Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 332

Robert Potter (Translator)

Table of Contents

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →
I gratulate thy fortune, that on thee
340
No blame hath lighted, tho' aſſociate with me
In all, and daring equally. But now
Forbear, of my condition take no care;
Thou wilt not move him, nothing moves his rigor:
Take heed then, leſt to go brings harm on thee.
345

Prometheus Bound. Aeschylus. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1779.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) (English) (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 399-435 focus
Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 399-435 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 332 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 332 focus
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 332 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 332 focus
ζηλῶ σ' ὁθούνεκ᾽ ἐκτὸς αἰτίας κυρεῖς,
πάντων μετασχὼν καὶ τετολμηκὼς ἐμοί.
καὶ νῦν ἔασον μηδέ σοι μελησάτω.
πάντως γὰρ οὐ πείσεις νιν· οὐ γὰρ εὐπιθής.
πάπταινε δ᾽ αὐτὸς μή τι πημανθῇς ὁδῷ.
350
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 332 focus
Translations (7)
Prometheus Bound Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 399-435 focus
Prometheus Bound. (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 332 focus
I give thee joy, because that thou hast escaped censure, after taking part in and venturing along with me in all things. And now leave him alone, and let it not concern thee. For in no wise wilt thou persuade him; for he is not open to persuasion. And look thou well to it that thou take not harm thyself by the journey.
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 332 focus
de cause après avoir eu part à tout et osé autant que moi 1 . Aussi
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 332 focus
Tutte io sapevo queste pene. lo stesso
volli peccare, non lo negherò:
310
io stesso volli: gli uomini soccorsi,
ed a me stesso procacciai tormenti.
Ma non credeva a strazio tal, che in vetta
d'aeree rocce io macerar dovessi
su questa balza inospite deserta.
315
Ma non piangete il mio presente male:
scendete al suolo, e le sciagure udite
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 332 focus
Admiror te, cum sis extra multam,
Ausum mecum omnium rerum participem esse.
Et nunc desiste, neq; sollicitus sis: (est facilis.
Nam omnino non persuadebis ipsum: persuasio non
Inspice ipse, ne quid tibi mali in itinere contingat.
340
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.) — 332 focus
O enviable thou, and unaccused—
Thou who wast art and part in all I dared!
And now, let be! make this no care of thine,
For Zeus is past persuasion—urge him not!
Look to thyself, lest thine emprise thou rue.
375
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.) — 332 focus
Beneidenswerther, daß du bliebst aus aller Schuld,
Obschon du jedes Wagestück mit mir getheilt!
Nun aber laß dief, kümm're dich nicht mehr darum!
Denn ihn bewegst du nimmer; Nichts beugt seinen Sinn.
Sieh, daß dir selbst nur dieser Gang nicht Schaden bringt!
335

Commentary

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

341. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-374

τῶνδέ:
τόνδε
om. Lips. 2. Aug.

342. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-375

κοὐδαμῇ:
κουδὲ μὴ
M. G. Vit. aliique.
κουδαμῆ
Lips. 1. edd. vett.
κουδαμή
, ultima littera in litura et supra scripto
οι
, Lips. 2.
κοὐδαμοῦ
Aug. Valckenario ad Phoen. 1723. p. 575.
τὰ μὲν σ' ἐπαινῶν οὐδαμῇ λήξω ποτέ
legendum putanti more suo obsecutus est Brunckius. V. ad Soph. Ai. 1379.

343. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-376

προθυμίας:
προμηθείας
G.

343. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-377

ἀτὰρ:
αὐτὰρ
Vit.

345. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-378

θέλοις:
θέλεις
M. G. Lips. 1. 2. Aug. et sic codd. plerique et vett. edd.
θέλοις
Vit. Par. B. Cantabr. 1. quod receperunt Brunckius et Schützius, non, ut Wellauerus ait, inepte, sed aptissime, immo sententia etiam flagitante, quia
μάτην πονήσεις
idem fere est quod
πονήσειας ἂν μάτην
.

347. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-379

οὐκ εἰ:
ουκ
om. Vit. qui
εἰ
habet et
οὐ
in principio sequentis versus.

347. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-380

οἵνεκα: Libri
εἵνεκα
. Correxit Brunckius.

348. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-381

πλείστοισι:
πλήστοισι
pr. manu habuisse videtur M.

348. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-382

πημονὰς:
πλείστους πημονάς
Vit.

349-374. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-383

NA: Versus 349-374. in libris Oceano tributi sunt. Promethei esse intellexit Elmsleius.

349. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-384

καὶ:
καὶ
om. G. Pro eo male Porsonus
καί
.

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

193-396. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-145

1
2
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.

284-396. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-203

3
4
284-396. Second Scene of the First Episode. Oceanus, father of the Oceanids, enters (from the right), mounted upon a winged steed (τετρασκελής οἰωνός 395) like 285. 290 Pegasus. The scholiast understands a griffin, because of this word οἰωνός, but sea-gods, in older Greek art, are often seen riding on hippocamps or sea-horses. The machine here used was the αἰώρημα, a sort of crane with hanging ropes, by which persons could be swung aloft, moved through the air, and let down again. The scholiast remarks, καιρὸν δίδωσι τῷ χορῷ καθήκασθαι (καθιμᾶσθαι ?) τῆς μηχανῆς ᾿Ὠκεανὸς ἐλθών· ὑπερβολῇ δὲ ἐχρήσατο, ὅπου γε Ὅμηρος οὐκ εἰσήγα- γεν ᾿Ὠκεανὸν εἰς τὸν σύλλογον τῶν θεῶν (on this cp. Il. xx. 7 οὔτε τις οὖν Ποταμῶν ἀπέην νόσφ᾽ ᾿Ὠκεανοῖο). The anapaests of Oceanus accompany the descent of the chorus from their chariot into the orchestra. - This scene and the second episode form the second act, the beginning of the action which leads to the catastrophe. See on 307 and 436.

340. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-241

5
6
340 f. τὰ μέν: the sentence takes a slight turn, and instead of τὰ δέ (on the other hand), ἀτάρ follows.

342. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-242

7
8
342. μάτην οὐδὲν ὠφελῶν : cp. Cho. 881 καθεύδουσιν μάτην ἄκραντα βάζω. — ὠφελεῖν often takes the dative, not only in dramatic poetry (Krüger II. § 46, 8, 2), but even in prose; so Hdt. ix. 103 προσωφελέειν ἐθέλοντες τοῖς Ἕλλησι.

343. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-243

9
10
343. καὶ... θέλοις: there is a shade of contemptuous doubt in these words. 345 350

344. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-244

11
12
344. “σαυτὸν ἐκποδὼν ἔχων: and keep out of the matter. Cp. Xen. Cyr. vi. 1. 37 οἱ δὲ φίλοι προσιόντες συμβου- λεύουσιν ἐκποδὼν ἔχειν ἐμαυτόν.

345. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-245

13
14
345. εἵνεκα: epic form of ἕνεκα, used by the tragedians for the sake of the metre, like ξεῖνος for ξένος, κεινός for κενός, κεῖνος for ἐκεῖνος, εἱλίσσειν (138, 1085) for ἑλίσσειν, μοῦ- vos (804, see on 543) for μόνος.

346. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-246

15
16
346. πλείστοισι πημονὰς τυχεῖν : cp. Pers. 706 ἀνθρώπεια δ᾽ ἄν τοι πήματ᾽ ἂν τύχοι βροτοῖς. - The scholiast says, Προμηθικῶς· οὐ γὰρ κατὰ τὸν ἀνθρώπινον λογισμὸν πολλοὺς αὑτῷ συνατυχεῖν βού- λεται ὁ Προμηθεύς. (The commoner feeling is expressed by the proverb solamen miseris socios habu- isse malorum.) The poet uses this thought to introduce a matter quite foreign to the play. From the mention of Atlas he passes to the de- scription of Typhon, and this enables him to bring in the eruption of Aetna (367-369). ...

347. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-247

17
18
347. οὐ δῦτ᾽, ἐπεί: cp. Soph. O. C. 431 εἴποις ἂν ὡς θέλοντι τοῦτ᾽ ἐμοὶ τότε πόλις τὸ δῶρον εἰκότως κατήνεσεν. οὐ δῆτ᾽, ἐπεί τοι τὴν μὲν αὐτίχ᾽ ἡμέραν οὐδεὶς ἔρωτος τοῦδ᾽ ἐφαίνετ᾽ ὠφελῶν, Eur. Heracl. 505 αὐτοὶ δὲ προστιθέντες ἄλλοισιν πόνους, παρόν σφε σῶσαι, φευ- ξόμεσθα μὴ θανεῖν; οὐ δῆτ᾽, ἐπεί τοι καὶ γέλωτος ἄξια κτέ., also Alc. 555. - The thought, which forms the transi- tion to the following description, is this: "I will not involve others in my misfortunes; the afflictions of my brother Atlas and of Typhon distress me sorely as it is." - For the following, cp. Hesiod Theog. 517 ῎Ατλας δ᾽ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχει κρατερῆς ὑπ᾿ ἀνάγκης, πείρασιν ἐν γαίης, πρόπαρ Εσπερίδων λιγυφώνων ἑστηώς, κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ἀκαμάτοισι χέρεσσιν· ταύτην γάρ οἱ μοῖραν ἐδάσσατο μητίετα Ζεύς.

348. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-248

19
20
348. πρὸς ἑσπέρους τόπους: that is, far toward the west, πρός with accusative, because the speaker thinks of the direction which one must take to reach the place. Cp. Frg. 327 Αἴγινα δ᾽ αὕτη πρὸς νότου κεῖται πνοάς, Od. xiii. 240 ἠμὲν ὅσοι ναίουσι πρὸς ἠῶ τ' ἠέλιόν τε ἠδ᾽ ὅσσοι μετόπισθε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα. ... τοῦτον

349. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-249

21
22
349. Pindar Pyth. i. 35 calls Aetna α κίων οὐρανία, and just so Hdt. iv. 184 says of Mount Atlas, ἔστι δὲ στει- νὸν καὶ κυκλοτερὲς πάντῃ, ὑψηλὸν δὲ οὕτω δή τι λέγεται ὡς τὰς κορυφὰς αὐ- τοῦ οὐκ οἷά τε εἶναι ἰδέσθαι κίονα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ λέγουσι οἱ ἐπιχώριοι εἶναι. A mountain rising into the clouds seemed to the imagination a pillar supporting the vault of the sky. See Verg. Aen. iv. 247. This 'bearer' (ἄτλας) in the legend be- came a Titan, who as punishment for his sins had to carry the burden of the sky upon his shoulders (see the passage of Hesiod quoted just above). Conversely, colossal crea-
tures are compared to mountain- peaks; thus in Od. x. 113 the queen of the Laestrygones is described, τὴν δὲ γυναῖκα εὗρον ὅσην τ᾿ ὄρεος κορυφήν, and in Od. ix. 191 Poly. phemus resembles ῥίῳ ὑλήεντι ὑψη- λῶν ὀρέων. – In Homer, however, we read, Od. i. 53, ἔχει (sc. ῎Ατλας) δέ τε κίονας αὐτὸς μακράς, αἳ γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχουσιν. Here the orig- inal conception of supporting pillars still remains, and the pillars are not entirely replaced by a personal Atlas. The 'columns which keep earth and sky apart' still exist as such, and Atlas is only the person who 'holds' them. Aeschylus has followed Homer. In view of the familiar Homeric pas- sage he says briefly κίον οὐρανοῦ τε καὶ χθονός, leaving the office of the pillar, γαῖαν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχειν, to be understood; this office, indeed, is partly fulfilled by Atlas's own per- son standing on the earth.