Libation Bearers. N. Wecklein. . 2026-09-07.
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Current edition Experimental
Wecklein’s commentary on Choephoroi / Libation Bearers (1888; German; OCR draft) (German) (Explanatory commentary, pp. 163–234; single HW42J8 OCR witness, conservatively retained. Unresolved OCR and provisional reference mappings are explicitly marked.)
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (8)
Χοηφóρoι First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 585-651 focus
Χορός
πολλὰ μὲν γᾶ
1
τρέφει
585
δεινὰ [καὶ
2
] δειμάτων ἄχη,
πόντιαί τ᾽ ἀγκάλαι κνωδάλων
ἀνταίων βρύουσι:
3
πλάθουσι [βλαστοῦσι
4
] καὶ πεδαίχμιοι
λαμπάδες πεδάοροι,
5
590
πτανά τε καὶ πεδοβά-
μονα κἀνεμοέντ᾽ ἂν
6
αἰγίδων φράσαι κότον.
594
Χορός
ἀλλ᾽ ὑπέρτολμον ἀν-
δρὸς φρόνημα τίς λέγοι
595
παντόλμους ἔρωτας
ἄταισι συννόμους βροτῶν;
ξυζύγους δ᾽ ὁμαυλίας
θηλυκρατὴς ἀπέρω-
τος ἔρως παρανικᾷ
600
κνωδάλων τε καὶ βροτῶν.
602
θηλυκρατὴς ἀπέρω-
Χορός
ἴστω δ᾽ ὅστις οὐχ ὑπόπτερος
φροντίσιν δαεὶς,
τὰν ἁ παιδολυ-
μὰς τάλαινα Θεστιὰς μήσατο
605
πυρδαῆτιν
10
πρόνοιαν,
καταίθουσα
11
παιδὸς δαφοινὸν
δαλὸν ἥλικ᾽, ἐπεὶ μολὼν
ματρόθεν κελάδησε,
ξύμμετρόν τε διαὶ
12
βίου
610
μοιρόκραντον
13
ἐς ἆμαρ.
612
Χορός
ἄλλαν δ᾽ ἔστιν
14
ἐν λόγοις στυγεῖν
φοινίαν κόραν,
15
ἅτ᾽ ἐχθρῶν ὑπαὶ
615
φῶτ᾽ ἀπώλεσεν
16
φίλον Κρητικοῖς
χρυσοκμήτοισιν
17
ὅρμοις
Νῖσον ἀθανάτας τριχὸς
νοσφίσασ᾽ ἀπροβούλως
620
πνέονθ᾽
20
ἁ κυνόφρων ὕπνῳ.
κιγχάνει
21
δέ μιν Ἑρμῆς.
623
Χορός
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἐπεμνασάμην
22
ἀμειλίχων
πόνων, †ἀκαιρως δὲ δυσφιλὲς γαμή-
λευμ᾽ ἀπεύχετον δόμοις
625
γυναικοβούλους τε μήτιδας φρενῶν
ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ τευχεσφόρῳ,
τίω
25
δ᾽ ἀθέρμαντον ἑστίαν δόμων
γυναικείαν <τ᾽
26
> ἄτολμον αἰχμάν.
630
631
Χορός
κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον
λόγῳ: γοᾶται δὲ δὴ πάθος
27
κατά-
πτυστον: ᾔκασεν δέ τις
τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.
θεοστυγήτῳ δ᾽ ἄγει
28
635
βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος.
σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.
τί τῶνδ᾽ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;
639
Χορός
τὸ δ᾽ ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφος
διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ
29
640
διαὶ Δίκας. †τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ <οὐ>
λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον, τὸ πᾶν Διὸς
σέβας παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς.
30
†
645
646
Χοηφóρoι Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 585-651 focus
Χορός
πολλὰ μὲν γᾶ τρέφει
585
δεινὰ
καὶ δειμάτων ἄχη,
πόντιαί τʼ ἀγκάλαι κνωδάλων
ἀνταίων βρύουσι·
πλάθουσι
βλαστοῦσι καὶ πεδαίχμιοι
λαμπάδες πεδάοροι,
590
πτανά τε καὶ πεδοβά-
μονα κἀνεμοέντʼ ἂν
αἰγίδων φράσαι κότον.
Χορός
ἀλλʼ ὑπέρτολμον ἀν-
δρὸς φρόνημα τίς λέγοι
595
καὶ γυναικῶν φρεσὶν τλαμόνων
καὶ
παντόλμους ἔρωτας
ἄταισι συννόμους βροτῶν;
ξυζύγους δʼ ὁμαυλίας
θηλυκρατὴς ἀπέρω-
τος ἔρως παρανικᾷ
600
κνωδάλων τε καὶ βροτῶν.
Χορός
ἴστω δʼ, ὅστις οὐχ ὑπόπτερος
φροντίσιν, δαεὶς
τὰν ἁ παιδολυ-
μὰς τάλαινα Θεστιὰς μήσατο
605
πυρδαῆτιν πρόνοιαν,
καταίθουσα παιδὸς δαφοινὸν
δαλὸν ἥλικʼ, ἐπεὶ μολὼν
ματρόθεν κελάδησε,
ξύμμετρόν τε διαὶ βίου
610
μοιρόκραντον ἐς ἆμαρ.
Χορός
ἄλλαν δεῖ τινʼ ἐν λόγοις στυγεῖν
φοινίαν κόραν,
ἅτʼ ἐχθρῶν ὑπαὶ
615
φῶτʼ ἀπώλεσεν φίλον Κρητικοῖς
χρυσοκμήτοισιν ὅρμοις
πιθήσασα δώροισι Μίνω,
Νῖσον ἀθανάτας τριχὸς
νοσφίσασʼ ἀπροβούλως
620
πνέονθʼ ἁ κυνόφρων ὕπνῳ.
κιγχάνει δέ μιν Ἑρμῆς.
Χορός
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐπεμνασάμαν ἀμειλίχων
πόνων, ὁ καιρὸς δὲ δυσφιλὲς γαμή-
λευμʼ ἀπεύχετον δόμοις
625
γυναικοβούλους τε μήτιδας φρενῶν
ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ τευχεσφόρῳ,
ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ δᾴοις ἐπεικότως σέβαι.
τίω δʼ ἀθέρμαντον ἑστίαν δόμων
γυναικείαν
τʼ ἄτολμον αἰχμάν.
630
Χορός
κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον
λόγῳ· γοᾶται δὲ δὴ πάθος κατά-
πτυστον· ᾔκασεν δέ τις
τὸ δεινὸν αὖ Λημνίοισι πήμασιν.
θεοστυγήτῳ δʼ ἄχει
635
βροτῶν ἀτιμωθὲν οἴχεται γένος.
σέβει γὰρ οὔτις τὸ δυσφιλὲς θεοῖς.
τί τῶνδʼ οὐκ ἐνδίκως ἀγείρω;
Χορός
τὸ δʼ ἄγχι πλευμόνων ξίφος
διανταίαν ὀξυπευκὲς οὐτᾷ
640
διαὶ Δίκας. τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ οὖν
λὰξ πέδοι πατούμενον, τὸ πᾶν Διὸς
σέβας παρεκβάντος οὐ θεμιστῶς.
645
Χορός
Δίκας δʼ ἐρείδεται πυθμήν·
προχαλκεύει δʼ Αἶσα φασγανουργός·
τέκνον δʼ ἐπεισφέρει δόμοισιν
αἱμάτων παλαιτέρων τίνειν μύσος
650
χρόνῳ κλυτὰ βυσσόφρων Ἐρινύς.
Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 602 focus
Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 602 focus
ἴστω δ᾽, ὅςτις οὐχ ὑπόπτερος
595
φροντίσιν, τὰν δαεῖσ᾽ ἃ παιδολυ-
μὰς τάλαινα Θεστιὰς μήσατο
πυρδαῆτιν πρόνοιαν,
καταίθουσα παιδὸς δαφοινὸν
Χορός
δαλὸν ἥλικ', ἐπεὶ μολὼν
600
ματρόθεν κελάδησεν,
ξύμμετρόν τε διαὶ βίου
μοιρόκραντον ἐς ἦμαρ.
ἀντ. β'.
ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΧΟΗΦΟΡΟΙ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 602 focus
Ἴστω δ' ὅστις οὐχ ὑπόπτερος
Str. 2.
φροντίσιν δαεὶς
τὰν ἃ παιδολυ-
μὰς
-λύμας τάλαινα Θεστιὰς μήσατο
πυρδαῆ τινα πρόνοι-
605
αν,
καταίθουσα
κ' αἰθοῦσα (κ' αἴθουσα M2) παιδὸς δαφοινὸν
δαλὸν ἥλικ', ἐπεὶ μολὼν
ματρόθεν κελάδησε
ξύμμετρόν τε
διαὶ
διὰ βίου
μοιρόκραντον
-χραντον (-τος M1) δ' ἐς ἦμαρ.
610
Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 602 focus
Χοηφόροι (OCR draft) Experimental (Χοηφόροι. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 602 focus
Aeschyli Choephori (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Choephori. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 602 focus
Translations (9)
Libation Bearers Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 585-650 focus
Chorus
Many are the horrors, dread and appalling, bred of earth, and the arms of the deep teem with hateful monsters. Likewise between heaven and earth
585
lights
1
hung high in the air draw near; and winged things and things that walk the earth can also tell of the stormy wrath of whirlwinds.
590
Chorus
But who can tell of man’s overweening spirit,
and of the reckless passions of women hardened of soul, partners of the woes of mortals? Inordinate passion, overmastering the female,
595
gains a fatal victory over the wedded unions of beasts and humans alike.
600
Chorus
Let whoever is not flighty in his wits know this, when he has learned of the device of a lit brand contrived
by Thestius’ heartless daughter:
2
she destroyed her own child by burning the charred brand of the same age as he when, coming from his mother’s womb, he cried out,
605
and it aged in pace with him through his life to the day decreed by fate.
610
Chorus
And there is in legend another murderous virgin to be loathed,
3
who ruined a loved one at the bidding of his foes, when, lured by Minos’ gift, the Cretan necklace forged of gold, she with her dog’s heart despoiled Nisus of his immortal lock
615
as he drew breath in unsuspecting sleep. And Hermes
4
overtook him.
620
Chorus
But since I have recalled tales of pitiless afflictions, it is the right time to tell of a marriage void of love,
an abomination to the house, and the plots devised by a wife’s cunning against her warrior lord, against her lord revered with reason by his foes. But I honor the hearths of homes not heated by passion’s fires,
625
and in woman a spirit that shrinks from audacious deeds.
630
Chorus
Indeed the Lemnian
5
holds first place among evils in story: it has long been told with groans as an abominable calamity. Men compare each new horror to Lemnian troubles;
and because of a woeful deed abhorred by the gods a race has disappeared, cast out in infamy from among mortals. For no man reveres what is hated by the gods. Is there one of these tales I have gathered that I do not justly cite?
635
Chorus
But the keen and bitter sword is near the breast and drives home its blow at the bidding of Justice.
For truly the injustice of him who has unjustly transgressed the sovereign majesty of Zeus
640
lies on the ground trampled under foot.
6
645
Chorus
The anvil of Justice is planted firm. Destiny fashions her arms and forges her sword quickly, and the famed and deeply brooding Fury is bringing the son into our house,
to requite at last the pollution of blood shed long ago.
650
The Libation Bearers (OCR draft) Experimental (The Libation Bearers. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 602 focus
LES CHOÉPHORES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES CHOÉPHORES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 602 focus
perfide que, meurtrière d'un fils, osa jadis allumer la fille de Thestios 2 , consumant dans la flamme le tison ardent, compagnon donné à son fils dès son premier cri au sortir du sein
maternel,
The Choephoræ (OCR draft) Experimental (The Choephoræ. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 602 focus
CHORUS.
Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Coefore: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 602 focus
2 Antistrofe II.
Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Choephori: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 602 focus
Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Totenspende: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 602 focus
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.) — 602 focus
Let him be the witness, whose thought is not borne on light wings thro' the air,
But abideth with knowledge, what thing was wrought by
1
Althea's despair;
For she marr'd the life-grace of her son, with ill counsel rekindled the flame
That was quenched as it glowed on the brand, what time from his mother he came,
With the cry of a new-born child; and the brand from the burning she won,
700
For the Fates had foretold it coeval, in life and in death, with her son.
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.) — 602 focus
Merkt auf, wenn ihr nicht in leichtem Sinn
Flattert, eitler Art,
Wie dort Thestios'
Arge Tochter, wie die Kindsmörderin
605
Tückevoll den Brand ersonnen!
In Glut warf sie todschnaubend des Sohnes
Lebensfackel, die, seit er bang
Ihrem Schooß sich entwunden,
Ihn durch's Leben geleitete
610
Bis zum Tage des Schicksals.
Zweite Gegenstrophe.
Notes on the current edition
Libation Bearers
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
606.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-hermann1852-appcrit-lat1-389
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
606.
mvp-aeschylus-tlg0085-tlg006-wecklein1888-com-ger1-335