N. Wecklein Seven Against Thebes 66.comm-66

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Seven Against Thebes. N. Wecklein. . .

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.) — 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 (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.)) — 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.
Seven Against Thebes (OCR draft) Experimental (Seven Against Thebes. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 45 focus
ETEOCLES
Hush, nor alarm the city with these cries.
CHORUS
Associate gods, our towers abandon not.
ETEOCLES
Plague on thee! canst thou not in silence bear?
CHORUS
Co-burgher gods! save me from slavery.
ETEOCLES
Thyself enslavest, thee and all the town.
CHORUS
All-puissant Zeus, turn 'gainst the foe thy bolt.
ETEOCLES
Zeus! what a gift to man was womankind!
CHORUS
Wretched as men are in a captured town.
ETEOCLES
The statues touching, dost renew thy cries?
CHORUS
Through want of heart fear seizes on my tongue.
ETEOCLES
I pray thee grant me but one trifling boon.
CHORUS
Speak quickly then, so shall I quickly know.
ETEOCLES
Be still, unhappy one, scare not thy friends.
CHORUS
Still am I;—with the rest I'll bear my doom.
ETEOCLES
This word I to thy former words prefer.
Moreover keeping from these shrines aloof,
Proffer the better prayer, e'en that the gods
Our allies prove; then having heard my prayers,
Do thou the auspicious, sacred Pæan raise,
Hellas' accustomed shout of sacrifice,
Cheering to friends, dispelling dread of foes.—
Unto our country's tutelary gods,
The plain who haunt, the market-place who guard,
To Dirka's fountains, and Ismenos' waters,
Make I this promise, that-if all go well,
And this our town be saved-with blood of sheep
Dyeing the sacred hearths, and slaying bulls
In the gods' honour, trophies I will plant,
And will aloft on spears, the shrines before,
Hang in the sacred fanes the spoils of war.
Pray to the gods such prayers, not with fond moans,
Neither with sobs of anguish vain and wild,
For not the more wilt thou escape thy doom.
Meanwhile, six men of war, myself the seventh,
I, at the seven outlets of the ports,
In gallant style will marshal 'gainst the foe,
Ere hurrying scouts and swiftly-rushing news
Arrive, and by the stress set all ablaze.
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.
CHORUS
ANTISTROPHE I.
And say what soil of earth will ye obtain
Better than this, if ye betray
To foreign foes this fertile land
And Dirka's water, richest draught of all
That the earth-circling God sends forth amain,
And progeny of Tethys. * Hence we call,
Gods, on your guardian band;—
Into the powers outside our towers
Sending the coward's deadly fear,
Which fatuous casts the shield away,
Earn for these burghers glory. Hear,
Oh hear my shrill-voiced wailings and retain,
As Saviours of our State, your stedfast reign.
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.
CHORUS
ANTISTROPHE II.
For maids whose bloom is at the full,
Ere rites the scarce ripe fruit that cull,
How grievous 'tis far from their homes to wend
On hateful journey! What then? I declare
Who sleep in death than these far better fare.
Full many woes a captured town attend;
As captive one his enemy doth seize,
Another slays, or round him scatters fire,
While the whole city is with smoke defil'd,
And people-taming Ares, wild
With frenesy, all sanctities
Foully polluting, doth their rage inspire.
CHORUS
STROPHE III.
Loud clamours through the town prevail,
Destruction's net draws near,
And man by man is slaughtered with the spear;
The gory new-born wail
Of infants at the breast is heard;
There Rapine, sister to wild Tumult, reigns.
Spoiler to spoiler gives the word;
The empty doth the empty hail,
Seeking a partner in his gains,
Each greedy for nor less nor equal share.
In scenes like these how may we hope to fare?
CHORUS
ANTISTROPHE III.
And fruitage too of every sort
Is wasted ruthlessly,
Earth-strewn, sad sight to housewife's cheerless eye;
And earth's fair gifts, the sport
Of worthless surge, are swept away
In common ruin; maidens in their prime
Are with new sorrow filled; for they
Of haughty foemen own the sway,
Forceful their wretched couch who climb;
Their hope that death, their tear-fraught woes to end,
O'er them may soon her sheltering night extend.
LEADER OF 1ST HALF CHORUS
The army-scout, to me it seemeth, friends, Brings us some recent tiding from the host, Plying in haste his charioteering feet.
LEADER OF 2ND HALF CHORUS
And lo! our king, offspring of Edipus, Comes in fair time the herald's news to hear. Unmeasured too his footsteps are through haste.
MESSENGER
I, the foe's movements knowing, can report
How at the gates each hath his post by lot.
Tydeus already at the Proitid gates
Raves; but to cross Ismenos' ford the seer
Forbids, for inauspicious are the rites.
But Tydeus, frenzied, hankering for fight,
Blusters with yell like serpent's noonday hiss,
And at the skilful seer, Oïcles' son,
Aimeth the taunt that he, through cowardice,
Fawneth on death and battle. Shouting thus,
A triple shadowy plume, his helmet's mane,
He shakes, and underneath his hollow shield,
Bells, wrought of brass, clang terror; and he bears,
Enchased upon its front, this proud device-
The nightly firmament ablaze with stars,
And in mid-buckler shines the full-orb'd moon
Conspicuous, queen of stars and eye of night.
Thus raving, he, in haughty garniture,
Shouts near the river banks, in love with war,
As charger, panting fiercely 'gainst the curb,
Hearing the trumpet's blare, with fury chafes.
Whom, as antagonist, to him wilt set?
Who, when the bolts are loosed, may warrant give,
As champion to defend the Proitid gates?
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.).

Notes on the current edition

Seven Against Thebes

1. Single-witness OCR: uncollated. Source layout and readings require scan review; automatic flags are not exhaustive.
2. Reference placement provisional: provisional local reference window from running Greek. Verify the printed source numbering and note scope against the scan.

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

1-77. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-1

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Prolog, in welchem mit tiefer Empfindung und stimmungs- voll die Situation und der Drang des Augenblicks gekennzeichnet wird, nachdem die vorausliegenden Begebenheiten durch die voran- gehenden beiden Dramen der Tri- logie gegeben sind. Dabei tritt uns der Charakter des Eteokles in seiner entschlossenen Tatkraft und patrioti- schen Begeisterung entgegen und wird durch V. 28f., 57f. der weitere Verlauf des Dramas vorbereitet. Eteokles kommt aus dem Palaste und spricht zu den vor dem Hause versammelten Kriegern, Jünglingen, Männern und Greisen, welche nach 35 abziehen.

66. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg004-wecklein1902-com-ger1-49

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ἡμεροσκόπον: Schol. φύλακα ἁπλῶς, vielmehr in Gegensatz zum vorigen Dienste, bei welchem er die Feinde bei der Nacht beobachtete. Ebenso verspricht Hom. K 324 Dolon dem Hektor: σοὶ δ᾽ ἐγὼ οὐχ ἥλιος σκοπὸς ἔσσομαι οὐδ᾽ ἀπὸ δόξης.