Sophocles Ajax 134

Thomas Francklin (Translator)

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Chorus
879
i. We from the east return with like suc-
cess ;
For none have seen or heard of him that way.

Ajax. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

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)) — 134 focus
Τελαμώνιε παῖ, τῆς ἀμφιρύτου
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 172-200 focus
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 134 focus
MESS
Alas!
Too tardy then was he who sped me hither;
Or I have proved too slow a messenger.
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 (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 134 focus
Ajax
STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2. AJAX, TECMESSA, CHORUS. 646
Time in the length of its unbounded course
645
Draws things obscure to light, and sinks in shades
645
The most conspicuous: no event befals,
645
But what might be expected; solemn oaths
645
Yield to assaults, and the obdurate mind.
645
And I, who late like temper'd steel retain'd
645
My firmness, by this woman have been taught
645
A softer tone. I pity her sad state,
645
Left 'mongst her foes a widow, and my son
645
An orphan. To the margin of the sea
645
Hence then I go, and in the cleansing wave
645
Wash off these stains, if so I may appease
645
The anger of the goddess. Where I find:
645
A place unmark'd by human foot, this sword,
645
The most abhorr'd of weapons, in the ground
645
Deep-buried I will hide, where never eye...
645
Shall see it more; let night, and hell's dark king
645
Keep it; for from the hour when I received
645
From Hector's hostile hand this gift, from Greece
645
No grateful meed, no honour have I shared.
645
Well was it said, The gifts of hostile hands
645
Are ever hostile, and with mischiefs fraught.
645
Henceforth then to the gods we know to yield,
645
And learn the sons of Atreus to revere;
645
They are our Chiefs; behoves us to obey:
645
Why not? the harshest and the strongest things
645
Yield to their higher sovereigns: for this cause
The Winters stiff with all their snows give place
To summer glowing with its beauteous fruits;
And the dark circle of the Night retirés
That the fair Day may flame with orient light.
A soft gale breathes, and the tempestuous sea,
Groaning beneath impetuous winds, is calm.
E'en all-subduing Sleep unbinds his chain,
And sets his captives free. Why should not I
Know gentler thoughts? This wisdom I have learn'd,
That him, who is my foe, I so may hate
As one perchance to be my friend again;
And so far wish to aid my friend, as one
That may know change: for friendship is a port
In which our bark not always rides secure.
But these things shall be well. Within the tent
Retire, Tecmessa; with incessant vows
Implore the favouring gods that they would grant
My heart's warm wish. And you, my friends, with her
Thus honour me. To Teucer, when he comes
Give this my charge, that mine he make his care,
And be to you benevolent. I go
Where I must go: do you what I command.
Though wretched now, you soon perchance may know
That Ajax from his miseries is relieved.
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-512-1 τίς ἂν 1 ἁλιαδᾶν 2

mvp-comment-512-2 ἔχων … ἄγρας 3

mvp-comment-512-3 ἀΰπνους 4 ἀμφ’ 5

mvp-comment-513-1 ἢ τίς Ὀλυμπιάδων θεᾶν 6 θεᾶν 7 ποταμῶν 8

mvp-comment-513-2 ῥυτῶν 9

mvp-comment-513-3 Βοσπορίων 10 ἴδρις 11 ποταμῶν 12

mvp-comment-514-1 εἴ ποθι … λεύσσων 13

mvp-comment-514-2 σχέτλια 14

mvp-comment-514-3 τὸν μακρῶν ἀλάταν πόνων 15 οὐρίῳ μὴ πελάσαι δρόμῳ 16

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

879. mvp-comment-571-1 The correction of δή to δῆτα is necessary for the (dochmiac) metre. τις ἂν = πῶς ἄν τις; Cp. O. C. 1100, τίς ἂν θεῶν . . δοίη;

880. mvp-comment-572-1 ἔχων] 'Employed in.' Cp. supr. 564, δυσμενῶν θήραν ἔχων.

881. mvp-comment-573-1 Ὀλυμπιάδων θεᾶν], 'Nymphs of' (the Mysian) 'Olympus.'

885. mvp-comment-574-1 Βοσπορίων ποταμών] ‘What flowing current of the Hellespont?' Cp. supr. 412, and note. The Hellespont with its various currents might be imagined as tenanted by many river-gods. ἴδρις, which follows these words in most MSS., but not in Mosq. ab., has nothing to correspond to it in the antistrophe, and is unnecessary to the sense.

885. mvp-comment-574-2 τὸν ὠμόθυμον] Cp. supr. 205, and note.

886. mvp-comment-575-1 εἴ ποθι.. λεύσσων] i. e. λεύσσων, εἴ ποθι λεύσσοι. See Essay on L. § 28. p. 47,3; and cp. Thuc. 1. 14. § 4.