Νέσσος
Nessus, Nessos
Translated by Jennifer Benedict10 Apr 2008Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] the centaur [of that name], about whom Sophocles speaks. Deianeira says: "'my confidence lies in this: that it appears to be possible, but I am not yet familiar with any proof.'1 [Chorus:] 'Rather, in acting you should know; since you would not have the knowledge, not even if you seemed to have it, without making the test.'"2
Greek original · Adler’s text
Νέσσος· ὁ Κένταυρος, περὶ οὗ φησι Σοφοκλῆς. Δηϊάνειρά φησιν· οὕτως ἔχει γ' ἡ πίστις, ὡς τὸ μὲν δοκεῖν ἔνεστι, πείρᾳ δ' οὐ προσωμίλησά τω. ἀλλ' εἰδέναι χρὴ δρῶσαν, ὡς οὐδ' εἰ δοκεῖς ἔχειν, ἔχοις ἂν γνῶναι μὴ πειρωμένη.
Betacode
*ne/ssos: o( *ke/ntauros, peri\ ou(= fhsi *sofoklh=s. *dhi+a/neira/ fhsin: ou(/tws e)/xei g' h( pi/stis, w(s to\ me\n dokei=n e)/nesti, pei/ra| d' ou) proswmi/lhsa/ tw. a)ll' ei)de/nai xrh\ drw=san, w(s ou)d' ei) dokei=s e)/xein, e)/xois a)\n gnw=nai mh\ peirwme/nh.
Notes (2)
- 1A superscript in ms M (= Marcianus 448) and the text of Sophocles read
ou)...pw forou)...tw . ↩ - 2Sophocles, Trachiniae 590-593 (web address 1). The dialogue here relates to Nessus as follows. The centaur had attempted to abduct and rape Deianeira some years ago, so her husband Heracles shot him with an arrow. Before he died the centaur told Deianeira that his blood would act as a love-charm on Heracles. At the time of the action of the play, Heracles has just brought back a new girl, Iole, from the adventures that keep him away from home. Deianeira is jealous and uses the centaur's blood to stain a robe which she plans to use on Heracles to secure his affections. Here she discusses that plan with the chorus. See also theta 412. ↩
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 29 Oct 2020
- tweaked translation — Catharine Roth
- upgraded link — Catharine Roth
- Revised — David Whitehead
- tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Jennifer Benedict