Sophocles Antigone 631

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τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;

Antigone. Sophocles. Oxford. 1924.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (11)
Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, 1 τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου, πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
630
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;
Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 631 focus
Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μαντέων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου, πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει,
ἢ σοὶ ᾿σμὲν ἡμεῖς, πανταχῆ δρῶντες, φίλοι;
625
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῆ δρῶντες φίλοι;
Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;
Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 631 focus
τάχ’ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;
Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῆι δρῶντες φίλοι;
Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μαντέων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου, πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;
630
Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι;
Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 631 focus
Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 631 focus
τάχ᾽ εἰσόμεσθα μάντεων ὑπέρτερον.
ὦ παῖ, τελείαν ψῆφον ἆρα μὴ κλύων
τῆς μελλονύμφου πατρὶ λυσσαίνων πάρει;
ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῆι δρῶντες φίλοι;
Translations (11)
German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 631 focus
Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 631 focus
Pronto lo sabremos de él, mejor que de cualquier adivino. ¡Hijo!, ¿acaso, al enterarte del irrevocable decreto acerca de tu futura esposa, vienes rabioso contra tu padre, o soy de ti siempre querido de cualquier modo que proceda?
Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 631 focus
Statim sciemus, quovis augure certius. O nate, num, auditis quae in sponsam decreta sunt, patri infensus ades,, an vero, quidquid egerimus, sumus tibi cari?
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 631 focus
We shall know soon, better than seers could teach us.
Can it be so, my son, that thou art brought
By mad distemperature against thy sire,
On hearing of the irrevocable doom
Passed on thy promised bride? Or is thy love
Thy father’s, be his actions what they may?
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 631 focus
Bald werden wir es klarer als die Seher schau'n.
625
Mein Sohn, dem Vater nahst du doch nicht wuthentbrannt,
Weil du den Spruch vernahmest, der die Braut verdammt?
Nein, was ich thun mag, bleib' ich dir doch immer lieb?
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 631 focus
He comes, and better than a prophet, soon
Shall we divine his inmost thoughts. My son,
Com'st thou, well knowing our decree, to mourn
Thy promised bride, and angry to dispute
Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 631 focus
Al punto lo sabremos con más certeza que si fuéramos adivinos.
Supongo, hijo mío, que no vendrás enfurecido contra tu padre por la sentencia definitiva que acaba de recaer contra tu futura esposa; y que cualquiera que haya sido mi modo de obrar, seré siempre querido para ti...
German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 631 focus
English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 631 focus
We shall know soon, better than seers could tell us—My son, hearing the fixed doom of thy betrothed, art thou come in rage against thy father? Or have I thy good will, act how I may?
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 631 focus
Be left to range at large; for e'en the bold
Shall man's presumptuous pride control
Thy pow'r, O sovereign ruler of the skies?
Enfeebling sleep ne'er closed thy eyes :
640
The months of gods of toil unconscious roll;
And time, that leads old age along
Withering the vigour of the strong,
Beholds thee, glorious in immortal might,
High-throned in heav'n's resplendent light.
But this firm law, ordain'd through ages past,
645
Is now, and will for ever last;
No state to mortals shall remain
From wasting ills secure, and sorrow's sickly train.
Yet Hope oft waves her wanton wings
And flattering dreams of distant joy inspires;
Oft o'er man's gay and light desires
650
The dreary gloom of blank illusion flings;
650
Forward with eager pace he goes;
He hath no sense of latent woes,
Till on the treacherous fires he treads aghast.
Well said the Sage in ages past,
Ills they misdeem as good, whose darkling mind
The god to misery hath assigned;...
655
Heedless awhile through life they stray,
But ruin couches close to spring upon its prey.
See Hæmon comes, the youngest of thy sons,
Oppress'd with sorrow for the virgin's fate,
And grieving of his bride to be deprived.
We soon shall know more certain than the Seers.
660
style its elevation, are represented as three persons cutting down this last
branch of the imperial stem.
Vid. Valckanaer. in Eurip. Phœniss.
Hearing the sentence we have firmly pass'd
On her that should have been thy bride, my son,
Enraged against thy father art thou come,
665
Or doing this am I still dear to thee?
665
My father, [ am thine: be thou my guide
Where honour calls; to follow shall be mine.
With me no nuptials ever shall be deem'd
Of higher import than thy just commands.
Thus it behoves thee from thy heart, my son,
A father more than all things to revere.
670
This is the pride, the glory of a man,
To train obedient children in his house,
Prompt on his enemies t' avenge his wrongs,
And with the father's zeal in honour high
To hold his friends. But he, who nurtures sons
That in the hour of trial from his aid
675
Shrink spiritless and weak, hath to himself
Engender'd grief, and slaughter to his foes.
Then do not for a woman now, my son,
Debase thy noble mind; be not a slave
To pleasure: cold is the embrace of her
Who shares thy nuptial bed, if baseness taint
680
English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 631 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-370-1 μάντεων ὑπέρτερον 1

mvp-comment-371-1 τελείαν 2

mvp-comment-371-2 ψῆφο<*> 3

mvp-comment-371-3 ἆρα μή 4

mvp-comment-371-4 τῆς μελλονύμφου 5

mvp-comment-371-5 λυσσαίνων 6 σοὶ μέν 7 θυμαίνων 8

mvp-comment-372-1 σοὶ μέν 9

mvp-comment-372-2 πανταχῇ δρῶντες 10

mvp-comment-373-1 σός 11

mvp-comment-373-2 γνώμας ἔχων χρηστάς 12 ἀπορθοῖς 13 μοι 14

mvp-comment-374-1 ἀξιώσεται 16 ἀξ. μείζων φέρεσθαι 17 ἀξίως ἔσται 18

mvp-comment-374-2 σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμ. 19 μείζων 20

mvp-comment-375-1 γάρ 21

mvp-comment-375-2 διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν 22 διά 23 ἔχειν 24 οὕτω 25 ἔχειν 26

mvp-comment-376-1 (One ought to think thus),—that is, ὄπισθεν ἑστάναι πατρ. γνώμης 27 πάντα 28 ἑστάναι 29

mvp-comment-377-1 ὡς 30

mvp-comment-377-2 ἀνταμύνωνται 31 κακοῖς 32

mvp-comment-378-1 ἄλλο 33 φῦσαι 34 πλήν 35 ἄλλο 36 εἴποις 37

mvp-comment-378-2 πόνους 38

mvp-comment-378-3 γέλων 39

mvp-comment-379-1 τὰς φρένας γ’ 40 γε 41 φρένας σύ γ’ ἡδονῇ 42

mvp-comment-379-2 φρένας … ἐκβάλῃς 43

mvp-comment-379-3 ὑφ’ ἡδονῆς 44

mvp-comment-380-1 ψυχρόν 45

mvp-comment-380-2 παραγκάλισμα 46

mvp-comment-381-1 δόμοις 47

mvp-comment-381-2 ἕλκος 48

mvp-comment-381-3 φίλος 49

mvp-comment-382-1 πτύσας 50

mvp-comment-382-2 ὠσεί τε δυσμενῆ 51 τε 52

mvp-comment-383-1 νυμφεύειν 53

mvp-comment-384-1 ἀπιστήσασαν 54 ψευδῆ 55

mvp-comment-385-1 κτενῶ 56

mvp-comment-385-2 πρὸς ταῦτ 57

mvp-comment-385-3 ἐφυμνείτω 58

mvp-comment-385-4 Δία ξύναιμον 59

mvp-comment-386-1 τά γ’ ἐγγ. φύσει 60

mvp-comment-386-2 ἄκοσμα 61

mvp-comment-386-3 θρέψω 62

mvp-comment-386-4 κάρτα τοὺς ἔξω γ. 63

mvp-comment-387-1 Seidler transposes vv. 663—667, placing them after 671. The object is to bring vv. 668—671 into immediate connection with 662. In this there is one slight grammatical gain; since, as the vv. stand in the MSS.,

τοῦτον ...τὸν ἄνδρα
(668) means, ‘the man who acts thus’ (viz., as described in vv. 666 f.). But the order given in the MSS. is right. The transposition obliterates one of the finest touches in the speech. Creon demands that the obedience of the citizens to the ruler shall be absolute (666 f.). And then he supplements this demand with a remark on the dignity of such obedience. The man who so obeys gives the best proof that he could also rule (668 ff.). Seidler destroys the point of vv. 668 ff. by placing them after 662.

mvp-comment-387-2 The connection of thought in the whole passage—which is slightly obscured by compression—may be most clearly shown by taking the verses in small consecutive groups. (1) 659 f. If I tolerate disloyalty

mvp-comment-387-3 in my own relatives, I shall encourage it in other citizens. (2) 661 f. For (

γάρ
) only a man who is firm (
χρηστός
) where his own relatives are concerned will be found to uphold justice in the State (i.e. will have the authority necessary for doing so). (3) 663 f. Now, I recognise disloyalty in any one who breaks the law and defies the government, as Antigone has done. (4) 666 f. Instead of so doing, the citizen is bound to obey the government in everything. (5) 668—671. There is nothing slavish in that; on the contrary, it shows that the citizen is not only a good subject, but would, if required, be a good ruler;—as he would also be a good soldier.—Then comes the general censure on unruliness (672—676). And then the conclusion:—I must vindicate my authority, and punish Antigone (677 —680).

mvp-comment-388-1 ὑπερβάς 64

mvp-comment-388-2 τοὐπιτάσσειν 65

mvp-comment-388-3 νοεῖ 66

mvp-comment-389-1 στήσειε 67

mvp-comment-389-2 καὶ τἀναντία 68

mvp-comment-390-1 τοῦτον … τὸν ἄνδρα 69

mvp-comment-390-2 καλῶς...εὖ 70

mvp-comment-390-3 ἄν 71 ἄρχειν 72 θέλειν 73

mvp-comment-391-1 δορὸς … χειμῶνι 74

mvp-comment-391-2 προστεταγμένον 75

mvp-comment-391-3 παραστάτην 76

mvp-comment-392-1 πόλεις ὄλλυσιν, ἥδ’ 77 πόλεις τ’ … ἥδ’ 78

mvp-comment-393-1 συμμάχου 79 συμμάχηι 80 σὺν μάχῃ 81

mvp-comment-393-2 τροπὰς καταρρήγνυσι 82

mvp-comment-393-3 τῶν δ’ ὀρθουμένων 83 τὰ πολλὰ σώματα 84

mvp-comment-393-4 ἡ πειθαρχία 85

mvp-comment-394-1 ἀμυντέ’ 86

mvp-comment-394-2 τοῖς κοσμουμένοις 87 τοῖς κ. 89

mvp-comment-395-1 κοὔτοι … ἡσσητέα 90

mvp-comment-396-1 δεῖ 91 ἐκπεσεῖν 92

mvp-comment-396-2 thrust out: oft. of dethronement (

ἐκπ. τυραννίδος, ἀρχῆς, κράτους
, Aesch. ), or of exile (
χθονός
, O. C. 766 ).

mvp-comment-396-3 κοὐκ ἂν...καλοίμεθ’ ἄν 93

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

631. mvp-comment-371-1 μαντέων ὑπέρτερον Better than a seer could tell us. Creon thus vents his impatience at the anticipation of the chorus, and also indicates his scorn of prophecy. Cp. infr. 1034 ff.

632. mvp-comment-372-1 τελείαν ψήφον The fixed, irreversible, decree. Creon means by his first words to exclude hope.

632. mvp-comment-372-2 ἆρα μή Can it be that.., expressing doubt mingled with surprise.

633. mvp-comment-373-1 τῆς μελλονύμφου Objective genitive. Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

633. mvp-comment-373-2 λυσσαίνων · Madly raging; as if opposition to a father could only be accounted for by madness. The word is ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, and is for this reason preferable to the weaker θυμαίνων.

634. mvp-comment-374-1 σοὶ μέν i.e. Whatever we may be to others.

635-765. mvp-comment-375-1 Haemon professes obedience to his father, but with the implied condition that his father commands what is right. Not heeding this, Creon welcomes his general profession, and enlarges on the blessings that follow from obedience in public and private. He urges Haemon to renounce Antigone. Haemon replies by repeating the praise of her which he has heard in the city (Ar. Rhet. 3. 17, ἕτερον χρὴ λέγοντα ποιεῖν.. ὡς Σοφοκλῆς τὸν Αἴμονα ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἀντιγόνης πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ὡς λεγόντων ἑτέρων), and begs his father not to be deaf to all opinions but his own. Creon is impatient at this, and, after an altercation, in which both speakers become exasperated, Creon orders Antigone to be brought for immediate execution, and Haemon breaks away in sullen anger. This episode interposes a necessary pause between the condemnation of Antigone and its results, i. e, between the two chief crises of the action, and assists the main impression by bringing the light of natural affection and common opinion to bear on the situation.

635-636. mvp-comment-376-1 σύ μοι γνώμας ἔχων | χρηστὰς ἀπορθοῖς Sc. ἐμέ. You, having good advice for me, direct me. μοι is in construction with the nearer word.

637. mvp-comment-377-1 No marriage can, if I think rightly, be a more valued prize to me. ἀξίως ἔσται has been changed to ἀξιώσεται. But ἀξιοῦσθαι μείζων φέρεσθαι, To be deemed of more importance to obtain, is an awkward and unauthorized expression and, for the position and emphatic use of the adverb, which is the only difficulty, see Essay on Language § 24. pp. 37, 38, and cp. the adverbial use of ἄξιος in El. 1260 ff., τίς .. ἀξίαν μεταβάλοιτ᾽ ἂν .. σιγὰν λόγων ;

638. mvp-comment-378-1 For μείζων, = τιμιώτερος, cp. Ο. Τ. 776, ἀστῶν μέγιστος τῶν ἐκεῖ.

638. mvp-comment-378-2 φέρεσθαι is in the middle voice.

638. mvp-comment-378-3 σοῦ καλῶς ἡγουμένου Than you and your good guidance. The condition is assumed to be inseparable from the subject, as in Plat. Rep. 1. 335 A, τὸν μὲν φίλον ἀγαθὸν ὄντα εὖ ποιεῖν, τὸν δὲ ἐχθρὸν κακὸν ὄντα βλάπτειν.

639. mvp-comment-379-1 οὕτω .. διὰ στέρνων ἔχειν Το be thoroughly imbued with this.

640. mvp-comment-380-1 'In all things to follow your father's judgment.' The image is that of taking up a position behind a leader: i. e. Not to break rank, but to follow in good order. Cp. Plat. Protag. 315 B, (the disciples of Protagoras) εὖ πως καὶ ἐν κόσμῳ . . ἀεὶ εἰς τὸ ὄπισθεν καθίσταντο κάλλιστα.

643. mvp-comment-381-1 τὸν ἐχθρόν 'Their father's enemy.'

646. mvp-comment-382-1 τί .. ἄλλο is governed by the general verbal notion, without distinctly anticipating φῦσαι.

648. mvp-comment-383-1 τὰς φρένας γ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς The reading of Vat. is retained, not as clearly right, but as more probable than later corrections. γε may be supposed to give a strong emphasis to φρένας. Do not lose your wits, whatever you do. And this is rather confirmed by the way in which Haemon echoes the word in l. 683.

650-651. mvp-comment-384-1 ψυχρὸν παραγκάλισμα . . ἐν δόμοις 'Small comfort comes of such a union, of having a bad wife to share one's couch at home.'

653. mvp-comment-385-1 πτύσας Rejecting with abhorrence. Here and in l. 1232, πτύειν seems to imply a gesture of dislike or loathing, directed towards a person or thing. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1192, ἐν μέρει δ' ἀπέπτυσαν | εὐνὰς ἀδελφοῦ.

653. mvp-comment-385-2 ὡσεί τε Αn Epic or Ionic form. See Introd. p. 456.

654. mvp-comment-386-1 The construction is rather μέθες τήνδε τινὶ νυμφεύειν, Leave her for some one to wed, than μέθες τήνδε νυμφεύειν τινί, Leave her to wed some one.

657. mvp-comment-387-1 ψευδή .. πόλει I certainly will not break my word to the state.

658. mvp-comment-388-1 ἀλλὰ κτενῶ The abruptness of the pause helps the incisiveness of Creon's language.

659-660. mvp-comment-389-1 εἰ γὰρ .. γένους For if I fail to bring up orderly those born akin to me, most surely I shall fail with those remote. Creon turns Antigone's nearness of kindred to him into a reason for severity. If he cannot control his kinswoman, how much less can he control the state! Authority begins at home.

659. mvp-comment-390-1 For ἐγγενή φύσει, see Essay on Language § 40. p. 69, and p. 82, B.

661. mvp-comment-391-1 τοῖς .. οἰκείοισιν Neuter. Creon characteristically relies on commonplace maxims.

663. mvp-comment-392-1 The transgressor who either violates the laws. The alternative is thought of after the sentence is begun. νόμους is in two constructions, (1) with ὑπερβάς, (2) with βιάζεται.

664. mvp-comment-393-1 τοὐπιτάσσειν Cp. supr. 485, and note.

664. mvp-comment-393-2 τοῖς κρατύνουσιν νοεῖ The reading of L here is rather more uncommon than the alternative reading, which may notwithstanding be right.

666. mvp-comment-394-1 For the optative, in a perfectly general supposition, see Essay on Language §36. p. 61.

666. mvp-comment-394-2 κλύειν Το obey.

667. mvp-comment-395-1 τἀναντία τὰ μεγαλὰ καὶ ἄδικα.

668-671. mvp-comment-396-1 And of this man (the man who obeys the ruler) I would have no fear but that he would rule nobly, and be a good and willing subject, and if posted near me in the storm of battle, would stand firmly as a staunch and trusty comrade. For the vague reference of the pronoun, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 34. And for δορός .. χειμῶνι, ib.

673. mvp-comment-397-1 αὕτη .. τίθησιν The anacoluthon (for which see Essay on Language p. 65) has been avoided in two ways, (1) by omission of τε, (2) by reading ἠδ' for ἥδ'. This Homericism is defended by comparing ὥσει τε in l. 653. There is slight MS. authority for both these changes (see v. rr.). But strong reasons are required for the introduction of a particle not used elsewhere by Sophocles, and after the regularly balanced τε.. ἠδέ, the asyndeton in the next line would be too abrupt. If any change were necessary, the omission of τ' would be preferable, but the lines are more expressive as they are.

674. mvp-comment-398-1 σὺν μάχῃ δορός Bothe conjectured συμμάχου δορός, The rout of the leagued war. But the reading of the MS. has a more vivid meaning. This, aiding the conflict of the spear, breaks down (the vanquished) into shapeless rout: i. e. Disorder helps with battle to make utter rout. For μάχῃ δορός, see Essay on Language p. 75, and for the accusative τροπάς, ib. § 17. p. 25, etc.

675. mvp-comment-399-1 τῶν δ᾽ ὀρθουμένων Of those who are not routed, but are successful. Opposed to οἱ ἡσσώμενοι implied in τροπάς. Cp. El. 742, ὠρθοῦθ' ὁ τλήμων ὀρθὸς ἐξ ὀρθῶν δίφρων.

677. mvp-comment-400-1 οὕτως.. κοσμουμένοις 'Thus one ought to support one's own decrees.' Thus, viz. as I am doing. For this use of the passive participle, see Essay on Language § 17. p. 25, с. Some would explain the words as masculine, One must defend the cause of the orderly subject. Cp. Thuc. 8. 24, ἐκοσμοῦντο ἐχυρώτερον. But such an immediate application of the γνώμη is less in character than the arbitrary assertion of authority. Cp. Hdt. 1. 100, τὰ δὲ δὴ ἄλλα ἐκεκοσμέατό οἱ.