513.
mvp-comment-305-1
Creon enters (right) from the city. In the first episode the action was strikingly rapid. It contained the two great movements of the proclamation of Oedipus and the prophecy of Teiresias, with only sufficient pause between them (ll. 276-296) to give effect to the latter. Now follows a period of suspense, for which the wavering tones of the last chorus have prepared the way. The scene is of unusual length, ll. 512-862, but is divided by the short lyric measures (commatica) in 11. 649-668, 678-696. Cp. O. C. 833 ff, 876 ff. The entrance of Jocasta (1. 634) prepares new complications.
515.
mvp-comment-306-1
ἀτλητών
Unable to endure it. The verb is formed after the analogy οἱ ἀλαστέω, ἀελπτέω, etc.
515.
mvp-comment-306-2
ἐν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς ταῖς νῦν
In the present crisis.
516.
mvp-comment-307-1
πρός γ᾿ ἐμοῦ The variety of reading has been caused by the ellipse of τι, for which cp. El. 1322-1323, ὡς ἐπ᾿ ἐξόδῳ κλύω | τῶν ἔνδοθεν χωροῦντος, SC.
516.
mvp-comment-307-2
τινός. The emphatic ἐμοῦ is better here than μου. That in this emergency he has suffered at my hands aught tending to his harm by word or deed.
518.
mvp-comment-308-1
I care not to prolong my life.'
518.
mvp-comment-308-2
τοῦ μακραίωνος. The article as with words of number and quantity, e.g. Ο. C. 1211, τοῦ πλέονος μέρους. Cp. Αj. 473, τοῦ μακροῦ χρήζειν βίου. For the use of the compound, see Essay on Language p. 101.
519.
mvp-comment-309-1
ἁπλοῦν, though opposed to μέγιστον, is not = σμικρόν, but points to the manifold nature of the injury as expressed in 521-522, This word affects me with loss not only in one respect, but does me the most serious injury.' For the unconscious tautology in the repetition of φέρει after φέρον, φέροντι, cp. infr. 524-527, γνώμῃ, γνώμαις, γνώμῃ.
522.
mvp-comment-310-1
The leader of the chorus is allied to the royal house, infr. 1225.
524.
mvp-comment-311-1
βιασθέν is not to be repeated with γνώμῃ, which is dative of cause.
The charge may have been made in the violence of anger, and not advisedly.
525.
mvp-comment-312-1
τοῦ πρός
From whom proceeded this? i. e. On whose authority was it said? The inversion in this passage has suggested the v. r. τοῦπος found in FL³, which is also supposed to correspond better with the answer of the chorus. But the change is unnecessary. The order of words is singular, but is suited to express the excitement of Creon. Cp. the position of ὅτι, and Ar. Εq. 32, ποῖον βρέτας πρός; There is no real difficulty in reconciling the question to the answer. Creon asks, 'From whom came the intimation?" To which the chorus answers,
The thing was said, but I cannot tell you on what ground or authority: γνώμῃ τίνι referring to τοῦ πρός, κ.τ.λ. For γνώμῃ φρενῶν, cp. Ant. 1090, τὸν νοῦν .. τῶν φρενῶν.
528.
mvp-comment-313-1
Were his eyes and his mind clear, when this accusation was uttered against : me by him?' Most MSS. omitting δ' in the first place, waver between ὀρθῶν τε and ὀρθῶν δέ. But δ' before ὀρθῶν is not devoid of authority.
529.
mvp-comment-314-1
Observe the continued use of the passive voice. Essay on Language §. 31. pp. 53-54. Creon still avoids the direct mention of Oedipus as his accuser; and the chorus use the same reserve.
530.
mvp-comment-315-1
ἃ γὰρ .. οὐχ ὁρῶ
I have no eye to see what rulers do. 532 foll. Insolent, what mean you by coming hither, you that have aimed at my life and sought to subvert my sovereignty? Unsupported by friends, how could you expect to succeed or to elude my vigilance? Did you take me for a coward or a fool?'
530.
mvp-comment-315-2
οὗτος, σύ This punctuation is more forcible than οὗτος σύ, and has also better authority. The inversion of πῶς σύ accords with the feeling of the speech. Essay on Language § 41. p. 78. See below,
l. 1121
.
