131.
mvp-comment-79-1
παλτῷ ῥιπτεῖ πυρί (1)
Hurls down with brandished thunderbolt. Or possibly (2) ῥιπτεῖ is a more emphatic substitute for βάλλει =
Smites from afar. The word παλτῷ suggests the zig-zag flicker of the lightning.
131.
mvp-comment-79-2
βαλβίδων .. ἀλαλάζαι
As, having reached the topmost goal, he was eager to raise the cry of victory. βαλβίδες are the end of the race-course, metaphorically applied here to the top of the wall to which Capaneus had climbed, and so receiving the epithet ἄκρων.
131.
mvp-comment-79-3
βαλβίδων may be also taken as abl. gen, with ῥιπτεῖ, and only resumed with ἄκρων. But this is questionable.
133.
mvp-comment-80-1
The subject of
ὁρμῶντα (Capaneus) is anticipated from the following lines, viz. ὅς, κ.τ.λ.
134.
mvp-comment-81-1
ἀντιτύπᾳ This conj. of Porson has been generally received.
He fell upon the earth, that smote him again; i.e.
He fell with a shock. The Scholia explain ἀντίτυπα, which is against metre.
134.
mvp-comment-81-2
τανταλωθείς
Swung. As if the scale that had been the lightest had suddenly become the heaviest. Cp. Hom. Il. 22. 212, ῥέπε δ᾽ Ἕκτορος αἴσιμον ἦμαρ, | ᾤχετο δ᾽ εἰς Ἀἰδαο.
135.
mvp-comment-82-1
πυρφόρος
With the fire in his hand, with which he had threatened the town. O. C. 1318: Aesch. S. c. T. 422, ff.
135.
mvp-comment-82-2
ὁρμᾷ Observe the tautology after ὁρμῶντ', supra.
136-137.
mvp-comment-83-1
Had breathed against us in frenzy with blasts of malignant winds. Cp. infra 929-930: O. C. 612 and note: Aesch. S. c. T. 115, πνοαῖς Ἄρεος.