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Chorus

Thou art the state, the people, thou alone:—

Ruler accountable to none;

With sovereign nod, the altar-stone,

The hearth, thou swayest, of the land,—

And from sole-sceptred throne,

All issues canst command.

Oh then pollution shun. 370

Supplices. Aeschylus. Anna Swanwick (Translator). London. 1886.

Current edition Experimental

The Suppliants (OCR draft) (English) (The Suppliants. Anna Swanwick, 1886.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (9)

Ἱκέτιδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 40-175f focus

str. 1

Χορος

νῦν δ᾽ ἐπικεκλομένα¹
40

Δῖον πόρτιν ὑπερ-

πόντιον τιμάορ᾽, ἶνίν τ᾽

ἀνθονόμον² τᾶς προγόνου

βοὸς ἐξ ἐπιπνοίας,³

Ζηνὸς ἔφαψιν: ἐπωνυμίᾳ δ᾽
45

ἐπεκραίνετο μόρσιμος αἰὼν

εὐλόγως,

Ἔπαφόν τ᾽ ἐγέννασεν:

49

ant. 1

Χορος

ὅντ᾽⁴ ἐπιλεξαμένα,

νῦν ἐν ποιονόμοις
50

ματρὸς ἀρχαίας τόποις τῶν

πρόσθε πόνων μνασαμένα,

τά τε νῦν ἐπιδείξω

πιστὰ τεκμήρια γαιονόμοις,

τὰ δ᾽⁵ ἄελπτά περ ὄντα φανεῖται.
55

γνώσεται

δὲ λόγου⁶ τις ἐν μάκει.

58

str. 2

Χορος

εἰ δὲ κυρεῖ τις πέλας οἰωνοπόλων

ἐγγάιος⁷ οἶκτον [οἰκτρὸν] ἀίων,

δοξάσει τιν᾽⁸ ἀκούειν⁹ ὄπα τᾶς Τηρεΐας
60

μήτιδος οἰκτρᾶς ἀλόχου,

κιρκηλάτας¹⁰ ἀηδόνος,

63

ant. 2

Χορος

ἅτ᾽ ἀπὸ¹¹ χλωρῶν πετάλων¹² ἐργομένα

πενθεῖ νέον οἶκτον ἠθέων:

ξυντίθησι δὲ παιδὸς μόρον, ὡς αὐτοφόνως
65

ὤλετο πρὸς χειρὸς ἕθεν¹³

δυσμάτορος κότου τυχών:

68

str. 3

Χορος

τὼς καὶ ἐγὼ φιλόδυρ-

τος¹⁴ Ἰαονίοισι νόμοισι

δάπτω τὰν ἁπαλὰν
70

Νειλοθερῆ¹⁵ παρειὰν

ἀπειρόδακρύν τε καρδίαν.

γοεδνὰ δ᾽ ἀνθεμίζομαι

δειμαίνουσα φίλους,¹⁶ τᾶσδε φυγᾶς

ἀερίας ἀπὸ γᾶς
75

εἴ τις ἐστὶ κηδεμών.

77

ant. 3

Χορος

ἀλλά, θεοὶ¹⁷ γενέται,

κλύετ᾽ εὖ τὸ δίκαιον ἰδόντες:

ἥβᾳ¹⁸ μὴ τέλεον

δόντες ἔχειν παρ᾽ αἶσαν,
80

ὕβριν δ᾽ ἑτοίμως¹⁹ στυγοῦντες,²⁰ <εὖ>²¹

πέλοιτ᾽ ἂν ἔνδικοι γάμοις.

ἔστι δὲ κἀκ²² πολέμου τειρομένοις

βωμὸς ἀρῆς²³ φυγάσιν

ῥῦμα, δαιμόνων σέβας.
85
86

str. 4

Χορος

εὖ δ᾽ εἴη Διόθεν²⁴ παναληθῶς.

Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη.

παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει

κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ²⁵

μερόπεσσι λαοῖς.
90
91

ant. 4

Χορος

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων

δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι

κατιδεῖν²⁶ ἄφραστοι.
95
96

str. 5

Χορος

ἰάπτει δ᾽ ἐλπίδων²⁷

ἀφ᾽ ὑψιπύργων πανώλεις

βροτούς, βίαν δ᾽

οὔτιν᾽ ἐξοπλίζει,

πᾶν ἄπονον²⁸ δαιμόνιον:²⁹
100

ᾗ μέμονεν³⁰ φρόνημά πως

αὐτόθεν ἐξέπραξεν ἔμπας

ἑδράνων ἀφ᾽³¹ ἁγνῶν.

104

ant. 5

Χορος

ἰδέσθω δ᾽ εἰς³² ὕβριν

βρότειον, οἵᾳ³³ νεάζει
105

πυθμὴν δι᾽ ἁ-

μὸν γάμον τεθαλὼς³⁴

δυσπαραβούλοισι φρεσίν,

καὶ διάνοιαν μαινόλιν³⁵

κέντρον ἔχων ἄφυκτον, ἄτας
110

ἀπάταν μεταλγοῦς.³⁶

112

str. 6

Χορος

τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω³⁷

λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ,

ἰὴ ἰή,

ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ: [θρεομένη μέλη³⁸]
115

ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ.

117

Χορος

ἱλέομαι³⁹ μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δ᾽ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.⁴⁰

πολλάκι δ᾽ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι
120

λινοσινεῖ⁴¹

Σιδονίᾳ⁴² καλύπτρᾳ.

123

ant. 6

Χορος

θεοῖς δ᾽ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς

ἐπίδρομ᾽, ὁπόθι⁴³ θάνατος ἀπῇ.⁴⁴

ἰὼ ἰώ,
125

ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι.

ποῖ τόδε κῦμ᾽ ἀπάξει;

128

Χορος

ἱλέομαι⁴⁵ μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δ᾽ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.⁴⁶
130

πολλάκι δ᾽ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι

λινοσινεῖ⁴⁷⁴⁸

Σιδονίᾳ⁴⁹ καλύπτρᾳ.

134

str. 7

Χορος

πλάτα μὲν οὖν λινορραφής τε

δόμος ἅλα στέγων δορὸς
135

ἀχείματόν⁵⁰ μ᾽ ἔπεμπε σὺν πνοαῖς:⁵¹

οὐδὲ μέμφομαι:

τελευτὰς δ᾽ ἐν χρόνῳ

πατήρ μοι⁵² παντόπτας

πρευμενεῖς κτίσειεν,
140
141

Χορος

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς⁵³

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον⁵⁴ ἐκφυγεῖν.

144

ant. 7

Χορος

θέλουσα δ᾽ αὖ θέλουσαν ἁγνά μ᾽

ἐπιδέτω Διὸς κόρα,
145

ἔχουσα σέμν᾽ ἑδώλι᾽⁵⁵ ἀσφαλῆ,⁵⁶

παντὶ δὲ σθένει⁵⁷

διωγμοῖς ἀσχαλῶσ᾽⁵⁸

ἀδμήτας ἀδμήτα

ῥύσιος γενέσθω,
150
151

Χορος

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

154

str. 8

Χορος

εἰ δὲ⁵⁹ μή, μελανθὲς

ἡλιόκτυπον⁶⁰ γένος
155

τὸν γάιον,⁶¹

τὸν πολυξενώτατον

Ζῆνα τῶν κεκμηκότων

ἱξόμεθα σὺν κλάδοις

ἀρτάναις θανοῦσαι,
160

μὴ τυχοῦσαι θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων.

162

Χορος

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς:⁶² ἰὼ⁶³

μῆνις μάστειρ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν:

κοννῶ δ᾽ ἄγαν⁶⁴

γαμετῶν οὐρανονίκων.⁶⁵
165

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

168

ant. 8

Χορος

καὶ τότ᾽ οὐ δικαίοις

Ζεὺς ἐνέξεται⁶⁶ λόγοις,

τὸν τᾶς βοὸς
170

παῖδ᾽ ἀτιμάσας, τὸν αὐ-

τός ποτ᾽ ἔκτισεν⁶⁷ γόνῳ,

νῦν ἔχων παλίντροπον

ὄψιν ἐν λιταῖσιν:

ὑψόθεν δ᾽ εὖ κλύοι καλούμενος.⁶⁸
175
175a

Χορος

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς: ἰὼ

μῆνις μάστειρ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν:

κοννῶ δ᾽ ἄγαν

γαμετῶν οὐρανονίκων.

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

176

Ἱκέτιδες Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 40-167a focus

Χορός

νῦν δʼ ἐπικεκλομένα
40

Δῖον πόρτιν ὑπερ-

πόντιον τιμάορʼ, ἶνίν τʼ

ἀνθονομούσας προγόνου

βοὸς ἐξ ἐπιπνοίας

Ζηνὸς ἔφαψιν· ἐπωνυμίᾳ δʼ
45

ἐπεκραίνετο μόρσιμος αἰὼν

εὐλόγως,

Ἔπαφόν τʼ ἐγέννασεν·

Χορός

ὅντʼ ἐπιλεξαμένα,

νῦν ἐν ποιονόμοις
50

ματρὸς ἀρχαίας τόποις τῶν

πρόσθε πόνων μνασαμένα,

τά τε νῦν ἐπιδείξω

πιστὰ τεκμήρια γαιονόμοις,

τὰ δʼ ἄελπτά περ ὄντα φανεῖται.
55

γνώσεται

δὲ λόγους τις ἐν μάκει.

Χορός

εἰ δὲ κυρεῖ τις πέλας οἰωνοπόλων

ἔγγαιος οἶκτον οἰκτρὸν ἀίων,

δοξάσει τις ἀκούειν ὄπα τᾶς Τηρεΐας
60

Μήτιδος οἰκτρᾶς ἀλόχου,

κιρκηλάτου τʼ ἀηδόνος,

Χορός

ἅτʼ ἀπὸ χλωρῶν πετάλων ἐργομένα

πενθεῖ μὲν οἶκτον ἠθέων·

ξυντίθησι δὲ παιδὸς μόρον, ὡς αὐτοφόνως
65

ὤλετο πρὸς χειρὸς ἕθεν

δυσμάτορος κότου τυχών·

Χορός

τὼς καὶ ἐγὼ φιλόδυρ-

τος Ἰαονίοισι νόμοισι

δάπτω τὰν ἁπαλὰν
70

Νειλοθερῆ παρειὰν

ἀπειρόδακρύν τε καρδίαν.

γοεδνὰ δʼ ἀνθεμίζομαι

δειμαίνουσα φίλους, τᾶσδε φυγᾶς

ἀερίας ἀπὸ γᾶς
75

εἴ τις ἐστὶ κηδεμών.

Χορός

ἀλλά, θεοὶ γενέται

κλύετʼ εὖ τὸ δίκαιον ἰδόντες·

ἥβᾳ μὴ τέλεον

δόντες ἔχειν παρʼ αἶσαν,
80

ὕβριν δʼ ἑτοίμως στυγοῦντες,

πέλοιτʼ ἂν ἔνδικοι γάμοις.

ἔστι δὲ κἀκ πολέμου τειρομένοις

βωμὸς ἀρῆς φυγάσιν

ῥῦμα, δαιμόνων σέβας.
85

Χορός

εὖ δʼ εἴη Διόθεν παναληθῶς.

Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη.

παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει

κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ

μερόπεσσι λαοῖς.
90

Χορός

πίπτει δʼ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ , πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων

δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι

κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.
95

Χορός

ἰάπτει δʼ ἐλπίδων

ἀφʼ ὑψιπύργων πανώλεις

βροτούς, βίαν δʼ

οὔτινʼ ἐξοπλίζει·

πᾶν ἄπονον δαιμονίων.
100

ἥμενος ὃν φρόνημά πως

αὐτόθεν ἐξέπραξεν ἔμπας

ἑδράνων ἐφʼ ἁγνῶν.

104

Χορός

ἰδέσθω δʼ εἰς ὕβριν

βρότειον, οἵα νεάζει
105

πυθμὴν διʼ ἁ-

μὸν γάμον τεθαλὼς

δυσπαραβούλοισι φρεσίν,

καὶ διάνοιαν μαινόλιν

κέντρον ἔχων ἄφυκτον, ἄταν δʼ
110

ἀπάτᾳ μεταγνούς.

112

Χορός

τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω

λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ,

ἰὴ ἰή,

ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ· θρεομένη μέλη
115

ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ.

117

Χορός

ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.

πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι
120

λινοσινεῖ

Σιδονία καλύπτρᾳ.

123

Χορός

θεοῖς δʼ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς

ἐπίδρομʼ, ὁπόθι θάνατος ἀπῇ.

ἰὼ ἰώ,
125

ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι.

ποῖ τόδε κῦμʼ ἀπάξει;

128

Χορός

ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.
130

πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι

λινοσινεῖ

Σιδονίᾳ καλύπτρᾳ.

134

Χορός

πλάτα μὲν οὖν λινορραφής τε

δόμος ἅλα στέγων δορὸς
135

ἀχείματόν μʼ ἔπεμπε σὺν πνοαῖς·

οὐδὲ μέμφομαι·

τελευτὰς δʼ ἐν χρόνῳ

πατήρ μοι παντόπτας

πρευμενεῖς κτίσειεν,
140

141

Χορός

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

144

Χορός

θέλουσα δʼ αὖ θέλουσαν ἁγνά μʼ

ἐπιδέτω Διὸς κόρα,
145

ἔχουσα σέμνʼ ἐνώπιʼ ἀσφαλῶς,

παντὶ δὲ σθένει

διωγμοῖς ἀσχαλῶσʼ

ἀδμήτας ἀδμήτα

ῥύσιος γενέσθω,
150

151

Χορός

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

154

Χορός

εἰ δὲ μή, μελανθὲς

ἡλιόκτυπον γένος
155

τὸν γάιον,

τὸν πολυξενώτατον

Ζῆνα τῶν κεκμηκότων

ἱξόμεθα σὺν κλάδοις

ἀρτάναις θανοῦσαι,
160

μὴ τυχοῦσαι θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων.

162

Χορός

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῷ

μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν·

κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν

γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον.
165

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

168

Χορός

καὶ τότʼ οὐ δικαίοις

Ζεὺς ἐνέξεται λόγοις,

τὸν τᾶς βοὸς
170

παῖδʼ ἀτιμάσας, τὸν αὐ-

τός ποτʼ ἔκτισεν γόνῳ,

νῦν ἔχων παλίντροπον

ὄψιν ἐν λιταῖσιν;

ὑψόθεν δʼ εὖ κλύοι καλούμενος.
175

162a

Χορός

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῶ ,

μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν·

κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν

γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

Greek (Editio princeps, 1518) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Suppliants, 1518 edition. Native printed lineation, page markers, and automated correspondence to the Perseus/Smyth edition.) — 91 focus

Χορός

πίπτει δ' ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ' ἐπὶ νώτῳ.
75

κορυφᾷ Διὸς ἐκρανθῇ πρᾶγμα. τέλειον

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε, τένυσι πόροι·

κατειδεῖν ἄφραστοι. ἰάπτει δὲ ἀπιλών,

Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. Joannes Cornelius de Pauw, 1745.) — 91 focus

Πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλῶς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτα, ¹

Κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

Δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων ²

Δάσκιοί

Τε τείνεσι πόροι,

Κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.

στροφή ε.

Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 91 focus

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πό-

ρού

κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.

Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 91 focus

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

Χορός Δαναΐδων

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε τεί-

νουσι πόροι κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.
85
¹

ΙΚΕΤΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΙΚΕΤΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 91 focus

Πίπτει δ' ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώ-

τῳ, Διὸς εἰ κορυφᾷ κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ

κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον·

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων

δάσκιοί τε τείνου-

σιν πόροι κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.

Ἱκέτιδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἱκέτιδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 91 focus

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷

ἢ καὶ ἢ καὶ ηβαι et signo apposito in marg. τήνδε Μ. περ περ παρ' Μ. ἐτύμως ἐτύμως (ἑτύμως b) ἑτοίμωσ Μ. πολέμου πολέμου πτολέμου Μ. fort. ἔστιν καὶ πολέμου. ἀρῆς ἀρῆς ἅρησ Μ, ἀρᾶς Scholefeld. in marg. ζτ Μ. εἰθείη εἴθ' εἴην Pauw. παντᾷ πάνται Μ. ξὺν τύχᾳ μέλαιναι. ξυντύχαι Μ.

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ

κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων

δάσκιοί

τε τείνουσιν πόροι

100

κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.

Aeschyli Supplices (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Supplices. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 91 focus

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώ-

τωι, κορυφᾶι Διὸς εἰ

κρανθῆι, πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δά-

σκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι

κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι. =

Translations (8)

Suppliant Maidens Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 40-165a focus

Chorus

And now I invoke, as our champion from beyond the sea, the calf born of Zeus, the offspring of the flower-grazing cow, our ancestress,
40

the caress of Zeus’ breath. The appointed period confirmed itself in a name suited to the event—Epaphus¹, to whom she gave birth.
45

Chorus

To him I cry for help.

And now in the region wherein our first mother pastured, by recounting the story of her distress of long ago, I shall now set forth reliable proofs to the inhabitants of the land;
50

and other evidence, though unexpected, will yet appear. Men will come to know the truth as my tale proceeds.
55

Chorus

Now if by chance there be some neighbor in the land who knows the song of birds,

when our complaint greets his ear, he will fancy that he hears the voice of Metis, Tereus’ piteous wife, the hawk-chased nightingale.
60

Chorus

For she, constrained to leave her green leaves, laments pitifully her accustomed haunts,

and composes the tale of her own child’s doom—how he perished, destroyed by her own hand, victim of the wrath of an unnatural mother.
65

Chorus

Even so I, indulging my grief in Ionian strains,

pain my tender face summered by Nile ’s sun and my heart unexercised in tears; and I gather the flowers of grief, anxious whether there is any friendly kinsman here to champion our band
70

which has fled from the haze-shrouded land.
75

Chorus

But, gods of our race, hear, and regard with favor the cause of righteousness; if you refuse youth

fulfillment of its arrogant desires, and readily abhor violence, you would be righteous toward marriage. Even for those who flee hard-pressed from war there is an altar,
80

a shelter against harm through respect for the powers of heaven.
85

Chorus

But may Zeus grant that it go well with us. For Zeus’ desire is hard to trace: it shines everywhere, even in gloom, together with fortune

obscure to mortal men.
90

Chorus

Safely it falls, and not upon its back, whatever deed comes to pass at Zeus’ nod; for the pathways of his understanding stretch dark and tangled,

beyond comprehension.
95

Chorus

From their high-towering hopes he hurls mankind to utter destruction; yet he does not marshal any armed violence—

all that is wrought by the powers divine is free from toil. Seated on his holy throne, unmoved, in mysterious ways he accomplishes his will.
100

104

Chorus

So let him look upon human outrageousness

—in what way it shoots up men in their wooing of us, sprouted from thoughts of evil intent,
105

having a frenzied purpose as its irresistible spur, and deluded, turning its thoughts to folly.
110

112

Chorus

Such piteous strains of woe I utter in my pain, now shrill, now deep, blended with falling tears—Alas, alas!

groans appropriate to funeral wails; though I live, I chant my own dirge.
115

117

Chorus

I invoke Apia ’s hilly land—for well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—,

and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds.
120

123

Chorus

Sacrifices in satisfaction of vows are given freely to the gods when all fares well, if only there be escape from death.

Alas, alas, perplexing troubles! Where will this wave of trouble bear me away?
125

128

Chorus

I invoke Apia ’s hilly land—for

well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—, and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds.
130

134

Chorus

Our oars, indeed, and our timbered ship, bound with yellow rope²

to withstand the sea, sped me on by help of favoring winds, unharmed by all tempests; nor have I reason for complaint. But may the all-seeing Father
135

establish a kindly issue in due time—
140

141

Chorus

That the mighty race of our honorable mother escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

144

Chorus

And may Zeus’ pure daughter, she who holds securely the sacred wall, willingly, meeting my will, look upon me; and, grieved at our pursuit, come with all her might, a virgin to a virgin’s aid,

to deliver me—
150

151

Chorus

That the mighty race of our honorable mother may escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

154

Chorus

Yet, if she will not, we, a dark,

sun-burned race, with suppliant boughs will invoke the underworld Zeus, Zeus the great host
155

of the dead; for if the gods of Olympus hear us not, we will hang ourselves.
160

162

Chorus

Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us.³I know

your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.
165

168

Chorus

And Zeus shall then be liable to the charge of injustice

that he hates the child of the heifer, the child whom he himself begat long ago, his very own, and now he holds his face averted from our prayers.
170

May he from above hear our call!
175

162a

Chorus

Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us. I know

your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.

The Suppliant Women. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Suppliant Women.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 91 focus

But it falls firmly not upon its back , if a thing be perfected by the head of Jove: for the ways of the [divine] breast stretch thick and shady, difficult to discover.

LES SUPPLIANTES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SUPPLIANTES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 91 focus

Il retombe toujours d'aplomb, jamais ne va à terre ¹, le sort dont Zeus a décidé d'un signe de son front qu'il devait s'achever. Les voies de la pensée divine vont à leur but par des fourrés et des ombres épaisses que nul regard ne sau- rait pénétrer.

En animant.

LE CORYPHÉE.

Zeus précipite les mortels du haut

The Suppliants (OCR draft) Experimental (The Suppliants. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 91 focus

For Jove, with pious pray'rs ador'd,

Commands ſtern war to drop the ſword.

Jove's firm decree, tho' wrapt in night,

Beams 'midſt the gloom a conſtant light;

Man's fate obſcure in darkneſs lies,

Not to be pierc'd by mortal eyes:

The juſt reſolves of his high mind

A glorious conſummation find;

Eschilo, Le Supplici: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Supplici: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 91 focus

Sui piedi secura

ogni opera sta, che nel cèrebro

di Giove matura,

né crolla riversa: ché i tramiti

dei suoi pensamenti si stendono

oscuri ed arcani;

100

né scioglierli posson gli umani.

CORO

Aeschylus, Supplices: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Supplices: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 91 focus

Cadit tutò neq; in dorſum,

Vertice Iouis ſi perficiatur negocium integrum.

Titiones curarum

Vmbroſiq; intendunt meatus,

Viſum conſiderati.

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.) — 91 focus

Yea, though the counsel fall, undone it shall not lie,

Whate'er be shaped and fixed within Zeus' ruling mind—

Dark as a solemn grove, with sombre leafage shaded,

His paths of purpose wind,
115

A marvel to man's eye.

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.) — 91 focus

Siegend und aufrecht wandelt die That hin,

In dem Haupte des Zeus Einmal gereift zur Vollendung;

Denn dichtschattig und wirr

Ziehen seines Sinns¹

Pfade, dem irdischen Aug' unmerkbar.
85

Erster Halbchor.
Fünfte Strophe.

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

370. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-310

μένει:

μένοι

Rob.

370

370. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-311

ἱκτίου: Libri

ἱκταίου

, nisi quod M.

ϊκταίου

. Guil. Dindorfius

ἱκτίου

, forma probabili. Noluit poeta

ἵκτορος

dicere, quia sequitur vox in

ος

terminata.

370

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

erstes Epeisodion. 1. Szene (182—239): Danaos und der Koryphaios. Danaos kündigt das Nahen des Königs an und gibt seinen Töchtern Verhaltungsmaß- regeln. 2. Szene (240 - 349): Pelas- gos und die Vorigen. Die Danaiden erklären ihre Herkunft von Argos und erflehen als ungerecht Ver- folgte den Schutz des Argivischen Königs. Dieser ist bedenklich wegen der schweren Folgen, welche die Zusage des Schutzes für sein Land haben kann. 3. Kommos (350-422): Fortsetzung der Bitte. 4. Chorikon (423-446), welches das Nachsinnen des Königs zu Gunsten der Da- naiden zu wenden sucht. 5. Dialog des Königs, des Koryphaios und des Danaos (447-532): Der König offenbart seinen Entschluß die Entscheidung dem Volke anheim- zugeben.

350-422. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-wecklein1902-com-ger1-208

⁴

Kommos, in welchem die Gründe für und gegen erörtert werden. Auf jede Strophe und Antistrophe des Chors folgen fünf Trimeter des Königs; nur den Ab- schluß der Partie bilden 11 Tri- meter. im

370. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg001-wecklein1902-com-ger1-223

⁵

⁶

Der König lehnt die Ver- pflichtung den Schutzflehenden Beistand zu leisten für seine Person ab und verweist die Bitte an das Volk der Argiver. Damit wird der größere Umfang und das μέγεθος des Dramas vorbereitet. Von dem Schutzfehenden δωμάτων ἐφέστιος auch Eum. 580, 672. Vgl. unten 512 ἐφέστιον θεῶν.

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Chorus Thou art the state, the people, thou alone:— Ruler accountable to none; With sovereign nod, the altar-stone, The hearth, thou swayest, of the land,— And from sole-sceptred throne, All issues canst command. Oh then pollution shun. 370

Current edition Experimental

Χορος εὖ δ᾽ εἴη Διόθεν 24 παναληθῶς. Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη. παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ 25 μερόπεσσι λαοῖς. 90 91

Χορος πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ, κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον. δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι κατιδεῖν 26 ἄφραστοι. 95 96

Χορος τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω 37 λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ, ἰὴ ἰή, ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ: [θρεομένη μέλη 38 ] 115 ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ. 117

Χορος ἱλέομαι 39 μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν, καρβᾶνα δ᾽ αὐδὰν εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς. 40 πολλάκι δ᾽ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι 120 λινοσινεῖ 41 Σιδονίᾳ 42 καλύπτρᾳ. 123

Χορος θεοῖς δ᾽ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς ἐπίδρομ᾽, ὁπόθι 43 θάνατος ἀπῇ. 44 ἰὼ ἰώ, 125 ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι. ποῖ τόδε κῦμ᾽ ἀπάξει; 128

Χορος ἱλέομαι 45 μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν, καρβᾶνα δ᾽ αὐδὰν εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς. 46 130 πολλάκι δ᾽ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι λινοσινεῖ 47 48 Σιδονίᾳ 49 καλύπτρᾳ. 134

Χορος σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς 53 εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ, ἄγαμον ἀδάματον 54 ἐκφυγεῖν. 144

Χορος σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ, ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν. 154

Χορος ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς: 62 ἰὼ 63 μῆνις μάστειρ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν: κοννῶ δ᾽ ἄγαν 64 γαμετῶν οὐρανονίκων. 65 165 χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών. 168

Χορος ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς: ἰὼ μῆνις μάστειρ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν: κοννῶ δ᾽ ἄγαν γαμετῶν οὐρανονίκων. χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών. 176

Χορός εἰ δὲ κυρεῖ τις πέλας οἰωνοπόλων ἔγγαιος οἶκτον οἰκτρὸν ἀίων, δοξάσει τις ἀκούειν ὄπα τᾶς Τηρεΐας 60 Μήτιδος οἰκτρᾶς ἀλόχου, κιρκηλάτου τʼ ἀηδόνος,

Χορός ἅτʼ ἀπὸ χλωρῶν πετάλων ἐργομένα πενθεῖ μὲν οἶκτον ἠθέων· ξυντίθησι δὲ παιδὸς μόρον, ὡς αὐτοφόνως 65 ὤλετο πρὸς χειρὸς ἕθεν δυσμάτορος κότου τυχών·

Χορός εὖ δʼ εἴη Διόθεν παναληθῶς. Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη. παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ μερόπεσσι λαοῖς. 90

Χορός πίπτει δʼ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νώτῳ, κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ , πρᾶγμα τέλειον. δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι. 95

Χορός τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ, ἰὴ ἰή, ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ· θρεομένη μέλη 115 ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ.

Χορός ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν, καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς. πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι 120 λινοσινεῖ Σιδονία καλύπτρᾳ.

Χορός θεοῖς δʼ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς ἐπίδρομʼ, ὁπόθι θάνατος ἀπῇ. ἰὼ ἰώ, 125 ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι. ποῖ τόδε κῦμʼ ἀπάξει;

Χορός ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν, καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς. 130 πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι λινοσινεῖ Σιδονίᾳ καλύπτρᾳ.

Χορός σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ, ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

Χορός θέλουσα δʼ αὖ θέλουσαν ἁγνά μʼ ἐπιδέτω Διὸς κόρα, 145 ἔχουσα σέμνʼ ἐνώπιʼ ἀσφαλῶς, παντὶ δὲ σθένει διωγμοῖς ἀσχαλῶσʼ ἀδμήτας ἀδμήτα ῥύσιος γενέσθω, 150

Χορός σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ, ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

Χορός ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῷ μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν· κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον. 165 χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

Χορός ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῶ , μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν· κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

στροφή ε.

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ, κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

Χορός Δαναΐδων δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε τεί- νουσι πόροι κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι. 85 1

Chorus And now I invoke, as our champion from beyond the sea, the calf born of Zeus, the offspring of the flower-grazing cow, our ancestress, 40 the caress of Zeus’ breath. The appointed period confirmed itself in a name suited to the event—Epaphus 1 , to whom she gave birth. 45

Chorus Now if by chance there be some neighbor in the land who knows the song of birds, when our complaint greets his ear, he will fancy that he hears the voice of Metis, Tereus’ piteous wife, the hawk-chased nightingale. 60

Chorus For she, constrained to leave her green leaves, laments pitifully her accustomed haunts, and composes the tale of her own child’s doom—how he perished, destroyed by her own hand, victim of the wrath of an unnatural mother. 65

Chorus Even so I, indulging my grief in Ionian strains, pain my tender face summered by Nile ’s sun and my heart unexercised in tears; and I gather the flowers of grief, anxious whether there is any friendly kinsman here to champion our band 70 which has fled from the haze-shrouded land. 75

Chorus But may Zeus grant that it go well with us. For Zeus’ desire is hard to trace: it shines everywhere, even in gloom, together with fortune obscure to mortal men. 90

Chorus Safely it falls, and not upon its back, whatever deed comes to pass at Zeus’ nod; for the pathways of his understanding stretch dark and tangled, beyond comprehension. 95

Chorus From their high-towering hopes he hurls mankind to utter destruction; yet he does not marshal any armed violence— all that is wrought by the powers divine is free from toil. Seated on his holy throne, unmoved, in mysterious ways he accomplishes his will. 100

Chorus So let him look upon human outrageousness —in what way it shoots up men in their wooing of us, sprouted from thoughts of evil intent, 105 having a frenzied purpose as its irresistible spur, and deluded, turning its thoughts to folly. 110

Chorus Such piteous strains of woe I utter in my pain, now shrill, now deep, blended with falling tears—Alas, alas! groans appropriate to funeral wails; though I live, I chant my own dirge. 115

Chorus I invoke Apia ’s hilly land—for well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—, and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds. 120

Chorus Sacrifices in satisfaction of vows are given freely to the gods when all fares well, if only there be escape from death. Alas, alas, perplexing troubles! Where will this wave of trouble bear me away? 125

Chorus I invoke Apia ’s hilly land—for well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—, and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds. 130

Chorus Our oars, indeed, and our timbered ship, bound with yellow rope 2 to withstand the sea, sped me on by help of favoring winds, unharmed by all tempests; nor have I reason for complaint. But may the all-seeing Father 135 establish a kindly issue in due time— 140

Chorus That the mighty race of our honorable mother escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

Chorus And may Zeus’ pure daughter, she who holds securely the sacred wall, willingly, meeting my will, look upon me; and, grieved at our pursuit, come with all her might, a virgin to a virgin’s aid, to deliver me— 150

Chorus That the mighty race of our honorable mother may escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

Chorus Yet, if she will not, we, a dark, sun-burned race, with suppliant boughs will invoke the underworld Zeus, Zeus the great host 155 of the dead; for if the gods of Olympus hear us not, we will hang ourselves. 160

Chorus Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us. 3 I know your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind. 165

Chorus And Zeus shall then be liable to the charge of injustice that he hates the child of the heifer, the child whom he himself begat long ago, his very own, and now he holds his face averted from our prayers. 170 May he from above hear our call! 175

Chorus Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us. I know your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.

LE CORYPHÉE. Zeus précipite les mortels du haut

CORO

Titiones curarum Vmbroſiq; intendunt meatus, Viſum conſiderati.

Yea, though the counsel fall, undone it shall not lie, Whate'er be shaped and fixed within Zeus' ruling mind— Dark as a solemn grove, with sombre leafage shaded, His paths of purpose wind, 115 A marvel to man's eye.

Siegend und aufrecht wandelt die That hin, In dem Haupte des Zeus Einmal gereift zur Vollendung; Denn dichtschattig und wirr Ziehen seines Sinns 1 Pfade, dem irdischen Aug' unmerkbar. 85

Erster Halbchor. Fünfte Strophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Chorus

Thou art the state, the people, thou alone:—

Ruler accountable to none;

With sovereign nod, the altar-stone,

The hearth, thou swayest, of the land,—

And from sole-sceptred throne,

All issues canst command.

Oh then pollution shun. 370

Χορος

εὖ δ᾽ εἴη Διόθεν²⁴ παναληθῶς.

Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη.

παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει

κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ²⁵

μερόπεσσι λαοῖς.
90
91

Χορος

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων

δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι

κατιδεῖν²⁶ ἄφραστοι.
95
96

Χορος

τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω³⁷

λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ,

ἰὴ ἰή,

ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ: [θρεομένη μέλη³⁸]
115

ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ.

117

Χορος

ἱλέομαι³⁹ μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δ᾽ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.⁴⁰

πολλάκι δ᾽ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι
120

λινοσινεῖ⁴¹

Σιδονίᾳ⁴² καλύπτρᾳ.

123

Χορος

θεοῖς δ᾽ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς

ἐπίδρομ᾽, ὁπόθι⁴³ θάνατος ἀπῇ.⁴⁴

ἰὼ ἰώ,
125

ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι.

ποῖ τόδε κῦμ᾽ ἀπάξει;

128

Χορος

ἱλέομαι⁴⁵ μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δ᾽ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.⁴⁶
130

πολλάκι δ᾽ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι

λινοσινεῖ⁴⁷⁴⁸

Σιδονίᾳ⁴⁹ καλύπτρᾳ.

134

Χορος

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς⁵³

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον⁵⁴ ἐκφυγεῖν.

144

Χορος

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

154

Χορος

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς:⁶² ἰὼ⁶³

μῆνις μάστειρ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν:

κοννῶ δ᾽ ἄγαν⁶⁴

γαμετῶν οὐρανονίκων.⁶⁵
165

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

168

Χορος

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς: ἰὼ

μῆνις μάστειρ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν:

κοννῶ δ᾽ ἄγαν

γαμετῶν οὐρανονίκων.

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

176

Χορός

εἰ δὲ κυρεῖ τις πέλας οἰωνοπόλων

ἔγγαιος οἶκτον οἰκτρὸν ἀίων,

δοξάσει τις ἀκούειν ὄπα τᾶς Τηρεΐας
60

Μήτιδος οἰκτρᾶς ἀλόχου,

κιρκηλάτου τʼ ἀηδόνος,

Χορός

εὖ δʼ εἴη Διόθεν παναληθῶς.

Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη.

παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει

κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ

μερόπεσσι λαοῖς.
90

Χορός

πίπτει δʼ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ , πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων

δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι

κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.
95

Χορός

τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω

λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ,

ἰὴ ἰή,

ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ· θρεομένη μέλη
115

ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ.

Χορός

ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.

πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι
120

λινοσινεῖ

Σιδονία καλύπτρᾳ.

Χορός

θεοῖς δʼ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς

ἐπίδρομʼ, ὁπόθι θάνατος ἀπῇ.

ἰὼ ἰώ,
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ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι.

ποῖ τόδε κῦμʼ ἀπάξει;

Χορός

ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,

καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν

εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.
130

πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι

λινοσινεῖ

Σιδονίᾳ καλύπτρᾳ.

Χορός

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

Χορός

σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς

εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,

ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

Χορός

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῷ

μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν·

κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν

γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον.
165

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

Χορός

ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῶ ,

μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν·

κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν

γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον

χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ

πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

πίπτει δ᾽ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,

κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ πρᾶγμα τέλειον.

Χορός Δαναΐδων

δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων δάσκιοί τε τεί-

νουσι πόροι κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.
85
¹

Chorus

And now I invoke, as our champion from beyond the sea, the calf born of Zeus, the offspring of the flower-grazing cow, our ancestress,
40

the caress of Zeus’ breath. The appointed period confirmed itself in a name suited to the event—Epaphus¹, to whom she gave birth.
45

Chorus

Now if by chance there be some neighbor in the land who knows the song of birds,

when our complaint greets his ear, he will fancy that he hears the voice of Metis, Tereus’ piteous wife, the hawk-chased nightingale.
60

Chorus

For she, constrained to leave her green leaves, laments pitifully her accustomed haunts,

and composes the tale of her own child’s doom—how he perished, destroyed by her own hand, victim of the wrath of an unnatural mother.
65

Chorus

Even so I, indulging my grief in Ionian strains,

pain my tender face summered by Nile ’s sun and my heart unexercised in tears; and I gather the flowers of grief, anxious whether there is any friendly kinsman here to champion our band
70

which has fled from the haze-shrouded land.
75

Chorus

But may Zeus grant that it go well with us. For Zeus’ desire is hard to trace: it shines everywhere, even in gloom, together with fortune

obscure to mortal men.
90

Chorus

Safely it falls, and not upon its back, whatever deed comes to pass at Zeus’ nod; for the pathways of his understanding stretch dark and tangled,

beyond comprehension.
95

Chorus

From their high-towering hopes he hurls mankind to utter destruction; yet he does not marshal any armed violence—

all that is wrought by the powers divine is free from toil. Seated on his holy throne, unmoved, in mysterious ways he accomplishes his will.
100

Chorus

So let him look upon human outrageousness

—in what way it shoots up men in their wooing of us, sprouted from thoughts of evil intent,
105

having a frenzied purpose as its irresistible spur, and deluded, turning its thoughts to folly.
110

Chorus

Such piteous strains of woe I utter in my pain, now shrill, now deep, blended with falling tears—Alas, alas!

groans appropriate to funeral wails; though I live, I chant my own dirge.
115

Chorus

I invoke Apia ’s hilly land—for well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—,

and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds.
120

Chorus

Sacrifices in satisfaction of vows are given freely to the gods when all fares well, if only there be escape from death.

Alas, alas, perplexing troubles! Where will this wave of trouble bear me away?
125

Chorus

I invoke Apia ’s hilly land—for

well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—, and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds.
130

Chorus

Our oars, indeed, and our timbered ship, bound with yellow rope²

to withstand the sea, sped me on by help of favoring winds, unharmed by all tempests; nor have I reason for complaint. But may the all-seeing Father
135

establish a kindly issue in due time—
140

Chorus

That the mighty race of our honorable mother escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

Chorus

And may Zeus’ pure daughter, she who holds securely the sacred wall, willingly, meeting my will, look upon me; and, grieved at our pursuit, come with all her might, a virgin to a virgin’s aid,

to deliver me—
150

Chorus

That the mighty race of our honorable mother may escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

Chorus

Yet, if she will not, we, a dark,

sun-burned race, with suppliant boughs will invoke the underworld Zeus, Zeus the great host
155

of the dead; for if the gods of Olympus hear us not, we will hang ourselves.
160

Chorus

Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us.³I know

your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.
165

Chorus

And Zeus shall then be liable to the charge of injustice

that he hates the child of the heifer, the child whom he himself begat long ago, his very own, and now he holds his face averted from our prayers.
170

May he from above hear our call!
175

Chorus

Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us. I know

your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.

LE CORYPHÉE.

Zeus précipite les mortels du haut

Titiones curarum

Vmbroſiq; intendunt meatus,

Viſum conſiderati.

Yea, though the counsel fall, undone it shall not lie,

Whate'er be shaped and fixed within Zeus' ruling mind—

Dark as a solemn grove, with sombre leafage shaded,

His paths of purpose wind,
115

A marvel to man's eye.

Siegend und aufrecht wandelt die That hin,

In dem Haupte des Zeus Einmal gereift zur Vollendung;

Denn dichtschattig und wirr

Ziehen seines Sinns¹

Pfade, dem irdischen Aug' unmerkbar.
85

Erster Halbchor.
Fünfte Strophe.