Aeschylus Persians 22

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

Table of Contents

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Card
← Previous Next →
MESSENGER
O fenced homes of all the Asian earth,
O soil of Persia, haven of vast wealth,
How by one stroke our full prosperity
Hath shatter'd been, and blighted Persia's flower.
Woeful his office first who heralds woe!
Yet all our sorrow must I needs unfold.—
Persians! the whole barbaric host is lost.

Persians. Aeschylus. Anna Swanwick (Translator). London. 1886.

Sponsored by University of Leipzig.

Funding provided by European Social Fund Saxony.

Current edition Experimental

The Persians (OCR draft) (English) (The Persians. Anna Swanwick, 1886.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)
Πέρσαι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 1-64 focus
Πέρσαι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 1-64 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 41 focus
ἁβροδιαίτων δ᾽ ἕπεται Λυδῶν
ὄχλος, οἵτ᾽ ἐπίπαν ἠπειρογενὲς
κατέχουσιν ἔθνος, τοὺς Μιτρογάθης
Ἀρκτεύς τ᾽ ἀγαθὸς, βασιλῆς δίοποι,
καὶ πολύχρυσοι Σάρδεις ἐπόχους
45
πολλοῖς ἅρμασιν ἐξορμῶσιν,
δίρρυμά τε καὶ τρίρρυμα τέλη,
φοβερὰν ὄψιν προσιδέσθαι.
στεῦται δ᾽ ἱεροῦ Τμώλου πελάται
ζυγὸν ἀμφιβαλεῖν δούλιον Ἑλλάδι,
50
Μάρδων, θάρυβις, λόγχης ἄκμονες,
καὶ ἀκουτισταὶ Μυσοί· Βαβυλὼν δ᾽
ἡ πολύχρυσος πάμμικτον ὄχλου
πέμπει σύρδην, ναῶν τ᾽ ἐπόχους·
τοξουλκῷ λήματι πιστούς·
55
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 41 focus
ἁβροδιαίτων δ᾽ ἕπεται Λυδῶν
ὄχλος, οἵτ᾽ ἐπίπαν ἠπειρογενὲς
κατέχουσιν ἔθνος, τοὺς Μιτρογαθής
Αρκτεύς τ᾿ ἀγαθός, βασιλῆς δίοποι,
45
χαὶ πολύχρυσοι Σάρδεις ἐπόχους
πολλοῖς ἅρμασιν ἐξορμῶσιν,
δίρρυμά τε καὶ τρίρρυμα τέλη
φοβερὰν ὄψιν προςιδέσθαι.
στεῦται δ᾽ ἱεροῦ Τμώλου πελάται
50
ζυγὸν ἀμφιβαλεῖν δούλιον Ἑλλάδι,
Μάρδων, θάρυβις, λόγχης άκμονες,
καὶ ἀκοντισταὶ Μυσοί· Βαβυλὼν δ᾽
ἡ πολύχρυσος πάμμικτον ὄχλον
πέμπει σύρδην, ναῶν τ᾽ ἐπόχους
55
καὶ τοξουλκῷ λήματι πιστούς·
τὸ μαχαιροφόρον τ᾽ ἔθνος ἐκ πάσης
ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 41 focus
ἁβροδιαίτων δ' ἕπεται Λυδῶν
ὄχλος, οἵτ' ἐπίπαν ἠπειρογενὲς
κατέχουσιν ἔθνος, τοὺς Μητρογάθης μιτρο- μιθρο- μιστρο- μιτρα- μητραγαθής
Ἀρκτεύς ἀρκεύς τ' ἀγαθός, βασιλῆς δίοποι,
καὶ πολύχρυσοι Σάρδεις ἐπόχους
45
πολλοῖς ἅρμασιν ἐξορμῶσιν,
δίρρυμά τε καὶ τρίρρυμα τέλη,
φοβερὰν ὄψιν προσιδέσθαι·
στεῦται στεῦνται δ' ἱεροῦ Τμώλου πελάται
ζυγὸν ἀμφιβαλεῖν δούλιον δούλειον Ἑλλάδι,
50
Μάρδων, θάρυβις, λόγχης ἄκμονες,
καὶ ἀκοντισταὶ Μυσοί· Βαβυλὼν δ'
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 41 focus
ἁβροδιαίτων δ᾽ ἕπεται Λυδῶν
ὄχλος, οἵ τ᾽ ἐπίπαν ἠπειρογενὲς
κατέχουσιν ἔθνος, τοὺς Μητρογαθὴς
Ἀρκτεύς τ᾽ ἀγαθὸς βασιλῆς δίοποι,
45
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 41 focus
ἁβροδιαίτων δ᾽ ἕπεται Λυδῶν
ὄχλος, οἵ τ᾽ ἐπίπαν ἠπειρογενές
Translations (8)
Persians Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1-60 focus
The Persians. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 41 focus
There follows a crowd of Lydians, delicate in their habits of life, and they that hold every nation native on the continent 4
, whom Mithragathes and valiant Arcteus, inspector-princes, and Sardis that teems with gold, send forth in many chariots, in ranks of double and treble yokes 5
, a spectacle fearful to look upon. The borderers too on sacred Tmolus are bent on casting the yoke of servitude around Hellas, Mardon, Tharybis, [twin] anvils of the spear, and the Mysians who launch the javelin. Babylon too, that teems with gold, sends forth her mingled multitude in long array, both those who embark in ships, and are trust in their valor to draw the bow. And the scimitar-wielding populace from all Asia follows in their train, under the dread mandates of the king. Such a flower of men is gone from the Persian land; concerning whom the Asiatic soil which reared them is shrivelled with vehement anxiety: and parents and wives, as they count the day, shudder at the lengthening date.
LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 41 focus
marais, multitude innombrable et terrible.
Derrière suit la foule des Lydiens délicats, qui dominent tous les peuples de leur continent 1 . Les preux Métrogathès,
Arcteus, connétables rois, et Sardes, la cité de l'or, les envoient au combat sur des milliers de chars à quatre et six chevaux rangés en escadrons, spectacle de terreur.
Les voisins du Tmôlos sacré se flattent aussi de jeter sur
la Grèce le joug de l'esclavage, Mardôn, Tharybis, enclumes de la lance 2 , avec leurs Mysiens, lanceurs de javelots. Et de Babylone, autre cité de l'or, arrive en torrent une foule
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 41 focus
Pegaſtagon, that from Ægyptus draws
40
His high birth; Suſiſcanes; and the chief
That reigns o'er ſacred Memphis, great Arſames;
And Ariomardus, that o'er ancient Thebes
Bears the ſupreme dominion; and with theſe
Drawn from their watry marſhes numbers train'd
45
To the ſtout oar.
Next theſe the Lycian troops,
Soft ſons of luxury; and thoſe that dwell
Amidſt the inland foreſts, from the ſea
Far diſtant; theſe Metragathes commands,
50
And virtuous Arceus, royal chiefs, that ſhine
In burniſh'd gold, and many' a whirling car
Drawn by ſix generous ſteeds from Sardis lead,
A glorious, and a dreadful ſpectacle.
And from the foot of Tmolus, ſacred mount,
55
Eager to bind on Greece the ſervile yoke,
Mardon and Tharybis the maſſy ſpear
Graſp with unwearied vigor;
Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 41 focus
E li segue la turba dei Lidî
delicati, e quanti ebber la culla
nelle interne contrade.
45
Li guida
Metrogate e Arteo prode, signori
ambi e re.
Sardi, rutila d'oro,
li sospinge su innumeri carri
50
aggiogati con quattro, con sei
corridori, tremendo spettacolo.
E Mardonio e Taríbide, incudini
delle lance al cozzar, che dimorano
presso a Tmolo santissima, e i Misî
55
lanciator' di zagaglie, minacciano
pure all'Ellade il giogo servile.
Babilonia che sfolgora d'oro,
inviò lunghe turbe commiste,
e su navi i guerrieri sicuri
60
nell'ardire che lancia le frecce.
E ogni gente che stringa la spada,
dall'Asia universa
segue gli ordini fieri del Re.
Tale fiore di giovani mosse
65
dalle plaghe di Persia.
E per essi
tutta or piange la terra asïàna
che nutriali, ch'or n'arde di brama.
Ed il tempo che tanto prolungasi
70
i padri e le spose
giorno a giorno misurano, e tremano.
Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 41 focus
Mollium ſequitur Lydorum
Turba, qui omnino continentigenam
40
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.) — 41 focus
And next, the dainty Lydians went—
Soft rulers of a continent—
Mitragathes and Arcteus bold
In twin command their ranks controlled,
And Sardis town, that teems with gold,
50
Sent forth its squadrons to the war—
Horse upon horse, and car on car,
Double and triple teams, they rolled,
In onset awful to behold.
From Tmolus' sacred hill there came
55
The native hordes to join the fray,
And upon Hellas' neck to lay
The yoke of slavery and shame;
Mardon and Tharubis were there,
Bright anvils for the foemen's spear!
60
The Mysian dart-men sped to war,
And the long crowd that onward rolled
From Babylon enriched with gold—
Captains of ships and archers skilled
To speed the shaft, and those who wield
65
The scimitar;—the eastern band
Who, by the great king's high command,
Swept to subdue the western land!
Gone are they, gone—ah, welladay!
The flower and pride of our array;
70
And all the Eastland, from whose breast
Came forth her bravest and her best,
Craves longingly with boding dread—
Parents for sons, and brides new-wed
For absent lords, and, day by day,
75
Shudder with dread at their delay!
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.) — 41 focus
Ein üppiger Schwarm aus Lydia folgt
Mit den Völkern, die rings auf dem Festland hier
Anbauen das Feld, die Mitrogathes führt
Und Arkteus, Könige, waltend mit Macht;
45
Auch Sardes, die Goldstadt, sendet zum Kampf
Viel reisiges Volk auf Wagen daher,
Vierspännige Reih'n, sechsspännige Reih'n,
Ein grausenerregender Anblick!
Und die Schleudererschaar aus mysischen Gau'n
50
Und das Volk am heiligen Tmolos droht,
Will Hellas umfah'n mit der Knechtschaft Joch,
Von Mardon geführt, von Tharybis auch,
Ambossen des Speers. Auch Babylon schickt
Aus dem goldenen Sik in rauschendem Zug
55
Buntwimmelndes Volk, hier Kämpfer zu Schiff,
Dort Meister, der Kunst des Geschosses gewiß.
Aus Asia folgt, was im weiten Gebiet
Sich mit Schwertern bewehrt,
Dem gewaltigen Rufe des Königs.
60
Solch blühendes Volk aus Persis' Reich
Zog fern in den Kampf:
Ganz Asia seufzt als die Mutter um sie
In der Sehnsucht heißem, zermalmendem Schmerz,
Und es ängstigen sich um die schleichende Zeit
65
Tagzählende Frauen und Mütter.
Erste Strophe.

Commentary

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

218. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-167

δεύτερον δὲ:
δεύτερος δὲ χρὴ χοαὶ
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

215-225. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-31

1
2
Antwort des Chor- führers (in feierlichen troch. Tetra- metern). Vgl. Soph. O. R. 89 f.: οὔτε θρασὺς οὔτ᾽ οὖν προδείσας εἰμὶ τῷ γε νῦν λόγῳ. samste ist unter allen Umständen die Götter anzurufen. μῆτερ, als Königin-Mutter (156), doch vgl. 664. προστροπαῖς, supplicatione. φλαῦρον, infaustum. Vgl. Soph. El. 646 εἰ μὲν πέφηνεν ἐσθλά (nämlich φάσματα ὀνείρων), δὸς τελεσφόρα, εἰ δ᾽ ἐχθρά, τοῖς ἐχθροῦσιν ἐμπαλιν μέθες. - Eustath. Hom. Od. κ 518: οἰκεῖον νεκροῖς ἡ χοή. – γῇ vgl. 628 f. 640. πρευμενῶς mit αὐτοῦ (nicht πέμπειν) zu verbinden (bitte freundlich) gestattet V. 224. Vgl. 609. – τάδε, um folgendes, nämlich das πέμπειν u. s. w. – θυμόμαντις (vgl. θυμόσοφος, Ar. nub. 877), ἐκ τοῦ θυμοῦ μαντευόμενος, Gegenteil νοη θεόμαντις. παρήνεσα, zu Ar. nub. 174 u. Kr. 53, 6. А. 3. - τελεῖν intrs. Kr. II § 52, 2. A. 1. Unsere Traumdeutung geht dahin, es werde für dich alles gut sich er- füllen. Der Chorführer schliefst mit einem glückverheiſsenden Worte.