1252-1257.
mvp-comment-833-1
In the text this line is given to Neoptolemus, and follows a threat of personal violence from Odysseus. Some editors would omit it altogether.
χειρί is opposed to
φόβον, supra. Either therefore (1) a line is dropped after 1251 (
cp. O. T. 624); and the sense runs as follows: 'Ne. I tremble not before your intimidation. (Od. But I will compel you on the spot.) Ne. Neither do I yield to your compulsion to do this. Od. Then you, and not the Trojans, will be our adversary. Ne. Let come what will. Od. You see my hand upon the hilt. Ne. Nor will mine linger long, as you will see. Od. And yet I will leave you.' Or (2) 1252, 3 may be inverted, and
ἔστω τὸ μέλλον given to Odysseus, together with the following words. Or (3) inverting 1252, 3 as before, we may read as follows:
ΟΔ. ἔστω τὸ μέλλον. ΝΕ. χεῖρα .. ἐπιψαύουσαν. ΟΔ. ἀλλὰ .. τιμωρήσεται. It is hardly worth while to suggest a fourth alternative, (4) to leave the lines as they stand, and to suppose l. 1252 in Odysseus' mouth to mean, 'But, on the other hand, I do not credit you with force enough to effect your object.' That (1) is right appears from this, that Odysseus is in this case the aggressor throughout, and Neoptolemus stands wholly on the defensive.
Cp. infr. 1300-4. The Scholiast on l. 1252 explains
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ πεισθήσομαι, whence Bothe conjectures
πείσομαι. For the unintentional tautology in
τὸ μέλλον.. κοὐ μέλλοντ᾽ ἔτι, see
Essay on L. § 44. p. 83.
1257.
mvp-comment-835-1
καίτοι . . ἐάσω] For
καίτοι after a pause.
cp. Ant. 904,
καίτοι σ᾽ ἐγὼ ἐτίμησα: Trach. 719,
καίτοι δέδοκται, κ.τ.λ. Odysseus is pursuing his own thoughts without appearing to notice the words of Neoptolemus. Odysseus exit, but is supposed still to lurk somewhere within hearing.
