Sophocles, Ajax, Richard Jebb (Translator), 525

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Chorus

Ajax, I wish that pity touched your heart as it does mine. Then you would approve her words.
525

Ajax

She will have approval as far as I am concerned, if only she takes heart and graciously does my bidding.

Tecmessa

Dear Ajax, I will obey you in everything.

Ajax

Then bring me my son, so that I may see him.
530

Tecmessa

But in my fear I released him from my keeping.

Ajax

Because of these troubles of mine? Or what do you mean?

Tecmessa

Yes, for fear that somehow the poor child would get in your way, and die.

Ajax

Yes, that would have been truly worthy of my destiny.

Tecmessa

Well, at least I took care to avert that disaster.
535

Ajax

I approve of your action and of your foresight.

Tecmessa

How, then, can I serve you, as things stand now?

Ajax

Let me speak to him and see him face to face.

Tecmessa

Oh, yes—he is close by, watched by our servants.

Ajax

Then why is his presence delayed?
540

Tecmessa

My child, your father calls you. Bring him here, servant, whichever of you is guiding his steps.

Ajax

Is the man coming? Or has he missed your call?

Tecmessa

Here now one of the servants approaches with him.

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.) — 592-633 focus

str. 1

ΧΟΡΟΣ

ὦ κλεινὰ Σαλαμὶς, σὺ μέν που

ναίεις ἁλίπλαγκτος, εὐδαίμων,

πᾶσιν περίφαντος ἀεί·

ἐγὼ δ’ ὁ τλάμων παλαιὸς ἀφ’ οὗ χρόνος 600
595

Ἰδαίᾳ μίμνω

λειμωνίᾳ πόᾳ μήλων,

ἀνήριθμος, αἰὲν εὐνώμᾳ

χρόνῳ τρυχόμενος,

605 κακὰν ὲλπιδ’ ἔχων,
600

ἔτι μέ ποτ’ ἀνύσειν

τὸν ἀπότροπον ἀίδηλον Ἅιδαν.

4

ΧΟΡΟΣ

Καί μοι δυςθεράπευτος Αἴας

610 ξύνεστιν ἔφεδρος, ὤ μοί μοι,

θείᾳ μανίᾳ ξύναυλος·
605

ὅν ἐξεπέμψω πρὶν δὴ ποτὲ θουρίῳ

κρατοῦντ’ ὲν Ἄρει ·

615 νῦν δ’ αὖ φρενὸς οἰοβώτας

φίλοις μέγα πένθος εὕρηται.

τὰ πρὶν δ’ ἔργα χεροῖν
610

μεγίστας ἀρετάς,

ἄφιλα παρ’ ἀφίλοις

620 ἔπεσ’ ἔπεσε μελέοις Ἀτρείδαις.

str. 2

ΧΟΡΟΣ

ἦ που παλαιὰ, μὲν ἔντροφος ἁμέρᾳ

625 λευκῷ δὲ γήρᾳ μάτηρ νιν ὅταν νοσοῦντα
615

φρενομόρως ἀκούσῃ

αἴλινον, αἴλινον,

οὐδ’ οἰκτράς γόον ὄρνιθος ἀηδοῦς

ἥσει δύςμορος,

630 ἀλλ’ ὀξυτόνους μὲν ᾠδὰς
620

θρηνήσει, χερόπληκτοι δ’

ἐν στέρνοισι πεσοῦνται

δοῦποι, καὶ πολιᾶς ἄμυγμα χαίτας.

ΧΟΡΟΣ

2

635 Κρείσσων γὰρ Ἅιδᾳ κεύθων ὁ νοσῶν μάταν,

ὃς ἐκ πατρῴας ἥκων γενεᾶς ἄριστος
625

πολυπόνων Ἀχαιῶν,

οὐκ ἔτι συντρόφοις

640 ὀργαῖς ἔμπεδος, ἀλλ’ ἐκτὸς ὁμιλεῖ.

ὦ τλᾶμον πάτερ!

οἵαν σε μένει πυθέσθαι
630

παιδὸς δύςφορον ἄταν,

ἂν οὔπω τις ἔθρεψεν

645 αἰὼν Αἰακιδᾶν ἄτερθε τοῦδε.

Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 596-645 focus

str. 1

Χορός

ὦ κλεινὰ Σαλαμίς, σὺ μέν

που ναίεις ἁλίπλακτος εὐδαίμων,

πᾶσιν περίφαντος αἰεί·

ἐγὼ δʼ ὁ τλάμων παλαιὸς ἀφʼ οὗ χρόνος
600

μίμνων ἀνʼ Ἴδαν λειμῶνι ποᾶντι μη-

νῶν ἀνήριθμος αἰὲν εὐ-

νῶμαι χρόνῳ τρυχόμενος,
605

κακὰν ἐλπίδʼ ἔχων ἔτι μέ

ποτʼ ἀνύσειν τὸν ἀπότροπον ἀΐδηλον Ἅιδαν.

ant. 1

Χορός

1

καί μοι δυσθεράπευτος Αἴ-

ας ξύνεστιν ἔφεδρος, ὤμοι μοι,
610

θείᾳ μανίᾳ ξύναυλος·

ὃν ἐξεπέμψω πρὶν δή ποτε θουρίῳ

κρατοῦντʼ ἐν Ἄρει· νῦν δʼ αὖ φρενὸς οἰοβώ-

τας φίλοις μέγα πένθος ηὕ-
615

ρηται. τὰ πρὶν δʼ ἔργα χεροῖν

μεγίστας ἀρετᾶς ἄφιλα

παρʼ ἀφίλοις ἔπεσʼ ἔπεσε μελέοις Ἀτρείδαις.
620
¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²

str. 2

Χορός

2

ἦ που παλαιᾷ μὲν σύντροφος ἁμέρᾳ,

λευκῷ τε γήρᾳ μάτηρ νιν ὅταν νοσοῦν-
625

τα φρενοβόρως ἀκούσῃ,

αἴλινον αἴλινον

οὐδʼ οἰκτρᾶς γόον ὄρνιθος ἀηδοῦς

ἥσει δύσμορος, ἀλλʼ
630

ὀξυτόνους μὲν ᾠδὰς

θρηνήσει, χερόπλακτοι δʼ

ἐν στέρνοισι πεσοῦνται

δοῦποι καὶ πολιᾶς ἄμυγμα χαίτας.

ant. 2

Χορός

2

κρείσσων γὰρ Ἅιδᾳ κεύθων ὁ νοσῶν μάταν,
635

ὃς ἐκ πατρῴας ἥκων γενεᾶς ἄρι-

στα πολυπόνων Ἀχαιῶν,

οὐκέτι συντρόφοις

ὀργαῖς ἔμπεδος, ἀλλʼ ἐκτὸς ὁμιλεῖ.
640

ὦ τλᾶμον πάτερ, οἵ-

αν σε μένει πυθέσθαι

παιδὸς δύσφορον ἄταν,

ἃν οὔπω τις ἔθρεψεν

αἰὼν Αἰακιδᾶν ἄτερθε τοῦδε.
645

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 525 focus

Αἴας, ἔχειν σ᾽ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγὼ φρενὶ
525

θέλοιμ᾽ ἄν· αἰνοίης γὰρ ἂν τὰ τῆσδ᾽ ἔπη.

ΑΙΑΣ.

καὶ κάρτ' ἐπαίνου τεύξεται πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ,

ἐὰν μόνον τὸ ταχθὲν εὐ τολμᾷ τελεῖν.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ φίλ' Αἴας, πάντ' ἔγωγε πείσομαι.

ΑΙΑΣ.

κόμιζε νύν νῦν μοι παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὡς ἴδω.
530

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γ' αὐτὸν ἐξελυσάμην.

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς κακοῖσιν, ἢ τί μοι λέγεις;

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

μὴ σοί γέ που δύστηνος ἀντήσας θάνοι.

ΑΙΑΣ.

πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν τὴν ἂν γέ τ᾽ ἂν ἦν δαίμονος τοὐμοῦ τόδε.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν ἐγὼ 'φύλαξα φυλάξω φύλαξα τοῦτό γ᾽ ἀρκέσαι.
535

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἐπῄνεσ᾽ ἔργον καὶ πρόνοιαν ἣν ἔθου.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ὡς ἐκ τῶνδ᾽ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;

ΑΙΑΣ.

δός μοι προσειπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ τ᾿ ἰδεῖν.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

καὶ μὴν πέλας γε om. add. προσπόλοις φυλάσσεται φυλάσεται φυλάσσεται.

ΑΙΑΣ.

τί δῆτα μέλλει μὴ οὐ παρουσίαν ἔχειν ;
540

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

ὦ παῖ, πατὴρ καλεῖ σε. δεῦρο προσπόλων

ἄγ᾿ αὐτὸν ὅσπερ χερσὶν εὐθύνων κυρεῖς.

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἕρποντι φωνεῖς, ἢ λελειμμένῳ οὐκ ἀκούοντι λόγων λόγων?

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

καὶ δὴ κομίζει προσπόλων ὅδ' ὧδ᾽ ὃδ' ἐγγύθεν.

ΑΙΑΣ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 525 focus

Χορός

Αἴας, ἔχειν σʼ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγὼ φρενὶ
525

θέλοιμʼ ἄν· αἰνοίης γὰρ ἂν τὰ τῆσδʼ ἔπη.

Αἴας

καὶ κάρτʼ ἐπαίνου τεύξεται πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ,

ἐὰν μόνον τὸ ταχθὲν εὖ τολμᾷ τελεῖν.

Τέκμησσα

ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Αἴας, πάντʼ ἔγωγε πείσομαι.

Αἴας

κόμιζέ νύν μοι παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὡς ἴδω.
530

Τέκμησσα

καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γʼ αὐτὸν ἐξελυσάμην.

Αἴας

ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς κακοῖσιν; ἢ τί μοι λέγεις;

Τέκμησσα

μὴ σοί γέ που δύστηνος ἀντήσας θάνοι.

Αἴας

πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν δαίμονος τοὐμοῦ τόδε.

Τέκμησσα

ἀλλʼ οὖν ἐγὼ ʼφύλαξα τοῦτό γʼ ἀρκέσαι.
535

Αἴας

ἐπῄνεσʼ ἔργον καὶ πρόνοιαν ἣν ἔθου.

Τέκμησσα

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ὡς ἐκ τῶνδʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;

Αἴας

δός μοι προσειπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ τʼ ἰδεῖν.

Τέκμησσα

καὶ μὴν πέλας γε προσπόλοις φυλάσσεται.

Αἴας

τί δῆτα μέλλει μὴ οὐ παρουσίαν ἔχειν;
540

Τέκμησσα

ὦ παῖ, πατὴρ καλεῖ σε. δεῦρο προσπόλων

ἄγʼ αὐτὸν ὅσπερ χερσὶν εὐθύνων κυρεῖς.

Αἴας

ἕρποντι φωνεῖς ἢ λελειμμένῳ λόγων;

Τέκμησσα

καὶ δὴ κομίζει προσπόλων ὅδʼ ἐγγύθεν.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 525 focus

Aias, I would thy heart were touched like mine
525

With pity; then her words would win thy praise.

AI

My praise she shall not miss, if she perform

My bidding with firm heart, and fail not here.

TEC

Dear Aias, I will fail in nought thou bidst me.

AI

Bring me my boy, that I may see his face.
530

TEC

Oh, in my terror I conveyed him hence!

AI

Clear of this mischief, mean’st thou? or for what?

TEC

Lest he might run to thee, poor child, and die.

AI

That issue had been worthy of my fate!

TEC

But I kept watch to fence his life from harm.
535

AI

’Twas wisely done. I praise thy foresight there.

TEC

Well, since ’tis so, how can I help thee now?

AI

Give me to speak to him and see him near.

TEC

He stands close by with servants tending him.

AI

Then why doth he not come, but still delay?
540

TEC

Thy father calls thee, child. Come, lead him hither,

Whichever of you holds him by the hand.

AI

Moves he? or do thine accents idly fall?

TEC

See, where thy people bring him to thine eye.

AI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 525 focus

Ich wollte, Mitleid wohnte dir im Busen, Herr,

Wie mir; gewiß, du lobtest, was dir diese rieth.
505

Ajas.

Und sicher wird ihr hohes Lob von mir zu Theil,

Wofern sie nur willfährig mein Gebot erfüllt.

Tekmessa.

In Allem, Ajas, theurer Mann, gehorch' ich dir.

Ajas.

So bringe meinen Knaben mir, ich will ihn sehn.

Tekmessa.

In banger Sorge hab' ich ihn hinweggebracht.
510

Ajas.

In meinem Leid hier? Oder was besorgtest du?

Tekmessa.

Er finde, dir begegnend, jammervollen Tod.

Ajas.

Dazu mich treiben konnte wohl mein böser Geist.

Tekmessa.

Dies abzuwehren, gab ich ihn in treue Hut.

Ajas.

Die That, die Vorsicht lob' ich, die du hier geübt.
515

Tekmessa.

Und welchen Dienst denn kann ich dir noch weiter thun?

Ajas.

Laß mich den Sohn anreden, ihm in's Auge seh'n.

Tekmessa.

Unfern von hier bewahren unsre Diener ihn.

Ajas.

Was säumt er also, daß er nicht sogleich erscheint?

Tekmessa.

Mein Sohn, der Vater ruft dich. Bring' ihn uns heran
520

Der Diener, der ihn eben an den Händen führt!

Ajas.

Erscheint er oder hört er nicht auf deinen Ruf?

Tekmessa.

Schon bringt ihn hier ein Diener aus der Nähe her.

(Eurysakes kommt, von einem Diener geführt, der ihn der Tekmessa übergibt.)

Ajas.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 525 focus

Oh ! that thou couldst feel
525

Pity like mine for tliis unhappy woman !
525

Then wouldst thou say her words deserve thy

praise.

Ajax

And praised she shall be, if she but perforin

What I require.

In all will I obey thee,

I would see my child :

I hid him from thy sight

Let him be brought.
530

Because of
530

Tecmessa

It was : I feared indeed thou mightst destroy

him.

Ajax

And well thou mightst : a deed like that

became

My sad condition.

Tecmessa

Therefore, to prevent it

I kept him from thee.

Tecmessa

What wouldst thou have me do ?
535

And speak to him.
535

Tecmessa

He is not far from hence ;

The servants have him in theii' care.

May I not see him ?

Tecmessa

Boy ! thy father calls thee :

Let some one bring him hither.

Doth he not hoar thee?

Tecmessa

They have brought him to thee.

l^Enter Servants with Eurysaces.

Ajax
Scene III.

Bring him this way : for if he be the son

Will not aflright him ; he must learn like me

In earliest years the savage laws of war,

And be inured to scenes of death and slaughter.

Mayst thou, my boy, be happier than thy fatlier !

In all things elt^e it will be no disgrace

To copy me : I envy thee, my child,

For that thou seest not thy own wretchedness ;

The happiness of Kfe is not to know.

Thy ignorance will keep thee free from pain,

Till time shall teach thee what it is to grieye

And to rejoice ; then must thou show thy foes

From whom thou art descended. May the breath

Of life meantime nourish thy tender frame,

That thou mayst prove a comfort to thy mother !

I know there's not a Grecian that will dare

Insult thee when thy father is no more ;

For I shall leave thee to the best of guardians.

The faithful Teucer, who far from thee now,

Sent forth by Greece, repels the invading foe.

Of you, my friends, companions of the war,

The only boon I ask is, that ye urge

This last request to Teucer : say, I begged

That straight to Telamon and Eribcea,

My aged parents, he would bear my child,

To be the joy of their declining years,

Till death shall call them to the shades below.

Let not my arms by Greece, or by that plague

Ulysses

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 525 focus

Oh that thy bosom, Ajax, felt, like mine,
525

The touch of pity! Thou wou'dst praise her words.

Ajax

Great praise indeed from me she will obtain,

My mandates firmly if she dare perform, Berde

Tecmessa

All, my loved Ajax, all I will perform,

Obedient to thy will.

Ajax

Bring then my son,
530

That I may see him.
530

Tecmessa

By my fears alarm'd

Hence I removed him.

Ajax

In these recent ills?

Or what thy fears?,

Tecmessa

Lest the unhappy child

By meeting thee should die.

Ajax

With my ill fate.

That had accorded

Tecmessa

Anxious was my care
535

Secure to keep him.
535

Ajax

Prudent was the act;

TI thank thee for the caution.

Tecmessa

What besides

Grateful to thee can I perform ?

Ajax

My son,

Tecmessa

Let me speak to him; let me see him.

Ajax

Not far thy menial train attend their charge,
540

Tecmessa

My son, thy father calls thee: in his hands

Whoe'er now holds him, hither let him haste., I

Ajax

Comes he thus call'd, or hears he not thy voice?

Tecmessa

Advancing near th' attendant with him comes.

EURYSACES brought in.

Ajax

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-312-1 ἔχειν σ’ ἂν … θέλοιμ’ ἄν ¹

mvp-comment-312-2 ὡς κἀγὼ ²

mvp-comment-313-1 καὶ κάρτ’ ³

mvp-comment-313-2 τὸ ταχθὲν ⁴

mvp-comment-313-3 τολμᾷ ⁵

mvp-comment-313-4 For the alliteration (

παρήχησις

) cp. 1112 : O.T. 371

τυφλὸς τά τ’ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ’ ὄμματ’ εἶ

(n.).

mvp-comment-314-1 ἀλλ’ ⁶

mvp-comment-315-1 ὡς ἴδω ⁷

mvp-comment-316-1 καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γ’ ⁸ γε ⁹ φόβοισι ¹⁰ καὶ μήν … γε ¹¹ γε ¹²

mvp-comment-316-2 φόβοισι ¹³

mvp-comment-316-3 ἐξελυσάμην ¹⁴

mvp-comment-316-4 The conjecture ἐξερρυσάμην ¹⁵

mvp-comment-317-1 κακοῖσιν ¹⁶

mvp-comment-318-1 μὴ σοί γε ¹⁷ σοί ¹⁸

mvp-comment-319-1 πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-319-2 δαίμονος ²⁰

mvp-comment-320-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν ²¹ γε ²²

mvp-comment-320-2 )φύλαξα ²³

mvp-comment-320-3 ἀρκέσαι ²⁴

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐπῄνες’ ²⁵

mvp-comment-321-2 ἔθου ²⁶

mvp-comment-322-1 ὡς ἐκ τῶνδ’ ²⁷ ἐκτῶνδε ²⁸ ὡς ²⁹

mvp-comment-323-1 καὶ μὴν ³⁰

mvp-comment-323-2 γε ³¹ πέλας. ³²

mvp-comment-323-3 προσπόλοις ³³

mvp-comment-324-1 μὴ οὐ ³⁴ τί μέλλει ³⁵

mvp-comment-324-2 παρουσίαν ἔχειν ³⁶

mvp-comment-325-1 εὐθύνων ³⁷

mvp-comment-326-1 ἕρποντι φωνεῖς ³⁸

mvp-comment-326-2 λελειμμένῳλόγων ³⁹

mvp-comment-327-1 καὶ δὴ ⁴⁰

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

525-526. mvp-comment-358-1 For av repeated, see Essay on L. § 27. p. 46 e.

527-528. mvp-comment-359-1 The alliteration with T helps to express harshness here. Ajax will not own to feeling pity for Tecmessa, but catches at the word αἰνοίης.

528. mvp-comment-360-1 ἐὰν.. τολμᾷ] Ajax is not thinking of the fears which Tecmessa presently expresses. He simply means, 'I am ready enough to praise her if instead of weak complaints she will bring herself to do what I command.'

531. mvp-comment-361-1 'Oh, it was in my terror-I conveyed him out of the way.' Tecmessa is divided between obedience and fear, and interposes an excuse. The particles, καὶ μὴν.. γε, call attention to something which tends to limit or delay compliance. 'Why, so I can, Sir, but-' (Othello, 3. 4). Cp. Ο. Τ. 749, καὶ μὴν ὀκνῶ μέν: infr. 539.

532. mvp-comment-362-1 By using the general word κακοῖσιν, Ajax avoids specifying the evil, which is too manifest. τί μοι λέγεις;] 'What mean you, pray?' Cp. O. T. 954, τί μοι λέγει; μοι here expresses impatience.

533. mvp-comment-363-1 Tecmessa cannot withhold the truth from Ajax. Cp. supr. 315.

534. mvp-comment-364-1 'That truly would have been in character with my destiny.' The descriptive genitive (= πρὸς δαίμονος τουμοῦ) takes the place of the more usual dative after the participle. Cp. Plat. Polit. 271 Ε, τῆς τοιαύτης .. κατακοσμήσεως ἑπόμενα.

535. mvp-comment-365-1 'Well, my watchfulness did that service at any rate.' Join τοῦτο with ἀρκέσαι, ἱ.ε. τὸ μὴ θανεῖν σφε.

536. mvp-comment-366-1 ἐπῄνεσ'] For this use of the aorist, see Essay on L. § 32, 6. p. 55. Ajax still speaks as a master to a slave, but he feels to the full extent the service rendered in saving the life of his son.

537. mvp-comment-367-1 Tecmessa remains irresolute, till, in 540, Ajax' anger begins to rise.

540. mvp-comment-368-1 παρουσίαν ἔχειν = παρεῖναι. So in Ant. 237, ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν = ἀθυμεῖς, and supr. 139, ὅκνον ἔχω = ὀκνῶ.

541. mvp-comment-369-1 προσπόλων] For this partitive genitive, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 15.

542. mvp-comment-370-1 ὅσπερ κυρεῖς] These words indicate that the child cannot yet go alone.

543. mvp-comment-371-1 ἕρποντι] Sc. τῷ προσπόλῳ, i.e. 'Does he come when you speak?' Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 β. ἢ λελειμμένῳ λόγων] 'Or do your words not reach to him?'

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Chorus Ajax, I wish that pity touched your heart as it does mine. Then you would approve her words. 525

Ajax She will have approval as far as I am concerned, if only she takes heart and graciously does my bidding.

Tecmessa Dear Ajax, I will obey you in everything.

Ajax Then bring me my son, so that I may see him. 530

Tecmessa But in my fear I released him from my keeping.

Ajax Because of these troubles of mine? Or what do you mean?

Tecmessa Yes, for fear that somehow the poor child would get in your way, and die.

Ajax Yes, that would have been truly worthy of my destiny.

Tecmessa Well, at least I took care to avert that disaster. 535

Ajax I approve of your action and of your foresight.

Tecmessa How, then, can I serve you, as things stand now?

Ajax Let me speak to him and see him face to face.

Tecmessa Oh, yes—he is close by, watched by our servants.

Ajax Then why is his presence delayed? 540

Tecmessa My child, your father calls you. Bring him here, servant, whichever of you is guiding his steps.

Ajax Is the man coming? Or has he missed your call?

Tecmessa Here now one of the servants approaches with him.

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Αἴας, ἔχειν σ᾽ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγὼ φρενὶ 525 θέλοιμ᾽ ἄν· αἰνοίης γὰρ ἂν τὰ τῆσδ᾽ ἔπη.

ΑΙΑΣ. καὶ κάρτ' ἐπαίνου τεύξεται πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ, ἐὰν μόνον τὸ ταχθὲν εὐ τολμᾷ τελεῖν.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. ἀλλ᾽, ὦ φίλ' Αἴας, πάντ' ἔγωγε πείσομαι.

ΑΙΑΣ. κόμιζε νύν νῦν μοι παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὡς ἴδω. 530

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γ' αὐτὸν ἐξελυσάμην.

ΑΙΑΣ. ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς κακοῖσιν, ἢ τί μοι λέγεις;

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. μὴ σοί γέ που δύστηνος ἀντήσας θάνοι.

ΑΙΑΣ. πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν τὴν ἂν γέ τ᾽ ἂν ἦν δαίμονος τοὐμοῦ τόδε.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. ἀλλ᾽ οὖν ἐγὼ 'φύλαξα φυλάξω φύλαξα τοῦτό γ᾽ ἀρκέσαι. 535

ΑΙΑΣ. ἐπῄνεσ᾽ ἔργον καὶ πρόνοιαν ἣν ἔθου.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ὡς ἐκ τῶνδ᾽ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;

ΑΙΑΣ. δός μοι προσειπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ τ᾿ ἰδεῖν.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. καὶ μὴν πέλας γε om. add. προσπόλοις φυλάσσεται φυλάσεται φυλάσσεται.

ΑΙΑΣ. τί δῆτα μέλλει μὴ οὐ παρουσίαν ἔχειν ; 540

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. ὦ παῖ, πατὴρ καλεῖ σε. δεῦρο προσπόλων ἄγ᾿ αὐτὸν ὅσπερ χερσὶν εὐθύνων κυρεῖς.

ΑΙΑΣ. ἕρποντι φωνεῖς, ἢ λελειμμένῳ οὐκ ἀκούοντι λόγων λόγων?

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ. καὶ δὴ κομίζει προσπόλων ὅδ' ὧδ᾽ ὃδ' ἐγγύθεν.

ΑΙΑΣ.

Χορός Αἴας, ἔχειν σʼ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγὼ φρενὶ 525 θέλοιμʼ ἄν· αἰνοίης γὰρ ἂν τὰ τῆσδʼ ἔπη.

Αἴας καὶ κάρτʼ ἐπαίνου τεύξεται πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ, ἐὰν μόνον τὸ ταχθὲν εὖ τολμᾷ τελεῖν.

Τέκμησσα ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Αἴας, πάντʼ ἔγωγε πείσομαι.

Αἴας κόμιζέ νύν μοι παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὡς ἴδω. 530

Τέκμησσα καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γʼ αὐτὸν ἐξελυσάμην.

Αἴας ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς κακοῖσιν; ἢ τί μοι λέγεις;

Τέκμησσα μὴ σοί γέ που δύστηνος ἀντήσας θάνοι.

Αἴας πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν δαίμονος τοὐμοῦ τόδε.

Τέκμησσα ἀλλʼ οὖν ἐγὼ ʼφύλαξα τοῦτό γʼ ἀρκέσαι. 535

Αἴας ἐπῄνεσʼ ἔργον καὶ πρόνοιαν ἣν ἔθου.

Τέκμησσα τί δῆτʼ ἂν ὡς ἐκ τῶνδʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;

Αἴας δός μοι προσειπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ τʼ ἰδεῖν.

Τέκμησσα καὶ μὴν πέλας γε προσπόλοις φυλάσσεται.

Αἴας τί δῆτα μέλλει μὴ οὐ παρουσίαν ἔχειν; 540

Τέκμησσα ὦ παῖ, πατὴρ καλεῖ σε. δεῦρο προσπόλων ἄγʼ αὐτὸν ὅσπερ χερσὶν εὐθύνων κυρεῖς.

Αἴας ἕρποντι φωνεῖς ἢ λελειμμένῳ λόγων;

Τέκμησσα καὶ δὴ κομίζει προσπόλων ὅδʼ ἐγγύθεν.

Aias, I would thy heart were touched like mine 525 With pity; then her words would win thy praise.

AI My praise she shall not miss, if she perform My bidding with firm heart, and fail not here.

TEC Dear Aias, I will fail in nought thou bidst me.

AI Bring me my boy, that I may see his face. 530

TEC Oh, in my terror I conveyed him hence!

AI Clear of this mischief, mean’st thou? or for what?

TEC Lest he might run to thee, poor child, and die.

AI That issue had been worthy of my fate!

TEC But I kept watch to fence his life from harm. 535

AI ’Twas wisely done. I praise thy foresight there.

TEC Well, since ’tis so, how can I help thee now?

AI Give me to speak to him and see him near.

TEC He stands close by with servants tending him.

AI Then why doth he not come, but still delay? 540

TEC Thy father calls thee, child. Come, lead him hither, Whichever of you holds him by the hand.

AI Moves he? or do thine accents idly fall?

TEC See, where thy people bring him to thine eye.

AI

Ich wollte, Mitleid wohnte dir im Busen, Herr, Wie mir; gewiß, du lobtest, was dir diese rieth. 505

Ajas. Und sicher wird ihr hohes Lob von mir zu Theil, Wofern sie nur willfährig mein Gebot erfüllt.

Tekmessa. In Allem, Ajas, theurer Mann, gehorch' ich dir.

Ajas. So bringe meinen Knaben mir, ich will ihn sehn.

Tekmessa. In banger Sorge hab' ich ihn hinweggebracht. 510

Ajas. In meinem Leid hier? Oder was besorgtest du?

Tekmessa. Er finde, dir begegnend, jammervollen Tod.

Chorus

Ajax, I wish that pity touched your heart as it does mine. Then you would approve her words.
525

Ajax

She will have approval as far as I am concerned, if only she takes heart and graciously does my bidding.

Tecmessa

Dear Ajax, I will obey you in everything.

Ajax

Then bring me my son, so that I may see him.
530

Tecmessa

But in my fear I released him from my keeping.

Ajax

Because of these troubles of mine? Or what do you mean?

Tecmessa

Yes, for fear that somehow the poor child would get in your way, and die.

Ajax

Yes, that would have been truly worthy of my destiny.

Tecmessa

Well, at least I took care to avert that disaster.
535

Ajax

I approve of your action and of your foresight.

Tecmessa

How, then, can I serve you, as things stand now?

Ajax

Let me speak to him and see him face to face.

Tecmessa

Oh, yes—he is close by, watched by our servants.

Ajax

Then why is his presence delayed?
540

Tecmessa

My child, your father calls you. Bring him here, servant, whichever of you is guiding his steps.

Ajax

Is the man coming? Or has he missed your call?

Tecmessa

Here now one of the servants approaches with him.

Αἴας, ἔχειν σ᾽ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγὼ φρενὶ
525

θέλοιμ᾽ ἄν· αἰνοίης γὰρ ἂν τὰ τῆσδ᾽ ἔπη.

ΑΙΑΣ.

καὶ κάρτ' ἐπαίνου τεύξεται πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ,

ἐὰν μόνον τὸ ταχθὲν εὐ τολμᾷ τελεῖν.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ φίλ' Αἴας, πάντ' ἔγωγε πείσομαι.

ΑΙΑΣ.

κόμιζε νύν νῦν μοι παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὡς ἴδω.
530

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γ' αὐτὸν ἐξελυσάμην.

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς κακοῖσιν, ἢ τί μοι λέγεις;

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

μὴ σοί γέ που δύστηνος ἀντήσας θάνοι.

ΑΙΑΣ.

πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν τὴν ἂν γέ τ᾽ ἂν ἦν δαίμονος τοὐμοῦ τόδε.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν ἐγὼ 'φύλαξα φυλάξω φύλαξα τοῦτό γ᾽ ἀρκέσαι.
535

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἐπῄνεσ᾽ ἔργον καὶ πρόνοιαν ἣν ἔθου.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ὡς ἐκ τῶνδ᾽ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;

ΑΙΑΣ.

δός μοι προσειπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ τ᾿ ἰδεῖν.

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

καὶ μὴν πέλας γε om. add. προσπόλοις φυλάσσεται φυλάσεται φυλάσσεται.

ΑΙΑΣ.

τί δῆτα μέλλει μὴ οὐ παρουσίαν ἔχειν ;
540

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

ὦ παῖ, πατὴρ καλεῖ σε. δεῦρο προσπόλων

ἄγ᾿ αὐτὸν ὅσπερ χερσὶν εὐθύνων κυρεῖς.

ΑΙΑΣ.

ἕρποντι φωνεῖς, ἢ λελειμμένῳ οὐκ ἀκούοντι λόγων λόγων?

ΤΕΚΜΗΣΣΑ.

καὶ δὴ κομίζει προσπόλων ὅδ' ὧδ᾽ ὃδ' ἐγγύθεν.

Χορός

Αἴας, ἔχειν σʼ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγὼ φρενὶ
525

θέλοιμʼ ἄν· αἰνοίης γὰρ ἂν τὰ τῆσδʼ ἔπη.

Αἴας

καὶ κάρτʼ ἐπαίνου τεύξεται πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ,

ἐὰν μόνον τὸ ταχθὲν εὖ τολμᾷ τελεῖν.

Τέκμησσα

ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Αἴας, πάντʼ ἔγωγε πείσομαι.

Αἴας

κόμιζέ νύν μοι παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὡς ἴδω.
530

Τέκμησσα

καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γʼ αὐτὸν ἐξελυσάμην.

Αἴας

ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς κακοῖσιν; ἢ τί μοι λέγεις;

Τέκμησσα

μὴ σοί γέ που δύστηνος ἀντήσας θάνοι.

Αἴας

πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν δαίμονος τοὐμοῦ τόδε.

Τέκμησσα

ἀλλʼ οὖν ἐγὼ ʼφύλαξα τοῦτό γʼ ἀρκέσαι.
535

Αἴας

ἐπῄνεσʼ ἔργον καὶ πρόνοιαν ἣν ἔθου.

Τέκμησσα

τί δῆτʼ ἂν ὡς ἐκ τῶνδʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;

Αἴας

δός μοι προσειπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ τʼ ἰδεῖν.

Τέκμησσα

καὶ μὴν πέλας γε προσπόλοις φυλάσσεται.

Αἴας

τί δῆτα μέλλει μὴ οὐ παρουσίαν ἔχειν;
540

Τέκμησσα

ὦ παῖ, πατὴρ καλεῖ σε. δεῦρο προσπόλων

ἄγʼ αὐτὸν ὅσπερ χερσὶν εὐθύνων κυρεῖς.

Αἴας

ἕρποντι φωνεῖς ἢ λελειμμένῳ λόγων;

Τέκμησσα

καὶ δὴ κομίζει προσπόλων ὅδʼ ἐγγύθεν.

Aias, I would thy heart were touched like mine
525

With pity; then her words would win thy praise.

AI

My praise she shall not miss, if she perform

My bidding with firm heart, and fail not here.

TEC

Dear Aias, I will fail in nought thou bidst me.

AI

Bring me my boy, that I may see his face.
530

TEC

Oh, in my terror I conveyed him hence!

AI

Clear of this mischief, mean’st thou? or for what?

TEC

Lest he might run to thee, poor child, and die.

AI

That issue had been worthy of my fate!

TEC

But I kept watch to fence his life from harm.
535

AI

’Twas wisely done. I praise thy foresight there.

TEC

Well, since ’tis so, how can I help thee now?

AI

Give me to speak to him and see him near.

TEC

He stands close by with servants tending him.

AI

Then why doth he not come, but still delay?
540

TEC

Thy father calls thee, child. Come, lead him hither,

Whichever of you holds him by the hand.

AI

Moves he? or do thine accents idly fall?

TEC

See, where thy people bring him to thine eye.

Ich wollte, Mitleid wohnte dir im Busen, Herr,

Wie mir; gewiß, du lobtest, was dir diese rieth.
505

Ajas.

Und sicher wird ihr hohes Lob von mir zu Theil,

Wofern sie nur willfährig mein Gebot erfüllt.

Tekmessa.

In Allem, Ajas, theurer Mann, gehorch' ich dir.

Ajas.

So bringe meinen Knaben mir, ich will ihn sehn.

Tekmessa.

In banger Sorge hab' ich ihn hinweggebracht.
510

Ajas.

In meinem Leid hier? Oder was besorgtest du?

Tekmessa.

Er finde, dir begegnend, jammervollen Tod.

Ajas.

Dazu mich treiben konnte wohl mein böser Geist.

Tekmessa.

Dies abzuwehren, gab ich ihn in treue Hut.

Ajas.

Die That, die Vorsicht lob' ich, die du hier geübt.
515

Tekmessa.

Und welchen Dienst denn kann ich dir noch weiter thun?

Ajas.

Laß mich den Sohn anreden, ihm in's Auge seh'n.