N. Wecklein Prometheus Bound 180.comm-180

F. D. Allen (Translator)

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Prometheus Bound. N. Wecklein. F. D. Allen (Translator). . .

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.) — 195-398 focus
Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 196-398 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 168 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 168 focus
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 168 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 168 focus
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.
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 168 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.)) — 196-395 focus
Prometheus Bound. (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 168 focus
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.
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 168 focus
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.
Inaccessible est le cœur, inflexible l'âme du fils de Cronos.
Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 168 focus
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.
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 168 focus
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.
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 168 focus
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
Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 163 focus
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.
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.
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.) — 168 focus
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!
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.) — 168 focus
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

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 180; 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

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

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

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.

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

3
4
180. ἐλευθεροστομεῖς : cp. λαβρο- στομεῖν 327, θρασυστομεῖν Suppl. 203, χαριτογλωσσεῖν 294 below.