Aeschylus, Eumenides, Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator), 334

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For prevailing fate has destined to us firmly to hold this office, to pursue those of mortals by whom wicked murders are committed, until [the murderer] hath gone below the earth; and when dead he is not quite free.

Eumenides. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Volunteer.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Εὐμενίδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 299-396 focus

Χορός

οὔτοι σ᾽ Ἀπόλλων οὐδ᾽ Ἀθηναίας σθένος

ῥύσαιτ᾽ ἂν ὥστε μὴ οὐ παρημελημένον
300

ἔρρειν, τὸ χαίρειν μὴ μαθόνθ᾽ ὅπου φρενῶν,

ἀναίματον βόσκημα δαιμόνων, σκιάν.¹

οὐδ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ἀποπτύεις λόγους,

ἐμοὶ τραφείς τε καὶ καθιερωμένος;²

καὶ ζῶν με δαίσεις οὐδὲ πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς:
305

ὕμνον δ᾽ ἀκούσει τόνδε δέσμιον σέθεν.

307

Χορός

ἄγε δὴ καὶ χορὸν ἅψωμεν, ἐπεὶ

μοῦσαν στυγερὰν

ἀποφαίνεσθαι δεδόκηκεν,

λέξαι τε λάχη τὰ κατ᾽ ἀνθρώπους
310

ὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις ἁμά.³

εὐθυδίκαιοι δ᾽⁴ οἰόμεθ᾽⁵ εἶναι:

τὸν μὲν καθαρὰς χεῖρας προνέμοντ᾽⁶

οὔτις ἐφέρπει μῆνις ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν,⁷

ἀσινὴς δ᾽ αἰῶνα διοιχνεῖ:
315

ὅστις δ᾽ ἀλιτὼν⁸ ὥσπερ ὅδ᾽ ἁνὴρ⁹

χεῖρας φονίας ἐπικρύπτει,

μάρτυρες ὀρθαὶ τοῖσι θανοῦσιν

παραγιγνόμεναι¹⁰ πράκτορες αἵματος

αὐτῷ τελέως ἐφάνημεν.
320
321

str. 1

Χορός

μᾶτερ ἅ μ᾽ ἔτικτες, ὦ μᾶτερ

Νύξ, ἀλαοῖσι¹¹ καὶ δεδορκόσιν

ποινάν, κλῦθ᾽. ὁ Λατοῦς γὰρ ἶ-

νίς μ᾽ ἄτιμον τίθησιν

τόνδ᾽ ἀφαιρούμενος
325

πτῶκα,¹² ματρῷον ἅγ-

νισμα κύριον φόνου.

328

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ¹³ φρενοδαλής,
330

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

334

ant. 1

Χορός

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,
335

θνατῶν¹⁴ τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι¹⁵

ξυμπέσωσιν¹⁶ μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ: θανὼν δ᾽

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
340
341

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ¹⁷ φρενοδαλής,

ὕμνος¹⁸ ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
345

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

347

str. 2

Χορός

γιγνομέναισι λάχη τάδ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἁμὶν ἐκράνθη,

ἀθανάτων δ᾽ ἀπέχειν χέρας, οὐδέ τις ἐστὶ
350

ξυνδαίτωρ¹⁹ μετάκοινος.

παλλεύκων δὲ πέπλων ἀνέορτος²⁰ ἄκληρος ἐτύχθην.

354

Χορός

δωμάτων²¹ γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς: ὅταν Ἄρης
355

τιθασὸς²² ὢν φίλον²³ ἕλῃ,

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδ᾽ ἱέμεναι²⁴

κρατερὸν ὄνθ᾽ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν²⁵ [ὑφ᾽²⁶] αἵματος νέου.>

360

ant. 2

Χορός

σπευδομένα²⁷ δ᾽ ἀφελεῖν
360

τινὰ τάσδε²⁸ μερίμνας,

θεῶν δ᾽ ἀτέλειαν ἐμαῖς

μελέταις²⁹ ἐπικραίνειν,

μηδ᾽ εἰς³⁰ ἄγκρισιν ἐλθεῖν—

Ζεὺς δ᾽ αἱμοσταγὲς³¹ ἀξ-
365

ιόμισον ἔθνος τόδε λέσχας

ἇς ἀπηξιώσατο—

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν³² βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,
370

σφαλερὰ τανυδρόμοις <ὅμως³³>

κῶλα, δύσφορον μάταν.³⁴³⁵

373

str. 3

Χορός

δόξαι τ᾽ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ αἰθέρι σεμναὶ

τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοι

ἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχησ-
375

μοῖς τ᾽ ἐπιφθόνοις³⁶ ποδός.

377

ant. 3

Χορός

πίπτων δ᾽ οὐκ οἶδεν τόδ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἄφρονι λύμᾳ:

τοῖον [γὰρ³⁷] ἐπὶ κνέφας ἀνδρὶ μύσος πεπόταται,

καὶ δνοφεράν τιν᾽ ἀχλὺν κατὰ δώματος αὐδᾶ-

ται πολύστονος φάτις.
380
381

str. 4

Χορός

μένει γάρ: εὐμήχανοί

τε³⁸ καὶ τέλειοι, κακῶν

τε μνήμονες, σεμναὶ

καὶ δυσπαρήγοροι βροτοῖς,

ἄτιμ᾽ ἀτίετα³⁹ διόμεναι⁴⁰
385

λάχη θεῶν διχοστατοῦντ᾽ ἀνηλίῳ

λάμπᾳ, †δυσοδοπαίπαλα⁴¹

δερκομένοισι καὶ δυσομμάτοις ὁμῶς.

389

ant. 4

Χορός

τίς οὖν τάδ᾽ οὐχ ἅζεταί⁴²

τε καὶ δέδοικεν⁴³ βροτῶν,
390

ἐμοῦ κλύων θεσμὸν

τὸν μοιρόκραντον ἐκ θεῶν

δοθέντα τέλεον; ἔτι⁴⁴ δέ μοι

<μένει⁴⁵> γέρας παλαιόν, οὐδ᾽ ἀτιμίας

κύρω,⁴⁶ καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνα
395

τάξιν ἔχουσα καὶ δυσήλιον κνέφας.

397

Εὐμενίδες Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 299-396 focus

Χορός

οὔτοι σʼ Ἀπόλλων οὐδʼ Ἀθηναίας σθένος

ῥύσαιτʼ ἂν ὥστε μὴ οὐ παρημελημένον
300

ἔρρειν, τὸ χαίρειν μὴ μαθόνθʼ ὅπου φρενῶν,

ἀναίματον βόσκημα δαιμόνων, σκιάν.

οὐδʼ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἀλλʼ ἀποπτύεις λόγους,

ἐμοὶ τραφείς τε καὶ καθιερωμένος;

καὶ ζῶν με δαίσεις οὐδὲ πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς·
305

ὕμνον δʼ ἀκούσῃ τόνδε δέσμιον σέθεν.

307

Χορός

ἄγε δὴ καὶ χορὸν ἅψωμεν, ἐπεὶ

μοῦσαν στυγερὰν

ἀποφαίνεσθαι δεδόκηκεν,

λέξαι τε λάχη τὰ κατʼ ἀνθρώπους
310

ὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις ἁμά.

εὐθυδίκαιοι δʼ οἰόμεθʼ εἶναι·

τὸν μὲν καθαρὰς χεῖρας προνέμοντʼ

οὔτις ἐφέρπει μῆνις ἀφʼ ἡμῶν,

ἀσινὴς δʼ αἰῶνα διοιχνεῖ·
315

ὅστις δʼ ἀλιτὼν ὥσπερ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ

χεῖρας φονίας ἐπικρύπτει,

μάρτυρες ὀρθαὶ τοῖσι θανοῦσιν

παραγιγνόμεναι πράκτορες αἵματος

αὐτῷ τελέως ἐφάνημεν.
320

321

Χορός

μᾶτερ ἅ μʼ ἔτικτες, ὦ μᾶτερ

Νύξ, ἀλαοῖσι καὶ δεδορκόσιν

ποινάν, κλῦθʼ. ὁ Λατοῦς γὰρ ἶ-

νίς μʼ ἄτιμον τίθησιν

τόνδʼ ἀφαιρούμενος
325

πτῶκα, ματρῷον ἅ-

γνισμα κύριον φόνου.

328

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,
330

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

334

Χορός

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

Μοῖρʼ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,
335

θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι

ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρʼ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δʼ

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
340

341

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
345

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

347

Χορός

γιγνομέναισι λάχη τάδʼ ἐφʼ ἁμὶν ἐκράνθη·

ἀθανάτων δʼ ἀπέχειν χέρας, οὐδέ τις ἐστί
350

συνδαίτωρ μετάκοινος·

παλλεύκων δὲ πέπλων ἀπόμοιρος ἄκληρος ἐτύχθην

¯˘¯˘¯˘¯

354

Χορός

δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης
355

τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι

κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

360

Χορός

σπεύδομεν αἵδʼ ἀφελεῖν τινὰ τάσδε μερίμνας,
360

θεῶν δʼ ἀτέλειαν ἐμαῖς μελέταις ἐπικραίνειν,

μηδʼ εἰς ἄγκρισιν ἐλθεῖν·

Ζεὺς δʼ αἱμοσταγὲς ἀξιόμισον ἔθνος τόδε λέσχας
365

ἇς ἀπηξιώσατο.

354a

Χορός

δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης

τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι

κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

368

Χορός

δόξαι τʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρι σεμναὶ

τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοι

ἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχη-
370

σμοῖς τʼ ἐπιφθόνοις ποδός.

372

Χορός

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,

σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις
375

κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

377

Χορός

πίπτων δʼ οὐκ οἶδεν τόδʼ ὑπʼ ἄφρονι λύμᾳ·

τοῖον γὰρ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἀνδρὶ μύσος πεπόταται,

καὶ δνοφεράν τινʼ ἀχλὺν κατὰ δώματος αὐδᾶ-

ται πολύστονος φάτις.
380

372a

Χορός

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,

σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις

κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

381

Χορός

μένει γάρ. εὐμήχανοί

τε καὶ τέλειοι, κακῶν

τε μνήμονες σεμναὶ

καὶ δυσπαρήγοροι βροτοῖς,

ἄτιμʼ ἀτίετα διόμεναι
385

λάχη θεῶν διχοστατοῦντʼ ἀνηλίῳ

λάμπᾳ, δυσοδοπαίπαλα

δερκομένοισι καὶ δυσομμάτοις ὁμῶς.

389

Χορός

τίς οὖν τάδʼ οὐχ ἅζεταί

τε καὶ δέδοικεν βροτῶν,
390

ἐμοῦ κλύων θεσμὸν

τὸν μοιρόκραντον ἐκ θεῶν

δοθέντα τέλεον; ἔτι δέ μοι

μένει γέρας παλαιόν, οὐδʼ ἀτιμίας

κύρω, καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνα
395

τάξιν ἔχουσα καὶ δυσήλιον κνέφας.

Εὐμενίδες (1518 edition; OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides, 1518 edition. VLM-assisted OCR with native lineation and automated correspondence to the Smyth edition.) — 334 focus

Χορὸς Εὐμενίδων

μοῖρ' ἐπέκλωσεν ἐκ πέδως. ἔχειν θανάτων τοῖ-

σιν αὐτουργίαις,

ξύμπασῶσιν μάταιοι. τοῖς δ' μαρτᾶν ιοφρ' ἂν,

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ θανὼν δ' οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
320

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,
335

θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δ᾽

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
340

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν, θνατῶν

τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι

ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,
335

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δ᾽

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 334 focus

Τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

Μοῖρ' ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,

335

θνατῶν θανάτων τοὶ σὺν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαις

ξυμπέσωσιν ξύμπασ ωσιν ξυμ- (sine acc.) ὦσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ἁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γἂν ὑπέλθῃ -θη -θοι· θανὼν δ'

οὐκ ἄγαν ἄγαν γ' ἐλεύθερος.

340

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Arthur Sidgwick, 1887.) — 334 focus

ΧΟ.

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

ἀντ. α΄.

¹

μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,
335

θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι

ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δ᾽

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
340

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία
335

Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,

θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαις

ξύμπασ᾽ ὦσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δ᾽
340

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διαν-

ταία Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν· θνατῶν
335

τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι ξυμπαγῶσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ’ ἂν γᾶν ὑπέλθηι· θανὼν δ’

οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.
340

Aeschyli Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Eumenides. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διαν-

ταία Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,

335

θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι

ξύμπεσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθηι· θανὼν

δ᾽ οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

340

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by F. A. Paley, 1885.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία
320

μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,

θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γἂν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δ᾽ οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by Friedrich Blass, 1907.) — 334 focus

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

ἀντ. α

Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν, θνατῶν

335

τοὶ σὺν αὐτουργίαις ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν γᾶν ὑπέλθηι· θανὼν δ᾽ οὐκ

ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

340

Translations (9)

Eumenides Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 299-395 focus

Chorus

No, neither Apollo nor Athena’s strength

can save you from perishing abandoned, not knowing where joy is in your heart—a bloodless victim of the gods below, a shadow.
You do not answer, but scorn my words, you who are fattened and consecrated to me?
300

Living, you will be my feast, not slain at an altar; now you will hear this hymn, a spell to bind you.
305

307

Chorus

Come now, let us also join the dance, since we are resolved to display our hated song

and to declare our allotted office, how our party directs the affairs of men. We claim to be just and upright. No wrath from us will come stealthily to the one who holds out clean hands,
310

and he will go through life unharmed; but whoever sins, as this man has, and hides his blood-stained hands, as avengers of bloodshed we appear against him to the end, presenting ourselves as upright witnesses for the dead.
315

321

Chorus

O mother Night, hear me, mother who gave birth to me as a retribution for the blind and the seeing. For Leto’s son dishonors me

by snatching away this cowering wretch, a proper expiation for his mother’s blood.
325

328

Chorus

This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied,

maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
330

334

Chorus

For this is the office that relentless

Fate spun for us to hold securely: when rash murders of kin come upon mortals, we pursue them until they go under the earth; and after death,
335

they have no great freedom.
340

341

Chorus

This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind,the Furies’ hymn,

a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
345

347

Chorus

This office was ordained for us at birth;

but the immortal gods must hold back their hands from us, nor does any of them share a feast in common with us; and I have neither lot nor portion of pure white ceremonial robes
350

354

Chorus

For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,

whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. So speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.
355

360

Chorus

We are eager to take these cares away from another, and to establish for the gods exemption from my concerns, so that it will not come to trial;
360

for Zeus has considered us, a blood-dripping, hateful band, unworthy of his council.
365

354a

Chorus

For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,

whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. Speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.

368

Chorus

And men’s thoughts, very proud under the sky, waste away and dwindle in dishonor beneath the earth,

at our attack in black robes and the vindictive dance of our feet.
370

372

Chorus

For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,

my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.
375

377

Chorus

But, as he falls, he does not know it, because of his senseless folly; pollution hovers over the man in such darkness, and mournful rumor speaks of

a dark mist over his house.
380

372a

Chorus

For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,

my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.

381

Chorus

For it remains. We are skilled in plotting, powerful in execution, and we remember evil deeds; we are revered and hard for mortals to appease,

pursuing our allotted office which is without rights, without honor, separated from the gods in sunless light—our office that makes the path rough for seeing and dim-sighted alike.
385

389

Chorus

What mortal, then, does not

stand in awe and dread of this, when he hears from me the law ordained by Fate, given by the gods for perfect fulfilment? My ancient privilege still remains, I do not meet with dishonor,
390

although I have my place under the earth and in sunless darkness.
395

LES EUMÉNIDES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES EUMÉNIDES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 334 focus

Le lot que pour jamais m'a filé la Parque inflexible, c'est
de faire escorte au mortel qu'une fureur a jeté dans les voies du meurtre, jusqu'à ce qu'il descende aux enfers; et, pour lui, la mort même ne sera pas — tant s'en faut! — la délivrance.

(Fiévreux.)

The Furies (OCR draft) Experimental (The Furies. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 334 focus

Avenging Fate, as bending o'er the loom

375

She wove the web, to us this part aſſign'd,

"Whoe'er the laws ſhall dare diſdain,

"And his rude hand with murder ſtain,

"Purſue him Furies, urge his rigorous doom,

"Till refuge in the realms below he find."

380

Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 334 focus

Tale a noi perenne cómpito

die' la Parca inesorabile:

al mortale temerario

che le man' di strage macchia,

sempre seguire le sue vestigia,

370

sin che la terra non lo ricopra ;

né dopo morto libero è ancora.

Coro

Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 334 focus

Hanc enim ſortem contrariam

Parca neuit fortiter habere,

Mortis his operationes

325

Incidunt stultæ,

Hos ſequi, donec ſub terram uenerint

Moriens non ualde liber.

Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 334 focus

Mir beschied diesem Amt

unbeschränkt

335 vorzustehn

ew'ge Weltenordnung.

Wo ein Mensch im Sündenrausch

Blut vergiefst, folg' ich ihm.

Selbst der Tod giebt ihm nicht

340 seine Freiheit wieder.

345

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.) — 334 focus

Fate, all-pervading Fate, this service spun, commanding

That I should bide therein:

Whosoe'er of mortals, made perverse and lawless,
395

Is stained with blood of kin,

By his side are we, and hunt him ever onward,

Till to the Silent Land,

The realm of death, he cometh; neither yonder

In freedom shall he stand.
400

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.) — 334 focus

Denn des Schicksals Allgewalt theilte
320

Unserm Geschlecht für ew'ge Zeiten dies Loos zu :

Wessen Haupt frevelhaft grause Blutschuld sich auflud,

Dessen Spur geh'n wir nach, bis ihn deckt Grabesnacht;

Auch der Tod befreit ihn nicht.

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

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

mvp-comment-137-1 ὑπὸ ῥάχιν: ὑπὸ ράχιν Μ. Ald. Rob. ὑποβάχιν G. ὑπόρραχιν Ven. Flor. Farn. υποβράχιν Turn. ug' G. Ald. Rob.

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-104-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 265

mvp-comment-104-2 erstes Epeisodion. Apollon tritt wieder hervor und jagt nachher die Erinyen aus seinem Tempel: der Chor tritt also auf die Bühne heraus und Apollon folgt ihnen. Damit wird die zu 63 erwähnte Maschinerie zurückgedreht.

mvp-comment-109-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 266

mvp-comment-109-2 ὑπὸ ῥάχιν ist in der Handschrift vielleicht mit Recht ὑπόρραχιν geschrieben. Wenigstens entspricht dieses der Aussprache.

Aeschylus Eumenides 334

Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ¹³ φρενοδαλής,
330

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

334

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ¹⁷ φρενοδαλής,

ὕμνος¹⁸ ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
345

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

347

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,
330

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
345

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

Χορός

δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης
355

τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι

κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

Χορός

δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης

τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι

κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

Χορός

δόξαι τʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρι σεμναὶ

τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοι

ἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχη-
370

σμοῖς τʼ ἐπιφθόνοις ποδός.

Χορός

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,

σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις
375

κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

Χορός

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,

σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις

κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

ἀντ. α

Chorus

O mother Night, hear me, mother who gave birth to me as a retribution for the blind and the seeing. For Leto’s son dishonors me

by snatching away this cowering wretch, a proper expiation for his mother’s blood.
325

Chorus

This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied,

maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
330

Chorus

For this is the office that relentless

Fate spun for us to hold securely: when rash murders of kin come upon mortals, we pursue them until they go under the earth; and after death,
335

they have no great freedom.
340

Chorus

This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind,the Furies’ hymn,

a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
345

Chorus

This office was ordained for us at birth;

but the immortal gods must hold back their hands from us, nor does any of them share a feast in common with us; and I have neither lot nor portion of pure white ceremonial robes
350

Chorus

For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,

whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. So speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.
355

Chorus

We are eager to take these cares away from another, and to establish for the gods exemption from my concerns, so that it will not come to trial;
360

for Zeus has considered us, a blood-dripping, hateful band, unworthy of his council.
365

Chorus

For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,

whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. Speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.

Chorus

And men’s thoughts, very proud under the sky, waste away and dwindle in dishonor beneath the earth,

at our attack in black robes and the vindictive dance of our feet.
370

Chorus

For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,

my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.
375

Chorus

But, as he falls, he does not know it, because of his senseless folly; pollution hovers over the man in such darkness, and mournful rumor speaks of

a dark mist over his house.
380

Chorus

For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,

my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.

Chorus

What mortal, then, does not

stand in awe and dread of this, when he hears from me the law ordained by Fate, given by the gods for perfect fulfilment? My ancient privilege still remains, I do not meet with dishonor,
390

although I have my place under the earth and in sunless darkness.
395

(Fiévreux.)

Coro

Denn des Schicksals Allgewalt theilte
320

Unserm Geschlecht für ew'ge Zeiten dies Loos zu :

Wessen Haupt frevelhaft grause Blutschuld sich auflud,

Dessen Spur geh'n wir nach, bis ihn deckt Grabesnacht;

Auch der Tod befreit ihn nicht.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά, παραφορὰ 13 φρενοδαλής, 330 ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων, δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ- μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς. 334

Χορός ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά, παραφορὰ 17 φρενοδαλής, ὕμνος 18 ἐξ Ἐρινύων, δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ- 345 μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς. 347

Χορός ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά, παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής, 330 ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων, δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ- μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

Χορός ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά, παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής, ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων, δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ- 345 μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

Χορός δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης 355 τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ. ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ- ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

Χορός δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ. ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ- ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

Χορός δόξαι τʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρι σεμναὶ τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοι ἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχη- 370 σμοῖς τʼ ἐπιφθόνοις ποδός.

Χορός μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν, σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις 375 κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

Χορός μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν, σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία

ἀντ. α

Chorus O mother Night, hear me, mother who gave birth to me as a retribution for the blind and the seeing. For Leto’s son dishonors me by snatching away this cowering wretch, a proper expiation for his mother’s blood. 325

Chorus This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals. 330

Chorus For this is the office that relentless Fate spun for us to hold securely: when rash murders of kin come upon mortals, we pursue them until they go under the earth; and after death, 335 they have no great freedom. 340

Chorus This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind,the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals. 345

Chorus This office was ordained for us at birth; but the immortal gods must hold back their hands from us, nor does any of them share a feast in common with us; and I have neither lot nor portion of pure white ceremonial robes 350

Chorus For I have chosen the overthrow of houses, whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. So speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood. 355

Chorus We are eager to take these cares away from another, and to establish for the gods exemption from my concerns, so that it will not come to trial; 360 for Zeus has considered us, a blood-dripping, hateful band, unworthy of his council. 365

Chorus For I have chosen the overthrow of houses, whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. Speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.

Chorus And men’s thoughts, very proud under the sky, waste away and dwindle in dishonor beneath the earth, at our attack in black robes and the vindictive dance of our feet. 370

Chorus For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot, my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin. 375

Chorus But, as he falls, he does not know it, because of his senseless folly; pollution hovers over the man in such darkness, and mournful rumor speaks of a dark mist over his house. 380

Chorus For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot, my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.

Chorus What mortal, then, does not stand in awe and dread of this, when he hears from me the law ordained by Fate, given by the gods for perfect fulfilment? My ancient privilege still remains, I do not meet with dishonor, 390 although I have my place under the earth and in sunless darkness. 395

(Fiévreux.)

Coro

Denn des Schicksals Allgewalt theilte 320 Unserm Geschlecht für ew'ge Zeiten dies Loos zu : Wessen Haupt frevelhaft grause Blutschuld sich auflud, Dessen Spur geh'n wir nach, bis ihn deckt Grabesnacht; Auch der Tod befreit ihn nicht.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ¹³ φρενοδαλής,
330

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

334

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ¹⁷ φρενοδαλής,

ὕμνος¹⁸ ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
345

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

347

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,
330

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

Χορός

ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,

ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
345

μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

Χορός

δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης
355

τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι

κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

Χορός

δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν

ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης

τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.

ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι

κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-

ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.

Χορός

δόξαι τʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρι σεμναὶ

τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοι

ἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχη-
370

σμοῖς τʼ ἐπιφθόνοις ποδός.

Χορός

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,

σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις
375

κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

Χορός

μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα

ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ

καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,

σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις

κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

Chorus

O mother Night, hear me, mother who gave birth to me as a retribution for the blind and the seeing. For Leto’s son dishonors me

by snatching away this cowering wretch, a proper expiation for his mother’s blood.
325

Chorus

This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied,

maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
330

Chorus

For this is the office that relentless

Fate spun for us to hold securely: when rash murders of kin come upon mortals, we pursue them until they go under the earth; and after death,
335

they have no great freedom.
340

Chorus

This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind,the Furies’ hymn,

a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.
345

Chorus

This office was ordained for us at birth;

but the immortal gods must hold back their hands from us, nor does any of them share a feast in common with us; and I have neither lot nor portion of pure white ceremonial robes
350

Chorus

For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,

whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. So speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.
355

Chorus

We are eager to take these cares away from another, and to establish for the gods exemption from my concerns, so that it will not come to trial;
360

for Zeus has considered us, a blood-dripping, hateful band, unworthy of his council.
365

Chorus

For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,

whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. Speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.

Chorus

And men’s thoughts, very proud under the sky, waste away and dwindle in dishonor beneath the earth,

at our attack in black robes and the vindictive dance of our feet.
370

Chorus

For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,

my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.
375

Chorus

But, as he falls, he does not know it, because of his senseless folly; pollution hovers over the man in such darkness, and mournful rumor speaks of

a dark mist over his house.
380

Chorus

For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,

my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.

Chorus

What mortal, then, does not

stand in awe and dread of this, when he hears from me the law ordained by Fate, given by the gods for perfect fulfilment? My ancient privilege still remains, I do not meet with dishonor,
390

although I have my place under the earth and in sunless darkness.
395

Denn des Schicksals Allgewalt theilte
320

Unserm Geschlecht für ew'ge Zeiten dies Loos zu :

Wessen Haupt frevelhaft grause Blutschuld sich auflud,

Dessen Spur geh'n wir nach, bis ihn deckt Grabesnacht;

Auch der Tod befreit ihn nicht.