Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes 62

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

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CHORUS
STROPHE II.
For sad it were to Hades drear,
Enslaved, as booty of the spear,
To hurl a city of the olden time,
In crumbling ashes laid by Argive foe,
Through heaven's high will, in shameful overthrow
That women old and virgins in their prime
Like horses by their hair be dragged, ah me,
Their robes around them rent, to slavery.
Waileth the city emptied of its store,
While captives, to destruction led
Lamenting, swell the mingled roar.
This heavy doom forebodingly I dread.

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

310-311. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-439

περιρρηγνυμένων:
περιρηγνυμένων
M. a sec. manu et Cantabr. 1. Par. A. B. L. Rob.
περιρηγνυμένων
M. a pr. manu et Par. Ε. N. Colb. 1.
πέρι φηγνυμένων
Vit. Ox. Ven. A. Ald.
περιερηγμένων
Par. G. γρ.
περὶ ἐρηγμένων
Par. B.
περιερρηγμένων
Turn. et sic Lips. in quo hoc et sequens vocabulum a sec. manu in margine scriptum est.
περιρρηγνυμένων
, sed eraso ε ante ρ, G.

311. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-440

NA:
φαρέων
iambi mensuram habet.
311

312. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-441

βοᾷ δὲ καὶ κενουμένα πόλις:
βοᾷ δ' ἐκκενουμένα πόλις
M. Turn. et sic reliqui, ut videtur, plerique libri.
ἐκκενουμένῃ
Vit. Lips. Ald. Rob.
ἐκκενωμένα
Ox.
ἐκκεινουμένα
, ad ει supra scripto, G. Deest huic versui syllaba ad mensuram antistrophici, in quo δὲ cum Brunckio delere durum est. Paene nulla mutatione facta scripsi
βοᾷ δὲ καὶ κενουμένα πόλις
.
312

313. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-442

λαΐδος ὀλλυμένας: Ad
α
in
λαΐδος
a recentiore manu
η
supra adscriptum in M. et Cantabr. 2. In margine M. ab alia recentiore manu
λείας
adscriptum est.
λῄδος
Ox. Ven. A. Ald. Turn.
ὀλυμμένας
Par. G.
ὀλλυμένης
Mosc. 1.
κτεινομένης
Mosc. 2.
313

314. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-443

βαρείας τις τύχας προταρβῶν:
βαρείας τοι
M. Vit. Lips.
βαρείας τε
G.
βαρείας
omissa particula Ox. Par. C. E. N. Colb. 1. Ven. A. Ald. Rob. Turn. Deinde libri
προταρβώ
, nisi quod
προταρβῷ
habent Ald. Rob. Mirum quantum hic versus friget, sive chori haec, sive civitatis verba esse putes. Equidem non dubium esse puto quin poeta scripserit
βαρείας τις τύχας προταρβών
, ut illud τις explicatio sit eorum quae praecedunt, hoc modo, clamitat, dum diripitur, civitas, pereuntis flebilis turbae gravem metuentes sortem cives. Similiter, ut hic, male insereretur chori ipsius aliqua sententia in fine tertiae strophae et tertiae antistrophae.
314

315-317. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-444

κλαυτὸν δ᾽ ἀρτιτρόποις ὠμοδρόπων νομίμων προπάροιθεν διαμεῖψαι δωμάτων στυγερὰν ὁδόν:
κλαυστὸν δ’
Rob.
κλαυτόν τ'
Ox. Deinde libri
ἀρτιτρόποις
, sed in M. ad
τ
a secunda manu
δ
supra adscriptum est. Vtramque lectionem scholia memorant. In proximo versu
ὠμοτρόπων
habent Vit. Rob. γρ.
ὠμοτρόπων
Par. B. Ceteri
ὠμοδρόπων
. Prorsus corrupte, nisi typographi quoque errores accesserunt, Par. E.
αὐτοτρόποις ἀυμοδρόπων
. Haeserunt in hoc loco et veteres interpretes et recentiores. Verissimum est
ἀρτιδρόποις
, quo significantur puellae quibus modo ab hostibus erepta est virginitas. Simili verbo utitur Aeschylus in Suppl. v. 339.
κλάδοισι νεοδρόποις
. Nihil tritius quam florem de virginitate dici, ideoque etiam decerpere. Pindarus Pyth. IX. 109.

315-317. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-445

χρυσοστεφάνου δέ οἱ ἥβας καρπὸν ἀνθήσαντ' ἀποδρέψαι ἔθελον: [Quoted from Pindar.]

316. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-446

προπάροιθεν:
προπάροιθε
Cantabr. 1. 2. Ven. B.
316

318. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-447

τί τὸν φθίμενον γὰρ προλέγω:
τὶ τὸν
Ald. Rob.
φθήμενον
Lips.
γάρ τοι
pro
γὰρ
G. Ad
προ
in
προλέγω
in M. recentior manus
περισσόν
supra adscripsit. In M. Vit. post
τί
interpunctum est, ut in editionibus inde a Turn. fieri solet. Sed insolens est nudum τί; Ex codicis G. scriptura hoc effici potest,
τί γάρ ; φθίμενόν τοι προλέγω βέλτερα τῶνδε πράσσειν;
Et potest hoc verum videri. Eadem sententia est Blomfieldii. Suspiceris autem ita etiam scholiastam legisse, cuius haec est adnotatio, τί γὰρ δεῖ πολλὰ λέγειν; ὁ προτεθνηκώς εὐτυχῶς πράσσει πλέον τοῦ ζῶντος. Potest tamen reliquorum omnium librorum scriptura defendi, si haec omnia coniunguntur atque ita intelliguntur, quid enim opus est dicere, mortuum meliore conditione frui?
318

320. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-448

εὖτε πτόλις: Hunc versum et duos sequentes omittit Par. L.
εἶτε πτόλις
Arund. Rob. et sic Porsonus. Ceteri
εὖτε πόλις
. Brunckius posuerat
εὖτ᾽ ἂν πόλις
.
320

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.

310. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-216

3
4
Zu zerbröckeltem Staube ( σποδῷ dynam. Dativ) von Acher- volk (vgl. 71f.) bis auf die Stätten der Götter schmählich verbrannt". θεόθεν „,samt den Göttern" wie ῥιζόθεν „,samt der Wurzel" Vgl. 569 πόλιν πατρώαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς πορθεῖν. Heimsöth ver- mutet πεδόθεν.

313-314. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-217

5
6
τάς wird näher bestimmt durch νέας τε καὶ παλαιάς. — ἓ ἔ: Schol. διέκοψεν τὸν λόγον τῷ θρήνῳ. νέας ist einsilbig zu lesen wie häufig νεάνις, νεανίας, νεανικός zwei- bez. dreisilbig (Eum. 957, Eur. Phoen. 147, Aristoph. Wesp. 1067,

315-316. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-218

7
8
ἱππηδόν nicht ὑπὸ ἱππέων σύρεσθαι τῶν πλοκάμων (Schol.), sondern δίκην ἵππων (ein anderer Schol.):,, an den Haaren wie Pferde manchmal an den Mähnen fortge- zerrt werden". Vgl. Hik. 437 άyo- μέναν ἱππηδὸν ἀμπύκων πολυμίτων τ' ἐπιλαβὰς ἐμῶν, Verg. Αen. II 403 trahebatur passis Priameia virgo crinibus a templo Cassandra ady- tisque Minervae. φαρέων steht als Iambus.

317-318. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-219

9
10
Die Stadt, welche ent- völkert wird, ertönt von dem wirren Geschrei der gefangenen Frauen, welche geschändet werden". ληΐς bedeutet das gleiche wie ληϊάδες γυναῖκες Hom. Υ 193 ληϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας, ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας, ἦγον. ὀλλυμένας: Schol. πορθου- μένας, vgl. Eur. Phoen. 564 ὄψει δὲ πολλὰς αἰχμαλωτίδας κόρας βία πρὸς ἀνδρῶν πολεμίων πορθου- μένας.

319. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-220

11
12
προταρβῶ wie προφοβοῦμαι ( πολέμους) Hik. 1005, θάνατον προ- ταρβοῦσα Eur. frg. 360, 25, „ich sehe mit Entsetzen vorher".

320. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-221

13
14
,,Beweinenswert ist es für sie gleichgepflückt vor der Zeit un- reif gepflückter Herblinge Naß ein- zutauschen, d. h. als unreif gepflückte Herblinge gekeltert zu werden“. Diese Allegorie, durch welche das vorausgehende ὀλλυμένας ausge- führt wird, ist durch den Gebrauch von οπώρα nahegelegt: Hik. 1009 τέρειν' οπώρα δ' εὐφύλακτος οὐδα μῶς, Chaerem. fr. 12 S. 785 Ν. πολ- λὴν ὀπώραν Κύπριδος εἰσορᾶν πα- ρῆν ἄκραισι περκάζουσαν οἰνάνθαις χρόνου. Auf unsere Stelle bezieht sich augenscheinlich die Notiz von Eustath. opusc. S. 355, 28 ed. Taf. ἐν μετοπώρῳ γὰρ οὐ μόνον καινόν, ἐάν, ὡς ἡ παροιμία, ἄνθος ἀναφυῇ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐάν κατ' Αἰσχύλον ἀρτί- δροπος οπώρα νεάζουσα τρυγηθῇ. Daraus ist der Text ὀμφάκων τρυ γερὰν δρόσον gewonnen statt des handschriftlichen δωμάτων στυγε ρὰν ὁδόν. Mit ἀρτίδροπος vgl. Hik. 358 κλάδοισι νεοδρόποις, mit δρό- σου Pind. Οl. VII 2 ἀμπέλου δρόσω.