Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 93

Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator)

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Look, with what shameful torture I am racked and must wrestle
throughout the countless years of time apportioned me. Such is the ignominious bondage the new commander of the blessed has devised against me. Woe! Woe! For present misery and misery to come I groan, not knowing where
95
it is fated that deliverance from these sorrows shall arise.
100

Prometheus Bound. Aeschylus. Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator). New York. 1922.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Prometheus Bound (English) (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Editions (7)
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 128-194 focus
Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 95 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 95 focus
χρόνον ἀθλεύσω.
95
τοιόνδ᾽ ὁ νέος ταγὸς μακάρων
ἐξηῦρ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν ἀεικῆ.
φεῦ φεῦ, τὸ παρὸν τό τ' ἐπερχόμενον
πῆμα στενάχω, πῆ ποτε μόχθῳ
χρὴ τέρματα τῶνδ᾽ ἐπιτεῖλαι.
100
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 95 focus
χρόνον ἀθλεύσω.
95
τοιόνδ᾽ ὁ νέος ταγὸς μακάρων
ἐξεῦρ᾽ ἐπ' ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν ἀεικῆ.
αἰαῖ, τὸ παρόν, τό τ' ἐπερχόμενον
πῆμα στενάχω, πῇ ποτε μόχθων
χρὴ τέρματα τῶνδ᾽ ἐπιτεῖλαι.
100
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 95 focus
χρόνον ἀθλεύσω·
95
τοιόνδ' ὁ νέος ταγὸς μακάρων
ἐξηῦρ' ἐξεῦρ' ἐπ' ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν ἀεικῆ·
φεῦ φεῦ αἰ αἰ, τὸ παρὸν τό τ' ἐπερχόμενον
πῆμα στενάχω, ποῖ ποτε μόχθων
χρὴ τέρματα τῶνδ' ἐπιτεῖλαι.
100
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 95 focus
χρόνον ἀθλεύσω. τοιόνδ᾽ ὁ νέος
95
ταγὸς μακάρων ἐξηῦρ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ
δεσμὸν ἀεικῆ.
φεῦ φεῦ, τὸ παρὸν τό τ᾽ ἐπερχόμενον
πῆμα στενάχω, πῇ ποτε μόχθων
χρὴ τέρματα τῶνδ᾽ ἐπιτεῖλαι.
100
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 95 focus
χρόνον ἀθλεύσω.
95
τοιόνδ᾽ ὁ νέος ταγὸς μακάρων
ἐξηῦρ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν ἀεικῆ.
φεῦ φεῦ, τὸ παρὸν τό τ᾽ ἐπερχόμενον
πῆμα στενάχω· πῆι ποτε μόχθων
χρὴ τέρματα τῶνδ᾽ ἐπιτεῖλαι.
100
Translations (8)
Prometheus Bound. (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 95 focus
through time of years innumerable. Such an ignominious bondage hath the new ruler of the immortals devised against me. Alas! alas! I sigh over the present suffering, and that which is coming on. How, where must a termination of these toils arise?
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 95 focus
durerai pendant des jours sans nombre. Voilà donc les liens d'infamie qu'a imaginés pour moi le jeune chef des Bienheureux ! Las ! las ! et le mal qui m'accable et le mal qui m'attend m'arrachent des sanglots : après quelles
épreuves la délivrance luira-elle enfin ?
Parlé.
Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 95 focus
with what fierce pains,
Behold, what tortures for revolving ages
I here muſt ſtruggle; ſuch unſeemly chains
This newrais'd ruler of the gods devis'd.
Ah me! That groan burſts from my anguiſh'd heart,
105
My preſent woes and future to bemoan.
When ſhall theſe ſuff'rings find their deſtin'd end?
But why that vain inquiry? My clear ſight
Looks through the future; unforeſeen no ill
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 95 focus
scendi giú, forte ora le gambe accerchiagli.
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 95 focus
Tempus laborabó: quale iuuenis
Dux beatorum inuenit pro me
Vinculum moleſtum, heu heu. præsens,
Et ſequens detrimentum deploro, quà ratione
Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 95 focus
Hath he who newly reigns,
Chief of the blest, devised against me. Woe!
Ah woe! the torture of the hour
I wail, ay, and of anguish'd throes
The future dower.
How, when, shall rise a limit to these woes?
And yet what say I? clearly I foreknow
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.) — 95 focus
Eternal ages, year on year!
Such and so shameful is the chain
Which Heaven's new tyrant doth ordain
105
To bind me helpless here.
Woe! for the ruthless present doom!
Woe! for the Future's teeming womb!
On what far dawn, in what dim skies,
Shall star of my deliverance rise?
110
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.) — 95 focus
Fortkämpfen ich soll!
95
Solch schmähliche Fess'lung sann er mir aus,
Der neu sich erhob, der Unsterblichen Fürst!
Ach, ach! Um das Jetzt, um das kommende Leid
Wehklag' ich zumal. Wann wird jemals
Der Mühsale Ziel mir erscheinen?
100

Commentary

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

93. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-95

δέρκεσθε, οἵαις αἰκίαισιν:
δέρ χθηθ' οἵαις αικίαισι
M. erasis post
δέρ
aliquot litteris.
δέρχθηθ' οἵαις ἀνίαισιν
(
ἀνίαισι
Aug. Rob.) G. Lips. Aug. Rob. Ad
οἵαις
in Lips. supra adscriptum γρ.
αναῖς
. Plerique libri
αἰκίαισι
habere videntur, ut Ald. Turn. Blomfieldius secundum Elmsleii praeceptum ad Med. 608. nota X.
αἰκείαισιν
scripsit. Eximia arte Aeschylus fecit Prometheum, tandem, postquam solus est neque audiri potest a feroci irrisore, quo praesente contemptim tacuerat, rumpere silentium, initio quidem adhuc constricto magnitudine mali pectore aegre et tardioribus numeris caelum terramque testes iniuriae appellare, mox autem libero impetu indignationem citatis anapaestis effundere, paullo post vero dignitatis suae memorem quieto tranquilloque animo sese conscientia recte factorum consolari.

94. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-96

μυριετῆ:
μυριέτη
Lips. Scholiastes
πολυετῆ· ἐν γὰρ τῷ πυρφόρω τρεῖς μυριάδας φησὶ δεδέσθαι αὐτόν
. Hyginus Poet. astr. II. 15.
Prometheum autem in monte Scythiae nomine Caucaso ferrea catena vinxit: quem alligatum ad triginta milia annorum Aeschylus tragoediarum scriptor ait
. Id si Aeschylus
τριςμύρια ἔτη
dixit, videri potest usitata formula nihil nisi ingentem numerum significasse. Ideo tamen hic
μυριετῆ χρόνον
non eam vim quam
πολυετῆ
, sed paullo maiorem habet, numero annis addito quasi vivam imaginem immensi spatii animo offerens.

95. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-97

ἀθλεύσω:
ἀθλεύσω
G. Rob. et alii libri.

98. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-98

αἰαῖ:
φεῦ φεῦ
M. G. et aliquot alii codices.
αι αι
Lips. Aug. atque alii.
αἳ αἳ
Rob. Qui cum Porsono
φεῦ φεῦ
praetulerunt, videntur id hiatus vitandi caussa fecisse. At is in interiectionibus legitimus est. Aptius hic videtur
αἰαῖ
, solentque id glossatores
φεῦ φεῦ
interpretari.

99. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-99

πῇ:
πῆι
M. G. Lips. Aug. multique alii codices et Rob.
πῆ
Ald.
πῇ
a recte editum inde a Turnebo.

100. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-100

τέρματα:
τέρματα
M. Ita recte Turnebus. Fuerunt qui hoc corrigendo orationem enervarent.
τέρμα
G. Lips. Aug. Rob. et reliqui ut videtur libri. In edd. vett. coli signo vel puncto post
στενάχω
distinguitur, non posito signo interrogandi post
ἐπιτεῖλαι
, quod placuit fere recentioribus. At multo gravior hic obliqua oratio est. Sic etiam v. 183. ss.

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

1-127. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-1

1
2
1-127: Prologue (πρόλογος).

88-127. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-69

3
4
88-127. Second Scene. Pro- metheus alone. With this invocation of the elements cp. Il. iii. 277 ἠέλιός θ' ὃς πάντ᾽ ἐφορᾶς καὶ πάντ᾽ ἐπακούεις, καὶ ποταμοὶ καὶ γαῖα, Soph. Phil. 936& λιμένες, ὦ προβλῆτες, ὦ ξυνουσίαι θηρῶν ὀρείων, ὦ καταρρῶγες πέτραι, ὑμῖν τάδ', οὐ γὰρ ἄλλον οἶδ᾽ ὅτῳ λέγω, ἀνακλαίομαι. Apsines (Rhet. Gr. ed. Spengel I. p. 400) says: κινεῖ δὲ ἔλεον καὶ λόγος πρὸς τόπον τινὰ γινόμενος.

93. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-74

5
6
93 f. The transition from iambi to anapaests marks an outbreak of more violent passion. At 101, with a calmer mood, the quieter rhythm returns. αἰκίαισιν (= ἀεικελίοις μόχθοις) δια- κναιόμενος : cp. 541. - τὸν μυριετή χρόνον: said like τὸν πλείω χρόνον, (Ar. Ran. 160, Thuc. iv. 117), τὸν πάντα χρόνον (Ar. Nub. 462). μυριετῆ· πολυετῆ· ἐν γὰρ τῷ πυρφόρῳ τρεῖς μυ- ριάδας φησὶ δεδέσθαι αὐτόν, Schol. (cp. Hygin. Poet. astr. ii. 15). Both num- bers are merely hyperbolic expres- sions for a very long time. – ἀθλεύσω : absolute, suffer. Cp. Il. xxiv. 734 ἀθ- λεύων πρὸ ἄνακτος ἀμειλίχου. The word is Ionic.

96. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-75

7
8
96. ταγός: cp. Pers. 23 ταγοὶ Περ- σῶν, 323 νεῶν ταγός, Soph. Ant. 1057 ἆρ' οἶσθα ταγοὺς (lords and masters) ὄντας ἂν λέγῃς λέγων;

97. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-76

9
10
97. The anapaestic monometer forms a close, but a less emphatic one than the paroemiac.-δεσμόν : the singular as in 141. We have δεσμούς ἀεικεῖς 525. – ἀεική: see on 113.

99. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-77

11
12
99. στενάχω, πῇ: as it were I groan to think how, etc. Cp. 182; Soph. Ai. 794 ὥστε μ' ὠδίνειν τί φής, Eur. Hec. 184 δειμαίνω τί ποτ᾿ ἀναστένεις, Ar. Nub. 1391 οἶμαί γε τῶν νεωτέρων τὰς καρδίας πηδᾶν ὅ τι λέξει. - πῇ πότε: cp. 545; Eur. Alc. 213 ἰὼ Ζεῦ, τίς ἂν πῶς πᾶ πόρος κακῶν γένοιτο ; Krüger I. § 51, 17, 10; H. 1013.

100. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-78

13
14
100. χρή: nearly = μέλλει. – ἐπι- τεῖλαι: ἐπιτέλλεσθαι of the rising of heavenly bodies, Hom. Hymn iii. 371 ἠελίοιο νέον ἐπιτελλομένοιο, Hesiod Ο. D. 567 πρῶτον παμφαίνων ἐπιτέλλε- ται. The active in the 'Iλιὰς μικρά (Tzetzes on Lycophr. 344) λαμπρή δ᾽ ἐπέτελλε σελήνη. In a figurative sense, Theogn. 1275 ὡραῖος καὶ ἔρως ἐπιτέλλεται ἡνίκα περ γῆ ἄνθεσιν εἰαρι- νοῖς θάλλει ἀεξομένη.