N. Wecklein Prometheus Bound 191.comm-191

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.) — 180 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 180 focus
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 180 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 180 focus
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.
οἶδ' ὅτι τραχὺς καὶ παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ
τὸ δίκαιον ἔχων Ζεύς, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμπας, οἴω,
μαλακογνώμων ἔσται ποθ᾽, ὅταν
ταύτῃ ῥαισθῇ·
205
τὴν δ᾽ ἀτέραμνον στορέσας ὀργὴν
εἰς ἀρθμὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ φιλότητα
σπεύδων σπεύδοντι ποθ' ἥξει.
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 180 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.) — 180 focus
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.
I know that Jupiter is harsh, and keeps justice to himself: but for all that he shall hereafter be softened in purpose, when he shall be crushed in this way; and, after calming his unyielding temper with eagerness will he hereafter come into league and friendship with me that will eagerly [welcome him.]
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 180 focus
Inaccessible est le cœur, inflexible l'âme du fils de Cronos.
toi et t'inflige-t-il cet infâme et amer outrage ? Apprends-le nous, si le récit ne t'en coûte pas trop.
Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 180 focus
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.
Stern tho' he be,
And, in the pride of pow'r terrific dreſt,
Rears o'er inſulted right his creſt,
195
Yet gentler thoughts ſhall mitigate his ſoul,
When o'er his head this ſtorm ſhall roll;
Then ſhall his ſtubborn indignation bend,
Submit to ſue, and court me for a friend.
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 180 focus
debbo, ahi tristo!, coi miei patimenti
dar gioia ai nemici.
né starà, che il suo cuor prima non sazi,
o alcun non valga l'arduo
195
poter con qualche frode strappar dalle sue mani.
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 180 focus
Tu quidem temerarius es, acerbis
Doloribus nihil remittis,
Valde admodum liberè loqueris.
185
Meam mentem subijt timor ingens,
Timeo tuæ fortunæ:
Quò
Novi quòd ferox, si apud se
Iusticiam habet Iupiter: sed tamen puto
Quòd mitiori sententia erit, quado hac liberabitur,
Immitem mitigans iram,
195
Ad concordiam mecum & amorem
Festinans aliquando veniet.
Prometheus Bound (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 172 focus
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.
PROMETHEUS
Grace since I owe him, grace must I repay.
HERMES
Thou floutest me as though a child I were!
PROMETHEUS
Art not a child, ay, simpler than a child,
If thou expectest aught to learn from me?
No torture is there, no device whereby

Zeus shall persuade me to reveal these things
Before these woe-inflicting bonds be loosed.
Let then his blazing lightnings hurtle down;
With white-winged snow and earth-born thunderings
Let him in ruin whelm and mingle all;
For ncught of these shall wrench my stedfast will
To tell by whom he must from empire fall.
HERMES
Mark now if helpful this may seem to thee.
PROMETHEUS
Of old my course was looked to and resolved.
HERMES
Take heart, O foolish one, take heart at length

To deal discreetly with these present ills.
PROMETHEUS
Idly, like beating wave, thou troublest me
With exhortation. Harbour not the thought
That I, in terror at the will of Zeus,
Effeminate of mind shall e'er become,
And him whom hugely I abhor, beseech,
With woman-aping palms to heaven upturned,
To loose me from these fetters. Not a whit.
HERMES
Much may I speak, it seems, and speak in vain;
For nothing moved or softened is thy heart

By prayers; but thou, like newly-yokèd colt,
Champing the bit, dost fight against the rein
Fiercely; yet futile the device wherein
Madly thou trustest; for mere stubbornness
Avails the foolish-hearted less than nought.
But mark, if unpersuaded by my words,
What storm and triple crested surge of ills
Shall o'er thee burst escapeless. Yea: for first,
With thunder and with lightning-flame, the Sire
This rugged crag shall rend, and hide thy frame
Deep in the rock's embraces rudely clasped.

But when time's lengthened course thou hast fulfilled,
Back shalt thou come to daylight. Then, in sooth,
Zeus' winged hound, the eagle red with gore,
Shall of thy flesh a huge flap rudely tear;
Coming, unbidden guest, the live-long day
He on thy black-gnawed liver still shall feast.
But of such pangs look for no term, until,
Some god, successor of thy toils, appear,
Willing down Hades' rayless gloom to wend,
And round the murky depths of Tartaros.

Wherefore take counsel :—since no boast is this,
No threat made-up, but utterance all too true.
Trust me, the mouth of Zeus knows not to lie,
But every word completeth. So do thou
Look round thee and take thought, nor ever deem
That stubbornness than prudence better is.
Chorus
Timely to us the word of Hermes seems,
For he exhorts thee, dropping thy self-will,
To search for prudent counsel. Be advised!
For to the wise it bringeth shame to err.

PROMETHEUS
To me who knew them, hath he told
His messages, with utterance shrill.
But nowise I unseemly hold
That foe from foe should suffer ill.
So 'gainst me now be hurled amain
Curled lightning's two-edged glare!
By thunder and spasmodic whirl
Of savage gales be upper air
Madly convulsed! Let hurricane
Earth from its deep foundation rend,

E'en from its roots. Let ocean's wave,
Surging aloft, tumultuous rave,
And, foaming, with the courses blend
Of heavenly stars! Ay, let him hurl
This body to the murky gloom
Of Tartaros, in stubborn whirl
Of fortune caught! Do what he will
My death he may not doom.
HERMES
From fools brain-stricken may one hear
Such counsels and such words. But say,—
What sign of madness lacketh here?

What respite knows his frenzied ire?
Nathless do ye, who thus condole
With his sore pangs, far hence retire;
Go quickly, lest harsh thunder's bray
With terror smite your soul.
Chorus
In other style exhort and preach
If to persuade me thou art fain;
For all unbearable this speech
Which from thy lips has burst amain.
How canst thou bid me consummate
A dastard's part? With him the worst
I'll brave, for I have learn'd to hate

Traitors, than whom no pest is more accursed.
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.) — 180 focus
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!
Ay, stern is Zeus, and Justice stands,
Wrenched to his purpose, in his hands—
Yet shall he learn, perforce, to know
215
A milder mood, when falls the blow—
His ruthless wrath he shall lay still,
And he and I with mutual will
In concord's bond shall go.
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.) — 180 focus
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
Hart ist er, ich weiß, und erkennt als Gesez
Nur was er will; doch wird er gewiß
Sanftmüthig dereinst,
Wenn also die Noth ihm gebrochen den Troy.
Dann mildert er wohl sein starres Gemüth,
190
Dann stürzt er zum Bunde, zur Freundschaft mir
Sich bereit dem bereiten entgegen.

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 191; 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

191. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-196

ῥαισθῇ:
ῥαισθῇ
, ut videtur, M.
ῥαγῇ
G.
ῥαγῇ
Lips. 2. Aug. et plerique codices. Alii codices
ῥαγῇ, ῥαισθῇ, ῥαχθῇ, ῥαγῇ
.
ταύτῃ
refertur ad ea quae in proximo systemate dixerat Prometheus.

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.

186-192. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-139

3
4
186-192. This fourth anapaestic system does not correspond in length to the third (167-177), as the sec- ond (152 ff.) does to the first (137 ff.). Perhaps this is because it forms the close. Cp. Soph. Ai. 257 ff. Possibly, however, some verses have been lost. Weil assumes a gap after ῥαισθῇ.

191. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-144

5
6
191. εἰς ἀρθμὸν καὶ φιλότητα: so Hom. Hymn iii. 524 κατένευσεν ἐπ᾿ ἀρθμῷ καὶ φιλότητι. Cp. Il. vii. 302 ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.