Seven Against Thebes. N. Wecklein. . .
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
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.) — 369-416 focus
Ημιχόριον
ὅ τοι κατόπτης, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, στρατοῦ
πευθώ τιν᾽ ἡμῖν, ὦ φίλαι, νέαν φέρει,
370
σπουδῇ διώκων πομπίμους χνόας ποδοῖν.
Ἡμιχόριον Β
καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδ᾽ αὐτὸς Οἰδίπου τόκος
εἰς
1
ἀρτίκολλον ἀγγέλου λόγον μαθεῖν:
σπουδὴ δὲ καὶ τοῦδ᾽ εὖ καταρτίζει
2
πόδα.
Αγγελος
λέγοιμ᾽ ἂν εἰδὼς εὖ τὰ τῶν ἐναντίων,
375
ὥς τ᾽
3
ἐν πύλαις ἕκαστος εἴληχεν πάλον.
Τυδεὺς μὲν ἤδη πρὸς πύλαισι Προιτίσιν
βρέμει, πόρον δ᾽ Ἰσμηνὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ περᾶν
ὁ μάντις: οὐ γὰρ σφάγια γίγνεται
4
καλά.
Τυδεὺς δὲ μαργῶν καὶ μάχης λελιμμένος
5
380
μεσημβριναῖς κλαγγαῖσιν ὡς δράκων βοᾷ:
θείνει
6
δ᾽ ὀνείδει μάντιν Οἰκλείδην σοφόν,
σαίνειν μόρον τε καὶ μάχην ἀψυχίᾳ.
τοιαῦτ᾽ ἀυτῶν τρεῖς κατασκίους λόφους
σείει, κράνους χαίτωμ᾽, ὑπ᾽ ἀσπίδος δὲ τῷ
7
385
χαλκήλατοι κλάζουσι κώδωνες φόβον:
ἔχει δ᾽ ὑπέρφρον σῆμ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδος τόδε,
φλέγονθ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἄστροις οὐρανὸν τετυγμένον:
λαμπρὰ δὲ πανσέληνος ἐν μέσῳ σάκει,
πρέσβιστον ἄστρων, νυκτὸς ὀφθαλμός, πρέπει.
390
τοιαῦτ᾽ ἀλύων ταῖς ὑπερκόμποις σαγαῖς
8
βοᾷ παρ᾽ ὄχθαις ποταμίαις, μάχης ἐρῶν,
ἵππος χαλινῶν ὣς κατασθμαίνων μένει,
ὅστις βοὴν σάλπιγγος ὁρμαίνει κλύων.
9
τίν᾽ ἀντιτάξεις τῷδε; τίς Προίτου πυλῶν
395
κλῄθρων λυθέντων προστατεῖν φερέγγυος;
Ετεοκλης
κόσμον μὲν ἀνδρὸς οὔτιν᾽ ἂν τρέσαιμ᾽ ἐγώ,
οὐδ᾽ ἑλκοποιὰ γίγνεται
10
τὰ σήματα:
λόφοι δὲ κώδων τ᾽ οὐ δάκνουσ᾽ ἄνευ δορός.
καὶ νύκτα ταύτην ἣν λέγεις ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδος
400
ἄστροισι μαρμαίρουσαν οὐρανοῦ κυρεῖν,
τάχ᾽ ἂν γένοιτο μάντις ἁνοία
11
τινί.
εἰ γὰρ θανόντι νὺξ ἐπ᾽ ὀφθαλμοῖς πέσοι,
τῷ τοι φέροντι σῆμ᾽ ὑπέρκομπον τόδε
γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ὀρθῶς ἐνδίκως τ᾽ ἐπώνυμον,
405
καὐτὸς καθ᾽ αὑτοῦ τήνδ᾽ ὕβριν μαντεύσεται.
12
ἐγὼ δὲ Τυδεῖ κεδνὸν Ἀστακοῦ τόκον
τῶνδ᾽ ἀντιτάξω προστάτην πυλωμάτων,
μάλ᾽ εὐγενῆ τε καὶ τὸν Αἰσχύνης θρόνον
τιμῶντα καὶ στυγοῦνθ᾽ ὑπέρφρονας λόγους.
410
αἰσχρῶν γὰρ ἀργός, μὴ κακὸς δ᾽ εἶναι φιλεῖ.
σπαρτῶν δ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἀνδρῶν, ὧν Ἄρης ἐφείσατο,
ῥίζωμ᾽ ἀνεῖται, κάρτα δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐγχώριος,
Μελάνιππος: ἔργον δ᾽ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ:
Δίκη δ᾽ ὁμαίμων
13
κάρτα νιν προστέλλεται
415
εἴργειν τεκούσῃ μητρὶ πολέμιον δόρυ.
417
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.) — 369-416 focus
Ἡμιχόριον Α
ὅ τοι κατόπτης, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, στρατοῦ
πευθώ τινʼ ἡμῖν, ὦ φίλαι, νέαν φέρει,
370
σπουδῇ διώκων πομπίμους χνόας ποδῶν.
Ἡμιχόριον Β
καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς Οἰδίπου τόκος
εἰς ἀρτίκολλον ἀγγέλου λόγον μαθεῖν·
σπουδὴ δὲ καὶ τοῦδʼ οὐκ ἀπαρτίζει πόδα.
Ἄγγελος
λέγοιμʼ ἂν εἰδὼς εὖ τὰ τῶν ἐναντίων,
375
ὥς τʼ ἐν πύλαις ἕκαστος εἴληχεν πάλον.
Τυδεὺς μὲν ἤδη πρὸς πύλαισι Προιτίσιν
βρέμει, πόρον δʼ Ἰσμηνὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ περᾶν
ὁ μάντις· οὐ γὰρ σφάγια γίγνεται καλά.
Τυδεὺς δὲ μαργῶν καὶ μάχης λελιμμένος
380
μεσημβριναῖς κλαγγαῖσιν ὡς δράκων βοᾷ·
θείνει δʼ ὀνείδει μάντιν Οἰκλείδην σοφόν,
σαίνειν μόρον τε καὶ μάχην ἀψυχίᾳ.
τοιαῦτʼ ἀυτῶν τρεῖς κατασκίους λόφους
σείει, κράνους χαίτωμʼ, ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος δʼ ἔσω
385
χαλκήλατοι κλάζουσι κώδωνες φόβον·
ἔχει δʼ ὑπέρφρον σῆμʼ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος τόδε,
φλέγονθʼ ὑπʼ ἄστροις οὐρανὸν τετυγμένον·
λαμπρὰ δὲ πανσέληνος ἐν μέσῳ σάκει,
πρέσβιστον ἄστρων, νυκτὸς ὀφθαλμός, πρέπει.
390
τοιαῦτʼ ἀλύων ταῖς ὑπερκόμποις σαγαῖς
βοᾷ παρʼ ὄχθαις ποταμίαις, μάχης ἐρῶν,
ἵππος χαλινῶν ὣς κατασθμαίνων μένει,
ὅστις βοὴν σάλπιγγος ὁρμαίνει μένων.
τίνʼ ἀντιτάξεις τῷδε; τίς Προίτου πυλῶν
395
κλῄθρων λυθέντων προστατεῖν φερέγγυος;
Ἐτεοκλής
κόσμον μὲν ἀνδρὸς οὔτινʼ ἂν τρέσαιμʼ ἐγώ,
οὐδʼ ἑλκοποιὰ γίγνεται τὰ σήματα·
λόφοι δὲ κώδων τʼ οὐ δάκνουσʼ ἄνευ δορός.
καὶ νύκτα ταύτην ἣν λέγεις ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος
400
ἄστροισι μαρμαίρουσαν οὐρανοῦ κυρεῖν,
τάχʼ ἂν γένοιτο μάντις ἡ ἀνοία τινί.
εἰ γὰρ θανόντι νὺξ ἐπʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς πέσοι,
τῷ τοι φέροντι σῆμʼ ὑπέρκομπον τόδε
γένοιτʼ ἂν ὀρθῶς ἐνδίκως τʼ ἐπώνυμον,
405
καὐτὸς καθʼ αὑτοῦ τήνδʼ ὕβριν μαντεύσεται.
ἐγὼ δὲ Τυδεῖ κεδνὸν Ἀστακοῦ τόκον
τῶνδʼ ἀντιτάξω προστάτην πυλωμάτων,
μάλʼ εὐγενῆ τε καὶ τὸν Αἰσχύνης θρόνον
τιμῶντα καὶ στυγοῦνθʼ ὑπέρφρονας λόγους.
410
αἰσχρῶν γὰρ ἀργός, μὴ κακὸς δʼ εἶναι φιλεῖ.
σπαρτῶν δʼ ἀπʼ ἀνδρῶν, ὧν Ἄρης ἐφείσατο,
ῥίζωμʼ ἀνεῖται, κάρτα δʼ ἔστʼ ἐγχώριος,
Μελάνιππος· ἔργον δʼ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ·
Δίκη δʼ ὁμαίμων κάρτα νιν προστέλλεται
415
εἴργειν τεκούσῃ μητρὶ πολέμιον δόρυ.
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 333 focus
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 333 focus
κλαυτὸν δ᾽ ἀρτιτρόποις
315
ὠμοδρόπων νομίμων προπάροιθεν διαμεῖψαι
δωμάτων στυγερὰν ὁδόν.
τί τὸν φθίμενον γὰρ προλέγω
βέλτερα τῶνδε πράσσειν;
πολλὰ γάρ, εὖτε πτόλις δαμασθῇ,
320
ἒ ἔ,
δυςτυχῆ τε πράσσει·
ἄλλος δ᾽ ἄλλον ἄγει, φονεύ-
ει, τὰ δὲ πυρφορεῖ·
καπνῷ δὲ χραίνεται πόλισμ᾽ ἅπαν·
325
Χορὸς Παρθένων
μαινόμενος δ᾽ ἐπιπνεῖ λαοδάμας
μιαίνων εὐσέβειαν Ἄρης.
στρ. γ'.
ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΠΤΑ ΕΠΙ θΗΒΑΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 333 focus
Κλαυτὸν δ' ἀρτιτρόποις ὠμοδρόπων
Ant. 2.
νομίμων προπάροιθεν διαμεῖψαι
δωμάτων στυγερὰν ὁδόν·
335
τί ; τὸν φθίμενον γὰρ προλέγω
βέλτερα τῶνδε πράσσειν.
Πολλὰ γάρ, εὖτε πτόλις δαμασθῇ,
ἐή, δυστυχῆ τε πράσσει·
ἄλλος δ' ἄλλον ἄγει, φονεύ-
340
ει, τὰ δὲ πυρφορεῖ·
καπνῷ
καπνῷ δὲ
χραίνεται πόλισμ' ἅπαν·
μαινόμενος δ' ἐπιπνεῖ λαοδάμας
μιαίνων εὐσέβειαν Ἄρης.
Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας (OCR draft) Experimental (Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ θήβας. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 333 focus
ΧΟ.
δωμάτων στυγερὰν ὁδόν —
τί; τὸν φθίμενον γὰρ προλέγω
βέλτερα τῶνδε πράσσειν.
πολλὰ γάρ, εὖτε πτόλις δαμασθῇ,
325
ἔ ἔ, δυστυχῆ τε πράσσει.
ἄλλος δ᾽ ἄλλον ἄγει, φονεύ-
ει, τὰ δὲ πυρφορεῖ·
καπνῷ χραίνεται πόλισμ᾽ ἅπαν.
μαινόμενος δ᾽ ἐπιπνεῖ λαοδάμας
330
μιαίνων εὐσέβειαν Ἄρης.
2
Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Septem contra Thebas. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 333 focus
Apparatus Criticus
ὧδ᾽ ὧδ᾽ τήνδ' θεόθεν coniunge θεόθεν ἀτίμως, ὑπὸ θεῶν ἠτιμασμένην, σποδῶι περθομέναν quae cineribus dissipatis penitus perit, cf. Agam. 820 κεχειρωμένας κεχηρωμ. M corr. m κεν ἠχρειωμένας ἔ ἔ bis ter quater νέας νέας monosyllabum cf. μέλεοι 876. 947 et Herodian. μον. λέξ. p. 7 ἱππηδὸn ἱππαδόν περιρρηγνυμένων περιηρ(ρ)ηγμένων περιρηρυγμ. δ᾽ ἐκκενουμένα δὲ κενουμ. δέ γ᾽ ἐκκ. μιξοθρόου λαΐδος μιξοθ. ληίδος τοι τοι om †ἀρτιτρόποις ὠμοδρόπων ἀρτιτρόποις ἀρτιδρόποις Em utrumque ὠμοτρόπων tradita Herm. vidit nihil esse nisi, misera sors virginum violatarum ante praematurum matrimonium'; quod absurdum est. frustra tamen alia moliuntur scholia. videntur variis lectionibus ἀρτιδροπ. et ὠμοδροπ. genuina expulsa esse δώματα δωμάτων correxi. διαμεῖψαι concretum postulat obiectum (ὁδόν Verrall, quasi limen invisum eis esset): ὁδόν appositio ad actionem verbi προλέγω προ, λέγω sic cum glossa τὸν προφθίμενον Ργρ πράσσειν πράσσειν εὔτε εὐτ᾿ ἄν πτόλις πτόλις πόλις ἔ ἔ ter
ΧΟ.
ει, τὰ δὲ πυρφορεῖ· καπνῶι
δὲ χραίνεται πόλισμ᾽ ἅπαν·
μαινόμενος δ᾽ ἐπιπνεῖ λαοδάμας
μιαίνων εὐσέβειαν Ἄρης. =
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.)) — 369-415 focus
LEADER OF THE FIRST HALF-CHORUS
The scout, I believe,
is bringing some fresh news of the army to us, my friends, since the joints of his legs are hastily speeding as they carry him on his mission.
370
LEADER OF THE SECOND HALF-CHORUS
And, indeed, here is our lord himself, the son of Oedipus, at the right moment to hear the messenger’s report. Haste makes his stride uneven, too.
Scout
It is with certain knowledge that I will give my account of the enemy’s actions, how each man according to lot has been posted at the gates. Tydeus is already storming opposite the Proetid gates; but the seer will not allow him to ford the Ismenus because the omens from the sacrifices are not favorable.
375
Yet Tydeus, raging and eager for battle, shouts like a serpent hissing at high noon, and lashes skilled Oecles’ son, with the taunt that he cringes in cowardice before death and battle. With such cries he shakes three overshadowing plumes,
380
his helmet’s mane, while from under his shield, bells forged of bronze therein ring out a fearsome clang. He has this haughty symbol on his shield: a well-crafted sky, ablaze with stars, and the brightness of the full moon shining in the center of the shield,
385
the moon that is the most revered of the stars, the eye of night. Raving so in his arrogant armor, he shouts beside the river-bank, craving battle, like some charger that fiercely champs at the bit as he waits in eagerness for the trumpet’s war-cry.
390
Whom will you send against him? Who will be capable of standing as our champion at the Proetid gate when its bars are loosened?
395
Eteocles
I would not tremble before any mere ornaments on a man. Nor can signs and symbols wound and kill—crests and bell have no bite without the spear.
And regarding this "night" which you describe on his shield, sparkling with heaven’s stars—perhaps the folly of it might yield to one some prophetic understanding. For should night fall on this man’s eyes as he dies, then to its bearer this arrogant symbol
400
would prove rightly and justly named; and it is against himself that he will have prophesied this outrageous violence. Now as for me, against Tydeus I will station the trusty son of Astacus as defender of this gate, since he is full noble and
405
reveres the throne of Honor and detests proud speech. He is slow to act disgracefully, and he has no cowardly nature. His race springs from the men sown of the dragon’s teeth, from one of those whom Ares spared, and so Melanippus is truly born of our land. Ares will decide the outcome with a throw of the dice;
410
but Justice, his kin by blood, indeed sends this man forth to keep the enemy spear from the mother that gave him birth.
Exit Melanippus.
415
The Seven against Thebes. (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven against Thebes.. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 333 focus
LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES SEPT CONTRE THÈBES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 333 focus
qui cueilleront leur tendre fleur, prissent la route nouvelle d'une demeure abhorrée. Ah ! les morts, je l'assure, ont un meilleur destin ! Quand une cité succombe, hélas ! innombrables
sont ses maux. Tel vainqueur fait des prisonniers, tel autre tue ; ailleurs, on incendie. La fumée souille la ville entière. Arès souffle en furieux 1 , domptant
The Seven Chiefs against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (The Seven Chiefs against Thebes. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 333 focus
But, the walls humbled to the ground,
What dreadful mis'ries rage around!
355
Furious one leads the vengeful bands;
One stains with blood his reeking hands;
Wide roll, outrageous to destroy,
The dusky smoke, and torrent fires;
Whilſt slaught'ring Mars with hideous joy
360
The heav'ncontemning rage inspires.
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.) — 333 focus
2
Antistrofe II
Ahi, quale pianto, pria delle nozze, le intatte vergini
365
vederle muovere, per la cesarie
tratte, a le case che ancora tenere
Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Septem ad Thebas: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 333 focus
Quid prædico eum qui interijt,
Meliora his habere?
310
Multa ſunt, quando urbs expugnata fuerit,
Heuheu infœliciter agere:alius alium
Ducit, interficit, hæc ignem ferunt,
Fumo uerò inquinatur omnis urbs.
Furens uerò inſpirat hominum domitor
315
Cruentans pietatem Mars
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.) — 333 focus
For a woe and a weeping it is, if the maiden inviolate flower
Is plucked by the foe in his might, not culled in the bridal bower!
Alas for the hate and the horror—how say it?—less hateful by far
Is the doom to be slain by the sword, hewn down in the carnage of war!
290
For wide, ah! wide is the woe when the foeman has mounted the wall;
There is havoc and terror and flame, and the dark smoke broods over all,
And wild is the war-god's breath, as in frenzy of conquest he springs,
And pollutes with the blast of his lips the glory of holiest things!
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.) — 333 focus
O Leid, zöge die Braut, eben erblüht,
Vor der Feier der frischpflückenden Brautnacht
Weg vom Haus den verhaßten Weg!
Was sag' ich es noch? Glücklicher ist,
315
Welchen der Tod entraffte!
Vieles ja muß, wenn der Feind die Stadt nahm,
Grauses muß sie dulden:
Ringsum schaltet Gewalt,
Und Mord wüthet, und Brand lodert auf.
320
Geschwärzt vom Nauche qualmt die ganze Stadt;
Völkervertilgend in Wuth, schnaubt er herein,
Verunreint fromme Stätten, Ares.
Dritte Strophe.
Notes on the current edition
Seven Against Thebes
Commentary
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
323.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-222