Sophocles Antigone 181

Lewis Campbell (Translator)

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ANT
823

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.

Antigone. Sophocles. Lewis Campbell (Translator). London, New York and Toronto. 1906.

Current edition Experimental

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 181 focus

καὶ μείζον᾽ ὅστις ¹ ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 181 focus

οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 181 focus

φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ.

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 181.mvp-line-181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 181.mvp-line-181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 181 focus

κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·

Translations (9)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 181 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.

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 181 focus

ANTIGONA

806 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.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 181 focus

Antigone

806 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.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 162 focus

Ihr Männer, fest hob Götterhuld uns wiederum

Aus vieler Stürme wildem Drang die Stadt empor:

Doch euch beschied ich jezt allein aus Allen her

Durch meine Boten; denn ich weiß, daß allezeit
165

Ihr heilig ehrtet Thron und Macht des Laïos,

Und wieder, als uns Dedipus die Stadt erhob,

Und als er hingeschieden, auch den Söhnen noch

In wandellosem Sinne treu ergeben bliebt.

Nun diese Beiden durch ein zwiefach Todesloos
170

An Einem Tag gefallen, sich erschlagend und

Erschlagen durch der eignen Hände Gräuelthat:

So wurden mein die Throne, mein ward alle Macht

Der Todten nach dem Rechte stammverwandten Bluts.

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

Verstand, Gemüth und Sinnesart, bevor er sich

Mit Aemtern und Gesezen wohlvertraut bewies.

Denn mir erscheint, wer einen ganzen Staat beherrscht,

Und nicht am besten Rathe sich zu halten weiß,

Ja, feig und furchtsam seinen Mund verschlossen hält,
180

Verworfen scheint er heute mir und schien es längst.

Und wer des eignen Landes Wohl nicht höher stellt,

Als seine Freunde, diesen acht' ich völlig Nichts.

Denn ich vernehm' es Zeus, der stets allsehende!

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

Heran das Unglück schreiten an des Glückes Statt,

Noch werd' ich jemals einen Feind des Landes mir

Zum Freunde wählen, weil ich wohl erkenne, daß

Nur dieses uns behütet, daß uns Freunde treu

Zur Seite stehen, schiffen wir an seinem Bord.
190

Durch solche Sazung heb' ich diese Stadt empor;

Und dem entsprechend ließ ich jezt von Dedipus'

Zwei Söhnen allem Volke-laut verkündigen:

Eteokles, welcher kämpfend fiel für diese Stadt,

Und jeden Preis des Heldenmuthes sich errang,
195

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

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

Doch seinem Bruder - Polyneikes mein' ich, der

Das Land der Ahnen und die Götter dieser Flur,

Heimkehrend aus dem Banne, durch des Feuers Glut
200

Austilgen wollte, wollte sich in Bürgerblut

Satt schwelgen, euch zu Knechten frech entwürdigen,

Ihm dürfe, so ward eurer Stadt es kundgethan,

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

Nein, unbestattet lieg' er, zur Verstümmelung,
205

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

So lautet denn mein Wille: niemals werden wir

Dem Schlechten Ehre geben vor dem Redlichen;

Doch wer da wohlwill dieser Stadt, der wird im Tod

Und Leben gleicherweise stets von mir geehrt.
210

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 181 focus

Chorus
834

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 !

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 181 focus

CREONTE

758 ¿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.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 181 focus

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.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 181 focus

Chorus

817 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.

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

Enter Creon, with two attendants.

Creon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

211

Chorus

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

Creon

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

Chorus

Lay the weight of this task on some younger man.

Creon

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

Chorus

Then what is this other command that you would give?

Creon

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

Chorus

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

Creon

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

Enter Guard.

Guard

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

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

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

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

237

Creon

And what is it that so disheartens you?

Guard

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

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

Creon

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

Guard

That I do, for terrible news imposes great hesitation.

Creon

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

Guard

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

Creon

What are you saying? What man dared do this?

Guard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

278

Chorus

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

Creon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

315

Guard

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

Creon

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

Guard

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

Creon

And why would you define the seat of my pain?

Guard

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

Creon

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

Guard

Perhaps, but never the author of this action.

Creon

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

Guard

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

Creon

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

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

Guard

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

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

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-492-1 ἤκουσα δή ¹

mvp-comment-492-2 λυγροτάταν ²

mvp-comment-492-3 ξέναν ³

mvp-comment-493-1 Ταντάλου ⁴

mvp-comment-493-2 Σιπύλῳ ⁵

mvp-comment-494-1 ἀτενής ⁶

mvp-comment-494-2 πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν ⁷ αι^ ⁸

mvp-comment-495-1 καί νιν ὄμρροι ⁹ τέγγει δ’ ¹⁰ ὄμβρῳ ¹¹ τακομέναν ¹² τέγγει … δειράδας ¹³ ὄμβροι ¹⁴ ὄμβρῳ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-495-2 χιών ¹⁶

mvp-comment-495-3 οὐδαμά ¹⁷

mvp-comment-496-1 τέγγει δ’ ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι … δειράδας ¹⁸

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).

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

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.