Aeschylus, Libation Bearers, Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator), 806

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

O thou that tenantest the vast chasm, graciously grant that the hero's home may at the same time witness this righteous execution , and that he may look forth fearlessly and brightly with friendly eyes from out the veil of gloom.

Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Volunteer.

Current edition Experimental

The Libation Bearers (OCR draft) (English) (The Libation Bearers. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (8)

Χοηφóρoι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 783-837 focus

str. 1

Χορός

νῦν παραιτουμένᾳ μοι,¹ πάτερ

Ζεῦ θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων,

δὸς τύχας εὖ τυχεῖν² κυρίως
785

τὰ σώφρον᾽³ εὖ μαιομένοις ἰδεῖν.

διὰ δίκας⁴ πᾶν ἔπος⁵

ἔλακον, ὦ Ζεῦ, σύ⁶ νιν φυλάσσοις.

789

Χορός

ἐέ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ᾽χθρῶν

τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,⁷
790

θές, ἐπεί νιν⁸ μέγαν ἄρας,

δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ

παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

794

ant. 1

Χορός

ἴσθι⁹ δ᾽ ἀνδρὸς φίλου πῶλον εὖ-

νιν ζυγέντ᾽ ἐν ἅρμασιν¹⁰
795

πημάτων, ἐν δρόμῳ προστιθεὶς

μέτρον. τίς ἂν σῳζόμενον ῥυθμὸν

τοῦτ᾽ ἴδοι διὰ πέδον¹¹

ἀνομένων βημάτων ὄρεγμα;¹²

800

str. 2

Χορός

οἵ τ᾽ ἔσω¹³ δωμάτων
800

πλουτογαθῆ¹⁴ μυχὸν ἐνίζετε,¹⁵

κλῦτε,¹⁶ σύμφρονες θεοί:

[ἄγετε¹⁷] τῶν πάλαι πεπραγμένων¹⁸

λύσασθ᾽¹⁹ αἷμα προσφάτοις δίκαις.

γέρων φόνος μηκέτ᾽ ἐν δόμοις τέκοι.
805
806

Χορός

τὸ δὲ²⁰ καλῶς κτίμενον²¹ ὦ μέγα ναίων

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνιδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίας²² φῶς

λαμπρὸν²³ ἰδεῖν φιλίοις

ὄμμασιν²⁴ <ἐκ²⁵> δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.
810
811

ant. 2

Χορός

ξυλλάβοι δ᾽ ἐνδίκως

παῖς ὁ Μαίας, ἐπιφορώτατος

πρᾶξιν οὐρίαν θέλων:

[πολλὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα φανεῖ χρηίζων κρυπτά²⁶].
815

ἄσκοπον δ᾽ ἔπος λέγω:²⁷

νύκτα πρό²⁸ τ᾽ ὀμμάτων σκότον φέρει,

καθ᾽ ἡμέραν δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἐμφανέστερος.²⁹

819

str. 3

Χορός

καὶ τότ᾽³⁰ ἤδη κλυτὸν³¹

δωμάτων λυτήριον,
820

θῆλυν οὐριοστάταν

†ὁμοῦ κρεκτον γοα-

τὰν³² νόμον μεθήσομεν.

πόλει τάδ᾽³³ εὖ:

ἐμὸν ἐμὸν κέρδος αὔξεται³⁴ τόδ᾽: ἄ-
825

τα δ᾽ ἀποστατεῖ φίλων†.³⁵

827

Χορός

σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,

ἐπαΰσας Πατρὸς αὐδὰν³⁶

θροούσᾳ [πρὸς σὲ³⁷] Τέκνον [πατρὸς αὐδὰν]

[καὶ] πέραιν᾽³⁸ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
830
831

ant. 3

Χορός

Περσέως τ᾽ ἐν φρεσὶν

καρδίαν ἀνασχεθών,³⁹

τοῖς θ᾽⁴⁰ ὑπὸ χθονὸς φίλοις,⁴¹

†τοῖς τ᾽ ἄνωθεν προπάσσων

χάριτας⁴² ὀργᾶς λυγρᾶς,⁴³ ἔνδοθεν
835

φόνιαν ἄταν τίθει,⁴⁴ τὸν αἴτιον δ᾽

ἐξαπολλύων⁴⁵ μόρου†.⁴⁶

838

Χοηφóρoι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 783-837 focus

Χορός

νῦν παραιτουμένᾳ μοι, πάτερ

Ζεῦ θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων,

δὸς τύχας τυχεῖν δόμου κυρίως
785

τὰ σώφρονʼ εὖ μαιομένοις ἰδεῖν.

διὰ δίκας πᾶν ἔπος

ἔλακον· ὦ Ζεῦ, σύ νιν φυλάσσοις.

789

Χορός

ἓ ἕ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ʼχθρῶν

τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,
790

θές, ἐπεί νιν μέγαν ἄρας,

δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ

παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

794

Χορός

ἴσθι δʼ ἀνδρὸς φίλου πῶλον εὖ-

νιν ζυγέντʼ ἐν ἅρμασιν
795

πημάτων. σὺ δʼ ἐν δρόμῳ προστιθεὶς

μέτρον κτίσον σῳζόμενον ῥυθμὸν

τοῦτʼ ἰδεῖν διὰ πέδον

ἀνομένων βημάτων ὄρεγμα;

800

Χορός

οἵ τʼ ἔσω δωμάτων
800

πλουτογαθῆ μυχὸν νομίζετε,

κλῦτε, σύμφρονες θεοί·

ἄγετε τῶν πάλαι πεπραγμένων

λύσασθʼ αἷμα προσφάτοις δίκαις.

γέρων φόνος μηκέτʼ ἐν δόμοις τέκοι.
805

806

Χορός

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτίμενον ὦ μέγα ναίων

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνιδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίας φῶς

λαμπρὸν ἰδεῖν φιλίοις

ὄμμασιν ἐκ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.
810

811

Χορός

ξυλλάβοι δʼ ἐνδίκως

παῖς ὁ Μαίας, ἐπεὶ φορώτατος

πρᾶξιν οὐρίαν θέλων·

πολλὰ δʼ ἄλλα φανεῖ χρηίζων κρυπτά.
815

ἄσκοπον δʼ ἔπος λέγων

νύκτα πρό τʼ ὀμμάτων σκότον φέρει,

καθʼ ἡμέραν δʼ οὐδὲν ἐμφανέστερος.

819

Χορός

καὶ τότʼ ἤδη κλυτὸν

δωμάτων λυτήριον,
820

θῆλυν οὐριοστάταν οὐδʼ

ὀξύκρεκτον γοα-

τᾶν νόμον θήσομεν· πλεῖ τάδʼ εὖ·

ἐμὸν ἐμὸν κέρδος αὔξεται τόδʼ· ἄ-
825

τα δʼ ἀποστατεῖ φίλων.

827

Χορός

σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,

ἐπαΰσας πατρὸς αὐδὰν

θροούσᾳ πρὸς σὲ τέκνον πατρὸς αὐδὰν

καὶ πέραινʼ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
830

831

Χορός

Περσέως τʼ ἐν φρεσὶν

καρδίαν ἀνασχεθών,

τοῖς θʼ ὑπὸ χθονὸς φίλοισιν,

τοῖς τʼ ἄνωθεν πρόπρασ-

σε χάριν ὀργᾶς λυγρᾶς, ἔνδοθεν
835

φόνιον ἄταν τιθείς, τὸν αἴτιον δʼ

ἐξαπολλύων μόρου.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 806 focus

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτίμενον ὦ μέγα ναίων

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀναδῦν δόμον ἀνδρὸς,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίως

λαμπρῶς ἰδεῖν φιλίοις

810

ὄμμασι δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 806 focus

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτάμενον, ὦ μέγα ναίων
795

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνέδην ἰδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίοις

ὄμμασιν ἐκ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

ἀντ. γ'.

ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 806 focus

Τὸ δὲ τόδε ¹ καλῶς κτίμενον κτάμενον ² ὦ μέγα ναίων

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνιδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίας -ίως

λαμπρὸν -πρῶς ἰδεῖν (φῶς) φιλίοις

810

ὄμμασι(ν ἐκ) δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 806 focus

Τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτίμενον ὦ

μέγα ναίων στόμιον, εὖ

δὸς ἀνιδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίως

805

λαμπρῶς ἰδεῖν φιλίοις

ὄμμασι δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

antistr. 2.

Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 806 focus

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτίμενον ὦ μέγα ναίων

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνιδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίας

λαμπρὸν ἰδεῖν ⟨φῶς⟩ φιλίοις
810

ὄμμασι⟨ν ἐκ⟩ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

Aeschyli Choephori (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Choephori. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 806 focus

τὸ καλῶς δὲ κτίμενον [ὦ]

μέγα ναίων στόμιον [εὐ]

ἀνιδεῖν δὸς δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίας

810

λαμπρὸν φῶς ἰδεῖν φιλίοις

ὄμμασιν (ἐκ) δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας. –

Translations (8)

Libation Bearers Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 783-835 focus

Chorus

Now at my supplication, O Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, grant that the fortunes of our house be firmly established,

so that those who rightly desire the rule of order may behold it. Every word of mine has been uttered in justice. O Zeus, may you safeguard it!
785

789

Chorus

O Zeus, set him who is within the palace before his foes;

since, if you exalt him, he will gladly pay you with double and triple recompense.
790

794

Chorus

Know that the orphaned colt of a loved one is harnessed to the chariot of distress.

And by setting bounds to his course may you grant that we see him keep a steady pace through this race and win the goal in the straining stride of a gallop.¹
795

800

Chorus

And you who within the house inhabit the inner chamber that exults in its wealth, hear me, you gods, that feel with us! By a fresh award redeem the blood of deeds done long ago.
800

May aged Murder cease begetting offspring in our house!
805

806

Chorus

And you who occupy the mighty, gorgeously built cavern,² grant that the man’s house may lift up its eyes again in joy, and that with glad

eyes it may behold from under its veil of gloom the radiant light of freedom.
810

811

Chorus

May Maia’s son,³ as he rightfully should, lend his aid, for no one can better sail a deed on a favoring course, when he would do so.⁴

But by his mysterious utterance he brings darkness over men’s eyes by night, and by day he is no more clear at all.
815

819

Chorus

And then at last with a loud voice we shall sing a song of the deliverance of our house,

the song that women raise when the wind sits fair, and not the shrill strain of those who mourn: The ship goes well. This grows to profit for me, for me, and calamity holds off from those I love.
820

827

Chorus

But may you with good courage, when the part of action comes, cry out loud the name Father when she exclaims Son,

and accomplish the baneful but irreproachable deed.
830

831

Chorus

Raise up Perseus’ spirit within my breast. And for those dear to you below the earth, and for those above, exact satisfaction for their dire wrath

by working bloody ruin in our house and obliterating the guilt of murder.⁵
835

LES CHOÉPHORES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES CHOÉPHORES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 806 focus

Toi qui habites l'édifice splendide bâti autour de la bouche terrible ¹, fais que la maison d'un héros puisse
enfin relever la tête

The Choephoræ (OCR draft) Experimental (The Choephoræ. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 806 focus

Thou, that hast fix'd thy dreary reign

Deep in the yawning gulf below,

Yet let him rise, yet view this scene,

910

Around his gloomy eyeballs throw,

Distinct and clear the vengeance mark,

That threatens from her covert dark!

CHORUS.

Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 806 focus

E tu da la gran fauce

de l'eccelsa caverna

vaticinante, accordami

695

che ancor prospera io scerna

la casa del mio duce,

e lui stesso, dal buio

ch'or lo fascia, con liberi

sguardi brillare in luce.

700

2 Antistrofe II.

CORO

Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 806 focus

Hoc pulchrè interſtitū ò magne habitans uoraginem,

Da uidere domum uiri, & ipſum liberè

Maniſeſteq; uidere, charis oculis tetra

750

Inuolumenta. Comprehendet uerò iuſtè

Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 806 focus

Und tief aus dem Grabe

aufschaue zur Heimat

der Vater, der Fürst.

Und gnädigen Auges

810 erschau' er im Hause

aus nächtigem Schatten der Knechtschaft

auflodernd die Freiheit.

English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1889, second edition) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, The Libation-Bearers — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 806 focus

O thou who dwell'st in Delphi's mighty cave,

Grant us to see this home once more restored

Unto its rightful lord!

Let it look forth, from veils of death, with joyous eye

Unto the dawning light of liberty;
905

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.) — 806 focus

Wenn er den Mord vollbracht, Herrscher in tiefgründiger Kluft,

Laß frei zu dem Hause des Vaters,

Laß ihn leuchtenden Auges und hell

Aus der umschleiernden Nacht emporschau'n!
805
Dritte Gegenstrophe.

Commentary

Critical apparatus to The Libation Bearers (OCR draft) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of The Libation Bearers.) focus

170. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-100

αὐτοῖσιν ἡμῖν

M. G. Ald. Rob. Quod quum egregie conveniat indoli Graecae linguae, non debebat a Turnebo in

αὐταῖσιν ἡμῶν

mutari. Ridet haec Euripides in Electra v. 520. seqq. Aristophanes Nub. v. 530.

νῦν οὖν, Ἠλέκτραν κατ᾽ ἐκείνην, ἡδ᾽ ἡ κωμῳδία ζητοῦσ᾽ ἦλθ᾽, ἦν που 'πιτύχῃ θεαταῖς οὕτω σοφοῖς. γνώσεται γάρ, ἤνπερ ἴδῃ, τἀδελφοῦ τὸν βόστρυχον

, ubi scholiastae Aeschyli Choephoros memorant.

170

Wecklein’s commentary on Choephoroi / Libation Bearers (1888; German; OCR draft) (Explanatory commentary, pp. 163–234; single HW42J8 OCR witness, conservatively retained. Unresolved OCR and provisional reference mappings are explicitly marked.) focus

83-582. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-38

erstes Epeisodion, geteilt durch einen Kommos (305— 476). Anagnorismos und Vorbereitung der Rache.

170. mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-90

Suppl. 365

σὺ δὲ παρ᾽ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραροφρονῶν

Aeschylus Libation Bearers 806

Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Χορός

ἐέ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ᾽χθρῶν

τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,⁷
790

θές, ἐπεί νιν⁸ μέγαν ἄρας,

δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ

παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

794

Χορός

σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,

ἐπαΰσας Πατρὸς αὐδὰν³⁶

θροούσᾳ [πρὸς σὲ³⁷] Τέκνον [πατρὸς αὐδὰν]

[καὶ] πέραιν᾽³⁸ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
830
831

Χορός

ἓ ἕ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ʼχθρῶν

τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,
790

θές, ἐπεί νιν μέγαν ἄρας,

δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ

παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

Χορός

σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,

ἐπαΰσας πατρὸς αὐδὰν

θροούσᾳ πρὸς σὲ τέκνον πατρὸς αὐδὰν

καὶ πέραινʼ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
830

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτάμενον, ὦ μέγα ναίων
795

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνέδην ἰδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίοις

ὄμμασιν ἐκ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

ἀντ. γ'.

Chorus

Now at my supplication, O Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, grant that the fortunes of our house be firmly established,

so that those who rightly desire the rule of order may behold it. Every word of mine has been uttered in justice. O Zeus, may you safeguard it!
785

Chorus

O Zeus, set him who is within the palace before his foes;

since, if you exalt him, he will gladly pay you with double and triple recompense.
790

Chorus

Know that the orphaned colt of a loved one is harnessed to the chariot of distress.

And by setting bounds to his course may you grant that we see him keep a steady pace through this race and win the goal in the straining stride of a gallop.¹
795

Chorus

And you who within the house inhabit the inner chamber that exults in its wealth, hear me, you gods, that feel with us! By a fresh award redeem the blood of deeds done long ago.
800

May aged Murder cease begetting offspring in our house!
805

Chorus

And you who occupy the mighty, gorgeously built cavern,² grant that the man’s house may lift up its eyes again in joy, and that with glad

eyes it may behold from under its veil of gloom the radiant light of freedom.
810

Chorus

May Maia’s son,³ as he rightfully should, lend his aid, for no one can better sail a deed on a favoring course, when he would do so.⁴

But by his mysterious utterance he brings darkness over men’s eyes by night, and by day he is no more clear at all.
815

Chorus

And then at last with a loud voice we shall sing a song of the deliverance of our house,

the song that women raise when the wind sits fair, and not the shrill strain of those who mourn: The ship goes well. This grows to profit for me, for me, and calamity holds off from those I love.
820

Chorus

But may you with good courage, when the part of action comes, cry out loud the name Father when she exclaims Son,

and accomplish the baneful but irreproachable deed.
830

Chorus

Raise up Perseus’ spirit within my breast. And for those dear to you below the earth, and for those above, exact satisfaction for their dire wrath

by working bloody ruin in our house and obliterating the guilt of murder.⁵
835

CHORUS.

CORO

O thou who dwell'st in Delphi's mighty cave,

Grant us to see this home once more restored

Unto its rightful lord!

Let it look forth, from veils of death, with joyous eye

Unto the dawning light of liberty;
905

Wenn er den Mord vollbracht, Herrscher in tiefgründiger Kluft,

Laß frei zu dem Hause des Vaters,

Laß ihn leuchtenden Auges und hell

Aus der umschleiernden Nacht emporschau'n!
805
Dritte Gegenstrophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἐέ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ᾽χθρῶν τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ, 7 790 θές, ἐπεί νιν 8 μέγαν ἄρας, δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει. 794

Χορός σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων, ἐπαΰσας Πατρὸς αὐδὰν 36 θροούσᾳ [πρὸς σὲ 37 ] Τέκνον [πατρὸς αὐδὰν] [καὶ] πέραιν᾽ 38 ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν. 830 831

Χορός ἓ ἕ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ʼχθρῶν τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ, 790 θές, ἐπεί νιν μέγαν ἄρας, δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

Χορός σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων, ἐπαΰσας πατρὸς αὐδὰν θροούσᾳ πρὸς σὲ τέκνον πατρὸς αὐδὰν καὶ πέραινʼ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν. 830

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτάμενον, ὦ μέγα ναίων 795 στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνέδην ἰδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός, καί νιν ἐλευθερίοις ὄμμασιν ἐκ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας. ἀντ. γ'.

Chorus Now at my supplication, O Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, grant that the fortunes of our house be firmly established, so that those who rightly desire the rule of order may behold it. Every word of mine has been uttered in justice. O Zeus, may you safeguard it! 785

Chorus O Zeus, set him who is within the palace before his foes; since, if you exalt him, he will gladly pay you with double and triple recompense. 790

Chorus Know that the orphaned colt of a loved one is harnessed to the chariot of distress. And by setting bounds to his course may you grant that we see him keep a steady pace through this race and win the goal in the straining stride of a gallop. 1 795

Chorus And you who within the house inhabit the inner chamber that exults in its wealth, hear me, you gods, that feel with us! By a fresh award redeem the blood of deeds done long ago. 800 May aged Murder cease begetting offspring in our house! 805

Chorus And you who occupy the mighty, gorgeously built cavern, 2 grant that the man’s house may lift up its eyes again in joy, and that with glad eyes it may behold from under its veil of gloom the radiant light of freedom. 810

Chorus May Maia’s son, 3 as he rightfully should, lend his aid, for no one can better sail a deed on a favoring course, when he would do so. 4 But by his mysterious utterance he brings darkness over men’s eyes by night, and by day he is no more clear at all. 815

Chorus And then at last with a loud voice we shall sing a song of the deliverance of our house, the song that women raise when the wind sits fair, and not the shrill strain of those who mourn: The ship goes well. This grows to profit for me, for me, and calamity holds off from those I love. 820

Chorus But may you with good courage, when the part of action comes, cry out loud the name Father when she exclaims Son, and accomplish the baneful but irreproachable deed. 830

Chorus Raise up Perseus’ spirit within my breast. And for those dear to you below the earth, and for those above, exact satisfaction for their dire wrath by working bloody ruin in our house and obliterating the guilt of murder. 5 835

CHORUS.

CORO

O thou who dwell'st in Delphi's mighty cave, Grant us to see this home once more restored Unto its rightful lord! Let it look forth, from veils of death, with joyous eye Unto the dawning light of liberty; 905

Wenn er den Mord vollbracht, Herrscher in tiefgründiger Kluft, Laß frei zu dem Hause des Vaters, Laß ihn leuchtenden Auges und hell Aus der umschleiernden Nacht emporschau'n! 805 Dritte Gegenstrophe.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ἐέ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ᾽χθρῶν

τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,⁷
790

θές, ἐπεί νιν⁸ μέγαν ἄρας,

δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ

παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

794

Χορός

σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,

ἐπαΰσας Πατρὸς αὐδὰν³⁶

θροούσᾳ [πρὸς σὲ³⁷] Τέκνον [πατρὸς αὐδὰν]

[καὶ] πέραιν᾽³⁸ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
830
831

Χορός

ἓ ἕ, πρὸ δὲ δὴ ʼχθρῶν

τὸν ἔσωθεν μελάθρων, Ζεῦ,
790

θές, ἐπεί νιν μέγαν ἄρας,

δίδυμα καὶ τριπλᾶ

παλίμποινα θέλων ἀμείψει.

Χορός

σὺ δὲ θαρσῶν, ὅταν ἥκῃ μέρος ἔργων,

ἐπαΰσας πατρὸς αὐδὰν

θροούσᾳ πρὸς σὲ τέκνον πατρὸς αὐδὰν

καὶ πέραινʼ ἀνεπίμομφον ἄταν.
830

τὸ δὲ καλῶς κτάμενον, ὦ μέγα ναίων
795

στόμιον, εὖ δὸς ἀνέδην ἰδεῖν δόμον ἀνδρός,

καί νιν ἐλευθερίοις

ὄμμασιν ἐκ δνοφερᾶς καλύπτρας.

ἀντ. γ'.

Chorus

Now at my supplication, O Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, grant that the fortunes of our house be firmly established,

so that those who rightly desire the rule of order may behold it. Every word of mine has been uttered in justice. O Zeus, may you safeguard it!
785

Chorus

O Zeus, set him who is within the palace before his foes;

since, if you exalt him, he will gladly pay you with double and triple recompense.
790

Chorus

Know that the orphaned colt of a loved one is harnessed to the chariot of distress.

And by setting bounds to his course may you grant that we see him keep a steady pace through this race and win the goal in the straining stride of a gallop.¹
795

Chorus

And you who within the house inhabit the inner chamber that exults in its wealth, hear me, you gods, that feel with us! By a fresh award redeem the blood of deeds done long ago.
800

May aged Murder cease begetting offspring in our house!
805

Chorus

And you who occupy the mighty, gorgeously built cavern,² grant that the man’s house may lift up its eyes again in joy, and that with glad

eyes it may behold from under its veil of gloom the radiant light of freedom.
810

Chorus

May Maia’s son,³ as he rightfully should, lend his aid, for no one can better sail a deed on a favoring course, when he would do so.⁴

But by his mysterious utterance he brings darkness over men’s eyes by night, and by day he is no more clear at all.
815

Chorus

And then at last with a loud voice we shall sing a song of the deliverance of our house,

the song that women raise when the wind sits fair, and not the shrill strain of those who mourn: The ship goes well. This grows to profit for me, for me, and calamity holds off from those I love.
820

Chorus

But may you with good courage, when the part of action comes, cry out loud the name Father when she exclaims Son,

and accomplish the baneful but irreproachable deed.
830

Chorus

Raise up Perseus’ spirit within my breast. And for those dear to you below the earth, and for those above, exact satisfaction for their dire wrath

by working bloody ruin in our house and obliterating the guilt of murder.⁵
835

O thou who dwell'st in Delphi's mighty cave,

Grant us to see this home once more restored

Unto its rightful lord!

Let it look forth, from veils of death, with joyous eye

Unto the dawning light of liberty;
905

Wenn er den Mord vollbracht, Herrscher in tiefgründiger Kluft,

Laß frei zu dem Hause des Vaters,

Laß ihn leuchtenden Auges und hell

Aus der umschleiernden Nacht emporschau'n!
805
Dritte Gegenstrophe.