Aeschylus Eumenides 17

Anna Swanwick (Translator)

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Chorus
STROPHE I.
1st Fury
Woe! woe! alack! Friends, we have suffered scorn.
2
Much have I suffered and in vain.
1
Alack! dire anguish we have borne,
Intolerable pain!
140
2
Burst from the toils, fled is the game away.
3
By sleep o'ermastered I have lost the prey.
ANTISTROPHE I.
4
Fie! Son of Zeus! Thou thievish art, I trow;
5
Us, hoary gods, thou youngster ridest down;
4
This godless wight, bitter to parents, thou
As suppliant dost own.
5
A god the matricide has filched away.
6
That aught herein is just will any say?
STROPHE II. 149
7
Voice of reproachful blame, to me in dreams that came
Smote me, like charioteer with scourge grasped tight,
150
'Neath heart and reins.
8
Such chilly pang I know
†As from the public scourger's ruthless blow.
ANTISTROPHE II.
9
The upstart doings these of younger deities,
155
Usurping power beyond the sway of right.
†Dark-smeared from foot to crown, earth's navel-stone
10
Blood's horrible defilement now doth own.
STROPHE III.
11, 12
But Thou, the seer, with hearth-stain hast thy shrine
160
Polluted, self-invited, self-impelled;
162
Revering mortal things 'gainst law divine
The Fates thou hast dishonoured, grey with eld.
ANTISTROPHE III.
13, 14
†Me while he plagues, himself he shall not free;
A captive still, though under earth he fled,
For, stained with blood, another after me,
169 174 178
†Avenger stern, shall light upon his head.

Eumenides. Aeschylus. Anna Swanwick (Translator). London. 1886.

Sponsored by University of Leipzig.

Funding provided by European Social Fund Saxony.

Current edition Experimental

Eumenides (OCR draft) (English) (Eumenides. Anna Swanwick, 1886.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)
Εὐμενίδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 1-142 focus
Εὐμενίδες Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 1-142 focus
Εὐμενίδες (1518 edition; OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides, 1518 edition. VLM-assisted OCR with native lineation and automated correspondence to the Smyth edition.) — 1 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 1 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 1 focus
ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 1 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Arthur Sidgwick, 1887.) — 1 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 1 focus
Πρῶτον μὲν εὐχῇ τῇδε πρεσβεύω θεῶν
1
τὴν πρωτόμαντιν Γαῖαν· ἐκ δὲ τῆς θέμιν,
ἣ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδ᾽ ἕζετο
μαντεῖον, ὡς λόγος τις· ἐν δὲ τῷ τρίτῳ
λάχει, θελούσης οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός,
5
Τιτανὶς ἄλλη παῖς χθονὸς καθέζετο
Φοίβη, δίδωσι δ᾽ ἣ γενέθλιον δόσιν
Φοίβῳ· τὸ Φοίβης δ᾽ ὄνομ᾽ ἔχει παρώνυμον.
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 1 focus
Aeschyli Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Eumenides. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 1 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by F. A. Paley, 1885.) — 1 focus
Πρῶτον μὲν εὐχῇ τῇδε πρεσβευω θεῶν
1
τὴν πρωτόμαντιν Γαῖαν· ἐκ δὲ τῆς Θέμιν,
ἢ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδ᾽ ἕζετο
μαντεῖον, ὡς λόγος τις· ἐν δὲ τῷ τρίτῳ
λάχει, θελούσης, οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινὸς,
5
Τιτανὶς ἄλλη παῖς χθονὸς καθέζετο
Φοίβη· δίδωσι δ᾽ ἣ γενέθλιον δόσιν
Φοίβῳ· τὸ Φοίβης δ᾽ ὄνομ᾽ ἔχει παρώνυμον.
λιπὼν δὲ λίμνην Δηλίαν τε χοιράδα,
κέλσας ἐπ᾿ ἀκτὰς ναυπόρους τὰς Παλλάδος,
10
ἐς τήνδε γαῖαν ἦλθε Παρνησσοῦ θ᾽ ἕδρας.
πέμπουσι δ᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ σεβίζουσιν μέγα
κελευθοποιοὶ παῖδες Ηφαίστου, χθόνα
ἀνήμερον τιθέντες ἡμερωμένην.
μολόντα δ᾽ αὐτὸν κάρτα τιμαλφεῖ λεώς,
15
Δελφός τε χώρας τῆσδε πρυμνήτης ἄναξ.
τέχνης δέ νιν Ζεὺς ἔνθεον κτίσας φρένα,
ἵζει τέταρτον τόνδε μάντιν ἐν θρόνοις·
Διὸς προφήτης δ᾽ ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός.
τούτους ἐν εὐχαῖς φροιμιάζομαι θεούς.
20
Παλλὰς προναία δ᾽ ἐν λόγοις πρεσβεύεται.
σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα
κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφή·
Βρόμιος δ᾽ ἔχει τὸν χῶρον, οὐδ᾽ ἀμνημονῶ,
ἐξ οὗτε Βάκχαις ἐστρατήγησεν θεὸς,
25
λαγὼ δίκην Πενθεῖ καταρράψας μόρον·
Πλειστοῦ τε πηγὰς, καὶ Ποσειδώνος κράτος
καλοῦσα, καὶ Τέλειον ὕψιστον Δία.
ἔπειτα μάντις εἰς θρόνους καθιζάνω.
καὶ νῦν τυχεῖν με τῶν πρὶν εἰσόδων μακρῷ
30
ἄριστα δοῖεν· κεἰ παρ᾿ Ἑλλήνων τινὲς,
ἴτων πάλῳ λαχόντες, ὡς νομίζεται·
μαντεύομαι γὰρ ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται θεός.
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by Friedrich Blass, 1907.) — 1 focus
Πρῶτον μὲν εὐχῆι τῆιδε πρεσβεύω θεῶν
1
τὴν πρωτόμαντιν Γαῖαν· ἐκ δὲ τῆς Θέμιν,
ἢ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδ᾽ ἔζετο
μαντεῖον, ὡς λόγος τις· ἐν δὲ τῶι τρίτωι
λάχει, θελούσης, οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός,
5
Τιτανὶς ἄλλη παῖς Χθονὸς καθέζετο
Φοίβη· δίδωσιν δ᾽ ἡ γενέθλιον δόσιν
Φοίβωι, τὸ Φοίβης δ᾽ ὄνομ᾽ ἔχει παρώνυμον.
λιπὼν δὲ λίμνην Δηλίαν τε χοιράδα,
κέλσας ἐπ᾿ ἀκτὰς ναυπόρους τὰς Παλλάδος,
10
ἐς τήνδε γαῖαν ἦλθε Παρνησοῦ θ᾽ ἕδρας.
πέμπουσι δ᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ σεβίζουσιν μέγα
κελευθοποιοί παῖδες Ἡφαίστου, χθόνα
ἀνήμερον τιθέντες ἡμερωμένην.
μολόντα δ᾽ αὐτὸν κάρτα τιμαλφεῖ λεώς,
15
Δελφὸς τε χώρας τῆσδε πρυμνήτης ἄναξ.
τέχνης δέ νιν Ζεὺς ἔνθεον κτίσας φρένα
ἵζει τέταρτον τοῖσδε μάντιν ἐν θρόνοις·
Διὸς προφήτης δ᾽ ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός.
Παλλὰς προνάια δ᾽ εὐλόγως πρεσβεύεται.
σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα
κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφαί·
Βρόμιος ἔχει τὸν χῶρον, οὐδ᾽ ἀμνημονῶ,
ἐξ οὗτε Βάκχαις ἐστρατήγησεν θεός,
25
λαγὼ δίκην Πενθεῖ καταρράψας μόρον.
τούτους ἐν εὐχαῖς φροιμιάζομαι θεούς,
20
Πλειστοῦ τε πηγὰς καὶ Ποσειδῶνος κράτος
καλοῦσα καὶ τέλειον ύψιστον Δία,
ἔπειτα μάντις ἐς θρόνους καθιζάνω.
καὶ νῦν τυχεῖν μοι τῶν πρὶν εἰσόδων μακρῶι
30
ἄριστα δοῖεν· κεὶ πάρ᾽ Ἑλλήνων τινές,
ἴτων πάλωι λαχόντες, ὡς νομίζεται·
μαντεύομαι γάρ, ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται θεός.
Translations (10)
Eumenides Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1-140 focus
The Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (The Eumenides. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 1 focus
First indeed with these prayers I honor Earth the first-prophetess of the Deities: and after her 1
Themis, who then next sat on this, her mother's, oracular seat, as a certain legend runs. But in the third turn, [Themis] being willing, and not in despite of any one, Titanian Phoebe, another child of Earth took the seat, and she gives it to Phoebus as a birth-gift. And he has his name derived from Phoebe. But having left the lake and the Delian rock, having landed on the ship-receiving shores of Pallas, he came into this land and to the seats of Parnassus. And the road-making sons of Vulcan 2
attend on 3
, and greatly worship him, rendering the rough earth smooth. But the people honor exceedingly him having come, and Delphus who sways the helm 1
of this land. And Jove having made him inspired in mind with the art, seats him here the fourth seer on the throne; and Loxias 2
is the prophet of his father Jove. To these deities I prelude my address with prayers. And Pronaean Pallas is celebrated in story. And I venerate the nymphs, where is the Corician hollow grot, bird-loved, the haunt of Deities. Bromius too possesses the realm, nor am I forgetful of it, from the time that the god led on his Bacchants, having plotted death for Pentheus like a hare; and invoking the fountains of Plistus, and the might of Neptune, and perfect highest Jove. I then sit down a prophetess on the throne; and now may the gods grant that I obtain by far the best of former entrances, and if any from the Greeks are present, let them advance having obtained their turn by lot, as is the custom; for I prophesy as the god may direct. (She enters the temple, and suddenly returns.)
LES EUMÉNIDES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES EUMÉNIDES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 1 focus
Ma prière, parmi les dieux, fait une place à part en premier lieu à la première prophétesse, à la Terre; après elle, à Thémis, qui s'assit la seconde au siège prophétique laissé par sa mère, comme l'affirme un vieux
récit. La troisième, à son tour, avouée de Thémis, sans violence faite à personne, une autre Titanide, fille de la Terre, s'y assit ensuite, Phoibé, et c'est elle qui l'offre, en don de joyeuse naissance, à Phoibos — Phoibos, qui doit à Phoibé ce surnom. Délaissant donc Délos, son lac
et sa croupe rocheuse, il s'en vient aborder aux rives de Pallas, familières aux nefs 1 , pour gagner cette terre et le Parnasse, son nouveau séjour. Il y trouve une escorte et d'éclatants honneurs; les enfants d'Héphaistos 2 lui ouvrent son chemin, apprivoisant pour lui le sol sauvage. Il arrive
et reçoit ici le franc hommage du peuple et de son roi, Delphos, pilote du pays. Et Zeus, lui emplissant le cœur de divine science, l'assied sur ce siège, quatrième prophète : Loxias, ici, parle pour Zeus son père. Voilà donc par
quels dieux commenceront mes prières. (Elle se retourne et porte les yeux successivement dans chacune des directions où elle peut saluer un des dieux qu'elle invoque). Mais Pal- las Pronaia 3 , dans nos vieux récits, tient également une place à part. Et je salue aussi les Nymphes de l'antre Corycien, asile des oiseaux, retraite d'un dieu : là règne Bromios — je me garde de l'oublier! — depuis le
jour où sa divinité conduisit au combat les Bacchantes et à Penthée trama la mort d'un lièvre. J'invoque enfin et les eaux du Pleistos, et Poseidon puissant, et Zeus Suprê- me, sans qui rien ne s'achève, avant de prendre place,
prophétesse, sur mon siège. Daignent ces dieux bénir, au- jourd'hui plus encore que jamais, mon entrée au saint lieu. Si quelques pèlerins nous sont venus de Grèce, qu'ils s'ap- prochent, ainsi qu'il est de règle, dans l'ordre indiqué par le sort : je prophétise, moi, dans celui que me dicte le dieu.
The Furies (OCR draft) Experimental (The Furies. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 1 focus
WITH reverence firſt to the Earth I pay theſe vows,
1
The firſt prophetic pow'r:
to Themis next,
Who next her mother held, they ſay, this ſeat
Oracular:
5
Titanian Phœbe then,
She too the daughter of the Earth, unforc'd
Aſſum'd this ſeat; to Phœbus at his birth
Rich
Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 1 focus
Prega dinanzi al tempio.
1
Prima con questa prece onoro Gea
che profetessa fu prima: indi Tèmide
che seconda ebbe sede in questo oracolo,
dopo sua madre, com'è fama; e terza,
5
né già per forza, ma piacendo a Tèmide,
vi salí Febe, prole dei Titani,
figliuola anch'essa della terra; e dono
natale a Febo ella ne fece: e il nome
serba ancora dell'ava.
10
E il Dio, lasciate
le scogliere di Delo e la palude,
alle acclivi approdò spiagge di Pallade
e a questo suolo, ed al Parnaso giunse.
Scorta gli fanno, e grande onore, e innanzi
15
gli schiudono la via, gli Atenïesi
figli d'Efesto, e la selvaggia terra
rendono pervia.
E come ei giunge, il popolo
Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 1 focus
PRIMO quidem prece hac deorum honoro
1
Terram primiuatem, ex qua Themin aiunt,
Quæ secunda à matre ſedit
in hoc uaticinij loco, ut ſermo aliquis, in tertia uerò
Sorte, uolentis neq; per uim alicuius
5
Titanis alia filia terræ ſedit
Phœbe, quæ uerò dat natale donum
Phœbo. Phœbes nomen habet paronymum.
Relinquens paludem & Delium faxum,
Appellens ad littora Palladis, qua tranſeunt naues,
10
In hanc terram uenit, ſedesq; Parnaſi:
Deducunt uerò ipſum, & colunt ualde
Iter facientes filij ulcani, terram
Ferocem facientes mitem:
Accedentemq; ipſum admodum honorat populus,
15
Delphusq; rex huius regionis gubernator,
Artis uerò ipſum diuinum Iupiter condens mente
Conſtituit quartum hunc uatem in thronis,
Iouis uates est Loxias patris.
Hos in precibus laudabo deos.
20
Pallas protemplaris uerò uerbis honoratur.
Colo uerò nymphas, ibi Coricis petra
Caua, augur dæmonum conuerſio,
Dionysiacus uerò habet locum, neq; obliuifcor.
Ex quo Bacchis præſuit deus,
25
“Leporis inſtar luctui inſerens mortem.
Pliſti fontes, & Neptuni imperium
Vocans, & perfectum altiſimum Iouem,
Deinde uates in ſedibus ſedeo.
Et nunc me aſsequi ingreſsoru longorum priorum.
30
Optima dent, & à Græcis aliqui
Eant forte ſortientes, ut exiſtimatur.
Vaticinor enim ut monſtrat Deus.
Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 1 focus
Mein erst Gebet der ersten Zukunftskünderin,
Urmutter Erde; nächst der Erde ruf' ich dann
Themis, die nach der Mutter hier gewaltet hat.
So lebt es im Gedächtnis. Dann als dritte nahm
5 durch Übereinkunft, ohne Streit, der Themis Platz
die Schwester ein, Titanin, Erdentochter auch,
Phoibe. Sie hat Apollon diesen Sitz geschenkt,
dem Neugebor'nen; Phoibos heifst von ihr der Gott.
Vom Weiher auf dem Felseneiland Delos zog
10 Apollon an den schiffbelebten Küstenstrand
des Pallaslandes; weiter dann von Attika,
bis hier er am Parnassos seine Stätte fand.
Wegbahnend gaben ihm in feierlichem Zug
die Söhne des Hephaistos ehrfurchtsvoll Geleit,
und durch Urwildnis schlugen sich're Pfade sie.
15 Mit höchsten Ehren nahm sein Kommen hier das Volk
und Delphos auf, der König, der dem Land gebot.
Und in der Seele weckte Zeus die Götterkraft
der Zukunftsschau dem Sohne, setzt' als vierten ihn,
die Wahrheit zu verkünden, auf den Seherthron:
was Zeus ihm eingiebt, offenbart Apollons Mund.
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.) — 1 focus
First in this prayer of all the gods I name
1
The prophet-mother Earth; and Themis next,
Second who sat—for so with truth is said—
On this her mother's shrine oracular.
Then by her grace, who unconstrained allowed,
5
There sat thereon another child of Earth—
Titanian Phœbe. She, in after time,
Gave o'er the throne, as birthgift to a god,
Phœbus, who in his own bears Phœbe's name.
He from the lake and ridge of Delos' isle
10
Steered to the port of Pallas' Attic shores,
The home of ships; and thence he passed and came
Unto this land and to Parnassus' shrine.
And at his side, with awe revering him,
There went the children of Hephæstus' seed,
15
The hewers of the sacred way, who tame
The stubborn tract that erst was wilderness.
And all this folk and Delphos chieftain-king
Of this their land with honour gave him home;
And in his breast Zeus set a prophet's soul,
20
And gave to him this throne, whereon he sits,
Fourth prophet of the shrine, and, Loxias hight,
Gives voice to that which Zeus his sire decrees.
Such gods I name in my preluding prayer,
And after them, I call with honour due
25
On Pallas, wardress of the fane, and Nymphs
Who dwell around the rock Corycian,
Where in the hollow cave, the wild birds' haunt,
Wander the feet of lesser gods; and there,
Right well I know it, Bromian Bacchus dwells,
30
Since he in godship led his Mænad host,
Devising death for Pentheus, whom they rent
Piecemeal, as hare among the hounds. And last,
I call on Pleistus' springs, Poseidon's might,
And Zeus most high, the great Accomplisher.
35
Then as a seeress to the sacred chair
I pass and sit; and may the powers divine
Make this mine entrance fruitful in response
Beyond each former advent, triply blest.
And if there stand without, from Hellas bound,
40
Men seeking oracles, let each pass in
In order of the lot, as use allows;
For the god guides whate'er my tongue proclaims.
[ She goes into the interior of the temple; after a short interval, she returns in great fear.
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.) — 1 focus
Von allen Göttern feiert mein Gebet zuerst 1
1
Die Urprophetin Erde, nächst ihr Themis auch,
Die nach der Mutter diesen Siz der Sage nach
Einnahm, die zweite. Dritten Ortes thronte hier
Mit Themis' Willen, ohne Zwang an irgendwem,
5
Ein andres Kind der Erde vom Titanenstamm,
Die Phöbe. Sie gab als Geburtsgeschenk den Siz
An Phöbos, dem von Phöbe so der Name ward.
Der Gott verließ nun Delos' Teich und Felsenstrand,
Und fuhr zu Pallas' schiffsbedeckten Uferhöh'n,
10
Und kam in diese Fluren an Parnassos' Siz.
Und ihn geleiten und Verehrung zollen ihm
Hephästos' Söhne, die, bereitend seine Bahn,
Vor seinem Schritte wildes Land entwilderten.
Und als er einzog, feiert hoch ihn alles Volk
15
Mit König Delphos, der des Landes Steuer lenkt.
Doch Zeus begeistert seine Brust mit hoher Kunst,
Und segt als vierten Seher ihn auf diesen Stuhl,
Und Zeus', des Vaters, Gotteswort spricht Loxias.
An diese Götter wendet sich mein Fleh'n zuerst.
20
Auch dir im Vorhof, Pallas, buldigt mein Gebet,
Und ehrt die Nymphen, wo Korykis' Fels sich wölbt,
Heimat der Vögel, wo sich Götter froh ergeh'n.
Des Ortes waltet Bacchos, wohl gedenk' ich sein,
Seitdem der Gott die Bacchen angeführt im Kampf,
25
Pentheus mit Tod umgarnend, scheuem Wilde gleich.
Auch Pleistos' Quellen und Poseidons Herrschermacht
Verehr' ich, auch den höchsten Allvollender Zeus;
Dann als Prophetin steig' ich auf den Seherthron.
Und nun, o Götter, segnet mehr, als je zuvor,
30
Mir heut den Eingang! Ist ein Mann aus Hellas hier,
Er komme nach dem Loose, wie der Brauch gebeut!
Ich spreche meine Sprüche, wie der Gott mich treibt.
(Sie geht in den Tempel, kehrt aber bald voll Entsetzen wieder zurück.)
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.)

142. ἰδέσθαι , the middle, is an Epic use, common in Tragg. Note the loose but natural grammar κἀπολακτίσασ᾽ (sing.), ἰδώμεθ᾽ (plur.). So exactly Aristoph. Aves 203, ἐμβὰς ἐς τὴν λόχμην καλοῦμεν. ...

146. ὁ θήρ , ‘our prey.'

150. νέος γραίας , simply young and old. This complaint that Apollo as one of the younger race has overridden the Furies who are elder goddesses constantly recurs through the play, 163, 731, 778, 838, 845; see Introduction. καθιππάζομαι, a bold picturesque word for trample down, so 731, 779.

151. τοκεῦσιν , generalising plural, to his mother, as the sense requires.

154. τῶνδε , your acts, insulting the old goddesses, and protecting the impious suppliant.

158. μεσολαβεῖ , another tersely vivid word: the goad 'grasped by the middle' to give the blow force.

167. ἀρόμενον , ‘that has taken upon it ;'

167. βλοσυρὸν ἄγος αἱμάτων , a fell pollution of blood. For

167. ὀμφαλόν see line 40.

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

170. αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος , at thine own bidding, at thine own summons: the repetition of similar words is noticeable all through this chorus; a rhetorical turn due to the strength of their wrath and passion. So περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα - βαρὺ περίβαρυ - δαΐου δαμίου, etc.

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

177. μιάστωρ , properly one who pollutes, used for 'an avenger' Soph. El. 603 (of Orestes), Eur. Med. 1371.

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

mvp-comment-100-1 ἔγειρ᾽: χορὸς ἐρινύων (ἐριννύων Ald.) M. Ald. χορὸς ἐριννύων, ἐξ ὧν μία G. χορὸς εὐμενίδων Flor. χο. Ven. Rob. Turn. Quae inde ab hoc versu usque ad v. 177. sequuntur, inter quindecim Furias ita distribui, ut distribuenda esse indicavi in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 37. seqq.

mvp-comment-101-1 κἀπολακτίσασ᾽: κἀπολακτίσας G. Ald.

mvp-comment-102-1 ἰδώμεθ᾽: ιδώμεθ' Turn. εἰδώμεθ' M.G. Par. Ven. Flor. Farn. Ald. Rob.

mvp-comment-103-1 πόπαξ: πόπαξ Ald. Rob. Τurn. πύπαξ M. G. Farn. πυπάς Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-104-1 δυςαχές: δυςαχές Μ. Rob. In G. ambiguum est utrum hoc an δυσαχθὲς scriptum sit. δυσαχθὲς Ven. Flor. Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-105-1 οἴχεταí θ' ὁ θήρ: Libri οίχεται δ' ὁ θήρ. Correxit Abreschius.

mvp-comment-106-1 κρατηθεῖσ᾽ ἄγραν: κρατηθεῖσα plene M. G. Ald. Rob. άγραν, non ἄτων, etiam Ald.

mvp-comment-107-1 πέλει: Ζω bis Farn. Deinde ἐπιλογος Flor. Deinde libri πέλῃ. In G. tamen antea fuerat πέλει.

mvp-comment-108-1 νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω: γραίας δὲ δαίμονας νέος Farn. καθισπάσω Par.

mvp-comment-109-1 ἱκέταν: ἱκέτην Farn.

mvp-comment-110-1 τοκεῦσιν: τοκεῦσιν M. G. Ald. Rob. τοκεῦσι Ven. Flor. Turn.

mvp-comment-111-1 δ᾽: δ' omittit Ven.

mvp-comment-112-1 ἐρεῖ τις: ἐρᾶ Flor. τις Farn. Ald. τὶς Rob.

mvp-comment-113-1 ὄνειδος ... μολὸν: ὄνειρος Par. μολών G. Ald.

mvp-comment-114-1 ἔτυψεν: ἔτυψεν M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἔτυψε Ven. Farn. ἔτυψα Flor.

mvp-comment-115-1 μεσολαβεῖ: Hic versus omissus est in Par. μεταλαβεῖ Ald. Μεσολαβεῖ dubitari potest utrum active de stimulo in medium corpus tendente, neque stringente tantum, an, quod praestare videtur, passive intelligi debeat de stimulo quem quis medium prehendit, quo fortius vibrari regive possit.

mvp-comment-116-1 ὑπὸ: Libri ὑπὸ utrobique.

mvp-comment-117-1 δαΐου: πάρεστι μαστίκτορος omittit Par. πάρεστιν μαστίκτορος male ed. Vict. δάϊον Par.

mvp-comment-118-1 βαρύ, τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν: βάρυ τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν M. G. Turn. βαρὺ τὸ περὶ βαρυκρύος ἔχειν Ald. male lecta codicis G. scriptura. βαρὺ τὸ πέρι βαρὺ κρύος ἔχειν Ven. Flor. Farn. βαρὺ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν Rob. Wakefieldius to in te mutavit. Non opus est mutatione.

mvp-comment-119-1 κρατοῦντες: Hunc versum omittit Par.

mvp-comment-120-1 φονολιβῆ θρόμβον: Libri φονολειβή, Correxit Arnaldus. Deinde libri θρόνον. Scholiastes τὸν θρόνον, οὗ Ὀρέστης καθῆτο, πάρεστιν ὁρᾶν φονολειβῆ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς ὅλον. Item ad v. 168. propter hane explicationem adscriptum λείπει ὁ καί. Recte Wakefieldius θρόμβον scribendum esse intellexit. Sed male haec verba iunxit cum sequentibus, quum pendeant e participio κρατοῦντες. Et personarum distributio et antistrophica ratio docent his verbis, περὶ πόδα, περὶ καρά, finiri orationem pariter atque in stropha his, ύπο φρένας, ὑπὸ λόβον, hoc autem verbo, πάρεστι, et hic et illie novum alius personae dictum incipere. Haec est autem horum versuum sententia, talia perpetrant iuniores dei, praeter fas sibi vindicantes caedis vestigia, i. e. iudicium sibi arrogantes parricidii. V. Opusc. VI. 2. p. 39. seq.

mvp-comment-121-1 περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα.: Hunc versum omittit Par.

mvp-comment-122-1 προςδρακεῖν: πρὸς δρακεῖν Ald. Haec verba προςδρακεῖν αἱμάτων omittit Par.

mvp-comment-123-1 ἀρόμενον: αἱρόμενον Μ. Ven. Flor. Farn. αἱρούμιον Ald. male lecto compendio codicis G. in quo αιρούμενον est. αἱρούμενον Rob. Τurn. Recte Abreschius ἀρόμενον. Scholiastes ὥστε τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἔχειν αἱμάτων ἄγος ἐπαίροντα.

mvp-comment-124-1 μάντις ὤν: μάντις ὤν Schutzius. μαντισῶι Μ. μάντι σῷ G. Ald. Rob. Turn. μάντι, σῶ Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-125-1 μυχὸν ... ἔχρανας: μυχὸν M. Rob. Τurn. μυκὸν G. Ald. σὸν οἶκον Ven. Flor. Farn. Deinde έχρανας Turn. ἔχρανάτ' M. Flor. ἔχράνατ' G. ἔχρακατ' Αld. ἔχρανάς Rob. ἐχθράνατ' Ven. Bekkero teste. ἔχθρανα τ' Farn.

mvp-comment-126-1 παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα: παρὰ νόμον θεῶν Par. Rob. παρανόμων θεῶν M. G. Ald. Turn. παρὰ νόμων θεῶν Ven. Flor. Farn. Deinde βρότεα M. G. Ald. Rob. βρέτεα Par. Ven. Flor. Farn. Turn.

mvp-comment-127-1 ἐμοί τε λυπρὸς ... ἐκλύσεται: Libri καμοί τε. Casaubonus aliique καμοί γε. Scripsi ἐμοί τε. Deinde πικρός pro λυπρὸς Par. Deinde εὐκλύσεται G. Aid. Hoc dicit, me iniuria afficit, illum tamen non liberabit.

mvp-comment-128-1 ὑπό ... φυγὼν: ὑπαὶ Farn. φυγὼν Porsonus. Libri φεύγων.

mvp-comment-129-1 ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δ᾽: Libri ποτιτρόπαιος δ᾽ ὤν. Correxit Porsonus. Deinde Schoemanno ἐν χώρᾳ mutandum videtur in ᾧ κάρα. Non opus est mutatione.

mvp-comment-130-1 μιάστορ᾽ αὑτῷ πάσεται: μιάστορ᾽ ἐκείνου πάσεται M. G. Rob. μιάστορ᾽ ἐκείνου πάσσεται Ven. Flor. Farn. Ald. Turn. Apud scholiastem metricum legitur μιάστορ, ἐκείνου πράσσεται. Schoemannus scribendum coniicit μιάστορ᾽ αὐτ᾽ ἐκεῖ πάσεται. Lenius est quod posui, μιάστορ᾽ ἔστιν ὃν πάσεται. Sic enim potius scribendum est, quam, ut olim feci, ἔστιν οὗ.

Commentary on the Eumenides (OCR draft) (Brief English notes on Aeschylus' Eumenides by F. A. Paley, 1885.) focus

mvp-comment-54-1 ἰδώμεθα] The plural follows a participle in the singular, as in Herc. F. 858

ἡλίῳ μαρτυρόμεσθα δρῶσ᾽ ἃ δρᾶν οὐ βούλομαι.
-ματᾷ, Schol.
μάταιον γίγνεται.
 See Prom. 57 . Theb. 37 .

mvp-comment-55-1 πόπαξ] Our word pish! an exclamation of peevishness and dissatisfaction, as ποποῖ is pooh-pooh, Cho. 397 , Αg. 1043 . ὀτοτοῖ οι τοτοῖ ( Pers. 562 ) is tut-tut. But ὦ πόποι (so accented) means ໖ θεοὶ, Pers. 727 , Hesych.

ὦ δαίμονες.
The sentences following appear to be spoken by different choreutae in succession. So the Schol. seems to say, one wakes first, so that the chorus do not speak all at once. He adds, ἕκαστον κατ᾿ ἰδίαν προσενεκτέον, ‘each speech is to come on separately.'

mvp-comment-56-1 καθιππάσω] you override, a military term. Schol.

κατεπολέμησας.
Cf. 701, 741.

mvp-comment-57-1 ἔτυψεν] This epic form hardly occurs in the Attic, ἐπάταξεν being the usual equivalent. - μεσολαβεῖ, used passively, perhaps, grasped by the middle, so as to be firmly held.

mvp-comment-58-1 πάρεστι] I feel it (the reproach, says another) 'like the cruel smart of a torturer's lash.'

mvp-comment-59-1 This is said in satire and irony. This is what your younger gods do, assuming a power altogether beyond their right.' The dethronement of the Titanian powers and the cult of the beneficent Olympian deities (as before observed) is a main object of the play.

mvp-comment-60-1 θρόμβον] a clot. This seems a necessary correction for θρόνον. The unfinished speech, addressed to Apollo to show him the pollution of his shrine, is taken up by the next speaker, Yea, you may behold the central altar of the Earth (defiled) now that it has incurred the guilt of blood upon it ( ἔχειν). The Schol. seems to have read ὀφθαλμὸν, which he explained thus, you may see the seat (and) the altar (defiled), so as to incur a horrible pollution of blood if you raise your eye to look, ὥστε τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἔχειν αἱμάτων ἄγος ἐπαίροντα (perhaps ὥστε σε τὸν ὀφθ. ἐπ.). But ἀρόμενον must mean having taken upon itself.

mvp-comment-61-1 ἔχρανας] By giving an asylum to a murderer you have knowingly defiled your own temple.

mvp-comment-62-1 φθίσας] By destroying our influence, as far as in you lay (Schol.). They here call themselves Μοῖραι, because it would seem still more presumptuous in Apollo to interfere with Fate.

mvp-comment-63-1 καὶ τόν] See v. 132. While he gives pain to me, he will not succeed in delivering him.'

mvp-comment-64-1 ἐξ ἐμοῦ] after me. The MS. has ἐκείνου, and the Schol. appears to have read ἐκ κείνου, since he explains καὶ οἱ ἐξ αὐτοῦ δίκας ἡμῖν δώσουσιν. The notion is that of a spiteful demon alighting on the head ( Ag. 1146, 1444 ), and it seems to have been regarded as a bad omen if a foul bird left its mark on a statue or roof. See Suppl. 637 , and the note. -πάσεται, Schol.

λήψεται.

Selected scholia accompanying Blass's Eumenides (OCR draft) (The mixed Greek, Latin, and German scholia register printed with Friedrich Blass's 1907 edition, aligned to O. L. Smith's later recensional editions.) focus

mvp-comment-65-1 ἀναστήσει (vgl. Schol. 117); ἀνίστησιν Kchh.) αὐτὰς οὐκ ἀθρόως, μιμούμενος ἐμφατικῶς τὴν ἀλήθειαν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγείρεταί τις πρώτη, ὥστε μὴ ἀθρόως τὸν χορὸν φθέγξασθαι.

mvp-comment-66-1 μάταιον γίνεται.

mvp-comment-67-1 λείπει δεινά (δεινά auch f).

mvp-comment-68-1 κατεπο-

mvp-comment-69-1 κομματικῶς καστον κατ᾿ ἰδίαν προενεκτέον. αἱ γὰρ φοροι τοῖς πάθεσιν.

mvp-comment-70-1 ἀφόρητον κακὸν ἐπάθομεν. λέμησας.

mvp-comment-71-1 ὡς ἡνίοχος ἔτυψέ με. μέρος τοῦ ἥπατος.

mvp-comment-72-1 λείπει τὸ ὡς.

mvp-comment-73-1 οὐ τὸ τυχόν, ἀλλὰ περισσῶς βαρύ. ἡμᾶς φη(σί) (φασι Weckl.).

mvp-comment-74-1 παρὰ τὸ δίκαιον τὸ πᾶν ἔχοντες.

mvp-comment-75-1 τὸν θρόνον, οὗ Ὀρέστης καθῆστο, πάρεστιν ὁρᾶν φονολιβῆ (-ειβῆ Μ) ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς ὅλον. τὸ δὲ „γᾶς ὀμφαλόν“ ἀντὶ τοῦ) τὸν (Kirchh. f. τὸ) ἐν Πυθοῖ. διὰ δὲ τούτων ἀποσκευάζειν δοκοῦσι τῆς ἐπικουρίας Ὀρέστου τὸν θεόν.

mvp-comment-76-1 λείπει ὁ καί. ὥστε τὸν ὀμφαλὸν (Schwenk Weil für ὀφθαλμόν) ἔχειν αἱμάτων ἄγος ἐπαίροντα.

mvp-comment-77-1 αὐτὸς αὐτὸν (αὑτὸν Μ) καλέσας ἐπὶ τῶι μιᾶναι τὸν ναόν. ὅσον ἐπὶ σοί.

mvp-comment-78-1 προστρόπαιος, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐναγής. ὢν ἐναγὴς ἐν τῶι κάρᾶι ἑαυτοῦ ἕτερον μιάστορα λήψεται, καὶ οἱ ἐξ αὐτοῦ δίκας ἡμῖν δώσουσιν. ἐναγής.

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-84-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 262

mvp-comment-84-2 Parodos (vgl. zu 1). Die Chorführerin erwacht und weckt die nächste Erinye, welche wieder eine andere anstöfst u. s. f. Dann stellen sie sich zu Halbchören zusammen.

mvp-comment-85-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-85-2 ἀπολακτίσασα ἰδώμεθα dem σχῆμα καθ᾿ ὅλον καὶ μέρος entsprechend. Vgl. Aristoph. Vö. 203

ἀνεγείρας τὴν ἐμὴν ἀηδόνα καλοῦμεν αὐτούς
. Krüger I § 56, 9, 1 . τοῦδε φροιμίου, „ob etwas von dem folgenden ( τοῦδε wie ὕμνον τόνδε δέσμιον 306) Vorspiel wirkungslos ist" ( ματᾷ, Schol. μάταιον γίνεται). Der folgende Gesang soll als προοίμιον nur einstweilen eine Ahnung geben, was sie in ihrer Wut leisten können.

mvp-comment-85-3 1

mvp-comment-86-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-86-2 In den zwei ersten Strophenpaaren wechseln, wie sich aus dem Text ergiebt, die Halbchöre (A, B). Im dritten Strophenpaare treten sie zum Gesamtchore zusammen. - In der Aufregung unterbrechen sich im Anfang die Halbehöre: A. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι, ἐπάθομεν πάθος . . θήρ. B. ἦ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ, ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσ᾽ ἄγραν ὤλεσα u. s. w.

mvp-comment-87-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-87-2 δυσαχές (schwer zu beklagen) nur hier.

mvp-comment-88-1 2

mvp-comment-88-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-88-3 πέπτωκεν, er ist herausgeraten.

mvp-comment-89-1 3

mvp-comment-89-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-89-3 παῖ Διός: über die syllaba anceps am Ende des Dochmius bei einem Vokativ s. Seidler de vers. dochm. p. 85, Christ Metr. § 466. Vgl. Soph. Ai. 375

σκότος, ἐμὸν φάος, | ἔρεβος κτἑ.

mvp-comment-90-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-90-2 Apollon gehört dem jungen Göttergeschlechte des Zeus an, die Erinyen dem alten des Kronos. Prom. 156

νέοι γὰρ οἰακονόμοι κρατ τοῦσ᾽ Ὀλύμπου, νεοχμοῖς δὲ δὴ νόμοις Ζεὺς ἀθέτως κρατύνει· τὰ πρὶν δὲ πελώρια νῦν ἀιστοῦ. καθιππάσω
wie 734, 782. Schol. κατεπολέμησας, τα 734 κατατρέχεις. Es bedeutet,, mit Hohn und Übermut überrennen, niedertreten“, vgl. λৠπατεῖν 110.

mvp-comment-91-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-91-2 τοκεύσιν allgemein (von der Mutter).

mvp-comment-92-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 263

mvp-comment-92-2 Cho. 337

τί τῶνδ᾽ εὖ, τί δ᾽ ἄτερ κακῶν
; Ag. 221
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἄνευ κακῶν
; Eur. Suppl. 527
τί τούτων οὐ καλῶς ἔχον
;

mvp-comment-93-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 264

mvp-comment-93-2 ὄνειδος - ὀνειράτων gesuch ter Gleichklang. ἐξ ὀνειράτων μου λόν, in Träumen mir zugerufen (von den Vorwürfen der Klytämestra). Vgl. Soph. Oed. T. 523 ἀλλ᾽ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος.

mvp-comment-94-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 264

mvp-comment-94-2 Der Vorwurf gab mir einen Stich ins Herz wie ihn der Wagenlenker mit dem Treibstachel versetzt, den er, um wuchtiger zu stofsen, in der Mitte fafst. Zu beachten sind die gleichartigen oder ähnlich lautenden Formen in Strophe und Antistrophe: μεσολαβεῖ φονολιβῆ, ὑπὸ φρένας ὑπὸ λοβόν περὶ πόδα περὶ κάρα, πάρεστι πάρεστι, βαρὺ τὸ περίβαρυ - βλα συρὸν ἀρόμενον, ἔχειν ἔχειν.

mvp-comment-94-3 4

mvp-comment-95-1 5

mvp-comment-95-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 264

mvp-comment-95-3 Zu Mute ist mir als durchschauerten mich entsetzlich, ja über die Mafsen entsetzlich die Hiebe des geifselnden Henkerknechts. Zu dem Anklang δαΐου δαμίου vgl. παρακοπὰ παραφορά 330. τὸ περίβαρυ wie häufig der Artikel bei δεινός das vorzugsweise Schreckliche, das Schrecklichste bezeichnet.

mvp-comment-96-1 6

mvp-comment-96-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 264

mvp-comment-96-3 Sie bemächtigen sich ganz und gar des Sitzes der Dike, welcher um Fufs, um Haupt von Blutklumpen trieft. Vgl. Soph. Oed. K. 1380

τοιγὰρ τὸ σὸν θάκημα καὶ τοὺς σους θρόνους κρατοῦσιν (Αραί
) und mit Δίκας θρόνον 542 βωμὸν αἴ δεσαι Δίκας, Ag. 395
μέγαν Δίκας βωμόν
, Soph. Ant. 854
ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον
, Solon frg. IV 14 σεμνὰ θέμεθλα Δίκης.

mvp-comment-97-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 264

mvp-comment-97-2 Man kann es ansehen, wie der Erdnabel (40) grauenhafte Blutschuld auf sich genommen hat. ἔχειν steht konsekutiv zu ἀρόμενον.

mvp-comment-98-1 7

mvp-comment-98-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 264

mvp-comment-98-3 ,Durch Befleckung des Herdes hat er sich (med. ἐχράνατο) das Seherheiligtum besudelt." Nachdem die Erinyen allgemein von νεώτεροι θεοί gesprochen, wenden sie sich jetzt direkt gegen Apollon. Mit αὐτόσσυτος αὐτόκλητος vgl. αὐτόστονος αὐτοπήμων Sept. 900 .

mvp-comment-99-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 265

mvp-comment-99-2 παρὰ νόμον θεῶν: gegen diesen Göttercomment verfehlte sich auch Prometheus: Prom. 29

θεὸς θεῶν γὰρ οὐχ ὑποπτήσσων χόλον βροτοῖσι τιμὰς ὤπασας πέρα δίκης
, 977 τὸν ἐξαμαρτόντ᾽ εἰς θεοὺς ἐφημέροις πορόντα τιμάς. Vgl. auch Eur. Hipp. 1328
θεοῖσι δ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔχει νόμος· οὐδεὶς ἀπαντᾶν βούλεται, προθυμίᾳ τῇ τοῦ θέλον τος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀφιστάμεστ᾽ ἀεί
. Die epische Form βρότεος kommt sonst nirgends bei den attischen Dichtern vor. wenn

mvp-comment-99-3 8

mvp-comment-100-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 265

mvp-comment-100-2 Μοίρας φθίσας: Apollon das Amt der Erinyen vernichtet, so vernichtet er damit die Satzungen der Mören, durch welche den Erinyen ihr Amt zugeteilt ist. Vgl. 336, 395.

mvp-comment-101-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 265

mvp-comment-101-2 καμοί γε λυπρός (ἐστι κτέ, und dabei kränkt er mich, ohne doch diesem zu helfen. tov wie τῷ 137.

mvp-comment-102-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 265

mvp-comment-102-2 ὑπό ἐλευθεροῦται (Wechsel des Subjekts): vgl. 339, Suppl. 234

οὐδὲ μὴ 'ν "Αιδου θα νὼν φύγῃ ματαίων αἰτίας πράξας τάδε· κἀκεῖ δικάζει ταμπλακήμαθ', ὡς λόγος, Ζεὺς ἄλλος ἐν καμοῦσιν ὑστάτας δίκας
. Wegen des Präsens ἐλευθεροῦται κu Ag. 131 .

mvp-comment-103-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 265

mvp-comment-103-2 ποτιτρόπαιος, ἐναγής Schol., schuldbeladen. μιάστορα, ἀλά στορα wie Soph. El. 603 . Es wird ihm aus seiner Schuld ( σίνος wie Ag. 399 ) ein anderer Rächer anfs Haupt erwachsen.

Commentary (Arthur Sidgwick, 1887) (OCR draft) (Arthur Sidgwick's commentary on the Eumenides, aligned to the canonical Greek text.) focus

mvp-sidgwick-81-1-1 Let us see if this prelude is vain, rather obscure, but φροίμιον τύδε most naturally refers to the song they are going to sing, a song of lament at the escape, and chiding and reproach to Apollo.

ἰδέσθαι , the middle, is an Epic use, common in Tragg. Note the loose but natural grammar κἀπολακτίσασ᾽ (sing.), ἰδώμεθ᾽ (plur.). So exactly Aristoph. Aves 203, ἐμβὰς ἐς τὴν λόχμην καλοῦμεν. ...

mvp-sidgwick-82-1-1 This line is out of agreement; and generally the character of the first stanzas is that the lines are very disjointed: the true explanation being no doubt that the song is alternately taken up by one and another of the Furies, to give the dramatic effect of their excitement and anger. So the Schol. says κομματικῶς ἕκαστον κατ᾿ ἰδίαν προφερετέον· each bit must be delivered separately by a single voice. It is not worth while to attempt (as Herm. does) to distribute the parts exactly, as there is no evidence.

ὁ θήρ , our prey.

νέος γραίας , simply young and old. This complaint that Apollo as one of the younger race has overridden the Furies who are elder goddesses constantly recurs through the play, 163, 731, 778, 838, 845; see Introduction. καθιππάζομαι, a bold picturesque word for trample down, so 731, 779.

τοκεῦσιν , generalising plural, to his mother, as the sense requires.

τῶνδε , your acts, insulting the old goddesses, and protecting the impious suppliant.

μεσολαβεῖ , another tersely vivid word: the goad grasped by the middle to give the blow force.

mvp-sidgwick-88-1-1 'Tis come, I feel it, the sore, sore chill of the cruel scourger's blow. δάμιος μαστίκτωρ is the public scourger: a bold image for Klytaimnestra's taunts.

mvp-sidgwick-89-1-1 The MSS. read-

κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον·
φονολιβή θρόνον
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα 1
πάρεστι γᾶς ὀμφαλόν κ.τ.λ.
This stopping must be wrong, as the construction is very clumsy with θρόνον in apposition to ὀμφαλόν, and the strophe which is very parallel in sound and structure makes it practically certain that the stop is at κάρα. We then have two alternatives : (1) Το keep θρόνον, changing stop from πλέον to κάρα :
Ruling utterly beyond the right
A throne dripping blood
From feet to head:
We may see the Earth's navel, etc.
 [φονολιβή θρόνον is a regular dochmiac, and may rightly correspond to μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ, where the long κεν- is an irrational syllable. So for example O. Τ. 1315 δύσοῦρῖστὸν ōv corresponds to 1323 τυφλὸν κῆδεῦῶν.

mvp-sidgwick-89-2-1 Even if syllabic correspondence were required, we might easily correct to θρᾶνον Ahrens, θᾶκον Rauchenstein: but there is no need].

mvp-sidgwick-89-3-1 (2) To read with Herm. and others after Wakefield θρόμβον, and suppose the second and third lines interjectory, by another speaker: κρατοῦντες intransitive:

Ruling utterly beyond the right:-
A blood-dripping clot
Around his feet, about his head-
We may see, etc.
The two lines would then be a vivid and bold picture of angry horror at the foul stain on the god's shrine: such are the doings of the young gods as the ancient Furies dramatically exclaim. On the whole I prefer (1) which keeps the MS. reading, certainly also read (though misunderstood) by the Schol. who says, τὸν θρόνον οὗ Ορέστης καθῆτο πάρεστιν ὁρᾶν φονολειβῆ. It was not the seat of Orestes but the seat of Apollo.

ἀρόμενον , that has taken upon it ;

βλοσυρὸν ἄγος αἱμάτων , a fell pollution of blood. For

ὀμφαλόν see line 40.

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

αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος , at thine own bidding, at thine own summons: the repetition of similar words is noticeable all through this chorus; a rhetorical turn due to the strength of their wrath and passion. So περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα - βαρὺ περίβαρυ - δαΐου δαμίου, etc.

mvp-sidgwick-93-1-1 And crushing the ancient Fates. The Schol. followed by Pal. and others, understands this of themselves, the Furies being identified for the moment with the Fates. So Eurip. Elect. 1252 says of Orestes-

δειναὶ δὲ Κῆρές σ' αἱ κυνώπιδες θεαὶ
τροχηλατήσουσ᾽ ἐμμανῆ πλανώμενον.
But it is very difficult to believe that Aeschylus who makes the Furies call upon the Fates (961) as our own sisters, righteous goddesses, and speak of them as apart from themselves (724), should here put one for the other. It is better to consider (with Dind. Linw. Weil) that the allusion is here, as more fully explained below (724), to Apollo having allowed the Fates to be robbed by the rescue of Alkestis from death. This explains the κάμοί γε next line, To us too the Furies, as well as to the Fates; and also l. 175
He if he fly beneath the earth shall never be set free, as Alkestis was set free by Herakles who wrestled with death and recovered her.

mvp-sidgwick-93-2-1 It remains however an unusually obscure allusion, and hence one cannot feel confident.

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

mvp-sidgwick-95-1-1 MSS. read μιάστορ᾽ ἐκείνου πάσεται : corrupt, neither metre nor sense. The Schol. say,

Being defiled he shall receive on his head another avenger, and his descendants shall pay us the penalty.
The words italicised clearly point to some correction like ἐγγενῆ or ἐν γένει (Hart.) or ἐκ γένους (Weil). I have taken the former, 'being guilty of blood he shall find, smiting his head, another avenger of his kindred: i. e. the blood feud shall be continued: Klytaimnestra smote Agamemnon: Orestes smote Klytaimnestra; another shall strike him and the feud be carried on.

μιάστωρ , properly one who pollutes, used for an avenger Soph. El. 603 (of Orestes), Eur. Med. 1371 .

mvp-sidgwick-95-3-1 [Enter from the inner shrine Apollo, who sternly addresses the Furies.]