391-402;507-518.
mvp-comment-280-1
The Chorus show their interest and support Neoptolemus by these strains, which are interwoven with the action, like those in O. T. 660 foll., 689 foll., О. С. 1447-1456, 1477-1485. They wish to assist their master by simulating hatred of the Atreidae and sympathy with Philoctetes. That both feelings are merely assumed, and that the Chorus really understand the situation, is obvious from the exaggerated strength of expression in 510, εἰ δὲ πικρούς, ἄναξ, ἔχθεις ᾿Ατρείδας. Their feigned excitement, to which the mixture of dochmiac and iambo-bacchic metre is well suited, was no doubt expressed with gestures accompanying the recitation, by the two half-choruses, of strophe and antistrophe severally.
441.
mvp-comment-313-1
'Ay? Who may that be, if you can mean any one but Odysseus?' The syntax of the previous sentence is continued. E. on L. § 35. p. 60.
442.
mvp-comment-314-1
οὐ τοῦτον εἶπον] In the spirit of ll. 64, 5, supr. Neoptolemus professes to be impatient of the very name of Odysseus. Cp. infr. 1400, 1.
442-444.
mvp-comment-315-1
'I meant not him. But there was one Thersites, who would never be content with speaking once, where all cried, Silence.' This, like supr. 348, 9, is a strong instance of ironical indirectness of expression. For ὅπου μηδεὶς ἐψη, cp. esp. Plat. Symp. 175 Β, ἐπειδάν τις ὑμῖν μὴ ἐφεστήκῃ. Also Aj. 1184, κἂν μηδεὶς ἐᾷ, 'Though all say, You shall not.'
443.
mvp-comment-316-1
ἂν εἴλετο is a singular instance of ἄν with the aor. ' of custom.' Cp. the curious use of the imperfect with ἄν, Ant. 260, κἂν ἐγίγνετο | πληγὴτελευτῶσ᾽, and note. Dobree conjectured ἀνείχετ'.
445.
mvp-comment-317-1
αὐτόν] Burges conjectured αὐτός. ἔτ᾿ ὄντα νιν] The Scholiast, whose account agrees in the main with that of Quintus Smyrnaeus (1. 741, foll.), finds here another departure from the Epic tradition, according to which Thersites had been killed by Achilles with a blow of his fist.
446.
mvp-comment-318-1
'I was sure of it. For never evil perished yet.' The reading οὐδέπω κακόν may be defended by comparing supr. 83, εἰς ἀναιδές, and note. The correction οὐδέν πω (Herm.) has been generally adopted.
447.
mvp-comment-319-1
εὐ περιστέλλουσιν αὐτά] ‘Carefully defend them from harm.' αὐτά] Sc. τὰ κακά, which, like τὰ .. πανούργα καὶ παλιντριβῆ refers to persons. Cp. τὰ μέσα τῶν πολιτῶν and similar expressions.
448.
mvp-comment-320-1
καί πως] Cp. Eur. Med. 119. παλιντριβή] • Froward.' The notion in παλιντριβής is that of something which resists treatment: cp. ἀντίτυπος.
449.
mvp-comment-321-1
ἀναστρέφοντες ἐξ "Αιδου] “In turning back, i. e. when on their way thither. Like his father Sisyphus, who intrigued himself out of Hades (infr. 625), Odysseus bears a charmed life.
451.
mvp-comment-322-1
ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα] · What is one to make of these things? What place assign to them in thought?' i. e. how bring them into harmony with our other thoughts? ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν] ποῦ is used for πῶς by attraction, or the tendency to repeat the same expression (οἷον ῥυμή τις τοῦ λόγου), for which, see E. on L. § 35. p 60. What place can we find for their approval? i. e. How can we acquiesce in them? Cp. Eur. Heracl. 369, ποῦ ταῦτα καλῶς ἂν εἴη;
452.
mvp-comment-323-1
Since, in seeking to approve the doings of the gods, I find that the gods are evil doers; i. e. In praising the gods I must call them wise and good, but this experience shows them to be either malignant or weak. The tense in ἐπαινῶν has an inceptive or conative force.
453-465.
mvp-comment-324-1
Neoptolemus, while still professing hatred of Troy, uses language that is calculated to excite to the utmost the desire of Philoctetes to be taken home. He addresses him with reference to his father and the sacred hill (infr. 729), where he saw the last of Heracles. He speaks of his own isle of Scyros by name, and affects to look forward to the happiness of an unambitious home. He points to the departure of his vessel as imminent.
454-455.
mvp-comment-325-1
τηλόθεν εἰσορῶν φυλάξομαι] Will avoid, beholding afar off.' For the indirect expression, see E. on L. § 42. p. 79, and cp. esp. Ο. Τ. 795. ἄστροις. . ἐκμετρούμενος χθόνα, and note: Eur. Hippol. 102, πρόσωθεν αὐτὴν ἁγνὸς ὢν ἀσπάζομαι.
457.
mvp-comment-326-1
χώ δεινὸς κρατεῖ] 'And power is in the hands of clever rogues.' For this dislike of δεινότης, cp. Thuc. 8. 68, ὑπόπτως τῷ πλήθει διὰ δόξαν δεινότητος διακείμενος: Isocr. Panathen. p. 242, C, ἐπαινεῖν μὲν . . τὴν . . ἀγαθῶν αἰτίαν γεγενημένην, δεινὴν δὲ νομίζειν τὴν αὑτῇ τὰ συμφέροντα διαπραττομένην. Many have preferred δειλός, which involves a very slight change.
460.
mvp-comment-327-1
ὥστε τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ] ‘And I shall have full contentment in my home.' Cp. Od. 13. 61, σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδ᾽ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ, | παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ ᾿Αλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.
461.
mvp-comment-328-1
He again reminds Philoctetes of his father, this time by name.
462.
mvp-comment-329-1
ὡς μέγιστα] The slight exaggeration shows Neoptolemus' feeling of the hollowness of this farewell.
463.
mvp-comment-330-1
ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις] Cp. Od. 6. 180, σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν, ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς.
464-465.
mvp-comment-331-1
ὡς .. ὁρμώμεθα] 'That we may sail at whatever moment Heaven vouchsafes to yield us a fair voyage.' Cp. Od. 9. 138, 9, εἰσόκε ναυτέων | θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται. The wind is favourable for the voyage to Troy, but not for that to Scyros. Cp. infr. 639, 40, 855, 1450, 1.
466.
mvp-comment-332-1
καιρός] 'The moment calls upon us,' cp. infr. 1450; καιρός here probably refers to the time of day. Should the wind now shift, he might hope to reach Scyros before night-fall. It cannot mean, 'The chance of a favouring breeze invites us.' Cp. infr. 639, 40.
467.
mvp-comment-333-1
πλοῦν.. σκοπεῖν] ‘Τo watch the opportunity of sailing not from far off but close at hand.' Cp. Thuc. 4. 23, σκοποῦντες καιρόν, εἴ τις παραπέσοι, ὥστε τοὺς ἄνδρας σῶσαι: Eur. Hec. 901, μένειν ἀνάγκη πλοῦν ὁρῶντας ἡσύχους. We have here another instance of indirect expression. See Essay on L. § 42. p. 79. Οη ἐξ ἀπόπτου, see Aj. 15, and note.
468ff.
mvp-comment-334-1
The moment, for which the preceding scene has prepared the spectator, is now come. Philoctetes' agony of supplication is made more pathetic by our knowledge that he is 'working against his own desire,' and running thus eagerly 'to meet what he would most avoid.' πρός ... προσφιλές] Cp. О. С. 250, πρός σ' ὅ τι σοι φίλον ἐκ σέθεν ἄντομαι, and note: Od. 10. 66, πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.
472.
mvp-comment-335-1
ὅσοισί τ᾽ ἐξήκουσας] Viz. supr. 263-313; cp. infr. 591, ἅπερ κλύεις.
473.
mvp-comment-336-1
ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με] (1) 'But stow me away' (or 'dispose of me') * as a supernumerary. θοῦ, sc. ἐν τῇ νηΐ: cp. infr. 481, ἐμβαλοῦ μ᾿ ὅπῃ θέλεις (sc. τῆς νεώς). ἐν παρέργῳ, sc. τῶν φορουμένων: cp. Eur. El. 63, πάρεργ Ορέστην κἀμὲ ποιεῖται δόμων.
474.
mvp-comment-337-1
'Indeed, as I well know, much annoyance is involved in such a freight.' δυσχέρεια contains the chief predicate. For the genitive, see E. on L. § 9. p. 12, 1a. This line is strangely suspected by Nauck, It exactly expresses the humbleness of Philoctetes in his extreme need.
475-476.
mvp-comment-338-1
τοῖσι . . εὐκλεές] Surely the noble heart hates what is base, and appreciates the glory of kindness.' εὐκλεές, while opposed to ἐχθρόν, is partly suggested by αἰσχρόν, so that the whole argument, if drawn out at length, would be τὸ μὲν αἰσχρὸν ἐχθρόν, τὸ δὲ εὐκλεὲς φίλον, τὸ δέ γε χρηστὸν εὐκλεές. Philoctetes perceives that a noble youth like Neoptolemus must be ambitious of the purest renown.
477.
mvp-comment-339-1
οὐ καλόν] Full of disgrace.' Cp. Trach. 454, κὴρ πρόσεστιν οὐ καλή.
478.
mvp-comment-340-1
πλεῖστον εὐκλείας γέρας] 'An abundant meed of fair renown.' πλεῖστον rather than μέγιστον, which would agree better with γέρας, because πλεῖστον γέρας εὐκλείας = γέρας πλείστης εὐκλείας. See E. on L. § 42. γ. p. 80. Philoctetes thinks of the gratitude of Poeas and his Melian friends as enough to satisfy any man's ambition.
480.
mvp-comment-341-1
The expression is modified as the sentence proceeds: "Tis the labour of a day, nay, not of one whole day.'
481.
mvp-comment-342-1
τόλμησον] 'Take heart to do it.' Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα, κ.τ.λ., and note.
478-481.
mvp-comment-343-1
ὅπῃ θέλεις] In what part (of the ship) you will.' ἄγων] 'If you will but take me.' Cp. infr. 590, ποιοῦ λέγων. And see E. on L. § 36. р. 63.
482.
mvp-comment-344-1
ὅποι, sc. βεβλημένος, or = ἐκεῖσε ὅπου. The construction is attracted to that of the preceding words. See Essay on L. § 35, a. p. 59.
483.
mvp-comment-345-1
ξυνόντας] Cp. infr. 520, τῆς νόσου ξυνουσίᾳ.
484.
mvp-comment-346-1
πρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζηνός] Wishing to add something to his previous adjuration, supr. 468, 9, he can only think of Ζεὺς ἱκέσιος himself, whom he now brings forward, ὡς ἐπὶ τούτοις τὸν κολοφῶνα.
485.
mvp-comment-347-1
γόνασι] (1) 'By falling on my knees,' (instrum. dat.). Or, (2) 'On my knees,' (locative). Cp. γονυπετής. Philoctetes kneels as far as his lameness will allow, and in the same act calls attention to the pitiable weakness which hinders even the posture of supplication.
487.
mvp-comment-348-1
χωρὶς ἀνθρώπων στίβου] 'Apart from track of men,' i. e. where no man comes. Cp. Ant. 773, ἔρημος ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ βροτῶν στίβος.
488-489.
mvp-comment-349-1
Philoctetes longs to be taken home (492), but, in order to obtain his petition, he limits it to what is easiest of performance. ἄγων is here unemphatic; not as supr. 481.
489.
mvp-comment-350-1
Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά] To the Euboean dwelling of Chalcodon, i. e. Chalcis. Chalcodon is the father of Elephenor, who led the Euboeans to Troy; Il. 2. 536-541, οἱ δ' Εὔβοιαν ἔχον ... | τῶν αὖθ᾽ ἡγεμόνευ Ελεφήνωρ όζος ῎Αρηος | Χαλκωδοντιάδης, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς ᾿Αβάντων. The thoughts of Philoctetes are with the older generation (Poeas, Peleus, Telamon, Lycomedes, Chalcodon), who had known Heracles, and were still vigorous when Philoctetes left home for Troy. According to a tradition, which is here ignored, Chalchodon had long since been slain by Amphitryon.
491.
mvp-comment-351-1
The correction of δειράδα καί (see v.rr.) is very uncertain. δεράς does not occur elsewhere. Other corrections are δειράδ᾽ ἤ (Porson), πρῶνα καί (Wunder), δειράδ' ἐπί (Hermann in one edition), δειράδ' ἀνά (Seyffert). Philoctetes imagines the features of his native land as they would successively disclose themselves in the homeward voyage in l. 488.
492.
mvp-comment-352-1
πατρὶ . . φίλῳ] 'That so thou mayest give me to my dear father's sight.' ὡς δείξῃς depends on ἔκσωσον in l. 488.
493.
mvp-comment-353-1
παλαί᾽ ἂν ἐξότου = παλαιὸς χρόνος ἂν εἴη ἐξ ὅτον, is to be joined as an adverbial expression with βεβήκῃ. Cp. Thuc. 1. 6, where οὐ πολὺς χρόνος ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο φοροῦντες = ἔναγχος ἐφόρουν καὶ οὐ πολὺς χρόνος γέγονεν ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσαντο. Others read παλαιὸν ἐξ ὅτου. If this is adopted, the phrase is still to be joined to βεβήκη, and not το δέδοικα.
494.
mvp-comment-354-1
μὴ . · βεβήκη] 'Who, my fears tell me, may be long since gone.' Βεβήκοι might be defended as continuing the construction with ἄν; but this is improbable. μοι is ethical dative. πολλά, adv. τοῖς ἱγμένοις] 'By means of those who had come,' (supr. 301 fol.). Cp. Ant. 164, 5, πομποῖσιν . . ἔστειλα.
495.
mvp-comment-355-1
ἔστελλον] 'I urged him.' Cp. infr. 623. The imperfect tense represents an endeavour.
496.
mvp-comment-356-1
αὐτόστολον] 'With a ship and crew of his own providing.' Agreeing with αὐτόν. δόμοις] Wund. conjectured δόμους, perhaps rightly; but for the dative, see Essay on L. § 11. p. 18, 3.
497-499.
mvp-comment-357-1
τὰ τῶν διακόνων .. ποιούμενοι] Either (1) τὰ τῶν διακόνων simply = οἱ διάκονοι, with which ποιούμενοι agrees. Or (2) the mode of expression is altered from 'the service of my messengers failed me' (ἐξαπώλετο ἤ τι τοιοῦτον), to 'my messengers cared little for what concerned me, but pushed their homeward voyage, etc.'
498.
mvp-comment-358-1
ὡς εἰκός] Philoctetes attributes to such involuntary visitants the homesickness which he himself feels. τοὐμὸν . . ποιούμενοι] He says this as feeling bitterly his insignificance. Cp. supr. 254,5.
500.
mvp-comment-359-1
Seyffert rightly omits the comma after νῦν δ'. Cp. supr. 144, 5. εἰς σὲ .. ἥκω) · I am come to thee,' i e. My fate has brought me to you in the succession of those who come. For the transference of words of place to time, see E. on L. § 24. p. 41, 7. πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον] Who wilt be my guide at the same time that thou dost thyself report concerning me.' αὐτόν belongs to both nouns, i. e. not only to transmit news of me, but to announce me yourself in person; not only to announce me, but to take me home. Philoctetes still clings to the hope that Neoptolemus will bring him all the way to Trachis.
501.
mvp-comment-360-1
εἰσορῶν] 'Seeing,' in the example now present before you.
502-503.
mvp-comment-361-1
δεινά] Sc. ἐστί. How to mortals all things are beset with peril and hazard; there is a chance of good and a chance of the opposite.' Philoctetes has deeply learnt the lesson: 'It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking. Neoptolemus must show mercy, and thus avoid provoking the gods. For πάντα δεινά, Wakefield conjectured πάντ' ἄδηλα.
504.
mvp-comment-362-1
ὁρᾶν] Το be ware of. Schol. εὐλαβεῖσθαι. Cp. Aj. 1313, ὅρα μὴ τοὐμόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ σόν.
506.
mvp-comment-363-1
διαφθαρείς] Sc. ὁ βίος. Cp. Thuc. 8. 91, λήσειν διαφθαρέντας (sc. ἔφη Θηραμένης τοὺς τειχίζοντας τὴν Ἠετιώνειαν τοῖς ᾿Αθηναίοις).
507-518.
mvp-comment-364-1
In the strophe supr. 391-402, the one half-chorus echoed the falsehood of Neoptolemus. The other half-chorus now in similar measures professedly responds to the appeal of Philoctetes, and recommends him to the kindness of Neoptolemus. L. 510 is equivalent, although not identical in metre, with l. 395: Each consists of two dochmiacs.
508-509.
mvp-comment-365-1
πόνων ἆθλ'] Cp. Trach. 506, ἄεθλ᾽ ἀγώνων. ὅσσα] Porson's conjecture, οἷα, has been adopted by several editors. Other proposed corrections are ἄσσα and ἄθλους ἅ (Dobree). ὅσσα is at once, So many as,' and 'So great as.' τύχοι] λάχοι, which Nauck reads, would be in a more usual construction. But the change is unnecessary.
510.
mvp-comment-366-1
πικρούς] Cp. supr. 320-3, 363, 369, 396.
511.
mvp-comment-367-1
τὸ κείνων μετατιθέμενος] Converting their evil deed into a benefit for him.' According to the pretended situation, the same iniquity which cast Philoctetes forth has sent Neoptolemus from Troy, and Neoptolemus has now the opportunity of taking Philoctetes home. Thus evil may be made the occasion of good. The middle voice in μετατιθέμενος is subjective='On your own part.'
515.
mvp-comment-368-1
ἐπιμέμονεν] Sc. πορεύεσθαι. Cp. Εl. 1435, ᾗ νοεῖς ἔπειγέ νυν.
516.
mvp-comment-369-1
ἐπ᾿ εὐστόλου ταχείας νεώς] Οn your trim swift bark.' For the double epithet, see Essay on L. § 23. P. 37.
517.
mvp-comment-370-1
τὰν *θεῶν] ἐκ (see v.rr.) is required by the same metrical reason which led to Λαερτίου being changed το Λαρτίου in l. 401.
518.
mvp-comment-371-1
νέμεσιν] The possibility of some Divine retribution following refusal was gently hinted at the conclusion of Philoctetes' speech, ll 501-506.
519.
mvp-comment-372-1
Consider, lest you who now stand there so goodnaturedly, may show a different spirit from your present words when you are wearied through contact with the disease.' For the 'paratactic' structure, see Essay on L. § 36. p. 68. τις is added to a predicative word as in Ο. Τ. 618, 9, ὅταν ταχύς τις οὑπιβουλεύων λάθρα χωρῇ. The slight redundancy of the expression, for which, cp. Εl. 506, ὡς ἔμολες αἰανή, κ.τ.λ., has suggested an unnecessary doubt whether παρῆς may not be from παρίημι (‘You grant permission').
521.
mvp-comment-373-1
For αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις, ср. О. Т. 557, καὶ νῦν ἔθ᾽ αὑτός εἰμι τῷ βουλεύματι, and note.
522-523.
mvp-comment-374-1
are spoken by the coryphaeus.
524-525.
mvp-comment-375-1
'It were shame if I were found more backward than you are to serve a stranger in his need.' ξένῳ either = τῷ ξένῳ, i. e. ‘Τo Philoctetes,' or, with a slight difference, (2) more generally, 'To a stranger-friend,' -as Philoctetes is. The dative depends on ἐνδεέστερον φανῆναι (= γενέσθαι) and is to be resumed with πονεῖν.
525.
mvp-comment-376-1
πρὸς τὸ καίριον is an adverbial expression, like πρὸς τὸ κάρτερον, πρὸς τὸ λιπαρές, etc., and the infinitive depends on ἐνδεέστερον.
527.
mvp-comment-377-1
οὐκ ἀπαρνηθήσεται] (1) He shall not be denied.' This suits the feeling of the passage better than (2) the impersonal sense (The favour shall not be denied'), which, however, is also possible.
529.
mvp-comment-378-1
The emphatic position of ἡμᾶς at the beginning of the line shows that Neoptolemus deliberately includes Philoctetes in his prayer. βουλοίμεσθα is optative because of the preceding optative (cp. 325, 961) and partakes of the indefiniteness of the wish. Neoptolemus feels that when they leave the shore the intention of his voyage will not be that which he now professes, and he trusts that by that time the wish of Philoctetes may be the same with his own.
533.
mvp-comment-379-1
*προσκύσαντε εἰσοίκησιν] Schndw. threw suspicion on these words because of the ἅπαξ λεγόμενον εἰσοίκησις, and various modes of alteration have been suggested. But it is idle to object to every ἅπαξ λεγόμενον. And these words give an excellent sense. If ἐξοικεῖν, a rare word, means ἔξω οἰκεῖν (Lys. 187. 29, Dem. 845. 19), why may not εἰσοικεῖν mean ἔσω οἰκεῖν? (It is so used in Anth. P. 7. 320, according to the MS. reading.) Cp. εἰσίδρυμαι, εἰσίζομαι, εἰσοικίζω. In that case ἡ εἰσοίκησις is ἡ ἔσω οἴκησις, and τὴν ἔσω.. εἰσοίκλησιν is merely a common instance of pleonasm, much as when we speak of the interior of a cave. If εἰς οἴκησιν is read, it becomes necessary to suppose a lacuna, for ἴωμεν here can only mean, 'Let us depart.' For the participial expression (προσκύσαντε = ' but first let us pay a farewell visit to'), ср. О. Т. 680, μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη. Philoctetes'attachment to his bare and comfortless dwelling-place shows itself here, together with the longing expressed supr. 251 foll, that the extent of his misery and endurance might be known.
535.
mvp-comment-380-1
ἀφ᾽ ὧν] ἀπο- as in ἀποζῆν. διέζων] 'I kept life afoot.' δια- of a persevering effort, as in διαμάχεσθαι.
536.
mvp-comment-381-1
μόνην θέαν] 'Even the mere sight.' The adjective has the force of the adverb μόνον.
538.
mvp-comment-382-1
προὔμαθον] Either (1) ‘I long since learned,' or (2) 'I learnt by degrees,' i.e. conquering each evil as it met me. Cp. προδιδάσκειν.
539-541.
mvp-comment-383-1
These lines are spoken by the coryphaeus. The Σκοπός of supr. 125 is seen approaching, disguised as a ship-master, and accompanied by another of Neoptolemus's crew.
540.
mvp-comment-384-1
ἀλλόθρους is simply a stranger, 'Not one of ourselves.' The word ξένος (infr. 557) would not apply to the man until they knew whether he was of Scyros or not. He professes afterwards to come from Peparethus.
541.
mvp-comment-385-1
αὖθις] Blaydes conjectures αὐτίκ'. But αὖθις is 'afterwards,' as αὖτις in Il. 1. 140, ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις. After that, ye shall go in'
542.
mvp-comment-386-1
τόνδε τὸν ξυνέμπορον] 'This companion of my way,' viz. from the mooring place to before the cave.
544.
mvp-comment-387-1
ποῦ κυρῶν εἴης] • Where you were at this moment to be found.' A conversational pleonasm.
545.
mvp-comment-388-1
ἀντέκυρσα] Sc. σοί. ‘Our paths have crossed.' δοξάζων μὲν οὔ] 'Not that I had any thought of such a thing.' For the combination of aorist and imperfect (δοξάζων = ὅτε ἐδόξαζον), cp. Ο. Τ. 1457, θνήσκων ἐσώθην.
546.
mvp-comment-389-1
ὁρμισθείς] 'Brought to anchor.' He has been baffled by the headwind mentioned infr. 639.
547.
mvp-comment-390-1
ὡς ναύκληρος, οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ] 'With the modest outfit of a merchant-man.' This accounts for his approach not having been descried. He is supposed to be a purveyor (infr. 583, 4) of provisions to the army, perhaps of wine from his own vine-clad (εὔβοτρυν) island. Cp. ΙΙ. 7. 467, νῆες δ᾽ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέστασαν οἶνον ἄγουσαι. Peparethus is midway between Scyros and the entrance to the Maliac gulf. The same wind that is pretended to have detained Neoptolemus would also delay the merchantman on his homeward voyage.
549-550.
mvp-comment-391-1
ὡς νεναυστοληκότες] 'When I had ascertained in the course of conversation that the mariners who had manned the vessel were one and all your men' (σοί, possessive pronoun). So Hermann, Opusc. 8. p. 190, rightly, although the reason which he gives ('Nam sic demum nauclerus tuto referre poterat, quae erat narraturus'), is not required. Dobree conjectured συννεναυστοληκότες (‘That they had all accompanied you in your voyage').
552.
mvp-comment-392-1
προστυχόντι τῶν ἴσων depends οη τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι as an affirmative expression: i. e. ἔδοξέ μοι, φράσαντι καὶ τῶν ἴσων προστυχόντι, οὕτω τὸν πλοῦν ποιεῖσθαι. · When first I had received fair recompense.' For the naiveté of this parenthetical demand, as not unbefitting the relations of the sea-captain to Neoptolemus (who is no less careful to assure him of his gratitude, infr. 557, 8), ср. О. Τ. 1005, 6, καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην ὅπως | σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι: Trach. 190, 1, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι.
553.
mvp-comment-393-1
οὐδὲν σύ που] The asyndeton marks the urgency of the intelligence.
554.
mvp-comment-394-1
ἀμφὶ σοῦ * νέα] This emendation of Auratus has been generally received. And although the MS. reading may be possibly defended by the comparison of such phrases as τίνος δὴ χάριν ἕνεκα, etc. (see especially Thuc. 8. 92, ὅσον καὶ ἀπὸ βοῆς ἕνεκα), the meaning as well as the grammar is distinctly improved by the change.
556.
mvp-comment-395-1
δρώμεν', οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξαργούμενα] Ιn act, no longer left undone.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1359, τοῦ δρῶντός ἐστι καὶ τὸ βουλεῦσαι πέρι.
559.
mvp-comment-396-1
φράσον . . ἔλεξας] Declare at full what you have now mentioned.'
560.
mvp-comment-397-1
ἀπ᾿ ᾿Αργείων] Sc. φαινόμενον. ἔχεις] Cp. Trach. 318, οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρὸς του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις; Ο. C. 1451, μάτην γὰρ οὐδὲν ἀξίωμα δαιμόνων ἔχω φράσαι.
562.
mvp-comment-398-1
οἱ.. Θησέως κόροι] Acamas and Demophon, said to have been first mentioned in the Ἰλίου πέρσις of Arctinus. These names help to commend the lie to the fancy of the Athenian audience.
563.
mvp-comment-399-1
λόγοις] By persuasion.' Cp. infr. 612, 623 foll., 629, 30.
563,565.
mvp-comment-400-1
These vague replies show that Neoptolemus has not yet seized his cue. Cp. 570, 1 foll.
566.
mvp-comment-401-1
οὕτω καθ' ὁρμήν] ‘Thus incontinently' (in the old sense); referring to supr. 555. 6.
567.
mvp-comment-402-1
ὡς ταῦτ᾽ ἐπίστω δρώμεν] i. e. ἐπίστασο, ὡς ταῦτα δρώμενα (sc. ἐστίν). For ἐπίστασο ταῦτα ὡς δρώμενα this would be too violent an inversion.
568.
mvp-comment-403-1
πρὸς τάδε] 'Hereupon,' i. e. 'When such was the counsel of the Argives.' αὐτάγγελος] ‘'Bringing the message in person;' i. e. αὐτὸς καὶ μὴ δι᾽ ἄλλων ἀγγέλων. Phoenix and the Theseidae were ἄγγελοι of the resolution of the chieftains to Neoptolemus.
569.
mvp-comment-404-1
ἢ.. νιν] Neoptolemus assumes a spirited tone, and suggests a mean motive in Odysseus, in order to gratify Philoctetes.
570.
mvp-comment-405-1
ἐπ᾿ ἄλλον ἄνδρα] ‘With designs upon another person.'
571.
mvp-comment-406-1
When I left the harbour, they were making ready.'
572.
mvp-comment-407-1
'Who could this be. with a view to whom Odysseus himself was setting forth?' i e. ποῖος ἂν εἴη πρὸς ὃν ἔπλει; So the unusual insertion of ἄν may be explained. See Essay on L. § 27. p. 45. And the meaning is so appropriate, that it seems better to retain the particle, although πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόν δ' is a conjectural reading involving only a slight change.
575.
mvp-comment-408-1
'Sir, you have the privilege of seeing here the famous Philoctetes.' Thus Neoptolemus humours the feeling which Philoctetes had shown supra 261, 2, ὅδ᾽ εἴμ᾽ ἐγώ σοι κεῖνος, ὃν κλύεις ἴσως | τῶν Ἡρακλείων ὄντα δεσπότην ὅπλων.
576.
mvp-comment-409-1
τὰ πλείον'] For the article, cp. Trach. 731, and note.
577.
mvp-comment-410-1
ἔκπλει σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβών] 'Snatch yourself up and sail away.' Cp. Eur. H. F. 833 foll., ἄλλ' εἶ', ἄτεγκτον ξυλλαβοῦσα καρδίαν . . ἔλαυνε, κίνει, κ.τ.λ.: also Plat. Rep. 1. 336 В, συστρέψας ἑαυτὸν ἧκεν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. The Ἔμπορος speaks low, as he had charged Neoptolemus to do. This awakens the lively suspicion of Philoctetes, who hears enough to understand that there is a danger of his being left behind. Mr. Paley conjectures, ἔκπλευσον αὐτὸν συλλαβών, comparing infr. 621. But there the case is altered by Neoptolemus having avowed his friendship for Philoctetes in ll. 585, 6.
578.
mvp-comment-411-1
κατὰ σκότον] 'In secret.' So infr. 581, εἰς φῶς, Openly."
579.
mvp-comment-412-1
διεμπολᾷ λόγοισι πρός σε] Is treating me dishonestly in his talk with thee.' Cp. Ant. 1036, ἐξημπόλημαι κἀκπεφόρτισμαι.
581.
mvp-comment-413-1
εἰς φῶς = 'Openly.' Cp. О. Т. 93, ἐς πάντας αύδα. τούσδε τε] The Chorus.
582-583.
mvp-comment-414-1
μή με.. ἃ μὴ δεῖ] 'Bring me not into discredit with the army, through my telling what I should keep close; i. e. Do not make me tell, and so make them angry with me. λέγοντα = διὰ τὸ λέγειν, cp. Thuc. 8.87, ἣν εἶπε πρόφασιν οὐ κομίσας (i. e. δι᾽ ὅ, τι οὐκ ἐκόμισεν).
583-584.
mvp-comment-415-1
'I. being poor, receive much kindness from them for service which I do.' For γε, which modifies the sentence, to which it gives a pleading tone, see Essay on L. § 26. p. 41. οἱ᾿ ἀνὴρ πένης] (1) As is natural in the case of one who is poor: rather than, (2) 'Such service as a poor man may do.' Cp. supr. 273, and note.
585ff.
mvp-comment-416-1
Neoptolemus professes to demand that, if there is danger, the Ἔμπορος should risk it for his and Philoctetes' sake. The Ἔμπορος in his reply insinuates that the danger, if he is made to speak, is common to them all three, and that Neoptolemus will be responsible for the consequences.
589.
mvp-comment-417-1
καί belongs in meaning to the whole sentence = καὶ δὴ σκοπῶ. ἐγώ] 'Of myself,' without this caution from you.
590.
mvp-comment-418-1
ποιοῦ λέγων] 'Make me so, if you will but speak. For this emphatic use of the participle, cp. especially O. C. 1038, χωρῶν ἀπείλει νυν, -also supr. 481, and note.
591.
mvp-comment-419-1
ἅπερ κλύεις] Supr. 570, 1.
592.
mvp-comment-420-1
ἥ τ᾿ Ὀδυσσέως βία] Cp. supr. 314, 321.
593.
mvp-comment-421-1
διώμοτοι] 'Expressly sworn.' Cp. Trach. 378, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων διώμνυτο: Ο. Τ. 834, διεῖπε χρῆναι, κ.τ.λ. For the meaning, cp. infr. 618, 9, 623.
594.
mvp-comment-422-1
ἢ . . κράτος] Or were they to prevail by force.'
597.
mvp-comment-423-1
δράσειν τάδε is added as a resumption of ταῦτα, depending on λέγοντος (not on θάρσος εἶχε).
598-599.
mvp-comment-424-1
i. ε. τίνος δὲ πράγματος χάριν ᾿Ατρείδαι, χρόνῳ τοσῷδε, οὕτως ἄγαν ἐπεστρέφοντο τοῦδε. For the order of the words, see Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, 8.
600.
mvp-comment-425-1
εἶχον . . *ἐκβεβληκότες] Cp. El. 590, ἐκβαλοῦσ᾽ ἔχεις. The periphrasis serves to fix on the agent the responsibility of the consequences of his act.
601-602.
mvp-comment-426-1
'Whence came they thus to wish him back again? Or were they moved by a mighty impulse from the angry gods: the gods, who requite evil deeds?' For θεῶν βία, cp. Aesch. Suppl. 97, βίαν . . τὰν ἄπονον δαιμονίαν (?).
603.
mvp-comment-427-1
ἴσως . . ἀκήκοας] 'For I dare say you have not heard of it.' The important share of Neoptolemus in the prophecy of Helenus is studiously concealed, and it is assumed that in his short stay at Troy the circumstance may have escaped him altogether. The true account is given by Neoptolemus afterwards, infr. 1337 foll. He himself in supr. 344 foll. had professed to attach slight importance to the assertion that he was destined to take Troy.
607.
mvp-comment-428-1
ἀκούων] 'Called by,' i.e. deserving. αἰσχρὰ.. ἔπη] 'Names of disgrace and contumely.' On the meaning of the verbal adjective, see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.
609.
mvp-comment-429-1
ἔδειξ᾽.. ἐς μέσον] Displayed publicly to the Achaeans. ἔδειξε marks Odysseus' pride at bringing in his captive. Cp. infr. 616, δηλώσειν : 630, δεῖξαι: 944, φήνασθαι.
610.
mvp-comment-430-1
The part of the prophecy which relates to Neoptolemus is thus slurred over.
611.
mvp-comment-431-1
τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμα] Cp.supr. 353.
612.
mvp-comment-432-1
πέρσοιεν (as being the oratio obliqua of πέρσετε) seems to be an exception to the rule that οὐ μή takes after it not the future indicative, but the aorist subjunctive. But this is not a sufficient ground for altering the reading. Paley compares Plat. Crito, p. 44 B, οὐδένα μήποτε εὑρήσω.
613.
mvp-comment-433-1
ἄγοιντο] The middle voice implies, 'Should bring for their purpose.' νήσου τῆσδ'] For the genitive of place, see Essay on L. § 8. p. 11, a. Observe the alliteration in νήσου .. ναίει .. νῦν.
614.
mvp-comment-434-1
ταῦτα] Governed of ἤκουσε and resumed with τὸν μάντιν εἰπόντα, which is added to complete the sentence.
615ff.
mvp-comment-435-1
The statement in supr. 593-7 is here repeated with some additional circumstances.
617.
mvp-comment-436-1
οἴοιτο] The optative is used in turning the parenthetical οἴομαι into the oratio obliqua, as if ὅτι had preceded. Cp. Lys p. 130, Θηραμένης ἀναστὰς λέγει ὅτι ποιήσει ὥστε τὴν πόλιν ἐλαττῶσαι μηδέν· οἴοιτο δὲ καὶ ἄλλο τι ἀγαθὸν εὑρήσεσθαι.
618-619.
mvp-comment-437-1
'And if he failed in this, he offered his head to any who chose, to cut it off.' For the order of words, see Essay on L. § 41, α. p. 77. κάρα governed (1) of ἐφεῖτο, and (2) οἱ τέμνειν, which is epexegetic inf. μὴ τυχών = εἰ μὴ τύχοι. For the sense, cp. II. 2. 259, μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη, κ.τ.λ.: Od. 16. 102 αὐτίκ᾽ ἔπειτ' ἀπ᾿ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς, εἰ μή, κ.τ.λ. τέμνειν = ἀποτέμνειν. Cp. καράτομος.
620.
mvp-comment-438-1
τὸ σπεύδειν] The article probably refers to supr. 576, 7.
621.
mvp-comment-439-1
κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι] Sc. παραινῶ ἐκείνῳ τὸ αὐτό. The supposed stranger does not venture to compromise himself by giving this advice directly to Philoctetes. He alludes to supr. 585, 6.
622.
mvp-comment-440-1
Οι ἡ πᾶσα βλάβη, ‘That utter pest.' see Essay on L. § 51. p. 95; and cp. El. 301.
624-625.
mvp-comment-441-1
'The persuasion that has force to bring me back to Troy, would fetch me from the dead.'
626.
mvp-comment-442-1
οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταῦτ] The professed Ἔμπορος is too discreet to mix further than he can help in such a hazardous business. Cp. O. Τ. 530, οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ὁ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ. The purpose of his coming has been accomplished, and he retires. For the synaphea, cp. especially O. T. 555, ὡς χρείη μ᾽ ἐπὶ | τὸν σεμνόμαντιν, κ.τ.λ.
627.
mvp-comment-443-1
σφῶν.. θεός] 'May heaven be with you both for your best good!' συμφέρειν is used nearly as συμφέρεσθαι in O. C. 641, τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι (‘Your choice shall have my concurrence').
628ff.
mvp-comment-444-1
Should have imagined it possible ever with cajoling words to bring and show me on his ship amongst the Argives.' Philoctetes has hitherto had his attention fixed on the Ἔμπορος, and has said ll. 622-5 half to himself. But as the stranger departs he turns to Neoptolemus with these indignant words.
629.
mvp-comment-445-1
ποτ᾿ ἄν with δεῖξαι = ὅτι δείξειεν ἄν ποτε. λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς] Cp. O. С. 774, σκληρὰ μαλθακῶς λέγων.
630.
mvp-comment-446-1
δείξαι] Cp. supr. 616, δηλώσειν. δεῖξαι νεὼς ἄγοντα = δεῖξαι ἐκ νεὰς ἄγοντα ἐπὶ νηΐ. Or, in other words, the phrase, On ship-board,' which should depend on ἄγοντα, is attracted into a new construction with δεῖξαι. See Essay on L. § 35. p. 60, and cp. О. Т. 808, ὄχου . . τηρήσας. κ.τ.λ. : Εl. 900. Herm. and Schndw. take νεὼς ἄγοντα to mean, 'Bringing ashore.' Cp. supr. 355-7. But ἄγειν is continually used elsewhere in the play for conveyance by sea; and the instrumental dative λόγοισι μαλθακοῖς connects more naturally with ἄγοντα than with δεῖξαι. Moreover, the meaning obtained by so joining νεὼς ἄγοντ' is wanting in simplicity.
631.
mvp-comment-447-1
οὔ] Those who have suspected this reading have not observed the frequency of asyndeton in the language of Philoctetes (Essay on L. § 34. p. 58). The proposed readings, οὗ θᾶσσον (Welcker), ἢ θᾶσσον (Schndw.), are less forcible than the MS. text. Schndw. imagined οὔ to be a marginal gloss on ἢ. For the double superlative in πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης, see Essay on L. § 40. p. 76.
632.
mvp-comment-448-1
ἄπουν = οὐκ ἔχοντα βάσιν, infr. 692.
633.
mvp-comment-449-1
ἐκείνῳ.. λεκτά] 'He is capable of saying anything.' Cp. O. С. 495, ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁδωτά : ibid. 1000, 1, εἶ γὰρ οὐ δίκαιος, ἀλλ᾽ ἅπαν καλὸν | λέγειν νομίζων, ῥητὸν ἄρρητόν τ᾽ ἔπος.
635-636.
mvp-comment-450-1
ὡς.. ὁρίζῃ] • That wide seas may part us.'
637.
mvp-comment-451-1
ἥ τοι.. ἤγαγεν] Cp. Aj. 674,5, ἐκοίμισε . . πόντον, and note.
639.
mvp-comment-452-1
ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρώρας ἀνῇ] When this head wind (1) ceases' (ἀνῇ absolute), or (2) 'lets us go' (ἀνῇ ἡμᾶς, sc.). The same doubt occurs in Hdt. 2. 113, οὐ γὰρ ἀνίει τὰ πνεύματα (sc. μιν?) Cp. Od. 19. 199, ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δίοι ᾿Αχαιοί, | εἴλει γὰρ βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας, κ.τ.λ. | τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δ᾽ ἀνάγοντο. The correction of Pierson here is all but certain.
641.
mvp-comment-453-1
Cp. Il. 14. 80, οὐ γάρ τις νέμεσις φυγέειν κακόν, οὐδ᾽ ἀνὰ νύκτα,
642.
mvp-comment-454-1
οὔκ· ἀλλά] 'Nay, but -.' οὐ denies the general drift of the preceding line; i. e. The evil is not so imminent that you need fly from it with such haste. Cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 491 Ε, οὔκ, ἀλλά, ἢ δ᾽ ὅς, οὕτως, where there is a nearly similar inexactness of response. There is no sufficient ground for transposing 643, 4, 2, 1, with Prof. Paley. The order is far more natural as it stands.
643-644.
mvp-comment-455-1
'Robbers feel not any contrary wind when it is a time to steal and take by force.'
645.
mvp-comment-456-1
χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών] 'Let us depart, when you have taken from within.' The participle agrees with part of the subject, and the second person has been implied in εἰ δοκεῖ, SC. σοι. For the limitation of subject, see Essay on L. § 33. p. 56, and cp. Trach. 205, ὀλολύξατε δόμοις, | ὁ μελλόνυμφος, ἐν δὲ κοινὸς ἀρσένων | ἴτω κλάγγα, κ.τ.λ. : ib. 333: Aesch. Eum. 141.
648.
mvp-comment-457-1
What, that is not somewhere on board my ship?' νεώς, partitive genitive. Essay on L. § 10. p. 15. Ср. Αj. 659, γαίας ὀρύξας ἔνθα, κ.τ.λ.: Ο. C. 694, γᾶς ᾿Ασίας οὐκ ἐπακούω. τοῦθ᾽ ὅ is singular, though ὧν in 647 is plural. Essay on L. § 20, B. p. 31.
649.
mvp-comment-458-1
φύλλον . . πάρεστιν] 'There is a leaf which I have.' Cp. infr. 704, ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι: supr. 44: Ο.Τ. 766.
650.
mvp-comment-459-1
πραΰνειν] 'To assuage its violence.' There is no example of πραΰνειν being used intransitively. πρᾷος is opposed to ἄγριος, cp. supr. 265. Philoctetes is eager to assure Neoptolemus that the evil is not intractable. Cp. infr. 733 foll.
651.
mvp-comment-460-1
τί γὰρ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν] Philoctetes shows by his manner that the herb is not the only thing that he requires. To this look of longing hesitation γάρ refers.
652.
mvp-comment-461-1
εἰ.. παρερρύηκεν] This is said to explain his unsatisfied look (' I would make search,' implied in ἐρᾷς λαβεῖν), * in case some of these my arrows may have slipped from my side.' Cp. Il. 13. 256, ἔρχομαι, εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται, | οἰσόμενος.
653.
mvp-comment-462-1
ὡς λίπω μή] For the order, see Essay on L. § 41, γ. p. 78.
655.
mvp-comment-463-1
οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γ᾽ ἔσθ'] 'For indeed there is no other.' These words have been commonly taken as equivalent to ἐκεῖνα καὶ οὐκ ἄλλα: whence Blaydes conjectures ταῦτ᾽ οὐ γὰρ οὖν ἔστ᾿ ἄλλ'. But the meaning given above is more in point. Cp. Morris' Story of Sigurd, That hath not the like in the heavens, nor hath earth of its fellow told.'
656.
mvp-comment-464-1
ἆρ᾿ ἔστιν ὥστε] 'Is it possible that one might?' ὥστε as after verbs of permission asked or obtained. The periphrasis is expressive of modesty. κἀγγύθεν] From close at hand, as well as from a distance. For με added in the second clause, cp. supr. 257.
657.
mvp-comment-465-1
For the sacredness of the bow, cp. infr. 943.
658.
mvp-comment-466-1
τῶν ἐμῶν] Of things within my power.'
659.
mvp-comment-467-1
ὁποῖον. ξυμφέρῃ] 'That is of a nature to accord with your desires.' Cp. supr. 627, and note. γενήσεται] 'Shall be granted.'
661.
mvp-comment-468-1
πάρες] 'Let it go by;' i.e. Take no more notice of my wish.
662.
mvp-comment-469-1
ὅσια .. φωνεῖς] 'Your words are blameless.' 'You speak innocently.'
663.
mvp-comment-470-1
For the suppressed antecedent in the expression of strong feeling, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 72, 2. And for the emphatic repetition of ὅς, cp. O. C. 610, φθίνει μὲν ἰσχὺς γῆς, φθίνει δὲ σώματος, and see E. on L. § 44. p. 83.
664.
mvp-comment-471-1
μόνος] Supr. 500.
665.
mvp-comment-472-1
πέρα] 'Above their reach.' 'Where they cannot come.' ἀνιστάναι here is not merely 'To raise upright,' but To set up on high.'
Cр. O. С. 661-3, κείνοις δ᾽ ἴσως κεὶ δείν᾽ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν | τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ, φανή- | σεται | μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος, οὐδὲ πλώσιμον: Aesch. Cho. 789.
666.
mvp-comment-473-1
θιγγάνειν] ‘To handle for a while.’ This word, expressing a lingering process, is rightly in the continuous tense, although δόντι . . ἐξεπεύξασθαι are aorists.
Cp. Il. 6. 322, τόξ᾽ ἁφόωντα.
667.
mvp-comment-474-1
καὶ δόντι δοῦναι] This illogical addition is singularly expressive of the nervous anxiety of Philoctetes at the thought of giving the bow out of his hands: 'You shall have it in your grasp; I will give it you, and you will give it me again; and then you shall freely boast, etc.' While saying this, Philoctetes does not at once give the bow to Neoptolemus.
Cp. infr. 762 foll.
669.
mvp-comment-475-1
Cp. infr. 801-3.
670-672.
mvp-comment-476-1
These three lines seem out of place. Either there is a lacuna after 670, or they have crept into the text out of the margin, where some hand had inserted them as an apposite quotation from some other play. They have not the appearance of a deliberate interpolation, nor is the difficulty obviated by assigning them to Neoptolemus. If they are retained, they can only mean, 'I do not feel this generous action burdensome, now that I have seen and found a friend in you. For no possession can be equal to a friend who knows (as I am sure you do) how to return kindness for kindness done to him.' In other words, to secure so true a friend as Neoptolemus, even the effort of relinquishing the bow for a moment is not too much. But ἄχθομαι has no object; and the promised kindness of Neoptolemus was not conditional on his being allowed to handle the bow.
675-714.
mvp-comment-477-1
The preceding scene was calculated to deepen the feeling of compassion for Philoctetes, which had already been awakened both in Neoptolemus and in the Chorus. His generous willingness to trust them with his all, contrasted with their felt dissimulation, has intensified the sympathy which Neoptolemus afterwards avows, 905, 965, 6. Yet the Chorus do not imagine for a moment that their master will relinquish his purpose. Hence, while sincerely pouring forth their lament over Philoctetes' innocent sufferings (which they can only compare with the torment of the guilty Ixion), and really rejoicing in the prospect of his deliverance, they maintain, as in duty bound (since they are within hearing of the cave), the deceptive notion of the voyage to Trachis, and make no mention of Troy. But it must be borne in mind that from the prophecy of Helenus, of which they knew, they had every reason to suppose that the return to Troy, though Philoctetes was averse to it, would be for his good. While this stasimon is being sung (whether by half-choruses or by the whole together), Neoptolemus is with Philoctetes in the cave, and is finding still more cogent evidence of his misery. This stasimon consists of two strophes and antistrophes, of which the first are chiefly logaoedic, the second chiefly choriambic.
675-714.
mvp-comment-477-2
α'.
1 _uu_u_u_
_uu__uu_u_
_uu_uu_
_uu_u_u_u_
5 _u_u_u_
10 __u_u_u__
_u_u_
1
Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 550. 2 Ion. anacl.,
infr. p. 451, β' 15 and note 3.
β'.
_uu_u_ _
_uu_u_ _
_uu_u_uu__
_uu_uu__
5 __u_ _
_uu_u_uu_u_uu_u_
_u_uu___u_uu_u_
_uu__
675.
mvp-comment-478-1
ὄπωπα δ᾽ οὐ μάλα] ‘Though I never actually saw.' μάλα emphasizes οὐκ ὄπωπα, because seeing is more than hearing. The sorrow of Philoctetes is patent to the eye.
676.
mvp-comment-479-1
ποτέ belongs to the verbal notion in πελάταν.
Cp. supr. 147.
677.
mvp-comment-480-1
Ιξίονα (see v. rr.) is omitted in the text as possibly arising from a gloss.
Cp. Trach. 840.
678.
mvp-comment-481-1
ἄμπυξ is (a) a frontlet; hence (b) may be here understood to mean the convex external surface of a wheel.
ἄμπυκα δρομάδα = 'A rolling rim.' A conjectural reading, ἄντυγα, was proposed by Musgrave. But ἄντυξ, in the literal sense, is no more 'a wheel' than ἄμπυξ.
679.
mvp-comment-482-1
ἔβαλεν] Although ἔλαβε, the MS. reading, is not impossible, if we suppose δέσμιον proleptic ('seized bound' for 'seized and bound'), ἔβαλεν gives a better sense.
Cp. O. C. 475. Mr. Paley reads, κατ᾿ ἄμπυκα δὴ δρομάδ᾽ ὡς βάλε δέσμιον ὁ π. Κ. π. For the metre of this,
cp. infr. 863, 4, 1114, 5; О. С. 253, 4.
680.
mvp-comment-483-1
For ἐσίδον, which is the reading of the first hand of L. and of Par. A,
cp. El. 205.
681.
mvp-comment-484-1
τοῦδ᾽ ἐχθίονι] See
Essay on L. § 10. p. 15, 2 a.
682.
mvp-comment-485-1
'Who having neither harmed nor defrauded any.'
Cp. Od. 4. 690, οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον, οὔτε τι εἰπών. The use of ἔρδειν absolutely for ἔρδειν τι κακόν is singular, but is assisted by νοσφίσας following.
Cp. the frequent use of παθεῖν τι for παθεῖν τι κακόν. Mr. Paley strangely interprets, 'Having imprisoned any' (as if from ἔργω).
683.
mvp-comment-486-1
ἔν *γ᾽ ἴσοις] This, Hermann's, emendation of ἐν ἴσοις is adopted as the most probable. 'Just, at least amongst the just; i.e. One sure to have been esteemed righteous, if he had lived amongst righteous men.
Cp. (for the form of expression, not for the meaning οἱ ἴσος) O. T. 677, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος. The force of ye is to throw blame by implication on the Argives at Troy, who treated Philoctetes as if he had been a malefactor.
684.
mvp-comment-487-1
The metre requires some change. Dindorf reads ὠλέκεθ᾽ ὧδ᾽. But τῇδε has more point than ὧδε, and connects better with what follows.
685.
mvp-comment-488-1
τόδε. . ἔχει] 'At this I marvel.' τόδε is accusative after θαῦμ᾽ ἔχει με = θαυμάζω.
Cp. Od. 20. 217, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς .. πόλλ᾽ ἐπιδινεῖται.
686.
mvp-comment-489-1
'How then he retained his hold of a life so steeped in tears.'
Cp. supr. 535, διέζων and note,
infr. 1158-60.
687.
mvp-comment-490-1
ἵν᾿ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος] Sc. ἑαυτῷ. Schndw.
cp. Lucian. Timon. θεοῖς θυέτω καὶ εὐωχείσθω μόνος ἑαυτῷ γείτων καὶ ὅμορος. The phrase is an oxymoron.
Cp. Aesch. Cho. 866, μόνος ὢν ἔφεδρος, (‘Having none to second him').
οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν] 'Without power of movement.'
Cp. supr. 632, ἄπουν, and, for the meaning of the verbal noun,
supr. 18, ἐνθάκησις, and note. Bothe's ingenious correction, ἵν᾽ αὐτὸς ἦν, πρόσουρον οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν (
cp. supr. 171, μηδὲ σύντροφον ὄμμ᾽ ἔχων), is inadmissible, (1) as too diffuse, and (2) because αὐτός εἶμι, “I am by myself,' is not a poetical expression for the misery of solitude. This and the following lines are an echo and expansion of Philoctetes' complaint,
supr. 280 foll. ἄνδρα δ᾽ οὐδέν᾽ ἔντοπον, | οὐχ ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν, οὐδ᾽ ὅστις νόσου | κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο. Lambinus gives an odd explanation of πρόσ-ουρος, 'expositus ventis.'
688.
mvp-comment-491-1
κακογείτονα] ‘To be a neighbour to his misery.’ This, as Lessing saw (Laoc. p. 37), = γείτονα κακῶν οἱ ἐν κακοῖς.
689-691.
mvp-comment-492-1
By bringing *τάν from before θερμοτάταν, where it injures the metre, to before βαρυβρῶτ', where a syllable is required, we obtain a possible construction for these lines. In whose ear he might lament, with groaning that had response (ἀντίτυπον), the disease (τάν, sc. νόσον) so cruelly gnawing, so dripping with gore.
689.
mvp-comment-493-1
στόνον ἀντίτυπον is thus cognate accusative with ἀποκλαύσειεν, i.e. So as to receive groan for groan.'
Cp. Ant. 592, ἀντιπλῆγες ἀκταί.
692.
mvp-comment-494-1
ἐνθήρου] (
Cp. supr. 226, ἀπηγριωμένον) 'That has lost the human shape,' no longer recognizable as that of a human being.
Cp. Aesch. Ag. 562, τιθέντες ἔνθηρον τρίχα. The etymological analysis of the word is difficult, perhaps = θηρσὶν ἐναριθμούμενος.
693.
mvp-comment-495-1
εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι (sc. αἱμάς)] 'If any attacked him;' i.e. If the bleeding at any time came on.
694.
mvp-comment-496-1
φορβάδος.. ἑλεῖν] ‘Or to take them' (the herbs) 'from the sustaining earth.' There is a slight change of construction; i. e ἑλεῖν = ὅστις ἕλοι, and the order of language, as elsewhere (
Essay on L. § 41, B. p. 77
) reverses the order of fact. This passage has given needless trouble. Mr. Paley reads ἕλοι.
695.
mvp-comment-497-1
*εἶρπε.. ἄν]
Cp. supr. 290 foll.
*ἀλλαχά] This is the simplest change (see v.rr.), which restores correspondence of strophe and antistrophe. Others read ἀτίμως for ἀναξίως in
supr. 686. So τότε is antecedent to ἁνίκα in 704.
696.
mvp-comment-498-1
εἰλυόμενος . . τιθήνας] 'Crawling, like a child without the kindly nurse.' So the Chorus expand the suggestive word εἰλυόμην in 291; i.e. He needed the support of hands as well as feet in the rocky paths.
697.
mvp-comment-499-1
ὅθεν εὐμάρει᾽ ὑπάρχοι] 'To the place where a supply for his wants (the herb for his pain, the birds for his hunger) was to be found.'
πόρον.. ἐξανείη] 'Left him the power of motion; i. e. Allowed him to move again. As the pain might be said ἐμποδίζειν πόρον, so when it ceases it is said ἐξανιέναι πόρον.
Cp. Aj.674-6. This seems the most likely interpretation of a difficult passage. For other suggestions, see Herm., Schndw., Nauck, Dindorf, Paley.
699-700.
mvp-comment-500-1
(1) 'Not lifting for his sustenance the sown-produce' (
cp. Hdt. 4.53) 'of the sacred earth, nor sustenance afforded by other things which we, industrious men, enjoy.' If this is right, φορβάν, which in l. 706 is in apposition to σπόρον (
cp. Plat. Legg. 12. 958 E, ὅσα τροφὴν μήτηρ οὖσα ἡ γῆ πέφυκε βούλεσθαι φέρειν), is to be resumed in l. 707 as the immediate object of αἴρων. (2) Another way is to take σπορόν (sic) as an adjective.
Cp. τορός, τομός. 'Not taking up the sown sustenance afforded by the sacred earth, nor the sustenance afforded by other things, etc.'
702.
mvp-comment-501-1
πτανῶν πτανοῖς] (1) 'From his winged arrows by means of winged birds' (ὀρνέοις, Scholiast).
Cp. supr. 288, 9, τὰς ὑποπτέρους | βάλλον πελείας. Or (2) 'With winged shafts (instrum. dat.) he contrived a sustenance consisting of winged birds' (gen. of material). There is no sufficient ground for suspecting the reading. Perhaps, however, πτανάν, agreeing with φορβάν, would be better than πτανῶν.
Cp. infr. 1146, πταναὶ θῆραι. For the tautology in φορβάδος, φορβάν, φορβάν, see
Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83, 4.
703.
mvp-comment-502-1
ψυχά]
Cp. supr. 55 and note.
704.
mvp-comment-503-1
For the genitive with ἥσθη, see
Essay on L. § 10. p. 16, 5
, and, for the dative χρόνῳ,
ibid. § 11. p. 18, b.
705.
mvp-comment-504-1
λεύσσων . . εἰς] 'Looking to,' in dependence.
Cp. El. 925, μηδὲν ἐς κεῖνόν γ᾽ ὅρα.
στατόν] The remark of Odysseus,
supr. 21, εἴπερ ἐστὶ σῶν, showed that the fountain was not an abundant one, such as would afford a perennial stream of living water.
706.
mvp-comment-505-1
αἰεὶ προσενώμα] 'Fetched it for his daily need.' He had the labour of fetching it continually as he required it.
707.
mvp-comment-506-1
ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν] ‘Of a brave hero,' i. e. Achilles. Poetical plural. παιδὶ συναντήσας is a good conjecture of Fröhlich.
708.
mvp-comment-507-1
'He shall win happiness and glory after being so low.' εὐδαίμων is predicative and proleptic-ἐς τὸ εὐδαίμων εἶναι.
Cp. Ο. Τ. 166, ἠνύσατ' ἐκτοπίαν φλόγα πήματος, i. e. ὥστε ἐκτοπίαν γενέσθαι. κείνων refers to 691-718.
709.
mvp-comment-508-1
πλήθει πολλῶν μηνῶν] 'In the fulness of many months.'
Cр. О. Т. 156, περιτελλομέναις ὥραις : Aesch. Ag. 504, δεκάτῳ σε φέγγει τῷδ᾽ ἀφικόμην ἔτους: Trach. 824, 5, ὁπότε τελεόμηνος ἐκφέροι | δωδέκατος ἄροτος.
710.
mvp-comment-509-1
πατρώαν.. αὐλάν] ‘Τo his father's hall.’ The change to πατρίαν, adopted by most editors-
cp. supr. τὰ πάτρια τεύχεα seems to be required for the metre, _uu_u_uu_u_uu_u_ (ἀνύσειε γαστρὶ φορβάν,
supr. 712). But see l. 1100, λῳονος.
711-712.
mvp-comment-510-1
'Beside the banks of the Spercheius, that are haunted by the Melian nymphs' (literally, 'Belonging to the Melian nymphs and (the river-god) Spercheius'). This is a more natural connection for the words Μηλιάδων νυμφᾶν than when they are joined with the preceding line.
712.
mvp-comment-511-1
ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνήρ] Heracles. The epithet is picturesque. The orbed shield reflecting the sunlight from the top of Oeta suggests the glory which the hero has amongst the gods, and the fire which consumed his mortality.
713.
mvp-comment-512-1
†πᾶσιν] If this is retained, it is necessary to read εἴ που for ὅπου in the strophe, with Brunck. But Hermann's correction, πάλαι, is not improbable. The passage is to be differently interpreted according as πλάθει is regarded: whether as a literal, or as an historical present. If the latter is correct, then θείῳ πυρί may refer to the golden cloud that descended to take up Heracles from the pyre. If the former, we must suppose a natural confusion between Heracles on Oeta and Heracles in Olympus.
715-716.
mvp-comment-513-1
The last antistrophe was intended for the hearing of Philoctetes, and it is probable that, before it ended, he and Neoptolemus had already appeared from the cave. He now suddenly becomes motionless and speechless.
εἰ θέλεις] 'Will you?' Neoptolemus professes unconsciousness of the cause of Philoctetes' apparent change of purpose.
ἐξ οὐδενὸς λόγου] 'With no apparent cause.' 'Without assigning a reason.'
Cp. O. C. 620, ἐκ σμικροῦ λόγου.
716.
mvp-comment-514-1
ἀπόπληκτος . . ἔχει] 'Stand stupefied and caught.'
Cp. Aj. 1144, 5, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐν κακῷ | χειμῶνος εἴχετο.
717.
mvp-comment-515-1
The agony which he has in vain endeavoured to suppress forces a cry from Philoctetes against his will. Presently (ll. 733-5), he again assumes indifference, but is again overpowered, and cries to the gods for help.
719.
mvp-comment-516-1
οὐδὲν δεινόν] 'No matter for alarm.'
Cp. Trach. 459, τὸ δ᾽ εἰδέναι τί δεινόν; and
cp. esp. O. C. 1200.
720.
mvp-comment-517-1
τῆς παρεστώσης νόσου] i. e. τῆς νόσου παρεστώσης σοι.
Cp. infr. 765.
721.
mvp-comment-518-1
κουφίζειν] Sc. τὴν νόσον.
723.
mvp-comment-519-1
In some MSS. οὕτως is read after θεούς, and Seidler and others have suggested that ὦ θεοί· τί τοὺς θεοὺς ὧδ᾽ ἀναστένων καλεῖς; should be read. But
cp. Aj. 588, 9. It must be admitted however that the want of caesura is a reason for suspecting something wrong.
724.
mvp-comment-520-1
'That they should interpose mercifully to save us.' (αὐτούς unemphatic.) Even here the suffering of Philoctetes is not merely physical. This attack of pain is threatening him with the frustration of his hopes.
727.
mvp-comment-521-1
This passage, like El. 610, 1, O. T. 746, indicates the use of significant action by the person who is not speaking.
728.
mvp-comment-522-1
For the omission of the article before κακόν,
cp. supr. 83, and note, and see
E. on L. § 21. p. 33, b.
729.
mvp-comment-523-1
διέρχεται] 'It pierces.'
Cp. infr. 791, 2.
731.
mvp-comment-524-1
βρύκομαι] 'I am torn as with teeth.'
Cp. Trach. 987, ἡ δ᾽ αὖ μιαρὰ βρύκει.
732.
mvp-comment-525-1
παπαῖ] This exclamation of pain expresses the effort to close the lips alternating with the utterance of an involuntary cry.
733.
mvp-comment-526-1
πρόχειρον] 'Ready to your hand.' πρόχειρος is one of the words which are used etymologically' in tragedy. (
Essay on L. § 54. pp. 99, 100.
)
Cp. Eur. Hel. 1563, 4, φάσγανόν θ᾽ ἅμα | πρόχειρον ὤθει.
734.
mvp-comment-527-1
εἰς ἄκρον πόδα] The force of ἄκρος in such phrases is not to be pressed. But
cp. infr. 824.
736.
mvp-comment-528-1
ἴθ᾽, ὦ παῖ] 'Do so, I pray thee, my son.' (Not, as
supr. 733, where ἴθι is, 'Go on.')
737.
mvp-comment-529-1
ἐξαίφνης is joined with veοχμόν as = νεωστί γενόμενον.
ὅτου] «Wherefore.' Genitive of cause.
Essay on L. § 10. p. 14.
738.
mvp-comment-530-1
σαυτοῦ] 'Over thyself,' is genitive of the object after στόνον.
743.
mvp-comment-531-1
Hermann in 1841 defended the MS. distribution of the persons (see v. rr.), supposing Philoctetes to evade inquiry first by saying οἶσθα, ‘You know as well as I do,' and then οὐκ οἶδα, ‘I do not know,' with the inconsistency of one distracted by pain and avoiding question. And there is nothing unnatural in this. But the words πῶς οὐκ οἶσθα are very clumsy in the mouth of Neoptolemus, whereas, if uttered by Philoctetes, they convey a touching expostulation against the cruelty of pressing him with questions when the case is so obvious. According to Bothe's arrangement, which is here retained, Neoptolemus at first affects ignorance, but is presently overcome with pity. For τί σοί, · What is the matter with you?' Hermann conjectured τί τοι;
745.
mvp-comment-532-1
ἀλλ᾽ οἴκτειρέ με] The mental anxiety of the sufferer is greater than his pain.
747.
mvp-comment-533-1
ταρβήσας] According to the story of the supposed Έμπορος, Neoptolemus was in twofold danger in Lemnos, both from Phoenix and the Theseidae, who were pursuing himself (
supr. 561,2), and still more from Odysseus and Diomed, who were on their way to fetch Philoctetes, and if they fled together would pursue them both.
748-749.
mvp-comment-534-1
ἥκει.. ἐξεπλήσθη] (1) ‘For this plague in its wanderings is come after an interval in no less strength than when it sated itself.' A recurrent malady is imagined as going out of a man, making a circuit, and returning.
Cp. infr. 808: Tennyson, Aylmer's field, p. 80. For ἥκειν in a somewhat similar connection,
cp. Plat. Gorg 518 D, ὅταν δὴ αὐτοῖς ἥκῃ ἡ τότε πλησμονὴ νόσον φέρουσα συχνῷ ὕστερον χρόνῳ. For the dative πλάνοις (almost = πλανωμένη, Aesch. Prom. 275), see
Essay on L. § 14. p. 20, 2
. ἴσως = οὐχ ἧττον ἰσχυρῶς. See
Essay on L. § 24, α. p. 40
. ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη, i. e. ὡς τὸ πρὶν ἥκουσα ἐξεπλήσθη. It might be thought to have exhausted itself, or to have satisfied its hunger; but no, it returns with all its former violence. (2) The Scholiast explains, π. ἴ. ὡ. ἐ., 'I suppose when it has had enough of wandering. For other interpretations, see Ellendt's Lexicon, and Blaydes and Paley in loco. Arndt's emendation, ὡς ἐξεπλήσθη φλέψ. ΝΕ. ἰὼ δ. σ., is worth recording for its prosaic oddity.
751.
mvp-comment-535-1
διὰ πόνων πάντων] ‘In passing through all (i. e. extreme) woe.' πάντων is virtually intensive. Others would render, 'Beyond all sufferings' that have been.
754.
mvp-comment-536-1
ἕως ἀνῇ] For the omission of av, see
Essay on L. § 27, 1. p. 45.
755.
mvp-comment-537-1
τὸ πῆμα .. παρόν] ‘This present fit of pain.’
Cp. O. C. 78, 9, for the epexegesis.
756-757.
mvp-comment-538-1
λαμβάνει γὰρ οὖν | ὕπνος μ᾽] 'For, you must know, sleep is wont to seize me.' For the present tense,
cp. supr. 308, ἐλεοῦσι μέν.
757.
mvp-comment-539-1
ἐξίῃ] · Is passing off.'
758.
mvp-comment-540-1
λῆξαι] Sc. τὸ κακόν.
758-759.
mvp-comment-541-1
ἀλλ᾽ . . εὕδειν] με is easily supplied: see v. rr.
Cp. infr. 801: О. Т. 461, κἂν λάβῃς ἐψευσμένον.
759.
mvp-comment-542-1
τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ] 'While I am asleep.'
Essay on L. § 11. pp. 17, 18.
761.
mvp-comment-543-1
Several editors prefer μηδ' ἄκοντα.
μηδέ τῳ τέχνη] Hdt. 1. 112, έχρῇζε μηδεμιῇ τέχνῃ ἐκθεῖναί μιν.
763.
mvp-comment-544-1
πρόστροπον] This word has an especially sacred and compelling force.
Cp. O. Τ. 41, ἱκετεύομέν σε πάντες οἵδε πρόστροποι.
κτείνας γένῃ]
Cp. especially Aj. 588, μὴ προδοὺς ἡμᾶς γένῃ.
765.
mvp-comment-545-1
οὐ δοθήσεται .. κάμοί] 'They shall be given to no one (and no one shall have them) besides us two.' Neoptolemus has in mind the real ground for this.
Supr. 115.
766.
mvp-comment-546-1
Philoctetes, even amidst his pain, feels the gravity of the moment when he gives the bow out of his hands. The common feeling about the Divine envy appears also in El. 1466.
767.
mvp-comment-547-1
μηδ' ὅπως] For the disjunctive form of expression,
cp. supr. 80, τοιαῦτα φωνεῖν, μηδὲ τεχνᾶσθαι κακά.
768.
mvp-comment-548-1
Heracles and Philoctetes, both owners of the bow, had both had more than the usual share of trouble. The troubles of Heracles might even be traced to the weapon with which he had slain Nessus and provoked the sons of Eurytus to strife.
769-771.
mvp-comment-549-1
Neoptolemus also feels the gravity of the moment, but dissembles his gladness under the cover of a heart-felt though ambiguous prayer.
770.
mvp-comment-550-1
εὐσταλής] 'Happily conducted' = εὐτυχῶς ἐσταλμένος : said with reference to other dangers than those of winds and waves; e. g. a mutiny arising from Philoctetes' malady.
Cp. supr. 520, 1,
infr. 890 foll.
771.
mvp-comment-551-1
ὅποι ποτέ, κ.τ.λ.] The formality of the prayer renders its ambiguous vagueness less suspicious. Neoptolemus trusts that, in spite of apparent difficulties, the will of the gods, as expressed in prophecy, is on the side of his ambition.
772.
mvp-comment-552-1
The appearance of a single dochmiac line amongst the senarii is not of itself a sufficient reason for suspicion in a passage which is naturally interrupted by physical as well as by mental suffering.
Cp. Trach. 1185, 6. Indeed the regularity of the dochmiac structure is rather in favour of the verse. But, in the vulgate reading (see v. rr.), the ellipse of the subjunctive mood and the accusative με-μ' cannot = μοι-are difficult to explain. The former objection may be removed by conjecturing μή μ' ἀτελὴς (οι ἀτελῶς) εὔχῃ, and the accusative may then be defended. See
Essay on L. § 16. p. 23.
783.
mvp-comment-553-1
ἐκ βυθοῦ] 'From hidden depths.' Men in pain naturally exaggerate the dimensions of the part affected.
784.
mvp-comment-554-1
τι.. νέον] 'Some violent change.'
Ср. O. С. 1447, and note.
786.
mvp-comment-555-1
παπαῖ μάλ]
Cp. O. C. 1462, ἴδε μάλα, and note.
ἐργάσει] 'A great evil perpetually recurrent is most in apprehension.' But Philoctetes is also thinking of the danger to his new-found hopes.
789.
mvp-comment-556-1
ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα] 'You know all now.' He has made known to them what he had sought to hide, l. 742 foll. and they are aware both of his need and his danger, 776 foll. He implores them therefore to stand by him.
μηδαμή = μηδεμιᾷ τέχνῃ.
Cp. supr. 771.
790.
mvp-comment-557-1
ἀτταταῖ] Perhaps *ἰατταταῖ should be read so as to keep up the iambic rhythm.
791-792.
mvp-comment-558-1
εἴθε.. ἥδε] 'Would that this pang might pierce thy breast and cling there!' For
ξένε,
cp. Aj.817. Philoctetes and Odysseus had been bound by a common oath,
793-795.
mvp-comment-559-1
For the repeated interjection,
cp. Eur. Alc. 235, βόασον ὦ, στέναξον ὦ Φεραία χθών: ib. 460, ὦ μόνα, ὦ φίλα γυναικῶν : Cycl. 266.
794.
mvp-comment-560-1
ὦ Μενέλαε: 795,
τὸν ἴσον: 797,
ὦ θάνατε, θάνατε. The freeer handling of the senarius, which marks the Philoctetes, and which belongs to the later manner of Greek tragedy, is most observable in this speech, where it expresses agitation (
cp. O. T. 967). For other instances, see ll. 651, 665, 879, 923, 4, 950, 1029, 1315, 1327, mostly in speeches of Philoctetes.
797-798.
mvp-comment-561-1
Cp. Aj. 854, ὦ θάνατε, θάνατε, νῦν μ᾿ ἐπίσκεψαι μολών: Aesch. Phil. fr. 250, ὦ θάνατε Παιάν, μή μ' ἀτιμάσῃς μολεῖν.
798.
mvp-comment-562-1
οὐ δύνᾳ μολεῖν] 'Why can you not come?' i. e. 'Why is it impossible to bring you?” πῶς οὐ δυνατόν ἐστί σε μολεῖν;
800.
mvp-comment-563-1
ἀνακαλουμένῳ] (1) ‘Generally invoked,' or (2) 'Celebrated by this name.'
Cp. Ar. Lys. 299. The volcano on Mount Mosychlos would be a god-prepared pyre for Philoctetes, whose end would then resemble that of his master Heracles.
803.
mvp-comment-564-1
After l. 803 there is a pause, during which Neoptolemus is lost in thought. Philoctetes, who is already losing consciousness, is visited with a sudden fear lest his friend may have left him. Every word which he utters gives him a fresh hold on Neoptolemus' compassion.
806.
mvp-comment-565-1
τἀπὶ σοί] 'That afflict thee.'
Cp. Trach. 981, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπί μοι μελέῳ βάρος ἄπλετον ἐμμέμονε φρήν.
807.
mvp-comment-566-1
The tripartite division of this line is very unusual. But it is modified by the elision in ἴσχ' for ἴσχε, and the rhythm of this whole passage is broken.
808.
mvp-comment-567-1
'As it comes impetuously, so it leaves me speedily.' For the paratactic structure,
cp. Ant. 1112, αὐτός τ᾽ ἔδησα καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι.
809.
mvp-comment-568-1
θάρσει, μενούμεν] Neoptolemus says this with mingled feelings, and the eagerness of Philoctetes is made pathetic by his unconsciousness of the situation.
810.
mvp-comment-569-1
σαφῶς φρόνει] Sc. με ὡς μενοῦντα.
811.
mvp-comment-570-1
Ср. О. C. 650, 1, and note. Philoctetes desires the confirmation for which he will not ask. Neoptolemus makes a solemn asseveration (ὡς .. γε = 'At any rate be assured that'), in which the hidden intention of fate (
cp. ξυμφορᾶς ξύνθημα, Ο. C. 46) is again ambiguously conveyed. Philoctetes still requires the assurance of the right hand.
Cр. О. С. 1632, δός μοι χερὸς σῆς πίστιν ἀρχαίαν, and note: Trach. 1181. Neoptolemus gives it with the safe promise of remaining, which to Philoctetes at the moment is quite sufficient. (He afterwards,
infr. 1398, interprets the promise differently, as a confirmation of the original engagement,
supr. 527). On receiving this satisfaction, he relapses into a semi-conscious state, and dreaming apparently of Oeta, Olympus, and the Lemnian fire in one, begs to be carried 'yonder,' 'upwards.' But immediately afterwards, when Neoptolemus comes near to hold him, he cries out to be let alone. (Prof. Paley interprets 813, 4, ἐκεῖσε.. ἄνω, as referring to the cave. But the vagueness of 815 is against this.)
815.
mvp-comment-571-1
τὸν ἄνω κύκλον] 'The circle of the heavens.'
Cp. Aj. 672, νυκτὸς αἰανῆς κύκλος.
817.
mvp-comment-572-1
The tmesis of ἀπό occurs again
infr. 1158, 1177.
818.
mvp-comment-573-1
*εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς] 'Supposing that you must know best.'
πλέον, sc. ἐμοῦ.
Cp. Plat. Hipp. Min. 371 A, τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως φαίνεται φρονεῖν πλέον πρὸς τὸ ῥᾳδίως λανθάνειν: Thuc. 5. 29. § 2, νομίσαντες πλέον τέ τι εἰδότας μεταστῆναι αὐτούς, κ.τ.λ. Neoptolemus feels like an inexperienced nurse, and perceives that the sickness is beyond his treatment. He begins to think that the sick man must know what is best for his own state.
Cp. Trach. 1017-22.
820.
mvp-comment-574-1
Philoctetes throws himself on the ground.
822.
mvp-comment-575-1
τόδε] See
Essay on L. § 22, 1. P.34.
823.
mvp-comment-576-1
'Sweat certainly is bathing him over all his frame.'
γέ τοι calls attention to the sign which helps to confirm
supr. 821, 2.
824.
mvp-comment-577-1
ἄκρου.. ποδός]
Cp. supr. 748, and note.
παρέρρωγεν] 'Has burst from the side of (i. e. from the place of the wound)'. For the repetition of the same root in the compound, see
Essay on L. § 40. p. 75, § 55. p. 101.
827-862.
mvp-comment-578-1
Odysseus (
supr. 77, 115), whose words appear in some way to have reached the Chorus (
supr. 136 foll.), spoke only of the necessity of obtaining the bow. For this the Chorus now see the opportunity, and cannot understand the inaction of Neoptolemus, who is better informed (839-42,
cp. infr. 1329-43), and is moreover chained to the spot by remorseful sympathy with Philoctetes. This passage, which does the work of a stasimon in separating two episodia, is in so far of the nature of a commos that it contains a lyrical interchange between the Chorus and one of the persons on the stage. The text is imperfect in several places, and Bergk conjectures that four lines of Neoptolemus', answering to 839-42, have dropped out between 854, 5. It seems most probable that ll. 827-32 were sung by one half-chorus, and ll. 843-48 by the other, in subdued tones; that 833-8, 849-54 were recited severally by two of the chief choreutae, and that 855-64 were recited by the coryphaeus, or, possibly, sung by the whole Chorus. The metres of this irregular strain are dactylic, anapaestic, trochaic, iambic, and choriambic. The following is an approximate scheme of them :-
στρ. and ἀντ.
Logaoedic 1 _UU_UU_UU_U_
(?)
Anapaestic { __ | __
Choriambic _UU_ __
Logaoedic 5 __UU_U_
Iambic U_U_ __
Iambic U_U_U_
Trochaic
Iambic U_ U_U_ __
Iambic 10 U_ U_U_ __
Iambic U_U_U_U_
Paracelèusmatic, { _ UU _ UU _
with logaoedic close (?)
The strophe is followed by four dactylic hexameters, the antistrophe by an epode, of which this is the scheme:-
Logaoedic {: __
Dactylic {: _UU_UU__ | _UU_UU_ _ (?)
Iambo-trochaic 5 _U_U_U_ _ (?)
Dactylic _UU_UU_UU_UU_
Iambic U_U_U_
For νύχιος, l. 858,
cp. Eur. Hel. 1479, Suppl. 280.
827-829.
mvp-comment-579-1
It is seldom that we can at all realise the euphonic effects of Greek lyric verse. But the effect of the vowelly assonance of εὐαὴς .. εὐαίων, accompanied by low breathings of the flute, may be partly imagined.
827.
mvp-comment-580-1
῞Υπν'.. Ὑπνε]
Cp. supr. 663 foll. ὃς .. ὅς, κ.τ.λ., and note.
ὀδύνας] ‘Pain.'
ἀλγέων] 'Grief.' Herm. (1841) preferred ἄλγεος for the metre.
Cp. Il.14.164, ὕπνον ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε: Od. 13. 92, δὴ τότε γ᾽ ἀτρέμας εὔδε, λελασμένος, ὅσσ᾽ ἐπεπόνθει.
828-829.
mvp-comment-581-1
The metre of these lines is different from that of 844, 5, which should correspond to them in the antistrophe. But the effect of the two spondaic (anapaestic) lines (
cp. 837, 853) resembles El. 88, 9, 105, 6, 153, 173, 213-6, 233-6, and the antistrophe is possibly corrupt. See note on
infr. 844. Others read εὐǎές, in which the vocative would resemble ἁλίπλαγκτε in Aj. 695. But the a is probably long.
εὐαής] The first strain of the Chorus, ll. 827-32, is intended at once to lull Philoctetes to sleep, and darkly to express their own wishes. Thus
εὐαής is at once 'With kindly breath' (
cp. supr. 18, 19, ἐν θέρει δ᾽ ὕπνον | δι᾽ ἀμφιτρῆτος αὐλίου πέμπει πνοή), and 'As with favouring gale' (to further our design).
829.
mvp-comment-582-1
εὐαίων] 'Bringing happiness.' For the repetition, which depends on the Triclinian MSS.,
cp. Eur. Or. 174, πότνια, πότνια νύξ. Sleep is invoked, as the Lord of happiest life.
Cp. Fr. 372, ὡς τοῖς κακῶς πράσσουσιν ἡδὺ καὶ βραχὺν | χρόνον λαθέσθαι τῶν παρεστώτων κακῶν: Plat. Apol. 39 D. Others explain
εὐαίων, 'Lasting,' 'Not soon over.'
830.
mvp-comment-583-1
ὄμμασι δ᾽ ἀντίσχοις τάνδ᾽ αἴγλαν .. τανῦν] 'And hold before his eyes this brightness that is now spread over them.' There is difficulty in the interpretation of
αἴγλαν. Hermann was at one time satisfied with explaining it by a simple oxymoron, 'This light' = the light the eyes now have, i.e. darkness. Lobeck, Hermann in 1841, and, I believe, Prof. E. L. Lushington, would take
αἴγλαν literally of the light of day, and explain
ὄμμασι as a dativus commodi.
ἀντέχειν then means 'To hold away, Fend off.' 'And defend his eyes from this brightness that is now spread forth.' But the explanatory clause (
ἃ τέταται τανῦν), according to this interpretation, appears weak and motiveless. Welcker's suggestion that
αἴγλη here means a head-band (
αἴγλη, χλιδών, Fr. 524), satisfies some interpreters. A modification of Hermann's first interpretation seems to afford a possible meaning. The Chorus, gazing on Philoctetes' closed eyelids, see an expression of peaceful repose in his countenance that was previously absent. They pray that this boon of sleep may be continued. 'Light' is a familiar image of relief and safety. But in speaking of repose as light, the Chorus think again of their design, and add, 'This light which his eyes now have on them,' and not the light of waking. Or
τάνδ' αἴγλαν may mean more simply, 'This soothing light:' the relief which slumber brings to Philoctetes being associated with the cheerful sunshine. (Burges conj.
ἀμπίσχοις; Auratus conj.
ἀχλύν.)
τέταται, sc.
τοῖς ὄμμασι. For a somewhat similar expression,
cp. Aj. 706, ἔλυσεν αἰνὸν ἄχος ἀπ᾿ ὀμμάτων ῎Αρης.
832.
mvp-comment-584-1
ἴθι, ἴθι] The hiatus here is one of those irregularities which suggest the doubt spoken of in the Introduction, p. 364. It may be accounted for by the ictus, U_U_ __,
Cp. 859.
Cp. with this invocation to Sleep (in its second intention), Shak. Cymb. 2, 2, 'O Sleep, thou ape of death, lie dull upon her! And be her sense but as a monument, | Thus in a chapel lying.'
833.
mvp-comment-585-1
For the frequent form of expression,
cp. especially Eur. Alc. 864, ποῖ βῶ; πᾶ στῶ; τί λέγω; τί δὲ μή;
834.
mvp-comment-586-1
πῶς δέ μοι. . φροντίδος] Sc. ἔσται. ' And how are matters from this point to proceed with me in respect of thought?' i.e. What course is my design to take?
Cp. infr. 895.
835.
mvp-comment-587-1
ὁρᾷς ἤδη] 'You see (how things are) now;' viz. that Philoctetes is fast asleep. For the short abrupt sentences,
ср. О. С. 117-22, ib. 162-5.
836.
mvp-comment-588-1
πρὸς τί . . πράσσειν] ‘For what are we waiting, to do it?' i.e. What practical advantage is to be gained by our delay?
πράσσειν is epexegetic of
πρὸς τί.
μενοῦμεν is the MS. reading, but the short vowel gives a more probable rhythm.
837.
mvp-comment-589-1
καιρός, κ.τ.λ.] 'Opportunity, which holds the clue of everything, by following closely, wins much advantage.' The Chorus hint the unwisdom of adhering to one fixed plan, when a good opportunity occurs of suddenly executing another. A conjectural reading is
ῥώμαν. But
γνώμαν is confirmed by the echo of the phrase in the antistrophe. Cavallin, comparing
πολλά in 305 supr., explains
πολύ as = πολλάκις.
γνώμαν ἴσχων nearly = γνῶμα παρέχων.
Cp. Εl. 75, καιρὸς γάρ, ὅσπερ ἄνδρασιν | μέγιστος ἔργου παντός ἐστ᾽ ἐπιστάτης: Pind. Pyth. 9. 78, ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὁμοίως | παντὸς ἔχει κορυφάν. Others join
πάντων κράτος = 'Opportunity, combined with judgment, carries a decided superiority in all cases.' A word is lost of the quantity of αἴσιον (C.) or ἄνδρασιν (Hermann).
839-842.
mvp-comment-590-1
Hexameters occur similarly in the commos of Trachiniae, ll. 1017-23, where solemn reflections are intermingled with the more excited lyric strains.
Cp. also ib. 1009-13, 1031-1040.
839.
mvp-comment-591-1
θήραν | τήνδ'] 'This capture,' accomplished
supr. 779.
841.
mvp-comment-592-1
τοῦδε γὰρ ὁ στέφανος]
Cp. infr. 1344-7, Ἑλλήνων ἕνα | κριθέντ᾽ ἄριστον.. κλέος ὑπέρτατον λαβεῖν. ‘The prize was to be his.' Others (Paley) render, 'In him was the prize.'
εἶπε] Sc. δεῖν.
842.
mvp-comment-593-1
'To have an unaccomplished work to boast of, and that with the help of falsehood, is a reproach that carries deep disgrace.' To bring away the bow, as if performing a great feat, would only expose them to the reproach of not having brought Philoctetes. And this, when Neoptolemus had lied for the purpose.
843.
mvp-comment-594-1
τάδε.. θεὸς ὄψεται] The completion of the work achieved so far may be left to Divine providence, notwithstanding what is mysterious in the oracle.
Cp. Aj. 1165, κοίλην κάπετόν τιν᾿ ἰδεῖν, and note: O. C. 1454, ὁρᾷ, ὁρᾷ ταῦτ᾽ ἀεὶ χρόνος : Thuc. 5. 27, ὁρᾶν τοὺς ᾿Αργείους ὅπως σωθήσεται ἡ Πελοπόννησος.
844.
mvp-comment-595-1
ὧν .. αὖθις] The metre of the MS. reading
ὧν δ᾽ ἂν ἀμείβῃ μ᾽ αὖθις (U_U_U_U) does not correspond to the strophe, and is not very probable. Possibly
ἀμείβῃ was a gloss explaining
προσφωνῇ.. αὖθις, and we might read,
ὧν δ᾽ ἂν προσφωνῇ μ᾽ αὖθις.
Cp. ll. 1. 223, Πηλείδης δ᾽ ἐξαῦτις ἀταρτηροῖς ἐπέεσσιν | ᾿Ατρείδην προσέειπε, κ.τ.λ. Hermann's conjecture is provisionally adopted in the text.
847.
mvp-comment-596-1
ὡς .. λεύσσειν] 'Since ever in disease Sleep, which slumbers not, is quick to perceive.'
πάντων ἐν νόσῳ, sc. ὄντων. ' Of all men, when they are sick.' (Others join
πάντων εὐδρακής, ‘Having quick sight of all things.")
λεύσσειν is epexegetic of
εὐδρακής. Sleep is personified, and 'sight' used for perception in general.
Cp. Trach. 1019.
850.
mvp-comment-597-1
The text is defective, as the metre shows.
κεῖνο is opposed to
τάδε in 843, and means, therefore, not the abduction of Philoctetes, but the carrying away of the bow and arrows. The Chorus urge Neoptolemus not to be absorbed in gazing on Philoctetes, but to take a wider survey of the situation, that he may secure the object set before him by Odysseus. For
λάθρα, σκοπῶν λαθραίως might be substituted to complete the line, which answers to
supr. 834.
852.
mvp-comment-598-1
The reading
ὧν, which would answer to
μενοῦμεν in 836, gives no satisfactory meaning. For the comparison of
supr. 240, 1,
αὐδῶμαι.. παῖς Ἀχιλλέως ('I call Achilles father') does not justify
ὧν αὐδῶμαι = ' Whom I call master,' even if this were clearly in point. And if
ὃν is read, the metre is the same as that of ll. 6 and 9. In this case
αὐδῶμαι is active, as in Ο. Τ. 846. The question remains whether Philoctetes or Odysseus is the antecedent to
ὃν. It seems necessary that
τούτῳ in 853 should be the antecedent, and
τούτῳ is Philoctetes. The Chorus may be supposed to speak vaguely of him, in order to avoid the possibility of awakening his suspicions, should he overhear them. 'If this be your mind towards him you wot of;' i. e. 'If you allow yourself to be so affected with pity, as you manifestly are, towards Philoctetes.' The Chorus thus gently warn their master of what follows in the ensuing scene. Prof. Jebb conjectures
ὃν αἰδοῦμαι, 'Whose fear is before my eyes,' viz. Odysseus'. Others read
ταὐτὸν . . γνώμας.
854.
mvp-comment-599-1
ἐνιδεῖν = SC.
ἐστὶν or
ἔνεστιν, (1) 'The prudent may see therein inextricable harm.' Or, possibly, (2) 'One may see therein perplexing trouble for the wise' (i. e. for Odysseus).
855-862.
mvp-comment-600-1
It is probable that Neoptolemus answered here; and to this the words
βλέπ᾽ εἰ καίρια φθέγγει may be referred :- 'Whether you speak seasonably,' viz. in hinting that we must take him away. Else they must allude to
supr. 826, 6, which is far off.
οὖρος, κ.τ.λ.] This is to be taken literally, not figuratively with the Scholiast.
Cp. supr. 639, 40, and note. Schndw. quotes Theocr. 13. 52, κουφότερ', ὦ παῖδες, ποιεῖσθ᾽ ὅπλα· πλευστικὸς οὖρος.
856.
mvp-comment-601-1
οὐκ ἔχων ἀρωγάν] ‘Helpless, in sleep, disease and solitude, and in the loss of his arms.' For
ἀνόμματος, 'Without use of eyes,'
cp. supr. 632, ἄπουν, 'Lame.'
859.
mvp-comment-602-1
νύχιος resumes
ἀνόμματος with greater intensity. 'Sightless, as if steeped in night.'
ἐκτέταται, ' Lies prostrate,' is stronger than
κεῖται.
ἀλεὴς ὕπνος ἐσθλός] ‘How kind is sleep, warm sleep!' A parenthesis like
supr. 400, 1. To suppose a commonplace γνώμη, 'A man sleeps soundly in the sun,' is hardly adequate in feeling. It is rather an exclamation of joy that their invocation (
supr. 827 foll.) has been heard by the God of Sleep. For
ἐσθλός, meaning propitious,
cp. Od. 24. 311, ἢ τέ οἱ ἐσθλοὶ ἔσαν ὄρνιθες ἰόντι: ib. 19. 547, οὐκ ὄναρ, ἀλλ᾽ ὕπαρ ἐσθλόν: Ελ. 1093, μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ βεβῶσαν. If
ἀλεής is suspected,
ἀδαής rather than
ἀδεής should be read, although the latter might be connected with l. 864. But it is rash to reject
ἀλεής, when
λιαρός is an Homeric epithet of
ὕπνος: ΙΙ. 14. 164, ὕπνον ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε. The notion of 'Sleep in the sun' agrees with
αἴγλαν,
supr. 831.
860.
mvp-comment-603-1
οὔ τινος] An enumeration of this kind often ends with a general expression.
Cp. O. Τ. 1284, 5. They are perhaps thinking of the bow, which they dare not name.
861.
mvp-comment-604-1
'But sees no more than the dead.'
Cp. O. Τ. 972, κεῖται παρ' "Αιδῃ Πόλυβος, and see
Essay on L. § 54. P 99.
Dindorf reads
ἀλλ' ὡς τίς τ', 'formula epica.' But
cp. l. 859.
862.
mvp-comment-605-1
βλέπ᾽ εἰ] This is the easiest correction of a faulty text, and affords a possible meaning.
Cp. supr. note on 855 foll. But it is doubtful whether
βλέπε can mean 'See to it,' in classical Greek; and
βλέπει may be a gloss on
ὁρᾷ.
φθέγγει is also open to suspicion.
862.
mvp-comment-605-2
Blaydes conjectures
βλέπει· καίρια φώνει. But Neoptolemus is the first to perceive the signs of waking in Philoctetes. Others,
βλέπ᾽ εἰ καίρια φωνῶ.
863-864.
mvp-comment-606-1
τὸ δ᾽ ἁλώσιμον *ἀμᾷ.. κράτιστος] 'So far as our minds can grasp, young sir, the toil that frightens not is best.'
Cp. O. Τ. 1234, 5,
ὃ μὲν τάχιστος τῶν λόγων εἰπεῖν τε καὶ μαθεῖν, τέθνηκε θεῖον Ἰοκάστης κάρα : Plat. Rep. 7.517 B,
τὰ δ᾽ οὖν ἐμοὶ φαινόμενα οὕτω φαίνεται, ἐν τῷ γνωστῷ τελευταία ἡ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ἰδέα καὶ μόγις ὁρᾶσθαι.
ἀμᾷ seems to be required by the indications of the metre (dactylic with anacrusis.)
πόνος ὁ μὴ φοβῶν] The Chorus are probably using the language of fishermen, meaning that if Philoctetes is once alarmed, the capture of the bow will be more difficult. See above, l. 839,
θήραν, and
cp. Plato, Lys. 206 B,
ποιός τις οὖν ἄν σοι δοκοί θηρευτὴς εἶναι, εἰ ἀνασοβοῖ θηρεύων καὶ δυσαλωτοτέραν τὴν ἄγραν ποιοῖ; Δῆλον ὅτι φαῦλος. For
πόνος in this connection,
cp. Pind. Pyth. 2. 79,
ἅτε γὰρ εἰνάλιον πόνον ἐχοίσας βαθὺ | σκευᾶς ἑτέρας, ἀβάπτιστός εἰμι, φελλὸς ὡς ὑπὲρ ἕρκος, ἅλμας : Theocr. 21. 14,
οὗτος τοῖς ἁλιεῦσιν ὁ πᾶς πόνος. The common interpretation, from the Scholiast downwards, has been, 'The labour that causes no fear,' i.e. that is not attended with danger.
865.
mvp-comment-607-1
μηδ᾽ ἀφεστάναι φρενών] ‘And not take leave of your senses.'
Cp. El. 1326,
ὦ πλεῖστα μῶροι καὶ φρενῶν τητώμενοι, κ.τ.λ.
866.
mvp-comment-608-1
For
ἀνάγει, ‘Uplifts again,'
cp. Αj. 131,
κλίνει τε κἀνάγει πάλιν,
867-871.
mvp-comment-609-1
Just when the plot against his peace is being urged most vehemently, Philoctetes awakes, and pours out touching words of unsuspecting thankfulness for the patient care, of which he little knows the motive. He throws himself afresh on Neoptolemus, and will have no support but his.
867-868.
mvp-comment-610-1
ὦ φέγγος.. ξένων] 'Light after sleep, how welcome! And how surpassing fondest hope, the patient tendance of these friends!" For the construction of
φέγγος and
οἰκούρημα,
cp. Trach. 1046, 7,
ὦ πολλὰ . . μοχθήσας ἐγώ.
διάδοχον] 'Succeeding, taking the place of (in my experience).
ἐλπίδων ἄπιστον] 'Beyond the belief of expectation,' i.e. which I could not have believed beforehand.
οἰκούρημα] More concrete than
οἰκουρία = 'Act of keeping watch.'
οἰκουρεῖν is, ‘Το keep watch over a person's property and interests in his absence.' So Neoptolemus has guarded the bow and the person of Philoctetes during his prostration, from the thievish attempt which he most feared.
869.
mvp-comment-611-1
οὐκ ἂν ἐξηύχησα] 'I could not once have vaunted.' The aorist implies 'for a single moment,' and is thus more forcible here than the imperfect would have been.
871.
mvp-comment-612-1
μεῖναι has been unreasonably suspected. Cavallin conjectures
ἰδεῖν.
872.
mvp-comment-613-1
οὔκουν ᾿Ατρείδαι] 'It was not the Atreidae, who-.'
οὖν marks the reasonableness of Philoctetes' doubt, which was in accordance with the conduct of the Atreidae.
*εὐφόρως] This seems the simplest correction of
εὐπόρως. See
Essay on L. § 55. p. 101.
Others prefer
εὐπετῶς, comparing Fr. 523,
χρεὼν | τὰ θειᾶ θνητοὺς ὄντας εὐπετῶς φέρειν. Οr,
εὐλόφως. Paley retains
εὐπόρως.
874.
mvp-comment-614-1
κἀξ εὐγενῶν] The frequent allusions to his father have a constraining power over the heart of Neoptolemus.
875.
mvp-comment-615-1
ἐν εὐχερεῖ ἔθου] ‘Took as a light burden.'
876.
mvp-comment-616-1
βοῆς] This reference of Philoctetes to his own cries makes us feel how involuntary they were. He knew them as an inseparable accompaniment of his presence anywhere.
877.
mvp-comment-617-1
καὶ νῦν]
Cp. O. T. 52, 3,
ὄρνιθι γὰρ καὶ τὴν τότ᾽ αἰσίῳ τύχην | παρέσχες ἡμῖν, καὶ τανῦν ἴσος γενοῦ.
879.
mvp-comment-618-1
Nauck, following A. Zippmann, transposes this line to before 890 and rejects 880 and 889. The apparent coldness of Neoptolemus, who in 886 ignores this appeal of Philoctetes to him, may, however, be accounted for by supposing that his consciousness of acting a part makes him less forward with the show of sympathy, now that his emotions are really stirred.
880.
mvp-comment-619-1
Philoctetes is not yet confident that his powers are fully returned. The habit of lying perdu after each attack makes him less prompt to move. But he feels that he must be ready to start as soon as he can. (But qy.
ἡ. ἀ. τὸ πνεῦμ᾽ ἀπ. ποτέ?
Cp. supr. 639, 40.)
882.
mvp-comment-620-1
μέν prepares for the narrative in
νῦν δ᾽ αἷρε σαὐτόν.
883.
mvp-comment-621-1
ἀνώδυνον βλέποντα] 'Opening thine eyes without the look of pain.'
βλέποντα is sometimes put simply as an equivalent for
ζῶντα, e.g. Aesch. Ag. 677,
καὶ ζῶντα καὶ βλέποντα. But here the expression is modified by the addition of
ἀνώδυνον as an adverbial accusative (i. e. not only seeing the light but free from the look of pain). Others take
ἀνώδυνον as a masculine adjective, and make
ἀνώδυνον βλέποντα = 'Living in freedom from pain.'
884.
mvp-comment-622-1
τὰ συμβόλαιά σοι. . ἐφαίνετο] Either (1) 'Your commerce with the circumstances surrounding you: i.e. Your behaviour in the present juncture:' a figurative use of the ordinary meaning of
συμβόλαια: or (2) 'Your symptoms, when regarded in the light of your affliction:' i. e. 'Considering your peculiar case your appearance suggested the inference that you were dead.' The latter meaning (2) receives some confirmation from Hdt. 5. 92, 7, and, more doubtfully, from Eur. Ion 411, quoted by L. and S. But the former is better on the whole, and agrees with
σοι, the reading of the chief MS. See v. rr.
887-888.
mvp-comment-623-1
Cp. supr. 522, 3. Neoptolemus professes to be encouraged by these words of the Chorus to assume that they will not spare pains in helping Philoctetes, whose wishes are seconded by their prince.
889.
mvp-comment-624-1
ὥσπερ νοεῖς] 'As you really mean.' Philoctetes does not take the refusal of Neoptolemus to lift him with his own hands. He is too much impressed with his actual kindness to be at once affected by the coldness and reserve of his language.
892.
mvp-comment-625-1
συνναίειν] For the infinitive, see
Essay on L. § 33. p. 57
, and
cp. especially O. C. 1211, 2,
ὅστις τοῦ πλέονος μέρους χρήζει . . ζώειν.
893.
mvp-comment-626-1
Neoptolemus gives Philoctetes his hand, but bids him exert himself, and put forth his strength in using the support. He is roused by this and makes the necessary exertion.
894.
mvp-comment-627-1
'Fear not. Long habit will enable me to rise.'
895.
mvp-comment-628-1
If Neoptolemus had followed the course marked out for him, he would have taken Philoctetes on board, and only when out at sea have let him discover the destination of the voyage. But now that the decisive moment is arrived, he cannot deceive the unfortunate who has trusted him. For the optative (potential) without
av, see
E. on L. § 27. p. 45.
Others read
δῆτ᾽ ἄν.
896.
mvp-comment-629-1
'What mean such words, my son? Whither tends this sudden diversion?'
897.
mvp-comment-630-1
'I know not which way to express what is so full of perplexity.'
τάπορον . . ἔπος is the word that can neither be spoken nor kept silent.
898.
mvp-comment-631-1
Philoctetes cannot bear that doubts should rise just when his hopes are on the point of being fulfilled.
899.
mvp-comment-632-1
(1) 'But I am at such a point of difficulty (that I must speak).'
τοῦδε πάθους, sc.
τῆς ἀπορίας, from
ἀπορεῖς, supr. Or (2) simply, 'I am in a difficulty.'
Cp. Aesch. Choeph. 891,
ἐνταῦθα γὰρ δὴ τοῦδ᾽ ἀφικόμην κακοῦ.
900.
mvp-comment-633-1
οὐ δή] 'Surely it cannot be-;' i.e. 'I trust it is not.'
Cp. Trach. 668, and note.
901.
mvp-comment-634-1
ναύτην] 'On board your ship.'
ναύτης here =
πλωτήρ. The word is used predicatively. For both,
cp. Aesch. Pers. 719,
πεζὸς ἡ ναύτης δὲ πεῖραν τήνδ' ἐμώρανεν τάλας;
902.
mvp-comment-635-1
ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια] ‘There is nothing but unpleasantness.' For this use of the abstract noun,
cp. O. C. 883,
ἆρ᾽ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδ';
903.
mvp-comment-636-1
ὅταν is postponed to give greater emphasis to
τὴν αὐτοῦ φύσιν.
λιπών]
Cp. supr. 865,
ἀφεστάναι.
904.
mvp-comment-637-1
ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος] 'From (i. e. 'alien to') your father's strain.'
ἔξω is suggested by
λιπών and
φυτεύσαντος by
φύσιν. Mollweide very ingeniously conjectured
τοῦ προσεικότος (which, as Nauck observes, might be corrupted to
τοῦ πατρὸς εἰκότος), but his conjecture is less forcible than the text.
907.
mvp-comment-638-1
'There is certainly no baseness in what you are doing. But for what your speech may imply, I feel afraid.' For
ὀκνῶ, describing a state of vague, but painful apprehension,
cp. O. T. 746, 749. For the ellipse,
ὀκνῶ (μὴ αἰσχρὸς φανῇς), see
Essay on L. § 39, 6. p. 74.
Nauck unnecessarily conjectured
ἐφ᾽ οἷς.
908.
mvp-comment-639-1
δεύτερον] 'A second time.' He is already convicted of baseness in his own mind for having concealed his intention, and he foresees the reproach which the avowal of this same intention will draw down upon him.
910.
mvp-comment-640-1
The idea of the homeward voyage is so vividly present to Philoctetes' mind, that the only evil intention he can imagine in Neoptolemus is that of leaving him behind.
912.
mvp-comment-641-1
λιπών.. ἔγωγε] Sc.
στελῶ τὸν πλοῦν.
912-913.
mvp-comment-642-1
μὴ | πέμπω] The position of the words has the effect of throwing a strong emphasis on
πέμπω.
914.
mvp-comment-643-1
τί ποτε] The trisyllablic foot marks increasing agitation.
Cp. infr. 923, 4.
915-916.
mvp-comment-644-1
'Ex his tantum abest ut posterior versus ejiciendus sit, ut ejus adjectione eximie ostenderit Sophocles, quam penitus perspectam haberet animi humani naturam. Nam ubi quis semel ab se impetravit ut proferat quod celare jussus erat, jam, quasi expiaturus non recte factum, non aliquid, sed omnia cupit effundere.' (Hermann.) It may be observed here that the
στιχομυθίαι in the Philoctetes are, like the style generally, less severely regular than in any of the other plays.
917.
mvp-comment-645-1
πρὶν μάθης] 'Till you understand the case.' Neoptolemus indulges the hope, which he only abandons at the last moment (
infr. 1391), that Philoctetes may see that it is for his advantage to go to Troy.
919-920.
mvp-comment-646-1
He here states briefly that which at a more favourable moment (
infr. 1326-47) he explains at full.
920.
mvp-comment-647-1
τὰ .. πεδία] A periphrasis for
Τροίαν.
Cp. infr. 1332. The extent of the Trojan plain struck the imagination of the Greeks who lived in a broken, uneven country.
921.
mvp-comment-648-1
ἀληθῆ] 'In very deed.' For the adverbial predicate, see
Essay on L. § 23. p. 38.
922.
mvp-comment-649-1
πολλή.. ἀνάγκη] ‘This is ruled by strong necessity.'
κρατεῖ τούτων, sc.
ὥστε οὕτω γενέσθαι.
καί] 'And therefore.'
καί with imperatives has often a slightly illative force.
Cp. Plat. Gorg. 449 C,
τούτου μὴν δεῖ, ὦ Γοργία· καί μοι ἐπίδειξιν αὐτοῦ τούτου ποίησαι.
923.
mvp-comment-650-1
ὦ ξένε] This change in the manner of address, from
ὦ τέκνον, supr. 914, marks the transition from confidence to estrangement on the part of Philoctetes.
926.
mvp-comment-651-1
τό τ᾽ ἔνδικόν.. ποιεῖ] 'Duty and interest alike compel me.'
Cp. supr. 50 foll., 111 foll.
927-962.
mvp-comment-652-1
In this passionate outburst Philoctetes first reproaches Neoptolemus, then appeals to his feelings of honour and compassion, then meekly supplicates him. Then (934), when Neoptolemus turns away to hide the impression thus made on him, Philoctetes, thinking him obdurate, complains to the unconscious companions of his solitude. His speech insensibly returns to Neoptolemus, with whom he again pleads, first indirectly, then with one brief direct appeal (l.950). When this is answered by silence, he yields to despair, and turns his face and his complaint towards the lonesome cave. Once more (961) his mind reverts to him who has been so cruel, but had seemed so guileless, and before cursing him, he waits to know whether Neoptolemus will even yet repent.
927.
mvp-comment-653-1
πῦρ]
Cp. O. T. 190, 1, and note.
πᾶν δεῖμα] In this and similar expressions (
supr. 622) it is doubted whether
πᾶς is distributive or intensive, attributive or predicative. (1)
πᾶν distributive: i. e. 'terror of every kind' (not only
πῦρ). (2)
πᾶν intensive, 'entire' or 'utter terror.' The latter is more probable. 'Thou that art fire and terror unrelieved.'
πανουργίας . . ἔχθιστον] · 'Most hateful piece of knavish villany.' For the abstract neuter substantive applied to persons in expressing dislike,
cp. λάλημα, μίσος, λῆμα, etc. So
φθέγμα in expressing affection.
929-930.
mvp-comment-654-1
οὐδ᾽ ἐπαισχύνει.. σχέτλιε] This is more forcible when taken interrogatively as a separate sentence. It is otherwise with the brief clause
οὐδ' ἐπαισχύνει λέγων in Αj. 1307.
930-932.
mvp-comment-655-1
The iteration and the broken rhythm (l.932 has three trisyllabic feet) are expressive of distracted feeling.
935.
mvp-comment-656-1
ὧδ'] 'Even so.' For the emphatic resumption of the antecedent, see
E. on L. § 40. p. 75.
πάλιν] 'The opposite way.' 'Avertit vultum.' Brunck.
Cp. Eur. Med. 411,
καὶ δίκα καὶ πάντα πάλιν στρέφεται.
936.
mvp-comment-657-1
προβλῆτες] The substantive is more easily omitted with
πέτραι following in the next line.
936-937.
mvp-comment-658-1
ξυνουσίαι θηρῶν ὀρείων] 'Wild comrades of the hills.'
Cp. supr. 184, 5,
στικτῶν ἢ λασίων μετὰ θηρῶν, and for the abstract word, Eur. Alc. 606,
ἀνδρῶν Φεραίων εὐμενὴς παρουσία.
939.
mvp-comment-659-1
ἀνακλαίομαι] 'I complain in my own behalf.' Such is the force of the middle voice.
Cp. Antiphon, 119, 24,
ἀποστερούμενος δὲ ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν μηδὲ τὰς παρούσας ἀτυχίας ἀνακλαύσασθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀπορῶ εἰς ἥντινα ἄλλην σωτηρίαν χρή με καταφυγεῖν, Trach. 153.
εἰωθόσιν] Sc.
παρεῖναι.
940.
mvp-comment-660-1
Cp. supr. 260, and note.
942.
mvp-comment-661-1
χεῖρα δεξιάν]
Cp. supr. 813, and note. And for
προστίθημι in a similar connection,
cp. El. 47,
ὅρκῳ προστιθείς: Fr. 428,
ὅρκου δὲ προστεθέντος ἐπιμελεστέρα | ψυχὴ κατέστη.
943.
mvp-comment-662-1
For the slight transposition of the order of the words =
ἱερὰ τοῦ .. Ἡρακλέους, λαβὼν ἔχει, see
Essay on L. § 41. p. 77.
Ιn
τοῦ Ζηνὸς Ἡρακλέους the second genitive has become a sort of epithet.
Cp. Ant. 154,
ὁ Θήβας . Βάκχιος.
944.
mvp-comment-663-1
φήνασθαι] 'To show them as his own.'
945.
mvp-comment-664-1
ἐκ βίας μ' ἄγει] ‘He seeks to carry me away by force.' In taking the bow, Neoptolemus tries to force Philoctetes to depart. Philoctetes feels this, though he prefers to die.
946-947.
mvp-comment-665-1
Ср. О. C. 109, 10,
οἰκτείρατ᾿ ἀνδρὸς Οἰδίπου τόδ᾽ ἄθλιον | εἴδωλον, οὐ γὰρ δὴ τὸ γ' ἀρχαῖον δέμας.
947-948.
mvp-comment-666-1
οὐ γὰρ.. δόλῳ] These words are especially calculated to wound the pride of Neoptolemus.
949.
mvp-comment-667-1
τί . . δρᾶν] He returns upon himself for a moment, but, finding no resource, makes one more effort to reach the heart of Neoptolemus. He is met with silence.
950.
mvp-comment-668-1
Cp. Ant. 552,
τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἀλλὰ νῦν σ᾽ ἔτ᾿ ὠφελοῖμ᾽ ἐγώ; For
ἐν σαυτῷ γενοῦ, 'Return to thy true self,'
cp. Xen. An. 1. 5. 17,
ἀκούσας ταῦτα ὁ Κλέαρχος ἐν ἑαυτῷ ἐγένετο : Aj. 639,40,
οὐκέτι συντρόφοις ὀργαῖς ἔμπεδος. The other idiom,
ἐν σαυτοῦ, read in Par. A. ('esto apud te,' Lamb.), is a humorous expression unsuited for tragedy.
952.
mvp-comment-669-1
σχῆμα πέτρας δίπυλον] 'Rock formed with twofold doorway,' i.e.
πέτρα δίπυλος ἐσχηματισμένη. For a similar periphrasis,
cp. Eur. Alc. 911,
ὦ σχῆμα δύμων, πῶς εἰσέλθω ; ‘A common periphrasis for any object that presents itself to the eye in a familiar form.' Paley.
αὖθις αὖ πάλιν]
Supr. 930, 932.
953.
mvp-comment-670-1
ψιλός .. τροφήν] 'Without means of defence or sustenance.'
Cp. Αj. 1123,
κἂν ψιλὸς ἀρκέσαιμι σοί γ' ὡπλισμένῳ :
infr. 1125, 6,
χερὶ πάλλων | τὰν ἐμὰν μελέου τροφάν.
954.
mvp-comment-671-1
αὐανοῦμαι] There can be no doubt about this reading, though the notion of a 'second death' (see v. rr. and
cp. νεκρόν, supr. 946) has infected the MSS.
τῷδ᾽ ἐν αὐλίῳ]
Cp. supr. 19,
infr. 1087.
957.
mvp-comment-672-1
For the suppressed antecedent (τοῖς οἱ ἐκείνοις),
cp. Εl. 1060,
τροφᾶς κηδομένους ἀφ᾽ ὧν . . βλάστωσιν.
959.
mvp-comment-673-1
ῥύσιον] 'In requital.'
ῥύσιον is (a) that which is rescued from plunder, (b) what is taken in reprisal, (c) an act of reprisal or requital.
960.
mvp-comment-674-1
For
πρός, κ.τ.λ. after a verb in the active voice, see
Essay on L. § 36. p. 64.
961.
mvp-comment-675-1
ὄλοιο μή πω] 'Perish-not yet!' The curse already on his lips (
ὅλοιο) is suspended by the addition of the negative and changed to
ὄλοιο μή πω, κ.τ.λ. then finally resumed in
θάνοις.
πρὶν μάθοιμ᾽]
Cp. supr. 325, and note.
962.
mvp-comment-676-1
καί]
Cp. infr. 1270,
οὔκουν ένεστι καὶ μεταγῶναι πάλιν;
963.
mvp-comment-677-1
δρῶμεν] Conjunctive mood.
964.
mvp-comment-678-1
ἤδη is to be joined with
πλεῖν, 'To sail at once.'
Cp. supr. 466,
ἤδη · στέλλεσθε;
968.
mvp-comment-679-1
σαυτοῦ] Some editors prefer
σαυτῷ, the reading of I, i.e. 'Do not let thy name become a reproach amongst men.' But the reading of L is sound. 'Suffer not this reproach against thee to go forth amongst men.'
ἐκκλέψας ἐμέ] 'Through your deceiving me.'
Cp supr. 55.
969.
mvp-comment-680-1
δράσω] Aor. conjunctive.
972.
mvp-comment-681-1
ἔοικας ἥκειν] For this conversational periphrasis, see
Essay on L. § 41. p. 77, a
, and
cp. Ant. 1279 foll. For
δούς used like
ἐνδούς, ‘yielding' (
cp. the intransitive use of 'give' in English), see
Essay on L. § 55. p. 101, 4.
Cp. also the turn of expression in Aj. 483, 4,
παῦσαί γε μέντοι καὶ δὸς ἀνδράσιν φίλοις | γνώμης κρατῆσαι, τάσδε φροντίδας μεθείς : Eur. Phoen. 21,
ἡδονῇ δούς.
979.
mvp-comment-682-1
ξυλλαβών]
Cp. supr. 945, and note.
981.
mvp-comment-683-1
παῖ]
Cp. supr. 967. The hateful sight of Odysseus drives Philoctetes once again to throw himself on the mercy of Neoptolemus.
Cp. Lear, 2. 4, 'Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favoured, When others are more wicked; not being the worst | Stands in some rank of praise. I'll go with thee.'
982.
mvp-comment-684-1
For the situation,
cp. О. С. 858 foll.
983.
mvp-comment-685-1
στείχειν ἅμ᾿ αὐτοῖς] ‘Το march along with them.' The pronoun
αὐτοῖς refers to Neoptolemus and his attendants. Here, as
infr. 1003, the language is assisted by the scene. Others refer
αὐτοῖς to the bow, but in this case some other verb than
στείχειν would be required.
986-988.
mvp-comment-686-1
Cp. supr. 800,
infr. 1464.
987.
mvp-comment-687-1
Cp. supr. 376, and note.
988.
mvp-comment-688-1
τῶν σῶν] Sc.
χωρίων. The pron. refers to
Λημνία χθών, the words
καὶ.. Ἡφαιστότευκτον being
διὰ μέσου.
989.
mvp-comment-689-1
ἵν᾽ εἰδῇς] 'I tell you!'
Cp. Aesch. Cho. 439,
ἐμασχαλίσθη δ᾽ ἔθ᾽ ὡς τόδ' εἰδῇς. In such expressions there is an ellipse of
λέγω.
τῆσδε γῆς] Lemnos.
992.
mvp-comment-690-1
Ср. О. С. 277. Zeus is false to Heracles if he favours the design against his friend.
993.
mvp-comment-691-1
The removal of Philoctetes fulfils the prophecy of Helenus, and thus establishes the truthfulness of the gods.
994.
mvp-comment-692-1
'I say, No! for my part.' 'But I say, Yes! you must be ruled.' Gernhard conjectured,
ΦΙ. οὔ φημ'. ΟΔ. ἐγὼ δέ φημι
997.
mvp-comment-693-1
ἄρα is postponed because of the energy with which the first words of the sentence are spoken. See
Essay on L. § 26. p. 44.
998.
mvp-comment-694-1
τοῖς ἀρίστοισιν] Neoptolemus.
1000.
mvp-comment-695-1
γῆς .. βάθρον] 'This Lemnian steep.'
Cp. Aj. 859,
ὦ γῆς ἱερὸν οἰκείας πέδον | Σαλαμίνος. For the descriptive pleonasm of
γῆς,
cp. Aesch. Prom. 433,
* Αϊδος.. μυχὸς γᾶς.
1002.
mvp-comment-696-1
πέτρᾳ] 'On the rock;' i.e.
ἐν πέτρα =
εἰς πέτραν (rather than instrum. dat.), to be joined with
αἱμάξω.
πέτρας is ablative genitive with
πεσών.
1003.
mvp-comment-697-1
ξυλλάβετέ γ' αὐτόν] ‘Ay, apprehend him.'
ye may be explained by supposing the attendants to have advanced of their own accord on seeing the intention of Philoctetes. Recent editors have adopted G. Bernhardy's conjecture,
ξυλλάβετον αὐτόν, supposing Odysseus to address his two attendants, the usual
δύ' ἀμφίπολοι of Epic poetry. But if this were right the same dual form of command would have been found elsewhere, e.g. in O. С. 840, 847.
1005.
mvp-comment-698-1
ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε] 'Odysseus,' said with bitter emphasis.
Cp. supr. 376,
εἰ τἀμὰ κεῖνος ὅπλ᾽ ἀφαιρήσοιτό με.
συνθηρώμεναι is at once 'caught' and 'bound.'
1007.
mvp-comment-699-1
οἷ᾽ αὖ] This seems a more probable correction of
οἷα than
οἷον, which, though found in some MSS., may have arisen from a gloss.
*αὖ] 'Again,' as you did ten years ago, when you took advantage of me sleeping;
supr. 271 foll.
1008.
mvp-comment-700-1
πρόβλημα σαυτοῦ] ‘As your stalking-horse.'
πρόβλημα is in apposition to
παῖδα. For
προβάλλεσθαι, as a word of blame,
cp. Thuc. 1. 37,
τὸ εὐπρεπὲς ἄσπονδον . . προβέβληνται.
1009.
mvp-comment-701-1
ἀνάξιον.. ἐμοῦ] 'Who does not deserve to be thy minister, but well deserves to be my friend.'
1012.
mvp-comment-702-1
For the dative after
ἀλγεινῶς φέρων = ἀχθόμενος, see
Essay on L. § 14. p. 21, and § 36. p. 64.
1013.
mvp-comment-703-1
διὰ μυχῶν βλέπουσ᾽] This is differently explained, (1) 'Spying into hidden places' (so Musgrave, who compares Philo J. 2. p. 78,
τὸν ἀεὶ βλέποντα καὶ τὰ ἐν μυχοῖς τῆς διανοίας). For this
cp. Αj. 11,
καί σ᾽ οὐδὲν εἴσω τῆσδε παπταίνειν πύλης | ἔτ᾽ ἔργον ἐστίν. Or (2) 'Spying out of hiding holes' ('per latebras prospiciens,' Schndw.). The latter (2) is preferable. For the point here is, not that Philoctetes was hidden in his cave, but that Odysseus himself keeps out of sight, while he watches the proceedings of Neoptolemus. This also gives a better meaning. ‘By
διά is meant looking through the intervening darkness.' (Paley.)
Cp. Aj. 381,
κακοπινέστατόν τ᾿ ἄλημα στρατοῦ: ib. 390, and note.
1014.
mvp-comment-704-1
ἀφυῆ] ‘Unapt,' sc.
πρὸς τὸ τοιοῦτὸν τι ποιεῖν: or, as Seyffert puts it,
ἐπὶ τὸ σοφὸν εἶναι ἐν κακοῖς.
Cp. supr. 79, 80,
ἔξοιδα καὶ φύσει σε μὴ πεφυκότα τοιαῦτα φωνεῖν, μηδὲ τεχνᾶσθαι κακά.
1015.
mvp-comment-705-1
προὐδίδαξεν] ‘Has instructed him.'
Cp. supr. 538,
προϋμαθον, and note.
1016.
mvp-comment-706-1
δύστηνε]
Cp. Aj. 1290,
δύστηνε, ποῖ βλέπων ποτ' αὐτὰ καὶ θροεῖς;
συνδήσας agrees with the subject of
ἄγειν. The intention here mentioned is spoken of in the more passionate phrase,
supr. 979, as a finished act;
cp. Aj. 1126,
δίκαια γὰρ τόνδ᾽ εὐτυχεῖν κτείναντά με;
1017.
mvp-comment-707-1
ἀκτῆς]
Supr. 1, 272.
προὐβάλου] • You contrived to cast me forth.' The (subjective) middle throws on Odysseus the prime responsibility of the act.
1018.
mvp-comment-708-1
ἄπολιν] 'Outcast.'
Cp. the Homeric
ἀφρήτωρ, ἀθέμιστος, ἀνέστιος.
ἐν ζῶσιν νεκρόν] 'Among the living, but not alive.'
1019.
mvp-comment-709-1
καί] 'And indeed.' For the stress on
καί,
cp. Εl. 597 (
ὡς τὴν μητέρα | κακοστομοῦμεν.)
καί σ᾽ ἔγωγε δεσπότιν | ἢ μητέρ᾽ οὐκ ἔλασσον εἰς ἡμᾶς νέμω. Philoctetes adds this, not correcting himself, but as feeling painfully the impotence of his curse.
1022.
mvp-comment-710-1
τοῦτ᾽ αὐτό is cognate accusative, expressing the cause. The pronoun refers both to
ζῶν preceding, and to
ὅτι following.
Cp. supr. 797, Ant. 463, 4,
ὅστις γὰρ ἐν πολλοῖσιν ὡς ἐγὼ κακοῖς | ζῇ, πῶς ὅδ᾽ οὐχὶ κατθανὼν κέρδος φέρει;
1025.
mvp-comment-711-1
κλοπῇ τε κἀνάγκῃ ζυγείς] 'Through being kidnapped, and bound under compulsion.'
Cp. supr. 73, and note. For the metaphor in
ζυγείς,
cp. Αj. 24,
κἀγὼ ᾿θελοντὴς τῷδ᾽ ὑπεζύγην πόνῳ.
1027.
mvp-comment-712-1
ἑπτὰ ναυσί] ΙΙ. 2. 718,
τῶν δὲ Φιλοκτήτης ἦρχεν, τόξων εὖ εἰδώς, ἑπτὰ νεῶν.
1028.
mvp-comment-713-1
ἄτιμον ἔβαλον] ‘Flung away dishonoured.' For the use of the simple verb =
ἐξέβαλον, see
E. on L. § 55. p. 101, 4.
κεῖνοι δὲ σέ] Sc.
ἐκβαλεῖν μέ φασιν. Dindorf wrongly quotes
ἔκβαλον as the reading of L.
1029.
mvp-comment-714-1
'And now why take me, why force me away?' For the repetition and redundancy,
cp. supr. 236. and note.
ἀπάγειν is the word for taking a criminal to execution, and the middle voice conveys more of personal feeling. (
Cp. supr. 613.) The agitation of Philoctetes is again marked by two tribrachs following each other.
Cp. supr. 932.
1030.
mvp-comment-715-1
τέθνηχ᾽ ὑμῖν]
Cp. O. C. 1366,
ἢ τὰν οὐκ ἂν ἢ τὸ σὸν μέρος. And for the dative, ib. 444,
φυγάς σφιν ἔξω πτωχὸς ἠλώμην ἀεί.
1032-1033.
mvp-comment-716-1
πῶς θεοῖς εὔξεσθ' . . ἔτι] 'How shall ye declare to Heaven that ye will sacrifice or pour libation to the gods any more?'
εὔχεσθαι is properly to say aloud in presence of a god, and so (a) 'To pray,' (b) 'To vow,' (c) 'To glory.' Here the meaning is somewhere between (c) and (b), 'To vaunt' and 'To promise.'
Cp. Eur. Alc. 334, where
eὔχομαι is, 'I thankfully profess.'
θεοῖς is (a) dative after
εὔξεσθε, (b) in a secondary construction with the infinitives
αἴθειν ἱερά and
σπένδειν. 'How shall ye vaunt before the gods that ye will burn sacrifice to them, or make drink-offerings?' There is no ground whatever for suspecting the reading.
1034.
mvp-comment-717-1
αὕτη .. ἐμέ]
Cp. supr. 8. It may be observed that Philoctetes here knows what he had not suspected at the time described by him,
supr. 271.
ἐκβαλεῖν] Sc.
ὥστε ἐκβαλεῖν. See
Essay on L. § 36. p. 62.
1039.
mvp-comment-718-1
εἰ μή τι .. ἐμοῦ] 'Were ye not pricked to it by some divine power reminding you of me.'
κέντρον is (a) literally, 'The prick of a goad.' (b) metaphorically, 'A sharp thought' (
θεῖον, ‘implanted by a god'); in which sense
ἐμοῦ is joined to it as an objective genitive. The religious feeling of these lines is very similar to Oed. Col. 96-105. Philoctetes' hope in the gods, which at
supr. 1020 had sunk very low, is revived by the reflection that some Divine Providence must have caused the wish for his return to Troy. But he appeals only in the first instance to the gods of his fatherland, and to the gods of vengeance. The
θεοὶ ἐπόψιοι are either (1) the Ερινύες.
Cp. Aj. 835, 6,
τὰς ἀεί τε παρθένους | ἀεί θ᾽ ὁρώσας πάντα τὰν βροτοῖς πάθη Or (2), as elsewhere, Zeus and Apollo.
Cp. Εl. 175,
Ζεύς, ὃς ἐφορᾷ πάντα καὶ κρατύνει.
1042.
mvp-comment-719-1
κἄμ᾽]
καί belongs to the verb.
Cp. Ant. 280,
παῦσαι, πρὶν ὀργῆς κἀμὲ μεστῶσαι λέγων, and note.
1044.
mvp-comment-720-1
τῆς νόσου] Sc.
ἐκ. See
Essay on L. § 8. p. 11.
Cp. Od. 1. 18,
πεφυγμένος ἦεν ἀέθλων: Ant. 488, 9,
οὐκ ἀλύξετον | μόρου κακίστου. For the relief afforded by vengeance,
cp. Εl. 939,
τῆς νῦν παρούσης πημονῆς λύσεις βάρος: ib. 1489, 90,
ὡς ἐμοὶ τύδ᾽ ἂν κακῶν | μόνον γένοιτο τῶν πάλαι λυτήριον.
