Persians. Aeschylus. ed. Gottfried Hermann. Lipsiae. 1852.
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Critical apparatus to The Persians (OCR draft) (Latin) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of The Persians.)
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Editions (7)
Πέρσαι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 290-547 focus
Ἄτοσσα
σιγῶ πάλαι δύστηνος ἐκπεπληγμένη
290
κακοῖς: ὑπερβάλλει γὰρ ἥδε συμφορά,
τὸ μήτε λέξαι μήτ᾽ ἐρωτῆσαι πάθη.
ὅμως δ᾽ ἀνάγκη πημονὰς βροτοῖς φέρειν
θεῶν διδόντων: πᾶν δ᾽ ἀναπτύξας πάθος
λέξον καταστάς, κεἰ στένεις κακοῖς ὅμως,
295
τίς οὐ τέθνηκε, τίνα δὲ καὶ πενθήσομεν
τῶν ἀρχελείων, ὅστ᾽ ἐπὶ σκηπτουχίᾳ
ταχθεὶς ἄνανδρον τάξιν ἠρήμου θανών.
Ἄγγελος
Ξέρξης μὲν αὐτὸς ζῇ τε καὶ βλέπει φάος.
1
Ἄτοσσα
ἐμοῖς μὲν εἶπας δώμασιν φάος μέγα
300
καὶ λευκὸν ἦμαρ νυκτὸς ἐκ μελαγχίμου.
Ἄγγελος
Ἀρτεμβάρης δὲ μυρίας ἵππου
2
βραβεὺς
στύφλους παρ᾽ ἀκτὰς θείνεται Σιληνιῶν.
χὠ χιλίαρχος Δαδάκης πληγῇ δορὸς
πήδημα κοῦφον ἐκ νεὼς ἀφήλατο:
305
Τενάγων τ᾽ ἀριστεὺς
3
Βακτρίων ἰθαγενὴς
θαλασσόπληκτον νῆσον Αἴαντος πολεῖ.
Λίλαιος, Ἀρσάμης τε κἀργήστης τρίτος,
οἵδ᾽ ἀμφὶ νῆσον τὴν πελειοθρέμμονα
δινούμενοι
4
κύρισσον ἰσχυρὰν χθόνα:
310
πηγαῖς τε Νείλου γειτονῶν Αἰγυπτίου
Ἀρκτεύς, Ἀδεύης, καὶ Φερεσσάκης
5
τρίτος,
Φαρνοῦχος, οἵδε ναὸς ἐκ μιᾶς πέσον.
Χρυσεὺς Μάταλλος μυριόνταρχος θανών,
ἵππου μελαίνης ἡγεμὼν τρισμυρίας,
315
πυρσὴν
6
ζαπληθῆ δάσκιον γενειάδα
ἔτεγγ᾽, ἀμείβων χρῶτα πορφυρᾷ
7
βαφῇ.
καὶ Μᾶγος Ἄραβος, Ἀρτάβης τε Βάκτριος,
σκληρᾶς μέτοικος γῆς, ἐκεῖ κατέφθιτο.
Ἄμιστρις Ἀμφιστρεύς τε πολύπονον δόρυ
320
νωμῶν, ὅ τ᾽ ἐσθλὸς Ἀριόμαρδος Σάρδεσι
8
πένθος παρασχών, Σεισάμης θ᾽ ὁ Μύσιος,
Θάρυβίς τε πεντήκοντα πεντάκις νεῶν
ταγός, γένος Λυρναῖος, εὐειδὴς ἀνήρ,
κεῖται θανὼν δείλαιος οὐ μάλ᾽ εὐτυχῶς:
325
Συέννεσίς τε πρῶτος εἰς εὐψυχίαν,
Κιλίκων ἔπαρχος,
9
εἷς ἀνὴρ πλεῖστον πόνον
ἐχθροῖς παρασχών, εὐκλεῶς ἀπώλετο.
πολλῶν παρόντων δ᾽
12
ὀλίγ᾽ ἀπαγγέλλω κακά.
330
331
Ἄτοσσα
αἰαῖ, κακῶν ὕψιστα δὴ κλύω τάδε,
αἴσχη τε Πέρσαις καὶ λιγέα κωκύματα.
ἀτὰρ φράσον μοι τοῦτ᾽ ἀναστρέψας πάλιν:
πόσον δὲ
13
πλῆθος ἦν νεῶν Ἑλληνίδων,
ὥστ᾽ ἀξιῶσαι Περσικῷ στρατεύματι
335
μάχην συνάψαι ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς;
Ἄγγελος
πλήθους μὲν ἂν σάφ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἕκατι βάρβαρον
14
ναυσὶν κρατῆσαι. καὶ γὰρ Ἕλλησιν μὲν ἦν
ὁ πᾶς ἀριθμὸς ἐς τριακάδας δέκα
ναῶν, δεκὰς δ᾽ ἦν τῶνδε χωρὶς ἔκκριτος:
340
Ξέρξῃ δέ, καὶ γὰρ οἶδα, χιλιὰς μὲν ἦν
ὧν ἦγε πλῆθος, αἱ δ᾽ ὑπέρκοποι
15
τάχει
ἑκατὸν δὶς ἦσαν ἑπτά θ᾽: ὧδ᾽ ἔχει λόγος.
μή σοι δοκοῦμεν τῇδε λειφθῆναι
16
μάχῃ;
ἀλλ᾽ ὧδε δαίμων τις κατέφθειρε στρατόν,
345
τάλαντα βρίσας οὐκ ἰσορρόπῳ τύχῃ.
θεοὶ πόλιν σῴζουσι Παλλάδος
17
θεᾶς.
Ἄτοσσα
ἔτ᾽ ἆρ᾽ Ἀθηνῶν ἔστ᾽ ἀπόρθητος πόλις;
Ἄγγελος
ἀνδρῶν γὰρ ὄντων ἕρκος ἐστὶν ἀσφαλές.
Ἄτοσσα
ἀρχὴ δὲ ναυσὶ συμβολῆς τίς ἦν, φράσον:
350
τίνες κατῆρξαν, πότερον Ἕλληνες, μάχης,
ἢ παῖς ἐμός, πλήθει καταυχήσας νεῶν;
353
Ἄγγελος
ἦρξεν μέν, ὦ δέσποινα, τοῦ παντὸς κακοῦ
φανεὶς ἀλάστωρ ἢ κακὸς δαίμων ποθέν.
ἀνὴρ γὰρ Ἕλλην ἐξ Ἀθηναίων στρατοῦ
355
ἐλθὼν ἔλεξε παιδὶ σῷ Ξέρξῃ τάδε,
ὡς εἰ μελαίνης νυκτὸς ἵξεται κνέφας,
Ἕλληνες οὐ μενοῖεν,
18
ἀλλὰ σέλμασιν
ναῶν ἐπενθορόντες
19
ἄλλος ἄλλοσε
δρασμῷ κρυφαίῳ βίοτον ἐκσωσοίατο.
360
ὁ δ᾽ εὐθὺς ὡς ἤκουσεν, οὐ ξυνεὶς δόλον
Ἕλληνος ἀνδρὸς οὐδὲ τὸν θεῶν φθόνον,
πᾶσιν προφωνεῖ τόνδε ναυάρχοις λόγον,
εὖτ᾽ ἂν φλέγων ἀκτῖσιν ἥλιος χθόνα
λήξῃ, κνέφας δὲ τέμενος αἰθέρος λάβῃ,
365
τάξαι νεῶν μὲν στῖφος
20
ἐν στοίχοις τρισὶν
ἔκπλους φυλάσσειν καὶ πόρους ἁλιρρόθους,
ἄλλας δὲ κύκλῳ νῆσον Αἴαντος πέριξ:
ὡς εἰ μόρον φευξοίαθ᾽ Ἕλληνες κακόν,
ναυσὶν κρυφαίως δρασμὸν εὑρόντες τινά,
370
πᾶσιν στέρεσθαι κρατὸς ἦν προκείμενον.
τοσαῦτ᾽ ἔλεξε κάρθ᾽ ὑπ᾽ εὐθύμου φρενός:
οὐ γὰρ τὸ μέλλον ἐκ θεῶν ἠπίστατο.
οἱ δ᾽ οὐκ ἀκόσμως, ἀλλὰ πειθάρχῳ φρενὶ
δεῖπνόν <τ᾽>
21
ἐπορσύνοντο, ναυβάτης τ᾽ ἀνὴρ
375
τροποῦτο κώπην σκαλμὸν ἀμφ᾽ εὐήρετμον.
ἐπεὶ δὲ φέγγος ἡλίου κατέφθιτο
καὶ νὺξ ἐπῄει, πᾶς ἀνὴρ κώπης ἄναξ
ἐς ναῦν ἐχώρει πᾶς θ᾽
22
ὅπλων ἐπιστάτης:
τάξις δὲ τάξιν παρεκάλει νεὼς μακρᾶς:
380
πλέουσι δ᾽ ὡς ἕκαστος ἦν τεταγμένος,
καὶ πάννυχοι δὴ διάπλοον καθίστασαν
ναῶν ἄνακτες πάντα ναυτικὸν λεών.
καὶ νὺξ ἐχώρει, κοὐ μάλ᾽ Ἑλλήνων στρατὸς
κρυφαῖον ἔκπλουν οὐδαμῇ καθίστατο:
385
ἐπεί γε μέντοι λευκόπωλος ἡμέρα
πᾶσαν κατέσχε γαῖαν εὐφεγγὴς ἰδεῖν,
πρῶτον μὲν ἠχῇ κέλαδος Ἑλλήνων πάρα
μολπηδὸν ηὐφήμησεν, ὄρθιον δ᾽ ἅμα
ἀντηλάλαξε νησιώτιδος πέτρας
390
ἠχώ: φόβος δὲ πᾶσι βαρβάροις παρῆν
23
γνώμης ἀποσφαλεῖσιν: οὐ γὰρ ὡς φυγῇ
παιᾶν᾽ ἐφύμνουν σεμνὸν Ἕλληνες τότε,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐς μάχην ὁρμῶντες εὐψύχῳ θράσει:
395
σάλπιγξ δ᾽
24
ἀυτῇ πάντ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἐπέφλεγεν.
395
εὐθὺς δὲ κώπης ῥοθιάδος ξυνεμβολῇ
ἔπαισαν ἅλμην βρύχιον ἐκ κελεύματος,
θοῶς δὲ πάντες ἦσαν ἐκφανεῖς ἰδεῖν.
τὸ δεξιὸν μὲν πρῶτον εὐτάκτως κέρας
ἡγεῖτο κόσμῳ, δεύτερον δ᾽ ὁ πᾶς στόλος
400
ἐπεξεχώρει, καὶ παρῆν ὁμοῦ κλύειν
πολλὴν βοήν, “ὦ παῖδες Ἑλλήνων ἴτε,
ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ᾽, ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ
παῖδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τε πατρῴων ἕδη,
θήκας τε προγόνων: νῦν ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀγών.”
405
καὶ μὴν παρ᾽ ἡμῶν Περσίδος γλώσσης ῥόθος
ὑπηντίαζε, κοὐκέτ᾽ ἦν μέλλειν ἀκμή.
εὐθὺς δὲ ναῦς ἐν νηὶ χαλκήρη στόλον
ἔπαισεν: ἦρξε δ᾽ ἐμβολῆς Ἑλληνικὴ
ναῦς, κἀποθραύει πάντα Φοινίσσης νεὼς
410
κόρυμβ᾽, ἐπ᾽ ἄλλην δ᾽ ἄλλος ηὔθυνεν δόρυ.
τὰ πρῶτα μέν νυν
25
ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ
ἀντεῖχεν: ὡς δὲ πλῆθος ἐν στενῷ νεῶν
ἤθροιστ᾽, ἀρωγὴ δ᾽ οὔτις ἀλλήλοις παρῆν,
παίοντ᾽, ἔθραυον πάντα κωπήρη στόλον,
Ἑλληνικαί τε νῆες οὐκ ἀφρασμόνως
κύκλῳ πέριξ ἔθεινον, ὑπτιοῦτο δὲ
σκάφη νεῶν, θάλασσα δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ἦν ἰδεῖν,
ναυαγίων πλήθουσα καὶ φόνου βροτῶν.
420
ἀκταὶ δὲ νεκρῶν χοιράδες τ᾽ ἐπλήθυον,
φυγῇ δ᾽ ἀκόσμῳ
29
πᾶσα ναῦς ἠρέσσετο,
ὅσαιπερ ἦσαν βαρβάρου στρατεύματος.
τοὶ δ᾽ ὥστε θύννους ἤ τιν᾽ ἰχθύων βόλον
ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τ᾽ ἐρειπίων
425
ἔπαιον, ἐρράχιζον: οἰμωγὴ
30
δ᾽ ὁμοῦ
κωκύμασιν κατεῖχε πελαγίαν ἅλα,
ἕως κελαινῆς νυκτὸς ὄμμ᾽ ἀφείλετο.
κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος, οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἰ δέκ᾽ ἤματα
στοιχηγοροίην,
31
οὐκ ἂν ἐκπλήσαιμί σοι.
430
εὖ γὰρ τόδ᾽ ἴσθι, μηδάμ᾽
32
ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
πλῆθος τοσουτάριθμον
33
ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.
433
Ἄτοσσα
αἰαῖ, κακῶν δὴ πέλαγος ἔρρωγεν
34
μέγα
Πέρσαις τε καὶ πρόπαντι βαρβάρων γένει.
Ἄγγελος
εὖ νυν
35
τόδ᾽ ἴσθι, μηδέπω μεσοῦν κακόν:
435
τοιάδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἦλθε συμφορὰ πάθους,
ὡς τοῖσδε καὶ δὶς ἀντισηκῶσαι ῥοπῇ.
Ἄτοσσα
καὶ τίς γένοιτ᾽ ἂν τῆσδ᾽
36
ἔτ᾽ ἐχθίων τύχη;
λέξον τίν᾽ αὖ φῂς τήνδε συμφορὰν στρατῷ
ἐλθεῖν κακῶν ῥέπουσαν ἐς τὰ μάσσονα.
440
Ἄγγελος
Περσῶν ὅσοιπερ ἦσαν ἀκμαῖοι φύσιν,
ψυχήν τ᾽ ἄριστοι κεὐγένειαν ἐκπρεπεῖς,
αὐτῷ τ᾽ ἄνακτι πίστιν ἐν πρώτοις ἀεί,
τεθνᾶσιν αἰσχρῶς
37
δυσκλεεστάτῳ μόρῳ.
Ἄτοσσα
οἲ ᾽γὼ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς κακῆς, φίλοι.
445
ποίῳ μόρῳ δὲ τούσδε φῂς ὀλωλέναι;
Ἄγγελος
νῆσός τις ἐστὶ πρόσθε Σαλαμῖνος τόπων,
βαιά, δύσορμος ναυσίν, ἣν ὁ φιλόχορος
Πὰν ἐμβατεύει, ποντίας ἀκτῆς ἔπι.
ἐνταῦθα πέμπει τούσδ᾽, ὅπως,
38
ὅταν νεῶν
450
φθαρέντες ἐχθροὶ νῆσον ἐκσῳζοίατο,
κτείνοιεν εὐχείρωτον Ἑλλήνων στρατόν,
φίλους δ᾽ ὑπεκσῴζοιεν ἐναλίων πόρων,
κακῶς τὸ μέλλον ἱστορῶν. ὡς γὰρ θεὸς
ναῶν ἔδωκε κῦδος Ἕλλησιν μάχης,
455
αὐθημερὸν φράξαντες εὐχάλκοις δέμας
ὅπλοισι ναῶν ἐξέθρῳσκον: ἀμφὶ δὲ
κυκλοῦντο πᾶσαν νῆσον, ὥστ᾽ ἀμηχανεῖν
ὅποι τράποιντο. πολλὰ μὲν γὰρ ἐκ χερῶν
πέτροισιν ἠράσσοντο, τοξικῆς τ᾽ ἀπὸ
460
θώμιγγος ἰοὶ προσπίτνοντες ὤλλυσαν:
39
τέλος δ᾽ ἐφορμηθέντες ἐξ ἑνὸς ῥόθου
παίουσι, κρεοκοποῦσι δυστήνων μέλη,
ἕως ἁπάντων ἐξαπέφθειραν βίον.
Ξέρξης δ᾽ ἀνῴμωξεν κακῶν ὁρῶν βάθος:
465
ἕδραν γὰρ εἶχε παντὸς εὐαγῆ
40
στρατοῦ,
ὑψηλὸν ὄχθον ἄγχι πελαγίας ἁλός:
ῥήξας δὲ πέπλους κἀνακωκύσας λιγύ,
πεζῷ παραγγείλας ἄφαρ στρατεύματι,
ἵησ᾽
41
ἀκόσμῳ ξὺν φυγῇ. τοιάνδε σοι
470
πρὸς τῇ πάροιθε συμφορὰν στένειν
42
πάρα.
472
Ἄτοσσα
ὦ στυγνὲ δαῖμον, ὡς ἄρ᾽ ἔψευσας φρενῶν
Πέρσας: πικρὰν δὲ παῖς ἐμὸς τιμωρίαν
κλεινῶν Ἀθηνῶν ηὗρε, κοὐκ ἀπήρκεσαν
43
οὓς πρόσθε Μαραθὼν βαρβάρων ἀπώλεσεν:
475
ὧν ἀντίποινα παῖς ἐμὸς πράξειν δοκῶν
τοσόνδε
44
πλῆθος πημάτων ἐπέσπασεν.
σὺ δ᾽ εἰπέ, ναῶν αἳ πεφεύγασιν μόρον,
ποῦ τάσδ᾽
45
ἔλειπες: οἶσθα σημῆναι τορῶς;
480
Ἄγγελος
ναῶν γε
46
ταγοὶ τῶν λελειμμένων σύδην
480
κατ᾽ οὖρον οὐκ εὔκοσμον αἴρονται
47
φυγήν:
στρατὸς δ᾽ ὁ λοιπὸς ἔν τε Βοιωτῶν χθονὶ
διώλλυθ᾽, οἱ μὲν ἀμφὶ κρηναῖον γάνος
δίψῃ πονοῦντες, οἱ δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἄσθματος κενοὶ
διεκπερῶμεν ἔς τε Φωκέων χθόνα
485
καὶ Δωρίδ᾽ αἶαν, Μηλιᾶ τε κόλπον, οὗ
Σπερχειὸς ἄρδει πεδίον εὐμενεῖ ποτῷ:
κἀντεῦθεν ἡμᾶς γῆς Ἀχαιίδος πέδον
καὶ Θεσσαλῶν πόλεις
48
ὑπεσπανισμένους
βορᾶς ἐδέξαντ᾽: ἔνθα δὴ πλεῖστοι θάνον
490
δίψῃ τε λιμῷ τ᾽: ἀμφότερα γὰρ ἦν τάδε.
Μαγνητικὴν δὲ γαῖαν ἔς τε Μακεδόνων
χώραν ἀφικόμεσθ᾽, ἐπ᾽ Ἀξίου πόρον,
Βόλβης θ᾽ ἕλειον δόνακα, Πάγγαιόν τ᾽ ὄρος,
Ἠδωνίδ᾽ αἶαν: νυκτὶ δ᾽ ἐν ταύτῃ θεὸς
495
χειμῶν᾽ ἄωρον ὦρσε, πήγνυσιν δὲ πᾶν
ῥέεθρον ἁγνοῦ Στρυμόνος. θεοὺς δέ τις
τὸ πρὶν νομίζων οὐδαμοῦ τότ᾽ ηὔχετο
λιταῖσι, γαῖαν οὐρανόν τε προσκυνῶν.
ἐπεὶ δὲ πολλὰ θεοκλυτῶν ἐπαύσατο
500
στρατός, περᾷ κρυσταλλοπῆγα διὰ πόρον:
χὤστις μὲν ἡμῶν πρὶν σκεδασθῆναι θεοῦ
ἀκτῖνας ὡρμήθη, σεσωσμένος κυρεῖ.
φλέγων γὰρ αὐγαῖς λαμπρὸς ἡλίου κύκλος
μέσον πόρον διῆκε, θερμαίνων φλογί:
505
πῖπτον δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλοισιν: ηὐτύχει
49
δέ τοι
ὅστις τάχιστα πνεῦμ᾽ ἀπέρρηξεν βίου.
ὅσοι δὲ λοιποὶ κἄτυχον σωτηρίας,
Θρῄκην περάσαντες μόγις πολλῷ πόνῳ,
ἥκουσιν ἐκφυγόντες, οὐ πολλοί τινες,
510
ἐφ᾽ ἑστιοῦχον γαῖαν: ὡς στένειν πόλιν
Περσῶν, ποθοῦσαν φιλτάτην ἥβην χθονός.
ταῦτ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀληθῆ: πολλὰ δ᾽ ἐκλείπω λέγων
κακῶν ἃ Πέρσαις ἐγκατέσκηψεν θεός.
515
Χορός
ὦ δυσπόνητε δαῖμον, ὡς ἄγαν βαρὺς
515
ποδοῖν ἐνήλλου
50
παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.
Ἄτοσσα
οἲ ᾽γὼ
51
τάλαινα διαπεπραγμένου στρατοῦ:
ὦ νυκτὸς ὄψις ἐμφανὴς ἐνυπνίων,
ὡς κάρτα μοι σαφῶς ἐδήλωσας κακά.
ὑμεῖς δὲ φαύλως αὔτ᾽ ἄγαν ἐκρίνατε.
520
ὅμως δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ τῇδ᾽ ἐκύρωσεν φάτις
ὑμῶν, θεοῖς μὲν πρῶτον εὔξασθαι θέλω:
ἔπειτα γῇ τε καὶ φθιτοῖς δωρήματα
ἥξω λαβοῦσα πέλανον ἐξ οἴκων ἐμῶν,—
ἐπίσταμαι μὲν ὡς ἐπ᾽ ἐξειργασμένοις,
525
ἀλλ᾽ ἐς τὸ λοιπὸν εἴ τι δὴ λῷον πέλοι.
ὑμᾶς
52
δὲ χρὴ ᾽πὶ τοῖσδε τοῖς πεπραγμένοις
πιστοῖσι
53
πιστὰ ξυμφέρειν βουλεύματα:
καὶ παῖδ᾽, ἐάν περ δεῦρ᾽ ἐμοῦ πρόσθεν μόλῃ,
παρηγορεῖτε, καὶ προπέμπετ᾽ ἐς δόμους,
530
μὴ καί τι
54
πρὸς κακοῖσι προσθῆται κακόν.
532
Χορός
ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ, νῦν <μὲν
55
> Περσῶν
τῶν μεγαλαύχων καὶ πολυάνδρων
στρατιὰν ὀλέσας
ἄστυ τὸ Σούσων ἠδ᾽ Ἀγβατάνων
535
πένθει δνοφερῷ κατέκρυψας:
πολλαὶ δ᾽ ἀταλαῖς
56
χερσὶ καλύπτρας
κατερεικόμεναι
57
διαμυδαλέοις δάκρυσι κόλπους
τέγγουσ᾽, ἄλγους μετέχουσαι.
540
αἱ δ᾽ ἁβρόγοοι Περσίδες ἀνδρῶν
ποθέουσαι ἰδεῖν ἀρτιζυγίαν,
λέκτρων εὐνὰς ἁβροχίτωνας,
χλιδανῆς ἥβης τέρψιν, ἀφεῖσαι,
πενθοῦσι γόοις ἀκορεστοτάτοις.
545
κἀγὼ δὲ μόρον τῶν οἰχομένων
αἴρω δοκίμως πολυπενθῆ.
548
Πέρσαι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 290-547 focus
Ἄτοσσα
σιγῶ πάλαι δύστηνος ἐκπεπληγμένη
290
κακοῖς· ὑπερβάλλει γὰρ ἥδε συμφορὰ
τὸ μήτε λέξαι μήτʼ ἐρωτῆσαι πάθη.
ὅμως δʼ ἀνάγκη πημονὰς βροτοῖς φέρειν
θεῶν διδόντων· πᾶν δʼ ἀναπτύξας πάθος
λέξον καταστάς, κεἰ στένεις κακοῖς ὅμως.
295
τίς οὐ τέθνηκε, τίνα δὲ καὶ πενθήσομεν
τῶν ἀρχελείων, ὅστʼ ἐπὶ σκηπτουχίᾳ
ταχθεὶς ἄνανδρον τάξιν ἠρήμου θανών;
Ἄγγελος
Ξέρξης μὲν αὐτὸς ζῇ τε καὶ βλέπει φάος.
Ἄτοσσα
ἐμοῖς μὲν εἶπας δώμασιν φάος μέγα
300
καὶ λευκὸν ἦμαρ νυκτὸς ἐκ μελαγχίμου.
Ἄγγελος
Ἀρτεμβάρης δὲ μυρίας ἵππου βραβεὺς
στύφλους παρʼ ἀκτὰς θείνεται Σιληνιῶν.
χὠ χιλίαρχος Δαδάκης πληγῇ δορὸς
πήδημα κοῦφον ἐκ νεὼς ἀφήλατο·
305
Τενάγων τʼ ἀριστεὺς Βακτρίων ἰθαιγενὴς
θαλασσόπληκτον νῆσον Αἴαντος πολεῖ.
Λίλαιος, Ἀρσάμης τε κἈργήστης τρίτος,
οἵδʼ ἀμφὶ νῆσον τὴν πελειοθρέμμονα
δινούμενοι ʼκύρισσον ἰσχυρὰν χθόνα·
310
πηγαῖς τε Νείλου γειτονῶν Αἰγυπτίου
Ἀρκτεύς, Ἀδεύης, καὶ φερεσσάκης τρίτος
Φαρνοῦχος, οἵδε ναὸς ἐκ μιᾶς πέσον.
Χρυσεὺς Μάταλλος μυριόνταρχος θανών,
ἵππου μελαίνης ἡγεμὼν τρισμυρίας,
315
πυρρὰν ζαπληθῆ δάσκιον γενειάδα
ἔτεγγʼ, ἀμείβων χρῶτα πορφυρέᾳ βαφῇ.
καὶ Μᾶγος Ἄραβος, Ἀρτάβης τε Βάκτριος,
σκληρᾶς μέτοικος γῆς, ἐκεῖ κατέφθιτο.
Ἄμιστρις Ἀμφιστρεύς τε πολύπονον δόρυ
320
νωμῶν, ὅ τʼ ἐσθλὸς Ἀριόμαρδος Σάρδεσι
πένθος παρασχών, Σεισάμης θʼ ὁ Μύσιος,
Θάρυβίς τε πεντήκοντα πεντάκις νεῶν
ταγός, γένος Λυρναῖος, εὐειδὴς ἀνήρ,
κεῖται θανὼν δείλαιος οὐ μάλʼ εὐτυχῶς·
325
Συέννεσίς τε πρῶτος εἰς εὐψυχίαν,
Κιλίκων ἄπαρχος, εἷς ἀνὴρ πλεῖστον πόνον
ἐχθροῖς παρασχών εὐκλεῶς ἀπώλετο.
τοσόνδε ταγῶν νῦν ὑπεμνήσθην πέρι.
πολλῶν παρόντων δʼ ὀλίγʼ ἀπαγγέλλω κακά.
330
331
Ἄτοσσα
αἰαῖ, κακῶν ὕψιστα δὴ κλύω τάδε,
αἴσχη τε Πέρσαις καὶ λιγέα κωκύματα.
ἀτὰρ φράσον μοι τοῦτʼ ἀναστρέψας πάλιν·
πόσον δὲ πλῆθος ἦν νεῶν Ἑλληνίδων,
ὥστʼ ἀξιῶσαι Περσικῷ στρατεύματι
335
μάχην συνάψαι ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς;
Ἄγγελος
πλήθους μὲν ἂν σάφʼ ἴσθʼ ἕκατι βάρβαρον
ναυσὶν κρατῆσαι. καὶ γὰρ Ἕλλησιν μὲν ἦν
ὁ πᾶς ἀριθμὸς ἐς τριακάδας δέκα
ναῶν, δεκὰς δʼ ἦν τῶνδε χωρὶς ἔκκριτος·
340
Ξέρξῃ δέ, καὶ γὰρ οἶδα, χιλιὰς μὲν ἦν
ὧν ἦγε πλῆθος, αἱ δʼ ὑπέρκοποι τάχει
ἑκατὸν δὶς ἦσαν ἑπτά θʼ· ὧδʼ ἔχει λόγος.
μή σοι δοκοῦμεν τῇδε λειφθῆναι μάχῃ;
ἀλλʼ ὧδε δαίμων τις κατέφθειρε στρατόν,
345
τάλαντα βρίσας οὐκ ἰσορρόπῳ τύχῃ.
θεοὶ πόλιν σῴζουσι Παλλάδος θεᾶς.
Ἄτοσσα
ἔτʼ ἆρʼ Ἀθηνῶν ἔστʼ ἀπόρθητος πόλις;
Ἄγγελος
ἀνδρῶν γὰρ ὄντων ἕρκος ἐστὶν ἀσφαλές.
Ἄτοσσα
ἀρχὴ δὲ ναυσὶ συμβολῆς τίς ἦν, φράσον·
350
τίνες κατῆρξαν, πότερον Ἕλληνες, μάχης,
ἢ παῖς ἐμός, πλήθει καταυχήσας νεῶν;
353
Ἄγγελος
ἦρξεν μέν, ὦ δέσποινα, τοῦ παντὸς κακοῦ
φανεὶς ἀλάστωρ ἢ κακὸς δαίμων ποθέν.
ἀνὴρ γὰρ Ἕλλην ἐξ Ἀθηναίων στρατοῦ
355
ἐλθὼν ἔλεξε παιδὶ σῷ Ξέρξῃ τάδε,
ὡς εἰ μελαίνης νυκτὸς ἵξεται κνέφας,
Ἕλληνες οὐ μενοῖεν, ἀλλὰ σέλμασιν
ναῶν ἐπανθορόντες ἄλλος ἄλλοσε
δρασμῷ κρυφαίῳ βίοτον ἐκσωσοίατο.
360
ὁ δʼ εὐθὺς ὡς ἤκουσεν, οὐ ξυνεὶς δόλον
Ἕλληνος ἀνδρὸς οὐδὲ τὸν θεῶν φθόνον,
πᾶσιν προφωνεῖ τόνδε ναυάρχοις λόγον,
εὖτʼ ἂν φλέγων ἀκτῖσιν ἥλιος χθόνα
λήξῃ, κνέφας δὲ τέμενος αἰθέρος λάβῃ,
365
τάξαι νεῶν στῖφος μὲν ἐν στοίχοις τρισὶν
ἔκπλους φυλάσσειν καὶ πόρους ἁλιρρόθους,
ἄλλας δὲ κύκλῳ νῆσον Αἴαντος πέριξ·
ὡς εἰ μόρον φευξοίαθʼ Ἕλληνες κακόν,
ναυσὶν κρυφαίως δρασμὸν εὑρόντες τινά,
370
πᾶσιν στέρεσθαι κρατὸς ἦν προκείμενον.
τοσαῦτʼ ἔλεξε κάρθʼ ὑπʼ εὐθύμου φρενός·
οὐ γὰρ τὸ μέλλον ἐκ θεῶν ἠπίστατο.
οἱ δʼ οὐκ ἀκόσμως, ἀλλὰ πειθάρχῳ φρενὶ
δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐπορσύνοντο, ναυβάτης τʼ ἀνὴρ
375
τροποῦτο κώπην σκαλμὸν ἀμφʼ εὐήρετμον.
ἐπεὶ δὲ φέγγος ἡλίου κατέφθιτο
καὶ νὺξ ἐπῄει, πᾶς ἀνὴρ κώπης ἄναξ
ἐς ναῦν ἐχώρει πᾶς θʼ ὅπλων ἐπιστάτης·
τάξις δὲ τάξιν παρεκάλει νεὼς μακρᾶς·
380
πλέουσι δʼ ὡς ἕκαστος ἦν τεταγμένος,
καὶ πάννυχοι δὴ διάπλοον καθίστασαν
ναῶν ἄνακτες πάντα ναυτικὸν λεών.
καὶ νὺξ ἐχώρει, κοὐ μάλʼ Ἑλλήνων στρατὸς
κρυφαῖον ἔκπλουν οὐδαμῇ καθίστατο·
385
ἐπεί γε μέντοι λευκόπωλος ἡμέρα
πᾶσαν κατέσχε γαῖαν εὐφεγγὴς ἰδεῖν,
πρῶτον μὲν ἠχῇ κέλαδος Ἑλλήνων πάρα
μολπηδὸν ηὐφήμησεν, ὄρθιον δʼ ἅμα
ἀντηλάλαξε νησιώτιδος πέτρας
390
ἠχώ· φόβος δὲ πᾶσι βαρβάροις παρῆν
γνώμης ἀποσφαλεῖσιν· οὐ γὰρ ὡς φυγῇ
παιᾶνʼ ἐφύμνουν σεμνὸν Ἕλληνες τότε,
ἀλλʼ ἐς μάχην ὁρμῶντες εὐψύχῳ θράσει·
395
Ἄγγελος
σάλπιγξ δʼ ἀϋτῇ πάντʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἐπέφλεγεν.
395
εὐθὺς δὲ κώπης ῥοθιάδος ξυνεμβολῇ
ἔπαισαν ἅλμην βρύχιον ἐκ κελεύματος,
θοῶς δὲ πάντες ἦσαν ἐκφανεῖς ἰδεῖν.
τὸ δεξιὸν μὲν πρῶτον εὐτάκτως κέρας
ἡγεῖτο κόσμῳ, δεύτερον δʼ ὁ πᾶς στόλος
400
ἐπεξεχώρει, καὶ παρῆν ὁμοῦ κλύειν
πολλὴν βοήν,
ὦ παῖδες Ἑλλήνων ἴτε,
ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδʼ, ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ
παῖδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τέ πατρῴων ἕδη,
θήκας τε προγόνων· νῦν ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀγών.
405
καὶ μὴν παρʼ ἡμῶν Περσίδος γλώσσης ῥόθος
ὑπηντίαζε, κοὐκέτʼ ἦν μέλλειν ἀκμή.
εὐθὺς δὲ ναῦς ἐν νηὶ χαλκήρη στόλον
ἔπαισεν· ἦρξε δʼ ἐμβολῆς Ἑλληνικὴ
ναῦς, κἀποθραύει πάντα Φοινίσσης νεὼς
410
κόρυμβʼ, ἐπʼ ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλος ηὔθυνεν δόρυ.
τὰ πρῶτα μέν νυν ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ
ἀντεῖχεν· ὡς δὲ πλῆθος ἐν στενῷ νεῶν
ἤθροιστʼ ἀρωγὴ δʼ οὔτις ἀλλήλοις παρῆν,
αὐτοὶ δʼ ὑφʼ αὑτῶν ἐμβόλοις χαλκοστόμοις
415
παίοντʼ, ἔθραυον πάντα κωπήρη στόλον,
Ἑλληνικαί τε νῆες οὐκ ἀφρασμόνως
κύκλῳ πέριξ ἔθεινον, ὑπτιοῦτο δὲ
σκάφη νεῶν, θάλασσα δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἦν ἰδεῖν,
ναυαγίων πλήθουσα καὶ φόνου βροτῶν.
420
ἀκταὶ δὲ νεκρῶν χοιράδες τʼ ἐπλήθυον,
φυγῇ δʼ ἀκόσμῳ πᾶσα ναῦς ἠρέσσετο,
ὅσαιπερ ἦσαν βαρβάρου στρατεύματος.
τοὶ δʼ ὥστε θύννους ἤ τινʼ ἰχθύων βόλον
ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τʼ ἐρειπίων
425
ἔπαιον, ἐρράχιζον· οἰμωγὴ δʼ ὁμοῦ
κωκύμασιν κατεῖχε πελαγίαν ἅλα,
ἕως κελαινῆς νυκτὸς ὄμμʼ ἀφείλετο.
κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος, οὐδʼ ἂν εἰ δέκʼ ἤματα
στοιχηγοροίην, οὐκ ἂν ἐκπλήσαιμί σοι.
430
εὖ γὰρ τόδʼ ἴσθι, μηδάμʼ ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
πλῆθος τοσουτάριθμον ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.
433
Ἄτοσσα
αἰαῖ, κακῶν δὴ πέλαγος ἔρρωγεν μέγα
Πέρσαις τε καὶ πρόπαντι βαρβάρων γένει.
Ἄγγελος
εὖ νυν τόδʼ ἴσθι, μηδέπω μεσοῦν κακόν·
435
τοιάδʼ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ἦλθε συμφορὰ πάθους
ὡς τοῖσδε καὶ δὶς ἀντισηκῶσαι ῥοπῇ.
Ἄτοσσα
καὶ τίς γένοιτʼ ἂν τῆσδʼ ἔτʼ ἐχθίων τύχη;
λέξον τίνʼ αὖ φὴς τήνδε συμφορὰν στρατῷ
ἐλθεῖν κακῶν ῥέπουσαν ἐς τὰ μάσσονα.
440
Ἄγγελος
Περσῶν ὅσοιπερ ἦσαν ἀκμαῖοι φύσιν,
ψυχήν τʼ ἄριστοι κεὐγένειαν ἐκπρεπεῖς,
αὐτῷ τʼ ἄνακτι πίστιν ἐν πρώτοις ἀεί,
τεθνᾶσιν αἰσχρῶς δυσκλεεστάτῳ μόρῳ.
Ἄτοσσα
οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς κακῆς, φίλοι.
445
ποίῳ μόρῳ δὲ τούσδε φὴς ὀλωλέναι;
Ἄγγελος
νῆσός τις ἔστι πρόσθε Σαλαμῖνος τόπων,
βαιά, δύσορμος ναυσίν, ἣν ὁ φιλόχορος
Πὰν ἐμβατεύει, ποντίας ἀκτῆς ἔπι.
ἐνταῦθα πέμπει τούσδʼ, ὅπως, ὅταν νεῶν
450
φθαρέντες ἐχθροὶ νῆσον ἐκσῳζοίατο,
κτείνοιεν εὐχείρωτον Ἑλλήνων στρατόν,
φίλους δʼ ὑπεκσῴζοιεν ἐναλίων πόρων,
κακῶς τὸ μέλλον ἱστορῶν. ὡς γὰρ θεὸς
ναῶν ἔδωκε κῦδος Ἕλλησιν μάχης,
455
αὐθημερὸν φράξαντες εὐχάλκοις δέμας
ὅπλοισι ναῶν ἐξέθρῳσκον· ἀμφὶ δὲ
κυκλοῦντο πᾶσαν νῆσον, ὥστʼ ἀμηχανεῖν
ὅποι τράποιντο. πολλὰ μὲν γὰρ ἐκ χερῶν
πέτροισιν ἠράσσοντο, τοξικῆς τʼ ἄπο
460
θώμιγγος ἰοὶ προσπίτνοντές ὤλλυσαν·
τέλος δʼ ἐφορμηθέντες ἐξ ἑνὸς ῥόθου
παίουσι, κρεοκοποῦσι δυστήνων μέλη,
ἕως ἁπάντων ἐξαπέφθειραν βίον.
Ξέρξης δʼ ἀνῴμωξεν κακῶν ὁρῶν βάθος·
465
ἕδραν γὰρ εἶχε παντὸς εὐαγῆ στρατοῦ,
ὑψηλὸν ὄχθον ἄγχι πελαγίας ἁλός·
ῥήξας δὲ πέπλους κἀνακωκύσας λιγύ,
πεζῷ παραγγείλας ἄφαρ στρατεύματι,
ἵησʼ ἀκόσμῳ ξὺν φυγῇ. τοιάνδε σοι
470
πρὸς τῇ πάροιθε συμφορὰν πάρα στένειν.
472
Ἄτοσσα
ὦ στυγνὲ δαῖμον, ὡς ἄρʼ ἔψευσας φρενῶν
Πέρσας· πικρὰν δὲ παῖς ἐμὸς τιμωρίαν
κλεινῶν Ἀθηνῶν ηὗρε, κοὐκ ἀπήρκεσαν
οὓς πρόσθε Μαραθὼν βαρβάρων ἀπώλεσεν·
475
ὧν ἀντίποινα παῖς ἐμὸς πράξειν δοκῶν
τοσόνδε πλῆθος πημάτων ἐπέσπασεν.
σὺ δʼ εἰπέ, ναῶν αἳ πεφεύγασιν μόρον,
ποῦ τάσδʼ ἔλειπες· οἶσθα σημῆναι τορῶς;
480
Ἄγγελος
ναῶν γε ταγοὶ τῶν λελειμμένων σύδην
480
κατʼ οὖρον οὐκ εὔκοσμον αἴρονται φυγήν·
στρατὸς δʼ ὁ λοιπὸς ἔν τε Βοιωτῶν χθονὶ
διώλλυθʼ, οἱ μὲν ἀμφὶ κρηναῖον γάνος
δίψῃ πονοῦντες, οἱ δʼ ὑπʼ ἄσθματος κενοὶ
διεκπερῶμεν ἔς τε Φωκέων χθόνα
485
καὶ Δωρίδʼ αἶαν, Μηλιᾶ τε κόλπον, οὗ
Σπερχειὸς ἄρδει πεδίον εὐμενεῖ ποτῷ·
κἀντεῦθεν ἡμᾶς γῆς Ἀχαιίδος πέδον
καὶ Θεσσαλῶν πόλεις ὑπεσπανισμένους
βορᾶς ἐδέξαντʼ· ἔνθα δὴ πλεῖστοι ʼθάνον
490
δίψῃ τε λιμῷ τʼ· ἀμφότερα γὰρ ἦν τάδε.
Μαγνητικὴν δὲ γαῖαν ἔς τε Μακεδόνων
χώραν ἀφικόμεσθʼ, ἐπʼ Ἀξίου πόρον,
Βόλβης θʼ ἕλειον δόνακα, Πάγγαιόν τʼ ὄρος,
Ἠδωνίδʼ αἶαν· νυκτὶ δʼ ἐν ταύτῃ θεὸς
495
χειμῶνʼ ἄωρον ὦρσε, πήγνυσιν δὲ πᾶν
ῥέεθρον ἁγνοῦ Στρυμόνος. θεοὺς δέ τις
τὸ πρὶν νομίζων οὐδαμοῦ τότʼ ηὔχετο
λιταῖσι, γαῖαν οὐρανόν τε προσκυνῶν.
ἐπεὶ δὲ πολλὰ θεοκλυτῶν ἐπαύσατο
500
στρατός, περᾷ κρυσταλλοπῆγα διὰ πόρον·
χὤστις μὲν ἡμῶν πρὶν σκεδασθῆναι θεοῦ
ἀκτῖνας ὡρμήθη, σεσωσμένος κυρεῖ.
φλέγων γὰρ αὐγαῖς λαμπρὸς ἡλίου κύκλος
μέσον πόρον διῆκε, θερμαίνων φλογί.
505
πῖπτον δʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν· ηὐτύχει δέ τοι
ὅστις τάχιστα πνεῦμʼ ἀπέρρηξεν βίου.
ὅσοι δὲ λοιποὶ κἄτυχον σωτηρίας,
Θρῄκην περάσαντες μόγις πολλῷ πόνῳ,
ἥκουσιν ἐκφυγόντες, οὐ πολλοί τινες,
510
ἐφʼ ἑστιοῦχον γαῖαν· ὡς στένειν πόλιν
Περσῶν, ποθοῦσαν φιλτάτην ἥβην χθονός.
ταῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἀληθῆ· πολλὰ δʼ ἐκλείπω λέγων
κακῶν ἃ Πέρσαις ἐγκατέσκηψεν θεός.
515
Χορός
ὦ δυσπόνητε δαῖμον, ὡς ἄγαν βαρὺς
515
ποδοῖν ἐνήλου παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.
Ἄτοσσα
οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα διαπεπραγμένου στρατοῦ·
ὦ νυκτὸς ὄψις ἐμφανὴς ἐνυπνίων,
ὡς κάρτα μοι σαφῶς ἐδήλωσας κακά.
ὑμεῖς δὲ φαύλως αὔτʼ ἄγαν ἐκρίνατε.
520
ὅμως δʼ, ἐπειδὴ τῇδʼ ἐκύρωσεν φάτις
ὑμῶν, θεοῖς μὲν πρῶτον εὔξασθαι θέλω·
ἔπειτα Γῇ τε καὶ φθιτοῖς δωρήματα
ἥξω λαβοῦσα πέλανον ἐξ οἴκων ἐμῶν,—
ἐπίσταμαι μὲν ὡς ἐπʼ ἐξειργασμένοις,
525
ἀλλʼ ἐς τὸ λοιπὸν εἴ τι δὴ λῷον πέλοι.
ὑμᾶς δὲ χρὴ ʼπὶ τοῖσδε τοῖς πεπραγμένοις
πιστοῖσι πιστὰ ξυμφέρειν βουλεύματα·
καὶ παῖδʼ, ἐάν περ δεῦρʼ ἐμοῦ πρόσθεν μόλῃ,
παρηγορεῖτε, καὶ προπέμπετʼ ἐς δόμους,
530
μὴ καί τι πρὸς κακοῖσι προσθῆται κακόν.
532
Χορός
ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ, νῦν
γὰρ Περσῶν
τῶν μεγαλαύχων καὶ πολυάνδρων
στρατιὰν ὀλέσας
ἄστυ τὸ Σούσων ἠδʼ Ἀγβατάνων
535
πένθει δνοφερῷ κατέκρυψας·
πολλαὶ δʼ ἀταλαῖς χερσὶ καλύπτρας
κατερεικόμεναι
διαμυδαλέοις δάκρυσι κόλπους
τέγγουσʼ, ἄλγους μετέχουσαι.
540
αἱ δʼ ἁβρόγοοι Περσίδες ἀνδρῶν
ποθέουσαι ἰδεῖν ἀρτιζυγίαν,
λέκτρων εὐνὰς ἁβροχίτωνας,
χλιδανῆς ἥβης τέρψιν, ἀφεῖσαι,
πενθοῦσι γόοις ἀκορεστοτάτοις.
545
κἀγὼ δὲ μόρον τῶν οἰχομένων
αἴρω δοκίμως πολυπενθῆ.
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 395 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 395 focus
σάλπιγξ δ᾽ ἀϋτῇ πάντ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἐπέφλεγεν.
390
εὐθὺς δὲ κώπης ῥοθιάδος ξυνεμβολῇ
ἔπαισαν ἅλμην βρύχιον ἐκ κελεύματος,
θοῶς δὲ πάντες ἦσαν ἐκφανεῖς ἰδεῖν.
τὸ δεξιὸν μὲν πρῶτον εὐτάκτως κέρας
ἡγεῖτο κόσμῳ, δεύτερον δ᾽ ὁ πᾶς στόλος
395
ἐπεξεχώρει, καὶ παρῆν ὁμοῦ κλύειν
πολλὴν βοήν· ὦ παῖδες Ἑλλήνων, ἴτε,
ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ᾽, ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ
παῖδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τε πατρῴων ἕδη,
θήκας τε προγόνων· νῦν ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀγών.
400
καὶ μὴν παρ' ἡμῶν Περσίδος γλώσσης ῥόθος
ὑπηντίαζε, κοὐκέτ᾽ ἦν μέλλειν ἀκμή.
εὐθὺς δὲ ναῦς ἐν νηῒ χαλκήρη στόλον
ἔπαισεν· ἦρξε δ' ἐμβολῆς Ἑλληνικὴ
ναῦς, κἀποθραύει πάντα Φοινίσσης νεὼς
405
κόρυμβ', ἐπ' ἄλλην δ᾽ ἄλλος ἴθυνεν δόρυ.
Ἄγγελος
καὶ πρῶτα μέν νυν ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ
ἀντεῖχεν· ὡς δὲ πλῆθος ἐν στενῷ νεῶν
ἤθροιστ', ἀρωγὴ δ᾽ οὔτις ἀλλήλοις παρῆν,
αὐτοὶ δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ αὑτῶν ἐμβολαῖς χαλκοστόμοις
410
παίοντ᾽, ἔθραυον πάντα κωπήρη στόλον.
Ἑλληνικαί τε νῆες οὐκ ἀφρασμόνως
κύκλῳ πέριξ ἔθεινον, ὑπτιοῦτο δὲ
σκάφη νεῶν, θάλασσα δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ἦν ἰδεῖν,
ναυαγίων πλήθουσα καὶ φόνου βροτῶν.
415
ἀκταὶ δὲ νεκρῶν χοιράδες τ᾽ ἐπλήθυον,
φυγῇ δ᾽ ἀκόσμως πᾶσα ναῦς ἠρέσσετο,
ὅσαιπερ ἦσαν βαρβάρου στρατεύματος.
τοὶ δ᾽ ὥςτε θύννους ἤ τιν' ἰχθύων βόλον
ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τ' ἐρειπίων
420
ἔπαιον, ἐρράχιζον, οἰμωγὴ δ᾽ ὁμοῦ
κωκύμασιν κατεῖχε πελαγίαν ἅλα,
ἕως κελαινῆς νυκτὸς ὄμμ᾽ ἀφείλετο.
κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος, οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἰ δέκ' ἤματα
στοιχηγοροίην, οὐκ ἂν ἐκπλήσαιμί σοι.
425
εὖ γὰρ τόδ᾽ ἴσθι, μηδάμ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
πλῆθος τοσουτάριθμον ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.
ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 395 focus
σάλπιγξ δ' ἀϋτῇ πάντ' ἐκεῖν'
ἐπέφλεγεν
ὑπέφλεγεν.
395
Εὐθὺς δὲ κώπης ῥοθιάδος ξυνεμβολῇ
ἔπαισαν ἅλμην βρύχιον ἐκ κελεύματος,
θοῶς δὲ πάντες ἦσαν ἐκφανεῖς ἰδεῖν·
τὸ δεξιὸν μὲν πρῶτον
εὐτάκτως
εὔτακτον κέρας
ἡγεῖτο κόσμῳ, δεύτερον δ' ὁ πᾶς στόλος
400
ἐπεξεχώρει, καὶ παρῆν ὁμοῦ κλύειν
πολλὴν βοήν· « Ὦ παῖδες Ἑλλήνων ἴτε,
ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ', ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ
παῖδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τε πατρῴων ἕδη
θήκας τε προγόνων· νῦν ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀγών.»
405
Καὶ μὴν παρ' ἡμῶν Περσίδος γλώσσης ῥόθος
ὑπηντίαζε, κοὐκέτ' ἦν μέλλειν ἀκμή·
εὐθὺς δὲ ναῦς ἐν νηῒ χαλκήρη στόλον
ἔπαισεν· ἦρξε δ' ἐμβολῆς Ἑλληνικὴ
ναῦς, κἀποθραύει πάντα Φοινίσσης νεὼς
410
κόρυμβ', ἐπ' ἄλλην δ' ἄλλος
ηὔθυνεν
ἴθυνεν δόρυ.
ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ
Τὰ πρῶτα μέν νυν ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ
ἀντεῖχεν· ὡς δὲ πλῆθος ἐν στενῷ νεῶν
ἤθροιστ', ἀρωγὴ δ' οὔτις ἀλλήλοις παρῆν,
αὐτοὶ δ'
ὑπ' αὐτῶν
ὑφ' αὑτῶν ἐμβολαῖς χαλκοστόμοις
415
παίοντ', ἔθραυον πάντα κωπήρη στόλον,
Ἑλληνικαί τε νῆες οὐκ
ἀφρασμόνως
ἀφραδμόνως
κύκλῳ πέριξ ἔθεινον, ὑπτιοῦτο δὲ
σκάφη νεῶν, θάλασσα δ' οὐκέτ' ἦν ἰδεῖν
ναυαγίων πλήθουσα καὶ φόνου βροτῶν,
420
ἀκταὶ δὲ νεκρῶν χοιράδες τ'
ἐπλήθυον
ἐπλήθυνον,
φυγῇ δ'
ἀκόσμῳ
ἀκόσμως πᾶσα ναῦς ἠρέσσετο
ὅσαιπερ ἦσαν βαρβάρου στρατεύματος·
τοὶ δ' ὥστε θύννους ἤ τιν' ἰχθύων βόλον
ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τ' ἐρειπίων
425
ἔπαιον, ἐρράχιζον, οἰμωγὴ δ' ὁμοῦ
κωκύμασιν κατεῖχε πελαγίαν ἅλα,
ἕως κελαινῆς νυκτὸς ὄμμ' ἀφείλετο.
Κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος, οὐδ' ἂν εἰ δέκ' ἤματα
στοιχηγοροίην, οὐκ ἂν ἐκπλήσαιμί σοι·
430
εὖ γὰρ τόδ' ἴσθι,
μηδάμ'
μηδ' ἂν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
πλῆθος τοσοῦτ' ἀριθμὸν ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 395 focus
σάλπιγξ δ᾽ αὐτῇ πάντ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἐπέφλεγεν.
εὐθὺς δὲ κώπης ῥοθιάδος ξυνεμβολῇ
ἔπαισαν ἅλμην βρύχιον ἐκ κελεύματος,
400
θεῶς δὲ πάντες ἦσαν ἐκφανεῖς ἰδεῖν.
τὸ δεξιὸν μὲν πρῶτον εὐτάκτως κέρας
ἡγεῖτο κόσμῳ, δεύτερον δ᾽ ὁ πᾶς στόλος
ἐπεξεχώρει, καὶ παρῆν ὁμοῦ κλύειν
Ἄγγελος
πολλὴν βοήν· ὦ παῖδες Ἑλλήνων ἴτε,
405
ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ᾽, ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ
παῖδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τε πατρῴων ἕδη,
θήκας τε προγόνων· νῦν ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀγών.
καὶ μὴν παρ᾽ ἡμῶν Περσίδος γλώσσης ῥόθος
ὑπηντίαζε, κοὐκέτ᾽ ἦν μέλλειν ἀκμή.
410
εὐθὺς δὲ ναῦς ἐν νηῒ χαλκήρη στόλον
ἔπαισεν· ἦρξεν δ᾽ ἐμβολῆς Ἑλληνικὴ
ναῦς, κἀποθραύει πάντα Φοινίσσης νεὼς
κόρυμβ᾽, ἐπ᾽ ἄλλην δ᾽ ἄλλος ηὔθυνεν δόρυ.
τὰ πρῶτα μέν νυν ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ
415
ἀντεῖχεν· ὡς δὲ πλῆθος ἐν στενῷ νεῶν
ἤθροιστ᾽, ἀρωγὴ δ᾽ οὔτις ἀλλήλοις παρῆν,
αὐτοὶ δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ αὑτῶν ἐμβόλοις χαλκοστόμοις
παίοντ᾽, ἔθραυον πάντα κωπήρη στόλον,
Ἑλληνικαί τε νῆες οὐκ ἀφρασμόνως
420
κύκλῳ πέριξ ἔθεινον, ὑπτιοῦτο δὲ
σκάφη νεῶν, θάλασσα δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ἦν ἰδεῖν,
ναυαγίων πλήθουσα καὶ φόνου βροτῶν·
ἀκταὶ δὲ νεκρῶν χοιράδες τ᾽ ἐπλήθυον.
φυγῇ δ᾽ ἀκόσμως πᾶσα ναῦς ἠρέσσετο,
425
ὅσαιπερ ἦσαν βαρβάρου στρατεύματος·
Ἄγγελος
τοὶ δ᾽ ὥστε θύννους ἢ τιν᾽ ἰχθύων βόλον
ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τ᾽ ἐρειπίων
ἔπαιον, ἐρράχιζον, οἰμωγὴ δ᾽ ὁμοῦ
κωκύμασιν κατείχε πελαγίαν ἅλα,
430
ἕως κελαινῆς νυκτὸς ὄμμ᾽ ἀφείλετο.
κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος, οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἰ δέκ᾽ ἤματα
στοιχαγοροίην, οὐκ ἂν ἐκπλήσαιμί σοι.
εὖ γὰρ τόδ᾽ ἴσθι, μηδάμ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
πλῆθος τοσουτάριθμον ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.
435
ΑΤ.
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 395 focus
Apparatus Criticus
ἐφύμνουν εὐφήμουν ἐφήμουν ὁρμῶντες ὁρῶντες ἐπέφλεγεν ὑπέφλεγεν εὐθὺς δὲ ἐπεὶ δὲ κελεύματος κελεύματος κελεύσμ. ἐκφανεῖς ἐμφανεῖς εὐτάκτως εὔτακτον et εὐτάκτως εὔτακτον εὐστόχως δέ om. ναῦς ἐν νηὶ χαλκήρη ἐν νυκτί χ. ηὔθυνεν ηὔθυνεν ἴθυνεν μέν νυν μὲν νῦν μὲn οὖν μὲn δή ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν ὑφ᾽ αὑτῶν ἐμβόλοις ἐμβολαῖς corr. Stanley ἀφρασμόνως ἀφρασμόνως ἀφραδμ. ναυαγίων ναυαγίου φόνου φόνον ἐπλήθυον ἐπλήθυνον ἀκόσμωι ἀκόσμως corr. H2
ΑΓΓ.
τοὶ δ᾽ ὥστε θύννους ἤ τιν᾿ ἰχθύων βόλον
ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τ᾽ ἐρειπίων
425
ἔπαιον ἐρράχιζον, οἰμωγὴ δ᾽ ὁμοῦ
κωκύμασιν κατεῖχε πελαγίαν ἅλα,
ἕως κελαινῆς νυκτὸς ὄμμ᾽ ἀφείλετο.
κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος, οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἰ δέκ᾽ ἤματα
στοιχηγοροίην, οὐκ ἂν ἐκπλήσαιμί σοι.
430
εὐ γὰρ τόδ᾽ ἴσθι, μηδάμ᾽ ἡμέραι μιᾶι
πλῆθος τοσουτάριθμον ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.
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.)) — 290-545 focus
Atossa
Long have I kept silent in my misery, struck with dismay at our disaster; for this calamity is so great that it is not possible to say or even to ask about its extent. Nevertheless mortals must endure affliction when it is heaven-sent.
290
Compose yourself, and even though you groan at our loss, relate the sum of our disaster and speak out! Who is there that is not dead? Whom of our leaders must we bewail? Who, appointed to wield command, by death left his post empty, without its chief?
295
Messenger
Xerxes himself lives and beholds the light.
Atossa
The words you utter bring a great light of joy into my house, and bright day after night wrapped in gloom.
300
Messenger
But Artembares, commander of ten thousand cavalrymen, is being battered now against Silenia’s cruel shore. And Dadaces, leader of a thousand men, leapt, struck by a spear,
with a nimble bound from his ship. Tenagon, the true-born Bactrians’ chieftain, is ranging now around the surf-beaten isle of Ajax. Lilaeus and Arsames, and, third, Argestes,
305
kept buffeting against its rugged shore, whirled around about the island,
1
the breeding-place of doves. Arcteus, too, who lived by the waters of the Egyptian Nile, Adeues, and Pharnuchus of the mighty shield—all these were hurled out of one ship. Matallus of
Chrysa
, commander of ten thousand,
310
leader of the Black Cavalry, thirty thousand strong, in death dyed red his thick and shaggy beard, changing its color with a deep crimson stain. Arabus, too, the Magian, perished there, and Bactrian Artabes, a settler now in a rugged land.
315
Amistris, and Amphistreus, wielder of a painful spear, and brave Ariomardus, whose death brought grief to
Sardis
, and Seisames the Mysian, and Tharybis, admiral of five times fifty ships, a Lyrnaean by descent, a man of physical beauty,
320
lies dead in a state of misery, no longer attended by good fortune.
2
Syennesis, also, the governor of the Cilicians, foremost in courage, he whose prowess did the foe most harm, found there a glorious death. Such were the leaders about whom I was making my report.
325
Although our losses were many, I announce but few.
330
331
Atossa
Alas! The words I hear put the very crown upon our woes; a disgrace to the Persians and cause for shrill lament. But retrace your tale and tell me this clearly:
how great was the number of the Greek ships which gave them confidence enough to go into battle with their armed prows against the Persian army?
335
Messenger
If numbers had been the only factor, be assured that the barbarians would have gained the victory with their fleet. For the whole number of the ships of
Hellas
amounted to ten times thirty,
and, in addition to these, there was a chosen squadron of ten. But Xerxes, this I know, had under his command a thousand, while those excelling in speed were twice a hundred, and seven more. This is the total of their respective numbers. Do you think that we were simply outnumbered in this contest?
340
No, it was some divine power that tipped the scale of fortune with unequal weight and thus destroyed our host. The gods preserve the city of the goddess Pallas.
345
Atossa
Is then the city of
Athens
not yet despoiled?
Messenger
No, while her men still live, her ramparts are impregnable.
Atossa
But the beginning of the encounter of the fleets, tell me about it. Who began the onset? Was it the Hellenes? Or my son, exulting in the multitude of his ships?
350
353
Messenger
My Queen, some destructive power or evil spirit, appearing from somewhere or other, caused the beginning of our utter rout.
A Hellene, from the Athenian host, came to your son Xerxes and told this tale: that, when the gloom of black night should set in, the Hellenes would not remain in place, but, springing upon the rowing benches of their ships, would seek, some here, some there,
355
to preserve their lives by stealthy flight. But Xerxes, when he heard this, comprehending neither the cleverness of the Greek nor that the gods grudged him success, straightway gave all his captains orders to this effect—that, when the sun had ceased to illumine the earth with his beams,
360
and darkness had covered the region of the sky, they should bring up in a tight group the main body of the fleet, disposed in triple line, to bar the exits and the sounding straits, and station other ships in a circle around the island of Ajax. He gave them a warning too that, should the Hellenes escape an evil doom,
365
finding by stealth some means of flight for their fleet, it had been decreed that every captain should lose his head. These commands he made with complete confidence of heart, since he knew not the issue intended by the gods. Our crews then, with no lack of order but with an obedient spirit,
370
prepared their evening meal, while each sailor looped his oar about its thole-pin so that it fitted well. But when the light of the sun had faded and night drew on, each master of an oar and each man versed in arms went on board.
375
The long galleys cheered each other, line by line; and they held their course as each captain had been ordered, and all through the night the commanders of the fleet kept their whole force cruising to and fro across the strait. Night began to wane,
380
yet the fleet of the Hellenes in no way attempted to put forth by stealth. When, however, radiant Day with her white horses shone over all the land, a loud cheer like a song of triumph first rang out from the Hellenes, and, at the same instant,
385
clear from the island crags, an echo returned an answering cry. Terror fell on all the barbarians, balked of their purpose; for then the Hellenes chanted their solemn paean, not as in flight, but as men rushing to the onset with the courage of gallant hearts.
390
395
The trumpet with its blast set all their side afire, and instantly, at the word of command, with the even stroke of foaming oars they struck the briny deep. Swiftly they all came clear into view. Their right wing, well marshalled,
395
led on in orderly advance, next their whole army pressed on against us, and at the same time a loud shout met our ears:
On, you men of
Hellas
! Free your native land. Free your children, your wives, the temples of your fathers’ gods,and the tombs of your ancestors. Now you are fighting for all you have. Then from our side arose in response the mingled clamor of Persian speech, and straightaway the ships dashed together their bronze prows. It was a ship of
Hellas
400
that began the charge and chopped off in its entirety the curved stern of a Phoenician boat. Each captain drove his ship straight against some other ship. At first the stream of the Persian army held its own. When, however, the mass of our ships had been crowded in the narrows, and none could render another aid,
410
and each crashed its bronze prow against each of its own line, they splintered their whole bank of oars. Then the Hellenic galleys, not heedless of their chance, hemmed them in and battered them on every side. The hulls of our vessels rolled over, and the sea was hidden from our sight,
415
strewn as it was with wrecks and slaughtered men. The shores and reefs were crowded with our dead, and every ship that formed a part of the barbarian fleet plied its oars in disorderly flight. But, as if our men were tuna or some haul of fish,
420
the foe kept striking and hacking them with broken oars and fragments of wrecked ships. Groans and shrieks together filled the open sea until the face of black night hid the scene. But as for the the full extent of our disasters, this, even if I had ten days in succession to do so, I could not describe to you.
425
However, you can be sure that so great a multitude of men never perished in a single day.
430
433
Atossa
Alas! In truth a vast sea of troubles has burst upon the Persians and the entire barbarian race.
Messenger
Be assured of this, not even half of the disaster has as yet been told. A calamity so dreadful as to outweigh these ills twice over befell them.
435
Atossa
But what greater misfortune than this could have befallen them? Speak! What is this other disaster you say
came upon our force, sinking the scale to greater weight of ill?
440
Messenger
Those Persians who were in their life’s prime, bravest in spirit, pre-eminent for noble birth, and always among the foremost in loyalty to the King himself— these have fallen ignobly by a most inglorious doom.
Atossa
Ah, I am truly reduced to misery through this disaster! By what fate was it that you say they met their end?
445
Messenger
There Xerxes dispatched these, his choicest troops, in order that when the Hellenic enemy, wrecked from their ships, should flee in search of safety to the island, they might slaughter their force, an easy prey, and rescue their comrades from the straits of the sea. Grievously did he misjudge the issue. For when some god
450
had given the glory to the Hellenes in the battle on the sea, on that same day, fencing their bodies in armor of bronze, they leapt from their ships and encircled the whole island, so that our men were at a loss which way to turn. Often they were struck by stones slung from their hands,
455
and arrows sped from the bow-string kept falling upon them and doing them harm. At last the Hellenes, charging with one shout, struck them and hacked to pieces the limbs of the poor wretches, until they had utterly quenched the life of all.
460
Xerxes groaned aloud when he beheld the extent of the disaster, for he occupied a seat commanding a clear view of the entire army—a lofty headland by the open sea. Tearing his robes and uttering a loud cry, he straightaway gave orders to his force on land
465
and dismissed them in disorderly flight. This, besides the one already told, is the disaster you must bewail.
470
472
Atossa
O hateful divinity, how have you foiled the purpose of the Persians! Cruel was the vengeance which my son brought upon himself for his designs against illustrious
Athens
; the barbarians
whom Marathon destroyed were not enough. It was in an effort to exact retribution for them that my son has drawn upon himself so great a multitude of woes. But the ships that escaped destruction—tell me about them. Where did you leave them? Can you give a clear report?
475
480
Messenger
The commanders of the ships which still remained fled with a rush in disorder wherever the wind bore them. As for the survivors of the army, they perished in Boeotian territory, some, faint from thirst, beside a refreshing spring, while some of us, exhausted and panting,
480
made our way to the land of the Phocians, to Doris and the Melian gulf, where the Spercheus waters the plain with kindly stream. Coming from there, badly in need of food, we received welcome in the Achaean land and the cities of the Thessalians.
485
There it was that many perished of thirst and hunger, for we were oppressed by both. And we came to the Magnesian land and to the country of the Macedonians, to the ford of the
Axius
and Bolbe’s reedy marsh, and to Mount Pangaeus,
490
in the Edonian land. But on that night the god roused winter before its time and froze the stream of sacred Strymon from shore to shore. Many a man who before that had held the gods in no esteem, implored them then in supplication, doing obeisance to earth and heaven.
495
But when our host had made an end of its fervent invocation of the gods, it ventured to pass across the ice-bound stream. And each of us who started on his way before the sun god dispersed his beams, found himself in safety, for the bright orb of the sun with its burning rays
500
heated the middle section and pierced it with its flames. One after another our men sank in, and fortunate indeed was he who perished soonest. The survivors, after making their way through
Thrace
with great hardship,
505
—and few they were indeed—escaped to the safety of the land of their homes; now the city of the Persians may make lament in regret for the beloved youth of the land. What I say is true, yet much remains untold of the ills launched by Heaven upon the Persians.
Exit
510
515
Chorus
O unearthly power, source of our cruel distress, with what crushing weight have you fallen upon the whole Persian race!
515
Atossa
How the utter destruction of our host distresses me! O vivid vision of my dreams at night, how clearly did you signify misfortune to me!
And all too lightly did you in turn interpret it. However, since your explanation determined thus, first of all I wish to offer prayers to the gods, and then I will return after I have brought from the palace a sacrificial cake as a gift to Earth and the dead.
520
I know indeed that it is for what cannot be undone, yet I do this in the hope that something more auspicious may come to pass in the future. But you should confer faithfully with the faithful counsellors in view of what has befallen. And as for my son, if he should come here before I return,
525
comfort him and escort him to the palace, so that he will not inflict on himself some further ill to crown those already ours.
Exit
530
532
Chorus
O sovereign Zeus, by destroying the army of the haughty and multitudinous Persians,
you have shrouded in the gloom of grief the city of
Susa
and of
Agbatana
! Many a woman, who has a share in this sorrow, tears her veil with tender hands
535
and moistens with drenching tears the robe covering her bosom. And the Persian wives, indulging in soft wailing through longing to behold their lords and abandoning the daintily wrought coverlets of their couches, the delight of their youth,
540
mourn with complainings that know no end. So I too sustain the truly woeful fate of those who are gone.
545
The Persians. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 395 focus
ATOSSA
LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 395 focus
première, en bon ordre 1 . Puis la flotte entière se dégage et s'avance, et l'on pouvait alors entendre, tout proche, un immense appel : « Allez, enfants des Grecs, délivrez la patrie, délivrez vos enfants et vos femmes, les sanctuaires
des dieux de vos pères et les tombeaux de vos aïeux : c'est la lutte suprême ! » Et voici que de notre côté un bourdonnement en langue perse leur répond : ce n'est plus le moment de tarder. Vaisseaux contre vaisseaux heurtent déjà leurs étraves de bronze. Un navire grec 2 a donné le
signal de l'abordage : il tranche l'aplustre d'un bâtiment phénicien. Les autres mettent chacun le cap sur un autre adver-
LE MESSAGER
saire. L'afflux des vaisseaux perses d'abord résistait ; mais leur multitude s'amassant dans une passe étroite
3
, où ils ne peuvent se prêter secours et s'abordent les uns les autres
en choquant leurs faces de bronze, ils voient se briser l'appareil de leurs rames, et, alors, les trières grecques adroitement les enveloppent, les frappent ; les coques se renversent ; la mer disparaît toute sous un amas d'épaves,
de cadavres sanglants ; rivages, écueils, sont chargés de morts, et une fuite désordonnée emporte à toutes rames ce qui reste des vaisseaux barbares — tandis que les Grecs, comme s'il s'agissait de thons, de poissons vidés du filet,
frappent, assomment, avec des débris de rames, des fragments d'épaves ! Une plainte mêlée de sanglots règne seule sur la mer au large, jusqu'à l'heure où la nuit au sombre visage vient tout arrêter ! Quant à la somme de nos
pertes, quand je prendrais dix jours pour en dresser le compte, je ne saurais l'établir. Jamais,
en choquant leurs faces de bronze, ils voient se briser l'appareil de leurs rames, et, alors, les trières grecques adroitement les enveloppent, les frappent ; les coques se renversent ; la mer disparaît toute sous un amas d'épaves,
de cadavres sanglants ; rivages, écueils, sont chargés de morts, et une fuite désordonnée emporte à toutes rames ce qui reste des vaisseaux barbares — tandis que les Grecs, comme s'il s'agissait de thons, de poissons vidés du filet,
frappent, assomment, avec des débris de rames, des fragments d'épaves ! Une plainte mêlée de sanglots règne seule sur la mer au large, jusqu'à l'heure où la nuit au sombre visage vient tout arrêter ! Quant à la somme de nos
pertes, quand je prendrais dix jours pour en dresser le compte, je ne saurais l'établir. Jamais,
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 395 focus
Soon as the golden ſun was ſet, and night
Advanc'd, each train'd to ply the daſhing oar
Aſſum'd his ſeat;
in arms each warrior ſtood,
455
Troop chearing troop thro' all the ſhips of war.
Each to th' appointed ſtation ſteers his courſe;
And thro' the night his naval force each chief
Fix'd to ſecure the paſſes.
Night advanc'd,
460
But not by ſecret flight did Greece attempt
T'eſcape.
The morn, all beauteous to behold,
Drawn by white ſteeds bounds o'er th' enlighten'd
earth;
465
At once from ev'ry Greek with glad acclaim
Burſt forth the ſong of war, whoſe lofty notes
The echo of the iſland rocks return'd,
Spreading diſmay thro' Perſia's hoſts thus fallen
From their high hopes;
470
no flight this ſolemn
ſtrain
Portended, but deliberate valour bent
On daring battle; whilſt the trumpet's ſound
Kindled the flames of war.
475
But when their oars,
The Pæan ended, with impetuous force
Daſh'd the reſounding ſurges, inſtant all
Ruſh'd on in view;
in orderly array
480
The ſquadron on the right firſt led, behind
Rode their whole fleet;
and now diſtinct we heard
From ev'ry part this voice of exhortation,
"Advance, ye ſons of Greece, from thraldom ſave
485
"Your country, ſave your wives, your children
ſave,
"The temples of your Gods, the ſacred tomb
"Where reſt your honour'd anceſtors;
Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 395 focus
Venia primo, in bell'ordine schierato,
il como destro, ed era guida. E tutta
445
lo seguiva la flotta. E un alto grido
suonar s'udiva insieme: «O figli d'Ellade,
movete, orsú, liberate la patria,
le spose, i figli liberate, e l'are
dei Numi patrî, e l'arche dei nostri avoli!
450
»
Surse di contro, dalle file nostre,
un rumorio di persïani accenti:
né d'indugi era tempo: già la nave
alla nave battea col bronzeo rostro.
455
Fu d'un navile ellèno il primo cozzo,
e sfracellò d'un legno di Fenicia
tutti gli aplustri; e nave contro nave
chi qua chi là dirigono le prore.
La gran fiumana dell'armata persa
460
resse da pria.
Ma poi che la caterva
dei legni nello stretto era stipata,
né luogo avea reciproco soccorso,
anzi l'un l'altro con i bronzei rostri
465
si percoteano, gli ordini dei remi
franti furono tutti;
e i legni ellèni
accortamente l'investiano in giro.
Rovesce andaron le carene: sotto
470
i frantumi dei legni, e sotto i corpi
insanguinati, scompariva il mare,
spiaggia e scogli eran colmi di cadaveri;
e quante navi avean le schiere barbare,
facean forza di remi, a sconcia fuga.
475
Ma, come tonni, o come pesci in rete
già stretti, gli altri con troncon' di remi,
con le schegge e i frantumi, li colpivano,
li sbranavano: e gemiti di morte
e trionfal clamore empieano il pelago,
480
sin che li ascose de la notte il volto.
Ma dir non ti potrei tutta la piena
delle sciagure, pur se il mio racconto
durasse dieci anni continui.
Sappi
485
bene questo, però: che sí gran numero
d'uomini in un sol dí mai non fu spento.
ATOSSA
Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 395 focus
Statim omnes erant uisu confpicui:
370
Dextram quidem primum bene ordinatum cornu
Ducebat ordine, ſecundo omnis claßis
Accedebat, aderat ut audiret
Magnum clamorem: O Grecorum pueriite,
Liberate patriam, liberate uerò
375
Liberos, uxores, fanaq; patriorum deorum,
Ac monumenta maiorŭ: nunc pro omnib.fit certamen.
Attamen à nobis clamor Perſide linguæ
Contrà ibat, no amplius erat cunctandi tempus.
Statim uerò nauis encum roftrum in naui
380
Ferijt, conflictumą; inccepit Greca
Nauis, fregit omnia Phœniffesnauis,
A'plaustro alius in alium direxit hastam.
Et primò quidem impetus Perfici exercitus
Reftitit:poftquam uerò multitudo nauiŭ in angusto
385
Coacta est, auxiliŭ nullü illis inuicē aderat,
Ipfi ab ipfis concurfuroftrorum
Feriebantur, & fregerunt omnem claſſem remis a
Grecanice naues non temerè
In circulo percutiebant, fubuertebantur
390
Carine nauium, mare nec amplius licebat uidere
Fruftis nauium cruore mortalium plenum.
Littora faxa implebantur cadauerum.
Fuga uerò incompiè omnis nauis remigabat.
Quecunq erant ex exercitu barbarorum,
395
Certè tanquam thynnos, aut rete piſcium
Fracturis remorum fiue uulneribus ruderunt
Feriebant, frangebant: fletus unà cum
Eiulatu continuit pelafgicum mare,
Quoad nigra noctis oculus diremerit
400
Malorum multitudinem.neq;
fi decem dies
Cum diligentia narrarem, abfoluerem omnia tibi.
Bene hoc ſcias, nulla altera die
Tantam multitudinem hominum occubuiffe.
405
Ato.
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.) — 395 focus
Their trumpets pealed, and fire was in that sound,
405
And with the dash of simultaneous oars
Replying to the war-chant, on they came,
Smiting the swirling brine, and in a trice
They flashed upon the vision of the foe!
The right wing first in orderly advance
410
Came on, a steady column; following then,
The rest of their array moved out and on,
And to our ears there came a burst of sound,
A clamour manifold.—
On, sons of Greece!
On, for your country's freedom! strike to save
415
Wives, children, temples of ancestral gods,
Graves of your fathers! now is all at stake.
Then from our side swelled up the mingled din
Of Persian tongues, and time brooked no delay—
Ship into ship drave hard its brazen beak
420
With speed of thought, a shattering blow! and first
One Grecian bark plunged straight, and sheared away
Bowsprit and stem of a Phoenician ship.
And then each galley on some other's prow
Came crashing in. Awhile our stream of ships
425
Held onward, till within the narrowing creek
Our jostling vessels were together driven,
And none could aid another: each on each
Drave hard their brazen beaks, or brake away
The oar-banks of each other, stem to stern,
430
While the Greek galleys, with no lack of skill,
Hemmed them and battered in their sides, and soon
The hulls rolled over, and the sea was hid,
Crowded with wrecks and butchery of men.
No beach nor reef but was with corpses strewn,
435
And every keel of our barbarian host
Hurried to flee, in utter disarray.
Thereon the foe closed in upon the wrecks
And hacked and hewed, with oars and splintered planks,
As fishermen hack tunnies or a cast
440
Of netted dolphins, and the briny sea
Rang with the screams and shrieks of dying men,
Until the night's dark aspect hid the scene.
Had I a ten days' time to sum that count
Of carnage, 'twere too little! know this well—
445
One day ne'er saw such myriad forms of death!
Atossa
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.) — 395 focus
Und Alles dort entflammte Kriegsdrommetenschall.
Sofort die Woge schlugen sie mit rauschender
Seeruder gleichgemess'nem Schwung dem Takte nach;
Da tauchten Alle plößlich auf vor unserm Blick.
380
Voran in wohlgeschloss'nen Reih'n erschien zuerst
Der rechte Flügel, hinter ihm in stolzem Zug
Die ganze Flotte; ringsumher erscholl zugleich
Vielfacher Rus: „Auf, Hellas' Söhne, stürmt zur Schlacht,
Befreit die Vatererde, Kinder, Gattinnen,
385
Befreit der Heimatgötter alten Siß, befreit
Der Ahnen Gräber! Jetzt um Alles gilt der Kampf!"
Nun auch von uns, von Perserzungen wogte laut
Geschrei entgegen; nimmer war zu ſäumen Zeit.
Schiff bohrt' in Schiff den erzbewehrten Schnabel ein;
390
Es war ein Schiff aus Hellas, das den Sturm begann,
Und einem Tyrer allen Schmuck vom Steuer brach.
Nun stürmte jeder Führer auf ein andres Schiff.
Anfänglich hielt des Perserheeres Woge Stand;
Doch als in engem Raume dicht der Kiele Schwarm
395
Sich drängte, Keiner Keinem mehr zu Hülfe war,
Sie selbst mit eigner Schnäbel erzbewehrtem Zahn
Sich schlugen, da zerbrachen alle Ruderreih'n,
Und Hellas' Schiffe stürmten wohlbedächtig an,
Ringsher um uns sich werfend; unsrer Schiffe Rumpf
400
Schlug um, die See war nirgend mehr sichtbar dem Blick,
Von Wrack und Scheitern wimmelnd und Erschlagenen,
Und Leichen deckten Klippen und Gestad' umher.
Verworren fliehend stürmten nun die Schiffe fort,
Soviel noch übrig waren aus dem Perserheer.
405
Doch jene schlugen, spießten sie, Thunfischen gleich
Und anderm Nezesfange, mit zerbrochenem
Gebälk' und Rudertrümmern; Angstgeschrei zugleich
Durchscholl mit bangem Wehgeheul weithin das Meer,
Bis uns das Auge schwarzer Nacht dem Feind entzog.
410
Des Leides Fülle, wenn ich auch zehn Tage noch
Dir forterzählte, nimmermehr erschöpft' ich sie;
Denn glaube, niemals wurde noch an Einem Tag
Solch ungeheure Menschenzahl des Todes Raub.
Atoſſa.
Commentary
Critical apparatus to The Persians (OCR draft) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of The Persians.) focus
407.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-334
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
399-407.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-59