Aeschylus Persians 1

Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator)

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These are the faithful band 1
left by the Persians who have gone into the land of Hellas, and guardians of these opulent abodes abounding in gold, whom our prince Xerxes himself, a monarch descended from Darius, selected according to seniority, to have the superintendence of the realm. And now for some time my ill-boding soul within me has been in a state of exceeding agitation concerning the return of our monarch, and of the army in its rich array, for the whole native power of Asia hath gone, and [my mind] calls for its youthful hero 2
. And neither does any messenger nor any horseman arrive at the city of the Persians, who, having quitted the city of Susa and of Ecbatana 1
, and the antique Cissian fortress, set forth, some on steeds, some in ships, and the infantry in slow march, forming a dense file of war. Amistres 2
, for instance, and Artaphrenes, and Megabayes, and Astaspes, leaders of the Persians, kings, subalterns of the great king, speed their way, inspectors of the great host, both those that conquer with the bow, and mounted upon steeds, fearful to look upon 3
, and terrible in fight, through their stern determination of spirit. Artembaces too, rejoicing in his charger, and Masistres, and stout Imae us that slays with the bow, and Pharandaces and Sosthanes, driver of steeds. And others Nile, the mighty stream and nourisher of many, sent forth; Susiscanes, Pegastagon native of Egypt, and the lord of sacred Memphis mighty Arsames, and Ariomardus ruler of ancient Thebes, and the dwellers in the fens, skilful rowers of galleys, and in multitude beyond all numbering.

Persians. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Volunteer.

Current edition Experimental

The Persians. (OCR draft) (English) (The Persians.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)
Πέρσαι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 1-64 focus
Πέρσαι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 1-64 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 1 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 1 focus
Τάδε μὲν Περσῶν τῶν οἰχομένων
1
Ἑλλάδ᾽ ἐς αἶαν πιστὰ καλεῖται,
καὶ τῶν ἀφνεῶν καὶ πολυχρύσων
ἑδράνων φύλακες,
κατὰ πρεσβείαν οὓς αὐτὸς ἄναξ
5
Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς Δαρειογενὴς
εἵλετο χώρας ἐφορεύειν.
ἀμφὶ δὲ νόστῳ τῷ βασιλείῳ
καὶ πολυχρύσου στρατιᾶς ἤδη
κακόμαντις ἄγαν ὀρσολογεῖται
10
θυμός, ἔσωθεν δὲ βαΰζει.
πᾶσα γὰρ ἰσχὺς ᾿Ασιατογενής
οἴχωκε νέων,
κοὔτε τις ἄγγελος, οὔτε τις ἱππεὺς
ἄστυ τὸ Περσῶν ἀφικνεῖται,
15
οἵτε τὸ Σούσων ἠδ᾽ Εκβατάνων
καὶ τὸ παλαιὸν Κίσσινον ἕρκος
προλιπόντες ἔβαν,
οἱ μὲν ἐφ᾽ ἵππων, οἳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ ναῶν,
πεζοί τε βάδην
20
πολέμου στῖφος παρέχοντες·
οἷος Αμίστρης ἠδ᾽ Αρταφρένης,
καὶ Μεγαβάτης, ἠδ᾽ Αστάσπης,
ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 1 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 1 focus
Τάδε μὲν Περσῶν τῶν οἰχομένων
1
Ἑλλάδ᾽ ἐς αἶαν πιστὰ καλεῖται,
καὶ τῶν ἀφνεῶν καὶ πολυχρύσων
ἑδράνων φύλακες, κατὰ πρεσβείαν
οὓς αὐτὸς ἄναξ Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς
5
Δαρειογενὴς
εἵλετο χώρας ἐφορεύειν.
ἀμφὶ δὲ νόστῳ τῷ βασιλείῳ
καὶ πολυχρύσου στρατιᾶς ἤδη
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 1 focus
Translations (8)
Persians Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1-60 focus
LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 1 focus
Voici ceux que parmi les Perses, aujourd'hui partis 1 pour la terre de Grèce, on nomme les Fidèles, gardiens de ce palais d'opulence et d'or, qu'à rai-
son de leur rang notre sire Xerxès, roi né de Darios, a lui-même choisis pour veiller sur sa terre.
Mais, à songer au retour royal, au retour de l'armée bardée d'or, déjà, prophète trop prompt de malheurs, mon
cœur se hérisse en moi : la force née de l'Asie s'en est allée tout entière ! il gronde, appelant un porteur de nouvelles : et nul messager, nul courrier monté n'arrive à
la cité des Perses !
Quittant Suse et Ecbatane et les vieux remparts kissiens 2 , ils sont partis, les uns à cheval, d'autres sur des vaisseaux,
les fantassins à pied, formant le gros de la masse guerrière.
Ainsi vont au combat Amistrès et Artaphrénès, Mégaba-
tès et Astaspès, capitaines des Perses, rois vassaux du
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 1 focus
WHILST o'er the fields of Greece the em-
1
battled troops
Of Perſia march, with delegated ſway
We o'er their rich and gold-abounding ſeats
Hold faithful our firm guard;
5
to this high charge
Xerxes, our royal lord, th' imperial ſon
Of great Darius, choſe our honour'd age.
But for the king's return, and his arm'd hoſt
Blazing with gold, my ſoul preſaging ill
10
Swells in my tortur'd breaſt:
for all her force
Hath Aſia ſent, and for her youth I ſigh.
Nor meſſenger arrives, nor horſeman ſpurs
With tidings to this ſeat of Persia's kings.
15
The gates of Suſa and Ecbatana
Pour'd forth their martial trains; and Ciſſia ſees
Her ancient tow'rs forſaken, whilſt her youth,
Some on the bounding ſteed, the tall bark ſome
Aſcending, ſome with painful march on foot,
20
Haſte on, t' arrange the deep'ning files of war.
Amiſtres, Artaphernes, and the might
Of great Aſtaſpes, Megabazes bold,
Chieftains of Perſia, kings, that to the pow'r
Of the great king obedient, march with theſe
25
Leading their martial thouſands;
their proud
ſteeds
Prance under them; ſteel bows and ſhafts their
arms,
30
Dreadful to ſee, and terrible in ſight,
Deliberate valour breathing in their ſouls,
Artembares, that in his firey horſe
Delights; Maſiſtres; and Imæus bold,
Bending with manly ſtrength his ſtubborn bow;
35
Pharandaces, and Soſthanes, that drives
With military pomp his rapid ſteeds.
Others the vaſt prolific Nile hath ſent;
Pegaſtagon,
Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 1 focus
I fedeli siam noi dei Signori
1
persïani partiti per l'Ellade,
i custodi siam noi dei palagi
ricchi d'oro, opulenti.
Prescelse
5
noi, pel senno e per gli anni provetti
a vegliar su la patria il re Serse,
figliuolo di Dario.
E di già per l'assenza del sire,
dell'esercito rutilo d'oro,
10
troppo in seno tumultua l'anima
presaga di mali.
Poi che tutta partir la sua forza
vide l'Asia, e i suoi giovani invoca;
né alcun messo ancor giunge, non giunge
15
cavaliere alla nostra città.
Molti d'essi, da Ecbàtana e Susa,
dal vetusto recinto di Císsino,
movevano a guerra
su corsieri, su navi, o pedoni
20
ad empir le caterve di guerra:
quali Amistra, Artaferne, Megàbate,
ed Astàspe, signori di Persi.
Ed i re del gran Re tributarî,
si lanciâr con fittissime schiere,
25
vibrando archi, inforcando corsieri,
paurosi a vedere, terribili
com'è fama, pel cuor temerario
nella zuffa.
Ed Artèmbare, vago
30
di cavalli, e Masistre, e Imeo prode
vibratore dell'arco, e Faràndace
e Sostane signor dei corsieri.
Il gran Nilo dai flutti fecondi
altri poi ne mandava: Susícane,
35
Pegastàgone egizio, ed Arsàme,
l'alto sire di Menfi la sacra,
e Ariomardo che a Tebe vetusta
tien lo scettro;
e le genti palustri
40
ben destre al remeggio,
moltitudini immense e terribili.
Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 1 focus
Hæc quidem Perſarum proficiſcentium
1
In Græciam præſidia uocantur fi delia,
Et locupletum diuitumq;
Sedium custodes, tanquam antiquos:
Hos ipſe rex Xerxes imperator
5
Dariogena Dario natus
Elegit, ut specularentur terram,
Pro reditu regio,
Exercitus diuitis iam
Sinister uates animus admodum turbatur
10
Intrinfecus:
omne robur Aſiaticum
Abiuit, iuuenem uirum excit.
At neq; ullus nuncius, aut eques
Vrbem Perſarum adit.
15
Qui Sufa Ecbatana,
Et antiquum bederaceum munimentum
Partim nauibus, partim pedeſtri itinere,
Relinquentes, profecti funt partim equis,
Belli turmam conftituentes.
20
Qualis Amistres, Artafrenes,
Et Megabases, Aftapesq duces Perſarum,
Reges regi magno ſubditi
Veniunt, exercitus magni præfecti,
Iaculatoresq ,ac equites
25
Terribiles quidem uiſu, atroces uerò pugna,
In audaci opinione anime.
Artembares, & Hippiocharmes, Maſiſtresq
Arcu domans ftrenuus Imeus,
Pharandacesq;, equorum rector'q; Soſthanes.
30
Alios uerò magnus multa animalia alens
Nilus mifit:Sufiſcanes,
Pegaſtagon Aegyptogena,
Et facræ Memphidos princeps
Magnus Arfames, priſcas
35
Thebas incolens Ariomardus,
Et nauales nauium remiges
Graues, multitudoq; innumera,
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 1 focus
CHORUS
THE Faithful these, advisers old
Of Persians, gone to Hellas' strand,
Guards of these halls and plenteous gold
Here treasured, whom, as elders' meed,
Lord Xerxes, King, Darius' seed,
Chose wardens of the land.
But touching now the safe return
Of King and gold-trickt host,
Bodeful of mischief, sore afraid,
My heart within doth yearn,
10
And for our youthful hero moans;
For all the martial strength is gone,
Nurtur'd in Asia: news is none;
Nor horseman reacheth yet nor post
Our Persia's central home.
But they forsaking Susa's walls,
Agbatana and Kissia's hold
Right ancient, forth to battle sped,
Some borne on steeds, in galleys some,
Others in march, with measured tread,
20
War's serried ranks displayed.
Such were Amistres, Artaphren,
Astasp and Megabazes,—they,
Marshals of Persia, kings themselves,
But to the mighty King submiss,
Speed forth, o'erseers of vast array,
With arrow puissant, borne on steeds,
Fearful to sight and dread in fight,
Through their high-souled resolve.
And steed-exultant Artembar,
Masistres and Imaeus brave,
30
Puissant with bow; Pharandakes,
Sosthānes too, steed-driver;
Others Nile's vast, life-teeming wave
Sent to the war; Susiskănes,
And Pegastágon, Egypt-born,
Him too who sacred Memphis sways,
Mighty Arsámes; Ariomard,
Whose rule Ogygian Thebes obeys;
And rowers from the marshy shore,
Their barks who guide with sturdy oar,
40
Well-skilled, a countless host.
41
And Lydians, a luxurious train,
Who the whole native people hold,
Of Asia's mainland; these the twain,
Metragathes and Arkteus brave,
Kingly commanders, lead to war,
Sent forth by Sardis rich in gold,
Mounted upon full many a car,
With steeds yoked three and four abreast,
Terrific to behold.
And dwellers sacred Tmolos near
On Hellas rush the yoke to cast
50
Of bondage;—Mardon, Tharubis,
Dread anvils of the spear;
And Mysians skilled the dart to throw;
While Babylon, the golden, sends
Her motley throng, which sweeps along,
Some upon galleys borne, and those
Whose valour trusts the bow.
Thus 'neath the King's commandment dread
Each sabre-wielding race has sped
From Asia's every reign.
Such bloom of men from Persia's plain
60
Hath gone, and all the Asian earth,
Yearning for those whom from their birth
She fostered, groans amain;
While wives and parents count each day,
Still trembling at the long delay.
But Persian elders, come,
And seated in our ancient hall of state
Devise we counsel, with deep-thoughted care,
For great in sooth the need;—
How haply fares our king,
Darius' seed,
Xerxes, from him derived whose name we bear.
On bending of the bow doth conquest wait?
Or hath the might
150
Of iron-headed spear-shaft won the day?
[ATOSSA is seen approaching in a royal chariot, attended by a numerous train.]
But lo, in brightness like the eyes of gods,
Comes forth a light—
The mother of my royal lord, my queen.
Do we obeisance, falling at her feet;
Yea, it behoves us all
155
With words of salutation her to greet.
[They prostrate themselves before her, touching the earth with their foreheads.]
Of Persia's deep-zoned daughters supreme in rank,
O Queen,
Hoar mother of King Xerxes, spouse of Darius, hail!
Once consort, now the mother of Persia's god art thou,
Unless our ancient fortune abandons now the host.
160
English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1908) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persians — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 1 focus
Away unto the Grecian land
1
Hath passed the Persian armament:
We, by the monarch's high command,
We are the warders true who stand,
Chosen, for honour and descent,
5
To watch the wealth of him who went—
Guards of the gold, and faithful styled
By Xerxes, great Darius' child!
But the king went nor comes again—
And for that host, we saw depart
10
Arrayed in gold, my boding heart
Aches with a pulse of anxious pain,
Presageful for its youthful king!
No scout, no steed, no battle car
Comes speeding hitherward, to bring
15
News to our city from afar!
Erewhile they went, away, away,
From Susa, from Ecbatana,
From Kissa's timeworn fortress grey,
Passing to ravage and to war—
20
Some upon steeds, on galleys some,
Some in close files, they passed from home,
All upon warlike errand bent—
Amistres, Artaphernes went,
Astaspes, Megabazes high,
25
Lords of the Persian chivalry,
Marshals who serve the great king's word,
Chieftains of all the mighty horde!
Horsemen and bowmen streamed away,
Grim in their aspect, fixed to slay,
30
And resolute to face the fray!
With troops of horse, careering fast,
Masistes, Artembáres passed:
Imaeus too, the bowman brave,
Sosthánes, Pharandákes, drave—
35
And others the all-nursing wave
Of Nilus to the battle gave;
Came Susiskánes, warrior wild,
And Pegastágon, Egypt's child:
Thee, brave Arsámes! from afar
40
Did holy Memphis launch to war;
And Ariomardus, high in fame,
From Thebes the immemorial came,
And oarsmen skilled from Nilus' fen,
A countless crowd of warlike men:
45
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.) — 1 focus
Von dem persischen Volk, das in Hellas' Gefild 1 2
1
Auszog, steh'n hier die Getreuen des Reichs,
Für die Wohnungen, die reich prangen in Gold,
Als Hüter bestellt, die Xerxes selbst,
Mein König und Herr, des Dareios Sohn,
5
Nach Alter und Stand
Auswählte, des Landes zu wachen.
Doch unheilahnend erbebt schon jetzt
Mir unruhvoll in den Tiefen der Brust
Mein zagendes Herz, ob der Fürst und das Heer,
10
Hellstrahlend von Gold, heimkehren im Glück.
Denn der Jünglinge Kraft aus Asia's Gau'n
Zog all' in den Kampf,
Und weder zu Fuß kommt, weder zu Roß,
Botschaft in die persische Heimat.
15
Fern zogen sie aus von Ekbatana dort,
Aus Susa hier und dem alten Bezirk
Der kissinischen Burg,
Heerschaaren zu Roß, Heerhausen zu Schiff,
Und Streiter zu Fuß,
20
Sturmgleich sich ergießend im Heerstrom.
Artaphernes gebeut und Amistres hier,
Megabazes auch und Astaspes dort
In den Reihen des Volks,
Selbst Könige sie, dem Erhabensten nur
25
Dienstbar, Feldherrn des gewaltigen Heers,
Auf schäumendem Roß, mit dem Bogen bewehrt,
Graunweckend im Kampf und furchtbar zu schau'n
In des Muths ausharrendem Troße.
Artembares dann, hoch kämpfend zu Roß,
30
Masistres zugleich und Imäos der Held,
Mit dem Bogen bewehrt, Pharandakes auch,
Und der Tummler der Rosse, Sosthanes.
Viel sandte sodann des gewaltigen Nil
Fruchtwallendes Thal, erst Susiskan,
35
Dann Pegastagon, Aegyptens Sohn,
Und der heiligen Memphis mächtigen Herrn,
Arsames, Ariomardos auch,
Der Theben beherrscht, das ogygische Land,
Und der Ruderer Kern, der die Sümpfe bewohnt,
40
Streitbar, ein unendlich Gewimmel.

Commentary

Critical apparatus to The Persians (OCR draft) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of The Persians.) focus

68-69. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-56

γείτονα χώραν:
γείτονα χώραν
omittit Ven. B.
χώρας
, superscripto
ν
, M.
χθόνα
pro
χώραν
G. Lips. aliique et Rob.

Commentary (W. S. Teuffel; revised by N. Wecklein, 1886; German; OCR draft) (Persians, explanatory commentary pp. 43–97. Single-witness OCR; source readings and all reference placements require scan review.) focus

65-72. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-12

1
2
„Das Heer ist über den Hellespont gegangen" (auf einer Schiffbrücke). περσέπτολις ihre Absicht, 178, das homerische πτο- λίπορθος. ἀντίπορον (Suppl. 544 f.) auf der anderen Seite des Sundes gelegen. λινοδέσμῳ σχε- δίᾳ per rates lineis vinculis inter se iunctas. Die einzelnen Schiffe waren zusammengenagelt ( πολύ- γομφον, vgl. Suppl. 846) und dann unter einander durch Stricke ver- bunden. Vgl. Herod. VII 36. Helle war Tochter des Thessaliers Athamas und der Nephele. vielgenietete (feste) Bahn (die Schiffbrücke, deren Zweck war als Bahn zu dienen) als Joch umwer- fend dem Nacken des Meeres. Vgl. 745 u. das Orakel des Bakis bei Herod. VIII 20 ὅταν ζυγὸν εἰς ἄλα βάλλῃ βύβλινον. Die ποι