Sophocles Antigone 58

Friedrich Hölderlin (Translator)

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DER BOTE

Ach! furchtbar ist Gewissen ohne Wahrheit!

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)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα, σκόπει

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα, σκόπει,

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 58 focus

νῦν αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 58.mvp-line-58 focus

νῦν δ’ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 58.mvp-line-58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 58 focus

νῦν δʼ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 58 focus

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 58 focus

WÄCHTER

Der Thäter kränket dir das Herz, die Ohren ich.
315

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 58 focus

El Centinela

¡Huy! Difícil es que a quien haya formado una opinión se le convenza de su falsedad.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 58 focus

Custos

Vah, malum est, si cui opiniones et mendacia placent!

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 58 focus

WATCH

Pity so clear a mind should clearly err!

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)) — 58 focus

Messenger

Would he were found. That we must leave to

fate ;

Be it as it may, I never will return :

Thus safe beyond my hopes, 'tis fit I pay

My thanks to the kind gods who have preserved me.

Since first this active world began.

Nature is busy all in every part ;

But passing all in wisdom and in art,

Superior shines inventive man :

Fearless oibvintry winds and circling waves,

le ocean and the tempest braves ;

'him unwearied earth with lavish hand,

Immortal goddess, all her'bounty pours.

Patient beneath the rigid plough's command,

Year after year she yields her plenteous stores.

AiitistrojyJie i.

To drive the natives of the wood

From their rude haunts, or in the cruel snare,

To catch the winged inhabitants of air,

Or trap the scaly brood ;

To tame the fiery courser yet unbroke

With the hard rein, or to the untried yoke

To bend the mountain bull, who wildly free

O'er the steep rocks had wandered unconfined —

These are the arts of mortal industry,

And such the subtle power of humankind.

By learning, and fair science crowned.

Behold him now full-fraught with wisdom's lore,

The laws of nature anxious to explore.
330

With depth of thought profound.
330

But naught, alas ! can human wisdom see
330

In the dark bosom of futurity.
330

The power of wisdom may awhile prevail,
330

Awhile suspend a mortal's fleeting breath,
330

But never can her fruitless arts avail
330

To conquer fate, or stop the hand of death.
330

Man's ever-active changeful will
330

Sometimes to good shall bend his virtuous mind,

Sometimes behold him to foul deeds inclined.

And prone to every ill.

Who guiltless keeps the laws is still approved

By every tongue, and by his country loved ;

But he who doth not, from his native land

A wretched exile, far, oh ! far from me

May he be driven, by angry Heaven's command,-

And live devote to shame and infamy !

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 58 focus

CREONTE

¡Por el Cielo! Que has nacido de verdad hablador.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 58 focus

Guard

Alas! ’Tis sad, truly, that he who judges should misjudge.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 58 focus

Creon

How to the Youth, who for his country died,

Wilt thou show honour

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-178-1 ἀκαμάταν ¹

mvp-comment-178-2 ἀποτρύεται ²

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

332-383. mvp-comment-190-1 Most wonderful of wondrous things is man, Who traverses the surging brine, And wearies mighty earth with yearly furrow. His craft ensnares the finny produce of the seas And taketh captive beast and bird. He compasseth a way to master the monster of the wilds, And brings under his yoke the horse with flowing mane And the never-wearied mountain bull. Selftaught in speech and thought and civil ways, And in providing shelter from the cold and rain, There is no end to his devices. Nothing but death ever finds him unprepared. Even diseases, not to be avoided, are escaped by him. Inventive beyond hope, he moveth now to evil, and again to good. When weaving with his wit the law of justice and piety He is exalted in the city, but outcast when he harbours wickedness for deeds of crime. May I never live with such an one, and may he never share my counsels. 332. Aesch. Cho. 585, πολλὰ μὲν γὰ τρέφει δεινὰ δειμάτων ἄχη,.. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπέρτολμον ἀνδρὸς φρόνημα τίς λέγοι; Troch. Iamb. Troch.

332-383. mvp-comment-190-2 δεινά = ' wonderful,' or mighty, is in transition from the earlier sense of fearful to the later sense of clever. Cp.

332-383. mvp-comment-190-3 ὀλοόφρων.

339. mvp-comment-195-1 ἀποτρύεται Wears out for his use (mid.) the still-unwearied Earth. The present implies that the process is never-ending. Even in the common operations of husbandry the old religion finds a ground for awe. The dactyls suit the thought of the continuous round of human labour, as those of the antistrophe express the movement of the steed. The two long syllables, ἱππει-, οὐρει-, at once check the flow of rhythm (as with a renewed feeling of wonder), and by their weight give impetus to the concluding trochees. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 1039-1040, 1063.4.