71.
mvp-comment-57-1
Athena faces the tent and raises her voice.
72.
mvp-comment-58-1
ἀπευθύνοντα has been taken literally, 'to bind straight or fast.' But although the image of a constrained position is suggested by the word, it retains its more general meaning of 'reducing to order or subjection,' as in Eur. Bacch. 884-6,
ἀπευθύνει δὲ βροτῶν | τοὺς τ᾿ ἀγνωμοσύναν τιμῶντας καὶ μὴ τὰ θεῶν | αὔξοντας ξὺν μαινομένᾳ δόξα.
74.
mvp-comment-59-1
σφ', although omitted by L, is probably genuine.
75.
mvp-comment-60-1
μηδὲ δειλίαν ἀρεῖς] ‘And not give way to cowardice.' See E. on L. § 30. p. 52 d.
ἀρεῖ, which Schndw. and Dindorf prefer, would mean, 'Do not bring upon yourself the imputation of cowardice,' a less appropriate expression.
76.
mvp-comment-61-1
ἔνδον ἀρκείτω μένων] 'Enough that he is there, but let him not come forth.' E. on L. § 36. p. 63 а.
77.
mvp-comment-62-1
'For fear of what? Is he now for the first time a man?' Athena ironically rallies Odysseus on his fear of seeing the madman. As Odysseus presently finds, Ajax in his madness is to be pitied, not to be feared. For the emphatic
ἀνήρ,
cp. Ο. C. 393,
ὅτ' οὐκέτ᾽ εἰμί, τηνικαῦτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εἴμ᾿ ἀνήρ ; Others take the words to mean, 'Up to this time was he not a (mortal) man?' in which is implied the thought, 'Is he more than a man now?' In either case the general meaning is, 'You used not to be afraid of him; why should you be so now?'
79.
mvp-comment-63-1
γελᾶν] The epexegetic infinitive follows the adjective
ἥδιστος, and
εἰς ἐχθρούς is to be taken both with
γέλως and
γελάν. 'Is not laughter pleasantest at foes?'
81.
mvp-comment-64-1
περιφανώς may be taken either with (1)
μεμηνότα, or (2) with
ἰδεῖν. Other uses of
περιφανῶς are in favour of (1).
81.
mvp-comment-64-2
the former (1), but it makes better sense to join the adverb here with the whole expression; i.e. not. 'You shrink from seeing a man who is clearly insane,' but, 'You shrink from seeing plainly a man's madness.'
Cp. infr. 229,
περίφαντος. The same meaning may be obtained, however, by supposing the adverb in (1) to be used proleptically, (3) 'You shrink from seeing a man's madness clearly shown.'
84.
mvp-comment-65-1
ὀφθαλμοῖς γε]
γε adds emphasis; i.e. though his mind is alienated, he surely has not changed eyes.
85.
mvp-comment-66-1
καὶ δεδορκότα)
καὶ = καίπερ.
Cp. Pind. Ol. 7. 55,
αἱ δὲ φρενῶν ταραχαὶ παρέπλαγξαν καὶ σοφόν.
86.
mvp-comment-67-1
μένταν] • Well, after all.'
μέντοι admits and enforces the correcting statement, which it sets over against that which is corrected, viz. l. 84. For
γένοιτ' ἂν.. πᾶν,
cp. Hdt. 4. 195,
εἴη δ᾽ ἂν πᾶν.
88.
mvp-comment-68-1
μένοιμ' ἄν] I shall have to stay.
ἐκτός] 'Out of the way,' as in
ἐκτὸς κλαυμάτων, πημάτων ('out of harm's way'). See L. and S. s. v.
90.
mvp-comment-69-1
Athena affects to rally Ajax for disregarding her help on this occasion, as he had before scornfully rejected it.
Cp. infr. 774, 5. This helps to bring out his unconsciousness of her displeasure.
τῆς συμμάχου]
Cp. l. 60.
91.
mvp-comment-70-1
Ajax enters with the scourge in his hand. It is from this scene that the play takes its name of
Alaς μαστιγοφόρος. ll. 91-3 may be contrasted with 176 foll. Ajax is not by nature impious, although in the pride of his youth he may have been guilty of impiety; but he speaks to the goddess with the blunt familiarity of a comrade in arms.
καί in l. 92 has an encouraging, almost patronizing, sound.
93.
mvp-comment-71-1
στέψω] 'I will grace' or 'honour' thee.
94.
mvp-comment-72-1
ἐκεῖνο] 'That other thing.' For a similar emphatic use of the pronoun (with comic exaggeration),
cp. Aristoph. Nub. 655-7,
οὐ γάρ, ᾠζυρέ, τούτων ἐπιθυμῶ μανθάνειν οὐδέν. ΣΩ. τί δαί; | ΣΤ. ἐκεῖν ἐκεῖνο, τὸν ἀδικώτερον λόγον.
96.
mvp-comment-73-1
κόμπος πάρεστι] 'I am free to boast' (of that).
97.
mvp-comment-74-1
πρὸς ᾿Ατρείδαισιν ἤχμασας χέρα] 'Did you make an armed attack upon the Atreidae?' The construction with
πρός is continued from l. 95.
χέρα, ας
supr. 40, is cogn. accus. in the sense of 'a violent act.'
Cp. Trach. 355. Musgr. conj.
ήμαξας.
Cp. infr. 453. The use of
χέρα here as cogn. accus. without an epithet is somewhat singular.
98.
mvp-comment-75-1
οἵδ'] He believes them to be lying dead within the tent.
Cp. infr. 237 ff.
101.
mvp-comment-76-1
εἰεν, τί γὰρ δή] «Enough. For I would know.' She professes to turn her thoughts from the Atreidae to Odysseus, who is more interesting as the especial enemy of Ajax.
102.
mvp-comment-77-1
ποῦ σοι τύχης ἕστηκεν ;] · What have you done with him? Where stands he now?'
σοι implies that Odysseus is in Ajax' power.
103.
mvp-comment-78-1
τοὐπίτριπτον κίναδος] «The accursed fox.' The verbal, by a sort of prolepsis, expresses what ought to be.
Cp. the Homeric
οὐλόμενος. -The fox is at once noxious and cunning.
104.
mvp-comment-79-1
The stop after
ἔγωγ' makes the expression more pointed, and agrees better with the use of
λέγω than if
ἔγωγ᾽ Οδυσσέα, κ.τ.λ. were read.
ἐνστάτην] 'Opponent.'
Cp. Thuc. 8. 69,
ἤν τις ἐνιστῆται τοῖς ποιουμένοις.
105.
mvp-comment-80-1
ἥδιστος] 'Most welcome.'
Cp. Εl. 929,
ἡδύς, οὐδὲ μητρὶ δυσχερής.
106.
mvp-comment-81-1
θακεῖ] The ram taken for Odysseus had already been made to sit upwards against the pillar (
infr. 240,
cp. 108).
107.
mvp-comment-82-1
κερδάνῃς] This is said in bitter irony. Ajax is not gaining but losing all.
108.
mvp-comment-83-1
κίον᾿ ἑρκείου στέγης] ‘The roof-supporting pillar of my house.'
110.
mvp-comment-84-1
It has been thought necessary to alter this line because of the pleonasm of
θάνῃ, which, however, is natural enough after the interruption.
Cp. Trach. 1130-3,
τέθνηκεν . . πρὶν ὡς χρῆν σφ᾽ ἐξ ἐμῆς θανεῖν χερός: Phil. 1329-1334,
παῦλαν .. μήποτ᾿ ἂν τυχεῖν | νόσου βαρείας.. | πρὶν ἂν | τῶν παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἐντυχὼν ᾿Ασκληπιδῶν | νόσου μαλαχθῇς τῆσδε. The principal notion is expressed by the participle. 'He shall not die till he is whipped to death.'
πρῶτον resumes
πρὶν ἄν, l. 108.
φοινιχθείς] «Crimsoned.' The word conveys the murderous energy of Ajax' mood.
111.
mvp-comment-85-1
Athena affects pity for Odysseus in order to rouse Ajax more, and so to make the situation more striking to Odysseus.
112.
mvp-comment-86-1
'In all else, Athena, I would have thee to enjoy thy will.' For the construction,
cp. Aesch. Cho. 1038-9.
114.
mvp-comment-87-1
σὺ δ᾽ οὖν] 'Well, and you for your part.'
τέρψις ἥδε.. τὸ δρᾶν] i. e.
τέρψις τὸ δρᾶν ὧδε. Essay on L. § 35. p. 60.
116.
mvp-comment-88-1
τοῦτό σοι δ' ἐφίεμαι] These words have been unnecessarily altered by some editors because of the postponement of
δέ. For the omission of the vocative, giving a tone of peremptoriness and familiarity,
cp. O. Τ. 637,
οὐκ εἰ σύ τ' οἴκους, κ.τ.λ. The proximity of
ἐφίεμαι in 112 suggests the repetition of the word in a slightly different sense.
117.
mvp-comment-89-1
Ajax retires into the hut.
119-120.
mvp-comment-90-1
τίς ἄν σοι.. εὑρέθη] 'Whom could you have found, if you had sought for such a one formerly?' The aorist with
av here denotes possibility in past time, as in Trach. 707, 8,
πόθεν γὰρ ἂν .. | ἐμοὶ παρέσχ᾽ εὔνοιαν?
προνούστερος] The Ajax of Sophocles is clear-sighted as well as prompt in action. This touch prepares us for his profound feeling of the situation, when he awakes from his madness.
Cp. Il. 7. 197, where Ajax says,
Οὐ γάρ τις με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται, | οὐδὲ μὲν ἰδρείῃ, κ.τ.λ.
121.
mvp-comment-91-1
For this division of the senarius,
cp. El. 1302.
122.
mvp-comment-92-1
ἔμπης (or
ἔμπας) is to be joined in sense with
ἐποικτείρω. It is strange that Hermann should have joined it to
δύστηνον. Like
ὅμως,
εὐθύς, and other words, which strictly belong to the apodosis,
ἔμπας verbally adheres to the protasis.
Cp. infr. 563.
123.
mvp-comment-93-1
'Because he is fast yoked with an evil doom.' The calamity from which he cannot disengage himself is imagined as a yokefellow of Ajax that is too strong for him.
128.
mvp-comment-94-1
αὐτός] Odysseus is warned not to do as Ajax had done.
Cp. infr. 773. Hence the emphatic pronoun.
129.
mvp-comment-95-1
μηδ' ὄγκον ἄρῃ μηδέν'] 'Nor take on thee a lofty mien.' The middle voice (see above, l. 75) is here more appropriate.
Cp. the expression
ὄγκον περιθείναί τινι, Plut. Pericl. 4.
130.
mvp-comment-96-1
χειρί] 'In might.'
μακροῦ πλούτου βάθει] The v. r.
βάρει may be supported from Eur. El. 1287,
δότω πλούτου βάρος, but is less likely with
βρίθεις preceding than
βάθει, for which,
cp. βαθύπλουτος.
μακρός in poetry is often equivalent to
μέγας. L. and S. s. v. 1. 4. Some new verb, such as
πληθύεις, is to be supplied with
βάθει.
131.
mvp-comment-97-1
ἡμέρα] 'Time in its course,' i. e.
ἡ ἀεὶ οὖσα ἡμέρα. For this generalized use,
cp. especially
infr. 624,
παλαίᾳ ἕντροφος ἁμέρα: Ο. C. 1138,
ἐς τόδ' ἡμέρας. For the sentiment,
cp. Ant. 1158-60,
τύχη γὰρ ὀρθοῖ καὶ τύχη καταρρέπει | τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα τὸν τε δυστυχοῦντ᾽ ἀεί· | καὶ μάντις οὐδεὶς τῶν καθεστώτων βροτοῖς. But the point here lies in the combination of the two
γνῶμαι. The two considerations are urged side by side, that Fortune is unstable, and that God cares for the righteous. Therefore, do not trust to fortune, but be righteous.
131-132.
mvp-comment-98-1
'Time makes all human things to set and rise again, but the gods love the righteous, while they abhor the wicked."
132-133.
mvp-comment-99-1
σώφρονας .. κακούς] For the inexact antithesis of the general to the specific word, see Essay on L. § 51. p.97.
134-200.
mvp-comment-100-1
The first part of the parodos consists of six anapaestic systems (ll. 134-171), during the recitation of which the Chorus pace to and fro in the orchestra, before the tent of Ajax. This long-continued movement, which betokens the restless anxiety of the mariners for their prince, also strikes a note in harmony with the feelings of the spectator, to whom the horror that is going on within has already been revealed. He knows that their dreadful apprehensions are only too true. It is followed by a strophe, antistrophe, and epode (ll. 172-200), which mark the climax of their agitation before the entrance of Tecmessa.
134.
mvp-comment-101-1
Τελαμώνιε]
Cp. Pind. Pyth. 2. 35,
ὦ Δεινομένειε παῖ.
135.
mvp-comment-102-1
ἔχων] ‘Lord of-.'
Cp. Pind. Nem. 4. 78,
Αἴας Σαλαμῖν ἔχει πατρώαν.
ἀγχιάλου] 'Seaward.' The ancient town of Salamis was on the side of the island towards the open sea, Strabo, 9, p. 393.
Cp. Pind. Ol. 10. 99,
εἰναλία τ' Έλευσις : Aesch. Pers. 887.
136.
mvp-comment-103-1
σὲ μέν] The Attic' accusative after the intransitive verb (Essay on L. §§ 16. p. 23) here assists the antithesis το
σὲ δ᾽ ὅταν... ἐπιβῇ, κ.τ.λ.
137-138.
mvp-comment-104-1
'But when a stroke from Zeus, or angry clamour from the Danaï assails thee with evil-boding words.'
139-140.
mvp-comment-105-1
'I shrink and quiver with fear like the eye of any fluttering dove.'
ὄkvos is the fear that paralyses action. The eye, as the part which expresses fear, is put for the whole.
Cp. the expression of Keble, 'Tenderer than a dove's soft eye.'
Cp. also the uses of
χείρ, πούς, κάρα, βία, σθένος, στόμα, in denoting persons.
πτηνῆς suggests something that is easily fluttered. Pierson's conj.
φήνης ὡς ὄμμα πελειάς, ' As the dove fears the sight (?) of the falcon,' is unnecessary and tasteless. The image of the falcon would be a bad preparation for that of the small birds, 141
φθιμένης]
Cp. Od. 11. 330,
πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτ᾽ ἄμβροτος. The genitive is in a somewhat loose connection with what follows; either (1) with
ὀλέσαι, 'that in the night that is just gone thou didst destroy;' or (2) with
θόρυβοι, ' in respect of the now-past night.'
142.
mvp-comment-106-1
'A terrible rumour afflicts us.'
143.
mvp-comment-107-1
ἐπὶ δυσκλείᾳ] ‘Threatening dishonour.'
ἐπί from meaning purpose, as in
ἐπὶ διαφθορῇ (Hdt. 4. 164),
ἐπὶ θανάτῳ (Hdt. 9. 37), comes to express tendency.
ἱππομανή] 'Where the steeds run wild,' or 'gallop at will.' Lit. 'raving with horses.' Essay on L. § 55. p. 102. The cattle were temporarily kept in the meadow where the horses of the chieftains used to be turned out to graze. The word suggests their movements, 'Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud,' when freed from harness and the stall.
144.
mvp-comment-108-1
λειμῶν᾽ ἐπιβάντ'] The accusative implies not merely that the meadow was entered, but that it was swiftly reached.
145-146.
mvp-comment-109-1
λείαν, ἥπερ δορίληπτος ἔτ᾿ ἦν λοιπή] «The cattle that still remained of those taken in war;' i. e.
ἐκ τῆς δοριλήπτου λείας. Cp. supr. 53, 4,
σύμμικτά τε | λείας ἄδαστα βουκόλων φρουρήματα.
147.
mvp-comment-110-1
κτείνοντ'] We pass from the momentary conception of the act (
ὀλέσαι) to the continuous description of it: hence the present participle.
Cp. supr. ll. 55 foll. Here, as elsewhere, the choric part contains a reminiscence of the dialogue.
148.
mvp-comment-111-1
These words obviously refer to the report brought by Odysseus after receiving full information from Athena.
Cp. supr. 67. But, if so, some time must be supposed to have elapsed after his exit before the entrance of the chorus.
150.
mvp-comment-112-1
καὶ σφόδρα πείθει] ‘And wins much credence.'
vûv is to be joined with
εὔπειστα. 'Things of which it is now easy to persuade men:' now, since Ajax' defeat in the contest for the arms, which is known to have enraged him.
Cp. infr. 929-36 and note.
152-153.
mvp-comment-113-1
'And each who hears rejoices, more than him who spake, to insult over thy woes.' The participle is added to complete the sense of
χαίρων.
ἄχεσιν is dative of the cause or occasion.
Cp. infr. 955.
155.
mvp-comment-114-1
ἁμάρτοι] For the omission of
τις, which is supplied in the next sentence, see Essay on L. § 39. P. 72, 3. This is the harder and more dignified reading.
157.
mvp-comment-115-1
ἔρπει implies a stealthy advance, differing from
στείχει, which would signify open menace.
Cp. Pind. Nem. 8. 36,
ἅπτεται δ᾽ ἐσλῶν ἀεί, χειρόνεσσι δ᾽ οὐκ ἐρίζει: Pyth. 11. 45, 6.
ἴσχει γὰρ ὄλβος οὐ μείονα φθύνον· | ὁ δὲ χαμηλὰ πνέων ἄφαντον βρέμει.
158-159.
mvp-comment-116-1
Some have here supposed a metaphor from building, large and small stones together making the strongest wall. This is fanciful, and not contained in the words; but in any case
πύργου ῥῦμα is a 'tower of defence' (Essay on L. § 10. p. 17, 6), and not 'means of defending a tower,' because
ῥύεσθαι can hardly mean 'to man,' although in Aesch. S. c. T. 823, it is used of the Divine protection of Thebes. For the whole phrase,
cp. Od. 11. 556 (said with reference to Ajax):
τοῖος γάρ σφιν πύργος ἀπώλεο: Alc. fr. 23,
ἄνδρες πόληος πύργος ἀρεύϊοι : Aesch. Pers. 347.
160-161.
mvp-comment-117-1
ἄριστ᾽ ἂν. ὀρθοῖθ᾽'Will best be made secure.'
Cp. Thuc. 6. 18, § 4,
ὁμοῦ δὲ τό τε φαῦλον καὶ τὸ μέσον καὶ τὸ πάνυ ἀκριβὲς ἂν ξυγκραθὲν μάλιστ᾽ ἂν ἰσχύειν.
βαιός] Lit. 'few,' hence 'feeble.'
161.
mvp-comment-118-1
ὑπό marks that the lesser are to serve the greater:
μετά, that the great require the cooperation of the less.
162-163.
mvp-comment-119-1
'But foolish men cannot be instructed in these truths.'
τούτων γνώμας = ' right judgments about these things.'
164.
mvp-comment-120-1
τοιούτων, sc.
οὕτως ἀνοήτων. 'So foolish are they that clamour against thee,' that there is no hope of bringing them to a better mind.
165.
mvp-comment-121-1
πρὸς ταῦτ᾽ ἀπαλέξασθαι] Sc.
ταῦτα. 'This being so, we have no strength to avert this.'
167.
mvp-comment-122-1
'But then the truth is that when they have escaped from thine eye.'
γάρ covers the whole sentence, and the emphasis is on the latter part, viz.
μέγαν, κ.τ.λ. The Chorus mean to say: 'Though we are weak, yet Ajax is strong, and the clamour will subside when he appears.'
169.
mvp-comment-123-1
The correction of Dawes, which restores the metre by the insertion of
δέ, is probably right. For the meaning,
cp. Alc. fr. 27.
ἔπταζον ὥστ᾽ ὄρνιθες ὦκυν | αἴετον ἐξαπίνας φάνεντα, which also helps to support the punctuation in l. 170.
170.
mvp-comment-124-1
τάχ᾿ ἄν] 'Soon would they.'
171.
mvp-comment-125-1
σιγῇ .. ἄφωνοι] Essay on L. §40. p. 75. 'Their noise would be hushed, and they would cower without a word.'
172-200.
mvp-comment-126-1
Beginning from a dactylic movement, the ode (expressing the combination of deep sadness with eager hope) continues with trochaic, iambic, and dactylic rhythms, as follows:- ... The slow movement with frequent long syllables increases towards the close.
172.
mvp-comment-127-1
ἡ ῥα .. Ἄρτεμις] Can it be, as I suspect (
pa), that Artemis?'
Ταυροπόλα Διὸς Ἄρτεμις] 'Bull-riding Artemis, daughter of Zeus,' conveys the image of the goddess riding on a bull, as she sometimes appears on coins. In this character (probably derived from the East) Artemis was worshipped in different places with orgiastic rites. Euripides, I. T. 1449 foll., associates this name of Artemis with the supposed derivation of her worship under this attribute from the Tauric Chersonese. She is here alluded to (1) as the subduer of cattle, (2) as the inspirer of frenzy.
173.
mvp-comment-128-1
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις] ‘Terrible thought!' The simple word
μεγάλα has here the special connotation of 'tremendous' or 'overwhelming;' just as the general word
κακούς,
supr. 133, is opposed to the special word
σώφρονας. The Chorus cannot speak of Ajax' supposed error without interposing this expression of horror.
175.
mvp-comment-129-1
πανδάμους]
Cp. supr. ll. 53, 4, and note.
ἀγελαίας] (1) Grazing oxen are so called in contradistinction to the labouring ox that is fed at a stall. Or, possibly, (2) the word simply denotes the whole herd of oxen belonging to the host, - the
πάνδημος ἀγέλη.
176.
mvp-comment-130-1
ἡ που] 'Surely, it must have been.'
Cp. Trach. 846, 7, where
ἢ που is reiterated.
τινος νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν] 'Because of a gift of victory that brought her no return.'
χάριν = διὰ χάριν. This unusual construction is softened by a reminiscence of the more ordinary (adverbial) use of
χάριν = 'because of.' For this confusion, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 67; and
cp. Eur. I. T. 566,
κακῆς γυναικός χάριν ἄχαριν ἀπώλετο.
177.
mvp-comment-131-1
ἤ ῥα .. εἴτε] 'Either, as I suspect,.. or whether it were.'
Cp. Eur. Alc. 114, 5,
ἢ Λυκίας | εἴτ᾽ ἐπὶ τὰς ᾿Αμμωνίδας ἕδρας.
177-178.
mvp-comment-132-1
'Disappointed of glorious spoils, or (provoked) because the fall of the stag was followed by no gift.' The MS. reading
ψευσθεῖσα δώροις, ‘deceived in the matter of gifts,' is hardly Greek. For the dative,
ἀδώροις.. ἐλαφηβολίαις, see Essay on L. § 14. p. 21, and for the order of the words, ibid. § 41. p. 77.
179.
mvp-comment-133-1
- By reading
τιν' for
ἤ τιν' a possible construction is obtained, although the text remains doubtful. 'Or can it be that Enyalius of the brazen corslet,' etc. The conjj.
ἥντιν', δή τιν', εἴ τιν', are not satisfactory:
σοί τιν' (Reiske) is better (sc.
μομφὰν ἔχων). The repetition of the
η sound in this passage (ll. 176 9,
ἢ που, ἤ ῥα, ἤ, ἦ) may have had some poetical or musical effect of which we cannot judge.
180.
mvp-comment-134-1
μομφὰν . . δορός] ‘Having fault to find with thee on account of his spear associated with thine,' i.e. by reason of some help which he had given thee in battle. Perhaps there is a reminiscence, although the sense is different, of the Epic
ξυνὸς Ἐνυάλιος. which Eur. has otherwise applied in Phoen. 1572,
κοινὸν ἐνυάλιον . . μαρναμένους.
ἐννυχίοις μαχαναῖς] ‘By contriving against thee in the night.'
181.
mvp-comment-135-1
ἐτίσατο λώβαν] Either (1) 'Punished the wrong done to him,'-
τίσασθαι λώβην in ΙΙ. 19. 208, Od. 20. 169, Hes. Theog. 165, is 'to revenge oneself for an outrage:'-or (2) 'Did thee vengeful despite,'
λώβαν cogn. acc.
Cp. infr. 217,
νύκτερος ἀπελωβήθη: 304,
ὕβριν ἐκτίσαιτ᾽: Il. 13. 622, 3.
183.
mvp-comment-136-1
φρενόθεν] Of thine own heart;' i.e. the cause must have been from without, not from within. Ajax could not be himself (
φρενήρης) and do this thing. The gods must have destroyed his senses (
φρένας ὤλεσαν).
183-185.
mvp-comment-137-1
ἐπ᾿ ἀριστερά .. ἔβας τόσσον] 'Canst thou have gone so far wrong?"
Cp. the metaph. uses of
σκαιός, and Plat. Soph. 264 E, where
πορεύεσθαι κατὰ τοὐπὶ δεξιὰ ἀεὶ μέρος is 'to make the right selection in each case.'
185.
mvp-comment-138-1
ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων] ‘As to assault the flocks.' The participle is slightly proleptic (as with
πειράσθαι).
Cp. Ant. 752,
ἢ κἀπαπειλῶν ὧδ᾽ ἐπεξέρχει θρασύς.
186.
mvp-comment-139-1
ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος] 'An affliction from the gods, indeed, may have come.' For this use of
av with the optative,
cp. Aesch. Pers. 706,
ἀνθρώπεια δ' ἄν τοι πήματ᾿ ἂν τύχοι βροτοῖς: Ag. 1507,
πατρόθεν δὲ συλλήπτωρ γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἀλάστωρ. These words develop the suggestion conveyed in
φρενόθεν γε, το which they are attached with
γάρ. Ajax cannot have done this; at least not of his own impulse. It may be, indeed, that a divine visitation is upon him. This possibility is a further reason for rejecting the notion that Ajax is really guilty.
ὀλλά] (1) 'It may have come, but Zeus grant that the report may be untrue!' Zeus and Phoebus, as the deities of divination, are implored to grant that the truth may be less terrible than it is according to the report set in motion by the Argives. Or (2) 'It may have come, but even then let not the evil be increased with false rumours spread by Argives.'
188-189.
mvp-comment-140-1
'And if, suborning tales of their own making, the mighty kings win currency for them by false means.'
190.
mvp-comment-141-1
ἢ τᾶς ἀσώτου Σισ. γενεᾶς] The force of the article is continued. Essay on L. § 21. p. 336. The standing reproach against Odysseus, that he was the son of Sisyphus, although not acknowledged as true by Sophocles (see l. 1), is represented as being used against him by his enemies.
Cp. especially, Phil. 417,
οὑμπολητὸς Σισύφου Λαερτίῳ: Fr. 143,
ὡς ὁ Σίσυφος πολὺς | ἔνδηλος ἐν σοί. For
Σισυφιδᾶν γενεᾶς, where only one generation is in question,
cp. Ant. 981, 2,
σπέρμα Ερεχθειδᾶν, of Cleopatra the granddaughter of Erechtheus.
191.
mvp-comment-142-1
μὴ μή μ', ἄναξ] For the 'Attic' accusative in general construction with what follows, as after verbs of doing good or evil, see E. on L. § 16. р. 23. 'Do not to my hurt incur reproach.'
ἐφάλοις κλισίαις ὄμμ' ἔχων] (1) 'Keeping thine eye hidden within the hut by the sea.' The Epic word
κλισίαις is used in the Lyric measures. We had
σκηναῖς in the dialogue,
supr. l. 3. The dative is one of place, as if with
ev. For
ὄμμα,
cp. supr. 167.
ἔχων · = κατέχων, 'withholding from sight.' Or (2) 'Keeping thine eye fixed upon the tents.'
194.
mvp-comment-143-1
ἀλλ᾽ ἄνα ἐξ εδράνων] ‘But up from where thou sittest still.' The hiatus is excused by Hermann on the ground that
ava is an interjectional abbreviation.
ὅπου.. σχολᾷ] (1) 'Wheresoever thou art thus fixed in a dangerous lethargy of quarrelsome repose.' The Chorus are uncertain of Ajax' whereabouts, as Odysseus was,
supr. 33.
μακραίωνι implies that some time had passed since the judgment of the arms and Ajax' sullen withdrawal from the fight:
cp. infr. 929 foll.
ἀγωνίῳ is a difficult word. The inactivity of Ajax was his manner of contending with the chiefs: if the rumour was true, it was an inactivity in which he had been fatally active; and however his leisure was employed, it was becoming full of danger to him. The force of
ἀγών, in the sense of a dangerous contest, is therefore suited to the place, and the expression is an oxymoron, 'a perilous quarrelsome rest' (for which, cp. Shak. Ant and Cleo. 1. 3, 'Tis sweating labour To bear such idleness so near the heart.") (2) Others suppose the words merely to mean 'rest from combat,' i.e. from the general combat with the Trojans.
196.
mvp-comment-144-1
ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων] 'Letting mischief blaze up to the sky.'
Cp. Eur. Phoen. 240, 1,
αΐμα δάϊον φλέγει. The image of a fire is continued in the following lines.
197-200.
mvp-comment-145-1
The arrangement of these lines is difficult. The elision of the last syllable of
ὁρμᾶται and the hiatus after
ἀτάρβητα and
βαρυάλγητα are doubtful points. It can hardly be questioned that the
a of
εὐανέμοις (for
εὐηνέμοις) is long.
καχαζόντων is rightly restored for
καγχαζόντων. Brambach, (Sophokl. Gesänge) suggesting
εὐανέμοις, gives the following scheme... But the difficulties are not thus removed. Perhaps we may venture...
197.
mvp-comment-146-1
ὧδ'] 'Thus,' as in
supr. 141-53.
198.
mvp-comment-147-1
εὐανέμοις] 'With favouring breezes.' As applied to a harbour,
εὐήνεμος is 'sheltered from rough winds;' but the image here is rather that of a forest glade, where, when a little fire is kindled, the wind that is not strong enough to extinguish it only fans it to strength.
Cp. I1. 20. 490, 1,
ὡς δ᾽ ἀναμαιμάει βαθέ᾽ ἄγκεα θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ | οὔρεος ἀζαλέοιο, βαθεῖα δὲ καίεται ὕλη.
200.
mvp-comment-148-1
ἐμοὶ .. ἕστακεν] 'I have a grief that will not be removed.'
201.
mvp-comment-149-1
The exposition of the situation in the
Ajax, like the
ἀναγνώρισις in the
Oed. Tyr., is effected through the meeting of those who on either side know only half the truth. Tecmessa, whose affection for Ajax exceeds that of his own people, comes forth to meet the chorus of mariners before the hut. They learn from her the truth of the calamity. She learns from them the extent of it. Schol.
διδάσκει τὸν χόρον ὅτι Αἴας ἐστὶν ὁ σφάξας τὰ ποίμνια. πυνθάνεται δὲ παρὰ τοῦ χοροῦ ὅτι Ἑλληνικὰ ἦν τὰ σφαγέντα, ἑκάτερος οὖν παρ' ἑκατέρου τὸ ἀγνοούμενον μανθάνει.
202.
mvp-comment-150-1
γενεάς, κ.τ.λ.] 'Of race derived from the Earth-born Erechtheidae.' The Salaminians are, by an anachronism which is repeated
infr. 861, counted as originally one with the Athenian people.
203.
mvp-comment-151-1
ἔχομεν στοναχάς] ‘It is ours to groan.' She claims the sympathy of the chorus, of which they assure her,
infr. 210.
204.
mvp-comment-152-1
τηλόθεν] Sc.
ὄντος or
σκοπουμένου.
Cp. O. T. 1259,
οἱ παρῆμεν ἐγγύθεν. The word is not to be immediately joined with
κηδόμενοι. Salamis, which she has never seen, seems far away to Tecmessa, whose hopes are notwithstanding centred there.
205.
mvp-comment-153-1
ὁ δεινὸς μέγας ὠμοκρατής] · Our dread hero, rugged in might.' Various compounds of
ὠμός are used to indicate the fierce impetuosity of Ajax, that cannot be reduced to rule:
infr. 885,
τὸν ὠμόθυμον : 931,
ὠμόφρων : 548,
ἀλλ᾿ αὐτίκ᾿ ὠμοῖς αὐτὸν ἐν νόμοις πατρὸς | δεῖ πωλοδάμνειν κάξομοιοῦσθαι φύσιν. See also
infr. 613,
θουρίῳ | κρατοῦντ᾽ ἐν᾿ Αρει. Others would render
ὠμοκρατής, 'mighty-shouldered,' comparing the description of Ajax in Il. 3. 227 as
ἔξοχος ᾿Αργείων κεφαλὴν ἠδ᾽ εὐρέας ὤμους !
206.
mvp-comment-154-1
θολερῷ.. χειμῶνι] 'Through a turbid storm.' The darkened mind of Ajax is compared either to the troubling of waters by a flood, or to atmospheric disturbance, as we speak of 'dirty weather.'
Cp. Ant. 420, 1,
ἐν δ᾽ ἐμεστώθη μέγας | αἰθήρ, μύσαντες δ᾽ εἴχομεν θείαν νόσον, and, for the metaphorical use of
θολερός, Aesch. Prom. 885, 6,
θολεροὶ δὲ λόγοι παίουσ' εἰκη | στυγνῆς πρὸς κύμασιν ἄτης.
207.
mvp-comment-155-1
κεῖται] • Is overthrown.'
Cp. Plat. Rep. 5. p. 451 Α,
κείσομαι, περὶ ἃ ἥκιστα δεῖ σφάλλεσθαι.
νοσήσας] ‘Having fallen into madness.' The aorist expresses the suddenness of the stroke.
208.
mvp-comment-156-1
'What heavy change from the condition of the day hath last night experienced?' This is Triclinius' explanation of
τῆς ἁμερίας, sc.
καταστάσεως. As in the case of other feminine words used substantively, we need not be precise in supplying the ellipse. Lobeck prefers
ὥρας. Ajax' condition on the previous day was lamentable enough: what new trouble has arisen during the night?
210.
mvp-comment-157-1
Τελεύταντος] The first syllable is to be scanned as long :
cp. Ἱππομέδων, Παρθένοπαῖος in Iambic verse. Others read
Φρυγίοιο for
Φρυγίου, which is questionable both as to the form of the genitive and the division of the line.
211.
mvp-comment-158-1
λέχος δουριάλωτον] ' In a spear-won marriage.'
λέχος cogn. acc.
212.
mvp-comment-159-1
στέρξας ἀνέχει] 'Having fixed his affection on thee, remains constant to thee.' The mariners accept Tecmessa as their master's choice, although they could have wished a nobler bride for him. For
ἀνέχει, see E. on L. § 52. p. 97, and
cp. Eur. Hec. 123,
Βάκχης ἀνέχων λέκτρ᾽ ᾿Αγαμέμνων: Alc. 304,
τούτους ἀνάσχου δεσπότας ἐμῶν δόμων, where the middle voice has a similar force. For cognate uses of
ἀνέχω,
cp. Fr. 146, Pind. P. 2. 163.
213.
mvp-comment-160-1
'So that you know, and can tell us what we want to know.'
ὑπό in comp. seems here to have the force of 'supplying an answer, or supplying the word that is wanting.'
Cp. ὑποκρίνομαι.
215.
mvp-comment-161-1
πάθος, as the appropriate word, is preferable to
βάρος, which may have slipped in in from
supr. 209.
217.
mvp-comment-162-1
νύκτερος] 'In the night.' Essay on L. § 23. p. 36.
218.
mvp-comment-163-1
τοιαῦτ᾽ ἂν ἴδοις] For
τοιοῦτος adducing proof, see Essay on L. § 22. p. 35 a.
220.
mvp-comment-164-1
χρηστήρια] Either (1) simply 'victims,' or (2) with superstitious reference to the
δαίμων of madness. 'Offerings demanded by his rage.'
221-232.
mvp-comment-165-1
The metrical scheme (Logaoedic, with frequent syncope) is the following...
221.
mvp-comment-166-1
ἀνδρὸς αἴθονος] ‘Concerning the fiery man.' Essay on L. § 9. p. 12, 2. If
τοι is retained in
infr. 245, we may read here
οἵαν ἐδήλωσας *κατ᾿ ἀνδρὸς αἴθονος. The short syllable in
αἴθονος is sufficiently supported by
αΐθονα occurring in Hesychius in the right alphabetical order (immediately after
αἶθον). Although
αἴθοπος (see v. rr.) may be defended, on the ground that the second part of a compound has sometimes little significance (see esp.
infr. 954,
κελαινώπαν θυμών), yet
αἴθων, which directly expresses character, is more appropriate here, and has the preponderance of MS. authority in its favour.
222.
mvp-comment-167-1
ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτάν] ‘That can neither be avoided nor endured.'
225.
mvp-comment-168-1
μεγάλων] 'Terrible.' The mariners, in their feebleness (
supr. 165 foll.), are afraid of the opinion of the host. These words are added as a comment on
οὐδὲ φευκτάν. The consequences of the fact cannot be eluded, since it is known to the host, and magnified by rumour.
226.
mvp-comment-169-1
ὁ μέγας μῦθος] ‘The formidable power of rumour.'
Supr. 172,
ὦ μεγάλα φάτις. μῦθος is the rumour about this particular thing, with a suggestion of rumour in general.
ἀέξει] Not 'exaggerates,' for the evil could not be exaggerated, but, 'which the mighty power of rumour spreads abroad.'
229.
mvp-comment-170-1
περίφαντος.. θανεῖται] 'He will be discovered and will die.'
περίφαντος is explained by the words that follow,
παραπλήκτῳ χερί, κ.τ.λ. The nature of the crime defies concealment.
231.
mvp-comment-171-1
κελαινοῖς ξίφεσιν] · With darkened brand.' The plural, as in Ant. 820,
ξιφέων ἐπίχειρα, denotes the action of the sword rather than the sword itself. The epithet
κελαινοῖς, as in Trach. 856,
κελαινὰ λόγχα, suggests the colour of a sword or spear that has been much used in battle.
βοτήρας]
Supr. 27,
αὐτοῖς ποιμνίων ἐπιστάταις. This fact is known to the mariners from the report of the army, not from Tecmessa.
ἱππονώμας] Either (1) because captive horses, like those of Rhesus, were included in the spoil (this might add force to
ἱππομανῆ, supr. 143), or rather (2) because the herdsmen were mounted, as might well happen where the herd was so extensive.
235.
mvp-comment-172-1
ὧν τὴν μέν] Sc.
ποίμναν. 'Whereof one part.' The plural
ὧν is equivalent to a collective
ἧς, referring to
ποίμναν supr. The force of
ἔσω ('in the tent') is continued to the subsequent clauses. For
τὴν μέν followed by
τὰ δέ, see Essay on L. § 20. p. 31.
236.
mvp-comment-173-1
πλευροκοπών δίχ᾽ ἀνερρήγνυ] 'He smote beneath the ribs and ripped asunder.' The two white-footed rams are probably Agamemnon and Odysseus. Menelaus may have been imagined to be slain in combat, while the king of men was brought away in triumph to be the object of more condign vengeance. Ll. 105 foll. leave no room to doubt that the second ram is intended by Ajax for Odysseus.
237.
mvp-comment-174-1
ἀνελών] · Having lifted,' i.e. by the forefeet.
238-239.
mvp-comment-175-1
'He sheared off and threw away (first) the tongue-tip and (then) the head.' E. on L. § 41. p. 78 β, b. The tongue, which had pronounced the judgment, the head, which was the seat of sovereignty, are the first to suffer. For
ῥιπτεῖ,
cp. Hdt. 4. 61,
ὁ θύσας, τῶν κρεῶν καὶ τῶν σπλάγχνων ἀπαρξάμενος, ῥίπτει ἐς τὸ ἔμπροσθεν.
240.
mvp-comment-176-1
‘Bound up to a pillar erect.'
ἄνω marks that the bonds were fastened from above, so as almost to suspend the creature from the ground.
241.
mvp-comment-177-1
'With a great harness-thong.'
ῥυτήρ is (1) a trace, (2) a rein, (3) any strap used in harnessing.
242.
mvp-comment-178-1
'He smites him with resounding double lash ;' i.e. He holds the thong by the middle, and plies it, thus doubled, with a whizzing noise.
243.
mvp-comment-179-1
ἃ δαίμων, κ.τ.λ.] i.e. The words gave evidence of superhuman passion.
Ср. О. Т. 1258, 9,
δαιμόνων δείκνυσί τις, οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀνδρῶν.
244.
mvp-comment-180-1
'Reviling him with evil language.'
Cp. Ant. 759,
ἐπὶ ψόγοισι δεννάσεις ἐμέ.
245.
mvp-comment-181-1
κάρα is the emendation of Triclinius for
κρᾶτα, which is in most MSS., generally with
τοι preceding: according to Hermann this was due to a mistaken metrical emendation. Reading
κάρα and retaining
τοι, we might read in
supr. 221,
οἴαν ἐδήλωσας *κατ᾿ ἀνδρὸς αἴθονος. τιν'] ἱ.ε.
ἡμᾶς. Essay on L. § 22. p. 36.
κάρα καλύμμασι κρυψάμενον] 'Veiling one's head,' either (1) in token of confusion and shame as well as sorrow.
Cp. Od. 8.92; Plat. Phaedr. 243 В. Or (2) by way of disguise.
ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι] i. e.
φυγὴν ἀρέσθαι, 'to steal away on foot.'
Cp. Eur. Or. 1499,
ἐκκλέπτειν πόδα: Rhes. 54,
αἴρεσθαι φυγήν.
247.
mvp-comment-182-1
θοὸν εἰρεσίας ζυγὸν ἑζόμενον] 'Pressing the swift rowing-bench.'
Cp. Aesch. Ag. 982,
θάρσος . . ἵζει φρενὸς φίλον θρόνον. And for the hypallage (
=θοᾶς εἰρεσίας ζυγόν), see Essay on L. § 42. p. 80.
250.
mvp-comment-183-1
ποντοπόρῳ ναὶ μεθεῖναι] 'Let the sea-faring ship go on her way.' No definite ellipse (as of
πλοῦν or
πείσματα) is to be supplied with
μεθεῖναι.
250.
mvp-comment-183-2
ματα) need be supposed. The verb 'to let go' is first used absolutely, and then again acquires a remote object, which is put in the dative. The ship is 'a thing of life.'
251.
mvp-comment-184-1
ἐρέσσουσιν] 'Launch.' Ant. 158,
μῆτιν ἐρέσσω. For the unconscious tautology,
εἰρεσίας .. ἐρέσσουσιν, see Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83, 4. The mariners think of the Atreidae as chasing them astern. The words
καθ' ἡμῶν mark that their lot is bound up with that of Ajax, a thought which is developed in the succeeding lines. The accusative
Ἄρη is in two constructions, first after
πεφόβημαι, and then with
ξυναλγεῖν, which is added in epexegesis. For
Apns of destructive violence, cp. esp. Aesch. Prom. 861, 2,
θηλυκτόνῳ | Ἄρει δαμέντων.
255.
mvp-comment-185-1
τὸν αἰσ᾿ ἄπλατος ίσχει] 'Possessed by an all-endangering doom.' The chorus long to stand by Ajax, but are deterred by his madness.
Cp. Trach. 785,
κοὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα τἀνδρὸς ἀντίον μολεῖν : ib. 797,
ὦ παῖ, πρόσελθε, μὴ φύγῃς τοὐμὸν κακόν, | μηδ' εἴ σε χρὴ θανόντι συνθανεῖν ἐμοί: ib. 1030,
ἀποτίβατος ἀγρία νόσος.
257.
mvp-comment-186-1
οὐκέτι] Sc.
ἴσχει νιν ἡ μανία. 'He may be approached with safety now.'
λαμπρᾶς, κ.τ.λ.] 'For he, like a Southern storm, after a sharp outburst, ceases to rage, and the lightning plays no more.'
ἄτερ, κ.τ.λ. is to be taken proleptically =
ὥστε ἄτερ στεροπῆς εἶναι. E. on L. § 38. p. 70. Otherwise the words might mean, 'He desists without lightning:' i.e. his violence comes to an end without doing irreparable harm.
Cp. Eur. Med. 93, 4,
οὐδὲ παύσεται | χόλου, σάφ' οἶδα, πρὶν κατασκῆψαί τινα: Shak. King John, 4. 2, 'So foul a sky clears not without a storm.' But although Tecmessa is for the moment relieved, her apprehensions are not sufficiently calmed to make this natural.
259.
mvp-comment-187-1
Φρόνιμος] Sc.
ὤν. Essay on L. § 39. Ρ. 72.
φρόνιμον (sc.
ὄντα) is a v. r. or MS. conjecture.
260.
mvp-comment-188-1
οἰκεῖα πάθη] Troubles all one's own.' i.e. both as home-felt and self-wrought.
Cp. El. 215,
οἰκείας εἰς ἄτας.
261.
mvp-comment-189-1
παραπράξαντος] «Having assisted.'
Cp. παραδράω (
οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες, Od. 15, 324).
262.
mvp-comment-190-1
μεγάλας ὀδύνας ὑποτείνει] 'Causes intense grief within.'
ὑποτείνει, 1.2.
ὑπέχει ἐντεταμένως. Cp. Pind. O1. 2. 100,
βαθεῖαν ὑπέχων μέριμναν ἀγροτέραν.
263.
mvp-comment-191-1
'But if he hath ceased' (from his madness), 'he must be surely happy.' Others take
εὐτυχεῖν impersonally, as in Oed. Tyr 88,
πάντ᾽ ἂν εὐτυχεῖν, –‘All must be well.'
264.
mvp-comment-192-1
'For trouble counts for less when it is gone.' The gen. is first absolute, and then in regimen with
λόγος.
Cp. infr. 1161, 2,
κἀμοὶ γὰρ αἴσχιστον κλύειν | ἀνδρὸς ματαίου φλαῦρ᾽ ἔπη μυθουμένου.
265.
mvp-comment-193-1
αἵρεσιν] Sc.
τούτων, viz. ll. 266, 7, which
πότερα anticipates.
266.
mvp-comment-194-1
ἔχειν]
Supr. 203.
267.
mvp-comment-195-1
κοινὸς ἐν κοινοῖσι] Essay on L. § 44. p. 83. Or to be with others and mingle your sorrow with theirs.'
ξυνών marks that while Ajax was delirious, he stood apart from the grief which others felt for him.
269.
mvp-comment-196-1
'Our case, then, since the madness left us, is grown more desperate.' Tecmessa identifies her lot with that of Ajax. Compare
infr. 791,
μῶν ὀλώλαμεν; A few lines below (273-6) she speaks of herself in the plural as contrasted with him.
272.
mvp-comment-197-1
οἶσιν. . κακοῖς] i. e.
κακοῖς ἐν οἶσιν εἴχετο. Cp. infr. 1144, 5,
ἡνίκ᾽ ἐν κακῷ | χειμῶνος εἴχετ'.
275.
mvp-comment-198-1
πᾶς ἐλήλαται] 'Is vexed to the uttermost.'
πᾶς is adverbial. See Essay on L. § 23. p. 38, and
cp. infr. 519,
ἐν σοὶ πᾶσ᾽ ἔγωγε σώζομαι. The perfect, as in
πεφόβημαι, supr. 139, expresses a completed state.
277.
mvp-comment-199-1
ἆρ'..;] Essay on L. § 29. p. 50. 'What is this but to have the sorrow doubled that before was single?' Cp. Constance in King John, 3. 4. 'I am not mad; - I would to heaven I were! For then 'tis like I should forget myself: O, if I could, what grief should I forget!'
278-279.
mvp-comment-200-1
μὴ ἐκ θεοῦ | πληγή τις ἥκει] 'That a calamity is really come from Heaven.' The chorus before admitted as a possibility (
supr. 186,
ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος) what now appears to be too certain. Hence the indicative is more forcible here, although the subjunctive (
ἥκῃ) is more regular and may be the true reading.
282-283.
mvp-comment-201-1
'In what wise lighted on you the commencement of the trouble? Tell us, who grieve with you at the misfortune, what it is.'
τύχας, continuing the notion of
κακοῦ, is governed either (1) both of
δήλωσον and of
ξυναλγοῦσιν, or (2) of
ξυναλγοῦσιν only.
