Aeschylus Eumenides 83.blass-note-pass2-2

ed. Friedrich Blass

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Eumenides. Aeschylus. ed. Friedrich Blass. Berlin. 1907.

Current edition Experimental

Kommentar zu den Eumeniden (OCR draft) (German) (German commentary on Aeschylus' Eumenides by Friedrich Blass, 1907.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)
Εὐμενίδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 143-177 focus
Εὐμενίδες Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 143-177 focus
Εὐμενίδες (1518 edition; OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides, 1518 edition. VLM-assisted OCR with native lineation and automated correspondence to the Smyth edition.) — 94 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 94 focus
ἰοὺ ἰοὺ πόπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι,
ἢ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγὼ,
ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχὲς, ὦ πόποι, ἄφερτον
145
κακόν.
ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θ᾽ ὁ θήρ.
ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσ᾽ ἄγραν ὤλεσα.
ἰὼ παῖ Διὸς, ἐπίκλοπος πέλει,
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,
150
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ τοκεῦσιν πι-
κρὸν,
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
155
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν.
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος [δαΐου] δαμίου
160
βαρὺ τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοὶ
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον
φονολιβῆ θρόμβον
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα.
165
πάρεστι γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν προσδρακεῖν [αἱμάτων]
βλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον ἄγος ἔχειν.
ἐφεστίῳ δὲ μάντις ὢν μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἔχρανας αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
170
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ Μοίρας φθίσας.
κἀμοί τε λυπρὸς καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν οὔ ποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται.
175
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳ
μιάστορ᾽ ἐκείνου πάσεται.
ὅρα ὅρα μάλ᾽ αὖ λεῦσσέ τε πάντα, μὴ
255
λάθῃ φύγδα βὰς ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
ὁ δ᾽ αὖτέ γ᾽ ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χερῶν.
260
τὸ δ᾽ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῷον χαμαὶ,
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ,
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.
ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σ᾽ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πέλανον· ἀπὸ δὲ σοῦ
265
φεροίμαν βοσκὰν πώματος δυσπότου·
καὶ ζῶντά σ᾿ ἰσχνάνασ᾽ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
ἀντίποιν᾿ ὡς τίνῃς ματροφόνου δύας.
ὄψει δὲ κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἤλιτεν βροτῶν
ἢ θεὸν ἢ ξένον τιν ἀσεβῶν ἢ τοκέας φίλους,
270
ἔχονθ᾽ ἕκαστον τῆς δίκης ἐπάξια.
μέγας γὰρ ῞Αιδης ἐστὶν εὔθυνος βροτῶν
ἔνερθε χθονὸς, δελτογράφῳ δὲ πάντ᾽ ἐπωπᾷ
φρενί.
275
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 94 focus
ἰοὺ ἰοὺ, πόπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι.
ἰὼ παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέλει,
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ
160
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λόβον.
τοιαῦτα ὁρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοί,
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον,
165
ἐφεστίῳ δέ, μάντις ὤν, μιάσματι
170
μυχὸν ἔχρανας αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ Μοίρας φθίσας.
ἐμοί τε λυπρὸς καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν οὔ ποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται·
175
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳ
μιάστορ᾽ αὑτῷ πάσεται.
ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 94 focus
Ἰοὺ ἰοὺ πύπαξ πυπὰξ· ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι,
ἢ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ
ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχές -αχθές, ὢ ὣ πόποι,
145
ἄφερτον κακόν·
ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θ' δ' ὁ θήρ —
ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσ' ἄγραν ὤλεσα.
Ἰὼ παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέλῃ,
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας γραίας δὲ δαίμονας νέος καθιππάσω
150
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν,
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ' ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός·
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τίς τις δικαίως ἔχειν ;
Ἐμοὶ δ' ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
155
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν·
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος
δαίου δαμίου
160
τὸ βαρὺ βαρὺ τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
Τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοὶ
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον·
φονολιβῆ -λειβῆ θρόνον
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα
165
πάρεστι, γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν,
προσδρακεῖν αἱμάτων
βλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον αἰρό- αἱρο- ἄγος ἔχειν.
Ἐφεστίῳ δὲ μάντις ὢν μάντι σῶι μιάσματι
μυχὸν μυκὸν σὸν οἶκον ἐχράνατ' αὐ-
170
τόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον παρανόμων παρα νόμων θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ μοίρας φθίσας.
Κἀμοί τε τε λυπρὸς καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπὸ δὲ γᾶν φυγὼν φεύγων
175
οὔ ποτ' ἐλευθεροῦται,
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ' δ᾽ ὢν ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳ
μιάστορ᾽ εἶσιν οὗ ἐκείνου πάσεται.
Ὅρα ὅρα μάλ' αὖ λεῦσσέ τε ...λεύσσετον λεῦσσε τὸν πάντα πάνται, μὴ
λάθῃ φύγδα βὰς βὰς ὁ ματροφόνος ἀτίτας ἀτίμας.
255
Ὅδ' αὖτε γοῦν γ' οὖν ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χερῶν
τὸ δ' τόδ' οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῷον χαμαί
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Arthur Sidgwick, 1887.) — 94 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 94 focus
εὕδοιτ᾽ ἄν, ὠή, καὶ καθευδουσῶν τί δεῖ;
ὄναρ διώκεις θῆρα, κλαγγαίνεις δ᾽ ἅπερ
κύων μέριμναν οὔποτ᾽ ἐκλείπων πόνου.
τί δρᾷς; ἀνίστω, μή σε νικάτω πόνος,
μηδ᾽ ἀγνοήσῃς πῆμα μαλθαχθεῖσ᾽ ὕπνῳ.
ἄλγησον ἤπαρ ἐνδίκοις ὀνείδεσιν·
135
τοῖς σώφροσιν γὰρ ἀντίκεντρα γίγνεται.
οὐδ᾽ αἱματηρὸν πνεῦμ᾽ ἐπουρίσασα τῷ,
ἀτμῷ κατισχναίνουσα, νηδύος πυρί·
ἕπου, μάραινε δευτέροις διώγμασιν.
Ἰοὺ ἰού, πύπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι,
ἦ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ,
Ἰὼ παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέλῃ,
Νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω·
150
Τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν,
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.
Τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;
2
Ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
155
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν.
Πάρεστι μαστίκτορος
δαΐου δαμίου
160
βαρὺ τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
2
Τοιαῦτα ὁρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοὶ
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον
φονολιβῆ θρόνον
ἐφεστίῳ δέ, μάντι, σῷ μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἔχρανας αὐ-
170
τόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ Μοίρας φθίσας.
3
καμοί γε λυπρὸς καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν
175
οὔποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται,
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳ
μιάστορ᾽ ἐκείνου πάσεται.
ἔξω, κελεύω, τῶνδε δωμάτων τάχος
χωρεῖτ᾽, ἀπαλλάσσεσθε μαντικῶν μυχῶν,
180
μὴ καὶ λαβοῦσα πτηνὸν ἀργηστὴν ὄφιν,
ἢ κάρτ᾽ ἄτιμα καὶ παρ᾽ οὐδὲν ἠρκέσω
Ἥρας τελείας καὶ Διὸς πιστώματα·
Κύπρις δ᾽ ἄτιμος τῷδ᾽ ἀπέρριπται λόγῳ,
215
ὅθεν βροτοῖσι γίγνεται τὰ φίλτατα.
Ὅρα ὅρα μάλ᾽ αὖ,
λεύσσετον πάντα, μὴ
255
λάθῃ φύγδα βὰς
ὁ ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
ἐγὼ διδαχθεὶς ἐν κακοῖς ἐπίσταμαι
πολλοὺς καθαρμούς, καὶ λέγειν ὅπου δίκη
σιγᾶν θ᾽ ὁμοίως· ἐν δὲ τῷδε πράγματι
φωνεῖν ἐτάχθην πρὸς σοφοῦ διδασκάλου·
βρίζει γὰρ αἷμα καὶ μαραίνεται χερός,
280
μητροκτόνον μίασμα δ᾽ ἔκπλυτον πέλει.
ποταίνιον γὰρ ὂν πρὸς ἑστίᾳ θεοῦ
Φοίβου καθαρμοῖς ἠλάθη χοιροκτόνοις.
πολὺς δέ μοι γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς λόγος,
ὅσοις προσῆλθον ἀβλαβεῖ ξυνουσίᾳ.
285
[χρόνος καθαιρεῖ πάντα γηράσκων ὁμοῦ.]
καὶ νῦν ἀφ᾽ ἁγνοῦ στόματος εὐφήμως καλῶ
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 94 focus
ἰὼ παῖ Διός·
150
ἐπίκλοπος πέληι,
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν·
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός,
155
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρωι
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν·
160
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος
δαΐου δαμίου
βαρύ τι περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοί,
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον
165
φονολιβῆ θρόνον ἴδου
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα·
ἐφεστίωι δὲ μάντις ὢ⟨ν⟩ μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἐχράνατ᾽ αὐτόσσυτος αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ Μοίρας φθίσας.
κἀμοί τε λυπρός, καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται·
175
ὑπὸ δὲ γᾶν φυγὼν οὔποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται,
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐν κάραι
μιάστορ’ †ἐκείνου† πάσεται.
— ὅρα ὅρα μάλ᾽ αὖ· λεῦσσε τό⟨πο⟩ν πάντα,
255
μὴ λάθηι φύγδα βὰς ⟨ὁ⟩ ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
ὅδ᾽ αὖτε γοῦν† ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χρεῶν.
260
τὸ δ᾽ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῶιον χαμαὶ
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ·
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.
ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σ’ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πελανόν, ἀπὸ δὲ σοῦ
265
βοσχὰν φεροίμαν πώματος δυσπότου·
καὶ ζῶντά σ’ ἰσχνάνασ’ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
Aeschyli Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Eumenides. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 94 focus
ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι,
πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ.
145
ἐπάθομεν πάθος
δυσαχές, ὦ πόποι, ἄφερτον κακόν·
ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θ’ ὁ θήρ.
ἰὼ παῖ Διός
150
ἐπίκλοπος πέληι
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω.
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων,
ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν.
155
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν; =
ἐμοὶ δ’ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
ἔτυψεν δίκαν
διφρηλάτου
160
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρωι
ὑπὸ φρένας,
ὑπὸ λοβόν.
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος δαΐου δαμίου
βαρὺ περίβαρυ τὸ κρύος ἔχειν.
165
τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοί
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον·
φονολιβῆ θρόνον
περὶ πόδα
περὶ κάρα
170
πάρεστι γᾶς (τ’) ὀμφαλὸν προσδρακεῖν αἱμάτων
βλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον ἄγος ἔχειν. =
ἐφεστίωι δὲ μάντις ὢν μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἐχράνατ’ αὐτόσσυτος αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
175
κἀμοίγε λυπρὸς καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπὸ δὲ γᾶν φυγὼν οὔποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται,
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ’ ἕτερον ἐν κάραι
μιάστορ᾽ εἰσιν οὗ πάσεται. –
180
ὅρα ὅρα μάλ᾽ αὖ, λεύσσετε πάντα, μὴ
λάθηι φύγδα βὰς
255
[δ] ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
ὅδ᾽ αὐτός· [οὖν] ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χρεῶν.
τὸ δ᾽ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῶιον χαμαί
260
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ,
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.
ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σ᾽ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πέλανον· ἀπὸ δέ σου
βοσκὰν φεροίμαν πώματος δυσπότου.
265
καὶ ζῶντά σ᾿ ἰσχνάνασ᾽ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
(ἵν᾽) ἀντιποίνους τίνηις μητροφόντας δύας.
ὄψει δὲ κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἤλιτεν βροτῶν
ἢ θεὸν ἢ ξένον τιν᾿ ἀσεβῶν
ἢ τοκέας φίλους,
270
ἔχονθ᾽ ἕκαστον τῆς δίκης ἐπάξια.
μέγας γὰρ ῞Αιδης ἐστὶν εὔθυνος βροτῶν
ἔνερθε χθονός,
δελτογράφωι δὲ πάντ᾽ ἐπωπᾶι φρενί.
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by F. A. Paley, 1885.) — 94 focus
εὕδοιτ᾿ ἂν, ὠὴ, καὶ καθευδουσῶν τί δεῖ;
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὧδ᾽ ἀπητιμασμένη
95
ἄλλοισιν ἐν νεκροῖσιν, ὡς μὲν ἔκτανον
ὄνειδος ἐν φθιτοῖσιν οὐκ ἐκλείπεται,
αἰσχρῶς δ᾽ ἀλῶμαι· προὐννέπω δ᾽ ὑμῖν ὅτι
ἔχω μεγίστην αἰτίαν κείνων ὕπο·
παθοῦσα δ᾽ οὕτω δεινὰ πρὸς τῶν φιλτάτων,
100
οὐδεὶς ὑπέρ μου δαιμόνων μηνίεται,
κατασφαγείσης πρὸς χερῶν μητροκτόνων.
ὁρᾶτε πληγὰς τάσδε καρδίας ὅθεν·
εὔδουσα γὰρ φρὴν ὄμμασιν λαμπρύνεται·
ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δὲ μοῖρ᾽ ἀπρόσκοπος βροτῶν.
105
ἢ πολλὰ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐλείξατε·
χοάς τ᾽ ἀοίνους, νηφάλια μειλίγματα,
καὶ νυκτίσεμνα δεῖπν᾿ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάρᾳ πυρὸς
ἔθυον, ὥραν οὐδενὸς κοινὴν θεῶν.
καὶ πάντα ταῦτα λὰξ ὁρῶ πατούμενα·
110
ὁ δ᾽ ἐξαλύξας οἴχεται νεβροῦ δίκην,
καὶ ταῦτα κούφως ἐκ μέσων ἀρκυστάτων
ὤρουσεν, ὑμῖν ἐγκατιλλώψας μέγα.
ἀκούσαθ᾽· ὡς ἔλεξα τῆς ἐμῆς πέρι
ψυχῆς· φρονήσατ᾽, ὦ κατὰ χθονὸς θεαί.
115
ὄναρ γὰρ ὑμᾶς νῦν Κλυταιμνήστρα καλῶ.
μύζοιτ᾽ ἂν, ἀνὴρ δ᾽ οἴχεται φεύγων πρόσω·
φίλοις γάρ εἰσιν, οὐκ ἐμοὶ, προσίκτορες.
ἄγαν ὑπνώσσεις, κου κατοικτίζεις πάθος.
ὄναρ διώκεις θῆρα, κλαγγαίνεις δ᾽ ἅπερ
κύων μέριμναν οὔποτ᾽ ἐκλιπὼν πόνου.
τί δρᾷς; ἀνίστω, μή σε νικάτω πόνος,
μηδ᾽ ἀγνοήσῃς πῆμα μαλθαχθεῖσ᾽ ὕπνῳ.
ἄλγησον ἡπαρ ἐνδίκοις ὀνείδεσιν·
130
τοῖς σώφροσιν γὰρ ἀντίκεντρα γίγνεται.
σὺ δ᾽ αἱματηρὸν πνεῦμ᾽ ἐπουρίσασα τῷ,
ἀτμῷ κατισχναίνουσα, νηδύος πυρὶ,
ἕπου, μάραινε δευτέροις διώγμασιν.
ἰοὺ, ἰοὺ, πόπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι
ἢ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάταν ἐγώ, –
ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχὲς, ὦ πόποι,
140
ἄφερτον κακόν.
ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν, οἴχεται δ᾽ ὁ θήρ.
ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσ᾽ ἄγραν ὤλεσα.
ἰὼ, παῖ Διὸς, ἐπίκλοπος πέλει
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,-
145
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν.
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;
ἐμοὶ δὲ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
150
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν.
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος δαΐου δαμίου
βαρύ, τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
155
τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοὶ,
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον·
φονολιβή θρόμβον
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα-
πάρεστι γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν προσδρακεῖν αἱμάτων
160
βλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον ἄγος ἔχειν,
ἐφεστίῳ δὲ, μάντις ὢν, μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἔχρανας αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ Μοίρας φθίσας.
165
καμοί γε λυπρὸς, καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται, ἀντ. γ΄.
ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν οὔ ποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται·
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳ
μιάστορ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ πάσεται.
ἔξω, κελεύω, τῶνδε δωμάτων τάχος
170
χωρεῖτ᾽, ἀπαλλάσσεσθε μαντικῶν μυχῶν
μὴ καὶ λαβούσα πτηνὸν ἀργηστὴν ὄφιν,
χρυσηλάτου θώμιγγος ἐξορμώμενον,
ἀνῆς ὑπ᾿ ἄλγους μέλαν᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων ἀφρὸν,
ἐμοῦσα θρόμβους οὓς ἀφείλκυσας φόνου.
175
οὔτοι δόμοισι τοῖσδε χρίμπτεσθαι πρέπει·
ἀλλ᾽ οὗ καρανιστῆρες ὀφθαλμωρύχοι
δίκαι, σφαγαί τε, σπέρματός τ᾿ ἀποφθορᾷ
παίδων κακοῦται χλοῦνις, ἠδ᾽ ἀκρωνία
λευσμοί τε, καὶ μύζουσιν οἰκτισμὸν πολὺν
180
ὑπὸ ῥάχιν παγέντες. ἆρ᾿ ἀκούετε
οἷας ἑορτῆς ἔστ᾽ ἀπόπτυστοι θεοῖς
στέργηθρ᾽ ἔχουσαι; πᾶς δ᾽ ὑφηγεῖται τρόπος
μορφῆς. λέοντος ἄντρον αἱματορρόφου
οἰκεῖν τοιαύτας εἰκὸς, οὐ χρηστηρίοις
185
ἐν τοῖσδε πλησίοισι τρίβεσθαι μύσος.
χωρεῖτ᾽ ἄνευ βοτῆρος αἰπολούμεναι·
ποίμνης τοιαύτης δ᾽ οὔτις εὐφιλὴς θεῶν.
ἢ κάρτ᾽ ἄτιμα καὶ παρ᾿ οὐδὲν εἰργάσω
Ἥρας Τελείας καὶ Διὸς πιστώματα·
205
Κύπρις δ᾽ ἄτιμος τῷδ᾽ ἀπέρριπται λόγῳ,
ὅθεν βροτοῖσι γίγνεται τὰ φίλτατα.
εὐνὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ μορσίμη
ὅρκου ἐστὶ μείζων τῇ δίκῃ φρουρουμένη.
εἰ τοῖσιν οὖν κτείνουσιν ἀλλήλους χαλᾷς,
210
τὸ μὴ γενέσθαι μηδ᾽ ἐποπτεύειν κότῳ,
οὔ φημ᾽ Ὀρέστην σ᾽ ἐνδίκως ἀνδρηλατεῖν.
τὰ μὲν γὰρ οἶδα κάρτα σ᾽ ἐνθυμουμένην,
τὰ δ᾽ ἐμφανῶς πράσσουσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν.
δίκας δὲ Παλλὰς τῶνδ᾽ ἐποπτεύσει θεά.
215
ὅρα, ὅρα μάλ᾽ αὖ, παντᾶ λεῦσσε μὴ
245
λάθῃ φύγδα βὰς ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
ὁ δ᾽ αὐτέ γ᾽ ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χερῶν.
250
τὸ δ᾽ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα ματρῷον χαμαὶ
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ.
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.
ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σ᾽ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πέλανον· ἀπὸ δὲ σου
255
βοσκὰν φεροίμαν πώματος δυσπότου·
καὶ ζῶντά σ᾿ ἰσχνάνασ᾽ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
ἀντιποίνους τίνειν ματροφόνους δύας.
ὄψει δὲ κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἤλιτεν βροτῶν
260
ἢ θεὸν ἢ ξένον τιν᾿ οὐκ εὐσεβῶν ἢ τοκέας φίλους,
ἔχονθ᾽ ἕκαστον τῆς δίκης ἐπάξια.
μέγας γὰρ "Αιδης ἐστὶν εὔθυνος βροτῶν
ἔνερθε χθονός,
δελτογράφῳ δὲ πάντ᾽ ἐπωπᾷ φρενί.
265
ἐγὼ, διδαχθεὶς ἐν κακοῖς, ἐπίσταμαι
πολλοὺς καθαρμοὺς, καὶ λέγειν ὅπου δίκη,
σιγᾶν θ᾽ ὁμοίως· ἐν δὲ τῷδε πράγματι
φωνεῖν ἐτάχθην πρὸς σοφοῦ διδασκάλου·
βρίζει γὰρ αἷμα καὶ μαραίνεται χερός,
270
μητροκτόνον μίασμα δ᾽ ἔκπλυτον πέλει·
ποταίνιον γὰρ ὂν πρὸς ἑστίᾳ θεοῦ
Φοίβου καθαρμοῖς ἠλάθη χοιροκτόνοις.
πολὺς δέ μοι γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς λόγος,
ὅσοις προσῆλθον ἀβλαβεῖ ξυνουσίᾳ.
275
χρόνος καθαίρει πάντα γηράσκων ὁμοῦ.
καὶ νῦν ἀφ᾽ ἁγνοῦ στόματος εὐφήμως καλῶ
χώρας ἄνασσαν τῆσδ᾽ ᾿Αθηναίαν ἐμοὶ
μολεῖν ἀρωγόν· κτήσεται δ᾽ ἄνευ δορὸς
αὐτόν τε καὶ γῆν καὶ τὸν ᾿Αργεῖον λεών,
280
πιστὸν δικαίως ἐς τὸ πᾶν τε σύμμαχον.
ἀλλ᾽ εἴτε χώρας ἐν τόποις Λιβυστικοῖς,
Τρίτωνος ἀμφὶ χεῦμα γενεθλίου πόρου,
τίθησιν ὀρθὸν ἢ κατηρεφή πόδα
φίλοις ἀρήγουσ᾽, εἴτε Φλεγραίαν πλάκα,
285
θρασύς ταγοῦχος ὡς ἀνὴρ, ἐπισκοπεῖ,
ἔλθοι,-κλύει δὲ καὶ πρόσωθεν ὢν θεὸς, -
ὅπως γένοιτο τῶνδ᾽ ἐμοὶ λυτήριος.
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by Friedrich Blass, 1907.) — 94 focus
εὕδοιτ᾽ ἂν, ὠή, καὶ καθευδουσῶν τί δεῖ;
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὧδ᾽ ἀπητιμασμένη
95
ὡς μὲν ἔκτανον
ἄλλοισιν ἐν νεκροῖσιν
ὄνειδος ἐν φθιτοῖσιν οὐκ ἐκλείπεται,
αἰσχρῶς δ᾽ ἀλῶμαι· προυννέπω δ᾽ ὑμῖν ὅτι
ἔχω μεγίστην αἰτίαν κείνων ὑπερ·
παθοῦσα δ᾽ οὕτω δεινὰ πρὸς τῶν φιλτάτων,
100
οὐδεὶς ὑπέρ μου δαιμόνων μηνίσεται,
κατασφαγείσης πρὸς χερῶν μητροκτόνων;
δρα δὲ πληγὰς τᾶσδε καρδίᾶι σέθεν.
εύδουσα γὰρ φρὴν ὄμμασιν λαμπρύνεται,
ἐν ἡμέρᾶι δὲ μοῖρ᾽ ἀπρόσκοπος βροτῶν.
105
ἢ πολλὰ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐλείξατε,
χοάς τ᾽ ἀοίνους, νηφάλια μειλίγματα,
καὶ νυκτίσεμνα δεῖπν᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάρᾶι πυρὸς
ἔθυον, ὥραν οὐδενὸς κοινὴν θεῶν.
καὶ πάντα ταῦτα λὰξ ὁρῶ πατούμενα.
110
ὁ δ᾽ ἐξαλύξας οἴχεται νεβροῦ δίκην,
καὶ ταῦτα κούφως ἐκ μέσων ἀρκυστάτων
ὤρουσεν ὑμῖν ἐγκατιλλώψας μέγα.
ἀκούσαθ᾽, ὡς ἔλεξα τῆς ἐμῆς περὶ
ψυχῆς, φρονήσατ᾽, ὦ κατὰ χθονὸς θεαί.
115
ὄναρ γὰρ ὑμᾶς νῦν Κλυταιμήστρα καλῶ.
μυγμός.
ὄναρ διώκεις θῆρα, κλαγγαίνεις δ᾽ ἅπερ
κύων μέριμναν οὔποτ᾽ ἐκλείπων πόνου.
τί δρᾶις; ἀνίστω, μή σε νικάτω πόνος,
μηδ᾽ ἀγνοήσηις πῆμα μαλθαχθεῖσ᾽ ὕπνωι.
ἄλγησον ἦπαρ ἐνδίκοις ὀνείδεσιν·
135
τοῖς σώφροσιν γὰρ ἀντίκεντρα γίγνεται.
σὺ δ᾽ αἱματηρὸν πνεῦμ᾽ ἐπουρίσασα τῶι,
ἀτμῶι κατισχναίνουσα, νηδύος πυρί,
ἕπου, μάραινε δευτέροις διώγμασιν.
ἰοὺ ἰοὺ πύπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι
στρ. α
ἦ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ –
ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχές, ὦ πόποι, ἄφερτον
145
κακόν.
ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θ᾽ ὁ θήρ.
ὕπνωι κρατηθεῖσ᾽ ἄγραν ὤλεσα.
ἰὼ παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέληι,
ἀντ. α
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,
150
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ τοκεῦσιν πικρόν,
τὸν μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
155
στρ. β 155
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρωι
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν.
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος δαΐου δαμίου
160
βαρύ τι περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.
τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοί
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον
ἀντ. β
φονολιβή θρόνον
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα.
165
πάρεστι γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν προσδρακεῖν αἱμάτων
βλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον ἅγος ἔχειν.
στρ. γ
ἐφεστίωι δὲ μάντις ὢν μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἐχράνατ᾿ αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
170
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ μοίρας φθίσας.
κάμοί τε λυπρὸς καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν οὐ ποτ᾽ ἐλευθεροῦται,
175
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾶι
μιάστορ᾽ εἶσιν οὗ πάσεται.
ἀντ. γ
ἔξω, κελεύω, τῶνδε δωμάτων τάχος
χωρεῖτ᾽, ἀπαλλάσσεσθε μαντικῶν μυχῶν,
180
μὴ καὶ λαβοῦσα πτηνὸν ἀργηστὴν ὄφιν,
χρυσηλάτου θώμιγγος ἐξορμώμενον,
ἀνῆις ὑπ᾽ ἄλγους μέλαν᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων ἀφρόν,
ἐμοῦσα θρόμβους οὓς ἀφείλκυσας φόνου.
οὔτοι δόμοισι τοῖσδε χρίμπτεσθαι πρέπει·
185
ἀλλ᾽ οὗ καρανιστῆρες ὀφθαλμωρύχοι
δίκαι, σφαγαί τε, σπέρματός τ᾽ ἀποφθοραὶ
παίδων, κακοῦ τε χλοῦνις ἠδ᾽ ἀκρωνιά,
λευσμός τε, καὶ μύζουσιν οἰκτισμὸν πολὺν
ὑπὸ ῥάχιν παγέντες. ἆρ᾽ ἀκούετε
190
οἵας ἑορτῆς ἔστ᾽ ἀπόπτυστοι θεοῖς
στέργηθρ᾽ ἔχουσαι; πᾶς δ᾽ ὑφηγεῖται τρόπος
μορφῆς. λέοντος ἄντρον αἱματορρόφου
οἰκεῖν τοιαύτας εἰκός, οὐ χρηστηρίοις
ἐν τοῖσδε κληισίοισι τρίβεσθαι μύσος.
195
χωρεῖτ᾽ ἄνευ βοτῆρος αἰπολούμεναι.
ποίμνης τοιαύτης δ᾽ οὔτις εὐφιλὴς θεῶν.
ᾖ κάρτ᾽ ἄτιμα καὶ παρ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦρκας ὣς
Ήρας τελείας καὶ Διὸς πιστώματα.
Κύπρις δ᾽ ἄτιμος τῶιδ᾽ ἀπέρριπται λόγωι,
215
ὅθεν βροτοῖσι γίγνεται τὰ φίλτατα.
εὐνὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ μόρσιμος
ὅρκου ᾿στὶ μείζων τῆι δίκηι φρουρουμένη.
εἰ τοῖσιν οὖν κτείνουσιν ἀλλήλους χαλᾶις
τὸ μὴ τίνεσθαι μηδ᾽ ἐποπτεύειν κότωι,
220
οὔ φημ᾽ Ὀρέστην σ᾽ ἐνδίκως ἀνδρηλατεῖν.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ οἶδα κάρτα σ᾽ ἐνθυμουμένην,
τὰ δ᾽ ἐμφανῶς πράσσουσαν ἡσυχαιτέραι.
δίκας δὲ Παλλὰς τῶνδ᾽ ἐποπτεύσει θεά.
ὅρα ὅρα μάλ᾽ αὖ λεῦσσέ τε τὸν πάντᾶι,
μὴ λάθηι φύγδα βὰς ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
῾Ο δ᾽ αὖτέ γ᾽ ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χρεῶν.
260
τὸ δ᾽ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῶιον χαμαί.
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ,
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.
Ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σ᾽ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πέλανον· ἀπὸ δὲ σοῦ
265
φεροίμαν βοσκὰν πώματος δυσπότου·
καὶ ζῶντά σ᾿ ἰσχνάνασ᾽ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
ἀντίποιν᾿ ὡς τίνηις ματροφόνου δύας.
Ὄψηι δὲ κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἤλιτεν βροτῶν
ἢ θεὸν ἢ ξένον τιν᾿ ἀσεβῶν ἢ τοκέας φίλους,
ἔχονθ᾽ ἕκαστον τὴν δίκην ἐπαξίαν.
μέγας γὰρ Ἅιδης ἐστὶν εὔθυνος βροτῶν
ἔνερθε χθονός, δελτογράφωι δὲ πάντ᾽ ἐπωπᾶι
φρενί.
275
ἐγὼ διδαχθεὶς ἐν κακοῖς ἐπίσταμαι
πολλῶν τε καιρούς, καὶ λέγειν ὅπου δίκη
σιγᾶν θ᾽ ὁμοίως· ἐν δὲ τῶιδε πράγματι
φωνεῖν ἐτάχθην πρὸς σοφοῦ διδασκάλου.
βρίζει γὰρ αἷμα καὶ μαραίνεται χερός,
280
μητροκτόνον μίασμα δ᾽ ἔκπλυτον πέλει.
ποταίνιον γὰρ ὂν πρὸς ἑστίᾶι θεοῦ
Φοίβου καθαρμοῖς ἠλάθη χοιροκτόνοις.
πολὺς δέ μοι γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς λόγος,
ὅσοις προσῆλθον ἀβλαβεῖ ξυνουσίαι.
285
χρόνος καθαίρει πάντα γηράσκων ὁμοῦ.
καὶ νῦν ἀφ᾽ ἁγνοῦ στόματος εὐφήμως καλῶ
χώρας ἄνασσαν τῆσδ᾽ Ἀθηναίαν ἐμοὶ
μολεῖν ἀρωγόν· κτήσεται δ᾽ ἄνευ δορὸς
αὐτόν τε καὶ γῆν καὶ τὸν Ἀργεῖον λεὼν
290
πιστὸν δικαίως ἐς τὸ πᾶν τε σύμμαχον.
ἀλλ᾽ εἴτε χώρας ἐν τόποις Λιβυστικῆς,
Τρίτωνος ἀμφὶ χεῦμα γενεθλίου πόρου,
τίθησιν ὀρθὸν οὐ κατηρεφῆ πόδα,
φίλοις ἀρήγουσ᾽, εἴτε Φλεγραίαν πλάκα
295
θρασὺς ταγοῦχος ὡς ἀνὴρ ἐπισκοπεῖ,
ἔλθοι, κλύει δὲ καὶ πρόσωθεν ὢν θεός,
ὅπως γένοιτο τῶνδ᾽ ἐμοὶ λυτήριος.
Translations (11)
Eumenides Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 143-175 focus
The Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (The Eumenides. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 94 focus
Sleep on, will ye 2
? and what need is there of sleepers? But I thus dishonored by you among the other dead, because I was a slayer, reproach among the dead ceases not: and in disgrace I wander, and I declare to you that I have the greatest reproach from those. But having suffered thus dreadful things from those most dear, none of the deities is enraged on account of me, slaughtered by matricidal hands. Behold these blows on thee, my heart 3
, for the slumbering mind is keen in its eyes 4
, but during day the fate of mortals can not foresee 5
futurity. Full oftentimes have ye tasted of my offerings 6
, both wineless libations, temperate­ soothing gifts, and I have offered at the hearth of fire nightly solemn feasts at an hour common to none of the gods. And all these things I behold trampled under the heel. But he is gone having escaped like a fawn, and moreover lightly has he rushed from the midst of the toils, having greatly laughed at you. Hear what I have said in behalf of this my soul, O goddesses beneath the earth: for I Clytemnestra, a dream 7
now call upon you. Snore on, but the man is gone flying afar: for the gods of supplication are friendly to my relatives, not to me 8
. Soundly you slumber, and pity not my suffering; but Orestes murderer of me his mother is gone. Do you cry oh? do you slumber? will you not quickly arise? What thing has been done by you except to work evils? Sleep and toil powerful conspirers have wasted the strength of the fell dragon.
In dreams you pursue the beast, and moan like a dog that never leaves off the care of toil. What are you doing? arise, let not toil overcome you, nor be ignorant of your loss, enfeebled by sleep. Grieve your heart by my just reproaches: for to the wise [such reproaches] are like stings. But wafting on him your bloody breath, wasting him with a fire of the entrails, follow, consume him by a second pursuit.
Ah! ah! We have suf­ fered friends, (certainly now I have suffered much and in vain) we have suffered affliction dire, O gods, intolerable ill. The beast has fallen from out the toils, and is gone. Over­ come by sleep I have lost my prey.
O son of Jove, thou art thievish, and thou a young god hast ridden down aged deities, reverencing [this] suppliant, an impious man and bitter to his parents, and, god though you be, you have stolen away the matricide. Which of these things will one say is just?
But to me reproach coming from dreams has struck me, like a charioteer, with a middle-seizing goad. At my heart, at my liver there is present a grievous pain from a scourger, an hostile executioner, so that I have a very griev­ ous chill.
Such things do the younger gods, exercising might in all things beyond right. One may behold 2
earth's navel stone having taken on itself a blood-dropping clot about foot and head, so as to have a terrible defilement of bloodshed.
But being a prophet, thou hast defiled with domestic pollution thy shrine, self-invited, self-called, contrary to the law of gods honouring mortal things 3
, and having destroyed the ancient fates;
and severe to me 4
, he shall yet not deliver him (Orestes,) and having fled beneath the earth, never shall he be set free. But being guilty, he shall find another avenging deity on his 1
head.
Out, I bid you depart with speed from these abodes; begone from the prophetic shrines, lest even having received the winged swift snake 2
, hurled from the golden string, you send forth through pain the black foam [sucked] from men, vomiting the clots of gore which you have drawn. By no means is it fitting to approach these abodes, but where there are head-cutting, eye-digging 3
revenges and slaughters, and the vigour of boys is injured, and destruction of the seed, and maiming, and stoning, [and where] those impaled by the spine groan with much wailing. Hear, you, abhorred by the gods, of what a feast you have the delight? but the whole fashion of your form leads to this. It is fit that such should inhabit the cave of the blood-sucking lion, not to tarry 4
in these oracular seats, an abomination to the neighbours. Be­ gone, you who feed without a keeper; but none of the gods has regard for such an herd.
Certainly, the nuptial troth, pledged under connubial Juno and Jove, would be altogether without honour, and would avail nothing. But Venus is cast away, dishonoured, by these words, whence arise to mortals the dearest joys. For the bed is appointed by fate to man and woman, and is greater 1
than an oath, when guarded with justice. If, therefore, you are gentle to those who slay each other, so that it comes to pass 2
that you do not even regard them with anger; I say that you unjustly drive Orestes into exile: for I know that you are exceedingly wroth at the one party, but manifestly treating the other more quietly. But the goddess Pallas shall regard the justice of these things.
Look, look again by all means; observe all things; lest the matricide unpunished escape your notice, having gone in flight. He here again, having protection, twined around the image of the immortal goddess, wishes to undergo trial for his deed 3
. But this may not be; his mother's blood on the ground, cannot be recalled, alas! the life's blood, poured on the plain, is gone. But you needs must suffer punishment in your turn, so that I suck from you alive the red gore from your limbs; and may I bear from you the taste of a draught dire to quaff; and having wasted you away I will lead you alive below, that 1
you may suffer a return for the matricidal woe. But you shall behold 2
, if any other too of mortals has sinned, acting impiously either towards a god, or any guest, or dear parents, each having things worthy of justice. For mighty Pluto is the judge of mortals below the earth, and he looks upon all things with recording mind.
I, taught in evils, know many ablutions; and to speak, when it is proper, and to be silent in like manner: but in this thing I was enjoined to speak by a wise teacher: for the blood sleeps and fades from my hand, and the matricidal pollution is washed out. For being fresh, at the hearth of the god Phœbus it was banished by ablations from the sacrifice of swine 3
. But it would be a long tale to me from the beginning [to tell] how many I approached with harmless intercourse. Time removes 4
all things growing old at the same time. And now from pure mouth piously I call on Minerva, queen of this region, to come to me an assistant; and she shall possess without the spear both me myself, and my land, and the Argive people, justly faithful, and an ally for ever. But whether in the places of the Lybian region around the wave of Triton, her native stream, she sets her foot upright or covered 1
, aiding her friends, or surveys the Phlegraean plain, like a bold leader, let her come, (and she hears even afar, being a goddess,) that she may be a deliverer to me from these things.
LES EUMÉNIDES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES EUMÉNIDES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 94 focus
j'ai vraiment grand besoin de dormeuses! Et, tandis qu'entre les morts vous me réservez tels mépris, l'injure « Meurtrière ! » ne m'est pas épargnée, à moi, chez les ombres, et j'erre là dans la honte... Oui, vous dis-je, de mes actes on me fait grand crime là-bas, et, en revanche,
après le sort atroce que j'ai subi d'un fils, aucun dieu ne s'indigne en faveur d'une mère qu'égorgea un bras parricide. Vois : que ton cœur contemple mes plaies dans le som- meil : l'âme mortelle est toute éclairée d'yeux, à qui le don de
attrape! Gare!
dors : debout! repousse du pied le sommeil, et voyons s'il n'y a pas dans ce présage quelque part d'illusion.
.
Ah! fils de Zeus, tu n'es qu'un larron. Tu es jeune, et tu écrases d'antiques divinités! Et tu gardes tes respects pour le suppliant, l'impie cruel à sa mère! Tu es dieu, et tu nous veux dérober un parricide ! Qui trouverait là ombre de justice?
Du fond de mes songes un outrage est venu — brutal comme l'aiguillon qu'un cocher empoigne en plein manche me frapper au cœur, au foie. Oui, je sens en moi, comme
sous le fouet 9 d'un bourreau féroce, passer un cruel, trop cruel frisson.
Voilà donc les façons de ces jeunes dieux, qui veulent régner sur le monde sans souci de la Justice. Ah! le trône
ensanglanté 10 ! au pied, à la cime, oui, je le vois, l'Ombilic du monde, chargé de la souillure terrifiante d'un meurtre.
Le foyer de
sa demeure, le Devin l'a sali lui-même : qui
l'y forçait? qui l'en priait? Il a passé outre à la loi des dieux et, pour honorer des mortels, déchiré l'antique partage 11 .
Il y gagne ma haine, sans m'arracher son protégé : même
s'il fuit sous la terre, l'homme ne sera pas libéré. Avec sa souillure, où il ira, il trouvera un vengeur 12 prêt à son tour à s'abattre sur son front.
je l'ordonne; vite, hors de chez
moi! Débarrasse le sanctuaire prophétique, si tu ne veux que t'atteigne le serpent à l'aile blanche, qui, bondissant de
tu mets donc bien bas — tu réduis à rien ! — un pacte dont les garants sont Zeus et Héra,
déesse de l'hymen. Et Cypris, ton bel argument la rejette avec dédain, elle à qui les mortels doivent leurs plus douces joies ! La couche nuptiale où le Destin unit l'homme et la femme est sous la sauvegarde d'un droit plus puissant que celui du serment. Si ta faiblesse est telle pour ceux
qui s'entretuent que tu ne leur accordes ni pensée ni regard de courroux, moi, je déclare inique ta poursuite d'Oreste, puisque, à côté de crimes que tu prends tant à cœur, il en est donc d'autres dont tu es clairement moins pressée de tirer vengeance. Pallas appréciera les droits des deux parties.
.
tout garde fidèle empreinte.
The Furies (OCR draft) Experimental (The Furies. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 94 focus
What, can you fleep? Is this a time t' indulge
Your indolent repoſe? Thro' your neglect
I am diſhonour'd 'mongſt the dead, revil'd,
For that I flew him with inceſſant taunts,
125
And wander with disgrace: this infamy,
I tell you, is thro' you: my horrid ſuff'rings,
From those moſt dear to me, excite no anger
Of one offended God;
yet I was ſlain
130
By my fon's hand. With thy mind's eye behold
Theſe wounds: in ſleep the vig'rous foul, ſet free
From groſs corporeal ſenſe, with keener view
Looks thro' the fate of mortals, dimly ſeen
Thro' the day's troubled beam.
135
In dreams doſt thou purſue him, like the hound
That opens in his fleep, on th' eager chace
E'en then intent.
And is this all? Awake,
Ariſe: let not thy toil ſubdue thee; know
165
What loſs enſues if ſleep enfeebles thee;
And let theſe juſt reproaches ſting thy mind,
Incentives to the wife: with firey breath,
That ſnuffs the ſcent of blood, purſue this ſon,
Follow him, blaſt him in the profp'rous chace.
170
Ha, ſiſters, ha! 'tis baſe, 'tis foul;
Vain is our labour, vain our care:
175
This inſult ſtings my tortur'd ſoul,
Untaught contempt and wrong to bear.
Whilſt overpow'r'd with ſleep I lay,
Burſt from the net eſcapes the prey.
Great triumph, treach'rous ſon of Jove,
180
In youth's freſh prime to mock my age!
Thee cou'd this impious ſuppliant move
(And thou a God) whoſe cruel rage
Plung'd in his mother's breast his ſword?
Yet thou hast ſcreen'd the wretch abhorr'd.
185
Claſhing her ſcourge with hideous ſound
Reproach upon my ſlumbers ſtole;
Deep in my heart impreſs'd the wound,
E'en yet chill horror ſhakes my ſoul.
These are the deeds in miſrule's hour
190
When youthful Gods uſurp the pow'r.
See all defil'd with gore thy throne,
There fate the murd'rer dropping blood.
Yet theſe pollutions are thy own;
From thee the call, the impulſe flow'd:
195
Such grace, deſpis'd th' age-honour'd Fates',
Your new unhallow'd ſhrines awaits.
And ſhall this wretch in ſafety breath,
Screen'd by thy pow'r ſevere to me;
No: let him fly the earth beneath,
200
Never, he never ſhall be free:
No: as he dared this murd'rous deed,
Murder ſhall fall upon his head.
Hence, I command you, from my hallow'd ſeat
Begone with ſpeed; quit this oracular ſhrine:
205
This is no place to ſnatch your winged ſerpents,
And hurl them from your golden-twifted ſſtring,
To wring the black blood from the human heart
With torture, then diſgorge your horrid feaſt
Of clotted gore: Such guests my houſe abhors.
210
Begone where vengeance with terrific rage
Digs out the eyes, or from the mangled trunk
Remorſeleſs rends the head; to flaughters go,
Abortions, lurking ambush, rampir'd force,
To ſuff'rings, to impalements, where the wretch
215
Writhes on the ſtake in tortures, yelling loud
With many' a ſhriek: In feaſts like these, ye hags
Abhorr'd, is your delight; ſufficient proof
That execrable form: the deſert wild,
Where the blood-rav'ning lion makes his den,
220
Such ſhou'd inhabit; nor with impure tread
Pollute theſe golden ſhrines: begone, and graze
Without a keeper; for of ſuc an herd
Th' indignant Gods diſdain to take the charge.
The ſacred pledges of connubial Juno
And Jove haſt thou diſparag'd, ſet at nought;
And Venus is diſparag'd by thy words,
From whom the dearest joys, that ſweeten life,
Ariſe; for hallow'd is the nuptial bed,
245
Of deeper ſanctity than oaths, and guarded
By justice. If to those, whoſe mutual rage
Bathes in each others' blood, thy chaſt'ning hand
Is gentle; if thine eye looks milder on them,
Nor flames with wrath; unjustly does thy vengeance
250
Purſue Oreſtes; ſuch I now behold
Thy threat'ning mien, to others more benign.
But Pallas, righteous queen, ſhall judge this cauſe.
It may not be: no: when the fluent moiſture
Is ſunk into the ground, 'tis loft for ever:
Can then a mother's blood, ſpilt on the earth,
290
Be from the earth recover'd? No. Thy hour
Of ſuff'ring is arriv'd, the hour that gives
The purple ſtream, that warms thy heart, to quench
My thirst, which burns to quaff thy blood, and bend
To the dark realms below thy waſted limbs;
295
There, for thy mother's murder, ſhalt thou learn
To taste of pain; there ſee whatever mortal
Dar'd an injurious deed, profaned the Gods,
Attack'd with ruffian violence the ſtranger,
Or rais'd his impious hand againſt a parent,
300
Each with vindictive pains condemn'd to groan,
His crimes requiting; for beneath the earth
The aweful Judge of mortals Pluto ſits,
And with relentless Justice marks their deeds.
Train'd in affliction's rigid lore, I know
305
Many ablutions: when to ſpeak I know,
When to be filent: inſpiration now
With heav'nly wisdom prompts my tongue to plead.
The faded blood is vaniſh'd from my hands,
Nor from my mother's ſlaughter leaves a ſtain;
310
The recent crimſon at Apollo's ſhrine
Waſh'd off with lavers pure, with offer'd victims
Aton'd.
This honeſt prelude might be graced
With many' an argument: nor came I hither
315
Conforted with a vile and impious band.
All things with time grow old, and wear away.
And now from hallow'd lips my pious pray'r
Invokes the pow'r preſiding o'er this realm,
Royal Minerva, that ſhe haſte to aid
320
Her ſuppliant: ſo with voluntary zeal
Myſelf, my country, all the Argive people,
To her with justice I devote for ever.
If in the coaſts of Libya, on the banks
Of Triton, native ſtreame, ſhe ſets her foot
325
Or bare, or buſkin'd, prompt to aid her friends;
If o'er the plains of Phlegra, like a chief
That marſhals his bold troops, ſhe darts her eye,
Her preſence I implore; tho' diſtant far,
The Goddeſs hears; to free me from these ills.
330
Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 94 focus
Ehi là! Dormite? E che bisogno ho io
di sonnacchiose?
Perché m'offendete
La fiera in sogno insegui, e al par di cane
che mai la caccia non oblia, tu mugoli.
155
Sorgi, che fai? Stanchezza non t'abbatta!
Ahimè, che smacco soffrimmo, compagne !
Figlio di Giove, ben tu sei furace.
Una rampogna nel sogno giunse,
come l'auriga che a mezzo il pungolo
stringe; ed il fegato
180
mi batte, e l'anima.
Sotto il flagello
del reo carnefice,
un gelo un brivido ghiaccio m'assidera.
Tali, dei nuovi Numi le gesta.
185
Contro Giustizia tengono un seggio
che tutto or gemica
grumi sanguinei.
Contaminata
la sacra pietra
190
scorgi dall'orride macchie del sangue.
Ei, ch'è pur vate, con brama spontanea,
bruttava i recessi fatidici
di macchia domestica;
e, contro le leggi dei Superi,
195
le Norme antichissime
struggeva, ad onor d'un effimero.
A me diviene odïoso: né libero
sarà che mai renda quell'empio,
se pur fra le tènebre.
200
del suolo fuggisse.
È colpevole :
a lui nuovo Dèmone
piombare dovrebbe sul cérebro.
Priva è d'onore, è nulla già la fede
di Giove e d'Era pronuba!
Bandita
va per i detti tuoi, spregiata Cipride,
245
Cerca, su, cerca per tutto, ed investiga
285
ché il matricida non fugga impunito!
Dalle sciagure ammaestrato, appresi
305
ciò che convenga in ogni evento; e so
quando parlar convien, quando il silenzio.
Saggio maestro or favellar m'impone.
Langue su la mia man, si strugge il sangue :
del matricidio la recente macchia
310
lavata è già con sangue espiatorio
presso l'ara del Dio fu cancellata :
lungo sarebbe annoverare quanti
contatto ebbero meco, e illesi andarono.
E santamente e con pio labbro, adesso
315
chiamo la Dea di questa terra, Atena,
che a soccorrermi giunga. Ella, senz'armi,
e me stesso e la terra e il popol d'Argo
fido alleato ognor guadagnerà.
O sia che tu ne le contrade libiche
320
su'l fluviale tramite tritonio
che ti die' vita, a sostener gli amici,
o nascosto o palese il piede avanzi,
o sia che, ardita guidatrice, vigili
con virile saldezza il pian di Flegra,
325
tu, che sei Dea, che pur da lungi m'odi,
amami, e me da queste pene salva.
Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 94 focus
Dormiat igitur, aurora & dormientib. quid opus est?
Ego uerò à uobis fic ignominia affecta
Cum alijs mortuis, ſic enim interfeci.
100
Probrum mortuis non deficit.
Turpè uerò capta ſum. prædico enim uobis quòd
Habeo maximam cauſam ab illis,
Patiens ſic atrocia, ab amiciſsimis.
Nullus pro me deorum ſuccenſet,
105
Iugulata parricidis manibus.
Vide plagas has tui cordis.
Dormiens enim meis oculis illuminatur.
In die uerò parca ſpeculatrix mortalium.
Certè multa meorum ſuſcepi
110
Inferiasq; uiro carentes, nephalia placamenta
Et noctigrauas coenas in foco ignis
Sacrificaui in hora nulli deorum communi.
Et omnia hæc ideo pedibus conculcata eſse.
Iſte uerò fugiens uenit instar cadaueris,
115
Et hæc leuiter ex medijs retibus
Impetum fecit, uobis inſaniens ualde.
Audite quemadmodum dixi de mea
Anima, intelligite ſubterraneæ deæ,
Somnium uos nunc Clytemneſtra uoco.
120
In ſomnis perſequeris feram, latras uerò quemadmodum
Canis, ſolicitudinem nunquam relinquens laboris.
135
Quid facis? ſurge, ne te uincat labor.
Neq; ignores laborem mitior facta ſomno.
Molestia affice cor iuſtis probris.
His ſapientibus contrarij ſtimuli ſunt.
Neq; ſpiritum ſanguineum emittes hac
140
Expiratione attenuata uteris igni.
Sequere, tabefac ſecundis perſecutionibus.
Heu, heu, Popax paſsi ſumus, ò amicæ,
Certè multa iam patientes fruſtra ego.
Paſsæ ſumus perpeſsiones moleſtas, ò dæmones.
Intolerandum malum
Ex retibus cecidit, uenit enim fera
150
Somno detenta, perdidi prædam.
O fili Iouis furax es,
Iuuenis uerò uetulas deas debellaſti,
Supplicem colens impium uirum,
Parentibus acerbum,
155
Parricidam furatus es Deus exiſtens.
Quid horum dicet aliquis iuſtè habere?
Mihi uerò probrum ex ſomnijs ueniens,
Percuſsit instar aurigæ medio accepto ſtimulo.
Sub mente in corde adeſt flagellator
160
Monſtri domati.
Graue circum graue frigus habere,
Talia patrant moderni dij
Tenentes omnino plusquam iuſticia.
Cruorem ſtillan tem ſedem,
165
Circum pedes, Circum caput licet terræ umbilicum
Videre, ſanguinis horum eluctum ſcelus habere.
Domeſtico uerò tuo uati piaculo
Antrum polluisti,
A ſe ipſo concuſsus, à ſe ipſo denominatus
170
Antiquas parcas corrupiſti
Et certè mæſtus. hunc non ſoluet.
Sub terram fugiens, nunquam liberabitur,
Parricida cum sit. alium in capite
175
Inquinantem illius paſcet caput.
Certè admodum iniuria affecit et præter nihil ſuſcit
Junonis perfectæ & Iouis approbationes.
Venus ignominioſa hoc proiecta est ſermone
Vnde mortalibus fiunt amicitiæ.
Cubile uiro & mulieri fatale,
215
Iuſiurandi iuſticia cuſtoditum manus.
Certè laxationibus mutuis occidunt,
Hoc non fieri neq; æstimare ira.
Non dico Oreſtem te iuſtè perſequi.
Hæc maniſeſtè ſcio, te admodum iratam eſse,
220
Hæc maniſeſtè agentem quietiorem.
Pænas uerò alias uidebis horum dea.
Sed uide, rurſus uide omnino,
Ne lateat fugitiuum aſcendens parricidam inultum.
Ille rurſus exilium habens circa statuam
Adnexus deæ immortali
255
Subditus uult eſse manibus.
Hic non adeſt, ſanguis maternus in terra
Incurabile, papæ hoc ſacrificium humi ſuſum it.
Sed reddere uerita, à uiuente bibere
Rubrum ex miſeris libamen, à te uerò
260
Paſsum ferrem potus mali potatum.
Et uiuentem te uestigans ducam infra.
Contrarias pænas pendes maternas.
Videbis ibi alium uirum,
Aut deu, aut hoſpitem, aliquem impiorum, aut parentes
265
Habentem quemq; pæne compenſationem. (charos)
Magnus enim Pluto est gubernator mortalium,
Infra terram, tabulæ omnia uidet mente.
Ego edoctus in malis ſcio
Multas expiationes, & dicere ubi iuſticia ſit,
270
Tacereq; ſimiliter, in hoc uerò negotio
Sapere conſtitutus ſum à docto præceptore.
Torpet enim ſanguis, & tabefacit manum.
Maternū ſcelus dilutum est.
Recens enim in ara dei exiſtens
275
Phœbi, purgationibus expulſum est manufactis.
Multus uerò mihi fiat à principio ſermo,
Qui acceſsi innocuo conſortio,
Tempus purgat omnia ſeneſcens ſimul.
Et nunc ex casto ore ſuauiter uoco.
280
Regionis reginam huius Minerua, mihi
Venire in auxilium, poſsidebit uerò ſine hasta
Ipſum, & terram, & Argiuum populum,
Fidelem iuſtè in omnibus ſocium.
Sed ſi in locis regionis Libyſticis,
285
Tritonis circum fluctum genitalis uadi
Ponit rectum & longè ducentem pedem,
Amicis opitulans, ſiue Phlegræam glebam.
Audaciæ dux tanquam uir ſpeculatur,
Venit, audit uerò procul deus exiſtens,
290
Vtcunq; sit mihi horum liberator.
Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 94 focus
Ihr schlaft wohl? Holla, taugt es, daſs ihr schlafend
liegt?
95 Und ich, von euch so preisgegeben in der Schar
der Schatten - ach, die Toten hören stets den Schimpf
von denen, die ich selber schlug. In Schanden muſs
ich einsam schweifen. Und ich sag's euch an, die Last
ihrer Anklagen drückt mich schwer, und ich, an der
100 das nächste Blut so fürchterliche That beging,
in Höll' und Himmel hab' ich keinen, der mich rächt,
ob Mutterblut mein Mörder auch vergossen hat.
Sie entblöfst die Brust.
Sieh hier die Wunde. Deine Seele nimmt sie wahr,
104 denn erst im Schlafe wird des Geistes Auge hell.
106 Ihr habt von meinen Schenkerhänden manchen Guſs
weinloser Spenden, nüchtern Opfer gern geschlürft,
und meines Herdes Flamme hat in nächt'gen Weih'n
euch manches Mahl bereitet, wo kein andrer Gott
110 geladen wird; für alles zahlt ihr Schmach als Dank.
Und er ist fort, ist ausgebrochen wie ein Reh,
war von den Netzen schon umstellt, und doch ent-
weicht
er leichten Sprunges, spottet euch hohngrinsend aus.
Hört mich, um meiner Seele Frieden ruf ich euch,
115 kommt zu euch, ihr Gewalt'gen aus dem Reich der
Nacht.
Als Traumerscheinung ruft euch Klytaimestra wach.
Im Traume schlägst du an und spürst dem Wilde nach:
so läfst das Jagen auch im Schlaf die Bracke nicht.
Was hilft es? Aufsteh'n musst du, die Ermattung darf
dich nicht bezwingen, nicht des Schlafes Süfsigkeit
verhindern, daſs du des Verlustes inne wirst.
135 Wie Geiſselhiebe fühlt der Redliche den Schmerz
verdienten Vorwurfs: dring' er dir ins tiefste Mark.
Nun vorwärts zur Verfolgung, schnaube blut'gen Hauch,
heifser Gedärme Feuerodem hinter ihm,
verdorr' ihn, mach' ihn mürbe mit der zweiten Hatz.
Wir sind geschlagen, Schwestern.
Hallo, du Dieb.
Ja,
ein Dieb bist du, Apollon.
Wie Peitschenhiebe traf im Traum
aufstörend die Trägheit
Scheltrede mein Ohr.
Es drang mir die Schmach
tief in die Nieren,
tief in das Herz,
160 kalt, eiskalt kam der Schauder.
So schneidet des Büttels, des stäupenden, Geifsel.
So treiben sie's, die neuen Götter.
Sie lassen dem Rechte
vorgehen die Macht.
Da seht seinen Stuhl,
165 Blut an der Lehne,
Blut an dem Fufs.
Da seht den Erdennabel
mit eklem verpestendem Morde besudelt.
Der Sehergott hat Sündenschmutz an seinen Sitz
170 selber herangeholt,
selber gespritzt.
Wider das Götterrecht
hilft er dem Menschenvolk.
Weltengesetz,
geltend von Ewigkeit,
hat er zerstört.
Mir ward er widrig, aber den erlöst er nicht.
Flöh' er zur Unterwelt,
175 frei wird er nie.
Blut von der Hand ihm trieft:
überall wartet sein
einer wie er.
Blutige Henkershand
packt ihn am Schopf.
Hinaus mit euch. Aus meinem Tempel weis' ich euch.
180 Fort auf der Stelle, trollt euch von dem Sehersitz,
sonst lass' ich von der goldnen Sehne windesschnell
losschwirren den beschwingten Drachen, und er soll
dich beifsen, dafs vor Schmerzen du den schwarzen
Schaum
So leugnet ihr der Aphrodite Macht und Amt,
die doch des Lebensglückes köstlichstes beschert?
Der Liebestrieb, der Mann und Weib zusammenführt,
hält in der Pflicht der Ehe fester als ein Eid.
Wenn du's den Menschen also nachsiehst, dafs sie sich
220 einander morden, nicht einschreitest, nicht bestrafst,
so sag' ich, den Orestes zu verfolgen hast
du auch das Recht verloren, denn das eine nimmst
du bitter ernst, und andren offenkundigen
Verbrechen find' ich dich recht lässig. Doch es wird
in diesem Falle zwischen uns ein Schiedsgericht
entscheiden, das Athenas Weisheit leiten wird.
Aufgepaſst,
Es waltet im Schoſse der Erden
der Sterblichen mächtiger Richter,
der Herr im Reiche des Todes.
275 Allsehend bucht er jede Schuld.
Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Eumenides. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 83 focus
Chorus
But, by the vote condemned, thou'lt change thy speech.
ORESTES
My sire, I trust, will aid me from the tomb.
Chorus
Good: having slain thy mother, trust the dead!
ORESTES
Polluted was she with a twofold stain.
570
Chorus
How so? Instruct the jurors on these things.
ORESTES
Her husband slaying, she my father slew.
Chorus
Thou livest, she through death is murder-free.
ORESTES
Why did ye not then chase her while alive?
Chorus
Not of one blood with her the man she slew.
ORESTES
But am I with my mother one in blood?
Chorus
Thee 'neath her zone she nourished;-blood-stained wretch,
A mother's dearest blood dost thou disown?
ORESTES
Now bear me witness and expound for me,
Apollo, whether I with justice slew.
580
The deed, as wrought, we do not disavow;-
But whether justly shed, or not, this blood,
Judge thou, that answer I may make to these.
APOLLO
To you, Athena's great tribunal, now
Justly I'll speak; a prophet may not lie ;-
Ne'er from my throne prophetic have I said
Concerning man, or woman, or the state,
What Zeus, Olympian sire, might not ordain.
Learn ye how potent is the plea I urge ;—
The Father's will I charge you to obey ;
590
For oaths are not of greater force than Zeus.
Chorus
Zeus, as thou sayest, gave this oracle,
And bade Orestes here, his father's death
Avenging, to despise a mother's rights.
APOLLO
Unlike the case, when dies a highborn man,
Richly adorned by sceptres Heaven-bestowed,
By woman dies, not from impetuous bow
Of Amazons far-shooting: Pallas, nay!
But as thyself shalt hear, and these convened
600
Who sit, by ballot to adjudge this cause.
For, from the mighty labour, conquest-crowned,
†Her lord with friendly welcome she receives,
The bath he enters; him she covers o'er
With broidered robes, then, tangled in the folds,
Smites him, her husband;—such the hero's death,
By all revered, marshal of naval hosts ;-
Her thus I signalize, their hearts to prick
Who here have mission to decide this cause.
Chorus
A father's death Zeus honours,-so thou sayest,-
610
Yet he his father, aged Kronos, chained :-
How prove this deed not adverse to thy word?
Here I invoke you, judges, to give heed.
APOLLO
Oh hateful progeny, of Heaven abhorred!
Fetters he might unloose,-this ill hath cure,
And yields to many a method of release.
But when of murdered man the dust hath once
The blood sucked up, he riseth never more.
No charm hath Zeus, my father, here ordained,
Who all things else upturneth as he will,
620
Nor with the toil panteth his mighty heart.
Chorus
Against his exile darest thou to plead?
Shall he, a mother's kindred blood who shed,
Lord it in Argos, o'er his father's house?
What altars of his people may he touch?
How share the lustral water with his tribe?
APOLLO
Thus I declare, learn ye how just my words.
Not parent of the embryo, but nurse,
Is she, the so-called mother of the child.
630
The father is the source: as stranger, she
For stranger rears the germ, if Heaven blight not.
Sure warrant of my word I will adduce;—
A child, though motherless, may see the light;
Witness this daughter of Olympian Zeus,
Not nurtured in the darkness of the womb,
Yet such a scion goddess never bare.
In will, in action, Pallas, be it mine
Thy city and thy people to exalt.
This man I sent, a suppliant to thy shrine,
640
That faithful he might be for evermore.
That, goddess! thou for allies mightest win
Him and his after-race, and that these pacts
Might last eternal, blessed by men unborn.
ATHENA
I do command you, as your judgment leads,
Just verdict give,-of pleadings now enough.
Chorus
By us in sooth our shafts have all been shot,
The issue of the cause I wait to hear.
ATHENA
How may I rule the cause, unblamed by you?
Chorus
Ye heard what ye have heard ;-now with your heart
650
Give judgment, strangers, and revere your oaths.
ATHENA
Hear ye my statute, men of Attica,—
Ye who of bloodshed judge this primal cause;
Yea, and in future age shall Ægeus' host
Revere this court of jurors. This the hill
Of Ares, seat of Amazons, their tent,
What time 'gainst Theseus, breathing hate, they came,
Waging fierce battle, and their towers upreared,
A counter-fortress to Acropolis;
To Ares they did sacrifice, and hence
660
This rock is titled Areopagus.
Here then shall sacred Awe, to Fear allied,
By day and night my lieges hold from wrong,
Save if themselves do innovate my laws.
If thou with mud, or influx base, bedim
The sparkling water, nought thou'lt find to drink.
Nor Anarchy, nor Tyrant's lawless rule
Commend I to my people's reverence;—
Nor let them banish from their city Fear;
670
For who 'mong men, uncurbed by fear, is just?
Thus holding Awe in seemly reverence,
A bulwark for your state shall ye possess,
A safeguard to protect your city-walls,
Such as no mortals other-where can boast,
Neither in Scythia, nor in Pelops' realm.
Behold! This court august, untouched by bribes,
Sharp to avenge, wakeful for those who sleep,
Establish I, a bulwark to this land.
This charge, extending to all future time,
680
I give my lieges. Meet it is ye rise,
Assume the pebbles, and decide the cause,
Your oath revering. All hath now been said.
Chorus
This sisterhood, oppressive to the land,
My council is that ye in no wise shame.
APOLLO
And I enjoin you, fear mine oracles;
From Zeus they issue, fruitless make them not.
Chorus
Usurping championship of bloody suit,
No longer shall thine oracles be pure.
APOLLO
Did then my Father towards Ixion err,
Who first as blood-stained suppliant, sued for aid?
Chorus
Say on! but I, defrauded in my suit,
690
In turn will haunt the land, dread visitant.
APOLLO
Alike of younger and more ancient gods
Art thou unhonoured. I the cause shall win.
Chorus
So whilom wroughtest thou in Pheres' house,
Moving the Fates mortals from death to free.
APOLLO
Is it not just my votary to save,
Then most when most his trouble calls for aid?
Chorus
But thou the prime allotments didst o'errule
With wine deluding the hoar goddesses.
APOLLO
But thou, full soon, defeated in thy suit,
700
Wilt spew thy venom, harmless to thy foes.
Chorus
Since thou, young god, o'erridest my hoar age,
The issue I await with list'ning ear,
And doubtful stay my wrath against the town.
ATHENA
With me it rests to give the casting vote,
And to Orestes I my suffrage pledge.
For to no mother do I owe my birth;
But I, in all save wedlock, praise the male.
In very truth I am my father's child,
710
Nor care I to avenge a woman's death
Who slew her husband, guardian of the house.
Orestes, judged by equal votes prevails.
The pebbles now pour quickly from the urns,
Judges, to whom this office is assigned.
ORESTES
Phobos Apollo, how will end this suit?
Chorus
O Night, dark mother, seest thou these things?
ORESTES
The noose awaits me, or to see the light.
Chorus
Ruin for us, or firm prerogative.
APOLLO
Now strangers, count the pebbles with due care;
And while ye tell them o'er, let justice reign;
720
Lack of right judgment breedeth mighty woe,
The while one suffrage hath a house restored.
ATHENA
This man acquitted is from charge of blood,
For equal are the numbers of the votes.
ORESTES
Hail Pallas! Hail thou saviour of my house!
The exile, reft of his paternal land,
Thou leadest home: haply some Greek will say,
"The man an Argive is once more, and dwells
On his paternal heritage, by aid
730
Of Pallas, and of Loxias, and Him,
Third Saviour, mighty consummator, Zeus,"
Who, honouring my father's death, saves me,
Beholding these my mother's advocates.
Now to my native Argos I depart,
Pledged to this country and thy lieges here
By oath to be revered for evermore,
That never helmsman of the Argive State
Shall hither bear the well-appointed spear.
For we, ourselves, though couching in the grave,
On those who violate these present oaths
740
By sore perplexities will work, and send
In march despondency, in crossing streams
Omens averse, till they repent their toil.
But unto those who keep this pledge, and honour
Athena's city with confederate spear,
To them will we be gracious evermore.
Hail goddess, and these city-wardens, hail!
Still may your gripe be fatal to your foes,
While victory and safety crown your spear.
Chorus
1
Ye upstart gods, time-honoured laws
750
Down-riding, ye have seized my prey.
2
But I, dishonoured, stung by grief,
Woe, woe, my torture to allay,
On all the ground, will cast around
Venom, whose baleful drops shall cause
Where it doth light a sterile blight,
Fatal alike to germ, to leaf.
The pest, O Justice, scouring o'er the plain,
Shall fling abroad its man-destroying stain.
3
I groan anew; what dare? what do?
760
My pangs the citizens shall rue;
Alas, most wretched are thy daughters, Night!
Enduring this dishonourable slight.
ATHENA
Be moved by me to stay these heavy groans;
Not vanquished are ye, nor to your disgrace
Fell justice, equal-voted, from the urn.
Besides from Zeus clear oracles were sent,
And he who uttered them himself avouched,
Orestes for this deed should know no scath.
770
Hurl not your heavy wrath upon this land;
Your rage abate, cause not sterility,
Nor rain your poison-drops, like venomed darts,
Ruthless devourers of each tender germ.
For I most righteously do promise you
Both sanctuaries and shrines in this just land;
Seated at hearths with unctuous off'rings fed,
And held in honour by my lieges here
Chorus
1
Ye upstart gods, time-honoured laws
Down-riding, ye have seized my prey.
780
2
But I, dishonoured, stung by grief,
Woe, woe, my torture to allay,
On all the ground, will cast around
Venom, whose baleful drops shall cause
Where it doth light a sterile blight,
Fatal alike to germ, to leaf.
The pest, O Justice, scouring o'er the plain,
Shall fling abroad its man-destroying stain.
3
I groan anew; what dare? what do?
My pangs the citizens shall rue;
790
Alas, most wretched are thy daughters, Night!
Enduring this dishonourable slight.
ATHENA
Not slighted are ye, powers august! through rage
Curse not with hopeless blight the abode of man.
I too on Zeus rely; why speak of that?
And sole among the gods I know the key
That opes the halls where sealed thunder sleeps.
But such we need not. Be appeased by me,
Nor scatter o'er the land, from froward tongue,
The harmful seed that turneth all to bane.
800
Of bitter rage lull ye the murky wave;
Be venerated here and dwell with me.
Sharing the first fruits of this ample realm,
For children offered, and for nuptial rite,
This word of mine thou wilt for ever praise.
Chorus
1
What! I endure all this; alas!
2
I, hoary goddess, dwell forsooth on earth,
Debasement horrible!
3
Revenge I breathe, unmitigated wrath!
4
Woe, woe! O earth, alas!
5
What agony of pain creeps o'er my heart!
6
Hear, Mother Night, my passion.
7
Mark for scorn,
By crafty gods deluded, held for nought,
Of ancient honour I am basely shorn.
ATHENA
I'll bear thine anger, for mine elder thou,
810
And art moreover far more sage than I.
Yet me, with wisdom, Zeus not meanly dowers.
But ye, departing to a foreign land,
Will of the land ye leave enamoured be;
Of this I warn you; for, Time's onward flow
Shall these my lieges lift to loftier fame.
But thou a seat shall have, Erechtheus near,
Honoured by men and stolèd matrons, such
As ye from other mortals ne'er might win.
But cast ye not abroad on these my realms,
820
To waste their budding strength, whetstones of blood,
Evoking frantic rage not born of wine;
Nor pluck ye out the heart of fighting-cocks,
To plant among my townsmen civil strife,
Reckless of kindred blood; let foreign war
Rage without stint, affording ample scope
For him who burns with glory's mighty rage.
No war of home-bred cocks, I ween, is that!
Such terms I proffer, thine it is to choose;
830
Blessing and blest, with blessèd rites revered,
To share this country dear unto the gods.
Chorus
1
What! I endure all this; alas!
2
I, hoary goddess, dwell forsooth on earth,
Debasement horrible!
3
Revenge I breathe, unmitigated wrath!
4
Woe, woe! O earth, alas!
5
What agony of pain creeps o'er my heart!
6
Hear, Mother Night, my passion.
7
Mark for scorn,
840
By crafty gods deluded, held for nought,
Of ancient honour I am basely shorn.
ATHENA
I will not weary to entreat thee fair;
For ne'er with justice shalt thou urge the plaint,
That thou, the elder deity, by me
The younger, and these city-guarding men,
Wast, like an outcast, banished from this land.
Now if Persuasion, dropping from my tongue
Gentle and sweet, seem to thee pure and dread,
Tarry thou must; but if thou wilt not tarry,
850
Not justly wouldst thou on this city hurl
Revenge, or wrath, or do my people wrong;
For thine it is to share with me this land,
In aye-enduring honour justly held.
Chorus
Athena, queen, what seat dost offer me?
ATHENA
One where no sorrow scathes. Receive it thou!
Chorus
If I consent, what honour waiteth me?
ATHENA
No house unblest by thee shall henceforth thrive.
Chorus
This wilt thou do? endow me with such might?
ATHENA
Ay, and will prosper him who worships thee.
Chorus
Wilt thou sure warrant give me for all time?
ATHENA
I may not pledge what I will not perform.
Chorus
Thine utterance soothes me;-I relax my wrath.
860
ATHENA
Established here thou wilt be rich in friends.
Chorus
What blessings shall we hymn for this thy land?
ATHENA
Such as, with gracious influence, from earth,
From dew of ocean, and from heaven, attend
On conquest not ignoble. That soft airs,
With sunshine blowing, wander o'er the land;
That earth's fair fruit, rich increase of the flocks,
Fail not my citizens for evermore,
With safety of the precious human seed ;-
870
But, for the impious,-weed them promptly out.
For I, like one who tendeth plants, do love
This race of righteous men, by grief unscathed :-
Such be thy charge. Be mine not to endure
That, among mortals, in war's splendid toils,
Athena's city be not conquest-crowned.
Chorus
STROPHE I.
Pallas, thy chosen seat henceforth be mine!
No more the city I despise
Which Zeus omnipotent and Ares prize,
Stronghold of gods, altar-protecting shrine
880
Of Grecian deities,
For which, with friendly augury I pray;
Springing to light from earth's dark womb,
May life's fair germs prolific bloom,
Lured by the solar ray.
ATHENA
I for my citizens with gracious mind
These blessings mediate; these deities
Installing here, mighty and hard to please.
For unto them hath Fate assigned
890
The destinies to fix of human kind.
But whoso findeth them severe
Knows not whence come life's strokes; for crime,
Dread heritage from bygone time,
Doth lead him to these powers august.
Him noiseless Ruin, midst his proud career,
With hostile anger, levels with the dust.
Chorus
ANTISTROPHE I.
Here may no tree-destroying mildew sweep,-
(So show I forth my grace),
900
May no fierce heat within these bounds alight,
Blasting the tender buds; no sterile blight,
Disastrous, onward creep.
But in due season here may flocks of worth
Twin yeanlings bear; and may this race,
Enriched with treasures of the earth,
Honour the Heaven-sent grace!
ATHENA
Ye city-guardians do ye hear aright
What thus she promises. For great the might
910
Erinys wields-dread brood of night-
Alike with Hades and the Olympian Powers;
O'er men confessed and absolute her reign,
To some she giveth song, and some she dowers
With life, tear-blinded, marred by pain.
Chorus
STROPHE II.
Here may there fall no man-destroying blight!
And ye, great Powers, o'er marriage who preside,
In wedlock bands each lovely maid unite;-
Ye too, dread sisters, to ourselves allied,
920
Awful dispensers of the Right,
In every human home confessed,
In every age made manifest,
By righteous visitations ;-aye revered,
And, everywhere, of deities most feared.
ATHENA
While thus ye ratify with friendly zeal
These blessings to my country, I rejoice,
And love Persuasion's eye, who moved my voice
To soothe these stern refusers, passion-stung.
930
But Zeus hath conquered, swayer of the tongue,
God of the Forum. Triumphs now for aye
In noble benefits our rivalry.
Chorus
ANTISTROPHE II.
Within this city ne'er may civil strife,
Insatiate of ill, tumultuous roar;
Nor thirsty dust quaff deep the purple gore
Of citizens; nor rage, with murder rife,
Snatch greedily the vengeful knife!
But studious of the common weal
940
May each to each in turn be kind,
Hate may they ever with one common mind,
This among mortals many a woe can heal.
ATHENA
Now growing wise, the pathway do they find
Of tongue propitious. From these shapes of fear,
I to my lieges see rich gain. For here,
If ye these gracious ones with gracious mind
Adore and magnify,-your state and town
Ye shall for evermore with justice crown.
Chorus
STROPHE III.
Farewell, farewell, enriched with wealth's fair prize,
950
Ye citizens, who dwell Zeus' altar near,
Friends to the friendly Virgin,-timely wise;
'Neath Pallas' wings who rest, her father doth revere.
ATHENA
Ye too farewell! Mine is it first to show
Your destined seats and thitherward to lead.
Escorted by the torchlight's sacred glow,
The while in sacrifice the victims bleed
960
The downward slope descend.
Whate'er is baneful to the land restrain,
And conquest's gracious ministry upsend
To this my city. Tutelary train,
Children of Cranaos, it belongs to you,
These alien settlers to their homes to guide;
And with my lieges may there aye abide,
Discernment rightful of the Right and True.
Chorus
ANTISTROPHE III.
Farewell once more, my farewell I repeat,
970
To all in Pallas' city who reside,
Or gods or mortals. Hold in awe my seat,
The fortunes of your life ye never then shall chide.
ATHENA
The utt'rance of your pious vows I praise ;—
And will escort you with the flashing light
Of torches, to your cavernous abodes
'Neath earth, with sacred ministers, who guard
Mine image justly; for, of Theseus' land,
Now let the eye come forth,-illustrious train
980
Of youths, of women, young or hoar with eld,
In festive garb apparelled, vermeil-hued,-
Proceed and let the torch-flame lead the way,
That evermore this gracious sisterhood
May, with events auspicious, bless this land.
Chorus of the Escort
STROPHE I.
Night's hoary children, venerable train,
With friendly escort leave the hallowed fane.
All
Rustics, glad shouts of triumph raise.
Chorus
ANTISTROPHE I.
In ancient crypts remote from light,
Victims await you and the hallowed rite.
990
All
People, ring out your notes of praise.
Chorus
STROPHE II.
With promise to this land of blessings rare,
Down the steep path ye awful beings wend,
Rejoicing in the torchlight's dazzling glare.
All
Your cries of jubilee ring out amain.
Chorus
ANTISTROPHE II.
Let torchlights and libations close the rear.
Thus Zeus, all-seeing, and the Fates descend,
To bless these citizens to Pallas dear.
All
1040 1044
Your cry of jubilee ring out amain.
English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1889, second edition) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, The Furies — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 94 focus
Sleep on! awake! what skills your sleep to me—
Me, among all the dead by you dishonoured—
Me from whom never, in the world of death,
120
Dieth this curse, 'Tis she who smote and slew,
And shamed and scorned I roam? Awake, and hear
My plaint of dead men's hate intolerable.
Me, sternly slain by them that should have loved,
Me doth no god arouse him to avenge,
125
Hewn down in blood by matricidal hands.
Mark ye these wounds from which the heart's blood ran,
And by whose hand, bethink ye! for the sense
When shut in sleep hath then the spirit-sight,
But in the day the inward eye is blind.
130
List, ye who drank so oft with lapping tongue
The wineless draught by me outpoured to soothe
Your vengeful ire! how oft on kindled shrine
I laid the feast of darkness, at the hour
Abhorred of every god but you alone!
135
Lo, all my service trampled down and scorned!
And he hath baulked your chase, as stag the hounds;
Yea, lightly bounding from the circling toils,
Hath wried his face in scorn, and flieth far.
Awake and hear—for mine own soul I cry—
140
Awake, ye powers of hell! the wandering ghost
That once was Clytemnestra calls—Arise.
[ The Furies mutter grimly, as in a dream.
Mutter and murmur! He hath flown afar—
My kin have gods to guard them, I have none!
[ The Furies mutter as before.
O drowsed in sleep too deep to heed my pain!
145
Orestes flies, who me, his mother, slew.
[ The Furies give a confused cry.
Yelping, and drowsed again? Up and be doing
That which alone is yours, the deed of hell!
[ The Furies give another cry.
Lo, sleep and toil, the sworn confederates,
Have quelled your dragon-anger, once so fell!
150
In dreams ye chase a prey, and like some hound,
That even in sleep doth ply his woodland toil,
Ye bell and bay. What do ye, sleeping here?
Be not o'ercome with toil, nor, sleep-subdued,
155
Be heedless of my wrong. Up! thrill your heart
With the just chidings of my tongue,—such words
Are as a spur to purpose firmly held.
Blow forth on him the breath of wrath and blood,
Scorch him with reek of fire that burns in you,
160
Waste him with new pursuit—swift, hound him down.
[ Ghost sinks.
Alack, alack, sisters, we have toiled,
165
O much and vainly have we toiled and borne!
Vainly! and all we wrought the gods have foiled,
And turnèd us to scorn!
He hath slipped from the net, whom we chased: he hath 'scaped us who should be our prey—
O'ermastered by slumber we sank, and our quarry hath stolen away!
170
Thou, child of the high God Zeus, Apollo, hast robbed us and wronged;
Thou, a youth, hast down-trodden the right that to godship more ancient belonged;
Thou hast cherished thy suppliant man; the slayer, the God-forsaken,
The bane of a parent, by craft from out of our grasp thou hast taken;
A god, thou hast stolen from us the avengers a matricide son—
175
And who shall consider thy deed and say It is rightfully done?
The sound of chiding scorn
Came from the land of dream;
Deep to mine inmost heart I felt it thrill and burn,
Thrust as a strong-grasped goad, to urge
180
Onward the chariot's team.
Thrilled, chilled with bitter inward pain
I stand as one beneath the doomsman's scourge.
Shame on the younger gods who tread down right,
Sitting on thrones of might!
185
Woe on the altar of earth's central fane!
Clotted on step and shrine,
Behold, the guilt of blood, the ghastly stain!
Woe upon thee, Apollo! uncontrolled,
Unbidden, hast thou, prophet-god, imbrued
190
The pure prophetic shrine with wrongful blood!
For thou too heinous a respect didst hold
Of man, too little heed of powers divine!
And us the Fates, the ancients of the earth,
Didst deem as nothing worth.
195
Scornful to me thou art, yet shalt not fend
My wrath from him; though unto hell he flee,
There too are we!
And he the blood-defiled, should feel and rue,
Though I were not, fiend-wrath that shall not end,
200
Descending on his head who foully slew.
[ Re-enter Apollo from the inner shrine.
Out! I command you. Out from this my home—
Haste, tarry not! Out from the mystic shrine,
Lest thy lot be to take into thy breast 1
The winged bright dart that from my golden string
205
Speeds hissing as a snake,—lest, pierced and thrilled
With agony, thou shouldst spew forth again
Black frothy heart's-blood, drawn from mortal men,
Belching the gory clots sucked forth from wounds.
These be no halls where such as you can prowl—
210
Go where men lay on men the doom of blood,
Heads lopped from necks, eyes from their spheres plucked out,
Hacked flesh, the flower of youthful seed crushed out,
Feet hewn away, and hands, and death beneath
The smiting stone, low moans and piteous
215
Of men impaled—Hark, hear ye for what feast
Ye hanker ever, and the loathing gods
Do spit upon your craving? Lo, your shape
Is all too fitted to your greed; the cave
Where lurks some lion, lapping gore, were home
220
More meet for you. Avaunt from sacred shrines,
Nor bring pollution by your touch on all
That nears you. Hence! and roam unshepherded—
No god there is to tend such herd as you.
How darkly ye dishonour and annul
240
The troth to which the high accomplishers,
Hera and Zeus, do honour. Yea, and thus
Is Aphrodite to dishonour cast,
The queen of rapture unto mortal men.
Know, that above the marriage-bed ordained
245
For man and woman standeth Right as guard,
Enhancing sanctity of troth-plight sworn;
Therefore, if thou art placable to those
Who have their consort slain, nor will'st to turn
On them the eye of wrath, unjust art thou
250
In hounding to his doom the man who slew
His mother. Lo, I know thee full of wrath
Against one deed, but all too placable
Unto the other, minishing the crime.
But in this cause shall Pallas guard the right.
255
Follow, seek him—round and round
Scent and snuff and scan the ground,
290
Lest unharmed he slip away,
He who did his mother slay!
Hist—he is there! See him his arms entwine
Around the image of the maid divine—
Thus aided, for the deed he wrought
295
Unto the judgment wills he to be brought.
It may not be! a mother's blood poured forth
Upon the stainèd earth
None gathers up: it lies—bear witness, Hell!—
For aye indelible!
300
And thou who sheddest it shalt give thine own
That shedding to atone!
Yea, from thy living limbs I suck it out,
Red, clotted, gout by gout,—
A draught abhorred of men and gods; but I
305
Will drain it, suck thee dry;
Yea, I will waste thee living, nerve and vein;
Yea, for thy mother slain,
Will drag thee downward, there where thou shalt dree
The weird of agony!
310
And thou and whosoe'er of men hath sinned—
Hath wronged or God, or friend,
Or parent,—learn ye how to all and each
The arm of doom can reach!
Sternly requiteth, in the world beneath,
315
The judgment-seat of Death;
Yea, Death, beholding every man's endeavour,
Recordeth it for ever.
I, schooled in many miseries, have learnt
How many refuges of cleansing shrines
320
There be; I know when law alloweth speech
And when imposeth silence. Lo, I stand
Fixed now to speak, for he whose word is wise
Commands the same. Look, how the stain of blood
Is dull upon mine hand and wastes away,
325
And laved and lost therewith is the deep curse
Of matricide; for while the guilt was new,
'Twas banished from me at Apollo's hearth,
Atoned and purified by death of swine.
Long were my word if I should sum the tale,
330
How oft since then among my fellow-men
I stood and brought no curse. Time cleanses all—
Time, the coeval of all things that are.
Now from pure lips, in words of omen fair,
I call Athena, lady of this land,
335
To come, my champion: so, in aftertime,
She shall not fail of love and service leal,
Not won by war, from me and from my land
And all the folk of Argos, vowed to her.
Now, be she far away in Libyan land
340
Where flows from Triton's lake her natal wave,—
Stand she with planted feet, 2 or in some hour
Of rest conceal them, champion of her friends
Where'er she be,—or whether o'er the plain
Phlegræan she look forth, as warrior bold—
345
I cry to her to come, where'er she be,
(And she, as goddess, from afar can hear,)
And aid and free me, set among my foes.
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.) — 94 focus
Ihr schlummert? He doch! Was bedarf's der Schlummernden?
Mich, die vor andern Todten so durch eure Schuld
95
Ein Spott geworden, mich verfolgt im Schattenland 1
Nastlos der Hohn der Todten, die ich mordete.
Schmachvoll umher dort irr' ich und verkünd' es euch,
Daß schwerer Vorwurf mich darob von jenen trifft.
Und thaten meine Liebsten auch so Grauses mir,
100
Zürnt doch um meinetwillen kein Unsterblicher,
Die durch des Muttermordes Hand geopfert ward.
Sieh diese Wunden mit des Herzens Blick dir an; 2
Denn schlafend späht des Geistes Auge klar umher,
Der Tag vergönnt ihm keinen Blick in Menschenloos.
105
Von meiner Habe schlürftet ihr vielfältig einst
Weinlose Spenden, unberauschenden Sühnetrank;
Manch heilig Nachtmahl brachten wir am Feuerherd
Euch dar in Stunden, die mit euch kein Gott getheilt.
Und alles dies in Staub getreten seh' ich's nun!
110
Doch er entrinnt euch, flieht davon, dem Rehe gleich;
Ja, mitten aus den Garnen ist er leichten Sprungs
Entschlüpft, und blickt hohnlachend nun nach euch zurück.
Vernehmt mich; denn um meine Seele sprach ich jetzt;
Merkt auf, besinnt euch, unterird'sche Göttinnen!
115
Ein Schatte, Klytämnestra, ruft euch dieses zu.
(Der Chor stöhnt.)
Im Traume jagst du deinem Wilde nach und bellst,
Dem Hunde gleich, der seines Dienstes nie vergift.
Auf! Nicht gezaudert! Keine Müh' ermatte dich!
Verkenne nicht den Schaden, wenn dich Schlaf besiegt!
Gerechter Vorwurf schneide tief in's Herz dir ein;
130
Denn scharf wie Stacheln fühlen ihn Vernünftige.
Auf, sende denn blutvollen Odems Hauch ihm nach,
Durch Qualm verzehr' ihn aus der Eingeweide Brand,
Verfolg' ihn, brich im zweiten Jagen seine Kraft!
(Verschwindet.)
Erwecke,
Graun, Graun, o Schmach! Ein Leid, Schwestern, traf- 4
Ja, viel des Leides und umsonst erduldet' ich!
Uns traf, Götter, ach! ein graunvolles Leid,
140
Ein unnennbar Weh!
Aus unserm Neze schlich sich, uns entrann das Wild.
Vom Schlaf besiegt, gab ich hin solchen Fang!
Erste Gegenstrophe.
O Graun! Sohn des Zeus, du spinnst arge List.
Ein Jüngling, tratst du greise Götterfrau'n in Staub,
145
Da du den Flüchtling hegst, den schuldvollen Mann,
Den herzlosen Sohn.
Du stahlst den Muttermörder uns und bist ein Gott!
Wer priese je solches Thun als gerecht?
Zweite Strophe.
Mir schlug ein vorwurfschweres Wort im Traum an's Ohr,
150
Und traf gleich dem Rosselenker mich
Mit machtvollem Stoß
Tief in die Brust, in's Mark.
Ich fühle, schwer faßt mich's an, eisigkalt schaudert mich's
Vom zornig grausen Geißelschlag.
155
Zweite Gegenstrophe.
Das ist der jüngern Götter Art, so schalten sie,
Gewalt übend allem Recht zum Hohn.
Ein bluttriefend Mal,
Blutig um Fuß und Haupt,
Ich seh' es, steht dort der Erdnabel; denn blut'ge Schuld,
160
Ruchlose, nahm er schüßend auf. 5
Dritte Strophe.
Du hast, ein Seher, deines Herdes Heiligthum
Mit Blutgräul entweiht, eigenem Trieb gehorchend;
Denn trok Götterrecht schirmst du der Menschen Schuld,
Und brichst der Mören uralte Macht.
165
Dritte Gegenstrophe.
Mir schafft er Kränkung und erlöst doch jenen nie;
Flöh' er zum Abgrund auch, dennoch entrinnt er uns nicht.
Auf ihm ruht ein Fluch; so trifft wohl dereinst 6
Ein andrer Rächer sein frevles Haupt! 7
(Apollon tritt aus dem Hintergrunde des Tempels hervor.)
Hinaus, gebiet' ich, ungesäumt verlaßt das Haus,
170
Hinweg, entfernt euch aus dem Seherheiligthum,
Daß nicht beschwingt die Silberschlange dich ereilt,
Von goldgewirkter Bogenschnur hinausgesandt,
Und du vor Schmerz des Menschenblutes dunklen Schaum
Ausspeist in Klumpen, die du Leichen ausgeschlürft!
175
Zu diesem Heiligthume dürft ihr nicht heran.
Hin, wo man köpft und blendet, geht zum Hochgericht,
Hin, wo man Menschen schlachtet, wo man Kindermord
Verübt, Entmannung, Steinigung, Verstümmelung,
Wo laut zum Himmel grauenvolles Wehgeheul
180
Der Aufgespießten jammert! Ha, vernahmet ihr,
An welchen Festesfreuden ihr Scheuseligen
Das Herz erlabet? So verkündet's schon an euch
Die ganze Bildung. Euch geziemt, im Felsenhaus
Blutdürst'ger Leu'n zu wohnen; nicht dem Sehersiz
185
In diesen Räumen nahe sich ein solcher Gräul!
So zieht von hinnen, ohne Hirten schwärmt hinaus!
Denn solcher Heerde freut sich kein Unsterblicher.
Ha, ganz verachtet wäre dann, nichts gälte mehr 8
Der Chegöttin Hera wie Zeus' heilig Band!
205
Verachtet stürzte Kypris dann von ihrem Thron,
Woher doch alles Süße kommt den Sterblichen.
Der Bund, in dem das Schicksal Weib und Mann vereint,
Ist heilig mehr als Eide, wenn das Recht ihn schirmt.
Wenn diese nun sich morden und du lässig bist,
210
Nicht Nache nimmst am Mörder, nicht ihn strafst im Zorn, 9
Wird auch Orestes ohne Recht von dir verfolgt.
Das Eine, weiß ich, hasset ihr als schwere That,
Das Andre seht ihr offenbar gelinder an:
Die hohe Pallas prüfe, was hier Rechtens ist!
215
Ha, sieh wieder, sieh! Späht umher überall :
245
Darf doch der Mörder nicht heimlich der Straf' entgeh'n!
In langer Leidensschule ward ich wohlvertraut
265
Mit vielen Sühngebräuchen, weiß, wo Reden ziemt,
Wo Schweigen recht ist. Aber hier an diesem Ort
Gebot ein weiser Meister laut zu reden mir.
Schläft doch das Blutmal und verbleicht an meiner Hand;
Des Muttermordes Gräuel ist hinweggespült.
270
Frisch waren seine Flecken noch, am Seherherd
Vertilgt' ihn Phöbos durch der Opferferken Blut.
Viel Worte braucht' ich, zählt' ich auf, wie Viele schon
Mit mir verkehrten, ohne daß sie Schaden traf.
Die Zeit entsündigt Alles und sie selbst ergraut.
275
So fleh' ich reinen Mundes nun mit frommem Wort
Zu dieses Landes Herrscherin Athene, mir
Hülfreich zu nahen. Dann gewinnt sie sonder Kampf
Mich selbst, der Argossöhne Land und Volk zugleich,
Wahrhaft zu treuer, steter Wehrgenossenschaft.
280
Drum, ob sie jetzt in fernen Fluren Libya's,
Am Wasser Tritons, ihrer heimatlichen Flut,
Den Fuß gesenkt hat oder hochhinschreitend eilt 15
Zum Schuß der Ihren, oder ob sie Phlegra's Feld
Heerschaaren ordnend überschaut, ein kühner Held:
285
Sie komme, (denn auch ferne ja vernimmt ein Gott,)
Auf daß sie dieser Leiden mich erledige!
English (Smyth; revised Bannon and Nagy, CHS) (OCR draft) Experimental (CHS Primary Sources revision of Herbert Weir Smyth’s translation by Cynthia Bannon and Gregory Nagy, with transliterated Greek terms tagged and aligned to the Smyth edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Commentary

Commentary on Aeschylus: Eumenides (Aeschylus. Eumenides. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1887.)

169. μάντις ὤν , i. e. ‘though a seer,' and thus the last who should have allowed pollution.

174. τόν , Orestes: for Epic form cp. 137, 357.

Wecklein’s commentary on Eumenides (1888; German; OCR draft) (Explanatory commentary, pp. 251–322; HW42J8 and HXJHA8 OCR collated, with missing comparison pages 294–295 explicitly marked. Unresolved OCR and provisional reference mappings are explicitly marked.) focus

mvp-comment-1-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 251

mvp-comment-1-2 Prolog, wenn man das Erwachen der Erinyen 140-178 als Parodos und das zweite Erscheinen derselben 244-275 als Epiparodos gelten läfst. Andernfalls müfste man den Prolog bis zum eigentlichen Auftreten des Chors als der wirklichen Parodos, also 1-243 rechnen. Die Pythia, welche als Greisin (38) sich auf einen Stab stützt, kommt (durch eine Seitenthüre der Hinterwand) aus einem Nebenraume des Tempels zum Haupteingange desselben und verrichtet vor dem Eintritt ein Gebet (30 f.). Sie hat die χρηστηρία ἐσθής wie Kasandra in Agamemnon (zu Ag. 774 ). Gut bemerkt der Schol. :

φαίνεται ἐπὶ σκηνῆς τὸ μαντεῖον· η δὲ προφῆτις πρόεισιν ἐπικλήσεις, ὡς ἔθος, τῶν θεῶν ποιησομένη, ἀπροόπτως τε ἰδοῦσα τὰς Ἐρινύας κύκλῳ τοῦ Ὀρέστου καθευδούσας πάντα μηνύει τοῖς θεαταῖς, οὐχ ὡς διηγουμένη τὰ ὑπὸ τὴν σκηνήν, τοῦτο γὰρ νεωτερικὸν Εὐριπίδειον, ὑπὸ δὲ τῆς ἐκπλήξεως τὰ θορυβήσαντα αὐτὴν καταμηνύουσα φιλοτέχνως
(d. h. die Exposition ist nicht unvermittelt wie bei Euripides, sondern wohl motiviert). τὰ δὲ πρῶτα εὐχαὶ καὶ ἐπικλήσεις θεῶν, ἵνα ἀπὸ τῶν εὐφημοτέρων ἄρξηται ἡ προφῆτις (in der That breitet das Gebet der Priesterin über den Anfang eine weihevolle Stimmung aus). οἰκονομικῶς δὲ οὐκ ἐν ἀρχῇ διώκεται Ὀρέστης, ἀλλὰ τοῦτο ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ δράματος κατατάττει, ταμιευόμενος τὰ ἀκμαιότατα ἐν μέσῳ.