N. Wecklein Prometheus Bound 167.comm-167

F. D. Allen (Translator)

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Current edition Experimental

English commentary on Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) (English) (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.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

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.) — 128-195 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 160 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 160 focus
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 160 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 160 focus
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,
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 160 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.) — 160 focus
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.
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 160 focus
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 1 , à moins qu'il n'ait d'abord desserré ces liens farouches et consenti à payer le prix dû à pareil outrage.
Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 160 focus
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.
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 160 focus
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
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 160 focus
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.
Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 155 focus
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
1
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.
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.) — 160 focus
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!
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.) — 160 focus
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.

Notes on the current edition

Prometheus Bound

1. Two-source OCR draft: unmatched words are bracketed; readings, punctuation, possible marginalia and note boundaries remain unverified. Agreement between OCR sources is not proof of correctness.
2. Reference placement provisional: local window supported by running Greek. Source note 167; verify numbering and scope.

Commentary

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

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

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

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.

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

3
4
167. ἡ μὴν ἔτι: cp. 907 below.