Aeschylus, Persians, Paul Mazon (Editor), 278

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ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ

Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ' ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Persians. Aeschylus. Paul Mazon (Editor). Paris. 1920-1925.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Schmidt Sciences.

Current edition Experimental

ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) (Greek) (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (6)

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 ἵππου² βραβεὺς

στύφλους παρ᾽ ἀκτὰς θείνεται Σιληνιῶν.

χὠ χιλίαρχος Δαδάκης πληγῇ δορὸς

πήδημα κοῦφον ἐκ νεὼς ἀφήλατο:
305

Τενάγων τ᾽ ἀριστεὺς³ Βακτρίων ἰθαγενὴς

θαλασσόπληκτον νῆσον Αἴαντος πολεῖ.

Λίλαιος, Ἀρσάμης τε κἀργήστης τρίτος,

οἵδ᾽ ἀμφὶ νῆσον τὴν πελειοθρέμμονα

δινούμενοι⁴ κύρισσον ἰσχυρὰν χθόνα:
310

πηγαῖς τε Νείλου γειτονῶν Αἰγυπτίου

Ἀρκτεύς, Ἀδεύης, καὶ Φερεσσάκης⁵ τρίτος,

Φαρνοῦχος, οἵδε ναὸς ἐκ μιᾶς πέσον.

Χρυσεὺς Μάταλλος μυριόνταρχος θανών,

ἵππου μελαίνης ἡγεμὼν τρισμυρίας,
315

πυρσὴν⁶ ζαπληθῆ δάσκιον γενειάδα

ἔτεγγ᾽, ἀμείβων χρῶτα πορφυρᾷ⁷ βαφῇ.

καὶ Μᾶγος Ἄραβος, Ἀρτάβης τε Βάκτριος,

σκληρᾶς μέτοικος γῆς, ἐκεῖ κατέφθιτο.

Ἄμιστρις Ἀμφιστρεύς τε πολύπονον δόρυ
320

νωμῶν, ὅ τ᾽ ἐσθλὸς Ἀριόμαρδος Σάρδεσι⁸

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.

τοσόνδε ταγῶν¹⁰ νῦν¹¹ ὑπεμνήσθην πέρι.

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 δὲ¹³ πλῆθος ἦν νεῶν Ἑλληνίδων,

ὥστ᾽ ἀξιῶσαι Περσικῷ στρατεύματι
335

μάχην συνάψαι ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς;

Ἄγγελος

πλήθους μὲν ἂν σάφ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἕκατι βάρβαρον¹⁴

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᾽ ὑπέρκοποι¹⁵ τάχει

ἑκατὸν δὶς ἦσαν ἑπτά θ᾽: ὧδ᾽ ἔχει λόγος.

μή σοι δοκοῦμεν τῇδε λειφθῆναι¹⁶ μάχῃ;

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδε δαίμων τις κατέφθειρε στρατόν,
345

τάλαντα βρίσας οὐκ ἰσορρόπῳ τύχῃ.

θεοὶ πόλιν σῴζουσι Παλλάδος¹⁷ 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 ἐπενθορόντες¹⁹ 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 στῖφος²⁰ 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 παρῆν²³

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 νυν²⁵ ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ

ἀντεῖχεν: ὡς δὲ πλῆθος ἐν στενῷ νεῶν

ἤθροιστ᾽, ἀρωγὴ δ᾽ οὔτις ἀλλήλοις παρῆν,

αὐτοὶ θ᾽²⁶ ὑφ᾽²⁷ αὑτῶν ἐμβόλοις²⁸ χαλκοστόμοις
415

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᾽ ἀκόσμῳ²⁹ πᾶσα ναῦς ἠρέσσετο,

ὅσαιπερ ἦσαν βαρβάρου στρατεύματος.

τοὶ δ᾽ ὥστε θύννους ἤ τιν᾽ ἰχθύων βόλον

ἀγαῖσι κωπῶν θραύμασίν τ᾽ ἐρειπίων
425

ἔπαιον, ἐρράχιζον: οἰμωγὴ³⁰ 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 τοσουτάριθμον³³ ἀνθρώπων θανεῖν.

433

Ἄτοσσα

αἰαῖ, κακῶν δὴ πέλαγος ἔρρωγεν³⁴ μέγα

Πέρσαις τε καὶ πρόπαντι βαρβάρων γένει.

Ἄγγελος

εὖ νυν³⁵ 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 αἰσχρῶς³⁷ 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 εὐαγῆ⁴⁰ 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 στένειν⁴² πάρα.

472

Ἄτοσσα

ὦ στυγνὲ δαῖμον, ὡς ἄρ᾽ ἔψευσας φρενῶν

Πέρσας: πικρὰν δὲ παῖς ἐμὸς τιμωρίαν

κλεινῶν Ἀθηνῶν ηὗρε, κοὐκ ἀπήρκεσαν⁴³

οὓς πρόσθε Μαραθὼν βαρβάρων ἀπώλεσεν:
475

ὧν ἀντίποινα παῖς ἐμὸς πράξειν δοκῶν

τοσόνδε⁴⁴ πλῆθος πημάτων ἐπέσπασεν.

σὺ δ᾽ εἰπέ, ναῶν αἳ πεφεύγασιν μόρον,

ποῦ τάσδ᾽⁴⁵ ἔλειπες: οἶσθα σημῆναι τορῶς;

480

Ἄγγελος

ναῶν γε⁴⁶ ταγοὶ τῶν λελειμμένων σύδην
480

κατ᾽ οὖρον οὐκ εὔκοσμον αἴρονται⁴⁷ 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 πόλεις⁴⁸ 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: ηὐτύχει⁴⁹ 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 ἐνήλλου⁵⁰ παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.

Ἄτοσσα

οἲ ᾽γὼ⁵¹ 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.

ὑμᾶς⁵² δὲ χρὴ ᾽πὶ τοῖσδε τοῖς πεπραγμένοις

πιστοῖσι⁵³ πιστὰ ξυμφέρειν βουλεύματα:

καὶ παῖδ᾽, ἐάν περ δεῦρ᾽ ἐμοῦ πρόσθεν μόλῃ,

παρηγορεῖτε, καὶ προπέμπετ᾽ ἐς δόμους,
530

μὴ καί τι⁵⁴ πρὸς κακοῖσι προσθῆται κακόν.

532

Χορός

ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ, νῦν <μὲν⁵⁵> Περσῶν

τῶν μεγαλαύχων καὶ πολυάνδρων

στρατιὰν ὀλέσας

ἄστυ τὸ Σούσων ἠδ᾽ Ἀγβατάνων
535

πένθει δνοφερῷ κατέκρυψας:

πολλαὶ δ᾽ ἀταλαῖς⁵⁶ χερσὶ καλύπτρας

κατερεικόμεναι⁵⁷

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.) — 278 focus

ΑΓ.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 278 focus

Ἄγγελος

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατός, δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 278 focus

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

ΧΟ.

3

Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 278 focus

ΑΓ.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς. –

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,¹the 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 is an island³lying before Salamis , a small one and dangerous anchorage for ships; its sea-washed shore is the haunt of Pan, who loves the dance.

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.) — 278 focus

Yes, for our bows availed us nought, and our whole host perished, beaten down by the collision of the beaks of the vessels.

CHORUS

LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 278 focus

j'aime roulés du flot, où sans cesse ils replongent, corps sans vie emportés dans leurs larges saies errantes !

LE MESSAGER

L'arc

The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 278 focus

It is e'en ſo, all ruin; and myſelf,

Beyond all hope returning, view this light.

CHORUS.

Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 278 focus

Gli archi nulla giovâr:

l'urto dei rostri tutti quanti distrusse i legni nostri.

310

CORO

Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 278 focus

Nihil iuuerunt arcus, omnis uerò perijt

Exercitus, domatus roftratis nauibus.

Cho.

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.) — 278 focus

Their bows availed not! all have perished, all,

By charging galleys crushed and whelmed in death.

Chorus

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.) — 278 focus

Nicht schüste Pfeil und Bogen; nein, das ganze Heer
260

Erlag, bewältigt in der Schiffe wildem Kampf.

Erster Halbchor.
Dritte Strophe.

Commentary

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

275-278. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-221

ΐϋζ' ἀποτμον δαΐοις δυςαιανῆ βοάν, ὡς πάντα παγκάκως θεοὶ ἔθεσαν, αἰαῖ, στρατοῦ φθαρέντος.: Libri

ἴϋζ᾽ ἄποτμον βοὰν δυσαιανῆ πέρσαις δαίοις, ὡς πάντα παγκάκως ἔθεσαν, αἱ αἱ στρατοῦ φθαρέντος

, nisi quod in paucis variant.

ἴϋζε

M. Lips. Par. C. N. Ald. Turn.

ἴϋζε

Vit. Tum

βοάν

, superscripto

, Lips. Deinde Faehsius ex Par. B. affert γρ.

καὶ δυσεανῆ ἤγουν πολυποίκιλον

. Tum

πέρσαισῶν

, duabus scripturis,

πέρσαις

περσῶν

coniunctis, Par. N. Deinde

ὡς πάντα παγκάκως

M. Vit. Cantabr. 1. 2. Mosc. Par. F. H. I. N. Ald. Rob. Sic etiam, ut Bekkerus adnotavit, Par. B. ex quo Faehsius p. 182.

ὡς παγκάκως πάντα

affert, quod est in edd. Turn. et Vict.

ὡς πάντα κάκως

ὡς πάνπαγκάκως

Lips. Deinde

ἔθεαν

Ald. Denique

αἳ αἳ

G. Vit. Lips. edd. vett. Hae lectiones omnes quum nihil contineant quo metra, quae in antistropha valde diversa sunt, exaequentur, apertum est maiorem corruptelam aut hic aut in antistropha latere. Accedit quod dubitari non potest, quin, ut particula

ὡς

utrobique eundem in numeris locum obtinet, ita idem observatum fuerit in nomine

δαίοις

. Id igitur aut in stropha aut in antistropha ex sede sua dimovendum est. In antistropha id non videtur probabili ratione fieri posse. In stropha igitur vitium quaerendum est. Ac diu est quum

Πέρσαις

eiiciendum esse suspicatus sum, in qua coniectura confirmavit me illud quod in Par. N. scriptum est

πέρσαισῶν

, quod indicio esse videtur dubitasse interpretes utrum

δαίοις

de hostibus Persarum, an de ipsis Persis, clade bellica afflictis, intelligendum esset. Vicit tamen posterior explicatio, quae sane probanda est, ita ut, quum in margine adscriptum ab interprete esset

Πέρσαις δαίοις

, id pro emendata lectione habitum alieno loco in ipsa poetae verba illatum sit. Itaque

Πέρσαις

delevi. Praeterea verba

βοὰν δυσαιανῆ

inverso ordine collocanda esse antistropha docuit. Deinde sequenti versui aliquid ad integritatem deest. Atque hic quoque duae proditae sunt ab interpretibus explicationes verbi

ἔθεσαν

, quum in G.

οἱ Πέρσαι

, in Vit.

οἱ θεοὶ

adscriptum sit. Si de diis haec intelligenda sunt, nominari deos oportuit. Ac restituitur metrum, si ante

ἔθεσαν

hoc ipsum nomen

θεοὶ

inseritur praetereaque

πάντα

mutatur. Scripsi igitur

ἴϋζ᾽ ἀποτμον δαίοις δυςαιανῆ βοάν, ὡς πάντα παγκάκως θεοὶ ἔθεσαν, αἰαῖ, στρατοῦ φθαρέντος.

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

256-289. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-37

Kommos, drei Stro- phenpaare des Chors, unterbrochen je durch zwei Trimeter des Boten.

274-279. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-41

⁴

ἁλίδονα, mari agi- tata. παμβαφή, ganz mit Meer- wasser angefüllt (und aufgeschwol- len). – πλαγκτούς, nach dem Sinne ( φίλους). Vgl. 303. 307. 310. ναΐοισιν, wie Suppl. 2, vgl. ναμερτῆ 246 u. zu 157. Endung wie 336. ἐμβολαῖς 409; in der Seeschlacht.

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ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ' ἀπώλλυτο στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Current edition Experimental

Ἄγγελος Ξέρξης μὲν αὐτὸς ζῇ τε καὶ βλέπει φάος. 1

Ἄτοσσα ἐμοῖς μὲν εἶπας δώμασιν φάος μέγα 300 καὶ λευκὸν ἦμαρ νυκτὸς ἐκ μελαγχίμου.

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

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

Ἄτοσσα οἲ ᾽γὼ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς κακῆς, φίλοι. 445 ποίῳ μόρῳ δὲ τούσδε φῂς ὀλωλέναι;

Χορός ὦ δυσπόνητε δαῖμον, ὡς ἄγαν βαρὺς 515 ποδοῖν ἐνήλλου 50 παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.

Ἄγγελος Ξέρξης μὲν αὐτὸς ζῇ τε καὶ βλέπει φάος.

Ἄτοσσα ἐμοῖς μὲν εἶπας δώμασιν φάος μέγα 300 καὶ λευκὸν ἦμαρ νυκτὸς ἐκ μελαγχίμου.

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;

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

Ἄτοσσα οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς κακῆς, φίλοι. 445 ποίῳ μόρῳ δὲ τούσδε φὴς ὀλωλέναι;

Χορός ὦ δυσπόνητε δαῖμον, ὡς ἄγαν βαρὺς 515 ποδοῖν ἐνήλου παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.

ΑΓ. οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Ἄγγελος οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο στρατός, δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

ΧΟ. 3

ΑΓ. οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς. –

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

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

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

Chorus O unearthly power, source of our cruel distress, with what crushing weight have you fallen upon the whole Persian race! 515

CHORUS

LE MESSAGER L'arc

CHORUS.

CORO

Cho.

Their bows availed not! all have perished, all, By charging galleys crushed and whelmed in death.

Chorus

Nicht schüste Pfeil und Bogen; nein, das ganze Heer 260 Erlag, bewältigt in der Schiffe wildem Kampf.

Erster Halbchor. Dritte Strophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ

Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ' ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Ἄγγελος

Ξέρξης μὲν αὐτὸς ζῇ τε καὶ βλέπει φάος.¹

Ἄτοσσα

ἐμοῖς μὲν εἶπας δώμασιν φάος μέγα
300

καὶ λευκὸν ἦμαρ νυκτὸς ἐκ μελαγχίμου.

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

Ἄτοσσα

αἰαῖ, κακῶν δὴ πέλαγος ἔρρωγεν³⁴ μέγα

Πέρσαις τε καὶ πρόπαντι βαρβάρων γένει.

Ἄγγελος

εὖ νυν³⁵ 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

Ἄτοσσα

οἲ ᾽γὼ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς κακῆς, φίλοι.
445

ποίῳ μόρῳ δὲ τούσδε φῂς ὀλωλέναι;

Χορός

ὦ δυσπόνητε δαῖμον, ὡς ἄγαν βαρὺς
515

ποδοῖν ἐνήλλου⁵⁰ παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.

Ἄγγελος

Ξέρξης μὲν αὐτὸς ζῇ τε καὶ βλέπει φάος.

Ἄτοσσα

ἐμοῖς μὲν εἶπας δώμασιν φάος μέγα
300

καὶ λευκὸν ἦμαρ νυκτὸς ἐκ μελαγχίμου.

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;

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

Ἄτοσσα

οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς κακῆς, φίλοι.
445

ποίῳ μόρῳ δὲ τούσδε φὴς ὀλωλέναι;

Χορός

ὦ δυσπόνητε δαῖμον, ὡς ἄγαν βαρὺς
515

ποδοῖν ἐνήλου παντὶ Περσικῷ γένει.

ΑΓ.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

Ἄγγελος

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατός, δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς.

ΧΟ.

3

ΑΓ.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα, πᾶς δ᾽ ἀπώλλυτο

στρατὸς δαμασθεὶς ναΐοισιν ἐμβολαῖς. –

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

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

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

Chorus

O unearthly power, source of our cruel distress, with what crushing weight have you fallen upon the whole Persian race!
515

LE MESSAGER

L'arc

Their bows availed not! all have perished, all,

By charging galleys crushed and whelmed in death.

Nicht schüste Pfeil und Bogen; nein, das ganze Heer
260

Erlag, bewältigt in der Schiffe wildem Kampf.

Erster Halbchor.
Dritte Strophe.