Sir Richard C. Jebb Introduction to Commentary on Sophocles: Ajax 14

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Introduction to Commentary on Sophocles: Ajax. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. 1900.

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Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Introduction to Commentary on Sophocles: Ajax (English) (Sophocles, The plays and fragments with critical notes. Part 7, The Ajax. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, author. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1907.)

Editions (4)
Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 1-171 focus
Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 1-171 focus
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1 focus
ἀεὶ μέν, ὦ παῖ Λαρτίου Λαρτίου λᾶρτίου, δέδορκά σε
1
πεῖράν τιν' ἐχθρῶν ἁρπάσαι θηρώμενον·
καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ σκηναῖς σε ναυτικαῖς ὁρῶ
Αἴαντος, ἔνθα τάξιν ἐσχάτην ἔχει,
πάλαι κυνηγετοῦντα καὶ μετρούμενον
5
ἴχνη τὰ κείνου τὰ ᾿κείνου τἀκείνου νεοχάραχθ᾽ νεοχάρακτ᾽ νεοχάρακθ', ὅπως ἴδῃς
εἴτ᾿ ἔνδον εἴτ᾿ οὐκ ἔνδον. εὖ δέ σ᾽ ἐκφέρει
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-171 focus
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1 focus
Oft have I seen thee, Laërtiades,
1
Intent on some surprisal of thy foes;
1
As now I find thee by the seaward camp,
Where Aias holds the last place in your line,
Lingering in quest, and scanning the fresh print
Of his late footsteps, to be certified
If he keep house or no. Right well thy sense
Hath led thee forth, like some keen hound of Sparta!
The man is even but now come home, his head
5
And slaughterous hands reeking with ardent toil.
5
Thou, then, no longer strain thy gaze within
Yon gateway, but declare what eager chase
Thou followest, that a god may give thee light.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus
Zu jeder Stunde treff' ich dich, Laertes' Sohn, 1
1
Wie du, den Feind zu greifen, seine Fährt' erspürst;
Auch nun gewahr' ich, wie du hier am Schiffsgezelt 2
Des Ajas, der des Lagers lezte Reihe hält,
Schon lange schleichst und lauerst und von seinem Tritt
5
Die frischgeprägten Spuren prüfst, um auszuspäh'n,
Ob innen er, ob außen: glücklich führt dich auch
Dein Schritt an's Ziel, scharfwitternd, gleich dem Sparterhund. 3
Denn eben ist er innen, und von Schweiße triest
Das Haupt des Mannes und die mordbewehrte Hand.
10
Und nöthig hast du weiter nicht, am Thore hier
Hineinzulauschen; aber sprich, warum du so
Voll Eifer spähtest, gerne geb' ich dir Bescheid.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1 focus
Son of Laertes, thy unwearied spirit
1
Is ever watchful to surprise the foe ;
1
I have observed thee wandering midst the tents
At th' utmost verge, and meas'ring o'er his steps
But late impressed ; like Sparta's hounds of scent
Sagacious dost thou trace him, nor in vain ;
5
For know, the man thou seekst is not far from thee :
Yonder he lies, with reeking brow and hands
Deep-stained with gore ; cease then thy search, and tell
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1 focus
Son of Laertes, oft have I observed
1
Thy watchful promptness 'gainst the foe to seize
1
Each fit occasion; and I see thee now
Ranging long time around the naval tent
Marking the fresh impression of his steps,
That thou may'st know if in the tent he rests.
Well hast thou traced him, like the Spartan hound
Of scent sagacious: in the tent he rests,
Sweat from his temples streaming, and his hands
5
With slaughter stain'd; to cast thy searching eye
5
Within these gates is needless; but declare
The cause productive of this anxious toil,
That by my knowledge thou may'st be inform'd.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-170 focus

Notes on the current edition

Introduction to Commentary on Sophocles: Ajax

1. The divine judgment. Athena.
2. Verses 756—779.
3. See n. on Electra v. 569.