Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 128-194

ed. Arthur Sidgwick

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Prometheus Bound. Aeschylus. ed. Arthur Sidgwick. Oxford. 1902.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition First1KGreek

Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (Greek) (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.)

Editions (6)
Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 128-195 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 128 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 128 focus
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 128 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 128 focus
μηδὲν φοβηθῇς· φιλία
130
γὰρ ἥδε τάξις
πτερύγων θοαῖς ἁμίλλαις
προσέβα τόνδε πάγον, πατρῴας
μόγις παρειποῦσα φρένας.
κραιπνοφόροι δέ μ' ἔπεμψαν αὖραι·
135
κτύπου γὰρ ἀχὼ χάλυβος
διῇξεν ἄντρων
μυχόν, ἐκ δ᾽ ἔπληξέ μου
τὰν θεμερῶπιν αἰδῶ·
σύθην δ' ἀπέδιλος ὄχῳ πτερωτῷ.
140
αἰαι αἰαι,
τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,
τοῦ περὶ πᾶσαν θ' εἱλισσομένου
χθόν᾽ ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδες
πατρὸς Ὠκεανοῦ,
145
δέρχθητ᾽, ἐσίδεσθ' οἵῳ δεσμῷ
προσπορπατὸς τῆσδε φάραγγος
σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις
φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.
λεύσσω, Προμηθεῦ· φοβερὰ
150
δ᾽ ἐμοῖσιν ὄσσοις
ὁμίχλη προσῇξε πλήρης
δακρύων, σὸν δέμας εἰσιδοῦσα
πέτραις προσαυαινόμενον
ταῖσδ᾽ ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι λύμαις·
155
νέοι γὰρ οἰακονόμοι
κρατοῦσ᾽ Ὀλύμπου,
νεοχμοῖς δὲ δὴ νόμοις
Ζεὺς ἀθέτως κρατύνει.
τὰ πρὶν δὲ πελώρια νῦν ἀιστοῖ.
160
εἰ γάρ μ' ὑπὸ γῆν νέρθεν θ' Ἅιδου
τοῦ νεκροδέγμονος
εἰς ἀπέραντον Τάρταρον ἧκεν,
δεσμοῖς ἀλύτοις ἀγρίοις πελάσας,
ὡς μήτε θεὸς μήτε τις ἄλλος
165
τοῖσδ᾽ ἐπεγήθει.
νῦν δ᾽ αἰθέριον κίνυγμ᾽ ὁ τάλας
ἐχθροῖς ἐπίχαρτα πέπονθα.
τίς ὧδε τλησικάρδιος
θεῶν ὅτῳ τάδ᾽ ἐπιχαρῆ;
170
τίς οὐ ξυνασχαλᾷ κακοῖς
τεοῖσι, δίχα γε Διός; ὃ δ᾽
ἐπικότως ἀεὶ
θέμενος ἄγναμπτον νόον
δάμναται Οὐρανίαν
175
γένναν, οὐδὲ λήξει,
πρὶν ἂν ἢ κορέσῃ
κέαρ, ἢ παλάμᾳ τινὶ
τὰν δυσάλωτον ἕλῃ τις ἀρχάν.
ἢ μὴν ἔτ᾽ ἐμοῦ, καίπερ κρατεραῖς
180
ἐν γυιοπέδαις αἰκιζομένου,
χρείαν ἕξει μακάρων πρύτανις,
σὺ μὲν θρασύς τε καὶ πικραῖς
δύαισιν οὐδὲν ἐπιχαλᾷς,
ἄγαν δ᾽ ἐλευθεροστομεῖς.
ἐμὰς δὲ φρένας ἐρέθισε
διάτορος φόβος·
195
δέδια γὰρ ἀμφὶ σαῖς τύχαις,
πᾷ ποτε τῶνδε πόνων
χρή σε τέρμα κέλσαντ᾽
ἐσιδεῖν. ἀκίχη-
τα γὰρ ἤθεα καὶ κέαρ
200
ἀπαράμυθον ἔχει Κρόνου παῖς.
οἶδ' ὅτι τραχὺς καὶ παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ
τὸ δίκαιον ἔχων Ζεύς, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμπας, οἴω,
μαλακογνώμων ἔσται ποθ᾽, ὅταν
ταύτῃ ῥαισθῇ·
205
τὴν δ᾽ ἀτέραμνον στορέσας ὀργὴν
εἰς ἀρθμὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ φιλότητα
σπεύδων σπεύδοντι ποθ' ἥξει.
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 128 focus
Translations (9)
Prometheus Bound Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 128-195 focus
Prometheus Bound. (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 128 focus
Dread thou nothing; for this is a friendly band that has come with the fleet rivalry of their pinions to this rock, after prevailing with difficulty on the mind of our father. And the swiftly-wafting breezes escorted me: for the echo of the clang of steel pierced to the recess of our grots, and banished my demure-looking reserve; and I sped without my sandals in my winged chariot.
Alas! alas! ye offspring of prolific Thetys, and daughters of Ocean your sire, who rolls around the whole earth in his unslumbering stream; look upon me, see clasped in what bonds I shall keep an unenviable watch on the topmost crags of this ravine.
I see, Prometheus: and a fearful mist full of tears darts over mine eyes, as I looked on thy frame withering on the rocks
in these galling adamantine fetters: for new pilots are the masters of Olympus; and Jove, contrary to right, lords it with new laws, and things aforetime had in reverence he is obliterating.
Oh would that he had sent me beneath the earth, and below into the boundless Tartarus of Hades that receives the dead, after savagely securing me in indissoluble bonds, so that no god at any time, nor any other being, had exulted in this my doom. Whereas now, hapless one, I, the sport of the winds, suffer pangs that gladden my foes.
Who of the gods is so hard-hearted as that these things should be grateful to him? Who is there that sympathizes not with thy sufferings, Jove excepted? He indeed, in his wrath, assuming an inflexible temper, is evermore oppressing the celestial race! nor will he cease before that either he shall have sated his heart, or some one by some stratagem shall have seized upon his sovereignty that will be no easy prize.
In truth hereafter the president of the immortals
shall have need of me, albeit that I am ignominiously suffering in stubborn shackles, to discover to him the new plot by which he is to be despoiled of his sceptre and his honours. But neither shall he win me by the honey-tongued charms of persuasion; nor will I at any time, crouching beneath his stern threats, divulge this matter, before he shall have released me from my cruel bonds, and shall be willing to yield me retribution for this outrage.
Thou indeed both art bold, and yieldest nought to thy bitter calamities, but art over free in thy language. But piercing terror is worrying my soul; for I fear for thy fortunes. How, when will it be thy destiny to make the haven and see the end of these thy sufferings? for the son of Saturn has manners that supplication cannot reach, and an inexorable heart.
I know that Jupiter is harsh, and keeps justice to himself: but for all that he shall hereafter be softened in purpose, when he shall be crushed in this way; and, after calming his unyielding temper with eagerness will he hereafter come into league and friendship with me that will eagerly [welcome him.]
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 128 focus
Ne crains rien : c'est une troupe amie 1 que
des ailes, luttant de vitesse, ont amenée à ce rocher. Mes paroles ont, à grand peine, triomphé du vouloir d'un père, et, rapides, les vents m'ont portée. Car les chocs bruyants du fer, pénétrant au fond de mon antre, ont chassé de moi la
sans jamais dormir,
roule autour de la terre immense, voyez, contemplez les chaînes qui m'agrafent au sommet de ce précipice rocheux, où je dois monter une garde que nul jamais ne m'enviera.
au nom de lois nouvelles, Zeus exerce un pouvoir sans règle et détruit aujourd'hui les colosses d'antan.
mes ennemis !
serment ; un jour viendra où de moi, pour outragé que je sois dans ces brutales entraves, de moi il aura besoin, le monarque des
Bienheureux, s'il veut apprendre quel destin hasardeux doit le dépouiller de son sceptre et de ses honneurs ;
alors, je le jure, ni les sortilèges d'une éloquence aux mots de miel ne m'auront pouvoir de me charmer, ni l'effroi des plus dures
menaces ne me fera révéler ce secret 3 , à moins qu'il n'ait d'abord desserré ces liens farouches et consenti à payer le prix dû à pareil outrage.
Inaccessible est le cœur, inflexible l'âme du fils de Cronos.
toi et t'inflige-t-il cet infâme et amer outrage ? Apprends-le nous, si le récit ne t'en coûte pas trop.
Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 128 focus
Forbear thy fears: a friendly train f
On buſy pennons flutt'ring light,
135
We come, our ſire not aſk'd in vain,
And reach this promontory's height.
The clanging iron's horrid ſound
Reecho'd thro' our caves profound;
And tho' my cheek glows with ſhame's crimſon dye,
140
Thus with unſandal'd foot with winged ſpeed I fly.
Ah me! Ah me!
Ye virgin ſiſters, who derive your race
From fruitful Thetis, and th' embrace
Of old Oceanus, your ſire, that rolls
145
Around the wide world his unquiet waves,
This way turn your eyes, behold
With what a chain fix'd to this rugged ſteep
Th' unenvied ſtation of the rock I keep.
I ſee, I ſee; and o'er my eyes,
150
Surcharg'd with ſorrow's tearful rain,.
Dark'ning the miſty clouds ariſe;
I ſee thy adamantine chain;
In its ſtrong graſp thy limbs confin'd,
And withering in the parching wind:
155
Such the ſtern pow'r of heav'n's newſceptred lord,
And lawcontrolling Jove's irrevocable word.
Beneath the earth,
Beneath the gulfs of Tartarus, g
that ſpread
Interminable o'er the dead,
160
Had his ſtern fury fix'd this rigid chain,
Nor gods, nor men had triumph'd in my pain.
But pendent in th' ætherial air,
The pageant gratifies my ruthleſs foes,
That gaze, inſult, and glory in my woes. h
165
Is there a god, whoſe ſullen ſoul
Feels a ſtern joy in thy deſpair?
Owns he not pity's ſoft controul,
And drops in ſympathy the tear?
All, all, ſave Jove; with fury driv'n
170
Severe he tames the ſons of heav'n;
And he will tame them, till ſome pow'r ariſe
To wreſt from his ſtrong hand the ſceptre of the ſkies.
Yet he, e'en he,
That o'er the gods holds his deſpotic reign,
175
And fixes this diſgraceful chain,
Shall need my aid, the counſels to diſcloſe
Deſtructive to his honour and his throne.
But not the honied blandiſhment, that flows
From his alluring lips, ſhall ought avail;
180
His rigid menaces ſhall fail;
Nor will I make the fatal ſecret known,
Till his proud hands this galling chain unbind,
And his remorſe ſooths my indignant mind.
Bold and intrepid is thy ſoul,
185
Fir'd with reſentment's warmeſt glow;
And thy free voice diſdains controul,
Diſdains the tort'ring curb of woe.
My ſofter boſom, thrill'd with fear
Leſt heavier ills await thee here,
190
By milder counſels wiſhes thee repoſe:
For Jove's relentless rage no tender pity knows.
Stern tho' he be,
And, in the pride of pow'r terrific dreſt,
Rears o'er inſulted right his creſt,
195
Yet gentler thoughts ſhall mitigate his ſoul,
When o'er his head this ſtorm ſhall roll;
Then ſhall his ſtubborn indignation bend,
Submit to ſue, and court me for a friend.
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 128 focus
Ah!, quale odo d'augelli
novo strepito? L'ètere sibila
145
sotto i battiti fitti dell'ali.
M'è terror tutto ciò che s'appressa!
Qui m'addusser del vento i soffî rapidi,
poi che del padre a stento ebbi il consenso.
Come echeggiò dei ferrei colpi l'eco
nel fondo del mio speco.
ogni pudico senso
155
discacciato da me,
scalzo lanciai su alato cocchio il pie'.
Ahimè, ahimè!
Prometeo, veggo. Ed una fosca nuvola
di lagrimose stille
mi preme le pupille,
te contemplando in lacci indissolubili
170
•
su questa roccia, a misero tormento.
Ma novello signor l'Olimpo regge;
ma con novella legge
or Giove a suo talento
175
lo scettro impugna, e tutto
che prima ebbe potere or vuol distrutto.
dell'Averno che accoglie i defunti,
se m'avesse, di lacci insolubili
180
tutto avvinto, con furia selvaggia
giú scagliato nel Tartaro illimite,
sí che niuno dei Numi o degli uomini
di mie pene gioir non potesse !
Ora invece, ludibrio dell' aria,
185
debbo, ahi tristo!, coi miei patimenti
dar gioia ai nemici.
né starà, che il suo cuor prima non sazi,
o alcun non valga l'arduo
195
poter con qualche frode strappar dalle sue mani.
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 128 focus
Nihil time, amica eſt hæc caterua,
Alarum celeribus congreſsuibus
135
Acceſsit hoc saxum, paternas
Vix perſuadens mentes.
Volucres uerò me miserunt aure.
Reſonantis enim ſonus chalybis subijt antrum,
Et exterruit meum uerecundum pudorem,
140
In Scythiam discalceatus curru alato ueni.
Heu heu, multiparæ Tethyos prolés,
Et totam ambientis
Terram inquieto fluctû filiæ
Patris Oceani: reſpicite, uidete,
145
Quali uinculó uinctus sum,
Huius uallis in altis ſcopulis,
Cuſtodiam minimè expetendam sustinebó.
Videó Prometheu, horrida meis oculis
Nebula incidit, plena
150
Lachrymis, tuum corpus uidens,
In lapidibus contabefactum
Adamantinis uinculis.
Nouì gubernatores imperant Olympo,
Nouis uerò legibus Iupiter nefarie imperat:
155
Saturnalia quæ antea erant, iam sunt exautorata.
Sì uerò me sub terram ad inferos
Mortiferos in immenſum
Tartarum misiſſet, uinculis in disſolutis
Ferociter appropinquans, ut neque Deus,
160
Quis sic corde durus
Deorum cui haec placeant?
Quis non succenset malis
165
Tuis? Ille dissentit à Iove:
ille autem fraudulenter semper
Indutus, inflexili mente
Domat genus cœleste,
Neq; prius desinet quam saturauerit cor,
170
Vel aliqua astutia ceperit inexpugnabile principatu.
Si tamen amplius mei quamvis fortibus
In compedibus iniuria affecti,
Opera indiguerit beatorum gubernator,
Vt ostendam novum consilium, quo
175
Sceptro honoribusq; priuabitur,
Nunquam sané mellifonis me persuasionis
Cantionibus demulcebit: neq; atroces
Vnquam minas timens, hoc ego
Dicam, priusquam ex sevis
180
Vinculis me soluerit, pœnasq; pendere
Huius mali voluerit.
Tu quidem temerarius es, acerbis
Doloribus nihil remittis,
Valde admodum liberè loqueris.
185
Meam mentem subijt timor ingens,
Timeo tuæ fortunæ:
Quò
Novi quòd ferox, si apud se
Iusticiam habet Iupiter: sed tamen puto
Quòd mitiori sententia erit, quado hac liberabitur,
Immitem mitigans iram,
195
Ad concordiam mecum & amorem
Festinans aliquando veniet.
Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 128 focus
PROMETHEUS
That thus it shall be it is thine to learn.
IO
By whom despoiled of his tyrannic sway?

PROMETHEUS
Spoiled by himself and his own senseless plans.
IO
But how? Declare, if telling bring no harm.
PROMETHEUS
A match contracting he shall one day rue.
IO
Divine, or human? If permitted, speak.
PROMETHEUS
What matters it? This may not be disclosed.
IO
Shall then his consort drive him from his throne?
PROMETHEUS
Ay, a son bearing stronger than his sire.
IO
Is there for him no refuge from this doom?
PROMETHEUS
No, none; unless I be from bonds released.
IO
Who shall release thee 'gainst the will of Zeus?

PROMETHEUS
One of thine own descendants it must be.
IO
How so? shall child of mine free thee from bale?
PROMETHEUS
Count ten descents, and after them a third.
IO
Not easy is this oracle to spell.
PROMETHEUS
So neither seek thy proper grief to learn.
IO
Nay, hold not forth a boon and straight withdraw it.
PROMETHEUS
Of two narrations I will grant thee one.
IO
Set forth the twain, the choice then leave to me.
PROMETHEUS
Granted: Shall I the remnant of thy woes
Plainly declare, or who shall set me free?

Chorus
Of these to her the former grace vouchsafe
To me the latter; spurn not my request.
To her the sequel of her course disclose,
To me thy rescuer; for this I crave.
PROMETHEUS
Since ye are eager I will thwart you not,
Nor will withhold what ye desire to know.
First, Io, thy vex'd course to thee I'll tell,
Which in thy mind's recording tablets grave.
When thou hast crossed the flood, limit betwixt
Two continents, fronting the burning East *

Trod by the sun, [then onward hold thy course.
Fierce northern blasts thou wilt encounter first;
1
Shun thou their downward rush, lest, unaware,
In wintry tempest thou be rudely caught.]
The sounding main then do thou skirt until
Kisthene's * Gorgoneian plains thou reach,
Where dwell the Phorkides, † maids grey with eld,
Three, swan-shaped, of one common eye possessed,
One common tooth, whom neither with his beams
The sun beholdeth, nor the nightly moon;
And near them dwell their wingèd sisters three,

Gorgons, with snaky locks, of men abhorred;
Whom never mortal may behold and breathe.
This for thy warning I relate to thee;
But list another spectacle of dread.
The unbarking hounds of Zeus, sharp-mouthed, beware,—
The Griffins; and the Arimaspian ‡ host,
2 3 4
Horse-mounted, single-eyed, around the stream
Who dwell of Pluto's gold-abounding flood. *
To these approach not; a far border-land
Thou next shalt reach, where dwells a swarthy race,
Near the sun's founts, whence is the Æthiop river. ‡
Along its banks proceed till thou attain
The mighty rapids, where from Bybline heights

Pure draughts of sacred water Neilos sends.
He to the land, three-cornered, thee shall guide,
Nile-girt, where, Io, 'tis ordained for thee
And for thy sons that far-off colony
To found ;-if aught of this seem dark to thee,
5 6
Or hard to spell, ask and be taught in full;
For leisure have I, more than I desire.
Chorus
If aught untold of her sore-wasting course
Remains by thee to be unfolded, speak.
But if thou hast told all, to us vouchsafe

The boon we craved; its scope full well thou knowest.
PROMETHEUS
She of her roaming hath the limit heard,
But yet that she may know that not in vain
She heard my tale, her woes ere coming here
I will relate, sure pledge my words are true.
Tedious array of words I shall omit,
And of thy roamings reach at once the goal;
For when Molossia's plains thy foot had trod,
Round lofty-ridged Dodona, where is found
The seat prophetic of Thesprotian Zeus,

And, portent past belief, the speaking oaks,
By which full clearly, in no riddling phrase,
Wast hailed as the illustrious spouse of Zeus,
Fate-destined,—doth this flatter thee at all?—
Thence, fiercely stung, along the sea-washed tract,
To Rhea's mighty gulf didst hurry,—whence
In courses retrograde wast rudely tossed.
But know thou this, that through all future time
That sea-gulf shall the name Ionian bear,
To all mankind memorial of thy way;

These then to thee be tokens of my mind,
That more discerneth than doth meet the sense.
PROMETHEUS
The rest for you and her I will relate,
The track regaining of my former words.
On the land's verge a town, Canobos, stands,
At Neilos' very mouth and sand-bar,—there,
Zeus shall restore thy reason,—stroking thee
With touch alone of unalarming hand;
Then thou dark Epaphos shalt bear, whose name

Records his sacred gendering. He shall reap
All land that Neilos' waves broad-flooding reach.
Fifth in descent from him a female race,
Fifty in number, shall return to Argos,
Not willingly, but wedlock to avoid
Of cousins; these, with passion-winged hearts,
Falcons that follow close on doves, shall come
Chasing unlawful wedlock, but the god
Shall grudge them such fair prey; Pelasgian soil
Harbour shall grant them till, awake by night,

Woman's fell prowess over men prevail;
For every bride her spouse shall reave of life,
The two-edged weapon bathing in his neck.—
May Kypris visit in such guise my foes!—
But of the maids shall one, by love beguiled,
Her partner fail to slay;—her will's keen edge
Blunted, she will of evils twain prefer
Repute of weakness to bloodguiltiness.
She shall a kingly race in Argos bear.
This to set forth at large needs lengthy speech.

But from this seed shall dauntless hero spring,
Bow-famous, who shall free me from these ills.
PROMETHEUS
Such oracle my mother, born of eld,
Themis, hoar Titaness, to me rehearsed.
But how and where, to tell, needs lengthy speech,
Nor would the knowledge aught advantage thee.
IO
887 894
Ah me! ah woe is me!
Brain-smiting madness once again
Inflames me, and convulsive pain.
The gad-fly's barb, not wrought with fire,
Stings me; against my breast

Kicks my pent heart with fear oppressed.
901
Mine eyeballs roll in dizzy gyre;
Out of my course by frenzy's blast
I'm borne. My tongue brooks not the rein,
And turbid words, at random cast,
'Gainst waves of hateful madness beat in vain.
PROMETHEUS
Yea verily shall Zeus, though stubborn-souled,
Be humbled yet; such marriage he prepares
Which from his throne of power to nothingness

Shall hurl him down; so shall be all fulfilled
His father Kronos' curse, which erst he spake
What time he fell from his primeval throne.
From such disasters none of all the gods
To Zeus escape can show, save I alone.
I know it and the way. Then let him sit
Confiding in his lofty thunder-peals,
And wielding with both hands the fiery bolt;
For these shall not avail, but fall he shall,
A fall disgraceful, not to be endured.

Such wrestler now, himself against himself,
He arms for battle;—portent hard to quell;
Who flame shall find surpassing lightning's glare,
And crash more mighty than the thunder-roll;
Who the sea-trident, earth-convulsing plague,
Poseidon's spear, shall shatter;—then shall Zeus,
When 'gainst this evil he hath stumbled, learn
How wide apart are servitude and sway.
Chorus
Such taunts on Zeus thy wish, I trow, inspires.
PROMETHEUS
Both what shall be, I speak, and what I wish.

Chorus
And must we look for one o'er Zeus to reign?
PROMETHEUS
Yea, pangs than these more crushing shall he bear.
Chorus
How canst thou fail to fear, hurling such words?
PROMETHEUS
What should I fear who am not doomed to die?
Chorus
To keener struggle he may sentence thee.
PROMETHEUS
So let him then! all is by me foreseen.
Chorus
944
The wise are they who worship Nemesis.
PROMETHEUS
Revere, adore, cringe aye to him who reigns,
For me, at less than nought I value Zeus.
For this brief hour let him both do and reign,

E'en as he will;—not long he'll rule the gods.
But yonder I behold the scout of Zeus,
Of this new potentate the servitor;—
Doubtless some news to herald he has come.
HERMES
To thee, professing wisdom, steeped in gall,
Who 'gainst the gods hast sinned, on short-lived men
Prerogatives bestowing, thief of fire,
To thee I speak; the Father bids thee tell
What nuptials these thou vauntest of, by which
Himself shall fall from sway; and nought in riddles,

But point by point explain; nor cause to me,
Prometheus, double journeys; * for thou seest,
Not by such dealing is Zeus mollified.
PROMETHEUS
Full of high spirit and augustly mouthed
This speech, as fits an underling of gods.
Younglings and young of sway, ye think to dwell
Henceforth in griefless citadels. From these
7
Have I not known two potentates cast down?
Ay, and a third, now reigning, I shall see
In basest and most sudden overthrow.

Seem I to thee before these upstart gods
To quail or cringe? Far from it, nay, no whit.
But get thee back with speed the way thou camest,
For of thy quest thou'lt nothing learn from me.
HERMES
E'en by such haughty wilfulness before
Didst thou to these dire moorings bring thyself.
PROMETHEUS
This my ill-fortune, be thou well assured,
I would not barter with thy servitude.
This rock to lackey better 'tis in sooth
Than trusty scout be born to father Zeus.

Thus, as is fitting, scorn replies to scorn.
HERMES
Thou seem'st to revel in thy present state.
PROMETHEUS
Revel? Oh might I in such revel see
My foes! And thee among them do I count.
HERMES
Me too thou holdest guilty of thy ills?
PROMETHEUS
Shortly to speak, all gods I hate, whoe'er,
By me bestead, maltreat me wrongfully.
HERMES
By what I hear, not slight thy madness is.
PROMETHEUS
Mad let me be, if to hate foes be madness.
HERMES
Unbearable wert thou if prosperous.

PROMETHEUS
Alas!
HERMES
That word, I trow, Zeus knoweth not.
PROMETHEUS
Time as it waxeth old can all things teach.
HERMES
But thou not yet hast sober wisdom learned.
PROMETHEUS
Else I with thee, a menial, had not talked.
HERMES
It seems thou'lt answer nought the sire demands.
PROMETHEUS
Grace since I owe him, grace must I repay.
HERMES
Thou floutest me as though a child I were!
PROMETHEUS
Art not a child, ay, simpler than a child,
If thou expectest aught to learn from me?
No torture is there, no device whereby

Zeus shall persuade me to reveal these things
Before these woe-inflicting bonds be loosed.
Let then his blazing lightnings hurtle down;
With white-winged snow and earth-born thunderings
Let him in ruin whelm and mingle all;
For ncught of these shall wrench my stedfast will
To tell by whom he must from empire fall.
HERMES
Mark now if helpful this may seem to thee.
PROMETHEUS
Of old my course was looked to and resolved.
HERMES
Take heart, O foolish one, take heart at length

To deal discreetly with these present ills.
PROMETHEUS
Idly, like beating wave, thou troublest me
With exhortation. Harbour not the thought
That I, in terror at the will of Zeus,
Effeminate of mind shall e'er become,
And him whom hugely I abhor, beseech,
With woman-aping palms to heaven upturned,
To loose me from these fetters. Not a whit.
HERMES
Much may I speak, it seems, and speak in vain;
For nothing moved or softened is thy heart

By prayers; but thou, like newly-yokèd colt,
Champing the bit, dost fight against the rein
Fiercely; yet futile the device wherein
Madly thou trustest; for mere stubbornness
Avails the foolish-hearted less than nought.
But mark, if unpersuaded by my words,
What storm and triple crested surge of ills
Shall o'er thee burst escapeless. Yea: for first,
With thunder and with lightning-flame, the Sire
This rugged crag shall rend, and hide thy frame
Deep in the rock's embraces rudely clasped.

But when time's lengthened course thou hast fulfilled,
Back shalt thou come to daylight. Then, in sooth,
Zeus' winged hound, the eagle red with gore,
Shall of thy flesh a huge flap rudely tear;
Coming, unbidden guest, the live-long day
He on thy black-gnawed liver still shall feast.
But of such pangs look for no term, until,
Some god, successor of thy toils, appear,
Willing down Hades' rayless gloom to wend,
And round the murky depths of Tartaros.

Wherefore take counsel :—since no boast is this,
No threat made-up, but utterance all too true.
Trust me, the mouth of Zeus knows not to lie,
But every word completeth. So do thou
Look round thee and take thought, nor ever deem
That stubbornness than prudence better is.
Chorus
Timely to us the word of Hermes seems,
For he exhorts thee, dropping thy self-will,
To search for prudent counsel. Be advised!
For to the wise it bringeth shame to err.

PROMETHEUS
To me who knew them, hath he told
His messages, with utterance shrill.
But nowise I unseemly hold
That foe from foe should suffer ill.
So 'gainst me now be hurled amain
Curled lightning's two-edged glare!
By thunder and spasmodic whirl
Of savage gales be upper air
Madly convulsed! Let hurricane
Earth from its deep foundation rend,

E'en from its roots. Let ocean's wave,
Surging aloft, tumultuous rave,
And, foaming, with the courses blend
Of heavenly stars! Ay, let him hurl
This body to the murky gloom
Of Tartaros, in stubborn whirl
Of fortune caught! Do what he will
My death he may not doom.
HERMES
From fools brain-stricken may one hear
Such counsels and such words. But say,—
What sign of madness lacketh here?

What respite knows his frenzied ire?
Nathless do ye, who thus condole
With his sore pangs, far hence retire;
Go quickly, lest harsh thunder's bray
With terror smite your soul.
English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1908) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 128 focus
Ah, fear us not! as friends, with rivalry
Of swiftly-vying wings, we came together
Unto this rock and thee!
With our sea-sire we pleaded hard, until
145
We won him to our will,
And swift the wafting breezes bore us hither.
The heavy hammer's steely blow
Thrilled to our ocean-cavern from afar,
Banished soft shyness from our maiden brow,
150
And with unsandalled feet we come, in wingèd car!
Ah well-a-day! ye come, ye come
From the Sea-Mother's teeming home—
Children of Tethys and the sire
Who around Earth rolls, gyre on gyre,
155
His sleepless ocean-tide!
Look on me—shackled with what chain,
Upon this chasm's beetling side
I must my dismal watch sustain!
Yea, I behold, Prometheus! and my fears
160
Draw swiftly o'er mine eyes a mist fulfilled of tears,
When I behold thy frame
Bound, wasting on the rock, and put to shame
By adamantine chains!
The rudder and the rule of Heaven
165
Are to strange pilots given:
Zeus with new laws and strong caprice holds sway,
Unkings the ancient Powers, their might constrains,
And thrusts their pride away!
Had he but hurled me, far beneath
170
The vast and ghostly halls of Death,
Down to the limitless profound
Of Tartarus, in fetters bound,
Fixed by his unrelenting hand!
So had no man, nor God on high,
175
Exulted o'er mine agony—
But now, a sport to wind and sky,
Mocked by my foes, I stand!
What God can wear such ruthless heart
As to delight in ill?
180
Who in thy sorrow bears not part?
Zeus, Zeus alone! for he, with wrathful will,
Clenched and inflexible,
Bears down Heaven's race—nor end shall be, till hate
His soul shall satiate,
185
Or till, by some device, some other hand
Shall wrest from him his sternly-clasped command!
Yet,—though in shackles close and strong
I lie in wasting torments long,—
Yet the new tyrant, 'neath whose nod
190
Cowers down each blest subservient god,
One day, far hence, my help shall need,
The destined stratagem to read,
Whereby, in some yet distant day,
Zeus shall be reaved of pride and sway:
195
And no persuasion's honied spell
Shall lure me on, the tale to tell;
And no stern threat shall make me cower
And yield the secret to his power,
Until his purpose be foregone,
200
And shackles yield, and he atone
The deep despite that he hath done!
O strong in hardihood, thou striv'st amain
Against the stress of pain!
But yet too free, too resolute thy tongue
205
In challenging thy wrong!
Ah, shuddering dread doth make my spirit quiver,
And o'er thy fate sits Fear!
I see not to what shore of safety ever
Thy bark can steer—
210
In depths unreached the will of Zeus doth dwell,
Hidden, implacable!
Ay, stern is Zeus, and Justice stands,
Wrenched to his purpose, in his hands—
Yet shall he learn, perforce, to know
215
A milder mood, when falls the blow—
His ruthless wrath he shall lay still,
And he and I with mutual will
In concord's bond shall go.
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.) — 128 focus
O fürchte Nichts! Freundlichen Sinnes kam die Schaar hier
Mit der Schwingen raschem Wettflug
Zu den Felshöhen heran, nachdem wir
Den Vater kaum flehend erweicht.
130
Eilender Lüfte Geleit' entführt' uns.
Denn dröhnend scholl Eisengeklirr
In meiner Kluft heimlichsten Raum,
Und trieb die Scham schreckend vom ernsten Auge:
Ich eilt' unbeschuht in dem Fluggespann her,
135
Ach, ach!
Ich seh's, Prometheus; um das Auge lagert grauend
Vor Entseyen, schwer von Thränen,
Ein Gewölk, daß ich in Qualen also
145
Dich sehen muß schmachtend am Fels,
Duldend die Last diamant'ner Bande !
Denn neue Herrn walten am Steu=
er im Olymp, und der Kroni=
de herrscht, gemäß neuem Gesek, geseklos:
150
Das früher Gewaltige stürzt er nieder.
O hätt' er hinab in den Hades mich
Zu den Todten gestürzt, in der Tartarosnacht
Unermeßliche Kluft, mit unlösbarem Band
Zornvoll mich umstrickt, daß weder ein Gott
155
Noch ein Anderer sonst frohlockte darob!
Nun schweb' ich den Lüften ein Spielwerk hier,
Muß dulden zur Lust für die Feinde !
Zweite Strophe.
Wo hegte solch verhärtet Herz
Ein Gott, sich deines Leids zu freu'n?
160
Wer fühlte nicht mit deiner Qual
Mitleiden? Freilich außer Zeus: er zürnt und grollt;
Ungebeugten Sinnes stets,
Bändigt er Uranos" Stamm; nimmer rastet er,
Bis sein Herz sich ersättigt hat,
165
Oder ein listiger Arm die gewaltige Macht ihm entwindet.
Wohl meiner dereinst, obschon er mich jetzt
In die Bande gelegt, zu der Schmach mich verdammt,
Er bedarf noch mein, der Unsterblichen Fürst,
Zu verkündigen ihm den verborgenen Rath,
170
Der Scepter und Herrschaft einst ihm entreißt!
Nie soll er mir dann durch süßes Geschwäk,
Durch Zauber des Mund's umstimmen das Herz,
Nie schreckt er mich dann durch das wildeste Droh'n,
Es ihm zu verkünden, bevor er mich löst
175
Aus der grausamen Haft, und mir Buße zu thun
Für die kränkende Schmach sich bequemte!
Zweite Gegenstrophe.
Du troßest kühn, beugst selbst der Qual,
Der bittern, nicht den starren Sinn,
Und sprichst mit allzudreiſtem Mund.
180
Doch mir zerreißt die Seele, tiefeinschneidend, Furcht;
Denn ich beb' um dein Geschick,
Wie du das Ende dereinst dieser Müh'n im Port
Schauen sollst: unerreichbar stets
Hegt er im Busen das Herz, unerbittlichen Sinnes, Kronion.
185
Hart ist er, ich weiß, und erkennt als Gesez
Nur was er will; doch wird er gewiß
Sanftmüthig dereinst,
Wenn also die Noth ihm gebrochen den Troy.
Dann mildert er wohl sein starres Gemüth,
190
Dann stürzt er zum Bunde, zur Freundschaft mir
Sich bereit dem bereiten entgegen.

Notes on the current edition

Prometheus Bound

1. ἅδε Hermann: ἥδε codd.
2. θεμερῶπιν M: θερμερῶπιν ( ρ adscripto verae lectioni) m 1 recc.
3. αἲ ter M
4. προσπορπατὸς adscripsit m 1: πρὸς πατρὸς M
5. φοβερὰ] δνοφερὰ Hirschig
6. εἰσιδοῦσαν Hermann: εἰσίδουσα M: εἰσιδοῦσιν recc. aliquot
7. ταῖσδ᾽ Victorius: ταῖς codd. ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι Turnebus: ἀδαμαντοδέτοις M recc.
8. ἀθέτως ex Hesych. Bentley: ἀθέσμως codd.
9. θ᾽ Turnebus, Ἅιδου Blomfield: τ᾽ ἀίδου codd.
10. ἀγρίως recc.: ἀγρίοις M
11. ὡς μήτε Turnebus: ὡς μήποτε codd.
12. αἰεὶ M
13. ἔτ᾽ ἐμοῦ recc.: ἔτ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ M
14. γυιοπέδαις recc.: γυοπέδαις M
15. ὑφ᾽ ex ἀφ᾽ factum M
16. οὔτε Porson: οὔτι recc.: οὔτοι M
17. τε τίνειν Porson: τέ μοι τίνειν M
18. τῆσδ᾽ recc.: τῆς M
19. ἐρέθισε Turnebus: ἠρέθισε codd.
20. δ᾽ Proson: γὰρ codd.
21. πᾷ Turnebus: ὕπᾳ M: ὅπα recc.
22. ἀπαράμυθον recc. aliquot: οὐ παράμυθον M, recc. cett.
23. καὶ recc.: τε καὶ M recc. plerique
24. ὀίω (in M ex ἰὼ factum) eiecit Brunck
25. ῥαισθῇ recc. plerique: ῥωσθῇ ( ω in litura) M

Commentary

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

128. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-127

φοβηθῇς:
φοβηθεὶς
, gravi accentu per circumflexum tramisso, Lips.
φοβηθείς
Aug.

128. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-128

ἥδε: Libri
ἥδε
. Scribendum
ὧδε
. Scholiastes ex antiquis et probis auctoribus
ὁ ρυθμὸς Ἀνακρεόντειός ἐστι κεκλασμένος πρὸς τὸ θρηνητικόν. ἐπεδήμησε γὰρ τῇ Αττικῇ Κριτίου ἐρῶν, καὶ ἠρέσθη
(libri
ἠράσθη
)
λίαν τοῖς μέλεσι τοῦ τραγικοῦ. ἐχρῶντο δὲ αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τοῖς θρηνητικοῖς, ὡς καὶ Σοφοκλῆς Τυροῖ. ἔστι δὲ ταῦτα ὅμοια τῷ οὐδ᾽ αὖ μ' ἐάσεις μεθύοντ᾽ οἴκαδ᾽ ἀπελθεῖν
. Dixi de hoc metro in Elem. doctr. metr. p. 492. et ad Sophoclis Antig. 833.

129. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-129

ἁμίλλαις:
ἁμίλαις
Lips.

130. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-130

προςέβα:
προσέβα
, superscripto
η
, Lips.

131. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-131

μόγις:
μόλις
G. (sed hic
ι
a minio in
γ
mutato) et Ven. 3. Rob.

133-134. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-132

ἄντρων μυχόν:
ἄντρων μυχῶν
Lips. Aug. Omiserunt Turnebus
ἄντρων
, Canterus
μυχόν
.

134. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-133

μου:
με
pro
μου
Lips. Aug.

134. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-134

θεμερῶπιν:
θεμερῶπιν
Μ. a pr. manu et Victorius.
θερμερώπιν
Μ. a sec. manu et G. Aug. cum plerisque libris et Εtym. Μ. p. 447, 12.
θερμερώπην
Lips.
θερμωπὴν
Ask. C.
θερμῶπιν
Colb. 1.
θεμεῤῥῶπιν
Turn. V. Bentl. in epist. ad Millium p. 66. (516. ed. Lips.) Hesychius
θεμερῶπις, ἐρασμία αἰσχύνη
. Sic recte emendarunt. Idem
θεμερή, βεβαία, σεμνή, εὐσταθής. θεμερόν, σεμνόν, ἀφ' οὗ καὶ τὸ σεμνύνεσθαι θεμερύνεσθαι
, quod verbum Pollux VI. 185. comicum esse dicit. Pro radice horum vocabulorum sumendum est
θεμός
, quod significaverit positionem, h. e. motus in quietem mutationem: unde
θεμῶσαι
Ιl. IX. 486. 542. Hinc
θεμερός
sedatus, modestus, lenis, mitis est. Empedocles emendatus a Bentleio
Δῆρις θ' αἱματόεσσα καὶ Αρμονίη θεμερώπις
. Id ad mites maturitate fructus translatum in epigrammate quod in Brunckii Anal. vol. III. p. 189. est CXC. et in Appendice Anthol. Palat. 239.
Αττει θ᾽ ὑψίστῳ καὶ συνιέντι τὸ πᾶν, τῷ πᾶσιν καιροῖς θεμερώτερα πάντα φύοντι
. Welckero in Trilogia p. 25. omnium interpretum soli, credo, in mentem venit Oceanides maxima corporis parte nudas, ut in picturis, in orchestram esse demissas.

136. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-135

αἰαῖ, αἰαῖ:
αι
ter M. bis Lips. Aug.
οι
bis G.
αι
quater codex Par. B. et sic post Heathium editores.

138. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-136

εἱλισσομένου:
τ' εἰλισσομένου
M. G. Lips. Aug.
θ' είλισσομένου
inde a Turnebo editores.

139. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-137

ἀκοιμήτῳ:
ἀκοιμήτωρ'
ρεύματι Lips.

140. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-138

ἐςίδεσθ':
ἐσίδεσθ'
non
ἐσίδεσθέ με
neque
εἰσίδεσθέ μ'
, M. atque ita Turn.
ἐσίδεσθέ με
G. et alii codices.
ἐσίδεσθέ μου
Lips. Aug.
ἐσίδεσθέ με
plerique.

141. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-139

προςπορπατὸς:
πρὸς πατρὸς
, adscripto a manu tertia, quae saeculi XV. esse videtur,
προσπορπατὸς
, Μ.
πρὸς πα τος
, post
α
eraso
ρ
, ut videtur, et superscripto ab alia manu
πορ
, G.
πρὸς πορ πατός
, superscripto
πορ
,
προςπαρτός
, Lips.

142. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-140

σκοπέλοις:
σκοπέλων
Aug. et superscripto
οις
Lips.

142. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-141

ἐν ἄκροις:
ἐν ἄκραις
G.

144. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-142

λεύσσω:
λεύσω
G.

145. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-143

ὁμίχλη:
ὁμίκλα
Arund. Ven. 2. Ceteri libri
ὁμίχλη
.

146. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-144

εἰςιδούσα:
ἰσίδουσα
, cum hoc accentu, litteris autem
αι
paene evanidis, M.
εἰσιδούσῃ
G. Hoc et
εἰσιδοῦσι
legi observat scholiastes. Atque aliquot codices
εἰσιδοῦσι
vel
εἰσιδοῦσιν
.
εἰσιδοῦσα
Lips. Aug.
εἰσιδοῦσαι
, superscripto
a
, Par. N.
εἰσιδοῦσαι
Turnebus. Dubitari potest an
εἰσιδοῦσαν
scripserit Aeschylus, ut in Choeph. 405.
ἐπάλλεται δ' αὖτέ μοι φίλον κέαρ τόνδε κλύουσαν οἶκτον
.

147. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-145

πέτραις:
πέτραι
Lips. Aug.
πέτραις
aliquot codices et Aldina, quod fortasse praeferendum est.

148. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-146

ταῖςδ᾽ ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι:
ταῖς ἀδαμαντοδέτοις
M. Lips. Aug. et ceteri libri plerique.
ταῖς ἀκαμαντοδέτοις
G. In M. priori syllabae in
ἀδαμαντοδέτοις
supra adscriptum a pr. manu
δ' α
.. Turnebus
ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι
, Victorius
ταῖςδ'
posuit.

150. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-147

δὲ δὴ:
δὲ δὴ
M. et ceteri libri plerique.
δε
G.
δὲ
Lips. Aug.

150. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-148

ἀθέτως: Libri omnes
ἀθέσμως
, nisi quod
ἀθέμως
Lips. Aug. Emendavit Bentleius in epist. ad Millium p. 66. (516. ed. Lips.) ex Hesychio, apud quem sic scriptum est,
ἀθέτως, ἀθέσμως, οὐ συγκατατεθειμένως. Αἰσχύλος Προμηθεῖ δεσμώτῃ
.

151. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-149

δὲ:
γάρ
pro
δὲ
G.

152. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-150

εἰ γάρ μ' ὑπὸ γῆν:
εἰ γὰρ ὑπὸ γαῖαν
Lips. Aug.

152. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-151

νέρθεν θ': Libri
νέρθεν τ' ἀΐδου
, nisi quod
ἔρθεν
(sed spiritu et accentu linea transfixis) G. habet et
ἔρθεν
Par. N.
νέρθεν θ' Ἅιδου
Turnebus, unde usitatam formam Blomfieldius restituit.

154. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-152

ἧκεν:
ἧκε
G. Lips.

155. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-153

ἀγρίως:
ἀγρίοις
M. et pauci alii codices, quod recepit Blomfieldius. Id Aeschylus si scripsisset, posuisset
ἀλύτοις δεσμοῖς ἀγρίοις
.

155-156. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-154

ὡς μήτε θεὸς μήτε τις ἄλλος: Libri
ὡς μήποτε θεὸς μήτε τις ἄλλος
. In M. hoc ultimum vocabulum
ἄλλος
a manu tertia refectum est. Turnebum, qui
μήτε θεῶν τις
scribendo anapaestum restituit, secuti sunt posteriores. Non affirmem tamen systemata, quae inter strophas sunt, non fuisse numeris aequalia, ut in fine huius fabulae, ut in Agamemnone, ut in Eumenidibus. Nam hoc quidem systema, si huic versui,
ὡς μήποτε θεός
, hemistichium additur, praecedenti systemati etiam interpunctionibus par erit. Illud autem quod sequitur v. 188. non magis vacuum est suspicione lacunae. Non scripsit autem Aeschylus, quod Elmsleius coniecit,
ὡς μήποτε θεὸς μηδεὶς ἄλλος
. Nam neque
θεός
synecphonesin admittit praegressis duabus brevibus syllabis, et perversum est optare Prometheum ut eum numquam ne ullus quidem deus conspiciat, quasi tolerabilius sit, si eum unus videat. Itaque sic potius, si quid mutandum est, integrandus erit versus,
ὡς μήποτέ τις μήτε θεός τις
. De repetito
τις
dixit Porsonus in addendis ad Hecubam p. 100.

156. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-155

ἐγεγήθει:
ἐπεγήθει
M. Lips. Aug. Ald.
ἐπεγήθει
ex correctione, antea
ἐπεγήθη
G. Alii codices
ἐπιγεγήθει, ἐπιγεγήθει, ἐπιγεγήθη
. Blomfieldius
ἐγεγήθει
ex Elmsleii sententia, qui
γεγήθει
saepe, numquam
ἐπεγήθει
, nisi in dubio versu Choeph. 759. inveniri observavit. Id universe de Atticis dictum oportebat. Et glossatores etiam hic cum
ἐπιχαίρειν
simplex
χαίρειν
coniunxerunt.

157. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-156

κίνυγμ᾽:
καὶ νύγμ'
Aug. Memorat
αἰθέριον κίνυγμα
ex hoc loco Eustathius p. 472, 44. 805, 28. 957, 21.

158. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-157

ἐπίχαρτα:
ἐπίχαρμα
Lips. Aug. aliique codices. In Lips. a secunda manu
τα
supra scriptum.
ἐπιχάρματα
aliquot libri.
ἐπίχαρτα
M. G. Recte ipse Prometheus
ἐπίχαρμα
vocaretur, cuiusmodi exempla Blomfieldius attulit, non item recte diceretur
ἐχθροῖς ἐπίχαρμα πεπονθέναι
.

159. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-158

NA: Hoc in versu incipit lacero in folio
πλησικάρδιος
fragmentum codicis Lipsiensis, praemissum ei codici quem adhuc simpliciter Lipsiensem dixi, nunc usque ad v. 391. cum Butlero Lipsiensem 2. nominabo fragmentum dicam Lips. 1.

161. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-159

ξυνασχαλᾷ:
ξυνασχάλει
Lips. 1. et Aug. hic quidem propter
αι
in Lips. 2. male lectum.

162. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-160

δίχα γοῦν ἑνός; ὃ δ᾽ ἐπικότως:
δίχαγε διός
M. sed
δίχαγε
a manu tertia super evanidas litteras scriptum.
δίχα τε διὸς
G. Lips. 2.
ἐπισκότως
Lips. 1.
αἰεὶ
M. et alii nonnulli codices. Elegantissimum quidem trimetrum praebet vulgata lectio,
τεοῖσι δίχα γε Διός; ὃ δ᾽ ἐπικότως ἀεί
. Non esse tamen hanc veram scripturam quum
ἠρέθισε
in antistrophico versu prodit, tum arguunt codices Colb. 1. et Ask. A. (sive Reg. G.)
δίχα γ᾽ ἑνὸς
habentes, ad quod in Ask. Λ.
διός
, in altero libro
καὶ διός
supra adscriptum. Porro in Par. B.
γρ. ἑνός, ἤγουν διός
. Quod si vix dubitari potest quin
Διός
ex interpretatione versui insertum sit, apparet scribendum esse
δίχα γοῦν ἑνός
. Fortius est
γοῦν
quam
γ' εὖ
, ut cum restrictione etiam affirmationem continens, ut sit
certe quidem
. Sic in Agam. 1386.
γνώσει διδαχθεὶς ὀψὲ γοῦν τὸ σωφρονεῖν
. Sophocles Oed. R. 408.
εἰ καὶ τυραννεῖς, ἐξισωτέον τὸ γοῦν ἴσ᾽ ἀντιλέξαι
. Et sic ille saepius.

163. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-161

ἄγναμπτον:
ἄγναμπτον
in M. a manu tertia refectum.
ἄγναπτον
G. aliique nonnulli codices. γρ.
ἄκαμπτον
Par. B. Spondeus indicio est non esse
ἄγναμπτον
ab Aeschylo scriptum. Quod apud Hesychium suo quidem loco inter
ἄκανθα
et
ἀκανθόνωτον
positum est,
ἄκανθον
(codex
ἀκανθόν
),
ἄγναμπτον
, videri potest ad Aeschyli versum pertinere, ut scriptum fuerit
ἀκα.... νόον
. Nisi tamen illud
ἄκαμπτον
alieno loco insertum ad
ἀκαμπής
vel
ἄκαμπος
, quae in Hesychii libro paullo superius posita sunt, referendum est. Scholiastae Aeschyli has adscripserunt interpretationes,
ἀμείλικτον, ἀκαμπῆ, σκληρόν, ἀμετακίνητον
. Veri simile est ut
ἀστραφῆ
scripserit poeta. Hesychius
ἀστραφής, σκληρός. Σοφοκλῆς Μυσοῖς
.

164. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-162

δάμναται:
δάμνεται
Lips. 1. 2. Aug.

165. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-163

λήξει:
λήξη
Lips. 1. 2. Aug.

166. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-164

κέαρ:
τὸ κέαρ
G. Lips. 1.

166. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-165

παλάμᾳ:
παλάμα
, adscripto supra
η
a sec. manu, Μ.
παλάμη
G. Lips. 1.
παλάμα
, superscripto
η
, Lips. 2.

167. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-166

τὰν:
τάν
, superscripto
η
, Lips. 2. Idem
ἕλη
.

168. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-167

ἦ μὴν ἔτ᾽ ἐμοῦ:
ἢ μὴν ἔτ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ
M. sed
ἀπ'
in litura.

169. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-168

γυιοπέδαις:
γυοπέδαις
Μ.
γυιοπέδοις
Lips. 1.

170. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-169

πρύτανις:
πρυτανές
Lips. 2.

171. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-170

ὑφ᾽ ὅτου:
ἀφ' ὅτου
a pr. manu M.
ὑφ᾽ ὅτου
a secunda.

172. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-171

σκῆπτρον τιμάς τ᾽:
σκηπτρόν τε τιμάς τ'
Lips. 1.

172. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-172

ἀποσυλᾶται:
ἀποσυλλᾶται
Lips. 2.

173. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-173

καί μ' οὔτε:
καί μὲ οὔτοι
Μ. Colb. 1. Par. L. Rob.
καί μ' οὔτε
Lips. 2. Aug. et plerique.
καίτοι μὲ οὐ
G. et duo Vindob. pariterque Turnebus. Recte Blomfieldius secutus est Porsonum
καί μ' οὔτε
scribi iubentem. Opponi enim inter se preces et minae debebant.

173. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-174

μελιγλώσσοις:
μελιγλώσσης
Lips. 1. 2. Aug.

174. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-175

ἐπαοιδαῖσιν:
ἐπαιοιδαῖσι
M. G. Lips. 1.
ἐπ' ἀοιδαῖσι
Lips. 2. Aug.

174. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-176

τ':
τ'
omittunt Lips. 2. Aug.

175. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-177

τόδ᾽:
τὸ δ'
Lips. 1.
τώδ'
, superscripto
ό
, Lips. 2.

177. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-178

ποινάς τε:
ποινάς
(sic a pr. manu, a tertia
ποιναὶ
)
τέ μοι τίνειν
Μ.
ποινάς τ᾽ ἐμοὶ
(
τέμου
Lips. 2. Aug.)
τίνειν
(
τείνειν
G.) G. Lips. 1. 2. Aug.
ποινάς τε τίνειν
Turnebus.

178. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-179

τῆσδ':
τῆς
Μ.

180. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-180

ἐνδίδως:
ἐπιχαλᾶς
Μ.
ὑποχαλᾶς
Lips. 1. Vindob. 1.

182. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-181

ἐμὰς:
ἐμοὶ
Aug.

182. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-182

ἠρέθισε: Libri
ἠρέθισε
. Turnebus solus
ερέθισε
, quod ab Elmsleio probatum recepit Blomfieldius: v. ad v. 162.

183. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-183

δέδια δ᾽: Libri
δέδια γάρ
. Porsonus
δέδια δ'
. Vt gemellum comparat Blomfieldius
δέδια δ'
in Soph. Oed. Col. 1468. At ibi non potuit
δέδια γάρ
dici.

183. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-184

σαῖς τύχαις:
σαῖς τύχαι
Lips. 1.
σὰς τύχας
aliquot codices.

184. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-185

πᾷ:
ὅπαι
Μ.
ὅπα
G. Lips. 1. aliique codices.
ὅπα
, superscripto
οι
Lips. 2.
ὅπαιοι
Aug.
ὅπη
vel
ὅποι
alii.
πᾷ
primus Turnebus.

184. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-186

τῶνδε:
τῶν δὲ
G.

185. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-187

NA: In nonnullis codicibus hic est ordo verborum
ποτέ χρή σε τῶνδε πόνων τέρμα
, in Lips. 2. Aug. vitiose scriptum
ποτὲ χρή σε τῶν δαιμόνων τέρμα
.

186. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-188

ἐςιδεῖν:
εἰσιδεῖν
Lips. 2. Aug. Colb. 2.
ἐπιδεῖν
Par. L.

186. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-189

ἀκίχητα:
Ἀκίχητα, ἀκατάληπτα
Hesychius.

186. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-190

γὰρ:
γὰρ
omittit G.

187. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-191

ἀπαράμυθον:
οὐπαράμυθον
M. G. Ox. Ven. 1. Bess. Par. C. L. Vind. 1. Turn.
οὐπαράμυθον
Lips. 1.
ἀπαράμυθον
Lips. 2. Aug. cum ceteris, credo, codicibus et Ald. Rob.

187. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-192

Κρόνου παῖς:
ὁ κρόνου παῖς
G. Lips. 1.

188. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-193

τραχὺς καὶ:
τραχύς τε καὶ
M. G. Lips. 1.
θρασύς τε καὶ
Lips. 2. Aug. aliique. In Lips. 2. γρ.
τραχύς
superscriptum.
ὡς
(pro
ὅτι
)
τραχύς καὶ
Colb. 1.
θρασὺς καὶ
alii.
τραχὺς καὶ
Turnebus.

189. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-194

NA: Post
ἔχων
libri addunt
οἴῳ
, ut M. a sec. manu (nam a pr. manu habuit
οἵῳ
) et G. Lips. 1. 2. Aug. vel
οἵῳ
, formam verbi non usitatam tragicis. Eiecerunt critici praeter Scholefieldium, qui post eam vocem lacunae signum posuit. Si quid genuini in isto vocabulo est, neque illud ortum est ex
ὅμως
ad
ἔμπας
adscripto, putandum erit
οἵῳ
fuisse, excidisseque tot versus quot requiruntur ad aequandum hoc systema ei quod praecedit. V. ad v. 155. Potuit certe
οἵῳ γάμῳ
dici, sententiaque esse eadem quae v. 911. seqq. continetur.

190. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-195

ὅταν:
ὅτ' ἂν
M. G. Rob.

191. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-196

ῥαισθῇ:
ῥαισθῇ
, ut videtur, M.
ῥαγῇ
G.
ῥαγῇ
Lips. 2. Aug. et plerique codices. Alii codices
ῥαγῇ, ῥαισθῇ, ῥαχθῇ, ῥαγῇ
.
ταύτῃ
refertur ad ea quae in proximo systemate dixerat Prometheus.

193. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-197

ἀρθμὸν:
ἀρθμὸν
M. aliique libri.
ἁρμὸν
G. Lips. 1. 2. Aug. aliique. γρ.
ἁρμὸν
Lips. 2.

195. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-198

γέγων':
γεγών'
Lips. 1.

196. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-199

αἰτιάματι:
αιτιάματι
Lips. 2. Antiatticista Bekkeri p. 78, 25.
αἰτίαμα. Αισχύλος Προμηθεῖ δεσμώτῃ
.

English commentary on Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) (N. Wecklein, translated by F. D. Allen. Ginn & Company, 1893; compared with the 1891 printing. Printed commentary pages 31–144. Provisional alignment and unresolved OCR are visibly flagged.) focus

128-192. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-99

1
2
128-192. Parodos. It is com- matic, that is, divided between actor and chorus. The chorus enter in a winged car (ὄχῳ πτερωτῷ 135, κραι- πνόσυτον θᾶκον 279), moved by the- atrical machinery. The car, advancing from the right side, has gradually approached Prometheus. It is seen by the spectators while still invisible to Prometheus, who can only look straight before him. At 124 the chorus are already very near, and they hear the words of 127 (φοβερόν). - The ᾿Ωκεανίδες are daughters of Oceanus and Tethys; see Hesiod Theog. 362. Hesiod (ibid. 346) enum- erates forty-one by name, and adds πολλαί γε μέν εἶσι καὶ ἄλλαι, τρὶς γὰρ χίλιαί εἰσι τανύσφυροι Ωκεανῖναι. Aes- chylus's chorus consisted of twelve persons. The first strophe gives the motive of the chorus for coming; this is what an unknown grammarian (in the hypothesis to the Persians) calls ' παροδικά, ὅτε λέγει (sc. ὁ χορός) δι᾽ ἣν αἰτίαν πάρεστιν.' - The rhythms ( ῥυθμὸς ᾿Ανακρεόντειός ἐστι κεκλασμένος πρὸς τὸ θρηνητικόν, Schol.) are in keeping with the sorrowful tone of the composition (see 144 ff.); they
are furthermore especially appropri- ate to a female chorus.

128. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-100

3
4
128. τάξις: said like στάσις Εum. 311 ὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις ἁμά, Cho. 458 στάσις δὲ πάγκοινος ἅδ᾽ ἐπιρροθεῖ.

129. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-101

5
6
129. πτερύγων ἁμίλλαις : = πτέρυξιν ἁμιλλωμέναις. Cp. 147. The emula- tion is between the wings of the right and left sides of the car, which are imagined as striving to outdo one another. Cp. Soph. Ant. 1065 τροχοὺς ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου.

131. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-102

7
8
131. μόγις: 'Quod se patri aegre persuasisse dicunt, ut iis commeatum daret, id e vetere sexus muliebris, vir- ginum inprimis disciplina iudican- dum. Sic paedagogus Antigones apud Euripidem (Phoen. 89) viam circumspicit, verens ne quis in publi- cum prodeuntem regis filiam vitu- peret' (Schütz). Cp. Suppl. 996 ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐπαινῶ μὴ καταισχύνειν ἐμὲ ὥραν ἐχούσας τήνδ᾽ ἐπίστρεπτον βροτοῖς, κτἑ. – παρειποῦσα: cp. Il. vi. 62; vii. 120 ὡς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως αἴσιμα παρειπών. See also Il. i. 555, vi. 337, Hes. Theog. 90 μαλακοῖσι παραιφάμενοι ἐπέεσσιν. Grammatically παρειποῦσα can be taken with τάξις, 130. 135. our maiden s mydeply of grave infert but in thought it stands as if ἐγὼ προσέβην had preceded. See on 201.

132. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-103

9
10
132. κραιπνοφόροι αύραι: that is, "and I came with great haste."

133. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-104

11
12
133. ἐκ δ᾽ ἔπληξε: δέ is often put between preposition and verb (tme- sis). Krüger II. § 68, 48, 1. ἐξέπληξε, here and 360, is not wholly figurative, but is chosen with reference to the actual nature of the cause (here the blows). Cp. 370; Ag. 480 φλογὸς παρ- αγγέλμασιν νέοις πυρωθέντα καρδίαν.

134. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-105

13
14
134. θεμερώπιν: Empedocles 23 Δῆρις δ᾽ αἱματόεσσα καὶ ῾Αρμονίη θεμε- ρώπις. Hesychius interprets θεμερῶπις (αἰδώς)· ἐρασμία αἰσχύνη, but this is inexact, for θεμερός (from the root 06-) means settled, tranquil, sedate; cp. Hesych. θεμερή· βεβαία, σεμνή, εὐστα- θής; also the words θέμα, θέμεθλον, θεμοῦν. Accordingly θεμερῶπις αἰδώς is the modesty which makes maidens quiet and sedate. Its opposite is im- plied in σύθην ἀπέδιλος.

135. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-106

15
16
135. σύθην: the tragedians omit the syllabic augment not infrequently in lyric passages and in the narratives of messengers. The temporal aug- ment is much less often omitted; yet
see ἐρέθισε 181. – ἀπέδιλος: the scholi- ast cites Hesiod O. D. 345 γείτονες ἄζωστοι ἔκιον. Cp. Soph. El. 871 ὑφ' ἡδονῆς τοι, φιλτάτη, διώκομαι τὸ κόσμιον μεθεῖσα σὺν τάχει μολεῖν, Theocr. Id. xix. 36 ἄνστα μηδὲ πόδεσσιν ἐοῖς ὑπὸ σάνδαλα θείης (Bion i. 19 & δ' ᾿Αφροδίτα λυσαμένα πλοκαμίδας ἀνὰ δρυμὼς ἀλά- ληται πενθαλέα νήπαστος ἀσάνδαλος), Apoll. Rhod. iv. 43 γυμνοῖσιν δὲ πό- δεσσιν ἀνὰ στεινοὺς θέεν οἴμους (said of Medea). - ὄχῳ πτερωτῷ: winged chariots are not rare in ancient art: cp. for instance Müller-Wieseler, Denkmäler der alten Kunst, Vol. II. Plate ix. n. 110, Plate x. п. 111, 112, where Triptolemus is seen mounted on a car furnished with swan's wings.

137. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-107

17
18
137. πολυτέκνου: see on 128. Cp. Il. xiv. 201 Ωκεανόν τε, θεῶν γένεσιν, καὶ μητέρα Τηθύν.

138. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-108

19
20
138. περὶ πᾶσαν εἰλισσομένου χθόνα : cp. ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο Il. xviii. 399, Od. xx. 65. Cp. also 150. Ovid Fast. v. 81 duxerat Oceanus quondam Titanida Tethyn, qui terram liquidis qua patet ambit aquis. For the form εἱλισσομένου see on 345.

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139. ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι : cp. Il. xiv. 244 ἄλλον μέν κεν ἔγωγε (the speaker is Sleep) θεῶν αἰειγενετάων ῥεῖα κατευ- νήσαιμι καὶ ἂν ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα ᾿Ὠκεανοῦ, ὅς περ γένεσις πάντεσσι τέτυκται.

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141 f. Synonyma haec vehemen- tiam commoti animi produnt' (Schütz). – προσπορπατός: cp. 61.

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143. φρουρὰν ὀχήσω: see on φρου- ρήσεις, 31. ὀχεῖν = sustinere, as in Od. vii. 211 ὀχέοντας ὀιζύν, xi. 618 κακὸν μόρον, ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπ᾿ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο, xxi. 302 ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ. – ἄζηλον: cp. ἀτερπῆ 31, ἀμέγαρτα 402; and Cho. 1017 ἄζηλα νίκης τῆσδ᾽ ἔχων μιάσματα.

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145. πλήρης δακρύων: like a rain- cloud. Cp. Sept. 228 χαλεπᾶς δύας ὕπερθ᾽ ὀμμάτων κρημναμενᾶν νεφελᾶν,
Soph. Ant. 528 νεφέλη δ᾽ ὀφρύων ὕπερ αἱματόεν ῥέθος αἰσχύνει τέγγουσ᾽ εὐῶπα παρειάν, Eur. Hipp. 173 στυγνὸν δ᾽ ὀφρύων νέφος αὐξάνεται, Antiphanes in Meineke Com. iii. p. 197 τὸ προσὸν νῦν νέφος ἐπὶ τοῦ μετώπου, Hor. Epist. i. 18,94 deme supercilio nubem. The figure was used by Homer Il. xvii. 591 τὸν δ' (Hector) ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα. — εἰσιδοῦσαν : the accusative follows the dative ἐμοῖσιν ὄσσοις as Cho. 410 πέπαλται δ᾽ αὐτέ μοι φίλον κέαρ τόνδε κλύουσαν οἶκτον, Pers. 913 λέλυται γὰρ ἐμῶν γνίων ῥώμη τήνδ' ἡλικίαν ἔσιδόντα, Soph. Εl. 479 ὕπεστί μοι θράσος ἁδυπνόων κλύουσαν ἀρτίως ὀνειράτων, Αἰ. 1006 ποῖ γὰρ μολεῖν μοι δυνατὸν τοῖς σοῖς ἀρήξαντ᾽ ἐν πόνοισι μηδαμοῦ. The reverse change (from acc. to dat.) in Eur. Med. 57 ὥσθ᾽ ἵμερός μ᾽ ὑπῆλθε... λέξαι μολούσῃ.

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146. πέτρα προσαυαινόμενον : = πρὸς πέτρᾳ αὐαινόμενον. Cp. Soph. Phil. 954 αὐανοῦμαι τῷδ᾽ ἐν αὐλίῳ μόνος, Εl. 819 αὐανῶ βίον. – With αὐαινόμενον λύμαις ср. 93.

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147. ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι λύμαις: nearly equivalent to ἀδαμαντίνοις δεσμοῖς λυ- μαντηρίοις (991). Cp. 580 οἰστρηλάτῳ δείματι, Theocr. Epigr. xiii. 4 κηροδέτῳ πνεύματι.

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148. γάρ: the chorus explains to itself the reason of Prometheus's 155 maltreatment. — οἰακονόμοι : Zeus is meant. Sic et nos: denn jetzt sitzen neue Herrn am Ruder, quamvis de uno tantum sermo sit' (Schütz). For the figure cp. Sept. 2 ὅστις φυλάσ- σει πρᾶγος ἐν πρύμνῃ πόλεως οἴακα νωμῶν, ibid. 62, Pers. 767; also 515 below.

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150. νόμοις : νόμοι are changeable laws, made by temporal authorities (cp. Sept. 1070 πόλις ἄλλως ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖ τὰ δίκαια), in distinction to θεσμοί, immutable statutes, based upon eternal right. — ἀθέτως· ἀθέσμως, οὐ συγκατατεθειμένως, Hesych. That is, Zeus issues ordinances in his own right (186), without acknowledging the authority of a higher law. Cp. 324 οὐδ᾽ ὑπεύθυνος κρατεῖ.

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151. τὰ πρὶν πελώρια : in a general sense; the former powers (τοὺς Τιτάνας καὶ τοὺς τούτων νόμους, Schol.). The word πελώρια is appropriate in refer- ence to the reign of the Titans. For the thought, cp. Ag. 168 οὐδ᾽ ὅστις πάροιθεν ἦν μέγας, παμμάχῳ θράσει βρύων, οὐδὲ λέξεται πρὶν ὤν. – ἀιστοῖ : the verb denotes absolute annihila- tion, so that a thing is neither seen nor heard of more: from ἄϊστος, out of sight and mind.

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152. νέρθεν "Αιδου: with emphasis, nay, under very Hades. That is, into
Tartarus, following the conception of 11. viii. 13 ἤ μιν ἑλὼν ῥίψω ἐς Τάρτα- ρον ἠερόεντα, ... τόσσον ἔνερθ᾽ ᾿Αίδεω ὅσον οὐρανός ἐστ᾿ ἀπὸ γαίης (whereas in Eum. 72 Τάρταρόν θ᾽ ὑπὸ χθονός, Tar- tarus is equivalent to Hades). Into Tartarus the other Titans had been thrown: Il. viii. 481; Hesiod Theog. 719 τόσσον ἔνερθ᾽ ὑπὸ γῆς ὅσον οὐρανός ἐστ᾿ ἀπὸ γαίης· ἶσον γάρ τ᾽ ἀπὸ γῆς ἐς Τάρταρον ἠερόεντα.

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153 f. τοῦ νεκροδέγμονος : cp. Sept. 860 πάνδοκον εἰς ἀφανῆ τε χέρσον, Suppl. 157 τὸν πολυξενώτατον Ζῆνα τῶν κεκμηκότων. In Hom. Hymn v. 9, 17, 430, Hades is called Πολυδέκτης and Πολυδέγμων. Cp. οἰστοδέγμονα θησαυρόν Pers. 1020. – ἀπέραντον : see 1078. δεσμοῖς πελάσας : " and had put me in bonds there as here." For the expression δεσμοῖς πελάσας cp. Eur. Alc. 229 βρόχῳ δέρην οὐρανίῳ πελάσσαι, also ΙΙ. ν. 766 κακῆς ὀδύνῃσι πελάζειν.

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156. μήτε τις ἄλλος: Prometheus shrinks from the mention of man- kind. For the position of ris see on 165. 21.- Nothing, to the unfortunate, is so hard to bear as the malicious exultation of their enemies. Ср. Il. iii. 51; vi. 82; x. 193; Hesiod O. D. 701, Aesch. Pers. 1034, Soph. Ai. 382, Ant. 647, Eur. Med. 383.

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157. ὡς . . . ἐπεγήθει: cp. 749; Cho. 195 εἴθ᾽ εἶχε φωνὴν ... ὅπως δίφροντις οὖσα μὴ ᾿κινυσσόμην. GMT. 333. ἐπι- γηθεῖν, like ἐπιχαίρειν (cp. 158 ἐπί- χαρτα, 160 ἐπιχαρῆ) signifies τὸ συν- επιγελᾶν τοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις κακοῖς.

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158. κίνυγμα: Eustathius on Il. iv. 281 says, τοῦ δὲ κινύω αὖθις παράγω- γον τὸ κινύσσω· ἐξ οὗ παρ᾿ Αἰσχύλῳ αἰθέριον κίνυγμα, τὸ ἀέριον εἴδωλον. It is formed like αἴθυγμα from αἰθύσσω, αἴνιγμα from αἰνίττομαι. Cp. Cho. 196 ἐκινυσσόμην, might be driven this way and that, might waver. αἰθέριον κίνυγμα (oscillum) is a thing waving in mid-air. It applies to Prometheus in that he hangs in the open air with nothing for his feet to rest on.

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161. συνασχαλᾷ: from συνασχα- λάω, whereas συνασχαλῶν 303 is future of συνασχάλλω. Cp. Isocr. Iv. 181
συνοργισθῆναι τοῖς ἀδικηθεῖσιν, also συμ- πονεῖν 274 below, and συγχαίρειν, συνή- δεσθαι. In all these, συν- denotes sympathy with grief or joy.

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162. The ancient form τεός for σός occurs now and then in the lyric por- tions of tragedy. In Aeschylus twice besides this place, Sept. 105, Frg. 66. Only the melic trimeter (162 = 181) admits, in Aeschylus, three resolutions in a single verse. Cp. Suppl. 111 = 123, Ag. 485, Cho. 44 = 55. A tribrach in the second foot is found in only one other verse of this play (715), and there in a proper name.

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163. θέμενος: cp. Il. ix. 629 ἄγριον ἐν στήθεσσι θέτο μεγαλήτορα θυμόν, Tyrtaeus Frg. 11, 5 ἐχθρὰν μὲν ψυ- χὴν θέμενος, Theogn. 89 ἀλλὰ φίλει καθαρὸν θέμενος νόον ἤ μ᾿ ἀποειπὼν ἔχθαιρε. – ἄγναμπτον: instead of this, the metre demands a word which shall form two iambi. Cp. the anti- strophe 182. Probably H. L. Ahrens's conjecture, ἀκνάμπετον, is to be received (cp. ἄπευκτος and ἀπεύχετος, καμψίπους and καμπεσίγουνος, παναρκής and πανάρκετος). With ἄγναμπτον νόον cp. Il. xxiv. 41 οὐδὲ νόημα γναμπτὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι. 170. 175

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164 f. δάμναται : an epic word; ac- tive in sense here and Od. xiv. 487 ἀλλά με χεῖμα δάμναται, passive Suppl. 904, as in the Iliad. – Οὐρα- νίαν γένναν : the race of Uranus. Cp. 205, and Frg. III. of the Προμηθεὺς λυόμενος below, Titanum suboles generata Caelo; also Il. v. 898 Οὐρανιώνων. Οὐρανίαν is said like Ag. 83 Τυνδαρέα θύγατερ, ibid. 1499 ᾿Αγα- μεμνονίαν ἄλοχον, Il. xiv. 317 Ιξιονίης ἀλόχοιο. See also 590 below.

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166. παλάμᾳ: coup de main, bold or sudden stroke. - τινί : cp. Cho. 138 ἐλθεῖν δ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην δεῦρο σὺν τύχῃ τινὶ κατεύχομαι, Soph. Αi. 853 ἀρκτέον τὸ πρᾶγμα σὺν τάχει τινί, Pind. Οl. ix. 39 σύν τινι μοιριδίῳ παλάμᾳ.

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167. ἡ μὴν ἔτι: cp. 907 below.

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168. ἐν: more vivid than the sim- ple dative of instrument. Cp. 562, 6, and see on 426. – αἰκιζομένου: here passive; in active sense 195, 227, 256.

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170. νέον : new, and hence danger- ous. So Suppl. 341 πόλεμον αἴρεσθαι νέον. – βούλευμα : περὶ τοῦ ἔρωτος τῆς Θέτιδός φησι, Schol. See Introduc- tion, pp. 9 and 17. - 'Id consilium hic subobscure et ambigue Prome- theus indicat; in quo magna cernitur
ars poetae, qui sic et attentionem spectatorum acuit et actionis trag- icae cursum, ne iusto citius ad finem perveniat, inhibet ac suspendit' (Schütz).

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171. ἀποσυλᾶται: the present is here used, without reference to time, to express simply the working out of a result. Cp. 764, 948.

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172 ff. οὔτε ... τ᾿ οὔποτε: for οὔτε ... τε ср. 244, 260; and for οὔτε ... τ' οὔ(ποτε) Soph. Ant. 763 ἔμοιγε ... οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτα, Eur. Hipp. 302 οὔτε γὰρ τότε λόγοις ἐτέγγεθ᾽ ἥδε νῦν τ᾽ οὐ πείθεται, Heracl. 605 οὔτε τούτοις ἥδομαι πεπραγμένοις χρησμοῦ τε μὴ κρανθέντος οὐ βιώσιμον, Thuc. i. 126 οὔτ᾽ ἐκεῖνος ἔτι κατενόησε τό τε μαν- τεῖον οὐκ ἐδήλου. Βy οὔτε .. persuasion and force are contrasted. The change from οὔτε to τ᾽ οὔποτε accompanies the change in structure from θέλξει τo πτήξας κατμηνύσω. Ε... Τε Similarly in the example from Soph. (Ant. 763) quoted above. - μελιγλώσ σοις: recalls Il. i. 249 τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή. Cp. Eur. Frg. 891 εἴ μοι τὸ Νεστόρειον εὔγλωσσον στόμα ... δοίη θεός. - The caesura after the second foot of the anapaestic tetrapody (μελι-γλώσσοις) is not observed with absolute strict- ness before Euripides.

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176. χαλάσῃ: sc. με. Here tran- sitive, but intransitive in 58 and 179. Cp. λωφᾶν 27.

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180. ἐλευθεροστομεῖς : cp. λαβρο- στομεῖν 327, θρασυστομεῖν Suppl. 203, χαριτογλωσσεῖν 294 below.

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181. ἐρέθισε: see on 135. The tri- brach in the third foot here consists of three syllables which belong in one word; this is admissible only in the melic trimeter. See on 162 and on 2. The aorist as in ἐγέλασα, ἥσθην, ἀπέπτυσα (1070 below). Krüger I, § 53, 6, 3; GMT. 60; Н. 842,

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182 f. δέδια ... πᾶ πότε: see on

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184. At 100 above, the figure is that of daybreak after darkness; here of reaching land after a stormy and perilous voyage. - ἀκίχητα: an epic word. Cp. Il. xvii. 75 ἀκίχητα διώκων.

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185. ἀπαράμυθον : with long a- priv- ative. So, in epic poetry, ἀθάνατος, ἀκάματος, from the necessities of the metre. ἀθάνατος kept this measure- ment throughout, even in Attic po- etry.

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186-192. This fourth anapaestic system does not correspond in length to the third (167-177), as the sec- ond (152 ff.) does to the first (137 ff.). Perhaps this is because it forms the close. Cp. Soph. Ai. 257 ff. Possibly, however, some verses have been lost. Weil assumes a gap after ῥαισθῇ.

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186 f. παρ' ἑαυτῷ τὸ δίκαιον ἔχων: cp. 403, 150; also Eur. Suppl. 429 οὐδὲν τυράννου δυσμενέστερον πόλει, ὅπου τὸ μὲν πρώτιστον οὐκ εἰσὶν νόμοι κοινοί, κρατεῖ δ᾽ εἷς τὸν νόμον κεκτημένος 195. 200 αὐτὸς παρ᾽ αὑτῷ, Aesch. Suppl. 370 σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ δὲ τὸ δάμιον. For δίκαιον see on 150.

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187. ὀίω : = οἶμαι (758), opinor, I trow, I hope. Cp. 11. viii. 536 ἀλλ᾿ ἐν πρώτοισιν, οίω, κείσεται οὐτηθείς. Here with short 4, as in Homer in the middle of the hexameter, while at the end ὀtw is used.

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189. ταύτῃ ῥαισθῇ: said with ref- erence to 169 f. See on 170. Prome- theus speaks mysteriously and in a tone of secret exultation over some- thing not disclosed. With ταύτῃ cp. τῶνδε 247.

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190. ἀτέραμνον: cp. 1062. ἀτέραμ- vos is an Homeric word. Cp. Od. xxiii. 167 κῆρ ἀτέραμνον. Hesych. defines it, τὸ μὴ ἐνδιδοῦν, σκληρόν. Cp. ὀργὰς ἀτενεῖς Αg. 71. - στορέσας : meta- phorical; the figure is that of calm- ing the waves after a storm.

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191. εἰς ἀρθμὸν καὶ φιλότητα: so Hom. Hymn iii. 524 κατένευσεν ἐπ᾿ ἀρθμῷ καὶ φιλότητι. Cp. Il. vii. 302 ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.

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193-396. First Episode. 193- 283. First Scene: Prometheus and the Coryphaeus. The scholiast says: τὴν ὑπόθεσιν (that is, the expo- sition of the events supposed to pre- cede the opening of the play) βουλό- μενος διδάξαι, τὸ περίεργον (curiosity) τοῦ γυναικώδους ήθους προσέλαβεν (availed himself of, as a motive). οὐκ ἂν γὰρ ὁ ᾿Ὠκεανds (who enters later) ἠξίωσεν ἐρωτῆσαι εἰδώς. The curiosity of the chorus is a natural conse- quence of their awakened sympathy. Still it is to be observed that Prome- theus on his part is moved to tell his story by the longing to unburden his heart to sympathizing friends (see 198). He needs only the request in order to comply at once. - The Pro- logue and this first scene of the first episode constitute the first act of the drama, which expounds the situation and prepares the way for the follow- ing dramatic development.

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196. εἴ τι μή: cp. Pers. 157 θεοῦ δὲ καὶ μήτηρ ἔφυς, εἴ τι μὴ δαίμων παλαιὸς νῦν μεθέστηκε στρατῷ, Suppl. 1016 εἰ ahaad. 205 210- γάρ τι μὴ θεοῖς βεβούλευται νέον. Cp. 763.-It is noteworthy that all the speeches of the coryphaeus (which exceed a single verse) consist of four verses (see 242, 259, 472, 507, 631, 819, 1036) except 698 f. The same tendency in the speeches of other persons, 393, 511, 522, 589, 609.