Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes, Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator), 720

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I shudder with dread that the power that lays waste this house, not like the gods, the all-true, the evil-boding Erinnys summoned by the curses of the father, is bringing to a consummation the wrathful curses of distracted Œdipus . 'Tis this quarrel, fatal to his sons, that arouses her.

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

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Volunteer.

Current edition Experimental

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.) — 720-791 focus

str. 1

Χορος

πέφρικα τὰν ὠλεσίοικον
720

θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναλαθῆ, κακόμαντιν

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος:¹
725

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽² ὀτρύνει.

727

ant. 1

Χορος

ξένος δὲ κλήρους³ ἐπινωμᾷ,

Χάλυβος Σκυθῶν ἄποικος,

κτεάνων χρηματοδαίτας

πικρός, ὠμόφρων σίδαρος,
730

χθόνα ναίειν διαπήλας,

ὁπόσαν καὶ φθιμένοισιν κατέχειν,

τῶν μεγάλων πεδίων ἀμοίρους.

734

str. 2

Χορος

ἐπειδὰν αὐτοκτόνως⁴

αὐτοδάικτοι θάνωσι,
735

καὶ γαΐα⁵ κόνις πίῃ

μελαμπαγὲς αἷμα φοίνιον,

τίς ἂν καθαρμοὺς⁶ πόροι,

τίς ἄν σφε λούσειεν; ὦ

πόνοι δόμων νέοι παλαι-
740

οῖσι συμμιγεῖς κακοῖς.

742

ant. 2

Χορος

παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

παρβασίαν⁷ ὠκύποινον:

αἰῶνα δ᾽ ἐς τρίτον μένει:

Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάιος
745

βίᾳ,⁸ τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς

χρηστηρίοις θνᾴσκοντα γέν-

νας ἄτερ σῴζειν πόλιν,

750

str. 3

Χορος

κρατηθεὶς δ᾽⁹ ἐκ φίλων ἀβουλιᾶν¹⁰
750

ἐγείνατο¹¹ μὲν μόρον αὑτῷ,

πατροκτόνον Οἰδιπόδαν,

ὅστε ματρὸς ἁγνὰν

σπείρας ἄρουραν, ἵν᾽ ἐτράφη,

ῥίζαν αἱματόεσσαν,
755

ἔτλα: παράνοια¹² συνᾶγε

νυμφίους φρενώλεις.¹³

758

ant. 3

Χορος

κακῶν δ᾽ ὥσπερ θάλασσα κῦμ᾽ ἄγει:

τὸ μὲν πίτνον, ἄλλο δ᾽ ἀείρει

τρίχαλον, ὃ καὶ περὶ πρύμ-
760

ναν πόλεως καχλάζει.

†μεταξὺ δ᾽ ἀλκὰ δι᾽ ὀλίγου

τείνει πύργος ἐν εὔρει†.¹⁴

δέδοικα δὲ σὺν βασιλεῦσι¹⁵

μὴ πόλις δαμασθῇ.
765
766

str. 4

Χορος

τέλειαι¹⁶ γὰρ παλαιφάτων ἀρᾶν¹⁷

βαρεῖαι καταλλαγαί: τὰ δ᾽ ὀλοὰ

πελόμεν᾽¹⁸ οὐ παρέρχεται.

πρόπρυμνα δ᾽ ἐκβολὰν¹⁹ φέρει

ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστᾶν
770

ὄλβος ἄγαν παχυνθείς.

772

ant. 4

Χορος

τίν᾽ ἀνδρῶν γὰρ τοσόνδ᾽ ἐθαύμασαν

θεοὶ καὶ²⁰ ξυνέστιοι πόλεος ὁ²¹

πολύβατός²² τ᾽ ἀγὼν²³ βροτῶν,

ὅσον τότ᾽ Οἰδίπουν τίον,
775

τὰν ἁρπαξάνδραν²⁴

κῆρ᾽ ἀφελόντα χώρας;

778

str. 5

Χορος

ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἀρτίφρων

ἐγένετο μέλεος ἀθλίων

γάμων, ἐπ᾽ ἄλγει δυσφορῶν
780

μαινομένᾳ κραδίᾳ²⁵

δίδυμα κάκ᾽ ἐτέλεσεν:

πατροφόνῳ χερὶ τῶν

κρεισσοτέκνων [δ᾽ ἀπ᾽²⁶] ὀμμάτων ἐπλάγχθη:

785

ant. 5

Χορος

τέκνοις δ᾽ ἀγρίας²⁷
785

ἐφῆκεν ἐπικότους²⁸ τροφᾶς,²⁹

αἰαῖ, πικρογλώσσους ἀράς,

καί σφε σιδαρονόμῳ

διὰ χερί³⁰ ποτε λαχεῖν

κτήματα: νῦν δὲ τρέω
790

μὴ τελέσῃ καμψίπους Ἐρινύς,

792

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 720-791 focus

Χορός

πέφρικα τὰν ὠλεσίοικον
720

θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναλαθῆ κακόμαντιν

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·
725

παιδολέτωρ δʼ ἔρις ἅδʼ ὀτρύνει.

727

Χορός

ξένος δὲ κλήρους ἐπινωμᾷ,

Χάλυβος Σκυθᾶν ἄποικος,

κτεάνων χρηματοδαίτας

πικρός, ὠμόφρων σίδαρος,
730

χθόνα ναίειν διαπήλας,

ὁπόσαν καὶ φθιμένοισιν κατέχειν,

τῶν μεγάλων πεδίων ἀμοίρους.

734

Χορός

ἐπεὶ δʼ ἂν αὐτοκτόνως

αὐτοδάικτοι θάνωσι,
735

καὶ γαΐα κόνις πίῃ

μελαμπαγὲς αἷμα φοίνιον,

τίς ἂν καθαρμοὺς πόροι,

τίς ἄν σφε λούσειεν; ὦ

πόνοι δόμων νέοι παλαι-
740

οῖσι συμμιγεῖς κακοῖς.

742

Χορός

παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

παρβασίαν ὠκύποινον·

αἰῶνα δʼ ἐς τρίτον μένει·

Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάιος
745

βίᾳ, τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς

χρηστηρίοις θνᾴσκοντα γέν-

νας ἄτερ σῴζειν πόλιν,

750

Χορός

κρατηθεὶς δʼ ἐκ φίλων ἀβουλιᾶν
750

ἐγείνατο μὲν μόρον αὑτῷ,

πατροκτόνον Οἰδιπόδαν,

ὅστε ματρὸς ἁγνὰν

σπείρας ἄρουραν, ἵνʼ ἐτράφη,

ῥίζαν αἱματόεσσαν
755

ἔτλα· παράνοια συνᾶγε

νυμφίους φρενώλεις.

758

Χορός

κακῶν δʼ ὥσπερ θάλασσα κῦμʼ ἄγει·

τὸ μὲν πίτνον, ἄλλο δʼ ἀείρει

τρίχαλον, ὃ καὶ περὶ πρύμ-
760

ναν πόλεως καχλάζει.

μεταξὺ δʼ ἀλκὰ διʼ ὀλίγου

τείνει, πύργος ἐν εὔρει.

δέδοικα δὲ σὺν βασιλεῦσι

μὴ πόλις δαμασθῇ.
765

766

Χορός

τελειᾶν γὰρ παλαιφάτων ἀρᾶν

βαρεῖαι καταλλαγαί· τὰ δʼ ὀλοὰ

πελόμενʼ οὐ παρέρχεται.

πρόπρυμνα δʼ ἐκβολὰν φέρει

ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστᾶν
770

ὄλβος ἄγαν παχυνθείς.

772

Χορός

τίνʼ ἀνδρῶν γὰρ τοσόνδʼ ἐθαύμασαν

θεοὶ καὶ ξυνέστιοι πόλεος ὁ

πολύβατός τʼ ἀγὼν βροτῶν,

ὅσον τότʼ Οἰδίπουν τίον,
775

τὰν ἁρπαξάνδραν

κῆρʼ ἀφελόντα χώρας;

778

Χορός

ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀρτίφρων

ἐγένετο μέλεος ἀθλίων

γάμων, ἐπʼ ἄλγει δυσφορῶν
780

μαινομένᾳ κραδίᾳ

δίδυμα κάκʼ ἐτέλεσεν·

πατροφόνῳ χερὶ τῶν

κρεισσοτέκνων ὀμμάτων ἐπλάγχθη·

785

Χορός

τέκνοις δʼ ἀγρίας
785

ἐφῆκεν ἐπικότους τροφᾶς,

αἰαῖ, πικρογλώσσους ἀράς,

καί σφε σιδαρονόμῳ

διὰ χερί ποτε λαχεῖν

κτήματα· νῦν δὲ τρέω
790

μὴ τελέσῃ καμψίπους Ἐρινύς.

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 720 focus

ΧΟ.

πέφρικα τὰν ὠλεσίοικον θεὸν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,
720

παναλαθῆ, κακόμαντιν πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος ·
725

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει.

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 720 focus

Χορὸς Παρθένων
στρ. α'.

πέφρικα τὴν ὠλεσίοικον

θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναληθῆ, κακόμαντιν

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινύν,

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους
705

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει.

ἀντ. α'.

ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 720 focus

ΧΟΡΟΣ

Πέφρικα τὰν ὠλεσίοι-

Str. 1.

κον θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναληθῆ κακόμαντιν,

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους
725

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος βλαψίφρονος Οἰδιπόδα·

παιδολέτωρ δ' ἔρις ἅδ' ὀτρύνει.

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 720 focus

πέφρικα τὴν ὠλεσίοικον

θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναληθῆ, κακόμαντιν,

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν
710

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰

δατήριοι δοτήρι» (ο factum ex ω) δοτήριοι ΔΑ super δο scripsit πιθοῦ πιθοῦ πείθου ... item 706 sq. paragraphi praefixae in M. τις τίς τισ superscr. ἐκφύγοις ἐκφύγοισ (οι superscr. ml) παναληθῆ πανἀληθεῖ mut. in παναληθῆ

ΧΟ.

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει.

Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 720 focus

ΧΟΡΟΣ

πέφρικα τὰν ὠλεσίοι-
720

κον θεὸν οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοί-

αν παναληθῆ κακόμαν-

τιν πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρι-

νὺν τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους κατάρας

Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·
725

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει. –

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.)) — 720-790 focus

Chorus

I shudder in terror at the goddess who lays ruin to homes, a goddess unlike other divinities, who is an unerring omen of evil to come. I shudder that the Erinys invoked by the father’s prayer will fulfil the over-wrathful
720

curses that Oedipus spoke in madness. This strife that will destroy his sons drives the Erinys to fulfillment.
725

727

Chorus

A stranger distributes their inheritance, a Chalybian immigrant from Scythia , a bitter divider of wealth,

savage-hearted iron that apportions land for them to dwell in, as much as they can occupy in death when they have lost their share in these wide plains.
730

734

Chorus

But when both have died, each killing

the other in mutual slaughter, and the earth’s dust has swallowed the black streams of their blood, who could offer sacrifice that might make purification? Who could cleanse them of their pollution?
735

O, the new troubles of this house mixed with its evils of before!
740

742

Chorus

Indeed I speak of the ancient transgression, now swift in its retribution. It remains even into the third generation,

ever since Laius—in defiance of Apollo who, at his Pythian oracle at the earth’s center, said three times that the king would save his city if he died without offspring—
745

750

Chorus

Ever since he, overcome by the thoughtlessness of his longing, fathered his own death, the parricide Oedipus, who sowed his mother’s sacred field, where he was nurtured,
750

and endured a bloody crop. Madness united the frenzied bridal pair.
755

758

Chorus

Now it is as if a sea of evils pushes its swell onward. As one wave sinks, the sea raises up another,

triple-crested, which crashes around the city’s stern. In between a narrow defense stretches—no wider than a wall. I fear that the city will be overthrown along with its kings.
760

766

Chorus

For the compensation is heavy when curses uttered long ago are fulfilled, and once the deadly curse has come into existence, it does not pass away. When the fortune of seafaring merchants has grown too great,

it must be thrown overboard.
770

772

Chorus

For whom have the gods and divinities that share their altar and the thronging assembly of men ever admired

so much as they honored Oedipus then, when he removed that deadly, man-seizing plague from our land?
775

778

Chorus

But when, his sanity regained, he grew miserable in his wretched

marriage, then carried away by his grief and with maddened heart he accomplished a double evil. With the hand that killed his father he struck out his eyes, which were dearer to him than his children.
780

785

Chorus

Next he launched brutal, wrathful words against the sons he had bred—ah! curses from a bitter tongue—that wielding iron in their hands they would one day divide his property.
785

So now I tremble in fear that the swift-running Erinys will bring this to fulfillment.
790

LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 720 focus

aux déesses, la prophétesse trop véridique de malheurs, l'Érinys appelée par les vœux d'un
père, n'accomplisse les imprécations courroucées d'Œdipe en démence : c'est à leur perte que ce conflit jette ses fils.

Celui qui agite les dés, l'étranger

The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 720 focus

She comes, the fierce tremendous pow'r ,

And harrows up my ſoul with dread;

825

No gentle Goddess, prompt to ſhow'r

Her bleſſings on ſome favour'd head.

I know her now, the propheteſs of ill,

And vengeance ratifies each word,

The votive fury, fiend abhor'd;

830

The father's curſes to fulfill

Dreadful ſhe comes, and with her brings

The brood of fate, that laps the blood of kings.

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.) — 720 focus

Pavento io, che la Diva, a niuno eguale

dei Celesti, che stermina

le progenie, del male

810

profetessa verace, l'imprecatrice Erine,

del dissennato Edipo non effettui

le fiere imprecazioni; e la discordia

sospinge i figli a esizïale fine.

1 Antistrofe I

Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 720 focus

Horrui pernicioſam deam, non dijs fimilem,

Que noctu acceßit, narrauit

690

Vere malam uatem, patris optatam

Furiam, perficere excandefcentes

Execrationes uefanientis Oedipodis.

Pucrorum uaftatrix contentio hæc hortatur.

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.) — 720 focus

I shudder in dread of the power, abhorred by the gods of high heaven,

The ruinous curse of the home till roof-tree and rafter be riven!
735

Too true are the visions of ill, too true the fulfilment they bring

To the curse that was spoken of old by the frenzy and wrath of the king!

Her will is the doom of the children, and Discord is kindled amain,

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.) — 720 focus

Mir graut: die stammtilgende Göttin,
695

Die den Göttern nicht Verwandte,

Sie, des Leids wahre Prophetin,

Von des Vaters Fluch beschworen,

Sie erscheint, Dedipus' wahnsinnigen, zornschnaubenden Fluch führt sie hinaus;

Brudervertilgender Zwist erweckt sie.
700
Erste Gegenstrophe.

Commentary

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.

57. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-44

⁴

πρὸς ταῦτα, darauf hin. πόλεως gehört zu ἐκκρίτους wie Eur. Phön. 214 πόλεος ἐκπροκριθεῖσ᾽ ἐμᾶς.

Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes 720

Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

πέφρικα τὴν ὠλεσίοικον

θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναληθῆ, κακόμαντιν,

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν
710

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους

ΧΟ.

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει.

Chorus

A stranger distributes their inheritance, a Chalybian immigrant from Scythia , a bitter divider of wealth,

savage-hearted iron that apportions land for them to dwell in, as much as they can occupy in death when they have lost their share in these wide plains.
730

Chorus

Ever since he, overcome by the thoughtlessness of his longing, fathered his own death, the parricide Oedipus, who sowed his mother’s sacred field, where he was nurtured,
750

and endured a bloody crop. Madness united the frenzied bridal pair.
755

Chorus

Now it is as if a sea of evils pushes its swell onward. As one wave sinks, the sea raises up another,

triple-crested, which crashes around the city’s stern. In between a narrow defense stretches—no wider than a wall. I fear that the city will be overthrown along with its kings.
760

Chorus

For the compensation is heavy when curses uttered long ago are fulfilled, and once the deadly curse has come into existence, it does not pass away. When the fortune of seafaring merchants has grown too great,

it must be thrown overboard.
770

Chorus

For whom have the gods and divinities that share their altar and the thronging assembly of men ever admired

so much as they honored Oedipus then, when he removed that deadly, man-seizing plague from our land?
775

Chorus

But when, his sanity regained, he grew miserable in his wretched

marriage, then carried away by his grief and with maddened heart he accomplished a double evil. With the hand that killed his father he struck out his eyes, which were dearer to him than his children.
780

Chorus

Next he launched brutal, wrathful words against the sons he had bred—ah! curses from a bitter tongue—that wielding iron in their hands they would one day divide his property.
785

So now I tremble in fear that the swift-running Erinys will bring this to fulfillment.
790

Celui qui agite les dés, l'étranger

1 Antistrofe I

Mir graut: die stammtilgende Göttin,
695

Die den Göttern nicht Verwandte,

Sie, des Leids wahre Prophetin,

Von des Vaters Fluch beschworen,

Sie erscheint, Dedipus' wahnsinnigen, zornschnaubenden Fluch führt sie hinaus;

Brudervertilgender Zwist erweckt sie.
700
Erste Gegenstrophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

πέφρικα τὴν ὠλεσίοικον θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν, παναληθῆ, κακόμαντιν, πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν 710 τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους

ΧΟ. κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος· παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει.

Chorus A stranger distributes their inheritance, a Chalybian immigrant from Scythia , a bitter divider of wealth, savage-hearted iron that apportions land for them to dwell in, as much as they can occupy in death when they have lost their share in these wide plains. 730

Chorus Ever since he, overcome by the thoughtlessness of his longing, fathered his own death, the parricide Oedipus, who sowed his mother’s sacred field, where he was nurtured, 750 and endured a bloody crop. Madness united the frenzied bridal pair. 755

Chorus Now it is as if a sea of evils pushes its swell onward. As one wave sinks, the sea raises up another, triple-crested, which crashes around the city’s stern. In between a narrow defense stretches—no wider than a wall. I fear that the city will be overthrown along with its kings. 760

Chorus For the compensation is heavy when curses uttered long ago are fulfilled, and once the deadly curse has come into existence, it does not pass away. When the fortune of seafaring merchants has grown too great, it must be thrown overboard. 770

Chorus For whom have the gods and divinities that share their altar and the thronging assembly of men ever admired so much as they honored Oedipus then, when he removed that deadly, man-seizing plague from our land? 775

Chorus But when, his sanity regained, he grew miserable in his wretched marriage, then carried away by his grief and with maddened heart he accomplished a double evil. With the hand that killed his father he struck out his eyes, which were dearer to him than his children. 780

Chorus Next he launched brutal, wrathful words against the sons he had bred—ah! curses from a bitter tongue—that wielding iron in their hands they would one day divide his property. 785 So now I tremble in fear that the swift-running Erinys will bring this to fulfillment. 790

Celui qui agite les dés, l'étranger

1 Antistrofe I

Mir graut: die stammtilgende Göttin, 695 Die den Göttern nicht Verwandte, Sie, des Leids wahre Prophetin, Von des Vaters Fluch beschworen, Sie erscheint, Dedipus' wahnsinnigen, zornschnaubenden Fluch führt sie hinaus; Brudervertilgender Zwist erweckt sie. 700 Erste Gegenstrophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

πέφρικα τὴν ὠλεσίοικον

θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,

παναληθῆ, κακόμαντιν,

πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν
710

τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους

ΧΟ.

κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·

παιδολέτωρ δ᾽ ἔρις ἅδ᾽ ὀτρύνει.

Chorus

A stranger distributes their inheritance, a Chalybian immigrant from Scythia , a bitter divider of wealth,

savage-hearted iron that apportions land for them to dwell in, as much as they can occupy in death when they have lost their share in these wide plains.
730

Chorus

Ever since he, overcome by the thoughtlessness of his longing, fathered his own death, the parricide Oedipus, who sowed his mother’s sacred field, where he was nurtured,
750

and endured a bloody crop. Madness united the frenzied bridal pair.
755

Chorus

Now it is as if a sea of evils pushes its swell onward. As one wave sinks, the sea raises up another,

triple-crested, which crashes around the city’s stern. In between a narrow defense stretches—no wider than a wall. I fear that the city will be overthrown along with its kings.
760

Chorus

For the compensation is heavy when curses uttered long ago are fulfilled, and once the deadly curse has come into existence, it does not pass away. When the fortune of seafaring merchants has grown too great,

it must be thrown overboard.
770

Chorus

For whom have the gods and divinities that share their altar and the thronging assembly of men ever admired

so much as they honored Oedipus then, when he removed that deadly, man-seizing plague from our land?
775

Chorus

But when, his sanity regained, he grew miserable in his wretched

marriage, then carried away by his grief and with maddened heart he accomplished a double evil. With the hand that killed his father he struck out his eyes, which were dearer to him than his children.
780

Chorus

Next he launched brutal, wrathful words against the sons he had bred—ah! curses from a bitter tongue—that wielding iron in their hands they would one day divide his property.
785

So now I tremble in fear that the swift-running Erinys will bring this to fulfillment.
790

Mir graut: die stammtilgende Göttin,
695

Die den Göttern nicht Verwandte,

Sie, des Leids wahre Prophetin,

Von des Vaters Fluch beschworen,

Sie erscheint, Dedipus' wahnsinnigen, zornschnaubenden Fluch führt sie hinaus;

Brudervertilgender Zwist erweckt sie.
700
Erste Gegenstrophe.