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781-800

Third stasimon. Strophe 781—790=antistr. 791—800.

After Creon's and Haemon's speeches, the comment of the Chorus was in a neutral tone (724). When Haemon departed in anger, they spoke words implying that allowance must be made for the heat of youth (767). This beautiful ode is in a kindred strain. If Haemon has sinned against great

θεσμοί

—loyalty to country and to father—at least he is under the influence of a god whom none can withstand.

The pathos of the maiden's fate is heightened by this plea for her lover. When she is led in by the guards, on her way to death, the Chorus avow that pity works with them even as love with Haemon (801—805). A perfect preparation is thus made for the lyric dialogue between the Chorus and Antigone (806—882).

ἀνίκατε μάχαν : Tr. 441

Ἔρωτι μέν νυν ὅστις ἀντανίσταται, | πύκτης ὅπως ἐς χεῖρας, οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ

. Eur. fr. 433

Ἔρωτα, πάντων δυσμαχώτατον θεόν

. Plat. Symp. 196D

καὶ μὴν εἴς γε ἀνδρίαν Ἔρωτι οὐδὲ Ἄρης ἀνθίσταται· οὐ γὰρ ἔχει Ἔρωτα Ἄρης, ἀλλ’ Ἔρως Ἄρη

ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις, who fallest upon men's possessions; who makest havoc of their wealth and fortunes. Cp. Od. 24.526

ἐν δ’ ἔπεσον προμάχοις

, ‘they fell on the fore-fighters’: so

ἐμπίπτειν

is oft. said of the attacks of disease or passion. Love makes men reckless of possessions: it can bring ruin on great houses and proud cities. Sophocles himself has given us the best commentary: see Tr. 431 , referring to the capture of Oechalia by Heracles, who loved Iolè, the daughter of its king, Eurytus:

ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ | πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία | πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ’ ὁ τῆσδ’ ἔρως φανείς

. The same thought is finely expressed by Eur. , in a choral ode to

Ἔρως

, which this passage has certainly helped to inspire ( Eur. Hipp. 525 ff.):

Ἔρωτα δέ, τὸν τύραννον ἀνδρῶν, | ...οὐ σεβίζομεν, | πέρθοντα καὶ διὰ πάσας | ἰόντα συμφορᾶς | θνατοῖς, ὅταν ἔλθῃ

. Troy was sacked for the sake of Helen,—

ἑλέναυς, ἕλανδρος, ἑλέπτολις

. Medea betrayed her father's treasure to Jason (cp. Eur. Med. 480 ). The resistless power of Love is the central thought of this ode. All that men prize most becomes his prey.—See Appendix.

ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς . Ionof Chios ( ap. Athen. 603 E) describes Soph. as saying,

ὡς καλῶς Φρύνιχος

(the tragic poet, flor. c. 490)

ἐποίησεν εἴπας· λάμπει δ’ ἐπὶ πορφυρέαις παρῇσι φῶς ἔρωτος

. Plut. Mor. 760 D

σκόπει τοίνυν...τοῖς ἀρηΐοις ἔργοις ὅσον Ἔρως περίεστιν, οὐκ ἀργὸς ὤν, ὡς Εὐριπίδης ἔλεγεν, οὐδὲ ἀστράτευτος, οὐδ’ ἐν μαλακαῖσιν [ἐννυχεύ]ων παρειαῖς νεανίδων.

ἐννυχεύεις , keepest thy vigil: perh. here an image suggested by a soldier's night-watch (like Horace's

pulcris excubat in genis

, sc. Cupido, C. 4. 13. 8); cp. Xen. Anab. 6.4.27

ἐν δὲ τοῖς ὅπλοις ἐνυκτέρευον

, and so

νυκτοφυλακεῖν

. Shaksp. Rom. 5. 3. 94

‘beauty's ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks.’

Gray, Progress of Poesy 1. 3. 16 ‘O'er her warm cheek and rising bosom move The bloom of young desire and purple light of love.’

ὑπερπόντιος : cp. 1301 : so

ἐκτόπιος

( O.T. 1340),

θαλάσσιος

( ib. 1411 ),

θυραῖος

( El. 313 ),

παράκτιος

( Eur. I. T. 1424 ), etc. So Eur. fr. 434 (

Ἔρως

)

κἀπὶ πόντον ἔρχεται

. Plut. Mor. 760 D quotes an unknown poet, on

Ἔρως

:—

πῦρ καὶ θάλασσαν καὶ πνοὰς τὰς αἰθέρος | περᾶν ἕτοιμος

. Lucr. 1. 18 (Venus moves)

per maria ac montes fluviosque rapaces Frondiferasque domos avium camposque virentes.

ἔν τ’ ἀγρ. αὐλαῖς .

ἀγρόνομοι αὐλαί

=dwellings in

ἀγρὸς νεμόμενος

, pastoral wilds: cp. 349

ἀγραύλου

: O. T. 1103

πλάκες ἀγρόνομοι

, upland pastures. El. 181

ἀκτὴ βούνομος

, a shore on which oxen are pastured (cp. O. T. 26 ).—Some take the sense to be, ‘Love conquers not man only, but fishes and wild beasts’; cp. fr. 856.9 (

Κύπρις

)

εἰσέρχεται μὲν ἰχθύων πλωτῷ γένει, | ἔνεστι δ’ ἐν χέρσου τετρασκελεῖ γονῇ

. (How could

ὑπερπόντιος

imply a visit to the fish?) Others find a reference to Paris carrying Helen over the Aegean, Aphrodite visiting Anchises in the pastures of Ida, etc. Rather the poet is merely saying, quite generally, how boundless is the range of Love.

οὔτ’ ἀθανάτων : Tr. 443 (of Love)

οὗτος γὰρ ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ὅπως θέλει

: fr. 856. 13 (

Κύπρις

)

τίν’ οὐ παλαίουσ’ ἐς τρὶς ἐκβάλλει θεῶν

; Eur. fr. 434

Ἔρως γὰρ ἄνδρας οὐ μόνους ἐπέρχεται, | οὐδ’ αὖ γυναῖκας, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεῶν ἄνω | ψυχὰς χαράσσει.

σὲ … φύξιμός ἐστι , = σὲ δύναται φεύγειν. Cp. Aesch. PV 904

ὁ πόλεμος ἄπορα πόριμος

: Ag. 1090 (

στέγην

)

πολλὰ ξυνίστορα | ...κακά

: Xen. Cyr. 3.3.9

ἐπιστήμονες δ’ ἦσαν τὰ προσήκοντα

: Isae. or. 5 § 26

ἔξαρνοί εἰσι τὰ ὡμολογημένα

: [Plat. ] Alcib. II. 141 D

οἶμαι δέ σε οὐκ ἀνήκοον εἶναι ἔνιά γε...γεγενημένα

. Similarly with a subst., Plat. Apol. 18 B

τὰ μετέωρα φροντιστής

σέ γ’ : for

γε

with the repeated

σε

, cp. O. T. 1101 , Ph. 1116. —The MS.

ἐπ’

could mean only, ‘in the case of’ (and so, ‘among’): a use which is not adequately supported by Aristeid. Pan. 1. 96

μόνῃ τῇ πόλει ἐπὶ τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν

, where he means, ‘in the case of’ (i.e., ‘so far as they are concerned’). Nor could

ἐπ’

be an adverb (‘moreover,’ O. T. 181 ), as some take it.

ὁ δ’ ἔχων : Phaear. 239 C

ἀνὴρ ἔχων ἔρωτα

ἀδίκους proleptic: cp. on 475: Tr. 106

εὐνάζειν ἀδακρύτων βλεφάρων πόθον

(so that they shall not weep).— παρασπᾷς ( cp. 298 ), a metaphor from a driver jerking his horses aside out of their course: El. 732 (the charioteer)

ἔξω παρασπᾷ

( sc.

τοὺς ἵππους

), pulls them aside, out of the crowd of chariots. The word is fig. again in O. C. 1185

οὐ γάρ σε... παρασπάσει | γνώμης

, pluck thee from thy resolve.

ξύναιμον , not

ξυναίμων

, since

νεῖκος‐ἀνδρῶν

forms one notion: cp. 862 : El. 1390

τοὐμὸν φρενῶν ὄνειρον

: Ph. 952

σχῆμα πέτρας δίπυλον

: Aesch. Eum. 325

ματρῷον ἅγνισμα...φόνου.

ἔχεις with aor. part.: cp. 22 .

ταράξας , excitasti. Dem. or. 18 § 153

ἵν’ εἰδῆτε ἡλίκα πράγματα ἡ μιαρὰ κεφαλὴ ταράξασα αὕτη δίκην οὐκ ἔδωκεν

. In this sense later prose has also

συνταράττω

ἐναργής , ‘clearly seen,’ ‘present to the lover's sight,’ marks the vivid appeal to the senses, in contrast with the invisible and spiritual majesty of the

θεσμοί

which Love overrides. For

ἐναργής

as =‘before our eyes,’ ‘in bodily presence,’ cp. O. C. 910 ; Tr. 11 , 224.

βλεφάρωνἵμερος , love-influence from the eyes, εὐλέκτρου νύμφας , of the fair bride. Both genitives are possessive, but

βλεφάρων

goes more closely with

ἵμερος

, denoting the latter's source. Cp. 929 : O. C. 729

ὀμμάτων... | φόβον...τῆς ἐμῆς ἐπεισόδου

, fear, shown in your eyes (possess. gen.), of my entrance (objective gen.). In Phaedr. 251 B Plato describes

ἵμερος

as the desire infused into the soul by an emanation of beauty (

κάλλους ἀπορροή

) proceeding from the beloved, and received through the eyes of the lover (

διὰ τῶν ὀμμάτων

). So the soul is spoken of ( ib. E ) as

ἐποχετευσαμένη ἵμερον

, ‘having refreshed herself with the love-shower’ or ‘effluence of beauty.’ And

ἵμερος

itself receives fanciful derivations, as ib. 251 C ,

ἐκεῖθεν μέρη ἐπιόντα καὶ ῥέοντα, ἃ δὴ διὰ ταῦτα ἵμερος καλεῖται

(i.e. from

ἰέναι μέρη

and

ῥεῖν

): while in Crat. 419 E it is explained by

ἱέμενος ῥεῖ

. The real origin of the word is prob. from rt.

ἰς

, ‘wish,’ whence

ἰότητι

, and

Ἰς‐μήνη

, Desiderata. Curt. § 617. So Soph. fr. 161

ὀμμάτων ἄπο | λόγχας ἵησιν

: 733

ὀμμάτειος πόθος

: 430 (Hippodameia speaking of Pelops),

τοιάνδ’ ἐν ὄψει λίγγα θηρατηρίαν | ἔρωτος, ἀστραπήν τιν’ ὀμμάτων, ἔχει

(‘such a subduing arrow of love, a lightning from the eyes’): Aesch. Ag. 742

μαλθακὸν ὀμμάτων βέλος, | δηξίθυμον ἔρωτος ἄνθος

: Suppl. 1004

ὄμματος θελκτήριον | τόξευμ’ ἔπεμψεν, ἱμέρου νικώμενος

: Eur. Hipp. 525

Ἔρως, Ἔρως ὃ κατ’ ὀμμάτων | στάζεις πόθον, εἰσάγων γλυκεῖαν | ψυχαῖς χάριν οὓς ἐπιστρατεύσῃ

[i.e. ‘on the eyes’ of mortals: better

ὁ...στάζων

, or else

ὃς ἀπ’

—.]

εὐλέκτρου , epithet of

Κύπρις

in Tr. 515 . Cp. Anthol. P. 7. 649

εὐλεγχέος θαλάμου

(happy nuptials).

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς . I leave these words in the text, without marking them as corrupt, because the case against them is not decisive, while no emendation is certain. But I strongly suspect them. If sound, they mean that the love inspired by the maiden's eyes is a power ‘enthroned in sway by the side of the great laws.’ The great laws are those ‘unwritten’ moral laws which most men feel and acknowledge (cp. on 454 f.); here, especially, the law of loyalty to country, the law of obedience to parents. In Haemon's case, love has shown that it is at least of equal force with these

θεσμοί

. For πάρεδρος , cp. O. C. 1267

Ζηνὶ σύνθακος θρόνων | Αἰδώς

: ib. 1382

Δίκη ξύνεδρος Ζηνὸς ἀρχαίοις νόμοις

. Pind. O. 8. 21

Διὸς ξενίου πάρεδρος | ...Θέμις

. For ἐν ἀρχαῖς , Eur. Andr. 699

σεμνοὶ δ’ ἐν ἀρχαῖς ἥμενοι κατὰ πτόλιν

: Or. 897

ὃς ἂν δύνηται πόλεος ἔν τ’ ἀρχαῖσιν ᾖ

. Cp. also on 744.

The words answer metrically to

φύξιμος οὐδείς

(788). The first two syllables of

πάρεδρος

therefore represent a resolved long syllable. Pindar affords some instances of such resolution (see Appendix), and there is a probable example below (970

ἀγχίπολις Ἄρης

, where see n.). But it is rare, and certainly unpleasing. As

a whole, too, the phrase

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

is suspicious. A yet stronger objection is the strangeness of describing the power which is in conflict with the

θεσμοί

as their assessor, or peer, in sway; an expression which would seem appropriate only if that power was working in harmony with them; as when Eur. ( Eur. Med. 843 ) speaks of

σοφίᾳ παρέδρους...ἔρωτας, | παντοίας ἀρετᾶς ξυνεργούς

,—‘the loves that sit with wisdom, co-workers of all excellence,’—those aspirations of the soul which assist intellectual effort.

The best line of emendation yet suggested is that of Semitelos, who writes ὥστε πέρα δρᾶν . He supposes that

πέρα δρᾶν

became, first,

πάρεδρον

(

ΠΕΡΑΔΡΑΝ— ΠΑΡΕΔΡΟΝ

). Then,

πάρεδρον θεσμῶν

seeming obscure, a marginal gloss

ἐν ἀρχαῖς

was added. This gloss came into the text, dislodging

ὥστε

: and

πάρεδρον

became

πάρεδρος

, to agree with

ἵμερος

. The original sense, then, was: ‘the

ἵμερος

prevails, so that one transgresses the great

θεσμοί

.’ Cp. El. 1506

ὅστις πέρα πράσσειν γε τῶν νόμων θέλει

. This suits, too, the following lines, where the Chorus says,

καὐτὸς

(i.e., like Haemon)

θεσμῶν | ἔξω φέρομαι

.—See Appendix.

ἐμπαίζει , ‘wreaks her will’ in that contest which νικᾷ implies. We find

ἐμπαίζω

with a dat. (1) of the object, as Her. 4.134

ἐμπαίζοντας ἡμῖν

, ‘mocking us’: (2) of the sphere, as Ar. Th. 975

χοροῖσιν ἐμπαίζει

, ‘sports in dances.’ The

ἐν

ἐμπαίζει

here might also be explained as ( a) in the

ἴμερος

, or the

βλέφαρα

, i.e. by their agency: or ( b) ‘on her victim.’ But the interpretation first given appears simpler. (Cp. Vergil's absol. use of illudere, G. 1. 181,

Tum variae illudant pestes.

)

καὐτὸς θεσμῶν ἔξω : i.e. like Haemon, I also am moved to rebel against Creon's sentence, and to take Antigone's part.

φέρομαι , a proverbial image from the race-course: Aristoph. Ran. 993

μόνον ὅπως | μή σ’ ὁ θυμὸς ἁρπάσας | ἐκτὸς οἴσει τῶν ἐλαῶν

, because some olives marked the limits of the course at the end of the race-course (schol. ad loc.), where the chariots turned, and where the horses were most likely to swerve or bolt. Plat. Crat. 414B

οὐ γὰρ ἐπισκοπεῖς με ὥσπερ ἐκτὸς δρόμου φερόμενον, ἐπειδὰν λείου ἐπιλάβωμαι

(when I get on smooth ground). Aesch. PV 883

ἔξω δὲ δρόμου φέρομαι λύσσης | πνεύματι μάργῳ

. Eur. Bacch. 853

ἔξω δ’ ἐλαύνων τοῦ φρονεῖν.

ἴσχειν δ’ : cp. 817

ἔχουσ’

: 820

λαχοῦσ’

, by the rule of continuity (

συνάφεια

) in anapaestic systems. In lyrics such elision is rarer ( ).

πηγάς , not, the sources or springs, but the streams, of tears: so Tr. 852

ἔρρωγεν παγὰ δακρύων

, and oft.: cp. O. C. 479 , where

πηγάς

=the water gushing from the bowl. On the other hand in fr. 658

νυκτός...πηγάς

=‘the sources of night’ (the west).

παγκοίτην . The question between Doric and Attic forms in tragic anapaests cannot be decided by a rigid rule. It depends on the presence or absence of a lyric character. Thus in 110 f. the Doricisms are justified by the purely lyric stamp of the anapaests. Here, Attic forms are preferable. The lyric strains

of Antigone are brought into finer relief by the different tone of the choral anapaests. Cp. 822 , and see Appendix on 110.—Cp. O. C. 1578 (Death)

τὸν αἰένυπνον

. The word θάλαμον here has ref. to its special sense, ‘bridal-chamber’: cp. 891

νυμφεῖον

, 1207

παστάδα

. So oft. in epitaphs on the unmarried; Anthol. P. 7. 489 (by Sappho)

Τιμάδος ἅδε κόνις, τὰν δὴ πρὸ γάμοιο θανοῦσαν | δέξατο Περσεφόνας κυάνεος θάλαμος

. Kaibel Epigrammata 241 (on two young brothers)

οἱ δισσοὶ συνόμαιμοι, ἰὼ ξένε, τῷδ’ ὑπὸ τύμβῳ | ἄψαυστοι τέκνων κείμεθα κουριδίων· | Ἱκέσιος κἀγὼ νεαρὰν πληρούμενος ἥβαν | Ἕρμιππος κρυερὸν τόνδ’ ἔχομεν θάλαμον.

ἀνύτουσαν with acc. of place, as Ai. 607 (

ἀνύσειν

), O. C. 1562 (

ἐξανύσαι

): cp. 231 .

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)) — 781 focus

ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

ἔρως, ὃς ἐν ¹ κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς
780

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις ²,

φοιτᾷς ³ δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν τ᾽

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων

φύξιμος⁴ οὐδεὶς,
785

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾽ ἀν-

θρώπων· ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων, μέμηνεν.

a

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν
790

σύναιμον ⁵ ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς
795

θεσμῶν ⁶. ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμ-

παίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις·
760

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν τ᾽ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

1

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς,

οὐθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπων· ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·
765

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως, ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς οὐ κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,
775

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν

τ᾽ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς· ᾿

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς,

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων. ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπων·

ὁ δ' ἔχων, μέμῃνε.
780

1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
785

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει

θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾿ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς
785

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου
795

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων †πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800
58v

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐδαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων

φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾽ ἀν-

θρώπων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790
1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμ-

παίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπ-

τεις, ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρει-

αῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ’ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ’
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ’ οὔτ’ ἀθανάτων

φύξιμος οὐδεὶς οὔθ’

ἁμερίων ἐπ’ ἀνθρώ-

πων, ὁ δ’ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώ-

βᾳ· σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀν-

δρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ’ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων

πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς θεσ-

μῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως ὃς †ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις †

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾶις δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ'
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς,

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώ-

πων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾶις ἐπὶ λώβαι

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾶι δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας †τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς †

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις·
780

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος, ἔν τ᾽

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς,

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων. ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώ-

πων· ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
785

1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
790

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν, Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις, 1

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις, 2

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς· 3
785

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς 4

οὔθ' ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώπων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν. 5
790
1

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ· 1

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας· 2

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου 3
795

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς 4

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα. 5

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήνεσι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς

νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώ-

πων, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους

φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ·

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν

ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 781 focus

Χορός

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν, Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις,

ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

φοιτᾷς δʼ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τʼ ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·
785

καί σʼ οὔτʼ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθʼ ἁμερίων σέ γʼ ἀνθρώπων. ὁ δʼ ἔχων μέμηνεν.
790

Χορός

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ,

σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾷ δʼ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου
795

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν. ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.
800

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 781 focus

Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν,

Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πί-

πτεις, ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρει-

αῖς νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις,

790 φοιτᾶις δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽
785

ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς·

καὶ σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς

οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀνθρώ-

πῶν, ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν.

σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους
790

φρένας παρασπᾶις ἐπὶ λώ-

βαι· σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀν-

δρῶν ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·

νικᾶι δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
795

ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου

νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς

θεσμῶν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμπαί-

ζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 791 focus

CHOR.

O Eros, Allsieger im Kampf,

O Eros, du reiches Besitzthums

Str.

Bezwinger, der auf der Maid zarten Wangen du übernachtest;
760

du schweifest hin über das Meer, durch der Gefild' Hürden:

kein unsterblicher Gott kann dir entrinnen,

taglebender Menschen keiner; wen du ergreifest, raset.

Gegenstr.

Auch edlen Geist reiſsest du hin

zu Missethat, hin zu Verderben;
765

auch Vaters und Sohnes Zwist jetzt erregtest du, und es sieget,

den Wimpern lustbettender Braut heftig entstrahlt, Liebreiz,

er mitthronend im Rath mächtiger Rechte;

denn nimmerbezwungnes Spiel übt Herrscherin Aphrodite.

(Antigone wird gebracht.)

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 781 focus

¡Amor invencible en la pelea! ¡Amor que en el corazón te infundes, que en las tiernas mejillas de la muchacha te posas y pasas al otro lado del mar y frecuentas las rústicas cabañas! De ti no se libra nadie entre los inmortales, ni entre los efímeros hombres; y quien te recibe, se enfurece.

Tú de los hombres justos arrancas injustas determinaciones, para arruinarlos; y también tú has concitado la rencilla en esta familia. Triunfa el brillante atractivo de los ojos de la novia que ha de alegrar el lecho, y que atrae contra las más grandes instituciones; pues sin que se la pueda resistir, juega de nosotros la diosa Venus.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 781 focus

Amor invicte in pugnis, Amor, qui opes non aífectas, qui puellae mollibus excubas in genis, transque maria permeas, penetrasque te in silvestria lustra;

nec te immortalium quisquam fugere potis est, nec brevis aevi hominum. Quisquis vero te concipit, in furorem agitur,

Tu vel iustorum mentes devias abripis ad noxam:

tu quoque inter consanguineos viros litem .hanc concitasti: praepollet autem palam erumpens oculorum desiderium pulcram appetentis virginem, quod. cum maximis inter initia rerum legibus pari praeditum est potestate : — insuperabilis enim illudit dea Venus.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 781 focus

Where human footstep shuns the desert ground,

I’ll hide her living in a cave like vault,

With so much provender as may prevent

Pollution from o’ertaking the whole city

And there, perchance, she may obtain of Death,
785

Her only deity, to spare her soul,

Or else in that last moment she will learn
790

’Tis labour lost to worship powers unseen.

Love, never foiled in fight!

Warrior Love, that on Wealth workest havoc!

Love, who in ambush of young maid’s soft cheek
795

All night keep’st watch!—Thou roamest over seas.

In lonely forest homes thou harbourest.
800

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 781 focus

Eros, Allsieger im Kampf!
775

Du, der bestürmt, wen er bezwungen,

Der Nachts auf schlummernder Jungfrau'n

Zartblühenden Wangen webet:

Hin über's Meer schweisst du, besuchst

Hirtliche Wohnstätten;
780

Und kein ewiger Gott kann dir entrinnen,

Kein sterblicher Mensch, des Tages Sohn;

Und ergriffen rast er.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Du lockst auch unschuldigen Sinn

In böse Schuld, ihn zu verderben;
785

Du hast auch eben die Zwietracht

Des Vaters und Sohns entzündet.

Im Blick der holdseligen Braut

Leuchtet der Sehnsucht Macht

Siegreich, thronend im Rath hoher Geseze;¹
790

Denn nimmerbezwingbar übt ihr Spiel

Aphrodite's Gottheit.

(Antigone wird herbeigeführt.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 781 focus

E'en I beyond the common bounds of grief

Indulge my sorrows, and from these sad eyes

Fountains of tears will flow, when I behold

Antigone

unhappy maid, approach

The bed of death, and hasten to the tomb*

Antigone
Scene IV.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 781 focus

¡Amor! invencible, indomable Amorl tú hieres al poderoso del propio modo que te posas sobre las delicadas megillas de la doncella; lo mismo atraviesas los mares, que te introduces en la rústica cabaña; no se libran de ti los dioses inmortales, ni el hombre de efímera existencia; ¡ah! el corazón de que tc apoderas es presa del furor.

Antistrofa 1.a

CORO

Tú arrastras á los buenos al erimen y ála injusticia; tú eres quien acaba de suscitar esa reyerta entre el padre y el hijo. De todo triunfa el amor que inspiran los ojos de una hermosa. El amor preside con los dioses á las loyes de la naturaleza. ¡Cómo juega con nosotros la irresistible Afródita!...

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 781 focus

CHOR

Geist der Liebe, dennoch Sieger

Imuner, in Streit! Du Friedensgeist, der über

Gewerb einniket, und über zärtlicher Wange bei

Der Jungfrau übernachtet,

Und schwebet über Wassern ,
815

Und Häufsern, in dem Freien.

Fast auch Unsterblicher Herz zerbricht

Dir und entschlafender Menschen, und es ist,

Wer’s an sich hat, nicht bei sich. Denn

Du machest scheu der Gerechten
820

Unrechtere Sinne, dass in die Schhmach weg

Sie flüchten, hältst dich hier auf, im Männerzank’, |

Im blutsverwandten, und wirfst es untereinander.

Und nie zu Schanden wird es,

Das Mächtigbittende,
825

Am Augenliede der hochzeitlichen

Jungfrau, im Anbeginne dem Werden grolser

Veıständigungen gesellet. Unkriegerisch spielt nemlich

Die göttliche Schönheit mit.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 781 focus

Love, unconquered in the fight, Love, who sr. ‘ makest havoc of wealth, who keepest thy vigil on the soft cheek of a maiden; thou roamest over the sea, and among the homes of dwellers in the wilds; no immortal 790 can escape thee, nor any among men whose life is for a day; and he to whom thou hast come is mad. ant.

The just themselves have their minds warped by thee to wrong, for their ruin: ’tis thou that hast stirred up this prese if i ;~victorious is the lovekindling light from the eyes of the fair bride; it is a power enthroned in sway beside the eternal laws; for 800 there the goddess Aphrodite is working her unconquerable will.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 781 focus

O Love, resistless in thy might,

Triumphant o'er the pow'r of gold,

In youth's soft cheek with beauty bright

Joying thy sweet domain to hold,

Thou rulest o'er th' extended main,

The rural hut, the pastoral plain;

Thy pow'r th' immortal gods obey,

And mortal men confess thy sway

But all, who feel thy piercing darts,

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 781-805 focus

Chorus

Love, the unconquered in battle, Love, you who descend upon riches, and watch the night through on a girl’s soft cheek,

you roam over the sea and among the homes of men in the wilds. Neither can any immortal escape you,
785

nor any man whose life lasts for a day. He who has known you is driven to madness.
790

791

Chorus

You seize the minds of just men and drag them to injustice, to their ruin. You it is who have incited this conflict of men whose flesh and blood are one.

But victory belongs to radiant Desire swelling from the eyes of the sweet-bedded bride. Desire sits enthroned in power beside the mighty laws.
795

For in all this divine Aphrodite plays her irresistible game.
800

801

Enter Antigone under guard from the palace.

Chorus

But now, witnessing this, I too am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty. The power fails me to keep back my streaming tears any longer, when I see Antigone making her way to the chamber where all are laid to rest,

now her bridal chamber.
805

Sir Richard C. Jebb Commentary on Sophocles: Antigone 781

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

781-800

Current edition Experimental

’Tis labour lost to worship powers unseen.

Love, never foiled in fight!

Warrior Love, that on Wealth workest havoc!

Love, who in ambush of young maid’s soft cheek
795

All night keep’st watch!—Thou roamest over seas.

In lonely forest homes thou harbourest.
800

E'en I beyond the common bounds of grief

Indulge my sorrows, and from these sad eyes

Fountains of tears will flow, when I behold

Antigone

unhappy maid, approach

The bed of death, and hasten to the tomb*

Antigone
Scene IV.

Antistrofa 1.a

CORO

O Love, resistless in thy might,

Triumphant o'er the pow'r of gold,

In youth's soft cheek with beauty bright

Joying thy sweet domain to hold,

Thou rulest o'er th' extended main,

The rural hut, the pastoral plain;

Thy pow'r th' immortal gods obey,

And mortal men confess thy sway

But all, who feel thy piercing darts,

Chorus

But now, witnessing this, I too am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty. The power fails me to keep back my streaming tears any longer, when I see Antigone making her way to the chamber where all are laid to rest,

now her bridal chamber.
805

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

781-800

Current edition Experimental

’Tis labour lost to worship powers unseen. Love, never foiled in fight! Warrior Love, that on Wealth workest havoc! Love, who in ambush of young maid’s soft cheek 795 All night keep’st watch!—Thou roamest over seas. In lonely forest homes thou harbourest. 800

E'en I beyond the common bounds of grief Indulge my sorrows, and from these sad eyes

Fountains of tears will flow, when I behold

Antigone

unhappy maid, approach

The bed of death, and hasten to the tomb*

Antigone Scene IV.

Antistrofa 1.a

CORO

O Love, resistless in thy might, Triumphant o'er the pow'r of gold, In youth's soft cheek with beauty bright Joying thy sweet domain to hold, Thou rulest o'er th' extended main,

The rural hut, the pastoral plain; Thy pow'r th' immortal gods obey, And mortal men confess thy sway But all, who feel thy piercing darts,

Chorus But now, witnessing this, I too am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty. The power fails me to keep back my streaming tears any longer, when I see Antigone making her way to the chamber where all are laid to rest, now her bridal chamber. 805

Stable identifiers

’Tis labour lost to worship powers unseen.

Love, never foiled in fight!

Warrior Love, that on Wealth workest havoc!

Love, who in ambush of young maid’s soft cheek
795

All night keep’st watch!—Thou roamest over seas.

In lonely forest homes thou harbourest.
800

E'en I beyond the common bounds of grief

Indulge my sorrows, and from these sad eyes

Antigone
Scene IV.

O Love, resistless in thy might,

Triumphant o'er the pow'r of gold,

In youth's soft cheek with beauty bright

Joying thy sweet domain to hold,

Thou rulest o'er th' extended main,

The rural hut, the pastoral plain;

Thy pow'r th' immortal gods obey,

And mortal men confess thy sway

But all, who feel thy piercing darts,

Chorus

But now, witnessing this, I too am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty. The power fails me to keep back my streaming tears any longer, when I see Antigone making her way to the chamber where all are laid to rest,

now her bridal chamber.
805