W. S. Teuffel Persians 56-58.comm-56-58

ed. N. Wecklein

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Persians. W. S. Teuffel. ed. N. Wecklein. . .

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)
Πέρσαι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 65-158 focus
Πέρσαι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 65-158 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
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.
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'
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·
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
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.
Aeschyli Persae (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Persae. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 41 focus
ἁβροδιαίτων δ᾽ ἕπεται Λυδῶν
ὄχλος, οἵ τ᾽ ἐπίπαν ἠπειρογενές
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.
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.) — 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.
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
.
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
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 3 , en jetant sa route
aux mille chevilles 4 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
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;
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The Persians (OCR draft) Experimental (The Persians. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 38 focus
ATOSSA
Woe! woe! The very crown of ills, I hear,
To Persians shame and matter for shrill wail;
But on thy track returning, tell me this,
How great the number of the Hellenès' fleet,
That they with Persia's armament should dare
Battle to join in shock of naval prows?
MESSENGER
Had conquest waited upon numbers, queen,
Then Persia's ships were victor, for the fleet
340
Of Hellas counted but three hundred ships, *
And other ten selected, in reserve.
But Xerxes, this I know, led fifty score,
While those for swiftness most pre-eminent
Two hundred were and seven: such the tale.
Seem we to thee the weaker in this battle?
Rather some power divine destroyed the host,
The scale depressing with unequal fortune.
Gods save the city of the goddess, Pallas.
ATOSSA
Is then the Athenians' city still unsack'd? †
350
MESSENGER
Her sons surviving, she firm bulwark hath.
ATOSSA
What the commencement of the sea-fight? Say.
Did the Hellenès first the onset lead,
Or did my son, proud of innumerous ships?
MESSENGER
All our disaster, Queen! from spirit of ill
Or vengeful power, none knoweth whence, began.
For a Hellene from out the Athenian host
Came to thy son, to Xerxes, with this tale, *
That when the gloom of dusky night set in,
The Hellenès would not stay, but, springing straight
360
On to the benches of their ships, would seek,
Some here, some there, safety by secret flight.
But he, when he had heard, perceiving not
The Hellenic guile, or envy of the gods,
To all his captains issues this command;
When with his beams the sun to scorch the earth
Should cease, and darkness hold the expanse of sky,
Their squadrons they should marshal in three lines,
Guarding the outlets and the billowy straits,
And others station around Aias' isle:—
370
For did the Hellenès 'scape a wretched fate,
Finding by stealth an outlet for their ships,
Stern was the warning,-every head should fall.— *
Such words he spake from mind infatuate,
For what impended from the gods he knew not.
And they, without disorder, but with minds
Obedient to command, their meal prepared,
And round true-fitting lock each mariner
Strapp'd well his oar. But when the sunlight waned
And night came on, each master of an oar ‡
380
Went to his ship, and each one versed in arms;
Of the long galleys line still cheering line,
Forth sail they, as to each had been prescribed.
And through the live-long night the admirals,
With naval force entire, cruised to and fro.
Darkness advanced, yet not in secret flight
Ionia's host was minded to escape;
But when white-steeded Day, bright to behold,
Held the wide earth, from the Hellenes first,
Like joyous chant, rang out their battle-cry,
390
And forthwith Echo, from the island rocks,
Sent back responsive an inspiring shout.
On all the Persians, cheated in their hopes,
Fell terror; for by no means as in flight
Their solemn pæan did th' Hellenes sing,
395
But with stout courage speeding to the fray.
The trumpet's blare fired all their ranks, and straight,
With simultaneous dip of sounding oar,
They at the signal smote the surging brine,
And instant all conspicuous were to sight.
400
First the right wing, well marshall'd, took the lead:
Then their whole naval force in fair array
Bore down against us. All at once was heard
A mighty shout: "Sons of Hellenès, on,
Your country free, your children free, your wives,
The temples of your fathers' deities,
Your tombs ancestral; for your all ye fight."
And from our side clamour of Persian speech
In answer rose; no time was then for pause,
But instant galley against galley dashed
410
Her armature of brass. A ship of Hellas
Led the encounter, and from Punic barque
Sheared her high crest. Thereon as fortune led,
Ship drave on ship; at first the Persian host,
A mighty flood, made head; but soon their ships
Thronged in the strait, of mutual aid bereft,
Each against other dashed with brazen beak,
Crushing the oar-banks of their proper fleet;
While the Hellenès ships, not without skill,
Circling around them smote: dead hulks of ships
420
Floated keel-upwards, and, with wrecks o'erstrewn
And slaughtered men, lost was the sea from sight,
Ay, shores and reefs were crowded with the dead.
In flight disordered every ship was rowed,
Poor remnant of the Persian armament.
Then as men strike at tunnies, or a haul
Of captured fishes, the Hellenès, armed
With splint of oar, or fragment from the wreck,
Batter'd, and clave with dislocating blows.
Shrieks and loud wailing filled the ocean brine,
Till all 'neath eye of swarthy night was lost.
430
But all our losses, though for ten whole days
I told them over, could I not recount.
Of this be sure, that never in one day
Perished of men so vast a multitude.
ATOSSA
Woe! Woe! Of ills a mighty sea hath burst
On Persia, and on all the Asian race.
MESSENGER
Be thou assured, but half our loss thou knowest;
Upon them came calamity so vast
As twice to overweigh the ills yet told.
ATOSSA
What Fortune could than this more hostile be?
440
Say, what this woe which came, as thou dost state,
Upon the host, charged with still heavier bale?
MESSENGER
All Persia's sons, in fairest bloom of life,
Bravest of soul, pre-eminent by birth,
And to the king himself still first in trust,—
These died ignobly, by inglorious doom.
ATOSSA
Ah wretched me, my friends, for deadly chance!
But say, what form of ruin these o'erwhelm'd?
MESSENGER
An isle there is that fronteth Salamis,
Small, with bad anchorage, whose sea-washed beach
450
Dance-loving Pan doth haunt; thither the King
Sendeth these chiefs, that, when the worsted foe
Should in the isle seek safety, Persia's sons
Might slay the host of Hellas, easy prey,
And from the briny channels save their friends,
Ill-guessing the to-come: for when the god
The Hellenès crowned with glory of the fight,
On that same day, with shields of well-wrought brass
Fencing their bodies, from their ships they leapt,
And the whole isle encompassed; so our men
460
Knew not which way to turn; oft time by stones
Pelted from foeman's hand, while arrows keen,
Thick raining from the bow-string, smote them down;
Rushing at last with simultaneous shout,
The Hellenès hacked and carved the victims' limbs,
Till they, poor wretches, all of life were reaved.
But Xerxes groaned, seeing the depth of ills;
For on a lofty height, hard by the sea,
His seat he held, o'erlooking all the host.
His garments rending, a shrill cry he raised,
470
To his land troops forthwith dispatch'd command,
And sped in flight disordered. Thine it is
To wail this sorrow added to the first.
ATOSSA
O hateful Demon, how thou hast belied
The hopes of Persians! Bitter punishment
'Gainst famous Athens hath my son devised;
Nor did the deaths suffice of Asia's host
Whom Marathon destroyed; for them my son
Thought to exact requital, but instead,
Upon himself hath drawn this host of ills.
480
But speak, the ships that have destruction 'scaped,—
Where didst thou leave them? This canst clearly tell?
MESSENGER
Of the surviving ships the captains straight
Before the wind took flight in disarray.
But of the host the remnant met their death
In the Bœotians' land. Some pressed with thirst
Round sparkling fount, some breathless, spent by toil. *
Thence crossed we over to the Phocian land,
To soil of Doris and the Melian gulf,
Whose plain Spercheios' stream with kindly draught
Waters; thereafter the Achaian soil,
490
And cities of Thessalians us received,
Straitened for food; there died the greater part
Of thirst and hunger, for both ills befel.
Magnesia and the Macedonian land
Traversed we then, far as to Axios' ford,
To Bolbe's marshy reed, and to the height
Of Mount Pangaios and the Edonian land;
But on that night, winter, out of due time,
Some god aroused, who Strymon's holy stream
Through its whole course congealed; then who before
The gods had held for nought, with fervent prayers
500
Invoked them now, bowing to earth and sky.
When from their frequent orisons the host
Had ceased, the stream's firm crystal straight they cross;
Then those among us who their march began,
Ere the god darted forth his rays, were saved;
For, flaming with his beams, the sun's bright orb
Pierced the mid river, warming with his blaze;
Then each on other fell, and blest was he
Whoever earliest snapt the breath of life.
But the poor remnant, they who safety found,
510
With toil and many a hardship crossing Thrace,
Rescued, arrive, not many, to a land
Of hearths domestic. Now let Susa groan,
Sore yearning for our country's much-loved youth.
True are these things, but many ills untold
I leave, which God upon the Persians hurled.
1
CHORUS
O baleful Demon! with what heavy weight
Thy feet have trampled on all Persia's race!
ATOSSA
Ah, woe is me for ruin of the host!
Oh nightly vision manifest in dreams,
520
To me how surely didst thou ills portend!
To the Chorus.
But ye too lightly did interpret it. Nathless, since your response did sanction this, First, I desire to supplicate the gods; Then, bringing from my house libations, gifts To Earth and to the Manes, I will come; Too late, I know, for evils past recall, But more auspicious may the future prove! Meanwhile 'tis meet that, touching these events, Ye faithful counsel with the faithful hold. 530 My son, ere my return, should he arrive, Console ye, and escort him to his home, Lest to these ills some further ill accrue.
CHORUS
O sovereign Zeus, who Persia's host
Countless and boasting loud
Hast now destroyed,
Lo! Susa and Agbatana
By thee are wrapt in sorrow's murky shroud.
And many a maid her mantling vest
With tender hands now teareth;
540
While drenching tears bedew her breast,
The general grief that shareth.
And Persia's women, delicate in woe,
Longing their new-wed lords to see again,
Their bridal couch with dainty covers dight,
Abandon'd now, their tender youth's delight,
With sateless moan complain;
While I, in fitting strain,
Wail for the fates of those in death laid low.
ATOSSA
My friends, whoso is versed in sorrow, knows
600
That when on mortals comes a surge of ills,
Prone are they then to fear; but when the tide
Of fortune smoothly glides, fondly they trust
That the same fortune still will waft them on.
So now to me are all things full of fear;
Woes sent of Heaven are present to mine eyes;
Rings in mine ear a cry, no pæan strain:
Such terror from these evils scares my soul.
Wherefore without my car and wonted pomp,
Once more I issue from my home, and bring
610
To my son's royal sire, libations kind,
Whate'er is soothing to the honoured dead.
White milk, sweet draught from heifer undefiled;
The flower-distiller's dew, translucent honey,
And crystal water drawn from virgin spring;
Here joyance too I bring of ancient vine,
Draught unadulterate from mother wild;
From pale green olive-tree, that while it lives
With constant leafage blooms, this odorous fruit;
And wreathèd flowers, brood of all-teeming Earth.
620
But, O my friends, chant ye well-omened hymns
O'er these libations offered to the dead;
Darius' mighty ghost do ye invoke,
While I, these honours, which the earth shall drink,
Myself will send to deities below.
CHORUS
O royal lady, to whom Persians bow,
Do thou, to halls below, libations send,
While we in solemn lay
Those who escort the dead will pray
Beneath the earth their gracious aid to lend.
Dread Powers who dwell below,
630
Hermes and Earth and Thou,
Monarch of Hades, do ye now
His spirit to the light upsend;
For, if a cure for these dire ills he know,
633
Alone of mortals he may speak the end.
DARIUS
O faithful of the faithful, ye whilome
My youth's compeers, elders of Persia, say
With what sore travail travaileth the state?
The land, breast-smitten and with furrowed cheek, *
Moaneth, and I, beholding near my tomb
680
My consort, troubled am, but graciously
Her off'rings I received; ye also stand
Lifting the dirge beside my sepulchre,
And, shouting loud with shade-evoking strains,
Piteously call me: but the upward path
Lies not too open; for the gods below
More ready are to seize than to let loose.
Yet, rank among them holding, I am come;
But haste, that time rebuke not my delay.
What this new ill that weighs the Persians down?
4
CHORUS
To look upon thee awes me;
690
To speak before thee awes me:
By ancient fear subdued.
DARIUS
But since from Hades I have come, by thy complaints persuaded,
Give to mine ear no long discourse, but tell thy tale concisely;
Laying aside thine awe of me, reveal the whole full quickly.
CHORUS
I tremble to obey thee,
Tremble to speak before thee
Things harsh for friends to hear.
DARIUS
Well, since thine ancient reverence thy spirit thus impedeth,
Hoar partner of my royal couch, do thou, much honoured lady,
700
These cries and lamentations leave, and somewhat tell distinctly.
That upon mortal men should come afflictions, is but human.
Many calamities by sea, many by land still happen
To mortals, if to wider scope their life should be extended.
ATOSSA
O thou in happy fortune blest beyond the lot of mortals,
In envied glory, while thine eyes still gazed upon the sunlight,
Leading a life of happiness, a god unto the Persians.
Happy, in sooth, I deem thee now, dying before thou sawest
Our depth of ill. Thou in brief space the tale shall hear, Darius.
In utter ruin, so to speak, prostrate lies Persia's fortune.
710
DARIUS
How, prithee? Came contagion's blast or discord o'er the city?
ATOSSA
By neither, but near Athens' walls hath our whole host been routed.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.

Notes on the current edition

Persians

1. Single-witness OCR: uncollated. Source layout and readings require scan review; automatic flags are not exhaustive.
2. Reference placement provisional: provisional local reference window from running Greek. Verify the printed source numbering and note scope against the scan.

Commentary

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

56. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-47

καὶ:
καὶ
omittit G. λήματι:
λήμματα
Vit. Lips. aliique et Rob.

58. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-48

ἕπεται: Post
ἕπεται
Ox. Ven. A. Ald. addunt
προτροπαῖς
. Ea voce in scholiis sequente versu
ὑποπομπαῖς
explicatur.

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.

21-58. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-5

3
4
Spezifikation der aus- gezogenen Generale und Völker, in epischer Weise. Die Namen nicht alle genau persisch, sondern nach ungefährem Klange gebildet. ( τὰ μὲν τῶν ὀνομάτων ἱστόρησεν, τὰ δὲ τελείως ἔπλασεν Schol.). Vgl. zu 302. Ihre Häufung erweckte in den Hörern immer von neuem das frohe Gefühl des Sieges. Τ. 21-28. Αρταφρένης Άρτα 778. Ein Führer der Lyder und Myser Αρτ. bei Herod. VII 74. Μεγαβάτης: Namen dieser Art bei Herod. VII 82. 97. – Αστάσπης: ein Υστάσπης Herod. VII 64. σοῦνται vgl. Suppl. 836. Sept. 31. Das epische τ' ἠδέ findet sich bei Äschylos noch zweimal um des Versmaſses willen (996. Sept. 862). τὲ ἠδὲ Cho. 232, sonst ἠδέ. - ψυχῆς ἐν τλήμονι πείση (in ausdauerndem Halte der Seele) nach Hom. v 23 τῷ δ᾽ ἄρα τ᾽ ἐν πείσῃ κραδίη μένε τετληυῖα.

56-58. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg002-teuffel-wecklein1886-com-ger1-10

5
6
Die Leibwache, die zehntausend (Herod. VII 55) Per- ser; vgl. Herod. VII 54: περσικὸν ξίφος, τὸ ἀκινάκην καλέουσι, ein kurzes gerades Schwert. Sub gravibus regis imperiis; Ag. 748. Choeph. 28.