Sophocles Ajax 719-878

ed. Francis Storr

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Ajax. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (3)
Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Aiax. Lobeck Christian, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1866.) — 865-936 focus
Αἴας First1KGreek (Sophocles. Sophoclis Fabulae. Pearson, Alfred Chilton, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.) — 719-878 focus
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 719 focus
ἄνδρες φίλοι, τὸ πρῶτον τοπρῶτον ἀγγεῖλαι θέλω,
Τεύκρος πάρεστιν ἄρτι Μυσίων ἀπὸ
κρημνῶν· μέσον δὲ προσμολὼν προσμολῶν προσμολὼν στρατήγιον
720
κυδάζεται τοῖς πᾶσιν ᾿Αργείοις ὁμοῦ.
στείχοντα γὰρ πρόσωθεν αὐτὸν ἐν κύκλῳ
μαθόντες ἀμφέστησαν, εἶτ᾿ ὀνείδεσιν
ἤρασσον ἔνθεν κἄνθεν οὔτις ἔσθ᾽ ὃς οὔ,
τὸν om. add. τοῦ μανέντος κἀπιβουλευτοῦ στρατοῦ
725
τοσοῦτον οἶδα καὶ παρὼν ἐτύγχανον.
ἐκ γὰρ συνέδρου καὶ τυραννικοῦ κύκλου
Κάλχας μεταστὰς οἷος ᾿Ατρειδῶν δίχα,
750
εἰς χεῖρα Τεύκρου δεξιὰν φιλοφρόνως
θεὶς εἶπε κἀπέσκηψε κάπεσκηψεν παντοίᾳ τέχνῃ
εἶρξαι κατ' ἦμαρ τοὐμφανὲς τὸ νῦν τόδε
Αἴανθ᾽ ὑπὸ σκηναῖσι μηδ᾽ ἀφέντ᾽ ἐᾶν,
εἰ ζῶντ᾽ ἐκεῖνον εἰσιδεῖν θέλοι ποτέ.
755
ἐλᾷ γὰρ αὐτὸν τῇδε θἠμέρᾳ τῆδέ θ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ μόνῃ
δίας᾿ Αθάνας μῆνις, ὡς ἔφη λέγων.
τὰ γὰρ περισσὰ κἀνόνητα σώματα
πίπτειν βαρείαις πρὸς θεῶν δυσπραξίαις
ὦ δαΐα Τέκμησσα, δύσμορον γένος,
ὅρα ὅραι ὅρα μολοῦσα τόνδ᾽ τον. τόνδ' ὁποῖ᾽ ἔπη θροεῖ.
785
ὁ μὲν σφαγεὺς ἕστηκεν ᾗ τομώτατος
815
γένοιτ᾿ ἄν, εἴ τῳ καὶ λογίζεσθαι σχολή,
δῶρον μὲν ἀνδρὸς Ἕκτορος ξένων ξέναν ξένων ἐμοὶ
μάλιστα μισηθέντος ἐχθίστου θ᾽ ὁρᾶν·
πέπηγε δ᾽ ἐν γῇ πολεμίᾳ τῇ Τρωάδι,
σιδηροβρῶτι σιδηροβρώτηι σιδηροβρῶτι θηγάνῃ νεηκονής·
820
ἔπηξα δ᾽ αὐτὸν εὐ περιστείλας ἐγώ,
εὐνούστατον τῷδ᾽ ἀνδρὶ διὰ τάχους θανεῖν.
οὕτω μὲν εὐσκευοῦμεν· ἐκ δὲ τῶνδέ μοι
πόνος πόνῳ πόνον φέρει.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 815 focus
Fall frustrate, and the steely-tempered will.
815
Ay, and even mine, that stood so diamond-keen
Like iron lately dipped, droops now dis-edged
And weakened by this woman, whom to leave
A widow with her orphan to my foes,
Dulls me with pity. I will go to the baths
And meadows near the cliff, and purging there
My dark pollution, I will screen my soul
820
From reach of Pallas’ grievous wrath. I will find
Same place untrodden, and digging of the soil
Where none shall see, will bury this my sword,
Weapon of hate! for Death and Night to hold
Evermore underground. For, since my hand
Had this from Hector mine arch-enemy,
No kindness have I known from Argive men.
So true that saying of the bygone world,
‘A foe’s gift is no gift, and brings no good.’
845
Well, we will learn of Time. Henceforth I’ll bow
To heavenly ordinance and give homage due
To Atreus’ sons. Who rules, must be obeyed.
Since nought so fierce and terrible but yields
Place to Authority. Wild Winter’s snows
Make way for bounteous Summer’s flowery tread,
850
And Night’s sad orb retires for lightsome Day
850
With his white steeds to illumine the glad sky.
The furious storm-blast leaves the groaning sea
Gently to rest. Yea, the all-subduer Sleep
Frees whom he binds, nor holds enchained for aye.
And shall not men be taught the temperate will?
Yea, for I now know surely that my foe
855
Must be so hated, as being like enough
To prove a friend hereafter, and my friend
So far shall have mine aid, as one whose love
Will not continue ever. Men have found
But treacherous harbour in companionship.
Our ending, then, is peaceful. Thou, my girl,
Go in and pray the Gods my heart’s desire
860
Be all fulfilled. My comrades, join her here,
Honouring my wishes; and if Teucer come,
Bid him toward us be mindful, kind toward you.
I must go—whither I must go. Do ye
But keep my word, and ye may learn, though now
Be my dark hour, that all with me is well.
865
Friends, my first news is Teucer’s presence here,
Fresh from the Mysian heights; who, as he came
Right toward the generals’ quarter, was assailed
With outcry from the Argives in a throng:
For when they knew his motion from afar
720
They swarmed around him, and with shouts of blame
720
From each side one and all assaulted him
As brother to the man who had gone mad
And plotted ’gainst the host,—threatening aloud,
Spite of his strength, he should be stoned, and die.
—So far strife ran, that swords unscabbarded
Crossed blades, till as it mounted to the height
Age interposed with counsel, and it fell.
But where is Aias to receive my word?
Tidings are best told to the rightful ear.
725
I can tell only what I heard and saw.
Whilst all the chieftains and the Atridae twain
Were seated in a ring, Calchas alone
Rose up and left them, and in Teucer’s palm
Laid his right hand full friendly; then out-spake
With strict injunction by all means i’ the world
To keep beneath yon covert this one day
Your hero, and not suffer him to rove,
750
If he would see him any more alive.
750
For through this present light—and ne’er again—-
750
Holy Athena, so he said, will drive him
Before her anger. Such calamitous woe
Strikes down the unprofitable growth that mounts
Beyond his measure and provokes the sky.
‘Thus ever,’ said the prophet, ‘must he fall
Who in man’s mould hath thoughts beyond a man.
And Aias, ere he left his father’s door,
Made foolish answer to his prudent sire.
‘My son,’ said Telamon, ‘choose victory
Always, but victory with an aid from Heaven.’
How loftily, how madly, he replied!
‘Father, with heavenly help men nothing worth
May win success. But I am confident
Without the Gods to pluck this glory down.’
755
So huge the boast he vaunted! And again
755
When holy Pallas urged him with her voice
755
To hurl his deadly spear against the foe,
He turned on her with speech of awful sound:
‘Goddess, by other Greeks take thou thy stand;
Where I keep rank, the battle ne’er shall break.’
Such words of pride beyond the mortal scope
Have won him Pallas’ wrath, unlovely meed.
But yet, perchance, so be it he live to-day,
We, with Heaven’s succour, may restore his peace.’—
Thus far the prophet, when immediately
Teucer dispatched me, ere the assembly rose,
Bearing to thee this missive to be kept
With all thy care. But if my speed be lost,
And Calchas’ word have power, the man is dead.
O trouble-tost Tecmessa, born to woe,
Come forth and see what messenger is here!
This news bites near the bone, a death to joy.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 719 focus
Ihr Männer, erst die frohe Kunde meld' ich euch:
So eben langte Teukros an von Mysia's
685
Felshöhen. Als er mitten hin zum Lager kam,
Verhöhnten alle Krieger ihn aus Einem Mund.
Denn als sie fern ihn kommen sah'n, umstanden ihn
Die Kecken rings in Kreisen, überhäuften ihn
Von allen Seiten allzumal mit Schmähungen,
690
Den Bruder ihn des Tollen, der dem Freundesheer
Nachstelle, scheltend; Nichts verhind're, riefen sie,
Daß er zerschellt von Steinen sterb' in grausem Tod,
So kam es dahin endlich, daß in ihrer Hand
Die nackten Schwerter blizend aus der Scheide floh'n.
695
Doch ward der Hader, angelangt am Aeußersten,
Besänftigt durch der Greise mild versöhnend Wort.
Wo treff' ich Ajas aber, ihm das kundzuthun?
Denn Alles muß den Herren doch gemeldet sein.
So viel vernahm ich, und befand mich selber dort.
Vom Kreis der Fürsten, der vereint im Rathe saß,
Ging Kalchas seitwärts und von Atreus' Söhnen fern;
715
Er fügte freundlich seine Hand in Teukros' Hand,
Und mahnte dringend, daß er noch an diesem Tag,
Der heute leuchtet, im Gezelt mit aller List
Zurück den Ajas halte, daß er nicht heraus
Ihn lasse, woll' er fürder ihn noch lebend schaun.
720
Denn heut, an diesem Tage nur verfolgt den Mann
Der Zorn der hohen Pallas, wie der Seher spricht.
Denn ungeschlachte Leiber, übermüthige,
Stürzt eine Gottheit schwer hinab in Mißgeschick,
(So sprach der Weise,) wenn ein Mensch, in menschlicher
725
Natur erschaffen, höher als ein Mensch sich dünkt.
Doch er bewies sich aus der Heimat ziehend schon
Als unverständig bei des Vaters weisem Wort.
Denn dieser rief ihm warnend zu: Sohn, strebe mir
Im Kampfe Sieger, aber stets mit Gott, zu sein!
730
Und er versezte prahlerisch voll Unverstand:
Mit Göttern, Vater, mag sogar der Nichtige
Den Sieg erringen, aber ich vertraue fest:
Erstreiten werd' ich diesen Ruhm auch ohne sie.
So prahlt er übermüthig. Dann ein andermal,
735
Als ihn die hohe Pallas einst ermunterte,
Die blut'ge Hand zu wenden auf des Feindes Haupt,
Erwidert er das unerhörte kühne Wort:
Den Andern, Herrin, bleibe nah' in Argos' Heer;
Niemals, wo wir steh'n, bricht hindurch der Sturm der Schlacht.
740
Durch solche Reden weckt' er sich den schweren Zorn
Der Göttin, weil er Höh'res sann als Menschen ziemt.
Doch, bleibt er lebend diesen Tag, dann möchten wir
Vielleicht mit Götterhülfe noch ihm Netter sein.
So sprach der Seher, und sogleich vom Rath hinweg
745
Schickt Teukros mich mit dieser Weisung her zu dir,
Sein wohl zu wahren. Aber wenn der Mann entwich, 2
Dann ist's um ihn geschehen, spricht der Seher wahr.
Tekmessa, Kind des Schmerzens, Unglückselige,
O komm und sich den Boten, was uns dieser sagt!
750
Das schneidet tief in's Leben, daß die Freude flieht.
Tekmessa. Die Vorigen.
Da steht der Mordstahl, meine Brust am sichersten
780
Zu treffen, wenn mir Muße noch zum Prüfen blieb,
Die Gabe Hektors, der im Fremdlingsvolke mir
Verhaßt vor Allen und zu seh'n ein Gräuel war.
In Feindeserde steht er hier, im Troerland,
Am Steine frischgeschliffen, der das Eisen schärft:
785
Wohl zugerichtet hab' ich ihn und eingebohrt,
Den treusten Helfer meiner Brust zu jähem Tod.
So wär' ich wohlbereitet! Und nun leihe du,
Zeus, vor Allen Hülfe mir, wie's billig ist!
Doch nicht um große Gaben fleh' ich, Herr, dich an:
790
Nur einen Boten sende, der das Trauerwort
Zu Teukros bringe, daß er mich zuerst erhebt,
Nachdem ich sank in dieses blutgetränkte Schwert,
Auf daß der Feinde keiner mich zuvor erspäht,
Und Vögeln oder Hunden hin zum Raybe wirft.
795
Nur dieses Eine fleh' ich, Zeus! Auch ruf' ich dir,
Dem Todtenführer Hermes, bette du mich sanft,
Nachdem ich, raschen Sprunges, ohne Zuckungen,
Den Mörderstahl in meine Seiten eingebohrt.
Als Helferinnen ruf' ich an die ewigen
800
Jungfrau'n, die ewig alle Noth der Erde schaun,
Die hehren Nachgöttinnen, die weitschreitend nah'n,
Zu seh'n, wie Atreus' Söhne schnöd mich mordeten!
mögt ihr schlimm die Schlimmen, Allverderblichen,
Mit euch entraffen! Wie sie mich vom eignen Schwert
805
Hinsinken sehen, mögen sie gemordet selbst
Von ihres eignen Stammes Hand zu Grunde gehn!
Ja, kommt, Erinnen, racheschwer, mit schnellem Schritt,
Uebt keine Schonung, sättigt euch am ganzen Heer!
Du, der am hohen Himmel hin den Wagen führt,
810
Erblickst du meiner Ahnen Land, o Helios,
So ziehe schnell die goldgesäumten Zügel an,
Und meine Qualen melde dort und meinen Tod
Dem greisen Vater und der armen Pflegerin!
Die Jammervolle, wenn sie diese Kunde hört,
815
Füllt wohl mit lautem Klageruf die ganze Stadt.
Doch gilt es nicht ein thatenloses Trauern hier;
Nein, angegriffen sei das Werk in raschem Muth!
O Tod, o Tod, erscheine, wend' auf mich den Blick!
Doch dich begrüß' ich drunten noch, mit dir vereint.
820
Dich aber, lichten Tages Glanz, der heute strahlt,
Und Helios, den Wagenlenker, ruf' ich an
Zum leztenmale, künftighin nie wieder mehr!
Licht, o Heimaterde, dich, geweihtes Land
Von Salamis, o meines Vaterherdes Siz,
825
Dich, Burg Athene's, dich Geschlecht, mit mir genährt,
Euch Flüsse hier und Quellen, euch, ihr troischen
Gefilde, ruf' ich, meine Pfleger, lebet wohl!
Dies Wort, sein allerleztes, rust euch Ajas zu;
Das Andre sag' ich jenen dort in Hades' Haus.
830
(er tritt hinter das Gebüsch und stürzt sich in sein Schwert.) (er tritt nach einander in zwei Halbchören von zwei entgegengesezten Seiten ein.)
Der Mühe schafft die Mühe Müh!
Wo, wo,
Wo betrat ich nicht den Pfad?
Und nirgendwo beut sichre Kunde mir ein Ort.
Vernimm!
835
Wieder hör' ich einen Schall.
Wir sind es, wir Genossen eurer Meeresfahrt.
Wie steht es!
(eintretend)
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 719 focus
'Twas Teucer's strict command
He should be kept within the tent, nor stir
Till he arrived.
Teucer hath forbade
His wandering thus alone.
And where is Teucer ?
He will soon be here :
He fears this fatal day.
785
Thestorian Chalcas did foretell this day
2. 'Twas ours, your friends.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 719 focus
My friends and fellow soldiers, what hath pass'd
I wish to tell you. From the Mysian heights
Teucer is now arrived: soon as the camp
He enter'd, all the Argive troops at once
Reviled him; while yet distant they perceived
720
His steps advancing, the tumultuous croud
720
Gathers arround him, and from every side
Insults him with reproaches; not a man
Check'd his rude tongue; the brother this, they cry,
Of him, whose frentic treachery to the host
Hath done foul wrong; yet shall not all thy pow'r
Protect him from our vengeance. To such height
The tumult rose, that they unsheath'd and shook
Their threatening swords; till some age-honour'd Chiefs
The swelling rage with soothing words appeased.
725
For all things to our lords we ought to show.
725
Thus much I know; for I, as it befel,
Was present, From th' assembled kings apart,
Alone, and distant from th' imperial Chiefs,
Calchas retired, and with a friend's warm zeal
Grasping the hand of Teucer gave him charge
By all the arts could be devised this day,
That now shines o'er us, in his tent restrain'd
From pow'r of roving Ajax to secure,
750
If e'er he wish'd alive to see him more......
750
For through this day alone against him flames
750
The vengeance of Minerva: this the Seertet:
Pronounced, that useless and unwieldly strength,
Crush'd by th' offended gods, in ruin sinks,.....
When man of mortal birth with pride aspires
Beyond a mortal. From his house in arms
When marching, thus presumptuous he was found;
My son, his father well advised, in war
Be conquest thy high aim, but with the gods
Always to conquer: He with daring vaunt
Madly replied, The feeble, with the gods
His weakness aiding, conquest may obtain;
I, e'en without the gods, am confident
To snatch that glory. Such his haughty boast:
Nor once alone; but when Minerya's voice,
755
Incited him against the foes to turn
755
His slaughtering hand, with unbeseeming words
755
Fierce he replied, Thy favour, goddess, yield ...
To other Argives; through my post in arms
The war shall never break. With such proud speech
Himself beyond the state of mortal man
Exalting, he to ruthless anger roused
The martial queen. But through this present day
If the impending danger he escapedot noud I
Our care may soon avert his fate, the godom.
No more opposing. Thus the prophet spoke 3/
I And Teucer instant from th’ imperial tent
Sent me to thee, with this high mandate charged,
To guard him, If we fail, he is no more,IT
If Calchas in th' events of fate be skill'de
O thou poor sufferer, wretched in thy fate,
Come forth, Tecmessa, hear these words of woe;
For this cuts deep, and ruins all thy joy.
785
He is; I therefore dread to hear thy charge.
The fate-fortelling Calchas on this day,
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 719-877 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-420-1 τὸ πρῶτον 1 τὸ πρῶτον 2

mvp-comment-421-1 Μυσίων … κρημνῶν 3

mvp-comment-421-2 στρατήγιον 4 μέσον 5

mvp-comment-422-1 κυδάζεται 6 Ἀργείοις 7

mvp-comment-423-1 στείχοντα 8 ἐν κύκλῳ 9 πρόσωθεν 10 μαθόντες 11

mvp-comment-424-1 ἤρασσον 12

mvp-comment-424-2 ἔνθεν κἄνθεν 13

mvp-comment-424-3 οὔτις ἔσθ’ ὃς οὔ 14

mvp-comment-425-1 τὸν τοῦ μανέντος 15

mvp-comment-425-2 κἀπιβουλευτοῦ στρατοῦ 16 στρατοῦ 17 στρατῷ 18

mvp-comment-425-3 ἀποκαλοῦντες 19

mvp-comment-425-4 ὡς οὐκ ἀρκέσοι τὸ μὴ οὐ … θανεῖν 20

mvp-comment-425-5 καταξανθεὶς 21

mvp-comment-426-1 ὥστ’ 22 ὥστε 23 τοσοῦτον 24

mvp-comment-426-2 κολεῶν … ξίφη 25 ἐρυστά 26 κουλεῶν 27

mvp-comment-427-1 δραμοῦσα τοῦ προσωτάτω 28

mvp-comment-427-2 ἐν ξυναλλαγῇ λόγου … γερόντων 29 ἐν 30

mvp-comment-428-1 ἡμὶν 31

mvp-comment-428-2 τοῖς κυρίοις 32

mvp-comment-429-1 νέας βουλὰς 33 νέοισιν … τρόποις 34 ἐγκαταζεύξας 35

mvp-comment-430-1 ἰοὺ ἰού 36

mvp-comment-430-2 βραδεῖαν 37 ἡμᾶς … πέμπων ὁδόν 38 )φάνην 39

mvp-comment-431-1 χρείας τῆσδ’ 40

mvp-comment-431-2 ὑπεσπανισμένον 41

mvp-comment-432-1 ἀπηύδα 42

mvp-comment-432-2 τύχῃ 43 τύχοι 44

mvp-comment-433-1 οἴχεται 45

mvp-comment-433-2 τὸ κέρδιστον 46 τὸ κέρδιον 47

mvp-comment-433-3 θεοῖσιν … χόλου 48

mvp-comment-434-1 εὖ φρονῶν 49

mvp-comment-435-1 πάρει 50 πέρι 51

mvp-comment-436-1 τοσοῦτον 52 οἶδα 53 παρὼν 54 καὶ παρὼν ἐτύγχανον 55

mvp-comment-437-1 συνέδρου καὶ τυρ. κύκλου 56

mvp-comment-437-2 750 Calchas is present at this council, as he is at that in the first book of the Iliad ( Il. 1. 69 ). He knew by inspiration that, if Ajax could be kept in his tent for that one day, all would be well. Leaving the circle of the chiefs, he went to Teucer, who was awaiting the result in the neighbourhood. They sat down apart ( cp. 780 ). The messenger was near them, and heard what Calchas said to Teucer.

mvp-comment-437-3 οἶος Ἀτρειδῶν δίχα 57

mvp-comment-438-1 φιλοφρόνως 58

mvp-comment-439-1 παντοίᾳ τέχνῃ 59

mvp-comment-440-1 εἶρξαι 60

mvp-comment-440-2 ἦμαρ τοὐμφανὲς τὸ νῦν τόδε 61

mvp-comment-441-1 ὑπὸ σκηναῖσι 62

mvp-comment-441-2 μηδ’ ἀφέντ’ ἐᾶν 63

mvp-comment-442-1 ἐκεῖνον 64 Αἴαντα 65

mvp-comment-442-2 ποτέ 66

mvp-comment-443-1 ἐλᾷ 67

mvp-comment-443-2 τῇδε θἡμέρᾳ 68

mvp-comment-444-1 ὡς ἔφη λέγων 69

mvp-comment-445-1 τὰ γὰρ περισσὰ 70 περισσὰ κανόνητα ς<*>ματα 71

mvp-comment-445-2 It is not without reason, then, that the reading κἀνόνητα 72 κἀνόητα 73 σώματα 74

mvp-comment-446-1 ὅστις 75

mvp-comment-446-2 φύσιν βλαστὼν 76

mvp-comment-446-3 φρονῇ 77

mvp-comment-447-1 κεῖνος δ’ 78

mvp-comment-447-2 καλῶς λέγοντος 79

mvp-comment-448-1 αὐτὸν ἐννέπει 80

mvp-comment-449-1 σὺν θεῷ 81

mvp-comment-450-1 ὁ μηδὲν ὢν 82

mvp-comment-451-1 καὶ δίχα κείνων 83

mvp-comment-452-1 ἐπισπάσειν κλέος 84

mvp-comment-453-1 δίας Ἀθάνας 85

mvp-comment-453-2 Other explanations are the following. (1) The poet meant to add something to the effect of

ἠτίμασε τὴν παραίνεσιν
, but changed the form of the sentence. (2)
Ἀθάνας, ἡνίκα..ηὐδᾶτο
stands for a gen. absol.,
Ἀθάνας αὐδωμένης
. (3) The gen. depends on
ἔπος
in 773, ‘a saying about her,’ like
μῦθος..φίλων
( Ant. 11 ).

mvp-comment-453-3 The most attractive remedy is Mehlhorn's, δίαν Ἀθάναν 86

mvp-comment-453-4 If, on the other hand, δίας Ἀθάνας 87 δεύτερον 88

mvp-comment-454-1 τοῖς ἄλλοισιν Ἀργείων 89 πέλας 90

mvp-comment-454-2 καθ’ ἡμᾶς 91

mvp-comment-454-3 οὔποτ’ ἐκρήξει μάχη 92

mvp-comment-455-1 τοιοῖσδέ τοι 93 τοῖς 94 τοι 95

mvp-comment-455-2 ἀστεργῆ 96

mvp-comment-455-3 ἐκτήσατ’ ὀργήν 97

mvp-comment-455-4 οὐ κατ’ ἄνθρωπον φρονῶν 98

mvp-comment-456-1 ἔστι 99 αὐτοῦ … σωτήριοι 100

mvp-comment-456-2 σὺν θεῷ 101

mvp-comment-457-1 ὁ δ’ … Τεῦκρος 102

mvp-comment-457-2 εὐθὺς ἐξ ἕδρας 103 εὐθὺς 104

mvp-comment-457-3 Teucer sends a messenger, instead of going himself, probably because he hopes that his mediation with the chiefs may do some good. What he dreads is simply that Ajax should leave the tent; and a message could prevent that. He has no cause to suspect that Ajax meditates suicide.

mvp-comment-458-1 ἐπιστολὰς 105

mvp-comment-458-2 φυλάσσειν 106

mvp-comment-458-3 ἀπεστερήμεθα 107 ἀφυστερήμεθα 108 εἰ δ’ ἄρ’ ὑστερήσαμεν 109

mvp-comment-459-1 δαΐα 110

mvp-comment-459-2 γένος 111

mvp-comment-459-3 θροεῖ 112

mvp-comment-460-1 ξυρεῖ … ἐν χρῷ 113 ἐν χρῷ 114 χρῷ 115

mvp-comment-460-2 μὴ χαίρειν τινά 116

mvp-comment-460-3 787 f. Tecmessa, who, at the desire of Ajax (684), had withdrawn into the tent (692), now re-enters, with Eurysaces ( cp. 809 ).

mvp-comment-460-4 ἀτρύτων 117

mvp-comment-461-1 πρᾶξιν 118 βάξιν 119 φέρων … πρᾶξιν 120

mvp-comment-462-1 ἄνθρωπε 121 ὀλώλαμεν 122

mvp-comment-463-1 Αἴαντος 123 πέρι 124

mvp-comment-464-1 καὶ μὴν 125 γ’ 126 θυραῖος 127

mvp-comment-464-2 ὠδίνειν τί φής 128

mvp-comment-465-1 εἴργειν 129

mvp-comment-465-2 ἐξεφίεται 130

mvp-comment-465-3 σκηνῆς ὕπαυλον 131

mvp-comment-466-1 κἀπὶ τῷ 132

mvp-comment-467-1 τήνδε δ’ ἔξοδον … φέρειν 133

mvp-comment-467-2 Nor can we render: ‘He (Teucer) forebodes that this going-forth, which he announces, will be fatal to Ajax.’

φέρειν
could be said only of the messenger— not of the man who sends him. Paley's conjecture,
ἐλπίζω φέρειν
, meets the point as to
φέρειν
, but the change to the first person is too harsh. Bothe's ἐλπίζειν φέρει 134 ἐλπίζει κυρεῖν 135

mvp-comment-467-3 Could ὀλεθρίαν Αἴαντος 136 Αἴαντος εἰς ὄλεθρον 137

mvp-comment-468-1 τοῦ Θεστορείου μάντεως 138

mvp-comment-468-2 ὅτ’ αὐτῷ … φέρει 139 ὅτ’ 140 ὅτ’ 141 ὃς 142

mvp-comment-468-3 If φέρει 143 φέρει … θάνατον ἢ βίον 144

mvp-comment-468-4 It is possible that

ΦΕΡΕΙ
came, under the influence of
ΦΕΡΕΙΝ
in 799, from
ΘΡΟΕΙ
(the subject being Calchas): but we should not be warranted in altering the text. Wecklein and Blaydes, reading θροεῖ 145

mvp-comment-469-1 οἲ )γώ 146

mvp-comment-469-2 πρόστητ’ 147

mvp-comment-469-3 ἀναγκαίας τύχης 148

mvp-comment-470-1 οἱ μὲν 149 οἱ δὲ … οἱ δέ 150

mvp-comment-470-2 Τεῦκρον μολεῖν 151 σπεύσατε 152

mvp-comment-470-3 ἑσπέρους … ἀντηλίους 153

mvp-comment-470-4 ἀγκῶνας 154 ζητεῖτ’ 155 μολεῖν 156

mvp-comment-471-1 φωτὸς ἠπατημένη 157

mvp-comment-471-2 χάριτος 158 ἐκβεβλημένη 159

mvp-comment-472-1 τί δράσω, τέκνον 160

mvp-comment-472-2 ὅποιπερ ἂν σθένω 161

mvp-comment-473-1 ἐγκονῶμεν 162

mvp-comment-473-2 οὐχ ἕδρας ἀκμὴ 163

mvp-comment-473-3 As to the diction of the verse, three points claim notice. (1) The γε 164 ἄνδρα 165 σπεύδῃ 166 θέλοντας 167 θέλοντες 168

mvp-comment-474-1 ἕτοιμος 169 ἔργου 170 ποδῶν 171

mvp-comment-474-2 Tecmessa now leaves the scene by the entrance on the spectator's left, leading to the open country. The Messenger, with the servants of Ajax, goes out on the spectator's right, as being bound for the Greek camp.

mvp-comment-474-3 The Chorus leave the orchestra in two

ἡμιχόρια
, one by the
πάροδος
on the right, the other by that on the left. The withdrawal of the Chorus from the orchestra during the course of a play was called
μετάστασις
: their return,
ἐπιπάροδος
. The other extant examples are:—(1) Aesch. Eum.:
μετάστασις
at v. 231:
ἐπιπάροδος
at v. 299. (2) Eur. Alc.:
μ.
, Eur. Alc. 746 :
ἐ.
, Eur. Alc. 872. (3) Helen. :
μ.
, 385:
ἐ.
, 515. (4) Ar. Eccl.:
μ.
, Ar. Eccl. 310 :
ἐ.
, Ar. Eccl. 478.

mvp-comment-474-4 A change of scene is now supposed to take place, from the ground in front of the tent of Ajax to a lonely spot on the sea-shore, with trees or bushes (

νάπος
, 892). We do not know how this change was managed. (1) It may have been indicated merely by removing the hangings on the back-wall which represented the
σκηνή
of Ajax. This is MA. üller's view ( Gr. Bühnenalterthümer, p. 162). (2) Wecklein supposes that a back-wall, representing the
σκηνή
, was drawn back on right and left, disclosing the new scene.—We cannot assume the use of
περίακτοι
in the poet's time (cp. note at the beginning of the play). Had they been in use, the
περίακτος
on the spectator's left could have turned, so as to represent a new locality (
τόπος
). The right-hand
περίακτος
, indicating the region in which the whole action takes place (
χώρα
), would not have been changed.

mvp-comment-474-5 The only other Greek play in which a change of scene is certain is the Eumenides, where the action begins at the temple of the Delphian Apollo, and passes at v. 235 to that of Athena Polias at Athens. This may have been marked merely by substituting a statue of Athena for one of Apollo.

mvp-comment-474-6 815 Ajax is standing at the side of the scene on the spectator's right, near the underwood which screens him when he falls—so that his body is not at first visible to the Chorus when they return to the orchestra, but could be seen by Tecmessa, when she comes on the scene from the left. The point of the sword could probably be seen by the audience. Hesychius quotes Polemon, the sophist in Hadrian's age, as saying that the

συσπαστὸν
was used
ἐν Αἴαντος ὑποκρίσει
. It was a short stage-sword, of which the blade ran back; otherwise called
ἀνδρόμητον
(Hesych., which some refer to
ἀναδραμεῖν
), or
ἀνδρομηρόν
. Cp. Achilles Tatius 3. 20
ὁ σίδηρος εἴσω καταδύεται, τούτῳ δ’...ἐν τοῖς θεάτροις ἐχρῆτο πρὸς τὰς κιβδήλους σφαγάς
.

mvp-comment-474-7 The antithesis to ὁ μὲν σφαγεὺς 172 ἐκ δὲ τῶνδε 173

mvp-comment-474-8 σφαγεὺς 174

mvp-comment-474-9 τομώτατος 175

mvp-comment-475-1 εἴ τῳ καὶ λογίζεσθαι σχολή 176

mvp-comment-476-1 δῶρον μὲν 177

mvp-comment-476-2 ἀνδρὸς 178

mvp-comment-476-3 ξένων 179

mvp-comment-477-1 πολεμίᾳ 180

mvp-comment-477-2 σιδηροβρῶτι 181

mvp-comment-477-3 θηγάνῃ 182

mvp-comment-477-4 νεηκονής 183

mvp-comment-478-1 περιστείλας 184

mvp-comment-478-2 θανεῖν 185

mvp-comment-479-1 εύσχευοῦμεν 186

mvp-comment-479-2 ἐκ δὲ τῶνδε 187

mvp-comment-479-3 Ζεῦ 188

mvp-comment-479-4 καὶ γὰρ εἰκός 189

mvp-comment-479-5 αἰτήσομαι 190 λαχεῖν 191

mvp-comment-479-6 μακρὸν 192

mvp-comment-480-1 ἡμῖν 193 ἄγγελον 194

mvp-comment-481-1 βαστάσῃ 195

mvp-comment-481-2 πεπτῶτα περὶ ξίφει 196

mvp-comment-482-1 πρόβλητος 197

mvp-comment-482-2 ἕλωρ 198

mvp-comment-482-3 Ajax forebodes that, as a public enemy, he will suffer the doom which Achilles assigns to Hector ( Il. 22. 354 ), Creon to Polyneices ( Ant. 205 ), and Electra to Aegisthus ( El. 1487 ). The Atreidae, in fact, so intended (1064 f.).

mvp-comment-483-1 τοσαῦτά σε … προστρέπω 199

mvp-comment-483-2 καλῶ δ’ 200 καλῶ θ’ 201

mvp-comment-483-3 832 The sense of πομπαῖον 202 χθόνιον 203

mvp-comment-484-1 ἀσφαδάστῳ 204

mvp-comment-484-2 The precept to write

σφαδᾴζω
(and therefore, as Nauck does,
ἀσφάδᾳστος
) dates from Herodian ( c. 160 A.D. ), but is not confirmed by any such independent evidence as exists in the case of
ματᾴζω
( Soph. O. T. 891 ). Ellendt writes
σφαδᾴζω
, yet
ἀσφάδαστος
.

mvp-comment-484-3 πηδήματι 205 ξὺν 206

mvp-comment-485-1 πλευρὰν διαρρήξαντα 207

mvp-comment-486-1 τὰς ἀεί τε παρθένους 208

mvp-comment-486-2 ἀεί θ’ ὁρώσας 209

mvp-comment-486-3 ὁρώσας 210

mvp-comment-487-1 σεμνὰς 211

mvp-comment-487-2 τανύποδας 212

mvp-comment-487-3 839—

mvp-comment-488-1 κάκιστα καὶ πανωλέθρους 213

mvp-comment-488-2 The last two of these four verses are certainly spurious, as three things show.

mvp-comment-488-3 (1) The poet would not have made the dying Ajax pray that the Atreidae may die ‘at the hands of their offspring,’ unless there had been some legend that they so died. But, according to the current mythology, Agamemnon was slain by his wife and her paramour, while Menelaüs and Helen passed, without dying, to Elysium ( Od. 4. 561 ). It is only in later times that we meet with the story of Menelaüs and Helen having been sacrificed by Iphigeneia in the land of the Tauri ( Ptolemy Heph. 4 , cp. Roscher, Lex. p. 1951 ): a myth which the author of these verses may have had in view. Odysseus, indeed, was slain by Telegonus; but he does not come into account here, unless we make the improbable change of

Ἀτρειδῶν
to
Ἀχαιῶν
in 838. [As to the double sense of
αὐτοσφαγής
, with ref. to one who is slain (1) by himself, (2) by a kinsman, see on Ant. 56
αὐτοκτονοῦντε
.]

mvp-comment-488-4 (2) These two verses confuse the construction, since

ὥσπερ εἰσορῶσ’ ἐμέ
( sc.
ξυναρπασθέντα
) refers to what precedes: while
τὼς
in 841 refers to
ὥσπερ
.

mvp-comment-488-5 (3) The form

φίλιστος
occurs nowhere else, except as a proper name.

mvp-comment-488-6

τώς
is not elsewhere found in Soph. or Eur. : it is, however, used by Aesch. , not only in lyrics ( Aesch. Th. 484 , Suppl. 69, 670, 691), but once, at least, in a trimeter, Th. 637
ἢ ζῶντ’ ἀτιμαστῆρα τὼς ἀνδρηλάτην
. We should not, then, insist on
τώς
as a mark of spuriousness: and
ὀλοίατο
is, of course, free from objection ( O. T. 1274
γνωσοίατο
n.). But the case against 841 f. seems conclusive without them.

mvp-comment-488-7 A more difficult question is whether vv. 839, 840 are also spurious. The schol. in L on v. 841 is as follows:—

τὼς αὐτοσφαγεῖς
:
ταῦτα νοθεύεσθαί φασιν ὑποβληθέντα πρὸς σαφήνειαν τῶν λεγομένων
. As the lemma,
τὼς αὐτοσφαγεῖς
, clearly indicates,
ταῦτα
refers only to the two verses 841 f., and not (as Dindorf and others have assumed) to all the four verses 839—842. The surmise was, says the scholiast, that vv. 841 f. were added ‘to make the meaning clearer’; i.e., to explain the elliptical phrase,
ὥσπερ εἰσορῶσ’ ἐμέ
. Such a surmise itself shows that vv. 839, 840 were believed to be older than 841 f. It is indeed plain that all four verses are not by the same author. The incoherent construction noticed above, under (2), was possible for an interpolator whose attention was fixed on
ὥσπερ εἰσορῶσ’ ἐμέ
, but hardly for one who was forging vv. 839—842 as a whole. If, then, all four verses are condemned, we must assume two independent interpolations.

mvp-comment-488-8 I incline to think that the two verses 839 and 840 are genuine; because, otherwise, the imprecation on the

πάνδημος στρατός
(844) would follow too abruptly on v. 838. The prayer for the destruction of his chief foes, uttered in 839 f., leads up to the more sweeping denunciation of the Greek army.

mvp-comment-489-1 ἴτ’ 214

mvp-comment-489-2 γεύεσθε 215

mvp-comment-489-3 πανδήμου στρατοῦ 216

mvp-comment-490-1 αἰπὺν 217

mvp-comment-490-2 οὐρανὸν διφρηλατῶν 218

mvp-comment-491-1 ἴδῃς 219

mvp-comment-491-2 χρυσόνωτον ἡνίαν 220

mvp-comment-492-1 τροφῷ 221

mvp-comment-493-1 ἦ που 222

mvp-comment-493-2 ἥσει … κωκυτὸν 223

mvp-comment-493-3 ἐν πάσῃ πόλει 224

mvp-comment-494-1 ἔργον 225

mvp-comment-494-2 ἀλλ’ … ἀλλ’ 226

mvp-comment-495-1 Θάνατε 227

mvp-comment-496-1 κἀκεῖ 228

mvp-comment-496-2 The absence of caesura gives a more deliberate weight to

σὲ μὲν κἀκεῖ
: cp. 994 : Ph. 1369
ἔα κακῶς αὐτοὺς ἀπόλλυσθαι κακούς
, and ib. 101: Ant. 44.

mvp-comment-497-1 τὸ νῦν σέλας 229

mvp-comment-497-2 διφρευτὴν 230

mvp-comment-498-1 πανύστατον δὴ 231

mvp-comment-498-2 κοὔποτ’ … ὕστερον 232

mvp-comment-499-1 ἱερὸν 233

mvp-comment-499-2 πατρῷον 234 βάθρον 235

mvp-comment-500-1 κλειναί 236

mvp-comment-500-2 καὶ τὸ σύντροφον γένος 237

mvp-comment-501-1 κρῆναί τε ποταμοί θ’ οἵδε 238

mvp-comment-501-2 καὶ τὰ Τρ. πεδία προσαυδῶ 239

mvp-comment-501-3 τροφῆς 240

mvp-comment-502-1 Αἴας … θροεῖ 241 μυθήσομαι 242

mvp-comment-502-2 Ajax falls upon his sword. (See n. on 815.)—The actor Timotheus of Zacynthus (says the scholiast) was celebrated in this scene:

ἦγε τοὺς θεατὰς καὶ ἐψυχαγώγει, ὡς Σφαγέα αὐτὸν κληθῆναι
.

mvp-comment-503-1 πόνος πόνῳ πόνον 243

mvp-comment-504-1 κοὐδεὶς … τόπος 244 συμμαθεῖν 245 σφε 246 κοὐδεὶς ἐπίσταταί σφε συνναίειν τόπος 247

mvp-comment-505-1 ἰδού 248

mvp-comment-506-1 ἡμῶν 249 ναὸς … ὁμιλίαν 250

mvp-comment-506-2 κοινόπλουν 251

mvp-comment-507-1 τί οὖν δή 252

mvp-comment-508-1 ἐστίβηται 253

mvp-comment-509-1 ἔχεις οὖν 254

mvp-comment-510-1 κοὐδὲν εἰς ὄψιν πλέον 255

mvp-comment-511-1 ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ μὲν δὴ 256

mvp-comment-511-2 τὴν ἀφ’ ἡλίου βολῶν 257

mvp-comment-511-3 δηλοῖ 258 κέλευθον 259

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

693-718. mvp-comment-468-1 The following ode is the clearest instance in Sophocles of the hyporchema, or song accompanied with dancing. In substance it may be compared with Trach. 205-224, Ο. Τ. 1086-1109, Ant. 1115-1154. The metrical scheme of στρ. and ἀντ. is as follows:...

719. mvp-comment-483-1 The proscenium has been vacant during the preceding ode. A single figure is now seen approaching from the opposite direction to that in which Ajax went forth. The man proves to be Teucer's forerunner. The effect of the following scene is twofold. On the one hand, the Chorus and Tecmessa are roused from their security, and go anxiously in search of Ajax. We are thus made aware that the crisis of the drama is approaching. But, on the other hand, the bearing of the prophet to Teucer, as reported by the messenger, and the tenor of his prophecy, assure the spectator that the anger of Athena against Ajax is not lasting, and hold forth a vague promise of final peace. ἄνδρες φίλοι] The messenger, who is one of Teucer's men, thus assures the mariners of his continued friendship in their master's hour of need. τὸ πρῶτον stands in apposition with the sentence, Τεύκρος παρέστι, which, as Hermann says, must be held as equivalent to Teῦκρον παρεῖναι. Ср. О. Т. 1234, 5, ὁ μὲν τάχιστος τῶν λόγων εἰπεῖν τε καὶ | μαθεῖν, τέθνηκε θεῖον Ἰοκάστης κάρα. The abruptness of this gives some colour to Musgrave's conjecture, ἄνδρες, φίλον τὸ πρῶτον ἀγγεῖλαι θέλω.

724-725. mvp-comment-484-1 'For when they knew him from afar off as he approached, they surrounded him.' Cp. infr. 1046, μαθεῖν γὰρ ἐγγὺς ὧν οὐ δυσπετής.

726. mvp-comment-485-1 κἀπιβουλευτοῦ στρατοῦ] 'And who was guilty of plotting against the army.' στρατοῦ is genitive of the object.

727. mvp-comment-486-1 ὡς connects οὐκ ἀρκέσοι, κ.τ.λ. with ἤρασσον, the clause τὸν .. ἀποκαλοῦντες being parenthetical. They said, ὦ τοῦ μανέντος .. ξύναιμε, οὐκ ἀρκέσεις, κ.τ.λ. The verb ἀρκεῖν is used absolutely in the original sense of 'to ward off danger,' and this uncommon use is supplemented by the epexegetic clause.

730. mvp-comment-487-1 διεπεραιώθη] Lit. 'were passed from either side,' ie. 'crossed blades.' Not merely 'were unsheathed.'

731. mvp-comment-488-1 δραμοῦσα τοῦ προσωτάτω] 'When it had run to an extreme.' The partitive genitive is merely idiomatic, and does not limit the force of the expression. Essay on L. § 10. p. 16 (bis).

732. mvp-comment-489-1 'Through elders interposing with their words.' For ev instrumental, see Essay on L. § 19. p. 28, and cp. Trach. 887, στονόεντος ἐν τομᾷ σιδάρου.

733. mvp-comment-490-1 'Where is our Ajax?' ἡμίν is dative of the person interested. Ср. supr. 332, ἡμῖν τὸν ἄνδρα διαπεφοιβάσθαι κακοίς.

734. mvp-comment-491-1 τοῖς κυρίοις] 'Το those principally concerned.' Cp. Aesch. Cho. 688, 9, εἰ δὲ τυγχάνω | τοῖς κυρίοισι καὶ προσήκουσιν λέγων, | οὐκ οἶδα.

735-736. mvp-comment-492-1 νέας .. τρόποις] 'Having changed his purpose in unison with his change of mood.' The Chorus believe that Ajax, having learnt submission, is gone forth to purify himself in the fresh water at the corner of the bay. Supr. 654 foll.

737. mvp-comment-493-1 ἰοὺ ἰού] The messenger perceives that the fate of Ajax is sealed, and raises the same cry of horror that Oedipus utters (O. T. 1182) when he discovers the truth.

738. mvp-comment-494-1 βραδείαν is predicative and adverbial,= 'too late.' Cp. the use of πικρός, e.g. infr. 1239.

740. mvp-comment-495-1 'And what is there lacking to the fulfilment of the present need?' χρείας τῆσδ', 'the need implied in Teucer's sending you, τήνδε τὴν ὁδόν, supr. 738.

743. mvp-comment-496-1 τοι] 'We can tell you.' τοι here expresses the consciousness of contributing pertinent information.

743-744. mvp-comment-497-1 πρὸς τὸ κέρδιστον.. γνώμης] 'His thoughts having taken the happiest turn.' For the genitive, cp. Trach. 705, ποῖ γνώμης πέσω; Ant. 42, ποῦ γνώμης ποτ' εἶ;

744. mvp-comment-498-1 χόλου] 'In respect of' (lit. 'from') 'their wrath.'

746. mvp-comment-499-1 The name of Calchas, and the thought of his foreknowledge, strike the hearers with an expectant awe.

748. mvp-comment-500-1 καὶ παρὼν ἐτύγχανον] 'For I was there to hear and see.' An expansion of παρών, the coordinate for the participial construction. See Essay on L. § 36. p. 68; also § 32. p. 55.

749. mvp-comment-501-1 Calchas, who alone knows the future, is not carried away by the rage which possesses the host, but simply warns Teucer in a friendly tone that the wrath of the gods is against Ajax for this one day. This attitude of the prophet is emphasized by the pleonastic iteration, ἐκ. κύκλου μεταστὰς οἷος .. δίχα, and by the periphrasis in l. 753. συνέδρου . . κύκλου] 'The circle of the lords who sate in council,' with the ἀγορά of the Achaeans gathered round.

751-752. mvp-comment-502-1 Join δεξιὰν θείς.

752. mvp-comment-503-1 παντοίᾳ τέχνῃ] 'By all manner of means:' to be joined with εἶρξαι.

753. mvp-comment-504-1 κατ᾿ ἡμαρ.. τόδε] 'For the day whose light is with us now and here,' i. e. to-day.

754. mvp-comment-505-1 ἀφέντα agrees with Τεύκρον, the subject of ἐᾶν.

756. mvp-comment-506-1 τῇδε θήμέρᾳ is more probable, because simpler, than τῇδ' ἔθ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ.

757. mvp-comment-507-1 ὡς ἔφη λέγων] · As his words declared.' The messenger is careful to make it clear that the assertion is the prophet's, and not his own. Cp. Creon in Ο. Τ. 110, ἐν τῇδ᾽ ἔφασκε γῇ. For this periphrasis, cp. Hdt. 1. 118, τῷ τε γὰρ πεποιημένῳ, ἔφη λέγων, ἐς τὸν παῖδα τοῦτον ἔκαμνον μεγάλως, κ.τ.λ. Abicht observes that it is commonly used, as here, in passing to direct speech from indirect.

758. mvp-comment-508-1 τὰ.. περισσὰ κἀνόνητα σώματα] 'Men grown too great to be of profit.' Cp. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 1. 2. 149, 50, 'Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed, | That he is grown so great?' Ib. I. 1. 77, 8, 'These growing feathers plucked from Caesar's wing, | Will make him fly an ordinary pitch.'

760. mvp-comment-509-1 ὅστις] · 'When any one.' Essay on L. § 22. p. 35, 2.

760-761. mvp-comment-510-1 ἀνθρώπου φύσιν | βλαστών] 'Being but of human mould.' An unusual cognate accusative, to be partly accounted for by the frequent use of φύσιν as an accusative of respect. See Essay on L. § 17. p. 25; and cp. especially Trach. 1062, γυνὴ δέ, θήλυς οὖσα κοὐκ ἀνδρὸς φύσιν.

762. mvp-comment-511-1 εὐθύς belongs in meaning to εὑρέθη in the following line.

763. mvp-comment-512-1 πατρός may be either (1) genitive of derivation, 'A foolish son of a wisely speaking father,' for which, cp. Ant. 38, ἐσθλῶν κακή: or (2) genitive absolute, 'Foolish, although his father advised him well.' The former (1) is nearer to the truth.

764. mvp-comment-513-1 αὐτὸν ἐννέπει] 'Charged him.' Cp. Ο. Τ. 350, ἐννέπω σέ, κ.τ.λ.

765. mvp-comment-514-1 μὲν .. δ΄] The 'paratactic' structure (Essay on L. § 36. p. 68) gives additional emphasis.

769. mvp-comment-515-1 ἐπισπάσειν] 'That I shall cull perforce,' as if plucking a branch from a tree. (Aesch. Pers. 475.) Cp. Shak. 1 Hen. IV. 1.3: 'Hot. By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap | To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon; | Or dive into the bottom of the deep, | Where fathom-line doth never touch the ground, | And pluck up drowned honour by the locks; | So he that doth redeem her thence might wear | Without corrival all her dignities.'

770. mvp-comment-516-1 τοσόνδ' .. μύθον] 'So high the vaunt he uttered.' Cp. supr. 386, μηδὲν μέγ' εἴπῃς: 422, 3, ἔπος | ἐξερέω μέγα.

771. mvp-comment-517-1 δίας ᾿Αθάνας] 'Regarding glorious Athena.' An extreme instance of the genitive of respect. Essay on L. § 9. p. 13, infr. 790, 792. The sentence is changed from δίας Αθάνας ότρυνούσης, or αὐδωμένης.

773. mvp-comment-518-1 ηὐδᾶτ'] For αὐδᾶν, ‘to command,' cp. O. C. 864, αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν, and for the middle v. (of unasked, spontaneous utterance), Phil. 130, οὗ δῆτα, τέκνον, ποικίλως αὐδωμένου. δεινὸν ἄρρητόν τ' ἔπος] ' A fearfully impious word.'

775. mvp-comment-519-1 καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς) 'In my part of the line; κατά, as in Hdt. 2. 121. § 4, ὡς δὲ κατὰ τοὺς φυλάσσοντας ἦν: Xen. Hell. 4. 2. 18, οἱ μὲν ᾿Αθηναῖοι κατὰ Λακεδαιμονίους ἐγένοντο. Hermann renders, 'Per me, quantum in me est,' which is rather = τὸ καθ' ἡμᾶς ( cp. Hdt. 7. 158). οὔποτ' ἐκρήξει] 'Shall never burst forth,' like a river breaking its banks. 'Postquam..duo acies manum aliquandiu conseruerunt, si alterutra subito in fugam se converterit, eleganter pugna ipsa, tanquam obicibus antea coërcita, in eam partem ἐκρήσσειν [ ἐκρῆξαι] dicatur.' Musgr. Cp. the Homeric πολέμοιο γέφυραι, in which the opposing armies are thought of as the sides of a torrent.

776. mvp-comment-520-1 The correction suggested by Hermann, τοι for τοῖς, although not quite necessary (for τοιοίσδε might = τοιοίσδε πεφυκόσιν), is extremely probable.

776-777. mvp-comment-521-1 ἀστεργῆ .. ὀργήν] • He hath won him the unenviable guerdon of the goddess' wrath.' ἀστεργῆ is more forcible when taken thus passively than if supposed to mean 'unloving,' which would add nothing to the notion of ὀργὴν. For ἐκτήσατο, of something bad, cp. especially Aesch. S. c. T. 1017 (of Polynices), ἄγος δὲ καὶ θανὼν κεκτήσεται.

779. mvp-comment-522-1 The genitive αὐτοῦ shows that σωτήριοι has nearly the force of a substantive.

780. mvp-comment-523-1 On this form of the senarius, generally marking some empressement, see above on l. 294. ἐξ ἔδρας] 'From where I sate,' viz. amongst the Achaeans who were looking on at the council.

781. mvp-comment-524-1 τάσδ' ἐπιστολάς] 'This charge,' viz. that implied in supr. 753-5. Teucer remains to watch over his brother's interests in the assembly.

782. mvp-comment-525-1 Τεύκρος]) The proper name is added after the article in further explanation. φυλάσσειν] The epexegetic infinitive is occasioned by the addition of Τεύκρος. εἰ δ᾽ ἀπεστερήμεθα] 'But if we are frustrated;' i. e. if the δαίμων of Ajax has prevented us from carrying out our intention. For ἀποστερεῖν of prevention, cp. Aesch. Suppl. 1063, Ζεὺς ἀποστεροίη γάμον. This meaning is more forcible, although less obvious, than that of Badham's ingenious conjecture, εἰ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑστερήκαμεν.

783. mvp-comment-526-1 The idiomatic ἁνὴρ κεῖνος avoids the association of the name Alas with the ill-omened οὐκ ἔστιν.

784. mvp-comment-527-1 'O cruelly vexed Tecmessa, born to woe!' The exact association conveyed in Sata is difficult to seize. Perhaps from meaning 'hostile,' it comes to mean 'treated as an enemy,' and so 'cruelly afflicted' by the gods.

785. mvp-comment-528-1 'Come and see what news this man is telling.' Cp. Phil. 504, χρὴ δ᾽ ἐμὲ | σκοπεῖν ὅπως σου μηδὲν ἐξαμαρτήσω.

814. mvp-comment-529-1 καὶ ποδῶν is added to define ἔργου further. Exeunt Chorus severally by the two side doors. Cp. supr. 805.

815-865. mvp-comment-530-1 The scene is changed to a wooded place ( infr. 892) not far from the camp ( infr. 874-8), where Ajax is disclosed, somewhat retired, but so that both he and the projecting point of the sword which he has planted in the ground, are visible to the spectators.

815. mvp-comment-531-1 ὁ.. σφαγεύς] Either (1) 'the slayer,' or (2) 'the sacrificer;' probably the former (1). ἕστηκεν .. ἄν] 'Stands so as he may prove most keen:' whetted not only with the grind-stone, but with the hate of Hector who gave it, the enmity of the Trojan soil in which it is fixed, the determined will of Ajax and his care in executing that will. The sword thus ordered cannot fail of its effect.

816. mvp-comment-532-1 εἴ τῳ.. σχολή] These words mark Ajax' feeling of the extreme deliberateness of his act. After long repression he is at leisure not only to make elaborate preparations, but also to reason over what he is about to do. For the language, cp. Thuc. 2. 45, εἰ δέ με δεῖ καὶ γυναικείας τι ἀρετῆς . μνησθῆναι, βραχεία παραινέσει ἅπαν σημανῶ. The clause is rather to be connected with what follows than with what precedes. (Others would supply ἦν, and render 'If one had but time to make reflections'). The indefinite Te has an ironical effect, and also somewhat of solemnity, like the impersonal expression in Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 5. 1: 'O, that a man might know | The end of this day's business ere it come!'

817-818. mvp-comment-533-1 ἀνδρὸς ὁρᾶν] 'Of Hector, who of men not Greek was by me most hated and abhorred.' ἀνδρός adds a touch of distinction to the name which follows. Cp El. 45, παρ᾿ ἀνδρὸς Φανοτέως ἥκων. By the addition of ξένων he reserves his chief hatred for the Argives.

820. mvp-comment-534-1 The reading σιδηροβρώτηῃ is not impossible. Cp. Ο. Τ. 80, 1, τύχῃ ·· σωτῆρι, and note. The iteration of ἔπηξα after πέπηγε, supr. 819, strengthens our impression of the firmness with which the sword was fastened in the earth.

821. mvp-comment-535-1 εὖ περιστείλας) 'Carefully securing it.' He had trodden the earth about it, as if planting a young tree.

822. mvp-comment-536-1 εὐνούστατον..θανεῖν] 'So as most kindly to provide for me a speedy death,' εὐνούστατον is supplementary predicate with ἔπηξα. Essay on L. § 23, P. 38, § 38, p. 71. θανεῖν is epexegetic = ὥστε θανείν. Ajax has but two desires, that his death may be (1) certain, (2) swift. His preparation of the sword secures both ends in one.

823. mvp-comment-537-1 οὕτω μὲν εὐσκευοῦμεν] 'So well provided with an instrument am I.' μέν is resumed from supr. 815.

824. mvp-comment-538-1 καὶ γὰρ εἰκός] These words are characteristic of the indomitable hero, who, in his supreme hour, addresses the sovereign of the gods as his kinsman. ( Cp. supr. 387, προγόνων προπάτωρ.)

825. mvp-comment-539-1 λαχεῖν, if the true reading, is epexegetic, the accusative γέρας being governed, primarily, by αἰτήσομαι. But λαβεῖν may be right. See v. rr.

826. mvp-comment-540-1 κακὴν φάτιν] A rumour of evil sound. In the 'clairvoyance' of this moment Ajax imagines the effect which the news of his death would have on Teucer, as also, infr. 850, on his mother. It has been supposed that infr. 998, ὀξεῖα γὰρ .. θανών indicates the answer of Zeus to this prayer. But, although this is possible, such a rumour is sufficiently accounted for by what passes at supr. 749 foll., especially the words in l. 783, οὐκ ἔστιν ἄνηρ κεῖνος.

828. mvp-comment-541-1 περί] Cp. infr. 899, φασγάνῳ περιπτυχής. νεορράντῳ] 'Then freshly streaming.' For this vivid touch, cp. infr. 898, ἀρτίως νεοσφαγής. He does not mention Tecmessa.

830. mvp-comment-542-1 ῥιφθῶ .. ἕλωρ] 'I be cast forth, exposed to dogs and birds for a prey.'

833-834. mvp-comment-543-1 'And that the leap wherewith I plunge this sword into my side may be swift and without a struggle.' πηδήματι has been interpreted of the involuntary spring upwards at the moment of the sword piercing the heart; but it is rather, more simply, the act of falling on the sword. Ajax prays that this may be unattended with convulsions, and may lead directly to the consummation.

835. mvp-comment-544-1 ἀεὶ . . παρθένους] Cp. especially, Aesch. Eum. 69, 70, παλαιαὶ παῖδες, αἷς οὐ μίγνυται | θεῶν τις, οὐδ᾽ ἄνθρωπος, οὐδὲ θήρ ποτε.

836. mvp-comment-545-1 Ср. О. С. 42, τὰς πάνθ᾽ ὁρώσας Εὐμενίδας, κ.τ.λ.

837. mvp-comment-546-1 μαθεῖν] The inf. depends on the general notion in καλῶ, the full expression, καλῶ ἀρωγούς, being partly lost sight of.

839-842. mvp-comment-547-1 See v. rr. The reasons for rejecting these four lines may be briefly given. The allusion to the death of Agamemnon, which is the chief point in them, interferes with the poetical simplicity of the passage, and is moreover not applicable to Menelaus. The emphatic use of αὐτοσφαγής in two different senses in the same line is awkward, and like an imitation. φίλιστος occurs nowhere else, and τώς not elsewhere in Sophocles; and ἐκγόνων seems to have arisen from a confusion of the death of Agamemnon with that of Clytemnestra, together with an attempt to include the fate of Odysseus. 1

839-842. mvp-comment-547-2 839 ff. καί σφας κακοὺς κάκιστα καὶ πανωλέθρους | ξυναρπάσειαν, ὥσπερ εἰσορῶσ' ἐμὲ | αὐτοσφαγῆι πίπτοντα, τὼς αὐτοσφαγεὶς | πρὸς τῶν φιλίστων ἐκγόνων ὀλοίατο LAL Pal. Vat. ac. (Variants: αὐτοσφαγῆ Α. αὐτοσφαγεῖσ CA. ἐκγονων L. καὐτοσφαγεῖς Pal. τως αὐτοσφαγεῖς Vat. ac. ὣς αὐτοσφαγεῖς V. ἐκγόνων Vat. a.)

844. mvp-comment-548-1 'Flesh yourselves unsparingly on all the populous host.' μὴ φείδεσθε is introduced dià mésou. The πάνδημος στρατός of the Achaeans is contrasted with the Argive chiefs.

847. mvp-comment-549-1 ἐπισχὼν .. ἡνίαν] ‘Checking thy rein.' Instead of saying ἐπέχειν ἅρμα, or ἵππους, the means, or more immediate object, is put into the accusative.

847. mvp-comment-549-2 χρυσόνωτον] ‘Gilded,' viz, having the upper surface studded with gold.

848. mvp-comment-550-1 ἄτας.. ἐμόν] 'My troubles and my fate.' This is not a mere pleonasm. The ἅται may include his first provocation of Athena as well as his wild actions since; the word μόρον is specially applicable to his death.

849. mvp-comment-551-1 τῇ τε δυστήνῳ τροφῷ] Either (1) 'and the unhappy one who nursed my infancy;' or (2) 'and the unhappy one who tends on him.' According to (1) Ajax in thinking of his mother with special tenderness, speaks of her as the one who nursed him at her breast ( ἥ μ' ἔτεχ᾽, ἤ μ᾿ ἔθρεψε, Od. 2. 131.) According to (2) he is thinking of the dreary household at Salamis, where she who had been the wife of Telamon's youth was now the nurse of his declining years. Cp. Od. 24. 211, ἐν δὲ γυνὴ Σικελὴ γρηὺς πέλεν, ἤ ῥα γέροντα | ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν ἐπ᾿ ἀγροῦ, νόσφι πόληος.

851. mvp-comment-552-1 Cp. Eur. Med. 1176, εἶτ' ἀντίμολπον ἡκεν ὀλολυγῆς μέγαν | κωκυτόν.

852. mvp-comment-553-1 'But I have nought to do with vain laments for this.' οὐδὲν ἔργον, lit. 'It is no part of the business in hand.'

853. mvp-comment-554-1 σὺν τάχει τινί] 'And that with speed.' The addition of the indefinite pronoun, as in ἀνύσας τι ('with something of haste'), has an effect of peremptoriness.

856. mvp-comment-555-1 τὸ νῦν] By hypallage for τῆς νῦν, giving a lighter rhythm.

857. mvp-comment-556-1 προσεννέπω is introduced by an expansion similar to that in Aesch. Prom. 91, καὶ τὸν πανόπτην κύκλον ἡλίου καλῶ, and then becomes the governing word.

858. mvp-comment-557-1 κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις] Sc. προσαυδήσω. Cp. Ant. 808, 9, νέατον δὲ φέγγος λεύσσουσαν ἀελίου | κοὔποτ᾽ αὖθις.

859. mvp-comment-558-1 ὦ φέγγος] He passionately resumes his invocation (856-8), and as his heart goes forth with the universal sunlight, he again (as in 846) fixes his thoughts on home.

860. mvp-comment-559-1 πατρῷον ἑστίας βάθρον] 'Hearth-stone of my sire.' See Essay on L. § 42. p. 80 γ.

861. mvp-comment-560-1 κλειναί] Cp. supr. 596, and note. The glory of Athens, like that of Salamis, is anticipated.

861. mvp-comment-560-2 τὸ σύντροφον γένος] 'And ye, her race, among whom I was brought up.' These words, in which Ajax adopts the Athenians as brethren of the Aeacidae, are well calculated to move the Athenian audience.

862-864. mvp-comment-561-1 After bidding farewell to Salamis and Athens, he is returning to his purpose, when his eye falls on the fresh waters in which he has lately bathed ( supr. 654); and they remind him of his Trojan environment of the last ten years. To this also he bids an affectionate farewell.

864. mvp-comment-562-1 The repetition of his own name by Ajax here is significant. Still conscious of his greatness, he imagines all Nature as moved at his departure.

865-866. mvp-comment-563-1 Ajax having fallen upon his sword at the back of the proscenium, and the orchestra as well as the stage being otherwise vacant, the Chorus re-enter by the two side doors, the first ἡμιχορίον coming in on the spectator's left, as if from the east. Before the opening of the strophe, infr. 879, they have taken up their position in the orchestra.

866. mvp-comment-564-1 'Toil upon toil brings only toil.' The dative here is partly governed by the verb. Cp. Eur. Hel. 195, δάκρυα δάκρυσί μοι φέρων. But in Eur. Phoen. 1496, φόνῳ φόνos, by an extension of the idiom, φόνῳ is simply = ἐπὶ φόνῳ.

869. mvp-comment-565-1 'And no spot arrests me that I may share its secret.' Although the causative sense of the middle voice of ἐφίστημι is usually confined to the first aorist, this is not the case with other compounds of ἵστημι, e. g. καθίσταμαι; and in Trach. 339, τοῦ με τήνδ᾽ ἐφίστασαι βάσιν, the active or causative meaning is the most natural. See L. and S. s. v. ἐφίστημι, C. διίσταμαι occurs with active meaning only in Plat. Tim. 63 C, γεώδη γένη διϊστάμενοι. The force of the middle voice comes out if we complete the expression, ἐφίσταταί με συμμαθεῖν ἑαυτῷ. ἐπίσταταί με συμμαθεῖν can only mean 'is aware that I know what it knows.'

870. mvp-comment-566-1 ἴδου] Cp. El. 1410, ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις.

872. mvp-comment-567-1 Either (1) with a comma after γε, as in the text, 'You hear our sound, your mates of the same ship's crew:' ἡμῶν governed by δοῦπον, and ὁμιλίαν (abstract for concrete) being placed in lax apposition with the preceding words. Or (2) with no stop, supplying κλύεις, 'What you hear is our company, your mates of the same ship's crew.'

874. mvp-comment-568-1 'The coast to westward of the ships hath all been trodden.' πλευρόν, lit. 'the rib,' and hence figuratively the curve, or half-arc, on one side of the bay. νεῶν, not with πλευρόν, but with ἕσπερον, as a genitive of local relation.

877. mvp-comment-569-1 ἀφ᾿ ἡλίου βολῶν] ‘Towards the sunrise;' according to the Greek idiom by which the point of sight is taken as a point of departure. Cp. Hdt. 1. 84, πρὸς τοῦ Τμώλου τετραμμένον, and see L. and S. s. ν. πρός, A. I. 2.

878. mvp-comment-570-1 κέλευθον is accusative of the sphere of motion, Essay on L. § 16. p. 23 c, some such word as ἰοῦσιν being suggested by the context. δηλοῖ] Sc. τὸ ἐρευνώμενον. ‘Reveals the hidden truth by being found.' Ll. 866-878, which are recited before the Chorus have taken their places, are not antistrophic. Ll. 878-914, 925-960, are antistrophic according to the following scheme...