Ajax. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
Current edition Experimental
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (3)
Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 172-201 focus
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.
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.
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.
Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 172-200 focus
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;
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.
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
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;
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.
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
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 99 focus
AI
My praise she shall not miss, if she perform
My bidding with firm heart, and fail not here.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 101 focus
Gut; welches Schicksal aber traf Laertes' Sohn?
Was thatst du diesem? Oder ist er dir entfloh'n?
Ajas.
Nach jenem schlau durchtriebnen Fuchse fragst du mich?
Athene.
Ja wohl; Odysseus mein' ich, der dein Gegner iſt.
Ajas.
Der sizt, o Herrin, drinnen, gar ein süßer Fang,
105
Gebunden: sterben soll er mir noch nicht so schnell.
Athene.
Was willst du schaffen, was gewinnen noch zuvor?
Ajas.
Ich will ihn fesseln an die Säul' in meinem Zelt -
Athene.
Und welches Uebel willst du da dem Armen thun?
Ajas.
Vom Geißeln roth den Rücken, soll er sterben dort!
110
Athene.
nicht so grausam schalte mit dem armen Mann!
Ajas.
Gern' stell' ich alles Andre dir, o Pallas, heim;
Doch also büßt der seine Schuld, und anders nicht!
Athene.
Nun, wenn du Wohlgefallen hast an solchem Thun,
Brauch deinen Arm, thu' Alles, wie du's ausgedacht!
115
Ajas.
Ich geh' an's Werk, doch Eines bitt' ich noch von dir:
Wie heute, sei mir allezeit hülfreich gesellt!
Athene. Odysseus.
(ab in das Zelt.)
Athene.
Du siehst, Odysseus, wie der Götter Macht so groß:
Wer ward erfunden weiser einst, als dieser Mann,
Volführte besser, was der Augenblick gebot?
120
Odysseus.
Ich wüßte keinen Andern, und mich jammert sein,
Des Armen, ob mich feindlich auch sein Haß verfolgt,
Daß ihn die grausam herbe Noth gebunden hält.
Denn mehr auf ihn nicht schau' ich, als auf mein Geschick.
Wir alle, die wir leben, sind nichts Anderes,
125
Als Scheingestalten, als ein flüchtig Schattenbild.
Athene.
Auf solches achtend, rede denn niemals ein Wort
Des Uebermuthes wider uns Unsterbliche,
Noch blähe dich voll Dünkel, wenn du mehr an Kraft,
An goldnen Schäzen mehr gewannst als Andere.
130
Ein kurzer Tag senkt nieder alles Menschenwerk,
Und hebt es wieder; aber nur dem frommen Mann
Sind hold die Götter, und den Bösen hassen sie.
(Athene verschwindet; Odysseus geht ab; der Chor tritt auf.)
Der Chor.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 99 focus
Tecmessa
Alas ! my lord.
585
What wilt thou do ?
585
Be silent, and be wise ; it will become thee.
585
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 99 focus
Ajax
430
Ah me! what heart could e'er conceive the thought
430
That Misery and Ajax should be found
430
So near allied! My very name conveys
430
The sound of woe, connected with such ills.
430
My father, 'midst the martial host of Greece
430
First in renown, and for his noble deeds
430
Graced with the prize of honour, to his house
430
Bore from this land of Ida all that arms
430
Could give of glorious boast. But I his son,
430
To the same fields of Troy with no less strength
430
Advancing, deeds as noble by my hands
430
Achieved, dishonour'd by the Argives lie,
430
And perish thus. Yet well am I assured
430
If now Achilles lived t' adjudge his arms.s
430
The prize of valour and exalted worth,
430
No man would take them from me: but the sons
430
Of Atreus, slighting my illustrious deeds,
430
Assign them to a wretch expert in wiles.
430
Had not my cheated eye, had not my sense
430
Perverted led me from my purpose wide,
430
Such judgment never had they giv'n again.
430
But now the dauntless goddess sprung from Jove,
430
Bearing the terrors of her gorgon shield,
430
E'en when my hand was raised against them, spread
430
Illusion round me, and my sensé disturb'd
430
With frenzy, that amidst the herds I stain'd
430
My hands with blood, whilst they, against my will
430
Escaped, deride me. If th' immortal gods
430
Oppose him, e'en the dastard shall escape...
430
The brave man's vengeance. Me what now behoves?
430
'Gainst me the hatred of the gods is shown,
430
The Grecian camp abhors me, and all Troy
430
Is hostile to me, and these fields around.
430
Shall I then quit this naval station, leave
430
The sons of Atreus, and my homeward course
430
Steer o'er th' Ægean sea? But with what eye
430
Shall I behold my father? how present
430
Myself before him? Will he bear my sight
430
Thus naked, with no martial honours graced,
430
Whose ample crown of glory he obtain'd?
430
It is not to be borne. What if I rush
430
Against the Trojan rampires, and alone
430
Their pow'rs assaulting, after noble deeds
430
Perform'd, find there an honourable death?
430
Thus I should cause the sons of Atreus joy.
430
This must not be: some means must be emprised
430
To show my aged father that his son
430
Glows with the spirit of his high-born race.
430
For base his mind, who wishes length of life,
430
When ills, that hope no change, enclose him round.
430
What pleasure brings the day, which only adds
430
A day to life, for such a little space
430
Removing death? Him lightly I esteem,
430
Who with vain hopes deludes his glowing heart.
430
To live with glory, or with glory die,
430
This is the brave man's part. You have my thoughts.
430
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
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
And if it is the great kings who slander you with their furtive stories,
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
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-79-1 τὸ σὸν 1