Sophocles Antigone 188

Lewis Campbell (Translator)

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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!

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)) — 188 focus

ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σώζουσα, καὶ, ταύτης ἔπι

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 188 focus

καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 188 focus

πλέοντες ὀρθῆς, οὓς φίλους ποιούμεθα.

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 188.mvp-line-188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῶι, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων, ὁτι

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 188.mvp-line-188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 188 focus

θείμην ἐμαυτῶι, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι

Translations (9)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 188 focus

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.

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 188 focus

CORO

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

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 188 focus

Chorus

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

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 211 focus

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

Mit dieses Landes Gegner und mit seinem Freund.

Denn jede Sazung anzuordnen steht dir frei,

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

Kreon.

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

Der Chor.

Der Jüngern Einem lege dies zu tragen auf.

Kreon.

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

Der Chor.

Warum denn einem Andern noch gebeutst du dies?

Kreon.

Daß Keinem Nachsicht werde, der dawider thut.

Der Chor.

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

Kreon.

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

Hat schon die Hoffnung auf Gewinn den Tod gebracht.

Ein Wächter. Die Voriger.

Der Wächter.

Herr, ich will nicht sagen, daß ich athemlos

Vor Eile komme mit behend erhob'nem Fuß;

Denn viel Bedenken schus mir manchen Aufenthalt,
225

Und oft zur Rückkehr wandt' ich unterwegs mich um.

Denn meine Seele sprach zu mir und warnte viel:

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

Elender, säumst du? Doch erfährt es Kreon dann

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

In solchem Grübeln ging ich langsam schnell voran,

Und also streckt sich lange hin der kurze Weg.

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

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

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

Nichts könne sonst mich treffen, als bestimmtes Loos.

Kreon.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 188 focus

Creon
883

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

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 188 focus

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.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 188 focus

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)) — 188 focus

Antigone

876 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,

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-532-1 ὦ τύμβος ¹

mvp-comment-532-2 νυμφεῖον ²

mvp-comment-532-3 κατασκαφής ³

mvp-comment-533-1 ἀριθμὸν … πλεϊστον ⁴

mvp-comment-533-2 ἐν νεκροῖς ⁵ δέδεκται ⁶

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 ⁷ Φ ⁸

mvp-comment-534-1 κάκιστα ⁹ δή ¹⁰

mvp-comment-534-2 μοῖραν … βίου ¹¹ ἐξήκειν ¹²

mvp-comment-535-1 ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω ¹³ φίλη μὲν … προσφιλὴς δέ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-536-1 κασίγνητον κάρα ¹⁵ νῦν δέ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-537-1 ὑμᾶς ¹⁷

mvp-comment-537-2 ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα ¹⁸

mvp-comment-537-3 χοάς ¹⁹

mvp-comment-537-4 περιστέλλουσα ²⁰

mvp-comment-537-5 δέμας ²¹

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

ὁ ψυχρός

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

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

mvp-comment-538-3 ’τίμησα ²² εὖ ²³ τοῖς φρονοῦσιν ²⁴

mvp-comment-539-1 ἐτήκετο ²⁵

mvp-comment-540-1 βίᾳ πολιτῶν ²⁶

mvp-comment-541-1 πρὸς χάριν ²⁷

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

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

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

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

[this=vv. 909, 910]:

μητρὸς δ’ ἐν ᾅδου κ.τ.λ.

(he then quotes 911 f., with

βεβηκότων

,—a mere slip of memory: ).

mvp-comment-542-2 Three points in these vv. are strange. (1) The gen. abs. κατθανόντος ²⁸ πόσις ²⁹ ἀπ’ ἄλλου φωτός ³⁰

mvp-comment-543-1 ἐκπροτιμήσασ’ ³¹

mvp-comment-544-1 διὰ χερῶν … λαβών ³²

mvp-comment-545-1 ἀνυμέναιον ³³

mvp-comment-546-1 ἀλλ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-546-2 πρὸς φίλων ³⁵ ἔρημος ³⁶

mvp-comment-547-1 δαιμόνων δίκην ³⁷

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

mvp-comment-548-2 βλέπειν ³⁸

mvp-comment-548-3 τίνα … ξυμμάχων ³⁹

mvp-comment-548-4 ἐπεί γε δή ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-548-5 τὴν δυσσέβειαν ⁴¹

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

mvp-comment-549-2 by ἀλλ’ οὖν ⁴²

mvp-comment-549-3 ἐν θεοῖς ⁴³

mvp-comment-549-4 ξυγγνοῖμεν ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-549-5 ἡμαρτηκότες ⁴⁵ παθόντες ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-550-1 οἵδε ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-550-2 μὴ πλείω ⁴⁸ μείω ⁴⁹

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

891-892. mvp-comment-506-1 'O cavernous abode of long imprisonment, at once my bridal-chamber and my tomb.'

896. mvp-comment-507-1 πρὶν .. βίου 'Before my allotted portion of life is spent.' Cp. Il. 4. 170, μοῖραν ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο. For ἐξήκειν, cp. Τr. 147, ἀλλ᾽ ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον | ἐς τοῦθ', ἕως ἄν, κ.τ.λ.

897. mvp-comment-508-1 κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω I do cherish it amongst my hopes.

899. mvp-comment-509-1 κασίγνητον κάρα This must be addressed to Polynices, who is most in the thoughts of the spectators, and is again invoked in the same words in 1.915: not to Eteocles, of whose burial Antigone only knew by hearsay, supr. 23 ff. The difficulty of reconciling this with the following lines has been adduced as one of several reasons for rejecting the passage from l. 900 to l. 928 in whole or in part. The lines 905-912 are apt to appear to modern readers, as they did to Goethe, a blemish in a place which might have been expected to be most carefully finished. The saying, which Herodotus, 3. 119, attributes almost in the same terms to the wife of Intaphernes, would seem from this to have had a wide currency in Ionia-for it is a precarious supposition that either author derived it from the other-and fell in with the natural tendency of Greek life to exalt the bond of brotherhood above all other ties of affection and kindred. The general feeling of the speech is well traced by Seyffert. Antigone, when brought face to face with death, in utter isolation from human sympathy, comes down from the lofty tone she had assumed in her first answer to Creon, and recognizes the simple fact that it was the strength of her affection which impelled her to defy the law. Her love for Poly- nices was wonderful, passing the love that could be felt for a husband or a child. She dilates on this and justifies it by a primitive sophism, which the passage of Herodotus cited above shows to be more in the spirit of the time of Sophocles or of the age preceding him than of any later period. If the Antigone is the earliest of the seven plays (see Introduction), we need not be surprised by an archaism of thought which is much less remarkable than several which occur in Aeschylus. In an early English ballad, called the Douglas Tragedy, a woman interceding for the life of her father, whom her lover would slay, gives the following reason :-'True lovers I can get many a one, | But a father I'll never get more.'

900-901. mvp-comment-510-1 In these lines she is thinking of her father and mother. The libation only had been given to Polynices, who is specially mentioned in the following line. Ll. 900, I could not have been written after O. C. 1756 ff.

903. mvp-comment-511-1 περιστέλλουσα Decking for burial,' and SO also protecting from insult. 904. And certainly those who consider rightly will say I did honour thee. For the dative, see Essay on Language § 13. p. 19. Others take e with ἐτίμησα, but for the stress, it was a real honour,'-cp. the emphatic use of ἄνηρ, Ο. C. 393, and of ὕβρις, ib. 882.

905. mvp-comment-512-1 Feeling the incongruity of saying, If I had lost a child, she says, If I had had children, leaving the further supposition to be implied. Mm2

906. mvp-comment-513-1 κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο Had been wasting in death. Cp. 1. 410, μυδῶν τε σῶμα γυμνώσαντες εὖ.

907. mvp-comment-514-1 βίᾳ πολιτών Cp. supr. 74, 5. Creon is the representative of the State, and the elders in supr. 872 ff. have confirmed his sentence. Antigone is throughout perfectly conscious of the nature of her action, and at this moment she sees more clearly than ever the audacity of it. But even after the impulse has subsided she goes resolutely, though sadly, to her fate.

908. mvp-comment-515-1 νόμου Principle. Cp. supr. ll. 191, 613.

909. mvp-comment-516-1 κατθανόντος Sc. τοῦ πόσεως.

910. mvp-comment-517-1 τοῦδε τοῦ παιδός.

912. mvp-comment-518-1 οὐκ ἔστ᾿ .. ποτέ Although not strictly logical, this is much more touching and expressive than οὐκ ἔσθ' ὅπως ἀδελφὸς ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ, which it has been proposed to substitute here.

916. mvp-comment-519-1 διὰ χερῶν .. λαβών διά lit. = Between. Cp. διαλαμβάνω in Hdt., e.g. 1. 114, ἐκέλευε αὐτὸν τοὺς ἄλλους παῖδας διαλαβεῖν: Plat. Rep. В. 10. p. 615 Ε, τοὺς μὲν διαλαβόντες ἦγον.

918. mvp-comment-520-1 παιδείου τροφῆς The rearing of children. This is censured by Dindorf as unmaidenly: but cp. El. 963-966, καὶ τῶνδε μέντοι μηκέτ᾽ ἐλπίσῃς ὅπως | τεύξει ποτ· οὐ γὰρ ὧδ᾽ ἄβουλός ἐστ᾿ ἀνὴρ | Αἴγισθος, ὥστε σόν ποτ᾿ ἡ κἀμὸν γένος | βλαστεῖν ἐᾶσαι, πημονὴν αὐτῷ σαφή : Eur. Ion 485 ff., ἐμοὶ μὲν πλούτου τε πάρος | βασιλικῶν τ' εἶεν θαλάμων | τροφαὶ κήδειοι κεδνῶν τέκνων, κ.τ.λ. For the active sense of τροφή in the passage last quoted and in the text, see Essay on Language $ 53. p. 98, and cp. El. 1143 ff., οἴμοι τάλαινα τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς | ἀνωφελήτου, τὴν ἐγὼ θάμ᾽ ἀμφί σοι | πόνῳ γλυκεῖ πάρεσχον.

919. mvp-comment-521-1 ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων For the redundant preposition, see Essay on Language §19. p. 28.

920. mvp-comment-522-1 θανάτων, which occurs only in L and M³, is very unlikely to have been changed to θανόντων in the Byzantine period. The latter is therefore probably the authentic reading, and not merely due to conjecture.

921-922. mvp-comment-523-1 ποίαν..; τί χρή ..; The suddenness of these transitions is very expressive of the agitation of Antigone's mind. Her fate leads her even to doubt the providence of the gods, but not to admit that she has done wrong. She will make the admission when death has taught it her, but not before. If her judges are wrong they will suffer too.

922-923. mvp-comment-524-1 ἐς θεοὺς .. βλέπειν Cp. El. 925, μηδὲν ἐς κεῖνόν γ᾽ ὅρα.

923. mvp-comment-525-1 ξυμμάχων ; The partitive genitive expresses with greater emphasis what might have been expressed by the accusative.

923. mvp-comment-525-2 ἐπεί γε δή The momentary doubt about the vindication of right in the world heightens the tragic effect. Cp. Phil. 428, τί δῆτα δεῖ σκοπεῖν; ib. 451, 2, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν, ὅταν | τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν, τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς; Trach. 1266: Aj. 950 ff.

924. mvp-comment-526-1 τὴν δυσσέβειαν The vice of impiety is confused with the blame of impiety, just as ἀρετή sometimes means a reputation for virtue. Cp. Phil. 1443, ἡ γὰρ εὐσέβεια συνθνήσκει βροτοῖς. Εςsay on L. p. 95.

925. mvp-comment-527-1 If, after all, this course of theirs is approved in heaven, when I have suffered I suppose I shall acknowledge my fault. The emphatic position of παθόντες implies, After I have suffered, but not before.' K εγ

927. mvp-comment-528-1 μὴ πλείω κακὰ | πάθοιεν This has actually been interpreted as a prayer of Antigone for her enemies. Others explain it as a warning to them Let them see to it that they do not suffer more. The real meaning is, that she cannot imprecate heavier sufferings on them than they are inflicting on her. Let them suffer, I will not say more, but the same evils which they unrighteously inflict on me. For a curse, similarly half-checked in utterance, with μή. cp. Phil. 961, ὅλοιο μή πω, πρὶν μάθοιμ᾽ εἰ καὶ πάλιν | γνώμην μετοίσεις. To translate this Mayest thou not perish yet, would be a similar mistake to that which has caused the difficulty about the present passage. It is true, however, that Antigone's tone is rather that of one who judges, than of one who condescends to ban her enemies.

927. mvp-comment-528-2 οἴδε Sc. οἱ πολίται. See above, 1.907 and note.