Sophocles Trachiniae 205-496

ed. Francis Storr

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Trachiniae. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Τραχίνιαι (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 2. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1913.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 205 focus
ἀνολολύξατε δόμοις ἀνολολύξετε δόμοις ἀνολολύξατε, δόμοις ἀνολολύζετε δόμοις
205
ἐφεστίοις ἀλαλαγαῖς ἀλαλαῖσ ἀλαλαγαῖς
ὁρῶ, φίλαι γυναῖκες, οὐδέ μ᾿ ὄμματος
φρουρὰν φρουρά φρουρὰν παρῆλθε τόνδε μὴ λεύσσειν λεύσειν λεύσσειν στόλον στόλον·
χαίρειν δὲ τὸν κήρυκα προὐννέπω, χρόνῳ
225
πολλῷ φανέντα, χαρτὸν εἴ τι καὶ φέρεις φέρει.
οὐκ οὐκὶ, ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν πλεῖστον ἐν Λυδοῖς χρόνον
κατείχεθ᾽, ὥς φησ᾿ ὡσ φηὶσ᾽ ὥς φησ᾿ αὐτός, οὐκ ἐλεύθερος,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐμποληθείς, τοῦ λόγου δ' οὐ χρὴ φθόνον,
250
ὡς ἵκετ᾽ ἵκετ' αὖθις Ιφιτος Τιρυνθίαν
270
πρὸς κλιτύν, ἵππους νομάδας ἐξιχνοσκοπῶν,
τότ᾽ ἄλλοσ᾽ αὐτὸν ὄμμα, θἀτέρᾳ θἠτέραι δὲ νοῦν
ἔχοντ᾽, ἀπ᾿ ἄκρας ἦκε πυργώδους πλακός.
ἄνασσα, νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ,
τῶν μὲν παρόντων, τὰ δὲ τῶν δὲ πεπυσμένῃ λόγῳ.
τί δ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ; τί δ᾽ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις κεκρίνοις καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως
αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνασ᾽, ὅπως
335
μάθῃς, ἄνευ τῶνδ᾽, οὕστινάς τ' om. γ' ἄγεις ἔσω,
τούτου λέγοντος τἀνδρὸς εἰσήκουσ᾽ ἐγώ,
πολλῶν παρόντων μαρτύρων, ὡς τῆς κόρης
ταύτης ἕκατι κεῖνος Εὔρυτόν εὔροιτόν εὔρυτόν θ᾽ ἕλοι
τήν θ᾽ ὑψίπυργον Οἰχαλίαν,῎Ερως δέ νιν
μόνος θεῶν θέλξειεν αἰχμάσαι τάδε,
355
—οὐ τ ἀπὶ a Λυδοῖς οὐδ᾽ οὔτ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ Ὀμφάλῃ πόνων
λατρεύματ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ιφίτου μόρος·
—ὃν νῦν παρώσας οὗτος ἔμπαλιν λέγει.
ἀλλ᾽ ἡνίκ οὐκ ἔπειθε τὸν φυτοσπόρον
οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375
τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον
λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος
πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;
τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μ᾿ Ηρακλεῖ ει from ηι Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν ;
δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.
μή, πρός σε πρὸς σὲ πρὸς σὺ τοῦ κατ᾿ ἄκρον Οἰταῖον νάπος
Διὸς καταστράπτοντος, ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον.
οὐ γὰρ γυναικὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐρεῖς κακῇ,
οὐδ᾽ ἥτις οὐ κάτοιδε τἀνθρώπων, ὅτι
χαίρειν πέφυκεν οὐχὶ τοῖς τοι τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀεί.
440
Ἔρωτι μέν νυν μεν.. ῦν μεν νῦν μὲν νῦν ὅστις ἀντανίσταται
πύκτης ὅπως ἐς χεῖρας, οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ.
οὗτος γὰρ ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ὅπως θέλει,
κἀμοῦ γε· πῶς δ᾽ οὐ χἀτέρας, οἵας γ᾿ ἐμοῦ;
ὥστ᾽ εἴ τι τώμῷ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ om. add τἀνδρὶ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ
445
ληφθέντι μεμπτός εἰμι μεμπτὸσ εἰμὶ μεμπτός εἰμι, κάρτα μαίνομαι,
πείθου λεγούσῃ λέγουσι λεγούσῃ χρηστά, κοὐ μέμψει χρόνῳ
470
γυναικὶ τῇδε τῇδε τῆδε, κἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 205 focus
With a shout by the hearth let the palace roof ring
205
From those that are dreaming of bridal, and ye,
205
Young men, let your voices in harmony sing
205
To the God of the quiver, the Lord of the free!
205
And the Paean withal from the maiden band
205
To Artemis, huntress of many a land,
205
Let it rise o’er the glad roof tree,
205
To Phoebus’ own sister, with fire in each hand,
205
And the Nymphs that her co-mates be!
205
My spirit soars. O sovereign of my soul!
205
I will accept the thrilling flute’s control.
The ivy-crownèd thyrsus, see!
With Bacchic fire is kindling me,
And turns my emulous tread
Where’er the mazy dance may lead.
Euoî! Euoî!
O Paean! send us joy.
See, dearest Queen, behold!
Before thy gaze the event will now unfold.
Think not mine eye hath kept such careless guard,
Dear maids, that I could miss this moving train.
Herald, I bid thee hail, although so late
225
Appearing, if thou bringest health with thee!
Not so. The greater while he was detained
Among the Lydians, sold, as he declares,
To bondage. Nor be jealous of the word,
Since Heaven, my Queen, was author of the deed.
Enthrallèd so to Asian Omphalè,
He, as himself avers, fulfilled his year.
The felt reproach whereof so chafed his soul,
He bound fierce curses on himself and sware
That,—children, wife and all,—he yet would bring
In captive chains the mover of this harm.
Nor did this perish like an idle word,
But, when the stain was off him, straight he drew
Allied battalions to assault the town
Of Eurytus, whom, sole of earthly powers,
He had noted as the source of his annoy,
Because, having received him in his hall
A guest of ancient days, he burst on him
With outrage of loud voice and villanous mind,
Saying, ‘with his hand upon the unerring bow,
Oechalia’s princes could o’ershoot his skill;
And born to bondage, he must quail beneath
His overlord’; lastly, to crown this cry,
When at a banquet he was filled with wine,
He flung him out of door. Whereat being wroth,
When Iphitus to the Tirynthian height
Followed the track where his brood-mares had strayed,
He, while the thought and eye of the man by chance
Were sundered, threw him from the tower-crowned cliff.
In anger for which deed the Olympian King,
Father of Gods and men, delivered him
To be a bond-slave, nor could brook the offence,
That of all lives he vanquished, this alone
Should have been ta’en by guile. For had he wrought
250
In open quittance of outrageous wrong,
250
Even Zeus had granted that his cause was just.
250
The braggart hath no favour even in Heaven.
250
Whence they, o’erweening with their evil tongue,
250
Are now all dwellers in the house of death,
250
Their ancient city a captive;—but these women
250
Whom thou beholdest, from their blest estate
250
Brought suddenly to taste of piteous woe,
250
Come to thy care. This task thy wedded lord
250
Ordained, and I, his faithful minister,
250
Seek to perform. But, for his noble self,
250
When with pure hands he hath done sacrifice
250
To his Great Father for the victory given,
250
Look for his coming, lady. This last word
250
Of all my happy speech is far most sweet.
250
Now surety of delight is thine, my Queen,
Part by report and part before thine eye.
What know I? Why should’st thou demand? Perchance
Not lowest in the list of souls there born.
Pause first there on the threshold, till you learn
335
(Apart from those) who ’tis you take within,
335
And more besides that you yet know not of,
335
Which deeply imports your knowing. Of all this
I throughly am informed.
I heard this herald say, while many thronged
To hearken, that this maiden was the cause,
Why lofty-towered Oechalia and her lord
Fell before Heracles, whom Love alone
Of heavenly powers had warmed to this emprise,
And not the Lydian thraldom or the tasks
Of rigorous Omphalè, nor that wild fate
Of rock-thrown Iphitus. Now he thrusts aside
The Love-god, contradicting his first tale.
When he that was her sire could not be brought
To yield the maid for Heracles to hold
In love unrecognized, he framed erelong
A feud about some trifle, and set forth
355
In arms against this damsel’s fatherland
355
(Where Eurytus, the herald said, was king)
355
And slew the chief her father; yea, and sacked
Their city. Now returning, as you see,
He sends her hither to his halls, no slave,
Nor unregarded, lady,—dream not so!
Since all his heart is kindled with desire.
I, O my Queen! thought meet to show thee all
The tale I chanced to gather from his mouth,
Which many heard as well as I, i’ the midst
Of Trachis’ market-place, and can confirm
My witness. I am pained if my plain speech
Sound harshly, but the honest truth I tell.
Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen?
375
What hidden woe have I unwarily
Taken beneath my roof? O misery!
Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?
What message must I carry to my lord?
Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest.
Nay, I entreat thee by His name, whose fire
Lightens down Oeta’s topmost glen, be not
A niggard of the truth. Thou tell’st thy tale
To no weak woman, but to one who knows
Mankind are never constant to one joy.
Whoso would buffet Love, aspires in vain.
For Love leads even Immortals at his will,
And me. Then how not others, like to me?
’Twere madness, sure, in me to blame my lord
When this hath caught him, or the woman there,
His innocent accomplice in a thing,
No shame to either, and no harm to me.
It is not so. But if from him thou learnest
440
The lore of falsehood, it were best unlearnt;
440
Or if the instruction comes of thine own thought,
440
Such would-be kindness doth not prove thee kind.
Then tell me all the truth. To one free-born
The name of liar is a hateful lot.
And thou canst not be hid. Thy news was heard
By many, who will tell me. If thou fearest,
Thou hast no cause—for doubtfulness is pain,
But to know all, what harm? His loves ere now
Were they not manifold? And none hath borne
Reproach or evil word from me. She shall not,
Though his new passion were as strong as death;
Since most mine eye hath pitied her, because
Her beauty was the ruin of her life,
445
And all unweeting, she her own bright land,
445
Poor hapless one! hath ravaged and enslaved.—
445
Let that be as it must. But for thy part,
Though false to others, be still true to me.
’Tis fairly said. Comply. Thou ne’er wilt blame
470
Her faithfulness, and thou wilt earn our loves.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 205 focus
Jubelnd ertöne der Gesang
Ich seh' es, liebe Frauen, seh' ihn hier, den Zug,
Und meines Auges treuer Wacht entging er nicht.
220
Willkommen, Herold! ruf' ich, der nach langer Zeit
Willkommen nahte, wenn du mir Willkomm'nes bringst.
Mit nichten: meistens ward er fern in Lydia
Gehalten, nicht als freier Mann, so sagt er selbst,
Nein, als verkaufter Sklave. Doch darf keinen Groll
Dies Wort, o Frau, dir wecken, weil Zeus solches that.
245
Verhandelt einem fremden Weib, der Omphale,
(Erzählt er selber,) fröhnt' er ihr ein volles Jahr;
Und also nagte dieser Schimpf am Herzen ihm,
Daß er sich selber einen Eid' auflegt' und schwur,
Den Schnöden, der ihm dieses Leids Urheber sei,
250
Als Knecht dereinst zu fesseln, ihn mit Kind und Weib.
Nicht eitle Drohung war es; nein, sobald er sich
Gesühnt, so führt' er vor die Burg des Eurytos
Ein Heer von Söldnern; denn er sagte, der allein
Von allen Menschen trage Schuld an diesem Leid;
255
Der habe, wie Herakles ihn an seinem Herd
Als alter Gastfreund heimgesucht, mit Worten oft,
Und oft mit unheilvollem Sinn ihn aufgereizt;
So prahlt' er, unentfliehbar sei wohl sein Geschoß,
Doch steh' er seinen Söhnen nach im Bogenkampf;
260
Er müsse, rief er, als der Knecht dem freien Mann
Sich beugen. Dann bei'm Mahle warf er ihn hinaus,
Den Weinberauschten. Drob ergrimmt' Herakles, und,
Als Iphitos zu Tiryns' Hügel wiederum
Hinkam, der Spur verirrter Stuten nachzuspäh'n,
265
Da stürzt er diesen, der das Aug' hierher, den Sinn
Dorthin gewandt, vom hochgethürmten Fels hinab.
Ob dieser Unthat grollte Zeus, der Herrscher, ihm,
Der Vater Aller, thronend auf Olympos' Höh'n,
Verkauft' in ferne Länder ihn und trug es nicht,
270
Daß er von allen Menschen ihn allein mit List
Getödtet. Rächt' er offen sich, ihm hätte Zeus
Vergeben, weil er Rache nahm mit vollem Recht.
Denn frechen Hochmuth lieben auch die Götter nicht.
Doch jene, die mit böser Zunge sich gebläht,
275
Sie wohnen nun im Hades allzumal, die Stadt
Versank in Knechtschaft; die du hier erblickst, die Frau'n,
Die tief in Unheil stürzten aus des Glückes Höh'n,
Sie nahen dir. Denu also hat es dein Gemahl
Geboten; ich, sein treuer Diener, richt' es aus.
280
Er selbst, sobald er für den Sieg der Opfer Dank,
Die frommen Gaben dargebracht dem Vater Zeus,
Wird hier erscheinen, zweifle nicht; dies lezte Wort
Tönt unter vielen schönen wohl am süßesten.
Nun lacht, o Fürstin, offenbar die Freude dir,
285
Da diese hier sind und du hörst dies frohe Wort.
Was weiß denn ich? Wie magst du mich auch fragen? Wohl
Nicht aus dem lezten Hause dort entstammte sie.
Erst harre noch hier außen eine Weile, daß
Du hörst, von diesen ferne, wen du führst hinein,
330
Und was du nicht vernahmest und doch wissen mußt.
Denn über alles dieses bin ich wohl belehrt.
Aus jenes Mannes Munde selbst vernahm ich es
345
In vieler Zeugen Gegenwart, daß Herakles
Um dieser Jungfrau willen nur den Eurytos
Und dessen stolze Veste zwang, daß Eros ihn
Allein von allen Göttern lockt' in solchen Kampf,
Nicht Lydien oder Omphale's mühvoller Dienst,
350
Auch nicht der jähe Todessturz des Iphitos;
Und nun verwirst er's und erklärt das Gegentheil.
Nein, als Herakles nicht bewog den Eurytos,
Die Tochter heimlich als Gemahl ihm anzutraun :
Da bringt er eitle Klage vor um kleine Schuld,
355
Und rückte wider ihre Stadt mit Heeresmacht,
Wo, wie du hörtest, Eurytos den Thron besaß,
Erschlug den König, ihren Vater, und zerstört
Die Stadt. Und heute kehrt er, wie du siehst, zurück,
In dieses Haus sie sendend, nicht mit Unbedacht,
360
Noch als die Sklavin; das erwarte nicht, o Frau;
Wie wär' es möglich, wenn ihn Liebesglut entflammt?
Ich glaubte sorgsam Alles dir, o Königin,
Kundthun zu müssen, was ich hört aus seinem Mund.
Und dies vernahmen Viele noch zugleich mit mir
365
Auf offnem Markt in Trachis; diese mögen ihn
Wohl überführen. Sag' ich Unerfreuliches,
Es thut mir wehe; doch die Wahrheit sprach ich aus.
Was ist mit mir geschehen? Ich Unselige!
Ha, welch Verderben nahm ich unter dieses Dach
370
Unwissend auf? Grauen! Also namenlos
War sie geboren, wie der Herold mir beschwor?
Was meld' ich, Herrin, komm' ich dort zu Herakles?
Laß hören; fertig siehst du mich zur Wanderung.
Ich flehe dir bei'm Gotte, der auf waldigen
Felshöh'n des Oeta donnert, nicht verhehle mir's.
Denn keinem niedern Weibe sagst du solches Wort,
Noch Einer, die nicht wüßte, daß im Leben nicht
Denselben Menschen immerdar die Freude lacht.
435
Wer nun dem Eros Widerstand zu bieten wagt,
Faustkämpfern gleich, mit Händen, ist ein arger Thor.
Denn er beherrscht auch Götter, wie es ihm gefällt,
Und mich: warum nicht Andre, die mir gleichen, auch?
So wär' ich wohl von Sinnen, wenn ich meinem Mann
440
Groll hegte, daß ihn dieses Weh' ergriffen hat,
Und dieser Jungfrau, welche Nichts verschuldete,
Was sie verunehrt oder was mich kränken kanu.
Nicht also thu' ich! Aber wenn dich jener so
Die Lüge lehrte, lerntest du nichts Nühmliches:
445
Und wenn du hier dein eigner Lehrer bist, so wirst
Du schlecht erscheinen, wo du redlich heißen willst.
Sprich denn die Wahrheit offen aus; dem Freien hängt
Des Lügners Name schmählich als ein Flecken an.
Und mir's zu hehlen, das gelingt dir nimmermehr;
450
Denn Viele, denen du's vertraut, die sagen mir's.
Und wenn dir bangt, so bangt dir ohne Grund, indem,
Es nicht erfahren, mich allein betrüben kann.
Doch Wissen, kann das schaden? Hat nicht Herakles,
Der eine Mann, viel' andre Weiber schon gefreit?
455
Und keine noch aus diesen hat ein böses Wort
Noch Hohn von mir erduldet: ihr auch groll' ich nicht,
Und mag er auch in heißer Liebe glüh'n um sie;
Auf ihr ja ruht vor Allen mitleidvoll mein Blick,
Weil ihr die Schönheit mordet', ach! des Lebens Glück,
460
Und sie das Land der Väter nicht nach eigner Wahl
In Noth und Knechtschaft stürzte. Doch das ziehe hin
Mit guten Winden! Aber dir bedeut' ich: sei
Unwahr für Andre, gegen mich stets ohne Falsch!
Sie sprach die Wahrheit, folge denn; nie wirst du dann
465
Die Herrin tadeln, und von mir erwirbst du Dank.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 205 focus
A messenger, who bears (for on his brow
Chorus.
And therefore shall our words deserve thy praise.
O thou dear messenger ! Inform me first
What first I wish to know, my loved Alcides,
Doth he yet live — shall I again behold him?
Lie. I left him well. In health and manly strength
Exulting.
Ill CEchalia then
Hath my Alcides been this long, long time?
Lie. Not so : in Lydia (as himself reports)
Was he detained a slave. So Jove ordained ;
And who shall blame the high decrees of Jove ?
Sold to barbarian Omphale, he served
Twelve tedious months ; ill brooked he the foul shame.
Then in his wrath he made a solemn vow
He would revenge the wrong on the base author,
And bind in chains his >vife and all his race :
Nor fruitless the resolve, for when the year
Of slavery past had expiated the crime
Imputed, soon with gathered force he mai'ched
'Gainst the devoted Eurytus, the cause
Within his palace he had erst received
Alcides, but with bitterest taunts reviled him,
Boasting, in spite of his all-conquering arrows,
His son's superior skill, and Siiid a slave
Like him should bend beneath a freeman's power ;
Then, midst the banquet's mirth, inflamed with wine,
Cast forth his ancient guest. This to revenge
When Iphitus to search his pastured steeds
Came to Tyrinthia, Hercules surprised,
And, as he turned his wandering eyes aside.
Hurled headlong from the mountain's top. Great Jov
Father of men, from high Olympus saw
And disapproved the deed, unworthy him
Who ne'er before by fraud destroyed his foes ;
With open force had he revenged the wrong
Jove had forgiven, but violence concealed
250
The gods abhoi-, and therefore was he sold
250
To slavery. Eurytus' unhappy sons
250
Were punished too, and dwell in Erebus ;
250
Their city is destroyed, and they, whom here
250
Thou seest, from freedom and prosperity.
250
Reduced to wretchedness. To thee they come,
250
Such was Alcides' will ; which I, his slave.
250
Have faithfully performed. Himself ere long
250
Thou shalt behold, whon to paternal Jove
250
He hath fultilled his vows. Thus my long tale
250
Ends with the welcomest news which thou couklst
250
hear :
250
Alcides comes !
250
O queen ! thy happiness
Is great indeed, to see these slav^es before thee,
And know thy lord approaches.
The royal race
Of Eurytus?
Lie. 1 know not, nor did e'er
Inquire.
Stay thee awhile. I have a tale to tell
335
Touching these captives, which imports thee nearly,
335
And I alone am able to inform thee.
I heard him say, before attendant crowds,
It was 4.his virgin, this fair slave destroyed
That waged the war — no Lydian servitude,
Nor Omphale, nor the pretended fall
Of Iphytus — for so the tale he brings
Would fain persuade thee. Know, thy own Alcides,
For that he could not gain th' assenting voice
Of Eurytus to his unlawful love,
Laid waste the city where her father reigned,
355
And slew him. Now the daughter, as a slave,
Is sent to thee. The reason is too plain :
Nor think he meant her for a slave alone —
The maid he loves, that would be strange indeed !
My royal mistress, most unwillingly
Do I report th' unwelcome news, but thought
It was my duty : I have told the truth.
Wretch that I am ! To what am I reserved?
375
What hidden pestilence within my roof
375
Have I received unknowing ! Hapless woman !
She seemed of beauteous form and noble birth ;
Have you not heard her name? for Lichas said
He knew it not.
Her name lole ; he had not inquired
Touching her race.
Perdition on the man,
Of all most wicked, who hath thus deceived thee !
Deianira, Attendant, Messenger, Chorus.
Lie. O queen ! what are thy last commands
To thy Alcides? for e'en now I go
To meet him.
o
Assembled multitudes. The citizens
Lie. They might say they heard
Reports like these. But must it therefore seem
A truth undoubted?
Seem "? Didst thou not swear
470
That thou hadst brought this woman to partake
470
The bed of my Alcides ?
470
Lie. Did I say so?
But tell me who this stranger is.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 205 focus
I see, loved virgins, yes, my watchful eye,
205
Not faithless to its office, sees this train.
Herald, to joy I welcome thee, though late
Be thy arrival, if thou bring'st me joy.
No: but in Lydia he was long detain'd
Not free, such his account, but sold a slave.
We should not censure, Lady, what appears
Wrought by the hand of Jove. Betray'd, and sold
To the barbaric Omphale, he pass'd...
One tedious year a slave: but the disgrace
So stung his noble soul, that with an oath
He vow'd the author of this wrong, his wife,
And children should be slaves; nor vow'd in vain;
But, expiation made, with social hosts
Vengeful he march'd against the rampired walls
Of Eurytus, for him of all mankind
Alone he deem'd the cause of his disgrace,
Who, to his hearth when he approach'd, a friend
With hospitable rites received of old,
Insulted him aloud with taunting words,
And all the outrage of an hostile mind;
Reviling him as holding in his hands
Arrows by fate assign'd to reach the mark,
But that his sons excell'd him in the skill
To draw the bow; that by the nobly born
He as a slave should be trod down and crush'd;
Nay more, with wine when heated from his house:
He spurn'd him forth. Indignant at these wrongs,
O'er the Tirynthian hills when Iphitus
Search'd for his steeds that from their pastures roved,
His eye on other objects bent, his mind
On other thoughts engag'd, he hurl'd the youth
From the steep summit of the tow'ring rock.
Offended at the deed Olympian Jove,
The supreme king and father, sent him thence.
To slavery sold, nor brook'd a treacherous act
Unpractised but against this hapless youth:
250
With manly fortitude and front to front
250
In arms had he opposed him, heav'n's high king
250
Had pardon'd him, and deem'd his vengeance just;
250
But base insidious wrong the gods abhor.
250
But all those boasters, whose reviling tongues
250
Were wanton in their insolence, have now
250
Their mansions in the gloomy realms beneath,
250
And their proud city is enslaved. These dames,
250
Which here thou seest, from high and happy life
250
Sunk to this wretched state attend thy will.
250
Such are thy lord's commands, which I perform
250
With faithful zeal. When to his father Jove
250
The hallow'd victims for his conquest vow'd
250
Are slain, expect him here: of my long speech,
250
Though grateful all, this gives thee highest joy.
250
Now, royal lady, certain joy is thine;
This captive train gives proof of his report.
What can I know? Why ask of me? Perchance
She may from no ignoble race be sprung.
And painful not to know thee who thou art.
She will not speak; nor hath she to this hour
Unlock'd her lips, or ever utter'd word;
But obstinate in silence mourns her weight
Of misery, always weeping since she left
Her desolated country: her ill fate
Moves thee to pity and to pardon her.
Then let her be indulged, and in the house-
Find courteous treatment: to her present ills
I would not that from me fresh grief, her griefs
Augmenting, she receive; she hath enough
Of woe already. To our houses now
Let us all go; where thy occasions call,
Go thou; domestic duties claim my care.
And the high-tower'd Echalia. Love alone
Of all the gods incited him to arms;
And not his Lydian slavery, and base tasks
By Omphale commanded, nor the death
Of Iphitus hurl'd headlong from the rock.
This love conceal'd, the herald other pleas
Devised. But when his lord had urged in vain
The sire to give the daughter to his bed
In secret nuptials, he assign'd some cause
Of slight and trivial charge to march in arms
Against her country, where the royal throne
Was held by Eurytus; he slew the king
355
Her father, and his wasted city razed.
355
Her, as thou seest, returning he now sends
355
Thus, lady, not without peculiar care,
- Not as a slave; admit not such an hope;
It is not to be thought, since love inflames
His soul. By duty prompted I to thee
What was my chance to learn from him disclose :
And this, not I alone, but many heard;
Assembled he declared it; and to these
I make appeal. Unwelcome to thy ear
If what I tell thee, I have no delight
In speaking it, but what I speak is truth.
Unhappy me, what snares enclose me round!
375
Ah, what a secret pest have I received
375
Beneath my roof! This wretch then hath no name,
So he that led her swore, with all these charms,
This beauteous form, and dignity of mien!
What wou'dst thou, Lady, that I bear in charge
To Hercules? I hasten my return.
By Jove, who rolls his thunders through the grove
That shades the brow of Eta, do not hide
The truth: to no base woman wilt thou speak,
Noi an untaught mind that hath not mark'd
Man's nature, form'd not always to delight
In what once pleases. He, 'gainst Love who stands
In daring opposition, is unwise.
Love at his pleasure lords it o'er the gods,
O'er me too; why not o'er another then
E'en such as I? Should I then blame my lord
As vanquish'd by this pow'r; or should I blame
This woman, who to me causes no ill,
Nor brings dishonour, I were mad indeed.
It is not so. But if by him thy mind
To falsehood hath been train'd, no honest lore
Hast thou been taught : if from thyself thou draw'st
440
This glozing science, when thy heart shall prompt
440
To open faith, distrust with jealous eye
440
Will look on thee as base: let then thy tongue
Always speak truth: on the free man, who bears
The hateful brand of falsehood, shame attends.
Can'st thou escape detection ? Vain that hope:
What thou to many hast divulged, to me
Some will disclose. If thou hast fears, those fears
Are vain and causeless: not to be inform'd,
Aye, that indeed would grieve me; but to know,
Can that be dreadful? Hath not Hercules
Admitted others to his nuptial bed,
And many? Yet not one of those e'er heard
Harsh word from me, or keen reproach; nor now
Shall this Eubœan, though with love she melt
His yielding heart. Her, most of all the train,
Soon as I saw, I pitied: well I know
445
Her beauty hath undone her; cruel fate,
445
And not her will, hath on her country brought
445
Ruin and slavery. Of these things no more;
445
I give them to the winds. But mark thou well
My charge, on others practise thy deceits,
But always let thy tongue speak truth to me.
This is for thine advantage; be advised:
470
The time will come when thou wilt not repent
470
So doing; my esteem too thou wilt gain.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 141-495 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-107-1 This lively ‘dance-song’ (

ὑπόρχημα
) is the direct response of the Chorus to Deianeira's appeal (202
φωνήσατ’
),—expressing their delight at the good news. As Dr. W. Christ, who calls it ‘a paean to Artemis and Apollo,’ justly remarks ( Metrik § 443), its contents clearly point to a distribution of the verses between different singers. (1) The first part, down to v. 215 (
Νύμφας
), is an invitation to song and dance; this would be given either by the coryphaeus, or by the leader of one semichorus. (2) The second part, vv. 216—220 (
ἀείρομ’...ἅμιλλαν
), is the response, delivered by the leader of the other semichorus. (3) Then, at v. 221, the whole Chorus joins in with the refrain of the paean,
ἰὼ ἰὼ Παιάν
. (4) The coryphaeus then gives the last three verses, which introduce the next scene.—For the metres, see Metrical Analysis.

mvp-comment-107-2 ἀνολολυξάτω 1 δόμοις 2 ἁ 3 ὁ 4 δόμοις 5 ἐφεστίοις 6 ἐν δὲ κοινὸς ἀρσένων 7

mvp-comment-107-3 Hence we have to choose between these views, of which I prefer the first. (1) ἁ μελλόνυμφος 8 ἁ μελλόνυμφος 9 δόμος … ὁ μελλόνυμφος 10

mvp-comment-107-4 ἀνολολυξάτω 11

mvp-comment-107-5 δόμοις 12 ἀλαλαῖς 13

mvp-comment-108-1 κοινὸς 14 τὸν εὐφ. Ἀπ 15 ἴτω κλαγγὰ 16

mvp-comment-109-1 ἀνάγετ’ 17

mvp-comment-110-1 Ἄρτεμιν Ὀρτυγίαν 18

mvp-comment-110-2 Artemis was worshipped on the coasts near Malis (637 n.), but we have no proof that the name

Ὀρτυγία
was specially given to her there. Perhaps the poet uses it here merely as one of her standing epithets.

mvp-comment-110-3 ἐλαφαβόλον 19

mvp-comment-110-4 ἀμφίπυρον 20

mvp-comment-110-5 Νύμφας 21

mvp-comment-111-1 ἀείρομ’ 22

mvp-comment-112-1 τὸν αὐλόν 23 ὦ τύραννε 24 τᾶς ἐμᾶς φρενός 25

mvp-comment-113-1 ἰδού μ’ 26 εὐοῖ 27 ἀναταράσσει 28

mvp-comment-113-2 ὁ κισσός 29

mvp-comment-113-3 βακχίαν … ἅμιλλαν 30

mvp-comment-114-1 ἰὼ ἰὼ Παιάν 31

mvp-comment-115-1 ἵδ’ 32 ἴδε ἴδ’ 33

mvp-comment-116-1 τάδ’ 34

mvp-comment-116-2 ἐναργῆ 35 ἀντίπρῳρα 36

mvp-comment-117-1 οὐδέ μ’ ὄμματος φρουρὰν παρῇλθε 37 παρῆλθε 38 φρουρὰ 39

mvp-comment-118-1 προὐννέπω 40

mvp-comment-118-2 φέρεις 41 καὶ 42

mvp-comment-119-1 ἀλλ’ 43

mvp-comment-120-1 κατ’ ἔργου κτῆσιν 44

mvp-comment-120-2 ἄνδρα γὰρ 45

mvp-comment-120-3 καλῶς πράσσοντ’ 46 καλῶς 47 καλά 48

mvp-comment-121-1 ἃ πρῶτα βούλομαι 49 ‐εα 50

mvp-comment-122-1 ἔγωγέ τοι 51

mvp-comment-122-2 ἔλειπον 52 ζῶντα 53 τε καί 54 ἰσχύοντα 55 καί 56 θάλλοντα 57

mvp-comment-123-1 ποῦ γῆς 58 πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου 59 εἴτε 60 εἴτε 61

mvp-comment-123-2 ποῦ γῆς; πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου; λέγε 62

mvp-comment-123-3 ποῦ γῆς; πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου, λέγε 63

mvp-comment-123-4 πατρῴας 64

mvp-comment-124-1 Εὐβοίς 65

mvp-comment-124-2 ὁρίζεται βωμοὺς 66 βωμοὺς 67

mvp-comment-124-3 τέλη τ’ ἔγκαρπα 68

mvp-comment-125-1 εὐκταῖα … ἢ )πὸ μαντείας 69

mvp-comment-125-2 φαίνων 70

mvp-comment-126-1 εὐχαῖς 71

mvp-comment-126-2 ἀνάστατον 72

mvp-comment-127-1 ὧν 73

mvp-comment-127-2 ἐν ὄμμασιν 74

mvp-comment-128-1 τοῦ ποτ’ εἰσὶ 75 ἐκεῖνος 76

mvp-comment-129-1 οἰκτραὶ γάρ 77

mvp-comment-129-2 ξυμφοραὶ 78 ξυμφορᾷ 79

mvp-comment-130-1 ἐξείλεθ’ 80 αὑτῷ 81 θεοῖς 82

mvp-comment-131-1 ἦ κἀπὶ 83

mvp-comment-131-2 ἄσκοπον 84

mvp-comment-131-3 ἡμερῶν 85 ἀνήριθμον 86 χρόνον 87

mvp-comment-131-4 The form

ἀνήριθμος
is of a frequent type. When the second part of a compound adj. has a disyllabic stem (usu. a verbal stem), beginning with a short vowel, this vowel may be lengthened. Such forms were oft. convenient in poetry (as
ἀνήροτος, εὐήνεμος, φιλήρετμος
), but many of them were equally current in good prose (as
ἀνήκεστος, ἀνήνυτος, ἀνηλεῶς, εὐώνυμος
). The restriction of
ἀνήριθμος
to classical poetry and late prose (as Athen. p. 253 F) is not due to 1ts form, but to the fact that classical prose preferred
ἀναρίθμητος
. Tragedy uses
ἀνάριθμος
(
α^
) where it suits the metre (as in El.225 ). In Theocr. 15. 45
ἀνάριθμοι
(
α—
) is Doric for
ἀνήριθμοι
.

mvp-comment-132-1 τὸν μὲν πλεῖστον … χρόνον 88 ὡς φήσ’ αὐτός 89

mvp-comment-133-1 ἐμποληθείς 90

mvp-comment-133-2 τοῦ λόγου … φθόνον 91

mvp-comment-133-3 προσεῖναι 92

mvp-comment-133-4 ὅτου 93 ὅτου 94 τοῦ λόγου 95

mvp-comment-133-5 πράκτωρ φανῇ 96

mvp-comment-133-6 The meaning is:—‘You may think that the humiliation of Heracles ought not to be related by his servant to his wife. But this humiliation was imposed by Zeus himself, and can therefore be related without reflecting upon Heracles.’

mvp-comment-134-1 κεῖνος δὲ 97 ἐν Λυδοῖς 98 χρόνον 99

mvp-comment-134-2 πραθεὶς … Ὀμφάλῃ 100

mvp-comment-134-3 Two tragic poets of the fifth century B.C., Ionof Chios and Achaeus, had written an

Ὀμφάλη σατυρική
. Two poets of the Middle Comedy, Antiphanes (Athen. 112 C) and Cratinus jun. (id. 669 B) wrote an
Ὀμφάλη
, picturing Heracles abandoned to sensuous pleasures. Itis the more noteworthy how Sophocles, in lightly touching on this episode, has guarded his hero's dignity. For he speaks only of servile labours for the Lydian taskmistress (70 It, 356 ); and marks how the bondsman felt his disgrace (254).

mvp-comment-135-1 ἐνιαυτὸν 101

mvp-comment-136-1 λαβὼν 102

mvp-comment-137-1 ὅρκον αὑτῷ προσβαλὼν 103

mvp-comment-137-2 ἦ μὴν 104

mvp-comment-137-3 τὸν ἀγχιστῆρα τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους 105

mvp-comment-137-4 No emendation is probable. Nauck's αὐτόχειρα 106

mvp-comment-138-1 ξὺν παιδὶ καὶ γυναικὶ 107 παισὶ 108

mvp-comment-138-2 ἔτι 109

mvp-comment-139-1 κοὐχ ἡλίωσε τοὔπος 110

mvp-comment-139-2 ὅθ’ ἁγνὸς ἦν 111 ἁγνός 112

mvp-comment-140-1 στρατὸν … ἐπακτὸν 113

mvp-comment-140-2 ἔρχεται 114

mvp-comment-140-3 πόλιν τὴν Εὐρυτείάν 115

mvp-comment-141-1 ἐφέστιον 116 ἐς δόμους 117 ἐλθόντ’ … ἐφέστιον 118

mvp-comment-142-1 ξένον παλαιὸν ὄντα 119

mvp-comment-143-1 ἐπερρόθησε 120

mvp-comment-143-2 From

ἐπερρόθησε
a verb of more general sense, such as
ὕβρισε
, is to be supplied with ἀτηρᾷ φρενί 121 γόγοις 122 φρενί 123 δείπνοις δ’ 124

mvp-comment-143-3 Others understand :—‘railed against him both with (rude) words and with evil intent.’ To this there are two objections. (1) Since all the supposed affronts are then verbal, the antithesis would require an epithet for λόγοις 125 ἀτηρᾷ 126 πολλὰ μὲν … πολλὰ δέ 127

mvp-comment-143-4 The text is clearly (I think) sound. It is unwarrantable, as it is undesirable, to strike out πολλὰ δ’ … χεροῖν μὲν 128

mvp-comment-144-1 λέγων χεροῖν μὲν 129 δὲ 130 λέγων 131

mvp-comment-144-2 τῶν ὧν τέκνων 132

mvp-comment-144-3 λείποιτο 133

mvp-comment-145-1 φωνεῖ δὲ 134 ῥαίοιτο 135

mvp-comment-145-2 ἀνδρὸς … ἐλευθέρου 136 δοῦλος 137

mvp-comment-145-3 ῥαίοιτο 138

mvp-comment-145-4 The conject.

φανεὶς δὲ δοῦλος ἀνδρος ἀντ’ ἐλευθέρου
(cr. n.) has been received by several edd., who cite Ai.1020
δοῦλος λόγοισιν ἀντ’ ἐλευθέρου φανείς
. There, however, the force of
φανείς
depends on
λόγοισιν
: ‘represented,’ ‘made out,’ in his taunting words, to be a slave. Here
φανείς
would mean simply, ‘found to be.’

mvp-comment-145-5 δείπνοις 139

mvp-comment-145-6 ᾠνωμένος 140

mvp-comment-145-7 ἔρριψεν ἐκτὸς αὐτόν 141

mvp-comment-145-8 ὧν ἔχων χόλον 142

mvp-comment-146-1 αὖθις 143

mvp-comment-146-2 Τιρυνθίαν … κλιτύν 144 υ^ 145 κλιτύν 146

mvp-comment-146-3 ἵππους νομάδας 147 νομάδας 148

mvp-comment-147-1 ἄλλοσ’ … ὄμμα, θατέρᾳ δὲ νοῦν ἔχοντ’ 149 θατέρᾳ 150 ἄλλοσε 151

mvp-comment-147-2 πυργώδους πλακός 152

mvp-comment-148-1 ὁ τῶν ἁπάντων 153

mvp-comment-149-1 πρατόν νιν ἐξέπεμψεν 154 οὐδ’ ἠνέσχετο 155 ὁθούνεκ’ 156 μοῦνον 157

mvp-comment-150-1 ἠμύνατο 158

mvp-comment-151-1 χειρουμένῳ 159

mvp-comment-151-2 οὐδὲ δαίμονες 160

mvp-comment-152-1 κεῖνοι δ’ 161

mvp-comment-152-2 ὑπερχλίοντες 162

mvp-comment-152-3 ἐκ γλώσσης κακῆς 163

mvp-comment-152-4 282 For αὐτοὶ μὲν 164 κεῖνοι 165 πόλις δὲ 166

mvp-comment-152-5 οἰκήτορες 167

mvp-comment-153-1 τάσδε 168 ἅσπερ 169 ἐξ ὀλβίων 170

mvp-comment-154-1 χωροῦσι πρὸς σέ 171

mvp-comment-154-2 πόσις τε … ἐγὼ δὲ 172 ἐφεῖτο 173 τελῶ 174

mvp-comment-155-1 ἁγνὰ θύματα 175 τῆς ἁλώσεως 176

mvp-comment-156-1 φρόνει νιν ὡς ἥξοντα 177 νιν 178 ὡς 179

mvp-comment-157-1 καλῶς 180

mvp-comment-158-1 νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ 181

mvp-comment-158-2 τῶν μὲν 182 τὰ δὲ 183

mvp-comment-159-1 πανδίκῳ φρενί 184

mvp-comment-160-1 τῇδε 185 τοῦτο 186

mvp-comment-160-2 The rejection of this verse (see cr. n.) would be deplorable. Deianeira rejoices, but <*>ls a certain sadness, and knows that she cannot help showing it; all the more she wishes to assure them how real her joy is.

mvp-comment-161-1 τοῖσιν εὖ σκοπουμένοις 187

mvp-comment-161-2 ταρβεῖν τὸν εὖ πράσσοντα 188

mvp-comment-161-3 This shadow which flits across Deianeira's joy is the more dramatically impressive for the spectators, because it arises so naturally out of her tender sympathy for the captives. It is a touch worthy of the greatest master.

mvp-comment-162-1 ἐμοὶ … εἰσέβη 189

mvp-comment-162-2 δεινὸς 190

mvp-comment-163-1 ἀπάτορας 191

mvp-comment-163-2 301 f. For ἴσως 192 ἐξ ἐλευθέρων ἀνδρῶν 193 ἀνδρῶν 194 ἀπάτορας 195

mvp-comment-164-1 ὦ Ζεῦ τροπαῖε 196

mvp-comment-164-2 τοὐμὸν σπέρμα 197

mvp-comment-164-3 χωρήσαντα 198 εἰς 199 πρὸς 200 σε 201 που 202

mvp-comment-165-1 μηδ’, εἴ τι δράσεις 203 εἰ 204 ζώσης 205

mvp-comment-165-2 This verse is a development of μή ποτ’ εἰσίδοιμι 206

mvp-comment-165-3 The objection to the verse as illogical assumes that the

δέ
in μηδέ 207

mvp-comment-166-1 τεκνοῦσσα 208 τεκοῦσα 209

mvp-comment-166-2 πρὸς … φύσιν 210 πάντων … τῶνδε 211

mvp-comment-166-3 γενναία 212

mvp-comment-167-1 ὁ φιτύσας πατήρ 213

mvp-comment-167-2 ᾤκτισα 214

mvp-comment-167-3 ὅσῳπερ 215 μόνη 216

mvp-comment-167-4 φρονεῖν οἶδεν 217 φρονεῖν 218

mvp-comment-167-5 314 f. For καὶ 219 κρίνοις 220

mvp-comment-167-6 γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν 221 οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις 222

mvp-comment-168-1 μὴ τῶν τυράννων 223

mvp-comment-168-2 Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν 224 τις 225

mvp-comment-169-1 ἀνιστόρουν 226

mvp-comment-169-2 μακράν 227

mvp-comment-170-1 ξυνεμπόρων 228

mvp-comment-170-2 ἔχεις 229

mvp-comment-170-3 ἤνυτον 230

mvp-comment-171-1 ἀλλ’ ἡμὶν 231

mvp-comment-172-1 καὶ 232 ξυμφορά 233

mvp-comment-173-1 οὔ τἄρα 234 οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου 235 τῷ γε πρόσθεν χρόνῳ 236 ἐξ ἴσου 237 διοίσει 238 γλῶσσαν 239 διοίσει 240

mvp-comment-173-2 ἤτις 241

mvp-comment-173-3 οὐδαμὰ 242

mvp-comment-174-1 οὔτε μείζον’ οὔτ’ ἐλάσσονα 243

mvp-comment-175-1 ὠδίνουσα … βάρος 244

mvp-comment-176-1 διήνεμον 245 πάτραν 246

mvp-comment-176-2 ἡ … τὐχη 247

mvp-comment-176-3 αὐτῇ γ’ 248 γ’ 249

mvp-comment-176-4 συγγνώμην ἔχει 250

mvp-comment-177-1 ἡ δ’ οὖν 251 ἡ δ’ 252 ἥδ’ 253

mvp-comment-177-2 οὕτως ὅπως ἥδιστα 254

mvp-comment-177-3 331 Among the attempts to amend

λύπην...λύπην
(cr. n.), the two best, I think, are, (1) ἄλλην … λύπην 255 λύπην … διπλῆν 256 διπλῆν 257

mvp-comment-177-4 Almost all edd. retain the optat. λάβοι 258 λάβῃ 259

mvp-comment-178-1 οἷ θέλεις σπεύδῃς 260

mvp-comment-178-2 ἐγὼ δὲ 261 σύ θ’ 262

mvp-comment-178-3 ἐξαρκῆ τιθῶ 263

mvp-comment-179-1 The

ἄγγελος
(180), who has listened in silence, now places himself between Deianeira and the door through which she is about to follow Lichas and the captives.

mvp-comment-179-2 αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνας’ 264 γε 265

mvp-comment-179-3 ἀμμείνας’ 266

mvp-comment-180-1 ἄνευ 267 τ’ 268 μάθῃς 269 μάθῃς 270 ἐκμάθῃς 271 οὕστινας 272

mvp-comment-180-2 ὧν τ’ οὐδὲν εἰσήκουσας 273

mvp-comment-181-1 πάντ’ 274

mvp-comment-182-1 τί δ’ ἔστι 275

mvp-comment-182-2 τοῦ 276

mvp-comment-182-3 ἐφίστασαί με 277 τήνδε βάσιν 278

mvp-comment-182-4 The midd.

ἐφίσταμαι
does not elsewhere occur in a causal sense (except in the aor., as Xen. Cyr.8. 2. 19
φρουροὺς ἐπεστησά μην
). But the causal use of
καθίσταμαι
( Aesch. Eum.706
φρούρημα γῆς καθίσταμαι
, Thuc.2. 6
τά τ’ ἐν τῇ πόλει καθίσταντο
) appears to warrant a like use of
ἐφίσταμαι
, where, as here, the context helps to explain it. Cp. also Plat. Tim. 63 C
γεώδη γένη διϊστάμενοι
, ‘separating.’ [But we cannot properly compare O. C.916
παρίστασαι
, ‘you bring to your own side,’ ‘subjugate’: nor Plat. Rep. 565C
ἕνα τινὰ...δῆμος εἴωθε...προΐστασθαι ἑαυτοῦ
: where there is a special reason for using the midd.] The midd.
προσορωμένα
in Soph. O. C.244 is similarly unique, and has a like justification.

mvp-comment-182-5 A fact which confirms this view is that

ἐφιστάναι, ἐφίστασθαι
were regularly used with ref. to a halt. Xen. An.2. 4. 26
ἐπορεύετο δὲ ἄλλοτε καὶ ἄλλοτε ἐφιστάμενος. ὅσον δὲ χρόνον τὸ ἡγούμενον τοῦ στρατεύματος ἐπιστήσειε, τοσοῦτον ἦν ἀνάγκη χρόνον δἰ ὅλου τοῦ στρατεύματος γίγνεσθαι τὴν ἐπίστασιν
. (For
ἐπίστασις
, ‘a halt,’ cp. Soph. Ant.225 n.) Polyb. 16. 34. 2
ἐπιστήσαντες...τὴν ὁρμήν
. Diod.17. 112
τὴν ὁδὸν...ἐπιστήσας
. Plut. Cim. 1
ἐπιστήσας...τὴν πορείαν
. Arrian 5. 16. 1
ἐπέστησε τοὺς ἱππέας τοῦ πρόσω
.

mvp-comment-182-6 Another explanation is: τοῦ με ἐφίστασαι 279 τήνδε βάσιν 280 με 281 μοι 282 τοῦ 283 ἐφ’ οὗ 284 με 285

mvp-comment-183-1 οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος … οὐδὲ νῦν 286 οὐδὲ 287 οὔτε 288

mvp-comment-183-2 μάτην 289

mvp-comment-183-3 δοκῶ 290

mvp-comment-184-1 ἐκείνους 291 τούτους δ’ ἔα 292 ἄνευ τῶνδ’ 293

mvp-comment-184-2 ἢ )μοὶ ταῖσδέ τ’ 294

mvp-comment-185-1 σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ’ οὐδὲν εἴργεται 295 οὐδὲν 296 σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ’ 297

mvp-comment-186-1 καὶ δὴ 298

mvp-comment-186-2 χὡ λόγος σημαινέτω 299

mvp-comment-187-1 δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν 300

mvp-comment-187-2 ἢ νῦν … ἢ πρόσθεν … παρῆν 301 κακός 302

mvp-comment-188-1 ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας 303

mvp-comment-188-2 ἀγνοία 304

mvp-comment-189-1 μαρτύρων 305

mvp-comment-189-2 Εὔρυτόν θ’ ἕλοι τήν θ’ ὑψίπ. Οἰχαλίαν 306

mvp-comment-189-3 τὴν ὑψίπυργον 307

mvp-comment-189-4 Οἰχαλίαν 308

mvp-comment-190-1 μόνος θεῶν 309

mvp-comment-190-2 θέλξειεν 310

mvp-comment-191-1 οὐ τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς 311 ὑπ’ 312 ἐπ’ 313 τἀπὶ 314 ἐπ’ 315

mvp-comment-191-2 πόνων λατρεύματ’ 316

mvp-comment-191-3 ὁ ῥιπτὸς … μόρος 317

mvp-comment-191-4 Heracles had really killed Iphitus. The denial here refers only to the place which the murder held in the story told by Lichas. Heracles was instigated, not by the Lydian servitude which punished his crime, or by those affronts (262 ff.) which Lichas represented as having moved him to the crime, but, in reality, by the refusal of Eurytus to give him Iolè.

mvp-comment-192-1 ὃν 318 ὃ 319 ὃν … παρώσας 320

mvp-comment-193-1 ἀλλ’ ἡνίκ’ 321 οὐκ ἔπειθε 322

mvp-comment-193-2 τὸν φυτοσπόρον 323

mvp-comment-194-1 κρύφιον ὡς ἔχοι λέχος 324 αἰτίαν 325

mvp-comment-194-2 ἑτοιμάσας 326

mvp-comment-194-3 362—

mvp-comment-195-1 ἐπιστρατεύει … ἄνακτα πατέρα 327 τόνδ’ 328 τῶνδ’ 329

mvp-comment-195-2 (1) It was needless to say that the girl's

πατρίς
was also the realm of Eurytus: cp. 244 f.: 283 ff.: 315. The excuse must be that the Messenger himself had not yet said so; he is wordy, and anxious, in his own fashion, to be lucid. The reading τόνδ’ 330 τῶνδ’ 331

mvp-comment-195-3 (2) Heracles is subject to ἐπιστρατεύει 332 κτείνει 333 εἶπε 334 δεσπόζειν 335 εἶπε 336

mvp-comment-195-4 (3) At v. 377 Deianeira asks,

ἆρ’ ἀνώνυμος
|
πέφυκεν
; i.e., ‘is she of obscure birth?’—and then, for the first time, learns that the girl's father is Eurytus. So she must have understood ἄνακτα 337

mvp-comment-195-5 The only course which removes all these three difficulties is Hartung's,—who brackets the words τὴν ταύτης … πατέρα 338

mvp-comment-195-6 Others read τῶν Εὐρύτου τόνδ’, rendering: ‘in which (Lichas) said that Heracles (

τόνδ’
) holds’ [or ‘wishes to hold’] the throne of Eurytus.’ But Heracles simply laid Oechalia waste; there was no question of his reigning there.—Wecklein ingeniously reads τὸν ἐργάτην 339 τῶνδ’ 340

mvp-comment-195-7 For the change of tenses, cp. Ant.406 n.

mvp-comment-196-1 ἥκει 341 ἔπερσε 342 ἐντεθέρμανται 343 ἥκει 344

mvp-comment-196-2 δόμους ὡς τούσδε 345

mvp-comment-197-1 οὐδ’ εἰκός 346

mvp-comment-197-2 ἐντεθέρμανται 347 ἐν‐ 348 ἐκ‐ 349

mvp-comment-198-1 πρὸς μέσῃ Τραχινίων ἀγορᾷ 350 ἐν 351

mvp-comment-198-2 ἀγορᾷ 352

mvp-comment-198-3 Join ὡσαύτως ἐμοί 353

mvp-comment-199-1 τὸ δ’ ὀρθὸν 354

mvp-comment-200-1 ποῦ … πράγματος 355

mvp-comment-200-2 ὑπόστεγον 356

mvp-comment-201-1 ὦ δὐστηνος 357 πέφυκεν 358

mvp-comment-201-2 This question seems strange after the words κτείνει τ’ ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε 359

mvp-comment-201-3 διώμνυτο 360

mvp-comment-202-1 ἦ κάρτα 361

mvp-comment-202-2 The conject. ὄνομα 362 ὄμμα 363 ἆρ’ ἀνώνυμος πέφυκεν 364 ὄνομα 365 φύσιν 366 κατ’ ὄμμα 367

mvp-comment-202-3 φύσιν 368

mvp-comment-202-4 In some ancient texts this verse was given to Deianeira. Among recent editors, Paley shares that view. But: (1) If Deianeira has already answered her own question, the Messenger's speech opens weakly with v. 380. (2) It agrees best with the practice of Sophocles to suppose that ἦ κάρτα 369 ἢ 370 ἦ 371 φύσιν 372 διώμνυτο 373

mvp-comment-203-1 πατρὸς μὲν οὖσα 374 Ἰόλη )καλεῖτο 375 ποτέ 376 )καλεῖτο 377 οὖσα 378

mvp-comment-203-2 Ἰόλη 379

mvp-comment-203-3 τῆς 380

mvp-comment-204-1 βλάστας 381

mvp-comment-204-2 οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν 382

mvp-comment-204-3 Many editors place a comma after ἐφώνει 383 δῆθεν 384 δῆθεν 385 οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν 386

mvp-comment-205-1 ὄλοιντο 387

mvp-comment-205-2 The comment is aimed at Lichas in the first instance; but its vague form seems purposed, so that the hearers may extend it, if they please, to Heracles. Deianeira herself is in doubt whether the dissimulation practised by Lichas was prompted by her lord (449): Lichas explains that it was not so (479 f.). The schol.'s paraphrase shows that he wished to punctuate thus:

ὄλοιντο, μή τι πάντες, οἱ κακοί
, etc.: ‘perish, not all men, but the evil; and (especially) he,’ etc.

mvp-comment-205-3 τὰ δὲ 388 δὲ 389

mvp-comment-205-4 μὴ 390 πρέπονθ’ αὑτῷ 391

mvp-comment-206-1 ποεῖν 392

mvp-comment-207-1 πεύθου 393 πυθοῦ 394

mvp-comment-207-2 σαφῆ 395

mvp-comment-208-1 οὐκ ἀπὸ γνώμης 396

mvp-comment-208-2 The accent in L here,

ἄπο γνώμης
, represents the theory that this prep. should be paroxytone when it means ‘at a distance from,’ as in the phrases cited above, and in
ἀπὸ τείχεος
( Il.9. 353 ),
ἀπὸ σεῖο
( ib. 437), etc. But this was merely a refinement due to comparatively late grammarians: see Ellendt, Lex. Soph. p. 79 a: Matthiae Gr. § 572 n. b.

mvp-comment-209-1 οὐκ ἐμῶν ὑπ’ ἀγγέλων 397 αὐτόκλητος 398

mvp-comment-210-1 ὡς ὁρᾷς 399 εἰσορᾷς 400 εἰσορᾷς 401 ὡς 402 ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ, εἰσορᾷς 403 ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ 404 εἰσορᾷς 405 εἰσορᾷς ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ 406 εἰσορᾷς 407

mvp-comment-210-2 As regards ὡς ὁρᾷς 408 ὡς 409

mvp-comment-211-1 ἐκ ταχείας 410

mvp-comment-211-2 σὺν χρόνῳ … βραδεῖ 411

mvp-comment-211-3 πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους 412

mvp-comment-212-1 ἦ καὶ 413

mvp-comment-212-2 τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀλη‐ 414 θείας 415

mvp-comment-212-3 νεμεῖς 416

mvp-comment-212-4 Even without the hint in the schol. (cr. n.), it would have been clear that νεμεῖς 417 νέμεις 418

mvp-comment-213-1 As to Nauck's change in the order of these verses (cr. n.), it is enough to observe that (1) Lichas could not reply to the question of his

δέσποινα
with such a rebuff as σὺ δ’ εἰς τί δή με 419 τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς 420

mvp-comment-214-1 οὗτος, βλέφ’ ὧδε 421

mvp-comment-215-1 σὺ δ’ 422

mvp-comment-216-1 τόλμησον 423

mvp-comment-216-2 εἰ φρονεῖς 424

mvp-comment-216-3 ἱστορῶ 425

mvp-comment-216-4 406 f. If δάμαρτα 426 δεσπότιν 427 θ’ 428 δ’ 429 δέ … δέ 430 τε … τε. — λεύσσων μάταια 431

mvp-comment-217-1 δίκαια 432

mvp-comment-218-1 δίκαιος 433

mvp-comment-219-1 ποικίλας 434

mvp-comment-220-1 ἱστορούμενος 435

mvp-comment-221-1 κάτοισθα 436

mvp-comment-222-1 ἣν ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς 437 ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας 438 ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας 439

mvp-comment-222-2 On the whole, I do not feel sure that there is a corruption. If there is, it probably lies deep. Some conjectures are noticed in the Appendix.

mvp-comment-223-1 τίς πόθεν μολὼν 440

mvp-comment-224-1 πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν 441 ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι 442

mvp-comment-224-2 ἀγορᾷ 443

mvp-comment-224-3 ταῦτά 444 γ’ 445 γε 446

mvp-comment-224-4 425 If the MS. ναί 447 γε 448 κλύειν 449 ναί 450

mvp-comment-224-5 ταὐτὸ 451

mvp-comment-224-6 426 The antithesis is between the whole phrases, δόκησιν 452 ἐξακριβῶσαι 453

mvp-comment-225-1 ποίαν δόκησιν 454

mvp-comment-226-1 ἐγὼ δάμαρτα 455

mvp-comment-226-2 431 The emphatic σοῦ 456 σου 457 ἤκουσεν 458 ἤκουσα 459

mvp-comment-227-1 ἡ Λυδία 460 ἡ Λυδία 461 ὁ τῆσδ’ ἔρως φανείς 462 ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ 463

mvp-comment-228-1 ἀποστήτω 464

mvp-comment-229-1 πρός σε τοῦ … Διός 465

mvp-comment-229-2 νάπος 466

mvp-comment-229-3 ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον 467

mvp-comment-230-1 Deianeira argues:—(1) 438 —448: he need not fear that she will feel rancour against Heracles or Iolè: (2) 449—454: falsehood would be disgraceful for him,—and, if his motive were kind, useless: (3) 455 f.: detection would be certain: (4) 457 ff.: he need not be afraid of paining her. (5) In vv. 461— 467 she returns to the first topic.

mvp-comment-230-2 κακῇ 468

mvp-comment-230-3 τἀνθρώπων 469

mvp-comment-230-4 πέφυκεν 470 πεφύκας’ 471

mvp-comment-231-1 Ἔρωτι μέν νυν 472

mvp-comment-231-2 πύκτης ὅπως 473

mvp-comment-231-3 οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ 474

mvp-comment-232-1 ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν 475

mvp-comment-233-1 κἀμοῦ γε 476 γε 477

mvp-comment-233-2 πῶς δ’ οὐ 478

mvp-comment-233-3 οἵας γ’ ἐμοῦ 479 γε 480

mvp-comment-233-4 Wunder and Nauck reject this beautiful verse, because: (1) by

κἀμοῦ γε
Deianeira implies that she is stronger than the gods; and also that she has been untrue to her husband: (2) she cannot assume that Iolè returns the passion of Heracles; nor does Iolè's feeling come into account here.

mvp-comment-234-1 τὠμῷ τ’ ἀνδρὶ 481 τε 482 ἢ 483

mvp-comment-234-2 τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ 484

mvp-comment-234-3 μεμπτός 485

mvp-comment-235-1 τοῦ μηδὲν αἰσχροῦ 486 μηδ’ ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος 487 τοῦ 488

mvp-comment-235-2 This is a remarkable passage, and it is of some moment to understand it rightly. The meaning is not merely that Iolè's relation to Heracles was excused by the omnipotence of Erôs. Concubinage (

παλλακία
) was not merely tolerated by Athenian opinion, but, in some measure, protected by law (see e.g. , Lys. or. 1 § 31 : Isae. or. 8 § 39 ). Its relation to the life of the family is illustrated by the Andromachè of Euripides; for though Andromachè is Trojan, and Hermionè Spartan, the sentiments are Athenian. A wife (
γαμετὴ γυνή
) who tolerates a
παλλακή
is there represented as proving her goodness of heart (
ἀρετή
, 226), and her wise moderation (938—942); she ought to be consoled by her higher place, and by the advantage which her children will have over the
νόθοι
.

mvp-comment-235-3 But is Deianeira in earnest here; or is she feigning acquiescence, to reassure Lichas? Presently she tells the Chorus that she cannot endure to share her home with Iolè (539—546). Probably Sophocles meant her to be sincere in both places. The faith in her own power to bear the trial is natural at this moment of excitement and suspense. Not less so is the reaction, when she knows the worst, and has had time to think.

mvp-comment-236-1 οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτ)· ἀλλ’ 489 οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα 490

mvp-comment-236-2 μαθὼν … ἐκμανθάνεις 491

mvp-comment-237-1 αὑτὸν 492 ὀφθήσει 493

mvp-comment-238-1 κὴρ 494 πρόσεστιν 495

mvp-comment-239-1 ὅπως δὲ λήσεις 496 ὅπως δὲ λήσεις 497

mvp-comment-240-1 δέδοικας … ταρβεῖς 498

mvp-comment-240-2 τοῦτο 499

mvp-comment-241-1 πλείστας ἀνὴρ εἷς 500

mvp-comment-241-2 ἔγημε 501

mvp-comment-241-3 The legendary loves of Heracles were as numerous as the local myths which claimed Heracleid <*>escent for clans or houses. Thus his bride Megara connected him with Thebes; Astydameia, with Thessaly; Astyochè, with Epeirus; Epicastè, with Elis; Parthenopè, with Arcadia; Chalciopè, with Cos; the Thespiades, with Sardinia; and so forth. The number of his sons finally grew to about seventy, whose mothers are enumerated by Apollodorus (2. 7. 8).

mvp-comment-242-1 ἠνέγκατ’ 502

mvp-comment-242-2 ἥδε τε, οὐδ’ εἰ … ἐντακείῃ 503 ἂν 504 οὐδ’ 505 εἰ 506 ἂν 507

mvp-comment-242-3 ἐντακείη τῷ φιλεῖν 508

mvp-comment-242-4 ἐντακείη 509 τῷ φιλεῖν 510

mvp-comment-242-5 The conject. ἐκτακείη 511

mvp-comment-243-1 ᾤκτιρα 512 δὴ 513

mvp-comment-244-1 ῥείτω κατ’ οὖρον 514 ἴτω 515 οὖρον 516

mvp-comment-244-2 κακὸν 517

mvp-comment-244-3 πρὸς ἄλλον 518 κακὸν 519 πρὸς ἄλλον εἶναι 520

mvp-comment-245-1 πιθοῦ λεγούσῃ 521 πείθου 522 πιθοῦ 523 γυναικὶ τῇδε 524

mvp-comment-246-1 ἀλλ’ 525 θνητὴν φρονοῦσαν θνητὰ 526 ἀγνώμονα 527

mvp-comment-247-1 κρύψομαι 528

mvp-comment-248-1 ἔστιν γὰρ οὕτως 529

mvp-comment-249-1 ταύτης ὁ δεινὸς ἵμερος 530 ὁ δεινὸς 531

mvp-comment-249-2 ποθ’ 532

mvp-comment-249-3 διῆλθε 533 τῆσδ’ 534 ταύτης 535

mvp-comment-249-4 ἡ πολύφθορος 536

mvp-comment-249-5 πατρῷος 537

mvp-comment-250-1 καὶ τὸ πρὸς κείνου 538

mvp-comment-251-1 εἴ τι τήνδ’ ἁμαρτ. 539

mvp-comment-251-2 νέμεις 540

mvp-comment-252-1 γε μὲν δὴ 541 ἐπεὶ 542

mvp-comment-253-1 στέργε 543 ἐς 544

mvp-comment-253-2 ἐμπέδως 545 ἐμπέδους 546

mvp-comment-253-3 488 f. Either τἄλλ’ 547 χεροῖν 548

mvp-comment-254-1 καὶ 549 φρονοῦμεν 550

mvp-comment-255-1 νόσον γ’ ἐπακτὸν ἐξαρούμεθα 551 ἐπακτὸν 552 γε 553 ἐξαρούμεθα 554

mvp-comment-255-2 Others understand:—(1) ‘I shall not heighten the trouble already brought upon me by others’ (viz., the introduction of Iolè into the house, 376). But this sense for ἐξαρούμεθα 555 γε 556 νόσημ’ 557

mvp-comment-255-3 θεοῖσι δυσμαχοῦντες 558

mvp-comment-256-1 λόγων τ’ 559

mvp-comment-256-2 λόγων … ἐπιστολὰς 560

mvp-comment-257-1 προσαρμόσαι 561

mvp-comment-257-2 This is the first mention of the fateful gift. An unobtrusive significance is given to it by two traits of expression. (1)

δῶρα
is drawn into the relative clause ( O. C.907 n.), and resumed, with a light emphasis, in
καὶ ταῦτ’
: cp. Ph.1247
ἅ γ’ ἔλαβες βουλαῖς ἐμαῖς
, |
πάλιν μεθεῖναι ταῦτα
. (2) A pause follows the second foot of the verse (
ἄγῃς
). Cp. 27 n.

mvp-comment-257-3 ἄγῃς 562 φέρῃς 563 δίκαια 564

mvp-comment-257-4 ὧδε 565 σὺν π. στόλῳ 566

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

205-224. mvp-comment-159-1 The Chorus in response to Deianira raise this strain, accompanied, at least in the latter part of it (216 foll.), with dancing, or some rapid motion to and fro. Cp. Aj. 693-717, О. Т. 1086–1109, Ant. 1115-1152, for similar expressions of hope before some catastrophe. See also O. C. 1044 foll., El. 1384-1397. The maidens who are come to visit Deianira (1) challenge the maidens within the house to shout for joy, and (2) invite the young men to accompany them; (3) they encourage each other to raise the hymn to Artemis, (4) they dance under the excitement of the flute and the thyrsus, (5) they call attention to the coming of Lichas with the captives. These quick changes mark the feeling of trepidation which the situation is calculated to produce.

205. mvp-comment-160-1 ἀνολολύξατε δόμοις] There is no cause for changing the MS. reading of this line, which, as Hermann pointed out, has the same metre as El. 1384, ἴδεθ᾽ ὅπου προνέμεται. The plur. imperative is addressed to all within the house (young men and maidens), who are mentioned separately afterwards.

206. mvp-comment-161-1 ὁ μελλόνυμφος is either (1) used collectively-the indefinite singular for the indefinite plural ( Essay on L. § 20. p. 31 )-or (2) there is an ellipse of χόρος (κατὰ σύνεσιν). The former (1) is more probable, and the gender is to be accounted for, as in l. 151 supr., τὴν αὑτοῦ σκοπῶν πρᾶξιν. The word μελλόνυμφος may be suggested by Deianira's description in ll. 144-150. Those to whom marriage is in futurity. Such echoes of the dialogue are frequent in the choric songs. ἐν δέ] · And therewith.' Essay on L. § 18. p. 26. κοινός] Mingling' with the voices of the maidens. Cp. O. C. 1500, τίς αὖ παρ᾽ ὑμῶν κοινὸς ἠχεῖται κτύπος; κοινὸς feminine occurs only here.

207. mvp-comment-162-1 ἴτω] Nauck well quotes Fr. 435, ἴτω δὲ Πυθιὰς βοὰ θεῷ : Eur. Fr. Phaeth. 775, l. 52, ἴτω τελεία γάμων ἀοιδά. τὸν .. προστάταν] The accusative is governed by the general notion of celebrating' implied in the preceding words. See E. on L. § 16. p. 23. εὐφαρέτραν] ‘Lord of the quiver,' an epithet which either (1) simply brings the figure of the god vividly before the eye, cp. ἀργυρότοξος, or (2) implies his propitious power.

209. mvp-comment-163-1 προστάταν] “The protector,' Apollo προστάτης οι προστατήριος, is rightly invoked by those within the house, as having his altar at the gate. El. 637-

210. mvp-comment-164-1 παιᾶνα παιᾶν] The repetition imitates the hymn itself, in which the same sounds would be often renewed. ἀνάγετε] Cp. Eur. Phoen. 1350, ἀνάγετε κωκυτόν. ὦ παρθένοι] The Chorus now address themselves, as below l. 821, ἴδ᾽ οἷον, ὦ παῖδες, προσέμιξεν ἄφαρ, κ τ.λ.

211. mvp-comment-165-1 βοᾶτε τὰν .. "Αρτεμιν] ‘Call aloud the name of Artemis.' Cp. supr. 207. ὁμόσπορον] ‘His sister. See the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, ll. 14 foll., and the Hymn to Artemis, l. 2.

212. mvp-comment-166-1 Ὀρτυγίαν] Two accounts are given of the use of this epithet: (1) that as, according to the Scholiast of Apollonius Rhodius, the name Ortygia primarily belonged to Artemis as worshipped in Aetolia, she is so named here in compliment to Deianira: (2) that Artemis Ortygia was believed to haunt some place in the neighbourhood of Trachis. The latter is confirmed by l. 637, and by the most natural meaning of γείτονας in this passage, viz. 'in our neighbourhood.' The comparison of the Syracusan Ortygia (Pind. Pyth. 2. 10, 11, 'Ορτυγίαν ποταμίας ἕδος᾿ Αρτέμιδος) may suggest that the goddess was imagined to haunt wooded promontories or peninsulas, which had been left wild from being difficult of access. The quail (ὄρτυξ) may have been peculiarly abundant in such places. For γείτονας, i.e. Μηλιάδας, cp. Phil. 725, Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν, κ.τ.λ.

214. mvp-comment-167-1 ἀμφίπυρον] Artemis is commonly represented with a torch in either hand. Cр. О. Т. 207, 8, τάς τε πυρφόρους | ᾿Αρτέμιδος αἴγλας ξὺν αἷς | Λύκι᾿ ὄρεα διάσσει.

216. mvp-comment-168-1 This line seems to mark the point where the dance, or the rapid movement of the Chorus, begins. The elision of the termination in ἀείρομαι is very unusual.

216. mvp-comment-168-2 ἀείρομ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἀπώσομαι τὸν αὐλόν] 'I am uplifted, and will not repel the flute;' i.e. I will yield to its power. The following words are not addressed to Deianira, but are an apostrophe to the power of the flute, 'The sovran of the willing soul' (as Gray calls the lyre, in summing up the first Pythian), which is compelling them to the dance. Cp. Αj. 693, περιχαρής δ᾽ ἀνεπτάμαν.

219-220. mvp-comment-169-1 ἰδοὺἅμιλλαν] • Behold even now (glory to Iacchos), the ivy stirs up my soul, and makes me quick to turn in' (or 'into') 'the Bacchic course!' The ivy upon their brows, or wound about the thyrsus, with which they incite each other to the dance. βακχίαν .. ἅμιλλαν is probably acc. in app. with the action of ὑποστρέφων. Turning me' either in,' or 'into the Bacchic course.' Others, with the Scholiast, would render, Converting my soul (from sorrow) to the Bacchic dance.'

222. mvp-comment-170-1 ἰὼ, ἰὼ Παιάν] The Chorus are just leading up the Paean, which from its monotony could not have been continued with dramatic effect, when Lichas arrives, and they break off. The correction of the text is due to Dindorf, who also reads γυναικῶν. But there is no reason to assume that the three lines must be alike. The iambic tripody with a pause makes a good transition to the other form, CICIC!!. (Qy. ἰδέ· | ἴδ᾽ ὦ φ. γ.?)

223-224. mvp-comment-171-1 τάδ' .. ἐναργῆ] ‘Here is the thing face to face, present and palpable to sight.' ἐναργῆ] 'Beyond the possibility of mistake.'

225-226. mvp-comment-172-1 ὄμματος .. στόλον] The subject of παρῆλθε is the vague τάδε (l.223) resumed with more distinctness in τόνδε .. στόλον : i. e. οὐ παρῆλθέ μ' ὅδε ὁ στόλος, μὴ λεύσσειν αὐτόν. παρῆλθε, 'Escaped,' as in Dem. 550. 26, τουτὶ .. μικροῦ παρῆλθέ με εἰπεῖν, 'I see it, dear friends, nor hath this escaped the vigilance of my eye.' τόνδε, sc. ὄντα τοιόνδε. For the second acc. (με governed by ὀμμ. Φ. π. = ἔλαθε) see Essay on L. § 16. p. 23 , and cp. Ο. C. 113, καὶ σύ μ᾿ ἐξ ὁδοῦ πόδα | κρύψον. While Musgrave's correction is adopted in the text, as having a high degree of probability, the MS. reading may be defended as meaning, 'Vigilance has not (so) passed from my eye.' But such a meaning of παρῆλθε is questionable.

226. mvp-comment-173-1 μὴ λεύσσειν] Although μὴ οὐ would be in place here, we are not in a position to say that μή by itself is wrong.

227-228. mvp-comment-174-1 χρόνῳ | πολλῷ] Cp. Phil. 715, δεκέτει χρόνῳ: Aesch. Ag. 521, δέξασθε κύσμῳ βασιλέα πολλῷ χρόνῳ. χαρτὸν φέρεις] For the direct address following the third person, cp. Ο. Τ. 162, καὶ Φοῖβον ἑκαβόλον .. προφάνητε. There is an obvious play of words, to which καί gives emphasis, Joy to thee, herald, if thou bringest joyful news. For the order of words, ср. О. С. 665, Φοῖβος εἰ προϋπεμψέ σε.

229. mvp-comment-175-1 ἀλλ᾽ εὐ μὲν ἵγμεθ᾽] ἀλλά sets aside the doubt expressed in εἰ . . φέρεις. Cp. Phil. 232, ἀλλ᾽, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἴσθι τοῦτο πρῶτον, κ.τ.λ., ‘Our coming is happy, be assured, and happily are we addressed, lady, as the deed which has been achieved is happy.'

230. mvp-comment-176-1 κατ᾿ ἔργου κτῆσιν = ὥσπερ ἔργῳ ἐκτησάμεθα, sc. ἀγαθά implied in ev. ἄνδρα.. ἔπη] 'He who is fortunate cannot fail to win good words.' For ἀνάγκη, which may seem rather abrupt, cp. 295, πολλή ᾿στ᾿ ἀνάγκη τῇδε τοῦτο συντρέχειν, where, as here, the expression is stronger than the thought, 'It cannot be otherwise,' meaning only, 'It is but natural.'

232. mvp-comment-177-1 φίλτατ᾿ ἀνδρῶν] For the affectionate address arising simply from the effusion of joy, cp. Εl. 1227, ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ὦ πολίτιδες, κ.τ.λ. Lichas has also, of course, a claim on Deianira's gratitude for having brought the news. βούλομαι] Sc. διδαχθῆναι.

233. mvp-comment-178-1 προσδέξομαι] Deianira, in her eager questioning, goes beyond what Lichas could possibly tell.

234. mvp-comment-179-1 ἔλειπον] For the tense, see on l. 47. When I took leave of him he was, etc. ἰσχύοντά τε | καὶ ζῶντα] i. e. 'Not only alive but strong.' See Essay on L. § 41. p. 78 b.

235. mvp-comment-180-1 θάλλοντα] Flourishing,' as one who has lately done great things.

236. mvp-comment-181-1 Where in the world either of his own land or of lands beyond?' Cp. supr. 73 for a similar condensed question. Like the Chorus, Deianira is all uncertainty as to Heracles' whereabouts, and her imagination wanders far. In supr. 163 the words πατρώας γῆς denoted the Peloponnese, as the inheritance of the sons of Heracles. Here (γῆς) πατρώας refers to Hellas generally, either (1) simply as the native land of Heracles, or (2) as the land which was under the especial protection of his father Zeus. Cp. Aesch. Fr. 157-

237. mvp-comment-182-1 ἀκτή τις ἔστ᾽ Εὐβοιΐς, ἔνθ'] The usual formula in describing the place where anything occurred (l. 752, Ant. 966, Homer passim). ὁρίζεται] «He consecrates.' The word is literally applicable to the τέμενος, whose bounds were marked out, but is extended to the altar and what is placed on it.

238. mvp-comment-183-1 τέλη τ' ἔγκαρπα] The 'tribute of fruitful things' is (1) that proportion of the produce of the τέμενος which was to be devoted to the immediate service of the god. Or (2) more generally, 'Offerings of the fruits of the earth.'

239. mvp-comment-184-1 εὐκταῖα φαίνων] Το fulfil a vow.' For φαίνειν of the practical manifestation of an intention, cp. O. C. 721, νῦν σοὶ τὰ λαμπρὰ ταῦτα δὴ φαίνειν ἔπη: Hdt. 3. 36, εὔνοιαν φαίνων.

240. mvp-comment-185-1 εὐχαῖς] ‘By reason of the vow he vowed.' For the dative of the reason, cp. infr. 1127, τοῖς γε πρόσθεν ἡμαρτημένοις. This is the reading of L supported by the lemma of the Scholiast, and is also the harder reading. On these accounts it is preferred to εὐκταῖ', the reading of Par. A, although the latter is equally good in point of sense. ἀνάστατον] Proleptic. 'He conquered and made homeless.

243. mvp-comment-186-1 ξυμφορᾷ] 'Unless they deceive me by their misfortune,' i.e. Unless I am led by their unhappy looks to pity them more than they deserve. This, the reading of the diorthotes of L, which Schndw. adopted, is better than ξυμφορα, which is found in other MSS., because Deianira's feeling is better expressed by making the maidens the subject of the sentence, than if ξυμφοραὶ = αἱ ξυμφοραὶ αὐτῶν were the nominative.

245. mvp-comment-187-1 καὶ θεοῖς] Cp. Eur. Ion 309, 10, τοῦ θεοῦ καλοῦμαι δοῦλος, εἰμί τ', ὦ γύναι. ΚΡ. ἀνάθημα πόλεως, ἤ, κ.τ.λ.: Phoen. 220, 1, ἴσα δ᾽ ἀγάλμασι χρυσοτεύκτοις Φοίβῳ λάτρις γενόμαν. κριτόν] Choice.' Cp. Pind. Pyth. 4. 89, κριτὸν εὑρήσει . . γένος, but the word here retains more of the verbal meaning = ἔκκριτον.

246. mvp-comment-188-1 And was it by that city that he was absent during the vast time of which the days could not be numbered?' ἄσκοπον] That cannot be taken into the eye (or the mind). Essay on L. § 51. p. 96.

247. mvp-comment-189-1 For βεβώς here, see on l. 41. ἡμερῶν ἀνήριθμον] For the gen., cp. Ο. Τ. 178, ὧν πόλις ἀνάριθμος ὄλλυται, and note.

248ff. mvp-comment-190-1 The falsehood of Lichas consists, not in the story of the servitude of Heracles to Omphale, which, whether true or false, was matter of common rumour (ll. 67 foll.), but in his assigning this as the reason for the conquest of Oechalia.

248. mvp-comment-191-1 τὸν.. πλεῖστον] Viz. twelve months out of the fifteen (l. 253).

249. mvp-comment-192-1 ὥς φησ᾿ αὐτός 253 ὡς αὐτὸς λέγει] The word of Heracles himself is required to confirm a statement so degrading to him.

250-251. mvp-comment-193-1 τοῦ λόγου δ᾽ οὐ χρὴ φθόνον .. προσεῖναι] 'And, lady, this must be heard without offence, as all things must in which the hand of Zeus is seen.' The expression is generalized in the relative clause. Hence the subjunctive.

251. mvp-comment-194-1 τοῦ λόγου is an objective genitive, - 'Envy at the word' or 'tale.' Ζεύς, κ.τ.λ.] Infr. 275.

252. mvp-comment-195-1 πραθείς repeats ἐμποληθείς with less attempt at softening the harsh fact. Cp. 276. Lichas purposely enlarges on the trouble that is past in order to lighten by contrast the effect of the discovery which must soon be made.

254. mvp-comment-196-1 He was so stung by incurring this dishonour.' For ὄνειδος = Disgrace,' cp. O. C. 967, 984, О. Т. 1035, 1494.

255. mvp-comment-197-1 Cp. with ὅρκον.. προσβαλών the expressions ὅρκον ἐπελαύνειν and προσάγειν τινί in Hdt. 1. 146, 6. 62.

256. mvp-comment-198-1 τὸν ἀγχιστῆρα] 'The causer.' This being a verbal form cannot be the equivalent of ἀγχιστεύς, which is from ἄγχιστος, ας ἀριστεύς from ἄριστος. Whether a verb ἀγχίζω existed or not, it is presupposed in the formation of ἀγχιστήρ, which can only mean, 'Him who brought on' (Seidler). 'He expressly swore that he would reduce to slavery the man who brought this trouble.' αὐτόχειρα has been conjectured, but this word could hardly be applied to Eurytus with reference to the bondage of Heracles. There Eurytus was only μεταίτιος, an accomplice before the fact, which was the work of Zeus.

257. mvp-comment-199-1 ξὺν παιδί] In Odyss. 9. 199, οὖνεκά μιν σὺν παιδὶ περισχόμεθ' ἠδὲ γυναικί, there is a various reading παισί, but there is nothing improbable in the collective use of the singular here. Essay on L. § 20. p. 31, 2.

258. mvp-comment-200-1 οὐχ ἡλίωσε] 'He made not void;' i. e, amply fulfilled. ἁγνός] 'Clean,' i. e. free. The bondage was a pollution incurred by the murder of Iphitus and at the same time an expiation of it. There may also have been some formal expiation not expressly mentioned. When this was over, he was pure, and might therefore look for success.

259. mvp-comment-201-1 ‘στρατὸν .. ἐπακτόν, quem dicit Sophocles, Arcades fuisse et Malienses et Locros Epicnemidios perhibet Apollodorus, 2. 7, 7; solos Arcades nominat Diodorus, 4. 37.' Herm. The point is one of no importance to the action. πόλιν] Accusative of motion to. Essay on L. § 16. p. 22.

260. mvp-comment-202-1 τόνδε] Sc. τὸν Εύρυτον. Α simple instance of the construction κατὰ σύνεσιν. Essay on L. § 36. p. 64. μεταίτιον] Alone partner with Zeus in the blame of this calamity.' Cp. Aesch. Eum. 199, 200, αὐτὸς σὺ τούτων οὐ μεταίτιος πέλει, | ἀλλ᾽ εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἔπραξας ὢν παναίτιος.

261. mvp-comment-203-1 μόνον βροτῶν] Cp. 355, μόνος θεῶν.

262. mvp-comment-204-1 ἐφέστιον, | ξένον παλαιὸν ὄντα] Coming to be received at his hearth, having been a friend of old.'

263-264. mvp-comment-205-1 πολλὰ μὲν πολλὰ δέ] 'Brake forth against him with rude words and with evil intent.' The antithetical repetition adds emphasis. Eurytus not only spoke badly, but meant badly. See Essay on L. § 40. p. 76. ἀτηρᾷ φρενί] 'With mischief-meaning mind.' Cp. Phil. 1272, πιστός, ἀτηρὸς λάθρᾳ.

265. mvp-comment-206-1 ἄφυκτα.. βέλη] The bow and arrows afterwards bequeathed to Philoctetes. Cp. Phil. 105.

266. mvp-comment-207-1 τῶν ὧν.. κρίσιν] ‘He came behind his (Eurytus') sons in fitness to compete with the bow;' (i.e. πρὸς τὸ τόξῳ κρίνεσθαι.)

267. mvp-comment-208-1 φωνεῖ δέ] 'And he utters the word.' This emphatic resumption of λέγων may be justified by the extraordinary nature of the reproach. Such a use of φωνεῖν is rare, but cp. O. Τ. 780, καλεῖ παρ᾿ οἶνῳ, κ.τ.λ.: Αj. 1047, οὗτος, σὲ φωνῶ, κ.τ.λ., and see above, λόγοις ἐπερρόθησε. The word suggests the loud tones in which the reproach was uttered. For the 'return to the indicative,' see Essay on L. § 36. p. 64 b. Most MSS. have φώνει, the imperfect without augment. Brunck substituted for this the vivid present. Hermann suspected the word, and conjectured φανείς. I formerly suggested φύσει (ΙΙ. 19. 95 foll., O. С. 1295).

268. mvp-comment-209-1 ῥαίοιτο] 'Was being crushed,' viz. by Eurystheus. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 189, ὅταν ταύτῃ ῥαισθῇ. δείπνοις] ‘At a feast. O. Τ. 779 and note. ἦν οἰνώμενος] Sc. ὁ Ἡρακλῆς. Ας Epic and Ionic forms are sometimes employed in narration, it is not worth while to alter the MS. reading to ᾠνώμενος here. Cp. μοῦνον, l. 277.

270. mvp-comment-210-1 αὖθις] ‘Again,' on another occasion. Τιρυνθίαν πρὸς κλιτύν] Το the Tirynthian height.'

271. mvp-comment-211-1 ἵππους νομάδας] ‘His horses, which had been loose at pasture.' His mind was following the horses, wondering where they were. This gave Heracles the opportunity for his single act of guile.

273. mvp-comment-212-1 Hurled him from the towering cliff.' ἀπ᾿ ἄκρας . . πυργώδους πλακός, From the tower-like crown of the cliff,' is an expression which recalls the appearance of Tiryns as seen from below.

275. mvp-comment-213-1 τῶν ἁπάντων] Of all, and not only of Heracles, to whom therefore he could not forgive this wrong.

276-277. mvp-comment-214-1 οὐδ᾽ ἠνέσχετο, | ὁθούνεκ'] 'And would not endure it, that-.' μοῦνον ἀνθρώπων] Unlike the rest of those whom he had slain. See the story of Iphitus told in Od. 21. 14-41.

278. mvp-comment-215-1 εἰ . . ἠμύνατο] ‘If he had made requital openly.'

279. mvp-comment-216-1 Zeus manifestly would have consented' either (1) to his being justly punished,' or (2) 'to his justly punishing him.' In the former case, (1) χειρουμένῳ used passively involves a change of subject. In the latter, (2) the same word used actively is without an object. τοι gives a note of preparation for what follows, in which the connection, though not fully expressed, is obvious; viz. 'Zeus punished Heracles for his guile, certainly not out of any love for Eurytus' proud race, who for their over-weening insolence have now been destroyed.' So Lichas returns from the digression, with which he laboured to assign a motive for the siege of Oechalia. His prolixity in doing this (which has brought the passage under suspicion), is really a stroke of art, by which the poet reminds the spectators of the simplicity of the real motive.

280. mvp-comment-217-1 'It is not to be supposed that the gods any more than men favour the proud.' Of this the ruin of Oechalia is a proof.

281. mvp-comment-218-1 κεῖνοι] 'And they too'-Eurytus and his sons, who must be supposed to have joined with him in his transgression. ἐκ γλώσσης κακῆς] 'With reviling words.' ἐκ here denotes rather the manner than the origin of the offence. ὑπερχλίοντες is in the imperfect tense. See Essay on L. § 32. p. 54 , and cp. Thuc. 3. 9. § 3, ἐν τῇ εἰμήνῃ τιμώμενοι.

282. mvp-comment-219-1 ῞Αιδου οἰκήτορες] Cp. infr. 1161, ὅστις "Αιδου φθίμενος οἰκήτωρ πέλοι.

283. mvp-comment-220-1 τάσδε] For this attraction of the antecedent, see Essay on L. § 35. p. 59, and cp. supr. 152.

284. mvp-comment-221-1 ἐξ ὀλβίων] Sc. οὐσῶν. As if the sentence were ἐξ ὀλβίων ἄζηλοι γενόμενοι.

286. mvp-comment-222-1 πιστὸς ὢν κείνῳ] Deianira remembers this afterwards, ll. 617-20.

287. mvp-comment-223-1 αὐτὸν . . ἐκεῖνον] Resumed in νιν, l. 289, where Hense unnecessarily conjectures φρόνησον. ἁγνὰ θύματα] ‘'Pure sacrifices,' consecrating the victory by acknowledging the help of the gods.

288. mvp-comment-224-1 τῆς ἁλώσεως] For the capture,' as a thank-offering. To be joined with θύματα. Essay on L. § 10. p. 15 d. πατρῴῳ Ζηνί] Schndw. says that although Zeus was the father of Heracles he was here worshipped by him as the god of the whole race (of Amphitryon?). But Zeus was πατρῷος to Heracles in a peculiar sense-'The Zeus of fatherhood,' i e. 'The author of being.' Cp. infr. 753. Qy. φρονεῖν (see v. rr.)?

290. mvp-comment-225-1 καλῶς λεχθέντος] ‘Of many words fair to hear this is the fairest.' πολλοῦ has been questioned and ὅλου conjectured by Otto Hense. But ὅλου is inexact. For the account of Heracles' bondage to Omphale (ll. 248-53) was not fair to hear.'

292. mvp-comment-226-1 i. e. You have not only the words of Lichas, but the presence of the captives, to vouch for the coming of Heracles. That which assures the joy of Deianira is to be the cause of her misery. So little does the 'coming event cast its shadow before.' Cp. 862.

294. mvp-comment-227-1 πανδίκῳ φρενί] 'With a heart that has every reason to rejoice':-πανδίκως τῇ φρενί.

295. mvp-comment-228-1 'This cannot fail' either (1) 'to coincide with that' (the joy with the news), or (2) 'to coincide in this way.' In (1) τῇδε = τῇ πράξει. In (2) τῇδε is adverbial and τοῦτο is the news and the rejoicing in one. The former (1) is best. Such news must needs be met by such rejoicing.' This line, with many others that could be dropped without ruining the connection, has been needlessly suspected as an interpolation.

296. mvp-comment-229-1 ἔνεστι τοῖσιν εὖ σκοπουμένοις] Either (1) There is occasion in the eyes of those who consider well' (the middle voice occurs in O. Τ. 964, τί δῆτ᾽ ἄν, ὦ γύναι, σκοποῖτό τις, κ.τ.λ.): -the dative, as in O. T. 616, καλῶς ἔλεξεν εὐλαβουμένῳ πεσεῖν : -or (2), 'There is room, when things are well considered.' In this case the dative is governed by ἐν in ἔνεστι.

298. mvp-comment-230-1 For οἶκτος of pity mixed with apprehension, cp. Eur. Med. 931, εἰσῆλθέ μ' οἶκτος εἰ γενήσεται τάδε. δεινός] Overpowering,' of strong feeling. Cp. infr. 476, ταύτης ὁ δεινὸς ἵμερος: Plat. Theaet. 169 Β, οὕτω τις ἔρως δεινὸς ἐνδέδυκε τῆς περὶ ταῦτα γυμνασίας.

300. mvp-comment-231-1 Homeless, because Oechalia was destroyed; Fatherless,' because its chief men had been slain in battle.

301. mvp-comment-232-1 πρίν] In their former life, when they had a home.

302. mvp-comment-233-1 δοῦλον) The adjectival use of δοῦλος, which occurs here and supr. l. 53, is not found in earlier Greek.

303. mvp-comment-234-1 τροπαῖε] 'Giver of victory." Deianira has been commonly understood to address Zeus thus as the averter of evil (ἀποτρόπαιος). But elsewhere τροπαίος means the god who turns armies in battle. On this occasion Zeus has driven the army of Oechalia before Heracles and his allies. Deianira apprehends the possibility of some descendant of the Heracleidae being similarly defeated and made captive through the same god favouring another race.

304. mvp-comment-235-1 ποι after the verb of motion = που.

305. mvp-comment-236-1 τῆσδέ γε ζώσης ἔτι, Sc. δράσειας

306. mvp-comment-237-1 ὁρωμένη) The middle adds a touch of feeling, like the ethical dative, Le Looking at them with reflection. Cp. Ο. Τ. 1487, νοούμενος τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ πικροῦ βίου.

307. mvp-comment-238-1 Iole is naturally silent and downcast in the presence of Deianira, who in her quick sympathy interprets this as an expression of sorrow. The foremost captive, she observes, shows more feeling than the rest (312).

308. mvp-comment-239-1 τεκνοῦσσα (see v. rr.) is obtained from the lemma of the Scholiast. φύσιν] 'Appearance.' Cp. O. Т. 740, 1, φύσιν τιν εἶχε, φράζε.

309. mvp-comment-240-1 πάντων. . τῶνδε] Sc. τοῦ ἄνδρα τε καὶ τέκνα σχεῖν.

313. mvp-comment-241-1 φρονεῖν οἶδεν] 'Has the sense to feel her position." See note on 307. For this pleonastic use of οἶδεν = ἐπίσταται. cp. Hom. Il. 7. 238, οἶδ᾽ ἐπὶ δεξιά, εἶδ' ἐπ᾿ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν: Phil. 1010, ὃς οὐδὲν ἤδη πλὴν τὸ προσ ταχθὲν ποιεῖν: Arist. Vesp. 376, ν᾽ εἰδῇ μὴ πατεῖν τὰ τῶν θεῶν ψηφίσματα.

314. mvp-comment-242-1 τί δ' ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις; καὶ opposes the question to the reply. I cannot answer, and why should you ask??

315. mvp-comment-243-1 τῶν ἐκεῖθεν] Sc. γεννημάτων. Ср. О. Т. 1167, τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων. οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις] 'Not far down.' The phrase is equivalent to an attributive adjective agreeing with γέννημα.

316. mvp-comment-244-1 μὴ τῶν τυράννων] Sc. γέννημα. 'Can she have been of the royal stock?' Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν] Either (1) 'Is it possible she is Eurytus' offspring?' τις = πως. See Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, sub fin., and cp. Ó. T. 1167, quoted above. Or (2) Had Eurytus any offspring?" So Hermann.

317. mvp-comment-245-1 οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν] 'I did not carry my inquiries far.'

318. mvp-comment-246-1 τῶν ξυνεμπόρων] Of those travelling with her and you,' viz. the other captives. ἔχεις = πέπυσαι. Cp. Phil. 789, ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα.

319. mvp-comment-247-1 τοὐμὸν ἔργον] The herald's task of bringing the captives home.

320. mvp-comment-248-1 Deianira, baffled in her compassionate eagerness, now turns to Iole herself in a tone of entreaty. ἀλλά belongs to ἐκ σαυτῆς or to the whole sentence, not to ἡμίν. (Cр. О. С. 238, ὦ ξένοι, . . ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεί, κ.τ.λ.)

321. mvp-comment-249-1 καὶ ξυμφορά τοι] These words express Deianira's strong sympathy. 'Verily, I am distressed not to know who thou art.' A narrator might say of her in the language of Herodotus, καὶ συμφορὴν ἐποιέετο, τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι τὴν ξείνην ἥ τις εἴη. It has been observed that the particles ἐπεὶ καί τοι are not found together elsewhere. But each of the three words has a distinct and apposite meaning. 'For' (ἐπεί) ‘I tell you' (τοι) 'I am even' (καί) ' distressed.' γε simply emphasizes σé, i. e. 'You, who have awakened such an interest in me.'

322ff. mvp-comment-250-1 Lichas hurriedly interposes to prevent disclosure with a significant warning to Iole to hold her peace. The first Scholiast's explanation of these words gives a rational meaning: ἐὰν αἰδουμένη σε φθέγξηται, κατ᾿ οὐδὲν ἄρα ἐξίσου τῷ πρόσθεν χρόνῳ προκομίσειεν (ἂν ?) αὐτῆς τὴν γλῶσσαν· τὸν γὰρ πρὸ τοῦ χρόνου ἐσιώπα: i.e. he understands the stress of the sentence to be on the words οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου τῷ γε πρόσθεν χρόνῳ ( Essay on L. § 24. p. 40 ). It will not be in accordance with (her demeanour in) the previous time that she will bring out her tongue (if she does so).' The doubt is whether διαφέρειν can mean, 'To bring between the lips,' and so answer the προκομίζειν of the Scholiast. Wakefield's conjecture διήσει, ' Will let pass through her lips,' is supported by Ο. C. 963 (ὅστις φόνους . .) τοῦ σοῦ διῆκας στόματος. Hermann explained the words to mean, Just as hitherto (τῷ γε πρόσθεν ἐξ ἴσου χρόνῳ) she will maintain an even tenour (οὐδὲν διοίσει) as to her tongue.' Dindorf (agreeing with the second Scholiast), 'She will not employ her tongue' (οὐ.. διοίσει οι διήσει γλῶσσαν) 'inconsistently with what she has done hitherto.'

323-324. mvp-comment-251-1 οὐδαμὰ | προὔφηνεν] ‘Made no sign.

325. mvp-comment-252-1 But travailing with the weight of her calamity she has wept over it ever since.' The accusative is to be joined both with ὠδίνουσα and δακρυρροεῖ. Cp. Shak. Pericles, 5. 1, 'I am great with woe and shall deliver weeping.'

327. mvp-comment-253-1 διήνεμον] It is difficult to determine whether this is (1) a mere epithet, 'Wind-swept,' like the Homeric ἠνεμόεσσα, descriptive of a city on a hill, or (2) a supplem. pred. = διήνεμον οὖσαν, ‘Desolate,' 'Open to the winds.' The first (1) may be supported by comparing several picturesque touches in this play, but the other (2) is more dramatic. Both are given in the scholia, ἔρημον (2), ὕψηλον (1). ἡ δέ τοι] This is better than ἥδε τοι, which leaves an unmeaning asyndeton. Her case is unfortunate, I mean for herself, but suggests a reason for indulgence' (on our part); i. e. 'Her misfortune may excuse her silence.'

328. mvp-comment-254-1 For ἔχει, cp. Thuc. 2. 41. § 3, ἀγανάκτησιν ἔχει ('Gives cause for complaint'): Eur. Phoen. 995, τοὐμὸν δ᾽ οὐχὶ συγγνώμην ἔχει.

329. mvp-comment-255-1 ἥδ᾽ οὖν] ἡ δ' οὖν is sometimes read here, as in O. T. 669. But while δέ is unnecessary, the opposition of πάντες in what follows is enough to justify the use of the demonstrative ἥδε. στέγας] For the accus. cp. 58, δύμους.

330. mvp-comment-256-1 ἥδιστα] For this sense of ἡδύς, ср. О. C. 639, 40, εἰ δ᾽ ἐμοῦ στείχειν μέτα | τόδ᾽ ἡδύ.

331. mvp-comment-257-1 This line in LA (see v. rr.) has manifestly suffered from corruption, some other word being replaced either by the first or the second λύπην. The Triclinian reading which is adopted in the text, although possibly due to conjecture, is more probable than any other of the various changes which have been proposed. It is not necessary to change λάβοι το λάβῃ. The optative slightly varies the expression, I would not have her,' etc.

333. mvp-comment-258-1 For τε.. δέ, see Essay on L. §36. p. 65 f , and cp. supr. 143. The antithesis is introduced after the sentence is begun. οἱ θέλεις] Viz. to rejoin Heracles.

334. mvp-comment-259-1 ἐξαρκή] ‘As they should be.' Cp. infr. 625.

335. mvp-comment-260-1 ἀμμείνασα] Sc. χωροῖς ἄν. Ср. Phil. 645, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών. For the use of the participle with ye = 'Not until,' cp. Plat. Phaedr. 228 D, δείξας γε πρῶτον, ὦ φιλότης, κ.τ.λ. The "Αγγελος is rude, and something of a busy-body, but honest and well-meaning.

336. mvp-comment-261-1 ἄνευ τῶνδε] When Lichas and the captives are not present.'

337. mvp-comment-262-1 ἐκμάθῃς θ' ἃ δεῖ] The change from τε to γε in AVR is an attempt to simplify the sentence, but still leaves an awkward resumption. The Αγγελος, full of the importance of his message, and yet afraid to speak it too soon, hurries over the latter part of the sentence, 'That you may learn, first who they are whom you are taking within, and then what else is hidden from you, and (in short) that you may learn fully what you ought to know.'

338. mvp-comment-263-1 l. 338 is characteristic of the man's self-importance. There is a certain ὄγκος in the postponement of γάρ (Aj. 522, El. 492); and the expression πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμη, 'Knowledge as to all things, Absolute knowledge,' has also a mockheroic (almost 'Pistol'-like) air.

339. mvp-comment-264-1 τί δ᾽ ἐστί] 'What is the matter? Why do you stay my footsteps here with your interruption?" τοῦ for τίνος = τίνος ἕνεκα. See Essay on L. § 10. p. 15 d. The punctuation (that of L) is rendered probable by comparing Ο. Τ. 938, τί δ᾽ ἔστι; ποίαν δύναμιν ὧδ᾽ ἔχει διπλῆν ; ἐφίστασαι] The present middle of ἵστημι is used transitively in Hdt. 7. 9, πολέμους ἵστανται, 'They set up wars amongst themselves.' παρίστασθαι is so used by Sophocles, O. C. 916, ἄγεις θ' ἃ χρήζεις καὶ παρίστασαι βίᾳ, and by other writers: καθίσταμαι by Eur. Suppl. 522, πόλεμον οὐ καθίσταμαι: προίστασθαι by Plato and Demosthenes : διίστασθαι by Plato, Tim. 63 C. It is therefore possible that ἐφίστασθαι here and in Aj. 869 (ἐπίσταται MSS.) may mean, 'To arrest.' τήνδε . . βάσιν] The second accusative expresses the respect in which Deianira was stopped: 'In this going,' i.e. in going, as I have just begun to do. The above interpretation, which is that of the Scholiast, agrees better with the context than if ἐφίστασαι were taken intransitively: Why do you stand before me in this your coming?' See esp. l. 335, αὐτοῦ. . ἀμμείνασα, and 340, σταθεῖσα.

341. mvp-comment-265-1 μάτην] 'Without result,' i.e. without the event proving the truth of my words. δοκῶ] Sc. τὸν μῦθον μάτην ἀκούσεσθαί σε,

342. mvp-comment-266-1 ἐκείνους] Those other people, who were here a little while ago. It may be remarked, as exemplifying the dramatic manner of Sophocles, that the words ἄνευ τῶνδε in l. 336 are unobserved by Deianira. Cp. O.Т. 360, and note.

344. mvp-comment-267-1 οὐδὲν εἴργεται] Sc. τάδε λεχθῆναι. For the passive, cp. Thuc. 8. 54, ὥστε μηκέτι διαμέλλεσθαι. τούτους] Though further off than the Chorus, Lichas and the captives are still imagined as within sight through the open door, and within call.

345. mvp-comment-268-1 χώ λόγος σημαινέτω] ‘Now then let your speech declare your meaning.' Deianira is impatient of the air of mystery which the man has hitherto assumed. For λόγος personified, ср. О. С. 574, χώ λόγος διέρχεται: Fr. inc. 782, διχοστατῶν λόγος. σημαίνειν, without an expressed object, occurs several times in Sophocles and Thucydides; and in Xenophon, Mem. 1. 1. § 4, τὸ δαιμόνιον γὰρ ἔφη σημαίνειν.

346. mvp-comment-269-1 ἀνὴρ ὅδ'] 'Lichas here' (pointing indoors). Cp. τούτους, supr. 344.

347. mvp-comment-270-1 δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν] Truly and uprightly. For δίκη in this sense, cp. Ant. 538, οὐκ ἐάσει τοῦτό σ᾽ ἡ δίκη. κακός] Sc. ἐστί. 'He is behaving badly.'

348. mvp-comment-271-1 δίκαιος] Honest.'

349. mvp-comment-272-1 πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς] ‘All that thou knowest.'

353. mvp-comment-273-1 ἕλοι] 'Subdued,' viz. killed Eurytus and destroyed Oechalia. For a similar double use of εἶλον, cp Pind. Οl. 1. 142, ἕλεν δ' Οἰνομάου βίαν | παρθένον τε σύνευνον.

354-355. mvp-comment-274-1 Ἔρως.. μόνος θεῶν, κ.τ.λ.] The god of love, and no other, had moved him to this feat of arms.' αἰχμάσαι τάδε] 'Το enter on this warlike enterprise.’ τάδε, cognate accusative.

356-357. mvp-comment-275-1 τἀπὶ . . λατρεύματα] (1) 'Not the toilsome service at the bidding of the Lydians or of Omphale.' Or (2) the preposition may have the merely locative sense in the first instance, and the different meaning, 'In the power of,' with the second word. The labours which he performed among the Lydians and in the service of Omphale.' ἐπί = ' In the power of.' Cp. О. С. 66, ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

357. mvp-comment-276-1 ὁ ῥιπτὸς.. μόρος] ‘The death by hurling from the rock. For a use of the passive of ῥίπτω (with cognate subject) corresponding to this use of the verbal adj.. cp. the oracle in Hdt. 1. 62, ἔρριπται δ᾽ ὁ βόλος (‘Now the cast is made'), τὸ δὲ δίκτυον ἐκπεπέτασται. Cp. also Eur. Or. 990, 1, Μυρτίλου φόνον | δικών, and see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

358. mvp-comment-277-1 ov] Referring to "Έρως, the most important subject in the preceding lines. Cp. Ο. C. 86, 7, Φοίβῳ τε καμοί, κ.τ.λ., ὅς, κ.τ.λ. The conjectures ἅ and ὅ are quite unnecessary. παρώσας] « Having thrust aside,' cp. Eur. El. 1037, τἄνδον παρώσας λέκτρα: Plat. Rep. 5. p. 471 C, δ.. παρωσάμενος .. πάντα ταῦτα εἴρηκας. ἔμπαλιν λέγει] 'Tells a different (lit. opposite) tale.'

359. mvp-comment-278-1 οὐκ ἔπειθε] 'He could not persuade.' The imperfect implies that his suit was continued for some time. φυτοσπόρος is originally ὁ σπείρας τὸ φυτόν,

360. mvp-comment-279-1 κρύφιον . . λέχος] ‘In secret marriage,' - accusative in apposition with the action.

362-363. mvp-comment-280-1 These lines have been censured for their tautology, and justly enough; but they are in character with the speaker, who, like the Φύλαξ in the Antigone, has already shown a fondness for false emphasis and superfluous words. The words ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε in l. 364 are in the same manner. ἐν ἡ τὸν Εὔρυτον τόνδ' εἶπε δεσπόζειν θρόνων] 'The same wherein he told us that Eurytus of whom he spake was master of the throne.' The Messenger wants to impress on Deianira that this part of what she has heard need not be unsaid. The reading τῶνδε (see v. rr.) involves a still more superfluous use of the demonstrative.

365. mvp-comment-281-1 ὡς] Hermann's note in defence of ὡς shows a wise caution. He thinks that the rule of grammarians that ὡς for πρός can only be used with persons may be extended so as to cover a case of this kind where the house includes the inmates of the house. It is certainly better to retain a reading which, for anything we know, may be specially suited to express an authorized mission, such as that of Iole under charge of Lichas. ἥκει] 'Heracles is come.' After the words of Lichas in supr. 289, the arrival of Heracles is regarded as an accomplished fact.

366. mvp-comment-282-1 ἀφροντίστως] 'Without special care,' as he would have done, if she had merely fallen to his lot as part of the spoil. Cp. supr. 283-6.

367. mvp-comment-283-1 μηδὲ προσδόκα τόδε] ‘Nay, do not look for that.' μηδέ is rather adversative to Deianira's previous impression than to the preceding words. Others have taken it to mean, 'As it is not the fact, so neither must you think it.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 879, μηδὲ θαυμάσῃς τόδε, where there is a similar doubt.

368. mvp-comment-284-1 ἐντεθέρμανται] ἐνθερμαίνειν may surely mean ἐντὸς θερμαίνειν, ας ἐμπιμπλάναι means ἐντὸς πιμπλάναι, and unless we are to get rid of all ἅπαξ λεγόμενα, there is no good reason for exchanging this, at some one's suggestion, for ἐκτεθέρμανται, because the Scholiast explains the word by ἐκκέκανται and ἐκθερμαίνειν means somewhere, 'To chafe the limbs.' The addition of this line is suited to the character of the Messenger, whose garrulity unconsciously rubs the sore.

371. mvp-comment-285-1 πρὸς μέσῃ.. ἀγορᾷ] ‘Near the midst of the Trachinians' public place.' Lichas was standing in the midst of the ἀγορά, his audience were standing near. The expression is varied infr. 423. The word μέσῃ marks the publicity of Lichas' statement. See note on O. T. 808.

373. mvp-comment-286-1 ἐξελέγχειν] Sc. αὐτόν. · Clearly to convict him.' εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα] From the signs of emotion which she shows, and perhaps instructed by the gestures of the Chorus, the man perceives at last how Deianira is wounded. Ср. О. Т. 746, and note. For φίλα, cp. Phil. 1178, φίλα μοι, φίλα ταῦτα παρήγγειλας.

374. mvp-comment-287-1 οὐχ ἥδομαι] ‘I am sorry.' Cp. Eur. Med. 136, οὐδὲ συνήδομαι, ὦ γύναι, ἄλγεσι δώματος, ἐπεί μοι φίλον κέκρανται.

375. mvp-comment-288-1 ποῦ . . πράγματος] ‘Where am 1?' Cp. Αj. 314, κἀνήρετ᾽, ἐν τῷ πράγματος κυροί ποτέ.

376-377. mvp-comment-289-1 What undermining trouble have I welcomed in beneath my roof?' Cp. Ant. 531, σὺ δ᾽, ἢ κατ᾿ οἴκους ὡς ἔχιδν᾽ ὑφειμένη | λήθουσά μ᾽ ἐξέπινες. ὦ δύστηνος] Sc. ἐγώ. Cp. 375, 1143, 1243, О. Т. 1155, О. С. 318. ἆρ᾿ ἀνώνυμος] Deianira thus dwells bitterly on the deceit of Lichas, whereupon the literal Messenger proclaims Iole's name.

379. mvp-comment-290-1 καὶ κατ᾿ ὄμμα καὶ φύσιν] ‘In birth, as in appearance.'

380. mvp-comment-291-1 πατρός.. Εὐρύτου] 'Taking lineage from Eurytus for her sire.' Ср. Phil. 260, ὦ παῖ πατρὸς ἐξ ᾿Αχιλλέως : Εl. 365, νῦν δ᾽ ἐξὸν πατρὸς .. παῖδα κεκλῆσθαι, καλοῦ τῆς μητρός: Ο. C. 215, τίνος εἶ σπέρματος, ὦ ξένε, φώνει, πατρόθεν. ποτέ] Once.' Cp. supr. 301, and the Homeric εἴ ποτ᾽ ἔην γε (Il. 3. 180).

381. mvp-comment-292-1 'Of whose origin he had not a word to say, pretending forsooth to have made no inquiry.' Cp. supr. 317.

382. mvp-comment-293-1 οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν] 'Because he did not inquire' at that former time. ὅτι (τότε) οὐδὲν ἱστόρει. Cp. supr. 281, ὑπερχλίοντες, and note.

383. mvp-comment-294-1 ὅλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί] The Chorus in a sort of aside, which Deianira is too absorbed to perceive (see infr. 386, ἐκπεπληγμένη), thus covertly direct their indignation at some one. Is this Lichas or Heracles? The prevarication of Lichas is hardly a sufficient cause for such an outburst, and the phrase 'unbecoming to himself' has no significance in relation to him. It is more probable that the Trachinian women, unheard by Deianira, thus breathe a curse on the unfaithfulness of Heracles. It should be remembered that he is not their master, so that the analogy of Medea, 83, 4, ὅλοιτο μὲν μή, δεσπότης γάρ ἐστ᾽ ἐμός, | ἀτὰρ κακός γ᾽ ὧν ἐς φίλους ἁλίσκεται, is rather in favour of this interpretation than against it. Cp. Phil. 451, 2, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ' αἰνεῖν, ὅταν | τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς ;

386. mvp-comment-295-1 (I ask you because) ' I am struck dumb by what is now reported.'

387. mvp-comment-296-1 σαφῆ] ‘Clear truth.'

388. mvp-comment-297-1 εἰ . . θέλοις] 'If you chose to press him hard with questioning.'

389. mvp-comment-298-1 καὶ γὰρ. λέγεις] ‘For your words are not unwise.' οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης = πρὸς γνώμης. 'Thought' in such expressions = ' Wise thought,' or 'Wisdom.'

390. mvp-comment-299-1 This line, which in the Laurentian MS. is expressly given to the Chorus, has been transferred by Hermann and recent editors to the Messenger (cp. El. 772, μάτην ἄρ᾽ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν), on the ground that the Chorus were bound in any case to stay where they were, and moreover were helpless in this matter. But (a) τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ; does not mean, 'How shall we help you?' but, What shall we do about staying where we are?' (b) The Ajax and Eumenides show that the Chorus sometimes left the scene, and the objection is irrelevant, for the illusion of the theatre may be carried so far as to ignore stage necessities in imagination. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1058 foll., where Hermes advises the ocean-nymphs to fly, and El. 1399, ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε. (c) The answer of Deianira is perfectly consistent with the coryphaeus having asked, Shall we some of us accompany you, or all wait till you come back?' but is unmeaning as a reply to the question, 'Shall I wait here while you go in, or shall I go away?' which is the only sense the line will bear if given to the Messenger.

391. mvp-comment-300-1 οὐκ . . ἀγγέλων] Sc. κλητός, which is suggested by αὐτόκλητος following.

394. mvp-comment-301-1 εἰσορᾷς] Wunder conjectures ὡς ὁρᾷς. Dindorf, on the other hand, suggests that Sophocles may have used εἰσορᾷς here for the parenthetical opas to avoid the repetition of ὡs. But the parenthetical opas is interrogative, and that is unsuitable here. The best explanation of the words as they stand is to suppose that they are a confusion of two constructions, (1) ὡς εἰσορᾶς ἐμὲ ἕρποντα, (2) ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ.

395. mvp-comment-302-1 ἐκ ταχείας] For this adverbial expression, cp. infr. 727, ἐξ ἑκουσίας : Plat. Soph. p. 231 C, τὰς ἁπάσας μὴ ῥάδιον εἶναι διαφεύγειν. ὁρμῆς, or some such word, can easily be supplied. But the ellipse has become idiomatic.

395. mvp-comment-302-2 σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ] 'So tardily.' Cp. Ο. С. 1602, ταχεῖ ξὺν χρόνῳ. For the meaning, cp. supr. 44, 5, χρόνον γὰρ οὐχὶ βαιόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἤδη δέκα | μῆνας πρὸς ἄλλοις πέντ᾽ ἀκήρυκτος μένει

396. mvp-comment-303-1 καὶ νεώσασθαι] ‘Before I have conversed again with you.' Hermann conjectures κάννεώσασθαι, - i. e. καὶ ἀνανεώσασθαι, cp. Od. 10. 192, ἀννεῖται. But he was hardly justified in condemning νεώσασθαι. See Essay on L. § 55. p. 101, 4. The meaning is, 'Before we can have fresh interchange of talk,' rather than, 'Before we have renewed the talk we had with you just now.'

398. mvp-comment-304-1 ἢ καὶ . . νέμεις] ‘And dost thou maintain the faithful spirit of truth?" For νέμεις, 'Dost possess, wield, use,' cp. Aesch. Ag. 685, γλῶσσαν ἐν τύχᾳ νέμων. For τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας, cp. Thuc. 2. 40, ἐλευθερίας τῷ πιστῷ: ib. 6. 72, τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἐπιστήμης.

399. mvp-comment-305-1 ὧν γε = (νέμω ἀλήθειαν) τούτων ἅ.

402. mvp-comment-306-1 Ср. О. Τ. 1121, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων, The Messenger rudely calls Lichas' attention to himself. Here and elsewhere in this scene (see v. rr.) the traditional reading confuses the persons of Lichas and the Messenger.

403. mvp-comment-307-1 The reading ἐρωτήσασ' (cp. 412) has suggested to some editors a transposition of the lines, which is quite unnecessary. Thus Dindorf (Oxford, 1869) reads ΔΗ. 400, ΛΙ. 403, ΔΗ. 404, ΛΙ. 401, ΑΓ. 402. But Lichas is too courteous to Deianira and too self-possessed to have addressed so rude a question to her, instead of answering at once, and if he had done so would not have emphasized the pronoun σύ: whereas it is quite natural that he should turn abruptly on the Messenger without giving him a direct answer. And 404 suits better with the peremptoriness of the "Αγγελος than with the character of Deianira.

404. mvp-comment-308-1 τόλμησον εἰπεῖν] ‘Say frankly.' τολμᾶν is one of those words which, like ἐπιχειρεῖν, are not to be pressed too closely when used as auxiliaries. Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα . . ἀποστυγεῖν: Εl. 1051, οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν, κ.τ.λ : Aesch. Prom. 999, 1000, τόλμησον . . ὀρθῶς φρονεῖν. εἰ φρονεῖς] «If you have the sense to know it; i.e. If your lie has not 'made such a sinner of your memory' as to make you forget to whom you spoke. Hermann strangely understands the "Αγγελος to speak ironically, as if the Messenger thought that Lichas would not dare to answer the question if he were in his right mind.

406. mvp-comment-309-1 δάμαρτά θ' Ηρακλέους] Several editors propose to read δ' for θ'.

407. mvp-comment-310-1 λεύσσων μάταια] ‘If I have not lost the sight of my eyes.' Cp. infr. 863, πότερον ἐγὼ μάταιος. Lichas professes to be shaken by the rudeness of the question, so as for the moment almost to doubt his eyesight. For the adverbial use of the accusative plural, cp. Eur. Alc. 413, ἀνόνατ᾽ ἐνύμφευσας.

408. mvp-comment-311-1 For the repetition of τοῦτο, see on supr. 362, and cp. O. T. 1013, τοῦτ᾽ αὐτὸ . . τοῦτό μ᾽ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ. σου μαθεῖν] ‘To understand from you.' Cp. O. Τ. 575, ἐγὼ δὲ σου | μαθεῖν δικαιῶ ταὔθ᾽ ἅπερ κἀμοῦ σὺ νῦν.

409. mvp-comment-312-1 δίκαια γάρ] 'Yes, for it is right,' that I should acknowledge this. δίκαιος only means 'true' in this indirect way, viz. because it is right to speak the truth. Cp. supr. 347.

410. mvp-comment-313-1 What punishment would you accept? i.e. do you allow that you deserve?' Cp. Ο.Τ. 944, εἰ μὴ λέγω τἀληθές, ἀξιῶ θανεῖν.

412. mvp-comment-314-1 τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις ;] · What riddle have you devised?' Cp. infr. 1121, οὐδὲν ξυνίημ᾽ ὧν σὺ ποικίλλεις πάλαι,

413. mvp-comment-315-1 τοῦτο δρῶν] Sc. ποικίλλων, 'Keeping up a mystery.'

414. mvp-comment-316-1 μῶρος .. σέθεν] ‘I have been a fool in listening to you for so long.'

415. mvp-comment-317-1 ού] Sc. οὐκ ἄπει. Not until being asked you have answered one little word.' See note on O. Т. 360.

416. mvp-comment-318-1 Speak what you will-indeed you have enough to say.'

418. mvp-comment-319-1 κάτοισθα δήπου ;] 'You know, I presume?' Cp. infr. 1219, τὴν Εὐρυτείαν οἶσθα δῆτα παρθένον ;

419. mvp-comment-320-1 ἣν ὑπ᾿ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς] 'Whom you regard with strangeness. For ὑπό with the genitive, where (as in some uses of the dative, Essay on L. § 14. p. 20, 1 ) the notion of cause passes into that of manner, or accompaniment, cp. Εl. 630, ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς : Εur. Hipp. 1299, ὑπ᾿ εὐκλείας θανεῖν. Iole is not present; therefore ὁρᾷς must refer to the behaviour of Lichas in the former scene. Schndw. conjectured ἧς σύ γ᾽ ἀγνοεῖς γονάς.

423. mvp-comment-321-1 πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν] The dative answers ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι in l. 421, so that ev is easily supplied. Essay on L. §35. p. 60.

424. mvp-comment-322-1 ταῦτά γ'] 'This, ay, this!' γε adds emphasis to ταῦτα, but also qualifies the whole sentence as affirming what Lichas denies.

425. mvp-comment-323-1 ναί has sometimes been omitted, as a gloss on ye in this line. But the pause, with the interjection extra metrum, expresses very naturally the momentary confusion of Lichas. ταὐτὸ δ᾽ οὐχί] The negative is emphasized by being postponed. Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, γ.

426. mvp-comment-324-1 δόκησιν εἰπεῖν] ‘Το state an impression and to speak with exactness.'

427. mvp-comment-325-1 ποίαν δόκησιν] 'Impression quotha!' The only example of this idiom in tragedy. Cp. O. T. 1145, ὦ τάν in the mouth of the Corinthian messenger in where see note.

430. mvp-comment-326-1 τόνδε.. ξένοs] Cp. supr. 98, and note.

432. mvp-comment-327-1 πόλις .. πᾶσα] (1) i. e. πᾶσα ἡ πόλις, i.e. Oechalia. πᾶσα marks that the whole city was ruined for one maid. Cp. infr. 466. Or (2) the expression is at first general, 'A whole city,' and passes on to the particular (433, αὐτήν), as often happens in Thucydides. κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία] The sense is here improved by adopting the reading of Paris A. and other MSS., involving a very slight and probable change from κουχί, the reading of L.

433. mvp-comment-328-1 φανείς] «Having arisen; i. e 'Having proved to be a fact in the life of Heracles. (Not, 'Having been disclosed.')

435. mvp-comment-329-1 νοσοῦντι.. σώφρονος] • Το talk idly to a madman is unworthy of a man in his senses.'

436ff. mvp-comment-330-1 In this speech of Deianira, although she dissembles her jealousy in order to draw the truth from Lichas, yet the real gentleness of her character is also expressed. Cр. l. 445 with infr. 543-4.

436. mvp-comment-331-1 πρός σε τοῦ, κ.τ.λ.] This peculiar inversion seems to belong to the later manner of Sophocles. Cр. О. С. 250, 1333, Phil. 468.

437. mvp-comment-332-1 ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον] Cheat me of the truth.' ἐκκλέπτειν here is to deprive by falsehood. λόγον, ‘The true account.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 783, μηδ' ἀτιμάσῃς λόγους.

439. mvp-comment-333-1 Either (1) To be always glad is not granted by Nature to the same person,' or (2) 'He' (man, ἄνθρωπος, implied in τὰ ἀνθρώπων) ‘is not of a nature to delight always in the same things.' For (1) cp. Thuc. 2. 64, πάντα γὰρ πέφυκε καὶ ἐλασσοῦσθαι: El. 859, πᾶσι θνατοῖς ἔφυ μόρος. And, for (2), Phil. 88, ἔφυν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἐκ τέχνης πράσσειν κακῆς. The first meaning is more pathetic, and on the whole preferable, although the second may be thought to suit better with Deianira's present purpose (see especially l. 448). For the indefinite or collective singular alternating with the plural in (2), see Essay on L. § 20. p. 31, 3.

441. mvp-comment-334-1 μέν has no distinct antithesis, but prepares for ἀλλὰ . . ἀλλά in ll. 449, 453. Cp. with εἰς χεῖρας ἰέναι the old English expression, To go to buffets.'

443-444. mvp-comment-335-1 καὶ θεῶν. . κἀμοῦ γε] 'Even over the gods, and certainly over me.'

444ff. mvp-comment-336-1 The following quotation from La Fameuse Comédienne is believed to record the personal experience of Molière: My passion has risen to such a height that it goes the length of entering with sympathy into her concerns; and when I consider how impossible it is for me to overcome my love for her, I say to myself that she may have the same difficulty in subduing her inclinations, and I feel accordingly more disposed to pity her than to blame her.' -See Molière, in Blackwood's Foreign Classics, p. 106. οἷας γ᾽ ἐμοῦ] 'I mean one who is a woman as I am.' Cp. infr. 447. For the attraction (= οῖα ἐγώ εἰμι), see Essay on L. § 35. p. 59 , and cp. Plato, Soph. 237 C, χαλεπὸν ἥρου καὶ οἴῳ γε ἐμοὶ παντάπασιν ἄπορον.

445. mvp-comment-337-1 τε.. 447. ἤ ἤ is substituted for the second τε as the disjunctive nature of the sentence becomes more prominent. See Essay on L. § 36. p. 65 f , and cp. Plat. Theaet. 143 C, περὶ αὐτοῦ τε .. ἢ αὖ περὶ τοῦ ἀποκρινομένου . .

446. mvp-comment-338-1 μεμπτός εἰμι] 'Feel reproachfully. For this use of the verbal adjective, cp. supr. 357, ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ἰφίτου μόρος, and note. The force of the verbal here is, 'Touched with a feeling of blame,' 'Affected with displeasure' = μομφὴν ἔχων (Αj. 180). μαίνομαι] Cp. Aj. 1330, ἡ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὐ φρονῶν: Aesch. Ag. 1064, ἦ μαίνεταί γε καὶ κακῶν κλύει φρενῶν, κ.τ.λ.

447. mvp-comment-339-1 μεταιτίᾳ] ‘Of that which is in no way disgraceful '-because shared by so many. ἐρᾷς· τί τοῦτο θαῦμα; σὺν πολλοῖς βροτῶν, Eur. Hipp. 439.

448. mvp-comment-340-1 μηδ᾽ ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος] ‘Nor at all involving mischief to me.' The indefinite pronoun has an adverbial force. Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, sub fin. From the point of view which she is trying to put before Lichas, Deianira still holds her position as the wife of Heracles. See below, l. 550.

449. mvp-comment-341-1 οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα] 'There is no such thing,' as this jealous feeling you are afraid to wound.

450. mvp-comment-342-1 ἐκμανθάνεις] ἐκ is repeated from ἐκ κείνου, without adding to the meaning. Essay on L. § 55. p. 101.

451. mvp-comment-343-1 If you are your own instructor in this,' i. e. if you are not acting on instructions from another.

452. mvp-comment-344-1 γενέσθαι χρηστός] ‘Το prove yourself good.' Cp. Thuc. 3. 14. § 2, γίγνεσθε.. ἄνδρες οἴουσπερ ὑμᾶς οἵ τε Ἕλληνες ἀξιοῦσι, κ.τ.λ. ὀφθήσει] Cp. Ant. 709, ὤφθησαν κενοί.

453. mvp-comment-345-1 ἐλευθέρῳ . . καλή] i. e. εἰ ἐλεύθερός τις ὢν ψευδὴs καλεῖται, πρόσεστιν αὐτῷ οὐ καλὴ αὕτη ἡ κήρ. For προσεῖναι of a moral attribute, cp. Isocr. Panathen. p. 250, ἣν περὶ ἀνδρὸς τοιούτου διαλεγόμενος παραλίπω τι τῶν ἐκείνῳ τε προσόντων ἀγαθῶν κἀμοὶ προσηκόντων εἰπεῖν : ib. 256 C.

455. mvp-comment-346-1 The same inverted style, occasioned by Deianira's earnestness, is continued in ll. 458, 9. As to any way of concluding detection, neither is that feasible for you.'

457. mvp-comment-347-1 κεἰ μὲν δέδοικας] A suppressed antithesis is slightly hinted in μέν : viz. 'And if you are not afraid, why not have told me?' Ср. О. Т. 227, κεί μὲν φοβεῖται, κ.τ.λ. οὐ καλῶς] «Unworthily, because groundlessly. For the variation in δέδοικας .. ταρβεῖς. cp. Ο. Τ. 54.

458. mvp-comment-348-1 τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι] i. e. Τo remain in suspense, when the doubt has once been suggested.

460. mvp-comment-349-1 For ἀνὴρ εἷς, cp. Ο. Τ. 1380, and note.

462. mvp-comment-350-1 ἠνέγκατο] 'Has obtained.' φέρεσθαι is to carry away with oneself either good or evil. Cp Plat. Legg. 6. 762 Α, ἀνείδη φερέσθωσαν: Rep. 3. 406 Β, καλὸν (ironical) .. τὸ γέρας .. ἠνέγκατο. ἥδε τ'] We should rather have expected δέ, but te may have been preferred for the sake of euphony. There are already four d's in the line.

463. mvp-comment-351-1 ἐντακείη τῷ φιλεῖν] The subject may be (1) Iole. Hermann defends this by referring to l. 444. But, taking into account the whole connection, and also the meaning of φιλεῖν, which implies active rather than passive affection (cp. O. C. 1617 foll., τὸ γὰρ φιλεῖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξ ὅτου πλέον, κ.τ.λ.), it is better to suppose (2) a change of subject, or rather a reversion to the main subject, with the Scholiast and Mr. Blaydes. 'And she shall not, though he were irrevocably steeped in his affection' (for her). ἐντακῆναι is used of that which adheres indissolubly. Cp. El. 1311, μισός τε γὰρ παλαιὸν ἐντέτηκέ μοι, and especially Plat. Symp. 183 E, ὁ δὲ τοῦ ἤθους χρηστοῦ ὄντος ἐραστὴς διὰ βίου μένει, ἅτε μονίμῳ συντακείς.

468. mvp-comment-352-1 ῥείτω κατ᾿ οὗρον] 'Drift down the wind.' Nauck and Blaydes conjecture ἴτω, which is the more ordinary expression (Aesch. S. c. T. 690, ἴτω κατ' οὗρον κῦμα Κωκυτοῦ λάχον . . πᾶν τὸ Λαΐου γένος. Cp. Ο. Τ. 1458, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ μὲν ἡμῶν μοῖρ᾽, ὅποιπερ εἶσ', ἴτω). But it may be urged that ταῦτα suggests not the image of a vessel, but rather of things drifting along a surface-current made by the wind. The expression is thus more suggestive of a passive and insensible motion.

469. mvp-comment-353-1 'Though you may be false to others yet be ever true to me.' The structure is paratactic. Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. Blaydes conjectures εἶναι πρὸς ἄλλους, which removes the emphatic word from the first place in the line. Essay on L. § 41. p. 77

470-471. mvp-comment-354-1 Yield to her good persuasion, so hereafter you will find no fault with her, while you will have gained our gratitude.' For οὐ μέμψει, cp. Aesch. S. c. Τ. 560, ἢ ἐξωθεν εἴσω τῷ φέροντι μέμψεται. γυναικὶ τῇδε is governed by μέμψει and is opposed to ἐμοῦ.

473. mvp-comment-355-1 θνητὴν φρονοῦσαν θνητά] 'Having mortal thoughts, as becomes a mortal.' Cp. esp. Fr. 320, καλὸν φρονεῖν τὸν θνητὸν ἀνθρώποις ἴσα. κοὐκ ἀγνώμονα] (1) 'And not perverse' (thoughts). Neuter plural. Cp. Αj. 1236, ποίου κέκραγας ἀνδρὸς ὧδ᾽ ὑπέρφρονα. Or (2) sc. οὖσαν, ‘And not perversely disposed.'

474. mvp-comment-356-1 οὐδὲ κρύψομαι] ‘And will not hide what I know.' οὐ κρύψω τὸ ἐμόν. Cp. the use of the middle voice in ἀγγέλλομαι, Αj. 1376. Essay on L. § 31. p. 53 d.

476. mvp-comment-357-1 ταύτης] What follows is epexegetic of οὕτως, κ.τ.λ. Hence the asyndeton. ὁ δεινὸς ἵμερος] The article is not to be explained by mere emphasis (Schndw.), but by reference to that which is already before the mind, viz. the strange fit of passion which led Heracles to destroy Oechalia. Hence ταύτης is the real predicate. The strong feeling which moved him was the desire for her.'

477. mvp-comment-358-1 διῆλθε, καί] Cp. supr. 469, and note. ἡ πολύφθορος] 'That ill-starred city,' whose fate is known to us. πολύφθορος, 'Abounding in ruin,' hints comprehensively at the condition of a conquered town.

478. mvp-comment-359-1 πατρῷος] 'Of her sires.'

479. mvp-comment-360-1 δεῖ γάρ, κ.τ.λ.] Cp. supr. 449. i.e. While telling the truth, I must also (καί) clear him as far as I can.

480. mvp-comment-361-1 εἶπε] i. e. ἐκέλευσε.

481-482. mvp-comment-362-1 τὸ σὸν.. στέρνον is to be taken after δειμαίνων, as well as after ἀλγύνοιμι.

483. mvp-comment-363-1 εἴ τι τήνδ᾽ ἁμαρτίαν νέμεις] ‘If at all you reckon this a sin.' τήνδε = τόδε, attracted to the predicate ἁμαρτίαν.

484. mvp-comment-364-1 ἐπεί γε μὲν δή] 'However, since you are now made acquainted with all.' For the collocation of particles, cp. Eur. Hel. 1259, διδούς γε μὲν δὴ δυσγενές μηδὲν δίδου.

485. mvp-comment-365-1 'Alike for his sake and your own. For κοινήν, cp. Pind. O1. 2. 89, Πυθῶνι .. Ἰσθμοῖ τε κοιναὶ χάριτες: Pyth. 5. 137, σφὸν ὄλβον νἱῷ τε κοινὰν χάριν.

486. mvp-comment-366-1 στέργε τὴν γυναῖκα] "Take kindly to the woman.'

487. mvp-comment-367-1 ἐμπέδως] Nauck's correction, ἐμπέδους, is not necessary.

488-489. mvp-comment-368-1 It is strange that these lines should have been suspected by some modern critics. A ῥῆσις often ends with a couplet not much in point. Cp. Aj. 1038, 9, 1089, 90, 1262, 3, Ant. 506, 7, 679, 80, Ó. C. 798, 9, 935, 6, 1153. But these lines are not pointless, for it is the complete and irresistible strength of the passion for Iole, which, as Lichas views the matter, clinches the necessity for Deianira's prudent acquiescence.

489. mvp-comment-369-1 εἰς ἅπαντα] 'Utterly.' ἔφυ] Cp. Phil. 1052, νικᾶν γε μέντοι πανταχοῦ χρήζων ἔφυν. The word here implies the argument, 'It was in his nature,' and therefore not to be avoided.

490. mvp-comment-370-1 καί marks the correspondence between Lichas' advice and Deianira's state of mind. 'So am I minded.' Cp. Plat. Theaet. 166 D, ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὸν τοῦτον καὶ λέγω σοφόν.

491. mvp-comment-371-1 κοὔτοι.. γε] 'Yea, and I certainly will not.' νόσον . . ἐπακτὸν ἐξαρούμεθα] This may be taken in one of three ways: (1) 'I will not cause to arise for myself a self-sought mischief,' (2) 'I will not aggravate the trouble, which then would be (in so far) of my own seeking' (ἐπακτόν, proleptic = ὥστε ἐπακτὸν ἔχειν αὐτήν), (3) ‘I will not aggravate the mischief thus brought in from without.' For (3), cp. infr. 536 foll., Eur. Phoen. 343, γάμων ἐπακτὸν ἄταν. But (2) agrees better with the intention of Deianira's present speech.

493-494. mvp-comment-372-1 And that thou mayest also carry gifts, wherewith it is meet to make return for what is given.' For ταῦτα supplying the antecedent, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 75, 2. προσαρμόσαι contains no allusion to the dress fitting the frame of Heracles (Blaydes, cp. infr. 768, ἀρτίκολλοs), but to the imagined adaptation of the love-charm to its purpose. To Lichas the phrase only means, 'To make a suitable return.' And possibly no more is intended by the poet. Cp. infr. 687, and note. The irony of ll. 495, 6 is brought out by comparing infr. ll. 540-2, τοιάδ᾽ Ἡρακλῆς . . οἰκούρι᾽ ἀντέπεμψε τοῦ μακροῦ χρόνου.