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.
