Aeschylus Persians 65-158

ed. Herbert Weir Smyth

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Persians. Aeschylus. ed. Herbert Weir Smyth. New York. 1922.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Πέρσαι (Greek) (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.)

Editions (6)
Πέρσαι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 65-158 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 65 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 65 focus
πεπέρακεν μὲν ὁ περσέ-
πτολις ἤδη βασίλειος
στρατὸς εἰς ἀντίπορον γεί-
τονα χώραν, λινοδέσμῳ
σχεδίᾳ πορθμὸν ἀμείψας
70
Αθαμαντίδος Ἕλλας,
πολύγομφον ὅδισμα,
ζυγὸν ἀμφιβαλὼν αὐχένι πόντου.
πολυάνδρου δ Ασίας ού-
ριος ἄρχων ἐπὶ πᾶσαν
75
χθόνα ποιμανόριον θεῖ-
ον ἐλαύνει διχόθεν, πε-
ζονόμοις ἔκ τε θαλάσσης
ἐχυροῖσι πεποιθὼς
στυφελοῖς ἐφέταις, χρυ-
80
σογόνου γενεῖς ἰσόθεος φώς.
κυάνεον δ᾽ ὄμμασι λεύσσων
φονίου δέργμα δράκοντος,
πολύχειρ καὶ πολυναύτης,
Σύριόν θ' ἅρμα διώκων,
85
ἐπάγει δουρικλύτοις ἀν-
δρασι τοξόδαμνον Αρη.
δόκιμος δ᾽ οὔτις υποστὰς
μεγάλῳ δεύματι φωτῶν
ἐχυροῖς ἕρκεσιν εἴργειν
90
ἄμαχον κῦμα θαλάσσης.
ἀπρόςοιστος γὰρ ὁ Περσῶν
στρατὸς ἀλκίφρων τε λαός.
δολόμητιν δ᾽ ἀπάταν θεοῦ
τίς ἀνὴρ θνατὸς ἀλύξει;
95
τίς ὁ κραιπνῷ ποδι πήδημ
ἅλις εὐπετῶς ἀνάσσων;
φιλόφρων γὰρ ποτισαίνου-
σα τὸ πρῶτον, παράγει
βροτὸν εἰς ἄρκυας ἄτα,
100
τόθεν οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπὲκ να-
τὸν ἀλύξαντα φυγεῖν.
θεόθεν γὰρ κάτα Μοῖρ᾽ ἐκράτησεν
τὸ παλαιόν, ἐπέσκηψε δὲ Πέρσαις
πολέμους πυργοδαΐκτους
105
διέπειν ἱππιοχάρμας
τε κλόνους, πόλεών τ᾿ ἀναστάσεις.
ἔμαθον δ᾽ εὐρυπόροιο θαλάσσης
πολιαινομένης πνεύματι λάβρῳ
ἐςορᾶν πόντιον ἄλσος,
110
πίσυνοι λεπτοδόμοις πει-
σμασι λαοπόροις τε μηχαναῖς.
ταῦτά μοι μελαγχίτων
φρὴν ἀμύσσεται φόβῳ,
ὀά,
115
Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος
τοῦδε μὴ πόλις πύθηται κέναν-
καὶ τὸ Κισσίων πόλισμ
ἀντίδουπον ἔσσεται,
120
ὀά,
τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος γυναικοπλη-
θὴς ὅμιλος ἀπύων, βυσσίνοις δ
ἐν πέπλοις πέσῃ λακίς.
πᾶς γὰρ ἱππηλάτας
125
καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεὼς
σμῆνος ὡς ἐκλέλοιπεν μελισ-
σᾶν σὺν ὀρχάμῳ στρατοῦ,
τὸν ἀμφίζευκτον ἐξαμείψας
ἀμφοτέρας ἅλιον
130
πρῶνα κοινὸν αἴας.
λέκτρα δ᾽ ἀνδρῶν πόθῳ
πίμπλαται δακρύμασιν·
Περσίδες δ᾽ ἀκροπενθεῖς, ἑκά-
στα πόθῳ φιλάνορι
135
τὸν αἰχμάεντα τοῦρον εἶνα-
τῆρα προπεμψαμένα
λείπεται μονόζυξ.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε, Πέρσαι,
τόδ᾽ ἐνεζόμενοι στέγος ἀρχαῖον
140
φροντίδα κεδνὴν καὶ βαθύβουλον
θώμεθα· χρεία δὲ προςήκει·
πῶς ἄρα πράσσει
Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς Δαρειογενής,
τὸ πατρωνύμιον γένος ἁμέτερον·
145
πότερον τόξου ῥῦμα τὸ νικῶν,
ἢ δορυκράνου
ὦ βαθυζώνων ἄνασσα Περσίδων ὑπερτάτη,
μῆτερ ἡ Ξέρξου γεραιά, χαῖρε, Δαρείου γύναι,
155
θεοῦ μὲν εἰνήτειρα Περσῶν, θεοῦ δὲ καὶ μήτηρ ἔφυς,
εἴ τι μὴ δαίμων παλαιὸς νῦν μεθέστηκε στρατῷ. 1
ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 65 focus
Πεπέρακεν πεπέρακε μὲν ὁ περσέπτολις ἤδη
65
Str. 1.
βασίλειος στρατὸς εἰς ἀντίπορον γεί-
τονα χώραν, λινοδέσμῳ σχεδίᾳ πορθ-
μὸν ἀμείψας Ἀθαμαντίδος Ἕλλας,
πολύγομφον ὅδισμα ζυγὸν ἀμ-
φιβαλὼν αὐχένι πόντου·
70
πολυάνδρου δ' Ἀσίας θούριος ἄρχων
Ant. 1.
ἐπὶ πᾶσαν χθόνα ποιμανόριον θεῖ-
ον ἐλαύνει διχόθεν, πεζονόμοις ἔκ
τε θαλάσσας ὀχυροῖσι ἐχυροῖσι πεποιθὼς
στυφελοῖς ἐφέταις, χρυσογόνου χρυσονόμου
75
γενεᾶς ἰσόθεος φώς·
κυάνεον δ' ὄμμασι λεύσσων
Str. 2.
φονίου φοινίου δέργμα δράκοντος,
πολύχειρ καὶ πολυ ναύτας,
Σύριόν θ' ἅρμα διώκων,
80
ἐπάγει δουρικλύτοις ἀν-
δράσι τοξόδαμνον Ἄρη·
φιλόφρων γὰρ παρασαίνει σαίνουσα τὸ πρῶτον παράγει
Ant. 3.
βροτὸν εἰς ἄρκυας Ἄτα ἀρκύστατα,
τόθεν οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπὲρ θνα-
95
τὸν ἀλύξαντα φυγεῖν.
θεόθεν γὰρ κατὰ Μοῖρ' ἐκράτησεν
Str. 4.
τὸ παλαιόν, ἐπέσκηψε δὲ Πέρσαις
πολέμους πυργοδαΐκτους διέπειν ἱπ-
πιοχάρμας τε κλόνους
100
πόλεών τ' δ' ἀναστάσεις·
ἔμαθον δ' εὐρυπόροιο θαλάσσας
Ant. 4.
πολιαινομένας πνεύματι λάβρῳ
ἐσορᾶν πόντιον ἄλσος, πίσυνοι λεπ-
τοδόμοις πείσμασι λα-
105
οπόροις τε μηχαναῖς.
Ταῦτά μου μοι μελαγχίτων
Str. 1.
φρὴν ἀμύσσεται φόβῳ,
« ὀᾶ Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος »,
τοῦδε μὴ πόλις πύθη-
110
καὶ τὸ Κισσίων πόλισμ'
Ant. 1.
ἀντίδουπον ἔσσεται ἔσεται,
« ὀᾶ », τοῦτ' ἔπος γυναικοπλη-
θὴς ὅμιλος ἀπύων,
115
βυσσίνοις δ' ἐν πέπλοις πέσῃ λακίς.
Πᾶς γὰρ ἱππηλάτας
Str. 2.
καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεώς
σμῆνος ὣς ἐκλέλοι-
πεν μελισσᾶν σὺν ὀρχάμῳ στρατοῦ,
120
τὸν ἀμφίζευκτον ἐξαμείψας
ἀμφοτέρας ἅλιον
πρῶνα κοινὸν αἴας·
λέκτρα δ' ἀνδρῶν πόθῳ
Ant. 2.
πίμπλαται δακρύμασιν·
125
Περσίδες δ' ἁβροπενθεῖς ἀκροπενθεῖς
ἑκάστα πόθῳ φιλάνορι
τὸν αἰχμήεντα θοῦρον εὐνα-
τῆρα προπεμψαμένα ἀποπεμψαμένα
λείπεται μονόζυξ.
130
Ἀλλ' ἄγε, Πέρσαι, τόδ' ἐνεζόμενοι
στέγος ἀρχαῖον, φροντίδα κεδνὴν
καὶ βαθύβουλον
θώμεθα — χρεία δὲ προσήκει —
πῶς ἄρα πράσσει Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς
135
Δαρειογενής, τὸ πατρωνύμιον
γένος ἡμέτερον ἁμέτερον· πότερον τόξου
ῥῦμα τὸ νικῶν, ἢ δορυκράνου δορικράνου
λόγχης ἰσχὺς κεκράτηκεν.
Ὦ βαθυζώνων ἄνασσα Περσίδων ὑπερτάτη,
155
μῆτερ ἡ Ξέρξου γεραιά, χαῖρε, Δαρείου γύναι·
θεοῦ μὲν εὐνήτειρα Περσῶν, θεοῦ δὲ καὶ μήτηρ ἔφυς,
εἴ τι μὴ δαίμων παλαιὸς νῦν μεθέστηκε στρατῷ.
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 65 focus
πεπέρακεν μὲν ὁ περσέπτολις ἤδη
βασίλειος στρατὸς εἰς ἀν-
τίπορον γείτονα χώραν,
λινοδέσμῳ σχεδίᾳ πορ-
θμὸν ἀμείψας
70
Ἀθαμαντίδος Ἕλλας,
πολύγομφον ὅδισμα
ζυγὸν ἀμφιβαλὼν αὐχένι πόντου.
πολυάνδρου δ᾽ Ἀσίας θούριος ἄρχων
ἐπὶ πᾶσαν χθόνα ποιμα-
75
νύριον θεῖον ἐλαύνει
διχόθεν, πεζονόμοις ἔκ
τε θαλάσσης
ἐχυροῖσι πεποιθὼς
στυφέλοις ἐφέταις, χρυ-
80
σογόνου γενεᾶς ἰσόθεος φώς.
κυάνεον δ᾽ ὄμμασι λεύσσων
φονίου δέργμα δράκοντος,
πολύχειρ καὶ πολυναύτης,
Σύριόν θ᾽ ἅρμα διώκων,
85
ἐπάγει δουρικλύτοις ἀν-
δράσι τοξόδαμνον Ἄρη.
δόκιμος δ᾽ οὔτις ὑποστὰς
μεγάλῳ ῥεύματι φωτῶν
ἐχυροῖς ἕρκεσιν εἴργειν
90
ἄμαχον κῦμα θαλάσσης·
ἀπρόσοιστος γὰρ ὁ Περσῶν
στρατὸς ἀλκίφρων τε λαός.
δολόμητιν δ᾽ ἀπάταν θεοῦ
τίς ἀνὴρ θνατὸς ἀλύξει;
95
τίς ὁ κραιπνῷ ποδὶ πηδή-
ματος εὐπετέος ἀνάσσων;
φιλόφρων γὰρ σαίνου-
σα τὸ πρῶτον παράγει
βροτὸν εἰς ἄρκυας ἄτας,
100
τόθεν οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπὲρ θνα-
τὸν ἀλύξαντα φυγείν.
θεόθεν γὰρ κατὰ μοῖρ᾽
ἐκράτησεν τὸ παλαι-
όν, ἐπέσκηψε δὲ Πέρσαις
105
πολέμους πυργοδαΐκτους
διέπειν ἱππιοχάρμας
τε κλόνους
πόλεών τ᾿ ἀναστάσεις.
ἔμαθον δ᾽ εὐρυπόροι-
110
ο θαλάσσης πολιαι-
νομένης πνεύματι λάβρῳ
ἐσορᾶν πόντιον ἄλσος,
πίσυνοι λεπτοδόμοις πεί-
σμασι λα-
115
οπόροις τε μηχαναῖς.
Ταῦτά μου μελαγχίτων
φρὴν ἀμύσσεται φόβῳ,
δᾶ
Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος
120
τοῦδε μὴ πόλις πύθη-
ται κένανδρον μέγ᾽ ἄστυ Σουσίδος,
καὶ τὸ Κισσίων πόλισμ᾽
ἀντίδουπον ᾄσεται,
δᾶ,
125
τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος γυναικοπλη-
θὴς ὅμιλος ἀπύων,
βυσσίνοις δ᾽ ἐν πέπλοις πέσῃ λακίς.
Πᾶς γὰρ ἱππηλάτης
καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεὼς
130
σμήνος ὡς ἐκλέλοι-
πεν μέλισσαι σὺν ὀρχάμῳ στρατοῦ,
λέκτρα δ᾽ ἀνδρῶν πόθῳ
πίμπλαται δακρύμασιν·
Περσίδες δ᾽ ἀκροπεν-
θεῖς ἑκάστα πόθῳ φιλάνορι
τὸν αἰχμήεντα θοῦρον εὐνα-
140
τῆρ᾽ ἀποπεμψαμένη
λείπεται μονόζυξ.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε, Πέρσαι, τόδ᾽ ἐνεζόμενοι
στέγος ἀρχαῖον,
φροντίδα κεδνὴν καὶ βαθύβουλον
145
θώμεθα, χρεία δὲ προσήκει,
πῶς ἄρα πράσσει Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς
Δαρειογενής, τὸ πατρωνύμιον
γένος ἡμέτερον
πότερον τόξου ῥῦμα τὸ νικῶν,
150
ὦ βαθυζώνων ἄνασσα Περσίδων ὑπερτάτη,
μῆτερ ἡ Ξέρξου γεραία, χαῖρε, Δαρείου γύναι·
θεοῦ μὲν εὐνήτειρα Περσῶν, θεοῦ δὲ καὶ μήτηρ ἔφυς,
160
εἴ τι μὴ δαίμων παλαιὸς νῦν μεθέστηκε στρατῷ.
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 65 focus
πεπέρακεν μὲν ὁ περσέπτολις ἤδη
65
βασίλειος στρατὸς εἰς ἀν-
᾿Ασίας θούριος ἄρχων
ἐπὶ πᾶσαν χθόνα ποιμα-
νόριον θεῖον ἐλαύνει,
75
διχόθεν πεζονόμοις ἔκ τε θαλάσσης
ἐχυροῖσι πεποιθὼς
στυφέλοις ἐφέταις, χρυ-
σογόνου γενεῖς ἰσόθεος φώς.
κυάνεον δ᾽ ὄμμασι λεύσσων
80
φονίου δέργμα δράκοντος
πολύχειρ καὶ πολυναύτης
Σύριόν θ᾽ ἅρμα διώκων
ἐπάγει δουρικλύτοις ἀν-
δράσι τοξόδαμνον ῎Αρη. –
85
δόκιμος δ᾽ οὔτις ὑποστὰς
μεγάλωι ῥεύματι φωτῶν
ἐχυροῖς ἕρκεσιν εἴργειν
ἄμαχον κύμα θαλάσσης·
ἀπρόσοιστος γὰρ ὁ Περσῶν
90
στρατὸς ἀλκίφρων τε λαός. –
ἔμαθον δ᾽ εὐρυπόροι-
ο θαλάσσας πολιαι-
νομένας πνεύματι λάβρωι
110
ἐσορᾶν πόντιον ἄλσος,
πίσυνοι λεπτοδόμοις πεί-
σμασι λαοπόροις τε μηχαναῖς.
δολόμητιν δ᾽ ἀπάταν θεοῦ
τίς ἀνὴρ θνατὸς ἀλύξει;
τίς ὁ κραιπνῶι ποδὶ πηδή-
95
ματος εὐπετέος ἀνάισσων;
φιλόφρων γὰρ (παρα)σαίνου-
σα τὸ πρῶτον παράγει
βροτὸν εἰς ἄρκυας ἄτα,
τόθεν οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπέκ θνα-
100
τὸν ἀλύξαντα φυγεῖν. –
ταῦτά μοι μελαγχίτων
φρὴν ἀμύσσεται φόβωι,
115
Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος
τοῦδε μὴ πόλις πύθη-
καὶ τὸ Κισσίων πόλισμ᾽
ἀντίδουπον ἄισεται
120
τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος, γυναικοπλη-
θὴς ὅμιλος ἀπύων·
βυσσίνοις δ᾽ ἐν πέπλοις πέσηι λακίς. =
πᾶς γὰρ ἱππηλάτας
καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεὼς
125
σμῆνος ὡς ἐκλέλοιπεν μελισ-
σᾶν σὺν ὀρχάμωι στρατοῦ,
τὸν ἀμφίζευκτον ἐξαμείψας
ἀμφοτέρας ἅλιον
πρῶνα κοινὸν αἴας. –
130
λέκτρα δ᾽ ἀνδρῶν πόθωι
πίμπλαται δακρύμασιν·
Περσίδες δ᾽ ἁβροπενθεῖς ἑκά-
στα πόθωι φιλάνορι
τὸν αἰχμήεντα θοῦρον εὐνα-
135
τῆρα προπεμψαμένα
λείπεται μονόζυξ. –
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε Πέρσαι, τόδ᾽ ἐνεζόμενοι
ὦ βαθυζώνων ἄνασσα Περσίδων ὑπερτάτη,
μῆτερ ἡ Ξέρξου γεραιά χαῖρε, Δαρείου γύναι·
θεοῦ μὲν εὐνάτειρα Περσών, θεοῦ δὲ καὶ μήτηρ ἔφυς,
εἴ τι μὴ δαίμων παλαιὸς νῦν μεθέστηκε στρατῶι.
155
Translations (9)
Persians Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 65-155 focus
The Persians. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 65 focus
The royal armament that makes havoc of cities, hath some time since passed over to the adjoining opposite region, having crossed the frith of Helle daughter of Athamas 1
, on a cable-fastened raft, after flinging a many-rivetted causeway by way of yoke over the neck of Ocean.
And against every land does the impetuous lord of many-peopled Asia urge forward his godlike armament in two divisions, of infantry, and of forces drawn from the sea, trusting in his strong sturdy commanders, a man equal to the gods of the race that sprung from gold 2
.
And flashing from his eyes the dark-blue glare of the deadly serpent, appointed with many a warrior and many a mariner, and urging on his Syrian 3
car, he is leading on a war victorious with the bow against men who are famous for the spear 4
.
And no one is of such approved prowess as that, having made stand against a mighty torrent of men, he can repulse, by mighty bulwarks, the irresistible billow of the sea. For terrible to approach is the army of Persians, and valiant of soul the host.
But what mortal man shall elude the treacherous deceit of the deity? Who is he that with an agile foot, of easy spring 5
, can bound over it?
For fawning on him at first with kindly disposition it lures a man on within the densest toils, whence it is not possible for mortal to struggle out and make his escape.
For destiny, fixed by heaven, prevailed in the olden time, and enjoined on the Persians to carry on wars that beat down towers, and the tumults of cavalry warfare, and demolitions of cities.
They learned, too, to look upon the ocean fields of the wide-winding sea when it whitens with the violent blast, putting confidence in their slightly-constructed tackling, and the machines in which hosts are wafted [across the deep].
By reason of these things my soul, wrapt in gloom, is torn by terror, alas! for this army of the Persians! lest the state should learn that the mighty city of the Susian district is drained of its warriors,
and the fortress of the Cissians; (the crowded assemblage of women uttering 1
this word, alas! will re-echo the strain,) and rending shall fall upon the finely-woven vestments.
For all the host that drive the steed, and that tramp along the plain, hath gone off like a swarm of bees, along with the leader of the army, having crossed the ocean promontory common to both continents 2
, united to either side.
And through regret for their lords, the couches are filled with tears: and the matrons of Persia in excessive grief, each one of them in tenderness for her lord, having sent off her fierce warrior consort, is left behind in solitude.
But come, Persians, let us seat ourselves beneath in this ancient dwelling, and take wary and well-pondered care,-for the necessity has arrived-how haply fares our king Xerxes, offspring of Darius, being of the same ancestral race with us 3
. Is it the drawing of the bow that prevails, or hath the might of the barbed spear got the mastery? But here comes forth a light like to the eyes of gods, the mother of our sovereign, and my queen, I do lowly homage. And fitting it is that we all address her with, words of salutation. Enter Atossa.
O queen, supreme of Persia's deep-waisted matrons, aged mother of Xerxes, hail to thee! spouse to Darius, consort of the Persians' god, and mother of a god thou art, unless in some respect our ancient fortune hath forsaken our host.
LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 65 focus
doute, elle a atteint déjà, la royale armée dévastatrice, le rivage adverse du continent voisin et, sur sa passerelle aux câbles de lin, franchi le détroit d'Hellé
l'Athamantide 1 , en jetant sa route
aux mille chevilles 2 comme un joug au cou de la mer.
L'impétueux monarque de l'Asie populeuse pousse à la conquête du monde son monstrueux troupeau humain par
deux routes à la fois : pour guider son armée
et sa flotte, il se fie à ses solides et rudes chefs, le fils de la pluie d'or 3 ,
mortel égal aux dieux.
Un peu mieux marqué.
En ses yeux luit le regard bleu sombre du dragon sanglant. Il meut mille bras
et mille vaisseaux, et, pressant son attelage
assyrien 4 , il conduit à l'attaque des héros qu'illustra la lance l'Arès à l'arc triomphant.
Oui, mais au piège qu'a tendu le dessein perfide d'un
dieu quel mortel pourrait échapper ? Qui sait alors, d'un pied agile, prendre son élan pour un bond heureux 5 ?
Caressante et douce,
Até égare l'homme en ses panneaux, et nul mortel ne peut ensuite s'en évader d'un saut et fuir.
En élargissant.
Le destin que les dieux ont de tout temps fait aux Perses
leur impose de poursuivre les guerres où croulent les remparts, les mêlées où
se vont heurtant les cavaliers, les renversements de cités.
Mais voici qu'ils ont appris, sur les larges routes des mers,
que blanchit le vent fougueux,
à contempler l'étendue sacrée des eaux, confiants dans de frêles édifices de cordes, dans des engins à transporter les hommes 6 !
Vif et mordant.

Voilà pourquoi mon âme en deuil est déchirée par l'angoisse. «
Oâh ! sur l'armée perse ! » est-ce là la nouvelle
la citadelle des Kissiens 7 ? « Oâh ! »
est-ce là ce qu'un jour criera une foule confuse de femmes, tandis que sur leurs robes de lin leurs mains s'abattront pour les mettre en lambeaux ?
Un peu élargi.
Hélas ! tout un peuple de cavaliers, de fantassins s'en est allé, pareil à un essaim d'abeilles, derrière son conducteur
d'armée. Il a franchi les caps marins aujourd'hui réunis et communs aux deux continents.
Et le regret des hommes emplit les lits de larmes. Chaque
femme perse, en son deuil languissant, a donné l'escorte d'un regret amoureux à son belliqueux et bouillant époux et demeure seule du couple d'antan.
Mélodrame.
Souveraine maîtresse des femmes de la Perse aux ceintures profondes, ô vieille mère de Xerxès, femme de Darios, salut ! Tu partageas le lit d'un dieu des Perses, et tu auras été mère d'un dieu aussi — si du moins son antique fortune n'a pas aujourd'hui déserté notre peuple.
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 65 focus
the light lance
The Myſians ſhake. A mingled multitude
60
Swept from her wide dominions, ſkill'd to draw
Th' unerring bow, in ſhips Euphrates ſends
From golden Babylon.
With falchions arm'd
From all th' extent of Aſia move the hoſts
65
Obedient to their monarch's ſtern command.
Thus march'd the flow'r of Perſia, whoſe lov'd
youth
The world of Aſia nouriſh'd, and with ſighs
Laments their abſence;
70
many' an anxious look
Their wives, their parents ſend, count the slow
days,
And tremble at the long-protracted time.
Fierce as the dragon ſcal'd in gold
Thro' the deep files he darts his glowing eye;
90
And pleas'd their order to behold,
His gorgeous ſtandard blazing to the ſky,
Rolls onward his Aſſyrian car,
Directs the thunder of the war,
Bids the wing'd arrows' iron ſtorm advance,
95
Againſt the ſlow and cumbrous lance.
What ſhall withſtand the torrent of his ſway,
When dreadful o'er the yielding ſhores
Th' impetuous tide of battle roars,
And ſweeps the weak-oppoſing mounds away?
100
So Perſia with reſiſtleſs might
Rolls her unnumber'd hoſts of heroes to the fight.
For when misfortune's fraudful hand
Prepares to pour the vengeance of the ſky,
What mortal ſhall her force withſtand,
105
What rapid ſpeed th' impending fury fly?
Gentle at firſt with flatt'ring ſmiles
She ſpreads her ſoft enchanting wiles,
So to her toils allures her deſtin'd prey,
Whence man ne'er breaks unhurt away.
110
For thus from ancient times the Fates ordain,
That Perſia's ſons ſhou'd greatly dare,
Unequal'd in the works of war;
Shake with their thund'ring ſteeds th' enſanguin'd
plain,
115
Dreadful the hoſtile walls ſurround,
And lay their rampir'd tow'rs in ruins on the
ground.
Taught to behold with fearleſs eyes
The whitening billows foam beneath the gale,
120
They bid the naval foreſts riſe,
Mount the ſlight bark, unfurl the flying ſail,
And o'er the angry ocean bear
To diſtant realms the ſtorm of war.
For this with many' a ſad and gloomy thought
125
My tortur'd breaſt is fraught:
Ah me! for Perſia's abſent ſons I ſigh;
For whilſt in foreign fields they fight,
Our towns expos'd to wild affright
An eaſy prey to the invader lie:
130
Where, mighty Suſa, where thy pow'rs,
To wield the warrior's arms, and guard thy regal
tow'rs?
For all her youth in martial pride,
140
Like bees that, cluſt'ring round their king,
Their dark-embodied ſquadrons bring,
Attend their ſcepter'd monarch's ſide,
And ſtreich acroſs the watry way
From ſhore to ſhore their long array.
145
The Perſian dames with many' a tender fear
In grief's ſad vigils keep the midnight hour;
Shed on the widow'd couch the ſtreaining tear,
And the long abſence of their loves deplore.
Each lonely matron feels her penſive breaſt
150
Throb with defire, with aching fondneſs glow,
Since in bright arms her daring warrior dreſt
Left her to languiſh in her love-lorn woe.
Now ye grave Perſians, that your honour'd ſeats
Hold in this ancient houſe, with prudent care
155
And deep deliberation, ſo the ſtate
Requires, conſult we, pond'ring the event
Of this great war, which our imperial lord,
The mighty Xerxes from Darius ſprung,
The ſtream of whoſe rich blood flows in our veins,
160
Leads againſt Greece;
whether his arrowy ſhow'r
Shot from the ſtrong-braced bow, or the huge ſpear
High brandiſh'd, in the deathful field prevails.
But ſee, the monarch's mother: like the Gods
165
Her luſtre blazes on our eyes: My queen,
Proſtrate I fall before her b
: All advance
With reverence, and in duteous phraſe addreſs her.
Hail queen, of Perſia's high-zoned dames ſu-
preme,
170
Age-honour'd mother of the potent Xerxes,
Imperial confort of Darius, hail!
The wife, the mother of the Perſians' God,
If yet our former glories fade not from us.
Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 65 focus
A sterminio di città mosse l'esercito
del Gran Re, la terra invase che finitima
surge contro il suolo d'Asia:
75
su compagini di tronchi, su compagini di canapi,
superò d'Elle Atamàntide il tragitto,
poi che un giogo, un ponte tutto irto di cunei
del mar sopra la cervice ebbe confitto.
Il Signore dei frequenti asíaci popoli
80
furioso, da due bande spinse d'uomini
una greggia innumerevole
su la terra dei nemici, qua pedoni, là dal pelago.
Fieri i duci saldi, affidano alla prova
questo principe che, ai Numi pari, è germine
85
della stirpe che nascea dall'aurea piova.
Saettando egli dall'occhio,
quasi drago sanguinario, azzurro sguardo,
con gran flotta, con molti uomini,
sospingendo assirio cocchio,
90
contro genti valorose a trattar cuspidi e lancie
guida un'oste esperta al dardo.
Niun v'ha tanto valoroso
che, opponendosi di tanti uomini al flutto,
frenar possa con saldi argini
95
l'invincibile maroso.
Niun potrebbe troppo è valido l'esercito
persïano, e il popol tutto.
Ma chi mai, nato mortale, dall'insidia
frodolenta dei Celesti
100
può sfuggire? Con salto agile
trarre in salvo piedi presti?
Con benevola parvenza Ate gli efimeri
ne le reti attira e adesca.
Né veruno evvi fra gli uomini
105
che a fuggir quindi riesca.
Però, cinto di gramaglia,
il mio cuore si travaglia:
ahimè!
120
Temo ognor pel nostro esercito,
e che a Susa tal notizia
non arrivi
che dei suoi figli la privi.
E dei Cissi la città
125
al suo grido eco farà:
ahimè!
Leveranno un pianto simile
le caterve delle femmine;
ed il bisso
130
d'ogni manto cadrà scisso.
Però che tutti mossero,
cavalieri e pedestri moltitudini,
simili a sciame d'api,
col signor delle schiere; e valicarono
135
lo stretto pei due capi
che l'una e l'altra terra
fanno comuni, e un giogo ora li serra.
Umidi son di lagrime
pel desiderio degli sposi i talami.
140
Aspro affanno travaglia
le spose persïane.
Esse già videro
muovere alla battaglia
lo sposo prediletto
145
tutto furore: ed or vedovo è il letto.
1
Or su via, Persïani, che in questo
risediamo vetusto palagio,
con profondo sincero consiglio
si ricerchi ché incalzan gli eventi
150
in che sorti si trovi il re Serse
figliuolo di Dario,
la cui stirpe al mio popol die' nome:
se vinceva la furia dei dardi
o la forza di ferrëe cuspidi.
155
O suprema tu fra quante son le belle donne perse,
salve a te, sposa di Dario, salve a te, madre di Serse.
Sposa al Dio dei Persïani, tu sei madre anche d'un Nume,
se per noi l'antico Dèmone non mutava il suo costume.
Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 65 focus
Pertranſiuit iam urbium euerfor
Regius exercitus in contraria
Vicinam regionem, funibus uinta,
Rate fretum traijciens
65
Athamatidis Helles, multis clauis adaptatum ſuſtenaculum
Iugum inijciens ceruice ponti.
Multos uiros habens Afie bellicofus princeps
In regionem agit gregem regiam
Bipartito, pedibus mari.
70
Duris confifus afperis iaculatoribus,
Diuitæ generatione uir deo æqualis.
Fufcum uerò oculis uidens,
Cruenti afpectum Draconis.
Multas habens naues, manus,
75
Et Aßyrium currum impellens,
Adducit hafta inclytis uiris,
Arcu domantem Martem: infignis nullus reſiſtens
Magno fluento uirorum munimento firmo,
Vt arceat inexpugnabilem fluctum maris.
80
Inacceffus enim est Perſarum
Exercitus, fortis populus.
Didicerunt uerò Latiuadi maris
Cani uento magno
Videre pontinum lucum, confift
85
Subtilibus perfuafionibus, machinationibus po
pulo prebitis.
Propter has mihi mens mæſta pungitur
Timore, heu Perficum exercitum:
Huius ne urbs intelligat
90
Vacuam effe uiris urbem magnam ſubſidis.
Et Cißinum oppidum obstrepens erit.
Heu caterua plena mulierum uociferantium,
In byßinos peplos cadet ruptura.
Omnis enim equestris pedestris populus
95
Reliquit urbem, tanquam examen
Apum cum duce exercitus,
Fretum traijciens
Vtriufq; marinum prominens commune
Terre:lecti uerò uirorum amore
100
Implentur lachrymis.
Perſides uerò admodum flentes,
Vnaquæq; ad bellum uiri amore
Impetuofum, maritum dimittens,
Triſtatur fold.
105
Sed agite Perfe, fedentes in hac antiqua fede,
Curam probam & profundum confilium
Ponamus:nam conuenit hoc negotium.
Quomodo fanè agit Xerxes rex
Dariogena, patrinominis est genus noſtrum
110
Vtrum arcus impetus uicerit,
Aut hastatæ lancee robur fuperauerit,
Sed dijs æquale oculis noftris
Lumen proficifcitur mater regis,
Regina mea, procido,
115
Et opus est claris ipſam
Omnes uerbis falutare.
O late cinctarum regina Perſidum altißima,
Mater Xerxis ſenex, falue Darij uxor,
Dei quidem coniux Perſarum, Dei mater fuisti,
120
Vtinam fortuna antiqua nõ eſſet nuc exercitus particeps.
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 65 focus
DARIUS
What son of mine an armament hath thither led? Inform me.
ATOSSA
Impetuous Xerxes, all the life of wide-spread Asia draining.
DARIUS
By land or sea, unhappy man, made he this mad endeavour?
ATOSSA
By both in sooth; a twofold front there was of twofold army.
DARIUS
But how could armament so vast on foot pass from the mainland?
ATOSSA
O'er Hellè's strait he artful threw a bridge, and so found passage.
DARIUS
Thus hath he wrought, and so hemm'd in the Bosphoros' strong current!
ATOSSA
So was it, yet some demon-power did haply aid his purpose.
720
DARIUS
Alas, some mighty demon came, and hath befool'd his judgment.
ATOSSA
True, for the issue clearly shows what evil he accomplished.
DARIUS
And what hath been the fate of those o'er whom ye groan, lamenting?
ATOSSA
The naval army, worsted, drew the land force to destruction.
DARIUS
So utterly by hostile spear hath the whole army perished?
ATOSSA
Ay, emptied of her warriors, moans all the town of Susa.
DARIUS
Woe for our levies vainly made, and many-nationed army!
ATOSSA
Perished hath Bactria's martial strength, and not her elders only.
DARIUS
O hapless son, of our allies the youth how hath he ruined?
ATOSSA
Alone, abandoned, so they say, Xerxes, with but few others—
730
DARIUS
How hath he met his end, and where? or is there hope of safety?
ATOSSA
Was fain to reach the bridge that links two continents together.
DARIUS
And hath he to this mainland come in safety? Is this certain?
ATOSSA
Ay, so prevaileth the report; in that is no dissension.
DARIUS
Alas! full speedily hath come the oracles' fulfilment,
Upon my son hath Zeus hurled down the end of the predictions;
I hoped it would be long indeed, ere Heaven these ills accomplished;
But when in haste man presses on, the god still keeps beside him.
A fount of ills for all my friends seems now to be discovered;
All this my son through ignorance hath wrought and youthful daring,
740
Who Hellè's sacred tide, forsooth, as it had been his vassal,
And Bosporos, the stream of god, did hope to curb with fetters;
The current fashioned he anew, and hammer-beaten shackles
Casting around, for mighty host achieved a mighty causeway.
Though mortal, all the gods he thought, infatuate, to master,
Ay, e'en Poseidon; was not this sheer frenesy of spirit
That held my son? In fear I am lest all the ample treasure
My toil amassed, become to men the spoil of the first comer.
ATOSSA
Converse with evil-minded men hath taught impetuous Xerxes
Such lessons; for thy spear, they say, won for thy sons vast riches,
750
While he, through cowardice of soul, his spear at home still wieldeth,
Thus adding nothing to the wealth bequeathed him by his father.
Hearing from evil-minded men full often these reproaches,
This expedition did he plan and armament to Hellas.
DARIUS
Therefore by him hath ruin been achieved
Portentous, aye to be remembered, such
As ne'er before on Susa's city fell
To drain it utterly, since Sovereign Zeus
Ordained this honour, that one potentate
O'er all sheep-pasturing Asia sway should bear,
760
The sceptre wielding of command; for first
A Median led the host; another then,
His son, succeeding, the emprize achieved,
For reason swayed the rudder of his mind.
Third after him, Cyrus, god-favoured man,
Reigned, and for all his friends established peace;
O'er Lydia's host and Phrygia spread his rule,
And all Ionia forcibly subdued,
For, such his wisdom, God was not his foe.
A son of Cyrus fourth the army ruled;
770
Fifth, Mardos governed, to his fatherland
An outrage, and to Persia's ancient throne;
And him, by stratagem, brave Artaphren,
In league with friendly chiefs whose work this was, *
Slew in his palace.—Next myself obtained
The lot I craved, and with a mighty host
Full many a warlike expedition led;
But ne'er on Susa brought I bale like this.
But Xerxes, young in years, is young of soul,
And my paternal charge remembers not.
For, be assured, ye my compeers in age,
780
Not all of us, of yore these powers who held,
Shall e'er be proven to have wrought such ills.
1
CHORUS
What then, O King Darius? What the goal
To which thine utterance tends? How in this strait
May we, thy Persians, fare hereafter best?
DARIUS
March ye no more against the Hellenes' land,
Not though the Median host outnumber theirs;
The soil itself to them is an ally.
CHORUS
How meanest thou? In what way their ally?
DARIUS
By famine slaying bloated armaments.
790
CHORUS
What if choice force we levy, well-equipped?
DARIUS
Not e'en the army which remains behind
In Hellas, will achieve a safe return.
CHORUS
How say'st thou? Doth not all the Asian host
Cross back from Europe over Hellè’s strait?
DARIUS
Of many few, if it behoveth one,
Beholding things accomplished, to have faith
In god-sent oracles; for ne'er of these
Do some fulfilment find while others fail.
If this be so, persuaded by vain hopes,
A large and chosen force he leaves behind.
800
These linger where Asopos floods the plain,
Kind source of fatness to Bœotia’s fields.
There them awaits to bear of ills the crown,
Just meed of insolence and godless thoughts.
For reaching Hellas, awe forbade them not
Statues of gods to spoil or shrines to fire.
Altars are swept away, and hallowed fanes,
Uprooted from their basement, ruined lie;
Hence, having evil wrought, evil themselves
Not less they suffer, and shall suffer more;
810
Not yet is reached the bottom of their woe,
But still it welleth up, a quenchless flood; *
Such gouts of bloody slaughter shall there lie
Upon Platæa's soil from Dorian spear—
Yea, and to children's children, heaps of slain
Voiceless, shall record bear to eyes of men,
That thoughts too lofty suit not mortal man;
For bursting into blossom, Insolence
Its harvest-ear, Delusion, ripeneth,
And reaps most tearful crop. Beholding then,
Such the requital of these impious deeds,
820
Remember Athens, Hellas,—and let none
Disdaining present fortune, lusting still
For other, squander great prosperity.
For Zeus, chastiser of o'erweening thoughts,
Is aye at hand, an auditor * severe.
Wherefore, with timely warning, counsel him,
Lacking in wisdom, that he henceforth cease
'Gainst Heaven to sin, with overweening pride.
But thou, O Xerxes' aged mother dear,
Enter thy home, and taking fit attire
830
Go meet thy son; for the embroidered robes,
Through grief of heart at these calamities,
Around his person all are torn to shreds;
Soothe him with kindly words, for well I wot,
Thy voice alone will he endure to hear.
But I to nether darkness now depart.
Farewell, ye elders; although ills surround,
Yet to your souls give joyance, day by day,
For to the dead no profit is in wealth.
2 3
CHORUS
Hearing of Persia's sorrows manifold,
840
Present and yet to come, sorely I grieved.
ATOSSA
O Fate unblest! How many grievous ills
Upon me fall, yet most this sorrow stings,
That of my son's dishonour I must hear,
His royal limbs in tatter'd garb arrayed.
But I will go, and taking from my home
Costly attire, meet, if I may, my son.
For ne'er will we our dearest fail in woe.
CHORUS
XERXES
5
Ah, wretched me, whom Fate
With most unlook’d-for blow
Hath smitten! With what hate
A God on Persia's race
Hath trampled! What dire woe
Is mine! Unhappy wight!
Loosed is my strength of thew,
These elders meeting face to face.
Would that, O Zeus, me too,
With the brave men laid low,
900
Death's doom had veiled in night.
CHORUS
Woe, king, for our brave army! Woe
For honours vast of Persia's reign,
Her warriors of renown,
Whom Fate hath now mown down!
Earth mourns her martial bloom,
Growth of her soil, by Xerxes slain,
Who crowds with Persians Hades' gloom.
†Full many chiefs, our country's flower,
Lords of the conquering bow,
Now tread the paths of doom,
910
For multitudinous the power
Of men by death laid low.
Woe for our trusty forces! woe!
For Asia's land, upon her knee,
In direful fall, O king! sinks direfully.
XERXES
1st CHORUS
And I, thy home-return to hail,
An evil-omened dirge will trill,
A voice well versed in pain;
Like Mariandyne mourner's strain,
920
A doleful, tear-fraught wail.
XERXES
2nd CHORUS
With groans I too will pay
Due honour to our city's bale
Our sea-inflicted woes;
Yea, like the anguished throes
Of child-reft sire, shall sound my tear-fraught wail.
XERXES
CHORUS
Cry woe! search out the worst; woe, woe!
Where now the friendly band
Wont at thy side to stand?
Such was Pharandaces,
Susas, Pelagon, Psammis, Dotamas,
Such Agdabates, such Susiscanes,
Agbatana who left. Oh say
Where now be they?
940
XERXES
CHORUS
Where thy Pharnuchos? Woe, on woe!
Brave Ariomard and he,
Warrior of high degree,
Lilaios and the king
Seualces; Memphis where and Tharybis,
Where are Masistras, and brave Artembar,
950
Ay, and Hystæchmas? Say, oh say,
Where now be they?
XERXES
CHORUS
Him, thine all-trusty eye,
The hosts of Persia who told o'er
960
By ten times fifty score,
Alphistos, Batanochos' heir,
Sesames' son, who owed his birth
To Megabates, him didst leave,
Parthos and great Œbares there
Didst leave to die?
Unhappy men! ah me!
Persians of highest worth!
For them dire ills on ills I hear from thee,
And sighs of anguish heave.
XERXES
CHORUS
We for another mourn,
Of Mardia's myriad host the head,
Xanthos;—Anchares, Arian-born,
Diæxis and Arsaces, who
Afield our mounted forces led,
Kigdagatas and Lythimnas,
War-craving Tolmos—these, alas,
These mourn we too.
980
Sorrow astounds, ah me,
Sorrow astounds my mind
These chiefs on tented cars no more to see
Thy royal pomp behind.
XERXES
CHORUS
Lost amid the nameless dead.
XERXES
Woe! Woe! Alas! Woe! Woe!
CHORUS
Woe! Woe! in sooth, for lo!
Ill so unlooked-for and pre-eminent
As Atè ne'er beheld, the gods have sent.
XERXES
CHORUS
Stricken, in sooth, too plain our woe.
XERXES
Fresh griefs, fresh griefs, ah me!
CHORUS
Meeting Ionian seamen, we
Have now, alas, encountered dire disgrace;
Unfortunate in war is Persia's race.
XERXES
CHORUS
Perished hath Persia's high estate.
XERXES
Dost see this remnant of my warlike gear?
CHORUS
Yea, I behold.
1000
XERXES
This also—arrows that should hold?
CHORUS
What sayest saved hath been?
XERXES
Casket for missiles keen.
CHORUS
Small rest of ample store.
XERXES
None left to aid us more.
CHORUS
Ionia's people flee not from the spear.
XERXES
CHORUS
Wilt tell of flight and naval overthrow?
XERXES
At this sad chance my robes I rent.
CHORUS
Ah me! Ah me!
1010
XERXES
Worse than ah me! ay, worse!
CHORUS
Double, ay, threefold curse.
XERXES
Joyful to foes, to us despair.
CHORUS
Maimed prowess we lament.
XERXES
Naked of escort I, and bare.
CHORUS
Through the disasters of thy friends at sea.
XERXES
CHORUS
Alas! Alas! Woe! Woe!
XERXES
Responsive cries intone.
CHORUS
An ill bequest of ill to ill.
1020
XERXES
Wail forth thy cadence shrill.
CHORUS
Woe! Woe! Alas! Woe! Woe!
XERXES
Heavy, in sooth, the blow.
CHORUS
Which sorely I bemoan.
XERXES
CHORUS
Woe-fraught, I weep amain.
XERXES
Wail with responsive groan.
CHORUS
This care, my liege, I own.
XERXES
Swell loud the doleful strain.
CHORUS
Woe! Woe! Alas! Woe! Woe!
1030
XERXES
Mingled with many a blow!
CHORUS
Yea, black, and fraught with sighs.
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.) — 65 focus
Ere now they have passed o'er the sea, the manifold host of the king—
They have gone forth to sack and to burn; ashore on the Westland they spring!
With cordage and rope they have bridged the sea-way of Helle, to pass
O'er the strait that is named by thy name, O daughter of Athamas!
80
They have anchored their ships in the current, they have bridled the neck of the sea—
The Shepherd and Lord of the East hath bidden a roadway to be!
From the land to the land they pass over, a herd at the high king's hest;
Some by the way of the waves, and some o'er the planking have pressed.
For the king is a lord and a god: he was born of the golden seed
85
That erst upon Danae fell—his captains are strong at the need!
And dark is the glare of his eyes, as eyes of a serpent blood-fed,
And with manifold troops in his train and with manifold ships hath he sped—
Yea, sped with his Syrian cars: he leads on the lords of the bow
To meet with the men of the West, the spear-armed force of the foe!
90
Can any make head and resist him, when he comes with the roll of a wave?
No barrier nor phalanx of might, no chief, be he ever so brave!
For stern is the onset of Persia, and gallant her children in fight.
But the guile of the god is deceitful, and who shall elude him by flight?
And who is the lord of the leap, that can spring and alight and evade?
95
For Até deludes and allures, till round him the meshes are laid,
And no man his doom can escape! it was writ in the rule of high Heaven,
That in tramp of the steeds and in crash of the charge the war-cry of Persia be given:
They have learned to behold the forbidden, the sacred enclosure of sea,
Where the waters are wide and in stress of the wind the billows roll hoary to lee!
100
And their trust is in cable and cordage, too weak in the power of the blast,
And frail are the links of the bridge whereby unto Hellas they passed.
Therefore my gloom-wrapped heart is rent with sorrow
For what may hap to-morrow!
Alack, for all the Persian armament—
105
Alack, lest there be sent
Dread news of desolation, Susa's land
Bereft, forlorn, unmanned—
Lest the grey Kissian fortress echo back
The wail, Alack, Alack!
110
The sound of women's shriek, who wail and mourn,
With fine-spun raiment torn!
The charioteers went forth nor come again,
And all the marching men
Even as a swarm of bees have flown afar,
115
Drawn by the king to war—
Crossing the sea-bridge, linked from side to side,
That doth the waves divide:
And the soft bridal couch of bygone years
Is now bedewed with tears,
120
Each princess, clad in garments delicate,
Wails for her widowed fate—
Alas my gallant bridegroom, lost and gone,
And I am left alone!
But now, ye warders of the state,
125
Here, in this hall of old renown,
Behoves that we deliberate
In counsel deep and wise debate,
For need is surely shown!
How fareth he, Darius' child,
130
The Persian king, from Perseus styled?
Comes triumph to the eastern bow,
Or hath the lance-point conquered now?
[ Enter Atossa.
See, yonder comes the mother-queen,
Light of our eyes, in godlike sheen,
135
The royal mother of the king!—
Fall we before her! well it were
That, all as one, we sue to her,
And round her footsteps cling!
Queen, among deep-girded Persian dames thou highest and most royal,
140
Hoary mother, thou, of Xerxes, and Darius' wife of old!
To godlike sire, and godlike son, we bow us and are loyal—
Unless, on us, an adverse tide of destiny has rolled!
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.) — 65 focus
In die jenseitigen nachbarlichen Gau'n brachen die burg-
ftürmenden Heerschaaren des Großkönigs hindurch schon
In dem wohlfugenden Boot über den Sund der
Athamantischen Helle:
70
Um den Nacken der See
Schlang sich das Joch, schlang sich der dichtbalkige Heerpfad.
Erste Gegenstrophe.
Der im volkreichen Gefild' Asia's stolzthronende Fürst,
Weit in das Land treibt er die wildstürmende Heerde:
Er gebeut Streitern zu Fuß, Kämpfern des Meeres,
75
Von gewaltigen Feldherrn,
Von verwegnen geschirmt,
Goldenen Thau's himmlischer Sohn, ähnlich den Göttern.
Zweite Strophe.
Wie der morddürstende Felsdrache mit blaufunkelndem Glutblick,
So mit viel Armen und viel Schiffen beschwingt jener den Mordpfeil
80
Von dem Streitwagen Assyriens
In die speerberühmten Festen.
Zweite Gegenstrophe.
Es vermag Keiner zu steh'n wider den stolzflutenden Heerstrom,
Und ein Bollwerk vor die unzwingbare Meerwoge zu thürmen.
Denn unnahbar in der Schlacht steht,
85
Ungebeugt das Volk der Perser.
Nachgesang.
Doch der trugspinnenden Gottheit, wo entrinnt ihr ein Geborener,
Und entspringt ihr mit behendfliehendem Fuße leichten Schwunges?
Denn so huldreich sie zuerst auch ihm geliebkost, 1
Sie verlockt in die Schlingen des Fanggarns,
90
Und es mag Keiner daraus, den es umstrickt, wieder entflieh'n.
Dritte Strophe.
Das Geschick waltete schon in der Urzeit,
Von den Göttern verhängt, zwang es die Perser,
An der burgstürmenden Feldschlacht,
An dem roßtummelnden Kriegstanz
95
Sich zu weiden, an stolzer Festen Fall.
Dritte Gegenstrophe.
Und das Volk lernte die weiten Gefilde,
Von des wilden Orkans Schauern erschäumend,
Und der See wogenden Hain schau'n,
Dem Geflecht schwankender Taue
100
Und der völkergeleitenden Brücke trau'n.
Vierte Strophe.
Drum zerreißt mir bange Furcht
Meine nachtumhüllte Brust,
(O Gram!)
Furcht, das Volk vernehme bald,
Daß, beraubt des Perserheers, männerleer
105
Stehe Susa's große Stadt.
Vierte Gegenstrophe.
Und die Mauer Kissia's,
Fürcht' ich, hallt die Klage nach;
( Gram!)
Jammernd zieht der Weheruf
Durch der Frauen dichte Reih'n; wild entzwei
110
Reißt der Schmerz das Byssoskleid,
Fünfte Strophe.
Alles Volk, kampfbereit,
Stürmte hin zu Fuß und Roß;
Einem Schwarm Bienen gleich, zog es aus,
Seinem Heergebieter nach,
115
Und schritt kühn über jenes Joch hin,
Das die Gestade vereint
Beider Länderveſten.
Fünfte Gegenstrophe.
Doch daheim nezt der Frau'n
Lager sehnsuchtheißer Schmerz;
120
Persis' Frau'n, gramgebeugt, jede weint
Bang dem Heißgeliebten nach,
Dem muthvoll ungestümen Streiter,
Den sie gesandt in den Kampf,
Härmt sich ab vereinsamt.
125
Nun, Perser, wohlan! Hier sehen wir uns
An den alten Palast,
Und pflegen mit Ernst tiefsinnigen Rath;
Denn drängend gebeut es die Noth uns.
Wie mag es um ihn,
130
Um Xerxes steh'n, des Dareios Sohn,
Durch Perseus unserem Stamme verwandt?
Ob über den Feind das geschnellte Geschoß,
Ob die Lanze den Sieg
Mit der eisernen Stirn sich erkämpfte?
135
(Aus der Pforte des königlichen Palastes wird Atossa im höchsten Schmucke der Königin auf goldenem Throne herausgetragen; großes Gefolge.)
Tiefgeschürzter Perserfrauen hocherhabne Königin,
Du, des Xerxes greise Mutter, Heil dir, Heil, Dareios' Weib!
Gattin einem Gott der Perser, eines Gottes Mutter auch,
Wenn des Glückes alte Gottheit unser Heer jetzt nicht verließ!

Commentary

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

65. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-54

τρομέονται:
τρομαίονται
G. et ante sec. manus correctionem Vit.
τρομέοντα
Lips.

66. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-55

πεπέρακεν μὲν ὁ:
πεπέρασε μὲν ὁ
codd. Ald. Rob.
πεπέρακεν ὁ
Turn. Correxit Porsonus.

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

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

71. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-57

Ἕλλας:
Ἕλλας
M. Vit. Ven. A. B. Par. A. B.
Ἕλλης
G. Lips. edd. ante Brunckium.

72. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-58

ὅδισμα:
ὅδησμα
Lips. γρ.
ἔρεισμα
margo Lips. γρ.
ἔρεισμα τὴν ναῦν
adscriptum ad
ὅδισμα
in M.
ἔρεισμα
Rob.
ὅδισμα
vocabulo explicationes
πορείαν. ἔρεισμα. ὁδόν
supra adscriptae in G.

74. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-59

Ἀσίας:
ἀσίης
ante correctionem G.

76. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-60

χθόνα:
χώραν
pro
χθόνα
G. Lips. aliique et Rob. Eustathius p. 212, 42.
τὸ δὲ ποιμὴν λαῶν, ταὐτὸν ἂν τῷ ἀνδρῶν ποιμάνωρ, συνθέτως Αἰσχύλος εἴρηκε, καὶ τὸ τοιοῦτον ποιμνιον ποιμανύριον
. θεῖον:
θεῖτ'
pro
θεῖον
Lips.

77. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-61

ἐλαύνει διχόθεν:
ἐλαύνοι δειχόθεν
G.

78. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-62

θαλάσσης:
θαλάσσας
Blomfieldius. Idem recte sustulit comma quod vulgo post hanc vocem ponebatur, coniungens
ἐχυροῖς ἐκ θαλάσσης στυφελοῖς ἐφέταις
.

79. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-63

ἐχυροῖσι:
ἐχυροῖσι
Cantabr. 1. Par. B. L. N. et
o
ad primam syllabam superscripto M. γρ.
ὀχυροῦσι
Par. B.
ὀχυροῖσι
ceteri.

80. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-64

στυφελοῖς:
στυφέλοις
libri.
στυφελοῖς
Blomfieldius. ἐφέταις:
ἀφέταις
Colb. 1. Rob. Hesychius
ἐφέτας, τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τῶν Περσῶν, καταχρηστικῶς
. χρυσογόνου:
χρυσονόμου
M. G. Vit. Lips. Ven. A. B. aliique et Ald. Turn.
χρυσογόνου
. γρ.
καὶ χρυσονόμου
Par. B.
χρυσογόνου
Rob. Vtramque scripturam commemorant scholia. Qui
χρυσονόμου
praeoptat, sic explicare debebit, ut idem sit quod
χρυσοῦς
, neglecto significatu terminationis. Sed in compositis ex
νέμω
hoc fieri non videtur exemplis posse demonstrari. Praestat
χρυσογόνου
.

81. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-65

γενεᾶς:
γεναιᾶς
G.
γεννεᾶς
Lips. ἰσόθεος φώς:
ἰσόθεον φώς
M.
ἰσόθεον φῶς
, ultima prioris vocabuli littera in
ς
mutata, G. γρ.
ἰσόθεον φῶς
Par. B.

82. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-66

κυάνεον: Scribendum videri potest
κυανόν
. Sed videtur haec forma recentiorum scriptorum propria esse. Male Blomfieldius
κυανοῦν
, quod vulgaris linguae est. Peius etiam Wellauerus
κυάνεον
vocabuli non ultimas, sed primas duas syllabas contrahendas esse putavit. λεύσσων:
λεύσων
M. Cantabr. 1. 2. Ald. Rob.
βλέπων
Vit. sed antiquae sunt tantum litterae
λε
, ceterae a recentiore manu scriptae.

83. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-67

φονίου:
φονίου
M. G. Vit. Lips. Ven. B. aliique et Ald. Rob.
φονίου
Turn. δέργμα:
δέρμα
M. Lips. aliique nonnulli.

84. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-68

πολυναύτης:
πολυναύτας
Vit. Cantabr. 2.

85. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-69

Σύριόν θ':
συριόν
M. ed. Vict.
δουριόν θ'
Vit. Lips. Ven. A. aliique et Ald.
δοσσυριόν θ'
G. Ven. B. aliique et Rob. Turn. Alludi ad oraculum de pugna Salaminia Atheniensibus datum, quod est apud Herodotum VII. 140. in quo erat
Συριγγενὲς ἅρμα διώκων
viderunt et Blomfieldius et Suevernius in diss. Berolini a. 1824. hoc titulo edita, Ueber einige historische und politische anspielungen in der alten tragoedie, p. 4.

86. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-70

δουρικλύτοις:
δουρικλύτοις
M. Rob. Turn.
δουρικλυτοῖς
G. Ald.
δορικλυτοῖς
Lips.
δορυκλύτοις
Vit.

87. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-71

τοξόδαμνον:
τοξόδαμνιν
Vit. Ἄρη:
Ἄρη
M. in quo supra versum ab alia manu additum, Par. C. Rob.
ἄρην. γρ. ἄρη. κοινῶς.
Par. B.
ἄρην
G. Vit. Lips. Ald. Turn.

88. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-72

ὑποστὰς:
ὑποστάς. γρ. ἐπιστὰς ἤγουν ἐναντιαθεὶς μαχεσάμενος
(sic apud Faehsium)
ὑποστάς
Par. B. Sensus est nemo adeo probatus est, ut, si id in se recipiat, magna multitudine virorum ut valido munimento arcere possit invictum maris fluctum. Audacter
κῦμα θαλάσσης
dicit copias navales, quas Graeci quamvis magno virorum numero non possint ab se propellere.

89. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-73

φωτῶν: Post
φωτῶν
Vit. addit
τάξεσιν οὐδ᾽ ἄρα ἔρη ἴσχει
, quorum ea quae post
τάξιν
leguntur, expuncta sunt. Colb. 1. addit
νάρεσι, οὐδ᾽ ἄρα ἕρκεα ἴσχει
. Quae ex notissimo Homeri versu sumpta esse vidit Vauvillersius. Eadem vero verba, sic scripta
τάξεσιν οὐτ᾽ ἄρα ἕρκει ἴσχει
, ut scholion adscripta sunt in M.

90. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-74

ἐχυροῖς:
ἐχυροῖς
M. G. aliique et Rob.
ἐχυροῖσιν
Ven. B.
ὀχυροῖς
Vit. Lips. Ven. A. aliique et Ald. Turn. ἕρκεσιν:
ἕρκοισιν
Ven. B. εἴργειν:
εἴργεις
Lips.

93. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-75

λαός:
λαός
M. G. Vit. Lips. aliique et Ald.
λεὼς
Rob. Turn.

94. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-76

δολόμητιν δ᾽ ἀπάταν:
δολόμητιν δ᾽ ἀπάτην
G. et
ἀπάτην
etiam Vit.
ἀπάταν
, ultimo
α
superscripto
η
, Lips.

95. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-77

θνατὸς:
θνητὸς
Vit.
θνατὸς
, superscripto
η
, Lips.

96-97. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-78

πήδημἅλις εὐπετῶς ἀνάσσων:
πηδήματος
libri omnes. Tum, post hoc ipsum vocabulum,
εὐπετέος
M. G. Vit. aliique et Ald. Rob. Turn.
εὐπατέος
Lips.
εὐπετέως
Mosc. Par. L.
Εὐπετοῦς
Porsonus. In Vit. post hanc vocem
εὐπετέος
, qua in eo libro versus finitur, a sec. manu additum est
τῆς
, superne quidem hoc modo
εὐπετέος ἄτης
sed initiali ductu
α
litterae usque ad praegressum
ς
descendente, ut non videatur dubitandum esse quin, qui adscripsit
ἄτης
, id Aeschyli verbum esse putaverit, praesertim quum in versu qui infra hunc scriptus est simile quid factum sit in vocabulo
ἀρκύστατα
, cuius primae quattuor litterae ab antiqua manu sunt, '
στατα
autem ab eadem illa manu, quae
ἄτης
scripsit, adiecta. Non deerit fortasse qui suspicetur scriptum alicubi fuisse
πήματος
, eiusque vocabuli explicationem esse
ἄτης
. Sed scholiastes in Vit. coniunxit
πηδήματος τῆς ἄτης ἀνάσσων καὶ κρατῶν
. Porro
ἀνάσσων
M. G. Vit. Lips. ceterique, ut videtur, codd. omnes et Ald. Rob.
ἀναίσσων
Turn.
ἀναΐσσων
Vict. unde Brunckius et qui eum secuti sunt
ἀνάσσων
dederunt. Scholiastae
ἀνάσσων
sequuntur, genitivo
πηδήματος
moti. Sed haud dubie verum est
ἀνάσσων
. Brunckius genitivum illum
ποδί
constructum esse putavit. Nimirum, ut dubium illud
εὐπετέος
mittamus,
ποὺς κραιπνὸς πηδήματος
esset
ποὺς κραιπνῶς πηδῶν
. Verum tamen ista loquendi ratio a gravi simplicitate Aeschyli alienior est quam ut videatur probari posse. Scripsit ille, nisi fallor,
τίς ὁ κραιπνῷ ποδὶ πήδημ᾽ ἅλις εὐπετῶς ἀνάσσων;
Sic infra v. 300.
πήδημα κοῦφον ἐκ νεὼς ἀφήλατο.
Et in Agam. v. 792.
ἵππου νεοσσός, ἀσπιδηφόρος λεώς, πήδημ᾽ ὀρούσας ἀμφὶ Πλειάδων δύσιν.
Apud Euripidem Iph. Taur. v. 315 (308.).
ἔμφρων δ᾽ ἀνάξας ὁ ξένος πεσήματος.

98. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-79

ποτισαίνουσα: Libri
σαίνουσα
. Scholiastes
ἡ γὰρ ἐκ θεοῦ, φησίν, ἀμαύρωσις καὶ δόλωσις ἀφυκτός ἐστιν. ἅμα γὰρ δολοῖ καὶ προσαίνει (Γ. προςσαίνει) καὶ κακοποιεῖ
. Scripsi
ποτισαίνουσα
. Lenius hoc quam ingeniosae coniecturae quibus Seidlerus in libro de versibus dochm. p. 407. metra restituere conatus est. Non est autem haec epodus in stropham et antistropham mutanda. παράγει:
παράγε
Lips.

100. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-80

βροτὸν:
βροτῶν
Ven. B. et
o
ad
ω
superscripto Lips. εἰς ἄρκυας ἄτα:
εἰς ἀρκύστατα
libri praeter Rob. in qua est Turnebo memorata scriptura
ἀρκύσακτα
. Diu iam est quum scribendum vidi
εἰς ἄρκυας ἄτα
. Nam scholiastas nomen
ἄτη
in his versibus invenisse ex eo apparet, quod Homericos de
Ἄτῃ
versus afferunt.

101. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-81

ὑπὲκ θνατὸν:
ὑπὲρ θνατὸν
M. G. Vit. et ceteri plerique.
ὕπερ θνατὸν
Ald.
ὑπερθνατὸν
Lips.
ὕπερθεν
, omisso
θνατόν
, Rob.
ὕπερθεν τὸν
adnotavit Stephanus.. Ex scholio codicis Vit. in quo est
διὸ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄνθρωπον ὑπεκδραμόντα τὴν ἄτην φυγείν
, optimam et elegantissimam lectionem nanciscimur,
ὑπὲκ θνατόν
.

102. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-82

ἀλύξαντα:
ἀλύξατα
Lips. φυγεῖν:
φυγεῖν
omittit Ven. B.

103. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-83

κάτα:
κατὰ
libri. ἐκράτησεν:
ἐκράτησεν
M.
ἐκράτησε
G. Vit. Lips. et edd, ante Brunckium.

104. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-84

τὸ:
καὶ
pro
τὸ
Vit.

106. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-85

ἱππιοχάρμας:
ἱπποχάρμας
Ald.
ἱππιοχάρμους
Cantabr. 1.
ἱππειοχάρμους
Ven. B.
ἱππιοχάρμονας
Vit. Mosc.

107. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-86

πόλεών τ᾿ ἀναστάσεις:
πόλεων δ᾽ ἀναστάσεις
M. (non
ἀνστάσεις
) Vit. Lips. Ven. A. aliique et Ald.
τ'
omittit Ven. B.
πόλεών τ' ἀναστάσεις
G. aliique et Rob.
πόλεων τε ἀνστάσεις
Turn.

108-109. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-87

θαλάσσης πολιαινομένης:
θαλάσσης πολιαινομένης
M. G. Lips. Ald. Turn. In Lips. participii
ης
a recentiore manu est.
θαλάσσης
(superscripto
ας
)
πολιαινομένας
Vit.
θαλάσσας πολιαινομένας
Par. A. B. Rob. et, ut videtur, Ven. A. B. λάβρῳ:
λάβρῳ
G. Ald. Rob.

110. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-88

ἐςορᾶν:
ἐσὁρᾶν
M.
ἐς ὁρᾶν
Vit. Ald.
ἐσορῶν
Lips. ἄλσος: γρ.
ἄλγος
Par. B. Suppl. 834.
δι' ἁλίρρυτον ἄλσος
.

111. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-89

πίσυνοι:
πίσυνοι
Ald. Rob.
πισύνος
G.

112. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-90

τε: omittit Vit. λεπτοδόμοις πείσμασι λαοπόροις τε μηχαναῖς:
λεπτοδόμοις
Scholiastae de solis navibus hic agi putant, Schützius
πείσμασι
ad naves,
λαοπόροις μηχαναῖς
ad pontes refert. In Schutzi explicatione hoc displicet, quod ista navium et pontium distinctio, tam ambigue significata, exilis videtur ideoque indigna Aeschylo. Mihi quidem omnia de pontibus videntur intelligenda esse. Nam si haec de navibus accipiantur, non satis verum est, ideoque ne satis aptum quidem, Persas dici navibus assuefactos esse. Navibus enim non tam ipsi Persae quam socii eorum utebantur, quod recte monuerunt scholiastae. Atqui de his, ut maritimis et pridem deditis navigationi, non recte diceretur nunc eos didicisse artem navigandi. Illud vero ut novum et insolens et quod sollicitudinem, ut statim dicit chorus, afferret commemorari poterat, quod per pontes parum firmos agitatum fluctibus mare transgredi essent ausi. Et sic supra, omninoque saepius in hac fabula pontes illos, ut rem periculi temeritatisque plenam, memorari videmus. Egregie verba quoque cum hac explicatione congruunt, quum non modo
λαόποροι μηχαναί
planius ad pontium fabricationem quam ad navium vehicula ducant, sed etiam
λεπτόδομα πείσματα
de navibus multo minus apte quam de pontibus dicantur, in quibus hoc ipsum maxime temerarium videri debuit, quod machinae istae rudentibus, nimium tenuibus pro tanti operis mole, retinerentur. Inde supra v. 69. poeta dixerat
λινοδέσμῳ σχεδίᾳ
, eadem verborum vi. Prorsus enim reiicienda est eorum sententia, qui
πείσματα
putant
λεπτόδομα
vocari quod ex pluribus tenuibus filis facta sint. Immo nihil aliud, quam quod simplicius
λεπτά
dici poterat, significatur. Describit hos rudentes Herodotus VII. 36.

113. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-91

μοι:
μοι
M. G. aliique nonnulli.

114. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-92

ἀμύσσεται:
ἀμύσεται
M. Idem mox
ὀά
.

117. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-93

τοῦδε: Post
τοῦδε
comma posuit Turnebus, et sic recentiores editores omnes praeter Schützium in minore editione
τοῦδε
in
τοῦτο
male mutantem. Iungebant autem
ὀὰ Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος τοῦδε
. Peius etiam Brunckius hos genitivos ad
φρὴν ἀμύσσεται φόβῳ
rettulit. Usus tragicorum monere poterat nullam esse posse post
τοῦδε
interpunctionem. Sic enim iungenda sunt verba,
μὴ πόλις πύθηται ἄστυ Σούσιδος κένανδρον Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος τοῦδε
, ne civitas audiat urbem Susidis hoc Persarum exercitu orbatam. Ita
θεοὶ πολισσοῦχοι χθονός
et alia huiusmodi millena.

119. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-94

Κισσίων:
κισσίων
M. Par. G. L. N.
κασσίων
Ven. B.
κισσίνων
Vit. Lips. Mosc. Rob.
κισσινῶν
G.
κίσσινον
Ald. ceteraeque editiones.

120. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-95

ἔσσεται:
ἔσεται
M. Vit. Par. G. N. Nihil ineptius perversiusve fingi potuit quam C. Burnei
ᾄσεται
, ne scilicet
ἔσσεται
duplicato
σ
diceret scriptor Atticus. Quin ut omnis loci virtus periret Blomfieldius recepta Burnei coniectura verba
ἀντίδουπον — ἀπύων
ut parenthesin ab reliquis separavit. Neque in Wellaueri adnotatione quidquam sani est. Hoc dicit chorus, propterea mihi nigro obscuratum velo cor laceratur metu, hei, ne hoc Persico exercitu orbatam civitas audiat magnam urbem Susidis, et Cissiorum arces, hei clamitans turba feminarum, resonent, byssinaeque vestes rumpantur.

121. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-96

ὀά:
ὀά
M.

122. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-97

τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος: omittunt Ald. Turn. γυναικοπληθὴς:
γυναικοπληθὺς
Lips. et ante correctionem Vit.
γυναικοπληθὴς ἔσται
ex scholio Rob. Hi nominativi non sunt absoluti, sed inserviunt explicandis verbis
τὸ Κισσίων πόλισμα
.

123. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-98

δ:
δ'
omittunt Ald. Rob.

124. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-99

πέσῃ λακίς:
πέσηι λακίς
, quum prius omissa essent, inter versus adscripta sunt in M.

125. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-100

ἱππηλάτας:
ἱππηλάτης
, ultimae vocali superscripto
η
, M.
ἱππηλάτας
, superscripto
η
, Lips. Post hanc vocem
Τε
addit non M. sed Turnebus et qui hunc secuti sunt Vict. Cant. Stanl.

126. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-101

καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεὼς:
καὶ προδοστηβάς λεως
, ad
ο
superscripto
η
, Lips.
καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεως
. γρ.
πεδοτριβὴς, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστι πεζός
Par. B.

127. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-102

ὡς:
ὃς
pro
ὡς
ante correctionem Vit. ἐκλέλοιπεν:
ἐκλέλοιπεν
M. Par. L. Rob. Ceteri
ἐκλέλοιπε
. μελισσᾶν:
μέλισσα
M. Par. L.
μελισσάων
G. Ven. B. et adscripto, ut Faehsius ait,
μελισσών
Par. B.
μελισσῶν
Vit. Lips. Ald. Turn.
μελισσῶν
Cantabr. 1. Rob.

128. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-103

ὀρχάμῳ:
ἀρχάμονι
adnotatum in Par. B.

129-131. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-104

τὸν ἀμφίζευκτον ἐξαμείψας ἀμφοτέρας ἅλιον πρῶνα κοινὸν αἴας:
ἀμείψας
Vit. Fluctuant interpretes, quem dicat Aeschylus
τὸν ἀμφίζευκτον ἀμφοτέρας ἅλιον πρῶνα κοινὸν αἴας
. Dicit vero iunctum utriusque continentis socium litus. Litoris significatione
πρών
vocabulum usurpatum est v. 870.
νασοί θ' αἳ κατὰ πρῶν ἅλιον περίκλυστοι τῇδε γῇ προςήμεναι.
Pariterque in Agam. v. 291.
Σαρωνικού πορθμοῦ κάτοπτον πρῶν ὑπερβάλλειν πρόσω φλέγουσαν.
Sic enim, quae aliter in singulis horum locorum difficultas foret, sponte evanescit.
Κοινόν
, ex quo vocabulo ortae sunt dubitationes, sic dicitur, ut id ipsum effectum esse iungendis litoribus indicetur.

133. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-105

πίμπλαται:
πίμπλαται
M. Vit. Par. L. N. aliique.
πίμπλανται
G. Lips. Ven. A. edd. ante Brunckium. δακρύμασιν:
δακρύμασιν
M. Par. L. Ceteri
δακρύμασι
.

134. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-106

ἑκάστα:
ἑκάστα
M. (in quo post ultimam litteram litura est scriptumque prius fuisse videtur
ἑκάσταν
) G. Vit. Par. A. B. aliique.
ἑκάστη
Lips. et edd. ante Brunckium.

136-137. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-107

αἰχμάεντα τοῦρον εὐνατῆρα προπεμψαμένα:
αἰχμήεντα
M. Vit. Lips. Par. L. Rob. Turn.
αἰχμητάεντα
Ox. Ald.
εὐναιάεντα
Ven. B.
αἰχμάεντα
G. Par. A. N.
εὐνατῆρα προπεμψαμένα
Cantabr. 1. et Par. A. in quo
ἀπο
ad
προ
supra adscriptum est. Hoc Brunckius restituit.
εὐνατῆρ προπεμψαμένα
Rob.
εὑνατῆς ἀποπεμψαμένη
M.
εὐνατῆρ᾽ ἀποπεμψαμένη
G.
εὐνατῆρα ἀποπεμψαμένη
Lips.
εὐνατῆρ᾽ ἀποπεμψαμένη
, supra adscripto ad ultimam vocalem
α
, Vit.
εὐνητῆς ἀποπεμψαμένα
Ven. A.
εὐνατῆς ἀποπεμψαμένα
Ven. B. Par. L. Ald. ceteraeque ante Brunckium editiones.

139. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-108

ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε, Πέρσαι:
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγετε πέρσαι
Vit.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγετ᾽ ὦ π.
Lips. Rob.

140. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-109

τόδ᾽ ἐνεζόμενοι στέγος:
τὸ δὲνεζόμενοι στέος
M.

142. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-110

θώμεθα· χρεία:
θώμεθ' α. χρεία
M. προςήκει:
προσήκοι
Cantabr. 2. Colb. 2.

143. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-111

ἄρα:
ἆρα
M. πράσσει:
πράξει
Lips.

145. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-112

πατρωνύμιον:
πρωνύμιον
G.
πατρώνυμον
Vit. Mosc. Genus, inquiunt, a Perseo ductum, unde nos nomen habemus, ideoque nobis cognatum. Formam vocabuli tuetur Pindaricum
ἐπωνύμιος
. ἁμέτερον:
ἁμέτερον
, superscripto primae litterae
f
, Lips.

146. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-113

πότερον:
πότερ'
or cum litura inter
ρ
et
o
M. νικῶν:
νικών
Vit.

147. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-114

δορυκράνου:
δορικράνου
G. Lips. Ven. A. Par. G. Ald. Rob.
δορυκράνου
M. Vit. Turn. Recte, ut videtur.

148. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-115

κεκράτηκεν:
κεκράτηκε
Vit.

149. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-116

NA: Prodit regina splendido ornatu et curru vecta, ut ex v. 610. intelligitur. ἴσον:
ἴσον
M. G. Lips. Turn.
ἶσον
Vit. Ald. Rob.

150. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-117

φάος:
φῶς
Lips. aliique pauci et Ald. ὁρμᾶται:
ὁρᾶται
Ven. B. et adscripto
ὁρμᾶται
Par. B.

151. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-118

βασίλεια δ᾽ ἐμή· προπίτνω, * προπίτνω· *: Libri
β. δ' ἐμὴ, προσπιτνῶ
, nisi quod
προσπιτνῶ (προσπίτνω M.) προσκυνῶ
habent M. Par. L. N. explicatione in textum admissa, quae in Vit. Lips. supra scripta est. Putavi scribendum esse
προπίτνω, προπίτνω
. Sic v. 591.
ἐς γᾶν προπίτνοντες
. Sophocles El. 1380.
αἰτῶ, προπίτνω, λίσσομαι
. Euripides Suppl. 93.
ὁσίως οὔχ, ὑπ᾽ ἀνάγκας δὲ προπίπτουσα, προςαιτοῦσ᾽ ἔμολον.

152. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-119

προςφθόγγοις:
πρὸς φθόγγοις
G.
προσφθόγκοις
Lips. χρεὼν:
χερῶν
Lips.

154. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-120

Περσίδων: Hunc et sequentem versum affert Maximus Planudas in Bachmanni Anecd. II. p. 99, 27.
δαιμόνων
pro
Περσίδων
Ven. B.

155. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-121

ἡ: omittit Lips. γεραιά:
γηραιά
Lips. Ald. Rob.

156. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-122

εὐνήτειρα:
εὐνήτειρα
M. Vit. Lips.
εὐνέτειρα
Tzetzes.
εὐνάτειρα
, secundae syllabae
η
superscripto, Par. B.
εὐνάτηρα
Ald.
εὐνάτειρα
G. Rob. Turn. Doricae formae hic nullus usus est. καὶ: omittunt Vit. Lips. Ven. A. B. Cantabr. 2. Ald. Rob. Sensum huius loci non videntur satis perspexisse qui
εὐνήτειρα
pro nominativo habuerunt, quod haud scio an fecerit etiam Tzetzes Chil. VII. v. 358.
Ἀσσύριοι καὶ Πέρσαι γὰρ τοὺς βασιλεῖς θεοῦσιν, ὡς καὶ Αἰσχύλος δράματι Πέρσαις δεικνύει τοῦτο. Ἄτοσσαν θέλων γὰρ εἰπεῖν σύζυγον βασιλέως, μητέρα βασιλέως τε ὁμοίως, εἶπεν οὕτω, “Θεοῦ Περσῶν εὐνέτειρα, θεοῦ τε μήτηρ ἔφυς.”
Neque enim senes aliud quam salvere reginam iubent: qui, si
εὐνήτειρα
nominativus esset, quasi obiter eam salutantes hoc ut primarium afferrent, tu et coniux Persarum dei et mater es. Quamobrem
εὐνήτειρα
vocativus est, cui quum alter deberet addi vocativus,
θεοῦ δὲ καὶ μῆτερ
, mutatur forma orationis, quia hac tantum conditione mater Persarum dei vocari potest Atossa, si Xerxes eadem qua Darius fortuna utatur.

157. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-123

μεθέστηκε: γρ.
ἐφέστηκε, ἠναντιώθη, ὑπεχώρησε
Par. B. στρατῷ:
στρατῷ
M. Vit. Ven. A. Par. B. (Fachsio teste) Turn.
στρατοῦ
G. Lips. Par. A. C. aliique et Rob.
ἀπὸ τοῦ στρατοῦ
margo Par. B.

158. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-124

λιποῦσ᾽:
λιποῦσι κευνῶ
G.
λιποῦσα, δ', ἱκάνω
Lips. χρυσεοστόλμους:
χρυσεοστόλμους
M. Vit. et adnotatum in Par. B.
χρυσεοστόλβους
Ven. A. Ald.
χρυσεοστίλβους
G. Ven. B. Par. C. F. L. Turn. et hoc quoque adnotatum in Par. B. et in margine Lips.
χρυσεοστόλους
Par. B. Rob.
χρυσεοστόλοις
Lips. δόμους:
δόμοις
Lips.

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

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

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

73-80. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-13

3
4
„Und überschwemmt und bedroht ganz Europa.“ θού- ριος 754. Um so ruhmvoller war es ihn zu besiegen. ἐπὶ πᾶσαν χθόνα, nicht bloſs Hellas. μανόριον von dem Heere wie ποι- μάνωρ 241 von dem Heerführer. θεῖον: die Grösse der Herde über- schreitet das menschliche Maſs, πεζονόμον τ᾽ ἔκ τε θαλάσσας für πεζονόμον τε καὶ θαλάσσιον ( ναυ- τικόν), Wechsel wie 19 f. - Unter zu- verlässigen tüchtigen Befehlshabern; χρυσο- ὀχυρός ( ἐχυρός) Ag. 44. γονου auro satae, sofern der mythische Stammvater der Perser, Perseus (Herod. VII 150), von seiner Mutter Danaë in Gestalt eines gol- denen Regens empfangen wurde. ἰσόθεος φώς homerisch.

81-86. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-14

5
6
Die Furchtbarkeit des Xerxes. κυάνεον, Hesiod. Scut. 7: βλεφάρων ἄπο κυανεάων. Ibyk. fr. 2: Ἔρως κυανέοισιν ὑπὸ βλεφάροις τάκερ᾽ ὄμμασι δερκόμε- νος. Den Blick der Schlangen hielt der Aberglaube für gefähr- lich; vgl. Basiliskenblick. Reich an Mannschaft, Schiffen u. (Streit-) Wagen (Herod. VII 63: οὗτοι ὑπὸ μὲν Ἑλλήνων ἐκαλέοντο Σύριοι, ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν βαρβάρων ᾿Ασσύριοι ἐκλήθη- σαν. - Auffallende und kaum unbe- wufste (vgl. 348. 727; oben S. 31, A. 12) Ähnlichkeit mit dem Orakel vor der Schlacht bei Salamis, Herod. VII 140: κατὰ γάρ μιν ἐρείπει πῦρ τε καὶ ὀξὺς Αρης, συριηγενὲς ἄρμα διώκων. Die nationale Angriffs- waffe der Hellenen ist das δόρυ ( αἰχμή), der Orientalen (neben αἰχ- μὴ βραχεῖα oder ἀκόντιον, 52. vgl. Jerem. 19, 35-38. Herod. V 49. VII 61) der Bogen. Vgl. 147 f. 239f. Quantität von " Αρη wie Sept. 115.

87-92. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-15

7
8
Unaufhaltsam ist das Heer der Perser und nach mensch- licher Berechnung kann ihm nie- mand widerstehen, wie man nie- manden zutrauen kann, daſs er durch starke Dämme die unbe- zwingliche Hochflut des Meeres zurückhalte. Der Dichter hat Gleich- nis und eigentlichen Ausdruck ohne Vermittlung verbunden.

93-101. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-16

9
10
Aber dem Truge der Götter kann niemand entrinnen; durch Vorspiegelung von Glück und Macht lockt er den Menschen ins Netz des Verderbens, aus dem dieser ohne Schaden zu nehmen nicht entkommt. Die Schuld, die ὕβρις, welche den Neid der Götter weckt, giebt der Dichter 742ff., 782, 808 an.

102-113. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-17

11
12
Der Chor deutet die trügerische Lockung an, der die Perser Gehör geschenkt haben: sie haben die altbewährte Krieg- führung, zu der das Schicksal sie berufen, verlassen (vgl. den Chorges. 852 ff.) und sich ohne Beruf auf das Meergewagt. παρασαίνει d.i. σαίνου- σα παράγει. – Mit ἄρκυας ἄτας vgl. δίκτυον ἄτης Prom. 1078. Hom. T 91 ἄτην ἢ πάντας ἀᾶται. – θεόθεν ( ἡ ἐκ θεῶν) μοῖρα, Nägelsbach, nachhom. Theol. S. 149f. κατὰ Μοῖρ᾽ ἐκράτησεν (Kr. 11 § 68, 48. A. 4.), sie hat es durchgesetzt und den Persern auferlegt u. s. w. Der Gedanke ist in zwei selbständige Sätze auseinandergelegt wie Ag. 750 λόγος τέτυκται, μέγαν τελεσθέντα φωτὸς ὄλβον τεκνοῦσθαι ἐκ δ᾽ ἀγαθᾶς τύχας γένει βλαστάνειν ἀκόρεστον οἰζύν. πυργοδάϊκτος aktive Bedeutung der passiven Wort- bildung wie ἀνδροδάϊκτος Choeph. 860 u. Ar. ran. 1264; vgl. Ag. 116. ἱππιοχάρμας κλόνους (Ag. 405), rossetummelndes Toben. ἀνα- στάσεις Ag. 589. πολιαινομένας vom gewaltigen Windhauch auf- schäumend, vgl. Hom. πολιῆς ἁλός etc. Catull 64, 13: tortaque remigio spumis incanuit unda. ἐσορᾶν Hor. od. I 3, 19: qui (siccis oculis) vidit mare turgidum. - ἄλσος, vgl. Suppl. 868 ἁλίρρυτον ἄλσος. Das heilige Meer. Vgl. Plaut. Mil. Gl. II 5,3 in locis Neptuniis templisque turbulentis (das Original παρετρα- γώδει). – - λεπτοδόμοις dünngebaut; Meineke λεπτοτόνοις, dünngespannt, aus schwachen Strängen bestehende Taue (der Schiffe). Leichtsinn und Vermessenheit auf dergleichen sich zu verlassen, λαοπόροις μαχαναῖς Schiffe. Dritter Teil, V. 114-139. Zwei Strophenpaare, das erste in kata- lekt. trochäischen Dipodieen (teil- weise auch synkopiert); das zweite in den zwei ersten Versen aus syn- kopierten (katalekt.) troch. Dipo- dieen (= Kretikern), V. 3 aus einem trochäisch - daktylischen Logaöden mit Anakrusis, V. 4 aus einer troch. Tripodie (Ithyphallikus) bestehend. Vgl. Westphal2 11 S. 463 ff. 472 f. Wahrscheinlich wird das erste Strophenpaar von dem einen, das zweite von dem anderen Halbchore vorgetragen. Angst der Zurück- gebliebenen um die Ausgezogenen, lyrische Ausführung von V. 59-64.

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ταῦτα, 159. 165. Kr. 46, 3. A. 4 vgl. zu Ar. nub. 319. Wegen der Gefahr, daſs Xerxes durch Übermut Verschuldung und Strafe sich und seinem Heere zu- ziehe. μελαγχίτων pulla veste indutus, i, e. lugens; vgl. Suppl. 785, Ag. 546 und das homerische φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι. – ἀμύσσεται lacera- tur metu; 161. da vae, absicht- lich fremdartiger Klageruf. Über den Gen. bei Interjektionen Kr. 47, 3. A. 2. τοῦτο bezieht sich wie 122 τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος auf den ange- führten Ruf. Vgl. Ag. 1334 ῾μηκέτ' ἐσέλθῃς᾽ τάδε φωνῶν, Eum. 510 τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος θροούμενος εἰὼ δίκα'. πολύ, vgl. Sept. 6 πολὺς κατὰ πτόλιν ὑμνοῦτο. Kr. 57, 5. στέ- νηται wie 62.

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Κισσίων 17. – φόβῳ μὴ ... στένηται καὶ ἄσεται καὶ .. πέσῃ, Kr. 54, 8. Α. 5. κ. 12. γυναι- κοπληθής όμιλος ist Apposition zu πόλισμα: die Volksmenge der Stadt besteht nur aus Frauen, da alle Männer in den Krieg gezogen sind ( κένανδρον ἄστυ 119). Im Schmerze werden die Frauen ihre Gewänder zerreiſsen, orientalisches Zeichen der Trauer, 199. 537. 835 f. 1060. Suppl. 131. Choeph. 27 ff.

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Begründung der Grösse der Besorgnis durch die Grösse der Gefahr. πεδοστιβής wie Suppl. 1000 κνώδαλα πτεροῦντα καὶ πεδοστιβῆ. καταλελοίπασι τὴν πόλιν ἀκολουθοῦντες Ξέρξη ὡς μέλισσαι τὸ σμῆνος Schol. Wie alle Bienen, wenn sie schwärmen, der Königin folgend, den Bienen- stock verlassen, so ist die ganze waffenfähige Mannschaft mit Xerxes ausgezogen. Für τὴν πόλιν (die Heimat) tritt gleich aus dem Gleich- nisse σμῆ σμῆνος ein; σὺν ὀρχάμῳ στρα- τοῦ gehört auch zum Gleichnisse. Die Anakrusis besteht in Str. und Gegenstr. aus τόν. – ἐξαμείψας (69) τὸν ἀμφίζευκτον ἀμφοτέρας αἴας ÄSCHYLOS, Perser. κοινὸν ἄλιον πρῶνα (879. Ag. 307), aggregative Häufung von Bestim- mungen. Πρών von der hohen vor- springenden Küste ( προβλῆτες ἀκταί) 1. ἅλιος πρών wie πόντου προβλής Soph. Phil. 1455. Die von beiden Seiten ( ἀμφι-) zusammen ( κοινόν) gejochte hohe Meeresküste beider Länder d. i. die die Küsten beider Kontinente verbindende Brücke; κοινόν ist eigentlich Attribut zu dem in ἀμφίζευκτον liegenden Be- griff ζυγό ζυγόν (das Brückenjoch ist beiden Kontinenten gemeinsam), hat sich aber in freier Weise an πρῶνα angeschlossen.

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Die Sehnsucht ins- besondere der einsam zurückgeblie- benen Frauen. ὁδῷ, ἀπουσίᾳ Schol. ἁβροπενθεῖς wie ἁβρόγοοι 541, zärtlich klagend. Vgl. 41. 543. 1072. Περσίδες ... ἑκάστα Kr. 47, 28. A. 3 und II 57, 8. Anm. 2. αἰχμάεις von dem nationalen Unter- schied der Bewaffnung (52.85) ab- sehend. - εὐνατήρ 157. Suppl. 665. ἀποπεμψ. Catull 66, 29: virum me mittens. Tibull I 3, 9: Delia cum mitteret urbe. – πόθῳ λείβε- σθαι, in Sehnsucht hinschmachten. · μονόζυξ, eine Art Oxymoron wie „einsam gepaart", d. i. von dem Paar ist sie allein zurückgeblieben.

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Fortsetzung des ersten Teils und Ankündigung der auftretenden Königin-Mutter, ge- sprochen vom Koryphaios. Vier Systeme anapästischer Dimeter; vgl. Westphal2 II S. 414. Der Chor setzt sich (bis 150) auf die Stufen, die zur Bühne (somit hier zum Königs- palast) hinaufführen, und stellt, in Ermanglung positiver Nachrichten, Betrachtungen an, wie es wohl dem Xerxes und seinem Heere gehen möge. – χρεία δὲ προσήκει paratak- tisch. – πατρωνύμιον γένος, sofern die Πέρσαι den Namen von dem Urahnen des Xerxes, Perseus, tra- gen; vgl. 80. Ob das Bogen- anziehen (Bogenschiefsen, also die Perser, s. 85) das Siegende ist oder die Hellenen ( δορυκράνου, vgl. 84). δορύκρανος (von δόρυ κ. κάρανον) λόγχη, die Spitze am Kopfe des Speerschaftes. Mit V. 150 erscheint aus der Mittel- thüre des Hintergrundes der Bühne (auf einem Thronsessel getragen, vgl. 607) Atossa und wird von dem Chor ehrfurchtsvoll begrüfst. Atossa war nach Herod. VII 2 eine Tochter des Kyros und die zweite Gemahlin des Dareios Hystaspis, auf den sie grofsen Einfluss übte ( ἡ γὰρ Ἄτοσσα εἶχε τὸ πᾶν κράτος, ib. 3), und von ihm Mutter des Xerxes. Vgl. S. 34, A. 22. θεῶν ὀφθαλμοῖς, ein Glanz wie er aus Götteraugen strahlt. προσπίτνω (zu V. 32) s. v. a. προσκυνῶ; was der Koryphaios thut, macht der übrige Chor nach. Älian v. h. Ι 21: νόμος ἐστὶν ἐπιχώριος Πέρ- σαις τὸν εἰς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐλθόντα τοῦ βασιλέως μὴ πρότερον λόγου μεταλαγχάνειν πρὶν ἢ προσκυνῆσαι αὐτόν. Εur. Οr. 1507: προσκυνώ σ᾽, ἄναξ, νόμοισι βαρβάροισι προσπίτ- νων. χρεών ( ἐστι), 95. 147. Επεισόδιον πρῶτον (155-531), die Mittel- und Hauptpartie des Stücks, dialogisch gehalten teils in dem altertümlichen Maſse des Dialogs, dem tetram. troch. cat. (Westphal2 II S. 452), teils, bei der einfachen Erzählung, im iambischen Trimeter.

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Begrüfsung der Atossa durch den gesamten Chor ( πάντας 154). βαθύζωνος erst über der Hüfte gegürtet, daher groſser κόλπος, bei Homer vorzugsweise Tracht asiatischer Frauen, später ionischer und besonders von Göt- tinnen, z. Β. βαθύζωνος Λήδα, Pind. Ol. III 35. K. F. Hermann, griech. Privatalt. 22, 21. – μῆτερ ἡ γεραιά Kr. 45, 2. A. 7. – θεοῦ, von Dareios und Xerxes, nach orientalischer Sitte, Curt. VIII 5.11. - εὐνάτειραwie in dem Chorliede 138; vgl. 160 und zu Prom. 61. ἔφυς zeug- matisch, da die Parallelisierung der beiden Glieder durch urch μὲν ... δὲ die Auffassung des ersten ( εὐνάτ.) als Vokativ zu verbieten scheint. Nisi forte pristina fortuna (qualis erat sub Dario) nunc Persis mutata est, in welchem Falle Xerxes nicht als θεὸς (Herrscher von götter- gleicher Macht) zu bezeichnen wäre.