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PROMETHEUS

Alas! alas! Woe! woe!

Prolific Tethys' offspring, progeny

Of sire Oceanos, whose sleepless flow

Engirdles the whole earth; behold and see

In what dire bonds unenvied watch I keep,

Clasp'd to the summit of this rock-bound steep.

Prometheus Bound. Aeschylus. Anna Swanwick (Translator). London. 1886.

Current edition Experimental

Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) (English) (Prometheus Bound. Anna Swanwick, 1886.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)

Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 128-194 focus

str. 1

Χορός

μηδὲν φοβηθῇς: φιλία γὰρ ἅδε¹ τάξις

πτερύγων θοαῖς ἁμίλλαις

προσέβα τόνδε πάγον, πατρῴας
130

μόγις παρειποῦσα φρένας.

κραιπνοφόροι δέ μ᾽ ἔπεμψαν αὖραι:

κτύπου γὰρ ἀχὼ χάλυβος διῇξεν ἄντρων

μυχόν, ἐκ δ᾽ ἔπληξέ μου τὰν θεμερῶπιν² αἰδῶ:

σύθην δ᾽ ἀπέδιλος ὄχῳ πτερωτῷ.
135
136

Προμηθεύς

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,³

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου

χθόν᾽ ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδες

πατρὸς Ὠκεανοῦ,
140

δέρχθητ᾽, ἐσίδεσθ᾽ οἵῳ δεσμῷ,

προσπορπατὸς⁴ τῆσδε φάραγγος

σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις

φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.

144

ant. 1

Χορός

λεύσσω, Προμηθεῦ: φοβερὰ⁵ δ᾽ ἐμοῖσιν ὄσσοις
145

ὁμίχλα προσῇξε πλήρης

δακρύων σὸν δέμας εἰσιδοῦσαν⁶

πέτραις προσαυαινόμενον

ταῖσδ᾽⁷ ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι λύμαις:

νέοι γὰρ οἰακονόμοι κρατοῦσ᾽ Ὀλύμπου:

νεοχμοῖς δὲ δὴ νόμοις Ζεὺς ἀθέτως⁸ κρατύνει,
150

τὰ πρὶν δὲ πελώρια νῦν ἀιστοῖ.

152

Προμηθεύς

εἰ γάρ μ᾽ ὑπὸ γῆν νέρθεν θ᾽⁹ Ἅιδου

τοῦ νεκροδέγμονος εἰς ἀπέραντον

Τάρταρον ἧκεν,

δεσμοῖς ἀλύτοις ἀγρίως¹⁰ πελάσας,
155

ὡς μήτε¹¹ θεὸς μήτε τις ἄλλος

τοῖσδ᾽ ἐπεγήθει.

νῦν δ᾽ αἰθέριον κίνυγμ᾽ ὁ τάλας

ἐχθροῖς ἐπίχαρτα πέπονθα.

160

str. 2

Χορός

τίς ὧδε τλησικάρδιος
160

θεῶν, ὅτῳ τάδ᾽ ἐπιχαρῆ;

τίς οὐ ξυνασχαλᾷ κακοῖς

τεοῖσι, δίχα γε Διός; ὁ δ᾽ ἐπικότως ἀεὶ¹²

θέμενος ἄγναμπτον νόον

δάμναται οὐρανίαν
165

γένναν, οὐδὲ λήξει, πρὶν ἂν ἢ κορέσῃ κέαρ,

ἢ παλάμᾳ τινὶ τὰν δυσάλωτον ἕλῃ τις ἀρχάν.

168

Προμηθεύς

ἦ μὴν ἔτ᾽ ἐμοῦ,¹³ καίπερ κρατεραῖς

ἐν γυιοπέδαις¹⁴ αἰκιζομένου,

χρείαν ἕξει μακάρων πρύτανις,
170

δεῖξαι τὸ νέον βούλευμ᾽ ὑφ᾽¹⁵ ὅτου

σκῆπτρον τιμάς τ᾽ ἀποσυλᾶται.

καί μ᾽ οὔτε¹⁶ μελιγλώσσοις πειθοῦς

ἐπαοιδαῖσιν θέλξει, στερεάς τ᾽

οὔποτ᾽ ἀπειλὰς πτήξας τόδ᾽ ἐγὼ
175

καταμηνύσω,

πρὶν ἂν ἐξ ἀγρίων δεσμῶν χαλάσῃ

ποινάς τε τίνειν¹⁷

τῆσδ᾽¹⁸ αἰκίας ἐθελήσῃ.

180

ant. 2

Χορός

σὺ μὲν θρασύς τε καὶ πικραῖς
180

δύαισιν οὐδὲν ἐπιχαλᾷς,

ἄγαν δ᾽ ἐλευθεροστομεῖς.

ἐμὰς δὲ φρένας ἐρέθισε¹⁹ διάτορος φόβος:

δέδια δ᾽²⁰ ἀμφὶ σαῖς τύχαις,

πᾷ²¹ ποτε τῶνδε πόνων
185

χρή σε τέρμα κέλσαντ᾽ ἐσιδεῖν: ἀκίχητα γὰρ

ἤθεα καὶ κέαρ ἀπαράμυθον²² ἔχει Κρόνου παῖς.

189

Προμηθεύς

οἶδ᾽ ὅτι τραχὺς καὶ²³ παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ

τὸ δίκαιον ἔχων Ζεύς: ἀλλ᾽ ἔμπας [ὀίω]²⁴

μαλακογνώμων
190

ἔσται ποθ᾽, ὅταν ταύτῃ ῥαισθῇ:²⁵

τὴν δ᾽ ἀτέραμνον στορέσας ὀργὴν

εἰς ἀρθμὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ φιλότητα

σπεύδων σπεύδοντί ποθ᾽ ἥξει.

196

Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 136 focus

Προμηθεύς

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θʼ εἱλισσομένου

χθόνʼ ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδες

πατρὸς, Ὠκεανοῦ,
140

δέρχθητʼ, ἐσίδεσθʼ οἵῳ δεσμῷ,

προσπορπατὸς τῆσδε φάραγγος

σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις

φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.

Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 136 focus

ΠΡ.

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἰλισσομένου

χθόν᾽ ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδες
140

πατρὸς Ὠκεανοῦ,

δέρχθητ᾽, ἐσίδεσθ᾽ οἴῳ δεσμῷ

προσπαρτὸς ἐγὼ

τῆσδε φάραγγος σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις

φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.
145

Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 136 focus

Προμηθεύς

αἰαῖ, αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσαν χθόνα εἱλισσομένου

ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδες

πατρὸς Ὠκεανοῦ, δέρκεσθ', ἐςίδεσθ'
140

οἵῳ δεσμῷ προςπορπατὸς

τῆσδε φάραγγος σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις

φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.

ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 136 focus

ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ

Αἰαὶ αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,
140

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ' εἱλισσομένου

χθόν' ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδες

πατρὸς Ὠκεανοῦ, δέρχθητ', ἐσίδεσθ'

οἵῳ δεσμῷ προσπορπατὸς

τῆσδε φάραγγος σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις
145

φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.

Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 136 focus

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.

ΧΟ.

Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 136 focus

ΠΡ.

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου

Testim.:

124 Hesych. κινάθισμα· κίνημα πλήθους, παραγώγως· ἐξ οὗ πλῆθος παραγίνεται (1. παραγινόμενον) ὑπακούεται.

Numeri:

128-36 = 144-152 periodus choriambica (8.2.) decasyllabus Alcaicus, periodus choriambica (7.), decasyllabus Alcaicus ab initio syllaba auctus.

Apparatus Criticus

θεόν θεῶν utrumque εἰσοιχνεῦσιν εἰσιχνεῦσι λίαν φιλότητα διὰ τιμίαν, γρ διὰ τὴν μίαν βροτῶν τῶν βροτῶν φεῦ φεῦ αἳ αἴ κινάθισμα κινώθισμα φοβηθῆις φοβηθείς προσέβα προσέβη et -βαν -βη μυχόν μυχῶν ἐκ δ᾽ ἔπληξέ ἐν δ᾽ ἐπέληξε θεμερῶπιν θεμερῶπιν θερμερ. αἰαῖ αἰαῖ aἴ quater ter bis θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου θ᾽ εἱλισσ. τ᾽ εἰλ.

ΠΡ.
²

χθόν᾿ ἀκοιμήτωι ῥεύματι παῖδες

πατρὸς Ὠκεανοῦ δέρχθητ᾽ ἐσίδεσθ᾽
140

οίωι δεσμῶι προσπορπατὸς

τῆσδε φάραγγος σκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροις

φρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.

Translations (8)

Prometheus Bound Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 136 focus

Prometheus

Alas! Alas! Offspring of fruitful Tethys and of him who with his sleepless current encircles the whole earth, children of your

father Oceanus, behold, see with what fetters, upon the summit crag of this ravine, I am to hold my unenviable watch.
140

Prometheus Bound. (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 136 focus

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.

CHORUS

PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 136 focus

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.

Même mouvement.

LE CHŒUR

Je vois, Prométhée, et un brouillard craintif monte, gros de larmes, à mes yeux, quand je contemple
sur ce roc ton corps qui se dessèche dans l'ignominie de ces liens d'acier. Des maîtres nouveaux tiennent la barre dans l'Olympe ;

Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 136 focus

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.

CHORUS.

Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 136 focus

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'.

Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 136 focus

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.

CHORUS.

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.) — 136 focus

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!

Chorus

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.) — 136 focus

Ach, ach!

Prometheus.

Ihr Töchter aus Tethys' fruchtbarem Schooß,

Von dem Gotte gezeugt, der wogend mit nie

Einschlummernder Flut um die Erde sich wälzt,

Dem Okeanosstrom, blickt auf, seht her,

Wie hier ich die neidlos traurige Hut,
140

In Bande verstrickt, an des Felsabhangs

Aufstarrenden Klippen besteh'n muß !

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Zweiter Halbchor.

Commentary

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

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.

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

;

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.

Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 136

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

PROMETHEUS

Alas! alas! Woe! woe!

Prolific Tethys' offspring, progeny

Of sire Oceanos, whose sleepless flow

Engirdles the whole earth; behold and see

In what dire bonds unenvied watch I keep,

Clasp'd to the summit of this rock-bound steep.

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

ΠΡ.

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου

Testim.:

Numeri:

Apparatus Criticus

Prometheus

Alas! Alas! Offspring of fruitful Tethys and of him who with his sleepless current encircles the whole earth, children of your

father Oceanus, behold, see with what fetters, upon the summit crag of this ravine, I am to hold my unenviable watch.
140

CHORUS

LE CHŒUR

Je vois, Prométhée, et un brouillard craintif monte, gros de larmes, à mes yeux, quand je contemple
sur ce roc ton corps qui se dessèche dans l'ignominie de ces liens d'acier. Des maîtres nouveaux tiennent la barre dans l'Olympe ;

CHORUS.

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'.

Huius uallis in altis ſcopulis,

Cuſtodiam minimè expetendam sustinebó.

CHORUS.

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!

Chorus

Ach, ach!

Zweiter Halbchor.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

PROMETHEUS Alas! alas! Woe! woe! Prolific Tethys' offspring, progeny Of sire Oceanos, whose sleepless flow Engirdles the whole earth; behold and see In what dire bonds unenvied watch I keep, Clasp'd to the summit of this rock-bound steep.

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

ΠΡ. αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου

Testim.:

Numeri:

Apparatus Criticus

Prometheus Alas! Alas! Offspring of fruitful Tethys and of him who with his sleepless current encircles the whole earth, children of your father Oceanus, behold, see with what fetters, upon the summit crag of this ravine, I am to hold my unenviable watch. 140

CHORUS

LE CHŒUR Je vois, Prométhée, et un brouillard craintif monte, gros de larmes, à mes yeux, quand je contemple sur ce roc ton corps qui se dessèche dans l'ignominie de ces liens d'acier. Des maîtres nouveaux tiennent la barre dans l'Olympe ;

CHORUS.

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'.

Huius uallis in altis ſcopulis, Cuſtodiam minimè expetendam sustinebó.

CHORUS.

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!

Chorus

Ach, ach!

Zweiter Halbchor.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

PROMETHEUS

Alas! alas! Woe! woe!

Prolific Tethys' offspring, progeny

Of sire Oceanos, whose sleepless flow

Engirdles the whole earth; behold and see

In what dire bonds unenvied watch I keep,

Clasp'd to the summit of this rock-bound steep.

ΠΡ.

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,

τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα

τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου

Prometheus

Alas! Alas! Offspring of fruitful Tethys and of him who with his sleepless current encircles the whole earth, children of your

father Oceanus, behold, see with what fetters, upon the summit crag of this ravine, I am to hold my unenviable watch.
140

LE CHŒUR

Je vois, Prométhée, et un brouillard craintif monte, gros de larmes, à mes yeux, quand je contemple
sur ce roc ton corps qui se dessèche dans l'ignominie de ces liens d'acier. Des maîtres nouveaux tiennent la barre dans l'Olympe ;

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'.

Huius uallis in altis ſcopulis,

Cuſtodiam minimè expetendam sustinebó.

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!