1150

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν, αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται.

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας!

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.
1155

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ,

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος · ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων,

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς, ἢ τύχῃ, περᾷ.

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας.

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾿ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, [Κρέον.]

Κρέων

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε· πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.

Χορός

ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης
1100

ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;

Χορός

ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ

θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.

Κρέων

οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι
1105

τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.

Χορός

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

Χορός
α

Χορός

τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ' ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;

Ἄγγελος

τεθνᾶσιν· οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.

Χορός

καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.

Ἄγγελος

Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ' αἱμάσσεται.
1175

Χορός

πότερα πατρῴας, ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;

Ἄγγελος

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.

Χορός

ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.

Ἄγγελος

ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ
1180

δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος· ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων

ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.

ἀνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·

ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ

τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,

μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.

Κρέων

ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας·
1095

τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ

ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.

Χορός

εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.