Sophocles, Antigone, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 232

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Chorus

Do it thyself, nor trust another hand.

Antigone. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 232 focus

τέλος γε μέν τοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 232 focus

τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 232 focus

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

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 232 focus

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 232 focus

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 232.mvp-line-232 focus

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 232 focus

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 232 focus

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα, γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 232 focus

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 232.mvp-line-232 focus

χοὕτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 232 focus

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 232 focus

χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.

Translations (9)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 232 focus

KREON.

Nur dieses wisse, meinen Sinn bestichst du nicht.

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 232 focus

CORO

Cuanto antes, ¡oh rey!; porque el castigo de los dioses, con sus ligeros pies, corta los pasos a los malaconsejados.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 232 focus

Creon

Hei mihi? Vix quidem muto, muto tamen sententiam, hoc ut faciam. Necessitati frustra obluctandum non est.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 232 focus

CHORUS
CHORUS. 1115

O God of many a name!
1115

Filling the heart of that Cadmeian bride
1115

With deep delicious pride,

Offspring of him who wields the withering flame!

Thou for Italia’s good
1120

Dost care, and ’midst the all-gathering bosom wide
1120

Of Dêo dost preside;

Thou, Bacchus, by Ismenus’ winding waters

’Mongst Thebè’s frenzied daughters,

Keep’st haunt, commanding the fierce dragon’s brood.
1125

Thee o’er the forkèd hill
1125
1126

The pinewood flame beholds, where Bacchai rove,

Nymphs of Corycian grove,

Hard by the flowing of Castalia’s rill.
1130

To visit Theban ways,
1130

By bloomy wine-cliffs flushing tender bright

’Neath far Nyseian height

Thou movest o’er the ivy-mantled mound,

While myriad voices sound

Loud strains of ‘Evoe!’ to thy deathless praise.

For Thebè thou dost still uphold,
1135
1137

First of cities manifold,

Thou and the nymph whom lightning made

Mother of thy radiant head.

Come then with healing for the violent woe
1140

That o’er our peopled land doth largely flow,

Passing the high Parnassian steep

Or moaning narrows of the deep!
1145

Come, leader of the starry quire
1145
1146

Quick-panting with their breath of fire!

Lord of high voices of the night,

Child born to him who dwells in light,

Appear with those who, joying in their madness,

Honour the sole dispenser of their gladness,
1150

Thyiads of the Aegean main

Night-long trooping in thy train.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 237 focus

Was ist's, warum befiel dich solche Bangigkeit?

Der Wächter.

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

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

Und nur mit Unrecht widerführe mir ein Leid.
240

Kreon.

Du zielst behutsam und verschanzest dich geschickt

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

Der Wächter.

Das Arge freilich regt die Furcht gewaltig auf.

Kreon.

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

Der Wächter.

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

Begrub den Todten eben, hat mit trocknem Staub

Bestreut den Leichnam, und geweiht, was üblich ist.

Kreon.

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

Der Wächter.

Ich weiß es nicht; denn weder eines Beiles Hieb

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

Und fest und bruchlos, auch mit Wagenrädern nicht

Befahren; spurlos blieb es, wer der Thäter war.

Und wie es uns der erste Tageswächter zeigt,¹

Erschien es Allen unerklärlich wunderbar.

Die Leiche war verschwunden, nicht begraben zwar;
255

Dünn, wie den Fluch zu meiden, lag der Staub darauf.²

Von einem Raubthier oder Hund war keine Spur,

Die hergekommen und an ihr herumgezerrt.

Nun schollen böse Reden auf einander los,

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

Zulezt mit Schlägen; Keiner war zu wehren da.

Denn Einer wie der Andre war der Thäter hier,

Und Keiner überführbar; Jeder stritt es ab.

Mit Händen fassen wollten wir ein glühend Erz,³

Durch Feuer gehen, schwören bei den Göttern selbst,
265

Daß wir es nicht verübten noch im Bunde sei'n

Mit Einem, der's ersonnen oder ausgeführt.

Am Ende, da kein Forschen mehr uns weiter half,

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

Zur Erd' hinabzusenken denn wir wußten nicht
270

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

Uns helfen könnten dieser rieth, man müsse dir

Die Sache hinterbringen, nicht verheimlichen.

Und seine Meinung siegte: mich Unseligen

Verdammt zu diesem schönen Glück des Looses Wurf.
275

Nun steh' ich hier, nicht willig vor Unwilligen:

Niemand ja liebt den Boten unwillkommner Mähr.

Der Chor.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 232 focus

CREONTE

Eres en verdad un hábil adivino; pero te complaces en la injusticia.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 232 focus

DER BOTE

O ihr des Kadmos Nachbarn und Amphions,

Es steht nicht so, dass ich des Menschen Leben,

Wie’s auch verfalst sey, loben möcht’ und tadeln.
1205

Undenklichs hebt , undenklichs stürzet nemlich

Allzeit den Glüklichen und den Unglüklichen.

Kein Schergeist erreicht nicht das, was da ist.

So war sonst Kreon mir beneidenswerth ,

Da cr von Feinden rettete das Land
1210

Des Kadmos und allein Herrschaft gewann,

In dieser Gegend, und regiert und blüht

In wohlgeborner Saat von Kindern. Nun

Geht alles hin. Das Angenehme nemlich,

Das untreu wird, halt’ ich des Mannes unwerth.
1215

Reich, wenn du willst, ist er im Hause sehr,

Und lebet in tyrannischer Gestalt.

Doch wenn von dem weggeht die Freude, möcht’

Um eines Rauches Schatten ich das andre nicht

Als angenehm für einen Mann verkaufen.
1220

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 232 focus

Chorus

Go, thou, and do these things; leave them not to others.

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-667-1 ἐπ’ ἄλλ’. τρέπε ¹

mvp-comment-668-1 ὡς ἔχω ²

mvp-comment-668-2 στείχοιμ’ ἄν ³

mvp-comment-668-3 ἴτ’ ἴτ’ ⁴ εἶ’ ⁵

mvp-comment-669-1 οἵ τ’ ὄντες οἵ τ’ ἀπόντες ⁶

mvp-comment-669-2 ἀξίνας ⁷

mvp-comment-670-1 ἐπόψιον ⁸

mvp-comment-671-1 ἐγὼ δ’ ⁹ ἐπιστράφη ¹⁰ τῇδ’ ¹¹

mvp-comment-672-1 αὐτός τ’ ἔδησα ¹²

mvp-comment-673-1 δέδοικα μὴ … ᾖ ¹³ τοὺς καθεστ. νόμους ¹⁴

mvp-comment-673-2 σῴζοντα … τὸν βίον τελεῖν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-675-1 πολυώνυμε ¹⁶

mvp-comment-675-2 Καδμείας ¹⁸

mvp-comment-675-3 ἄγαλμα ¹⁹

mvp-comment-675-4 νύμφας ²⁰ βαρυβρεμέτα ²¹

mvp-comment-676-1 The traditional reading, Ἰταλίαν ²²

mvp-comment-676-2 The only worthy rival of

Ἰταλίαν

is the conjecture Ἰκαρίαν ²³ Ἰταλίαν ²⁴

mvp-comment-677-1 παγκοίνοις ²⁵

mvp-comment-677-2

πάγκοινον ἐς χώραν

(Olympia).

mvp-comment-677-3 κόλποις ²⁶

mvp-comment-677-4 Ἐλευσι^νίας ²⁷ ι^ ²⁸

mvp-comment-678-1 Βακχεῦ ²⁹ ὦ ³⁰ ὁ ³¹ ματρόπολιν ³²

mvp-comment-678-2 ματρόπολιν ³³

mvp-comment-679-1 L has ὑγρὸν … ῥέεθρον ³⁴ ὑγρῶν … ῥεέθρων ³⁵ ῥεῖθρον ³⁶ ὑγρόν ³⁷ παρά ³⁸ ῥεῖθρον ³⁹ ὑγρόν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-679-2 Ἰσμηνοῦ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-680-1 ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δρ. ⁴²

mvp-comment-681-1 The general sense is: ‘and on the heights of Parnassus thou holdest thy revels by night amid the Corycian Nymphs, who brandish torches.’

mvp-comment-681-2 διλόφου πέτρας ⁴³

mvp-comment-681-3 By ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-681-4 λιγνύς ⁴⁵ στέροψ ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-681-5 ὄπωπε ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-681-6 Κωρύκιαι … Νύμφαι ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-681-7 The simple transposition, στείχουσι νύμφαι ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-682-1 Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-683-1 καί σε Νυσαίων ⁵¹

mvp-comment-684-1 κισσήρεις ὄχθαι ⁵²

mvp-comment-684-2 for the fact was noticed in antiquity (schol. on Aratus Phaenom. 33). Thus Pind. P. 1. 64

ὄχθαις ὕπο Ταϋγέτου

: Eur. Suppl. 655

Ἰσμήνιον πρὸς ὄχθον

.—The

κισσός

was to Dionysus what the

δάφνη

was to Apollo. The crowning with ivy (

κίσσωσις

) was a regular incident of his festivals: he was called

κισσεύς, κισσοκόμης, κισσοχαίτης

. Cp. Alciphron Epist. 2. 3 § 10

μὰ τὸν Διόνυσον καὶ τοὺς Βακχικοὺς αὐτοῦ κισσούς

. F. 3. 767

hedera est gratissima Baccho.

mvp-comment-685-1 πολυστάφυλος ⁵³

mvp-comment-685-2 πέμπει ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-686-1 The words ἀμβρότων ἐπέων ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-686-2 εὐαζόντων ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-687-1 τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν ⁵⁷ τάν ⁵⁸ ἐκ ⁵⁹ ὑπερτάταν ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-688-1 κεραυνίᾳ ⁶¹

mvp-comment-689-1 ἔχεται ἐπὶ βιαίας νόσου ⁶² ὑπό ⁶³ ἔχεται ⁶⁴ βιαι^ας ⁶⁵ ἀμὰ ⁶⁶ πόλις ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-689-2 πάνδαμος ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-690-1 μολεῖν ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-690-2 καθαρσίῳ ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-690-3 κλιτύν ⁷¹

mvp-comment-690-4 πορθμόν ⁷²

mvp-comment-690-5 στονόεντα ⁷³

mvp-comment-691-1 πνειόντων ⁷⁴ πνειόντων ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-691-2 Other conjectures are: (1) ἰὼ πύρπνων ἄστρων χοραγὲ καὶ νυχίων ⁷⁶ πῦρ πνεόντων χοραγὲ καὶ νυχίων ⁷⁷ χοραγὲ ἄστρων ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-691-3 originally preceded

χοραγέ

. Neglect of elision is frequent in L: thus, to take one play only, the O. C. supplies these examples: 266

τἀμά· ἐπεὶ

: 694

ἔστιν δὲ οἶον

: 883

τάδε. ὕβρις

: 915

κύρια ὦδε

: 1026

θηρῶντα ἡ τύχη

: 1210

ἴσθι, ἐάνπερ

. The deletion of καί ⁷⁹ νυχίων ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-691-4 χοράγ’ ἄστρων ⁸¹

mvp-comment-691-5 νυχίων φθεγμάτων ⁸²

mvp-comment-692-1 παῖ Διὸς ⁸³

mvp-comment-693-1 ὦναξ ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-694-1 Θυίαισιν ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-694-2 χορεύουσι ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-695-1 ταμίαν ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-695-2 Ἴακχον ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-697-1 δόμων ⁸⁹ Κάδμου ⁹⁰ πάροικοι ⁹¹ δόμων ⁹²

mvp-comment-698-1 οὐκ ἔστι ⁹³ στάντα ⁹⁴ στάντα ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-698-2 βίον ⁹⁶ ὁποίᾳ ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-699-1 μάντις … τῶν καθεστώτων ⁹⁸ ἐφεστώτων ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-700-1 ὡς ἐμοί ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-701-1 σώσας … ἐχθρῶν ¹⁰¹ δέ ¹⁰² τε ¹⁰³ λαβών τε ¹⁰⁴ ηὔθυνε ¹⁰⁵ παντελῆ ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-701-2 ηὔθυνε ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-701-3 εὐγενεῖ ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-702-1 ἀφεῖται πάντα ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-703-1 προδῶσιν ¹¹⁰ προδῶσιν ¹¹¹ ἀνδρὸς ¹¹² προδῶσιν ¹¹³ ἄνδρες ¹¹⁴ ἀνδρός ¹¹⁵ τὰς γὰρ ἡδονάς ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-703-2 οὐ τίθημι ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-704-1 For

ζῆν, ζών

has been proposed: but the Epic and Ionic

ζώς

does not occur in

mvp-comment-704-2 τοῦτον ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-704-3 ἔμψ. νεκρόν ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-705-1 πλούτει … ζῆ ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-705-2 εἰ βούλει ¹²¹ ζῆ ¹²² σχῆμα ¹²³

mvp-comment-706-1 τὸ χαίρειν ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-706-2 καπνοῦ σκιᾶς ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-707-1 πριαίμην ἀνδρί ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-707-2 πρὸς τὴν ἡδ. ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-708-1 βασιλέων ¹²⁸ αἴτιοι θανεῖν ¹²⁹

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

1107. mvp-comment-638-1 ἐπ᾿ ἄλλ. τρ. i. e. ἐπίτρεπτε ἄλλ.

1108. mvp-comment-639-1 ἴτ' τ' This reading, which ap- pears only in the text of Triclinius, is more probable than any other, the broken tribrach being excused by the agitation of Creon.

1109. mvp-comment-640-1 οἵ τ᾿ ὄντες οἵ τ᾿ ἀπόντες ὄντες = παρόντες, as in El. 305, τὰς οὔσας τέ μου | καὶ τὰς ἀπούσας ἐλπίδας διέφθορεν.

1110. mvp-comment-641-1 εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον To the place in view. Polynices was exposed on the highest part of the plain, and this may have been represented in outline as part of the scenery.

1111. mvp-comment-642-1 For the personification of δόξα, cp. Ο. Τ. 911, δόξα μοι παρεστάθη, and see Essay on Language pp. 91, 92, 105.

1112. mvp-comment-643-1 αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καί For the sake of emphasis, what would naturally be expressed by the participle is made into a coordinate sentence with the finite verb. Cp. Ο. Τ. 413, σὺ καὶ δέδορκας κού βλέπεις ἵν' εἶ.. Ε. on L. p. 68.

1115. mvp-comment-644-1 In the excitement of a desperate hope caused by the late repentance of Creon, the chorus break forth into a joyous invocation to Dionysus, accompanied with dancing or gesticulation, as appears in comparing the similar canticle in Aj. 693, where the chorus are under the excitement of a similar delusive expectation. Cp. Tr. 205-224. The Dionysiac worship, of which the tragic poet is a votary, is associated with the mystic hopes which Creon denied, supr. 780.

1115. mvp-comment-644-2 Glory of Semele, child of Zeus, Thou that tendest Campania And rulest in Eleusis' mystic vale, Dwelling, where thy votaries dwell, In Thebes by Ismenus' waters, Presiding o'er the dragon's brood: Seen o'er the forked height By the pitchy flame, Where move the Bacchic nymphs of Corycus, Where is the Castalian fount: And ushered on thy way to visit Thebe's roads By the ivy-clad banks of Nysean mountains, And the bloomy shore with many a cluster, While the shout of the immortal strain resounds. Thebè thou honourest far above all cities, Thou and thy mother whom the lightning glorified. And now that our whole multitude Is overtaken by misfortune dire, Appear with healing tread, Over the Parnassian steep Or groaning narrow sea. Thou that leadest up the dance of the fire-breathing stars, Visitant of nightly voices, Son born of Zeus, Rise with thy attendant Maenads, Who, all night long. Celebrate thee with dances, Iacchus, the dispenser of their joys.

1115. mvp-comment-644-3 This ode has been variously arranged. The arrangement in the text is that of Böckh, with a few slight changes. a'. First strophe and antistrophe. ICICIC lululuclalalclcl luclcla 5----- 다 !トーートしcita ICICーートト β'. Second strophe and antistrophe. トCICICに The prevailing rhythm is logaoedic, with frequent syncope (or antispastic movement), long syllables in thesi, and occasional resolution both of arsis and thesis. Each strophe begins with an anacrusis.

1115. mvp-comment-644-4 πολυώνυμε Schol. ὦ Διόνυσε· οἱ μὲν γὰρ Βάκχον, οἱ δὲ Ιακχον, οἱ δὲ Λύαιον, οἱ δὲ Εὔιον, οἱ δὲ Διθύραμβον αὐτὸν καλοῦσιν. Bacchus is claimed as a Theban God, and at the same time, the wide extent of his dominion is celebrated.

1115. mvp-comment-644-5 ἄγαλμα Delight, or Glory. The word expresses the pride taken by a mother in her child. Plat. Tim. 37 D, τῶν ἀϊδίων θεῶν γεγονὸς ἄγαλμα: Eur. Suppl. 370, ματέρος ἄγαλμα.

1118. mvp-comment-645-1 κλυτὰν .. Ἰταλίαν The mention of Italy is singular, but hardly more so than that of Naxos in connection with Dionysus. The aim of the song being to celebrate the universality of his empire, it is not wonderful that allusion should be made to Italy, quam gravidae fruges et Bacchi Massicus humor Implevere, Virg. Georg. 2. 143. And if Italy was mentioned by Sophocles in the Triptolemus in connection with Demeter, why not here in connection with Bacchus? Fr. 540 N. Ut.. Sophocles poeta in fabula Triptolemo frumentum Italicum ante cuncta laudaverit, ad verbum translata sententia Et fortunatam Italiam frumento canere candido. Plin. H. N. 18. 12. Some edd. substitute Ἰκαρίαν, an eastward deme of Attica, and a seat of Dionysiac worship.

1120. mvp-comment-646-1 In the all-receiving bosom of Eleusinian Demeter;' i. e. In the vale of Eleusis, where the mystae from all parts of Greece were received. Cp. Pind. Ol. 14. 23, κόλποις Πίσας: Hdt. 4.99, κόλπου . . ἀγομένου τῆς γῆς ταύτης, and esp. Aristoph. Ran. 373, χώρει νυν πᾶς ἀνδρείως | ἐς τοὺς εὐανθεῖς κόλπους | λειμώνων, κ.τ.λ.

1123-1124. mvp-comment-647-1 παρ' ὑγρὸν Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥεῖθρον] Some have preferred, chiefly for metrical reasons, the Triclinian reading παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν .. ῥεέθρων, for which compare supr. 1. 966.

1125. mvp-comment-648-1 ἐπί Cp. Τr. 356, τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς.

1126-1127. mvp-comment-649-1 στέροψ.. λιγνύς The blinding torch-flame hath beheld. There is an opposition of sound rather than of sense in στέροψ ὄπωπε. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 226, ὦ λάμπουσα πέτρα πυρὸς | δικόρυφον σέλας ὑπὲρ ἄκρων | Βακχείων Διονύσου, where the succeeding lines also deserve to be compared with the description of Mount Parnassus in this passage. The fabled fire on Mount Parnassus was commonly explained of the torches of the Maenads, and seems to have been so understood by Sophocles.

1128. mvp-comment-650-1 Κωρύκιαι So named from the Corycian cave on Mount Parnassus. Aesch. Eum. 22, σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα, | κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφαί.

1130. mvp-comment-651-1 Κασταλίας.. νᾶμα (1) Sc.

1130. mvp-comment-651-2 ὄπωπέ σε, or (2) ἔνθα Κασταλίας νᾶμα, sc. ἐστί. Probably the latter (2).

1131-1136. mvp-comment-652-1 Νυσαίων. ἀγυιάς Bacchus is imagined as leaving the throng of revellers, who follow in his train along the Nysaean slopes in Euboea, and as crossing the sounding frith' (1. 1145) to visit the streets of Thebes.

1133. mvp-comment-653-1 χλωρά Lustrous with fresh green. The word suggests the richness of young vegetation, especially of the vine. See Essay on Language p. 103. Stephanus in Νύσαι .. δεκάτη ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ, ἔνθα διὰ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τὴν ἄμπελόν φασιν ἀνθεῖν, καὶ τὸν βότρυν πεπαίνεσθαι.

1134. mvp-comment-654-1 By adding *τῶν in this line, and reading ῥεῖθρον in 1124, we obtain ーーム, a diiambus followed by an epitritus, and a trochee or spondee.

1140. mvp-comment-655-1 νύν, νῦν, as in Pindar.

1141. mvp-comment-656-1 έχεται Cp. Plat. Legg. 10. 887 Ε, ἐν συμφοραῖς παντοίαις ἐχομένων.

1141. mvp-comment-656-2 ἐπὶ νόσου] See Essay on Language § 19. p. 27.

1143. mvp-comment-657-1 μολεῖν

Der Inf. giebt etwas kindlich frommes.

Wecklein.

1146-1147. mvp-comment-658-1 πῦρ πνεόντων *ἄστρων χοραγέ*] Cp. Ar. Ran. 341-342, Ιακχ᾽, ὦ Ιακχε, νυκτέρου τελετῆς φωσφόρος ἀστήρ. Bacchus is lord and leader of the sights and sounds of night. The stars in their courses hold revel with his torchbearers: the voices of the night are wakened by their shouting. This is more probable than an allusion to the mystical notion that Bacchus was an impersonation of the sun. I have ventured to retain καί, transposing the two preceding words and scanning πνεόντων as a spondee by synizesis.

1146-1147. mvp-comment-658-2 πυρπνεόντων may be taken as a compound. Cp. Hom. Il. 7. 310, άελπτεοντες.

1149. mvp-comment-659-1 παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον i.e. as Hermann says, παῖ Διὸς γεγώς. Ever youthful offspring of Zeus.

1150. mvp-comment-660-1 Ναξίαις i.e. From Ariadne's island.

1152. mvp-comment-661-1 τὸν ταμίαν The word ταμίας, as appears from its use in Pindar, had in Doric Greek the special meaning of Lord (cp. the Anglo-Saxon Hlafford): and may have been a favourite attribute of Bacchus in this sense.

1156. mvp-comment-662-1 στάντα (1) The participle is to be taken closely with the adjective = τινὰ στάσιν ἔχοντα, as in the gloss of V. There is no present position of a human life, in which I would praise it, or find fault with it. Cp. Phil. 174, ἐπὶ παντί τῳ χρείας ἱσταμένῳ, where the participle is similarly added in epexegesis. Or, χώρας] χέων Ε.

1156. mvp-comment-662-2 ἐμοί, ποτέ] 1164. θάλλων] possibly, (2) No settled condition, or (3), like στάντες τ' ἐς ὀρθών, Ο. Τ. 50, No life that is in prosperity. (1) is confirmed by 1160.

1160. mvp-comment-663-1 And no one can prophesy to mortals respecting their present state:' i.e. Whether it will continue or change.

1162. mvp-comment-664-1 σώσας.. εὔθυνε There is a change from the participial construction to the indicative as well as from μὲν.. δέ τo τε: ie. σώσας agrees with the subject of ἦν, and the finite verb εὔθυνε is substituted for εὐθύνων. This is more in accordance with the growing nature of the language of Sophocles, than to suppose, with Seyffert, that σώσας begins a new sentence in apposition to, and epexegetic of, the previous clause. 1165 ff. See v. rr. Seyffert conjectures καὶ γὰρ ἡδοναὶ ὅταν προδῶσιν ἀνδρός. Cp. supr. 578, and note. On the change from plural to singular, see Essay on Language §20. p. 31. And on the inversion (ἡδονὰς προδῶσιν ἄνδρες = ἡδοναὶ προδῶσιν ἄνδρας), ibid. § 42. p. 80, β. In favour of the reading of the MSS. it must be admitted that the plural ἄνδρες, in this pronominal sense, is unusual. The meaning of the MS. reading is, 'A man's pleasures, when they have deserted him, I hold of no account.' But this does not agree with the concluding lines of the speech. Line 1167 had been dropped, and then l. 1166 was altered so as to make sense.

1168. mvp-comment-665-1 πλουτεῖ.. καὶ ζῇ This is the first hand of L, and the words are so quoted by Athenaeus according to some MSS. I have always felt that the transition to the second person imperative (which has been suggested by εἰ βούλει) was somewhat harsh. The present indicative is sometimes used in putting a hypothetical case: (Plat. Theaet. 192 Ε, Σωκράτης ἐπιγιγνώσκει Θεόδωρον καὶ Θεαίτητον, ὁρᾷ δὲ μηδέτερον. So the aor. indicative in Hdt. 7. 10, καὶ δὴ καὶ συνήνεικε ἤτοι κατὰ γῆν ἢ καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν ἑσσωθῆναι, κ.τ.λ.) And the conversational use of εἰ βούλει (which assists the expression) is too familiar to need illustration. See L. and S. s. v. βούλομαι, 11. 2.

1171. mvp-comment-666-1 πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν resumes and supplements τὸ χαίρειν. Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

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Chorus Do it thyself, nor trust another hand.

Current edition Experimental

KREON. Nur dieses wisse, meinen Sinn bestichst du nicht.

CORO Cuanto antes, ¡oh rey!; porque el castigo de los dioses, con sus ligeros pies, corta los pasos a los malaconsejados.

Creon Hei mihi? Vix quidem muto, muto tamen sententiam, hoc ut faciam. Necessitati frustra obluctandum non est.

Was ist's, warum befiel dich solche Bangigkeit?

Der Wächter. Erst laß dir sagen, was mich selbst betrifft: die That Verübt' ich nicht, noch sah ich, wer der Thäter war; Und nur mit Unrecht widerführe mir ein Leid. 240

Kreon. Du zielst behutsam und verschanzest dich geschickt Ringsher; du bringst uns, seh' ich wohl, ein schweres Wort.

Der Wächter. Das Arge freilich regt die Furcht gewaltig auf.

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

Der Wächter. Wohlan, so sag' ich's: Einer, der sofort verschwand, 245 Begrub den Todten eben, hat mit trocknem Staub Bestreut den Leichnam, und geweiht, was üblich ist.

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

Der Chor.

CREONTE Eres en verdad un hábil adivino; pero te complaces en la injusticia.

Chorus Go, thou, and do these things; leave them not to others.

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.

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?

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

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

Stable identifiers

Chorus

Do it thyself, nor trust another hand.

KREON.

Nur dieses wisse, meinen Sinn bestichst du nicht.

CORO

Cuanto antes, ¡oh rey!; porque el castigo de los dioses, con sus ligeros pies, corta los pasos a los malaconsejados.

Creon

Hei mihi? Vix quidem muto, muto tamen sententiam, hoc ut faciam. Necessitati frustra obluctandum non est.

Der Wächter.

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

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

Und nur mit Unrecht widerführe mir ein Leid.
240

Kreon.

Du zielst behutsam und verschanzest dich geschickt

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

Der Wächter.

Das Arge freilich regt die Furcht gewaltig auf.

Kreon.

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

Der Wächter.

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

Begrub den Todten eben, hat mit trocknem Staub

Bestreut den Leichnam, und geweiht, was üblich ist.

Kreon.

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

CREONTE

Eres en verdad un hábil adivino; pero te complaces en la injusticia.

Chorus

Go, thou, and do these things; leave them not to others.

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.

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?

Chorus

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

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