Sophocles Electra 307

mvp-comment-791-1 βᾶτε κατ’ ἀντιθύρων ¹

mvp-comment-791-2 The word

is known only from the following passages. (1) Od. 16. 159 , describing a position outside of the hut: usually rendered, ‘he stood over against the doorway.’ (2) In Lucian Alex. 16 is the wall opposite to the door of a room; in this wall a second door is made, to admit of a crowd streaming through the room. In Lucian Symp. 8 the sense is the same.

mvp-comment-791-3 Here,

seems to mean, as in the Odyssey, a place close to the doors; probably just inside of them, and (from that point of view) ‘over against them’; a vestibule, or entrance-hall. Cp. 328 . As was a collateral form of ( Etym. Magn. 806. 4, etc.), may have been such a form of . If so, the desirable accus. for could be at once obtained by κατ’ ἀντιθυρῶν’ ²

mvp-comment-791-4 βᾶτε κάταντα θυρῶν’ ³

mvp-comment-792-1 εὖ θέμενοι ⁴

mvp-comment-792-2 τάδ’ ὡς πάλιν ⁵

mvp-comment-793-1 ᾗ νοεῖς ⁶

mvp-comment-793-2 The ground for giving the words ᾗ νοεῖς ⁷ τελοῦμεν ⁸

mvp-comment-794-1 καὶ δὴ βέβηκα ⁹

mvp-comment-795-1 These verses are antistrophic to 1417—1421. δἰ ὠτὸς ¹⁰

mvp-comment-795-2 ὡς ἠπίως ¹¹

mvp-comment-795-3 λαθραῖον ¹²

mvp-comment-796-1 ναυαγίοις ¹³

mvp-comment-797-1 σέ τοι ¹⁴ κρίνω ¹⁵

1398-1441. mvp-comment-660-1 The following passage (1398-1441), although consisting largely of senarii, appears to be antistrophic, nearly corresponding even in the division of the lines. According to this view ll. 1404-1406 are either (1) not to be counted in the strophe, or (2) lines answering to them after l. 1427 must be supposed to have been lost. As the lines in question relate to the sudden cry of Clytemnestra from within, the former supposition is sufficiently probable. Cp. note on O. C. 117 foll., vol. i. p. 298 (Ist column). In the 'strophe,' ll. 1398-1421, Clytemnestra is put to death, -in the 'antistrophe,' ll. 1422-41, the bleeding sword is displayed, and Aegisthus is descried. The young men then retire into the palace, and Electra waits outside.

1432. mvp-comment-674-1 Some words are wanted to complete the senarius, perhaps indicating the absence of the guard, e.g. οὐδ᾽ ὑπηρέτης πάρα.

1433. mvp-comment-675-1 κατ᾿ ἀντιθύρων] Either (1), Towards the place over against the door.' Cp. the use of ἐπί with the genitive in such expressions as ἐπ᾿ οἴκου. Or (2), 'Go and take your position from over against the door.' Supposing the ἀντίθυρα to have been raised in some way above the vestibule, the preposition with the genitive may suggest the idea of holding a vantage-ground, down from which one may strike with effect.

1434. mvp-comment-676-1 τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν] Sc. εὖ θῆσθε.

1435. mvp-comment-677-1 It is unnecessary, with Erfurdt, to take the words ᾖ νοεῖς from Orestes. The Chorus had not completed their sentence, and Orestes wishes to show that he understands their drift. Thus, 'Thought leaps out to wed with thought, Ere thought can wed itself to speech.' Electra wants neither thoughts nor words, but action. Hence she briefly says, ἔπειγέ νυν.

1436. mvp-comment-678-1 τἀνθάδ᾽.. ἐμοί] Electra says this when Orestes is already out of sight of the audience. As he disappears, Aegisthus approaches, and the Chorus make their speech (ll. 1439-41), sotto voce, with their eyes turned towards him.

1439. mvp-comment-679-1 ὡς ἠπίως] 'With feigned gentleness.' A few MSS. have ὡς νηπίως, 'With feigned simplicity.' See Scholia.

1440-1441. mvp-comment-680-1 λαθραῖον.. ἀγῶνα] 'That he may rush unawares upon the struggle of doom.' λαθραῖον (with ἀγῶνα) is predicative: i.e. That the struggle may be unforeseen.