νόσων δ᾽ ἀμηχάνων φυγὰς ξυμπέφρασται.
6
Antigone. Sophocles. Cambridge, UK. 1906.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by Tufts University.
Table of Contents
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Current edition Experimental
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (11)
Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 362 focus
σοφόν τι τὸ μηχανόεν
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 362 focus
γένοιτο μήτ᾽ ἴσον φρονῶν, ὃς τάδ᾽ ἔρδει.
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 362 focus
ποτὲ μὲν κακὸν ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐ-
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 362 focus
φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπάξεται·
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 362 focus
φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπάξεται,
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 362.mvp-line-360 focus
φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπάξεται, νό-
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 362 focus
φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπεύξεται,
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 362 focus
σοφόν τι τὸ μηχανόεν
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 362.mvp-line-360 focus
φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπάξεται·
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 361 focus
νόσων δʼ ἀμηχάνων φυγὰς ξυμπέφρασται.
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 362 focus
νόσων δ᾽ ἀμηχάνων φυγὰς
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 365 focus
In Erfindungen listiger Kunst
Weit über Verhoffen gewandt,
Neigt bald er zu Bösem, zu Gutem bald, achtet hoch
365
Der Heimat Gesez,
Der Götter schwurheilig Recht,
Segen der Stadt! Aber zum Fluch
Lebt ihr, wer, gesellt
Dem Laster, frechem Troze fröhnt.
370
Nimmermehr an meinen Herd
Gelange, noch in meinen Rath,
Solch ein Frevler!
(der Wächter bringt die Antigone.)
In Erfindungen listiger Kunst
Weit über Verhoffen gewandt,
Neigt bald er zu Bösem, zu Gutem bald, achtet hoch
365
Der Heimat Gesez,
Der Götter schwurheilig Recht,
Segen der Stadt! Aber zum Fluch
Lebt ihr, wer, gesellt
Dem Laster, frechem Troze fröhnt.
370
Nimmermehr an meinen Herd
Gelange, noch in meinen Rath,
Solch ein Frevler!
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 384-580 focus
Guard
Here is she, the one who did the deed.
We caught this one burying him. Where is Creon?
385
Enter Creon from the palace.
Here is she, the one who did the deed.
We caught this one burying him. Where is Creon?
385
Chorus
There, he is coming from the house again at our need.
There, he is coming from the house again at our need.
Creon
What is it? What has happened that makes my coming timely?
What is it? What has happened that makes my coming timely?
Guard
My king, there is nothing that a man can rightly swear he will not do. For second thought belies one’s first intent.
I could have vowed that I would not ever come here again, because of your threats by which I had just been storm-tossed. But since this joy that exceeds and oversteps my hopes can be compared in fulness to no other pleasure, I am back—though it is contrary to my sworn oath—
390
bringing this girl who was caught giving burial honors to the dead. This time there was no casting of lots. No, this piece of luck has fallen to me, and me alone. And now, my king, as it pleases you, take her yourself, question her and convict her. But justice would see me
395
released free and clear from this trouble.
400
My king, there is nothing that a man can rightly swear he will not do. For second thought belies one’s first intent.
I could have vowed that I would not ever come here again, because of your threats by which I had just been storm-tossed. But since this joy that exceeds and oversteps my hopes can be compared in fulness to no other pleasure, I am back—though it is contrary to my sworn oath—
390
bringing this girl who was caught giving burial honors to the dead. This time there was no casting of lots. No, this piece of luck has fallen to me, and me alone. And now, my king, as it pleases you, take her yourself, question her and convict her. But justice would see me
395
released free and clear from this trouble.
400
Creon
Your prisoner here—how and where did you take her?
Your prisoner here—how and where did you take her?
Guard
She was burying the man. You know all there is to tell.
She was burying the man. You know all there is to tell.
Creon
Are you clear and sure about what you are saying?
Are you clear and sure about what you are saying?
Guard
I am. I saw her burying the corpse that you
had forbidden to bury. Is that plain and sufficient?
405
I am. I saw her burying the corpse that you
had forbidden to bury. Is that plain and sufficient?
405
Creon
And how was she observed? How taken in the act?
407
And how was she observed? How taken in the act?
Guard
It happened like this. When we had come to the place with those fierce threats of yours still in our ears, we swept away all the dust that covered
the corpse and bared the damp body well. We then sat down on the brow of the hill to windward, fleeing the smell from him, lest it strike us. Each man was wide awake and kept his neighbor alert with torrents of threats, if any one should be careless of this task.
410
So time passed, until the disk of the sun stood bright in mid-sky and the heat began to burn. And then suddenly a whirlwind lifted from the earth a storm of dust, a trouble in the sky, and it filled the plain, marring all the foliage of its woods.
415
Soon the wide air was choked with it. We closed our eyes, and endured the plague from the gods. When, after a long while, this storm had passed, the girl was seen, and she wailed aloud with the sharp cry of a grieving bird, as when inside her empty
420
nest she sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she, too, when she saw the corpse bare, broke into a cry of lamentation and cursed with harsh curses those who had done it. Immediately she took thirsty dust in her hands,
425
and from a pitcher of beaten bronze held high she crowned the dead with thrice-poured libations. We rushed forward when we saw it, and at once closed upon our quarry, who was not at all dismayed. We then charged her with her past and present doings,
430
but she made no denial of anything—at once to my joy and to my pain. For to have escaped from trouble one’s self gives the greatest joy, but it stings to lead friends to evil. Naturally, though, all such things are
435
of less account to me than my own safety.
440
441
It happened like this. When we had come to the place with those fierce threats of yours still in our ears, we swept away all the dust that covered
the corpse and bared the damp body well. We then sat down on the brow of the hill to windward, fleeing the smell from him, lest it strike us. Each man was wide awake and kept his neighbor alert with torrents of threats, if any one should be careless of this task.
410
So time passed, until the disk of the sun stood bright in mid-sky and the heat began to burn. And then suddenly a whirlwind lifted from the earth a storm of dust, a trouble in the sky, and it filled the plain, marring all the foliage of its woods.
415
Soon the wide air was choked with it. We closed our eyes, and endured the plague from the gods. When, after a long while, this storm had passed, the girl was seen, and she wailed aloud with the sharp cry of a grieving bird, as when inside her empty
420
nest she sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she, too, when she saw the corpse bare, broke into a cry of lamentation and cursed with harsh curses those who had done it. Immediately she took thirsty dust in her hands,
425
and from a pitcher of beaten bronze held high she crowned the dead with thrice-poured libations. We rushed forward when we saw it, and at once closed upon our quarry, who was not at all dismayed. We then charged her with her past and present doings,
430
but she made no denial of anything—at once to my joy and to my pain. For to have escaped from trouble one’s self gives the greatest joy, but it stings to lead friends to evil. Naturally, though, all such things are
435
of less account to me than my own safety.
440
Creon
You, you with your face bent to the ground, do you admit, or deny that you did this?
You, you with your face bent to the ground, do you admit, or deny that you did this?
Antigone
I declare it and make no denial.
I declare it and make no denial.
Creon
To the Guard.
You can take yourself wherever you please,
free and clear of a heavy charge.
Exit Guard.
445
You can take yourself wherever you please,
free and clear of a heavy charge.
Exit Guard.
445
To Antigone.
You, however, tell me—not at length, but briefly—did you know that an edict had forbidden this?
You, however, tell me—not at length, but briefly—did you know that an edict had forbidden this?
Antigone
I knew it. How could I not? It was public.
I knew it. How could I not? It was public.
Creon
And even so you dared overstep that law?
And even so you dared overstep that law?
Antigone
Yes, since it was not Zeus that published me that edict, and since not of that kind are the laws which Justice who dwells with the gods below established among men. Nor did I think that your decrees were of such force, that a mortal could override the unwritten
450
and unfailing statutes given us by the gods. For their life is not of today or yesterday, but for all time, and no man knows when they were first put forth. Not for fear of any man’s pride was I about to owe a penalty to the gods for breaking these.
455
Die I must, that I knew well (how could I not?). That is true even without your edicts. But if I am to die before my time, I count that a gain. When anyone lives as I do, surrounded by evils, how can he not carry off gain by dying?
460
So for me to meet this doom is a grief of no account. But if I had endured that my mother’s son should in death lie an unburied corpse, that would have grieved me. Yet for this, I am not grieved. And if my present actions are foolish in your sight,
465
it may be that it is a fool who accuses me of folly.
470
471
Yes, since it was not Zeus that published me that edict, and since not of that kind are the laws which Justice who dwells with the gods below established among men. Nor did I think that your decrees were of such force, that a mortal could override the unwritten
450
and unfailing statutes given us by the gods. For their life is not of today or yesterday, but for all time, and no man knows when they were first put forth. Not for fear of any man’s pride was I about to owe a penalty to the gods for breaking these.
455
Die I must, that I knew well (how could I not?). That is true even without your edicts. But if I am to die before my time, I count that a gain. When anyone lives as I do, surrounded by evils, how can he not carry off gain by dying?
460
So for me to meet this doom is a grief of no account. But if I had endured that my mother’s son should in death lie an unburied corpse, that would have grieved me. Yet for this, I am not grieved. And if my present actions are foolish in your sight,
465
it may be that it is a fool who accuses me of folly.
470
Chorus
She shows herself the wild offspring of a wild father, and does not know how to bend before troubles.
She shows herself the wild offspring of a wild father, and does not know how to bend before troubles.
Creon
Yet remember that over-hard spirits most often collapse. It is the stiffest iron, baked to
utter hardness in the fire, that you most often see snapped and shivered. And I have witnessed horses with great spirit disciplined by a small bit. For there is no place for pride, when one is his neighbors’ slave.
475
This girl was already practiced in outrage when she overstepped the published laws. And, that done, this now is a second outrage, that she glories in it and exults in her deed. In truth, then, I am no man, but she is,
480
if this victory rests with her and brings no penalty. No! Whether she is my sister’s child, or nearer to me in blood than any of my kin that worship Zeus at the altar of our house, she and her sister will not escape a doom most harsh. For in truth
485
I charge that other with an equal share in the plotting of this burial. Call her out! I saw her inside just now, raving, and not in control of her wits. Before the deed, the mind frequently is convicted of stealthy crimes when conspirators are plotting depravity in the dark.
490
But, truly, I detest it, too, when one who has been caught in treachery then seeks to make the crime a glory.
495
Yet remember that over-hard spirits most often collapse. It is the stiffest iron, baked to
utter hardness in the fire, that you most often see snapped and shivered. And I have witnessed horses with great spirit disciplined by a small bit. For there is no place for pride, when one is his neighbors’ slave.
475
This girl was already practiced in outrage when she overstepped the published laws. And, that done, this now is a second outrage, that she glories in it and exults in her deed. In truth, then, I am no man, but she is,
480
if this victory rests with her and brings no penalty. No! Whether she is my sister’s child, or nearer to me in blood than any of my kin that worship Zeus at the altar of our house, she and her sister will not escape a doom most harsh. For in truth
485
I charge that other with an equal share in the plotting of this burial. Call her out! I saw her inside just now, raving, and not in control of her wits. Before the deed, the mind frequently is convicted of stealthy crimes when conspirators are plotting depravity in the dark.
490
But, truly, I detest it, too, when one who has been caught in treachery then seeks to make the crime a glory.
495
Antigone
What more do you want than to capture and kill me?
What more do you want than to capture and kill me?
Creon
I want nothing else. Having that, I have everything.
499
I want nothing else. Having that, I have everything.
Antigone
Why then do you wait? In none of your maxims
is there anything that pleases me—and may there never be! Similarly to you as well my views must be displeasing. And yet, how could I have won a nobler glory than by giving burial to my own brother? All here would admit that they approve,
500
if fear did not grip their tongues. But tyranny, blest with so much else, has the power to do and say whatever it pleases.
505
Why then do you wait? In none of your maxims
is there anything that pleases me—and may there never be! Similarly to you as well my views must be displeasing. And yet, how could I have won a nobler glory than by giving burial to my own brother? All here would admit that they approve,
500
if fear did not grip their tongues. But tyranny, blest with so much else, has the power to do and say whatever it pleases.
505
Creon
You alone out of all these Thebans see it that way.
You alone out of all these Thebans see it that way.
Antigone
They do, too, but for you they hold their tongues.
They do, too, but for you they hold their tongues.
Creon
Are you not ashamed that your beliefs differ from theirs?
510
Are you not ashamed that your beliefs differ from theirs?
510
Antigone
No, there is nothing shameful in respecting your own flesh and blood.
No, there is nothing shameful in respecting your own flesh and blood.
Creon
Was not he your brother too, who died in the opposite cause?
Was not he your brother too, who died in the opposite cause?
Antigone
A brother by the same mother and the same father.
A brother by the same mother and the same father.
Creon
Why, then, do you pay a service that is disrespectful to him?
Why, then, do you pay a service that is disrespectful to him?
Antigone
The dead man will not support you in that.
515
The dead man will not support you in that.
515
Creon
Yes, he will, if you honor him equally with the wicked one.
Yes, he will, if you honor him equally with the wicked one.
Antigone
It was his brother, not his slave, who died.
It was his brother, not his slave, who died.
Creon
But he died ravaging this land, while he fell in its defense.
But he died ravaging this land, while he fell in its defense.
Antigone
Hades craves these rites, nevertheless.
Hades craves these rites, nevertheless.
Creon
But the good man craves a portion not equal to the evil’s.
520
But the good man craves a portion not equal to the evil’s.
520
Antigone
Who knows but that these actions are pure to those below?
Who knows but that these actions are pure to those below?
Creon
You do not love someone you have hated, not even after death.
You do not love someone you have hated, not even after death.
Antigone
It is not my nature to join in hate, but in love.
It is not my nature to join in hate, but in love.
Creon
Then, go down to hell and love them
if you must. While I live, no woman will rule me.
525
526
Then, go down to hell and love them
if you must. While I live, no woman will rule me.
525
Enter Ismene from the house, led in by two attendants.
531
556
Chorus
Look, here comes Ismene from the palace, shedding the tears of a loving sister. A cloud over her eyes mars her red-flushed face,
and it breaks into rain on her comely cheek.
530
531
Look, here comes Ismene from the palace, shedding the tears of a loving sister. A cloud over her eyes mars her red-flushed face,
and it breaks into rain on her comely cheek.
530
Creon
You who were lurking like a viper in my own house and secretly gulping up my life’s blood, while I was oblivious that I was nurturing two plagues, two revolutions against my throne—tell me now, will you also affirm
your share in this burial, or will you forswear all knowledge of it?
535
You who were lurking like a viper in my own house and secretly gulping up my life’s blood, while I was oblivious that I was nurturing two plagues, two revolutions against my throne—tell me now, will you also affirm
your share in this burial, or will you forswear all knowledge of it?
535
Ismene
I performed the deed—as long as she concurs—and I share and carry the burden of guilt.
I performed the deed—as long as she concurs—and I share and carry the burden of guilt.
Antigone
No, justice will not permit you to do this, since you were not willing to help with the deed, nor did I give you a part in it.
No, justice will not permit you to do this, since you were not willing to help with the deed, nor did I give you a part in it.
Ismene
But now with this sea of troubles around you, I am not ashamed to sail in a sea of suffering at your side.
540
But now with this sea of troubles around you, I am not ashamed to sail in a sea of suffering at your side.
540
Antigone
As to whose deed it is, Hades and the dead are witnesses. A friend in words is not the type of friend I love.
As to whose deed it is, Hades and the dead are witnesses. A friend in words is not the type of friend I love.
Ismene
No, sister, do not strip me of death’s honor,
but let me die with you and make due consecration to the dead.
545
No, sister, do not strip me of death’s honor,
but let me die with you and make due consecration to the dead.
545
Antigone
Do not share my death. Do not claim deeds to which you did not put your hand. My death will suffice.
Do not share my death. Do not claim deeds to which you did not put your hand. My death will suffice.
Ismene
And how can I cherish life, once I am deprived of you?
And how can I cherish life, once I am deprived of you?
Antigone
Ask Creon. Your concern is for him.
Ask Creon. Your concern is for him.
Ismene
Why do you torture me like this, when it does not help you?
550
Why do you torture me like this, when it does not help you?
550
Antigone
No, if I mock you, it is to my own pain that I do so.
No, if I mock you, it is to my own pain that I do so.
Ismene
Tell me, how can I help you, even now?
Tell me, how can I help you, even now?
Antigone
Save yourself. I do not grudge your escape.
Save yourself. I do not grudge your escape.
Ismene
Ah, misery! Will I fall short of sharing your fate?
Ah, misery! Will I fall short of sharing your fate?
Antigone
Your choice was to live, it was mine to die.
555
556
Your choice was to live, it was mine to die.
555
Ismene
At least your choice was not made without my protests.
At least your choice was not made without my protests.
Antigone
One world approved your wisdom, another approved mine.
One world approved your wisdom, another approved mine.
Ismene
Nevertheless, the offense is identical for both of us.
Nevertheless, the offense is identical for both of us.
Antigone
Take heart! You live. But my life has long been
in Death’s hands so that I might serve the dead.
560
Take heart! You live. But my life has long been
in Death’s hands so that I might serve the dead.
560
Creon
One of these maidens, I declare, has just revealed her foolishness; the other has displayed it from the moment of her birth.
One of these maidens, I declare, has just revealed her foolishness; the other has displayed it from the moment of her birth.
Ismene
Yes, Creon. Whatever amount of reason nature may have given them does not remain with those in dire straits, but goes astray.
Yes, Creon. Whatever amount of reason nature may have given them does not remain with those in dire straits, but goes astray.
Creon
Yours did, I know, when you chose dire actions with dire allies.
565
Yours did, I know, when you chose dire actions with dire allies.
565
Ismene
What life would there be for me alone, without her presence?
What life would there be for me alone, without her presence?
Creon
Do not speak of her
presence. She lives no longer.
Do not speak of her
presence. She lives no longer.
Ismene
What? You will kill your own son’s bride?
What? You will kill your own son’s bride?
Creon
Why not? There are other fields for him to plough.
Why not? There are other fields for him to plough.
Ismene
But not fitted to him as she was.
570
But not fitted to him as she was.
570
Creon
I abhor an evil wife for my son.
I abhor an evil wife for my son.
Antigone
Haemon, dearest! How your father wrongs you!
Haemon, dearest! How your father wrongs you!
Creon
Enough! Enough of you and of your marriage!
Enough! Enough of you and of your marriage!
Chorus
Will you really cheat your son of this girl?
Will you really cheat your son of this girl?
Creon
Death it is who will end these bridals for me.
575
Death it is who will end these bridals for me.
575
Chorus
Then it seems that it is resolved that she will die.
Then it seems that it is resolved that she will die.
Creon
Resolved, yes, for you and by me.
To the two Attendants. No more delay! Servants, take them inside! Hereafter they must be women, and not left at large.
For it is known that even the brave seek to flee, when they see Death now closing on their life.
Exeunt Attendants, guarding Antigone and Ismene. Creon remains.
580
Resolved, yes, for you and by me.
To the two Attendants. No more delay! Servants, take them inside! Hereafter they must be women, and not left at large.
For it is known that even the brave seek to flee, when they see Death now closing on their life.
Exeunt Attendants, guarding Antigone and Ismene. Creon remains.
580
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-7-1 αὖ 1
mvp-comment-7-2 πανδήμῳ πόλει 2
mvp-comment-8-1 θεῖναι 3
mvp-comment-8-2 τὸν στρατηγόν 4
mvp-comment-9-1 ἔχεις 5
mvp-comment-9-2 κεἰσήκουσας 6
mvp-comment-10-1 τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά 7
mvp-comment-11-2 Ἀντιγόνη 10
mvp-comment-11-3 φίλων 11 μῦθος 12
mvp-comment-11-4 ἐξ ὅτου 13
mvp-comment-12-1 δυοῖν … δύο 14 δύο 15
mvp-comment-13-1 θανόντοιν 16
mvp-comment-13-2 διπλῇ χερί 17
mvp-comment-14-1 ἐπεί 18
mvp-comment-14-2 ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν 19
mvp-comment-14-3 ὑπέρτερον 20
mvp-comment-14-4
As
οἶδ’ εὐτυχοῦσα = οἶδ’ ὅτι εὐτυχῶ, so the participles
εὐτυχοῦσα
21
ἀτωμένη
22
mvp-comment-15-1 ᾔδη 23 καλῶς 24
mvp-comment-15-2 αὐλείων πυλῶν 25
mvp-comment-15-3 ἐξέπεμπον 26
mvp-comment-16-1 τί δ’ ἔστι 27 δηλοῖς 28
mvp-comment-16-2 καλχαίνουσ’ ἔπος τι 29
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 30
mvp-comment-17-2 τὼ κασιγνήτω … τὸν μὲν … τὸν δέ 31
mvp-comment-17-3 The place of τάφου 32 προτίσας 33 τάφου 34 ἀτιμάσας 35
mvp-comment-17-4 ἀτιμάσας ἔχει 36
mvp-comment-18-1 σὺν δίκῃ | χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ 37 χρησθεὶς 38 σὺν δίκης | χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου 40 δίκης 41 σύν 42 δίκῃ 43 χρήσει 44 χρησθείς 45 χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν 46
mvp-comment-18-2 νόμου 47
mvp-comment-19-1 τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς 48 πᾶσι κλεινός 49
mvp-comment-20-1 θανόντα … Πολυνείκους νέκυν 50
mvp-comment-21-1 ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι 51
mvp-comment-21-2 τὸ μὴ … καλύψαι 52
mvp-comment-22-1 ἐᾶν δ’ 53 ἄταφον ἄκλαυτον 54
mvp-comment-23-1 θησαυρόν 55
mvp-comment-23-2 εἰσορῶσι 56 εἰσορμῶσι 57
mvp-comment-23-3 Take πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς 58
mvp-comment-23-4 πρὸς χάριν 59
mvp-comment-24-1 σοί 60 κἀμοί 61 κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν 62
mvp-comment-24-2 τὸν ἀγαθόν 63
mvp-comment-24-3 λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ 64
mvp-comment-24-4 Two other explanations may be noticed. Both make σοι 65 σοι 66 τοιαῦτα 67 κἀμοί 68 σοι 69 σοι 70 ἀγαθόν 71
mvp-comment-25-1 νεῖσθαι 72
mvp-comment-25-2 τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν 73
mvp-comment-26-1 παρ’ οὐδέν 74 ὡς 75
mvp-comment-26-2 ὃς ἂν … δρᾷ 76
mvp-comment-27-1 προκεῖσθαι 77
mvp-comment-27-2 δημόλευστον 78
mvp-comment-28-1 σοι 79
mvp-comment-28-2 ἐσθλῶν 80
mvp-comment-29-1 ὦ ταλαῖφρον 81
mvp-comment-29-2 εἰ τάδ’ ἐν τούτοις 82 ἐν τούτοις 83
mvp-comment-30-1 λύουσ’ … ἢ ’φάπτουσα 84 εἵθ’ ἅπτουσα 85
mvp-comment-30-2 προσθείμην 86
mvp-comment-30-3 πλέον 87
mvp-comment-31-1 ξυμπονήσεις 88 ξυνεργάσει 89
mvp-comment-31-2 ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα 90
mvp-comment-31-3
Read
ποῦ γνώμης...εἶ (from
εἶναι): cp.
El. 390
ποῦ ποτ’ εἶ φρενῶν. The question between
ποῦ
91
ποῖ
92
mvp-comment-32-1 εἰ 93 ξὺν τῇδε χερί 94
mvp-comment-32-2 κουφιεῖς 95
mvp-comment-32-3 ἦ γὰρ 96
mvp-comment-32-4 σφε 97
mvp-comment-32-5 ἀπόρρητον 98
mvp-comment-32-6 πόλει 99
mvp-comment-33-1 τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν 100 ἐμόν 101 καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς 102 τὸν ἐμόν 103 τὸν σόν 104 ἀδελφόν 105 γοῦν 106 τὸν … ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν 107 καὶ 108 ἤν 109
mvp-comment-34-1 ἀδελφὸν … ἁλώσομαι 110 ἀδελφόν 111 οὐ γὰρ δή 112
mvp-comment-35-1 ὦ σχετλία 113
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 114 μέτα 115 τῶν ἐμῶν 116 εἴργειν 117
mvp-comment-37-1 νῷν 118 ἀπώλετο 119 ἀπεχθής 120 ἀπώλετο 121 ἔπειτα 122
mvp-comment-38-1 πρὸς … ἀμπλακημάτων … ἀράξας 123
mvp-comment-38-2 αὐτοφώρων 124
mvp-comment-38-3 ἀράξας 125
mvp-comment-38-4 αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί 126 αὐτός 127 αὐτ. χερί 128
mvp-comment-39-1 διπλοῦν ἔπος 129 πάθος 130
mvp-comment-39-2 ἀρτάναισι 131
mvp-comment-40-1 δύο … μίαν 132
mvp-comment-40-2 αὐτοκτονοῦντε 133
mvp-comment-41-1 κατειργάσαντ’ 134
mvp-comment-41-2 ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν 135 ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοιν 136 χεροῖν 137 οιν 138 ἐπαλλήλοιν 139 χεροῖν 140
mvp-comment-42-1 νῦν δ’ αὖ 141 δ’ 142 νῦν αὖ 143 αὖ 144
mvp-comment-42-2 μόνα δή 145
mvp-comment-43-1 ψῆφον 146
mvp-comment-43-2 τυράννων 147
mvp-comment-43-3 κράτη 148 ἢ 149 καὶ 150
mvp-comment-44-1 τοῦτο μὲν 151 ἐννοεῖν 152 ἔπειτα δ’ 153
mvp-comment-44-2 ὡς 154 οὐ μαχουμένα 155
mvp-comment-45-1 οὕνεκ’ 156
mvp-comment-45-2 ἐκ 157
mvp-comment-45-3 ἀκούειν 158 ταῦτα 159 ἀλγίονα 160
mvp-comment-46-1 ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν 161
mvp-comment-46-2 τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονός 162
mvp-comment-46-3 βιάζομαι τάδε 163
mvp-comment-47-1 τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι 164 βεβῶσι 165
mvp-comment-47-2 τὸ γὰρ | ...πράσσειν 166
mvp-comment-47-3 περισσὰ πρ 167
mvp-comment-47-4 οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδ. 168
mvp-comment-48-1 ἔτι 169
mvp-comment-48-2 πράσσειν … δρῴης 170 δρῴης 171 ἄν 172 ἡδέως 173 γε 174 ἡδέως γε ἂν ἐμοῦ 175 <)μοῦ 176 γε 177 ἐμοί γ’ 178 μέτα 179 ἀσμένης 180 ἡδέως 181 ἐμοῦ γε 182
mvp-comment-49-1 ἴσθ’ 183
mvp-comment-49-2 όποία σοι δοκεῖ 184 ἴσθ’ 185 ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ 186
mvp-comment-50-1 θάψω 187
mvp-comment-50-2 φίλη … φίλου 188
mvp-comment-50-3 μετ’ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι 189 μετά 190
mvp-comment-51-1 ὅσια πανουργήσασ’ 191 ὅσια 192
mvp-comment-51-2 ἐπεὶ κ.τ.λ. 193
mvp-comment-51-3 τῶν ἐνθάδε 194
mvp-comment-52-1 κείσομαι 195
mvp-comment-52-2 σοὶ δ’ 196 σὺ δ’ 197 εἰ δοκεῖ 198
mvp-comment-52-3 τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμα 199
mvp-comment-52-4 ἀτιμάσασ’ ἔχε 200
mvp-comment-53-1 ἐγὼ 201 μέν 202 δέ 203
mvp-comment-53-2 ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι 204
mvp-comment-53-3 τὸ δὲ | ...δρᾶν 205
mvp-comment-54-1 τάδ’ ἂν προὔχοιο 206
mvp-comment-54-2 δὴ 207
mvp-comment-54-3 τάφον χώσουσ’ 208
mvp-comment-55-1 Join οἴμοι ταλαίνης 209
mvp-comment-55-2 μὴ ’μοῦ προτάρβει 210 τὸν σόν 211 μὴ ’μοῦ 212 προτάρβει 213
mvp-comment-55-3 ἐξόρθου 214
mvp-comment-56-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν … γε 215 ἀλλά 216 οὖν 217
mvp-comment-56-2 κρυφῆ δέ 218
mvp-comment-56-3 σὺν δ’ 219
mvp-comment-56-4 αὔτως 220
mvp-comment-57-1 καταύδα 221
mvp-comment-57-2 πολλόν 222 πολλὸν 223
mvp-comment-57-3 σιγῶσ’ 224 ἐὰν … τάδε 225 πᾶσι 226
mvp-comment-58-1 θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι 227 ἐπί 228 θερμήν 229
mvp-comment-59-1 ἁδεῖν 230
mvp-comment-60-1 εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ’ 231 καὶ 232 δυνήσει 233 εἰ καί 234
mvp-comment-61-1 Since οὐκοῦν 235 δὴ 236 ὅταν 237
mvp-comment-61-2 πεπαύσομαι 238
mvp-comment-62-1 ἀρχήν 239
mvp-comment-63-1 ἐχθαρεῖ 240
mvp-comment-63-2 ἐξ ἐμοῦ 241
mvp-comment-64-1 ἐχθρὰ...τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ 242 προσκείσει 243 ἐχθρά 244
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 245
mvp-comment-65-2 τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσββουλίαν 246
mvp-comment-65-3 τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο 247
mvp-comment-65-4 πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ 249
mvp-comment-65-5 μὴ οὐ 250
mvp-comment-66-1 τοῖς φίλοις δ’ ὀρθῶς φίλη 251 ἴσθι 252
mvp-comment-68-1 ἀελίου 253
mvp-comment-68-2 τὸ κάλλιστον ...φάος 254
mvp-comment-68-3 ἑπταπύλῳ 255
mvp-comment-68-4 τῶν προτέρων 256
mvp-comment-69-1 ἐφάνθης 257
mvp-comment-69-2 χρυσέας 258
mvp-comment-69-3 βλέφαρον 259
mvp-comment-69-4 Διρκαίων 260
mvp-comment-70-1 τὸν λεύκασπιν...φῶτα 261
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
262
Ἰναχόθεν
263
mvp-comment-71-1 πανσαγίᾳ 264
mvp-comment-71-2 φυγάδα πρ. 265 κινήσασα 266
mvp-comment-71-3 πρόδρομον 267
mvp-comment-71-4 ὀξυτέρῳ...χαλινῷ 268
mvp-comment-71-5 ὀξυτέρῳ 269
mvp-comment-72-1 The MSS. have ὃν...Πολυνείκης 270 ὃς ...Πολυνείκους 271
mvp-comment-72-2 Πολυνείκους … νεικέων 272
mvp-comment-72-3 ἀρθείς 273
mvp-comment-72-4 νεικ. ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων 274
mvp-comment-73-1 ὀξέα κλάζων 275
mvp-comment-73-2 αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα 276 ὥς 277
mvp-comment-73-3 ὑπερέπτα 278
mvp-comment-74-1 λευκῆς χιόνος πτ. 279
mvp-comment-74-2 στεγανός 280
mvp-comment-74-3 ὅπλων … κορύθεσσι 281 ξύν 282 μετά 283 ξύν 284
mvp-comment-75-1 In στὰς δ’ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων 285 πτάς 286
mvp-comment-75-2 The words φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν... λόγχαις 287
mvp-comment-75-3 φονώσαισιν 288
mvp-comment-75-4 ἑπτάπυλον στόμα 289
mvp-comment-76-1 ἔβα 290
mvp-comment-76-2 πρίν ποθ’ 291 αἱμάτων 292
mvp-comment-76-3 γἑνυσιν 293 πλησθῆναι 294 τε 295 τε 296
mvp-comment-76-4 στεφάνωμα 297
mvp-comment-76-5 πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον 298
mvp-comment-77-1 τοῖος 299
mvp-comment-77-2 ἐτάθη 300
mvp-comment-77-3 πάταγος 301
mvp-comment-77-4 ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος 302 ἀντιπάλῳ ... δράκοντι 303 ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος 304 ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντος 305
mvp-comment-77-5 The interpretation of the passage turns primarily on two points.
mvp-comment-77-6 (1) The δράκων 306
mvp-comment-77-7 (2) The δυς 307 δυσχείρωμα 308
mvp-comment-77-8 Those who read ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντι 309 ὲτάθη 310
mvp-comment-77-9 Those who read ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος 311
mvp-comment-78-1 μεγάλης 312
mvp-comment-78-2 ῥεύματι 313 ῥεύματι πολλῷ 314
mvp-comment-79-1 χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις 315
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 316
mvp-comment-80-1 παλτῷ πυρί 317
mvp-comment-80-2 βαλβίδων ἐπ’ ἄκρων 318
mvp-comment-80-3 ὁρμῶντα 319
mvp-comment-80-4 νίκην 320 ἀλαλάξαι 321
mvp-comment-81-1 ἀντιτύπᾳ 322
mvp-comment-81-2
As regards the sense,
ἀντίτυπος was regularly used of hard surfaces, which, as it were,
repel that which strikes them (for the accent
ἀντίτυπος, not
ἀντιτύπος, though the sense is act., see on
O. T. 460
).
Probl. 5. 40
οἱ...ἐν ἀντιτύποις περίπατοι. Lucian
Amor. 13
τὴν ἀντίτυπον οὕτω καὶ καρτερὰν τοῦ λίθου φύσιν. So, fig.,
Plat.
Crat. 420D
τὸ...ἀναγκαῖον καὶ ἀντίτυπον, what is necessary, and what
resists us.
mvp-comment-81-3 τανταλωθείς 323
mvp-comment-82-1 πυρφόρος 324
mvp-comment-82-2 βακχεύων 325
mvp-comment-82-3 ῥιπαῖς...ἀνέμων 326
mvp-comment-83-1 εἶχε δ’ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν 327 εἶχε δ’ ἄλλαι τὰ μὲν ἄλλαι τὰ δ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις 328 τὰ μέν 329 ἄλλα δέ 330 τὰ μέν 331 ἄλλᾳ 332
mvp-comment-83-2 ἐπενώμα 333 στυφελίζων 334
mvp-comment-83-3 δεξιόσειρος 335
mvp-comment-83-4 The old v.l. δεξιόχειρος 336
mvp-comment-84-1 ἑπτὰ λοχαγοί 337
mvp-comment-84-2 ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους 338
mvp-comment-84-3 Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ 339
mvp-comment-84-4 πάγχαλκα τέλη 340
mvp-comment-84-5
It was the ordinary practice to set up a
τρόπαιον (old
αττ.τροπαῖον) after a victory, on the spot where it had been won, or, in the case of a sea-fight, on the nearest land (
Thuc. 2.92
). Such a trophy ordinarily consisted of shields, helmets, and weapons, conspicuously displayed on wooden supports, and dedicated, with an inscription, to a deity. Cp.
Eur.
Phoen. 1473
(of the Thebans after the victory)
οἱ μὲν Διὸς τροπαῖον ἵστασαν βρέτας (i.e. a wooden image of
Ζεὺς Τροπαῖος), |
οἱ δ’ ἀσπίδας συλῶντες Ἀργείων νεκρῶν | σκυλεύματ’ εἴσω τειχέων ἐπέμπομεν. Part of the armour would be affixed to the walls of Theban temples (cp.
Aesch.
Ag. 577
,
Th. 276
).
mvp-comment-85-1 πλὴν τ. στυγεροῖν 341 πατρός 342
mvp-comment-85-2 καθ’ αὑτοῖν 343
mvp-comment-85-3 δικρατεῖς λόγχας 344
mvp-comment-85-4 στήσαντε 345
mvp-comment-86-1 ἀλλὰ γάρ 346 γάρ 347 γάρ 348
mvp-comment-86-2 μεγαλώνυμος 349
mvp-comment-86-3 πολυαρμάτῳ 350
mvp-comment-86-4 ἀντιχαρεῖσα 351
mvp-comment-87-1 ἐκ...πολέμων τῶν νῦν 352 ἐκ 353 νῦν 354
mvp-comment-87-2 θέσθαι 355 θέσθε 356 παννυχίοις 357
mvp-comment-87-3 ὁ Θήβας 358 ἐλελίχθων 359
mvp-comment-87-4 Βάκχιος 360
mvp-comment-87-5 ἄρχοι 361
mvp-comment-88-1 ἀλλὰ … γάρ 362 Κρέων 363
mvp-comment-88-2 Μενοικέως 364
mvp-comment-88-3 νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι 365
mvp-comment-88-4 their equivalents. See Appendix I prefer the first of these views. An anapaest or spondee, meaning ‘ruler,’ has probably dropped out before νεοχμός 366 κρείων 367 ἄρχων 368 ταγός 369
mvp-comment-88-5 θεῶν … συντυχίαις 370 ἐπί 371
mvp-comment-89-1 μῆτιν ἐρέσσων 372
mvp-comment-89-2 σύγκλητον 373
mvp-comment-89-3 προὔθετο 374 λέσχην 375
mvp-comment-89-4
not the meeting, but the discussion which is to take place there: thus the poet's phrase, true to Attic usage, corresponds with
γνώμας προθεῖναι rather than with
ἐκκλησίαν προθεῖναι. Herod. uses
λέσχη of a public discussion (9. 71): cp.
O. C. 167
. The midd.
προὔθετο
376
mvp-comment-89-5 κοινῷ κ. πέμψας 377
mvp-comment-91-1 There is a general dramatic analogy between this speech and that of Oedipus in O. T. 216 —275. In each case a Theban king addresses Theban elders, announcing a stern decree, adopted in reliance on his own wisdom, and promulgated with haughty consciousness of power; the elders receive the decree with a submissive deference under which we can perceive traces of misgiving; and as the drama proceeds, the elders become spectators of calamities occasioned by the decree, while its author turns to them for comfort.
mvp-comment-91-2 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος . . ὑμᾶς δ’ 378
mvp-comment-91-3 πόλεος 379 πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες 380
mvp-comment-91-4
The image of the State as a ship dates in Greek literature from Alcaeus (whom Horace copied,
Carm. 1. 14
), fr. 18. The ship of Alcaeus is labouring in the trough of a wild sea,—water is coming in,—the sail is torn,—the anchor will not hold:
νᾶϊ φορήμεθα σὺν μελαίνᾳ | χείμωνι μοχθεῦντες μεγάλῳ μάλα, κ.τ.λ. It is only through Heracleides
Alleg. Homer. 5 that we know the meaning of Alcaeus to have been figurative and political. Aesch. often uses the image (
Aesch.
Th. 2
,
Aesch. Th. 62
,
Aesch. Th. 208
etc.). Creon returns to it at 189. It is peculiarly well suited to his point,—the unity of the public interest.
mvp-comment-91-5 ὤρθωσαν 381
mvp-comment-92-1 ἐκ πάντων 382 δίχα 383
mvp-comment-92-2 ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι 384 τοῦτο μέν 385
mvp-comment-92-3 σέβοντας 386
mvp-comment-92-4 θρόνων . . κράτη 387
mvp-comment-93-1 ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους 388 κείνων 389 κείνων παῖδας 390 ἡνίκ’ . . ὤρθου πόλιν 391 ἐπεὶ διώλετο 392 τοῦτο μέν . . τοῦτ’ αὖθις 393
mvp-comment-93-2 καί 394 καί 395
mvp-comment-93-3 ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν 396 ἐμπέδους 397 ἐμπέδοις 398
mvp-comment-94-1 ὅτε 399
mvp-comment-94-2 πρὸς διπλῆς μ. 400 διπλῆς . . μίαν 401
mvp-comment-94-3 παίσαντες . . πληγέντες 402
mvp-comment-94-4 αὐτόχειρι … μιάσματι 403
mvp-comment-95-1 ἐγὼ . . δή 404
mvp-comment-95-2 κράτη 405
mvp-comment-95-3 γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλ. 406
mvp-comment-96-1 ἀμήχανον δέ 407 δέ 408 δέ 409
mvp-comment-96-2 Demosthenes, in his speech on the Embassy (343 B.C.), quotes this passage (vv. 175—190) as illustrating maxims
mvp-comment-96-3 which Aeschines had violated, though, accustomed as he had been to play tritagonists' parts, he ought to have known them by heart (or. 19 § 247).
mvp-comment-97-1 ψυχήν 410 φρόνημα 411 γνώμην 412
mvp-comment-98-1 ἀρχαῖς 413 νόμοισιν 414
mvp-comment-98-2 ἐντριβής 415
mvp-comment-98-3 φανῇ 416
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1-17. mvp-comment-1-1 The opening speeches reveal the contrast between the sisters, while the affectionate address of Antigone in l. 1 gives greater emphasis to her violent outbreak in l. 69. Cp. О. Т. 85, and note.
6. mvp-comment-6-1 τῶν.. κακῶν, partitive genitive, as supplementary predicate. See Essay on Language § 10. p. 15.
7-8. mvp-comment-7-1 πανδήμῳ.. στρατηγόν The Thebans had gone forth πανδημεί under Creon's generalship, and he had made the proclamation as στρατηγός, before assuming the civil power. Cp. Thuc. 5. 60, § 5, τὰς ἀπὸ στρατείας δίκας πρὶν ἐσιέναι κρίνουσιν. The publicity of the edict makes it more painful. Antigone knows what she is doing. Infr. 44, 907.
9. mvp-comment-8-1 τι is adverbial.
10. mvp-comment-9-1 τῶν ἐχθρῶν When evils devised by enemies are threatening those we love. In the vehemence of her resentment she already speaks of Creon as an enemy. Cp. infr. 62. τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά, Schol. According to others τῶν ἐχθρῶν is abl. gen. passing from enemies, i.e. no longer directed towards them, or descriptive, evils which belong to enemies, i. e. which should be confined to them.
11. mvp-comment-10-1 οὐδεὶς μῦθος.. φίλων Νo word concerning any of our friends. Essay on Language § 9. p. 13.
12. mvp-comment-11-1 ἐξ ὅτου Sophocles has not been careful to mark the exact sequence of the events preceding the action of the Play. (See Introduction.) But the death of the brothers is supposed to have taken place some little time before the rout of the Argive host. Infr. 144-148.
14. mvp-comment-12-1 μιᾷ.. διπλῇ Essay on Language p. 69.
17. mvp-comment-13-1 μᾶλλον is redundant, the whole expression being epexegetic of οὐδὲν ὑπέρτερον, and in construction with οἶδα.
18-19. mvp-comment-14-1 καί σ'.. ἐξέπεμπον And it is for this that I have been leading thee forth. Thus a probable reason is given for the appearance of the two maidens before the gate. Their usual seclusion has been somewhat relaxed during the absence of Creon and Eteocles with the army. Infr. 578-579. Cp. El. 517.
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.
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.
131. mvp-comment-79-1 παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρί (1) Hurls down with brandished thunderbolt. Or possibly (2) ῥιπτεῖ is a more emphatic substitute for βάλλει = Smites from afar. The word παλτῷ suggests the zig-zag flicker of the lightning.
131. mvp-comment-79-2 βαλβίδων .. ἀλαλάζαι As, having reached the topmost goal, he was eager to raise the cry of victory. βαλβίδες are the end of the race-course, metaphorically applied here to the top of the wall to which Capaneus had climbed, and so receiving the epithet ἄκρων.
131. mvp-comment-79-3 βαλβίδων may be also taken as abl. gen, with ῥιπτεῖ, and only resumed with ἄκρων. But this is questionable.
133. mvp-comment-80-1 The subject of ὁρμῶντα (Capaneus) is anticipated from the following lines, viz. ὅς, κ.τ.λ.
134. mvp-comment-81-1 ἀντιτύπᾳ This conj. of Porson has been generally received. He fell upon the earth, that smote him again; i.e. He fell with a shock. The Scholia explain ἀντίτυπα, which is against metre.
134. mvp-comment-81-2 τανταλωθείς Swung. As if the scale that had been the lightest had suddenly become the heaviest. Cp. Hom. Il. 22. 212, ῥέπε δ᾽ Ἕκτορος αἴσιμον ἦμαρ, | ᾤχετο δ᾽ εἰς Ἀἰδαο.
135. mvp-comment-82-1 πυρφόρος With the fire in his hand, with which he had threatened the town. O. C. 1318: Aesch. S. c. T. 422, ff.
135. mvp-comment-82-2 ὁρμᾷ Observe the tautology after ὁρμῶντ', supra.
136-137. mvp-comment-83-1 Had breathed against us in frenzy with blasts of malignant winds. Cp. infra 929-930: O. C. 612 and note: Aesch. S. c. T. 115, πνοαῖς Ἄρεος.
138. mvp-comment-84-1 εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν· κτ.λ.] This was in one direction: whilst on other men terrible fortune was dispensed by mighty Ares rushing on them like a steed harnessed upon our right hand. For the use of ἔχω with the locative adv., see L. and S. s. v. ἔχω, Β. 11. Ι. The reading in the text is suggested by that of V (Ven. 468), a MS. of the 13th century, which, together with many obvious corruptions, has preserved some good readings. See on O. T. 1526. This MS. reading is curiously near the conj. of Musgrave, εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ δείν᾽. The epithet, as read in the text, may be suggested by a forefeeling of what is coming. Even the end of Capaneus is less awful than that of Eteocles and Polynices (144 ff.). Hermann's reading, εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ μὲν ἄλ | λᾳ· τὰ δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις, makes good enough sense; Plat. Rep. 2. 369 Β, οὕτω δὴ ἄρα παραλαμβάνων ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐπ᾿ ἄλλου, τὸν δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλου χρείᾳ : but the synaphea between the cretics and the choriambi is questionable. And the same objection applies to Wecklein's εἶχε δ' ἄλλᾳ τὰ τοῦδ᾽· | ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις.
140. mvp-comment-85-1 δεξιόσειρος The War-god taking part with Thebes and bounding hither and thither over the plain is compared to the σειραῖος ἵππος, whose free action was so important at critical moments in the chariot-race. Cp. El. 721-722, δεξιὸν δ᾽ ἀνεὶς | σειραῖον ἵππον εἶργε τὸν προσκείμενον: Aesch. Agam. 841-842, μόνος δ' Οδυσσεύς, ὅσπερ οὐχ ἑκὼν ἔπλει | ζευχθείς ἕτοιμος ἦν ἐμοὶ σειραφόρος. The reading δεξιόχειρος is probably erroneous. It is acknowledged as a variant by the Scholiast.
141. mvp-comment-86-1 Capaneus, who is one of the seven adversaries, is already disposed of. But the general description in 141-143, is only preparatory to the chief statement, 144-147, from which, however, the chorus pass quickly, as they approach it with aversion. What is of the best omen must be kept to the front. For ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους, cp. Hdt. 9. 49, ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἄριθμον μαχεσόμεθα.
142-143. mvp-comment-87-1 'Left the tribute of their brazen panoplies to Zeus, who turns the battle.'
144-147. mvp-comment-88-1 Neither could despoil the other, since both were slain. And the citizens could not dedicate to Zeus arms polluted with kindred blood.
145. mvp-comment-89-1 αὑτοῖν i. e. ἀλλήλοιν: ἑαυτούς, ἀλλήλους. Hesych.
146. mvp-comment-90-1 δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντε Having pointed their two spears, of which either was victorious. The spears are not hurled, as commonly in the Iliad, but held firmly as the combatants rush at each other. Cp. Hom. Il. 4. 307 (quoted by Donaldson), ὃς δέ κ᾿ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὧν ὀχέων ἕτερ᾽ ἅρμαθ' ἵκηται | ἔγχει ὀρεξάσθω, ἐπεὶ ἢ πολὺ φέρτερον οὕτως.
147. mvp-comment-91-1 'Both have their portion in mutual death: i.e. Each strove for sole inheritance, but they share equally-in a death;' which each has given and each has received. See on l. 57. The spirit of the words is the same as those of Aesch. S. c. T. 726 ff.: O. C. 790.
149. mvp-comment-92-1 ἀντιχαρεῖσα Exchanging looks of joy. Cp. χαίρειν γέλωτι, Χen. Cyr. 8.1.33.
149. mvp-comment-92-2 Θήβη, as in Pindar, is the personification of Θήβαι, for which it is used consistently throughout this play. Cp. Od. 7. 80, εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην.
150. mvp-comment-93-1 ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων .. λησμοσύvav Turning from the present wars, appoint ye forgetfulness of them. For the pleonastic use of ἐκ, see Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. The reading θέσθαι, which has good MS. authority and preserves the metrical correspondence with l. 137, is retained by some editors as an infinitive for imperative. Cp. infr. 1142, μολεῖν. For the expression, cp. Eur. Phoen. 1584,5, ὡς ὥρα τάφου | μνήμην τίθεσθαι.
153. mvp-comment-94-1 παννυχίοις Cp. Ο. Τ. 1090: Aesch. Ag. 23, 24. καὶ χορῶν κατάστασιν | πολλῶν ἐν Ἄργει τῆσδε συμφορᾶς χάριν.
153. mvp-comment-94-2 ὁ Θήβας δ'. . ἄρχοι And let Bacchus, Thebe's God. who shakes the earth (with revelry), lead on the dance. Schol. ὁ Θήβας Βακχεῖος, ὁ Θηβαγενὴς Διόνυσος, ὁ τῆς Θήβης πολίτης, ὁ ἐλελίχθων, ἄρχοι τῆς χορείας. See Essay on Language § 9. p. 11.
156. mvp-comment-95-1 The metre requires either the addition of one (or three) anapaests or the omission of νεοχμός. Dindorf's supposition that νεοχμός νεαραῖσι has grown in some way out of νεοχμοῖσι is in itself probable enough, but the omission of some word like *ἄρχων after βασιλεύς is equally so. The spectator is thus reminded that Creon is young in power.
157-158. mvp-comment-96-1 νεαραῖσι .. συντυχίαις In consequence of the recent god-sent fortune. These words are to be joined with the whole sentence, though chiefly with ἐρέσσων. Creon's accession, his coming, and the counsel which he brings, all follow closely on the events of the war. The question is, what is that counsel?
159. mvp-comment-97-1 τίνα δή This is preferable to τινὰ δή, which Aldus printed from Ven. 467 (V3).
159. mvp-comment-97-2 On ἐρέσσων = Moving, Advancing. see Essay on Language p. 87, and cp. Aj. 251, τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλάς.
160-161. mvp-comment-98-1 ὅτι. προὔθετο That he hath appointed. ὅτι gives the reason of the question.
160. mvp-comment-99-1 σύγκλητον Specially convened. The word is used, after the analogy of the σύγκλητος ἐκκλησία at Athens, for an assembly specially summoned by the στρατηγός. λέσχη is less formal than βουλή. Cp. Ο. C. 166.
161. mvp-comment-100-1 προὔθετο The middle voice implies that Creon had summoned the elders of his own motion. So καλέσσατο of Achilles in Il. 1. 54.
162. mvp-comment-101-1 κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας Having cited us by a message sent to us all.
162. mvp-comment-101-2 κοινῷ = Inclusive. πέμψας] i. e. στείλας πομποῖσιν, as Creon expresses himself in ll. 164-165. 162-210. Creon's first error is not mere self-will, but an excessive zeal for the honour of the state, to which all private feelings must give way (183-184, 187-190). His spirit of self-assertion is however already felt, esp. in ll. 173, 191, 207-10. And the unconsciousness of one young in power is shown in the self-inculpating words in ll. 175-177. He characteristically dwells on the virtue of loyalty (165-169, 209-210) and the crime of rebellion (199-202): and his passionate nature is betrayed by the exaggerated expression in l. 208. Cp. O. T. 216 ff. and note. The frequent occurrence of the Ist personal pronoun is a significant feature of both these speeches.
162. mvp-comment-101-3 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος As for the state. This form of expression suits the introduction of a subject before the form of sentence is determined. πόλιν, rather than τὰ πόλεος, is the object of σείσαντες and ὤρθωσαν.
162. mvp-comment-101-4 ἀσφαλῶς Unharmed, = ἄνεν τοῦ σφαλῆναι,
163. mvp-comment-102-1 ὥρθωσαν Have righted the vessel of the state.
165-166. mvp-comment-103-1 τὰ Λαΐου. κράτη Knowing that you ever duly reverenced the enthroned authority of Laius. Λαΐου is governed by θρόνων κράτη taken as one word, θρόνων being added to supplement κράτη. σέβοντας and μένοντας, infr. 166, 169, are imperfects = ὅτι ἐσέβετε .. ἐμένετε,
167. mvp-comment-104-1 ὤρθου Kept on a safe course: i. e. Governed prosperously. The word recalls the happiness of the first period of Oedipus' rule. Cp. Plat. Men. P. 99 C, ᾗ οἱ πολιτικοὶ ἄνδρες χρώμενοι τὰς πόλεις ὀρθοῦσιν : Phaedr. 244 B. 168-169. ἀμφὶ .. φρονήμασιν]. Ye still remained loyal to their issue with unshaken minds. ἀμφί, Surrounding, as ready to defend. The apodosis is made to suit the latter protasis, ἐπεὶ διώλετο, and that of the former protasis, ἡνίκ' . . πόλιν (viz. ἐκείνῳ ὁμοίως πειθομένους οι the like), is thus absorbed.
167. mvp-comment-104-2 κείνων . . παῖδας i. e. Sons of Oedipus and grandsons of Laius.
172. mvp-comment-105-1 αὐτόχειρι Fratricidal. See Essay on Language p. 91.
174. mvp-comment-106-1 γένους κατ᾿ ἀγχιστεῖα By privilege of being nearest in kindred (ὡς ἀγχιστεύων) to the dead. Cp. πρωτεία, etc.
175. mvp-comment-107-1 παντὸς ἀνδρός Of any man, and therefore of me.
176. mvp-comment-108-1 ψυχήν. . φρόνημα.. γνώμην As observed in the Essay on Language pp. 91-3, the opposition between these words is chiefly formal. So far as there is any difference between them, ψυχήν is mind, or nature, φρόνημα, spirit, or way of thinking, (cp. infr. 207), and γνώμην, judgment or meaning.
176-177. mvp-comment-109-1 πρὶν ἂν ἀρχαῖς.. φανῇ “Until he be seen in his true colours through being tried in office and administration.' According to the saying of Bias, ἀρχὴ τὸν ἄνδρα δείξει (Arist. Eth. Nic. 5. 1. 16). There is an allusion to the detection of spurious coin through wear. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 390-392, κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόπον | τρίβῳτε καὶ προσβολαῖς | μελαμπαγὴς πέλει | δικαιωθείς (where Herm. says, 'Vereor autem ne non de lapide Lydio loquatur poeta, sed aes adulterinum dicat, quod usu tritum amisso falso splendore cognoscitur'): Hdt. 7. 10, ὥσπερ τὸν χρυσὸν τὸν ἀκήρατον, αὐτὸν μὲν ἐπ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ οὐ διαγινώσκομεν, ἐπεὰν δὲ