θανάτῳ γὰρ ἴσον
πάθος
πάθος
βάρος ἐκπεύσει.
215
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.) — 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)) — 215 focus
MEN
Honour forbids to yield my foe a tomb.
Honour forbids to yield my foe a tomb.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 221 focus
Ha, welchen Ruf offenbarst du, Frau, von dem grimmigen Mann,
Ha, schrecklich, unentrinnbar!
Ruchtbar gemacht von den Fürsten des Danaerheers,
220
Mehrt ihn die stets wachsende Sage.
Bang ahn' ich, bang, was mir herannaht! Vor den Augen Aller
Erschlägt ihn auch die wahnsinnige Hand, die eben
Mit bluttriefendem Stahle die Heerden mordet' und die Hirten.
Ha, welchen Ruf offenbarst du, Frau, von dem grimmigen Mann,
Ha, schrecklich, unentrinnbar!
Ruchtbar gemacht von den Fürsten des Danaerheers,
220
Mehrt ihn die stets wachsende Sage.
Bang ahn' ich, bang, was mir herannaht! Vor den Augen Aller
Erschlägt ihn auch die wahnsinnige Hand, die eben
Mit bluttriefendem Stahle die Heerden mordet' und die Hirten.
Tekmessa.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 215 focus
Agamemnon
Hast dared to utter foulest calumny
Against thy prince, and passed unpunished for it ;
Mean as thy birth is, what liad been thy pride
And high demeanour had thy mother sprung
From noble l)lood ? Barbarian as thou art,
How couldst thou praise a wretch, who, lilte thyself,
Was nothing ? We, it seems, for thou hast sworn it,
Are not the masters or of Greece or thee ;
Shall we be thus insulted by our slaves?
Who is this boaster ? and what mighty deed
1240
Hath he performed which I could not have done ?
Is there no hero in the Grecian host
Hast dared to utter foulest calumny
Against thy prince, and passed unpunished for it ;
Mean as thy birth is, what liad been thy pride
And high demeanour had thy mother sprung
From noble l)lood ? Barbarian as thou art,
How couldst thou praise a wretch, who, lilte thyself,
Was nothing ? We, it seems, for thou hast sworn it,
Are not the masters or of Greece or thee ;
Shall we be thus insulted by our slaves?
Who is this boaster ? and what mighty deed
1240
Hath he performed which I could not have done ?
Is there no hero in the Grecian host
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 215 focus
Teucer
But say, what cause canst thou for this assign?
Is there not cause? From Salamis we hoped
That we should bring him an ally to Greece,
And faithful friend; but found him, put to proof,
More hostile than the Phrygians; for he plann'd
His bloody purpose to assault by night,
And spread destruction with his raging sword
Through all the army: and if this attempt
Some god had not defeated, we had found
The fate now fall'n on him; we had been slain,
In blood with horror roll'd, and he had lived.
He gave the Greek. The gen'rous Greek bestow'd
A radiant belt that rich with purple glow'd...
But now some god from us his hostile rage
Averted, or the flocks and herds to fall.,
For this just cause there is no man that breathes
So potent as to entomb this corse with rites
Of sepulture; but on the weed-clad sand
To all the birds that scream along the shorel
It shall be cast a prey. Nay, do not swell
With rude and boisterous arrogance: alive,
If he disdain'd our pow'r, we will at least
Command him dead, nor ask thy leave, but force
Shall ratify our will; for whilst he lived
My mandates never would his pride obey."
It is the mark of a malignant mind,
When one, not raised above the common rank,
Scorns to obey his rulers. In a state.
Never can laws be well enforced, where fear
Supports not their appointment; and an host
In arms o'erleaps the modest bounds of rule,
By fear and reverence to their Chiefs_unawed.
And it behoves a man, though large his limbs
And vast his strength, to think that he may fall
E'en by a petty ill. But know thou this,...!
Where modesty and fear unite, they bring
Protection; but licentious arrogance,
That gives full sail to its intemperate. will,"
Shall sink the state, though proudly for awhile
She rides before a fair and favouring gale.
Fear then should know its place: nor let us think
That as our wild wills urge us if we act,
We shall not suffer just returns of ill :
These have their course alternate. In times past
Hi insolence flamed high; I triumph now,
And charge thee not to inter him, lest perchance
Entombing him thou sink into the tomb.
But say, what cause canst thou for this assign?
Is there not cause? From Salamis we hoped
That we should bring him an ally to Greece,
And faithful friend; but found him, put to proof,
More hostile than the Phrygians; for he plann'd
His bloody purpose to assault by night,
And spread destruction with his raging sword
Through all the army: and if this attempt
Some god had not defeated, we had found
The fate now fall'n on him; we had been slain,
In blood with horror roll'd, and he had lived.
He gave the Greek. The gen'rous Greek bestow'd
A radiant belt that rich with purple glow'd...
But now some god from us his hostile rage
Averted, or the flocks and herds to fall.,
For this just cause there is no man that breathes
So potent as to entomb this corse with rites
Of sepulture; but on the weed-clad sand
To all the birds that scream along the shorel
It shall be cast a prey. Nay, do not swell
With rude and boisterous arrogance: alive,
If he disdain'd our pow'r, we will at least
Command him dead, nor ask thy leave, but force
Shall ratify our will; for whilst he lived
My mandates never would his pride obey."
It is the mark of a malignant mind,
When one, not raised above the common rank,
Scorns to obey his rulers. In a state.
Never can laws be well enforced, where fear
Supports not their appointment; and an host
In arms o'erleaps the modest bounds of rule,
By fear and reverence to their Chiefs_unawed.
And it behoves a man, though large his limbs
And vast his strength, to think that he may fall
E'en by a petty ill. But know thou this,...!
Where modesty and fear unite, they bring
Protection; but licentious arrogance,
That gives full sail to its intemperate. will,"
Shall sink the state, though proudly for awhile
She rides before a fair and favouring gale.
Fear then should know its place: nor let us think
That as our wild wills urge us if we act,
We shall not suffer just returns of ill :
These have their course alternate. In times past
Hi insolence flamed high; I triumph now,
And charge thee not to inter him, lest perchance
Entombing him thou sink into the tomb.
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 (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
215. mvp-comment-161-1 πάθος, as the appropriate word, is preferable to βάρος, which may have slipped in in from supr. 209.