Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes, Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator), 742

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for I speak of the ancient transgression with its speedy punishment; yet it abides unto the third generation: since Laius, in spite of Apollo, who had thrice declared, in the central oracles of Pytho, that, dying without issue, he would save the state ,

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.) — 742 focus

παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

παρβασίαν ὠκύποινον·

αἰῶνα δ᾽ ἐς τρίτον μένει·

Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάϊος

745

βίᾳ, τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν᾿

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς

χρηστηρίοις θνάσκοντα γέννας ἄτερ σώζειν πόλιν,

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 742 focus

παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

παρβασίαν ὠκύποινον·

αἰῶνα δ᾽ ἐς τρίτον μένει,
725

Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάϊος

βίᾳ, τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς

χρηστηρίοις, θνάσκοντα γέν-

νας ἄτερ σώζειν πόλιν.
730
στρ. γ'.

ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 742 focus

Παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

Ant. 2.

παρβασίαν παραβασίαν (vel παραιβ-) ὠκύποινον

αἰῶνα δ' ἐς τρίτον μένει
745

Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάϊος

βίᾳ, τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς

χρηστηρίοις θνάσκοντα γέν-

νας ἄτερ σῴζειν πόλιν·
750

Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 742 focus

παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

παρβασίαν ὠκύποινον·

αἰῶνα δ᾽ ἐς τρίτον μένει,
730

Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάιος

βίᾳ, τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς χρηστηρίοις

θνάσκοντα γέννας ἄτερ σῴζειν πόλιν,

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸

καὶ χθονία καὶ γαῖα καθαρμοὺς καθαρμοὺς καθαρ καθαρμα δν super μα scripsit παλαιοῖσι παλαιοῖσι παλαιοῖσ συμμιγεῖς συμμιγεισ (ξ scr. super σ m) παρβασίαν παρβασίαν παραβασίαν ὠκύποινον ὠκύπονον, ι inseruit M vel m. βίᾳ ... μεσομφάλοις ... θνάσκοντα ... σῴζειν πόλιν βία (βίαι m) . . μεσομφάλοισ | . . θνάσκοντα (Η scr. m) | . . σώζειν πόλιν

ΧΟ.

Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 742 focus

παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω

παρβασίαν ὠκύποινον, αἰῶνα δ᾽ ἐς τρίτον

μένειν, ᾿Απόλλωνος εὔτε Λάιος

βίαι τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν

745

μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς

χρηστηρίοις θνάισκοντα γέν-

νας ἄτερ σώιζειν πόλιν, =

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.) — 742 focus

pourtant dure encore à la troisième génération, la faute de Laïos,
rebelle à Apollon, qui, par trois fois, à Pytho, son sanctuaire prophétique, centre du monde, lui avait déclaré qu'il devait mourir sans enfant, s'il voulait le salut de Thèbes

Mais Laïos succombe à un doux égarement ¹,

The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 742 focus

The firſt ill deed from Laius ſprung:

Thrice from his ſhrine these words of fate

855

Aweful the Pythian Phœbus ſung,

"Die childless, wou'dſt thou ſave the ſtate."

Urg'd by his friends, as round the free wine flows,

To Love's forbidden rites he flies.

By the ſon's hand the father dies.

860

He in the chaſte ground, whence he aroſe,

Was bold t' implant the deadly root;

And madneſs rear'd each balefulſpreading ſhoot.

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.) — 742 focus

Parlo del fallo antico

di Laio, a cui seguia la pena súbita,

830

ma su la terza stirpe ancora indugia.

Il Nume Apollo a lui, dall'umbilico

della terra, ove surge il pitio oracolo,

tre volte ripetea che la città,

se muoia orbo di prole, ei salverà.

835

3 Strofe III

Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 742 focus

In tertium euum manebit.

Apollini, quando Laius

Ter dicente in meditullio
710

Pythicis oraculis, quod fimoreretur

Sine liberis, feruaret urbem, uictus ex amicorum inme

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.) — 742 focus

Whilome in olden days the sin was wrought,

And swift requital brought—

Yea on the children of the child came still

New heritage of ill!
755

For thrice Apollo spoke this word divine,

From Delphi's central shrine,

To Laius— Die thou childless! thus alone

Can the land's weal be won!

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.) — 742 focus

Der schweren Schuld alter Zeit
715

Denk' ich, da schnell büßte der Frevler;

Doch herrscht sie fort in's dritte Glied.

Es bot Lajos Phöbos' Worte Troy,

Das dreimal einst warnend ihm

Aus Pytho's Erdmitte dort
720

Entgegenscholl: nur kinderlos

Sterbend, rett' er Haus und Stadt.

Dritte Strophe.

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 742

Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

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

Mais Laïos succombe à un doux égarement ¹,

3 Strofe III

Apollini, quando Laius

Ter dicente in meditullio
710

Pythicis oraculis, quod fimoreretur

Sine liberis, feruaret urbem, uictus ex amicorum inme

Whilome in olden days the sin was wrought,

And swift requital brought—

Yea on the children of the child came still

New heritage of ill!
755

For thrice Apollo spoke this word divine,

From Delphi's central shrine,

To Laius— Die thou childless! thus alone

Can the land's weal be won!

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ΧΟ.

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

Mais Laïos succombe à un doux égarement 1 ,

3 Strofe III

Apollini, quando Laius Ter dicente in meditullio 710 Pythicis oraculis, quod fimoreretur Sine liberis, feruaret urbem, uictus ex amicorum inme

Whilome in olden days the sin was wrought, And swift requital brought— Yea on the children of the child came still New heritage of ill! 755 For thrice Apollo spoke this word divine, From Delphi's central shrine, To Laius— Die thou childless! thus alone Can the land's weal be won!

Der schweren Schuld alter Zeit 715 Denk' ich, da schnell büßte der Frevler; Doch herrscht sie fort in's dritte Glied. Es bot Lajos Phöbos' Worte Troy, Das dreimal einst warnend ihm Aus Pytho's Erdmitte dort 720 Entgegenscholl: nur kinderlos Sterbend, rett' er Haus und Stadt. Dritte Strophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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

Mais Laïos succombe à un doux égarement ¹,

Apollini, quando Laius

Ter dicente in meditullio
710

Pythicis oraculis, quod fimoreretur

Sine liberis, feruaret urbem, uictus ex amicorum inme

Whilome in olden days the sin was wrought,

And swift requital brought—

Yea on the children of the child came still

New heritage of ill!
755

For thrice Apollo spoke this word divine,

From Delphi's central shrine,

To Laius— Die thou childless! thus alone

Can the land's weal be won!