Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes 60

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

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CHORUS
STROPHE I.
I heed, but terror leaves my heart no rest,
And in my bosom anxious care,
Sad neighbour, doth enkindle there
Dread of the wall-surrounding multitude;
Like trembling dove am I, that for her brood
Doth serpents fear, fell inmates of her nest;
For some against our towers,
A warlike throng, in numbers strong,
Advance;—ah what will me betide?
Others, 'gainst citizens on every side
Sore pelted, hurl the rugged stone;
Put forth, O kindred gods, your utmost powers, *
Save host and State as Sire who Cadmos own.

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.) — 78 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 78 focus
ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 78 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 78 focus
Θρέομαι φοβερὰ μεγάλ᾽ ἄχη.
μεθεῖται στρατὸς στρατόπεδον λιπών.
ῥεῖ πολὺς ὅδε λεὼς πρόδρομος ἱππότας.
80
Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 78 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.)) — 109-180 focus
The Seven against Thebes. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven against Thebes.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 78 focus
I wail over our fearful, mighty woes! the army is let loose, having quitted its camp, a mighty mounted host is streaming hitherward in advance
the dust appearing high in the air convinces me, a voiceless, clear, true messenger; the noise of the clatter of their hoofs upon the plain
, reaching even to our couches, approaches my ears, is wafted on, and is rumbling like a resistless torrent lashing the mountain-side. Alas! alas! Oh gods and goddesses, avert the rising horror; the white-bucklered
well-appointed host is rushing on with a shout on the other side our walls, speeding its way to the city. Who then will rescue us, who then of gods and goddesses will aid us? Shall I then prostrate myself before the statues of the divinities? Oh ye blessed beings, seated on your glorious thrones, 'tis high time for us to cling to your statues—why do we deeply sighing delay? Hear ye, or hear ye not, the clash of bucklers? When, if not now, shall we set about the orison of the peplus
and chaplets? I perceive a din, a crash of no single spear. What wilt thou do? wilt thou, O Mars, ancient guardian of our soil, abandon thine own land? God of the golden helm, look upon, look upon the city which once thou didst hold well-beloved.
LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 78 focus
parle dans votre intérêt autant que dans le mien, je crois : une ville prospère, seule, honore ses dieux.
The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 78 focus
Woe, woe, intolerable woe!
Fierce from their camps the hosts advance,
Before their march with thund'ring tread
90
Proud o'er the plain their firey courſers prance,
And hither bend their footsteps dread:
Yon' cloud of dust that choaks the air,
A true tho' tongueleſs messenger,
Marks plain the progress of the foe.
95
And now the horrid clash of arms,
That, like the torrent, whose impetuous tide
Roars down the mountain's craggy side,
Shook the wide fields with fierce alarms,
With nearer terrors strikes our souls,
100
And thro' our chaste recesses rolls:
Hear, all ye pow'rs of Heav'n, propitious hear,
And check the furies of this threat'ning war!
The crouded walls around
Loud clamours rend the sky;
105
Whilſt rang'd in deep array th' embattled pow'rs
Their silver shields i
lift high,
And, level with the ground
To lay their rampir'd heads, assail our tow'rs.
What guardian God shall I implore?
110
Bending at what sacred shrine
Call from their happy seats what pow'rs divine,
And suppliant ev'ry sculptur'd form adore?
The time demands it: why then, why delay?-
The sound of arms swells on my' affrighted ear.-
115
Hold now the pall, the garland k
, as you pray.-
Hark! 'tis the rude clash of no single spear.
Stern God of war,
Dost thou prepare
Thy sacred city to betray?
120
Look down, look down l
;
O save thine own;
Nor leave us to the foe a prey:
If e'er thy soul had pleasure in the brave,
God of the golden helm, hear us, and save!
125
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.) — 78 focus
Piango alti lagni d'orrore di doglia.
Già già dal campo si sfrena l'esercito :
105
rotola avanti l'esercito fitto
dei cavalieri: l'eterea polvere
si leva a dirmelo, muto palese
veridico araldo.
Orrido grido, fra rombe di zoccoli,
110
dalla pianura mi sgomina e preme,
come torrente che scrosci dal monte.
Contro la rocca si lancia, già leva,
chiuso nell'armi, l'esercito avverso,
gli scudi bianchi, con orride grida.
115
Chi mai dei Numi, chi mai delle Dive
soccorso darà ?
A quali altari di Dèmoni innanzi
debbo io cadere ? Beati Signori,
è questo il punto che stretta io mi tenga
120
ai vostri simulacri.
Nei troppi lagni che indugiasi? Udite
o non udite fragore di scudi?
Quando offrirò, se non ora,
pepli corone e preghiere ?
125
Odi lo strepito? Tale frastuono
sola una lancia non leva.
Che fai?
Marte Signore, l'antica tua terra
cosí tradirai?
130
Deh! queste mura, a te un giomo sí care,
Nume elmo d'oro, proteggi proteggi!
Tutte le fanciulle si aggruppano intorno all'ara.
Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 78 focus
Lugeo terribilia & magna mala.
Dimittitur exercitus caſtra relinquens,
Decurrit huc multus populus precurrens equites,
Aetherius puluis me persuadet uiſus,
85
Mutus maniſeſtus, promptus nuncius,
Excitator conculcatusq; campo
Appropinquat, clamor uolat, fremit
Instar aquæ murmurantis inexpugnabilis.
Heuheu, heu dij
90
Et deæ, præsens malum arcete.
Clamat pro mænibus
Scutum habens album, furgit populus
Structus in urbem irruens.
Quis defendet? quis auxiliabitur
95
Deorum aut dearum?
Vtrum ego accidam statuis
Deorum heu defensores dij,
Tempus est habendi ſtatuas:
quid cunctamur
100
Luctuoſi? auditis, aut non auditis clypeorum
Strepitum ? peplos
& coronas
Circa preces habebimus?
Strepitum audiui, & strepitumq; non unius haſte.
105
Quid facies? deferes ô Mars terrisenex
Tuam terram?
duream qui habes galeam demon,
Reſpice reſpice urbem,
Quam tandem charam poſuisti . dij
110
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.) — 78 focus
I wail in the stress of my terror, and shrill is my cry of despair.
The foemen roll forth from their camp as a billow, and onward they bear!
Their horsemen are swift in the forefront, the dust rises up to the sky,
95
A signal, though speechless, of doom, a herald more clear than a cry!
Hoof-trampled, the land of my love bears onward the din to mine ears.
As a torrent descending a mountain, it thunders and echoes and nears!
The doom is unloosened and cometh! O kings and O queens of high Heaven,
Prevail that it fall not upon us! the sign for their onset is given—
100
They stream to the walls from without, white-shielded and keen for the fray.
They storm to the citadel gates—what god or what goddess can stay
The rush of their feet? to what shrine shall I bow me in terror and pray?
O gods high-thronèd in bliss, we must crouch at the shrines in your home!
Not here must we tarry and wail: shield clashes on shield as they come—
105
And now, even now is the hour for the robes and the chaplets of prayer!
Mine eyes feel the flash of the sword, the clang is instinct with the spear!
Is thy hand set against us, O Ares, in ruin and wrath to o'erwhelm
Thine own immemorial land, O god of the golden helm?
Look down upon us, we beseech thee, on the land that thou lovest of old,
110
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.) — 78 focus
Ich klag' um graunvolles Leid! 1
Heran stürmt das Heer, dort aus den Zelten brach's,
Vorauf zahllos hier wälzt sich ein Reiterstrom:
80
Der Staub, himmelan wölkend, bezeugt es uns,
Ein sprachloser, untrüglicher Bote, laut!

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

280. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-403

δ':
Ti d'
Rob. et sic ante emendationem primae vel secundae manus M.
280

280. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-404

ἀμφιβόλοισιν:
ἀμφιβόλοισι
Vit. Lips.
280

281. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-405

ἰάπτουσι:
Ράπτουσιν
Ox. Ald. Rob.
281

281. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-406

πολίταις:
πολίτας
G.
281

282. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-407

ὀκριόεσσαν:
ὀκριόεσσαν
G. Cantabr. 1. Mosè. 1. Ox. Par. A. B. C. Taur. Vind. 1. 3. et a recentiore manu M.
ὀκρυόεσσαν
M. a pr. manu et Vit. Ven. B. Ald. Rob. Turn.
οκρηρόεσσαν
Lips.
282

283. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-408

Διογενεῖς: In
dioyevεis
ultimas tres litteras M. a recentiore manu in rasura habet.
dioyevès
Par. E. et ante emendationem Vit. Post hoc vocabulum
&
addunt Ven. A. Ald. Rob. Turn. In G. supra scriptum est ita ut ad textum pertineat, in Vit. tamquam interpretatio. Omittunt
&
M. Lips. Arund. Cantabr. 1. 2. Mosc. 2. Ox. Par. A. B. K. L. N. Ask. A. Ven. B.
283

286. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-409

ἀμείψεσθε:
ἀμείβεσθε
potius quam
ἀμείψεσθε
habere videtur M.
ἀμεί-yaode
Par. E. Vind. 2.4.
286

286. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-410

γαίας:
yoins
Cantabr. 1.
286

287. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-411

ἐξαφέντες: Libri
τᾶσδ᾽ ἄρειον ἐχθροῖς ἀφέντες
. Vt hic versus strophico responderet, scripsi
τᾶςδ᾽ ἄρειον, ἐξαφέντες ἐχθροῖς
. Ab interprete enim profectum esse videtur
aqértes
, ut in scholiis Sophoclis ad Trach. v. 72.
ἐξαφεῖται, ἀφείθη
.
287

288. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-412

βαθύχθον᾽:
Badiyora
G. Mosc. 1. Par. C. Vind. 1. 3.
288

288. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-413

αἶαν:
alav
omittunt Vind. 1.3.
288

289. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-414

εὐτραφέστατον:
EvτoaqéσTatov
G. Cantabr. 1. Mosc. 1. 2. Par. A. B. C. K. L.
εὐτραφεστάτων
Ven. Β.
εὐτρεφέστατον
Μ. Vit. Lips. Ven. A. Ald. Rob. Turn.
289

290. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-415

πωμάτων:
пшμάτшv
M. Cantabr. 1. Par. L. et ut videtur Ven. A. Ceteri
πομάτων
.
290

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

274-355. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-197

1
2
erstes Stasimon: Die Jungfrauen bringen es nicht über sich, der Mahnung des Eteo- kles zu gehorchen. In ihrer Angst führen sie sich den allgemeinen Sturmangriff auf die Stadt vor Augen und rufen die Götter um Hilfe an. Welches schönere Land könnt ihr für unser Land ein- tauschen? Bringt deshalb Verderben über die Feinde, verleiht Sieg den Bürgern. Beklagenswert wäre es, wenn eine so uralte Stadt von Hellenen geknechtet würde und die Greuel der Plünderung erdulden müßte". Diese Greuel werden mit den lebhaftesten Farben geschildert nach Hom. I 592 κατέλεξεν ἅπαντα κήδε' ὅσ' ἀνθρώποισι πέλει τῶν ἄστυ ἁλώῃ· ἄνδρας μὲν κτείνουσι, πόλιν δέ τε πῦρ ἀμαθύνει, τέκνα δέ τ' ἄλλοι ἄγουσι βαθυζώνους τε γυναῖκας, Χ 61 κακὰ πόλλ' ἐπιδόντα, υἷάς τ' ὀλλυμένους ἑλκηθείσας τε θύγατρας καὶ θαλάμους κεραϊζο- μένους καὶ νήπια τέκνα βαλλόμενα προτὶ γαίῃ. - Den Gesang trägt wohl der Gesamtchor vor.

282. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-200

3
4
τοὶ μὲν (285 τοὶ δὲ) wie Pers. 571 τοὶ δὲ episch. Gemeint sind die Schwerbewaffneten der Feinde.

284. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-201

5
6
τί γένωμαι; was soll aus mir werden“. Vgl. Hom. ε 465 ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω; τί νύ μοι μή- κιστα γένηται;

285. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-202

7
8
τοὶ δέ, die Schleuderer, welche aus der Ferne Steine auf die Verteidiger der Stadtmauer werfen ( ἀκροβόλοι, ἀκροβολισταί). ἀμφιβόλοισιν: Schol. πάντοθεν βαλλομένοις.

287. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-203

9
10
χερμάς (Kieselstein): vgl. Eur. Bakch.1096 αὐτοῦ χερμάδας κρα- ταιβόλους ἔρριπτον. — ὀκριόεσσαν wie χερμαδίῳ ὀκριόεντι Hom. 4 518.