915.
mvp-comment-592-1
Tecmessa has been gazing beneath the mantle, but, as some of the Chorus draw nearer, she covers the body out of sight.
περιπτυχεῖ] ‘Covering.' Observe the repetition of the word used,
supr. 899, in a different connection.
916.
mvp-comment-593-1
φάρει] Probably the mantle of Ajax; possibly some garment from Tecmessa's own person. See Aesch. Fr. 212. The companions of Achilles, in Il. 18. 352, cover the dead body of Patroclus:
ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν | ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς· καθύπερθε δὲ φάρεϊ λευκῷ.
917.
mvp-comment-594-1
οὐδεὶς . . ὅστις καὶ φίλος] 'No one who loved him.'
καί marks the stress on
φίλος. An enemy or indifferent person might bear to see him, but a friend could not. So Musgrave, 'Qui saltem amicus fuerit. Libentius quippe talia inimicus, quam amicus aspiceret.' Lobeck and the Scholiast give a different force to
καί, as if it meant, 'not even a friend, far less a stranger.' But this is less in accordance with the use of
καί in relative clauses. and also with the feeling of antiquity.
918-919.
mvp-comment-595-1
ἔκ τε φοινίας πληγῆς] Sc.
φυσῶντα, the breath being supposed to issue with the blood from the wound.
Cp. infr. 1411, 2.
μελανθὲν αἷμα]
Cp. infr. 1412, 3,
μέλαν | μένος.
919.
mvp-comment-596-1
οἰκείας σφαγῆς] ‘His own self-inflicted death-wound. For this use of
οἰκεῖος, cp. Εl. 215,
οἰκείας εἰς ἄτας,
supr. 260,
οἰκεῖα πάθη.
920.
mvp-comment-597-1
τίς σε βαστάσει φίλων] The huge form of Ajax lying disordered would need a powerful hand to straighten it. Even Teucer needs help,
infr. ll. 1409-11. Tecmessa shrinks from asking the Chorus to perform this duty, which, however willing, they would do awkwardly; and for such sacred service a nearer and more equal friend is required.
921.
mvp-comment-598-1
ὡς ἀκμαῖος, εἰ βαίη, μόλοι] 'How timely were his coming, if he came.' The optative without
ἄν is doubted, but is less harsh coming immediately after another optative; and see Essay on L. § 36. p. 626 (1). Some have supposed a confusion of the expression of a wish with the potential optative. 'Might he but come! How timely!' But this is hardly in the Greek.
922.
mvp-comment-599-1
συγκαθαρμόσαι] This compound occurs only here.
