Sophocles, Ajax, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 646

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Turn

← Previous Next →

Alas ! too late did Teucer send me here,
645

Or I am come too slowly.

Chorus

Ajax. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (4)

Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 634-680 focus

ΑΙΑΣ

Ἅπανθ’ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος χρόνος

φύει τ’ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·
635

κοὐκ ἔστ’ ἄελπτον οὐδὲν, ἀλλ’ ἁλίσκεται

χὠ δεινὸς ὅρκος καἰ περισκελεῖς φρένες.

650 κἀγὼ γὰρ, ὃς τὰ δείν’ ἐκαρτέρουν τότε,

βαφῇ σίδηρος ὣς, ἐθηλύνθην στόμα

πρὸς τἡςδε τῆς γυναικός· οἰκτείρω δὲ νιν
640

χήραν παρ’ ἐχθροῖς, παῖδά τ’ ὀρφανὸν λιπεῖν.

ἀλλ’ εἶμι πρός τε λουτρὰ καὶ παρακτίους

655 λειμῶνας, ὡς ἂν λύμαθ’ ἁγνίσας ἐμὰ

μῆνιν βαρεῖαν ἐξαλεύσωμαι θεάς·

μολών τε, χῶρον ἔνθ’ ἂν ἀστιβῆ κίχω,
645

κρύψω τόδ’ ἔγχος τοὐμὸν, ἔχθιστον βελῶν,

γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα μή τις ὄψεται.

660 ἀλλ’ αὐτὸ νὺξ Ἀιδὴς τε σωζόντων κάτω.

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἐξ οὖ χειρὶ τοῦτ’ ἐδεξάμην

παρ’ Ἕκτορος δώρημα δυσμενεστάτου,
650

οὔπω τι κεδνὸν ἔσχον Ἀργείων πάρα.

ἀλλ’ ἔστ’ ἀληθὴς ἡ βροτῶν παροιμία,

665 ἐχθρῶν ἄδωρα δῶρα κοὐκ ὀνήσιμα.

τοιγὰρ τὸ λοιπὸν εἰσόμεσθα μὲν θεοῖς

εἴκειν, μαθησόμεσθα δ’ Ἀτρείδας σέβειν.
655

ἄρχοντές εἰσιν, ὥςθ’ ὑπεικτέον · τί μή;

καὶ γάρ τὰ δεινὰ καὶ τὰ καρτερώτατα

670 τιμαῖς ὑπείκει· τοῦτο μὲν νιφοστιβεῖς

χειμῶνες ἐκχωροῦσιν εὐκάρπῳ θέρει·

ἐξίσταται δὲ νυκτὸς αἰανὴς κύκλος
660

τῇ λευκοπώλῳ φέγγος ἡμψᾳ φλέγειν.

δεινῶν τ’ ἄημα πνευμάτων ἐκοίμισε

675 στένοντα πόντον· ὲν δ’ ὁ παγκρατὴς ὕπνος

λύει πεδήσας οὐδ’ ἀεὶ λαβὼν ἔχει.

ἡμεῖς δὲ πῶς οὐ γνωσόμεσθα σωφρονεῖν;
665

ἐγὼ δ’, ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ ἀρτίως ὅτι

ὅ τ’ ἐχθρὸς ἡμῖν ἐς τοσόνδ’ ἐχθαρτέος,

680 ὡς καὶ φιλήσων αὖθις· ἔς τε τὸν φίλον

τοσαῦθ’ ὑπουργῶν ὠφελεῖν βουλήσομαι,

ὡς αἰὲν οὐ μενοῦντα· τοῖς πολλοῖσι γὰρ
670

βροτῶν ἄπιστός ὲσθ’ ἑταιρίας λιμήν.

ἀλλ’ ἀμφὶ μὲν τούτοισιν εὖ σχήσει· σὺ δὲ

685 ἔσω θεοῖς ἐλθοῦσα διὰ τέλους, γύναι,

εὔχου τελεῖσθαι, τοὐμὸν ὧν ἐρᾷ κέαρ.

ὑμεῖς θ , ἑταῖροι, ταὐτὰ τῇδέ μοι τάδε
675

τιμᾶτε, Τεύκρῳ τ’, ἢν μόλῃ, σημήνατε

μέλειν μὲν ἡμῶν, εὐνοεῖν δ ὑμῖν ἄμα.

690 ἐγὼ γὰρ εἶμ’ ὲκεῖσ’, ὅποι πορευτέον·

ύμεῖς δ’ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχ’ ἄν μ’ ἴσως

πύθοισθε, κεἰ νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωσμένον.
680

Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 646-692 focus

Αἴας

ἅπανθʼ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος χρόνος

φύει τʼ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·

κοὐκ ἔστʼ ἄελπτον οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἁλίσκεται

¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²¹³¹⁴¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷¹⁸

χὡ δεινὸς ὅρκος χοἱ περισκελεῖς φρένες.

κἀγὼ γάρ, ὃς τὰ δείνʼ ἐκαρτέρουν τότε,
650

βαφῇ σίδηρος ὥς, ἐθηλύνθην στόμα

πρὸς τῆσδε τῆς γυναικός· οἰκτίρω δέ νιν

χήραν παρʼ ἐχθροῖς παῖδά τʼ ὀρφανὸν λιπεῖν.

ἀλλʼ εἶμι πρός τε λουτρὰ καὶ παρακτίους

λειμῶνας, ὡς ἂν λύμαθʼ ἁγνίσας ἐμὰ
655

μῆνιν βαρεῖαν ἐξαλύξωμαι θεᾶς·

μολών τε χῶρον ἔνθʼ ἂν ἀστιβῆ κίχω

κρύψω τόδʼ ἔγχος τοὐμόν, ἔχθιστον βελῶν,

γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα μή τις ὄψεται·

ἀλλʼ αὐτὸ νὺξ Ἅιδης τε σῳζόντων κάτω.
660

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἐξ οὗ χειρὶ τοῦτʼ ἐδεξάμην

παρʼ Ἕκτορος δώρημα δυσμενεστάτου,

οὔπω τι κεδνὸν ἔσχον Ἀργείων πάρα.

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἀληθὴς ἡ βροτῶν παροιμία,

ἐχθρῶν ἄδωρα δῶρα κοὐκ ὀνήσιμα.
665

τοιγὰρ τὸ λοιπὸν εἰσόμεσθα μὲν θεοῖς

εἴκειν, μαθησόμεσθα δʼ Ἀτρείδας σέβειν.

ἄρχοντές εἰσιν, ὥσθʼ ὑπεικτέον. τί μήν;

καὶ γὰρ τὰ δεινὰ καὶ τὰ καρτερώτατα

τιμαῖς ὑπείκει· τοῦτο μὲν νιφοστιβεῖς
670

χειμῶνες ἐκχωροῦσιν εὐκάρπῳ θέρει·

ἐξίσταται δὲ νυκτὸς αἰανὴς κύκλος

τῇ λευκοπώλῳ φέγγος ἡμέρᾳ φλέγειν·

δεινῶν τʼ ἄημα πνευμάτων ἐκοίμισε

στένοντα πόντον· ἐν δʼ ὁ παγκρατὴς ὕπνος
675

λύει πεδήσας, οὐδʼ ἀεὶ λαβὼν ἔχει.

¹⁹²⁰²¹²²²³²⁴²⁵²⁶

ἡμεῖς δὲ πῶς οὐ γνωσόμεσθα σωφρονεῖν;

ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ ἀρτίως ὅτι

ὅ τʼ ἐχθρὸς ἡμῖν ἐς τοσόνδʼ ἐχθαρτέος,

ὡς καὶ φιλήσων αὖθις, ἔς τε τὸν φίλον
680

τοσαῦθʼ ὑπουργῶν ὠφελεῖν βουλήσομαι,

ὡς αἰὲν οὐ μενοῦντα. τοῖς πολλοῖσι γὰρ

βροτῶν ἄπιστός ἐσθʼ ἑταιρείας λιμήν.

ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ μὲν τούτοισιν εὖ σχήσει· σὺ δὲ

εἴσω θεοῖς ἐλθοῦσα διὰ τέλους, γύναι,
685

εὔχου τελεῖσθαι τοὐμὸν ὧν ἐρᾷ κέαρ.

ὑμεῖς θʼ, ἑταῖροι, ταὐτὰ τῇδέ μοι τάδε

τιμᾶτε, Τεύκρῳ τʼ, ἢν μόλῃ, σημήνατε

μέλειν μὲν ἡμῶν, εὐνοεῖν δʼ ὑμῖν ἅμα.

ἐγὼ γὰρ εἶμʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ὅποι πορευτέον·
690

ὑμεῖς δʼ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχʼ ἄν μʼ ἴσως

πύθοισθε, κεἰ νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωμένον.

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 646 focus

ἅπανθ᾽ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος κἀναρήθμητος και αρίθμητος χρόνος
645

φύει τ᾽ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·

κοὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἄελπτον οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἁλίσκεται

χώ δεινὸς ὅρκος καὶ χαί περισκελεῖς φρένες.

κἀγὼ γάρ, ὃς τὰ δείν᾽ ἐκαρτέρουν τότε ἐπηπείλησ᾽ ἔπη ἢ λειπει τὸ ἔπη ἐκαρτέρουν τότε
650

βαφῇ σίδηρος ὥς, ἐθηλύνθην στόμα

πρὸς τῆσδε τῆς γυναικός· οἰκτείρω δέ νιν

χήραν χήραν παρ᾽ ἐχθροῖς παῖδά τ᾽ ὀρφανὸν λιπεῖν.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰμι πρός τε λουτρὰ καὶ παρακτίους

λειμῶνας, ὡς ἂν λύμαθ᾽ ἁγνίσας ἐμὰ
655

μῆνιν βαρεῖαν ἐξαλεύσωμαι ἐξαλύξωμαι ἐξαλλάξομαι θεᾶς·

μολών μολῶν μολών τε χῶρον ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ἀστιβή κίχω

κρύψω τόδ' ἔγχος τοὐμόν τοὐμὸν, ἔχθιστον ἔχθιστον βελῶν,

γαίας γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα μή τις ὄψεται·

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸ νὺξ Ἅιδης τε σωζόντων κάτω.
660

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἐξ οὐ χειρὶ τοῦτ᾽ ἐδεξάμην

παρ' Έκτορος δώρημα δυσμενεστάτου,

οὔπω τι κεδνὸν ἔσχον ᾿Αργείων πάρα.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀληθὴς ἡ βροτῶν παροιμία,

ἐχθρῶν ἄδωρα δῶρα κοὐκ ὀνήσιμα.
665

τοιγὰρ τὸ λοιπὸν τολοιπὸν, εἰσόμεσθα μὲν θεοῖς

εἴκειν, μαθησόμεσθα δ' ᾿Ατρείδας ἀτρείδα ἀτρείδας σέβειν.

ἄρχοντές εἰσιν, ὥσθ᾽ ὑπεικτέον. τί μή;

καὶ γὰρ τὰ δεινὰ καὶ τὰ καρτερώτατα

τιμαῖς ὑπείκει· τοῦτο μὲν νιφοστιβεῖς
670

χειμῶνες ἐκχωροῦσιν εὐκάρπῳ θέρει·

ἐξίσταται δὲ νυκτὸς αἰανὴς αἰανὴς αἰανῆσ κύκλος

τῇ λευκοπώλῳ λευκοπόλωι λευκοπώλωι φέγγος ἡμέρᾳ φλέγειν φέγγειν φλέγειν·

δεινῶν δεινόν δεινῶν τ᾿ ἄημα πνευμάτων ἐκοίμισε

στένοντα πόντον· ἐν δ᾽ ὁ παγκρατὴς ὕπνος
675

λύει πεδήσας, οὐδ᾽ ἀεὶ λαβὼν ἔχει.

ἡμεῖς δὲ πῶς οὐ γνωσόμεσθα σωφρονεῖν ;

* ἐγῷδ᾽· ἐγὼ δ' ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ ἀρτίως ὅτι

ὅ τ᾽ ἐχθρὸς ἡμῖν ἤμην ἡμῖν ἡμὴν ἥμιν ἐς τοσόνδ᾽ ἐχθαρτέος έχθραντέοσ,

ὡς καὶ φιλήσων αὖθις, ἔς τε τὸν φίλον
680

τοσαῦθ᾽ ὑπουργῶν ὠφελεῖν βουλήσομαι,

ὡς αἰὲν οὐ μενοῦντα. τοῖς πολλοῖσι πολλοῖς πολλοῖσι γὰρ

βροτῶν ἄπιστός ἄπιστος ἐσθ᾽ ἑταιρείας λιμήν.

ἀλλ᾽ ἀμφὶ μὲν τούτοισιν εὖ σχήσει· σὺ δὲ

εἴσω θεοῖς ἐλθοῦσα διὰ τέλους, γύναι,
685

εὔχου τελεῖσθαι τοὐμὸν ὧν ἐρᾷ κέαρ.

ὑμεῖς θ᾽, ἑταῖροι, ταὐτὰ τῇδέ μοι τάδε

τιμᾶτε, Τεύκρῳ τ᾽, ἣν μόλῃ, σημήνατε

μέλειν μὲν ἡμῶν, εὐνοεῖν δ᾽ ὑμῖν ἅμα ὑμῶν ἅμα ὑπέρμεγα ὑμῖν.

ἐγὼ γὰρ εἶμ᾽ ἐκεῖσ᾽ ὅποι πορευτέον·
690

ὑμεῖς δ᾽ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχ᾽ ἄν μ᾽ ἴσως

πύθοισθε, κεἰ wel νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωσμένον.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 646-692 focus

Αἴας

ἅπανθʼ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος χρόνος

φύει τʼ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·

κοὐκ ἔστʼ ἄελπτον οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἁλίσκεται

χὠ δεινὸς ὅρκος χαἰ περισκελεῖς φρένες.

κἀγὼ γάρ, ὃς τὰ δείνʼ ἐκαρτέρουν τότε,
650

βαφῇ σίδηρος ὣς ἐθηλύνθην στόμα

πρὸς τῆσδε τῆς γυναικός· οἰκτίρω δέ νιν

χήραν παρʼ ἐχθροῖς παῖδά τʼ ὀρφανὸν λιπεῖν.

ἀλλʼ εἶμι πρός τε λουτρὰ καὶ παρακτίους

λειμῶνας, ὡς ἂν λύμαθʼ ἁγνίσας ἐμὰ
655

μῆνιν βαρεῖαν ἐξαλύξωμαι θεᾶς·

μολών τε χῶρον ἔνθʼ ἂν ἀστιβῆ κίχω,

κρύψω τόδʼ ἔγχος τοὐμόν, ἔχθιστον βελῶν,

γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα μή τις ὄψεται·

ἀλλʼ αὐτὸ νὺξ Ἅιδης τε σῳζόντων κάτω.
660

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἐξ οὗ χειρὶ τοῦτʼ ἐδεξάμην

παρʼ Ἕκτορος δώρημα δυσμενεστάτου,

οὔπω τι κεδνὸν ἔσχον Ἀργείων πάρα.

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἀληθὴς ἡ βροτῶν παροιμία,

ἐχθρῶν ἄδωρα δῶρα κοὐκ ὀνήσιμα.
665

τοιγὰρ τὸ λοιπὸν εἰσόμεσθα μὲν θεοῖς

εἴκειν, μαθησόμεσθα δʼ Ἀτρείδας σέβειν.

ἄρχοντές εἰσιν, ὥσθʼ ὑπεικτέον. τί μήν;

καὶ γὰρ τὰ δεινὰ καὶ τὰ καρτερώτατα

τιμαῖς ὑπείκει· τοῦτο μὲν νιφοστιβεῖς
670

χειμῶνες ἐκχωροῦσιν εὐκάρπῳ θέρει·

ἐξίσταται δὲ νυκτὸς αἰανὴς κύκλος

τῇ λευκοπώλῳ φέγγος ἡμέρᾳ φλέγειν·

δεινῶν τʼ ἄημα πνευμάτων ἐκοίμισε

στένοντα πόντον· ἐν δʼ ὁ παγκρατὴς ὕπνος
675

λύει πεδήσας, οὐδʼ ἀεὶ λαβὼν ἔχει.

ἡμεῖς δὲ πῶς οὐ γνωσόμεσθα σωφρονεῖν;

ἔγωγʼ· ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ ἀρτίως ὅτι

ὅ τʼ ἐχθρὸς ἡμῖν ἐς τοσόνδʼ ἐχθαρτέος,

ὡς καὶ φιλήσων αὖθις, ἔς τε τὸν φίλον
680

τοσαῦθʼ ὑπουργῶν ὠφελεῖν βουλήσομαι,

ὡς αἰὲν οὐ μενοῦντα· τοῖς πολλοῖσι γὰρ

βροτῶν ἄπιστός ἐσθʼ ἑταιρείας λιμήν.

ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ μὲν τούτοισιν εὖ σχήσει· σὺ δὲ

ἔσω θεοῖς ἐλθοῦσα διὰ τάχους, γύναι,
685

εὔχου τελεῖσθαι τοὐμὸν ὧν ἐρᾷ κέαρ.

ὑμεῖς δʼ, ἑταῖροι, ταὐτὰ τῇδέ μοι τάδε

τιμᾶτε, Τεύκρῳ τʼ, ἢν μόλῃ, σημήνατε

μέλειν μὲν ἡμῶν, εὐνοεῖν δʼ ὑμῖν ἅμα.

ἐγὼ γὰρ εἶμʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ὅποι πορευτέον·
690

ὑμεῖς δʼ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχʼ ἄν μʼ ἴσως

πύθοισθε, κεἰ νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωσμένον.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 646 focus

What change will never-terminable Time
645

Not heave to light, what hide not from the day?
645

What chance shall win men’s marvel? Mightiest oaths

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 646 focus

Die lange, schrankenlose Zeit deckt Alles auf,

Was ruht im Dunkel, und verhüllt das Strahlende.

Nichts Unverhofftes gibt es; nein, gebrochen wird
615

Auch hoher Eidschwur, auch der felsenstarre Muth.

Auch ich, in rauhem Sinne fest verhärtet einst,

Ward, ölgetränktem Eisen gleich, von dieser Frau

Erweicht zur Milde; mich betrübt's als Wittwe sie

Zu lassen unter Feinden und den Sohn verwaist.
620

Drum eil' ich hin zum Bade nach den grünen Au'n

Des Meergestades, ob ich, rein von meiner Schuld

Mich waschend, Pallas' schwerem Zorn entrinnen mag;

Und fand ich eine Stätte, die kein Fuß betritt,

Da berg' ich diese Waffe, mein verhaßtes Schwert,
625

In tiefer Erde, wo sie Niemand sehen soll;

Rein, Nacht und Hades nehme sie dort unten auf!

Denn seit dem Tag, an welchem meine Hand die Wehr¹

Von Hektor, diesem schlimmsten Feind, als Gabe nahm,

Genoß ich keines Glückes mehr in Argos' Volk.
630

Wohl ist es Wahrheit, was der Spruch der Menschen sagt:

Des Feindes Gab' ist keine, bringt uns nie Gewinn.

Drum will ich künftig lernen mich der Götter Macht

Zu fügen, Atreus' Söhnen stets zu huldigen.

Sie sind die Herrscher: ihnen denn gehorche man!
635

Denn selbst das Starke, selbst das Algewaltige

Weicht hohen Würden: also macht der Winter ja,

Der schneeumhüllte, fruchtbelad'nem Sommer Naum:

So weicht der düstre Kreis der Nacht dem leuchtenden

Gespann des Tages, daß er strahlt in hellem Glanz;
640

Der wilden Winde leis'rer Hauch besänftiget

Des Meeres Toben; auch der Allbezwinger Schlaf

Löst, wen er fesselt, und umfängt nicht ewig uns.

Wie sollten wir nur weisem Maß nicht huldigen?

Ia, deutlich seh' ich eben und erkenne dies:
645

Den Widersacher darf ich so weit hassen nur,²

Als würd' er noch mich lieben, und dem Freunde will

Ich fürder so viel helfen und zu Dienste sein,

Als blieb' er mirs nicht immer; denn bei Menschen ist

Gar oft der Freundschaft Hafen falsch und trügerisch.
650

Nun, dieses will ich reiflich stets bedenken. Du

Geh schnell hinein, Frau, flehe mir die Götter an,

Zum guten Ziel zu führen, was mein Herz verlangt!

(Tekmessa geht ab in das Zelt.)

Und ihr Genossen, ehret ihr auch mein Gebot,

Wie diese; deutet, wann er kommt, dem Teukros an,
655

Für uns zu sorgen und zugleich euch hold zu sein.

Ich gehe dorthin meinen Pfad, wohin ich muß;

Thut ihr nach meinen Worten; bald vernehmt ihr wohl,

Daß, leid' ich jezt auch, meine Noth ihr Ende fand.

(er geht ab; der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 646 focus

Time in the length of its unbounded course
645

Draws things obscure to light, and sinks in shades
645

The most conspicuous: no event befals,
645

But what might be expected; solemn oaths
645

Yield to assaults, and the obdurate mind.
645

And I, who late like temper'd steel retain'd
645

My firmness, by this woman have been taught
645

A softer tone. I pity her sad state,
645

Left 'mongst her foes a widow, and my son
645

An orphan. To the margin of the sea
645

Hence then I go, and in the cleansing wave
645

Wash off these stains, if so I may appease
645

The anger of the goddess. Where I find:
645

A place unmark'd by human foot, this sword,
645

The most abhorr'd of weapons, in the ground
645

Deep-buried I will hide, where never eye...
645

Shall see it more; let night, and hell's dark king
645

Keep it; for from the hour when I received
645

From Hector's hostile hand this gift, from Greece
645

No grateful meed, no honour have I shared.
645

Well was it said, The gifts of hostile hands
645

Are ever hostile, and with mischiefs fraught.
645

Henceforth then to the gods we know to yield,
645

And learn the sons of Atreus to revere;
645

They are our Chiefs; behoves us to obey:
645

Why not? the harshest and the strongest things
645

Yield to their higher sovereigns: for this cause

The Winters stiff with all their snows give place

To summer glowing with its beauteous fruits;

And the dark circle of the Night retirés

That the fair Day may flame with orient light.

A soft gale breathes, and the tempestuous sea,

Groaning beneath impetuous winds, is calm.

E'en all-subduing Sleep unbinds his chain,

And sets his captives free. Why should not I

Know gentler thoughts? This wisdom I have learn'd,

That him, who is my foe, I so may hate

As one perchance to be my friend again;

And so far wish to aid my friend, as one

That may know change: for friendship is a port

In which our bark not always rides secure.

But these things shall be well. Within the tent

Retire, Tecmessa; with incessant vows

Implore the favouring gods that they would grant

My heart's warm wish. And you, my friends, with her

Thus honour me. To Teucer, when he comes

Give this my charge, that mine he make his care,

And be to you benevolent. I go

Where I must go: do you what I command.

Though wretched now, you soon perchance may know

That Ajax from his miseries is relieved.

Chorus
STRO.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 646-690 focus

Enter Ajax, sword in hand, followed by Tecmessa.

Ajax

All things the long and countless years first draw from darkness, and then bury from light; and there is nothing which man should not expect: the dread power of oath is conquered, as is unyielding will.

For even I, who used to be so tremendously strong—yes, like tempered iron—felt my tongue’s sharp edge emasculated by this woman’s words, and I feel the pity of leaving her a widow and the boy an orphan among my enemies.
But I will go to the bathing-place and
650

the meadows by the shore so that by purging my defilements I may escape the heavy anger of the goddess. Then I will find some isolated spot, and bury this sword of mine, most hateful weapon, digging down in the earth where none can see.
655

Let Night and Hades keep it underground! For ever since I took into my hand this gift from Hector, my greatest enemy, I have gotten no good from the Greeks. Yes, men’s proverb is true:
660

the gifts of enemies are no gifts and bring no good.
And so hereafter I shall, first, know how to yield to the gods, and, second, learn to revere the Atreidae. They are rulers, so we must submit. How could it be otherwise? Things of awe and might
665

submit to authority. So it is that winter with its snow-covered paths gives place to fruitful summer; night’s dark orbit makes room for day with her white horses to kindle her radiance; the blast of dreadful winds
670

allows the groaning sea to rest; and among them all, almighty Sleep releases the fettered sleeper, and does not hold him in a perpetual grasp.
And we men—must we not learn self-restraint? I, at least, will learn it, since I am newly aware that an enemy is to be hated only as far as
675

suits one who will in turn become a friend. Similarly to a friend I would wish to give only so much help and service as suits him who will not forever remain friendly. For the masses regard the haven of comradeship as treacherous.
But concerning these things it will be well. You, wife,
680

go inside and pray to the gods that the desires of my heart be completed to the very end. Exit Tecmessa.
You also, my comrades, honor my wishes just as she does, and command Teucer, when he comes, to take care of us, and to be kind to you at the same time.
685

I am going to where my journey inexorably leads. But you do as I say, and before long, perhaps, though I now suffer, you will hear that I have found rest and peace.
690
Exit Ajax.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-88-1 αἰκίσῃ ¹

mvp-comment-89-1 χαίρειν … σ’ ἐφίεμαι ²

mvp-comment-89-2 χαίρειν … τἄλλα ³

mvp-comment-90-1 σὺ σ’ οὖν ⁴

mvp-comment-90-2 τέρψις ἥδε σοι τὸ δρᾶν ⁵

mvp-comment-90-3 χρῶ χειρί, φείδου ⁶

mvp-comment-90-4 μηδὲν ⁷ ὧν ⁸

mvp-comment-91-1 τοῦτο σοὶ δ’ ἐφίεμαι ⁹

mvp-comment-92-1 ὁρᾷς ¹⁰ τὴν … ἰσχὺν ὅση ¹¹

mvp-comment-92-2 τὴν θεῶν ἰσχὺν ¹²

mvp-comment-93-1 τίς ἂν ηὑρέθη ¹³

mvp-comment-93-2 προνούστερος ¹⁴

mvp-comment-93-3 δρᾶν … τὰ καίρια ¹⁵

mvp-comment-94-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ¹⁶ καίπερ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-95-1 ἄτῃ συγκατέζευκται ¹⁸

mvp-comment-96-1 οὐδὲν τὸ τούτου ¹⁹

mvp-comment-97-1 εἴδωλ’ … σκιάν ²⁰

mvp-comment-98-1 αὐτὸς ²¹

mvp-comment-99-1 ὄγκον ²²

mvp-comment-99-2 ἄρῃ ²³ α^ ²⁴ ἄρῃς ²⁵

mvp-comment-100-1 βρίθεις ²⁶

mvp-comment-100-2 μακροῦ ²⁷

mvp-comment-100-3 πλούτου βάθει ²⁸ βάρει ²⁹

mvp-comment-101-1 ἡμέρα ³⁰

mvp-comment-101-2 κλίνει ³¹

mvp-comment-101-3 κἀνάγει ³²

mvp-comment-102-1 κακούς ³³

mvp-comment-103-1 Τελαμώνιε παῖ ³⁴

mvp-comment-103-2 Σαλαμῖνος ³⁵ βάθρον ³⁶

mvp-comment-103-3 τῆς ἀμφιρύτου Σαλαμῖνος … ἀγχιάλου ³⁷ τῆς ἀμφιρύτου ³⁸ ἀγχιάλου ³⁹

mvp-comment-103-4

ἀγχίαλος

was properly said of a place on the sea-coast ( Il. 2. 640

Χαλκίδα τ’ ἀγχίαλον

). In Aesch. Pers. 888 it is a mere general epithet for islands (Lemnos, Icaros, etc.). Here, in the Athenian poet's mind, it has its proper sense, for he is thinking of Salamis as a fringe of the Attic coast; and it is again the Athenian's point of view which interprets the true relation of

ἀγχιάλου

ἀμφιρύτου

mvp-comment-103-5 ἔχων ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-104-1 σὲ μὲν εὖ πράσσοντ’ ἐπιχαίρω ⁴¹

mvp-comment-105-1 πληγὴ Διὸς ⁴²

mvp-comment-105-2 ζαμενὴς ⁴³

mvp-comment-105-3 λόγος … κακόθρους ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-105-4 ἐπιβῇ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-106-1 πεφόβημαι ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-106-2 πτηνῆς ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-106-3 ὄμμα πελείας ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-107-1 τῆς νῦν φθιμένης νυκτὸς ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-107-2 ἐπὶ δυσκλείᾳ ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-108-1 τὸν ἱππομανῆ λειμῶν’ ⁵¹

mvp-comment-109-1 βοτὰ καὶ λείαν ⁵² λοιπὴ ⁵³

mvp-comment-109-2 αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-110-1 ψιθύρους ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-110-2 πᾶσιν Ὀδυσσείς ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-111-1 εὔπειστα ⁵⁷ εὔπειστα ⁵⁸ εὔπιστα ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-112-1 τοῦ λέξαντος ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-113-1 ἄχεσιν καθυβρίζων ⁶¹

mvp-comment-114-1 τῶν … μεγάλων ψυχῶν ⁶²

mvp-comment-114-2 ἱεὶς ⁶³

mvp-comment-114-3 ἁμάρτοις ⁶⁴ ἁμάρτοι ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-114-4 κατὰ δ’ ἄν τις ἐμοῦ ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-115-1 τὸν ἔχονθ’ ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-115-2 ὁ φθόνος ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-116-1 πύργου ῥῦμα ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-117-1 μετὰ ⁷⁰ ὑπό ⁷¹

mvp-comment-117-2 ὀρθοῖθ’ ⁷²

mvp-comment-118-1 τούτων γνώμας ⁷³ προδιδάσκειν ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-119-1 τοιούτων ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-119-2 ἀπαλέξασθαι ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-120-1 ἀλλ’ ὅτε γὰρ δὴ … πτήξειαν ἄφωνοι ⁷⁷ δ’ ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-120-2 (1) ἀλλὰ ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-120-3 (2) ἀλλὰ … γὰρ ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-120-4 (3) The reading μέγαν αἰγυπιὸν δ’ ὑποδείσαντες ⁸¹ ἀπέδραν ⁸²

mvp-comment-120-5 (4) This reading is confirmed by the fact that since ὑποδείσαντες ⁸³

mvp-comment-120-6 ὅτε … δὴ ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-120-7 ἀπέδραν ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-120-8 αἰγυπιὸν ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-120-9 τάχ’ ἂν ⁸⁷ ἐξαίφνης ⁸⁸ πτήξειαν ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-120-10 σιγῇ πτήξειαν ἄφωνοι ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-121-1 The Chorus being now drawn up in the orchestra (134 n.), the lyric part of the Parodos begins. Strophe 172—182=antistr. 183—193: epode 194 —200. For metres, see Metrical Analysis.

mvp-comment-121-2 ἦ ῥά σε ⁹¹ ἦ ⁹² ἠέ ⁹³

mvp-comment-121-3 The sailors ask whether Artemis or Ares can have driven Ajax to such a deed. In connection with their chief, the deities of hunting and war naturally occur to them. They do not think of Athena.

mvp-comment-121-4 Ταυροπόλα ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-121-5 It is possible that Sophocles here was thinking only of the

Ταυροπόλος

proper, and names her simply because bulls had been among the victims of Ajax. On the other hand, the savage nature of the bloody onslaught might suggest that she was associated in his thought with the

Ταυρική

. Such an association occurs as early as I. T. 1457 where the Brauronian Artemis (

ἐπώνυμον γῆς Ταυρικῆς

, 1454) is called

Ταυροπόλος

. The dithyrambic poet Timotheus of Miletus ( c. 400 B.C.) addressed the Ephesian Artemis as

μαινάδα, θυιάδα, φοιβάδα, λυσσάδα

(Bergk fr. 1). See Appendix.

mvp-comment-121-6 Διὸς ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-122-1 μεγάλα ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-122-2 μᾶτερ αἰσχύνας ἐμᾶς ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-123-1 πανδάμους … βοῦς ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-124-1 ἦ που ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-124-2 νίκας τινὸς ἀκάρπωτον χάριν ¹⁰⁰ ἤ ῥα … ψευσθεῖσα ἐνάρων ¹⁰¹ εἴτ’ ἀδώροις ἐλαφαβολίαις ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-124-3 νίκας ἀκάρπωτον χάριν ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-124-4 ἤ ῥα ¹⁰⁴ ἢ … εἴτε ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-124-5 κλυτῶν ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-124-6 ψευσθεῖσα ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-124-7 ἀδώροις … ἐλαφαβολίαις ¹⁰⁸ δώροις ¹⁰⁹ ἀδώροις ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-124-8 ἐλαφαβολίαις ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-124-9 The causes here conjectured for her wrath remind us of her anger with Oeneus, who had failed to render firstfruits at harvest-tide ( Il. 9. 534

χωσαμένη, ὅ οἱ οὔ τι θαλύσια γουνῷ ἀλωῆς | Οἰνεὺς ῥέξ’

). Cp. Eur. Hipp. 147 where the Chorus suggest that the Cretan Dictynna may be wroth with Phaedra, as

ἀνίερος ἀθύτων πελάνων

(for having failed to make holy offerings of honey-cakes).

mvp-comment-125-1 ἢ ¹¹² μὴ ¹¹³ ἤ ¹¹⁴ μή ¹¹⁵ δή ¹¹⁶ σοί ¹¹⁷ εἴ ¹¹⁸ ἦ ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-125-2 Ἐνυάλιος ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-126-1 μομφὰν ἔχων ¹²¹

mvp-comment-126-2 ξυνοῦ δορὸς ¹²² ξυνοῦ ¹²³

mvp-comment-126-3 ἐννυχίοις μαχαναῖς ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-126-4 ἐτείσατο ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-127-1 φρενόθεν γ’ ¹²⁶ γε ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-127-2 ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ … ἔβας ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-127-3 τόσσον ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-127-4 πίτνων ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-128-1 ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν ¹³¹ γὰρ ¹³²

mvp-comment-128-2 From verse 172 down to this point, the Chorus have been asking whether the rumour can be true. Now they pass to the alternative:—‘But if it is untrue, then up and refute it.’

mvp-comment-128-3 Ζεὺς … Φοῖβος ¹³³

mvp-comment-129-1 ὑποβαλλόμενοι ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-130-1 κλέπτουσι μύθους ¹³⁵ ὑποβαλλόμενοι ¹³⁶ κλέπτουσι ¹³⁷ μύθους ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-130-2 οἱ μεγάλοι βασιλῆς ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-131-1 ἢ τᾶς ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-131-2 ἀσώτου ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-131-3 Σισυφιδᾶν ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-132-1 μή, μή μ’, ἄναξ ¹⁴³ μ’ ¹⁴⁴ κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-132-2 The simplest remedy is that which is proposed by Prof. v. Wilamowitz-Möllendorff (cr. n.), who, referring to the hiatus after

ἄνα

in 193, would here omit μ’ ¹⁴⁶ μή, μή, ἄναξ ¹⁴⁷ μὴ μηκέτ’, ὦναξ ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-132-3 κλισίαις ὄμμ’ ἔχων ¹⁴⁹ ὧδ’ ¹⁵⁰ ἄρῃ ¹⁵¹ α ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-133-1 ἄνα ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-133-2 ὅπου … ποτέ ¹⁵⁴ ποτὲ ¹⁵⁵ ποτὶ ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-133-3 ἀγωνίῳ σχολᾷ ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-134-1 ἄταν οὐρανίαν φλέγων ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-135-1 ἀτάρβητα ¹⁵⁹ ὧδ’ ¹⁶⁰ ἀτάρβητος ¹⁶¹ ἀτάρβητα ¹⁶² ἀτάρβητα ὁρμᾶται ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-135-2 εὐανέμοις ¹⁶⁴ α^ ¹⁶⁵ α— ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-135-3 βάσσαις ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-136-1 καγχαζόντων ¹⁶⁸ καχαζόντων ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-136-2 βαρυάλγητα ¹⁷⁰ βαρυάλγητ’ ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-136-3 ἕστακεν ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-137-1 vαὸς ἀρωγοὶ ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-138-1 γενεᾶς ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-138-2 χθονίων ἀπ’ Ἐρεχθειδᾶν ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-138-3 Erechtheus,

ὁ γηγενής

( Her. 8. 55 ), ‘whom Earth, the grain-giver, brought forth, and Athena, daughter of Zeus, fostered’ ( Il. 2. 547 ), is representative of the Athenian claim to be

αὐτόχθονες

. It was in his reign, acc. to Her. 8. 44 , that the folk once called

Κραναοί

, and then

Κεκροπίδαι

, were first named

Ἀθηναῖοι

. For

Ἐρεχθεῖδαι

as=

Ἀθηναῖοι

, cp. Pind. I. 2. 19

κλειναῖς Ἐρεχθειδᾶν χαρίτεσσιν ἀραρὼς | ταῖς λιπαραῖς ἐν Ἀθάναις

, ‘having attained to the glorious honours given by the Erechtheidae in shining Athens.’ (In Soph. Ant. 981 f., however, the patronymic has a narrower sense, denoting merely the family of Erechtheus.) So, again, the Athenians are

Θησεῖδαι

( Soph. O. C. 1066 ), the Thebans

Καδμεῖοι

, the Trojans or Romans Aeneadae; and an unknown poet (frag. adesp. 274) calls the Argives

χθονίους Ἰναχίδας

, where Hesychius explains the adj. by

αὐτόχθονας καὶ οὐκ ἐπήλυδας

,— the sense of χθονίων ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-138-4 Salamis is in this play a kingdom independent of Athens, but the Salaminians are of Athenian stock, and revere ‘sacred Athens’ (1222) as the metropolis of their race. See Introduction, § 4.

mvp-comment-139-1 τηλόθεν ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-140-1 ὠμοκρατὴς ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-141-1 θολερῷ ¹⁷⁹ χειμῶνι ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-141-2 νοσήσας ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-142-1 τί δὲ βάρος ἐνήλλακται νὺξ ἥδε τῆς ἡμερίας ¹⁸² ἐνήλλακται ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-142-2 No tolerable emendation has been made. ἠρεμίας ¹⁸⁴ εὐμαρίας ¹⁸⁵ ἀμμορίας ¹⁸⁶ νὺξ ἥδε ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-142-3 The schol. in L has:

γρ. δὲ ἀημερίας ἀντὶ τῆς ἀηδοῦς φορᾶς

(‘unpleasant course’),

καὶ ἔσται ὁ νοῦς, ποῖον βάρος ἔλαβεν αὕτη ἡ νὺξ ἀπὸ τῆς προτέρας ἀηδίας;

This explanation of

ἀημερίας

ἀηδοῦς φορᾶς

and

ἀηδίας

indicates (I think) a reference, not to

ἡμέρα

—as if

ἀημερία

could mean

δυσημερία

—but to

ἥμερος

: the original scholium may have had

ἀνημερίας

(meant as ‘unkindly fortune’).

mvp-comment-143-1 Φρυγίου Τελεύταντος ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-143-2 Lobeck remarks that the father of Tecmessa is called Teuthras by Malela and others, Tethras by Cedrenus, and Teuthas by Tzetzes.

mvp-comment-144-1 λέχος ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-144-2 σε … στέρξας ἀνέχει ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-145-1 ὑπείποις ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-146-1 λέγω ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-146-2 θανάτῳ … ἴσον ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-147-1 μανίᾳ γὰρ ¹⁹⁴ ἡμὶν ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-147-2 νύκτερος ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-147-3 ἀπελωβήθη ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-148-1 τοιαῦτ’ ¹⁹⁸ αἱμοβαφῆ ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-148-2 χρηστήρια ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-149-1 A strophe, to which vv. 245—256 form the antistrophe. For the metres, see Metrical Analysis.

mvp-comment-149-2 ἀνέρος … ἀγγελίαν ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-149-3 αἴθονος ²⁰²

mvp-comment-149-4 The v.l. αἴθοπος ²⁰³ ο ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-149-5 ἄτλατον οὐδὲ φευκτάν ²⁰⁵

mvp-comment-150-1 τῶν μεγάλων Δαναῶν ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-150-2 κλῃζομέναν ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-151-1 ὁ μέγας μῦθος ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-151-2 ἀέξει ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-152-1 περίφαντος ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-153-1 παραπλάκτῳ ²¹¹

mvp-comment-153-2 συγκατακτὰς ²¹² κελαινοῖς ²¹³

mvp-comment-154-1 ξίφεσιν ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-154-2 ἱππονώμας ²¹⁵ βοτῆρας ²¹⁶ βοτά ²¹⁷ ἱππονόμους ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-155-1 ἄρα ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-155-2 ἤλυθε ²²⁰

mvp-comment-156-1 ὧν ²²¹ ποίμνην ²²² τὴν μὲν ²²³ τὰ δὲ ²²⁴

mvp-comment-156-2 ἔσω ²²⁵ ἔσω σφάζε ²²⁶

mvp-comment-156-3 ἐπὶ γαίας ²²⁷

mvp-comment-156-4 πλευροκοπῶν ²²⁸

mvp-comment-157-1 ἀργίποδας ²²⁹

mvp-comment-157-2 If the two rams are the two Atreidae, then Odysseus is ignored here. This would be consistent both with vv. 97— 110 and with 298—306. The flogging of the second ram here would correspond with the words

τοὺς δὲ δεσμίους | ᾐκίζεθ’

in 299 f. Then came the colloquy of Ajax with Athena (301); after which, he slowly regained his sanity,—before he had inflicted the lash upon Odysseus. That the ‘two rams’ are here the royal brethren might be suggested by the analogy of the two eagles in Ag. 115. On the other hand, the special ferocity with which Ajax treats the second ram rather indicates that it represents Odysseus. There would be no point in so distinguishing Menelaüs from Agamemnon. On the whole, it seems most probable that the poet meant Agamemnon and Odysseus, but was careless of strict consistency with vv. 97—110.

mvp-comment-158-1 κεφαλὴν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἄκραν ²³⁰

mvp-comment-159-1 ῥιπτεῖ ²³¹

mvp-comment-159-2 ὀρθὸν ἄνω … δήσας ²³²

mvp-comment-159-3 κίονι ²³³

mvp-comment-160-1 ἱπποδέτην ῥυτῆρα ²³⁴

mvp-comment-161-1 λιγυρᾷ ²³⁵

mvp-comment-162-1 κακὰ δεννάζων ῥήμαθ’ ²³⁶

mvp-comment-162-2 δαίμων ²³⁷

mvp-comment-163-1 ἤδη τοι κρᾶτα ²³⁸ ἀνδρὸς ²³⁹ ἀνέρος ²⁴⁰ τοι ²⁴¹ κρᾶτα ²⁴² κάρα ²⁴³ ἐδήλωσας ²⁴⁴ ἔδειξας ²⁴⁵ ἔφηνας ²⁴⁶ ἐδήλους ²⁴⁷ τοι ²⁴⁸ ἤτοι ²⁴⁹

mvp-comment-163-2 κρᾶτα … κρυψάμενον ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-163-3 ποδοῖν κλοπὰν ἀρέσθαι ²⁵¹ κλοπὰν ²⁵²

mvp-comment-164-1 θοὸν ²⁵³ εἰρεσίας ²⁵⁴ ζυγὸν ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-164-2 ναῒ μεθεῖναι ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-165-1 τοίας ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-165-2 ἐρέσσουσιν ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-165-3 δικρατεῖς Ἀτρεῖδαι ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-166-1 πεφόβημαι ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-166-2 λιθόλευστον Ἄρη ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-166-3 The accus. is, in the first place, object to πεφόβημαι ²⁶² ξυναλγεῖν ²⁶³ τυπείς ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-166-4 αἶσ’ ἄπλατος ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-167-1 The words λαμπρᾶς ἄτερ στεροπῆς ²⁶⁶ λήγει ²⁶⁷ ᾄξας ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-168-1 οἰκεῖα πάθη ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-168-2 παραπράξαντος ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-168-3 ὑποτείνει ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-169-1 πέπαυται ²⁷² εὐτυχεῖν ²⁷³

mvp-comment-169-2 φρούδου γὰρ ²⁷⁴ λόγος ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-170-1 πότερα ²⁷⁶

mvp-comment-171-1 The words κοινὸς ἐν κοινοῖσι ²⁷⁷

mvp-comment-172-1 τὸ … διπλάζον ²⁷⁸

mvp-comment-173-1 Though οὐ νοσοῦντος ²⁷⁹ οὐ νοσοῦντες ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-173-2 ἀτώμεσθα ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-174-1 πῶς … ὅπως ²⁸²

mvp-comment-175-1 οἷσιν εἴχετ’ ἐν κακοῖς ²⁸³

mvp-comment-175-2 φρονοῦντας ²⁸⁴ βλέποντας ²⁸⁵ κακοῖς ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-176-1 κἀνέπνευσε ²⁸⁷ ἔληξε ²⁸⁸

mvp-comment-177-1 Instead of κεῖνος ²⁸⁹

mvp-comment-177-2 πᾶς ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-177-3 ἐλήλαται ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-178-1 ἆῤ ²⁹²

mvp-comment-178-2 δὶς τός’ ²⁹³ ἐξ ἁπλῶν ²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-179-1 δέδοικα μὴ … ἥκῃ ²⁹⁵ ἥκει ²⁹⁶ ἥκῃ ²⁹⁷ ἥκοι ²⁹⁸

mvp-comment-179-2 πῶς γάρ ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-179-3 εἰ πεπαυμένος ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-179-4 μηδέν τι ³⁰¹

mvp-comment-180-1 ὡς ὧδ’ ἐχόντων ³⁰²

mvp-comment-181-1 τίς γάρ ³⁰³

mvp-comment-181-2 προσέπτατο ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-181-3 From the Homeric

ἔπτατο

( Il. 13. 592 , etc.) Tragedy borrows this non-thematic aor. (of which the active form would be

ἔπτην

): cp. 693 . The aor. of

πέτομαι

in Attic Comedy and prose is usu.

ἐπτόμην

(see Veitch, Irreg. Verbs, 2nd ed., p. 530): and of this we have the inf.

πτέσθαι

in O. T. 17 ,—again in accord with Homeric precedent ( Il. 4. 126

ἐπιπτέσθαι

mvp-comment-181-4 τύχας ³⁰⁵ δήλωσον ³⁰⁶ τύχαις ³⁰⁷ ξυναλγοῦσιν ³⁰⁸

mvp-comment-182-1 κεῖνος γὰρ ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-182-2 ἄκρας νυκτός ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-183-1 λαμπτῆρες ³¹¹

mvp-comment-183-2 For this mode of indicating the time, cp. Her. 7. 215

περὶ λύχνων ἁφάς

: Propert. 3. 8. 1

ad extremas..lucernas

: Aul. Gellius 3. 2

post primam facem.

mvp-comment-184-1 ἔγχος ³¹²

mvp-comment-184-2 ἐξόδους ἕρπειν ³¹³

mvp-comment-184-3 κενάς ³¹⁴

mvp-comment-185-1 The general word, ἄκλητος ³¹⁵ οὔτε ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-185-2 ἀφορμᾷς ³¹⁷ πεῖραν ³¹⁸

mvp-comment-185-3 σάλπιγγος ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-185-4 πᾶς εὕδει στρατός ³²⁰

mvp-comment-186-1 ὑμνούμενα ³²¹

mvp-comment-186-2 γυναιξὶ ³²²

mvp-comment-186-3 κόσμον ³²³

mvp-comment-187-1 μαθοῦς’ ³²⁴

mvp-comment-187-2 ἐσσύθη ³²⁵

mvp-comment-188-1 τὰς ἐκεῖ … πάθας ³²⁶ τύχας ³²⁷

mvp-comment-189-1 κύνας βοτῆρας ³²⁸

mvp-comment-189-2 εὔερον ³²⁹ εύκερων ³³⁰

mvp-comment-190-1 ηὐχένιζε ³³¹

mvp-comment-190-2 ἄνω τρέπων ³³²

mvp-comment-190-3 ἔσφαζε ³³³

mvp-comment-190-4 κἀρράχιζε ³³⁴

mvp-comment-190-5 δεσμίους ³³⁵

mvp-comment-190-6 ὥστε ³³⁶

mvp-comment-190-7 φῶτας ³³⁷

mvp-comment-191-1 ὑπᾴξας ³³⁸ ἀπᾴξας ³³⁹ ἐπᾴξας ³⁴⁰

mvp-comment-191-2 σκιᾷ τινὶ ³⁴¹

mvp-comment-191-3 λόγους ἀνέσπα ³⁴²

mvp-comment-191-4 Ἀτρειδῶν κάτα ³⁴³

mvp-comment-192-1 ἀμφ’ Ὀδυσσεῖ ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-192-2 συντιθεὶς γέλων πολύν ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-192-3 γέλων ³⁴⁶ τ ³⁴⁷

mvp-comment-193-1 ὕβριν ³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-193-2 ἐκτείσαιτο ³⁴⁹ ἐκτείσοιτο ³⁵⁰ αὐτῶν ³⁵¹

mvp-comment-193-3 ἰών ³⁵²

mvp-comment-194-1 ἐπᾴξας ³⁵³ ἀπᾴξας ³⁵⁴

mvp-comment-194-2 αὖθις … πάλιν ³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-195-1 μόλις πως ³⁵⁶

mvp-comment-196-1 ἄτης ³⁵⁷

mvp-comment-197-1 )θώϋξεν ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-197-2 ἐρειπίοις ³⁵⁹ νεκρῶν ³⁶⁰ ἀρνείου φόνου ³⁶¹

mvp-comment-197-3 ἐρειφθεὶς ³⁶² ἐρεισθεὶς ³⁶³ ἐρειφθεὶς ³⁶⁴ ἐρειπίοις ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-198-1 ἀπρὶξ … συλλαβὼν ³⁶⁶

mvp-comment-198-2 ὄνυξι … χερί ³⁶⁷

mvp-comment-199-1 καὶ τὸν μὲν ἧστο πλεῖστον ³⁶⁸

mvp-comment-200-1 τὰ δείν’ … ἔπη ³⁶⁹

mvp-comment-201-1 φανοίην ³⁷⁰ ιη ³⁷¹

mvp-comment-202-1 ἐν τῷ πράγματος ³⁷²

mvp-comment-203-1 The words κἀγώ, φίλοι, δείσασα ³⁷³

mvp-comment-204-1 πρὸς γὰρ κακοῦ τε ³⁷⁴

mvp-comment-204-2 βαρυψύχου ³⁷⁵

mvp-comment-204-3 ἐξηγεῖτ’ ³⁷⁶

mvp-comment-205-1 ἀψόφητος … κωκυμάτων ³⁷⁷ ὑπεστέναζε ³⁷⁸

mvp-comment-205-2 ὀξέων ³⁷⁹

mvp-comment-205-3 ταῦρος ὣς βρυχώμενος ³⁸⁰ βριμώμενος ³⁸¹

mvp-comment-206-1 νῦν δ’ ³⁸²

mvp-comment-207-1 ἄσιτος ³⁸³

mvp-comment-207-2 σιδηροκμῆσιν ³⁸⁴

mvp-comment-208-1 ὥς τι δρασείων ³⁸⁵

mvp-comment-208-2 δρασείων ³⁸⁶

mvp-comment-209-1 τοιαῦτα ³⁸⁷ πως ³⁸⁸

mvp-comment-209-2 καὶ λέγει κὠδύρεται ³⁸⁹ ἥσυχος ³⁹⁰

mvp-comment-209-3 The verse is rejected by Nauck and others as though it were inconsistent with v. 325, and had been patched up from v. 383. There is no ground for this view. On the other hand, after

ἥσυχος

in 325, the fear expressed in 326 would be unintelligible, if no reason were subjoined. Bergk, who joins in condemning the verse, allows that Sophocles is usually careful of logical coherence in drama (‘pflegt .. sorgfältig zu motiviren’); but suggests that here the neglect of it might be ‘a mark of the archaic style’ ( Jahr. f. Class. Phil. 97. 378).

mvp-comment-210-1 ἐστάλην ³⁹¹

mvp-comment-210-2 εἰσελθόντες ³⁹²

mvp-comment-211-1 λόγοις ³⁹³ φίλοι ³⁹⁴

mvp-comment-212-1 Τελεύταντος ³⁹⁵

mvp-comment-212-2 ἡμῖν ³⁹⁶ λέγεις ³⁹⁷

mvp-comment-212-3 διαπεφοιβάσθαι ³⁹⁸ κακοῖς ³⁹⁹

mvp-comment-213-1 ἰώ μοί μοι ⁴⁰⁰

mvp-comment-214-1 μᾶλλον ⁴⁰¹

mvp-comment-214-2 ἢ οὐκ ⁴⁰²

mvp-comment-214-3 Αἴαντος, οἵαν ⁴⁰³ θωΰσσει ⁴⁰⁴

mvp-comment-215-1 τοῖς πάλαι νοσήμασι ξυνοῦσι ⁴⁰⁵ ξυνοῦσι ⁴⁰⁶

mvp-comment-215-2 παρών ⁴⁰⁷

mvp-comment-216-1 ἰὼ παῖ παῖ ⁴⁰⁸ Τεῦκρον καλῶ ⁴⁰⁹

mvp-comment-216-2 Prof. Campbell understands

ἰὼ παῖ παῖ

as meaning Teucer, whom an elder brother might so address. Tecmessa, at least, did not so take the words.

mvp-comment-217-1 ὤμοι τάλαιν’ ⁴¹⁰

mvp-comment-217-2 Εὐρύσακες ⁴¹¹

mvp-comment-217-3 ἀμφὶ σοὶ ⁴¹²

mvp-comment-217-4 ποῦ ποτ’ εἶ ⁴¹³

mvp-comment-218-1 Τεῦκρον ⁴¹⁴

mvp-comment-218-2 τὸν εἰσαεὶ … χρόνον ⁴¹⁵ λεηλατήσει ⁴¹⁶

mvp-comment-219-1 ἀνοίγετε ⁴¹⁷

mvp-comment-219-2 αἰδῶ … λάβοι ⁴¹⁸

mvp-comment-219-3 κἀπ’ ἐμοὶ ⁴¹⁹ βλέψας ⁴²⁰

mvp-comment-220-1 διοίγω ⁴²¹

mvp-comment-220-2 πράγη ⁴²²

mvp-comment-220-3 The

ἐκκύκλημα

is now pushed on through the central door. It was a small stage, but large enough to allow of Ajax being shown surrounded by some of the slaughtered animals. The word

πράγη

in 347, and the language of vv. 351 ff., show that the carnage was represented. The other plays in which Soph <*>es has used the eccyclema are the Antigone (1294, where see n.), and the Electra (1464 f., n.).

mvp-comment-220-4 Ajax, sitting among his victims, and meditating his own destruction, was the subject of a famous picture by Timomachus of Byzantium. Philostratus ( Vit. Apoll. 2. 22 § 5) thus describes it:

τὸν Αἴαντα τὸν Τιμομάχου..ἀπεκτονότα τἀν τῇ Τροίᾳ βουκόλια καθῆσθαι ἀπειρηκότα

[cp. v. 325

ἥσυχος θακεῖ

βουλὴν ποιούμενον καὶ

ἑαυτὸν διαφθεῖραι

. The picture was at Cyzicus in 70 B.C. ( Cic. In Verr. 2. 4. 60 ), but was afterwards bought by Julius Caesar for the Temple of Venus Genetrix in Rome ( N. H. 7. 38 § 126). See Introduction § 20.

mvp-comment-221-1 This kommos serves, like the last (201—262), as a lyric expression of tragic pathos; after which the situation is further developed, as in the former case, by iambic dialogue. But in one respect this kommos differs from its predecessor. In order to bring the mind of Ajax into fuller relief, the lyrics are given to him alone, while the Chorus and Tecmessa speak only trimeters.

mvp-comment-221-2 The structure is as follows:—1st strophe 348—355=1st antistr. 356—363: 2nd str. 364—378=2nd ant. 379—393: 3rd str. 394—411=3rd ant. 412—429. For the metres see Metrical Analysis.

mvp-comment-221-3 ἰὼ φίλοι ναυβάται ⁴²³

mvp-comment-221-4 ἐμμένοντες ⁴²⁴

mvp-comment-221-5 ὀρθῷ νόμῳ ⁴²⁵

mvp-comment-222-1 ἴδεσθέ μ’ ⁴²⁶

mvp-comment-222-2 κῦμα ⁴²⁷ ζάλης ⁴²⁸ φοινίας ⁴²⁹

mvp-comment-222-3 ἀμφίδρομον ⁴³⁰ κυκλεῖται ⁴³¹ κυκλοῦται ⁴³²

mvp-comment-223-1 οἴμ’ ⁴³³

mvp-comment-223-2 ἀφροντίστως ἔχει ⁴³⁴

mvp-comment-224-1 ναΐας ἀρωγὸν τέχνας ⁴³⁵

mvp-comment-225-1 ἅλιον ὃς ἐπέβας ⁴³⁶ ἁλίαν ὃς ἐπέβας ⁴³⁷ ὃς ἁλίαν ἔβας ⁴³⁸

mvp-comment-225-2 ὃς ⁴³⁹ γένος ⁴⁴⁰

mvp-comment-225-3 ἐπέβας ⁴⁴¹

mvp-comment-225-4 ἐλίσσων ⁴⁴²

mvp-comment-226-1 πημονὰν ἐπαρκέσοντ’ ⁴⁴³ ἀπαρκέσοντ’ ⁴⁴⁴

mvp-comment-226-2 The traditional reading ποιμένων ⁴⁴⁵ πημονὰν ⁴⁴⁶

mvp-comment-227-1 ἀλλά ⁴⁴⁷ με ⁴⁴⁸

mvp-comment-227-2 συνδάϊξον ⁴⁴⁹

mvp-comment-228-1 εὔφημα φώνει ⁴⁵⁰ κακὸν κακῷ διδοὺς ἄκος ⁴⁵¹ τὸ πῆμα τῆς ἄτης ⁴⁵²

mvp-comment-229-1 θρασύν ⁴⁵³ εὐκάρδιον ⁴⁵⁴ ἄτρεστον ⁴⁵⁵

mvp-comment-230-1 ἀφόβοις ⁴⁵⁶

mvp-comment-230-2 δεινὸν χέρας ⁴⁵⁷

mvp-comment-231-1 οἴμοι γέλωτος ⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-232-1 δέσποτ’ ⁴⁵⁹

mvp-comment-233-1 οὐκ ἐκτός; οὐκ ἄψορρον ⁴⁶⁰ οὐκ ἐκτὸς ἄψορρον ἐκνεμεῖ πόδα ⁴⁶¹

mvp-comment-233-2 For ἐκτὸς ⁴⁶²

mvp-comment-233-3 ἄψορρον ⁴⁶³

mvp-comment-233-4 ἐκνεμεῖ ⁴⁶⁴ ἐκνεμεῖς ⁴⁶⁵

mvp-comment-234-1 ὦ πρὸς θεῶν ⁴⁶⁶

mvp-comment-235-1 ὢ δύσμορος ⁴⁶⁷

mvp-comment-235-2 ὃς ⁴⁶⁸

mvp-comment-235-3 χερὶ μὲν μεθῆκα ⁴⁶⁹ χερὶ ⁴⁷⁰

mvp-comment-235-4 τοὺς ἀλάστορας ⁴⁷¹

mvp-comment-235-5 κλυτοῖς ⁴⁷²

mvp-comment-235-6 αἰπολίοις ⁴⁷³

mvp-comment-235-7 ἐρεμνὸν ⁴⁷⁴

mvp-comment-235-8 αἷμ’ ἔδευσα ⁴⁷⁵

mvp-comment-236-1 ἐπ’ ἐξειργασμένοις ⁴⁷⁶

mvp-comment-236-2 οὐ γὰρ γένοιτ’ ἂν ⁴⁷⁷ ὅπως ⁴⁷⁸

mvp-comment-236-3 For the sentiment, cp. Tr. 742

τὸ γὰρ | φανθὲν τίς ἂν δύναιτ’ ἂν ἀγένητον ποεῖν;

(n.).

mvp-comment-237-1 πάνθ’ ὁρῶν ⁴⁷⁹

mvp-comment-237-2 ἁπάντων τ’ ⁴⁸⁰ τ’ ⁴⁸¹ δ’ ⁴⁸² δ’ ⁴⁸³

mvp-comment-237-3 κακῶν ὄργανον ⁴⁸⁴

mvp-comment-238-1 ἄλημα ⁴⁸⁵

mvp-comment-239-1 ἦ που ⁴⁸⁶

mvp-comment-239-2 ἄγεις ⁴⁸⁷

mvp-comment-240-1 ξὺν τῷ θεῷ ⁴⁸⁸

mvp-comment-240-2 ἵδοιμι ⁴⁸⁹

mvp-comment-241-1 μηδὲν· μέγ’ εἴπῃς ⁴⁹⁰

mvp-comment-242-1 προπάτωρ ⁴⁹¹ πάτερ ⁴⁹² χεροῖν ⁴⁹³

mvp-comment-242-2 πῶς ἂν … θάνοιμι ⁴⁹⁴

mvp-comment-243-1 δισσάρχας ⁴⁹⁵

mvp-comment-243-2 ὀλέσσας ⁴⁹⁶

mvp-comment-243-3 βασιλῆς ⁴⁹⁷

mvp-comment-243-4 θάνοιμι καὐτός ⁴⁹⁸

mvp-comment-244-1 σκότος ⁴⁹⁹ ἔρεβος ⁵⁰⁰

mvp-comment-244-2 ὡς ἐμοί ⁵⁰¹

mvp-comment-245-1 ἕλεσθ’ ἕλεσθέ μ’ ⁵⁰²

mvp-comment-246-1 γένος ⁵⁰³ ὄνασιν ⁵⁰⁴ εἰς ⁵⁰⁵

mvp-comment-246-2 ἄξιος ⁵⁰⁶

mvp-comment-246-3 βλέπειν ⁵⁰⁷

mvp-comment-247-1 ἁ Διὸς … θεὸς ⁵⁰⁸

mvp-comment-247-2 ὀλέθριον ⁵⁰⁹ οὔλιον ⁵¹⁰

mvp-comment-248-1 φύγῃ … μενῶ ⁵¹¹

mvp-comment-249-1 εἰ τὰ μὲν φθίνει ⁵¹²

mvp-comment-249-2 (1) The antistrophic verses, 423—427 (

ἐξερῶ...πρόκειμαι

), appear sound. The changes which have been proposed in them have all been designed to suit some emendation in 405 ff., and would have no probability if verses 423 ff. were considered simply on their own merits.

mvp-comment-249-3 (2) There is only one real discrepancy of metre between the traditional text here and that of the antistrophe; viz., that τοῖσδ’ ⁵¹³ τινα ⁵¹⁴ ὁμοῦ πέλας ⁵¹⁵

mvp-comment-249-4 (3) If, then, we assume that the antistrophe is sound, we may conclude that the fault in the strophe lies within the words

εἰ τὰ μὲν φθίνει, φίλοι, τοῖσδ’ ὁμοῦ πέλας

. A very slight change will restore the metre, viz. τοιοῖσδ’ ⁵¹⁶ τοῖσδ’ ⁵¹⁷ τοιοῖσδ’ ὁμοῦ βοτοῖς ⁵¹⁸

mvp-comment-249-5 (4) Whatever may have been the original form of the words

εἰ τὰ μὲν φθίνει, φίλοι, τοῖσδ’ ὁμοῦ πέλας

, it is at least highly probable that their general sense was, ‘If my old renown is perishing.’ This is suggested by the other passages where we find the same sequence of ideas,— i.e., the thought of his past glory closely followed by that of his present disgrace; see (1) 421—427: (2) 437—456: (3) 612—621.

mvp-comment-249-6 (5) Those who believe that the antistrophic verses 423—427 are corrupt have a freer hand for emendation here; and, as will be seen in the Appendix, some of the proposed restorations have been very bold. But such remedies pass into the region of pure guess-work.

mvp-comment-250-1 προσκείμεθα ⁵¹⁹

mvp-comment-250-2 μώραις ⁵²⁰ μωραῖς ⁵²¹

mvp-comment-251-1 δίπαλτος ⁵²²

mvp-comment-252-1 φωνεῖν ⁵²³

mvp-comment-252-2 ἔτλη ⁵²⁴

mvp-comment-253-1 πόροι ἁλίρροθοι ⁵²⁵ πάραλα ἄντρα ⁵²⁶

mvp-comment-254-1 νέμος ⁵²⁷

mvp-comment-254-2 As I have noted in writing on the Troad elsewhere, ‘nearly all the plains and hills are more or less well-wooded. Besides the valonia oak, the elm, willow, cypress and tamarisk shrub abound. Lotus, galingale, and reeds are still plentiful, as in Homeric days, about the streams in the Trojan plain.’ ( Encyc. Brit., art. ‘Troad,’ vol. XXIII. p. 578.)

mvp-comment-255-1 πολὺν πολύν με ⁵²⁸

mvp-comment-255-2 δὴ ⁵²⁹ δαρόν ⁵³⁰

mvp-comment-256-1 ἀμπνοὰς ἔχοντα ⁵³¹

mvp-comment-257-1 Σκαμάνδριοι … ῥοαί ⁵³²

mvp-comment-258-1 εὔφρονες Ἀργείοις ⁵³³

mvp-comment-259-1 οὐκέτ’ ἄνδρα μὴ τόνδ’ ἴδητ’ ⁵³⁴

mvp-comment-260-1 ἐξερῶ ⁵³⁵ ἐξερέω ⁵³⁶

mvp-comment-260-2 Join οὔτινα ⁵³⁷ στρατοῦ ⁵³⁸

mvp-comment-260-3 χθονὸς μολόντ’ ἀπὸ | Ἑλλανίδος ⁵³⁹

mvp-comment-260-4 This vaunt of Ajax (modified only by the half-apologetic

ἔπος ἐξερῶ μέγα

) is epic in tone; thus Achilles says of himself ( Il. 18. 105),

τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος οὔτις Αχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

: Odysseus, ( Od. 9. 19,)

ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισιν

ἀνθρώποισι μέλω, καί μευ κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει

. Such a tone is better suited, indeed, to epos (in which speech is sometimes little more than audible thought) than to drama. But here, at least, as in the case of Heracles ( Tr. 1101 f.), it has the excuse of being prompted by the anguish of a sudden overthrow. (Cp. n. on O. T. 8 , where Oedipus speaks of himself as

ὁ πᾶσι κλεινός

mvp-comment-261-1 πρόκειμαι ⁵⁴⁰ πρόκειται ⁵⁴¹ ἄνδρα … τόνδε ⁵⁴²

mvp-comment-262-1 οὔτοι … οὐδ’ ⁵⁴³ οὐ … οὔτε ⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-262-2 ὅπως ἐῶ ⁵⁴⁵

mvp-comment-263-1 ἂν … ᾤεθ’ ⁵⁴⁶

mvp-comment-263-2 ἐπώνυμον ⁵⁴⁷ ξυνοίσειν ⁵⁴⁸

mvp-comment-263-3 Pindar adopts the derivation of

Αἴας

from

αἰετός

: I. 5. 53

καί νιν ὄρνιχος φανέντος κέκλετ’ ἐπώνυμον εὐρυβίαν Αἴαντα

. This was the popular etymology (schol. Apoll. Rh. 1. 1289 ; schol. Theocr. 13. 37 : Apollod. 3. 12 § 7 ). But the association of

Αἴας

with

αἶ αἶ

appears in the legend that a hyacinth (on whose petals the letters AI were supposed to be legible, Moschus 3. 6) sprang from the blood of Ajax, as it had sprung from that of Hyacinthus: Ov. Met. 13. 397:

Littera communis mediis pueroque viroque | Inscripta est foliis; haec nominis (Ajax), illa querelae

(the wail of Hyacinthus).

mvp-comment-263-4 So Odysseus was associated with

ὀδύσσομαι

( Od. 1. 62

τί νύ οἱ τόσον ὠδύσαο, Ζεῦ

; imitated by Soph. , fr. 880): Pentheus, with

πένθος

( Eur. Bacch. 507 ): Polyneices, with

νεῖκος

( Aesch. Th. 577 , etc., Soph. Ant. 110 f.): Meleager, with

μελέα ἄγρα

( Eur. fr. 517): Sidêro with

σίδηρος

( Soph. fr. 597): and Helen is

ἐλέναυς

, etc. ( Aesch. Ag. 689 ).

mvp-comment-263-5 Such play on names did not seem to the Greeks unworthy of grave poetry, because to them the omens conveyed by words (

ὀμφαί, κληδόνες

) were so serious. In modern poetry, too, it has sometimes been used with tragic pathos. Thus Dante Purg. XIII. 109

Savia non fui, avvegna che Sapía Fossi chiamata:

and Shakesp. Rich. II. act 2 sc. 1. 73 (Gaunt)

O how that name befits my composition! | Old Gaunt indeed; and gaunt in being old

etc. The king asks,

Can sick men play so nicely with their names? No

, is the reply,

misery makes sport to mock itself.

mvp-comment-263-6 The real etymology of

Αἴας

is uncertain. Vase-inscriptions show that the original form was

Αἴvας

, and Sonne (in Kuhn's Zeitschr. 10 p. 126) compares Indog. aiva, Skr. eva (‘course’)—a derivation which Brugmann approves ( Stud. z. griech. u. lat. Gramm. 4. 180). The sense, ‘swift runner,’ would suit

Οἰλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας

better than the son of Telamon: and it is not improbable (as Fleischer suggests in Roscher's Lex.p. 139) that the names of the two heroes, though identical in form, were of distinct origin.

mvp-comment-264-1 καὶ δὶς … καὶ τρίς ⁵⁴⁹

mvp-comment-264-2 τοιούτοις γὰρ ⁵⁵⁰

mvp-comment-265-1 πατὴρ ⁵⁵¹

mvp-comment-265-2 τὰ πρῶτα καλλιστεἶ ἀριστεύσας ⁵⁵²

mvp-comment-266-1 τόπον Τροίας ⁵⁵³

mvp-comment-266-2 ἐπελθὼν ⁵⁵⁴

mvp-comment-267-1 ἀρκέσας ⁵⁵⁵

mvp-comment-267-2 441—

mvp-comment-268-1 τοσοῦτόν γ’ ἐξεπίστασθαι ⁵⁵⁶ εἰ ζῶν ⁵⁵⁷

mvp-comment-268-2 εἰ … κρίνειν ἔμελλε ⁵⁵⁸ οὐκ ἄν τις ἔμαρψεν ⁵⁵⁹

mvp-comment-268-3 ὅπλων τῶν ὧν πέρι ⁵⁶⁰

mvp-comment-268-4 κρίνειν … κράτος ἀριστείας ⁵⁶¹

mvp-comment-268-5 ἔμαρψεν ⁵⁶²

mvp-comment-268-6 ἀντ’ ἐμοῦ ⁵⁶³

mvp-comment-269-1 νῦν δ’ ⁵⁶⁴

mvp-comment-269-2 παντουργῷ ⁵⁶⁵

mvp-comment-269-3 ἔπραξαν ⁵⁶⁶

mvp-comment-269-4 ἀπώσαντες ⁵⁶⁷

mvp-comment-269-5 κράτη ⁵⁶⁸

mvp-comment-270-1 τόδ’ ὄμμα ⁵⁶⁹

mvp-comment-270-2 τῆς ἐμῆς ⁵⁷⁰

mvp-comment-270-3 οὐκ ἄν ποτε … ἐψήφισαν ⁵⁷¹ κατ’ ἄλλου φωτὸς ⁵⁷² δίκην ἐψήφισαν ⁵⁷³

mvp-comment-271-1 ἡ Διὸς … θεὰ ⁵⁷⁴

mvp-comment-271-2 γοργῶπις ⁵⁷⁵

mvp-comment-271-3 ἀδάματος ⁵⁷⁶

mvp-comment-272-1 ἐπεντύνον<*> ⁵⁷⁷ ἐπευθύνοντ’ ⁵⁷⁸

mvp-comment-273-1 λυσσώδη νόσον ⁵⁷⁹

mvp-comment-274-1 ἐπεγγελῶσιν ⁵⁸⁰

mvp-comment-275-1 ἐμοῦ μὲν ⁵⁸¹

mvp-comment-275-2 βλάπτοι ⁵⁸²

mvp-comment-276-1 ὅστις ⁵⁸³

mvp-comment-276-2 μισεῖ δέ μ’ ⁵⁸⁴ πεδία ⁵⁸⁵

mvp-comment-277-1 πότερα ⁵⁸⁶

mvp-comment-277-2 ναυλόχους … ἕδρας ⁵⁸⁷

mvp-comment-277-3 μόνους τ’ Ἀτρείδας ⁵⁸⁸

mvp-comment-278-1 καὶ ποῖον ⁵⁸⁹

mvp-comment-278-2 ὄμμα ⁵⁹⁰

mvp-comment-279-1 γυμνὸν ⁵⁹¹

mvp-comment-279-2 ὧν … εὐκλείας στέφανον ⁵⁹²

mvp-comment-280-1 ἀλλὰ δῆτ’ ⁵⁹³

mvp-comment-280-2 ἔρυμα ⁵⁹⁴

mvp-comment-280-3 μόνος μόνοις ⁵⁹⁵ μόνοις ⁵⁹⁶

mvp-comment-280-4 δρῶν τι χρηστόν ⁵⁹⁷

mvp-comment-281-1 Ἀτρείδας … εὐφράναιμί που ⁵⁹⁸

mvp-comment-282-1 οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα ⁵⁹⁹

mvp-comment-283-1 δηλώσω … γεγώς ⁶⁰⁰

mvp-comment-283-2 μή τοι φύσιν γ’ ⁶⁰¹ τοι ⁶⁰² γε ⁶⁰³ οὔ τοι ⁶⁰⁴ μή τοι ⁶⁰⁵

mvp-comment-283-3 ἄσπλαγχνος ⁶⁰⁶

mvp-comment-284-1 τοῦ μακροῦ … βίου ⁶⁰⁷

mvp-comment-284-2 κακοῖσιν … μηδὲν ἐξαλλάσσεται ⁶⁰⁸ μηδὲν ⁶⁰⁹

mvp-comment-285-1 παρ’ ἦμαρ ἡμέρα ⁶¹⁰ προσθεῖσα ⁶¹¹

mvp-comment-285-2 προσθεῖσα ⁶¹²

mvp-comment-285-3 κἀναθεῖσα ⁶¹³

mvp-comment-286-1 πριαίμην ⁶¹⁴

mvp-comment-286-2 λόγου ⁶¹⁵

mvp-comment-287-1 τεθνηκέναι ⁶¹⁶

mvp-comment-287-2 πάντ’ ἀκήκοας λόγον ⁶¹⁷

mvp-comment-288-1 ὑπόβλητον ⁶¹⁸

mvp-comment-289-1 γε μέντοι ⁶¹⁹ κρατῆσαι ⁶²⁰

mvp-comment-290-1 τῆς ἀναγκαίας τύχης ⁶²¹

mvp-comment-291-1 εἴπερ τινὸς σθένοντος ⁶²²

mvp-comment-291-2 ἐν πλούτῳ ⁶²³

mvp-comment-292-1 θεοῖς ⁶²⁴

mvp-comment-292-2 μάλιστα ⁶²⁵

mvp-comment-293-1 τοιγαροῦν ⁶²⁶

mvp-comment-293-2 τὸ σὸν λέχος ξυνῆλθον ⁶²⁷

mvp-comment-293-3 τὰ σά ⁶²⁸

mvp-comment-294-1 ἐφεστίου Διὸς ⁶²⁹

mvp-comment-295-1 συνηλλάχθης ⁶³⁰

mvp-comment-296-1 βάξιν λαβεῖν … ὑπ’ ἐχθρῶν ⁶³¹

mvp-comment-296-2 χειρίαν ⁶³²

mvp-comment-296-3 ἐφεὶς ⁶³³

mvp-comment-297-1 ᾗ γὰρ θάνῃς σὺ ⁶³⁴ ᾗ ⁶³⁵ εἰ ⁶³⁶

mvp-comment-297-2 ἀφῇς ⁶³⁷

mvp-comment-298-1 ξυναρπασθεῖσαν ⁶³⁸ δουλίαν ⁶³⁹ δούλιν ⁶⁴⁰

mvp-comment-298-2 τροφή ⁶⁴¹

mvp-comment-299-1 καί τις ⁶⁴²

mvp-comment-299-2 πικρὸν πρόσφθεγμα … ἐρεῖ ⁶⁴³ πικρὸν ⁶⁴⁴

mvp-comment-299-3 λόγοις ἰάπτων ⁶⁴⁵ λόγοις ⁶⁴⁶ ἰάπτων ⁶⁴⁷

mvp-comment-300-1 ἵσχυσε ⁶⁴⁸

mvp-comment-300-2 οἵας … ὅσου ⁶⁴⁹

mvp-comment-300-3 ζήλου ⁶⁵⁰

mvp-comment-300-4 τρέφει ⁶⁵¹

mvp-comment-301-1 κἀμὲ μὲν ⁶⁵² σοὶ δ’ αἰσχρὰ ⁶⁵³ ἐλᾷ ⁶⁵⁴

mvp-comment-301-2 αἰσχρὰ ⁶⁵⁵

mvp-comment-302-1 αἴδεσαι … προλείπων ⁶⁵⁶ προλείπων ⁶⁵⁷

mvp-comment-302-2 κληροῦχον ⁶⁵⁸

mvp-comment-302-3 ἀρᾶται ⁶⁵⁹

mvp-comment-303-1 οἴκτιρε ⁶⁶⁰ εἰ ⁶⁶¹

mvp-comment-303-2 διοίσεται ⁶⁶² σοῦ … μόνος ⁶⁶³

mvp-comment-304-1 ὑπ’ ὀρφανιστῶν ⁶⁶⁴

mvp-comment-304-2 The word

ὀρφανιστής

(found only here) =

ἐπίτροπος

, ‘guardian.’ Eustathius (p. 533. 30), on Il. 5. 158

χηρωσταὶ δὲ διὰ κτῆσιν δατέοντο

, explains

χηρωσταί

as those who administered the property of persons who left no direct heirs (

τοὺς χηρεύοντας διαδόχων

); adding,

οἵτινες κατὰ λόγον ἄλλον καὶ ὀρφανισταὶ ἐκαλοῦντο, ὡς ὀρφανῶν ὑπεριστάμενοι, καθὰ καὶ Σοφοκλῆς δηλοῖ

. Apparently, then, he knew the word only from this verse. (The verb

ὀρφανίζω

usu.=to make

ὀρφανός

mvp-comment-304-3 μὴ φίλων ⁶⁶⁵

mvp-comment-304-4 Compare Andromachè's description, in her lament over Hector, of the lot in store for her child,

ἦμαρ δ’ ὀρφανικὸν παναφήλικα παῖδα τίθησιν

, ‘the day of orphanhood makes a child companionless,’ etc.: Il. 22. 490 —498.

mvp-comment-305-1 βλέπω ⁶⁶⁶

mvp-comment-305-2 ᾔστωσας ⁶⁶⁷

mvp-comment-305-3 δορί ⁶⁶⁸ δόρει ⁶⁶⁹

mvp-comment-306-1 ἄλλη μοῖρα ⁶⁷⁰

mvp-comment-307-1 καθεῖλεν … οἰκήτορας ⁶⁷¹ Ἅιδου, θανασίμους ⁶⁷²

mvp-comment-308-1 πατρίς ⁶⁷³

mvp-comment-308-2 ἐν σοὶ … σῴζομαι ⁶⁷⁴ πᾶς’ ⁶⁷⁵

mvp-comment-309-1 κἀμοῦ ⁶⁷⁶

mvp-comment-309-2 προσεῖναι ⁶⁷⁷

mvp-comment-309-3 τερπνὸν εἴ τί που πάθοι ⁶⁷⁸

mvp-comment-310-1 χάρις χάριν γάρ ⁶⁷⁹

mvp-comment-310-2 τίκτους’ ⁶⁸⁰

mvp-comment-311-1 ἀπορρεῖ ⁶⁸¹

mvp-comment-311-2 γένοιτ’ ⁶⁸²

mvp-comment-312-1 ἔχειν σ’ ἂν … θέλοιμ’ ἄν ⁶⁸³

mvp-comment-312-2 ὡς κἀγὼ ⁶⁸⁴

mvp-comment-313-1 καὶ κάρτ’ ⁶⁸⁵

mvp-comment-313-2 τὸ ταχθὲν ⁶⁸⁶

mvp-comment-313-3 τολμᾷ ⁶⁸⁷

mvp-comment-313-4 For the alliteration (

παρήχησις

) cp. 1112 : O.T. 371

τυφλὸς τά τ’ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ’ ὄμματ’ εἶ

(n.).

mvp-comment-314-1 ἀλλ’ ⁶⁸⁸

mvp-comment-315-1 ὡς ἴδω ⁶⁸⁹

mvp-comment-316-1 καὶ μὴν φόβοισί γ’ ⁶⁹⁰ γε ⁶⁹¹ φόβοισι ⁶⁹² καὶ μήν … γε ⁶⁹³ γε ⁶⁹⁴

mvp-comment-316-2 φόβοισι ⁶⁹⁵

mvp-comment-316-3 ἐξελυσάμην ⁶⁹⁶

mvp-comment-316-4 The conjecture ἐξερρυσάμην ⁶⁹⁷

mvp-comment-317-1 κακοῖσιν ⁶⁹⁸

mvp-comment-318-1 μὴ σοί γε ⁶⁹⁹ σοί ⁷⁰⁰

mvp-comment-319-1 πρέπον γέ τἂν ἦν ⁷⁰¹

mvp-comment-319-2 δαίμονος ⁷⁰²

mvp-comment-320-1 ἀλλ’ οὖν ⁷⁰³ γε ⁷⁰⁴

mvp-comment-320-2 )φύλαξα ⁷⁰⁵

mvp-comment-320-3 ἀρκέσαι ⁷⁰⁶

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐπῄνες’ ⁷⁰⁷

mvp-comment-321-2 ἔθου ⁷⁰⁸

mvp-comment-322-1 ὡς ἐκ τῶνδ’ ⁷⁰⁹ ἐκτῶνδε ⁷¹⁰ ὡς ⁷¹¹

mvp-comment-323-1 καὶ μὴν ⁷¹²

mvp-comment-323-2 γε ⁷¹³ πέλας. ⁷¹⁴

mvp-comment-323-3 προσπόλοις ⁷¹⁵

mvp-comment-324-1 μὴ οὐ ⁷¹⁶ τί μέλλει ⁷¹⁷

mvp-comment-324-2 παρουσίαν ἔχειν ⁷¹⁸

mvp-comment-325-1 εὐθύνων ⁷¹⁹

mvp-comment-326-1 ἕρποντι φωνεῖς ⁷²⁰

mvp-comment-326-2 λελειμμένῳλόγων ⁷²¹

mvp-comment-327-1 καὶ δὴ ⁷²²

mvp-comment-328-1 αἶρε δεῦρο ⁷²³

mvp-comment-328-2 ταρβήσει γὰρ οὒ ⁷²⁴

mvp-comment-329-1 νεοσφαγῆ … φόνον ⁷²⁵ που ⁷²⁶ τοῦ ⁷²⁷ τοῦτόν γε ⁷²⁸ του ⁷²⁹

mvp-comment-330-1 δικαίως ⁷³⁰

mvp-comment-330-2 τὰ πατρόθεν ⁷³¹

mvp-comment-331-1 ὠμοῖς … ἐν νόμοις ⁷³²

mvp-comment-331-2 πωλοδαμνεῖν ⁷³³

mvp-comment-331-3 κἀξομοιοῦσθαι ⁷³⁴ φύσιν ⁷³⁵

mvp-comment-332-1 ὦ παῖ ⁷³⁶

mvp-comment-332-2 τὰ δ’ ἄλλ’ ὅμοιος ⁷³⁷

mvp-comment-333-1 καίτοι … καὶ νῦν ⁷³⁸

mvp-comment-333-2 σε ⁷³⁹ σὲ ⁷⁴⁰

mvp-comment-333-3 τοῦτό γε ⁷⁴¹

mvp-comment-333-4 οὐδὲν ⁷⁴² ἐπαισθάνει ⁷⁴³

mvp-comment-334-1 ἐν τῷ φρονεῖν μηδὲν ⁷⁴⁴

mvp-comment-334-2 554 b [ τὸ μὴ φρονεῖν γὰρ ⁷⁴⁵

mvp-comment-335-1 ἕως ⁷⁴⁶

mvp-comment-336-1 ἵκῃ πρὸς τοῦτο ⁷⁴⁷

mvp-comment-336-2 δεῖ σ’ ὅπως … δείξεις ⁷⁴⁸

mvp-comment-337-1 τέως ⁷⁴⁹

mvp-comment-337-2 κούφοις πνεύμασιν ⁷⁵⁰

mvp-comment-337-3 νέαν ψυχὴν ἀτάλλων ⁷⁵¹

mvp-comment-337-4 The word

ἀτάλλω

may have been suggested to Sophocles by a trait in the scene between Hector and Andromachè: Il. 6. 400

παῖδ’ ἐπὶ κόλπῳ ἔχουσ’ ἀταλάφρονα, νήπιον αὔτως

mvp-comment-337-5 χαρμονήν ⁷⁵² χαρμονή ⁷⁵³

mvp-comment-337-6 560 It is strange that exception should have been taken to the parenthetic οἶδα ⁷⁵⁴

mvp-comment-337-7 οὔτοι … μή ⁷⁵⁵

mvp-comment-338-1 τοῖον ⁷⁵⁶

mvp-comment-338-2 πυλωρὸν ⁷⁵⁷

mvp-comment-339-1 τροφῆς ἄοκνον ⁷⁵⁸

mvp-comment-339-2 ἔμπα ⁷⁵⁹ κεἰ ⁷⁶⁰

mvp-comment-340-1 τηλωπὸς ⁷⁶¹

mvp-comment-340-2 οἰχνεῖ ⁷⁶²

mvp-comment-340-3 θήραν ἔχων ⁷⁶³

mvp-comment-341-1 ἀσπιστῆρες ⁷⁶⁴

mvp-comment-341-2 χάριν ⁷⁶⁵

mvp-comment-342-1 ὅπως … δείξει ⁷⁶⁶

mvp-comment-342-2 Ἐριβοίᾳ λέγω ⁷⁶⁷

mvp-comment-343-1 μέχρις οὗ ⁷⁶⁸

mvp-comment-344-1 μήτ’ … θήσους’ ⁷⁶⁹

mvp-comment-344-2 ἀγωνάρχαι ⁷⁷⁰

mvp-comment-344-3 μήθ’ ὁ λυμεὼν ἐμός ⁷⁷¹

mvp-comment-344-4 No correction is very probable. We cannot read

μήθ’ ὁ λυμεὼν ἐμοῦ

, since, though

μου

can represent the possessive pron., such a use of

ἐμοῦ

would be unexampled. (See Krüger, Gr. Sprachlehre, § 47. 9. 13.) The dat.

ἐμοί

is also untenable. It is possible that the poet wrote μήτε λυμεὼν ἐμός ⁷⁷²

mvp-comment-345-1 αὐτό ⁷⁷³

mvp-comment-345-2 ἐπώνυμον ⁷⁷⁴

mvp-comment-346-1 πολυρράφου … πόρπακος ⁷⁷⁵

mvp-comment-346-2 But a loop at the edge of the shield, such as the

πόρπαξ

offered to the warrior's hand ( Helen. 1376

ἐμβαλὼν πόρπακι γενναίαν χέρα

), would not suffice to give him control. Hence, in the vasepainting noticed above, we see the

πόρπαξ

combined with another contrivance, viz., a band (of metal, or wood), placed vertically across the inside of the shield, and furnished at the middle with an arrangement of small bars, forming a support for the arm just below the elbow. This band was the

ὄχανον

ὀχάνη

.—See Appendix.

mvp-comment-346-3 πολυρράφου ⁷⁷⁶

mvp-comment-346-4 ἑπτάβοιον ⁷⁷⁷

mvp-comment-347-1 τεθάψεται ⁷⁷⁸

mvp-comment-347-2

κοίν’ ἐμοὶ· κοινὰ

is here adv.: cp. Ant. 546

μή μοι θάνῃς σὺ κοινά

mvp-comment-348-1 πάκτου ⁷⁷⁹

mvp-comment-348-2 ἐπισκήνους ⁷⁸⁰

mvp-comment-348-3 φιλοίκτιστον ⁷⁸¹

mvp-comment-349-1 πύκαζε ⁷⁸²

mvp-comment-349-2 οὐ πρὸς ἰατροῦ ⁷⁸³

mvp-comment-349-3 θρηνεῖν ἐπῳδὰς ⁷⁸⁴

mvp-comment-349-4 τομῶντι ⁷⁸⁵

mvp-comment-350-1 προθυμίαν ⁷⁸⁶

mvp-comment-350-2 ἀρέσκει ⁷⁸⁷

mvp-comment-350-3 τεθηγμένη ⁷⁸⁸

mvp-comment-351-1 δρασείεις ⁷⁸⁹

mvp-comment-351-2 φρενί ⁷⁹⁰

mvp-comment-352-1 κρῖνε ⁷⁹¹

mvp-comment-353-1 οἴμ’ ὡς ⁷⁹²

mvp-comment-353-2 μὴ προδοὺς γένῃ ⁷⁹³

mvp-comment-354-1 ἄγαν γε λυπεῖς ⁷⁹⁴

mvp-comment-354-2 ἀρκεῖν ⁷⁹⁵

mvp-comment-354-3 ὀφειλέτης ⁷⁹⁶

mvp-comment-355-1 εὔφημα φώνει ⁷⁹⁷

mvp-comment-355-2 τοῖς ἀκούουσιν λέγε ⁷⁹⁸

mvp-comment-355-3 The division of the verse between two speakers (

ἀντιλαβή

) is here used for the first time in the play, to mark the tension of feeling.

mvp-comment-356-1 ξυνέρξεθ’ ⁷⁹⁹

mvp-comment-357-1 ἄρτι ⁸⁰⁰

mvp-comment-357-2 Ajax is now withdrawn into the tent on the eccyclema (

εἰσκυκλεῖται

), and the entrance is closed. Tecmessa and her child retire by another door into the part of the dwelling which is supposed to represent the

γυναικών

. They re-enter after the Choral ode, and are present while Ajax speaks (see 684 ff.). Some, indeed, suppose that they remain on the scene during the ode; but the command of Ajax to Tecmessa in 579 f.,

μηδ’ ἐπισκήνους γόους | δάκρυε

, is against this.

mvp-comment-357-3 Welcker thinks that not only Tecmessa (with the child), but Ajax also, remain present during the ode. ( Rhein. Mus. for 1829, part 3, p. 87.) It is clear, however, from v. 593 that Ajax withdraws into the tent.

mvp-comment-358-1 ναίεις ⁸⁰¹

mvp-comment-358-2 ἁλίπλακτος ⁸⁰²

mvp-comment-358-3 πᾶσιν περίφαντος ἀεί ⁸⁰³

mvp-comment-359-1 παλαιὸς ἀφ’ οὗ χρόνος ⁸⁰⁴

mvp-comment-359-2 601—

mvp-comment-360-1 Ἰδαῖα ⁸⁰⁵

mvp-comment-360-2 1. The metre (logaoedic) is clear: no suspicion rests on the antistrophic verses, 613—615

κρατοῦντ’ ... ηὕρηται

. Metre proves, then, that ( a) instead of L's

ἰδαία

, we require --u, which is given by

Ἰδαῖα

. ( b) Instead of

λειμωνίᾳ ποίᾳ

we require --uu-u, which is satisfied by

λειμώνἰ ἔπαυλα

. ( c) Instead of

εὐνόμᾳ

, we require ---.

mvp-comment-360-3 2. εὐνῶμαι ⁸⁰⁶ μίμνων ⁸⁰⁷

mvp-comment-360-4 3. μηνῶν ⁸⁰⁸ μηνῶν ἀνήριθμος ⁸⁰⁹

mvp-comment-360-5 What remains doubtful, then, is only how we should correct the words,

ἰδαῖα... λειμωνίᾳ ποίᾳ

. Now, in favour of

Ἰδαῖα.. λειμώνἰ ἔπαυλα

, let it be noted that, if

ἔπαυλα

was the genuine word, then the corruption of

μηνῶν

into μήλων ⁸¹⁰

mvp-comment-360-6 The construction then is,

εὐνῶμαι Ἰδαῖα λειμώνια ἔπαυλα

, ‘I am encamped in quarters on the fields of Ida,’

μηνῶν ἀνήριθμος

, ‘through countless months.’ For the acc. with

εὐνῶμαι

, cp. such phrases as

ζυγὸν ἕζομαι

(249 n.),

κεῖμαι τόπον

( Ph. 144 f.). For

εὐνῶμαι

with ref. to camping, cp. Il. 10. 408

Τρώων φυλακαί τε καὶ εὐναί

: Aesch. Ag. 559

εὐναὶ γὰρ ἦσαν δαΐων πρὸς τείχεσιν· | ἐξ οὐρανοῦ δὲ κἀπὸ γῆς λειμώνιαι | δρόσοι κατεψάκαζον

—a passage which Sophocles may have had in mind.

mvp-comment-360-7 For other views of the passage, and other emendations, see Appendix.

mvp-comment-361-1 χρόνῳ ⁸¹¹

mvp-comment-362-1 ἐλπίδ’ ⁸¹² κακάν ⁸¹³

mvp-comment-363-1 ἔτι ⁸¹⁴

mvp-comment-363-2 με ⁸¹⁵ ἀνύσειν … Ἅιδαν ⁸¹⁶

mvp-comment-363-3 τὸν ἀπότροπον ⁸¹⁷

mvp-comment-363-4 ἀΐδηλον Ἅιδαν ⁸¹⁸

mvp-comment-364-1 ἔφεδρος ⁸¹⁹

mvp-comment-364-2 Prof. Campbell pronounces this interpretation ‘untenable,’ and renders

ἔφεδρος

‘fixed at my side,’ because ‘Ajax had remained sitting throughout the previous scene,’ and had now apparently relapsed into sullen inaction within his tent.

mvp-comment-365-1 θείᾳ ⁸²⁰

mvp-comment-366-1 ἐξεπέμψω … θουρίῳ ⁸²¹

mvp-comment-366-2 πρὶν δή ποτε ⁸²²

mvp-comment-366-3 Ἄρει ⁸²³ α— ⁸²⁴

mvp-comment-367-1 φρενὸς οἰοβώτας ⁸²⁵

mvp-comment-368-1 ηὕρηται ⁸²⁶

mvp-comment-369-1 ἔργα χεροῖν … ἀρετᾶς ⁸²⁷

mvp-comment-370-1 ἄφιλα παρ’ ἀφίλοις ⁸²⁸

mvp-comment-370-2 ἄφιλα … ἔπεσε ⁸²⁹

mvp-comment-370-3 ἔπεσ’ ἔπεσε ⁸³⁰

mvp-comment-371-1 σύντροφος ⁸³¹ ἔντροφος ⁸³²

mvp-comment-371-2 παλαιᾷ … ἁμέρᾳ ⁸³³

mvp-comment-371-3 λευκῷ ⁸³⁴ λευκὰ ⁸³⁵ μὲν ⁸³⁶ δὲ ⁸³⁷

mvp-comment-372-1 νοσοῦντα φρενομόρως ⁸³⁸

mvp-comment-373-1 αἴλινον ⁸³⁹

mvp-comment-373-2 ἀηδοῦς ⁸⁴⁰

mvp-comment-374-1 ὀξυτόνους ⁸⁴¹

mvp-comment-375-1 χερόπλακτοι … δοῦποι ⁸⁴²

mvp-comment-376-1 ἄμυγμα ⁸⁴³

mvp-comment-377-1 κρείσσων … κεύθων ⁸⁴⁴

mvp-comment-377-2 Elmsley's emendation,

παῤ Ἄιδᾳ

, instead of

γὰρ Ἅιδᾳ

(the reading of the MSS.), is specious; for Sophocles has that phrase in O. T. 972 and in O. C. 1572 ; but here he may have been thinking of Il. 23. 244

εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι

. The personal sense of Hades easily passes into the local; thus we have not only

εἰς Ἅιδου

( Tr. 4 ), but

εἰς Ἀΐδαν

( El. 833 ). For the simple dat., cp. El. 174

οὐρανῷ

(n.).

mvp-comment-377-3 κεύθων ⁸⁴⁵

mvp-comment-377-4 ὁ νοσῶν μάταν ⁸⁴⁶

mvp-comment-378-1 ἐκ πατρῴας ἥκων γενεᾶς ἄριστος … Ἀχαιῶν ⁸⁴⁷ ἥκων ⁸⁴⁸ ἄριστος ⁸⁴⁹ ἄριστος ⁸⁵⁰

mvp-comment-378-2 The ingenious conjecture of Burges,

ὃς εὖ πατρῴας ἥκων γενεᾶς ἄνωθεν

, would mean, ‘fortunate (

εὖ ἥκων

) in his descent (

ἄνωθεν

) with regard to paternal lineage’ (the gen.

γενεᾶς

as in

χρημάτων εὖ ἥκοντες

, Her. 5. 62 , etc.). But this is tame; and

εὖ ἥκων

is also prosaic: nor does it account for the gen.

Ἀχαιῶν

. Wecklein, reading

εὖ πατρῴας ἥκων γενεᾶς, ἄριστα..Ἀχαιῶν

, understands, ‘fortunate in his lineage, — most so, indeed, of the Achaeans’: so that

ἄριστα

defines

εὖ

mvp-comment-378-3 πολυπόνων ⁸⁵¹

mvp-comment-379-1 συντρόφοις ὀργαῖς ⁸⁵² ἔμπεδος ⁸⁵³

mvp-comment-379-2 ἐκτὸς ὁμιλεῖ ⁸⁵⁴ ἐκτὸς ⁸⁵⁵ ὁμιλεῖ ⁸⁵⁶ ὁμιλεῖ ⁸⁵⁷

mvp-comment-380-1 τλᾶμον ⁸⁵⁸

mvp-comment-381-1 δύσφορον ⁸⁵⁹

mvp-comment-382-1 ἔθρεψεν ⁸⁶⁰

mvp-comment-382-2 αἰὼν ⁸⁶¹ δίων ⁸⁶²

mvp-comment-383-1 ὁ μακρὸς … χρόνος ⁸⁶³

mvp-comment-383-2 φύει τ’ ⁸⁶⁴ φύει ⁸⁶⁵ φαίνει ⁸⁶⁶

mvp-comment-383-3 κρύπτεται ⁸⁶⁷

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

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.

284. mvp-comment-202-1 ὡς κοινωνὸς ὤν] 'As you are no less interested.'

285. mvp-comment-203-1 ἄκρας νυκτός] 'At dead of night.' That this, and not 'on the verge of night,' is the meaning here, appears from the context. The flames lighted at evening were burnt out, so that all was dark. ἄκρᾳ σὺν ἑσπέρᾳ in Pind. Pyth. 11. 16, is explained by Dissen 'ad seram vesperam.'

286. mvp-comment-204-1 Cp. Od. 18. 307, αὐτίκα λαμπτῆρας τρεῖς ἵστασαν ἐν μεγάροισιν, | ὄφρα φαείνοιεν, περὶ δὲ ξύλα κάγκανα θῆκαν καὶ δᾷδας μετέμισγον: ib. 19. 64, φύως ἔμεν ἠδὲ θέρεσθαι.

287. mvp-comment-205-1 κενάς] «Objectless;' i.e. without apparent cause. Tecmessa knows little of what Ajax does abroad. But she knows that there is something strange in his going forth at night without a summons.

289. mvp-comment-206-1 ἄκλητος is expanded with οὔτε-οὔτε, 'neither-nor.'

291. mvp-comment-207-1 ἀλλά] i. e. 'Instead of there being an alarm of any kind.'

292. mvp-comment-208-1 βαί, ἀεὶ δ᾽ ὑμνούμενα] 'Few words, but to a well-known tune.' Eur. Phoen. 438, πάλαι μὲν οὖν ὑμνηθέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως ἐρῶ: Plat. Rep. 8. 549 D, ὅσα φιλοῦσιν αἱ γυναῖκες περὶ τῶν τοιούτων ὑμνεῖν.

293. mvp-comment-209-1 Cp. Fr. 61, ἄλλως τε καὶ κόρῃ τε κἀργείᾳ γένος, | αἷς κόσμος ἡ σιγή τε καὶ τὰ παῦρ᾽ ἔπη.

294. mvp-comment-210-1 μαθοῦσ᾽] 'When I perceived,' viz. that he was not to be reasoned with. The unusual division of the line marks the reluctant desistence of Tecmessa. Cp. O. T. 1513, ib. 110, and notes.

295. mvp-comment-211-1 πάθας] 'Misfortunes.' The word is used with a vague sense of the horror of a scene, in which Ajax was no less unfortunate than his victims.

297. mvp-comment-212-1 εὔκερών τ᾿ ἄγραν] The horns of the sheep are the most conspicuous object as they are seen in front and from above. The objection 'that the bulls were also horned' is absurdly logical. There is no sufficient reason for preferring the conj. εὔερον. The word describes all the cattle, small and great, excepting the bulls, which have been mentioned separately.

298. mvp-comment-213-1 τοὺς μέν] The bulls.

299. mvp-comment-214-1 ἐρράχιζε] 'Clove in twain.'

299-300. mvp-comment-215-1 τοὺς δὲ δεσμίους | ᾐκίζεθ᾽] 'Others, as his prisoners, he tormented at his pleasure.' ὥστε φῶτας] 'As if human creatures.' ἐν ποίμναις πίτνων] 'Making onsets on the cattle.' Cp. supr. 185.

301. mvp-comment-216-1 ὑπάξας διὰ θυρῶν] 'Issuing suddenly through the doorway.' ὑπό = 'from beneath the tent.' σκιᾷ τινί «In converse with some shadow.' The dative as with διαλέγεσθαι. Tecmessa, not seeing or hearing Athena, supposes Ajax to be addressing some 'bodiless creation' of his brain. Cp. Shak. Hamlet, 3, 4, 'How is't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy, And with the incorporal air do hold discourse?'

302. mvp-comment-217-1 ἀνέσπα] «Heaved forth.' Cp. Plat. Theaet. 180 Α, ὥσπερ ἐκ φαρέτρας ῥηματίσκια αἰνιγματώδη ἀνασπῶντες ἀποτοξεύουσιν : Αr. Ran. 903, ῥήματα γομφοπαγή. πινακηδὸν ἀποσπῶν.

303. mvp-comment-218-1 συντιθείς] Sc. τοῖς λόγοις. Εp. προστίθημι.

304. mvp-comment-219-1 ὅσην. . ἰών] 'What insults he had gone and wreaked upon them.' This clause depends at once on λόγους and on γέλων. The participle adds liveliness,-'how he had gone and paid them.'

305. mvp-comment-220-1 ἐπάξας] L. has ἀπάξας both here and supr. 301. Supposing this were right, the same word would be used in two different senses, 'rushing off' and 'rushing back;' but the two words, ὑπάξας, ἐπάξας, seem more appropriate.

306. mvp-comment-221-1 μόλις πως] ‘By slow stages.' The phrase recalls the anxiety with which Tecmessa had watched the gradual awakening. Cp. Thuc. 8. 86, § 2, ἔπειτα μέντοι μόλις ἡσυχάσαντες ἤκουσαν.

307. mvp-comment-222-1 'As he cast his eye along the room, and saw that it was full of ruin.' ἄτη is calamity caused by infatuation. Cp. infr. 351 foll.

308-309. mvp-comment-223-1 ἐν δ᾽ ἐρειπίοις . . ἀρνείου φόνου] 'Amidst the carnage of the flock he sate, a ruin amongst ruins.' The tautology, ἐν ἐρειπίοις ἐρειφθείς, is here expressive. The 2nd genitive, ἀρνείου φόνου (see Essay on L. § 23. p. 37 a), is added to give greater distinctness to ἐρειπίοις νεκρῶν as a single notion.

310. mvp-comment-224-1 'With clenched nails grasping his hair with his hand.' ὄνυξι adds force to ἀπρίξ.

311. mvp-comment-225-1 The order (Essay on L. § 41. p. 76) shows that πλεῖστον is an afterthought. 'For some while, indeed for most of the time.'

312. mvp-comment-226-1 τὰ δείν᾽ . . ἔπη] 'Those dreadful words,' which I remember so vividly. Cp. Ant. 408, τὰ δείν᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ ἐπηπειλημένοι. Not merely, 'Words that are dreadful.'

313. mvp-comment-227-1 φανοίην] Fut. opt. Ajax' words were εἰ μὴ φανεῖς.

314. mvp-comment-228-1 ἐν τῷ πράγματος] Cp. Trach. 375, ποῦ ποτ᾽ εἰμὶ πράγματος;

315. mvp-comment-229-1 δείσασα,] 'Being overcome with fear.' As the deprecating φίλοι shows, Tecmessa is excusing herself to the chorus for having told Ajax, under the influence of his threats, that which only plunged him into fresh sorrow. For the participle thus used without an express object, cp. Ant. 1005, δείσας δ' εὐθὺς ἐμπύρων ἐγευόμην. Hermann punctuates as in the text. Others join δείσασα τοὐξειργασμένον, which is less simple.

316. mvp-comment-230-1 ὅσονπερ ἐξηπιστάμην] For this limitation, cp. supr. 295, καὶ τὰς ἐκεῖ μὲν οὐκ ἔχω λέξαι πάθας.

319-320. mvp-comment-231-1 (1) 'He used to teach us that such complainings indicated a degraded and leaden soul.' The infinitive is added epexegetically to complete the abrupt expression ἐξηγεῖτο τοὺς τοιούσδε γόους πρὸς βαρυψύχου ἀνδρός. For ἔχειν, sc. τοὺς τοιούσδε γόους, cp. Il. 18. 495, αὐλοὶ φόρμιγγές τε βοὴν ἔχον. (2) But an inf. after ἐξηγεῖτο is rather required: cp. Aesch. Eum. 595, ὁ μάντις ἐξηγεῖτό σοι μητροκτονεῖν. Can ἔχειν with the adverbial phrase πρὸς... ἀνδρός be used intransitively (= 'proceed from') ( εἶναι appears as a gloss), or should ἄγειν be read, 'He taught us to esteem'? Cp. Ant. 34, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν | οὐχ ὡς παρ᾿ οὐδέν. For βαρυψύχου it is possible that βραχυψύχου ought to be read.

321. mvp-comment-232-1 ἀλλ᾽ ἀψόφητος, κ.τ.λ.] ἀλλά opposes what follows to the general sense of what precedes. ἀψόφητος ὀξέων κωκυμάτων] ‘Uttering no sound of shrill lamentation.'

322. mvp-comment-233-1 'He breathed deep groans like a lowing bull.' ὑπὸ in comp. implies 'not loud, but deep.'

323. mvp-comment-234-1 νῦν δ'] At first he uttered shrill lamentings, unlike the deep mutterings which before expressed his discontent. 'But now' he is silent. κείμενος] 'Prostrate.' Cp. supr. 207, infr. 427.

325. mvp-comment-235-1 ἥσυχος] « Without sound or motion.' The quietness of Ajax' present mood is ominous. This description prepares the spectator for what he is to see infr. 346.

327. mvp-comment-236-1 τοιαῦτα] Sc. ὥς τι δρασείων κακόν. Tecmessa already apprehends the danger of suicide.

329. mvp-comment-237-1 εἰσελθόντες] When Ajax is discovered by the ἐκκύκλημα, infr. 346, this is equivalent to the scene being changed to within the hut.

330. mvp-comment-238-1 οἱ τοιοίδε] · Men in such mood;' i. e. gloomily bent on self-destruction. λόγοις] This word, to be joined with φίλων, is restored from the quotation of Stobaeus. The reading of the MSS. is hardly possible. λόγοις may have been lost from its similarity to λέγεις in the termination of the next line, and φίλοι may have been added to supply the gap.

331. mvp-comment-239-1 On the order, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 77.

332. mvp-comment-240-1 'That our hero is frenzied with his trouble.' The mariners apprehend that the madness of Ajax is in some way connected with his disappointment. Cp. infr. 925-32. ἡμῖν is dative of the person interested. See Essay on L. § 13. p. 19 f, and cp. supr. 216, ἡμὶν ὁ κλεινὸς | Αἴας ἀπελωβήθη: infr. 733, ἀλλ᾽ ἡμὶν Αἴας ποῦ ᾿στιν, ὡς φράσω τάδε ; κακοῖς] Supr. 275, infr. 532.

333. mvp-comment-241-1 The voice of Ajax is heard from within.

334. mvp-comment-242-1 μᾶλλον] Sc. δεινά σοι λέξω, or γνώσεσθε ταῦτα.

335. mvp-comment-243-1 οἵαν] She judges from the intonation of the cry, which the chorus, infr. 337, do not know whether to interpret as importing madness or grief.

337. mvp-comment-244-1 ἢ τοῖς . . παρών] 'Or to grieve at witnessing the effects of past madness which remain with him.' Cp. supr. 307. The addition of παρών suggests that Ajax, seeing the carnage in the tent, is the eye-witness of his own madness.

339. mvp-comment-245-1 Ajax calls upon Teucer. παῖ is frequently addressed by an elder person to a younger, even by the Corinthian messenger to Oedipus, O. Τ. 1008, and by Electra (under excitement) to the supposed Phocian stranger, El. 1220. The picture in the Iliad, 8. 271, of Teucer retiring behind the shield of Ajax, παῖς ὡς ὑπὸ μητέρα, suggests that Teucer was the younger brother. And it is natural to suppose Ajax to have been born before Telamon's expedition in which he won Hesione, the mother of Teucer.-According to Pindar in the fifth (or sixth) Isthmian ode, Ajax was given to Telamon in answer to the prayer of Heracles before the expedition. But in such details the legends are not constant. See O. C. 375, and note. Lycophr. 445 and schol. -The need of Teucer's presence is Ajax' first thought on coming to himself. Tecmessa at first thinks of the child, until, in l. 342, Ajax calls Teucer by name. He does not ask to see the child till l.530, after his attention has been vividly drawn that way by Tecmessa.

341. mvp-comment-246-1 τάλαιν᾽ ἐγώ] Tecmessa is distracted between the fear of crossing Ajax and the fear of harm to the child. The division of the line helps to mark this distraction of the wife and mother.

343. mvp-comment-247-1 λεηλατήσει] Teucer is gone foraging into the Mysian highlands, infr. 720. Compare Thuc. 1. 11, φαίνεται .. πρὸς γεωργίαν τῆς · Χερσονήσου τραπόμενοι καὶ λῃστείαν τῆς τροφῆς ἀπορίᾳ. ἐγὼ δ'] · While that I.'

345. mvp-comment-248-1 κἀπ᾿ ἐμοὶ βλέψας] ‘Even at me, on seeing me.' The abrupt expression, αἰδῶ λαβεῖν ἐπί τινι, is supplemented by the addition of the participle, i.e. εἰς ἐμὲ βλέψας. αἰδώς is the feeling which prompts σωφροσύνη.

346. mvp-comment-249-1 ἐκκύκλημα. Ajax is disclosed with signs of slaughter about him. He is sitting upright. The slaughtered sheep are the evidence of his situation ( τὰ τοῦδε πράγη): his wild, dishevelled appearance betrays the condition of his mind ( αὐτὸς ὡς ἔχων κυρεῖ).

348. mvp-comment-250-1 The lyrical numbers of this commos are chiefly dochmiac, mixed with iambic and trochaic rhythms, which increase in the third strophe and antistrophe. The scheme is the following...

348. mvp-comment-250-2 The arrangement of the latter part of γ' is rendered doubtful by the manifest corruption of ll. 406, 7. Perhaps- εἰ τἀμὰ μὲν φθίνει, φίλοι, πάλαι· μώραις δ᾽ ἄγραισι ταῖσδ᾽ ὁμοῦ προσκείμεθα. And in the antistrophe, 424, 5, τύδ᾽ ἐξερῶ μέγ᾽ οἷον οὔτινα Τροία στρατοῦ δέρχθη χθονὸς μολόντ' ἀπό. Or, reading τάδε for τά, and omitting τοῖσδ᾽ ὁμοῦ, στρατοῦ, and ἀπό, - εἰ τάδε μὲν φθίνει, φίλοι, πάλαι· μώραις δ᾽ ἄγραις προσκείμεθα, | πᾶς.

348. mvp-comment-250-3 and- ἐξερέω μέγ', οἷον οὔτινα Τροία χθονὸς δέρχθη μολόνθ' | Ἑλ.. See note on 405 foll.

348. mvp-comment-250-4 Ajax at once perceives the mariners. 'The great rage, you see, is killed in him,' but the ground-swell of his passion is still heard.

349. mvp-comment-251-1 μόνοι ἐμῶν φίλων] Sc. παρόντες, or some such word, which is expanded in what follows.

350. mvp-comment-252-1 ὀρθῷ νόμῳ] Sc. τῷ τῆς φιλίας.

351. mvp-comment-253-1 ἴδεσθέ μ᾽ οἷον, κ.τ.λ.] με is to be taken (1) after ἴδεσθε, and (2) after ἀμφίδρομον κυκλεῖται, the latter being a picturesque expansion of ἀμφικυκλεῖται. φοινίας ὑπὸ ζάλης] 'Lashed by a cruel storm.' ζάλη is a squall accompanied with rain or hail. The surge surrounding Ajax is the heap of mangled victims, together with the horror which they symbolize. For the boldness of this image, cp. El. 733, κλύδων᾿ ἔφιππον ἐν μέσῳ κυκώμενον.

354-355. mvp-comment-254-1 'Alas! It is clear thou art too true a witness.' The chorus do not immediately respond to Ajax: but, being horror-struck at what they see, express their reflections on the situation to Tecmessa. The description she has given is only too true. The meaning of μαρτυρεῖν and the coldness of l. 355, as addressed to Ajax, prove this to be the right way of understanding the words.

355. mvp-comment-255-1 ὡς ἀφροντίστως ἔχει] (1) ‘How far he is from sane,' sc. ὁ Alas, replying to supr. 347. Or possibly (2), sc. τοὔργον, 'How little of sane thought is present in it.' 'Indeed, the fact declares that thought has had no part in what is done.' For the transference of a personal attribute from the agent to the act, cp. O. C. 240, 977, τό γ' ἆκον πρᾶγμα: Aesch. Ag. 1377, ἀγὼν . . οὐκ ἀφροντίστως. · Notandus euphemismus pro μανικῶς, Herm. Cp. Shak. King Lear, 4. 6. 81, 'The safer sense will ne'er accommodate | His master thus.'

356. mvp-comment-256-1 γένος .. τέχνας] Ο brother-band of helpers, who help by shipcraft.' ναΐας . τέχνας is a descriptive genitive explaining ἀρωγόν.

357. mvp-comment-257-1 'Who didst go on board the ship and ply' ( ἑλίσσων proleptic) 'the oar of the sea,' viz. in coming to Troy. A change in the MS. reading is necessary. Some prefer to read ὃς ἁλίαν .. ἔβας, 'Who camest plying,' etc. ναῦν, suggested by πλάταν, is to be supplied with ἐπέβας.

360. mvp-comment-258-1 (1) Ajax, although recovering his sanity, is still haunted by the impressions of the night, and the sight of the mariners reminds him of the shepherds, who had failed to defend the flock ( supr. 27,232). Begging for death from them, he bids them do what the shepherds could not. (Shak. Ant. and Cleo. 4. 14, 'Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts | Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?') 'In thee I behold the only shepherd to support the flock; come, lay me dead beside them!' This explanation has the advantage of supposing only one ellipse with both verbs, viz. τῇ ποίμνῃ. In this case μόνον ποιμένων is to be explained as an idiomatic expression, in which, as in μόνος τῶν ἄλλων, the privative word has a negative force: i.e. 'You, and not the shepherds, shall avenge the sheep.' Cp. Ant. 773, ἔρημος.. στίβος. (The sense might be made clearer by reading ποιμνίοις for ποιμένων.) Others (2) suppose 'shepherds' to be put figuratively for 'comforters,' or (3) take ποιμένων as gen. obj. = 'to defend thy lord.' Others conjecture πημονὰν ἐπαρκέσοντ᾽, πημονῶν ἔτ᾿ ἄρκος ὄντ᾽.

363. mvp-comment-259-1 'Do not (1) aggravate the blow of disaster;' or (2) 'Make the sorrow worse than the calamity.' For the whole sentence, cp. Thuc. 5. 65, κακὸν κακῷ ἱᾶσθαι: O. C. 438.

366. mvp-comment-260-1 'Redoubtable in valour amongst harmless beasts.' For ev, cp. infr. 1315, μᾶλλον ἢ ἐν ἐμοὶ θρασύς. The phrase ἀφόβοις θηρσί is clearly an oxymoron, but has been diversely explained either as (1) 'harmless' ( τοῖς μὴ φόβον ἐμο ποιοῦσι, Schol.), or (2) 'game that flies not' (' quibus sanus quisque parcit, non solum quia nihil periculi nobis creant sed etiam quia fidei nostrae confidunt,' Lobeck.) The former is more in point. Ajax had been valiant 'where no fear was.' His prey was even less glorious than the boar or lion, which, though not human, are still formidable.

367. mvp-comment-261-1 οἷον] Sc. γέλωτα. 'What insulting mockery has been heaped on me!'

369. mvp-comment-262-1 The sight of Tecmessa, whom he must abandon, provokes Ajax to new rage. He first breaks forth on her impatiently, and then laments aloud. In what follows he is regardless both of her and the chorus.

373. mvp-comment-263-1 ὃς χερὶ μέν] For the position of μέν, which belongs properly to the verb, see Essay on L. § 41. pp. 78,9. The instrumental dative is used, with a fore-feeling of the latter part of the sentence, for ἐκ χερός. Mr. Jebb understands Ajax to mean that 'he had let off the Greeks in respect of personal chastisement, and merely damaged them in property.' But this softens the antithesis too much. The difficulty may be avoided by reading (with Schndw.) ὃς χεροῖν, and προγύνων πάτερ in the antistrophe, l. 387.

375. mvp-comment-264-1 The epithets here are echoes of the epic style, but possibly with some variation of meaning. 'Goodly,' which is the meaning of κλυτός in such expressions as κλυτὰ μῆλα (Od. 9. 308), is not sufficiently pointed here, and the Scholiast may be right in saying κλυτὰ λέγει τὰ αἰπόλια διὰ τὰς ἐν αὐτοῖς ταραχὰς καὶ φωνάς. 'The horned kine and bleating herds of goats.'

376. mvp-comment-265-1 'I rained forth dark-flowing blood.' ἐρεμνόν is another Homeric epithet, not merely signifying 'dark' (and so recalling μέλαν αἷμα), but ' darkling,' with reference to the gloom of night and other circumstances of horror which surrounded the act.

377. mvp-comment-266-1 ὅπως οὐχ ὧδ᾽ ἔχειν] ὅπως is here simply an indefinite ὡs, and is construed with the infinitive as ὡς might have been.

379. mvp-comment-267-1 The former outburst was towards the Atreidae. He now breaks forth against Odysseus.

379. mvp-comment-267-2 πάνθ᾽ ὁρῶν] Cp. supr. 29, Phil. 1013, 4, ἀλλ᾿ ἡ κακὴ σὴδιὰ μυχῶν βλέπουσ᾽' ἀεὶ | ψυχή, κ.τ.λ.

381. mvp-comment-268-1 κακοπινέστατον.. ἄλημα στρατοῦ] 'Abominable misleader of the host.' So the Scholiast seems to understand the words, κακοπινέστατον, 'defiled,' i. e. by continual base practices. Musgrave suggested an allusion to the act of disguising himself as a wandering beggar mentioned in Od. 4. 242 foll., but preferred to derive ἄλημα (= παιπάλη) from ἀλέω. The earlier explanation is here preferable to both these, and in infr. 390, ἄλημα may quite well mean, 'cause of error' ( τῶν Ἑλλήνων, gl. Pal.). Cp. the causative use of ἄλη in Aesch. Ag. 195, δύσορμοι | βροτῶν ἄλαι. The error of which Ajax most complains is the misjudgment about the arms of Achilles.

382. mvp-comment-269-1 ἄγεις] 'Dost prolong.'

383. mvp-comment-270-1 ξὺν τῷ θεῷ] The article is not added to θεός elsewhere in Sophocles without special reason, and the conjecture of Schndw. ξύν τοι θεῷ supplies a article of connexion. But the asyndeton is rather impressive, and τῷ θεῷ may be explained 'the god who gives the laughter or the tears.' 'Laughter and sorrow are in the hands of God;' i. e. 'we must be patient and the position may be reversed.' The chorus reflect that the Divine power which now favours Odysseus and oppresses Ajax may hereafter work the opposite effect. Cp. Trach. 131 foll. ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ πῆμα καὶ χαρὰ | πᾶσι κυκλοῦσιν, οἷον | ἄρκτου στροφάδες κέλευθοι.

384. mvp-comment-271-1 The syllable which has been probably lost from this line has been variously restored, μέν, νῦν, μήν, etc., the Triclinian reading is harmless, and is followed in the text, in the absence of better MS. authority. Ajax prays to see his enemy, that, even ruined as he is, he may avenge himself. Cp. infr. 388-91, Trach. 1107 foll. ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γέ τοι τύδ᾽ ἴστε, κἂν τὸ μηδὲν ὦ, | κἂν μηδὲν ἔρπω, τὴν γε δράσασαν τάδε | χειρώσομαι κἀκ τῶνδε προσμόλοι μόνον, κ.τ.λ. This is more probable than an aposiopesis of ὀδυρόμενον.

384. mvp-comment-271-2 or the like, though this may be suggested by comparing Phil. 1113 foll. ἰδοίμαν δε νιν, | τὸν τάδε μησάμενον, τὸν ἴσον χρόνον | ἐμὰς λαχόντ᾽ ἀνίας.

387. mvp-comment-272-1 προγόνων προπάτωρ] Zeus was only the great-grandsire of Ajax, but the feeling of Sophocles and his age required that the Divine source should seem more remote. For similar vagueness in speaking of the past, cp. Ant. 981, 2, where σπέρμα. ἀρχαιογόνων | ἄντασ᾿ Ερεχθειδᾶν is said of the grand-daughter of Erechtheus. Also supr. 190.

390. mvp-comment-273-1 ὀλέσσας] The σ is doubled Epicè. Cp. Aesch. Pers. 864, ὅσσας δ' είλε πόλεις.

391. mvp-comment-274-1 τέλος θάνοιμι καὐτός] Ajax desires death, but death would be sweeter if he could first be avenged on his enemies. The feeling here is slightly different from Aesch. Choeph. 438, ἔπειτ' ἐγὼ νοσφίσας ὀλοίμαν, where the participle has an exclusive emphasis ('if I could only take their lives'), and there is no real desire of death.

394. mvp-comment-275-1 Ajax, who had once prayed for light, now prays for darkness as his only light.

396. mvp-comment-276-1 φαεννότατον, ὡς ἐμοί] Most brilliant, in my sight.' Cp. Ant. 1161, Κρέων γὰρ ἦν ζηλωτός, ὡς ἐμοί, ποτέ.

397. mvp-comment-277-1 ἕλεσθ᾽ ἔλεσθέ μ'] In the spirit of polytheism the two names σκότος and έρεβος are imagined to denote two beings. Hence the plural. For the middle voice, cp. Ο. Τ. 887, κακά νιν ἔλοιτο μοίρα.

399. mvp-comment-278-1 i. e. οὐκέτι γὰρ ἄξιός εἰμι βλέπειν οὔτε εἰς θεῶν γένος οὔτε εἰς ὄνασιν τινα ἁμερίων ἀνθρώπων. For the omission of the preposition in the former clause, cp. Ant. 789, 90, καί σ' οὔτ᾽ ἀθανάτων φύξιμος οὐδείς, | οὔθ᾽ ἁμερίων ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων : and for βλέπειν εἰς, cp. Ant. 922, 3, τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον εἰς θεοὺς ἔτι | βλέπειν; Others (see v. rr.) join τινὰ ἀνθρώπων, making εἰς ὅνασιν adverbial, and understand βλέπειν with the accusative to be equivalent to βλέπειν εἰς.

403. mvp-comment-279-1 †ὀλέθριον αἰκίζει] The MS. reading is unmetrical, unless on the somewhat forced supposition that εὔφρονες in the antistrophe may be scanned ἐύφρονες. Wunder conjectured οὔλιον, which restores the metre. But ούλιος is everywhere active, and we can hardly venture to introduce it passively here. All that can be said is that ὀλέθριον has probably taken the place of some equivalent word (such as πάμμορον), unless we may be satisfied with ὀλέθρι', the adverbial plural. Hermann's attempt to scan the two lines thus, ἀλκίμα θεὸς ὁ λέθριον αἰκίζει, -υ-νου-ου- is unusually violent.

404. mvp-comment-280-1 ποῖ . μενῶ] 'Whither shall I go and find rest?' The subjunctive in φύγῃ is excused by the implication of the first person in the third.

405. mvp-comment-281-1 The Scholion, διὰ (τὴν κατὰ L) τὴν κρίσιν τῶν ὅπλων, is not inconsistent with the reading in the text, which admits of being construed thus, 'Seeing that things here are perishing together with these victims by my side.' But the language is at once obscure and feeble, and the metre does not agree with the antistrophe. There must be something wrong. The general meaning is, 'I am finally ruined, and at this moment am involved in ridicule and disgrace.' The simplest change is to read τάδε μέν for τὰ μὲν (Elmsl.), and τίσις δ᾽ for τοῖσδ' (Lobeck), i. e. (405-8) εἰ τάδε μὲν φθίνει φίλοι, τίσις δ᾽ | ὁμοῦ πέλας: and (423-6) ἐξερέω μέγ' οἷον οὔτινα Τροία στρατοῦ. But even so, there is too much of repetition for a lyric passage, and it is reasonable to suppose some deeper corruption. For example, τοῖσδ᾽ ὁμοῦ may have grown out of πέλας, and this may be a corruption of πάλαι. Then supposing (with Schndw.) that στρατοῦ and ἀπό are excrescences in the antistrophe, we might read (405-8), εἰ τάδε μὲν φθίνει, φίλοι, πάλαι, | μώραις δ' ἄγραις προσκείμεθα, and (423-6), εξερέω μέγ', οἷον οὔτινα | Τροία χθονὸς δέρχθη μολόνθ' | etc. See note on l. 348. But nothing can be asserted confidently about this passage. For προσκείμεθα, cp. El. 1040, ᾧ σὺ πρόσκεισαι κακῷ.

408. mvp-comment-282-1 Cp. supr. 251. δίπαλτος] «With spears in both hands' - δύο δοῦρε παλλόμενοι. On this use of the adjective, see Essay on L. § 5.3. p. 98, also § 42. p. 80y; and cp. esp. El. 1494, κού πρόχειρος εἶ κτανεῖν: Aesch. Ag. 1652, πρόκωπος.. θανεῖν. ἂν.. φονεύοι] The sentence, although introduced with el, is continued independently of the hypothetical construction.

410. mvp-comment-283-1 χρήσιμον] 'Serviceable,' here answers to the Epic βοὴν ἀγαθός, ‘good at need.' The essential value of Ajax' services to the army is emphasized throughout. Cp. esp. supr. 119, 20.

413. mvp-comment-284-1 πόροι ἁλίρροθοι] 'Paths of the surging sea,' i. e. either generally, or with reference to the narrow seas of the Aegean, called πόντιαι αὐλῶνες in Trach. 100, which separated Ajax from his home; or, possibly, to the Hellespont, which had witnessed his exploits, and is called by Xerxes, in Hdt. 7.35, ἁλμυρὸς ποταμός. Cp. infr. 884, Aesch. Pers. 367.

414. mvp-comment-285-1 πάραλά τ᾽ ἄντρα, κ.τ.λ.] These were especially familiar to Ajax from his position at the end of the line towards Rhoeteum.

416. mvp-comment-286-1 ἀμπνοὰς ἔχοντα] i. e. 'If you keep me here, it will not be in life.'

417. mvp-comment-287-1 φρονῶν] ‘If he have sense to perceive.'

420. mvp-comment-288-1 εὔφρονες ᾿Αργείοις] i.e. 'Kind to me no longer, but to my enemies.' In a different mood he afterwards ( infr. 863) bids farewell to the rivers of Troy as his nurses.

424. mvp-comment-289-1 οἷον, κ.τ.λ.] In Homeric fashion Ajax boasts himself to be the bravest of the Greeks. Cp. II. 18. 104, 5, τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος οὔτις᾿ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων | ἐν πολέμῳ. That he is the bravest next to Achilles is the Homeric tradition, and he is acknowledged to be so by his enemy Odysseus, infr. 1341. The arrangement of this part of the antistrophe must be adapted to the change made in the strophe. See note on 405 foll. For μέγα, cp. Pind. Nem. 6. 45, 6, ἔλπομαι μέγα εἰπὼν σκοποῦ ἄντα τυχεῖν.

425. mvp-comment-290-1 The hiatus after ἀπό at the end of the (lyric) iambic line is doubtful.

427. mvp-comment-291-1 The reading πρόκειται is not wholly impossible.

428. mvp-comment-292-1 οὔθ᾽ ὅπως] Elmsley would read οὐδ᾽, because there is no te preceding. But this is too strict.

430. mvp-comment-293-1 For a ῥῆσις similarly following μέλη ἀπὸ σκηνῆς, cp. El. 254 foll.; Trach. 1046 foll.; O. T. 1369 foll.; O. C. 258 foll. Ajax, in his solitude (for he hardly feels the presence of Tecmessa) in passing to a more collected mood, first utters the note of sadness, and then is struck by the correspondence of the repeated syllable with his own name. Many poets have observed how the mind in moments of intense feeling becomes engaged with trifles:- 'Strange, that the mind, when fraught With a passion so intense One would think that it well Might drown all life in the eye That it should, by being so overwrought, Suddenly strike on a sharper sense For a shell, or a flower, little things, Which else would have been past by.' TENNYSON's Maud. The cry of woe, alaî, sounds to Ajax like the reverberation of his name, and with the superstitious feeling which attached to words casually spoken, he dwells on the resemblance. 'Ay me! -Who ever could have thought that my name would thus be the appropriate expression for my woes?' Cp. esp. Fr. 877, ὀρθῶς δ' Ὀδυσσεύς εἰμ', ἐπώνυμος κακοῖς· | πολλοὶ γὰρ ὠδύσαντο δυσμενεῖς ἐμοί. And see Essay on L. § 44. p. 83, Lersch, Sprach-philosophie, vol. 3. pp. 3 foll. ἐπώνυμον supplements the predication of ξυνοίσειν, 'Agree in the way of naming.' (The conj. ξυνάσειν, although ingenious, is quite unnecessary.)

432. mvp-comment-294-1 δίς refers to the repetition of the syllable in alaῖ.

433. mvp-comment-295-1 τοιούτοις] Sc. ὥστε πρέπον εἶναι πολλάκις αἰάζειν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς.

434. mvp-comment-296-1 ὅτου] For this pathetic use of ὅστις, cp. esp. Ο.Τ. 1184, ὅστις πέφασμαι, κ.τ.λ. The clauses with μέν and dé do not quite correspond. In l. 437 the sentence passes out of the relative construction.

435. mvp-comment-297-1 'Having won from all the host by his supreme valour the fairest prize.' καλλιστεία can hardly be taken as equivalent to ἀριστεῖα. It is probably used with an inaccurate sense of its derivation from κάλλιστος: - i. e. 'the prize of beauty' is understood to mean, not the prize given to the most beautiful, but the most beautiful given as a prize. The accusative is cognate after ἀριστεύσας, i.e. ἀριστεύσας κάλλιστα ἀριστεία. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 214, 5, πόλεος ἐκπροκριθεῖσ᾽ ἐμᾶς | καλλιστεύματα Λοξία.

437. mvp-comment-298-1 The bisected line following the smooth preceding verses has a grating effect, which is here expressive.

438. mvp-comment-299-1 For the genitive Τροίας, see E. on L. § 10. p. 17, 6. ἐπελθών] 'Coming in my turn.'

438. mvp-comment-299-2 οὐκ ἐλάσσονι σθένει] In saying that he was not less in might or in achievements than Telamon, Ajax has the same feeling that is expressed by Sthenelus in the Iliad, 4. 405, ἡμεῖς τοι πατέρων μέγ᾿ ἀμείνονες εὐχόμεθ᾽ εἶναι.

439. mvp-comment-300-1 ἀρκέσας] «Having achieved.' In Thuc. 2. 47, οὔτε γὰρ ἰατροὶ ἤρκουν θεραπεύοντες ἀγνοίᾳ, ἀρκεῖν is used absolutely 'to avail.' Here in the same sense it takes a 'cognate' accusative of that in which effort is successful. Cp. infr. 535, τοῦτό γ᾽ ἀρκέσαι : Aesch. Pers. 278, οὐδὲν γὰρ ἤρκει τόξα.

440. mvp-comment-301-1 The dative is to be joined with ἄτιμος, = πρὸς ᾿Αργείων and ἐν ᾿Αργείοις. The Argives are at once the agents and the witnesses of Ajax' dishonour. His mind reverts to the critical moment- the judgment of the arms.

442-443. mvp-comment-302-1 'Were Achilles alive, and had he to decide the question of his arms and to adjudge the meed of valour to some one.'

444. mvp-comment-303-1 αὔτ᾽] αὐτά. ἔμαρψεν] "Grasped.' The vivid word expresses Ajax' sense of his right to the arms, and of the violent usurpation of Odysseus. ἄλλος ἀντ᾿ ἐμοῦ] · Another and not I.' Essay on L. § 40. p. 75, 5.

445. mvp-comment-304-1 φωτί παντουργῷ φρένας] « Το an all-accomplished rogue.' Although παντουργῷ is said contemptuously, it is not necessary to suppose that it has all the associations of πανουργός. φρένας has probably an emphasis in opposition to κράτη in l. 446. Ajax speaks with scorn of those varied mental resources of which he does not feel the need.

446. mvp-comment-305-1 ἔπραξαν] «Made them over,' or, as we say in common parlance. 'jobbed them.' πράσσειν often means to 'intrigue' in a bad sense. Cp. esp. O. T. 124, 5, εἴ τι μὴ ξὺν ἀργυρῷ ἐπράσσετ' ἐνθένδ', and note. ἀπώσαντες] 'Setting aside my deeds of valour,' i. e. rejecting from consideration my valiant services.

447-448. mvp-comment-306-1 διάστροφοι | γνώμης ἀπῇξαν] 'Started aside from my purpose.' διάστροφοι is (1) supplem. predicate, or perhaps (2) = διάστροφοι οὖσαι. Ср. supr. 258.

449. mvp-comment-307-1 ἐψήφισαν] 'Determined by vote.' The judges would be said ψηφίζεσθαι, 'to give their votes.' The generals, who conducted the voting, are said ψηφίζειν, 'to manage by votes,' as Menelaus is accused of having done dishonestly, infr. 1135. On rare uses of the active voice in Soph., see Essay on L. § 30. p. 516; § 53. p. 98.

450. mvp-comment-308-1 Instead of γλαυκώπις, the usual epithet for Athena, Ajax resentfully uses γοργῶπις, with some recollection of the grim appearance of the goddess as she hounded him to the mad onset, supr. 59, 60. ἀδάματος is 'invincible,' not merely 'unwedded,' though the latter notion may be contained in the word.

451. mvp-comment-309-1 ἐπευθύνοντ'] 'In act of stretching forth.' Ajax ( supr. 49) was at the tent-door of the Atreidae, and had little more to do than to stretch out his hand. The v. r. ἐπεντύνοντα would mean 'arming,' but he was already armed. ἐπεντείνοντα is better, but is probably a correction of ἐπεντύνοντ',

453. mvp-comment-310-1 τοιοίσδε is said with a rueful glance at the slaughtered animals, which in his delirium he had taken for his enemies.

455. mvp-comment-311-1 ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐχ ἑκόντος] ‘Not with my will, indeed.' The will of Ajax is not crushed. He still protests against the Providence that has spared his foes, whom he regards as his inferiors, though they have triumphed.

457-458. mvp-comment-312-1 ὅστις.. ἐχθαίρομαι] We are afterwards informed, infr. 756, that the Divine anger against Ajax is not permanent. For ὅστις, without distinct antecedent, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 72, 2.

459. mvp-comment-313-1 πεδία τάδε] Above all, for last night's violence.

461. mvp-comment-314-1 μόνους τ' ᾿Ατρείδας] 'And (leaving) the Atreidae to fight alone,' i. e. unsupported by Ajax, whose valour outweighs all others.

462. mvp-comment-315-1 καί] 'Then,' 'in that case.' καί here introduces an objection, as in καὶ πῶς; Cp. esp. Ant. 449, καὶ δῆτ᾽ ἐτόλμας τούσδ᾽ ὑπερβαίνειν νόμους; ποῖον ὄμμα.. Τελαμώνι] • How shall I come before my father Telamon, and meet his eye?' As in O. Τ. 1371, ὄμμασιν ποίοις, the adjective has an adverbial force.

464. mvp-comment-316-1 γυμνὸν .. ἄτερ] For the pleonasm, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 75, 5.

465. mvp-comment-317-1 'Which he won for a glorious garland of renown.' ὧν is an appositional genitive. Essay on L. § 10. p. 17, 6.

466. mvp-comment-318-1 ἀλλὰ δῆτ'] Cp. Phil. 1352, ἀλλ᾽ εἰκάθω δῆτα;

467. mvp-comment-319-1 μόνος μόνοις] 'In single opposition' = οἰόθεν οἷος. The word is repeated for emphasis, without weighing the exact meaning. E. on L. § 44. p. 83 foll. Cp. Shak. Cor. 1. 4. 'He is himself alone, | To answer all the city.'

469. mvp-comment-320-1 Ajax, who has withdrawn from battle out of resentment against the Atreidae, cannot stultify himself in his last act of all.

471. mvp-comment-321-1 τοιάδ᾽, ἀφ᾿ ἧς] Cp. Phil. 17, τοιάδ᾽, ἵν᾽ ἐν ψύχει, κ.τ.λ.

472. mvp-comment-322-1 The use of μή is occasioned by the notion of purpose which pervades the sentence. φύσιν γ'] 'In my real nature,' though I am a craven in their estimation who have placed me beneath Odysseus. For similar emphatic use of φύσιν, cp. O. C. 270, πῶς ἐγὼ κακὸς φύσιν;

473. mvp-comment-323-1 He has sufficiently indicated his intention of suicide, and now gives his reason for it. τοῦ μακροῦ.. βίου] The article is added as with words of number or quantity. Cp. Ο. Τ. 518, βίου τοῦ μακραίωνος, and for the sentiment, Fr. 867, ὅστις γὰρ ἐν κακοῖσιν ἱμείρει βίου, ἢ δειλός ἐστιν ἡ δυσάλγητος φρένας : Plato, Phaedo 117 Α, γέλωτα ὀφλήσειν παρ᾿ ἐμαυτῷ, γλιχόμενος τοῦ ζῆν καὶ φειδόμενος, οὐδενὸς ἔτι ἐνόντος.

474. mvp-comment-324-1 'Who in a life of evils finds no release from them.' κακοῖσιν is dative of circumstance. (E. on L. § 14. p. 20 a.) Cp. Eur. Suppl. 1042, τοῖς παρεστῶσιν κακοῖς. ἐξαλλάσσεται, sc. τῶν κακῶν.

475-476. mvp-comment-325-1 'For what pleasure is there in day following day? Can it add to or take away anything from death?' For the variation in παρ᾽ ἦμαρ ἡμέρα, cp. Ant. 596, γενεὰν γένος : Eur. Hec. 410, παρείαν .. παρηΐδι. The meaning is not here alternate days, but 'day after day,' i. e. the extension of time, 'To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow.' Cp. Shak. J. C. 3. 1, 'That we shall die, we know: 'tis but the time And drawing days out, that men stand upon.' τὸ κατθανεῖν is the fact, i.e. the certainty of death. The opposites προσθεῖσα κάν-αθεῖσα are both mentioned, although the latter only is in point. For this, cp. Ant. 39, λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἡ 'φάπτουσα; and for the disjunctive καί, Thuc. 5. 23, ἣν δέ τι δοκῇ.. προσθεῖναι καὶ ἀφελεῖν. For the meaning, cp. 'Come he slow or come he fast, It is but Death that comes at last.' Sir W. Sсотт, Lord of the Isles. Also El. 1485, 6, τί γὰρ βροτῶν ἂν σὺν κακοῖς μεμιγμένων | θνήσκων ὁ μέλλων τοῦ χρόνου κέρδος φέροι; As in Pind. Οl. 7. 110, ἂμ πάλον μέλλεν θέμεν, ἀνατιθέναι is here used in the sense of 'to retract,' in which ἀνατίθεσθαι often occurs. The absence of personal reference accounts for the active voice being preferred to the middle, as in supr. 449, ἐψήφισαν: infr. 1037, μηχανᾶν. Essay on L. § 31. p. 51 6. τί (or τι) is to be resumed with the second clause, 'What pleasure can time give, by retracting what (or anything)?' Other explanations of these difficult lines are the following :-(1) 'What joy can one day bring more than another, since it can only (ye) bring a man near to death and then reprieve him from it?' (2) 'What joy is brought by day succeeding day, since all that it can do is to add something of death or to defer it?' (3) 'What joy is there in days which alternately bring near and defer the doom of death?'

477. mvp-comment-326-1 οὐδενὸς λόγου] ‘At any valuation.'

478. mvp-comment-327-1 κεναῖσιν] 'Vain, because rendered fruitless by the certainty of death.'

479. mvp-comment-328-1 Cp. Il. 15. 511, where Ajax says, βέλτερον ἢ ἀπολέσθαι ἕνα χρόνον ἠὲ βιῶναι.

481. mvp-comment-329-1 ὑπόβλητον] 'False,' i.e. unreal and not your own. Supr. 189, εἰ δ᾽ ὑποβαλλόμενοι | κλέπτουσι μύθους, κ.τ.λ.

482. mvp-comment-330-1 ἀλλὰ τῆς σαυτοῦ φρενός] 'But one proceeding from your inmost thought.'

484. mvp-comment-331-1 γνώμης κρατήσαι] 'To overrule thy purpose.' Cp. supr. 448, γνώμης ἀπῇξαν τῆς ἐμῆς. In Phil. 972, δούς is used absolutely with dat. of the person for 'yielding to advice.' Cp. Trach. 1117, δός μοι σεαυτόν.

485. mvp-comment-332-1 This speech of Tecmessa's has a certain general resemblance to that of Andromache in Il. 6. 407 foll. τῆς ἀναγκαίας τύχης] 'Helpless misfortune.' ἀναγκαία τύχη is the crushing calamity that leaves its victim no chance of extricating himself. The phrase is touchingly expressive of Tecmessa's orphaned and captive state.

488. mvp-comment-333-1 εἴπερ τινός] The hypothetical clause εἴπερ τις is attracted, as a sort of pronoun, into the construction of the clause on which it depends. See E. on L. § 35. p. 60, and cp. ἔνιοι. So in O. C. 734, σθένουσαν.. εἴ τιν' Ἑλλάδος. For σθένοντος ἐν πλούτῳ, cp. Pind. Isthm. 3. 2, σθένει πλούτου; Eur. Εl. 939.

489. mvp-comment-334-1 που] 'I suppose.'

490. mvp-comment-335-1 μάλιστα] 'Above all.' The power of Ajax is more manifest to Tecmessa than that of the gods themselves, and she has learnt to adopt something of his bold way of speaking about them. Cp. infr. 950-3. She knows, too, that it is dangerous in his presence to acknowledge the gods as supreme over him. Cp. infr. 589, 90.

491. mvp-comment-336-1 τὸ σὸν λέχος ξυνῆλθον] Sc. σοί implied in τὸ σόν. 'Since I came to wedlock with thee.' εὐ φρονῶ τὰ σά] 'My thoughts are wholly for thy good.' As she is one with him, she feels that she has a right to speak of what concerns them both.

492-493. mvp-comment-337-1 πρός τ᾽ ἐφεστίου Διὸς | εὐνῆς τε τῆς σῆς] « By Zeus who has watched over our hearth, and by my union with thee.' Tecmessa's claim rests (1) on her having been admitted by Ajax himself to share his home; (2) on the yet closer tie which binds them together.

493. mvp-comment-338-1 'And by thy marriage bed wherein thou wast joined with me.' For τῆς σῆς, cp. Il. 18. 433; Od. 4. 333. ξυναλλάξασθαι is here 'to enter upon a new relation with.' Cp. especially Eur. Ι. Α. 1157, οὗ σοι καταλλαχθεῖσα, κ.τ.λ.

494. mvp-comment-339-1 μή μ᾿ ἀξιώσῃς] 'Have more regard for me than to let me.' βάξιν] For βάζειν, of ill-natured talk, cp. Hes. Op. 184, τοὺς δ᾽ ἄρα μέμψονται χαλεποῖς βάζοντες ἔπεσσι: (Eur.) Rhes. 718, ἑστίαν ᾿Ατρειδᾶν κακῶς | ἔβαζε.

495. mvp-comment-340-1 χειρίαν ἐφεὶς τινί] 'Letting me fall under the hand of some one.' Cp. infr. 1297, ἐφῆκεν ἐλλοῖς ἰχθύσιν διαφθοράν.

496. mvp-comment-341-1 εἰ γὰρ θάνῃς σύ] Cp. Ο. C. 1443, εἴ σου στερηθῶ. Some editors have unnecessarily changed ei to ᾖ. For ταύτῃ, in l. 497, without pronominal correlative, cp. Trach. 719, 20, κεῖνος εἰ σφαλήσεται, | ταύτῃ σὺν ὁρμῇ κἀμὲ συνθανεῖν ἅμα. The slight inexactness is here supplemented by the addition of τῇ τότε. ἀφῆς] Sc. ἡμᾶς.

499. mvp-comment-342-1 δουλίαν .. τροφήν] 'The life of slaves.' For the condition of the captive widow, cp. Od. 8. 526 foll. ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντ᾽ ἐσιδοῦσα, | ἀμφ᾿ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει· οἱ δὲ τ' ὄπισθεν | κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους, | εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι πόνον τ' ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀϊζύν· | τῆς δ᾽ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεῖ φθινύθουσι παρειαί, and for that of the orphan, Il. 22. 490, ἦμαρ δ᾽ ὀρφανικὸν παναφήλικα, κ.τ.λ.

500. mvp-comment-343-1 πρόσφθεγμα here is what is spoken not to, but at or about a person.

501. mvp-comment-344-1 λόγοις ἰάπτων] 'Hitting with sharp words.' The construction follows the analogy of βάλλειν τινὰ λίθῳ.

502. mvp-comment-345-1 μέγιστον ἴσχυσε] 'Surpassed all men in might.' So the force of the aorist may be expressed.

503. mvp-comment-346-1 οἷας λατρείας] 'What a life of servitude.' The plural indicates the various menial actions included in λατρείας. ἀνθ᾽ ὅσου ζήλου] 'Instead of being so envied as she was.' ζῆλος in the sense of an envied condition occurs several times in Demosthenes. See L. and S. s. v.

504. mvp-comment-347-1 κἀμὲ μὲν δαίμων ἐλᾷ] ‘And I indeed shall go whither destiny shall drive me.' Tecmessa means to say that her lot, however terrible, matters little, but that the honour of Ajax and his race is in question.

508. mvp-comment-348-1 κληρούχον] 'Inheritress,' i. e. possessor. The specific word is used with a generic meaning. Essay on L. §52. p. 97.

510. mvp-comment-349-1 εἰ] 'To think how.' Essay on L. § 28. p. 46.

510-511. mvp-comment-350-1 νέας.. μόνος] ‘With his young life uncared for, bereaved of you, either (1) 'he will live his life' (see L. and S. s. v. διαφέρω), or (2) ‘he will be torn in pieces' (= διαφορηθήσεται). Against (1), which is the Scholiast's and Musgrave's interpretation, it may be urged that ὑπ᾿ ὀρφανιστῶν = ' at the mercy of guardians,' is rather abrupt after διοίσεται in this sense, and that the only authority for this use of the middle voice of διαφέρω is Hippocrates, Art. 823: against (2), which is substantially Hermann's, it can only be said that strictly passive uses of οἴσομαι are rare. Hesychius and the ancient scholiast support (1). For (2) cp. Dem. contr. Steph. p. 1120, 64, ἐπειδὴ δ᾽ ἀπώλετ᾽ ἐκεῖνος, οὐχ ἥκιστα ὑπὸ τούτου καὶ τῶν τοιούτων διαφορηθείς. For νέα τροφή, cp. Ο. C. 345, 6, ἐξ ὅτου νέας | τροφῆς ἔληξε καὶ κατίσχυσεν δέμας.

512. mvp-comment-351-1 ὑπ᾿ ὀρφανιστῶν μὴ φίλων] Tecmessa bitterly remarks that the only guardians of Eurysaces' orphanhood will not be true guardians, but enemies. ὅσον κακόν, κ.τ.λ.] These words resume the suppressed antecedent of the hypothetical clause, εἰ νέας, κ.τ.λ.

516. mvp-comment-352-1 'And another doom,' etc.; i.e. they were not slain in the destruction of the city. Cp. II. 6. 428. The correction from καὶ μητέρ᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἡ το καὶ μητέρ᾽ ἄλλη, is not without MS. authority, and is every way necessary; above all as Sophocles thus avoids making Ajax the slayer of Tecmessa's parents. But Hermann's suggestion that a line may have dropped out between 515 and 516, deserves consideration. As he points out, dé rather than καί would seem to be the natural conjunction as the sentence stands.

517. mvp-comment-353-1 θανασίμους is proleptic: 'Laid them low in death and made them inhabitants of the unseen world.'

518-519. mvp-comment-354-1 τίς . . πλοῦτος] « What home or what wealth could be mine instead of you?'

518. mvp-comment-355-1 can e'er be mine to compensate for thee? What fortune?'

519. mvp-comment-356-1 ἐν σοὶ πᾶσ᾽ ἔγωγε σώζομαι] 'My hopes all rest on thee.' For this use of wâs, see Essay on L. § 23. p. 38; and cp. supr. 275.

520. mvp-comment-357-1 Tecmessa, from l. 505 onwards, has tried to put herself out of sight, and to move Ajax by appealing to other interests. But in concluding she returns to the direct personal appeal with which she began. And when this fails to rouse him, she even ventures a word of affectionate reproach.

525-526. mvp-comment-358-1 For av repeated, see Essay on L. § 27. p. 46 e.

527-528. mvp-comment-359-1 The alliteration with T helps to express harshness here. Ajax will not own to feeling pity for Tecmessa, but catches at the word αἰνοίης.

528. mvp-comment-360-1 ἐὰν.. τολμᾷ] Ajax is not thinking of the fears which Tecmessa presently expresses. He simply means, 'I am ready enough to praise her if instead of weak complaints she will bring herself to do what I command.'

531. mvp-comment-361-1 'Oh, it was in my terror-I conveyed him out of the way.' Tecmessa is divided between obedience and fear, and interposes an excuse. The particles, καὶ μὴν.. γε, call attention to something which tends to limit or delay compliance. 'Why, so I can, Sir, but-' (Othello, 3. 4). Cp. Ο. Τ. 749, καὶ μὴν ὀκνῶ μέν: infr. 539.

532. mvp-comment-362-1 By using the general word κακοῖσιν, Ajax avoids specifying the evil, which is too manifest. τί μοι λέγεις;] 'What mean you, pray?' Cp. O. T. 954, τί μοι λέγει; μοι here expresses impatience.

533. mvp-comment-363-1 Tecmessa cannot withhold the truth from Ajax. Cp. supr. 315.

534. mvp-comment-364-1 'That truly would have been in character with my destiny.' The descriptive genitive (= πρὸς δαίμονος τουμοῦ) takes the place of the more usual dative after the participle. Cp. Plat. Polit. 271 Ε, τῆς τοιαύτης .. κατακοσμήσεως ἑπόμενα.

535. mvp-comment-365-1 'Well, my watchfulness did that service at any rate.' Join τοῦτο with ἀρκέσαι, ἱ.ε. τὸ μὴ θανεῖν σφε.

536. mvp-comment-366-1 ἐπῄνεσ'] For this use of the aorist, see Essay on L. § 32, 6. p. 55. Ajax still speaks as a master to a slave, but he feels to the full extent the service rendered in saving the life of his son.

537. mvp-comment-367-1 Tecmessa remains irresolute, till, in 540, Ajax' anger begins to rise.

540. mvp-comment-368-1 παρουσίαν ἔχειν = παρεῖναι. So in Ant. 237, ἔχεις ἀθυμίαν = ἀθυμεῖς, and supr. 139, ὅκνον ἔχω = ὀκνῶ.

541. mvp-comment-369-1 προσπόλων] For this partitive genitive, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 15.

542. mvp-comment-370-1 ὅσπερ κυρεῖς] These words indicate that the child cannot yet go alone.

543. mvp-comment-371-1 ἕρποντι] Sc. τῷ προσπόλῳ, i.e. 'Does he come when you speak?' Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 β. ἢ λελειμμένῳ λόγων] 'Or do your words not reach to him?'

545. mvp-comment-372-1 αἶρε δεῦρο] «Lift him hither.' Said to the attendant who brings in the child, and is to hand him to Ajax over the carcases of the sheep, etc. ταρβήσει γὰρ οὔ] Essay on L. § 41. p. 78 γ.

546. mvp-comment-373-1 For the late position of που, see Essay on L. § 26. p. 44. It is occasioned by the energy with which the emphatic words ταρβήσει.. οὗ are brought into prominence. Dindorf would read τοῦτόν γε, supposing the whole line to be an interpolation. But this is gratuitous, and the excision of the line leaves a sensible gap in the sense.

547. mvp-comment-374-1 δικαίως] 'Truly;' i. e. 'in a manner rightly answering to the description.' Cp. Ο. Τ. 853, φανεί δικαίως ὀρθών: Trach. 1158, φανεῖς ὁποῖος ὢν ἀνὴρ ἐμὸς καλεῖ. In this speech, as well as supr. 487 foll., there is a resemblance to the sixth Iliad (see esp. ll. 476-481).

548. mvp-comment-375-1 ἀλλά opposes what follows (though not in strict logic) to the preceding negative. ὠμοῖς .. ἐν νόμοις πατρὸς .. πωλοδαμνεῖν] Το train him, like a young colt, in his father's rugged ways.' For ὠμοῖς, cp. supr. 205, ὠμοκρατής, and note. And for νόμοις, Ant. 191, τοιοῖσδ᾽ ἐγὼ νόμοισι τήνδ' αὔξω πόλιν. Essay on L. § 47. p. 88.

549. mvp-comment-376-1 κἀξομοιοῦσθαι φύσιν] ‘And that he should have his nature framed by mine.' For the change of subject, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 65 d.

552. mvp-comment-377-1 καὶ νῦν] · Even now, before your lot in life has been determined for good or evil.'

553. mvp-comment-378-1 'That you have no perception of this misery.'

554. mvp-comment-379-1 This line, although quite possibly Sophoclean, has the appearance of a marginal quotation rather than of an integral portion of the text of this passage. It is probably from some lost play, and should be placed amongst the fragments of Greek tragic poetry.

556-557. mvp-comment-380-1 δεῖ σ᾽ ὅπως .. δείξεις] «You must find some way of showing.' The same construction recurs in Phil. 55, τὴν Φιλοκτήτου σε δεῖ | ψυχὴν ὅπως λόγοισιν ἐκκλέψεις λέγων.

557. mvp-comment-381-1 ἐν ἐχθροῖς] For the use of ἐν, cp supr. 366, and note.

558. mvp-comment-382-1 κούφοις πνεύμασιν βόσκου] 'Be nourished by gentle breezes,' like a sapling in a sheltered spot. Plants were supposed to feed upon the air. Dio Chrys. Orat. 12, 30 (quoted by Lobeck), τρεφόμενοι τῇ διηνεκεῖ τοῦ πνεύματος ἐπιρροῇ, ἀέρα ὑγρὸν ἕλκοντες, ὥστε νήπιοι παῖδες. Cp. Trach. 144 foll. τὸ γὰρ νέαζον ἐν τοιοῖσδε βόσκεται | χώροισιν, κ.τ.λ.

559. mvp-comment-383-1 χαρμονήν is accus. in apposition. Essay on L. § 17. p. 25 d.

562. mvp-comment-384-1 τοῖον, κ.τ.λ.] Essay on L. § 22. p. 36. 3. The absence of the demonstrative ending ( τοιόνδε or τοιοῦτον) may arise from the fact that Teucer is absent, and that Ajax is speaking of the future.

562. mvp-comment-384-2 ἀμφί σοι] Τo protect thee.' ἀμφί as in ἀμφιβαίνειν, etc.

563. mvp-comment-385-1 τροφῆς ἄοκνον] 'Unfaltering in care for thee.' τροφῆς is gen. of respect. Essay on L. § 9. p. 13, 3. ἔμπα κεἰ] ἔμπα does not occur elsewhere in Attic Greek. Cp. Pind. N. 4. 58, ἔμπα, καί περ ἔχει, κ.τ.λ.

564. mvp-comment-386-1 τηλωπός] 'Far away.' The latter part of the compound is subordinated. οἰχνεῖ] 'He is wandering.' οἰχνέω, as a derivative of οἴχομαι, seems to have a frequentative force. θήραν ἔχων] · Engaged in pursuit.' A periphrasis like ἔχομεν στοναχάς, supr. 203.

565. mvp-comment-387-1 Confident in the return of Teucer, Ajax bids his comrades give this charge to him. They recall the fact afterwards, l. 990. He also urges them to do their part, l. 566.

566. mvp-comment-388-1 κοινήν] i.e. 'As well as to him.'

569. mvp-comment-389-1 Ἐριβοíą λέγω] Sc ὅπως δείξει. This has been unnecessarily altered to Ἐριβοίαν λέγω. Ajax dwells affectionately on his mother's name. Eurysaces is to honour her, and not Hesione. Cp. Pind. Isthm. 5 (6). 65, παῖδα θρασὺν ἐξ Εριβοίας.

571. mvp-comment-390-1 μέχρις οὐ, or μέχρι οὗ, occurs in Hdt. 1. 180; 2. 19, where the phrase has the force of a single word. This may suggest a possible excuse for the appearance of a divided anapaest, which has caused the rejection of the line in some edd. It may possibly have been interpolated or quoted ( cp. supr. 554) to supplement the vague use of εἰσαεί. But the words are impressive, and the alleged flaw may be remedied by reading ἕως or ἔστ᾽ ἄν for μέχρις οὗ.

572. mvp-comment-391-1 ἀγωνάρχαι] 'Presidents of contest,' such as the Atreidae had been.

573. mvp-comment-392-1 θήσουσ'] Sc. ὡς ἆθλα. The future follows ὅπως, supr. 567. ὁ λυμεὼν ἐμός] On this position of the possessive pronoun, see Essay on L. § 23. p. 37.

574. mvp-comment-393-1 αὐτό] The pronoun anticipates σάκος, which, as the most important piece of armour, is contained in τεύχη. For similar uses of αὐτός, cp. Plat. Soph. 256 D, ὁμολογήσαντες αὐτὰ εἶναι πέντε: 263 Ε, καὶ μὴν ἐν λόγοις αὐτὸ ἴσμεν ὅν. ἐπώνυμον] · Whence thou art named.'

575-576. mvp-comment-394-1 The epithet shows that the πόρπαξ was not of metal, but of embroidered leather. Cp. Eur. Tro. 1196, ὡς ἡδὺς ἐν πόρπακι σὸς κεῖται τύπος.

577. mvp-comment-395-1 κοινά may be either (1) adverbial. as in Ant. 546, μή μοι θάνῃς σὺ κοινά, or (2) predicative, agreeing with τεύχη, probably the latter (2).

579. mvp-comment-396-1 ἐπισκήνους] 'Before the tent,' = ἐπὶ σκηναῖς, supr. 3, and so 'in public.'

580. mvp-comment-397-1 φιλοίκτιστον] i.e. φιλοῦν τὸ οἰκτίζεσθαι, in the sense of inviting commiseration. 'A woman is a very tearful creature.'

581. mvp-comment-398-1 'To whine faint charms over a wound that cries out for the knife.' The desiderative, = τομὴν αἰτοῦντι, here implies the passive meaning of the verbal noun. For the use of charms in assisting surgery, cp. Od. 19. 456-8, ὠτειλὴν δ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἀντιθέσιο, | δῆσαν ἐπισταμένως· ἐπαοιδῇ δ᾽ αἷμα κελαινὸν | ἔσχεθον· αἶψα δ' ἵκοντο φίλου πρὸς δώματα πατρός.

583. mvp-comment-399-1 τήνδε τὴν προθυμίαν] ‘This earnest haste,' viz. the impatience of Ajax to be alone. Cp. supr. πύκαζε θάσσον.

586. mvp-comment-400-1 μὴ κρίνε] 'Interrogate not.' Sc. με. Cp. Ant. 399 and note. σωφρονεῖν καλόν) 'Discretion is the better part.' One of the gruff maxims ( βαῖ, ἀεὶ δ᾽ ὑμνούμενα, supr. 292) with which Ajax checks the importunity of Tecmessa's affection. Cp. Il. 6. 490, ἀλλ᾽ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σ᾽ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε.

587. mvp-comment-401-1 καί σε] The conjunction here has a strong pleading force. 'Nay, I entreat thee,' etc. For a somewhat similar transition with καί, cp. supr. 11, καί σ᾽ οὐδὲν εἴσω τῆσδε, κ.τ.λ.

588. mvp-comment-402-1 προδοὺς .. γένῃ] 'Be guilty of forsaking us.' Phil. 773, μὴ σαυτόν θ' ἅμα | κἄμ', ὄντα σαυτοῦ πρόστροπον, κτείνας γένῃ.

589. mvp-comment-403-1 ἄγαν γε λυπεῖς] 'You vex me exceedingly.' These words in Ajax, as in Creon, Ant. 573, show that his feelings are touched more deeply than he chooses to avow. ἐγὼ θεοῖς .. ἔτι] 'I am no longer bound to serve the gods in aught.' If the gods have cast Ajax off, then he 'owes them no subscription.' The position of the words ἐγὼ θεοῖς οὐδέν is very emphatic. Essay on L. § 41. p. 78. ἀρκεῖν, in the sense of praestare, governs an accusative here, as supr. 439,535.

593. mvp-comment-404-1 ξυνέρξετε] 'Shut us in.' This is said to the attendants ( supr. 544). They close the doors on Ajax, who is drawn in by the reversed ἐκκύκλημα. Tecmessa and Eurysaces, perhaps, remain upon the stage.

595. mvp-comment-405-1 ἄρτι] 'At this moment, of all others. Now all of a sudden.'

596. mvp-comment-406-1 While Ajax within the tent is silently whetting his sword ( infr. 820), the chorus express their longing for Salamis, his home and theirs, and their sorrow for the condition of their lord. 'What grief the news will cause to Telamon and Eriboea!' In this ode, the first stasimon, iambic, glyconic, and trochaic rhythms are combined...

596. mvp-comment-406-2 ὦ κλεινά] By an anachronism like that noticed in O. C. 58, ἔρεισμ' ᾿Αθηνῶν, the glory of Salamis is anticipated. Cp. also infr. 861, and note. In Hdt. 7. 143, Themistocles argues from the words ὦ θείη Σάλαμις, in the Pythian response, that the Athenians were to be victorious there.

596-597. mvp-comment-407-1 σὺ . . ναίεις] «Thou, I know, remainest.' που] The indefinite word is pathetically used of what they imagine but may not see. ἁλίπλακτος] There is little doubt of the propriety of this reading. Cp. Aesch. Pers. 307, θαλασσόπληκτον νῆσον Αίαντος. Yet ἁλίπλαγκτος might possibly mean 'wandered round by the billow.'

599. mvp-comment-408-1 The inhabitants of Salamis, which lay off Piraeus and in the 'cheer and comfort' of Athenian eyes, might well feel as if they were observed of all observers, and would have a still deeper feeling of pride and patriotism when, from 480 B.C. onwards, their native place became the eye of the world. περίφαντος may then be taken to imply the renown as well as the conspicuous position of the island.

600. mvp-comment-409-1 παλαιὸς ἀφ᾽ οὐ χρόνος] « Since many a long day.' This phrase takes the place of an adverb with εὐνῶμαι, or whatever is the principal verb.

601. mvp-comment-410-1 †Ἰδαίᾳ μίμνων λειμώνια †ποίᾳ] The manifest corruption in these words seems to be incurable. Neither Hermann's Ἰδαῖα μίμνω λειμώνι᾽ ἄποινα ('Ι wait for my reward in Trojan meadows'), nor Bergk's Ἰδῷδι μίμνω χειμῶνι πόᾳ τε ('I abide winter and summer in the Trojan land'), can be admitted as probable. Mr. Paley, adopting λειμώνι᾽ ἔπαυλα from Seyffert, changes εὐνύμαι to ἐνναίων. Without dogmatizing on a point of great uncertainty, I would propose Ἰδαῖα μίμνων λειμώνι᾿ *ὕπαιθρα, *μηνῶν (Herm.) ἀνάριθμος αἰὲν *εὐνῶμαι (Bergk), 'Abiding out-door hardships in moist Trojan fields, I make my bed there, months without number.' ποίᾳ may be due to the association of λειμώνια, and a further association may have converted μηνῶν into μήλων. The metre a' 4. 5 is then the same as in ß' 1, 2. A similar feeling is more fully expressed infr. 1185-1210. Cp. especially ll. 1206-10, κεῖμαι δ' ἀμέριμνος οὕτως, | ἀεὶ πυκιναῖς δρόσοις | τεγγόμενος κόμας, | λυγρᾶς μνήματα Τροίας. In both places the chorus complain at once of irksome exposure and of a life of inaction. Cp. also Aesch. Agamemnon, ll. 558 foll., τὰ δ' αὐτε χέρσῳ καὶ προσῆν πλέον στύγος εὐναὶ γὰρ ἦσαν δαΐων πρὸς τείχεσιν. | ἐξ οὐρανοῦ δὲ κἀπὸ γῆς λειμώνιαι | δρόσοι κατεψέκαζον, ἔμπεδον σίνος | ἐσθημάτων, τιθέντες ἔνθηρον τρίχα. The Trojan meadows are contrasted with the rocky ground of Salamis. Cp. also Fr. 477, where Menelaus says contemptuously to Agamemnon, who proposes to remain at Troy, σὺ δ᾽ αὖθι μίμνων που κατ᾿ Ἰδαίαν χθόνα | ποίμνας Ὀλύμπου συναγαγὼν θυηπόλει.

604. mvp-comment-411-1 †μηλῶν. Τεὐνόμᾳ] 'I make my bed months without number.' For μηνῶν ἀνήριθμος, cp. El. 232, ἀνάριθμος ὧδε θρήνων. Hdt. 9. 3, ἡ δὲ βασιλέος αἵρεσις ἐς τὴν ὑστεραίην. ἐπιστρατηΐην δεκάμηνος ἐγένετο. The Schol. explains εὐνόμᾳ by εὐκινήτῳ ('fleeting time'), and the Triclinian MSS. have εὐνώμᾳ. For εὐνᾶσθαι, of keeping watch, cp. O. C. 1568 foll., ἀνικάτου | θηρός, ὃν ἐν πύλαισι | φασὶ πολυξέστοις | εὐνᾶσθαι.

605. mvp-comment-412-1 *πόνῳ for χρόνῳ (Martin) is a probable conjecture, as χρόνῳ is weak after παλαιὸς ἀφ᾽ οὗ χρόνος, and xp may have come from the τρ of τρυχόμενος.

606. mvp-comment-413-1 κακὰν ἐλπίδ᾽ ἔχων] ἐλπίς is not here used in the indifferent sense of an expectation; but the phrase is an oxymoron; 'a hope that is a kind of despair.'

607-608. mvp-comment-414-1 'Some day yet to win my way to Hades, the abhorred and dark.' ἀΐδηλον] · Unillumined' rather than 'destroying.' Essay on L. §§ 53. pp. 98.9.

609-611. mvp-comment-415-1 'And I have Ajax on my hands, defying treatment, fixed in the tent, where Heaven-sent madness dwells with him.'

610. mvp-comment-416-1 ἔφεδρος] 'Fixed at my side.' Ajax had remained sitting throughout the previous scene. He had rejected the solicitations of his friends, and apparently returned to his sullen inaction within the tent. Instead of being their hope and pride, he was now an irremovable burden. Cp. supr. 194 foll., ἀλλ᾽ ἄνα ἐξ ἑδράνων, κ.τ.λ. The interpretation of the ancient Scholiast, 'Ready to assail me when other evils are subdued' (an application of the technical use of ἔφεδρος with reference to contests), is untenable. μανίᾳ includes the evidence of Ajax's madness, which is still within the tent. Supr. 337, 8.

613. mvp-comment-417-1 φρενός οἰοβώτας] 'Feeding his will apart;' i. e. either (1) referring to the wilful solitary raid described by Tecmessa, supr. 285 foll.: or (2), as Prof. Jebb explains it, 'One who broods sullenly apart, as did Ajax before the outbreak of his frenzy.' Not 'feeding on his own thoughts' (L. and S.), but 'pasturing his heart on lonely paths.'

615. mvp-comment-418-1 (1) 'He has proved a mighty sorrow to his friends.' Cp. Trach. 1075, θήλυς εὕρημαι τάλας: Aesch. Pers. 743, νῦν κακῶν ἔοικε πηγὴ πᾶσιν εὑρῆσθαι φίλοις. But πένθος is not elsewhere used of a person, and it is possible that εὕρηται may have a middle signification: (2) 'He has procured a mighty sorrow for his friends.' See Veitch, Gr. Irr. V. s. v. εὑρίσκω.

617. mvp-comment-419-1 μεγίστας ἀρετᾶς] 'Evincing' (or 'proceeding from') 'supreme valour.'

620-621. mvp-comment-420-1 'Are fallen to the ground, coldly neglected by the cold, infatuate kings.' παρά is used as in παρὰ δικάσταις, etc.; L. and S. s. v. παρά, Β. ΙΙ. 3. For πίπτειν, “To come to nought,' cp. Hdt. 7. 18, οἷα ἄνθρωπος ἰδὼν ἤδη πολλά τε καὶ μεγάλα πεσόντα πρήγματα ὑπὸ ἡσσόνων.

621. mvp-comment-421-1 For the reproachful tone in μελέοις, cp. infr. 1156, ἄνολβον: Hdt. 7. 140, ὦ μέλεοι, τί καθῆσθε, κ.τ.λ.

622-623. mvp-comment-422-1 παλαιᾷ .. γήρᾳ] 'His mother sunk in years and overtaken by hoary eld.' The opposition with μέν and δέ is merely rhetorical. Not ἔντροφος, but some simpler word, such as οὖσα, is to be supplied with γήρᾳ, which is dative of circumstance. Essay on L. § 11. p. 18 c. λευκὰ δὲ γήρᾳ is a plausible but needless correction.

625-626. mvp-comment-423-1 νοσοῦντα | φρενομόρως] «Fatally afflicted in his mind.' Although the madness of Ajax is relieved, its ZZZZconsequences remain, and he is to be slain not by his madness, but for it.

625-626. mvp-comment-423-2 effects are permanent, and his despair is no less a mental affliction than his madness was.

626. mvp-comment-424-1 αἴλινον αἴλινον] This word is governed by a verb, for which ἥσει is substituted as the sentence proceeds.

627. mvp-comment-425-1 οὐδέ] 'But not.' The 'instant burst of clamour' Eriboea would make is contrasted with the sustained melodious wailing of the nightingale, to which such continuous mourning as that of Electra is fitly compared,-El. 107.

628. mvp-comment-426-1 ὄρνιθος ἀηδοῦς] Cp. Ant. 423, 4, πικρᾶς | ὄρνιθος ὀξὺν φθόγγον.

631-634. mvp-comment-427-1 χερόπληκτοι .. δοῦποι] 'Noise of smiting hands.' πλήσσειν δοῦπον, «Το make a noise in smiting' would be a legitimate cognate accusative. Hence the passive form. Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

633. mvp-comment-428-1 ἐν.. πεσοῦνται] i. e. ἐμπεσοῦνται.

634. mvp-comment-429-1 πολιᾶς *ἄμυγμα χαίτας] Sc. ἐγγενήσεται, or some general notion resumed from the preceding verb.

635. mvp-comment-430-1 For ῞Αιδα κεύθων, cp. Il. 23. 244, εἰσόκεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν ῎Αϊδι κεύθωμαι. Elmsley needlessly corrected γὰρ Ἅιδᾳ to παρ' Ἅιδα. ὁ νοσῶν μάταν] (1) - 'One hopelessly afflicted.' μάταν (as in O. C. 1567, πολλῶν γὰρ ἂν καὶ μάταν | πημάτων ἱκνουμένων, | πάλιν σε δαίμων δίκαιος αὔξοι) means 'with no good end.' Others take μάταν here to mean, (2) ‘idly,' i. e. 'with idle or vain imaginations;' comparing Ar. Pax 95, τί πέτει; τί μάτην οὐχ ὑγιαίνεις; Either is possible.

637-638. mvp-comment-431-1 ὃς .. ᾿Αχαιών] 'Who, by the family from which he came, was, and proved to be, the noblest of the toilworn Achaeans.' ἐκ is at once 'because of' and 'in accordance with.' ἥκων is used in a double sense: 'Come forth from his father's home,' and 'Come forth,' i. e. 'proved, as bravest.' Ср. О. Т. 1519, ἔχθιστος ἥκω. ἄριστος was found by Triclinius in an 'old' MS., but may be merely due, as Blaydes remarks, to the words of the Scholiast, ἄριστα ἥκων· λείπει γὰρ τὸ ἄριστος. Another possible reading is ἄριστα. πολυπόνων] Infr. 1186 foll.

639-640. mvp-comment-432-1 'No longer remains in his habitual frame of mind, but abides outside of it,' i.e. he is no longer in his mind, but out of his mind. For this somewhat strained oxymoron, cp. Eur. Hipp. 102, πρόσωθεν αὐτὴν ἁγνὸς ὡν ἀσπάζομαι: Aesch. Pers. 756, ἔνδον αἰχμάζειν : also Ant. 773, ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ῇ βροτῶν στίβος, where the privative ἔρημος is equivalent to a negative.

641. mvp-comment-433-1 As his mother will utter the shrill cry of maternal agony, so his father will mourn over the dishonour of the race.

644-645. mvp-comment-434-1 'A calamity such as no life of any son of Aeacus hath ever known, but only he.' Bergk's conj., δίων Αἰακιδᾶν, has been widely received. But αἰών involves only an ordinary use of abstract for concrete, and agrees better with the figurative word ἔθρεψεν.

Sophocles Ajax 646

Thomas Francklin (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Alas ! too late did Teucer send me here,
645

Or I am come too slowly.

Chorus

Current edition Experimental

ἅπανθ᾽ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος κἀναρήθμητος και αρίθμητος χρόνος
645

φύει τ᾽ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·

ὑμεῖς δ᾽ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχ᾽ ἄν μ᾽ ἴσως

πύθοισθε, κεἰ wel νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωσμένον.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

What change will never-terminable Time
645

Not heave to light, what hide not from the day?
645

What chance shall win men’s marvel? Mightiest oaths

Der Chor.

Chorus
STRO.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Alas ! too late did Teucer send me here, 645 Or I am come too slowly.

Chorus

Current edition Experimental

ἅπανθ᾽ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος κἀναρήθμητος και αρίθμητος χρόνος 645 φύει τ᾽ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·

ὑμεῖς δ᾽ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχ᾽ ἄν μ᾽ ἴσως πύθοισθε, κεἰ wel νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωσμένον.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

What change will never-terminable Time 645 Not heave to light, what hide not from the day? 645 What chance shall win men’s marvel? Mightiest oaths

Der Chor.

Chorus STRO.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Alas ! too late did Teucer send me here,
645

Or I am come too slowly.

ἅπανθ᾽ ὁ μακρὸς κἀναρίθμητος κἀναρήθμητος και αρίθμητος χρόνος
645

φύει τ᾽ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται·

ὑμεῖς δ᾽ ἃ φράζω δρᾶτε, καὶ τάχ᾽ ἄν μ᾽ ἴσως

πύθοισθε, κεἰ wel νῦν δυστυχῶ, σεσωσμένον.

What change will never-terminable Time
645

Not heave to light, what hide not from the day?
645

What chance shall win men’s marvel? Mightiest oaths

Chorus
STRO.