Sophocles Antigone 31

Thomas Francklin (Translator)

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Creon
211cont2

I have appointed some to watch the body.

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)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι ¹ τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντά σοι

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντά σοι

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 31.mvp-line-31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντά σοι

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασιν τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 31.mvp-line-31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 31 focus

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 31 focus

CHOR

Strahl der Sonne, das schönste Licht,
100

das je dieses Thebäervolks

siebenthoriger Stadt erschien!

du blickst endlich, goldenes Tags Wimper, leuchtend herab,

über Dirka's Fluten herüberschwebend!

Jenen, der mit glänzendem Schild
105

kam von Argos, mächtig bewehrt,

triebest du flüchtig in eilendem Lauf

fort mit rascherem Zügel;

110

ihn, welchen ins Land zur Befehdung rief

durch feindlichen Zwist grimmvoll entbrannt
110

Polyneikes, der in dem Fluge des Aars

hellkreischend daher kam über das Land,

von dem Fittig gedeckt weiſsglänzendes Schnee's,

mit der Rüstungen viel

und rofsummähneten Helmen.
115
117

Jener, über den Häusern, um-

gähnend unserer Thore Mund

mit mordlustigen Speeren rings,

entfloh, eh' er unseres Bluts ganz der Kiefern Begier

sättigt', ehe ragender Thürm' Umkränzung
120

fafst' Hephästos' flammende Glut:

also braust' im Rücken umher

Kriegesgetümmel, verderblicher Kampf

ihm, dem feindlichen Drachen!

127

Denn Zeus hafst schwer grofssprechender Zung'
125

hochmüthig Geprahl'; und als er ersah,

wie in mächtigem Strom sie zogen heran,

in des Goldes Geklirr, hoffärtiges Sinns,

wirft den er herab mit geschleudertem Strahl,

der aufstieg schon
130

zu den Zinnen in jubelndem Siegsruf,

134

Und zu der dröhnenden Erde geschmettert fiel er,

der mit geschwungener Fackel in wildem Andrang,

mit wahnsinniger Wuth braust' heran im feindlichsten Sturm.

Diesen traf solches Loos;
135

anderes theilt' anderen zu, mächtig im Kampf drängend,

Ares der grofse
Siegesheld!

141

Denn Sieben um sieben der Thore gestellt,

Mann gegen den Mann, sie liefsen dem Zeus

zum Preise des Siegs die gediegene Wehr.
140

Nur das schreckliche Paar, von Demselben erzeugt

mit demselbigen Weib, die wider sich selbst,

zwiefach siegreich, einlegten den Speer,

traf gleiches Verhängniſs des Todes.

148

Aber es kam die gepriesene Siegesgöttin,
145

freudig entgegnend der wagenberühmten Thebe:

deſshalb denket des Kampfs jetztnicht mehr; in nächtlichem Chor

lasset Tanzreigen uns

führend der Stadt Tempeln umher nahen, voran hebe sich

Thebe's
Bacchios jauchzend!
150
155

Doch Kreon kommt des Menökeus Sohn,

des Thebäischen Lands neuwaltender Fürst,

in des Göttergeschicks neublühendem Glück:

was sinnet er wohl im erregten Gemüth,

daſs jetzo sofort den erlesenen Rath
155

er der Greis' entbot zur Versammlung hier,

durch Heroldsruf sie beschickend?

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 31 focus

Coro

211 Sea como te place, Creonte, hijo de Meneceo, respecto de los amigos y enemigos de esta ciudad; pues en tu derecho estás de aplicar absolutamente la ley en lo que toca a los muertos y a todos cuantos vivimos.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 31 focus

Chorus

211 Eadem, quae tibi, nobis etiam placent; Menoecei gnate, Creon, circa civitatis huius hostem, et circa amicum: lege vero uti qualibet penes te estin mortuos, et in viventes, quotquot sumus.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 31 focus

CH
211

Son of Menoeceus, we have heard thy mind

Toward him who loves, and him who hates our city.

And sure, ’tis thine to enforce what law thou wilt

Both on the dead and all of us who live.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 39 focus

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige,¹

Hier, lösend oder bindend, uns zum Frommen thun?
40

Antigone.

Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene.

Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone.

Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene.

Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone.

Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du
45

Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n!²

Ismene.

Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone.

Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Ismene.

Weh mir! Bedenk', o Schwester, wie der Vater uns,

Mit Haß und Hohn belastet, ruhmlos unterging,
50

Nachdem er selbst um Gräuel, die er selbst enthüllt,

Der Augen Sterne sich zerriß mit eigner Hand;

Wie dann die Mutter, Mutter ihm und Weib zugleich,

Schmachvoll mit frevlem Strange sich das Leben nahm;

Zum dritten, wie die Brüder beid' an Einem Tag
55

Im Wechselmord sich ein gemeinsam Todesloos,

Die Armen, schufen, Einer durch des Andern Hand!

Wir sind allein jezt übrig; du bedenke denn,

Wie schmählich wir verdürben, wenn wir wider Necht

Der Herrscher Ausspruch und Gewalt mißachteten.
60

Wohl mußt du doch erwägen, daß wir Frauen sind,

Und nicht geschaffen, Männern kühn im Kampf zu steh'n,

Dann aber, daß wir, weil beherrscht von Stärkeren,

Hier folgen müssen und sogar in Härterem.

Drum will ich jene, die der Erde Schooß verbirgt,³
65

Anfleh'n um Nachsicht, weil Gewalt mich bindet hier,

Und ihm gehorchen, dem die Macht geworden ist;

Denn Unverstand ist's, über seine Kraft zu thun.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 31 focus

CORO

134 Herido por el rayo cayó en tierra, por la cual fué rechazado, aquel que con insana furia se arrojaba sobre nosotros, respirando el ódio y la venganza. Pero el gran dios de la guerra, nuestro propicio aliado, sembrando la turbación, con su potente brazo, envióles de mil distintas maneras la muerte. 141 Los siete jefes, que venian hácia nuestras siete puertas contra otros tantos caudillos de Thebas, rindieron sus férreas armas á Júpiter vencedor. Mas ¡ay! estos dos desventurados, hijos del mismo padre y de la misma madre, volviendo el uno contra el otro sus lanzas victoriosas, se compartieron entre los dos la misma muerte.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 31 focus

CHOR

Dir dünket difs, o Sohn Menökeus, Kreon,

Des Feindes wegen und des Freunds der Stadt,
220

Und das Gesez gebrauchst du überall,

Der Todten wegen und der Lebenden.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 31 focus

Chorus

211 Such is thy pleasure, Creon, son of Menoeceus, touching this city’s foe, and its friend; and thou hast power, I ween, to take what order thou wilt, both for the dead, and for all us who live.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 31 focus

Messenger

How cruel is suspicion when unjust!

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1-98 focus

1

Antigone

Ismene, my sister, true child of my own mother, do you know any evil out of all the evils bequeathed by Oedipus that Zeus will not fulfil for the two of us in our lifetime? There is nothing—no pain, no ruin,
1

no shame, nor dishonor—that I have not seen in your sufferings and mine. And now what is this new edict that they say the general has just decreed to all the city? Do you know anything? Have you heard? Or does it escape you that
5

evils from our enemies are on the march against our friends?
10

Ismene

To me no word of our friends, Antigone, either bringing joy or bringing pain has come since we two were robbed of our two brothers who died in one day by a double blow.

And since the Argive army has fled during this night, I have learned nothing further, whether better fortune is mine, or further ruin.
15

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Antigone

Why not? Has not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honored burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he has laid in the earth

for his honor among the dead below. As for the poor corpse of Polyneices, however, they say that an edict has been published to the townsmen that no one shall bury him or mourn him, but instead leave him unwept, unentombed, for the birds a pleasing store
25

as they look to satisfy their hunger. Such, it is said, is the edict that the good Creon has laid down for you and for me—yes, for me—and it is said that he is coming here to proclaim it for the certain knowledge of those who do not already know. They say that he does not conduct this business lightly,
30

but whoever performs any of these rites, for him the fate appointed is death by public stoning among the entire city. This is how things stand for you, and so you will soon show your nature, whether you are noble-minded, or the corrupt daughter of a noble line.
35

39

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

Ah, no! Think, sister, how our father

perished in hatred and infamy, when, because of the crimes that he himself detected, he smashed both his eyes with self-blinding hand; then his mother-wife, two names in one, with a twisted noose destroyed her life;
50

lastly, our two brothers in a single day, both unhappy murderers of their own flesh and blood, worked with mutual hands their common doom. And now we, in turn—we two who have been left all alone—consider how much more miserably we will be destroyed, if in defiance of the law
55

we transgress against an autocrat’s decree or his powers. No, we must remember, first, that ours is a woman’s nature, and accordingly not suited to battles against men; and next, that we are ruled by the more powerful, so that we must obey in these things and in things even more stinging.
60

I, therefore, will ask those below for pardon, since I am forced to this, and will obey those who have come to authority. It is foolish to do what is fruitless.
65

69

Antigone

I would not encourage you—no, nor, even if you were willing later,

would I welcome you as my partner in this action. No, be the sort that pleases you. I will bury him—it would honor me to die while doing that. I shall rest with him, loved one with loved one, a pious criminal. For the time is greater
70

that I must serve the dead than the living, since in that world I will rest forever. But if you so choose, continue to dishonor what the gods in honor have established.
75

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-118-1 I print Dindorf's κἀς ¹ καὶ ² σοὶ ταῦτ’ ἀρέσκει ³ Κρέον ⁴ ταὔτ ⁵ ταῦτ’ ⁶

mvp-comment-119-1 In παντί πού γ’ ⁷ σοί γ’ … που ⁸ ἔνεστι ⁹ χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν ¹⁰ πέρι ¹¹

mvp-comment-120-1 ὡς ἂν … ἦτε ¹² πῶς ἂν … εἶτε ¹³

mvp-comment-120-2 σκοποί ¹⁴

mvp-comment-120-3 νυν ¹⁵ νῦν ¹⁶

mvp-comment-120-4 τῶν εἰρ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-121-1 πρόθες τοῦτο ¹⁸ βαστάζειν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-121-2 τοῦ νεκροῦ γ’ ²⁰

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

211-212. mvp-comment-130-1 For the construction of the accusatives τὸν .. δύσνουν. . τὸν εὐμενῆ, after σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει as = οὕτω τάσσεις, or the like, cр. О. С. 1120, τέκν᾽ εἰ φανέντ᾽ ἄελπτα μηκύνω λόγον, and see Essay on Language § 16. p. 22. No emendation is necessary.

213. mvp-comment-131-1 παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι γε has been thought a useless insertion, and Dindorf reads πάντι που πάρεστί σοι. But δέ γε is not unsuitable to the connection, introducing the second premiss of an implied argument. The words of the chorus express the barest acquiescence in the will of the ruler. Cp. infr. 509, σοὶ δ᾽ ὑπίλλουσι στόμα. They hide their disapproval, and that is all. Cp. Richard III, 4. 2, 21, Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure.

215. mvp-comment-132-1 ὡς ἂν.. εἰρημένων Sc. οὕτω πράσσετε. The subjunctive with ὡς ἄν follows the implied imperative. Act, then, so as to see my words obeyed. Cp. Ο. Τ. 325, ὡς οὖν μηδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταὐτὸν πάθω : Plat. Phaedo 59 Ε, παραγγέλλουσιν, ὅπως ἂν τῇδε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τελευτήσῃ. The ellipse is idiomatic. It is not to be supposed either that Creon hesitates, or that the elders interrupt him.