Sophocles Ajax 128

Lewis Campbell (Translator)

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AI
’Tis a foolish hope,
If thou deem’st now to mould me to thy will.
595

Ajax. Sophocles. Lewis Campbell (Translator). London, New York and Toronto. 1906.

Current edition Experimental

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (4)
Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 172-201 focus
Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 172-200 focus
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 128 focus
μηδέν ποτ' εἴπῃς αὐτὸς εἰς θεοὺς ἔπος,
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 172-200 focus
Translations (4)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 134 focus
Telamonischer Sohn, der Salamis' Höh'n 1
Am ringsumwogten Gestade beherrscht,
135
Ich freue mich, lächelt das Glück dir.
Doch wann Zeus' Groll und ein zorniges Wort
Aus Danaermunde dich feindlich betraf,
Da faßt mich die Angst, ich erbebe vor Furcht,
Wie das Auge des flatternden Täubchens. 2
140
So hat von der jüngst entschwundenen Nacht
Uns mächtiger Schreck und Entsezen erfüllt
Bei dem schmähenden Ruf, du hab'st in der Au,
In der Rosse Gefild' einstürmend, dem Heer
Das erbeutete Vieh,
145
Das übrig allein von dem Raube noch war,
Mit flammendem Eisen gemordet.
Solch höhnende Reden ersinnt uns keck,
Und zischelt Odysseus Allen in's Ohr,
Und sie glauben ihm leicht; denn er meldet von dir,
150
Was gerne man glaubt, und wer es vernimmt,
Der freut sich noch mehr, denn der es erzählt,
Treibt Spott mit deiner Bedrängniß.
Denn send' auf mächtige Geister den Pfeil,
Nie fehlst du das Ziel; wer aber von uns
155
Solch Arges erzählt, dem glauben sie nicht.
Stets kriecht ja der Neid an die Großen heran.
Und dennoch sind, von den Großen getrennt,
Die Geringen der Burg ein betrüglicher Schuz;
Mit dem Großen ja hebt der Geringe sich leicht,
160
Und der Große, gestüzt von dem Kleinen, empor.
Doch ist es unmöglich, der Thoren Geschlecht
Von diesem Gesez zu belehren.
Solch alberner Männer Geschrei stürmt, Herr,
Auf dich, und uns ward nimmer die Kraft,
165
Dawider zu steh'n, so gesondert von dir.
Denn, flohen sie dir aus den Blicken hinweg,
Dann tosen sie laut, wie Vögel im Schwarm;
Doch bebten sie scheu vor dem mächtigen Aar,
Und verkröchen, sobald du plözlich erschienst,
170
Sich alsbald schweigend und lautlos.
Strophe.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 128 focus
Ajax
ACT IV. Scene I.
There stands my sword, and fixed as it may
best
Perform its office ; 'twas the gift of Hector,
My worst of foes, whom I detested ever :
The steel-devouring stone hath sharpened well
Its keenest edge. Buried in Trojan earth
855
It lies, and now in kindness seems prepared
855
To end my wretched life. Thus far is well.
855
And now, O Jove ! — for first to thee 'tis fit
855
We pay due honours — I address my prayer.
I ask not much : I ask thee but to send
Some passing stranger here to bear the news
Of my unhappy fate to Teuoer's ear,
That he may first behold, and take me hence,
Lest, by my foes discovered, I be cast
A prey to dogs and birds. Forbid it, Jove !
Thee too, great leader of departed souls,
Terrestrial Hermes, thee I call! oh, hear me!
With easy steps, and swift, conduct me safe
To my abode, soon as this fatal sword
Shall reach my breast. And you, ye virgin powers
From whom whate'er befalls of human ill
Cannot be hid, ye goddesses revered,
Swift to pursue the guilty, oh, behold,
"D seize the murd'rers ! By my own sad hand
As I shall perish, let my foes be slain
860
By those wliom most they love ! Quick, fly, begone,
860
Ye vengeful furies ! Gorge yourselves in blood,
860
Nor spiire a man of all the Grecian host.
860
And thou, O Sun ! who diiv'st the flaming car
Along the vaulted sky, when thou shalt see
My native soil, oh ! stop thy golden reins ;
Tell the sad story to my hapless sire
And my afllicted mother. AVhen she hears
The mournful tale, her grief will fill the land
With dreadful lamentations. But 'tis vain
To weep my fate : the business must be done.
O Death ! look on me. Death ; I come to thee —
Soon shall we meet ; but thee, O glorious day !
And yon bright charioteer the sun, no more
Shall I behold : e'en now thou hearst my last,
My dying words. O light ! O sacred soil
Of Salamis, my country, and her gods !
O noble Atliens ! O my loved companions !
Ye rivers, fountains, and fair fields of Troy !
^ And yon, my honoured parents, oh, farewell !
865
/ 'Tis the last word Ajax shall speak on earth :
865
Semiciior. I . Labour on labour, toil go toil ! Oh, whither
865
Have we not wandered 1 Yet no place informs us
865
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 128 focus
Ajax
I have heard too much.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 172-200 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-357-1 ἄρτι 1

mvp-comment-357-2 Ajax is now withdrawn into the tent on the eccyclema (

εἰσκυκλεῖται
), and the entrance is closed. Tecmessa and her child retire by another door into the part of the dwelling which is supposed to represent the
γυναικών
. They re-enter after the Choral ode, and are present while Ajax speaks (see 684 ff.). Some, indeed, suppose that they remain on the scene during the ode; but the command of Ajax to Tecmessa in 579 f.,
μηδ’ ἐπισκήνους γόους | δάκρυε
, is against this.

mvp-comment-357-3 Welcker thinks that not only Tecmessa (with the child), but Ajax also, remain present during the ode. ( Rhein. Mus. for 1829, part 3, p. 87.) It is clear, however, from v. 593 that Ajax withdraws into the tent.

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

595. mvp-comment-405-1 ἄρτι] 'At this moment, of all others. Now all of a sudden.'