τί δʼ ἔστιν ;
Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1670-1750 focus
Ἀντιγόνη
αἰαῖ, φεῦ, ἔστιν ἔστι νῷν δὴ
1670
οὐ τὸ μέν, ἄλλο δὲ μή, πατρὸς ἔμφυτον
ἄλαστον αἷμα δυσμόροιν στενάζειν,
ᾧτινι τὸν πολὺν
ἄλλοτε μὲν πόνον ἔμπεδον εἴχομεν,
ἐν πυμάτῳ δʼ ἀλόγιστα παροίσομεν
1675
ἰδόντε καὶ παθόντε.
αἰαῖ, φεῦ, ἔστιν ἔστι νῷν δὴ
1670
οὐ τὸ μέν, ἄλλο δὲ μή, πατρὸς ἔμφυτον
ἄλαστον αἷμα δυσμόροιν στενάζειν,
ᾧτινι τὸν πολὺν
ἄλλοτε μὲν πόνον ἔμπεδον εἴχομεν,
ἐν πυμάτῳ δʼ ἀλόγιστα παροίσομεν
1675
ἰδόντε καὶ παθόντε.
Χορός
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
τί δʼ ἔστιν;
Ἀντιγόνη
ἔστιν μὲν εἰκάσαι, φίλοι.
ἔστιν μὲν εἰκάσαι, φίλοι.
Χορός
βέβηκεν;
βέβηκεν;
Ἀντιγόνη
ὡς μάλιστʼ ἂν ἐν πόθῳ λάβοις.
τί γάρ, ὅτῳ μήτʼ Ἄρης
μήτε πόντος ἀντέκυρσεν,
1680
ἄσκοποι δὲ πλάκες ἔμαρψαν
ἐν ἀφανεῖ τινι μόρῳ φερόμενον.
τάλαινα· νῶν δʼ ὀλεθρία
νὺξ ἐπʼ ὄμμασιν βέβακε.
πῶς γὰρ ἤ τινʼ ἀπίαν
1685
γᾶν ἢ πόντιον κλύδωνʼ ἀλώμεναι, βίου δύσοιστον ἕξομεν τροφάν;
ὡς μάλιστʼ ἂν ἐν πόθῳ λάβοις.
τί γάρ, ὅτῳ μήτʼ Ἄρης
μήτε πόντος ἀντέκυρσεν,
1680
ἄσκοποι δὲ πλάκες ἔμαρψαν
ἐν ἀφανεῖ τινι μόρῳ φερόμενον.
τάλαινα· νῶν δʼ ὀλεθρία
νὺξ ἐπʼ ὄμμασιν βέβακε.
πῶς γὰρ ἤ τινʼ ἀπίαν
1685
γᾶν ἢ πόντιον κλύδωνʼ ἀλώμεναι, βίου δύσοιστον ἕξομεν τροφάν;
Ἰσμήνη
οὐ κάτοιδα. κατά με φόνιος
Ἀΐδας ἕλοι πατρὶ ξυνθανεῖν γεραιῷ
τάλαιναν, ὡς ἔμοιγʼ ὁ μέλλων βίος οὐ βιωτός.
1690
οὐ κάτοιδα. κατά με φόνιος
Ἀΐδας ἕλοι πατρὶ ξυνθανεῖν γεραιῷ
τάλαιναν, ὡς ἔμοιγʼ ὁ μέλλων βίος οὐ βιωτός.
1690
Χορός
ὦ διδύμα τέκνων ἀρίστα,
τὸ φέρον ἐκ θεοῦ φέρειν,
μηδὲν ἄγαν φλέγεσθον· οὔ τοι κατάμεμπτʼ ἔβητον.
1695
ὦ διδύμα τέκνων ἀρίστα,
τὸ φέρον ἐκ θεοῦ φέρειν,
μηδὲν ἄγαν φλέγεσθον· οὔ τοι κατάμεμπτʼ ἔβητον.
1695
Ἀντιγόνη
πόθος τοὶ καὶ κακῶν ἄρʼ ἦν τις.
καὶ γὰρ ὃ μηδαμὰ δὴ φίλον ἦν φίλον,
1700
ὁπότε γε καὶ τὸν ἐν χεροῖν κατεῖχον.
ὦ πάτερ, ὦ φίλος,
ὦ τὸν ἀεὶ κατὰ γᾶς σκότον εἱμένος·
οὐδέ γʼ ἔνερθʼ ἀφίλητος ἐμοί ποτε
καὶ τᾷδε μὴ κυρήσῃς.
1705
πόθος τοὶ καὶ κακῶν ἄρʼ ἦν τις.
καὶ γὰρ ὃ μηδαμὰ δὴ φίλον ἦν φίλον,
1700
ὁπότε γε καὶ τὸν ἐν χεροῖν κατεῖχον.
ὦ πάτερ, ὦ φίλος,
ὦ τὸν ἀεὶ κατὰ γᾶς σκότον εἱμένος·
οὐδέ γʼ ἔνερθʼ ἀφίλητος ἐμοί ποτε
καὶ τᾷδε μὴ κυρήσῃς.
1705
Χορός
ἔπραξεν;
ἔπραξεν;
Ἀντιγόνη
ἔπραξεν οἷον ἤθελεν.
ἔπραξεν οἷον ἤθελεν.
Χορός
τὸ ποῖον;
τὸ ποῖον;
Ἀντιγόνη
ἇς ἔχρῃζε γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας
ἔθανε· κοίταν δʼ ἔχει
νέρθεν εὐσκίαστον αἰέν,
οὐδὲ πένθος ἔλιπʼ ἄκλαυτον.
ἀνὰ γὰρ ὄμμα σε τόδʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ἐμὸν
στένει δακρῦον, οὐδʼ ἔχω
1710
πῶς με χρὴ τὸ σὸν τάλαιναν
ἀφανίσαι τοσόνδʼ ἄχος.
ὤμοι, γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας θανεῖν ἔχρῃζες ἀλλʼ
ἔρημος ἔθανες ὧδέ μοι.
ἇς ἔχρῃζε γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας
ἔθανε· κοίταν δʼ ἔχει
νέρθεν εὐσκίαστον αἰέν,
οὐδὲ πένθος ἔλιπʼ ἄκλαυτον.
ἀνὰ γὰρ ὄμμα σε τόδʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ἐμὸν
στένει δακρῦον, οὐδʼ ἔχω
1710
πῶς με χρὴ τὸ σὸν τάλαιναν
ἀφανίσαι τοσόνδʼ ἄχος.
ὤμοι, γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας θανεῖν ἔχρῃζες ἀλλʼ
ἔρημος ἔθανες ὧδέ μοι.
Ἰσμήνη
ὦ τάλαινα, τίς ἄρα με πότμος αὖθις ὧδʼ
1715
ἐπαμμένει σέ τʼ, ὦ φίλα, τὰς πατρὸς ὧδʼ ἐρήμας;
ὦ τάλαινα, τίς ἄρα με πότμος αὖθις ὧδʼ
1715
ἐπαμμένει σέ τʼ, ὦ φίλα, τὰς πατρὸς ὧδʼ ἐρήμας;
Χορός
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ὀλβίως γʼ ἔλυσεν
1720
τὸ τέλος, ὦ φίλαι, βίου,
λήγετε τοῦδʼ ἄχους· κακῶν γὰρ δυσάλωτος οὐδείς.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ὀλβίως γʼ ἔλυσεν
1720
τὸ τέλος, ὦ φίλαι, βίου,
λήγετε τοῦδʼ ἄχους· κακῶν γὰρ δυσάλωτος οὐδείς.
Ἀντιγόνη
πάλιν, φίλα, συθῶμεν.
πάλιν, φίλα, συθῶμεν.
Ἰσμήνη
ὡς τί ῥέξομεν;
ὡς τί ῥέξομεν;
Ἀντιγόνη
ἵμερος ἔχει με.
ἵμερος ἔχει με.
Ἰσμήνη
τίς;
τίς;
Ἀντιγόνη
τὰν χθόνιον ἑστίαν ἰδεῖν
1725
τὰν χθόνιον ἑστίαν ἰδεῖν
1725
Ἰσμήνη
τίνος;
τίνος;
Ἀντιγόνη
πατρός, τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
πατρός, τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
Ἰσμήνη
θέμις δὲ πῶς τάδʼ ἐστί; μῶν
οὐχ ὁρᾷς;
θέμις δὲ πῶς τάδʼ ἐστί; μῶν
οὐχ ὁρᾷς;
Ἀντιγόνη
τί τόδε ἐπέπληξας;
1730
τί τόδε ἐπέπληξας;
1730
Ἰσμήνη
καὶ τόδʼ, ὡς
καὶ τόδʼ, ὡς
Ἀντιγόνη
τί τόδε μάλʼ αὖθις;
τί τόδε μάλʼ αὖθις;
Ἰσμήνη
ἄταφος ἔπιτνε δίχα τε παντός.
ἄταφος ἔπιτνε δίχα τε παντός.
Ἀντιγόνη
ἄγε με, καὶ τότʼ ἐπενάριξον.
ἄγε με, καὶ τότʼ ἐπενάριξον.
Ἰσμήνη
αἰαῖ, δυστάλαινα, ποῦ δῆτʼ
αὖθις ὧδʼ ἔρημος ἄπορος
1735
αἰῶνα τλάμονʼ ἕξω;
αἰαῖ, δυστάλαινα, ποῦ δῆτʼ
αὖθις ὧδʼ ἔρημος ἄπορος
1735
αἰῶνα τλάμονʼ ἕξω;
Χορός
φίλαι, τρέσητε μηδέν.
φίλαι, τρέσητε μηδέν.
Ἀντιγόνη
ἀλλὰ ποῖ φύγω;
ἀλλὰ ποῖ φύγω;
Χορός
καὶ πάρος ἀπέφυγε
καὶ πάρος ἀπέφυγε
Ἀντιγόνη
τί;
τί;
Χορός
τὰ σφῷν τὸ μὴ πίτνειν κακῶς.
1740
τὰ σφῷν τὸ μὴ πίτνειν κακῶς.
1740
Ἀντιγόνη
φρονῶ.
φρονῶ.
Χορός
τί δῆθʼ ὅπερ νοεῖς;
τί δῆθʼ ὅπερ νοεῖς;
Ἀντιγόνη
ὅπως μολούμεθʼ ἐς δόμους,
οὐκ ἔχω.
ὅπως μολούμεθʼ ἐς δόμους,
οὐκ ἔχω.
Χορός
μηδέ γε μάτευε.
μηδέ γε μάτευε.
Ἀντιγόνη
μόγος ἔχει.
μόγος ἔχει.
Χορός
καὶ πάρος ἐπεῖχε.
καὶ πάρος ἐπεῖχε.
Ἀντιγόνη
τοτὲ μὲν ἄπορα, τοτὲ δʼ ὕπερθεν.
1745
τοτὲ μὲν ἄπορα, τοτὲ δʼ ὕπερθεν.
1745
Χορός
μέγʼ ἄρα πέλαγος ἐλάχετόν τι.
μέγʼ ἄρα πέλαγος ἐλάχετόν τι.
Ἀντιγόνη
ναὶ ναί.
ναὶ ναί.
Χορός
ξύμφημι καὐτός.
ξύμφημι καὐτός.
Ἀντιγόνη
αἰαῖ, ποῖ μόλωμεν, ὦ Ζεῦ;
ἐλπίδων γὰρ ἐς τίνʼ ἔτι με
δαίμων τανῦν γʼ ἐλαύνει;
1750
αἰαῖ, ποῖ μόλωμεν, ὦ Ζεῦ;
ἐλπίδων γὰρ ἐς τίνʼ ἔτι με
δαίμων τανῦν γʼ ἐλαύνει;
1750
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1670 focus
Müssen wir jammern, wir Unglückseligen,
Daß wir des Vaters grausem Blut entsprossen,
Welchen zu pflegen, wir
1655
Stets die unendlichen Mühen erduldeten,
Und noch am Ziele besteh'n das Unnennbare :
Wir sahen's, wir erfuhren's!
Müssen wir jammern, wir Unglückseligen,
Daß wir des Vaters grausem Blut entsprossen,
Welchen zu pflegen, wir
1655
Stets die unendlichen Mühen erduldeten,
Und noch am Ziele besteh'n das Unnennbare :
Wir sahen's, wir erfuhren's!
Der Chor.
Was ist es nun?
Was ist es nun?
Antigone.
Vermuthen, Freunde, könnt ihr's wohl.
Vermuthen, Freunde, könnt ihr's wohl.
Der Chor.
Verschieder?
1660
Verschieder?
1660
Antigone.
Wie du's selber dir nur wünschen magst
1660
Hat doch nicht Ares ihn,
Noch ein Meeressturm ergriffen;
Dunkler Erde Schooß umfing ihn,
Mit den verborgenen Geschicken im Verein.
Weh, Schwester! Grause Todesnacht
1665
Lagert sich um unser Auge.
Wie, in fernen Landen oder
Durch Meereswogen irrend, ach! erringen wir
Den schwer erworbnen Unterhalt?
Wie du's selber dir nur wünschen magst
1660
Hat doch nicht Ares ihn,
Noch ein Meeressturm ergriffen;
Dunkler Erde Schooß umfing ihn,
Mit den verborgenen Geschicken im Verein.
Weh, Schwester! Grause Todesnacht
1665
Lagert sich um unser Auge.
Wie, in fernen Landen oder
Durch Meereswogen irrend, ach! erringen wir
Den schwer erworbnen Unterhalt?
Ismene.
Ich erkenn' es nicht. Der Mörder
1670
Hades raffe mich hinab, mit dem greisen Vater
Zu sterben! Denn ich leb' hinfort, ach, ein erstorbnes Leben.
Ich erkenn' es nicht. Der Mörder
1670
Hades raffe mich hinab, mit dem greisen Vater
Zu sterben! Denn ich leb' hinfort, ach, ein erstorbnes Leben.
Der Chor.
Hört, ihr geliebten edlen Kinder:
Was ein Gott zum Heil gefügt,
Tragt es, den Schmerz bezwingend; noch dürfet ihr nicht verzagen.
1675
Hört, ihr geliebten edlen Kinder:
Was ein Gott zum Heil gefügt,
Tragt es, den Schmerz bezwingend; noch dürfet ihr nicht verzagen.
1675
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1670-1750 focus
Antigone
Ah, me, ah, me! Now, indeed, is it for us to bewail in full the curse on our blood—ill-fated sisters as we are—deriving from our father! In former time we bore the long toil without pause,
1670
and now at the last we bring to tell a sight and experience that baffle reason.
1675
Ah, me, ah, me! Now, indeed, is it for us to bewail in full the curse on our blood—ill-fated sisters as we are—deriving from our father! In former time we bore the long toil without pause,
1670
and now at the last we bring to tell a sight and experience that baffle reason.
1675
Chorus
What is it?
What is it?
Antigone
It is possible to conjecture, friends.
It is possible to conjecture, friends.
Chorus
He is gone?
He is gone?
Antigone
Precisely in the way you could most wish for: indeed, in a way in which neither Ares took him, nor the sea,
but instead he was snatched away to the fields which no one may see, by some swift, strange doom. Wretched me! For us a night like death has descended on our eyes;
1680
how shall we find our hard livelihood, roaming to some far land, or on the waves of the sea?
1685
Precisely in the way you could most wish for: indeed, in a way in which neither Ares took him, nor the sea,
but instead he was snatched away to the fields which no one may see, by some swift, strange doom. Wretched me! For us a night like death has descended on our eyes;
1680
how shall we find our hard livelihood, roaming to some far land, or on the waves of the sea?
1685
Ismene
I do not know. If only murderous Hades would join me in death to my aged father!
Wretched me! I cannot live the life that must be mine.
1690
I do not know. If only murderous Hades would join me in death to my aged father!
Wretched me! I cannot live the life that must be mine.
1690
Chorus
Best of daughters, you both must bear the will of the gods. Do not be inflamed with too much grief;
what you have encountered is not to be blamed.
1695
Best of daughters, you both must bear the will of the gods. Do not be inflamed with too much grief;
what you have encountered is not to be blamed.
1695
Antigone
There is longing even for woes. What was in no way dear was dear, so long as I held him in my embrace.
Father, Dear, clothed in the darkness of the underworld forever! Never in your absence will you not be dear to me and to my sister here.
1700
There is longing even for woes. What was in no way dear was dear, so long as I held him in my embrace.
Father, Dear, clothed in the darkness of the underworld forever! Never in your absence will you not be dear to me and to my sister here.
1700
Chorus
He fared—
He fared—
Antigone
He fared as he desired.
He fared as he desired.
Chorus
In what way?
1705
In what way?
1705
Antigone
He died on the foreign ground that he desired; he has his well-shaded bed beneath the ground for ever; and he did not leave behind unwept sorrow. With these weeping eyes, father, I lament you;
nor do I know how in my wretchedness I must still my grief for you that is so immense. Alas! You wanted to die in a foreign land, but you died without me near.
1710
He died on the foreign ground that he desired; he has his well-shaded bed beneath the ground for ever; and he did not leave behind unwept sorrow. With these weeping eyes, father, I lament you;
nor do I know how in my wretchedness I must still my grief for you that is so immense. Alas! You wanted to die in a foreign land, but you died without me near.
1710
Ismene
Wretched me! What fate
awaits you and me, dear, orphaned as we are of our father?
1715
Wretched me! What fate
awaits you and me, dear, orphaned as we are of our father?
1715
Chorus
Cease from your grief, dear girls, since his end is blessed. No one is beyond the reach of evil.
1720
Cease from your grief, dear girls, since his end is blessed. No one is beyond the reach of evil.
1720
Antigone
Dear, let us hasten back.
Dear, let us hasten back.
Ismene.
To do what deed?
To do what deed?
Antigone
A longing fills my soul—
1725
A longing fills my soul—
1725
Ismene.
For what?
For what?
Antigone
To see the netherworld home.
To see the netherworld home.
Ismene.
Of whom?
Of whom?
Antigone
Wretched me! Of our father.
Wretched me! Of our father.
Ismene.
And how can this be right?
Surely you understand?
1730
And how can this be right?
Surely you understand?
1730
Antigone
Why this rebuke?
Why this rebuke?
Ismene.
And surely you know this, too—
And surely you know this, too—
Antigone
What more would you tell me?
What more would you tell me?
Ismene
That he perished without a tomb, apart from everyone.
That he perished without a tomb, apart from everyone.
Antigone
Lead me there, and then kill me, too.
Lead me there, and then kill me, too.
Ismene
Unhappy me! Abandoned and helpless,
where am I now to live my wretched life?
1735
Unhappy me! Abandoned and helpless,
where am I now to live my wretched life?
1735
Chorus
Dear girls, do not be afraid.
Dear girls, do not be afraid.
Antigone
But where shall I flee?
But where shall I flee?
Chorus
Already a refuge has been found—
Already a refuge has been found—
Oedipus
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Chorus
—That no harm befall you.
1740
—That no harm befall you.
1740
Antigone
I feel—
I feel—
Chorus
What do you think?
What do you think?
Antigone
How we are to go home, I cannot tell.
How we are to go home, I cannot tell.
Chorus
Do not seek to go.
Do not seek to go.
Antigone
Trouble surrounds us.
Trouble surrounds us.
Chorus
And previously it bore heavily.
And previously it bore heavily.
Antigone
Then it was desperate, but now even crueler.
1745
Then it was desperate, but now even crueler.
1745
Chorus
Vast, then, is the sea of your troubles.
Vast, then, is the sea of your troubles.
Antigone
Alas, alas! Zeus, where shall we turn?
To what last hope does the divinity now drive us?
1750
Alas, alas! Zeus, where shall we turn?
To what last hope does the divinity now drive us?
1750
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-1132-1
The Chorus ask,
"And what is it?" She replies,
ἔστιν μὲν εἰκάσαι ,
"we may
conjecture "(
τὸ δὲ σαφὲς οὐδεὶς οἶδε ). Cp. Eur. fr. 18
δοξάσαι ἔστι, κόραι· τὸ δ’ ἐτήτυμον οὐκ ἔχω εἰπεῖν . So
1656
μόρῳ δ’ ὁποίῳ κεῖνος ὤλετ’ οὐδ’ ἂν εἷς | θνητῶν φράσειε. Better thus than,
"
you can guess."—The MS.
οὐκ ἔστιν μὲν =
"we cannot conjecture." (Not,
"I can
liken my grief to no other,"as Bellermann: schol.
οὐδὲ εἰκόνα ἔχω λαβεῖν τοῦ πάθους .)
mvp-comment-1132-2 οὐκ 1
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1677. mvp-comment-897-1 Although οὐκ ἔστιν (see v. rr.) may be explained with reference to the manner of the end, which was inconceivable, it is more natural that Antigone should say here, You may guess what has happened, i. e. the main fact that he is gone. By merely omitting οὐκ with Hermann, we obtain a line like Aj. 951 (which conveys a similar feeling), ἄγαν ὑπερβριθὲς ἄχθος ἤνυσαν, CICL|卜(ICICI. L. 1704 in the antistrophe, as it appears in the Ff MSS. may be so scanned (see v. rr. on p. 436): but not without too great a stress upon the augment before πρ in ἔπραξεν. It is on the whole more likely that οὐκ in 1677 is a corruption of if, and that if has dropped out in 1704. Another conjecture, which secures a pure iambic line, is Χ. τί δ' ἔστιν; Α.
1677. mvp-comment-897-2 ἔστιν *εὖ μὲν εἰκάσαι, φίλοι. Cp. also O. T. 1308, foll. 1678 ff. 'Cho. He is gone? Ant. Even as heart could wish. What more could be desired for him, whom neither war nor the sea hath smitten, but viewless regions carried off and rapt in some mysterious doom? While on our helpless eyes a horror of night is fallen. For how shall we maintain our life in misery unendurable? Wandering in some far (or southern) land or (roaming) over ocean's billow?' ὡς .. λάβοις] i. e. ὡς μάλιστ᾽ ἂν λάβοις τὸ βῆναι, εἰ πόθῳ λάβοις. As you would above all choose the mode of your departure if you could choose by desire. For the use of λάβοις, cp. Αj. 265, πότερα δ' ἄν, εἰ νέμοι τις αἵρεσιν, λάβοις ; For πόθῳ, cp. supra 1106, σὺν πόθῳ γὰρ ἡ χάρις. Canter's conjecture ἐν πόθῳ is very plausible, but not necessary.