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Commentary on lines 751–900

τινά i. e. σέ. Essay on Language § 22. p. 34, 4. Interpreters have avoided taking these words in their obvious meaning as implying a threat, which Haemon all but carries into execution afterwards in ll. 1233-1234. It is true, however, that this intention is less distinctly present to his mind than the conviction that vengeance will come to Creon from the gods and from popular feeling.

κἀπαπειλών For the participle, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 63, €, b.

τίς Almost = πῶς. Cp. О. С. 775, τίς αὕτη τέρψις;

'Woman's minion that you are, mince not your words with me.' The subdued tone of Haemon (εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ', εἶπον ἄν) only adds fuel to the wrath of Creon.

For the contempt expressed in δούλευμα and μῖσος (760), see Essay on Language pp. 84, 85.

άληθες See on O. T. 350.

ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις Reproach and revile me. For the prepositional phrase, cp. El. 108, ἐπὶ κωκυτῷ, and see Essay on Language § 18. p. 27.

So that you may exhibit your madness to those of your friends who can brook it. θέλουσι, sc. σοὶ μαινομένῳ ξυνεῖναι. There is a strong emphasis on this participle.

And at his age the spirit, when chafed, is dangerous. Cp. O. C. 751, τηλικοῦτος, οὐ γάμων | ἔμπειρος ..: and for voûs, see Essay on Language p. 93.

Cp. O. T. 1075, where Oedipus, with similar unconsciousness, says of Jocasta, who has just rushed out, ὁποῖα χρήζει ῥηγνύτω.

The order of words shows that the chief emphasis is on ἄμφω : Essay on Language § 41. p. 77. Hence καί is to be taken with the whole sentence: ib. § 25. P. 43, 4. Do you really intend to put them both to death?

ἔρημος.. στίβος Where track of human footstep there is none. The privative ἔρημος is used for the negative by a redundancy like those adduced in Essay on Language § 40. p. 75; and ἔρημος = ἄστειπτος (Phil. 2), so that the expression = Where no track of mortals has been trodden.

i. e. τοσοῦτον μόνον, ὅσον ἄγος εἶναι. Essay on Language § 39. p. 74. For ἄγος = expiation, see Hesych., ἄγος· ἅγνισμα θυσίας, Σοφοκλῆς Φαίδρα.

i. e. Lest the whole city might suffer pollution.

περισσός Bootless. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 383, μόχθον περισσόν. It is characteristic of the time (cp. Thucydides) that the political energy of Creon is combined with scepticism.

Haemon's disobedience to his father, against his own interest, is due to the might of love.

'Never-vanquished love, that layest riches waste, keeping nightly watch in the fair, soft, youthful cheek: love that roamest over seas and findest out the wildest nook! No god, nor any mortal man, escapes thy maddening power. By love the upright mind is drawn to wrong unto its hurt. By love this present strife is kindled between kinsmen. And clearly triumphant is the influence of desire that cometh from the looks of the fair bride - desire that divides empire with the majestic law: so resistlessly doth goddess Aphrodite mock mankind.

This little ode consists of a strophe and antistrophe, of which the scansion is as follows:- CCLトしてし CICCICII CCCICII IICIICCIト(CLトー 5-0-0-ICCICI-

A glyconic quatrain is followed by two choriambic lines, and the strophe ends with a return to the glyconic rhythm. L. 7 admits of being otherwise divided, viz.: CCLCー.

ἀνίκατε μάχαν Cp. the similar personification of θυμός by Heraclitus, χαλεπὸν θυμῷ μάχεσθαι, ψυχῆς γὰρ ὠνέεται.

ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις (i. e.

ἐμπίπτεις κτήμασι.) These words have been variously interpreted and emended. They probably mean, Who fallest upon wealth, i. e. art the destroyer of possessions, ruining worldly fortunes in various ways, as the love of Helen wasted Troy, etc. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 538, foll., Ἔρωτα δὲ τὸν τύραννον ἀνδρῶν |.. πέρθοντα καὶ διὰ πάσας | ἰόντα συμφορὰς | θνατοῖς, ὅταν ἔλθῃ. So, in this instance, Haemon is losing all for love. Others interpret, Desire who makest wealth thy object (Schol. rec.), Love, who by attacking enslavest, or Who makest victims of the wealthy.

ὃς .. ἐννυχεύεις Cp. Milton, L'Allegro, 29, 30, 'Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, | And love to live in dimple sleek.' Love is still figured as an enemy, who keeps nightly watch where he is ready to spring forth armed on the unwary. Pind. Nem. 8. 2, ὥρα .. παρθενηΐοις .. ἐφίζοισι γλεφάροις.

The poet is thinking of legendary examples, such as Paris, Leander, Anchises, etc.

σε .. φύξιμος i.e. δύναταί σε φεύγειν. Cp. Hom. h. Ven. 34. 5, τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὐ πέρ τι πεφυγμένον ἔστ᾽ Ἀφροδίτην, | οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων, οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων. But see on 796 ff.

ἁμερίων ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων The insertion of the preposition, although omitted with θεῶν, is no objection to this reading. See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27: and for ἐπί, with the genitive, meaning In the case of, So far as extends to, cp. Plato, Rep. 3. 406 C, 8.. ἐπὶ .. τῶν δημιουργῶν αἰσθανόμεθα, alib. The force of the preposition and case here is nearer to the original locative sense, = Extending over, 'Quantum hominum genus propagatum extenditur. (Ellendt.)

ὁ ἔχων Sc. τὸ νόσημα. Wecklein compares ἔχει, he is wounded, with reference to the arrow of love. But this is fanciful.

ἀδίκους.. παρασπᾷς i. e. εἰς ἀδικίαν παρασπᾷς. Drawest awry to wrong. For this proleptic use of the adjective, see Essay on Language § 23. P. 39; § 38. p. 71.

ἐπὶ λώβᾳ ‘Το their hurt or disgrace.'

ξύναιμον is an emphatic epithet added by an afterthought (Essay on Language § 23. p. 38) and by hypallage made to agree with the principal word, although more properly belonging to ἀνδρῶν. (Ibid. § 42. p. 80).

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργής i. e. ἐναργής ἐστι νικῶσα.

βλεφάρων ἵμερος The modern poet speaks of love as engendered in the eyes, with gazing fed: the ancients rather spoke of an influence passing from the eye of the beloved (τὸ ἐρωτικὸν ὄμμα, Plat. Phaedr. 253 E) to the soul of the lover. Desire was viewed as an emanation from the object. Hence Plato's account of ἵμερος, Phaedr. 251 Β, C, δεξάμενος γὰρ τοῦ κάλλους τὴν ἀπορροὴν διὰ τῶν ὀμμάτων, ἐθερμάνθη ἢ ἡ τοῦ πτεροῦ φύσις ἄρδεται .. ὅταν μὲν οὖν βλέπουσα πρὸς τὸ κάλλος, ἐκεῖθεν μέρη ἐπιόντα καὶ ῥέοντα, ἃ δὴ διὰ τοῦτο ἵμερος καλεῖται, δεχομένη ἄρδηταί τε καὶ θερμαίνηται, λωφᾷ τε τῆς ὀδύνης καὶ γέγηθεν. This ancient conception, which had a root in language as well as in philosophy, is reflected even in Milton, L'Allegro, 1. 121, With store of ladies, whose bright eyes | Rain influence, though in this case probably with a further allusion to astrology.

τῶν .. θεσμῶν In the counsels of princes holding an equal place with the majesty of law. This seems the best way of taking these words, which have been variously interpreted; e.g. Equal to the laws in power. 'Assessor in the authority of the laws, etc. There is an allusion to Haemon, who, though a prince, has been led to disobey his father, and to disregard the edict of the king. Cp. Hdt. 4. 165, ἐν βουλῇ παρίζουσα. The resolution of the arsis in πάρεδρος is extremely unusual; see Christ's Metrik, § 178; and Arndt suggested ξύνθρονος ἀρχαῖς, 'Assessor with the rule of majesticlaw. But qy. πάρεδρος *ἀρχαῖς, with "πέφευγεν οὐδείς in 786 ff.? (IILUCCICII).

Wecklein finds here an oxymoron, turning on the opposition of μάχη and παιδιά. She is resistless, though sport is her only weapon. But this is doubtful.

παγκοίταν.. θάλαμον The chamber where all must lie. The implied contrast between the fate of Antigone and her intended bridal recurs repeatedly throughout the latter part of the play. Supr. 575, Ἅιδης ὁ παύσων τούσδε τοὺς γάμους γάμ ἔφυ: infr. 891, νυμφεῖον : 1205, νυμφεῖον" Αιδου κοίλον.

Antigone bewails her untimely death, and the chorus attempt to console her by pointing to the singularity of her end. She quotes the example of Niobe, who was encrusted with rock. But Niobe, rejoin the chorus, was a Divine Being. Then the maiden bursts into a cry against such vain comfort, and appeals to the forms of nature around Thebes to bear witness to the strangeness of her fate. The tone of the chorus changes to admonition. Thou hast offended against the majesty of law. Some curse, inherited from thy sire, must have led thee on. At last they have touched her, but it is only to aggravate her sorrow. Dire indeed had been the curse upon her parents; and now she is going to be with them, having never tasted any joy. Her brother's seeming success in marriage had been death to him and to her. The chorus reiterate that piety towards her brother should have yielded to authority. Selfwill has been thy ruin. Antigone: 'Friendless, unmourned, uncomforted, I leave the holy light of day. I die unmarried, and no one weeps for me.'

The metres in this commos, ll. 806-833, chiefly logaoedic. and for the most part glyconic, are as follows:- α΄. 806-816, 823-833. 805 luclu IIC1CCI II1CCIC ―トしかしCICLL Anapaests of cho. 817-822, 834-837- β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. 51IC (トートートートー ICCICII にかくCIトトに CICLC- トトロー CCLCICIC 15010し! 이기 5- ἐπ. } Iambic. ひトしレトCCICI- 51110CIRKIICCI CICCートリート ―トしーしトー

The effect produced by the epitrite rhythm in a' 9. β΄ 8, ἐπ. 5, and of the spondees in ß' 6, is especially noticeable.

⁴

νέατον is an adjective. See on Ο. Τ. 155.

⁵

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις Sc. ὄψομαι φέγγος ἀελίου.

παγκοίτας is here active='That seals up all in rest.' Essay on Language pp. 98, 101. The metre suggests πάγκοιτος, cp. infr. 828, the corresponding line of the antistrophe.

Ἀχέροντος ἀκτάν Hom. Od. 10. 509, ἔνθ᾽ ἀκτή τε λάχεια: ib. 513, ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσι, κ.τ.λ.

⁶

*ἐπινύμφειος, which Dindorf has restored for ἐπινυμφίδιος, is more probable than ἐπὶ νυμφείοις, although this appears to be supported by the note of the Scholiast, λείπει θύραις ἢ κοίταις.

Ἀχέροντι As other maidens have been wedded to rivers upon the earth.

⁷

ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα The wages of the sword; i.e. Death given by the sword.

αὐτόνομος The Scholiast explains this, ἰδίοις αὐτῆς νόμοις χρησαμένη. This is not free from ambiguity; but the true meaning is rather By an ordinance peculiar to your case (ἰδίᾳ τινὶ σεαυτῆς νόμῳ), than In your independence of law, or As being a law to yourself. The chorus nowhere speak with admiration of the independent attitude of Antigone, although they secretly sympathize with her pious motive. The word is used with consciousness of the derivation. The νόμος which is peculiar to Antigone is the privilege of a living death.

λυγροτάταν In sorriest plight. Supplementary predicate.

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν Ταντάλου] Our friend far off in Phrygia, Tantalus' daughter.' Sipylus was placed by some in Phrygia, by others in Lydia. (Strabo, 12. p. 571.) Donaldson well remarks that févar is applied to Niobe, because she married Amphion, king of Thebes.

⁸

ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν The conjectural emendation ὄμβροι has been very generally received. But the Highlands of Phrygia are not subject to perpetual showers. It is more natural to think of a snow-capped peak ever running down with moisture from the melting snow. On the general sense thus given to ὄμβρος, see Essay on Language § 52. p. 98. And as she flows down with moisture, the snow leaves her not, but still she wets the ridges of her neck beneath her tearful brow. The position of T' need cause no difficulty. Essay on Language pp. 65,6. It has been observed that the words ὀφρύς and δειράς are equally applicable to a mountain and to a human being. The subj. of τέγγει is not χιών but ὁ Νιόβα.

⁹

It is doubtful whether θειογενής οι θεογεννής (= θεογέννητος) should be read for the unmetrical θεογενής.

Of the two readings, φθιμένα and φθιμένῳ, both of which are given by L, and were known to the Scholiast, the feminine is more likely to be due to a corrector.

The words ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν have little point, and being omitted by Aldus (as in A), have never been restored except by Seyffert, who reads μέγα κἀκοῦσαι in l. 836. Those who omit 837, invert the preceding lines for the sake of the paroemiac, and read καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις | ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι. For ἀκοῦσαι, to have said of one, cp. Phil. 1074, ἀκούσομαι μὲν ὡς ἔφυν οἴκτου πλέως.

*οὐλομέναν The conjecture of Martin. οἰχομέναν (Wunder) also deserves to be considered.

She first turns from the elders to the city at large; and then, remembering how little sympathy she has had from man, she appeals, like Philoctetes (936 ff.), in a fresh outburst, to the familiar presences' of nature.

πολυκτήμονες Thebes was proverbially a wealthy city.

¹⁰

ἰώ Here she breaks into a louder cry.

¹¹

ἄλσος The open ground about the city. Cp. Εl. 5, τῆς οἰστροπλῆγος ἄλσος Ἰνάχου κόρης.

οἷα, like ὀμοιοτάταν in 832, and λυγροτάταν in 823, is supplementary predicate, and equivalent to an adverb.

Hermann (ed. 1839) was contented to read οὔτε βροτοῖσιν οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν, but remarked that the long anacrusis of the second part of the line, οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν = γάμων κυρήσας is very rare. Qu βροτοῖς, οὔτε τις ἐν νεκροίσιν? But the original line is probably lost.

Advancing to the utmost verge of daring thou didst fall violently, my daughter, against the lofty throne of Right. ἐκτίνεισ Α.

¹²

βάθρον is here the pedestal on which the image of justice is imagined to rest. Cp. Plat. Phaedr. 254 B, ἰδόντος δὲ τοῦ ἡνιόχου ἡ μνήμη πρὸς τὴν τοῦ κάλλους φύσιν ἠνέχθη. καὶ πάλιν εἶδεν αὐτὴν μετὰ σωφροσύνης ἐν ἁγνῷ βάθρῳ βεβῶσαν, Ο. Τ. 865, νόμοι. . ὑψίποδες.

πολύ is allowed to pass by Hermann without comment, but has been more recently called in question, partly on the metrical ground that the line should end with a long syllable.

πολύς is certainly no improvement. On the attempt to give special force to such a general word, see Essay on Language § 51. p. 97.

But thou art paying some debt of expiation inherited from thy sire.' άθλος is here a task or burden imposed by some higher power, like the labours of Heracles, and is perhaps associated by Sophocles with the derivative ἄθλιος. The combined metaphorical use of ἆθλος and ἐκτίνειν is not too great a stretch of language for Sophocles. Essay on Language p. 105.

Thou hast touched my saddest thought, the thrice-told tale of my father's sorrow.' Boeckh has cleared up the difficulties of this passage (1) by showing that οἶκτον harmonizes better with the context than οἶτον or οἶκον, and also gives a construction to πότμου: (2) by tracing the derivation of τριπόλιστον from πολίζω = πολέω, which occurs in the compound avναπολίζω : (3) by rightly explaining the dative Λαβδακίδαισιν. See Essay on Language § 13. p. 19. He also points out that μερίμνας is genitive, because the singular is more forcible, and μέριμναν would have suited the metre equally well. The only remaining doubt is the construction of οἶκτον.

ψαύειν may govern the accusative, as appears from 961. But the change from the genitive to the accusative is still to be accounted for. (1) The word ἔψαυσας was chosen with special reference to μερίμνας. ἔλεξας, or some other general word, would have been sufficient if this had not intervened. Hence the general meaning of the verb (= ἔλεξας) is alone continued. (2) The case is partly governed by the verbal notion in μερίμνας = 8 μεριμνῶ. (3) The tendency of a Greek sentence is to pass from a more special to a more general construction. Essay on Language pp. 64, 5, οἶκτον is to be resumed with πότμου, which is co-ordinate with πατρός. Thou hast harped on what my mind broods over with saddest care, the thrice renewed pity for my father, and for the general fortune of our race, the lot that fell upon the famed Labdacidae. Seyffert thinks that in τριπόλιστον Antigone is thinking of her own ever-deepening grief. But the Scholiast and Boeckh are probably right in explaining the word (like κλεινοῖς) with reference to the widely felt compassion for Oedipus. Cp. O. C. 517, τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον: ib. 597, πᾶς τοῦτό γ' Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ. For τριπόλιστον, cp. Phil. 1238, δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν μ' ἔπη.

¹³

κλεινοῖς is said with bitterness, as in O. T. 1207, κλεινὸν Οἰδίπου κάρα. The dative is used in explanation of ἁμετέρου, Ist as clearer than the genitive with so many genitives preceding; 2nd with an ethical' force; the lot that fell on us. 863. O my mother, to whom marriage was calamity, O my hapless father, who in wedlock with a mother, held guilty intercourse with her from whom he came.' ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται] ‘My mother's calamity in marriage.' λέκτρων is descriptive or distinctive genitive (Essay on Language § 9. p. 12), and the possessive ματρῷαι is joined to λέκτρων ἆται taken as one word. In observing Antigone's tenderness for her mother we are reminded that the plot of the Oedipus Tyrannus was not yet conceived.

ματρός is objective genitive, after κοιμήματα = ξυνουσίαι, and also descriptive, like γάμοι τέκνων, Ο. C. 945. For the condensed expression κοιμήματά τ᾿ αὐτογέννητ᾽ = τὸ κοιμηθῆναι σὺν ταύτῃ ἐξ ἧς αὐτὸς ἐγεννήθη, see Essay on Language § 43. p. 81, and for the force of αὐτός in composition, ibid. p. 101. The dative ἐμῷ πατρί (Ε. on L. § 13. p. 19, see on l. 861) is occasioned by the adjective; i. e. αὐτογέννητ᾽ ἦν αὐτῷ τὰ κοιμήματα. The nature of constructions in such condensed expressions can only be explained by expanding each phrase into a sentence. The meaning of the passive verbal termination in αὐτογέννητα is extremely indefinite. The other way of taking the words ('Connubium dicit Jocastae cum Oedipo quem ipsa pepererat,' Dind.), although giving a more obvious construction to the dative, has the fatal blemish of making a twofold apostrophe to Jocasta, whereas οἵων implies a reference to both parents, which is much more forcible.

The Laur. reading δυσμόρῳ is preferable, because of the peculiar significance of κοιμήματα ματρός.

οἴων is to be immediately referred to κοιμήματα, Such wedlock as gave me birth.

μέτοικος may possibly have the association of an alien,' because she could not expect to meet with proper burial. But for the generalised meaning of μέτοικος, cp. supr. 852: О. С. 934: infr. 890, μετοικίας.

¹⁴

There is some piety in pious action; but, as towards him who wieldeth it, authority must in no wise be transgressed. A self-determined impulse hath undone thee.' Cp. Phil. 138, τέχνα γὰρ τέχνας ἑτέρας προὔχει | καὶ γνώμα παρ' ὅτῳ τὸ θεῖον | Διὸς σκῆπτρον ἀνάσσεται, where there is a similar ellipse of the antecedent. The meaning is, He who has authority must not suffer authority to be thwarted. This may be made clearer by supplying ἐκείνῳ, as dative of the person interested, for the antecedent to ὅτῳ. He must not have it (i.e. suffer it to be) transgressed.

Unhappy, I am led the way that is here prepared for me.' Creon has already entered before these words are said. Cp. infr. 933-934. Mm

ἀοιδὰς .. πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1444-1445, ἡ δέ τοι κύκνου δί· κην | τὸν ὕστατον μέλψασα θανάσιμον γόον | κεῖται φιλήτωρ τοῦδε.

εἰ χρείη If it were allowed. Ср. О. Т. 1110, εἰ χρή τι κἀμὲ μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω, | πρέσβυ, σταθμᾶσθαι: Ο. C. 1711, πῶς με χρὴ τὸ σὸν τάλαιναν ἀφανίσαι τοσόνδ' ἄχος. This modified use of χρή = One is to, not One must,' is only possible in hypothetical or interrogative sentences.

ἄφετε This is on the whole more probable than ἄπιτε. The change from the future with οὐκ to the imperative has probably occasioned the corruption of the text.

χρή This the Scholiast explained by χρήσει, i. e. he read χρῇ. And this is necessary, if τυμβεύειν is read in 888. But τυμβεύσει, the reading of Triclinius, is supported by τυμβεύει in AV³. Whether she must die there, or shall live a buried life in that dark cell. For εἰ .. χρή, cp. Εl. 399, πεσούμεθ', εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι. And for τυμβεύσει, see Essay on Language p. 64 b. The intransitive use of τυμβεύειν occurs nowhere else.

Creon claims to be pure from the blood of Antigone, because he has altered the doom of stoning (1. 36) to that of immurement, and because of the modicum of food that is to be shut in with her, ὡς ἄγος (1. 775).

'At all events she shall no longer share the right of dwelling with us in the light of day.'

'O cavernous abode of long imprisonment, at once my bridal-chamber and my tomb.'

πρὶν .. βίου 'Before my allotted portion of life is spent.' Cp. Il. 4. 170, μοῖραν ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο. For ἐξήκειν, cp. Τr. 147, ἀλλ᾽ ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον | ἐς τοῦθ', ἕως ἄν, κ.τ.λ.

κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω I do cherish it amongst my hopes.

κασίγνητον κάρα This must be addressed to Polynices, who is most in the thoughts of the spectators, and is again invoked in the same words in 1.915: not to Eteocles, of whose burial Antigone only knew by hearsay, supr. 23 ff. The difficulty of reconciling this with the following lines has been adduced as one of several reasons for rejecting the passage from l. 900 to l. 928 in whole or in part. The lines 905-912 are apt to appear to modern readers, as they did to Goethe, a blemish in a place which might have been expected to be most carefully finished. The saying, which Herodotus, 3. 119, attributes almost in the same terms to the wife of Intaphernes, would seem from this to have had a wide currency in Ionia-for it is a precarious supposition that either author derived it from the other-and fell in with the natural tendency of Greek life to exalt the bond of brotherhood above all other ties of affection and kindred. The general feeling of the speech is well traced by Seyffert. Antigone, when brought face to face with death, in utter isolation from human sympathy, comes down from the lofty tone she had assumed in her first answer to Creon, and recognizes the simple fact that it was the strength of her affection which impelled her to defy the law. Her love for Poly- nices was wonderful, passing the love that could be felt for a husband or a child. She dilates on this and justifies it by a primitive sophism, which the passage of Herodotus cited above shows to be more in the spirit of the time of Sophocles or of the age preceding him than of any later period. If the Antigone is the earliest of the seven plays (see Introduction), we need not be surprised by an archaism of thought which is much less remarkable than several which occur in Aeschylus. In an early English ballad, called the Douglas Tragedy, a woman interceding for the life of her father, whom her lover would slay, gives the following reason :-'True lovers I can get many a one, | But a father I'll never get more.'

In these lines she is thinking of her father and mother. The libation only had been given to Polynices, who is specially mentioned in the following line. Ll. 900, I could not have been written after O. C. 1756 ff.

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)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι
755

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτὲ,

οὔθ᾽ ¹ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμᾶ
760

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι ² τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ ξυνών.

Χορός

ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς.

νοῦς δ᾽ ἔστι τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω ³ φρονείτω μεῖζον, ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽, ἰών·
765

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος,
770

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ⁴, ὡς ἄγος μόνον, προθεὶς,

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν ᾍδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,
775

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽, ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν ᾍδου σέβειν.

Χορός

a

ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

ἔρως, ὃς ἐν ⁵ κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς
780

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις ⁶,

φοιτᾷς ⁷ δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν τ᾽

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων

φύξιμος⁸ οὐδεὶς,
785

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾽ ἀν-

θρώπων· ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων, μέμηνεν.

a

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν
790

σύναιμον ⁹ ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς
795

θεσμῶν ¹⁰. ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμ-

παίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾽γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκ ἔτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,
800

τὸν ὁ παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον ¹¹

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη

b

ὁρᾶτέ μ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγγος
805

λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

οὔ ποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγκοίτας

ᾍδας ζῶσαν ἄγει

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτὰν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων
810

ἔγκληρον· οὔτ᾽ ἐπινυμφίδιός

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος

ὕμνησεν· ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,
815

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις,

οὔτε ¹² ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος, ζῶσα, μόνη δὴ

θνατῶν, ᾍδαν καταβήσει.

Ἀντιγόνη

b

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι
820

τὰν ¹³ Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου, Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκρῳ,

τὰν, κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς,

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν· καί νιν

ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν,
825

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,

τέγγει θ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύστοις

δειράδας ¹⁴· ᾇ με

δαίμων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.
830

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής·

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.

καίτοι φθιμένᾳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι,

τοῖσιν ¹⁵ ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη

c

οἴμοι, γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων
835

οὐκ ὀλλυμέναν ὑβρίζεις,

ἀλλ᾽ ¹⁶ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες,

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι,
840

Θήβας τ᾽ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας

ξυμμάρτυρας ὕμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυστος, οἵοις

νόμοις πρὸς ¹⁷ ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον

ἔρχομαι τάφου ποταινίου·
845

ἰὼ δύστανος,

¹⁸

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους,

ὑψηλὸν ¹⁹ ἐς Δίκας βάθρον
850

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πάλιν.

πατρῷον ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

c

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας ²⁰,

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον,

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος
855

ἁμετέρου πότμου

κλεινοῖς ²¹ Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων

ἆται, κοιμήματά τ' αὐτογέννητ᾽

ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρὸς,
860

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων

ἔφυν· πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος,

ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων

κασίγνητε ²² γάμων κυρήσας,
865

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν ²³ μὲν, εὐσέβειά τις·

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει·

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὥλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
870

Ἀντιγόνη

a

ἄκλαυστος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος,

ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι τάνδ᾽

ἑτοίμαν ²⁴ ὁδόν. οὐκ ἔτι

μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾷν ταλαίνᾳ·
875

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον ²⁵

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν,

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἂν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ, κατηρεφεῖ
880

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγὼ,

ἄφετε, μόνην, ἔρημον, εἴτε χρὴ θανεῖν,

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα ²⁶ τυμβεύσειν στέγῃ·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
885

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις ἀείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Περσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων,

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
890

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι, κάρτ᾽ ²⁷ ἐν ἐλπίσι τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρὶ, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοὶ,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοὶ, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
895

ἔλουσα, κἀκόσμησα, κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δὲ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα, τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾽τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ ²⁸.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν, εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,
900

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι, κατθανόντος,²⁹ ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτὸς, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·
905

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν ᾍδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν,

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ ³⁰.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν,

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾷν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
910

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν,

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν, οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς·

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος,

ζῶσ᾽ ἐς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφὰς,
915

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην ;

τί ³¹ χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾷν ξυμμάχων ; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλὰ,
920

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες ³².

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν, ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ ³³.

Χορός

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 758 focus

Κρέων

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ' ὅτι
735

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ
740

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ ξυνών.

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·
745

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξαι μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος,
750

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι.

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον, ὡς ἄγος μόνον, προθείς,

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,
755

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ' ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.

8. ΣΤΑΣΙΜΟΝ ΤΡΙΤΟΝ.

Χορός

1

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις·
760

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν τ᾽ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

1

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς,

οὐθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπων· ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·
765

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾽γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν
770

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκ ἔτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.

8. ΕΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΤΈΤΑΡΤΟΝ.

Ἀντιγόνη

1

ὁρᾶτέ μ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,
775

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ' ὁ παγ-

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει
780

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπινυμφίδιός

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμ-

νησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.
785

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις,

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽·

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος, ζῶσα, μόνη δὴ
790

θνατῶν Ἅιδην καταβήσει.

Ἀντιγόνη

1

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄ-

κρῷ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς
795

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν·

καί νιν ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,

τέγγει θ’ ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις
800

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς·

καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις
805

ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν, μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων,

οὐκ οὐλομέναν ὑβρίζεις,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως
810

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ

Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι, Θήβας τ᾽

εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας

ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,
815

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕρμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρχομαι τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος,

βροτοῖς οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖς κυροῦσα¹

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.
820

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ’ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας
825

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος

ἁμετέρου πότμου

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ
830

ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται,

κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέννητ᾽

ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός·

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν,

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.
835

ἰὼ δυσπότμων

κασίγνητος γάμων κυρήσας,

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,
840

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει.

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος,

ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκ ἔτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·
845

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ κατηρεφεῖ

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,
850

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν,

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ.

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς
855

οἴκησις ἀείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Περσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.
860

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους
865

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾽τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,
870

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι, κατθανόντος, ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν,
875

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβών,
880

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς·

ἀλλ' ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ᾽ ἐς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς,

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;
885

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν, τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·
890

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν, ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι

χαίρων ἐπιψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.
750

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ' ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ!

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε (τοῦτο μὴ δόξης ποτέ!)

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμᾶ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,
755

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τὠφελεῖν μαίνει ξυνών.

Χορός

ὡνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς τηλικούτοις δ᾽ ἔστιν ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον, ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽, ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.
760

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος,

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,
765

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον, ὡς ἄκος μόρου, προθεὶς,

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που, τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽, ὅτι
770

πόνος περισσός ἐστι, τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.

Χορός

1

Ἔρως, ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς οὐ κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,
775

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν

τ᾽ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς· ᾿

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς,

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων. ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπων·

ὁ δ' ἔχων, μέμῃνε.
780

1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
785

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει

θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾿γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν
790

ἔξω φέρομαι, τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν

δ᾽ οὐκ ἔτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

ὁρᾶτέ μ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,
795

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγγος

λεύσσουσαν ἀελίοιο, κοὔ πο-

τ᾽ αὖτ', ἀλλ᾽ ἔμ᾽ ὁ παγκοίτας

Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει τὰν Ἀχέροντος
800

ἀκτὰν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπινυμφίδιός

πω μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμνησεν,

ἀλλ᾽ ἦ ᾽χέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ, καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχου-
805

σ᾽, ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσι πληγεῖσα νόσοις,

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦ-

σ᾽, ἀλλ᾽, αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνατῶν, Ἀϊδαν καταβήσει.
810

Ἀντιγόνη

2

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου, Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκρῳ,

τὰν, κισσὸς ὡς, ἀτενὴς πετραία

βλάστα δάμασεν· καὶ νῦν
815

ὄμβροι τακομέναν, ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,

τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύστοις

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαίμων

ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.
820

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννὴς,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς ·

καί σοι φθιμένᾳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι,

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη

3

οἴ μοι, γελῶμαι!
825

τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων,

οὐκ οὐλομέναν ὑβρίζεις,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον ; ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ὦ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι, Θήβας
830

τ᾽ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας

ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπιβοῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυστος, οἵοις

νόμοις πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον

ἔρχομαι τάφου ποταινίου!
835

ὦ δύστανος,

οὔτ᾽ ἐν θνατοῖς οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσι

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσι.

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους,

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον
840

προσέπαισας, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.

πατρῷον ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

3

ἔψαυσας ἀλγει-

νοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶτον,
845

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος ἁμετέρου πότμου

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ὦ ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται,

κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέννη-

θ᾽ ἁμῷ πατρὶ δυσμύρου ματρὸς,
850

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων

ἔφυν, πρὸς οὓς, ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος,

ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι!

ὦ, δυσπότμων,

κασίγνητε, γάμων κυρήσας,
855

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με!

Χορός

σέβειν νὶν, εὐσέβειά τις·

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει.

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
860

Ἀντιγόνη

1

ἄκλαυστος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος,

ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι τάν-

δ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκ ἔτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾷν ταλαίνᾳ·
865

τὸν δὲ πότμον ἀδάκρυτον ἐμὸν

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν,

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἂν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
870

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγὼ,

ἄπιτε, μόνην, ἔρημον, εἴτε χρὴ θανεῖν,

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύσει στέγῃ·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην,

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Περσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ, καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ,
880

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου!

ἐλθοῦσα μέν τοι, κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσι τρέφω,

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρὶ, προσφιλὴς δέ σοι,

μῆτερ, φίλη δέ σοι, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
885

ἔλουσα, κἀκόσμησα, κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δὲ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα, τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καί τοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾿τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ·

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν, εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,
890

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι, κατθανόντος, ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ’ ἄλλου φωτὸς, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·
895

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν,

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλαστοῖ ποτε.

τοιῷδε μέν τοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν,

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾷν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα!
900

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν,

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν, οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς·

ἀλλ’ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων, ἡ δύσμορος,

ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφὰς,
905

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί δὲ χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδὰν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ’, εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλὰ,
910

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν, ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾿ ὄμματ᾿ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς πότε,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν·

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ ξυνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾿ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾿ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς
785

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου
795

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων †πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800
58v

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ἐγὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ' ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ'

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ' Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη
α

ὁρᾶτέ μ', ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγγος

λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ᾿ ὁ παγκοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει
810

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ *ἐπινύμφειός πώ μέ τις ὕμνος
815

ὕμνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,
820

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνητῶν Ἀΐδην καταβήσει.

α

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι,

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκρῳ,
825

τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν, καί νιν ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,
830

τέγγει θ᾽ ὑπ᾿ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις δειράδας· ᾇ με

δαίμων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.
835

†καίτοι φθιμένῳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν

[ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.]

Ἀντιγόνη
β

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων,

οὐκ οὐλομέναν ὑβρίζεις,
840

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰώ, Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θήβας τʼ

εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας
845

ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕρμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρχομαι

τάφου ποταινίου·

59r

ἰὼ δύστανος,
850

†οὐτ᾽ ἐν βροτοῖσιν οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσʼ ἐπ᾿ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.
855

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τινʼ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη
β

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος

ἁμετέρου πότμου
860

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται

κοιμήματά τ᾿ αὐτογέννητ᾽

ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρῳ ματρός,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος ἄγαμος ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ

μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων

κασίγνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῆ πέλει·

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος,

ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι

τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·
880

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν,

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ' ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρὴ θανεῖν,

εἴτ᾿ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύσει στέγῃ·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἰκησις ἀείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Περσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ἐγὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
895
59v

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα.

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾿τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ' οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν
905

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾿ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·
910

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς·
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίνʼ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγαγε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμᾷ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ ξυνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύῃ κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος,

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις·

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός
1

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐδαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων

φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾽ ἀν-

θρώπων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790
1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμ-

παίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾿γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη
1

ὁρᾶτ᾽ ἔμ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις. ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ-
810

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων ἔγ-

κληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπὶ νυμφείοις

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμ-
815

νησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχῃ κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,
820

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνατῶν Ἀἰδαν καταβήσῃ.

Ἀντιγόνη
1

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄ-
825

κρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν,

καί νιν ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει, τέγ-
830

γει θ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.
835

καίτοι φθιμένᾳ μέγα κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη
2

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων,

οὐκ οὐλομέναν ὑβρίζεις.
840

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θήβας τ᾽ εὐ-

αρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας
845

ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρ-

χομαι τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος,
850

οὔτ᾽ ἐν βροτοῖς οὔτε νεκροῖσιν

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ·
855

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν’ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη
2

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος

ἁμετέρου πότμου
860

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται κοι-

μήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέννητ᾽

ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος, ἅδ᾽

ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασί-

γνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει,

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

na

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος ταλαί-

φρων ἄγομαι τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν·

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·
880

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον οὐ-

δεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽ ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ' ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν,

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ.

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων,

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾿τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν
905

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾿ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·
910

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ' ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ' ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶν εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς·
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ' εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ’ οὐ τόνδ’ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ’ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγαγε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ’ ὄμματ’ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ’ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθ’ ἥδ’ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ’ οὐδαμᾷ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ’ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ ξυνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ’ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ’ ἄνδρ’ ἰών·

τὰ δ’ οὖν κόρα τάδ’ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύῃ κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ’ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος,

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ’ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις·

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ’ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπ-

τεις, ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρει-

αῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ’ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ’
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ’ οὔτ’ ἀθανάτων

φύξιμος οὐδεὶς οὔθ’

ἁμερίων ἐπ’ ἀνθρώ-

πων, ὁ δ’ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώ-

βᾳ· σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀν-

δρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ’ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς θεσ-

μῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

νῦν δ’ ἤδη ’γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ’ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ’

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίτην ὅθ’ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ’ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη
1

ὁρᾶτ’ ἔμ’, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ’ αὖθις, ἀλλά μ’ ὁ παγ-
810

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ’ ὑμεναίων ἔγ-

κληρον, οὔτ’ ἐπὶ νυμφείοις

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμ-
815

νησεν, ἀλλ’ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ’

ἐς τόδ’ ἀπέρχῃ κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ’,
820

ἀλλ’ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνητῶν Ἀΐδην καταβήσῃ.

Ἀντιγόνη
1

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄ-
825

κρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν,

καί νιν ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ’ οὐδαμὰ λείπει, τέγ-
830

γει θ’ ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.
835

καίτοι φθιμένῃ μέγ α κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη
2

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴ-

ων, οὐκ οὐλομέναν ὑβρίζεις,
840

ἀλλ’ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θήβας τ’ εὐ-

αρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας
845

ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ’ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρ-

χομαι τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος,
850

οὔτ’ ἐν βροτοῖς οὔτε νεκροῖσιν

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσ’ ἐπ’ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ·
855

πατρῷον δ’ ἐκτίνεις τιν’ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη
2

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμ-

νας πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον,

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος

ἁμετέρου πότμου
860

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται κοι-

μήματ ά τ’ αὐτογέννητ’

ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ’ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος, ἅδ’

ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων

γάμων, κασίγνητε, κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτ’ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ’ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει,

σὲ δ’ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ’ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος ταλαί-

φρων ἄγομαι τάνδ’ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν·

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·
880

τὸν δ’ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον οὐ-

δεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ’ ἴστ’ ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ’ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ’ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ’ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ’ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν,

εἴτ’ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ.

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ’ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ’ ὀλωλότων,

ὧν λοισθία ’γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ’ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ’ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ’ ἐγὼ ’τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ’ οὔτ’ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν
905

οὔτ’ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ’ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ’ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ’ ἤμπλακον·
910

μητρὸς δ’ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ’ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ’ ἐκπροτιμήσασ’ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ’ ἔδοξ’ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ’ ὧδ’ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ’ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς,
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν’ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ’ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ’ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ’ οἵδ’ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἔτι ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνήισκηι πλησία τῶι νυμφίωι.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξηις ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνηι ξυνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών.

τὼ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τώδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὼ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρωι δὲ ποίωι καί σφε βουλεύηι κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ἦι βροτῶν στίβος

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγηι πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως ὃς †ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις †

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾶις δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ'
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς,

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώ-

πων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾶις ἐπὶ λώβαι

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾶι δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας †τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς †

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾿γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν

δ᾽ οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίτην ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

2

Ἀντιγόνη

ὁρᾶτέ μ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις, ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ-
810

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπὶ νυμ-

φείοις πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕ-
815

μνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχηι κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,
820

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος, ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνητῶν Ἀίδην καταβήσηι.

2

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλωι πρὸς ἄ-
825

κρωι, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν,

καί νιν ὄμβροι τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,
830

τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγ-

κλαύτοις δειράδας· ἇι με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς·
835

καίτοι φθιμένηι μέγα κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

3

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι γελῶμαι· τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρώι-

ων, οὐκ ὀλλυμέναν ὑβρί-
840

ζεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θή-

βας τ᾽ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμ-
845

πας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρ-

χομαι τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος † οὔτ᾽ ἐν
850

βροτοῖσιν οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν †

μέτοικος οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους,

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, ποδοῖν·
855

πατρῶιον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

3

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερί-

μνας πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶ-

κτον, τοῦ τε πρόπαντος
860

ἁμετέρου πότμου

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ ματρῶιαι λέκτρων ἆ-

ται κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέν-

νητ᾽ ἐμῶι πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος, ἅδ᾽

ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασί-

γνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτωι κράτος μέλει,

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾶι πέλει·

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναι-

ος ἁ ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι

τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν

ὄμμα θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίναι.
880

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽ ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα; καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβωι περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην, ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῆι θανεῖν

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτηι ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγηι·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς ν

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων,

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῶι
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾽τίμησα, τοῖς φρονοῦσιν, εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,
905

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίαι πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ἠιρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς, ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον
910

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῶιδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμωι, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς,
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμαχεῖν, ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην;

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες ·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.
755

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,
760

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνει ξυνών.

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἔστι τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας, βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.
765

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος,

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,
770

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον, ὡς ἄγος, μόνον προθείς,

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη ποὺ τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ', ὅτι
775

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.

Χορός

1

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις·
780

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν τ᾽

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς,

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων. ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώ-

πων· ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
785

1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
790

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾿γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν
795

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκ ἔτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη

1

ὁρᾶτέ μ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πο-
800

λῖται τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ-

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει
805

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπινυμφίδιός

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕ-

μνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.
810

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις,

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽·

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος, ζῶσα, μόνη δὴ
815

θνατῶν, Ἀϊδαν καταβήσει.

1

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀ-

λέσθαι τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν.

Ταντάλου, Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄ-

κρῳ· τάν, κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενής,
820

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν·

καί νιν ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,

τέγγει θ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις
825

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής·

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.

καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις
830

ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι.

Ἀντιγόνη

1

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων,

οὐκ ὀλομέναν ὑβρίζεις,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον ; ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·
835

ἰὼ

Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι, Θήβας τ᾽

εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος· ἔμπας

ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις
840

πρὸς ἕρμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρχομαι

τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος,

βροτοῖς οὔτε ἐν νεκροῖσιν

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.
845

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἔσχατον, θράσους,

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τίν᾽ ἆθλον.

2

Ἀντιγόνη

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,
850

πατρὸς τριπλοιστὸν οἶκτον

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος ἁμετέρου πότμου

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ

ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται,
855

κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέννητ᾽

ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οἷς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος, ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ

μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.
860

ἰὼ δυσπότμων

κασίγνητε γάμων κυρήσας,

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις·

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,
865

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει,

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος,

ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκ ἔτι, μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα
870

θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον οὐδεὶς

φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν,

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;
875

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα; καὶ κατηρεφεῖ

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἰ χρῄζει, θανεῖν,

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ.

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·
880

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι,

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Περσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·
885

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι, κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·
890

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ, ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ

ἔλουσα, κἀκόσμησα, κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα, τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾽τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.
895

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι, κατθανόντος, ἄλλος ἦν,
900

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ' ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν,
905

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον καρά.

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβών,

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον , οὔτε τοὺ γάμου.

μέρος λαχοῦσαν, οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς·

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος,
910

ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς·

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.
915

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν, ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ' οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ' ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ ξυνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·

τὼ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τώδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὼ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

1

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν, Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις, 1

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις, 2

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς· 3
785

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς 4

οὔθ' ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώπων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν. 5
790
1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ· 1

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας· 2

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου 3
795

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς 4

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα. 5

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾿γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίτην ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη

1

ὁρᾶτ᾽ ἔμ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται, τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν 1

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγγος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου, 2

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγκοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει 3

τὰν Ἀχέροντος 4

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπινύμφειός 5

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω. 6

Χορός
1

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,
820

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος, ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνητῶν Ἀΐδην καταβήσει.

Ἀντιγόνη
1

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν 1

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς 2

ἀτενὴς
825

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν· καί νιν ὄμβροι τακο- 3

μέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν, 4

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει, τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις 5
830

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαίμων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει. 6

Χορός
1

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.
835

καίτοι φθιμένῃ μέγα κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη
2

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων, 1

οὐκ οἰχομέναν ὑβρίζεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον; 2
840

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες· 3

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι 4

Θήβας τ᾿ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι, 5
845

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις 6

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρχομαι τάφου ποταινίου· 7

ἰὼ δύστανος, βροτοῖς οὔτε νεκροῖς κυροῦσα 8
850

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν. 9

Χορός
3

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους 1

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον 2

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ. 3
855

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον. 4

Ἀντιγόνη
2

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας, 1

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον τοῦ τε πρόπαντος 2

ἁμετέρου πότμου κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν. 3

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων 4

ἆται κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέννητ᾽ ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός, 5

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν· 6

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος, ἄγαμος, ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι. 7
865

ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασίγνητε γάμων κυρήσας, 8

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με. 9

Χορός
3

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις, 1

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει, 2

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει· 3

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά. 4
875

Ἀντιγόνη

na

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι

τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν

ὄμμα θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·
880

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ' ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα; καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις ἀείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ᾿γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾽τίμησα, τοῖς φρονοῦσιν, εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,
905

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾿ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·
910

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς·
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 758 focus

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψῃ κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ συνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·

τὼ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τώδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὼ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύῃ κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἐρῆμος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήνεσι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώ-

πων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾽γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη

ὁρᾶτ᾽ ἔμ’, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

780 στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ-
810

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπὶ νυμ-

φείοις πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕ-
815

μνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχῃ κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φϑινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,
820

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνατῶν Ἀΐδην καταβήσῃ.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄ-
825

κρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν,

καί νιν ὄμβροι τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,
830

τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγ-

κλαύτοις δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνατογενεῖς,
835

καίτοι φθιμένᾳ μέγα κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς

θεῶν πατρῴων,
840

οὐκ οἰχομέναν ὑβρίζεις,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆ-
845

ναι Θήβας τ᾽ εὐαρμάτου ἄλ-
845

σος, ἔμπας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρ-

χομαι τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος, βροτοῖς
850

οὔτε νεκρὸς νεκροῖσιν

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

πολὺ προσέπαισας, ὦ τέκνον.
855

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας

ἐμοὶ μερίμνας, —

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶτον

τοῦ τε πρόπαντος
860

ἁμετέρου πότμου

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέ-

κτρων ἆται κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐ-

τογέννητ᾽ ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρὸς,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος ἄγαμος ἅδ'

ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασί-

γνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει,

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναι-

ος ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι

τὰν ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν.

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν

ὄμμα θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ·
880

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽ ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη, λέγων;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἐρῆμον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα.

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ᾽τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν
905

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον,
910

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ,

τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ, Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἐρῆμος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ᾽ ἐς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς·
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 758 focus

Κρέων

ἄληθες; ἀλλʼ οὐ τόνδʼ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθʼ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγαγε τὸ μῖσος ὡς κατʼ ὄμματʼ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτʼ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,

οὔθʼ ἥδʼ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τʼ οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτʼ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ συνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δʼ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω· φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατʼ ἄνδρʼ ἰών·

τὼ δʼ οὖν κόρα τώδʼ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὼ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθʼ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσʼ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθʼ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν, Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δʼ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τʼ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·
785

καί σʼ οὔτʼ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθʼ ἁμερίων σέ γʼ ἀνθρώπων. ὁ δʼ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

Χορός

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ,

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δʼ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου
795

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν. ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

Χορός

νῦν δʼ ἤδη ʼγὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδʼ ὁρῶν ἴσχειν δʼ

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίτην ὅθʼ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδʼ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη

ὁρᾶτʼ ἔμʼ, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται, τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγγος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτʼ αὖθις. ἀλλά μʼ ὁ παγκοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει
810

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθʼ ὑμεναίων ἔγκληρον, οὔτʼ ἐπινύμφειός

πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμνησεν, ἀλλʼ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.
815

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσʼ

ἐς τόδʼ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσʼ,
820

ἀλλʼ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνητῶν Ἅιδην καταβήσει.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς
825

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν, καί νιν ὄμβροι τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τʼ οὐδαμὰ λείπει, τέγγει δʼ ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι παγκλαύτοις
830

δειράδας· ᾇ με δαίμων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.
835

καίτοι φθιμένῃ μέγα κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν.

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων.

οὐκ οἰχομέναν ὑβρίζεις, ἀλλʼ ἐπίφαντον;
840

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι

Θήβας τʼ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμπας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμʼ ἐπικτῶμαι,
845

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρχομαι τάφου ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος, βροτοῖς οὔτε νεκροῖς κυροῦσα
850

μέτοικος οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσʼ ἐπʼ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ·
855

πατρῷον δʼ ἐκτίνεις τινʼ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,

πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον τοῦ τε πρόπαντος

ἁμετέρου πότμου κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.
860

ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων

ἆται κοιμήματά τʼ αὐτογέννητʼ ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθʼ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος ἄγαμος ἅδʼ ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασίγνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτʼ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δʼ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει·

σὲ δʼ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσʼ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναιος ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι

τὰν πυμάταν ὁδόν. οὐκέτι μοι τόδε

λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ.
880

τὸν δʼ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρʼ ἴστʼ, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδʼ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτʼ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθʼ ὡς τάχιστα; καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκʼ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν

εἴτʼ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ·

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δʼ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις ἀείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσʼ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ʼγὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτʼ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα. νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδʼ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σʼ ἐγὼ ʼτίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτʼ οὔτʼ ἄν, εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν,
905

οὔτʼ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδʼ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπʼ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδʼ ἤμπλακον,
910

μητρὸς δʼ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῷδε μέντοι σʼ ἐκπροτιμήσασʼ ἐγὼ

νόμῳ Κρέοντι ταῦτʼ ἔδοξʼ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσʼ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς.
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίνʼ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσʼ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδʼ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δʼ οἵδʼ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 758 focus

ταύτην ποτ᾽ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὡς ἔτι ζῶσαν γαμεῖς.
750

Αἵμων

ἥδ᾽ οὖν θανεῖται καὶ θανοῦσ᾽ ὀλεῖ τινα.

Κρέων

ἦ κἀπαπειλῶν ὧδ᾽ ἐπεξέρχηι θρασύς;

Αἵμων

τίς δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀπειλὴ πρὸς κενὰς γνώμας λέγειν;

Κρέων

κλαίων φρενώσεις, ὢν φρενῶν αὐτὸς κενός.

Αἵμων

εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ᾽, εἶπον ἄν σ᾽ οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν.
755

Κρέων

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγαγε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνήισκηι πλησία τῶι νυμφίωι.

Αἵμων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξηις ποτέ,

οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ

τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,

ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνηι ξυνών.
765

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·

τὼ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τώδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὼ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρωι δὲ ποίωι καί σφε βουλεύηι κτανεῖν;

Κρέων

ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ἦι βροτῶν στίβος

κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,

φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς,
775

ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγηι πόλις.

κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,

αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,

ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι

πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν.
780

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πί-

πτεις, ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρει-

αῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

790 φοιτᾶις δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καὶ σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώ-

πῶν, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους
790

φρένας παρασπᾶις ἐπὶ λώ-

βαι· σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀν-

δρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾶι δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ᾽γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίτην ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη

ὁρᾶτ᾽ ἔμ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται,

τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν

στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-

γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,

κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις· ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ-
810

κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει

τὰν Ἀχέροντος

ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων

ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπὶ νυμ-

φείοις πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕμ-
815

νησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.

Χορός

οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽

ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχηι κεῦθος νεκύων,

οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις

οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽,
820

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ

θνητῶν Ἅιδην καταβήσηι.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤκουσα δὴ λυγροτάταν ὀλέσθαι

τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν

Ταντάλου Σιπύλωι πρὸς ἄ-
825

κρωι, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς

πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν·

καί νιν ὄμβροι τακομέναν,

ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,

χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,
830

τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγ-

κλαύτοις δειράδας· ἇι με δαί-

μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.
835

καίτοι φθιμέναι μέγα κἀκοῦσαι

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν

ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι γελῶμαι. τί με πρὸς θεῶν πατρώι-

ων, οὐκ οὐλομέναν ὑβρί-
840

ζεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον;

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως

πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·

ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θήβας τ᾽ εὐ-

αρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμ-
845

πας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,

οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις

πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρχομαι τάφου

ποταινίου·

ἰὼ δύστανος.
850

† οὔτ᾽ ἐν βροτοῖσιν οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσι

μέτοικος, οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, ποδοῖν·
855

πατρῶιον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἔψαυσας ἀλγεινοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμ-

νας, πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἷ-

τον τοῦ τε πρρόπαντος

ἁμετέρου πότμου
860

κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.

ἰὼ πατρῶιαι λέκτρων ἆται κοι-

μήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέν-

νητ᾽ ἐμῶι πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,
865

οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν

πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος ἄγαμος ἅδ᾽ ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.

ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασίγνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
870

θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽ ὅτωι κράτος μέλει

παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾶι πέλει·

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
875

Ἀντιγόνη

ἄκλαυτος ἄφιλος ἀνυμέναιος ταλαί-

φρων ἄγομαι τάνδ᾽ ἑτοίμαν ὁδόν·

οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν ὄμμα

θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίναι·
880

τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον

οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.

Κρέων

ἆρ' ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;

οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα; καὶ κατηρεφεῖ
885

τύμβωι περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,

ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῆι θανεῖν

εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτηι ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγηι.

ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην·

μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται.
890

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς

οἴκησις αἰείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι

πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς

πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·

ὧν λοισθία ᾽γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῶι
895

κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.

ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω

φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,

μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·

ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ
900

ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους

χοὰς ἔδωκα· νῦν δέ, Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν

δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.

καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ’τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν
905

οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,

βίαι πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ἠιρόμην πόνον.

τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,

καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον·
910

μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν

οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.

τοιῶιδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ

νόμωι Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν

καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα.
915

καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν

ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου

μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος

ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς·
920

ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;

τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι

βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά,
925

παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·

εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ

πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.

Χορός

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 758 focus

KREON.

Wahrhaftig? Nimmer, beim Olympos, wisse dies,
735

soll dir es Freude bringen, dafs du mich verhöhnst.

Führt her das Scheusal, dafs vor seinen Augen hier

alsbald sie sterbe, ganz zunächst dem Bräutigam.

HÄMON.

Nie, wahrlich, wird sie, glaube das nur nimmermehr,

in meiner Nähe sterben, und nie wieder sollst
740

du dieses Haupt vor Augen sehen; rase dann

vor denen deiner Freunde, welchen dies geliebt.

(ab.)

CHOR.

Der Mann, o König, ging von hinnen rasch im Zorn;

so junger Sinn droht schweres Leid in seinem Schmerz.

KREON.

So thu' er's, so vermess' er übermenschlich sich;
745

doch diese Mädchen wird er nicht vom Tod befrein.

CHOR.

So hast du beiden also gar den Tod bestimmt?

KREON.

Der nicht, die ohne Schuld ist; wohl erinnerst du.

CHOR.

Und welchen Tod gedenkst du jener anzuthun?

KREON.

In öder Wildniſs, fern dem Pfad der Sterblichen,
750

berg' ich im dichten Felsengrab lebendig sie,

so viel nur Speise reichend als der Sühne gnügt,

dafs Schuldbefleckung diese Stadt nicht treffen mag.

Und dort zum Hades flehend, den allein sie ehrt

der Götter, wird Erlösung etwa sie vom Tod
755

empfahen, oder endlich doch erkennen, daſs

umsonst sich mühe, wer des Hades Reich verehrt.

(ab.)

VIII. DRITTES STASIMON.

CHOR.

O Eros, Allsieger im Kampf,

O Eros, du reiches Besitzthums

Str.

Bezwinger, der auf der Maid zarten Wangen du übernachtest;
760

du schweifest hin über das Meer, durch der Gefild' Hürden:

kein unsterblicher Gott kann dir entrinnen,

taglebender Menschen keiner; wen du ergreifest, raset.

Gegenstr.

Auch edlen Geist reiſsest du hin

zu Missethat, hin zu Verderben;
765

auch Vaters und Sohnes Zwist jetzt erregtest du, und es sieget,

den Wimpern lustbettender Braut heftig entstrahlt, Liebreiz,

er mitthronend im Rath mächtiger Rechte;

denn nimmerbezwungnes Spiel übt Herrscherin Aphrodite.

(Antigone wird gebracht.)

Schon werd' auch ich weit über das Recht
770

dies schauend geführt, und nicht halt' ich

mir der Thränen Ergufs noch länger zurück,

da ins Grabbrautbett, das alles verschlingt,

ich seh' Antigone'n wandeln.

IX. VIERTES EPEISODION.

ANTIGONE von den Knechten begleitet; später KREON.

ANTIGONE.
Str. 1.

O seht mich, o Bürger des Vaterlandes,
775

die ich den letzten Weg

wandle, die ich den letzten Strahl

schaue jetzt von Helios Licht,

und nie wieder! Lebend entführt

Hades, alle lagernd zur Ruh',
780

Acherons Ufern

zu mich; nicht Hymenäen

empfing ich, nimmer ein bräutliches Lied

feierte mich im Lust-

reigen: Acheron führt als Braut heim mich!
785

CHOR.

Ruhmvoll denn gehst und mit Lobe geschmückt

dorthin du jetzt in der Todten Gemach;

nicht raffte dich weg langzehrende Sucht,

nicht lohnte der Feind dir mit mordendem Schwert;

ja die einzige du von den Sterblichen wallst
790

selbständig und lebend zum Hades.

ANTIGONE.
Gegenstr. 1

Wohl hört' ich, ging Tantalos' Tochter, sie die

Phrygien uns gesandt,

graunvoll unter an Sipylos'

Höh'n: gleich Epheu's strammem Gewächs
795

fest umschloſs sie sprossender Fels;

schmelzend zehrt der Regen an ihr,

lautet die Kunde,

der Schnee lässet sie nimmer;

und stets herab von den thränenden Brau'n
800

netzet den Busen sie:

der am ähnlichsten bettet Schicksal mich!

CHOR.

Doch Göttin ist sie, von der Götter Geschlecht,

wir Sterbliche nur, aus irdischem Stamm:

wie groſs ist der Ruhm, Gottgleicher Geschick
805

hinscheidend zu theilen im Grabe!

ANTIGONE.
Str. 2.

Weh mir! Verlacht werd' ich! Warum, o Vatergötter,

verhöhnst du mich, eh' ich hinstarb,

eh' ich verschwunden?

O Stadt, o der Stadt
810

reichbegüterte Männer,

weh, weh!

o Dirka's Quell, o Theba's

der wagenberühmten Lusthain,

euch alle beschwör' ich, seid Zeugen,
815

wie unbeweint von Freunden, kraft welches Rechts

zum gruftgehöhlten Kerker ich des neuen Grabes wandeln mufs!

Mir Unsel'gen, weh,

die nicht auf Erden, nicht im Hades,

im Leben nicht heimisch, nicht im Tode!
820

CHOR.

Vorschreitend bis zum Äufsersten

des Trotzes stieſsest du, o Kind,

an Dike's Thron gewaltig an.

Der Ahnherrn Kämpfen gleichet dein Kampf!

ANTIGONE.
Gegenstr. 2.

Du regtest schmerzvollesten Gram mir auf im Busen,
825

des Vaters berufenen Jammer,

unseres ganzen

Geschlechts herbes Loos,

edler Labdakoskinder!

Weh, weh!
830

O fluchvoll, gräulvoll Ehbett,

die Mutter dem eignen Sohne,

mein Vater gesellt der Unsel'gen!

Von welchen ich entsproſs, die Unglückliche,

zu welchen ehlos, Fluches voll, ich mich hinübersiedele!
835

O weh! unheilvoll

vermählt, o Bruder, gabest jetzt du,

ein Todter schon, meinem Leben Tod noch!

CHOR.

Wohl heilig Todter Heiligung!

Doch dessen Macht, dem Macht gebührt,
840

zu überschreiten ziemet nicht.

Ja dich stürzt' eigenwill'ger Trotzsinn!

ANTIGONE.
Epodos.

Ohn' Hymens Lied, verlassen, klaglos,

dahin werd' ich geführt diesen Pfad sichern Tods.

Nimmer das heilige Auge des flammenden Weltlichts schauen darf ich Arme;
845

meinem Loos weihet kein Freundesherz Seufzer oder Thräne.

KREON.
(der kurz vorher aufgetreten)

Wifst ihr, dafs keiner vor dem Tod mit Klaggesang

und Jammern enden würde, frommten diese noch?

Fort, schnell mit ihr von hinnen; und schloſst ihr sie dann

ins Grab, das dicht bedeckte, wie ich es gebot,
850

so lafst allein sie, einsam, ob sie sterben nun,

ob lebend wohnen mög' in solchem Grabeshaus:

denn wir sind rein, was diese Jungfrau hier betrifft:

nur mitzuwohnen oben bleibt ihr nicht erlaubt.

ANTIGONE.
(zieht sich zurück.)

O Grab, o Hochzeitkammer, unterirdische
855

ewige Behausung, wo ich hin jetzt wandele,

dort zu den Meinen, deren gröfste Zahl im Land

der Todten Persephassa schon empfangen hat,

wovon zuletzt, und weit am schlimmsten, ich hinab

gehn muſs, bevor zu Ende lief mein Lebensziel!
860

Doch hingelanget, diese Hoffnung nähr' ich stark,

komm' ich geliebt dem Vater, dir auch komm' ich lieb,

o Mutter, dir auch lieb, o brüderliches Haupt:

dieweil ich euch im Tode mit der eignen Hand

gebadet und geschmücket, und die Spenden euch
865

aufs Grab gegossen; aber jetzt, Polyneikes, so

auch deinen Leib bestattend, ernt' ich solchen Lohn.

Doch wer verständig, preiset was ich dir erwies.

Denn nimmermehr, wenn Mutter ich von Kindern war,

noch wenn ein Gatte sterbend mir dahingewelkt,
870

hätt' ich zum Trotz den Bürgern solche That gethan.

Um welcher Ursach willen sag' ich dieses wohl?

Starb mir der Gatte, würd' ein andrer wieder mir,

ein Kind von andrem Manne, wenn ich das verlor;

nun, da der Hades Mutter mir und Vater birgt,
875

kann nimmer mir ein Bruder wiederum erblühn.

Aus solcher Ursach' dich vor allen ehrend schien

dem Kreon hierdurch ich zu fehlen, und sogar

Entsetzliches zu wagen, o mein Bruderhaupt!

Und jetzo greift er also mit Gewalt und rafft
880

mich fort, die unvermählte, der kein Brautgesang,

kein Ehgemahl ward, nicht der Kinderpflege Glück;

nein, also freundlos muſs ich Unglückselige

lebendig nieder in die Gruft der Todten gehn.

Und welches Recht der Götter übertrat ich denn?
885

Wie soll ich Arme nun noch zu den Himmlischen

aufschauen, wen um Hülfe flehn? Erwarb ich doch

Gottlosigkeit mir durch die That der Frömmigkeit!

Doch wenn es also gültig bei den Göttern ist,

werd' ich die Schuld erkennen, wenn ich sie gebüfst;
890

sind aber diese schuldig, mögen schlimmer nicht

sie büfsen, als sie selber mir thun wider Recht!

CHOR.
(Kreon tritt wieder vor.)

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 758 focus

¿Si? Pues, por el Olimpo, sabe que no te alegrarás de haberme injuriado con tanto insulto. Traed a esa odiosa, para que ante su vista, al punto, muera cerca y en presencia del novio.

HEMÓN

No; de ninguna manera; eso no lo creas nunca; ella no morirá delante de mí, ni tú tampoco verás ya mi cara ante tus ojos; para que te enfurezcas con los amigos que te quieran aguantar.

CORO

Ese hombre, ¡oh rey!, se ha ido apresuradamente, tomado de la cólera; y en su edad, la mente perturbada por la pasión, es cosa grave.

CREONTE

Ido ya, que haga lo que le plazca y se enorgullezca más de lo que debe el hombre; que a estas dos muchachas no las librará de la muerte.

CORO

¿Pues a las dos piensas matar?

CREONTE

A la que no ha tocado el cadáver, no; bien me lo adviertes.

CORO

¿Y con qué clase de suplicio piensas que muera?

CREONTE

Llevándola a sitio donde no se vea huella humana, haré que la encierren viva en una pétrea caverna, con el alimento preciso para evitar el sacrilegio, a fin de que la ciudad se libre del crimen de homicidio. Y una vez allí, si implora a Plutón, que es el único a quien adora entre los dioses, tal vez alcance el que la libre de la muerte; o mejor, conocerá, pero ya tarde, que es trabajo superfluo rendir culto a los manes.

CORO

¡Amor invencible en la pelea! ¡Amor que en el corazón te infundes, que en las tiernas mejillas de la muchacha te posas y pasas al otro lado del mar y frecuentas las rústicas cabañas! De ti no se libra nadie entre los inmortales, ni entre los efímeros hombres; y quien te recibe, se enfurece.

Tú de los hombres justos arrancas injustas determinaciones, para arruinarlos; y también tú has concitado la rencilla en esta familia. Triunfa el brillante atractivo de los ojos de la novia que ha de alegrar el lecho, y que atrae contra las más grandes instituciones; pues sin que se la pueda resistir, juega de nosotros la diosa Venus.

Ahora, en verdad, yo mismo me dejo llevar fuera de lo debido, y no puedo contener las lágrimas de mis ojos al ver que Antígona camina hacia el lecho que a todo el mundo adormece.

ANTIGONA

Miradme, ¡oh ciudadanos de mi patria!, comenzando mi último viaje y mirando por última vez la luz del sol, que ya no veré más; porque Plutón, que a todos recibe, me lleva viva a las orillas del Aqueron- Aqueron- te, sin haber participado de himeneó himeneo y sin que ningún himno nupcial me haya celebrado; pero con Aqueronte me casaré.

CORO

Pues ilustre y llena de gloria te vas a ese abismo de la muerte, sin que te mate mortal enfermedad ni haber sido reducida a servidumbre como botin botín de guerra; sino que, autónoma y en vida, tú sola vas a bajar a la mansión de los muertos.

ANTIGONA

Ya oi oí contar la deplorabilisima deplorabilísima muerte de la extranjera Frigia, hija de Tántalo, en la cima del Sipilo, a la cual, como espesa hiedra, ciñó por todas partes el brote de la piedra; y ni las lluvias, según dicen los hombres, ni la nieve dejan que su cadáver se corrompa, sino que de sus ojos, que no cesan de llorar, humedece los collados. De modo muy semejante al de aquélla en el lecho me tiende el destino.

CORO

Pero ella, en verdad, es diosa, y de un dios había nacido; mas nosotros somos mortales, y de hombres procedemos; y para un mortal, el obtener suerte semejante a la de los dioses es grande gloria.

ANTIGONA

¡Ay, cómo se mofan de mi! ¿Por qué, por los dioses patrios, no aguardáis aguardais a insultarme cuando me haya ido ya, y lo hacéis en mi presencia? ¡Oh ciudad! ¡Oh ricos hombres de la ciudad! ¡Oh dirceas fuentes y bosque sagrado de Tebas, la de hermosos carros! Os invoco para que todos a la vez atestigüeis cómo sin que me lloren los amigos, y por qué leyes, me llevan hacia las rocas amontonadas en forma de túmulo de inaudita sepultura. ¡Infortunada de mi, que estando entre los mortales no existo ya, y ni me hallo entre los vivos ni entre los muertos!

CORO

Por haber querido traspasar los limites límites del atrevimiento, chocaste, ¡oh hija!, en el altisimo altísimo trono de la Justicia, que es muy excelso. Algún delito de tu padre expías.

ANTIGONA

Llegaste a poner tu lengua en mis más dolorosos remordimientos: el infortunio de mi padre, que ha pesado sobre tres generaciones, y la fatalidad de toda nuestra familia, de los ilustres Labdácidas. ¡Oh funesto lecho de mi madre, y concubinato por ella engendrado con mi mismo padre, hijo de tan desdichada madre, por los cuales yo infeliz fui concebida!, hacia vosotros, maldecida y soltera, vedme aquí que caminando voy. ¡Oh hermano, que tan infaustos honores alcanzaste!, muerto tú, me mataste viva.

CORO

Respetar a los muertos, es piedad; y el imperio, sea cualquiera en quien resida, nunca debe conculcarse. Tu independiente carácter te ha perdido.

ANTIGONA

Sin consuelos, sin amigos, sin himeneo, emprendo mi último viaje. ¡Ya no me es permitido ver más esta sagrada luz del sol! ¡Infeliz de mi! Y mi muerte sin lágrimas, ningún amigo la llora.

CREONTE

¿Acaso no sabéis que de cantos y lloros antes de morir no hay ninguno que desistiera si le hubieran de ser útiles? Que os la llevéis en seguida; y una vez la encerréis en aquella abovedada tumba, como os he mandado, dejadla sola y abandonada, ya desee morir, ya desposarse viviendo en tal morada; que yo quedo exento del delito de sacrilegio por lo que se refiere a esta muchacha; porque sólo se la privará de habitar entre los vivos.

ANTIGONA

¡Oh tumba, oh tálamo nupcial, oh subterránea mansión que me has de tener encerrada para siempre! Ahí voy hacia los míos, a gran número de los cuales, difuntos ya, ha recibido Proserpina entre los muertos. De ellos, la última yo y de modo desdichadisimo, soy la que bajo antes de llegar al término fijado de mi vida. Pero en bajando, abrigo la firme esperanza de que he de llegar muy agradable a mi padre, y muy querida de ti, ¡oh madre!, y también de ti, hermano mío. Porque al morir vosotros, yo con mis propias manos os lavé y adorné, y sobre vuestra tumba ofreci ofrecí libaciones. Y ahora, ¡oh Polinices!, por haber sepultado tu cadáver, tal premio alcanzo. Y ciertamente que con razón te hice los honores, según los hombres sensatos; [porque nunca jamás, ni por mis hijos, si hubiera llegado a ser madre; ni por mi marido, si su cadáver se hubiese estado pudriendo, habría emprendido tal trabajo en contra de las leyes de la ciudad. ¿Y por qué razón digo esto? Marido, en verdad, si el mío moria moría, otro podría tener; y también hijos de otro varón, si me privaba del que tuviera. Pero encerrados ya en el infierno mi madre y mi padre, no es posible que pueda nacerme un hermano]. Y sin embargo, porque teniendo esto en cuenta te honré por encima de todo, pareció a Creonte que había caido caído en falta, y que mi atrevimiento mere- cia cía terrible castigo, ¡oh querido hermano! Y ahora me llevan entre manos, así presa, virgen, sin himeneo, sin llegar a alcanzar las dulzuras del matrimonio ni de la maternidad; sino que, abandonada de los amigos y desdichada, me llevan viva a las cóncavas mansiones de los muertos. ¿Qué transgresión he cometido contra ninguna ley divina? ¿Qué necesidad tengo, en mi desdicha, de elevar mi mirada hacia los dioses? ¿Para qué llamarlos en mi ayuda, si por haber obrado piadosamente me acusan de impiedad? Porque si esto merece la aprobación de los dioses, reconoceré que sufro por haber pecado; pero si son ellos los que pecan, no deseo que sufran otros males que los que me hacen sufrir injustamente.

CORO

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 758 focus

Itane vero?

at haud impune, coelum attestor, me reprehensione dignis verbis abs te impetitum iri scias. Adducite odium, ut ob oculos illico praesenti moriatur proximá sponso.

Haemon

Haud sane me prope adstante (ne tu hoc umquam in animum inducas) neque haec coram peribit, neque tu umquam me oculis tuis obversari vivum videbis, quoniam in eos , qui te iuvare cupiunt, insanis.

Chorus

Hic vir abiit, o rex, ira concitatus: atqui talibus ingenium dolore ardens ad atrocia facta comparare se solet.

Creon

Age abeat; faciat, cogitet supra humanam sortem: hasce tamen puellas morte sic mom liberabit.

Chorus

Ergone utramque morte multare destinas?

Creon

Haud quidem illam, quae cadaver non adtigit: recte enim mones.

Chorus

Quonam autem eam supplicio statuis occidere?

Creon

Abductam in locum, ubi nulla sint hominum vestigia, saxeo in specu vivam recondam, tantillo cibi, quantum arcendae morti sufficiat, apposito, ut piaculum tota effugiat civitas: ibique Orcum, quem solum colit deorum, rogando forte impetrabit, ut ne mortem obeat; aut tunc tandem discet, supervacaneum esse laborem, si quis inferos colat.

Chorus

Amor invicte in pugnis, Amor, qui opes non aífectas, qui puellae mollibus excubas in genis, transque maria permeas, penetrasque te in silvestria lustra;

nec te immortalium quisquam fugere potis est, nec brevis aevi hominum. Quisquis vero te concipit, in furorem agitur,

Tu vel iustorum mentes devias abripis ad noxam:

tu quoque inter consanguineos viros litem .hanc concitasti: praepollet autem palam erumpens oculorum desiderium pulcram appetentis virginem, quod. cum maximis inter initia rerum legibus pari praeditum est potestate : — insuperabilis enim illudit dea Venus.

Quin et iam ipse ultra licitum feror, haec cernens, neque amplius lacrimarum fontes cohibere valeo, quum Antigonam hanc video ad thalamum omnibus communem perduci.

Antigone

Adspicite me, o patriae urbis cives, ultimam ingredientem viam, ultimumque iubarintuentem Solis, mihi numquam posthac videndum, sed communis me Orcus vivam deducit ad Acheruntis oram, hymenaeorum expertem, mec me nuptialis hymnus celebravit umquam , sed Acherunti sane nubam.

Chorus

Atqui celebris et laudem macta, in has abibis mortuorum latebras, nec tabidis concussa morbis, nec gladiorum mercedem nacta, sed, libera vivens sola utique mortalium, ad Orcum descendes.

Antigone

Sane audivi Phrygiam hospitam, Tantali filiam , miserrimam per« lisse summo in Sipylo, quam, velut hedera, durum saxi perdomuit incrementum;

neque nunc imbres tabefactam , ut fama vulgi est, neque nix umquam deserit, sed irrigat cum manantibusoculis et cervices: cuime Fatum simillimam consopit.

Chorus

At illa dea erat et divino satu genita;

nos vero homines et mortali sanguine creti; et tibi mortuae praeclarum erit, si dicaris aequalium diis sortem experta fuisse.

Antigone

Hei mihi, derideor!

Quid me, per tutelares deos, non mortuam, sed luce fruentem adhuc, contumelia adficis? O urbs, o urbis opulenti cives! o Dircaei fontes, Thebaeque curruum agitatricis nemus, tamen vos simul testes habeo, quemadmodum ab amicis indelleta, quali lege ad carcerem defossum vado inauditi sepulcri. Heu miseram, cui nec cum hominibus, nec cum Manibus, consortio est, nec cum vis, nec cum peremtis.

Chorus

Progressa ad extremum audaciae, in altum Iustitiae solium impegisti , Onata, graviter.

Paternam noxam aliquam luis.

Antigone

Á

Acerbissimum mihi dolorem refricas, nimis extentum luctum ob patris infortunia, universamque nostram decantatorum Labdacidarum cladem.

O materna nuptiarum noxa, incestique concubitus patris mei cum calamitosa matre , quibus egoolim infelix edita fui; ad quos, diris devota, innupta, sic ego commigro! O infausti, frater, potite coniugii, mortuus ipse vivam me adhuc occidisti!

Chorus

Illum colere, pium est;

sed nequaquam iussa transgredi licet eorum, penes quos est imperium. Te vero, quod se ipso monitore utebatur , perdidit ingenium.

Antigone

Indefleta, amicis orba, innupta, expeditum hoc ingredior iter.

Haud amplius mihi sacrum hoc lampadis iubar fas intueri miserae; neque amicorum quisquam est, qui meam adeo lacrimabilem vicem lugeat.

Creon

Scitisne, querelae et luctus si morituris prodessent, neminem fore, qui iis desinat?

Quin abducitis hanc quam citissime, et postquam eam, ut iussi , incluseritis solam desertamque in obtecto sepulcro, abibitis: sive ibi moritura sit, sive sub hoc tecto sepulta aevum ducat. Nos enim immunes sumus piaculi, puellae huius caussa ; sed nullum ei cum superis erit consortium.

Antigone

O sepulcrum, o genialis thalamus, o defossae domus aeterna custodia, quo tendo ad meos, quorum leto absumtorum maximum numerum inter mortuos cepit Proserpina; quorumque ego novissima, multoque sane pessimo exitio, intereo, ante fatalem diem. Illuc igitur profecta, hanc maxime spem foveo, gratam me venturam patri, gratamque tibi, mater, et tibi gratam, o germanum caput; quandoquidem mortuos vos ego manibus meis lavi et ornavi, inferiasque ad sepulerum tuli: nunc autem, Polynices, quia cadaver tuum humo contexi, hanc fero mercedem. Atqui hunc honorem tibi recte a me tributum fuisse, sapiens quivis iudicet. Haud enim umquam, si peperissem liberos, nec, si mihi coniux mortuus iacuisset insepultus , contra civitatis legem hunc suscepissem laborem. Ac forte quaeras, quanam ratione inducta haec dicam. Nempe mortuo marito , alius esset cui nuberem; filiumque si amisissem , alium ex alio viro suscipere poteram; at, patre et matre in Orco conditis, non est ut mihi frater possit umquam exoriri. At tamen quum propter hanc opinionem, ceteris omnibus posthabitis, honore te adfecerim, o germanum caput, Creonti peccasse visa sum , facinusque atrox admisisse. Et nunc vi correptam ita me abducit, tori iugalis, hymenaei festorum carminum expertem , nulla coniugii sortitam praemia, nec liberorum gavisam prole; sed ab amicis deserta, misera, sic viva deducor in mortuorum specum, at quaenam, obsecro, transgressa Deorum iura? Quid vero amplius mihi miserae prodest, deorum opem poscere? quem iuvabit auxilio vocasse? siquidem iam impietatis poenas pie agendo nacta sum. Verum si haec quidem diis frobantur, aequo animo meritas luamus poenas, cum deliquerimus; sin hi commeruerunt culpam, ne plura mala patiantur precor, quam mihi iniuste inferunt.

Chorus

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 758 focus

Is ’t possible? By yon heaven! thou’lt not escape,

For adding contumely to words of blame.

Bring out the hated thing, that she may die
760

Immediately, before her lover’s face!

HAEM

Nay, dream not she shall suffer in my sight

Nor shalt thou ever see my face again

Let those stay with you that can brook your rage!

CH

My lord, he is parted swiftly in deep wrath!

The youthful spirit offended makes wild work.

CR

Ay, let him do his worst. Let him give scope

To pride beyond the compass of a man!

He shall not free these maidens from their doom.

CH

Is death thy destination for them both?
770

CR

Only for her who acted. Thou art right.

CH

And what hast thou determined for her death?

CH
CHORUS. LEADER OF CHORUS.

Where human footstep shuns the desert ground,

I’ll hide her living in a cave like vault,

With so much provender as may prevent

Pollution from o’ertaking the whole city

And there, perchance, she may obtain of Death,
785

Her only deity, to spare her soul,

Or else in that last moment she will learn
790

’Tis labour lost to worship powers unseen.

Love, never foiled in fight!

Warrior Love, that on Wealth workest havoc!

Love, who in ambush of young maid’s soft cheek
795

All night keep’st watch!—Thou roamest over seas.

In lonely forest homes thou harbourest.
800

Who may avoid thee? None!

Mortal, Immortal,

All are o’erthrown by thee, all feel thy frenzy.

Lightly thou draw’st awry Righteous minds into wrong to their ruin

Thou this unkindly quarrel hast inflamed

’Tween kindred men—Triumphantly prevails

The heart-compelling eye of winsome bride,

Compeer of mighty Law
820

Thronèd, commanding.

Madly thou mockest men, dread Aphrodite.

Ah! now myself am carried past the bound

Of law, nor can I check the rising tear,
835

When I behold Antigone even here

Touching the quiet bourne where all must rest.

ANT
Enter ANTIGONE guarded.

Ye see me on my way,

O burghers of my father’s land!

With one last look on Helios’ ray,

Led my last path toward the silent strand.

Alive to the wide house of rest I go;

No dawn for me may shine,

No marriage-blessing e’er be mine,

No hymeneal with my praises flow!

The Lord of Acheron’s unlovely shore
810

Shall be mine only husband evermore.
810

Yea, but with glory and fame,—

Not by award of the sword,

Not with blighting disease,

But by a law of thine own,—

Thou, of mortals alone,
815

Goest alive to the deep
815

Tranquil home of the dead.

ANT

Erewhile I heard men say,

How, in far Phrygia, Thebè’s friend,

Tantalus’ child, had dreariest end

On heights of Sipylus consumed away:

O’er whom the rock like clinging ivy grows,
825

And while with moistening dew

Her cheek runs down, the eternal snows

Weigh o’er her, and the tearful stream renew

That from sad brows her stone-cold breast doth steep.

Like unto her the God lulls me to sleep.

But she was a goddess born,
830

We but of mortal line;
830

And sure to rival the fate

Of a daughter of sires Divine

Were no light glory in death.

ANT

O mockery of my woe!

I pray you by our fathers’ holy Fear,
840

Why must I hear

Your insults, while in life on earth I stand,

O ye that flow

In wealth, rich burghers of my bounteous land?

O fount of Dircè, and thou spacious grove,
845

Where Thebè’s chariots move!

Ye are my witness, though none else be nigh,

By what enormity of lawless doom,

Without one friendly sigh,

I go to the strong mound of yon strange tomb,—
850

All hapless, having neither part nor room

With those who live or those who die!

CH

Thy boldness mounted high,

And thou, my child, ’gainst the great pedestal

Of Justice with unmeasured force didst fall.
855

Thy father’s lot still presseth hard on thee.

ANT

That pains me more than all.

Ah! thou hast touched my father’s misery

Still mourned anew,

With all the world-famed sorrows on us rolled
860

Since Cadmus old.

O cursèd marriage that my mother knew!

O wretched fortune of my sire, who lay

Where first he saw the day!
865

Such were the authors of my burdened life;

To whom, with curses dowered, never a wife,

I go to dwell beneath.

O brother mine, thy princely marriage-tie

Hath been thy downfall, and in this thy death
870

Thou hast destroyed me ere I die.

CH

’Twas pious, we confess,

Thy fervent deed. But he, who power would show,

Must let no soul of all he rules transgress.

A self-willed passion was thine overthrow.
875

ANT

Friendless, uncomforted of bridal lay,

Unmourned, they lead me on my destined way.

Woe for my life forlorn! I may not see

The sacred round of yon great light

Rising again to greet me from the night;
880

No friend bemoans my fate, no tear hath fallen for me!

CR
Enter CREON .

If criminals were suffered to complain

In dirges before death, they ne’er would end.

Away with her at once, and closing her,
885

As I commanded, in the vaulty tomb,

Leave her all desolate, whether to die,

Or to live on in that sepulchral cell.

We are guiltless in the matter of this maid;

Only she shall not share the light of day.
890

ANT

O grave! my bridal chamber, prison-house

Eterne, deep-hollowed, whither I am led

To find mine own,—of whom Persephonè

Hath now a mighty number housed in death:—

I last of all, and far most miserably,

Am going, ere my days have reached their term!
895

Yet lives the hope that, when I go, most surely

Dear will my coming be, father, to thee,

And dear to thee, my mother, and to thee,

Brother! since with these very hands I decked

And bathed you after death, and ministered
900

The last libations. And I reap this doom

For tending, Polynices, on thy corse.

Indeed I honoured thee, the wise will say.

For neither, had I children, nor if one

I had married were laid bleeding on the earth,
905

Would I have braved the city’s will, or taken

This burden on me. Wherefore? I will tell.

A husband lost might be replaced; a son,

If son were lost to me, might yet be born;

But, with both parents hidden in the tomb,
910

No brother may arise to comfort me.

Therefore above all else I honoured thee,

And therefore Creon thought me criminal,

And bold in wickedness, O brother mine!

And now by servile hands, for all to see,
915

He hastens me away, unhusbanded,

Before my nuptial, having never known

Or married joy or tender motherhood.

But desolate and friendless I go down

Alive, O horror! to the vaults of the dead.
920

For what transgression of Heaven’s ordinance?

Alas! how can I look to Heaven? on whom

Call to befriend me? seeing that I have earned,

By piety, the meed of impious?—

Oh! if this act be what the Gods approve,
925

In death I may repent me of my deed;

But if they sin who judge me, be their doom

No heavier than they wrongly wreak on me!

CH

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 758 focus

Wahrhaftig? Bei'm Olympos, nicht zur Freude dir,

Das sei versichert, höhnst du mich mit frechem Wort.

(zu den Begleitern:)

Führt her das Scheusal, daß sie gleich im Angesicht

Des Bräutigams an seiner Seite sterbe hier!.
755

Hämon.

Nie soll sie wahrlich, wähne das doch nimmermehr,

An meiner Seite sterben, noch wirst du hinfort

Mich je mit Augen wiederseh'n: dann rase nur

Vor deinen Freunden, welchen dies gefallen mag!¹

Kreon. Der Chor.

Der Chor.

Der Mann, o König, eilte rasch im Zorne fort:
760

Wohl Schweres brütet schmerzempört so junger Sinn.

(ab.)

Kreon.

Er geh' und thue, sinne mehr als Menschliches;

Doch diese Jungfrau'n soll er nicht dem Tod entziehn.

Der Chor.

Den Beiden also hast du gar den Tod bestimmt?

Kreon.

Der nicht, die Nichts verbrochen. Wohl ermahnst du mich.
765

Der Chor.

Und welche Todesstrafe denkst du jener zu?

Kreon.

Wo keines Menschen Tritte geh'n, am öden Ort,

Berg' ich in tiefem Felsengrab die Lebende,²

An Speise nur darreichend, was die Sühne heischt,

Daß vor Befleckung sicher sei die ganze Stadt.
770

Und dort zum Gotte, welchen sie allein verehrt,

Zum Hades flehend, mag sie wohl dem Tod entgeh'n;

Wo nicht, erkennt sie endlich doch, daß unbelohnt

Sich mühe, wer verehre, was im Hades ist.

(ab in den Palast. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Eros, Allsieger im Kampf!
775

Du, der bestürmt, wen er bezwungen,

Der Nachts auf schlummernder Jungfrau'n

Zartblühenden Wangen webet:

Hin über's Meer schweisst du, besuchst

Hirtliche Wohnstätten;
780

Und kein ewiger Gott kann dir entrinnen,

Kein sterblicher Mensch, des Tages Sohn;

Und ergriffen rast er.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Du lockst auch unschuldigen Sinn

In böse Schuld, ihn zu verderben;
785

Du hast auch eben die Zwietracht

Des Vaters und Sohns entzündet.

Im Blick der holdseligen Braut

Leuchtet der Sehnsucht Macht

Siegreich, thronend im Rath hoher Geseze;³
790

Denn nimmerbezwingbar übt ihr Spiel

Aphrodite's Gottheit.

(Antigone wird herbeigeführt.

Nun führt auch mich, was ich anseh'n muß,⁴

Schon über die Bahn des Gesezes hinaus;

Nicht länger bezwing' ich der Thränen Erguß,
795

Da in Hades' Gemach, das Alle verschlingt,

Ich hinabgeh'n sehe die Jungfrau.

Antigone. Der Chor. Zweite Strophe.

Antigone.

seht mich, seht, Bürger der Väterheimat,

Wie ich den lezten Weg

Dahinwandle, den lezten Strahl
800

Sehen soll von Helios' Glanz,

Und nie wieder! Lebend entführt

Hades, All' aufnehmend in Ruh,

Mich zu dem Ufer

Acheron's; Hymenäen
805

Empfing ich nicht, kein bräutliches Lied

Feierte mich mit Fest-

klängen; Acheron führt als Braut mich heim.

Der Chor.

So wandelst du dorthin, würdig des Ruhms

Und mit Ehren gekrönt, in der Todten Gemach;
810

Nicht zehrende Krankheit raffte dich hin,

Noch traf dich ein Schwert, das Nache gezückt;

Nach eigener Wahl, und lebend, wie sonst

Kein Sterblicher, wallst du zum Hades.

Zweite Gegenstrophe.

Antigone.

Ich hörte, wie Tantalos' Tochter, jene⁵
815

Phrygerin, grauenvoll

Einst an Sipylos' Höhen starb:

Gleich des Epheus schlingendem Grün,

Rankt' um sie der sprossende Fels;

Rastlos zehrt der Regen an ihr,
820

Lautet die Sage,

Der Schnee lässet sie niemals,

Und badet unter den thränenden Brau'n

Ewig den Busen ihr:

Also bettet der Tod zur Ruh' auch mich.
825

Der Chor.

Ja, sie war Göttin, göttlichen Stamms,⁶

Wir Sterbliche nur und von Menschen gezeugt:

Doch groß ist der Ruhm, mit Göttergeschlecht

Das Geschick im Tode zu theilen.

Dritte Strophe.

Antigone.

Weh, weh! Du lachst meiner! Götter meiner Väter,
830

Wie kannst du mich lebend höhnen,

Ch' ich in's Grab sank?

Stadt, und o meiner Stadt

Männer, reich an Besizung!

Und du,
835

Dirka's Brunnquell, Lusthain du

Der wagenumrauschten Thebe!

Euch alle beschwör' ich, seid Zeugen,

Wie unbeweint von Freunden, kraft welches Spruchs,

Ins enge Grabgewölb' hinab der neuen Gruft ich steigen muß!
840

Ich Unselige, weh!

Bin fern von Menschen, fern von Todten,

Im Leben nicht heimisch noch im Tode!

Der Chor.

Vorschreitend bis zu des Trozes Ziel,

Stießest du an Dike's hohem Thron⁷
845

Gewaltig an, verwegnes Kind!

Du kämpfst wohl aus den Kampf der Ahnen.

Dritte Gegenstrophe.

Antigone.

Du regst den herzkränkenden Gram mir auf im Busen,

Das Jammergeschick des Vaters,

Unseres ganzen
850

Stammes berufenes Loos,

Edler Labdakossöhne !

Weh, weh!

Fluchvoll, schuldvoll Ehbett, wo

Dem leiblichen Sohn die Mutter,
855

Ach! unserem Vater beiwohnte,

Von welchen ich entsproß, die Unselige,

In deren Haus ich unvermählt, von Fluch belastet, wandern muß!

weh! Unheil schuf

Der Bund, den du, mein Bruder, knüpftest!⁸
860

Ein Todter schon, mordest du mein Leben!

Der Chor.

Fromm handelt, wer die Todten ehrt;

Doch dessen Macht, dem Macht gebührt,

Zu verachten, ziemt sich nimmermehr :

Ja, dich stürzt' eigner Troz in's Unheil!
865
Schlußgesang.

Antigone.

Unbetrauert, freundlos, ohne Brautlied,

Dahin werd' ich geführt; schon gebahnt ist der Pfad !

Nimmer das heilige Auge der himmlischen

Leuchte darf ich schau'n, ich Arme!

Meinen Tod ehren die Freunde nicht
870

Mit Thränen, noch mit Klage.

Kreon. Antigone. Der Chor. (zu den Knechten)

Kreon.

Sagt, würde Iemand vor dem Tod mit Weheruf

Und Jammern enden, hülfe noch die Klage hier?

Auf, eilt mit ihr von hinnen, und verschloßt ihr sie

In's düstre Grabgewölbe, wie mein Wort gebot,
875

So laßt sie einsam und allein, sie sterbe nun,

Sie wohne lebend dort versenkt im engen Haus;

An dieser Jungfrau haben wir ja keine Schuld;

Nur mitzuwohnen hier im Licht ist ihr versagt.

Antigone.

O Grabgemach, Brautkammer, ewigschließendes
880

Wohnhaus in düstrer Höhle, wo hinab ich muß

Zu meinen Lieben, deren größte Zahl im Haus

Der Todten Persephassa schon empfangen hat,⁹

Von welchen ich die lezte, weit unseligste,

Hinuntergeh'n soll, eh sich schloß mein Lebenstag!
885

Doch, komm' ich dorthin, dieser Hoffnung leb' ich fest,

Ich komme, lieb dem Vater, auch willkommen dir,

Mutter, dir auch komm' ich lieb, o Bruderhaupt;

Denn euch, die Todten, hab' ich selbst mit dieser Hand

Gebadet, selber euch geschmückt, auf euer Grab
890

Die Spenden ausgegossen; heute, weil ich dich

Bestattet, o Polyneikes, ernt' ich solchen Lohn!

Denn daß ich, ehrend Götterrecht, dich hochgeehrt

Vor Allen, achtet Kreon als verbrecherisch,

Als freches Unterfangen, o mein Bruderhaupt!
895

Und jezt ergreift er mit Gewalt und führt mich fort,

Bevor das Brautlied mir ertönt, der Ehe Glück

Und zarter Kinder Pflege mir beschieden ward:

Freundlos, verlassen, muß ich Unglückselige

Lebendig niedersteigen in der Todten Gruft.
900

Und welch Gebot der Götter übertrat ich denn?

Wie darf ich Arme noch den Blick nach ihren Höh'n

Erheben, wen um Hülfe fleh'n, da Götterfurcht

Den Lohn der Gottverächter mir erworben hat?

Doch wenn es so den Göttern wohlgefällig ist,
905

So will ich büßend meiner Schuld geständig sein;

Sind diese schuldig, möge dann kein größ'res Leid

Sie treffen, als sie wider Recht an mir gethan

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 758 focus

Chorus.

Chorus

Sudden in anger fled the youth. O king !

A mind oppressed like his is desperate.

Creon

Why, let him go ! and henceforth better

learn

Than to oppose me. Be it as it may.

Death is their portion, and he shall not save them.

Chorus

Must they both die then?
770

No ; 'tis well advised,
770

but for Antigoue-
770

Ismene lives
770

Chorus

O king 1 what death is she decreed to suffer

CiiEON. Far from the haunts of men I'll have her led,

And in a rocky cave, beneath the earth,

Buried alive ; with her a little food.

Enough to save the city from pollution.

There let her pray the only god she worships

To save her from this death : perhaps he will.

Or, if he doth not, let her learn how vain

It is to reverence the powers below. [^Exit Creon.

Mighty power, all powers above,

Great unconquerable love !

Thou, who liest in dimple sleek

On the tender virgin's cheek,

Thee the rich and great obey,

Every creature owns thy sway.

O'er the wide earth and o'er the main

Extends thy universal reign ;

All thy maddening influence know,

Gods above and men below ;

All thy powers resistless prove,

Great unconquerable love !

Thou canst lead the just astray

From wisdom and from virtue's way ;

The ties of nature cea^e to bind.

When thou disturbst the captive mind

Behold, enslaved by fond desire,

The youth condemns his aged sire

Enamoured of his beauteous maid,

Nor laws nor parents are obeyed ;

Thus Venus wills it from above,

And great unconquerable love.

Chorus
Scene III. Strophe I. Aniistrophe i.

E'en I beyond the common bounds of grief

Indulge my sorrows, and from these sad eyes

Fountains of tears will flow, when I behold

Antigone

unhappy maid, approach

The bed of death, and hasten to the tomb*

Antigone
Scene IV.

Chords.

Antigone

Farewell, my friends, my countrymen, farewell !

Here on her last sad journey you behold

The poor Antigone ; for never more

Shall I return, or view the light of day :

The hand of death conducts me to the shore
810

Of dreary Acheron ; no nuptial song

Reserved for me — the wretched bride alone

Of Pluto now, and wedded to the tomb.

Chorus

Be it thy glory still, that by the sword

Thou fallst not, nor the slow-consuming hand

Of foul distemperature, but far distinguished

Above thy sex, and to thyself a law,
820

Doomst thy own death : so shall thy honour Hve,

And future ages venerate thy name.

Antigone

Thus Tantalus' unhappy daughter fell.

The Phrygian Niobe. High on the top

Of towering Sipylus the rock enfolds her,
825

E'en as the ivy twines her tendrils round

The lofty oak ; there still (as fame reports)

To melting showers and everlasting snow

Obvious she stands, her beauteous bosom wet
830

With tears, that from her ever-streaming eyes

Incessant flow. Her fate resembles mine.

Chorus

A goddess she, and from a goddess sprung ;

We are but mortal, and of mortals born :
835

To meet the fate of gods thus in thy life,

A.nd in thy death, oh ! 'tis a glorious doom !

Antigone

Ahis I thou mockst me ! Why, whilst yet 1 Hve,

Wouldht thou afflict me with reproach Uke this /

O my dear country ! and my dearer friends

Its blest inhabitants, renowned Thebes!

And ye Dirca^an fountains ! you I call
845

To \ntness that I die by laws unjust,

To my deep prison unlamented go,

To my sad tomb — no fellow-sufferer there

To soothe my woes, the living, or the dead.

Chorus

Rashness like thine must meet with such

reward ;

A father's crimes, I fear, lie heavy on thee.

Antigone

Oh ! thou hast touched my worst of miseries.

My father's fate, the woes of all our house,

The wretched race of Labdacus, renowned
860

For its misfortunes ! Oh ! the guilty bed

Of those from whom I sprang — unhappy offspring

Of parents most unhappy ! Lo ! to them

1 go accursed — a virgin and a slave.

O my poor brother ! most unfortunate

Were thy sad nuptials — they have slain thy sister.

Chorus

Thy piety demands our praise ; but know,

Authority is not to be despised ;

'Twas thy own rashness brought destruction on thee.

Antigone

Thus friendless, unlamented, must I tread

The destined path, no longer to behold

Yon sacred light, and none shall mourn my fate.

Creon
Scene V.

Antigone, Chorus,

Creon

Know ye not, slaves like her, to death

devoted,

Would never cease their wailings ? Wherefore is it
885

You thus delay to execute my orders ?

Let her be carried instant to the cave.

And leave her there alone, to live, or die ;

Her blood rests not on us ; but she no longer

Shall breathe on earth, [#xit CRrEox,
890

Antigone
Scene VI.

Chorus.

Antigone

O dreadful marriage bed !

O my deep dungeon ! My eternal liome,

Whither I go to join my kindred dead !

For not a few hath fell Persephone

Already ta'en ; to her I go, the last
895

And most unhappy, ere my time was come ;

But still I have sweet hope I shall not go

Unwelcome to my father, nor to thee, •

My mother. Dear to thee, Eteocles^
900

Still shall I ever be. These pious hands

Washed your pale bodies, and adorned you botli

With rites sepulchral, and libations due !

And thus, my Polynices, for my care

Of thee am I rewarded, and the good

Alone shall praise me. For a husband dead, j -^-"-^

Nor, had 1 been a mother, for my children '

Would I have dared to violate the laws :

Another husband and another child
910

Might soothe affliction. But, my parents dead,

A brother's loss could never be repaired.

And therefore did I dare the venturous deed,

And therefore die by Creon's dread command.
915

Ne'er shall i taste of Hymen's joys, or know

A mother's pleasures in her infant race ;

But, friendless and forlorn, alive descend

Into the dreary mansion;^ of the dead.

And how have I offended the just gods !

But wherefore call on them? Will they protect me,

When thus I meet with the reward of ill

For doing good? If this be just, ye gods,

If I am guilty, let me suffer foi' it.
925

But if the crime be theirs, oh ! let them feel

That weight of misery they have laid on me !

Chorus

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 758 focus

¿De veras?... Pues acuérdate, y lo juro por el Olimpo, que no me has de haber ultrajado impunemente. ¡Ola! Que se lleven al punto á esa mujer aborreeible, y que inmediatamente sucumba ante los ojos y en presencia de su amante.

HEMÓN

No; ante mis ojos, en mi presencia no morirá, ni tampoco tú me volverás á ver; te dejo ejereer tus furores en medio de los cobardes amigos que los sufren.—(Vuse con airada preci pilación.)

EL CORO Y CREONTE

EL CORO

¡Oh, Rey! Se ha marchado transportado de cólera. De un corazón como el suyo, hay que temer algo grave en la vehemencia de su dolor.

CREONTE

Váyase en buen hora y que obre y piense de modo superior al de todos, el hombre; pero á estas dos mujeres no las librará de la muerte.

EL CORO

¿A las dos, á las dos las vas á hacer perecer?

CREONTE

A la que no ha tocado al muerto, no; tienes razón.

EL CORO

¿Y qué suplicio le tienes preparado á la otra?

CREONTE

Conducida á un lugar desierto, donde no se encuentre huella humana, la haré encerrar viva en la profundidad subterránea de una roca, con el alimento preciso¹ gue exige la expiación, y para evitar á la ciudad entera el crimen de su muerte. Una vez allí que implore á Plutón, único de los dioses á quien ella venera, y tal vez obtenga el no morir; pero se convencerá, probablemente, que es trabajo in- útil rendir cultojá los manes.— Métese' en palacio.

Coro

Estrofa 1.a

LOS COREUTAS
solos

¡Amor! invencible, indomable Amorl tú hieres al poderoso del propio modo que te posas sobre las delicadas megillas de la doncella; lo mismo atraviesas los mares, que te introduces en la rústica cabaña; no se libran de ti los dioses inmortales, ni el hombre de efímera existencia; ¡ah! el corazón de que tc apoderas es presa del furor.

Antistrofa 1.a

CORO

Tú arrastras á los buenos al erimen y ála injusticia; tú eres quien acaba de suscitar esa reyerta entre el padre y el hijo. De todo triunfa el amor que inspiran los ojos de una hermosa. El amor preside con los dioses á las loyes de la naturaleza. ¡Cómo juega con nosotros la irresistible Afródita!...

Yo mismo en este instante, rebelde á los mandatos de Creonte, no puedo contener el raudal de mis lágrimas, viendo á Antigona caminar hácia la mansión en que se duerme el eterno sueño.

ANTÍGONA Y EL CORO

Estrofa 1.a

ANTÍGONA

¡Ciudadanos de Thebas, mi patria! miradmo colocada en el sendero fatal, y por última vez contemplando la claridad del Sol: ya nunca más lo verél... El dios del Averno, que todo lo aletarga, me conduce viva á las márgenes del Aqueronte, sin haber gozado del tálamo nupcial, antes de haber resonado para mi los cantos del himeneo; mi esposo será el Aqueronte.

LOS COREUTAS

Pero de cuánta fama y de cuán inmensa gloria acompañada, vas á ingresar en ese sombrío asilo de la muerte. Sin haber sido consumida por lenta enfermedad, sin haberte visto reducida á la servidumbre como botín de guerra, tú sola entre los mortales, vas á descender libre, y aún viva, en el Imperio de Plutón.

Antistrofa 1.a

ANTÍGONA

Antistrofa 1.2

Yo sé de qué muerte deplorable pereció, cn la cumbre del Sypilo, la Figia hija de Tántalo², á la cual se adhirió como la biedra la roca que germinó en torno de ella para cnvolverla. Desde entonces, según cuentan los hombres, se halla eternamente cubierta de nieve y azotada por la lluvia, cayendo de sus párpados sin cesar las lágrimas que inundan su seno³. Semejante á la de ella me tiene preparado mi suerte el destino.

LOS COREUTAS

Empero ella cra una deidad y de dioses des- ccndiente; nosotros somos humanos y nacidos de mortales. Así, pues, será más gloriosa tu muerte; pues que tu destino es semejante al de los dioses.

Estrofa 2.a

ANTÍGONA

¡Ay! Se mofan de mí... En nombre del Cielo, ¿por qué me insultais? ¿Por qué me ultrajais antes de morir, cuando todavía no he desaparecido de la tierra? Patria mía, opulentos hijos de esta ciudad, fuentes dircéas, bosques sagrados de la belicosa Thebas, vosotros sois testigos del abandono en que me veo, y del cruel decreto por el que me lleyan á ser encerrada en una prisión para que me sirva de sepultura. —¡Misera de mil no voy á habitar ni con los vivos ni con los muertos.

LOS COREUTAS

Elevada, por un extremo de temeridad, al alto sólio de la Justicia, has caidonuevamente. Sin duda, hija ria, tú expías algún crimen de tus antepasados.

Antistrofa 2.a

ANTÍGONA

Me has despertado el recuerdo de nuestras dolorosas desgracias, la desdicha de un padre que afectó á tres generaciones, y la triste fabalidad que pesa sobre nosotros los inclitos Lab= dácidas. Fatal himenco de mi madre, enlace incestuoso, que unió á una madre y á un hijo infortunados, y del cual naci yo, por mi dosgracia. Cargada de imprecaciones, y privada de la dicha del himeneo, voy á reunirme con los autores de mis dias.

¡Oh, hermano mio! qué funesta unión has llevado á cabo!... Sucumbiste, y á mi, viva, me has asociado á tu muerte.

LOS COREUTAS

Honrar á los difuntos es ciertamente un acto de piedad; pero la autoridad de los que mandan debe también ser acatada. La fiereza de tu carácter te ha perdido.

Epodo

ANTÍGONA

Sin amigos, sin esposo, sin ser de nadie llorada, voy á emprender mi último camino. Ya no volveré a ver jamás, ¡infortunada! el ojo sagrado del dia. Mi desgracia por nadie será llorada. Ni un solo amigo derramará por nai una lágrima!...

Los Mismos y Creonte, que sale precipidamente

CREONTE

No conoceis que si estos llantos y lamentaciones sirvieran á los condenados á muerte, ¿no habría uno que les pusiera término?—Ea, pues, lleyárosla sin dilación; y, encerrada en su tumba subterránea, muera, si gusta, y si no, que viva cuanto quiera dentro del sepulcro.—Nosotros quedamos exentos del delito de sacrilegio por lo que respecta á cesa joven; y ella cesará por su parte de tener comunicación con este mundo.

ANTÍGONA

¡Oh tumba! lecho nupcial, morada subterránea de donde no saldré jamás, me voy á reunir con los mios,— casi todos entre los muertos ya recibidos por Proserpina, — antes que el destino haya señalado el término de mis días. Abrigo, al menos, la esperanza de que allá mi presencia será grata para mi padre, así como para tí, madre mía, y para tí tambien, querido hermano: porque yo he sido la que con mis propias manos os lavé y cxorné después de muertos, y os honré con fúnebres libaciones. Y por haber sepultado tus restos ¡oh mi caro Polynicel ya vés cuál es la recompensa. Sin embargo, yo erco que te he dispensado los debidos honores, á juicio de los hombres sensatos. Si yo hubiera sido madre, ó si fuera mi esposo el que quedara insepulto, jamás hubicra menospreciado las leyes del Estado, cumpliendo este penoso deber. ¿Qué principio me lleva á pensar esto que digo? ¡Ah! porque el esposo muerto puede ser reemplazado eon otro, y un segundo hijo puede reparar la pérdida del primero; pero habiendo bajado al sepulcro los autores de nuestros días, nadie me puede dar un nuevo hermano. Movida de estos sentimientos, y olvidándolo todo para tí, te he tributado, hermano mío, los honores que ha eonsiderado Creonte como un erimen y una audacia horrible. Y hóme aquí condueida á la muerte, sin haber gozado de las dulzuras del himeneo, ni de la ternura de un esposo, ni de las delicias de la maternidad. Sola, desamparada, sin amigos, voy á descender, en vida, á la región subterránea de los muertos... ¿Qué crimen he cometido yo eontra vosotros, oh dioses?... ¿Pero de qué me sirve dirigir mis ojos al Cielo?.... ¿Qué soeorro puedo ya esperar, euando en premio de mi piedad, me veo tratada eomo una impia?...Si los dioses aprueban mi muerte, yo sufriró resignada el castigo de mi falta; pero si soy inoeento... que sufran la misma pena los que tan injustamente me castigan!

EL CORO

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 758 focus

KREON

So istes. Doch beim Himmel meiner Väter!

So nach Gelust sollst du nicht kränken mich mit Tadel.

Schafft weg die Brut, vor Augen soll sie, zleich,

In Gegenwart, hart an dem Bräutigam ‚ sterben.
790

HAEMON

Nicht warlich mir. Das lasse nie dir dünken.

Nicht untergehn wird diese, nahe mir.

Und nimmer sollst du sehn mein Haupt vor Augen,

Damit du ungestört mit denen bleibst, die dein sind.

(Himon geht ab.)

CHOR

Der Mann, mein König, gieng im Zorne schnell,
795

Ein solch Gemüth ist aber schwer im Leiden.

KREON

Er tlıu’ es! denke grölser, als ein Mann!

Doch rettet er vom Tode nicht die Mädchen.

CHOR

Denkst du sogar zu tödten diese beiden ?

KREON

Nicht die, die’s nicht berührt; da hast du Recht.
800

CHOR

Und denkst du über jenenach ; wie willst dutödten?

KREON

Sie führen, wo einsam der Menschen Spur ist,

Lebendig in dem Felsengrunde wahren,

So viele Nahrung reichen, als sich schikt,

Dafs nicht die Stadt zu Schanden werde, vollends.
805

Dort wird sie wohl zum Todesgotte beten,

Den sie allein von allen Göttern chrt,

Und werden kann ihr’s, dass sie nimmer stirbt.

So wird sie einsehn, aber geisterweise;

Es sey doch Ueberflufs nur, Todtes ehren.
810
(Kreon gehet hinein.) Zweite Scene DER CHOR Hemach ANTIGONAT.

CHOR

Geist der Liebe, dennoch Sieger

Imuner, in Streit! Du Friedensgeist, der über

Gewerb einniket, und über zärtlicher Wange bei

Der Jungfrau übernachtet,

Und schwebet über Wassern ,
815

Und Häufsern, in dem Freien.

Fast auch Unsterblicher Herz zerbricht

Dir und entschlafender Menschen, und es ist,

Wer’s an sich hat, nicht bei sich. Denn

Du machest scheu der Gerechten
820

Unrechtere Sinne, dass in die Schhmach weg

Sie flüchten, hältst dich hier auf, im Männerzank’, |

Im blutsverwandten, und wirfst es untereinander.

Und nie zu Schanden wird es,

Das Mächtigbittende,
825

Am Augenliede der hochzeitlichen

Jungfrau, im Anbeginne dem Werden grolser

Veıständigungen gesellet. Unkriegerisch spielt nemlich

Die göttliche Schönheit mit.

Jezt aber komm’ ich, eben, selber, aus
830

Dem Geseze. Denn anschn muß ich diess, und halten kann ich

Nicht mehr die Qttelle der Thränen,

Da in das alles schwaigende Bett’

Ich seh’ Antigonä wandeln.

ANTIGONAE

Seht, ihr des Vaterlandes Bürger,
835

Den lezten Weg gehn mich,

Und das lezte Licht

Anschauen der Sonne.

Und nie das wieder? Der alles schwaigende Todesgott,

Lebendig führt er mich
840

Zu des Acherons Ufer, und nicht zu Hymenäen

Berufen bin ich, noch ein bräutlicher singt

Mich, irgend ein Lobgesang, dagegen

Dem Acheron bin ich vermälılt.

CHOR

Gehst du bekannt doch und geleitet mit Lob
845

Hinweg in diese Kammer der Todten.

Verderbend trifft dich Krankheit nicht,

Nicht für das Schwert empfängst du Handlohn.

Dein eigen Leben lebend, unter

Den Sterblichen einzig,
850

Gehst du hinab, in die Welt der Todten.

ANTIGONAE

Ich habe gehört, der Wüste gleich sey worden

Die Lebensreiche, Phrygische,

Von Tantalos im Schoose gezogen, an Sipylos Gipfel ;

Hökricht sey worden dieund wie eins Epheuketten
855

Anthut, in langsamen Fels

Zusammengezogen ; und immerhin bei ihr,

Wie Männer sagen, bleibt der Winter;

Und waschet den Hals ihr unter

Schneehellen Thränen der Wimpern. Recht der gleich
860

Bringt mich ein Geist zu Bette.

CHOR

Doch heilig gesprochen, heilig gezeuget

Ist die, wir aber Erd’ und irdisch gezeuget.

Vergehst du gleich, doch ist ein Grofses, zu hören,

Du habst, Gott gleichen gleich, empfangen ein Loos,
865

Lebendig und dann gestorben.

ANTIGONAE

Weh! Närrisch machen sie mich. Warum

Bei Vaterlandsschuzgeistern überhebest du

Dich mein, die noch nicht untergegangen,

Die noch am Tag? ist.
870

O Stadt, o aus der Stadt

Ihr vielbegüterten Männer!

Io, ihr Dirzäischen Quellen !

Um Thebe rings, wo die Wagen

Hochziehen, o ihr Wälder! Doch, doch mülst
875

Ihr mir bezeugen, einst, wie unbeweinet

Von Lieben und nach was für

Gesezen in die gegrabene Kluft ich,

Ins inerhörte Grab muß.

Io! ich Arme!
880

Nicht unter Sterblichen, nicht unter Todten.

CHOR

Mitwohnend Lebenden nicht und nicht Gestorbnen.

Forttreibend bis zur Scheide der Kühnheit,

Bis auf die Höhe des Rechts

Bist du, o Kind, wohl tiefgefallen,
885

Stirbst aber väterlichen Kampf.

ANTIGONAE

Die zornigste hast du angereget

Der lieben Sorgen,

Die vielfache Weheklage des Vaters

Und alles
890

Unseres Schiksaals,

Uns rühmlichen Labdakiden.

Io! du mütterlicher Wahn

In den Betten, ihr Umarmungen, selbstgebährend,

Mit meinem Vater, von unglüklicher Mutter,
895

Von denen einmal ich Trübsinnige kam,

Zu denen ich im Fluche

Mannlos zu wohnen komme.

Io! Io! mein Bruder!

In gefährlicher Hochzeit gefallen !
900

Mich auch, dienur noch da war,

Ziehst sterbend du mit hinab.

CHOR

Zu ehren ist von Gottesfurcht

Etwas. Macht aber, wo es die gilt,

Die weichet nicht. Dich hat verderbt
905

Das zornige Selbsterkennen.

ANTIGONAE

Unbeweinet und ohne Freund’ und ehlos

Werd’ ich Trübsinnige geführet

Diesen bereiteten Weg. Mir ists nicht

Gebrauch ınehr , dieser Leuchte heiliges Auge
910

Zu sehn, mir Armen. Und diess

Mein Geschik , das thränenlose,

Betrauert, liebet niemand.

Dritte Scene KREON. ANTIGONAE. DER CHOR.

KREON

Ihr wisset, keines läfst das Singen und das Heulen

In Todesnoth, so lang man hin und her spricht.
915

Führt sie gleich weg, und mit der Gruft, der dunklen,

Umschattet ihr sie, wie gesagt, dort lafst sie rulır

Einsam allein; mag sie nun sterben müsser

Mag lebend unter solchem Dache zehren.

Denn wir sind rein, was dieses Mädchen angeht,
920

Die Häuslichkeit hier oben aber felılt ihr.

ANTIGONAE

O Grab! o Brautbett! unterirdische

Behausung, immerwach! Da werd’ ich reisen

Den Meinen zu, von denen zu den Todten

Die meiste Zahl, nachdem sie weiter gangen,
925

Zornigmitleidig dort ein Licht bezrüfst hat;

Von denen ich die Leztenun anı schlimnisten

In weiter Welt vergehn muss, ehe ınir

Des Lebens Gränze kommt. Doch komm’ ich an,

So nähr’ ich das mit Hoffnungen gar sehr,
930

Dafs lieb ich kommen werde für den Vater,

Auch dir lieb, meine Mutter! lieb auch dir,

Du brüderliches Haupt! Denn als ihr starbt,

Hab’ ich genommen euch mit eigner Hand,

Und ausgeschmükt, und über eurem Grabe
935

Trankopfer euch gebracht. Nun, Poiynikes,

Indem ich deke deinen Leib, erlang”’ ich diess,

Obgleich ich dich geehrt, vor Wohlgesinnten.

Nie nemlich, weder, wenn ich Mutter

Von Kindern wäre, oder ein Gemahl
940

Iın Tode sich verzehret, hätt’ ich mit Gewalt,

Als wollt ich einen Aufstand, diess errungen.

Und welchem Geseze sag’ ich diess zu Dank?

Wär’ ein Geimalıl gestorben, gäb’ es andre,

Und auch ein Kind von einem andern Manne,
945

Wenn diesen ich umarmt. Wenn aber Mutter

Und Vater schläft, im Ort der Todten beides,

Stehtsnicht, als wüch’s ein andrer Bruder wieder.

Nach solchem Geseze hab’ ich dich geelırt,

Dem Kreon aber schien es eine Sünde,
950

Und sehr gewagt, o brüderliches Haupt!

Und jezt führt er mich weg, mit Händen so mich greifend,

Mich ohne Bett und Hochzeit; noch der Ehe Theil

Hab’ ich empfangen, noch ein Kind zu nähren.

Doch einsam so von Lieben, unglükseelig,
955

Lebendig in die Wildnifs der Gestorbnen

Komm’ ich hinab. Welch Recht der Geister übertretend ?

Was soll ich Arme noch zu himmlischen

Gewalten schaun? Wen singen der Waffengenossen?

Da ich Gottlosigkeit aus Frömmigkeit empfangen.
960

Doch wenn nun dieses schön ist vor den Göttern,

So leiden wir und bitten ab, was wir

Gesündiget. Wenn aber diese fehlen,

So mögen sie nicht gröfser Unglük leiden,

Als sie bewirken offenbar an mir.
965

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 758 focus

Sayest thou so? Now, by the heaven above us—be sure of it—thou shalt smart for taunting me in 760 this opprobrious strain. Bring forth that hated thing, that she may die forthwith in his presence—before his eyes—at her bridegroom’s side!

Haemon

No, not at my side—never think it—shall she perish; nor shalt thou ever set eyes more upon my face :—rave, then, with such friends as can endure thee. Exit HAEMON.

Chorus

The man is gone, O king, in angry haste; a youthful man, when stung, is fierce.

Creon

Let him do, or dream, more than man—good speed to him!—But he shall not save these two girls from their doom. 770

Chorus

Dost thou indeed purpose to slay both?

Creon

Not her whose hands are pure: thou sayest well.

Chorus

And by what doom mean’st thou to slay the other?

Creon

I will take her where the path is loneliest, and hide her, living, in a rocky vault, with so much food set forth as piety prescribes, that the city may avoid a public stain. And there, praying to Hades, the only god whom she worships, perchance she will obtain release from death; or else will learn, at last, though late, 780 that it is lost labour to revere the dead. [zit CREON.

Chorus

Love, unconquered in the fight, Love, who sr. ‘ makest havoc of wealth, who keepest thy vigil on the soft cheek of a maiden; thou roamest over the sea, and among the homes of dwellers in the wilds; no immortal 790 can escape thee, nor any among men whose life is for a day; and he to whom thou hast come is mad. ant.

The just themselves have their minds warped by thee to wrong, for their ruin: ’tis thou that hast stirred up this prese if i ;~victorious is the lovekindling light from the eyes of the fair bride; it is a power enthroned in sway beside the eternal laws; for 800 there the goddess Aphrodite is working her unconquerable will.

But now I also am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty, and can no more keep back the streaming tears, when I see Antigone thus passing to the bridal chamber where all are laid to rest. 1

Antigone

See me, citizens of my fatherland, setting forth on my last way, looking my last on the sunlight that is 810 for me no more; no, Hades who gives sleep to all leads me living to Acheron’s shore; who have had no portion in the chant that brings the bride, nor hath any song been mine for the crowning of bridals; whom the lord of the Dark Lake shall wed.

Chorus

Glorious, therefore, and with praise, thou departest to that deep place of the dead: wasting sickness 820 hath not smitten thee; thou hast not found the wages of the sword; no, mistress of thine own fate, and still alive, thou shalt pass to Hades, as no other of mortal kind hath passed.

Antigone

1

I have heard in other days how dread a doom befell our Phrygian guest, the daughter of Tantalus, on the Sipylian heights; how, like clinging ivy, the growth of stone subdued her; and the rains fail not, as men tell, from her wasting form, nor fails the snow, while 830 beneath her weeping lids the tears bedew her bosom; and most like to hers is the fate that brings me to my rest. 2

Chorus

Yet she was a goddess, thou knowest, and born of gods; we are mortals, and of mortal race. But ’tis great renown for a woman who hath perished that she should have shared the doom of the godlike, in her life, and afterward in death.

Antigone

2

Ah, I am mocked! In the name of our 840 fathers’ gods, can ye not wait till I am gone,—must ye taunt me to my face, O my city, and ye, her wealthy sons? Ah, fount of Dircé, and thou holy ground of Thebè whose chariots are many ; ye, at least, will bear me witness, in what sort, unwept of friends, and by what laws I pass to the rock-closed prison of my 850 strange tomb, ah me unhappy! who have no home on the earth or in the shades, no home with the living or with the dead. 3

Chorus

Thou hast rushed forward to the utmost verge of daring; and against that throne where Justice sits on high thou hast fallen, my daughter, with a grievous fall. But in this ordeal thou art paying, haply, for thy fathcr’s sin, 2

Antigone

Thou hast touched on my bitterest thought — 860 awaking the ever-new lament for my sire and for all the doom given to us, the famed house of La Alas for the horrors of the mother’s bed! alas for the wretched mother’s slumber at the side of her own son,— and my sire! From what manner of parents did I take my miserable being! And to them I go thus, accursed, 870 unwed, to share their home. Alas, my brother, illstarred in thy marriage, in thy death thou hast undone my life! 3

Chorus

Reverent action claims a certain praise for reverence; but an offence against power cannot be brooked by him who hath power in his keeping. Thy self-willed temper hath wrought thy ruin,

Antigone

Unwept, unfriended, without marriage-song, I am led forth in my sorrow on this journey that can 880 be delayed no more. No longer, hapless one, may I behold yon day-star’s sacred eye; but for my fate no tear is shed, no friend makes moan,

Creon

Know ye not that songs and wailings before death would never cease, if it profited to utter them? Away with her—away! And when ye have enclosed her, according to my word, in her vaulted grave, leave her alone, forlorn—whether she wishes to die, or to live a buried life in such a home. Our hands are clean as 890 touching this maiden. But this is certain—she shall be deprived of her sojourn in the light.

Antigone

Tomb, bridal-chamber, eternal prison in the caverned rock, whither I go to find mine own, those many who have perished, and whom Persephone hath received among the dead! Last of all shall I pass thither, and far most miserably of all, before the term of my life is spent. But I cherish good hope that my coming will be welcome to my father, and pleasant to 900 thee, my mother, and welcome, brother, to thee; for, when ye died, with mine own hands I washed and dressed you, and poured drink-offerings at your graves ; and now, Polyneices, ’tis for tending thy corpse that I win such recompense as this.

And yet I honoured thee, as the wise will deem, rightly. Never, had I been a mother of children, or if a husband had been mouldering in death, would I have taken this task upon me in the city’s despite. What law, ye ask, is my warrant for that word? The husband lost, another might have been found, and child from 910 another, to replace the first-born; but, father and mother hidden with Hades, no brother’s life could ever bloom for me again. Such was the law whereby I held thee first in honour; but Creon deemed me guilty of error therein, and of outrage, ah brother mine! And now he leads me thus, a captive in his hands; no bridal bed, no bridal song hath been mine, no joy of marriage, no portion in the nurture of children; but thus, forlorn of friends, unhappy one, I go living to the vaults of 920 death. And what law of heaven have I transgressed? Why, hapless one, should I look to the gods any more,—what ally should I invoke,—when by piety I have earned the name of impious? Nay, then, if these things are pleasing to the gods, when I have suffered my doom, I shall come to know my sin; but if the sin is with my judges, I could wish them no fuller measure of evil than they, on their part, mete wrongfully to me.

Chorus

Still the same tempest of the soul vexes this 930 maiden with the same fierce gusts.

Creon

Then for this shall her guards have cause to rue their slowness.

Antigone

Ah me! that word hath come very near to death.

Creon

I can cheer thee with no hope that this doom is not thus to be fulfilled.

Antigone

O city of my fathers in the land of Thebè! O ye gods, eldest of our race!—they lead me hence— 940 now, now—they tarry not! Behold me, princes of Thebes, the last daughter of the house of your kings,— see what I suffer, and from whom, because I feared to cast away the fear of Heaven! ANTIGONE ts led away by the guards. 1

Chorus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 758 focus

It is. But by the heights of heav'n I swear,

Thou shalt not in thy insults long rejoice.

Bring forth that hated wretch; before his face
760

Now in her bridegroom's presence let her die.

Haemon

HEM. Not in my presence: no; before my face.

She shall not die; admit not such a thought;

Nor shalt thou ever see my face again.

Associate with thy friends, and spend thy rage

'Mongst those, who tamely will thy frenzy bear.
765

Chorus
CREON, CHORUS.

In rage with hurried step the youth is gone:

To deeds of fierceness grief such spirits works.

Creon

Let him then go, and dare beyond his might:

These virgins from their doom he shall not save.

Chorus

Is it thy purpose then that both should die?
770

Creon

No; not the guiltless. I approve thy words

Chorus

What death to the offender is decreed?

Creon

Deep in a yawning cave beneath a rock

From human footsteps far removed, alive

O Love, resistless in thy might,

Triumphant o'er the pow'r of gold,

In youth's soft cheek with beauty bright

Joying thy sweet domain to hold,

Thou rulest o'er th' extended main,

The rural hut, the pastoral plain;

Thy pow'r th' immortal gods obey,

And mortal men confess thy sway

But all, who feel thy piercing darts,

Feel madness rankling in their hearts.

By thee the virtuous mind beguil'd

Antigone
GOLD

Basely to wrong is drawn aside;

By thee contentions fierce and wild

Raise storms in hearts by blood allied.

Desire, in flames now seen to rise

Caught from the virgin's radiant eyes,

Disdains the curb of Laws to own,

But with them shares their potent throne;

While Venus, sovereign of the soul,

Victorious smiles, and scorns control.

E'en I at this sad sight beyond due bounds

Am carried, and the fountain of my tears
810

No longer can restrain, whilst I behold
810

Antigone thus borne to share the bed
810

Of death, the common bed where all repose.

Ye reverend men, inhabitants of Thebes,

My country, you behold me treading now.

For the last time these paths, the sun's bright beams

For the last time beholding, never more :

For me the all-composing hand of death
815

Leads to the dismal banks of Acheron;
815

No nuptial rites, no hymeneal song

Are mine; to Acheron a bride I go....

Chorus
ANTIGONE, CHORUS.

Therefore illustrious and with praise obtain'd

Wilt thou go down to the dark cave of death.

Not wasted by the pains of slow disease,

Nor by the sword cut off, dost thou descend,

But, as none other, by thine own free choice,

And living, to the monarch of the dead.
820

Thus on the heights of Sipylus of old

The Phrygian stranger miserably died,

Daughter of Tantalus; the rigid rock,

Antigone

Like ivy wreath'd around her, and subdued.

Her vital pow'rs. Her, melting into dews...

Fast-trickling, (such the voice of fame) e'en now

The currents fail not, but the gushing tears

Stream from her eyes, and down the mountain flow.
830

A doom like hers hath fate to me assign'd.

Chorus

She was divine, and sprung from race divine;

But we are mortal, and of mortals born.
835

For thee how glorious then to share like fate

With those of heav'nly race, and as the gods

Revered, like them to live, like them to die!

Antigone

Nay, do not mock me; by my country's gods

Insult me not ere I am sunk in death,
840

While yet I stand before your eyes. O Thebes,

And you, the splendid habitants of Thebes

With various treasures rich! Ye sacred founts

Of Dirce, and thou grove of Thebes, whose glades

Are open to the frequent-rolling cars!
845

You all can witness for me, how by friends

Unwept, and by what laws I go condemn'd

To the rude prison of the hollow rock,

Of this unwonted tomb. Unhappy me,

I have, or in my life, or in my death,
850

No dwelling with the living, or the dead!........

Chorus

Thy daring was extreme, and thy offence

'Gainst the high throne of justice. O my child,

O'er thee some trespass of thy father hangs!***

Antigone

Oh, thou hast touch'd the griefs that rend my heart

With sharpest pangs, my father's mournful fate

Through the wide world divulged, and all the ills

Which sunk th' illustrious house of Labdacus!

Ye horrors of my mother's nuptial rites,
865

My father in unhappy hour ye led

To the same couch from which he took his birth;

And thence, O miserable me, I sprung!

With them accursed, unwedded, I descend

To share their gloomy mansions. Fatal too

Thy nuptials; O my brother: thou, though dead,

Draw'st me, yet living, to the realms below.

Chorus

To act with piety denotes a soul

Antigone

Touch'd with religious awe: but the high pow'r ....

Of those invested with the sovereign rule ז'ניי

May never be transgress'd. Indignant pride,

Fix'd to its purpose, hath thy ruin wrought......

No pitying tear, no friend, no nuptial rites

Are mine, as thus unhappy I am led

This destined way. No more shall I behold

The sacred orb of yon bright-beaming sun;
895

Yet not one friend laments or weeps my fate.
895

If mournful cries and wailings before death

Avail'd, there is not one, be well assured, LOI

That e'er would cease them. Instant take her hence,

Enclose her in the rock's sepulchral cave,

As I commanded, leave her there alone,...

Either to die, or there to live entomb'd.

We from her death receive no stain: but she
900

No more shall with the living converse hold.T
900

O thou dark tomb, thou rugged bridal bed, D

Deep mansion, which shalt ever close me round,

To thee I go; I go to join my friends,

A numerous train, whom sunk among the dead

Hath Proserpine received. I go the last coli

And most unhappy, ere th' allotted space...!

Of life I reach. Yet glowing at my heart.....
905

I feed this hope, that to my father dear,
905

And dear to thee, my mother, dear to thee, ol

My brother, I shall go; since with these 'hands

Your bodies I with cleansing lavers wash'd,

Added each ritual ornament, and pour'd

Libations at your tombs. And now thy corse,

Loved Polynices, in the earth I laid,

And for the pious deed have this reward;
910

Yet those of better judgment will approve i
910

My care, which paid these honours to the dead.

Where I a mother now, were I a wife,

Mouldering in death if child or husband lay,

I would not, if the state opposed the deed,

In such a task engage. Ask you what rules

Direct my conduct? If an husband dies,

Another might be wedded; to a child,
915

One lost, another father might give birth:
915

But when both parents in the earth are laid

Entomb'd, a brother can no more be born.

Me, by these thoughts impell'd with hallow'd rites

To honour thee, my brother, Creon deem'd

Deep-stain'd with guilt, and daring heinous deeds;

He seized me, with rude hands he leads me now

Of nuptial rites, of hymeneal song,
920

Of bridal bed deprived, and the sweet joys
920

A mother in her children's nurture knows;

But thus oppress'd with wretchedness, by friends

Abandon'd, to the caves of death I go

Alive. What rites, what honours of the gods

Have I transgress'd? But why, unhappy me,

Why to the gods look more? What heav'nly pow'r

Shall I invoke, since for my pious deeds
925

I bear the vengeance to the impious due?
925

If this the justice of the gods demands,

And I offend, these sufferings I forgive :

If these offend, no greater ill be theirs

Than they to me unjustly have assign'd.

Chorus
CREON, ANTIGONE, CHORUS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 781-805 focus

Chorus

Love, the unconquered in battle, Love, you who descend upon riches, and watch the night through on a girl’s soft cheek,

you roam over the sea and among the homes of men in the wilds. Neither can any immortal escape you,
785

nor any man whose life lasts for a day. He who has known you is driven to madness.
790

791

Chorus

You seize the minds of just men and drag them to injustice, to their ruin. You it is who have incited this conflict of men whose flesh and blood are one.

But victory belongs to radiant Desire swelling from the eyes of the sweet-bedded bride. Desire sits enthroned in power beside the mighty laws.
795

For in all this divine Aphrodite plays her irresistible game.
800

801

Enter Antigone under guard from the palace.

Chorus

But now, witnessing this, I too am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty. The power fails me to keep back my streaming tears any longer, when I see Antigone making her way to the chamber where all are laid to rest,

now her bridal chamber.
805

Antigone

Citizens of my fatherland, see me setting out on my last journey, looking at my last sunlight,

and never again. No, Hades who lays all to rest leads me living to Acheron ’s shore, though I have not had my due portion of the chant that brings the bride, nor has any hymn been mine
810

for the crowning of marriage. Instead the lord of Acheron will be my groom.
815

817

Chorus

Then in glory and with praise you depart to that deep place of the dead, neither struck by wasting sickness,

nor having won the wages of the sword. No, guided by your own laws and still alive, unlike any mortal before, you will descend to Hades.
820

823

Antigone

I have heard with my own ears how our Phrygian guest, the daughter of Tantalus, perished

in so much suffering on steep Sipylus—how, like clinging ivy, the sprouting stone subdued her. And the rains, as men tell, do not leave her melting form, nor does the snow,
825

but beneath her weeping lids she dampens her collar. Most like hers is the god-sent fate that leads me to my rest.
830

834

Chorus

Yet she was a goddess, as you know, and the offspring of gods,

while we are mortals and mortal-born. Still it is a great thing for a woman who has died to have it said of her that she shared the lot of the godlike in her life, and afterwards, in death.
835

839

Antigone

Ah, you mock me! In the name of our fathers’ gods,

why do you not wait to abuse me until after I have gone, and not to my face, O my city, and you, her wealthy citizens? Ah, spring of Dirce, and you holy ground of Thebes whose chariots are many,
840

you, at least, will bear me witness how unwept by loved ones, and by what laws I go to the rock-closed prison of my unheard-of tomb! Ah, misery!
845

I have no home among men or with the shades, no home with the living or with the dead.
850

853

Chorus

You have rushed headlong to the far limits of daring, and against the high throne of Justice

you have fallen, my daughter, fallen heavily. But in this ordeal you are paying for some paternal crime.
855

858

Antigone

You have touched on my most bitter thought

and moved my ever-renewed pity for my father and for the entire doom ordained for us, the famed house of Labdacus. Oh, the horrors of our mother’s bed! Oh, the slumbers of the wretched mother at the side
860

of her own son, my own father! What manner of parents gave me my miserable being! It is to them that I go like this, accursed and unwed, to share their home.
865

Ah, my brother, the marriage you made was doomed, and by dying you killed me still alive!
870

872

Chorus

Your pious action shows a certain reverence, but an offence against power can no way be tolerated by him who has power in his keeping.

Your self-willed disposition is what has destroyed you.
875

876

Antigone

Unwept, unfriended, without marriage-song, I am led in misery on this journey that cannot be put off. No longer is it permitted me, unhappy girl,

to look up at this sacred eye of the burning sun. But for my fate no tear is shed, no friend moans in sorrow.
880

Enter Creon.

Creon

Do you not know that dirges and wailing before death would never be given up, if it were allowed to make them freely?

Take her away—now! And when you have enshrouded her, as I proclaimed, in her covered tomb, leave her alone, deserted—let her decide whether she wishes to die or to live entombed in such a home. It makes no difference, since our hands are clean so far as regards this girl.
885

But no matter what, she will be stripped of her home here above.
890

Antigone

Tomb, bridal-chamber, deep-dug eternal prison where I go to find my own, whom in the greatest numbers destruction has seized and Persephone has welcomed among the dead!

Last of them all and in by far the most shameful circumstances, I will descend, even before the fated term of my life is spent. But I cherish strong hopes that I will arrive welcome to my father, and pleasant to you, Mother, and welcome, dear brother, to you.
895

For, when each of you died, with my own hands I washed and dressed you and poured drink-offerings at your graves. But now, Polyneices, it is for tending your corpse that I win such reward as this. And yet I honored you rightly, as the wise understand.
900

Never, if I had been a mother of children, or if a husband had been rotting after death, would I have taken that burden upon myself in violation of the citizens’ will. For the sake of what law, you ask, do I say that? A husband lost, another might have been found,
905

and if bereft of a child, there could be a second from some other man. But when father and mother are hidden in Hades, no brother could ever bloom for me again. Such was the law whereby I held you first in honor, but for that Creon judged me guilty of wrongdoing
910

and of dreadful outrage, dear brother! And now he leads me thus in his hands’ strong grasp, when I have enjoyed no marriage bed or bridal song and have not received any portion of marriage or the nurture of children. But deserted by friends,
915

in misery I go living to the hollow graves of the dead. What law of the gods have I transgressed? Why should I look to the gods anymore? What ally should I call out to, when by my reverence I have earned a name for irreverence?
920

Well, then, if these events please the gods, once I have suffered my doom I will come to know my guilt. But if the guilt lies with my judges, I could wish for them no greater evils than they inflict unjustly on me.
925

929

Chorus

Still the same tempest of the soul

grips this girl with the same fierce gusts.
930

Creon

Then because of this her guards will have reason to lament their slowness.

Antigone

Ah, no! That command verges close on death.

Creon

I cannot console you with any hope that your doom is not to be fulfilled in that way.
935

Antigone

O city of my fathers, land of Thebes , and you gods, our ancestors! I am led away now; there is no more delay!

Look at me, you who are Thebes ’ lords—look at the only remaining daughter of the house of your kings. See what I suffer, and at whose hands, because I revered reverence! Antigone is led away by the guards.
940

Notes on the current edition

Antigone

1. Campbell cites line 783-784, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 782-785.

2. Campbell cites line 794, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 792-795.

3. Campbell cites line 796-799, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 796.

4. Campbell cites line 806-802, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 805-803.

5. Campbell cites line 808, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 807-810.

6. Campbell cites line 812-813, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 812.

7. Campbell cites line 816, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 815-817.

8. Campbell cites line 824-825, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 825.

9. Campbell cites line 828, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 827-830.

10. Campbell cites line 843, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 842-845.

11. Campbell cites line 844, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 842-845.

12. Campbell cites line 852, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 851-853.

13. Campbell cites line 857, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 856-858.

14. Campbell cites line 868, which is not represented by the same numbered line span in the Storr reference XML; the link targets the narrowest available Storr passage, 867-870.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-298-1 κάτωθεν ¹ κάτω ’στὶν ²

mvp-comment-298-2 εὐαγῆ ³

mvp-comment-299-1 οὔτοι συνέχθειν ⁴

mvp-comment-300-1 νυ^ν ⁵

mvp-comment-301-1 καὶ μὴν ⁶

mvp-comment-301-2 εἰβομένη ⁷ κάτω ⁸

mvp-comment-301-3 with

εἴβειν

, for Homer never says

κατὰ δάκρυα λείβειν

. Nothing is more natural than that

εἰβομένη

should have become

λειβομένη

in the MSS., the latter word being much the commoner.

mvp-comment-301-4 κάτω ⁹

mvp-comment-302-1 νεφέλη δ’ ὀφρύων ὕπερ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-302-2 αἱματόεν ¹¹

mvp-comment-302-3 ῥέθος ¹²

mvp-comment-302-4 αἰσχύνει ¹³

mvp-comment-303-1 σὺ δ’ ¹⁴ ὑφειμένη ¹⁵

mvp-comment-303-2 ἔχιδνα ¹⁶

mvp-comment-303-3

ἡ ἔχιδνα ἐν τῇ συνουσίᾳ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποκόπτει. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὰ τέκνα, ὥσπερ τὸν θάνατον τοῦ πατρὸς μετερχόμενα, τὴν γαστέρα τῆς μητρὸς διαρρήγνυσιν

. (Cp. Shaksp. Per. 1. 1. 64

I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh.

)

mvp-comment-304-1 λήθουσά μ’ ἐξέπινες ¹⁷

mvp-comment-305-1 ἄτα κἀπαναστάσεις ¹⁸

mvp-comment-305-2 ἐπαναστάσεις ¹⁹ θρόνων ²⁰

mvp-comment-306-1 τὸ μὴ ²¹

mvp-comment-307-1 ὁμορροθεῖ ²²

mvp-comment-308-1 τῆς αἰτίας ²³ ξυμμετίσχω ²⁴ φέρω ²⁵

mvp-comment-309-1 ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐάσει σ’ ²⁶

mvp-comment-309-2 ’κοινωσάμην ²⁷

mvp-comment-310-1 ξύμπλουν ²⁸

mvp-comment-311-1 Cp. Ph. 1293

ὡς θεοὶ ξυνίστορες.

mvp-comment-311-2 λόγοις ²⁹

mvp-comment-312-1 μή μ’ ἀτιμάσῃς ³⁰ τὸ μὴ οὐ ³¹ ἁγνίσαι τὸν θ ³²

mvp-comment-313-1 μή μοι ³³ κοινά ³⁴

mvp-comment-313-2 μηδ’ ἃ μὴ ’θιγες ³⁵ ἅ ³⁶ ἅ ³⁷

mvp-comment-314-1 ποιοῦ σεαυτῆς ³⁸

mvp-comment-314-2 ἀρκέσω ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-315-1 σοῦ λελειμμένῃ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-315-2 φίλος ⁴²

mvp-comment-316-1 κηδεμών ⁴³

mvp-comment-317-1 ἀλγοῦσα μὲν δῆτ’ ⁴⁴ δῆτα ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-317-2 ἐν σοί ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-317-3 Heath's εἰ γελῶ γ’ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-318-1 ἀλλὰ νῦν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-319-1 κἀμπλάκω ⁴⁹

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

τί πάθω

;). For

ἀμπλακεῖν

cp. 910 , 1234.

mvp-comment-320-1 εἵλου ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-320-2 ζῆν ⁵¹

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐπ’ ἀρρήτοις … τοῖς ἐμ. λ. ⁵²

mvp-comment-322-1 σὺ μὲν τοῖς ⁵³

mvp-comment-323-1 καὶ μήν ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-324-1 θάρσει ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-324-2 ἡ ἐμὴ ψυχή ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-324-3 πάλαι ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-324-4 ὥστε τοῖς θ. ὠφελεῖν ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-325-1 L gives τὼ παῖδε φημὶ ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-325-2 τὼ παῖδε … τὴν μὲν … τὴν δέ ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-325-3 ἀρτίως ⁶¹

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

νοῦν

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

mvp-comment-326-2 βλάστῃ ⁶²

mvp-comment-326-3 τοῖς κ. πράσσουσιν ⁶³

mvp-comment-326-4 ἐξίσταται ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-327-1 σοὶ γοῦν ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-327-2 κακοῖς ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-328-1 τῆσδ’ ἄτερ ⁶⁷ μόνῃ ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-328-2 βιώσιμον ⁶⁹ τί ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-329-1 ἀλλὰ … μέντοι ⁷¹

mvp-comment-329-2 ἥδε μὴ λέγε ⁷²

mvp-comment-330-1 νυμφεῖα ⁷³

mvp-comment-331-1 ἀρώσιμοι ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-332-1 οὐχ ὥς γ’ ⁷⁵ ἡρμοσμένα ἦν ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-333-1 υἱέσι ⁷⁷ υἱάσιν ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-333-2

υἷα, υἷε, υἷες, υἷας

: cp. Monro Hom. Gr. § 107.—The dat. of interest goes with κακὰς γυναῖκας ⁷⁹ στυγῶ ⁸⁰

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

κακὰς γυναῖκας υἱέσι

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

ὡς αἰεὶ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει θεὸς ὡς τὸν ὁμοῖον

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

τὸ σὸν λέχος

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

οὐκ οἶδα τὴν σὴν κλῄδον

'), which certainly is not its natural sense.

mvp-comment-334-2 Αἷμον ⁸¹

mvp-comment-335-1 ἄγαν γε λυπεῖς ⁸²

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

mvp-comment-337-1 ἐμοί ⁸³ ἔφυ ⁸⁴

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

πλέον ἥμισυ παντός.

mvp-comment-338-2 δεδογμένα ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-339-1 καὶ σοί γε κἀμοί ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-339-2 μὴ τριβάς ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-339-3 νιν ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-340-1 ἐκ δὲ τοῦδε ⁸⁹ γυναικας ⁹⁰ ἀνειμένας ⁹¹

mvp-comment-341-1 χοἱ θρασεῖς ⁹² πέλας ⁹³ εἰσορῶσι ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-343-1 κακῶν ἄγευστος ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-344-1 σεισθῇ θεόθεν ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-344-2 ἄτας οὐδὲν ἐλλείπει ⁹⁷ ἐλλείπει ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-344-3 γενεᾶς ἐπὶ πλῆθος ⁹⁹ γενεᾶς ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-345-1 ὅμοιον ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-345-2 ποντίαις ¹⁰² πνοαῖς ¹⁰³ ὅταν οἶδμα ¹⁰⁴ ποντίαις δυσπν. Θρ. πνοαῖς ¹⁰⁵ ἐπιδράμῃ ἔρεβος ὕφαλον ¹⁰⁶ Θρῄσσαισιν ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-346-1 κελαινὰν θῖνα ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-346-2 δυσάνεμοι ¹⁰⁹ δυσάνεμον ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-346-3 στόνῳ βρ.· ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-346-4 ἀντιπλῆγες ¹¹² ἀκταί ¹¹³

mvp-comment-347-1 ἀρχαῖα ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-347-2 ὁρῶμαι ¹¹⁵ οἴκων ¹¹⁶ φθι^τῶν ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-348-1 ἀπαλλάσσει ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-348-2 γενεὰν γένος ¹¹⁹ ἔχει ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-348-3 λύσιν ¹²¹

mvp-comment-349-1 νῦν γὰρ ἐσχάτας ¹²² ὃ τέτατο ¹²³ ἐτέτατο ¹²⁴ κατ’ αὖ ¹²⁵ ὑπέρ ¹²⁶ ὅπερ ¹²⁷ ὃ τέτατο ¹²⁸ νιν ¹²⁹ φάος ¹³⁰ ἐσχάτη ῥίζα ¹³¹ φάος ¹³² νιν ¹³³ φάος ¹³⁴ θάλος ¹³⁵ τέτατο ¹³⁶ ῥίζας ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-350-1 κατ’ αὖ … ἀμᾷ, ¹³⁸ κοπίς ¹³⁹ κόνις ¹⁴⁰ κόνις ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-350-2 (1) If κόνις ¹⁴² καταμᾷ ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-350-3 (2) If we read κοπίς ¹⁴⁴

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

κοπίς

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

κοπίς

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

κοπίς

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

κρατήρ

, or an inspiring thought as an

ἀκόνα

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

τοίη οἱ κέντροιο κοπίς

( Ther. 780 ). If

κοπίς

be right, the change to

κόνις

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

κόνις

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

mvp-comment-351-1 λόγου … ἄνοια ¹⁴⁵ φρενῶν ἐρινύς ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-352-1 τεάν ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-352-2 δύνα^σιν ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-352-3 κατάσχοι ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-353-1 The MS. παντογήρως ¹⁵⁰ παντοθήρας ¹⁵¹ παντόθηρος ¹⁵² πάντ’ ἀγρεύων ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-354-1 The MS. οὔτ’ ἀκάματοι θεῶν ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-354-2

οὐδὲν ἕρπει

. Far the best emendation is οὔτε θεῶν ἄκματοι ¹⁵⁵ θεῶν ¹⁵⁶ θεῶν μῆνες ¹⁵⁷ θεῶν ¹⁵⁸ οὔτε ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-354-3 ἄκματοι ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-355-1 I doubt whether the dat. χρόνῳ ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-355-2 μαρμαρόεσσαν ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-356-1 τό τ’ ἔπειτα ¹⁶³ τὸ μέλλον ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-356-2 καὶ τὸ πρίν ¹⁶⁸ ἐπαρκέσει ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-357-1 πάμπολύ γ’ ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-357-2 ἕρπει ¹⁷¹ ἕρπειν ¹⁷² ἕρπει ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-357-3 πάμπολις ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-358-1 ἁ γὰρ δή ¹⁷⁵ γάρ ¹⁷⁶ πολύπλαγκτος ¹⁷⁷

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

πολύπλαγκτος

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

mvp-comment-359-1 πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-360-1 ἀπάτα … ἐρώτων ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-360-2 κουφονόων ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-361-1 The

ἀπάτη

, or final frustration of his desires, ἕρπει ¹⁸¹ οὐδὲν εἰδότι ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-362-1 πρὶν … προσαύσῃ ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-362-2 προσαύσῃ ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-362-3 πόδα ¹⁸⁵ προσαύσῃ ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-363-1 σοφίᾳ ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-363-2 ἔκ του ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-363-3 πεφάνται ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-364-1 τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ’ ¹⁹⁰ ποτέ ¹⁹¹

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

βλαψίφρων, φρενοβλαβής

. Il. 19.137

ἀλλ’ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην, καί μευ φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς

. Theognis 403

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

. Lycurgus in Leocr. § 92

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

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

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

. (‘Quem Iuppiter vult perdere, dementat prius.’ See n. in Appendix.)— The epic ἔμμεν ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-365-1 ὀλίγιστον ¹⁹³ ὀλιγοστόν ¹⁹⁴ πράσσει … ἐκτὸς ἄτας ¹⁹⁵ ἄτας ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-366-1 μήν ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-366-2 νέατον ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-366-3 to a person,

νέατος

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

γέννημ’

: cp. 471 n.

mvp-comment-366-4 ἀχνύμενος ¹⁹⁹ μόρον ²⁰⁰

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

νύμφης

is a gloss on τάλιδος ²⁰¹ τῆς μελλογάμου ²⁰² τῆς μελλογάμου ²⁰³ τάλιδος ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-368-1 ἀπάτας ²⁰⁵ λεχέων ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-370-1 μάντεων ὑπέρτερον ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-371-1 τελείαν ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-371-2 ψῆφο<*> ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-371-3 ἆρα μή ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-371-4 τῆς μελλονύμφου ²¹¹

mvp-comment-371-5 λυσσαίνων ²¹² σοὶ μέν ²¹³ θυμαίνων ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-372-1 σοὶ μέν ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-372-2 πανταχῇ δρῶντες ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-373-1 σός ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-373-2 γνώμας ἔχων χρηστάς ²¹⁸ ἀπορθοῖς ²¹⁹ μοι ²²⁰

mvp-comment-374-1 ἀξιώσεται ²²² ἀξ. μείζων φέρεσθαι ²²³ ἀξίως ἔσται ²²⁴

mvp-comment-374-2 σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμ. ²²⁵ μείζων ²²⁶

mvp-comment-375-1 γάρ ²²⁷

mvp-comment-375-2 διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν ²²⁸ διά ²²⁹ ἔχειν ²³⁰ οὕτω ²³¹ ἔχειν ²³²

mvp-comment-376-1 (One ought to think thus),—that is, ὄπισθεν ἑστάναι πατρ. γνώμης ²³³ πάντα ²³⁴ ἑστάναι ²³⁵

mvp-comment-377-1 ὡς ²³⁶

mvp-comment-377-2 ἀνταμύνωνται ²³⁷ κακοῖς ²³⁸

mvp-comment-378-1 ἄλλο ²³⁹ φῦσαι ²⁴⁰ πλήν ²⁴¹ ἄλλο ²⁴² εἴποις ²⁴³

mvp-comment-378-2 πόνους ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-378-3 γέλων ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-379-1 τὰς φρένας γ’ ²⁴⁶ γε ²⁴⁷ φρένας σύ γ’ ἡδονῇ ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-379-2 φρένας … ἐκβάλῃς ²⁴⁹

mvp-comment-379-3 ὑφ’ ἡδονῆς ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-380-1 ψυχρόν ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-380-2 παραγκάλισμα ²⁵²

mvp-comment-381-1 δόμοις ²⁵³

mvp-comment-381-2 ἕλκος ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-381-3 φίλος ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-382-1 πτύσας ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-382-2 ὠσεί τε δυσμενῆ ²⁵⁷ τε ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-383-1 νυμφεύειν ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-384-1 ἀπιστήσασαν ²⁶⁰ ψευδῆ ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-385-1 κτενῶ ²⁶²

mvp-comment-385-2 πρὸς ταῦτ ²⁶³

mvp-comment-385-3 ἐφυμνείτω ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-385-4 Δία ξύναιμον ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-386-1 τά γ’ ἐγγ. φύσει ²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-386-2 ἄκοσμα ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-386-3 θρέψω ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-386-4 κάρτα τοὺς ἔξω γ. ²⁶⁹

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

τοῦτον ...τὸν ἄνδρα

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

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

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

γάρ

) only a man who is firm (

χρηστός

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

mvp-comment-388-1 ὑπερβάς ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-388-2 τοὐπιτάσσειν ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-388-3 νοεῖ ²⁷²

mvp-comment-389-1 στήσειε ²⁷³

mvp-comment-389-2 καὶ τἀναντία ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-390-1 τοῦτον … τὸν ἄνδρα ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-390-2 καλῶς...εὖ ²⁷⁶

mvp-comment-390-3 ἄν ²⁷⁷ ἄρχειν ²⁷⁸ θέλειν ²⁷⁹

mvp-comment-391-1 δορὸς … χειμῶνι ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-391-2 προστεταγμένον ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-391-3 παραστάτην ²⁸²

mvp-comment-392-1 πόλεις ὄλλυσιν, ἥδ’ ²⁸³ πόλεις τ’ … ἥδ’ ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-393-1 συμμάχου ²⁸⁵ συμμάχηι ²⁸⁶ σὺν μάχῃ ²⁸⁷

mvp-comment-393-2 τροπὰς καταρρήγνυσι ²⁸⁸

mvp-comment-393-3 τῶν δ’ ὀρθουμένων ²⁸⁹ τὰ πολλὰ σώματα ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-393-4 ἡ πειθαρχία ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-394-1 ἀμυντέ’ ²⁹²

mvp-comment-394-2 τοῖς κοσμουμένοις ²⁹³ τοῖς κ. ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-395-1 κοὔτοι … ἡσσητέα ²⁹⁶

mvp-comment-396-1 δεῖ ²⁹⁷ ἐκπεσεῖν ²⁹⁸

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

ἐκπ. τυραννίδος, ἀρχῆς, κράτους

, Aesch. ), or of exile (

χθονός

, O. C. 766 ).

mvp-comment-396-3 κοὐκ ἂν...καλοίμεθ’ ἄν ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-397-1 μέν ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-397-2 τῷ χρόνῳ ³⁰¹

mvp-comment-397-3 κεκλέμμεθα ³⁰²

mvp-comment-398-1 δοκεῖς λέγειν φρονούντως περὶ ³⁰³

mvp-comment-399-1 θεοί ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-399-2 κτημάτων ³⁰⁵

mvp-comment-400-1 ἐγὼ δ’ ὅπως ³⁰⁶

mvp-comment-400-2 μὴ ³⁰⁷ ὅπως ³⁰⁸ μή ³⁰⁹ ὀρθῶς ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-400-3 μήτ’ ἐπισταίμην ³¹¹

mvp-comment-401-1 καλῶς ἔχον ³¹² γένοιτο ἂν καὶ ἑτέρῳ ³¹³

mvp-comment-402-1 σοῦ δ’ οὖν ³¹⁴ σοῦ ³¹⁵ σοί ³¹⁶ σὺ δ’ οὐ πέφυκας ³¹⁷ τις ³¹⁸ μῆνίν τιν’ ἢ κότον τιν ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-403-1 τὸ γὰρ σόν ³²⁰ ὄμμα ³²¹

mvp-comment-403-2 δημότῃ ³²²

mvp-comment-404-1 λόγοις τοιούτοις ³²³ λόγοις τοιούτοις ³²⁴

mvp-comment-404-2 οἷς ³²⁵ τέρψει ³²⁶ κλύων ³²⁷ μή ³²⁸ τέρψῃ ³²⁹

mvp-comment-405-1 ὑπὸ σκότον ³³⁰ ἀκούειν ³³¹ ὀδύρεται ³³²

mvp-comment-406-1 κάκιστ’ … εὐκλεεστάτων ³³³

mvp-comment-406-2 ἀπ’ ἔργων ³³⁴

mvp-comment-407-1 ἥτις ³³⁵ μήθ’ … μήθ’ ³³⁶ εἴασε ³³⁷ ὀλέσθαι ³³⁸

mvp-comment-407-2 αὐτάδελφον ³³⁹

mvp-comment-407-3 ἐνφοναῖς ³⁴⁰

mvp-comment-408-1 χρυσῆς ³⁴¹

mvp-comment-408-2 λαχεῖν ³⁴² ἀξία ³⁴³

mvp-comment-409-1 ἐπέρχεται ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-410-1 θάλλοντος ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-410-2 μεῖζον εὐκλείας ³⁴⁶

mvp-comment-410-3 πρὸς παίδων ³⁴⁷ εὐκλεία ³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-411-1 νυν ³⁴⁹

mvp-comment-411-2 φόρει ³⁵⁰

mvp-comment-411-3 ἦθος ³⁵¹ ὡς φὴς σύ ³⁵²

mvp-comment-411-4 κοὐδέν ³⁵³

mvp-comment-411-5 τοῦτο ³⁵⁴

mvp-comment-412-1 μόνος ³⁵⁵ φρονεῖν ³⁵⁶ ψυχήν ³⁵⁷

mvp-comment-412-2

αὐτὸς μοῦνος ποικίλα δήνε’

(devices)

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

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

ἀρίστους...συμβούλους τῷ βίῳ τῷ τῶν ἀνθρώπων

. They were read in schools.

mvp-comment-413-1 οὗτοι ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-413-2 διαπτυχθέντες ³⁵⁹

mvp-comment-413-3 κενοί ³⁶⁰

mvp-comment-414-1 ἄνδρα ³⁶¹ μανθάνειν ³⁶² τό ³⁶³

mvp-comment-414-2 κεἰ … ᾖ ³⁶⁴

mvp-comment-414-3 τείνειν ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-414-4 παρὰ ῥείθρ. ³⁶⁶

mvp-comment-414-5 χειμάρροις ³⁶⁷

mvp-comment-415-1 ὑπείκει ³⁶⁸

mvp-comment-415-2 αὐτόπρεμνα ³⁶⁹

mvp-comment-416-1 αὔτως ³⁷⁰

mvp-comment-416-2 ναός ³⁷¹

mvp-comment-416-3 ἐγκρατῆ ³⁷²

mvp-comment-416-4 πόδα ³⁷³

mvp-comment-417-1 μηδέν ³⁷⁴

mvp-comment-417-2 κάτω στρέψας ³⁷⁵ τὸ πλοῖον ³⁷⁶ τὸ λοιπόν ³⁷⁷

mvp-comment-417-3 σέλμασιν ³⁷⁸ ὑπτίοις ³⁷⁹

mvp-comment-418-1 εἶκε θυμοῦ ³⁸⁰

mvp-comment-418-2 καὶ μετάστασιν δίδου ³⁸¹

mvp-comment-418-3 δίδου ³⁸² εἶκε ³⁸³ καί ³⁸⁴ καί ³⁸⁵

mvp-comment-419-1 εἴ τις γνώμη πρόσεστι καὶ ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ν. ³⁸⁶ καί ³⁸⁷

mvp-comment-419-2 πρεσβεύειν ³⁸⁸

mvp-comment-420-1 φῦναι ³⁸⁹

mvp-comment-420-2 πάντ’ ³⁹⁰

mvp-comment-421-1 εἰ δ’ οὖν ³⁹¹ φιλεῖ γάρ ³⁹²

mvp-comment-421-2 τοῦτο … ταύτῃ ³⁹³ ταύτῃ ³⁹⁴

mvp-comment-421-3 ῥέπειν ³⁹⁵

mvp-comment-422-1 καὶ τὸ τῶν εὖ λεγόντων μανθάνειν καλόν ³⁹⁶

mvp-comment-423-1 σέ τ’ ³⁹⁷ διπλᾶι ³⁹⁸ διπλᾶ ³⁹⁹ διπλῇ ⁴⁰⁰ διπλᾶ ⁴⁰¹

mvp-comment-423-2 On the other hand, διπλῇ ⁴⁰²

mvp-comment-424-1 καὶ ⁴⁰³ διδαξ. ⁴⁰⁴

mvp-comment-424-2 δή ⁴⁰⁵

mvp-comment-424-3 τὴν φύσιν ⁴⁰⁶

mvp-comment-425-1 μηδέν ⁴⁰⁷ τὸ μὴ δίκ. ⁴⁰⁸

mvp-comment-425-2 τὸν χρόνον ⁴⁰⁹ τἄργα ⁴¹⁰

mvp-comment-426-1 ἔργον ⁴¹¹

mvp-comment-426-2 τοὺς ἀκοσμοῦντας ⁴¹²

mvp-comment-426-3 σέβειν ⁴¹³

mvp-comment-427-1 οὐδ’ ⁴¹⁴

mvp-comment-428-1 τοιᾷδε … νοσῳ ⁴¹⁵

mvp-comment-428-2 ἐπείληπται ⁴¹⁶

mvp-comment-429-1 Θήβης ⁴¹⁷ ὁμόπτολις ⁴¹⁸

mvp-comment-430-1 ἡμῖν ⁴¹⁹ ἐμέ ⁴²⁰

mvp-comment-431-1 ὡς ἄγαν νέος ⁴²¹

mvp-comment-432-1 Dobree's με ⁴²² γε ⁴²³ χρή ⁴²⁴ ἄλλῳ ἢ ’μοί ⁴²⁵ ἐμοί ⁴²⁶ χρή γε ⁴²⁷

mvp-comment-433-1 πόλις γὰρ οὐκ ἔσθ’ ⁴²⁸

mvp-comment-433-2

τυραννίς

ἔσχατον πόλεως νόσημα

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

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

mvp-comment-434-1 νομίζεται ⁴²⁹

mvp-comment-435-1 καλῶς ἐρήμης γ’ ⁴³⁰

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

συμμαχεῖν

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

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

mvp-comment-437-1 οὖν ⁴³¹ προκήδομαι ⁴³²

mvp-comment-438-1 ὦ παγκάκιστε ⁴³³

mvp-comment-438-2 διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί ⁴³⁴

mvp-comment-439-1 ἀρχάς ⁴³⁵

mvp-comment-440-1 οὐ γὰρ σέβεις ⁴³⁶

mvp-comment-440-2 τιμάς ⁴³⁷

mvp-comment-441-1 ὦ μιαρόν ⁴³⁸ γυναικὸς ὕστερον ⁴³⁹

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

αἰσχρόν

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

ἔρωτος...ἥσσων

: fr. 844

ἥσσων...ὀργῆς.

mvp-comment-442-2 οὔ τἄν ⁴⁴⁰

mvp-comment-442-3 γε ⁴⁴¹

mvp-comment-443-1 γοῦν ⁴⁴²

mvp-comment-444-1 καὶ σοῦ γε ⁴⁴³

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

εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ’

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

ἄληθες

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

μὴ κώτιλλέ με

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

μὴ κώτιλλέ με

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

βούλει λέγειν τι

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

διὰ δίκης ἰέναι

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

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

κώτιλλε

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

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

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

κενὰς γνώμας

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

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

οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ταύτην ἔτι ζῶσαν γαμεῖς

(fut.)

ποτέ

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

ἐν Ἅιδου

(654). Cp. 1240 .— ὡς ⁴⁴⁴ ποτέ ⁴⁴⁵ ταύτην ⁴⁴⁶

mvp-comment-446-1 ἥδ’ ⁴⁴⁷ ὀλεῖ τινά ⁴⁴⁸

mvp-comment-447-1 ἦ ἐπεξέρχει και ἐπαπειλῶν ὧδε θρασύς; ⁴⁴⁹ καί ⁴⁵⁰

mvp-comment-448-1 κλαίων ⁴⁵¹

mvp-comment-448-2 φρενώσεις ⁴⁵²

mvp-comment-449-1 οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν ⁴⁵³

mvp-comment-450-1 δούλευμα ⁴⁵⁴

mvp-comment-450-2 μὴ κωτιλλέ με ⁴⁵⁵

mvp-comment-450-3 Cp. Theognis 363

εὖ κώτιλλε τὸν ἐχθρόν

(cajole)'

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

: id. 851

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

mvp-comment-451-1 λέγειν … κλύειν; ⁴⁵⁶ λέγειν τι ⁴⁵⁷

mvp-comment-452-1 ἄληθες; ⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-452-2 οὐ τόνδ’ Ὄλ. ⁴⁵⁹

mvp-comment-452-3 ἴσθ’ ὅτι ⁴⁶⁰

mvp-comment-453-1 χαίρων ⁴⁶¹

mvp-comment-453-2 ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ⁴⁶² ἐπί ⁴⁶³ ἔτι ⁴⁶⁴

mvp-comment-454-1 ἄγετε ⁴⁶⁵ ἄγ’ ἄγε ⁴⁶⁶ ἄγαγε ⁴⁶⁷

mvp-comment-454-2 τὸ μῖσος ⁴⁶⁸

mvp-comment-454-3 κατ’ ὄμματ’ ⁴⁶⁹

mvp-comment-454-4 παρόντι … πλησία ⁴⁷⁰

mvp-comment-455-1 ἔμοιγε ⁴⁷¹ οὔτε ⁴⁷² τε ⁴⁷³

mvp-comment-455-2 οὐδαμά ⁴⁷⁴

mvp-comment-455-3 ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ⁴⁷⁵

mvp-comment-456-1 ὡς ⁴⁷⁶

mvp-comment-456-2 τοῖς θέλουσι ⁴⁷⁷

mvp-comment-457-1 ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς ⁴⁷⁸

mvp-comment-457-2 βαρύς ⁴⁷⁹

mvp-comment-458-1 μεῖζον ἢ κατ’ ἄνδρα ⁴⁸⁰

mvp-comment-458-2 ἰών ⁴⁸¹

mvp-comment-458-3

αἱρήσοιμ’ ἰών

: Ai. 304

ὅσην κατ’ αὐτῶν ὕβριν ἐκτίσαιτ’ ἰών

. So here it scornfully suggests some daring enterprise.

mvp-comment-459-1 For δ’ οὖν ⁴⁸²

mvp-comment-459-2 τὼ … τώδε ⁴⁸³

mvp-comment-459-3 καί ⁴⁸⁴ κατακτ. νοεῖς ⁴⁸⁵ κατακτ ⁴⁸⁶

mvp-comment-460-1 θιγοῦσαν ⁴⁸⁷

mvp-comment-460-2 γὰρ οὖν ⁴⁸⁸

mvp-comment-461-1 καί ⁴⁸⁹ βουλεύει ⁴⁹⁰

mvp-comment-461-2 σφε ⁴⁹¹

mvp-comment-462-1 ἔνθα ⁴⁹²

mvp-comment-463-1 πετρώδει … ἐν κατώρυχι ⁴⁹³

mvp-comment-464-1 ὡς ἄγος μόνον ⁴⁹⁴ ὡς ⁴⁹⁵ ὅσον ⁴⁹⁶

mvp-comment-464-2 ἄγος ⁴⁹⁷

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

κάκιστος

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

mvp-comment-464-4 The danger of a

μίασμα

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

νέρτεροι

claimed an indemnity for the usual

ἐναγίσματα

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

ῥάκη προθέντες βαιὰ καί τι καὶ βορᾶς | ἐπωφέλημα σμικρόν

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

mvp-comment-465-1 πᾶσ’ ⁴⁹⁸

mvp-comment-466-1 ὃν μόνον σέβει ⁴⁹⁹

mvp-comment-466-2

ἐγγενεῖς

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

mvp-comment-467-1 τὸ μὴ θανεῖν ⁵⁰⁰ τεύξεται ⁵⁰¹

mvp-comment-468-1 ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦτα ⁵⁰² τἀν ⁵⁰³

mvp-comment-470-1 ἀνίκατε μάχαν ⁵⁰⁴

mvp-comment-471-1 ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις, ⁵⁰⁵

mvp-comment-472-1 ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς ⁵⁰⁶

mvp-comment-472-2 ἐννυχεύεις ⁵⁰⁷

mvp-comment-473-1 ὑπερπόντιος ⁵⁰⁸

mvp-comment-473-2 ἔν τ’ ἀγρ. αὐλαῖς ⁵⁰⁹

mvp-comment-474-1 οὔτ’ ἀθανάτων ⁵¹⁰

mvp-comment-474-2 σὲ … φύξιμός ἐστι ⁵¹¹

mvp-comment-475-1 σέ γ’ ⁵¹²

mvp-comment-475-2 ὁ δ’ ἔχων ⁵¹³

mvp-comment-476-1 ἀδίκους ⁵¹⁴ παρασπᾷς ⁵¹⁵

mvp-comment-477-1 ξύναιμον ⁵¹⁶

mvp-comment-477-2 ἔχεις ⁵¹⁷

mvp-comment-477-3 ταράξας ⁵¹⁸

mvp-comment-478-1 ἐναργής ⁵¹⁹

mvp-comment-478-2 βλεφάρωνἵμερος ⁵²⁰ εὐλέκτρου νύμφας ⁵²¹

mvp-comment-478-3 εὐλέκτρου ⁵²²

mvp-comment-479-1 πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς ⁵²³ πάρεδρος ⁵²⁴ ἐν ἀρχαῖς ⁵²⁵

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

φύξιμος οὐδείς

(788). The first two syllables of

πάρεδρος

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

ἀγχίπολις Ἄρης

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

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

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

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

θεσμοί

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

σοφίᾳ παρέδρους...ἔρωτας, | παντοίας ἀρετᾶς ξυνεργούς

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

mvp-comment-479-4 The best line of emendation yet suggested is that of Semitelos, who writes ὥστε πέρα δρᾶν ⁵²⁶

mvp-comment-480-1 ἐμπαίζει ⁵²⁷ νικᾷ ⁵²⁸

mvp-comment-481-1 καὐτὸς θεσμῶν ἔξω ⁵²⁹

mvp-comment-481-2 φέρομαι ⁵³⁰

mvp-comment-481-3 ἴσχειν δ’ ⁵³¹

mvp-comment-482-1 πηγάς ⁵³²

mvp-comment-483-1 παγκοίτην ⁵³³

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

τὸν αἰένυπνον

. The word θάλαμον ⁵³⁴

mvp-comment-483-3 ἀνύτουσαν ⁵³⁵

mvp-comment-485-1 νεάταν … νέατον δέ ⁵³⁶

mvp-comment-485-2 νέατον ⁵³⁷

mvp-comment-485-3 κοὔποτ’ αὖθις ⁵³⁸

mvp-comment-486-1 παγκοίτας ⁵³⁹ πάγκοινος ⁵⁴⁰

mvp-comment-487-1 ἄγει … ἀκτάν ⁵⁴¹

mvp-comment-488-1 οὔθ’ ὑμεναίων … οὔτ’ ἐπινύμφειος … ὕμνος ⁵⁴²

mvp-comment-488-2 οὔτε … ἔγκληρον, … οὔτε … ὕμνησεν ⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-488-3 ἐπινύμφειος ⁵⁴⁵ ἐπινυμφίδιος ⁵⁴⁶ ἐπὶ νυμφείοις ⁵⁴⁷ ἐπινυμφίδιος ⁵⁴⁸

mvp-comment-489-1 Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω ⁵⁴⁹

mvp-comment-490-1 ξιφέων ⁵⁵⁰ ἐπίχειρα ⁵⁵¹

mvp-comment-491-1 αὐτόνομος ⁵⁵²

mvp-comment-491-2 δή ⁵⁵³ μόνη ⁵⁵⁴ Ἀΐδην ⁵⁵⁵ Ἅιδην ⁵⁵⁶

mvp-comment-492-1 ἤκουσα δή ⁵⁵⁷

mvp-comment-492-2 λυγροτάταν ⁵⁵⁸

mvp-comment-492-3 ξέναν ⁵⁵⁹

mvp-comment-493-1 Ταντάλου ⁵⁶⁰

mvp-comment-493-2 Σιπύλῳ ⁵⁶¹

mvp-comment-494-1 ἀτενής ⁵⁶²

mvp-comment-494-2 πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν ⁵⁶³ αι^ ⁵⁶⁴

mvp-comment-495-1 καί νιν ὄμρροι ⁵⁶⁵ τέγγει δ’ ⁵⁶⁶ ὄμβρῳ ⁵⁶⁷ τακομέναν ⁵⁶⁸ τέγγει … δειράδας ⁵⁶⁹ ὄμβροι ⁵⁷⁰ ὄμβρῳ ⁵⁷¹

mvp-comment-495-2 χιών ⁵⁷²

mvp-comment-495-3 οὐδαμά ⁵⁷³

mvp-comment-496-1 τέγγει δ’ ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι … δειράδας ⁵⁷⁴

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

ἄγαλμα

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

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

φαίνεται αἰπήεσσα πέτρη, Σιπύλοιό τ’ ἀπορρώξ

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

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

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

δεδακρυμένην δόξεις ὁρᾶν καὶ κατηφῆ γυναῖκα

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

mvp-comment-497-1 ὁμοιοτάταν ⁵⁷⁵

mvp-comment-498-1 ἀλλὰ … θανοῦσαν ⁵⁷⁶ καίτοι ⁵⁷⁷ ζῶσαν ⁵⁷⁸ θανοῦσαν ⁵⁷⁹ οἴμοι γελῶμαι ⁵⁸⁰

mvp-comment-498-2 θεός ⁵⁸¹

mvp-comment-498-3 θεογεννής ⁵⁸² θειογενής ⁵⁸³

mvp-comment-499-1 καίτοι ⁵⁸⁴ φθιμένῃ ⁵⁸⁵

mvp-comment-499-2 κἀκοῦσαι ⁵⁸⁶ μέγ’ ἀκοῦσαι ⁵⁸⁷

mvp-comment-500-1 τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα ⁵⁸⁸ ἔγκληρα ⁵⁸⁹

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

κλῆρος

, as H. F. 468

ἔγκληρα πεδία ...κεκτημένος

(‘by inheritance’). Here,

ἔγκληρα

was perh. partly due to a reminiscence of

ἔγκληρον

in 814.—The change of τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ⁵⁹⁰ τοῖσι θεοῖσιν ⁵⁹¹ ι— ⁵⁹² α— ⁵⁹³ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα ⁵⁹⁴

mvp-comment-501-1 ζῶσαν … θανοῦσαν ⁵⁹⁵

mvp-comment-502-1 γελῶμαι ⁵⁹⁶

mvp-comment-503-1 πολυκτήμονες ⁵⁹⁷

mvp-comment-504-1 κρῆναι ⁵⁹⁸

mvp-comment-504-2 εὐαρμάτου ⁵⁹⁹

mvp-comment-504-3 ἄλσος ⁶⁰⁰

mvp-comment-504-4 ἔμπας ⁶⁰¹

mvp-comment-505-1 ὔμμ’ ⁶⁰²

mvp-comment-505-2 ἐπικτῶμαι ⁶⁰³ ἐπί ⁶⁰⁴

mvp-comment-506-1 οἵα ⁶⁰⁵

mvp-comment-506-2 φίλων ἄκλαυτος ⁶⁰⁶

mvp-comment-507-1 ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ⁶⁰⁷ ἕρμα ⁶⁰⁸

mvp-comment-508-1 ποταινίου ⁶⁰⁹

mvp-comment-509-1 Though every treatment of this verse must remain subject to doubt, far the most probable (to my mind) is Seyffert's modification of Boeckh's βροτοῖς οὔτ’ ἐν νεκροῖς κυροῦσα ⁶¹⁰ οὔτε ⁶¹¹ κυροῦσα ⁶¹² νεκροῖς ⁶¹³

mvp-comment-510-1 μέτοικος ⁶¹⁴

mvp-comment-511-1 προβᾶσ’ … πολύ ⁶¹⁵ προσέπεσες ⁶¹⁶

mvp-comment-511-2 πολύ ⁶¹⁷ ἐσχάτου ⁶¹⁸ προσέπεσες ⁶¹⁹

mvp-comment-512-1 πατρῷόν τινα … ἆθλον ⁶²⁰ τινά ⁶²¹

mvp-comment-512-2 ἐκτίνεις ⁶²²

mvp-comment-513-1 μερίμνας ⁶²³ οἶκτον ⁶²⁴ πατρός ⁶²⁵ πότμου ⁶²⁶ οἶκτον ⁶²⁷

mvp-comment-513-2 to taking

οἶκτον

as acc. in apposition with

ἔψαυσας...μερίμνας

is that this would imply

τό

(

σε

)

ψαῦσαι ἀλγ. ἐμοὶ μερίμνης οἶκτός ἐστιν

: as Eur. Or. 1105

Ἑλένην κτάνωμεν, Μενέλεῳ λύπην πικράν

, implies,

τὸ Ἑλένην κτανεῖν Μενέλεῳ λύπη πικρὰ ἔσται

: Aesch. Ag. 224

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

, implies,

τὸ θυτῆρα γενέσθαι ἀρωγὴ ἦν

. Now, if we had, for instance,

ἀνεμνήσθην μερίμνης

, it is conceivable that

οἶκτον

, as acc. in appos., should mean

οἴκτου ἀφορμήν

ἔγερσιν

. But when, as here, the subject of

ἔψαυσας

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

οἶκτον

should have this pregnant sense.

mvp-comment-513-3 ἀλγ. μερίμνας ⁶²⁸ οἶτον ⁶²⁹

mvp-comment-513-4 τριπόλιστον ⁶³⁰

mvp-comment-513-5 κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν ⁶³¹ πότμου ⁶³²

mvp-comment-513-6 ἁμετέρου ⁶³³

mvp-comment-514-1 ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται ⁶³⁴ πατρῷαι ⁶³⁵

mvp-comment-514-2

λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ

; and ( b) with

πατρῷαι

the explanation by

ἐμῷ πατρί

, etc., would have been less needed.

mvp-comment-515-1 κοιμήματα . . αὐτογέννητα . . ματρός ⁶³⁶

mvp-comment-515-2 ἐμῷ πατρί ⁶³⁷

mvp-comment-515-3 δυσμόρου ⁶³⁸

mvp-comment-516-1 οἵων ⁶³⁹ ποτέ ⁶⁴⁰ οἵων ⁶⁴¹ ποτέ ⁶⁴² οὕς ⁶⁴³ οἵων ⁶⁴⁴ ματρός.—ἀραῖος ⁶⁴⁵

mvp-comment-516-2 μέτοικος ⁶⁴⁶

mvp-comment-517-1 κασίγνητε ⁶⁴⁷

mvp-comment-518-1 θανὼν ἔτ’ οὖσαν ⁶⁴⁸

mvp-comment-518-2 κατήναρες ⁶⁴⁹

mvp-comment-519-1 σέβειν ⁶⁵⁰

mvp-comment-519-2 sense,

εὐσέβεια

’: i.e. though it is not complete

εὐσέβεια

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

τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ’ ἐκτησάμην

: by practising

εὐσέβεια

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

δυσσεβής

—as a law-breaker. The Chorus is here the apologist of Creon, and this concession is meant to emphasise the next sentence. Hence the purposed vagueness of σέβειν ⁶⁵¹

mvp-comment-520-1 κράτος δὲ ⁶⁵² ὅτῳ ⁶⁵³

mvp-comment-520-2 οὐδαμᾷ ⁶⁵⁴ μέλει ⁶⁵⁵

mvp-comment-521-1 αὐτόγνωτος ⁶⁵⁶ αὐτὴ γιγνώσκουσα ⁶⁵⁷

mvp-comment-521-2 ὀργά ⁶⁵⁸

mvp-comment-522-1 ἑτοίμαν ⁶⁵⁹

mvp-comment-523-1 τόδε λ. ἱρὸν ὄμμα ⁶⁶⁰

mvp-comment-524-1 ἀδάκρυτον ⁶⁶¹

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

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

(n.): El. 1143

τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς | ἀνωφελήτου

. Cp. 791 .

mvp-comment-525-1 ἆρ’ ἴστε ⁶⁶² λέγειν ⁶⁶³ ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους ⁶⁶⁴ ἴστε ⁶⁶⁵

mvp-comment-525-2 οὐδ’ ἂν εἷς ⁶⁶⁶

mvp-comment-526-1 οὐκ ἄξεθ’ ⁶⁶⁷ τάχιστα.—κατηρεφεῖ ⁶⁶⁸

mvp-comment-527-1 περιπτύξαντες ⁶⁶⁹

mvp-comment-528-1 χρῇ ⁶⁷⁰ ζῶσα ⁶⁷¹ χρῇ ⁶⁷²

mvp-comment-528-2

σιγῆν

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

χρῇς

as=

χρῄζεις

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

χρή

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

χρή

, viz. El. 606

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

: and Ai. 1373

σοὶ δὲ δρᾶν ἔξεσθ’ ἃ χρῇς

. In the other two,

χρή

might well stand: Eur. fr. 910

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

: Cratinus

Νόμοι

fr. 2

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

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

χρή

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

χρῇ

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

mvp-comment-529-1 ζῶσα τυμβεύειν ⁶⁷³ νυμφεύειν ⁶⁷⁴

mvp-comment-529-2 στέγῃ ⁶⁷⁵

mvp-comment-530-1 ἁγνοί ⁶⁷⁶

mvp-comment-530-2 τοὐπὶ τήνδε ⁶⁷⁷

mvp-comment-531-1 μετοικίας ⁶⁷⁸

mvp-comment-531-2 δ’ οὖν ⁶⁷⁹

mvp-comment-531-3 στερήσεται ⁶⁸⁰

mvp-comment-532-1 ὦ τύμβος ⁶⁸¹

mvp-comment-532-2 νυμφεῖον ⁶⁸²

mvp-comment-532-3 κατασκαφής ⁶⁸³

mvp-comment-533-1 ἀριθμὸν … πλεϊστον ⁶⁸⁴

mvp-comment-533-2 ἐν νεκροῖς ⁶⁸⁵ δέδεκται ⁶⁸⁶

mvp-comment-533-3

πύλαι

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

Ἑρμῆς ὁ πομπὸς ἥ τε νερτέρα θεός

( ib. 1548 ). As

ἡ ἀφανὴς θεός

she is associated with Hades ( ib. 1556 ).

mvp-comment-533-4 Φερσέφασσα ⁶⁸⁷ Φ ⁶⁸⁸

mvp-comment-534-1 κάκιστα ⁶⁸⁹ δή ⁶⁹⁰

mvp-comment-534-2 μοῖραν … βίου ⁶⁹¹ ἐξήκειν ⁶⁹²

mvp-comment-535-1 ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω ⁶⁹³ φίλη μὲν … προσφιλὴς δέ ⁶⁹⁴

mvp-comment-536-1 κασίγνητον κάρα ⁶⁹⁵ νῦν δέ ⁶⁹⁶

mvp-comment-537-1 ὑμᾶς ⁶⁹⁷

mvp-comment-537-2 ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα ⁶⁹⁸

mvp-comment-537-3 χοάς ⁶⁹⁹

mvp-comment-537-4 περιστέλλουσα ⁷⁰⁰

mvp-comment-537-5 δέμας ⁷⁰¹

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

521. mvp-comment-305-1 Who can tell if this be not esteemed pious in the under-world? τάδε, this, which you count impious, the burial of Polynices. Schol., τίς οἶδεν εἰ καθ' Ἅιδου ἀλλήλοις διαλλάσσοντες ἡγοῦνται εὐσεβῆ τάδε. τίς οἶδεν εἰ, like Haud scio an in Latin, suggests an affirmative as possible, as in the lines τίς οἶδεν εἰ τὸ ζῆν μὲν ἐστι κατθανεῖν | τὸ κατθανεῖν δὲ ζῆν; κάτωθεν, see v. rr., is possibly right.

522-523. mvp-comment-306-1 Creon means that Eteocles must still hate Polynices after death. To which Antigone rejoins, in the line which expresses what is deepest in her, If it be so, his hatred is no rule for me. Creon sees that further argument is useless, and breaks off impatiently with an abrupt sentence of death.

524-525. mvp-comment-307-1 Go, then, to your grave, and there, if you must love them, love the dead below! κείνους, sc. τοὺς κάτω, with particular reference to Polynices.

526-530. mvp-comment-308-1 Here comes Ismene forth, shedding sisterly tears; from clouds above her brow, that moisten her fair cheek, doing disgrace unto her flushed countenance. Cp. Sh Shakespeare, Midsummer Night's Dream, 1. 1, Lys. Why is your cheek so pale? | How chance the roses there do fade so fast? | Herm. Belike, for want of rain, which I could well | Beteem them from the tempest of mine eyes. Ant. and Cleo. 3. 2. 52. Il. 17. 591, ἄχεος νεφέλη: Eur. Hipp. 173, ὀφρύων νέφος: Aesch. Prom. 144-145, ὀμίχλα .. πλήρης δακρύων.

527. mvp-comment-309-1 δάκρυ᾽ εἰβομένη is the Triclinian reading for δάκρυα λειβόμενα. δάκρυ λειβομένη has been conjectured. But the construction, with φιλάδελφα adverbial, is less simple and therefore less pathetic. δάκρυα εἰβομένη is read in M³.

529. mvp-comment-310-1 ῥέθος Eur. Η. F. 1204, πάρες ἀπ᾿ ὀμμάτων | πέπλον . . ῥέθος ἀελίῳ δεῖξον.

531. mvp-comment-311-1 ὡς ἔχιδν᾽ ὑφειμένη Having slid in secretly like a snake; i.e. Like a serpent lurking. For the feeling associated with ὑφίημι, cp. Ο. Τ. 387, ὑφεὶς μάγον τοιόνδε μηχανορράφον.

532. mvp-comment-312-1 ἐξέπινες Cp. Tr. 1055-1056, ῥοφεῖ ξυνοικοῦν· ἐκ δὲ χλωρὸν αἷμά μου | πέπωκεν ἤδη.

533. mvp-comment-313-1 ἄτα κἀπαναστάσεις Abstract for concrete. See Essay on Language p. 94.

533. mvp-comment-313-2 θρόνων, obj. gen. Ib. § 9. p. 12.

536. mvp-comment-314-1 εἴπερ ἥδ᾽ ὁμορροθεῖ The Scholiast has noticed the apparent absurdity of Ismene's adding this condition to her avowal; and Schneidewin alters the line το δέδρακα τοὔργον, εἴπερ ἥδ᾽· ὁμορροθῶ. But the inconsistency is touchingly significant of the irresolute character of Ismene, and of the ascendancy of Antigone's stern nature over hers.

537. mvp-comment-315-1 τῆς αἰτίας is directly governed by ξυμμετίσχω, the notion of participation being silently continued in καὶ φέρω. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 331, πάντων μετασχὼν καὶ τετολμηκὼς ἐμοί.

539. mvp-comment-316-1 οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ 'κοινωσάμην Supr. 69.

541. mvp-comment-317-1 ξύμπλουν Essay on Language p. 94.

542. mvp-comment-318-1 Antigone's offering to the dead was made in solitude, and without the presence of the sun.

545. mvp-comment-319-1 ἁγνίσαι τιμῆσαι Schol. Ismene means, Though I shrank from the deed, let me share the glory of it by accepting the consequences.

546. mvp-comment-320-1 ἅ = ταῦτα ὧν. Essay on Language § 35. P. 59. μή, ibid. § 29. p. 48.

548. mvp-comment-321-1 τίς βίος i. e. πῶς ὁ βίος; See Essay on Language § 22. p. 36.

549. mvp-comment-322-1 'Ask Creon. He has your care and duty;' i.e. Creon is more to you than your brother is.

551. mvp-comment-323-1 εἰ γέλωτ᾽ ἔν σοι γελῶ Schneidewin's explanation of this line, It is painful to me to be mocking you, my sister, is out of harmony with the tone of Antigone, although it is true that in this line her bitterness is somewhat softened. Either δή, κεἰ must be read, or εἰ explained as = κεἰ. I have grief enough, I assure you, though I laugh a bitter laugh at thee. Cp. 728, εἰ δ' ἐγὼ νέος = Though I am young: Eur. Or. 484, εἰ δὲ δυστυχεῖ, τιμητέος. See Essay on Language § 28. p. 47.

552. mvp-comment-324-1 ἀλλὰ νῦν Essay on Language § 26. p. 43. Par. E suggests ἐπωφελοῖμ᾽.

554. mvp-comment-325-1 κἀμπλάκω i. e. ἢ σώσω ἐμαυτὴν καὶ ἀμπλάκω.

556. mvp-comment-326-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ . . λόγοις But not without my saying what I said, was this choice made. Ismene would clear herself from the imputation of merely shrinking from the attempt through cowardice, or without laying before her sister the grounds of her own conduct, as she had done supr. 49 ff. She also wishes to remind Antigone of ll. 78, 99, which acquit her of indifference towards the dead. But Antigone only recalls the argument against opposing those in power. Wolff compares Eur. Ion 228, ἐπὶ δ' ἀσφάκτοις μήλοις μὴ πάριτε.

557. mvp-comment-327-1 Your counsel seemed wise to these' (Creon, etc., τοῖς ἐνθάδε), but mine to those (Polynices and the powers below, τοῖς ἐκεῖ). The form of the sentence is accommodated to the latter part of it. If the first part were fully expressed it would be ἐδόκεις ἄν. G. Wolff and Wecklein prefer the reading σὺ μὲν σοί. But the opposition of τοῖς μὲν, τοῖς δέ, is more pointed.

558. mvp-comment-328-1 (1) Ismene reiterates, still feebly, what she had asserted in 536-537. Or (2) 'We are both in equal error,'-you against the state, and I against the dead. The first (1) is best. In either case, Antigone rejoins, You need not trouble yourself to make confessions. You are safe.

559-560. mvp-comment-329-1 ἡ δ᾽ ἐμὴ.. ὠφελεῖν My soul has long been with the dead, to do them service. In these words Antigone may be supposed to say, either (1) From the moment when my resolution was taken, my life has been with the dead, devoted in sacrifice to their aid; cp. supr. 72 and note: or (2) I have long been dead to all the joys of life, and am therefore a fit sacrifice to the service of the dead. So Wecklein. Cp. Shak. Merch. of V. 4. 1, I am a tainted wether of the flock, etc. But the former meaning (1) is alone consistent with the betrothal of Antigone to Haemon.

562. mvp-comment-330-1 τὴν δ᾽.. ἔφυ We learn from this line, and from supr. 499-501, that there had never been much sympathy between Antigone and Creon.

563-564. mvp-comment-331-1 The unfortunate never retain even the reason that was born with them, but lose it in distraction. Ismene intends her excuse to cover Antigone.

564. mvp-comment-332-1 Creon echoes κακῶς πράσσουσιν. You lost your wits when you chose to share the guilt of the wicked. Cp. 536 ff., 558.

566. mvp-comment-333-1 Why, what life that deserves the name could be mine in loneliness apart from her?

567. mvp-comment-334-1 Say not "this maiden." She is no longer here. The word ἥδε remains in the nominative. This often happens when a word is quoted with the article; which, however, is elsewhere omitted in similar cases, as for instance when the word so quoted is the predicate of a sentence. Cp. Plato, Theaet. 164 Β, τὸ δέ γε οὐχ ὁρᾷ οὐκ ἐπίσταταί ἐστιν, εἴπερ καὶ τὸ ὁρᾷ ἐπίσταται, where ἐπίσταται is equally out of construction with ἥδε in this line.

568. mvp-comment-335-1 νυμφεῖα Essay on Language p. 94.

569. mvp-comment-336-1 Ср. О. Т. 1211, 1497-1498, foll.

570. mvp-comment-337-1 Not as their hearts were plighted. Literally, Not in such a way as harmony had been prepared between him and her. Cp. Pind. Pyth. 9.13, ξυνὸν ἁρμόζοισα θεῷ τε γάμον κούρᾳ θ' Ὑψέος εὐρυβία.

571. mvp-comment-338-1 The plural generalizes the expression.

571. mvp-comment-338-2 υἱέσι Dative of the person interested.

572. mvp-comment-339-1 *AN. The MSS. have ΙΣ. But Böckh has given strong reasons for following Aldus in assigning the line to Antigone. The last speech of Creon might well move her to break silence, which she does naturally by resenting the words not for herself, but for Haemon. There is also greater bitterness in this line than in any speech of Ismene. Then, granting that τὸ σὸν λέχος, addressed to Ismene, might mean The marriage you prate of, the words express a much deeper feeling as addressed to Antigone. Outwardly a mere expression of impatience, they convey the only touch of natural feeling which Creon betrays. 574 and 576 are then most naturally given to the chorus. The act of Creon in sacrificing his son's happiness is more solemnly marked when his words are addressed to the coryphaeus. While adhering to this view I am bound to add that some of the best critics prefer the other arrangement of the persons.

577. mvp-comment-340-1 καὶ σοί γε κάμοί Sc. δεδογ μένα: i. e. σὺ μὲν οὕτω δοκεῖς, ἐμοὶ δὲ δέδοκται. We are agreed so far.

577. mvp-comment-340-2 τριβάς Sc. ποιείσθε. Essay on Language §39. p. 74.

578. mvp-comment-341-1 'Henceforth these must be really women, and not left at large;' i. e. They must be treated as women. Cp. l. 484. This reading, although defaced in L, may well be defended against such would-be improvements as εὖ δὲ τάσδε χρὴ | γυναῖκας εἶλαι (Dind.), and εὖ δετὰς δὲ χρὴ | γυναῖκας εἶναι (Seyffert), which are to be condemned, amongst other reasons, for destroying the singleness of the emphasis. Creon, as usual, covers his self-will under the appearance of principle. Cp. Plat. Legg. 1.637, ταχὺ γάρ σου λάβοιτ᾽ ἄν τις τῶν παρ' ἡμῶν ἀμυνόμενος, δεικνὺς τὴν τῶν γυναικῶν παρ' ὑμῖν ἄνεσιν : Ar. Pol. 2. 6. The words indicate that Antigone's going beyond the gate, supr. 18, 19, was an exceptional freedom, consequent on the war. Thus Sophocles is contented with a hint, where Euripides thinks an explanation necessary: Phoen. 89-91.

582. mvp-comment-342-1 The fate of Antigone is sealed, and the chorus moralize over the power of fate and of Zeus, as shown in the continued calamities of the race of Labdacus, and the infatuation ('quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ') of Antigone. The spectator is left free to apply the same reflections to the case of Creon.

582. mvp-comment-342-2 'Calamity is like a storm that stirs the lowest depths and sounds afar. The race once touched is never free. Each generation as it rises is struck down.

582. mvp-comment-342-3 'The house of Labdacus has sorrow upon sorrow. Amidst the ruined grove one root was springing, only to be swept under by the cruel dues of Hades in a frenzy of infatuation.

582. mvp-comment-342-4 Who can restrain the power of Zeus? Unchecked by sleep or age he ever dwells in the light of Olympus. This was and shall be now and evermore, a truth that spareth not the lives of men, whom hope deceives, giving comfort indeed, but also inspiring passionate folly, till disappointment comes, before the man hath seen that he is treading on fire. Wise was he who said that evil seemeth good to one whom God is drawing to perdition. Few are the days of his exemption from that dark lot.

582. mvp-comment-342-5 The 1st strophe opens solemnly with three dactylo-epitritic or Doric lines, which are followed by iambic and trochaic rhythms. The 2nd strophe is logaoedic, with syncope of thesis in ll. 3, 5, 7, 11 a'. β'. ILCCICcl alcl- LullLCClcclcla 10101010 51-1 CLL下CICLI トCICICI CCICCICLI 1101007ID トトー CCCII 100II

582. mvp-comment-342-6 οἶσι .. αἰών Whose life is free from taste of misery. Blessed, because of the rarity of their lot, and because of the unsparing persistence of calamity when it comes to any. For κακῶν ἄγευστος, cp. Ο. Τ. 969, ἄψαυστος ἔγχους.

583. mvp-comment-343-1 θεόθεν The adverb of place supports the metaphor of a storm coming from a certain quarter. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1089, ῥιπὴ Διόθεν.

583-584. mvp-comment-344-1 ἄτας | οὐδὲν ἐλλείπει Cp. l. 2, ff.

585. mvp-comment-345-1 ἔρπον The real subject of this is πᾶσα ἄτη (or τὸ πᾶν ἄτης) implied in the preceding words, the positive being educed from the negative. Calamity stints not, but goes on till it fulfils the number of the race.

586-589. mvp-comment-346-1 ὅμοιον.. πνοαῖς Like as when the billow courses over the darkening deep before fell Thracian blasts from the Euxine sea. Some interpreters make ἔρεβος subj, and οἶδμα obj. of ἐπιδράμῃ, when the darkening wave courses over the main. But οἶδμα elsewhere in Sophocles is not the expanse (aequor) but the swelling of the sea, and ἔρεβος ὕφαλον can hardly be anything else than the nether darkness of the deep. For the accumulation of adjectives, see Essay on Language § 23. p. 37. Seyffert reads ὡς προποντίδος. 589 ff. It rolls from depths below the black tempestuous drift. 591. And the cliffs, returning the shock, groaningly resound.'

586-589. mvp-comment-346-2 δυσάνεμον A sign of tempest, 'Associated with bad winds, because only seen when the wind has been blowing hard on shore. Ventorum vehementiorum comitem.' Musgr. 593, foll. From of old I see with pain' (ὁρῶμαι, ethical middle, Essay on Language § 31. p. 52) 'the calamities of the house of Labdacus accumulating on the calamities of those that are gone; nor does one generation free another, but some god casts them down; nor is there hope of redemption.'

586-589. mvp-comment-346-3 ἀρχαῖα has the stress as suppl. predicate. Essay on Language § 23. p. 38.

595. mvp-comment-347-1 The reading of this line has been much questioned, but the meaning is clear, although it is uncertain what word (whether φθιτῶν or some other) has been supplanted by the unmetrical φθιμένων: which may be due to a reminiscence of Aesch. Cho. 403. 4, παρὰ τῶν πρότερον φθιμένων ἄτην | ἑτέραν ἐπάγουσαν ἐπ᾿ ἄτῃ.

596. mvp-comment-348-1 γενεὰν γένος There is no distinction of meaning (such as One generation, .. 'The whole race'). Cp. O. C. 27, 28, ἐξοικήσιμος .. οἰκητός.

596. mvp-comment-348-2 ἐρείπει Sc. γενεὰν ἑκάστην. Cp. infra 601, κατ᾽ αὖ νιν, κ.τ.λ.

597. mvp-comment-349-1 οὐδ᾽ ἔχει Nor does the case admit of. Cp. Ο. C. 545, ἔχει δέ μοι ..

597. mvp-comment-349-2 πρὸς δίκας τι.

600. mvp-comment-350-1 ῥίζας Ἀντὶ τοῦ, ὅπερ ἔβλαστεν ἄνω τῆς ῥίζης, Schol. The root, for the plant.

600. mvp-comment-350-2 *ἐτέτατο The Scholiast notes the asyndeton (λείπει ἄρθρον τὸ ὅ): which is expressive and allows viv to be referred to ῥίζας, to which it naturally belongs. And in the reading ῥίζας δ τέτατο, the order of words is questionable. For ἐτέτατο φάος, cp. Phil. 831, αἴγλαν, ἃ τέταται τανῦν. The light is the grace and nobleness of Antigone, and her bright hopes. The conj. θάλος, for which, cp. Pind. Οl. 2. 45, Ἀδραστιδᾶν θάλος, is uncalled for.

601. mvp-comment-351-1 κατ' was rightly restored by Triclinius for κατ' (ⅰ.e. καὶ εἶτα), which had been introduced to avoid the asvndeton. (Schol. ἐάν στίξωμεν κᾷτ᾽ αὖ νιν, οὐδὲν λείπει τῷ λόγῳ.)

602-603. mvp-comment-352-1 ἀμᾷ θερίζει καὶ ἐκκόπτει. ἢ καλύπτει, Schol. The latter is right.

602-603. mvp-comment-352-2 Ας καταμᾶσθαι κόνιν is ‘Το cover oneself with dust,' so, by a poetical inversion, the dust may be said καταμᾶν, To cover, or Sweep out of sight. Essay on Language § 42. р. 80, β.

603. mvp-comment-353-1 λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν Ἐριvús The reasoning of Antigone in 450 ff. seems wild to the chorus, and her conduct shows her to them as possessed with a fatal frenzy. It may be thought strange that κόνις should be retained against a reading which has been so generally ap- proved as κόπις, first suggested by Jortin. But see Essay on Language pp. 92, 93. The grotesque image of Death, or Hades, armed with a bloody chopper or cleaver, however agreeable to the manner of Euripides, or some other poets, has no parallel in the language of Sophocles. And the transition from this concrete imagery to the spirits of fury and madness is, to say the least, awkwardly abrupt. The words λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν Ἐρινύς are most natural if they are added to expand an obscure allusion to the deed which had brought Antigone into danger. And the words φοινία θεῶν τῶν νερτέρων .. κόνις, The deadly dust sacred to the gods below, convey such an allusion not more obscurely than do the words in Tr. 836 ff., δεινοτάτῳ μὲν ὕδρας προστετακὼς φάσματι, κ.τ.λ., express the condition of Heracles in the poisoned robe. Triclinius was therefore not absurd in saying εἰκότως δὲ τὸ κόνις τέθειται. διότι γὰρ ἐκάλυψεν Ἀντιγόνη ἀδελφὸν Πολυνείκην κόνει, διὰ τοῦτο τεθνήξεσθαι ἔμελλε.

604. mvp-comment-354-1 This is suggested by the position of Antigone, whose offence brings swift retribution; but is felt by the spectator to be more applicable to that of Creon.

604-605. mvp-comment-355-1 τίς .. κατάσχοι Essay on Language §36. p. 62. Ср. O. T. 937, and esp. Pind. Οl. 11. 20, 1, ἐμφυὲς οὔτ᾽ αἴθων ἀλώπηξ | οὐδ᾽ ἐρίβρομοι λέοντες διαλλάξαιντο ἦθος.

606. mvp-comment-356-1 Not slumber that brings age to all things.' Cp. Hom. Il. 14. 242, where Sleep says, ἄλλον μέν κεν ἔγωγε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων | ῥεῖα κατευνήσαιμι, καὶ ἂν ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα | Ὠκεανοῦ, ὅσπερ γένεσις πάντεσσι τέτυκται | Ζηνὸς δ' οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε Κρονίονος ἆσσον ἱκοίμην, οὐδὲ κατευνήσαιμ᾽, ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε κελεύοι. For αἱρεῖ, cp. Il. 24.5, οὐδέ μιν ὕπνος ἥρει πανδαμάτωρ: Od. 9. 372, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος ἥρει πανδαμάτωρ. The conjecture of Bamberger, παντοθήρας, is plausible. But for the closeness of the association between Age and Sleep, cp. O. T. 870-871, οὐδὲ λάθα κατακοιμάσει .. οὐδὲ γηράσκει.

607-608. mvp-comment-357-1 The reading adopted involves the simplest change which avoids a breach of metrical rules. Others suppose, the loss of a syllable after θεῶν, reading ἄκοποι for ἀκάματοι, with ἕρπει in the fourth line of the antistrophe. For θεῶν added as a sort of epithet = Divine, cp. supra 454, 369: Ο. Τ. 647 : Αj. 711, θεῶν.. πάνθυτα θέσμια : Phil. 198: also Tr. 1191, Ζηνός. The indefiniteness of this use obviates the objection of Schneidewin, that the months of the Gods are opposed to Zeus, who is generally the orderer of time, as in Hom. Il. 2. 134, Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί. There is possibly, however, in θεῶν some allusion to the heavenly bodies, who, as Plato says, are the ὄργανα χρόνου.

608. mvp-comment-358-1 ἀγήρῳ δὲ χρόνῳ δυνάστας With power whose duration is untouched by age. For the personification of χρόνος, see Essay on Language pp. 81, 82. The reading ἀγήρως seems to be of some antiquity, and is embodied in one of the Scholia.

610. mvp-comment-359-1 αἴγλαν Cp. Hom. Il. 1. 532, ἀπ᾿ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου. The conception of Olympus is here more Homeric than elsewhere in Sophocles. See on O. T. 867, О. С. 1655.

611-612. mvp-comment-360-1 τό τ᾽ ἔπειτα καὶ τὸ μέλλον καὶ τὸ πρίν] Cp. Thuc. 2. 64, § 8.

613. mvp-comment-361-1 The reading οὐδὲν *ἕρπων is to some extent confirmed by the Scholium ση πάμπολις, ὁ κατὰ πᾶσαν πόλιν ἕρπων νόμος, and is the most probable of the emendations of this passage. It has been supposed that οὐδὲν ἔρπει, and also ἐκτὸς ἄτας, have crept in from below; but this stasimon is peculiarly full of verbal echoes. See Essay on Language § 44. p. 76. This principle' (the sovereignty of Zeus) will last the coming time, and the time to come, as well as the time past, never swerving, as it moves onwards, from calamity to the life of mortals in all their cities. Lit. Coming to the life of mortals (a law of every city) in no respect out of the way of calamity. οὐδέν, adverbial.

613. mvp-comment-361-2 βιότῳ, dat. of reference (Essay on Language § 12. p. 18). πάμπολις, universal, i.e. law not of any one state, but embracing all. For ἕρπων ἐκτὸς ἅτας θνατῶν βιότῳ, cp. infra l. 1318: ἐμᾶς.. ἐξ αἰτίας (= ἐκτὸς αἰτίας ἐμοί): Ο. C. 1575, ἐν καθαρῷ βῆναι .. τῷ ξένῳ: Essay on Language § 42. p. 79.

615. mvp-comment-362-1 πολύπλαγκτος There is no clear instance of an active use of πολύπλαγκτος, for in Hom. Il. 13. 308, έξ ἀνέμοιο πολυπλάγκτοιο ἰωῆς, The fartravelled wind, is a probable enough meaning. Cp. Shakespeare's Empty, vast, and wandering air. So here Widely roving' is better than Muchdeceiving.' Cp. infr. 785-786.

617. mvp-comment-363-1 ἀπάτα . . ἐρώτων ἐρώτων is not genitive of object, but of cause: not Disappointment of desire, but De ception through desire. To many, hope is but the deceitfulness of winged desire.

618. mvp-comment-364-1 εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει And it comes to him all at unaware, i. e. The event or calamity comes. For the vague subject, cp. supra 597, οὐδ᾽ ἔχει λύσιν, and note. This is better than Nothing befals him while he is aware. 619. Till his foot be scorched in the hot blaze.' For the insertion of τις in the second clause, cp. Aj. 964, τἀγαθὸν χεροῖν | ἔχοντες οὐκ ἴσασι πρίν τις ἐκ βάλῃ : Τr. 2, 3, ὡς οὐκ ἂν αἰῶν᾽ ἐκμάθοις βροτῶν, πρὶν ἂν θάνῃ τις. Seidler's conj. προσαύρῃ is less good than the reading of L.

620. mvp-comment-365-1 σοφίᾳ Dative of manner. Essay on Language § 14. p. 20, 2.

625. mvp-comment-366-1 πράσσει, SC. ὁ τοιοῦτος, supr. l. 619, τις, l. 623 , τῷδ'. Cp. Aesch. ap. Plat. Rep. 2, p. 380 Α, θεὸς μὲν αἰτίαν φύει βροτοῖς | ὅταν κακῶσαι δῶμα παμπήδην θέλει.

625. mvp-comment-366-2 ὀλιγοστόν ὀλίγιστον has been read, and is possibly the Ist hand of L; see v. rr. But ὀλιγοστός χρόνος may mean a time that is one of few, i. e. one that comes rarely or seldom. πολλοστός in Legg. 10. 896 B, is not small, but many times removed, and has the force of a superlative, as it has also in Phileb. 44 E, where it means minutest.

626-627. mvp-comment-367-1 See Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

628. mvp-comment-368-1 νύμφης had probably been written over μελλογάμου or τάλιδος as a gloss. The words τῆς μελλογάμου νύμφης are omitted in VM¹. This whole expression may have been a gloss on τάλιδος, or on τῆς μελλονύμφου φου infr. 633.

629. mvp-comment-369-1 μόρον Ε. on L. § 16. p. 23.

630. mvp-comment-370-1 ἀπάτας (1) Gen. of cause; or (2) with ὑπερ. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 260.

631. mvp-comment-371-1 μαντέων ὑπέρτερον Better than a seer could tell us. Creon thus vents his impatience at the anticipation of the chorus, and also indicates his scorn of prophecy. Cp. infr. 1034 ff.

632. mvp-comment-372-1 τελείαν ψήφον The fixed, irreversible, decree. Creon means by his first words to exclude hope.

632. mvp-comment-372-2 ἆρα μή Can it be that.., expressing doubt mingled with surprise.

633. mvp-comment-373-1 τῆς μελλονύμφου Objective genitive. Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

633. mvp-comment-373-2 λυσσαίνων · Madly raging; as if opposition to a father could only be accounted for by madness. The word is ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, and is for this reason preferable to the weaker θυμαίνων.

634. mvp-comment-374-1 σοὶ μέν i.e. Whatever we may be to others.

635-765. mvp-comment-375-1 Haemon professes obedience to his father, but with the implied condition that his father commands what is right. Not heeding this, Creon welcomes his general profession, and enlarges on the blessings that follow from obedience in public and private. He urges Haemon to renounce Antigone. Haemon replies by repeating the praise of her which he has heard in the city (Ar. Rhet. 3. 17, ἕτερον χρὴ λέγοντα ποιεῖν.. ὡς Σοφοκλῆς τὸν Αἴμονα ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἀντιγόνης πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ὡς λεγόντων ἑτέρων), and begs his father not to be deaf to all opinions but his own. Creon is impatient at this, and, after an altercation, in which both speakers become exasperated, Creon orders Antigone to be brought for immediate execution, and Haemon breaks away in sullen anger. This episode interposes a necessary pause between the condemnation of Antigone and its results, i. e, between the two chief crises of the action, and assists the main impression by bringing the light of natural affection and common opinion to bear on the situation.

635-636. mvp-comment-376-1 σύ μοι γνώμας ἔχων | χρηστὰς ἀπορθοῖς Sc. ἐμέ. You, having good advice for me, direct me. μοι is in construction with the nearer word.

637. mvp-comment-377-1 No marriage can, if I think rightly, be a more valued prize to me. ἀξίως ἔσται has been changed to ἀξιώσεται. But ἀξιοῦσθαι μείζων φέρεσθαι, To be deemed of more importance to obtain, is an awkward and unauthorized expression and, for the position and emphatic use of the adverb, which is the only difficulty, see Essay on Language § 24. pp. 37, 38, and cp. the adverbial use of ἄξιος in El. 1260 ff., τίς .. ἀξίαν μεταβάλοιτ᾽ ἂν .. σιγὰν λόγων ;

638. mvp-comment-378-1 For μείζων, = τιμιώτερος, cp. Ο. Τ. 776, ἀστῶν μέγιστος τῶν ἐκεῖ.

638. mvp-comment-378-2 φέρεσθαι is in the middle voice.

638. mvp-comment-378-3 σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμένου Than you and your good guidance. The condition is assumed to be inseparable from the subject, as in Plat. Rep. 1. 335 A, τὸν μὲν φίλον ἀγαθὸν ὄντα εὖ ποιεῖν, τὸν δὲ ἐχθρὸν κακὸν ὄντα βλάπτειν.

639. mvp-comment-379-1 οὕτω .. διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν Το be thoroughly imbued with this.

640. mvp-comment-380-1 'In all things to follow your father's judgment.' The image is that of taking up a position behind a leader: i. e. Not to break rank, but to follow in good order. Cp. Plat. Protag. 315 B, (the disciples of Protagoras) εὖ πως καὶ ἐν κόσμῳ . . ἀεὶ εἰς τὸ ὄπισθεν καθίσταντο κάλλιστα.

643. mvp-comment-381-1 τὸν ἐχθρόν 'Their father's enemy.'

646. mvp-comment-382-1 τί .. ἄλλο is governed by the general verbal notion, without distinctly anticipating φῦσαι.

648. mvp-comment-383-1 τὰς φρένας γ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς The reading of Vat. is retained, not as clearly right, but as more probable than later corrections. γε may be supposed to give a strong emphasis to φρένας. Do not lose your wits, whatever you do. And this is rather confirmed by the way in which Haemon echoes the word in l. 683.

650-651. mvp-comment-384-1 ψυχρὸν παραγκάλισμα . . ἐν δόμοις 'Small comfort comes of such a union, of having a bad wife to share one's couch at home.'

653. mvp-comment-385-1 πτύσας Rejecting with abhorrence. Here and in l. 1232, πτύειν seems to imply a gesture of dislike or loathing, directed towards a person or thing. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1192, ἐν μέρει δ' ἀπέπτυσαν | εὐνὰς ἀδελφοῦ.

653. mvp-comment-385-2 ὡσεί τε Αn Epic or Ionic form. See Introd. p. 456.

654. mvp-comment-386-1 The construction is rather μέθες τήνδε τινὶ νυμφεύειν, Leave her for some one to wed, than μέθες τήνδε νυμφεύειν τινί, Leave her to wed some one.

657. mvp-comment-387-1 ψευδή .. πόλει I certainly will not break my word to the state.

658. mvp-comment-388-1 ἀλλὰ κτενῶ The abruptness of the pause helps the incisiveness of Creon's language.

659-660. mvp-comment-389-1 εἰ γὰρ .. γένους For if I fail to bring up orderly those born akin to me, most surely I shall fail with those remote. Creon turns Antigone's nearness of kindred to him into a reason for severity. If he cannot control his kinswoman, how much less can he control the state! Authority begins at home.

659. mvp-comment-390-1 For ἐγγενή φύσει, see Essay on Language § 40. p. 69, and p. 82, B.

661. mvp-comment-391-1 τοῖς .. οἰκείοισιν Neuter. Creon characteristically relies on commonplace maxims.

663. mvp-comment-392-1 The transgressor who either violates the laws. The alternative is thought of after the sentence is begun. νόμους is in two constructions, (1) with ὑπερβάς, (2) with βιάζεται.

664. mvp-comment-393-1 τοὐπιτάσσειν Cp. supr. 485, and note.

664. mvp-comment-393-2 τοῖς κρατύνουσιν νοεῖ The reading of L here is rather more uncommon than the alternative reading, which may notwithstanding be right.

666. mvp-comment-394-1 For the optative, in a perfectly general supposition, see Essay on Language §36. p. 61.

666. mvp-comment-394-2 κλύειν Το obey.

667. mvp-comment-395-1 τἀναντία τὰ μεγαλὰ καὶ ἄδικα.

668-671. mvp-comment-396-1 And of this man (the man who obeys the ruler) I would have no fear but that he would rule nobly, and be a good and willing subject, and if posted near me in the storm of battle, would stand firmly as a staunch and trusty comrade. For the vague reference of the pronoun, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 34. And for δορός .. χειμῶνι, ib.

673. mvp-comment-397-1 αὕτη .. τίθησιν The anacoluthon (for which see Essay on Language p. 65) has been avoided in two ways, (1) by omission of τε, (2) by reading ἠδ' for ἥδ'. This Homericism is defended by comparing ὥσει τε in l. 653. There is slight MS. authority for both these changes (see v. rr.). But strong reasons are required for the introduction of a particle not used elsewhere by Sophocles, and after the regularly balanced τε.. ἠδέ, the asyndeton in the next line would be too abrupt. If any change were necessary, the omission of τ' would be preferable, but the lines are more expressive as they are.

674. mvp-comment-398-1 σὺν μάχῃ δορός Bothe conjectured συμμάχου δορός, The rout of the leagued war. But the reading of the MS. has a more vivid meaning. This, aiding the conflict of the spear, breaks down (the vanquished) into shapeless rout: i. e. Disorder helps with battle to make utter rout. For μάχῃ δορός, see Essay on Language p. 75, and for the accusative τροπάς, ib. § 17. p. 25, etc.

675. mvp-comment-399-1 τῶν δ᾽ ὀρθουμένων Of those who are not routed, but are successful. Opposed to οἱ ἡσσώμενοι implied in τροπάς. Cp. El. 742, ὠρθοῦθ' ὁ τλήμων ὀρθὸς ἐξ ὀρθῶν δίφρων.

677. mvp-comment-400-1 οὕτως.. κοσμουμένοις 'Thus one ought to support one's own decrees.' Thus, viz. as I am doing. For this use of the passive participle, see Essay on Language § 17. p. 25, с. Some would explain the words as masculine, One must defend the cause of the orderly subject. Cp. Thuc. 8. 24, ἐκοσμοῦντο ἐχυρώτερον. But such an immediate application of the γνώμη is less in character than the arbitrary assertion of authority. Cp. Hdt. 1. 100, τὰ δὲ δὴ ἄλλα ἐκεκοσμέατό οἱ.

681. mvp-comment-401-1 The form κεκλίμεθα (supposed from κλίνω) was supported by the authority of Thomas Magister.

683. mvp-comment-402-1 θεοὶ.. ὑπέρτατον Wisdom, whose value is above all possessions in the world, is the Gods gift.' Haemon begins by echoing his father's thought, supr. 648, that sound sense is to be prized most highly, but gently hints that Heaven only knows on which side the true wisdom lies. The reading χρημάτων requires ὑπέρτερον, as in L2.

686. mvp-comment-403-1 μήτ᾽ ἐπισταίμην λέγειν i. e. And may I never bring myself to say it. Cp. Trach. 543. 4, θυμοῦσθαι μὲν οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι | νοσοῦντι κείνῳ πολλά.

687. mvp-comment-404-1 χἀτέρῳ Schol. δυνατὸν δὲ καὶ ἑτέρως καλῶς μεταβουλεύσασθαι. Hence Erfurdt and others conjectured χἀτέρως, χατέρα, χἄτερον. Hermann, retaining χἀτέρῳ, interprets, Another also may have wisdom as well as you: i.e. καλῶς ἔχον, sc. τὸ τῶν φρενῶν. But the context rather suggests καλῶς ἔχον, sc. τὸ λέγειν σὲ μὴ ὀρθῶς λέγειν. 'That you are wrong in what you now say I have no power, and may I never have the skill, to affirm. But it may be that from another's mouth such an assertion were not ungracious.' καί in this case belongs to the whole sentence. See Essay on Language § 25. p. 43. 4.

688. mvp-comment-405-1 σοῦ δ᾽ οὖν πέφυκα is decidedly better than σὺ δ᾽ οὐ πέφυκας, which seems to have been suggested by τὸ γὰρ σὸν ὄμμα δεινόν, κ.τ.λ., in what follows. The true connection is, It is not for me to say that you are wrong, though another might do so. However, as your son, it naturally belongs to me to consider in your interest what men do, or say, or find fault with. For the common citizen does not speak his mind in your presence, but I may freely hear. Haemon winds about his father with all this circumstance before pleading for Antigone under shelter of the common opinion, which he professes to quote in the interest of Creon. The tact shown in this is noticed by Aristotle (Rhet. 3. 17) and by the Scholiast. The reading of A, V pr., V³, σοὶ δ' οὖν πέφυκα, deserves consideration.

690-691. mvp-comment-406-1 τὸ γὰρ .. κλύων For your eye overawes the subject in conversation which will displease you to hear. λόγοις τοιούτοις is dative of the occasion or reason, assisted by the attraction of οἷς. Essay on Language § 14. p. 20.

690-691. mvp-comment-406-2 τὸ γὰρ σόν The order puts an emphasis on σόν, as in O. Τ. 671, τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδ᾽ ἐποικτείρω στόμα.

692. mvp-comment-407-1 ἐμοὶ δ᾽.. τάδε But I may hear all this under shadow (out of the light of your eye). The words ὑπὸ σκότου might equally have been connected with the following line. I hear in secret what is spoken in secret.

694. mvp-comment-408-1 ἀναξιωτάτη Sc. τοιαῦτα παθεῖν.

695. mvp-comment-409-1 ἀπ᾿ ἔργων See Essay on Language § 19. p. 28.

697. mvp-comment-410-1 πεπτῶτ᾽ ἄθαπτον i. e. πεπτώτα καὶ ἄθαπτον ὄντα.

697. mvp-comment-410-2 μήθ'.. μήθ' μή, not oὔ, because ἥτις, κ.τ.λ. = εἰ αὕτη, κ.τ.λ.

700. mvp-comment-411-1 ἐρεμνή Dark, i.e. Fraught with hidden danger. (Cp. ὑπὸ σκότου, supra). The word is used with something of the association of awe and dread attaching to night and darkness. Cp. Hom. Il. 1. 47. ὁ δ᾽ ἤτε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.

701. mvp-comment-412-1 σοῦ πράσσοντος εὐτυχῶς Cp. supra 638, σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμένου.

703. mvp-comment-413-1 πατρὸς θάλλοντος εὐκλείας The good renown of a prosperous sire. Haemon thus gently hints his fear of the effect of the sentence on Creon's reputation in the city.

704. mvp-comment-414-1 ἄγαλμα A cause of glorying or delight. Cp. infra 1115, Καδμείας νύμφας ἄγαλμα.

704. mvp-comment-414-2 ἢ τί πρὸς παίδων πατρί ; Or what greater ornament (than their own good fame) can children confer upon their father?

705-706. mvp-comment-415-1 Do not, I beseech you, wear one unchanging temper in your breast, and hold that nothing else is right but as you say. τοῦτο is added because of the imperfect correlation of the clauses. See Essay on Language p. 75.

707-709. mvp-comment-416-1 For ὅστις .. οὗτοι, ib. § 20. p. 31.

707-709. mvp-comment-416-2 For the formal distinction of φρονεῖν, γλῶσσαν, ψυχήν, cp. supra 176, ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, and see Essay on Language pp. 92, 3.

710. mvp-comment-417-1 ἄνδρα Ε. on L. § 22. p. 37.

710. mvp-comment-417-2 κεἴ τις ᾖ Ε. on L. § 27. p. 44.

710. mvp-comment-417-3 τὸ μανθάνειν Essay on Language § 21. p. 34-38.

711. mvp-comment-418-1 καὶ τὸ μὴ τείνειν ἄγαν And not to hold too hard. This absolute use of τείνειν is generalized from the examples given below.

713-714. mvp-comment-419-1 Note the antithesis of κλῶνας .. αὐτόπρεμνα. The one save even their branches, the others are destroyed root and branch. For the image, cp. Webster's Appius and Virginia, p. 203. (iii. 3), The bending willow, yielding to each wind, | Shall keep his footing firm, when the proud oak, | Braving the storm, presuming on his root, | Shall have his body rent from head to foot.

715. mvp-comment-420-1 ναὸς .. ἐγκρατῆ πόδα The sheet which has power over the vessel. This is a more poetical and rhythmical expression than the other reading, ναὸς εἴ τις ἐγκρατής, πόδα | τείνας, ὑπείκει μηδέν.

716-717. mvp-comment-421-1 ὑπτίοις.. ναυτίλλεται Upsetting, makes the rest of his voyage with benches overturned. Join κάτω στρέψας. τὸ λοιπόν as in ll. 310, foll., where there is a similar contradictory expression. The omission of the accusative after στρέψας is natural in speaking of so familiar an occurrence as the over-setting of a boat. Essay on Language pp. 73, 98. τὸ πλοῖον, which Hermann reads for τὸ λοιπόν, is hardly a correct synonym for ναῦν or σκάφος.

718. mvp-comment-422-1 ἀλλ᾽.. δίδου Nay, yield. Be not wholly irremovable in anger. Lit. Afford also a removal from anger. This seems to be the best arrangement of this difficult line; i. e. εἰ θυμὸν ἔχεις, ἀλλὰ πεισθῆτι καὶ μεθίστασθαι τοῦ θυμοῦ. The asyndeton is expressive (Essay on Language § 34. P. 58). The reading of LA, ἀλλ᾽ εἶκε θυμῷ, is perhaps due to a false reminiscence of Il. 9.598, εἴξας ᾧ θυμῷ. Seyffert reads θυμῷ .. διδούς.

719-720. mvp-comment-423-1 γνώμη .. πρόσεστι For if any judgment proceed from me (ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ) though younger in years. Cp. Τr. 52, 3, εἰ δίκαιον τοὺς ἐλευθέρους φρενοῦν | γνώμαισι δούλοις; ib. 61, κἀξ ἀγεννήτων ἄρα | μύθοι καλῶς πίπτουσιν.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-1 The real stress is on the last line. The paratactic form of sentence is retained, the sense being, However excellent a thing perfect knowledge is, yet, since it is rare, it is well to take good advice.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-2 πρεσβεύειν] The active of this verb is rare in the metaphorical sense.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-3 πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμης Of knowledge in all things. Essay on Language § 17. p. 24, b.

720-722. mvp-comment-424-4 εἰ δ᾽ οὖν Sc. μή, which is to be assumed from the next clause, where μή has a strong emphasis. For the sentiment, Hermann compares Hesiod, Op. 293, ἐσθλὸς δ᾽ αὖ κἀκεῖνος, ὃς εὖ εἰπόντι πίθηται.

725. mvp-comment-425-1 διπλᾶ is better than διπλῇ, because dwelling merely on the two speeches, and not on their divergence from each other.

726-727. mvp-comment-426-1 And at our age shall we forsooth be schooled by one so juvenile? For the inverted order, see Essay on Language § 26. p. 44: § 41. p. 77.

727. mvp-comment-427-1 For φύσιν, see Essay on Language p. 96.

728. mvp-comment-428-1 μηδὲν τὸ μὴ δίκαιον The combination of the indefinite μηδέν with the definite article is curious, and suggests the idea that μηδέν is adverbial.. But the Scholiast is probably right in explaining the words as equivalent to μηδὲν διδάσκου ὁ μὴ δίκαιόν ἐστί σοι μανθάνειν. Cp. supra 360, οὐδὲν .. τὸ μέλλον. Essay on Language § 22. p. 36. And for emphatic el, ib. § 28. p. 47, supr. 551.

729. mvp-comment-429-1 You ought not to regard differences of time, but rather to face the actual requirements of the case.' τἄργα are not the merits of Haemon, but the truth of his plea.

730. mvp-comment-430-1 What? Is it a "requirement" to fall down and worship rebels? Creon, as usual, represents mercy as submission. ἔργον ἐστί seems to have the same meaning as in σὸν ἔργον, and the like phrases; i.e. ἔργον almost = Duty.

731. mvp-comment-431-1 Nay, I would not bid thee reverence the wicked.

732. mvp-comment-432-1 'Why, is not she possessed by this disease?" viz. τῇ κακίᾳ.

733. mvp-comment-433-1 Not so declare her fellow-citizens in this town of Thebes.

736. mvp-comment-434-1 Is it right, I say, for another than me to rule this land? The reading of L and most MSS, ἄλλῳ.. μοί, (cp. Eur. Ion 1317) is supported by Thom. M. s. v. χρή, and is certainly the durior lectio. But he may have reasoned from a faulty text. See note on l. 681. γε is expressive. For M4 see list of MSS. in the Preface to this edition.

737. mvp-comment-435-1 Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 370, σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ τὸ δήμιον; Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 1. 2,

When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome, | That her wide walls encompassed but one man? | Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, | When there is in it but one only man.

The genitive ἀνδρὸς .. ἑνός is ambiguous between possessive genitive and genitive of content. A city belonging to one man, and A city composed of one man.

738. mvp-comment-436-1 Is not the city counted a possession of the ruler? Essay on Language § 9. p. 12, b.

739. mvp-comment-437-1 A splendid monarch would you make to rule a desert land.

742. mvp-comment-438-1 This line is sometimes printed with a note of interrogation, as if the words διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί were epexegetic of σοῦ.. προκήδομαι. ('Villain, when you are wrangling with your father?') But the connection of the lines in this στιχομυθία is not very close, and the more obvious meaning (Villain, to wrangle with your father!') is more probable.

743-745. mvp-comment-439-1 οὐ γὰρ δίκαια .. οὐ γὰρ σέβεις] Here, as in 730, ἔργον γάρ ἐστι, there is the same tendency to play on the word (κομψεύειν) that was observed in the speeches of the Φύλαξ.

745. mvp-comment-440-1 οὐ.. σέβεις It is not reverence when you trample on the honours of the Gods. Essay on Language § 53. p. 98, с.

751. mvp-comment-441-1 τινά i. e. σέ. Essay on Language § 22. p. 34, 4. Interpreters have avoided taking these words in their obvious meaning as implying a threat, which Haemon all but carries into execution afterwards in ll. 1233-1234. It is true, however, that this intention is less distinctly present to his mind than the conviction that vengeance will come to Creon from the gods and from popular feeling.

752. mvp-comment-442-1 κἀπαπειλών For the participle, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 63, €, b.

753. mvp-comment-443-1 τίς Almost = πῶς. Cp. О. С. 775, τίς αὕτη τέρψις;

756. mvp-comment-444-1 'Woman's minion that you are, mince not your words with me.' The subdued tone of Haemon (εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ', εἶπον ἄν) only adds fuel to the wrath of Creon.

756. mvp-comment-444-2 For the contempt expressed in δούλευμα and μῖσος (760), see Essay on Language pp. 84, 85.

758. mvp-comment-445-1 άληθες See on O. T. 350.

759. mvp-comment-446-1 ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις Reproach and revile me. For the prepositional phrase, cp. El. 108, ἐπὶ κωκυτῷ, and see Essay on Language § 18. p. 27.

765. mvp-comment-447-1 So that you may exhibit your madness to those of your friends who can brook it. θέλουσι, sc. σοὶ μαινομένῳ ξυνεῖναι. There is a strong emphasis on this participle.

767. mvp-comment-448-1 And at his age the spirit, when chafed, is dangerous. Cp. O. C. 751, τηλικοῦτος, οὐ γάμων | ἔμπειρος ..: and for voûs, see Essay on Language p. 93.

768. mvp-comment-449-1 Cp. O. T. 1075, where Oedipus, with similar unconsciousness, says of Jocasta, who has just rushed out, ὁποῖα χρήζει ῥηγνύτω.

770. mvp-comment-450-1 The order of words shows that the chief emphasis is on ἄμφω : Essay on Language § 41. p. 77. Hence καί is to be taken with the whole sentence: ib. § 25. P. 43, 4. Do you really intend to put them both to death?

773. mvp-comment-451-1 ἔρημος.. στίβος Where track of human footstep there is none. The privative ἔρημος is used for the negative by a redundancy like those adduced in Essay on Language § 40. p. 75; and ἔρημος = ἄστειπτος (Phil. 2), so that the expression = Where no track of mortals has been trodden.

775. mvp-comment-452-1 i. e. τοσοῦτον μόνον, ὅσον ἄγος εἶναι. Essay on Language § 39. p. 74. For ἄγος = expiation, see Hesych., ἄγος· ἅγνισμα θυσίας, Σοφοκλῆς Φαίδρα.

776. mvp-comment-453-1 i. e. Lest the whole city might suffer pollution.

780. mvp-comment-454-1 περισσός Bootless. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 383, μόχθον περισσόν. It is characteristic of the time (cp. Thucydides) that the political energy of Creon is combined with scepticism.

781-800. mvp-comment-455-1 Haemon's disobedience to his father, against his own interest, is due to the might of love.

781-800. mvp-comment-455-2 'Never-vanquished love, that layest riches waste, keeping nightly watch in the fair, soft, youthful cheek: love that roamest over seas and findest out the wildest nook! No god, nor any mortal man, escapes thy maddening power. By love the upright mind is drawn to wrong unto its hurt. By love this present strife is kindled between kinsmen. And clearly triumphant is the influence of desire that cometh from the looks of the fair bride - desire that divides empire with the majestic law: so resistlessly doth goddess Aphrodite mock mankind.

781-800. mvp-comment-455-3 This little ode consists of a strophe and antistrophe, of which the scansion is as follows:- CCLトしてし CICCICII CCCICII IICIICCIト(CLトー 5-0-0-ICCICI-

781-800. mvp-comment-455-4 A glyconic quatrain is followed by two choriambic lines, and the strophe ends with a return to the glyconic rhythm. L. 7 admits of being otherwise divided, viz.: CCLCー.

781. mvp-comment-456-1 ἀνίκατε μάχαν Cp. the similar personification of θυμός by Heraclitus, χαλεπὸν θυμῷ μάχεσθαι, ψυχῆς γὰρ ὠνέεται.

782. mvp-comment-457-1 ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις (i. e.

782. mvp-comment-457-2 ἐμπίπτεις κτήμασι.) These words have been variously interpreted and emended. They probably mean, Who fallest upon wealth, i. e. art the destroyer of possessions, ruining worldly fortunes in various ways, as the love of Helen wasted Troy, etc. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 538, foll., Ἔρωτα δὲ τὸν τύραννον ἀνδρῶν |.. πέρθοντα καὶ διὰ πάσας | ἰόντα συμφορὰς | θνατοῖς, ὅταν ἔλθῃ. So, in this instance, Haemon is losing all for love. Others interpret, Desire who makest wealth thy object (Schol. rec.), Love, who by attacking enslavest, or Who makest victims of the wealthy.

783-784. mvp-comment-458-1 ὃς .. ἐννυχεύεις Cp. Milton, L'Allegro, 29, 30, 'Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, | And love to live in dimple sleek.' Love is still figured as an enemy, who keeps nightly watch where he is ready to spring forth armed on the unwary. Pind. Nem. 8. 2, ὥρα .. παρθενηΐοις .. ἐφίζοισι γλεφάροις.

785. mvp-comment-459-1 The poet is thinking of legendary examples, such as Paris, Leander, Anchises, etc.

786. mvp-comment-460-1 σε .. φύξιμος i.e. δύναταί σε φεύγειν. Cp. Hom. h. Ven. 34. 5, τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὐ πέρ τι πεφυγμένον ἔστ᾽ Ἀφροδίτην, | οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων, οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων. But see on 796 ff.

790. mvp-comment-461-1 ἁμερίων ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων The insertion of the preposition, although omitted with θεῶν, is no objection to this reading. See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27: and for ἐπί, with the genitive, meaning In the case of, So far as extends to, cp. Plato, Rep. 3. 406 C, 8.. ἐπὶ .. τῶν δημιουργῶν αἰσθανόμεθα, alib. The force of the preposition and case here is nearer to the original locative sense, = Extending over, 'Quantum hominum genus propagatum extenditur. (Ellendt.)

790. mvp-comment-461-2 ὁ ἔχων Sc. τὸ νόσημα. Wecklein compares ἔχει, he is wounded, with reference to the arrow of love. But this is fanciful.

791-792. mvp-comment-462-1 ἀδίκους.. παρασπᾷς i. e. εἰς ἀδικίαν παρασπᾷς. Drawest awry to wrong. For this proleptic use of the adjective, see Essay on Language § 23. P. 39; § 38. p. 71.

792. mvp-comment-463-1 ἐπὶ λώβᾳ ‘Το their hurt or disgrace.'

794. mvp-comment-464-1 ξύναιμον is an emphatic epithet added by an afterthought (Essay on Language § 23. p. 38) and by hypallage made to agree with the principal word, although more properly belonging to ἀνδρῶν. (Ibid. § 42. p. 80).

795. mvp-comment-465-1 νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργής i. e. ἐναργής ἐστι νικῶσα.

795. mvp-comment-465-2 βλεφάρων ἵμερος The modern poet speaks of love as engendered in the eyes, with gazing fed: the ancients rather spoke of an influence passing from the eye of the beloved (τὸ ἐρωτικὸν ὄμμα, Plat. Phaedr. 253 E) to the soul of the lover. Desire was viewed as an emanation from the object. Hence Plato's account of ἵμερος, Phaedr. 251 Β, C, δεξάμενος γὰρ τοῦ κάλλους τὴν ἀπορροὴν διὰ τῶν ὀμμάτων, ἐθερμάνθη ἢ ἡ τοῦ πτεροῦ φύσις ἄρδεται .. ὅταν μὲν οὖν βλέπουσα πρὸς τὸ κάλλος, ἐκεῖθεν μέρη ἐπιόντα καὶ ῥέοντα, ἃ δὴ διὰ τοῦτο ἵμερος καλεῖται, δεχομένη ἄρδηταί τε καὶ θερμαίνηται, λωφᾷ τε τῆς ὀδύνης καὶ γέγηθεν. This ancient conception, which had a root in language as well as in philosophy, is reflected even in Milton, L'Allegro, 1. 121, With store of ladies, whose bright eyes | Rain influence, though in this case probably with a further allusion to astrology.

796-799. mvp-comment-466-1 τῶν .. θεσμῶν In the counsels of princes holding an equal place with the majesty of law. This seems the best way of taking these words, which have been variously interpreted; e.g. Equal to the laws in power. 'Assessor in the authority of the laws, etc. There is an allusion to Haemon, who, though a prince, has been led to disobey his father, and to disregard the edict of the king. Cp. Hdt. 4. 165, ἐν βουλῇ παρίζουσα. The resolution of the arsis in πάρεδρος is extremely unusual; see Christ's Metrik, § 178; and Arndt suggested ξύνθρονος ἀρχαῖς, 'Assessor with the rule of majesticlaw. But qy. πάρεδρος *ἀρχαῖς, with "πέφευγεν οὐδείς in 786 ff.? (IILUCCICII).

800. mvp-comment-467-1 Wecklein finds here an oxymoron, turning on the opposition of μάχη and παιδιά. She is resistless, though sport is her only weapon. But this is doubtful.

804. mvp-comment-468-1 παγκοίταν.. θάλαμον The chamber where all must lie. The implied contrast between the fate of Antigone and her intended bridal recurs repeatedly throughout the latter part of the play. Supr. 575, Ἅιδης ὁ παύσων τούσδε τοὺς γάμους γάμ ἔφυ: infr. 891, νυμφεῖον : 1205, νυμφεῖον" Αιδου κοίλον.

806-802. mvp-comment-469-1 Antigone bewails her untimely death, and the chorus attempt to console her by pointing to the singularity of her end. She quotes the example of Niobe, who was encrusted with rock. But Niobe, rejoin the chorus, was a Divine Being. Then the maiden bursts into a cry against such vain comfort, and appeals to the forms of nature around Thebes to bear witness to the strangeness of her fate. The tone of the chorus changes to admonition. Thou hast offended against the majesty of law. Some curse, inherited from thy sire, must have led thee on. At last they have touched her, but it is only to aggravate her sorrow. Dire indeed had been the curse upon her parents; and now she is going to be with them, having never tasted any joy. Her brother's seeming success in marriage had been death to him and to her. The chorus reiterate that piety towards her brother should have yielded to authority. Selfwill has been thy ruin. Antigone: 'Friendless, unmourned, uncomforted, I leave the holy light of day. I die unmarried, and no one weeps for me.'

806-802. mvp-comment-469-2 The metres in this commos, ll. 806-833, chiefly logaoedic. and for the most part glyconic, are as follows:- α΄. 806-816, 823-833. 805 luclu IIC1CCI II1CCIC ―トしかしCICLL Anapaests of cho. 817-822, 834-837- β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. 51IC (トートートートー ICCICII にかくCIトトに CICLC- トトロー CCLCICIC 15010し! 이기 5- ἐπ. } Iambic. ひトしレトCCICI- 51110CIRKIICCI CICCートリート ―トしーしトー

806-802. mvp-comment-469-3 The effect produced by the epitrite rhythm in a' 9. β΄ 8, ἐπ. 5, and of the spondees in ß' 6, is especially noticeable.

808. mvp-comment-470-1 νέατον is an adjective. See on Ο. Τ. 155.

810. mvp-comment-471-1 κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις Sc. ὄψομαι φέγγος ἀελίου.

810. mvp-comment-471-2 παγκοίτας is here active='That seals up all in rest.' Essay on Language pp. 98, 101. The metre suggests πάγκοιτος, cp. infr. 828, the corresponding line of the antistrophe.

812-813. mvp-comment-472-1 Ἀχέροντος ἀκτάν Hom. Od. 10. 509, ἔνθ᾽ ἀκτή τε λάχεια: ib. 513, ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσι, κ.τ.λ.

815. mvp-comment-473-1 *ἐπινύμφειος, which Dindorf has restored for ἐπινυμφίδιος, is more probable than ἐπὶ νυμφείοις, although this appears to be supported by the note of the Scholiast, λείπει θύραις ἢ κοίταις.

816. mvp-comment-474-1 Ἀχέροντι As other maidens have been wedded to rivers upon the earth.

820. mvp-comment-475-1 ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα The wages of the sword; i.e. Death given by the sword.

821. mvp-comment-476-1 αὐτόνομος The Scholiast explains this, ἰδίοις αὐτῆς νόμοις χρησαμένη. This is not free from ambiguity; but the true meaning is rather By an ordinance peculiar to your case (ἰδίᾳ τινὶ σεαυτῆς νόμῳ), than In your independence of law, or As being a law to yourself. The chorus nowhere speak with admiration of the independent attitude of Antigone, although they secretly sympathize with her pious motive. The word is used with consciousness of the derivation. The νόμος which is peculiar to Antigone is the privilege of a living death.

823. mvp-comment-477-1 λυγροτάταν In sorriest plight. Supplementary predicate.

824-825. mvp-comment-478-1 τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν Ταντάλου] Our friend far off in Phrygia, Tantalus' daughter.' Sipylus was placed by some in Phrygia, by others in Lydia. (Strabo, 12. p. 571.) Donaldson well remarks that févar is applied to Niobe, because she married Amphion, king of Thebes.

828. mvp-comment-479-1 ὄμβρῳ τακομέναν The conjectural emendation ὄμβροι has been very generally received. But the Highlands of Phrygia are not subject to perpetual showers. It is more natural to think of a snow-capped peak ever running down with moisture from the melting snow. On the general sense thus given to ὄμβρος, see Essay on Language § 52. p. 98. And as she flows down with moisture, the snow leaves her not, but still she wets the ridges of her neck beneath her tearful brow. The position of T' need cause no difficulty. Essay on Language pp. 65,6. It has been observed that the words ὀφρύς and δειράς are equally applicable to a mountain and to a human being. The subj. of τέγγει is not χιών but ὁ Νιόβα.

834. mvp-comment-480-1 It is doubtful whether θειογενής οι θεογεννής (= θεογέννητος) should be read for the unmetrical θεογενής.

836. mvp-comment-481-1 Of the two readings, φθιμένα and φθιμένῳ, both of which are given by L, and were known to the Scholiast, the feminine is more likely to be due to a corrector.

837. mvp-comment-482-1 The words ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν have little point, and being omitted by Aldus (as in A), have never been restored except by Seyffert, who reads μέγα κἀκοῦσαι in l. 836. Those who omit 837, invert the preceding lines for the sake of the paroemiac, and read καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις | ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι. For ἀκοῦσαι, to have said of one, cp. Phil. 1074, ἀκούσομαι μὲν ὡς ἔφυν οἴκτου πλέως.

840. mvp-comment-483-1 *οὐλομέναν The conjecture of Martin. οἰχομέναν (Wunder) also deserves to be considered.

842. mvp-comment-484-1 She first turns from the elders to the city at large; and then, remembering how little sympathy she has had from man, she appeals, like Philoctetes (936 ff.), in a fresh outburst, to the familiar presences' of nature.

843. mvp-comment-485-1 πολυκτήμονες Thebes was proverbially a wealthy city.

844. mvp-comment-486-1 ἰώ Here she breaks into a louder cry.

845. mvp-comment-487-1 ἄλσος The open ground about the city. Cp. Εl. 5, τῆς οἰστροπλῆγος ἄλσος Ἰνάχου κόρης.

847. mvp-comment-488-1 οἷα, like ὀμοιοτάταν in 832, and λυγροτάταν in 823, is supplementary predicate, and equivalent to an adverb.

851. mvp-comment-489-1 Hermann (ed. 1839) was contented to read οὔτε βροτοῖσιν οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν, but remarked that the long anacrusis of the second part of the line, οὔτ᾽ ἐν νεκροῖσιν = γάμων κυρήσας is very rare. Qu βροτοῖς, οὔτε τις ἐν νεκροίσιν? But the original line is probably lost.

852. mvp-comment-490-1 Advancing to the utmost verge of daring thou didst fall violently, my daughter, against the lofty throne of Right. ἐκτίνεισ Α.

854. mvp-comment-491-1 βάθρον is here the pedestal on which the image of justice is imagined to rest. Cp. Plat. Phaedr. 254 B, ἰδόντος δὲ τοῦ ἡνιόχου ἡ μνήμη πρὸς τὴν τοῦ κάλλους φύσιν ἠνέχθη. καὶ πάλιν εἶδεν αὐτὴν μετὰ σωφροσύνης ἐν ἁγνῷ βάθρῳ βεβῶσαν, Ο. Τ. 865, νόμοι. . ὑψίποδες.

855. mvp-comment-492-1 πολύ is allowed to pass by Hermann without comment, but has been more recently called in question, partly on the metrical ground that the line should end with a long syllable.

855. mvp-comment-492-2 πολύς is certainly no improvement. On the attempt to give special force to such a general word, see Essay on Language § 51. p. 97.

856. mvp-comment-493-1 But thou art paying some debt of expiation inherited from thy sire.' άθλος is here a task or burden imposed by some higher power, like the labours of Heracles, and is perhaps associated by Sophocles with the derivative ἄθλιος. The combined metaphorical use of ἆθλος and ἐκτίνειν is not too great a stretch of language for Sophocles. Essay on Language p. 105.

857. mvp-comment-494-1 Thou hast touched my saddest thought, the thrice-told tale of my father's sorrow.' Boeckh has cleared up the difficulties of this passage (1) by showing that οἶκτον harmonizes better with the context than οἶτον or οἶκον, and also gives a construction to πότμου: (2) by tracing the derivation of τριπόλιστον from πολίζω = πολέω, which occurs in the compound avναπολίζω : (3) by rightly explaining the dative Λαβδακίδαισιν. See Essay on Language § 13. p. 19. He also points out that μερίμνας is genitive, because the singular is more forcible, and μέριμναν would have suited the metre equally well. The only remaining doubt is the construction of οἶκτον.

857. mvp-comment-494-2 ψαύειν may govern the accusative, as appears from 961. But the change from the genitive to the accusative is still to be accounted for. (1) The word ἔψαυσας was chosen with special reference to μερίμνας. ἔλεξας, or some other general word, would have been sufficient if this had not intervened. Hence the general meaning of the verb (= ἔλεξας) is alone continued. (2) The case is partly governed by the verbal notion in μερίμνας = 8 μεριμνῶ. (3) The tendency of a Greek sentence is to pass from a more special to a more general construction. Essay on Language pp. 64, 5, οἶκτον is to be resumed with πότμου, which is co-ordinate with πατρός. Thou hast harped on what my mind broods over with saddest care, the thrice renewed pity for my father, and for the general fortune of our race, the lot that fell upon the famed Labdacidae. Seyffert thinks that in τριπόλιστον Antigone is thinking of her own ever-deepening grief. But the Scholiast and Boeckh are probably right in explaining the word (like κλεινοῖς) with reference to the widely felt compassion for Oedipus. Cp. O. C. 517, τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον: ib. 597, πᾶς τοῦτό γ' Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ. For τριπόλιστον, cp. Phil. 1238, δὶς ταὐτὰ βούλει καὶ τρὶς ἀναπολεῖν μ' ἔπη.

861. mvp-comment-495-1 κλεινοῖς is said with bitterness, as in O. T. 1207, κλεινὸν Οἰδίπου κάρα. The dative is used in explanation of ἁμετέρου, Ist as clearer than the genitive with so many genitives preceding; 2nd with an ethical' force; the lot that fell on us. 863. O my mother, to whom marriage was calamity, O my hapless father, who in wedlock with a mother, held guilty intercourse with her from whom he came.' ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆται] ‘My mother's calamity in marriage.' λέκτρων is descriptive or distinctive genitive (Essay on Language § 9. p. 12), and the possessive ματρῷαι is joined to λέκτρων ἆται taken as one word. In observing Antigone's tenderness for her mother we are reminded that the plot of the Oedipus Tyrannus was not yet conceived.

865. mvp-comment-496-1 ματρός is objective genitive, after κοιμήματα = ξυνουσίαι, and also descriptive, like γάμοι τέκνων, Ο. C. 945. For the condensed expression κοιμήματά τ᾿ αὐτογέννητ᾽ = τὸ κοιμηθῆναι σὺν ταύτῃ ἐξ ἧς αὐτὸς ἐγεννήθη, see Essay on Language § 43. p. 81, and for the force of αὐτός in composition, ibid. p. 101. The dative ἐμῷ πατρί (Ε. on L. § 13. p. 19, see on l. 861) is occasioned by the adjective; i. e. αὐτογέννητ᾽ ἦν αὐτῷ τὰ κοιμήματα. The nature of constructions in such condensed expressions can only be explained by expanding each phrase into a sentence. The meaning of the passive verbal termination in αὐτογέννητα is extremely indefinite. The other way of taking the words ('Connubium dicit Jocastae cum Oedipo quem ipsa pepererat,' Dind.), although giving a more obvious construction to the dative, has the fatal blemish of making a twofold apostrophe to Jocasta, whereas οἵων implies a reference to both parents, which is much more forcible.

865. mvp-comment-496-2 The Laur. reading δυσμόρῳ is preferable, because of the peculiar significance of κοιμήματα ματρός.

866. mvp-comment-497-1 οἴων is to be immediately referred to κοιμήματα, Such wedlock as gave me birth.

868. mvp-comment-498-1 μέτοικος may possibly have the association of an alien,' because she could not expect to meet with proper burial. But for the generalised meaning of μέτοικος, cp. supr. 852: О. С. 934: infr. 890, μετοικίας.

872-875. mvp-comment-499-1 There is some piety in pious action; but, as towards him who wieldeth it, authority must in no wise be transgressed. A self-determined impulse hath undone thee.' Cp. Phil. 138, τέχνα γὰρ τέχνας ἑτέρας προὔχει | καὶ γνώμα παρ' ὅτῳ τὸ θεῖον | Διὸς σκῆπτρον ἀνάσσεται, where there is a similar ellipse of the antecedent. The meaning is, He who has authority must not suffer authority to be thwarted. This may be made clearer by supplying ἐκείνῳ, as dative of the person interested, for the antecedent to ὅτῳ. He must not have it (i.e. suffer it to be) transgressed.

877. mvp-comment-500-1 Unhappy, I am led the way that is here prepared for me.' Creon has already entered before these words are said. Cp. infr. 933-934. Mm

883. mvp-comment-501-1 ἀοιδὰς .. πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1444-1445, ἡ δέ τοι κύκνου δί· κην | τὸν ὕστατον μέλψασα θανάσιμον γόον | κεῖται φιλήτωρ τοῦδε.

884. mvp-comment-502-1 εἰ χρείη If it were allowed. Ср. О. Т. 1110, εἰ χρή τι κἀμὲ μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω, | πρέσβυ, σταθμᾶσθαι: Ο. C. 1711, πῶς με χρὴ τὸ σὸν τάλαιναν ἀφανίσαι τοσόνδ' ἄχος. This modified use of χρή = One is to, not One must,' is only possible in hypothetical or interrogative sentences.

887. mvp-comment-503-1 ἄφετε This is on the whole more probable than ἄπιτε. The change from the future with οὐκ to the imperative has probably occasioned the corruption of the text.

887. mvp-comment-503-2 χρή This the Scholiast explained by χρήσει, i. e. he read χρῇ. And this is necessary, if τυμβεύειν is read in 888. But τυμβεύσει, the reading of Triclinius, is supported by τυμβεύει in AV³. Whether she must die there, or shall live a buried life in that dark cell. For εἰ .. χρή, cp. Εl. 399, πεσούμεθ', εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι. And for τυμβεύσει, see Essay on Language p. 64 b. The intransitive use of τυμβεύειν occurs nowhere else.

889. mvp-comment-504-1 Creon claims to be pure from the blood of Antigone, because he has altered the doom of stoning (1. 36) to that of immurement, and because of the modicum of food that is to be shut in with her, ὡς ἄγος (1. 775).

890. mvp-comment-505-1 'At all events she shall no longer share the right of dwelling with us in the light of day.'

891-892. mvp-comment-506-1 'O cavernous abode of long imprisonment, at once my bridal-chamber and my tomb.'

896. mvp-comment-507-1 πρὶν .. βίου 'Before my allotted portion of life is spent.' Cp. Il. 4. 170, μοῖραν ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο. For ἐξήκειν, cp. Τr. 147, ἀλλ᾽ ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον | ἐς τοῦθ', ἕως ἄν, κ.τ.λ.

897. mvp-comment-508-1 κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω I do cherish it amongst my hopes.

899. mvp-comment-509-1 κασίγνητον κάρα This must be addressed to Polynices, who is most in the thoughts of the spectators, and is again invoked in the same words in 1.915: not to Eteocles, of whose burial Antigone only knew by hearsay, supr. 23 ff. The difficulty of reconciling this with the following lines has been adduced as one of several reasons for rejecting the passage from l. 900 to l. 928 in whole or in part. The lines 905-912 are apt to appear to modern readers, as they did to Goethe, a blemish in a place which might have been expected to be most carefully finished. The saying, which Herodotus, 3. 119, attributes almost in the same terms to the wife of Intaphernes, would seem from this to have had a wide currency in Ionia-for it is a precarious supposition that either author derived it from the other-and fell in with the natural tendency of Greek life to exalt the bond of brotherhood above all other ties of affection and kindred. The general feeling of the speech is well traced by Seyffert. Antigone, when brought face to face with death, in utter isolation from human sympathy, comes down from the lofty tone she had assumed in her first answer to Creon, and recognizes the simple fact that it was the strength of her affection which impelled her to defy the law. Her love for Poly- nices was wonderful, passing the love that could be felt for a husband or a child. She dilates on this and justifies it by a primitive sophism, which the passage of Herodotus cited above shows to be more in the spirit of the time of Sophocles or of the age preceding him than of any later period. If the Antigone is the earliest of the seven plays (see Introduction), we need not be surprised by an archaism of thought which is much less remarkable than several which occur in Aeschylus. In an early English ballad, called the Douglas Tragedy, a woman interceding for the life of her father, whom her lover would slay, gives the following reason :-'True lovers I can get many a one, | But a father I'll never get more.'

900-901. mvp-comment-510-1 In these lines she is thinking of her father and mother. The libation only had been given to Polynices, who is specially mentioned in the following line. Ll. 900, I could not have been written after O. C. 1756 ff.

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Commentary on lines 751–900

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ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι 755 χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ. ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Χορός ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς. νοῦς δ᾽ ἔστι τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων δράτω 3 φρονείτω μεῖζον, ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽, ἰών· 765 τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Χορός a

Ἀντιγόνη b

Χορός

Ἀντιγόνη b

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής· ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς. καίτοι φθιμένᾳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι, τοῖσιν 15 ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη c

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους, ὑψηλὸν 19 ἐς Δίκας βάθρον 850 προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πάλιν. πατρῷον ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη c

Χορός

σέβειν 23 μὲν, εὐσέβειά τις· κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει, παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει· σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὥλεσ᾽ ὀργά. 870

Ἀντιγόνη a

Κρέων

Χορός

Κρέων ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ' ὅτι 735 χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ. ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Χορός ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς· νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών· 745 τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξαι μόρου.

Χορός ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

8. ΣΤΑΣΙΜΟΝ ΤΡΙΤΟΝ.

Χορός 1

8. ΕΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΤΈΤΑΡΤΟΝ.

Ἀντιγόνη 1

Ἀντιγόνη 1

Χορός ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής, ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς· καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις 805 ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν, μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι.

Ἀντιγόνη 2

Χορός προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ’ ἔσχατον θράσους ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ. πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη 2

Χορός σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις, κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει, 840 παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει. σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.

Ἀντιγόνη 2

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι χαίρων ἐπιψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ. 750 ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ' ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ!

Χορός ὡνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς· νοῦς τηλικούτοις δ᾽ ἔστιν ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον, ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽, ἰών· τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου. 760

Χορός ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Χορός 1

Ἀντιγόνη 2

Χορός

Ἀντιγόνη 2

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννὴς, ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς · καί σοι φθιμένᾳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι, τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη 3

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους, ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον 840 προσέπαισας, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ. πατρῷον ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη 3

Χορός

σέβειν νὶν, εὐσέβειά τις· κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει, παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει. σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά. 860

Ἀντιγόνη 1

Κρέων

Χορός

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι, χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ. ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾿ ὄμματ᾿ αὐτίκα 760 παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Χορός ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς· νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾿ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰών· τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς; 770

Κρέων οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

Χορός

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ἐγὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ' ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ' οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων, τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον τήνδ' Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν. 805

Ἀντιγόνη α

Χορός

Ἀντιγόνη

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής, ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς. 835 †καίτοι φθιμένῳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν [ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.]

Ἀντιγόνη β

Χορός

προβᾶσʼ ἐπ᾿ ἔσχατον θράσους ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ. 855 πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τινʼ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη β

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι
755

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Χορός

ἁνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς.

νοῦς δ᾽ ἔστι τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω ³ φρονείτω μεῖζον, ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽, ἰών·
765

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Χορός

a

Ἀντιγόνη

b

Ἀντιγόνη

b

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής·

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς.

καίτοι φθιμένᾳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι,

τοῖσιν ¹⁵ ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη

c

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους,

ὑψηλὸν ¹⁹ ἐς Δίκας βάθρον
850

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πάλιν.

πατρῷον ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

c

σέβειν ²³ μὲν, εὐσέβειά τις·

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει·

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὥλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
870

Ἀντιγόνη

a

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·
745

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξαι μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

Χορός

1

Ἀντιγόνη

1

Ἀντιγόνη

1

Χορός

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς·

καίτοι φθιμένῳ τοῖς ἰσοθέοις
805

ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν, μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

Χορός

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ’ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

Χορός

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,
840

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει.

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.

Ἀντιγόνη

2

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι

χαίρων ἐπιψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.
750

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ' ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ!

Χορός

ὡνὴρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς τηλικούτοις δ᾽ ἔστιν ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον, ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽, ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.
760

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν ;

Χορός

1

Ἀντιγόνη

2

Ἀντιγόνη

2

ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννὴς,

ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς ·

καί σοι φθιμένᾳ μέγ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι,

τοῖς ἰσοθέοις ἔγκληρα λαχεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη

3

προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους,

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον
840

προσέπαισας, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.

πατρῷον ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη

3

σέβειν νὶν, εὐσέβειά τις·

κράτος δ᾽, ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει,

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῇ πέλει.

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
860

Ἀντιγόνη

1

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγετε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾿ ὄμματ᾿ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνήσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾿ ἄνδρ᾿ ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;

νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη ἐγὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν

ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ' ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ'

οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δακρύων,

τὸν παγκοίταν ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον

τήνδ' Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν.
805

Ἀντιγόνη
α

Ἀντιγόνη
β

προβᾶσʼ ἐπ᾿ ἔσχατον θράσους

ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον

προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ.
855

πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τινʼ ἆθλον.

Ἀντιγόνη
β

σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,

κράτος δ᾽ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει

παραβατὸν οὐδαμῆ πέλει·

σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά.
875

ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ, τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,

χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.

ἄγαγε τὸ μῖσος, ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα
760

παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.

Χορός

ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·

νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.

Κρέων

δράτω, φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.

Χορός

ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὰ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς;
770

Κρέων

οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.

Χορός

μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύῃ κτανεῖν;

Χορός
1