Aeschylus Persians 7

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

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CHORUS
Far to the west, where waneth our sovereign lord, the sun.

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.) — 1 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 1 focus
Τάδε μὲν Περσῶν τῶν οἰχομένων
1
Ἑλλάδ᾽ ἐς αἶαν πιστὰ καλεῖται,
καὶ τῶν ἀφνεῶν καὶ πολυχρύσων
ἑδράνων φύλακες,
κατὰ πρεσβείαν οὓς αὐτὸς ἄναξ
5
Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς Δαρειογενὴς
εἵλετο χώρας ἐφορεύειν.
ἀμφὶ δὲ νόστῳ τῷ βασιλείῳ
καὶ πολυχρύσου στρατιᾶς ἤδη
κακόμαντις ἄγαν ὀρσολογεῖται
10
θυμός, ἔσωθεν δὲ βαΰζει.
πᾶσα γὰρ ἰσχὺς ᾿Ασιατογενής
οἴχωκε νέων,
κοὔτε τις ἄγγελος, οὔτε τις ἱππεὺς
ἄστυ τὸ Περσῶν ἀφικνεῖται,
15
οἵτε τὸ Σούσων ἠδ᾽ Εκβατάνων
καὶ τὸ παλαιὸν Κίσσινον ἕρκος
προλιπόντες ἔβαν,
οἱ μὲν ἐφ᾽ ἵππων, οἳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ ναῶν,
πεζοί τε βάδην
20
πολέμου στῖφος παρέχοντες·
οἷος Αμίστρης ἠδ᾽ Αρταφρένης,
καὶ Μεγαβάτης, ἠδ᾽ Αστάσπης,
ΠΕΡΣΑΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΕΡΣΑΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 1 focus
Πέρσαι (OCR draft) Experimental (Πέρσαι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 1 focus
Τάδε μὲν Περσῶν τῶν οἰχομένων
1
Ἑλλάδ᾽ ἐς αἶαν πιστὰ καλεῖται,
καὶ τῶν ἀφνεῶν καὶ πολυχρύσων
ἑδράνων φύλακες, κατὰ πρεσβείαν
οὓς αὐτὸς ἄναξ Ξέρξης βασιλεὺς
5
Δαρειογενὴς
εἵλετο χώρας ἐφορεύειν.
ἀμφὶ δὲ νόστῳ τῷ βασιλείῳ
καὶ πολυχρύσου στρατιᾶς ἤδη
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 1 focus
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.) — 1 focus
These are the faithful band 1
left by the Persians who have gone into the land of Hellas, and guardians of these opulent abodes abounding in gold, whom our prince Xerxes himself, a monarch descended from Darius, selected according to seniority, to have the superintendence of the realm. And now for some time my ill-boding soul within me has been in a state of exceeding agitation concerning the return of our monarch, and of the army in its rich array, for the whole native power of Asia hath gone, and [my mind] calls for its youthful hero 2
. And neither does any messenger nor any horseman arrive at the city of the Persians, who, having quitted the city of Susa and of Ecbatana 1
, and the antique Cissian fortress, set forth, some on steeds, some in ships, and the infantry in slow march, forming a dense file of war. Amistres 2
, for instance, and Artaphrenes, and Megabayes, and Astaspes, leaders of the Persians, kings, subalterns of the great king, speed their way, inspectors of the great host, both those that conquer with the bow, and mounted upon steeds, fearful to look upon 3
, and terrible in fight, through their stern determination of spirit. Artembaces too, rejoicing in his charger, and Masistres, and stout Imae us that slays with the bow, and Pharandaces and Sosthanes, driver of steeds. And others Nile, the mighty stream and nourisher of many, sent forth; Susiscanes, Pegastagon native of Egypt, and the lord of sacred Memphis mighty Arsames, and Ariomardus ruler of ancient Thebes, and the dwellers in the fens, skilful rowers of galleys, and in multitude beyond all numbering.
LES PERSES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES PERSES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 1 focus
Voici ceux que parmi les Perses, aujourd'hui partis 1 pour la terre de Grèce, on nomme les Fidèles, gardiens de ce palais d'opulence et d'or, qu'à rai-
son de leur rang notre sire Xerxès, roi né de Darios, a lui-même choisis pour veiller sur sa terre.
Mais, à songer au retour royal, au retour de l'armée bardée d'or, déjà, prophète trop prompt de malheurs, mon
cœur se hérisse en moi : la force née de l'Asie s'en est allée tout entière ! il gronde, appelant un porteur de nouvelles : et nul messager, nul courrier monté n'arrive à
la cité des Perses !
Quittant Suse et Ecbatane et les vieux remparts kissiens 2 , ils sont partis, les uns à cheval, d'autres sur des vaisseaux,
les fantassins à pied, formant le gros de la masse guerrière.
Ainsi vont au combat Amistrès et Artaphrénès, Mégaba-
tès et Astaspès, capitaines des Perses, rois vassaux du
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 1 focus
WHILST o'er the fields of Greece the em-
1
battled troops
Of Perſia march, with delegated ſway
We o'er their rich and gold-abounding ſeats
Hold faithful our firm guard;
5
to this high charge
Xerxes, our royal lord, th' imperial ſon
Of great Darius, choſe our honour'd age.
But for the king's return, and his arm'd hoſt
Blazing with gold, my ſoul preſaging ill
10
Swells in my tortur'd breaſt:
for all her force
Hath Aſia ſent, and for her youth I ſigh.
Nor meſſenger arrives, nor horſeman ſpurs
With tidings to this ſeat of Persia's kings.
15
The gates of Suſa and Ecbatana
Pour'd forth their martial trains; and Ciſſia ſees
Her ancient tow'rs forſaken, whilſt her youth,
Some on the bounding ſteed, the tall bark ſome
Aſcending, ſome with painful march on foot,
20
Haſte on, t' arrange the deep'ning files of war.
Amiſtres, Artaphernes, and the might
Of great Aſtaſpes, Megabazes bold,
Chieftains of Perſia, kings, that to the pow'r
Of the great king obedient, march with theſe
25
Leading their martial thouſands;
their proud
ſteeds
Prance under them; ſteel bows and ſhafts their
arms,
30
Dreadful to ſee, and terrible in ſight,
Deliberate valour breathing in their ſouls,
Artembares, that in his firey horſe
Delights; Maſiſtres; and Imæus bold,
Bending with manly ſtrength his ſtubborn bow;
35
Pharandaces, and Soſthanes, that drives
With military pomp his rapid ſteeds.
Others the vaſt prolific Nile hath ſent;
Pegaſtagon,
Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Persiani: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 1 focus
I fedeli siam noi dei Signori
1
persïani partiti per l'Ellade,
i custodi siam noi dei palagi
ricchi d'oro, opulenti.
Prescelse
5
noi, pel senno e per gli anni provetti
a vegliar su la patria il re Serse,
figliuolo di Dario.
E di già per l'assenza del sire,
dell'esercito rutilo d'oro,
10
troppo in seno tumultua l'anima
presaga di mali.
Poi che tutta partir la sua forza
vide l'Asia, e i suoi giovani invoca;
né alcun messo ancor giunge, non giunge
15
cavaliere alla nostra città.
Molti d'essi, da Ecbàtana e Susa,
dal vetusto recinto di Císsino,
movevano a guerra
su corsieri, su navi, o pedoni
20
ad empir le caterve di guerra:
quali Amistra, Artaferne, Megàbate,
ed Astàspe, signori di Persi.
Ed i re del gran Re tributarî,
si lanciâr con fittissime schiere,
25
vibrando archi, inforcando corsieri,
paurosi a vedere, terribili
com'è fama, pel cuor temerario
nella zuffa.
Ed Artèmbare, vago
30
di cavalli, e Masistre, e Imeo prode
vibratore dell'arco, e Faràndace
e Sostane signor dei corsieri.
Il gran Nilo dai flutti fecondi
altri poi ne mandava: Susícane,
35
Pegastàgone egizio, ed Arsàme,
l'alto sire di Menfi la sacra,
e Ariomardo che a Tebe vetusta
tien lo scettro;
e le genti palustri
40
ben destre al remeggio,
moltitudini immense e terribili.
Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Persae: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 1 focus
Hæc quidem Perſarum proficiſcentium
1
In Græciam præſidia uocantur fi delia,
Et locupletum diuitumq;
Sedium custodes, tanquam antiquos:
Hos ipſe rex Xerxes imperator
5
Dariogena Dario natus
Elegit, ut specularentur terram,
Pro reditu regio,
Exercitus diuitis iam
Sinister uates animus admodum turbatur
10
Intrinfecus:
omne robur Aſiaticum
Abiuit, iuuenem uirum excit.
At neq; ullus nuncius, aut eques
Vrbem Perſarum adit.
15
Qui Sufa Ecbatana,
Et antiquum bederaceum munimentum
Partim nauibus, partim pedeſtri itinere,
Relinquentes, profecti funt partim equis,
Belli turmam conftituentes.
20
Qualis Amistres, Artafrenes,
Et Megabases, Aftapesq duces Perſarum,
Reges regi magno ſubditi
Veniunt, exercitus magni præfecti,
Iaculatoresq ,ac equites
25
Terribiles quidem uiſu, atroces uerò pugna,
In audaci opinione anime.
Artembares, & Hippiocharmes, Maſiſtresq
Arcu domans ftrenuus Imeus,
Pharandacesq;, equorum rector'q; Soſthanes.
30
Alios uerò magnus multa animalia alens
Nilus mifit:Sufiſcanes,
Pegaſtagon Aegyptogena,
Et facræ Memphidos princeps
Magnus Arfames, priſcas
35
Thebas incolens Ariomardus,
Et nauales nauium remiges
Graues, multitudoq; innumera,
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.) — 1 focus
Away unto the Grecian land
1
Hath passed the Persian armament:
We, by the monarch's high command,
We are the warders true who stand,
Chosen, for honour and descent,
5
To watch the wealth of him who went—
Guards of the gold, and faithful styled
By Xerxes, great Darius' child!
But the king went nor comes again—
And for that host, we saw depart
10
Arrayed in gold, my boding heart
Aches with a pulse of anxious pain,
Presageful for its youthful king!
No scout, no steed, no battle car
Comes speeding hitherward, to bring
15
News to our city from afar!
Erewhile they went, away, away,
From Susa, from Ecbatana,
From Kissa's timeworn fortress grey,
Passing to ravage and to war—
20
Some upon steeds, on galleys some,
Some in close files, they passed from home,
All upon warlike errand bent—
Amistres, Artaphernes went,
Astaspes, Megabazes high,
25
Lords of the Persian chivalry,
Marshals who serve the great king's word,
Chieftains of all the mighty horde!
Horsemen and bowmen streamed away,
Grim in their aspect, fixed to slay,
30
And resolute to face the fray!
With troops of horse, careering fast,
Masistes, Artembáres passed:
Imaeus too, the bowman brave,
Sosthánes, Pharandákes, drave—
35
And others the all-nursing wave
Of Nilus to the battle gave;
Came Susiskánes, warrior wild,
And Pegastágon, Egypt's child:
Thee, brave Arsámes! from afar
40
Did holy Memphis launch to war;
And Ariomardus, high in fame,
From Thebes the immemorial came,
And oarsmen skilled from Nilus' fen,
A countless crowd of warlike men:
45
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.) — 1 focus
Von dem persischen Volk, das in Hellas' Gefild 1 2
1
Auszog, steh'n hier die Getreuen des Reichs,
Für die Wohnungen, die reich prangen in Gold,
Als Hüter bestellt, die Xerxes selbst,
Mein König und Herr, des Dareios Sohn,
5
Nach Alter und Stand
Auswählte, des Landes zu wachen.
Doch unheilahnend erbebt schon jetzt
Mir unruhvoll in den Tiefen der Brust
Mein zagendes Herz, ob der Fürst und das Heer,
10
Hellstrahlend von Gold, heimkehren im Glück.
Denn der Jünglinge Kraft aus Asia's Gau'n
Zog all' in den Kampf,
Und weder zu Fuß kommt, weder zu Roß,
Botschaft in die persische Heimat.
15
Fern zogen sie aus von Ekbatana dort,
Aus Susa hier und dem alten Bezirk
Der kissinischen Burg,
Heerschaaren zu Roß, Heerhausen zu Schiff,
Und Streiter zu Fuß,
20
Sturmgleich sich ergießend im Heerstrom.
Artaphernes gebeut und Amistres hier,
Megabazes auch und Astaspes dort
In den Reihen des Volks,
Selbst Könige sie, dem Erhabensten nur
25
Dienstbar, Feldherrn des gewaltigen Heers,
Auf schäumendem Roß, mit dem Bogen bewehrt,
Graunweckend im Kampf und furchtbar zu schau'n
In des Muths ausharrendem Troße.
Artembares dann, hoch kämpfend zu Roß,
30
Masistres zugleich und Imäos der Held,
Mit dem Bogen bewehrt, Pharandakes auch,
Und der Tummler der Rosse, Sosthanes.
Viel sandte sodann des gewaltigen Nil
Fruchtwallendes Thal, erst Susiskan,
35
Dann Pegastagon, Aegyptens Sohn,
Und der heiligen Memphis mächtigen Herrn,
Arsames, Ariomardos auch,
Der Theben beherrscht, das ogygische Land,
Und der Ruderer Kern, der die Sümpfe bewohnt,
40
Streitbar, ein unendlich Gewimmel.

Commentary

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

1-64. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-1

1
2
Parodos ohne Prologos. Der Chor durchschreitet die Orchestra unter dem Takte der Anapäste des Koryphaios: erster Teil der Paro- dos, 1-64. Anapästische Dime- ter; vgl. Westphal¹ II. S. 413f. Das Auftreten des Chors wird V. 140- 149 motiviert.

1-7. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-2

3
4
In altertümlicher Ein- fachheit giebt der Chorführer selbst Aufschluſs darüber was der Chor diesmal vorstelle. τάδε, νοη näherer Bestimmung absehend, s. Kr. 43, 4. A. 15f. Vgl. 681.851. Eum. 482. Auch s. oben S. 27. πιστά, 171. 681. Xen. Anab. I 5, 15: ( Κῦρος) σὺν τοῖς παροῦσι τῶν πιστῶν. ἕδρανα, der Palast des Xerxes in Susa, wo das Schatzhaus des Königs war (Herod. V 49, Strab. XV p. 731). - κατὰ πρεσβείαν wegen ihrer Ehrwürdigkeit eit und darauf sich gründenden Zuverlässigkeit. – ἐφο- ρεύειν, Kr. 55, 3. A. 20.