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δουριάλωτον
δοριάλωτον
δορυάλωτον
Ajax. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
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Editions (3)
Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 215-257 focus
ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ
Πῶς δῆτα λέγω λόγον ἄῤῥητον;
215
215
θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον πάθος ἐκπεύσει.
μανίᾳ γὰρ ἁλοὺς ἧμιν ὁ κλεινὸς
νύκτερος Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη.
τοιαῦτ’ ἂν ἴδοις σκηνῆς ἔνδον
χειροδάικτα σφάγι’ αίμοβαφῆ,
220
220
κείνου χρηστήρια τἀνδρός.
Πῶς δῆτα λέγω λόγον ἄῤῥητον;
215
215
θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον πάθος ἐκπεύσει.
μανίᾳ γὰρ ἁλοὺς ἧμιν ὁ κλεινὸς
νύκτερος Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη.
τοιαῦτ’ ἂν ἴδοις σκηνῆς ἔνδον
χειροδάικτα σφάγι’ αίμοβαφῆ,
220
220
κείνου χρηστήρια τἀνδρός.
str.
ΧΟΡΟΣ
1
Οἵαν ἐδήλωσας ἀνδρὸς
αἴθοπος ἀγγελίαν,
ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτὰν,
τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ὕπο κλῃζομέναν,
225
225
τὰν ὁ μέγας μῦθος ἀέξει.
Οἴ μοι, φοβοῦμαι τὸ προςἐρπον· περίφαντος ἀνὴρ
230
θανεῖται, παραπλήκτῳ χερὶ συγκατακτὰς
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν βοτὰ καὶ
βοτῆρας ἱππονώμους.
230
1
Οἵαν ἐδήλωσας ἀνδρὸς
αἴθοπος ἀγγελίαν,
ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτὰν,
τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ὕπο κλῃζομέναν,
225
225
τὰν ὁ μέγας μῦθος ἀέξει.
Οἴ μοι, φοβοῦμαι τὸ προςἐρπον· περίφαντος ἀνὴρ
230
θανεῖται, παραπλήκτῳ χερὶ συγκατακτὰς
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν βοτὰ καὶ
βοτῆρας ἱππονώμους.
230
ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ
ὦ μοι, κεῖθεν, κεῖθεν ἄρ’ ἡμῖν
δεσμῶτιν ἄγων ἤλυθε ποίμναν·
235
ὧν τὴν μὲν ἔσω σφάζ’ ἐπὶ γαίας,
τὰ δέ πλευροκοπῶν διχ’ ἀνερρήγνυ.
δύο δ’ ἀργίποδας κριοὺς ἀνελὼν
235
τοῦ μὲν κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν
ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας, τὸν δ’ ὀρθὸν ἄνω
240
κίονι δήσας
μέγαν ίπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα λαβὼν
παίει λιγυρᾷ μάστιγι διπλῆ,
240
κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθ’, ἃ δαίμων
κοὐδεὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐδίδαξεν.
ὦ μοι, κεῖθεν, κεῖθεν ἄρ’ ἡμῖν
δεσμῶτιν ἄγων ἤλυθε ποίμναν·
235
ὧν τὴν μὲν ἔσω σφάζ’ ἐπὶ γαίας,
τὰ δέ πλευροκοπῶν διχ’ ἀνερρήγνυ.
δύο δ’ ἀργίποδας κριοὺς ἀνελὼν
235
τοῦ μὲν κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν
ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας, τὸν δ’ ὀρθὸν ἄνω
240
κίονι δήσας
μέγαν ίπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα λαβὼν
παίει λιγυρᾷ μάστιγι διπλῆ,
240
κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθ’, ἃ δαίμων
κοὐδεὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐδίδαξεν.
ant.
ΧΟΡΟΣ
1
245
Ὥρα τιν’ ἤδη κάρα κα-
λύμμασι κρυψάμενον
ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι,
245
ἢ θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον
250
ποντοπόρῳ ναὶ μεθεῖναι.
τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλὰς δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι
καθ’ ἡμῶν· πεφόβημαι λιθόλευστον Ἄρη
255
ξυναλγεῖν μετά τοῦδε τυπεὶς,
250
τὸν αἶσ’ ἄπλατος ἴσχει.
1
245
Ὥρα τιν’ ἤδη κάρα κα-
λύμμασι κρυψάμενον
ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι,
245
ἢ θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον
250
ποντοπόρῳ ναὶ μεθεῖναι.
τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλὰς δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι
καθ’ ἡμῶν· πεφόβημαι λιθόλευστον Ἄρη
255
ξυναλγεῖν μετά τοῦδε τυπεὶς,
250
τὸν αἶσ’ ἄπλατος ἴσχει.
ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ
Οὐκ ἔτι· λαμπρᾶς γὰρ ἄτερ στεροπᾶς
ᾄξας ὀξὺς νότος ὣς, λήγει.
καὶ νῦν φρόνιμος νέον ἄλγος ἔχει.
260
τὸ γὰρ ὲςλεύσσειν οἰκεῖα πάθη,
255
μηδενὸς ἄλλου παραπράξαντος
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει.
Οὐκ ἔτι· λαμπρᾶς γὰρ ἄτερ στεροπᾶς
ᾄξας ὀξὺς νότος ὣς, λήγει.
καὶ νῦν φρόνιμος νέον ἄλγος ἔχει.
260
τὸ γὰρ ὲςλεύσσειν οἰκεῖα πάθη,
255
μηδενὸς ἄλλου παραπράξαντος
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει.
Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 214-262 focus
Τέκμησσα
πῶς δῆτα λέγω λόγον ἄρρητον;
θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον πάθος ἐκπεύσῃ.
215
μανίᾳ γὰρ ἁλοὺς ἡμὶν ὁ κλεινὸς
νύκτερος Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη.
τοιαῦτʼ ἂν ἴδοις σκηνῆς ἔνδον
χειροδάικτα σφάγιʼ αἱμοβαφῆ,
κείνου χρηστήρια τἀνδρός.
220
πῶς δῆτα λέγω λόγον ἄρρητον;
θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον πάθος ἐκπεύσῃ.
215
μανίᾳ γὰρ ἁλοὺς ἡμὶν ὁ κλεινὸς
νύκτερος Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη.
τοιαῦτʼ ἂν ἴδοις σκηνῆς ἔνδον
χειροδάικτα σφάγιʼ αἱμοβαφῆ,
κείνου χρηστήρια τἀνδρός.
220
str.
Χορός
οἵαν ἐδήλωσας ἀνδρὸς αἴθονος
ἀγγελίαν ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτάν,
τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ὕπο κλῃζομέναν,
225
τὰν ὁ μέγας μῦθος ἀέξει.
οἴμοι φοβοῦμαι τὸ προσέρ-
πον. περίφαντος ἁνὴρ
θανεῖται, παραπλάκτῳ
χερὶ συγκατακτὰς
230
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν βοτὰ καὶ
βοτῆρας ἱππονώμας ποίμναν·
οἵαν ἐδήλωσας ἀνδρὸς αἴθονος
ἀγγελίαν ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτάν,
τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ὕπο κλῃζομέναν,
225
τὰν ὁ μέγας μῦθος ἀέξει.
οἴμοι φοβοῦμαι τὸ προσέρ-
πον. περίφαντος ἁνὴρ
θανεῖται, παραπλάκτῳ
χερὶ συγκατακτὰς
230
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν βοτὰ καὶ
βοτῆρας ἱππονώμας ποίμναν·
Τέκμησσα
ὤμοι· κεῖθεν κεῖθεν ἄρʼ ἡμῖν
δεσμῶτιν ἄγων ἤλυθε ποίμναν·
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
ὧν τὰ μὲν εἴσω σφάζʼ ἐπὶ γαίας,
235
τὰ δὲ πλευροκοπῶν δίχʼ ἀνερρήγνυ.
δύο δʼ ἀργίποδας κριοὺς ἀνελὼν
τοῦ μὲν κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν
ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας, τὸν δʼ ὀρθὸν ἄνω
κίονι δήσας
240
μέγαν ἱπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα λαβὼν
παίει λιγυρᾷ μάστιγι διπλῇ,
κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθʼ, ἃ δαίμων
κοὐδεὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐδίδαξεν.
ὤμοι· κεῖθεν κεῖθεν ἄρʼ ἡμῖν
δεσμῶτιν ἄγων ἤλυθε ποίμναν·
ὧν τὰ μὲν εἴσω σφάζʼ ἐπὶ γαίας,
235
τὰ δὲ πλευροκοπῶν δίχʼ ἀνερρήγνυ.
δύο δʼ ἀργίποδας κριοὺς ἀνελὼν
τοῦ μὲν κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν
ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας, τὸν δʼ ὀρθὸν ἄνω
κίονι δήσας
240
μέγαν ἱπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα λαβὼν
παίει λιγυρᾷ μάστιγι διπλῇ,
κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθʼ, ἃ δαίμων
κοὐδεὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐδίδαξεν.
ant.
Χορός
ὥρα τινʼ ἤδη κάρα καλύμμασι
245
κρυψάμενον ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι,
ἢ θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον
ποντοπόρῳ ναῒ μεθεῖναι.
250
τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπει-
λὰς δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι
καθʼ ἡμῶν· πεφόβημαι
λιθόλευστον Ἄρη
ξυναλγεῖν μετὰ τοῦδε τυπείς,
255
τὸν αἶσʼ ἄπλατος ἴσχει.
ὥρα τινʼ ἤδη κάρα καλύμμασι
245
κρυψάμενον ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι,
ἢ θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον
ποντοπόρῳ ναῒ μεθεῖναι.
250
τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπει-
λὰς δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι
καθʼ ἡμῶν· πεφόβημαι
λιθόλευστον Ἄρη
ξυναλγεῖν μετὰ τοῦδε τυπείς,
255
τὸν αἶσʼ ἄπλατος ἴσχει.
Τέκμησσα
οὐκέτι· λαμπρᾶς γὰρ ἄτερ στεροπᾶς
ᾄξας ὀξὺς νότος ὣς λήγει,
καὶ νῦν φρόνιμος νέον ἄλγος ἔχει·
τὸ γὰρ ἐσλεύσσειν οἰκεῖα πάθη,
260
μηδενὸς ἄλλου παραπράξαντος,
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει.
οὐκέτι· λαμπρᾶς γὰρ ἄτερ στεροπᾶς
ᾄξας ὀξὺς νότος ὣς λήγει,
καὶ νῦν φρόνιμος νέον ἄλγος ἔχει·
τὸ γὰρ ἐσλεύσσειν οἰκεῖα πάθη,
260
μηδενὸς ἄλλου παραπράξαντος,
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει.
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 214-262 focus
Τέκμησσα
πῶς δῆτα λέγω λόγον ἄρρητον;
θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον βάρος ἐκπεύσει.
215
μανίᾳ γὰρ ἁλοὺς ἡμὶν ὁ κλεινὸς
νύκτερος Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη.
τοιαῦτʼ ἂν ἴδοις σκηνῆς ἔνδον
χειροδάϊκτα σφάγιʼ αἱμοβαφῆ,
κείνου χρηστήρια τἀνδρός.
220
πῶς δῆτα λέγω λόγον ἄρρητον;
θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον βάρος ἐκπεύσει.
215
μανίᾳ γὰρ ἁλοὺς ἡμὶν ὁ κλεινὸς
νύκτερος Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη.
τοιαῦτʼ ἂν ἴδοις σκηνῆς ἔνδον
χειροδάϊκτα σφάγιʼ αἱμοβαφῆ,
κείνου χρηστήρια τἀνδρός.
220
Χορός
οἵαν ἐδήλωσας ἀνέρος αἴθονος
ἀγγελίαν ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτάν,
τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ὕπο κλῃζομέναν,
225
τὰν ὁ μέγας μῦθος ἀέξει.
οἴμοι φοβοῦμαι τὸ προσέρπον· περίφαντος ἁνὴρ
θανεῖται, παραπλάκτῳ χερὶ συγκατακτὰς
230
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν βοτὰ καὶ βοτῆρας ἱππονώμας.
οἵαν ἐδήλωσας ἀνέρος αἴθονος
ἀγγελίαν ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτάν,
τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ὕπο κλῃζομέναν,
225
τὰν ὁ μέγας μῦθος ἀέξει.
οἴμοι φοβοῦμαι τὸ προσέρπον· περίφαντος ἁνὴρ
θανεῖται, παραπλάκτῳ χερὶ συγκατακτὰς
230
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν βοτὰ καὶ βοτῆρας ἱππονώμας.
Τέκμησσα
ὤμοι· κεῖθεν κεῖθεν ἄρʼ ἡμῖν
δεσμῶτιν ἄγων ἤλυθε ποίμνην·
ὧν τὴν μὲν ἔσω σφάζʼ ἐπὶ γαίας,
235
τὰ δὲ πλευροκοπῶν δίχʼ ἀνερρήγνυ.
δύο δʼ ἀργίποδας κριοὺς ἀνελὼν
τοῦ μὲν κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν
ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας, τὸν δʼ ὀρθὸν ἄνω
κίονι δήσας
240
μέγαν ἱπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα λαβὼν
παίει λιγυρᾷ μάστιγι διπλῇ,
κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθʼ, ἃ δαίμων
κοὐδεὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐδίδαξεν.
ὤμοι· κεῖθεν κεῖθεν ἄρʼ ἡμῖν
δεσμῶτιν ἄγων ἤλυθε ποίμνην·
ὧν τὴν μὲν ἔσω σφάζʼ ἐπὶ γαίας,
235
τὰ δὲ πλευροκοπῶν δίχʼ ἀνερρήγνυ.
δύο δʼ ἀργίποδας κριοὺς ἀνελὼν
τοῦ μὲν κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν
ῥιπτεῖ θερίσας, τὸν δʼ ὀρθὸν ἄνω
κίονι δήσας
240
μέγαν ἱπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα λαβὼν
παίει λιγυρᾷ μάστιγι διπλῇ,
κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθʼ, ἃ δαίμων
κοὐδεὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐδίδαξεν.
Χορός
ὥρα τινʼ ἤδη τοι κρᾶτα καλύμμασι
245
κρυψάμενον ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι
ἢ θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον
ποντοπόρῳ ναῒ μεθεῖναι.
250
τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλὰς δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι
καθʼ ἡμῶν· πεφόβημαι λιθόλευστον Ἄρη
ξυναλγεῖν μετὰ τοῦδε τυπείς, τὸν αἶσʼ ἄπλατος ἴσχει.
255
ὥρα τινʼ ἤδη τοι κρᾶτα καλύμμασι
245
κρυψάμενον ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι
ἢ θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον
ποντοπόρῳ ναῒ μεθεῖναι.
250
τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλὰς δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι
καθʼ ἡμῶν· πεφόβημαι λιθόλευστον Ἄρη
ξυναλγεῖν μετὰ τοῦδε τυπείς, τὸν αἶσʼ ἄπλατος ἴσχει.
255
Τέκμησσα
οὐκέτι· λαμπρᾶς γὰρ ἄτερ στεροπῆς
ᾄξας ὀξὺς νότος ὣς λήγει,
καὶ νῦν φρόνιμος νέον ἄλγος ἔχει·
τὸ γὰρ ἐσλεύσσειν οἰκεῖα πάθη,
260
μηδενὸς ἄλλου παραπράξαντος,
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει.
οὐκέτι· λαμπρᾶς γὰρ ἄτερ στεροπῆς
ᾄξας ὀξὺς νότος ὣς λήγει,
καὶ νῦν φρόνιμος νέον ἄλγος ἔχει·
τὸ γὰρ ἐσλεύσσειν οἰκεῖα πάθη,
260
μηδενὸς ἄλλου παραπράξαντος,
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 211 focus
MEN
Yea, through Heaven’s mercy. By his will, I am dead.
Yea, through Heaven’s mercy. By his will, I am dead.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 201 focus
Ihr Führer von Ajas' Schiffe, gezeugt
Aus Erechtheus' Stamm, den die Erde gebar!
1
Wohl jammern wir laut, wir, liebend und treu
200
Um Telamons Haus in der Ferne besorgt;
Denn Ajas, der Held, groß, riesiger Kraft,
Liegt niedergebeugt
Von dem Sturm wildwühlenden Wahnsinns.
Ihr Führer von Ajas' Schiffe, gezeugt
Aus Erechtheus' Stamm, den die Erde gebar!
1
Wohl jammern wir laut, wir, liebend und treu
200
Um Telamons Haus in der Ferne besorgt;
Denn Ajas, der Held, groß, riesiger Kraft,
Liegt niedergebeugt
Von dem Sturm wildwühlenden Wahnsinns.
Der Chor.
Wie hat sich des Tages Geschick in der Nacht
205
So bitter gewandt?
O sage, des Phrygers Teleutas Kind!
Du, welche der Held mit dem Speer sich errang,
Zur Geliebten erkor, du kannst es gewiß,
Dir ist es bekannt, mir verkünden.
210
Wie hat sich des Tages Geschick in der Nacht
205
So bitter gewandt?
O sage, des Phrygers Teleutas Kind!
Du, welche der Held mit dem Speer sich errang,
Zur Geliebten erkor, du kannst es gewiß,
Dir ist es bekannt, mir verkünden.
210
Tekmessa.
Wie sprech' ich es aus, das unsägliche Wort?
Ihr vernehmet ein Schicksal, schwer wie der Tod.
Denn in Rasen verfiel uns Ajas, der Held,
Hat nächtlich (o Graun!) mit Schmach sich befleckt.
So könnt ihr es anschau'n, drinnen im Zelt
215
Von den Händen zerfleischt und gebadet in Blut,
Die geschlachteten Opfer des Mannes.
Strophe.
Wie sprech' ich es aus, das unsägliche Wort?
Ihr vernehmet ein Schicksal, schwer wie der Tod.
Denn in Rasen verfiel uns Ajas, der Held,
Hat nächtlich (o Graun!) mit Schmach sich befleckt.
So könnt ihr es anschau'n, drinnen im Zelt
215
Von den Händen zerfleischt und gebadet in Blut,
Die geschlachteten Opfer des Mannes.
Der Chor.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 211 focus
Teucer
Scene VII.
Come hither, boy, bend down and touch thy
father ;
There sit, and, liolding in thy hands this hair
And liers and thine, the suppHant's humble treasure,
Offer thy pious prayers for thy dead father :
If from yon hostile camp the foe should come
1275
'J'o drive thee hence, far from his native land,
1275
Whoe'er he be, unburied may he lie.
1275
From his whole lace uprooted, torn away,
1275
E'en as this hair which here I cut before thee ;
Oh ! guard it well, my child ; and you my friends.
Behave like men — assist, protect him now,
Till I return, and, spite of all our foes,
Perform the rites, niid raise a tomb to Ajax. [Eocif.
Tecjiessa, Eurysaces, Chorus.
When will the happy hour appear,
That comes to calm our every fear,
From endless toil to bring us sweet repose.
To bid our weary wanderings cease.
To fold us in the arms of peace.
And put the wished-for period to our woes 1
For since the day when first to Troy we came
Nought have we known but grief, reproach, and
shame.
Oh ! that the man, who erst inspired
With honud rage, our Grecians fired
To slaught'rous deeds, and taught them first to fight,
Ere he had learned the dreadful trade,
1280
Himself had mingled with the dead,
1280
Or scattered wide in air, or sunk in endless night !
1280
For oh ! from war unnumbered e\'ils flow,
1280
The unexhausted source of every human woe.
By war disturbed, the genial board
No longer will its sweets aflbrd ;
Their fragrant odoui's round my head
The verdant wreaths no longer spread ;
Nor music's charms my soul delight,
Nor love with rapture crowns the night ;
No love, alas ! for me, but grief and care ;
For when I think of Troy I still despair,
And wet with many a tear my wild dishevelled hair.
Nor nightly fear nor hostile dart;
But all our pleasures now are o'er,
Oh ! could I climb the woody steep
That hangs incumbent o'er the deep.
From Sunium's cliff by waves for ever beat.
Then should my eye the lovely prospect greet,
And smile on sacred Athens rising at my feet.
Come hither, boy, bend down and touch thy
father ;
There sit, and, liolding in thy hands this hair
And liers and thine, the suppHant's humble treasure,
Offer thy pious prayers for thy dead father :
If from yon hostile camp the foe should come
1275
'J'o drive thee hence, far from his native land,
1275
Whoe'er he be, unburied may he lie.
1275
From his whole lace uprooted, torn away,
1275
E'en as this hair which here I cut before thee ;
Oh ! guard it well, my child ; and you my friends.
Behave like men — assist, protect him now,
Till I return, and, spite of all our foes,
Perform the rites, niid raise a tomb to Ajax. [Eocif.
Tecjiessa, Eurysaces, Chorus.
When will the happy hour appear,
That comes to calm our every fear,
From endless toil to bring us sweet repose.
To bid our weary wanderings cease.
To fold us in the arms of peace.
And put the wished-for period to our woes 1
For since the day when first to Troy we came
Nought have we known but grief, reproach, and
shame.
Oh ! that the man, who erst inspired
With honud rage, our Grecians fired
To slaught'rous deeds, and taught them first to fight,
Ere he had learned the dreadful trade,
1280
Himself had mingled with the dead,
1280
Or scattered wide in air, or sunk in endless night !
1280
For oh ! from war unnumbered e\'ils flow,
1280
The unexhausted source of every human woe.
By war disturbed, the genial board
No longer will its sweets aflbrd ;
Their fragrant odoui's round my head
The verdant wreaths no longer spread ;
Nor music's charms my soul delight,
Nor love with rapture crowns the night ;
No love, alas ! for me, but grief and care ;
For when I think of Troy I still despair,
And wet with many a tear my wild dishevelled hair.
Nor nightly fear nor hostile dart;
But all our pleasures now are o'er,
Oh ! could I climb the woody steep
That hangs incumbent o'er the deep.
From Sunium's cliff by waves for ever beat.
Then should my eye the lovely prospect greet,
And smile on sacred Athens rising at my feet.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 211 focus
Teucer
I see him near, now easy to be known...
I see him near, now easy to be known...
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 214-260 focus
Tecmessa
Oh, how am I to tell a tale too terrible for words?
Grave as death is the suffering which you will hear. By madness our glorious Ajax was seized in the night, and he has been subjected to utter disgrace. All this you may see inside his dwelling—butchered victims bathed in blood,
215
sacrifices of no hand but his.
220
Oh, how am I to tell a tale too terrible for words?
Grave as death is the suffering which you will hear. By madness our glorious Ajax was seized in the night, and he has been subjected to utter disgrace. All this you may see inside his dwelling—butchered victims bathed in blood,
215
sacrifices of no hand but his.
220
Chorus
What report of the fiery warrior have you revealed to us, unbearable, nor yet escapable—
a report which the great Danaans propound, which their powerful storytelling spreads! Ah, me, I shudder at the future’s advancing step. In public view the man will die
225
because the dark sword in his frenzied hand massacred the herds and the horse-guiding herdsmen.
230
What report of the fiery warrior have you revealed to us, unbearable, nor yet escapable—
a report which the great Danaans propound, which their powerful storytelling spreads! Ah, me, I shudder at the future’s advancing step. In public view the man will die
225
because the dark sword in his frenzied hand massacred the herds and the horse-guiding herdsmen.
230
Tecmessa
Ah! Then it was from there, from there that he came to me with his captive flock!
Of part, he cut the throats on the floor inside; some, striking their sides, he tore asunder. Then he caught up two white-footed rams and sheared off the head of one and its tongue-tip, and flung them away;
235
the other he bound upright to a pillar, and seizing a heavy strap from a horse’s harness he flogged it with a whistling, doubled lash, while he cursed it with awful imprecations which a god, and no mortal, had taught him.
240
Ah! Then it was from there, from there that he came to me with his captive flock!
Of part, he cut the throats on the floor inside; some, striking their sides, he tore asunder. Then he caught up two white-footed rams and sheared off the head of one and its tongue-tip, and flung them away;
235
the other he bound upright to a pillar, and seizing a heavy strap from a horse’s harness he flogged it with a whistling, doubled lash, while he cursed it with awful imprecations which a god, and no mortal, had taught him.
240
Chorus
The time has come for each of us to veil his head and steal away on foot, or to sit and take on the swift yoke of rowing,
245
giving her way to the sea-faring ship. So angry are the threats which the brother-kings, the sons of Atreus, speed against us! I fear to share in bitter death beneath an onslaught of stones,
250
crushed at this man’s side, whom an untouchable fate holds in its grasp.
255
The time has come for each of us to veil his head and steal away on foot, or to sit and take on the swift yoke of rowing,
245
giving her way to the sea-faring ship. So angry are the threats which the brother-kings, the sons of Atreus, speed against us! I fear to share in bitter death beneath an onslaught of stones,
250
crushed at this man’s side, whom an untouchable fate holds in its grasp.
255
Tecmessa
It grips him no longer. For like a southerly wind after it has started up sharply without bright lightning he grows calm. And now in his right mind he has new pain.
To look on self-made suffering, when no other has had a hand in it—this induces sharp pains.
260
It grips him no longer. For like a southerly wind after it has started up sharply without bright lightning he grows calm. And now in his right mind he has new pain.
To look on self-made suffering, when no other has had a hand in it—this induces sharp pains.
260
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
211. mvp-comment-158-1 λέχος δουριάλωτον] ' In a spear-won marriage.' λέχος cogn. acc.