Aeschylus Persians 200

Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator)

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Such was the vision I beheld in the night. But when I had risen and dipped my hands in the clear-flowing water of a spring, I drew near to an altar with incense in my hand, intending to make an offering of sacrificial cake to the divinities that avert evil, those to whom these rites are due.
200
But I saw an eagle fleeing for safety to the altar of Phoebus—and out of terror, my friends, I stood speechless. Thereupon I caught sight of a falcon rushing at full speed with outstretched wings and with his talons plucking at the head of the eagle, which did nothing but cower and
205
yielded its body to his foe.
  These are the terrors I beheld, terrors too for you to hear. Be assured that if my son should suceeed, he would prove to be remarkable indeed, but if he fails, he does not have to answer to the state; if he returns safely, he will hold sway in this land as he did before.
210

Persians. Aeschylus. Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator). New York. 1922.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Persians (English) (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Editions (7)
Πέρσαι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 159-255 focus
Πέρσαι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 200 focus

  καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νυκτὸς εἰσιδεῖν λέγω.
200
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλλιρρόου
ἔψαυσα πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ
βωμὸν προσέστην, ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν
θέλουσα θῦσαι πέλανον, ὧν τέλη τάδε.
ὁρῶ δὲ φεύγοντʼ αἰετὸν πρὸς ἐσχάραν
205
Φοίβου· φόβῳ δʼ ἄφθογγος ἐστάθην, φίλοι·
μεθύστερον δὲ κίρκον εἰσορῶ δρόμῳ
πτεροῖς ἐφορμαίνοντα καὶ χηλαῖς κάρα
τίλλονθʼ· ὁ δʼ οὐδὲν ἄλλο γʼ ἢ πτήξας δέμας
παρεῖχε. ταῦτʼ ἔμοιγε δείματʼ εἰσιδεῖν,
210
ὑμῖν δʼ ἀκούειν. εὖ γὰρ ἴστε, παῖς ἐμὸς
πράξας μὲν εὖ θαυμαστὸς ἂν γένοιτʼ ἀνήρ,
κακῶς δὲ πράξας, οὐχ ὑπεύθυνος πόλει,
σωθεὶς δʼ ὁμοίως τῆσδε κοιρανεῖ χθονός.
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 200 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 200 focus
καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νυκτὸς εἰςιδεῖν λέγω.
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλιρρόου
200
ἔψαυσα πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ
βωμὸν προςέστην, ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν
θέλουσα θῖσαι πέλανον, ὧν τέλη τάδε.
ὁρῶ δὲ φεύγοντ᾽ αἰετὸν πρὸς ἐσχάραν
Φοίβου· φόβῳ δ᾽ ἄφθογγος ἐστάθην, φίλοι.
205
μεθύστερον δὲ κίρκον εἰςορῶ δρόμῳ
πτεροῖς ἐφορμαίνοντα καὶ χηλαῖς κάρα
τίλλονθ'· ὃ δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἄλλο γ' ἢ πτήξας δέμας
παρείχε. ταῦτ᾽ ἔμοιγε δείματ᾽ ἔστ' ἰδεῖν,
ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἀκούειν. εὖ γὰρ ἴστε, παῖς ἐμὸς
210
πράξας μὲν εὖ θαυμαστὸς ἂν γένοιτ' ἀνήρ,
ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 200 focus
Καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νυκτὸς εἰσιδεῖν λέγω·
200
ἐπεὶ δ' ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλλιρρόου
ἔψαυσα πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ
βωμὸν προσέστην, ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν
θέλουσα θῦσαι πελανὸν ὧν τέλη τάδε·
ὁρῶ δὲ φεύγοντ' αἰετὸν πρὸς ἐσχάραν
205
Φοίβου· φόβῳ δ' ἄφθογγος ἐστάθην, φίλοι·
μεθύστερον δὲ κίρκον εἰσορῶ δρόμῳ
πτεροῖς ἐφορμαίνοντα καὶ χηλαῖς κάρα
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 200 focus
καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νυκτὸς εἰσιδεῖν λέγω·
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλλιρρόου
ἔψαυσα πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ
205
βωμὸν προσέστην, ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν
θέλουσα θῦσαι πέλανον, ὧν τέλη τάδε·
ὁρῶ δὲ φεύγοντ᾽ αἰετὸν πρὸς ἐσχάραν
Φοίβου· φόβῳ δ᾽ ἄφθογγος ἐστάθην, φίλοι.
μεθύστερον δὲ κίρκον εἰσορῶ δρόμῳ
210
πτεροῖς ἐφορμαίνοντα καὶ χηλαῖς χάρα
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 200 focus
καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νυκτὸς εἰσιδεῖν λέγω·
200
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλλιρρόου
ἔψαυσα πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλωι χερί
βωμὸν προσέστην ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν
θέλουσα θῦσαι πέλανον, ὧν τέλη τάδε·
ὁρῶ δὲ φεύγοντ᾽ αἰετὸν πρὸς ἐσχάραν
205
Φοίβου· φόβωι δ᾽ ἄφθογγος ἐστάθην, φίλοι.
μεθύστερον δὲ κίρκον εἰσορῶ δρόμωι
πτεροῖς ἐφορμαίνοντα καὶ χηλαῖς κάρα
τίλλονθ᾽· ὃ δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἄλλο γ᾽ ἢ πτήξας δέμας
παρεῖχε. ταῦτ᾽ ἔμοιγε δείματ᾽ ἔστ᾿ ἰδεῖν,
210
ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἀκούειν. εὐ γὰρ ἴστε, παῖς ἐμός
πράξας μὲν εὖ θαυμαστὸς ἂν γένοιτ᾽ ἀνήρ,
κακῶς δὲ πράξας οὐχ ὑπεύθυνος πόλει,
σωθεὶς δ᾽ ὁμοίως τῆσδε κοιρανεῖ χθονός.
Translations (8)
The Persians. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 200 focus
These things, indeed, I say that I beheld last night. But when I had arisen, and had touched with my hands a fair-streaming fountain 1
, I stood by the altar, wishing to offer a sacrificial cake to the divinities that avert evil, to whom these rites belong. And I behold an eagle fleeing to the altar of Phoebus; and from terror I stood speechless, my friends, and afterwards I see a falcon speeding onward in his course with his pinions, and tearing his head with his talons. And the eagle did nought but cower down and yield his body. These sights are terrible for me to behold, and for you to hear. For be ye well assured, my son, were he successful, would be a man worthy of admiration, and though he fail, he is not liable to be called to account by the state; but if he escape, will equally be sovereign of this realm 2
.
LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 200 focus
de la nuit. Mais je me lève, je trempe mes mains au cours d'une onde pure et, les chargeant d'offrandes, je m'approche de l'autel, pour y consacrer le gâteau rituel aux dieux préservateurs à qui est dû l'hom-
mage : et j'aperçois alors un aigle, qui fuit vers l'autel bas de Phoibos ! Muette d'effroi, je m'arrête, amis. Mais bientôt, sous mes yeux, un milan 1 fond du ciel, à grands coups d'ailes rapides et, de ses serres, se met à déchirer la tête de l'aigle, qui ne sait plus que se pelotonner sans
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 200 focus
The other with indignant fury ſpurn'd
The car, and daſh'd it piecemeal, rent the reins,
225
And tore the yoke aſunder: down my ſon
Fell from the ſeat, and inſtant at his ſide
His father ſtands, Darius, at his fall
Impreſs'd with pity: him when Xerxes ſaw,
Glowing with grief and ſhame he rends his robes.
230
This was the dreadful viſion of the night.
When I aroſe c
, in the ſweet-flowing ſtreain
I bath'd my hands, and on the incens'd altars
Preſenting my oblations to the Gods
T' avert theſe ills, an eagle d
I behold
235
Fly to the Altar of the Sun: aghaft
I ſtood, my friends, and ſpeechleſs; when an
hawk
With eager ſpeed runs thither, furious cuffs
The eagle with his wings, and with his talons
240
Unplumes his head;
mean time th' imperial bird
Cow'rs to the blows defenceleſs.
Dreadful this
To me that ſaw it, and to you that hear.
245
My ſon, let conqueſt crown his arms, wou'd ſhine
With dazzling glory;
Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 200 focus
Ciò che ti dico, ho visto fra le tenebre.
Quando poi mi levai, quando ebbi terse
d'un fonte ne le belle acque le palme,
con le mie mani ad offerir libami
220
a un'ara m'appressai, per fare offerte
agli Dei, che lontani i mali tengano.
E un'aquila fuggir verso l'altare
di Febo veggo.
Pel terrore, amici,
225
muta rimango.
Ed ecco, con grande impeto
d'ali, piombare scorgo uno sparviere,
che con gli artigli il capo le dispiuma:
e quella, altro non fa che rannicchiarsi
230
e abbandonarsi.
Tali auspicî, e me
che vidi, e voi che udite sbigottiscono.
Ben lo sapete: se la sorte è fausta,
il figliuol mio sarà per tutti obietto
235
di meraviglia.
Ma se infausta... Ebbene
conto render non deve alla città.
Sia salvo, e Re sempre sarà di Persia.
Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 200 focus
Et hæc quidem noctu me uidiſse dico.
Postquam ſurrexi, manibusq;
170
pulchrifluumi
Tetigi fontem mortali manu,
Altari adfui, dijs qui talia auertunt,
Volens facrificare libum, quorum hæc tributa ſunt.
Video uerò fugientem aquilam ad aram
175
Phœbi, pre timore uerò ſteti muta ô amici,
Deinde uerò circumuideo circum
Alis irruentem, unguibus aquile caput
Lacerantem.bec uerò nihil aliud
Quàm trepidd corpus ei prebuit.
180
Hec mihi licuit terricula uidere,
Vobis audire.benc enim ſcitote, meus filius
Agens quidem bene,uir admirandus crit:
Malè autem agens, non imperabit urbi.
Seruatus uerò fimiliter huic terræ imperabit.
185
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 200 focus
Darius, pitying stands, whom when he sees,
200
The robes about his person Xerxes rends.
Such was, I say, my vision of the night.
When I arose and with my hands had touched
Fountain clear-flowing, I the altar neared
With sacrificial hand, wishing to pay
To the averting gods, to whom belong
Such rites, oblations; forthwith I behold
An eagle fleeing straight to Phobos' hearth.
Speechless I stood through terror, friends; anon,
A kite I see borne forward on swift wing,
210
Tearing with talons fierce the eagle's head;
Meanwhile the eagle nothing did but cower,
His body tamely yielding to the foe.
Dreadful these portents are to me who saw
And you who hear: for well ye know, my son,
If victor, were a man with glory crowned,
Yet worsted, to the state gives no account,
And saved, he none the less this realm will sway.
1
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.) — 200 focus
Such was my vision of the night now past;
But when, arising, I had dipped my hand
In the fair lustral stream, I drew towards
The altar, in the act of sacrifice,
Having in mind to offer, as their due,
195
The sacred meal-cake to the averting powers,
Lords of the rite that banisheth ill dreams.
When lo! I saw an eagle fleeing fast
To Phoebus' shrine—O friends, I stayed my steps,
Too scared to speak! for, close upon his flight,
200
A little falcon dashed in winged pursuit,
Plucking with claws the eagle's head, while he
Could only crouch and cower and yield himself.
Scared was I by that sight, and eke to you
No less a terror must it be to hear!
205
For mark this well—if Xerxes have prevailed,
He shall come back the wonder of the world:
If not, still none can call him to account—
So he but live, he liveth Persia's King!
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.) — 200 focus
Dies Traumgebilde sah ich dir in jüngster Nacht.
Dann als ich aufstand und die Hand mit lautrer Flut
Des Quells befeuchtet, trat ich sammt der Priesterschaar
Mit Opferkuchen für die fluchabwehrenden
Gottheiten zum Altare, wie's der Brauch gebeut.
190
Und einen Adler seh' ich auf des Phöbos Herd
Sich flüchten: - lautlos, Freunde, stand ich da vor Angst : -
Dann sah ich einen Falken, der in raschem Flug
Auf ihn heranstürmt und mit scharfen Klau'n sein Haupt
Zerrauft. Der Adler duckte sich nur scheu, und gab
195
Den Rücken preis. Ein Grausen war mir das zu seh'n,
Wie euch zu hören. Denn ihr wisset wohl: gewinnt
Mein Sohn den Sieg, preist ihn bewundernd alle Welt;
Wo nicht, so gibt er keine Rechenschaft dem Volk,
Und wohlbehalten ist er hier wie früher Herr.
200

Commentary

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

200. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-152

καλιρρόου:
καλλιρόου
M. Vit.

201. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-153

πηγῆς, σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ:
παγῆς
Lips.
γῆς
, addito a sec. manu
πη
, Vit.
θυηπόλην
ante sec. manus corr. Vit.
χειρὶ
Vit. Lips. Non pignore contenderim genuinam nunc exstare scripturam. Vereor enim ne
δὲ
in apodosi post
ἐπεί
positum librarios ad mutationem faciendam compulerit. Certe melius, nisi fallor, omnia hoc modo procederent,
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἀνέστην καὶ χεροῖν καλλιρρόου ψαύσασα πηγῆς σὺν θυηπόλῳ χερὶ βωμὸν προςέστην, ἀποτρόποισι δαίμοσιν θέλουσα θῦσαι πέλανον, ὧν τέλη τάδε· ὁρῶ δὲ φεύγοντ᾽ αἰετὸν πρὸς ἐσχάραν Φοίβου.

202. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-154

βωμὸν:
βωμὸν
M. G. Lips. Ven. B. Colb. 2. Par. G. L.
βωμῷ
ceteri libri, sed Vit. addita a sec. manu correctione
βωμόν
et supra scripto
ἐς τὸν
. ἀποτρόποισι:
ἀποτρόποις
G. δαίμοσιν:
δαίμοσιν
M. Par. L. Ceteri
δαίμοσι
.

204. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-155

φεύγοντ᾽:
φίλου
Ven. B.

205. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-156

φόβῳ δ᾽: omittit Lips.

206. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-157

μεθύστερον δὲ:
μεθ᾽ ὕστερον
M. edd. vett. κίρκον:
κέρκον
Vit.

207. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-158

κάρα:
τὸ κάρα
Vit.

208. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-159

ὃ δ᾽:
ὅδ'
Vit. Lips. Ald. Rob. δέμας παρείχε: Inter
δέμας
et
παρείχε
Ven. A. Ox. Ald. inserunt
τῷ κίρκῳ τύπτεσθαι
.

209. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-160

δείματ᾽ ἔστ' ἰδεῖν:
δειματἐσἰδεῖν
M.

210-213. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-161

ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἀκούειν. εὖ γὰρ ἴστε, παῖς ἐμὸς πράξας μὲν εὖ θαυμαστὸς ἂν γένοιτ' ἀνήρ, κακῶς δὲ πράξας οὐχ ὑπεύθυνος πόλει, σωθεὶς δ᾽ ὁμοίως τῆςδε κοιρανεῖ χθονός.:
ὑμῖν τ'
G. Par. L.
γ'
omittunt Ven. A. Ald. Rob. In vitii suspicionem adducta sunt quae sequuntur. Verum si modo haec verba,
ταῦτ᾽ ἔμοιγε δείματ᾽ ἔστ' ἰδεῖν, ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἀκούειν
, recte intelliguntur, in reliquis non est quod laboremus. Dicit autem Atossa illud hoc sensu, haec mihi, quae vidi, et vobis, qui audistis, metuenda sunt, quorsum spectent. De eo enim sollicita est, quid dicat isto somnio ostentoque portendi. Itaque subiicit nam de regno filii scitis non esse quod metuam, quem, si prospera fortuna admirandum reddere potest, at adversa certe regno non exuet, si quidem ille salvus redibit. His igitur verbis indicat non habere se quomodo visa illa interpretetur, nisi de morte filii, quam apertius nominare reformidat.

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

200-210. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-29

1
2
Bedeutungsvolles Erlebnis der Atossa nach dem Traume. ἔψαυσα πηγῆς nach dem schlimmen Traume, Ubertra- gung hellenischer Sitte, vgl. Ar. ran. 1338 ff. Eur. Hek. 72. u. a. ξύν, Ag. 111. sacrifica manu arae adstiti. βωμόν, poetische Konstruk- tion (vgl. 140 f.), wie Soph. fr. 594 N.: προστῆναι μέσην τράπεζαν. Übrigens ( οἱ Πέρσαι) οὔτε βωμοὺς ποιεῦνται οὔτε πῦρ ἀνακαίουσι μέλ- λοντες θύειν, οὐ σπονδῇ, χρέονται, οὐκὶ αὐλῷ, οὐ πέμμασι, οὐκὶ οὐλῇσι (Herod. 1 132). – ἀποτρόποισι δαί- μοσιν, οἷς ἀποτροπιαζόμεσθα τοὺς ὀνείρους Schol., vor allem Helios (Soph. Εl. 424 ἡλίῳ δείκνυσι τοὔναρ) oder Phöbus (206) nach hellenischer Vorstel Vorstellung. - ὧν τέλη τάδε, denen diese Opfergaben angehören (zu- kommen). – Φοίβου... φόβῳ, An- klang wie Ag. 1080 ff. Cho. 911. Hom. Χ 139: κίρκος, ἐλαφρότατος πετεηνῶν. – κάρα, τοῦ αἰετοῦ, vgl. 210. Hom. η 525 ff.: ἐπέπτατο .. κίρκος, ᾿Απόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσιν τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων. Herod. III 76: ἐφάνη (im Traum) ἱρήκων ἑπτὰ ζεύγεα, δύο δύο αἰγυπιῶν ζεύγεα διώκοντά τε καὶ τίλλοντα οντα καὶ ἀμύσσοντα. οὐδὲν ἄλλο η παρείχε, Kr. 62, 3. A. 7. Schol. A.: ἀετὸν τὸν Ξέρξην φησί, διὰ τὸ βασιλικὸν καὶ γενναῖον, ἱέρακα δὲ τὸ τῶν ᾿Αθηναίων ( Ελλήνων) στράτευμα, διὰ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς Πέρ- σας ἐλάττονα ἔχειν κατὰ πολὺ τὴν δύναμιν.

210-214. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-30

3
4
ἔμοιγε ... ὑμῖν δὲ, 168. Nach κακῶς δὲ πράξας bricht Atossa, um der königlichen Würde nichts zu vergeben, den Gedanken an die schlimmen Folgen der Niederlage plötzlich ab und erwähnt das Tröstliche, das auch in diesem Falle noch bleibt. Vgl. Ag. 498 ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τὸ χαίρειν μᾶλλον ἐκβάξει λέγων· τὸν ἀντίον δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἀποστέργω λόγον. – ὁμοίως, ὥσπερ καὶ πρόσθεν. Lukian. merc, cond. 40: τοῖς γεγηρακόσιν ἵπποις ἐοικώς, ων οὐδὲ τὸ δέρμα ὁμοίως χρήσιμον. Archiloch. fr. 91: οὐκέθ᾽ ὁμῶς θάλ- λεις ἁπαλὸν χρόα. Das Rat-