Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes, Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator), 481

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I pray that this side may succeed, O champion of my dwellings! and that with them it may go ill; and as they, with frenzied mind, utter exceedingly proud vaunts against our city, so may Jove the avenger regard them in his wrath.

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Seven Against Thebes. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.

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The Seven against Thebes. (OCR draft) (English) (The Seven against Thebes.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 417-630 focus

str. 1

Χορος

τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν

θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως

πρόμαχος ὄρνυται: τρέμω δ᾽ αἱματη-

φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
420

ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

422

Αγγελος

τούτῳ μὲν οὕτως εὐτυχεῖν δοῖεν θεοί:¹

Καπανεὺς δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ Ἠλέκτραισιν εἴληχεν πύλαις,

γίγας ὅδ᾽ ἄλλος τοῦ πάρος λελεγμένου

μείζων, ὁ κόμπος δ᾽ οὐ κατ᾽ ἄνθρωπον φρονεῖ,
425

πύργοις δ᾽ ἀπειλεῖ δείν᾽, ἃ μὴ κραίνοι τύχη:

θεοῦ τε γὰρ θέλοντος ἐκπέρσειν πόλιν

καὶ μὴ θέλοντός φησιν, οὐδὲ τὴν Διὸς

Ἔριν πέδοι² σκήψασαν ἐμποδὼν σχεθεῖν.

τὰς δ᾽ ἀστραπάς τε καὶ κεραυνίους βολὰς
430

μεσημβρινοῖσι θάλπεσιν προσῄκασεν:

ἔχει δὲ σῆμα γυμνὸν ἄνδρα πυρφόρον,

φλέγει δὲ λαμπὰς διὰ χερῶν ὡπλισμένη:

χρυσοῖς δὲ φωνεῖ γράμμασιν “Πρήσω πόλιν.”

τοιῷδε φωτὶ πέμπε—τίς ξυστήσεται,
435

τίς ἄνδρα κομπάσαντα³ μὴ τρέσας μενεῖ;

Ετεοκλης

καὶ τῷδε κόμπῳ⁴ κέρδος ἄλλο τίκτεται.

τῶν τοι ματαίων ἀνδράσιν φρονημάτων

ἡ γλῶσσ᾽ ἀληθὴς γίγνεται⁵ κατήγορος.

Καπανεὺς δ᾽ ἀπειλεῖ δρᾶν παρεσκευασμένος,
440

θεοὺς⁶ ἀτίζων, κἀπογυμνάζων στόμα

χαρᾷ ματαίᾳ θνητὸς ὢν εἰς οὐρανὸν

πέμπει γεγωνὰ⁷ Ζηνὶ κυμαίνοντ᾽ ἔπη:

πέποιθα δ᾽ αὐτῷ ξὺν δίκῃ τὸν πυρφόρον⁸

ἥξειν κεραυνόν, οὐδὲν ἐξῃκασμένον
445

μεσημβρινοῖσι θάλπεσιν τοῖς ἡλίου.

ἀνὴρ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ, κεἰ στόμαργός ἐστ᾽ ἄγαν,

αἴθων τέτακται λῆμα, Πολυφόντου βία,

φερέγγυον φρούρημα, προστατηρίας

Ἀρτέμιδος εὐνοίαισι σύν τ᾽ ἄλλοις θεοῖς.
450

λέγ᾽ ἄλλον ἄλλαις ἐν πύλαις εἰληχότα.

452

ant. 1

Χορος

ὄλοιθ᾽ ὃς πόλει μεγάλ᾽ ἐπεύχεται,

κεραυνοῦ δέ νιν⁹ βέλος ἐπισχέθοι,

πρὶν ἐμὸν ἐσθορεῖν δόμον, πωλικῶν θ᾽

ἑδωλίων <μ᾽¹⁰> ὑπερκόπῳ¹¹
455

δορί ποτ᾽ ἐκλαπάξαι.

457

Αγγελος

[καὶ μὴν τὸν ἐντεῦθεν λαχόντα πρὸς πύλαις]¹²

λέξω: τρίτῳ γὰρ Ἐτεόκλῳ τρίτος πάλος

ἐξ ὑπτίου ᾽πήδησεν εὐχάλκου κράνους,

πύλαισι Νηίσταισι προσβαλεῖν λόχον.
460

ἵππους δ᾽ ἐν ἀμπυκτῆρσιν ἐμβριμωμένας

δινεῖ, θελούσας πρὸς πύλαις πεπτωκέναι.

φιμοὶ δὲ συρίζουσι βάρβαρον βρόμον,¹³

μυκτηροκόμποις πνεύμασιν πληρούμενοι.

ἐσχημάτισται¹⁴ δ᾽ ἀσπὶς οὐ σμικρὸν¹⁵ τρόπον:
465

ἀνὴρ [δ᾽¹⁶] ὁπλίτης κλίμακος προσαμβάσεις¹⁷

στείχει πρὸς ἐχθρῶν πύργον, ἐκπέρσαι θέλων.

βοᾷ δὲ χοὖτος γραμμάτων ἐν ξυλλαβαῖς,

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν Ἄρης σφ᾽ ἐκβάλοι πυργωμάτων.

καὶ τῷδε φωτὶ πέμπε τὸν φερέγγυον
470

πόλεως ἀπείργειν τῆσδε δούλιον¹⁸ ζυγόν.

Ετεοκλης

πέμποιμ᾽ ἂν ἤδη τόνδε, σὺν τύχῃ δέ τῳ:

καὶ δὴ πέπεμπται¹⁹ κόμπον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων,

Μεγαρεύς, Κρέοντος σπέρμα τοῦ σπαρτῶν²⁰ γένους,

ὃς οὔτι μάργων ἱππικῶν φρυαγμάτων
475

βρόμον φοβηθεὶς ἐκ πυλῶν χωρήσεται,

ἀλλ᾽ ἢ θανὼν τροφεῖα πληρώσει χθονί,

ἢ καὶ δύ᾽ ἄνδρε καὶ πόλισμ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδος

ἑλὼν λαφύροις δῶμα κοσμήσει πατρός.

κόμπαζ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλῳ, μηδέ μοι φθόνει λόγων.²¹
480
481

str. 2

Χορος

ἐπεύχομαι τῷδε²² μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰὼ

πρόμαχ᾽ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν²³ ἐπὶ πτόλει

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.
485
486

Αγγελος

τέταρτος ἄλλος, γείτονας πύλας ἔχων

Ὄγκας Ἀθάνας, ξὺν βοῇ παρίσταται,

Ἱππομέδοντος σχῆμα καὶ μέγας τύπος:

ἅλω δὲ πολλήν, ἀσπίδος κύκλον λέγω,

ἔφριξα δινήσαντος: οὐκ ἄλλως ἐρῶ.
490

ὁ σηματουργὸς δ᾽ οὔ τις εὐτελὴς ἄρ᾽ ἦν

ὅστις τόδ᾽ ἔργον ὤπασεν πρὸς ἀσπίδι,

Τυφῶν᾽ ἱέντα πύρπνοον διὰ στόμα

λιγνὺν μέλαιναν, αἰόλην πυρὸς κάσιν:

ὄφεων δὲ πλεκτάναισι περίδρομον κύτος
495

προσηδάφισται κοιλογάστορος κύκλου.

αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἐπηλάλαξεν, ἔνθεος δ᾽ Ἄρει

βακχᾷ πρὸς ἀλκὴν Θυιὰς²⁴ ὣς φόνον²⁵ βλέπων.

τοιοῦδε φωτὸς πεῖραν εὖ φυλακτέον:

φόβος γὰρ ἤδη πρὸς πύλαις κομπάζεται.
500

Ετεοκλης

πρῶτον μὲν Ὄγκα Παλλάς, ἥτ᾽²⁶ ἀγχίπτολις,

πύλαισι γείτων, ἀνδρὸς ἐχθαίρουσ᾽ ὕβριν,

εἴρξει νεοσσῶν ὣς δράκοντα δύσχιμον:

Ὑπέρβιος δέ, κεδνὸς Οἴνοπος τόκος,

ἀνὴρ κατ᾽ ἄνδρα τοῦτον ᾑρέθη, θέλων
505

ἐξιστορῆσαι μοῖραν ἐν χρείᾳ τύχης,

οὔτ᾽ εἶδος οὔτε θυμὸν οὔθ᾽²⁷ ὅπλων σχέσιν

μωμητός, Ἑρμῆς δ᾽ εὐλόγως ξυνήγαγεν.

ἐχθρὸς γὰρ ἁνὴρ²⁸ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ξυστήσεται,

ξυνοίσετον δὲ πολεμίους ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδων
510

θεούς: ὁ μὲν γὰρ πύρπνοον Τυφῶν᾽ ἔχει,

Ὑπερβίῳ δὲ Ζεὺς πατὴρ ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδος

σταδαῖος ἧσται, διὰ χερὸς βέλος φλέγων:

κοὔπω τις εἶδε Ζῆνά που νικώμενον.

τοιάδε μέντοι προσφίλεια δαιμόνων.
515

πρὸς τῶν κρατούντων δ᾽ ἐσμέν, οἱ δ᾽ ἡσσωμένων,

εἰ Ζεύς γε Τυφῶ καρτερώτερος μάχῃ:

εἰκὸς δὲ²⁹ πρᾶξαι³⁰ κἄνδρας³¹ ὧδ᾽ ἀντιστάτας:

Ὑπερβίῳ τε πρὸς λόγον τοῦ σήματος³²

σωτὴρ γένοιτ᾽ ἂν Ζεὺς ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδος τυχών.
520
521

ant. 2

Χορος

πέποιθα <δὴ³³> τὸν Διὸς ἀντίτυπον ἔχοντ᾽

ἄφιλον ἐν σάκει τοῦ χθονίου δέμας

δαίμονος,³⁴ ἐχθρὸν εἴκασμα βροτοῖς τε καὶ

δαροβίοισι θεοῖσιν,³⁵

πρόσθε πυλᾶν κεφαλὰν ἰάψειν.
525
526

Αγγελος

οὕτως γένοιτο. τὸν δὲ πέμπτον αὖ λέγω,

πέμπταισι προσταχθέντα Βορραίαις³⁶ πύλαις,

τύμβον κατ᾽ αὐτὸν Διογενοῦς Ἀμφίονος:

ὄμνυσι δ᾽ αἰχμὴν ἣν ἔχει μᾶλλον θεοῦ

σέβειν πεποιθὼς ὀμμάτων θ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,
530

ἦ μὴν λαπάξειν ἄστυ Καδμείων βίᾳ

Διός: τόδ᾽ αὐδᾷ μητρὸς ἐξ ὀρεσκόου

βλάστημα καλλίπρῳρον, ἀνδρόπαις ἀνήρ.

στείχει δ᾽ ἴουλος ἄρτι διὰ παρηίδων,

ὥρας φυούσης, ταρφὺς ἀντέλλουσα θρίξ.
535

ὁ δ᾽ ὠμόν, οὔτι παρθένων ἐπώνυμον,

φρόνημα, γοργὸν δ᾽ ὄμμ᾽ ἔχων, προσίσταται.

οὐ μὴν ἀκόμπαστός γ᾽ ἐφίσταται πύλαις:

τὸ γὰρ πόλεως ὄνειδος ἐν χαλκηλάτῳ

σάκει, κυκλωτῷ σώματος προβλήματι,
540

Σφίγγ᾽ ὠμόσιτον προσμεμηχανημένην

γόμφοις ἐνώμα, λαμπρὸν ἔκκρουστον δέμας,

φέρει δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ αὑτῇ φῶτα Καδμείων ἕνα,

ὡς πλεῖστ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ τῷδ᾽ ἰάπτεσθαι βέλη.

ἐλθὼν δ᾽ ἔοικεν οὐ καπηλεύσειν μάχην,
545

μακρᾶς κελεύθου δ᾽ οὐ καταισχυνεῖν³⁷ πόρον,

Παρθενοπαῖος Ἀρκάς: ὁ δὲ τοιόσδ᾽ ἀνὴρ

μέτοικος, Ἄργει δ᾽ ἐκτίνων καλὰς τροφάς,

πύργοις ἀπειλεῖ τοῖσδ᾽ ἃ μὴ κραίνοι θεός.

Ετεοκλης

εἰ γὰρ τύχοιεν ὧν φρονοῦσι πρὸς θεῶν,
550

αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις ἀνοσίοις κομπάσμασιν:

ἦ τἂν πανώλεις παγκάκως τ᾽ ὀλοίατο.

ἔστιν δὲ καὶ τῷδ᾽, ὃν λέγεις τὸν Ἀρκάδα,

ἀνὴρ ἄκομπος, χεὶρ δ᾽ ὁρᾷ τὸ δράσιμον,

Ἄκτωρ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ πάρος λελεγμένου:
555

ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει γλῶσσαν ἐργμάτων ἄτερ

εἴσω³⁸ πυλῶν ῥέουσαν ἀλδαίνειν κακά,

οὐδ᾽ εἰσαμεῖψαι τεῖχος³⁹ ἐχθίστου δάκους

εἰκὼ φέροντα πολεμίας ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδος:

ἣ ʼξωθεν⁴⁰ εἴσω τῷ φέροντι μέμψεται,
560

πυκνοῦ κροτησμοῦ τυγχάνουσ᾽ ὑπὸ πτόλιν.

θεῶν θελόντων κἂν⁴¹ ἀληθεύσαιμ᾽ ἐγώ.

563

str. 3

Χορος

ἱκνεῖται λόγος διὰ στηθέων,

τριχὸς δ᾽ ὀρθίας πλόκαμος ἵσταται,

μεγάλα μεγαληγόρων κλυούσᾳ⁴²
565

ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν. εἴθε γὰρ⁴³

θεοὶ τούσδ᾽ ὀλέσειαν ἐν γᾷ.

568

Αγγελος

ἕκτον λέγοιμ᾽ ἂν ἄνδρα σωφρονέστατον,

ἀλκήν τ᾽ ἄριστον μάντιν, Ἀμφιάρεω βίαν:

Ὁμολωίσιν δὲ πρὸς πύλαις τεταγμένος
570

κακοῖσι βάζει πολλὰ Τυδέως βίαν:

τὸν ἀνδροφόντην, τὸν πόλεως ταράκτορα,

μέγιστον Ἄργει τῶν κακῶν διδάσκαλον,

Ἐρινύος κλητῆρα, πρόσπολον φόνου,

κακῶν τ᾽ Ἀδράστῳ τῶνδε βουλευτήριον.
575

καὶ τὸν σὸν αὖθις προσθροῶν⁴⁴ ἀδελφεόν,

ἐξυπτιάζων ὄμμα,⁴⁵ Πολυνείκους βίαν,

δίς τ᾽ ἐν τελευτῇ τοὔνομ᾽ ἐνδατούμενος,

καλεῖ. λέγει δὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἔπος διὰ στόμα:

“ἦ τοῖον ἔργον καὶ θεοῖσι προσφιλές,
580

καλόν τ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι καὶ λέγειν μεθυστέροις,

πόλιν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

πορθεῖν, στράτευμ᾽ ἐπακτὸν ἐμβεβληκότα;

μητρός τε πηγὴν τίς κατασβέσει δίκη;

πατρὶς δὲ γαῖα σῆς ὑπὸ σπουδῆς δορὶ
585

ἁλοῦσα πῶς σοι ξύμμαχος γενήσεται;

ἔγωγε μὲν δὴ τήνδε πιανῶ χθόνα,

μάντις κεκευθὼς πολεμίας ὑπὸ⁴⁶ χθονός.

μαχώμεθ᾽, οὐκ ἄτιμον ἐλπίζω μόρον.”

τοιαῦθ᾽ ὁ μάντις ἀσπίδ᾽ εὔκυκλον νέμων⁴⁷
590

πάγχαλκον ηὔδα: σῆμα δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπῆν κύκλῳ.⁴⁸

οὐ γὰρ δοκεῖν ἄριστος, ἀλλ᾽ εἶναι θέλει,

βαθεῖαν ἄλοκα διὰ φρενὸς καρπούμενος,

ἐξ ἧς τὰ κεδνὰ βλαστάνει βουλεύματα.

τούτῳ σοφούς τε κἀγαθοὺς ἀντηρέτας
595

πέμπειν ἐπαινῶ. δεινὸς ὃς θεοὺς σέβει.

Ετεοκλης

φεῦ τοῦ ξυναλλάσσοντος ὄρνιθος βροτοῖς⁴⁹

δίκαιον ἄνδρα τοῖσι δυσσεβεστάτοις.⁵⁰

ἐν παντὶ πράγει δ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁμιλίας κακῆς

κάκιον οὐδέν, καρπὸς οὐ κομιστέος:
600

ἄτης ἄρουρα θάνατον ἐκκαρπίζεται.

ἢ γὰρ ξυνεισβὰς πλοῖον εὐσεβὴς ἀνὴρ

ναύταισι θερμοῖς καὶ πανουργίᾳ τινὶ

ὄλωλεν ἀνδρῶν σὺν θεοπτύστῳ γένει,

ἢ ξὺν πολίταις ἀνδράσιν δίκαιος ὢν
605

ἐχθροξένοις τε καὶ θεῶν ἀμνήμοσιν,

ταὐτοῦ κυρήσας ἐκδίκοις⁵¹ ἀγρεύματος,

πληγεὶς θεοῦ μάστιγι παγκοίνῳ ʼδάμη.⁵²

οὕτως δ᾽ ὁ μάντις, υἱὸν Οἰκλέους λέγω,

σώφρων δίκαιος ἀγαθὸς εὐσεβὴς ἀνήρ,
610

μέγας προφήτης, ἀνοσίοισι συμμιγεὶς

θρασυστόμοισιν ἀνδράσιν βίᾳ φρενῶν,

τείνουσι πομπὴν⁵³ τὴν μακρὰν πάλιν μολεῖν,

Διὸς θέλοντος ξυγκαθελκυσθήσεται.

δοκῶ μὲν οὖν σφε μηδὲ προσβαλεῖν πύλαις,
615

οὐχ ὡς ἄθυμον⁵⁴ οὐδὲ λήματος κάκῃ,

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδεν ὥς σφε χρὴ τελευτῆσαι μάχῃ,

εἰ καρπὸς ἔσται θεσφάτοισι Λοξίου:

φιλεῖ δὲ σιγᾶν ἢ λέγειν τὰ καίρια.

ὅμως δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ φῶτα, Λασθένους βίαν,
620

ἐχθρόξενον πυλωρὸν ἀντιτάξομεν,

γέροντα τὸν νοῦν, σάρκα δ᾽ ἡβῶσαν φύει,⁵⁵

ποδῶκες οἶμα,⁵⁶ χεῖρα δ᾽ οὐ βραδύνεται

παρ᾽ ἀσπίδος γυμνωθὲν ἁρπάσαι δόρυ.

θεοῦ δὲ δῶρόν ἐστιν εὐτυχεῖν βροτούς.
625
626

ant. 3

Χορος

κλύοντες θεοὶ δικαίας λιτὰς⁵⁷

ἡμετέρας τελεῖθ᾽, ὡς πόλις εὐτυχῇ,

δορίπονα κάκ᾽ ἐκτρέποντες <ἐς⁵⁸> γᾶς

ἐπιμόλους: πύργων δ᾽ ἔκτοθεν

βαλὼν Ζεύς σφε κάνοι κεραυνῷ.
630
631

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 417-630 focus

Χορός

τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν

θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως

πρόμαχος ὄρνυται· τρέμω δʼ αἱματη-

φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
420

ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

422

Ἄγγελος

τούτῳ μὲν οὕτως εὐτυχεῖν δοῖεν θεοί·

Καπανεὺς δʼ ἐπʼ Ἠλέκτραισιν εἴληχεν πύλαις,

γίγας ὅδʼ ἄλλος τοῦ πάρος λελεγμένου

μείζων, ὁ κόμπος δʼ οὐ κατʼ ἄνθρωπον φρονεῖ,
425

πύργοις δʼ ἀπειλεῖ δείνʼ, ἃ μὴ κραίνοι τύχη·

θεοῦ τε γὰρ θέλοντος ἐκπέρσειν πόλιν

καὶ μὴ θέλοντός φησιν, οὐδὲ τὴν Διὸς

ἔριν πέδοι σκήψασαν ἐμποδὼν σχεθεῖν.

τὰς δʼ ἀστραπάς τε καὶ κεραυνίους βολὰς
430

μεσημβρινοῖσι θάλπεσιν προσῄκασεν·

ἔχει δὲ σῆμα γυμνὸν ἄνδρα πυρφόρον,

φλέγει δὲ λαμπὰς διὰ χερῶν ὡπλισμένη·

χρυσοῖς δὲ φωνεῖ γράμμασιν πρήσω πόλιν.

τοιῷδε φωτὶ πέμπε—τίς ξυστήσεται,
435

τίς ἄνδρα κομπάζοντα μὴ τρέσας μενεῖ;

Ἐτεοκλής

καὶ τῷδε κέρδει κέρδος ἄλλο τίκτεται.

τῶν τοι ματαίων ἀνδράσιν φρονημάτων

ἡ γλῶσσʼ ἀληθὴς γίγνεται κατήγορος·

Καπανεὺς δʼ ἀπειλεῖ, δρᾶν παρεσκευασμένος,
440

θεοὺς ἀτίζων, κἀπογυμνάζων στόμα

χαρᾷ ματαίᾳ θνητὸς ὢν εἰς οὐρανὸν

πέμπει γεγωνὰ Ζηνὶ κυμαίνοντʼ ἔπη·

πέποιθα δʼ αὐτῷ ξὺν δίκῃ τὸν πυρφόρον

ἥξειν κεραυνόν, οὐδὲν ἐξῃκασμένον
445

μεσημβρινοῖσι θάλπεσιν τοῖς ἡλίου.

ἀνὴρ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, κεἰ στόμαργός ἐστʼ ἄγαν,

αἴθων τέτακται λῆμα, Πολυφόντου βία,

φερέγγυον φρούρημα, προστατηρίας

Ἀρτέμιδος εὐνοίαισι σύν τʼ ἄλλοις θεοῖς.
450

λέγʼ ἄλλον ἄλλαις ἐν πύλαις εἰληχότα.

452

Χορός

ὄλοιθʼ ὃς πόλει μεγάλʼ ἐπεύχεται,

κεραυνοῦ δέ νιν βέλος ἐπισχέθοι,

πρὶν ἐμὸν ἐσθορεῖν δόμον, πωλικῶν

θʼ ἑδωλίων ὑπερκόπῳ
455

δορί ποτʼ ἐκλαπάξαι.

457

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν τὸν ἐντεῦθεν λαχόντα πρὸς πύλαις

λέξω· τρίτῳ γὰρ Ἐτεόκλῳ τρίτος πάλος

ἐξ ὑπτίου ʼπήδησεν εὐχάλκου κράνους,

πύλαισι Νηίστῃσι προσβαλεῖν λόχον.
460

ἵππους δʼ ἐν ἀμπυκτῆρσιν ἐμβριμωμένας

δινεῖ, θελούσας πρὸς πύλαις πεπτωκέναι.

φιμοὶ δὲ συρίζουσι βάρβαρον τρόπον,

μυκτηροκόμποις πνεύμασιν πληρούμενοι.

ἐσχημάτισται δʼ ἀσπὶς οὐ σμικρὸν τρόπον·
465

ἀνὴρ δʼ· ὁπλίτης κλίμακος προσαμβάσεις

στείχει πρὸς ἐχθρῶν πύργον, ἐκπέρσαι θέλων.

βοᾷ δὲ χοὖτος γραμμάτων ἐν ξυλλαβαῖς,

ὡς οὐδʼ ἂν Ἄρης σφʼ ἐκβάλοι πυργωμάτων.

καὶ τῷδε φωτὶ πέμπε τὸν φερέγγυον
470

πόλεως ἀπείργειν τῆσδε δούλιον ζυγόν.

Ἐτεοκλής

πέμποιμʼ ἂν ἤδη τόνδε, σὺν τύχῃ δέ τῳ·

καὶ δὴ πέπεμπται κόμπον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων,

Μεγαρεύς, Κρέοντος σπέρμα τοῦ σπαρτῶν

γένους,

ὃς οὔτι μάργων ἱππικῶν φρυαγμάτων
475

βρόμον φοβηθεὶς ἐκ πυλῶν χωρήσεται,

ἀλλʼ ἢ θανὼν τροφεῖα πληρώσει χθονί,

ἢ καὶ δύʼ ἄνδρε καὶ πόλισμʼ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος

ἑλὼν λαφύροις δῶμα κοσμήσει πατρός.

κόμπαζʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλῳ, μηδέ μοι φθόνει λέγων.
480

481

Χορός

ἐπεύχομαι τῷδε μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰὼ

πρόμαχʼ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν.

ὡς δʼ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.
485

486

Ἄγγελος

τέταρτος ἄλλος, γείτονας πύλας ἔχων

Ὄγκας Ἀθάνας, ξὺν βοῇ παρίσταται,

Ἱππομέδοντος σχῆμα καὶ μέγας τύπος·

ἅλω δὲ πολλήν, ἀσπίδος κύκλον λέγω,

ἔφριξα δινήσαντος· οὐκ ἄλλως ἐρῶ.
490

ὁ σηματουργὸς δʼ οὔ τις εὐτελὴς ἄρʼ ἦν

ὅστις τόδʼ ἔργον ὤπασεν πρὸς ἀσπίδι,

Τυφῶνʼ ἱέντα πύρπνοον διὰ στόμα

λιγνὺν μέλαιναν, αἰόλην πυρὸς κάσιν·

ὄφεων δὲ πλεκτάναισι περίδρομον κύτος
495

προσηδάφισται κοιλογάστορος κύκλου.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐπηλάλαξεν, ἔνθεος δʼ Ἄρει

βακχᾷ πρὸς ἀλκὴν Θυιὰς ὣς φόβον βλέπων.

τοιοῦδε φωτὸς πεῖραν εὖ φυλακτέον·

Φόβος γὰρ ἤδη πρὸς πύλαις κομπάζεται.
500

Ἐτεοκλής

πρῶτον μὲν Ὄγκα Παλλάς, ἥτʼ ἀγχίπτολις,

πύλαισι γείτων, ἀνδρὸς ἐχθαίρουσʼ ὕβριν,

εἴρξει νεοσσῶν ὣς δράκοντα δύσχιμον·

Ὑπέρβιος δέ, κεδνὸς Οἴνοπος τόκος,

ἀνὴρ κατʼ ἄνδρα τοῦτον ᾑρέθη, θέλων
505

ἐξιστορῆσαι μοῖραν ἐν χρείᾳ τύχης,

οὔτʼ εἶδος οὔτε θυμὸν οὐδʼ ὅπλων σχέσιν

μωμητός, Ἑρμῆς δʼ εὐλόγως ξυνήγαγεν.

ἐχθρὸς γὰρ ἁνὴρ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ξυστήσεται,

ξυνοίσετον δὲ πολεμίους ἐπʼ ἀσπίδων
510

θεούς· ὁ μὲν γὰρ πύρπνοον Τυφῶνʼ ἔχει,

Ὑπερβίῳ δὲ Ζεὺς πατὴρ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος

σταδαῖος ἧσται, διὰ χερὸς βέλος φλέγων·

κοὔπω τις εἶδε Ζῆνά που νικώμενον.

τοιάδε μέντοι προσφίλεια δαιμόνων·
515

πρὸς τῶν κρατούντων δʼ ἐσμέν, οἱ δʼ ἡσσωμένων,

εἰ Ζεύς γε Τυφῶ καρτερώτερος μάχῃ·

εἰκὸς δὲ πράξειν ἄνδρας ὧδʼ ἀντιστάτας,

Ὑπερβίῳ τε πρὸς λόγον τοῦ σήματος

σωτὴρ γένοιτʼ ἂν Ζεὺς ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος τυχών.
520

521

Χορός

πέποιθα δὴ τὸν Διὸς ἀντίτυπον ἔχοντʼ

ἄφιλον ἐν σάκει τοῦ χθονίου δέμας

δαίμονος, ἐχθρὸν εἴκασμα βροτοῖς τε καὶ

δαροβίοισι θεοῖσιν,

πρόσθε πυλᾶν κεφαλὰν ἰάψειν.
525

526

Ἄγγελος

οὕτως γένοιτο. τὸν δὲ πέμπτον αὖ λέγω,

πέμπταισι προσταχθέντα Βορραίαις πύλαις,

τύμβον κατʼ αὐτὸν Διογενοῦς Ἀμφίονος·

ὄμνυσι δʼ αἰχμὴν ἣν ἔχει μᾶλλον θεοῦ

σέβειν πεποιθὼς ὀμμάτων θʼ ὑπέρτερον,
530

ἦ μὴν λαπάξειν ἄστυ Καδμείων βίᾳ

Διός· τόδʼ αὐδᾷ μητρὸς ἐξ ὀρεσκόου

βλάστημα καλλίπρῳρον, ἀνδρόπαις ἀνήρ·

στείχει δʼ ἴουλος ἄρτι διὰ παρηίδων,

ὥρας φυούσης, ταρφὺς ἀντέλλουσα θρίξ.
535

ὁ δʼ ὠμόν, οὔτι παρθένων ἐπώνυμον,

φρόνημα, γοργὸν δʼ ὄμμʼ ἔχων, προσίσταται.

οὐ μὴν ἀκόμπαστός γʼ ἐφίσταται πύλαις·

τὸ γὰρ πόλεως ὄνειδος ἐν χαλκηλάτῳ

σάκει, κυκλωτῷ σώματος προβλήματι,
540

Σφίγγʼ ὠμόσιτον προσμεμηχανημένην

γόμφοις ἐνώμα, λαμπρὸν ἔκκρουστον δέμας,

φέρει δʼ ὑφʼ αὑτῇ φῶτα Καδμείων ἕνα,

ὡς πλεῖστʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδʼ ἰάπτεσθαι βέλη.

ἐλθὼν δʼ ἔοικεν οὐ καπηλεύσειν μάχην,
545

μακρᾶς κελεύθου δʼ οὐ καταισχυνεῖν πόρον,

Παρθενοπαῖος Ἀρκάς· ὁ δὲ τοιόσδʼ ἀνὴρ

μέτοικος, Ἄργει δʼ ἐκτίνων καλὰς τροφάς,

πύργοις ἀπειλεῖ τοῖσδʼ ἃ μὴ κραίνοι θεός.

Ἐτεοκλής

εἰ γὰρ τύχοιεν ὧν φρονοῦσι πρὸς θεῶν,
550

αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις ἀνοσίοις κομπάσμασιν·

ἦ τἂν πανώλεις παγκάκως τʼ ὀλοίατο.

ἔστιν δὲ καὶ τῷδʼ, ὃν λέγεις τὸν Ἀρκάδα,

ἀνὴρ ἄκομπος, χεὶρ δʼ ὁρᾷ τὸ δράσιμον,

Ἄκτωρ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ πάρος λελεγμένου·
555

ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει γλῶσσαν ἐργμάτων ἄτερ

ἔσω πυλῶν ῥέουσαν ἀλδαίνειν κακά,

οὐδʼ εἰσαμεῖψαι θηρὸς ἐχθίστου δάκους

εἰκὼ φέροντα πολεμίας ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος·

ἣ ʼξωθεν εἴσω τῷ φέροντι μέμψεται,
560

πυκνοῦ κροτησμοῦ τυγχάνουσʼ ὑπὸ πτόλιν.

θεῶν θελόντων τἂν ἀληθεύσαιμʼ ἐγώ.

563

Χορός

ἱκνεῖται λόγος διὰ στηθέων,

τριχὸς δʼ ὀρθίας πλόκαμος ἵσταται,

μεγάλα μεγαληγόρων κλυούσᾳ
565

ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν. εἴθε γὰρ

θεοὶ τοῦδʼ ὀλέσειαν ἐν γᾷ.

568

Ἄγγελος

ἕκτον λέγοιμʼ ἂν ἄνδρα σωφρονέστατον,

ἀλκήν τʼ ἄριστον μάντιν, Ἀμφιάρεω βίαν·

Ὁμολωίσιν δὲ πρὸς πύλαις τεταγμένος
570

κακοῖσι βάζει πολλὰ Τυδέως βίαν·

τὸν ἀνδροφόντην, τὸν πόλεως ταράκτορα,

μέγιστον Ἄργει τῶν κακῶν διδάσκαλον,

Ἐρινύος κλητῆρα, πρόσπολον φόνου,

κακῶν τʼ Ἀδράστῳ τῶνδε βουλευτήριον.
575

καὶ τὸν σὸν αὖθις προσθροῶν ὁμόσπορον,

ἐξυπτιάζων ὄμμα, Πολυνείκους βίαν,

δίς τʼ ἐν τελευτῇ τοὔνομʼ ἐνδατούμενος,

καλεῖ. λέγει δὲ τοῦτʼ ἔπος διὰ στόμα·

ἦ τοῖον ἔργον καὶ θεοῖσι προσφιλές,
580

καλόν τʼ ἀκοῦσαι καὶ λέγειν μεθυστέροις,

πόλιν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς

πορθεῖν, στράτευμʼ ἐπακτὸν ἐμβεβληκότα;

μητρός τε πηγὴν τίς κατασβέσει δίκη;

πατρίς τε γαῖα σῆς ὑπὸ σπουδῆς δορὶ
585

ἁλοῦσα πῶς σοι ξύμμαχος γενήσεται;

ἔγωγε μὲν δὴ τήνδε πιανῶ χθόνα,

μάντις κεκευθὼς πολεμίας ὑπὸ χθονός.

μαχώμεθʼ, οὐκ ἄτιμον ἐλπίζω μόρον.

τοιαῦθʼ ὁ μάντις ἀσπίδʼ εὐκήλως ἔχων
590

πάγχαλκον ηὔδα· σῆμα δʼ οὐκ ἐπῆν κύκλῳ.

οὐ γὰρ δοκεῖν ἄριστος, ἀλλʼ εἶναι θέλει,

βαθεῖαν ἄλοκα διὰ φρενὸς καρπούμενος,

ἐξ ἧς τὰ κεδνὰ βλαστάνει βουλεύματα.

τούτῳ σοφούς τε κἀγαθοὺς ἀντηρέτας
595

πέμπειν ἐπαινῶ. δεινὸς ὃς θεοὺς σέβει.

Ἐτεοκλής

φεῦ τοῦ ξυναλλάσσοντος ὄρνιθος βροτοῖς

δίκαιον ἄνδρα τοῖσι δυσσεβεστέροις.

ἐν παντὶ πράγει δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁμιλίας κακῆς

κάκιον οὐδέν, καρπὸς οὐ κομιστέος·
600

ἄτης ἄρουρα θάνατον ἐκκαρπίζεται.

ἢ γὰρ ξυνεισβὰς πλοῖον εὐσεβὴς ἀνὴρ

ναύταισι θερμοῖς καὶ πανουργίᾳ τινὶ

ὄλωλεν ἀνδρῶν σὺν θεοπτύστῳ γένει,

ἢ ξὺν πολίταις ἀνδράσιν δίκαιος ὢν
605

ἐχθροξένοις τε καὶ θεῶν ἀμνήμοσιν,

ταὐτοῦ κυρήσας ἐκδίκως ἀγρεύματος,

πληγεὶς θεοῦ μάστιγι παγκοίνῳ ʼδάμη.

οὕτως δʼ ὁ μάντις, υἱὸν Οἰκλέους λέγω,

σώφρων δίκαιος ἀγαθὸς εὐσεβὴς ἀνήρ,
610

μέγας προφήτης, ἀνοσίοισι συμμιγεὶς

θρασυστόμοισιν ἀνδράσιν βίᾳ φρενῶν,

τείνουσι πομπὴν τὴν μακρὰν πάλιν μολεῖν,

Διὸς θέλοντος ξυγκαθελκυσθήσεται.

δοκῶ μὲν οὖν σφε μηδὲ προσβαλεῖν πύλαις
615

οὐχ ὡς ἄθυμος οὐδὲ λήματος κάκῇ,

ἀλλʼ οἶδεν ὥς σφε χρὴ τελευτῆσαι μάχῃ,

εἰ καρπὸς ἔσται θεσφάτοισι Λοξίου·

φιλεῖ δὲ σιγᾶν ἢ λέγειν τὰ καίρια.

ὅμως δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ φῶτα, Λασθένους βίαν,
620

ἐχθρόξενον πυλωρὸν ἀντιτάξομεν,

γέροντα τὸν νοῦν, σάρκα δʼ ἡβῶσαν φύει,

ποδῶκες ὄμμα, χεῖρα δʼ οὐ βραδύνεται

παρʼ ἀσπίδος γυμνωθὲν ἁρπάσαι δόρυ.

θεοῦ δὲ δῶρόν ἐστιν εὐτυχεῖν βροτούς.
625

626

Χορός

κλύοντες θεοὶ δικαίας λιτὰς

ἁμετέρας τελεῖθʼ, ὡς πόλις εὐτυχῇ,

δορίπονα κάκʼ ἐκτρέποντες ἐς γᾶς

ἐπιμόλους· πύργων δʼ ἔκτοθεν

βαλὼν Ζεύς σφε κάνοι κεραυνῷ.
630

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 481 focus

ΧΟ.

ἐπεύχομαι τῷ μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰὼ

πρόμαχ᾽ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει

μαινομένα φρενὶ, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.
485

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 481 focus

Χορὸς Παρθένων
στρ. β'.

ἐπεύχομαι τῷδε μὲν εὖ τελέσαι,

ἰὼ πρόμαχ᾽ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυςτυχεῖν.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν
465

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 481 focus

ΧΟΡΟΣ

Ἐπεύχομαι δὴ τὰ τάδε μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰώ,

Str. 2.

πρόμαχ' ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν·

ὡς δ' ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς Νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.
485

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 481 focus

ἐπεύχομαι δὴ τάδε μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰὼ

πρόμαχ᾽ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν.

¹²³⁴

ἐσχημάτισται εἰσημάτισται et in marg. ζτ ἐσχημάτισται μικρὸν σμικρὸν ἀνὴρ ἀνὴρ ἀνὴρ δ' super δ' scripsit γὰρ compendio ἐκβάλοι ἐκβάλοι ante corr. δούλιον δούλιον δούλειον πέπεμπται πέπεμπται πέπεμπτ᾽ οὐ σπαρτῶν σπαρτῶν (ων scr. m1) δύ᾽ δύ᾽ ex δ' fecit φθόνει λόγων fort. λήρων φθόνει, cfr. schol. ἰὼ in proximo v. habet fort. δυστομεῖν.

36 AESCHYLI

ΧΟ.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει
470

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

ΑΓ.

Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 481 focus

ΧΟΡΟΣ

ἐπεύχομαι δὴ τὰ μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰὼ

πρόμαχ᾽ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει
485

μαινομέναι φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

Translations (7)

Seven Against Thebes Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 417-630 focus

Chorus

May the gods grant success to our champion, since he rises up in a just cause, to battle for his city! But I shudder

to watch the bloody deaths of men cut down for the sake of their own people.
420

422

Scout

Yes, may the gods so grant success to this man. Capaneus is stationed at the Electran gates, another giant of a man, greater than the one described before.

But his boast is too proud for a mere human, and he makes terrifying threats against our battlements—which, I hope, chance will not fulfil! For he says he will utterly destroy the city with god’s will or without it, and that not even conflict with Zeus, though it should fall before him in the plain, will stand in his way.
425

The god’s lightning and thunderbolts he compares to midday heat. For his shield’s symbol he has a man without armor bearing fire, and the torch, his weapon, blazes in his hands; and in golden letters he says I will burn the city.
430

Against such a man make your dispatch—who will meet him in combat, who will stand firm without trembling before his boasts?
435

Eteocles

Here too gain follows with interest from gain.¹ The tongue proves in the end to be an unerring accuser of men’s wicked thoughts.

Capaneus makes his threats, ready to act, irreverent toward the gods, and giving his tongue full exercise in wicked glee, he, though a mere mortal, sends a loud and swollen boast to Zeus in heaven. But I trust that the fire-bearing thunderbolt will justly come to him,
440

and when it comes it will not be anything like the sun’s mid-day heat. And against him, even though he is a big talker, a man of fiery spirit, mighty Polyphontes, is stationed, a dependable sentinel
445

with the good will of guardian Artemis and the other gods. Now tell me about another one allotted to other gates! Exit Polyphontes.
450

452

Chorus

Death to him who exults so arrogantly over the city! May the thunderbolt stop him before he leaps into my home

and plunders me from my maiden chambers with his outrageous spear!
455

457

Scout

Now I will tell you about the man who next drew station at the gates. The third lot leaped out of the upturned bronze helmet for Eteoclus,

to hurl his band against the Neistan gates. He whirls his horses as they snort through their bridles, eager to fall against the gate. Their muzzles whistle in a barbarian way, filled with the breath of their haughty nostrils.
460

His shield is decorated in great style: an armored man climbs a ladder’s rungs to mount an enemy tower that he wants to destroy. This one, too, shouts in syllables of written letters that even Ares could not hurl him from the battlements.
465

Send a dependable opponent against this man, too, to keep the yoke of slavery from our city.
470

Eteocles

I would send this man here, and with good fortune. Exit Megareus. Indeed, he has already been sent, his only boast in his hands, Megareus, Creon’s seed, of the race of the sown- men.

He will not withdraw from the gate in fear of the thunder of the horses’ furious snorting; but either he will die and pay the earth the full price of his nurture, or will capture two men and the city on the shield, and then adorn his father’s house with the spoils.
475

Tell me about another’s boasts and do not begrudge me the full tale!
480

481

Chorus

O champion of my home, I pray that this man will have good fortune, and that there will be bad fortune for his enemies. As they boast too much against the city in their frenzied mind,

so, too, may Zeus the Requiter look on them in anger!
485

486

Scout

Another, the fourth, has the gate near Onca Athena and takes his stand with a shout, Hippomedon, tremendous in form and figure. I shuddered in fear as he spun a huge disk—the circle of his shield, I mean—

I cannot deny it. The symbol-maker who put the design on his shield was no lowly craftsman: the symbol is Typhon, spitting out of his fire-breathing mouth a dark, thick smoke, the darting sister of fire.
490

And the rim of the hollow-bellied shield is fastened all around with snaky braids. The warrior himself has raised the war-cry and, inspired by Ares he raves for battle like a maenad, with a look to inspire fear. We must put up a good defense against the assault of such a man,
495

for already Rout is boasting of victory at the gate.
500

Eteocles

First Onca Pallas, who dwells near the city, close by the gate, and who loathes outrageousness in a man, will fend him off like a dangerous snake away from nestlings. Moreover, Hyperbius, Oenops’ trusty son,

is chosen to match him, man to man, as he is eager to search out his fate in the crisis that chance has wrought—neither in form, nor spirit nor in the wielding of his arms does he bear reproach. Hermes² has appropriately pitted them against each other. For the man is hostile to the man he faces in battle,
505

and the gods on their shields also meet as enemies. The one has fire-breathing Typhon, while father Zeus stands upright on Hyperbius’ shield, his lightening bolt aflame in his hand. And no one yet has seen Zeus conquered.
510

Such then is the favor of the divine powers: we are with the victors, they with the vanquished, if Zeus in fact proves stronger in battle than Typhon. And it is likely that the mortal adversaries will fare as do their gods; and so, in accordance with the symbol,
515

Zeus will be a savior for Hyperbius since he resides on his shield. Exit Hyperbius.
520

521

Chorus

I am sure that Zeus’ antagonist, since he has on his shield the unloved form of an earth-born deity, an image hated by both mortals and the long-lived gods,

will drop his head in death before the gate.
525

526

Scout

Let it be so! Next I describe the fifth man who is stationed at the fifth, the Northern gate opposite the tomb of Amphion, Zeus’s son. He swears by his spear which, in his confidence, he holds more to be revered than a god

and more precious than his eyes, that he will sack the city of the Cadmeans in spite of Zeus. He says this, the beautiful child of a mountain-bred mother—a warrior, half man, half boy, and his beard’s first growth is just now advancing on his cheeks,
530

his youth in first bloom, thick, upspringing hair. But now he makes his advance with a savage heart and a terrifying look, not at all like the maidens he’s named for.³Nor does he take his stand at the gate unboasting, but wields our city’s shame on his bronze-forged
535

shield, his body’s circular defence, on which the Sphinx who eats men raw is cleverly fastened with bolts, her body embossed and gleaming. She carries under her a single Cadmean, so that against this man chiefly our missiles will be hurled.
540

He does not seem to have come to do any petty trading in the battle, nor to shame the making of his long journey—he is Parthenopaeus of Arcadia . Such is the man, and aiming to make full payment for the fine support given him in Argos , his adopted land, he now threatens our fortifications—may God not fulfil his threats!
545

Eteocles

If only they would get from the gods what they wish for, because of those unholy boasts of theirs, then surely they would perish in utter ruin and misery. There is a man for this one, too, whom you name an Arcadian, a man who does not boast, but who knows the thing to do—
550

Actor, brother of him I named before. He will not allow words that lack deeds to overrun his gate and increase fear, nor will he let in a man who carries on his hostile shield the image of the ravenous, detested beast.
555

That beast outside his shield will blame the man who carries her into the gate, when she has taken a heavy beating beneath the city’s walls. If the gods are willing, what I speak may prove true! Exit Actor.
560

563

Chorus

His words penetrate to my heart, my hair stands on end

as I hear the loud threats of these loud-boasting, impious men. May the gods destroy them here in our land!
565

568

Scout

The sixth man I will name is of the highest moderation and a seer brave in combat, mighty Amphiaraus.

Stationed at the Homoloid gate, he repeatedly rebukes mighty Tydeus with evil names Murderer, maker of unrest in the city, principal teacher of evils to the Argives, summoner of vengeance’s Curse, servant of Slaughter, counselor to Adrastus in these evil plans. And next, with eyes looking upward, he addressed your own brother, mighty Polynices who shares your blood, and called him by name, dwelling twice upon its latter part.⁴ These were his words:
570

Will such a deed as this be pleasing to the gods, fine to hear of and to relate to those in the future—that you sacked the city of your ancestors and your native gods and launched a foreign army against them? What justice is it to drain dry the font of your existence?⁵
580

And how shall your fatherland, captured by the spear for the sake of your ambition, be won over to your cause? As for me, I will enrich this earth, a seer interred beneath enemy soil. Let us fight! I anticipate no dishonorable death.
585

So the seer spoke as untroubled he held his all-bronze shield. No symbol was fixed to his shield’s circle. For he does not wish to appear the bravest, but to be the bravest, as he harvests the fruit of his mind’s deep furrow, where his careful resolutions grow.
590

I advise you to send wise and brave opponents against him. He who reveres the gods is to be feared.
595

Eteocles

Ah, the pity of fate’s omen when it makes a just man associate with the irreverent! In all things, nothing is more evil

than evil partnership. Its fruit should not be gathered in: the field of recklessness yields a harvest of death. For it may be that a pious man, embarked shipboard with sailors hot for some crime, perishes along with the sort of men hated by the gods;
600

or, a man, though upright himself, when among fellow-citizens who hate all strangers and neglect the gods, may fall undeserving into the same trap as they, and be subdued, struck by the scourge of God that strikes all alike.
Just so the seer, Oecles’ son,
605

although a moderate, just, noble, reverent man and a great prophet, mixes with impious, rash-talking men against his own judgment, men stretching out in a procession that is long to retrace,⁶ and, if it is Zeus’s will, he will be be dragged down in ruin along with them.
610

So then, I expect that he will not even charge the gates: not because he lacks courage or is weak-willed, but because he knows that he must meet his end in battle, if the prophecies of Loxias are to come to fruition—the god usually either holds silent or speaks to the point.
615

Just the same, I will station a man against him, mighty Lasthenes, a gate-keeper who hates foreigners. He has the wisdom of an old man, but his body is at its prime: his eyes are quick, and he does not let his hand delay for his spear to seize what is left exposed by the shield.
620

Still it is God’s gift when mortals succeed. Exit Lasthenes.
625

626

Chorus

Gods, hear our just prayers and fulfil them, that the city may have good fortune! Turn aside the evils suffered in war onto those who invade our land! May Zeus strike them

with his thunderbolt outside the walls and slay them!
630

LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 481 focus

sois point avare de rapports.

LE CHŒUR
(Agité.)

Mes prières demandent ensemble la victoire — va, défenseur de mon foyer ! — et, pour les autres, la défaite. Si, dans leur délire, ils prononcent sur Thèbes
des mots pleins de superbe, veuille donc Zeus

The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 481 focus

Go then, and glory be thy guide!

530

For thee, brave youth, we pour this ardent pray'r,

And fav'ring Heav'n ſhall hear.

Go then, my houſe's guardian, go,

And ruſhing on the foe,

Bravely repel their vaunting pride.

535

And as each furious ſoul

Hurls the ferocious menace high,

May he, that rules the ſky,

In vengeance his indignant eyeballs roll!

SOLDIER.

Eschilo, I Sette a Tebe: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, I Sette a Tebe: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 481 focus

O difensore dei nostri penati,

a noi sorrida benevola sorte,

trista ai nemici, che vanti superbi

535

scaglian su Tebe, con mente delira.

Giove adirato li miri, e ci vendichi.

ESPLORATORE

Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 481 focus

Opto enim ut huic bene,

450

Heu defenfor mearum domorum, illis uerò male fuc

cedat.

Et quemadmodum fuperba dicunt contra urbem

Furenti mente, ſic ipſos

Jupiter indignans, iratus inſpiciat.
455

Nun.

English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1908) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Seven against Thebes — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 481 focus

O thou, the warder of my home,

Grant, unto us, Fate's favouring tide,

Send on the foemen doom!

They fling forth taunts of frenzied pride,

On them may Zeus with glare of vengeance come!
455

The Spy

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.) — 481 focus

Laut fleh' ich: Ihn kränze des Sieges Glück,
460

Der meinen erd kämpfend schirmt; den Feind treffe Fluch!

Wie sie mit stolzem Wort wider die Stadt in wahn=

sinnigem Muthe sich brüsten,

Strafe sie Zeus, der Vergelter, zürnend!

Der Bote.

Commentary

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

52. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-85

ἀνδρείᾳ:

ἀνδρία

Cantabr. 2. et Stobaeus.

Commentary (N. Wecklein, 1902; German; OCR draft) (Seven Against Thebes, explanatory commentary pp. 15–100. Single-witness OCR; source readings and all reference placements require scan review.) focus

1-77. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-1

Prolog, in welchem mit tiefer Empfindung und stimmungs- voll die Situation und der Drang des Augenblicks gekennzeichnet wird, nachdem die vorausliegenden Begebenheiten durch die voran- gehenden beiden Dramen der Tri- logie gegeben sind. Dabei tritt uns der Charakter des Eteokles in seiner entschlossenen Tatkraft und patrioti- schen Begeisterung entgegen und wird durch V. 28f., 57f. der weitere Verlauf des Dramas vorbereitet. Eteokles kommt aus dem Palaste und spricht zu den vor dem Hause versammelten Kriegern, Jünglingen, Männern und Greisen, welche nach 35 abziehen.

52. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-40

⁴

φλέγων, entfammt, vgl. αἴ θων 435.

Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes 481

Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Messenger

Current edition Experimental

Χορος

τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν

θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως

πρόμαχος ὄρνυται: τρέμω δ᾽ αἱματη-

φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
420

ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

422

Χορός

τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν

θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως

πρόμαχος ὄρνυται· τρέμω δʼ αἱματη-

φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
420

ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

Χορός

ὄλοιθʼ ὃς πόλει μεγάλʼ ἐπεύχεται,

κεραυνοῦ δέ νιν βέλος ἐπισχέθοι,

πρὶν ἐμὸν ἐσθορεῖν δόμον, πωλικῶν

θʼ ἑδωλίων ὑπερκόπῳ
455

δορί ποτʼ ἐκλαπάξαι.

Χορός

ἱκνεῖται λόγος διὰ στηθέων,

τριχὸς δʼ ὀρθίας πλόκαμος ἵσταται,

μεγάλα μεγαληγόρων κλυούσᾳ
565

ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν. εἴθε γὰρ

θεοὶ τοῦδʼ ὀλέσειαν ἐν γᾷ.

ΧΟ.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει
470

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

ΑΓ.

Chorus

May the gods grant success to our champion, since he rises up in a just cause, to battle for his city! But I shudder

to watch the bloody deaths of men cut down for the sake of their own people.
420

Chorus

Death to him who exults so arrogantly over the city! May the thunderbolt stop him before he leaps into my home

and plunders me from my maiden chambers with his outrageous spear!
455

Chorus

O champion of my home, I pray that this man will have good fortune, and that there will be bad fortune for his enemies. As they boast too much against the city in their frenzied mind,

so, too, may Zeus the Requiter look on them in anger!
485

Chorus

I am sure that Zeus’ antagonist, since he has on his shield the unloved form of an earth-born deity, an image hated by both mortals and the long-lived gods,

will drop his head in death before the gate.
525

Chorus

His words penetrate to my heart, my hair stands on end

as I hear the loud threats of these loud-boasting, impious men. May the gods destroy them here in our land!
565

Chorus

Gods, hear our just prayers and fulfil them, that the city may have good fortune! Turn aside the evils suffered in war onto those who invade our land! May Zeus strike them

with his thunderbolt outside the walls and slay them!
630

LE CHŒUR
(Agité.)

Mes prières demandent ensemble la victoire — va, défenseur de mon foyer ! — et, pour les autres, la défaite. Si, dans leur délire, ils prononcent sur Thèbes
des mots pleins de superbe, veuille donc Zeus

SOLDIER.

ESPLORATORE

Et quemadmodum fuperba dicunt contra urbem

Furenti mente, ſic ipſos

Jupiter indignans, iratus inſpiciat.
455

Nun.

O thou, the warder of my home,

Grant, unto us, Fate's favouring tide,

Send on the foemen doom!

They fling forth taunts of frenzied pride,

On them may Zeus with glare of vengeance come!
455

The Spy

Laut fleh' ich: Ihn kränze des Sieges Glück,
460

Der meinen erd kämpfend schirmt; den Feind treffe Fluch!

Wie sie mit stolzem Wort wider die Stadt in wahn=

sinnigem Muthe sich brüsten,

Strafe sie Zeus, der Vergelter, zürnend!

Der Bote.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Messenger

Current edition Experimental

Χορος τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως πρόμαχος ὄρνυται: τρέμω δ᾽ αἱματη- φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων 420 ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι. 422

Χορός τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως πρόμαχος ὄρνυται· τρέμω δʼ αἱματη- φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων 420 ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

Χορός ὄλοιθʼ ὃς πόλει μεγάλʼ ἐπεύχεται, κεραυνοῦ δέ νιν βέλος ἐπισχέθοι, πρὶν ἐμὸν ἐσθορεῖν δόμον, πωλικῶν θʼ ἑδωλίων ὑπερκόπῳ 455 δορί ποτʼ ἐκλαπάξαι.

Χορός ἱκνεῖται λόγος διὰ στηθέων, τριχὸς δʼ ὀρθίας πλόκαμος ἵσταται, μεγάλα μεγαληγόρων κλυούσᾳ 565 ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν. εἴθε γὰρ θεοὶ τοῦδʼ ὀλέσειαν ἐν γᾷ.

ΧΟ. ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει 470 μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

ΑΓ.

Chorus May the gods grant success to our champion, since he rises up in a just cause, to battle for his city! But I shudder to watch the bloody deaths of men cut down for the sake of their own people. 420

Chorus Death to him who exults so arrogantly over the city! May the thunderbolt stop him before he leaps into my home and plunders me from my maiden chambers with his outrageous spear! 455

Chorus O champion of my home, I pray that this man will have good fortune, and that there will be bad fortune for his enemies. As they boast too much against the city in their frenzied mind, so, too, may Zeus the Requiter look on them in anger! 485

Chorus I am sure that Zeus’ antagonist, since he has on his shield the unloved form of an earth-born deity, an image hated by both mortals and the long-lived gods, will drop his head in death before the gate. 525

Chorus His words penetrate to my heart, my hair stands on end as I hear the loud threats of these loud-boasting, impious men. May the gods destroy them here in our land! 565

Chorus Gods, hear our just prayers and fulfil them, that the city may have good fortune! Turn aside the evils suffered in war onto those who invade our land! May Zeus strike them with his thunderbolt outside the walls and slay them! 630

LE CHŒUR (Agité.) Mes prières demandent ensemble la victoire — va, défenseur de mon foyer ! — et, pour les autres, la défaite. Si, dans leur délire, ils prononcent sur Thèbes des mots pleins de superbe, veuille donc Zeus

SOLDIER.

ESPLORATORE

Et quemadmodum fuperba dicunt contra urbem Furenti mente, ſic ipſos Jupiter indignans, iratus inſpiciat. 455

Nun.

O thou, the warder of my home, Grant, unto us, Fate's favouring tide, Send on the foemen doom! They fling forth taunts of frenzied pride, On them may Zeus with glare of vengeance come! 455

The Spy

Laut fleh' ich: Ihn kränze des Sieges Glück, 460 Der meinen erd kämpfend schirmt; den Feind treffe Fluch! Wie sie mit stolzem Wort wider die Stadt in wahn= sinnigem Muthe sich brüsten, Strafe sie Zeus, der Vergelter, zürnend!

Der Bote.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Χορος

τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν

θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως

πρόμαχος ὄρνυται: τρέμω δ᾽ αἱματη-

φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
420

ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

422

Χορός

τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν

θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως

πρόμαχος ὄρνυται· τρέμω δʼ αἱματη-

φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
420

ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

Χορός

ὄλοιθʼ ὃς πόλει μεγάλʼ ἐπεύχεται,

κεραυνοῦ δέ νιν βέλος ἐπισχέθοι,

πρὶν ἐμὸν ἐσθορεῖν δόμον, πωλικῶν

θʼ ἑδωλίων ὑπερκόπῳ
455

δορί ποτʼ ἐκλαπάξαι.

Χορός

ἱκνεῖται λόγος διὰ στηθέων,

τριχὸς δʼ ὀρθίας πλόκαμος ἵσταται,

μεγάλα μεγαληγόρων κλυούσᾳ
565

ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν. εἴθε γὰρ

θεοὶ τοῦδʼ ὀλέσειαν ἐν γᾷ.

ΧΟ.

ὡς δ᾽ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει
470

μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν

Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

Chorus

May the gods grant success to our champion, since he rises up in a just cause, to battle for his city! But I shudder

to watch the bloody deaths of men cut down for the sake of their own people.
420

Chorus

Death to him who exults so arrogantly over the city! May the thunderbolt stop him before he leaps into my home

and plunders me from my maiden chambers with his outrageous spear!
455

Chorus

O champion of my home, I pray that this man will have good fortune, and that there will be bad fortune for his enemies. As they boast too much against the city in their frenzied mind,

so, too, may Zeus the Requiter look on them in anger!
485

Chorus

I am sure that Zeus’ antagonist, since he has on his shield the unloved form of an earth-born deity, an image hated by both mortals and the long-lived gods,

will drop his head in death before the gate.
525

Chorus

His words penetrate to my heart, my hair stands on end

as I hear the loud threats of these loud-boasting, impious men. May the gods destroy them here in our land!
565

Chorus

Gods, hear our just prayers and fulfil them, that the city may have good fortune! Turn aside the evils suffered in war onto those who invade our land! May Zeus strike them

with his thunderbolt outside the walls and slay them!
630

LE CHŒUR
(Agité.)

Mes prières demandent ensemble la victoire — va, défenseur de mon foyer ! — et, pour les autres, la défaite. Si, dans leur délire, ils prononcent sur Thèbes
des mots pleins de superbe, veuille donc Zeus

Et quemadmodum fuperba dicunt contra urbem

Furenti mente, ſic ipſos

Jupiter indignans, iratus inſpiciat.
455

O thou, the warder of my home,

Grant, unto us, Fate's favouring tide,

Send on the foemen doom!

They fling forth taunts of frenzied pride,

On them may Zeus with glare of vengeance come!
455

Laut fleh' ich: Ihn kränze des Sieges Glück,
460

Der meinen erd kämpfend schirmt; den Feind treffe Fluch!

Wie sie mit stolzem Wort wider die Stadt in wahn=

sinnigem Muthe sich brüsten,

Strafe sie Zeus, der Vergelter, zürnend!