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100-161

Parodos. For the metres see Metrical Analysis. The framework is as follows. (1) 1 st strophe, 100

ἀκτίς

to 109

χαλινῷ

=1 st antistrophe, 117

στὰς

to 133

ἀλαλάξαι

. (2) 2 nd strophe, 134

ἀντιτύπᾳ

to 140

δεξιόσειρος

=2 nd antistrophe, 148

ἀλλὰ γὰρ

to 154

ἄρχοι

. Each strophe and each antistrophe is followed by an anapaestic system (

σύστημα

) of seven verses, recited by the Coryphaeus alone, in the pauses of the choral dance. The fourth and last of these systems, following the second antistrophe, announces the approach of Creon.

The Ajax is the only play of Sophocles which has a Parodos beginning, in the older style, with a regular anapaestic march. But something of the same character is given to this ode by the regularity of the anapaestic systems. In the Parodos of the O. C. , on the other hand, though anapaests similarly divide each strophe from each antistrophe, the systems are of unequal lengths, and the general character is wholly different, being rather that of a

κομμός

: see n. on O. C. 117 .

The fifteen Theban elders who form the Chorus have been summoned to the palace by Creon,—they know not, as yet, for what purpose (158). They greet the newly-risen sun, and exult in the flight of the Argives.

The ode vividly portrays the enormous sin of Polyneices against his country, and the appalling nature of the peril which Thebes has just escaped. We already know Antigone's motive. This is a dramatic prelude to the announcement of Creon's.

ἀελίου , Dor. for the epic

ἠελίου

, with

α—

as usu. (808, O. C. 1245 ), though it is sometimes used with ă, as Tr. 835 , Eur. Med. 1252 .

τὸ κάλλιστον ...φάος . Two constructions are possible; I prefer the first. (1)

Θήβᾳ φανὲν τὸ κάλλιστον φάος

, the art. going with the superlative, which it emphasises,—‘the very fairest,’—a common use, as Hipp. 289 B

οὐχ ἡ καλλίστη παρθένος αἰσχρὰ φανεῖται

; Od. 17.415

οὐ μέν μοι δοκέεις ὁ κάκιστος Ἀχαιῶν

. (2)

τὸ Θήβᾳ φανὲν κάλλιστον φάος

, the art. going with

φανέν

. This seems awkward. When a voc. is followed by a noun or partic. with art., this is normally in direct agreement with the voc., as

ὦ ἄνδρες...οἱ παρόντες

( Plat. Prot. 337C ), as if here we had

ἡ φανεῖσα

. The Schol., who prefers this constr., shirks the difficulty by his paraphrase,

ὦ τῆς ἀκτῖνος τοῦ ἡλίου φῶς, τὸ φανὲν κ.τ.λ.

ἑπταπύλῳ : epithet of

Θήβη

in Od. 11.263 , Hes. Op. 161 , as

ἑκατόμπυλοι

in Il. 9.383 of

Θῆβαι Αἰγύπτιαι.

τῶν προτέρων : cp. 1212 f.: Thuc. 1.10

στρατείαν...μεγίστην...τῶν πρὸ αὐτῆς

. Tacitus Hist. 1. 50

solus omnium ante se principum.

Milton P. L. 4. 322

Adam, the goodliest man of men since born, | His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve.

Goethe Hermann und Dorothea 5. 101

Von ihren Schwestern die beste.

ἐφάνθης with an echo of

φανέν

(

παρήχησις

): cp. O.C. 794

στόμα | ...στόμωσιν.

χρυσέας , with

υ^

as O.T. 157, 188. So Pind. Pyth. 4.4

ἔνθα ποτὲ χρυ^σέων Διὸς αἰητῶν πάρεδρος

. The

υ^

was admitted by the lyrists, and from them borrowed by the dramatists, though only in lyrics, and even there only occasionally. Homer never shortens the

: for, as

χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ

( Il. 1.15 ) shows, the Homeric

χρυσέης

(etc.) must be treated as disyll. by synizesis.

βλέφαρον = ὄμμα: Eur. Phoen. 543

νυκτός τ’ ἀφεγγὲς βλέφαρον

(the moon). Cp. Job iii. 9 (Revised Version), ‘neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning.’

Διρκαίων . The Dircè was on the w. of Thebes, the Ismenus on the E. : between them flowed the less famous Strophia: Callim. Hymn Del. 76

Δίρκη τε Στροφίη τε μελαμψηφῖδος ἔχουσαι | )Ισμηνοῦ χέρα πατρός

(alluding to their common source S. of the town). Though the Ismenus, as the eastern stream, would have been more appropriately named here, the Dircè is preferred, as the representative river of Thebes: so Pindar, ‘the Dircaean swan,’ expresses ‘at Thebes and at Sparta’ by

ῥεέθροισί τε Δίρκας...καὶ παρ’ Εὐρώτᾳ

( Pind. Isthm. 1. 29 ). Cp. 844 .

τὸν λεύκασπιν...φῶτα , in a collective sense: so

ὁ Πέρσης

, the Persian army, Her. 8.108 , etc. Cp. Aesch. Theb. 90

ὁ λεύκασπις λεώς

(Dind.

λευκοπρεπής

): Eur. Phoen. 1099

λεύκασπιν εἰσορῶμεν Ἀργείων στρατόν

. The round shield, painted white, which the Argive soldier carried on his left arm, is the

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυξ

of 114. The choice of white as the Argive colour may have been prompted by a popular association of

Ἄργος

with

ἀργός

The words

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν

answer metrically to 123

πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν

. Instead of

Ἀργόθεν

(¯˘¯) we therefore require ¯˘˘¯. The short final of

λεύκασπιν

is legitimate, the metre being Glyconic (see Analysis Metr.). In the antistrophic verse, the H of

Ἥφαιστον

is ‘irrational,’ i.e. is a long syllable doing duty for a short: and Nauck is incorrect in saying that the metre ‘requires’ (though it admits) a choriambus beginning with a consonant. The simplest remedy is to read Ἀργόθεν ἐκ | βάντα φῶτα , and to suppose that, after the loss of

ἐκ, βάντα

and

φῶτα

were accidentally transposed. Cp. O. C. 1088 where

σθένει ’πινικείῳ

is certainly the right order, but the MSS. reverse it. (See also above on v. 29.) Dindorf reads

ἐκ φῶτα βάντα

, assuming tmesis: but tmesis of

ἐκ

in Soph. occurs elsewhere only before

μέν

( Tr. 1053 ) or

δέ

, and there was no motive here for interposing

φῶτα

. Hermann reads

Ἀργόθεν ἔκ

as=

ἐξ Ἀργόθεν

: but elsewhere

ἐκ

comes before, not after, such forms (

ἐξ Αἰσύμηθεν

, Il. 8.304 :

ἐξ ἁλόθεν, ἐξ οὐρανόθεν

, etc.). If

Ἀργόθεν

is not genuine, then it was probably a gloss on some other form in

‐θεν

. Had

γᾶς Πέλοπος

(or

Δαναοῦ

) been in the text, a scholiast would have been more apt to paraphrase with

ἀπ’

ἐξ Ἄργους

. This is against such conjectures as

Ἀργέϊον, Ἀργογενῆ, Ἀργολικόν, Ἰναχίδαν, Ἰνάχιον

, as is also the fact that

βάντα

suggests a mention of ‘the place whence.’

Ἀπιόθεν

(Ahrens) would mean ‘from

Ἄπιος

,’ but we require ‘from

Ἀπία

’ sc. (

γῆ

, the Peloponnesus, O. C. 1303 n.), i.e.

Ἀπία—θεν

: cp.

Ὀλυμπίαθεν

. I had thought of Ἰναχόθεν , which Mekler, too, has suggested, though he has not supported it by argument. The points in its favour are: ( a) the order

φῶτα βάντα

can be kept: ( b) after ‘Dircè's streams’ in v. 105 a reference to the Argive river would be appropriate: ( c)

ἀργόθεν

might have come in either as a gloss, or a corruption of the letters

αχόθεν

, if

ιν

had dropped out after

λεύκασπιν

. But I hesitate to displace

Ἀργόθεν

, esp. when a direct mention of Argos here so naturally corresponds with the direct mention of Thebes in v. 101.

πανσαγίᾳ (only here)=

πανοπλίᾳ

, modal dat.

σάγη

(for accent, cp. Chandler § 72)=‘what one carries,’ and so, generally, ‘equipment’ ( Aesch. Cho. 560

ξένῳ γὰρ εἰκώς, παντελῆ σάγην ἔχων

), or, specially, body-armour: Aesch. Pers. 240

ἔγχη σταδαῖα καὶ φεράσπιδες σάγαι

(opp. to the light equipment of the

τοξότης

φυγάδα πρ. , proleptic, with κινήσασα , ‘having stirred to flight,’ etc. cp. O. C. 1292

ἐξελήλαμαι φυγάς.

πρόδρομον , ‘running forward,’ i.e. ‘in headlong haste’: Aesch. Th. 211

ἐπὶ δαιμόνων πρόδρομος ἦλθον ἀρ|χαῖα βρέτη

. In prose, always of precursors (as heralds, or an advanced guard).

ὀξυτέρῳ...χαλινῷ , ‘in swifter career,’ dat. of manner with

φυγάδα πρόδρομον

. Cp. O. C. 1067 (where the Attic horsemen are described rushing in pursuit of the Thebans),

πᾶς γὰρ ἀστράπτει χαλινός

, ‘the steel of every bridle flashes,’—as they gallop on with slack reins. So here, the

χαλινός

, which glitters as the horse rushes along, is poetically identified with the career itself, and thus is fitly joined with

ὀξύτερος

. The phrase seems happy in this context. The Argives began their retreat in the darkness (16): when the sun rises, the flashing steel of their bridles shows them in headlong flight.

ὀξυτέρῳ does not mean (1) ‘in flight swifter than their former approach’; nor (2) that the reins are shaken ever faster on the horses' necks.

ὀξυτόρῳ

(L) was a mere blunder: it could only mean ‘piercing’ (the horse's mouth), not, ‘giving a sharp sound,’ when the reins are shaken.—Cp. Aesch. Th. 122 (describing the Argive besiegers)

διάδετοι δέ τοι γενῦν ἱππιᾶν | κινύρονται

(

μινύρονται

L. Dind.)

φόνον χαλινοί

. Ib. 152

ὄτοβον ἁρμάτων ἀμφὶ πόλιν κλύω

. Our passage suggests horsemen rather than drivers of war-chariots: perh. the poet imagined both, as in O. C. 1062

πώλοισιν ἢ ῥιμφαρμάτοις | φεύγοντες ἁμίλλαις

The MSS. have ὃν...Πολυνείκης . If this were sound, it would be necessary to suppose that after

ἀμφιλόγων

a dipodia has been lost, such as Nauck supplies by <

ἤγαγεν· ἐχθρὸς δ’> ὀξέα κλάζων

. For (1) a verb is wanted to govern

ὅν

, and (2) the description of the eagle, beginning with

ὀξέα κλάζων

, clearly refers to the Argive host, not to Polyneices only. But if, with Scaliger, we read ὃς ...Πολυνείκους , no such loss need be assumed. The correspondence between anapaestic systems is not always strict, and the monometer

ὀξέα κλάζων

could stand here, though the anti-system has a dimeter in the same place (129). The MS. reading

ὃν...Πολυνείκης

probably arose from a misunderstanding of the scholium:—

ὅντινα στρατὸν Ἀργείων, ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων νεικέων ἀρθείς, ἤγαγεν ὁ Πολυνείκης, οἷον ἀμφιλογίᾳ χρησάμενος πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφόν· διὰ βραχέων δὲ εἶπεν αὐτό, ὡς γνωρίμου οὔσης τῆς ὑποθέσεως

. The Schol. wrote

ἀρθείς

, to agree with

Πολυνείκης

, and not

ἀρθέντα

, to agree with

στρατόν

, because it suited the form of his paraphrase,

οἷον ἀμφιλογίᾳ χρησάμενος πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφόν

. By

διὰ βραχέων δὲ εἷπεν αὐτό

, the Schol. meant not merely the indefiniteness of

νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

, but also the compactness of

Πολυνείκους | ἀρθεὶς ἐκ νεικέων

for

ὅντινα στρατὸν ἤγαγεν ὁ Πολυνείκης

. But a transcriber, noticing that the Schol. joined

ἀρθείς

with

Πολυνείκης

, might easily infer that

ὃν...Πολυνείκης

ought to stand in the text, and might take

διὰ βραχέων

as meaning that the verb

ἤγαγε

could be understood.—L has the Doric

γᾷ

, and presently

γᾶν, ὑπερέπτα

, which I keep: see Appendix.

Πολυνείκους … νεικέων , playing on the name, like Aesch. ( Aesch. Th. 577 , Aesch. Th. 658 , Aesch. Th. 829 ): as elsewhere on that of Ajax ( Ai. 432

αἰάζειν

), and of Odysseus (fr. 877,

πολλοὶ γὰρ ὠδύσαντο δυσμενεῖς ἐμοί

, have been bitter).

ἀρθείς , ‘having set forth’: so Her. 1.165

ἀερθέντες ἐκ τῶν Οἰνουσσέων ἔπλεον

: 9. 52 (of a land-force)

ἀερθέντες ...ἀπαλλάσσοντο

. Attic prose similarly uses the act.

ἄρας

, either absolutely, or with dat. (

ταῖς ναυσί, τῷ στρατῷ

), or, more rarely, with acc. (

τὰς ναῦς

Thuc. 1.52 ). Here the choice of the word suits the image of an eagle soaring.

νεικ. ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων , lit. in consequence of contentious quarrels, i.e. his claims to the Theban throne, against his brother Eteocles. Eur. Med. 636

ἀμφιλόγους ὀργὰς

(contentious moods)

ἀκόρεστά τε νείκη

: Ph. 500

ἀμφίλεκτος...ἔρις

. The prep. as O. C. 620

ἐκ σμικροῦ λόγου

ὀξέα κλάζων : Homeric, Il. 17.88 (of Hector)

ὀξέα κεκληγώς

: Il. 16.429

μεγάλα κλάζοντε

(of vultures fighting): so Aesch. Ag. 48 (the Atreidae)

μέγαν ἐκ θυμοῦ κλάζοντες Ἄρη.

αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα seems clearly right. If ὥς is omitted, we have a metaphor instead of a simile, with harsh effect. If we read

αἰετὸς ὥς

, and omit

εἰς, γᾶν ὑπερέπτα

could mean only, ‘flew over the land,’ not, ‘flew over the border into the land.’ Further, it is better that the flow of these descriptive verses should not be broken by a paroemiac before v. 116. No argument either way can be founded on v. 130 (where see n.), since, even if it were a paroemiac, that would not require a paroemiac here.

ὑπερέπτα . The act. strong aor.

ἔπτην

(as if from

ἵπτημι

) occurs simple only in the Batrachomyomachia (210, if sound) and the Anthol.: compounded, only in the tragic lyrics and in late prose. Cp. 1307 .

λευκῆς χιόνος πτ. , ‘a wing white as snow’ (the white shield, ); genitive of quality (or material), equiv. to an epithet: cp. O. T. 533

τόλμης πρόσωπον

(a bold front): El. 19

ἄστρων εὐφρόνη

(starry night): Eur. Phoen. 1491

στολίδα...τρυφᾶς

(a luxurious robe): ib. 1526

γάλακτος...μαστοῖς

(milky breasts).

στεγανός , pass. here, ‘covered’; but act. in Aesch. Ag. 358

στεγανὸν δίκτυον

: cp. Xen. Cyr. 7.1.33

αἱ ἀσπίδες...στεγάζουσι τὰ σώματα.

ὅπλων … κορύθεσσι . The image of the eagle with white wings, which suited the Argive descent on Thebes, here passes into direct description of an invader who comes with many

ὅπλα

and

κόρυθες

,—the shield, spear, and helmet of heavy-armed troops. For the dat. in

‐εσσι

cp. 976

χείρεσσι. ἱπποκόμοις

, ‘with horse-hair crest’ ( Il. 13.132

ἱ. κόρυθες

). For ξύν denoting what one wears or carries, cp. O. T. 207 , O. C. 1258 , Ai. 30

πηδῶντα πεδία ξὺν νεορράντῳ ξίφει

. There is no real difference here between μετά and ξύν : Donaldson refines too much in suggesting that

μετά

means merely ‘by their sides,’ while

ξύν

‘denotes a closer union’ (i.e. ‘on their heads’).

In στὰς δ’ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων there is a momentary return to the image of the flying eagle,—‘having stayed his flight above my dwellings,’—before swooping. The words do not mean that the Argive army was posted on hills around Thebes: the only hills available were to the N. of the town. The

Ἰσμήνιος λόφος

( Paus. 9.10.2 ), on which Donaldson places the Argives, was merely a low eminence close to one of the city gates. Thebes stood on a low spur of ground projecting southward, and overlooking the plain. Sophocles has elsewhere described the Argive besiegers, with topographical correctness, as having ‘set their leaguer round the plain of Thebes’ ( O. C. 1312

τὸ Θήβης πεδίον ἀμφεστᾶσι πᾶν

). Struve's πτάς (a participle not found elsewhere except in composition with a preposition) seems improbable, and also less forcible.

The words φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν... λόγχαις once more merge the image of the eagle,—as at v. 115,—in literal description of a besieging army, save in so far as the figurative

ἀμφιχανών

suggests a monster opening its jaws. The word was perh. suggested by Il. 23.79

ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρ | ἀμφέχανε στυγερή

(hath gaped for me—i.e. ‘devoured me’). These transitions from clear imagery to language in which the figure is blurred by the thought of the object for which it stands, are thoroughly Sophoclean: cp. n. on O. T. 866 .

φονώσαισιν : the word is not rare in later writers, but in classical Greek occurs only here and Ph. 1209

φονᾷ, φονᾷ νόος ἤδη

. Cp.

τομάω

( Ai. 582 ).

ἑπτάπυλον στόμα , prop. the access afforded by seven gates: fr. 701

Θήβας λέγεις μοι τὰς πύλας ἑπταστόμους

(sevenmouthed as to its gates). Nauck changes

στόμα

πόλισμ’

to avoid hiatus: but cp. O. T. 1202

βασιλεὺς καλεῖ | ἐμός

, n.

ἔβα , emphatic by place: cp. 46 .

πρίν ποθ’ , ‘or ever,’ as Tr. 17 . αἱμάτων , streams of blood, as Aesch. Ag. 1293

αἱμάτων εὐθνησίμων | ἀπορρυέντων

(with ref. to one person). Soph. has the plur. only here: Aesch. and Eur. use it several times each, either in this sense, or as=‘deeds of bloodshed’ (once as=‘slain persons,’

αἵματα σύγγονα

, Eur. Phoen. 1503 ).

γἑνυσιν might be locative dat., ‘in’; but seems rather instrumental, ‘with.’ After πλησθῆναι the missing short syllable is best supplied by τε (Triclinius). The constr. is,

πρὶν

(

αὐτός

)

τε πλησθῆναι, καὶ Ἥφαιστον στεφάνωμα πύργων ἑλεῖν

. For τε irregularly placed, cp. O. T. 258 n.

στεφάνωμα : Eur. Hec. 910 (of Troy)

ἀπὸ δὲ στεφάναν κέκαρσαι | πύργων

: cp. n. on O. C. 15 .

πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον , the flame of pine-wood torches ( Verg. Aen. 11. 786

pineus ardor

). Cp. 1007 , Il. 2.426 .

σπλάγχνα δ’ ἄρ’ ἀμπείραντες ὑπείρεχον Ἡφαίστοιο

τοῖος , introducing the reason; O. C. 947 n.

ἐτάθη , lit. ‘was made intense,’ here suggesting both loud sound and keen strife. Cp. Il. 12.436

ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο πτόλεμός τε

: 23. 375

ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος

: Aesch. Pers. 574

τεῖνε δὲ δυσβάϋκτον | βοᾶτιν τάλαιναν αὐδάν.

πάταγος , clatter of arms (a word expressive of the sound), as distinguished from

βοή

, a human cry; cp. Her. 7.211

οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι ὁρέοντες φεύγοντας βοῇ τε καὶ πατάγῳ ἐπήϊσαν

. The Argives began to retreat in the night: at dawn, the Thebans made a sally in pursuit of them, and turned the retreat into a rout.

ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος , a thing hard to vanquish for him who was struggling against the (Theban) dragon, —i.e. for the Argive eagle. The two readings between which the MSS. fluctuate, viz., ἀντιπάλῳ ... δράκοντι and ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος , arose, I feel sure, from ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντος (V has

ἀντιπάλω...δράκοντος

). For the gen. after this adj., cp. Pind. O. 8. 94

μένος γήραος ἀντίπαλον

, a spirit that wrestles with old age: Eur. Alc. 922

ὑμεναίων γόος ἀντίπαλος

, wails contending with marriagesongs.

The interpretation of the passage turns primarily on two points.

(1) The δράκων certainly means the Thebans,—the

σπαρτοί

( O. C. 1534 ) sprung from the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus, and thence called

δρακοντογενεῖς

(schol.), Ovid's

anguigenae

( Met. 3. 531 ): cp. 1125

ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος

. Poetry often represented a struggle between an eagle and a dragon or snake (

δράκων

could mean either, the ‘dragon’ being conceived as a sort of huge python); as Il. 12.201 , Od. 4.4 . 11.

(2) The δυς in δυσχείρωμα must refer to difficulty experienced by the vanquished Argives, not by the victorious Thebans. The word must mean, then, ‘ a thing hard to overcome,’ not, ‘ a victory won with difficulty.’ So

δυσχείρωτος

is ‘hard to subdue’ ( Her. 7.9 ), as

ἀχείρωτος

is ‘unsubdued’ ( Thuc. 6.10 ), and

εὐχείρωτος

‘easy to subdue’ ( Xen. Hellen. 5.3.4 ). Cp.

δυσπάλαιστος, δυσπάλαμος, δύσμαχος

, etc., used with poetical irony to express the irresistible. In O. T. 560

θανάσιμον χείρωμα

is a deed of deadly violence: in Aesch. Th. 1022

τυμβοχόα χειρώματα

are works of the hand in mound-making. In itself,

δυσχείρωμα

might mean ‘a thing achieved with difficulty’; but here the irony is clearly pointed against the routed Argives: the poet does not mean that the Thebans won with difficulty. Thus

δυσχείρωμα

is here the opposite of what Aesch. calls

εὐμαρὲς χείρωμα

, a thing easily subdued: Aesch. Ag. 1326

δούλης θανούσης, εὐμαροῦς χειρώματος

. The Theban

πάταγος Ἄρεος

was a thing which the Argives could not overcome.

Those who read ἀντιπάλῳ … δράκοντι explain either ( a) ‘a hard-won victory for the dragon foe’: but this gives a wrong sense to

δυσχείρωμα

: or ( b) join the dat. with ὲτάθη : ‘a din was raised by the dragon foe (cp. Il. 22.55

Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμασθείς

), a thing hard ( for the Argive) to subdue.’ But

δυσχείρωμα

, placed as it is, cannot be thus dissociated from the dat.

ἀντιπ. δράκοντι

and mentally referred to another dat. which is left to be understood.

Those who read ἀντιπάλου … δράκοντος understand ( a) a thing on the part of the dragon foe which was hard (for the Argive) to overcome; i.e. ‘an irresistible onset of the dragon foe.’ But such a construction of

δυσχείρωμα

with the gen. seems impossible, esp. when there is no dat. to help it out. Or ( b) ‘a hard-won victory of the dragon foe’; which gives a wrong sense to

δυσχείρωμα

.—The form of the word is in one respect unique. Every similar neuter noun compounded with

δυς

is from a verb so compounded: as

δυσέργημα, δυσημέρημα, δυσπράγημα, δυσσέβημα, δυστύχημα, δυσφήμημα, δυσχέρασμα, δυσχρήστημα, δυσώπημα

. But there is no such verb as

δυσχειρόω

, ‘to subdue with difficulty.’ The noun has been boldly coined to express

δυσχείρωτον πρᾶγμα

μεγάλης : 1350

μεγάλοι... λόγοι

: Plat. Phaedo 95B

μὴ μέγα λέγε

: Verg. Aen. 10. 547

Dixerat ille aliquid magnum.

ῥεύματι : Aesch. Pers. 88

μεγάλῳ ῥεύματι φωτῶν

(so ib. 412

ῥεῦμα Περσικοῦ στρατοῦ

). Eur. I. T. 1437

παῦσαι διώκων ῥεῦμά τ’ ἐξορμῶν στρατοῦ

. The transposition ῥεύματι πολλῷ is unnecessary. In the same dipodia an anapaest must not precede a dactyl, nor a dactyl an anapaest; but a spondee can be followed by a dactyl, as O. C. 146

δηλῶ δ’. οὐ γὰρ ἂν ᾦδ’ ἀλλοτρίοις

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις , ‘in the haughty pride of clanging gold.’

ὑπεροπλίαις

seems a certain correction of

ὑπεροπτίας

(see cr. n.), and has justly won its way with recent edd. The word is fitting, since

ὑπεροπλία

is prop. ‘overweening confidence in arms’; and Soph. has used the epic plur. with the epic

ι—

, Il. 1.205

ᾗς ὑπεροπλίῃσι

: so too Theocr. 25. 138

σθένεϊ ᾧ | ἠδ’ ὑπεροπλίῃ Φαέθων

μέγας

. In post-Homeric poetry

ὑπέροπλος

is a freq. epith. of overweening strength (

ἠνορέη, βίη, ἥβη

, etc.).—Other readings are:—(1)

χρυσοῦ καναχῇ θ’ ὑπερόπτας

, ‘and haughty in the clang of gold.’ This involves an improbable change; the subst.

ὑπερόπτης

, too, is unsuitable here, and cannot be defended by Theocr. 22. 58

πρὸς πάντα παλίγκοτος ἠδ’ ὑπερόπτης

. Wecklein, reading

ὑπερόπτας

, keeps

καναχῆς

in the sense, hoffärtig auf: but a genit. after

ὑπερόπτης

could not denote that in which one takes pride. (2)

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτης

, or

‐όπτα

, i.e., ‘Zeus, a despiser of the clang of gold.’ (3)

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπέροπτα

, adv. neut. plur. (as O. T. 883 ), ‘advancing haughtily in a great stream of clanging gold.’ But the adv. comes weakly at the end, and

χρυσοῦ κ

. is harshly joined with

π. ῥεύματι

.—Aesch. , too, gives prominence to gold in picturing the Argive chiefs: Capaneus has golden letters on his shield ( Aesch. Th. 434 ), Polyneices has the image of a warrior in golden armour, with a golden legend (644, Aesch. Th. 660 ).

καναχῆς , of metal, as Il. 16.105

πήληξ βαλλομένη καναχὴν ἔχε

παλτῷ πυρί , i.e. with the thunderbolt which Zeus brandishes in his hand before hurling it: Aristoph. Av. 1714

πάλλων κεραυνόν, πτεροφόρον Διὸς βέλος.

βαλβίδων ἐπ’ ἄκρων , at his topmost goal, i.e. at his goal on the top of our walls.

ἄκρων

might mean merely ‘uttermost,’ but is rather associated in the poet's mind with the object meant by

βαλβίδων

. In Eur. Phoen. 1180 Capaneus is struck by Zeus at the moment that he is surmounting the

γεῖσα τειχέων

, the coping of the walls. The

βαλβῖδες

were the posts, to which a rope was attached, marking the point from which runners in the double foot-race (

δίαυλος

) set out, and to which they returned: hence both starting-point and goal.

ὁρμῶντα : for the partic. as subst., without either art. or

τις

, cp. El. 697

δύναιτ’ ἂν οὐδ’ ἂν ἰσχύων φυγεῖν

: Plat. Gorg. 498A

ΚΑΛ. εἶδον. ΣΩ. τί δέ; νοῦν ἔχοντα λυπούμενον καὶ χαίροντα

; The name of Capaneus could be left unmentioned, since the story was so famous. No leader of the Argive host, except Polyneices, is named in this play. The attack of Capaneus was said to have been made at the

Ἤλεκτραι πύλαι

on the s. side of Thebes ( Aesch. Th. 423 , Paus. 9.9.8 ). His fall from the scaling-ladder, as the lightning struck him, was often represented in art.

νίκην , cogn. acc. with ἀλαλάξαι , to raise the cry

ἀλαλαί

for victory: Aristoph. Av. 1763

ἀλαλαί, ἰὴ παιήων, | τήνελλα καλλίνικος

ἀντιτύπᾳ , restored by Porson ( Aav. p. 169) for

ἀντίτυπα

, is certainly right. Adjectives in

ος

, compounded with a prep., are oft. of three terminations in epic poetry, as

ἀμφιελίσση, ἀμφιρύτη, ἀντιθέη

( Od. 13.378 ),

ἀμφιβρότη

( Il. 2.389 ),

ὑποδεξίη

( Il. 9.73 ), etc. The dramatists could admit some such forms, esp. in lyrics; thus they have

ἡ ἐναλία

as well as

ἡ ἐνάλιος, ἡ ἐννυχία

as well as

ἡ ἐννύχιος

As regards the sense,

ἀντίτυπος

was regularly used of hard surfaces, which, as it were, repel that which strikes them (for the accent

ἀντίτυπος

, not

ἀντιτύπος

, though the sense is act., see on O. T. 460 ). Probl. 5. 40

οἱ...ἐν ἀντιτύποις περίπατοι

. Lucian Amor. 13

τὴν ἀντίτυπον οὕτω καὶ καρτερὰν τοῦ λίθου φύσιν

. So, fig., Plat. Crat. 420D

τὸ...ἀναγκαῖον καὶ ἀντίτυπον

, what is necessary, and what resists us.

τανταλωθείς , ‘ swung,’ that is, sent flying through the air from the edge of the wall on which he was just setting foot. The word expresses the force with which the thunderbolt struck him, just as

ἀντιτύπᾳ

expresses the crash when he struck earth. This form of the verb occurs only here. Arist. uses both

ταλαντεύομαι

(pass.) and

ταλαντεύω

(act. intr.) as ‘to sway to and fro.’ The Schol., explaining by

διασεισθείς

(i.e. ‘with a rude shock,’ which is substantially right) quotes Anacreon 78 [

ἐν] μελαμφύλλῳ δάφνᾳ χλωρᾷ τ’ ἐλαίᾳ τανταλίζει

(where the subject was perh. a god, or the wind).

πυρφόρος , ‘torch in hand’: so of Prometheus ( O. C. 55 , where see n.) and Artemis ( O. T. 207 ). Aesch. Th. 433

φλέγει δὲ λαμπὰς διὰ χερῶν ὡπλισμένη· | χρυσοῖς δὲ φωνεῖ γράμμασιν, πρήσω πόλιν.

βακχεύων : so oft. Eur. as H. F. 898

Λύσσα βακχεύσει

: but this is the only place where Soph. connects evil frenzy with the name of a god whom this same Ode invokes (154).

ῥιπαῖς...ἀνέμων . Capaneus, breathing fury and slaughter, is likened to a deadly tempest. For

ῥιπαί

, ‘blasts,’ cp. 929 and O. C. 1248 n. So Aesch. Th. 63

πρὶν καταιγίσαι πνοὰς | Ἄρεως

εἶχε δ’ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν , ‘but those things indeed’ (the threats of Capaneus) ‘went otherwise’ (than he had expected):

ἄλλα δ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις μέγας Ἄρης ἐπενώμα

, ‘while to others great Ares assigned various dooms,’ etc. The poet has described how Zeus smote the most formidable foe. As to the other Argive chiefs, he briefly adds that Ares struck them down by various deaths: i.e. they perished, not by a stroke from heaven, but in the course of battle. In L's reading, εἶχε δ’ ἄλλαι τὰ μὲν ἄλλαι τὰ δ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις , one cause of corruption has evidently been a confusion between alternative modes of expressing ‘some’ and ‘other,’ viz. (1) by doubled ἄλλος, (2) by

τὰ μέν, τὰ δέ

. It is in favour of our reading (Erfurdt's) that it helps to account for this, since it supposes that τὰ μέν was answered by ἄλλα δέ . Cp. O. C. 1671

οὐ τὸ μέν, ἄλλο δὲ μή

: Il. 6.147

τὰ μέν τ’ ἄνεμος χαμάδις χέει, ἄλλα δέ θ’ ὕλη | τηλεθόωσα φύει

. It is immaterial that, here, τὰ μέν means, not, ‘ some things,’ but, ‘ those things’; since the latter is its first sense also where we render it by ‘some.’ Further, with regard to ἄλλᾳ , remark that this form of adverb is used elsewhere also in ref. to the course ordained by gods or fate: O. C. 1443

ταῦτα δ’ ἐν τῷ δαίμονι, | καὶ τῇδε φῦναι χἁτέρᾳ

: Aesch. PV 511

οὐ ταῦτα ταύτῃ μοῖρά πω τελεσφόρος | κρᾶναι πέπρωται

. For other proposed readings, see Appendix.

ἐπενώμα : Aesch. Eum. 310

λάχη τὰ κατ’ ἀνθρώπους | ὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις ἁμά

, apportions.— στυφελίζων (

στυ^φελός

, ‘firm,’

στυ—/φω

, to compress), ‘striking heavily’: Il. 1.581

ἐξ ἑδέων στυφελίξαι

δεξιόσειρος , ‘right-hand trace-horse,’ here means a vigorous ally, who does more than his own share of the work. Ares has brought the Theban chariot victoriously through the crisis of the race against its Argive rival. In the fourhorse chariot-race the four horses were harnessed abreast: the two in the middle were under the yoke (

ζύγιοι

), being called

ὁ μέσος δεξιός

and

ὁ μέσος ἀριστερός

(schol. Aristoph. Nub. 122 ): the two outside horses drew in traces (

σειραῖοι

). The chariot went down the right-hand side of the course, turned sharply from right to left at the distance-post (

καμπτήρ, νύσσα

), and came back down the left side. Hence, at the turning-point, the right-hand tracehorse had most work to do; and the best horse was put in that place. Cp. El. 721 (at the turning-post)

δεξιόν τ’ ἀνεὶς | σειραῖον ἵππον εἶργε τὸν προσκείμενον

. Plat. Symp. 4. 6

ἁρματηλατοῦντα δεῖ ἐγγὺς μὲν τῆς στήλης κάμψαι

, quoting from Il. 23.336 the precept

τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον | κένσαι ὁμοκλήσαντ’, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν

. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 842

ζευχθεὶς ἕτοιμος ἦν ἐμοὶ σειραφόρος

(said by Agam. of Odysseus): and cp. ib. 1640 .

The old v.l. δεξιόχειρος , explained by the schol.

γενναῖος καὶ παραδέξιος

, is read by Musgrave, Hartung, and Pallis. Hartung A. renders it ‘der Starke,’—understanding it as ‘the strong and deft striker.’ Neither

δεξιόχειρος

nor

δεξιόχειρ

seems to occur, though

ἀριστερόχειρ

(left-handed) is found in late Greek.

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοί . In O. C. 1313 ff. the list agrees with that of Aesch. ,— Amphiaraus, Tydeus, Eteoclus, Hippomedon, Capaneus, Parthenopaeus, Polyneices. (Adrastus, who escaped, is not counted as one of the seven.) Capaneus, though not slain by human hand, is included, since he was vanquished. Amphiaraus, according to the legend which Soph. recognises in El. 837 , was swallowed up by the earth, but seems here to be reckoned among those who fell in fight (cp. n. on O. C. 1313 ).

ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους , instead of saying simply

πρὸς ἑπτά

,—a common idiom: Eur. Phoen. 750

ἴσους ἴσοισι πολεμίοισιν ἀντιθείς

: Her. 1.2

ἴσα πρὸς ἴσα

: 9. 48

ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους

: Plat. Legg. 774C

ἴσα ἀντὶ ἴσων

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ , to Zeus who makes a

τροπή

, or rout, of enemies. Eur. El. 671

ὦ Ζεῦ πατρῷε καὶ τροπαῖ’ ἐχθρῶν ἐμῶν

. So he is invoked after a victory, Her. 867. (In Tr. 303

ὦ Ζεῦ τροπαῖε

is usu. taken as=

ἀποτρόπαιε

, ‘averting.’) In his relation to war, Zeus was worshipped also as

Ἀγήτωρ

(esp. at Sparta),

Ἄρειος

(at Olympia, etc.),

Στράτιος, Χρυσάωρ

(in Caria),

Στήσιος

Ἐπιστάσιος

(the Roman stator, stayer of flight).

πάγχαλκα τέλη , ‘tributes of panoplies,’ as Tr. 238 Heracles dedicates

βωμοὺς τέλη τ’ ἔγκαρπα Κηναίῳ Διΐ

, i.e. ‘dues of fruits,’—alluding to the

τέμενος

of which the produce was given to the god ( ib. 754 ). Not, (1) ‘complete suits of armour’: nor (2)

ὁπλιτικὰ τάγματα

, ‘troops of warriors,’ as Eustath. took it (p. 686. 16), led perh. by Aesch. Pers. 47

δίρρυμά τε καὶ τρίρρυμα τέλη

It was the ordinary practice to set up a

τρόπαιον

(old

αττ.τροπαῖον

) after a victory, on the spot where it had been won, or, in the case of a sea-fight, on the nearest land ( Thuc. 2.92 ). Such a trophy ordinarily consisted of shields, helmets, and weapons, conspicuously displayed on wooden supports, and dedicated, with an inscription, to a deity. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 1473 (of the Thebans after the victory)

οἱ μὲν Διὸς τροπαῖον ἵστασαν βρέτας

(i.e. a wooden image of

Ζεὺς Τροπαῖος

), |

οἱ δ’ ἀσπίδας συλῶντες Ἀργείων νεκρῶν | σκυλεύματ’ εἴσω τειχέων ἐπέμπομεν

. Part of the armour would be affixed to the walls of Theban temples (cp. Aesch. Ag. 577 , Th. 276 ).

πλὴν τ. στυγεροῖν , ‘wretched’ (as Ph. 166 ): not, ‘hateful,’ nor, ‘filled with hate.’ Of the seven Argive leaders, Polyneices was the only one who could not properly be said to have been vanquished, since he was not more vanquished than victorious. But, in excepting him, the poet associates him with the brother who was his victim as well as his conqueror. Thus

ἑπτὰ...ἔλιπον..., πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν

, is a lax way of saying, ‘defeat befell each of the seven Argive leaders, except in the case of the two brothers,’—in which an Argive leader and a Theban leader slew each other.— πατρός , etc., gen. of origin (38).

καθ’ αὑτοῖν = κατ’ ἀλλήλοιν. Cp. Dem. or. 40 § 29

ὧν ἂν ἐν αὑτοῖς διενεχθῶσι γυνὴ καὶ ἀνήρ

. Plat. Prot. 347D

λέγοντάς τε καὶ ἀκούοντας ἐν μέρει ἑαυτῶν.

δικρατεῖς λόγχας , two spears, each of which was victorious over the wielder of the other. So Ai. 251

δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι

, two Atreidae, each of whom is a king. That is,

δικρατεῖς

is equiv. to two distinct epithets (

δύο

and

κρατοῦσαι

): cp. O. C. 1055

διστόλους...ἀδελφάς

, two journeying sisters: ib. 17

πυκνόπτεροι

= many, and feathered (n.): see O.T. 846 n.

στήσαντε , having set in position, levelled, against each other. The Homeric

δόρυ

was chiefly a missile; here the

λόγχη

is used for thrusting.

ἀλλὰ γάρ , like

ἀλλ’ οὐ γάρ

( O.C. 988 n.), can be used with or without an ellipse. Here there is no ellipse, since

ἐπέλθωμεν

follows (153), and γάρ , introducing the reason given by

ἦλθε

,= ‘ since.’ Below, 155, there is an ellipse, —‘But (let us cease), for Creon comes’; where γάρ might be rendered ‘ indeed. ’

μεγαλώνυμος : schol.

ἡ μεγάλην περιποιοῦσα δόξαν

: the personified Nikè is ‘of great name,’ because victory is glorious.

πολυαρμάτῳ implies warlike renown, as well as wealth and splendour ( cp. 845 ). Already in Il. 4.391 the Cadmeans are ‘urgers of horses’ (

κέντορες ἵππων

): so Scut. Herc. 24

Βοιωτοὶ πλήξιπποι

: Pindar Ol. 6. 85 has

πλάξιππον...Θήβαν

, Isthm. 7. 20

φιλαρμάτου πόλιος

(as elsewhere

χρυσάρματος, εὐάρματος

). Critias , speaking of the inventions for which various cities were famous, says (fr. 1. 10)

Θήβη δ’ ἁρματόεντα δίφρον συνεπήξατο πρώτη.

ἀντιχαρεῖσα , with gladness responsive to that of Thebè. The goddess Nikè has come to meet the victors, and their joy is reflected in her radiant smile. (We can imagine her descending towards them from the sky, like the winged Nikè of Paeonius found at Olympia.) The doubts which have been felt as to

ἀντιχαρεῖσα

disappear if it is observed that

χαρεῖσα

here refers to the outward manifestation of joy, not merely to the feeling in the mind. Thus

ἀντί

expresses the answer of smile to smile, as in

ἀντιλάμπω

of light to light, or in

ἀντιφθέγγομαι

of sound to sound. I do not take

ἀντί

here to mean merely ‘over against,’ as when Pind. Ol. 3.19 says

ἤδη γὰρ αὐτῷ... | ...ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντέφλεξε Μήνα

, the (mid-month) moon showed the light of her eye over against him. —Not (1)

ἴσον αὐτῇ χαρεῖσα

(schol.), i.e. merely, ‘rejoicing as Thebes does,’ which extenuates

ἀντιχαρεῖσα

into

συγχαρεῖσα

. Nor (2)

ἀντὶ τῶν κακῶν χαρεῖσα

, i.e. rejoicing in requital of past troubles.

ἐκ...πολέμων τῶν νῦν , ‘after the recent wars.’ For ἐκ , cp. Ph. 271

ἐκ πολλοῦ σάλου | εὕδοντ’

, sleeping, after long tossing on the sea. For νῦν referring to the recent past (=‘just now’), cp. Dem. or. 18 § 13

ἡλίκα νῦν ἐτραγῴδει καὶ διεξῄει

: Xen. Anab. 7.1.26

ἀναμνησθέντας τὰ νῦν ἤδη γεγενημένα

(i.e. the events of the Peloponnesian war, which had ended four years before).

θέσθαι (L), as infin. for imperative ( O. C. 481 n.), has a certain solemnity which seems to make it better here than θέσθε , though the latter is not excluded by

ἐπέλθωμεν

. The last syll. of

θἑσθαι

answers to the second of

ἐχθίστων

in 137; each is an ‘irrational’ syllable (- for ˘): see θεῶν, monosyll. by synizesis ( O. C. 964 n.).— παννυχίοις , since a

παννυχίς

was esp. grateful to the city's tutelar god Dionysus (1147), whose rites are

νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά

( Eur. Bacch. 486 ).

ὁ Θήβας (gen. sing.) ἐλελίχθων , = ὁ τὴν Θήβης χθόνα ἐλελίζων, shaking the ground of Thebes (with his dances): for the objective gen., cp. O. C. 333

λόγων αὐτάγγελος.

Βάκχιος = Βάκχος, as Eur. Bacch. 225

τὴν δ’ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθ’ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου

, and oft.

ἄρχοι sc.

τῆς χορείας

(schol.). Cp. 1146 .

ἀλλὰ … γάρ : .— Κρέων , monosyll. by synizesis, as

πλέων

Od. 1.183 ; in Aesch. Ag. 1493

ἐκπνέων

is a spondee. Cp. O. C. 1073

*(πέας

, a monosyll.

Μενοικέως ,=˘¯¯, as O. C. 1003

Θησέως

(¯¯), and so oft.

νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι . Neither adj. is suspicious; new events have made a new ruler; and the doubled adj. is quite in the poet's manner. Cp. 1266

νέος νέῳ ξὺν μόρῳ

: Ai. 735

νέας | βουλὰς νέοισιν ἐγκαταζεύξας τρόποις

: O. C. 475

οἰὸς...νεαρᾶς νεοπόκῳ μαλλῷ

: ib. 1259

γέρων γέροντι συγκατῴκηκεν πίνος

: Tr. 613

καινῷ καινὸν ἐν πεπλώματι

, etc. Though

νεαρός

usu.= ‘young,’ it occurs also in the sense of ‘novel,’ as in Pindar's

νεαρὰ ἐξευρεῖν

( N. 8. 20). Three views of the metre have been taken. (1) That v. 156 should be enlarged to a dimeter by supplying one anapaest or its equivalent. (2) That v. 156 should be reduced to a monometer by omitting

νεοχμός

Μενοικέως

. (3) That both v. 156 and v. 160 should be made dimeters by supplying three anapaests or

their equivalents. See Appendix I prefer the first of these views. An anapaest or spondee, meaning ‘ruler,’ has probably dropped out before νεοχμός . Seyffert's κρείων is at first sight attractive, as accounting for its own disappearance; but, since it is the same word as

Κρέων

— which had an epic form

Κρείων

, as conversely Pind. and Aesch. use

κρέων

—this would be rather a feeble pun than a strong

παρήχησις

. Either ἄρχων or ταγός is possible.

θεῶν … συντυχίαις , fortunes sent by the gods,—the possessive gen. denoting the authors, just as it can denote the parents: cp. Ph. 1116

πότμος...δαιμόνων

: Aeol. fr. 37

τὰς δὲ δαιμόνων τύχας | ὅστις φέρει κάλλιστ’, ἀνὴρ οὗτος σοφός

. (In O. T. 34

δαιμόνων συναλλαγαῖς

is different.) ἐπὶ συντυχίαις means that the fortunes are the conditions which have made Creon king: this ἐπί with dat. of attendant circumstance sometimes=our ‘in,’ as O. C. 1268

ἐπ’ ἔργοις πᾶσι

(n.), sometimes ‘for,’ as Aristoph. Eq. 406

πῖν’ ἐπὶ συμφοραῖς

(i.e. to celebrate them), cp. El. 1230 : here we could say, ‘ under the new dispensations of the gods.’ (Distinguish 88

ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι

as =‘for’ in the sense ‘with a view to.’)

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων , consilium animo volutans, ‘turning it over’ busily in the mind.

ἐρέσσειν

, to ply the oar, is fig. said of putting a thing in lively motion, as Eur. I. A. 139

ἐρέσσων σὸν πόδα

. Then also of activity in speech, as Ai. 251

ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλάς

, ‘they ply threats’ (utter them repeatedly and loudly): or, as here, in thought. Cp. 231 .—( Not, ‘speeding his counsel hitherward,’ i.e. coming to disclose it: ‘ advolvens, i.e. patefacturus,’ Ellendt.)

σύγκλητον , specially convoked;—implying that there were other and regularly appointed seasons at which the king met the

γέροντες

in council. At Athens four meetings of the

ἐκκλησία

were regularly held in each

πρυτανεία

(a period of 35 or 36 days): these were

κυρίαι

(though the term may once have been restricted to the first of them), or

νόμιμοι

. An extraordinary meeting was

σύγκλητος

κατάκλητος

. Pollux 8. 116

σύγκλητος ἐκκλησία ἣν ἐξαίφνης ἐποίουν μείζονος χρείας ἐπιλαβούσης· ἐκαλεῖτο δὲ καὶ κατακλησία, ὅτι καὶ τοὺς ἐκ τῶν ἀγρῶν κατεκάλουν

( down to the

ἄστυ

). Arist. Pol. 3.1 . 10

ἐνίαις γὰρ οὐκ ἔστι δῆμος, οὐδ’ ἐκκλησίαν νομίζουσιν ἀλλὰ συγκλήτους

: ‘in some States there is no popular body, and they have no regular assembly, but only meetings on special occasions.’

σύγκλητος

is one of those words which, though a technical term at Athens, could still be used by Attic poets without any prosaic local allusion being felt,— just as they used

πρύτανις, ἐπιστάτης, ἄρχων, ψήφισμα

, etc.

προὔθετο is another example. The presidents of the ecclesia were said

γνώμας προθεῖναι

when they invited a discussion. Thuc. 6.14

ὦ πρύτανι ... γνώμας προτίθει αὖθις Ἀθηναίοις

, ‘lay the question again before the assembly.’ Id. 3. 42

τοὺς προθέντας τὴν διαγνώμην

. Cp. Xen. Mem. 4.2.3

τῆς πόλεως λόγον περί τινος προτιθείσης

. Lucian Menipp. 19 has

προὔθεσαν οἱ πρυτάνεις ἐκκλησίαν

, ‘gave notice of’: but for this the usual phrase was that of Aeschin. or. 2 § 60

προγράψαι τοὺς πρυτάνεις ἐκκλησίας δύο

. Here, λέσχην is

not the meeting, but the discussion which is to take place there: thus the poet's phrase, true to Attic usage, corresponds with

γνώμας προθεῖναι

rather than with

ἐκκλησίαν προθεῖναι

. Herod. uses

λέσχη

of a public discussion (9. 71): cp. O. C. 167 . The midd. προὔθετο suggests Creon's personal interest in the question: the active would denote the mere act (

θεῖναι

). Cp. 1249 .

προτίθεσθαι

more oft. denotes what one proposes to oneself.

κοινῷ κ. πέμψας , lit. having sent (notice of the meeting) by means of a summons addressed to each of us. The

κήρυγμα

is the mandate which

κήρυκες

carried to each of the fifteen elders,—not, of course, a public proclamation: cp. 164 . For the absolute

πέμπω

, cp. Thuc. 5.43

πέμπει εὐθὺς ἐς Ἄργος ἰδίᾳ

: and so oft. (Not, ‘having sent for us,’

μεταπεμψάμενος

: cp. on 19.)

Commentary on Sophocles: Antigone. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. 1900.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (English) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ¹ ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτὲ, χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον,

Διρκαίων ² ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν ἀπ᾽ Ἀργόθεν ³

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίᾳ,

φυγάδα ⁴ πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ·

ὃν ⁵ ἐφ᾽ ἁμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων,

ὀξέα κλάζων ⁶ αἰετὸς ἐς γᾶν

ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανὸς,

πολλῶν μεθ’ ὅπλων,
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

a

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων, φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα ⁷,

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν ⁸

πλησθῆναί τε, καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ ⁹
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει· καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους

χρυσοῦ, καναχῆς, ὑπεροπτείας ¹⁰,
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ, βαλβίδων ¹¹

ἐπ᾽ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι¹².

b

ἀντιτύπᾳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει ¹³

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μὲν,

ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης

δεξιόσειρος ¹⁴.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους, ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ Τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη·

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὦ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε, καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽, ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

b

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ.

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθε λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν· ὁ Θήβας δ᾽

ἐλελίχθων¹⁵ Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας
155

ὁ ¹⁶ Μενοικέως, θεῶν νεοχμὸς νεαραῖς

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις χωρεῖ, τινὰ δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.
160

Κρέων

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν πρότερον φάος,

ἐφάνθης πότ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας ἁμέρας βλέφαρον,

Διρκαίων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργέϊον
105

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ,

ὃν ἐφ᾽ ἁμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκης

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων.
110

ἀγαγὼν θούριος ¹ ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς ἐς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθ’ ὅπλων

ξύν θ’ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.
115

1

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ’ ἁμετέρων αἱμάτων γένυσιν

πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
120

πευκάενθ' Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος ἀντιπάλῳ

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους
125

ὑπερεχθαίρει· καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπτείας,

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ’ ἄκρων ἤδη
130

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι.

2

ἀντίτυπα δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν,
135

ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης

δεξιόσειρος.

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,
140

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ' αὑτοῖν

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα
145

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ.

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων τῶν νῦν θέσθε λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν· ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων

Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.
150

ἀλλ' ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως νέον εἰληχὼς

ἀρχήν², νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι θεῶν

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον
155

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην,

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

3. ἘΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίοιο, κἀλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν πρότερον φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτὲ, χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον,

Διρκαίων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθε πρὶν

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ,

ὃς ἐφ᾽ ἁμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκους
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων,

ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς ἐς γᾶν ὥς, ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανὸς,

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων,
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσι.

1

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων, φονί-

αισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ’ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσι

πλησθῆναί τε, καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν·

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος ἀντιπάλῳ
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
130

παλτῷ ῥίπτει πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾽ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι·

2

ἀντιτύπῳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει,

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μὲν,

τὰ δ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων

μέγας Ἄρης δεξιόχειρος·
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ, ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες, ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους, ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς,

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽, ἔχετον
145

κοινοῦ. θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐν μὲν δὴ πολέμων

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν,
150

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

νυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν· ὁ Θήβας

δ’ ἐλελίζων Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ’ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,

ὁ Μενοικέως, θεῶν νεοχμὸς νεαραῖς
155

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις, χωρεῖ, τινὰ δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλλιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν
100

Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτ', ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον,

Διρκαίων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν † φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ·

ὃς ἐφ᾿ ἡμετέρᾳ γᾷ *Πολυνείκους
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὡς ὑπερέπτη,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανὸς

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσι.

α

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων *φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν

πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ' Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν. τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος ἀντιπάλῳ

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι,

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους,

51v

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτης,
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾿ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι·

β

ἀντιτύπᾳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν·

δεινὰ δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης

δεξιόσειρος.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

β

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθε λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων

Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, *ἄρχων νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων;

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων
160

προὔθετο λέσχην, κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί-

ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν ἀπ᾽ Ἀργόθεν

φῶτα, βάντα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον, ὀξυτόρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ.

ὃν ἐφ᾽ ἡμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ἄγαγε· κεῖνος δ᾽ ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

1

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύχλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,

ἔβα πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-

ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισομένους,

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις.
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾿ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι.

2

ἀντιτύπᾳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν,

ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελί-

ζων μέγας Ἄρης δεξιόσειρος.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ’ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν·

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν, ὁ Θή-

βας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ᾽, ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ἄρχων νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν πρότερον φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτ’, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί-

ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀπιόθεν

φῶτα, βάντα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον, ὀξυτέρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ.

ὃν ἐφ’ ἡμετέρᾳ γῇ Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ἤγαγεν ἐχθρόν· ὁ δ’ ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς εἰς γῆν ὣς ὑπερέπτη,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθ’ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ’ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

1

στὰς δ’ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,

ἔβα πρίν ποθ’ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-

ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ’ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ’ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλου
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους,

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ’ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ’ ἀλαλάξαι.

2

ἀντιτύπᾳ δ’ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ’ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν,

ἄλλα δ’ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελί-

ζων μέγας Ἄρης δεξιόσειρος.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ’ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ Τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ’ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ’ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν·

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν, ὁ Θή-

βας δ’ ἐλελίχθων Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ’, ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ταγὸσ νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλωι φανὲν

Θήβαι τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί-

ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν † Ἀργόθεν †

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίαι

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτόρωι

κινήσασα χαλινῶι.

ὃν ἐφ᾽ ἁμετέραι γᾶι Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς ὣς γᾶν ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανὸς

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

1

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλωι

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,

ἔβα πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-

ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλωι
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῶι ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
130

παλτῶι ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾽ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι.

2

ἀντιτύπαι δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾶι πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομέναι ξὺν ὁρμᾶι
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ †ἄλλα τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα

τὰ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις † ἐπενώ-

μα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης δεξιόσειρος.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίωι πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ' αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾶι πολυαρμάτωι ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβαι,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν·

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλ-

θωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προύθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῶι κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης πότ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον,

Διρκαίων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα, 105
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίᾳ;

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ

κινήσασα χαλινῷ,

1

ὃν ἐφ᾽ ἁμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ὀξέα κλάζων αἰετὸς ἐς γᾶν

ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθ' ὅπλων,
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

1

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα,

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν

πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντι.

1

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει· καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτας,
130

παλτῷ ῥίπτει πυρί, βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾿ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι,

2

ἀντίτυπα δ' ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθείς,

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ μὲν ἄλ-

λᾳ· τὰ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης

δεξιόσειρος.
140
2

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους, ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη·

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ' ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθε λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν· ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων

Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

2

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως

νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι θεῶν

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ

μῆτιν ἐρέσσων, ὅτι σύγκλητον

τήνδε γερόντων προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας.

Κρέων

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλλιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν 1
100

Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος, 2

ἐφάνθης ποτ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας 3

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαίων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα, 4

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν ἐκβάντα φῶτα πανσαγίᾳ 5

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ κινήσασα χαλινῷ· 6

1

ὃς ἐφ᾽ ἡμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκους
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσι.

1

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων, φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ 1

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα, 2

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων 3
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα 4

πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν. τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη 5

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος. 6

2

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους,

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ’ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι.

2

ἀντιτύπᾳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς 1

πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ 2
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει 3

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων. 4

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν, 5

ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ’ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης 6

δεξιόσειρος. 7
140
3

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

2

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα 1

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ, 2

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων 3
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν, 4

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς 5

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων 6

Βάκχιος ἄρχοι. 7

4

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, σὺ νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προὔθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν

Θήβᾳ τῶν πρότερον φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτ’, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί-

ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν † Ἀργόθεν

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ.

κινήσασα χαλινῷ·

ὃν ἐφ᾽ ἁμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς ἐς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανὸς

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσι.

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-

ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλου

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισομένους,
130

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπερόπτας,
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾽ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι·

ἀντιτύπᾳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν,

ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἐπενώ-

μα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης δεξιόσειρος.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλ-

θωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προύθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 100 focus

Χορός

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλλιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν
100

Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτʼ, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον,

Διρκαίων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν ἐκβάντα φῶτα πανσαγίᾳ

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ κινήσασα χαλινῷ·

Χορός

ὃς ἐφʼ ἡμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκους
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ὀξέα κλάζων

ἀετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθʼ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θʼ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

Χορός

στὰς δʼ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώσαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα

ἔβα, πρίν ποθʼ ἁμετέρων

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
120

πευκάενθʼ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν. τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτʼ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
125

Χορός

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καὶ σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
130

παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπʼ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντʼ ἀλαλάξαι.

Χορός

ἀντιτύπᾳ δʼ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δʼ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν,

ἄλλα δʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης

δεξιόσειρος.
140

Χορός

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφʼ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθʼ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντʼ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

Χορός

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δʼ ἐλελίχθων

Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ἄρχων νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων
160

προὔθετο λέσχην,

κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 100 focus

ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ-
100

λιστον ἑπταπύλωι φανὲν

Θήβαι τῶν προτέρων φάος,

ἐφάνθης ποτ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας

ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί-

ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα,
105

τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν ἒκ

φῶτα βάντα πανσαγίαι

φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρωι

κινήσασα χαλινῶι·

ὃν ἐφ᾽ ἡμετέραι γᾶι Πολυνείκης
110

ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων

ἤγαγε· κεῖνος δ᾽ ὀξέα κλάζων

αἰετὸς ἐς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτη,

λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,

πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων
115

ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.

στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ-

σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλωι

λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα

ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
120

αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-

ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων

πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν·

τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη

πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλωι
125

δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.

Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους

ὑπερεχθαίρει, καί σφας ἐσιδὼν

πολλῶι ῥεύματι προσνισσομένους

χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
130

παλτῶι ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων

ἐπ᾽ ἄκρων ἤδη

νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι.

ἀντιτύπαι δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾶι πέσε τανταλωθεὶς

πυρφόρος ὃς τότε μαινομέναι ξὺν ὁρμᾶι
135

βακχεύων ἐπέπνει

ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.

εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλαι τὰ μέν,

ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἐπενώμα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄρης

δεξιόσειρος.
140

ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις

ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον

Ζηνὶ τροπαίωι πάγχαλκα τέλη,

πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς

μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
145

δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον

κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα

τᾶι πολυαρμάτωι ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβαι,

ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
150

τῶν νῦν θέσθε λησμοσύναν,

θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς

παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλθωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελίχθων

Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.

ἀλλ᾽ ὅδε γὰρ δὴ βασιλεὺς χώρας,
155

Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως, νεοχμὸς

νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,

ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων

προύθετο λέσχην,
160

κοινῶι κηρύγματι πέμψας;

Κρέων

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 100 focus

CHOR

Strahl der Sonne, das schönste Licht,
100

das je dieses Thebäervolks

siebenthoriger Stadt erschien!

du blickst endlich, goldenes Tags Wimper, leuchtend herab,

über Dirka's Fluten herüberschwebend!

Jenen, der mit glänzendem Schild
105

kam von Argos, mächtig bewehrt,

triebest du flüchtig in eilendem Lauf

fort mit rascherem Zügel;

ihn, welchen ins Land zur Befehdung rief

durch feindlichen Zwist grimmvoll entbrannt
110

Polyneikes, der in dem Fluge des Aars

hellkreischend daher kam über das Land,

von dem Fittig gedeckt weiſsglänzendes Schnee's,

mit der Rüstungen viel

und rofsummähneten Helmen.
115

Jener, über den Häusern, um-

gähnend unserer Thore Mund

mit mordlustigen Speeren rings,

entfloh, eh' er unseres Bluts ganz der Kiefern Begier

sättigt', ehe ragender Thürm' Umkränzung
120

fafst' Hephästos' flammende Glut:

also braust' im Rücken umher

Kriegesgetümmel, verderblicher Kampf

ihm, dem feindlichen Drachen!

Denn Zeus hafst schwer grofssprechender Zung'
125

hochmüthig Geprahl'; und als er ersah,

wie in mächtigem Strom sie zogen heran,

in des Goldes Geklirr, hoffärtiges Sinns,

wirft den er herab mit geschleudertem Strahl,

der aufstieg schon
130

zu den Zinnen in jubelndem Siegsruf,

Und zu der dröhnenden Erde geschmettert fiel er,

der mit geschwungener Fackel in wildem Andrang,

mit wahnsinniger Wuth braust' heran im feindlichsten Sturm.

Diesen traf solches Loos;
135

anderes theilt' anderen zu, mächtig im Kampf drängend,

Ares der grofse
Siegesheld!

Denn Sieben um sieben der Thore gestellt,

Mann gegen den Mann, sie liefsen dem Zeus

zum Preise des Siegs die gediegene Wehr.
140

Nur das schreckliche Paar, von Demselben erzeugt

mit demselbigen Weib, die wider sich selbst,

zwiefach siegreich, einlegten den Speer,

traf gleiches Verhängniſs des Todes.

Aber es kam die gepriesene Siegesgöttin,
145

freudig entgegnend der wagenberühmten Thebe:

deſshalb denket des Kampfs jetztnicht mehr; in nächtlichem Chor

lasset Tanzreigen uns

führend der Stadt Tempeln umher nahen, voran hebe sich

Thebe's
Bacchios jauchzend!
150

Doch Kreon kommt des Menökeus Sohn,

des Thebäischen Lands neuwaltender Fürst,

in des Göttergeschicks neublühendem Glück:

was sinnet er wohl im erregten Gemüth,

daſs jetzo sofort den erlesenen Rath
155

er der Greis' entbot zur Versammlung hier,

durch Heroldsruf sie beschickend?

Γ. ΕΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩΤΟΝ.

III. ERSTES EPEISODION.

KREON, CHOR, dann ein WÄCHTER.

KREON (tritt auf mit Gefolge).

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 100 focus

¡Rayo del Sol, la más hermosa luz de las que antes brillaban en Tebas, la de siete puertas! Apare. ciste ya, ¡oh resplandor del áureo día!, viniendo por encima de la fuente Dircea, y haciendo huir, fugitivo, a la carrera, en veloz corcel, al ejército de blanco escudo que de Argos había venido con todo aparato bélico.

Ejército que en contra nuestra había levantado Polini- ces, excitado por discorde lucha, y que como águila que dando agudos graznidos se lanza sobre la tierra, así aquél se abalanzó protegido en sus escudos blancos como la nieve, con sus armas y cascos empenachados de crin de caballo;

y después de asediar la ciudad con sus lanzas, ávidas de carniceria carnicería, abriendo la boca por todo el circuito de las siete puertas, se marchó sin po- der hartar su voracidad en nuestra sangre, ni pren- der el fuego de resinosa tea en los muros de nuestras torres: tal le atacó por la espalda el estrépito de Marte, irresistible para el contrario dragón.

Júpiter, pues, odia las bravatas de orgullosa lengua; y al ver que se aba- lanzaban como impetuosa corriente, arrogantes con el estruendo de sus doradas armas, hirió con su rayo de fuego al que, preparado ya para el asalto de nuestras almenas, se disponía a cantar victoria.

Y sobre el suelo que retumbó al chocar con él, cayó herido del rayo el que llevaba el fuego en el momento en que, con furioso empuje y lleno de rabia, respiraba contra nosotros el soplo del más desolador viento. No sucedió como él lo deseaba; que otros reveses infería a los demás, destru- yéndolos, el potente Marte en su impetuosidad a favor nuestro.

Pues los siete jefes que en las siete puertas se habían colocado contra los otros siete, dejaron sus broncineas broncíneas armas, con las que elevaremos un trofeo a Júpiter, que los puso en fuga, excepto los dos infelices que, nacidos de un mismo padre y una misma madre, clavándose uno a otro sus soberanas lanzas, obtuvieron los dos la misma suerte en muerte común.

Pero, puesto que la gloriosa victoria llegó felicitando a Tebas la de muchos carros, olvidémonos de la reciente guerra y vayamos a los templos de los dioses con nocturnos coros guiados por Baco, que a Tebas pone en conmoción.

Pero he ahí al rey de esta tierra, a Creonte, el hijo de Me- neceo, que con motivo de los felices y recientes aconte- cimientos que los dioses nos han enviado, se acerca me- ditando algún proyecto que viene a proponer a esta asamblea de ancianos que ha convocado por público pregón.

Creonte

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 100 focus

O iubar solis, omnium quae septiportis Thebis prius adfulserunt, pulcherrima lux, apparuisti tandem, aureae diei oculus, Dircaea transcendens fluenta;

quod in fugam compulsum acutiori freno cursum conteridere coégisti insignem candido clipeo virum ab Argis feliciter egressum cum omni bellico apparatu, qui contra nostram urbem, Polynicis ambiguis incitatus iurgiis , transvolavit , nt acutum clangens adversus terram aquila, nivea tectus ala, multis cum armis, comantibusque galeis.

Stans vero supra aedes, cruentis inhians undique cum hastis circa septem portarum ora, abiit, priusquam nostro sanguine satiaret malas, et turrium propugnacula piceus Vulcanus corriperet:

tantus a tergo exortus est strepitus Martis, adversario draconi inexsuperabilis.

Iupiter enim superbae linguae iactantiam impense odit, etinnumeros €os intuitus aureo strepitu superbientes vibrato deiicit fulmine, parantes iam ad summam metam victoriae laetum clamorem tollere :

Ictu autem fulminis quassatus in terram cecidit ignifer ille, qui tuncinsano furore debacchans, nos afflavit, infestissimorum vi ventorum. . Aliter vero in hos grassari solet, alios illis infigere casus, deturbans eos, agilis Mavors:

nam septem quidem duces, ad septem portas locati, pares contra pares;

fugatori Iovi reliquerunt aerea dona, praeter miseros illos, qui, patre uno nati, de imperio dissentientes hastas cum dirigerent, communis mortis ambo perceperunt partem.

At enim, quoniam praeclaro nomine gaudens Victoria venit, curruum agitatrice Theba invicem delectata, iam confectorum modo bellorum oblivia inducite, deorumque templa omnia adeamus nocturnis choris, duce quidem Baccho, ululante, Thebis oriundo.

Ecce vero Menoecei gnatus, urbis rex novus ob novum casum deorum invectum numine creatus, accedit, aliquod consilium volvens animo, quandoquidem conventum hunc seniorum indixit, quos communi praeconio arcessivit.

Creon

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 100 focus

Beam of the mounting Sun!
100

O brightest, fairest ray
100

Seven-gated Thebè yet hath seen!

Over the vale where Dircè’s fountains run

At length thou appearedst, eye of golden Day,

And with incitement of thy radiance keen

Spurredst to faster flight
105

The man of Argos hurrying from the fight.

Armed at all points the warrior came,

But driven before thy rising flame

He rode, reverting his pale shield,

Headlong from yonder battlefield.
110

In snow-white panoply, on eagle wing,

He rose, dire ruin on our land to bring,

Roused by the fierce debate

Of Polynices’ hate,

Shrilling sharp menace from his breast,

Sheathed all in steel from crown to heel,

With many a plumèd crest.
115

Then stooped above the domes,

With lust of carnage fired,

And opening teeth of serried spears

Yawned wide around the gates that guard our homes;

But went, or e’er his hungry jaws had tired
120

On Theban flesh,—or e’er the Fire-god fierce

Seizing our sacred town

Besmirched and rent her battlemented crown.

Such noise of battle as he fled

About his back the War-god spread;

So writhed to hard-fought victory

The serpent struggling to be free.

High Zeus beheld their stream that proudly rolled

Idly caparisoned with clanking gold:

Zeus hates the boastful tongue:

He with hurled fire down flung

One who in haste had mounted high,
130

And that same hour from topmost tower

Upraised the exulting cry.

Swung rudely to the hard repellent earth

Amidst his furious mirth

He fell, who then with flaring brand

Held in his fiery hand

Came breathing madness at the gate
135

In eager blasts of hate.

And doubtful swayed the varying fight

Through the turmoil of the night,

As turning now on these and now on those

Ares hurtled ’midst our foes,

Self-harnessed helper on our right.
140

Seven matched with seven, at each gate one,
140

Their captains, when the day was done,

Left for our Zeus who turned the scale,

The brazen tribute in full tale:—

All save the horror-burdened pair,

Dire children of despair,

Who from one sire, one mother, drawing breath,
145

Each with conquering lance in rest

Against a true born brother’s breast,

Found equal lots in death.

But with blithe greeting to glad Thebe came

She of the glorious name,

Victory,—smiling on our chariot throng

With eyes that waken song
150

Then let those battle memories cease,

Silenced by thoughts of peace.

With holy dances of delight

Lasting through the livelong night

Visit we every shrine, in solemn round,

Led by him who shakes the ground,
155

Our Bacchus, Thebe’s child of light.
155

But look! where Creon in his new-made power,

Moved by the fortune of the recent hour,

Comes with fresh counsel. What intelligence

Intends he for our private conference,

That he hath sent his herald to us all,
160

Gathering the elders with a general call?

CREON
Enter CREON .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 100 focus

Strahl des Helios, schönstes Licht,¹
100

Das der siebenthorigen Stadt

Thebe's nimmer zuvor erschien!

Du strahlst endlich, des gold'nen Tags

Aufblick, herrlich herauf,

Ueber Dirke's Fluten herüberwandelnd;²
105

Und Ihn, der mit leuchtendem Schild

Kam von Argos in voller Wehr,

Triebest du flüchtig in eilendem Lauf

Fort mit hastigem Zügel:

Ihn, den Polyneikes' feindlicher Zwist
110

Zu dem Kampfe geführt auf unsere Gau'n,

Der kühn, wie der Aar,

Hellkreischend herab flog über das Land,

Von der Schwinge gedeckt weißglänzenden Schnee's,

Mit der Rüstungen viel
115

Und mähnenumflatterten Helmen.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Ueber den Dächern stehend, umgähnt'

Er den siebenthorigen Mund

Mit blutlechzenden Speeren rings,

Und floh, eh' in unserem Blut
120

Sich sein gieriger Schlund

Schwelgend füllt und ehe den Kranz der Thürme

Flammenglut des Hephästos fraß.

Also braust' im Rücken umher

Donner des Kriegs; schwer wurde der Kampf
125

Dem anstürmenden Drachen.³

Denn schwer haßt Zeus der vermessenen Zung'

Hochfahrenden Stolz; und als er ihr Heer,

Den heranwogenden Strom, schimmernd in Gold,

Im Geräusch unbändigen Trozes ersah,
130

Da traf er den Mann mit geschwungenem Strahl,⁴

Der schon an die Höh'n,

Siegsruf anstimmend, empordrang.

Zweite Strophe.

Niedergeschmettert zur dröhnenden Erde stürzt' er,

Welcher, bewehrt mit der Fackel, in trunk nem Wahnsinn,
135

In wuthathmendem Drang,

Wild herschnob mit feindlichem Sturm.

Doch es ging anders aus;

Andern beschied anderes Loos Ares, der Held, der die Bedrängten

Stürmend davontrieb.
140

Denn Sieben, um sieben Thore gestellt,

Mann wider den Mann, sie ließen dem Zeus,

Dem Verleiher des Siegs, die gediegene Wehr.⁵

Nur das schreckliche Paar, von dem Einen gezeugt

Mit demselben Gemahl, die wider sich selbst
145

Mit siegendem Speer einstürmten, umfing

Des gemeinsamen Todes Verhängniß.

Zweite Gegenstrophe.

Aber die namenverleihende Nike kam ja,⁶

Gnädig vergeltend der wagenumrauschten Thebe;

Darum werde des Kriegs
150

Heute nimmer gedacht von euch;⁷

Laßt in Nachtreigen uns

Tanzend umher zieh'n zu der Stadt Tempeln, voran hebe sich Bacchos,

Theben erschütternd!⁸

Doch hier naht Kreon, Menökeus' Sohn,
155

Zum König der Stadt auf's Neue bestellt

Nach dem neuen Geschick, das Götter verhängt:

Was sinnt er im Geist, was bewegt ihm die Brust,

Daß er diesen Verein von Greisen hieher

Zur Berathung entbot,
160

Durch Heroldruse sie einlud?

Kreon mit Gefolge. Der Chor.

Kreon.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 100 focus

O sir ! to younger hands commit the task.

Creon

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 100 focus

¡Oh, luz pura del Sol, la más hermosa que ha alumbrado en la Ciudad de las Siete puertas! ¡apareciste al fin, ojo del áureo día, reflejándote en las cristalinas aguas dircéas¹; despues que los guerreros venidos de Argos con sus blancos escudos y bélico aparato, huyeron en rápida carrera, agitando con vigor las riendas de sus corceles.

A la cabeza de ellos Polinice, excitado por ambiguas querellas, semejante al águila que desciende á la tierra lanzando gritos agudísimos, vino volando á arrasar nuestras campiñas, cubierto con su escudo, cual ala de blanca nieve, agitándose en torno de él millares de armas, y cascos de flotantes cimeras.

CORO

Despues de haber amenazado nuestros hogares, y de haber corrido jadeantes en derredor de las siete puertas, con sus lanzas ávidas de exterminio, huyeron antes de abrevarse en nuestra sangre, y de que el fuego abrasador invadiera las alturas de nuestras fortalezas; de tal manera la voz rugiente de Marte resonó en torno de ellos, causando el espanto del dragón enemigo.

Júpiter que abomina el orgullo y la jactancia, viendo á los argivos precipitarse á modo de impetuoso torrente, ensoberbecidos con las doradas armas, que movían con estruendo, fulminó su rayo y aniquiló al guerrero que ya se preparaba á dar el grito de ¡victoria! desde lo alto de nuestras murallas.

CORO

Herido por el rayo cayó en tierra, por la cual fué rechazado, aquel que con insana furia se arrojaba sobre nosotros, respirando el ódio y la venganza. Pero el gran dios de la guerra, nuestro propicio aliado, sembrando la turbación, con su potente brazo, envióles de mil distintas maneras la muerte.

Los siete jefes, que venian hácia nuestras siete puertas contra otros tantos caudillos de Thebas, rindieron sus férreas armas á Júpiter vencedor. Mas ¡ay! estos dos desventurados, hijos del mismo padre y de la misma madre, volviendo el uno contra el otro sus lanzas victoriosas, se compartieron entre los dos la misma muerte.

CORO

Puesto que la victoria ha venido á proporcionar á la belicosa Thebas el júbilo y la alegría, aparte de nuestra mente el recuerdo de los combates; durante toda la noche formemos coros en los templos de los dioses, y que Baco, dios de Thebas, presida nuestros regocijos.

Pero el nuevo rey de nuestra comarca, el hijo de Menoceo, se acerca. Los acontecimientos que han suscitado los dioses le traen á este lugar. Sin duda medita algún proyecto, porque él es quien ha convocado, por medio de una orden común para todos, esta asamblea de ancianos.

Creonte y el Coro

CREONTE

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 100 focus

CHOR der Thebanischen Alten.

O Blik der Sonne, du schönster, der

Dem siebenthorigen Thebe

Seit langem scheint, bist eirimal du

Erschienen, o Licht, bist du
105

O Augenblik des goldenen Tages,

Gegangen über die Dirzäischen Bäche,

Und den Weifsschild,, ihn von Argos,

Den Mann, gekommen in Waffenrüstung,

Den hinstürzenden Flüchtling
110

Bewegst du mit der Schärfe des Zaums, ihn,

Mit welchem über unser Land

Sich geschwungen Polynikes

Aus zweideutigem Zank und scharf, wie ein Adler,

Schrie er und flog,
115

Schneeweis sein Flügel,

Furchtbar, mit Waffen viel,

Und Helmen, geschmükt mit dem Rofsschweiff,

Und über Pallästen stand er und wies,

Voll blutiger Spiefse, rings
120

Das siebenthorige Maul;

Doch gieng er davon,

Noch ehe von unsrem

Blut er die Baken

Gefüllt, und ehe
125

Die Krone der Thürme

Die Fakel des Hephästos genommen.

So über dem Rüken ist Getümmel

Des Mars dem Feind, ein Hindernils

Den Drachen geworden.
130

Denn sehr hafst Zevs das Prangen

Der grofsen Zung’ und wo er,

Wenn sie langschreitend kommen,

Ins goldene ihnen sieht, ins eitle Hinaussehn,

Mit geschwungenem Feuer stürzet er sie, wo einer
135

Von steilen Treppen schon

Den Sieg anhebet zu jauchzen.

Aufharten Boden aber fällt er, hinunter taumelnd,

Liebestrunken, der mit rasender Schaar

Hinschnob, bacchantisch
140

Im Wurf’ ungünstiger Winde;

Fand aber anders;

Anderes andrem

Bescheidet der Schlachtgeist, wenn der hart

Anregend einen mit dem Rechten die Hand erschüttert.
145

Sieben Fürsten, vor sieben Thoren

Geordnet, gleiche zu gleichen, liefsen

Dem Zevs, dem triumphirenden, die ehernen Waffen,

Ausser den abscheulichen, die von Einem Vater

Und einer Mutter gezeuget, gegeneinander
150

Die gedoppelten Speere gerichtet und empfangen

Des gemeinsamen Todes Theil, die beiden.

Der grofsnahmige Sieg ist aber gekommen,

Der wagenreichen günstig, der Thebe,

Und nach dem Kriege hier,
155

Macht die Vergessenheit aus!

Zu allen Göttertempeln,

Mit Chören, die Nacht durch,

Kommt her! und, Thebe

Erschütternd, herrsche der Bacchusreigen!
160

Doch er, der König der Gegend,

Kreon, Menökeus Sohn, neu nach

Der Götter neuen Verhängnissen,

Kommt wohl, um einen Rath

Zu sagen, da er zusammenberufen
165

Und verordnet hier der Alten Versammlung,

Und öffentliche Botschaft gesendet.

Zweite Scene KREON. DER CHOR.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 100 focus

Beam of the sun, fairest light that ever dawned on Thebè of the seven gates, thou hast shone forth at last, eye of golden day, arisen above Dircé’s streams! The warrior of the white shield, who came from Argos in his panoply, hath been stirred by thee to headlong flight, in swifter career ; 1

who set forth against our land by reason of the 110 vexed claims of Polyneices; and, like shrill-screaming eagle, he flew over into our land, in snow-white pinion sheathed, with an arméd throng, and with plumage of helms.

1

He paused above our dwellings; he ravened around 120 our sevenfold portals with spears athirst for blood; but he went hence, or ever his jaws were glutted with our gore, or the Fire-god’s pine-fed flame had seized our crown of towers. So fierce was the noise of battle raised behind him, a thing too hard for him to conquer, as he wrestled with his dragon foe.

2

For Zeus utterly abhors the boasts of a proud tongue; and when he beheld them coming on in a 130 great stream, in the haughty pride of clanging gold, he smote with brandished fire one who was now hasting to shout victory at his goal upon our ramparts.

2

Swung down, he fell on the earth with a crash, torch in hand, he who so lately, in the frenzy of the mad onset, was raging against us with the blasts of his tempestuous hate. But those threats fared not as he hoped ; and to other foes the mighty War-god dispensed their several dooms, dealing havoc around, a mighty 140 helper at our need.

3

For seven captains at seven gates, matched against seven, left the tribute of their panoplies to Zeus who tutns the battle; save those two of cruel fate, who, born of one sire and one mother, set against each other their twain conquering spears, and are sharers in a common death. 2

But since Victory of glorious name hath come to us, with joy responsive to the joy of Thebè whose 150 chariots are many, let us enjoy forgetfulness after the late wars, and visit all the temples of the gods with night-long dance and song; and may Bacchus be our leader, whose dancing shakes the land of Thebè. 4

But lo, the king of the land comes yonder, Creon, son of Menoeceus, our new ruler by the new fortunes that the gods have given; what counsel is he pondering, 160 that he hath proposed this special conference of elders, summoned by his general mandate? Enter CREON, from the central doors of the palace, in the garb of king ; with two attendants.

Creon

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 100 focus

Thou Sun, whose orient ray
100

On rampired Thebes ne'er rose so bright,
100

At length hast thou display'd thy light,

Eye of the golden day,

Hasting o'er Dirce's sacred streams

To roll sublime thy glorious beams!
105

The Argive first, who dared to wield

With hostile rage his silver shield,

(His thick-embattled martial train

Defeated on th' ensanguin'd plain)
110

Thou madest to turn his sharp-rein'd steed,

And urge his flight with headlong speed.

He, in the cause of Polynices arm'd,

Our sons with doubtful war alarm'd;

Soar'd like an Eagle o'er the plains below,

And cover'd with his wings of snow
115

Shrill-screaming hurtled o'er the realm,

With many a glittering lance, and many a crested helm.

Impatient of delay

High o'er our bulwarks on a mound,
120

With purple spears encircled round,

He ravin'd for his prey.

At our seven gates his warlike pow'rs

In deep array assail'd our tow'rs;

But his pride sunk, to flight constrain'd

Ere with our blood his beak was stain'd;

Ere to our rampires' height aspire

The dark-wreath'd smoke and wasting fire;

Such roar of war, such rout, such dread

The dragon race around him spread.
130

From our high tow'rs we view the Argive host,.

Their white shields glittering to the sun.—Pheniss. 1242.

For Jove indignant hears the vaunts of pride,

And checks its frenzy's swelling tide;

He sees them in th' impetuous torrent roll'd,
135

And glorying in the clash of gold :

He hurls his flames; the Boaster falls,

The shouts of conquest now loud raising on our walls.

As high the fire he bore

Jove's lightening dash'd him to the ground;
140

The corse and clashing arms rebound;
140

The warrior is no more,

Who rushing with resistless force,

Impetuous, frentic in his course,

Breath'd but one little moment past

A sweeping whirlwind's horrid blast.
145

Undaunted and with matchless might

The sons of Thebes maintain'd the fight,

And Mars triumphant on his car

Directed all the storm of war.

At the seven gates seven Argive warriors raged,
150

But, Chief with daring Chief engaged,

Left to Tropæan Jove their glittering spoils.

Not such th' unhappy Brothers' toils;

With ruthless spears and ruthless hate

They rush'd victorious both, both shared one common fate.

The queen of glorious name,
155

To grace her Thebes, in gorgeous state

Her high cars rolling through each gate,

Resplendent Conquest came.

Let war, and arms, and hostile rage
160

No more your anxious thoughts engage;

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 100-160 focus

Enter the Chorus on the right.

Chorus

Shaft of the sun, fairest light of all that have dawned on Thebes of the seven gates, you have shone forth at last, eye of golden day, advancing over Dirce’s streams!
100

You have goaded with a sharper bit the warrior of the white shield, who came from Argos in full armor, driving him to headlong retreat.
105

110

Chorus

He set out against our land because of the strife-filled claims of Polyneices, and like a screaming eagle he flew over into our land, covered by his snow-white wing,
110

with a mass of weapons and crested helmets.
115

117

Chorus

He paused above our dwellings; he gaped around our sevenfold portals with spears thirsting for blood; but he left

before his jaws were ever glutted with our gore, or before the Fire-god’s pine-fed flame had seized our crown of towers.
120

So fierce was the crash of battle swelling about his back, a match too hard to win for the rival of the dragon.
125

127

Chorus

For Zeus detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue. And when he saw them advancing in a swollen flood,

arrogant their clanging gold, he dashed with brandished fire one who was already starting to shout victory when he had reached our ramparts.
130

134

Chorus

Staggered, he fell to the earth with a crash,

torch in hand, a man possessed by the frenzy of the mad attack, who just now was raging against us with the blasts of his tempestuous hate. But his threats did not fare as he had hoped, and to the other enemies mighty Ares dispensed each their own dooms with hard blows,
135

Ares, our mighty ally at the turning-point.
140

141

Chorus

For the seven captains, stationed against an equal number at the seven gates, left behind their brazen arms in tribute to Zeus the turner of battle—all but the accursed pair who, born of one father and one

mother, set against each other their spears, both victorious, and who now share in a common death.
145

148

Chorus

But since Victory whose name is glory has come to us, smiling in joy equal to the joy of chariot-rich Thebes ,

let us make for ourselves forgetfulness after the recent wars, and visit all the temples of the gods with night-long dance and song. And may Bacchus, who shakes the earth of Thebes , rule our dancing!
150

155

Chorus

But look, the king of the land is coming here, Creon, the son of Menoeceus, our new ruler in accordance with the new circumstances fated by the gods. What policy is he setting in motion,
155

that he has proposed this special conference of elders, and summoned it by a general mandate?
160

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Κρέων

3. ἘΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ.

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

Κρέων

ihn, welchen ins Land zur Befehdung rief durch feindlichen Zwist grimmvoll entbrannt 110 Polyneikes, der in dem Fluge des Aars hellkreischend daher kam über das Land, von dem Fittig gedeckt weiſsglänzendes Schnee's, mit der Rüstungen viel und rofsummähneten Helmen. 115

Denn Zeus hafst schwer grofssprechender Zung' 125 hochmüthig Geprahl'; und als er ersah, wie in mächtigem Strom sie zogen heran, in des Goldes Geklirr, hoffärtiges Sinns, wirft den er herab mit geschleudertem Strahl, der aufstieg schon 130 zu den Zinnen in jubelndem Siegsruf,

Und zu der dröhnenden Erde geschmettert fiel er, der mit geschwungener Fackel in wildem Andrang, mit wahnsinniger Wuth braust' heran im feindlichsten Sturm. Diesen traf solches Loos; 135 anderes theilt' anderen zu, mächtig im Kampf drängend, Ares der grofse Siegesheld!

Aber es kam die gepriesene Siegesgöttin, 145 freudig entgegnend der wagenberühmten Thebe: deſshalb denket des Kampfs jetztnicht mehr; in nächtlichem Chor lasset Tanzreigen uns führend der Stadt Tempeln umher nahen, voran hebe sich Thebe's Bacchios jauchzend! 150

Doch Kreon kommt des Menökeus Sohn, des Thebäischen Lands neuwaltender Fürst, in des Göttergeschicks neublühendem Glück: was sinnet er wohl im erregten Gemüth, daſs jetzo sofort den erlesenen Rath 155 er der Greis' entbot zur Versammlung hier, durch Heroldsruf sie beschickend?

Γ. ΕΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟΝ ΠΡΩΤΟΝ.

III. ERSTES EPEISODION.

KREON, CHOR, dann ein WÄCHTER.

Creonte

Creon

CREON Enter CREON .

Ihn, den Polyneikes' feindlicher Zwist 110 Zu dem Kampfe geführt auf unsere Gau'n, Der kühn, wie der Aar, Hellkreischend herab flog über das Land, Von der Schwinge gedeckt weißglänzenden Schnee's, Mit der Rüstungen viel 115 Und mähnenumflatterten Helmen. Erste Gegenstrophe.

Denn schwer haßt Zeus der vermessenen Zung' Hochfahrenden Stolz; und als er ihr Heer, Den heranwogenden Strom, schimmernd in Gold, Im Geräusch unbändigen Trozes ersah, 130 Da traf er den Mann mit geschwungenem Strahl, 4 Der schon an die Höh'n, Siegsruf anstimmend, empordrang. Zweite Strophe.

Niedergeschmettert zur dröhnenden Erde stürzt' er, Welcher, bewehrt mit der Fackel, in trunk nem Wahnsinn, 135 In wuthathmendem Drang, Wild herschnob mit feindlichem Sturm. Doch es ging anders aus; Andern beschied anderes Loos Ares, der Held, der die Bedrängten Stürmend davontrieb. 140

Aber die namenverleihende Nike kam ja, 6 Gnädig vergeltend der wagenumrauschten Thebe; Darum werde des Kriegs 150 Heute nimmer gedacht von euch; 7 Laßt in Nachtreigen uns Tanzend umher zieh'n zu der Stadt Tempeln, voran hebe sich Bacchos, Theben erschütternd! 8

Kreon.

O sir ! to younger hands commit the task.

Creon

CORO

CORO

CORO

Creonte y el Coro

ihn, welchen ins Land zur Befehdung rief

durch feindlichen Zwist grimmvoll entbrannt
110

Polyneikes, der in dem Fluge des Aars

hellkreischend daher kam über das Land,

von dem Fittig gedeckt weiſsglänzendes Schnee's,

mit der Rüstungen viel

und rofsummähneten Helmen.
115

Denn Zeus hafst schwer grofssprechender Zung'
125

hochmüthig Geprahl'; und als er ersah,

wie in mächtigem Strom sie zogen heran,

in des Goldes Geklirr, hoffärtiges Sinns,

wirft den er herab mit geschleudertem Strahl,

der aufstieg schon
130

zu den Zinnen in jubelndem Siegsruf,

Und zu der dröhnenden Erde geschmettert fiel er,

der mit geschwungener Fackel in wildem Andrang,

mit wahnsinniger Wuth braust' heran im feindlichsten Sturm.

Diesen traf solches Loos;
135

anderes theilt' anderen zu, mächtig im Kampf drängend,

Ares der grofse
Siegesheld!

Aber es kam die gepriesene Siegesgöttin,
145

freudig entgegnend der wagenberühmten Thebe:

deſshalb denket des Kampfs jetztnicht mehr; in nächtlichem Chor

lasset Tanzreigen uns

führend der Stadt Tempeln umher nahen, voran hebe sich

Thebe's
Bacchios jauchzend!
150

Doch Kreon kommt des Menökeus Sohn,

des Thebäischen Lands neuwaltender Fürst,

in des Göttergeschicks neublühendem Glück:

was sinnet er wohl im erregten Gemüth,

daſs jetzo sofort den erlesenen Rath
155

er der Greis' entbot zur Versammlung hier,

durch Heroldsruf sie beschickend?

CREON
Enter CREON .

Ihn, den Polyneikes' feindlicher Zwist
110

Zu dem Kampfe geführt auf unsere Gau'n,

Der kühn, wie der Aar,

Hellkreischend herab flog über das Land,

Von der Schwinge gedeckt weißglänzenden Schnee's,

Mit der Rüstungen viel
115

Und mähnenumflatterten Helmen.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Niedergeschmettert zur dröhnenden Erde stürzt' er,

Welcher, bewehrt mit der Fackel, in trunk nem Wahnsinn,
135

In wuthathmendem Drang,

Wild herschnob mit feindlichem Sturm.

Doch es ging anders aus;

Andern beschied anderes Loos Ares, der Held, der die Bedrängten

Stürmend davontrieb.
140

Aber die namenverleihende Nike kam ja,⁶

Gnädig vergeltend der wagenumrauschten Thebe;

Darum werde des Kriegs
150

Heute nimmer gedacht von euch;⁷

Laßt in Nachtreigen uns

Tanzend umher zieh'n zu der Stadt Tempeln, voran hebe sich Bacchos,

Theben erschütternd!⁸