Sophocles Antigone 244

Friedrich Hölderlin (Translator)

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DER BOTE

Mich wunderts auch , doch nähr’ ich mich mit Hoffnung,

Dafs auf des Kindes Unglük sie das Jammern

Anständig nicht gehalten vor der Stadt,

Und in den Zimmern drinn den Mägden sage,

Dals sie des Hauses Klage klagen. Denn
1305

So ohne Rath ist sie nicht, dass sie fehlte.

Antigone. Sophocles. Friedrich Hölderlin (Translator). Frankfurt am Main. 1804.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Experimental

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) (German) (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 244 focus

καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 244 focus

τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 244 focus

θάψας βέβηκε, κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ', εἶτʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 244.mvp-line-244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ’, εἶτ’ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς πότ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 244.mvp-line-244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτʼ, εἶτʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 244 focus

οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;

Translations (9)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 244 focus

CHOR.
Str. 1. 1115

Vielnam'ger, der Kadmischen Jungfrau wonnig Kleinod!
1070

Sprofs Sproß des hocherdonnernden Zeus, Italia's der herrlichen.

Schutz!

es beherrschet deine

Macht Eleusis' gastliche Flur

in Deo's Thalgrund!

O Baccheus, hier in Bacchischer Fraun Urland
1075

Theba, bei des Ismenos Stromflut

wohnend, wo des grimmen Drachen Saat sprofs!

Gegenstr. 1. 1126

Dich schauet vom Doppelgeklipp' auflodernd helle

Dampfglut, wo Korykische Nymphen schreiten froh im Bacchoschor,

schauet der Born Kastalia's!
1080

Dich entsendet Nysa's Gebirg

und Epheuwaldhöh'n,

wo grünumlaubtem Ufer entlang Wein prangt!

Gottvoll schallet dann jauchzend Festlied,

weil du freundlich Thebens Gassen heimsuchst,
1085
Str. 2. 1137

die weit du, weit vorziehst an Ehren jeglicher Stadt,

mit der Donnermutter du!

Komme jetzt, da graunvoll

das gesammte Land des Weh's herbe Gewalt erfafst,

sühnvollen Fufses über der Parnassoshöh'n
1090

Geklüft steigend oder die wilde Meerfurt!

Gegenstr. 2. 1146

Io du, glutaussprühn'der Sterne führend den Chor,

Herr des Jubelschalls der Nacht,

Zeusentsprofsner Knabe!

O erscheine sammt der Schaar Naxischer Mägdelein,
1095

der Thyien, die durchschwärmend die Nacht dich entzückt

im Tanzreigen, Spender Iakchos, feiern!

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 244 focus

CORO

– ¡Oh adivino! ¡Cuán cumplidamente diste la profecia profecía!

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 244 focus

Nuntius

Nempe cum sic se res habeant, de ceteris consulere expedit.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 244 focus

MESS

Dear lady, I will tell thee what I saw,

And hide no grain of truth: why should I soothe

Thy spirit with soft tales, when the harsh fact

Must prove me a liar? Truth is always best.

I duly led the footsteps of thy lord
1195

To the highest point of the plain, where still was lying,

Forlorn and mangled by the dogs, the corse

Of Polynices. We besought Persephonè

And Pluto gently to restrain their wrath,

And wash’d him pure and clean, and then we burned
1200

The poor remains with brushwood freshly pulled,

And heaped a lofty mound of his own earth

Above him. Then we turned us to the vault,

The maiden’s stony bride-chamber of death.

And from afar, round the unhallowed cell,
1205

One heard a voice of wailing loud and long,

And went and told his lord: who coming near

Was haunted by the dim and bitter cry,

And suddenly exclaiming on his fate

Said lamentably, ‘My prophetic heart
1210

Divined aright. I am going, of all ways

That e’er I went, the unhappiest to-day.

My son’s voice smites me. Go, my men, approach

With speed, and, where the stones are torn away,

Press through the passage to that door of death,
1215

Look hard, and tell me, if I hear aright

The voice of Haemon, or the gods deceive me.’

Thus urged by our despairing lord, we made

Th’ espial. And in the farthest nook of the vault

1219

We saw the maiden hanging by the neck

With noose of finest tissue firmly tied,
1220

And clinging to her on his knees the boy,

Lamenting o’er his ruined nuptial-rite,

Consummated in death, his father’s crime

And his lost love. And when the father saw him,

With loud and dreadful clamour bursting in
1225

He went to him and called him piteously:

‘What deed is this, unhappy youth? What thought

O’ermaster’d thee? Where did the force of woe

O’erturn thy reason? O come forth, my son,

I beg thee!’ But with savage eyes the youth
1230

Glared scowling at him, and without a word

Plucked forth his two-edged blade. The father then

Fled and escaped: but the unhappy boy,

Wroth with himself, even where he stood, leant heavily

Upon his sword and plunged it in his side.—
1235

And while the sense remained, his slackening arm

Enfolded still the maiden, and his breath,

Gaspingly drawn and panted forth with pain,

Cast ruddy drops upon her pallid face;

Then lay in death upon the dead, at last
1240

Joined to his bride in Hades’ dismal hall:—

A monument unto mankind, that rashness

Is the worst evil of this mortal state.

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.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 244 focus

Messenger
\fixit EURYDICE. Scene HI.

Chorus.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 244 focus

CREONTE

¡Ay!... con cuánto pesar desisto de mi intención; pero no se puede luchar contra la fatalidad ( ἀνάγκη).

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 244 focus

Chorus

Lo, I see the hapless Eurydicé, Creon’s wife, approaching; she comes from the house by chance, haply,—or because she knows the tidings of her son.

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-783-1 ἥδ’ ¹ βωμία ² βωμία ³

mvp-comment-783-2 ξίφει ⁴

mvp-comment-783-3 Next to Arndt's, the best conjecture seems that of Blaydes, ἥδ’ ὀξυθήκτῳ σφαγίδι βωμίᾳ πέρι ⁵

mvp-comment-784-1 λύει κελαινὰ βλέφαρα ⁶ μύει ⁷

mvp-comment-785-1 Μεγαρέως ⁸

mvp-comment-785-2 κλεινὸν λάχος ⁹ λάχος ¹⁰ λέχος ¹¹

mvp-comment-786-1 κακὰς πράξεις ¹²

mvp-comment-786-2 ἐφυμνής. ¹³

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

1301. mvp-comment-723-1 ἡ δέ δέ opposes the case of Eurydice to that of Haemon, whose dead body is in the arms of Creon.

1301. mvp-comment-723-2 ὀξύθηκτος Infuriated (ὀργῇ χρω μένη, Ο. Τ. 1241). Cp. Aesch. S. c. T. 715, τεθηγμένον τοί μ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαμβλυνεῖς λόγῳ. The Scholion, ὀξεῖαν λαβούσα πληγήν, seems to imply a v. τ. ὀξύπληκτος (or ὀξύδηκτος, a vox nihili), which, however, gives a poorer sense.

1301. mvp-comment-723-3 ἥδε Pointing to the corpse, which has just been rolled into view by the ἐκκύκλημα.

1301. mvp-comment-723-4 βωμία At, or on the altar,' as in Eur. Suppl. 93, μητέρα γεραίαν βωμίαν ἐφημένην. Cp. Tr. 904, where Deianira, before her suicide, falls on the altar, βωμοῖσι προσπίπτουσα.

1301. mvp-comment-723-5 †πέριξ, if not spurious, must be explained as an epexegesis of βωμία = περιπετής. No satisfactory emendation has been proposed. Arndt suggested ἡ δ' ὀξυθήκτῳ βωμία περὶ ξίφει. Others, reading πτέρυξ, suppose the Exangelus to display the altar-knife which had given the wound. See L. and S. s. v.

1301. mvp-comment-723-6 πτέρυξ, 11. 5.

1302. mvp-comment-724-1 λύει κελαινὰ βλέφαρα Relaxes her darkened eye. λύειν is used here as in λῦσε δὲ γυῖα and the like expressions in Homer. κελαινά might quite well be used proleptically = σκοτεινά = ἐν σκότῳ. But this, like other words of colour in Sophocles, has usually a picturesque force, and here is probably intended to suggest the darkness of passionate grief and despair which oppressed her eyes in their last looks before the final darkness of death.

1303. mvp-comment-725-1 It has been suggested that the λέχος of Megareus and Haemon is the place which received each of them in death. Euripides speaks of Menoeceus, who flung himself into the serpent's lair, σηκὸν ἐς μελαμβαθῆ δράκοντος δράκοντος (Phoen. 1017), as θαλάμαις .. σφαγέντα VOL. I. 00 (ib. 938 ff.). If Megareus is Menoeceus, as would appear from Aesch. S. c. T. 474 ff., and if the body was left in the deep cavern where it lay. Eurydice may speak of this as at once her son's grave and bride-bed (for he was ἠθεος): and as κλεινόν, because earning him his country's gratitude. And although Haemon was not buried in the cell where he died, the word borrowed from the preceding clause may be less exact in its application to him. Bothe's conj. λάχος is accepted by Dindorf.

1304-1305. mvp-comment-726-1 λοίσθιον δὲ . . παιδοκτόνῳ And lastly uttering a strain of calamitous import against thee, the slayer of thy children. The expression signifies rather a prophecy than a mere imprecation of woe.