Sophocles, Ajax, ed. Francis Storr, 1376

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Ὀδυσσεύς

καὶ νῦν γε Τεύκρῳ τἀπὸ τοῦδʼ ἀγγέλλομαι,

ὅσον τότʼ ἐχθρὸς ἦ, τοσόνδʼ εἶναι φίλος.

καὶ τὸν θανόντα τόνδε συνθάπτειν θέλω

καὶ ξυμπονεῖν καὶ μηδὲν ἐλλείπειν ὅσων

χρὴ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἀνδράσιν πονεῖν βροτούς.
1380

Τεῦκρος

ἄριστʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ, πάντʼ ἔχω σʼ ἐπαινέσαι

λόγοισι, καί μʼ ἔψευσας ἐλπίδος πολύ.

τούτῳ γὰρ ὢν ἔχθιστος Ἀργείων ἀνὴρ

μόνος παρέστης χερσίν, οὐδʼ ἔτλης παρὼν

θανόντι τῷδε ζῶν ἐφυβρίσαι μέγα,
1385

ὡς ὁ στρατηγὸς οὑπιβρόντητος μολὼν

αὐτός τε χὠ ξύναιμος ἠθελησάτην

λωβητὸν αὐτὸν ἐκβαλεῖν ταφῆς ἄτερ.

τοιγάρ σφʼ Ὀλύμπου τοῦδʼ ὁ πρεσβεύων πατὴρ

μνήμων τʼ Ἐρινὺς καὶ τελεσφόρος Δίκη
1390

κακοὺς κακῶς φθείρειαν, ὥσπερ ἤθελον

τὸν ἄνδρα λώβαις ἐκβαλεῖν ἀναξίως.

σὲ δʼ, ὦ γεραιοῦ σπέρμα Λαέρτου πατρός,

τάφου μὲν ὀκνῶ τοῦδʼ ἐπιψαύειν ἐᾶν,

μὴ τῷ θανόντι τοῦτο δυσχερὲς ποιῶ·
1395

τὰ δʼ ἄλλα καὶ ξύμπρασσε, κεἴ τινα στρατοῦ

θέλεις κομίζειν, οὐδὲν ἄλγος ἕξομεν.

ἐγὼ δὲ τἄλλα πάντα πορσυνῶ· σὺ δὲ

ἀνὴρ καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἐσθλὸς ὢν ἐπίστασο.

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἀλλʼ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή ʼστί σοι φίλον
1400

πράσσειν τάδʼ ἡμᾶς, εἶμʼ ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

Τεῦκρος

ἅλις· ἤδη γὰρ πολὺς ἐκτέταται

χρόνος. ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν κοίλην κάπετον

χερσὶ ταχύνατε, τοὶ δʼ ὑψίβατον

τρίποδʼ ἀμφίπυρον λουτρῶν ὁσίων
1405

θέσθʼ ἐπίκαιρον·

μία δʼ ἐκ κλισίας ἀνδρῶν ἴλη

τὸν ὑπασπίδιον κόσμον φερέτω.

παῖ, σὺ δὲ πατρός γʼ, ὅσον ἰσχύεις,

φιλότητι θιγὼν πλευρὰς σὺν ἐμοὶ
1410

τάσδʼ ἐπικούφιζʼ· ἔτι γὰρ θερμαὶ

σύριγγες ἄνω φυσῶσι μέλαν

μένος. ἀλλʼ ἄγε πᾶς, φίλος ὅστις ἀνὴρ

φησὶ παρεῖναι, σούσθω, βάτω,

τῷδʼ ἀνδρὶ πονῶν τῷ πάντʼ ἀγαθῷ
1415

κοὐδενί πω λῴονι θνητῶν

Αἴαντος, ὅτʼ ἦν, τότε φωνῶ.

Χορός

ἦ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν

γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δʼ οὐδεὶς μάντις

τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει.
1420

Ajax. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Αἴας (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 2. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1913.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1376 focus

καὶ νῦν γε Τεύκρῳ τἀπὸ τοῦδ᾽ ἀγγέλλομαι ἀγγέλομαι

ὅσον τότ᾽ ἐχθρὸς ἦν, τοσόνδ᾽ εἶναι φίλος φίλον φίλος.

καὶ τὸν θανόντα τόνδε συνθάπτειν θέλω,

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

καὶ ξυμπονεῖν καὶ μηδὲν ἐλλείπειν ὅσον ὅσον

χρὴ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἀνδράσιν ἀνδράσι πονεῖν βροτούς.
1380

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ἄριστ᾽ Ὀδυσσεῦ, πάντ᾽ ἔχω σ᾽ ἐπαινέσαι

λόγοισι· καί μ᾽ ἔψευσας ἐλπίδος πολύ.

τούτῳ γὰρ ἂν ἔχθιστος ᾿Αργείων ἀνὴρ

μόνος παρέστης χερσίν, οὐδ᾽ ἔτλης παρὼν

θανόντι τῷδε ζῶν ἐφυβρίσαι μέγα,
1385

ὡς ὁ στρατηγὸς οὐπιβρόντητος μολών,

αὐτός τε χώ ξύναιμος ἠθελησάτην

λωβητὸν αὐτὸν λωβητὸν αὐτὸν ἐκβαλεῖν ταφῆς ἄτερ.

τοιγάρ σφ᾽ Ὀλύμπου τοῦδ᾽ ὁ πρεσβεύων πατὴρ

μνήμων τ᾿ ᾿Ερινὺς ἐρινῦς ἐρινὺς καὶ τελεσφόρος Δίκη
1390

κακοὺς κακῶς φθείρειαν φθείρειαν (εί from ή), ὥσπερ .. (σ) ὥσπερ ἤθελον

τὸν ἄνδρα λώβαις ἐκβαλεῖν ἀναξίως.

σὲ δ᾽, ὦ γεραιοῦ σπέρμα Λαέρτου πατρός,

τάφου μὲν ὀκνῶ τοῦδ᾽ ἐπιψαύειν ἐᾶν,

μὴ τῷ θανόντι τοῦτο δυσχερὲς ποιῶ ποιῶ(?) ποιῶ πονῶ or ποθῶ ποῶ·
1395

τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα καὶ ξύμπρασσε ξύμπραττε, κεἴ τινα στρατοῦ

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

θέλεις κομίζειν, οὐδὲν ἄλγος ἕξομεν.

ἐγὼ δὲ τἄλλα πάντα πορσυνῶ· σὺ δὲ

ἀνὴρ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐσθλὸς ὢν ἐπίστασο.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή 'στί σοι φίλον
1400

πράσσειν τάδ᾽ ἡμᾶς, εἶμ᾽, ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

ἅλις· ἤδη γὰρ πολὺς ἐκτέταται

χρόνος. ἀλλ᾽ οἱ μὲν κοίλην κάπετον

χερσὶ ταχύνετε χεροῖν ταχύνετε χερσὶ ταχύνετε χερσὶ ταχύνατε, τοὶ δ᾽ ὑψίβατον

τρίποδ᾽ ἀμφίπυρον λουτρῶν ὁσίων
1405

θέσθ᾽ ἐπίκαιρον·

μία δ᾽ ἐκ κλισίας ἀνδρῶν ἴλη

τὸν ὑπασπίδιον κόσμον φερέτω.

παῖ, σὺ δὲ πατρός γ᾽, ὅσον ἰσχύεις,

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

φιλότητι θιγὼν πλευρὰς πλευρᾶς σὺν ἐμοὶ
1410

τάσδ᾽ ἐπικούφιζ’ ἐπικούφιζ. (ε or ι?) ἐπικούφιζε ἐπικούφιζ'· ἔτι γὰρ θερμαὶ

σύριγγες ἄνω φυσῶσι φυσῶσιν μέλαν

μένος. ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε πᾶς, φίλος ὅστις ἀνὴρ

φησὶ φησὶν παρεῖναι, σούσθω, βάτω,

τῷδ᾽ ἀνδρὶ πονῶν τῷ πάντ᾽ ἀγαθῷ
1415

κοὐδενί πω λῴονι θνητῶν

[Αἴαντος, ὅτ᾽ ποτε ἦν, τότε φωνῶ.]

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

ἢ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν ἰδοῦσι

γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δ᾽ οὐδεὶς μάντις

τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει.
1420

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1376 focus

And now let Teucer know that from this hour

I am more his friend than I was once his foe,

And fain would help him in this burial-rite

And service to his brother, nor would fail

In aught that mortals owe their noblest dead.
1380

TEU

Odysseus, best of men, thine every word

Hath my heart’s praise, and my worst thought of thee

Is foiled by thy staunch kindness to the man

Who was thy rancorous foe. Thou wast not keen

To insult in present of his corse, like these,

The insensate general and his brother-king,
1385

Who came with proud intent to cast him forth

Foully debarred from lawful obsequy.

Wherefore may he who rules in yon wide heaven,

And the unforgetting Fury-spirit, and she,

Justice, who crowns the right, so ruin them
1390

With cruellest destruction, even as they

Thought ruthlessly to rob him of his tomb!

For thee, revered Laërtes’ lineal seed,

I fear to admit thy hand unto this rite,

Lest we offend the spirit that is gone.
1395

But for the rest, I hail thy proffered aid;

And bring whom else thou wilt, I’ll ne’er resent it.

This work shall be my single care; but thou,

Be sure I love thee for thy generous heart.

OD

I had gladly done it; but, since thou declinest,
1400

I bow to thy decision, and depart.

TEU

Speed we, for the hour grows late:

Some to scoop his earthy cell,

Others by the cauldron wait,

Plenished from the purest well.

Hoist it, comrades, here at hand,
1405

High upon the three-foot stand!
1405

Let the cleansing waters flow;

Brightly flame the fire below!

Others in a stalwart throng

From his chamber bear along

All the arms he wont to wield

Save alone the mantling shield.
1410

Thou with me thy strength employ,

Lifting this thy father, boy;

Hold his frame with tender heed—

Still the gashed veins darkly bleed.

Who professes here to love him?

Ply your busy cares above him,

Come and labour for the man,
1415

Nobler none since time began,

Aias, while his life-blood ran.

LEADER OF CH

Oft we know not till we see.

Weak is human prophecy.

Judge not, till the hour have taught thee

What the destinies have brought thee.
1420

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1376 focus

Und jezt erklär' ich, Teukros, dir: so sehr ich sonst

Sein Feind gewesen, bin ich nun des Mannes Freund.
1330

Mit euch bestatten will ich seine Leiche, will

Mit euch die Arbeit theilen und versäume Nichts,

Womit die Besten ehren muß der Sterbliche.

Teukros.

Ich kann, Odysseus, bester Mann, in Allem dich

Nur loben; was ich nie gehofft, erfüllst du mir.
1335

Du warst des Mannes größter Feind in Argos' Heer,

Und jezt allein sein Helser, der nicht duldete,

Dem Todten lebend nahe, daß ihm Schmach geschah,

Als dieser Feldherr, dieser sinnberaubte Mann,

Herkam mit seinem Bruder und Gelüsten trug,
1340

Ihn hinzuwerfen ohne Grab zu Schimpf und Hohn.

Drum mög' Olympos' alter Gott, Erinnys auch,

Die ewigwache, Dike, die den Fluch erfüllt,

Die Schlimmen schlimm vertilgen, wie sie diesen Mann

Hinauszuwerfen dachten voll unwürd'ger Schmach.
1345

Doch wenn ich dir gestatte, Sohn des Lartios,¹

Des greisen Vaters, daß du rührst an seine Gruft,

Bangt mir, dem Todten möchte das zuwider sein.

Im Andern sei mir Helfer, und wenn Einen du

Vom Heere mitbringst, uns geschieht kein Leid damit.
1350

Für alles Andre sorg' ich selbst; du, glaube mir,

Hast dich an uns als einen edlen Mann bewährt.

Odysseus.

Ich hülfe willig; aber wenn dir unser Dienst

Nicht angenehm ist, geh' ich, wie dein Wort gebeut.

Teukros. Der Chor.

Teukros.

Nun g'nug! Denn schon hat lange die Zeit
1355

Sich gedehnt! Ihr denn, grabt eilig die Gruft,

Aufwühlend den Grund; ihr, lasset die Glut

Am erhabenen Dreifuß lodern empor

Zu dem heiligen Bad; ihr Anderen dann

Bringt aus dem Gezelt, der unter dem Schild
1360

Ihn umhüllte, den Schmuck.

(zu Eurysakes:)

Und du, Sohn, schmiege, so weit dein Arm

Es vermag, liebreich an den Vater dich an,

Und erheb' ihn mit mir; warm sprudelt ja noch

Ihm das dunkele Blut von den Adern empor.
1365

Auf, wer hier immer des Ajas Freund

(ab.)

Sich bekennt, er eil', er trete daher,

Sich im Dienste zu mühn um den edelsten Mann;

Denn edler erschien kein Sterblicher noch,

Als Ajas, so lang er im Licht war.
1370

Der Chor.

Wohl viel mag schau'n und im Schauen der Mensch

Ausspäh'n; doch eh' er geschaut, weissagt

Kein Mensch die Geschicke der Zukunft.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1376 focus

I tell thee, Teucer,

As once I was his foe : e'en now I mean

To join with thee, a fellow-labourer

In all the pious offices of love,

Nor would omit, what every man should pay,

The honours due to sucli exalted virtue !
1380

Teucer

O best of men I thou hast my thanks and

praise,

And well deserv'st them, for thou hast transcended

My utmost hopes. 1 little thought the worst

Of all his foes among the Grecian host

Would thus alone defend, alone protect
1385

The dead from insult, when these thundering leaders

United came to cast his body forth

With infamy ; but may the god who i-ules

O'er high Olympus, and the vengeful Furies,

Daughters ot J ove, the guilt-rewarding sisters,
1390

With all-deciding justice soon repay
1390

The hauglity tyrants. For thy ofiered aid,

Son of Laertes, in the funeral rites.

Perhaps it might offend the honoured shade

Of our dead friend — it cannot be accepted.

For all beside we thank thee. If thou will'st
1395

To send assistance from the Grecian camp,

'Twill bo received ; the rest shall be my care.

Thou hast performed the duty of a friend,

And we acknowledge it.

Ulysses

I would have lent
1400

My willing aid, but since it must not be,
1400

I shall submit. Farewell ! [Exit Ui-ysses.

Agamemnon
Scene JII.

Menelaus, Teuoer, Efrysaces, Chorus.

Teucer

Thus far is right.

The time already past doth chide our sloth :

My friends, be vigilant. Let some prepare

The hollow fosse, some o'er the sacred flame

Place the rich tripod for the funeral bath ;

Forth from the camp a chosen band must bear
1405

His glittering arms and trophies of the war.

Do thou, my child, if thou hast strength, uplift

Thy father's body. See, the veins, yet warm,

Spout forth with blood. Haste ! Help, assist me, all

Who bear the name of friends, and pay with me

For never was on earth a better man.

Chorus
\To EURYSACESc

Whate'er of good or ill weak mortals know

Must from their best of guides, experience, fl.ow.

Seek then no farther ; for to man is given

The present state, the future left to Heaven.
1405

DRAMATIS PERSONS.

non and Glytemnestra.

1'VLA.BES, Frund of Orestes.

Governor of Orestes.

Clytemnestra

Wife to JJ'.gis-
1410

thus.

Chrysothemts, Sister of Elec-

tra.

^GiSTiius, King ofArgos and
1415

MycencB.

Chorus

composed of the j>rin-

cipal Ladies of Mycena.

Orestes
SCENE.— Mycex^, before the Palace o/^gisthus. ACT I. Scene I.

Py lades, Governor of Orestes.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1376 focus

Now, Teucer, hear me speak my honest thoughts.

I was thy foe: henceforth I am thy friend;

And with thee wish to entomb the dead, t' share

Thy toils, and every solemn rite provide

From mortals due to grace the noblest dead.

THUC. Thy words, Ulysses, claim my praise, my thanks;

They show a noble nature, far beyond

My expectation. In the Grecian camp

None was, like thee, his foe; yet thou alone

Hast spirit to protect him, and oppose

With high disdain all insult to the dead;

Whilst with wild outrage frentic came the Chief,

He and his brother, with malignant will

To cast him out unhonour'd with a tomb.

For this may the almighty sire enthroned

On this Olympus, may Erinnys still

Mindful of wrongs, and Justice that effects,

Though late, her solemn purpose, on their heads

Inflict disgraceful vengeance, as they wish'd

To cast him out, unworthily disgraced,

Deprived of sepulture. Thy offer'd aid,

Son of Laertes, in these funeral rites

I fear, the dead revering, to accept,

Lest it offend his shade. In all besides
1380

Assist us. From the camp if thou wilt send
1380

Others to grace the dead, it will not grieve
1380

My mind. These obsequies let me prepare;
1380

And know thy goodness hath my warm applause.
1380

Ulysses

It was my wish to aid thee in these rites ;
1400

But since not pleasing to thy heart my aid,
1400

I leave thee, and thy pious plea approve.

Teucer

Enough: already hath too much of time

Been wasted. Some prepare the hollow'd earth;

Some for the pure ablutions o'er the flames

Place the tall tripod; let one social band

Bring from the tent the hero's radiant arms.

And thou, my child, with filial reverence touch

Thy father; raise thou with what strength thou hast,

With me, his sides, for from his veins yet warm

Spouts the black blood; let each man present here,

Who feels the glow of friendship, rouse his zeal,

Attend and toil in honour of the dead,

Once great in every virtue; whilst he lived,

No mortal with superior lustre shone.

Chorus

Mortals from what they see their knowledge gain;

But ere he sees, no prophet's piercing mind

The dark events of future fate can know.
1420

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1376 focus

Odysseus

And now I announce that from this point on I am ready to be Teucer’s friend as much as I was once his enemy. And I would like to join in the burying of your dead and share your labors, omitting no service

which mortals should render to their best and bravest warriors.
1380

Teucer

Good Odysseus, I have only praise for your words. You have greatly belied my fears. Of all the Greeks you were his deadliest enemy, and yet you alone have stood by him with helping hand and did not come here and allow yourself in life

to violate the dead Ajax ruthlessly, as did the crazed general who came, since he and his brother wanted to cast out the outraged corpse without burial. Therefore may the Father supreme on Olympus above us,
1385

and the unforgetting Fury and Justice the Fulfiller destroy them for their wickedness with wicked deaths, just as they sought to cast this man out with unmerited, outrageous mistreatment.
But you, progeny of aged Laertes, I hesitate to permit you to touch the corpse in burial,
1390

lest I so offend the dead. In all other tasks do indeed be our partner. And if you wish to bring any soldier of the army with you, he shall be welcome. For the rest, I will make all things ready. But you, Odysseus, know that to us you have been a good and noble friend.
1395

Odysseus

It was my wish to help, but if it is not pleasing to you that I should assist here, I accept your decision and depart.
1400
Exit Odysseus.

Teucer

Enough. Already the interval has been long drawn out. Come, hurry some of you to dig the hollow grave; others erect the

cauldron wrapped in fire on its high stand for prompt preparation of the ritual cleansing. Let another company bring from the tent the finery which he wore in battle beneath his shield. And you, too, child, with such strength as you have
1405

lay a loving hand upon your father and help me to lighten his body; for his channels are still warm and spray upwards the dark force of his spirit.
Come, come everyone who claims to be our friend, start forward and move on,
1410

laboring in service to this man of perfect excellence. To a nobler man such service has never yet been rendered —nobler than Ajax when he lived, I mean.
1415

Chorus

Many things, I tell you, can be known through mortal eyes; but before he sees it happening, no one can foretell

the future, or what his fate will be.
1420

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-821-1 τἀπὸ τοῦδ’ ¹ ἀγγέλλομαι ² εἶναι φίλος ³

mvp-comment-821-2 ἦ ⁴

mvp-comment-822-1 ξυμπονεῖν ⁵

mvp-comment-822-2 μηδὲν ἐλλείπειν ὅσων ⁶ ὅσον ⁷

mvp-comment-823-1 ἄριστ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-823-2 λόγοισι ⁹

mvp-comment-824-1 ἔψευσας ἐλπίδος ¹⁰

mvp-comment-825-1 παρέστης χερσίν ¹¹

mvp-comment-825-2 ἔτλης ¹²

mvp-comment-825-3 παρὼν ¹³

mvp-comment-825-4 θανόντι … ἐφυβρίσαι ¹⁴

mvp-comment-825-5 ζῶν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-826-1 ὡς … ἠθελησάτην ¹⁶

mvp-comment-826-2 οὑπιβρόντητος ¹⁷

mvp-comment-826-3 μολὼν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-826-4 αὐτός τε χὡ ξύναιμος ¹⁹

mvp-comment-827-1 Ὀλύμπου τοῦδ’ ²⁰

mvp-comment-827-2 πρεσβεύων ²¹

mvp-comment-828-1 μνήμων ²²

mvp-comment-828-2 Δίκη ²³

mvp-comment-828-3 τελεσφόρος ²⁴

mvp-comment-829-1 κακοὺς κακῶς ²⁵ τὸν ἄνδρα ²⁶

mvp-comment-829-2 λώβαις ²⁷

mvp-comment-830-1 Λαέρτου ²⁸

mvp-comment-831-1 τάφου … ἐπιψαύειν ²⁹

mvp-comment-831-2 On the other hand, Odysseus is at liberty to assist in protecting the funeral from interruption by the Greek army. He may be a spectator of the rites, though not a participator; and he may bring with him ( κομίζειν ³⁰ τὰ δ’ ἄλλα καὶ ξύμπρασσε ³¹

mvp-comment-831-3 μὴ τῷ θανόντι ³²

mvp-comment-832-1 τἄλλα πάντα ³³

mvp-comment-832-2 καθ’ ἡμᾶς ³⁴

mvp-comment-833-1 ἀλλ’ ἤθελον μέν ³⁵

mvp-comment-834-1 ἐπαινέσας ³⁶

mvp-comment-834-2 τὸ σόν ³⁷

mvp-comment-835-1 ἅλις· ἤδη γὰρ ³⁸

mvp-comment-835-2 πολὺς ἐκτέταται χρόνος ³⁹

mvp-comment-836-1 ἀλλ’ οἱ μὲν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-836-2 κάπετον ⁴¹

mvp-comment-836-3 ταχύνετε ⁴²

mvp-comment-837-1 τοὶ δ’ ⁴³ τὸν δ’ ⁴⁴ οἱ μέν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-837-2 ὑψίβατον τρίποδ’ ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-837-3 ἀμφίπυρον … θέσθε ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-837-4 λουτρῶν … ἐπίκαιρον ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-837-5 ὁσίων ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-838-1 ἴλη ⁵⁰ τὸν ὑπασπίδιον κόσμον ⁵¹

mvp-comment-839-1 παῖ, σὺ δὲ πατρός γ’ ⁵² γε ⁵³ πατρός ⁵⁴ πλευρὰς ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-840-1 ἔτι γὰρ θερμαὶ ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-840-2 σύριγγες ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-840-3 μέλαν μένος ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-841-1 φησὶ ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-841-2 σούσθω ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-841-3 πάντ’ ἀγαθῷ ⁶¹

mvp-comment-842-1 κοὐδενί πω λῴονι θνητῶν ⁶² πω ⁶³

mvp-comment-843-1 [ Αἴαντος, ὅτ’ ἦν, τότε φωνῶ ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-844-1 ἰδοῦσιν ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-844-2 μάντις ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-844-3 ὅ τι πράξει ⁶⁷

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

1376. mvp-comment-882-1 ἀγγέλλομαι]. 'I declare myself.' Cp. Thuc. 8. 86. § 8, ἐπαγγελλόμενοι .. ὥστε βοηθεῖν.

1382. mvp-comment-883-1 λόγοισι] ‘By reason of thy speech.' Essay on L. § 41. p. 21 b (2) . ἔψευσας ἐλπίδος] Cp. Ο. Τ. 1432, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μ᾿ ἀπέσπασας.

1383. mvp-comment-884-1 ἔχθιστος] 'Most hated,' as supr. 818, μάλιστα μισηθέντος, ἐχθίστου θ᾽ ὁρᾶν.

1384. mvp-comment-885-1 χερσίν] 'With effective aid.' Odysseus had not only spoken in Ajax' behalf, but had offered actual help. παρών is little more than expletive here, but suggests that Odysseus was too noble to stand by and see wrong done to his dead enemy.

1385. mvp-comment-886-1 θανόντι.. ζῶν] Essay on L. § 14. p. 76.

1386. mvp-comment-887-1 οὐπιβρόντητος] ἐπιβρόντητος is either (1) 'senseless;' or (2) 'deserving the lightning-stroke.' Cp. supr. 103, τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος, and note.

1389. mvp-comment-888-1 Ὀλύμπου τοῦδ] Olympus in Sophocles almost loses the notion of place, and is associated with the sky overhead. Ant. 758, οὔ, τόνδ' Ὅλυμπον.

1390. mvp-comment-889-1 μνήμων] Cp. especially Aesch. Eum. 381-3, κακῶν τε μνήμονες σεμναὶ καὶ δυσπαρήγοροι βροτοῖς.

1392. mvp-comment-890-1 λώβαις] Injuriously. For this dative of manner, see Essay on L. § 14. p. 20 a , and cp. especially Ant. 1003, σπῶντας . . ἀλλήλους φοναῖς. The expression is justified by Menelaus' words, supr. 1064, 5.

1395. mvp-comment-891-1 Cp. Od. 11. 543, 563. Teucer fears that the spirit of Ajax will be offended if Odysseus stands beside his grave. In Herodotus, 5. 67, the dead hero Adrastus is supposed by Cleisthenes of Sicyon to be disgusted by his adoption of the dead hero Melanippus, son of Astacus.

1396-1397. mvp-comment-892-1 κεἴ τινα στρατοῦ | θέλεις

1397. mvp-comment-893-1 κομίζειν] (1) ' And if you wish to bring any member of the host.' Or (2) 'If you wish any of the host to carry him;'—(not to bury him.' κομίζειν has not the meaning of συγκομίζειν, supr. 1048. In Eur. Androm. 1263, 4, ἀλλ᾽ ἕρπε Δελφῶν ἐς θεόδμητον πόλιν | νεκρὸν κομίζων τόνδε, the meaning is, 'Go and take this dead body to Delphi's god-built town.')

1398. mvp-comment-894-1 Observe the repetition of τἄλλα after τὰ ἄλλα, with a different reference.

1401. mvp-comment-895-1 ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν] ‘Approving your decision,' i. e. not complaining of it.

1402ff. mvp-comment-896-1 Exodos. The anapaests give the signal for departure, and probably indicate that Ajax is not to be buried in the fatal spot, but is carried off the stage in solemn procession.

1402. mvp-comment-897-1 The unseemly interruption of the Atreidae has delayed the burial.

1403-1408. mvp-comment-898-1 Perhaps the tripod and the armour were carried in the procession, which would go forth while the Chorus or the Coryphaeus chanted ll. 1418-20. During the words of Teucer, various attendants are moving to and fro, until at l. 1413 all is ready, and the procession forms.

1404-1405. mvp-comment-899-1 ταχύνετε .. θέσθ'] The digging of the grave takes time. The tripod is set up in a moment. Hence the change of tense.

1404-1406. mvp-comment-900-1 τοὶ. ἐπικαίρον] ‘Others set over the fire the tripod on its lofty stand, ready to serve for pure lustration." The words of Ajax, supr. 654, compared with 862, suggest that he bathed himself before his end. But Teucer could not know this, and in any case the lustration was necessary, especially after the self-violence. For ἀμφίπυρον, which is predicative, cp. Il. 18. 344, ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν. τοί continues the epic note struck in κοίλην κάπετον. λουτρῶν is a genitive of respect after ἐπίκαιρον, 'With a view to,' 'For the purpose of.' Cp. Thuc. 3. 92. § 5, τοῦ πολέμου καλῶς . . καθίστασθαι.

1407-1408. mvp-comment-901-1 According to the wish of Ajax expressed to the mariners, supr. 572 foll., his body-armour is to be buried with him, while the shield is leſt to Eurysaces. The Chorus must be supposed to have communicated this message to Teucer. See Introduction. Join ἐκ κλισίας φερέτω. The crowd who have gathered are now ready as one man to obey Teucer.

1409-1413. mvp-comment-902-1 'Yes, and do thou, dear boy, as far as thy strength allows, help me thus to lift thy father's frame, applying thy hands with loving care. For the darkened life-current still issues from

1409-1413. mvp-comment-902-2 the warm arteries.' The clause with γάρ gives the reason for the addition of φιλότητι θιγών. The σύριγγες are the circular mouths of the several arteries, which were imagined to be full of air, and to blow forth the blood. ἄνω is 'into the air.' Cp. Phil. 783, τόδ᾽ ἐκ βυθοῦ | κηκῖον αἷμα. Others, comparing supr. 918 (when the wound was recent), explain σύριγγες of the nostrils, and suppose Teucer merely to raise the shoulders in order to stay the flow of blood.

1415. mvp-comment-903-1 τῷδ᾽ ἀνδρί] Essay on L. § 12. p. 18.

1416. mvp-comment-904-1 κοὐδενί πω λῴονι] The whole clause is affected by attraction. Essay on L. § 35. p. 60 ; and cp. 'nonsuch,' 'nonpareil,' 'on ne peut mieux,' and similar idioms of modern speech.

1417. mvp-comment-905-1 [Αίαντος.. φωνῶ] 'Than Ajax, I speak of the time when he was in life.' This line is open to question, chiefly on the metrical ground of the awkwardness of closing a system of marching anapaests with two paroemiacs. For ὅτ᾽ ἦν, cp. Eur. Fr. 313 (the shade of Bellerophon is apostrophizing his former self), ἦσθ᾽ εἰς θεοὺς μὲν εὐσεβής, ὅτ᾽ ἦσθ', ἀεί, κ.τ.λ.

1420. mvp-comment-906-1 ὅ τι πράξει] 'What his fortune will be.' Cp. Ο. Τ. 73, 4, καί μ᾽ ἦμαρ ἤδη . . λυπεῖ, τί πράσσει.

Sophocles Ajax 1376

ed. Francis Storr

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἀλλʼ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή ʼστί σοι φίλον
1400

πράσσειν τάδʼ ἡμᾶς, εἶμʼ ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

Χορός

ἦ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν

γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δʼ οὐδεὶς μάντις

τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει.
1420

Current edition Experimental

καὶ νῦν γε Τεύκρῳ τἀπὸ τοῦδ᾽ ἀγγέλλομαι ἀγγέλομαι

ὅσον τότ᾽ ἐχθρὸς ἦν, τοσόνδ᾽ εἶναι φίλος φίλον φίλος.

καὶ τὸν θανόντα τόνδε συνθάπτειν θέλω,

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

καὶ ξυμπονεῖν καὶ μηδὲν ἐλλείπειν ὅσον ὅσον

χρὴ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἀνδράσιν ἀνδράσι πονεῖν βροτούς.
1380

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

θέλεις κομίζειν, οὐδὲν ἄλγος ἕξομεν.

ἐγὼ δὲ τἄλλα πάντα πορσυνῶ· σὺ δὲ

ἀνὴρ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐσθλὸς ὢν ἐπίστασο.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή 'στί σοι φίλον
1400

πράσσειν τάδ᾽ ἡμᾶς, εἶμ᾽, ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

ἢ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν ἰδοῦσι

γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δ᾽ οὐδεὶς μάντις

τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει.
1420

And now let Teucer know that from this hour

I am more his friend than I was once his foe,

And fain would help him in this burial-rite

And service to his brother, nor would fail

In aught that mortals owe their noblest dead.
1380

OD

I had gladly done it; but, since thou declinest,
1400

I bow to thy decision, and depart.

LEADER OF CH

Oft we know not till we see.

Weak is human prophecy.

Judge not, till the hour have taught thee

What the destinies have brought thee.
1420

Und jezt erklär' ich, Teukros, dir: so sehr ich sonst

Sein Feind gewesen, bin ich nun des Mannes Freund.
1330

Mit euch bestatten will ich seine Leiche, will

Mit euch die Arbeit theilen und versäume Nichts,

Womit die Besten ehren muß der Sterbliche.

Odysseus.

Ich hülfe willig; aber wenn dir unser Dienst

Nicht angenehm ist, geh' ich, wie dein Wort gebeut.

Teukros. Der Chor.

Der Chor.

Wohl viel mag schau'n und im Schauen der Mensch

Ausspäh'n; doch eh' er geschaut, weissagt

Kein Mensch die Geschicke der Zukunft.

I tell thee, Teucer,

As once I was his foe : e'en now I mean

To join with thee, a fellow-labourer

In all the pious offices of love,

Nor would omit, what every man should pay,

The honours due to sucli exalted virtue !
1380

Ulysses

I would have lent
1400

My willing aid, but since it must not be,
1400

I shall submit. Farewell ! [Exit Ui-ysses.

Agamemnon
Scene JII.

Menelaus, Teuoer, Efrysaces, Chorus.

Clytemnestra

Wife to JJ'.gis-
1410

thus.

Chrysothemts, Sister of Elec-

tra.

^GiSTiius, King ofArgos and
1415

MycencB.

Chorus

composed of the j>rin-

cipal Ladies of Mycena.

Orestes
SCENE.— Mycex^, before the Palace o/^gisthus. ACT I. Scene I.

Py lades, Governor of Orestes.

Ulysses

It was my wish to aid thee in these rites ;
1400

But since not pleasing to thy heart my aid,
1400

I leave thee, and thy pious plea approve.

Chorus

Mortals from what they see their knowledge gain;

But ere he sees, no prophet's piercing mind

The dark events of future fate can know.
1420

Odysseus

And now I announce that from this point on I am ready to be Teucer’s friend as much as I was once his enemy. And I would like to join in the burying of your dead and share your labors, omitting no service

which mortals should render to their best and bravest warriors.
1380

Odysseus

It was my wish to help, but if it is not pleasing to you that I should assist here, I accept your decision and depart.
1400
Exit Odysseus.

Chorus

Many things, I tell you, can be known through mortal eyes; but before he sees it happening, no one can foretell

the future, or what his fate will be.
1420

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ὀδυσσεύς ἀλλʼ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή ʼστί σοι φίλον 1400 πράσσειν τάδʼ ἡμᾶς, εἶμʼ ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

Χορός ἦ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δʼ οὐδεὶς μάντις τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει. 1420

Current edition Experimental

καὶ νῦν γε Τεύκρῳ τἀπὸ τοῦδ᾽ ἀγγέλλομαι ἀγγέλομαι ὅσον τότ᾽ ἐχθρὸς ἦν, τοσόνδ᾽ εἶναι φίλος φίλον φίλος. καὶ τὸν θανόντα τόνδε συνθάπτειν θέλω,

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. καὶ ξυμπονεῖν καὶ μηδὲν ἐλλείπειν ὅσον ὅσον χρὴ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἀνδράσιν ἀνδράσι πονεῖν βροτούς. 1380

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ. θέλεις κομίζειν, οὐδὲν ἄλγος ἕξομεν. ἐγὼ δὲ τἄλλα πάντα πορσυνῶ· σὺ δὲ ἀνὴρ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐσθλὸς ὢν ἐπίστασο.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή 'στί σοι φίλον 1400 πράσσειν τάδ᾽ ἡμᾶς, εἶμ᾽, ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

ΧΟΡΟΣ. ἢ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν ἰδοῦσι γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δ᾽ οὐδεὶς μάντις τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει. 1420

And now let Teucer know that from this hour I am more his friend than I was once his foe, And fain would help him in this burial-rite And service to his brother, nor would fail In aught that mortals owe their noblest dead. 1380

OD I had gladly done it; but, since thou declinest, 1400 I bow to thy decision, and depart.

LEADER OF CH Oft we know not till we see. Weak is human prophecy. Judge not, till the hour have taught thee What the destinies have brought thee. 1420

Und jezt erklär' ich, Teukros, dir: so sehr ich sonst Sein Feind gewesen, bin ich nun des Mannes Freund. 1330 Mit euch bestatten will ich seine Leiche, will Mit euch die Arbeit theilen und versäume Nichts, Womit die Besten ehren muß der Sterbliche.

Odysseus. Ich hülfe willig; aber wenn dir unser Dienst Nicht angenehm ist, geh' ich, wie dein Wort gebeut. Teukros. Der Chor.

Der Chor. Wohl viel mag schau'n und im Schauen der Mensch Ausspäh'n; doch eh' er geschaut, weissagt Kein Mensch die Geschicke der Zukunft.

I tell thee, Teucer, As once I was his foe : e'en now I mean To join with thee, a fellow-labourer In all the pious offices of love, Nor would omit, what every man should pay, The honours due to sucli exalted virtue ! 1380

Ulysses I would have lent 1400 My willing aid, but since it must not be, 1400 I shall submit. Farewell ! [Exit Ui-ysses.

Agamemnon Scene JII. Menelaus, Teuoer, Efrysaces, Chorus.

Chorus \To EURYSACESc Whate'er of good or ill weak mortals know Must from their best of guides, experience, fl.ow. Seek then no farther ; for to man is given The present state, the future left to Heaven. 1405 DRAMATIS PERSONS. non and Glytemnestra. 1'VLA.BES, Frund of Orestes. Governor of Orestes.

Clytemnestra Wife to JJ'.gis- 1410 thus. Chrysothemts, Sister of Elec- tra. ^GiSTiius, King ofArgos and 1415 MycencB.

Chorus composed of the j>rin- cipal Ladies of Mycena.

Orestes SCENE.— Mycex^, before the Palace o/^gisthus. ACT I. Scene I. Py lades, Governor of Orestes.

Ulysses It was my wish to aid thee in these rites ; 1400 But since not pleasing to thy heart my aid, 1400 I leave thee, and thy pious plea approve.

Chorus Mortals from what they see their knowledge gain; But ere he sees, no prophet's piercing mind The dark events of future fate can know. 1420

Odysseus And now I announce that from this point on I am ready to be Teucer’s friend as much as I was once his enemy. And I would like to join in the burying of your dead and share your labors, omitting no service which mortals should render to their best and bravest warriors. 1380

Odysseus It was my wish to help, but if it is not pleasing to you that I should assist here, I accept your decision and depart. 1400 Exit Odysseus.

Chorus Many things, I tell you, can be known through mortal eyes; but before he sees it happening, no one can foretell the future, or what his fate will be. 1420

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Ὀδυσσεύς

ἀλλʼ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή ʼστί σοι φίλον
1400

πράσσειν τάδʼ ἡμᾶς, εἶμʼ ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

Χορός

ἦ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν

γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δʼ οὐδεὶς μάντις

τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει.
1420

καὶ νῦν γε Τεύκρῳ τἀπὸ τοῦδ᾽ ἀγγέλλομαι ἀγγέλομαι

ὅσον τότ᾽ ἐχθρὸς ἦν, τοσόνδ᾽ εἶναι φίλος φίλον φίλος.

καὶ τὸν θανόντα τόνδε συνθάπτειν θέλω,

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

καὶ ξυμπονεῖν καὶ μηδὲν ἐλλείπειν ὅσον ὅσον

χρὴ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἀνδράσιν ἀνδράσι πονεῖν βροτούς.
1380

ΤΕΥΚΡΟΣ.

θέλεις κομίζειν, οὐδὲν ἄλγος ἕξομεν.

ἐγὼ δὲ τἄλλα πάντα πορσυνῶ· σὺ δὲ

ἀνὴρ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐσθλὸς ὢν ἐπίστασο.

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἤθελον μέν· εἰ δὲ μή 'στί σοι φίλον
1400

πράσσειν τάδ᾽ ἡμᾶς, εἶμ᾽, ἐπαινέσας τὸ σόν.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

ἢ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν ἰδοῦσι

γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δ᾽ οὐδεὶς μάντις

τῶν μελλόντων, ὅ τι πράξει.
1420

And now let Teucer know that from this hour

I am more his friend than I was once his foe,

And fain would help him in this burial-rite

And service to his brother, nor would fail

In aught that mortals owe their noblest dead.
1380

OD

I had gladly done it; but, since thou declinest,
1400

I bow to thy decision, and depart.

LEADER OF CH

Oft we know not till we see.

Weak is human prophecy.

Judge not, till the hour have taught thee

What the destinies have brought thee.
1420

Und jezt erklär' ich, Teukros, dir: so sehr ich sonst

Sein Feind gewesen, bin ich nun des Mannes Freund.
1330

Mit euch bestatten will ich seine Leiche, will

Mit euch die Arbeit theilen und versäume Nichts,

Womit die Besten ehren muß der Sterbliche.

Odysseus.

Ich hülfe willig; aber wenn dir unser Dienst

Nicht angenehm ist, geh' ich, wie dein Wort gebeut.

Teukros. Der Chor.

Der Chor.

Wohl viel mag schau'n und im Schauen der Mensch

Ausspäh'n; doch eh' er geschaut, weissagt

Kein Mensch die Geschicke der Zukunft.

I tell thee, Teucer,

As once I was his foe : e'en now I mean

To join with thee, a fellow-labourer

In all the pious offices of love,

Nor would omit, what every man should pay,

The honours due to sucli exalted virtue !
1380

Ulysses

I would have lent
1400

My willing aid, but since it must not be,
1400

I shall submit. Farewell ! [Exit Ui-ysses.

Agamemnon
Scene JII.

Menelaus, Teuoer, Efrysaces, Chorus.

Clytemnestra

Wife to JJ'.gis-
1410

thus.

Chrysothemts, Sister of Elec-

tra.

^GiSTiius, King ofArgos and
1415

MycencB.

Chorus

composed of the j>rin-

cipal Ladies of Mycena.

Orestes
SCENE.— Mycex^, before the Palace o/^gisthus. ACT I. Scene I.

Py lades, Governor of Orestes.

Ulysses

It was my wish to aid thee in these rites ;
1400

But since not pleasing to thy heart my aid,
1400

I leave thee, and thy pious plea approve.

Chorus

Mortals from what they see their knowledge gain;

But ere he sees, no prophet's piercing mind

The dark events of future fate can know.
1420

Odysseus

And now I announce that from this point on I am ready to be Teucer’s friend as much as I was once his enemy. And I would like to join in the burying of your dead and share your labors, omitting no service

which mortals should render to their best and bravest warriors.
1380

Odysseus

It was my wish to help, but if it is not pleasing to you that I should assist here, I accept your decision and depart.
1400
Exit Odysseus.

Chorus

Many things, I tell you, can be known through mortal eyes; but before he sees it happening, no one can foretell

the future, or what his fate will be.
1420