1230-1231.
mvp-comment-871-1
One ought not to be angry with one in frenzy; but who could bear to be the witness of such a state of mind?'
1233.
mvp-comment-872-1
τίς γάρ ποθ'] Sc. ταῦτα δρῴη ἄν, for which ταῦτ᾽ ἂν . . ἕλοιτο is substituted as the sentence proceeds.
1233-1234.
mvp-comment-873-1
μόνη | μεταίτιος] ‘Sole sharer of the blame' with Nessus. Cp. supr. 260, 1, τόνδε γὰρ μεταίτιον | μόνον, κ.τ.λ., and note. The form in -os is used here, although τῇ μεταιτίᾳ occurs supr. 447, where Deianira is contrasting Iole with Heracles.
1234.
mvp-comment-874-1
σοί τ᾽ αὖθις] Sc. αἰτία. The τε here has been generally changed to δέ, and perhaps rightly.
1235.
mvp-comment-875-1
ἐξ ἀλαστόρων] Cp. O. C. 371, νῦν δ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν του κἀξ *ἀλειτηροῦ φρενός, κ.τ.λ.: Eur. Οr. 1669, μή τινος κλύων | ἀλαστόρων δόξαιμι σὴν κλύειν ὄπα.
1238.
mvp-comment-876-1
ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐ νέμειν] For this confusion between οὐ νέμει, ὡς ἔοικεν, and ἔοικεν οὐ νέμειν, cp. Hdt. 1. 58, ὡς .. δοκέει, οὐδὲ . . αὐξηθῆναι. For the present-future, cp. supr. 1083, and note. And for the feeling of φθίνοντι, cp. Tennyson's Morte d'Arthur, 'Authority forgets a dying king, | Laid widowed of the power in his eye | That bowed the will.'
1239.
mvp-comment-877-1
ἀλλά τοι] These particles are usually separated. τοι means 'however,' i. e. 'Although you think so lightly of my curse.' For θεῶν ἀρά, ‘A curse having a divine sanction,' cp. Ant. 607,8, and notes.
1241.
mvp-comment-878-1
ὡς.. φράσεις] 'You will tell us that your trouble is returned.' Hyllus observes the rising expression of pain on his father's countenance, and fears the outburst that is likely to follow.
1242.
mvp-comment-879-1
σὺ γὰρ .. κακοῦ] 'For you rouse me from the state in which my pain was lulled' =ἀπὸ τοῦ εὐνασθῆναι τὸ κακόν. Cp. Thuc. 2. 49. § 3, μετὰ ταῦτα λωφήσαντα = μετὰ τὸ λωφῆσαι ταῦτα.
1243.
mvp-comment-880-1
ὡς.. ἔχω] 'In how many ways am I straitened!' For τἀπορεῖν ἔχω, cp. О.С. 1617, 8, τὸ γὰρ φιλεῖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξ ὅτου πλέον | ἢ τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ἔσχεθ', οὗ, κ.τ.λ.
1244.
mvp-comment-881-1
δικαιοῖς] Cp. Hdt. 1. 89, δικαιῶ ('I think it my duty') σημαίνειν σοί.
1246.
mvp-comment-882-1
οὐ δυσσέβεια] For this use of the abstract noun, cp. O. C. 883, ἆρ' οὐχ ὕβρις τάδ᾽;
1247.
mvp-comment-883-1
For the position of οὖν, see note on supr. 1185. πανδίκως is to be taken with ἄνωγας, which is the chief word in the sentence. 'Do you order me outright?' i. e. Is it your full and authoritative command? Cp. O. C. 1306. Others interpret, With entire justice,' i. e. 'Is it quite right that a son should burn a father?' (Paley.)
1249.
mvp-comment-884-1
κοὐκ ἀπώσομαι] • And will not refuse it.' Cp. supr. 216, 7 οὐδ᾽ ἀπώσομαι | τὸν αὐλόν, κ.τ.λ.: Plat. Rep. B. 4. Ρ. 437 Β, καὶ τὸ προσάγεσθαι τῷ ἀπωθεῖσθαι . . τῶν ἐναντίων ἀλλήλοις θείης.
1249-1250.
mvp-comment-885-1
τὸ σὸν | θεοῖσι δεικνὺς ἔργον] Showing to the gods what thou doest,' so that they may not fix the blame on me. The predicate is anticipated, and forms part of the object; i.e. Showing to the gods that it is thy doing.' Hence the article; i.e. τὸ σὸν ἔργον = τὸ ἔργον, σὸν ὄν. Cp. supr. 775, τὸ σὸν μόνης δώρημ᾽ ἔλεξεν (“ He said it was thy special and peculiar gift'), and O. T. 572, τὰς ἐμὰς | οὐκ ἄν ποτ' εἶπε Λαΐου διαφθοράς (‘He would not have spoken, as he has done, of my being Laius' destroyer'). Also Aj. 1013.
1251.
mvp-comment-886-1
σοί γε πιστεύσας] (1) Having acted in reliance on thy word.' Cp. Ο. C. 175, σοὶ πιστεύσας καὶ μεταναστάς : Phil. 1374, θεοῖς τε πιστεύσαντα τοῖς τ᾿ ἐμοῖς λόγοις. Or simply, (2) 'Having obeyed thee;' cp. supr. 1228.
1252.
mvp-comment-887-1
καλῶς τελευτᾷς] 'You end well, i. e. You show the right spirit at last.
1252-1253.
mvp-comment-888-1
κἀπὶ.. πρόσθες] ‘And let the act of kindness follow quickly upon these words.'
1254.
mvp-comment-889-1
σπαραγμὸν ἤ τιν' οἶστρον] Some convulsion or some access of fury,' which would make it impossible to carry Heracles up the mountain. Cp. supr. 804, 5. με θῇς] Clearly not μεθῇς here, although μέθες was preferred in l. 799.
1255.
mvp-comment-890-1
ἄγε is chiefly addressed to Hyllus, but may be said, like ἴδε, supr. 821, without any distinct reference to number. The following words are addressed to the attendants, who are to carry him with their hands while Hyllus leads the way. αἴρεσθε is subjective middle (= 'Apply your strength to raise me') and is less peremptory than αἴρετε, infr. l. 1264.
1255-1256.
mvp-comment-891-1
παῦλα.. ὑστάτη] ‘This is my reprieve from woe, this is the last end of my being' Heracles knows nothing of the bliss which is hereafter to be his portion.