Seven Against Thebes. N. Wecklein. . .
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Current edition Experimental
Commentary (N. Wecklein, 1902; German; OCR draft) (German) (Seven Against Thebes, explanatory commentary pp. 15–100. Single-witness OCR; source readings and all reference placements require scan review.)
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
Χορος
ἴδετε παρθένων
110
ἱκέσιον λόχον δουλοσύνας ὕπερ.
κῦμα [γὰρ
3
] περὶ πτόλιν δοχμολόφων ἀνδρῶν
καχλάζει πνοαῖς Ἄρεος ὀρόμενον.
115
ἀλλ᾽, ὦ Ζεῦ πάτερ † παντελές, πάντως
4
ἄρηξον δαΐων ἅλωσιν.
Ἀργέιοι δὲ
5
πόλισμα Κάδμου
120
κυκλοῦνται: φόβος δ᾽ ἀρίων
6
ὅπλων.
κινύρονται
11
φόνον χαλινοί.
ἑπτὰ δ᾽ ἀγάνορες
12
πρέποντες στρατοῦ
προσίστανται πάλῳ λαχόντες.
128
Χορος
σύ τ᾽, ὦ Διογενὲς φιλόμαχον κράτος,
ῥυσίπολις γενοῦ,
Παλλάς, ὅ θ᾽ ἵππιος ποντομέδων ἄναξ
130
ἰχθυβόλῳ Ποσειδάων μαχανᾷ,
15
ἐπίλυσιν πόνων, ἐπίλυσιν δίδου.
σύ τ᾽, Ἄρης, φεῦ, φεῦ, † ἐπώνυμον Κάδμου πόλιν
16
135
φύλαξον κήδεσαί τ᾽ ἐναργῶς.
καὶ Κύπρις, ἅτ᾽ εἶ γένους προμάτωρ,
140
ἄλευσον: σέθεν γὰρ
17
ἐξ αἵματος
γεγόναμεν: λιταῖσί
18
σε θεοκλύτοις
ἀυτοῦσαι
19
πελαζόμεσθα.
καὶ σύ, Λύκει᾽ ἄναξ, Λύκειος γενοῦ
145
στρατῷ δαΐῳ στόνων αὖ τίτας.
20
†σύ τ᾽, ὦ Λατογένει-
150
Χορος
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
ὄτοβον ἁρμάτων ἀμφὶ πόλιν κλύω:
ὦ πότνι᾽ Ἥρα.
ἔλακον ἀξόνων βριθομένων χνόαι.
Ἄρτεμι φίλα, [ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ],
δοριτίνακτος αἰθὴρ δ᾽
23
ἐπιμαίνεται.
155
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει, τί γενήσεται;
ποῖ δ᾽ ἔτι τέλος ἐπάγει θεός;
157
Χορος
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
ἀκροβόλων δ᾽ ἐπάλξεων λιθὰς ἔρχεται:
ὦ φίλ᾽ Ἄπολλον:
κόναβος ἐν πύλαις χαλκοδέτων σακέων,
160
παῖ Διός, ὅθεν
24
πολεμόκραντον ἁγνὸν τέλος ἐν μάχᾳ.
σύ τε,
25
μάκαιρ᾽ ἄνασσ᾽ Ὄγκα, πρὸ πόλεως
ἑπτάπυλον ἕδος ἐπιρρύου.
165
166
ἀκροβόλων δ᾽ ἐπάλξεων λιθὰς ἔρχεται:
Χορος
ἰὼ παναρκεῖς
26
θεοί,
ἰὼ τέλειοι τέλειαί τε γᾶς
τᾶσδε
27
πυργοφύλακες,
πόλιν δορίπονον μὴ προδῶθ᾽
ἑτεροφώνῳ στρατῷ.
170
κλύετε παρθένων κλύετε πανδίκως
28
χειροτόνους λιτάς.
174
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
Χορός
θεοὶ πολιάοχοι πάντες ἴτε χθονὸς·
ἴδετε παρθένων
110
ἱκέσιον λόχον δουλοσύνας ὕπερ.
κῦμα
γὰρ περὶ πτόλιν δοχμολόφων ἀνδρῶν
καχλάζει πνοαῖς Ἄρεος ὀρόμενον.
115
ἀλλʼ, ὦ Ζεῦ
πάτερ παντελές,
πάντως ἄρηξον δαΐων ἅλωσιν.
Ἀργέιοι δὲ πόλισμα Κάδμου
120
κυκλοῦνται· φόβος δʼ ἀρῄων ὅπλων
δονεῖ, διὰ δέ τοι γενύων ἱππίων
κινύρονται φόνον χαλινοί.
ἑπτὰ δʼ ἀγάνορες πρέποντες στρατοῦ
δορυσσοῖς σαγαῖς πύλαις ἑβδόμαις
125
προσίστανται πάλῳ λαχόντες.
Χορός
σύ τʼ, ὦ Διογενὲς φιλόμαχον κράτος,
ῥυσίπολις γενοῦ,
Παλλάς, ὅ θʼ ἵππιος ποντομέδων ἄναξ
130
ἰχθυβόλῳ Ποσειδάων μαχανᾷ,
ἐπίλυσιν φόβων, ἐπίλυσιν δίδου.
σύ τʼ, Ἄρης, φεῦ, φεῦ, πόλιν ἐπώνυμον
135
Κάδμου φύλαξον κήδεσαί τʼ ἐναργῶς.
καὶ Κύπρις, ἅτʼ εἶ γένους προμάτωρ,
140
ἄλευσον· σέθεν γὰρ ἐξ αἵματος
γεγόναμεν· λιταῖσί σε θεοκλύτοις
ἀυτοῦσαι πελαζόμεσθα.
καὶ σύ, Λύκειʼ ἄναξ, Λύκειος γενοῦ
145
στρατῷ δαΐῳ στόνων ἀντίτας.
σύ τʼ, ὦ Λατογένει-
α κούρα, τόξον εὐτυκάζου
Ἄρτεμι φίλα.
Χορός
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
ὄτοβον ἁρμάτων ἀμφὶ πόλιν κλύω·
150
ὦ πότνιʼ Ἥρα.
ἔλακον ἀξόνων βριθομένων χνόαι.
Ἄρτεμι φίλα, ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
δοριτίνακτος αἰθὴρ δʼ ἐπιμαίνεται.
155
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει, τί γενήσεται;
ποῖ δʼ ἔτι τέλος ἐπάγει θεός;
Χορός
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
ἀκροβόλων δʼ ἐπάλξεων λιθὰς ἔρχεται·
ὦ φίλʼ Ἄπολλον·
κόναβος ἐν πύλαις χαλκοδέτων σακέων,
160
παῖ Διός, ὅθεν
πολεμόκραντον ἁγνὸν τέλος ἐν μάχᾳ.
σύ τε, μάκαιρʼ ἄνασσʼ Ὄγκα, πρὸ πόλεως
ἑπτάπυλον ἕδος ἐπιρρύου.
165
Χορός
ἰὼ παναρκεῖς θεοί,
ἰὼ τέλειοι τέλειαί τε γᾶς
τᾶσδε πυργοφύλακες,
πόλιν δορίπονον μὴ προδῶθʼ
ἑτεροφώνῳ στρατῷ.
170
κλύετε παρθένων κλύετε πανδίκως
χειροτόνους λιτάς.
Χορός
ἰὼ φίλοι δαίμονες,
λυτήριοί
τʼ ἀμφιβάντες πόλιν,
175
δείξαθʼ ὡς φιλοπόλεις,
μέλεσθέ θʼ ἱερῶν δημίων,
μελόμενοι δʼ ἀρήξατε·
φιλοθύτων δέ τοι πόλεος ὀργίων
μνήστορες ἐστέ μοι.
180
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 128 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 128 focus
σύ τ᾽, ὦ Διογενὲς φιλόμαχον κράτος,
120
ῥυσίπολις γενοῦ, Παλλάς, ὅ θ᾽ ἵππιος
ποντομέδων ἄναξ
ἰχθυβόλῳ μαχανᾷ, Ποσειδῶν,
ἐπίλυσιν φόβων, ἐπίλυσιν δίδου.
Χοροῦ ἡ Δ
ἀντ. α'.
σύ τ', Ἄρης, φεῦ φεῦ, Κάδμου ἐπώνυμον
125
πόλιν φύλαξον κήδεσαί τ᾽ ἐναργῶς.
Χοροῦ ἡ Ε
καὶ Κύπρις, ἅτε γένους προμάτωρ,
ἄλευσον· σέθεν γὰρ ἐξ αἵματος
γεγόναμεν· λιταῖσί σε θεοκλύτοις
ἀϋτοῦσαι πελαζόμεσθα.
130
Χοροῦ ἡ ς
καὶ σύ, Λύκει᾽ ἄναξ, Λύκειος γενοῦ
στρατῷ δαΐῳ στόνων ἀϋτᾶς.
σύ τ', ὦ Λατογένεια κούρα,
Ἄρτεμι φίλα, τόξον εὐτυκάζου.
Χοροῦ ἡ ΙΑ
στρ. β'.
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ.
135
ὄτοβον ἁρμάτων ἀμφὶ πόλιν κλύω.
Χοροῦ ἡ ΙΑ
ὦ πότνι᾽ Ἥρα,
Χοροῦ ἡ ΙΒ
ἔλακον ἀξόνων βριθομένων χνόαι.
Ἄρτεμι φίλα, ἢ ἔ,
Χοροῦ ἡ Ι
δοριτίνακτος αἰθὴρ δ᾽ ἐπιμαίνεται.
140
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει; τί γενήσεται;
ποῖ δὲ τέλος ἔτ᾽ ἐπάγει θεός;
ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 128 focus
Σύ τ', ὦ Διογενὲς φιλόμαχον κράτος,
Ant. 1.
ῥυσίπολις
ῥυσίπτολις γενοῦ,
120
Παλλάς, ὅ θ' ἵππιος ποντομέδων ἄναξ
ἰχθυβόλῳ, Ποσειδάων, μηχανᾷ
ἰχθυβόλῳ μηχανᾷ Ποσειδῶν,
ἐπίλυσιν
φόβων
φόνων
φόβου, ἐπίλυσιν δίδου.
Σύ τ', Ἄρης, φεῦ φεῦ, Κάδμου ἐπώνυμον
πόλιν φύλαξον κήδεσαί τ' ἐναργῶς.
125
Καὶ Κύπρις, ἅτε γένους προμάτωρ,
ἄλευσον·
σέθεν γὰρ
σέθεν ἐξ αἵματος
γεγόναμεν, λιταῖς
<δέ>
om. σε θεοκλύτοις
ἀϋτοῦσαι
ἀπύουσαι πελαζόμεσθα.
Καὶ σύ,
Λύκει'
λύκι' seu λύκιος ἄναξ, Λύκειος γενοῦ
130
στρατῷ δαΐῳ στόνων
ἀντίτας
ἀϋτᾶς·
σύ τ', ὦ
Λατωΐς, εὖ πυκάζου
Λατογένεια κούρα τόξον εὖ πυκάζου (ἐντυκάζου Μ2) Ἄρτεμι φίλα.
Ἐὴ ἐή
ἓ ἓ ἓ ἕ,
Str. 2.
ΧΟΡΟΣ
ὄτοβον ἁρμάτων ἀμφὶ πόλιν κλύω·
ὦ πότνι' Ἥρα.
Ἔλακον ἀξόνων βριθομένων χνόαι·
Ἄρτεμι
φίλα
φίλα ἔ ἔ ἔ ἔ.
Δοριτίνακτος
αἰθὴρ
αἰθὴρ δ' ἐπιμαίνεται·
155
Ant. 2.
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει ; τί γενήσεται ;
ποῖ δ' ἔτι τέλος ἐπάγει θεός ;
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 128 focus
ΧΟ.
σύ τ᾽ Ἄρης, φεῦ φεῦ, ἐπώνυμον Κάδμου πόλιν
125
φύλαξον κήδεσαί τ᾽ ἐναργῶς.
Καὶ Κύπρις, ἅτε γένους προμάτωρ,
ἄλευσον· σέθεν γὰρ ἐξ αἵματος
γεγόναμεν· λιταῖσί σε θεοκλύτοις
ἀπύουσαι πελαζόμεσθα.—
130
Καὶ σύ, Λύκει᾽ ἄναξ, Λύκειος γενοῦ
στρατῷ δαΐῳ στόνων ἀντᾶς·
σύ τ᾽, ὦ Λατογένεια κούρα, τόξον ἐντυκάζου.
ΧΟ.
Ἄρτεμι φίλα·
Ἔ ἔ ἔ ἔ,
δοριτίνακτος αἰθὴρ δ᾽ ἐπιμαίνεται.
140
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει, τί γενήσεται;
ποῖ δ᾽ ἔτι τέλος ἐπάγει θεός;
Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 128 focus
Numeri:
Testim.:
Apparatus Criticus
δορυσσοῖς σαγαῖς δορυσ(σ)όοις δορυσσοσάγοις ῥυσίπολις ῥυσίπτολις corr. ἵππιος ἵππειος μηχανᾶι μηχανᾷ μαχανᾶι η suprascr. Ποσειδάν Ποσειδάν Ποσειδῶν φόβων φόνων φόβου ἐπώνυμον Κάδμου ἐπώνυμον Κάδμου Κάδμ. ἐπ. ἅτ᾽ εἰ ἅτ᾽ εἰ ἅτε σέθεν γάρ post σέθεν inserunt del Λύκειος Λύκι' (λύκιον) Λύκιος καὶ λύκειος 2 σύ τ᾽ om εὐτυκάζου τυκάζου ἐντυκάζου εὐ πυκάζου corr. ex Hesychio [῎Αρτεμι φίλα] ῎Αρτεμις del πότνι᾿ Ἥρα πότνια Ἥρα Ἥρη
ΧΟΡΟΣ
3
ἔλακον ἀξόνων βριθομένων χνόαι.
῎Αρτεμι φίλα· ἔ ἔ ἔ ἔ.
δοριτίνακτος αἰθὴρ ἐπιμαίνεται.
155
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει, τί γενήσεται;
ποῖ δ᾽ ἔτι τέλος ἐπάγει θεός; –
Translations (9)
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
Chorus
Oh come all you gods who guard our city and its land!
See this suppliant band of maidens praying to be saved from slavery. A torrent of men, their helmet plumes tossing, crashes around the city,
110
sped on by the blasts of Ares. No! Father Zeus, all-accomplishing, fend from us altogether capture at the hands of the enemy.
115
The Argives encircle the citadel of Cadmus. Terror of their weapons of war shakes us, as the bridles in the horse’s jaws rattle the sound of death. Seven bold captains, conspicuous among the army
120
in spear-wielding harnesses, at the seven gates
take their stand each according to his lot.
125
Chorus
Pallas, Zeus-born power delighting in battle, prove yourself the savior of the city!
And you, lord of steeds, ruler of the deep, Poseidon, with your fish-striking weapon grant us release from our fears, grant us release!
130
You too, Ares—pity us!—guard the city named for Cadmus and make evident your closeness
1
to us!
135
And Cypris, you who are the first mother of our race, defend us who are sprung from your blood. We come to you, crying out in prayers for your divine ears.
140
And you, Apollo, lord of the Wolf,
2
be a wolf to the enemy force and give them groan for groan! You too, maiden child of Leto, ready your bow!
145
Chorus
Ah! Ah!
I hear the rattle of chariots encircling the town. O lady Hera! The hubs are creaking beneath the axles’ load. Beloved Artemis!
150
The air rages at the shaking of spears! What is happening to our city? What will the future bring? And where does God finally lead us?
155
Chorus
Ah! Ah! A hail of stones strikes our battlements from afar. O beloved Apollo!
There is the clang of bronze-bound shields at the gates. O son of Zeus, in whom dwells the sacred power to decide in battle war’s outcome! And you, blessed queen Onca,
3
on behalf of the city,
160
defend your seven- gated home!
165
Chorus
All-powerful divinities, you gods and goddesses who wield the power to guard the towers of our land, do not betray our city that now toils under the spear
to an alien-tongued army. Hear us, hear, as is right, the prayers we maidens offer with outstretched hands.
170
Chorus
Beloved spirits,
encompass the city to deliver it from ruin and show that you love it. Consider the people’s offerings, and as you consider, help us.
175
Remember, I beg, our city’s worship, rich in sacrifice..
180
The Seven against Thebes. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven against Thebes.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 128 focus
LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 128 focus
ennemi. Les Argiens enserrent la ville de Cadmos ! L'effroi
Sept chefs désignés par leur vaillance, l'ardente javeline armant leur bras, s'avancent contre nos sept portes, dans l'ordre voulu par le sort !
Et toi, fille de Zeus, puissante guerrière, sois le salut de la
cité, Pallas ! Et toi, dieu cavalier, dont le trident redouté du poisson règne sur les mers
2
, Poséidon, délivre-nous, délivre-nous de ces terreurs ! Et toi, Arès, hélas ! hélas ! veille sur une
ville qui porte le nom de Cadmos : sois son allié par les armes comme tu l'es par le sang ! Et toi, Cypris, antique
aïeule de notre race
3
,
cité, Pallas ! Et toi, dieu cavalier, dont le trident redouté du poisson règne sur les mers 2 , Poséidon, délivre-nous, délivre-nous de ces terreurs ! Et toi, Arès, hélas ! hélas ! veille sur une
ville qui porte le nom de Cadmos : sois son allié par les armes comme tu l'es par le sang ! Et toi, Cypris, antique
aïeule de notre race 3 ,
LE CHŒUR
Ah ! ah ! j'entends le bruit des chars tout autour de la ville. O puissante Héra ! Les essieux ont crié sous le poids des guerriers. Artémis aimée ! — Aux javelines qui l'ébranlent
l'éther répond en furieux. Quel est donc le destin de Thèbes ? Que deviendra ma cité ? Où le Ciel la conduit-il à la fin ?
l'éther répond en furieux. Quel est donc le destin de Thèbes ? Que deviendra ma cité ? Où le Ciel la conduit-il à la fin ?
The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 128 focus
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.) — 128 focus
Equestre sire del mare, Posídone,
col tuo tridente di squali sterminio,
da questo orrore tu affrancaci affrancaci!
Tu Marte - oh noi miseri, oh miseri! -
155
da cui questa rocca si nomina,
tu veglia su noi, tu soccorrici.
Tu, che a noi sei genitrice remota,
stornali, o Diva di Cipro: ché origine
da te traggiamo; e con prece devota
160
presso il tuo Nume or vedici.
E lupo adesso, re Licio, a lor móstrati,
dei miei lamenti sii vindice.
Affretta,
figlia di Lato, su lor la saetta.
165
CORO
Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 128 focus
Equestrisq; pontipotens rex
Tridente machina Neptune
Solutionem metus, folutionem da.
130
Et tu Mars, heu heu Cadmi denominatam
Vrbem custodi, & cura exacte.
Et Venus, generis tritauia,
Adiuua: tuo ex ſanguine
Nati sumus, precibus te
135
Religiofis uociferantes adimus.
Et tu Lyciæ rex, terribilis esto
Exercitui hostili, qui uocem habet gemebundam.
Tu uerò
Diana chara: heu heu, ſtrepitum curruum
Circa urbem audio, & ueneranda Iuno:
Reſonuerut fistula onuftorum axium.
O chara Diana, heu heu,
Haſta concuffus æther furit:
145
Quid urbs nostra patitur, quid fiet?
Quò tandem finem ducet deus, heu, heu, heu.
Seven Against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (Seven Against Thebes. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 124 focus
MESSENGER
Dead are our chiefs by fratricidal hands.
CHORUS
Then are they slain by hands too brotherly.
MESSENGER
Prone in the dust they lie, too true the tale.
CHORUS
Thus dealt the god impartially with both.
MESSENGER
Yea, he himself destroys th' ill-fated race.
CHORUS
Cause have we here for gladness and for tears.
The city prospers but its governors,
Twin captains have, with Scythia's welded steel,
Between them portioned all their heritage,
Holding what each received in sepulture,
Borne onward by their father's direful curse.
CHORUS
O mighty Zeus, and tutelary powers
To whom to rescue these Cadmeian towers
Has fallen, whether now
Shall I rejoice, and in triumphant strain,
Our town's unharming saviour, Fortune, hail,
Or those war-chiefs bewail,
Wretched, ill-fated, childless twain,
Who rightly, as their names avow—
*
Names full of glory and of strife,
Are through intent unhallowed reft of life.
CHORUS
STROPHE.
Dark curse, with full completion crowned,
Of Edipus, inherent in the race!
Hovers an evil chill my heart around.
Like Bacchanal, when on mine ear
The tidings fell that the blood-dripping slain
Through evil Fate had died-their tomb to grace,
A dirge I wove, sad strain.—
Ill-omened is this concert of the spear.
CHORUS
ANTISTROPHE.
Their father's baleful curse hath wrought,
Untired, its battle to the bitter end;
Now Laios' wilful counsels have their meed.
Around the city hovers care;
Not blunted are the oracles ;-this deed
CHORUS
Which ye have wrought, oh lamentable pair,
All credence doth transcend.
Dire woes are come, not by mere rumour taught.
CHORUS
Epode.
Lo, obvious now to sight the herald's tale!
Twofold anxieties, disasters twain
Of pride
*
and mutual slaughter, fraught
With twofold doom.
To their dread issue are these evils brought.
What can I sing? What but the grievous bale
Fixed at the heart of this ill-fated home?
But now, in escort of the dead,
Oh friends! adown grief's sobbing gale,
With measured beat of hands on head,
Ply ye the oar-stroke, ply amain,
Which over Charon's river evermore
Wafteth the galley, black of sail,
‡
Unchartered, to the sunless reign,
Untrodden by the god of light,
Invisible to mortal sight,
The all-receiving shore.
CHORUS
But for a task of bitter pain,
Their brothers' requiem to intone,
Antigone draws with Ismene near;
From lovely, deep-zoned breasts, I deem
Will they, in no ambiguous strain,
With fitting wail their woes deplore,
And ere their utterance reach our ear,
Us, too, it doth beseem
The Fury's harsh-toned hymn to sing,
And hostile pæan chant to Hades' King.
Oh most unhappy in your brothers, ye
Of all who round their garments cast the zone;
I weep, I moan,-
Here is no guile,-these wailings that I pour
Come from my very heart, unfeignedly.
SEMI-CHORUS I
STROPHE I.
Woe! Woe!
Ye frantic ones, your friends who disobeyed,
By sorrow unsubdued, unhappy twain,
Spear-armed your father's house who captive made.
SEMI-CHORUS II
Wretched in sooth, wretched their doom, laid low
To their own dwelling's bane.
SEMI-CHORUS I
ANTISTROPHE I.
Woe! Woe!
O ye your household walls in dust who laid,
Who bitter kingship tasted; war's keen blade
To you, at length, hath reconcilement brought.
SEMI-CHORUS II
Ay, the dread fury of their sire hath wrought
This all too-stubborn woe.
SEMI-CHORUS I
STROPHE II.
Both smitten through the breast,
The left, ye brethren, offspring of one womb!
Woe! Woe! ye fiend possest!
Woe for the curse of mutual-slaughtering doom!
SEMI-CHORUS II
Smitten, as ye relate,
Were they, in home and life, with ruin dire,
Both by dumb Fury, and contentious Fate,
Sprung from the curse of Edipus, their sire.
SEMI-CHORUS I
ANTISTROPHE II.
Moans through the city reign,
The turrets moan, moans the man-loving plain;
But with their kin doth bide
Their wealth, dire cause to that ill-fated twain
Of strife, whose issue death to either side.
SEMI-CHORUS II
With hearts keen whetted they
Their wealth apportioned, equal shares they gain;-
Friends blame the umpire,
*
nor may their affray
Be now applauded in triumphal strain.
SEMI-CHORUS I
STROPHE III.
Steel-smitten, hapless pair!
Steel-smitten, lie they there.
What fortune, one perchance may ask,
Awaiteth them ?-A share
In their ancestral tomb.
SEMI-CHORUS II
Grief, with heart-piercing groan,
Escorts them from their home-sad task;—
Sorrow unfeignèd and unfeignèd moan,
Distressful, joyless, din!
Wasteth my heart as from its depths within
True tears I shed, weeping those princes' doom.
SEMI-CHORUS I
ANTISTROPHE III.
This o'er them one may say,
O'er that unhappy twain;—
That to their friends much bale they wrought
And to the alien host,
Slaughtered in deadly fray.
SEMI-CHORUS II
Of womankind on earth,
Of all, the mother's name who boast,
Most wretched she who gave them birth;—
Wedding her son these forth she brought,
By kindred hands and mutual murder slain.
SEMI-CHORUS I
STROPHE IV.
Brothers indeed together reft of life,
Severed in conflict rude;—
Falling in frenzied strife,
So did they end their feud.
SEMI-CHORUS II
Stayed is their hate, and on the gory plain
Commingled is their life;
Too truly of one blood these foemen now.
Stern umpire of their strife,
The fire-born stranger from beyond the main,
The whetted steel. Hostile was Ares too,
Bitter apportioner of wealth, I trow,
Making the curse paternal all too true.
SEMI-CHORUS I
ANTISTROPHE IV.
Of heaven-sent woe allotted shares have they;—
Unhappy, doom'd from birth!
Lies 'neath their lifeless clay
Wealth fathomless of earth.
SEMI-CHORUS II
O ye who your own house have caused to bloom
With many bitter woes!
O'er you at last these curses their shrill lay
Have chanted, fraught with doom;
For now your race is turned to flight,
In utter rout. Ay, on the very gate
Where fell your deadly blows,
Stands Atè's trophy;-and the fiend elate
After her twofold conquest ceased from fight.
ANTIGONE
Smiting, thou wast smitten.
ISMENE
Slaying, thou wast slain.
ANTIGONE
Thou with spear didst slaughter.
ISMENE
Thee the spear laid low.
ANTIGONE
In thy toil most wretched.
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.) — 128 focus
Be near and befriend us, O Pallas, the Zeus-born maiden of might!
O lord of the steed and the sea, be thy trident uplifted to smite
120
In eager desire of the fray, Poseidon! and Ares come down,
In fatherly presence revealed, to rescue Hamionia's town!
Thine too, Aphrodite, we are! thou art mother and queen of our race,
To thee we cry out in our need, from thee let thy children have grace!
Ye too, to scare back the foe, be your cry as a wolf's howl wild,
125
Thou, O the wolf-lord, and thou, of she-wolf Leto the child!
Woe and alack for the sound, for the rattle of cars to the wall,
And the creak of the griding axles! O Hera, to thee is our call!
Artemis, maiden beloved! the air is distraught with the spears,
And whither doth destiny drive us, and where is the goal of our fears?
130
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.) — 128 focus
Tochter Kronions du, Pallas, der Schlachten froh,
120
Rette die Stadt aus Noth, und du, hoch zu Roß
Waltender Meeresfürst,
Der den Trident, Fische jagend, wirft, Poseidon,
Löse mein armes Herz, lös' es von schwerer Angft!
Fünfte.
Auch du, Ares, ach! schirme des Kadmos Stadt,
125
Und wache sichtbar über ihr, und rette!
Sechste.
Du Kypris, unseres Stammes Mutter,
Hilf, hilf! Deines Bluts Sprößlinge sind wir ja;
Siehe, zu deinem Bild nahen wir uns, und fleh'n
In demuthvollem Gottvertrauen.
1
130
Siebente.
Und Wolfsmörder du, ein Wolfsmörder sei
Dem Heer meiner Feinde: vernimm den Angstruf!
2
Auch du, Letogeborne Jungfrau,
Rüste dein Geschoß nun,
Artemis, Holde! Weh!
135
Achte.
Der Kriegsräder Hall rauscht um die Stadt heran:
Heilige Hera!
Ha, wie die Nabe kracht unter der Achse Last!
Sausend von Speergeklirr rasen die Lüfte drein.
Neunte.
O was umdroht die Stadt? Wehe, was wird aus ihr?
140
Wohin lenkt ihr ein Gott das Ziel?
Zehnte.
Notes on the current edition
Seven Against Thebes
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
134.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-210
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
107-134.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-80
134.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-103