Sophocles, Ajax, Richard Jebb (Translator), 1120

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Menelaus

The bowman seems to feel no little grandeur.
1120

Teucer

I do, since it is no lowly skill that I possess.

Menelaus

How you would boast, if you had a shield!

Teucer

Even without a shield I would be a match for you fully armed.

Menelaus

What a tongue you have! What dreadful anger it feeds!

Teucer

When right is with him, a man’s thoughts may be grand.
1125

Menelaus

What, is it right that the man who murdered me should prosper?

Teucer

Murdered you? It is truly a strange happening, if in fact you live after being killed.

Menelaus

A god rescued me. So far as that corpse is concerned, I am in Hades.

Teucer

Then since it was the gods who saved you, do not dishonor the gods.

Menelaus

What, would I find fault with divine law?
1130

Teucer

Yes, if by your presence here you prevent burial of the dead.

Menelaus

Prevent it I do, since he was at war with me and I with him. Burial in such a case would not be right.

Teucer

What do you mean? Did Ajax ever stand forth publicly to war with you?

Menelaus

He hated me as I hated him, and you knew it, too.

Teucer

Yes, he hated you because you had been caught fixing the votes in order to rob him.
1135

Menelaus

At the hands of the jurymen, not mine, he suffered that loss.

Teucer

You could make a thousand stealthy crimes look pretty.

Menelaus

That sentiment leads to pain for someone I know.

Teucer

The pain will be no greater, I think, than that which we will inflict.

Menelaus

I will tell you once and for all—there is to be no burial for him.
1140

Teucer

And hear my reply—he shall be buried immediately.

Menelaus

Once I saw a bold-tongued man who had urged sailors to set sail during wintertime. Yet in him you could have found no voice

when the worst of the storm was upon him. No, hidden beneath his cloak he allowed the crew to trample on him at will. And so it is with you and your raging speech—perhaps a great storm, even if its blast comes from a small cloud, will extinguish your shouting.
1145

Ajax. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1893.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Ajax (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 7: The Ajax. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (4)

Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 1161-1196 focus

str. 1

ΧΟΡΟΣ

1185 Τις ἄρα νέατος; ἐς πότε λήξει

πολυπλάγκτων ἐτέων ἀριθμὸς,

τὰν ἄπαυστον αἰὲν ἐμοὶ

δορυσσόντων μόχθων

ἄταν ἐπάγων
1165

1190 ἀνὰ τὰν εὐρώδη Τροίαν.

δύστανον ὄνειδος

ant. 1

ὄφελε πρότερον αἰθέρα δῦναι

μέγαν ἢ τὸν πολύκοινον Ἅιδαν

κεῖνος ἀνὴρ, ὃς στυγερῶν

1170

1195 ἔδειξ’ ὅπλων Ἕλλα-

σιν κοινὸν Ἄρη.

ὦ πόνοι πρόγονοι πόνων.

κεῖνος γὰρ ἔπερσεν ἀνθρώπους.

str. 2

ΧΟΡΟΣ

2

ἐκεῖνος οὐ στεφάνων,
1175

1200 οὔτε βαθειᾶν κυλίκων

νεῖμεν ἐμοὶ τέρψιν ὁμιλεῖν,

οὔτε γλυκὺν αὐλῶν ὄτοβον,

δύςμορος, οὔτ’ ἐννυχίαν

τέρψιν ἰαύειν· ἐρώτων δ’
1180

1205 ἐρώτων ἀπέπαυσεν, ὤ μοι!

κεῖμαι δ’ ἀμέριμνος οὕτως,

ἀεὶ πυκιναῖς δρόσοις

τεγγόμενος κόμας,

λυγρᾶς μνήματα Τροίας. 1210
1185

ant. 2

ΧΟΡΟΣ

2

Καὶ πρὶν μὲν ἐννυχίου

δείματος ἦν μοι προβολὰ

καὶ βελέων θούριος Αἴας·

νῦν δ’ οὗτος ἀνεῖται στυγερῷ

δαίμονι· τίς μοι, τίς ἔτ’ οὖν 1215
1190

τέρψις ὲπέσται,- γενοίμαν,

ἵν’ ὑλᾶεν ἔπεστι πόντου

πρόβλημ’ ἁλίκλυστον, ἄκραν

1220 ὑπὸ πλάκα Σουνίου,

τὰς ἱερὰς ὅπως
1195

προςείποιμ’ ἂν Ἀθανᾶς.

Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 1185-1222 focus

str. 1

Χορός

τίς ἄρα νέατος ἐς πότε λή-
1185

ξει πολυπλάγκτων ἐτέων ἀριθμός,

τὰν ἄπαυστον αἰὲν ἐμοὶ δορυσσοή-

των μόχθων ἄταν ἐπάγων

τάνδʼ ἀνʼ εὐρυεδῆ Τροίαν,
1190

δύστανον ὄνειδος Ἑλλάνων;

ὄφελε πρότερον αἰθέρα δῦ-

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸

ant. 1

Χορός

ναι μέγαν ἢ τὸν πολύκοινον Ἅιδαν

κεῖνος ἁνήρ, ὃς στυγερῶν ἔδειξεν ὅ-
1195

πλων Ἕλλασιν κοινὸν Ἄρη.

ὦ πόνοι πρόγονοι πόνων.

κεῖνος γὰρ ἔπερσεν ἀνθρώπους.

ἐκεῖνος οὔτε στεφάνων

οὔτε βαθειᾶν κυλίκων
1200

str. 2

Χορός

2

νεῖμεν ἐμοὶ τέρψιν ὁμιλεῖν,

οὔτε γλυκὺν αὐλῶν ὄτοβον

δύσμορος οὔτʼ ἐννυχίαν

τέρψιν ἰαύειν·

ἐρώτων δʼ
1205

ἐρώτων ἀπέπαυσεν, ὤ-

⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²¹³¹⁴¹⁵

μοι. κεῖμαι δʼ ἀμέριμνος οὕ-

τως, ἀεὶ πυκιναῖς δρόσοις

τεγγόμενος κόμας, λυγρᾶς

μνήματα Τροίας.
1210

ant. 2

Χορός

καὶ πρὶν μὲν αἰὲν νυχίου

δείματος ἦν μοι προβολὰ

καὶ βελέων θούριος Αἴας·

νῦν δʼ οὗτος ἀνεῖται στυγερῷ

δαίμονι. τίς μοι, τίς ἔτʼ οὖν
1215

τέρψις ἐπέσται;

γενοίμαν

ἴνʼ ὑλᾶεν ἔπεστι πόν-

του πρόβλημʼ ἁλίκλυστον, ἄ-

κραν ὑπὸ πλάκα Σουνίου,
1220

τὰς ἱερὰς ὅπως προσεί-

ποιμεν Ἀθάνας.

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1120 focus

ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν σμικρὰ μικρὸν φρονεῖν.
1120

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

οὐ γὰρ βάναυσον τὴν τέχνην ἐκτησάμην.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

μέγ᾽ ἄν τι κομπάσειας, ἀσπίδ᾽ εἰ λάβοις.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

κἂν ψιλὸς ψιλῶσ ψιλὸσ ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γ᾽ ὡπλισμένῳ.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἡ γλῶσσά σου τὸν θυμὸν ὡς δεινὸν τρέφει.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ γὰρ μέγ᾽ ἔξεστιν φρονεῖν.
1125

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

δίκαια γὰρ τόνδ' εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

κτείναντα; δεινόν γ' τ' γ' εἶπας, εἰ καὶ ζῇς θανών.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

θεὸς γὰρ ἐκσώζει με, τῷδε δ᾽ οἴχομαι.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

μή νυν μὴ νῦν ἀτίμα θεούς, θεοῖς σεσωσμένος.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι δαιμόνων νόμους;
1130

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

εἰ τοὺς θανόντας οὐκ ἐᾷς εὰ εᾶσ θάπτειν παρών.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

τούς γ' αὐτὸς αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ αὑτοῦ πολεμίους· οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ἢ σοὶ γὰρ Αἴας πολέμιος προὔστη ποτέ;

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

μισοῦντ᾿ ἐμίσει· καὶ σὺ τοῦτ᾽ ἠπίστασο.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

κλέπτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ ψηφοποιὸς εὑρέθης.
1135

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς, κοὐκ ἐμοί, τόδ᾽ ἐσφάλη.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

πόλλ᾽ ἂν καλῶς καλῶσ κακῶς λάθρα σὺ κλέψειας κλέψειας κακά καλά.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

τοῦτ᾽ εἰς ἀνίαν τοὔπος ἔρχεται τινί.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

οὐ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἢ λυπήσομεν.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἕν σοι φράσω· τόνδ᾽ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον.
1140

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ἀλλ᾽ ἀντακούσηι τοῦτον σὺ δ᾽ ἀντ᾿ ἀκούσει τοῦτον ὡς τεθάψεται.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἤδη ποτ' εἶδον ει'ον εἶδον ἄνδρ᾽ ἐγὼ γλώσσῃ θρασὺν

ναύτας ἐφορμήσαντα χειμῶνος τὸ πλεῖν,

ᾧ φθέγμ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν εὗρες, ἡνίκ' ἡνίκ᾽ ἐν κακῷ

χειμῶνος εἴχετ᾽ εἴχεθ' εἴχετ', ἀλλ᾽ ὑφ᾽ εἵματος κρυφεὶς
1145

πατεῖν παρεῖχε τῷ θέλοντι ναυτίλων.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

οὕτω δὲ καὶ σὲ καὶ τὸ σὸν λάβρον στόμα

σμικροῦ νέφους τάχ᾽ ἄν τις ἐκπνεύσας μέγας μέγα

χειμὼν κατασβέσειε τὴν πολλὴν βοήν.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1120 focus

Μενέλαος

ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν φρονεῖν.
1120

Τεῦκρος

οὐ γὰρ βάναυσον τὴν τέχνην ἐκτησάμην.

Μενέλαος

μέγʼ ἄν τι κομπάσειας, ἀσπίδʼ εἰ λάβοις.

Τεῦκρος

κἂν ψιλὸς ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γʼ ὡπλισμένῳ.

Μενέλαος

ἡ γλῶσσά σου τὸν θυμὸν ὡς δεινὸν τρέφει.

Τεῦκρος

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ γὰρ μέγʼ ἔξεστιν φρονεῖν.
1125

Μενέλαος

δίκαια γὰρ τόνδʼ εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;

Τεῦκρος

κτείναντα; δεινόν γʼ εἶπας, εἰ καὶ ζῇς θανών.

Μενέλαος

θεὸς γὰρ ἐκσῴζει με, τῷδε δʼ οἴχομαι.

Τεῦκρος

μή νυν ἀτίμα θεούς, θεοῖς σεσωσμένος.

Μενέλαος

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι δαιμόνων νόμους;
1130

Τεῦκρος

εἰ τοὺς θανόντας οὐκ ἐᾷς θάπτειν παρών.

Μενέλαος

τούς γʼ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ πολεμίους. οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

Τεῦκρος

ἦ σοὶ γὰρ Αἴας πολέμιος προύστη ποτέ;

Μενέλαος

μισοῦντʼ ἐμίσει· καὶ σὺ τοῦτʼ ἠπίστασο.

Τεῦκρος

κλέπτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ ψηφοποιὸς ηὑρέθης.
1135

Μενέλαος

ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς, κοὐκ ἐμοί, τόδʼ ἐσφάλη.

Τεῦκρος

πόλλʼ ἂν κακῶς λάθρᾳ σὺ κλέψειας κακά.

Μενέλαος

τοῦτʼ εἰς ἀνίαν τοὔπος ἔρχεταί τινι.

Τεῦκρος

οὐ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἢ λυπήσομεν.

Μενέλαος

ἕν σοι φράσω· τόνδʼ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον.
1140

Τεῦκρος

ἀλλʼ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ὡς τεθάψεται.

Μενέλαος

ἤδη ποτʼ εἶδον ἄνδρʼ ἐγὼ γλώσσῃ θρασὺν

ναύτας ἐφορμήσαντα χειμῶνος τὸ πλεῖν,

ᾧ φθέγμʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ηὗρες, ἡνίκʼ ἐν κακῷ

χειμῶνος εἴχετʼ, ἀλλʼ ὑφʼ εἵματος κρυφεὶς
1145

πατεῖν παρεῖχε τῷ θέλοντι ναυτίλων.

οὕτω δὲ καὶ σὲ καὶ τὸ σὸν λάβρον στόμα

σμικροῦ νέφους τάχʼ ἄν τις ἐκπνεύσας μέγας

χειμὼν κατασβέσειε τὴν πολλὴν βοήν.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1120 focus

Our bowman carries no small pride, I see.
1120

TEU

No mere mechanic’s menial craft is mine.

MEN

How wouldst thou vaunt it hadst thou but a shield!

TEU

Unarmed I fear not thee in panoply.

MEN

Redoubted is the wrath lives on thy tongue.

TEU

Whose cause is just hath licence to be proud.
1125

MEN

Just, that my murderer have a peaceful end?

TEU

Thy murderer? Strange, to have been slain and live!

MEN

Yea, through Heaven’s mercy. By his will, I am dead.

TEU

If Heaven have saved thee, give the Gods their due.

MEN

Am I the man to spurn at Heaven’s command?
1130

TEU

Thou dost, to come and frustrate burial.

MEN

Honour forbids to yield my foe a tomb.

TEU

And Aias was thy foeman? Where and when?

MEN

Hate lived between us; that thou know’st full well.

TEU

For thy proved knavery, coining votes i’ the court
1135

MEN

The judges voted. He ne’er lost through me.

TEU

Guilt hiding guile wears often fairest front.

MEN

I know whom pain shall harass for that word.

TEU

Not without giving equal pain, ’tis clear.

MEN

No more, but this. No burial for this man!
1140

TEU

Yea, this much more. He shall have instant burial.

MEN

I have seen ere now a man of doughty tongue

Urge sailors in foul weather to unmoor,

Who, caught in the sea-misery by and by,

Lay voiceless, muffled in his cloak, and suffered
1145

Who would of the sailors over trample him

Even so methinks thy truculent mouth ere long

Shall quench its outcry, when this little cloud

Breaks forth on thee with the full tempest’s might.

TEU

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1120 focus

Der Bogenschüze, seh' ich, denkt nicht klein von sich.
1075

Teukros.

Kein schmuzig Handwerk üb' ich auch als meine Kunst.

Menelaos.

Groß würd'st du prahlen, wäre dir ein Schild gegönnt.

Teukros.

Auch ohne Rüstung troz' ich dir in deiner Wehr.

Menelaos.

Ja, deine Zunge hegt erstaunlich hohen Muth.

Teukros.

Groß darf ja denken, wem das Recht zur Seite steht.
1080

Menelaos.

Recht wäre, daß es meinem Mörder wohlergeht?

Teukros.

Dein Mörder? Welches Wunder! Du bist todt und lebst!

Menelaos.

Mich hat ein Gott gerettet; doch ihm bin ich todt.

Teukros.

So höhne nicht die Götter, die dich retteten.

Menelaos.

Ich lästre wohl der Götter hohe Sazungen?
1085

Teukros.

Ja, wenn du herkommst und ein Grab den Todten wehrst.

Menelaos.

Wohl wehr' ich's meinem Feinde; denn ihm ziemt es nicht.

Teukros.

Trat Ajas jemals wider dich als Feind heran?

Menelaos.

Er haßte mich, ich wieder ihn: das weißt du ja.

Teukros.

Als Stimmenfälscher wurdest du von ihm erkannt.
1090

Menelaos.

Dies war die Schuld der Richter, nicht die meinige.¹

Teukros.

Du magst mit Arglist heimlich wohl viel Arges thun.

Menelaos.

Dies Wort bereitet Einem noch Bekümmerniß.

Teukros.

Nicht größre, denk' ich, als ich selbst bereiten kann.

Menelaos.

Dir sag' ich Eines: diesem wird kein Grab gewährt!
1095

Teukros.

Und du vernimm dagegen: er erhält ein Grab!

Menelaos.

Einst hab' ich einen Mann geseh'n, von Zunge kühn,

Der seine Schiffer bei dem Sturm zu segeln zwang,

Doch keinen Laut vorbrachte, wie des Sturmes Wuth

Ihn mächtig fortriß, nein, im Mantel eingehüllt,
1100

Von jedem Schiffsmann ungescheut sich treten ließ.

So dürfte dir und deinem ungestümen Mund

Ein großer Sturm, aus kleiner Wolke hergesandt,

In kurzem brausend löschen dies vermess'ne Schrein.

Teukros.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1120 focus

a tongue like thine
1120

But ill becomes thy state : 'tis most unseemly.

Teucer

a keen reproach, with justice on its side,

Is always grating.

]\Ien. This proud archer here

Talks loudly.

Teucer

'Tis no mean illiberal art.

;Men. If thou couldst bear a shield, how insolent

And haughty wouldst thou be, when naked, thus,

Thou boast'st thy valour!

Teucer

Naked as I am
1125

1 should not fly from thee with all thy arms.
1125

Menelaus

Thy tongue but speaks thy pride.

Teucer

I should be proud

When I am just.

Menelaus

Doth justice bid me love

Him who destroyed me ?

Teucer

Art thou then destroyed?

That's strange indeed, living and dead at once.

Menelaus

For him I had been so : the gods preserved me.
1130

Teucer

Do not dishonour then the powers divine

That saved thee.

Menelaus

Do I violate their laws ?

Teucer

If thou forbidst the burial of the dead

Thou dost ofi'end the gods.

INIen. He was my foe,

And therefore I forbid it.

Teucer

Art thou sure
1135

Menelaus

I am ;

Our hate was mutual, and thou knowst the cause,

Teucer

Because thou wert corrupted, thy false voice

Condemned him.

Menelaus

'Twas the judges' fault, not mine.

Teucer

Thus mayst thou screen a thousand injuries.

Menelaus

Some one may suffer for this insolence.
1140

Teucer

Not more perhaps than others.

Menelaus

This alone

Itemember, buried he sliall never be.

Teucer

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1120 focus

Bring all thy heralds, bring th' imperial Chief;

Not for thy clamours will I turn aside.

From my intent. I know thee what thou art.
1125

Chorus

Mine is no vulgar art.

Menelaus

How wou'dst thou vaunt,

If thou cou'dst bear a shield?

Teucer

Thy force in arms

Thus naked I defy.

Menelaus

Thy tongue is bold,
1130

With pride o'erflowing.
1130

Teucer

When the cause is just,

An honest pride may be indulged.

How just,

To honour him that slew me?

Slew thee! Strange,

That dead thou yet shou'dst live.

Menelaus

The gods preserved

My life; he else had kill'd me.

Teucer

By their grace

Preserved, dishonour not the gods.

Menelaus

Their laws

What shows me prone to violate?

Teucer

Thy charge
1135

Not to entomb the dead.
1135

Menelaus

They were my foes.

My honour thus requires.

Teucer

'Gainst thee a foe

Did Ajax ever lead?

I hated him,

He hated me: thou know'st this.

In the votes

Thou wast found false and fraudulent.

Menelaus

That blame

Be theirs, who from the urns drew forth the lots,
1140

Teucer

Not mine.

By stealth, and basely canst thou do

Many base deeds.

Those words shall cost hee dear.

Teucer

Not more perchance than we shall well repay.

Menelaus

In brief I say he shall not be entomb'd...

Teucer

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-651-1 ὁ τοξότης ¹

mvp-comment-652-1 βάναυσον ²

mvp-comment-653-1 ἀσπίδ’ ³

mvp-comment-654-1 ψιλὸς … ὡπλισμένῳ ⁴

mvp-comment-655-1 τρέφει ⁵

mvp-comment-656-1 ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ ⁶

mvp-comment-657-1 δίκαια ⁷

mvp-comment-657-2 κτείναντα ⁸

mvp-comment-658-1 δεινόν γ’ εἶπας ⁹

mvp-comment-658-2 εἰ καὶ ζῇς ¹⁰

mvp-comment-659-1 τῷδε δ’ οἴχομαι ¹¹

mvp-comment-660-1 ἀτίμα ¹²

mvp-comment-660-2 θεοὺς ¹³

mvp-comment-660-3 θεοῖς σεσωσμένος ¹⁴

mvp-comment-661-1 ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι ¹⁵ δαιμόνων νόμους ¹⁶

mvp-comment-661-2 εἰ … οὐκ ἐᾷς ¹⁷

mvp-comment-661-3 παρών ¹⁸

mvp-comment-662-1 τούς γ’ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ ¹⁹ αὐτοῦ ²⁰ οὐ γὰρ καλόν ²¹

mvp-comment-663-1 σοὶ … προὔστη ²²

mvp-comment-664-1 μισοῦντ’ ἐμίσει ²³

mvp-comment-665-1 ψηφοποιὸς ²⁴

mvp-comment-665-2 The gen. αὐτοῦ ²⁵

mvp-comment-666-1 ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς ²⁶

mvp-comment-667-1 καλῶς ²⁷ κακῶς ²⁸

mvp-comment-667-2 κλέψειας κακά ²⁹

mvp-comment-668-1 εἰς ἀνίαν … ἔρχεται ³⁰ τινί ³¹ ἔρχεται τινί ³²

mvp-comment-669-1 οὐ μᾶλλον ³³

mvp-comment-670-1 τόνδ’ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον ³⁴

mvp-comment-671-1 ἀλλ’ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ὡς ³⁵ τοῦθ’ ἕν ³⁶

mvp-comment-671-2 τεθάψεται ³⁷

mvp-comment-672-1 ναύτας ἐφορμήσαντα … τὸ | πλεῖν ³⁸ vαύταις ³⁹ ναύτας ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-673-1 ᾧ φθέγμ’ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ηὗρες ⁴¹ ἄν ⁴² ᾧ ⁴³

mvp-comment-673-2 ἐν κακῷ χειμῶνος ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-673-3 εἴχετ’ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-673-4 ὑφ’ εἵματος ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-673-5 κρυφείς ⁴⁷

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

1121. mvp-comment-721-1 Teucer's craft in archery was not that of an ordinary bowman. Cp. Phil. 1056, 7, ἐπεὶ πάρεστι μὲν | Τεύκρος παρ' ἡμῖν, τηνδ᾽ ἐπιστήμην ἔχων. The feeling which gave importance to the science of archery accorded with the original legend. Cp. Il. 13. 313, 4, Τεῦκρός θ᾽ ὡς ἄριστος᾿ Ἀχαιῶν | τοξοσύνῃ. Here, in speaking of what is ἔξω τοῦ μυθεύματος, contemporary feeling, which held archers cheap, is allowed to have its way.

1123. mvp-comment-722-1 σοί γ᾽ ὡπλισμένῳ] Sc. ὥστε ἀντίπαλος εἶναι.

1124. mvp-comment-723-1 'What courageous anger lives in thy tongue!' τὸν θυμόν, sc. τὸν ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ ἐνόντα. Cp. Milton, Samson Agonistes, 1181, 'Tongue-doughty Giant.'

1126. mvp-comment-724-1 τόνδ᾽ εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με] 'That all should go smoothly with the man here who contrived my death.' The use of the aorist in this conative sense is a rhetorical exaggeration. The continuous tense is so used in O. C. 992, 3, εἴ τις σε τὸν δίκαιον αὐτίκ᾽ ἐνθάδε | κτείνοι παραστάς, κ.τ.λ., where see note.

1128. mvp-comment-725-1 τῷδε δ᾽ οἴχομαι] See above, l. 970, and note.

1130. mvp-comment-726-1 'Am I the man who would quarrel with divine law?'

1131. mvp-comment-727-1 'If you come and prevent the burial of the dead.' οὐκ is permissible, because οὐκ ἐᾷς is one word, and the supposition emphatically points to the fact, 'If, as you do.'

1132. mvp-comment-728-1 The use of αὑτοῦ for ἐμαυτοῦ here is justified by the generality of the expression, — 'In the case of one's enemy,' and prepares the way for the abstract statement, οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

1133. mvp-comment-729-1 Menelaus has sought to justify his action by applying to Ajax the word πολέμιος, which properly applies only to an enemy of the state. But he has not the courage to follow this up by showing that Ajax was a public enemy.

1135. mvp-comment-730-1 'Yes, because you were convicted of having cheated him by manufacturing votes.'

1136. mvp-comment-731-1 'He met with this reverse through the action of the court and not through mine.' τόδε, sc. τὸ σφάλμα. Cp. Pind. Nem. 8. 45, κρυφίαισι γὰρ ἐν ψάφοις Ὀδυσσῆ Δαναοὶ θεράπευσαν.

1137. mvp-comment-732-1 The gloss on καλῶς, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐμπείρως, both supports the reading of L pr., and accounts for the corruption by showing that καλῶς was felt to require explanation. The alliteration of κ, λ, is perhaps suggestive of wily subtlety. For καλῶς.. κακά, cp. O. T. 1396, κάλλος κακῶν ὕπουλον.

1138. mvp-comment-733-1 'That speech tends to some one's hurt.' For τινί, implying σοί, cp. especially Ant. 751, θανοῦσ᾽ ὀλεῖ τινά.

1139. mvp-comment-734-1 οὐ μᾶλλον (ἀνίαν ἕξομεν), ἢ λυπήσομεν (σε). ὡς ἔοικεν] The threat of Menelaus, l. 1138, shows that he is stung.

1141. mvp-comment-735-1 τεθάψεται] The future perfect has a peremptory effect.

1142-1158. mvp-comment-736-1 These two speeches are obviously antiphonal or antistrophic in a general sense, and yet the latter exceeds the former by a line. This may warn us against requiring exact antistrophic correspondence in other iambic passages, where the absence of it has occasioned doubt.

1143. mvp-comment-737-1 τὸ πλεῖν] For the article with the epexegetic infinitive, cp. O. T. 1416, 17, πάρεσθ᾽ ὅδε | Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν.

1144. mvp-comment-738-1 For ἂν reduplicated, see Essay on L. § 27. p. 46 e. In the present instance it adds liveliness to φθέγμα, which is to be taken closely with, i.e. ᾧ φθέγμα γενόμενον ἂν οὐκ ἂν εὗρες. ἐνεῦρες has been conjectured, but this compound is not found elsewhere, and no change is needed.

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Menelaus The bowman seems to feel no little grandeur. 1120

Teucer I do, since it is no lowly skill that I possess.

Menelaus How you would boast, if you had a shield!

Teucer Even without a shield I would be a match for you fully armed.

Menelaus What a tongue you have! What dreadful anger it feeds!

Teucer When right is with him, a man’s thoughts may be grand. 1125

Menelaus What, is it right that the man who murdered me should prosper?

Teucer Murdered you? It is truly a strange happening, if in fact you live after being killed.

Menelaus A god rescued me. So far as that corpse is concerned, I am in Hades.

Teucer Then since it was the gods who saved you, do not dishonor the gods.

Menelaus What, would I find fault with divine law? 1130

Teucer Yes, if by your presence here you prevent burial of the dead.

Menelaus Prevent it I do, since he was at war with me and I with him. Burial in such a case would not be right.

Teucer What do you mean? Did Ajax ever stand forth publicly to war with you?

Menelaus He hated me as I hated him, and you knew it, too.

Teucer Yes, he hated you because you had been caught fixing the votes in order to rob him. 1135

Menelaus At the hands of the jurymen, not mine, he suffered that loss.

Teucer You could make a thousand stealthy crimes look pretty.

Menelaus That sentiment leads to pain for someone I know.

Teucer The pain will be no greater, I think, than that which we will inflict.

Menelaus I will tell you once and for all—there is to be no burial for him. 1140

Teucer And hear my reply—he shall be buried immediately.

Current edition Experimental

ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν σμικρὰ μικρὸν φρονεῖν. 1120

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. οὐ γὰρ βάναυσον τὴν τέχνην ἐκτησάμην.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. μέγ᾽ ἄν τι κομπάσειας, ἀσπίδ᾽ εἰ λάβοις.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. κἂν ψιλὸς ψιλῶσ ψιλὸσ ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γ᾽ ὡπλισμένῳ.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. ἡ γλῶσσά σου τὸν θυμὸν ὡς δεινὸν τρέφει.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ γὰρ μέγ᾽ ἔξεστιν φρονεῖν. 1125

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. δίκαια γὰρ τόνδ' εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. κτείναντα; δεινόν γ' τ' γ' εἶπας, εἰ καὶ ζῇς θανών.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. θεὸς γὰρ ἐκσώζει με, τῷδε δ᾽ οἴχομαι.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. μή νυν μὴ νῦν ἀτίμα θεούς, θεοῖς σεσωσμένος.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι δαιμόνων νόμους; 1130

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. εἰ τοὺς θανόντας οὐκ ἐᾷς εὰ εᾶσ θάπτειν παρών.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. τούς γ' αὐτὸς αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ αὑτοῦ πολεμίους· οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. ἢ σοὶ γὰρ Αἴας πολέμιος προὔστη ποτέ;

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. μισοῦντ᾿ ἐμίσει· καὶ σὺ τοῦτ᾽ ἠπίστασο.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. κλέπτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ ψηφοποιὸς εὑρέθης. 1135

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς, κοὐκ ἐμοί, τόδ᾽ ἐσφάλη.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. πόλλ᾽ ἂν καλῶς καλῶσ κακῶς λάθρα σὺ κλέψειας κλέψειας κακά καλά.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. τοῦτ᾽ εἰς ἀνίαν τοὔπος ἔρχεται τινί.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. οὐ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἢ λυπήσομεν.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. ἕν σοι φράσω· τόνδ᾽ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον. 1140

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. ἀλλ᾽ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ἀλλ᾽ ἀντακούσηι τοῦτον σὺ δ᾽ ἀντ᾿ ἀκούσει τοῦτον ὡς τεθάψεται.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ. οὕτω δὲ καὶ σὲ καὶ τὸ σὸν λάβρον στόμα σμικροῦ νέφους τάχ᾽ ἄν τις ἐκπνεύσας μέγας μέγα χειμὼν κατασβέσειε τὴν πολλὴν βοήν.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

Μενέλαος ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν φρονεῖν. 1120

Τεῦκρος οὐ γὰρ βάναυσον τὴν τέχνην ἐκτησάμην.

Μενέλαος μέγʼ ἄν τι κομπάσειας, ἀσπίδʼ εἰ λάβοις.

Τεῦκρος κἂν ψιλὸς ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γʼ ὡπλισμένῳ.

Μενέλαος ἡ γλῶσσά σου τὸν θυμὸν ὡς δεινὸν τρέφει.

Τεῦκρος ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ γὰρ μέγʼ ἔξεστιν φρονεῖν. 1125

Μενέλαος δίκαια γὰρ τόνδʼ εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;

Τεῦκρος κτείναντα; δεινόν γʼ εἶπας, εἰ καὶ ζῇς θανών.

Μενέλαος θεὸς γὰρ ἐκσῴζει με, τῷδε δʼ οἴχομαι.

Τεῦκρος μή νυν ἀτίμα θεούς, θεοῖς σεσωσμένος.

Μενέλαος ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι δαιμόνων νόμους; 1130

Τεῦκρος εἰ τοὺς θανόντας οὐκ ἐᾷς θάπτειν παρών.

Μενέλαος τούς γʼ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ πολεμίους. οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

Τεῦκρος ἦ σοὶ γὰρ Αἴας πολέμιος προύστη ποτέ;

Μενέλαος μισοῦντʼ ἐμίσει· καὶ σὺ τοῦτʼ ἠπίστασο.

Τεῦκρος κλέπτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ ψηφοποιὸς ηὑρέθης. 1135

Μενέλαος ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς, κοὐκ ἐμοί, τόδʼ ἐσφάλη.

Τεῦκρος πόλλʼ ἂν κακῶς λάθρᾳ σὺ κλέψειας κακά.

Μενέλαος τοῦτʼ εἰς ἀνίαν τοὔπος ἔρχεταί τινι.

Τεῦκρος οὐ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἢ λυπήσομεν.

Μενέλαος ἕν σοι φράσω· τόνδʼ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον. 1140

Τεῦκρος ἀλλʼ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ὡς τεθάψεται.

Our bowman carries no small pride, I see. 1120

TEU No mere mechanic’s menial craft is mine.

MEN How wouldst thou vaunt it hadst thou but a shield!

TEU Unarmed I fear not thee in panoply.

MEN Redoubted is the wrath lives on thy tongue.

TEU Whose cause is just hath licence to be proud. 1125

MEN Just, that my murderer have a peaceful end?

TEU Thy murderer? Strange, to have been slain and live!

MEN Yea, through Heaven’s mercy. By his will, I am dead.

Menelaus

The bowman seems to feel no little grandeur.
1120

Teucer

I do, since it is no lowly skill that I possess.

Menelaus

How you would boast, if you had a shield!

Teucer

Even without a shield I would be a match for you fully armed.

Menelaus

What a tongue you have! What dreadful anger it feeds!

Teucer

When right is with him, a man’s thoughts may be grand.
1125

Menelaus

What, is it right that the man who murdered me should prosper?

Teucer

Murdered you? It is truly a strange happening, if in fact you live after being killed.

Menelaus

A god rescued me. So far as that corpse is concerned, I am in Hades.

Teucer

Then since it was the gods who saved you, do not dishonor the gods.

Menelaus

What, would I find fault with divine law?
1130

Teucer

Yes, if by your presence here you prevent burial of the dead.

Menelaus

Prevent it I do, since he was at war with me and I with him. Burial in such a case would not be right.

Teucer

What do you mean? Did Ajax ever stand forth publicly to war with you?

Menelaus

He hated me as I hated him, and you knew it, too.

Teucer

Yes, he hated you because you had been caught fixing the votes in order to rob him.
1135

Menelaus

At the hands of the jurymen, not mine, he suffered that loss.

Teucer

You could make a thousand stealthy crimes look pretty.

Menelaus

That sentiment leads to pain for someone I know.

Teucer

The pain will be no greater, I think, than that which we will inflict.

Menelaus

I will tell you once and for all—there is to be no burial for him.
1140

Teucer

And hear my reply—he shall be buried immediately.

ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν σμικρὰ μικρὸν φρονεῖν.
1120

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

οὐ γὰρ βάναυσον τὴν τέχνην ἐκτησάμην.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

μέγ᾽ ἄν τι κομπάσειας, ἀσπίδ᾽ εἰ λάβοις.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

κἂν ψιλὸς ψιλῶσ ψιλὸσ ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γ᾽ ὡπλισμένῳ.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἡ γλῶσσά σου τὸν θυμὸν ὡς δεινὸν τρέφει.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ γὰρ μέγ᾽ ἔξεστιν φρονεῖν.
1125

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

δίκαια γὰρ τόνδ' εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

κτείναντα; δεινόν γ' τ' γ' εἶπας, εἰ καὶ ζῇς θανών.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

θεὸς γὰρ ἐκσώζει με, τῷδε δ᾽ οἴχομαι.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

μή νυν μὴ νῦν ἀτίμα θεούς, θεοῖς σεσωσμένος.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι δαιμόνων νόμους;
1130

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

εἰ τοὺς θανόντας οὐκ ἐᾷς εὰ εᾶσ θάπτειν παρών.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

τούς γ' αὐτὸς αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ αὑτοῦ πολεμίους· οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ἢ σοὶ γὰρ Αἴας πολέμιος προὔστη ποτέ;

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

μισοῦντ᾿ ἐμίσει· καὶ σὺ τοῦτ᾽ ἠπίστασο.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

κλέπτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ ψηφοποιὸς εὑρέθης.
1135

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς, κοὐκ ἐμοί, τόδ᾽ ἐσφάλη.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

πόλλ᾽ ἂν καλῶς καλῶσ κακῶς λάθρα σὺ κλέψειας κλέψειας κακά καλά.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

τοῦτ᾽ εἰς ἀνίαν τοὔπος ἔρχεται τινί.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

οὐ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἢ λυπήσομεν.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

ἕν σοι φράσω· τόνδ᾽ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον.
1140

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ἀλλ᾽ ἀντακούσηι τοῦτον σὺ δ᾽ ἀντ᾿ ἀκούσει τοῦτον ὡς τεθάψεται.

ΜΕΝΕΛΑΟΣ.

οὕτω δὲ καὶ σὲ καὶ τὸ σὸν λάβρον στόμα

σμικροῦ νέφους τάχ᾽ ἄν τις ἐκπνεύσας μέγας μέγα

χειμὼν κατασβέσειε τὴν πολλὴν βοήν.

Μενέλαος

ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν φρονεῖν.
1120

Τεῦκρος

οὐ γὰρ βάναυσον τὴν τέχνην ἐκτησάμην.

Μενέλαος

μέγʼ ἄν τι κομπάσειας, ἀσπίδʼ εἰ λάβοις.

Τεῦκρος

κἂν ψιλὸς ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γʼ ὡπλισμένῳ.

Μενέλαος

ἡ γλῶσσά σου τὸν θυμὸν ὡς δεινὸν τρέφει.

Τεῦκρος

ξὺν τῷ δικαίῳ γὰρ μέγʼ ἔξεστιν φρονεῖν.
1125

Μενέλαος

δίκαια γὰρ τόνδʼ εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;

Τεῦκρος

κτείναντα; δεινόν γʼ εἶπας, εἰ καὶ ζῇς θανών.

Μενέλαος

θεὸς γὰρ ἐκσῴζει με, τῷδε δʼ οἴχομαι.

Τεῦκρος

μή νυν ἀτίμα θεούς, θεοῖς σεσωσμένος.

Μενέλαος

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἂν ψέξαιμι δαιμόνων νόμους;
1130

Τεῦκρος

εἰ τοὺς θανόντας οὐκ ἐᾷς θάπτειν παρών.

Μενέλαος

τούς γʼ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ πολεμίους. οὐ γὰρ καλόν.

Τεῦκρος

ἦ σοὶ γὰρ Αἴας πολέμιος προύστη ποτέ;

Μενέλαος

μισοῦντʼ ἐμίσει· καὶ σὺ τοῦτʼ ἠπίστασο.

Τεῦκρος

κλέπτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ ψηφοποιὸς ηὑρέθης.
1135

Μενέλαος

ἐν τοῖς δικασταῖς, κοὐκ ἐμοί, τόδʼ ἐσφάλη.

Τεῦκρος

πόλλʼ ἂν κακῶς λάθρᾳ σὺ κλέψειας κακά.

Μενέλαος

τοῦτʼ εἰς ἀνίαν τοὔπος ἔρχεταί τινι.

Τεῦκρος

οὐ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἢ λυπήσομεν.

Μενέλαος

ἕν σοι φράσω· τόνδʼ ἐστὶν οὐχὶ θαπτέον.
1140

Τεῦκρος

ἀλλʼ ἀντακούσει τοῦτον ὡς τεθάψεται.

Our bowman carries no small pride, I see.
1120

TEU

No mere mechanic’s menial craft is mine.

MEN

How wouldst thou vaunt it hadst thou but a shield!

TEU

Unarmed I fear not thee in panoply.

MEN

Redoubted is the wrath lives on thy tongue.

TEU

Whose cause is just hath licence to be proud.
1125

MEN

Just, that my murderer have a peaceful end?

TEU

Thy murderer? Strange, to have been slain and live!

MEN

Yea, through Heaven’s mercy. By his will, I am dead.

TEU

If Heaven have saved thee, give the Gods their due.

MEN

Am I the man to spurn at Heaven’s command?
1130

TEU

Thou dost, to come and frustrate burial.

MEN

Honour forbids to yield my foe a tomb.