Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes 21

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

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CHORUS
STROPHE II.
The din of chariot wheels, alas, ah me,
Around our walls I hear;
O Hera, mighty queen!
From axles overburden'd creak the naves.
O Artemis most dear!
Madden'd by hurtling spears vext ether raves.
What ails the city? What its doom will be?
God guides the issue to what goal unseen?

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.) — 1-107 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 1-107 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 39 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 39 focus
ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 39 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 39 focus
Ἐτεόκλεες, φέριστε Καδμείων ἄναξ,
ἥκω σαφῆ τἀκεῖθεν ἐκ στρατοῦ φέρων,
40
αὐτὸς κατόπτης δ᾽ εἴμ᾽ ἐγὼ τῶν πραγμάτων.
ἄνδρες γὰρ ἑπτά, θούριοι λοχαγέται,
ταυροσφαγοῦντες ἐς μελάνδετον σάκος
καὶ θιγγάνοντες χερσὶ ταυρείου φόνου,
Ἄρη τ᾽ Ἐνυὼ καὶ φιλαίματον Φόβον
45
ὡρκωμότησαν ἢ πόλει κατασκαφὰς
θέντες λαπάξειν ἄστυ Καδμείων βίᾳ,
ἢ γῆν θανόντες τήνδε φυράσειν φόνῳ·
Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 39 focus
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.)) — 1-105 focus
The Seven against Thebes. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven against Thebes.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 39 focus
Most gallant Eteocles! sovereign of the Cadmaeans, I have come bearing a clear account of the matters yonder, from the army; and I myself am eye-witness of the facts. For seven chieftains, impetuous leaders of battalions, cutting a bull's throat
over an iron-rimmed shield
, and touching with their hands the gore of the bull, by oath have called to witness
Mars, Enyo, and Terror, that delights in bloodshed, that either having wrought the demolition of our city they will make havoc of the town of the Cadmaeans, or having fallen will steep this land of ours in gore. Memorials too of themselves, to their parents at home, were they with their hands hanging in festoons
at the car of Adrastus, dropping a tear, but no sound of complaint passed their lips
. For their iron-hearted spirit glowing with valour was panting, as of lions that glare battle. And the report of these my tidings is not retarded by sluggishness. But I left them in the very act of casting lots, that so each of them, obtaining his post by lot, might lead on his battalion to our gates.—Wherefore do thou with all speed marshal at the outlets of the gates the bravest men, the chosen of our city; for already the host of Argives hard at hand armed cap-à-pié is in motion, is speeding onward, and white foam is staining the plain with its drippings from the lungs of their chargers. Do thou then, like the clever helmsman of a vessel, fence
our city before the breath of Mars burst like a hurricane upon it, for the mainland billow of their host is roaring.—And for these measures do thou seize the very earliest opportunity; for the sequel I will keep my eye a faithful watch by day, and thou, knowing from the clearness of my detail the movements of those without, shalt be unscathed.
Exit Messenger.
LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 39 focus
.
The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 39 focus
Illustrious king of Thebes, I bring thee tidings
45
Of firm assurance from the foe; these eyes
Beheld each circumstance.
Seven valiant chiefs
Slew on the blackorb'd shield the victim bull e
,
And dipping in the gore their furious hands,
50
In solemn oath attest the God of war,
Bellona, and the carnage-loving pow'r
Of terror f
sworn from their firm base to rend
These walls, and lay their ramparts in the dust;
Or, dying, with their warm blood steep this earth.
55
Each in Adrastus' car some dear remembrance g
Piled to their distant parents, whilst their eyes
Drop'd tears, but on their face was no remorse.
Each soul of iron glowing with the rage
Of valour, as the lion when he glares
60
Determined battle.
What I now relate
Sleeps not, nor lingers: round the urn I left them,
By lot deciding to what gate each chief
Shall lead his forces.
65
These against select
The best, the bravest of the sons of Thebes,
And instant at the gates assign their stations.
For all in arms the Argive host comes on
Involv'd in dust, and from the snorting steeds
70
The thick foam falls, and dews the whiten'd fields.
Be thine the provident pilot's gen'rous care,
Guard well the town, e'er yet the storm assails it;
E'en now the waves of war roar o'er the plain h
:
Seize then this fair occasion, instant seize it.
75
My faithful eye this day shall hold the watch,
That well inform'd, no danger may surprize thee.
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.) — 39 focus
O dei Cadmei signore ottimo, Eteocle,
dal campo io giungo, e a te reco sicure
55
notizie di laggiú: ché vidi io stesso.
Sette guerrieri, impetuosi duci,
sgozzato un toro dentro un negro ferreo
scudo, e le man tuffando entro quel sangue,
per la Strage, per Marte, pel sanguineo
60
Terror, la rocca dei Cadmei giurarono
che diroccata avrebbero, spogliata
la città con la forza; o che, trafitti,
questa terra di sangue intriderebbero.
E ciascuno appendea, versando lagrime,
65
d'Adrasto al cocchio, per i suoi parenti,
per la magione sua, pegni d'affetto.
Né lagno uscia dai labbri.
Pensier' ferrei
spiravan l'alme, di valore ardevano,
70
come leoni che negli occhi han guerra.
Né tempo andrà che avrai di ciò contezza:
io li lasciai che gittavan le sorti,
a quale porta la sua schiera ognuno
dovesse addurre.
75
E tu, subito eleggi
i migliori di Tebe, e delle porte
ponili ai varchi: ché le schiere Argive,
chiuse ne l'armi, avanzan già, di polvere
si sollevano nembi; e di sue gocciole
80
candida spuma la pianura spruzza
dal pulmon dei cavalli.
Or, come saggio
nocchiero, tu provvedi ad ogni falla,
pria che di Marte la procella infurî :
85
ché mugghia il flutto del terrestre esercito.
Quanto puoi prima, a ciò ripara.
Ed io
con dïurna pupilla a te del resto
sarò fida vedetta. E tu, sapendo
90
ciò ch'oprano i nemici, illeso andrai.
Il messaggero esce.
Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 39 focus
Eteocles, optime Thebanorum rex,
Venio inde ab exercitu manifeſta ferens:
Ipſe sum negotiorum explorator.
45
Viri enim ſeptem bellicoſi præfecti
Bouiuore in nigro ſeuto,
Tangentesq; manibus taurinum cruorem,
Martem, Bellonamq;, & ſanguini amicam cædem
Iurarunt, aut ciuitati disruptiones
50
Ponentes perdere Thebanorum urbem ui,
Aut opperentes terram hanc macerare ſanguine:
Monumentaq; mittebant domum parentibus ſuis.
Præterea currũ Adrasti manib.coronabant, lachry
Fundẽte nulla misericordia uerò erat in ore.
55
Ferreus enim animus uirilitate accenſus,
Spirabat tanquam leonum martem intuentium.
Rumor horum pigritia non cunctabitur,
Sortientes eos reliqui, forteq; affecutus
Vnusquifq; ipforum ad portas agmen duceret.
60
Itaq; optimos quoſq; electos uivos urbis
Portarum in exitibus conſtitue celeriter.
Prope enim Argiuorum armatus exercitus
Accedit, ſestinat: campos uerò alba ſpuma
Inquinat guttis equitum ſpirantium.
65
Tu uerò tanquam nauts bonus gubernator,
Muni urbem, priusquam irruat rabies
Martis. boat enim tumultus terrestris exercitus.
Hanc uerò occaſionem tanquam celerrimus accipe.
Ipſe poftea fidelem ſpeculatorem
70
Oculum habebo: conſentanea rationi
Sciens, extra portam eris incolumis.
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.) — 39 focus
Eteocles, high king of Cadmus' folk,
I stand here with news certified and sure
50
From Argos' camp, things by myself descried.
Seven warriors yonder, doughty chiefs of might,
Into the crimsoned concave of a shield
Have shed a bull's blood, and, with hands immersed
Into the gore of sacrifice, have sworn
55
By Ares, lord of fight, and by thy name,
Blood-lapping Terror, Let our oath be heard—
Either to raze the walls, make void the hold
Of Cadmus—strive his children as they may—
Or, dying here, to make the foemen's land
60
With blood impasted. Then, as memory's gift
Unto their parents at the far-off home,
Chaplets they hung upon Adrastus' car,
With eyes tear-dropping, but no word of moan.
For their steeled spirit glowed with high resolve,
65
As lions pant, with battle in their eyes.
For them, no weak alarm delays the clear
Issues of death or life! I parted thence
Even as they cast the lots, how each should lead,
Against which gate, his serried company.
70
Rank then thy bravest, with what speed thou may'st,
Hard by the gates, to dash on them, for now,
Full-armed, the onward ranks of Argos come!
The dust whirls up, and from their panting steeds
White foamy flakes like snow bedew the plain.
75
Thou therefore, chieftain! like a steersman skilled,
Enshield the city's bulwarks, ere the blast
Of war comes darting on them! hark, the roar
Of the great landstorm with its waves of men!
Take Fortune by the forelock! for the rest,
80
By yonder dawn-light will I scan the field
Clear and aright, and surety of my word
Shall keep thee scatheless of the coming storm.
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.) — 39 focus
Eteokles, edler Herrscher im Kadmeiervolk,
Wahrhafte Botschaft bring' ich aus dem Heere dir;
40
Ein Augenzeuge, sah ich selbst, was dort geschah,
Wie sieben Heeresfürsten, kampfgewaltige,
Stieropfer weihten über schwarzumwundnem Schild,
Und dann die Hände tauchend in der Stiere Blut,
Bei Ares und Enyo, bei'm mordtrunknen Gott
45
Des Schreckens schwuren, Kadmos' Felsenburg in Staub
Zu stürzen, auszutilgen durch Gewalt die Stadt,
Wo nicht, im Tod zu tränken dieses Land mit Blut.
Und Angedenken hingen ste, als Todesmal
Daheim den Aeltern, an Adrastos' Wagen auf,
50
Stillweinend; keine Klage scholl aus ihrem Mund.
Denn eisenherzig glüht' in Mannesmuth die Brust,
Wildschnaubend, gleich den Löwen, die Mord sprüh'n im Blick.
Und ihre Drohung zögert nicht, wird schnelle That.
Denn als ich fortging, loosten sie, auf welches Thor
55
Ein jeder stürme, durch des Zufalls Wurf bestimmt.
So stelle du den besten Männerkern der Stadt
An alle Thorausgänge hin und säume nicht;
Denn nahe schon, in voller Rüstung, stürmt heran,
Staubwirbelnd, Argos' Kriegesheer; der Rosse Schaum,
60
Weiß aus den Nüstern tropfend, neht das Feld umher.
Du schirme, gleich des Schiffes klugem Steuermann,
Die Stadt, bevor hernieder zuckt des Krieges Sturm;
Denn mächtig brüllt der Heere Landeswoge schon.
Erhasche jetzt den rechten Augenblick im Flug!
65
Mein Auge wird als treuer Tageswächter dir
Auch fürder dienen; und genau belehrt von dem,
Was draußen vorgeht, bleibst du frei von Ungemach.
(geht ab.).

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

140. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-216

δοριτίνακτος δ' αἰθὴρ: Libri
dogvtíraztos d' aidyo
, praeter Med. in quo
dogiri-vaxtos
(non omissa particula) scriptum est (recte, ut videtur, quamquam dubitat de hac re Lobeckius ad Ai. v. 211.) et Colb. 2. in quo
d'
omissum est. Deleverunt etiam Porsonus et Blomfieldius. Fallitur tamen Wellauerus prorsus otiosam putans particulam. Immo necessaria est, quia
ἐπιμαίνεται
refertur ad praegressum alius virginis dictum,
ἔλακον ἀξό-vwv Boldoμérov zróa
. Adstrepit vero, inquit, isti curruum stridori tremefactus hastis aether. Quare post
alǹo
posui particulam.
140

140. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-217

ἐπιμαίνεται:
ἐπιμένεται
Mosc. 1.
ἐπισημαίνεται
adscriptum in Par. B.
140

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

78-164. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-59

1
2
Parodos, welche die Schrecken einer belagerten und dem Sturm entgegensehenden Stadt mit solcher Kraft und sinnlicher Lebendigkeit des Ausdrucks vor die Augen führt, daß wir das kriegerische Treiben vor den Mauern ebenso vor uns sehen, wie im Agamemnon die Kassandraszene uns zu Zuschauern der Vorgänge im Hause macht. Zu der Kraft des Ausdrucks kam bei der Auf- führung noch die Veranschaulichung durch die σχήματα ὀρχήσεως, wie bei Athen. I S. 22 A berichtet wird, ὅτι Τελέστης ὁ Αἰσχύλου ὀρχηστής οὕτως ἦν τεχνίτης ὥστε ἐν τῷ ὀρχεῖσθαι τοὺς Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας φανερὰ ποιῆσαι τὰ πράγματα δι ὀρχήσεως. Von diesem Telestes heist es dort weiter: πολλὰ ἐξεύρηκε σχήματα, ἄκρως ταῖς χερσὶ τὰ λεγόμενα δεικνύς. Auf diese χειρο- νομία weist z. Β. ὅδε 80 hin. Das Ganze zerfällt in 4 Teile: im ersten (78-106) kommen die zwölf Choreuten einzeln zum Vortrag, wie sie der Reihe nach entweder einzeln oder, was wahrscheinlicher ist, in drei Gruppen zu je 4 Personen auf- treten ( σποράδην wie Eum. 244 1.). Der Chor besteht ja aus Jungfrauen, Bürgerstöchtern, welche in ihrer Angst zu den Altären der Götter flüchten, also vorher noch nicht versammelt sind. Im zweiten Teile (107—134) singen, wie die drei gleichen Verse 112, 116, 119 = 126, 130, 133 erkennen lassen, die drei στοίχοι nacheinander die Strophe und ebenso die Antistrophe. Den dritten Teil (135–151) tragen die beiden Halbchöre vor, nur in die Weherufe brechen alle zusammen aus. Den letzten Teil (152-165), ein Gebet, spricht der Gesamtchor. Die Wahl von Jungfrauen er- klärt der Schol. gut: εὐπτόητον ἡ τῶν παρθένων ἡλικία, μάλιστα δὲ πρὸς πολιορκίαν.

135-151. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-104

3
4
dritter Teil: Die Angst der Jungfrauen steigert sich, da sie das Rasseln der Streitwagen, das Schwingen der Lanzen, den Steinhagel gegen die Zinnen der Mauern vernehmen, und ihr Flehen zu den Göttern wird immer ein- dringlicher.

139-140. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-106

5
6
Die Umstellung von ἓ ἓ ἓ ἔ und die Ergänzung dieser Inter- jektion nach 146 stellt volle Sym- metrie her.