Sophocles, Antigone, Lewis Campbell (Translator), 71

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WATCH
407

It fell in this wise. We were come to the spot,

Bearing the dreadful burden of thy threats;

And first with care we swept the dust away

From round the corse, and laid the dank limbs bare:
410

Then sate below the hill-top, out o’ the wind,

Where no bad odour from the dead might strike us,

Stirring each other on with interchange

Of loud revilings on the negligent

In ’tendance on this duty. So we stayed
415

Till in mid heaven the sun’s resplendent orb

Stood high, and the heat strengthened. Suddenly,

The Storm-god raised a whirlwind from the ground,

Vexing heaven’s concave, and filled all the plain,

Rending the locks of all the orchard groves,
420

Till the great sky was choked withal. We closed

Our lips and eyes, and bore the God-sent evil.

When after a long while this ceased, the maid

Was seen, and wailed in high and bitter key,

Like some despairing bird that hath espied
425

Her nest all desolate, the nestlings gone.

So, when she saw the body bare, she mourned

Loudly, and cursed the authors of this deed.

Then nimbly with her hands she brought dry dust,

And holding high a shapely brazen cruse,
430

Poured three libations, honouring the dead.

We, when we saw, ran in, and straightway seized

Our quarry, nought dismayed, and charged her with

The former crime and this. And she denied

Nothing;—to my delight, and to my grief.
435

One’s self to escape disaster is great joy;

Yet to have drawn a friend into distress

Is painful. But mine own security

To me is of more value than aught else.

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)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ¹ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ. κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποίᾳ σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 71 focus

ἄλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 71.mvp-line-71 focus

ἀλλ’ ἴσθ’ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ’ ἐγὼ

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποίᾳ σοι δοκεῖ. κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 71.mvp-line-71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 71 focus

ἀλλʼ ἴσθʼ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δʼ ἐγὼ

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 71 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 71 focus

KREON

Und wie ergriffst du sie denn und an welchem Ort?

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 71 focus

EL CENTINELA

407 La cosa ocurrió de esta manera: cuando yo llegué asustado por las terribles amenazas tuyas, después de quitar todo el polvo que cubría al cadáver y dejar bien al desnudo el cuerpo, que estaba ya en putrefacción, nos apostamos en lo alto de un otero, resguardados del aire y bastante lejos para que no nos diera el mal olor de aquél, excitando a la vigilancia cada uno a su compañero con eficaces reproches, si es que alguien se descuidaba de su tarea. Esto duró hasta la hora en que en medio del cielo se coloca el brillante astro del día y abrasa el calor. Entonces, de repente, un tifón levantando de tierra terrible tempestad con un rayo que parecia parecía grito del cielo, invadió la campiña, devastando el follaje de la campestre selva. Se llenó de polvo todo el aire; y nosotros, con los ojos cerrados, aguantábamos el castigo que el cielo nos enviaba. Cuando se apaciguó la tempestad, después de mucho tiempo, vimos a la muchacha que se quejaba dando agudos lamentos, como el ave dolorida cuando advierte vacío el lecho de su nido por haberle arrebatado los . polluelos. Así también ésta, cuando vió vio el cadáver al desnudo, rompió en amargo llanto y lanzó horribles maldiciones contra los que le habian habían inferido el ultraje. Recogió en seguida con las manos polvo seco; y vertiendo de un vaso de bronce bien forjado tres libaciones sobre el cadáver, lo cubrió. Nosotros que la vimos, nos abalanzamos y la cogimos en seguida, sin que ella se asustara de nada: la acusamos del hecho anterior y del presente, y no negó nada, con gusto mio y con pena a la vez; porque el quedar uno libre del castigo es muy dulce; pero implicar a un amigo en la desgracia, es doloroso. No obstante, natural es que esto último tenga para mi menos importancia que mi propia salvación.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 71 focus

Custos

407 Sic acta res est. Postquam enim eo venimus, tuis illis minis atrocibus perterriti, primum terram omnem, qua contectum erat cadaver, everrimus, putreque corpus nudavimus plane, tum editis in tumulis consedimus aversi ab aura, ne nobis teter odor ex illo adflaret, caventes; ubi vigilantes nos excitabamus conviciis, si quis vellet huic labori parcere. Tantisper in eo res fuit; donec aethere in medio constitit lucidus Solis orbis, aestusque flagravit : atque tum derepente vehemens flatus e terra coortus, turbinem in altum tollens, aeream pestem, implet campum, omnem deturpans comam campestris silvae : immensusque repletur aër: nos vero clausis oculis divinitus missum tolerabamus malum. Quo post longum tempus tandem sedato, puella conspicitur, et acerbe quidem lamentans, in modum acuta voce questaeaviculae, cum vacuum midi cubile pullis orbatum videt. Sic et illa; nudum ut cernit cadaver, lamentis eiulavit , dirasque [acti auctoribus poenas imprecata est. Nec mora, collectum manibus aridum affert pulverem , et ex aereo affabre facto gutto, triplici fuso libamine, mortuo inferias facit. Nos vero conspicati irruimus, eamque comprehendimus illico nullo perculsam metu, et utriusque facti, tum illius prioris, tum huius recentis , convincimus: nihil enim negavit. Quod quidem mihi gratum et friste simul auditu fuit: ipsum enim me ex malis evasisse, gratissimum: sed in malum amicos ducere, id triste est; at omnia ista prae mea salute parvi me pendere par est.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 69 focus

Nicht mehr verlang' ich's, möchte dich zur Helferin

Nicht mehr, erklärtest du dich auch bereit dazu.
70

Nein, wähle deinem Sinne nach: ihn werd' ich selbst

Bestatten; ruhmvoll ist der Tod für diese That.

Bei ihm, dem Lieben, werd' ich ruh'n, die Liebende,

Die frommen Frevel übte; muß ich länger doch

Den Todten dort gefallen, als den Lebenden.
75

Denn dort ja ruh' ich ewig; du, wenn dir's gefällt,

Entehre, was in Ehre selbst bei Göttern steht.

Ich acht' es auch der Ehre werth; indeß der Stadt

Zum Troz zu handeln, fühl ich mich nicht stark genug.

Antigone.

So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt,
80

Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.

Ismene.

Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!

Antigone.

Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!

Ismene.

Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That;

Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon.
85

Antigone.

Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir

Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.

Ismene.

Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.

Antigone.

Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.

Ismene.

Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90

Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab.

Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.

Antigone.

Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt,

Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort.

Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand
95

Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch¹

Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.

Ismene.

Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich

Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch.

(Sie gehen nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor tritt auf.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 71 focus

Creon
(5 uard. Thus then it waa, No sooner had J left thee 441

Speak thou, who bendst to earth thy droopiiig

head;

Dost thou deny the fact 1

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 71 focus

EL CENTINELA

¡Oh Príncipe! al hombre no le es dado jurar nada: pues con frecuencia nos convence de nuestro error una reflexión posterior. Yo juraba que jamás volvería á comparecer ante tí: de tal modo me habían aterrado tus amenazas; y sin embargo, por una inesperada felicidad (á ninguna dicha del mundo comparable) vuelvo ante tu presencia (á pesar de mis juramentos) trayéndote á esta joven á quien he sorprendido preparando la tumba para el cadáver. Esta vez no ha sido preciso echar suertes: el descubrimiento ha sido mío, únicamente mío. Ahora tú la cogerás y la examinarás y convencerás según te parezca. En cuanto á mí, me creo ya con derecho á ser declarado libre y absuelto.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 71 focus

BOTE

So war dieSache. Wie wir weggegangen

Von dir, als du Gewaltiges gedrohet,

So wischten allen Staub wir ab, der um
425

Den Todten, wohl den nassen Leib entblöfsend ;

Und sezten uns auf hohen Hügel, an die Luft;

Dafs er Geruch nicht von sich gebe, fürchtend.

Es regt’ ein Mann den andern auf und drohte,

Wenn einer nicht die Arbeit achten würde.
430

Und lange blieb es so, bis auseinander brechend

Der Sonne Kreis sich bükte grad herab +

Vom Aether, und der Brand erglühte .Plözlich hub

Vom Boden dann ein warmer Sturm den Wirbel,

Der Himmlisches betrübt, das Feld erfüllt und reifst
435

Die Haare rings vom Wald des Thals, und voll ward

Davon der grofse Aether; wir verschlossen

Die Augen, hatten göttlich Weh, und als

Wir frei davon, in guter Zeit hernach,

So wird das Kind gesehn und weinet auf
440

Mit scharfer Stimme, wie ein Vogel trauert,

Wenn in dem leeren Nest verwaist von Jungen er

Das Lager sieht. So sie, da sie entblöfst

Erblikt den Todten , jammerte sie laut auf,

Und fluchte böse Flüche, wers gethan,
445

Und bringet Staub mit beiden Händen, schnell,

Und aus dem wohlgeschlagnen Eisenkruge kränzt

Sie dreimal mit Ergielsungen den Todten.

Wir, die’s gesehen, kamen, haschten sie,

Die nicht betroffen war, und klagten sie
450

Des jezigen und schongeschehnen an.

Sie läugnet’ aber nichts mir ab, und war

Lieblich zugleich und auch betrübt, vor mir.

Denn, dass man selbst entflieht aus Uebeln, ist

Das angenehmste. Doch ins Unglük Freunde
455

Zu bringen, ist betrübt. Doch dieses alles

Ist kleiner, als mein eignes Heil zu nehmen.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 71 focus

Guard

407 It befell on this wise. When we had come to the place,—with those dread menaces of thine upon 410 us,—we swept away all the dust that covered the corpse, and bared the dank body well; and then sat us down on the brow of the hill, to windward, heedful that the smell from him should not strike us; every man was wide awake, and kept his neighbour alert with torrents of threats, if any one should be careless of this task, So went it, until the sun’s bright orb stood in mid heaven, and the heat began to burn: and then suddenly a whirlwind lifted from the earth a storm of dust, a trouble in the sky, and filled the plain, marring all the 420 leafage of its woods; and the wide air was choked therewith: we closed our eyes, and bore the plague from the gods. And when, after a long while, this storm had passed, the maid was seen; and she cried aloud with the sharp cry of a bird in its bitterness,—even as when, within the empty nest, it sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she also, when she saw the corpse bare, lifted up a voice of wailing, and called down curses on the doers of that deed. And straightway she brought thirsty 430 dust in her hands; and from a shapely ewer of bronze, held high, with thrice-poured drink-offering she crowned the dead. We rushed forward when we saw it, and at once closed upon our quarry, who was in no wise dismayed. Then we taxed her with her past and present doings; and she stood not on denial of aught,—at once to my joy and to my pain. To have escaped from ills one’s self is a great joy; but ‘tis painful to bring friends to 440 ill. Howbeit, all such things are of less account to me than mine own safety.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 71 focus

Antigone

Ask Creon: thy regard
555

Is paid to him.
555

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 100-160 focus

Enter the Chorus on the right.

Chorus

Shaft of the sun, fairest light of all that have dawned on Thebes of the seven gates, you have shone forth at last, eye of golden day, advancing over Dirce’s streams!
100

You have goaded with a sharper bit the warrior of the white shield, who came from Argos in full armor, driving him to headlong retreat.
105

110

Chorus

He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing,
110

with a mass of weapons and crested helmets.
115

117

Chorus

He paused above our dwellings; he gaped around our sevenfold portals with spears thirsting for blood; but he left

before his jaws were ever glutted with our gore, or before the Fire-god’s pine-fed flame had seized our crown of towers.
120

So fierce was the crash of battle swelling about his back, a match too hard to win for the rival of the dragon.
125

127

Chorus

For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood,

arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts.
130

134

Chorus

Staggered, he fell to the earth with a crash,

torch in hand, a man possessed by the frenzy of the mad attack, who just now was raging against us with the blasts of his tempestuous hate. But his threats did not fare as he had hoped, and to the other enemies mighty Ares dispensed each their own dooms with hard blows,
135

Ares, our mighty ally at the turning-point.
140

141

Chorus

For the seven captains, stationed against an equal number at the seven gates, left behind their brazen arms in tribute to Zeus the turner of battle—all but the accursed pair who, born of one father and one

mother, set against each other their spears, both victorious, and who now share in a common death.
145

148

Chorus

But since Victory whose name is glory has come to us, smiling in joy equal to the joy of chariot-rich Thebes ,

let us make for ourselves forgetfulness after the recent wars, and visit all the temples of the gods with night-long dance and song. And may Bacchus, who shakes the earth of Thebes , rule our dancing!
150

155

Chorus

But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion,
155

that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate?
160

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-223-1 ἥκομεν ¹

mvp-comment-224-1 τὰ δείν’ ἐκεῖν’ ²

mvp-comment-224-2 τὸν | νέκυν ³

mvp-comment-225-1 καθήμεθ’ ⁴

mvp-comment-225-2 ἄκρων ἐκ πάγων ⁵

mvp-comment-225-3

ἐξ Οὐλύμποιο ἀπὸ ῥίου

. Here,

ἀπὸ ῥίου

goes with

εἰσεῖδε

: but

ἐξ Οὐλύμποιο

, however much

εἰσεῖδε

may have influenced it, at least cannot be disjoined from

στᾶσ’

. (2) Eur. Phoen. 1009

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

. It is impossible to sever

στάς

from

ἐξ ἐπ.

, even if we partly explain

ἐξ

σφάξας

. (3) ib. 1224

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

. The position of

σταθείς

forbids us to sever it from

ἀπ’ ὀρθ. π.

, even though

ὑπῆρξε

κελεύσας

is used to explain

ἀπό

. (4) Eur. Tro. 522

ἀνὰ δ’ ἐβόασεν λεὼς | Τρῳάδος ἀπὸ πέτρας σταθείς

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

ἐκ

ἀπό

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

οἱ ἐκ Σικελίας ἥξουσι

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

ἵστασθαι πρός τινος

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

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

, because there

ἐκ δίφροιο

goes with

ἕλκεν

, not with

καθήμενος

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

mvp-comment-225-4 ὑπήνεμοι ⁶

mvp-comment-226-1 βάλῃ ⁷

mvp-comment-227-1 ἐγερτί ⁸

mvp-comment-227-2 κινῶν ⁹

mvp-comment-227-3 ἐπιρρόθοις κακοῖσιν ¹⁰

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

ἐπι

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

πολλὰ μὲν λόγοις | ἐπερρόθησε

. In fr. 521

ἐπίρροθα δώματα

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

ἐπίρροθος

= ‘helper’ (

ἐπιρροθέω

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

ἐρρόθουν

259 n., Aesch. 290.

mvp-comment-228-1 ἀκηδήσοι ¹¹ ἀφειδήσοι ¹²

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

mvp-comment-230-1 κατέστη ¹³

mvp-comment-230-2 χθονὸς ¹⁴

mvp-comment-231-1 τυφώς ¹⁵ σκηπτός ¹⁶

mvp-comment-231-2 οὐράνιον ἄχος ¹⁷

mvp-comment-232-1 πίμπλησι ¹⁸ αἰκίζων ¹⁹

mvp-comment-232-2 ἐν δ’ ἐμεστ ²⁰

mvp-comment-233-1 μύσαντες ²¹

mvp-comment-233-2 νόσον ²²

mvp-comment-233-3 ἐν χρ. μακρ ²³

mvp-comment-234-1 πικρᾶς ²⁴

mvp-comment-235-1 εὐνῆς...λέχος ²⁵

mvp-comment-236-1 οὕτω δέ ²⁶

mvp-comment-236-2 ψιλόν ²⁷

mvp-comment-237-1 γόοισιν ἐξῴμωξεν ²⁸

mvp-comment-237-2 ἐκ δ’ … ἠρᾶτο ²⁹

mvp-comment-237-3 διψίαν ³⁰

mvp-comment-238-1 φέρει κόνιν ³¹

mvp-comment-239-1 The πρόχους ³²

mvp-comment-239-2 εὐκρότητος ³³

mvp-comment-239-3 ἄρδην ³⁴

mvp-comment-240-1 χοαῖσι ³⁵

mvp-comment-240-2 τρισπόνδ. ³⁶ στέφει ³⁷

mvp-comment-241-1 ἱέμεσθα ³⁸

mvp-comment-241-2 σὺν δὲ … θηρώμεθ’ ³⁹

mvp-comment-242-1 ἠλέγχομεν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-242-2 ἄπαρνος … οὐδενός ⁴¹

mvp-comment-242-3 καθίστατο ⁴²

mvp-comment-243-1 ἅμ’ ⁴³

mvp-comment-244-1 φίλους ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-245-1 πάντα ταῦθ’ ⁴⁵ λαβεῖν ⁴⁶

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

407. mvp-comment-232-1 τοιοῦτον (1) As you say: she was seen (1. 423), surprised (1.432), and caught (1.433). Or (2) As follows,' = τοιόνδε.

409-410. mvp-comment-233-1 τὸν | νέκυν Α remarkable instance of synapheia. Cp. 1. 238. Essay on Language § 21. p. 33. Supr. 238.

410. mvp-comment-234-1 μυδῶν Dank: referring rather to the state of the corpse (cp. 412) than to the remains of the libation, which would be soon dried by the sun.

410. mvp-comment-234-2 εὐ Carefully. For the order, see Essay on Language p. 78, and cp. О. Т. 308, μαθόντες εὖ.

411. mvp-comment-235-1 We sat just below the top of the rising ground, in the lee of the wind, so escaping the incidence of the odour from the dead. Supposing the corpse to be exposed on a slope of the high ground, surrounded by hillocks, they would select a point of observation on the lee-side of one of these hillocks, and to the windward of the corpse, which they would have full in view.

411. mvp-comment-235-2 ἐκ = On this side of and looking from. Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. Infr. 1110, εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον : 1197, πεδίον ἐπ᾿ ἄκρον. πικρᾶς] ι in erasure of v? by recent hand Vat.

412. mvp-comment-236-1 This line is not necessarily connected with the preceding: i.e. They may be supposed to select a spot, (1) out of the wind, (2) out of the way of the smell. But the explanation above given (411 note) is more probable. In either case the point is that in attending to their watch they were mightily careful of their own comfort.

412. mvp-comment-236-2 βάλῃ Changed by Stephanusto βάλοι, because of the past time and the optative following. But the subj. is more vivid.

413-414. mvp-comment-237-1 Rousing each his fellow with noisy altercation, reviling him who should take this labour easily. εἴ τις, κ.τ.λ. depends on the verbal notion implied in κακοῖσιν = κακῶς λέγοντες.

413-414. mvp-comment-237-2 ἀφειδεῖν, ‘Το be unsparing, and so To be negligent, To treat lightly, To act without circumspection. For an approach to this meaning, cp. Thuc. 4.26 § 7. Bonitz conj. ἀκηδήσοι.

415-417. mvp-comment-238-1 This lasted till the sun had reached his station in mid-sky with unclouded splendour, and the heat was glowing.' Cp. the Homeric ὄφρα μὲν ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει.

417. mvp-comment-239-1 When suddenly from the earth the Storm-god raised a squall, that saddened all the sky, and filled the plain, tearing the tresses of the orchard groves, and the wide heaven was choked withal.' The chief discomfort of such a visitation would be the cloud of dust, forcing men to close their eyes, and wrapping even near objects from sight. The watchman is explaining why they lost sight of the corpse. The poet also provides a motive for the act by which Antigone is betrayed. She fears that the corpse, lying in an exposed situation, may have been disturbed by the violence of the wind.

418. mvp-comment-240-1 οὐράνιον ἄχος may mean either (1) A trouble from the sky, or (2) A trouble reaching to the sky. The latter is best, as the word χθονός indicates that the whirlwind seemed to rise out of the ground.

420. mvp-comment-241-1 ἐν δ' See Essay on Language p. 26. § 18, a.

421. mvp-comment-242-1 μύσαντες .. νόσον Closing lips and eyes, we endured the Divine visitation.

422. mvp-comment-243-1 ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ After lasting a long while: giving time for Antigone to come out of her concealment, with the libation ready. 423, foll. κἀνακωκύει] ‘And raises a shrill wailing cry, like the voice of the despairing bird. For the descriptive genitive, see Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

422. mvp-comment-243-2 πικρᾶς Embittered, 'Full of bitterness: the quality of the object is transferred to the subject: i.e. πικρᾶς, ἅτε πασχούσης πικρά. Also the bitterness of anger is joined to that of grief. Cp. the Latin dolor. For the genitive, cp. Trach. 768, ὥστε τέκτονοs. And for the omission of ὡs, which is supplied in the following clause, cp. supr. 114, λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός. G. Wolff reads ὅ. δ. φθόγγον ὥς, ὅταν κ. But this yields a less probable rhythm.

424-425. mvp-comment-244-1 As when it sees robbed of its young ones the desolated couch of its nest. For the pleonasm, see Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

426. mvp-comment-245-1 οὕτω δέ The apodosis is resumed, as so often happens after a comparison. Essay on Language p. 75. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 252.

427. mvp-comment-246-1 γόοισιν Essay on Language p. 75.

427. mvp-comment-246-2 ἐκ δ᾽.. ἠρᾶτο Essay on Language § 18. p. 27.

430. mvp-comment-247-1 ἄρδην.. στέφει Slightly condensed from ἄρδην ἔχουσα στέφει. στέφει, She decorates, Honours. Metaphorical, as in Od. 8. 170, ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει. Cp. καταστέφειν in Eur. Phoen. 1632, and Sophron ap. Athen. 479 B. She leaves out no jot of the ceremony: ὡς οὐδὲν ὑφιεμένη τῷ κρηύγματι.

431. mvp-comment-248-1 Od. 11. 26, ἀμφ᾿ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὰς χέομεν πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι, | πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ, | τὸ τρίτον αὐθ᾽ ὕδατι.

432. mvp-comment-249-1 σὺν δέ νιν | θηρώμεθ' For this tmesis, see Essay on Language § 18. p. 26. συν as in συλλαμβάνω.

435. mvp-comment-250-1 Cp. Hdt. 3. 66, ἔξαρνος ἦν μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι Σμέρδιν: 3. 99, ἄπαρνός ἐστι μὴ μὲν νοσέειν.

436. mvp-comment-251-1 ἀλλ᾽.. ἅμα ἀλλά is to be explained as pointing the antithesis after the negative. Her attitude was not that of denial, but one to me at least pleasant and painful as well. The adverb modifies a word which is to be supplied from καθίστατο. ἡδέως ἐμοί, i. e. ὥστε ἐμὲ ἥδεσθαι, Essay on Language § 24. p. 40. There is a certain point in this which is lost in the emendation of Dindorf, ἅμ᾽ ἡδέως, in which, however, the repetition of ἅμα may be defended from Plat. Gorg. 497 Α, ἅμα διψῶν τε ἕκαστος ἡμῶν πέπαυται καὶ ἅμα ἡδόμενος διὰ τοῦ πίνειν. Schneidewin quotes also Gorg. 496 C, ὧν ἅμα τε ἀπαλλάττεται ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἅμα ἔχει, which is not really parallel.

439-440. mvp-comment-252-1 ἀλλὰ .. σωτηρίας (1) But all these things are to me by nature less important to obtain than my own safety. λαβεῖν epexegetic, like ἔχειν in Ο. Τ. 592, τυραννὶς ἡδίων ἔχειν. Cp. inf. 638, μείζων φέρεσθαι: Εl. 1015-1016, προνοίας οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις ἔφυ | κέρδος λαβεῖν ἄμειvov. Or, possibly, (2) It is in my nature to take less account of all this than of my own safety. For the meaning thus given to ἐμοὶ πέφυκ cp. Εl. 860, πᾶσι θνατοῖς ἔφυ μύρος. And for λαβεῖν = To weigh or estimate, cp. Thuc. 2. 42, § 5, τὴν δὲ τῶν ἐναντίων τιμωρίαν ποθεινοτέραν αὐτῶν λαβόντες.

Sophocles Antigone 71

Lewis Campbell (Translator)

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Current edition Experimental

KREON

Und wie ergriffst du sie denn und an welchem Ort?

Antigone.

So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt,
80

Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.

Ismene.

Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!

Antigone.

Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!

Ismene.

Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That;

Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon.
85

Antigone.

Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir

Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.

Ismene.

Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.

Antigone.

Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.

Ismene.

Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90

Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab.

Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.

Antigone.

Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt,

Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort.

Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand
95

Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch¹

Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.

Ismene.

Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich

Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch.

(Sie gehen nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor tritt auf.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Creon
(5 uard. Thus then it waa, No sooner had J left thee 441

Speak thou, who bendst to earth thy droopiiig

head;

Dost thou deny the fact 1

Antigone

Ask Creon: thy regard
555

Is paid to him.
555

Chorus

He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing,
110

with a mass of weapons and crested helmets.
115

Chorus

For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood,

arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts.
130

Chorus

But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion,
155

that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate?
160

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

KREON Und wie ergriffst du sie denn und an welchem Ort?

Antigone. So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt, 80 Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.

Ismene. Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!

Antigone. Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!

Ismene. Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That; Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon. 85

Antigone. Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.

Ismene. Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.

Antigone. Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.

Ismene. Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches. 90 Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab. Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.

Antigone. Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt, Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort. Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand 95 Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch 1 Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.

Ismene. Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch. (Sie gehen nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor tritt auf.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Creon (5 uard. Thus then it waa, No sooner had J left thee 441 Speak thou, who bendst to earth thy droopiiig head; Dost thou deny the fact 1

Antigone Ask Creon: thy regard 555 Is paid to him. 555

Chorus He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing, 110 with a mass of weapons and crested helmets. 115

Chorus For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood, arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts. 130

Chorus But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion, 155 that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate? 160

Commentary

Stable identifiers

KREON

Und wie ergriffst du sie denn und an welchem Ort?

Antigone.

So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt,
80

Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.

Ismene.

Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!

Antigone.

Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!

Ismene.

Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That;

Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon.
85

Antigone.

Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir

Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.

Ismene.

Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.

Antigone.

Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.

Ismene.

Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90

Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab.

Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.

Antigone.

Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt,

Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort.

Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand
95

Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch¹

Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.

Ismene.

Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich

Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch.

(Sie gehen nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor tritt auf.) Erste Strophe.

Creon
(5 uard. Thus then it waa, No sooner had J left thee 441

Speak thou, who bendst to earth thy droopiiig

head;

Dost thou deny the fact 1

Antigone

Ask Creon: thy regard
555

Is paid to him.
555

Chorus

He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing,
110

with a mass of weapons and crested helmets.
115

Chorus

For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood,

arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts.
130

Chorus

But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion,
155

that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate?
160