maux, daigne Thémis Suppliante 1 , fille de Zeus qui répartit les destins, jeter un regard sur nous! Malgré ton âge et ton savoir, apprends-le de plus jeune que toi : à qui respecte le suppliant ira la prospérité; les temples divins ouverts aux offrandes
Supplices. Aeschylus. Paul Mazon (Editor). Paris. 1920-1925.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by Schmidt Sciences.
Current edition Experimental
LES SUPPLIANTES (OCR draft) (fra) (LES SUPPLIANTES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.)
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (9)
Ἱκέτιδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 348-437 focus
Χορος
Παλαίχθονος τέκος, κλῦθί μου
πρόφρονι καρδίᾳ, Πελασγῶν ἄναξ.
ἴδε με τὰν
1
ἱκέτιν φυγάδα περίδρομον,
350
ἠλιβάτοις, ἵν᾽
4
ἀλκᾷ πίσυνος μέμυ-
κε φράζουσα βοτῆρι μόχθους.
354
Βασιλευς
ὁρῶ κλάδοισι νεοδρόποις κατάσκιον
εἴη δ᾽ ἄνατον πρᾶγμα τοῦτ᾽ ἀστοξένων.
μηδ᾽ ἐξ ἀέλπτων κἀπρομηθήτων πόλει
νεῖκος γένηται: τῶν γὰρ οὐ δεῖται πόλις.
359
Χορος
ἴδοιτο δῆτ᾽
7
ἄνατον φυγὰν
ἱκεσία Θέμις Διὸς κλαρίου.
360
σὺ δὲ παρ᾽ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραιόφρων:
8
ποτιτρόπαιον αἰδόμενος †οὖνπερ
9
ἱεροδόκα† . .
10
θεῶν λήματ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἁγνοῦ.
365
Βασιλευς
οὔτοι κάθησθε δωμάτων ἐφέστιοι
365
ἐμῶν. τὸ κοινὸν δ᾽ εἰ μιαίνεται πόλις,
ξυνῇ μελέσθω λαὸς ἐκπονεῖν
11
ἄκη.
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἂν οὐ κραίνοιμ᾽ ὑπόσχεσιν πάρος,
12
ἀστοῖς δὲ πᾶσι τῶνδε
13
κοινώσας πέρι.
370
Χορος
σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ δὲ τὸ δάμιον:
370
πρύτανις ἄκριτος ὤν,
κρατύνεις βωμόν, ἑστίαν χθονός,
μονοψήφοισι νεύμασιν σέθεν,
μονοσκήπτροισι δ᾽ ἐν θρόνοις
14
χρέος
πᾶν ἐπικραίνεις: ἄγος
15
φυλάσσου.
375
376
Βασιλευς
ἄγος μὲν εἴη τοῖς ἐμοῖς παλιγκότοις,
ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἀρήγειν οὐκ ἔχω βλάβης ἄτερ:
οὐδ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ εὖφρον, τάσδ᾽ ἀτιμάσαι λιτάς.
ἀμηχανῶ δὲ καὶ φόβος μ᾽ ἔχει φρένας
δρᾶσαί τε μὴ δρᾶσαί τε
16
καὶ τύχην ἑλεῖν.
380
381
Χορος
τὸν ὑψόθεν σκοπὸν ἐπισκόπει,
17
φύλακα πολυπόνων
βροτῶν, οἳ τοῖς πέλας προσήμενοι
δίκας οὐ τυγχάνουσιν ἐννόμου.
μένει τοι Ζηνὸς ἱκταίου κότος
385
δυσπαραθέλκτους
18
παθόντος οἴκτοις.
387
Βασιλευς
εἴ τοι κρατοῦσι παῖδες Αἰγύπτου σέθεν
νόμῳ πόλεως, φάσκοντες ἐγγύτατα γένους
δεῖ τοί σε φεύγειν κατὰ νόμους τοὺς οἴκοθεν,
390
ὡς οὐκ ἔχουσι κῦρος οὐδὲν ἀμφὶ σοῦ.
392
Χορος
μή τί ποτ᾽ οὖν γενοίμαν ὑποχείριος
21
κράτεσιν ἀρσένων. ὕπαστρον δέ τοι
μῆχαρ ὁρίζομαι γάμου δύσφρονος
φυγάν:
22
ξύμμαχον δ᾽ ἑλόμενος δίκαν
395
κρῖνε σέβας τὸ πρὸς θεῶν.
397
Βασιλευς
οὐκ εὔκριτον τὸ κρῖμα: μή μ᾽ αἱροῦ κριτήν.
εἶπον δὲ καὶ πρίν, οὐκ ἄνευ δήμου τάδε
πράξαιμ᾽ ἄν, οὐδέ περ κρατῶν, μὴ καί
23
ποτε
“ἐπήλυδας
26
τιμῶν ἀπώλεσας πόλιν.”
402
Χορος
ἀμφοτέροις
27
ὁμαίμων τάδ᾽ ἐπισκοπεῖ
Ζεὺς ἑτερορρεπής, νέμων εἰκότως
ἄδικα μὲν κακοῖς, ὅσια δ᾽ ἐννόμοις.
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐξ ἴσου ῥεπομένων μεταλ-
405
γὲς
28
τὸ δίκαιον ἔρξαι;
407
Βασιλευς
δεῖ τοι βαθείας φροντίδος σωτηρίου,
δίκην κολυμβητῆρος, ἐς βυθὸν μολεῖν
δεδορκὸς ὄμμα, μηδ᾽ ἄγαν ᾠνωμένον:
29
ὅπως ἄνατα ταῦτα πρῶτα μὲν πόλει,
410
αὐτοῖσί θ᾽ ἡμῖν ἐκτελευτήσει καλῶς,
καὶ μήτε δῆρις ῥυσίων ἐφάψεται
μήτ᾽ ἐν θεῶν ἕδραισιν ὧδ᾽ ἱδρυμένας
ἐκδόντες ὑμᾶς τὸν πανώλεθρον θεὸν
βαρὺν ξύνοικον θησόμεσθ᾽
30
ἀλάστορα,
415
μῶν οὐ δοκεῖ δεῖν
33
φροντίδος σωτηρίου;
418
Χορος
φρόντισον καὶ γενοῦ
πανδίκως εὐσεβὴς
πρόξενος: τὰν φυγάδα μὴ προδῷς,
420
τὰν ἕκαθεν ἐκβολαῖς
δυσθέοις ὀρμέναν:
34
423
Χορος
μηδ᾽ ἴδῃς μ᾽ ἐξ ἑδρᾶν
πολυθέων ῥυσια-
σθεῖσαν, ὦ πᾶν κράτος ἔχων χθονός.
425
γνῶθι δ᾽ ὕβριν ἀνέρων
καὶ φύλαξαι κότον.
428
Χορος
μή τι τλῇς τὰν
35
ἱκέτιν εἰσιδεῖν
ἀπὸ βρετέων βίᾳ
δίκας ἀγομέναν
430
ἱππηδὸν ἀμπύκων,
πολυμίτων
36
πέπλων τ᾽ ἐπιλαβὰς ἐμῶν.
433
Ἱκέτιδες Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 348-437 focus
Χορός
Παλαίχθονος τέκος, κλῦθί μου
πρόφρονι καρδίᾳ, Πελασγῶν ἄναξ.
ἴδε με τὰν ἱκέτιν φυγάδα περίδρομον,
350
λυκοδίωκτον ὡς δάμαλιν ἂμ πέτραις
ἠλιβάτοις, ἵνʼ ἀλκᾷ πίσυνος μέμυ-
κε φράζουσα βοτῆρι μόχθους.
354
Βασιλεύς
ὁρῶ κλάδοισι νεοδρόποις κατάσκιον
νεύονθʼ ὅμιλον τόνδʼ ἀγωνίων θεῶν.
355
εἴη δʼ ἄνατον πρᾶγμα τοῦτʼ ἀστοξένων.
μηδʼ ἐξ ἀέλπτων κἀπρομηθήτων πόλει
νεῖκος γένηται· τῶν γὰρ οὐ δεῖται πόλις.
Χορός
ἴδοιτο δῆτʼ ἄνατον φυγὰν
ἱκεσία Θέμις Διὸς κλαρίου.
360
σὺ δὲ παρʼ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραιόφρων·
ποτιτρόπαιον αἰδόμενος
οὖνπερ
ἱεροδόκα
θεῶν λήματʼ ἀπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἁγνοῦ.
365
Βασιλεύς
οὔτοι κάθησθε δωμάτων ἐφέστιοι
365
ἐμῶν. τὸ κοινὸν δʼ εἰ μιαίνεται πόλις,
ξυνῇ μελέσθω λαὸς ἐκπονεῖν ἄκη.
ἐγὼ δʼ ἂν οὐ κραίνοιμʼ ὑπόσχεσιν πάρος,
ἀστοῖς δὲ πᾶσι τῶνδε κοινώσας πέρι.
Χορός
σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ δὲ τὸ δάμιον.
370
πρύτανις ἄκριτος ὤν,
κρατύνεις βωμόν, ἑστίαν χθονός,
μονοψήφοισι νεύμασιν σέθεν,
μονοσκήπτροισι δʼ ἐν θρόνοις χρέος
πᾶν ἐπικραίνεις· ἄγος φυλάσσου.
375
376
Βασιλεύς
ἄγος μὲν εἴη τοῖς ἐμοῖς παλιγκότοις,
ὑμῖν δʼ ἀρήγειν οὐκ ἔχω βλάβης ἄτερ.
οὐδʼ αὖ τόδʼ εὖφρον, τάσδʼ ἀτιμάσαι λιτάς.
ἀμηχανῶ δὲ καὶ φόβος μʼ ἔχει φρένας
δρᾶσαί τε μὴ δρᾶσαί τε καὶ τύχην ἑλεῖν.
380
Χορός
τὸν ὑψόθεν σκοπὸν ἐπισκόπει,
φύλακα πολυπόνων
βροτῶν, οἳ τοῖς πέλας προσήμενοι
δίκας οὐ τυγχάνουσιν ἐννόμου.
μένει τοι Ζηνὸς ἱκταίου κότος
385
δυσπαραθέλκτους παθόντος οἴκτοις.
387
Βασιλεύς
εἴ τοι κρατοῦσι παῖδες Αἰγύπτου σέθεν
νόμῳ πόλεως, φάσκοντες ἐγγύτατα γένους
εἶναι, τίς ἂν τοῖσδʼ ἀντιωθῆναι θέλοι;
δεῖ τοί σε φεύγειν κατὰ νόμους τοὺς οἴκοθεν,
390
ὡς οὐκ ἔχουσιν κῦρος οὐδὲν ἀμφὶ σοῦ.
Χορός
μή τί ποτʼ οὖν γενοίμαν ὑποχείριος
κράτεσιν ἀρσένων. ὕπαστρον δέ τοι
μῆχαρ ὁρίζομαι γάμου δύσφρονος
φυγάν· ξύμμαχον δʼ ἑλόμενος δίκαν
395
κρῖνε σέβας τὸ πρὸς θεῶν.
397
Βασιλεύς
οὐκ εὔκριτον τὸ κρῖμα. μή μʼ αἱροῦ κριτήν.
εἶπον δὲ καὶ πρίν, οὐκ ἄνευ δήμου τάδε
πράξαιμʼ ἄν, οὐδέ περ κρατῶν, μὴ καί ποτε
εἴπῃ λεώς, εἴ πού τι μὴ τοῖον τύχοι,
400
ἐπήλυδας τιμῶν ἀπώλεσας πόλιν.
Χορός
ἀμφοτέρους ὁμαίμων τάδʼ ἐπισκοπεῖ
Ζεὺς ἑτερορρεπής, νέμων εἰκότως
ἄδικα μὲν κακοῖς, ὅσια δʼ ἐννόμοις.
τί τῶνδʼ ἐξ ἴσου ῥεπομένων μεταλ-
405
γεῖς τὸ δίκαιον ἔρξας;
407
Βασιλεύς
δεῖ τοι βαθείας φροντίδος σωτηρίου,
δίκην κολυμβητῆρος, ἐς βυθὸν μολεῖν
δεδορκὸς ὄμμα, μηδʼ ἄγαν ᾠνωμένον,
ὅπως ἄνατα ταῦτα πρῶτα μὲν πόλει,
410
αὐτοῖσί θʼ ἡμῖν ἐκτελευτήσει καλῶς,
καὶ μήτε δῆρις ῥυσίων ἐφάψεται
μήτʼ ἐν θεῶν ἕδραισιν ὧδʼ ἱδρυμένας
ἐκδόντες ὑμᾶς τὸν πανώλεθρον θεὸν
βαρὺν ξύνοικον θησόμεσθʼ ἀλάστορα,
415
ὃς οὐδʼ ἐν Ἅιδου τὸν θανόντʼ ἐλευθεροῖ.
μῶν οὐ δοκεῖ δεῖν φροντίδος σωτηρίου;
Χορός
φρόντισον καὶ γενοῦ
πανδίκως εὐσεβὴς
πρόξενος· τὰν φυγάδα μὴ προδῷς,
420
τὰν ἕκαθεν ἐκβολαῖς
δυσθέοις ὀρμέναν·
Χορός
μηδʼ ἴδῃς μʼ ἐξ ἑδρᾶν
πολυθέων ῥυσια-
σθεῖσαν, ὦ πᾶν κράτος ἔχων χθονός.
425
γνῶθι δʼ ὕβριν ἀνέρων
καὶ φύλαξαι κότον.
Χορός
μή τι τλῇς τὰν ἱκέτιν εἰσιδεῖν
ἀπὸ βρετέων βίᾳ
δίκας ἀγομέναν
430
ἱππηδὸν ἀμπύκων,
πολυμίτων πέπλων τʼ ἐπιλαβὰς ἐμῶν.
Χορός
ἴσθι γάρ· παισὶ τάδε καὶ δόμοις,
ὁπότερʼ ἂν κτίσῃς,
μένει ἄρ ἐκτίνειν
435
ὁμοιΐαν θέμιν.
τάδε φράσαι δίκαια Διόθεν κράτη.
Greek (Editio princeps, 1518) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Suppliants, 1518 edition. Native printed lineation, page markers, and automated correspondence to the Perseus/Smyth edition.) — 359 focus
Χορός
ἴδοιτο δῆτα τὰν ἄνατον φυγάν,
ἱκεσία θέμις λιὸς ἱλαρίου,
σὺ δὲ παρ' ὀψιγόνου μάθε γραφρόνων.
ποτὶ βόπαιον αἰδόμενος οὖν πβ,
310
ἱεροδόχου θεῶν λήµατ' ἀπ' ἀνδρὸς ἀποῦ
Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. Joannes Cornelius de Pauw, 1745.) — 359 focus
Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 359 focus
ΧΟ.
ἴδοιτο δῆτ᾽ ἄνατον φυγὰν
ἱκεσία θέμις Διὸς κλαρίου.
360
σὺ δὲ παρ᾽ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραιόφρων·
ποτιτρόπαιον αἰδόμενος οὖνπερ
ἱεροδόκα θεῶν λήματ᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς ἁγνοῦ
Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 359 focus
ΙΚΕΤΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΙΚΕΤΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 359 focus
Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 359 focus
ἴδοιτο δῆτ᾽ ἄνατον φυγὰν
ἱκεσία θέμις Διὸς κλαρίου.
σὺ δὲ παρ᾽ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραφρόνων·
365
ποτιτρόπαιον ἀ-
δόμενος οὖν περ
ἱεροδόκα θεῶν λή-
ματ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς ἁγνοῦ.
ΒΑ.
Aeschyli Supplices (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Supplices. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 359 focus
ΧΟ.
ἴδοιτο δῆτ᾽ ἄνατον φυγὰν
ἱκεσία θέμις Διὸς κλαρίου.
360
σὺ δὲ παρ᾽ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραιόφρων·
ποτιτρόπαιον αἰδόμενος †οὖν περ
†ἱεροδόκα θεῶν λήματ᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς ἁγνοῦ.
Translations (7)
Suppliant Maidens Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 348-435 focus
Son of Palaechthon, lord of the Pelasgians, hear me with a benign heart.
Behold me, your suppliant, a fugitive, running around like a heifer chased by wolves upon precipitous crags, where, confident in his help, she lows to tell the herdsman of her distress.
350
354
King
I see
a company of assembled gods assenting beneath the shade of fresh-plucked boughs. Nevertheless may this affair of claimants to the friendship of our city bring no mischief in its wake! And let no feud come upon the state from causes unforeseen and unforestalled; for the state has no need of such trouble.
355
Chorus
Indeed,
may Justice, daughter of Zeus the Apportioner, Justice who protects the suppliant, look upon our flight that it bring no mischief in its wake. But you, aged in experience, learn from one of younger birth. If you show mercy to a suppliant ... from a man of holiness.
360
365
King
It is not my own house at whose hearth you sit. If the state is stained by pollution in its commonalty, in common let the people strive to work out the cure. For myself, I will pledge no promise before I have communicated these events to all the citizens.
365
Chorus
You are the state, you are the people. Being subject to no judge, you rule the altar, your country’s hearth by your will’s sole ordinance; and, enthroned in sole sovereignty,
370
you determine every issue. Beware pollution!
375
376
King
Pollution on my enemies! But without harm I do not know how to help you. And yet again, it is not well advised to slight these supplications. I am perplexed, and fear possesses my soul
whether to act, or not to act and take what fortune sends.
380
Chorus
Look to him who looks down from above, to him, the guardian of mortals sore-distressed, who appeal to their neighbors, yet do not obtain the justice that is their right.
The wrath of Zeus, the suppliant’s god, remains, and will not be softened by a sufferer’s complaints.
385
387
King
If the sons of
Aegyptus
have authority over you by the law of your country claiming that they are nearest of kin, who would wish to contest it?
You must plead in accordance with the laws of the land you have fled, that they have no authority over you.
390
Chorus
Never, oh never, may I fall subject to the power and authority of these men. I am determined to flee to escape this marriage that offends my soul, piloting my course by the stars.
Take Justice as your ally, and render judgment for the cause deemed righteous by the gods.
395
397
King
The judgment is not easy—do not make me the judge. I have declared already that, though I am ruler, I will not do this thing without the consent of my people, lest hereafter,
if any evil befall, the people should say,
You honored aliens and brought ruin upon your own land.
400
Chorus
Kindred to both in blood, Zeus surveys both sides alike in this dispute with an impartial scale, apportioning, as is due, to the wicked their wrongdoing and to the godly their works of righteousness.
When these things are thus equally balanced, why do you fear to act justly?
405
407
King
Surely there is need of deep and salutary counsel; need for a keen-sighted eye, not confused, to descend, like some diver, into the depths;
that to the state above all things this matter may not work mischief, but may end well for us; that strife may not seize you for its prize, nor yet that we surrender you from these seats of sanctuary,
410
and bring upon ourselves the dire, abiding vengeance of the all-destroying god, who, even in the realm of Death, does not set his victim free. Surely you cannot think there is no need of salutary counsel?
415
Chorus
Take counsel, and, as is your sacred duty, prove yourself our sacred
champion. Do not betray the fugitive who has been impiously cast out and driven from afar.
420
And see me not ravished from this sanctuary of many gods,
oh you who hold sovereign power over the land. Recognize men’s wantonness, and guard against wrath.
425
Do not see your suppliant dragged, in spite of justice, from the images of the gods,
like a horse by the bridle, and see rude hands laid upon my fine-woven robes.
430
For be assured of this—whichever end you bring to pass, to your children and house
does it remain to make full payment.
1
Consider these just ordinances of God.
435
The Suppliant Women. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Suppliant Women.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 359 focus
The Suppliants (OCR draft) Experimental (The Suppliants. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 359 focus
Nor from a younger let thy age diſdain
To learn the reverence due to ſupplicants,
From whoſe pure hands the fav'ring Gods accept
The grateful offering.
430
PELASGUS.
Eschilo, Le Supplici: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Supplici: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 359 focus
PELASGO
Aeschylus, Supplices: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Supplices: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 359 focus
Rex
English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1908) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 359 focus
Justice, the daughter of right-dealing Zeus,
Justice, the queen of suppliants, look down,
395
That this our plight no ill may loose
Upon your town!
This word, even from the young, let age and wisdom learn:
If thou to suppliants show grace,
Thou shalt not lack Heaven's grace in turn,
400
So long as virtue's gifts on heavenly shrines have place.
The King of Argos
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1854; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylos. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Stuttgart: Hoffmann, 1854. Native Donner line citations, Smyth card correspondence, selected textual readings and metrical facsimiles. Remaining OCR differences and unattributed reading notes are documented in the linked review inventory.) — 359 focus
Laß uns der Stadt kein Leid bringen, Kind
Des Looslenkers Zeus, Themis, der Flücht'gen Hort!
Und von den jüngeren Frau'n hör' es, erfahrner Greis:
Wenn du den Flüchtling ehrst, mangelt dir's nimmerdar,
Wird dir ein selig Loos! Freudig empfangen Götter
345
Das Opfer von reinen Händen.
Der König.
Notes on the current edition
Supplices
Commentary
Critical apparatus to The Suppliant Women (OCR draft) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of The Suppliant Women.) focus
360.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-307
Commentary (N. Wecklein, 1902; German; OCR draft) (Suppliants, explanatory commentary pp. 24–120. Single-witness OCR; source readings and all reference placements require scan review.) focus
182-532.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-wecklein1902-com-ger1-85
350-422.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-wecklein1902-com-ger1-208
360.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-wecklein1902-com-ger1-215