Sophocles Antigone 724

Richard Jebb (Translator)

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Antigone. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1891.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Antigone (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 3: The Antigone. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)
Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκὸς, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλᾶ.
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 724 focus
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκὸς, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
715
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλᾶ.
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σε τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σε τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλᾶ.
725
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλᾶ.
725
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ’ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ’ αὖ τοῦδ’· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλᾶ.
725
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽ · εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλῆι.
725
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον, λέγει,
720
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλῇ.
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλᾶ.
725
Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽. εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλῇ.
725
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 724 focus
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 724 focus
ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλῆι.
725
Translations (10)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 724 focus
Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 724 focus
Rey, conviene que si algo oportuno dice éste, lo atiendas; y también éste a ti, pues los dos habéis hablado bien..
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 724 focus
Rex, si quid hic opportunum dicit, aequum est te animum advertere ; teque vicissim illi auscultare:
recte enim dictum est utrinque.
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 724 focus
My lord, ’twere wise, if thou wouldst learn of him
In reason; and thou, Haemon, from thy sire!
Truth lies between you.
725
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 724 focus
Ihn hörst du billig, wenn er treffend spricht, o Herr,
Und du den Vater; sprachet ihr doch beide gut.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 724 focus
Should he attend, as best may profit both.
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 724 focus
¿Con que á mis años he de recibir yo lecciones de un mozo de esta edad? THEMÓN Me parece que nada he dicho fuera de razón. Soy joven ciertamente; pero no es mi edad lo que eonviene examinar, sino mi consejo.
German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 724 focus
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 724 focus
Sire, ’tis meet that thou shouldest profit by his words, if he speaks aught in season, and thou, Haemon, by thy father’s ; for on both parts there hath been wise speech.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 724 focus
Her mind; no ulcer rankles with such rage
As a false friend. Cast then this virgin off
As one of hostile thought, and let her wed
If well what prudence dictates he hath urged,
Thee it behoves, O king, to hear: and thou
To him attend. The words of both are wise.
725
Shall I then, at my age shall I be taught
725

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-423-1 σέ τ’ 1 διπλᾶι 2 διπλᾶ 3 διπλῇ 4 διπλᾶ 5

mvp-comment-423-2 On the other hand, διπλῇ 6

mvp-comment-424-1 καὶ 7 διδαξ. 8

mvp-comment-424-2 δή 9

mvp-comment-424-3 τὴν φύσιν 10

mvp-comment-425-1 μηδέν 11 τὸ μὴ δίκ. 12

mvp-comment-425-2 τὸν χρόνον 13 τἄργα 14

mvp-comment-426-1 ἔργον 15

mvp-comment-426-2 τοὺς ἀκοσμοῦντας 16

mvp-comment-426-3 σέβειν 17

mvp-comment-427-1 οὐδ’ 18

mvp-comment-428-1 τοιᾷδε … νοσῳ 19

mvp-comment-428-2 ἐπείληπται 20

mvp-comment-429-1 Θήβης 21 ὁμόπτολις 22

mvp-comment-430-1 ἡμῖν 23 ἐμέ 24

mvp-comment-431-1 ὡς ἄγαν νέος 25

mvp-comment-432-1 Dobree's με 26 γε 27 χρή 28 ἄλλῳ ἢ ’μοί 29 ἐμοί 30 χρή γε 31

mvp-comment-433-1 πόλις γὰρ οὐκ ἔσθ’ 32

mvp-comment-433-2

τυραννίς
is
ἔσχατον πόλεως νόσημα
, Rep. 544 C. de Rep. 3. 31
ubi tyrannus est, ibi...dicendum est nullam esse rempublicam.

mvp-comment-434-1 νομίζεται 33

mvp-comment-435-1 καλῶς ἐρήμης γ’ 34

mvp-comment-436-1 Though at least one late MS. (Paris E) has

συμμαχεῖν
, it is needless to assume here the same mixed constr. as Tr. 1238
ἁνὴρ δ’ ὅδ’, ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐ νεμεῖν ἐμοὶ | φθίνοντι μοῖραν
.

mvp-comment-437-1 οὖν 35 προκήδομαι 36

mvp-comment-438-1 ὦ παγκάκιστε 37

mvp-comment-438-2 διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί 38

mvp-comment-439-1 ἀρχάς 39

mvp-comment-440-1 οὐ γὰρ σέβεις 40

mvp-comment-440-2 τιμάς 41

mvp-comment-441-1 ὦ μιαρόν 42 γυναικὸς ὕστερον 43

mvp-comment-442-1 ‘I may be inferior to a woman, but at least you will never find me yielding to base temptations.’ It would have been

αἰσχρόν
if he had allowed fear or self-interest to deter him from pleading this cause. ( Cp. 509 .) Cp. Tr. 489
ἔρωτος...ἥσσων
: fr. 844
ἥσσων...ὀργῆς.

mvp-comment-442-2 οὔ τἄν 44

mvp-comment-442-3 γε 45

mvp-comment-443-1 γοῦν 46

mvp-comment-444-1 καὶ σοῦ γε 47

mvp-comment-445-1 Objections have been made to the traditional order of these verses, chiefly in two respects. (1) 755

εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ’
is—it is argued—the strongest thing said by Haemon, and ought therefore to come immediately before Creon's final outburst,
ἄληθες
; (758). How could it be followed by merely so mild a phrase as
μὴ κώτιλλέ με
?—We may reply:— Haemon says that, if Creon were not his father, he would have thought him mad. It is to this that
μὴ κώτιλλέ με
refers, meaning, ‘Do not seek to deceive me by an affectation of filial deference.’ (2) 757
βούλει λέγειν τι
is too mild a remark—it is said—to form the climax of provocation to Creon's anger. We may reply:—It is in substance, if not in form, such a climax, —for a father who holds that unquestioning obedience (640) is a son's first duty. It asserts Haemon's right to maintain his own views against his father's,—
διὰ δίκης ἰέναι
, as Creon put it (742). The traditional order seems, therefore, to be right.

mvp-comment-445-2 Three modes of transposition have been proposed. (1) Enger puts 756 and 757 after 749. Then

κώτιλλε
(756) refers to Haemon's plea that he has his father's cause, and that of religion, at heart. We lose nothing by such a transposition; but neither do we gain.

mvp-comment-445-3 (2) Donner (in his transl., ed. 1863) simply transposed verses 755 and 757, leaving the rest as they stand. For this it may fairly be said that 757 comes very fitly after 754. On the other hand it seems to me that 756 does not aptly follow 757.

mvp-comment-445-4 (3) Pallis arranges thus:—749, 756, 755, 754, 757, 750—753. Thus

κενὰς γνώμας
(753) becomes the last sting.— The fact is that, in a stormy altercation, we do not look for a closely logical texture and a delicately graduated crescendo. The MS. order is (to my mind) the best; but other arrangements are possible, and would be nearly as good.

mvp-comment-445-5 Creon, instead of replying to v. 749, abruptly repeats his resolve.

οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ταύτην ἔτι ζῶσαν γαμεῖς
(fut.)
ποτέ
, it cannot be that you shall ever wed her while she yet lives; i.e. she is to die at once, and can become your bride, if ever, only
ἐν Ἅιδου
(654). Cp. 1240 .— ὡς 48 ποτέ 49 ταύτην 50

mvp-comment-446-1 ἥδ’ 51 ὀλεῖ τινά 52

mvp-comment-447-1 ἦ ἐπεξέρχει και ἐπαπειλῶν ὧδε θρασύς; 53 καί 54

mvp-comment-448-1 κλαίων 55

mvp-comment-448-2 φρενώσεις 56

mvp-comment-449-1 οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν 57

mvp-comment-450-1 δούλευμα 58

mvp-comment-450-2 μὴ κωτιλλέ με 59

mvp-comment-450-3 Cp. Theognis 363

εὖ κώτιλλε τὸν ἐχθρόν
(cajole)'
ὅταν δ’ ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ, | τῖσαί νιν, πρόφασιν μηδεμίαν θέμενος
: id. 851
Ζεὺς ἄνδρ’ ἐξολέσειεν Ὀλύμπιος, ὃς τὸν ἑταῖρον | μαλθακὰ κωτίλλων ἐξαπατᾶν ἐθέλει
.

mvp-comment-451-1 λέγειν … κλύειν; 60 λέγειν τι 61

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

635-765. mvp-comment-375-1 Haemon professes obedience to his father, but with the implied condition that his father commands what is right. Not heeding this, Creon welcomes his general profession, and enlarges on the blessings that follow from obedience in public and private. He urges Haemon to renounce Antigone. Haemon replies by repeating the praise of her which he has heard in the city (Ar. Rhet. 3. 17, ἕτερον χρὴ λέγοντα ποιεῖν.. ὡς Σοφοκλῆς τὸν Αἴμονα ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἀντιγόνης πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ὡς λεγόντων ἑτέρων), and begs his father not to be deaf to all opinions but his own. Creon is impatient at this, and, after an altercation, in which both speakers become exasperated, Creon orders Antigone to be brought for immediate execution, and Haemon breaks away in sullen anger. This episode interposes a necessary pause between the condemnation of Antigone and its results, i. e, between the two chief crises of the action, and assists the main impression by bringing the light of natural affection and common opinion to bear on the situation.

725. mvp-comment-425-1 διπλᾶ is better than διπλῇ, because dwelling merely on the two speeches, and not on their divergence from each other.

726-727. mvp-comment-426-1 And at our age shall we forsooth be schooled by one so juvenile? For the inverted order, see Essay on Language § 26. p. 44: § 41. p. 77.

727. mvp-comment-427-1 For φύσιν, see Essay on Language p. 96.

728. mvp-comment-428-1 μηδὲν τὸ μὴ δίκαιον The combination of the indefinite μηδέν with the definite article is curious, and suggests the idea that μηδέν is adverbial.. But the Scholiast is probably right in explaining the words as equivalent to μηδὲν διδάσκου ὁ μὴ δίκαιόν ἐστί σοι μανθάνειν. Cp. supra 360, οὐδὲν .. τὸ μέλλον. Essay on Language § 22. p. 36. And for emphatic el, ib. § 28. p. 47, supr. 551.

729. mvp-comment-429-1 You ought not to regard differences of time, but rather to face the actual requirements of the case.' τἄργα are not the merits of Haemon, but the truth of his plea.

730. mvp-comment-430-1 What? Is it a "requirement" to fall down and worship rebels? Creon, as usual, represents mercy as submission. ἔργον ἐστί seems to have the same meaning as in σὸν ἔργον, and the like phrases; i.e. ἔργον almost = Duty.

731. mvp-comment-431-1 Nay, I would not bid thee reverence the wicked.

732. mvp-comment-432-1 'Why, is not she possessed by this disease?" viz. τῇ κακίᾳ.

733. mvp-comment-433-1 Not so declare her fellow-citizens in this town of Thebes.

736. mvp-comment-434-1 Is it right, I say, for another than me to rule this land? The reading of L and most MSS, ἄλλῳ.. μοί, (cp. Eur. Ion 1317) is supported by Thom. M. s. v. χρή, and is certainly the durior lectio. But he may have reasoned from a faulty text. See note on l. 681. γε is expressive. For M4 see list of MSS. in the Preface to this edition.

737. mvp-comment-435-1 Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 370, σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ τὸ δήμιον; Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 1. 2,

When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome, | That her wide walls encompassed but one man? | Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, | When there is in it but one only man.
The genitive ἀνδρὸς .. ἑνός is ambiguous between possessive genitive and genitive of content. A city belonging to one man, and A city composed of one man.

738. mvp-comment-436-1 Is not the city counted a possession of the ruler? Essay on Language § 9. p. 12, b.

739. mvp-comment-437-1 A splendid monarch would you make to rule a desert land.

742. mvp-comment-438-1 This line is sometimes printed with a note of interrogation, as if the words διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί were epexegetic of σοῦ.. προκήδομαι. ('Villain, when you are wrangling with your father?') But the connection of the lines in this στιχομυθία is not very close, and the more obvious meaning (Villain, to wrangle with your father!') is more probable.

743-745. mvp-comment-439-1 οὐ γὰρ δίκαια .. οὐ γὰρ σέβεις] Here, as in 730, ἔργον γάρ ἐστι, there is the same tendency to play on the word (κομψεύειν) that was observed in the speeches of the Φύλαξ.

745. mvp-comment-440-1 οὐ.. σέβεις It is not reverence when you trample on the honours of the Gods. Essay on Language § 53. p. 98, с.

751. mvp-comment-441-1 τινά i. e. σέ. Essay on Language § 22. p. 34, 4. Interpreters have avoided taking these words in their obvious meaning as implying a threat, which Haemon all but carries into execution afterwards in ll. 1233-1234. It is true, however, that this intention is less distinctly present to his mind than the conviction that vengeance will come to Creon from the gods and from popular feeling.

752. mvp-comment-442-1 κἀπαπειλών For the participle, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 63, €, b.

753. mvp-comment-443-1 τίς Almost = πῶς. Cp. О. С. 775, τίς αὕτη τέρψις;

756. mvp-comment-444-1 'Woman's minion that you are, mince not your words with me.' The subdued tone of Haemon (εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ', εἶπον ἄν) only adds fuel to the wrath of Creon.

756. mvp-comment-444-2 For the contempt expressed in δούλευμα and μῖσος (760), see Essay on Language pp. 84, 85.