Sophocles Trachiniae 531-630

Richard Jebb (Translator)

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Trachiniae. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1892.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Trachiniae (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 5: The Trachiniae. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1892. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 531 focus
ἦμος, φίλαι, κατ᾿ οἶκον ὁ ξένος θροεῖ θρύει θροεῖ
ταῖς αἰχμαλώτοις παισὶν ὡς ὡς ἐπ᾿ ἐξόδῳ,
τῆμος θυραῖος ἦλθον ὡς ὑμᾶς λάθρα,
τὰ μὲν φράσουσα φράζουσα φράσουσα χερσὶν ἁτεχνησάμην,
τὰ δ᾽ οἷα οῖα πάσχω συγκατοικτιουμένη.
535
κόρην γάρ, οἶμαι δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽, ἀλλ᾽ ἐζευγμένην,
παρεισδέδεγμαι, φόρτον ὥστε ναυτίλος,
λωβητὸν ἐμπόλημα τῆς ἐμῆς εμῆς φρενός.
καὶ νῦν δύ᾽ οὖσαι μίμνομεν μιᾶς ὑπὸ ὑπο ὕπο
χλαίνης ὑπαγκάλισμα. τοιάδ᾽ ῾Ηρακλῆς,
540
ὁ πιστὸς πιστὸς ἡμῖν κἀγαθὸς καλούμενος,
ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τις ἥτις εἴ τις ἐστὶ πίστις ἐν τοῖς δρωμένοις,
δοκεῖς παρ᾿ ἡμῖν οὐ βεβουλεῦσθαι κακῶς.
ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὰ δή σοι ταῦτα καὶ πράσσω, Λίχα,
600
ἕως σὺ ταῖς ταῖς ἔσωθεν ἠγορῶ ξέναις,
ὅπως φέρῃς μοι τόνδε γ'᾿ εὐϋφῆ τόνδε γ᾽ εὐυφῆ πέπλον,
ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ῾Ερμοῦ τήνδε πομπεύω τέχνην
620
βέβαιον, οὔ τι τοι τι μὴ σφαλῶ γ᾽ ἐν σοί ποτε,
τὸ μὴ οὐ μὴν μὴ οὐ μὴ τόδ᾽ ἄγγος ὡς ἔχει δεῖξαι φέρων,
λόγων τε πίστιν ὧν ἔχεις ἐφαρμόσαι.
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 531-632 focus
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 531 focus
Dear friends, while yonder herald in the house
Holds converse with the captives ere he go,
I have stol’n forth to you, partly to tell
The craft my hand hath compassed, and in part,
To crave your pity for my wretchedness.
For I have taken to my hearth a maid,—
And yet, methinks, no maiden any more,
Like some fond shipmaster, taking on board
A cargo fraught with treason to my heart.
And now we two are closed in one embrace
Beneath one coverlet. Such generous meed
For faith in guarding home this dreary while
Hath the kind Heracles our trusty spouse,
Sent in return! Yet, oft as he hath caught
This same distemperature, I know not how
To harbour indignation against him.
But who that is a woman could endure
To dwell with her, both married to one man?
One bloom is still advancing, one doth fade.
The budding flower is cropped, the full-blown head
Is left to wither, while love passeth by
Unheeding. Wherefore I am sore afraid
He will be called my husband, but her mate,
For she is younger. Yet no prudent wife
535
Would take this angerly, as I have said.
535
But, dear ones, I will tell you of a way,
535
Whereof I have bethought me, to prevent
535
This heart-break. I had hidden of long time
535
In a bronze urn the ancient Centaur’s gift,
535
Which I, when a mere girl, culled from the wound
Of hairy-breasted Nessus in his death.
He o’er Evenus’ rolling depths, for hire,
Ferried wayfarers on his arm, not plying
Or rowing-boat, or canvas-wingèd bark.
Who, when with Heracles, a new-made bride,
I followed by my father’s sending forth,
Shouldering me too, in the mid-stream, annoyed
With wanton touch. And I cried out; and he,
Zeus’ son, turned suddenly, and from his bow
Sent a wing’d shaft, that whizzed into his chest
To the lungs. Then the weird Thing, with dying voice
Spake to me:—‘Child of aged Oeneüs,
Since thou wert my last burden, thou shalt win
Some profit from mine act, if thou wilt do
What now I bid thee. With a careful hand
Collect and bear away the clotted gore
That clogs my wound, e’en where the monster snake
Had dyed the arrow with dark tinct of gall;
And thou shalt have this as a charm of soul
For Heracles, that never through the eye
Shall he receive another love than thine.’
Whereof bethinking me, for since his death
I kept it in a closet locked with care,
540
I have applied it to this robe, with such
540
Addition as his living voice ordained.—
540
The thing is done. No criminal attempts
540
Could e’er be mine. Far be they from my thought,
540
As I abhor the woman who conceives them!
540
But if by any means through gentle spells
And bonds on Heracles’ affection, we
May triumph o’er this maiden in his heart,
My scheme is perfected. Unless you deem
Mine action wild. If so, I will desist.
If any ground of confidence approve
Thine act, we cannot check thy counsel here.
Even that hath been my care, Lichas, while thou
600
Wert talking to the stranger-maids within,
600
That thou shouldst take for me this finewoven web,
600
A present from these fingers to my lord.
600
And when thou giv’st it, say that none of men
600
Must wear it on his shoulders before him;
600
And neither light of sun may look upon it,
600
Nor holy temple-court, nor household flame,
Till he in open station ’fore the Gods
Display it on a day when bulls are slaughtered.
So once I vowed, that should I ever see
Or hear his safe return, I would enfold
His glorious person in this robe, and show
To all the Gods in doing sacrifice
Him a fresh worshipper in fresh array.—
The truth hereof he will with ease descry
Betokened on this treasure-guarding seal.—
Now go, and be advised, of this in chief,
To act within thine office; then of this,
To bear thee so, that from his thanks and mine
Meeting in one, a twofold grace may spring.
If this my Hermes-craft be firm and sure,
620
Then never will I fail thee, O my Queen!
620
But I will show the casket as it is
To whom I bear it, and in faithfulness
Add all the words thou sendest in fit place.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 531 focus
Indeß der Fremdling an die kriegsgefangnen Frgu'n
520
Im Haus, ihr Lieben, scheidend spricht sein leztes Wort,
Indessen trat ich ingeheim zu euch heraus,
Um euch zu melden, was ich schlau bereitete,
Und laut vor euch zu klagen, was ich leiden muß.
Denn keine Jungfrau, mein' ich mehr, ein Eheweib
525
Nahm ich in's Haus mir, eine Last, dem Schiffer gleich, 1
Die mir zur Schmach erworben mein treuliebend Herz.
Und nun zu zweien harren wir in Einem Bett,
Zu ruh'n in seinen Armen! Dies gab Herakles,
Der uns der Edle, Treue stets geheißen war,
530
Zum Lohne mir für seines Hauses lange Hut.
Zwar Groll zu hegen wider ihn vermag ich nicht,
Daß dieser Krankheit süßes Weh ihn oft befällt;
Doch auch zu wohnen ihr vereint, den Einen Bund
Mit ihr zu theilen, welche Frau vermöchte das?
535
Ich sehe, wie die Jugend ihr fortblühend wächst,
Und mir dahinwelkt; lüstern hascht das Auge sich
Die Blume jener, und von mir entflieht es scheu.
So muß ich fürchten, mein Gemahl wird Herakles
Fortan geheißen und der Mann der jüngern Frau.
540
Doch selbst erklärt' ich eben, Groll zu nähren ziemt
Niemals dem klugen Weibe; drum verkünd' ich euch,
Ihr Lieben, was mich lösen kann von diesem Leid.
Vor langer Zeit schon wurde mir ein alt Geschenk
Vom alten Unthier, das ein eh'rner Krug bewahrt,
545
Das ich, ein zartes Mädchen noch, vom sterbenden
Behaarten Nessos einst empfing aus seinem Blut.
Er trug um Lohn die Wand'rer durch des strudelnden
Euenos Tiefen auf dem Arm, kein förderndes 2
Schiffsruder schwingend, noch die Segel ausgespannt.
550
So trug er mich auch, als des Vaters Machtgebot
Mich einst als Gattin folgen hieß dem Herakles,
Auf seinen Schultern, und in Stromes Mitte fällt
Er mich mit frechen Händen an, hell schrie ich auf,
Und ohne Säumen wandte sich Zeus' Sohn und schoß
555
Den Flügelpfeil ab: rauschend fuhr er durch die Brust
In seine Lungen. Im Verscheiden sprach darauf
Das Ungethüm: des greisen Deneus Tochter du,
Noch großen Vortheil hast du, wenn du mir gehorchst,
Durch meine Fahrt hier, daß ich dich als lezte trug.
560
Denn wenn von meiner Wunde du verdicktes Blut 3
Auffängst an jener Stelle, wo der Pfeil mich traf,
Den gallichtschwarz des Lerna Drachenblut getränkt:
So wird es dir für deines Gatten Herz, o Frau,
Ein Zauber werden, daß er nie ein andres Weib
565
Fortan getreuer lieben wird an deiner Statt.
Hieran gedacht' ich, (denn im Haus, o Freundinnen,
War's wohlverschlossen aufbewahrt seit Nessos' Tod,)
Und nezte dieses Unterkleid und ordnete,
Was er geboten. Und vollbracht ist Alles schon.
570
Wohl möcht' ich arger Künste nicht erfahren sein,
Noch je sie lernen; wer sie wagt, ist mir verhaßt:
Doch, kann ich diese Dirne durch Bezauberung,
Durch Liebesbann bei'm Gatten überwältigen,
Dann ist das Werk vollendet, wenn's euch etwa nicht
575
Ein eitles Werk scheint; anders lass' ich ab davon.
Wohl, wenn Vertrauen irgend ist bei dieser That,
Scheint uns der Plan nicht übel, den du ausgedacht.
Dir das zu sagen, säumt auch ich schon lange hier,
Index du sprachst im Hause mit den fremden Frau'n:
590
Du sollst, o Lichas, dieses feingewobne Kleid
Dem Manne bringen als Geschenk von meiner Hand.
Doch ihm es reichend, sage, daß kein Sterblicher
Eh' als er selber sich damit umhüllen soll, 4
Und daß es weder schauen soll der Sonne Strahl,
595
Noch heil'ger Altar, noch des Herdes Feuerglanz,
Bevor er selbst es offen, öffentlich geseh'n,
Am Tag der Stieresopfer frei den Göttern zeigt.
Denn so gelobt' ich: säh' ich oder hört' ich einst,
Er sei nach Haus gerettet, woll' ich nach Gebühr
600
Mit dem Gewand ihn schmücken, und den Göttern ihn
Als Opferpriester zeigen neu im neuen Kleid.
Davon ein Zeichen bringst du, das er leicht erkennt,
Sobald er dieses Siegels Ning in's Auge faßt.
Nun geh' und erstens halte mir die Regel fest,
605
Als Bote nicht zu fröhnen eitler Neubegier;
Dann sorge, daß sich seine Gunst und meine Gunst
Zum Doppeldanke gegen dich vereinige.
Ja, wenn ich anders meine Kunst in Hermes' Hut 5
Wohl übe, werd' ich keinen Fehl an dir begehn:
610
Ich überbringe, wie es ist, ihm dies Gefäß,
Und füge treu die Worte, die du sprachst, hinzu.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 531 focus
'Tis my resolve to act as thou advisest.
I'll not resist the gods, nor add fresli weight
To my calamity. Let us go in.
That thou mayst bear my orders to Alcides,
And with them gifts in kind return for those
We have received from him. Thou must not hcn
With empty hand, who hither broughtst to me
Such noble presents and so fair a train. [Exeunt.
Thee, Venus, gods and men obey,
And universal is thy sway ;
Need I recount the powers subdued by love?
Neptune, who shakes the solid ground.
The king of Erebus profound,
Or, the great lord of all, Saturnian Jove ?
To mortals let the song descend,
To pity our afflicted friend.
And soothe the injurd Deianira's woes :
For her the angry rivals came.
535
For her they felt an equal flame,
535
For her, behold ! the doubtful battle glows.
535
In dreadful majesty arrayed,
535
Affrighting sore the fearful maid.
Uprose the horned monarch of the flood ;
He who through fair ^tolia's plain
Pours his rich tribute to the main :
A bull's tremendous form belied the god ;
From his own Thebes, to win her love,
With him the happier son of Jove,
The great Alcides came, and in his hand
The club, the bow, and glittering spear ;
Whilst Venus, to her votaries near,
Waved o'er their heads her all-deciding wand.
Epode.
Warm and more warm the conflict grows.
Dire was the noise of rattling bows.
Of front to front opposed, and hand to hand ;
Deep was the animated strife
For love, for conquest, and for life ;
540
Alternate groans re-echoed thro' the land :
540
Whilst pensive on the distant shore
540
She heard the doubtful battle roar,
540
Many a sad tear the hapless virgin shed ;
Far from her tender mother's arms.
She knows not yet for whom her charms
She keeps, or who shall share her bridal bed.
Chorus.
I'll try it soon.
600
For see e'en now he comes out at the portal :
600
Let him not know our purpose. If the deed
Be wrong, concealment may prevent reproach ;
Therefore be silent.
Deianira, Chorus.
Lie. Speak thy last commands,
Daughter of CEneus, for already long
Have we delayed our journey.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 531 focus
My mandates; for his presents in return
I shall send presents; these too thou shalt bear;
Not to send something by thee were unjust,
Who camest attended with a splendid train.
If thou hast aught of confidence in deeds
Like this, we judge that thou hast purposed well.
Lichas, in this my care hath been employ'd,
600
Whilst converse with the strangers thou hast held,
600
That thou may'st bear this beauteous-woven vest,
600
Wrought by my hands, a present to thy lord.
600
This give him, with a charge that but himself
600
No mortal in it proudly be array'd;
600
Nor ever let the sun's resplendent beam
600
Behold it, nor the altar's sacred flame,
Nor the bright-blazing hearth, till he shall stand
In public view, and show it to the gods,
When on some solemn day the victim bleeds:
For such my vow, if e'er I saw or heard
That he return'd in safety, with this robe
To deck his person, that before the gods
Gorgeous in new attire he might appear,
And offer sacrifice. Bear this, in proof
I gave such charge; my signet he will know.
Now go, and take good heed not to presume
Beyond thy orders; so shalt thou obtain
A double meed, my favour and thy lord's.
The duty of an herald it is mine
620
With firmness to discharge; nor e'er to thee
Will I be false; but, as it is, present
This chest, and faithfully relate thy words,

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-279-1 ἦμος 1 τῆμος 2

mvp-comment-279-2 ὁ ξένος 3

mvp-comment-279-3 θροεῖ 4

mvp-comment-279-4 ταῖς αἰχμ. παισὶν 5

mvp-comment-279-5 ὡς ἐπ’ ἐξόδῳ 6 ἐπ’ ἐξόδῳ 7

mvp-comment-279-6 θυραῖος 8

mvp-comment-280-1 τὰ μὲν 9 τὰ δ’ 10

mvp-comment-280-2 χερσὶν 11

mvp-comment-280-3 συγκατοικτιουμένη 12

mvp-comment-281-1 κόρην 13 ἐζευγμένην 14

mvp-comment-282-1 παρεισδέδεγμαι 15 φόρ‐ 16 τον 17 παρεισδέδεγμαι 18

mvp-comment-282-2 λωβητὸν 19

mvp-comment-282-3 ἐμπόλημα 20

mvp-comment-282-4 τῆς ἐμῆς φρενός 21 λωβητὸν 22

mvp-comment-283-1 δὔ οὖσαι 23

mvp-comment-283-2 μιᾶς ὑπὸ χλαίνης 24

mvp-comment-283-3 ὑπαγκάλισμα 25

mvp-comment-283-4 Mr Murray S. has shown me a curious illustration of this passage. A vase of the 6th cent. B.C., now in the British Museum, depicts two women under the same

χλαῖνα
,—a symbolical representation, perhaps, of a common grief.

mvp-comment-284-1 ὁ … ἡμῖν καλούμενος 26

mvp-comment-284-2 πιστός 27

mvp-comment-285-1 οἰκούρια 28 τοῦ μακροῦ χρόνου 29

mvp-comment-286-1 οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι 30

mvp-comment-286-2 τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ 31

mvp-comment-287-1 τὸ δ’ αὖ ξυνοικεῖν 32

mvp-comment-288-1 The text of this passage is, I believe, sound, though the diction is bold, and somewhat careless. The one

ἥβη
(Iolè's) is growing to the perfect flower, while the other (Deianeira's) is declining. (Cp. Ar. Lys.596
τῆς δὲ γυναικὸς σμικρὸς ὁ καιρός
.) In what follows, these points may be noted.

mvp-comment-288-2 (1) ὧν 33 ὧν 34

mvp-comment-288-3 (2) τῶν δ’ ὑπεκτρέπει πόδα 35

mvp-comment-288-4 (3) ἀφαρπάζειν 36

mvp-comment-288-5 (4) ὀφθαλμὸς 37

mvp-comment-289-1 ταῦτ’ οὖν 38

mvp-comment-289-2 καλῆται 39 καλεῖται 40 καλῆται 41

mvp-comment-289-3 ἀνήρ 42

mvp-comment-290-1 ἀλλ’ οὐ γάρ 43

mvp-comment-290-2 553 f. The MSS. have ᾗ δ’ ἔχω 44 λυτήριον λύπημα 45 λύπημα 46 λώφημα 47

mvp-comment-290-3 Deianeira is here speaking of an expedient which gives her some hope, indeed, but no assured confidence (590 f.). This exactly suits the usage of

λωφᾶν
and its derivatives, which denote the alleviation of evil,—not its complete removal. Cp. Ai.61
ἐπειδὴ τοῦδ’ ἐλώφησεν πόνου
. Thuc.6. 12
ἀπὸ νόσου μεγάλης καὶ πολέμου βραχύ τι λελωφήκα<*>εν
. Plat. Legg. 854 C
ἐὰν μέν σοι δρῶντι ταῦτα λωφᾷ τι τὸ νόσημα
. Thuc. uses
λώφησις
, ‘abatement’ ( 4. 81
τοῦ πολέμου
). Deianeira, in bethinking her of the philtre, has found that which holds out a promise of deliverance, and assuages, though it does not cure, her pain,—a
λυτήριον λώφημα
.

mvp-comment-290-4 The attempted versions of

λυτήριον λύπημα
have been these:—(1) With a comma after
τῇδ’
: ‘a thing to grieve this girl, for my deliverance’:—a grammatically sound phrase, but wholly unsuited to Deianeira, whose aim is to be more loved than Iolè (584 ff.),—but not to pain her. (2) Taking
λυτήριον
as=
λυτόν
: ‘how I find that my pain is remediable.’ This is impossible. (3) Governing
λύπημα
by
λυτήριον
: ‘how I have a thing to remedy my pain.’ Also impossible.

mvp-comment-290-5 Paley, changing ἔχω 48 ἔχει 49

mvp-comment-291-1 ἦν μοι 50

mvp-comment-291-2 ποτὲ 51 δῶρον 52 θηρός 53

mvp-comment-291-3 παλαιὸν 54 ἀρχαίου 55

mvp-comment-291-4 θηρός 56

mvp-comment-291-5 λέβητι 57

mvp-comment-292-1 δασυστέρνου 58

mvp-comment-292-2 παρὰ Νέσσου 59 ἐκ φονῶν 60 φόνων 61

mvp-comment-292-3 The name Νέσσος 62

mvp-comment-293-1 τὸν βαθύρρουν … Εὔηνον 63

mvp-comment-293-2 The association of Nessus with the Evenus well illustrates the significance of the Centaur as a personification of a ravaging torrent. (Cp. Mr Sidney Colvin in Journ. of Hellen. Stud. vol. I. p. 160: also Mure, Tour in Greece, I. 170.) In Ov. Met.2. 638 a daughter of the Centaur Cheiron is called Ocyroe (

Ὠκυρόη
), because born
‘Fluminis in rapidi ripis.’

mvp-comment-293-3 ποταμὸν … βροτοὺς … )πόρευε 64 )πόρευε 65 θοῦ 66

mvp-comment-294-1 τὸν πατρῷον … στόλον 67 ἑσπόμην 68

mvp-comment-294-2 The soundness of the words is confirmed by their dramatic fitness. There is a tacit contrast in her thoughts between herself and the new paramour; she thinks of the long-past day when her father gave her to her husband, and sent her forth with him. The words also accord with that tone of passivity in which she has already spoken of her marriage (6—27). She welcomed Heracles as a deliverer, and has learned to love him; but she had no voice in the bestowal of her hand.— Cp. fr. 521 (the young girl is happy at home, but the bride is sent forth by her parents to a doubtful fate):

αἳ νέαι μὲν ἐν πατρὸς
|
ἥδιστον, οἶμαι, ζῶμεν ἀνθρώπων βίον·
| ... |
ὅταν δ’ ἐς ἥβην ἐξικώμεθ’ ἔμφρονες
, |
ὠθούμεθ’ ἔξω
.—See Appendix.

mvp-comment-294-3 εὖνις 69

mvp-comment-295-1 φέρων ἐπ’ ὤμοις 70

mvp-comment-295-2 ἦ 71 ἦν 72

mvp-comment-295-3 μέσῳ πόρῳ 73

mvp-comment-295-4 ἐκ δ’ ἤϋσ’ ἐγώ 74

mvp-comment-296-1 ἐπιστρέψας 75

mvp-comment-296-2 κομήτην 76

mvp-comment-296-3 πλεύμονας 77 ν 78 λ 79 λ 80 λ 81 ν 82

mvp-comment-296-4 ἐκθνῄσκων 83

mvp-comment-296-5 569 ff. For τοσοῦτον 84

mvp-comment-296-6 τῶν ἐμῶν … πορθμῶν 85

mvp-comment-297-1 ἐὰν γὰρ … ὕδρας 86 τῶν ἐμῶν σφαγῶν 87 ἀμφίθρεπτον 88 ἐνέγκῃ χερσίν 89 ᾗ μελαγχόλους 90 μελαγχόλους 91 ἰούς 92

mvp-comment-297-2 θρέμμα … ὕδρας 93

mvp-comment-297-3 Others explain thus:—‘If thou gather the blood from my wound, clotted around ( the arrow), at the place where the hydra has tinged it,’ etc., i.e., at the arrow's head. This is quite possible, but is open to objections. (1) The language in 557 f. (

παρὰ Νέσσου...ἐκ φονῶν
) implies that she obtained the blood directly from the body, not from the arrow-head. (2) The phrase ἐνέγκῃ χερσίν 94

mvp-comment-297-4 If we adopted the conjecture μελάγχολος … ἰός 95 θρέμμα 96 ἔβαψεν 97

mvp-comment-297-5 Ovid describes the incident thus:—The arrow is withdrawn, and the blood flows from the wound,

mixtus Lernaei tabe veneni:
Nessus then presents Deianeira with a garment steeped in the blood (
velamina tincta cruore
): Met.9. 129 ff.

mvp-comment-298-1 ὥστε μήτιν’ εἰσιδὼν στέρξει 98

mvp-comment-298-2 ἀντὶ σοῦ 99

mvp-comment-299-1 ἐννοήσας’ 100

mvp-comment-299-2 δόμοις 101 ἐγκεκλῃμένον 102

mvp-comment-300-1 χιτῶνα τόνδ’ 103

mvp-comment-300-2 ἔβαψα 104

mvp-comment-300-3 προσβαλοῦς’ 105

mvp-comment-301-1 πεπείρανται 106

mvp-comment-302-1 κακὰς δὲ τόλμας 107

mvp-comment-302-2 μήτ’ ἐπισταίμην …, μήτ’ ἐκμάθοιμι 108

mvp-comment-302-3 στυγῶ 109

mvp-comment-303-1 φίλτροις δ’ ἐάν πως 110 μεμηχάνηται τοὔργον 111

mvp-comment-303-2 ὑπερβαλώμεθα 112

mvp-comment-303-3 τὴν παῖδα 113 θέλκτροισι 114

mvp-comment-303-4 εἴ τι μὴ 115

mvp-comment-303-5 μάταιον 116

mvp-comment-303-6 εἰ δὲ μή 117

mvp-comment-304-1 πίστις 118

mvp-comment-304-2 590 f. The whole phrase οὕτως ἔχει 119 γε 120 πίστις 121

mvp-comment-304-3 ὡς 122 οὕτως 123

mvp-comment-304-4 τὸ μὲν δοκεῖν 124

mvp-comment-304-5 πείρᾳ δ’ οὐ προσωμίλησα 125

mvp-comment-305-1 δρῶσαν 126 γνῶμα 127

mvp-comment-306-1 ἀλλ’ αὐτίκ’ 128 ἐλεύσεται 129

mvp-comment-307-1 μόνον 130

mvp-comment-307-2 παρ’ ὑμῶν 131 παρ’ ὑμῖν 132 στεγώμεθ’ 133

mvp-comment-307-3 αἰσχύνῃ πεσεῖ 134

mvp-comment-308-1 τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ 135

mvp-comment-309-1 αὐτὰ … ταῦτα 136 καὶ 137 πράσσω 138 ἠγορῶ 139

mvp-comment-309-2 ταναϋφῆ 140 τόνδε γ’ εὐϋφῆ 141 ἀϋφῆ 142 ταναϋφῆ 143 γε 144

mvp-comment-309-3 πέπλον 145 τόνδε 146

mvp-comment-310-1 φράζ’ ὅπως μηδεὶς … ἀμφιδύσεται 147

mvp-comment-311-1 ἕρκος ἱερὸν 148 ἐφέστιον σέλας 149

mvp-comment-312-1 φανερὸς 150 ἐμφανῶς 151 σταθεὶς 152

mvp-comment-313-1 ηὔγμην 153

mvp-comment-314-1 πανδίκως 154 στελεῖν 155 σωθέντ’ 156 πανδίκως 157

mvp-comment-315-1 καινῷ καινὸν 158

mvp-comment-315-2 As to the wearing of new, or freshly washed, garments on such occasions, cp. Od.4. 750 (Penelope is to pray to Athena)

καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθ’ ἑλοῦσα
.

mvp-comment-316-1 καὶ τῶνδ’ ἀποίσεις 159

mvp-comment-316-2 ἐπὸν μαθήσεται 160 ἐπ’ ὄμμα θήσεται 161 ν 162 μ 163 εὐμαθὲς … μαθήσεται 164 ὃ 165 ἐπιθήσεται ὄμμα 166

mvp-comment-317-1 νόμον 167

mvp-comment-317-2 τὸ μὴ )πιθυμεῖν πομπὸς ὢν 168

mvp-comment-318-1 ὅπως ἂν 169 χάρις 170 ἁπλῆ 171 διπλῆ 172 κείνου τε κἀμοῦ 173 ξυνελθοῦς’ 174

mvp-comment-319-1 εἴπερ Ἑρμοῦ 175

mvp-comment-319-2 πομπεύω 176 τέχνην 177 βέβαιον 178

mvp-comment-319-3 οὔ τι μὴ 179 οὔ τοι μὴ 180

mvp-comment-319-4 τὸ μὴ οὐ 181

mvp-comment-319-5 ἄγγος 182

mvp-comment-319-6 ὡς ἔχει 183

mvp-comment-320-1 λόγων … πίστιν 184

mvp-comment-320-2 ἐφαρμόσαι 185

mvp-comment-320-3 λέγεις 186 ἔχεις 187 ἔχει 188 ἐφεῖς’ 189

mvp-comment-321-1 στείχοις ἂν ἤδη 190

mvp-comment-322-1 σεσωσμένα 191

mvp-comment-322-2 627 f. For ἀλλὰ … μὲν δὴ 192 αὐτὴν 193 αὐτήν θ’ 194 τὰ τῆς ξένης προσδέγματα 195 αὐτὴν ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως 196 οἶσθα 197 τὰ τῆς ξένης προσδέγματα 198 φίλως 199 αὐτήν θ’ 200 θ’ 201

mvp-comment-323-1 ἐκπλαγῆναι 202

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

530. mvp-comment-399-1 ὥστε πόρτις ἐρήμα] ‘Like a heifer taken from the mother' whom she often misses; with an allusion to the solitary and wandering life which Deianira has led since her marriage day.

531-632. mvp-comment-400-1 Deianira, who has already prepared the charmed robe, confides her intention to the Trachinian maidens, and, on Lichas' coming forth, entrusts the gift to him, with the appropriate commands.

532. mvp-comment-401-1 ὡς ἐπ᾿ ἐξόδῳ] 'With his departure in view.' Cp. El. 1322.

533. mvp-comment-402-1 θυραῖος] The masc. for the fem. form occurs more readily where a woman is speaking to women. Cp. supr. 151; El. 313; Essay on L. § 20. p. 30.

534. mvp-comment-403-1 χερσὶν ἄ] For the postponement of the initial word, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78. τὰ μὲν . . τὰ δέ are adverbial accusatives = 'Partly,' not antecedents to the relatives. Cp. infr. 843, 4.

535. mvp-comment-404-1 οἷα πάσχω] 'For the treatment I receive.' In what follows she takes up the latter topic first. συγκατοικτιουμένη] 'To implore commiseration.' For the effect of the middle voice, cp. Hdt. 1. 114, ἀποικτίζετο τῶν ὑπὸ Κύρου ἤντησε.

536. mvp-comment-405-1 οἶμαι δ᾽ οὐκέτι] Sc. κόρην εἶναι.

537. mvp-comment-406-1 παρεισδέδεγμαι] παρα- implies, * At unawares,' (as we say, 'By a side wind.')

538. mvp-comment-407-1 'A piece of merchandize which inflicts an outrage on me.' As in supr. 33, the expression is adapted to the simile. The figure is not that of overloading, which could have no meaning here, but simply that of a cargo which in some way proves disastrous. There is a play on the word ἐμπόλημα, which is an accusative in apposition, not to φόρτον, but to the action of παρεισδέδεγμαι. The line may be thus paraphrased: ὥστε τούτῳ τῷ ἐμπολήματι ἐμπολᾶσθαι καὶ λελωβῆσθαι καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν Φρένα. λωβητόν is the verbal of the cognate passive, = ἐπὶ λωβῇ πραττόμενον. Essay on L. § 53. p. 98. Hermann and others explain the words to mean, A cruel return for my faithfulness of soul. But τῆς ἐμῆς φρενός is merely a periphrasis like ἡ ἐμὴ ψυχή in Ant. 559. Cp. Phil. 1281, and especially Ant. 1063, ὡς μὴ ᾿μπολήσων ἴσθι τὴν ἐμὴν φρένα.

540. mvp-comment-408-1 ὑπαγκάλισμα] 'Clasped in one embrace.' Cp. Ant. 650, ψυχρὸν παραγκάλισμα τοῦτο γίγνεται. The sense of μιᾶς is continued : i. e. μ. ΰ. χ. ἐν ὑπαγκάλισμα. τοιάδ᾽ Ἡρακλῆς, κ.τ.λ.] This, the single expression of bitterness on Deianira's part, tends to confirm the interpretation given supr. of ll. 383, 4. Ср. Shak. Othello, 4. 2. 107, Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.'

541. mvp-comment-409-1 ἡμῖν is to be taken with πιστὸς κἀγαθός, rather than with καλούμενος (which is added to complete the sense). ἡμῖν is also resumed with ἀντέπεμψε, 'Heracles, so faithful and kind to me (as he was reputed), has sent me such wages in return for my long service in keeping the house.'

542. mvp-comment-410-1 τοῦ μακροῦ χρόνου] A genitive like that in μηνὸς μίσθον. τοῦ μ. χρ. sc. τῆς οἰκουρίας. For the sense, cp. Eur. H. F. 1371-3, σε τ᾽ οὐχ ὁμοίως, ὦ τάλαιν', ἀπώλεσα, | ὥσπερ σὺ τἀμὰ λέκτρ᾽ ἔσωζες ἀσφαλῶς | μακρὰς διαντλοῦσ᾽ ἐν δόμοις οἰκουρίας.

543. mvp-comment-411-1 οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι] 'I cannot.' Cp. Ant. 686, μήτ' ἐπισταίμην λέγειν.

544. mvp-comment-412-1 νοσοῦντι, κ.τ.λ.] ‘Though often taken with this malady:' viz. with love. Cp. supr. 445 and note. The clause is concessive.

545. mvp-comment-413-1 τὸ δ᾽ αὖ ξυνοικεῖν] The article, for which cp. Ant. 78, τὸ δὲ | βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος, gives indignant emphasis to the antithesis. That Heracles' affections should go forth to others is something to bear that the rival should have a position in the household is intolerable. For τίς ἂν δύναιτο, cp. Eur. Med. 1044, οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην· χαιρέτω βουλεύματα | τὰ πρόσθεν.

546. mvp-comment-414-1 γάμων] γάμος is not strictly reserved for the κουριδίη ἄλοχος. Cp. Eur. Hel. 190.

547. mvp-comment-415-1 ἥβην, κ.τ.λ.] The contrast is developed as the sentence proceeds. Cp. O. C. 1649, ἄνδρα, τὸν μέν, κ.τ.λ. τὴν μέν] i.e. τῆσδε μέν. Cp. Aj. 114, τέρψις ἥδε, and note.

548. mvp-comment-416-1 ὧν, κ.τ.λ.] 'From which' (viz. from those whose youth advances) 'the eye is wont to cull the bloom; but from the other,' etc. The expression is not clear, but the meaning is obvious, and the text is not corrupt. For the relative referring to the former of two expressions, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78 , and cp. O. C. 86, 7, Φοίβῳ τε κἀμοὶ .. ὅς μοι. And, for the generic relative plural with a singular antecedent, cp. Thuc. 6. 12, 13, νεωτέρῳ.. | οὓς ἐγὼ ὁρῶν νῦν ἐνθάδε.

549. mvp-comment-417-1 ὑπεκτρέπει πόδα] Sc. ὁ ἵμερος understood in the personified ὀφθαλμός. The crowding of images is certainly rather bold. For the general sense, cp. Plato, Symp. 195, 6, especially the words ἀνανθεῖ γὰρ καὶ ἀπηνθηκότι καὶ σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ καὶ ἄλλῳ ὅτῳοῦν οὐκ ἐνίζει ἔρως.

550. mvp-comment-418-1 ταῦτ᾽ οὖν φοβοῦμαι] 'This then is my fear;' i, e. τοῦτον τὸν φόβον φοβοῦμαι, ταῦτα refers to what precedes, and is further explained by what follows. The distinction between πόσις and ἀνήρ, 'husband' or 'lord,' and 'mate,' is readily intelligible.

554. mvp-comment-419-1 λυτήριον] Cp. Ο. Τ. 392, ἠύδας ἐκλυτήριον. †λύπημα] The MS. reading, λυτήριον λύπημα, has not been successfully explained. λυτήριον cannot be taken as a verbal noun governing an accusative. Nor is it satisfactory to postpone the comma and render, 'A vexation for Iole that will deliver me.' Herm. conjectures λ. κήλημα, which may be right, but anticipates too much. A more general word seems to be required. νόημα is suggested by the resumption in l. 578, and the first syllable may have been lost from or preceding or νοῦν coming in the line above. Other conjectures are λυτήριόν τι πημονῆς (Ziel), and Mr. Paley's ἢ δ᾽ ἔχει . . λυτήριον λύπημα. To this last it may be objected that the use of the first person (ἔχω) is more expressive of Deianira's sanguine mood. A third way of interpreting the words as they stand may be suggested, viz. taking λυτήριον passively, agreeing with λύπημα: 'I will tell you a way in which I find the grief remediable.' For the passive use, see Essay on L. § 53. p. 99 , and for the redundant antecedent, ib. § 40. p. 75, 2.

555. mvp-comment-420-1 ἦν κεκρυμμένον] I had, hidden in an urn of bronze, the gift I once long ago received from the old Centaur.' ποτέ is to be taken closely with δῶρον. Cp. Ο. Τ. 1043, ἢ τοῦ τυράννου τῆσδε γῆς πάλαι ποτέ; For ἀρχαῖος in the sense of old,' cp. Ο. C. 112, χρόνῳ παλαιοί. παλαιός and ἀρχαῖος convey more of a sense of awe or wonder as attaching to old age, than γέρων οι γεραιός. The Centaur is thought of as an old-world creature belonging to a state of things that is passed away.

557. mvp-comment-421-1 παρά = from a person = (i.e. by his will), ἐκ = out of a place.

558. mvp-comment-422-1 φόνων] Bergk conjectures φονῶν. Cp infr. l. 573, σφαγῶν.

559. mvp-comment-423-1 τὸν . . ποταμόν.. πόρευε] Cp. Plat. Theaet. 199 E, ὁ τὸν ποταμὸν καθηγούμενος. The epithet βαθύρρουν accounts for mortals needing the Centaur's help.

561. mvp-comment-424-1 ἐρέσσων, which is added to explain the instrumental dative κώπαις, is of course not resumed with λαίφεσιν.

562. mvp-comment-425-1 τὸν πατρῷον.. στόλον] 'On that journey on which my father sent me forth.' viz. When he gave me in marriage. The expression is more natural if we imagine Oeneus as having accompanied them part of the way. This accusative is in a loose construction with the sentence (in apposition to the action). Cp. Ο. C. 1400, 1401, οἷον ἆρ᾽ ὁδοῦ τέλος |῎Αργους ἀφωρμήθημεν.

563. mvp-comment-426-1 ξὺν Ἡρακλεῖ] · With Heracles at my side.' The preposition is not required with ἑσπόμην following, but the fulness of expression marks the closeness of her relation to Heracles.

564. mvp-comment-427-1 ἡνίκ᾽ ἦν μέσῳ πόρῳ] 'When he was at the middle of the crossing.' Cobet would read ἢ 'v ('I was in'). Dindorf and Nauck also prefer the first person. But there is no sufficient reason for this, and the locative dative presents no difficulty.

565. mvp-comment-428-1 ματαίαις] · Wanton' Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 229, and the use of ματάζων in Ο. Τ. 891.

566. mvp-comment-429-1 ἐπιστρέψας] The middle voice is more usual. Here τόξον οι βέλος may be supplied in thought. The word always implies a sudden movement. χεροῖν] Either (1) From' (gen.), or (2) With' (dat.) his hands.'

567. mvp-comment-430-1 κομήτην] The feather of the arrow which is elsewhere imagined as a swift wing, is here figured as its hair.

568. mvp-comment-431-1 στέρνων] Governed of δια- in διερροίζησεν. ἐκθνήσκων] Αs he breathed his last.' This compound is elsewhere used figuratively, as in γέλῳ ἔκθανον, Od. 18. 100, (' died outright [as it were] with laughter'); and from Plato onwards, To faint or fall into a trance,' is the accepted meaning of the word.

570-571. mvp-comment-432-1 τῶν ἐμῶν.. πορθμῶν] For this use of the possessive adjective, cp. Ο. Τ. 572, 3, τὰς ἐμὰς . . Λαΐου διαφθοράς.

572. mvp-comment-433-1 γάρ introduces the explanatory statement, answering τοσόνδε. τῶν ἐμῶν σφαγῶν is (a) possessive genitive with αΐμα, and also (b) ablative genitive with ἐνέγκῃ, 'Bear from my wound the clotted gore of my wound.'

573-574. mvp-comment-434-1 ᾗ.. ὕδρας] 'At the place where the arrows had been tinged with black venom from the Lernaean hydra,' i.e. From that part of the wound where a dark tinge shows a trace of the hydra's venom in which the arrows were dipped.' The blood would be more clotted about the wound because of the venom, and the part of the blood most affected by the venom would be preternaturally dark. Observe the unconscious tautology in θρέμμα after ἀμφίθρεπτον, and for the periphrasis, cp. the uses of φάσμα in ll. 509,837. θρέμμα is merely expletive. See Essay on L. § 10. p. 17. Madvig's reading, adopted by Paley, is μελάγχολος. ἰός. θρέμμα is then the issue.'

577. mvp-comment-435-1 στέρξει] The future indicative after ὥστε μή is curious. Ср. О. Т. 411, ὥστ᾽ οὐ Κρέοντος προστάτου γεγράψομαι. Several MSS. and Hermann read στέρξαι; but the nominative is then unaccountable. If the text is right, we must suppose a return to the indicative from the infinitive which should have followed ὥστε μή. ἀντὶ σοῦ πλέον] 'Before thee:' a twofold expression including 'Instead of thee' and 'More than thee.' Cp. Ant. 182, 3, μείζον᾽ . . ἀντὶ τῆς αὑτοῦ πάτρας.

578. mvp-comment-436-1 τοῦτ᾽ ἐννοήσασ'] 'Bethinking me of this.' See the conjectural reading νόημα supr. l. 554, note, which this would seem to resume. δόμοις] Probably a cabinet or closet, which would exclude the light. Cp. Eur. Alc. 160, 1, ἐκ δ᾽ ἑλοῦσα κεδρίνων δόμων | ἐσθῆτα κόσμον τ᾽ εὐπρεπῶς ἠσκήσατο, where the 'cedarn habitation' of the dress is a sort of wardrobe.

580. mvp-comment-437-1 ἔβαψα] Sc. τούτῳ from τοῦτο supr. προσβαλοῦσ᾽ ὅσα | ζῶν κεῖνος εἶπε] 'With such addition as the Centaur, while yet alive, enjoined.' This refers to the manner of application, or of preparation for immediate use - cp. infr. ll. 680-7-and not (as Schndw. supposes) to something added to or mingled with the blood. The words need not include more than the precautions on which she afterwards lays such stress:-infr. 684-92. Others take προσβαλοῦσα (sc. τὸν νοῦν) to mean, 'Giving careful heed to. Cp. infr. 844, and note.

581. mvp-comment-438-1 πεπείρανται] An Epic word. Cp. Od. 12. 37, 8, ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω πάντα πεπείρανται.

582-584. mvp-comment-439-1 κακὰς δὲ .. φίλτροις δὲ..] The repetition of dé indicates the contention of opposing thoughts. Cp. O. С. 1014, 5, ὁ ξεῖνος, ὦναξ, χρηστός, αἱ δὲ συμφοραὶ | αὐτοῦ πανώλεις, ἄξιαι δ᾽ ἀμυναθεῖν. τάς τε τολμώσας] Sc. τὰς τοιαύτας τόλμας.

585. mvp-comment-440-1 ἐφ' Ἡρακλεῖ] 'Upon Heracles;' i.e. used with the view of influencing him. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 32, Ἱππολύτῳ δ᾽ ἔπι, κ.τ.λ.

586. mvp-comment-441-1 μεμηχάνηται τούργον] The means have been contrived.'

587. mvp-comment-442-1 εἰ δὲ μή] But if otherwise, I will proceed no further,' i.e. εἰ δοκῶ πράσσειν ματαιόν τι. τι in the preceding clause is to be taken, not with δοκώ, but with πράσσειν. Cp. Εl. 31, εἰ μή τι καιροῦ τυγχάνω. Deianira promises to desist, if the Chorus think her unwise. But when Lichas appears, she forgets everything in the eagerness of her purpose, and their faltering dissuasion is lost upon her.

588. mvp-comment-443-1 πίστις . . 590. ἡ πίστις] The πίστις of which the Chorus speaks is more objective = Ground of confidence; that which Deianira means is more subjective, = 'The confidence I have.'

589. mvp-comment-444-1 οὐ . . κακῶς expresses a cautious approval. Cp. Fr. 154, ἔχοιμ᾽ ἂν αὐτὸ μὴ κακῶς ἀπεικάσαι.

590. mvp-comment-445-1 γ' marks the limitation under which she assents to εἴ τις ἐστὶ πίστις supra.

591. mvp-comment-446-1 ἔνεστι] Sc. τῇ πίστει or τῷ βουλεύματι. πείρᾳ δ᾽ οὐ προσωμίλησά πω.] - But I have not yet made acquaintance with the proof of it; i.e. My plan has not been tested by experience.

593. mvp-comment-447-1 γνῶμα] The meaning of words signifying mental processes or results is not yet fixed in tragic diction, and is still relative to the several meanings of the corresponding verb. Thus γνῶμα = ἐγνωσμένον τι, which in the present context would signify, Anything clearly discerned or determined.' μὴ πειρωμένη = εἰ μὴ πεῖραν λάβοις.

594. mvp-comment-448-1 αὐτίκ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα] Deianira, in her eagerness, under-estimates the time that must still pass before Heracles' arrival. It is thus that tragic feeling helps the conventional abridgment of time that is necessary to the composition of tragedy : πόνου γὰρ ἄκρον οὐκ ἔχει χρόνον. τόνδε] Lichas, whom she does not care to name, and who is treated slightingly throughout. His fate 'is but a trifle here' (Shak. K. Lear, 5. 3. 295).

595. mvp-comment-449-1 ἐλεύσεται] 'He will make his way' to Cenaeum, where his master is.

596. mvp-comment-450-1 στεγοίμεθ'] She expresses a wish and not a command, and this in the passive voice, not only as a gentler, but also as a more earnest way of speaking. Might I only have my secret well kept by you.' σκότῳ] i. e. ἐν σκότῳ, 'Under covert of darkness:' the dative of place passing into a dative of circumstance. Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, § 14. p. 20.

597. mvp-comment-451-1 The dative αἰσχύνῃ is either (1) causal By reason of shame,' or (2) = ès αἰσχύνην: cp. Ο. C. 483, αὐτῇ . . τιθείς : infr. 789, χθονὶ ῥίπτων ἑαυτόν: probably the former (1). E. on L. § 11. p. 18, 3 a.

599. mvp-comment-452-1 ὡς .. βραδείς] 'Since we are belated by reason of the length of time,' viz. which we are spending in the fulfilment of our mission.

600. mvp-comment-453-1 αὐτὰ δὴ.. πράσσω] ‘I have been arranging this very thing,' viz. what Lichas is to do.

601. mvp-comment-454-1 ἠγορῶ] You have been talking.' Lichas has done talking to the women, but Deianira's act, for which this gave time, is still in progress. Hence the pres. and imperf. tenses.

602. mvp-comment-455-1 τόνδε γ᾽ εὐϋφῆ] 'Just this carefully woven garment.' Wunder's conjecture, ταναϋφῆ, has been very generally received by recent editors. But (α) γε, although postponed in the sentence ( Essay on L. § 26. p. 44; § 41. p. 77 ), bears a good meaning, complying with Lichas' σήμαινε, and particularizing: (β) εὐφῆ, “Carefully woven,' is exactly in point; the value of the gift was enhanced by the care which Deianira had spent on it: (c) ταναϋφῆ (for which, cp. 674, ἐνδυτῆρα) occurs nowhere in any extant writing, and though Hesychius mentions the word, there is nothing in his manner of doing so to show that he is quoting from Sophocles.

607. mvp-comment-456-1 μήθ᾽ ἔρκος ἱερὸν μήτ' ἐφέστιον σέλας] 'Nor sacred enclosure' (because there would be fire upon the hearth or altar there), 'nor hearth-lit flame.' ἐφέστιον has generally been referred to the private hearth as distinguished from the public altar. But a doubt is thrown on this distinction by the use of ἑστίαν in l. 658.

608. mvp-comment-457-1 φανερὸν ἐμφανής] The reading of Triclinius (also according to Blaydes of Par. A), is here better than that of L, φανερὸς ἐμφανής.

609. mvp-comment-458-1 ἡμέρᾳ ταυροσφάγῳ] For the gladness implied in this phrase, cp. the Biblical expression, 'As in a day of slaughter,' and Pind. Nem. 6. 69, ἐν ἀμφικτιύνων | ταυροφόνῳ τριετηρίδι. The meaning of the phrase, 'A day when the greatest victims are sacrificed,' is illustrated by infr. 760 foll.

611. mvp-comment-459-1 πανδίκως] This word is rightly taken by Mr. Paley and Otto Hense with the following line:-'I would array him rightly in this robe.' On πανδίκως see above, l. 294.

612. mvp-comment-460-1 στελεῖν] That I would array him.' Cp. Eur. Bacch. 827, 8, ΔΙ. ἐγὼ στελῶ σε δωμάτων εἴσω μολών. | ΠΕ. τίνα στολήν; ἢ θῆλυν; ἀλλ᾽ αἰδώς μ' ἔχει.

613. mvp-comment-461-1 The words καινῷ καινόν, as Dindorf observes, are thrown together according to a very frequent idiom, for which, cp. especially Αj. 467, μόνος μόνοις. The meaning of καινόν is therefore not to be pressed. But it may hint the appropriateness of the new robe to Heracles' first appearance after his long absence.

614. mvp-comment-462-1 εὐμαθὲς ἐπ᾿ ὄμμα θήσεται] 'Which his eye, that lights on this firm seal, will easily discern.' Against the conjecture of Billerbeck, ἐπὸν μαθήσεται, it may be urged that the tautology εὐμαθές μαθήσεται is singularly ungraceful (Dindorf has accordingly introduced the further conjecture εὐθέως, and Mr. Paley that of ὄμμα θείς, for εὐμαθές) and that ἐπών adds nothing to the sense. On the other hand the reading in the text requires εὐμαθές to have an active meaning, and ő to be governed κατὰ σύνεσιν by the whole clause. The expression ἐπιθήσεται ὄμμα also appears strange. But for the two former objections, see Essay on L. § 53. p. 99, supr. 136, and note; and for the last-mentioned expression, cp. Il 10. 46, ῾Εκτορέοις ἄρα μᾶλλον ἐπὶ φρένα θῆχ᾽ ἱεροῖσιν. σφραγίδος ἕρκος is simply A safeguard consisting of a seal,' without any reference to the rim of the seal. Cp. Pind. Nem. 10. 66, ἐν ἀγγέων ἕρκεσιν παμποικίλοις.

616. mvp-comment-463-1 νόμον] Rule of conduct,' as in Ant. 191, τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ' αὔξω πόλιν. See Essay on L. p. 88 , and cp. infr. 1177, 8, νόμον . . πειθαρχεῖν πατρί.

617. mvp-comment-464-1 περισσὰ δρᾶν] Το act beyond thine office.' The meaning of περισσός is relative to the circumstances in question. Here it conveys a rebuke for Lichas' previous conduct, rather than a warning not to break the seal, etc. Cp. περισσὰ πράσσειν in Ant. 68.

619. mvp-comment-465-1 ἐξ ἁπλῆς διπλῆ] The favour which Lichas has hitherto sought is 'single,' being that of Heracles alone. Cp. supr. 286, πιστὸς ὢν κείνῳ, and note.

620. mvp-comment-466-1 πομπεύω τέχνην = χρῶμαι πομπίμῳ τέχνῃ, just as τυμβεῦσαι χοάς in Εl. 406 = χέαι ἐπιτυμβίους χοάς. The chief stress is on βέβαιον. If this art of Hermes which I practise be securely mine; i. e. 'May I lose it, if I play false.'

621. mvp-comment-467-1 οὗ τι μὴ σφαλῶ γ᾽ ἐν σοί] i. e. οὐ μὴ τι σφαλῶ ἐν σοί γε. “I will not offend in anything concerning thee.

622. mvp-comment-468-1 τόδ᾽ ἄγγος] 'This casket.' ἄγγος here is the κοῖλον ζύγαστρον (infr. 692) in which Deianira had enclosed the robe. ὡς ἔχει] • As it is,' ie. With the seal unbroken.

623. mvp-comment-469-1 λόγων τε πίστιν ὧν ἔχεις ἐφαρμόσαι] ‘And add thereto the fitting assurance of thy very words.' The Scholiasts misinterpret this passage, taking ἐφαρμόσαι (which they must have read ἐφάρμοσαι) for an imperative. The use of the word ἁρμόζω, cp. supr. l. 494, προσαρμόσαι, has no reference (as Schndw. supposes) to the closely-fitting robe (πλευραῖσιν ἀρτίκολλος, infr. l. 768). ἔχεις has been suspected: but cp. El. 934, 5, λόγους τοιούσδ᾽ ἔχουσ': Ant. 635,6, σύ μοι γνώμας ἔχων | χρηστὰς ἀπορθοῖς. ἔχω has a wide range of meaning in Sophocles. Thus explained, the line may be translated, And adding therewith faithfully the words you use,' referring to ll. 604-613. The words λόγων πίστιν may be explained as = λόγους πιστῶς λεχθέντας (abstract for concrete), cp. supr. l. 173, τῶνδε ναμέρτεια= τάδε νημερτῶς γενησόμενα. But λόγων πίστιν may also mean, 'A verbal confirmation,' and the words of Deianira, including ll. 614.5, may be regarded as the proof that Lichas is to give of the reality of his mission from her. The seal would be enough, but the repetition of her vow, and the injunction not to display the robe too soon (of which Lichas did not know the real reason) may have been felt by him to add likelihood to his assertion that this was Deianira's gift. Cp. infr. ll. 775, 6, τὸ σὸν μόνης δώρημ᾽ ἔλεξεν. ἔχεις then = παρέχεις, and, possibly, ἥν should be read for ὧν.

628. mvp-comment-470-1 αὐτήν θ] The opposition between Iole and her reception is merely verbal, but it justifies the position of αὐτήν. See v. rr.