τάχ᾽ ἄν, ἐξαίφνης εἰ σὺ φανείης,
170
Ajax. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Editions (3)
Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 172-201 focus
str.
1
ΧΟΡΟΣ
1
ᾖ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις,
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ
μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς,
ὥρμασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175
ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,
ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων
ψευσθεῖσ’, ἀδώροις εἴτ’ ὲλαφηβολἐαις.
ἢ χαλκοθώραξ ἥντιν’ Ἐννυάλιος
μομφὰν ἔχων
180
ξυνοῦ δορὸς, ἐννυχίοις μαχαναῖς
ἐτίσατο λώβαν.
1
ᾖ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις,
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ
μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς,
ὥρμασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175
ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,
ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων
ψευσθεῖσ’, ἀδώροις εἴτ’ ὲλαφηβολἐαις.
ἢ χαλκοθώραξ ἥντιν’ Ἐννυάλιος
μομφὰν ἔχων
180
ξυνοῦ δορὸς, ἐννυχίοις μαχαναῖς
ἐτίσατο λώβαν.
ant.
1
ΧΟΡΟΣ
1
Οὐ, τοτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ,
παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας
τόσσον ὲν ποίμναις πίτνων·
185
ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλ’ ἀπερύκοι
καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν ·
εἰ δ’ ὑποβαλλόμενοι
κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
190
μὴ, μή μ’, ἄναξ,
ἔθ’ ὦδ’ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις ὄμμ’ ἔχων
κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.
1
Οὐ, τοτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ,
παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας
τόσσον ὲν ποίμναις πίτνων·
185
ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλ’ ἀπερύκοι
καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν ·
εἰ δ’ ὑποβαλλόμενοι
κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
190
μὴ, μή μ’, ἄναξ,
ἔθ’ ὦδ’ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις ὄμμ’ ἔχων
κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.
ep.
ΧΟΡΟΣ
1
Ἀλλ’ ἄνα ἐς ἐδράνων, ὅπου μακραίωνι
στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδ’ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ
195
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων
ἐχθρῶν δ’ ὕβρις ὧδ’ ἀτάρβηθ’
ὁρμᾶται ὲν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,
πάντων καγχαζόντων
γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
200
200
ἐμοὶ δ’ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
1
Ἀλλ’ ἄνα ἐς ἐδράνων, ὅπου μακραίωνι
στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδ’ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ
195
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων
ἐχθρῶν δ’ ὕβρις ὧδ’ ἀτάρβηθ’
ὁρμᾶται ὲν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,
πάντων καγχαζόντων
γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
200
200
ἐμοὶ δ’ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 172-200 focus
str.
1
Χορός
1
ἦ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις,
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ
μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς, ὥρ-
μασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175
ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,
ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων
ψευσθεῖσʼ, ἀδώροις εἴτʼ ἐλαφαβολίαις;
ἢ χαλκοθώραξ εἴ τινʼ Ἐνυάλιος
μομφὰν ἔχων ξυνοῦ δορὸς ἐννυχίοις
180
μαχαναῖς ἐτείσατο λώβαν;
1
ἦ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις,
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ
μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς, ὥρ-
μασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175
ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,
ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων
ψευσθεῖσʼ, ἀδώροις εἴτʼ ἐλαφαβολίαις;
ἢ χαλκοθώραξ εἴ τινʼ Ἐνυάλιος
μομφὰν ἔχων ξυνοῦ δορὸς ἐννυχίοις
180
μαχαναῖς ἐτείσατο λώβαν;
ant.
1
Χορός
1
οὔποτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερά,
παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
τόσσον ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων· ἥ-
κοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλʼ ἀπερύκοι
185
καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν.
εἰ δʼ ὑποβαλλόμενοι
κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς,
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
μὴ μηκέτʼ, ὦναξ, ὧδʼ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις
190
ὄμμʼ ἔχων κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.
1
οὔποτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερά,
παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας
τόσσον ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων· ἥ-
κοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλʼ ἀπερύκοι
185
καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν.
εἰ δʼ ὑποβαλλόμενοι
κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς,
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
μὴ μηκέτʼ, ὦναξ, ὧδʼ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις
190
ὄμμʼ ἔχων κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.
ep.
Χορός
ἀλλʼ ἄνα ἐξ ἑδράνων
ὅπου μακραίωνι
στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδʼ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ,
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων.
195
ἐχθρῶν δʼ ὕβρις ὧδʼ ἀτάρβητα
ὁρμᾶτʼ ἐν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,
πάντων καχαζόντων
γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
200
ἀλλʼ ἄνα ἐξ ἑδράνων
ὅπου μακραίωνι
στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδʼ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ,
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων.
195
ἐχθρῶν δʼ ὕβρις ὧδʼ ἀτάρβητα
ὁρμᾶτʼ ἐν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,
πάντων καχαζόντων
γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
200
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 172-200 focus
Χορός
ἦ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις—
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ
μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς—
ὥρμασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175
ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,
ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων
ψευσθεῖσʼ, ἀδώροις, εἴτʼ ἐλαφαβολίας;
ἢ χαλκοθώραξ μή τινʼ Ἐνυάλιος
μομφὰν ἔχων ξυνοῦ δορὸς ἐννυχίοις
180
μαχαναῖς ἐτίσατο λώβαν;
ἦ ῥά σε Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις—
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, ὦ
μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς—
ὥρμασε πανδάμους ἐπὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
175
ἦ πού τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν,
ἤ ῥα κλυτῶν ἐνάρων
ψευσθεῖσʼ, ἀδώροις, εἴτʼ ἐλαφαβολίας;
ἢ χαλκοθώραξ μή τινʼ Ἐνυάλιος
μομφὰν ἔχων ξυνοῦ δορὸς ἐννυχίοις
180
μαχαναῖς ἐτίσατο λώβαν;
Χορός
οὔ ποτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερά,
παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας
τόσσον, ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων·
185
ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλʼ ἀπερύκοι
καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν.
εἰ δʼ ὑποβαλλόμενοι
κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
190
μὴ μή, ἄναξ, ἔθʼ ὧδʼ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις
ὄμμʼ ἔχων κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.
οὔ ποτε γὰρ φρενόθεν γʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερά,
παῖ Τελαμῶνος, ἔβας
τόσσον, ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων·
185
ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος· ἀλλʼ ἀπερύκοι
καὶ Ζεὺς κακὰν καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀργείων φάτιν.
εἰ δʼ ὑποβαλλόμενοι
κλέπτουσι μύθους οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς,
190
μὴ μή, ἄναξ, ἔθʼ ὧδʼ ἐφάλοις κλισίαις
ὄμμʼ ἔχων κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.
Χορός
ἀλλʼ ἄνα ἐξ ἑδράνων, ὅπου μακραίωνι
στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδʼ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων.
195
ἐχθρῶν δʼ ὕβρις ὧδʼ ἀτάρβητα
ὁρμᾶται ἐν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,
πάντων καγχαζόντων
γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
200
ἀλλʼ ἄνα ἐξ ἑδράνων, ὅπου μακραίωνι
στηρίζει ποτὲ τᾷδʼ ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων.
195
ἐχθρῶν δʼ ὕβρις ὧδʼ ἀτάρβητα
ὁρμᾶται ἐν εὐανέμοις βάσσαις,
πάντων καγχαζόντων
γλώσσαις βαρυάλγητα·
ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἕστακεν.
200
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 170 focus
CH
Thou may’st prolong thy moan, and be believed,
Thou that hast lately lost so true a friend.
Thou may’st prolong thy moan, and be believed,
Thou that hast lately lost so true a friend.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 172 focus
Trieb dich die Tochter des Zeus, die Vertilgerin,
Artemis, schweres Gerücht, Quelle bitt'rer Schande mir!
Auf unsres Volkes Gut, in die weidenden Rinder,
Wohl wegen eines ohne Dank erkämpften Siegs,
1
175
Sei es um Gaben getäuscht
Von stolzer Rüstung oder um Beuten der Sagd?
Wie? Oder zürnt dir Ares im ehernen Kleid,
Hat, weil mit Undank ihm du die Hülfe gelohnt,
Dich gestraft mit nächtlichem Blendwerk?
180
Gegenstrophe.
Trieb dich die Tochter des Zeus, die Vertilgerin,
Artemis, schweres Gerücht, Quelle bitt'rer Schande mir!
Auf unsres Volkes Gut, in die weidenden Rinder,
Wohl wegen eines ohne Dank erkämpften Siegs,
1
175
Sei es um Gaben getäuscht
Von stolzer Rüstung oder um Beuten der Sagd?
Wie? Oder zürnt dir Ares im ehernen Kleid,
Hat, weil mit Undank ihm du die Hülfe gelohnt,
Dich gestraft mit nächtlichem Blendwerk?
180
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 170 focus
Chorus
961cont2
To thee, O Teucer ! he bequeathed the care
Of his loved child, and thou obeyst him well.
A sight so dreadful. Came I then for this
With luckless speed ? O melancholy journey !
To seek thee long in vain, and thus at last
To find thee dead before me, O my brother !
Quick through the Grecian host, as if some god
Had brought the tidings, spi-ead the dire report
Of thy untimely fate. Far from thee then
1 heard and wept, but now, alas ! I see
Unveil the body ; let me view it well.
And count my miseries. Horrid spectacle !
Oh ! rash advent' rous deed ! What weight of woe
Thy death has laid on me ! Alas ! to whom
Or whither shall I go ? Oh, wherefore, Teucer,
Wert thou not here to stop a brother's hand ?
What will our poor unhappy father say,
The wretched Telamon ? Will he receive me
With looks of love and pleasure, when 1 come
Even in the best of times he was not wont
To smile or joy in aught. What then will now
His anger vent ? Will he not speak of me
As of a faithless, base, unworthy son,
995
The spurious offspring of a captive mother,
995
Who hath betrayed and slain his best-loved Ajax
995
To gain his fair possessions after death ?
995
Thus will his wrath, sharpened by peevish a^e,
995
Upbraid me guiltless ; and to slavery doomed,
995
A wretched exile from his native land,
995
Shall Teucer wander forth. Such dreadful ills
995
Must I expect at home. At Troy my foes
995
Are numerous, and my friends, alas ! how few !
995
What shall I do 1 How can I save thee now
995
From this sad fate 1 Oh ! who could have foreseen
995
That Hector, long since dead, at last should prove
995
I do beseech you, mark the fate of both :
995
Dragged the brave Trojan o'er the blood}^ field
995
Till he expired ; and now, behold ! the sword,
995
The fatal steel, and Pluto made the belt.
995
Dreadful artificer ! JBiLt thiSj_an
995
.Thatjiappens to us, is the woi^ of^ Heaven. ^mmmm^
995
If there be those who doubt it, let them hold -ilS^^i^S"
995
Their diff'ring judgments — I shall keep my own.
995
To thee, O Teucer ! he bequeathed the care
Of his loved child, and thou obeyst him well.
A sight so dreadful. Came I then for this
With luckless speed ? O melancholy journey !
To seek thee long in vain, and thus at last
To find thee dead before me, O my brother !
Quick through the Grecian host, as if some god
Had brought the tidings, spi-ead the dire report
Of thy untimely fate. Far from thee then
1 heard and wept, but now, alas ! I see
Unveil the body ; let me view it well.
And count my miseries. Horrid spectacle !
Oh ! rash advent' rous deed ! What weight of woe
Thy death has laid on me ! Alas ! to whom
Or whither shall I go ? Oh, wherefore, Teucer,
Wert thou not here to stop a brother's hand ?
What will our poor unhappy father say,
The wretched Telamon ? Will he receive me
With looks of love and pleasure, when 1 come
Even in the best of times he was not wont
To smile or joy in aught. What then will now
His anger vent ? Will he not speak of me
As of a faithless, base, unworthy son,
995
The spurious offspring of a captive mother,
995
Who hath betrayed and slain his best-loved Ajax
995
To gain his fair possessions after death ?
995
Thus will his wrath, sharpened by peevish a^e,
995
Upbraid me guiltless ; and to slavery doomed,
995
A wretched exile from his native land,
995
Shall Teucer wander forth. Such dreadful ills
995
Must I expect at home. At Troy my foes
995
Are numerous, and my friends, alas ! how few !
995
What shall I do 1 How can I save thee now
995
From this sad fate 1 Oh ! who could have foreseen
995
That Hector, long since dead, at last should prove
995
I do beseech you, mark the fate of both :
995
Dragged the brave Trojan o'er the blood}^ field
995
Till he expired ; and now, behold ! the sword,
995
The fatal steel, and Pluto made the belt.
995
Dreadful artificer ! JBiLt thiSj_an
995
.Thatjiappens to us, is the woi^ of^ Heaven. ^mmmm^
995
If there be those who doubt it, let them hold -ilS^^i^S"
995
Their diff'ring judgments — I shall keep my own.
995
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 170 focus
Tecmessa
Woe, ruin, desolation close me round.
Woe, ruin, desolation close me round.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 172-200 focus
Chorus
Was it Artemis ruler of bulls, Zeus’s daughter, that drove you, O powerful Rumor, O mother of my shame,
drove you against the herds of all our people? Was she exacting retribution, perhaps, for a victory that had paid her no tribute, whether it was because she had been cheated of the glory of captured arms, or because a stag had been slain without gifts for recompense? Or can the bronze-cuirassed Lord of War
175
have had some cause for anger arising out of an alliance of spears, and taken vengeance for the outrage by contrivance shrouded in night?
180
Was it Artemis ruler of bulls, Zeus’s daughter, that drove you, O powerful Rumor, O mother of my shame,
drove you against the herds of all our people? Was she exacting retribution, perhaps, for a victory that had paid her no tribute, whether it was because she had been cheated of the glory of captured arms, or because a stag had been slain without gifts for recompense? Or can the bronze-cuirassed Lord of War
175
have had some cause for anger arising out of an alliance of spears, and taken vengeance for the outrage by contrivance shrouded in night?
180
Chorus
For never of your own heart alone, son of Telamon, would you have gone so far down the sinister path
as to fall upon the flocks. When the gods send madness, it cannot but reach its target, but may Zeus and Phoebus avert the evil rumor of the Greeks!
And if it is the great kings who slander you with their furtive stories,
185
or if it is he born of the abject line of Sisyphus, do not, my king, do not win me an evil name by keeping your face still hidden in the tent by the sea.
190
For never of your own heart alone, son of Telamon, would you have gone so far down the sinister path
as to fall upon the flocks. When the gods send madness, it cannot but reach its target, but may Zeus and Phoebus avert the evil rumor of the Greeks!
And if it is the great kings who slander you with their furtive stories,
185
And if it is the great kings who slander you with their furtive stories,
or if it is he born of the abject line of Sisyphus, do not, my king, do not win me an evil name by keeping your face still hidden in the tent by the sea.
190
Chorus
Come now, up from your seat, wherever you are settled in this long-lived pause from battle
and are making the flame of disaster blaze up to the sky! The violent insolence of your enemies rushes fearlessly about in the breezy glens, while the tongues of all the army cackle out a load of grief.
195
For me, sorrow stands firmly planted.
200
Come now, up from your seat, wherever you are settled in this long-lived pause from battle
and are making the flame of disaster blaze up to the sky! The violent insolence of your enemies rushes fearlessly about in the breezy glens, while the tongues of all the army cackle out a load of grief.
195
For me, sorrow stands firmly planted.
200
Commentary
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
134-200. mvp-comment-100-1 The first part of the parodos consists of six anapaestic systems (ll. 134-171), during the recitation of which the Chorus pace to and fro in the orchestra, before the tent of Ajax. This long-continued movement, which betokens the restless anxiety of the mariners for their prince, also strikes a note in harmony with the feelings of the spectator, to whom the horror that is going on within has already been revealed. He knows that their dreadful apprehensions are only too true. It is followed by a strophe, antistrophe, and epode (ll. 172-200), which mark the climax of their agitation before the entrance of Tecmessa.
170. mvp-comment-124-1 τάχ᾿ ἄν] 'Soon would they.'