Sophocles’ Antigone

Greek Text with Facing Vocabulary and

Commentary

Geoffrey Steadman
Sophocles’ Antigone
Greek Text with Facing Vocabulary and Commentary

First Edition

© 2015 by Geoffrey Steadman

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not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that copying permitted
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The author has made an online version of this work available (via email) under a
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(3) If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting
work only under the same or similar license as this one.

The Greek text is the edition by Francis Storr first published in 1912.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9913860-3-1

Published by Geoffrey Steadman

Cover Design: David Steadman

Fonts: Times New Roman, Times-Roman, GFS Porson, New Athena Unicode

[email protected]
 Table of Contents
pages
Preface to the Series……………………………………………………………....v-vi
How to Use this Commentary……………………………………………………...vii
Scansion: Iambic Trimeter…………………………..………..……...................ix-xiv
Running Core Vocabulary (8 or more times) ………………………..……....xv-xviii
Abbreviations……………………………………………………………….…….xxii
Nouns, Pronouns, and Synopses..…………………………………………........92-98
Choral Odes: Greek text and Scansion………………………………………..99-114
Alphabetized Core Vocabulary (8 or more times) …………………..…........115-118

Text and Commentary

Prologos (πρόλογος): lines 1-99……………………………………..………..…1-7
Antigone reveals her plan to bury Polynices to Ismene
Parodos (πάροδος): ll. 100-161……………………………………..……......…7-11
The chorus of old men rejoice over driving back of the seven armies
First Episode (ἐπεισόδιον πρῶτον): ll. 162-331………………………....……11-23
Creon orders Polynices not to be buried, guard reports burial
First Stasimon (στάσιµον πρῶτον): ll. 332-383………………………....……23-26
Th chorus sings about the marvel of humanity
Second Episode (ἐπεισόδιον δεύτερον): ll. 384-581………………………..…26-39
Guard returns with Antigone, Creon and Antigone argue
Second Stasimon (στάσιµον δεύτερον): ll. 582-630……………………..……39-42
The chorus mourns over the house of Labdacus
Third Episode (ἐπεισόδιον τρίτον): ll. 631-780………………………...……..43-52
Creon refuses Haemon’s appeal on behalf of Antigone
Third Stasimon (στάσιµον τρίτον): ll. 781-805……………………….....……53-54
The chorus sings about love
Fourth Episode (ἐπεισόδιον τέτρατον): ll. 806-943………………..…………54-59
Antigone mourns her fate before the chorus
Fourth Stasimon (στάσιµον τέτρατον): ll. 944-987……………..……………63-66
The chorus sings about parallels to Antigone
Fifth Episode (ἐπεισόδιον πέµπτον): ll. 988-1114………………..…………...66-68
Creon refuses to listen to Tiresias.
Fifth Stasimon (στάσιµον πέµπτον): ll. 1115-1154……………..……………68-71
The chorus prays to Dionysus.
Exodos (ἔξοδος): ll. 1155-1353………………………………………...………71-90
A messenger announces the deaths of Antigone and Haemon.
 Preface to the Series

The aim of this commentary is to make all 1553 lines of Sophocles’ Antigone as
accessible as possible to intermediate and advanced Greek readers so that they may
experience the joy, insight, and lasting influence that comes from reading one of the
greatest works in classical antiquity in the original Greek.
Each page of the commentary includes 15 lines of Greek verse (Francis Storr’s
1912 edition) with all corresponding vocabulary and grammar notes below on the
same page. The vocabulary contains all words occurring 7 or fewer times, arranged
alphabetically in two columns. The grammatical notes are organized according to
line numbers and likewise arranged in two columns. The advantage of this format is
that it allows me to include as much information as possible on a single page and
yet insure that entries are distinct and readily accessible to readers.
To complement the vocabulary within the commentary, I have added a list of
words occurring 8 more times at the beginning of this book and recommend that
readers review this list before they read. An alphabetized form of this list can be
found in the glossary. Together, this book has been designed in such a way that,
once readers have mastered the core list, they will be able to rely solely on the
Greek text and commentary and not need to turn a page or consult dictionaries as
they read.
The grammatical notes are designed to help beginning readers read the text, and
so I have passed over detailed literary and philosophical explanations in favor of
short, concise, and frequent entries that focus exclusively on grammar and
morphology. The notes are intended to complement, not replace, an advanced level
commentary, and so I recommend that readers read an advanced-level commentary
after each reading from this book. Assuming that readers finish elementary Greek
with varying levels of ability, I draw attention to subjunctive and optative
constructions, identify unusual aorist and perfect forms, and in general explain
aspects of the Greek that they should have encountered in first year study but
perhaps forgotten. As a rule, I prefer to offer too much assistance rather than too
little.
vi

Better Vocabulary-Building Strategies

One of the virtues of this commentary is that it eliminates time-consuming

dictionary work. While there are occasions where a dictionary is necessary for
developing a nuanced reading of the Greek, in most instances any advantage that
may come from looking up a word is outweighed by the time and effort spent in the
process. Many continue to defend this practice, but I am convinced that such work
has little pedagogical value for intermediate and advanced students and that the time
saved can be better spent reading more Greek, memorizing vocabulary, mastering
principal parts, and reading advanced-level commentaries and secondary literature.
As an alternative to dictionary work, I recommend that readers review the core
vocabulary lists. In addition to the running list of words occurring 20 or more times
in this volume, there is a running list of words occurring 10 or more times on the
website. I encourage readers to single out, drill, and memorize these common words
before they encounter them in the reading and devote comparatively little attention
to words that occur once or twice. Altogether, I am confident that readers who
follow this regimen will learn the Phaedo’s vocabulary more efficiently and
develop fluency more quickly than with traditional methods.

Print on Demand Books

Finally, this volume is a self-published, print-on-demand (POD) book, and as

such it gives its author distinct freedoms not available in traditional publications.
Since this book is no more than a pdf file waiting to be printed, I am able to respond
very quickly to readers’ recommended changes and create an revised edition that is
available for sale within 24 hours. If you would like to suggest changes or download
a free .pdf copy of this commentary, please see one of the addresses below. All
criticisms are welcome, and I would be very grateful for your help.
I would like to thank Olympe De Backer for reading through an earlier version
of this commentary and recommending a number of changes.

Geoffrey Steadman Ph.D.

[email protected]
www.geoffreysteadman.com
 vii

How to Use this Commentary

Research shows that, as we learn how to read in a second language, a combination
of reading and direct vocabulary instruction is statistically superior to reading alone.
One of the purposes of this book is to encourage active acquisition of vocabulary.
1. Master the list of words occurring 8 or more times as soon as possible.
A. Develop a daily regimen for memorizing vocabulary before you begin reading.
Review and memorize the words in the running list that occur 8 or more times
before you read the corresponding pages in Greek.
B. Download and use the digital flashcards available online in ppt or jpg formats.
Research has shown that you must review new words at least seven to nine times
before you are able to commit them to long term memory, and flashcards are
efficient at promoting repetition. Develop the habit of deleting flashcards that you
have mastered and focus your efforts on the remaining words.
2. Read actively and make lots of educated guesses
One of the benefits of traditional dictionary work is that it gives readers an
interval between the time they encounter a questionable word or form and the
time they find the dictionary entry. That span of time often compels readers to
make educated guesses and actively seek out understanding of the Greek.
Despite the benefits of corresponding vocabulary lists there is a risk that
without that interval of time you will become complacent in your reading habits
and treat the Greek as a puzzle to be decoded rather than a language to be learned.
Your challenge, therefore, is to develop the habit of making an educated guess
under your breath each time before you consult the commentary. If you guess
correctly, the vocabulary and notes will reaffirm your understanding of the Greek.
If you answer incorrectly, you will become more aware of your weaknesses and
therefore more capable of correcting them.
3. Reread a passage immediately after you have completed it.
Repeated readings not only help you commit Greek to memory but also promote
your ability to read the Greek as Greek. You learned to read in your first language
through repeated readings of the same books. Greek is no different. The more
comfortable you are with older passages, the more easily you will read new ones.
4. Reread the most recent passage immediately before you begin a new one.
This additional repetition will strengthen your ability to recognize vocabulary,
forms, and syntax quickly, bolster your confidence, and most importantly provide
you with much-needed context as you begin the next selection in the text.
5. Consult an advanced-level commentary for a more nuanced interpretation
After your initial reading of a passage and as time permits, consult the highly
readable notes in books by Griffith or Jebb. Your initial reading will allow you
to better understand the advanced commentary, which in turn will provide a
more insightful literary analysis than is possible in this volume.
 ix

Scansion

I. Iambic Trimeter

♪♩
iamb (Lat. iambus) ˘ ¯

iambic metron (metrical unit) x ¯ ˘ ¯

iambic trimeter x ¯ ˘ ¯ /x ¯ ˘ ¯ /x ¯ ˘ ¯

x ¯ ˘ ¯ /x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯
ὦ κοι-νὸν αὐ-τά-δελ-φον Ἰσ-µή-νης κά-ρα, line 1

x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯
ἆρ᾽ οἶσ-θ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰ-δί-που κα-κῶν line 2

Readers should not shy away from mastering Greek meter. When we first learned
Greek, no doubt the declensions and verb forms seemed an insurmountable
challenge. But as time passes, persistance paid offer, and what initially seemed so
difficult became the primary tool to analyze and enjoy the literature. Greek meter
plays a similar role in the understanding and pleasure that we derive from tragedy.

Unlike epic, which is composed uniformly of dactylic hexameter, tragedy employs a

variety of meters throughout a work. The most challenging for readers are the choral
odes, which are considered in the glossary. Fortunately, the easiest and most
common meter found throughout the speeches and conversations is iambic trimeter.

The rhythms of English poetry are based on word-stress (stressed and unstressed
syllables), while Greek poetry relies on the length of syllables (long and short
syllables). Long syllables are pronounced twice as long as short syllables, as
demonstrated in the musical notation above. To mark the length of a syllable, we
place the notation ¯ (here equal to a quarter note ♩) above a long syllable and the
notation ˘ (here equal to an eighth note ♪) above a short syllable.

Iambic trimeter is composed of three (tri) metrical units (metra) made up of iambs
( ˘ ¯ ). The word ‘trimeter’ is deceptive because each iambic metrical unit (metron)
is composed of two iambs ( ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ). Thus, an iambic trimeter line includes the
equivalent of six, not three, iambs in a row. As you see in the examples above, the
first syllable of each iambic metron is marked by an anceps, ‘two-headed,’ (x)
instead of a long ( ¯ ) or short ( ˘ ) syllable. A syllable marked with an anceps (x)
can be either long or short depending on the needs of the poet at that moment.
x

In addition to the flexibilty that the anceps provides, the final syllable of the trimeter
line may be long or short—but will always be considered as long when scanning.
For example, although the final -τερ in line 4 below is a short syllable according to
the rules below, we identify the syllable as metrically long when we scan the line:

x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯
οὐ-δὲν γὰρ οὔ-τ᾽ ἀλ-γει-νὸν οὔ-τ᾽ ἄ-της ἄ-τερ (line 4)

II. Dividing up the Syllables in a Greek Word

A Greek word has as many syllables as vowels. Diphthongs count as one vowel.
ὦ κοι-νὸν αὐ-τά-δελ-φον Ἰσ-µή-νης κά-ρα, (1)

When there are two or more consonants between vowels, the first is pronounced
with the preceding syllable and the rest are pronounced with the following syllable:
ὦ κοι-νὸν αὐ-τά-δελ-φον Ἰσ-µή-νης κά-ρα, (1)

When there is one consonant between vowels, that consonant is pronounced with
the 2nd syllable. ζ (σδ), ξ (κσ), ψ (πσ) count as 2 consonants in different syllables.
ὦ κοι-νὸν αὐ-τά-δελ-φον Ἰσ-µή-νης κά-ρα, (1)

A consonant followed by a liquid λ or ρ (or less often µ and ν) is considered a single

consonant unit in the 2nd syllable and may count as one or two consonants below.
µι-ᾷ θα-νόν-τοιν ἡ-µέ-ρᾳ δι-πλῇ χε-ρί· (15)

III. Determining the Length of a Syllable

A. A syllable is long ( ¯ ) by nature if it contains
1. a long vowel* (η, ω, ᾱ, ῑ, ῡ) * these are unmarked in the Greek text
2. a diphthong (αι, ει, οι, αυ, ευ, ου)
B. A syllable is long ( ¯ ) by position if
3. a vowel is followed by 2 consonants (not necessarily in the same word).
4. the vowel is followed by double consonants ζ (σδ), ξ (κσ), ψ (πσ) or ῥ.
5. Exception: a vowel followed by mute (π,β,φ,κ,γ,χ,τ,δ,θ) + liquid
(λ,ρ,µ,ν) is often—but not always—considered short.
C. Any syllable that does not follow these rules is by default a short syllable ( ˘ ).
For convenience, I have put the number of the rule above the long syllables.
1 2 4 2 1 2 2 1
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
ἆρ᾽ οἶσ-θ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰ-δί-που κα-κῶν line 2
 xi

Scansion Practice (Set 1)

Use the rules on the facing page and pencil in the long ( ¯ ) and short ( ˘ ) notations
above the lines below. Remember, each metron begins with an anceps, that may be
long or short. None of the lines below contain resolution, which I explain below.
Mark the last syllable as long even if the syllable is identified as short by our rules.

1. οὔτ᾽ αἰσ -χρὸν οὔ -τ᾽ ἄ -τῑ -µόν ἐσ -θ᾽, ὁ -ποῖ -ον οὐ (5)

2. τῶν σῶν τε κᾱ -µῶν οὐκ ὄ -πω -π᾽ ἐ -γὼ κα -κῶν. (6)

3. καὶ νῦν τί τοῦ -τ᾽ αὖ φᾱ -σι παν -δή -µῳ πό -λει (7)

4. κή -ρυγ -µα θεῖ -ναι τὸν στρα -τη -γὸν ἀρ -τί -ως; (8)

IV. Elision (‘cutting out’):

When a short vowel (and often final –αι, e.g. καί) is followed with a word beginning
with a vowel, the vowel is elided, “cut out,” from pronunciation. In our text the
editor omits the vowel and includes an apostrophe: οὔτε à οὔθ᾽ ἵκετο à ἵκετ᾽

5. οὔ -θ᾽ ἡ -δὺς οὔ -τ᾽ ἀλ -γει -νὸς ῑ -κε -τ᾽ ἐξ ὅ -του (12)

V. Exception 1: Resolution (‘breaking down’):

Resolution is the substitution of two short syllables ( ˘ ˘, ♫) for a long syllable
( ¯, ♪) or anceps (x). The poet can use resolution, just as anceps, to give variety
to a metrical line, and resolution is sometimes necessary when, for example, a
poet mentions a proper name that will not fit in the standard meter, as in the
examples below. It is also found in the choral odes discussed in the glossary.
Note the resolution (again, ¯ à ˘ ˘ ) that occurs in the underlined syllables as
you scan below. Resolution occurs less than 50 times in the entire play.

6. ἐ -µοὶ µὲν οὐ -δεὶς µῦ -θος, Ἀν -τι -γό -νη, φί -λων (11)

˘
7. Ἐ -τε -ο 1-κλέ -ᾱ µέν, ὡς λέ -γου -σι, σὺν δί -κης (20)

8. τὸν δ᾽ ἀθ -λί -ως θα -νόν -τα Πο -λυ -νεί -κους νέ -κυν (26)

1
ο in Ἐτεοκλέα may be considered short, rule #5
xii

Answer Key (Set 1)

2 2 2 1 3 2 2
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
1. οὔτ᾽ αἰσ -χρὸν οὔ -τ᾽ ἄ -τῑ -µόν ἐσ -θ᾽, ὁ -ποῖ -ον οὐ (5)
1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
2. τῶν σῶν τε κᾱ -µῶν οὐκ ὄ -πω -π᾽ ἐ -γὼ κα -κῶν. (6)
2 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 2
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/
3. καὶ νῦν τί τοῦ -τ᾽ αὖ φᾱ -σι παν -δή -µῳ πό -λει (7)
1 3 2 2 3 1 3 1
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
4. κή -ρυγ -µα θεῖ -ναι τὸν στρα -τη -γὸν ἀρ -τί -ως; (8)
2 1 2 3 2 1 4 2
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
5. οὔ -θ᾽ ἡ -δὺς οὔ -τ᾽ ἀλ -γει -νὸς ῑ -κε -τ᾽ ἐξ ὅ -του (12)
2 2 2 1 3 1 1
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
6. ἐ -µοὶ µὲν οὐ -δεὶς µῦ -θος, Ἀν -τι -γό -νη, φί -λων (11)
5 1 1 2 2 1
˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
7. Ἐ -τε -ο 1-κλέ -ᾱ µέν, ὡς λέ -γου -σι, σὺν δί -κης (20)

3 3 1 3 2 2 x
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/
8. τὸν δ᾽ ἀθ -λί -ως θα -νόν -τα Πο -λυ -νεί -κους νέ -κυν (26)

VI. Exception 2: Synizesis (‘setting together’)

Synizesis occurs when a group of adjoining vowels are scanned metrically (and
perhaps pronounced) as a single long syllable. This is common in vowel
combinations such as εο, εω, and εα. It is often found as well with the double
negative µὴ οὐ. Scan each line below with an underlined example of synizesis.

9. καὶ δεῦ -ρο νεῖσ -θαι ταῦ -τα τοῖ -σι µὴ εἰ -δό -σιν (33)

10. µή -τοι, κα -σιγ -νή -τη, µ᾽ ἀ -τῑ -µά -σῃς τὸ µὴ οὐ (544)

 xiii

VIII. Caesura and Diaeresis

In addition to the pause at the end of each line, there are natural pauses between words within
the verse which effect the rhythm of the trimeter line, and it is worthwhile to recognize the
conventions regarding these pauses.
A caesura (Lat. “cut”) is the audible pause that occurs when a word ends within a
metron, in this case within an iambic metron.
A diaeresis (Grk. “division”) is the audible pause that occurs when a word ends at
the end of a metron.
In general, the pause after each word in a verse is either a caesura or a diaeresis, and
each trimeter line contains multiple examples of caesura and diaeresis. But, when
you are asked in a classroom setting to identify the caesurae in a line, you are
actually being asked to identify the principal or chief caesura in a line.
The principal (or chief) caesura is a caesura that coincides with a major pause
in the sense or thought within the line (often the equivalent of a comma or period in
prose). In iambic trimeter, the principal caesura occurs in the 2nd metron after the
first anceps. Less often it occurs after the first short in the 2nd metron and the first
short in the 1st metron:
C A B
|| || ||
x ¯ ˘ ¯ /x ¯ ˘ ¯ /x ¯ ˘ ¯
(A) penthemimeres (5th half-foot) x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x || ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯
(B) hepthemimeres (7th half-foot) x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ || ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯
(C) trihemimeres (3rd half-foot) x ¯ ˘ || ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯ / x ¯ ˘ ¯

Scansion Practice (Set 4): Ismene and Antigone (lines 42-47).

Scan. Then label the || as a diaeresis or as a caesura type A, B, or C above.
||
11. Ἰσµ ποῖ -όν τι κιν -δύ -νευ -µα; ποῦ γνώ -µης πο -τ᾽ εἶ;
˘ ||
12. Ἀντ εἰ τὸν νε -κρὸν ξὺν τῇ -δε κου -φι -εῖς χε -ρί.
||
13. Ἰσµ ἦ γὰρ νο -εῖς θάπ -τειν σφ᾽, ἀ -πόρ -ρη -τον πό -λει;
||
14. Ἀντ τὸν γοῦν ἐ -µὸν καὶ τὸν σόν ἢν σὺ µὴ θέ -λῃς
||
15. ἀ -δελ -φόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προ -δοῦ -σ᾽ ἁ -λώ -σο -µαι.
|| ˘
16. Ἰσµ ὦ σχετ -λί -ᾱ, Κρέ -ον -τος ἀν -τει -ρη -κό -τος;
xiv

Answer Key for Scansion Practice (Set 2 and 3)

2 2 2 2 2 2 1 x
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
8. καὶ δεῦ -ρο νεῖσ -θαι ταῦ -τα τοῖ -σι µὴ εἰ -δό -σιν (33)
1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1
¯ ¯ ˘ / ˘
¯ / ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ /
9. µή -τοι, κα -σιγ -νή -τη, µ᾽ ἀ -τῑ -µά -σῃς τὸ µὴ οὐ (544)
2 3 3 2 B 2 1 1 2
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ || ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/
10. Ἰσµ ποῖ -όν τι κιν -δύ -νευ -µα; ποῦ γνώ -µης πο -τ᾽ εἶ; (42)
2 3 5 3 3 1 B 2 2 x
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ || ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
11. Ἀντ εἰ τὸν νε -κρὸν ξὺν τῇ -δε κου -φι -εῖς χε -ρί. (43)
1 3 3 3 2 B 3 1 3 2
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ || ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/
12. Ἰσµ ἦ γὰρ νο -εῖς θάπ -τειν σφ᾽, ἀ -πόρ -ρη -τον πό -λει; (44)
3 2 3 2 3 B 1 1 1
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ || ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
13. Ἀντ τὸν γοῦν ἐ -µὸν καὶ τὸν σόν ἢν σὺ µὴ θέ -λῃς (45)
3 C 2 3 1 2 1 2
˘ ¯ ˘ || ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/
14. ἀ -δελ -φόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προ -δοῦ -σ᾽ ἁ -λώ -σο -µαι (46)
1 3 1 Dia. 3 3 2 1 x
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ || / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/
15. Ἰσµ ὦ σχετ -λί -ᾱ, Κρέ -ον -τος ἀν -τει -ρη -κό -τος; (47)
Note Well: The ε in νεκρὸν is here considered short by rule #5.
IX. Porson’s Bridge
A bridge is a place in the meter where word ending is avoided. The most famous
bridge was discovered in 1802 by Richard Porson, who asserted that the anceps in
the 3rd metron cannot be a long syllable ending a word. All the examples above
follow Porson’s rule. Though this convention will not affect how you read the play,
it does reveal a nuance in the rhythm that the Greeks were accustomed to hear.

X. Oral Recitation
As you read, do not be intimidated by the rules or the terminology. Since the text
does not include macrons to indicate long vowels such as ᾱ, ῑ, or ῡ, you are sure to
make an occasional mistake when scanning. Sophocles intended the rhythm to be a
integral part of our experience of the play.
 xv

Sophocles’ Antigone
Core Vocabulary (8 or more times)
The following is a running list of all words that occur eight or more times in Antigone. An alphabetized
list is found in the glossary of this volume. These words are not included in the commentary and therefore
must be reviewed as soon as possible. The left column indicates the page number where the word first
occurs.The number of occurrences, indicated at the end of the dictionary entry, were tabulated by the
author. This section will be revised with each revision of the commentary.

01 αἰσχρός, -ά, -όν: shameful, disgraceful, 8

01 ἀπό: from, away from. (+ gen.), 9
01 ἆρα: introduces a yes/no question, 10
01 ἄτη, ἡ: ruin, plague; bewilderment, 10
01 αὖ: again; moreover, besides; in turn, 12
01 εἷς, µία, ἕν: one, single, alone, 13
01 ἐµός, -ή, -όν: my, mine, 21
01 ζάω: to live, 20
01 θνήσκω: to die, 39
01 κοινός, -ή, -όν: common, shared; kindred, 8
01 οἶδα: to know, 37
01 ὁράω: to see, look, behold, 24
01 ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι: whoever, whichever, whatever, 23
01 πόλις, ἡ: a city, 34
01 σός, -ή, -όν: your, yours, 18
01 φηµί: to say, claim, assert, 14
01 χείρ, χειρός (χερός, χέρι…), ἡ: hand, 14
01 χθών, χθονός, ἡ: earth, ground, land, 8
01 ὦ: O, oh, (an exclamation) 18
02 γάρ: for, since, 103
02 δέ: but, and, on the other hand, 59
02 δίκαιος, -α, -ον: just, right, lawful, fair, 10
02 δίκη, ἡ: justice; lawsuit, trial; penalty, 10
02 εἰµί: to be, exist, 1389
02 ἐν: in, on, among. (+ dat.), 54
02 ἔπος, -εος, τό: a word, 9
02 ἔχω: to have, hold; be able; be disposed, 53
02 καί: and, also, even, too, 103
02 καλός, -ή, -όν: beautiful, fine, noble; well, 16
02 κατά: down along (acc), down from (gen), 10
02 κλύω: to hear, 9
02 Κρέων, -οντος, ὁ: Creon, King of Thebes, 11
02 λέγω: to say, speak, 45
02 µέν: on the one hand, 42
xvi

02 µή: not, lest, 42

02 µη-δέ: and not, but not, nor, 8
02 µόνος, -η, -ον: alone, solitary, forsaken, 16
02 νεκρός, ὁ: corpse, dead body, 15
02 νέκυς, ὁ: corpse, a dead body, 9
02 νόµος, ὁ: law, custom, 18
02 νῦν: now; as it is, 28
02 ὁ, ἡ, τό: the, 803
02 ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: this, this here, 121
02 οὔ-τε: and not, neither...nor, 36
02 οὐ, οὐκ, οὐχ: not, 60
02 οὐδ-είς, οὐδε-µία, οὐδ-έν: no one, nothing, 33
02 πρός: to, towards (acc.), near, in addition to (dat.), 14
02 σύ: you, 82
02 σύν: along with, with, together (+ gen.), 11
02 τάφος, ὁ: tomb, 15
02 τις, τι: anyone, anything, someone, something, 446
02 τίς, τί: who? which? 502
02 ὡς: as, thus, so, that; when, since, 35
03 ἄγω: to lead, to bring, to carry, to convey, 20
03 ἀλλά: but, 19
03 ἄν: modal adv., 43
03 γνώµη, ἡ: intent, purpose; opinion, resolve, 9
03 δράω: to do, do work, work, 21
03 ἐγώ: I, 119
03 ἐθέλω: to be willing, wish, desire, 13
03 εἴ-τε: either…or; whether…or, 12
03 εἰ: if, whether, 23
03 ἤ: or (either...or); than, 29
03 κάκη, ἡ: wickedness, vice, cowardice, 44
03 ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: who, which, that, 589
03 οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: this, these, 91
03 οὕτως: in this way, thus, so, 9
03 παρά: from, at, to the side of, 8
03 ποτέ: ever, at some time, once, 25
03 τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτο: such, 8
03 φύω: to bring forth, beget; am by nature, 17
04 αὐτός, -ή, -ό: -self; he, she, it; the same, 21
04 γυνή, γυναικός, ἡ: a woman, wife, 18
04 κακός, -ή, -όν: bad, base, cowardly, evil, 45
04 µήτηρ, ἡ: a mother, 10
04 µόρος, ὁ: death, doom, fate, destiny, 11
 xvii

04 οἴµοι: ah me!, woe’s me, oh, alas, 12

04 ὄλλυµι: to destroy, lose, consume, kill, 15
04 ὅσος, -η, -ον: as much as, many as, 10
04 ὅτι: that; because, 12
04 πατήρ, ὁ: a father, 22
04 τε: and, both, 31
04 φρονέω: to think, to be wise, prudent, 16
04 χρή: it is necessary or fitting; must, ought, 18
05 ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ: a man, 42
05 ἄρχω: to begin; to rule, be leader of, 8
05 γε: at least, at any rate; indeed, 32
05 δοκέω: to seem, seem best, think, imagine, 15
05 ἐκ, ἐξ: out of, from (+ gen.), 43
05 ἐκεῖνος, -η, -ον: that, those, 18
05 ἐπεί: when, after, since, because, 11
05 ἔτι: still, besides, further, 18
05 κάτω: down, below, 9
05 οὖν: and so, then; at all events, 23
05 πράσσω: to do, accomplish, make, act, 12
05 ὑπό: by, because of (gen), under (dat), 14
05 φίλος, -η, -ον: dear, beloved; friend, kin, 24
05 χρόνος, ὁ: time, 10
06 ἐπί: to, toward (acc), on near, at (dat.), 19
06 ἔργον, τό: work, labor, deed, act, 14
06 θεός, ὁ: a god, divinity, 39
06 µηδ-είς, µηδ-εµία, µηδ-έν: no one, nothing, 9
06 πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν: every, all, the whole, 38
06 πολύς, πολλά, πολύ: much, many, 22
06 τάλας, τάλαινα, τάλαν: wretched, sufferer8
07 δεινός, -ή, -όν: terrible; strange, wondrous, 14
07 ἔρχοµαι: to come or go, 24
07 φαίνω: to show; mid. appear, seem, 10
08 γῆ, ἡ: earth, 10
08 εἰς: into, to, in regard to (+ acc.), 28
08 πρίν: until, before, 9
09 αἱρέω: to seize, take; mid. choose (aor. ἑλ) 11
09 Ζεύς, ὁ: Zeus, 11
09 µέγας, µεγάλη, µέγα: big, great, important 10
09 πίπτω: to fall, fall down, drop, 9
10 ἄλλος, -η, -ο: other, one...another, 21
10 Θῆβαι, -ῶν, αἱ: Thebes (also in sg.), 9
10 ἴσος, -η, -ον: equal, fair, alike, 8
xviii

12 εὖ: well, 16
12 παῖς, παιδός, ὁ, ἡ: child, boy, girl; slave, 31
12 σέβω: to worship, revere, 8
12 ψυχή, ἡ: breath, life, spirit, soul, 8
13 πλέω: to sail, go by sea, 27
13 ὀρθός, -ή, -όν: straight, upright, right, 9
13 σώζω: to save, keep, 8
14 εἶδον: aor. of ὁράω, to see, behold, 25
14 µή-τε: and not, 9
15 ἄναξ, ὁ: a lord, master, 12
15 ἐλπίς, -ίδος, ἡ: hope, expectation, 8
15 κέρδος, -εος, τό: profit, gain, advantage, 10
15 νέος, -α, -ον: young; new, novel, strange, 10
15 πάρ-ειµι: be near, be present, be at hand, 9
16 οὐ-δέ: and not, but not, nor, not even, 21
17 ὅπως: how, in what way; (in order) that, 50
18 κάρα, τό: head, 32
18 λόγος, ὁ: word, talk, discourse; account, 12
19 λαµβάνω: to take, receive, catch, grasp, 9
20 ἄνθρωπος, ὁ: human being, human, man, 11
20 βροτός, ὁ, ἡ: a mortal, human, 9
20 δόµος, ὁ: a house, 35
20 οἷος, -α, -ον: what sort, such a kind, 8
20 φέρω: to bear, carry, bring, convey, 12
20 φρήν, φρενός, ἡ: the midriff; mind, wits, 16
21 Ἅιδης, -ου ὁ: Hades, 16
21 εἶπον: aor. said, spoke, 8
21 ἰώ: ah! oh! 9
21 µανθάνω: to learn, understand, 12
25 µέλλω: to be about to, to intend to, 8
26 ἥκω: to have come, be present, 8
27 διά: through (gen.) on account of, (acc.), 8
29 ὅταν: ὅτε ἄν, whenever, 8
33 γελάω: to laugh, exult in, 8
36 κοινόω: to make common, communicate, 10
38 τέκνον, τό: a child, 10
85 αἰαῖ: ah! (exclamation of grief) 8
xx

Abbreviations

abs. absolute impf. imperfect pl. plural

acc. accusative imper. impersonal plpf. pluperfect
act. active indic. indicative pred. predicate
adj. adjective i.o. indirect object prep. preposition
adv. adverb inf. infinitive pres. present
aor. aorist inter. interrogative pron. pronoun
app. appositive m. masculine ptf place to which
comp. comparative n. neuter pw place where
dat. dative nom. nominative reflex. reflexive
dep. deponent obj. object rel. relative
d.o. direct object opt. optative seq. sequence
f. feminine pple. participle sg. singular
fut. future pass. passive subj. subject
gen. genitive pf. perfect superl. superlative
imper. imperative pfw place from which voc. vocative

Additional Resources: Lexica and Commentaries

Sophocles: Antigone (1999) by Mark Griffith is a highly recommended commentary in the

Cambridge Greek and Latin Series (Yellow and Green volumes).

Sophocles: Antigone (Bristol Classical Press) (2004) by Richard C. Jebb remains

deservedly one of the most popular Greek commentaries on the play. Originally published as
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments (Part III The Antigone) (1888), the commentary is
available as a free .pdf document on Google Books and in html on the Perseus project at
www.Perseus.tufts.edu. The 2004 paperback edition is available through the Bristol Classical
Press.
To make the ancients speak, we must feed them with our own blood.

- von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff
Ἀντ ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου κακῶν
ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;
οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ
οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ 5
τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.
καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει
κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;
ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει
πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά; 10
Ἰσμ ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων
οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽ ἐξ ὅτου
δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,
μιᾷ θανόντοιν ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·
ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς 15

ἄ-τιµος, -ον: disenfranchised, dishonored, 2 κάρα, τό: head, 7

ἀδελφός, ὁ: a brother, 6 κήρυγµα, -ατος, τό: proclamation, notice, 3
ἀλγεινός, -ή, -όν: painful, grievous, 5 λανθάνω: escape notice of, act unnoticed 2
Ἀντιγόνη, ἡ: Antigone, 4 µῦθος, ὁ: story, word, speech, 3
Ἀργεῖος, -α, -ον: Argive, 1 νω?̂ν: we two (gen. dat. dual), 3
ἀρτίως: just, now first; exactly 5 Οἰδίπους, ὁ: Oedipus, Antigone’s father, 6
ἄτερ: without; aloof, apart from (+ gen.) 2 ὁποῖος, -α, -ον: which, of what sort or kind 4
αὐτά-δελφος, -ον: of one’s sister or brother 3 πάν-δηµος, -ον: of all the people, whole, 2
διπλοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν: double, two-fold, 5 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
δύο: two, 5 στερέω: to deprive, rob of (gen.), 3
εἰσ-ακούω: to hear; give heed to, give ear, 1 στρατηγός, ὁ: commander, general, leader, 1
ἐχθρός, -ή, -όν: hated, hostile; enemy, 7 στρατός, ὁ: army, 1
ἡδύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sweet, pleasant, glad, 3 τελέω: to end, complete, fulfill; pay, 3
ἡµέρα, ἡ: day (ἁµέρα) 5 τίθηµι: to set forth, put, place, arrange, 6
ἱκνέοµαι: to come to, attain, reach, 3 φροῦδος, -η, -ον: (clean) gone, vanished, 2
Ἰσµήνη, ἡ: Ismene, 1

1 ὦ…κάρα: neut. vocative; ὦ is exclamatory 7 τί τοῦτο…κήρυγµα: what (is) this…

κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον: kindred, of my very φασι: 3rd pl. pres. φηµί
sister; both with neuter sg. κάρα 8 θεῖναι: aor. inf. τίθηµι
2 οἶσθ(α): 2nd sg. οἶδα 9 ἔχεις: do you know...?; ‘do you have...?’
ὅ τι (ἐστὶ)…ὁποῖον: what…is it which…; κ(αὶ) εἰσήκουσας: 2nd sg. aor.
add a linking verb; Ζεύς is subject of τελεῖ λανθάνει: κακὰ is the neuter pl. subject
τῶν…κακῶν: partitive gen. with ὅ τι 11 µῦθος (ἐστί): with a objective gen. φίλων
3 νῷν: for…; dual dat. interest + pres. pple 12 ἵκετ(ο): aor. ἱκνέοµαι
4 οὐδὲν...οὔτε... οὔτε: nothing either…or… ἐξ ὅτου: from whatever (time); = οὗτινος
5 ἐσθ᾽: there is…; ἐστὶ, οὐδὲν is the subject 13 δυοῖν…: from…; dual gen. of separation
ὁποῖον: οὐδὲν is the antecedent ἐστερήθηµεν: 1st pl. aor. pass. στερέω
6 κἀµῶν: καὶ ἐµὼν, crasis 14 θανόντοιν: dual dat. aor. pple θνῄσκω
ὄπωπ(α): 1st sg. pf. ὁράω διπλῇ χερί: dat. sg. of means, χείρ
κακῶν: partitive with ὁποῖον

1
 ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,
οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.
Ἀντ ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν
τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.
Ἰσμ τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος. 20
Ἀντ οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων
τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;
Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκης
χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου κατὰ χθονὸς
ἔκρυψε τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς· 25
τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν
ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ
τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,
ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν
θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς. 30

ἄ-κλαυστος, -η, -ον: unwept, unlamented, 3 θησαυρός, ὁ: treasure-house; treasure, 1

ἄ-ταφος, -ον: unburied, 1 καλύπτω: to conceal, cover, 2
ἀ-τιµάζω: to dishonor, slight, disregard, 4 καλχαίνω: make dark and troubled, ponder 1
ἄθλιος, -η, -ον: wretched, miserable, pitiful, 3 κασίγνητος, ὁ: a kinsman; brother, 2
ἀστός, -ή, -όν: townsman, citizen, 4 κηρύσσω: to be a herald, proclaim, 5
ἀτάοµαι: to suffer greatly, be in distress, 2 κρύπτω: to hide, cover, conceal, 6
αὐλείος, -α, -ον: of the courtyard, 1 κωκύω: to shriek, wail, cry, 3
βορά, ἡ: food, meat, carrion, 3 µᾶλλον: more, rather, 4
γλυκύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sweet, pleasant, delightful, 1 νύξ, νυκτός, ἡ: a night, 1
δηλόω: to show, reveal, make clear, 4 νω?̂ν: we two (gen. dat. dual), 3
ἐάω: to permit, allow, let be, suffer, 5 οἰωνός, ὁ: large bird, bird of prey, 6
εἰσ-οράω: to look upon, view, behold, 3 οὕνεκα: for the sake of, since, because (gen) 4
ἐκ-κηρύσσω: to proclaim by herald, 2 Πολυνείκης, -εος, ὁ: Polyneices, 5
ἐκ-πέµπω: to send out, send forth, 1 προ-τίω: prefer in honor, deem worthy of, 1
ἐκτός: outside; out of, far from (+ gen.), 5 πύλη, ἡ: gate, gates, 4
ἔν-τιµος, -ον: honored, in honor, 2 ὑπέρτερος, -η, -ον: higher, further; better, 2
ἔνερθε: below, from beneath, lower, 1 χάρις, -ιτος, ἡ: favor, thanks; gratification, 6
Ἐτεοκέης, -εος, ὁ: Eteocles, 2 χθών, χθονός, ἡ: earth, ground, land, 8
εὐ-τυχέω: to be fortunate, luck, be well off 2 χρῆσις, -εως, ἡ: use, practice, 1

16 τῇ νῦν: recent; attributive position 25 τοῖς νεκροῖς: among…; dat. compound adj.
οἶδ(α): 1st sg. pf. with present sense 26 θανόντα: acc. sg. aor. pple θνῄσκω
18 ᾔδη: 1st sg. plpf. οἶδα; simple past in sense 27 φασιν: they say that...; people, 3rd pl. φηµί
20 δηλοῖς: i.e. you are clearly, + pres. pple ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι: pf. pass. inf., ind. disc.
21 οὐ γὰρ: (Yes,) for has…not? τὸ µὴ...καλύψαι...ἐᾶν δ(ὲ): that one not...
τάφου: gen. obj. (of…) and separation nor...but…; articular infinitives, aor. and
(from…) respectively with both aor. pples pres., as subj. of ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι; τὸν νέκυν
τὼ κασιγνήτω…τὸν µὲν…τὸν δ(ὲ): two is the object, τινα is acc. subject; inf. ἐάω
brothers…the one…the other; dual acc. 29 οἰωνοῖς…εἰσορῶσι: dat. interest, dat. pple
22 προτίσας (ἔχει)…ἀτιµάσας (ἔχει): ἔχω + 30 πρὸς χάριν: for the sake of…; ‘in regard
aor. pple (nom. sg.) is here periphrastic pf. to a favor for’; χάριν is elsewhere a
24 κατὰ: below… preposition governing a preceding gen.

2
 τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ
κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,
καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν
σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν
οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ, 35
φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.
οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα
εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.
Ἰσμ τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ
λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ 'φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον; 40
Ἀντ εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει σκόπει.
Ἰσμ ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;
Ἀντ εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.
Ἰσμ ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;
Ἀντ τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς 45

ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν: good, brave, capable, 3 νέοµαι: to come, go; return, come back, 1
ἁµός, -ά, -όν: our, ours, (ἡµός) 1 νοέω: to think, have in mind, suppose, 3
ἀπόρρητος ον: forbidden, not to be spoken 1 πλέων, -οντος: more, greater, 7
γοῦν: certainly; at any rate, any way, 4 ποῖος, -α, -ον: what sort of? what kind of? 6
δείκνυµι: to point out, display, show, 4 ποῦ: where? 2
δεῦρο: here, to this point, hither, 4 πρᾶγµα, -µατος, τό: action, deed, matter 6
δηµό-λευστος, -α, -ον: publicly stoned, 1 πρό-κειµαι: to lie exposed, be set before, 4
ἐάν: εἰ ἄν, if (+ subj.), 2 πρό-κηρύσσω: to proclaim by herald, 2
ἐσθλός, -ή, -όν: good, noble, brave, 4 προσ-τίθηµι: to add, attribute, impose, give 2
εὐ-γενής, -ές: well-born, noble-born, 2 σαφής, -ές: reliable, definite, clear, distinct, 2
ἐφ-άπτω: to tighten, cling on; lay hold of, 1 σκοπέω: to examine, consider, behold, 3
ἦ: in truth, truly (begins open question), 6 συµ-πονέω: to work together, work with, 1
θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7 συν-εργάζοµαι: accomplish together 1
κηρύσσω: to be a herald, proclaim, 5 σφεῖς: they; as sg. him, her, it, 5
κινδύνευµα, -ατος τό: risk, danger; venture 1 ταλαί-φρων, ὁ ἡ: much-enduring, wretched3
κουφίζω (fut. κουφιέω): lift, raise; lighten, 1 τάχα: soon, presently; quickly, forthwith, 3
λύω: to release, loosen, abolish, dissolve, 2 φόνος, ὁ: murder, homicide, slaughter, 2

31 φασιν: they say that...; 3rd pl. φηµί (τουτῷ) ὃς ἂν…δρᾷ: (for this one)
σοὶ κα(ὶ ἐ)µοί: for…; dat. of interest whoever...; general relative, ἄν + pres. subj.
32 λέγω γὰρ κα(ὶ) ἐµέ: (yes) for I say for me 36 προκεῖσθαι: that…be set for; φόνον subj.
also; original ἐµοί attracted into the acc. 37 οὕτως ἔχει: are so; ‘are disposed this way’
κηρύξαντ(α) ἔχειν…νεῖσθαι: periphrastic 38 πέφυκας: you are born; 2nd sg. φύω
pf. and pres. infs.; Κρέοντα is acc. subject ἐσθλῶν: from…; gen. of source
33 τοῖσι…εἰδόσιν: to those…; dat. pl. pple 39 τί…προσθείµην: what more would I add?;
οἶδα; ind. object of προκηρύξοντα 1st sg aor. potential opt. without ἄν
34 σαφῆ: σαφέ-α, neut. pl. modifies ταῦτα 40 λύουσα ἤ ἐφάπτουσα: add ‘knot,’ as obj.
προκηρύξοντα: intending to…; fut. pple. 41 σκόπει: σκόπε-ε, sg. imper. ε-contract verb
καὶ…ἄγειν: and that he conducts…; 42 γνώµης: partitive gen.; εἶ is 2nd sg. εἰµί
35 ὡς παρ(ὰ) ουδέν: not as if of no account; 44 ἦ γὰρ: truly in fact…?; expresses surprise
‘as if equivalent to nothing,’ qualifying σφ(ε): him; acc. σφεῖς translated as singular
πράγµα; ὡς indicates Creon’s intent 45 ἢν…(ἐ)θέλῃς: if…; possible ‘even if,’ ἐάν

3
 ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.
Ἰσμ ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;
Ἀντ ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.
Ἰσμ οἴμοι. φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ
ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο, 50
πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς
ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί.
ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,
πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·
τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν 55
αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον
κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.
νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει
ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ
ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν. 60

ἀδελφός, ὁ: a brother, 6 ἔπ-ειτα: then, next, secondly, 5

ἁλίσκοµαι: to be taken, be caught, 2 ἔργω (εἴργω): shut up, shut in or out, bar, 1
ἀµπλάκηµα, -ατος τό: error, fault, offense, 1 ἡµέρα, ἡ: day (ἁµέρα) 5
ἀντι-λέγω: to speak against, deny, dispute, 1 κασιγνήτη, ἡ: sister, 2
ἀπ-εχθής, -ές: hated, hateful, 1 κατ-εργάζοµαι: to accomplish, achieve, 1
ἀπ-όλλυµι: to destroy, kill, ruin; mid. die 2 κράτος, -εος, τό: strength, power, 6
ἀράσσω: to strike, dash, beat, 2 λείπω: to leave, forsake, abandon, 5
ἀρτάνη, ἡ: a rope, noose, 1 λωβάοµαι: to mutilate, maltreat, outrage, 1
αυτο-κτονέω: to kill one another, 1 µετά: with (+gen.); after (+ acc.), 5
αὐτό-φωρος, -ον: caught in the act, self- νῷν: we two (gen. dat. dual), 3
detected, 1 ὄψις, -εως, ἡ: sight, vision; eyes, 1
αὐτουργός, -ον: self-working, of a farmer, 1 παρ-εξ-έρχοµαι: to pass by, transgress, 1
βία, βιας, ἡ: violence, force, power, 3 πλεκτός, -ή, -όν: braided, twisted, 1
βίος, ὁ: life, 6 προ-δίδωµι: to betray, deliver; give before, 3
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 σκοπέω: to examine, consider, behold, 3
διπλοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν: double, two-fold, 5 σχέτλιος, -η, -ον: unflinching, headstrong, 1
δύο: two, 5 ταλαί-πωρος, -ον: suffering, wretched, 1
δυσ-κλεής, -ές: imfamous, inglorious, 1 τρίτος, -η, -ον: the third; adv. τρίτον 1
ἐν-νοέω: to have in mind, notice, consider, 1 τύραννος, ὁ: sovereign, tyrant, 5
ἐπ-άλληλος, -η, -ον: one after another, 1 ψῆφος, ἡ: pebble; a vote; a resolution, 2

46 οὐ γὰρ δὴ: for…certainly not ἀπώλετο: died; aor. mid. ἀπόλλυµι

προδοῦσ(α): nom. aor pple. προδίδωµι 52 ἀράξας: nom. sg. aor. pple. ἀράσσω
ἁλώσοµαι: fut. ἁλίσκοµαι 54 πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι: with…; dat. means
47 Κρέοντος ἀνειρηκότος: although…; gen. 55 ἀδελφὼ…: dual, just as the pples below
absolute, concessive in force; pf ἀντιλέγω µίαν καθ᾽ ἡµέραν: over…; distributive use
48 οὐδὲν: not at all; adv. acc. (inner acc.) 57 ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν: dual dat. of means
αὐτῷ…µέτα: there is a share for him; = 58 λελειµµένα: dual pf. pass with νὼ ‘us two’
µέτ-εστι, impersonal + dat. interest σκόπει: σκόπε-ε, sg. imper. ε-contract verb
τῶν ἐµῶν: from… ; gen. of separation 59 ὅσῳ κάκιστα: by how much the worst; dat.
49 φρόνησον: aor. sg. imperative degree of difference; adverb; fut. ὄλλυµι
50 ὡς…: how…; ὡς modifies both adjectives παρέξιµεν: fut., a fut. more vivid condition

4
 ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι
ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα.
ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,
καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.
ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς 65
ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,
τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ
περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.
Ἀντ οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι
πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα. 70
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ
θάψω· καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.
φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,
ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽. ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος
ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε. 75

αἰτέω: to ask, ask for, beg, 3 κρείσσων, -ον: stronger, mighter, 2

ἀκούω: to hear, listen to, 6 µάχοµαι: to fight, contend, quarrel, dispute, 1
ἀλγίων, -ον: more painful or grievous, 1 µετά: with (+gen.); after (+ acc.), 5
ἀρέσκω: to be pleasing to, satisfy (dat.), 4 νοῦς, ὁ: mind, thought, reason, attention, 5
βαίνω: to walk, step, go, 6 ὁποῖος, -α, -ον: which, of what sort or kind 4
βιάζω: do violence to, force, compel, 3 ὅσιος, -η, -ον: pious, holy, hallowed, 2
δεῖ: it is necessary, must, ought (+ inf.), 5 οὕνεκα: for the sake of, since, because (gen) 4
θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7 παν-ουργέω: commit a crime, act a villain 1
ἐν-νοέω: to have in mind, notice, consider, 1 πείθω: to persuade, trust; mid. obey, 2
ἐνθάδε: here, hither, there, thither, 3 περισσός, -ή, -όν: needless, excessive, 2
ἔπ-ειτα: then, next, secondly, 5 πλέων, -οντος: more, greater, 7
ἡδέως: sweetly, pleasantly, gladly, 2 ποιέω: to do, make, create, compose, 6
ἴσχω: to have, hold back, check, restrain, 4 σύγ-γνοια: forgiveness; acknowledgment, 1
κεῖµαι: to lie, lie down, 6 τέλος, -εος, τό: end, result; office; tribute 6
κελεύω: to bid, order, command, exhort, 2

61 τοῦτο µὲν…ἔπειτα δ᾽: on the one hand… 66 ὡς βιάζοµαι: since…; passive

‘in this on the one hand,’ acc. of respect τάδε: acc. of respect
γυναῖ(κε): dual nom. pred. of aor. φύω 67 τοῖς…βεβῶσι: dat. pl. pf. pple βαίνω
62 ὡς…µαχουµένα: on the grounds that they ἐν τέλει: in office; i.e. in political office
do not fight…; ‘since,’ ὡς + pple indicates πείσοµαι: fut. πείθω
alleged cause; pple is nom. pres. mid. dual 68 οὐκ...νοῦν οὐδένα: makes not any sense
πρὸς: against… 69 ἂν κελευσαιµι: I would…; potential opt.
63 οὕνεκα: that; ‘the fact that,’ parallel to ὅτι (ἐ)θέλοις…δρῴης: should...would; fut. less
ἀρχόµεσθ(α): 1st pl. dual (often identical to vivid; pres. optatives ἐθέλω, δράω
1st pl.) pass.; -µεσθα is equiv. to Attic µεθα 70 ἐµοῦ γ᾽…µέτα: with me; emphatic γε
ἐκ κρεισσόνων: by…; gen. of agent 71 ἴσθ(ι): be…; imperative, εἰµί
64 ἀκούειν: so as to heed; ‘obey’ inf. of result 72 καλόν (ἐστί): it is noble...; inf. θνῄσκω
κἄτι: καὶ ἔτι; crasis 74 ὅσια: pious acts; acc. pl. obj. of aor. pple
τῶνδε: than…; gen. of comparison πλείων χρόνος (ἐστί): add a linking verb
65 ἐγὼ µὲν οὖν: and so I on the one hand 75 ὅν : during which (time); acc. duration
τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς: that those…; acc. subject τῶν ἐνθάδε: than those here; comparison

5
 ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,
τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.
Ἰσμ ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ
βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.
Ἀντ σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον 80
χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.
Ἰσμ οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.
Ἀντ μὴ 'μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.
Ἰσμ ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ
τοὔργον, κρυφῇ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ. 85
Ἀντ οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει
σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.
Ἰσμ θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.
Ἀντ ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.
Ἰσμ εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς. 90

ἀ-µήχανος, -ον: without means; impossible 5 κατ-αυδάω: to speak out, speak plainly, 1
ἀ-τιµάζω: to dishonor, slight, disregard, 4 κεῖµαι: to lie, lie down, 6
ἄ-τιµος, -ον: dishonored, disenfranchised, 2 κεύθω: to cover up, enclose; hide, conceal, 2
ἀδελφός, ὁ: a brother, 6 κηρύσσω: to be a herald, proclaim, 5
ἀιεί: always, forever, in every case, 6 κρυφῇ: in secret, secretly, 3
ἁνδάνω: to please, delight, gratify (dat), 2 µάλιστα: most of all; certainly, especially, 3
ἀρέσκω: to please, satisfy, (dat.), 4 ποιέω: to do, make, create, compose, 6
αὕτως: in the same manner, just, as it is, 1 πολίτης, ὁ: dweller of a city, citizen, 3
βία, βιας, ἡ: violence, force, power, 3 πορεύοµαι: to travel, traverse; enter, 2
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 πότµος, ὀ: fate, lot, death, evil destiny, 5
δύναµαι: to be able, can, be capable, 4 προ-έχω: put forth (as pretext); excel in, 2
ἐάν: εἰ ἄν, if (+ subj.), 4 πρό-µηνύω: to denounce beforehand, 1
ἐκεῖ: there, in that place, 3 προ-ταρβέω: to be fearful for (gen), 1
ἔν-τιµος, -ον: honored, in honor, 2 σιγάω: to be silent, be still, hush, 1
ἐξ-ορθόω: to set upright; straighten out, 1 ὑπερ-δείδω: to fear exceedingly for (gen), 1
ἐράω: to love, to be in love with (gen), 3 φίλτατος, -η, -ον: dearest, most beloved, 2
ἐχθίων, -ον: more hated or hateful, 1 χόω: to heap up, throw up, 2
θερµός, -ή, -όν: hot, warm; subst. heat, 2 ψυχρός, -ά, -όν: cold, chill, frigid, 2
καρδία, ἡ: the heart, 4

77 τῶν θεῶν: i.e. by the gods; subjective gen. ὑπερδέδοικα: I am afraid; pf.
ἀτιµἀσασ(α) ἔχε: keep dishonoring…! 83 µὴ προτάρβει: προτάρβε-ε, sg. imper.
78 ἄτιµα ποιοῦµαι: I consider (them) ἐξόρθου: also imperative, ἐξόρθο-ε
dishonored; i.e. the τὰ ἔντιµα 84 ἀλλ᾽ οὖν…γε: well, at any rate at least…
τὸ…δρᾶν: in respect to acting; ‘as for…’ προµηνύσῃς: you should not…to anyone;
this articular inf. is an acc. of respect prohibitive subjunctive (µή + aor. subj.)
79 βίᾳ πολιτῶν: with violence against the 85 συν δ(ὲ κεύσω): with (you I will conceal it)
citizens…; dat. of manner, objective gen. 86 ἔσει,…ἐὰν…κηρύξῃς: future more vivid (ἐι
ἔφυν: I am by nature; 1st sg. aor. φύω ἄν + aor. subj., 2nd sg. fut. dep. εἰµί)
80 ἂν προὔχοι(σο): you could put forth…(as 88 ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι: for cold (deeds)
a pretext); 2nd sg. mid. pres. potential opt. 89 οἷς…ἁδεῖν: (those) whom; aor inf ἁνδάνω
82 ὡς: how…! 90 εἰ..: yes, if you also have the power at least

6
Ἀντ οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.
Ἰσμ ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.
Ἀντ εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,
ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.
ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν 95
παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ
τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.
Ἰσμ ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι
ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.
Χορ ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ- 100 στρ. α
-λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν
Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος,
ἐφάνθης ποτ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας
ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί-
ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα, 105

ἀ-µήχανος, -ον: without means; impossible 5 θηράω: to hunt or chase, pursue, 2

ἄ-νοῦς, -οῦν: senseless, silly, foolish, 3 ὀρθός, -ή, -όν: straight, upright, right, 9
ἀέλιος,, ὁ: the sun, (elsewhere, ἥλιος) 2 ὅταν: ὅτε ἄν, whenever, 8
ἀκτίς, ἡ: ray, beam, 1 οὐκοῦν: well then, therefore, accordingly, 2
ἀρχή, ἡ: a beginning; rule, office, 4 πάσχω: to suffer, experience, 7
βλέφαρον, τό: pl. eyelids, 3 παύω: to stop, make cease, 5
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 πρέπει: impers. it is fitting, it is suitable 1
Διρκαῖος, -α, -ον: of Dirce, Dircean, 1 πρόσ-κειµαι: lie out or exposed, be set out, 3
δυσ-βουλία, ἡ: ill counsel, poor advice, 2 πρότερος, -α, -ον: before, in front; earlier, 1
ἐάω: to permit, allow, let be, suffer, 5 ῥεῖθρον, τό: river, stream (ῥεέθρον) 3
ἔµολον: go, come (aor. of βλώσκω,) 5 σθένω: to be strong, have strength, 3
ἑπτά-πυλος, -ον: seven-gated, 2 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
ἐχθαίρω: to hate, detest, despise, 1 τοσοῦτος, -αύτη, -ο: so great, much, many 4
ἐχθρός, -ή, -όν: hated, hostile; enemy, 7 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
ἡµέρα, ἡ: day (ἁµέρα) 5 φάος, τό: light, daylight, 3
θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7 χρύσεος, -η, -ον: golden, of gold, 2
Θῆβαι, -ῶν, αἱ: Thebes (also in sg.), 9 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7

91 ὅταν δὲ: at that very moment when…; τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο: this terrible thing
‘exactly when,’ general temporal clause πείσοµαι: fut. πάσχω
(ἄν + subj.); 1st sg. pres. µὴ οὐ: instead of just µή after negative verb
πεπαύσοµαι: I will cease immediately; ‘I 98 τοῦτο….ὅτι: …this (namely) that…
will have ceased,’ fut. pf. ἴσθ(ι): imperative οἶδα
92 (τὴν) ἀρχὴν: to begin with; acc. of respect 99 ἔρχε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. pres. mid. ἔρχοµαι
θηρᾶν…τὰ ἀµήχανα: inf. θηράω 100 ἀκτὶς: vocative, direct address
93 λέξεις: λέγω; emotional future more vivid τὸ κάλλιστον…φάος: an appositive
ἐχθαρε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. fut. pass. ἐχθαίρω 101 ἑπταπύλῳ Θήβᾳ: to…; dat. ind. object
94 προσκείσε(σ)αι: you will be exposed; 2nd φανὲν: having appeared; aor. pass. pple
sg. fut.; ἐχθρά is predicative: ‘as an enemy’ 102 προτέρων: partitive + superlative καλός
δίκῃ: justly; ‘with justice,’ dat. of manner 103 ἐφάνθης: 2nd sg. aor. pass. dep., φαίνω
95 ἔα µε καὶ τὴν...: ἔα-ε, sg. imperative, ἐάω χρυσέας ἁµέρας: gen. sg., in Attic, ἡµέρας
96 παθεῖν: aor. inf. πάσχω 105 µολοῦσα: aor. pple ἔµολον with ἀκτίς

7
 τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν ἐκ-
βάντα φῶτα πανσαγίᾳ
φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ
κινήσασα χαλινῷ·
ὃς ἐφ᾽ ἡμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκους 110
ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων
ὀξέα κλάζων
ἀετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα,
λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός,
πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων 115
ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν.
στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ- ἀντ. α
σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα
ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων 120

ἀετος, ὁ: eagle, (αἰετος) 2 λόγχη, ἡ: spear(head), javelin(head), 2

αἴρω: to take up, lift, raise up, get up, 3 µέλαθρον, τό: roof-beam; roof, house, 1
ἁµέτερος, -α, -ον: our, ours (ἡµέτερος 1) 2 µετά: with (+gen.); after (+ acc.), 5
ἀµφί-λογος, -ον: disputatious; disputed, 1 νεῖκος, -εος τό: quarrel, strife, taunt, abuse; 2
ἀµφι-χάσχω: to gape around, surround, 1 ὀξύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sharp, piercing, fierce, 4
Ἀργό-θεν: from Argos, 1 ὅπλον, τό: arms; implement, tool, 1
βαίνω: to walk, step, go, 6 παν-σαγία, ἡ: in full armor, 1
εἰς: into, to, in regard to (+ acc.), 28 Πολυνείκης, -εος, ὁ: Polyneices, 5
ἐκ-βαίνω: step out, come from; turn out 1 πρό-δροµος, ον: headlong, running forth, 1
ἑπτά-πυλος, -ον: seven-gated, 2 πτέρυξ, -υγος, ὁ: wing; bird, 1
ἡµέτερος, -α, -ον: our, ours (ἁµέτερος 2) 1 στεγανός, -ή, -όν: covered, sheathed, 1
ἱππό-κοµος, -ον: decked with horse-hair, 2 στόµα, -ατος, τό: the mouth; entrance, 3
ἵστηµι: to make stand, set up, stop, establish 6 ὑπερ-πέτοµαι (aor. ἔπτην): fly over or past, 1
κινέω: set in motion, move; rouse, irritate, 3 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
κλάζω: to scream, 2 φονάω: be thirsty for blood, be murderous, 1
κόρυς, -υθος, ἡ: helmet, 2 φυγάς, -άδος, ὁ, ἡ: fugitive, banished man, 2
κύκλος, ὁ: circle, ring; eyesocket 4 φώς, φωτός, ὁ: man, 2
λεύκ-ασπις, -ιδος, ὁ, ἡ: white-shielded, 1 χαλινός, ὁ: a bridle, bit, 2
λευκός, -ή, -όν: white, bright, brilliant, 3 χιών, χιόνος, ἡ: snow, 2

106 τὸν...φῶτα: acc. obj. of κινήσασα nom. sg. aor. pass. deponent pple, αἴρω
ἐκβάντα: acc. sg. aor. pple ἐκβαίνω ἐξ: because of…
107 πανσαγίᾳ: dat. of manner 112 ὀξέα: sharply; ‘sharp cries,’ inner acc.
108 φυγάδα: as a exile; predicative acc. 113 ἀετὸς...ὣς: just as an eagle…; simile
ὀξυτέρῳ...χαλινῷ: dat. of means; ὑπερέπτα: 3rd sg. aor. ὑπερ-πέτοµαι
comparative degree of ὀξύς 114 λευκῆς χιόνος: gen. of quality
109 κινήσασα: aor. pple modifies ἀκτὶς (100) 103 ξύν: σύν
πρόδροµον: i.e. in retreat 117 στὰς: nom. sg. aor. pple ἵστηµι
110 ὃς: he; ‘this one,’ demonstrative pronoun φονώσαισιν...λόγχαις: dat. pl. of means
ἐφ᾽: against… 118 κύκλῳ: in a circle; dat. of manner
Πολυνείκους: subject. gen. with νεικέων 120 ἔβα πρίν: he left before…; 3rd sg. aor.
111 ἀρθεὶς: having taken up; i.e. attacked βαίνω (Attic ἔβη)

8
Χορ 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, καὶ 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 στρ. β
πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ 135

αἷµα, -ατος τό: blood, 3 ὁρµή, ἡ: assault, attack; push, onset, 1

ἄκρος, -η, -ον: topmost, excellent, 5 παλτός, -ή, -όν: brandished, hurled, 1
ἀλαλάζω: to cry out, shout ἀλαλαί, 1 πάταγος, ὁ: clatter, chatter, rattling, 1
ἀµφί: around, about, on both sides (dat, acc) 5 πευκάεις, -εσσα, -εν: of pine, 1
ἀντίπαλος ον: rival, one wrestling against, 1 πίµπληµι: to fill, fill full of (gen.) 2
ἀντί-τυπος, η, ον: resistent, rigid, repellent 1 προσ-νίσσοµαι: to come to, approach, 1
Ἄρης, -εος, ὁ: Ares, god of bloody war, 4 πυρ-φόρος, ον: fire-bearing, torch-bearing, 1
βαλβίς, ῖδος, ἡ: goal; finishing-point (rope) 1 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
γένυς, -υος, ἡ: the under jaw, jaw, 1 πύργος, ὁ: tower, turreted wall, 2
γλῶσσα, ἡ: tongue, 6 ῥεῦµα, -ατος, τό: flow, stream, current, 1
δράκων, δράκοντος, ὁ: dragon, serpent, 2 ῥιπτέω: to throw, cast, hurl, 1
δυσ-χείρωµα, τό: a thing hard to subdue, 1 στεφάνωµα, -ατος, τό: crown, 1
εἰσ-οράω: to look upon, view, behold, 3 σφεῖς: they; as sg. him, her, it, 5
ἤδη: already, now, at this time, 4 τανταλόοµαι: to be balanced or swung, 1
Ἥφαιστος, ὁ: Hephaestus; fire 2 τείνω: to stretch, extend, spread, direct, 4
καναχή, ἡ: clang, ring, sharp sound, 1 τοῖος, -α, -ον: such, of such kind, such sort, 1
κόµπος, ὁ: crash, noise, din, 1 τότε: at that time, then, 6
µαίνοµαι: to mad, rage, be furious, 4 ὑπερ-εχθαίρω: to hate exceedingly, 1
νίκη, ἡ: victory in battle, 1 ὑπερ-οπλία, ἡ: arrogance/insolence in arms 1
νῶτον, τό: back (of the body), 1 χρυσός, ὁ: gold, 2
ὁρµάω: to set out, begin; set in motion, 3

121 ἁµετέρων αἱµατων: partitive gen. object dragon; ‘for one wrestling...’ dat. interest
of πλησθῆναι; Attic ἡµετέρων 128 ἐσιδὼν: nom. sg. aor. pple εἰσοράω
γένυσιν: in his...; dat. means or place where 129 πολλῷ ῥεύµατι: in…; dat manner
πλησθῆναι: he was filled of; πρὶν governs 130 ὑπεροπλίαις: with…; dat. of manner
an inf., here aor. pass. inf. πίµπληµι 131 ῥιπτεῖ...ὁρµῶντα: strikes the one setting
122 τε καὶ...ἑλεῖν: joins infs., aor. inf. αἱρέω out upon the highest goals; i.e. the walls
123 πευκάεντ(α) Ἥφαιστον: fire of pine- 133 νίκην.: to cry ‘victory’; inner acc., aor inf
(torches); acc. subj.; ‘fire’ by metonymy 134 πέσε τανταλωθεὶς: being swung, he fell;
124 τοῖος...πάταγος Ἄρεος: such a clatter of aor. πίπτω; nom. sg. aor pass. pple
battle; ‘battle’ or ‘war’ by metonomy 135 ὅρµᾷ.: dat. sg., Attic ὅρµῃ
125 ἀντιπάλῳ...δράκοντος: for the rival of a
9
 βακχεύων ἐπέπνει
ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων.
εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν,
ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἐπενώ-
μα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄ-
ρης 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 ἀντ. β
τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,
ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων 150

ἄµφω: both (dual), 2 λοχαγός, ὁ: leader of armed band, captain, 1

ἄνεµος, ὁ: wind, 2 µεγαλ-ώνυµος, -ον: great-named, 1
ἀντι-χαίρω: to rejoice in response to (dat), 1 µέρος, -έος, τό: a part, share, portion, 3
Ἄρης, -εος, ὁ: Ares, god of bloody war, 4 Νίκη, ἡ: Victory, Nike, 1
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 πάγ-χαλκος, -ον: all-bronze (arms, armor), 1
βακχεύω: to rage, be in a frenzy, 1 πλήν: except, but (+ gen.), 3
δεξιό-σειρος, -η, -ον: spirited, impetuous, 1 πόλεµος, ὁ: battle, fight, war, 1
δι-κρατής, -ές: double-slaying, -powerful, 1 πολυ-άρµατος, -ον: with many chariots, 1
ἐπι-νωµάω: to distribute, dispense, 1 πύλη, ἡ: gate, gates, 4
ἐπι-πνέω: to blow upon; breathe over, 1 ῥιπή, ἡ: force, rush, impulse, 2
ἑπτά: seven, 2 στυγερός, -ή, -όν: wretched; hateful, hated 1
ἔχθιστος, -η, -ον: most hated, hostile, 1 στυφελίζω: smite, strike hard, drive away, 1
θάνατος, ὁ: death, 2 τάσσω: to arrange, put in order, 2
ἵστηµι: to make stand, set up, stop, establish 6 τέλος, -εος, τό: end, result; office; tribute 6
λείπω: to leave, forsake, abandon, 5 τροπαῖος, -α, -ον: turning the battle, 1
λόγχη, ἡ: spear(head), javelin(head), 2

136 ῥιπαῖς: dat. of means seven against seven gates

137 εἴχε δ᾽ἄλλᾳ τὰ µὲν: but things went 143 ἔλιπον: aor. λείπω
otherwise; ‘in another (way),’ impf. ἔχω, Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ: for…; dat. interest, Zeus
dat. of manner τέλη: tributes; i.e. offerings, acc. τέλε-α
139 ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις: some things upon 144 τοῖν στυγεροῖν: dual genitive
some, other things upon others; the juxta- ὣ: who…; dual. nom. relative pronoun
position of ἄλλος is distributive in force 145 φύντε: being born; dual nom. φύω
ἐπενώµα: ἐπ-ενώµα-ε, 3rd sg. impf. καθ᾽αὑτοῖν: against one another; κατ(ὰ)
140 δεξιόσειρος: according to Jebb, this word ἑαυτοῖν ; dual gen.
refers to the spirited right-hand horse which 146 στήσαντ(ε): having set; dual aor. ἵστηµι
drives on the entire team of chariot-horses ἔχετον: dual governs the acc. that follows
142 ταχθέντες: aor. pass. pple, τάσσω 148 ἀλλὰ γάρ: but because…
ἐφ᾽: on… 149 ἀντιχαρεῖσα: nom. aor. deponent pple
ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους: equal against equal; i.e. 150 ἐκ..νῦν: from the recent wars; i.e. ‘after’

10
 τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν,
θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς
παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλ-
θωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελί-
χθων 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;
Κρέ ἄνδρες, τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος ἀσφαλῶς θεοὶ
πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ὤρθωσαν πάλιν.
ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ πομποῖσιν ἐκ πάντων δίχα
ἔστειλ᾽ ἱκέσθαι τοῦτο μὲν τὰ Λαΐου 165

ἀ-σφαλής, -ές: not liable to fall, safe, secure 2 νεαρός, -α, -ον: young, youthful, 1
ἄρχων, -οντος, ὁ: ruler, commander, chief, 1 νεοχµός, -όν: new, 1
Βάκχιος, ὁ: Bacchus, Dionysus, 1 ὀρθόω: to set straight, set upright, 4
βασιλεύς, ὁ: a king, chief, 3 πάλιν: again, once more; back, backwards, 2
γέρων, -όντος, ὁ: old man, 2 παν-νύχιος, -ον: all night long or through, 1
δίχα: in two, apart, asunder, 1 πέµπω: to send, conduct, convey, dispatch, 2
ἐλελίχθων, -ον: earth-shaking, 1 ποµπός, ὁ: escort, guide, messenger, 1
ἐπ-έρχοµαι: come to, approach, assault, 2 προ-τίθηµι: to propose, set forth, 4
ἐρέσσω: to put into motion, row, ply, 1 σάλος, ὁ: tossing, rolling; swell (of waves), 1
ἱκνέοµαι: to come to, attain, reach, 3 σείω: shake, move back and forth, agitate, 4
κήρυγµα, -ατος τό: proclamation, mandate 3 στέλλω: to send, set forth; arrange, 1
Λάϊος, ὁ: Laius, 1 σύγ-κλητος όν: called together, summoned 1
λέσχη, ἡ: council council-hall,; lounge, 1 συν-τυχία, ἡ: circumstance; incident, event, 1
λησµοσύνη, ἡ: forgetfulness, 1 τίθηµι: to set, put, place, arrange, 6
Μενοικεύς, -έως, ὁ: Menoeceus, 3 χορός, ὁ: a dance, chorus, 1
µῆτις, ἡ: counsel, plan, cunning, skill, 1 χωρέω: to go, come; have room for, 4
ναός, τό: temple, shrine, 2 χώρα, ἡ: land, region, area, place, 2

151 θέσθαι: let us make (for ourselves); 158 τίνα δὴ µῆτιν: exactly what counsel…
inf. as imperative, aor. mid. τίθηµι 159 ὅτι...προὔθετο: (namely) that…; aor.
153 ἐπέλθωµεν: let us…; hortatory aor. subj. mid. προτίθηµι, in apposition to µῆτιν
Θήβας: (land) of Thebes; objective gen. 161 κοινῷ κηρύγµατι: with a common
object of pple ἐλελίχθων mandate; dat. of means
154 ἄρχοι: may…lead!; i.e the dance, πέµψας: nom. sg. aor. pple. πέµπτω
optative of wish 162 ἄνδρες: vocative, direct address
155 ὃδε...δὴ: right here; ‘exactly this one,’ as τὰ µὲν...πόλεος: the affairs fo the city
if the chrous points as Creon approaches δὴ: now; temporal
χώρας: gen. sg. 163 ὤρθωσαν: 3rd pl. aor. ὀρθόω
156 ὁ Μενοικέως: the (son) of Menoecus 164 ἐκ πάντων δίχα: apart from all others
157 νεαραῖσι...ἐπὶ συντυχίαις: in new 165 τοῦτο µὲν: as for this on the one hand
circumstances ‘in respect to this….’ acc. of respect

11
 σέβοντας εἰδὼς εὖ θρόνων ἀεὶ κράτη,
τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις, ἡνίκ᾽ Οἰδίπους ὤρθου πόλιν,
κἀπεὶ διώλετ᾽, ἀμφὶ τοὺς κείνων ἔτι
παῖδας μένοντας ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν.
ὅτ᾽ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς διπλῆς μοίρας μίαν 170
καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὤλοντο παίσαντές τε καὶ
πληγέντες αὐτόχειρι σὺν μιάσματι,
ἐγὼ κράτη δὴ πάντα καὶ θρόνους ἔχω
γένους κατ᾽ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλωλότων.
ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν 175
ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν
ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.
ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις πᾶσαν εὐθύνων πόλιν
μὴ τῶν ἀρίστων ἅπτεται βουλευμάτων
ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ φόβου του γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει 180

ἀ-µήχανος, -ον: without means; impossible 5 ἐν-τριβής, -ές: versed in, well-worn in, 1
ἀγχιστεία, τά: kinship; right of kinship, 1 εὐθύνω: to steer straight, straighten, 2
ἀεί: always, forever, in every case, 6 ἡµέρα, ἡ: day (ἁµέρα) 5
ἀµφί: around, about, on both sides (dat, acc) 5 ἡνίκα: at which time, when, since, 1
ἅπτω: to fasten, join; mid. touch, grasp, 1 θρόνος, ὁ: chair, seat, 4
ἄριστος, -η, -ον: best, most excellent, 3 κράτος, -εος, τό: strength, power, 6
ἀρχή, ἡ: a beginning; rule, office, 4 µένω: to stay, remain, 4
αὖθις: back again, later, 5 µίασµα, -ατος, τό: pollution, defilement, 3
αὐτό-χειρ, -ος, ὁ, ἡ: with one’s own hand, 5 µοῖρα, ἡ: lot, fate, share; portion, 2
βούλευµα, -ατος, τό: purpose, plan, design 2 Οἰδίπους, ὁ: Oedipus, Antigone’s father, 6
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, tribe, stock, race, 7 ὀρθόω: to set straight, set upright, 4
γλῶσσα, ἡ: tongue, 6 ὅτε: when, at some time, 2
δι-όλλυµι: to destroy utterly, kill; mid. die 2 παίω: to strike, beat, dash, smite, 4
διπλοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν: double, two-fold, 5 πλήσσω: to strike, beat, 2
ἐγ-κλείω: to shut in, enclose, 2 φόβος, ὁ: fear, terror, panic, 4
ἐκ-µανθάνω: to learn well or thoroughly, 1 φρόνηµα, τό: thought, purpose, resolve, 6
ἔµ-πεδος, -ον: steadfast, (standing) firm, 1

166 σέβοντας: modifies ὑµᾶς above 171 µίαν καθ᾽ ἡµέραν: over a single day
εἰδὼς: nom. sg. pf. pple οἶδα ὤλοντο: aor. mid. ὄλλυµι
κράτη: κράτε-α, neuter acc. pl. 172 πληγέντες: aor. pass. pple πλήσσω
167 τοῦτο αὖθις: again as for this; i.e. ‘on 173 κράτη: κράτε-α, neuter acc. pl.
the other hand’ acc. respect, a reply to 165 δὴ: now; temporal
ὤρθου: ὤρθο-ε; 3rd sg. impf. ὀρθόω 174 ὀλωλότων: pf. act. pple ὄλλυµι
168 κἀπεὶ: καὶ ἐπεὶ 175 ἀµήχανον (ἐστί): (it is) impossible
διώλετ(ο): aor. mid. διόλλυµι 176 πρὶν ἂν...φανῇ: until…; ἄν + 3rd sg. aor.
ἀφφί...µένοντας: remaining around…; subj. φαίνω; general temporal clause
modifies ὑµᾶς; τοὺς παῖδας is the obj. 179 ἅπτεται: lay hold of + partitive gen.
κείνων: of those; Oedipus and Laius 180 του: some; gen. sg. τινός
170 ὅτ(ε): since ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει: periphrastic pf. (aor. pple
πρὸς : from....; ‘from the side of…’ ἐγκλείω + ἔχω)

12
 κάκιστος εἶναι νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖ·
καὶ μεῖζον ὅστις ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας
φίλον νομίζει, τοῦτον οὐδαμοῦ λέγω.
ἐγὼ γάρ, ἴστω Ζεὺς ὁ πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀεί,
οὔτ᾽ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι τὴν ἄτην ὁρῶν 185
στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας,
οὔτ᾽ ἂν φίλον ποτ᾽ ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονὸς
θείμην ἐμαυτῷ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ὅτι
ἥδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡ σῴζουσα καὶ ταύτης ἔπι
πλέοντες ὀρθῆς τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα. 190
τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ᾽ αὔξω πόλιν,
καὶ νῦν ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε κηρύξας ἔχω
ἀστοῖσι παίδων τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου πέρι·
Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὃς πόλεως ὑπερμαχῶν
ὄλωλε τῆσδε, πάντ᾽ ἀριστεύσας δόρει, 195

ἀδελφός, ή, όν: akin to, related to, sibling to, 1 νοµίζω: believe, consider, deem, hold, 2
ἀεί: always, forever, in every case, 6 Οἰδίπους, ὁ: Oedipus, Antigone’s father, 6
ἀντί: instead of, in place of (+ gen.), 4 οὐδαµοῦ: nowhere, 1
ἀριστεύω: to be the best, be the noblest, 1 παῖς, παιδός, ὁ, ἡ: child, boy, girl; slave, 31
ἀστός, -ή, -όν: townsman, citizen, 4 πάλαι: long ago, long, all along, 5
αὐξάνω: to increase, augment, 1 πατρή, ἡ: fatherland, native land, 1
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 περί: around, about, concerning, 6
γιγνώσκω: to come to know, learn, realize, 6 ποιέω: to do, make, create, compose, 6
δόρυ, δορ(ατ)ός, τό: spear, tree, stem 3 σιωπάω: to keep silence, be silent, 1
δυσ-µενής -ές: ill-willed, ill-minded, hostile 2 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
ἐµαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: myself, 6 σωτηρία, ἡ: salvation; safety, security, 2
Ἐτεοκέης, -εος, ὁ: Eteocles, 2 τίθηµι: to set, put, place, arrange, 6
κηρύσσω: to be a herald, proclaim, 5 τοιόσδε, -άδε, -όνδε: such, this (here) sort, 7
µεῖζων, -ον: greater, bigger, better (µέγας) 7 ὑπερ-µαχέω: to fight for or on behalf of, 1

181 κάκιστος....ὅστις..νοµίζει: whoever…; 188 ὅτι: (namely) that; apposition to τοῦτο

a long relative clause, antecedent τοῦτον 189 ἥδ(ε): this here (polis)
κάκιστος: predicate governed by inf. εἰµί ἡ σῴζουσα: the one bearing (us) safely;
πάλαι δοκεῖ: has seemed for a long time; ‘the one saving (us),’ pple σῴζω
πάλαι suggests pres. perfect 190 ταύτης ἔπι...ὀρθῆς: on this straight
182 µεῖζον...φίλον: a friend more important; (course); ἐπὶ ταύτης ὀρθῆς ; ἐπί may
µεῖζον is an masc. sg. acc. predicate in a governs a gen. of motion towards
double acc. construction πλέοντες: pple πλέω
αὑτοῦ: reflexive ἑαυτοῦ 191 αὔξω: 1st sg. fut. αὐξάνω
183 τοῦτο (εἶναι) οὐδαµοῦ: that…; ind. disc. 192 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε: related to these things;
184 ἴστω: let…; 3rd sg. imperative or ‘akin to these,’ lit. ‘siblings of these’
185 ἂν σιωπήσαιµι...ἂν...θείµην: I would 193 παίδων...πέρι: περὶ παίδων, anastrophe
not…; both potential aor. opt.; nom. sg. 194 Ἐτεοκλέα µἐν...κρύψαι: (namely) that
pple ὁράω is conditional in sense they…Eteocles…; acc. object in ind. disc.
186 ἀστοῖς: for…; dat. of interest 195 ὄλωλε: pf. ὄλλυµι
187 ἂν θείµην: I would not make (acc) (acc); πάντα: in all things; acc. respect
aor. mid. τίθηµι; governs a double acc. δόρει: in the spear; dat. respect or means

13
 τάφῳ τε κρύψαι καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἀφαγνίσαι
ἃ τοῖς ἀρίστοις ἔρχεται κάτω νεκροῖς.
τὸν δ᾽ αὖ ξύναιμον τοῦδε, Πολυνείκη λέγω,
ὃς γῆν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς
φυγὰς κατελθὼν ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ 200
πρῆσαι κατ᾽ ἄκρας, ἠθέλησε δ᾽ αἵματος
κοινοῦ πάσασθαι, τοὺς δὲ δουλώσας ἄγειν,
τοῦτον πόλει τῇδ᾽ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ
μήτε κτερίζειν μήτε κωκῦσαί τινα,
ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄθαπτον καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν δέμας 205
καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστὸν αἰκισθέν τ᾽ ἰδεῖν.
τοιόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν φρόνημα, κοὔποτ᾽ ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ
τιμὴν προέξουσ᾽ οἱ κακοὶ τῶν ἐνδίκων·
ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις εὔνους τῇδε τῇ πόλει, θανὼν
καὶ ζῶν ὁμοίως ἐξ ἐμοῦ τιμήσεται. 210

ἄ-θαπτος, -ον: unburied, 3 κωκύω: to shriek, wail, cry, 3

αἰκίζω: to maltreat, spoil, plague, torment, 2 οἰωνός, ὁ: large bird, bird of prey, 6
αἷµα, -ατος τό: blood, 3 ὅµοιος, -η, -ον: like, similar; adv likewise, 3
ἄκρος, -η, -ον: topmost, excellent, 5 οὔ-ποτε: not ever, never, 2
ἄριστος, -η, -ον: best, most excellent, 3 πατέοµαι: to eat, partake of, enjoy, 2
ἀφαγνίζω: to consecrate, purify, 1 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
δέµας, τό: bodily frame, body, build, 3 Πολυνείκης, -εος, ὁ: Polyneices, 5
δουλόω: to enslave, make a slave, 1 πρήθω: to burn; blow up, spout, 1
ἐάω: to permit, allow, let be, suffer, 5 προ-έχω: put forth (as pretext); excel in, 2
ἐγ-γενής, -ές: innate, of one’s family, 2 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
ἐδεστός, -ή, -όν: eatable, eaten, consumable 1 σύν-αιµος, -ον: of common blood, kindred, 4
ἐκ-κηρύσσω: to proclaim by herald, 2 τῇδε: here; in this way, thus, 3
ἔν-δικος, -ον: just, right, legitimate, 1 τιµάω: to honour, value, esteem, 7
εὔ-νους, -ουν: good-willed, kind, friendly, 1 τιµή, ἡ: honor, 3
κατ-έρχοµαι: to return; descend, 3 τοιόσδε, -άδε, -όνδε: such, this (here) sort, 7
κρύπτω: to hide, cover, conceal, 6 φρόνηµα, τό: thought, purpose, resolve, 6
κτερίζω: bury with honors (κτερεΐζω), 1 φυγάς, -άδος, ὁ, ἡ: fugitive, banished man, 2
κύων, κυνός, ὁ, ἡ: dog, 5

196 τάφῳ: dat. of means κατὰ ἄκρας: down from the top; gen., i.e.
κρύψαι...ἀφαγνίσαι: that (they)….; aor. from top to bottom
infs., Ἐτεοκλέα is the acc. object 202 κοινοῦ: i.e. kin, of shared kin.
τὰ πάντ(α)...ἃ: all the (offerings) which; πάσαθαι: aor. πατέοµαι + partitive gen.
the notion of rites or offerings is implied in τοὺς δὲ...ἄγειν: to lead away some (kin);
the relative clause 203 πόλει τῇδε: to this city; dat. ind. object
197 τοῖς ἀρίστοις...νεκροῖς: comes to the ἐκεκήρηρυκται: it has been proclaimed
noblest dead below; dat. of interest 205 ἐᾶν: but to let it be; inf. ἐάω
198 Πολυνείκη: Πολυνείκε-α, 3rd decl. acc. πρὸς: by…; gen. of agent
λέγω: I mean 206 αἰκισθέν: aor. pass. pple. αἰκίζω
199 κατελθὼν: aor. pple καθέρχοµαι ἰδεῖν: explanatory aor. inf. ὁράω
200 ἠθέλησε: aor. ἐθέλω 208 προέξουσι: will excel in (acc) over (gen)
201 πρῆσαι: aor. inf. πρῆθω + dat. means 209 θανὼν, ζῶν: aor., pres. pple, θνῄσκω

14
Χορ σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει, παῖ Μενοικέως Κρέον,
τὸν τῇδε δύσνουν κἀς τὸν εὐμενῆ πόλει·
νόμῳ δὲ χρῆσθαι παντί που πάρεστί σοι
καὶ τῶν θανόντων χὠπόσοι ζῶμεν πέρι.
Κρέ ὡς ἂν σκοποὶ νῦν εἴτε τῶν εἰρημένων. 215
Χορ νεωτέρῳ τῳ τοῦτο βαστάζειν πρόθες.
Κρέ ἀλλ᾽ εἴσ᾽ ἑτοῖμοι τοῦ νεκροῦ γ᾽ ἐπίσκοποι.
Χορ τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλο τοῦτ᾽ ἐπεντέλλοις ἔτι;
Κρέ τὸ μὴ 'πιχωρεῖν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν τάδε.
Χορ οὔκ ἔστιν οὕτω μῶρος ὃς θανεῖν ἐρᾷ. 220
Κρέ καὶ μὴν ὁ μισθός γ᾽, οὗτος· ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων
ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν.
Φύλ ἄναξ, ἐρῶ μὲν οὐχ ὅπως τάχους ὕπο
δύσπνους ἱκάνω κοῦφον ἐξάρας πόδα.
πολλὰς γὰρ ἔσχον φροντίδων ἐπιστάσεις, 225

ἀ-πιστέω: disbelieve, disobey, distrust +dat 3 Μενοικεύς, -έως, ὁ: Menoeceus, 3

ἀρέσκω: to please, satisfy, (dat.), 4 µήν: truly, surely, 7
βαστάζω: to raise, lift up, bear, carry, 1 µισθός, ὁ: wages, pay, hire, 3
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 µῶρος, -α, -ον: foolish, stupid, sluggish, 3
δι-όλλυµι: to destroy utterly, kill, 2 ὅµως: nevertheless, however, yet, 2
δύσ-νους, -ουν: ill-willed, ill-disposed, 1 ὁπόσος, -α, -ον: how much, many, or great, 1
δύσ-πνους, -ουν: breathless; contrary wind, 2 παῖς, παιδός, ὁ, ἡ: child, boy, girl; slave, 31
ἐξ-αίρω: to lift up, life off (the ground), 1 περί: around, about, concerning, 6
ἐπ-εν-τέλλω: to command in addition, 1 πολλάκις: many times, often, frequently, 1
ἐπί-σκοπος, ὁ: overseer, look-out, 2 που: anywhere, somewhere; I suppose, 4
ἐπι-χωρέω: to give way, yield; go against, 1 πούς, ποδός, ὁ: a foot; a (sheet) of sail, 5
ἐπίστασις, ἡ: a stopping, stop, halting, halt, 1 προ-τίθηµι: to propose, set forth, 4
ἐράω: to love, to be in love with, 3 σκοπός, ὁ: watchman, scout; mark, aim, 2
ἐρέω: I will say or speak, 4 τάχος, τό: speed, swiftness, 1
ἑτοῖµος, -η, -ον: ready, prepared, at hand, 2 τῇδε: here; in this way, thus, 3
εὐ-µενής, -ές: good-willed, kind, 2 φροντίς, -ιδός, ἡ: deliberation, thought, 1
ἱκάνω: to approach, come, arrive, reach, 1 χράοµαι: to use, employ, possess (+ dat.), 1
κοῦφος, -η, -ον: light, agile, 1

211 ταῦτ(α): neut. pl. subject of 3rd sg. verb πρόθες: sg. aor. imperative προ-τίθηµι
παῖ...Κρέον: vocative, direct address 217 εἴσ(ιν): 3rd pl. pres. εἰµί
212 κὰς: καὶ εἰς; εἰς, ‘toward’ governs both 218 τί δῆτα: what then…; δῆτα is inferential
accusatives; καί joins the accusatives ἂν...ἐπεντέλλοις: would…; potential opt.
τῇδε πόλει: dat. interest 219 τὸ...ἐπιχωρεῖν: not to...; articular inf.
214 τῶν θανόντων: θνήσκω, object of περί 220 οὐκ ἔστιν: there is not (anyone)
χὠπόσοι: καὶ (ἡµῶν) ὁπόσοι; a relative 221 καὶ µὴν...γὲ: and indeed this is the cost
clause, the lost antecedent is obj. of περί ὑπὸ ἐλπίδων: because of…; gen. of cause
215 ὡς: (consider) how… 222 διώλεσεν: gnomic aor. διόλλυµι
ἂν...εἴτε: you could be; potential opt. εἰµί 223 ἐρῶ...ὅπως: I will not say how; ἐρέω
τῶν εἰρηµένων: pf. pass. pple λέγω (ερ) τάχους ὕπο: because of…; ὑπὸ τάχους
216 νεωτέρῳ: comparative, νέος 224 ἐξάρας: nom. sg. aor. pple. ἐξαίρω
τῳ: a, some; indefinite τινι 225 ἔσχον: 1st sg. aor. ἔχω

15
 ὁδοῖς κυκλῶν ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἀναστροφήν·
ψυχὴ γὰρ ηὔδα πολλά μοι μυθουμένη·
τάλας, τί χωρεῖς οἷ μολὼν δώσεις δίκην;
τλήμων, μενεῖς αὖ; κεἰ τάδ᾽ εἴσεται Κρέων
ἄλλου παρ᾽ ἀνδρός, πῶς σὺ δῆτ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγύνει; 230
τοιαῦθ᾽ ἑλίσσων ἤνυτον σχολῇ βραδύς.
χοὔτως ὁδὸς βραχεῖα γίγνεται μακρά.
τέλος γε μέντοι δεῦρ᾽ ἐνίκησεν μολεῖν
σοί. κεἰ τὸ μηδὲν ἐξερῶ, φράσω δ᾽ ὅμως·
τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος, 235
τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον.
Κρέ τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀνθ᾽ οὗ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν;
Φύλ φράσαι θέλω σοι πρῶτα τἀμαυτοῦ· τὸ γὰρ
πρᾶγμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔδρασ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἶδον ὅστις ἦν ὁ δρῶν,
οὐδ᾽ ἂν δικαίως ἐς κακὸν πέσοιμί τι. 240

ἀ-θυµία, ἡ: fainthearted, disheartened, 1 µακρός, -ή, -όν: long, far, distant, large, 4
ἀλγύνω: to pain, distress, grieve, 2 µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7
ἀνα-στροφή, ἡ: overturning; return 1 µένω: to stay, remain, 4
ἀντί: instead of, in place of (+ gen.), 4 µόρσιµον, τό: destiny, fate; doom, 1
ἀνύω, ἀνύτω: reach, accomplish, complete 4 µυθέοµαι: to say, speak of, mention, declare 1
αὐδάω: to call out, address, speak, 2 νικάω: to conquer, defeat, win, 3
βλώσκω: to go, come, (aor. µολ-), 5 ὁδός, ἡ: road, way, path, journey, 7
βραδύς, -εῖα, -ύ: slow, 1 οἷ: whither, to where, 1
βραχύς, -έα, -ύ: short, brief, 2 ὅµως: nevertheless, however, yet, 2
γίγνοµαι: to come to be, become, be born, 6 πάσχω: to suffer, experience, 7
δεῦρο: here, to this point, hither, 4 πλήν: except, but (+ gen.), 3
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 πρᾶγµα, -µατος, τό: action, deed, matter 6
δίδωµι: to give, offer, grant, provide, 6 πρῶτος, -η, -ον: first, earliest, 4
δράσσοµαι: to grasp, lay hold of (gen) 1 πῶς: how? in what way? 5
ἑλίσσω: to wind or turn around, revolve, 1 σχολή, ἡ: leisure, ease, free time, 4
ἐµαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: myself, 6 τέλος, -εος, τό: end, result; office; tribute 6
ἔµολον: go, come (aor. of βλώσκω,) 5 τλήµων, ὁ ἡ: wretched, suffering, enduring 2
ἐξ-ερέω: I will say or speak out, utter aloud, 2 φράζω: to point out, tell, indicate, 5
κυκλέω: to wheel about, circle, 1 χωρέω: to go, come; have room for, 4

225 ὁδοῖς: dat. place where σχολῇ: at leisure; dat. of manner

226 ηὔδα: ηὔδα-ε, 3rd sg. impf. αὐδάω 232 χοὔτως: καὶ οὔτως
πολλά: many things; acc. dir. object 233 τέλος γε: finally, however; adverbial acc.
227 τί: why ἐνίκησεν: it won out; the inf. is subject
οἷ: to where; relative adv. with pple 234 σοι: to you; ‘for you,’ dat. of interest
µολὼν: aor. pple ἔµολον τὸ µήδεν: i.e. nothing good
δώσεις: i.e. pay a penality; fut. δίδωµι 235 δεδραγµένος: pf. pass. pple δράσσοµαι
229 µενεῖς: µενέεις, fut. µένω 236 τὸ µὴ παθεῖν: namely that...; aor πάσχω
κεἰ: καὶ εἰ 237 ἀνθ᾽ οὗ: on account of which
εἴσεται: fut. deponent. οἶδα 238 (ἐ)θέλω: governs aor. inf.
230 ἀλγύνει: ἀλγύνε(σ)αι; 2nd sg. passive 239 εἶδον: 1st sg. aor. ὁράω
231 ἤνυτον: 1st sg. impf. ἀνύω ἂν...πέσοιµι: I would fall; potential, πίπτω

16
Κρέ εὖ γε στοχάζει κἀποφάργνυσαι κύκλῳ
τὸ πρᾶγμα· δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς τι σημανῶν νέον.
Φύλ τὰ δεινὰ γάρ τοι προστίθησ᾽ ὄκνον πολύν.
Κρέ οὔκουν ἐρεῖς ποτ᾽, εἶτ᾽ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς ἄπει;
Φύλ καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι. τὸν νεκρόν τις ἀρτίως 245
θάψας βέβηκε κἀπὶ χρωτὶ διψίαν
κόνιν παλύνας κἀφαγιστεύσας ἃ χρή·
Κρέ τί φής; τίς ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὁ τολμήσας τάδε;
Φύλ οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὔτε του γενῇδος ἦν
πλῆγμ᾽, οὐ δικέλλης ἐκβολή. στύφλος δὲ γῆ 250
καὶ χέρσος, ἀρρὼξ οὐδ᾽ ἐπημαξευμένη
τροχοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄσημος οὑργάτης τις ἦν.
ὅπως δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος ἡμὶν ἡμεροσκόπος
δείκνυσι, πᾶσι θαῦμα δυσχερὲς παρῆν.
ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἠφάνιστο, τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ, 255

ἄ-σηµος́, -ον: unrecognizable, without signs, 4 ἡµερό-σκοπος, ὁ: day-watcher, day watch, 1

ἀ-φανίζω: remove (from sight) veil, hide, 1 θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7
ἀπ-αλλάσσω: to set free, release, deliver, 5 θαῦµα, -ατος τό: wonder, amazement, 1
ἀπ-έρχοµαι: to go away, depart, 2 κόνις, ἡ: dust, 5
ἀπο-φράγνυµι: block up, stop up, fence off 1 κύκλος, ὁ: circle, ring; eyesocket 4
ἀρρώξ, ὁ, ἡ: unbroken, without breaks, 1 ὄκνος, ὁ: a shrinking (away), hesitancy, 1
ἀρτίως: just, now first; exactly 5 οὔκ-ουν: not therefore, and so not, 6
βαίνω: to walk, step, go, 6 παλύνω: to strew, sprinkle, 1
γενηίς, -ηιδος, ἡ: pickaxe, mattock, 1 πλῆγµα, ατος, τό: a strike, a blow, 2
δείκνυµι: to point out, display, show, 4 πρᾶγµα, -µατος, τό: action, deed, matter 6
δῆλόω: to show, reveal, make clear, 3 προσ-τίθηµι: to add, attribute, impose, give 2
δί-κελλα, ἡ: mattock, two-pronged hoe, 1 πρῶτος, -η, -ον: first, earliest, 4
δίψιος, -α, -ον: thirsty, dry, parched, 2 σηµαίνω: to indicate, tell, point out, 2
δυσ-χερής, -ές: hard to handle, distressing, 1 στοχάζοµαι: to aim, take aim, shoot at, 1
ἐκ-βολή, ἡ: cast out (earth), banishment, 2 στύφλος, -η, -ον: hard, rough; harsh, severe 2
εἶτα: then, next, 1 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
ἐκεῖ: there, in that place, 3 τολµάω: to dare, undertake, endure, 3
ἐπ-αµαξεύω: to traverse with a cart, mark 1 τροχός, ὁ: wheel, cycle, 2
ἑργάτης, ὁ: doer, agent; worker, workman, 1 τυµβήρης, -ες: entombed, buried, 2
ἐρέω: I will say or speak, 4 χέρσος, ἡ: dry land, barren land, shore, 1
ἐφ-αγιστεύω: to perform funeral rites over, 1 χρώς, -ωτός, ὁ: skin, body (χροΐ: dat. sg.), 1

241 στοχάζει: στοχάζε(σ)αι, 2nd sg. mid. 246 βέβηκε: pf. βαίνω
ἀποφάργνυσαι: you fence yourself off; 247 πολύνας: nom. sg. aor. pple
2nd sg. pres. mid.; i.e. protect yourself κὰφαγιστεύσας: καὶ ἐφαγιστεύσας; aor.
242 δηλοῖς δ᾽ ὥς: i.e. you are clearly + pple ἅ: which (rites)…; ‘(the rites) which’ the
σηµανῶν: intending to…; fut. pple, missing antecedent is an inner acc.
243 τοι: you know; ‘to be sure,’ a particle 248 φής: 2nd sg. pres. φηµί
προστίθησ(ι): 3rd sg. pres. 251 ἐπηµαξευµένη: pf. pass. pple
244 ἀπαλλαχθεὶς: nom. sg. aor. pass. pple 254 ὅπως: when…
ἄπει: 2nd sg. fut. ἀπ-έρχοµαι (ἄπ-ειµι) παρῆν: was at hand for all; impf πάρειµι
245 καὶ δὴ: now in fact; δή is temporal 255 ὁ...ἠφάνιστο: he had been veiled; plpf.

17
 λεπτὴ δ᾽, ἄγος φεύγοντος ὥς, ἐπῆν κόνις
σημεῖα δ᾽ οὔτε θηρὸς οὔτε του κυνῶν
ἐλθόντος, οὐ σπάσαντος ἐξεφαίνετο.
λόγοι δ᾽ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρρόθουν κακοί,
φύλαξ ἐλέγχων φύλακα, κἂν ἐγίγνετο 260
πληγὴ τελευτῶσ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν.
εἷς γάρ τις ἦν ἕκαστος οὑξειργασμένος,
κοὐδεὶς ἐναργής, ἀλλ᾽ ἔφευγε μὴ εἰδέναι.
ἦμεν δ᾽ ἑτοῖμοι καὶ μύδρους αἴρειν χεροῖν
καὶ πῦρ διέρπειν καὶ θεοὺς ὁρκωμοτεῖν, 265
τὸ μήτε δρᾶσαι μήτε τῳ ξυνειδέναι
τὸ πρᾶγμα βουλεύσαντι μηδ᾽ εἰργασμένῳ.
τέλος δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐρευνῶσιν πλέον,
λέγει τις εἷς, ὃ πάντας ἐς πέδον κάρα
νεῦσαι φόβῳ προὔτρεψεν· οὐ γὰρ εἴχομεν 270

ἄγος, -εος, τό: pollution, guilt; expiation, 2 λεπτός, -ή, -όν: fine, thin; narrow, 1
αἴρω: to lift, raise up, get up, 3 µύδρος, ὁ: a mass of red-hot metal, 1
ἀλλήλος, -α, -ον: one another, 2 νεύω: to bend, nod, 2
βουλεύω: to deliberate, plan, take counsel, 5 ὁρκ-ωµοτέω: to take an oath to, swear to, 1
γίγνοµαι: to come to be, become, be born, 6 πέδον, τό: plain, flat land, ground, 2
διέρπω: to pass through, creep throught, 1 πλέων, -οντος: more, greater, 7
ἐκ-φαίνω: to disclose, reveal, show, 2 πληγή, ἡ: blow, strike, 2
ἕκαστος, -η, -ον: each, every one, 1 πρᾶγµα, -µατος, τό: action, deed, matter 6
ἐλέγχω: cross-examine, accuse test, refute, 2 προ-τρέπω: impel, urge on, turn forward, 1
ἐν-αργής, -ές: clearly seen, visible, distinct, 2 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
ἐξ-εργάζοµαι: accomplish entirely, finish 2 ῥοθέω: to roar, make a clamor, mutter, 2
ἔπ-ειµι: to be upon, be on, 1 σηµεῖον, τό: sign, mark, omen; signal, flag, 2
ἐργάζοµαι: to work, labor, toil, 4 σπάω: to pull, tear, 2
ἐρευνάω: to search out, seek, track, trace, 1 σύν-οιδα: to know with, witness, 1
ἑτοῖµος, -η, -ον: ready, prepared, at hand, 2 τελευτάω: to end, complete, finish; die, 1
θήρ, θηρός, ὁ: beast, wild beast, animal, 3 τέλος, -εος, τό: end, result; office; tribute 6
κάρα, τό: head, 7 φεύγω: to flee, escape; defend in court, 6
κόνις, ἡ: dust, 5 φόβος, ὁ: fear, terror, panic, 4
κύων, κυνός, ὁ, ἡ: dog, 5 φύλαξ, -κος, ὁ: a watcher, guard, sentinel, 3
κωλύω: to hinder, check, prevent, 1

256 ἄγος...ὥς: as if of one avoiding religious ἦν: 3rd sg. pres. εἰµί
pollution; i.e. of passing without burying 262 ὁ ἐξειργασµένος: pf., i.e. the wrongdoer
ἐπῆν: 3rd sg. impf. ἔπ-ειµι 263 ἔφευγε: each pleaded in defense; φεύγω
257 του: of one…; indefinite gen. τινος is a legal-term for ‘defending’ in a lawcourt
258 ἐλθόντος: gen. sg. aor. pple ἔρχοµαι εἰδέναι: inf. οἶδα; µή after verb of hindering
ἐξεφαίνετο: impf. pass. 264 ἦµεν: 1st pl. pres. εἰµί
259 ἐρρόθουν: 3rd pl. impf. ῥοθέω 266 τὸ...δρᾶσαι: articular inf., the oath itself
260 κἂν ἐγίγνετο: would have occurred τῳ: with anyone; governs both aor. pples.
ἂν + impf. for unrealized pres. potential 268 τέλος δ᾽: in the end, finally; adv. acc.
τελευτῶσ(α): at last; pple often as adverb ὅτ(ε): when
261 παρῆν: impf. πάρειµι ἐρευνῶσιν: for (us) searching; dat. pl. pple

18
 οὔτ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖν οὔθ᾽ ὅπως δρῶντες καλῶς
πράξαιμεν. ἦν δ᾽ ὁ μῦθος ὡς ἀνοιστέον
σοὶ τοὔργον εἴη τοῦτο κοὐχὶ κρυπτέον.
καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐνίκα, κἀμὲ τὸν δυσδαίμονα
πάλος καθαιρεῖ τοῦτο τἀγαθὸν λαβεῖν. 275
πάρειμι δ᾽ ἄκων οὐχ ἑκοῦσιν, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι·
στέργει γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἄγγελον κακῶν ἐπῶν.
Χορ ἄναξ, ἐμοί τοί, μή τι καὶ θεήλατον
τοὔργον τόδ᾽, ἡ ξύννοια βουλεύει πάλαι.
Κρέ παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς καὶ 'μὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων, 280
μὴ 'φευρεθῇς ἄνους τε καὶ γέρων ἅμα.
λέγεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀνεκτὰ δαίμονας λέγων
πρόνοιαν ἴσχειν τοῦδε τοῦ νεκροῦ πέρι.
πότερον ὑπερτιμῶντες ὡς εὐεργέτην
ἔκρυπτον αὐτόν, ὅστις ἀμφικίονας 285

ἀ-έκων, -ουσα, -ον: against will, unwilling, 1 καθ-αιρέω: to take down, reduce, destroy, 3
ἄ-νοῦς, -οῦν: senseless, silly, foolish, 3 κρυπτέος, -ον: one must hide, hidden, 1
ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν: good, brave, capable, 3 κρύπτω: to hide, cover, conceal, 6
ἄγγελος, ὁ: messenger, envoy; message, 1 µεστόω: to fill full of (gen), 2
ἅµα: at the same time; along with (dat.), 5 µῦθος, ὁ: story, word, speech, 3
ἀµφι-κίων, ονος, -ον: with pillars all round, 1 νικάω: to conquer, defeat, win, 3
ἀν-εκτός, -όν: bearable, endurable, 1 ὀργή, ἡ: anger; temperment, 6
ἀν-οιστέος, -ον: one must report, refer, 1 πάλαι: long ago, long, all along, 5
ἀντι-φωνέω: to reply, answer in response, 1 πάλος, ὁ: lot cast from a helmet, lottery, 1
βουλεύω: to deliberate, plan, take counsel, 5 παύω: to stop, make cease, 5
γέρων, -όντος, ὁ: old man, 2 περί: around, about, concerning, 6
δαίµων, -ονος, ὁ: divine being or spirit, 3 πότερος, -α, -ον: which of two? whether? 3
δυσ-δαίµων, -ονος: unfortunate, unhappy, 1 πρό-νοια ἡ: foresight, forethought, concern 1
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκόν: willing, intentionally, 2 στέργω: to love, be fond of; submit to, 3
εὐ-εργέτης, ὁ: benefactor, well-doer, 1 σύν-νοια, ἡ: reflection, deep thought, 1
ἐφ-ευρίσκω: to find out, discover, 1 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
θε-ήλατος, -ον: driven by god, 1 ὑπερ-τιµάω: to honor exceedingly, 1
ἴσχω: to have, hold back, check, restrain, 4

271 εἴχοµεν...: we did not know how….; 276 ἑκοῦσιν: to…; dat. pl. of compound verb
common meaning for ἔχω + infinitive οἶδ(α): 1st sg.
ὅπως...καλῶς πράξαιµεν: how we were to 278 ἐµοί…ἡ ξύννοια: my (deep) thought; dat.
fare well; ind. deliberative question, subj. of interest, ‘for me:’ use as dat. possession
becomes opt. (aor.) in secondary sequence µή...θέἠλατον: surely this deed is not…;
272 ἦν ὁ µῦθος ὡς: his speech was that… ind. question, µή anticipates a ‘no’ reply
ἀνοιστέον...εἴη: must be reported; verbal 280 παῦσαι: aor. imperative
adj. + εἰµί expresses obligation or necessity; 281 µὴ...: lest…; purpose + aor. pass. subj.
3rd sg. opt. εἰµί, ind. disc. secondary seq. µεστῶσαι: aor. inf. + partitive gen
273 κρυπτέον (εἴη): see above 283 πότερον: leave untranslated, this word
ἐνίκα: won out; ἐνίκα-ε, impf. νικάω opens a yes/no question with two options
275 καθαιρεῖ: condemns; a legal term ὡς εὐεργέτην: as if a benefactor
τοῦτο τ(ὸ) ἀγαθὸν: this good; being ironic

19
 ναοὺς πυρώσων ἦλθε κἀναθήματα
καὶ γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν;
ἢ τοὺς κακοὺς τιμῶντας εἰσορᾷς θεούς;
οὔκ ἔστιν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα καὶ πάλαι πόλεως
ἄνδρες μόλις φέροντες ἐρρόθουν ἐμοί, 290
κρυφῇ κάρα σείοντες, οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ ζυγῷ
λόφον δικαίως εἶχον, ὡς στέργειν ἐμέ.
ἐκ τῶνδε τούτους ἐξεπίσταμαι καλῶς
παρηγμένους μισθοῖσιν εἰργάσθαι τάδε.
οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν οἷον ἄργυρος 295
κακὸν νόμισμ᾽ ἔβλαστε. τοῦτο καὶ πόλεις
πορθεῖ, τόδ᾽ ἄνδρας ἐξανίστησιν δόμων·
τόδ᾽ ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ παραλλάσσει φρένας
χρηστὰς πρὸς αἰσχρὰ πράγματ᾽ ἵστασθαι βροτῶν·
πανουργίας δ᾽ ἔδειξεν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν 300

ἀνά-θηµα, -ατος, τό: offering, dedication, 1 µόλις: scarcely, hardly, 2

ἄργυρος, ὁ: silver, 2 ναός, τό: temple, shrine, 2
βλαστάνω: to be born, grow, sprout, 3 νόµισµα, -ατος, τό: custom, institution, 1
δείκνυµι: to point out, display, show, 4 πάλαι: long ago, long, all along, 5
διασκεδάννυµι: to scatter, disperse over, 1 παν-ουργία, ἡ: knavery, villainy, 1
εἰσ-οράω: to look upon, view, behold, 3 παρ-άγω: to lead by, mislead, lead astray, 1
ἐκ-διδάσκω: to teach well or thoroughly, 1 παρ-αλλάσσω: to change, alter, set astray, 1
ἐξ-αν-ίστηµι: to raise up, remove, expel, 1 πορθέω: to sack, plunder, devastate, 2
ἐξ-επίσταµαι: to know well or thoroughly, 2 πρᾶγµα, -µατος, τό: action, deed, matter 6
ἐργάζοµαι: to work, labor, toil, 4 πυρόω: to burn, burn up, 1
ζυγόν, τό: yoke, harness, 1 ῥοθέω: to roar, make a clamor, mutter, 2
ἵστηµι: to make stand, set up, stop, establish 6 σείω: shake, move back and forth, agitate, 4
κρυφῇ: in secret, secretly, 3 στέργω: to love, be fond of; submit to, 3
λόφος, ὁ: crest, mane; back of the neck, 2 τιµάω: to honour, value, esteem, 7
µισθός, ὁ: wages, pay, hire, 3 χρηστός, -ή, -όν: useful, worthy, good, 4

285 πυρώσων: fut. pple ὡς: so as to…; ~ὥστε; result clause

ἦλθε: aor. ἔρχοµαι 293 τῶνδε: i.e. those disobedient
286 νόµους διασκεδῶν: intending to scatter τούτους: i.e. these guarding the corpse
the laws (to the wind); fut. pple 294 παρηγµένους: pf. pass. παρ-άγω
287 ἢ: or; 2nd half of a question; corresponds µισθοῖσιν: dat. of means
to πότερον above εῖργάσθαι: pf. inf. ἐργάζοµαι, in ind.
τιµῶντας: τιµάοντες, pple modifies θεούς; disc, τούτους is acc. subject
τοὺς κακοὺς is object of the pple. 295 οὐδὲν...οἷον...ἔβλαστε: for no institution
289 ἔστιν: it is possible (as) evil as money grew for men; aorist
ταῦτα...ἐρρόθουν ἐµοί: were muttering 297 τοὺτο...τόδε...τόδε: this…this…this;
these things to me; impf. ῥοθέω subjects, emphatic by anaphora, asyndeton
καὶ πάλαι: even long before καὶ: actually, in fact; adverbial
291 κάρα σείοντες: i.e. shaking off the δόµων: from…; gen. of separation
harness/yoke like a beast of burden 299 ἵστασθαι: to set (themselves) towards…
292 λόφον: neck; lit. ‘back of the neck’ 300 πανουργίας ἔχειν: to engage in villiany

20
 καὶ παντὸς ἔργου δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι.
ὅσοι δὲ μισθαρνοῦντες ἤνυσαν τάδε,
χρόνῳ ποτ᾽ ἐξέπραξαν ὡς δοῦναι δίκην.
ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἴσχει Ζεὺς ἔτ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ σέβας,
εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἐπίστασ᾽, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω· 305
εἰ μὴ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου
εὑρόντες ἐκφανεῖτ᾽ ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμούς,
οὐχ ὑμὶν Ἅιδης μοῦνος ἀρκέσει, πρὶν ἂν
ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ᾽ ὕβριν,
ἵν᾽ εἰδότες τὸ κέρδος ἔνθεν οἰστέον 310
τὸ λοιπὸν ἁρπάζητε, καὶ μάθηθ᾽ ὅτι
οὐκ ἐξ ἅπαντος δεῖ τὸ κερδαίνειν φιλεῖν.
ἐκ τῶν γὰρ αἰσχρῶν λημμάτων τοὺς πλείονας
ἀτωμένους ἴδοις ἂν ἢ σεσωσμένους.
Φύλ εἰπεῖν τι δώσεις ἢ στραφεὶς οὕτως ἴω; 315

ἀνύω, ἀνύτω: reach, accomplish, complete 4 ἵνα: in order that (+ subj.); where (+ ind.), 4
ἅπας, ἅπασα, ἅπαν: every, quite all, 2 ἴσχω: to have, hold back, check, restrain, 4
ἀρκέω: to suffice, be enough, ward off, 2 κερδαίνω: to gain, profit, make a profit, 2
ἁρπάζω: seize, carry off, kidnap, 2 κρεµαστός, -ή, -όν: suspended, hung, 2
ἀτάοµαι: to suffer greatly, be in distress, 2 λῆµµα, λήµµατος, τό: gain, profit, income, 1
αὐτό-χειρ, -ος, ὁ, ἡ: with one’s own hand, 5 λοιπός, -ή, -όν: remaining, the rest, 3
δεῖ: it is necessary, must, ought (+ inf.), 5 µισθ-αρνέω: to work for hire, receive pay, 1
δῆλόω: to show, reveal, make clear, 3 οἰστέος, -α, -ον: to be carried, to be gained, 1
δίδωµι: to give, offer, grant, provide, 6 ὅρκιος, -α, -ον: of an oath, on oath, 1
δυσ-σέβεια, ἡ: impiety, ungodliness, 2 ὀφθαλµός, ὁ: eye, 2
εἴ-περ: if really, if, 4 πλέων, -οντος: more, greater, 7
ἐκ-πράττω: to do completely, accomplish, 1 σέβας, τό: reverence, awe, worship, 1
ἐκ-φαίνω: to disclose, reveal, show, 2 στρέφω: to turn, turn aside; overturn, 2
ἔνθεν: from where; thence, on the one side, 1 ὕβρις, ἡ: arrogance, insolence, outrage, 2
ἐπίσταµαι: to know (how), understand, 5 φιλέω: to love, befriend, 7
εὑρίσκω: to find, discover, devise, invent, 2

301 εἰδέναι: inf. οἶδα 310 ἵν(α)...ἁρπάζητε: so that you may

302 ὅσοι: as many as…; antecedent missing continue stealing…; purpose, subjunctive
303 χρόνῳ ποτ(ε): at some time or other; εἰδότες: pf. pple οἶδα
part of the following result clause ἔνθεν οἰστέον (ἐστί): from where…must be
ἐξέπραξαν: they brought it about…; aor. gained; relative clause, κέρδος is subject,
ὡς δοῦναι δίκην: that…; result clause, a verbal adj. + εἰµί expresses necessity
aor. inf. δίδωµι means ‘pay’ in this idiom 311 τὸ λοιπόν: for the future; acc. duration
305 ἐπίστασ(ο): know!; pres. mid. imperative µάθη(τε): aor. subj. in same purpose clause
ὅρκιος: on oath; adverbial 312 ἐξ ἅπαντος: from everyone
τὸν αὐτόχειρα: the very hand; i.e. the 313 τοὺς πλείονας: more people; ‘more men’
source or agent 314 ἴδοις ἂν: you would see; potential opt.
307 ἐκφανεῖτ(ε): 2nd pl. fut. ἐκ-φαίνω σεσωσµένους: than…; pf. pass. σῴζω
protasis in an emotional future more vivid 315 δώσεις: will you allow me?; fut.. δίδωµι
308 Ἅιδης: i.e. death, µοῦνος is µόνος στραφεὶς ἴω: am I to go…; 1st s deliberative
309 δηλώση(τε): 2nd pl. future subj. ἔρχοµαι ; nom. sg. aor. pass. στρέφω

21
Κρέ οὐκ οἶσθα καὶ νῦν ὡς ἀνιαρῶς λέγεις;
Φύλ ἐν τοῖσιν ὠσὶν ἢ 'πὶ τῇ ψυχῇ δάκνει;
Κρέ τί δὲ ῥυθμίζεις τὴν ἐμὴν λύπην ὅπου;
Φύλ ὁ δρῶν σ᾽ ἀνιᾷ τὰς φρένας, τὰ δ᾽ ὦτ᾽ ἐγώ.
Κρέ οἴμ᾽ ὡς λάλημα δῆλον ἐκπεφυκὸς εἶ. 320
Φύλ οὔκουν τό γ᾽ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιήσας ποτέ.
Κρέ καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀργύρῳ γε τὴν ψυχὴν προδούς.
Φύλ φεῦ·
ἦ δεινὸν ᾧ δοκῇ γε καὶ ψευδῆ δοκεῖν.
Κρέ κόμψευέ νυν τὴν δόξαν· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ
φανεῖτέ μοι τοὺς δρῶντας, ἐξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι 325
τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται.
Φύλ ἀλλ᾽ εὑρεθείη μὲν μάλιστ᾽· ἐὰν δέ τοι
ληφθῇ τε καὶ μή, τοῦτο γὰρ τύχη κρινεῖ,
οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως ὄψει σὺ δεῦρ᾽ ἐλθόντα με·
καὶ νῦν γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἐλπίδος γνώμης τ᾽ ἐμῆς 330

ἀνια-ρός, -ή, -όν: grievous, distressing, 1 κρίνω: to choose, decide; interpret, 2

ἀνιάω: trouble, distress; grieve, 1 λάληµα, -ατος, τό: babble(r), prattle(r), 1
ἄργυρος, ὁ: silver, 2 λύπη, ἡ: pain; grief, 1
δάκνω: to bite; sting, prick, 1 µάλιστα: most of all; certainly, especially, 3
δειλός, -ή, -όν: worthless; cowardly, 1 ὅ-που: where, 1
δεῦρο: here, to this point, hither, 4 οἴοµαι: to suppose, think, imagine, 4
δῆλος, -η, -ον: clear, evident, conspicuous, 1 οὔκ-ουν: not therefore, and so not, 6
δόξα, ἡ: opinion, reputation, honor, glory, 2 οὖς, ὠτός, τό: ear, 3
ἐάν: εἰ ἄν, if (+ subj.), 4 πηµονή, ἡ: misery, woe, suffering, 1
ἐκ-φύω: to generate, produce, 1 ποιέω: to do, make, create, compose, 6
ἐκτός: outside; out of, far from (+ gen.), 5 προ-δίδωµι: to betray, deliver; give before, 3
ἐξ-ερέω: I will say or speak out, utter aloud, 2 ῥυθµίζω: define, arrange, bring into tune 1
ἐργάζοµαι: to work, labor, toil, 4 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
εὑρίσκω: to find, discover, devise, invent, 2 τύχη, ἡ: chance, luck, fortune, success, 6
ἦ: in truth, truly (begins open question), 6 φεῦ: ah, alas, woe, 7
κοµψεύω: to quibble upon, refine upon, 1 ψευδής, -ές: false, lying, 3

316 οἶσθα: 2nd sg. οἶδα fact; ‘in respect to these,’ acc. respect.
ὡς: how ἐπὶ ἀργύρῳ: for silver
317 ὠσὶν: dat. pl. οὖς, ‘ear’ προδούς: nom. sg. aor. pple. προδίδωµι
318 τί: why 323 δεινὸν...δοκεῖν: truly (it is) terrible that
ὅπου (ἐστί): where…is; λύπην is proleptic the very one who decides also has false
319 δρῶν: pres. pple δράω opinions; two senses of δοκέω; subj. in a
τὰς φρένας: in…; acc. of respect relative clause of characeristic; γε with ᾧ
τὰ ὦτ(α): in…; acc. respect, οὖς, ‘ear’ 325 φανεῖτε, ἐξερεῖτε: futures: fut. more vivid
320 οἴµ(οι) ὡς: alas, how…; in exclamation 327 εὑρεθείη: may he be found!; aor. opt wish
ἐκπεφυκὸς: a born…; pf. pple modifies 328 ληφθῇ: he is caught; aor. pass λαµβάνω
neut. predicate, λάληµα; εἶ is 2nd sg. εἰµί 329 οὐκ ἔστ(ι) ὅπως: it is not possible that
321 οὔκουν τό γ(ε): (I am) not at any rate ὄψει: ὄψε(σ)αι, 2nd sg. fut. ὁράω
(the one) having…; nom. sg. aor. pple 330 καὶ νῦν: even now
322 καὶ ταῦτα...γε: yes, and what is more in

22
 σωθεὶς ὀφείλω τοῖς θεοῖς πολλὴν χάριν.
Χορ πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν- στρ. α
θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.
τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν
πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ 335
χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν
περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν. θεῶν
τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν
ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται
ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος 340
ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων.
κουφονόων τε φῦλον ὀρ- ἀντ. α
νίθων ἀμφιβαλὼν ἄγει
καὶ θηρῶν ἀγρίων ἔθνη
πόντου τ᾽ εἰναλίαν φύσιν 345

ἀ-κάµατος, -ον: tireless, unwearied, 1 ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ, ἡ: a bird, 4

ἄ-φθιτος, -ον: imperishable, unfailing, 1 ὀφείλω: to owe, 5
ἄγριος, -α, -ον: wild, fierce, 5 πέλω: to be, become, 3
ἀµφι-βάλλω: to throw or put round, put on, 2 πέρα(ν): beyond, to the further side of (gen), 1
ἀπο-τρύω: to wear out or away, rub away, 1 περάω: to cross, traverse, make one’s way, 2
ἄροτρον, τό: plow, 1 περι-βρύχιος, -η, -ον: engulfing (surge) 1
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, tribe, stock, race, 7 πολεύω: to turn back and forth, go about, 1
ἔθνος, -εος, τό: race, people, tribe, 1 πολιός, -όν: grey, 1
εἴλω: to wind, turn round; hem in, confine, 1 πόντος, ὁ: sea, 6
ἐν-άλιος, -ον: of the sea, in the sea, 1 ὑπέρτατος, -η, -ον: highest, top of, 3
ἔτος, -εως, τό: a year, 2 φῦλον, τό: tribe, class, race, clan, 1
θήρ, θηρός, ὁ: beast, wild beast, animal, 3 φύσις, -εως, ἡ: nature, character; birth, 3
ἵππειος, -α, -ον: of a horse, 1 χάρις, -ριτος, ἡ: favor, gratitude, thanks, 6
κουφό-νοος,-ον: light-hearted, thoughtless, 2 χειµέριος, -α, -ον: stormy, wintery, 1
νότος, ὁ: south wind, 1 χωρέω: to go, come; have room for, 4
οἶδµα, -ατος, τό: swell, sea-swell, 2

331 σωθεὶς: nom. sg. aor. pass. pple σῴζω 338 ἀποτρύεται: he wears away (for his own
332 τὰ δεινὰ (ἐστί): (are) the wonders; or purposes); the middle voice suggests action
‘wonderful things’ δεινός can vary from undertaken in the interest of the subject
‘terrible’ to ‘awesome,’ add a linking verb 339 ἰλλοµένων: i.e. the back and forth of the
ἀνθρώπου: than…; gen. of comparison plow; gen. absolute, pres. pass. pple εἴλω
333 δεινότερον: comparative adj., predicate ἔτος εἰς ἔτος: year after year
334 τοῦτο: this (wonder); i.e. man 340 ἱππείῳ γένει: dat. of means
335 χειµεριῳ νότῳ: dat. of means 341 κουφονόων: i.e. care-free, not simple
337 περῶν: nom. sg. pres. pple. περάω 342 ἀµφιβαλὼν: nom. sg. aor. ἀµφιβάλλω
οἴδµασιν: dat. pl. place where with σπείραισι δικτυοκλώστοις
τε: and ἄγει: i.e. catches, leads away captive
τὰν ὑπερτάταν: i.e. the eldest; acc. sg. 345 πόντου...φύσιν: and sea creatures of the
because it modifies fem. sg. Γᾶν sea; redundant
Γᾶν: Earth; Attic Γῆν

23
 σπείραισι δικτυοκλώστοις,
περιφραδὴς ἀνήρ· κρατεῖ
δὲ μηχαναῖς ἀγραύλου
θηρὸς ὀρεσσιβάτα, λασιαύχενά θ᾽ 350
ἵππον ὀχμάζεται ἀμφὶ λόφον ζυγῶν
οὔρειόν τ᾽ ἀκμῆτα ταῦρον.
καὶ φθέγμα καὶ ἀνεμόεν φρόνημα καὶ στρ. β
ἀστυνόμους
ὀργὰς ἐδιδάξατο καὶ δυσαύλων 356
πάγων ὑπαίθρεια καὶ
δύσομβρα φεύγειν βέλη
παντοπόρος· ἄπορος ἐπ᾽ οὐδὲν ἔρχεται 360

ἀ-κµητος, -ον: tireless, unwearied, 1 λόφος, ὁ: crest, mane; back of the neck, 2
ἄ-πορος, -ον: unresourceful, without means, 1 µηχανή, ἡ: devices, contrivances, means, 1
ἄγρ-αυλος, -ον: field-dwelling, 1 ὀργή, ἡ: anger; temperment, mood, 6
ἀµφί: around, about, on both sides (dat, acc) 5 ὀρεσσι-βάτης, ὁ: mountain-roaming, 1
ἀνεµόεις, -εσσα, -εν: windy, airy, 1 οὔρειος, -α, -ον: mountain (dwelling), 1
ἀστυνόµος -όν: city-protecting, law-abiding 1 ὀχµάζω: to bind fast, get a firm grip on, 1
βέλος, -εος, τό: a arrow, missle, dart, 1 πάγος, ὁ: frost; rock, hill, 3
διδάσκω: to teach, instruct, 4 παντο-πόρος, ον: all-resourceful, inventive 1
δικτυό-κλωστος, -ον: woven in meshes, 1 περι-φραδής, -ές: very thoughful or skilled, 1
δύσ-αυλος, -ον: inhospitable, 1 σπεῖρα, ἡ: coils, folds (of a net), 1
δύσ-οµβρος, -ον: stormy, 1 ταῦρος, ὁ: bull, 1
ζυγόω: yoke together, harness, 1 ὑπ-αίθρειος, -α, -ον: under the sky, 1
θήρ, θηρός, ὁ: beast, wild beast, animal, 3 φεύγω: to flee, escape; defend in court, 6
ἵππος, ὁ: a horse, 2 φθέγµα, -ατος, τό: speech, voice, utterance, 2
κρατέω: control, gain control, overpower, 2 φρόνηµα, τό: thought, purpose, resolve, 6
λασι-αύχην, -χενος: shaggy-necked, 1

349 µηχαναῖς: dat. of means the biting cold; βέλε-α, acc. neuter pl. is
350 ὀρεσσιβάτα: ὀρεσσιβάταο, contracted employed twice
Doric gen. sg., the adj. modifies θηρὸς 359 δύσοµβρα...βέλη: neuter pl. βέλε-α, i.e.
θ᾽...τ᾽ : both…and; τε…τε downpour, the second object of φεύγειν
355 ἀνεµόεν: i.e. as fast as the wind φεύγειν: …how to avoid; governed by
ἀστυνόµους ὀργὰς: i.e. social ἐδιδάξατο
dispositions that give rise to cities 360 ἐπὶ οὐδὲν...τὸ µέλλον: comes to nothing
356 ἐδιδάξατο: he taught to himself…; aor. (that is) going to be; or perhaps ‘nothing
mid., middle indicates reflexive action intending to be,’ τὸ µέλλον (neut. pple)
καὶ...καὶ: both…and often denotes ‘the future’
δυσαύλων πάγων ὑπαίθρεια (βέλη): i.e.

24
 τὸ μέλλον· Ἅιδα μόνον
φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπάξεται·
νόσων δ᾽ ἀμηχάνων φυγὰς
ξυμπέφρασται.
σοφόν τι τὸ μηχανόεν τέχνας ὑπὲρ ἐλπίδ᾽ 365 ἀντ. β
ἔχων
τοτὲ μὲν κακόν, ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐσθλὸν ἕρπει,
νόμους γεραίρων χθονὸς
θεῶν τ᾽ ἔνορκον δίκαν,
ὑψίπολις· ἄπολις ὅτῳ τὸ μὴ καλὸν 370
ξύνεστι τόλμας χάριν.
μήτ᾽ ἐμοὶ παρέστιος
γένοιτο μήτ᾽ ἴσον φρονῶν
ὃς τάδ᾽ ἔρδει. 375

ἀ-µήχανος, -ον: without means; impossible 5 σοφός, -ή, -όν: wise, learned, skilled, 3
ἄ-πολις, -ιδος: one without a city, citiless, 1 συµ-φράζοµαι: to contrive, devise together, 1
ἄλλ-οτε: at another time, at other times, 1 σύν-ειµι: to be, associate, be engaged with, 2
γεραίρω: to honor, reward, 1 τέχνη, ἡ: art, skill, craft, 2
γίγνοµαι: to come to be, become, be born, 6 τόλµα, -ης, ἡ: daring, boldness, rashness, 1
ἔν-ορκος, -ον: bound by oath, 1 τοτέ: at one time, at some time; at times, 1
ἐπ-άγω: to bring on or against, 1 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
ἔρδω: to do, make, 1 ὑψί-πολις, -ιδος: a citizen of a lofty city, 1
ἕρπω: to creep, move slowly, come, go, 6 φεῦξις, ἡ: refuge, escape, 1
ἐσθλός, -ή, -όν: good, noble, brave, 4 φρονέω: to think, to be wise, prudent, 16
µηχανόεις, εσσα, εν: resourceful, ingenious 1 φυγή, ἡ: flight, escape, exile, 2
νόσος, ὁ: sickness, illness, disease, 6 χάρις, -ριτος, ἡ: favor, gratitude, thanks, 6
παρ-έστιος, -ον: near or by the hearth, 1

361 Ἅιδα µόνον: in respect to death alone; ἄπολις (ἐστι): citiless is (anyone); supply a
acc. of respect, metonymy linking verb; ἄπολις is nom. predicate
362 ἐπάξεται: fut., middle suggests action in ὅτῳ τὸ µὴ καλὸν σύνεστι: who is engaged
the subject’s interest: ‘for himself/herself’ with what is disgraceful; lit. ‘(with) whom
363 νόσων...ἀµηχάνων: from diseases what is disgraceful associates’ dat. ὅστις
without remedy; gen. of separation is dat. of compound verb; µή is prefered to
364 συµπέφρασται: pf mid.; φύγας is acc. οὐ with adjectives that are generic
365 τὸ µηχανόεν τέχνας: a resourcefulness 371 χάριν: on account of…; ‘thanks tο...᾽ as a
of skill; acc. direct obj., τέχνας is gen. sg. preposition χάριν governs a preceding gen.
ὑπὲρ ἐλπίδ(α): beyond… 373 µὴτ(ε)...γένοιτο: may he…; aor. opt. of
367 τοτὲ µὲν...ἄλλοτ(ε): at times…at other wish γίγνοµαι
times µὴτε...µὴτε: governing two nominatives, an
(ἐπὶ) κακόν: toward…; parallel to ἐσθλὸν adjective and a pres. pple
369 τ᾽ : and 374 ἴσον: similar thoughts; inner acc. of pple
ἔνορκον δίκαν: i.e. justice which people φρονέω
swear to uphold 375 ὅς: who…; missing subject is antecedent.
370 ὑψίπολις (ἐστι): (he is)....; nom. pred.

25
 ἐς δαιμόνιον τέρας ἀμφινοῶ
τόδε· πῶς εἰδὼς ἀντιλογήσω
τήνδ᾽ οὐκ εἶναι παῖδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην.
ὦ δύστηνος καὶ δυστήνου
πατρὸς Οἰδιπόδα, 380
τί ποτ᾽; οὐ δή που σέ γ᾽ ἀπιστοῦσαν
τοῖς βασιλείοισιν ἄγουσι νόμοις
καὶ ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ καθελόντες;
Φύλ ἥδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐκείνη τοὔργον ἡ 'ξειργασμένη·
τήνδ᾽ εἵλομεν θάπτουσαν. ἀλλὰ ποῦ Κρέων; 385
Χορ ὅδ᾽ ἐκ δόμων ἄψορρος εἰς δέον περᾷ.
Κρέ τί δ᾽ ἔστι; ποίᾳ ξύμμετρος προὔβην τύχῃ;
Φύλ ἄναξ, βροτοῖσιν οὐδέν ἔστ᾽ ἀπώμοτον.
ψεύδει γὰρ ἡ 'πίνοια τὴν γνώμην· ἐπεὶ
σχολῇ ποθ᾽ ἥξειν δεῦρ᾽ ἂν ἐξηύχουν ἐγὼ 390

ἀ-πιστέω: disbelieve, disobey, distrust +dat 3 ἐπί-νοια, ἡ: afterthoughts, second thoughts, 1

ἀ-φροσύνη, ἡ: folly, thoughtlessness, 1 θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7
ἀµφι-νοέω: to think two ways about, be of καθ-αιρέω: to seize, catch; reduce, destroy, 3
two minds about, be ambivalent about, 1 Οἰδίπους, ὁ: Oedipus, Antigone’s father, 6
ἀντι-λογέοµαι: to dispute, deny, quarrel, 2 περάω: to cross, traverse, make one’s way, 2
Ἀντιγόνη, ἡ: Antigone, 4 ποῖος, -α, -ον: what sort of? what kind of? 6
ἀπ-ώµοτος ον: foresworn, sworn not to act 2 που: anywhere, somewhere; I suppose, 4
ἄψορρος, -ον: backwards, back again, 1 ποῦ: where? 2
βασίλειος, -ον: royal, kingly, 1 προ-βαίνω: step forward, advance, 2
δαιµόνιος, -α, -ον: god-sent, of a δαίµων, 3 πῶς: how? in what way? 5
δεῦρο: here, to this point, hither, 4 σύµ-µετρος, όν: suitable for, in time for, 1
δεῖ: it is necessary, must, ought (+ inf.), 5 σχολή, ἡ: leisure, ease, free time, 4
δύσ-τηνος, -ον: ill-suffering, wretched, 6 τέρας, τό: portent, sign, wonder, marvel, 2
ἐξ-αυχέω: to boast loudly, vow outloud, 1 τύχη, ἡ: chance, luck, fortune, event, 6
ἐξ-εργάζοµαι: accomplish entirely, finish 2 ψεύδω: to prove false; mid. lie, cheat, 1

376 ἐς: εἰς 381 τοῖς βασιλείοισιν νόµους: obj. of pple

377 εἰδὼς: i.e. recognizing her; pf. pple οἶδα 383 καθελόντες: aor. pple καθ-αιρέω (-ἑλ)
ἀντιλογήσω: either fut. ind. or aor. 384 (ἐ)ξειργασµένη: reduplicated pf. pple
deliberative subj.: ‘How am I to…’ 385 εἵλοµεν: 1st pl. aor. αἱρέω (stem ἑλ)
378 εἶναι: inf. εἰµί 386 εἰς δέον: at the right time; ‘for what
379 ὧ δύστηνος: direct address with a is needed,’ neut. sg. pple δεῖ
nominative endings instead of vocative 387 σύµµετρος...: in time for…; this
δυστήνου πατρὸς Οἰδιπόδα: (daughter) compound adj. governs a dat.
of…; gen. of source; Οἰδιπόδα is a Doric 388 βροτοῖσιν: for…; dat. of interest
gen. sg. οὐδέν ἔστ᾽ ἀπώµοτον: i.e. there is nothing
380 τί ποτ(ε): what in the world?; idiom which men can swear not to do
οὐ δὴ…που: Certainly they are not, I 389 ψεύδει: proves false, makes false
suppose,...; an incredulous question, 390 σχολῇ: at leisure; ‘slowly,’ dat. manner,
anticipating a ‘yes’ response may also mean ‘hardly’ or ‘scarcely’
σέ γ᾽: you in fact.; γε emphasizes σέ ἂν ἐξηύχουν: I would have vowed; ἄν +
ἀπιστοῦσαν: fem. acc. sg. pple with σέ impf. indicates unrealized potential

26
 ταῖς σαῖς ἀπειλαῖς αἷς ἐχειμάσθην τότε.
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ γὰρ ἐκτὸς καὶ παρ᾽ ἐλπίδας χαρὰ
ἔοικεν ἄλλῃ μῆκος οὐδὲν ἡδονῇ,
ἥκω, δι᾽ ὅρκων καίπερ ὢν ἀπώμοτος,
κόρην ἄγων τήνδ᾽, ἣ καθῃρέθη τάφον 395
κοσμοῦσα. κλῆρος ἐνθάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐπάλλετο,
ἀλλ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐμὸν θοὔρμαιον, οὐκ ἄλλου, τόδε.
καὶ νῦν, ἄναξ, τήνδ᾽ αὐτός, ὡς θέλεις, λαβὼν
καὶ κρῖνε κἀξέλεγχ᾽· ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐλεύθερος
δίκαιός εἰμι τῶνδ᾽ ἀπηλλάχθαι κακῶν. 400
Κρέ ἄγεις δὲ τήνδε τῷ τρόπῳ πόθεν λαβών;
Φύλ αὕτη τὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἔθαπτε· πάντ᾽ ἐπίστασαι.
Κρέ ἦ καὶ ξυνίης καὶ λέγεις ὀρθῶς ἃ φῄς;
Φύλ ταύτην γ᾽ ἰδὼν θάπτουσαν ὃν σὺ τὸν νεκρὸν
ἀπεῖπας. ἆρ᾽ ἔνδηλα καὶ σαφῆ λέγω; 405

ἄλλῃ: in another place; in another way, 1 καθ-αιρέω: to take down, reduce, destroy, 3
ἀπ-αλλάσσω: to set free, release, deliver, 5 καίπερ: although, albeit, 1
ἀπ-εῖπον: speak against, refuse, renounce, 1 κλῆρος, ὁ: a lot, plot (of land), 2
ἀπ-ώµοτος ον: foresworn, sworn not to act 2 κόρα, ἡ: girl, maiden, 5
ἀπειλή, ἡ: threat, boast, 2 κοσµέω: to order, arrange, adorn, 3
ἐκτός: outside; out of, far from (+ gen.), 5 κρίνω: to choose, decide; judge, interpret, 2
ἐλεύθερος, -η, -ον: free, 2 µῆκος, τό: length; extent, magnitude, 2
ἔν-δηλος, -ον: visible, manifest, clear, 1 ὅρκος, ὁ: oath, 1
ἐνθάδε: here, hither, there, thither, 3 πάλλω: to poise, brandish; mid. draw lots, 1
ἐξ-ελέγχω: cross-examine, accuse, refute 1 πόθεν: whence? from where?, 2
ἔοικα: to be or seem likely, be reasonable, 5 σαφής, -ές: reliable, definite, clear, distinct, 2
ἐπίσταµαι: to know (how), understand, 5 συν-ίηµι: to understand; put together, 2
ἕρµαιον, τό: wind-fall, god-send, 1 τότε: at that time, then, 6
ἔστε: ἔσ-οτε until, up to the time that, 1 τρόπος, ὁ: a manner, way; turn, direction, 2
ἦ: in truth, truly (begins open question), 6 χαρά, ἡ: joy, delight, 2
ἡδονή, ἡ: pleasure, enjoyment, delight, 4 χειµάζοµαι: be storm-tossed, be distressed 1
θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7

391 ταῖς...άπειλαῖς: because of…; dat. cause 398 αὐτὸς: (you) yourself; intensive pronoun
αἷς: by which…; dat. of cause ὡς: as…; parenthetical, (ἑ)θέλεις
ἐχειµάσθην: 1st sg. aor. pass. 399 κρῖνε κα(ὶ ἐ)ξέλεγχε: imperatives
392 ἀλλ(ὰ)...γὰρ: but since… 400 δικαιός εἰµί: I am right to…; governs an
ἐκτὸς καὶ παρ(ὰ) ἐλπίδας: exceeding and epexegetic (explanatory) inf.
beyond expectations τῶνδε...κακῶν: from...; gen. of separation
393 ἔοικεν...οὐδὲν: is not at all like; + dat., ἀπηλλάχθαι: pf. pass. inf.
adverbial acc. 401 τῷ τρόπῳ πόθεν: in what way and from
µῆκος: in…; acc. of respect where?; double interrogative, τῷ is dat τίνι
394 ὢν: nom. sg pres. pple εἰµί 404 γ᾽: yes; an affirmative
395 καθῃρέθη: 3rd sg. aor. pass. καθαιρέω ἰδὼν: nom. sg. aor. pple εἶδον
396 ἐνθάδε: at this point; in time, not space
397 θοὔρµαιον: τὸ ἔρµαιον
ἄλλου: possessive, parallel to ἐµὸν

27
Κρέ καὶ πῶς ὁρᾶται κἀπίληπτος ᾑρέθη;
Φύλ τοιοῦτον ἦν τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽. ὅπως γὰρ ἥκομεν,
πρὸς σοῦ τὰ δείν᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἐπηπειλημένοι,
πᾶσαν κόνιν σήραντες, ἣ κατεῖχε τὸν
νέκυν, μυδῶν τε σῶμα γυμνώσαντες εὖ, 410
καθήμεθ᾽ ἄκρων ἐκ πάγων ὑπήνεμοι,
ὀσμὴν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ μὴ βάλοι πεφευγότες,
ἐγερτὶ κινῶν ἄνδρ᾽ ἀνὴρ ἐπιρρόθοις
κακοῖσιν, εἴ τις τοῦδ᾽ ἀκηδήσοι πόνου.
χρόνον τάδ᾽ ἦν τοσοῦτον, ἔστ᾽ ἐν αἰθέρι 415
μέσῳ κατέστη λαμπρὸς ἡλίου κύκλος
καὶ καῦμ᾽ ἔθαλπε· καὶ τότ᾽ ἐξαίφνης χθονὸς
τυφὼς ἀείρας σκηπτόν οὐράνιον ἄχος,
πίμπλησι πεδίον, πᾶσαν αἰκίζων φόβην
ὕλης πεδιάδος, ἐν δ᾽ ἐμεστώθη μέγας 420

ἀ-κηδέω: to neglect, be neglectful, 1 λαµπρός, -ά, -όν: bright, brilliant, radiant, 1

ἀείρω: to lift, raise up, 1 µέσος, -η, -ον: middle, in the middle of, 3
αἰθήρ, αἰθέρος, ὁ: sky, wide air, aether, 2 µεστόω: to fill full of (gen), 2
αἰκίζω: to treat injuriously, mar, torment, 2 µυδάω: to be damp, clammy; drip 2
ἄκρος, -η, -ον: topmost, excellent, 5 ὀσµή, ἡ: smell, scent, odor, 2
ἄχος, -εος, τό: anguish, distress, grief, 3 οὐράνιος, -η, -ον: heavenly, of the sky, 2
βάλλω: to throw, pelt, hit, strike, 3 πάγος, ὁ: frost; rock, hill, 3
γυµνόω: to strip naked, be naked, 1 πεδιάς, -άδος: level, flat, 1
ἐγερτί: busily, eagerly, wakefully, 1 πεδίον, τό: plain; flat land, 2
ἐξαίφνης: suddenly, immediately, 1 πίµπληµι: to fill, fill full, 2
ἐπ-απειλέω: direct a threat against, threaten 2 πόνος, ὁ: work, toil, labor, 5
ἐπί-ληπτος, -ον: caught, detected, 1 πρᾶγµα, -µατος, τό: action, deed, matter 6
ἐπί-ρροθος, -ον: abusive or bandied words, 1 πῶς: how? in what way? 5
ἔστε: ἔσ-οτε until, up to the time that, 1 σαίρω: to sweep away, clean, 1
ἥλιος, ὁ: the sun, (else ἀέλιος) 2 σκηπτός, ὁ: a thunderbolt, 1
θάλπω: to warm, heat up, 1 σῶµα, -ατος, τό: the body, 3
κάθ-ηµαι: to sit, sit down, 1 τοσοῦτος, -αύτη, -ο: so great, much, many 4
καθ-ίστηµι: stand, establish; put into a state, 5 τότε: at that time, then, 6
κατ-έχω: to hold fast; check, cover; possess 4 τυφώς, -ῶ ὁ: typhoon, whirlwind, 1
καῦµα, -ατος, τό: heat, burning heat, 1 ὕλη, ἡ: wood, forest, 1
κινέω: set in motion, move; rouse, irritate, 3 ὑπ-ήνεµος, -ον: under the wind, sheltered, 1
κόνις, ἡ: dust, 5 φεύγω: to flee, escape; defend in court, 6
κύκλος, ὁ: circle, ring; eyesocket 4 φόβη, ἡ: foliage, leafage, tufts; lock of hair, 1

406 ᾐρέθη: 3rd sg. aor. pass. αἱρέω 411 ἄκρων ἐκ πάγων: here ‘hills’ not ‘frost’
407 ὅπως: when 412 µὴ βάλοι: lest it strike (us); opt. replaces
408 πρὸς: from…; gen. of source, often subj. in a fearing clause in secondary seq.
the equivalent to a gen. of agent 414 ἀκηδήσοι: neglects; fut. opt. replacing a
τὰ δείνα ἐκεῖνα: i.e. threats, inner acc. fut. indicative in ind. disc. secondary seq.
ἐπηπειληµένοι: pf. pass. pple 416 κατέστη: aor. καθ-ίστηµι
409 ἣ: which…; κόνιν is fem. sg. antecedent 418 σκηπτόν: a metaphor for a sand-storm
410 µυδῶν: µυδάον, neut. pple with σῶµα 420 ἐν δ᾽ἐµεστώθη: and therein...; aor. pass.

28
 αἰθήρ· μύσαντες δ᾽ εἴχομεν θείαν νόσον.
καὶ τοῦδ᾽ ἀπαλλαγέντος ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ,
ἡ παῖς ὁρᾶται, κἀνακωκύει πικρᾶς
ὄρνιθος ὀξὺν φθόγγον, ὡς ὅταν κενῆς
εὐνῆς νεοσσῶν ὀρφανὸν βλέψῃ λέχος. 425
οὕτω δὲ χαὔτη, ψιλὸν ὡς ὁρᾷ νέκυν,
γόοισιν ἐξῴμωξεν, ἐκ δ᾽ ἀρὰς κακὰς
ἠρᾶτο τοῖσι τοὔργον ἐξειργασμένοις.
καὶ χερσὶν εὐθὺς διψίαν φέρει κόνιν,
ἔκ τ᾽ εὐκροτήτου χαλκέας ἄρδην πρόχου 430
χοαῖσι τρισπόνδοισι τὸν νέκυν στέφει.
χἠμεῖς ἰδόντες ἱέμεσθα, σὺν δέ νιν
θηρώμεθ᾽ εὐθὺς οὐδὲν ἐκπεπληγμένην,
καὶ τάς τε πρόσθεν τάς τε νῦν ἠλέγχομεν
πράξεις· ἄπαρνος δ᾽ οὐδενὸς καθίστατο, 435

αἰθήρ, αἰθέρος, ὁ: sky, wide air, aether, 2 κενός, -ή, -όν: empty; void, destitute, 4
ἀνα-κωκύω: to shriek out, wail out, cry out 2 κόνις, ἡ: dust, 5
ἀπ-αλλάσσω: to set free, release, deliver, 5 λέχος, -εος, τό: bed, couch, 4
ἄπ-αρνος, -ον: denying utterly, 1 µακρός, -ή, -όν: long, far, distant, large, 4
ἀρά, ἡ: prayer, vow, curse, 1 µύω: to close, shut (one’s eyes), 1
ἀράοµαι: pray to, invoke; to vow that + inf. 1 νεοσσός, ὁ: nestling, young bird, chick, 1
ἄρδην: lifted up, on high, 1 νιν: him, her (not reflexive) 7
βλέπω: to see, look at, 5 νόσος, ὁ: sickness, illness, disease, 6
γόος, ὁ: wailing, weeping, lamenting, 3 ὀξύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sharp, piercing, fierce, 4
δίψιος, -α, -ον: thirsty, dry, parched, 2 ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ, ἡ: a bird, 4
ἐκ-πλήσσω: strike, shock, amaze, 1 ὀρφανός, -ή, -όν: bereft of, bereaved of, 1
ἐλέγχω: cross-examine, accuse test, refute, 2 πικρός, -ά, -όν: sharp, keen, bitter, 1
ἐξ-εργάζοµαι: accomplish utterly, finish 2 πρᾶξις, -εως, ἡ: a action, deed, business, 2
ἐξ-οιµώζω: to wail aloud, cry outloud, 1 πρό-χοος, ὁ: jug, pitcher (esp. for water), 1
εὐ-κρότητος ον: well-hammered or -made, 1 πρόσθεν: before (+ gen.) 3
εὐθύς: right away, straight, directly, at once, 3 στέφω: to put around, crown, 1
εὐνή, ἡ: bed, couth, 6 τρί-σπονδος, -ον: thrice-poured, 1
θεῖος, -α, -ον: divine, sent by the gods, 1 φθόγγος, ὁ: voice, 5
θηράω: to hunt or chase, pursue, 2 χαλκεύς, -έως, ὁ: blacksmith, 1
ἵηµι: to let go, send, throw; mid. hasten, 2 χοή, ἡ: libation, drink-offering, 2
καθ-ίστηµι: to set, establish; put into a state, 5 ψιλός, -όν: bare, stript, simple, 1

421 νόσον: plague; a metaphor for disaster ἀρὰς κακὰς: cognate acc.
422 τοῦδ(ε) ἀπαλλαγέντος: after this 428 τοῖσι...ἐξειργασµένοις: against those…;
(storm)…; gen. abs., aor. pass. pple ‘for…’ pf. pple, dat. of interest
423 πικρᾶς ὄρνιθος: i.e. embittered; gen. sg. 429 χερσὶν: dat. pl. of means, χείρ
424 ὡς: just as…; beginning a bird simile 432 χἠµεῖς…ἱέµεσθα: we rush; καὶ ἡµεῖς,
κενῆς εὐνῆς: partitive gen. with λέχος ~ἵηµι
425 νεοσσῶν: gen. separation with ὀρφανὸν σὺν δέ...θηρώµεθ(α): tmesis
βλέψῃ: 3rd sg. aor. subj., temporal clause 433 οὐδὲν: not at all
426 οὕτω...χαὔτη: so this one too; καὶ αὕτη 434 τάς..νῦν: deeds both past and present
ὡς: when… 435 καθίστατο: she became; impf. ‘
427 ἐκ δ᾽...ἠρᾶτο: tmesis, impf. ἀράοµαι
29
 ἅμ᾽ ἡδέως ἔμοιγε κἀλγεινῶς ἅμα.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐκ κακῶν πεφευγέναι
ἥδιστον, ἐς κακὸν δὲ τοὺς φίλους ἄγειν
ἀλγεινόν· ἀλλὰ πάντα ταῦθ᾽ ἥσσω λαβεῖν
ἐμοὶ πέφυκε τῆς ἐμῆς σωτηρίας. 440
Κρέ σὲ δή, σὲ τὴν νεύουσαν εἰς πέδον κάρα,
φὴς ἢ καταρνεῖ μὴ δεδρακέναι τάδε;
Ἀντ καὶ φημὶ δρᾶσαι κοὐκ ἀπαρνοῦμαι τὸ μή.
Κρέ σὺ μὲν κομίζοις ἂν σεαυτὸν ᾖ θέλεις
ἔξω βαρείας αἰτίας ἐλεύθερον· 445
σὺ δ᾽ εἰπέ μοι μὴ μῆκος, ἀλλὰ συντόμως,
ᾔδησθα κηρυχθέντα μὴ πράσσειν τάδε;
Ἀντ ᾔδη· τί δ᾽ οὐκ ἔμελλον; ἐμφανῆ γὰρ ἦν.
Κρέ καὶ δῆτ᾽ ἐτόλμας τούσδ᾽ ὑπερβαίνειν νόμους;
Ἀντ οὐ γάρ τί μοι Ζεὺς ἦν ὁ κηρύξας τάδε, 450

αἰτία, ἡ: cause, responsibility, blame, 4 κατ-αρνέοµαι: deny strongly, keep denying 1

ἀλγεινός, -ή, -όν: painful, grievous, 5 κήρυγµα, -ατος, τό: proclamation, notice, 3
ἅµα: at the same time; along with (dat.), 5 κηρύσσω: to be a herald, proclaim, 5
ἀπ-αρνέοµαι: to deny, deny utterly, 1 κοµίζω: carry, bring; provide for, attend, 2
βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ: low, heavy; grievous, 3 µῆκος, τό: length; extent, magnitude, 2
δῆτα: indeed, to be sure, of course, 7 νεύω: to nod, 2
ἔγωγε: I, for my part, 5 πέδον, τό: plain, flat land, ground, 2
ἐλεύθερος, -η, -ον: free, 2 σεαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: yourself, 6
ἐµ-φανής, -ες: open, public, visible, 2 συν-τόµως: quickly, concisely, briefly, 1
ἔξω: out of (+ gen.); adv. outside, 3 σωτηρία, ἡ: salvation; safety, security, 2
ἡδέως: sweetly, pleasantly, gladly, 2 τολµάω: to dare, undertake, endure, 3
ἡδύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sweet, pleasant, glad, 3 ὑπερ-βαίνω: to overstep, transgress, 3
ἥσσων, -ον: inferior, weaker, less, 3 φεύγω: to flee, escape; defend in court, 6

336 ἅµ(α)...ἅµα: at once…at once…; both τῆς...σωτηρίας: than…; gen. comparison

...and, on the one hand… on the other 441 σέ δή: you then….?; δή may express a
ἔµοιγε: dat. of interest contemptuous or indignant tone with σύ ;
337 τὸ...πεφευγέναι: that…have escaped; 442 φὴς: 2nd sg. pres. φηµί
articular inf., pf. active, as subject καταρνε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. pres. mid.
αὐτὸν: that (Ι) myself; intensive pronoun µὴ δεδρακέναι τάδε: that…; µή follows a
modifying a missing acc. subject of the inf. verb of denial and may be left untranslated;
338 ἥδιστον (ἐστί): superlative ἡδύς is a σέ is the acc. subject of the pf. inf. δράω
neut. predicate. adj., supply a linking verb 443 δρᾶσαι: that (I)…aor. inf., add a subject
ἐς κακὸν: to trouble τὸ µὴ (δρᾶσαι): that (I)…; for µή, see 442
339 ἀλγεινόν (ἐστι): neut. pred. adjective 444 σὺ µὲν, σὺ δὲ: i.e. the guard and Antigone
πάντα ταῦτα: i.e. everything noted in κοµίζοις ἂν: you may…; potential opt.,
lines 338-9 (ἐς κακὸν…ἀλγεινόν); ᾖ θέλεις: where you wish; ‘in which (place)’
ἥσσο(ν)α λαβεῖν: neuter pl. predicate of 445 µῆκος: at length; acc. of duration
πέφυκε with an explanatory infinitive 447 ᾔδησθα: 2nd sg. plpf. οἶδα as simple past
440 πέφυκε: are (naturally); pf. φύω, the 448 ᾔδη: 1st sg. plpf. οἶδα as simple past
subject is neuter plural πάντα ταῦτα 450 οὐ...τι: not at all

30
 οὐδ᾽ ἡ ξύνοικος τῶν κάτω θεῶν Δίκη
τοιούσδ᾽ ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ὥρισεν νόμους.
οὐδὲ σθένειν τοσοῦτον ᾠόμην τὰ σὰ
κηρύγμαθ᾽, ὥστ᾽ ἄγραπτα κἀσφαλῆ θεῶν
νόμιμα δύνασθαι θνητὸν ὄνθ᾽ ὑπερδραμεῖν. 455
οὐ γάρ τι νῦν γε κἀχθές, ἀλλ᾽ ἀεί ποτε
ζῇ ταῦτα, κοὐδεὶς οἶδεν ἐξ ὅτου 'φάνη.
τούτων ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔμελλον, ἀνδρὸς οὐδενὸς
φρόνημα δείσασ᾽, ἐν θεοῖσι τὴν δίκην
δώσειν· θανουμένη γὰρ ἐξῄδη, τί δ᾽ οὔ; 460
κεἰ μὴ σὺ προὐκήρυξας. εἰ δὲ τοῦ χρόνου
πρόσθεν θανοῦμαι, κέρδος αὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ λέγω.
ὅστις γὰρ ἐν πολλοῖσιν ὡς ἐγὼ κακοῖς
ζῇ, πῶς ὅδ᾽ οὐχὶ κατθανὼν κέρδος φέρει;
οὕτως ἔμοιγε τοῦδε τοῦ μόρου τυχεῖν 465

ἄ-γραπτος, -ον: unwritten, 1 οἴοµαι: to suppose, think, imagine, 4

ἀ-σφαλής, -ές: not liable to fall, safe, secure 2 ὁρίζω: to mark out, establish; divide, 1
ἀεί: always, forever, in every case, 6 προ-κηρύσσω: to proclaim by herald, 2
δείδω: fear, dread, shrink from, feel awe, 5 πρόσθεν: before (+ gen.) 3
δίδωµι: to give, offer, grant, provide, 6 πῶς: how? in what way? 5
δύναµαι: to be able, can, be capable, 4 σθένω: to be strong, have strength, 3
ἔγωγε: I, for my part, 5 σύν-οικος, ὁ, ἡ: fellow-dweller, co-habitant, 1
ἐξ-οιδα: to know utterly, know well, 1 τοιόσδε, -άδε, -όνδε: such, this (here) sort, 7
ἐχθές, -ον: yesterday (χθές,) 1 τοσοῦτος, -αύτη, -ο: so great, much, many 4
θνητός, -ή, -όν: liable to death, mortal, 4 τυγχάνω: chance upon, get, attain; happen, 5
κατα-θνήσκω: to die, 6 ὑπερ-τρέχω: to run over, overrun, 1
κήρυγµα, -ατος, τό: proclamation, notice, 3 φρόνηµα, τό: thought, purpose, resolve, 6
νόµιµα, τά: observances, customs, usages, 1 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7

451 τῶν κάτω θεῶν: i.e. of the underworld, ἔµελλον...δώσειν: µέλλω governs a fut.
one usually expects a dat. after σύνοικος inf., δίδωµι
Δίκη: personified as a goddess οὐδενὸς: of any…; following οὐ
453 ᾠόµην: impf. οἴοµαι 459 φρόνηµα: this word can frequently mean
τοσουτον: so (strong); inner acc. ‘high thoughts’ or ‘pride’
454 ὥστε...δύνασθαι: that…; result, + inf. δείσασ(α): fem. nom. sg. aor. pple
θνητὸν ὄντ(α): (one)…; acc. pple είµί and ἐν: among…; i.e. before the eyes of…
acc. predicate modify the missing acc. δίκην δώσειν: pay the penalty; fut., idiom
subject of δύνασθαι; add the acc. subject 460 θανουµένη: (that I) will die; fut. mid.
455 ὑπερδραµεῖν: aor. inf. ὑπερ-τρέχω pple as the ind. disc. of a verb of knowing
456 οὐ...τι: not at all ἐξῄδη: 1st sg. plpf. οἶδα, past in sense
νῦν γε κα(ὶ) ἐχθές: i.e. the present and past τί δ᾽οὔ: supply ἐξῄδη
ποτε: at any time 461 κεἰ: even if…
457 ζῇ: ζάει, pres. ind. with neut. pl. subject 462 θανοῦµαι: fut. dep. (stem θανε)
ἐξ ὅτου: ἐξ οὖτινος, gen. sg. ὅστις κέρδος αὐτ(ό): I call it a gain; double acc.
(ἐ)φάνη: appeared; aor. pass. dep. φαίνω 463 ὡς ἐγὼ: just as I
458 τούτων: i.e. the νόµιµα θεῶν; modifies 465 τυχεῖν: to attain; aor. inf. + partitive gen.
δίκην

31
 παρ᾽ οὐδὲν ἄλγος· ἀλλ᾽ ἄν, εἰ τὸν ἐξ ἐμῆς
μητρὸς θανόντ᾽ ἄθαπτον ἠνσχόμην νέκυν,
κείνοις ἂν ἤλγουν· τοῖσδε δ᾽ οὐκ ἀλγύνομαι.
σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκῶ νῦν μῶρα δρῶσα τυγχάνειν,
σχεδόν τι μώρῳ μωρίαν ὀφλισκάνω. 470
Χορ δηλοῖ τὸ γέννημ᾽ ὠμὸν ἐξ ὠμοῦ πατρὸς
τῆς παιδός. εἴκειν δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπίσταται κακοῖς.
Κρέ ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθι τοι τὰ σκλήρ᾽ ἄγαν φρονήματα
πίπτειν μάλιστα, καὶ τὸν ἐγκρατέστατον
σίδηρον ὀπτὸν ἐκ πυρὸς περισκελῆ 475
θραυσθέντα καὶ ῥαγέντα πλεῖστ᾽ ἂν εἰσίδοις·
σμικρῷ χαλινῷ δ᾽ οἶδα τοὺς θυμουμένους
ἵππους καταρτυθέντας· οὐ γὰρ ἐκπέλει
φρονεῖν μέγ᾽ ὅστις δοῦλός ἐστι τῶν πέλας.
αὕτη δ᾽ ὑβρίζειν μὲν τότ᾽ ἐξηπίστατο, 480

ἄ-θαπτος, -ον: unburied, 3 µωρία, ἡ: folly, silliness, 1

ἄγαν: too much, excessively, 6 µῶρος, -α, -ον: foolish, stupid, sluggish, 3
ἀλγέω: to feel pain, suffer, 3 ὀπτός, -ή, -όν: baked, roasted, 1
ἄλγος, τό: pain, distress, grief, 1 ὀφλισκάνω: owe, incur a charge of acc., 2
ἀλγύνω: to pain, distress, grieve, 2 πέλας: near, close; neighbor, other, 2
ἀν-έχω: to allow, endure, sustain, 1 περι-σκελής, -ές: very hard, 1
γέννηµα, -ατος, τό: offspring, 2 πλεῖστος, -η, -ον: most, greatest, largest, 3
δηλόω: to show, reveal, make clear, 4 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
δοῦλος, ὁ: a slave, 2 ῥήγνυµι: to break, burst, rend, 1
ἐγ-κρατής, -ές: strong, firm, self-controlled, 2 σίδηρος, ὁ: iron; sword, knife, 1
εἴκω: yield, give way to dat. (aor. εἰκάθον) 5 σκληρός, -ά, -όν: hard, stiff, unyielding, 1
εἰσ-οράω: to look upon, view, behold, 3 σµικρός, -ά, -όν: small, little, 2
ἐκ-πέλει: it is permitted, it is allowed, 1 σχεδόν: nearly, almost, just about, 1
ἐξ-επίσταµαι: to know well or thoroughly, 2 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
ἐπίσταµαι: to know (how), understand, 5 τότε: at that time, then, 6
θραύω: to shatter, break into pieces, 1 τυγχάνω: chance upon, get, attain; happen, 5
θυµόω: make spirited; mid. be spirited 2 ὑβρίζω: to commit outrage, insult, maltreat, 2
ἵππος, ὁ: a horse, 2 φρόνηµα, τό: thought, purpose, resolve, 6
κατ-αρτύω: to discipline, train, prepare, 1 χαλινός, ὁ: a bridle, bit, 2
µάλιστα: most of all; certainly, especially, 3 ὠµός, -ή, -όν: wild, savage, cruel, raw, 2

466 παρ(ὰ) ουδέν ἄλγος (ἐστί): is pain of no 470 σχεδόν τι: perhaps; ‘almost’
account; ‘equivalent to nothing,’ add a µώρῳ: in the eyes of a fool; dat. reference
linking verb; the subject is τυχεῖν 471 δηλοῖ: she reveals; or ‘shows herself’
ἄν, εἰ...ἠνσχόµην, ἂν ἤλγουν: if…I had, 472 τῆς παιδός: of a daughter; an appositive
I would…; mixed contrafactual (εἰ aor., ἄν gen. (gen. explanation) modifies γέννηµα
impf.), the duplicated ἄν is untranslated 473 ἴσθι: sg. imperative οἶδα
τὸν...µητρὸς: a (son) from my mother (is); 476 ῥαγέντα: aor. pass. ῥήγνυµι, θραύω
the article reveals the male gender, add ἂν εἰσίδοις: potential aor. opt. εἰσ-οράω
a verb, ἄθαπτον νέκυν is acc. predicate 479 φρονεῖν µέγα: to think arrogant thoughts
467 ἠνσχόµην: aor. mid. ἀν-έχω (εσχ-) (τουτῳ) ὅστις: (for anyone) who…
468 (ἐ)κείνοις, τοῖσδε: dat. of means τῶν πέλας: of the neighbors
469 τυγχάνειν: to happen to…; + pple 480 αὕτη: this one; Creon talks to the chorus
32
 νόμους ὑπερβαίνουσα τοὺς προκειμένους·
ὕβρις δ᾽, ἐπεὶ δέδρακεν, ἥδε δευτέρα,
τούτοις ἐπαυχεῖν καὶ δεδρακυῖαν γελᾶν.
ἦ νῦν ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἀνήρ, αὕτη δ᾽ ἀνήρ,
εἰ ταῦτ᾽ ἀνατὶ τῇδε κείσεται κράτη. 485
ἀλλ᾽ εἴτ᾽ ἀδελφῆς εἴθ᾽ ὁμαιμονεστέρα
τοῦ παντὸς ἡμῖν Ζηνὸς ἑρκείου κυρεῖ,
αὐτή τε χἠ ξύναιμος οὐκ ἀλύξετον
μόρου κακίστου· καὶ γὰρ οὖν κείνην ἴσον
ἐπαιτιῶμαι τοῦδε βουλεῦσαι τάφου. 490
καί νιν καλεῖτ᾽· ἔσω γὰρ εἶδον ἀρτίως
λυσσῶσαν αὐτὴν οὐδ᾽ ἐπήβολον φρενῶν.
φιλεῖ δ᾽ ὁ θυμὸς πρόσθεν ᾑρῆσθαι κλοπεὺς
τῶν μηδὲν ὀρθῶς ἐν σκότῳ τεχνωμένων·
μισῶ γε μέντοι χὤταν ἐν κακοῖσί τις 495

ἀδελφή, ἡ: a sister, 2 κράτος, -εος, τό: strength, power, 6

ἀλύσκω: to escape, evade, avoid, forsake, 1 κυρέω: hit upon, light upon, encounter, 3
ἀνατί: without harm, with impunity, 1 λυσσάω: to be raging, rave, be mad, 1
ἀρτίως: just, now first; exactly 5 µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7
βουλεύω: to deliberate, plan, take counsel, 5 µισέω: to hate, 1
δεύτερος, -η, -ον: second; next, 2 νιν: him, her (not reflexive) 7
ἐπ-αιτιάοµαι: charge, accuse (acc) of, 1 ὅµ-αιµων, -ονος: near in blood, related 1
ἐπ-αυχέω: to exult in, boast loudly in (dat), 1 πρό-κειµαι: to lie exposed, be set before, 4
ἐπήβολος, ον: in possession of, in reach of, 1 πρόσθεν: before (+ gen.) 3
ἑρκεῖος, -ον: of the courtyard or household, 1 σκότος, ὁ: darkness, gloom, 2
ἔσω: into, inwards, to within, into, in, 3 σύν-αιµος, -ον: of common blood, kindred, 4
ἦ: in truth, truly (begins open question), 6 τεχνάοµαι: to devise, make by art, 1
θυµός, ὁ: desire, heart; soul, life, 5 τῇδε: here; in this way, thus, 3
καλέω: to call, summon, invite, 3 ὕβρις, ἡ: arrogance, insolence, outrage, 2
κεῖµαι: to lie at hand, lie down, 6 ὑπερ-βαίνω: to overstep, transgress, 3
κλοπεύς, ὁ: thief, stealer; perpetrator, 1 φιλέω: to love, befriend, 7

481 τοὺς προκειµένους: settled; prescribed anyone of my houshold Zeus; i.e. all family
482 δέδρακεν: unaugmented plpf., δράω; who worship in my household; comparison
supply a direct object, e.g. ‘this deed’ κυρεῖ: happens (to be); may govern a
(ἐστί) δευτέρα: is the second; add verb complementary pple, supply οὖσα
483 ἐπαυχεῖν, γελᾶν: (namely that she)…; 488 χἠ σύναιµος: καὶ ἡ σύναιµος; i.e. Ismene
these infinitives are in apposition to ὕβρις ἀλύξετον: 3rd pers. dual fut. ἀλύσκω
δεδρακυῖαν: while…; pf. act. pple δράω 489 µόρου κακίστου: gen. of separation
modifying the missing fem. acc. subject καὶ γὰρ οὖν...ἴσον: for in fact…equally
484 ἀνήρ (εἰµι)...ἀνήρ (ἐστι): add linking verb 490 τοῦδε...τάφου: of…; gen. of charge; the
485 τῇδε: for this one; dat. of interest aor. inf. is perhaps epexegetic: ‘in plotting’
κράτη: κράτε-α; neut. nom. subj. 491 καλεῖτ(ε): pl. imperative
486 εἴτ(ε)...εἴ(τε): whether…or 493 φιλεῖ...ᾑρῆσθαι: tends to be caught as a
ἀδελφῆς: (the child) of my sister; gen. sg. thief beforehand. pf. pass. inf.
ὁµαιµοεστέρα: fem. comparative degree 494 µηδὲν: nothing (good)
487 τοῦ παντὸς...Ζηνὸς ἑρκείου: than 495 µισῶ γε µέντοι: however, I truly hate…

33
 ἁλοὺς ἔπειτα τοῦτο καλλύνειν θέλῃ.
Ἀντ θέλεις τι μεῖζον ἢ κατακτεῖναί μ᾽ ἑλών;
Κρέ ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν· τοῦτ᾽ ἔχων ἅπαντ᾽ ἔχω.
Ἀντ τί δῆτα μέλλεις; ὡς ἐμοὶ τῶν σῶν λόγων
ἀρεστὸν οὐδὲν μηδ᾽ ἀρεσθείη ποτέ· 500
οὕτω δὲ καὶ σοὶ τἄμ᾽ ἀφανδάνοντ᾽ ἔφυ.
καίτοι πόθεν κλέος γ᾽ ἂν εὐκλεέστερον
κατέσχον ἢ τὸν αὐτάδελφον ἐν τάφῳ
τιθεῖσα; τούτοις τοῦτο πᾶσιν ἁνδάνειν
λέγοιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ μὴ γλῶσσαν ἐγκλῄοι φόβος. 505
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ τυραννὶς πολλά τ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ εὐδαιμονεῖ
κἄξεστιν αὐτῇ δρᾶν λέγειν θ᾽ ἃ βούλεται.
Κρέ σὺ τοῦτο μούνη τῶνδε Καδμείων ὁρᾷς.
Ἀντ ὁρῶσι χοὖτοι, σοὶ δ᾽ ὑπίλλουσιν στόμα.
Κρέ σὺ δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπαιδεῖ, τῶνδε χωρὶς εἰ φρονεῖς; 510

ἁλίσκοµαι: to be taken, be caught, 2 εὐδαιµονέω: to be prosperous, happy, 1

ἁνδάνω: to please, delight, gratify (dat) 2 Καδµεῖος, -η, -ον: Cadmean, of Thebes, 3
ἅπας, ἅπασα, ἅπαν: every, quite all, 2 καίτοι: and yet, and indeed, and further, 4
ἀρέσκω: to please, satisfy, (dat.), 4 καλλύνω: ennoble, make noble or glorious, 1
ἀρεστός, -ή, -όν: acceptable, pleasing, 1 κατ-έχω: to hold fast; check, cover; possess 4
αὐτά-δελφος, -ον: of one’s sister or brother 3 κατα-κτείνω: to kill, slay, 3
ἀφ-ανδάνω: to displease, not please, 1 κλέος, -εος, τό: glory, fame, rumor, 1
βούλοµαι: to wish, be willing, desire, 7 µεῖζων -ον: greater, bigger, better (~µέγας) 7
γλῶσσα, ἡ: tongue, 6 πόθεν: whence? from where?, 2
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 στόµα, -ατος, τό: the mouth, 3
ἐγ-κλείω: to shut in, enclose, 2 τίθηµι: to set, put, place, arrange, 6
ἔξεστι: it is allowed, permitted; is possible, 1 τυραννίς, -ίδος, ἡ: sovereignty, 1
ἐπ-αιδέοµαι: to be ashamed, 1 ὑπ-ίλλω: to keep down, force beneath, 1
ἔπ-ειτα: then, next, secondly, 5 φόβος, ὁ: fear, terror, panic, 4
εὐ-κλεής, -ές: glorious, well-renowned, 2 χωρίς: separately; apart from, without +gen 1

496 ἁλοὺς: nom. sg. aor. pple ἁλίσκοµαι 3rd sg. aor. φύω
(ἐ)θέλῃ: 3rd sg. pres. subj. (ἐ)θέλω in a 502 ἂν...κατέσχον: could I…; ἄν + aor.
general temporal clause indicative for past potential
497 ἑλὼν: nom. sg. aor. pple αἱρέω ἐυκλεέστερον...ἤ: comparative degree
498 οὐδέν (ἐθέλω): i.e. nothing else, in reply 503 τὸν ἀυτἀδελφον: my brother; an adj.
to (ἐ)θέλεις above employed as a substantive, see line 696
499 τί δῆτα: just what…?, what exactly…? 504 τιθεῖσα: fem. sg. pres. pple
ὡς: since…; ‘as’ τοῦτο...ἁνδάνειν: subject of λέγοιτο
τῶν...λόγων: partitive gen. 505 λέγοιτ(ο) ἂν, εἰ...ἐγκλῄοι: could…if…
500 ἀρεστόν (ἐστι): (is) pleasing; neut. pple should; fut. less vivid, opt.
is a predicate nominative 506 πολλά...ἄλλα: in…; acc. of respect
µηδ(ὲ) ἀρεσθείη: May it….; negative κα(ὶ) ἐξεστι αὐτῇ: …for it; i.e. ἡ τυραννίς
opt. of wish (hence, µή instead of οὐ); 3rd 509 χοὖτοι: these also…; καὶ οὗτοι
sg. aor. pass. opt. deponent. ἀρέσκω σοι: dat. of interest
501 τἄµε: τὰ ἐµὰ; possessive adj. 510 ἐπαιδε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. pres. mid.
ἔφυ: are naturally; + pple, as often for

34
=

Ἀντ οὐδὲν γὰρ αἰσχρὸν τοὺς ὁμοσπλάγχνους σέβειν.

Κρέ οὔκουν ὅμαιμος χὠ καταντίον θανών;
Ἀντ ὅμαιμος ἐκ μιᾶς τε καὶ ταὐτοῦ πατρός.
Κρέ πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἐκείνῳ δυσσεβῆ τιμᾷς χάριν;
Ἀντ οὐ μαρτυρήσει ταῦθ᾽ ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς. 515
Κρέ εἴ τοί σφε τιμᾷς ἐξ ἴσου τῷ δυσσεβεῖ.
Ἀντ οὐ γάρ τι δοῦλος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὤλετο.
Κρέ πορθῶν δὲ τήνδε γῆν· ὁ δ᾽ ἀντιστὰς ὕπερ.
Ἀντ ὁμῶς ὅ γ᾽ Ἅιδης τοὺς νόμους τούτους ποθεῖ.
Κρέ ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ ὁ χρηστὸς τῷ κακῷ λαχεῖν ἴσος. 520
Ἀντ τίς οἶδεν εἰ κάτωθεν εὐαγῆ τάδε;
Κρέ οὔτοι ποθ᾽ οὑχθρός, οὐδ᾽ ὅταν θάνῃ, φίλος.
Ἀντ οὔτοι συνέχθειν, ἀλλὰ συμφιλεῖν ἔφυν.
Κρέ κάτω νυν ἐλθοῦσ᾽, εἰ φιλητέον, φίλει
κείνους· ἐμοῦ δὲ ζῶντος οὐκ ἄρξει γυνή. 525

ἀδελφός, ὁ: a brother, 6 οὔκ-ουν: not therefore, and so not, 6

ἀνθ-ίστηµι: to set against, resist, 2 ποθέω: to long for, yearn after, 1
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 πορθέω: to sack, plunder, devastate, 2
δοῦλος, ὁ: a slave, 2 πῶς: how? in what way? 5
δυσ-σεβής, -ές: impious, ungodly, profane, 2 συµ-φιλέω: to love one another, mutually, 1
εὐ-αγής, -ές: pure, holy, pollution-free, 1 συν-εχθέω: to hate one another, mutually, 1
ἐχθρός, -ή, -όν: hated, hostile; enemy, 7 σφεῖς: they; as sg. him, her, it, 5
κατα-θνήσκω: to die, 6 τιµάω: to honour, value, esteem, 7
καταντίον: over against, right opposite, 1 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
κάτω-θεν: (from) below, up from below, 2 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
λαγχάνω: to obtain by lot, 6 φιλέω: to love, befriend, 7
µαρτυρέω: to bear witness, give evidence 2 φιλητέος, -α, -ον: to be loved, 1
ὅµ-αιµος, -η, -ον: of the same blood, related 2 χάρις, -ριτος, ἡ: favor, gratitude, thanks, 6
ὁµό-σπλαγχος, -η, -ον: of the same belly, 1 χρηστός, -ή, -όν: useful, worthy, good, 4
ὅµως: nevertheless, however, yet, 2

511 αἰσχρὸν (ἐστί): predicate, add verb ὤλετο: aor. mid. ὄλλυµι
512 οὔκουν: anticipates a ‘yes’ response 518 πορθῶν δ(ὲ): but…; a strong adversative
χὠ...θανών: κ(αὶ) ὁ θανών; supply ἐστί ὁ δ᾽: but the other…; change of subject
aor. pple. θνῄσκω ἀντιστὰς: nom. sg. aor. pple
513 ἐκ µιᾶς: fem. sg., not modifying πατρός (τῆς γῆς) ὕπερ: supply object of ὑπέρ
τοῦ αὐτοῦ: the same; as often in the 519 γ᾽: at least; limitive and emphatic
attributive position. 520 ὁ χρηστὸς: the noble man is; in contrast
514 ἐκείνῳ: i.e. to Eteocles, dat. of reference; to τῷ κακῷ, dat. of special adjective ἴσος
δυσσεβῆ: δυσσεβέα acc. sg. with χάριν λαχεῖν: to obtain a share; aor. explanatory
τιµᾷς χάριν: you honor a favor; i.e. render (epexegetic) inf. following ἴσος
an service to the dead 521 εὐαγῆ: εὐαγέα; neut. predicate, add ἐστί
515 µαρτυρήσει: i.e. bear witness in support 522 οὔτοι: not, you know; οὔ τοι
κατθανὼν: aor. pple καταθνῄσκω οὑχθρός: ὁ ἐχθρός
516 σφε: him; acc. sg. σφεῖς 523 ἔφυν: My nature is; ‘I am by nature’ aor.
ἐξ ἴσου: equally 524 φιλητέον (ἐστί): it must be loved; impers.
517 οὐ...τι: not at all φίλει: φίλε-ε, sg. imperative.

35
Χορ καὶ μὴν πρὸ πυλῶν ἥδ᾽ Ἰσμήνη,
φιλάδελφα κάτω δάκρυ᾽ εἰβομένη·
νεφέλη δ᾽ ὀφρύων ὕπερ αἱματόεν
ῥέθος αἰσχύνει,
τέγγουσ᾽ εὐῶπα παρειάν. 530
Κρέ σὺ δ᾽, ἣ κατ᾽ οἴκους ὡς ἔχιδν᾽ ὑφειμένη
λήθουσά μ᾽ ἐξέπινες, οὐδ᾽ ἐμάνθανον
τρέφων δύ᾽ ἄτα κἀπαναστάσεις θρόνων,
φέρ᾽, εἰπὲ δή μοι, καὶ σὺ τοῦδε τοῦ τάφου
φήσεις μετασχεῖν, ἢ 'ξομεῖ τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι; 535
Ἰσμ δέδρακα τοὔργον, εἴπερ ἥδ᾽ ὁμορροθεῖ
καὶ ξυμμετίσχω καὶ φέρω τῆς αἰτίας.
Ἀντ ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐάσει τοῦτό γ᾽ ἡ δίκη σ᾽, ἐπεὶ
οὔτ᾽ ἠθέλησας οὔτ᾽ ἐγὼ 'κοινωσάμην.
Ἰσμ ἀλλ᾽ ἐν κακοῖς τοῖς σοῖσιν οὐκ αἰσχύνομαι 540

αἱµατόεις, -εσσα, -εν: bloody, full of blood, 1 µετ-έχω: to partake in, have share in (gen.) 1
αἰσχύνω: to befoul, shame; feel ashamed, 2 µήν: truly, surely; yet, however 7
αἰτία, ἡ: cause, responsibility, blame, 4 νεφέλη, ἡ: a cloud, 1
δάκρυον, τό: a tear, 2 οἶκος, ὁ: a house, abode, dwelling, 4
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 ὁµό-ρροθέω: consent, agree; flow together 1
δύο: two, 5 ὀφρύς, ἡ: eyebrow, brow, 2
ἐάω: to permit, allow, let be, suffer, 5 παρεία, ἡ: cheek, 2
εἴ-περ: if really, if, 4 πρό: before, in front; in place of (gen.), 3
εἴβω: to let fall (in drops), drop, 1 πύλη, ἡ: gate, gates, 4
ἐκ-πίνω: to drink up, gulp down, 1 ῥέθος, -εος, τό: sg. face; pl., limb, 1
ἐξ-όµνυµι: to forswear, swear (in denial), 1 συµ-µετίσχω: to share, take part together, 1
ἐπανάστασις ἡ: rising up against, rebellion 1 τέγγω: to wet, moisten; stain, 2
εὔ-ώψ, -ῶπος: fair to look on, fair-eyed, 1 τρέφω: to rear, foster, nuture, 5
ἔχιδνα, ἡ: snake, viper, 1 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
θρόνος, ὁ: chair, seat, 4 ὑφ-ίηµι: to lurk, cower, let down, 1
Ἰσµήνη, ἡ: Ismene, 1 φιλάδελφος -ον: loving one’s sister/brother 1
λανθάνω: escape notice of, act unnoticed 2

526 καὶ µὴν: and look!; ‘and truly,’ these two often preceding another imperative
particles, in tragedy, often introduce a new δή: now..., just...; δή adds urgency to an
scene or new character imperative, here the aor. imperative λέγω
ἥδ᾽(ἐστί): here (is)... καὶ: also; i.e. along with Antigone
527 δάκρυ(α): neuter pl. acc. object τοῦδε...τάφου: partitive gen.
528 ὀφρύων ὕπερ: ὑπὲρ ὀρφύων 535 φήσεις: fut. φηµί
529 αἰσχύνει: makes ugly, befouls (ἐ)ξοµεῖ: fut. ἐξόµνυµι (οµε-)
530 ἣ: who τὸ µὴ...: articular inf. µὴ is often used in
κατὰ οἴκους: in the house oaths; here, the force of µὴ is redundant
ὡς: just as and may be left untranslated
ὑφειµένη: pf. mid. pple ὑφ-ίηµι 537 τῆς αἰτίας: partitive gen. object of both
532 λήθουσα: aor. pple λανθάνω verbs; φέρω does not often govern a gen.,
533 δύ(ο) ἄτα: dual fem. acc., ἄτη supply an indefinite: ‘some of the charge’
534 φέρ(ε): come now; ‘carry on’ imperative 538 ἐασει: will allow (x) (y); double acc.

36
 ξύμπλουν ἐμαυτὴν τοῦ πάθους ποιουμένη.
Ἀντ ὧν τοὔργον, Ἅιδης χοἰ κάτω ξυνίστορες·
λόγοις δ᾽ ἐγὼ φιλοῦσαν οὐ στέργω φίλην.
Ἰσμ μήτοι, κασιγνήτη, μ᾽ ἀτιμάσῃς τὸ μὴ οὐ
θανεῖν τε σὺν σοὶ τὸν θανόντα θ᾽ ἁγνίσαι. 545
Ἀντ μή μοι θάνῃς σὺ κοινὰ μηδ᾽ ἃ μὴ 'θιγες
ποιοῦ σεαυτῆς. ἀρκέσω θνῄσκουσ᾽ ἐγώ.
Ἰσμ καὶ τίς βίος μοι σοῦ λελειμμένῃ φίλος;
Ἀντ Κρέοντ᾽ ἐρώτα· τοῦδε γὰρ σὺ κηδεμών.
Ἰσμ τί ταῦτ᾽ ἀνιᾷς μ᾽, οὐδὲν ὠφελουμένη; 550
Ἀντ ἀλγοῦσα μὲν δῆτ᾽ εἰ γελῶ γ᾽ ἐν σοὶ γελῶ.
Ἰσμ τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἀλλὰ νῦν σ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ὠφελοῖμ᾽ ἐγώ;
Ἀντ σῶσον σεαυτήν· οὐ φθονῶ σ᾽ ὑπεκφυγεῖν.
Ἰσμ οἴμοι τάλαινα, κἀμπλάκω τοῦ σοῦ μόρου;
Ἀντ σὺ μὲν γὰρ εἵλου ζῆν, ἐγὼ δὲ κατθανεῖν. 555

ἀ-τιµάζω: to dishonor, slight, disregard, 4 κηδέµών, -όνος, ὁ: guardian, caretaker, 1

ἁγνίζω: to cleanse away, purify, 1 λείπω: to leave, forsake, abandon, 5
ἀλγέω: to feel pain, suffer, 3 µη-τοι: not, you know; at least not, 1
ἀµπλάκω: to fall short, fail; lose (gen) 3 πάθος, -εος, τό: misfortune, suffering, 2
ἀνιάω: grieve, distress, trouble, 2 ποιέω: to do, make, create, compose, 6
ἀρκέω: to suffice, be enough, ward off, 2 ποιός, -ά, -όν: of a certain sort or kind, 1
βίος, ὁ: life, 6 σεαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: yourself, 6
γελάω: to laugh, mock, 4 στέργω: to love, be fond of; submit to, 3
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 σύµ-πλους, -ουν: fellow-sailor, shipmate, 1
ἐµαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: myself, 6 συν-ίστωρ, -ιστόρος, ὁ, ἡ: witness, 1
ἐρωτάω: to ask, inquire, question, 2 ὑπ-εκ-φεύγω: to flee, escape, 2
θιγγάνω: to take hold of, touch (gen), 2 φθονέω: to begrudge, be reluctant, 1
κασιγνήτη, ἡ: sister, 2 φιλέω: to love, befriend, 7
κατα-θνήσκω: to die, 6 ὠφελέω: to help, to be of use, benefit, 3
541 ὧν τὸ ἔργον (ἐστί): whose deed this (is) 547 σεαυτῆς: as their own; predicative
χοἱ κάτω: and those below; καὶ οἱ κάτω ἀρκέσω: I will suffice; fut. ἀρκέω
συνίστορες (εἰσίν): predicate; add verb θνῄσκουσ(α): by…; pple causal in sense
542 λόγοις δ(ὲ): with words (alone) 548 καὶ τίς: and what…?; καί expresses
544 µήτοι...ἀτιµάσῃς: Don’t, you know,…; surprise before an interrogative (here adj.)
‘You should not, you know...’ prohibitive σοῦ: gen. of separation
subj. (µή + aor. subj.) as a neg. command λελειµµένῃ: pf. pass. pple
545 τὸ µὴ οὐ θανεῖν...ἁγνίσαι: from…; aor. φίλος (ἐστί): dear; predicate, add verb
articular inf., µή οὐ, untranslated, often 550 τί...: why….?; ταῦτα is acc. of respect
follows a negative verb of prohibition 551 µὲν δῆτα: indeed; reply to ὠφελουµένη
546 µή...θάνῃς: Don't…; prohibitive subj. ἐν σοὶ: at you; governed by εἰ γελῶ γ(ε)
κοινὰ: in common 552 τί δῆτα...ἀλλὰ νῦν : What then…still
µηδ(ὲ)...ποιοῦ: Don’t consider…; ποιέ(σ)ο, now; δῆτα inferential, ἀλλά inferential,
negative pres. mid. imperative ἂν...ὠφελοῖµι: could…; potential opt.
ἃ...ἔθιγες: (these things) which…; (ταῦτα) 553 σῶσον: aor. imperative, σῴζω
ὧν; partitive gen. attracted into the acc. of 554 τοῦ σοῦ µόρου: from…; gen. separation
the antecedent; aor. θιγγάνω 555 εἵλε(σ)ο: 2nd sg. aor. mid. αἱρέω (ἑλ)

37
Ἰσμ ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἀρρήτοις γε τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις.
Ἀντ καλῶς σὺ μὲν τοῖς, τοῖς δ᾽ ἐγὼ 'δόκουν φρονεῖν.
Ἰσμ καὶ μὴν ἴση νῷν ἐστιν ἡ 'ξαμαρτία.
Ἀντ θάρσει· σὺ μὲν ζῇς, ἡ δ᾽ ἐμὴ ψυχὴ πάλαι
τέθνηκεν, ὥστε τοῖς θανοῦσιν ὠφελεῖν. 560
Κρέ τὼ παῖδε φημὶ τώδε τὴν μὲν ἀρτίως
ἄνουν πεφάνθαι, τὴν δ᾽ ἀφ᾽ οὗ τὰ πρῶτ᾽ ἔφυ.
Ἰσμ οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽, ὦναξ, οὐδ᾽ ὃς ἂν βλάστῃ μένει
νοῦς τοῖς κακῶς πράσσουσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐξίσταται.
Κρέ σοὶ γοῦν, ὅθ᾽ εἵλου σὺν κακοῖς πράσσειν κακά. 565
Ἰσμ τί γὰρ μόνῃ μοι τῆσδ᾽ ἄτερ βιώσιμον;
Κρέ ἀλλ᾽ ἥδε μέντοι μὴ λέγ᾽· οὐ γὰρ ἔστ᾽ ἔτι.
Ἰσμ ἀλλὰ κτενεῖς νυμφεῖα τοῦ σαυτοῦ τέκνου;
Κρέ ἀρώσιμοι γὰρ χἀτέρων εἰσὶν γύαι.
Ἰσμ οὐχ ὥς γ᾽ ἐκείνῳ τῇδέ τ᾽ ἦν ἡρμοσμένα. 570

ἄ-νοῦς, -οῦν: senseless, silly, foolish, 3 κτείνω: to kill, slay, kill, slay, 4
ἄ-ρρητος, ον: unspoken, not to be spoken 1 µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7
ἁρµόζω: harmonize, fit together, join, 2 µένω: to stay, remain, 4
ἀρτίως: just, now first; exactly 5 µήν: truly, surely, 7
ἀρώσιµος, -ον: plowable, fruitful, 1 νοῦς, ὁ: mind, thought, reason, attention, 5
ἄτερ: without; aloof, apart from, 2 νυµφεῖος, -α, -ον: bridal; subst. bride, 1
βιώσιµος, -ον: worth living, to be lived, 1 νῷν: we two (gen. dat. dual), 3
βλαστά(ν)ω: to sprout, bring forth, grow, 3 ὅτε: when, at some time, 2
γοῦν: certainly; at any rate, any way, 4 πάλαι: long ago, long, all along, 5
γύης, ἡ: plot, land, field, piece of land, 1 πρῶτος, -η, -ον: first, earliest, 4
ἐξ-αµαρτία, ἡ: error, mistake, transgression 1 σεαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: yourself, 6
ἐξ-ίσταµαι: to stand apart, be displaced, 2 τῇδε: here; in this way, thus, 3
ἕτερος, -α, -ον: one of two, other, different, 2 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7
θαρσέω: to be confident, take courage, 3 ὠφελέω: to help, to be of use, benefit, 3

555 ἀλλὰ: well; ‘at least,’ ‘at any rate’ and predicate for second τὴν δὲ
οὐκ ἐπ(ὶ): (you did) not (choose death) ἀφ᾽οὗ: from which (time); i.e. since
without…; ἐπὶ + dat. describes the ἔφυ: aor. φύω
conditions: ‘on the condition/terms of…’ 563 ὦναξ: ὦ ἄναξ, vocative direct address
556 σὺ (ἐδόκες φρονεῖν): supply verb ὃς ἂν βλάστῃ...νοῦς: reason, whatever
µὲν..τοῖς....τοῖς δ(ὲ): to some…to others grows (from birth); general relative clause
558 καὶ µὴν: and yet; adversative ἄν + subj.; νοῦς is subject of µενει
νῷν: dat. pl. νῷν with predicate ἴση τοῖς πράσσουσιν: for those faring…
559 θάρσει: θαρσε-ε, imperative 565 σοι γοῦν: a reply to πράσσουσιν
560 τέθνηκεν: pf. θνῄσκω ὅτ(ε) εἵλε(σ)ο: you chose; aor. mid. αἱρέω
ὥστε: so as…; result clause 566 τῆσδε ἄτερ: clarifying µόνῃ
τοῖς θανοῦσιν: dat. pl. ind. obj., θνῄσκω βιώσιµον (ἐστί): predicate, add verb
561 τὼ παῖδε τώδε...τὴν µὲν...τὴν δὲ: that 567 ἀλλὰ...µέντοι: Nay but don't say ‘this’
these two girls, this one...that one; dual acc. 568 νυµφεῖα: bride; ‘bridal,’ acc. neut. pl.
subj.; the acc. sg. are partitive apposition 570 οὐχ ὥς γ(ε): not just as…
562 πεφάνθαι: aor. pass. inf. φαίνω ἦν ἡρµοσµένα: things had been united;
τὴν δ(ὲ) (ἄνουν πεφάνθαι): supply inf. periphrastic plpf. (impf. + pf. pass. pple)

38
Κρέ κακὰς ἐγὼ γυναῖκας υἱέσι στυγῶ.
Ἀντ ὦ φίλταθ᾽ Αἷμον, ὥς σ᾽ ἀτιμάζει πατήρ.
Κρέ ἄγαν γε λυπεῖς καὶ σὺ καὶ τὸ σὸν λέχος.
Χορ ἦ γὰρ στερήσεις τῆσδε τὸν σαυτοῦ γόνον;
Κρέ Ἅιδης ὁ παύσων τούσδε τοὺς γάμους ἔφυ. 575
Χορ δεδογμέν᾽, ὡς ἔοικε, τήνδε κατθανεῖν.
Κρέ καὶ σοί γε κἀμοί. μὴ τριβὰς ἔτ᾽, ἀλλά νιν
κομίζετ᾽ εἴσω, δμῶες· ἐκ δὲ τοῦδε χρὴ
γυναῖκας εἶναι τάσδε μηδ᾽ ἀνειμένας.
φεύγουσι γάρ τοι χοἰ θρασεῖς, ὅταν πέλας 580
ἤδη τὸν Ἅιδην εἰσορῶσι τοῦ βίου.
Χορ εὐδαίμονες οἷσι κακῶν ἄγευστος αἰών. στρ. α
οἷς γὰρ ἂν σεισθῇ θεόθεν δόμος, ἄτας
οὐδὲν ἐλλείπει γενεᾶς ἐπὶ πλῆθος ἕρπον· 585

ἄ-γευστος, -ον: not having tasted (gen) 1 θεό-θεν: from a god, by way of the gods, 1
ἀ-τιµάζω: to dishonor, slight, disregard, 4 θρασύς, -εῖα, -ύ: bold, daring, confident, 3
ἄγαν: too much, excessively, enough, 6 κατα-θνήσκω: to die, 6
Αἷµων, ὁ: Haemon, 2 κοµίζω: carry, bring; provide for, attend, 2
αἰών, -ῶνος ὁ: span of life, life, 2 λέχος, -εος, τό: (marriage) bed, couch, 4
ἀν-ίηµι: to send up, let go, give up, 2 λυπέω: to cause pain, distress, grief, 2
βίος, ὁ: life, 6 νιν: him, her (not reflexive) 7
γάµος, ὁ: a wedding, wedding-feast, 4 παύω: to stop, make cease, 5
γενεά, -ας, ἡ: race, family, lineage, descent, 3 πέλας: near, close; neighbor, other, (gen.) 2
γόνος, ὁ: offspring, a child, 2 πλῆθος, ἡ: crowd, multitude; size, 1
δµώς, -ωός, ὁ: a male servant, 1 σεαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: yourself, 6
εἰσ-οράω: to look upon, view, behold, 3 σείω: shake, move back and forth, agitate, 4
εἴσω: into, inwards, to within, into, in, 1 στερέω: to deprive, rob of (gen.), 3
ἐλ-λείπω: to be lacking, fail; leave out, 1 στυγέω: to loathe, abominate, hate, 1
ἔοικα: to be or seem likely, be reasonable, 5 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
ἕρπω: to creep, move slowly, come, go, 6 τριβή, ἡ: delay, spending; wearing away, 2
εὐ-δαίµων, -ονος: fortunate, happy, blessed 1 υἱός, -οῦ, ὁ: a son, 1
ἦ: in truth, truly (begins open question), 6 φεύγω: to flee, escape; defend in court, 6
ἤδη: already, now, at this time, 4 φίλτατος, -η, -ον: dearest, most beloved, 2

571 γυναῖκας, υἱεσι: translate the acc. and ‘indeed,’ is affirmative and emphatic
dat. pl. in the sg.; dat. of interest µὴ τριβὰς ἔτι: No longer (make) delays;
572 ὥς: how…! acc pl.; the pl. imperative is missing
573 ἄγαν γε: too much!; γε is emphatic νιν: singular but it applies to both girls
and may be conveyed through intonation 578 ἐκ...τοῦδε: from this (moment)
καὶ σὺ...λέχος: both…and; both nom. sg. 579 εῖναι: that (they) be…; γυναῖκας is pred.
574 τῆσδε: from…; gen. of separation ἀνειµένας: let go; pf. pass. pple ἀνίηµι
ὁ παύσων...: the one…; predicate 580 πέλας: adv. governs gen. τοῦ βίου
ἔφυ: is naturally; aor. φύω 582 οἷσι: (are those) for whom; add verb
576 δεδογµένα (ἐστί): periphrastic pf. pass.; 584 ἂν σεισθῇ: for whomever…; gen. relative
(εἰµί + pf. pass. pple) δοκέω clause ἄν + 3rd sg. aor. pass. subj
ὥς ἔοικε: as…; parenthetical, impersonal ἄτας οὐδὲν: partitive Dorc gen. ἄτη
κατθανεῖν: aor. inf., τήνδε is subject 585 ἐπὶ πλῆθος γενεᾶς: over…; partitive gen.
577 καὶ σοί γε κα(ὶ) ἐµοί: yes, both…and; γε, ἕρπον: neuter pple

39
 ὅμοιον ὥστε ποντίαις
οἶδμα δυσπνόοις ὅταν
Θρῄσσαισιν ἔρεβος ὕφαλον ἐπιδράμῃ πνοαῖς,
κυλίνδει βυσσόθεν
κελαινὰν θῖνα καὶ δυσάνεμοι, 590
στόνῳ βρέμουσι δ᾽ ἀντιπλῆγες ἀκταί.
ἀρχαῖα τὰ Λαβδακιδᾶν οἴκων ὁρῶμαι ἀντ. α
πήματα φθιτῶν ἐπὶ πήμασι πίπτοντ᾽, 595
οὐδ᾽ ἀπαλλάσσει γενεὰν γένος, ἀλλ᾽ ἐρείπει
θεῶν τις, οὐδ᾽ ἔχει λύσιν.
νῦν γὰρ ἐσχάτας ὕπερ
ῥίζας ὃ τέτατο φάος ἐν Οἰδίπου δόμοις, 600

ἀκτή, ἡ: headland, projecting land, 4 κυλίνδω: to roll, 2

ἀντι-πλήξ -ῆγος: beaten by opposing wave 1 Λαβδακίδαι, οἱ: (descendents) of Labdacus 1
ἀπ-αλλάσσω: to set free, release, deliver, 5 λύσις, ἡ: means of escape or release, 1
ἀρχαῖος, -α, -ον: ancient, old, 1 Οἰδίπους, ὁ: Oedipus, Antigone’s father, 6
βρέµω: to roar, 1 οἶδµα, -ατος, τό: swell, sea-swell, 2
βυσσό-θεν: from the bottom, 1 οἶκος, ὁ: a house, abode, dwelling, 4
γενεά, -ας, ἡ: race, family, lineage, descent, 3 ὅµοιος, -η, -ον: like, similar; adv likewise, 3
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, tribe, stock, race, 7 πῆµα, -ατος, τό: woe, misery, suffering, 2
δύναµαι: to be able, can, be capable, 4 πνοή, ἡ: blast, blows, breeze, 1
δυσ-ήνεµος, -ον: of ill-wind, contrary wind, 1 πόντιος, -α, -ον: of the sea, 1
δύσ-πνους, -ουν: breathless; contrary wind, 2 ῥίζα, ἡ: a root, 1
ἐπι-τρέχω: to overrun, rush upon, 1 στόνος, ὁ: groaning, mournful sighing, 1
ἔρεβος, τό: darkness, 1 τείνω: to stretch, extend, spread, direct, 4
ἐρείπω: to throw down, cast down (to ruin), 1 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
ἔσχατος, -η, -ον: extreme, last, furthest, 2 ὕφ-αλος, -ον: under the sea, 1
θίς, θινός, ὁ: sand, sandbank, shore, beach, 1 φάος, τό: light, daylight, 3
Θρῇσσα, ἡ: Thracian (fem. adj. of Θρῇξ) 1 φθιτός, -ή, -όν: dead (φθιτοί = the dead), 1
κελαινός, -ή, -όν: dark, black, 3 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7

586 ὅµοιον ὥστε…ὅταν: in a similar πίποντα: heaping upon…; the image is of

manner as…whenever; ὅµοιον is an adding new suffering on top of the old
adverbial acc. 596 γένος: each generation
588 ἐπιδράµῃ: aor. subj. ἐπιτρέχω in a 599 ἐσχάτας ὕπερ…: ὑπὲρ ἐστάτας ῥίζας
general temporal clause 600 ὅ τέτατο: which…; neuter φάος is the
591 στόνῳ: with…; dat. of manner antecedent; unaugmented plpf. pass. τείνω
594 Λαβδακιδᾶν: i.e. of the living, -α(ω)ν, φάος: light (of hope); subject of ἀµᾷ
Doric gen. pl. in contrast to φθιτῶν
595 φθιτῶν ἐπὶ πήµασι: upon…

40
 κατ᾽ αὖ νιν φοινία
θεῶν τῶν νερτέρων ἀμᾷ κόνις
λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν ἐρινύς. στρ. β
τεάν, Ζεῦ, δύνασιν τίς ἀν- 605
δρῶν ὑπερβασία κατάσχοι;
τὰν οὔθ᾽ ὕπνος αἱρεῖ ποθ᾽ ὁ πάντ᾽ ἀγρεύων,
οὔτε θεῶν ἄκματοι
μῆνες, ἀγήρῳ δὲ χρόνῳ δυνάστας
κατέχεις Ὀλύμπου
μαρμαρόεσσαν αἴγλαν. 610
τό τ᾽ ἔπειτα καὶ τὸ μέλλον
καὶ τὸ πρὶν ἐπαρκέσει
νόμος ὅδ᾽, οὐδὲν ἕρπει
θνατῶν βιότῳ πάμπολύ γ᾽ ἐκτὸς ἄτας.
ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ- 615 ἀντ. β

ἀ-γήραος, -ον: ageless, unfading, 1 θνητός, -ή, -όν: liable to death, mortal, 4
ἀ-κµητος, -ον: tireless, unwearied, 2 κατ-έχω: to hold fast; check, cover; possess 4
ἄ-νοια, ἡ: mindlessness, foolishness, 1 κόνις, ἡ: dust, 5
ἀγρεύω: to hunt down, catch (by hunting), 1 λόγος, ὁ: word, talk, discourse; account, 12
αἴγλη, ἡ: radiance, splendor, gleam, 1 µαρµαρόεις, -εσσα, -εν: sparkling, flashing, 1
αἱρέω: to seize, take; mid. choose (aor. ἑλ) 11 µείς, µηνός ὁ: a month, 1
ἀµάω: to cut down, mow down, reap, 1 µέλλω: to be about to, to intend to, 8
ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ: a man, 42 νέρτερος, α, ον: infernal, of the underworld 2
βίοτος, ὁ: life, livelihood, goods, 1 νιν: him, her (not reflexive), it, 7
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 Ὄλυµπος, ὁ: Mt. Olympus, 1
δύνασις, ἡ: power, might, strength (δύναµις) 2 παµπολύς, πολλή, πολύ: very great/much 1
δυνάστης, ὁ: lord, master, ruler (δυνάστης) 1 πολυ-πλαγκτος, -ον: much-wandering, 1
ἐκτός: outside; out of, far from (+ gen.), 5 πρίν: until, before, 9
ἐλπίς, -ίδος, ἡ: hope, expectation, 8 τεός, -ή, -όν: your, yours, 3
ἐπ-αρκέω: be strong, suffice, prevail, 1 ὑπερ-βασία, ἡ: overstepping, transgression, 1
ἔπ-ειτα: then, next, secondly, 5 ὕπνος, ὁ: sleep, slumber, 1
ἐρινύς, ἡ: frenzy, fury; avenging spirit, 1 φοίνιος, -α, -ον: blood-stained, of blood, 2
ἕρπω: to creep, move slowly, come, go, 6 φρήν, φρενός, ἡ: the midriff; mind, wits, 16
Ζεύς, ὁ: Zeus, 11

601 κατ᾽...ἁµᾷ: cuts down; tmesis, 3rd sg. ὁ...ἀγρεύων: the one…; in apposition to
κατ-αµάω ; the subject is φάος, which is ὕπνος
the ‘light of hope’ 608 δυνάστας: you, ruler; nom. apposition,
αὖ: in turn δυνάστης
νιν: it; i.e. ‘light (of hope),’ φάος 611 τό τ᾽ ἔπειτα: for the next (moment); i.e.
φοινία: fem. sg. modifies κόνις the near future, acc. of duration
604 λόγου: of speech τὸ µέλλον: for the future; neut. pple
605 τίς...ὑπερβασία: interrogative adj. 612 τὸ πρὶν: for…; i.e. the past; acc. duration
ἀνδρῶν: subjective gen. with ὑπερβασία οὐδὲν πάµπολύ: neuter subject
606 κατάσχοι (ἄν): could...; aor. potential 614 ἕρπει...βιὄτῳ: comes to…; ‘creeps
opt. without ἄν for…’ dat. of interest
607 τὰν: your (power); τεάν (δύνασιν) ἄτας: Doric gen. sg. ἄτης
615 ἁ: ἡ, the article of ἐλπίς
41
 πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του 620
κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται.
τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτῳ φρένας
θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλίγιστον χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας. 625
ὅδε μὴν Αἵμων, παίδων τῶν σῶν
νέατον γέννημ᾽· ἆρ᾽ ἀχνύμενος
τάλιδος ἥκει μόρον Ἀντιγόνης,
ἀπάτης λεχέων ὑπεραλγῶν; 630

Αἷµων, ὁ: Haemon, 2 λέχος, -εος, τό: (marriage) bed, couch, 4

Ἀντιγόνη, ἡ: Antigone, 4 µήν: truly, surely, 7
ἀπάτη, ἡ: deceit, cheating, fraud, guile, 2 νέατος, -η, -ον: last, latest, 3
ἀχεύω: to grieve, vex, annoy, 1 ὀλίγιστος, -η, -ον: fewest, least, 1
γέννηµα, -ατος, τό: offspring, 2 ὄνασις, ἡ: benefit, profit (ὄνησις) 1
ἐκτός: outside; out of, far from (+ gen.), 5 πούς, ποδός, ὁ: a foot; a (sheet) of sail, 5
ἕρπω: to creep, move slowly, come, go, 6 προσ-αύω: to kindle, light a fire, burn 1
ἔρως, -ωτος, ὁ: desire, love, 1 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
ἐσθλός, -ή, -όν: good, noble, brave, 4 σοφία, ἡ: wisdom, skill, intelligence, 1
θερµός, -ή, -όν: hot, warm; subst. heat, 2 τᾶλις, τάλιδος, ἡ: marriageable maiden, 1
κλεινός, -ή, -όν: glorious, renowned, 4 ὑπερ-αλγέω: to feel exceeding pain for, 1
κουφό-νοος,-ον: light-hearted, thoughtless, 2

616 πολλοῖς µὲν...πολλοῖς δ᾽: to many…but of reference and dat. of possession

to many; in contrast; dat. of interest respectively; dat. sg. ὅστις
ὄνασις (ἐστί): predicate, supply verb ἔµµεν: epic inf. εἰµί governed by δοκεῖν
617 ἀπάτα (ἐστί): predicate, supply verb 625 ὀλίγιστον χρόνον: for…; acc. duration
618 εἰδότι δἐ οὐδὲν: to one knowing nothing; 626 ὅδε: here (is)…; as if pointing
dat. of interest µὴν: look!; ‘truly’ καὶ µὴν introduces a
619 πρὶν...προσαύσῃ: until…; general new scene or new character (cf. Ismene in
temporal clause; ἄν is missing; aor. subj. l. 526); here καί is missing, signifying an
πυρὶ θερµῷ: dat. of means abrupt change is the choral ode
620 σοφίᾳ: with…; dat. of manner 628 ἀχνύµενος: pres. pass. ἀχεύω
του: indefinite pronoun, τινος µόρον: in respect to…; acc. respect with
621 ἔπος: maxim; clarified in line 622 the pple ἀχνύµενος
πέφανται: pf. pass. φαίνω 630 ἀπάτης λεχέων: because of being
622 τὸ...δοκεῖν: (namely) that…; in cheated out of marriage; gen. of cause and
apposition to ἔπος, κακόν is acc. subj. gen. of separation; through metonomy the
ποτ(ε): at some time bed indicates the institution itselfs
623 τῷδ(ε)…ὅτῳ: to this one...whose; dat.

42
Κρέ τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;
Αἵμ πάτερ, σός εἰμι, καὶ σύ μοι γνώμας ἔχων 635
χρηστὰς ἀπορθοῖς, αἷς ἔγωγ᾽ ἐφέψομαι.
ἐμοὶ γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἀξιώσεται γάμος
μείζων φέρεσθαι σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμένου.
Κρέ οὕτω γάρ, ὦ παῖ, χρὴ διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν,
γνώμης πατρῴας πάντ᾽ ὄπισθεν ἑστάναι. 640
τούτου γὰρ οὕνεκ᾽ ἄνδρες εὔχονται γονὰς
κατηκόους φύσαντες ἐν δόμοις ἔχειν,
ὡς καὶ τὸν ἐχθρὸν ἀνταμύνωνται κακοῖς
καὶ τὸν φίλον τιμῶσιν ἐξ ἴσου πατρί.
ὅστις δ᾽ ἀνωφέλητα φιτύει τέκνα, 645

ἀν-ωφέλητος, -ον: unprofitable, unhelpful, 1 µεῖζων, -ον: greater, bigger, better, 7

ἀντ-αµύνοµαι: to resist, fight in response, 1 µελλό-νυµφος, -ον: about to be wedded,
ἀξιόω: to deem (worthy), consider worthy, 2 betrothed, 1
ἀπ-ορθόω: to keep upright, guide straight 1 ὄπισθεν: behind, after (gen); in the future, 2
γάµος, ὁ: a wedding, wedding-feast, 4 οὕνεκα: for the sake of, since, because (gen) 4
γονή, ἡ: seed, offspring, a child, 3 παντα-χῇ: everywhere, in every way 1
ἔγωγε: I, for my part, 5 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
εὔχοµαι: to pray, offer prayers, 1 στέρνον, τό: breast, chest, 1
ἐφ-έποµαι: to follow up, pursue; apply, 1 τάχα: soon, presently; quickly, forthwith, 3
ἐχθρός, -ή, -όν: hated, hostile; enemy, 7 τέλειος, -α, -ον: final, resulting, complete, 1
ἡγέοµαι: to lead; consider, think, believe, 2 τιµάω: to honour, value, esteem, 7
ἵστηµι: to make stand, set up, stop, establish 6 ὑπέρτερος, -η, -ον: higher, further; better, 2
κατ-ήκοος -ον: heeding; listening, obedient 1 φιτύω: to sow, plant, beget, 1
λυσσαίνω: rage, rave, be mad at (dat.) 1 χρηστός, -ή, -όν: useful, worthy, good, 4
µάντις, -εως, ὁ: seer, prophet, diviner, 7 ψῆφος, ἡ: a resolution, pebble; a vote, 2

631 εἰσόµεσθα: 1st pl. fut. deponent οἶδα; γνώµας...: obj. of pple and main verb
-µεσθα is equiv. to Attic µεθα 636 αἷς: which; verb governs a dative obj.
µάντεων: gen. of comparison 638 µεῖζων φέρεσθαι: more important to win;
ὑπέρτερον: comparative adverb to be carried off,’ predicate with fut. pass.
ὦ παῖ: vocative, direct address ἀξιώσεται
632 ἆρα µὴ: surely you….not…?; µή σοῦ...ἡγουµένου: gen. of comparison,
anticipates a negative response 639 οὔτω...ἔχειν: that it be this way; ‘it hold
633 τῆς µελλονύµφου: about…; objective thus,’ ἔχω + adv. is equiv. to εἰµί + adj.
gen. of ψῆφον γάρ: (yes), for…; assent is implied
634 πάρει: 2nd sg. pres. πάρ-ειµι διὰ στέρνων: i.e. in the heart
ἤ: or; note the contrast to ἦ ‘truly’ 640 πάντ(α)...ἑστάναι: to set all things…;
634 σοι: dat. interest with φίλοι pf. inf. subject of ἔχει; ὄπισθεν + genitive
ἡµεῖς: we (are); ‘I am,” i.e. Creon 642 φύσαντες: producing…; nom. aor. φύω
πανταχῇ: in every way; dat of manner. 643 ὡς: so that…; purpose with present subj.
635 πάτερ: vocative; nominative is πάτηρ 644 ἐξ ἴσου πατρί: equally as the father
µοι: for me; dat. interest, with ἀπορθοῖς

43
 τί τόνδ᾽ ἂν εἴποις ἄλλο πλὴν αὑτῷ πόνους
φῦσαι, πολὺν δὲ τοῖσιν ἐχθροῖσιν γέλων;
μή νύν ποτ᾽, ὦ παῖ, τὰς φρένας ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς
γυναικὸς οὕνεκ᾽ ἐκβάλῃς, εἰδὼς ὅτι
ψυχρὸν παραγκάλισμα τοῦτο γίγνεται, 650
γυνὴ κακὴ ξύνευνος ἐν δόμοις. τί γὰρ
γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἕλκος μεῖζον ἢ φίλος κακός;
ἀλλὰ πτύσας ὡσεί τε δυσμενῆ μέθες
τὴν παῖδ᾽ ἐν Αἴδου τήνδε νυμφεύειν τινί.
ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτὴν εἷλον ἐμφανῶς ἐγὼ 655
πόλεως ἀπιστήσασαν ἐκ πάσης μόνην,
ψευδῆ γ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν οὐ καταστήσω πόλει,
ἀλλὰ κτενῶ. πρὸς ταῦτ᾽ ἐφυμνείτω Δία
ξύναιμον. εἰ γὰρ δὴ τά γ᾽ ἐγγενῆ φύσει
ἄκοσμα θρέψω, κάρτα τοὺς ἔξω γένους 660

ἄ-κοσµος, -ον: disorderly, unruly, 1 κάρτα: very, very much, strongly, 2

ἀ-πιστέω: disbelieve, disobey, distrust +dat 3 κτείνω: to kill, slay, kill, slay, 4
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 µεθ-ίηµι: to let go, release; relax; give up, 1
γέλως, γέλω, ὁ: laughter, mockery, 1 µεῖζων, -ον: greater, bigger, better, 7
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, tribe, stock, race, 7 νυµφεύω: to marry (dat); give in marriage 2
γίγνοµαι: to come to be, become, be born, 6 οὕνεκα: for the sake of, since, because (gen) 4
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 παραγκάλισµα, τό: embrace, (something
δυσ-µενής -ές: ill-willed, ill-minded, hostile 2 taken into one’s arms), 1
ἐγ-γενής, -ές: innate, of one’s family, 2 πλήν: except, but (+ gen.), 3
ἐκ-βάλλω: to throw out of, cast away, 2 πόνος, ὁ: work, toil, labor, 5
ἕλκος, τό: (festering) wound, sore; ulcer, 3 πτύω: to spit, 2
ἐµ-φανής, -ες: open, public, visible, 2 σύν-αιµος, -ον: of common blood, kindred, 4
ἐµαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: myself, 6 συν-ευνος, ὁ, ἡ: bed-fellow, sharing a bed, 1
ἔξω: out of (+ gen.); adv. outside, 3 τρέφω: to rear, foster, nuture, 5
ἐφ-υµνέω: to sing or chant at, 2 φύσις, -εως, ἡ: nature, character; birth, 3
ἐχθρός, -ή, -όν: hated, hostile; enemy, 7 ψευδής, -ές: false, lying, 3
ἡδονή, ἡ: pleasure, enjoyment, delight, 4 ψυχρός, -ά, -όν: cold, chill, frigid, 2
καθ-ίστηµι: to set, establish; put into a state, 5 ὡσεί: as if, as though, 1

646 τί...ἄλλο: acc. object of potential aor. 650 ψυχρὸν: neuter nom. predicate
opt. λέγω 651 τί...ἕλκος: interrogative adjective
τόνδ(ε)...φῦσαι: that this one…; ind. disc. 652 γένοιτ(ο) ἂν: could..; aor. potential opt.
with aor. inf. φύω γίγνοµαι
αὑτῷ: for himself; ἑαυτῷ; dat. of interest 653 πτύσας: supply woman as object
πλὴν: governs πόνους not αὑτῷ µέθες: aor. imperative. µεθ-ίηµι
647 πολύν...γέλων: acc. sg. obj., supply 654 τινί: someone; obj. of νυµφεύειν
φῦσαι parallel to πόνους 655 εἷλον: 1st sg. aor. αἱρέω (ἑλ-)
τοῖσιν ἐχθροῖσιν: dat. of interest 656 ἀπιστήσασαν: aor. pple ἀ-πιστέω
648 µή...ἐκβάλῃς: don’t…; ‘you should not...’ 657 καραστήσω: I will not make (x) (y)
prohibitive subj. (µή + aor. subj.) 658 ἐφυµνείτω: let…; 3rd pers. imperative
ὑ(πὸ) ἡδονῆς: because of…; gen. of cause 659 τά ἐγγενῆ φύσει: those related by birth
649 εἰδὼς: nom. sg. aor. pple οἶδα 660 θρέψω: fut. τρέφω; governs a double
acc., ἄκοσµα is acc. predicate
44
 ἐν τοῖς γὰρ οἰκείοισιν ὅστις ἔστ᾽ ἀνὴρ
χρηστός, φανεῖται κἀν πόλει δίκαιος ὤν.
ὅστις δ᾽ ὑπερβὰς ἢ νόμους βιάζεται
ἢ τοὐπιτάσσειν τοῖς κρατύνουσιν νοεῖ,
οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἐπαίνου τοῦτον ἐξ ἐμοῦ τυχεῖν. 665
ἀλλ᾽ ὃν πόλις στήσειε τοῦδε χρὴ κλύειν
καὶ σμικρὰ καὶ δίκαια καὶ τἀναντία.
καὶ τοῦτον ἂν τὸν ἄνδρα θαρσοίην ἐγὼ
καλῶς μὲν ἄρχειν, εὖ δ᾽ ἂν ἄρχεσθαι θέλειν,
δορός τ᾽ ἂν ἐν χειμῶνι προστεταγμένον 670
μένειν δίκαιον κἀγαθὸν παραστάτην.
ἀναρχίας δὲ μεῖζον οὐκ ἔστιν κακόν.
αὕτη πόλεις ὄλλυσιν, ἥδ᾽ ἀναστάτους
οἴκους τίθησιν, ἥδε συμμάχου δορὸς
τροπὰς καταρρήγνυσι· τῶν δ᾽ ὀρθουμένων 675

ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν: good, brave, capable, 3 οἰκεῖος α ον: one’s own, of family; relatives 5
ἀν-αρχία, ἡ: disobedience, lawlessness, 1 οἶκος, ὁ: a house, abode, dwelling, 4
ἀνά-στατος, -ον: uprooted, upset, ruined, 1 ὀρθόω: to guide straight, set upright, 4
βιάζω: do violence to, force, compel, 3 παρα-στάτης, ὁ: fellow-defender (of the
δόρυ, δορ(ατ)ός, τό: spear, tree, stem 3 battle line), one who stand alongside, 1
ἐναντίος, -η, -ον: opposite, 1 προσ-τάσσω: to post, station, position, 1
ἔπαινος, ὁ: praise, approval, commendation 2 σµικρός, -ά, -όν: small, little, 2
ἐπι-τάσσω: to order, dictate (orders) to, 1 σύµ-µαχος, ον: allied; subst. ally, 2
θαρσέω: to be confident, take courage, 3 τίθηµι: to set, put, place, arrange, 6
ἵστηµι: to make stand, set up, stop, establish 6 τροπή, ἡ: rout, turning-place, 1
κατ-αρρήγνυµι: to cause...to break out, 1 τυγχάνω: chance upon, get, attain; happen, 5
κρατύνω: rule; be in power or control, 1 ὑπερ-βαίνω: to overstep, transgress, 3
µεῖζων, -ον: greater, bigger, better, 7 χειµών, -ῶνος τό: storm, winter, 1
µένω: to stay, remain, 4 χρηστός, -ή, -όν: useful, worthy, good, 4
νοέω: to think, have in mind, suppose, 3

661 φανεῖται...ὤν: will appear to be; ‘will i.e. the one who listens (κλύειν) to the one
clearly be,’ fut. φαίνω + pple the city appoints;
κἀν: καἰ έν 669 (ἄν) ἄρχειν: would lead; supply ἄν for
663 ὑπερβὰς: nom. sg. aor. pple ὑπερβαίνω parallelism; equivalent to a potential opt. in
ἤ...ἤ: either…or direct speech, ἄνδρα is acc. subject
664 τὸ ἐπιτάσσειν: articular inf., obj. of. νοεῖ ἂν...(ἐ)θἐλειν: would be willing…
665 οὐκ ἔστ(ι): it is not possible that… 670 τε ἂν...µένειν: and that he would abide;
τυχεῖν: aor. inf. governs partitive gen. i.e. stand his ground in battle; see l. 669
666 ὅν...στήσειε: whomever…appointed; aor. δορός: of spears; pl. in sense with χειµῶνι
opt. ἵστηµι; general relative clause governs προστεταγµένον: pf. pass.
an ἄν + subj. (primary seq.), but here has 671 ἀναρχίας: gen. of comparison
opt.; τοῦδε is the antecedent οὐκ...κακόν: there is not an evil...
τοῦδε: from…; gen. of source 674 τίθησιν: makes…; governs a double acc.
667 ἂν...θαρσοίην: I would…; potential opt. δορὸς: i.e. of a force armed with spears
668 τοῦτον...τὸν ἄνδρα: that...; acc. subject, 675 τῶν ὀρθουµένων: of those…

45
 σῴζει τὰ πολλὰ σώμαθ᾽ ἡ πειθαρχία.
οὕτως ἀμυντέ᾽ ἐστὶ τοῖς κοσμουμένοις,
κοὔτοι γυναικὸς οὐδαμῶς ἡσσητέα.
κρεῖσσον γάρ, εἴπερ δεῖ, πρὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκπεσεῖν,
κοὐκ ἂν γυναικῶν ἥσσονες καλοίμεθ᾽ ἄν. 680
Χορ ἡμῖν μέν, εἰ μὴ τῷ χρόνῳ κεκλέμμεθα,
λέγειν φρονούντως ὧν λέγεις δοκεῖς πέρι.
Αἵμ πάτερ, θεοὶ φύουσιν ἀνθρώποις φρένας,
πάντων ὅσ᾽ ἐστὶ κτημάτων ὑπέρτατον.
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὅπως σὺ μὴ λέγεις ὀρθῶς τάδε, 685
οὔτ᾽ ἂν δυναίμην μήτ᾽ ἐπισταίμην λέγειν.
γένοιτο μεντἂν χἀτέρῳ καλῶς ἔχον.
σοῦ δ᾽ οὖν πέφυκα πάντα προσκοπεῖν ὅσα
λέγει τις ἢ πράσσει τις ἢ ψέγειν ἔχει.
τὸ γὰρ σὸν ὄμμα δεινὸν ἀνδρὶ δημότῃ 690

ἀµυντέος, -α, -ον: to be defended, assisted, 1 κοσµέω: to order, arrange, adorn, 3

γίγνοµαι: to come to be, become, be born, 6 κρείσσων, -ον: stronger, mighter, better, 2
δεῖ: it is necessary, must, ought (+ inf.), 5 κτῆµα, -ατος, τό: possession, property, 4
δηµότης, ὁ: common(er), man of the people 1 µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7
δύναµαι: to be able, can, be capable, 4 ὄµµα, -ατος, τό: the eye, 4
εἴ-περ: if really, if, 4 οὐδαµῶς: in no way, 1
ἐκ-πίπτω: to fall out, be driven out, 1 πειθ-αρχία, ἡ: obedience (to rule), 1
ἐπίσταµαι: to know (how), understand, 5 περί: around, about, concerning, 6
ἕτερος, -α, -ον: one of two, other, different, 2 προ-σκοπέω: consider on behalf of (gen) 1
ἡσσητέος, -α, -ον: be made inferior to, to be σῶµα, -ατος, τό: the body, 3
beaten by, to be defeated by (+ gen) 1 ὑπέρτατος, -η, -ον: highest, top of, 3
ἥσσων, -ον: inferior, weaker, less, 3 φρονούντως: wisely, prudently, 1
καλέω: to call, summon, invite, 3 ψέγω: to censure, blame, find fault, 1
κλέπτω: to steal, cheat; do, 2

677 ἀµυντέ(α) ἐστὶ: must be defended; verbal γυναικῶν: gen. of comparison

adj. and εἰµί express necessity 681 ἡµῖν µὲν: to us on our part; dat. reference
τοῖς κοσµουµένοις: by those…; dat. of τῷ χρόνῳ: i.e. their age, dat of means
agent, common with a verbal adj. κεκλέµµεθα: pf. pass. κλέπτω
678 κοὔτοι: καὶ οὔ τοι 682 ὧν λέγεις...πέρι: περὶ τουτῶν ἃ λέγεις ;
γυναικῶν: a gen. of comparison is often the acc. relative is attracted into the gen. of
governed by forms of the verb ἡσσάοµαι the missing antecedent, the object of περί
‘to be made inferior’ or ‘to be defeated;’ 685 ὅπως...τάδε: how...; governed by λέγειν
it is often translated as an gen. of agent: ‘by 686 ἂν δυναίµην...ἐπιστάιµην: I would
women’ (see line 680 below) not...and may I not…; potential opt. and
ἡσσητέα (ἐστί): must not be made inferior opt. of wish; wishes employ µή, not οὐ
to…+ gen. of comparison; the fem. sg. 687 µεντοὶ ἂν καὶ ἑτέρῷ: yet, to another also
ending suggests πειθαρχία is the subject γένοιτο...καλῶς ἔχον: (something) being
679 κρεῖσσον (ἐστί): it is….; impersonal good could come to be; pple, ‘holding well’
πρὸς ἀνδρὸς: by a man 688 πέφυκα: I am naturally disposed; + inf.
680 ἂν...καλοἰµεθ(α): potential opt. passive; 689 ἔχει: is able + inf.
ἄν is duplicated to emphasize intervening 690 τὸ...ὄµµα (ἐστί): your gaze (is)…
words; the verb governs a predicate adj.
46
 λόγοις τοιούτοις, οἷς σὺ μὴ τέρψει κλύων·
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ἀκούειν ἔσθ᾽ ὑπὸ σκότου τάδε,
τὴν παῖδα ταύτην οἷ᾽ ὀδύρεται πόλις,
πασῶν γυναικῶν ὡς ἀναξιωτάτη
κάκιστ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἔργων εὐκλεεστάτων φθίνει. 695
ἥτις τὸν αὑτῆς αὐτάδελφον ἐν φοναῖς
πεπτῶτ᾽ ἄθαπτον μήθ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὠμηστῶν κυνῶν
εἴασ᾽ ὀλέσθαι μήθ᾽ ὑπ᾽ οἰωνῶν τινος.
οὐχ ἥδε χρυσῆς ἀξία τιμῆς λαχεῖν;
τοιάδ᾽ ἐρεμνὴ σῖγ᾽ ἐπέρχεται φάτις. 700
ἐμοὶ δὲ σοῦ πράσσοντος εὐτυχῶς, πάτερ,
οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν κτῆμα τιμιώτερον,
τί γὰρ πατρὸς θάλλοντος εὐκλείας τέκνοις
ἄγαλμα μεῖζον, ἢ τί πρὸς παίδων πατρί;
μή νυν ἓν ἦθος μοῦνον ἐν σαυτῷ φόρει, 705

ἄ-θαπτος, -ον: unburied, 3 λαγχάνω: to obtain by lot, 6

ἄγαλµα, -ατος τό: image, statue; honor, 2 µεῖζων, -ον: greater, bigger, better, 7
ἀκούω: to hear, listen to, 6 ὀδύροµαι: to lament, weep, bewail, 1
ἀν-άξιος, -ον: unworthy, not worthy, 1 οἰωνός, ὁ: large bird, bird of prey, 6
ἄξιος, -α, -ον: worthy of, deserving of, 1 σεαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: yourself, 6
αὐτά-δελφος, -ον: of one’s sister or brother 3 σῖγα: adverb silently, 1
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 σκότος, ὁ: darkness, gloom, 2
ἐάω: to permit, allow, let be, suffer, 5 τέρπω: to delight, gladden; mid. enjoy (dat) 1
ἐπ-έρχοµαι: come upon, spread; assault 2 τιµή, ἡ: honor, 3
ἐρεµνός, -ή, -όν: black, murky, dark, 1 τίµιος, -α, -ον: honored, worthy, 2
εὐ-κλεής, -ές: glorious, well-renowned, 2 τοιόσδε, -άδε, -όνδε: such, this (here) sort, 7
εὔ-κλεια, ἡ: glory, good repute, 1 φάτις, ἡ: common talk, rumor, report, 2
εὐ-τυχής, -ές: lucky, fortunate, 1 φθί(ν)ω: to perish, waste away, fail, 3
ἦθος, -έος ὁ: custom; disposition, character, 2 φονή, ἡ: murder, massacre, 3
θάλλω: to bloom, abound, be luxuriant, 2 φορέω: to carry regularly, wear, 1
κτῆµα, -ατος, τό: possession, property, 4 χρύσεος, -η, -ον: golden, of gold, 2
κύων, κυνός, ὁ, ἡ: dog, 5 ὠµ-ηστής, -ου ὁ: eating raw flesh, 1

691 λόγοις...: because of...; dat. of cause 696 ἥτις: one who…; supply antecedent
µὴ: general relative governs µή not οὐ αὑτῆς: ἑαυτῆς; reflexive gen.
τέρψει: τέρψε(σ)αι; 2nd sg. fut. mid. 697 πεπτῶτ(α): acc. sg. pf. pple πίπτω
692 ἔσθ᾽: it is possible; ἔστι µήτ(ε): general relative governs µή not οὐ
ὑπὸ: under… ὑπ(ὸ): by…; gen. of agent
693 τῆν...οἷ(α)...πόλις: what (laments)…; οἷα 698 εἴασ(ε): aor. ἐάω
is an inner acc. introducing a relative clause ὀλέσθαι: aor. mid. ὄλλυµι
ὀδύροµαι governs a double acc. τινος: indefinite τις
694 πασῶν γυναικῶν: among…; partitive 699 οὐχ...ἀξία (ἐστί): is…not worthy?; pred.
ὡς: (namely) how…; λαχεῖν: aor. epexegetic inf. after ἀξία
ἀναξιωτάτη: superlative adj. 701 πράσσοντος: faring…; gen. comparison
695 κάκιστα: most foully; superlative adv. 704 µεῖζον (ἐστί): is..; pred., gen. comparison
ἀπ(ὸ): as a result of… πρὸς παιδῶν: from one’s children
εὐκλεεστάτων: superlative 705 µή...φόρει: φόρε-ε, imperative; neut. εἷς

47
 ὡς φὴς σύ, κοὐδὲν ἄλλο, τοῦτ᾽ ὀρθῶς ἔχειν.
ὅστις γὰρ αὐτὸς ἢ φρονεῖν μόνος δοκεῖ,
ἢ γλῶσσαν, ἣν οὐκ ἄλλος, ἢ ψυχὴν ἔχειν,
οὗτοι διαπτυχθέντες ὤφθησαν κενοί.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄνδρα, κεἴ τις ᾖ σοφός, τὸ μανθάνειν 710
πόλλ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὐδὲν καὶ τὸ μὴ τείνειν ἄγαν.
ὁρᾷς παρὰ ῥείθροισι χειμάρροις ὅσα
δένδρων ὑπείκει, κλῶνας ὡς ἐκσῴζεται,
τὰ δ᾽ ἀντιτείνοντ᾽ αὐτόπρεμν᾽ ἀπόλλυται.
αὕτως δὲ ναὸς ὅστις ἐγκρατῆ πόδα 715
τείνας ὑπείκει μηδέν, ὑπτίοις κάτω
στρέψας τὸ λοιπὸν σέλμασιν ναυτίλλεται.
ἀλλ᾽ εἶκε καὶ θυμῷ μετάστασιν δίδου.
γνώμη γὰρ εἴ τις κἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ νεωτέρου
πρόσεστι, φήμ᾽ ἔγωγε πρεσβεύειν πολὺ 720

ἄγαν: too much, excessively, 6 λοιπός, -ή, -όν: remaining, the rest, 3
ἀντι-τείνω: to stretch taut (against), 1 µετά-στασις, ἡ: change, transformation, 1
ἀπ-όλλυµι: to destroy, kill, ruin, 2 ναῦς, νεώς, ἡ: a ship, boat, 2
αὐτό-πρεµνος, -ον: root and branch, 1 ναυτίλλοµαι: to sail, go by sea, 1
αὕτως: in the same way, likewise; even so, 1 πούς, ποδός, ὁ: a foot; a (sheet) of sail, 5
γλῶσσα, ἡ: tongue, 6 πρεσβεύω: to be best, be eldest; revere, 1
δένδρον, τό: tree, 1 πρόσ-ειµι: to be (at hand or in addition), 2
δια-πτύσσω: to lay open, spread out, unfold 1 ῥεῖθρον, τό: river, stream (ῥεέθρον) 3
δίδωµι: to give, offer, grant, provide, 6 σέλµα, -ατος, τό: rowing-benches; decking, 1
ἐγ-κρατής, -ές: strong, firm, in control, 2 σοφός, -ή, -όν: wise, skilled, 3
ἔγωγε: I, for my part, 5 στρέφω: to turn, turn aside; overturn, 2
εἴκω: to yield, give way, (aor. εἰκάθον) 5 τείνω: to stretch, extend, spread, direct, 4
ἐκ-σῴζω: to keep save, preserve from harm, 1 ὑπ-είκω: to give way, yield, retire, withdraw, 2
θυµός, ὁ: desire, heart; soul, life, 5 ὕπτιος, α, ον: backwards, on one’s back, 2
κενός, -ή, -όν: empty; void, destitute, 4 χειµά-ρρους, -ον: storm-swollen or -flowing 1
κλών, κλῶνος, ὁ: pliant branch, twig, spray 1

706 ὡς φὴς....τοῦτο: (do you think) that this 711 αἰσχρὸν οὐδὲν (ἐστί): it is…; add verb
(namely) how you say; τοῦτο is antecedent τὸ µὴ τείνειν: not to stretch taut; see ll.715-
and ὡς is a relative adverb; supply a verb 716 below for the image of stretching a sail
ὀρθῶς ἔχειν: is correct; ἔχω (‘holds,’ ‘is taut; articular infs. govern µή instead of οὐ
disposed’) + adv. is equiv. to εἰµί + adj. 712 παρὰ: beside…; dat. of place where
707 φρονεῖν: to be wise 713 ὡς: how…
δοκεῖ: seems (to himself); i.e. thinks 714 τὰ δ: but those…; i.e neut. pl. δένδρα
708 ἣν (ἔχει) οὐκ ἄλλος: which…; add verb 715 ναὸς: Doric gen. for νεώς
διαπτυχθέντες: aor. passive pple 716 τείνας: nom. sg. aor. pple
709 οὗτοι: i.e. the ὅστις as a group 717 λοιπὸν: hereafter, in the future; duration
ὤφθησαν: aor. pass. ὁράω 718 δίδοῦ: sg. imperative, διδο-ε
710 κ(αὶ) εἰ: even if…; concessive in sense 719 ἐµοῦ νεωτέρου: from me though younger
ᾖ, 3rd sg. pres. subj. εἰµί here, unusually, 720 πρεσβεύειν: that it is…; impersonal
without ἄν in a pres. general condition πολὺ: far; ‘by much,’ adverbial acc.
τὸ µανθάνειν: that...; ἄνδρα is acc. subject,

48
 φῦναι τὸν ἄνδρα πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμης πλέων·
εἰ δ᾽ οὖν, φιλεῖ γὰρ τοῦτο μὴ ταύτῃ ῥέπειν,
καὶ τῶν λεγόντων εὖ καλὸν τὸ μανθάνειν.
Χορ ἄναξ, σέ τ᾽ εἰκός, εἴ τι καίριον λέγει,
μαθεῖν, σέ τ᾽ αὖ τοῦδ᾽· εὖ γὰρ εἴρηται διπλῇ. 725
Κρέ οἱ τηλικοίδε καὶ διδαξόμεσθα δὴ
φρονεῖν ὑπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς τηλικοῦδε τὴν φύσιν;
Αἵμ μηδὲν τὸ μὴ δίκαιον· εἰ δ᾽ ἐγὼ νέος,
οὐ τὸν χρόνον χρὴ μᾶλλον ἢ τἄργα σκοπεῖν.
Κρέ ἔργον γάρ ἐστι τοὺς ἀκοσμοῦντας σέβειν; 730
Αἵμ οὐδ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ εὐσεβεῖν εἰς τοὺς κακούς.
Κρέ οὐχ ἥδε γὰρ τοιᾷδ᾽ ἐπείληπται νόσῳ;
Αἵμ οὔ φησι Θήβης τῆσδ᾽ ὁμόπτολις λεώς.
Κρέ πόλις γὰρ ἡμῖν ἁμὲ χρὴ τάσσειν ἐρεῖ;
Αἵμ ὁρᾷς τόδ᾽ ὡς εἴρηκας ὡς ἄγαν νέος; 735

ἀ-κοσµέω: to be disorderly, offend, 1 µᾶλλον: more, rather, 4

ἄγαν: too much, excessively, 6 νόσος, ὁ: sickness, illness, disease, 6
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 ὁµό-πτολις, -εως: of the same city (pl. ῑς) 1
διδάσκω: to teach, instruct, 4 πλέων, -οντος: full of (gen), more, greater, 7
διπλῇ: twice, twice over, 1 ῥέπω: to fall, incline, sink; happen, 1
εἰκός -ότος τό: likely, suitable, reasonable 1 σκοπέω: to examine, consider, behold, 3
ἐπι-λαµβάνω: lay hold of, take over, attack 1 τάσσω: to arrange, put in order, rule, 2
ἐπιστήµη, ἡ: knowledge, wisdom, skill, 1 ταύτῃ: in this respect, in this way, so, thus, 2
ἐρέω: I will say or speak, 4 τηλικόσδε –ήδε, -όνδε: of such an age, 2
εὐ-σεβέω: to act piously, live piously, 2 τοιόσδε, -άδε, -όνδε: such, this (here) sort, 7
καίριος, -η, -ον: apt, timely, 1 φιλέω: to love, befriend, 7
κελεύω: to bid, order, urge, exhort, 2 φύσις, -εως, ἡ: nature, character; birth, 3
λεώς, ὁ: the people, (or λαός, ὁ), 1

721 φῦναι: to be by nature; aor. inf. φύω καὶ is adverbial, and δή is ironic in sense;
πάντ(α): in every way, entirely, wholly; -µεσθα is equiv. to 1st pl. ending -µεθα
acc. of respect 727 τὴν φύσιν: in birth; acc. of respect
722 εἰ δ᾽οὖν....γὰρ: but if therefore, since…; 729 τὸν χρόνον: i.e. age
the condition is elliptical and equivalent to τἄργα: the tasks; τὰ ἔργα
‘but if a man is not wise…’; γάρ is 730 ἔργον...ἐστι: is it the task
explanatory: ‘(I say this) because…’ 731 ἂν κελεύσαιµ(ι): I would…; potential opt.
φιλεῖ: tends; a common meaning for εἰς...: toward, in respect to..
φιλέω; τοῦτο is subject 732 οὐδ(ὲ): not even
723 τῶν λεγόντῶν: from…; gen. source τοιᾷδε...νόσῷ: dat. of means
καλὸν (ἐστί): predicate, supply verb ἐπ-είληπται: pf. pass. ἐπιλαµβάνω
724 σέ τ(ε)...σέ τ(ε): that you…that you…; 732 οὐ...γὰρ: is this one not indeed…?; γάρ
Creon and Haemon respectively marks indignation in a response
εἰκός (ἐστί): (it is) reasonable that… 733 οὔ φησι: deny it; i.e say that not; line 732
725 τοῦδ(ε): from…; Creon, gen. of source Θήβης τῆσδ(ε): gen. sg.
εἴρηται: it...; impersonal pf. λέγω (ερ) 734 ἡµῖν: plural but translate as singular
726 οἱ τηλικοίδε: we, those.…; 1st pl. 735 ἔιρηκας: pf. λέγω (ερ)
καὶ διδαξόµεσθα δὴ: actually…in fact; ὡς ἄγαν νέος: as if…

49
Κρέ ἄλλῳ γὰρ ἢ ‘μοὶ χρή με τῆσδ᾽ ἄρχειν χθονός;
Αἵμ πόλις γὰρ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ἥτις ἀνδρός ἐσθ᾽ ἑνός.
Κρέ οὐ τοῦ κρατοῦντος ἡ πόλις νομίζεται;
Αἵμ καλῶς γ᾽ ἐρήμης ἂν σὺ γῆς ἄρχοις μόνος.
Κρέ ὅδ᾽, ὡς ἔοικε, τῇ γυναικὶ συμμαχεῖ. 740
Αἵμ εἴπερ γυνὴ σύ. σοῦ γὰρ οὖν προκήδομαι.
Κρέ ὦ παγκάκιστε, διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί;
Αἵμ οὐ γὰρ δίκαιά σ᾽ ἐξαμαρτάνονθ᾽ ὁρῶ.
Κρέ ἁμαρτάνω γὰρ τὰς ἐμὰς ἀρχὰς σέβων;
Αἵμ οὐ γὰρ σέβεις τιμάς γε τὰς θεῶν πατῶν. 745
Κρέ ὦ μιαρὸν ἦθος καὶ γυναικὸς ὕστερον.
Αἵμ οὔ τἂν ἕλοις ἥσσω γε τῶν αἰσχρῶν ἐμέ.
Κρέ ὁ γοῦν λόγος σοι πᾶς ὑπὲρ κείνης ὅδε.
Αἵμ καὶ σοῦ γε κἀμοῦ, καὶ θεῶν τῶν νερτέρων.
Κρέ ταύτην ποτ᾽ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὡς ἔτι ζῶσαν γαμεῖς. 750

ἁµαρτάνω: to make a mistake, fail (gen.) 6 µιαρός -ή -όν: polluted, filthy, defiled, foul 1
ἀρχή, ἡ: a beginning; rule, office, 4 νέρτερος, α, ον: infernal, of the underworld 2
γαµέω: to marry, 1 νοµίζω: believe, consider, deem, hold, 2
γοῦν: certainly; at any rate, any way, 4 παγ-κάκιστος, -η, -ον: utterly base or bad, 1
εἴ-περ: if really, if, 4 πατέω: to tread (on), walk, 1
ἐξ-αµαρτάνω: to make a mistake, fail, 2 προ-κήδοµαι: take care of/on behalf of gen. 1
ἔοικα: to be or seem likely, be reasonable, 5 συµ-µαχέω: be an ally, in alliance to (dat) 1
ἔρηµος, -η, -ον:, deserted, desolate, lonely, 4 τιµή, ἡ: honor, 3
ἦθος, -έος, ὁ: custom; disposition, character 2 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
ἥσσων, -ον: inferior, weaker, less, 3 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
=κρατέω: to gain control, overpower, 2 ὕστερος η ον: later, following behind +gen, 1

736 ἄλλῳ...ἤ ἐµοὶ: for (someone) else than ἀρχὰς: offices; his office as leader
for myself; dat. interest, i.e. fulfilling some- 745 γὰρ: (yes), for…; Haemon, just as
one else’s will rather his own Creon, implies assent but his reply reveals
ἄρχειν: governs a gen. object that he is being ironic
737 ἀνδρός ἑνός: belongs to one man; ‘is of γε...πατῶν: at least while…; γε modifes
one man’ gen. predicate the participal phrase and is restrictive
738 τοῦ κρατοῦντος (εἶναι): gen. predicate τιµάς: i.e. the rites and sacrifices of burial
νοµίζεται (εἶναι): is considered (to be) 746 γυναικὸς ὕστερον: following behind a
739 καλῶς γ᾽: well indeed; sarcastically woman; i.e. inferior to a woman, a gen. of
ἄν...ἄρχοις: potential opt. comparison
740 ὡς...: as…; parenthetical 747 τ(οι) ἄν...ἕλοις: aor. potential opt. αἱρέω
741 γυνὴ σύ: supply a linking verb this verb governs a double accusative
οὖν: in fact ἥσσω: ἥσσο(ν)α, acc. sg.
742 διὰ δίκης ἰὼν πατρί;: coming to court τῶν αἰσχρῶν: neuter, gen. of comparison
with your father; i.e. taking your father to γε: in fact; emphasizes ἥσσω...αἰσχρῶν
task; dat. of association, pple ἔρχοµαι 748 σοι: of yours; ‘your,’ dat. of possession
743 γὰρ: (yes), for…; assent implied 749 καὶ...καὶ: both…and; supply ὑπὲρ
οὐ δίκαιά: unjust; inner acc. of the pple γε: emphasizes the preceding word σοῦ
744 γὰρ: (yes), for…; Creon implies 750 οὐκ ἔστ(ι) ὡς: it is not ever possible
assent, but his reply is ironic

50
Αἵμ ἣ δ᾽ οὖν θανεῖται καὶ θανοῦσ᾽ ὀλεῖ τινα.
Κρέ ἦ κἀπαπειλῶν ὧδ᾽ ἐπεξέρχει θρασύς;
Αἵμ τίς δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀπειλὴ πρὸς κενὰς γνώμας λέγειν;
Κρέ κλαίων φρενώσεις, ὢν φρενῶν αὐτὸς κενός.
Αἵμ εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθ᾽, εἶπον ἄν σ᾽ οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν. 755
Κρέ γυναικὸς ὢν δούλευμα μὴ κώτιλλέ με.
Αἵμ βούλει λέγειν τι καὶ λέγων μηδὲν κλύειν;
Κρέ ἄληθες; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυμπον, ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι,
χαίρων ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.
ἄγαγε τὸ μῖσος ὡς κατ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ αὐτίκα 760
παρόντι θνῄσκῃ πλησία τῷ νυμφίῳ.
Αἵμ οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔμοιγε, τοῦτο μὴ δόξῃς ποτέ,
οὔθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὀλεῖται πλησία, σύ τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ
τοὐμὸν προσόψει κρᾶτ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν,
ὡς τοῖς θέλουσι τῶν φίλων μαίνῃ συνών. 765

ἀληθής, -ές: true, 1 κωτίλλω: to prattle, chatter, talk, 1

ἀπειλή, ἡ: threat, boast, 2 µαίνοµαι: to mad, rage, be furious, 7
αὐτίκα: straightway, at once; presently, 1 µῖσος, -εος, τό: a hateful thing; hate, hatred, 1
βούλοµαι: to wish, be willing, desire, 7 νυµφίος, ὀ: a bridegroom, 1
δεννάζω: to abuse, revile, 1 Ὄλυµπος, ὁ: Mt. Olympus, 2
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 ὄµµα, -ατος, τό: the eye, 4
δούλευµα, -ατος, ὁ: a slave, service, 1 οὐδαµός, -ή, -όν: not even one, no one, 2
ἔγωγε: I, for my part, 5 ὀφθαλµός, ὁ: eye, 2
ἐπ-απειλέω: direct a threat against, threaten 2 πλησίος, -η, -ον: near, close to (῝δατ.) 2
ἐπ-εξ-έρχοµαι: go out against; go through 1 προσ-οράω: to look at, behold, observe, 1
θρασύς, -εῖα, -ύ: bold, daring, confident, 3 σύν-ειµι: to be with, associate with, 2
κενός, -ή, -όν: empty; void, destitute, 4 φρενόω: to make wise, instruct, inform, 1
κλαίω: to weep, lament, wail, 2 χαίρω: to rejoice, be glad; fare well, 2
κράς, κρατός, ἡ: the head, 2 ψόγος, ὁ: blame, censure; fault, flaw, 1
ὧδε: in this way, so, thus, 4

751 ἥ δ: and this one…; demonstrative ἴσθ(ι): sg. imperative, οἶδα

θανεῖται, ὀλεῖ: fut. θνῄσκω, ὄλλυµι 759 ἐπὶ: in…
752 ἐπεξέρχε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. pres. mid. χαίρων...(οὐ) δεννάσεις: i.e. you will not
753 πρὸς: against…, in regard to…. enjoy…; use the οὐ from the line above
754 φρενώσεις: i.e. make (yourself) wise 760 ἄγαγε: bring…; aor. imperative ἄγω
ὢν: nom. sg. pple εἰµί ὠς...θνῄσκῃ: so that she.; purpose + subj.
αὐτὸς: intensive with missing subject ‘you’ κατ(ὰ) ὄµµατα: before (his) eyes; ‘over…’
755 εἰ...ἦσθα, εἶπον ἄν: if…were, …would 761 παρόντι...νυµφίῳ: dat. sg. pple πάρειµι
have…; mixed contrafactual (εἰ impf. ind., ἔµοιγε: emphatic, modifies πλησία below
ἄν + aor. ind.); 2nd sg. εἰµί, aor. λέγω 762 µὴ δόξῃς: Don’t…; prohibitive subj.
756 µὴ: neg. commands take µή and not οὐ 763 ὀλεῖται: fut. mid. ὄλλυµι
757 βούλε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. pres. mid. οὐδαµὰ: in no way, not at all; adv. acc.
τι, µῆδεν: i.e. of importance; as often 764 τὸ ἐµὸν...κρᾶτα: my face; ‘my head’
758 οὐ τόνδ᾽ Ὄλυµπον: by Olympus…not!; προσ-όψε(σ)αι: 2nd sg. fut. mid. -ὀράω
µά, ‘by,’ is used in positive oaths and ού 765 ὡς...µαίνη(σ)αι: purpose; 2nd sg. subj.
takes its place in negative oaths or swearing τοῖς θέλουσι: to those being willing…

51
Χορ ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκεν ἐξ ὀργῆς ταχύς·
νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς.
Κρέ δράτω· φρονείτω μεῖζον ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἰών·
τὼ δ᾽ οὖν κόρα τώδ᾽ οὐκ ἀπαλλάξει μόρου.
Χορ ἄμφω γὰρ αὐτὼ καὶ κατακτεῖναι νοεῖς; 770
Κρέ οὐ τήν γε μὴ θιγοῦσαν· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις.
Χορ μόρῳ δὲ ποίῳ καί σφε βουλεύει κτανεῖν;
Κρέ ἄγων ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος
κρύψω πετρώδει ζῶσαν ἐν κατώρυχι,
φορβῆς τοσοῦτον ὡς ἄγος μόνον προθείς, 775
ὅπως μίασμα πᾶσ᾽ ὑπεκφύγῃ πόλις.
κἀκεῖ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὃν μόνον σέβει θεῶν,
αἰτουμένη που τεύξεται τὸ μὴ θανεῖν,
ἢ γνώσεται γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽ ὅτι
πόνος περισσός ἐστι τἀν Ἅιδου σέβειν. 780

ἄγος, -εος, τό: pollution, guilt; expiation, 2 µίασµα, -ατος τό: stain (of guilt), pollution 3
αἰτέω: to ask, ask for, beg, 3 νοέω: to think, have in mind, suppose, 3
ἀλγέω: to feel pain, suffer, 3 νοῦς, ὁ: mind, thought, reason, attention, 5
ἄµφω: both (dual), 2 ὀργή, ἡ: anger; temperment, 6
ἀπ-αλλάσσω: to set free, release, deliver, 5 περισσός, -ή, -όν: needless, excessive, 2
βαίνω: to walk, step, go, 6 πετρώδης, -ες: of rock; rocky, stony, 2
βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ: heavy (to bear); grievous, 3 ποῖος, -α, -ον: what sort of? what kind of? 6
βουλεύω: to deliberate, plan, take counsel, 5 πόνος, ὁ: work, toil, labor, 5
γιγνώσκω: to come to know, learn, realize, 6 που: anywhere, somewhere; I suppose, 4
γοῦν: certainly; at any rate, any way, 4 προ-τίθηµι: to propose, set forth, 4
ἐκεῖ: there, 3 ἔνθα: where; there 3 στίβος, ὁ: path, way, trodden path, 1
ἔρηµος, -η, -ον:, deserted, desolate, lonely, 4 σφεῖς: they; as sg. him, her, it, 5
θιγγάνω: to take hold of, touch, 2 ταχύς, εῖα, ύ: quick, swift, hastily, 4
κατ-ῶρυξ, -υχος, ἡ: dug or cut out, cavern, 2 τηλικοῦτος, -αύτη, -αῦτο: of such an age, 1
κατα-κτείνω: to kill, slay, 3 τηνικαῦτα: at that time, then, 1
κόρα, ἡ: girl, maiden, 5 τοσοῦτος, -αύτη, -ο: so great, much, many 4
κρύπτω: to hide, cover, conceal, 6 τυγχάνω: chance upon, get, attain; happen, 5
κτείνω: to kill, slay, kill, slay, 4 ὑπ-εκ-φεύγω: to flee, escape, 2
µεῖζων, -ον: greater, bigger, better, 7 φορβή, ἡ: food; fodder, pasture, 1

766 βέβηκεν: i.e. departed, pf. βαίνω 771 γε: at any rate, at least; limitive
ταχύς: translate nom. sg. as an adv. θιγοῦσαν: aor. pple
βαρύς: Jebb translates this as ‘resentful’ γὰρ οὖν: yes, certainly…; affirmative
767 δράτω... φρονείτω: let…let him think; 772 σφε: her; αὐτήν, often pl. but here sg.
3rd sg. imperative; φρονέω is transitive καί...βουλεύε(σ)αι: do you plan in fact…?
768 µεῖζον ἢ κατ(ὰ) ἄνδρα: something 773 ἔνθ(α) ἂν: wherever…; 3rd sg. pres. εἰµί
greater than fitting a man; ‘according to...’ 775 ὡς ἄγος µόνον: so as to be an expiation
ἰών: nom. sg. pres. pple ἔρχοµαι προθείς: nom. sg. aor. pple. προτίθηµι
769 τὼ…κόρα τώδε: dual acc. 776 ὅπως...ὑπεκφύγῃ: so that…; purpose
µόρου: from…; gen. of separation 778 τεύξεται: she will attain; + articular inf.
770 ἄµφω...αὐτὼ: dual acc. 778 γοῦν ἀλλὰ τηνικαῦθ᾽: well, at least then
καὶ: actually; or ‘in fact,’ adverbial 780 τὸ ἐν Ἅιδου: to….in (the house) of Hades

52
Χορ Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν, στρ.
Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι 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᾽ ἀν-
θρώπων. ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν. 790
σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους ἀντ.
φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ,
σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν
ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·
νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων 795

ἄ-δικος, -ον: unrighteous, unjust, 1 µαλακός, -α, -ον: soft, gentle; weak, feeble, 1
ἀ-θάνατος, -ον: immortal, undying, 1 µάχη, ἡ: battle, fight, combat, 1
ἀ-νίκατος, -η, -ον: unconquerable, 1 νεᾶνις, -ιδος, ἡ: a girl, young girl, 1
ἀγρο-νόµος, -α, -ον: will-roaming, wild, 1 νεῖκος, -εος τό: taunt, abuse; quarrel, strife, 2
ἁµέριος, -ον: lasting a day (ἡµέριος) 1 νικάω: to conquer, defeat, win, 3
αὐλή, ἡ: home, dwelling, hall, court, 2 παρα-σπάω: drage, pull astray or aside, 1
βλέφαρον, τό: pl. eyelids, 3 παρεία, ἡ: cheek, 2
ἐν-αργής, -ές: clearly seen, visible, distinct, 2 σύν-αιµος, -ον: of common blood, kindred, 4
ἐν-νυχεύω: keep vigil on, sleep in or on, 1 ταράσσω: to trouble, disturb, stir up, 2
Ἔρως, -ωτος, ὁ: Eros, Love, Desire, 2 ὑπερ-πόντιος, -α, -ον: over the sea; foreign 1
κτῆµα, -ατος, τό: possession, property, 4 φοιτάω: to go to and fro, visit, 1
λώβη, ἡ: ruin, outrage, maltreatment, 1 φύξιµος, -ον: escape; refuge, asylum, 1
µαίνοµαι: to mad, rage, be furious, 4

781 ἀνίκατε: vocative, direct address µέµηνεν: pf. µαίνοµαι, the pf. denotes a
µάχαν: in…; acc. of respect state, particularly of emotion: ‘is mad’
782 πίπτεις: falls upon; i.e. attacks or 791 σὺ καὶ...σὺ καὶ: you both…and you…
destroys 792 παρασπᾷς: governs a double acc.: i.e.
786 ἀγρονόµοις αὐλαῖς: rustic dwelling drags φρένας δικαίων (to be) ἀδίκους;
humans or possibly all the animals living in ἀδίκους is an acc. predicate
the wild, the meaning is unclear ἐπὶ λώβᾳ: to (their)…; ἐπί + dat. may
787 σ(ε)...σέ: in respect to…; acc. of respect express the purpose or goal
ἀθανάτων...ἀνθρώπων: for…for…; 794 ἔχεις ταράξας: ἔχω + aor. pple is a
subjective genitives periphrastic pf.
φύξιµος οὐδεὶς (ἐστί): there is…; add 795 νικᾷ: νικάει, the subject is ἵµερος
790 ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων: the one…; a new subject, we βλεφάρων: from…; gen. of source
may assume that Ἔρως is the object

53
 ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου
νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς
θεσμῶν. ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμ-
παίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα. 800
νῦν δ᾽ ἤδη 'γὼ καὐτὸς θεσμῶν
ἔξω φέρομαι τάδ᾽ ὁρῶν, ἴσχειν δ᾽
οὐκέτι πηγὰς δύναμαι δάκρυ
τὸν παγκοίτην ὅθ᾽ ὁρῶ θάλαμον
τήνδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνην ἀνύτουσαν. 805
Ἀντ ὁρᾶτ᾽ ἔμ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται, στρ. α
τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν
στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ-
γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου,
κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις. ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ- 810

ἄ-µαχος, -ον: unconquerable, invincible, 1 ἴσχω: to have, hold back, check, restrain, 4
ἀέλιος,, ὁ: the sun, (else ἥλιος) 2 λεύσσω: to see, behold, 2
Ἀντιγόνη, ἡ: Antigone, 4 νέατος, -η, -ον: last, latest, 3
ἀνύω, ἀνύτω: reach, accomplish, complete, 4 νύµφη, ἡ: young wife, bride; nymph, 3
ἀρχή, ἡ: a beginning; rule, office, 4 ὁδός, ἡ: road, way, path, journey, 7
αὖθις: back again, later, 5 ὅτε: when, at some time, 2
Ἀφροδίτη, ἡ: Aphrodite, 1 οὔ-ποτε: not ever, never, 2
δάκρυον τό: tear, weeping (nom/acc δάκρυ) 2 οὐκ-έτι: no more, no longer, no further, 4
δύναµαι: to be able, can, be capable, 4 παγ-κοίτης, ου, ὁ, ἡ: where all must sleep, 2
ἐµ-παίζω: to play a game, sport, mock, 1 πάρ-εδρος, -ον: sitting beside, partner (gen) 1
ἔξω: out of (+ gen.); adv. outside, 3 πάτριος, -α, -ον: of the father, ancestral, 1
εὔ-λεκτρος, -ον: happily wedded/bedded, 1 πηγή, ἡ: stream, flow, or spring of a river, 1
ἤδη: already, now, at this time, 4 πολίτης, ὁ: dweller of a city, citizen, 3
θάλαµος, ὁ: room, chamber, sleeping room, 2 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
θεσµός -ὁ: law, ordinance, what is laid down 2 φέγγος, τό: light; splendor, luster, 1
ἵµερος, ὁ: a longing, yearning, desire, 1

796 εὐλέκτρου νύµφας: gen. of possession δακρύων

modifying βλέφαρων 804 ὅθ᾽: when…; ὅτε, τὸν παγκοίτην
798 πάρεδρος: in apposition to ἵµερος modifies θάλαµον inside the clause
ἐν ἀρχαῖς: in offices, in power παγκοίτην: Attic where one expects the
800 θεὸς: the divinity; i.e. goddess Doric form as in line 810-11
Ἀφροδίτα: nom. sg., Ἀφροδίτη 806 ὁρᾶτ(ε): imperative
801 (ἐ)γὼ κ(αὶ) αὐτὸς: I myself too γᾶς πατρίας: Doric gen. sg.
802 φέροµαι: passive 807 τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν: inner acc.
803 πηγὰς...δάκρυ: streams in tears; acc. of 810 κοὔποτ: καὶ οὔποτε
respect; an alternative reading is gen. pl.

54
 κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει
τὰν Ἀχέροντος
ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων
ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπινύμ-
φειός πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕ- 815
μνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω.
Χορ οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽
ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων,
οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις
οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽, 820
ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ
θνητῶν Ἅιδην καταβήσει.
Ἀντ ἤκουσα δὴ λυγρότατον ὀλέσθαι ἀντ. α
τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν
Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκ- 825

ἀκούω: to hear, listen to, 6 νόσος, ὁ: sickness, illness, disease, 6

ἄκρος, -η, -ον: topmost, excellent, 5 νυµφεύω: to marry (dat); give in marriage 2
ἀκτή, ἡ: headland, bank, projecting land, 4 ξένη, ἡ: a female guest, foreigner, stranger, 1
ἀπ-έρχοµαι: to go away, depart, 2 ξίφος, -εος τό: a sword, 4
αὐτό-νοµος, -ον: self-governing or -ruling, 1 οὐκοῦν: therefore, then, accordingly, 2
Ἀχέρων, -οντος, ὁ: Acheron river, 2 παγ-κοίτης, ου, ὁ, ἡ: where all must sleep, 2
ἔγ-κληρος -ον: having a due share in gen 1 πλήσσω: to strike, beat, 2
ἔπαινος, ὁ: praise, approval, commendation 2 πω: yet, up to this time, 2
ἐπι-νύµφειος, -ον: bridal, 1 Σίπυλος, ὁ: Mount Sipylus, 1
ἐπί-χειρον, τό: wages, rewards (of labor), 1 Τάνταλος, ὁ: Tantalus, 1
θνητός, -ή, -όν: mortal, 4 ὑµέναιος, ὁ: wedding (or processional) song 1
κατα-βαίνω: to go or come down, descend, 1 ὑµνέω: sing in celebration for, celebrate in
κεῦθος, -εος, τό: depths, hollows, chambers 1 song (+ acc) 1
κλεινός, -ή, -όν: glorious, renowned, 4 ὕµνος, ὁ: a hymn, festive song, 1
λαγχάνω: to obtain by lot, 6 φθινάς, -άδος, ἡ: adj. wasting, consuming, 1
λυγρός, -ή, -όν: mournful, sad, 1 Φρύγιος, -α -ον: Phrygian, 1

811 ζῶσαν: ζα-ουσαν, acc. sg. pres. pple 822 Ἅιδην: acc. place to which
813 τὰν...ἀκτάν: to…; acc. place to which καταβήσει: future καταβαίνω
ὑµεναίων: i.e. the song sung as the bride 823 ἤκουσα: 1st sg. aor. ἀκούω
and groom are led in the procession δὴ: now; temporal
815 ὕµνος: likely the song sung outside the λυγρότατον: superlative adverb
bridal chamber by the procession ὀλέσθαι: aor. mid. ὄλλυµι
818 ἀπέρχει: ἀπέρχε(σ)αι; 2nd sg. mid. 824 τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν Ταντάλου: that the
819 φθινάσιν: dat. pl. modifying νόσοις Phrygian stranger, (daughter) of Tantalus;
as dat. of means or cause acc. subject referring to Niobe, who had
πληγεῖσα: fem. nom. sg. aor. pass. pple married Amphion, king of Thebes. She
πλήσσω insulted Leto, the mother of Apollo and
820 λαχοῦσ(α): aor. pple. λαγχάνω Artemis, and was turned into stone on Mt.
821 ζῶσαν: ζα-ουσαν, acc. sg. pres. pple Sipylus after her children were killed.
µόνη δὴ: quite alone; δή is emphatic 825 πρὸς: near…; acc. place to which

55
 ρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς
πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν,
καί νιν ὄμβροι τακομέναν,
ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,
χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει, 830
τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγ-
κλαύτοις δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-
μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.
Χορ ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,
ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς 835
καίτοι φθιμένῃ μέγα κἀκοῦσαι
τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν
ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.
Ἀντ οἴμοι γελῶμαι. στρ. β
τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων.
οὐκ οἰχομέναν ὑβρίζεις, 840

ἀκούω: to hear, listen to, 6 οἴχοµαι: have gone (off), have departed, 1
ἀτενής, -ές: stretching, clinging, straining, 1 ὄµβρος, ὁ: rain, rainstorm, thunderstorm, 1
βλάστη, ἡ: growth, shoot, bud (βλαστός) 1 ὅµοιος, -η, -ον: like, similar; adv likewise, 3
δαίµων, -ονος ὁ: divine being, divine spirit 5 οὐδαµός, -ή, -όν: not even one, no one, 2
δαµάζω: to subdue, tame, overpower, 1 ὀφρύς, ἡ: brow, eyebrow, brow, 2
δειράς, άδος, ἡ: ridge (of a hill), 1 πάγ-κλαυστος, -ον: all-tearful, quite-teary, 1
ἔπ-ειτα: then, next, secondly, 5 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
θεο-γεννής, -ές god-begotten, god-born, 1 πετραῖος, -α, -ον: of rock, rocky, 1
θνητο-γενής, -ές born from a mortal,1 σύγ-κληρος, όν: a shared lot to (dat) 1
ἰσό-θεος, -ον: god-like, equal to the gods, 1 τέγγω: to wet, moisten; stain, 2
καίτοι: and yet, and indeed, and further, 4 τήκω: to melt, rot, waste away (τάκω) 4
κατ-ευνάζω: to lead to bed, put to rest, 1 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
κισσός, ὁ: ivy, (κιττός) 1 ὑβρίζω: to commit outrage, insult, maltreat, 2
λαγχάνω: to obtain by lot, 6 φάτις, ἡ: common talk, rumor, report, 2
λείπω: to leave, forsake, abandon, 5 φθί(ν)ω: to perish, waste away, fail, 3
νιν: him, her (not reflexive) 7 χιών, χιόνος, ἡ: snow, 2

825 τὰν: her; ‘this one’ a demonstrative 836 καίτοι: introducing the clause and not
ὡς: just as… the pple
827 ὄµβροι...χιών τε: subjects of sg. λείπει φθιµένῃ: for one perishing; dat. interest
τακοµέναν: modifies fem. acc. sg. νιν; µέγα καὶ ἀκοῦσαι: (it is) great; add verb
the effect of weather on Niobe as a rock 837 λαχεῖν: aor. inf. λαγχάνω
828 ὡς: as...; parathetical 838 ζῶσαν: ζα-ουσαν, acc. sg. pres. pple
830 οὐδαµὰ: in no way, not at all; adv. acc. θανοῦσαν: aor. pple θνῄσκω
832 ᾇ: to whom; dat. of special verb ὅµοιος 839 γελῶµαι: passive
833 ὁµοιοτάταν: superlative, modifying µε τί: why…?
834 ἀλλὰ...: yet…; the chorus clarifies and πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων: by the ancestral
corrects Antigone’s analogy gods!; ‘in the presence of…’ or ‘in the
θεός: (she was)...; predicate, add verb name of,’ as often in oaths and entreaties
835 βροτοὶ: (we are)...; predicate, add verb 840 οἰχοµέναν: (after) having gone

56
 ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον;
ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως
πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες·
ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θή-
βας τ᾽ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμ- 845
πας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι,
οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις
πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρ-
χομαι τάφου ποταινίου·
ἰὼ δύστανος, βροτοῖς 850
οὔτε νεκροῖς κυροῦσα
μέτοικος οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν.
Χορ προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους
ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον
προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ· 855

ἄ-κλαυστος, -η, -ον: unwept, unlamented, 3 κρήνη, ἡ: spring, fountain, 1

ἄλσος, τό: grove, sacred grove, 1 κυρέω: hit upon, light upon, encounter (dat), 3
βάθρον, τό: throne; base, stand, podium, 1 µέτ-οικος, ὁ ἡ: resident/inhabitant with (dat) 2
Διρκαῖος, -α, -ον: of Dirce, Dircean, 2 πολυ-κτήµων, -ονος: very rich, wealthy, of
δύσ-τηνος, -ον: ill-suffering, wretched, 6 many posssessions, 1
ἔµ-πας, -ον: in any case, nevertheless 1 ποταίνιος -ον: unheard of, unexpected, new 1
ἐπί-κτάοµαι: gain, possess, acquire besides, 1 προ-βαίνω: step forward, advance, 2
ἐπί-φαντος, -ον: in the light, alive; visible, 1 προσ-πίπτω: to fall upon, fall , 1
ἕργµα, -ατος, τό: prison, fence, guard, 1 συµ-µάρτυς, -µαρτυρος ὁ : fellow-witness, 1
ἔσχατος, -η, -ον: extreme, last, furthest, 2 τυµβό-χωστος, -ον: tomb-, mound-heaped, 1
εὐ-άρµατος, -ον: of beautiful chariots, 1 ὑψηλός, -ή, -όν: high, lofty, high-raised, 1
θρασύς, -εῖα, -ύ: bold, daring, confident, 3

841 ἐπίφαντον: i.e. to my face; in contrast to ἄκλαυστος takes a subjective gen. (i.e.
οἰχοµέναν, talking when she is not there friends do not weep for me)
842 ὧ...: vocative, direct address οἵοις νόµοις: by…; dat. means
ἰὼ: oh! 852 ζῶσιν: dat. pl. pple ζάω
844 Θήβας εὐαρµάτου: gen. with ἄλσος θανοῦσιν: dat. pl. pple θνῄσκω
846 ὔµµ(ε): you; Aeolic/Epic acc. pl. 853 προβᾶσ(α): nom. aor. pple προβάινω
equivalent to Attic ὑµᾶς ἐπ(ὶ): to
ἐπικτῶµαι: acquire (x) as (y); this verb 854 ἐς: against…
governs a double acc. Δίκας: of Justice; gen. sg.
847 οἴα...ἄκλαυτος: how unwept (I am) by 855 προσέπεσες: aor. προσπίπτω (πεσ)
friends; neut. pl. adverbial acc.; πολύ: very much; adv. acc.

57
 πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.
Ἀντ ἔψαυσας ἀλγει- ἀντ. β
νοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,
πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον
τού τε πρόπαντος 860
ἁμετέρου πότμου
κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.
ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆ-
ται κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέν-
νητ᾽ ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός, 865
οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·
πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος ἄγαμος ἅδ᾽
ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.
ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασί-
γνητε γάμων κυρήσας, 870

ἄ-γαµος, -ον: unmarried, unwedded, 1 κυρέω: hit upon, light upon, encounter +gen 3
ἆθλος, ὁ: ordeal conflict, contest, 1 Λαβδακίδαι, οἱ: (descendents) of Labdacus, 2
ἀλγεινός, -ή, -όν: painful, grievous, 5 λέκτρον, τό: bed, 1
ἁµέτερος, -α, -ον: our, ours (ἡµέτερος 1) 2 µερίµνα, ἡ: care, thought, worry, 1
ἀραῖος, -ον:: accursed, prayed against, 1 µέτ-οικος, ὁ ἡ: resident/inhabitant with (dat) 2
αὐτογέννητος, -ον: self-begotten, 1 µητρῷος, -α, -ον: of the mother, material, 1
γάµος, ὁ: a wedding, wedding-feast, 4 οἶκτος, ὁ: pity, compassion, 1
δύσ-µορος, -ον: ill-fated, -starred, wretched 4 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
δύσ-ποτµος, -ον: ill-fated, doomed, unlucky 1 πότµος ὀ: doom, death, evil destiny, fate, lot 5
ἐκ-τίνω: to pay off, pay in full, 1 πρό-πας, -πασα, -παν: entire, whole, all, 1
κασίγνητος, ὁ: a kinsman; brother, 2 ταλαί-φρων, ὁ ἡ: much-enduring, wretched 3
κλεινός, -ή, -όν: glorious, renowned, 4 τρι-πόλιστος, -ον: thrice-told or -repeated, 1
κοίµηµα, -ατος, τό: sleep, intercourse, 1 ψαύω: to touch on, 2

856 ἀλγεινοτάτας...µερίµνας: partitive gen. 866 οἵων...ποτε: from what (parents); or

sg. with the main verb; superlative adj. ‘from what beddings,’ either masc. or neut.
ἐµοὶ: dat. of interest plural; in questions and exclamations, ποτε
859 πατρὸς...τού τε...πότµου: for…and…; strengthens the interrogative: e.g. τί ποτέ,
objective genitives with οἶκτον; τού ‘what in the world’
is simply τοῦ ἔφυν: am(by nature); 1st sg. aor. φύω
οἶκτον: acc. in apposition to gen. sg. ἁ ταλαίφρων: predicate nom.
µερίµνας 867 πρὸς οὓς: to whom…; place to which;
862 κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν: for…; dat. of masc. pl. supports the view that οἵων is
interest masc. pl. and refers to her parents
863 µατρῷαι: transferred epithet, properly ἅδε: here; ἥδε
modifies λέκτρων rather than ἆται ἀραῖος, ἄγαµος, µέτοικος: fem. nom. sg.
864 κοιµήµατά αὐτογέννητα...δυσµόρου adjectives
µατρός: and incestuous bedding of a 869 κασίγνητε: vocative, direct address, i.e.
ill-fated mother with (my) father; dat. of Polyneices
association and subjective gen.

58
 θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.
Χορ σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις,
κράτος δ᾽ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει
παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει·
σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά. 875
Ἀντ ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναι-
ος ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι
τὰν πυμάταν ὁδόν.
οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν
ὄμμα θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ. 880
τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον
οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει.
Κρέ ἆρ᾽ ἴστ᾽, ἀοιδὰς καὶ γόους πρὸ τοῦ θανεῖν
ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἷς παύσαιτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ χρείη λέγειν;
οὐκ ἄξεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα; καὶ κατηρεφεῖ 885

ἀ-δάκρυτος, -ον:, tearless, without tears, 1 ὁδός, ἡ: road, way, path, journey, 7
ἄ-κλαυστος, -η, -ον: unwept, unlamented, 3 ὄµµα, -ατος, τό: the eye, 4
ἄ-φιλος, -ον: unbefriended, without friends, 1 ὀργή, ἡ: anger; temperment, 6
ἄν-υµέναιος, -ον: unwedded, without οὐδαµᾷ: in no way, not at all, (οὐδαµῇ) 1
wedding song, 2 οὐκ-έτι: no more, no longer, no further, 4
ἀοιδή, ἡ: song, lay, dirge, 1 παρα-βατός, όν: to be transgressed,
αὐτό-γνωτος -ον: self-willed, -determined 1 transgressible, 1
γόος, ὁ: wailing, weeping, lamenting, 3 παύω: to stop, make cease, 5
εὐ-σέβεια, ἡ: piety, reverence, 2 πέλω: to be, become, 3
θέµις, θέµιστος, ἡ: right, custom, law, 2 πότµος, ὀ: fate, lot, death, evil destiny, 5
ἱερός, -ή, -όν: holy, divine; temple, 2 πρό: before, in front; in place of (gen.), 3
κατ-ηρεφής, -ές: covered over, covered, 1 πύµατος, -η, -ον: last, final, 1
κατεναίροµαι: to slay, murder, kill, 1 στενάζω: to groan, sigh, 1
κράτος, -εος, τό: strength, power, 6 ταλαί-φρων, ὁ ἡ: much-enduring, wretched 3
λαµπάς, -άδος, ἡ: torch, 2 ταχύς, εῖα, ύ: quick, swift, hastily, 4
µέλω: µέλει, is a care for (dat., gen.), 4

871 θανὼν: aor. pple θνῄσκω is causal in 879 τόδε...ὄµµα: i.e. the sun
sense 880 θέµις (ἐστί): aor. potential opt.. αἱρέω
ἔτ(ι) οὖσαν: i.e. still alive, εἰµί ταλαίνᾳ: modifies µοι
κατήναρές: 2nd sg. aor. act. 883 ἴστ(ε): 2nd pl. οἶδα
κατεναίροµαι πρὸ: before…; + articular inf. θνῄσκω
872 σέβειν (ἐστί): (your) revering 884 ὡς: that…; ind. disc. following ἴστε
(Polyneices) is; inf. as subject; add a οὐδ᾽...εἷς: οὐδεὶς
linking verb ἂν παύσαιτ(ο), εἰ χρείη: would…, if it
873 ὅτῳ: (for anyone) for whom; or ‘for were fitting; future less vivid, aor. opt.
whomever,’ relative, dat. sg. ὅστις χρή
875 ὤλεσ(ε): aor. ὄλλυµι 885 ἄξε(τε): 2nd sg. fut. ἄγω
877 ἄγοµαι: pass. ὡς: as…as possible; ὡς + superlative
878 τὰν...ὁδόν: inner acc.

59
 τύμβῳ περιπτύξαντες, ὡς εἴρηκ᾽ ἐγώ,
ἄφετε μόνην ἔρημον, εἴτε χρῇ θανεῖν
εἴτ᾽ ἐν τοιαύτῃ ζῶσα τυμβεύειν στέγῃ·
ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἁγνοὶ τοὐπὶ τήνδε τὴν κόρην
μετοικίας δ᾽ οὖν τῆς ἄνω στερήσεται. 890
Ἀντ ὦ τύμβος, ὦ νυμφεῖον, ὦ κατασκαφὴς
οἴκησις ἀείφρουρος, οἷ πορεύομαι
πρὸς τοὺς ἐμαυτῆς, ὧν ἀριθμὸν ἐν νεκροῖς
πλεῖστον δέδεκται Φερσέφασσ᾽ ὀλωλότων·
ὧν λοισθία 'γὼ καὶ κάκιστα δὴ μακρῷ 895
κάτειμι, πρίν μοι μοῖραν ἐξήκειν βίου.
ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω
φίλη μὲν ἥξειν πατρί, προσφιλὴς δὲ σοί,
μῆτερ, φίλη δὲ σοί, κασίγνητον κάρα·
ἐπεὶ θανόντας αὐτόχειρ ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ 900

ἁγνός, -ή, -όν: holy, pure, 2 λοίσθιος, -η, -ον: last, 3

ἀεί-φρουρος -ον: ever-watching, -guarding, 1 µακρός, -ή, -όν: long, far, distant, large, 4
ἄνω: up, above, 3 µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7
ἀριθµός, ὁ: number, amount, quantity, 1 µέτ-οικία, ἡ: residence, home; sojourn, 1
αὐτό-χειρ, -ος, ὁ, ἡ: with one’s own hand, 5 µοῖρα, ἡ: lot, fate, share; portion, 2
ἀφ-ίηµι: to send forth, let loose, give up, 4 νυµφεῖον, τὸ: bridal (chamber), 2
βίος, ὁ: life, 6 οἴκησις, ὁ: dwelling, home, residence, 1
δέχοµαι: to receive, accept, take, 2 περι-πτύσσω: to enshroud, enfold, wrap, 1
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 πλεῖστος, -η, -ον: most, greatest, largest, 3
ἐµαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ: myself, 6 πορεύοµαι: to travel, traverse; enter, 2
ἐξ-ήκω: to have reached, run out, expired, 1 προσ-φιλής, -ές dear, beloved; pleasing, 1
ἔρηµος, -η, -ον:, deserted, desolate, lonely, 4 στέγη, ἡ: a roof; shelter, home, 3
κάρα, τό: head, 7 στερέω: to deprive, rob of (gen.), 3
κάρτα: very, very much, strongly, 2 τρέφω: to rear, foster, nuture, 5
κασίγνητος, -η, -ον: of a brother, of a sister 2 τυµβεύω: to entomb, bury, 1
κατ-έρχοµαι: to return; descend, 3 τύµβος, ὁ: tomb, a sepulchral mound, 3
κατα-σκαφής, -ές: dug out, deep dug, 1 Φερσέφασσα, ἡ: Persephone (Περσεφόνη) 1
κόρα, ἡ: girl, maiden, 5 χράω: want, be eager for (χρῶ, χρῇς, χρῇ) 1

886 ὡς: fut. θνῄσκω, ὄλλυµι expresses an unquestionable fact

εἴρηκ(α): 1st sg. pf. λέγω (ερ) µετοικίας: gen. of separation
887 ἄφετε: aor. imperative ἀφίηµι τῆς ἄνω: adverb in an attributive position
εἴτε χρῇ...εἴτε (χρῇ): whether she wants…or modifying µετοικίας
wants; 3rd sg. pres. indicative, χράω forms 892 οἷ: to where; ‘whither,’ relative adverb
the present just as ζάω (ζῶ, ζῇς, ζῇ) 893 τοὺς ἐµαυτῆς: i.e. her dead relatives
888 ζῶσα: fem. nom. sg. aor. pple ζάω ὧν: of whom; relative, partitive gen.
889 ἡµεῖς...ἁγνοὶ: supply a linking verb 894 δέδεκται: pf. pass. δέχοµαι
τὸ (εἶναι) ἐπὶ...: as far as depends on…; ἐπί ὀλωλότων: pf. act. pple ὄλλυµι
+ acc. can mean “depending on’ ‘in regards 895 ὧν: of whom; relative, partitive gen.
to’; the construction is an inf. absolute, in µακρῷ: (by) far; dat. degree of difference
which εἶναι may or may not expressed 896 κάτειµι: fut. κατ-έρχοµαι
890 δ᾽ οὖν: but in any case; ‘anyhow,’ οὖν 898 ἥξειν: that I will come; clarifies ἐλπίσιν

60
 ἔλουσα κἀκόσμησα κἀπιτυμβίους
χοὰς ἔδωκα. νῦν δέ Πολύνεικες, τὸ σὸν
δέμας περιστέλλουσα τοιάδ᾽ ἄρνυμαι.
καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ 'τίμησα τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ.
οὐ γάρ ποτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ τέκνων μήτηρ ἔφυν, 905
οὔτ᾽ εἰ πόσις μοι κατθανὼν ἐτήκετο,
βίᾳ πολιτῶν τόνδ᾽ ἂν ᾐρόμην πόνον.
τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;
πόσις μὲν ἄν μοι κατθανόντος ἄλλος ἦν,
καὶ παῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄλλου φωτός, εἰ τοῦδ᾽ ἤμπλακον, 910
μητρὸς δ᾽ ἐν Ἅιδου καὶ πατρὸς κεκευθότοιν
οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ὅστις ἂν βλάστοι ποτέ.
τοιῷδε μέντοι σ᾽ ἐκπροτιμήσασ᾽ ἐγὼ
νόμῳ Κρέοντι ταῦτ᾽ ἔδοξ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν
καὶ δεινὰ τολμᾶν, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα. 915

ἀδελφός, ὁ: a brother, 6 κοσµέω: to order, arrange, adorn, 3

αἴρω: to lift, raise up, get up, 3 λούω: to wash, bathe, (λοέω) 2
ἁµαρτάνω: to make a mistake, fail (gen.) 6 µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7
ἀµπλάκω: lack, fail; be bereft, lose (+ gen) 3 περι-στέλλω: to wrap around, cloth, dress, 1
ἄρνυµαι: to gain, win, carry off, 1 πολίτης, ὁ: dweller of a city, citizen, 3
βία, βιας, ἡ: violence, force, power, 3 Πολυνείκης, -εος, ὁ: Polyneices, 5
βλαστά(ν)ω: to sprout, spring forth, grow, 3 πόνος, ὁ: work, toil, labor, 5
δέµας, τό: bodily frame, build, 3 πόσις, ὁ: husband, spouse, 3
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 τήκω: to melt, rot, waste away (τάκω) 4
δίδωµι: to give, offer, grant, provide, 6 τιµάω: to honour, value, esteem, 7
ἐκ-προ-τιµάω: to honor above all (dat.) 1 τοιόσδε, -άδε, -όνδε: such, this (here) sort, 7
ἐπι-τύµβιος, -ον: over the tomb, 1 τολµάω: to dare, undertake, endure, 3
καίτοι: and yet, and indeed, and further, 4 φώς, φωτός, ὁ: man, 2
κασίγνητος, -η, -ον: of a brother, of a sister 2 χάρις, -ριτος, ἡ: favor, gratitude, thanks, 6
κατα-θνήσκω: to die, 6 χοή, ἡ: libation, drink-offering, 2
κεύθω: to cover up, enclose; hide, conceal, 2
901 ἔλουσα: λούω πρὸς χάριν: for the sake of…; ‘in regard
κἀόσµησα: καὶ ἐκόσµησα to a favor for’; χάριν is a preposition
902 ἔδωκα: aor. δίδωµι governing a preceding gen.
903 τοιάδε ἄρνυµαι: carry off such 909 ἂν...ἦν: there would be…; pres. potential
(rewards); i.e. her punishment (ἄν + impf); equivalent to an apodosis in a
904 τοῖς φρονοῦσιν εὖ: in the eyes of…; or contrafactual if we take the pple as protasis
‘in the view of…’ dat. reference, pres. pple κατθανόντος: (if a husband)…; gen. abs.
905 ἄν, εἰ...ἔφυν, εἰ ἐτήκετο,...ἂν ῂρόµην: if I which is conditional in sense
were...if...were rotting...I would not have 910 εἰ...ἤµπλακον: if I were…; contrafactual
taken up; mixed contrafactual; repeated ἄν 911 ἐν Ἅιδου: in (the house) of Hades
ἔφυν: I were (by nature); aor. θνῄσκω κεκευθότοιν: gen. dual pf. in a gen. abs.
906 κατθανὼν: aor. pple καταθνῄσκω 913 τοιῷδε...νόµῷ: dat. of compound verb
907 βίᾳ πολιτῶν: with violence against the µέντοι: certainly
citizens…; dat. of manner, objective gen σ(ε): i.e. the ἀδελφός, Polyneices
908 τίνος νόµου: object of χάριν 914 ταῦτα...δεινὰ: inner acc. with infinitives
δὴ: accordingly, then; a connective
61
 καὶ νῦν ἄγει με διὰ χερῶν οὕτω λαβὼν
ἄλεκτρον, ἀνυμέναιον, οὔτε του γάμου
μέρος λαχοῦσαν οὔτε παιδείου τροφῆς,
ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων ἡ δύσμορος
ζῶσ᾽ εἰς θανόντων ἔρχομαι κατασκαφάς. 920
ποίαν παρεξελθοῦσα δαιμόνων δίκην;
τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον ἐς θεοὺς ἔτι
βλέπειν; τίν᾽ αὐδᾶν ξυμμάχων; ἐπεί γε δὴ
τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην.
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν οὖν τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά, 925
παθόντες ἂν ξυγγνοῖμεν ἡμαρτηκότες·
εἰ δ᾽ οἵδ᾽ ἁμαρτάνουσι, μὴ πλείω κακὰ
πάθοιεν ἢ καὶ δρῶσιν ἐκδίκως ἐμέ.
Χορ ἔτι τῶν αὐτῶν ἀνέμων αὑταὶ
ψυχῆς ῥιπαὶ τήνδε γ᾽ ἔχουσιν. 930

ἄ-λεκτρος, -ον: un-bedded, unwedded, 1 κατα-σκαφή, ἡ: grave, dug-up grave, 1

ἁµαρτάνω: to make a mistake, fail (gen.) 6 κτάοµαι: to gain, get, procure, acquire, 2
ἄν-υµέναιος, -ον: unwedded, without λαγχάνω: to obtain by lot, 6
wedding song, 2 µέρος, -έος, τό: a part, share, portion, 3
ἄνεµος, ὁ: wind, 2 παίδειος, -α, -ον: of a child, 1
αὐδάω: to call out, address, speak, 2 παρ-εξ-έρχοµαι: to transgress, pass by, 1
βλέπω: to see, look at, 5 πάσχω: to suffer, experience, 7
γάµος, ὁ: a wedding, wedding-feast, 4 πλέων, -οντος: more, greater, 7
δαίµων, -ονος, ὁ: divine being or spirit, 3 ποῖος, -α, -ον: what sort of? what kind of? 6
δή: indeed, surely, really, certainly, just, 5 ῥιπή, ἡ: force, rush, impulse, 2
δύσ-µορος, -ον: ill-fated, -starred, wretched 4 συγ-γιγνώσκω: to be conscious, agree,
δυσ-σέβεια, ἡ: impiety, ungodliness, 2 acknowledge, 1
δύσ-τηνος, -ον: ill-suffering, wretched, 6 σύµ-µαχος, ον: allied; subst. ally, 2
ἐκ-δίκως: unjustly, lawlessly, 1 τροφή, ἡ: rearing, nuturing; nourishment, 1
ἔρηµος, -η, -ον:, deserted, desolate, lonely, 4 ὧδε: in this way, so, thus, 4
εὐ-σεβέω: to act or live piously, 2

916 διὰ χερῶν...λαβὼν: taking me thus with is likely inferential

(his) hands; apprehending as if a criminal 926 παθόντες: aor. pple. πάσχω
ἄλεκτρον, ἀνθµέναιον: fem. acc. sg. ἂν συγγνοῖµεν: we…; aor. potential opt.;
917 του: any; indefinite τινος though 1st pl., Antigone refers to herself
918 λαχοῦσαν: aor. λαγχάνω ἡµαρτηκότες: that…; nom. pf. pple; in
παιδείου τροφῆς: supply µέρος ind. discourse συγ-γιγνώσκω typically
919 πρὸς φίλων: by friends; gen. of agent governs an acc.+ inf. or ὅτι and so the use
920 ζῶσ(α): fem. nom. sg. ζάω of the pple is highly unusual
θανόντων: aor. pple θνῄσκω 927 οἴδε: nom. pl. demonstrative ὅδε
922 τί: why µὴ...πάθοιεν: may they…; opt. of wish,
923 τίν(α) (χρή µε): to whom...; α -contract aor. πάσχω; wishes employ µή, not οὐ
inf., supply χρή µε πλείω...ἤ: πλείο(ν)α…ἤ; comparative
ἐπεὶ γε δὴ: since in fact…; both particles 928 καὶ: in fact; or with ἤ: ‘than as much as’
are emphatic 929 τῶν αὐτὼν ἀνέµων: of the same winds
925 ἀλλὰ εἰ µὲν οὖν: Well, if therefore…; αὑταὶ: the same; crasis for αἱ αὐταὶ
µὲν looks forward to εἰ δὲ below, while οὖν 930 ψυχῆς: gen. possession follows ἀνέµων
62
Κρέ τοιγὰρ τούτων τοῖσιν ἄγουσιν
κλαύμαθ᾽ ὑπάρξει βραδυτῆτος ὕπερ.
Ἀντ οἴμοι, θανάτου τοῦτ᾽ ἐγγυτάτω
τοὔπος ἀφῖκται.
Χορ θαρσεῖν οὐδὲν παραμυθοῦμαι 935
μὴ οὐ τάδε ταύτῃ κατακυροῦσθαι.
Ἀντ ὦ γῆς Θήβης ἄστυ πατρῷον
καὶ θεοὶ προγενεῖς,
ἄγομαι δὴ κοὐκέτι μέλλω.
λεύσσετε, Θήβης οἱ κοιρανίδαι, 940
τὴν βασιλειδᾶν μούνην λοιπήν,
οἷα πρὸς οἵων ἀνδρῶν πάσχω,
τὴν εὐσεβίαν σεβίσασα.
Χορ ἔτλα καὶ Δανάας οὐράνιον φῶς στρ. α
ἀλλάξαι δέμας ἐν χαλκοδέτοις αὐλαῖς· 945

ἀλλάσσω: to change, exchange, alter, 1 λεύσσω: to see, behold, 2

ἄστυ, τὸ: a city, town, 1 λοιπός, -ή, -όν: remaining, the rest, 3
αὐλή, ἡ: chamber; home, court, hall, 2 οὐκ-έτι: no more, no longer, no further, 4
ἀφ-ικνέοµαι: to come, arrive, 1 οὐράνιος, -η, -ον: heavenly, of the sky, 2
βασιλείδης -ου, ὁ: descedent of the king, 1 παρα-µυθέοµαι: console, encourage, assure 1
βραδυτής -τήτος ἡ: slowness, sluggishness 1 πάσχω: to suffer, experience, 7
Δανάη, -ας, ἡ: Danaë, 1 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
δέµας, τό: bodily frame, build, 3 προ-γενής, -ές: earlier-born; ancestral, 1
ἐγγύς: near (+ gen.); adv. nearby, 1 σεβίζω: to revere, worship, honor, 1
εὐ-σέβεια, ἡ: piety, reverence, 2 ταύτῃ: in this way, in this respect, so, thus, 2
θάνατος, ὁ: death, 2 τλάω: to bear, suffer, undergo, 1
θαρσέω: to be confident, take courage, 3 τοι-γάρ: so then, therefore, accordingly, 2
κατα-κυρόω: to fulfill, attain, confirm, 1 ὑπ-άρχω: be at hand, be available; begin 3
κλαῦµα, -ατος, τό: wailing, tears; troubles, 1 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
κοιρανίδης ὁ: member of ruling house, lord, φῶς (φάος), τό: light, daylight, 3
ruler, 1 χαλκό-δετος, -ον: bronze-bound, 1

931 τούτων: because of this; gen. of cause or denying (µή is positive) αἱρέω
τοῖσιν ἄγουσιν: i.e. to the guards; pple κατακυροῦσθαι: pres. pass. inf.
dat. governed by ὑπάρξει 939 δὴ: now; perhaps temporal, Denniston,
932 βραδυτῆτος ὕπερ: (in return) for...; however, suggest δή emphasizes the verb
ὑπὲρ βραδυτῆτος to express heightened emotion (pp. 214-15)
933 ἐγγυτάτω: superlative adv. + gen. µέλλω (ἄγεσθαι): pass. inf. understood
934 τοὔπος: τὸ ἔπος 940 οἱ κοιρανίδαι: vocative, direct address;
ἀφῖκται: pf. mid. she addresses the chorus itself
935-6 Though the editor credits these lines to 941 τὴν βασιλειδᾶν µούνην λοιπήν: the lone
the chorus, Creon may be the speaker remaining of the descendents of the king
935 θαρσεῖν (σε): that (you)…; ind. disc., βασιλειδᾶν: Doric gen. pl. (-άων)
supply the missing acc. subject 942 πρὸς...ἀνδρῶν: at the hands of…; agent
οῦδὲν: not at all 944 καὶ Δανάας...δέµας: body of Danaë also
936 µὴ οὐ τάδε: that these things….not; 945 ἀλλάξαι: aor. inf.
double neg. after a neg. verb of hindering

63
 κρυπτομένα δ᾽ ἐν τυμβή-
ρει θαλάμῳ κατεζεύχθη·
καίτοι καὶ γενεᾷ τίμιος, ὦ παῖ παῖ,
καὶ Ζηνὸς ταμιεύεσκε γονὰς χρυσορύτους. 950
ἀλλ᾽ ἁ μοιριδία τις δύνασις δεινά·
οὔτ᾽ ἄν νιν ὄλβος οὔτ᾽ Ἄρης,
οὐ πύργος, οὐχ ἁλίκτυποι
κελαιναὶ νᾶες ἐκφύγοιεν.
Χορ ζεύχθη δ᾽ ὀξύχολος παῖς ὁ Δρύαντος, 955 ἀντ. α
Ἠδωνῶν βασιλεύς, κερτομίοις ὀργαῖς
ἐκ Διονύσου πετρώ-
δει κατάφαρκτος ἐν δεσμῷ.
οὕτω τᾶς μανίας δεινὸν ἀποστάζει
ἀνθηρόν τε μένος. κεῖνος ἐπέγνω μανίαις 960

ἁλίκ-τυπος, η, ον: sea-beaten; roaring, 1 κατά-φαρκτος, -ον: covered, shut up, 1

ἀνθηρός, -ά, -όν: flowering, blooming, 1 κελαινός, -ή, -όν: dark, black, 3
ἀπο-στάζω: to trickle away, fall in drops, 1 κερτόµιος, α, ον: cutting, taunting, abusive 2
Ἄρης, -εος, ὁ: Ares, god of bloody war, 4 κρύπτω: to hide, cover, conceal, 6
βασιλεύς, ὁ: a king, chief, 3 µανία, ἡ: madness, frenzy; enthusiasm, 2
γενεά, -ας, ἡ: race, family, lineage, descent, 3 µένος, τό: might, force, prowess, 1
γονή, ἡ: seed, offspring, a child, 3 µοιδίριος, -α, -ον: of fate, fated, destined, 1
δεσµός, ὁ: prison; binding, bond, fetter, 1 ναῦς, νεώς, ἡ: a ship, boat, 2
Διονύσος, ὁ: Dionysus, 1 νιν: him, her (not reflexive) 7
Δρύας, -αντος, ὁ: Dryas, 1 ὄλβος, ὁ: wealth, riches, happiness, 1
δύνασις, ἡ: power, might, strength (δύναµις) 2 ὀξύ-χολος, -η, -ον: quick to anger, 1
ἐκ-φεύγω: to flee away or out, 1 ὀργή, ἡ: anger; passion, temperment, 6
ἐπι-γιγνώσκω: come to know, recognize, 1 πετρώδης, -ες: of rock; rocky, stony, 2
ζεύγνυµι: to yoke, 1 πύργος, ὁ: tower, turreted wall, 2
Ἠδωνοί, οἱ: Edonians, 1 ταµιεύω: to store up, be treasurer of, 1
θάλαµος, ὁ: room, chamber, sleeping room, 2 τίµιος, -α, -ον: honored, worthy, 2
καίτοι: and yet, and indeed, and further, 4 τυµβήρης, -ες: entombed, buried, 2
κατα-ζεύγνυµι: to confine; yoke in, unite, 1 χρυσό-ρυτος, -η, -ον: gold-streaming, 1

947 κατεζεύχθη: aor. pass. pass. ζεύγνθµι

949 γενεᾷ: in lineage; dat. of respect ὁ Δρύαντος: son of Dryas; i.e. Lycurgus,
τίµιος: supply linking ἤν ‘was’ who killed his son, same-named Dryas, in
950 Ζηνὸς: gen. sg. Ζεύς an attempt to rid himself of Dionysus
ταµιεύεσκε: kept stored; -σκ- indicates 956 κερτοµίοις ὀργαῖς: because of…; dat. of
iterative imperfect without the augment cause
951 δεινά (ἐστί): predicate, supply verb 959 τᾶς µανίας: gen. sg.
952 ἄν...ἐκφύγοιεν: could…; potential opt. 960 (ἐ)κεῖνος: that one…; i.e. Lycurgus
in the aorist tense ἐπέγνω: 3rd sg. aor. ἐπιγιγνώσκω ; the
νιν: it; i.e. the power of fate object. is τὸν θεὸν
955 ζεύχθη: was confined; ‘was yoked’ aor. µανίαις: in his madness; dat. manner

64
 ψαύων τὸν θεὸν ἐν κερτομίοις γλώσσαις.
παύεσκε μὲν γὰρ ἐνθέους
γυναῖκας εὔιόν τε πῦρ,
φιλαύλους τ᾽ ἠρέθιζε Μούσας. 965
παρὰ δὲ κυανεᾶν πελάγει διδύμας ἁλὸς στρ. β
ἀκταὶ Βοσπόριαι ἤδ᾽ ὁ Θρῃκῶν ἄξενος
Σαλμυδησσός, ἵν᾽ ἀγχίπτολις Ἄ- 970
ρης δισσοῖσι Φινεϊδαις
εἶδεν ἀρατὸν ἕλκος
τυφλωθὲν ἐξ ἀγρίας δάμαρτος
ἀλαὸν ἀλαστόροισιν ὀμμάτων κύκλοις
ἀραχθέντων, ὑφ᾽ αἱματηραῖς 975

ἄ-ξενος, -ον: inhospitible, 1 εὔιος, -ον: Bacchic (εὐοῖ is a Bacchic cry), 1

ἄγριος, -α, -ον: wild, fierce, 5 ἠδε: and, 1
ἀγχί-πτολις ὁ: neighboring the city 1 Θρῇξ, Θρῃκός: Thracian, 1
αἱµα-τηρός, -ά, -όν: bloodstained, bloody, 1 ἵνα: in order that (+ subj.); where (+ ind.), 4
ἀκτή, ἡ: shore, headland, projecting land, 4 κερτόµιος, α, ον: cutting, taunting, abusive, 2
ἀλαός, -ον: not seeing, blind, 1 Κυάνεαι, αἱ: Dark-Rocks (twin islands at the
ἀλάστορος, -ον: crying for vengeance, 1 entrance of the Black Sea) 1
ἅλς, -ος, ὁ, ἡ: salt, sea, 1 κύκλος, ὁ: orb, eye, eyesocket, ring 4
ἀράσσω: to strike, dash, beat, 2 Μούσα, ἡ: Muse (goddess of creativity), 1
ἀρατός, -ή, -όν:: accursed, prayed against, 1 ὄµµα, -ατος, τό: the eye, 4
Ἄρης, -εος, ὁ: Ares, god of bloody war, 4 παύω: to stop, make cease, 5
βοσπόριος, -α, -ον: of the Bosporus, 1 πέλαγος, -εος, τό: the sea, 1
γλῶσσα, ἡ: tongue, 6 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
δάµαρ, δάµαρτος, ἡ: wife, 2 Σαµυδησσός, ὁ: Salmydessus (a city), 1
δίδυµος, -η, -ον: two-fold, double, twin, 1 τυφλόω: to blind, make blind, 1
δισσός, -ή, -όν: twofold, double, two, 1 φίλ-αυλος -ον: fond of the flute, 1
ἕλκος, τό: (festering) wound, sore; ulcer, 3 Φινείδης, ὁ: son of Phineus, 1
ἔν-θεος, -ον: full of god, possessed by god, 1 ψαύω: to touch, 2
ἐρεθίζω: to provoke, rouse to anger 1

961 ψαύων (αὐτοῦ): by touching (him); pple 968 ἀκταὶ Βοσπόριαι (εἰσί): there are...;
is causal; supply partitive gen. object supply a linking verb
ἐν: with… 969 ἤδε: and; a conjunction, the following
γλώσσαις: i.e. taunts, words are parallel to ἀκταὶ
963 παύεσκε: kept stopping; ‘would stop,’ 970 ἵνα: where
-σκ- indicates iterative imperfect without 971 δισσοῖσι Φινείαις: on…; dat. of interest.
the augment 972 εἶδεν: aor. ὁράω
966 The third example is Cleopatra, wife of ἕλκος τυφλωθὲν: i.e a wound inflicting
the same Phineus who, beset by Harpies, blindness, neut. sg. aor. pass. pple.
will later advise Jason and the Argonauts 973 ἐξ: by…; gen. of agent
966 παρὰ...πελάγει: beside...; place where 974 ἀλαὸν...κύκλοις: blind to…; dat. interest
κυανεᾶν: Doric gen. plural (-αων) ὀµµάτων...ἀραχθέντων: gen. abs. aor.
διδύµας ἁλος: and…; fem. gen. sg. pass. pple
modifies πελάγει and is parallel to 975 ὑφ᾽: under (the power of)…; or ‘by…’
κυανεᾶν, supply a conjunction; the twin dat. of means
seas are the Propontis (Sea of Marmara)
and Black Sea
65
 χείρεσσι καὶ κερκίδων ἀκμαῖσιν.
Χορ κατὰ δὲ τακόμενοι μέλεοι μελέαν πάθαν ἀντ. β
κλαῖον, ματρὸς ἔχοντες ἀνύμφευτον γονάν· 980
ἁ δὲ σπέρμα μὲν ἀρχαιογόνων
ἄντασ᾽ Ἐρεχθειδᾶν,
τηλεπόροις δ᾽ ἐν ἄντροις
τράφη θυέλλαισιν ἐν πατρῴαις
Βορεὰς ἅμιππος ὀρθόποδος ὑπὲρ πάγου 985
θεῶν παῖς. ἀλλὰ κἀπ᾽ ἐκείνᾳ
Μοῖραι μακραίωνες ἔσχον, ὦ παῖ.
Τειρ Θήβης ἄνακτες, ἥκομεν κοινὴν ὁδὸν
δύ᾽ ἐξ ἑνὸς βλέποντε· τοῖς τυφλοῖσι γὰρ
αὕτη κέλευθος ἐκ προηγητοῦ πέλει. 990

ἀ-νύµφευτος, -ον: unwedded, 1 µακρ-αίων, -ωνος: long-lived, long lasting, 1

ἀκµή, ἡ: point, edge, 1 µέλεος, -α, -ον: miserable, happy; idle, 4
ἅµ-ιππος -ον: swift as horses, 1 Μοῖραι, αἱ: Fates, 1
ἀντάω: to come upon, meet, encounter, 1 ὁδός, ἡ: road, way, path, journey, 7
ἄντρον, τό: cave, cavern, grotto, 1 ὀρθό-πους, -ποδος: steep, upright on feet, 1
ἀπό: from, away from. (+ gen.), 9 πάγος, ὁ: frost; rock, hill, 3
ἀρχαιό-γονος, -ον: of ancient race/lineage, 1 πάθη, ἡ: suffering, misfortune, 1
βλέπω: to see, look at, 5 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
βορέας, ὁ: North wind, north, 1 πέλω: to be, become, come (to be) 3
γονή, ἡ: seed, offspring, a child, 3 προ-ηγητής, -οῦ ὁ: guide, front leader, 1
δύο: two, 5 σπέρµα, τό: seed, offspring; origin, stock, 1
Ἐρχθεῖδαι, οἱ: the children of Erechtheus, 1 τήκω: to melt, rot, waste away (τάκω) 4
θυέλλα, ἡ: gust, squall, storm, 1 τηλέ-πορος -ον: far-reaching, far-distant, 1
κέλευθος, ἡ: path, way, 2 τρέφω: to rear, foster, nuture, 5
κερκίς, -ίδος ἡ: weaver’s shuttle, rod, dowel 1 τυφλός, -η, -ον: blind, 1
κλαίω: to weep, lament, wail, 2 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
κοινός, -ή, -όν: common, shared; kindred, 8

976 χείρεσσι: dat. pl. of means, χείρ unaugmented, Cleopatra is subject

978 κατὰ...τακόµενοι: (the boys) wasting 985 βορεὰς: (daughter) of Boreas; gen.
away; tmesis for mid. pple κατατακόµενοι ὀρθόποδος ὑπὲρ πάγου: over…
980 κλαῖον: unaugmented 3rd pl. impf. 986 κα(ὶ) ἐπ(ὶ)...ἔσχον: and…attacked; equiv.
µατρὸς...γοναν: having their birth from to tmesis ἐπ-έχω, ‘hold out against’
the bad marriage of the mother; perhaps ἐκείνᾳ: that one; obj. of ἐπί
the adj. is a transferred epithet: ‘having 988 Θήβής: gen. sg.
their birth from a mother, (now) unmarried’ κοινὴν ὁδὸν: on a…; inner acc.
981 ἁ δὲ: but she…; i.e. Cleopatra, ἡ δέ 989 βλέποντε: pres. pple, dual nom.
σπέρµα: in…; acc. of respect ἐξ: by means of…
982 ἄντασα: having reached; i.e. when she τοῖς τυφλοῖσι...κέλευθος...πέλει: this is the
traces her lineage she reaches ancestors way for the blind: by means of a guide;
984 τράφη: 3rd sg. aor. pass. τρέφω, dat. of interest

66
Κρέ τί δ᾽ ἔστιν, ὦ γεραιὲ Τειρεσία, νέον;
Τειρ ἐγὼ διδάξω, καὶ σὺ τῷ μάντει πιθοῦ.
Κρέ οὔκουν πάρος γε σῆς ἀπεστάτουν φρενός.
Τειρ τοιγὰρ δι᾽ ὀρθῆς τήνδ᾽ ἐναυκλήρεις πόλιν.
Κρέ ἔχω πεπονθὼς μαρτυρεῖν ὀνήσιμα. 995
Τειρ φρόνει βεβὼς αὖ νῦν ἐπὶ ξυροῦ τύχης.
Κρέ τί δ᾽ ἔστιν; ὡς ἐγὼ τὸ σὸν φρίσσω στόμα.
Τειρ γνώσει, τέχνης σημεῖα τῆς ἐμῆς κλύων.
εἰς γὰρ παλαιὸν θᾶκον ὀρνιθοσκόπον
ἵζων, ἵν᾽ ἦν μοι παντὸς οἰωνοῦ λιμήν, 1000
ἀγνῶτ᾽ ἀκούω φθόγγον ὀρνίθων, κακῷ
κλάζοντας οἴστρῳ καὶ βεβαρβαρωμένῳ.
καὶ σπῶντας ἐν χηλαῖσιν ἀλλήλους φοναῖς
ἔγνων· πτερῶν γὰρ ῥοῖβδος οὐκ ἄσημος ἦν.
εὐθὺς δὲ δείσας ἐμπύρων ἐγευόμην 1005

ἄ-σηµος́, -ον: unintelligible, without signs 4 οἶστρος, ὁ: frenzy, madness; gadfly, sting, 1
ἄ-γνω(σ)τος, ον: unintelligible 1 οἰωνός, ὁ: large bird, bird of prey, 6
ἀκούω: to hear, listen to, 6 ὀνήσιµος, -η, -ον: beneficial, profitable, 1
ἀλλήλος, -α, -ον: one another, 2 ὀρνιθό-σκοπος, -ον: of reading bird signs, 1
ἀπο-στατέω: to stand apart, be far from, 1 ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ, ἡ: a bird, 4
βαίνω: to walk, step, go, 6 οὔκ-ουν: not therefore, and so not, surely not 6
βαρβαρόω: make foreign or unintelligible, 1 παλαιός, -ή, -όν: old in years, old, aged, 1
γεραιός, -ά, -όν: old, aged, elder, 2 πάρος: before, formerly, 1
γεύω: make trial of, attempt; taste, 1 πάσχω: to suffer, experience, 7
γιγνώσκω: to come to know, learn, realize, 6 πείθω: persuade, trust; mid. obey (+ dat.) 2
δείδω: fear, dread, shrink from, feel awe, 4 πτερόν, τό: wing; bird, 1
διδάσκω: to teach, instruct, tell, 4 ῥοῖβδος ὁ: whirring of wings, rushing noise 1
ἔµ-πυρος, -ον: in the fire; burnt sacrifices, 1 σηµεῖον, τό: sign, mark, omen; signal, flag, 2
εὐθύς: right away, straight, directly, at once, 3 σπάω: to pull, tear, 2
θᾶκος, τό: seat, chair, 1 στόµα, -ατος, τό: the mouth, 3
ἵζω: to sit; make sit, place, 1 Τειρεσίας, ὁ: Teiresias, 1
ἵνα: in order that (+ subj.); where (+ ind.), 4 τέχνη, ἡ: art, skill, craft, 2
κλάζω: to scream, 2 τοι-γάρ: so then, therefore, accordingly, 2
λιµήν, -ένος, ὁ: harbor, haven, 2 τύχη, ἡ: chance, luck, fortune, success, 6
µάντις, -εως, ὁ: seer, prophet, diviner, 7 φθόγγος, ὁ: voice, 5
µαρτυρέω: to bear witness, give evidence 2 φονή, ἡ: murder, massacre, 3
ναυ-κληρέω: manage, direct, govern a ship, 1 φρίσσω: bristle at (~hair), shudder, tremble, 1
χηλή, ἡ: talen, claw, horse’s hoof, 1
ξυρόν, τό: razor-edge, razor, 1
991 τί...νεον: what news…; ‘what new’ 996 φρόνει: imperative, φρόνε-ε
992 πιθοῦ: πιθε(σ)ο, aor. mid. imperative βεβὼς: nom. sg. pf. pple βαίνω
πείθω governs a dat. indirect object 996 ἐπὶ: upon
993 γἐ: at any rate; marks and limits πάρος 997 ὡς: how…; exclamatory
ἀπεστάτουν: 1st sg. impf. 998 γνώσει: γνώσε(σ)αι, 2nd sg. fut.
φρενός: purpose, intent; i.e. advice 1000 ἵνα: where…; impf εἰµί + dat. possession
994 διὰ ὀρθῆς (ὁδοῦ): over a straight path 1004 ἔγνων: 1st sg. aor. γιγνώσκω
995 ἔχω...: I am able; + inf. 1005 ἐγευόµην: governs a partitive gen.
πεπονθὼς: nom. sg. pf. pple πάσχω
67
 βωμοῖσι παμφλέκτοισιν· ἐκ δὲ θυμάτων
Ἥφαιστος οὐκ ἔλαμπεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ σποδῷ
μυδῶσα κηκὶς μηρίων ἐτήκετο
κἄτυφε κἀνέπτυε, καὶ μετάρσιοι
χολαὶ διεσπείροντο, καὶ καταρρυεῖς 1010
μηροὶ καλυπτῆς ἐξέκειντο πιμελῆς.
τοιαῦτα παιδὸς τοῦδ᾽ ἐμάνθανον πάρα,
φθίνοντ᾽ ἀσήμων ὀργίων μαντεύματα.
ἐμοὶ γὰρ οὗτος ἡγεμών, ἄλλοις δ᾽ ἐγώ.
καὶ ταῦτα τῆς σῆς ἐκ φρενὸς νοσεῖ πόλις. 1015
βωμοὶ γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐσχάραι τε παντελεῖς
πλήρεις ὑπ᾽ οἰωνῶν τε καὶ κυνῶν βορᾶς
τοῦ δυσμόρου πεπτῶτος Οἰδίπου γόνου.
κᾆτ᾽ οὐ δέχονται θυστάδας λιτὰς ἔτι
θεοὶ παρ᾽ ἡμῶν οὐδὲ μηρίων φλόγα, 1020

ἄ-σηµος́, -ον: unintelligible, without signs 4 λιτή, ἡ: a prayer, entreaty, 1

ἀνα-πτύω: to spit up, sputter, 1 µάντευµα, -ατος, τό: oracle, 1
βορά, ἡ: food, meat, carrion, 3 µετ-άρσιος, -α, -ον: raised high in the air, 1
βωµός, ὁ: altar (on a platform), a platform, 2 µηρία, τά: thigh bones for sacrifice, 2
γόνος, ὁ: offspring, a child, 2 µηρός, ὁ: the thigh, 1
δέχοµαι: to receive, accept, take, 2 µυδάω: to be damp, clammy; drip 2
δια-σπείρω: to scatter, scatter abroad, 1 νοσέω: to be sick, ill, 1
δύσ-µορος, -ον: ill-fated, -starred, wretched 4 Οἰδίπους, ὁ: Oedipus, Antigone’s father, 6
εἶτα: then, next, 2 οἰωνός, ὁ: large bird, bird of prey, 6
ἔκ-κειµαι: to be exposed, fall out from, 1 ὄργια, τά: rites, sacrifices, 1
ἐσχάρα, ἡ: the hearth, fire-place, 1 πάµ-φλεκτος, ον: fully-blazing or –kindled 1
ἡγεµών, ὁ: guide, leader; commander, 1 παν-τελής, -ές: one and all, all, entire, 2
Ἥφαιστος, ὁ: Hephaestus, 2 πιµελή, ἡ: fat, soft fat, 1
θῦµα, -ατος, τό: (sacrificial) offerings, 1 πλήρης, -ες: full of, filled of, 2
θυστάς, -αδος, ἡ: sacrificial, 1 σποδός, ὁ: ash, 1
καλύπτος, -η, -ον: enfolding, covered, 1 τήκω: to melt, rot, waste away (τάκω) 4
κατα-ρρυής, -ές: streaming down, dripping, 1 τύφω: to smoke, 1
κηκίς, -ίδος, ἡ: juice, ooze, 1 φθί(ν)ω: to perish, waste away, fail, 3
κύων, κυνός, ὁ, ἡ: dog, 5 φλόξ, φλόγος, ἡ: burning, flame, fire, 1
λάµπω: to blaze, shine, show light, 1 χολή, ἡ: gall, bile; pl. gall-bladder, 1

1006 βωµοῖσι: on…; place where for the seer to interpret

1007 Ἥφαιστος: i.e. fire, through metonomy 1014 οὖτος (ἐστί): the παῖς from line 1012.
1008 µηρίων: from…; gen. separation 1015 καὶ ταῦτα: and what is more; ‘and in
ἐτήκετο: was exuded respect to these things,’ acc. of respect
1009 κἄτυφε: κα(ὶ) ἔτυφε; impf. τύφω φρενός: purpose, resolve; cf. line 993
1010 κἀνέπτυε: κα(ὶ) ἀνέπτυε; impf. 1017 πλήρεις (εἰσί): predicate, supply verb
καταρρυεῖς: i.e. with fat; nom. pl. ὑπ(ὸ)...κυνῶν: because of…; gen. of cause
1012 παιδὸς τοῦδε...πάρα: from…; παρὰ βορᾶς...πετπῶτος: gen. abs., pf. pple
παιδὸς τοῦδε; gen. source πίπτω
1013 φθίνοντα...µαντεύµατα: that…; ind. 1018 κᾆτ᾽: and then; ‘thereupon,’ κα(ὶ) εἶτα
disc. (acc. + pple) governed by ἐµάνθανον οὐ...ἔτι: no longer
ἀσήµων: i.e. without identifying marks παρὰ ἡµῶν: from us

68
 οὐδ᾽ ὄρνις εὐσήμους ἀπορροιβδεῖ βοάς
ἀνδροφθόρου βεβρῶτες αἵματος λίπος.
ταῦτ᾽ οὖν, τέκνον, φρόνησον. ἀνθρώποισι γὰρ
τοῖς πᾶσι κοινόν ἐστι τοὐξαμαρτάνειν·
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἁμάρτῃ, κεῖνος οὐκέτ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀνὴρ 1025
ἄβουλος οὐδ᾽ ἄνολβος, ὅστις ἐς κακὸν
πεσὼν ἀκῆται μηδ᾽ ἀκίνητος πέλῃ.
αὐθαδία τοι σκαιότητ᾽ ὀφλισκάνει.
ἀλλ᾽ εἶκε τῷ θανόντι μηδ᾽ ὀλωλότα
κέντει· τίς ἀλκὴ τὸν θανόντ᾽ ἐπικτανεῖν; 1030
εὖ σοι φρονήσας εὖ λέγω. τὸ μανθάνειν δ᾽
ἥδιστον εὖ λέγοντος, εἰ κέρδος λέγοι.
Κρέ ὦ πρέσβυ, πάντες ὥστε τοξόται σκοποῦ
τοξεύετ᾽ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, κοὐδὲ μαντικῆς
ἄπρακτος ὑμῖν εἰμι· τῶν δ᾽ ὑπαὶ γένους 1035

ἄ-βουλος, -ον: unwise, ill-advised, 1 εὔ-σηµός, -ον: with good signs or omens, 1
ἀ-κίνητος, -ον: unmoved; stubborn, 2 ἡδύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sweet, pleasant, glad, 3
ἄ-πρακτος, -ον: unassailed by, not worked or κεντέω: prick, sting, stab, goad, 1
plotted against by, 1 λίπος, -εος, τό: fat, animal fat, tallow, 1
αἷµα, -ατος τό: blood, 3 µαντική, ἡ: prophetic art, art of prophecy, 1
ἀκέοµαι: to heal, 1 ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ὁ, ἡ: a bird, 4
ἀλκή, ἡ: strength, prowess (to avert danger) 1 οὐκ-έτι: no more, no longer, no further, 4
ἁµαρτάνω: to make a mistake, fail (gen.) 6 ὀφλισκάνω: incur a charge of acc. on dat. 2
ἄν-ολβος, -ον: unblest, luckless, 2 πέλω: to be, become, come (to be) 3
ἀνδρό-φθορος, -ον: of a slain man, 1 πρέσβυς, ὁ: old man, elder, 1
ἀπο-ρροιβδέω: to shriek forth, 1 σκαιότης, -ητος, ἡ: ineptitude, awkwardness,
αὐθαδία, ἡ: self-will, stubbornness, 1 lefthandedness, 1
βιβρώσκω: to eat, eat up, consume, 1 σκοπός, ὁ: watchman, scout; mark, aim, 2
βοή, ἡ: shout, cry, loud shout, 3 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, tribe, stock, race, 7 τοξεύω: shoot (an arrow) (+ partitive gen) 1
εἴκω: to yield, give way, (aor. εἰκάθον) 5 τοξότης, ὁ: archer, 2
ἐξ-αµαρτάνω: to miss the mark, err, fail, 2 ὑπαὶ: by, because of (gen) (ὑπό) 1
ἐπι-κτείνω: to kill in addition, kill again, 1 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7

1022 βεβρῶντες: pf. pple βιβρώσκω 1029 τῷ θανόντι: ind. object, pple θνῇσκω
1023 φρόνησον: aor. imperative ὀλωλότα: acc. sg. pf. pple ὄλλυµι
ἀνθρώποισι...πᾶσι: dat. of interest 1030 κέντει: imperative, κέντε-ε
1024 κοινόν ἐστι: it is common… τίς ἀλκὴ (ἐστι): supply a linking verb
τοῦξαµαρτάνειν: τὸ ἐξαµαρτάνειν 1032 ἥδιστον (ἐστι): supply a linking verb
1025 ἐπεὶ...ἁµάρτῃ: whenever one…; general εὖ λέγοντος: from one…; gen. source
temporal clause, the lack of ἄν is common 1033 πάντες...τοξέυετε: you all shoot…
in Homer but rare in Attic; 3rd sg. aor. subj. ὥστε...σκοποῦ: just as archers at a mark
1026 ὅστις: whoever…; ἀνήρ is antecedent 1035 ἄπρακτος...εἰµί: not even by your art of
1027 πεσὼν: nom. sg. aor. pple πίπτω prophecy am I unassailed; gen. of cause,
ἀκῆται...πέλῃ: 3rd sg. pres. mid. and gen. of cause and dat. of possession
pres. act. subj. without ἄν; see line 1025 τῶν...γένους: but by the tribe of these men

69
 ἐξημπόλημαι κἀμπεφόρτισμαι πάλαι.
κερδαίνετ᾽, ἐμπολᾶτε τἀπὸ Σάρδεων
ἤλεκτρον, εἰ βούλεσθε, καὶ τὸν Ἰνδικὸν
χρυσόν· τάφῳ δ᾽ ἐκεῖνον οὐχὶ κρύψετε,
οὐδ᾽ εἰ θέλουσ᾽ οἱ Ζηνὸς αἰετοὶ βορὰν 1040
φέρειν νιν ἁρπάζοντες ἐς Διὸς θρόνους,
οὐδ᾽ ὣς μίασμα τοῦτο μὴ τρέσας ἐγὼ
θάπτειν παρήσω κεῖνον· εὖ γὰρ οἶδ᾽ ὅτι
θεοὺς μιαίνειν οὔτις ἀνθρώπων σθένει.
πίπτουσι δ᾽, ὦ γεραιὲ Τειρεσία, βροτῶν 1045
χοἰ πολλὰ δεινοὶ πτώματ᾽ αἴσχρ᾽, ὅταν λόγους
αἰσχροὺς καλῶς λέγωσι τοῦ κέρδους χάριν.
Τειρ φεῦ.
ἆρ᾽ οἶδεν ἀνθρώπων τις, ἆρα φράζεται,
Κρέ τί χρῆμα; ποῖον τοῦτο πάγκοινον λέγεις;
Τειρ ὅσῳ κράτιστον κτημάτων εὐβουλία; 1050

ἀετος, ὁ: eagle, (αἰετος) 2 µίασµα, -ατος, τό: pollution, defilement, 3

ἁρπάζω: seize, carry off, kidnap, 2 νιν: him, her (not reflexive) 7
βορά, ἡ: food, meat, carrion, 3 οὔ-τις, οὔ-τι: no one, nothing, 1
βούλοµαι: to wish, be willing, desire, 5 πάγ-κοινος, -ον: common to all, universal, 2
γεραιός, -ά, -όν: old, aged, elder, 2 πάλαι: long ago, long, all along, 5
ἐµ-πολάω: to traffic, trade, deal, purchase, 2 παρ-ίηµι: to permit, let pass, over, 2
ἐµ-φορτίζω: to unload and sell off, betray, 1 ποῖος, -α, -ον: what sort of? what kind of? 6
ἐξ-ἐµ-πολάω: to buy and sell off; betray, 1 πτῶµα, -ατος, τό: fall, 1
εὐ-βουλία ἡ: good counsel, sound judgment 2 Σάρδεις, -εων οἱ: Sardis (city always in pl.) 1
ἤλεκτρον, τό: electrum, silver-gold, 1 σθένω: to be strong, have power (+ inf.), 3
θάπτω: to bury, honor with funeral rites, 7 Τειρεσίας, ὁ: Teiresias, 2
θρόνος, ὁ: chair, seat, 4 τρέω: to flee away, flee from fear, 1
Ἰνδικός, -ή, -όν: Indian, of India, 1 φεῦ: ah, alas, woe, 7
κερδαίνω: to gain, profit, make a profit, 2 φράζω: to point out, tell, indicate, 5
κράτιστος, -η, -ον: strongest, mightiest, 2 χάρις, -ριτος, ἡ: favor, gratitude, thanks, 6
κρύπτω: to hide, cover, conceal, 6 χρῆµα, -ατος, τό: thing, money, goods, 1
κτῆµα, -ατος, τό: possession, property, 4 χρυσός, ὁ: gold, 2
µιαίνω: to defile, pollute; stain, dye, 1

1036 ἐξηµπόληµαι κα(ὶ) ἐµπεφόρτισµαι: both here, is used in emphatic denials

pf. passive 1043 οἶδ(α): 1st sg.
1037 κερδαίνετε, ἐµπολᾶτε pl. imperatives, 1045 βροτῶν: partitive gen. with οἱ δεινοὶ
i.e. Tiresias and fellow conspirators 1046 χοἰ: even the…; καὶ οἱ
1039 τάφῳ: dat. of means ὅταν...λέγωσι: whenever…; general
1040 ούδ(ε) εἰ: not even if temporal clause, ἄν + pres. subjunctive
(ἐ)θέλουσ(ι): 3rd pl. present, subject αἰετοὶ 1047 χάριν: for the sake of…; + gen.
Ζηνὸς: gen. sg. Ζεύς, see also Διὸς below 1048 ἆρα φράζεται: does (any man)
1041 νιν: him; i.e. the ἐκεῖνον from l. 1039 consider?
Διὸς: gen. sg. Ζεύς 1050 ὅσῳ: by how much; dat. degree of
1042 ούδ(ε) ὣς...µὴ...παρήσω: not even difference; supply a linking verb ἐστί
so…will I allow…; fut. παρίηµι ; µή οὐ, as

70
Κρέ ὅσῳπερ, οἶμαι, μὴ φρονεῖν πλείστη βλάβη.
Τειρ ταύτης σὺ μέντοι τῆς νόσου πλήρης ἔφυς.
Κρέ οὐ βούλομαι τὸν μάντιν ἀντειπεῖν κακῶς.
Τειρ καὶ μὴν λέγεις, ψευδῆ με θεσπίζειν λέγων.
Κρέ τὸ μαντικὸν γὰρ πᾶν φιλάργυρον γένος. 1055
Τειρ τὸ δ᾽ ἐκ τυράννων αἰσχροκέρδειαν φιλεῖ.
Κρέ ἆρ᾽ οἶσθα ταγοὺς ὄντας ἃν λέγῃς λέγων;
Τειρ οἶδ᾽· ἐξ ἐμοῦ γὰρ τήνδ᾽ ἔχεις σώσας πόλιν.
Κρέ σοφὸς σὺ μάντις, ἀλλὰ τἀδικεῖν φιλῶν.
Τειρ ὄρσεις με τἀκίνητα διὰ φρενῶν φράσαι. 1060
Κρέ κίνει, μόνον δὲ μὴ 'πὶ κέρδεσιν λέγων.
Τειρ οὕτω γὰρ ἤδη καὶ δοκῶ τὸ σὸν μέρος.
Κρέ ὡς μὴ 'μπολήσων ἴσθι τὴν ἐμὴν φρένα.
Τειρ ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι κάτισθι μὴ πολλοὺς ἔτι
τρόχους ἁμιλλητῆρας ἡλίου τελεῖν, 1065

ἀ-δικέω: to be unjust, do wrong, injure, 1 µήν: truly, surely, 7

ἀ-κίνητος, -ον: unmoved; stubborn, 2 νόσος, ὁ: sickness, illness, disease, 6
αἰσχροκέρδεια, ἡ: shameful gain or profit, 1 οἴοµαι (οἶµαι): to suppose, think, imagine, 4
ἁµιλλητήρ, -ῆρος: racing, competing, 1 ὄρνυµι: to stir, set in motion, rouse, 1
ἀντ-εῖπον: aor speak in response; deny, 2 ὅσοσπερ, -ηπερ, -ονπερ: just as much as, 1
βλάβη, ἡ: harm, affliction, damage, 2 πλεῖστος, -η, -ον: most, greatest, largest, 3
βούλοµαι: to wish, be willing, desire, 5 πλήρης, -ες: full of, filled of, 2
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, tribe, stock, race, 7 σοφός, -ή, -όν: wise, skilled, 3
ἐµ-πολάω: to traffic, trade, deal; betray, 2 ταγός, ὁ: commander, ruler (~τάσσω) 1
ἤδη: already, now, at this time, 4 τελέω: to end, complete, fulfill; pay, 3
ἥλιος, ὁ: the sun, (else ἀέλιος) 2 τοι: you know, as you know, surely, 7
θεσπίζω: to declare by oracle, prophesy, 2 τροχός, ὁ: wheel, cycle, course, 2
κάτ-οιδα: to know well, understand, 1 τύραννος, ὁ: sovereign, tyrant, 5
κινέω: to set in motion, move; rouse, irritate 3 φιλ-άργυρος, -ον: greedy, fond of money, 1
µαντικός, -ή, -όν: prophetic, oracular, 1 φιλέω: to love, befriend, 7
µάντις, -εως, ὁ: seer, prophet, diviner, 7 φράζω: to point out, tell, indicate, 5
µέντοι: however, nevertheless; certainly, 7 ψευδής, -ές: false, lying, 3
µέρος, -έος, τό: a part, share, portion, 3
1051 ὅσῳπερ: by just as much; dat. of degree pl. relative, general relative clause
of difference with superlative πλείστη λέγων: saying (x) about (y); double acc.
µὴ φρονεῖν: to be unwise, to lack 1058 ἔχεις σώσας: periphratic aor., σῴζω
understanding; add linking verb 1059 τἀδικεῖν: τὸ ἀδικεῖν, obj. of pple φιλέω
1052 µέντοι: certainly; positive assent 1060 ὄρσεις: fut. ὄρνυµι
ἔφυς: are (by nature); aor. φύω διὰ φρενῶν: in my soul, in my mind
1054 καὶ µὴν: and yet; ‘and truly,’ adversative 1061 κινέι: imper., κινε-ε ; µόνον is adv. acc.
ψευδῆ: ψευδέα, neuter acc. pl. µὴ...λέγων: if not…; conditional in sense
1055 φιλάργυρον (ἐστί): predicate, add verb γὰρ...καὶ δοκῶ: yes, now I in fact think to
1056 τὸ (γένος): the (tribe) speak in this way on your part; acc. respect
1057 οἶσθα ταγοὺς...λέγων: Do you know 1063 ὡς: not so as to... purpose: ὡς + fut pple
that you are saying whatever you say ἴσθι: sg. imperative οἶδα
(about) one being a ruler; 2nd sg. pf. οἶδα; 1063 κάτισθι: sg. imperative κάτοιδα
ἃν λέγῃς: whatever…; ἃ ἂν λέγῃς; neut. µὴ τελεῖν: that (you) are not to complete…
71
 ἐν οἷσι τῶν σῶν αὐτὸς ἐκ σπλάγχνων ἕνα
νέκυν νεκρῶν ἀμοιβὸν ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,
ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔχεις μὲν τῶν ἄνω βαλὼν κάτω
ψυχήν τ᾽ ἀτίμως ἐν τάφῳ κατῴκισας,
ἔχεις δὲ τῶν κάτωθεν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὖ θεῶν 1070
ἄμοιρον, ἀκτέριστον, ἀνόσιον νέκυν.
ὧν οὔτε σοὶ μέτεστιν οὔτε τοῖς ἄνω
θεοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ σοῦ βιάζονται τάδε.
τούτων σε λωβητῆρες ὑστεροφθόροι
λοχῶσιν Ἅιδου καὶ θεῶν Ἐρινύες, 1075
ἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσδε ληφθῆναι κακοῖς.
καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἄθρησον εἰ κατηργυρωμένος
λέγω· φανεῖ γὰρ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου τριβὴ
ἀνδρῶν γυναικῶν σοῖς δόμοις κωκύματα.
ἐχθραὶ δὲ πᾶσαι συνταράσσονται πόλεις, 1080

ἀ-κτέριστος, -ον: without funeral rites, 2 κατ-αργυρόω: buy with silver, silver over, 1
ἄ-µοιρος, -ον: without share in (+ gen.), 1 κατ-οικίζω: to settle, establish, place, 1
ἀ-τίµως, -ον: dishonorably, 1 κάτω-θεν: from below, up from below, 2
ἀθρέω: to gaze at, observe, 3 κώκυµα, -µατος, τό: shriek, wail, 2
ἀµοιβός, -ον: in exchange for (gen), 1 λοχάω: to lie in ambush, lie in wait, 1
ἀν-όσιος, -η, -ον: unholy, profane, 2 λωβητήρ, -ῆρος ὁ ἡ: destroyers 1
ἀντι-δίδωµι: to give in return, repay, 1 µακρός, -ή, -όν: long, far, distant, large, 4
ἀντί: instead of, in place of (+ gen.), 4 µέτ-εστι: to have a share of (gen) for (dat), 1
ἄνω: up, above, 3 σπλάγχνον, τό: loins; gut, innards, 1
βάλλω: to throw, pelt, hit, strike, 3 συν-ταράσσω: set into confusion, trouble, 1
βιάζω: do violence to, force, compel, 3 τριβή, ἡ: delay, spending; wearing away, 2
ἐνθάδε: here, hither, there, thither, 3 ὑστερο-φθόρος, -ον: later-destroying,
Ἐρινύες, αἱ: avenging spirits, Erinyes, 1 destroying afterward 1

1066 ἑν οἷσι: in which (time); relative dead belong to…

αὐτὸς: you yourself 1073 ἐκ σοῦ: because of you; ‘from you’
1067 ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει: periphrastic fut. perf. βιάζονται: subject are οἱ ἄνω θεοί
(translate as simple fut. in English); aor. 1074 τούτων: because of these things; gen.
pple ἀντιδίδωµι and 2nd sg. fut. dep. εἰµί of cause
1068 ἀνθ᾽ ὧν: on account of which, because 1076 ληφθῆναι: so as to be caught; inf. of
ἔχεις...βαλὼν: perphrastic pf. (ἔχω + aor. result, aor. pass. inf. λαµβάνω
pple βάλλω) αὐτοῖς: same; all with κακοῖς
τῶν ἄνω: (one) of those above; partitive 1077 ἄθρησον: aor. imperative
gen. εἰ: whether
1069 (ἔχεις) κατῷκισας: perphrastic pf. (ἔχω 1078 φανεῖ: future φαίνω
+ nom. sg. aor. pple) 1079 ἀνδρῶν (καὶ) γυναικῶν: objective gen.
1070 ἔχεις: you hold….; object νέκυν of κωκύµατα; asyndeton, supply the
τῶν κάτωθεν....θεῶν: i.e. infernal gods conjunction καί
1072 ὧν...µέτεστιν: A share of these σοῖς δόµοις: ind. object with φανεῖ
belong...; ‘it is a share of these to…’ i.e. the

72
 ὅσων σπαράγματ᾽ ἢ κύνες καθήγνισαν
ἢ θῆρες ἤ τις πτηνὸς οἰωνός, φέρων
ἀνόσιον ὀσμὴν ἑστιοῦχον ἐς πόλιν.
τοιαῦτά σου, λυπεῖς γάρ, ὥστε τοξότης
ἀφῆκα θυμῷ, καρδίας τοξεύματα 1085
βέβαια, τῶν σὺ θάλπος οὐχ ὑπεκδραμεῖ.
ὦ παῖ, σὺ δ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄπαγε πρὸς δόμους, ἵνα
τὸν θυμὸν οὗτος ἐς νεωτέρους ἀφῇ,
καὶ γνῷ τρέφειν τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν
τὸν νοῦν τ᾽ ἀμείνω τῶν φρενῶν ἢ νῦν φέρει. 1090
Χορ ἁνήρ, ἄναξ, βέβηκε δεινὰ θεσπίσας·
ἐπιστάμεσθα δ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου λευκὴν ἐγὼ
τήνδ᾽ ἐκ μελαίνης ἀμφιβάλλομαι τρίχα,
μή πώ ποτ᾽ αὐτὸν ψεῦδος ἐς πόλιν λακεῖν.
Κρέ ἔγνωκα καὐτὸς καὶ ταράσσομαι φρένας. 1095

ἀµείνων, -ον: better, nobler, braver, 1 καρδία, ἡ: the heart, 4

ἀµφι-βάλλω: to throw or put round, put on, 2 κύων, κυνός, ὁ, ἡ: dog, 5
ἀν-όσιος, -η, -ον: unholy, profane, 2 λάσκω: shout, cry out; scream (aor. λακεῖν) 1
ἀπ-άγω: to lead off, lead away, 1 λευκός, -ή, -όν: white, bright, brilliant, 3
ἀφ-ίηµι: to send forth, let loose, give up, 4 λυπέω: to cause pain, distress, grief, 2
βαίνω: to walk, step, go, 6 µέλας, µέλαινα, µέλαν: black, 1
βέβαιος, -ον: firm, steadfast, sure, certain, 1 νοῦς, ὁ: mind, thought, reason, attention, 5
γιγνώσκω: to come to know, learn, realize, 6 οἰωνός, ὁ: large bird, bird of prey, 6
γλῶσσα, ἡ: tongue, 6 ὀσµή, ἡ: smell, scent, odor, 2
ἐπίσταµαι: to know (how), understand, 5 πτηνός, -ή, -όν: winged, feathered, 1
ἑστιοῦχος, -ον: having a hearth (~altar), 1 πω: yet, up to this time, 2
ἥσυχος, -ον: silent, at rest, at peace, 1 σπάραγµα, -ατος τό: torn off piece, shreds 1
θάλπος, -εος τό: sting; heat, warmth, 1 ταράσσω: to trouble, disturb, stir up, 2
θεσπίζω: to declare by oracle, prophesy, 2 τόξευµα, ατος, τό: arrow, 1
θήρ, θηρός, ὁ: beast, wild beast, animal, 3 τοξότης, ὁ: archer, 2
θρίξ, τριχός, ἡ: hair, hairs, 1 τρέφω: to rear, foster, nuture, 5
θυµός, ὁ: desire, heart; soul, life, 5 ὑπ-εκ-τρέχω: run away from, escape from 1
ἵνα: in order that (+ subj.); where (+ ind.), 4 ψεῦδος, τό: lie, a falsehood, 1
καθ-αγνίζω: hallow, purify with burial rites 1 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7

1081 ὅσων: whose; possessive νεωτέρους: comparative, νέος, ‘young’

σπαράγµατ(α): i.e. pieces of flesh the masculine refers to people
ἤ....ἤ...ἤ: either…or…or 1090 νοὐν...τῶν φρενῶν: understanding in
1084 ὥστε τοξότης: just as… his mind; ‘of his gut’
1085 ἀφῆκα: I shot (acc) at (gen); aor. ἀφίηµι ἀµείνω: ἀµείνο(ν)α, acc. sg.
the gen. is partitive 1092 βέβηκε: pf. βαίνω
θυµῷ: in your heart; dat. of manner 1093 ἐξ ὅτου: from which (time); οὖτινος
1086 τῶν: of these; a demonstrative 1094 µὴ...λακεῖν: that…not; ind. disc., µή
ὑπεκδραµεῖ: fut. ὑπεκτρέχω instead of οὐ, for beliefs that one asserts
1088 τὸν θυµὸν: his anger confidently of the future (S. 2725)
ἵνα...ἀφῇ...γνῷ: so that…; purpose; 3rd sg. 1095 ἔγνωκα: 1st sg. pf. γιγνώσκω
pres. subj. ἀφίηµι; aor. subj. γιγνώσκω φρένας: acc. of respect with pass. voice

73
 τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀντιστάντα δὲ
ἄτῃ πατάξαι θυμὸν ἐν δεινῷ πάρα.
Χορ εὐβουλίας δεῖ, παῖ Μενοικέως, λαβεῖν.
Κρέ τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν; φράζε. πείσομαι δ᾽ ἐγώ.
Χορ ἐλθὼν κόρην μὲν ἐκ κατώρυχος στέγης 1100
ἄνες, κτίσον δὲ τῷ προκειμένῳ τάφον.
Κρέ καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπαινεῖς καὶ δοκεῖς παρεικαθεῖν;
Χορ ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα· συντέμνουσι γὰρ
θεῶν ποδώκεις τοὺς κακόφρονας βλάβαι.
Κρέ οἴμοι· μόλις μέν, καρδίας δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι 1105
τὸ δρᾶν· ἀνάγκῃ δ᾽ οὐχὶ δυσμαχητέον.
Χορ δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.
Κρέ ὧδ᾽ ὡς ἔχω στείχοιμ᾽ ἄν· ἴτ᾽ ἴτ᾽ ὀπάονες,
οἵ τ᾽ ὄντες οἵ τ᾽ ἀπόντες, ἀξίνας χεροῖν
ὁρμᾶσθ᾽ ἑλόντες εἰς ἐπόψιον τόπον. 1110

ἀν-ίηµι: to send up, let go, give up, 2 κατ-ῶρυξ, -υχος, ἡ: dug or cut out (cavern) 2
ἀνάγκη, ἡ: necessity, force, compulsion, 1 κόρα, ἡ: girl, maiden, 5
ἀνθ-ίστηµι: to set against, resist, 2 κτίζω: to build, found, create, 1
ἀξίνη, ἡ: axe (head), battle-axe, 1 Μενοικεύς, -έως, ὁ: Menoeceus, 3
ἄπ-ειµι: to be away, be absent, 2 µόλις: scarcely, hardly, 2
βλάβη, ἡ: harm, affliction, damage, 2 ὀπάων -ονος ὁ: attendant, follower; servant 1
δεῖ: it is necessary, must, ought (+ inf.), 5 ὁρµάω: to set out, begin; set in motion, 3
δῆτα: certainly, to be sure, of course, 7 παρ-είκω: to give way, yield (aor. -εἰκάθον) 1
δυσ-µαχητέος, -α, -ον: verbal adj. + εἰµί: one πατάσσω: to beat, strike, knock, 1
must fight a losing battle with + dat. 1 πείθω: persuade, trust; mid. obey (+ dat.) 2
εἴκω: to yield, give way, (aor. εἰκάθον) 5 ποδ-ώκης, -ες: swift-footed, quick, 1
ἐξ-ίσταµαι: to stand apart from (gen.) 2 πρό-κειµαι: to lie exposed, be set before, 4
ἐπ-όψιος, -α, -ον: conspicuous, in view, 1 στέγη, ἡ: a roof; shelter, home, 3
ἐπαινέω: to approve, applaud, praise, 1 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
ἐπι-τρέπω: to entrust, trust in (dat.), 1 συν-τέµνω: to cut short, cut down, 1
εὐ-βουλία ἡ: good counsel, sound judgment 2 ταχύς, εῖα, ύ: quick, swift, hastily, 4
θυµός, ὁ: desire, heart; soul, life, 5 τόπος, ὁ: a place, region, 1
κακόφρων, -φρονος: thoughtless; senseless, 1 φράζω: to point out, tell, indicate, 5
καρδία, ἡ: the heart, 4 ὧδε: in this way, so, thus, 4

1096 δεινόν (ἐστι): predicate, add linking verb 1100 ἐλθὼν: aor. pple ἔρχοµαι
τ(ε)...δὲ: both…but also; τε suggests 1101 ἄνες: aor. imperative ἀν-ίηµι
a second point but δέ offers a contrast κτίσον: aor. imperative κτίζω
ἀντιστάντα: that I…; modifies acc. subj. 1103 ὅσον γε...: yes, as quickly as possible
1097 ἄτῃ: dat. of means or cause 1106 τὸ δρᾶν: in doing this; acc. respect
πατάξαι θυµὸν: strike down my pride 1107 ἐπὶ...τρέπε: entrust (it) to others; tmesis
ἐν δεινῷ: i.e. in dire straits 1108 ὡς ἔχω: as I am able
πάρα (εστί): lies at hand (for me); πάρεστι στείχοιµι ἄν: I must…; potential opt.
1098 εὐβουλίας: partitive gen. sg. with a verb ἴτε: pl. imperative ἔρχοµαι
of touching or grasping: aor. λαµβάνω 1109 χεροῖν: dual dat. of means, χείρ
1099 τί δῆτα: what then; δῆτα is inferential 1110 ἑλόντες: aor. pple αἱρέω (ἑλ)
πείσοµαι: fut. πείθω

74
 ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δόξα τῇδ᾽ ἐπεστράφη,
αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.
δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ τοὺς καθεστῶτας νόμους
ἄριστον ᾖ σῴζοντα τὸν βίον τελεῖν.
Χορ πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας 1115 στρ. α
νύμφας ἄγαλμα
καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα
γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις
Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ
παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας 1120
Δῃοῦς ἐν κόλποις, Βακχεῦ, Βακ-
χᾶν ὁ ματρόπολιν Θήβαν
ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν
Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥείθρων ἀγρίου τ᾽
ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος 1125

ἄγαλµα, -ατος τό: image, statue; honor, 2 ἐπι-στρέφω: to turn, turn round, 1
ἄγριος, -α, -ον: wild, fierce, 5 Ἰσµηρός, ὁ: Ismenus river, 1
ἀµφι-έπω: to tend do, busy around, 1 Ἰταλία, ἡ: Italy, 1
ἄριστος, -η, -ον: best, most excellent, 3 Καδµεῖος, -η, -ον: Cadmean, of Thebes, 3
βακχεύς, ὁ: Bacchus, 1 καθ-ίστηµι: to set, establish; put into a state, 5
βάκχη, ἡ: Bacchante, follower of Bacchus, 1 κλυτός, -ή, -όν: famous, renowned, heard of 1
βαρυ-βρεµέτης, -ες: loud-, deep-thundering 1 κόλπος, ὁ: vale; bay, gulf, fold, bosom 1
βίος, ὁ: life, 6 µέδω: to reign over, protect, rule over, 1
γένος, -εος, ὁ: offspring, stock, race, 7 µητρ-όπολις, ἡ: mother-city, mother-state, 1
δείδω: fear, dread, shrink from, feel awe, 4 ναιετάω: to dwell in, inhabit, 1
δέω: to bind, tie, 1 νύµφη, ἡ: young wife, bride; nymph, 3
Δηώ, Δῃοῦς, ἡ: Demeter, Deo, Ceres, 1 πάγ-κοινος, -ον: common to all, universal, 2
δόξα, ἡ: opinion, reputation, honor, glory, 2 πολυ-ώνυµος, -ον: of many names, 1
δράκων, δράκοντος, ὁ: dragon, serpent, 2 ῥεῖθρον, τό: river, stream (ῥεέθρον) 3
ἐκ-λύω: to loose, release, set free from, 1 σπορά, ἡ: the sowing, planting; seed, 2
Ἐλευσίνιος, -α, -ον: Eleusinian, 1 τελέω: to end, complete, fulfill; pay, 3
ἐπειδὴ: since, when, after, 1 ὑγρός, ά, όν: wet, watery, moist; languid, 2

1111 τῇδε: in this way; dat. of manner 1116 νύµφας: gen. sg.
ἐπεστράφη: 3rd sg. aor. pass. 1117 Διὸς: gen. sg. Ζεύς
1112 αὐτός: myself; intensive pronoun 1118 ὃς: you who…; 2nd sg.
παρὼν: nom. sg. pple πάρειµι 1120 παγκοίνοις...κόλποις: in the vales,
1113 δέδοικα: pf. δείδω indicates a state of common to all, of Eleusinian Demeter
feeling, hence ‘I am afraid’ 1121 (ὦ) βακχεῦ: vocative, direct address
καθεστῶτας: established; ‘standing,’ pf. 1122 βακχᾶν...µατρόπολιν: gen. pl., acc. sg.
act. pple καθίστηµι in apposition to Θήβαν
1114 µὴ..ῇ: that…it is; µή introduces a fearing 1023 παρὰ: beside…; ‘from the side…’
clause with 3rd sg. pres. subj. εἰµί 1125 σπορᾷ: i.e. the soil sown with the
1015 πολυώνυµε: O (god) of…; vocative dragon’s teeth by Cadmus
direct address, addressing Dionysus

75
 σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας ἀντ. α
στέροψ ὄπωπε
λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι
στείχουσι νύμφαι Βακχίδες,
Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα. 1130
καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων
κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκ-
τὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,
ἀμβρότων ἐπέων
εὐαζόντων Θηβαΐας 1135
ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·
τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς στρ. β
ὑπερτάταν πόλεων
ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ·
καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται 1140

ἀγυιά, ἡ: street, avenue, road, 1 νᾶµα, -ατος τό: stream, river, waters, 1
ἀκτή, ἡ: headland, shore, projecting on sea 4 νύµφη, ἡ: young wife, bride; nymph, 3
ἄµ-βροτος, -ον: immortal, divine, 1 Νυσάιος, -α, -ον: Nysian, of Nysa, 1
βακχίς, -ιδος ἡ: Bacchante, 1 ὄρος, -εος, τό: a mountain, hill, 1
βίαιος, -α, -ον: forcible, violent, 1 ὄχθη, ἡ,: shore, river bank, 1
δί-λοφος -ον: double-peaked, double-ridged 1 πέµπω: to send, conduct, convey, dispatch, 2
δράκων, δράκοντος, ὁ: dragon, serpent, 2 πέτρη, ἡ: a rock, a ledge, 1
ἔνθα: where; there, 3 πολυ-στάφυλος, -ον: rich in grape-clusters, 1
ἐπι-σκοπέω: to look at, examine, inspect, 1 σπορά, ἡ: the sowing, planting; seed, 2
εὐ-άζω: to cry evoe to Bacchus, 1 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
Θηβαῖος, -α, -ον: Theban, of Thebes, 1 στέροψ, στερόπος, ὁ, ἡ: flashing, 1
Κασταλία ἡ: Castalian spring (on Parnassus)1 τιµάω: to honour, value, esteem, 7
κεραύνιος, -α, -ον: thunderbolt-struck, 1 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
κισσ-ήρης, -ες: ivy-clad, 1 ὑπέρτατος, -η, -ον: highest, top of, 3
Κωρύκιος, -α, -ον: Corycian, 1 χλωρός, ή, όν: green, greenish-yellow, 1
λιγνύς -ύος ἡ: smoky fire, smoke with flame 1

1126 σὲ: i.e. Dionysus 1137 τὰν: this (city); demonstrative, fem. sg.
1127 ὄπωπε: pf. ὁράω using Θηβαΐας. as the fem. antecedent
1133 πολυστάφυλος: fem. sg. adj. agrees ἐκ πασᾶν: above all…; Doric gen. pl.
with sg. ἀκτὰ 1139 µατρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ: Dionysus’ mother,
πέµπει: agrees with closest nom. sg. Semele, was destroyed when Zeus revealed
subject but the subject is in fact plural his power
1134 ἀµβρότων ἐπέων εὐαζόντων: while…; 1140 ὡς...ἔχεται: when…; pres. pass.
gen. absolute, gen. pl. ἔπος βιαίας: fem. gen. sg. νόσου below
1136 ἐπισκοποῦντ(α): modifies σε

76
 πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου,
μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν
ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν. 1145
ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων ἀντ. β
χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων
φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,
παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ᾽
ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις 1150
Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι
χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.
Ἄγγ Κάδμου πάροικοι καὶ δόμων Ἀμφίονος, 1155

ἅµα: at the same time; along with (dat.), 5 πάν-νυχος, -ον: all night long, 1
Ἀµφίων, -ονος, ὁ: Amphion, 1 πάρ-οικος, ὁ: neighbor, those living beside, 1
ἄστρον, τὸ: a star, 1 Παρνασίος, -α, -ον: of Mt. Parnassus, 1
γένεθλον, τό: offspring, descent, 1 περί-πολος, ὁ, ἡ: patrolling, attendant, 1
ἔµολον: go, come (aor. of βλώσκω) 5 πνέω: to breathe, blow, 1
ἐπί-σκοπος, ὁ: overseer, look-out, 2 πορθµός, ὁ: strait, sound, passageway 1
Θυίαι, αἱ: Thyiads (Θυιάδες) 1 πούς, ποδός, ὁ: a foot; a (sheet) of sail, 5
Ἴακχος, ὁ: Iacchus, 1 προ-φαίνω: bring to light, appear, show, 1
Κάδµος, ὁ: Cadmus, 1 πῦρ, -ος, τό: fire, 7
καθάρσιος, -α, -ον: purifying, cleansing, 1 στονόεις, -εσσα, -εν: mournful, grievous, 1
κλιτύς, ἡ: slope, mountain-side, 1 τάµιας, ὁ: dispenser; lord, master, 1
µαίνοµαι: to mad, rage, be furious, 7 ὑπέρ: on behalf of (gen); over, beyond (acc) 5
νόσος, ὁ: sickness, illness, disease, 6 φθέγµα, -ατος, τό: voice, utterance; speech 2
νύχιος -α, -ον: nocturnal, night-long, 1 χορεύω: to dance, 1
πάν-δηµος, -ον: of all the people, whole, 2 χορήγος, ὁ: chorus leader, 1

1142 ἐπὶ: in προφάνηθ(ι): aor pass. deponent,

1144 µολεῖν: infinitive as imperative, ἔµολον sg. imperative
καρθαρσίῳ ποδὶ: with…dat. manner 1150 ὦναξ: ὦ ἄναξ
ἤ: or 1151 αἵ: who
1146 πῦρ: object of pple πνειόντων 1154 χορεύουσι...Ἴακχον: dance for
1147 χοράγ(ε): vocative, direct address Iacchus, dispenser of fortune
1148 ἐπίσκοπε, παῖ: vocatives, direct address 1155 Κάδµου...δόµων Ἀµφίονος: of the house
1149 Διὸς: gen. sg. Ζεύς of Cadmus and Amphion

77
 οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον στάντ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώπου βίον
οὔτ᾽ αἰνέσαιμ᾽ ἂν οὔτε μεμψαίμην ποτέ.
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τόν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί·
καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς. 1160
Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ,
σώσας μὲν ἐχθρῶν τήνδε Καδμείαν χθόνα
λαβών τε χώρας παντελῆ μοναρχίαν
ηὔθυνε, θάλλων εὐγενεῖ τέκνων σπορᾷ·
καὶ νῦν ἀφεῖται πάντα. τὰς γὰρ ἡδονὰς 1165
ὅταν προδῶσιν ἄνδρες, οὐ τίθημ᾽ ἐγὼ
ζῆν τοῦτον, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμψυχον ἡγοῦμαι νεκρόν.
πλούτει τε γὰρ κατ᾽ οἶκον, εἰ βούλει, μέγα
καὶ ζῆ τύραννον σχῆμ᾽ ἔχων· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἀπῇ
τούτων τὸ χαίρειν, τἄλλ᾽ ἐγὼ καπνοῦ σκιᾶς 1170

ἀεί: always, forever, in every case, 6 καπνός, ὁ: smoke, 1

αἰνέω: to praise, commend, approve, 1 κατ-αρρέπω: to sink, sink down, decline, 1
ἄπ-ειµι: to be away, be absent, 2 µάντις, -εως, ὁ: seer, prophet, diviner, 7
ἀφ-ίηµι: to send forth, let loose, give up, 4 µέµφοµαι: to blame, censure, find fault with 1
βίος, ὁ: life, 6 µον-αρχία, ἡ: sovereignty, one-man rule, 1
βούλοµαι: to wish, be willing, desire, 5 οἶκος, ὁ: a house, abode, dwelling, 4
δυσ-τυχέω: to be unfortunate, not well off, 1 ὁποῖος, -α, -ον: which, of what sort or kind 4
ἐάν: εἰ ἄν, if (+ subj.), 4 ὀρθόω: to set straight, set upright, 4
ἔµ-ψυχος, -ον: ensouled, breathing, living, 1 παν-τελής, -ές: one and all, all, entire, 2
εὐ-γενής, -ές: well-born, noble-born, 2 πλουτέω: to be wealthy, prosper, 1
εὐ-τυχέω: be fortunate, lucky, be well off 2 προ-δίδωµι: to betray, deliver; give before, 3
εὐθύνω: to steer straight, straighten, 2 σκιά, -ᾶς, ἡ: shadow, 1
ζηλωτός, -ά, -όν: envied, deemed happy, 1 σπορά, ἡ: the sowing, planting, 2
ἡγέοµαι: to lead; consider, think, believe, 2 σχῆµα, -ατος, τό: form, figure, appearance 1
ἡδονή, ἡ: pleasure, enjoyment, delight, 4 τίθηµι: to set, put, place, arrange, 6
θάλλω: to bloom, abound, be luxuriant, 2 τύραννος, ὁ: sovereign, tyrant, 5
ἵστηµι: to make stand, set up, stop, establish 6 τύχη, ἡ: chance, luck, fortune, success, 6
Καδµεῖος, -η, -ον: Cadmean, of Thebes, 3 χαίρω: to rejoice, be glad; fare well, 2
καθ-ίστηµι: to set, establish; put into a state, 5 χώρα, ἡ: land, region, area, place, 2
1156 οὐκ...οὔτε...οὔτε: not…either…or… 1163 λαβών: aor. pple
ὁποῖον...ἀνθρώπου βίον: a sort of life of χώρας: objective gen. sg. of µοναρχίαν
a human which… παντελῆ: παντελέα, 3rd decl. acc. sg.
στάντ(α): (for) standing fixed; aor. pple 1165 ἀφεῖται: pf. pass. ἀφ-ίηµι; pl. subject
ἵστηµι is causal in sense 1166 προδῶσιν: aor. subj., general temporal
1157 αἰνέσαιµ(ι): I would...; aor. potential opt. 1167 ζῆν τοῦτον: that this one is living; inf.
1160 τῶν καθεστώτων: of things established ἡγοῦµαι: I consider (him to be)
‘set down’ ; pf. pple καθίστηµι 1168 πλούτει...ζῆ: imperatives, πλούτεε, ζάε
βροτοῖς: dat. possession, supply ἐστί βούλει: βουλε(σ)αι, 2nd sg. pres.
1161 ὡς ἐµοὶ (ἔδοξε): as…; supply aor. δοκεῖ 1169 ἀπῇ: 3rd sg. present, ἀπ-είµι
1162 σώσας: aor. pple σῴζω 1170 τὸ χαίρειν: the enjoying of these things
µὲν...τε: a contrast so slight δέ is not needed τὰ ἄλλ(α): the rest; ‘other things’; acc. d.o.
ἐχθρῶν: gen. of separation καπνοῦ σκιᾶς: for…; gen. of price
78
 οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην ἀνδρὶ πρὸς τὴν ἡδονήν.
Χορ τί δ᾽ αὖ τόδ᾽ ἄχθος βασιλέων ἥκεις φέρων;
Ἄγγ τεθνᾶσιν. οἱ δὲ ζῶντες αἴτιοι θανεῖν.
Χορ καὶ τίς φονεύει; τίς δ᾽ ὁ κείμενος; λέγε.
Ἄγγ Αἵμων ὄλωλεν· αὐτόχειρ δ᾽ αἱμάσσεται. 1175
Χορ πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός;
Ἄγγ αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ, πατρὶ μηνίσας φόνου.
Χορ ὦ μάντι, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας.
Ἄγγ ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων τἄλλα βουλεύειν πάρα.
Χορ καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ τάλαιναν Εὐρυδίκην ὁμοῦ 1180
δάμαρτα τὴν Κρέοντος. ἐκ δὲ δωμάτων
ἤτοι κλύουσα παιδὸς ἢ τύχῃ πάρα.
Εὐρ ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, τῶν λόγων ἐπῃσθόμην
πρὸς ἔξοδον στείχουσα, Παλλάδος θεᾶς
ὅπως ἱκοίμην εὐγμάτων προσήγορος. 1185

αἱµάσσω: stain with bloody, make bloody 1 θεά, ἡ: goddess, 1

Αἷµων, ὁ: Haemon, 3 ἱκνέοµαι: to come to, attain, reach, 3
αἴτιος, -α, -ον: responsible, culpable, 1 κεῖµαι: to lie, lie down, 6
ἀνύω, ἀνύτω: reach, accomplish, complete, 4 µάντις, -εως, ὁ: seer, prophet, diviner, 7
ἄρα: then, therefore, it seems, it turns out, 3 µήν: truly, surely, 7
ἀστός, -ή, -όν: townsman, citizen, 4 µηνίζω: to be angry at, full of wrath at (dat), 1
αὐτό-χειρ, -ος, ὁ, ἡ: with one’s own hand, 5 οἰκεῖος α ον: one’s own, of family; relatives 5
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 ὁµοῦ: at the same place, together, 1
ἄχθος, -εος, τό: burden (of grief), load, 1 Παλλάς, -άδος, ἡ: Pallas Athena, 1
βασιλεύς, ὁ: a king, chief, 3 πατρῷος, η, -ον: of one's father, ancestral 7
βουλεύω: to deliberate, plan, take counsel, 5 πότερος, -α, -ον: which of the two, whether 3
δάµαρ, δάµαρτος, ἡ: wife, 2 πρίαµαι: to buy, 1
δῶµα, -ατος, τό: house, 1 προσ-ήγορος, ὁ: addressing (gen), 1
ἔξ-οδος, ἡ: exit, way out, outlet, 1 στείχω: to come or go, walk, proceed, 7
ἐπ-αισθάνοµαι: to perceive, catch (gen), 1 τυγχάνω: chance upon, get, attain; happen, 5
εὔγµα, -µάτος, ἡ: boast, vaunt; pl. prayers 1 φονεύω: to murder, kill, slay, 1
Εὐρυδίκη, ἡ: Eurydice, 1 φόνος, ὁ: murder, homicide, slaughter, 2
ἡδονή, ἡ: pleasure, enjoyment, delight, 4 ὧδε: in this way, so, thus, 4

1171 ἂν πριαίµην: potential opt. τοὔπος: τὸ ἔπος

ἀνδρὶ: from a man; dat. interest ὡς ὀρθὸν: how correct...!; exclamatory
πρὸς...ἡδονήν: compared to joy; ‘with ἄρα: it turns out; a truth just realized
regard to pleasure’ 1179 ὡς...ἐχόντων: since this is so; ‘(these)
1173 τεθνᾶσιν: 3rd pl. pf. θνῄσκω holding thus’ ὡς + gen. abs. is causal
θανεῖν: epexegetic inf. with αἴτιοι πάρ(εστι): it lies at hand for you; πάρειµι
1175 ὄλωλεν: pf. ὄλλυµι 1180 καὶ µὴν: and look!; a new character, 526
1176 πότερα...ἤ πρὸς: by his father’s or by 1182 ἤτοι...ἢ: either, you know,…or…; ἤ τοι
his own hand; gen. of agent, χείρ suggests that the 1st possibility is preferable
1177 αὐτὸς: he himself; intensive τύχῃ πάρα(εστι): is present by chance
πρὸς αὑτοῦ: ἑαυτοῦ; gen. of agent 1183 ἐπῃσθόµην: aor. mid. ἐπ-αισθάνοµαι
φόνου: because of…; gen. of cause 1185 ὅπως: so that I might…; purpose, with
1178 ὦ µάντι: for Tiresias, who is not present aor. opt. in secondary seq.

79
 καὶ τυγχάνω τε κλῇθρ᾽ ἀνασπαστοῦ πύλης
χαλῶσα καί με φθόγγος οἰκείου κακοῦ
βάλλει δι᾽ ὤτων· ὑπτία δὲ κλίνομαι
δείσασα πρὸς δμωαῖσι κἀποπλήσσομαι
ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις ἦν ὁ μῦθος αὖθις εἴπατε· 1190
κακῶν γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος οὖσ᾽ ἀκούσομαι.
Ἄγγ ἐγώ, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ παρὼν ἐρῶ
κοὐδὲν παρήσω τῆς ἀληθείας ἔπος.
τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν ἐς ὕστερον
ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; ὀρθὸν ἁλήθει᾽ ἀεί. 1195
ἐγὼ δὲ σῷ ποδαγὸς ἑσπόμην πόσει
πεδίον ἐπ᾽ ἄκρον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔκειτο νηλεὲς
κυνοσπάρακτον σῶμα Πολυνείκους ἔτι·
καὶ τὸν μέν, αἰτήσαντες ἐνοδίαν θεὸν
Πλούτωνά τ᾽ ὀργὰς εὐμενεῖς κατασχεθεῖν 1200

ἀεί: always, forever, in every case, 6 κλίνω: to recline, lie down; find support, 2
αἰτέω: to ask, ask for, beg, 3 κυνο-σπάρακτος, -ον: torn by dogs, 1
ἀκούω: to hear, listen to, 6 µαλθάσσω: to soften, soothe, 1
ἄκρος, -η, -ον: topmost, excellent, 5 µῦθος, ὁ: story, word, speech, 3
ἀλήθεια, ἡ: truth, 2 νηλεής, -ές: unpitied; pitiless, ruthless, 1
ἀνα-σπαστός, ὁ: drawn back, opened, 1 οἰκεῖος α ον: one’s own, of family; relatives 5
ἄπειρος -ον: inexperienced, untried in (gen) 2 ὀργή, ἡ: anger; temperment, 6
ἀποπλήσσω: lose one’s senses, strike dumb 1 οὖς, ὠτός, τό: ear, 3
αὖθις: back again, later, 5 παρ-ίηµι: to permit, let pass, pass over, 2
βάλλω: to throw, pelt, hit, strike, 3 πεδίον, τό: plain; flat land, 2
δείδω: fear, dread, shrink from, feel awe, 5 Πλούτων, -ωνος, ὁ: Pluto, Hades, 1
δέσποινα, ἡ: mistress, 1 ποδ-αγός, ὁ: attendant, guide, 1
δµῳή, ἡ: a female servant, 2 Πολυνείκης, -εος, ὁ: Polyneices, 5
ἐν-όδιος, -α, -ον: of the crossroads, 1 πόσις, ὁ: husband, spouse, 3
ἔνθα: where; there, 3 πύλη, ἡ: gate, gates, 4
ἕποµαι: to follow, accompany, escort, 1 σῶµα, -ατος, τό: the body, 3
ἐρέω: I will say or speak, 4 τυγχάνω: chance upon, get, attain; happen, 5
εὐ-µενής, -ές: of good will, kind, 2 ὕπτιος, α, ον: backwards, on one’s back, 2
κατ-έχω: to hold fast; check, cover; possess 4 ὕστερον: later, 1 φθόγγος, ὁ: voice, 5
κεῖµαι: to lie, lie down, 6 χαλάω: to loosen, slacken, release, 1
κλεῖθρον, τό: bolt, bar, 1 ψεύστης, -ου ὁ: liar, cheater, deceiver 1

1186 τυγχάνω...: I happen to…; + pres. pple ἀκούσοµαι: fut. middle

τε...καί: both…and at the same time 1192 παρὼν: pple πάρειµι
1187 οἰκείου κακοῦ: of the family’s troubles 1193 παρήσω: fut. παρίηµι
1188 δι(ὰ) ὤτων: in…; gen. pl. οὗς 1194 τί: why would…; potential opt.
κλίνοµαι: I fall back; ‘I lie back’ ὧν...φανούµεθα: (with words) for which we
1189 δείσασα: becoming afraid; inceptive later will be shown (to be) liars; fut. φαίνω
aor. pple 1195 ὀρθὸν (ἐστί): (is) the straight course
πρὸς δµωαῖσι: to (the arms of) the servants 1196 ἑσπόµην: aor. ἕποµαι
1190 εἴπατε: 1st aorist pl. imperative, λέγω ἔκειτο: impf. κεῖµαι
1191 οὖσ(α): fem. nom. sg. pple εἰµί 1199 τὸν µέν: that this one, we..; i.e. the body

80
 λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν, ἐν νεοσπάσιν
θαλλοῖς ὃ δὴ λέλειπτο συγκατῄθομεν,
καὶ τύμβον ὀρθόκρανον οἰκείας χθονὸς
χώσαντες αὖθις πρὸς λιθόστρωτον κόρης
νυμφεῖον Ἅιδου κοῖλον εἰσεβαίνομεν. 1205
φωνῆς δ᾽ ἄπωθεν ὀρθίων κωκυμάτων
κλύει τις ἀκτέριστον ἀμφὶ παστάδα,
καὶ δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι σημαίνει μολών.
τῷ δ᾽ ἀθλίας ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς
ἕρποντι μᾶλλον ἆσσον, οἰμώξας δ᾽ ἔπος 1210
ἵησι δυσθρήνητον· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,
ἆρ᾽ εἰμὶ μάντις; ἆρα δυστυχεστάτην
κέλευθον ἕρπω τῶν παρελθουσῶν ὁδῶν;
παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος. ἀλλὰ πρόσπολοι,
ἴτ᾽ ἆσσον ὠκεῖς καὶ παραστάντες τάφῳ 1215

ἀ-κτέριστος, -ον: without funeral rites, 2 λούω: to wash, bathe, 2

ἄ-σηµος́, -ον: unintelligible, without signs 4 µᾶλλον: more, rather, 4
ἁγνός, -ή, -όν: holy, pure, 2 µάντις, -εως, ὁ: seer, prophet, diviner, 7
ἄθλιος, -η, -ον: wretched, miserable, pitiful, 3 νεο-σπάς, -άδος, ο, ἡ: newly pulled off, 1
ἀµφί: around, about, on both sides (dat, acc) 5 νυµφεῖον, τὸ: bridal(chamber), 2
ἄπω-θεν: from afar, from far away, 1 ὁδός, ἡ: road, way, path, journey, 7
ἆσσον: nearer (comparative adv. of ἄγχι) 2 οἰκεῖος α ον: one’s own, of family; relatives 5
αὖθις: back again, later, 5 οἰµώζω: to wail, cry out in grief, 2
βοή, ἡ: shout, cry, loud shout, 3 ὄρθιος, -α, -ον: high-pitched; upright, steep, 1
δεσπότης, -ου ὁ: master, lord, 3 ὀρθό-κρανος, -ον: steep, high, high-topped, 1
δυσ-θρήνητος, -ον: loud-wailing, mournful 1 παρ-έρχοµαι: to go by, pass by, pass, 1
δυσ-τυχής, -ές: unfortunate, unlucky, 1 παρ-ίστηµι: to set before the mind, stand, 5
εἰσ-βαίνω: to step to or into, enter, 1 παστάς -άδος ἡ: inner room, bridal chamber1
ἔµολον: go, come (aor. of βλώσκω,) 5 περι-βαίνω: to go around, come round, 1
ἕρπω: to creep, move slowly, come, go, 6 πρόσ-πολος, ὁ: servant, attendant, 2
θαλλός, ὁ: twig, branch, bough, 1 σαίνω: to greet, fawn on; wag (a tail), 1
ἵηµι: to let go, send, issue; mid. hasten, 2 σηµαίνω: to indicate, tell, point out, 2
κέλευθος, ἡ: path, way, 2 συγ-κατ-αίθω: to burn up, burn together, 1
κοῖλος, -η, -ον: hollow, hollowed, 1 τύµβος, ὁ: tomb, a sepulchral mound, 3
κόρα, ἡ: girl, maiden, 5 φθόγγος, ὁ: voice, 5
κώκυµα, -µατος, τό: shriek, wail, 2 φωνή, ἡ: speech, voice, 1
λείπω: to leave, forsake, abandon, 5 χόω: to heap up, throw up, 2
λιθό-στρωτος, -ον: paved with stones, 1 ὠκύς, ὠκεῖα, ὠκύ: swift, fleet, 1
λουτρόν, τό: bath, washing-basin, 1

1201 λούσαντες...: wash…with…; inner acc. 1208 δεσπότῃ Κρέοντι: to…; indirect obj.
ἐν: with…; dat. of means µολών: aor. pple. ἔµολον
1202 ὅ δὴ: precisely that which; i.e. what was 1209 τῷ: around him; dat. of compound verb
left of the corpse 1210 ἕρποντι: while…; pple modifies τῷ
λέλειπτο: plpf. pass., unaugmented 1211 ἵησι: 3rd sg. ἵηµι
1203 οἰκείας: of native… 1212 κέλευθον: along…; inner acc.
1204 εἰσεβαίνοµεν: we began to walk to; 1213 τῶν...ὁδῶν: of the roads passed before
inchoative impf. 1215 ἴτε: come…; pl. imperative ἔρχοµαι
81
 ἀθρήσαθ᾽, ἁρμὸν χώματος λιθοσπαδῆ
δύντες πρὸς αὐτὸ στόμιον, εἰ τὸν Αἵμονος
φθόγγον συνίημ᾽ ἢ θεοῖσι κλέπτομαι.
τάδ᾽ ἐξ ἀθύμου δεσπότου κελευσμάτων
ἠθροῦμεν· ἐν δὲ λοισθίῳ τυμβεύματι 1220
τὴν μὲν κρεμαστὴν αὐχένος κατείδομεν,
βρόχῳ μιτώδει σινδόνος καθημμένην,
τὸν δ᾽ ἀμφὶ μέσσῃ περιπετῆ προσκείμενον,
εὐνῆς ἀποιμώζοντα τῆς κάτω φθορὰν
καὶ πατρὸς ἔργα καὶ τὸ δύστηνον λέχος. 1225
ὁ δ᾽ ὡς ὁρᾷ σφε, στυγνὸν οἰμώξας ἔσω
χωρεῖ πρὸς αὐτὸν κἀνακωκύσας καλεῖ·
ὦ τλῆμον, οἷον ἔργον εἴργασαι· τίνα
νοῦν ἔσχες; ἐν τῷ συμφορᾶς διεφθάρης;
ἔξελθε, τέκνον, ἱκέσιός σε λίσσομαι. 1230

ἄ-θυµος, -ον: discouraged spiritless, 1 κρεµαστός, -ή, -όν: suspended, hung, 2

ἀθρέω: to gaze at, observe, 3 λέχος, -εος, τό: (marriage) bed, couch, 4
Αἷµων, ὁ: Haemon, 4 λιθό-σπαδής, -ές: made from pulled stones, 1
ἀµφί: around, about, on both sides (dat, acc) 5 λίσσοµαι: to beg, pray, entreat, beseech, 1
ἀνα-κωκύω: to shriek out, wail out, cry out, 2 λοίσθιος, -η, -ον: last, 3
ἀπ-οιµώζω: to wail loudly, bewail loudly, 1 µέσος, -η, -ον: middle, in the middle of, 3
ἁρµός, ὁ: fissure, opening (in masonry) 1 µιτώδης, -ες: of threads; thread-like, 1
αὐχήν, -ένος, ὁ: the neck, throat, 1 νοῦς, ὁ: mind, thought, reason, attention, 5
βρόχος, ὁ: noose, halte 1 οἰµώζω: to wail, cry out in grief, 2
δεσπότης, -ου ὁ: master, lord, 3 περι-πετής, -ές: clasped around; fallen round 1
δια-φθείρω: to destroy, corrupt, kill, 1 πρόσ-κειµαι: lie out or exposed, be set out, 3
δύσ-τηνος, -ον: ill-suffering, wretched, 6 σινδών, ἡ: sindon, linen cloth, 1
δύω: to enter, come into; sink into, 1 στόµιον, τό: mouth, 1
ἐξ-έρχοµαι: to go out, 1 στυγνός, -ή, -όν: hateful; bitter,, hated, 1
ἐργάζοµαι: to work, labor, toil, 4 συµ-φορά, ἡ: misfortune; happening, event, 2
ἔσω: into, inwards, to within, into, in, 3 συν-ίηµι: to understand; put together, 2
εὐνή, ἡ: bed; nest; marriage bed, grave, 2 σφεῖς: they; sg. him, her, it, 5
ἱκέσιος, -α, -ον: suppliant, 1 τλήµων, ὁ, ἡ: wretched, suffering, enduring 2
καθ-άπτω: to fasten, fix on, 1 τύµβευµα, -ατος, τό: tomb, grave, 1
καθ-οράω: look upon, behold (aor. -εῖδον), 1 φθόγγος, ὁ: voice, 5
καλέω: to call, summon, invite, 3 φθορά, ἡ: loss, death destruction, ruin, 1
κέλευσµα, ευµατος, τό: order, command, 1 χῶµα, τό: mound, bank, earth thrown up, 1
κλέπτω: to steal, cheat; do secretly, 2 χωρέω: to go, come; have room for, 4
1216 ἀθρήσα(τε): aor. pl. imperative 1222 καθηµµένην: pf. pass. καθ-άπτω
ἁρµον...λιθοσπαδῆ: λιθοσπαδέ-α, acc. sg. 1223 τὸν δὲ: and this one; i.e. Haemon
all in apposition to στόµιον ἀµφὶ µέσσῃ: about her waist
1218 θεοῖσι: by the gods; dat. of agent 1224 εὐνῆς..τῆς κάτω: the bride...; metonymy
1219 τάδε..ἠθρούµεν: we saw the following 1226 ὁ δὲ ὡς: and he, when he…; i.e. Creon
ἐξ...κελευσµάτων: (as a result) from… 1228 οἷον...εἴργασαι: what...!; 2nd sg. pf. mid.
1221 τὴν µὲν: this one; her, see τὸν δὲ below 1229 ἔσχες: aor. ἔχω
αὐχένος: by the…; partitive gen. ἐν τῷ: in what manner of misfortune…?
κατείδοµεν: aor. καθ-οράω διεφθάρης: 2nd sg. aor. passive

82
 τὸν δ᾽ ἀγρίοις ὄσσοισι παπτήνας ὁ παῖς,
πτύσας προσώπῳ κοὐδὲν ἀντειπών, ξίφους
ἕλκει διπλοῦς κνώδοντας. ἐκ δ᾽ ὁρμωμένου
πατρὸς φυγαῖσιν ἤμπλακ᾽· εἶθ᾽ ὁ δύσμορος
αὑτῷ χολωθείς, ὥσπερ εἶχ᾽, ἐπενταθεὶς 1235
ἤρεισε πλευραῖς μέσσον ἔγχος, ἐς δ᾽ ὑγρὸν
ἀγκῶν᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔμφρων παρθένῳ προσπτύσσεται.
καὶ φυσιῶν ὀξεῖαν ἐκβάλλει ῥοὴν
λευκῇ παρειᾷ φοινίου σταλάγματος.
κεῖται δὲ νεκρὸς περὶ νεκρῷ, τὰ νυμφικὰ 1240
τέλη λαχὼν δείλαιος εἰν Ἅιδου δόμοις,
δείξας ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τὴν ἀβουλίαν
ὅσῳ μέγιστον ἀνδρὶ πρόσκειται κακόν.
Χορ τί τοῦτ᾽ ἂν εἰκάσειας; ἡ γυνὴ πάλιν
φρούδη, πρὶν εἰπεῖν ἐσθλὸν ἢ κακὸν λόγον. 1245

ἀ-βουλία, ἡ: lack of counsel or judgment 1 νυµφικός, -ά, -όν: bridal, of marriage, 1

ἀγκών, ὁ: the bend, curve; elbow, 1 ξίφος, -εος τό: a sword, 4
ἄγριος, -α, -ον: wild, fierce, 5 ὀξύς, -εῖα, -ύ: sharp, piercing, fierce, 4
ἀµπλάκω: to fall short, fail; miss, (+ gen) 3 ὁρµάω: to set out, rush out; set in motion, 3
ἀντ-εῖπον: aor speak in response; deny, 2 ὄσσε, τώ: two eyes (dual) 1
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 πάλιν: again, once more; back, backwards, 2
δείκνυµι: to point out, display, show, 4 παπταίνω: to glare, look sharply, look for, 1
δείλαιος, -α, -ον: wretched, sorry, paltry, 4 παρεία, ἡ: cheek, 2
διπλοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν: double, two-fold, 5 παρθένος, ἡ: maiden, virgin, unmarried girl, 1
δύσ-µορος, -ον: ill-fated, -starred, wretched 4 περί: around, about, concerning, 6
ἔγχος, -εός, τό: sword, , 1 πλευρά, ἡ: rib, 1
εἰκάζω: infer (by comparison), guess; liken, 1 πρόσ-κειµαι: lie out or exposed, be set out, 3
εἶτα: then, next, 2 προσ-πτύσσω: to embrace, enfold (dat), 1
ἐκ-βάλλω: to throw out of, cast away, 2 πρόσ-ωπον, τό: face, visage, countenance, 1
ἕλκω: to draw, drag; weigh, 1 πτύω: to spit, 2
ἔµ-φρων, -ον: intelligent, sensible, shrewd, 1 ῥοή, ἡ: flow, river, stream, 1
ἐπ-εν-τείνω: to stretch upon, 1 στάλαγµα, -ατος, τό: a drop, 1
ἐρείδω: to lean, prop; press, 1 τέλος, -εος, τό: end, result; office; rites, 6
ἐσθλός, -ή, -όν: good, noble, brave, 4 ὑγρός, ά, όν: wet, watery, moist; languid, 2
κεῖµαι: to lie, lie down, 6 φοίνιος, -α, -ον: blood-stained, of blood, 2
κνώδων, -οντος ὁ: twin-hilted, sword, 1 φροῦδος, -η, -ον: (clean) gone, vanished, 2
λαγχάνω: to obtain by lot, 6 φυγή, ἡ: flight, escape, exile, 2
λευκός, -ή, -όν: white, bright, brilliant, 3 φυσιάω: to blow out, gasp, pant, 1
µέγιστος, -η, -ον: greatest, biggest, best, 1 χολόω: to enrage, anger, 1
µέσος, -η, -ον: middle, in the middle of, 3 ὥσπερ: as, just as, as if, 1
1231 τὸν δ(ὲ): this one; or ‘him,’ i.e. Creon ἐπενταθεὶς: aor. pass. dep. pple ἐπεντείνω
1232 προσώπῳ: at his face 1236 πλευραῖς: in…; . dat. place where
1233 διπλοῦς κνώδοντας: double-edged ἐς...ἀγκῶν(α): into his lanquid arm(s)
ἐκ δ᾽ὁρµωµένου πατρὸς: gen. abs.; tmesis 1239 λευκῇ παρειᾷ: out onto; dat. compound
1234 φυγαῖσιν: in flight; dat. of manner 1241 εἰν…δόµοις: ἐν…
1235 χολωθείς: becoming…; inceptive aor. 1243 ὅσῳ: how much (lack of judgment) is set
pass. pple., nom. sg., (ἑ)αυτῷ is object forth as the greatest evil for man; proleptic

83
Ἄγγ καὐτὸς τεθάμβηκ᾽· ἐλπίσιν δὲ βόσκομαι
ἄχη τέκνου κλύουσαν ἐς πόλιν γόους
οὐκ ἀξιώσειν, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ στέγης ἔσω
δμωαῖς προθήσειν πένθος οἰκεῖον στένειν.
γνώμης γὰρ οὐκ ἄπειρος, ὥσθ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν. 1250
Χορ οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἐμοὶ δ᾽ οὖν ἥ τ᾽ ἄγαν σιγὴ βαρὺ
δοκεῖ προσεῖναι χἠ μάτην πολλὴ βοή.
Ἄγγ ἀλλ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα, μή τι καὶ κατάσχετον
κρυφῇ καλύπτει καρδίᾳ θυμουμένῃ,
δόμους παραστείχοντες· εὖ γὰρ οὖν λέγεις, 1255
καὶ τῆς ἄγαν γάρ ἐστί που σιγῆς βάρος.
Χορ καὶ μὴν ὅδ᾽ ἄναξ αὐτὸς ἐφήκει
μνῆμ᾽ ἐπίσημον διὰ χειρὸς ἔχων,
εἰ θέμις εἰπεῖν, οὐκ ἀλλοτρίαν
ἄτην, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸς ἁμαρτών. 1260

ἄγαν: too much, excessively, 6 καλύπτω: to conceal, cover, 2

ἀλλότριος, -α, -ον: of another, foreign 1 καρδία, ἡ: the heart, 4
ἁµαρτάνω: to miss the mark, fail (gen.) 6 κατ-έχω: to hold fast; check, cover; possess 4
ἀξιόω: to deem worth, consider worthy, 2 κατα-σχετος, -ον: held back, repressed, 1
ἄπειρος -ον: inexperienced, untried in (gen) 2 κρυφῇ: in secret, secretly, 3
ἄχος, -εος, τό: anguish, distress, grief, 3 µάτην: in vain, fruitless, idle, 1
βάρος, -ους τό: heavy weight, burden, load 2 µήν: truly, surely, 7
βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ: low, heavy; grievous, 3 µνήµη, ἡ: memorial, remembrance, record, 1
βοή, ἡ: shout, cry, loud shout, 3 οἰκεῖος α ον: one’s own, of family; relatives 5
βόσκω: to nourish, feed, tend, 1 παρα-στείχω: to pass into, enter, pass by, 1
γόος, ὁ: wailing, weeping, lamenting, 3 πένθος, τό: grief, woe, sorrow, 1
δµῳή, ἡ: a female servant, 2 που: anywhere, somewhere; I suppose, 4
ἐπί-σηµον, -ον: bearing a mark, notable, 1 προ-τίθηµι: to propose, set forth, 4
ἔσω: into, inwards, to within, into, in, 3 πρόσ-ειµι: to be (in addition), 2
ἐφ-ήκω: to have arrived at, 1 σιγή, ἡ: silence, 2
θαµβέω: to be astonished, marvel, 1 στέγη, ἡ: a roof; shelter, home, 3
θέµις, θέµιστος, ἡ: right, custom, law, 2 στένω: to mourn, moan, bemoan, sigh, 1
θυµόω: make spirited; mid. be spirited 2 ὥστε: so that, that, so as to, 7

1246 κ(αὶ) αὐτὸς: intensive; καὶ means ‘also’ 1251 βαρὺ: a grievous thing; i.e. trouble,
τεθαµβηκα: 1st sg. pf. act. θαµβέω as often neut. sg. predicate after inf. προσεῖναι
denotes a state just entered: ‘I am amazed’ 1252 χἡ: and…; καὶ ἡ, introduces a second
ἐλπίσιν: dat. pl. of. means subject for 3rd sg. δοκεῖ
1247 ἄχη τέκνου: ἄχε-α, obj. of κλύουσαν 1253 εἰσόµεσθα: 1st pl. fut. οἶδα
γόους ἀξιώσειν: that she will not think her µή...καλύπτει: whether she is not
weeping worthy in front of the city; i. e. she concealing…; ‘lest she conceal,’ fearing
chοse to mourn in private; ind. disc. clause with indicative
1249 προθήσειν: fut. inf. προτίθηµι, ind. disc 1256 τῆς ἄγαν..σιγῆς: modifies βάρος
στένειν: to mourn; epexegetic inf. 1257 καὶ µὴν: and look; introduces an
1250 ὥσ(τε): so as…; result clause entering character, see ll. 1180, 526
1251 οἶδ(α): 1st sg. ὅδε ἄναξ: i.e. Creon
δ᾽οὖν: but in any case 1259 θέµις (ἐστί): it is right; aor. inf. λέγω
τ᾽...χἡ: both…and; τε…καὶ ἡ 1260 ἁµαρτών: by…; nom. sg. aor. pple
84
Κρέ ἰὼ στρ. α
φρενῶν δυσφρόνων ἁμαρτήματα
στερεὰ θανατόεντ᾽,
ὦ κτανόντας τε καὶ
θανόντας βλέποντες ἐμφυλίους.
ὤμοι ἐμῶν ἄνολβα βουλευμάτων. 1265
ἰὼ παῖ, νέος νέῳ ξὺν μόρῳ
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,
ἔθανες, ἀπελύθης
ἐμαῖς οὐδὲ σαῖς δυσβουλίαις.
Χορ οἴμ᾽ ὡς ἔοικας ὀψὲ τὴν δίκην ἰδεῖν. 1270
Κρέ οἴμοι,
ἔχω μαθὼν δείλαιος· ἐν δ᾽ ἐμῷ κάρᾳ
θεὸς τότ᾽ ἄρα τότε μέγα βάρος μ᾽ ἔχων
ἔπαισεν, ἐν δ᾽ ἔσεισεν ἀγρίαις ὁδοῖς,
οἴμοι, λακπάτητον ἀντρέπων χαράν. 1275

ἄγριος, -α, -ον: wild, fierce, overgrown, 5 ἔοικα: to seem, be likely, be reasonable, 5
αἰαῖ: ah! (exclamation of grief) 8 θανατόεις, -εσσα, -εν: deadly, full of death, 1
ἁµάρτηµα, -µατος, τό: fault, failure; sin, 1 κάρα, τό: head, 7
ἄν-ολβος, -ον: unblest, luckless, 2 κτείνω: to kill, slay, kill, slay, 4
ἀνα-τρέπω: to overturn, upset, ruin, 1 λακπάτητος, -ον: trampled on, trodden on, 1
ἀπο-λύω: to depart, loose from, release, 2 ὁδός, ἡ: road, way, path, journey, 7
ἄρα: then, therefore, it seems, it turns out, 3 οἴοµαι: to suppose, think, imagine, 4
βάρος, -ους τό: heavy weight, burden, load 2 ὀψέ: late, after a long time, 1
βλέπω: to see, look at, 5 παίω: to strike, beat, dash, smite, 4
βούλευµα, -ατος, τό: purpose, plan, design 2 σείω: shake, move back and forth, agitate, 4
δείλαιος, -α, -ον: wretched, sorry, paltry, 4 στερεός, -α, -ον: solid, rigid; stubborn, stiff 1
δυσ-βουλία, ἡ: ill counsel, poor advice, 2 τότε: at that time, then, 6
δύσ-φρων -ονος: unthinking, senseless, 1 χαρά, ἡ: joy, delight, 2
ἐµ-φύλιος, -ον: kindred, kin; kinsfolk, 1 ὤ-µοι: woe’s me, 3

1262 στερεὰ: rigid ὡς...ὀψε: how…; in exclamation

1263 ὦ...βλέποντες: O those watching… ἰδεῖν: inf. ὁράω
κτανόντας, θανόντας: aor. pple 1272 ἔχω µαθὼν: periphrastic pf. (ἔχω + aor.
κτείνω, θνῄσκω pple) µανθάνω
1265 ἐµῶν βουλευµάτων: among…; partitive δεἰλαιος (εἶναι): supply infinitive
gen. 1273 ἄρα..µ(ε)...ἔπαισεν: it turns out…; ἄρα
ἄνολβα (βουλεύµατα): neuter pl. is employed to express truths just realized
1266 νέος: young µέγα βάρος: object of ἔχων
1267 ἔθανες: aor. θνῄσκω 1274 ἐν δ᾽ἔσεισεν: shaken (me) on…; tmesis
ἀπελύθης: 2nd sg. aor. pass. ἀπολύω
1270 οἴµ(οι): alas

85
 φεῦ φεῦ, ὦ πόνοι βροτῶν δύσπονοι.
Ἐξάγγ ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,
τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις
ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280
Κρέ τί δ᾽ ἔστιν αὖ κάκιον ἐκ κακῶν ἔτι;
Ἐξάγγ γυνὴ τέθνηκε, τοῦδε παμμήτωρ νεκροῦ,
δύστηνος, ἄρτι νεοτόμοισι πλήγμασιν.
Κρέ ἰώ.
ἰὼ δυσκάθαρτος Ἅιδου λιμήν, ἀντ. α
τί μ᾽ ἄρα τί μ᾽ ὀλέκεις; 1285
ὦ κακάγγελτά μοι
προπέμψας ἄχη, τίνα θροεῖς λόγον;
αἰαῖ, ὀλωλότ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἐπεξειργάσω.
τί φής, παῖ; τίν᾽ αὖ λέγεις μοι νέον,
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, 1290

ἄρα: then, therefore, it seems, it turns out, 3 κτάοµαι: to procure, get, gain, acquire, 2
ἄρτι: just, exactly, 1 λιµήν, -ένος, ὁ: haven, harbor, 2
ἄχος, -εος, τό: anguish, distress, grief, 3 νεό-τοµος, -ον: newly cut, freshly cut, 1
δεσπότης, -ου ὁ: master, lord, 3 ὀλέκω: to ruin, destroy, kill, 1
δυσ-κάθαρτος, -ον: hard to purify or atone, 1 παµ-µήτωρ, -ορος, ἡ: very or true mother, 1
δύσ-πονος, -ον: toilsome, hard-working, 1 πλῆγµα, ατος, τό: a strike, a blow, 2
δύσ-τηνος, -ον: ill-suffering, wretched, 6 πόνος, ὁ: work, toil, labor, 5
ἔοικα: to seem, be likely, be reasonable, 5 προ-πέµπω: to send forth or before, 1
ἐπ-εξ-εργάζοµαι: make or bring about again 1 πρό: before, in front; in place of (gen.), 3
θροέω: to cry aloud, tell, declare, 1 τάχα: soon, presently; quickly, forthwith, 3
κακ-άγγελτος -ον: of bad news, 1 φεῦ: ah, alas, woe, 7

1278 ὦ δέσποτ(α): vocative, direct addres 1282 τέθνηκε: is dead; pf. θνῃσκω denotes a
ὡς ἔχων...κεκτηµένος: as one having (in state rather than activity
hand) and having in store; Creon is holding 1285 τί...τί...: why?....why?
(ἔχω) his son Haemon but will soon hold ὀλέκεις: pf. ὄλλυµι
(κτάοµαι) Eurydice who lies in the house; 1287 ἄχη: ἄχε-α; neuter pl. acc.
pf. mid. κτάοµαι τίνα...λόγον: what…; interrogative
1279 τὰ µὲν...τὰ δ: these here…others; this 1288 ὀλωλότ(α): acc. sg. pf. pple ὄλλυµι
line echoes ἔχων and κεκτνµένος above ἐπεξειργάσα(σ)ο: 2nd sg. plpf. pass.
1280 ὄψεσθαι: fut. deponent ὁράω 1289 φής: 2nd sg. pres. φηµί
1281 κάκιον: comparative, neut. sg. τίν(α)...νέον: what news…; ‘what new’

86
 σφάγιον ἐπ᾽ ὀλέθρῳ
γυναικεῖον ἀμφικεῖσθαι μόρον;
Χορ ὁρᾶν πάρεστιν· οὐ γὰρ ἐν μυχοῖς ἔτι.
Κρέ οἴμοι,
κακὸν τόδ᾽ ἄλλο δεύτερον βλέπω τάλας. 1295
τίς ἄρα, τίς με πότμος ἔτι περιμένει;
ἔχω μὲν ἐν χείρεσσιν ἀρτίως τέκνον,
τάλας, τὸν δ᾽ ἔναντα προσβλέπω νεκρόν.
φεῦ φεῦ μᾶτερ ἀθλία, φεῦ τέκνον. 1300
Ἐξάγ ἡ δ᾽ ὀξυθήκτῳ βωμία περὶ ξίφει
λύει κελαινὰ βλέφαρα, κωκύσασα μὲν
τοῦ πρὶν θανόντος Μεγαρέως κλεινὸν λάχος,
αὖθις δὲ τοῦδε, λοίσθιον δὲ σοὶ κακὰς
πράξεις ἐφυμνήσασα τῷ παιδοκτόνῳ. 1305

ἄθλιος, -η, -ον: wretched, miserable, pitiful, 3 λοίσθιος, -η, -ον: last, 3
ἀµφί-κειµαι: to lie close, lie around (dat), 1 λύω: to release, loosen, abolish, dissolve, 2
ἄρα: then, therefore, it seems, it turns out, 3 Μεγαρέος -εως, ὁ: Megareus, 1
ἀρτίως: just, now first; exactly 5 µυχός, ὁ: inmost part, inner room, recess, 1
αὖθις: back again, later, 5 ξίφος, -εος τό: a sword, knife, 4
βλέπω: to see, look at, 5 ὄλεθρος, ὁ: death, ruin, destruction, 1
βλέφαρον, τό: pl. eyelids, 3 ὀξύ-θηκτος, -ον: sharp-edged, sharp-pointed 1
βώµιος, -α, -ον: at the altar; of an altar, 1 παιδο-κτόνος, ὁ: child-killer, 1
γυναικεῖος, -η, -ον: of a woman, feminine, 1 περι-µένω: to wait for, await, 1
δεύτερος, -η, -ον: second, 2 περί: around, about, concerning, 6
ἔν-αντα: facing opposite, over against, 1 πότµος, ὀ: fate, lot, death, evil destiny, 5
ἐφ-υµνέω: to sing of, chant at or upon, 2 πρᾶξις, -εως, ἡ: a action, deed, business, 2
κελαινός, -ή, -όν: dark, black, 3 προσ-βλέπω: to look at or upon, 1
κλεινός, -ή, -όν: glorious, renowned, 4 σφάγιος, -α, -ον:: bloody, slaying, 1
κωκύω: to shriek for, wail for, cry for, 3 φεῦ: ah, alas, woe, 7
λάχος, τό: lot, destiny, fate, 1

1291 σφάγιον...µόρόν: that the bloody 1303 τοῦ πρὶν θανόντος: dying previously;
death…; acc. subject, ind. disc. in response Megareus, a Theban, committed suicide at
to his own question the behest of Teiresias during the war
ἀµφικεῖσθαι ἐπ(ὶ) ὀλέθρῳ: lies heaped upon between Eteocles and Polyneices
death; ‘lies around upon death, i.e. one 1304 τοῦδε (λάχος): the lot of this one; ‘that
death after another of this one,’ i.e. of Haemon
1293 ὀρᾶν: inf. as subject, ὁράω λοίσθιον δὲ: at last, in the end; adv. acc.
1298 χείρεσσιν: dat. pl. χείρ σοὶ...τῷ παιδοκτόνῳ: upon…; dat. of
1301 ἡ δὲ: she compound verb
περὶ ξίφει: around…; Jebb suggests that κακὰς πράξεις: bad fortune; ‘bad farings’
the ξίφος is a sacrificial knife from the altar 1305 ἑφυµνήσασα: i.e. cursing
1302 λύει: closes, relaxes

87
Κρέ αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, στρ. β
ἀνέπταν φόβῳ. τί μ᾽ οὐκ ἀνταίαν
ἔπαισέν τις ἀμφιθήκτῳ ξίφει;
δείλαιος ἐγώ, αἰαῖ, 1310
δειλαίᾳ δὲ συγκέκραμαι δύᾳ.
Ἐξάγ ὡς αἰτίαν γε τῶνδε κἀκείνων ἔχων
πρὸς τῆς θανούσης τῆσδ᾽ ἐπεσκήπτου μόρων
Κρέ ποίῳ δὲ κἀπελύσατ᾽ ἐν φοναῖς τρόπῳ;
Ἐξάγ παίσας ὑφ᾽ ἧπαρ αὐτόχειρ αὑτήν, ὅπως 1315
παιδὸς τόδ᾽ ᾔσθετ᾽ ὀξυκώκυτον πάθος.
Κρέ ὤμοι μοι, τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλον βροτῶν
ἐμᾶς ἁρμόσει ποτ᾽ ἐξ αἰτίας.
ἐγὼ γάρ σ᾽ ἐγὼ ἔκανον, ὢ μέλεος,
ἐγώ, φάμ᾽ ἔτυμον. ἰὼ πρόσπολοι, 1320

αἰσθάνοµαι: to perceive, feel, learn, realize, 1 καίνω: to kill, slay, 1

αἰτία, ἡ: cause, responsibility, blame, 4 µέλεος, -α, -ον: miserable, unhappy; idle, 2
ἀµφί-θηκτος, -ον: double-edged, two-edged 1 ξίφος, -εος τό: a sword, 4
ἀνα-πέτοµαι: tremble, fly up; be on a wing, 1 ὀξύ-ώκυτος, -ον: sharply-wailed, -lamented 1
ἀνταῖος, -α, -ον: in the front, right opposite, 1 πάθος, -εος, τό: misfortune, suffering, 2
ἀπο-λύω: to depart, loose from, release, 2 παίω: to strike, beat, dash, smite, 4
ἁρµόζω: to fit, join, harmonize, 2 ποῖος, -α, -ον: what sort of? what kind of? 6
αὐτό-χειρ, -ος, ὁ, ἡ: with one’s own hand, 5 πρόσ-πολος, ὁ: servant, attendant, 2
αὑτοῦ (ἑαυτοῦ), -ῆς, -οῦ: himself, her-, it- 7 συγ-κεράννυµι: to mix up with, 1
δείλαιος, -α, -ον: wretched, sorry, paltry, 4 τρόπος, ὁ: a manner, way; turn, direction, 2
δύη, ἡ: misery, anguish, woe, 1 φόβος, ὁ: fear, terror, panic, 4
ἐπι-σκήπτω: to denounce; lean on, fall on, 1 φονή, ἡ: murder, massacre, 3
ἔτυµος, -ον: true; adv. ἔτυµον truly, 1 ὤ-µοι: woe’s me, 3
ἧπαρ, -ατος, τό: liver, gut, 1

1308 ἀνέπταν: 1st sg. aor. ἀνα-πέτοµαι ἐπεσκήπτε(σ)ο: 2nd sg. impf. pass.
φόβῳ: dat. of cause 1314 ποίῳ...τρόπῳ: in…?; dat. of manner
τί: why….? κα(ὶ) ἀπελύσατο: aor. mid.; Eurydice is the
ἀνταίαν (πληγήν): a blow to the chest; subject; καὶ is adverbial: ‘in fact’
‘in the front,’ inner acc. 1315 αὑτήν: ἑαυτὴν; reflexive pronoun
1311 συγκέκραµαι: pf. pass. συγ-κεράννυµι ὅπως: as, when
again denotes a state: ‘I am mixed with…’ 1316 ᾔσθετ(ο): aor. αἰσθάνοµαι
δελαίᾳ δύᾳ: dat. of compound verb 1317 ἐπὶ ἄλλον βροτῶν: onto…; Creon
1312 ὡς...γε…ἔχων: yes, on the grounds of laments that he cannot transfer blame from
having…; ‘since…’ ὡς + pple indicates himself to another
alleged cause from a character’s point of 1318 ἁρµόσει: will fit; i.e. ‘will fix,’ neuter pl.
view; γε adds causal force and offers assent τάδε is subject
τῶνδε (µόρων) κα(ὶ) ἐκείνων...µόρων: 1319 γάρ: yes, for…; expressing assent and
for…; i.e. for Haemon’s death and for introducing the cause
Megareus’ death; gen. of charge ὢ µέλεος: Oh (I) the…; voc., direct
1313 πρὸς...τῆσδε: in the eyes of…; i.e. address, but Creon is addressing himself
Eurydice, aor. pple. θνῄσκω ; πρός + gen. 1320 φάµ(ι): I acknowledge; φηµί in Attic
expresses the point of view

88
 ἄγετέ μ᾽ ὅτι τάχιστ᾽, ἄγετέ μ᾽ ἐκποδών,
τὸν οὐκ ὄντα μᾶλλον ἢ μηδένα. 1325
Χορ κέρδη παραινεῖς, εἴ τι κέρδος ἐν κακοῖς.
βράχιστα γὰρ κράτιστα τἀν ποσὶν κακά.
Κρέ ἴτω ἴτω, ἀντ. β
φανήτω μόρων ὁ κάλλιστ᾽ ἔχων
ἐμοὶ τερμίαν ἄγων ἁμέραν 1330
ὕπατος· ἴτω ἴτω,
ὅπως μηκέτ᾽ ἆμαρ ἄλλ᾽ εἰσίδω.
Χορ μέλλοντα ταῦτα. τῶν προκειμένων τι χρὴ μέλειν
πράσσειν. μέλει γὰρ τῶνδ᾽ ὅτοισι χρὴ μέλειν 1335

βραχύς, -έα, -ύ: short, brief, 2 µέλω: µέλει, there is a care of gen for dat, 4
εἰσ-οράω: to look upon, view, behold, 3 µηκ-έτι: no longer, no more, 1
ἐκ-ποδών: out of the way (adv.) 2 παρ-αινέω: to recommend; advise, exhort, 1
ἦµαρ, -ατος, τό: day, ἆµαρ) 1 πούς, ποδός, ὁ: a foot; a (sheet) of sail, 5
ἡµέρα, ἡ: day (ἁµέρα) 5 πρό-κειµαι: to lie exposed, be set before, 4
κάλλιστος, -η, -ον:: fairest, most noble, 1 ταχύς, εῖα, ύ: quick, swift, hastily, 4
κράτιστος, -η, -ον: strongest, mightiest, 2 τέρµιος, -α, -ον: final, last, at the end, 1
µᾶλλον: more, rather, 4 ὕπατος, -α, -ον: supreme, best, highest 1

1324 ὅτι: as…as possible; + superlative 1329 φανήτω: let…appear; 3rd sg. aor. pass
1325 τὸν...ὄντα: the one…; in apposition to imperative φαίνω
µε; pple εἰµί µόρων: partitive with neut. κάλλιστα
µηδένα: a nonentity; perhaps ‘no one’ or 1332 ὅπως...εἰσίδω: so that I may…; purpose
‘of no account;’ µηδείς is preferred to clause with 1st sg. aor. subj. εἰσοράω
οὐδείς because Creon is not stating that he ἆµαρ ἄλλ(ο): neuter sg. acc. direct object
actually is nothing (ουδένα) but that he 1334 µέλλοντα: (are) the future; ‘(are) going
should be thought of as of no account to be,’ supply a linking verb
1326 κέρδη: κέρδε-α; neuter pl. 1334 τῶν προκειµένων: of the things lying at
τι κέρδος (ἐστί): supply verb hand
1327 βράχιστα...κράτιστα...κακά: τὰ κακὰ 1335 τῶνδε: i.e. the things µέλλοντα
βράχιστα (ἐστί) κράτιστα; the first adj. ὅτοισι: for whomever; “(for anyone) for
is attibutive while the second is predicative whom’ i.e. for the gods, relative pronoun
τἀν ποσὶν: τὰ ἐν ποσὶν; dat. pl. πούς dat. pl. ὅστις, the missing antecedent is
1328 ἴτω: let…; 3rd sg. imperative ἔρχοµαι also missing

89
Κρέ ἀλλ᾽ ὧν ἐρῶ, τοιαῦτα συγκατηυξάμην.
Χορ μή νυν προσεύχου μηδέν· ὡς πεπρωμένης
οὐκ ἔστι θνητοῖς συμφορᾶς ἀπαλλαγή.
Κρέ ἄγοιτ᾽ ἂν μάταιον ἄνδρ᾽ ἐκποδών,
ὅς, ὦ παῖ, σέ τ᾽ οὐχ ἑκὼν κάκτανον 1340
σέ τ᾽ αὖ τάνδ᾽, ὤμοι μέλεος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω
ὅπᾳ πρὸς πότερα κλιθῶ· πάντα γὰρ
λέχρια τἀν χεροῖν, τὰ δ᾽ ἐπὶ κρατί μοι 1345
πότμος δυσκόμιστος εἰσήλατο.
Χορ πολλῷ τὸ φρονεῖν εὐδαιμονίας
πρῶτον ὑπάρχει. χρὴ δὲ τά γ᾽ εἰς θεοὺς
μηδὲν ἀσεπτεῖν. μεγάλοι δὲ λόγοι 1350
μεγάλας πληγὰς τῶν ὑπεραύχων
ἀποτίσαντες
γήρᾳ τὸ φρονεῖν ἐδίδαξαν.
ἀ-σεπτέω: act impiously, do unholy things, 1 λέχριος, -α, -ον: crosswise, awry, twisted, 1
ἀπ-αλλαγή, ἡ: escape; release, relief, 1 µάταιος, -ον: useless, ineffectual, worthless 1
ἀπο-τίνω: to pay back, pay for, 1 µέλεος, -α, -ον: miserable, unhappy; idle, 2
γῆρας, τό: old age, 1 ὅπῃ: by which way, in what way, how, 1
διδάσκω: to teach, instruct, 4 πληγή, ἡ: blow, strike, 2
δυσ-κόµιστος, -ον: hard to bear, intolerable 1 πόρω: to furnish, offer, give, 1
εἰσ-αλλοµαι: to leap upon. spring onto, 1 πότερος, -α, -ον: which of two? whether? 3
ἐκ-ποδών: out of the way (adv.) 2 πότµος, ὀ: fate, lot, death, evil destiny, 5
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκόν: willing, intentionally, 2 προσ-εύχοµαι: to pray for, worship, 1
ἐράω: to love, to be in love with, 3 πρῶτος, -η, -ον: first, earliest, 4
εὐ-δαιµονία, ἡ: happiness, good fortune, 1 συγ-κατ-εύχοµαι: to sum up in prayer, 1
θνητός, -ή, -όν: mortal, 4 συµ-φορά, ἡ: misfortune; happening, event, 2
κατα-κτείνω: to kill, slay, 3 ὑπ-άρχω: be (at hand), be available; begin 3
κλίνω: to recline, lie down; find support, 2 ὑπέρ-αυχος, -ον: over-boastful, over-proud 1
κράς, κρατός, ἡ: the head, 2 ὤ-µοι: woe’s me, 3
1336 ὧν ἐρῶ: which I desire; ἐράω governs a governed by the preceding verb κάκτανον
gen. object, the antecedent is τοιαῦτα ἔχω: I know...
συγκατηυξάµην: i.e. in the previous prayer 1342 ὅπᾳ πρὸς πότερα κλιθῶ: in what way
1337 µὴ...προσεύχε(σ)ο: don’t…; negative (or) to which (direction) I am to turn; i.e. to
pres. middle imperative Haemon or to Eurydice; ind. question, 1st
ὡς πεπρωµένης: on the grounds of being sg. aor. pass. subjunctive κλίνω, a
destined; pf. pass. pple πόρω modifies deliberative subj. with two interrogatives
gen. συµφορᾶς ; ὡς + pple expresses 1345 λέχρια (ἐστί): predicate, add verb
alleged cause; this verb is often employed τὰ ἐν χεροῖν: dual dat. place where, χείρ
to describe fate or destiny 1346 τὰ δἐ: on the other hand; acc. respect
συµφορᾶς: from…; gen. of separation, 1347 εἰσήλατο: aor. mid. εἰσ-αλλοµαι
governed by ἀπαλλαγή πολλῷ: by far; dat. degree of difference
1339 ἄγοιτ(ε) ἂν: you may…; potential 1348 πρῶτον: the first principle of happiness
opt. expressing a command 1351 τῶν ὑπεραύχων: of over-boastful (men)
1340 ὦ παῖ: son; i.e. Haemons 1352 ἀποτίσαντες: paying back in great
κάκτανον: aor. κατακτείνω blows; i.e. to pay the penalty
1341 σέ τ᾽...τάνδε: and you here; i.e. Eurydice 1353 ἐδίδαξαν: gnomic aor., translate in pres.
90
Glossary
92 Nouns and Pronouns

Declensions
ἡ κρήνη, τῆς κρήνης - spring ὁ ἀγρός, τοῦ ἀργοῦ - field ὁ παῖς, τοῦ παιδός - child
Nom. ἡ κρήνη αἱ κρῆναι ὁ ἀγρός οἱ ἀγροί παῖς παῖδ-ες
Gen. τῆς κρήνης τῶν κρηνῶν τοῦ ἀγροῦ τῶν ἀγρῶν παιδ-ός παίδ-ων
Dat. τῇ κρήνῃ ταῖς κρήναις τῷ ἀγρῷ τοῖς ἀγροῖς παιδ-ί παι-σί́(ν)
Acc. τὴν κρήνην τὰς κρήνᾱς τὸν ἀγρόν τοὺς ἀγρούς παῖδ-α παῖδ-ας
Voc. ὦ κρήνη ὦ κρήναι ὦ ἀγρέ ὦ ἀγροί

Personal Pronouns
Nom. ἐγώ I ἡµεῖς we
Gen. ἐµοῦ µου my ἡµῶν our
Dat. ἐµοί µοι to me ἡµῖν to us
Acc. ἐµέ me ἡµᾶς us
Nom. σύ you ὑµεῖς you
Gen. σοῦ σου your ὑµῶν your
Dat. σοί σοι to you ὑµῖν to you
Acc. σέ you ὑµᾶς you
Nom. αὐτός (himself) αὐτή (herself) αὐτό (itself)
Gen. αὐτοῦ his αὐτῆς her αὐτοῦ its
Dat. αὐτῷ to him αὐτῇ to her αὐτῷ to it
Acc. αὐτόν him αὐτήν her αὐτό it
Nom. αὐτοί (themselves) αὐταί (themselves) αὐτά (themselves)
Gen. αὐτῶν their αὐτῶν their αὐτῶν their
Dat. αὐτοῖς to them αὐταῖς to them αὐτοῖς to them
Acc. αὐτούς them αὐτᾱ́ς them αὐτά them

Relative Pronoun – who, which, that

m. f. n. m. f. n.
Nom. ὅς ἥ ὅ οἵ αἵ ἅ
Gen. οὗ ἧς οὗ ὧν ὧν ὧν
Acc. ᾧ ᾗ ᾧ οἷς αἷς οἷς
Abl. ὅν ἥν ὅ οὕς ἅς ἅ

Indefinite Relative Pronoun – whoever, anyone who; whatever, anything which

Nom. ὅστις ἥτις ὅ τι
Gen. οὗτινος (ὅτου) ἧστινος οὗτινος (ὅτου)
Dat. ὧτινι (ὅτῳ) ἧτινι ὧτινι (ὅτῳ)
Acc. ὅντινα ἥντινα ὅ τι
Nom. οἵτινες αἵτινες ἅτινα
Gen. ὧντινων (ὅτων) ὧντινων ὧντινων (ὅτων)
Dat. οἷστισιν (ὅτοις) αἷστισιν οἷστισιν (ὅτοις)
Acc. οὕστινας ἅστινας ἅτινα
 Correlative Adverbs and Pronouns 93

Correlative Adverbs and their frequencies in Antigone

Interrogative Indefinite Demonstrative Relative Indefinite Relative

ποῦ που ἐνθάδε here οὗ ὅπου
where? somewhere ἐκεῖ 2 there where where(ver)

ποῖ 1 time ποι δεῦρο to here οἷ ὅποι

to where? to somewhere ἐκείσε to there to where to where(ver)

πόθεν ποθεν ἐνθένδε ὅθεν ὁπόθεν

from where? from anywhere from here from where from where(ver)
(ἐ)κεῖθεν 2
from there

πότε ποτέ τότε ὅτε ὅπότε

when? at some time at that time, when when(ever)
ever, then then

πῶς πως ὦδε, οὕτως ὡς ὅπως

how? somehow thus, so how, as how(ever)
in this way

Correlative Pronouns and their frequencies in Antigone

Interrogative Indefinite Demonstrative Relative Indefinite Relative

τίς, τί τις, τι ὅδε οὗτος ὅς, ἥ, ὅ ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι
who, what? someone/thing this who, which anyone who,
anyone/thing (ἐ)κεῖνος whoever
there

πότερος ποτερος ἕτερος ὁπότερος

which of two? one of two one (of two) which of two

πόσος ποσός τοσόσδε ὅσος ὁπόσος

how much? of some amount so much/many as much/ of whatever size/
many as number

ποῖος ποιός τοιόσδε οἷος ὁποῖος

of what sort? of some sort such of which sort, of whatever sort
τοιοῦτος such as, as
such

πηλίκος πηλικος τηλικόσδε ἡλίκος ὁπηλίκος

how old/large? of some age τηλικοῦτος of which age of whatever age/
so old/young/ size
of such an age
94 Verb Synopsis (Attic)

λύω, λύσω, ἔλυσα, λέλυκα, λέλυµαι, ἐλύθην: loosen, ransom

PRESENT FUTURE
Active Middle/Pass. Active Middle Passive

λύω λύοµαι λύσω λύσοµαι λυθήσοµαι

Primary Indiative

λύεις λύε(σ)αι λύσεις λύσε(σ)αι λυθήσε(σ)αι

λύει λύεται λύσει λύσεται λυθήσεται
λύοµεν λυόµεθα λύσοµεν λυσόµεθα λυθησόµεθα
λύετε λύεσθε λύσετε λύσεσθε λυθήσεσθε
λύουσι(ν) λύονται λύσουσι(ν) λύσονται λυθήσονται

ἔλυον ἐλυόµην
ἔλυες ἐλύε(σ)ο
Secondary
Indicative

ἔλυε(ν) ἐλύετο
ἐλύοµεν ἐλυόµεθα
ἐλύετε ἐλύεσθε
ἔλυον ἐλύοντο

λύω λύωµαι
λύῃς λύῃ
Subjunctive

λύῃ λύηται
λύωµεν λυώµεθα
λύητε λύησθε
λύωσι(ν) λύωνται

λύοιµι λυοίµην λύσοιµι λυσοίµην λυθησοίµην

λύοις λύοιο λύσοις λύσοιο λυθήσοιο
Optative

λύοι λύοιτο λύσοι λύσοιτο λυθήσοιτο

λύοιµεν λυοίµεθα λύσοιµεν λυσοίµεθα λυθησοίµεθα
λύοιτε λύοισθε λύσοιτε λύσοισθε λυθήσοισθε
λύοιεν λύοιντο λύσοιεν λύσοιντο λυθήσοιντο

λῦε λύε(σ)ο
Imp

λύετε λύεσθε

λύων, λυόµενος, λύσων, λυσόµενος, λυθησόµενος,

Pple

λύουσα, λυοµένη, λύσουσα, λυσοµένη, λυθησοµένη,

λύον λυόµενον λύσον λυσόµενον λυθησόµενον

λύειν λύεσθαι λύσειν λύσεσθαι λυθήσεσθαι

Inf.

2nd sg. mid/pass -σ is often dropped except in pf. and plpf. tenses: ε(σ)αι ! ῃ,ει ε(σ)ο ! ου
 Verb Synopsis (Attic) 95

AORIST PERFECT
Active Middle Passive Middle Passive

λέλυκα λέλυµαι

Primary Indiative
λέλυκας λέλυσαι
λέλυκε λέλυται
λελύκαµεν λελύµεθα
λέλύκατε λελύσθε
λελύκασι(ν) λελύνται

ἔλυσα ἐλυσάµην ἐλύθην ἐλελύκη ἐλελύµην

Secondary Indiative
ἔλυσας ἐλύσα(σ)ο ἐλύθης ἐλελύκης ἐλέλυσο
ἔλυε(ν) ἐλύσατο ἐλύθη ἐλελύκει ἐλέλυτο
ἐλύσαµεν ἐλυσάµεθα ἐλύθηµεν ἐλελύκεµεν ἐλελύµεθα
ἐλύσατε ἐλύσασθε ἐλύθητε ἐλελύκετε ἐλελύσθε
ἔλυσαν ἐλύσαντο ἐλύθησαν ἐλελύκεσαν ἐλέλυντο

λύσω λυσώµαι λυθῶ λελύκω λελυµένος ὦ

λύσῃς λύσῃ λυθῇς λελύκῃς —— ᾖς

Subjunctive
λύσῃ λύσηται λυθῇ λελύκῃ —— ᾖ
λύσωµεν λυσώµεθα λυθῶµεν λελύκωµεν —— ὦµεν
λύσητε λύσησθε λυθῆτε λελύκητε —— ἦτε
λύσωσι(ν) λύσωνται λυθῶσι(ν) λελύκωσι(ν) —— ὦσιν

λύσαιµι λυσαίµην λυθείην λελύκοιµι λελυµένος εἴην

λύσαις λύσαιο λυθείης λελύκοις —— εἴης
Optative

λύσαι λύσαιτο λυθείη λελύκοι —— εἴη

λύσαιµεν λυσαίµεθα λυθεῖµεν λελύκοιµεν —— εἴηµεν
λύσαιτε λύσαισθε λυθεῖτε λελύκοιτε —— εἴητε
λύσαιεν λύσαιντο λυθεῖεν λελύκοιεν —— εἴησαν

λῦσον λῦσαι λύθητι λέλυσο

Imp

λῡ́σατε λῡ́σασθε λύθητε λέλυσθε

λῡ́σᾱς, λυσάµενος, λύθείς, λελυκώς, λελυµένος,

Pple

λῡ́σᾱσα, λυσαµένη, λυθεῖσα, λελυκυῖα λελυµένη

λῦσαν λυσάµενον λυθέν λελυκός λελυµένον

λῦσαι λῡ́σασθαι λυθῆναι λελυκέναι λελύσθαι

Inf.

Adapted from a handout by Dr. Helma Dik (http://classics.uchicago.edu/faculty/dik/niftygreek)

96 Synopses: -µι verbs (Attic)

ἵηµι, ἥσω, ἧκα, εἷκα, εἷµαι, εἵθην: send, release, let go22 times
Present Imperfect Aorist

ἵηµι ἵεµεν ἵην ἵεµεν ἧκα εἷµεν

Active

ἵης ἵετε ἵεις ἵετε ἧκας εἷτε

ἵησιν ἱᾶσι ἵει ἵεσαν ἧκεν εἷσαν
Imp ἵει ἵετε ἕς ἕτε
Pple ἱείς, ἱεῖσα, ἱέν εἵς, εἷσα, ἕν
ἵεντος, ἱείσης, ἵεντος ἕντος, εἵσης, ἕντος
Inf. ἱέναι, epic ἰέµεναι εἷναι
ἵεµαι ἱέµεθα ἱέµην ἱέµεθα εἵµην εἵµεθα
Middle

ἵεσαι ἵεσθε ἵεσο ἵεσθε εἷσο εἷσθε

ἵεται ἵενται ἵετο ἵεντο εἷτο εἷντο
Imp ἵεσο ἵεσθε οὗ ἕσθε
Pple ἱέµενος, η, ον ἕµενος, η, ον
Inf. ἵεσθαι ἕσθαι

ἵστηµι, στήσω, ἔστην, ἕστηκα, ἕσταµαι, ἐστάθην: stand (still), stop15 times
Present 1st Aorist (transitive) Aorist (intransitive)

ἵστηµι ἵσταµεν ἔστησα ἐστήσαµεν ἔστην ἔστηµεν

Active

ἵστης ἵστατε ἔστησας ἐστήσατε ἔστης ἔστητε

ἵστησιν ἱστᾶσιν ἔστησε ἔστησαν ἔστη ἔστ(ησ)αν
Imp ἵστη ἵστατε στῆσον44 στήσατε στῆθι στῆτε
Pple ἱστάς, ἱστᾶσα, ἱστάν στήσας, ᾶσα, άν στάς, στᾶσα, στάν
ἱστάντος, ἱστᾶσα, ἱστάντος στάντος στάσης στάντος

Inf. ἱστάναι στῆσαι στῆναι, στήµεναι

ἵσταµαι ἱστάµεθα ἐστησάµην ἐστησάµεθα
Middle

ἵστασαι ἵστασθε ἐστήσω ἐστήσασθε

ἵσταται ἱστανται ἐστήσατο ἐστήσαντο
Imp ἵστασο ἵστασθε στῆσαι στήσασθε
Pple ἱστάµενος, η, ον στησάµενος, η, ον
Inf. ἵστασθαι στήσασθαι
 Synopses: -µι verbs (Attic) 97

δίδωµι, δώσω, ἔδωκα, δέδωκα, δέδοµαι, ἐδόθην: give

Present Imperfect Aorist

δίδωµι δίδοµεν ἐδίδουν ἐδίδοµεν ἔδωκα ἔδοµεν

Active

δίδως δίδοτε ἐδίδους ἐδίδοτε ἔδωκας ἔδοτε

δίδωσιν διδόᾱσιν ἐδίδου ἐδίδοσαν ἔδωκεν ἔδοσαν
Imp δίδου δίδοτε δός31 δότε
Pple διδούς, διδοῦσα, διδόν δούς, δοῦσα, δόν
διδόντος, -ούσης, -όντος δόντος, δούσης, δόντος
Inf. διδόναι δοῦναι, δόµεναι
δίδοµαι διδόµεθα ἐδιδόµην ἐδιδόµεθα ἐδόµην ἐδόµεθα
Middle

δίδοσαι δίδοσθε ἐδίδοσο ἐδίδοσθε ἔδου ἔδοσθε

δίδοται δίδονται ἐδίδοτο ἐδίδοντο ἔδοτο ἔδοντο
Imp δίδου δίδοσθε δοῦ δόσθε
Pple διδόµενος, η, ον δόµενος, η, ον
Inf. δίδοσθαι δόσθαι

τίθηµι, θήσω, ἔθηκα, τέθηκα, τέθειµαι, ἐτέθην: put, place; make

Present Imperfect Aorist

τίθηµι τίθεµεν ἐτίθην ἐτίθεµεν ἔθηκα ἔθεµεν

Active

τίθης τίθετε ἐτίθεις ἐτίθετε ἔθηκας ἔθετε

τίθησιν τιθέᾱσιν ἐτίθει75 ἐτίθεσαν ἔθηκεν ἔθεσαν
Imp τίθει τίθετε θές θέτε
Pple τιθείς, τιθεῖσα, τιθέν θείς, θεῖσα, θέν
τιθέντος, -εῖσης, -έντος θέντος, θεῖσα, θέντος
Inf. τιθέναι θεῖναι
τίθεµαι τιθέµεθα ἐτιθέµην ἐτιθέµεθα ἐθέµην ἐθέµεθα
Middle

τίθεσαι τίθεσθε ἐτίθεσο ἐτίθεσθε ἔθου ἔθεσθε

τίθεται τίθενται ἐτίθετο ἐτίθεντο ἔθετο ἔθεντο
Imp τίθεσο τίθεσθε θοῦ θέσθε
Pple τιθέµενος, η, ον θέµενος, η, ον
Inf. τίθεσθαι θέσθαι
98 Synopses: οἶδα, εἰµί, εἶµι

οἶδα: to know (pf. with pres. sense)

Perfect Pluperfect
οἶδα ἴσµεν ᾔδη ᾖσµεν
Active

οἶσθα ἴστε ᾔδησθα ᾖστε

οἶδε ἴσᾱσι ᾔδει ᾖσαν
Imp ἴσθι ἴστε
Pple εἰδώς, εἰδυῖα, εἰδός
εἰδότος, εἰδυίᾱς, εἰδότος
Inf. εἰδέναι
εἰδῶ εἰδῶµεν εἰδείην εἰδεῖµεν
subj/opt

εἰδῇς εἰδῆτε εἰδείης εἰδεῖτε

εἰδῇ εἰδῶσι εἰδείη εἰδεῖεν
εἰµί (to be)
Present Imperfect
εἰµί ἐσµέν ἦ, ἦν ἦµεν
Active

εἶ ἐστέ ἦσθα ἦτε

ἐστίν εἰσίν ἦν ἦσαν
Imp ἴσθι ἔστε
Pple ὤν, οὖσα, ὄν
ὄντος, οὔσης, ὄντος
Inf. εἶναι
ὦ ὦµεν εἴην εἶµεν
subj/op

ᾖς ἦτε εἴης εἶτε

t

ᾖ ὦσιν εἴη εἶεν

εἶµι (to go; pres. indicate used as the fut. of ἔρχοµαι)
Present Imperfect
εἶµι ἴµεν ᾖα ᾗµεν
Active

εἶ ἴτε ἦεισθα ᾖτε

εἶσι ἴᾱσιν ᾖειν ᾖσαν
Imp ἴθι ἴτε
Pple ἰών, ἰοῦσα, ἰόν
ἰόντος, ἰούσης, ἰόντος
Inf. ἰέναι
ἴω ἴωµεν ἴοιµι ἴοιµεν
subj/opt

ἴῃς ἴητε ἴοις ἴοιτε

ἴῃ ἴωσιν ἴοι ἴοιεν
 Choral Odes
The metrical pattern in the first part of a choral ode, called a strophe ‘a turning,’
corresponds exactly to the second part of the choral ode, called the antistrophe, ‘a
turning back.’ And so, whatever combination of meters Sophocles employs in the
strophe section of an ode, he will employ in the same order and quantity in the
antistrophe. This structure reflects the movement of the chorus, which dances in one
direction during the strophe and in the opposite direction during the antistrophe.

It is easy for even experienced readers to feel awe and dismay by the terminology
and seemingly endless variations. As a result, I have included the following pages
on choral odes in the hope that this scansion will help readers develop confidence
and appreciation when reciting, reading, and analyzing the meters within the odes.

For a more advanced study of versification in the odes, consider Musical Design in
Sophoclean Theater by William Scott which served as a guide for some of the more
difficult lines in this appendix. There, he offers a much cleaner presentation.
Nomenclature
anapaest ˘ ˘ ¯ enoplian x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
bacchius ˘ ¯ ¯ iambic ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ iamb ( ˘ ¯)
choriamb ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ molossus ¯ ¯ ¯
cretic ¯ ˘ ¯ spondee ¯ ¯
dactyl ¯ ˘ ˘ trochaic ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ trochee ( ˘ ¯ )

acephalous (ἀκέφαλος, headless) absence of a syllable at the beginning of a metron

catalectic (καταλήγω, stop short)absence of a syllable at the end of a metron
syncopated absence of a syllable within a metron

Aeolic meters are made up from a choriambic base (¯ ˘ ˘ ¯) which varies depending
on what comes before and what comes after the base.
verse begins with…
verse ends with… xx (aeolic base) x (acephalous) no anceps
˘ ¯ ¯ hipponactean hagesichorean aristophanean
xx ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯¯ x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯¯
˘ ¯ gylconic telesillean dodrans
xx ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
¯ pherecratean reizianum adonean
xx ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯

lesser asclepiad x x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯
praxillean ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯

99
Dactylo-Epitrite
This meter employs dactyls and epitrites (Grk. ‘4/3’), which refers to a ratio of four
morae to three morae in ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ and ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯. The notation below describes
common variations in this meter, which is employed only in lines 582-5 and 594-6.
e ¯ ˘ ¯
E ¯ ˘ ¯ x ¯ ˘ ¯
E2 ¯ ˘ ¯ x ¯ ˘ ¯ x ¯ ˘ ¯
d1 ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
d2 ˘ ¯ ¯
D ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
D2 ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
Summary of the Odes in Antigone
Parodos (πάροδος, ‘entrance, inroad’)
The chorus sings about the seige of Thebes, Polyneices, and Eteocles
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 100-33
2nd strophe/antistrophe, ll. 134-61
First Stasimon (στάσιµον, ‘standing in the orchestra’)
The chorus sings an Ode to Humanity
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 332-52
2nd strophe/antistrophe, ll. 353-75
Second Stasimon
The chorus sings about the suffering of the house of Labdacus
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 582-603
2nd strophe/antistrophe, ll. 604-25
Third Stasimon
The chorus sings an Ode to Love
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 781-800
First Kommos (κοµµός, ‘striking of chest in lamentation)
The chorus and Antigone mourn her fate.
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 806-838
2nd strophe/antistrophe, ll. 839-875
Fourth Stasimon
The chorus laments the similar fate of Cleopatra, Lycurgus and Danaë.
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 944-65
2nd strophe/antistrophe, ll. 966-87
Fourth Stasimon
The chorus pray to Dionysus.
1st strophe/antistrophe, ll. 1115-36
2nd strophe/antistrophe, ll. 1137-54
100
 Parados, 1st Strophe: 100-09, 117-26

¯ x ¯˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
100 ἀκτὶς ἀελίου, τὸ κάλ- στρ. α glyconic
117 στὰς δ᾽ ὑπὲρ μελάθρων φονώ ἀντ. α

¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
101 λιστον ἑπταπύλῳ φανὲν glyconic
118 σαισιν ἀμφιχανὼν κύκλῳ
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
102 Θήβᾳ τῶν προτέρων φάος, glyconic
119 λόγχαις ἑπτάπυλον στόμα
˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
103 ἐφάνθης ποτ᾽, ὦ χρυσέας choriambic dimeter
120 ἔβα, πρίν ποθ᾽ ἁμετέρων
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯
104 ἁμέρας βλέφαρον, Διρκαί glyconic
121 αἱμάτων γένυσιν πλησθῆ-
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
105 ων ὑπὲρ ῥεέθρων μολοῦσα, hipponactean
122 ναί τε καὶ στεφάνωμα πύργων
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
106 τὸν λεύκασπιν Ἀργόθεν ἐκ choriambic dimeter
123 πευκάενθ᾽ Ἥφαιστον ἑλεῖν.
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
107 βάντα φῶτα πανσαγίᾳ choriambic dimeter
124 τοῖος ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη
˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘/¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
108 φυγάδα πρόδρομον ὀξυτέρῳ choriambic dimeter
125 πάταγος Ἄρεος, ἀντιπάλῳ
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯
109 κινήσασα χαλινῷ· pherecratean
126 δυσχείρωμα δράκοντος.
anapestic stanzas
˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯
110 ὃς ἐφ᾽ ἡμετέρᾳ γᾷ Πολυνείκους 127 Ζεὺς γὰρ μεγάλης γλώσσης κόμπους
¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ /¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯
111 ἀρθεὶς νεικέων ἐξ ἀμφιλόγων 128 ὑπερεχθαίρει, καὶ σφας ἐσιδὼν
˘ ˘¯/ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘˘/ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯
112 ὀξέα κλάζων 129 πολλῷ ῥεύματι προσνισσομένου
˘ ˘ ¯/¯ ¯ /¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ˘˘ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯
113 ἀετὸς εἰς γᾶν ὣς ὑπερέπτα, 130 χρυσοῦ καναχῆς ὑπεροπλίαις,
¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯
114 λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυγι στεγανός, 131 παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρὶ βαλβίδων
¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/¯ ¯
115 πολλῶν μεθ᾽ ὅπλων 132 ἐπ᾽ ἄκρων ἤδη
¯ ¯ /˘ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯ /˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯
116 ξύν θ᾽ ἱπποκόμοις κορύθεσσιν. 133 νίκην ὁρμῶντ᾽ ἀλαλάξαι.

101
 Parados, 2nd Strophe: 110-16, 127-33

¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
134 ἀντιτύπᾳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾷ πέσε τανταλωθεὶς στρ. β praxillean
148 ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἁ μεγαλώνυμος ἦλθε Νίκα ἀντ. β
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
135 πυρφόρος, ὃς τότε μαινομένᾳ ξὺν ὁρμᾷ praxillean
149 τᾷ πολυαρμάτῳ ἀντιχαρεῖσα Θήβᾳ,
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
136 βακχεύων ἐπέπνει dodrans
150 ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων
¯ ¯ ¯ x/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
137 ῥιπαῖς ἐχθίστων ἀνέμων. choriambic dimeter
151 τῶν νῦν θέσθαι λησμοσύναν,
¯ ˘ ¯ /¯ ˘ ¯
138 εἶχε δ᾽ ἄλλᾳ τὰ μέν, cretic dimeter
152 θεῶν δὲ ναοὺς χοροῖς
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
139 ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἐπενώ- choriambic dimeter
153 παννυχίοις πάντας ἐπέλ-
¯ ˘ ˘¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
140 μα στυφελίζων μέγας Ἄ- choriambic dimeter
154 θωμεν, ὁ Θήβας δ᾽ ἐλελί-
¯ ¯ ˘˘ ¯ ¯
ρης δεξιόσειρος. reizianum
χθων Βάκχιος ἄρχοι.
¯ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯ anapestic stanzas
141 ἑπτὰ λοχαγοὶ γὰρ ἐφ᾽ ἑπτὰ πύλαις
¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯
142 ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον
¯ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯
143 Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη,
¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯
144 πλὴν τοῖν στυγεροῖν, ὣ πατρὸς ἑνὸς
¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯
145 μητρός τε μιᾶς φύντε καθ᾽ αὑτοῖν
˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯
146 δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντ᾽ ἔχετον
¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯
147 κοινοῦ θανάτου μέρος ἄμφω.
¯ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯ /˘ ˘ ¯
156 Κρέων ὁ Μενοικέως ἄρχων νεοχμὸς
˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯
157 νεαραῖσι θεῶν ἐπὶ συντυχίαις
¯ ¯ /˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘/ ¯ ¯
158 χωρεῖ, τίνα δὴ μῆτιν ἐρέσσων,
˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯
159 ὅτι σύγκλητον τήνδε γερόντων
¯ ˘ ˘ / ¯ ¯
160 προὔθετο λέσχην,
¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯
161 κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας;

102
 1st Stasimon, 1st Strophe: 332-41, 342-52

¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ /˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
332 πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀν- στρ. α choriambic dimeter
342 κουφονόων τε φῦλον ὀρ- ἀντ. α
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
333 θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει. glyconic
343 νίθων ἀμφιβαλὼν ἄγει
¯ x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
334 τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν glyconic
344 καὶ θηρῶν ἀγρίων ἔθνη
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
335 πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ glyconic
345 πόντου τ᾽ εἰναλίαν φύσιν
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯
336 χωρεῖ, περιβρυχίοισιν choriambic enoplian
346 σπείραισι δικτυοκλώστοις,
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
337 περῶν ὑπ᾽ οἴδμασιν. θεῶν iambic dimeter
347 περιφραδὴς ἀνήρ· κρατεῖ
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ¯
338 τε τὰν ὑπερτάταν, Γᾶν iambic, bacchiac
348 δὲ μηχαναῖς ἀγραύλου
¯ ˘ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘/¯ ˘ ˘/¯ ˘ ˘
339 ἄφθιτον, ἀκαμάταν, ἀποτρύεται dactylic tetrameter
350 θηρὸς ὀρεσσιβάτα, λασιαύχενά θ᾽
¯ ˘ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘ /¯ ˘ ˘/¯ ˘ ˘
340 ἰλλομένων ἀρότρων ἔτος εἰς ἔτος dactylic tetrameter
351 ἵππον ὀχμάζεται ἀμφὶ λόφον ζυγῶν
¯ ¯ /¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
341 ἱππείῳ γένει πολεύων. spondaic, cretic, bacchiac
352 οὔρειόν τ᾽ ἀκμῆτα ταῦρον.

103
 1st Stasimon, 2nd Strophe: 353-64, 365-75

x ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘
355 καὶ φθέγμα καὶ ἀνεμόεν φρόνημα καὶ στρ. Β two enoplians
365 σοφόν τι τὸ μηχανόεν τέχνας ὑπὲρ ἐλπίδ᾽ ἀντ. β
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
356 ἀστυνόμους
366 ἔχων
x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯ enoplian, bacchiac
357 ὀργὰς ἐδιδάξατο καὶ δυσαύλων
367 τοτὲ μὲν κακόν, ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐσθλὸν ἕρπει,
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ¯
358 πάγων ὑπαίθρεια καὶ iambic, cretic
368 νόμους γεραίρων χθονὸς
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ¯
359 δύσομβρα φεύγειν βέλη iambic, cretic
369 θεῶν τ᾽ ἔνορκον δίκαν,
¯ ˘ ˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯ /˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
360 παντοπόρος· ἄπορος ἐπ᾽ οὐδὲν ἔρχεται cretic, iambic dimeter
370 ὑψίπολις· ἄπολις ὅτῳ τὸ μὴ καλὸν
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ¯
361 τὸ μέλλον· Ἅιδα μόνον iambic, cretic
372 ξύνεστι τόλμας χάριν.
¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
362 φεῦξιν οὐκ ἐπάξεται· cretic, iambic
373 μήτ᾽ ἐμοὶ παρέστιος
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ /˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
363 νόσων δ᾽ ἀμηχάνων φυγὰς iambic dimeter
374 γένοιτο μήτ᾽ ἴσον φρονῶν
¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
364 ξυμπέφρασται. cretic + anceps
375 ὃς τάδ᾽ ἔρδει.

104
 2nd Stasimon, 1st Strophe: 582-92, 593-603

¯./ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / x / ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯
582 εὐδαίμονες οἷσι κακῶν ἄγευστος αἰών. στρ. α ¯D x e¯
594 ἀρχαῖα τὰ Λαβδακιδᾶν οἴκων ὁρῶμαι ἀντ. α
¯ ˘ ¯/ x/¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ /¯
583 οἷς γὰρ ἂν σεισθῇ θεόθεν δόμος, ἄτας ex D¯
595 πήματα φθιτῶν ἐπὶ πήμασι πίπτοντ᾽,
¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯/¯ ˘ ˘¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ¯
585 οὐδὲν ἐλλείπει γενεᾶς ἐπὶ πλῆθος ἕρπον· e ¯ D, bacchiac
596 οὐδ᾽ ἀπαλλάσσει γενεὰν γένος, ἀλλ᾽ ἐρείπει
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
586 ὅμοιον ὥστε ποντίαις cretic, iambic
597 θεῶν τις, οὐδ᾽ ἔχει λύσιν.
¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
587 οἶδμα δυσπνόοις ὅταν cretic, iambic
598 νῦν γὰρ ἐσχάτας ὕπερ
¯ ¯ ˘ ˘˘/ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
588 Θρῄσσαισιν ἔρεβος ὕφαλον ἐπιδράμῃ πνοαῖς, iambic trimeter
600 ῥίζας ὃ τέτατο φάος ἐν Οἰδίπου δόμοις,
˘ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ¯
590 κυλίνδει βυσσόθεν bacchiac, cretic
601 κατ᾽ αὖ νιν φοινία
˘ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
591 κελαινὰν θῖνα καὶ δυσάνεμοι, bacchiac, cretic, iambic
602 θεῶν τῶν νερτέρων ἀμᾷ κόνις
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/˘ ¯ ¯
592 στόνῳ βρέμουσι δ᾽ ἀντιπλῆγες ἀκταί.
603 λόγου τ᾽ ἄνοια καὶ φρενῶν ἐρινύς. iambic dimeter, bacchiac

105
 2nd Stasimon, 2nd Strophe: 604-14, 615-25

˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
604 τεάν, Ζεῦ, δύνασιν τίς ἀν- στρ. Β glyconic
615 ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλ- ἀντ. β
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
605 δρῶν ὑπερβασία κατάσχοι; hipponactean
616 πὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,
¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
606 τὰν οὔθ᾽ ὕπνος αἱρεῖ ποθ᾽ ὁ πάντ᾽ ἀγρεύων, choriambic dodecasyllabic
617 πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων·
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
607 οὔτε θεῶν ἄκματοι telesillean
618 εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει,
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
608 μῆνες, ἀγήρῳ δὲ χρόνῳ δυνάστας choriambic trimeter catalectic
619 πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις προσαύσῃ.
˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
609 κατέχεις Ὀλύμπου aristophanean
620 σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
610 μαρμαρόεσσαν αἴγλαν. aristophanean
621 κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται.
˘ ˘ ¯ ˘/¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
611 τό τ᾽ ἔπειτα καὶ τὸ μέλλον anacreonic
622 τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸν
¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
612 καὶ τὸ πρὶν ἐπαρκέσει telesillean
623 τῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτῳ φρένας
˘˘ ˘ / ¯ ˘/¯ ¯
613 νόμος ὅδ᾽, οὐδὲν ἕρπει ithyphallic (three trochee)
624 θεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·
¯ ¯ ˘˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
614 θνατῶν βιότῳ πάμπολύ γ᾽ ἐκτὸς ἄτας. choriambic dodecasyllabic
625 πράσσει δ᾽ ὀλίγιστον χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας.

106
 3rd Stasimon, 1st Strophe: 781-90, 791-800

˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
781 Ἔρως ἀνίκατε μάχαν, στρ. choriambic dimeter
792 σὺ καὶ δικαίων ἀδίκους ἀντ.
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯
782 Ἔρως, ὃς ἐν κτήμασι πίπτεις, choriambic enneasyllabic
792 φρένας παρασπᾷς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ,
˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
783 ὃς ἐν μαλακαῖς παρειαῖς choriambic enoplian
793 σὺ καὶ τόδε νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν
˘ ¯˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
784 νεάνιδος ἐννυχεύεις, choriambic enoplian
794 ξύναιμον ἔχεις ταράξας·
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
785 φοιτᾷς δ᾽ ὑπερπόντιος ἔν τ᾽ choriambic dimeter
795 νικᾷ δ᾽ ἐναργὴς βλεφάρων
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯
786 ἀγρονόμοις αὐλαῖς· choriambic, spondaic
796 ἵμερος εὐλέκτρου
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ˘˘ ¯ ¯
787 καί σ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδεὶς lesser asclepiad catalectic
797 νύμφας, τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος ἐν ἀρχαῖς
¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
788 οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων σέ γ᾽ ἀν- telesillian
798 θεσμῶν. ἄμαχος γὰρ ἐμ-
¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ x
790 θρώπων. ὁ δ᾽ ἔχων μέμηνεν. choriambic enoplian
800 παίζει θεὸς Ἀφροδίτα.

107
 Kommos, 1st Strophe: 806-16, 823-33

x ¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ¯
Ἀντ ὁρᾶτ᾽ ἔμ᾽, ὦ γᾶς πατρίας πολῖται, στρ. α choriamic dimeter, bacchiac
Ἀντ ἤκουσα δὴ λυγρότατον ὀλέσθαι ἀντ. α
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
807 τὰν νεάταν ὁδὸν dodrans
824 τὰν Φρυγίαν ξέναν
¯ x ¯ ˘/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
808 στείχουσαν, νέατον δὲ φέγ- glyconic
825 Ταντάλου Σιπύλῳ πρὸς ἄκ -
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ /˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
809 γος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου, choriamic dimeter
826 ρῳ, τὰν κισσὸς ὡς ἀτενὴς
¯ ¯ ¯ x/¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
810 κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις. ἀλλά μ᾽ ὁ παγ- choriamic dimeter
827 πετραία βλάστα δάμασεν,
¯ x ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
811 κοίτας Ἅιδας ζῶσαν ἄγει choriamic dimeter
828 καί νιν ὄμβροι τακομέναν,
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯
812 τὰν Ἀχέροντος adonean
829 ὡς φάτις ἀνδρῶν,
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯
813 ἀκτάν, οὔθ᾽ ὑμεναίων pherecratean
830 χιών τ᾽ οὐδαμὰ λείπει,
¯ ¯ ˘ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
814 ἔγκληρον, οὔτ᾽ ἐπινύμ- choriamic dimeter syncopated
831 τέγγει δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ὀφρύσι παγ-
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯
815 φειός πώ μέ τις ὕμνος ὕ- glyconic
832 κλαύτοις δειράδας· ᾇ με δαί-
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯
816 μνησεν, ἀλλ᾽ Ἀχέροντι νυμφεύσω. glyconic, spondaic
833 μων ὁμοιοτάταν κατευνάζει.
anapestic stanzas
¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘/ ¯ ¯
Χορ οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ᾽ Χορ ἀλλὰ θεός τοι καὶ θεογεννής,
¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯
818 ἐς τόδ᾽ ἀπέρχει κεῦθος νεκύων, 835 ἡμεῖς δὲ βροτοὶ καὶ θνητογενεῖς
¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/¯ ¯
819 οὔτε φθινάσιν πληγεῖσα νόσοις 836 καίτοι φθιμένῃ μέγα κἀκοῦσαι
¯ ¯/˘ ˘¯/˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯/˘ ˘¯ /¯ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯
820 οὔτε ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα λαχοῦσ᾽, 837 τοῖς ἰσοθέοις σύγκληρα λαχεῖν
¯ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘/¯ ¯ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯
821 ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόνομος ζῶσα μόνη δὴ 838 ζῶσαν καὶ ἔπειτα θανοῦσαν.
¯ ¯/˘˘ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯/¯
822 θνητῶν Ἅιδην καταβήσει.

108
 Kommos, 2nd Strophe: 839-56, 857-75

¯ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
Ἀντ οἴμοι γελῶμαι. στρ. β spondaic, bacchiac
Ἀντ ἔψαυσας ἀλγει- ἀντ. β
˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
τί με, πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων. anacreonic
νοτάτας ἐμοὶ μερίμνας,
¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
840 οὐκ οἰχομέναν ὑβρίζεις, choriambic enoplian
859 πατρὸς τριπόλιστον οἶκτον
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯
841 ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίφαντον; adonean
860 τού τε πρόπαντος
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
842 ὦ πόλις, ὦ πόλεως dodrans
861 ἁμετέρου πότμου
x ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯
843 πολυκτήμονες ἄνδρες· pherecratean
862 κλεινοῖς Λαβδακίδαισιν.
¯¯/¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯
844 ἰὼ Διρκαῖαι κρῆναι Θή- spondaic tetrameter
863 ἰὼ ματρῷαι λέκτρων ἆ-
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
845 βας τ᾽ εὐαρμάτου ἄλσος, ἔμ- glyconic
864 ται κοιμήματά τ᾽ αὐτογέν-
¯ x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘/¯ ¯
846 πας ξυμμάρτυρας ὔμμ᾽ ἐπικτῶμαι, glyconic, spondaic
865 νητ᾽ ἐμῷ πατρὶ δυσμόρου ματρός,
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/¯ ˘ ¯
847 οἵα φίλων ἄκλαυτος, οἵοις νόμοις iambic dimeter, cretic
866 οἵων ἐγώ ποθ᾽ ἁ ταλαίφρων ἔφυν·
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
848 πρὸς ἕργμα τυμβόχωστον ἔρ- iambic dimeter
867 πρὸς οὓς ἀραῖος ἄγαμος ἅδ᾽
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
849 χομαι τάφου ποταινίου· iambic dimeter
868 ἐγὼ μέτοικος ἔρχομαι.
˘ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
850 ἰὼ δύστανος, βροτοῖς bacchaic, iambic
869 ἰὼ δυσπότμων κασί-
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
851 οὔτε νεκροῖς κυροῦσα aristophanean
870 γνητε γάμων κυρήσας,
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
852 μέτοικος οὐ ζῶσιν, οὐ θανοῦσιν. iambic, cretic, bacchaic
871 θανὼν ἔτ᾽ οὖσαν κατήναρές με.

109
 Kommos, 2nd Strophe: 839-56, 857-75 (cont.) and Epode 876-82

˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
853 προβᾶσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔσχατον θράσους (cont.) στρ. Β iambic dimeter
872 σέβειν μὲν εὐσέβειά τις, (cont.) ἀντ. β
x ¯ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
854 ὑψηλὸν ἐς Δίκας βάθρον iambic dimeter
873 κράτος δ᾽ ὅτῳ κράτος μέλει
˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
855 προσέπεσες, ὦ τέκνον, πολύ· iambic dimeter
874 παραβατὸν οὐδαμᾷ πέλει·
˘ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
856 πατρῷον δ᾽ ἐκτίνεις τιν᾽ ἆθλον.
875 σὲ δ᾽ αὐτόγνωτος ὤλεσ᾽ ὀργά. bacchaic, cretic, bacchaic

˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ˘/˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯ iambic dimeter

Ἀντ ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος, ἀνυμέναι-
¯ ˘ ¯ ¯/ ˘ ˘ ¯
877 ος ταλαίφρων ἄγομαι choriambic dimeter
¯ ˘ ¯/¯ ˘ ¯
878 τὰν πυμάταν ὁδόν. cretic dimeter
¯ ˘ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘ /¯˘ ˘
879 οὐκέτι μοι τόδε λαμπάδος ἱερὸν dactylic
¯ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
880 ὄμμα θέμις ὁρᾶν ταλαίνᾳ. trochaic dimeter
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘/ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘
881 τὸν δ᾽ ἐμὸν πότμον ἀδάκρυτον trochaic dimeter
¯ ¯ ˘ /¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
882 οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει. trochaic dimeter syncopated

110
 4th Stasimon, 1st Strophe: 944-54, 955-65

¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯
944 ἔτλα καὶ Δανάας οὐράνιον φῶς στρ. α lesser asclepiad catalectic
955 ζεύχθη δ᾽ ὀξύχολος παῖς ὁ Δρύαντος, ἀντ. α
¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯
945 ἀλλάξαι δέμας ἐν χαλκοδέτοις αὐλαῖς· lesser asclepiad
956 Ἠδωνῶν βασιλεύς, κερτομίοις ὀργαῖς
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ /¯ ¯ ¯
946 κρυπτομένα δ᾽ ἐν τυμβή- choriambic dimeter syncopated
957 ἐκ Διονύσου πετρώ-
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯
947 ρει θαλάμῳ κατεζεύχθη· choriambic dimeter
958 δει κατάφαρκτος ἐν δεσμῷ.
¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/¯˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯
948 καίτοι καὶ γενεᾷ τίμιος, ὦ παῖ παῖ, lesser asclepiad
959 οὕτω τᾶς μανίας δεινὸν ἀποστάζει
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
950 καὶ Ζηνὸς ταμιεύεσκε γονὰς χρυσορύτους. dodrans, choriambic dimeter
960 ἀνθηρόν τε μένος. κεῖνος ἐπέγνω μανίαις
¯ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ¯
951 ἀλλ᾽ ἁ μοιριδία τις δύνασις δεινά· lesser asclepiad
961 ψαύων τὸν θεὸν ἐν κερτομίοις γλώσσαις.
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
952 οὔτ᾽ ἄν νιν ὄλβος οὔτ᾽ Ἄρης, iambic dimeter
962 παύεσκε μὲν γὰρ ἐνθέους
x ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
953 οὐ πύργος, οὐχ ἁλίκτυποι iambic dimeter
963 γυναῖκας εὔιόν τε πῦρ,
˘ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
954 κελαιναὶ νᾶες ἐκφύγοιεν.
965 φιλαύλους τ᾽ ἠρέθιζε Μούσας. bacchaic, cretic, bacchaic

111
 4th Stasimon, 2nd Strophe: 966-76, 977-87

˘ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯˘ ¯
966 παρὰ δὲ κυανεᾶν πελάγει διδύμας ἁλὸς στρ. β enoplian
977 κατὰ δὲ τακόμενοι μέλεοι μελέαν πάθαν ἀντ. β
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯
967 ἀκταὶ Βοσπόριαι ἤδ᾽ ὁ Θρῃκῶν ἄξενος enoplian
980 κλαῖον, ματρὸς ἔχοντες ἀνύμφευτον γονάν·
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘˘ ˘ ˘ ¯
970 Σαλμυδησσός, ἵν᾽ ἀγχίπτολις Ἄρης choriambic decasyllabic
981 ἁ δὲ σπέρμα μὲν ἀρχαιογόνων
¯ x ˘ /¯˘˘ ¯
971 δισσοῖσι Φινεϊδαις choriambic dimeter
982 ἄντασ᾽ Ἐρεχθεϊδᾶν,
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
972 εἶδεν ἀρατὸν ἕλκος aristophanean
983 τηλεπόροις δ᾽ ἐν ἄντροις
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
973 τυφλωθὲν ἐξ ἀγρίας δάμαρτος iambic, cretic, bacchaic
984 τράφη θυέλλαισιν ἐν πατρῴαις
˘ ˘˘ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ /˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
974 ἀλαὸν ἀλαστόροισιν ὀμμάτων κύκλοις iambic trimeter
985 Βορεὰς ἅμιππος ὀρθόποδος ὑπὲρ πάγου
˘ ¯ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ¯ /˘ ¯ ¯
975 ἀραχθέντων, ὑφ᾽ αἱματηραῖς iambic, cretic, bacchaic
986 θεῶν παῖς. ἀλλὰ κἀπ᾽ ἐκείνᾳ
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ¯/ ˘ ¯ ¯
976 χείρεσσι καὶ κερκίδων ἀκμαῖσιν. iambic, cretic, bacchaic
987 Μοῖραι μακραίωνες ἔσχον, ὦ παῖ.

112
 5th Stasimon, 1st Strophe: 1115-25, 1126-36

˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ¯
1115 πολυώνυμε, Καδμείας στρ. α paroemiac
1125 σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας ἀντ. α
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
1116 νύμφας ἄγαλμα penthemimer
1126 στέροψ ὄπωπε
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
1117 καὶ Διὸς βαρυβρεμέτα choriambic dimeter
1128 λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι
x ¯ ˘ ¯ /x ¯ ˘ ¯
1118 γένος, κλυτὰν ὃς ἀμφέπεις iambic dimeter
1129 στείχουσι νύμφαι Βακχίδες,
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
1119 Ἰταλίαν, μέδεις δὲ aristophanean
1130 Κασταλίας τε νᾶμα.
¯ x ¯ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
1120 παγκοίνοις Ἐλευσινίας choriambic dimeter
1131 καί σε Νυσαίων ὀρέων
¯ ¯/ ¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯ / ¯ ¯
1121 Δῃοῦς ἐν κόλποις, Βακχεῦ, Βακ- spondaic tetrameter
1132 κισσήρεις ὄχθαι χλωρά τ᾽ ἀκ-
¯ x ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯
1122 χᾶν ὁ ματρόπολιν Θήβαν glyconic
1133 τὰ πολυστάφυλος πέμπει,
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
1123 ναιετῶν παρ᾽ ὑγρῶν dodrans
1134 ἀμβρότων ἐπέων
¯ ¯ ¯ x / ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯
1124 Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥείθρων ἀγρίου τ᾽ choriambic dimeter
1135 εὐαζόντων Θηβαΐας
˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/˘ ¯ ¯
1125 ἐπὶ σπορᾷ δράκοντος iambic, bacchaic
1136 ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς·

113
 5th Stasimon, 2nd Strophe: 1137-45, 1146-54

¯ ¯ ¯ /¯ ¯ ¯
1137 τὰν ἐκ πασᾶν τιμᾷς στρ. β molossus dimeter
1146 ἰὼ πῦρ πνειόντων ἀντ. β
˘ ¯ x ¯ / ˘ ˘ ¯
1138 ὑπερτάταν πόλεων acephalous choriambic dimeter
1147 χοράγ᾽ ἄστρων, νυχίων
¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯
1139 ματρὶ σὺν κεραυνίᾳ· lecythion (trochaie dimeter catalectic)
1148 φθεγμάτων ἐπίσκοπε,
˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯
1140 καὶ νῦν, ὡς βιαίας ἔχεται choriambic dimeter
1149 παῖ Διὸς γένεθλον, προφάνηθ᾽
¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ¯
1141 πάνδαμος πόλις ἐπὶ νόσου, glyconic
1150 ὦναξ, σαῖς ἅμα περιπόλοις
x / ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘/ ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ / ¯ ˘ ¯
1142 μολεῖν καθαρσίῳ ποδὶ Παρνασίαν anceps, chorambic dimeter
1151 Θυίαισιν, αἵ σε μαινόμεναι πάννυχοι
˘ ¯ ¯ ˘/¯ ˘ ˘ ¯/˘ ¯ ¯
1145 ὑπὲρ κλιτὺν ἢ στονόεντα πορθμόν. choriambic dimeter, bacchaic
1152 χορεύουσι τὸν ταμίαν Ἴακχον.

114
 115

Alphabetized List Words Occurring 8 or more Times

In Sophocles’ Antigone
The following is an alphabetized list of all words that occur eight or more times in
Antigone. This list complements a running vocabulary list of the same words in the
introduction. The number of occurrences, indicated at the end of the dictionary
entry, were tabulated by the author. Digital flashcards for the running list are
available in .ppt and .jpg formats.

ἄγω: to lead, to bring, to carry, to convey, 20

αἰαῖ: ah! (exclamation of grief) 8
Ἅιδης, -ου ὁ: Hades, 16
αἱρέω: to seize, take; mid. choose (aor. ἑλ) 11
αἰσχρός, -ά, -όν: shameful, disgraceful, 8
ἀλλά: but, 19
ἄλλος, -η, -ο: other, one...another, 21
ἄν: modal adv., 43
ἄναξ, ὁ: a lord, master, 12
ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ: a man, 42
ἄνθρωπος, ὁ: human being, human, man, 11
ἀπό: from, away from. (+ gen.), 9
ἆρα: introduces a yes/no question, 10
ἄρχω: to begin; to rule, be leader of, 8
ἄτη, ἡ: ruin, plague; bewilderment, 10
αὖ: again; moreover, besides; in turn, 12
αὐτός, -ή, -ό: -self; he, she, it; the same, 21
βροτός, ὁ, ἡ: a mortal, human, 9
γάρ: for, since, 103
γε: at least, at any rate; indeed, 32
γελάω: to laugh, exult in, 8
γῆ, ἡ: earth, 10
γνώµη, ἡ: intent, purpose; opinion, resolve, 9
γυνή, γυναικός, ἡ: a woman, wife, 18
δέ: but, and, on the other hand, 59
δεινός, -ή, -όν: terrible; strange, wondrous, 14
διά: through (gen.) on account of, (acc.), 8
δίκαιος, -α, -ον: just, right, lawful, fair, 10
δίκη, ἡ: justice; lawsuit, trial; penalty, 10
δοκέω: to seem, seem best, think, imagine, 15
δόµος, ὁ: a house, 35
δράω: to do, do work, work, 21
ἐγώ: I, 119
116 Alphabetized Core Vocabulary

ἐθέλω: to be willing, wish, desire, 13

εἰ: if, whether, 23
εἶδον: aor. of ὁράω, to see, behold, 25
εἰµί: to be, exist, 1389
εἶπον: aor. said, spoke, 8
εἰς: into, to, in regard to (+ acc.), 28
εἷς, µία, ἕν: one, single, alone, 13
εἴ-τε: either…or; whether…or, 12
ἐκ, ἐξ: out of, from (+ gen.), 43
ἐκεῖνος, -η, -ον: that, those, 18
ἐλπίς, -ίδος, ἡ: hope, expectation, 8
ἐµός, -ή, -όν: my, mine, 21
ἐν: in, on, among. (+ dat.), 54
ἐπεί: when, after, since, because, 11
ἐπί: to, toward (acc), on near, at (dat.), 19
ἔπος, -εος, τό: a word, 9
ἔργον, τό: work, labor, deed, act, 14
ἔρχοµαι: to come or go, 24
ἔτι: still, besides, further, 18
εὖ: well, 16
ἔχω: to have, hold; be able; be disposed, 53
ζάω: to live, 20
Ζεύς, ὁ: Zeus, 11
ἤ: or (either...or); than, 29
ἥκω: to have come, be present, 8
θεός, ὁ: a god, divinity, 39
Θῆβαι, -ῶν, αἱ: Thebes (also in sg.), 9
θνήσκω: to die, 39
ἴσος, -η, -ον: equal, fair, alike, 8
ἰώ: ah! oh! 9
καί: and, also, even, too, 103
κάκη, ἡ: wickedness, vice, cowardice, 44
κακός, -ή, -όν: bad, base, cowardly, evil, 45
καλός, -ή, -όν: beautiful, fine, noble; well, 16
κάρα, τό: head, 32
κατά: down along (acc), down from (gen), 10
κάτω: down, below, 9
κέρδος, -εος, τό: profit, gain, advantage, 10
κλύω: to hear, 9
κοινός, -ή, -όν: common, shared; kindred, 8
κοινόω: to make common, communicate, 10
Κρέων, -οντος, ὁ: Creon, King of Thebes, 11
 Alphabetized Core Vocabulary 117

λαµβάνω: to take, receive, catch, grasp, 9

λέγω: to say, speak, 45
λόγος, ὁ: word, talk, discourse; account, 12
µανθάνω: to learn, understand, 12
µέγας, µεγάλη, µέγα: big, great, important 10
µέλλω: to be about to, to intend to, 8
µέν: on the one hand, 42
µή: not, lest, 42
µηδ-είς, µηδ-εµία, µηδ-έν: no one, nothing, 9
µηδέ: and not, but not, nor, 8
µή-τε: and not, 9
µήτηρ, ἡ: a mother, 10
µόνος, -η, -ον: alone, solitary, forsaken, 16
µόρος, ὁ: death, doom, fate, destiny, 11
νεκρός, ὁ: corpse, dead body, 15
νέκυς, ὁ: corpse, a dead body, 9
νέος, -α, -ον: young; new, novel, strange, 10
νόµος, ὁ: law, custom, 18
νῦν: now; as it is, 28
ὁ, ἡ, τό: the, 803
ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: this, this here, 121
οἶδα: to know, 37
οἴµοι: ah me!, woe’s me, oh, alas, 12
οἷος, -α, -ον: what sort, such a kind, 8
ὄλλυµι: to destroy, lose, consume, kill, 15
ὅπως: how, in what way; (in order) that, 50
ὁράω: to see, look, behold, 24
ὀρθός, -ή, -όν: straight, upright, right, 9
ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: who, which, that, 589
ὅσος, -η, -ον: as much as, many as, 10
ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι: whoever, whichever, whatever, 23
ὅταν: ὅτε ἄν, whenever, 8
ὅτι: that; because, 12
οὐ, οὐκ, οὐχ: not, 60
οὐδ-είς, οὐδε-µία, οὐδ-έν: no one, nothing, 33
οὐδέ: and not, but not, nor, not even, 21
οὔ-τε: and not, neither...nor, 36
οὖν: and so, then; at all events, 23
οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: this, these, 91
οὕτως: in this way, thus, so, 9
παῖς, παιδός, ὁ, ἡ: child, boy, girl; slave, 31
παρά: from, at, to the side of, 8
118 Alphabetized Core Vocabulary

πάρ-ειµι: be near, be present, be at hand, 9

πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν: every, all, the whole, 38
πατήρ, ὁ: a father, 22
πίπτω: to fall, fall down, drop, 9
πλέω: to sail, go by sea, 27
πόλις, ἡ: a city, 34
πολύς, πολλά, πολύ: much, many, 22
ποτέ: ever, at some time, once, 25
πράσσω: to do, accomplish, make, act, 12
πρίν: until, before, 9
πρός: to, towards (acc.), near, in addition to (dat.), 14
σέβω: to worship, revere, 8
σός, -ή, -όν: your, yours, 18
σύ: you, 82
σύν: along with, with, together (+ gen.), 11
σώζω: to save, keep, 8
τάλας, τάλαινα, τάλαν: wretched, sufferer8
τάφος, ὁ: tomb, 15
τε: and, both, 31
τέκνον, τό: a child, 10
τις, τι: anyone, anything, someone, something, 446
τίς, τί: who? which? 502
τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτο: such, 8
ὑπό: by, because of (gen), under (dat), 14
φαίνω: to show; mid. appear, seem, 10
φέρω: to bear, carry, bring, convey, 12
φηµί: to say, claim, assert, 14
φίλος, -η, -ον: dear, beloved; friend, kin, 24
φρήν, φρενός, ἡ: the midriff; mind, wits, 16
φρονέω: to think, to be wise, prudent, 16
φύω: to bring forth, beget; am by nature, 17
χείρ, χειρός (χερός, χέρι…), ἡ: hand, 14
χθών, χθονός, ἡ: earth, ground, land, 8
χρή: it is necessary or fitting; must, ought, 18
χρόνος, ὁ: time, 10
ψυχή, ἡ: breath, life, spirit, soul, 8
ὦ: O, oh, (an exclamation) 18
ὡς: as, thus, so, that; when, since, 35