Sophocles Antigone 117

Friedrich Hölderlin (Translator)

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Und über Pallästen stand er und wies,
Voll blutiger Spiefse, rings
120
Das siebenthorige Maul;
Doch gieng er davon,
Noch ehe von unsrem
Blut er die Baken
Gefüllt, und ehe
125
Die Krone der Thürme
Die Fakel des Hephästos genommen.
So über dem Rüken ist Getümmel
Des Mars dem Feind, ein Hindernils
Den Drachen geworden.
130

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)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων, φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα 1 ,
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν 2
πλησθῆναί τε, καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ 3
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ’ ἁμετέρων αἱμάτων γένυσιν
πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
120
πευκάενθ' Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος ἀντιπάλῳ
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων, φονί-
αισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ’ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσι
πλησθῆναί τε, καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν·
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος ἀντιπάλῳ
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων *φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν
πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ' Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν. τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος ἀντιπάλῳ
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι,
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύχλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,
ἔβα πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-
ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ’ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,
ἔβα πρίν ποθ’ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-
ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ’ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλου
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλωι
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,
ἔβα πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-
ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλωι
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν
πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.
1
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων, φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ 1
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα, 2
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων 3
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα 4
πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν. τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη 5
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος. 6
2
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-
ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλου
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 117 focus
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 117 focus
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλωι
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120
αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-
ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν·
τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλωι
125
δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
Translations (10)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 117 focus
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!
Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 117 focus
y después de asediar la ciudad con sus lanzas, ávidas de carniceria carnicería, abriendo la boca por todo el circuito de las siete puertas, se marchó sin po- der hartar su voracidad en nuestra sangre, ni pren- der el fuego de resinosa tea en los muros de nuestras torres: tal le atacó por la espalda el estrépito de Marte, irresistible para el contrario dragón.
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 117 focus
Stans vero supra aedes, cruentis inhians undique cum hastis circa septem portarum ora, abiit, priusquam nostro sanguine satiaret malas, et turrium propugnacula piceus Vulcanus corriperet:
tantus a tergo exortus est strepitus Martis, adversario draconi inexsuperabilis.
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 117 focus
With lust of carnage fired,
And opening teeth of serried spears
Yawned wide around the gates that guard our homes;
But went, or e’er his hungry jaws had tired
120
On Theban flesh,—or e’er the Fire-god fierce
Seizing our sacred town
Besmirched and rent her battlemented crown.
Such noise of battle as he fled
About his back the War-god spread;
So writhed to hard-fought victory
The serpent struggling to be free.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 117 focus
Ueber den Dächern stehend, umgähnt'
Er den siebenthorigen Mund
Mit blutlechzenden Speeren rings,
Und floh, eh' in unserem Blut
120
Sich sein gieriger Schlund
Schwelgend füllt und ehe den Kranz der Thürme
Flammenglut des Hephästos fraß.
Also braust' im Rücken umher
Donner des Kriegs; schwer wurde der Kampf
125
Dem anstürmenden Drachen. 1
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 100 focus
O sir ! to younger hands commit the task.
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 117 focus
Despues de haber amenazado nuestros hogares, y de haber corrido jadeantes en derredor de las siete puertas, con sus lanzas ávidas de exterminio, huyeron antes de abrevarse en nuestra sangre, y de que el fuego abrasador invadiera las alturas de nuestras fortalezas; de tal manera la voz rugiente de Marte resonó en torno de ellos, causando el espanto del dragón enemigo.
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 117 focus
He paused above our dwellings; he ravened around 120 our sevenfold portals with spears athirst for blood; but he went hence, or ever his jaws were glutted with our gore, or the Fire-god’s pine-fed flame had seized our crown of towers. So fierce was the noise of battle raised behind him, a thing too hard for him to conquer, as he wrestled with his dragon foe.
2
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 117 focus
With many a glittering lance, and many a crested helm.
Impatient of delay
High o'er our bulwarks on a mound,
120
With purple spears encircled round,
He ravin'd for his prey.
At our seven gates his warlike pow'rs
In deep array assail'd our tow'rs;
But his pride sunk, to flight constrain'd
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 100-160 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-76-1 ἔβα 1

mvp-comment-76-2 πρίν ποθ’ 2 αἱμάτων 3

mvp-comment-76-3 γἑνυσιν 4 πλησθῆναι 5 τε 6 τε 7

mvp-comment-76-4 στεφάνωμα 8

mvp-comment-76-5 πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον 9

mvp-comment-77-1 τοῖος 10

mvp-comment-77-2 ἐτάθη 11

mvp-comment-77-3 πάταγος 12

mvp-comment-77-4 ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος 13 ἀντιπάλῳ ... δράκοντι 14 ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος 15 ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντος 16

mvp-comment-77-5 The interpretation of the passage turns primarily on two points.

mvp-comment-77-6 (1) The δράκων 17

mvp-comment-77-7 (2) The δυς 18 δυσχείρωμα 19

mvp-comment-77-8 Those who read ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντι 20 ὲτάθη 21

mvp-comment-77-9 Those who read ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος 22

mvp-comment-78-1 μεγάλης 23

mvp-comment-78-2 ῥεύματι 24 ῥεύματι πολλῷ 25

mvp-comment-79-1 χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις 26

mvp-comment-79-2

μέγας
. In post-Homeric poetry
ὑπέροπλος
is a freq. epith. of overweening strength (
ἠνορέη, βίη, ἥβη
, etc.).—Other readings are:—(1)
χρυσοῦ καναχῇ θ’ ὑπερόπτας
, ‘and haughty in the clang of gold.’ This involves an improbable change; the subst.
ὑπερόπτης
, too, is unsuitable here, and cannot be defended by Theocr. 22. 58
πρὸς πάντα παλίγκοτος ἠδ’ ὑπερόπτης
. Wecklein, reading
ὑπερόπτας
, keeps
καναχῆς
in the sense, hoffärtig auf: but a genit. after
ὑπερόπτης
could not denote that in which one takes pride. (2)
χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτης
, or
‐όπτα
, i.e., ‘Zeus, a despiser of the clang of gold.’ (3)
χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπέροπτα
, adv. neut. plur. (as O. T. 883 ), ‘advancing haughtily in a great stream of clanging gold.’ But the adv. comes weakly at the end, and
χρυσοῦ κ
. is harshly joined with
π. ῥεύματι
.—Aesch. , too, gives prominence to gold in picturing the Argive chiefs: Capaneus has golden letters on his shield ( Aesch. Th. 434 ), Polyneices has the image of a warrior in golden armour, with a golden legend (644, Aesch. Th. 660 ).

mvp-comment-79-3 καναχῆς 27

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

120. mvp-comment-74-1 ἔβα He went his way. For the use of the aorist of βαίνω in this sense, cp. Od. 22. 249, καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη, κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών: Τr. 115, βάντ᾽ ἐπιόντα τ', Some gone, others coming on.

121. mvp-comment-75-1 γένυσιν With his jaws. Instrumental dative.

121. mvp-comment-75-2 πλησθῆναί τε καὶ ἑλεῖν For the change of subject in these lines, cp. Aj. 458, ἐχθαίρομαι, μισεῖ δέ, κ.τ.λ. And for στεφάνωμα πύργων, cp. Pind. Ol. 8. 32, Ἰλίῳ μέλλοντες ἐπὶ στέφανον τεύξαι : Hom. h. Dem. 151, .. κρήδεμνα πόληος | εἰρύαται ...

124. mvp-comment-76-1 τοῖος .. δράκοντι (1) Such din of war was spread about his rear by the reluctant snake, no easy matter to subdue. So the Scholiast, who wrote τὸ δὲ ἀντιπάλῳ δράκοντι ἀντὶ τοῦ ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀντιπάλου δράκοντος, ὡς Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμασθείς (Il. 22. 55). Or (2) δυσχείρωμα may be taken to mean the act rather than the object of victory (cp. O. Τ. 560, θανασίμῳ χειρώματι), and the sense may be, Such din of war encompassed him, issuing in a hard-won victory for the serpent matching his foe. In this case it will make little difference to read the genitive. Or, (3) if the genitive is read (Wecklein), the words may be taken in yet another way: Such din of war harassed him from behind, the hard-to-be-subdued might of the serpent, who was a match for his foe. The genitive is given as an alternative reading by the 1st hand of L, and is supported by V (Ven. 468). But the dative is alone recognised by the Scholiast.

124. mvp-comment-76-2 The δράκων is certainly the emblem of Thebes, and the eagle and snake are in conflict, as in Il. 12. 201, foll., where also the serpent struggles and escapes : ὁ δ᾽ οὔπω λήθετο χάρμης, | κόψε γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔχοντα κατὰ στήθος παρὰ δειρὴν | ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω· ὁ δ᾽ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἧκε χαμάζε, κ.τ.λ. Hor. Carm. 4. 4, 11, Nunc in reluctantes dracones | Egit amor dapis atque pugnae.

129. mvp-comment-77-1 πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους Coming on in full proud stream. Like a great river filling its banks.

130. mvp-comment-78-1 χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτης] Despiser of the clank of gold. Cp. Aesch. Agam. 776, τὰ χρυσόπαστα δ᾽ ἐσθλὰ σὺν πίνῳ χερῶν | παλιντρόποις ὄμμασιν | λιπούσ', ὅσια προσέβα: S. c. T. 481-485. The Scholiast, who wrote καὶ τὴν τοῦ χρυσοῦ φαντασίαν ὑπερβεβηκότας τῇ ἰδίᾳ ὑπεροψίᾳ, seems to have read ὑπερόπτας, which appears in the margin of some copies. The ὑπεροψία of his interpretation may have given rise to ὑπεροπτίας, as in conjunction with this it has suggested ὑπεροπλίαις, (Vauvillers, who compares II. 1. 205). Musgr. and Böckh are contented with ὑπεροπτείας, abstr. noun of ὑπερόπτης, gen. with ῥεύματι, In floods of supercilious pride.