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Commentary on lines 151–300

παννυχίοις Cp. Ο. Τ. 1090: Aesch. Ag. 23, 24. καὶ χορῶν κατάστασιν | πολλῶν ἐν Ἄργει τῆσδε συμφορᾶς χάριν.

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

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

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

τίνα δή This is preferable to τινὰ δή, which Aldus printed from Ven. 467 (V3).

On ἐρέσσων = Moving, Advancing. see Essay on Language p. 87, and cp. Aj. 251, τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλάς.

ὅτι. προὔθετο That he hath appointed. ὅτι gives the reason of the question.

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

προὔθετο The middle voice implies that Creon had summoned the elders of his own motion. So καλέσσατο of Achilles in Il. 1. 54.

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας Having cited us by a message sent to us all.

κοινῷ = Inclusive. πέμψας] i. e. στείλας πομποῖσιν, as Creon expresses himself in ll. 164-165. 162-210. Creon's first error is not mere self-will, but an excessive zeal for the honour of the state, to which all private feelings must give way (183-184, 187-190). His spirit of self-assertion is however already felt, esp. in ll. 173, 191, 207-10. And the unconsciousness of one young in power is shown in the self-inculpating words in ll. 175-177. He characteristically dwells on the virtue of loyalty (165-169, 209-210) and the crime of rebellion (199-202): and his passionate nature is betrayed by the exaggerated expression in l. 208. Cp. O. T. 216 ff. and note. The frequent occurrence of the Ist personal pronoun is a significant feature of both these speeches.

τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος As for the state. This form of expression suits the introduction of a subject before the form of sentence is determined. πόλιν, rather than τὰ πόλεος, is the object of σείσαντες and ὤρθωσαν.

ἀσφαλῶς Unharmed, = ἄνεν τοῦ σφαλῆναι,

ὥρθωσαν Have righted the vessel of the state.

τὰ Λαΐου. κράτη Knowing that you ever duly reverenced the enthroned authority of Laius. Λαΐου is governed by θρόνων κράτη taken as one word, θρόνων being added to supplement κράτη. σέβοντας and μένοντας, infr. 166, 169, are imperfects = ὅτι ἐσέβετε .. ἐμένετε,

ὤρθου Kept on a safe course: i. e. Governed prosperously. The word recalls the happiness of the first period of Oedipus' rule. Cp. Plat. Men. P. 99 C, ᾗ οἱ πολιτικοὶ ἄνδρες χρώμενοι τὰς πόλεις ὀρθοῦσιν : Phaedr. 244 B. 168-169. ἀμφὶ .. φρονήμασιν]. Ye still remained loyal to their issue with unshaken minds. ἀμφί, Surrounding, as ready to defend. The apodosis is made to suit the latter protasis, ἐπεὶ διώλετο, and that of the former protasis, ἡνίκ' . . πόλιν (viz. ἐκείνῳ ὁμοίως πειθομένους οι the like), is thus absorbed.

κείνων . . παῖδας i. e. Sons of Oedipus and grandsons of Laius.

αὐτόχειρι Fratricidal. See Essay on Language p. 91.

γένους κατ᾿ ἀγχιστεῖα By privilege of being nearest in kindred (ὡς ἀγχιστεύων) to the dead. Cp. πρωτεία, etc.

παντὸς ἀνδρός Of any man, and therefore of me.

ψυχήν. . φρόνημα.. γνώμην As observed in the Essay on Language pp. 91-3, the opposition between these words is chiefly formal. So far as there is any difference between them, ψυχήν is mind, or nature, φρόνημα, spirit, or way of thinking, (cp. infr. 207), and γνώμην, judgment or meaning.

πρὶν ἂν ἀρχαῖς.. φανῇ “Until he be seen in his true colours through being tried in office and administration.' According to the saying of Bias, ἀρχὴ τὸν ἄνδρα δείξει (Arist. Eth. Nic. 5. 1. 16). There is an allusion to the detection of spurious coin through wear. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 390-392, κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόπον | τρίβῳτε καὶ προσβολαῖς | μελαμπαγὴς πέλει | δικαιωθείς (where Herm. says, 'Vereor autem ne non de lapide Lydio loquatur poeta, sed aes adulterinum dicat, quod usu tritum amisso falso splendore cognoscitur'): Hdt. 7. 10, ὥσπερ τὸν χρυσὸν τὸν ἀκήρατον, αὐτὸν μὲν ἐπ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ οὐ διαγινώσκομεν, ἐπεὰν δὲ

ἐμοὶ γάρ The connection is not strictly logical. γάρ explains not the difficulty of discerning the difference between rulers, but the essential point on which the difference turns. In setting forth this, Creon also declares the spirit of his own policy. He is feeling his way with the elders, of whose submission he is not perfectly sure, and beats about the bush before coming to the point with them. Hence he repeats the same thought in different words.

The sentiment of these lines is closely parallel to Plat. Legg. 9. 856 B, ὃς ἂν ἄγων εἰς ἀρχὴν ἄνθρωπον δουλῶται μὲν τοὺς νόμους, ἑταιρείας δὲ τὴν πόλιν ὑπήκοον ποιῇ, καὶ βιαίως δὲ πᾶν τοῦτο πράττων καὶ στάσιν ἐγείρων παρανομῇ· τοῦτον δὴ διανοεῖσθαι δεῖ πάντων πολεμιώτατον ὅλῃ τῇ πόλει, τὸν δὲ κοινωνοῦντα μὲν τῶν τοιούτων μηδενί, τῶν μεγίστων δὲ μετέχοντα ἀρχῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, λεληθότα τε ταῦτα αὐτὸν ἢ μὴ λεληθότα, δειλίᾳ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ πατρίδος αὑτοῦ μὴ τιμωρούμενον, δεῖ δεύτερον ἡγεῖσθαι τὸν τοιοῦτον πολίτην κακῇ.

ἐγκλείσας Locked up. Cp. Shakespeare, Richard II, 1. 3,

Within my mouth you have engaoled my tongue, | Doubly portcullised with my teeth and lips.

Infr. 505, εἰ μὴ γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσαι φόβος.

μείζον᾽.. ἀντί Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. Cp. Od. 7. 216, στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον.

οὐδαμοῦ λέγω Plat. Gorg. 456 C, οὐδαμοῦ ἂν φανῆναι, supr. 32. 184 ff. Having shown what makes the good and bad ruler, Creon declares his own intentions, first generally, and then (192 ff.) with reference to Eteocles and Polynices. γάρ implies that his opinion will be proved by his acts. In both statements (178-183, 184-190) the stress is laid on the duty of renouncing friendship with the public enemy (182-183, 187-188), which is the ground of the present edict, Polynices being presumably Creon's private friend: supr. 174.

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς Menacing my people. Cp. supr. l. 10: Aesch. Prom. 1089-1090, τοιάδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ ῥιπὴ Διόθεν, | τεύχουσα φόβον, στείχει φανερῶς. For the dative, Essay on Language § 12. p. 18.

δυσμενή χθονός Who is my country's foe. The genitive avoids the awkwardness of two datives, χθονί and ἐμαυτῷ, coming close together.

She it is who preserves us, and we make friends only while she carries us in the course of public safety; i. e. The friendship that is made against the interest of the state is hollow and insecure. Cp. Thuc. 2. 60: (Pericles loq.) ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι πόλιν πλείω ξύμπασαν ὀρθουμένην ὠφελεῖν τοὺς ἰδιώτας, ἢ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον τῶν πολιτῶν εὐπραγοῦσαν, ἀθρόαν δὲ σφαλλομένην, κ.τ.λ.: Zaleuc. ap. Stob. (Mullach, p. 543), πόλις γὰρ εὖ ἀγομένη μεγίστη ὄρθωσίς ἐστι, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ πάντα ἔνι, καὶ τούτου σωζομένου πάντα σώζεται καὶ τούτου φθειρομένου πάντα διαφθείρεται: Shakespeare. King John, 3. 1, Pand.

All form is formless, order orderless, | Save what is opposite to England's love.

On the change of pronouns (ἥδε.. ταύτης), see Essay on Language § 22. p. 32. The article in τοὺς φίλους points the reference to ll. 182-183.

τοιοίσδε νόμοισι By such principles as these. Cp. infr. 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε i. e. In full accord with them. Cp. Plat. Rep. 4. 421 C, ἆρ᾽ οὖν .. καὶ τὸ τούτου ἀδελφὸν δύξω σοι μετρίως λέγειν; Lys. 2. 64, ἀδελφὰ τὰ βουλεύματα τοῖς ἔργοις : Ο. C. 1262, ἀδελφὰ . . τούτοισιν.

τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οιδίπου For the pleo- 190 195 200 nastic use of the preposition, see above 150, 182, and notes.

πάντ᾿ ἀριστεύσας δορί After proving himself in all ways the bravest in the war. For the aor., cp. Hdt. 9. 74, alib.

τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι ‘Το add all sacred offerings.'

θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς The gods of his race; i. e. Those honoured by the Cadmeans. The gods of the race also include the ancestors of the race. Infr. 938, θεοὶ προγενεῖς.

πρῆσαι κατάκρας The city (γῆν = πόλιν) is thought of as the main object of the verb.

ἠθέλησε δ' The correspondence of clauses (with μέν and δέ) is not perfect, the antithesis being due to afterthought.

αἵματος .. πάσασθαι ‘Το repast him with blood of his own kin.' The expression suits the Epic colouring of the whole speech.

τοὺς δέ The rest; i. e. Those not slain, as implied in the opposition το αἵματος κοινοῦ πάσασθαι. 203.

ἐκκεκήρυκται Musgrave's correction has been generally adopted, lopted, and is probably right. The impersonal verb gives absoluteness to the expression. Wolff construes the inf. with λέγω in 198 (deleting the comma after τοῦδε), and Wecklein reads λέγω for τάφῳ. The slight corruption is probably due to a reminiscence of supr. 27.

δέμας is accusative of limitation, and ἄθαπτον and ἐδεστόν are masculine. To leave him unburied, to have his flesh consumed by birds and dogs.

αἰκισθέντ᾿ ἰδεῖν A spectacle of indignity. Lit. Outraged to behold. The infinitive is added after the participle, which is masculine.

Cp. 176, ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην.

θανών | καὶ ζῶν In death as well as in life. The first word is the more emphatic. Essay on Language p. 78.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The half-comic or rustic character of the watchman in this play is an extension of the common character of the messenger, whose natural rudeness of speech and thought brings into greater prominence the horror or pathos of the events he describes. The grotesqueness disappears when he speaks of the action of Antigone in 407-440. The employment of this artifice by Sophocles arises from the same motive to which Shakespeare gave a far wider range in such creations as the gravediggers in Hamlet, and the rural fellow in Antony and Cleopatra. The Messenger in the Trachiniae, the Corinthian in the Oedipus Tyrannus, Menelaus in the Ajax, the pretended Shipmaster in the Philoctetes, afford the same sort of contrast to the more tragic personages: and the superstition of the Coloniatae may be compared with the cowardice of the Phrygian slave in the Orestes of Euripides.

The vulgarity of the common-place Athenian of the fifth century в.с. takes the form of misplaced subtlety of wit. Cp. Shak. Hamlet, 5. 1 ,

We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us. The age is grown so picked, that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he galls his kibe.

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

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

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

This mockery of dialectic is curiously significant of the earlier stage of rhetoric.

κεἰ has the authority of the oldest MS. The reading of Par. A, καὶ .. ἀνδρός, has a certain liveliness, but is perhaps too abrupt.

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

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

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

τὸ μηδέν ῾Α vain report,' because the doer of the deed was still unknown.

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

That I cannot suffer anything but what is fated for me. Cp. Aesch. S. c. Τ. 263, πείσομαι τὸ μόρσιμον.

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

ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν i. e. τὸν δρῶντα, ὅστις ἦν, The unknown doer of the deed.

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

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

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

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

τίς ἀνδρῶν Cp. supra 222, and note.

οὔτε .. ἐκβολή No dint of pick-axe, nor earth turned up with hoe.'

στύφλος .. καὶ χέρσος Hard and bare. χέρσος γῆ is untilled land, and so here, Undisturbed by implements of husbandry. Cp. infr. 773, 1197.

ἀρρώξ .. τροχοῖσιν Unbroken, and with no mark of wheels. ἐπημαξευμένη τροχοῖσιν] Lit. Carted over with wheels.' Essay on Language p. 88, note.

ἀλλ'.. ἦν But whoever did it was one who left no trace.

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

θαῦμα δυσχερές Α sight of wonder and dismay.

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

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

For the gen., cp. Tr. 768.

τυμβήρης For this use of the adjective, see Essay on Language § 23. p. 38.

οὐ σπάσαντος Cp. Aesch. Prom. 451, οὔτε.. δόμους.. οὐ ξυλουργίαν.

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

τοῖς δαίμοσιν.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Dind.).

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Covertly shaking the head,' like an animal preparing to throw off the yoke.

δικαίως Rightly; i. e. As I had a right to expect that they should.

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

ἐκ τῶνδε By these malcontents. Supr. 290.

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

There is a stress on μισθοῖσιν, preparing for what follows.

νόμισμα, usually = Current coin, is here used in the more general sense which includes this. No such pestilent usance as money is, ever sprang up amongst mankind.

The object of ἐκδιδάσκει, SC.

χρηστοὺς αἰσχρά, is absorbed in the expansion of the sentence.

πρὸς .. ἵστασθαι Το address themselves to shameful enterprizes.' Cp. Thuc. 6. 34. § 7, τῶν δ᾽ ἀνθρώπων πρὸς τὰ λεγόμενα καὶ αἱ γνῶμαι ἵστανται.

πανουργίας The plural of the abstract noun gives the concrete notion.

πανουργίας ἔχειν, like θήραν ἔχειν, Αj. 564: ὕβριν ἔχειν, Od. 1. 368, etc.

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)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας
155

ὁ ¹ Μενοικέως, θεῶν νεοχμὸς νεαραῖς

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις χωρεῖ, τινὰ δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.
160

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ,

πολλῷ ² σάλῳ σείσαντες, ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι· τοῦτο μὲν, τὰ Λαΐου

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη·
165

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὥρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο, παίσαντές τε καὶ
170

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην,³ πρὶν ἂν
175

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ, ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσας ἔχει,

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·
180

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ⁴ ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω ⁵·

ἐγὼ γὰρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεὶ,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,
185

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων, ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώζουσα, καὶ, ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς, τοὺς φίλους⁶ ποιούμεθα.

τοιοῖς δ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν.
190

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι, παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι.

Ἐτεοκλέα μὲν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορὶ,

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι, καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι,
195

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς,

φυγὰς κατελθὼν, ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος
200

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾷν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέντ᾽ ἰδεῖν.
205

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα. κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται ⁷.

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,
210

τὸν ⁸ τῇδε δύσνουν, καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει.

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι,

καὶ τῶν θανόντων, χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν, πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν ⁹ σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῷ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.
215

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ τ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ’πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ¹⁰ ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων
220

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ¹¹

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν.
225

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

« τάλας, τί χωρεῖς, οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

« τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

« ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνεῖ ¹²;

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ¹³ ἤνυτον σχολῇ βραδύς·
230

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέν τοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί· κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο, πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.
235

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι ¹⁴ θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν·

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ
240

τὸ πρᾶγμα ¹⁵. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν
245

κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ’, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ,

καὶ χέρσος ἀῤῥὼξ, οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη
250

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ·

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ¹⁶ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὣς, ἐπῆν κόνις.
255

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς, οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐῤῥόθουν κακοὶ,

φύλαξ ¹⁷ ἐλέγχων φύλακα· κἂν ἐγίγνετο

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν·
260

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργὴς, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφυγε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι ¹⁸.

ἦμεν ¹⁹ δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν,

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι, μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι
265

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι, μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν. οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν, οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς
270

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος, ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο, κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ ²⁰ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων ²¹ οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ’ ὅτι.
275

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,

μὴ ’φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.
280

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτὸν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα
285

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων, καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν ;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐῤῥόθουν ἐμοὶ,

κρυφῆ κάρα σείοντες· οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ
290

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ ²² τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν, οἷον ἄργυρος,

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις
295

πορθεῖ· τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν,

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.
300

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου
305

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμοὺς,

οὐχ ²³ ὑμὶν ᾍδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν’ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον,

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι
310

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω ;

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;
315

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου²⁴;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ’, ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ,

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τόδ᾽ ἔργον τοῦθ᾽ ὁ ποιήσας ἐγώ.
320

Κρέων

καὶ ²⁵ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ,

ἦ δεινὸν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευε νῦν τὸ δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ ²⁶

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
325

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή (τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ),

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ, ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς

σωθεὶς, ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.
330

Χορός

a

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ, κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν
335

περῶν ἐπ᾽ οἴδμασιν·

θεῶν τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται,

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεῦον.
340

a

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ' ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως νέον εἰληχὼς

ἀρχήν¹, νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι θεῶν

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον
155

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην,

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

3. ἘΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ.

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα
160

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.
165

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν

καθ' ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.
170

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,
175

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσας ἔχει,

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,
180

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον πότ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων, ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώζουσα, καὶ ταύτης ἔπι
185

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν,

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι, παίδων τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν
190

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι,

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς
195

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν, μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,
200

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέντ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα. κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν
205

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέων,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει.

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.
210

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τωι τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ' εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλῳ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ 'πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.
215

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.
220

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν.

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; καὶ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων
225

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός; πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνεῖ;

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ ταχύς,

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί· κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.
230

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ’ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν·
235

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;
240

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας. κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν
245

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ

καὶ χέρσος, ἀῤῥὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἦμιν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.
250

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,

λεπτὴ δ᾽, ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς, ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐῤῥόθουν κακοί,
255

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα· κἂν ἐγίγνετο

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ’ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,
260

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι, μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα
265

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν. οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν, οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος, ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα
270

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.
275

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς καί με μεστῶσαι λέγων.

μὴ 'φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην
280

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα,

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως
285

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐῤῥόθουν ἐμοί,

κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.
290

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ' ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·
295

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

οὐ χρόνῳ πότ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,
300

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὗμιν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,
305

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον,

τολοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ', ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.
310

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν δὲ δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν, ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσίν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δέ; ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.
315

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽, ὡς ἄλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ’ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ.

ἦ δεινόν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.
320

Κρέων

κόμψευε νῦν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ', ὅτι

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ' εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽ · ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,
325

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ’ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,

ὁ Μενοικέως, θεῶν νεοχμὸς νεαραῖς
155

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις, χωρεῖ, τινὰ δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ
160

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα:

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν, τὰ Λαΐου

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,
165

κᾀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνου γ᾽ ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο, παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,
170

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω,

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν,

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ·
175

ἐμοὶ γὰρ, ὅστις, πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν,

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ' ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσας ἔχει,

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον᾽ εἴ τις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας
180

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γὰρ (ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί! )

οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι, τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς
185

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων, ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώζουσα καὶ, ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς, οὓς φίλους ποιούμεθα.

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν,

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω
190

ἀστοῖσι, παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μὲν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορὶ,

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι, καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι,

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·
195

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε (Πολυνείκην λέγω),

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς,

φυγὰς κατελθὼν, ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,
200

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν, μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾷν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον, καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν, αἰκιστόν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα· κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ
205

τιμὴν προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων,

ἀλλ’ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως, Κρέον,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·
210

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί που τ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι,

καὶ τῶν θανόντων, χᾡπόσοι ζῶμεν, πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ’ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.
215

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦδ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος · ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.
220

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω, κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα·

πολλὰς γὰρ εὗρον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν.

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πόλλ᾽ ἐμοὶ μυθουμένη·
225

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς, οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾿ ἀνδρὸς, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνεῖ; —

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ, ταχὺς,

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρὰ·
230

τέλος γε μέν τοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν.

σοὶ, κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως·

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;
235

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον, ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.
240

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι· τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας, ἃ χρή.
245

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ', οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολὴ, στύφλος δέ τ᾽ ἦν

καὶ χέρσος ἀῤῥὼξ, οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.
250

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν·

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὐ,

λεπτὴ δ᾽, ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς, ἐπῆν κόνις·

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς, οὔτε του κυνῶν
255

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐῤῥόθουν κακοὶ,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα· κἂν ἐγίγνετο

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν·

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,
260

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργὴς, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφυγε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν,

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι, μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι, μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.
265

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσι πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν, οὔθ᾽, ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος, ὡς ἀνοιστέον
270

σοὶ τοὖργον εἴη τοῦτο, κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κᾀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.
275

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὖργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κᾀμὲ μεστῶσαι, λέγων,

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα·

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ, δαίμονας λέγων
280

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτὸν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα,

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;
285

ἦ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς Θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐῤῥόθουν ἐμοὶ,

κρυφῆ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.
290

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε·

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν, οἷον ἄργυρος,

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε· τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων ·
295

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν,

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,
300

χρόνῳ ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽, εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω·

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμοὺς,
305

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾿ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον,

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάξητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽, ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν·
310

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα, καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;
315

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην, ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

ὅμως ἄλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ, ...

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τόδ᾽ ἔργον εἰμὶ ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.
320

Φύλαξ

φεῦ,

ἦ δεινὸν, ᾧ δοκεῖν τε καὶ ψευδῇ δοκεῖ!

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽, ὅτι

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
325

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽ ! ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μὴ (τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ),

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με·

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς

σωθεὶς, ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.
330

Χορός

1

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ, κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.

τοῦτο καὶ πολίου πέραν

πόντου, χειμερίῳ νότῳ,

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισι
335

περῶν ἐπ᾽ οἴδμασι,

θεῶν τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων, ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.
340

1

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, *ἄρχων νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων;

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων
160

προὔθετο λέσχην, κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ' Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετʼ, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾿ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

52r

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ.

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ' ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ' ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώζουσα, καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ' αὔξω πόλιν·

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾿ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ' ἐφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ *ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέντ᾿ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποί νυν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾿ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλῳ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ἐπιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

52v

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ' οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾿ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω, κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾿ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνεῖ;
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον *σπουδῇ βραδύς,

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί-κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὡς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ', εἶτʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὣς ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος, ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε *μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ' εἰργασμένῳ.

53r

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽ *ᾖ, ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτά, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα,

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῆ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ' ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτ' ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

53v

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ἐπὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δαί; ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾿ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό *γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἢ δεινὸν ᾧ δοκῇ γε καὶ ψευδή δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευε νῦν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽, ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾿ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός
α

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει·

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ᾿ οἴδμασιν,

θεῶν τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται,

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,
340

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.

α

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽, ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ἄρχων νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ' Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ’ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ' ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σῴζουσα καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα·
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν.

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ’ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως, ποεῖν,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού τ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἑτοῖμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ' ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος· ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις.
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

« τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνῇ;»
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ βραδύς,

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί, κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζῃ κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημαίνων νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φῇς; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν·

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὣς ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος, ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἑτοῖμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽ ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτά, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε· τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων,

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽, εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνῃ;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽, ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ’ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινὸν ᾧ δοκεῖ γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός
1

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν, θεῶν

τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν,Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται,

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος.
340

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.

1

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ’, ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ταγὸσ νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ’ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ’ αὖθις, ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν

κἀπεὶ διώλετ’, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ’ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ’ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ’ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον’ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ’ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ’ ἂν φίλον ποτ’ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ’ ἐστὶν ἡ σῴζουσα καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα·
190

τοιοῖσδ’ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ’ αὔξω πόλιν.

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ’ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ’ ἀφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ’ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ’ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ’ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ’ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ’ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ’ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ’ ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προέξουσ’ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ’ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ’ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως, παθεῖν,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού γ’ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων—
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ’ εἴσ’ ἑτοῖμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ’ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ’ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ’ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ’πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ’ οὗτος· ἀλλ’ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

"τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ’ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ’ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ’ οὐκ ἀλγυνῇ;"
230

Τοιαῦθ’ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ ταχύς,

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ’ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί, κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, —φράσω δ’ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ’ ἐστὶν ἀνθ’ οὗ τήνδ’ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ’ οὔτ’ ἔδρασ’ οὔτ’ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ’ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζῃ κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ’ ὥς τι σημαίνων νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ’ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ’, εἶτ’ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι· τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φῄς; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ’· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ’, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ’ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ’ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ’ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν·

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ’ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὣς ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ’ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος, ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ’ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ’, οὐδ’ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ’ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ’ ἑτοῖμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ’ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ’ ὅτ’ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ’ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ’ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ’ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ’ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ’ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ’ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ’ ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ’φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτά, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ’ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ’ ἔβλαστε· τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ’ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων,

τόδ’ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ’ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν

πανουργίας δ’ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτ’ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ’, εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ’ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ’ ἐπίστασ’, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ’ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ’ ὕβριν,

ἵν’ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε καὶ μάθηθ’ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν δὲ δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ’πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνῃ;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ’ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ’ ὦτ’ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ’, ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ’ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ’ ἐπ’ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινόν ᾧ δοκῆι γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ’ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ’ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ’· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ’ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ’ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός
1

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει·

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ’ οἴδμασιν, θεῶν

τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται,

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,
340

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.

1

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προύθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῶι κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῶι σάλωι σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο, παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῆι.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλήισας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν Ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῶι, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώιζουσα, καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν.

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφωι τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρώιαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πέρσαι κατ᾽ ἄκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῆιδ᾽ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφωι

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμῆι προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῆιδε τῆι πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως, †Κρέον †,

τὸν τῆιδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει.

γόμωι δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποί νυν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρωι τωι τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾶι.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μένεις αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνῆι;
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῆι ταχύς,

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί, κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζηι κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλωι

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι· τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φήις; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῆιδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐμβολή. στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽, ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς, ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τωι ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένωι.

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς ὃ πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβωι προύτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὖργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὖργον τόδ᾽ ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς καί με μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῆις ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτά, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα,

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἦ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾶις θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῆι κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῶι

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων.

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν.

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνωι ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽, εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ 'πὶ τῆι ψυχῆι δάκνηι;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾶι τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽, ὡς λάλημα δεινὸν ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρωι γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινόν, ὧι δοκεῖ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῆι τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

1

Χορός

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει·

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίωι νότωι
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν, θεῶν

τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται,

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,
340

ἱππείωι γένει πολεύων.

1

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως

νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι θεῶν

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοί,

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες, ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι· τοῦτο μέν, τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη·

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο, παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γάρ, ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου τοὺ γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι, τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον πότ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων, ὁτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώζουσα, καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν.

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι, παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι, καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι,

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς.

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς,

φυγὰς κατελθών, ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν, μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον, καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέντ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα. κοὔποτ᾽ ἐκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προρέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν, καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει.

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντὶ πάντ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῲ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾿ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλῳ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν.

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός; πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνεῖ;
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ ταχύς.

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα, γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί· κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν·

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς πότ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε τοὺ γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀῤῥωὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἧμιν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι, θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὃ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ἄγος φεύγοντος, ὥς, ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρός, οὔτε τοὺ κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐῤῥόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα. κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽· οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφλεγε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν,
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι, μήτε τῲ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι, μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν. οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν, οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος, ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο, κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι.

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτά, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε, κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς Θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐῤῥόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες· οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν, οἷον ἄργυρος,
295

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν,
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ πότ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὗμιν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον,
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις; ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν, ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσίν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινὸν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευε τὴν δόκησιν· εἶ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ' ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς
330

σωθείς, ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός

1

πολλὰ τὰ δεινά, κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ’ οἴδμασιν,

θεῶν τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,
340

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεῦον·

1

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, σὺ νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μεῖζον' ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σῴζουσα, καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν·

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκην λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατ᾽ ἄκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον, καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμῇ προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων·

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν κἀς τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποί νυν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος· ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω, κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα·

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μένεις αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνεῖ;
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ βραδύς,

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί· κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα· κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃς πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς καί με μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτά, δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων, καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς ;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω ;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ᾿πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ.

ἦ δεινόν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με·

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός
1

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει· 1

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ 2
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν 3

περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν· 4

θεῶν τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν 5

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται, 6

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος, 7
340

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων. 8

1

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προύθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σῴζουσα καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν.

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἀφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκη λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ .
200

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμῇ προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως, ποεῖν

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί, πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἑτοῖμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως σπουδῆς ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη,

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μένεις αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνῇ;
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ βραδύς,

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί· κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ’ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στιχίζῃ κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽. ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὣς ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἑτοῖμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν,

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν, καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃ πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προύτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ' ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽ ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ᾿φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοὶ
290

κρυφῇ, κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ' ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω,
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνῃ;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινόν, ᾧ δοκῇ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψῃ σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει·

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν, θεῶν

τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται,

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,
340

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 155 focus

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ἄρχων νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων
160

προὔθετο λέσχην,

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν.

ὑμᾶς δʼ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλʼ ἱκέσθαι τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτʼ αὖθις, ἡνίκʼ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετʼ, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτʼ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθʼ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατʼ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλʼ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μεῖζον ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθʼ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτʼ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτʼ ἂν φίλον ποτʼ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδʼ ἐστὶν ἡ σῴζουσα καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδʼ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδʼ αὔξω πόλιν,

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπʼ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντʼ ἀριστεύσας δόρει,
195

τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντʼ ἀφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς.

τὸν δʼ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκη λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατʼ ἄκρας, ἠθέλησε δʼ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῇδʼ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δʼ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τʼ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδʼ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτʼ ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ

τιμὴν προέξουσʼ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων·

ἀλλʼ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτʼ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,

τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν κἀς τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί που πάρεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν εἶτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλʼ εἴσʼ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γʼ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτʼ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ʼπιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὔκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γʼ, οὗτος· ἀλλʼ ὑπʼ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδʼ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρʼ ἀνδρός; πῶς σὺ δῆτʼ οὐκ ἀλγύνει;
230

τοιαῦθʼ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ βραδύς.

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρʼ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί. κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δʼ ὅμως·

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δʼ ἐστὶν ἀνθʼ οὗ τήνδʼ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμʼ οὔτʼ ἔδρασʼ οὔτʼ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδʼ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δʼ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησʼ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτʼ, εἶτʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή·

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν

πλῆγμʼ, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή. στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδʼ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλʼ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δʼ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δʼ, ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς, ἐπῆν κόνις·

σημεῖα δʼ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δʼ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσʼ, οὐδʼ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλʼ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δʼ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν,
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μηδʼ εἰργασμένῳ.

τέλος δʼ ὅτʼ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃ πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτʼ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθʼ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δʼ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δʼ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδʼ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοί, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδʼ, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς καὶ ʼμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ ʼφευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;

οὔκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδʼ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμʼ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδʼ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·

τόδʼ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθʼ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δʼ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνῳ ποτʼ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλʼ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐπίστασʼ, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω·
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτʼ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθʼ ὕβριν,

ἵνʼ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθʼ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ʼπὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σʼ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δʼ ὦτʼ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμʼ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γʼ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπʼ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινὸν ᾧ δοκῇ γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθʼ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλʼ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστʼ· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρʼ ἐλθόντα με·

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τʼ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν
335

περῶν ὑπʼ οἴδμασιν.

θεῶν τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος

ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.
340

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 155 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προύθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῶι κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ

πολλῶι σάλωι σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν·

ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα

ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι, τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου
165

σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,

τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,

κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι

παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.

ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν
170

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ

πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,

ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω

γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
175

ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν

ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῆι.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν

μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλήισας ἔχει,
180

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

καὶ μεῖζον ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν
185

στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,

οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ πόλεως

θείμην ἐμαυτῶι, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώιζουσα καὶ ταύτης ἔπι

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα.
190

τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν,

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν

ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δορί,
195

τάφωι τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι

ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς·

τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκη λέγω,

ὃς γῆν πατρώιαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ
200

πρῆσαι κατάκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος

κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,

τοῦτον πόλει τῆιδ᾽ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφωι

μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας
205

καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.

τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ

τιμῆι προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῆιδε τῆι πόλει, θανὼν

καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται.
210

Χορός

σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,

τὸν τῆιδε δύσνουν καὶ τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·

νόμωι δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί που γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι

καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρωι τωι τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾶι.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο

δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα·

πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις,
225

ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·

ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·

τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;

τλήμων, μένεις αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων

ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγυνῆι;
230

τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῆι βραδύς,

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

σοί, κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως.

τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος,
235

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν. ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζηι κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλωι

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως
245

θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Φύλαξ

οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῆιδος ἦν

πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή· στύφλος δὲ γῆ
250

καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη

τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ' ἄσημος ἡμὶν οὑργάτης τις ἦν.

ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος

δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.

ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ,
255

λεπτὴ δ᾽ ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς ἐπῆν κόνις.

σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν

ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.

λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,

φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο
260

πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.

εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,

κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.

ἦμεν δ᾽ ἕτοιμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν

καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν,
265

τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τωι ξυνειδέναι

τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μήτ᾽ εἰργασμένωι.

τέλος δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,

λέγει τις εἷς, ὃ πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα

νεῦσαι φόβωι προύτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν
270

οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς

πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον

σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα

πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν.
275

πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·

στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων,
280

μὴ 'φευρεθῆις ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.

λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ δαίμονας λέγων

πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.

πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην

ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας
285

ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα

καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;

ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾶις θεούς;

οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως

ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί,
290

κρυφῆι κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῶι

λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.

ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς

παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος
295

κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις

πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων,

τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας

χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·

πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν
300

καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.

ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,

χρόνωι ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,

εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω·
305

εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου

εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,

οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν

ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,

ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον
310

τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι

οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.

ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας

ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;
315

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ ᾽πὶ τῆι ψυχῆι δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾶι τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ’ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.
320

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρωι γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ·

ἦ δεινὸν ὧι δοκῆι γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι
325

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Φύλαξ

ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι

ληφθῆι τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,

οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με.

καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς
330

σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.

Χορός

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν-

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει·

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν

πόντου χειμερίωι νότωι
335

χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν

περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν, θεῶν

τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν

ἄφθιτον ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται

ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος,
340

ἱππείωι γένει πολεύων.

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 155 focus

Doch Kreon kommt des Menökeus Sohn,

des Thebäischen Lands neuwaltender Fürst,

in des Göttergeschicks neublühendem Glück:

was sinnet er wohl im erregten Gemüth,

daſs jetzo sofort den erlesenen Rath
155

er der Greis' entbot zur Versammlung hier,

durch Heroldsruf sie beschickend?

Γ. ΕΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩΤΟΝ.

III. ERSTES EPEISODION.

KREON, CHOR, dann ein WÄCHTER.

KREON (tritt auf mit Gefolge).

KREON

Ihr Männer, unsers Landes Glück hob Götterhuld

nach vieler Stürm' Erschüttrung sicher wiederum;

euch aber liefs ich jetzt allein aus allen mir
160

hieher bescheiden, theils dieweil mir wohl bewuſst,

wie Laios' Herrschaft stets von euch geehret ward,

dann weil, da wieder Oedipus die Stadt erhob,

und als er todt war, unter seinen Söhnen ihr

in treu ergebnem Sinne fest verharretet.
165

Nachdem nun jene durch ein zwiefach Todesloos

an Einem Tag gefallen beide, treffend und

getroffen durch der eignen Hände Frevelthat,

hab' ich die Herrschaft also, ich des Thrones Macht,

gemäfs der Todten nächster Blutsgenossenschaft.
170

Unmöglich ist es, jedes Mannes Sinnesart,

Geist und Verstand ganz zu erkennen, eh' er noch

in Staat und Ämtern thätig sich erwiesen hat.

Denn mir bedünket, wer das Haupt der ganzen Stadt,

sich nicht am besten Rathe festzuhalten weiſs,
175

ja seine Zung' aus Furcht vor wem verschlossen hält,

der gröfste Feigling dieser, und bedünkt' es längst.

Und wem anstatt des Vaterlands ein anderer

Freund höher gilt, der hat mir vollends keinen Werth.

Denn ich, das wisse Zeus, der Alles immer sieht,
180

ich schwiege doch nicht, säh' ich auf die Bürger uns

heran das Unheil schreiten an des Glückes Statt,

noch möcht' ich jemals meines Vaterlandes Feind

zu meinem Freunde machen, wohl erkennend, daſs

das Vaterland uns rettet, und an seinem Bord
185

wir glücklich schiffend auch die Freund' uns einigen.

Durch solche Satzung heb' ich diese Stadt empor,

und dem gemäſses hab' ich auch verkündiget

den Bürgern ob der Söhne jetzt des Oedipus:

Eteokles, welcher kämpfend fiel für diese Stadt,
190

defs Waffenthaten jeden Ehrenpreis verdient,

er werd' im Grab geborgen und ihm spende man

jedwedes, was den Besten folgt zur Unterwelt;

doch seinen Bruder, ihn, Polyneikes mein' ich, der

rückkehrend aus dem Banne wollt' in Feuers Glut
195

die eigne Heimath und die Götter dieses Lands

von Grund vertilgen, wollte von des eignen Stamms

Blut schlürfen, und geknechtet führen weg das Volk,

den solle niemand, lieſs ich künden dieser Stadt,

mit einem Grabmal ehren, noch wehklagen ihn,
200

nein, unbestattet liegen sein entstellter Leib,

den Vögeln Fraſs und Hunden, grauenvoll zu schaun.

Dies also ist mein Wille: nimmer werden wir

dem Schlechten Ehr' ertheilen vor dem Trefflichen;

erwähnt er wohlwill dieser Stadt, der wird im Tod
205

und Leben gleicherweise mir geehret seyn.

CHOR

Also beliebt es, Sohn Menökeus' Kreon, dir

so mit dem Feinde wie dem Freunde dieser Stadt.

Jedwede Satzung steht dir ja zu geben frei

der Todten wegen und für uns die Lebenden.
210

KREON

Daſs Hüter nun ihr dessen seid, was ich gesagt!

CHOR

Der Jüngern einem lege dies zu tragen auf.

KREON

Zur Hut des Leichnams stehn die Wächter schon bereit.

CHOR

Was trägst du denn noch einem andern dieses auf?

KREON

Daſs nicht ihr nachseht denen, die dawider thun.
215

CHOR

Niemand ist also thöricht, daſs er sterben will.

KREON

Und traun der Lohn ist dieser: aber manchem ja

gab schon die Hoffnung auf Gewinn den Untergang.

WÄCHTER (tritt auf).

WÄCHTER

Herr, sagen will ich eben nicht, vor Eiligkeit

käm' athemlos ich auf behend erhobnem Fufs;
220

denn vieler Sorg' Anstände fand ich unterwegs,

und oft zur Rückkehr dreht' ich mich im Kreis herum.

Denn meine Seele sprach zu mir gar vielerlei:

Elender, dorthin willst du wo dir's Strafe giebt?

Armsel'ger, bleibst du? und erfährt dies Kreon dann
225

von einem andern? Wie bekäme das dir schlecht!

In solchem Überlegen ging ich zaudernd schnell,

und so geräth denn auch ein kurzes Ende lang.

Zuletzt da siegte der Gedank' hierher zu gehn,

zu dir: so gut wie nichts dir sagend sag' ich's doch.
230

Denn an der einen Hoffnung klammre fest ich mich,

nichts könn' ich sonst erleiden als bestimmtes Loos.

KREON

Was ist es, daſs dich also fafst Muthlosigkeit?

WÄCHTER

Erst will ich sagen, was mich selbst betrifft: die That

verübt' ich nicht, noch sah ich wer der Thäter war,
235

und nur mit Unrecht widerführ' ein Übel mir.

KREON

Gut zielst du mit den Worten, und verschanzest dich

rings trefflich; sicher bringst du schwere Neuigkeit.

WÄCHTER

Das Schreckenvolle schüchtert mich gewaltig ein.

KREON

Wirst endlich denn du sprechen und abziehn sodann?
240

WÄCHTER

So sag' ich dir's denn: eben hat den Todten wer

bestattet und sich dann entfernt, als trocknen Staub

er aufgestreut dem Körper nebst den andern Weihn.

KREON

Was sprichst du? wer der Männer war's, der dies gewagt?

WÄCHTER

Weifs nicht. Es war dort weder eines Beiles Hieb
245

zu sehn noch einer Hacke Wurf; der Boden fest

und trocken, undurchbrochen, auch mit Rädern nicht

befahren; spurlos blieb es, wer der Thäter war.

Und wie es uns der erste Tageswächter zeigt,

erschien es allen unbegreiflich wunderbar.
250

Denn jener war verschwunden, nicht begraben zwar:

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

Nicht eines Raubthiers Zeichen fand sich, keines Hunds,

der hergekommen und an ihm herumgezerrt.

Schimpfworte rauschten wechselseitig unter uns;
255

der Wächter zieh den Wächter, und es gab zuletzt

wohl gar noch Schläge; keiner war zu wehren da.

Denn jeder war der Thäter dieser Frevelthat,

und keiner klar doch, sondern jeder stritt es ab.

An bot sich jeder glühend Eisen mit der Hand
260

zu fassen, und durch Feuer durchzugehn, und Eid

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

mitwissend nicht Anstiftern oder Thätern sei.

Zuletzt, wie alles Forschen nichts uns fruchtete,

WÄCHTER

spricht Einer, der zum Boden alle nöthigte
265

das Haupt vor Furcht zu senken: denn wir wussten nicht

zu widersprechen, noch was thuend wir vielleicht

uns helfen könnten. Seine Rede war, die That

sei dir zu hinterbringen, sonder Heimlichkeit.

Und diese Meinung siegte: mich Unseligen
270

verdammt das Loos zu dieses schönen Glücks Genufs.

Nicht willig, weiſs ich, steh' ich vor Unwilligen;

denn keiner liebt den Boten unwillkommner Mähr.

CHOR

Herr, ob wol dies Eräugniſs gar ein Götterwerk,

das überleg' ich lange schon in meinem Sinn.
275

KREON

Schweig', eh' mich deine Rede gar mit Zorn erfüllt,

daſs nicht zugleich du Thor und Greis erfunden wirst.

Denn unerträglich sind die Worte, die du sprichst,

um jenen Todten trügen Sorg' Unsterbliche.

Wie, hätten denn sie jenen als Wohlthäter gar
280

begraben, der die säulumringten Tempel kam

mit Brand zu tilgen und die frommen Gaben dort,

ihr Land zerstörend und Verfassung? oder siehst

du je die Frevler von den Göttern hochgeehrt?

Unmöglich! Sondern lange murrten schon darob,
285

es kaum ertragend, mir die Männer aus der Stadt,

die Häupter heimlich schüttelnd, und sie hielten nicht

den Nacken treulich unterm Joch, zu lieben mich.

Von diesen wurden jene, sicher weiſs ich das,

durch Lohn verleitet, daſs sie diese That verübt.
290

Denn nichts, was Geltung bei den Menschen hat, ersprofs

so wie das Geld verderblich. Dies vernichtet selbst

ja Städte; dies treibt Männer weg von Haus und Hof;

dies unterweiset und verkehrt der Sterblichen

gerechte Sinne schnödem Werke nachzugehn;
295

zeigt' alle Wege böser List den Menschen an,

und lehrte sie jedweder That Ruchlosigkeit.

Doch die um Lohn verdungen diese That verübt,

erwirkten endlich, daſs zuletzt sie Strafe trifft.

Ja wenn Verehrung Zeus von mir annoch empfängt,
300

KREON

so wisse wohl dies, und ich sag' es eidlich dir:

wofern ihr nicht den Frevler, welcher dieses Grab

bereitet hat, mir findet und vor Augen stellt,

genügt euch Hades nicht allein, eh' ihr zuvor

lebendig hangend diese Schmach mir offenbart,
305

damit ihr wissend, wo Gewinn zu suchen sei,

dorther ihn künftig haschet, und begreifet, dafs

Gewinn man nicht aus Allem sich erspähen darf.

Denn durch des Vortheils schnöde Gier wirst mehre du

Unheil sich zuziehn als sich Glück erwerben sehn.
310

WÄCHTER

Gönnst du zu reden, oder soll ich so von hier?

KREON

Erkennst du noch nicht, wie du mir unleidlich sprichst?

WÄCHTER

Beleidigt dir's die Ohren oder dein Gemüth?

KREON

Wie? meinem Unmuth spähest nach du, wo er sei?

WÄCHTER

Der Thäter kränket dir das Herz, die Ohren ich.
315

KREON

Ha! welch ein frech durchtriebner Bursche bist du doch!

WÄCHTER

Nur bin ich der nicht, welcher diese That gethan.

KREON

Ja du verriethest deine Seel' um Silbers Preis!

WÄCHTER

Weh!

Schlimm wem es dünkt, daſs Falsches auch ihm dünken muſs!
320

KREON

Spitzfindle mit dem Dünken nur; doch stellt ihr nicht

vor Augen mir die Thäter, sollt ihr sagen, dafs

die feige Habsucht keinen Segen ernten läfst.

KREON ab.

WÄCHTER

Ja fände man ihn, wär's am besten; aber ob's

gelinget, ob nicht: denn vom Glück hängt dieses ab:
325

mich wirst du hierher nimmer wieder kommen sehn.

Denn über all mein Hoffen und mein Denken jetzt

gerettet schuld' ich traun den Göttern vielen Dank.

WÄCHTER ab.

IV. ERSTES STASIMON.

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 155 focus

Pero he ahí al rey de esta tierra, a Creonte, el hijo de Me- neceo, que con motivo de los felices y recientes aconte- cimientos que los dioses nos han enviado, se acerca me- ditando algún proyecto que viene a proponer a esta asamblea de ancianos que ha convocado por público pregón.

Creonte

¡Ciudadanos! Los dioses al fin han enderezado los asuntos de la ciudad, después de haberla agitado en revuelta confusión. Y yo os mandé por mis emisarios que os reunierais aquí, separadamente de todos los demás, porque sé que siempre respetasteis como es debido las órdenes del trono de Layo, lo mismo que luego, cuando Edipo regía la ciudad; y después que él cayó, persististeis también en vuestra constante fidelidad alrededor de sus hijos. Mas cuando éstos, por doble fatalidad, han muerto en un mismo día al herir y ser heridos con sus propias y mancilladas manos, quedo yo en poder del imperio y del trono, por ser el pariente más próximo de los muertos.

Difícil es conocer la índole, los sentimientos y opinión de un hombre antes de que se le vea en el ejercicio de la soberanía y aplicación de la ley. Pues a mí, quien gobernando a una ciudad no se atiene a los mejores consejos, sino que procura que el miedo tenga amordazada la lengua, ése me parece ser el peor gobernante, ahora y siempre; y a quien estime a un amigo más que a su propia patria, no lo estimo en nada. Pues yo, juro por Júpiter, que todo lo tiene presente siempre, nunca ocultará el daño que vea amenace la salvación de los ciudadanos, ni concederé mi amistad a ningún hombre enemigo de la patria, porque sẻ sé que ésta es la que nos conserva, y que si la goberna · mos gobernamos con recto timón, logramos amigos.

Con estas leyes voy a procurar el fomento de la ciudad, y conformes con ellas, he promulgado a los ciudadanos las referentes a los hijos de Edipo. A Eteocles, que murió luchando por la ciudad después de hacer prodigios con su lanza, que se le entierre en un sepulcro y se le hagan todos los sacrificios expiatorios que deben acompañar a los manes de los valientes que bajan a los infiernos. Pero al hermano de éste, a Polinices me refiero, que volviendo de su destierro quería abrasar por todos lados a la patria y a los dioses tutelares, y quería además beberse la sangre de su hermano y hacer esclavos a los ciudadanos, para ése, he mandado pregonar por toda la ciudad que nadie le honre con sepultura ni le llore; sino que lo dejen insepulto y su cuerpo expuesto ignominiosamente ignominiosamente a las aves y a los perros para que lo devoren. Tal es mi determinación; pues nunca de mí alcanzarán los malos el honor que se debe a los hombres de bien. Pero cualquiera que sea el que haga bien a la ciudad, ése, lo mismo vivo que muerto, será honrado por mí.

Coro

Sea como te place, Creonte, hijo de Meneceo, respecto de los amigos y enemigos de esta ciudad; pues en tu derecho estás de aplicar absolutamente la ley en lo que toca a los muertos y a todos cuantos vivimos.

Creonte

¿Cómo, pues, vigilaréis ahora por el cumplimiento de mis órdenes?

Coro

Eso, encárgalo a otro más joven.

Creonte

Pues dispuestos están ya los que han de vigilar el cadáver.

Coro

¿Qué otra cosa quieres aún encargarnos?

Creonte

Que no condescendáis con los que desobedezcan la orden.

Coro

No hay nadie tan necio que desee morir.

Creonte

Ése, en efecto, será el pago; pero la esperanza del lucro pierde muchas veces a los hombres.

El Centinela.

El Centinela

¡Rey!, no diré que llego sin aliento por venir de prisa y a todo correr, porque con frecuencia me he parado a pensar, dando vueltas por el camino, si me volvería atrás. Mi corazón me decía muchas veces aconsejándome : «¡Infeliz!, ¿por qué vas adonde la pagarás así que llegues? ¡Desgraciado!, ¿persistes aún? Y si Creonte se enterase de esto por otro hombre, ¿cómo tú no lo habías de sentir?» Revolviendo tales pensamientos venia venía lenta y pausadamente; de modo que un camino breve me ha resultado largo. Al fin me decidi decidí a llegar a tu presencia; y aunque nada te pueda aclarar, hablaré, sin embargo; pues vengo fortalecido con la esperanza de que no me podrá pasar nada fuera de lo que me tenga reservado el destino.

Creonte

¿Qué es lo que te causa ese desaliento?

El Centinela

Decirte quiero primero lo que me importa a mí; porque ni yo hice la cosa, ni vi tampoco quien la hiciera, ni en justicia se me puede castigar.

Creonte

¿Para qué me echas ese exordio y rodeas el hecho con tantas precauciones? Con ello manifiestas que alguna novedad importante vienes a anunciarme.

El Centinela

El miedo, en efecto, origina mucha intranquilidad.

Creonte

¿No hablarás ya y te alejarás en seguida?

El Centinela

Pues te hablo: al muerto lo ha sepultado alguien hace poco, y después de cubrir con polvo seco el cadáver y celebrar las sagradas ceremonias, ha desaparecido.

Creonte

¿Qué dices? ¿Qué hombre es el que se ha atrevido a eso?

El Centinela

No sé. Allí no se ven señales de golpes de azada, ni de que el suelo haya sido removido con la ligona. La tierra está dura y apretada, sin carriles de que haya pasado ningún carro. Quien lo haya hecho, no ha dejado huella. Cuando el primer vigia vigía de la ma- ñana nos ha dado la noticia, triste asombro se apoderó de todos. El cadáver no se veia veía; pero no estaba sepultado, sino cubierto de ligero polvo, como para evitar el sacrilegio. Ni señales de fiera ni de perro que viniese y lo hubiese destrozado se veian veían tampoco. Palabras maliciosas susurran entonces por los oidos oídos de todos; un centinela acusaba a otro, y aquello hubiera acabado en lucha, sin que hubiera nadie que lo impidiese. Cada uno creía que era el otro el que lo había hecho, y nadie confesaba, sino que todos negaban. Estábamos ya dispuestos a [la prueba de] tomar el hierro candente en las manos y pasar por el fuego y jurar por los dioses que ni lo habíamos hecho ni nos habiamos habíamos confabulado con quien lo hubiese proyectado ni con el que lo habia había hecho. Por fin, cuando nada nos quedaba ya por examinar, habló uno que a todos nos hizo inclinar la cara al suelo de miedo, porque no podiamos podíamos ni contradecirle ni proponerle cómo lo hariamos haríamos para salir bien. Fué Fue su proposición que se te debía comunicar el hecho y no ocultártelo; ella venció, y a mí, como más desgraciado, tocó la suerte para encargarme de esta hermosa comisión. Aqui Aquí me tienes contra mi voluntad y contra la tuya, lo sé; pues nadie estima al portador de malas noticias.

Coro

¡Rey!, a mí, en verdad, me brujulea el corazón hace ya rato, si ese hecho ha sido promovido por algún dios.

Creonte

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

El Centinela

¿Me permites hablar, o doy la vuelta y me voy?

Creonte

¿No sabes ya cuánto me irritan tus palabras?

El Centinela

¿Dónde te escuecen, en el oído o en el corazón?

Creonte

¿Qué te importa averiguar dónde me oprime el dolor?

El Centinela

Quien lo haya hecho te aflige el corazón; yo, los oidos oídos.

Creonte

¡Ay, qué charlatán manifiestas ser!

El Centinela

Pero nunca el autor de ese crimen.

Creonte

Es fácil que por dinero te hayas vendido.

El Centinela

¡Huy! Difícil es que a quien haya formado una opinión se le convenza de su falsedad.

Creonte

Charla ahora acerca de la opinión; que si no me descubrís a los culpables, os veréis obligados a confesar que las malas ganancias acarrean desgracias.

Sale Creonte.

El Centinela

Pues ¡ojalá sean descubiertos! Pero lo mismo si se encuentran que si no — pues de esto la suerte decidirá —, no es posible que me veas volver aquí; pues si, contra lo que esperaba y temía, me voy salvo ahora, debo dar muchas gracias a los dioses.

Coro

Muchas cosas hay admirables, pero ninguna es más admirable que el hombre. Él es quien al otro lado del espumante mar se traslada llevado del impetuoso viento a través de las olas que braman en derredor; y a la más excelsa de las diosas, a la Tierra, incorruptible e incansable, esquilma con el arado, que dando vueltas sobre ella año tras año, la revuelve con ayuda de la raza caballar.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 155 focus

Ecce vero Menoecei gnatus, urbis rex novus ob novum casum deorum invectum numine creatus, accedit, aliquod consilium volvens animo, quandoquidem conventum hunc seniorum indixit, quos communi praeconio arcessivit.

Creon

Viri, civitatem hanc, quam multis quassarunt fluctibus, iam in tuto di erexerunt denuo:

vos autem per muntios iussi seorsum ab omnibus convenire, quia vos movi cum Laii imperium sedulo semper coluisse, tum regnante Oedipo, illoque exstincto etiam erga eius gnatos in eadem fide constantianimo permansisse. Quando igitur illi gemino fato una die periere, mutuis ictibus peremti nefaria manu, ego iam imperium omne et solium obtineo, ut qui defunctis cognatus sum proximus. Vix autem virum quempiam noris quo sit ingenio, quasolertia, quidve consilio valeat, antequam in administratione rei publicae et legum tritum eum videris. Quicumque enim, civitatem universam regens, non optimis adhaeret consiliis, sed formidine aliqua linguam comprimit, is pessimus esse et nunc et dudum mihi videtur: et quicumque patria sua potiorem iudicat amicum, illum nullo in loco pono. Ego enim (testor Iovem omnia semper cernentem) silere nollem, damnum si viderem ingruere civibus loco salutis; neque umquam, si quis patriae hostis sit, eius viri amicitiam amplectar: quippe compertum est mihi, patriam servare quoque, quos, ipsa salva, amicos paramus. Talibus ego placitis obsecutus hanc augebo urbem, nuncque horum adfinia civibus edicere iussi, circa Oedipi filios: Etooclem quidem, qui pro hac urbe pugnando, re fortissime gesta, periit, ut condant sepulchro, omnibusque condecorent inferiis, quas strenuorum virorum Manibus ferre solemne est; illius autem fratrem , Polynicen dico, qui exsul huc reversus, urbem patriam et deos patrios flammis abolere voluit, voluitque sanguinem haurire cognatum, civesque suos in servitutem abducere, hunc civibus interdictum est ne quis tumu« lo mandet, neque defleat, sed sinant insepultum, alitibus canibusque praedam, visu foedissimam. Haec mea est sententia, neque a me unquam honorem improbi consequentur práe iustis, sed quicunqne benevolus huic urbi est, mortuus et vivus pariter a me quidem honorabitur.

Chorus

Eadem, quae tibi, nobis etiam placent; Menoecei gnate, Creon, circa civitatis huius hostem, et circa amicum:

lege vero uti qualibet penes te estin mortuos, et in viventes, quotquot sumus.

Creon

Vos igitur adtendite, ut edictum observetur.

Chorus

Iuniori alicui hoc munus manda.

Creon

At iam constituti sunt cadaveris custodes.

Chorus

Quid igitur aliud praeter hoc iubeas?

Creon

Ne permittatis, si qui minus obtemperent.

Chorus

Nemo est amens adeo, ut mori cupiat.

Creon

Est sane proposita haec merces: sed homines saepe lucri spes perdidit.

Custos

Haud equidem, o rex, dixero, anhelantem me esse, quod citato gressu celeriterque venerim: moras enim solicitudinum multas inveni, in via subinde me ipsum circumagens, ut referrem pedem. Anima enim saepius me alloquebatur: Miser, cur tendis eo, ubi poenas dabis, simul ac veneris? at enim resistes, miser? haec etiamsi ex quopiam alio resciverit Creon, quinam, sodes, malum effugies? Talia volutans animo, tardo iter confeci, quamvis alioqui celer, sicque longa fit brevis via. Tandem tamen consultissimum visum est huc venire: dicam autem, tametsi nihili sit, quod proferam: hac enim spe fretus venio, nihil me aliud passurum esse, nisi quod fatale sit.

Creon

Quidnam vero est, cur animo ita es anxio?

Custos

Primum tibi declarare volo quae ad me adtinent: neque enim ipse facti auctor sum, neque adeo qui fecerit vidi: proinde indignus sum qui in malum quodpiam incidam.

Creon

Caute sane rem circumspicis, et munis undique: videris autem aliquid indicaturus grave.

Custos

Periculosa enim metum adferunt plurimum.

Creon

Nonne dices tandem, perfunctusque abibis?

Custos

Atqui tibi dico: mortuum aliquis modo sepelivit, abiitque, postquam cadaver arido sparsit pulvere, inferiasque pro.more fecit.

Creon

Quid ais? Quis homo ausus est haec facere?

Custos

Nescio: ibi enim neque ligone quid erat caesum, neque bidente effossum, sed et dura terra, etinfracta, nec plaustri sulcata rotis, ita ut nullo signo facti auctor cognosci posset. Ubi vero nobis rem ostendit primus diurnus speculator, omnibus triste miraculum visum est: ille enim non conspiciebatur, nec tamen tumulo conditus erat, sed tenuis superiniectus erat pulvis, ut ab aliquo piaculum fugiente: signa vero neque ferae, neque canis cuiusquam adparebant, qui venisset et cadaver lacerasset. Tum acerba dicta inter nos vigiles iactari coeperunt, alio alium arguente; et res tandem ad verbera venisset: nemo enim erat qui rixam componeret; quippe unusquisque aliis videbatur facinoris auctor, nec tamen quisquam manifestus erat: sed omnes scire se negabant. Parati quoque eramus candens ferrum manibus: tollere, perque flammas transire, et deos adiurare, nos neque fecisse, neque cuiquam esse conscios qui facinus vel meditatus fuerit, vel patraverit. Denique quum scrutando nihil proficeremus, fari infit unus nostrum, cuius ad sermonem metu perculiad solum omnes capita demisimus: neque enim poteramus contradicere, neque aliud quid excogitare, quod facto nobis usus esset. Dixit autem ille, rem omnem ad te referendam, nec celandam esse. Atque haec vicit sententia, sortesque hoc commodi accipere me infelicem damnarunt. Adsum igitur invitus apud invitos, scio. Diligit enimi nemo malae rei nuntium.

Chorus

Dudum sane, o rex, tacitus mecum dispicio, anne divinitus haec res contigerit.

Creon

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

Custos

Loquine mihi quicquam permittes, an conversus hinc abeo?

Creon

Nescisne, vel nunc quam moleste loqueris?

Custos

Auribusne an animo morderis ?

Creon

Quid vero exploras, meus ubi situs sit dolor?

Custos

Facinoris auctor animum tibi contristat, aures ego.

Creon

At vafer certe deprehenderis. . . .

Custos

Nec tamen hoc facinus umquam commisi.

Creon

Et sic argenti cupidine vitam proiecisse.

Custos

Vah, malum est, si cui opiniones et mendacia placent!

Creon

De suspicione igi- tur argutare quantumvis : sed nisi haec qui fecerint monstrabitis, fatebimini, malis ex lucris damna gigni.

Custos

Maxime sane velim inveniatur: attamen deprehensus fuerit nec nme, hoc enim fortuna diiudicabit, non est ut videas tu me huc reversum: etenim nunc quoque praeter spem opinionemque meam servatus , magnas debeo diis gratias.

Chorus

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 155 focus

Led by him who shakes the ground,
155

Our Bacchus, Thebe’s child of light.
155

But look! where Creon in his new-made power,

Moved by the fortune of the recent hour,

Comes with fresh counsel. What intelligence

Intends he for our private conference,

That he hath sent his herald to us all,
160

Gathering the elders with a general call?

CREON
Enter CREON .

My friends, the noble vessel of our State,

After sore shaking her, the Gods have sped

On a smooth course once more. I have called you hither,

By special messengers selecting you

From all the city, first, because I knew you
165

Aye loyal to the throne of Laïus;

Then, both while Oedipus gave prosperous days,

And since his fall, I still beheld you firm

In sound allegiance to the royal issue.

Now since the pair have perished in an hour,
170

Twinned in misfortune, by a mutual stroke

Staining our land with fratricidal blood,

All rule and potency of sovereign sway,

In virtue of next kin to the deceased,

Devolves on me. But hard it is to learn
175

The mind of any mortal or the heart,

Till he be tried in chief authority.

Power shows the man. For he who when supreme

Withholds his hand or voice from the best cause,

Being thwarted by some fear, that man to me

Appears, and ever hath appeared, most vile.
180

He too hath no high place in mine esteem,

Who sets his friend before his fatherland.

Let Zeus whose eye sees all eternally

Be here my witness. I will ne’er keep silence

When danger lours upon my citizens
185

Who looked for safety, nor make him my friend

Who doth not love my country. For I know

Our country carries us, and whilst her helm

Is held aright we gain good friends and true.

Following such courses ’tis my steadfast will
190

To foster Thebè’s greatness, and therewith

In brotherly accord is my decree

Touching the sons of Oedipus. The man—

Eteocles I mean—who died for Thebes

Fighting with eminent prowess on her side,

Shall be entombed with every sacred rite
195

That follows to the grave the lordliest dead.

But for his brother, who, a banished man,

Returned to devastate and burn with fire

The land of his nativity, the shrines

Of his ancestral gods, to feed him fat
200

With Theban carnage, and make captive all

That should escape the sword—for Polynices,

This law hath been proclaimed concerning him:

He shall have no lament, no funeral,

But he unburied, for the carrion fowl
205

And dogs to eat his corse, a sight of shame.

Such are the motions of this mind and will.

Never from me shall villains reap renown

Before the just. But whoso loves the State,

I will exalt him both in life and death.
210

CH

Son of Menoeceus, we have heard thy mind

Toward him who loves, and him who hates our city.

And sure, ’tis thine to enforce what law thou wilt

Both on the dead and all of us who live.

CR

Then be ye watchful to maintain my word.
215

CH

Young strength for such a burden were more meet.

CR

Already there be watchers of the dead.

CH

What charge then wouldst thou further lay on us?

CR

Not to give place to those that disobey.

CH

Who is so fond, to be in love with death?
220

CR

Such, truly, is the meed. But hope of gain

Full oft ere now hath been the ruin of men.

WATCHMAN

().

My lord, I am out of breath, but not with speed.

I will not say my foot was fleet. My thoughts

Cried halt unto me ever as I came
225

And wheeled me to return. My mind discoursed

Most volubly within my breast, and said—

Fond wretch! why go where thou wilt find thy bane?

Unhappy wight! say, wilt thou bide aloof?

Then if the king shall hear this from another,

How shalt thou ’scape for ’t? Winding thus about
230

I hasted, but I could not speed, and so

Made a long journey of a little way.

At last ‘yes’ carried it, that I should come

To thee; and tell thee I must needs; and shall,

Though it be nothing that I have to tell.

For I came hither, holding fast by this—
235

Nought that is not my fate can happen to me.

CR

Speak forth thy cause of fear. What is the matter?

WATCH

First of mine own part in the business. For

I did it not, nor saw the man who did,

And ’twere not right that I should come to harm.
240

CR

You fence your ground, and keep well out of danger;

I see you have some strange thing to declare.

WATCH

A man will shrink who carries words of fear.

CB

Let us have done with you. Tell your tale, and go.

WATCH

Well, here it is. The corse hath burial
245

From some one who is stolen away and gone,
245

But first hath strown dry dust upon the skin,

And added what religious rites require.

CR

Ha!

What man hath been so daring in revolt?

WATCH

I cannot tell. There was no mark to show—

No dint of spade, or mattock-loosened sod,—

Only the hard bare ground, untilled and trackless.
250

Whoe’er he was, the doer left no trace.

And, when the scout of our first daylight watch

Showed us the thing, we marvelled in dismay.

The Prince was out of sight; not in a grave,

But a thin dust was o’er him, as if thrown
255

By one who shunned the dead man’s curse. No sign

Appeared of any hound or beast o’ the field

Having come near, or pulled at the dead body.

Then rose high words among us sentinels

With bickering noise accusing each his mate,

And it seemed like to come to blows, with none
260

To hinder. For the hand that thus had wrought

Was any of ours, and none; the guilty man

Escaped all knowledge. And we were prepared

To lift hot iron with our bare palms; to walk

Through fire, and swear by all the Gods at once
265

That we were guiltless, ay, and ignorant

Of who had plotted or performed this thing.

When further search seemed bootless, at the last

One spake, whose words bowed all our heads to the earth

With fear. We knew not what to answer him,

Nor how to do it and prosper. He advised
270

So grave a matter must not be concealed,

But instantly reported to the King.

Well, this prevailed, and the lot fell on me,

Unlucky man! to be the ministrant

Of this fair service. So I am present here,
275

Against my will and yours, I am sure of that.

None love the bringer of unwelcome news.

CH

My lord, a thought keeps whispering in my breast,

Some Power divine hath interposed in this.

CR

Cease, ere thou quite enrage me, and appear
280

Foolish as thou art old. Talk not to me

Of Gods who have taken thought for this dead man!

Say, was it for his benefits to them

They hid his corse, and honoured him so highly,

Who came to set on fire their pillared shrines,
285

With all the riches of their offerings,

And to make nothing of their land and laws?

Or, hast thou seen them honouring villany?

That cannot be. Long time the cause of this

Hath come to me in secret murmurings
290

From malcontents of Thebes, who under yoke

Turned restive, and would not accept my sway.

Well know I, these have bribed the watchmen here

To do this for some fee. For nought hath grown

Current among mankind so mischievous
295

As money. This brings cities to their fall:

This drives men homeless, and moves honest minds

To base contrivings. This hath taught mankind

The use of wickedness, and how to give

An impious turn to every kind of act.
300

But whosoe’er hath done this for reward

Hath found his way at length to punishment.

If Zeus have still my worship, be assured

Of that which here on oath I say to thee—

Unless ye find the man who made this grave
305

And bring him bodily before mine eye,

Death shall not be enough, till ye have hung

Alive for an example of your guilt,

That henceforth in your rapine ye may know

Whence gain is to be gotten, and may learn
310

Pelf from all quarters is not to be loved.

For in base getting, ’tis a common proof,

More find disaster than deliverance.

WATCH

Am I to speak? or must I turn and go?
315

CR

What? know you not your speech offends even now?

WATCH

Doth the mind smart withal, or only the ear?

CR

Art thou to probe the seat of mine annoy?

WATCH

If I offend, ’tis in your ear alone,

The malefactor wounds ye to the soul.

CR

Out on thee! thou art nothing but a tongue.
320

WATCH

Then was I ne’er the doer of this deed.

CR

Yea, verily: self-hired to crime for gold.

WATCH

Pity so clear a mind should clearly err!

CR

Gloze now on clearness! But unless ye bring

The burier, without glozing ye shall tell,
325

Craven advantage clearly worketh bane.

WATCH

By all means let the man be found; one thing

I know right well:—caught or not caught, howe’er

Fate rules his fortune, me you ne’er will see

Standing in presence here. Even now I owe

Deep thanks to Heaven for mine escape, so far
330

Beyond my hope and highest expectancy.

CHORUS
CHORUS. LEADER OF CHORUS.

Many a wonder lives and moves, but the wonder of all is man,

That courseth over the grey ocean, carried of Southern gale,
335

Faring amidst high-swelling seas that rudely surge around,

And Earth, supreme of mighty Gods, eldest, imperishable,

Eternal, he with patient furrow wears and wears away

As year by year the plough-shares turn and turn,—

Subduing her unwearied strength with children of the steed.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 155 focus

Doch hier naht Kreon, Menökeus' Sohn,
155

Zum König der Stadt auf's Neue bestellt

Nach dem neuen Geschick, das Götter verhängt:

Was sinnt er im Geist, was bewegt ihm die Brust,

Daß er diesen Verein von Greisen hieher

Zur Berathung entbot,
160

Durch Heroldruse sie einlud?

Kreon mit Gefolge. Der Chor.

Kreon.

Ihr Männer, fest hob Götterhuld uns wiederum

Aus vieler Stürme wildem Drang die Stadt empor:

Doch euch beschied ich jezt allein aus Allen her

Durch meine Boten; denn ich weiß, daß allezeit
165

Ihr heilig ehrtet Thron und Macht des Laïos,

Und wieder, als uns Dedipus die Stadt erhob,

Und als er hingeschieden, auch den Söhnen noch

In wandellosem Sinne treu ergeben bliebt.

Nun diese Beiden durch ein zwiefach Todesloos
170

An Einem Tag gefallen, sich erschlagend und

Erschlagen durch der eignen Hände Gräuelthat:

So wurden mein die Throne, mein ward alle Macht

Der Todten nach dem Rechte stammverwandten Bluts.

Wohl ist's unmöglich, auszuspäh'n an jedem Mann
175

Verstand, Gemüth und Sinnesart, bevor er sich

Mit Aemtern und Gesezen wohlvertraut bewies.

Denn mir erscheint, wer einen ganzen Staat beherrscht,

Und nicht am besten Rathe sich zu halten weiß,

Ja, feig und furchtsam seinen Mund verschlossen hält,
180

Verworfen scheint er heute mir und schien es längst.

Und wer des eignen Landes Wohl nicht höher stellt,

Als seine Freunde, diesen acht' ich völlig Nichts.

Denn ich vernehm' es Zeus, der stets allsehende!

Ich schwiege niemals, säh' ich auf die Bürger je
185

Heran das Unglück schreiten an des Glückes Statt,

Noch werd' ich jemals einen Feind des Landes mir

Zum Freunde wählen, weil ich wohl erkenne, daß

Nur dieses uns behütet, daß uns Freunde treu

Zur Seite stehen, schiffen wir an seinem Bord.
190

Durch solche Sazung heb' ich diese Stadt empor;

Und dem entsprechend ließ ich jezt von Dedipus'

Zwei Söhnen allem Volke-laut verkündigen:

Eteokles, welcher kämpfend fiel für diese Stadt,

Und jeden Preis des Heldenmuthes sich errang,
195

Er soll ein Grab und alle Grabesweih'n empfah'n,

So wie's den Besten folgt hinab zur Todtenwelt;¹

Doch seinem Bruder - Polyneikes mein' ich, der

Das Land der Ahnen und die Götter dieser Flur,

Heimkehrend aus dem Banne, durch des Feuers Glut
200

Austilgen wollte, wollte sich in Bürgerblut

Satt schwelgen, euch zu Knechten frech entwürdigen,

Ihm dürfe, so ward eurer Stadt es kundgethan,

Niemand ein Grabmal schmücken, noch ihm Klage weih'n;

Nein, unbestattet lieg' er, zur Verstümmelung,
205

Zum Fraß für Hund' und Vögel, graunvoll anzuseh'n.

So lautet denn mein Wille: niemals werden wir

Dem Schlechten Ehre geben vor dem Redlichen;

Doch wer da wohlwill dieser Stadt, der wird im Tod

Und Leben gleicherweise stets von mir geehrt.
210

Der Chor.

Dir, Sohn Menökeus', Kreon, ist es so genehm

Mit dieses Landes Gegner und mit seinem Freund.

Denn jede Sazung anzuordnen steht dir frei,

So für die Todten, wie für uns, die Lebenden.

Kreon.

Seid ihr die Hüter dessen nun, was ich gebot!
215

Der Chor.

Der Jüngern Einem lege dies zu tragen auf.

Kreon.

Die, so den Leichnam hüten, steh'n ja schon bereit.

Der Chor.

Warum denn einem Andern noch gebeutst du dies?

Kreon.

Daß Keinem Nachsicht werde, der dawider thut.

Der Chor.

Wer ist so thöricht, daß er sich zu sterben sehnt?
220

Kreon.

Und dieses wäre, traun, der Lohn; doch Vielen ja

Hat schon die Hoffnung auf Gewinn den Tod gebracht.

Ein Wächter. Die Voriger.

Der Wächter.

Herr, ich will nicht sagen, daß ich athemlos

Vor Eile komme mit behend erhob'nem Fuß;

Denn viel Bedenken schus mir manchen Aufenthalt,
225

Und oft zur Rückkehr wandt' ich unterwegs mich um.

Denn meine Seele sprach zu mir und warnte viel:

„Was willst du dorthin, Armer, wo dir Strafe droht?

Elender, säumst du? Doch erfährt es Kreon dann

Von einem Andern, würde dir's nicht schlimm ergeh'n?"
230

In solchem Grübeln ging ich langsam schnell voran,

Und also streckt sich lange hin der kurze Weg.

Doch siegt' am Ende der Entschluß, hieher zu geh'n,

Zu dir; und sag' ich dir auch Nichts, ich sag' es doch.

Denn an die Hoffnung klammr' ich unverrückt mich an,
235

Nichts könne sonst mich treffen, als bestimmtes Loos.

Kreon.

Was ist's, warum befiel dich solche Bangigkeit?

Der Wächter.

Erst laß dir sagen, was mich selbst betrifft: die That

Verübt' ich nicht, noch sah ich, wer der Thäter war;

Und nur mit Unrecht widerführe mir ein Leid.
240

Kreon.

Du zielst behutsam und verschanzest dich geschickt

Ringsher; du bringst uns, seh' ich wohl, ein schweres Wort.

Der Wächter.

Das Arge freilich regt die Furcht gewaltig auf.

Kreon.

Nun, wirst du reden endlich und dann weiter geh'n?

Der Wächter.

Wohlan, so sag' ich's: Einer, der sofort verschwand,
245

Begrub den Todten eben, hat mit trocknem Staub

Bestreut den Leichnam, und geweiht, was üblich ist.

Kreon.

Was sagst du? Wer auf Erden hat sich deß erkühnt?

Der Wächter.

Ich weiß es nicht; denn weder eines Beiles Hieb

War dort, noch einer Hacke Wurf, der Boden dicht
250

Und fest und bruchlos, auch mit Wagenrädern nicht

Befahren; spurlos blieb es, wer der Thäter war.

Und wie es uns der erste Tageswächter zeigt,²

Erschien es Allen unerklärlich wunderbar.

Die Leiche war verschwunden, nicht begraben zwar;
255

Dünn, wie den Fluch zu meiden, lag der Staub darauf.³

Von einem Raubthier oder Hund war keine Spur,

Die hergekommen und an ihr herumgezerrt.

Nun schollen böse Reden auf einander los,

Der Wächter zich den Wächter; wohl auch endet' es
260

Zulezt mit Schlägen; Keiner war zu wehren da.

Denn Einer wie der Andre war der Thäter hier,

Und Keiner überführbar; Jeder stritt es ab.

Mit Händen fassen wollten wir ein glühend Erz,⁴

Durch Feuer gehen, schwören bei den Göttern selbst,
265

Daß wir es nicht verübten noch im Bunde sei'n

Mit Einem, der's ersonnen oder ausgeführt.

Am Ende, da kein Forschen mehr uns weiter half,

Sprach Einer, der uns alle zwang, vor Furcht das Haupt

Zur Erd' hinabzusenken denn wir wußten nicht
270

Zu widersprechen, noch wiefern wir, thäten wir's,

Uns helfen könnten dieser rieth, man müsse dir

Die Sache hinterbringen, nicht verheimlichen.

Und seine Meinung siegte: mich Unseligen

Verdammt zu diesem schönen Glück des Looses Wurf.
275

Nun steh' ich hier, nicht willig vor Unwilligen:

Niemand ja liebt den Boten unwillkommner Mähr.

Der Chor.

Schon lang, o König, überlegt mein Inneres,

Ob eine Gottheit diese That nicht angeregt.

Kreon.

Schweig', eh mich deine Rede gar mit Zorn erfüllt,
280

Daß du, der Alte, nicht zugleich als Thor erscheinst.

Denn unerträglich ist es, daß du sagen magst,

Die Götter trügen Sorge für den Todten dort.

Sie hätten, wie zu schöner That Verherrlichung,

Den Mann begraben, der mit Brand zu tilgen kam
285

Die säulumringten Tempel und der Gaben Schmuck,

Und ihre Fluren, ihr Gesez zu stürzen sann?

Wann sahst du Frevler je geehrt durch Götterhuld?

Nie wahrlich, nie! Doch lange murrten schon darum,

Ungern gehorsam, wider mich die Bürger hier,
290

Geheim die Häupter schüttelnd; ja, sie hielten nicht

Pflichttreu den Nacken unter'm Joch, wie's mir genügt.

Von ihnen wurden jene, sicher weiß ich das,

Durch Lohn verleitet und verübten diese That.

Denn wahrlich, nichts von Allem, was bei Menschen gilt,
295

Ist, wie das Geld, verderblich: dies mag Städte selbst

Zerstören, dies treibt Männer aus von Hof und Herd;

Dies unterweiset und verkehrt den edlen Sinn

Rechtschaff'ner Männer, nachzugeh'n ruchloser That,

Zeigt an die Wege böser List den Sterblichen,
300

Und bildet sie zu jedem gottverhaßten Werk.

Doch die für Lohn gedungen diese That vollbracht,

Erwirkten sich's nun endlich, daß sie Strafe trifft.

Ia, wenn noch irgend Ehre Zeus von mir empfängt,

So sei versichert, und mein Schwur betheur' es dir:
305

Wofern ihr nicht den Frevler, der den Todten dort

Bestattet, aufspürt und mir hier vor Augen stellt,

Genügt es nicht an eurem Tode nur, ihr sollt

Am Kreuze hängen, bis ihr offenbart die Schmach,

Auf daß ihr, wissend, wo Gewinn zu suchen sei,
310

Ihn künftig dort erhaschet und begreifen lernt,

Daß nicht in Allem nach Gewinn zu spähen frommt.

Denn mit dem Preis des Schlechten wirst du Mehrere

Unglücklich enden, als das Glück gewinnen seh'n.

Der Wächter.

Herr, darf ich reden? Oder geh' ich so von dir?
315

Kreon.

Gewahrst du noch nicht, wie verhaßt dein Wort mir ist?

Der Wächter.

Verlezt es dir die Ohren oder dein Gemüth?

Kreon.

Wie? Nach dem Size meiner Unlust spähst du gar?

Der Wächter.

Der Thäter kränkte dir das Herz, und ich das Ohr.

Kreon.

Was doch ein ganz durchtrieb'ner arger Schalk du bist!
320

Der Wächter.

Doch nimmermehr bin ich es, der die That gethan.

Kreon.

Du bist's, verkauftest deine Seel' um goldnen Lohn.

Weh!

Der Wächter.

Schlimm wahrlich, wenn man, wähnend, auch noch Falsches wähnt!

Kreon.

Ia, wizle mit dem Wahne nur; doch stellt ihr nicht

Die Thäter mir vor Augen, dann bekennt ihr noch,
325

Daß feige Habsucht überall Unsegen bringt.

(ab in den Palast.)

Der Wächter.

Ia, fände man den Thäter! Aber ob man ihn,

Ob nicht ihn fahe denn das Glück entscheidet dies

Mich sollst du niemals wieder hier erscheinen seh'n!

Denn über all mein Hoffen, all mein Denken jezt
330

Gerettet, schuld' ich vielen Dank den Himmlischen.

(ab.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Vieles Gewalt'ge lebt, und Nichts

Ist gewaltiger als der Mensch.

Denn selbst über die dunkele

Meerflut zieht er, vom Süd umstürmt,
335

Hinwandelnd zwischen den Wogen

Die rings umtoste Bahn.

Er müdet ab der Götter höchste,⁵

Gäa, die ewige, nie zu ermattende,

Während die Pflüge sich wenden von Jahr zu Jahr,
340

Wühlt sie durch der Rosse Kraft um.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 162 focus

Chorus

Creon

At length our empire, shook by civil broils.

The gods to peace and safety have restored ;

Wherefore, my friends, you had our late request

That you should meet us here ; for well I know

Your firm allegiance to great Laius, next

To (Edipus, and his unhappy sons ;

These by each other's hand untimely slain,

To me the sceptre doth of right descend,

As next in blood. Never can man be know,

His mind, his will, his passions ne'er appear

Till power and office call them forth ; for me,

'Tis my firm thought, and I have held it ever,

That he who rules and doth not follow that

Which wisdom counsels, but, restrained by fear,

Shuts up his lips, must be the worst of men ;

Nor do I deem him worthy who prefers

A friend, how dear soever, to his country.

Should I behold — witness all-seeing Jove ! —

This city wronged, I never would be silent,

Never would make the foe of Thebes my friend,

For on her safety must depend our own j

And if she flourish we can never want

Assistance or support. Thus would I act,

And therefore have I sent my edict forth

Touching the sons of OEdipus, commanding

That they should bury him who nobly fought

And died for Thebes, the good Eteocles,

Gracing his memory with each honour due

To the illustrious dead. For Polynices,

Abandoned exile, for a brother's blood

Thirsting insatiate — he who would in flames

Have wasted all, his country and his gods.

And made you slaves — I have decreed he lie

Unburied, his vile carcase to the birds

And hungry dogs a prey. There let him rot

Inglorious — 'tis my will ; for ne'er from me

Shall vice inherit virtue's due reward,

But him alone who is a friend to Thebes,

Living or dead shall Creon reverence still.

Choe. Son of Menseceus, 'twas thy great behest

Thus to reward them both ; thine is the power

O'er all supreme, the living and the dead.

Creon

Be careful then my orders are obeyed.
215

Chorus

I have appointed some to watch the body.

Chorus

What then remains for us ?

Creon

To see that none

By your connivance violate the law.

Chorus

Scarce will the man be found so fond of death
220

As to attempt it.
220

Creon

Death is the reward

Of him who dares it j but oftimes by hope

Of sordid gain are men betrayed to ruin.

SCBNS II.

Messenger

Creon, Chorus.

Messenger

O king ! I cannot boast that hither sent

I came with speed, for oft my troubled thoughts

Have driven me back ; oft to myself I said,

Why dost thou seek destruction ? Yet again

If thou report it not, from other tongues

Creon must hear the tale, and thou wilt sutier.
230

With doubts like these oppressed, slowly I came,

And the short way seemed like a tedious journey ;

At length I come, resolved to tell thee all :

Whate'er the event, 1 must submit to fate.

Creon

Whence are thy fears, and why this hesita-

Messenger

First for myself ; I merit not thy wrath ;

It was not I, nor have I seen the man

Who did the guilty deed.
240

Creon

Something of weight

Thou hast t' impart, by this unusual care

To guard thee from our anger.

Messenger

Fear will come

Where danger is.

Creon

Speak, and thou hast thy pardon.

Messenger

The body of Polynices some rash hand
245

Hath buried, scattered o'er his corpse the dust,

And funeral rites performed.

Creon

Who dared do this ?

Messenger

'Tis yet unknown ; no mark of instrument

Is left behind : the earth still level all,
250

Nor worn by track of chariot wheel. The guard,

Who watched that day, call it a miracle ;

No tomb was raised ; light lay the scattered earth,

As only meant to avoid the imputed curse ;

Nor could we trace the steps of dog or bea.st

Passing that way. Instant a tumult rose ;

The guards accused each other ; nought was proved,

But each suspected each, and all denied,

Offering, in proof of innocence, to grasp

The burning steel, to walk through fire, and take

Their solemn oath they knew not of the deed ;

At length, one mightier than the rest, proposed —

Nor could we think of better means — that all

Should be to thee discovered ; 'twas my lot

To bring th' unwelcome tidings, and I come

To pour my news unwilling into ears

Unwilling to receive it, for 1 know
275

None ever loved the messenger of ill.

Chorus

To me it seems as if the hand of heaven \

Were in this deed. i

Creon

Be silent, ere my rage,
280

Thou rash old man, pronounce thee fool and dotard ;

Horrid suggestion ! Think'st thou, then, the gods \

Take care of men like these? Would they preserve

Or honour him who came to burn their altars,

Profane their rites, and trample on their laws ?
285

Will they reward the bad? it cannot be.

But well I know the murmuring citizens

Brooked not our mandate, shook their heads in

secret.
290

And, ill-affected to me, would not stoop

Their haughty crests, or bend beneath my yoke.

By hire corrupted, some of these have dared

The venturous deed. ( Gold is the worst of ills ^

That ever plagued mankind :^this wastes our cities,
295

Diives forth their natives to a foreign soil,

Taints the pure heart, and turns the virtuous mind

To basest deeds ) artificer of fraud

Supreme, and source of every wickedness. ^
300

The wretch corrupted for this hateful purpose

Must one day suffer ; foi-, observe me well.

As I revere that power by whom I swear,

Almighty Jove, if you conceal him from me.

If to my eyes you do not bring the traitor.

Know, death alone shall not suffice to glut

My vengeance ; Uving shall you hang in torments

Till you confess, till you have learned from me

There is a profit not to be desired.
310

And own dishonest gains have ruined more

Than they have saved.

O king ! may I depart,

Watchman

Or wait thy further orders
315

Creon

Knowst thou not

Watchman

Thy speech is hateful \ Hence !

Messenger

Wherefore, my lord?

CiiEON. Know you not why?

Messenger

I but offend your ear,

They who have done the deed afllict your soul.

Creon

Away ! Thy talk but makes thy guilt appear.
320

Messenger

My lord, I did not do it.

Creon

Thou hast sold

Thy life for gain.

Messenger

'Tis cruel to suspect me.

Creon

Thou talkst it bravely ; but remember all,

'Unless you do produce him, you shall find
325

The miseries which on ill-got wealth await. \Exit.

Messenger

Would he were found. That we must leave to

fate ;

Be it as it may, I never will return :

Thus safe beyond my hopes, 'tis fit I pay

My thanks to the kind gods who have preserved me.

Since first this active world began.

Nature is busy all in every part ;

But passing all in wisdom and in art,

Superior shines inventive man :

Fearless oibvintry winds and circling waves,

le ocean and the tempest braves ;

'him unwearied earth with lavish hand,

Immortal goddess, all her'bounty pours.

Patient beneath the rigid plough's command,

Year after year she yields her plenteous stores.

AiitistrojyJie i.

To drive the natives of the wood

From their rude haunts, or in the cruel snare,

To catch the winged inhabitants of air,

Or trap the scaly brood ;

To tame the fiery courser yet unbroke

With the hard rein, or to the untried yoke

To bend the mountain bull, who wildly free

O'er the steep rocks had wandered unconfined —

These are the arts of mortal industry,

And such the subtle power of humankind.

By learning, and fair science crowned.

Behold him now full-fraught with wisdom's lore,

The laws of nature anxious to explore.
330

With depth of thought profound.
330

But naught, alas ! can human wisdom see
330

In the dark bosom of futurity.
330

The power of wisdom may awhile prevail,
330

Awhile suspend a mortal's fleeting breath,
330

But never can her fruitless arts avail
330

To conquer fate, or stop the hand of death.
330

Man's ever-active changeful will
330

Sometimes to good shall bend his virtuous mind,

Sometimes behold him to foul deeds inclined.

And prone to every ill.

Who guiltless keeps the laws is still approved

By every tongue, and by his country loved ;

But he who doth not, from his native land

A wretched exile, far, oh ! far from me

May he be driven, by angry Heaven's command,-

And live devote to shame and infamy !

Chorus
\Exit. Scene III. Strophe i. Stroj)lie 2. Antistroplie. 2.

Amazement ! Can it be Antigone ?

Guard, Chorus.

Guard

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 155 focus

Pero el nuevo rey de nuestra comarca, el hijo de Menoceo, se acerca. Los acontecimientos que han suscitado los dioses le traen á este lugar. Sin duda medita algún proyecto, porque él es quien ha convocado, por medio de una orden común para todos, esta asamblea de ancianos.

Creonte y el Coro

CREONTE

Venerables ancianos: al fin los dioses han enderezado de nuevo las cosas de la ciudad, después de haberla conmovido con profunda turbación. He hecho citar especialmente á vosotros de entre todos los ciudadanos, constándome cuán respetuosos fuisteis siempre con el trono y con la soberania de Layo, así como también vuestra adhesión á Edipo, durante su reinado, y después de muerto éste, cuán constante ha sido vuestra fidelidad para con sus hijos. Ahora bien: desde que éstos han perecido en un mismo día de recíproca doble muerte dada por sus propias manos, correspóndenme, por derecho de nacimiento, todos los poderes y los privilegios todos del trono. No es posible, respetables varones, apreciar el espíritu, los sentimientos ni el carácter de un hombre, hasta tanto que éstos se hayan manifestado en el ejercicio del poder y de las leyes.¹ En cuanto á mí, declaro que á todo el que teniendo á su cargo el gobierno de un pueblo, no adopta las resoluciones más acertadas, y sella sus labios por temor, le juzgo y le he juzgado siempre malísimo magistrado, y aun el que antepone las conveniencias del amigo al interés de la patria, paréceme del todo vil y despreciable. Pongo por testigo al Supremo Júpiter, que todo lo sabe, y á cuyos ojos nada se oculta, que jamás me callaré viendo sobrevenir males que puedan poner en peligro á mis conciudadanos, ni otorgaré nunca mi amistad al enemigo de mi patria: persuadido de que la salvación de la patria, es la nuestra; y de que, bogando de esta manera, jamás nos han de faltar amigos.

Con tales principios me prometo llevar nuestra ciudad á un estado floreciente: é inspirándome en ellos, he ordenado publicar ese bando relativo á los hijos de Edipo: á Eteocles, que ha muerto blandiendo valerosamente su lanza por la patria, he decretado que se le sepulte en la tumba, con todos los honores debidos á los manes de los héroes; en cuanto á su hermano Polinice, que, abandonando su destierro, ha venido á exterminar con el fuego su ciudad natal y los dioses de sus padres; que quiso tener el gusto de saciarse en la sangre de los thebanos, y someternos á la servidumbre... ese he prescrito que ni se le sepulte ni se le llore; antes, por el contrario, que quede sin que la tierra le cubra, para ser pasto de los perros y de las aves carniceras. Tal es mi voluntad. Jamás el malvado alcanzará de mí los honores debidos al hombre de virtud; pero todo el que sirviere bien al Estado, vivo ó muerto, será honrado por mí del propio modo.

CORO

Tales son tus decretos, hijo de Menoceo, respecto al enemigo y al amigo de la patria. Vivos y muertos todos estamos sometidos á tu Ley.

CREONTE

Ahora... vigilad porque se cumplan mis decretos.

CORO

Confía á otros, á otros más jóvenes ese encargo.

CREONTE

Quedan colocados centinelas al lado del cadáver.

CORO

¿Tienes algo más que recomendarnos?

CREONTE

Que seáis severamente inflexibles con los que osaren desobedecer mis mandatos.

CORO

Nadie habrá tan insensato que quiera morir.

CREONTE

¡Oh! ese sería, en efecto, el pago que llevaría. Pero á veces la esperanza del lucro conduce á los hombres á su perdición. Preséntase en la escena uno de los guardias encargados de custodiar el cadáver de Polynice.

El Centinela y Creonte

EL CENTINELA

¡Señor! No diré que la rapidez de mi marcha me ha dejado sin alientos, porque me han detenido, y aún me han hecho á veces retroceder, los pensamientos que me han agitado durante mi camino. Oía que la voz interior de mi alma unas veces me decía: «¡Desdichado! por qué vas tan de prisa adonde has de sufrir el castigo?...» y otras: «¡Infeliz! ¿por qué te detienes? Si el caso llega á noticias de Creonte por otra persona, ¿cómo podrás librarte de su cólera?» Lentamente avanzando en medio de estas reflexiones, he llegado al término: ¡ay! el camino más corto, se hace de tal modo largo y penosísimo. Me he decidido, por fin, á presentarme ante tí; y, aunque voy á dar cuenta de un hecho inexplicable, hablaré: pues me sostiene la esperanza de que no sufriré más que lo que me esté reservado por el destino.

CREONTE

Pero ¿qué hay? ¿Cuál es la causa de tu turbación?

EL CENTINELA

Ante todo te diré, por lo que á mi se refiere, que ni yo he ejecutado la acción, ni sé quién es el autor del hecho: en justicia, pues, no se me debe imponer á mi castigo.

CREONTE

¿Y á qué vienen todas esas precauciones; para qué todos esos rodeos? Alguna gran novedad parece que vas á anunciarme.

EL CENTINELA

Las malas nuevas causa miedo comunicarlas.

CREONTE

¿Acabarás de hablar al fin, para que te retires cuanto antes de mi vista?

EL CENTINELA

Pues voy á obedeceros. Acaban de sepultar el cadáver. Alguien ha arrojado sobre él un polvo menudo y ha practicado los ritos debidos.

CREONTE

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

EL CENTINELA

Lo ignoro. Allí no se encontraba golpe alguno de golpe de hacha ni de haber sido removida la tierra por el azadón: el suelo aquél firme y escabroso... intacto, sin huellas de rueda, sin vestigio alguno por donde se pueda descubrir al culpable. Tan luego como el primer centinela de día nos comunicó la noticia, nos pareció á todos un prodigio funesto. El difunto se nos presentó no realmente sepultado, sino cubierto el cuerpo de menudísima tierra, como para evitar el crimen de impiedad,² no viéndose rastro alguno de fieras ó de perros que hubieran venido á destrozarle. Inmediatamente comenzaron á lanzarse unos á otros palabras de amenaza, acusando cada cual de los centinelas al otro. Ya estábamos para venir á las manos, sin que hubiera allí nadie que pudiera evitarlo; pero como cada cual parecía para los demás culpable y ninguno lo era manifiestamente, á todos nos salvó esta incertidumbre. Dispuestos estábamos á poner las manos en candente hierro, á pasar por entre las llamas,³ á prestar juramento por los dioses, de nuestra inocencia y de no tener conocimiento de los perpetradores del crimen, ni de los que lo habían proyectado, cuando en vista de no poderse averiguar nada por los que indagaban, tomó uno la palabra, el cual nos obligó á todos á inclinar de espanto la cabeza hacia la tierra, porque ni teníamos nada que decirle ni sabíamos cómo seguir sin peligro su consejo. Su parecer era que se te debía dar inmediata fiel relación del hecho; ya que no era posible de ningún modo ocultártelo. Prevaleció esta opinión y á mi ¡desgraciado! me tocó en suerte el tener que aceptar este beneficio. Aquí me encuentro, pues, contra toda mi voluntad, y seguramente contra la tuya, porque nadie recibe de buen grado los mensajeros de malas nuevas.

CORO

¡Oh Rey! ¡Oh Rey! Cuanto más lo reflexiono, tanto más creo descubrir en esto la mano de los dioses.

CREONTE

¡Basta! Si te sigues expresando en ese sentido, me harás estallar de furor, y descubrirás que eres tan insensato como viejo... ¡Qué cosas tan intolerables estás diciendo! ¿Con que los dioses habían de haber tomado al difunto bajo su amparo? ¿Con que ellos habían de haber dado sepultura como merecedor de tan alta honra al que vino á incendiar sus templos y sus ofrendas, á arrasar su patria y á derrocar sus leyes?... ¿Cuándo has visto tú que los dioses protejan á los malvados? No es eso, no; sino que estos ciudadanos de Thebas, descontentos de mis mandatos, no pudiendo soportar mi yugo, andan tiempo há sacudiendo la cabeza y murmurando secretamente: que me odian, sí, que me odian. Tengo la certeza de que ellos han inducido á los otros, mediante recompensa, á cometer el atentado. ¡Ay... el oro! ¡Cuán funesto es este metal para los hombres! Él causa la ruina de los pueblos, él saca de sus hogares á los ciudadanos, y corrompe y lleva hasta el crimen á las almas honradas; él ha enseñado á los hombres todas las perfidias y todas las impiedades... Pero ¡ah! los culpables que se han dejado ganar ya llevarán en su día el condigno castigo. Juro por el respeto con que miro al Supremo Júpiter, y tú al centinela oye bien mi juramento; que si no me descubrís y presentáis ante mi vista al que ha cavado esa sepultura con su propia mano, la muerte no será bastante suplicio para vosotros; os haré colgar vivos en castigo de vuestro atrevimiento para que así conozcáis por qué medios debéis en adelante de enriqueceros; para que sepáis el límite que debéis poner en vuestra codicia; para que aprendáis que las ganancias ilegítimas son con frecuencia más funestas que provechosas.

EL CENTINELA

¿Me permites hablar ó debo dar media vuelta y marcharme?

CREONTE

¿No has conocido todavía cuánto me están atormentando tus palabras?

EL CENTINELA

¿Pero qué te atormentan: los oídos ó el corazón?

CREONTE

¿Y qué te importa á tí saber en dónde reside mi dolor?

EL CENTINELA

El autor del hecho será causante de la aflicción de tu alma; yo tan solo habré molestado tus oídos.

CREONTE

¡Por el Cielo! Que has nacido de verdad hablador.

EL CENTINELA

Sí, pero yo no he sido el autor del hecho.

CREONTE

No, tú no habrás hecho más que vender tu vida por el dinero.

EL CENTINELA

¡Ay! ¡Qué desgracia, cuando se forma una opinión, que se opine lo falso!

CREONTE

Habla tú ahora cuanto quieras sobre la opinión; pero si no me mostráis á los culpables, yo os haré decir muy alto que las ganancias infames acarrean la desgracia.

EL CENTINELA

¡Ojalá que se descubra el criminal! Aparte.. Pero si no pudiere ser habido y esto lo decidirá la suerte no me volverás tú á ver en tu presencia: bastantes gracias debo dar al Cielo, por haber escapado salvo, contra todo lo que yo me esperaba y me prometía.

Estrofa 1.a

CORO

¡Cuánto hay que admirar en el mundo! Pero nada tan maravilloso como el hombre. Él, impulsado por los vientos tempestuosos, atraviesa el espumante Océano, y surca las olas que braman á su alrededor; él fatiga la Tierra, á esta venerable diosa inmortal y fecunda, desgarrando cada un año su seno con el arado que arrastra, ayudado del ganado caballar.

Antístrofa 1.a

CORO

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 155 focus

Doch er, der König der Gegend,

Kreon, Menökeus Sohn, neu nach

Der Götter neuen Verhängnissen,

Kommt wohl, um einen Rath

Zu sagen, da er zusammenberufen
165

Und verordnet hier der Alten Versammlung,

Und öffentliche Botschaft gesendet.

Zweite Scene KREON. DER CHOR.

KREON

Ihr Männer, wärs die Stadt allein, die haben

Nachdem in grofser Fluth sie die geschüttert ,

Nun wiederum gestaltet unsre Götter.
170

Euch aber rief aus zwei Ursachen ich

Aus den Gesammten, einmal, weil ich weiss,

Ihr achtet überhaupt von Lajos Thron die Herrschaft,

Dann auch, als Oedipus die Stadt errichtet,

Und nachher untergieng, seid treugesinnt
175

Geblieben ihr den Kindern jener Eltern,

Da nun aus doppeltem Verhängnis diese

An einem Tag’ umkamen, schlagend und

Geschlagen in der eigenhändgen Schande,

Hab’ ich die Kraft alsb und Thron durchaus,
180

Aus Folge des Geschlechts von den Gestorbnen.

Doch nur mit solchen, die Recht und Befehl gewohnt sind,

Kann einer, in der Seel’ und Sinnesart und Meinungen,

Verstehn sich, allenfalls, mit andern schwerlich.

Mir nemlich scheint, wenn einer vornehm ist,
185

Und nicht sich hält im höchsten Sinn’, hingegen

In einer Furcht verschlofsne Zunge führet,

Ein schlechtes Leben das, jezt und von jeher.

Und wenn für gröfser, als sein Vaterland,

Das liebste jemand hält, der gilt mir ganz nichts.
190

Ich nemlich, weiss es Zevs, der alles schauet, allzeit,

Ich werd’ es nicht verschweigen, seh’ ich Irrung

Den Städtern gehen gegen ihre Wohlfahrt, nicht,

Wenn auf dem Grund hier ein Verdrofsner ist,

Den mir zum Freunde machen, denn ich weiß,
195

Der hält zusammen, und so wir auf diesem

Recht fahren, mögen Freunde wir gewinnen.

Nach solcher Sazung will die Stadt ich fördern.

Dermalen aber hab’ ich Aehnliches verkündet

Den Städtern wegen Oedipus Geschlecht.
200

Eteokles wohl, der kämpfend für die Stadt ist

Gestorben, all anordnend mit dem Speer’,

Ihn deket mit dem Grab’ und fertiget,

Was nur gehört, den besten Todten drunten.

Doch jenem, der sein Blutsverwandter ist,
205

Polynikes, der das väterliche Land,

Der Heimath Götter, kommend von der Flucht,

Vom Gipfel an, mit Feuer, wollte stürzen,

Sich waiden an verwandtem Blut und diese

Wegführen in Gefangenschaft, von diesem
210

Sag’ ich und in der Stadt ists ausgerufen,

Dafs keiner ihn begrabe, keiner traure,

Dafs unbegraben er gelassen sey, zu schaun

Ein Mahl, zerfleischt von Vögeln und von Hunden.

Difs ist mein Sinn und niemals werden mir
215

Die Schlimmen mehr geehrt seyn, als die Guten.

Doch wer es gut meint mit der Stadt, todt oder

Lebendig, immer sey er gleich von mir geschäzet.

CHOR

Dir dünket difs, o Sohn Menökeus, Kreon,

Des Feindes wegen und des Freunds der Stadt,
220

Und das Gesez gebrauchst du überall,

Der Todten wegen und der Lebenden.

KREON

Tragt ihr die Aufsicht nun in dem Besagten!

CHOR

Beseze du mit Jungen derley Posten!

KREON

Nicht das. Die Wach’ ist schon für den Entleibten draufsen,
225

CHOR

Du nehmestaber auch noch in die Pflicht uns andre.

KREON

Ja. Weils gewisse giebt, bei denen dieses mifsfällt.

CHOR

Hier ist kein solcher Thor, der gerne stirbet.

KREON

Diefs ist der Lohn. Doch hat mit Hoffnungen

Oft der Gewinn den Mann zu Grund gerichtet.
230
Dritte Scene KREON. DER CHOR EIN BOTE.

DER BOTE

Mein König, difsmal plaudr’ ich nicht, wie mich

Die othemlose Schnelle bring’, und wie

Sich leicht gehoben mir der Fuls. Denn öfters

Hielt mich die Sorg’ und wendet auf dem Wege

Mich um zur Rükkehr. Denn die Seele sang
235

Mir träumend viel. Wo gehst du hin, du Armer!

Wohin gelangt, giebst du die Rechenschaft ?

Bleibst du zurük, Unglüklicher ? so aber

Wird Kreon es von einem andern hören.

Wie kümmerst du defswegen denn dich nicht?
240

Derlei bedenkend, gieng ich müfsig langsam,

Und so wird auch ein kurzer Weg zum weiten.

Zulezt hat freilich diess gesiegt, ich soll

Hieher, und wenn mein Sorgen auch für nichts ist,

So sprech’ ich doch. Denn in der Hoffnung komm’ ich,
245

Es folge nur, dem, wasich that, was noth ist.

KREON

Was giebts, warum du so kleinmüthig kommest?

DER BOTE

Ich will dir alles nennen, was an mir ist,

Denn nicht gethan hab’ ichs; weiss auch nicht, wer es that.

Und nicht mit Recht würd’ ich in Strafe fallen.
250

KREON

Du siehst dich wohl für. Hüllest ringsherum

Die That, und scheinst zu deuten auf ein Neues.

DER BOTE

Gewaltiges macht nemlich auch viel Mühe.

KREON

So sag’ esizt, und gehe wieder weiter!

DER BOTE

Ich sag’ esdir. Es hat den Todten eben
255

Begraben eines, das entkam, die Haut zweimal

Mit Staub bestreut, und, wies geziemt, gefeiert.

KREON

Was meinst du? wer hat diess sich unterfangen?

DER BOTE

Undenklich. Nirgend war von einem Karst

Ein Schlag; und nicht der Stofs von einerSchaufel,
260

Und dicht das Land; der Boden ungegraben ;

Von Rädern nicht befahren. Zeichenlos war

Der Meister, und wie das der erste Tagesblik

Anzeigte, kams unhold uns all’an, wie ein Wunder.

Nichts feierlichs. Es war kein Grabmal nicht.
265

Nur zarter Staub, wie wenn man das Verbot

Gescheut. Und auch des Wilds Fufstritte nirgend nicht,

Noch eines Hundes, der gekommen und zerrissen.

Und schlimme Worte fuhren durcheinander.

Ein Wächter klagt den andern an; und fast
270

Gekommen wärs zu Streichen. Niemand war,

Der abgewehrt. Denn jeder schien, als hätt’

Für es gethan, doch keiner offenbar,

Und jeder wulfst’ etwas für sich zu sagen.

Wir waren aber bereit, mit Händen glühend Eisen
275

Zu nehmen und durch Feuer zu gehn und bei den Göttern

Zu schwören, dass wir nichts gethan, und dass wir

Von dem nichts wufsten, welcher das Geschehne

Berathschlagt oder ausgeführt. Zulezt,

Als weiter nichts zu forschen war, spricht einer,
280

Der alle dahin brachte, dass das Haupt

Zu Boden ihnen sank, aus Furcht, denn nichts

Dagegen wulsten wir, noch auch, wie wir

Es schön vollbrächten, und es hiefs, man müsse

Die That anzeigen, dir es nicht verbergen.
285

Und dieses siegt’, und mich den Geisterlosen

Erliest das Loos, dass die Gewissenhaftigkeit

Ich hab’ und bin zugegen, wider Willen;

Ich weiss, ich bin es vor Unwilligen,

Denn niemand liebt den Boten schlimmer Worte.
290

CHOR

Mein König, lange räth, es möchte göttlich

Getrieben seyn das Werk, mir das Gewissen.

KREON

Lafs das! damit du nicht zum Zorngericht auch mich noch

Beredest, und ein Narr erfunden seyst und Alter.

Denn allzuschwer fällt dieses, dass du sagst,
295

Die Geister aus jenseitigem Lande können

Nachdenklich seyn um dieses Todten willen.

So zärtlich ehren sollten sie, unıschatten einen,

Der doch die Gruppen ihrer Tempelsäulen

Und Opfer zu verbrennen kam, ihr Land
300

Und ihr Gesez zu sprengen ; oder siehest du,

Dafs Schlimme von den Himmlischen sind geehrt?

Mit nichten. Doch es nehmen einige

Von sonst her mir diess übel in der Stadt,

Und murren ingeheim die Häupter schüttelnd,
305

Und im Geschirre biegen diese mir

Den Naken so nicht ein, dass Menschlichs kommen könnte.

Von diesen sind Geschenke worden diesen,

Das weiss ich wohl, dass sie derlei gestiftet.

Denn unter allem, was gestempelt ist,
310

Ist schlimm nichts, wie das Silber. Ganze Städte

Verführet diess, reizt Männer aus den Häufsern.

Verbilden und verwandeln kanns aufrichtige Sinne,

Dafs sie der Sterblichen ihr schändlich Werk erkennen.

Und viel Geschäft den Menschen weist es an,
315

Und jeder That Gottlosigkeit zu wissen.

So viele diess gethan, durch Lohn bewegt,

Sie thatens in der Zeit, zu Rechenschaft.

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

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

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

Der hakt die Todten, den vors Auge mülst ihr

Mir schaffen, oder leben erst, ans Kreuz gehängt,

Das üppige Beginnen mir verrathen,

Dann könnet ihr gefafst seyn auf die Hölle.
325

Da schaut ihr dann, woher man den Gewinn hohlt,

Vermacht die Plünderung einander, und erfahrt,

Dafs alles nicht gemacht ist zum Erwerbe.

Das weifst du gut, durch schlimmen Vortheil sind

Betrogen mehrere, denn wohlbehalten.
330

DER BOTE

Giebst du, was auszurichten, oder kehr’ ich so?

KREON

Weist du, wie eine Quaal jezt ist in deinen Worten?

DER BOTE

Sticht es im Ohre, stichts im Innern dir?

KREON

Was rechnest du, wo sich mein Kummer finde?

DER BOTE

Der Thäter plagt den Sinn, die Ohren ich.
335

KREON

O mir! welch furchtbarer Sprechart bist du geboren?

DER BOTE

So ists, weilich nicht in der Sache mit bin.

KREON

Du bists! um Geld verrathend deine Seele!

DER BOTE

Ach! furchtbar ist Gewissen ohne Wahrheit!

KREON

So mahl die Sazung aus! Wenn aber ihr
340

Nicht anzeigt, diess gethan, so möcht’ ihr sagen,

Gewaltiges Gewinnen gebe Schaden.

(Kreon geht ab.)

DER BOTE

Dem kann denn doch wohl nachgespüret werden.

Ob’s aber treffen auch sich läfst? So etwas

Geht nemlich, wie es zustöfst, eben; nun scheints nicht,
345

Als sähest du mich wieder hieher kommen.

Denn unverhofft und gegen meine Meinung

Erhalten, sag’ ich jezt viel Dank den Göttern.

( er gehet ab.) Zweiter Act.

CHOR der Thebanischen Alten

Ungeheuer ist viele. Doch nichts

Ungeheuerer, als der Mensch.
350

Denn der, über die Nacht

Des Meers, wenn gegen den Winter wehet

Der Südwind, fähret er aus

In geflügelten sausenden Häufsern.

Und der Hinmlischen erhabene Erde
355

Die unverderbliche, unermüdete

Reibet er auf; mit dem strebenden Pfluge,

Von Jahr zu Jahr,

Treibt sein Verkehr er, mit dem Rossegeschlecht’,

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 155 focus

But lo, the king of the land comes yonder, Creon, son of Menoeceus, our new ruler by the new fortunes that the gods have given; what counsel is he pondering, 160 that he hath proposed this special conference of elders, summoned by his general mandate? Enter CREON, from the central doors of the palace, in the garb of king ; with two attendants.

Creon

Sirs, the vessel of our State, after being tossed on wild waves, hath once more been safely steadied by the gods: and ye, out of all the folk, have been called apart by my summons, because I knew, first of all, how true and constant was your reverence for the royal power of Larus; how, again, when Oedipus was ruler of our land, and when he had perished, your steadfast 170 loyalty still upheld their children. Since, then, his sons have fallen in one day by a twofold doom,—each smitten by the other, each stained with a brother's blood,—I now possess the throne and all its powers, by nearness of kinship to the dead.

No man can be fully known, in soul and spirit and mind, until he hath been seen versed in rule and lawgiving. For if any, being supreme guide of the State, 180 cleaves not to the best counsels, but, through some fear, keeps his lips locked, I hold, and have ever held, him most base and if any makes a friend of more account than his fatherland, that man hath no place in my regard, For I—be Zeus my witness, who sees all things always—would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, coming to the citizens; nor would I ever decm the country’s foe a friend to myself; remembering this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that 190 only while she prospers in our voyage can we make true friends.

Such are the rules by which I guard this city’s greatness, And in accord with them is the edict which I have now published to the folk touching the sons of Oedipus ;—that Eteocles, who hath fallen fighting for our city, in all renown of arms, shall be entombed, and crowned with every rite that follows the noblest dead to their rest. But for his brother, Polyneices,—who 200 came back from exile, and sought to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the shrines of his fathers’ gods,—sought to taste of kindred blood, and to lead the remnant into slavery ;—touching this man, it hath been proclaimed to our people that none shall grace him with sepulture or lament, but leave him unburied, a corpse for birds and dogs to eat, a ghastly sight of shame. Such the spirit of my dealing; and never, by deed of mine, shall the wicked stand in honour before the just ; but whoso hath good will to Thebes, he shall be 210 honoured of me, in his life and in his death.

Chorus

Such is thy pleasure, Creon, son of Menoeceus, touching this city’s foe, and its friend; and thou hast power, I ween, to take what order thou wilt, both for the dead, and for all us who live.

Creon

See, then, that ye be guardians of the mandate.

Chorus

Lay the burden of this task on some younger man.

Creon

Nay, watchers of the corpse have been found.

Chorus

What, then, is this further charge that: thou wouldst give?

Creon

That ye side not with the breakers of these commands. 220

Chorus

No man is so foolish that he is enamoured of death.

Creon

In sooth, that is the meed; yet lucre hath oft ruined men through their hopes. Enter GUARD.

Guard

liege, I will not say that I come breathless from speed, or that I have plied a nimble foot ; for often did my thoughts make me pause, and wheel round in my path, to return. My mind was holding large discourse with me; ‘Fool, why goest thou to thy certain doom ?’ ‘Wretch, tarrying again? And if Creon hears this from 230 another, must not thou smart for it?’ So debating, I went on my way with lagging steps, and thus. a short road was made long. At last, however, it carried the day that I should come hither—to thee; and, though my tale be nought, yet will I tell it; for_I_come with C a good grip on one hope,—that I can suffer nothing but ate what is my fate.

Creon

And what is it that disquiets thee thus?

Guard

I wish to tell thee first about myself—I did not do the deed—I did not see the doer—it were not 240 right that I should come to any harm.

Creon

Thou hast a shrewd eye for thy mark; well dost thou fence thyself round against the blame:— clearly thou hast some strange thing to tell.

Guard

Aye, truly; dread news makes one pause long.

Creon

Then tell it, wilt thou, and so get thee gone?

Guard

Well, this is it—The corpse—some one hath just given it burial, and gone away,—after sprinkling thirsty dust on the flesh, with such other rites as piety enjoins, .

Creon

What sayest thou? What living man hath dared this deed?

Guard

I know not; no stroke of pickaxe was seen 250 there, no earth thrown up by mattock ; the ground was hard and dry, unbroken, without track of wheels; the doer was one who had left no trace. And when the first day-watchman showed it to us, sore wonder fell on all. The dead man was veiled from us; not shut within a tomb, but lightly strewn with dust, as by the hand of one who shunned a curse. And no sign met the eye as though any beast of prey or any dog had come nigh to him, or torn him. Then evil words flew fast and loud among us, guard 260 accusing guard ; and it would e’en have come to blows at last, nor was there any to hinder. Every man was tye od? the culprit, and no one was convicted, but all disclaimed knowledge of the deed. And we were ready to take red-hot iron in our hands ;—to walk through fire ;—to make oath by the gods that we had not done the deed, —that we were not privy to the planning or the doing, At last, when all our searching was fruitless, one spake, who made us all bend our faces on the earth in 270 fear; for we saw not how we could gainsay him, or escape mischance if we obeyed. His counsel was that this deed must be reported to thee, and not hidden. And this seemed best ; and the lot doomed my hapless self to win this prize. So here I stand,—as unwelcome as unwilling, well I wot; for no man delights in the bearer of bad news.

Chorus

O king, my thoughts have long been whispering, can this deed, perchance, be e’en the work of gods? 280

Creon

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

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

Guard

May I speak? Or shall I just turn and go?

Creon

Knowest thou not that even now thy voice offends?

Guard

Is thy smart in the ears, or in the soul?

Creon

And why wouldst thou define the seat of my pain?

Guard

The doer vexcs thy mind, but I, thine ears, 320

Creon

Ah, thou art a born babbler, ’tis well scen.

Guard

May be, but never the doer of this deed.

Creon

Yea,and more,—the seller of thy life for silver.

Guard

Alas! ’Tis sad, truly, that he who judges should misjudge.

Creon

Let thy fancy play with ‘judgment’.asit will; but, if ye show me not the doers of these things, ye shall avow that dastardly gains work sorrows. [Z£xtz.

Guard

Well, may he be found! so ’twere best. But, be he caught or be he not—fortune must settle that— truly thou wilt not see me here again. Saved, even 330 now, beyond hope and thought, I owe the gods great thanks, Exit

Chorus

1

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 155 focus

The queen of glorious name,
155

To grace her Thebes, in gorgeous state

Her high cars rolling through each gate,

Resplendent Conquest came.

Let war, and arms, and hostile rage
160

No more your anxious thoughts engage;

To all the temples now advance,

Devote the night to festive dance;

The allusion to a battle between the dragon and the eagle has here a singular

propriety on account of the dragon race of Thebes.

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

Devote the night to festive dance;

To every god at every shrine,

To Bacchus chief, pay rites divine 1.

Let Bacchus lead the frolic train,

And swell through Thebes the joyful strain.
165

But see the royal Creon, whose new sway
165

The sons of Thebes must now obey,

The gods assigning him this glorious fate,

To council comes in awful state;

And here, by heralds warn'd, we stand,

The sages of the realm, to hear his high command.

Since now, ye men of Thebes, the gods, who shook
170

With many a surging wave this sinking state

Again have raised it from the storm secure,

You by my heralds to attend me here

Selected I have summon'd; for I know

How highly you revered the throne and pow'r

Of Laius; and again when Edipus
175

Was king; and, after his disastrous fate,
175

I saw how firm, how loyal to his sons

Your zeal remain'd; but now, since they are fallen,

Each by the other's hand, in the same day,

By mutual wounds and mutual guilt, the crown

And regal pow'r by right devolve on me!

As nearest to the slain by blood allied.
180

But who can penetrate man's secret thought,

The quality and temper of his soul,

Till by high office put to frequent proof,

And execution of the laws? To me

The Sovereign of a state, who weak of soul

Adheres not to the sagest counsels firm,
185

But suffers fear to close his lips, appears
185

Most base and abject; such I deem him now,

And always deem'd: and him, who dearer holds

A private friendship than the secret ties

Which bind him to his country, I esteem

A weak slight man. But I (all-seeing Jove,

Be thou my witness!) ne'er will close my lips
190

In silence, to my people if I see

A threatening danger, or approaching ill:

And never will I hold that man my friend,

Who to my country bears an hostile mind;

Well knowing that on her we all depend

For safety: whilst that bark securely ploughs
195

A tranquil sea, we, as we sail, make friends.
195

I by such rules will raise the Theban state

To higher glory; and allied to these

My edict through the city is proclaim'd

Touching the sons of Edipus: the youth,

Who fighting for his country greatly died,

In arms illustrious, honour'd in the tomb
200

I bade them lay, with all the hallow'd rites

Paid to the noblest of the dead below.

But Polynices, who from exile came

Back to his country and his country's gods,

Eager to gorge himself with kindred blood,

And lead these hence as slaves, it is proclaim'd
205

That none with solemn obsequies entomb,
205

That none lament; unburied let him lie,

And let his mangled carcase be devour'd

By dogs and birds of prey. Such is my will.

For never to the base will I allow

The honours to the virtuous only due:

But he, who loves my country, shall by me
210

Alike be honour'd, let him live or die.
215

Chorus
CREON, CHORUS.

If towards the foe and towards the friend of Thebes

Son of Menæceus, such thy royal will,

To give each law its force, both on the dead

And us, whoe'er are living here, is thine.

See that my edict be obey'd.

That charge

Give to more vigorous youth.

Creon

Guards are assign'd.

Chorus

To watch the dead

What more wou'dst thou command?

Creon

Not to show grace to those who disobey.

Chorus

None is so mad to be in love with death.
220

Creon

And death shall be his meed: but oft rewards

With treacherous hope bold men to ruin lead.

Messenger
CREON, MESSENGER, CHORUS.

I will not say, O king, that I am come

With hasten'd step, and breathless through my speed;

For oft I paused, deep-musing, on my way,

And oft wheel'd round with purpose to return.

My soul with many a forceful argument

Thus reason'd with me, "Why in evil hour

"Goest thou where punishment awaits thee?---Wretch,

"Wilt thou stay lingering here? Should Creon know

" This from some other, how wilt thou escape

"His vengeance?" ---Musing thus with anxious thought,

And a slow pace, I made a short way long.
240

At length it was decided I should come.
240

E'en though I tell thee nothing, I will speak;
240

For I am come confiding in the hope
240

Nothing awaits me more than is decreed.
240

Creon

Why is thy soul distracted with these fears?

Messenger

First of myself I wish to speak. This deed

Creon

I did not, nor who did it can I say;

Unjustly then on me would vengeance fall.

With wary heed thou dost entrench thee round;

Some recent deed of guilt thou wou'dst relate.

Messenger

Danger occasions caution and delay.

Creon

Speak then at length, and hence in safety go.

Now I will tell thee. Some one lately came,

Buried the dead, and went away; the corse

With the dry dust he lightly cover'd o'er,

And duly all the hallow'd rites perform'd.

What say'st thou? Who the man that dared this deed

Messenger

I know not: neither stroke of axe was there,

Nor with a spade the mold cast up; the ground

Was firm, the soil unbroken, nor impress'd
250

With track of wheels; but he, who did the deed,

Left not a mark behind. When the first watch

Of morning show'd us this, in wild amaze

We stood aghast; for, though no tomb was raised,

The body disappear'd; but the light dust
255

Thrown o'er it show'd the hasty work of one

Who fear'd profanely to neglect the dead;

For not the trace of savage beast, or dog,

Who gorged with prey had cover'd it, was seen.

Harsh words with mutual clamour now rose high,

Guard charging guard; we almost came to blows,
260

With none to mediate peace; for each to each

Seem'd to have done the deed, yet proof appear'd

'Gainst none: "I know not" was the voice of all.

The mass of burning iron in our hands

We all were prompt to take, to pass through fire,
265

To call the gods to witness with firm oath

We did it not, we knew not who design'd,

Or who perform'd the deed. Inquiry now

Was found of no avail, when one proposed

What made us all bend to the earth our heads

Through fear, (and nought against it could we speak,
270

Nor knew we how to guide our conduct right)

That this bold deed to thee should be disclosed,

And not conceal'd. This purpose was approved.;

And me, unhappy me, the lot calls forth

To earn this meed. To me no pleasure this;
275

No pleasure, well I know, to you I bring.

Unwelcome he, who evil tidings bears.

Chorus

Long hath my mind, O king, been prone to think

That by the impulse of the gods this deed.........

Forbear, my anger ere thou raise, and show

Thy age unwise; it is not to be borne,

Creon

This vain surmise. What, think'st thou that the gods
280

O'er such a wretch their guardian care extend,

And grace his body with a tomb, as one

That well deserved, who came to set on fire

Their pillar'd temples, and rich-gifted shrines,

To waste their favour'd land, and crush its laws?
285

Seest thou the gods grant honours to the vile ?

It is not so. There are among us some

Who brook this ill, and murmuring shake their heads,

With due allegiance to my just command
290

Disdaining to submit their crested pride :

By these corrupted, and for base rewards,

Some hirelings, well I know, have done this deed.

For never sprung device that teem'd, like gold,

With ills to mortals; cities it lays waste;
295

Impels men from their country far to roam,

Corrupts the honest mind, its virtuous thought

Changing to deeds of baseness; the ill arts

Of treacherous falshood it has taught, and train'd
300

To the dark science of all impious works.

But they, who for reward perform'd these things,

Have earn'd in time just vengeance for their meed.

For, as I reverence heav'n's almighty king,

Be thou assured (I speak it with an oath)

Find you the man whose hand prepared this tomb,

Bring him before me, or not death alone

Shall for your fault suffice, but you shall hang

Alive, this heinous act till you disclose;
310

That, knowing whence your booty may be borne,

You may hereafter plunder; and be taught

That not from all things gain may be derived.

Watchman

Of those, who grasp at unjust lucre, more
315

Creon

In ruin sink, than triumph in success.

Messenger

Wilt thou permit me to reply, or thus

Must I return?

Dost thou not know e'en now

How much thy words offend ?

Hurt they thy ears,

Or do they wound thy mind?

Creon

What, wou'dst thou scan

The regions of my pain?

Messenger

Thy mind he wounds

Creon

Who did the deed, my words offend thy ears.
320

What a quaint prater this!
320

Messenger

Be thou assured

I never did this daring deed.

Creon

For gold

Thou didst it; bartering thy vile life away.

Messenger

How cruel is suspicion when unjust!

Creon

Now descant on suspicion; but take heed,

Show me who did this act, or you shall say
325

That punishment on impious gain attends.

Messenger

I wish he might be found: but be he seized

Or not, (be that as fortune shall assign)

Me here return'd thou shalt not see again;

For now beyond my hopes, beyond my thoughts
330

Preserved I bow me thankful to the gods.

Chorus
[exit. STRO. 1. ANTIS. 1. STRO. 2.

Where'er we turn our curious eyes,

Wonders through all the works of nature rise;
335

But Man the chief. The foaming deep,

With all his winds though winter raves,

And round him swell the roaring waves,

Of danger reckless he dares sweep,

The sacred and eternal earth his toil
340

From year to year unweared rends,

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 162-330 focus

Enter Creon, with two attendants.

Creon

My fellow citizens! First, the gods, after tossing the fate of our city on wild waves, have once more righted it. Second, I have ordered you through my messengers to come here

apart from all the rest, because I knew, first of all, how constant was your reverence for the power of the throne of Laius; how, again, you were reverent, when Oedipus was guiding our city; and lastly, how, when he was dead, you still maintained loyal thoughts towards his children.
165

Since, then, these latter have fallen in one day by a twofold doom—each striking, each struck, both with the stain of a brother’s murder—I now possess all the power and the throne according to my kinship with the dead.
170

Now, it is impossible to know fully any man’s character, will, or judgment, until he has been proved by the test of rule and law-giving. For if anyone who directs the entire city does not cling to the best and wisest plans,
175

but because of some fear keeps his lips locked, then, in my judgment, he is and has long been the most cowardly traitor. And if any man thinks a friend more important than his fatherland, that man, I say, is of no account. Zeus, god who sees all things always, be my witness—
180

I would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, marching upon the citizens. Nor would I ever make a man who is hostile to my country a friend to myself, because I know this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only when
185

we sail her on a straight course can we make true friends. Such are the rules by which I strengthen this city. Akin to these is the edict which I have now published to the citizenry concerning the sons of Oedipus: Eteocles, who fell fighting
190

in behalf of our city and who excelled all in battle, they shall entomb and heap up every sacred offering that descends to the noblest of the dead below. But as for his brother, Polyneices, I mean, who on his return from exile wanted to burn to the ground
195

the city of his fathers and his race’s gods, and wanted to feed on kindred blood and lead the remnant into slavery—it has been proclaimed to the city that no one shall give him funeral honors or lamentation,
200

but all must leave him unburied and a sight of shame, with his body there for birds and dogs to eat. This is my will, and never will I allow the traitor to stand in honor before the just. But whoever has good will to Thebes ,
205

he shall be honored by me in death as in life.
210

211

Chorus

That is your will, Creon, towards this city’s enemy and its friend. And the power is yours, I believe, to make use of every law whatsoever, both concerning the dead and all us who live.

Creon

See, then, that you be guardians of my commands.
215

Chorus

Lay the weight of this task on some younger man.

Creon

That is not what I meant—the guards for the corpse are already in place.

Chorus

Then what is this other command that you would give?

Creon

That you not give way to the breakers of my commands.

Chorus

There is no one so foolish as to crave death.
220

Creon

I assure you, that is the wage for disobedience. Yet by just the hope of it, money has many times corrupted men.

Enter Guard.

Guard

My king, I will not say that I arrive breathless because of speed, or from the action of a swift foot.

For often I brought myself to a stop because of my thoughts, and wheeled round in my path to return. My mind was telling me many things: Fool, why do you go to where your arrival will mean your punishment? Idiot, are you dallying again? If Creon learns it from another, must you not suffer for it?
225

So debating, I made my way unhurriedly, slow, and thus a short road was made long. At last, however, the view prevailed that I should come here—to you. Even if my report brings no good, still will I tell you,
230

since I come with a good grip on one hope, that I can suffer nothing except what is my fate.
235

237

Creon

And what is it that so disheartens you?

Guard

I want to tell you first about myself—I did not do the deed, nor did I see the doer,

so it would be wrong that I should come to any harm.
240

Creon

Like a bowman you aim well at your target from a distance, and all around you hedge yourself off well from the deed. It is clear that you have some unheard-of thing to tell.

Guard

That I do, for terrible news imposes great hesitation.

Creon

Then tell it, will you, and so unburdened go away?

Guard

Well, here it is. The corpse—some one has just given it burial and disappeared after sprinkling thirsty dust on the flesh and performing the other rites that piety demands.
245

Creon

What are you saying? What man dared do this?

Guard

I do not know. For there was no scar of a pickax to be seen there,

no earth thrown up by a mattock. The ground was hard and dry, unbroken, not rolled over by wheels. The doer was someone who left no trace. When the first day-watchman showed it to us, a discomforting amazement fell on us all.
250

The dead man was veiled from us—not shut within a tomb, but a light cover of dust was on him, as if put there by the hand of one who shunned a curse. And no sign was visible that any beast of prey or any dog had approached or torn him. Then evil words flew thick and loud among us,
255

guard accusing guard. It would even have come to blows in the end, nor was there anyone there to prevent it: every man was the culprit, and no one was plainly guilty, while all disclaimed knowledge of the act. We were ready to take red-hot iron in our hands,
260

to walk through fire and to swear oaths by the gods that we had neither done the deed, nor shared knowledge of the planning or the doing. At last, when our investigating got us nowhere, someone spoke up and made us all bend our faces
265

in fear towards the earth. For we did not know how we could argue with him, nor yet prosper, if we did what he said. His argument was that the deed must be reported to you and not hidden. This view prevailed, and so it was that
270

the lot doomed miserable me to win this prize. So here I stand, as unwelcome to you as I am unwilling, I well know. For no man delights in the bearer of bad news.
275

278

Chorus

My king, my thoughts have long been deliberating whether this deed is somehow the work of gods?

Creon

Quiet, before your words truly fill me with rage, so that you not be found at the same time foolish as well as old. You say what is intolerable when you claim that the gods have concern for that corpse. Was it in high esteem for his benefactions
280

that they sought to hide him, when he had come to burn their columned shrines, their sacred treasures and their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or do you see the gods honoring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the very first
285

certain men of the city were chafing at this edict and muttering against me, tossing their heads in secret, and they did not keep their necks duly under the yoke in submission to me. By those men, I am certain, they were led astray and bribed to do this deed.
290

Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This destroys cities, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest minds to set themselves to works of shame,
295

this teaches people to practise villainies, and to know every act of unholiness. But all the men who did this job for hire have made sure that, sooner or later, they shall suffer the punishment. Now, as Zeus still has my reverence, know this well—
300

I tell you on my oath. If you do not find the very hand that made this burial, and reveal him before my eyes, mere death shall not suffice for you, not before, hung up alive, you have made this outrage plain,
305

so that hereafter you may thieve with better knowledge of where your money should be received from, and learn that it is best not to be fond of money-making from any and every source. For you will find that ill-gotten gains bring more men to ruin than to safety.
310

315

Guard

Will you allow me to speak? Or shall I just turn and go?
315

Creon

Do you not know even now how much your voice sickens me?

Guard

Is the pain in your ears, or in your soul?

Creon

And why would you define the seat of my pain?

Guard

He who did it hurts your heart, but I, your ears.

Creon

God! How plain it is that you are a born babbler.
320

Guard

Perhaps, but never the author of this action.

Creon

Yes, and what is more, you sold your life for silver.

Guard

Ah! It is truly sad when the judge judges wrong .

Creon

Expound on judgment as you will. But, if you fail to

show me the perpetrators of these crimes, you will avow that money basely earned wreaks sorrows. Exit Creon.
325

Guard

Well, may the man be found! That would be best. But, whether he be caught or not—for fortune must decide that—I assure you that you will not see me come here again.

Saved just now beyond hope and belief, I owe the gods great thanks. Exit the Guard.
330

Notes on the current edition

Antigone

1. Campbell cites line 159, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 158-160.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-89-1 μῆτιν ἐρέσσων ¹

mvp-comment-89-2 σύγκλητον ²

mvp-comment-89-3 προὔθετο ³ λέσχην ⁴

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

γνώμας προθεῖναι

rather than with

ἐκκλησίαν προθεῖναι

. Herod. uses

λέσχη

of a public discussion (9. 71): cp. O. C. 167 . The midd. προὔθετο ⁵

mvp-comment-89-5 κοινῷ κ. πέμψας ⁶

mvp-comment-91-1 There is a general dramatic analogy between this speech and that of Oedipus in O. T. 216 —275. In each case a Theban king addresses Theban elders, announcing a stern decree, adopted in reliance on his own wisdom, and promulgated with haughty consciousness of power; the elders receive the decree with a submissive deference under which we can perceive traces of misgiving; and as the drama proceeds, the elders become spectators of calamities occasioned by the decree, while its author turns to them for comfort.

mvp-comment-91-2 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος . . ὑμᾶς δ’ ⁷

mvp-comment-91-3 πόλεος ⁸ πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ⁹

mvp-comment-91-4 The image of the State as a ship dates in Greek literature from Alcaeus (whom Horace copied, Carm. 1. 14 ), fr. 18. The ship of Alcaeus is labouring in the trough of a wild sea,—water is coming in,—the sail is torn,—the anchor will not hold:

νᾶϊ φορήμεθα σὺν μελαίνᾳ | χείμωνι μοχθεῦντες μεγάλῳ μάλα, κ.τ.λ.

It is only through Heracleides Alleg. Homer. 5 that we know the meaning of Alcaeus to have been figurative and political. Aesch. often uses the image ( Aesch. Th. 2 , Aesch. Th. 62 , Aesch. Th. 208 etc.). Creon returns to it at 189. It is peculiarly well suited to his point,—the unity of the public interest.

mvp-comment-91-5 ὤρθωσαν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-92-1 ἐκ πάντων ¹¹ δίχα ¹²

mvp-comment-92-2 ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι ¹³ τοῦτο μέν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-92-3 σέβοντας ¹⁵

mvp-comment-92-4 θρόνων . . κράτη ¹⁶

mvp-comment-93-1 ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους ¹⁷ κείνων ¹⁸ κείνων παῖδας ¹⁹ ἡνίκ’ . . ὤρθου πόλιν ²⁰ ἐπεὶ διώλετο ²¹ τοῦτο μέν . . τοῦτ’ αὖθις ²²

mvp-comment-93-2 καί ²³ καί ²⁴

mvp-comment-93-3 ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν ²⁵ ἐμπέδους ²⁶ ἐμπέδοις ²⁷

mvp-comment-94-1 ὅτε ²⁸

mvp-comment-94-2 πρὸς διπλῆς μ. ²⁹ διπλῆς . . μίαν ³⁰

mvp-comment-94-3 παίσαντες . . πληγέντες ³¹

mvp-comment-94-4 αὐτόχειρι … μιάσματι ³²

mvp-comment-95-1 ἐγὼ . . δή ³³

mvp-comment-95-2 κράτη ³⁴

mvp-comment-95-3 γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλ. ³⁵

mvp-comment-96-1 ἀμήχανον δέ ³⁶ δέ ³⁷ δέ ³⁸

mvp-comment-96-2 Demosthenes, in his speech on the Embassy (343 B.C.), quotes this passage (vv. 175—190) as illustrating maxims

mvp-comment-96-3 which Aeschines had violated, though, accustomed as he had been to play tritagonists' parts, he ought to have known them by heart (or. 19 § 247).

mvp-comment-97-1 ψυχήν ³⁹ φρόνημα ⁴⁰ γνώμην ⁴¹

mvp-comment-98-1 ἀρχαῖς ⁴² νόμοισιν ⁴³

mvp-comment-98-2 ἐντριβής ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-98-3 φανῇ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-99-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ ⁴⁶ γάρ ⁴⁷ πᾶσαν … πόλιν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-99-2 μὴ … ἅπτεται ⁴⁹ ὅστις μὴ ἅπτεται ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-99-3 ἐκ φ. του ⁵¹

mvp-comment-99-4 ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει ⁵²

mvp-comment-99-5 νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι ⁵³

mvp-comment-100-1 μείζον’ ⁵⁴ ἀντὶ τῆς...πάτρας ⁵⁵ ἤ ⁵⁶ μεῖζον ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-100-2 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-101-1 ἐγὼ γάρ ⁵⁹ γάρ ⁶⁰ τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ⁶¹ ἴστω ⁶²

mvp-comment-102-1 οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι ⁶³

mvp-comment-103-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ⁶⁴ ὁμοῦ ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-103-2 ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ⁶⁶ τῆς ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-104-1 ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονός ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-104-2 ἐμαυτῷ ⁶⁹ φίλον ⁷⁰ θείμην ⁷¹

mvp-comment-105-1 ἡ σῴζουσα ⁷²

mvp-comment-105-2 ταύτης ⁷³ ὀρθῆς ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-105-3 τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-105-4

εὐτυχούσῃ πολλῷ μᾶλλον διασῴζεται

. ‘Pericles Thucydidis 11. 60 Sophoclem videtur respexisse, vel eum Sophocles,’ is Dobree's remark ( Adv. 2. 37 ); but there is no adequate ground for such a view. The verbal coincidence of

ὀρθῆς

with

ὀρθουμένην

may well have been accidental. What is really common to poet and historian is the general sentiment of Periclean Athens. For another example of this, cp. O. C. 116 n.

mvp-comment-106-1 νόμοισι ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-106-2 αὔξω ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-107-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-107-2 τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-108-1 δορί ⁸⁰ δόρει ⁸¹

mvp-comment-109-1 τὰ πάντ’ ἐφαγνίσαι ⁸² ἐπί ⁸³ ἐφαγνίσαι ⁸⁴ ἀφαγνίσαι ⁸⁵ ἀπό ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-110-1 τοῖς ἀρίστοις ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-110-2 ἔρχεται κάτω ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-111-1 L has Πολυνείκην ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-111-2 λέγω ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-112-1 γτ=ν πατρῴαν . . καὶ θεοὺς . . πρῆσαι ⁹¹

mvp-comment-112-2 θ. τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς ⁹²

mvp-comment-112-3 κατελθών ⁹³

mvp-comment-112-4 γ)θέλησε μέν … ἠθέλ. δέ ⁹⁴ ἠθέλησε μὲν ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-112-5 πρῆσαι ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-112-6 κατ’ ἄκρας ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-112-7 αἵματος κ. πάσασθαι ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-112-8 τοὺς δὲ … ἄγειν ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-113-1 The traditional ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ ¹⁰⁰ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ ¹⁰¹ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι λέγω ¹⁰² τάφῳ ¹⁰³ κτερίζειν ¹⁰⁴ τάφῳ ¹⁰⁵ κτερίζειν ¹⁰⁶ μήτε ¹⁰⁷ κωκῦσαι ¹⁰⁸ τάφῳ ¹⁰⁹ λέγω ¹¹⁰ τάφῳ ¹¹¹ ἐκκεκ ¹¹²

mvp-comment-114-1 ἐᾶν δ ¹¹³ ἄθαπτον, αἰκισθέντ’ ἰδεῖν ¹¹⁴ δέμας καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστόν ¹¹⁵ αἰκισθέντ ¹¹⁶ αἰκισθέντ ¹¹⁷ ἐδεστόν ¹¹⁸ αἰκισθέν τ’, δέμας ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-114-2 δέμας ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-114-3 ἰδεῖν ¹²¹

mvp-comment-115-1 φρόνημα ¹²²

mvp-comment-115-2 ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ ¹²³

mvp-comment-116-1 The MSS. have τιμὴν προέξουσ’ ..τῶν ἐνδ. ¹²⁴ τιμήν ¹²⁵ τιμῆ ¹²⁶ προσέξους ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-117-1 τιμήσεται ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-118-1 I print Dindorf's κἀς ¹²⁹ καὶ ¹³⁰ σοὶ ταῦτ’ ἀρέσκει ¹³¹ Κρέον ¹³² ταὔτ ¹³³ ταῦτ’ ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-119-1 In παντί πού γ’ ¹³⁵ σοί γ’ … που ¹³⁶ ἔνεστι ¹³⁷ χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν ¹³⁸ πέρι ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-120-1 ὡς ἂν … ἦτε ¹⁴⁰ πῶς ἂν … εἶτε ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-120-2 σκοποί ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-120-3 νυν ¹⁴³ νῦν ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-120-4 τῶν εἰρ ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-121-1 πρόθες τοῦτο ¹⁴⁶ βαστάζειν ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-121-2 τοῦ νεκροῦ γ’ ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-122-1 τί δῆτ’ ἂν … ἐπεντέλλοις ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-122-2 The reading ἄλλῳ ¹⁵⁰ τοῦτο ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-122-3 ἐπιχωρεῖν ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-122-4 ἀπιστοῦσιν ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-122-5 τάδε, ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-123-1 ὃς ¹⁵⁵ ἐρᾷ ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-123-2 καὶ μὴν ¹⁵⁷ γε ¹⁵⁸ μισθός ¹⁵⁹

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

καὶ μήν

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

mvp-comment-123-4 τὸ κέρδος ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-123-5 διώλεσεν ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-124-1 ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-124-2 ὅπως ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-124-3 τάχους ὕπο ¹⁶⁴ τάχους ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-125-1 ἐξάρας ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-125-2 φροντίδων ¹⁶⁷ ἐπιστάσεις ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-125-3 ὁδοῖς ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-125-4 κυκλῶν ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-126-1 ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα ¹⁷¹ πολλὰ ¹⁷² μυθουμένη ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-127-1 τάλας … τλήμων ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-127-2 μένεις ¹⁷⁵ μενεῖς ¹⁷⁶ αὖ ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-127-3 πῶς … οὐκ ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-127-4 ἀλγυνεῖ ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-128-1 ἑλίσσων ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-128-2 ἤνυτον ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-128-3 σχολῇ βραδύς ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-129-1 τέλος γε μέντοι ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-129-2 ἐνίκησεν ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-129-3

ἐκλιπεῖν τὴν πόλιν

. That

μολεῖν

should not be regarded as the subject to

ἐνίκησε

, is shown by such an example as Her. 8.9

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

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

ἦν...Περικλέους γνώμη...νενικηκυῖα

mvp-comment-130-1 σοί ¹⁸⁵ μολεῖν ¹⁸⁶ σοί ¹⁸⁷ φράσων ¹⁸⁸ φράσω δ ¹⁸⁹ κεἰ ¹⁹⁰ κεἴ σοι ¹⁹¹ σοί. ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-130-2 τὸ μηδέν ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-131-1 τῆς ἐλπίδος ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-131-2 δεδραγμένος ¹⁹⁵ πεφραγμένος ¹⁹⁶ πεπραγμένος ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-131-3 τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἄν ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-131-4

πάθοιμι ἄν

, depending on

ἐλπίδος...δεδρ

. as=

ἐλπίζων

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

mvp-comment-131-5 τὸ μόρσιμον ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-132-1 ἀνθ’ οὗ ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-132-2 τὸ γὰρ | πρᾶγμ’ ²⁰¹ γάρ ²⁰²

mvp-comment-133-1 εὖ γε στοχάζει ²⁰³ στοχάζει ²⁰⁴ ἀποφράγνυσαι ²⁰⁵ στοχάζομαι ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-133-2 κἀποφράγνυσαι ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-133-3 τὸ πρᾶγμα ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-134-1 δηλοῖς δ’ ὥς τι ς. ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-135-1 τὰ δεινά ²¹⁰ γάρ ²¹¹

mvp-comment-135-2 ποτ ²¹²

mvp-comment-135-3 ἀπαλλαχθείς ²¹³

mvp-comment-136-1 καὶ δή ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-136-2 θάψας ²¹⁵ κἀπί ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-136-3 διψίαν ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-136-4 κἀφαγιστεύσας ²¹⁸ ἃ χρή ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-137-1 ἀνδρῶν ²²⁰

mvp-comment-137-2 οὔτε του γενῇδος … οὐ δικέλλης ²²¹ οὔτε … οὐ ²²² γενῄς ²²³ γενῄς ²²⁴ δίκελλα ²²⁵

mvp-comment-137-3 δικ. ἐκβολή ²²⁶ ἐκβ. ²²⁷ στύφλος ²²⁸ χέρσος ²²⁹ ἀρρώξ ²³⁰

mvp-comment-137-4 ἐπημαξευμένη ²³¹ ἐπ‐ ²³² ἐφ‐ ²³³

mvp-comment-137-5 ἀλλ’ ὁ ἐργάτης ἄσημός τις ἦν ²³⁴

mvp-comment-138-1 It is still the early morning of the day on which the drama opens. The Argives having fled in the night, Creon had published his edict shortly before dawn. Antigone had done her deed in the short interval between the publication of the edict and the beginning of the watch over the corpse. ὁ πρῶτος ἡμεροσκόπος ²³⁵ ἡμεροσκ. ²³⁶

mvp-comment-138-2 δείκνυσι … παρῆν ²³⁷

mvp-comment-138-3 δυσχερές ²³⁸

mvp-comment-139-1 ὁ μὲν ²³⁹

mvp-comment-139-2 τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ ²⁴⁰ τυμβ. ²⁴¹ λεπτὴ δ’ … ἐπῆν ²⁴²

mvp-comment-139-3 ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς ²⁴³ ἄγος ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-140-1 θηρός ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-140-2 του ²⁴⁶ θηρός ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-140-3 οὐ σπάσαντος ²⁴⁸ οὐ ²⁴⁹ σπάσαντος ²⁵⁰ σπάσαντος οὐδ’ ἐλθόντος ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-141-1 λόγοι δ’ … φύλακα ²⁵² λόγοι κακοὶ ἐρρόθουν ²⁵³ ἐρρόθουν ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-141-2

γλώσσης ῥόθος

, of an unintelligible jargon.

mvp-comment-141-3 ἐλέγχων ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-141-4 κἂν ἐγίγνετο ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-141-5 τελευτῶς ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-141-6 ὁ κωλύσων ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-142-1 ἦν … οὑξειργ. ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-142-2 ἐναργής ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-142-3 ἀλλ’ ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-142-4 ἕφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι ²⁶²

mvp-comment-142-5 μὴ ²⁶³ εἰδέναι ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-143-1 μύδρους ²⁶⁵

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

μύδρος

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

μύδρος

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

μύδροι

had been cold masses.

mvp-comment-144-1 πῦρ διέρπειν ²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-144-2 θεοὺς ὁρκ. ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-144-3 τὸ μήτε δρ ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-144-4 μήτ’ είργασμένῳ ²⁷⁰ μηδ ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-145-1 πλέον ²⁷²

mvp-comment-145-2 λέγει ²⁷³

mvp-comment-145-3 τις εἷς ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-146-1 προὔτρεψεν ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-146-2 οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν ²⁷⁶

mvp-comment-146-3 As ἀντιφωνεῖν ²⁷⁷ δρῶντες ²⁷⁸ ὅπως δρῶντες ²⁷⁹ εἴχομεν ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-147-1 σοί ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-147-2 ταῦτ’ ἐνίκα ²⁸²

mvp-comment-147-3 πάλος ²⁸³ καθαιρεῖ ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-147-4 τἀγαθόν ²⁸⁵ —ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-148-1 ἐμοί ²⁸⁷ βουλεύει ²⁸⁸ μή ²⁸⁹

mvp-comment-148-2 τι ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-148-3 θεήλατον, ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-148-4 ἡ ξύννοια ²⁹²

mvp-comment-148-5 πάλαι ²⁹³

mvp-comment-149-1 πρὶν ὀργῆς καί με μεστῶσαι ²⁹⁴ καί ²⁹⁵ πρίν ²⁹⁶ μεστῶσαι ²⁹⁷ καί ²⁹⁸ με ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-149-2 κἀμέ ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-149-3 μεστῶσαι ³⁰¹

mvp-comment-150-1 πότερον ³⁰² ἔκρυπτον ³⁰³

mvp-comment-150-2 ἀμφικίονας ναούς ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-150-3 κἀναθήματα ³⁰⁵

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

ἀναθήματα

is already proverbial in Il. 9.404 ; at Thebes the

Ἰσμήνιον

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

ἀνάθημα

the gen. denotes either

ὁ ἀναθείς

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

mvp-comment-150-5 γῆν ἐκείνων ³⁰⁶ πυρώσων ³⁰⁷

mvp-comment-150-6 νόμους διασκεδῶν ³⁰⁸

mvp-comment-150-7 διασκεδῶν ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-151-1 τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας … θεούς; ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-152-1 ταῦτα ³¹¹ μόλις φέροντες ³¹² καὶ πάλαι ³¹³

mvp-comment-152-2 πόλεως ἄνδρες ³¹⁴

mvp-comment-152-3 ἐρρόθουν ³¹⁵

mvp-comment-152-4 ἐμοί ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-152-5 κάρα σείοντες ³¹⁷

mvp-comment-152-6 ὑπὸ ζυγῷ ³¹⁸

mvp-comment-152-7 λόφον ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-152-8 δικαίως ³²⁰

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

ὡς = ὥστε

( O. T. 84 ): στέργειν ³²¹

mvp-comment-153-1 τῶνδε ³²² ἐκ ³²³

mvp-comment-153-2 τούτους, ³²⁴

mvp-comment-153-3 εἰργάσθαι ³²⁵ ἐξεπίσταμαι ³²⁶ παρηγμένους ³²⁷

mvp-comment-154-1 νόμισμ’ ³²⁸

mvp-comment-154-2 ἔβλαστε ³²⁹

mvp-comment-154-3 πορθεῖ ³³⁰

mvp-comment-154-4 τόδ’ ³³¹ ἄνδρας ³³²

mvp-comment-155-1 τόδ’ ἐκδ. καὶ παραλλάσσει ³³³ ἵστασθαι ³³⁴ καὶ παραλλάσσει ³³⁵

mvp-comment-155-2 ἵστασθαι πρός τι ³³⁶

mvp-comment-156-1 πανουργίας … ἔχειν ³³⁷

mvp-comment-156-2 εἰδέναι ³³⁸ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβ. ³³⁹ παντὸς ἔργ ³⁴⁰ πανουργίας ³⁴¹

mvp-comment-157-1 ἤνυσαν ³⁴²

mvp-comment-157-2 χρόνῳ ποτέ ³⁴³ δοῦναι δίκην ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-157-3 ἐξέπραξαν ὡς ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-158-1 Ζεύς ³⁴⁶

mvp-comment-158-2 ὅρκιος ³⁴⁷

mvp-comment-158-3 τὸν αὐτόχειρα ³⁴⁸ τάφου = ταφῆς ³⁴⁹

mvp-comment-159-1 μοῦνος ³⁵⁰ πρὶν ἂν . . δηλώσητε ³⁵¹ κρεμαστοί ³⁵² ζῶντες κρεμαστοί ³⁵³

mvp-comment-159-2 δηλώσηθ’ ³⁵⁴

mvp-comment-159-3 ὕβριν ³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-160-1 ἵν’ … ἁρπάζητε ³⁵⁶

mvp-comment-160-2 τὸ κέρδος ³⁵⁷ ἔνθεν οἰστέον ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-160-3 μάθηθ’ ³⁵⁹

mvp-comment-160-4 ἐξ ἅπαντος ³⁶⁰ τὸ κερδαίνειν ³⁶¹

mvp-comment-160-5

πιεῖν

. In O. C. 807

ἑξ ἅπαντος εὖ λέγει

=speaks well on any theme (starting from anything).

mvp-comment-161-1 τι ³⁶²

mvp-comment-161-2 δέ ³⁶³ δώσεις ³⁶⁴

mvp-comment-161-3 οὕτως ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-161-4 ἴω ³⁶⁶

mvp-comment-161-5 καὶ νῦν ὡς ³⁶⁷ ἀνιαρῶς ³⁶⁸ ι— ³⁶⁹

mvp-comment-162-1 ἐν ³⁷⁰ ὠσίν ³⁷¹

mvp-comment-162-2 ἐπί ³⁷²

mvp-comment-163-1 τί δὲ ³⁷³ τί δαὶ ³⁷⁴

mvp-comment-163-2 ῥυθμίζεις ³⁷⁵ ὅπου ³⁷⁶ ὅπου ³⁷⁷

mvp-comment-164-1 τὰς φρένας...τὰ δ’ ὦτ’ ³⁷⁸ σε ³⁷⁹

mvp-comment-164-2 οἴμ’ ὡς ³⁸⁰

mvp-comment-164-3 λάλημα ³⁸¹ ἄλημα ³⁸² ἄλημα ³⁸³

mvp-comment-164-4 δῆλον, ³⁸⁴

mvp-comment-165-1 ‘At any rate (

οὖν

—babbler or not) I certainly have not done this deed.’ εἰμί ³⁸⁵ οὔκουν … γε ³⁸⁶

mvp-comment-166-1 ‘Yes, (you have done it,) and that, too, at the cost of betraying,’ etc. The particle γε ³⁸⁷ καὶ ταῦτα ³⁸⁸ προδούς ³⁸⁹

mvp-comment-167-1 ἦ δεινόν ³⁹⁰ καὶ ³⁹¹ γε ³⁹²

mvp-comment-168-1 κόμψευε . . τὴν δόξαν ³⁹³

mvp-comment-168-2 τὴν δόξαν ³⁹⁴

mvp-comment-168-3

κληδόν’

(the

κληδών

of which you speak), not merely, ‘the word

δόξα

.’ If the v. l.

τὸ δόξαν

(see cr. n.) was intended to mean the latter, it should have been

τὸ δόξα.

mvp-comment-168-4 νυν ³⁹⁵ νῦν ³⁹⁶ ταῦτα … τοὺς δρῶντας = τοὺς ταῦτα δρῶντας ³⁹⁷

mvp-comment-169-1 δειλά ³⁹⁸

mvp-comment-169-2 δεινά ³⁹⁹ ν ⁴⁰⁰

mvp-comment-170-1 ἀλλ’ ⁴⁰¹ εὑρεθείη ⁴⁰² καὶ ⁴⁰³

mvp-comment-171-1 καὶ ⁴⁰⁴ γάρ ⁴⁰⁵

mvp-comment-171-2 γνώμης ⁴⁰⁶

mvp-comment-173-1 πολλὰ … κοὐδέν ⁴⁰⁷

mvp-comment-173-2 καί ⁴⁰⁸

mvp-comment-173-3 τὰ δεινά ⁴⁰⁹

mvp-comment-174-1 τοῦτο ⁴¹⁰ πέραν ⁴¹¹ πέρα ⁴¹²

mvp-comment-175-1 χειμερίῳ νότῳ ⁴¹³

mvp-comment-176-1 περιβρ … ὑπ’ οἴδμασιν ⁴¹⁴

mvp-comment-177-1 ὑπερτάταν ⁴¹⁵

mvp-comment-178-1 ἀκαμάταν ⁴¹⁶

mvp-comment-178-2 ἀποτρύεται ⁴¹⁷

mvp-comment-179-1 ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων, ⁴¹⁸ ἀρότων ⁴¹⁹

mvp-comment-179-2 ἔτος εἰς ἔτος ⁴²⁰ εἰς ⁴²¹

mvp-comment-180-1 ἱππείῳ γένει ⁴²²

mvp-comment-180-2 πολεύων ⁴²³ τοῦτο ⁴²⁴

mvp-comment-181-1 Man's conquests over the animal world are here taken in two groups. First, those of which the primary aim is to kill or to capture. Here the means is netting (

ἀμφιβαλὼν σπείραισι δικτυοκλώστοις

), in its threefold sporting use, as applied to fowling (

ὀρνίθων

), hunting (

θηρῶν

), and fishing (

πόντου φύσιν

). Secondly, those conquests which aim at reducing wild animals to man's service. These are effected by

μηχαναί

(349),— arts of taming and training. And their result is aptly expressed by the word

mvp-comment-181-2

κρατεῖ

: here, man is not merely the slayer or captor; he becomes the master of docile toilers. The horse and the bull are types.

mvp-comment-181-3 Thus, in this ode, the scale of achievement ever ascends: man (1) conquers inanimate nature: (2) makes animals his captives: (3) trains them to be his servants: (4) develops his own social and intellectual life.

mvp-comment-181-4 κουφονόων ⁴²⁵

mvp-comment-181-5 ἀμφιβαλὼν ⁴²⁶

mvp-comment-182-1 πόντου … εἰναλίαν φύσιν ⁴²⁷

mvp-comment-183-1 περιφραδής ⁴²⁸

mvp-comment-184-1 μηχαναῖς ⁴²⁹ ἀγραύλου ⁴³⁰ ὀρεσσιβάτα ⁴³¹

mvp-comment-185-1 λασιαύχενά θ’ ⁴³²

mvp-comment-186-1 ὀχμάζεται ⁴³³ ἀμφὶ λόφον ζυγῶν ⁴³⁴

mvp-comment-186-2 Rhod. 1. 743

κυρίως ἐστὶν ὀχμάσαι τὸ ἵππον ὑπὸ χαλινὸν ἀγαγεῖν ἢ ὑπὸ ζυγόν

. The midd. voice does not occur elsewhere; but this cannot be regarded as an objection, when we remember how many rare middle forms occur in the dramatists. Thus

προσορωμένα

in O. C. 244 is a solitary example of that verb in the midd., and if the license could be taken with so common a word, much more might it be allowed with a comparatively rare one. Blaydes writes

ὀχμάζει ὑπ’ ἀμφίλοφον ζυγόν

: but the Ms.

ἕξεται

indicates that the verb, whatever it was, was of the midd. form.

ὀχμάζεται

was published by G. Schöne in 1833, and by Franz in 1846: they appear to have made the conjecture independently. Donaldson (1848) printed

ὁχμάζεται ἀμφὶ λόφον ζυγῶν

, and seems to ascribe

ζυγῶν

to Franz and Schöne; though Franz, at least, proposed

ἀμφὶ λόφον ζυγῷ. ζυγῶν

has been revived (seemingly without knowledge of a predecessor) by H. Schütz (1886). Sophocles would write

ΑΜΦΙΛΟΦΟΝΖΥΓΟΝ

, and thus

ζυγῶν

changes no letter. Aesch. used the fut.

ζυγώσω

(fr. 110), and Soph. has the verbal

ζυγωτῶν

( El. 702 ). To

ἀμφιλόφῳ ζυγῷ

it may be objected that, being clear, it was not likely to become -

ον ‐όν

: but, when

ἀμφίλοφον

had once been written,

ζυγῶν

(or

ζυγῷ

) would easily become

ζυγόν

. As to the schol. on

ἀμφίλοφον,—ἀντὶ τοῦ, περιβαλὼν αὐτῷ ζυγὸν περὶ τὸν λόφον, ὑπάγει

,—it cannot fairly be urged for

ζυγῶν

(or for any partic.), since it may be merely a paraphrase of

ἀμφίλοφον

.—Schütz's ἐφέζεται ⁴³⁵

mvp-comment-187-1 φθέγμα ⁴³⁶

mvp-comment-187-2 beginnings of speech...Speech is the development, through imitation, of a capacity of man—the capacity of making a noise.’ This is quite compatible with

ἐδιδάξατο.

mvp-comment-187-3 ἀνεμόεν φρόνημα ⁴³⁷

mvp-comment-188-1 ἀστυνόμους ὀργάς ⁴³⁸

mvp-comment-189-1 ἐδιδάξατο ⁴³⁹

mvp-comment-190-1 πάγων ⁴⁴⁰

mvp-comment-190-2 ἐναίθρεια ⁴⁴¹

mvp-comment-190-3 βέλη ⁴⁴³

mvp-comment-191-1 παντοπόρος ⁴⁴⁴

mvp-comment-191-2

οὐδὲν … τὸ μέλλον = οὐδὲν ὃ μέλλει

(

ἔσεσθαι

), nothing that is to be (cp. the absolute

τὸ μέλλον, τὰ μέλλοντα

). So Plat. Lach. 197 A

ἔγωγε ἀνδρεῖα καλῶ οὔτε θηρία οὔτε ἄλλο οὐδὲν τὸ τὰ δεινὰ ὑπὸ ἀγνοίας μὴ φοβούμενον = οὐδὲν ὃ μὴ φοβεῖται

. This negative form is as correct as (though actually rarer than) the positive

πᾶν τὸ καλῶς ἔχον

( Plat. Rep. 381A ) for

πᾶν ὃ καλῶς ἔχει

. Donaldson took

τὸ μέλλον

adverbially: ‘in regard to the future, he comes to nothing without resources.’ Cp. 728 ,

μηδὲν τὸ μὴ δίκαιον

, where

μηδέν

is subst., not adv.

mvp-comment-192-1 μόνον ⁴⁴⁵ μόνου ⁴⁴⁶ φεῦξιν — ἐπάξεται ⁴⁴⁷

mvp-comment-193-1 ἀμηχάνων ⁴⁴⁸

mvp-comment-193-2 φυγάς ⁴⁴⁹

mvp-comment-193-3 ξυμπέφρασται ⁴⁵⁰

mvp-comment-194-1 The ode closes with a more direct reference to the incident which suggested its theme. The daring ingenuity shown by the unknown breaker of Creon's edict is an instance of the subtlety which leads to ruin. The implied contrast with Creon—

ὑψίπολις

by his care for the laws—is effective in view of the destined

περιπέτεια

mvp-comment-194-2 σοφόν τι … ἔχων ⁴⁵¹

mvp-comment-194-3 τὸ μηχανόεν τ ⁴⁵²

mvp-comment-195-1 τοτὲ μὲν … ἄλλοτ’ ⁴⁵³

mvp-comment-195-2 ἐπ’ ⁴⁵⁴

mvp-comment-196-1 γεραίρων ⁴⁵⁵

mvp-comment-196-2 5. 67

ἐτίμων τὸν Ἄδρηστον καὶ δὴ πρὸς τὰ πάθεα αὐτοῦ τραγικοῖσι χοροῖσι ἐγέραιρον

. Ar. Th. 960

γένος Ὀλυμπίων θεῶν | μέλπε καὶ γέραιρε φωνῇ

mvp-comment-197-1 θεῶν τ’ ἔνορκον δίκαν ⁴⁵⁶

mvp-comment-198-1 ὑψίπολις ⁴⁵⁷

mvp-comment-198-2 ἄπολις ⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-198-3 τὸ μὴ καλόν ⁴⁵⁹ τόλμας χάριν ⁴⁶⁰

mvp-comment-199-1 παρέστιος ⁴⁶¹

mvp-comment-199-2 ἴσον φρονῶν ⁴⁶²

mvp-comment-200-1 ἔρδει ⁴⁶³ ἔρδοι ⁴⁶⁴

mvp-comment-202-1 The choral ode has closed with an allusion to the unknown man ( ὅς ⁴⁶⁵ ἀμφινοῶ ⁴⁶⁶ ἐς ⁴⁶⁷

mvp-comment-202-2 δαιμόνιον τέρας ⁴⁶⁸

mvp-comment-203-1 πῶς εἰδὼς ⁴⁶⁹

mvp-comment-203-2 ἀντιλογήσω ⁴⁷⁰

mvp-comment-204-1 ὦ δύστηνος ⁴⁷¹

mvp-comment-204-2 δ. πατρός ⁴⁷²

mvp-comment-204-3 Οἰδιπόδα— ⁴⁷³

mvp-comment-205-1 τί ποτ’ ⁴⁷⁴

mvp-comment-205-2 οὐ δή που ⁴⁷⁵

mvp-comment-205-3 ἀπιστοῦσαν ⁴⁷⁶

mvp-comment-205-4 ἄγουσι ⁴⁷⁷

mvp-comment-205-5 colloquialism, it would be nearly as bad as, ‘Have they taken you up?’

mvp-comment-205-6 καὶ ⁴⁷⁸ ἀπιστοῦσαν ⁴⁷⁹ καθελόντες ⁴⁸⁰

mvp-comment-206-1 Second

ἐπεισόδιον

. Antigone, brought before Creon, avows and justifies her deed. Creon declares that she shall die. Ismene, when led in (531), associates herself with the act, but is not permitted by her sister to claim any part in it. Creon orders that both sisters shall be kept prisoners.

mvp-comment-206-2 ἐκείνη ⁴⁸¹

mvp-comment-206-3 τοὔργον ἡ ’ξειργ ⁴⁸²

mvp-comment-207-1 ἐς δέον ⁴⁸³

mvp-comment-208-1 ξύμμετρος ⁴⁸⁴

mvp-comment-209-1 ἀπώμοτον ⁴⁸⁵

mvp-comment-210-1 ψεύδει ⁴⁸⁶

mvp-comment-210-2 ἡ ’πίνοια ⁴⁸⁷

mvp-comment-211-1 ἐξηύχουν ἄν ⁴⁸⁸ σχολῇ ἥξειν ποτὲ δεῦρο ⁴⁸⁹

mvp-comment-211-2 σχολῇ ⁴⁹⁰

mvp-comment-212-1 ταῖς σαῖς ἀπειλαῖς ⁴⁹¹

mvp-comment-212-2 ἐχειμάσθην ⁴⁹²

mvp-comment-213-1 ἡ...ἐκτὸς ⁴⁹³ ἐκτός ⁴⁹⁴

mvp-comment-214-1 οὐδὲν ἔοικε μῆκος ⁴⁹⁵ α+λλῃ ἡδονῇ ⁴⁹⁶ οὐδέν ⁴⁹⁷ μῆκος ⁴⁹⁸ ἔοικε ⁴⁹⁹

mvp-comment-215-1 δῑ ὅρκων … ἀπώμοτος ⁵⁰⁰

mvp-comment-216-1 καθῃρέθη ⁵⁰¹

mvp-comment-216-2 τάφον κοσμοῦσα ⁵⁰²

mvp-comment-216-3 ἐπάλλετο ⁵⁰³ ἕρμαιον ⁵⁰⁴

mvp-comment-217-1 κρῖνε ⁵⁰⁵

mvp-comment-217-2 δίκαιός εἰμι ⁵⁰⁶

mvp-comment-217-3 ἀπηλλάχθαι ⁵⁰⁷

mvp-comment-218-1 Observe the order of the words as marking his amazement. For the double interrog. cp. Il. 21.150

τίς πόθεν ει<*>=ς ἀνδρῶν

; Ph. 243

τίνι | στόλῳ προσέσχες τήνδε γῆν, πόθεν πλέων;

mvp-comment-218-2 πάντ’ ἐπίστασαι ⁵⁰⁸

mvp-comment-219-1 ἦ καὶ ⁵⁰⁹

mvp-comment-219-2 ὀρθῶς ⁵¹⁰

mvp-comment-219-3 mean to say? (Not, merely, ‘truly,’ i.e. in accordance with the fact: cp. 99 n.)

mvp-comment-220-1 τὸν νεκρόν ⁵¹¹

mvp-comment-221-1 ἆρ’ ἔνδηλα ⁵¹²

mvp-comment-222-1 ὁρᾶται...ᾑρέθη ⁵¹³

mvp-comment-222-2 ἐπίληπτος ⁵¹⁴

mvp-comment-223-1 ἥκομεν ⁵¹⁶

mvp-comment-224-1 τὰ δείν’ ἐκεῖν’ ⁵¹⁷

mvp-comment-224-2 τὸν | νέκυν ⁵¹⁸

mvp-comment-225-1 καθήμεθ’ ⁵¹⁹

mvp-comment-225-2 ἄκρων ἐκ πάγων ⁵²⁰

mvp-comment-225-3

ἐξ Οὐλύμποιο ἀπὸ ῥίου

. Here,

ἀπὸ ῥίου

goes with

εἰσεῖδε

: but

ἐξ Οὐλύμποιο

, however much

εἰσεῖδε

may have influenced it, at least cannot be disjoined from

στᾶσ’

. (2) Eur. Phoen. 1009

ἀλλ’ εἶμι καὶ στὰς ἐξ ἐπάλξεων ἄκρων | σφάξας ἐμαυτὸν σηκὸν εἰς μελαμβαθῆ | δράκοντος, ἔνθ’ ὁ μάντις ἐξηγήσατο, | ἐλευθερώσω γαῖαν

. It is impossible to sever

στάς

from

ἐξ ἐπ.

, even if we partly explain

ἐξ

σφάξας

. (3) ib. 1224

Ἐτεοκλέης δ’ ὑπῆρξ’ ἀπ’ ὀρθίου σταθεὶς | πύργου κελεύσας σῖγα κηρῦξαι στρατῷ

. The position of

σταθείς

forbids us to sever it from

ἀπ’ ὀρθ. π.

, even though

ὑπῆρξε

κελεύσας

is used to explain

ἀπό

. (4) Eur. Tro. 522

ἀνὰ δ’ ἐβόασεν λεὼς | Τρῳάδος ἀπὸ πέτρας σταθείς

. A similar case. In all these passages, a picture is presented, and we have to glance from a remoter to a nearer object. The mental eye is required to measure the space between Hera on the peak of Olympus, and Poseidon on the plain of Troy; between Megareus on the walls of Thebes, and the cavern into which his corpse is to fall. And, in each case,

ἐκ

ἀπό

denotes the quarter in which the remoter object is to be looked for. This, which might be called the ‘surveying’ use, is distinct from that in which the prep. has a pregnant force, as being directly suggestive of motion (

οἱ ἐκ Σικελίας ἥξουσι

); but it springs from the same mental tendency,—viz., to take a rapid glance over the dividing interval. Cp.

ἵστασθαι πρός τινος

(‘on his side’). So here: in the foreground of the picture is the corpse, which they have just laid bare. Now look to the hillocks behind it; in that quarter you will see the guards at their post.—I have not cited Od. 21.419

τόν ῥ’ ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρὴν γλυφίδας τε | αὐτόθεν ἐκ δίφροιο καθήμενος

, because there

ἐκ δίφροιο

goes with

ἕλκεν

, not with

καθήμενος

(he drew the bow, just from the chair, where he sat).

mvp-comment-225-4 ὑπήνεμοι ⁵²¹

mvp-comment-226-1 βάλῃ ⁵²²

mvp-comment-227-1 ἐγερτί ⁵²³

mvp-comment-227-2 κινῶν ⁵²⁴

mvp-comment-227-3 ἐπιρρόθοις κακοῖσιν ⁵²⁵

mvp-comment-227-4 the adj. expressing the loud, continuous noise of tongues. The

ἐπι

- does not mean ‘bandied to and fro’: see Tr. 263

πολλὰ μὲν λόγοις | ἐπερρόθησε

. In fr. 521

ἐπίρροθα δώματα

=‘open to reproach.’ Elsewhere (as with Aesch.)

ἐπίρροθος

= ‘helper’ (

ἐπιρροθέω

, to come with shouts to the rescue). Cp.

ἐρρόθουν

259 n., Aesch. 290.

mvp-comment-228-1 ἀκηδήσοι ⁵²⁶ ἀφειδήσοι ⁵²⁷

mvp-comment-229-1 The incident of the storm was a dramatic necessity, to account for Antigone reaching the corpse unobserved. A powerful picture is compressed into seven lines. (Cp. O. C. 1315 ff. for a like instance of self-restraint in description.)

mvp-comment-230-1 κατέστη ⁵²⁸

mvp-comment-230-2 χθονὸς ⁵²⁹

mvp-comment-231-1 τυφώς ⁵³⁰ σκηπτός ⁵³¹

mvp-comment-231-2 οὐράνιον ἄχος ⁵³²

mvp-comment-232-1 πίμπλησι ⁵³³ αἰκίζων ⁵³⁴

mvp-comment-232-2 ἐν δ’ ἐμεστ ⁵³⁵

mvp-comment-233-1 μύσαντες ⁵³⁶

mvp-comment-233-2 νόσον ⁵³⁷

mvp-comment-233-3 ἐν χρ. μακρ ⁵³⁸

mvp-comment-234-1 πικρᾶς ⁵³⁹

mvp-comment-235-1 εὐνῆς...λέχος ⁵⁴⁰

mvp-comment-236-1 οὕτω δέ ⁵⁴¹

mvp-comment-236-2 ψιλόν ⁵⁴²

mvp-comment-237-1 γόοισιν ἐξῴμωξεν ⁵⁴³

mvp-comment-237-2 ἐκ δ’ … ἠρᾶτο ⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-237-3 διψίαν ⁵⁴⁵

mvp-comment-238-1 φέρει κόνιν ⁵⁴⁶

mvp-comment-239-1 The πρόχους ⁵⁴⁷

mvp-comment-239-2 εὐκρότητος ⁵⁴⁸

mvp-comment-239-3 ἄρδην ⁵⁴⁹

mvp-comment-240-1 χοαῖσι ⁵⁵⁰

mvp-comment-240-2 τρισπόνδ. ⁵⁵¹ στέφει ⁵⁵²

mvp-comment-241-1 ἱέμεσθα ⁵⁵³

mvp-comment-241-2 σὺν δὲ … θηρώμεθ’ ⁵⁵⁴

mvp-comment-242-1 ἠλέγχομεν ⁵⁵⁵

mvp-comment-242-2 ἄπαρνος … οὐδενός ⁵⁵⁶

mvp-comment-242-3 καθίστατο ⁵⁵⁷

mvp-comment-243-1 ἅμ’ ⁵⁵⁸

mvp-comment-244-1 φίλους ⁵⁵⁹

mvp-comment-245-1 πάντα ταῦθ’ ⁵⁶⁰ λαβεῖν ⁵⁶¹

mvp-comment-246-1 σὲ δή, ⁵⁶²

mvp-comment-247-1 φὴς δεδρακέναι, ἢ καταρνεῖ μὴ δεδρ ⁵⁶³ καταρνεῖ ⁵⁶⁴

mvp-comment-248-1 καὶ......κοὐκ ⁵⁶⁵

mvp-comment-248-2 τὸ μή ⁵⁶⁶

mvp-comment-249-1 σὺ μέν ⁵⁶⁷ κομίζοις ἂν ς ⁵⁶⁸

mvp-comment-249-2 ἔξω ⁵⁶⁹ β. αἰτίας ⁵⁷⁰ ἐλεύθερον ⁵⁷¹

mvp-comment-250-1 μῆκος ⁵⁷²

mvp-comment-251-1 ᾔδησθα ⁵⁷³ ᾔδης τὰ ⁵⁷⁴ σθα ⁵⁷⁵

mvp-comment-251-2 κηρυχθέντα ⁵⁷⁶

mvp-comment-252-1 ᾔδη ⁵⁷⁷

mvp-comment-252-2 τί δ’ οὐκ ἔμελλον ⁵⁷⁸

mvp-comment-252-3 ἐμφανῆ ⁵⁷⁹ ἐκφανῆ ⁵⁸⁰

mvp-comment-253-1 καὶ δῆτ’ ⁵⁸¹

mvp-comment-254-1 Ζεύς ⁵⁸²

mvp-comment-255-1 τῶν κάτω θεῶν ⁵⁸³ ξύνοικος ⁵⁸⁴ τοιούσδ’ … ὥρισεν ⁵⁸⁵ οἳ τούσδ’ … ὥρισαν ⁵⁸⁶ τάδε ⁵⁸⁷

mvp-comment-256-1 ἄγραπτα … νόμιμα ⁵⁸⁸

mvp-comment-256-2 quotes vv. 456 f.) Cp. O.T. 865 ff.

νόμοι... | ὑψίποδες, οὐρανίαν | δἰ αἰθέρα τεκνωθέντες

, with notes there. Thuc. 2.37 (

νόμοι

)

ὅσοι ἄγραφοι ὄντες αἰσχύνην ὁμολογουμένην φέρουσι

. When ‘the unwritten laws’ are thus called

νόμοι

, the latter word is used figuratively. νόμιμα ⁵⁸⁹

mvp-comment-256-3 ἀσφαλῆ ⁵⁹⁰

mvp-comment-256-4 θνητὸν ὄντ’ ⁵⁹¹

mvp-comment-256-5 ὑπερδραμεῖν ⁵⁹²

mvp-comment-257-1 νῦν γε κἀχθές ⁵⁹³

mvp-comment-257-2 ζῇ ⁵⁹⁴

mvp-comment-257-3 ’φάνη ⁵⁹⁵

mvp-comment-258-1 τούτων ⁵⁹⁶ τὴν δίκην ⁵⁹⁷ τούτων ⁵⁹⁸

mvp-comment-258-2 shows that, like

ταῦτα

just before, it refers to the

νόμιμα

: we cannot, therefore, render, ‘the penalty of such an act’ ( sc.

τοῦ ὑπερδραμεῖν

mvp-comment-258-3 ἐν θεοῖσι ⁵⁹⁹

mvp-comment-259-1 δώσειν ⁶⁰⁰

mvp-comment-259-2 θανουμένη γάρ ⁶⁰¹

mvp-comment-259-3 τί δ’ οὔ ⁶⁰²

mvp-comment-260-1 κεἰ μὴ σὺ προὐκήρυξας ⁶⁰³

mvp-comment-260-2 τοῦ χρόνου ⁶⁰⁴

mvp-comment-260-3 αὔτ’ ⁶⁰⁵

mvp-comment-261-1 φέρει ⁶⁰⁶

mvp-comment-262-1 Kvičala and Wecklein reject these four verses, despairing of the difficulties found in vv. 466, 467, which have been variously amended; see Appendix. The alleged difficulties are, (1)

παρ’ οὐδὲν ἄλγος

: (2) the mention of the mother only: (3) the position of

θανόντ’

, which might suggest the sense, ‘slain by my mother’: (4)

ηἰσχόμην

(as L has it). Before dealing with these points, I would call attention to a trait which the impugners of these verses have overlooked, and which speaks strongly for the genuineness of the passage as a whole, corrupt though it be in certain words. That trait is the clause τοῖσδε δ’ οὐκ ἀλγύνομαι ⁶⁰⁷

mvp-comment-263-1 ἄλγος ⁶⁰⁸ παρ’ οὐδέν ⁶⁰⁹

mvp-comment-263-2 adv.: ‘is a pain in no appreciable degree,’ is a pain not worth a thought: as he might have said,

οὐδαμοῦ ἄλγος ἐστί

. The normal use of

παρ’ οὐδέν

, ‘of no account,’ is either ( a) with the verb

εἶναι

, as O. T. 982

ταῦθ’ ὅτῳ | παρ’ οὐδέν ἐστι

, or ( b) with a verb meaning ‘to esteem,’ as above, v. 34,

τὸ πρᾶγμ’ ἄγειν | οὐχ ὡς παρ’ οὐδέν

. The only peculiarity here is that, instead of a word in the general sense, ‘ is esteemed’ (

ἄγεται

), we have a virtual equivalent, tinged with the special thought of the moment, viz., ‘ is a pain.’ Exactly so in El. 1327 we have

πότερα παρ’ οὐδὲν τοῦ βίου κήδεσθ’ ἔτι

, instead of

πότερα παρ’ οὐδὲν τὸν βίον ἄγετε

. Thus the suspicions as to the genuineness of

παρ’ οὐδὲν ἄλγος

are illusory.

mvp-comment-263-3 ἀλλ’ ἄν ⁶¹⁰

mvp-comment-264-1 ἄθαπτον ἠνσχόμην νέκυν ⁶¹¹ ηἰσχόμην ⁶¹² ἠνσχόμην ⁶¹³

mvp-comment-264-2 In my first edition I placed in the text the emendation of Semitelos (1887) ᾔσχυναν κύνες ⁶¹⁴

mvp-comment-264-3 Other emendations will be found in the Appendix. Most of them assume that we must have

ἠνεσχόμην

(or

ἀνεσχόμην

), and therefore alter the words

θανόντ’ ἄθαπτον

and

νέκυν

in various ways, —usu. omitting

νέκυν

. The verses produced by these processes are wretched, while, from a palaeographical point of view, they are pure conjectures, which do not attempt to account for the tradition in L.—Two points remain. (1) τὸν ἐξ ἐμῆς | μητρός ⁶¹⁵

mvp-comment-264-4 or

μιᾶς

(Meineke). (2) τὸν ἐξ ἐμ. | μητρος θανόντ’ ⁶¹⁶

mvp-comment-265-1 σχεδόν τι ⁶¹⁷

mvp-comment-265-2 μώρῳ μωρίαν ⁶¹⁸

mvp-comment-265-3 ὀφλισκάνω ⁶¹⁹

mvp-comment-266-1 These two verses give a moment of stillness before the storm breaks forth. So at O. T. 404 four verses of the chorus divide the angry speech of Oedipus from the retort of Teiresias.

mvp-comment-266-2 τὸ γέννημα τῆς παιδός ⁶²⁰ δηλοῖ ⁶²¹ ὠμόν ⁶²² ἐξ ὠμοῦ πατρός ⁶²³ γέννημα ⁶²⁴

mvp-comment-267-1 εἴκειν … κακοῖς ⁶²⁵

mvp-comment-268-1 ἀλλ’ ἴσθι τοι ⁶²⁶

mvp-comment-268-2 πίπτειν ⁶²⁷

mvp-comment-269-1 ὀπτὸν … περισκελῆ ⁶²⁸

mvp-comment-269-2 περισκελής ⁶²⁹

mvp-comment-269-3 ἐκ πυρός ⁶³⁰

mvp-comment-270-1 θραυσθέντα καὶ ῥαγέντα ⁶³¹

mvp-comment-271-1 χαλινῷ δ’ ⁶³² σμικρῷ ⁶³³

mvp-comment-271-2 καταρτυθέντας ⁶³⁴

mvp-comment-272-1 Suspicion has fallen on ἐκπέλει ⁶³⁵

mvp-comment-272-2 ὅστις ⁶³⁶

mvp-comment-272-3 τῶν πέλας ⁶³⁷

mvp-comment-273-1 αὕτη δ’ ⁶³⁸ ὑβρίζειν μὲν … ὕβρις δ’ ⁶³⁹ ἐξηπίστατο ⁶⁴⁰ τότ’ ⁶⁴¹

mvp-comment-273-2 τούτοις ⁶⁴²

mvp-comment-273-3 δεδρακυῖαν γελᾶν ⁶⁴³

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

161. mvp-comment-100-1 προὔθετο The middle voice implies that Creon had summoned the elders of his own motion. So καλέσσατο of Achilles in Il. 1. 54.

162. mvp-comment-101-1 κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας Having cited us by a message sent to us all.

162. mvp-comment-101-2 κοινῷ = Inclusive. πέμψας] i. e. στείλας πομποῖσιν, as Creon expresses himself in ll. 164-165. 162-210. Creon's first error is not mere self-will, but an excessive zeal for the honour of the state, to which all private feelings must give way (183-184, 187-190). His spirit of self-assertion is however already felt, esp. in ll. 173, 191, 207-10. And the unconsciousness of one young in power is shown in the self-inculpating words in ll. 175-177. He characteristically dwells on the virtue of loyalty (165-169, 209-210) and the crime of rebellion (199-202): and his passionate nature is betrayed by the exaggerated expression in l. 208. Cp. O. T. 216 ff. and note. The frequent occurrence of the Ist personal pronoun is a significant feature of both these speeches.

162. mvp-comment-101-3 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος As for the state. This form of expression suits the introduction of a subject before the form of sentence is determined. πόλιν, rather than τὰ πόλεος, is the object of σείσαντες and ὤρθωσαν.

162. mvp-comment-101-4 ἀσφαλῶς Unharmed, = ἄνεν τοῦ σφαλῆναι,

163. mvp-comment-102-1 ὥρθωσαν Have righted the vessel of the state.

165-166. mvp-comment-103-1 τὰ Λαΐου. κράτη Knowing that you ever duly reverenced the enthroned authority of Laius. Λαΐου is governed by θρόνων κράτη taken as one word, θρόνων being added to supplement κράτη. σέβοντας and μένοντας, infr. 166, 169, are imperfects = ὅτι ἐσέβετε .. ἐμένετε,

167. mvp-comment-104-1 ὤρθου Kept on a safe course: i. e. Governed prosperously. The word recalls the happiness of the first period of Oedipus' rule. Cp. Plat. Men. P. 99 C, ᾗ οἱ πολιτικοὶ ἄνδρες χρώμενοι τὰς πόλεις ὀρθοῦσιν : Phaedr. 244 B. 168-169. ἀμφὶ .. φρονήμασιν]. Ye still remained loyal to their issue with unshaken minds. ἀμφί, Surrounding, as ready to defend. The apodosis is made to suit the latter protasis, ἐπεὶ διώλετο, and that of the former protasis, ἡνίκ' . . πόλιν (viz. ἐκείνῳ ὁμοίως πειθομένους οι the like), is thus absorbed.

167. mvp-comment-104-2 κείνων . . παῖδας i. e. Sons of Oedipus and grandsons of Laius.

172. mvp-comment-105-1 αὐτόχειρι Fratricidal. See Essay on Language p. 91.

174. mvp-comment-106-1 γένους κατ᾿ ἀγχιστεῖα By privilege of being nearest in kindred (ὡς ἀγχιστεύων) to the dead. Cp. πρωτεία, etc.

175. mvp-comment-107-1 παντὸς ἀνδρός Of any man, and therefore of me.

176. mvp-comment-108-1 ψυχήν. . φρόνημα.. γνώμην As observed in the Essay on Language pp. 91-3, the opposition between these words is chiefly formal. So far as there is any difference between them, ψυχήν is mind, or nature, φρόνημα, spirit, or way of thinking, (cp. infr. 207), and γνώμην, judgment or meaning.

176-177. mvp-comment-109-1 πρὶν ἂν ἀρχαῖς.. φανῇ “Until he be seen in his true colours through being tried in office and administration.' According to the saying of Bias, ἀρχὴ τὸν ἄνδρα δείξει (Arist. Eth. Nic. 5. 1. 16). There is an allusion to the detection of spurious coin through wear. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 390-392, κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόπον | τρίβῳτε καὶ προσβολαῖς | μελαμπαγὴς πέλει | δικαιωθείς (where Herm. says, 'Vereor autem ne non de lapide Lydio loquatur poeta, sed aes adulterinum dicat, quod usu tritum amisso falso splendore cognoscitur'): Hdt. 7. 10, ὥσπερ τὸν χρυσὸν τὸν ἀκήρατον, αὐτὸν μὲν ἐπ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ οὐ διαγινώσκομεν, ἐπεὰν δὲ

178. mvp-comment-110-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ The connection is not strictly logical. γάρ explains not the difficulty of discerning the difference between rulers, but the essential point on which the difference turns. In setting forth this, Creon also declares the spirit of his own policy. He is feeling his way with the elders, of whose submission he is not perfectly sure, and beats about the bush before coming to the point with them. Hence he repeats the same thought in different words.

178-183. mvp-comment-111-1 The sentiment of these lines is closely parallel to Plat. Legg. 9. 856 B, ὃς ἂν ἄγων εἰς ἀρχὴν ἄνθρωπον δουλῶται μὲν τοὺς νόμους, ἑταιρείας δὲ τὴν πόλιν ὑπήκοον ποιῇ, καὶ βιαίως δὲ πᾶν τοῦτο πράττων καὶ στάσιν ἐγείρων παρανομῇ· τοῦτον δὴ διανοεῖσθαι δεῖ πάντων πολεμιώτατον ὅλῃ τῇ πόλει, τὸν δὲ κοινωνοῦντα μὲν τῶν τοιούτων μηδενί, τῶν μεγίστων δὲ μετέχοντα ἀρχῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, λεληθότα τε ταῦτα αὐτὸν ἢ μὴ λεληθότα, δειλίᾳ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ πατρίδος αὑτοῦ μὴ τιμωρούμενον, δεῖ δεύτερον ἡγεῖσθαι τὸν τοιοῦτον πολίτην κακῇ.

180. mvp-comment-112-1 ἐγκλείσας Locked up. Cp. Shakespeare, Richard II, 1. 3,

Within my mouth you have engaoled my tongue, | Doubly portcullised with my teeth and lips.

Infr. 505, εἰ μὴ γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσαι φόβος.

182. mvp-comment-113-1 μείζον᾽.. ἀντί Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. Cp. Od. 7. 216, στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον.

183. mvp-comment-114-1 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω Plat. Gorg. 456 C, οὐδαμοῦ ἂν φανῆναι, supr. 32. 184 ff. Having shown what makes the good and bad ruler, Creon declares his own intentions, first generally, and then (192 ff.) with reference to Eteocles and Polynices. γάρ implies that his opinion will be proved by his acts. In both statements (178-183, 184-190) the stress is laid on the duty of renouncing friendship with the public enemy (182-183, 187-188), which is the ground of the present edict, Polynices being presumably Creon's private friend: supr. 174.

186. mvp-comment-115-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς Menacing my people. Cp. supr. l. 10: Aesch. Prom. 1089-1090, τοιάδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ ῥιπὴ Διόθεν, | τεύχουσα φόβον, στείχει φανερῶς. For the dative, Essay on Language § 12. p. 18.

187. mvp-comment-116-1 δυσμενή χθονός Who is my country's foe. The genitive avoids the awkwardness of two datives, χθονί and ἐμαυτῷ, coming close together.

189-190. mvp-comment-117-1 She it is who preserves us, and we make friends only while she carries us in the course of public safety; i. e. The friendship that is made against the interest of the state is hollow and insecure. Cp. Thuc. 2. 60: (Pericles loq.) ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι πόλιν πλείω ξύμπασαν ὀρθουμένην ὠφελεῖν τοὺς ἰδιώτας, ἢ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον τῶν πολιτῶν εὐπραγοῦσαν, ἀθρόαν δὲ σφαλλομένην, κ.τ.λ.: Zaleuc. ap. Stob. (Mullach, p. 543), πόλις γὰρ εὖ ἀγομένη μεγίστη ὄρθωσίς ἐστι, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ πάντα ἔνι, καὶ τούτου σωζομένου πάντα σώζεται καὶ τούτου φθειρομένου πάντα διαφθείρεται: Shakespeare. King John, 3. 1, Pand.

All form is formless, order orderless, | Save what is opposite to England's love.

On the change of pronouns (ἥδε.. ταύτης), see Essay on Language § 22. p. 32. The article in τοὺς φίλους points the reference to ll. 182-183.

191. mvp-comment-118-1 τοιοίσδε νόμοισι By such principles as these. Cp. infr. 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

192. mvp-comment-119-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε i. e. In full accord with them. Cp. Plat. Rep. 4. 421 C, ἆρ᾽ οὖν .. καὶ τὸ τούτου ἀδελφὸν δύξω σοι μετρίως λέγειν; Lys. 2. 64, ἀδελφὰ τὰ βουλεύματα τοῖς ἔργοις : Ο. C. 1262, ἀδελφὰ . . τούτοισιν.

193. mvp-comment-120-1 τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οιδίπου For the pleo- 190 195 200 nastic use of the preposition, see above 150, 182, and notes.

195. mvp-comment-121-1 πάντ᾿ ἀριστεύσας δορί After proving himself in all ways the bravest in the war. For the aor., cp. Hdt. 9. 74, alib.

196. mvp-comment-122-1 τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι ‘Το add all sacred offerings.'

199. mvp-comment-123-1 θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς The gods of his race; i. e. Those honoured by the Cadmeans. The gods of the race also include the ancestors of the race. Infr. 938, θεοὶ προγενεῖς.

201. mvp-comment-124-1 πρῆσαι κατάκρας The city (γῆν = πόλιν) is thought of as the main object of the verb.

201. mvp-comment-124-2 ἠθέλησε δ' The correspondence of clauses (with μέν and δέ) is not perfect, the antithesis being due to afterthought.

201. mvp-comment-124-3 αἵματος .. πάσασθαι ‘Το repast him with blood of his own kin.' The expression suits the Epic colouring of the whole speech.

202. mvp-comment-125-1 τοὺς δέ The rest; i. e. Those not slain, as implied in the opposition το αἵματος κοινοῦ πάσασθαι. 203.

202. mvp-comment-125-2 ἐκκεκήρυκται Musgrave's correction has been generally adopted, lopted, and is probably right. The impersonal verb gives absoluteness to the expression. Wolff construes the inf. with λέγω in 198 (deleting the comma after τοῦδε), and Wecklein reads λέγω for τάφῳ. The slight corruption is probably due to a reminiscence of supr. 27.

205. mvp-comment-126-1 δέμας is accusative of limitation, and ἄθαπτον and ἐδεστόν are masculine. To leave him unburied, to have his flesh consumed by birds and dogs.

206. mvp-comment-127-1 αἰκισθέντ᾿ ἰδεῖν A spectacle of indignity. Lit. Outraged to behold. The infinitive is added after the participle, which is masculine.

207. mvp-comment-128-1 Cp. 176, ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

223-330. mvp-comment-136-1 The half-comic or rustic character of the watchman in this play is an extension of the common character of the messenger, whose natural rudeness of speech and thought brings into greater prominence the horror or pathos of the events he describes. The grotesqueness disappears when he speaks of the action of Antigone in 407-440. The employment of this artifice by Sophocles arises from the same motive to which Shakespeare gave a far wider range in such creations as the gravediggers in Hamlet, and the rural fellow in Antony and Cleopatra. The Messenger in the Trachiniae, the Corinthian in the Oedipus Tyrannus, Menelaus in the Ajax, the pretended Shipmaster in the Philoctetes, afford the same sort of contrast to the more tragic personages: and the superstition of the Coloniatae may be compared with the cowardice of the Phrygian slave in the Orestes of Euripides.

223-330. mvp-comment-136-2 The vulgarity of the common-place Athenian of the fifth century в.с. takes the form of misplaced subtlety of wit. Cp. Shak. Hamlet, 5. 1 ,

We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us. The age is grown so picked, that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he galls his kibe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the gen., cp. Tr. 768.

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

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

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

259. mvp-comment-161-2 τοῖς δαίμοσιν.

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

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

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

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

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

269. mvp-comment-165-1

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

(Dind.).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

296. mvp-comment-175-1 νόμισμα, usually = Current coin, is here used in the more general sense which includes this. No such pestilent usance as money is, ever sprang up amongst mankind.

298. mvp-comment-176-1 The object of ἐκδιδάσκει, SC.

298. mvp-comment-176-2 χρηστοὺς αἰσχρά, is absorbed in the expansion of the sentence.

299. mvp-comment-177-1 πρὸς .. ἵστασθαι Το address themselves to shameful enterprizes.' Cp. Thuc. 6. 34. § 7, τῶν δ᾽ ἀνθρώπων πρὸς τὰ λεγόμενα καὶ αἱ γνῶμαι ἵστανται.

300. mvp-comment-178-1 πανουργίας The plural of the abstract noun gives the concrete notion.

300. mvp-comment-178-2 πανουργίας ἔχειν, like θήραν ἔχειν, Αj. 564: ὕβριν ἔχειν, Od. 1. 368, etc.

301. mvp-comment-179-1 παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν The impiety of every deed; i. e. Every kind of impiety in action. Cp. O.T. 864-865, εὔσεπτον ἁγνείαν λόγων | ἔργων τε πάντων.

303. mvp-comment-180-1 He implies, This cannot be their first act of disloyalty.' The unity of time is not to be pressed in the Antigone: see below, 11. 1064 ff. Else this suspicion of inveterate disaffection, against one who has reigned only for a few hours, would be too extravagant. The elders were selected for their loyalty. supr. 165 ff.

308-311. mvp-comment-181-1 οὐχ ὑμὶν ῞Αιδης.. ἁρπάζητε] Death shall not alone suffice for you, but first you shall be hung up alive to show the heinousness of this offence, that for the future, in your wrongful gettings, you may know better where to look for gain. See Essay on Language § 37. p. 64. There is a confusion of two constructions: (1) οὐχ ὑμὶν ῞Αιδης ἀρκέσει, τo which μοῦνος is added for emphasis, i. e. οὐ θανεῖσθε μόνον: and (2) οὐ θανεῖσθε πρίν, κ.τ.λ. Cp. 1064 ff., and see Aj. 106 ff., θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐτί πω θέλω, κ.τ.λ. The Φύλαξ is to take this message to his fellows.

313-314. mvp-comment-182-1 The sentence is redundant, either the article or ἢ σεσωσμένους being unnecessary. Weckl. reads σεσωμένους. For the article, cp. Eur. Phoen. 606, τοῦ μέρους ἔχων τὸ πλεῖον,

315. mvp-comment-183-1 εἰπεῖν τι δέ (v. rr.) is unmeaning. τι as in θέλεις τι μεῖζον, infr. 497.

316. mvp-comment-184-1 καὶ νῦν with λέγεις.

317. mvp-comment-185-1 δάκνει; (1) Act. impersonal. Is the smart in your ears or in your mind? Cp Hdt. 7. 16. Or (2) 2nd pers. pass. Are you stung? (2) agrees better with τὴν ἐμὴν λ. in the following line.

318. mvp-comment-186-1 τί δαί; though not found elsewhere in Sophocles or Aeschylus, may be admitted on the authority uthority of of the MS, where it is so obviously in keeping. Cp. ὦ τἂν in Ο. Τ. 1145, Phil. 1387.

318. mvp-comment-186-2 ῥυθμίζεις .. ὅπου; Do you scan the whereabouts of my annoyance?

320. mvp-comment-187-1 λάλημα The reading is doubtful between ἄλημα, A clever rogue, and λάλημα, Α prating fellow. ἄλημα is better known, and was read by the Scholiast, but λάλημα is sufficiently supported by Eur. Andromache 937, τούσδε Σειρήνων λόγους, | σοφῶν, πανούργων, ποικίλων λαλημάτων. And this word τίνεσθαι. fits more closely to the context of the present passage. 'Fie, tis too clear you are a born chatterbox. Then it is clear that I never did this deed. 323. What a pity that one who is opinionated should have a false opinion. For the subjunctive δοκῇ, cp. О. Т. 316, 317.

324. mvp-comment-188-1 κόμψευε . . δόξαν 'Ay do, refine now on the word "opinion."" This does not seem to be one of the cases where viv with the imperative mood should be changed to vuv, as there is a sufficient reason for the emphatic particle.

325. mvp-comment-189-1 ἐξερεῖτε You shall tell the world. Cp. Pind. Pyth. 2. 22, Ιξίονα φαντὶ ταῦτα βροτοῖς λέγειν ἐν πτερόεντι τροχῷ .. τὸν εὐεργέταν ἀγαναῖς ἀμοιβαῖς 332 ff. The chorus, in their first stasimon, express, in a veiled manner, their emotions at what has occurred. Not being able to say what they really think, that Creon's rash edict has already recoiled on his own family, they descant on the wonderful range of human enterprize, adding that where boldness and resource are combined with justice, they confer glory, but only bring ruin where they are subservient to wrong. The elders do not decide who in the present instance is the transgressor. The ode consists of two strophes and antistrophes, in which glyconic rhythms are mixed with lyrical dactyls, iambi, and trochees, in different proportions, the scheme being as follows:- ICC CC CI CICIC α'. } Iamb. Dact. Troch. Glycon. The two long syllables at the beginning of l. 8 of a form the transition from the dactyls to the trochees. There is a sensible change to a lighter and less simple movement at the beginning of β'. The resolved trochees in B' 5 mark a climax of feeling.

332-383. mvp-comment-190-1 Most wonderful of wondrous things is man, Who traverses the surging brine, And wearies mighty earth with yearly furrow. His craft ensnares the finny produce of the seas And taketh captive beast and bird. He compasseth a way to master the monster of the wilds, And brings under his yoke the horse with flowing mane And the never-wearied mountain bull. Selftaught in speech and thought and civil ways, And in providing shelter from the cold and rain, There is no end to his devices. Nothing but death ever finds him unprepared. Even diseases, not to be avoided, are escaped by him. Inventive beyond hope, he moveth now to evil, and again to good. When weaving with his wit the law of justice and piety He is exalted in the city, but outcast when he harbours wickedness for deeds of crime. May I never live with such an one, and may he never share my counsels. 332. Aesch. Cho. 585, πολλὰ μὲν γὰ τρέφει δεινὰ δειμάτων ἄχη,.. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπέρτολμον ἀνδρὸς φρόνημα τίς λέγοι; Troch. Iamb. Troch.

332-383. mvp-comment-190-2 δεινά = ' wonderful,' or mighty, is in transition from the earlier sense of fearful to the later sense of clever. Cp.

332-383. mvp-comment-190-3 ὀλοόφρων.

334. mvp-comment-191-1 τοῦτο This creature, man. The neuter continues the abstract notion from οὐδὲν .. δεινότερον, and is thus more impressive than the masculine would have been.

334. mvp-comment-191-2 πέραν Το the other side of.' Quite over. For the alliteration, which assists the emphasis, cp. El. 210.

335. mvp-comment-192-1 χειμερίῳ νότῳ Impelled by the stormy south-wind. Dative of cause. Essay on Language § 14. p. 21. 335-336. Traversing half-buried in the seething surge. For ὑπό with the dative in this sense, cp. О. С. 673, χλωραῖς ὑπὸ βάσσαις. Essay on Language § 19. p. 27.

336. mvp-comment-193-1 περιβρύχιος is probably active = Surging round, and contains an allusion to βρύχω, for which, cp. Aesch. Prom. 1082, βρυχία δ᾽ ἠχὼ παραμυκᾶται βροντής.

338. mvp-comment-194-1 ὑπερτάταν Supreme, as eldest and mother ofall. Solon, Fr. 36. 3, μεγίστη δαιμόνων Ὀλυμπίων | Γῆ. Cр. О. Т. 660, where the primacy for the occasion is similarly given to the sun. Schneidewin remarks that the assonance ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται, .. ἀρότρων helps to express the persistent industry of man. This ode is full of assonance and alliteration, and of correspondences such as ἀνεμόεν, μαχανόεν-παντόπορος, ἄπορος -ὑψίπολις, ἄπολις.

339. mvp-comment-195-1 ἀποτρύεται Wears out for his use (mid.) the still-unwearied Earth. The present implies that the process is never-ending. Even in the common operations of husbandry the old religion finds a ground for awe. The dactyls suit the thought of the continuous round of human labour, as those of the antistrophe express the movement of the steed. The two long syllables, ἱππει-, οὐρει-, at once check the flow of rhythm (as with a renewed feeling of wonder), and by their weight give impetus to the concluding trochees. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 1039-1040, 1063.4.

340. mvp-comment-196-1 ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων As the ploughs keep turning year after year. The force of ἴλλω is limited motion. Thus the shuttle might be said ἴλλεσθαι, because when it reaches either end of the loom it is driven back again. Precisely in the same way the ploughs are said ἴλλεσθαι, “To keep moving to and fro within certain bounds.' ἔτος εἰς ἔτος] i. e. δι' ἔτους εἰς ἔτος, "Through one year into the next,' the first ἔτος being the accusative of duration.

340. mvp-comment-196-2 ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων Breaking the glebe by the strength of mules. πολεύειν = πολεῖν in Hes. Op. 460, ἔαρι πολεῖν· θέρεος δὲ νεωμένη οὔ σ᾽ ἀπατή- The masc. is more probable than the neuter, both because τοῦτο is re- σει. mote, and because ἀνήρ follows in the antistrophe.

340. mvp-comment-196-3 ἱππείῳ γένει i. e. Prole equarum. Schol. ταῖς ἡμιόνοις.

αἱ γάρ τε βοῶν προφερέστεραί εἰσιν ἐλκέμεναι νείοιο βαθείης πηκτὸν ἄροτρον.

Hom. Il. 10.352. Donaldson also compares Simon. Fr. 13 (Bergk.), χαίρετ' ἀελλοπόδων θύγατρες ἵππων.

343. mvp-comment-197-1 *κουφονόων Light-thoughted. This is Brunck's certain emendation, anticipated by the corrector of R. (Cp. v. rr. on l. 617.) Donaldson well says that as wings express the light-mindedness of light-mindedness is here made an epithet of the winged birds. But the word may further suggest the unsuspicious nature ('Despising the earth where cares abound') which makes them an easy prey. Cp. Plat. Tim. 91 D, τὸ δὲ τῶν ὀρνέων φῦλον . . ἐκ τῶν ἀκάκων ἀνδρῶν, κούφων δέ, κ.τ.λ.

345. mvp-comment-198-1 πόντου τ᾽ εἰναλίαν φύσιν The brood of ocean teeming in the seas. For φύσιν, see Essay on Language § 51. p. 96.

346. mvp-comment-199-1 σπείραισι δικτυοκλώστοις With meshy toils,' is to be joined with ἀμφιβαλὼν ἄγει. Nets (δίκτυα) were used in hunting and fowling, as well as in fishing. For ἄγειν in the sense of making captive, cp. Il. 9. 594, τέκνα δέ τ᾽ ἄλλοι ἄγουσι βαθυζώνους τε γυναῖκας.

346. mvp-comment-199-2 ἄγει suits well with the image of a captive enemy, which is kept up in the words φύλον and ἔθνη.

348. mvp-comment-200-1 περιφραδής By his excellent wit. The 1st strophe exhibits the boldness, the Ist antistrophe the cunning, of primitive man. The 2nd strophe and antistrophe describe the higher functions of civilized life. 349 ff. He not only subdues the animals, but makes them his servants.' In correcting this line, the dactylic metre is to be retained, which is hardly done in the conjj. ἀμφιλόφῳ ζυγῷ or ἀμφὶ λόφον ζυγοῖ. The words ἀμφίλοφον ζυγόν are sound both in meaning and rhythm. Brunck's conj. ὑπάξεται, supplying the preposition required by the Scholia, would be unexceptionable, if such a potential use of the future in an affirmative sentence could be defended. Blaydes' ὑπήγαγεν would be convincing if closer to the MSS. In favour of ἐπάξεται it may be urged that the repetition of the same word is in the manner of the ode, and that the figurative expression, he shall bring to his aid,' agrees with ἄγει, supr. 343. But besides the questionable future, the construction of the 2nd accus., sc. ἐπ᾿ ἀμφ. ζυγόν, is in this case dubious. ὑφέλκεται. . ζυγόν, compels to serve him in the yoke, may be suggested, although the verb ὑφέλκειν is not used elsewhere precisely in the sense required. Else qy. ἐφέλκεται?

352. mvp-comment-201-1 ἀκμῆτα is preferable to ἀδμῆτα, as the rarer word and as introducing a new and apposite idea. 353 ff. There is a natural progress in the thought. First, navigation and agriculture were mentioned as the arts of subduing the crude forces of nature; then the capture and domestication of animals. Now we come to the humanities and arts of life (the domestication of man himself), and lastly, in ἀντ. β', to moral or political good and evil.

354. mvp-comment-202-1 ἀνεμόεν φρόνημα Windswift thought; i. e. Thought which is viewless, free and nimble as the wind. Sophocles knew that the soul had been identified with the air. Cp. Plat. Phaedo, 96 Β, πότερον τὸ αἷμά ἐστιν ᾧ φρονοῦμεν, ἢ ὁ ἀήρ. ἢ τὸ πῦρ, κ.τ.λ. Schneidewin well compares Hom. Il. 15. 80, foll., ὡς δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ ἂν ἀΐξῃ νόος ἀνέρος, ὅς τ᾽ ἐπὶ πολλὴν | γαῖαν ἐληλουθὼς φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι νοήσῃ | · ἔνθ εἴην ἢ ἔνθα, μενοινήπολλὰ | ὡς κραιπνῶς μεμανία διέπτατο πότνια Ἥρη. Wieseler's conj.

354. mvp-comment-202-2 κατ᾿ ἀν. φρ., adopted by Wolff, is surely unnecessary. Why should not man teach himself to think as well as to count? (See Plat. Rep. 7, p. 522.)

355-356. mvp-comment-203-1 ἀστυνόμους | ὀργάς is well explained by Seyffert, Urbium incolendarum studia. The disposition to inhabit cities. This seems more probable than The tempers of civic life. ἀστυνόμος ὀργή is the social impulse which draws men together to become inhabitants of the same town. comparison of Ar. Pol. 6. 8. 4, (ἑτέρα δ᾽ ἐπιμέλεια ταύτης ἐχομένη καὶ σύνεγγυς ἡ τῶν περὶ τὸ ἄστυ δημοσίων καὶ ἰδίων, ὅπως εὐκοσμία ῃ, καὶ τῶν πιπτόντων οἰκοδομημάτων καὶ ὁδῶν σωτηρία καὶ διόρθωσις, καὶ τῶν ὁρίων τῶν πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ὅπως ἀνεγκλήτως ἔχωσι, καὶ ὅσα τούτοις ἄλλα τῆς ἐπιμελείας ὁμοιότροπα, καλοῦσι δ' ἀστυνομίαν οἱ πλεῖστοι τὴν τοιαύτην ἀρχήν), suggests the conjecture ἀστυνόμους ἀρχάς (already made by Valckenaer), Administrative rule. V reads ὁρμάς, ср. О. Т. 337. Qy. ἀρετάς? Ср. 366. 355, foll. And to avoid the cleareyed influence of comfortless frosts, and the pelting of the pitiless rain.' διαίθρεια, sc. βέλη.

356. mvp-comment-204-1 ἐδιδάξατο He taught himself. For the directly reflexive middle, see Essay on Language § 31. p. 52. The origin of the arts was a favourite problem of the Sophists. Cp. Plato, Prot. 320 D, foll. It is here assumed that they were selftaught without Prometheus or other superhuman aid.

357. mvp-comment-205-1 Musgr. would read either διαίθρεια, or αἴθρεια with φρουρῶν for παρειρῶν in l. 367. G. Wolff reads αἴθρεια and πληρῶν. But the repetition of in ll. 3, 4, and 6 suits the composition of the strophe better than the introduction of the bacchius and cretic in l. 3. διαίθρεια, serene, while keeping up the alliteration, suits the context better than ὑπαίθρεια or ἐναίθρεια, in the open air. Join *διαίθρεια βέλη as well as δύσομβρα βέλη.

360. mvp-comment-206-1 παντοπόρος· ἄπορος This punctuation is justified by the corresponding line of the antistrophe, which cannot be pointed otherwise. παντοπόρος, sc. ὤν, is added, like περιφραδής ἀνήρ, supr. 347, to express the admiration excited by the preceding statements.

360-361. mvp-comment-207-1 οὐδὲν . . τὸ μέλλον] Cp. l. 728, μηδὲν τὸ μὴ δίκαιον. Essay on Language § 22. p. 36.

362. mvp-comment-208-1 οὐκ ἐπάξεται He shall not win. For a similar metaphorical use of ἐπάγεσθαι, where, however, the reading has also been questioned, cp. Thuc. 3.10, τὴν τῶν ξυμμάχων δούλωσιν ἐπαγομένους.

364. mvp-comment-209-1 νόσων δ᾽ ἀμηχάνων φυγὰς | ξυμπέφρασται He hath gathered to him by his thought a remedy for many an unavoidable disease. ξυμ- marks that the healing art is a collective monument of human skill. πέφρασται recalls the notion of περιφραδής, supr. 347. For the oxymoron, cp. supr. 340, ἀκαμάταν ἀποτρύεται.

365-366. mvp-comment-210-1 His power of artful contrivance is a miracle of unimaginable skill, wherewith he followeth one while an evil purpose, at other times a good one.' τέχνας is added as genitive of respect to complete the notion of τὸ μηχανόεν. ὑπὲρ ἐλπίδα, beyond what could have been hoped for, or expected before the event. τι marks the indefiniteness of σοφόν as the predicate. It is in agreement with σοφόν, but has the effect of a particle or adverb (πως).

366. mvp-comment-211-1 κακόν, . . ἐπ᾿ ἐσθλόν Cp. О. Т. 761, ἀγρούς σφε πέμψαι κἀπὶ ποιμνίων νομάς.

367. mvp-comment-212-1 νόμους παρείρων χθονός When he knits therewith, sc. τῷ μηχανόεντι τῆς τέχνης καὶ σοφῷ, the laws of his land and the oath-observing righteousness of heaven. It is objected to παρείρων that it elsewhere means Inserting incidentally, or by the way, and that such a meaning is unsuitable here. But, as Seyffert has already shown, the word (which is a rare one) may quite well mean Weaving in,' like gold-leaf, for instance, into a chaplet of flowers. Cp. Plat. Legg. 605 D, καὶ τὸν τοῦ Κύρου δασμὸν ὃν ὑπέσχετο Πέρσαις εἰς τὸν νόμον ἐνέδει. Conjectural emendations are γεραίρων, περαίνων, γὰρ αἴρων, τ᾿ ἀείρων, πληρῶν (see v. rr., and note on 357).

370. mvp-comment-213-1 ὑψίπολις For this compound, cp. ἡδύπολις, ὀρθόπολις, μεγιστόπολις, δικαιόπολις. The construction is elliptical, sc. ὑψίπολις ὧν or ἐστί.

370. mvp-comment-213-2 ἄπολις . . χάριν] He is outcast from the state, who harbours evil for the indulgence of crime. Cp. supr. l. 30, πρὸς χάριν βορâs: Plat. Phaedr. 241, χάριν πλησμονῆς. This is better than joining τόλμας χάριν with ἄπολις = He is an outcast for his boldness.

375. mvp-comment-214-1 ἴσον φρονῶν i. e. Of the same party in the state. For the expression, cp. Il. 15.50, ἶσον ἐμοὶ φρονέουσα.

376-378. mvp-comment-215-1 ἐς δαιμόνιον τέρας .. Ἀντιγόνην] I stand in doubt at this strange marvel, how to gainsay what I know, and say that this is not the maid Antigone. The resumption is suitable to the chorus' perturbed state of feeling. Seyffert's ἐς δαιμόνιον τέρας ἀμφινοῶν τότε, referring to the previous scene (1. 278), is without the directness and simplicity of these short anapaestic passages, in which the chorus announce the entrance of a new person on the stage. Cp. 526 ff., 626 ff.

378. mvp-comment-216-1 οὐκ εἶναι, not μὴ εἶναι, because the entrance of Antigone is a patent fact.

382. mvp-comment-217-1 *ἀπάγουσι Sc. εἰς κρίσιν.

385. mvp-comment-218-1 εἵλομεν The v. r. εἴδομεν is supported by infr. 404, 406, 423, and εἴλομεν, the reading of L, etc., may have been occasioned by καθελόντες in the nearer context. But see v. rr. on 655.

386. mvp-comment-219-1 ἐς δέον Cp. Ο. Τ. 1416, εἰς δέον πάρεστι. εἰς μέσον, which Seyffert has restored from L, although having the authority of the chief MS, is more like a MS. conjecture than eἰς δέον. The same may be said of ἐξέβην, as compared with προὔβην. Seyffert reads ξύμμετρ᾽ ἐξέβην τύχῃ.

388. mvp-comment-220-1 οὐδέν ἐστ᾿ ἀπώμοτον This γνώμη first occurs in the fragment of Archilochus about the eclipse (76 Bergk), χρημάτων ἄελπτον οὐδέν ἐστιν οὐδ᾽ ἀπώμοτον. Cp. Pind. Ol. 13. 83, παρ' ὅρκον καὶ παρ' ἐλπίδα κούφαν.

389. mvp-comment-221-1 ψεύδει .. γνώμην 'For second thoughts bely one's resolutions.' ου 390. ἄv belongs grammatically to the verb ἐξηύχουν, but in meaning rather modifies the infinitive.

391. mvp-comment-222-1 ταῖς .. τότε When my soul was shaken with the tempest of your former threatenings.᾿ ἀπειλαῖς is dative of the occasion or accompaniment, assisted by attraction. Essay on Language § 11. p. 18, с. Ср. 1. 691.

392. mvp-comment-223-1 ἐκτὸς καὶ παρ᾿ ἐλπίδας i. e.

392. mvp-comment-223-2 ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος (supr. 1. 330) καὶ παρ᾿ ἐλπίδας.

393. mvp-comment-224-1 ἔοικεν.. μήκος οὐδέν Sc. οὐδὲν ἔοικε μήκος, i. e. εἰς τὸ μέγεθος, as the Scholiast says.

395. mvp-comment-225-1 καθευρέθη is not to be rejected because of the rarity of the compound. See Essay on Language p. 90. But the conjecture of Nauck, καθῃρέθη, is favoured by καθελόντες in l. 383.

398. mvp-comment-226-1 ὡς θέλεις In arresting Antigone the watchman has done not his own will but Creon's. Infr. 438. 399,

400. mvp-comment-227-1 ἐγὼ δ'. κακῶν But I have a full right to be "away and clear" from this bad business.

401. mvp-comment-228-1 This maiden! where, and how, did you arrest her?' The emphatic order of words expresses the profound astonishment of Creon. Essay on Language § 41. p. 77.

403. mvp-comment-229-1 λέγεις ὀρθῶς Do you say it with a clear mind? i. e. Have you your wits when you say this? CСр. О. Т. 528, ἐξ ὀμμάτων δ᾽ ὀρθῶν τε καὶ ὀρθῆς φρενός | κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

404. mvp-comment-230-1 ὃν σὺ τόν The collocation of antecedent and relative is peculiar, and perhaps characteristic of the rustic emphasis of the Φύλαξ. See notes on supr. 238, 269, and cp. infr. 409.

406. mvp-comment-231-1 And how was she discovered, caught, and taken ?"

407. mvp-comment-232-1 τοιοῦτον (1) As you say: she was seen (1. 423), surprised (1.432), and caught (1.433). Or (2) As follows,' = τοιόνδε.

409-410. mvp-comment-233-1 τὸν | νέκυν Α remarkable instance of synapheia. Cp. 1. 238. Essay on Language § 21. p. 33. Supr. 238.

410. mvp-comment-234-1 μυδῶν Dank: referring rather to the state of the corpse (cp. 412) than to the remains of the libation, which would be soon dried by the sun.

410. mvp-comment-234-2 εὐ Carefully. For the order, see Essay on Language p. 78, and cp. О. Т. 308, μαθόντες εὖ.

411. mvp-comment-235-1 We sat just below the top of the rising ground, in the lee of the wind, so escaping the incidence of the odour from the dead. Supposing the corpse to be exposed on a slope of the high ground, surrounded by hillocks, they would select a point of observation on the lee-side of one of these hillocks, and to the windward of the corpse, which they would have full in view.

411. mvp-comment-235-2 ἐκ = On this side of and looking from. Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. Infr. 1110, εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον : 1197, πεδίον ἐπ᾿ ἄκρον. πικρᾶς] ι in erasure of v? by recent hand Vat.

412. mvp-comment-236-1 This line is not necessarily connected with the preceding: i.e. They may be supposed to select a spot, (1) out of the wind, (2) out of the way of the smell. But the explanation above given (411 note) is more probable. In either case the point is that in attending to their watch they were mightily careful of their own comfort.

412. mvp-comment-236-2 βάλῃ Changed by Stephanusto βάλοι, because of the past time and the optative following. But the subj. is more vivid.

413-414. mvp-comment-237-1 Rousing each his fellow with noisy altercation, reviling him who should take this labour easily. εἴ τις, κ.τ.λ. depends on the verbal notion implied in κακοῖσιν = κακῶς λέγοντες.

413-414. mvp-comment-237-2 ἀφειδεῖν, ‘Το be unsparing, and so To be negligent, To treat lightly, To act without circumspection. For an approach to this meaning, cp. Thuc. 4.26 § 7. Bonitz conj. ἀκηδήσοι.

415-417. mvp-comment-238-1 This lasted till the sun had reached his station in mid-sky with unclouded splendour, and the heat was glowing.' Cp. the Homeric ὄφρα μὲν ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει.

417. mvp-comment-239-1 When suddenly from the earth the Storm-god raised a squall, that saddened all the sky, and filled the plain, tearing the tresses of the orchard groves, and the wide heaven was choked withal.' The chief discomfort of such a visitation would be the cloud of dust, forcing men to close their eyes, and wrapping even near objects from sight. The watchman is explaining why they lost sight of the corpse. The poet also provides a motive for the act by which Antigone is betrayed. She fears that the corpse, lying in an exposed situation, may have been disturbed by the violence of the wind.

418. mvp-comment-240-1 οὐράνιον ἄχος may mean either (1) A trouble from the sky, or (2) A trouble reaching to the sky. The latter is best, as the word χθονός indicates that the whirlwind seemed to rise out of the ground.

420. mvp-comment-241-1 ἐν δ' See Essay on Language p. 26. § 18, a.

421. mvp-comment-242-1 μύσαντες .. νόσον Closing lips and eyes, we endured the Divine visitation.

422. mvp-comment-243-1 ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ After lasting a long while: giving time for Antigone to come out of her concealment, with the libation ready. 423, foll. κἀνακωκύει] ‘And raises a shrill wailing cry, like the voice of the despairing bird. For the descriptive genitive, see Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

422. mvp-comment-243-2 πικρᾶς Embittered, 'Full of bitterness: the quality of the object is transferred to the subject: i.e. πικρᾶς, ἅτε πασχούσης πικρά. Also the bitterness of anger is joined to that of grief. Cp. the Latin dolor. For the genitive, cp. Trach. 768, ὥστε τέκτονοs. And for the omission of ὡs, which is supplied in the following clause, cp. supr. 114, λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός. G. Wolff reads ὅ. δ. φθόγγον ὥς, ὅταν κ. But this yields a less probable rhythm.

424-425. mvp-comment-244-1 As when it sees robbed of its young ones the desolated couch of its nest. For the pleonasm, see Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

426. mvp-comment-245-1 οὕτω δέ The apodosis is resumed, as so often happens after a comparison. Essay on Language p. 75. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 252.

427. mvp-comment-246-1 γόοισιν Essay on Language p. 75.

427. mvp-comment-246-2 ἐκ δ᾽.. ἠρᾶτο Essay on Language § 18. p. 27.

430. mvp-comment-247-1 ἄρδην.. στέφει Slightly condensed from ἄρδην ἔχουσα στέφει. στέφει, She decorates, Honours. Metaphorical, as in Od. 8. 170, ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει. Cp. καταστέφειν in Eur. Phoen. 1632, and Sophron ap. Athen. 479 B. She leaves out no jot of the ceremony: ὡς οὐδὲν ὑφιεμένη τῷ κρηύγματι.

431. mvp-comment-248-1 Od. 11. 26, ἀμφ᾿ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὰς χέομεν πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι, | πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ, | τὸ τρίτον αὐθ᾽ ὕδατι.

432. mvp-comment-249-1 σὺν δέ νιν | θηρώμεθ' For this tmesis, see Essay on Language § 18. p. 26. συν as in συλλαμβάνω.

435. mvp-comment-250-1 Cp. Hdt. 3. 66, ἔξαρνος ἦν μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι Σμέρδιν: 3. 99, ἄπαρνός ἐστι μὴ μὲν νοσέειν.

436. mvp-comment-251-1 ἀλλ᾽.. ἅμα ἀλλά is to be explained as pointing the antithesis after the negative. Her attitude was not that of denial, but one to me at least pleasant and painful as well. The adverb modifies a word which is to be supplied from καθίστατο. ἡδέως ἐμοί, i. e. ὥστε ἐμὲ ἥδεσθαι, Essay on Language § 24. p. 40. There is a certain point in this which is lost in the emendation of Dindorf, ἅμ᾽ ἡδέως, in which, however, the repetition of ἅμα may be defended from Plat. Gorg. 497 Α, ἅμα διψῶν τε ἕκαστος ἡμῶν πέπαυται καὶ ἅμα ἡδόμενος διὰ τοῦ πίνειν. Schneidewin quotes also Gorg. 496 C, ὧν ἅμα τε ἀπαλλάττεται ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἅμα ἔχει, which is not really parallel.

439-440. mvp-comment-252-1 ἀλλὰ .. σωτηρίας (1) But all these things are to me by nature less important to obtain than my own safety. λαβεῖν epexegetic, like ἔχειν in Ο. Τ. 592, τυραννὶς ἡδίων ἔχειν. Cp. inf. 638, μείζων φέρεσθαι: Εl. 1015-1016, προνοίας οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις ἔφυ | κέρδος λαβεῖν ἄμειvov. Or, possibly, (2) It is in my nature to take less account of all this than of my own safety. For the meaning thus given to ἐμοὶ πέφυκ cp. Εl. 860, πᾶσι θνατοῖς ἔφυ μύρος. And for λαβεῖν = To weigh or estimate, cp. Thuc. 2. 42, § 5, τὴν δὲ τῶν ἐναντίων τιμωρίαν ποθεινοτέραν αὐτῶν λαβόντες.

441. mvp-comment-253-1 For σὲ δή, sc. λέγω, cp. Aesch. Prom. 944, σὲ τὸν σοφιστήν, κ.τ.λ.: Soph. El. 1445, σε τοι, σὲ κρίνω, κ.τ.λ.: Eur. Hel. 546. And for ἐς πέδον κάρα νεύειν, cp. supr. 269.

441. mvp-comment-253-2 Creon misinterprets the action of Antigone. She fixes her eyes upon the ground, not from fear or shame, but because she is out of sympathy with all present, and her thoughts are in the other world. The hidden fire flashes out in ll. 450, foll., which are certainly not spoken with averted eyes. Cp. Ο. Τ. 1121.

442. mvp-comment-254-1 καταρνεῖ The unusual compound, introduced, perhaps, partly for the sake of metre, has also a special sense of blame. Cp. καταμελέω, καταξιόω, καταπειλέω, καταπροδίδωμι, καταργυρόω, κατασπείρω, κατασχολάζω.

445. mvp-comment-255-1 Free and exempt from grievous imputation.

446. mvp-comment-256-1 μήκος Adverbial, cp. O. С. 92, κέρδη μὲν οἰκήσαντα τοῖς δεδεγμένοις.

446. mvp-comment-256-2 'Tell us, no long tale, but briefly, knew you of the edict that forbade this deed? I knew; 'twas plain enough. How could I fail to know? And were you, then, so hardy as to transgress our law? That edict came not to me from the mouth of Zeus, nor from the Right, whose throne is with the Gods below. They also have appointed unto men a law. Methought your edict could not so prevail, as that a mortal should overleap the silent irrefragable ordinances of heaven. Their life is not of to-day or yesterday. They are eternal. None knoweth of a time when they began. I feared not so the mind of any man, as to incur before the Gods the penalty of that law. I knew, forsooth, without your edict, that I was to die. And if I am to die before the time, I count it gain. For he must surely gain by death who lives, as I do, midst abounding woes. And so for me to meet this doom is a grief I reck not of. If I had borne to leave unburied the corpse, fallen in carnage, of my mother's son, that had been a grief to me, but this is no grief. And if I seem to you to be now doing foolishly, it comes to this;-I am condemned of folly by a fool.'

447. mvp-comment-257-1 τὰ κηρυχθέντα The proclamation made. Cobet's conjecture ᾔδησθα κηρυχθέντα (Νov. Lect. 1858. p. 215), while restoring the recognised Attic form, is unobjectionable in point of syntax. But the use of the article in pointing to his own decree is characteristic of Creon, and if ἠείδης is retained in the Iliad, 22. 280, why not ᾔδης in Tragedy?

449. mvp-comment-258-1 καὶ δῆτα And then. Cp. Plat. Theaet. 142 C, καὶ δῆτα προπέμψας αὐτόν, ἀπιὼν πάλιν, κ.τ.λ.

449. mvp-comment-258-2 τούσδε . . νόμους These laws, i. e. The laws whose majesty is vested in me. For this use of the demonstrative, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 34.

450. mvp-comment-259-1 I obeyed no decree of yesterday, but the eternal law. That cannot be annulled by any enactment of a mere man. It may be that I shall die for what I have done. But it needed not your proclamation to tell me that I must die. And to die before the term appointed me is to lose so much of sorrow.

451. mvp-comment-260-1 For the mythological fancy, cp. О. С. 1381-1382, εἴπερ ἐστὶν ἡ παλαίφατος | Δίκη ξύνεδρος Ζηνὸς ἀρχαίοις νόμοις.

452. mvp-comment-261-1 This line is rightly explained by the Scholiast and Donaldson, Ἡ δίκη, φησί, καὶ ὁ Ζεὺς ὥρισαν ὥστε θάπτεσθαι τοὺς νεκρούς.. θέλει δὲ εἰπεῖν ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς φύσεως δίκαιον ἤγημαι θάπτειν τὸν ἀδελφόν. (Schol.) She replies, that she did not consider his proclamations as emanating from Zeus, the supreme God, or from that justice which regulated the rights of the dead, who, she says, have established these laws, namely, the laws of sepulture, which do not need any enactment, but have their ὅροι set up in the human heart. (Donaldson.) The iteration of τούσδε, in contrasting the law which she obeyed with the edict of Creon, is dramatically appropriate, and there is no difficulty in the vague use of the demonstrative. See Essay on Language § 22. p. 34. Cp. Od. 10. 326, τάδε φάρμακα.

454. mvp-comment-262-1 ἄγραπτα κἀσφαλῆ Unwritten and sure. Ср. О. Т. 865 ff., and note. ἀσφαλῆ is not only Never failing to apply, but also Never failing to vindicate their authority. Cp. II. 456 ff.

455. mvp-comment-263-1 θνητὸν ὄντα Sc. σέ, understood from τὰ σὰ κηρύγματα. That a mortal man should run beyond the silent irrefragable ordinances of the Gods. Cp. Eur. Ion 973, καὶ πῶς τὰ κρείσσω θνητός οὖσ᾽ ὑπερδράμω; Ο.Τ. 476-482

456. mvp-comment-264-1 νῦν .. κἀχθές To-day or yes- terday. The particle γε, ay, serves to connect the sentences, and τε is unnecessary, as appears from the similar expression, χθὲς καὶ πρώην, in Plat. Legg. 3. 677 D.

456. mvp-comment-264-2 ἀεί ποτε means Everlastingly, without any clear distinction of past or future. πότε gives the effect of indefiniteness or infinity.

457. mvp-comment-265-1 ζῇ Are in force. Cр. О. Т. 481, ἀεὶ ζῶντα περιποτᾶται.

457. mvp-comment-265-2 ἐξ ὅτου 'φάνη Since when they came into being. Cp. Tr. 1, λόγος ..

457. mvp-comment-265-3 ἀρχαῖος φανείς.

458-459. mvp-comment-266-1 τούτων.. τὴν δίκην The penalty to be exacted in vindication of these. The Gods might be said δίκην ἐπιτιθέναι τῶν παραβαθέντων νόμων, although the word in the genitive after δίκη more frequently signifies the offence for which punishment is awarded. Cp. infr. 1074, τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι, κ.τ.λ.

458-459. mvp-comment-266-2 ἀνδρός Of a mere man. Cp. O. C. 567, ἔξοιδ᾽ ἀνὴρ ὤν. 461 ff. Shak. Julius Caesar, 3. 1, 'Bru. That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time | And drawing days out, that men stand upon. | Cass. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life | Cuts off so many years of fearing death. | Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: | So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged His time of fearing death.'

458-459. mvp-comment-266-3 τοῦ χρόνου, sc. ἐν ᾧ μ᾿ ἐχρῆν θανεῖν.

462. mvp-comment-267-1 κέρδος αὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ λέγω αὔτ᾽, i. e. αὐτό, although not necessary to the construction, as appears from Plat. Apol. 40 Ε., κέρδος ἔγωγε λέγω, is better here than αὖτe, which weakens κέρδος.

463. mvp-comment-268-1 ὡς ἐγώ Supr. ll. 4-6.

466. mvp-comment-269-1 παρ᾿ οὐδὲν ἄλγος Is a grief of no account. Cp. supr. 35.

466. mvp-comment-269-2 ἐμῆς Meineke conj. ἐκ μιᾶs, Seyffert ὁμῆς, unnecessarily. The emphatic use of ἐμós is frequent in Sophocles.

467. mvp-comment-270-1 ἄθαπτον *ἠνσχόμην ἠνσχόμην (1) may be defended by the analogy of the syncopated ἀνσχήσεσθαι, ἄνσχεο, in Epic Greek. Otherwise (2) νέκυν may be cancelled as a gloss, and ἄθαπτον *ὄντ᾿ ἠνεσχόμην read, according to the conj. of Prof. E. L. Lushington. Or (3) ἐσχόμην may be read in the sense of ἠνεσχόμην. Ε. on L. § 55, 4. p. 101. But this is doubtful.

470. mvp-comment-271-1 μώρῳ i.e. One whose judgment is self-condemned, because opposed to the eternal laws. The word is not prompted by mere petulance, but is uttered with profound conviction.

471. mvp-comment-272-1 'The maiden's lineage declares itself in the fierce vein that comes to her from her fierce sire.' Phil. 1045-1046.

472. mvp-comment-273-1 ἐπίσταται Sc. ἡ παῖς.

473. mvp-comment-274-1 σκληρά Unbending, and so Stubborn, Obstinate.

473. mvp-comment-274-2 The self-will of Creon appears with increasing distinctness. (1) He asserts his confidence in the use of power to suppress insubordination. (2) He speaks of his ward, whom he does not care to name, as in the place of a slave (479): (3) he implies that to cede an inch of authority is to give the sovereignty to another (485). (4) He throws the tie of kindred to the winds. The first words of his speech are ominous of his own doom. See Introduction.

475. mvp-comment-275-1 ὀπτὸν .. περισκελή Baked to exceeding hardness. Cp. Aj. 649, καὶ περισκελεῖς φρένες.

476. mvp-comment-276-1 θραυσθέντα καὶ ῥαγέντα Broken and shattered. The strongest word is put first in the Greek. Essay on Language § 41. p.77.

477. mvp-comment-277-1 σμικρῷ has a strong emphasis. Ibid.

478. mvp-comment-278-1 ἐκπέλει Hesych. ἐκπέλει, ἔξεστι. Hdt. uses ἐκγίνεσθαι in a similar sense. See Essay on Language § 55. p. 101.

479. mvp-comment-279-1 δοῦλος Creon shows his coarsely tyrannical spirit by boasting of his absolute power over his orphan relative.

481. mvp-comment-280-1 Cp. Hdt. 3. 83, νόμους οὐκ ὑπερβαίνουσα τοὺς Περσέων.

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Commentary on lines 151–300

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Κρέων

Χορός

Κρέων ὡς ἂν 9 σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός νεωτέρῳ τῷ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες. 215

Κρέων ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ τ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων τὸ μὴ ’πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος 10 ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων 220 ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ φράσαι 14 θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν· οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ 240 τὸ πρᾶγμα 15 . δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν 245 κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω ;

Κρέων οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις; 315

Φύλαξ ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου 24 ;

Φύλαξ ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων οἴμ’, ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ,

Φύλαξ οὔκουν τόδ᾽ ἔργον τοῦθ᾽ ὁ ποιήσας ἐγώ. 320

Κρέων καὶ 25 ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ φεῦ, ἦ δεινὸν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων κόμψευε νῦν τὸ δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ 26 φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται. 325

3. ἘΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ.

Κρέων ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός νεωτέρῳ τωι τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων ἀλλ' εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλῳ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων τὸ μὴ 'πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε. 215

Χορός οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Κρέων τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ’ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν· 235 οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ τὸ πρᾶγμα. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει; 240

Φύλαξ καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν κόνιν παλύνας. κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Χορός ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι. 275

Φύλαξ εἰπεῖν δὲ δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;

Κρέων οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν, ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσίν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων τί δέ; ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ. 315

Κρέων οἴμ᾽, ὡς ἄλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.

Φύλαξ οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ’ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ φεῦ. ἦ δεινόν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν. 320

Κρέων κόμψευε νῦν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ', ὅτι τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Κρέων

Χορός

Κρέων ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων ἀλλ’ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι. 215

Χορός τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦδ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος · ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν. 220

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν; 235

Φύλαξ φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον, ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον. 240

Φύλαξ τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι· τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας, ἃ χρή. 245

Κρέων τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον τοὖργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Φύλαξ

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν ⁹ σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῷ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.
215

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ τ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ’πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ¹⁰ ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων
220

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

φράσαι ¹⁴ θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν·

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ
240

τὸ πρᾶγμα ¹⁵. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν
245

κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;
315

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου²⁴;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

οἴμ’, ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ,

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τόδ᾽ ἔργον τοῦθ᾽ ὁ ποιήσας ἐγώ.
320

Κρέων

καὶ ²⁵ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ,

ἦ δεινὸν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε, καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.

Κρέων

κόμψευε νῦν τὸ δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ ²⁶

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
325

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τωι τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ' εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλῳ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ 'πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.
215

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Κρέων

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ’ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ. τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν·
235

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα. δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;
240

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας. κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή.

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.
275

Φύλαξ

εἰπεῖν δὲ δώσεις, ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω;

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν, ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσίν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;

Κρέων

τί δέ; ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.
315

Κρέων

οἴμ᾽, ὡς ἄλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ.

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ’ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.

Φύλαξ

φεῦ.

ἦ δεινόν, ᾧ δοκεῖ γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.
320

Κρέων

κόμψευε νῦν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ', ὅτι

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ’ εἴσ᾽ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.
215

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦδ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ᾿πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος, ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽ οὗτος · ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ’ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.
220

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;
235

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽, οὔτ᾽ εἶδον, ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.

Κρέων

εὖ γε στοχάζει, κἀποφράγνυσαι κύκλῳ

τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.
240

Φύλαξ

τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.

Κρέων

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Φύλαξ

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι· τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

κόνιν παλύνας, κἀφαγιστεύσας, ἃ χρή.
245

Κρέων

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοι, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον

τοὖργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.

Κρέων

οὐκ οἶσθα, καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;

Φύλαξ

ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν, ἢ ᾽πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;
315

Κρέων

τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην, ὅπου;

Φύλαξ

ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.

Κρέων

ὅμως ἄλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ, ...

Φύλαξ

οὔκουν τόδ᾽ ἔργον εἰμὶ ποιήσας ποτέ.

Κρέων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.
320

Φύλαξ

φεῦ,

ἦ δεινὸν, ᾧ δοκεῖν τε καὶ ψευδῇ δοκεῖ!

Κρέων

κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ

φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽, ὅτι

τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
325

Κρέων

ὡς ἂν σκοποί νυν ἦτε τῶν εἰρημένων.
215

Χορός

νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.

Κρέων

ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾿ ἕτοιμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.

Χορός

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλῳ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;

Κρέων

τὸ μὴ ἐπιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ.
220

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ' οὗτος. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾿ ἐλπίδων

ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.

Φύλαξ

φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ

πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,

οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι.
240