N. Wecklein Prometheus Bound 905.comm-905

F. D. Allen (Translator)

Table of Contents

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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.) — 907-1093 focus
Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 907-1093 focus
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 894 focus
μήποτε μήποτέ μ᾽, ὦ
πότνιαι Μοίραι, λεχέων Διὸς εὐνάτειραν ἴδοισθε πέλουσαν·
895
μηδὲ πλαθείην γαμέτᾳ τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.
ταρβῶ γὰρ ἀστεργάνορα παρθενίαν
εἰσορῶσ᾽ Ἰοῦς μέγα δαπτομέναν
δυσπλάνοις Ἥρας ἀλατείαις πόνων.
900
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὅτι μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος,
οὐ δέδια, μηδὲ κρεισσόνων
θεῶν ἄφυκτον ὄμμα προσδράκοι με.
ἀπολέμιστος ὅδε γ᾽ ὁ πόλεμος, ἄπορα πόριμος·
οὐδ᾽ ἔχω τίς ἂν γενοίμαν· Διὸς γὰρ οὐχ ὁρῶ
905
μῆτιν ὅπα φύγοιμ᾽ ἄν.
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 894 focus
μήποτε, μήποτέ μ', ὦ Μοῖ-
ραι, λεχέων Διὸς εὐνά-
τειραν ἴδοισθε πέλουσαν·
μηδὲ πλαθείην γαμέτᾳ τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.
ταρβῶ γὰρ ἀστεργάνορα παρθενίαν
900
εἰςορῶσ᾽ Ἰοῦς μέγα δαπτομέναν
δυςπλάνοις Ἥρας ἀλατείαις πόνων.
στρ. β'.
ἐμοὶ δέ γ' ὅτε μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος,
ἄφοβος, οὐδὲ δέδια· μηδέ τού με
κρεισσόνων θεῶν ἔρως
905
προςδράκοι ὄμμ' ἄφυκτον.
ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΠΡΟΜΗθΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 894 focus
Μήποτε μήποτέ μ', ὦ Μοῖ-
Ant.
ραι < τελέστειραι om.>, λεχέων Διὸς εὐνά-
895
τειραν ἴδοισθε πέλουσαν
μηδὲ πλαθείην πλαθείη ἐν Μ πλαθείην (uel πλασθείην) ἐν cett. γαμέτᾳ τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ·
ταρβῶ γὰρ ἀστεργάνορα παρθενίαν
εἰσορῶσ' Ἰοῦς ἀμαλαπτομέναν (γ' ἀμαλ. Weil) : γάμῳ δαπτομέναν
δυσπλάνοις δυσπλάγχνοις Ἥρας ἀλατείαις πόνων.
900
Ἐμοὶ δ', ὅτῳ ὅτι μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος, ἄφοβος ἄφοβος οὐ δέδια·
Epod.
μηδὲ κρεισσόνων θεῶν
ἔρως ἄφυκτον ὄμμα προσδράκοι προσδάρκοι Μ προσδέρκοι cett. με·
ἀπόλεμος ὅδε γ' ὁ πόλεμος, ἄπορα πόριμος, οὐδ'
ἔχω τίς ἂν γενοίμαν·
905
τὰν Διὸς γὰρ οὐχ ὁρῶ
μῆτιν ὅπα φύγοιμ' ἄν.
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης (OCR draft) Experimental (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 894 focus
μήποτε μήποτέ μ', ὦ
Μοῖραι, λεχέων Διὸς εὐνά-
τειραν ἴδοισθε πέλουσαν.
μηδὲ πλαθείην γαμέτα
925
τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.
ταρβῶ γὰρ ἀστερ-
γάνορα παρθενίαν
εἰσορῶσ᾽ Ἰοῦς ἀμαλαπτομέναν.
δυσπλάνοις Ἥρας ἀλατείαις πόνων.
930
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὅτι μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος
ἄφοβος οὐ δέδια, μηδὲ κρεισ-
σύνων θεῶν ἔρως ἄφυ-
κτον ὄμμα προσδράκοι με.
ἀπόλεμος ὅδε γ᾽ ὁ πόλεμος, ἄπορα
935
πόριμος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω τίς ἂν γενοίμαν·
τὰν Διὸς γὰρ οὐχ ὁρῶ
μῆτιν ὅπᾳ φύγοιμ' ἄν.
ἢ μὴν ἔτι Ζεύς, καίπερ αυθάδης φρενῶν,
ἔσται ταπεινός, οἷον ἐξαρτύεται
940
Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Prometheus Vinctus. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 894 focus
μήποτε μήποτέ μ᾽, ὦ
(πότνιαι) Μοῖραι λεχέων Διὸς εὐνά-
895
τειραν ἴδοισθε πέλουσαν·
μηδὲ πλαθείην γαμέται τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.
ταρβῶ γὰρ ἀστεργάνορα παρθενίαν
εἰσορῶσ᾽ Ἰοῦς ἀμαλαπτομέναν
δυσπλάνοις Ἥρας ἀλατείαις πόνων. =
900
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὅτε μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος,
[ἄφοβος], οὐ δέδια, μηδὲ κρεισσόνων
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.)) — 907-1090 focus
Prometheus Bound. (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Bound.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 894 focus
Never, O Destinies
, never ........ may ye behold me approaching as a partner the couch of Jupiter: nor may I be brought to the arms of any bridegroom from among the sons of heaven: for I am in dread when I behold the maiden Io, contented with no mortal lover, greatly marred by wearisome wanderings at the hand of Juno.
For myself, indeed-inasmuch as wedlock on one's own level is free from apprehension—I feel no alarm
. And oh ! never may the love of the mightier gods cast on me a glance that none can elude. This at least is a war without a conflict, accomplishing things impossible
: nor know I what might become of me, for I see not how I could evade the counsel of Jove.
Yet truly shall Jove, albeit he is self-willed in his temper, be lowly, in such
wedlock is he prepared to wed, as shall hurl him out of his sovereignty and off his throne a forgotten thing; and the curse of his father Saturn shall then at length find entire consummation, which he imprecated when he was deposed from his ancient throne. From disasters such as these there is no one of the gods beside myself that can clearly disclose to him a way of escape. I know this, and by what means. Wherefore let him rest on in his presumption, putting confidence in his thunders aloft, brandishing in his hand a fire-breathing bolt. For not one jot shall these suffice to save him from falling dishonoured in a downfall beyond endurance; such an antagonist is he now with his own hands preparing against himself, a portent that shall baffle all resistance; who shall invent a flame more potent than the lightning, and a mighty din that shall surpass the thunder; and shall shiver the ocean trident, that earth-convulsing pest, the spear of Neptune. And when he bath stumbled upon this mischief, he shall be taught how great is the difference between sovereignty and slavery.
PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ (OCR draft) Experimental (PROMÉTHÉE ENCHAINÉ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 894 focus
.

Ah ! puissiez-vous ne jamais, ne jamais me voir, Parques, vous sans qui rien ne s'achève, tenir la place d'une épouse dans le lit de Zeus ! Puissé-je même ne jamais connaître les embrassements d'un mari habitant du ciel. Je frémis, quand je vois Io, la vierge rebelle à l'amour, s'épuiser, grâce à
Héra, dans ce dur vagabondage de douleur.
Pour moi, qui m'offre hymen à ma mesure, seul ne m'effraie pas. Que l'amour de l'un des grands dieux ne jette pas sur moi un de ces regards auxquels on ne se dérobe pas ! C'est là une guerre dure à guerroyer, qui ne laisse espérer que le désespoir, et où je ne vois point de quelle adresse
je pourrais bien user ; je ne sais pas de moyens d'échapper au vouloir de Zeus !
j'en réponds, où Zeus, pour opiniâtre que soit son cœur, sera tout humble, car l'hymen auquel il s'apprête le jettera à bas de son pouvoir
et de son trône, anéanti. Elle sera dès lors de tout point accomplie, la malédiction dont l'a maudit Cronos, son père, le jour où il tomba de son trône antique. Et le moyen d'éloigner tels revers, nul dieu, si ce n'est moi, ne le lui saurait révéler clairement. Seul, je sais l'avenir et
comment il se peut conjurer. Après cela, qu'il trône donc sans crainte, se fiant au fracas dont il emplit les airs, agitant dans ses mains le trait embrasé : nul secours ne l'empêchera de choir ignominieusement d'une chute intolérable
— si fort est l'adversaire qu'à cette heure il se prépare à lui-même, être prodigieux avec qui la lutte est ardue, inventeur d'un feu plus puissant que la foudre, d'un fracas formidable à couvrir le tonnerre ; par qui même le fléau marin
qui ébranle la terre, le trident, arme de Poséidon, doit voler en éclats 1 . Le jour où il butera contre ce malheur, il apprendra quelle distance sépare « régner » de « servir ».
Prometheus Chained (OCR draft) Experimental (Prometheus Chained. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 894 focus
Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Prometeo legato: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 894 focus
Non mai, non mai debba io di Giove il talamo
partecipare, o Moire,
1035
ministre della Sorte,
né a veruno dei Superi
avvicinarmi, che mi sia consorte.
Ché, disfatta per l'odio
d'Era veggendo, in miseri
1040
penosi errori, d'Io
l'aspra verginità, trema il cuor mio.
Solo nozze tra simili
scevre son di terrore,
né le temo io. Ma l'occhio irresistibile
1045
dei piú possenti Numi
non si fissi su me pieno d'ardore.
Guerra non sostenibile
questa sarebbe, e origine
di mali senza uscita.
1050
Qual sarebbe mia vita
ignoro: ignoro dove
alla brama sfuggir potrei di Giove.
Sí, sebben tracotante, un giorno Giove
tapino esser dovrà: tai nozze affretta,
1055
che dal dominio, che dal soglio giú
l'abbatteranno;
e sparirà nel nulla.
L'imprecazione allor del vecchio Crono
sarà compiuta interamente, ch'egli
1060
scagliò, piombando dall'antico trono.
Di tal rovina niun potria dei Numi
chiaro mostrargli, se non io, lo scampo.
Io questo, e il modo so. Pertanto ei segga
pieno di fede negli aerei bómbiti,
1065
squassando in pugno il suo dardo di fiamma:
impedir non potrà che senza onore
in rovina d'obbrobrio egli giú piombi.
Tale un campione, a sé stesso egli stesso,
ora apparecchia, insuperabil mostro:
1070
questi una fiamma troverà che arda
Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Prometheus vinctus: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 894 focus
Nunquam Parcæ, nunquam
Videatis me consortem lectorum esse,
Neq; coniunctam alicui cœlesti,
Nam timeo, inamabilem virginitatem
900
Iûs videns, affectam à Iunone
Non ferendis erroribus laborum,
Mihi verò æquale matrimonium
Non est terrori: neq; vereor, ut meliorum
Deorum amor inuitabili oculo respiciat
905
Nam istud est ineluctabile bellum, & necessitatem
Affert inevitabilem: neq; haberem quò me vertere,
Nam Iouis consilium non video quomodo fugerem."
Certè tamen Iupiter, quamvis sit superbus, mens
Erit humilis, tale optabit
910
Matrimonium parare, quod ipsum tyrannico
Solio imprôvidum eijciet.
patris verò execratio
Saturni tunc perficietur omnino,
Quam imprecatus est cadens diuturnis folijs.
915
Talium laborum eversionem nullus deorum
Poterit, me excepto, manifestè demonstrare.
Ego hæc noui, & quomodo ad hæc nunc
Fidens sedeat sublimibus fragoribus
Confisus, quatiens manibus igniuomum telum:
920
Nihil illum hæc iuvabunt, quin
Cadat turpiter casu non tolerando.
Talem aduersarium parat nunc
Ipse sibi inexpugnabile monstrum,
Qui flammam fulmine potiorem inveniet,
925
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.) — 894 focus
O Fates, of awful empery!
Never may I by Zeus be wooed—
1005
Never give o'er my maidenhood
To any god that dwells on high.
A shudder to my soul is sent,
Beholding Io's doom forlorn—
By Hera's malice put to scorn,
1010
Roaming in mateless banishment.
From wedlock's crown of fair desire
I would not shrink—an idle fear!
But may no god to me draw near
With shunless might and glance of fire!
1015
That were a strife wherein no chance
Of conquest lies: from Zeus most high
And his resolve, no subtlety
Could win me my deliverance.
And yet shall Zeus, for all his stubborn pride,
1020
Be brought to low estate! aha, he schemes
Such wedlock as shall bring his doom on him,
Flung from his kingship to oblivion's lap!
Ay, then the curse his father Cronos spake
As he fell helpless from his agelong throne,
1025
Shall be fulfilled unto the utterance!
No god but I can manifest to him
A rescue from such ruin as impends—
I know it, I, and how it may be foiled.
Go to, then, let him sit and blindly trust
1030
His skyey rumblings, for security,
And wave his levin with its blast of flame!
All will avail him not, nor bar his fall
Down to dishonour vile, intolerable—
So strong a wrestler is he moulding now
1035
To his own proper downfall—yea, a shape
Portentous and unconquerably huge,
Who truly shall reveal a flame more strong
Than is the lightning, and a crash of sound
More loud than thunder, and shall dash to nought
1040
Poseidon's trident-spear, the ocean-bane
That makes the firm earth quiver. Let Zeus strike
Once on this rock, he speedily shall learn
How far the fall from power to slavery!
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.) — 894 focus
Nimmer, o Mächte des Schicksals, nimmer mögt ihr
Mich in den Armen des Zeus als Lagergenossin erblicken!
890
Führe niemals einer der Himmlischen mich als Gattin heim!
Mich schaudert, Jo's züchtige Mädchengestalt,
Die den Gott flieht, also gemartert zu seh'n
Durch des Irrsals Müh'n, die Hera's Groll ihr schuf.
Schlußgesang.
Ich lobe mir ein gleiches Bündniß ohne Harm :
895
Blicke nie ein höh'rer Gott
Auf mich mit unentfliehbar'm Liebesauge!
Wer kämpft solchen Kampf, wer entwirrt hier den Pfad?
Weiß ich dann, was mir geschähe?
Nimmer könnt' ich ja vor Zeus' ewigem Rath entfliehen.
900
Wohl wird sich Zeus trok seines stolzen Sinnes noch
Demüthig beugen, weil er einen Ehebund
Zu schließen sich bereitet, der in Dunkel ihn
Vom Königsthrone niederstürzt. Dann wird gewiß
Der Fluch des Vaters Kronos ganz erfüllt an ihm,
905
Den dieser einst vom alten Throne stürzend sprach.
Wie solches Unheil abzuwenden sei, vermag
Der Götter keiner, außer mir, ihm kundzuthun.
Ich weiß es, weiß die Mittel. Trokig mag er denn
Dort oben thronen, auf den hohen Donner stolz,
910
Umsprüht von Bligen, die sein Arm glutathmend schwingt!
Denn nimmer rettet dieses ihn, daß nicht hinab
Er stürzte schmachvoll unerträglich schweren Sturz.
Solch einen Ringer rüstet er nun gegen sich
Selbst selber aus, ein Wunder unbezwungner Kraft,
915
Der Wetterflammen, mächt'ger als der Blik, ersinnt
Und Tosen, lauter dröhnend als des Donners Hall,
Der auch des Oceanes erderschütterndes
Schreckniß, Poseidons dreigezackten Speer, zerschellt.
Kommt dieses Unheil über ihn, dann lernt er wohl,
920
Wie gar verschieden Sclaverei von Herrschen ist.

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 905; 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

904-906. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-1025

οὐδὲ δέδια· μηδέ τού με:
οὐ δέδια· μηδὲ κρεισσόνων
M. Turn.
οὐδέδια μηδὲ κρεισσόνων
, deleto rursus quod explicandi caussa superscriptum erat δέδια, Vit.
οὐδὲδια μὴ δὲ κρ.
G. Ald.
οὐδὲ διὰ μὴ δὲ κρ.
Rob.
οὐ δεδία μὴ δε κρ.
Lips.
οὐδὲ διατομὴ δὲ κρ.
Par. E.
οὐδέ τι διακρεισ σόνων
et in margine
μηδέτι
Ven. 2.
θεῶν: omittit Par. D.
ἔρως προςδράκοι ὄμμ' ἄφυκτον:
ἔρως ἄφυκτον ὄμμα
libri, nisi quod Par. Ε.
ἄφικτον
habet. Tum
προσδάρκοι με
Μ.
προσδέρκοι με
G. Vit. Lips. et sic, addito
με
, puto habere etiam Cantabr. 1. 2. Colb. 1. 2. Par. C. Ven. 2. 3. Vind. 1. 3. ex quibus
προσδέρκοι
adnotatum est.
προσδέρκει
Par. F.
προσδράμοι
Par. E. Vind. 2. 4. hi quoque, puto, non sine pronomine.
προσδράκη με
Rob.
προσδέρκοισθε
sine
με
Οχ. Ven. 1. Bess. Ald.
προσδέρκοιτο με
Turn. et quae seculae sunt editiones. Scholiastes Theocriti ad XV. 94. ὅμοιον δ᾽ ἐστὶ τῷ παρ' Αισχύλῳ “
μὴ δὲ κρεισσόνων θεῶν ἔρως ἄφυκτον ὄμμα προςδέρκοι με
.
ADNOTATIONES Nou epodum haec, sed antistrophica esse vidit Elmsleius, sed male ei cessit emendatio, quum sic scribendam stropham putavit,
ἐμοὶ διότι μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος, άφοβος, οὐδὲ δέδια· μηδὲ κρείσσων θεῶν ἔρως ἄφυκτον ὄμμι . . προςδράκοι με
Nam ut mittam alienum prorsus a tragoedia
διότι
, etiam sententia laboral. Qui enim sciant Oceanides par sibi connubium fore ? et, si sciunt, cur optant ne qui maiorum deorum amore earum incendatur? Rectius sensui prospexerant Pauwius, Heathius, Arnaldus, Giacomellus, qui
ὅτι
in
öre
mutari volebant. Multi anni sunt, quum in scholis meis scribendum esse censebam
ἐμοὶ δέ γ' ὅτε μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος, ἄφοβος, οὐδὲ δέδια, μηδ' ἄφυκτον κρεισσόνων θεῶν ἔρως ὄμμα με προςδρακείη.
Quorum postrema commemoravit Reisigius in comm. crit. ad Oed. Col. v. 1080. p. 333. Sed hodie haec non probo, primum propter
προςδρα- κείη
, quo passivo aoristo etsi Pindarus usus est, non tamen usi esse vi dentur tragici; tum propter collocationem verborum non iustam, quia
ἄφυκτον
non praemitti, sed postponi conveniebat; tum denique etiam propter scholiastae adnotationem, qui scribit
εἶτα παρακατιών, ἐφερμη νεύων τί ἔρως, φησὶν ὅτι ὄμμα φημὶ θεῶν ἄφυκτον
, licet ille male
ὄμμα ἄφυκτον
, qui accusativi sunt, pro nominativis per appositionem ad og additis habuit. Quae quum ita sint, finem strophae sic a poeta scriptum credo,
κρεισσόνων θεῶν ἔρως μηδέ τού με προςδράκοι ὄμμὲ ἄφυκτον.
Legitur
προςδρακεῖν
in Eum. v. 168. Quae Blomfieldius attulit, ut
κρείσσονας deos
appellari ostenderet, non magis ad rem pertinent quam Schaeferi iudicium in Melet. crit. p. 31. Aeschyli verbis eadem caussa abutentis. Hic enim non deos potentiores hominibus, sed maiorum gentium potiores inferioris ordinis diis intelligendos esse ipsa luce clarius est.

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

887-906. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-564

1
2
887-906. Third Stasimon. For the dactylo-epitritic rhythms, see on 526. The tranquil reflexions of the chorus contrast agreeably with the turmoil of the preceding scene.

905. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg003-wecklein-allen1893-com-eng1-575

3
4
905. τίς ἂν γενοίμαν : equivalent to the more usual τί ἂν γενοίμαν.