Sophocles, Antigone, 4

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Ismene

20 What is it? ’Tis plain that thou art brooding on some dark tidings.

Antigone. Sophocles. Cambridge, UK. 1904.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν ¹ γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ — ἄτης ἄτερ —

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν, οὐκ ἄτης ἄτερ,

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης †ἄτερ

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ,

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 4.mvp-line-4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ’ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ’ ἄτης ἄτερ

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ † ἄτης ἄτερ †

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινόν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ,

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 4.mvp-line-4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτʼ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτʼ ἄτης ἄτερ

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 4 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 4 focus

ISMENE

Was ist es? Sicher wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 4 focus

Ismena

¿Qué hay? Pues manifiestas inquietud por decir algo.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 4 focus

Ismene

Quid est? Aestuare enim videris , aliquid volvens animo.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 4 focus

ISM

Speak on! Thy troubled look bodes some dark news.
20

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus

Ismene, traute Schwester, vielgeliebtes Haupt,¹
1

Weißt du von einem Leide, das vom Vater her

Zeus nicht an uns vollendet, die wir leben noch?

Denn keinen Jammer gibt es, nichts Entsezliches,

Nichts Arges, nichts Schmachvolles, das ich nicht bereits
5

In deiner Noth gesehen und in meiner Noth.

Und welche Botschaft, heißt es, ließ jezt eben erst

Der Herrscher wieder allem Volk verkündigen?

Weißt du's, vernahmst du's, oder blieb dir unbekannt,

Daß unsern Lieben Böses naht von Feindesmacht?
10

Ismene.

Zu mir gelangte keine Kund', Antigone,

Von unsern Lieben, frohe nicht noch traurige,

Seitdem das Paar der Brüder uns entrissen ward,

Die Eines Tages fielen durch zwiefachen Mord.

Und seit in dieser jüngsten Nacht sich Argos' Heer
15

Zur Flucht gewendet, wurde mir nichts weiter kund,

Nicht, ob mir mehr des Glückes, ob des Leides ward.

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Antigone.

Hat Kreon nicht dem Einen Bruder nur gegönnt

Des Grabes Ehre, jenem sie schmachvoll versagt?

Den Eteokles hat er, wie man sagt, gerecht

Gerechter Ordnung huldigend, in der Erde Schooß

Geborgen, daß ihm Ehre sei im Todtenreich;²
25

Doch Polyneikes' jammervoll entseelten Leib

Verbot er, heißt es, allem Volk durch lauten Ruf

Im Grab zu bergen und um ihn zu klagen; nein,

Daliegen soll er unbeweint, grablos, ein Mahl

Den Vögeln, die zum süßen Raube niederschau'n.
30

Und solches, sagt man, ließ der edle Kreon dir

Und mir, ich sage mir sogar, verkündigen;

Er komme selbst, es deutlich Allen kundzuthun,

Die nicht davon vernommen, und er achte nicht

Für Nichts die Sache; sondern wer deß Eines thut,
35

Den trifft an offner Stätte Tod durch Steinigung.

So ward's von ihm beschlossen, und du zeigst sofort,

Ob edel, ob unedel du von Edlen stammst.

Ismene.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 4 focus

Antigone

Know then, from Creon, our indulgent lord,

Our hapless brothers met a different fate :

To honour one, and one to infamy

He hath consigned. With funeral rites he graced

The body of our dear Eteocles,

Whilst Polynices' wretched carcase lies

Unburied, unlamented, left exposed

A feast for hungry vultures on the plain.

No pitying friend will dare to violate
30

The tyrant's harsh command, for public death

Awaits th' offender. Creon comes himself

To tell us of it — such is our condition.

, This is the crisis, this the hour, Ismene,
35

, That must declare thee worthy of thy birth,

I Or show thee mean, base, and degenerate.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 4 focus

ISMENA

¿Qué ocurre, Antigona? Tus palabras revelan una gran agitación.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 4 focus

ISMENE

Was ist’s, du scheinst ein rothes Wort zu färben ?

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 4 focus

Antigone

Wilt thou with thine assist

My hand, and bear this wretched corse away?

Wou'dst thou inter him, though the state forbids ?

Mine and thy brother, e'en though thou refuse
95

Thy social aid, I never will betray.
95

Wilt thou, too daring, Creon's mandate scorn?

He has no right to hold me from my friends.

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

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

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

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-16-1 τί δ’ ἔστι ¹ δηλοῖς ²

mvp-comment-16-2 καλχαίνουσ’ ἔπος τι ³

mvp-comment-16-3 is figuratively used like the Homeric

πορφύρω

. In

πορφύρω

the idea of trouble precedes that of colour: in

καλχαίνω

, vice versa.

mvp-comment-17-1 οὐ γάρ ⁴

mvp-comment-17-2 τὼ κασιγνήτω … τὸν μὲν … τὸν δέ ⁵

mvp-comment-17-3 The place of τάφου ⁶ προτίσας ⁷ τάφου ⁸ ἀτιμάσας ⁹

mvp-comment-17-4 ἀτιμάσας ἔχει ¹⁰

mvp-comment-18-1 σὺν δίκῃ | χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ ¹¹ χρησθεὶς ¹² σὺν δίκης | χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου ¹⁴ δίκης ¹⁵ σύν ¹⁶ δίκῃ ¹⁷ χρήσει ¹⁸ χρησθείς ¹⁹ χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν ²⁰

mvp-comment-18-2 νόμου ²¹

mvp-comment-19-1 τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς ²² πᾶσι κλεινός ²³

mvp-comment-20-1 θανόντα … Πολυνείκους νέκυν ²⁴

mvp-comment-21-1 ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι ²⁵

mvp-comment-21-2 τὸ μὴ … καλύψαι ²⁶

mvp-comment-22-1 ἐᾶν δ’ ²⁷ ἄταφον ἄκλαυτον ²⁸

mvp-comment-23-1 θησαυρόν ²⁹

mvp-comment-23-2 εἰσορῶσι ³⁰ εἰσορμῶσι ³¹

mvp-comment-23-3 Take πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς ³²

mvp-comment-23-4 πρὸς χάριν ³³

mvp-comment-24-1 σοί ³⁴ κἀμοί ³⁵ κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν ³⁶

mvp-comment-24-2 τὸν ἀγαθόν ³⁷

mvp-comment-24-3 λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ ³⁸

mvp-comment-24-4 Two other explanations may be noticed. Both make σοι ³⁹ σοι ⁴⁰ τοιαῦτα ⁴¹ κἀμοί ⁴² σοι ⁴³ σοι ⁴⁴ ἀγαθόν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-25-1 νεῖσθαι ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-25-2 τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-26-1 παρ’ οὐδέν ⁴⁸ ὡς ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-26-2 ὃς ἂν … δρᾷ ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-27-1 προκεῖσθαι ⁵¹

mvp-comment-27-2 δημόλευστον ⁵²

mvp-comment-28-1 σοι ⁵³

mvp-comment-28-2 ἐσθλῶν ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-29-1 ὦ ταλαῖφρον ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-29-2 εἰ τάδ’ ἐν τούτοις ⁵⁶ ἐν τούτοις ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-30-1 λύουσ’ … ἢ ’φάπτουσα ⁵⁸ εἵθ’ ἅπτουσα ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-30-2 προσθείμην ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-30-3 πλέον ⁶¹

mvp-comment-31-1 ξυμπονήσεις ⁶² ξυνεργάσει ⁶³

mvp-comment-31-2 ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-31-3 Read

ποῦ γνώμης...εἶ

(from

εἶναι

): cp. El. 390

ποῦ ποτ’ εἶ φρενῶν

. The question between ποῦ ⁶⁵ ποῖ ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-32-1 εἰ ⁶⁷ ξὺν τῇδε χερί ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-32-2 κουφιεῖς ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-32-3 ἦ γὰρ ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-32-4 σφε ⁷¹

mvp-comment-32-5 ἀπόρρητον ⁷²

mvp-comment-32-6 πόλει ⁷³

mvp-comment-33-1 τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν ⁷⁴ ἐμόν ⁷⁵ καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς ⁷⁶ τὸν ἐμόν ⁷⁷ τὸν σόν ⁷⁸ ἀδελφόν ⁷⁹ γοῦν ⁸⁰ τὸν … ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν ⁸¹ καὶ ⁸² ἤν ⁸³

mvp-comment-34-1 ἀδελφὸν … ἁλώσομαι ⁸⁴ ἀδελφόν ⁸⁵ οὐ γὰρ δή ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-35-1 ὦ σχετλία ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-35-2

σχετλία τόλμης

. ( b) ‘Suffering,’=

τλήμων

, as Aesch. PV 644 (of Io), Eur. Hec. 783 . Neither Homer nor Soph. has this use. (2) Of things, ‘cruel,’ ‘wretched,’—a use common to all the poets: so Ai. 887

σχέτλια γάρ

(‘'tis cruel’), Tr. 879 .

mvp-comment-36-1 οὐδέν ⁸⁸ μέτα ⁸⁹ τῶν ἐμῶν ⁹⁰ εἴργειν ⁹¹

mvp-comment-37-1 νῷν ⁹² ἀπώλετο ⁹³ ἀπεχθής ⁹⁴ ἀπώλετο ⁹⁵ ἔπειτα ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-38-1 πρὸς … ἀμπλακημάτων … ἀράξας ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-38-2 αὐτοφώρων ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-38-3 ἀράξας ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-38-4 αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί ¹⁰⁰ αὐτός ¹⁰¹ αὐτ. χερί ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-39-1 διπλοῦν ἔπος ¹⁰³ πάθος ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-39-2 ἀρτάναισι ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-40-1 δύο … μίαν ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-40-2 αὐτοκτονοῦντε ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-41-1 κατειργάσαντ’ ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-41-2 ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν ¹⁰⁹ ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοιν ¹¹⁰ χεροῖν ¹¹¹ οιν ¹¹² ἐπαλλήλοιν ¹¹³ χεροῖν ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-42-1 νῦν δ’ αὖ ¹¹⁵ δ’ ¹¹⁶ νῦν αὖ ¹¹⁷ αὖ ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-42-2 μόνα δή ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-43-1 ψῆφον ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-43-2 τυράννων ¹²¹

mvp-comment-43-3 κράτη ¹²² ἢ ¹²³ καὶ ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-44-1 τοῦτο μὲν ¹²⁵ ἐννοεῖν ¹²⁶ ἔπειτα δ’ ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-44-2 ὡς ¹²⁸ οὐ μαχουμένα ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-45-1 οὕνεκ’ ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-45-2 ἐκ ¹³¹

mvp-comment-45-3 ἀκούειν ¹³² ταῦτα ¹³³ ἀλγίονα ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-46-1 ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-46-2 τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονός ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-46-3 βιάζομαι τάδε ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-47-1 τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι ¹³⁸ βεβῶσι ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-47-2 τὸ γὰρ | ...πράσσειν ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-47-3 περισσὰ πρ ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-47-4 οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδ. ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-48-1 ἔτι ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-48-2 πράσσειν … δρῴης ¹⁴⁴ δρῴης ¹⁴⁵ ἄν ¹⁴⁶ ἡδέως ¹⁴⁷ γε ¹⁴⁸ ἡδέως γε ἂν ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁹ <)μοῦ ¹⁵⁰ γε ¹⁵¹ ἐμοί γ’ ¹⁵² μέτα ¹⁵³ ἀσμένης ¹⁵⁴ ἡδέως ¹⁵⁵ ἐμοῦ γε ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-49-1 ἴσθ’ ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-49-2 όποία σοι δοκεῖ ¹⁵⁸ ἴσθ’ ¹⁵⁹ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-50-1 θάψω ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-50-2 φίλη … φίλου ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-50-3 μετ’ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι ¹⁶³ μετά ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-51-1 ὅσια πανουργήσασ’ ¹⁶⁵ ὅσια ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-51-2 ἐπεὶ κ.τ.λ. ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-51-3 τῶν ἐνθάδε ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-52-1 κείσομαι ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-52-2 σοὶ δ’ ¹⁷⁰ σὺ δ’ ¹⁷¹ εἰ δοκεῖ ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-52-3 τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμα ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-52-4 ἀτιμάσασ’ ἔχε ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-53-1 ἐγὼ ¹⁷⁵ μέν ¹⁷⁶ δέ ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-53-2 ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-53-3 τὸ δὲ | ...δρᾶν ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-54-1 τάδ’ ἂν προὔχοιο ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-54-2 δὴ ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-54-3 τάφον χώσουσ’ ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-55-1 Join οἴμοι ταλαίνης ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-55-2 μὴ ’μοῦ προτάρβει ¹⁸⁴ τὸν σόν ¹⁸⁵ μὴ ’μοῦ ¹⁸⁶ προτάρβει ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-55-3 ἐξόρθου ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-56-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν … γε ¹⁸⁹ ἀλλά ¹⁹⁰ οὖν ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-56-2 κρυφῆ δέ ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-56-3 σὺν δ’ ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-56-4 αὔτως ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-57-1 καταύδα ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-57-2 πολλόν ¹⁹⁶ πολλὸν ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-57-3 σιγῶσ’ ¹⁹⁸ ἐὰν … τάδε ¹⁹⁹ πᾶσι ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-58-1 θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι ²⁰¹ ἐπί ²⁰² θερμήν ²⁰³

mvp-comment-59-1 ἁδεῖν ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-60-1 εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ’ ²⁰⁵ καὶ ²⁰⁶ δυνήσει ²⁰⁷ εἰ καί ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-61-1 Since οὐκοῦν ²⁰⁹ δὴ ²¹⁰ ὅταν ²¹¹

mvp-comment-61-2 πεπαύσομαι ²¹²

mvp-comment-62-1 ἀρχήν ²¹³

mvp-comment-63-1 ἐχθαρεῖ ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-63-2 ἐξ ἐμοῦ ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-64-1 ἐχθρὰ...τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ ²¹⁶ προσκείσει ²¹⁷ ἐχθρά ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-64-2 Lehrs proposed

Δίκῃ

, i.e. ‘you will fall under the chastisement of justice.’ Donaldson, following Emper, reads

ἐχθρᾷ... δίκῃ

, as iure inimicorum apud mortuum eris: i.e. on the part of the dead you will be deemed to have only the rights of a foe. This is impossible. The ordinary reading is sound.

mvp-comment-65-1 ἔα ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-65-2 τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσββουλίαν ²²⁰

mvp-comment-65-3 τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο ²²¹

mvp-comment-65-4 πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ ²²³

mvp-comment-65-5 μὴ οὐ ²²⁴

mvp-comment-66-1 τοῖς φίλοις δ’ ὀρθῶς φίλη ²²⁵ ἴσθι ²²⁶

mvp-comment-68-1 ἀελίου ²²⁷

mvp-comment-68-2 τὸ κάλλιστον ...φάος ²²⁸

mvp-comment-68-3 ἑπταπύλῳ ²²⁹

mvp-comment-68-4 τῶν προτέρων ²³⁰

mvp-comment-69-1 ἐφάνθης ²³¹

mvp-comment-69-2 χρυσέας ²³²

mvp-comment-69-3 βλέφαρον ²³³

mvp-comment-69-4 Διρκαίων ²³⁴

mvp-comment-70-1 τὸν λεύκασπιν...φῶτα ²³⁵

mvp-comment-70-2 The words

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν

answer metrically to 123

πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν

. Instead of

Ἀργόθεν

(¯˘¯) we therefore require ¯˘˘¯. The short final of

λεύκασπιν

is legitimate, the metre being Glyconic (see Analysis Metr.). In the antistrophic verse, the H of

Ἥφαιστον

is ‘irrational,’ i.e. is a long syllable doing duty for a short: and Nauck is incorrect in saying that the metre ‘requires’ (though it admits) a choriambus beginning with a consonant. The simplest remedy is to read Ἀργόθεν ἐκ | βάντα φῶτα ²³⁶ Ἰναχόθεν ²³⁷

mvp-comment-71-1 πανσαγίᾳ ²³⁸

mvp-comment-71-2 φυγάδα πρ. ²³⁹ κινήσασα ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-71-3 πρόδρομον ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-71-4 ὀξυτέρῳ...χαλινῷ ²⁴²

mvp-comment-71-5 ὀξυτέρῳ ²⁴³

mvp-comment-72-1 The MSS. have ὃν...Πολυνείκης ²⁴⁴ ὃς ...Πολυνείκους ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-72-2 Πολυνείκους … νεικέων ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-72-3 ἀρθείς ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-72-4 νεικ. ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-73-1 ὀξέα κλάζων ²⁴⁹

mvp-comment-73-2 αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα ²⁵⁰ ὥς ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-73-3 ὑπερέπτα ²⁵²

mvp-comment-74-1 λευκῆς χιόνος πτ. ²⁵³

mvp-comment-74-2 στεγανός ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-74-3 ὅπλων … κορύθεσσι ²⁵⁵ ξύν ²⁵⁶ μετά ²⁵⁷ ξύν ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-75-1 In στὰς δ’ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων ²⁵⁹ πτάς ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-75-2 The words φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν... λόγχαις ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-75-3 φονώσαισιν ²⁶²

mvp-comment-75-4 ἑπτάπυλον στόμα ²⁶³

mvp-comment-76-1 ἔβα ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-76-2 πρίν ποθ’ ²⁶⁵ αἱμάτων ²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-76-3 γἑνυσιν ²⁶⁷ πλησθῆναι ²⁶⁸ τε ²⁶⁹ τε ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-76-4 στεφάνωμα ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-76-5 πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ²⁷²

mvp-comment-77-1 τοῖος ²⁷³

mvp-comment-77-2 ἐτάθη ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-77-3 πάταγος ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-77-4 ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος ²⁷⁶ ἀντιπάλῳ ... δράκοντι ²⁷⁷ ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος ²⁷⁸ ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντος ²⁷⁹

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

mvp-comment-77-6 (1) The δράκων ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-77-7 (2) The δυς ²⁸¹ δυσχείρωμα ²⁸²

mvp-comment-77-8 Those who read ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντι ²⁸³ ὲτάθη ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-77-9 Those who read ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος ²⁸⁵

mvp-comment-78-1 μεγάλης ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-78-2 ῥεύματι ²⁸⁷ ῥεύματι πολλῷ ²⁸⁸

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

20. mvp-comment-15-1 δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος It is plain that your thoughts are darkening with some troublous word.

20. mvp-comment-15-2 καλχαίνω is formed on a fancied analogy to πορφύρω, as this is used in Homer of the agitation of the sea, and, metaphorically, of the mind. According to others the first notion of καλχαίνω is to stir from the depths, as in dredging for the murex (κάλχη).

21. mvp-comment-16-1 τάφου is genitive of respect with both participles, but chiefly privative genitive ve ἀτιμάσας. See Essay on Language p. 66, 1, 68. She implies that both brothers had been dishonoured by the decree. Cp. infr. 515-517, οὐ μαρτυρήσει ταῦθ᾽ ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς.. οὐ γάρ τι δοῦλος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὤλετο.

23. mvp-comment-17-1 ὡς λέγουσι, resumed in φασιν l. 27, φασι l. 31, points to the fact that the maidens in their seclusion could only know of the edict from hearsay.

23. mvp-comment-17-2 σὺν δίκῃ | †χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ χρησθείς has been generally condemned, and ἐχρήσθην only occurs elsewhere in a strictly passive sense. Yet, as Shilleto observes (Journ. of Phil. No. 13, p. 149), ᾐδεσάμην and ᾐδέσθην, the former in lyric verse, the latter in senarii, are found within a few lines of each other in O. T. 647, 651; and χρησάμενος does not occur in Sophocles.

23. mvp-comment-17-3 Ἐτεοκλέα ἔκρυψε, χρησθεὶς (αὐτῷ) σὺν δίκῃ, is not impossible in point of syntax. On the other hand neither χρησθεὶς δίκαια, nor χρηστοῖς δικαίᾳ, nor προσθεὶς δίκαια, can be approved. In 1871 I suggested προθείς. After laying him out in state, with the righteous meed of honour and all customary observance, he has covered him in earth. Cp. Hdt. 1.112-115. 8, τρεῖς μὲν ἡμέρας προτιθέασι τὸν νεκρόν: inf. 196, καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι. This part of the treatment of Eteocles would contrast with the prohibition even to mourn for Polynices. Cp. Thuc. 2. 34, where the words καὶ ἐπιφέρει τῷ αὑτοῦ ἕκαστος ἤν τι βούληται throw some light on the custom implied in σὺν δίκῃ δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ. For the emphatic δικαίᾳ, cp. Αj. 1100, ἐς ταφὰς ἐγὼ θήσω δικαίως: Hdt. 8. 106, νόμῳ δικαίῳ χρεώμενοι. προθείς may have been changed to προσθείς (which Donaldson conjectured), and to this may have been added an interlinear gloss ἃ χρή. Cp. 1. 243. κάφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή. Another guess is χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν (sc. αὐτῷ). For similar fullness of expression on a solemn occasion, cp. O. T. 219, 259.

25. mvp-comment-18-1 τοῖς .. νεκροῖς Holding his honours amongst the dead; i.e. not ἄτιμος, or deprived of common rights.

26. mvp-comment-19-1 θανόντα .. νέκυν Cp. infr. 515, ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς.

27. mvp-comment-20-1 ἐκκεκηρύχθαι Passive. That proclamation has been made. Cp. προκεῖσθαι, l. 36 .

29. mvp-comment-21-1 ἐἂν. Sc. πάντας. The affirmative subject is supplied from the negative Cp. the language of the proclamation in O. T. 241, and see Essay on Language p. 59.

29. mvp-comment-21-2 ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον Cp. Od. 11. 72; Il. 22. 386; Eur. Hec. 30.

29-30. mvp-comment-22-1 οἰωνοῖς .. βορᾶς (1) To the vultures a sweet treasure as they eye him with a view to the gratification of food. Cp. infr. 371 τόλμας χάριν : 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω; Or, perhaps. (2) To the vultures, eyeing him, a glad store of food to gratify their desire. For πρὸς χάριν in the latter rendering, cp. Phil. 1156, ἀντίφονον κορέσαι στόμα πρὸς χάριν, and for the combination of adverbial phrase and noun, El. 1336, σὺν χαρᾷ βοῆς.

31. mvp-comment-23-1 τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα Cp. Phil. 873, ἁγαθοὶ στρατηλάται.

31-32. mvp-comment-24-1 σοι | κάμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ] Antigone first says, There is Creon's proclamation for you! (σοι unemphatic as in l. 37:) then, going off upon the word, For you, did I say? ay, and for me too, for I count myself also amongst those forbidden. This is said with bitter emphasis, showing that she has fully counted the cost of the act she meditates. The proclamation extends to me-I accept the consequences. For λέγω in this sense, cp. Aesch. Prom. 973, καὶ σὲ δ᾽ ἐν τούτοις λέγω: Cho. 989, Αἰγίσθου γὰρ οὐ λέγω μόρον. Others take κἀμέ as κάμοί, Το me, I say! (whose spirit he little knows).

35. mvp-comment-25-1 ὃς ἄν Essay on Language § 22. p. 35, 2. §39. p. 72.

35. mvp-comment-25-2 τούτων τι For this idiomatic use of τι, cp. Thuc. 5. 13, δρᾶν τι ὧν ἐκεῖνος ἐπενόει.

36. mvp-comment-26-1 δημόλευστον By stoning of the people. Essay on Language p. 98, a, line 15.

38. mvp-comment-27-1 For εὐγενής in the ethical sense, cp. Eur. El. 363, οὔτοι τό γ' ἦθος δυσγενές παρέξομαι. And for the genitive ἐσθλῶν, cp. Αj. 763, ἄνους καλῶς λέγοντος εὑρέθη πατρός.

39-40. mvp-comment-28-1 Alas for thy rash spirit! What help, if things be at this pass, can I afford, either to undo what is done, or to confirm it?' ταλαῖφρον points to the daring spirit of Antigone and to the tone of her last words. For λύουσα, cp. Aesch. S. c. Т. 270, λύουσα πολεμίων φόβον. The choice lies between ἢ 'φάπτουσα and εἴθ' ἅπτουσα. The implied negative is in favour of εἴθ' ἅπτουσα, which comes near the first hand of L. Cp. О. Т. 517, λόγοισιν εἴτ᾿ ἔργοισιν, where, however, ei precedes. But εἴτε is slightly too emphatic, and ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα is an early reading. The expression is proverbial. Cp. Aj. 1317.

42. mvp-comment-29-1 ποῦ γνώμης ποτ' εἶ; Although ποῖ with the verb of motion is not unlikely (cp. El. 922, ὅποι γνώμης φέρει), the future tense does not suit the passage. Hence the reading of Par. A. (with εἶ from εἰμί) is preferable. Cp. Ε1. 390, ποῦ ποτ' εἶ φρενῶν; but see Eurip. Iph. A. 480, for el from εἶμι with present meaning.

43. mvp-comment-30-1 Antigone's first intention is to lift the body with Ismene's help and give it proper burial. Being unable to do this unaided, she sprinkles the dust. Cp. El. 938-1057.

43. mvp-comment-30-2 ξὺν τῇδε .. χερί Aiding this hand, i. e. taking part in my labour. Cp. Ο. Τ. 811 ἐκ τῆσδε χειρός. Essay on Language § 22. p. 34.

44. mvp-comment-31-1 ἀπόρρητον πόλει A thing forbidden to the whole city. ἀπόρρητον is neuter accusative in apposition to the action of θάπτειν. Essay on Language § 17. p. 25.

45-46. mvp-comment-32-1 I will certainly bury my brother and yours, though you do not choose to do your part. The second of these lines has been needlessly suspected. The rejoinder of Ismene comes in more effectively when the στιχομυθία is broken. ἣν = κἄν, cp. Phil. 52, ἄλλ' ἤν τι καινὸν .. κλύῃς, ὑπουργεῖν.

48. mvp-comment-33-1 He has no right in what is mine, to part me from my own. τῶν ἐμῶν is partitive genitive with οὐδὲν μέτα: privative genitive with εἴργειν. Essay on Language p. 61.

50. mvp-comment-34-1 vῷν Ethical dative.

51. mvp-comment-35-1 αὐτοφώρων Self-detected; i. e. Brought to light by his own act. πρός = In consequence of,' connects the phrase with the preceding rather than the following words. Although the action of O. T. is not presupposed, this part of the fable had been already developed by Aeschylus. See S. c. T. 778 ff. Others take αὐτοφώρων to mean clearly proved, manifest to all men: cp. Od. 11.247, ἄφαρ δ᾽ ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν. But the emphatic repetition of αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ in the next line agrees better with the more pregnant meaning. αὐτουργῷ = εἰς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα ἐρξάσῃ.

53. mvp-comment-36-1 διπλοῦν ἔπος A two-fold name, suggesting the horror of the double relationship. Cp. Ο. Τ. 928, γυνὴ δὲ μήτηρ ἥδε τῶν κείνου τέκνων.

54. mvp-comment-37-1 λωβᾶται βίον Destroys her own life. Cp. Tr. 887, τάνδ᾽ ὕβριν.

56. mvp-comment-38-1 αὐτοκτονούντε By mutual fratricidal slaughter. αὐτός in composition here is partly reciprocal and partly, as in αὐτόχειρ, suggestive of the murder of kindred: cp. 1. 172. The same is true of κοινόν: cp. 1. 147.

57. mvp-comment-39-1 ἐπαλλήλοιν Mutual. The read. ing of L and Hermann is justified by the awkwardness of the double genitive dual and the doubtful use of ἐπί in the other reading.

58. mvp-comment-40-1 δή emphasizes μόνα with reference to what precedes. Thus left alone.

60. mvp-comment-41-1 ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη The will or authority of the ruler. 64. For the epexegesis, see Essay on Language § 33. p. 57. And for the accusative, to obey in this, cp. infr. 666-667.

66. mvp-comment-42-1 βιάζομαι τάδε This passive use of βιάζομαι occurs again in l. 1073, ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.

67. mvp-comment-43-1 τοῖς .. βεβῶσι Those whose position is supreme; i.e. the present ruling power.

68. mvp-comment-44-1 περισσὰ πράσσειν ‘Το act beyond one's sphere.' Cp. Tr. 617, τὸ μὴ πιθυμεῖν πομπὸς ὢν περισσὰ δρᾶν.

70. mvp-comment-45-1 ἐμοῦ.. μέτα Would your acting with me be any pleasure to me. For the adverb ἡδέως, implying a predicate, see Essay on Language § 24. p. 40.

71. mvp-comment-46-1 ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία This reading is acknowledged by the Scholiast equally with ἴσθ' ὁποῖα, the reading of LA. Be such as you choose to be' (i. e. base, cp. supr. 38) is more forcible than Hold what principles you please, even if εἰδέναι can have this meaning. Cp Phil. 1049, τοιοῦτός εἰμ' ἐγώ: Eur. Or. 1680, κἀγὼ τοιοῦτος. ὁποία is nominative by attraction to the antecedent. Hermann thought the dative ὁποίᾳ was required.

72. mvp-comment-47-1 Antigone knows clearly from the beginning, with the heightened consciousness of passion, the consequences of her act. There is no irony of fortune, so far as she is concerned.

74. mvp-comment-48-1 ὅσια πανουργ. Cp. infr. 924.

75. mvp-comment-49-1 τῶν ἐνθάδε See Essay on Language § 10. p.15. The form of expression resembles Hdt. 3. 124, βούλεσθαι οὖν παρθενεύεσθαι πλείω χρόνον ἢ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐστερῆσθαι. For the thought, cp. Plat. Legg. 9.881 Α, θάνατος μὲν οὐκ ἔστιν ἔσχατον, οἱ δὲ ἐν ῞Αιδου . πόνοι .. εἰσὶ μᾶλλον ἐν ἐσχάτοις : Sim. Am. 3, πολλὸς γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐστι τεθνάναι χρόνος, κ.τ.λ.

76. mvp-comment-50-1 σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ The emphasis really rests on the subject (σύ), but is transferred to the dative, as in Phil. 1395, ὡς ῥᾷστ᾽ ἐμοὶ μὲν τῶν λόγων λῆξαι, σὲ δὲ | κ.τ.λ. Essay on Language § 41. pp. 78-79. The change to σύ (see v. rr.) is slight, but rather weakens the expression.

77. mvp-comment-51-1 τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμα What is held honourable amongst the Gods. Cp. θεῶν νόμιμα, infr. 454-455: 1.ε. τὰ τῶν θεῶν ὄντα καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θεῶν ἀγόμενα ἐν τιμῇ. Hh ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε] Persist in slighting. 78. ἐγὼ ποιοῦμαι I do not mean to show disrespect. She shrinks from saying distinctly τὰ τῶν θεῶν.

79. mvp-comment-52-1 ἔφυν By nature and position.

82. mvp-comment-53-1 ταλαίνης after οἴμοι: σου after ὑπερδέδοικα. But this distinction is hardly felt in the Greek.

83. mvp-comment-54-1 ἐξόρθου Continue to direct safely, as if steering a vessel.

85. mvp-comment-55-1 σὺν δ' See Essay on Language § 18. p. 26.

86. mvp-comment-56-1 The Epic πολλόν is curious, but need not be changed. Cp. Tr. 1196, πολλὸν δ᾽ ἄρσεν᾽ ἐκτεμόνθ᾽ ὁμοῦ | ἄγριον ἔλαιον. Other Epic forms in this play are ὡσεί τε, infr. 653; ὑπαί, infr. 1035: εἰν ῞Αιδου δόμοις, 1241. A lukewarm spirit is above all hateful to Antigone. If Ismene disapproves her act, let her denounce it. ἐὰν μή, κ.τ.λ., further explains σιγῶσ'. Cp. Ο. Τ. 57, ἔρημος ἀνδρῶν μὴ ξυνοικούντων ἔσω.

88. mvp-comment-57-1 θερμὴν .. ἔχεις Your courage is hot upon a cold enterprize.

88. mvp-comment-57-2 ψυχροῖσι] Chilling, i.e. Causing a cold thrill of horror. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 691-693, οὐδ᾽ ὧδε δυσθέατα καὶ δυσοιστὰ ... ψύχειν ψυχὰν ἐμάν. Also with an association from the meaning fruitless; cp. Hdt. 9. 49, ἐπαρθεὶς ψυχρῇ νίκῃ.

91. mvp-comment-58-1 Cp. 1. 926, παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες.

94. mvp-comment-59-1 ἐχθρὰ .. δίκῃ And our dead brother will justly hold you as an enemy: ἐχθράν σε προσθήσεται: ср. Eur. Τr. 185, τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα; Who has me for his slave.

95. mvp-comment-60-1 τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ That proceeds from me; i. e. For which I alone am responsible. See Essay on Language § 19. p. 28.¹

96. mvp-comment-61-1 πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ The reading οὐ, for which some critics would substitute οὖν, is confirmed (1) by the tendency to a vehement accumulation of negatives in the speeches of Antigone in this scene: (2) by the similar emphatic inversions noticed in the Essay on Language § 41. p. 78.

99. mvp-comment-62-1 τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη But unfailing in kindness to thy friends; i. e. A faithful sister to thine own brother. Cp. Eur. Or. 424, ἀληθὴς δ᾽ ἐς φίλους ἔφυν φίλος. Antigone goes to perform the sepulture, and Ismene returns into the palace. The stage is left vacant. As in the Ajax, there is a distinct break after the prologue, which has laid the ground of the action so far as Antigone is concerned. The first episodion, ll. 163 ff., is in one sense a fresh beginning, as setting forth the motives of Creon, and still only preparing for the collision. The parados, ll. 100 ff., introduces us to the public feeling of Thebes, and to the wider sphere of which the action forms the central point. 100 ff. Instead of a long series of anapaests, followed by lyrical strophes and antistrophes, as in the Ajax (with which cp. Aesch. Agamemnon), we have here two strophes and antistrophes alternating with anapaestic systems of about seven lines each: making a form of parodos intermediate between that of the Ajax and that of the O. T., in which there are no anapaests. The α' (100-109=117-133). chorus on its first appearance chants ll. 100-109, then advances while the coryphaeus recites 110-116, then the antistrophe is chanted, then another advance is made during the recitative of 11. 127-133, then strophe B' is chanted, the chorus by this time standing near the stage; then they make a final advance, and, during the second antistrophe, are standing full in front of the stage. Lastly, as Creon is seen approaching, the coryphaeus chants ll. 155-162, which thus form at once the conclusion of the parodos and the introit or prelude of the first episodium.

99. mvp-comment-62-2 The total effect is that of a stately and solemn triumph, in which the bright influence of the glyconic opening is tempered with slow movements (---), as in ll. 106, 122, 137, 151, and interrupted rhythms, as in ll. 103, 120, 138, 152; the notes of triumph and solemnity being combined in the choriambi, which bring the lyrical part to a close. Thus we have- β΄ (134-140=148-154). CI IICCーしー CLトくトCCI 51--10CICIC ト 1001010110010||| ――トしてトー luclcclcULCII) C- 「SƆIDII7 5トレトしし LCCLLCCLLCCLLCCLI トリトー The culmination of feeling is marked by the dactylic opening of β'. The rhythms of a' 3. 4, 6, and β' 3, 4, show the correlation of the two movements. The adaptation of sound to sense is specially obvious in the resolved trochees of a' 7, while the concluding lines, a' 8, β' 7, serve to harmonize the logaoedic with the anapaestic measures. Cp. O. C. 135-137, 167-169.

99. mvp-comment-62-3 'Never did morning rise so fair as this which thou didst bring at length to waiting Thebè, O eye of golden day! For thy first beams, shooting over Dircè's rills, stirred into quicker flight the Argive warrior, who for Polynices' quarrel swooped upon our land on snow-white wing, with many a shield and many a plumèd helm.

99. mvp-comment-62-4 Threatening our halls in towering pride he stood, and gaped with bristling spears around our gates, thirsting for our blood: but he is gone, or ever his desire was slaked, or ever the fire-god caught our coronal of towers. Such fight displayed the serpent writhing in his gripe, not easily subdued. Such din of war assailed him as he turned to flee. For Zeus abhors the boaster and contemns the clank of gold. And when he saw them moving in a full proud stream, he smote with lightning from on high the daring climber who had gained the pinnacle and was eagerly preparing to shout victory. And swung to earth he fell with a rebound, the firebearer, who with mad rush was breathing his blast of enmity against the wall. And various was the fortune of the day. But terrible was the War-god as he plunged amidst our enemies, a mighty helper for us.

99. mvp-comment-62-5 'For at all our gates their captains, seven against seven, left their panoplies as trophies to our cause. All, save the horrid pair, who fell together with the guilt of mutual fratricide.

99. mvp-comment-62-6 But forget we the griefs of war. For victory came with smiles of joy to greet our smiling town. So visit we the temples of the gods with dances all night long: and let Theban Bacchus be the master of our revelry.

103. mvp-comment-63-1 χρυσέας χρυσέας, as in O. T. 158-187.

106. mvp-comment-64-1 The rivulet of Dircè was to the west of Thebes. The sun had risen just as the retreat of the Argives became a rout, and the army returning from pursuit would see the morning light reflected in the stream, which they would cross on their way back to the city. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 730. The ode is not chanted at sunrise, but celebrates the glorious morning which had seen the discomfiture of the enemy. The chorus of elders imagine themselves in the position of the victorious army.

106. mvp-comment-64-2 λεύκασπιν Cp. Aesch. S. c. Т. 96, λευκοπρεπή λέων: Eur. Phoen. 1099, λεύκασπιν εἰσορῶμεν Ἀργείων στράτον.

106. mvp-comment-64-3 Αργόθεν The correspondence of a dactyl in the antistrophe to the trochee Αργό- in this line justly leads to suspicion of the text, and Hermann conjectured Ἀργόθεν ἐκ. Qy. Ἀργόλεων ? or Ἀργογενή ?

108. mvp-comment-65-1 φυγάδα πρόδρομον (1) Running before us in flight. Said from the point of view of the pursuing host. Or (2), In the van of the flying host. The Schol. on Phoen. 409 says, φασὶ .. τὸν Ἀδραστον .. μόνον φυγάδα σωθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου ἵππου Ἀρείονος. Cp. Paus. 8.25. § 5.

109. mvp-comment-66-1 χαλινῷ Either (1) literally Riding with hastier rein, or (2) metaphorically, With thy hastening bridle in his lips. The first (1) is best. If (2) were adopted, the reading ὀξυτόρῳ, galling (see v. rr.), might be preferred.

110. mvp-comment-67-1 *ὃς .. *Πολυνείκους The emendation of Scaliger improves the sense as well as the grammar. The imagery throughout represents not Polynices, but his Argive ally. The subject of the single fight between the two brothers is passed lightly over, as unsuited to a triumphal hymn.

111. mvp-comment-68-1 ἀρθεὶς.. ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων Carried forth in consequence of the doubtful quarrel (the quarrel and debate) of Polynices. ἀρθείς is said with allusion to αἴρειν στόλον, but also suggests the image of the bird mounting in air. Cp. Il. 13. 63, of the hawk, ἀπ' αἰγίλιπος πέτρης περιμήκεος ἀρθείς, Eur. Phoen. 636-637. For the play on the name of Polynices, see Essay on Language § 44. p. 82.

113. mvp-comment-69-1 The omission of ὡs in this line, which Herm. suggested, is hardly necessary, although it does not impair the sense. The correspondence of strophe and antistrophe does not extend strictly to the anapaests, although the anapaestic systems in this passage are nearly of the same length.

114. mvp-comment-70-1 λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι See Essay on Language § 9. p. 11, and cp. l. 106.

114. mvp-comment-70-2 στεγανός Covered all over; i. e. There were no gaps in their array.

115-116. mvp-comment-71-1 πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων | ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσι Accompanied with many a shield and armed with many a helm.

117. mvp-comment-72-1 στάς Staying his flight, like the bird of prey preparing to stoop. At this point the image, which has hitherto grown in distinctness, becomes less definite, the figure of an eagle passing into that of a flying dragon, with spears for teeth. Cp. Shak. K. John, 2. 1, O, now doth Death Line his dead chaps with steel, etc. Also the image in Milton's Samson Agonistes, 11. 1692-1696.

117. mvp-comment-72-2 φονώσαισιν Boeckh's emendation at once cures the metre and supplies a poetical touch which corresponds to the explanation of the Scholiast, ταῖς τῶν φονῶν ἐρώσαις λόγχαις. It is confirmed by the reading of L² pr. See v. rr.

118. mvp-comment-73-1 ἀμφιχανὼν.. στόμα Yawning round our seven-mouthed gates.

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.

Sophocles Antigone 4

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ismene

20 What is it? ’Tis plain that thou art brooding on some dark tidings.

Current edition Experimental

ISMENE

Was ist es? Sicher wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismena

¿Qué hay? Pues manifiestas inquietud por decir algo.

Ismene

Quid est? Aestuare enim videris , aliquid volvens animo.

ISM

Speak on! Thy troubled look bodes some dark news.
20

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismene.

ISMENA

¿Qué ocurre, Antigona? Tus palabras revelan una gran agitación.

ISMENE

Was ist’s, du scheinst ein rothes Wort zu färben ?

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

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

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

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ismene 20 What is it? ’Tis plain that thou art brooding on some dark tidings.

Current edition Experimental

ISMENE Was ist es? Sicher wogt in dir ein schweres Wort. 20

Ismena ¿Qué hay? Pues manifiestas inquietud por decir algo.

Ismene Quid est? Aestuare enim videris , aliquid volvens animo.

ISM Speak on! Thy troubled look bodes some dark news. 20

Antigone. Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene. Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort. 20

Ismene.

ISMENA ¿Qué ocurre, Antigona? Tus palabras revelan una gran agitación.

ISMENE Was ist’s, du scheinst ein rothes Wort zu färben ?

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

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 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

Stable identifiers

Ismene

20 What is it? ’Tis plain that thou art brooding on some dark tidings.

ISMENE

Was ist es? Sicher wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismena

¿Qué hay? Pues manifiestas inquietud por decir algo.

Ismene

Quid est? Aestuare enim videris , aliquid volvens animo.

ISM

Speak on! Thy troubled look bodes some dark news.
20

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

ISMENA

¿Qué ocurre, Antigona? Tus palabras revelan una gran agitación.

ISMENE

Was ist’s, du scheinst ein rothes Wort zu färben ?

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

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

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.