Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes 117

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

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CHORUS
What new event hath to the city chanced?

Seven Against Thebes. Aeschylus. Anna Swanwick (Translator). London. 1886.

Sponsored by University of Leipzig.

Funding provided by European Social Fund Saxony.

Current edition Experimental

Seven Against Thebes (OCR draft) (English) (Seven Against Thebes. Anna Swanwick, 1886.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (7)
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 108-180 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 109-180 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 109 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 109 focus
ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 109 focus
Θεοὶ πολιάοχοι πολιοῦχοι seu πολισσοῦχοι πάντες ἴτε χθονός χθονός ἴθ' (uel ἴτ') ἴτε πάντες,
105
Str. 1.
ἴδετε παρθένων
ἱκέσιον λόχον δουλοσύνας ὕπερ·
κῦμα κῦμα γὰρ περὶ πτόλιν δοχμολόφων ἀνδρῶν
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 109 focus
Θεοὶ πολίοχοι χθονός, ἔτ᾽ ἔτε πάντες,
ἴδετε παρθένων
ἱκέσιον λόχον δουλοσύνας ὕπερ.
κῦμα γὰρ περὶ πτόλιν δοχμολόφων ἀνδρῶν
καχλάζει πνοαῖς Ἄρεος ὀρόμενον.
110
ἀλλ᾽ ὦ Ζεῦ πάτερ παντελές, πάντως
ἄρηξον δαΐων ἅλωσιν.
Ἀργέιοι δὲ πόλισμα Κάδμου
Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 109 focus
θεοὶ πολιάοχοι χθονὸς ἴθι πάντες ἴδετε παρθένων
110
ἱκέσιον λόχον δουλοσύνας ὕπερ.
κῦμα [γὰρ] περὶ πτόλιν δοχμολόφων ἀνδρῶν
καχλάζει πνοαῖς Ἄρεος ὀρόμενον.
115
ἀλλ᾽ ὦ Ζευ πάτερ παντελές,
πάντως ἄρηξον δαΐων ἅλωσιν.
Ἀργεῖοι γὰρ πόλισμα Κάδμου
κυκλοῦνται, φόβος δ᾽ ἀρείων ὅπλων,
120
διὰ δέ τοι γενύων ἱππίων
μινύρονται φόνον χαλινοί.
Translations (8)
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.)) — 109-180 focus
The Seven against Thebes. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven against Thebes.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 109 focus
Tutelary gods of our country, behold
, behold this train of virgins suppliant to escape from slavery
, for around our city a surge of men with waving crests is rippling, stirred by the blasts of Mars. But, O Jove, sire all-perfect! avert thoroughly from us capture by the foemen; for Argives are encircling the fortress of Cadmus; and I feel a dread of martial arms, and the bits which are fastened through the jaws of their horses are knelling slaughter. And seven leaders of the host, conspicuous in their spear-proof harness, are taking their stand at our seventh gate
, assigned their posts by lot.
LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 109 focus
faire, Arès ? Trahiras-tu ton antique domaine ? Dieu au casque d'or, jette un regard, un regard sur la ville à qui jadis tu donnas ton amour 1 .
The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 109 focus
And all ye pow'rs, whose guardian care m
Protects these walls, this favour'd land,
O hear these pious, suppliant strains;
Propitious aid us, aid a virgin band,
And save us from the victor's chains!
130
For all around with crested pride
High waves the helm's terrific tide,
Tost by the furious breath of war.
And thou, great Jove, almighty fire,
Confound with foul defeat these Argive pow'rs,
135
Whose arms insult our leaguer'd tow'rs,
And fright our souls with hostile fire.
The reins that curb their proud steeds 'round,
Rattle, and death is in the sound:
'Gainst our sev'n gates sev'n chiefs of high command,
140
In arms spearproof, take their appointed stand.
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.) — 109 focus
Dei della patria, qui tutti volgetevi,
135
e questa schiera mirate di vergini,
che del servaggio da voi schermo implorano.
Un flutto d'uomini, d'elmi che ondeggiano
di Marte ai soffî, precipita e mugghia.
Deh!, Giove signore, che l'esito
140
concedi, fa' tu che nei vincoli
non piombi d'infesto dominio!
Gli uomini argivi s'aggirano ai valli
di Tebe attorno. Dall'armi sanguinëe
spira terror: dalle fauci a' cavalli
145
i freni strage stridono.
E sette duci, nell'armi cospicui,
disposti come li elesse la sorte,
crollan le lancie di Tebe alle porte.
Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 109 focus
Patroni uidete omnes,
Videte uirginum supplicem cateruã pro seruitute,
Tumultus per urbem galeatorum
Virorum ftrepitat flatibus
Martis horrens concitatus.
115
Sed ô Iupiter pater, perfecte omnino
Arce hoſtium expugnationem.
nam Argiui
Cadmi urbem circundant.
Metus uerò martialium armorum,
120
Vinctaq; maxillis equinis
Incutiunt metum frena.
Septem fortes uiri ornati de exercitu
Fortibus ſcutis, feptem portis
Adfunt, forte aßecuti.
125
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.) — 109 focus
And ye, O protecting gods, in pity your people behold!
Yea, save us, the maidenly troop, from the doom and despair of the slave,
For the crests of the foemen come onward, their rush is the rush of a wave
Rolled on by the war-god's breath! almighty one, hear us and save
From the grasp of the Argives' might! to the ramparts of Cadmus they crowd,
115
And, clenched in the teeth of the steeds, the bits clink horror aloud!
And seven high chieftains of war, with spear and with panoply bold,
Are set, by the law of the lot, to storm the seven gates of our hold!
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.) — 109 focus
Schußgötter dieses Landes ihr,
Auf, auf, alle,
105
Blickt auf der Jungfrau'n schuhflehende Schaar, o wehrt
Die Knechtschaft von ihr!

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

785-801. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-854

Quae post versum 784. sequuntur, valde perturbata sunt. Ea in omnibus libris hoc ordine scripta leguntur,
Α. πόλις σέσωσται, βασιλέες δ᾽ ὁμόσποροι ἄνδρες τεθνᾶσιν ἐκ χερῶν αὐτοκτόνων. Χ. τίνες; τί δ᾽ εἶπας; παραφρονῶ φόβῳ λόγου. Α. φρονοῦσα νῦν ἄκουσον, Οἰδίπου γένος. Χ. οι γὼ τάλαινα, μάντις εἰμὶ τῶν κακῶν. Α. οὐδ᾽ ἀμφιλέκτως μὴν κατεσποδημένοι. Χ. ἐκεῖθι κἦλθον; βαρέα δ᾽ οὖν ὅμως φράσον. Α. οὕτως ἀδελφαῖς χερσὶν ἠναίροντ᾽ ἄγαν. Χ. οὕτως ὁ δαίμων κοινὸς ἦν ἀμφοῖν ἅμα. Α. αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἀναλοῖ δῆτα δύςποτμον γένος. τοιαῦτα χαίρειν καὶ δακρύεσθαι πάρα πόλιν μὲν εὖ πράσσουσαν, οἱ δ᾽ ἐπιστάται, δισσώ στρατηγώ, διέλαχον σφυρηλάτῳ Σκύθῃ σιδήρῳ κτημάτων παμπησίαν. ἕξουσι δ᾽ ἣν λάβωσιν ἐν ταφῇ χθονός, πατρὸς κατ᾽ εὐχὰς δυςπότμους φορούμενοι. πόλις σέσωσται· βασιλέοιν δ᾽ ὁμοσπόροιν πέπωκεν αἷμα γαῖ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων φόνῳ
. Difficile dictu fortasse videbitur, unde tanta oriri perturbatio potuerit. Factam tamen esse, neque ista hoc ordine scribi ab Aeschylo potuisse, manifestum est. Persequar singula. Primus horum versuum,
πόλις σέσωσται, βασιλέες δ' ὁμόσποροι
, qui infra paene iisdem litteris repetitur, hac ipsa repetitione suspicionem vitii movet. Magis etiam eo, quod nuntio contra morem tragicorum hic duo versus tribuuntur, quum chorus uno interrogaverit. Itaque Porsonus hunc versum uncis inclusit, ut nuntius hoc uno versu responderet,
ἄνδρες τεθνᾶσιν ἐκ χερῶν αὐτοκτόνων
. Sed rectius Porsonus illum versum non hic, sed infra eiecisset. Illo enim loco perabsurdum est, quae modo clare dicta erant, his verbis iterari,
πόλις σέσωσται· βασιλέοιν δ᾽ ὁμοσπόροιν πέπωκεν αἷμα γαῖ ὑπ' ἀλλήλων φόνῳ
. Quod credas non latuisse librarium, qui codicem Vit. scripsit, vel alium, quem hic secutus est: tribuit enim hos versus nuntio, quum ea, quae inde a verbis
τοιαῦτα χαίρειν
procedunt, choro adscripsisset, similiterque in Lipsiensi ad illum versum
τοιαῦτα χαίρειν
chori nomen adscriptum est, hic autem versus
πατρὸς κατ' εὐχάς
cum duobus sequentibus nuntio tributi sunt. Contra choro interroganti
τί δ' ἐστὶ πρᾶγος νεόκοτον πόλει παρόν;
quid potuit aptius responderi quam
πόλις σέσωσται
? Quid autem ineptius fuisset quam, ubi nuntius respondisset
ἄνδρες τεθνᾶσιν ἐκ χερῶν αὐτοκτόνων
, chorum subiicere
τίνες; τί δ᾽ εἶπας; παραφρονῶ φόβῳ λόγου
, et mox, quod prorsus absurdum esset,
μάντις εἰμὶ τῶν κακῶν
? Non magis reliqua sana sunt. Illa quidem,
φρονοῦσα νῦν ἄκουσον, Οἰδίπου γένος
, poeta tragicus non posuisset sic ut oratio explenda esset ex praegressis nuntii verbis, sed ut e sequentibus. Huic versui,
οἳ 'γὼ τάλαινα, μάντις εἰμὶ τῶν κακῶν
, non subiecisset illa, quae sunt confirmantis ante dicta, non rem novam afferentis,
οὐδ᾽ ἀμφιλέκτως μὴν κατεσποδημένοι
, sed apertis verbis dixisset mortui sunt. Nec posuisset ista,
ἐκεῖθε κἦλθον
, nisi proxime praegresso, quo referrentur. Nam si aliquam vim esse in his verbis volumus, sententia haec sit necesse est, eo igitur pervenerunt, ut mutua caede se interimerent? Quid porro hoc est, quod his verbis,
βαρέα δ' οὖν ὅμως φράσον
, respondet nuntius
οὕτως ἀδελφαῖς χερσὶν ἠναίροντ' ἄγαν
? Id vero non narrantis est et ad chori interrogationem respondentis, sed sortem fratrum conquerentis: quare, ut brevius dicam, non nuntii est, sed chori. Denique nihil frigidius fingi potuit, quam eodem modo a choro, si praecedens versus nuntii est, iterari
οὕτως ὁ δαίμων κοινὸς ἦν ἀμφοῖν ἅμα
. Haec igitur tam foede depravata ita mutare ausus sum, ut res ipsa, ut mos tragicorum, ut Aeschyli ingenium postulare videbantur. Iam enim metuenti choro, ne aliud urbi malum immineat, respondet nuntius, ut et hac sollicitudine liberet chorum, et, quid acciderit, narrare incipiat,
πόλις σέσωσται βασιλέοιν δ᾽ ὁμοσπόροιν
. Praesagiens mala chorus respondet
τίνων, τί δ᾽ εἶπας, παραφρονῶ φόβῳ λόγου
. Ad haec nuntius, nominatim, de quibus loquatur, indicaturus, adhuc suspensa oratione,
φρονοῦσα νῦν ἄκουσον, Οἰδίπου γένους
. Jam certius rem intelligit chorus:
οι 'γώ τάλαινα, μάντις εἰμὶ τῶν κακῶν
. Tum vero nuntius concludit orationem,
πέπωκεν αἷμα γαῖ᾽ ὑπ' ἀλλήλων φόνῳ
. Ibi chorus, facinoris atrocitate exhorrescens, apertius etiam sibi narrari rem postulat:
ἐκεῖθι κἦλθον; βαρέα δ᾽ οὖν ὅμως φράσον
. Respondet ergo non ambigue nuntius,
ἄνδρες τεθνᾶσιν ἐκ χερῶν αὐτοκτόνων
. Inde chorus, rem paene incredibilem secum reputans,
οὕτως ἀδελφαῖς χερσὶν ἠναίροντ᾽ ἄγαν
. Confirmat id nuntius:
οὐδ᾽ ἀμφιλέκτως μὴν κατεσποδημένοι
. Iterum chorus, eadem cogitatione occupatus,
οὕτως ὁ δαίμων κοινὸς ἦν ἀμφοῖν ἅμα
. Quae iterum denique confirmat nuntius. Non dubito, qui sensum habent tragicorum lectione bene subactum, re diligenter considerata facile ad meam sententiam perductum iri. Origo autem tantae perturbationis, si ad levem, sed eum satis certum errorem attenderis, patebit planissime. In antiquo illo libro, ex quo nostri codices ducti sunt, librarii negligentia omissus fuerat hic versus,
πέπωκεν αἷμα γαῖ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων φόνῳ
. Quem versum librarius una cum illo versu, ad quem haec verba referebantur,
πόλις σέσωσται· βασιλέοιν δ᾽ ὁμοσπόροιν
, adiecit in fine huius colloquii, signis quibusdam monens, ad quem ille locum pertineret. Signis illis, ut saepe factum est, neglectis, grammaticus aliquis emendationem aggressus, neque suspicatus duos illos versus alieno loco positos esse, quum omne colloquium chori cum nuntio videret esse perturbatissimum (et quam perturbatum videri debuerit, facile intelliget, qui totum hunc locum, uti nobis emendatus est, legere volet versu illo omisso), grammaticus igitur versus in alium ordinem redegit, simulque genitivos
βασιλέοιν δ᾽ ὁμοσπόροιν
et
τίνων
et
γένους
, qui non habebant quo referrentur, in nominativos mutavit.

800. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-869

ἐν ταφῇ Μ. G. Vit. Ald. Turn.
ἐν τάφῳ
Par. F.K. L. Ask. A. Rob.
ἐν σαφῇ
Lips. Omittit has voces Par.E. χθόνα Libri
χθονός
. Brunckius scribendum putabat
χθόνα
, usus argumento inani, quod χθονός non haberet unde regatur. Necessaria tamen illa emendatio est meritoque recepta a Blomfieldio, quia sensus non potest alius esse, quam tantum illos patriae terrae esse habituros, quantum sepulcro sufficiat: quae sententia iam supra prolata erat a choro v. 712.
χθόνα ναίειν διαπήλας, ὁπόσαν καὶ φθιμένοισιν κατέχειν, τῶν μεγάλων πεδίων ἀμοίρους
. Sophocles Oed. Col. v. 789.
ἔστιν δὲ παισὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖσι τῆς ἐμῆς χθονὸς λαχεῖν τοσοῦτον, ἐνθανεῖν μόνον
.
800

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

777-806. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-521

1
2
drittes Epeisodion: ein Bote meldet die Katastrophe, den Wechselmord der beiden Brü- der. Schol. ἄγγελος ὁ καὶ πρότερον ἀπαγγείλας περὶ τῆς τῶν Ἀργείων ἐφόδου, οὗτος καὶ νῦν ἀπαγγέλλει τὴν ἀδελφοκτονίαν. Daß es der gleiche sein soll, ergibt sich aus 782 f.

800. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-535

3
4
πόλιν εὖ πράσσουσαν bei χαίρειν wie Soph. Αi. 136 σὲ μὲν εὖ πράσσοντ᾽ ἐπιχαίρω, Eur. Hipp. 1339 τοὺς γὰρ εὐσεβεῖς θεοὶ θνῄ- σκοντας οὐ χαίρουσι, Rhes. 390 χαίρω δέ σ᾿ εὐτυχοῦντα, Hom. Ν 352 ἤχθετο γάρ ῥα Τρωσιν δαμναμένους. An die Stelle eines zweiten Parti- zips, welches sich auf δακρύεσθαι bezöge, tritt ein selbständiger Satz.