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
.
532.
mvp-comment-316-1
τοσόνδ᾽ ἔχεις τόλμης πρόσωπον
Have you such a face of brass? i. e. τοσαύτης τόλμης πρόσωπον. A case of hypallage.
534.
mvp-comment-317-1
The ind. ἵκου is more forcible than the infinitive, as dwelling on the 542.8] fact, and not merely marking its connexion with the preceding statement. The words ἐμφανῶς, ἐναργής, in what follows, are very characteristic of the passionate self-confidence of Oedipus.
537.
mvp-comment-318-1
ἐν ἐμοί, like ἃ δ᾽ ἂν ἔρῃ, infr. 749, is an apparent violation of the rule that the 2nd and 3rd syllables of a trisyllabic foot must be in the same word. But ev is a preposition which adheres to its case.
538.
mvp-comment-319-1
ὡς, κ.τ.λ. depends, κατὰ τὸ σημαινόμενον, οη καταφρονήσας, or the like, implied in ἰδὼν . . ἐν ἐμοί. Either supposing that I would not detect the stealthy approaches of this plot of yours, or that I would not resist it when observed.' The MS. reading -κούκ may be compared with Il. 2. 289, ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες, or ἤ in this case may be explained as = ' or;' but the correction ἢ ἡ οὐκ seems far more probable. The former alternative implies μωρίαν, the latter δειλίαν. For the synizesis, cp. infr. 555, ἢ οὐκ ἔπειθες.
538.
mvp-comment-319-2
γνωρίσοιμι follows the MSS. against the Atticists.
541.
mvp-comment-320-1
πλήθους καὶ φίλων Cp. supr. 470, πυρὶ καὶ στεροπαῖς.
543.
mvp-comment-321-1
οἶσθ᾿ ὡς ποίησον
Do you know what I bid you do?" An idiomatic confusion of οἶσθ ὡς ποιήσεις with ποίησον. See Essay on Language $ 36. p. 66.
545.
mvp-comment-322-1
You are a clever talker; but I am slow to learn of you (alluding to μαθών in the preceding line), for I have found you dangerous and hostile to me. Cp. Plat. Rep. 2. 358 Α, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγώ τις, ὡς ἔοικε, δυσμαθής.
547.
mvp-comment-323-1
τοῦτ᾽ αὐτό
This very point, viz. whether I am hostile to you.
