Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Turn

← Previous Next →

Will you forsake me, and not pity me?

Chorus

Philoctetes. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1081 focus

ὦ κοίλας πέτρας γύαλον

θερμὸν καὶ θερμόν τε καὶ παγετῶδες, ὥς σ᾽ οὐκ ἔμελλον ἄρ᾽, ὦ τάλας ω' ταλασ ὦ τάλας,

λείψειν οὐδέποτ' οὐδέποτε, ἀλλά μοι

καὶ θνήσκοντι συνοίσει.

ὤμοι μοί μοι. ώι μοι μοι μοί οἱ μοι μοι μοι

1085

ὦ πληρέστατον αὔλιον αὐλίον αὔλιον

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΦΙ.

λύπας τᾶς ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ τάλαν,

τί ποτ᾽ αὖ μοὶ τὸ κατ᾽ καθ' ἁμαρ ἦμαρ

ἔσται; τοῦ ποτε τεύξομαι
1090

σιτονόμου μέλεος πόθεν ἐλπίδος ;

εἴθ᾽ αἰθέρος ἄνω

πτωκάδες ὀξυτόνου ὀξυτόνου διὰ πνεύματος

ἕλωσί ἐλῶσί μ᾽. †οὐ γὰρ ἔτ᾿ ἰσχύω.†

ΧΟ.
(2.)

σύ τοι σύ τοι κατηξίωσας κατηξίωσᾶς κατηξίωσασ,
1095

ὦ βαρύποτμ' βαρύποτμε βαρύποτμ', οὐκ ἄλλοθεν ἔχει τύχαις τύχᾳ τᾷδ᾽ τ. τώδε τ. τάδ' ἀπὸ μείζονος,

εὐτέ γε γάρ παρὸν φρονῆσαι

τοῦ λῴονος πλέονοσ δαίμονος εἵλου τὸ κάκιον αἰνεῖν ἑλεῖν.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ.

ἀντ.α΄. (1.)

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1081-1216 focus

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ κοίλας πέτρας γύαλον

θερμὸν καὶ παγετῶδες, ὥς σʼ οὐκ ἔμελλον ἄρʼ, ὦ τάλας,

λείψειν οὐδέποτʼ, ἀλλά μοι καὶ θνῄσκοντι συνείσει.

ὤμοι μοί μοι.

ὦ πληρέστατον αὔλιον

λύπας τᾶς ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ τάλαν,

τίπτʼ αὖ μοι τὸ κατʼ ἆμαρ

ἔσται; τοῦ ποτε τεύξομαι
1090

σιτονόμου μέλεος πόθεν ἐλπίδος;

πέλειαι δʼ ἄνω

πτωκάδες ὀξυτόνου διὰ πνεύματος

ἐλῶσιν· οὐκέτʼ ἴσχω.

Χορός

σύ τοι σύ τοι κατηξίωσας,
1095

ὦ βαρύποτμε, κοὐκ

ἄλλοθεν ἔχει τύχᾳ τᾷδʼ ἀπὸ μείζονος,

εὖτέ γε παρὸν φρονῆσαι

τοῦ λῴονος δαίμονος εἵλου τὸ κάκιον αἰνεῖν.
1100

1101

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ τλάμων τλάμων ἄρʼ ἐγὼ

καὶ μόχθῳ λωβατός, ὃς ἤδη μετʼ οὐδενὸς ὕστερον

ἀνδρῶν εἰσοπίσω τάλας ναίων ἐνθάδʼ ὀλοῦμαι,

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,

οὐ φορβὰν ἔτι προσφέρων,

οὐ πτανῶν ἀπʼ ἐμῶν ὅπλων

κραταιαῖς μετὰ χερσὶν
1110

ἴσχων· ἀλλά μοι ἄσκοπα

κρυπτά τʼ ἔπη δολερᾶς ὑπέδυ φρενός·

ἰδοίμαν δέ νιν,

τὸν τάδε μησάμενον, τὸν ἴσον χρόνον

ἐμὰς λαχόντʼ ἀνίας.
1115

Χορός

πότμος, πότμος σε δαιμόνων τάδʼ,

οὐδὲ σέ γε δόλος,

ἔσχεν ὑπὸ χειρὸς ἀμᾶς. στυγερὰν ἔχε

δύσποτμον ἀρὰν ἐπʼ ἄλλοις.
1120

καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοῦτο μέλει, μὴ φιλότητʼ ἀπώσῃ.

1123

Φιλοκτήτης

οἴμοι μοι, καί που πολιᾶς

πόντου θινὸς ἐφήμενος

ἐγγελᾷ, χερὶ πάλλων
1125

τὰν ἐμὰν μελέου τροφάν,

τὰν οὐδείς ποτʼ ἐβάστασεν.

ὦ τόξον φίλον, ὦ φίλων

χειρῶν ἐκβεβιασμένον,

ἦ που ἐλεινὸν ὁρᾷς, φρένας εἴ τινας
1130

ἔχεις, τὸν Ἡράκλειον

ἄρθμιον ὧδέ σοι

οὐκέτι χρησόμενον τὸ μεθύστερον,

ἄλλου δʼ ἐν μεταλλαγᾷ

πολυμηχάνου ἀνδρὸς ἐρέσσει,
1135

ὁρῶν μὲν αἰσχρὰς ἀπάτας, στυγνὸν δὲ φῶτʼ ἐχθοδοπόν,

μυρίʼ, ἀπʼ αἰσχρῶν ἀνατέλλονθʼ, ὃς ἐφʼ ἡμῖν κάκʼ ἐμήσατʼ, ὦ Ζεῦ.

Χορός

ἀνδρός τοι τὰ μὲν ἔνδικʼ αἰὲν εἰπεῖν,
1140

εἰπόντος δὲ μὴ φθονερὰν

ἐξῶσαι γλώσσας ὀδύναν.

κεῖνος δʼ εἷς ἀπὸ πολλῶν

ταχθεὶς τῶνδʼ ἐφημοσύνᾳ

κοινὰν ἤνυσεν ἐς φίλους ἀρωγάν.
1145

1146

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ πταναὶ θῆραι χαροπῶν τʼ

ἔθνη θηρῶν, οὓς ὅδʼ ἔχει

χῶρος οὐρεσιβώτας,

μηκέτʼ ἀπʼ αὐλίων φυγᾷ

πηδᾶτʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔχω χεροῖν
1150

τὰν πρόσθεν βελέων ἀλκάν,

ὦ δύστανος ἐγὼ τανῦν,

ἀλλʼ ἀνέδην, ὁ δὲ χῶρος ἄρʼ οὐκέτι

φοβητὸς οὐκέθʼ ὑμῖν,

ἕρπετε· νῦν καλὸν
1155

ἀντίφονον κορέσαι στόμα πρὸς χάριν

ἐμᾶς σαρκὸς αἰόλας·

ἀπὸ γὰρ βίον αὐτίκα λείψω.

πόθεν γὰρ ἔσται βιοτά; τίς ὧδʼ ἐν αὔραις τρέφεται,
1160

μηκέτι μηδενὸς κρατύνων ὅσα πέμπει βιόδωρος αἶα;

Χορός

πρὸς θεῶν, εἴ τι σέβει ξένον, πέλασσον,

εὐνοίᾳ πάσᾳ πελάταν·

ἀλλὰ γνῶθʼ, εὖ γνῶθʼ ἐπὶ σοὶ
1165

κῆρα τάνδʼ ἀποφεύγειν.

οἰκτρὰ γὰρ βόσκειν, ἀδαὴς δʼ

ἔχειν μυρίον ἄχθος, ὃ ξυνοικεῖ.

1170

Φιλοκτήτης

πάλιν πάλιν παλαιὸν ἄλγημʼ ὑπέμνασας, ὦ
1170

λῷστε τῶν πρὶν ἐντόπων.

τί μʼ ὤλεσας; τί μʼ εἴργασαι;

Χορός

τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας;

Φιλοκτήτης

εἰ σὺ τὰν ἐμοὶ στυγερὰν

Τρῳάδα γᾶν μʼ ἤλπισας ἄξειν.
1175

Χορός

τόδε γὰρ νοῶ κράτιστον.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπό νύν με λείπετʼ ἤδη.

Χορός

φίλα μοι, φίλα ταῦτα παρήγγειλας ἑκόντι τε πράσσειν.

ἴωμεν ἴωμεν

ναὸς ἵνʼ ἡμῖν τέτακται.
1180

Φιλοκτήτης

μή, πρὸς ἀραίου Διός, ἔλθῃς, ἱκετεύω.

Χορός

μετρίαζʼ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ ξένοι, μείνατε, πρὸς θεῶν.

Χορός

τί θροεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δαίμων δαίμων·
1185

ἀπόλωλʼ ὁ τάλας·

ὦ ποὺς πούς, τί σʼ ἔτʼ ἐν βίῳ

τεύξω τῷ μετόπιν τάλας;

ὦ ξένοι, ἔλθετʼ ἐπήλυδες αὖθις.
1190

Χορός

τί ῥέξοντες ἀλλοκότῳ

γνώμᾳ τῶν πάρος, ὧν προύφαινες;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὔτοι νεμεσητόν,

ἀλύοντα χειμερίῳ

λύπᾳ καὶ παρὰ νοῦν θροεῖν.
1195

Χορός

βᾶθί νυν, ὦ τάλαν, ὥς σε κελεύομεν.

Φιλοκτήτης

οὐδέποτʼ οὐδέποτʼ, ἴσθι τόδʼ ἔμπεδον,

οὐδʼ εἰ πυρφόρος ἀστεροπητὴς

βροντᾶς αὐγαῖς μʼ εἶσι φλογίζων.

ἐρρέτω Ἴλιον οἵ θʼ ὑπʼ ἐκείνῳ
1200

πάντες ὅσοι τόδʼ ἔτλασαν ἐμοῦ ποδὸς ἄρθρον ἀπῶσαι.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ ξένοι, ἕν γέ μοι εὖχος ὀρέξατε.

Χορός

ποῖον ἐρεῖς τόδʼ ἔπος;

Φιλοκτήτης

ξίφος, εἴ ποθεν,

ἢ γένυν ἢ βελέων τι προπέμψατε.

Χορός

ὡς τίνα δὴ ῥέξῃς παλάμαν ποτέ;
1205

Φιλοκτήτης

χρῶτʼ ἀπὸ πάντα καὶ ἄρθρα τέμω χερί·

φονᾷ φονᾷ νόος ἤδη.

Χορός

τί ποτε;

Φιλοκτήτης

πατέρα ματεύων.

Χορός

ποῖ γᾶς;
1210

Φιλοκτήτης

ἐς Ἅιδου·

οὐ γάρ ἐστʼ ἐν φάει γʼ ἔτι.

ὦ πόλις, ὦ πατρία,

πῶς ἂν εἰσίδοιμʼ ἄθλιός σʼ ἀνήρ,

ὅς γε σὰν λιπὼν ἱερὰν

λιβάδʼ ἐχθροῖς ἔβαν Δαναοῖς
1215

ἀρωγός· ἔτʼ οὐδέν εἰμι.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1081 focus

O cavern of the hollow rock,

Frosty and stifling in the seasons’ change!

How I seem fated never more to range

From thy sad covert, that hath felt the shock

Of pain on pain, steeped with my wretchedness.
1085

Now thou wilt be my comforter in death!

Grief haunted harbour, choked with my distress!

Tell me, what hope is mine of daily food,

Who will be careful for my good?
1090

I fail. Ye cowering creatures of the sky,

Oh, as ye fly,

Snatch me, borne upward on the blast’s sharp breath!

CH. 1

Thou child of misery!
1095

No mightier power hath this decreed,
1095

But thine own will and deed

Hath bound thee thus in grief,

Since, when kind Heaven had sent relief

And shown the path of wisdom firm and sure,

Thou still hast chosen this evil to endure.

PHI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1081 focus

tiefhöhliges Felsgemach,

Warmes, kühles Gewölbe du,

Also werd' ich Gequälter dich

Nie mehr lassen, du wirst dereinst

Auch im Tode mir beisteh'n!
1055

weh, weh mir!

Unglückselige Grotte du,

Meiner bittersten Klagen voll!

Was soll fürder mich nähren?

Wo vermag ich zu hoffen, daß
1060

Einer mit Speisen erquicke mich Darbenden?

daß hoch empor

Vögel mit sausendem Schwung in die Lüfte mich

Entrafften! Nicht mehr wehr' ich's.

Zweite Strophe.

Der Chor.

Du selbst, du selbst erkorst dir dieses,
1065

Unseliger; ja, kein Andrer sonst,

Kein Größerer band dich an dieses Geschick.

Dein war die Wahl des Bessern;

Aber das Heil hast du verschmäht, und dir erwählt das Schlimm're.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1081 focus

O my poor hut ! and is it then decreed

Again I come to theo to part no more,

To end my wretched days in this sad cave,

The scene of all my woes ? For whither now

Can I betake me 1 Who will feed, support,

Remains for me. Oh ! that th' impetuous storms
1090

Would bear me with them to some distant clime !

For I must perish here.

Chorus

Unhappy man !
1095

Thou hast provoked thy fate ; thyself alone

Art to thyself a foe, to scorn the good,

Which wisdom bids thee take, and choose misfortune.

Philoctetes

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1081-1215 focus

Philoctetes

Hollow in the caverned rock, now hot, now frosty, how true it seems, then, that I was sadly fated never to leave you!

No, you will witness my death, too. Ah, ah, me! Sad dwelling, so long filled with the pain welling from my flesh, what will be my daily portion hereafter?
1085

Where, from what provision, shall I, unhappy, find any hope of sustenance? Above my head the tremulous doves will go on their way through the whistling wind. I can stop their flight no more.
1090

Chorus

It was you, you, I say, doomed one, that chose this fate; and this fortune to which you are captive comes from no other source, nor from a stronger man’s compulsion. For when in fact it was in your power to show sense,
1095

you chose to reject the better fate, and to accept the worse.
1100

1101

Philoctetes

Ah, miserable, miserable, then, am I, and shamed by hardship, who next must hereafter dwell in my misery here,

with no man for companion in the days to come, and waste away. I can no longer bring food to my home, no
1105

longer gain it by the winged weapons held in my strong hands. But the unsuspected and stealthy fictions of a treacherous mind deceived me. If only I could watch him, the contriver of this plot, doomed to endure my anguish for as long a time!
1110

Chorus

Doom, god-sent doom constrained you to suffer this, not, I tell you, any treachery to which my hand was lent.
1115

Aim your hate-filled, baneful curse elsewhere, since I prefer that you not reject my friendship.
1120

1123

Philoctetes

Alas! No doubt sitting on the white ocean shore

he mocks me, brandishing the weapon that nourished my unhappy life, the weapon which no one else had carried! Cherished bow, ah, friend forced from my loving hands,
1125

if you have the power to feel, surely you see with pity that the comrade of Heracles will now no longer use you anymore!
1130

Now you are handled by another, a man of craftiness; you see the shameless deceptions and the face of that hated enemy by whom countless wrongs, springing from shameless designs, have been contrived against me. O Zeus!
1135

Chorus

A man must always assert what is right. But, when he has done so, he must not let loose malignant, stinging taunts. The man was the sole representative of the whole army, and at their mandate
1140

he achieved a universal benefit for his friends.
1145

1146

Philoctetes

Ah, my winged prey, and you tribes of bright-eyed creatures held by this place in its upland pastures, leap no more

in flight from your lairs, for I do not grasp in my hands those shafts which were once my strength—but now, gone, are my undoing! Roam at will now; the place has no more terrors—for you!
1150

The time is ripe for you to take blood for blood, to sate yourselves to your heart’s desire on my discolored flesh! Soon I will leave life, for from what source can I find the means to live? Who can feed, as I will have to,
1155

on the winds, when he no longer owns any of the bounty that the life-giving earth supplies?
1160

Chorus

In the name of the gods, if you have any reverence for a friend who approaches you in all kindness, approach him!

But know this, and know it well: it is in your power to escape this plague. Cruel is it that you feed it with your own flesh, and that there is no way for you to learn to endure the countless torments that dwell with it.
1165

1170

Philoctetes

Again, again, you have recalled the old agony to my thoughts—kindest though you are of all who have visited before! Why have you ruined me? What have you done to me?
1170

Chorus

What do you mean?

Philoctetes

That it was your hope to take

me to that Trojan land I abhor.
1175

Chorus

Yes, I believe that to be the best course.

Philoctetes

Leave me, then—immediately!

Chorus

Pleasant, pleasant, indeed, is the task you set me, and I am ready to obey.

Come, let us be going, each to his station in the ship!
1180

Philoctetes

By Zeus who hears men’s curses, do not go, I implore you!

Chorus

Be moderate.

Philoctetes

Friends, in the name of the gods, stay!

Chorus

Why do you call?
1185

Philoctetes

Ayee, ayee! Doom, Doom! My suffering kills me! Foot, my foot, what shall I do with you in the days to come?

O friends, return, come back to me!
1190

Chorus

To do what that has a different spirit from that of your former commands?

Philoctetes

There is no reason for indignation when the words of one crazed

by a storm of pain are senseless.
1195

Chorus

Come with us, then, poor man, as we bid you.

Philoctetes

Never, never—of that be certain! Not even if the lord of the fiery lightning comes to wrap me in the blaze of his thunderbolts!

Ilium be damned, and as many of the men before its walls as dared reject this foot of mine! But oh, friends, grant me one wish!
1200

Chorus

What would you ask?

Philoctetes

A sword, if you can find one, or an axe, or any weapon—

please, pass it to me!
1205

Chorus

That you may execute what scheme?

Philoctetes

Mangle all this body, and sever limb from limb with my own hand! Death, death is my thought now!

Chorus

Why, why ever would you—

Philoctetes

I am seeking my father—
1210

Chorus

In what land?

Philoctetes

In Hades; he dwells in the sunlight no more. Ah, my city, city of my fathers! I crave to see you, unhappy man that I truly am

for leaving your sacred stream and going to help the Danaans, my enemies! I am nothing now, nothing anymore! Exit Philoctetes into the cave.
1215

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-156-1 ἀγρίᾳ ¹ ἀγρίῳ ² φοινίῳ ³ ἔρημον ⁴

mvp-comment-157-1 τῆς … ἐχίδνης ⁵ χαράγματι ⁶

mvp-comment-158-1 ξὺν ᾗ ⁷

mvp-comment-158-2 ᾤχοντ’ ⁸ ἔρημον ⁹

mvp-comment-158-3 τῆς ποντίας Χρύσης ¹⁰ κατέσχον ¹¹

mvp-comment-159-1 ἄσμενοι ¹² ἄσμενον ¹³

mvp-comment-159-2 ἐκ πολλοῦ σάλου ¹⁴

mvp-comment-159-3 κατηρεφεῖ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-159-4 πέτρᾳ ¹⁶ πέτρῳ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-160-1 οἷα ¹⁸ φωτὶ δυσμόρῳ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-161-1 καί τι καὶ ²⁰

mvp-comment-161-2 βορᾶς ²¹

mvp-comment-161-3 οἷ’ αὐτοῖς τύχοι ²²

mvp-comment-162-1 σὺ δὴ ²³

mvp-comment-162-2 ἀνάστασιν ²⁴ στῆναι ²⁵

mvp-comment-163-1 ποἶ ἐκδακρῦσαι ²⁶

mvp-comment-163-2 ποἶ ἀποιμῶξαι κακά ²⁷

mvp-comment-164-1 ὁρῶντα ²⁸

mvp-comment-165-1 οὐχ ²⁹ ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν ³⁰

mvp-comment-165-2 The origin of this use of the optative is disputed. (1) According to one view, it is an extension of the deliberative use. From the direct question,

τίς ἀρκέσῃ

; comes the indirect

ἀπορῶ ὅστις ἀρκέσῃ

: and, after a secondary tense,

ἠπόρουν ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν

. ( H. 7. 4. 39

ἠπόρει ὅ τι χρήσαιτο τῷ πράγματι

.) In

οὐδένα εἶχον ὅστις ἀρκέσειεν

the interrogative sense of

ὅστις

has passed into a purely relative sense, and the clause has become final. For this view, see Sidgwick A. in Classical Review, vol. v. p. 148, 1891. (2) Others hold that this optative is simply a potential, equivalent to the optative with

ἄν

. Prof. W. G. Hale, after a full discussion, decides for this view: see Transactions of American Phil. Assoc., vol. XXIV. pp. 156—205, 1894.

mvp-comment-165-3 νόσου κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο ³¹

mvp-comment-165-4 πάντα δὲ σκοπῶν ³²

mvp-comment-166-1 πλὴν ἀνιᾶσθαι ³³ παρόν ³⁴

mvp-comment-166-2 εὐμάρειαν ³⁵ τούτου δὲ ³⁶

mvp-comment-167-1 ὁ μὲν χρόνος δὴ διὰ χρόνου ³⁷ διὰ χρόνου ³⁸ ὁ χρόνος προὔβαινέ μοι ³⁹ διὰ χρόνου ⁴⁰ προὔβαινε ⁴¹

mvp-comment-168-1 κἄδει τι ⁴² τι ⁴³ ἔδει ⁴⁴ βαιᾷ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-168-2 διακονεῖσθαι ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-169-1 ὑποπτέρους ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-170-1 ὅ μοι βάλοι ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-170-2 νευροσπαδὴς ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-170-3 ἄτρακτος ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-170-4 αὐτὸς ⁵¹

mvp-comment-171-1 εἰλυόμην ⁵²

mvp-comment-171-2 ἂν ⁵³

mvp-comment-171-3 δύστηνον ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-171-4 ἐξέλκων ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-171-5 πρὸς τοῦτ ἄν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-172-1 πάγου χυθέντος ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-172-2 οἷα ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-172-3 ξύλον τι ⁵⁹ ἄν ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-173-1 ἐν πέτροισι πέτρον ⁶¹

mvp-comment-173-2 ἐκτρίβων ⁶² ἐκτρίβων ⁶³

mvp-comment-173-3 ἔφην’ ἄφαντον φῶς ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-173-4 ἄφαντον ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-174-1 οἰκουμένη γὰρ οὖν ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-174-2 ἐμέ ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-175-1 φέρε … μάθῃς ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-175-2 Several recent editors (see cr. n.) cut the knot by reading μάθε ⁶⁹ μάθε ⁷⁰ μάθῃς ⁷¹ κἂν … μάθοις ⁷² κἂν ⁷³ καὶ ⁷⁴ μάθοις ⁷⁵ μάθῃς ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-175-3 τὸ τῆς νήσου ⁷⁷ τὰ ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-176-1 οὐ γάρ τις ὅρμος ἐστίν ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-176-2 οὐδ’ ὅποι πλέων ⁸⁰ ἐξεμπολήσει κέρδος ⁸¹

mvp-comment-176-3 ξενώσεται ⁸²

mvp-comment-177-1 ἐνθάδ’ ⁸³

mvp-comment-177-2 πλοῖ ⁸⁴ σώφροσι ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-177-3 βροτῶν ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-178-1 τάχ’ οὖν τις … ἔσχε ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-178-2 ἔσχε ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-178-3 πολλὰ γὰρ ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-179-1 οὗτοι ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-179-2 λόγοις ἐλεοῦσι … οἰκτίραντες ⁹¹

mvp-comment-179-3 καί πού τι ⁹²

mvp-comment-179-4 στολήν ⁹³

mvp-comment-179-5 ἐκεῖνο … θέλει ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-180-1 σῶσαί μ’ ἐς οἴκους ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-180-2 ἐν λιμῷ τε καὶ κακοῖσι ⁹⁶ καί ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-180-3 βόσκων ⁹⁸ ἀδηφάγον ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-181-1 βία ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-181-2 οἷ’ ¹⁰¹ οἷς ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-181-3 ἐμοῦ ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-182-1 ἴσα ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-182-2 ἐποικτίρειν ¹⁰⁵ ἐποικτιρεῖν ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-183-1 ἐν λόγοις ¹⁰⁷ ὢν ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-183-2 συντυχὼν ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-184-1 ἦ γάρ ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-184-2 τοῖς πανωλέθροις ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-184-3 παθών ¹¹²

mvp-comment-184-4 324 f. The corruption in the MSS.,

θυμῷ...χεῖρα

, is of the same nature as that in O. T. 376 (

με...σοῦ

for

σε ἐμοῦ

). Cp. Plat. Rep. 465A

εἴ πού τίς τῳ θυμοῖτο, ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ πληρῶν τὸν θυμὸν

(sating his wrath)

ἧττον ἐπὶ μείζους ἂν ἴοι στάσεις.

mvp-comment-184-5 Μυκῆναι ¹¹³ Σπάρτη ¹¹⁴ γνοῖεν ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-185-1 εὖ γ’ ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-185-2 τίνος γὰρ ¹¹⁷ τίνος ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-185-3 ὧδε ¹¹⁹ τίνος ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-186-1 ἐξερῶ, μόλις δ’ ἐρῶ ¹²¹

mvp-comment-186-2 μολών ¹²²

mvp-comment-187-1 ἔσχε ¹²³

mvp-comment-188-1 φράσῃς … μὴ πέρα ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-189-1 τοξευτὸς … δαμείς ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-189-2 ὡς λέγουσιν ¹²⁶ ἐκ ¹²⁷ ὑπό ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-190-1 ἀλλ’ εὐγενὴς μὲν ¹²⁹ δέ ¹³⁰ κτανών … θανών ¹³¹

mvp-comment-191-1 ἐλέγχω … στένω ¹³²

mvp-comment-192-1 οἶμαι μὲν ¹³³

mvp-comment-192-2 καὶ τὰ ς’ ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-193-1 τοιγαροῦν ¹³⁵ αὖθις πάλιν ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-193-2 ὅτῳ ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-194-1 ποικιλοστόλῳ ¹³⁸ ποικιλοστόμῳ ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-195-1 δῖός τ’ Ὀδυσσεὺς ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-195-2 χὡ τροφεὺς ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-196-1 εἴτ’ ἄρ’ οὖν ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-196-2 ἀληθὲς ¹⁴³ λέγοντες ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-196-3 γίγνοιτ’ ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-197-1 ἄλλον ἢ )μ’ ¹⁴⁶ ἢ )μ’ ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-198-1 οὐ πολὺν ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-198-2 Instead of

μή με ναυστολεῖν

, we might well prefer, with Blaydes,

μὴ οὐχὶ ναυστολεῖν

, were it not that palaeographically it is so improbable. And for

μή

where

μὴ οὐ

might be expected, cp. O. T. 1387

οὐκ ἂν ἐσχόμην

τὸ μὴ )ποκλῇσαι

, n. The repetition of με ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-199-1 οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην ¹⁵⁰ εἰδόμην ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-200-1 ἔπειτα μέντοι ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-200-2 χὡ λόγος καλὸς προσῆν ¹⁵³ ὁ λόγος ¹⁵⁴ προσῆν ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-200-3 εἰ … αἱρήσοιμ’ ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-200-4 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμ’ ¹⁵⁷ ἐπί ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-200-5 ἰών ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-201-1 πλέοντί μοι ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-201-2 κἀγὼ ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-201-3 πικρὸν Σίγειον ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-201-4 οὐρίῳ πλάτῃ ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-201-5 κατηγόμην ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-202-1 ὀμνύντες ¹⁶⁵ στρατός ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-202-2 ζῶντ’ Ἀχ. πάλιν ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-203-1 ἔκειτ’ ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-203-2 )δάκρυσα ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-203-3 οὐ μακρῷ χρόνῳ ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-204-1 ὡς εἰκὸς ἦν ¹⁷¹ φίλους ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-204-2 τά τ’ ἄλλ’ ὅσ’ ἦν ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-205-1 τλημονέστατον λόγον ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-206-1 πάρεστί σοι ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-206-2 Λαέρτου ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-207-1 δακρύσας ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-207-2 ἐξανίσταμαι ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-207-3 ὀργῇ ¹⁷⁹ βαρείᾳ ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-207-4 κᾳταλγήσας ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-208-1 ὦ σχέτλἰ ¹⁸² ἦ )τολμήσατ’ ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-208-2 πρὶν μαθεῖν ἐμοῦ ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-209-1 ὁ δ’ εἶπ’ Ὀδυσσεύς ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-209-2 ὢν κυρεῖ ¹⁸⁶ ἦν κυρῶν ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-209-3 τάδε ¹⁸⁸ δεδράκας’ ¹⁸⁹

mvp-comment-210-1 παρών ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-211-1 ἤρασσον ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-211-2 κακοῖς τοῖς πᾶσιν ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-211-3 οὐδὲν ἐνδεὲς ποιούμενος ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-211-4 εἰ … ἀφαιρήσοιτο ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-212-1 ἐνθάδ’ ἥκων ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-212-2 οὐ δύσοργος ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-212-3 πρὸς ἁξήκουσεν ¹⁹⁷ δηχθείς ¹⁹⁸ ἠμείψατο ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-212-4 ἃ ἐξήκουσεν ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-213-1 ἐπειδὴ καὶ λέγεις ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-213-2 οὐ μήποτ’ ²⁰² τὴν Σκῦρον ²⁰³

mvp-comment-213-3 ἐκπλεύσῃς ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-213-4 382 ff. The words ἀκούσας κἀξονειδισθείς ²⁰⁵ κακά ²⁰⁶ κἀξονειδίσας ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-213-5 πρὸς οἴκους ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-213-6 τητώμενος ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-213-7 κἀκ κακῶν ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-214-1 τοὺς ἐν τέλει ²¹¹

mvp-comment-214-2 πᾶσα ²¹² σύμπας ²¹³

mvp-comment-214-3 ἔστι … τῶν ἡγουμένων ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-214-4 στρατός ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-214-5 οἱ δ’ ἀκοσμοῦντες βροτῶν ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-214-6 διδασκάλων λόγοισι ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-215-1 λόγος λέλεκται πᾶς ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-215-2 Ἀτρείδας ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-215-3 φίλος ²²⁰

mvp-comment-216-1 Mindful of their young chief's precept—

πειρῶ τὸ παρὸν θεραπεύειν

(149)—the Chorus seize this moment in order to deepen the impression left on the mind of Philoctetes. It was in the land of the Trojans—often called ‘Phrygians’ —that Neoptolemus was wronged by the Atreidae. ‘Then and there’—say the Chorus—‘we invoked the most awful deity of the land, the great Earth Mother, the Phrygian Cybele—to punish our prince's wrong.’ The interposition of the Chorus is admirably effective for the purpose of making their master's indignation appear genuine.

mvp-comment-216-2 This strophe, to which vv. 507—518 form the antistrophe, is a

ὑπόρχημα

, or ‘dance-song’ ( O. T. 1086 n.). The dochmiacs of which it is mainly composed (see Metrical Analysis) are accompanied by animated movement, expressive of the lively resentment which these memories suggest.

mvp-comment-216-3 From a mythological point of view the verses are of singular interest. The attributes given to the goddess belong to three groups. (1)

παμβῶτι Γᾶ

recognises her in the primary character of an Elemental power. (2)

μᾶτερ...Διός

identifies her with Rhea. (3)

ὀρεστέρα, λεόντων ἔφεδρε

, and the mention of the Pactolus, present her as the specially Phrygian Cybele. But these three characters are completely fused in the unity of the

μάτηρ πότνια

mvp-comment-217-1 ὀρεστέρα ²²¹ παμβῶτι ²²²

mvp-comment-217-2 μᾶτερ αὐτοῦ Διός ²²³

mvp-comment-218-1 Πακτωλὸν ²²⁴

mvp-comment-218-2 εὔχρυσον ²²⁵

mvp-comment-219-1 κἀκεῖ ²²⁶

mvp-comment-219-2 ἐπηυδώμαν ²²⁷

mvp-comment-219-3 Ἀτρειδᾶν ὕβρις πᾶς’ ²²⁸

mvp-comment-220-1 τὰ πάτρια ²²⁹

mvp-comment-221-1 ἰὼ ²³⁰ μάκαιρα ²³¹

mvp-comment-221-2 ταυροκτόνων ²³²

mvp-comment-221-3 λεόντων ἔφεδρε ²³³

mvp-comment-222-1 σέβας ²³⁴

mvp-comment-222-2 We should not, then, change σέβας ²³⁵ γέρας ²³⁶

mvp-comment-223-1 σύμβολον … λύπης ²³⁷

mvp-comment-224-1 προσᾴδεθ’ ²³⁸

mvp-comment-224-2 ταῦτ’ … ἔργα ²³⁹

mvp-comment-225-1 ἂν … θιγόντα ²⁴⁰ πανουργίας ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-225-2 ἀφ’ ἧς μηδὲν … ποεῖν ²⁴² μέλλοι ²⁴³

mvp-comment-225-3 μηδὲν ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-225-4 ἐς τέλος ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-225-5 ποεῖν ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-226-1 ὁ μείζων ²⁴⁷ οὐκ ἦν ἔτι ζῶν ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-227-1 ἀλλ’ ἦ ²⁴⁹ ἦ γάρ ²⁵⁰ πῶς εἶπας ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-228-1 ὡς μηκέτ’ ὄντα ²⁵²

mvp-comment-229-1 οἴμοι τάλας ²⁵³ ἀλλ’ οὐχ ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-230-1 οὑμπολητὸς Σισύφου Λαερτίῳ ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-230-2 The legend is not Homeric, but is already known to Aesch. (fr. 169), and is congenial to the spirit in which the dramatists often conceive Odysseus; cp. Soph. Ai. 190 , fr. 143 (

ὡς ὁ Σίσυφος πολὺς

ἔνδηλος ἐν σοί

): I. A. 524, Cycl. 104 : Lycophron 344 (

τῆς Σισυφείας δ’ ἀγκύλης λαμπουρίδος

, ‘crafty fox’): Ov. Met. 13. 31

sanguine cretus | Sisyphio, furtisque et fraude simillimus illi.

mvp-comment-230-3 With regard to the order of words, note:—(1)

ὁ ἐμπολητὸς Σισύφου

ὁ ἐμπ. Σισυφίδης

, the simple gen. of origin being placed as

Σισύφου παῖς

would have been; though usually such a simple gen. comes immediately after the art. (as Ai. 450

ἡ Διὸς γοργῶπις ἀδάματος θεά

). (2)

Λαερτίῳ

merely supplements

ἐμπολητός

, and hence can be placed as though it were an afterthought; the principle is the same as in O. C. 1514

αἱ πολλὰ βρονταὶ διατελεῖς

: cp. n. on O. T. 1245. —The genit. Λαερτίου ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-231-1 ἔδει ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-232-1 καὶ μέγα θάλλοντες ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-233-1 τί δ’ ²⁵⁹ ὠ ²⁶⁰ οὐ ²⁶¹ αὖ ²⁶² οὐ ²⁶³ τί δ’ ²⁶⁴ τί δ’ ὃς ²⁶⁵ ὃς ²⁶⁶ ὁ ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-233-2 παλαιός ²⁶⁸ καί … τε ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-233-3 τά γε κείνων κακά ²⁷⁰ γε ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-233-4 ἐξήρυκε ²⁷²

mvp-comment-234-1 Ἀντίλοχος ²⁷³

mvp-comment-234-2 ὃς παρῆν γόνος ²⁷⁴ ὅσπερ ἦν γόνος ²⁷⁵ ὅς γ’ ἔτ’ ἦν ²⁷⁶ ὅς ποτ’ ἦν ²⁷⁷

mvp-comment-235-1 δὔ αὖ τώδ’ ἄνδρ’ ἔλεξας ²⁷⁸ δὔ αὖ τώδ’ ἐξέδειξας ²⁷⁹ ἔλεξας ²⁸⁰ δὔ αὔτως δείν’ ἔλεξας ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-235-2 As to the reading δὔ αὕτως δείν’ ἔλεξας ²⁸²

mvp-comment-235-3 δὔ … ἄνδρε ²⁸³ ὀλωλότοιν ²⁸⁴ οἵδε ²⁸⁵

mvp-comment-235-4 ἂν ἠθέλης’ ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-236-1 σκοπεῖν ²⁸⁷

mvp-comment-236-2 οἵδε ²⁸⁸

mvp-comment-237-1 Ὀδυσσεὺς δ’ ἔστιν αὖ κἀνταῦθ’ ²⁸⁹

mvp-comment-238-1 αὐτὸν ²⁹⁰ αὐδᾶσθαι ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-239-1 παλαιστὴς ²⁹²

mvp-comment-239-2 ἐμποδίζονται ²⁹³

mvp-comment-240-1 θεῶν ²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-240-2 ποῦ γὰρ ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-240-3 σοι ²⁹⁶

mvp-comment-240-4 τὰ φίλτατα ²⁹⁷

mvp-comment-241-1 λόγῳ … ἐν βραχεῖ ²⁹⁸

mvp-comment-241-2 τοῦτ’ ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-241-3 πόλεμος ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-241-4 ἑκὼν ³⁰¹

mvp-comment-242-1 κατ’ αὐτὸ τοῦτό γε ³⁰²

mvp-comment-243-1 φωτὸς ³⁰³ κυρεῖ ³⁰⁴ τί ³⁰⁵

mvp-comment-244-1 ποίου δὲ τούτου ³⁰⁶

mvp-comment-244-2 ἐρεῖς ³⁰⁷

mvp-comment-244-3 Brunck's conjecture, τοῦτο ³⁰⁸ τούτου ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-245-1 Θερσίτης ³¹⁰

mvp-comment-246-1 ὃς οὐκ ἂν εἵλετ’ ³¹¹ ὅπου μηδεὶς ἐῴη ³¹²

mvp-comment-246-2 Sophocles here reproduces the two salient traits of the Homeric Thersites: (1) he is irrepressible: Il. 2. 212

Θερσίτης δ’ ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα

, |

ὅς ῥ) ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδη

: (2) he disgusts those whom his bluster was intended to amuse or flatter; ib. 222

τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο

.— τοῦτον οἶσθ’ ³¹³

mvp-comment-247-1 αὐτόν ³¹⁴ αὐτός ³¹⁵ νιν ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-248-1 ἔμελλ’ ³¹⁷

mvp-comment-248-2 ἐπεὶ οὐδέν ³¹⁸

mvp-comment-248-3 περιστέλλουσιν ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-249-1 τὰ πανοῦργα ³²⁰

mvp-comment-249-2 παλιντριβῆ ³²¹

mvp-comment-249-3 ἀναστρέφοντες ³²²

mvp-comment-249-4 τὰ δὲ ³²³ τὰ χρήστ’ ³²⁴ ἀποστέλλους’ ³²⁵ προυσελοῦς’ ³²⁶

mvp-comment-250-1 ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ³²⁷

mvp-comment-250-2 ποῦ δ’ αἰνεῖν ³²⁸

mvp-comment-250-3 ὅταν ³²⁹ ἐπαινῶν ³³⁰

mvp-comment-250-4 Theognis, in a similar strain, asks how a mortal is to revere the gods when he sees good men afflicted and bad men prosperous (743—752).

mvp-comment-251-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ³³¹

mvp-comment-251-2 Οἰταίου ³³²

mvp-comment-252-1 τηλόθεν … εἰσορῶν ³³³

mvp-comment-252-2 φυλάξομαι ³³⁴

mvp-comment-253-1 ὅπου ³³⁵ τούτους ³³⁶

mvp-comment-253-2 δειλὸς ³³⁷ δεινὸς ³³⁸ δεινός ³³⁹

mvp-comment-254-1 Σκῦρος ³⁴⁰

mvp-comment-254-2 ἐξαρκοῦσά μοι … ὥστε ³⁴¹ τέρπεσθαι δόμῳ ³⁴²

mvp-comment-255-1 χαῖρε ³⁴³ ὡς μέγιστα ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-255-2 μεταστήσειαν ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-255-3 ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις ³⁴⁶

mvp-comment-256-1 πλοῦν ἡμὶν εἴκῃ ³⁴⁷ πλοῦν ³⁴⁸ πλεῖν ³⁴⁹

mvp-comment-257-1 καιρὸς ³⁵⁰ καλεῖ ³⁵¹

mvp-comment-258-1 πλοῦν … σκοπεῖν ³⁵²

mvp-comment-258-2 μὴ )ξ ἀπόπτου ³⁵³

mvp-comment-259-1 πρός νύν σε πατρὸς ³⁵⁴ πρός τ’ εἴ τι ³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-260-1 ἱκέτης ³⁵⁶ ἱκνοῦμαι ³⁵⁷

mvp-comment-261-1 οἵοις ὁρᾷς … ἐνναίοντα ³⁵⁸ ὅσοισί τ’ ἐξήκουσας ³⁵⁹

mvp-comment-262-1 ἐν παρέργῳ θοῦ με ³⁶⁰

mvp-comment-262-2 ἐν παρέργῳ ³⁶¹

mvp-comment-262-3 δυσχέρεια ³⁶²

mvp-comment-263-1 ἔξοιδα ³⁶³

mvp-comment-263-2 φορήματος ³⁶⁴

mvp-comment-264-1 τό τ’ αἰσχρὸν ³⁶⁵ εὐκλεές ³⁶⁶ εὐκλεές ³⁶⁷ τοῖσι γενναίοισι ³⁶⁸

mvp-comment-265-1 ἐκλιπόντι τοῦτ’ ³⁶⁹

mvp-comment-265-2 ὄνειδος ³⁷⁰ οὐ καλόν ³⁷¹

mvp-comment-266-1 πλεῖστον ³⁷²

mvp-comment-266-2 μόλω )γὼ ³⁷³

mvp-comment-267-1 ἴθ’ ³⁷⁴

mvp-comment-267-2 ἡμέρας … μιᾶς ³⁷⁵

mvp-comment-268-1 τόλμησον ³⁷⁶

mvp-comment-268-2 ὅπῃ ³⁷⁷ ὅποι ³⁷⁸ ἐμβαλοῦ ³⁷⁹ ἄγων ³⁸⁰

mvp-comment-269-1 ἀντλίαν ³⁸¹

mvp-comment-269-2 πρῷραν … πρύμνην ³⁸²

mvp-comment-269-3 ὅπου ³⁸³ ὅποι ³⁸⁴ υ ³⁸⁵ ι ³⁸⁶

mvp-comment-269-4 μέλλω … ἀλγυνεῖν ³⁸⁷

mvp-comment-270-1 ἱκεσίου ³⁸⁸

mvp-comment-270-2 γόνασι ³⁸⁹

mvp-comment-271-1 ἀκράτωρ ³⁹⁰

mvp-comment-272-1 ἢ πρὸς οἶκον τὸν σὸν ³⁹¹

mvp-comment-272-2 τὰ Χαλκώδοντος Εὐβοίας σταθμά ³⁹²

mvp-comment-272-3 Schneidewin remarks that Philoctetes, the former comrade of Heracles, might naturally name Chalcodon, who had been the companion of Heracles in an expedition against the Eleans ( Paus. 8. 15. 6 ). But that was merely a local Arcadian myth; and Pausanias finds it inconsistent with the better-known Theban tradition, according to which Chalcodon was slain by Amphitryon in a war between the Euboeans and Thebans (9. 19. 3). At any rate the Attic poet might think of the Attic legend, according to which Theseus had sent his sons for protection to Chalcodon's son Elephenor, before retiring from Athens to Scyros ( Plut. Thes. 35 ).

mvp-comment-273-1 εἰς Οἴτην ³⁹³

mvp-comment-274-1 Τραχινίαν … δειράδα ³⁹⁴

mvp-comment-274-2 All MSS. have δειράδα καὶ τὸν ³⁹⁵ δεράδα ³⁹⁶

mvp-comment-274-3 I am more disposed to think that δειράδα ³⁹⁷ καὶ τὸν ³⁹⁸

mvp-comment-274-4 εὔροον ³⁹⁹

mvp-comment-274-5 Like the Homeric

ἐΰρροος, ἐυ·ρρείτης

, the epithet refers simply to the beauty of the river, not to that swiftness (

σπέρχομαι

) from which it takes its name ( Il. 16. 176

Σπερχειῷ ἀκάμαντι

: Lucan 6. 366 Ferit amne citato | Maliacas Spercheus aquas). Rising at the foot of Typhrestus, and fed by affluents from Othrys and Oeta, the Spercheius has a considerable volume of water even in the hot season (Tozer, Geo. of Greece, p. 81).

mvp-comment-275-1 ὃν ⁴⁰⁰ δέδοικ’ ⁴⁰¹

mvp-comment-275-2 παλαιὸν ⁴⁰² ἐξ ὅτου ⁴⁰³ παλαἴ ἂν ⁴⁰⁴

mvp-comment-276-1 μή μοι βεβήκῃ ⁴⁰⁵

mvp-comment-276-2 τοῖς ἱγμένοις ⁴⁰⁶ ἔστελλον ⁴⁰⁷

mvp-comment-277-1 αὐτόστολον πέμψαντα ⁴⁰⁸ αὐτόστολον ⁴⁰⁹ πέμψαντα ⁴¹⁰ ἐκσῶσαι ⁴¹¹ πλεύσαντα ⁴¹²

mvp-comment-277-2 δόμους ⁴¹³ δόμοις ⁴¹⁴

mvp-comment-277-3 497 ff. After τὰ τῶν διακόνων ⁴¹⁵ ποιούμενοι ⁴¹⁶ τὸ ⁴¹⁷ τὰ ⁴¹⁸

mvp-comment-277-4 ὡς εἰκός ⁴¹⁹ οἶμαι ⁴²⁰ οἴμοι ⁴²¹

mvp-comment-277-5 ἐν σμικρῷ ⁴²²

mvp-comment-277-6 μέρος ⁴²³ μέρει ⁴²⁴

mvp-comment-277-7 ἤπειγον ⁴²⁵

mvp-comment-278-1 πομπόν τε καὐτὸν ἄγγελον ⁴²⁶

mvp-comment-278-2 ἥκω ⁴²⁷

mvp-comment-279-1 δεινὰ κἀπικινδύνως … κεῖται ⁴²⁸ παθεῖν ⁴²⁹ παθεῖν μὲν εὖ, παθεῖν δὲ θάτερα ⁴³⁰

mvp-comment-279-2 θάτερα ⁴³¹

mvp-comment-280-1 ἐκτὸς ὄντα ⁴³² τὰ δείν’ ὁρᾶν ⁴³³

mvp-comment-281-1 εὖ ζῇ ⁴³⁴

mvp-comment-281-2 τὸν βίον ⁴³⁵ λάθῃ ⁴³⁶

mvp-comment-282-1 : antistrophe to 391—402. The pity expressed by the Chorus may well be sincere; but in this utterance of it, their first aim is to aid their master's design. Verse 510 shows this.

mvp-comment-282-2 πόνων ἆθλα ⁴³⁷

mvp-comment-282-3 οἷα ⁴³⁸ οἷα ⁴³⁹ ἅσσα ⁴⁴⁰ τύχοι ⁴⁴¹ λάχοι ⁴⁴²

mvp-comment-283-1 πικρούς ⁴⁴³

mvp-comment-284-1 ἐγὼ μὲν ⁴⁴⁴ πορεύσαιμ’ ἂν ⁴⁴⁵

mvp-comment-284-2 τὸ κείνων κακὸν ⁴⁴⁶

mvp-comment-284-3 μετατιθέμενος ⁴⁴⁷

mvp-comment-284-4 ἐπιμέμονεν ⁴⁴⁸

mvp-comment-285-1 εὐστόλου ⁴⁴⁹

mvp-comment-286-1 τὰν θεῶν νέμεσιν ⁴⁵⁰

mvp-comment-287-1 νῦν μὲν … ὅταν δὲ ⁴⁵¹

mvp-comment-287-2 εὐχερὴς ⁴⁵² τις ⁴⁵³ παρῇς ⁴⁵⁴

mvp-comment-288-1 τῆς νόσου ⁴⁵⁵ πλησθῇς· ξυνουσίᾳ ⁴⁵⁶

mvp-comment-288-2 αὑτὸς τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις ⁴⁵⁷

mvp-comment-289-1 οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὅπως ⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-290-1 ἀλλὰ … μέντοι ⁴⁵⁹

mvp-comment-290-2 αἰσχρὰ ⁴⁶⁰

mvp-comment-290-3 σοῦ γέ μ’ ⁴⁶¹ σοῦ γ’ ἔμ’ ⁴⁶²

mvp-comment-290-4 πρὸς τὸ καίριον ⁴⁶³

mvp-comment-290-5 πονεῖν ⁴⁶⁴

mvp-comment-291-1 ὁρμάσθω ⁴⁶⁵ ταχύς ⁴⁶⁶ χἡ ναῦς ⁴⁶⁷

mvp-comment-291-2 ἀπαρνηθήσεται ⁴⁶⁸

mvp-comment-292-1 μόνον ⁴⁶⁹

mvp-comment-292-2 βουλοίμεσθα ⁴⁷⁰

mvp-comment-293-1 ὦ φίλτατον μὲν ⁴⁷¹

mvp-comment-293-2 πῶς ἂν … γενοίμην ⁴⁷²

mvp-comment-294-1 ἴωμεν ⁴⁷³ ἴωμεν ⁴⁷⁴ ἴωμεν ⁴⁷⁵ εἰσοίκησιν ⁴⁷⁶ προσκύσαντε ⁴⁷⁷ εἰς οἴκησιν ⁴⁷⁸ προσκύσαντε ⁴⁷⁹

mvp-comment-294-2 ὡς … καὶ ⁴⁸⁰

mvp-comment-295-1 ἀφ’ ὧν ⁴⁸¹

mvp-comment-295-2 διέζων ⁴⁸²

mvp-comment-296-1 οἶμαι γὰρ ⁴⁸³

mvp-comment-296-2 μόνην ⁴⁸⁴ μόνον ⁴⁸⁵ τάδε ⁴⁸⁶ θέαν λαβόντα ⁴⁸⁷ τλῆναι ⁴⁸⁸

mvp-comment-297-1 προὔμαθον ⁴⁸⁹

mvp-comment-298-1 ἐπίσχετον ⁴⁹⁰ μάθωμεν ⁴⁹¹

mvp-comment-298-2 ἀλλόθρους ⁴⁹²

mvp-comment-298-3 ὧν μαθόντες ⁴⁹³

mvp-comment-298-4 αὖθις ⁴⁹⁴ εἴσιτον ⁴⁹⁵

mvp-comment-298-5 542 Odysseus said that he would send back the

σκοπός

, disguised as a merchant captain, if N. seemed to be tarrying too long (126 ff.). The actor who now comes on as

ἔμπορος

would not, however, be the same who played the

σκοπός

(a mute person), but the tritagonist, who played Odysseus. The sailor who accompanies him is a mute person; and that part may have been taken by the former representative of the

σκοπός

mvp-comment-298-6 As N. has already ensnared Ph. , and is on the point of starting with him, there is no actual need for the intervention of the

ἔμπορος

. But Odysseus, at the ship, could not know this; and we are to suppose that he had become impatient. The scene which follows heightens the dramatic interest by bringing out the horror with which Ph. regards the idea of returning to Troy.

mvp-comment-298-7 ξυνέμπορον ⁴⁹⁶

mvp-comment-299-1 φράσαι σε, ποῦ ⁴⁹⁷

mvp-comment-299-2 κυρῶν εἴης ⁴⁹⁸

mvp-comment-300-1 δοξάζων μὲν οὔ ⁴⁹⁹

mvp-comment-300-2 ὁρμισθεὶς ⁵⁰⁰ ταὐτὸν … πέδον ⁵⁰¹

mvp-comment-301-1 οὐ πολλῷ στόλῳ ⁵⁰²

mvp-comment-302-1 Πεπάρηθον ⁵⁰³ εὔβοτρυν ⁵⁰⁴

mvp-comment-302-2 ἤκουσα τοὺς ναύτας ὅτι ⁵⁰⁵ πάντες ⁵⁰⁶ συννεναυστοληκότες ⁵⁰⁷ οἱ νεναυστοληκότες ⁵⁰⁸ σοὶ ⁵⁰⁹

mvp-comment-303-1 ἔδοξέ μοι ⁵¹⁰ προστυχόντι ⁵¹¹ ποεῖσθαι ⁵¹² μὴ σῖγα, πρὶν φράσαιμι ⁵¹³ προστυχόντι ⁵¹⁴ προστυχόντι ⁵¹⁵

mvp-comment-303-2 τῶν ἴσων ⁵¹⁶ προστυχόντι ⁵¹⁷ σοι ⁵¹⁸

mvp-comment-304-1 ἃ τοῖσιν ⁵¹⁹

mvp-comment-304-2 vέα ⁵²⁰

mvp-comment-305-1 οὐκέτ’ ἐξαργούμενα ⁵²¹ ἔργα ⁵²² δρώμενα ⁵²³

mvp-comment-306-1 ἀλλ’ ⁵²⁴ ἡ χάρις … τῆς προμηθίας ⁵²⁵ προμηθίας ⁵²⁶

mvp-comment-306-2 εἰ μὴ κακὸς πέφυκα ⁵²⁷

mvp-comment-306-3 προσφιλὴς ⁵²⁸ χάρις ⁵²⁹

mvp-comment-307-1 ἅπερ γ’ ⁵³⁰ ἅπερ κἄλεξας ⁵³¹ γε ⁵³² ἅπερ ⁵³³

mvp-comment-308-1 νεώτερον ⁵³⁴

mvp-comment-308-2 ἀπ’ Ἀργείων ⁵³⁵ βούλευμα ⁵³⁶ ἔχεις ⁵³⁷ μοι ⁵³⁸

mvp-comment-309-1 φοῖνιξ ⁵³⁹

mvp-comment-309-2 οἵ τε Θησέως κόροι ⁵⁴⁰

mvp-comment-310-1 ἐκ βίας ⁵⁴¹

mvp-comment-310-2 λόγοις ⁵⁴² δόλοις ⁵⁴³

mvp-comment-311-1 καθ’ ὁρμὴν ⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-312-1 ὡς ταῦτ’ ἐπίστω δρώμεν’ ⁵⁴⁵

mvp-comment-313-1 πρὸς τάδ’ ⁵⁴⁶

mvp-comment-313-2 αὐτάγγελος ⁵⁴⁷

mvp-comment-314-1 κεῖνός γ’ ⁵⁴⁸

mvp-comment-314-2 ὁ Τυδέως παῖς ⁵⁴⁹ ἔστελλον ⁵⁵⁰

mvp-comment-315-1 πρὸς ποῖον αὖ τόνδ’ … ἔπλει ⁵⁵¹ αὖ ⁵⁵² αὖ ⁵⁵³ ἂν ⁵⁵⁴

mvp-comment-315-2 If ἂν ⁵⁵⁵

mvp-comment-316-1 σοι ⁵⁵⁶

mvp-comment-317-1 τὰ πλείον’ ⁵⁵⁷

mvp-comment-317-2 σεαυτὸν ξυλλαβὼν ⁵⁵⁸

mvp-comment-318-1 τί με ⁵⁵⁹ διεμπολᾷ … πρός σε ⁵⁶⁰ τί με ⁵⁶¹ τί δὲ ⁵⁶² διεμπολᾷ ⁵⁶³

mvp-comment-319-1 εἰς φῶς ⁵⁶⁴ καί … τε ⁵⁶⁵

mvp-comment-320-1 σπέρμ’ ⁵⁶⁶

mvp-comment-320-2 στρατῷ ⁵⁶⁷

mvp-comment-320-3 ἃ μὴ δεῖ ⁵⁶⁸

mvp-comment-320-4 δρῶν ἀντιπάσχω ⁵⁶⁹ οἷ’ ἀνὴρ πένης ⁵⁷⁰

mvp-comment-320-5 χρηστά θ’ ⁵⁷¹

mvp-comment-321-1 ἐγώ εἰμ’ ⁵⁷²

mvp-comment-321-2 φίλος μέγιστος ⁵⁷³

mvp-comment-322-1 λόγων ⁵⁷⁴ λόγον ⁵⁷⁵ ὧν ⁵⁷⁶

mvp-comment-323-1 ὅρα ⁵⁷⁷

mvp-comment-323-2 πάλαι ⁵⁷⁸

mvp-comment-324-1 ποιοῦ ⁵⁷⁹

mvp-comment-324-2 λέγων ⁵⁸⁰

mvp-comment-325-1 λέγω ⁵⁸¹

mvp-comment-325-2 )πὶ τοῦτον ⁵⁸²

mvp-comment-325-3 τοῦτον ⁵⁸³

mvp-comment-325-4 592 Although Odysseus and Diomedes had been named in 570, it is obviously natural that their names should be repeated in this more explicit statement.

mvp-comment-326-1 διώμοτοι ⁵⁸⁴

mvp-comment-326-2 ἦ μὴν ⁵⁸⁵

mvp-comment-327-1 πείσαντες ⁵⁸⁶ πρὸς ⁵⁸⁷

mvp-comment-328-1 πλέον ⁵⁸⁸

mvp-comment-328-2 θατέρου ⁵⁸⁹

mvp-comment-329-1 τίνος … πράγματος χάριν ⁵⁹⁰

mvp-comment-329-2 χρόνῳ τοσῷδε ⁵⁹¹

mvp-comment-329-3 ἐπεστρέφοντο ⁵⁹²

mvp-comment-329-4 ἄγαν οὕτω ⁵⁹³

mvp-comment-329-5 The order of the words is remarkable, not only because τίνος ⁵⁹⁴ πράγματος ⁵⁹⁵ τοῦδ’ ⁵⁹⁶

mvp-comment-330-1 εἶχον … ἐκβεβληκότες ⁵⁹⁷

mvp-comment-330-2 χρόνιον ⁵⁹⁸

mvp-comment-331-1 τίς ὁ πόθος ⁵⁹⁹

mvp-comment-331-2 ἵκετ’ ⁶⁰⁰

mvp-comment-331-3 θεῶν βία ⁶⁰¹

mvp-comment-331-4 νέμεσις ⁶⁰²

mvp-comment-331-5 ἀμύνουσιν ⁶⁰³

mvp-comment-332-1 ὄνομα δ’ ὠνομάζετο ⁶⁰⁴

mvp-comment-333-1 Ἕλενος ⁶⁰⁵

mvp-comment-333-2 The statement of the

ἔμπορος

is only part of the truth. Helenus had indeed been captured, and had said that Troy could not be taken without Philoctetes. But he had also said that Troy was destined to be taken that summer,—as if he knew that fate had decreed the return of Philoctetes,—who was then to be healed by the Asclepiadae, and to share with Neoptolemus the glory of the victory (1329—1342). Odysseus, however, believed that Philoctetes would not listen to persuasion, but must be brought back by a stratagem (103). And so the object of the

ἔμπορος

in referring to Helenus is merely to convince Philoctetes that Odysseus is coming, in order that the sufferer may become still more anxious to depart with Neoptolemus for Greece, as he supposes.

mvp-comment-334-1 ἀκούων ⁶⁰⁶

mvp-comment-334-2 λωβητὰ ἔπη ⁶⁰⁷

mvp-comment-335-1 ἐς μέσον ⁶⁰⁸ ἔδειξ’ ⁶⁰⁹

mvp-comment-336-1 τά τ’ ἄλλα … πάντα ⁶¹⁰ καὶ ⁶¹¹

mvp-comment-337-1 τἀπὶ Τροίᾳ πέργαμ’ ⁶¹²

mvp-comment-337-2 οὐ μή ποτε πέρσοιεν ⁶¹³ οὐ μή ⁶¹⁴

mvp-comment-337-3 οὐ δηποτε πέρσοιεν ⁶¹⁵

mvp-comment-338-1 ἄγοιντο ⁶¹⁶ ἀγάγοιντο ⁶¹⁷ ἄξοιντο ⁶¹⁸ ἄγοιντο ⁶¹⁹

mvp-comment-338-2 νήσου ⁶²⁰

mvp-comment-338-3 617 The words οἴοιτο μὲν μάλιστα ⁶²¹

mvp-comment-338-4 μάλιστα ⁶²³ οἴοιτο ⁶²⁴

mvp-comment-339-1 τούτων ⁶²⁵ μὴ τυχών ⁶²⁶

mvp-comment-339-2 κάρα τέμνειν ⁶²⁷ ἐφεῖτο ⁶²⁸

mvp-comment-340-1 τὸ σπεύδειν ⁶²⁹

mvp-comment-340-2 σοι καὐτῷ ⁶³⁰ πέρι ⁶³¹

mvp-comment-341-1 ἡ πασα βλάβη ⁶³²

mvp-comment-342-1 πεισθήσομαι ⁶³³

mvp-comment-342-2 γὰρ ⁶³⁴

mvp-comment-342-3 ὧδε ⁶³⁵

mvp-comment-342-4 πρὸς φῶς ἀνελθεῖν ⁶³⁶

mvp-comment-342-5 οὑκείνου πατήρ ⁶³⁷

mvp-comment-343-1 συμφέροι ⁶³⁸

mvp-comment-344-1 τάδε ⁶³⁹

mvp-comment-345-1 ἂν ⁶⁴⁰ δεῖξαι ⁶⁴¹

mvp-comment-345-2 νεὼς ἄγοντ’ ⁶⁴²

mvp-comment-346-1 οὔ· ⁶⁴³

mvp-comment-346-2 πλεῖστον ἐχθίστης ⁶⁴⁴

mvp-comment-347-1 ἄπουν ⁶⁴⁵

mvp-comment-348-1 πάντα λεκτά ⁶⁴⁶

mvp-comment-349-1 ὡς … ὁρίζῃ ⁶⁴⁷ ὁρίζει ⁶⁴⁸

mvp-comment-350-1 τοὐκ πρῴρας ⁶⁴⁹

mvp-comment-350-2 ἀνῇ ⁶⁵⁰

mvp-comment-350-3 στελοῦμεν ⁶⁵¹

mvp-comment-351-1 οὔκ, ἀλλὰ ⁶⁵² οὐκ ⁶⁵³ οἶδ)· ⁶⁵⁴ ἀλλ’ οὐχὶ ⁶⁵⁵

mvp-comment-352-1 ἀλλ’ ⁶⁵⁶

mvp-comment-352-2 χωρῶμεν … λαβὼν ⁶⁵⁷ λαβόνθ’ ⁶⁵⁸

mvp-comment-353-1 καίπερ οὐ πολλῶν ἄπο ⁶⁵⁹

mvp-comment-354-1 νεώς γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἔπι ⁶⁶⁰ ἔνι ⁶⁶¹ ἔπι ⁶⁶² ἔνι ⁶⁶³ νεώς ⁶⁶⁴ ἔνι ⁶⁶⁵ ἔνι ⁶⁶⁶

mvp-comment-355-1 πάνυ ⁶⁶⁷

mvp-comment-356-1 τί γὰρ ἔτ’ ⁶⁶⁸

mvp-comment-356-2 γάρ ⁶⁶⁹

mvp-comment-357-1 εἴ μοί τι τόξων ⁶⁷⁰ τόξα ⁶⁷¹

mvp-comment-357-2 ἀπημελημένον ⁶⁷²

mvp-comment-357-3 παρερρύηκεν ⁶⁷³

mvp-comment-357-4 ὡς λίπω μή ⁶⁷⁴ λαβεῖν ⁶⁷⁵

mvp-comment-358-1 οὐ γὰρ ἄλλ’ ἔστ’, ἀλλ’ ἃ κ.τ.λ. ⁶⁷⁶ ἀλλ’ ⁶⁷⁷ ἄλλ’ ⁶⁷⁸ ἄλλος ⁶⁷⁹ ἃ βαστάζω ⁶⁸⁰ ταῦτ’ ⁶⁸¹ ἄλλα γ’ ἔσθ’ ἃ ⁶⁸²

mvp-comment-359-1 ὥστε ⁶⁸³ ἔστιν ⁶⁸⁴

mvp-comment-359-2 θεόν ⁶⁸⁵ θεός ⁶⁸⁶

mvp-comment-360-1 ξυμφέρῃ ⁶⁸⁷ ἐρῶ ⁶⁸⁸

mvp-comment-361-1 καὶ μὴν … γε ⁶⁸⁹ πάρες ⁶⁹⁰

mvp-comment-362-1 ὅσια … θέμις ⁶⁹¹

mvp-comment-363-1 ὅς γ’ ⁶⁹²

mvp-comment-363-2 φάος ⁶⁹³

mvp-comment-363-3 δέδωκας ⁶⁹⁴

mvp-comment-363-4 χθόν’ Οἰταίαν ⁶⁹⁵

mvp-comment-364-1 ἀνέστησας πέρα ⁶⁹⁶ πέρα ⁶⁹⁷ πέρα ⁶⁹⁸ ἔνερθεν ⁶⁹⁹ πέρα ⁷⁰⁰ μ’ ὕ ⁷⁰¹ περ ⁷⁰² ἀναστήσας πάρει ⁷⁰³ πέρα ⁷⁰⁴

mvp-comment-365-1 ταῦτα ⁷⁰⁵ παρέσται σοι ⁷⁰⁶ καὶ θιγγάνειν ⁷⁰⁷

mvp-comment-366-1 καὶ δόντι δοῦναι ⁷⁰⁸ δοῦναι ⁷⁰⁹ ἐπεύξασθαι ⁷¹⁰ θιγγάνειν ⁷¹¹

mvp-comment-366-2 669 The acc. μόνον ⁷¹² δόντι ⁷¹³ μόνῳ ⁷¹⁴ μόνον ⁷¹⁵ ς’ ⁷¹⁶ ἀρετῆς ⁷¹⁷

mvp-comment-367-1 εὐεργετῶν ⁷¹⁸

mvp-comment-368-1 These three verses, called ‘manifesto spurii’ by Dindorf, are clearly genuine. If they are rejected, then Neoptolemus deigns no reply beyond

χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω

to the gracious and cordial speech of Philoctetes. In proof that the verses are pointless, Dindorf says:—‘Neque enim quidquam beneficii a Philocteta accepit Neoptolemus, ut

εὖ παθών

dici possit.’ Blaydes, though he does not bracket the verses, assents to this argument:—‘Certainly

εὖ παθὼν

cannot well apply to Neoptolemus.’ But

εὖ παθών

refers, of course, to Philoctetes. Neoptolemus means:—‘I am not sorry that chance drove me to Lemnos, and thus enabled me to gain your friendship. One who is ready to requite a benefit (viz., conveyance to Greece) by such a kindness as this (the promised loan of the bow), must indeed prove to be a priceless friend.’

mvp-comment-369-1 εὖ δρᾶν εὖ παθὼν ⁷¹⁹

mvp-comment-369-2 κτήματος ⁷²⁰

mvp-comment-370-1 χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω ⁷²¹ καὶ σέ γ’ εἰσάξω ⁷²² γε ⁷²³ σέ ⁷²⁴ χωροῖς ἂν εἴσω ⁷²⁵

mvp-comment-370-2 τὸ γὰρ ⁷²⁶ νοσοῦν ⁷²⁷ τὸ … νοσοῦν ⁷²⁸

mvp-comment-371-1 ἐξήκους’ ⁷²⁹

mvp-comment-371-2 ὄπωπα δ’ οὐ μάλα ⁷³⁰

mvp-comment-372-1 τὸν πελάταν ⁷³¹

mvp-comment-372-2 The comparison with Ixion is the more forcible here, since reference has just been made to the gratitude shown by Philoctetes (672). Ixion was the great example of ingratitude. Cp. Pind. P. 2. 21

θεῶν δ’ ἐφετμαῖς Ἰξίονα φαντὶ ταῦτα βροτοῖς

λέγειν ἐν πτερόεντι τροχῷ

παντᾷ κυλινδόμενον·

τὸν εὐεργέταν ἀγαναῖς ἀμοιβαῖς ἐποιχομένους τίνεσθαι

mvp-comment-372-3 λέκτρων … τῶν Διὸς ⁷³² τῶν ⁷³³

mvp-comment-373-1 κατὰ δρομάδ’ ἄμπυκα … Κρόνου παῖς ⁷³⁴ Ἰξίονα ⁷³⁵ δέσμιον ⁷³⁶ Ἰξίονα ⁷³⁷ δέσμιον ⁷³⁸ Ἰξίονα ⁷³⁹

mvp-comment-373-2 (1) The poet's tendency to omit the proper name in mythical allusion, when the context made his meaning clear, might be illustrated from Ant, 133, where Capaneus is described, yet not named; and from 966—987 of the same play, where Cleopatra—whose fate is being compared with Antigone's—is only indicated as the mother of the Phineidae (980) and the daughter of Boreas (985).

mvp-comment-373-3 (2) δέσμιον ⁷⁴⁰ κατ’ ἄμπυκα … ἔβαλεν ⁷⁴¹ δέσμιον ⁷⁴² κατ’ ⁷⁴³ ἀν’ ⁷⁴⁴

mvp-comment-373-4 Ἰξίον’ ἀν’ ἄμπυκα δὴ δρομάδ’ ὡς ἔβαλεν ⁷⁴⁵ δέσμιον ⁷⁴⁶

mvp-comment-373-5 ἄμπυκα ⁷⁴⁷ δρομάδα ⁷⁴⁸

mvp-comment-373-6 Cp. Hesych.,

ἄμπυκες, τροχοί· οὕτω Σοφοκλῆς ἐν Φιλοκτήτη

. Musgrave's ἄντυγα ⁷⁴⁹

mvp-comment-374-1 τοῦδ’ ⁷⁵⁰

mvp-comment-375-1 οὔτ’ ἔρξας τιν’, οὔ τι νοσφίσας ⁷⁵¹ οὔ τι ⁷⁵² οὔτε ⁷⁵³ οὐκ ⁷⁵⁴ νοσφίσας ⁷⁵⁵ ἔρξας ⁷⁵⁶ νοσφίσας ⁷⁵⁷

mvp-comment-376-1 ἴσος ὢν ἴσοις ⁷⁵⁸ ἴσος ὢν ἴσοις ⁷⁵⁹ ἴσος ⁷⁶⁰

mvp-comment-376-2 L has ἴσως ⁷⁶¹ ἐν ἴσοις ⁷⁶² ἔν γ’ ⁷⁶³

mvp-comment-377-1 ὤλλυθ’ ⁷⁶⁴

mvp-comment-377-2 The MS. text here is ὤλλυθ’ ὧδ’ ἀναξίως· τόδε θαῦμ’ ἔχει με ⁷⁶⁵ τόδε τοι θαῦμά μ’ ἔχει ⁷⁶⁶ τότ’ ἂν εἰλυόμενος ⁷⁶⁷ ὤλλυθ’ ὧδ’ ἀναξίως ⁷⁶⁸ εἷρπε γὰρ ⁷⁶⁹ εἷρπε δ’ ⁷⁷⁰ ὤλλυθ’ ⁷⁷¹ ὠλέκεθ’ ⁷⁷² ὤλλυτο τῇδ’ ⁷⁷³ ἀναξίως ⁷⁷⁴ ἄλλᾳ ⁷⁷⁵ ἀλλ ⁷⁷⁶ αχ ⁷⁷⁷ ᾷ ⁷⁷⁸

mvp-comment-378-1 ἀμφιπλάκτων ⁷⁷⁹ κλύζων ⁷⁸⁰

mvp-comment-379-1 βιοτὰν κατέσχεν ⁷⁸¹

mvp-comment-380-1 ἵν’ αὐτὸς ἦν πρόσουρος ⁷⁸² ἦν ⁷⁸³ οἱ ⁷⁸⁴ πρόσουρος ⁷⁸⁵

mvp-comment-380-2 οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν ⁷⁸⁶ πρόσουρον οὐκ ἔχων βάσιν ⁷⁸⁷ πρόδουλον … βάσιν ⁷⁸⁸ οὔτιν’ ἐς ἔγχωρον ⁷⁸⁹

mvp-comment-381-1 κακογείτονα ⁷⁹⁰

mvp-comment-381-2 Compounds to which

κακός

gives the first part are of two classes, according as the

κακο‐

element is (1) adj. or (2) subst. In class (1) there are again two types. ( a) The commonest is that of

κακόβιος

, =

κακὸν βίον ἔχων

: i.e., the compound denotes ‘possessing’ the subst. as qualified by

κακός

. ( b) A rarer, chiefly poet., type is that of

Κακοΐλιος

as simply=

κακὴ Ἴλιος

. In class (2) ( a) the

κακο‐

is most often equiv. to the subst.

κακόν

κακά

in the acc., governed by a verb: as

κακοποιός

κακὰ ποιῶν

. ( b) But sometimes this

κακο‐

represents a gen. or dat., depending on another noun: thus

κακόμαντις

, ‘prophet of evil’ ( Aesch. Pers. 10 etc.)=

κακῶν μάντις

. Cratinus used

κακόδουλος

as =

κακὸς δούλοις

(‘cruel to slaves’),

Θρᾷτται

fr. 7. And so

κακογείτων

could belong either to (1) b,=

κακὸς γείτων

: or, as it actually does here, to (2) b,

κακῶν γείτων

. Cp.

ἁλιγείτων, ἀστρογείτων, ἀστυγείτων

mvp-comment-381-3 The schol. joined κακογείτονα ⁷⁹¹ στόνον ⁷⁹² κακογείτονα ⁷⁹³

mvp-comment-382-1 παρ’ ᾧ ⁷⁹⁴ ἀποκλαύσειεν ⁷⁹⁵

mvp-comment-382-2 ἀντίτυπον ⁷⁹⁶

mvp-comment-382-3 βαρυβρῶτα … αἱματηρόν ⁷⁹⁷ στόνον ⁷⁹⁸

mvp-comment-383-1 ὃς τὰν ⁷⁹⁹ οὐδ’ ὃς τὰν ⁸⁰⁰ οὐδ’ ⁸⁰¹ τὰν ⁸⁰² ὃς τὰν ⁸⁰³ οὐδ’ ὃς ⁸⁰⁴

mvp-comment-383-2 αἱμάδα ⁸⁰⁵ κηκι—ομέναν ⁸⁰⁶

mvp-comment-383-3 ἑλκέων ⁸⁰⁷

mvp-comment-383-4 ἐνθήρου ⁸⁰⁸

mvp-comment-384-1 εἴ τις ἐμπέσοι ⁸⁰⁹ ἑλών ⁸¹⁰ ἑλεῖν ⁸¹¹

mvp-comment-384-2 Some read εἴ τιν’ ἐμπέσοι ⁸¹² εἵ τι ⁸¹³ συμπέσοι ⁸¹⁴ ἑλεῖν ⁸¹⁵

mvp-comment-384-3 φορβάδος ⁸¹⁶

mvp-comment-385-1 εἷρπε ⁸¹⁷ ἂν ⁸¹⁸ εἷρπε ⁸¹⁹ εἰλυόμενος ⁸²⁰

mvp-comment-386-1 παῖς … ὡς ⁸²¹

mvp-comment-387-1 ὅθεν ⁸²² ὅθεν ὑπάρχοι ⁸²³

mvp-comment-387-2 εὐμάρεια … πόρου ⁸²⁴ πόρων ⁸²⁵ πόρον ⁸²⁶

mvp-comment-387-3 ἐξανείη ⁸²⁷

mvp-comment-387-4 δακέθυμος ⁸²⁸

mvp-comment-388-1 ἱερᾶς ⁸²⁹

mvp-comment-388-2 αἴρων ⁸³⁰

mvp-comment-388-3 ἄλλων ⁸³¹ φορβὰν ⁸³² τῶν ⁸³³

mvp-comment-388-4 ἀλφησταί ⁸³⁴

mvp-comment-388-5 ἀνέρες ⁸³⁵ α— ⁸³⁶

mvp-comment-389-1 πτανοῖς ⁸³⁷

mvp-comment-389-2 ἰοῖς ⁸³⁸

mvp-comment-390-1 ψυχά, ὃς ⁸³⁹

mvp-comment-390-2 ὃς μηδ’ ⁸⁴⁰

mvp-comment-390-3 ἥσθη ⁸⁴¹

mvp-comment-390-4 οἰνοχύτου ⁸⁴²

mvp-comment-390-5 δεκέτει χρόνῳ ⁸⁴³ δεκέτη χρόνον ⁸⁴⁴

mvp-comment-391-1 λεύσσων ⁸⁴⁵ ὅπου γνοίη ⁸⁴⁶ προσενώμα ⁸⁴⁷ εἰς στατὸν ὕδωρ ⁸⁴⁸ γνοίη ⁸⁴⁹ προσενώμα ⁸⁵⁰ στατὸν … ὕδωρ ⁸⁵¹

mvp-comment-392-1 ἀνδρῶν ἀγ ⁸⁵²

mvp-comment-392-2 ὑπαντήσας ⁸⁵³

mvp-comment-393-1 ἀνύσει εὐδαίμων ⁸⁵⁴

mvp-comment-393-2 ἐκ κείνων ⁸⁵⁵

mvp-comment-394-1 ποντοπόρῳ ⁸⁵⁶

mvp-comment-394-2 δούρατι ⁸⁵⁷

mvp-comment-394-3 πλήθει … μηνῶν ⁸⁵⁸

mvp-comment-395-1 πατρίαν ⁸⁵⁹ πατρῴαν ⁸⁶⁰

mvp-comment-395-2 Μαλιάδων ⁸⁶¹ αὐλὰν ⁸⁶² ὄχθας ⁸⁶³

mvp-comment-395-3 παρ’ ὄχθας ⁸⁶⁴ Σπερχειοῦ τε ⁸⁶⁵ Σπερχειοῖο ⁸⁶⁶ ὄχθαις ⁸⁶⁷

mvp-comment-396-1 ὁ χάλκασπις ἀνὴρ ⁸⁶⁸

mvp-comment-396-2 In this play Heracles figures especially as the former possessor of the invincible bow. Why, then, has Soph. here chosen an epithet, χάλκασπις ⁸⁶⁹

mvp-comment-397-1 πλάθει ⁸⁷⁰ πλάθη ⁸⁷¹ θείῳ πυρὶ παμφαής ⁸⁷²

mvp-comment-397-2 *

πατρὸς

is my emendation of the corrupt πᾶσι ⁸⁷³ ὅπου ⁸⁷⁴ πᾶσι ⁸⁷⁵ πλάθει ⁸⁷⁶ θείῳ ⁸⁷⁷ πᾶσι ⁸⁷⁸ πατρὸς ⁸⁷⁹

mvp-comment-397-3 The burning of Heracles, and his apotheosis, are combined in some vase paintings. (1) A bowl (

κρατήρ

) of the 4th cent. B.C., now in the Collegio Rainone at Agata S. dei Goti: Milani, Mito di Filottete, p. 65: Baumeister, Denkm., p. 307, fig. 322. In the lower part of the picture is the still burning pyre, which a Nymph on the left is trying to quench by pouring water from a jug. The trunk of the hero's mortal body lies on the pyre. On the right, a bearded figure in a peaked cap is hastily receding. This is either Poeas or Philoctetes: at his side is the quiver given him by the hero for kindling the pyre. Above, a Doric portal represents the entrance to Olympus. Apollo, laurel-crowned, sits on the left of it; a four-horse chariot approaches him, preceded by Hermes. It is driven by a winged goddess (a

Νίκη

): on her left sits Heracles, crowned with laurel, his club in his left hand; a light garment (a sort of chlamys) floats round his shoulders. (2) A Lucanian vase, now at Munich: Baumeister, p. 669, fig. 734. Below is the pyre, with the trunk of Heracles on it: the fire is being quenched by two Nymphs on the right

ΑΠΕΘΟΣΑ

and

ΠΡΕΜΝΟΣΙΑ

(an Attic fountain). On the left are two Satyr figures. Above, Athena Nikè, with helmet, lance, and chequered aegis worn as a corslet, is driving Heracles to Olympus; his left hand holds the club, and round his left arm is wound his chlamys.—We notice how the participation of Nymphs in these scenes illustrates the poet's

Μαλιάδων νυμφᾶν

(v. 725).

mvp-comment-398-1 ὄχθων ⁸⁸⁰

mvp-comment-399-1 εἰ θέλεις ⁸⁸¹

mvp-comment-400-1 ἀπόπληκτος ἔχει ⁸⁸²

mvp-comment-401-1 τί δ’ ἔστιν ⁸⁸³ τί ἔστιν ⁸⁸⁴

mvp-comment-402-1 τῆς παρεστώσης ⁸⁸⁵

mvp-comment-402-2 735 The intrans. κουφίζειν ⁸⁸⁶

mvp-comment-402-3 736 f. I follow A here (see cr. n.), for a reason which was felt by Hermann, but which has not been sufficiently considered by some other editors,—viz., that ἰὼ θεοί ⁸⁸⁷ ἰὼ θεοί ⁸⁸⁸

mvp-comment-402-4 τί θεοὺς ἀναστένων καλεῖς ⁸⁸⁹ θεοὺς ⁸⁹⁰

mvp-comment-403-1 κυρῶν ⁸⁹¹

mvp-comment-404-1 διέρχεται ⁸⁹²

mvp-comment-404-2 βρύκομαι ⁸⁹³

mvp-comment-404-3 746 Written as above, the exclamations represent three successive cries of pain, each longer than the last, as the agony becomes sharper; they seem to suggest the convulsive movement of the lips from which the sounds are wrung.

mvp-comment-405-1 εἴ τί σοι ξίφος πρόχειρον ⁸⁹⁴ χεροῖν ⁸⁹⁵

mvp-comment-405-2 πάταξον εἰς ἄκρον πόδα ⁸⁹⁶

mvp-comment-406-1 ἴθ’ ὦ παῖ ⁸⁹⁷

mvp-comment-407-1 νεοχμὸν ἐξαίφνης ⁸⁹⁸ σαυτοῦ ⁸⁹⁹ ἰυγήν ⁹⁰⁰ ποεῖ ⁹⁰¹

mvp-comment-408-1 τί σοί ⁹⁰² ἔστιν ⁹⁰³

mvp-comment-409-1 τοὐπίσαγμα ⁹⁰⁴ τοὐπείσαγμα ⁹⁰⁵ τοὐπίσιγμα ⁹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-410-1 γὰρ ⁹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-410-2 δράσω ⁹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-411-1 ἥκει … ἐξεπλήσθη ⁹⁰⁹ αὕτη ⁹¹⁰ διὰ χρόνου ⁹¹¹ ἥκει ⁹¹² διὰ χρόνου ⁹¹³ πλάνοις ⁹¹⁴ ἥκει ⁹¹⁵ πλάνοις ⁹¹⁶

mvp-comment-411-2 ἐξεπλήσθη. — ἰώ ⁹¹⁷ φεῦ ⁹¹⁸ ἰώ ⁹¹⁹ ἐξέπλης ⁹²⁰ πλάνους ⁹²¹

mvp-comment-411-3 760 There is an error in the traditional numbering here, as the fourth verse after this is called 765. The origin of this error is explained in the Appendix. To avoid changing the usual numeration throughout the rest of the play, I designate the next verse as 762.

mvp-comment-411-4 δῆτα ⁹²²

mvp-comment-411-5 δύστηνε … φανείς ⁹²³

mvp-comment-411-6 διὰ πόνων πάντων ⁹²⁴

mvp-comment-412-1 βούλει λάβωμαι ⁹²⁵ δῆτα ⁹²⁶

mvp-comment-413-1 μοι ⁹²⁷

mvp-comment-414-1 ἕως ⁹²⁸

mvp-comment-414-2 ἀνῇ ⁹²⁹

mvp-comment-415-1 τὸ πῆμα … τῆς νόσου ⁹³⁰

mvp-comment-416-1 γὰρ οὖν ⁹³¹

mvp-comment-416-2 ἐξίῃ ⁹³²

mvp-comment-417-1 λῆξαι ⁹³³

mvp-comment-418-1 ἕκηλον εὕδειν ⁹³⁴ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ ⁹³⁵

mvp-comment-418-2 ἐκεῖνοι ⁹³⁶

mvp-comment-419-1 ἑκόντα μήτ’ ἄκοντα ⁹³⁷ μήτ’ ⁹³⁸ μηδ’ ⁹³⁹

mvp-comment-419-2 μήτε τῳ τέχνῃ ⁹⁴⁰ μηδέ ⁹⁴¹ μήτε ⁹⁴² τέχνῃ ⁹⁴³

mvp-comment-420-1 πρόστροπον ⁹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-420-2 κτείνας γένῃ ⁹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-421-1 προνοίας οὕνεκ’ ⁹⁴⁶ γ’ ⁹⁴⁷ οὕνεκα ⁹⁴⁸ γε ⁹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-421-2 πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί ⁹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-421-3 ξὺν τύχῃ ⁹⁵¹

mvp-comment-422-1 τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον ⁹⁵²

mvp-comment-423-1 μή … γενέσθαι ⁹⁵³

mvp-comment-423-2 πολύπονα ⁹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-423-3 μηδ’ ὅπως ⁹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-424-1 θεοί ⁹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-424-2 γένοιτο … γένοιτο δὲ ⁹⁵⁷ ταῦτα νῷν ⁹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-424-3 κεὐσταλής ⁹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-424-4 ὅποι ποτὲ ⁹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-425-1 ἀλλ’ Ὄκνος ⁹⁶¹ ἀλλὰ δέδοικ’, ὦ παῖ, μή μ’ ἀτελὴς εὐχή ⁹⁶² ὦ παῖ ⁹⁶³ ἀλλὰ ⁹⁶⁴ δέδοικ’ ⁹⁶⁵ μ’ ⁹⁶⁶ με ⁹⁶⁷ εὔχῃ, μή μ’ ἀτελὴς ⁹⁶⁸ ἀτελῶς ⁹⁶⁹ εὔχῃ ⁹⁷⁰ ἔχει ⁹⁷¹ ἀτέλεστ’ ⁹⁷²

mvp-comment-425-2 For μὴ ⁹⁷³ α ⁹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-426-1 κηκῖον ⁹⁷⁵ νέον ⁹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-427-1 ἐργάσει ⁹⁷⁷ προσέρπει ⁹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-428-1 τάλας ⁹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-428-2 ἔχετε ⁹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-428-3 μηδαμῇ ⁹⁸¹

mvp-comment-429-1 Κεφαλλήν ⁹⁸²

mvp-comment-429-2 σοῦ ⁹⁸³ ἔχοιτο ⁹⁸⁴ διαμπερὲς στέρνων ⁹⁸⁵ σου ⁹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-430-1 μάλ’ αὖθις ⁹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-430-2 ὦ διπλοῖ στρ. ⁹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-430-3 Ἀγάμεμνον, ὦ Μενέλαε ⁹⁸⁹ Μενέλαέ τ’ Ἀγάμεμνόν τε ⁹⁹⁰ πῶς ἄν ⁹⁹¹ τρέφοιτε ⁹⁹²

mvp-comment-430-4 τὸν ἴσον χρόνον ⁹⁹³

mvp-comment-431-1 ὦ Θάνατε ⁹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-431-2 ἀεὶ … κατ’ ἦμαρ ⁹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-431-3 δύνᾳ ⁹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-432-1 ὦ τέκνον, ὦ γενναῖον ⁹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-432-2 ἀλλὰ ⁹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-433-1 τῷ Λ. τῷδ’ ἀνακ. πυρὶ ⁹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-433-2 The volcanic mountain called

Μόσυχλος

appears to have been on the east coast of Lemnos, south of the rocky promontory (

Ἑρμαῖον ὄρος

, v. 1459) to which the cave of Philoctetes was adjacent. No volcanic crater can now be traced in Lemnos; and it is probable that the ancient Mosychlus has been submerged. See Appendix.

Λήμνιον πῦρ

was proverbial for ‘a fierce fire’ ( Ar. Lys. 299 ). Lycophron (227) has

τεφρώσας γυῖα Λημναίῳ πυρί

in this sense, and calls Ajax

ὁ Λήμνιος

πρηστὴρ Ἐνυοῦς

(462), ‘Lemnian thunderbolt of war.’ Cp. Hesych.

Λήμνιον βλέπειν· ἐπειδὴ τὸ πῦρ Λήμνιον

. The legendary association of Lemnos with fierce crime (

Λήμνια κακά

) may have helped to suggest such phrases.

mvp-comment-434-1 ἔμπρησον ¹⁰⁰⁰ πυρί μ’ ¹⁰⁰¹ συλλαβὼν ¹⁰⁰²

mvp-comment-435-1 τὸν τοῦ Διὸς παῖδ’ ¹⁰⁰³

mvp-comment-435-2 σῴζεις ¹⁰⁰⁴

mvp-comment-435-3 τοῦτ’ ¹⁰⁰⁵

mvp-comment-435-4 ἐπηξίωσα ¹⁰⁰⁶

mvp-comment-435-5 δρᾶν ¹⁰⁰⁷

mvp-comment-436-1 τί φής, παῖ ¹⁰⁰⁸

mvp-comment-436-2 ποῦ ποτ’ ὤν ¹⁰⁰⁹

mvp-comment-437-1 πάλαι δὴ ¹⁰¹⁰

mvp-comment-437-2 τἀπὶ σοὶ … κακά ¹⁰¹¹

mvp-comment-438-1 καὶ θάρσος ἴσχε ¹⁰¹² καὶ ¹⁰¹³ μοι. ¹⁰¹⁴

mvp-comment-438-2 φοιτᾷ ¹⁰¹⁵

mvp-comment-438-3 ὀξεῖα, ταχεῖα ¹⁰¹⁶

mvp-comment-439-1 οὐ μήν ¹⁰¹⁷

mvp-comment-439-2 ἔνορκον … θέσθαι ¹⁰¹⁸

mvp-comment-440-1 ὡς ¹⁰¹⁹ θέμις ¹⁰²⁰ γε ¹⁰²¹ θέμις ¹⁰²²

mvp-comment-440-2 ἐμοὔστι ¹⁰²³

mvp-comment-441-1 ἔμβαλλε ¹⁰²⁴

mvp-comment-442-1 ἐκεῖσε νῦν μ’ ¹⁰²⁵ ἐκεῖσε ¹⁰²⁶ ἐκεῖσε ¹⁰²⁷ ἄνω ¹⁰²⁸ παραφρονεῖς αὖ ¹⁰²⁹ τὸν ἄνω λεύσσεις κύκλον ¹⁰³⁰ εἴ τι δὴ πλέον φρονεῖς ¹⁰³¹

mvp-comment-443-1 αὖ ¹⁰³²

mvp-comment-443-2 τὸν ἄνω κύκλον ¹⁰³³

mvp-comment-444-1 ποτέ ¹⁰³⁴

mvp-comment-444-2 ἀπό μ’ ὀλεῖς ¹⁰³⁵

mvp-comment-445-1 καὶ δὴ μεθίημ’ ¹⁰³⁶

mvp-comment-445-2 εἴ τι δὴ ¹⁰³⁷

mvp-comment-445-3 πλέον φρονεῖς ¹⁰³⁸ εἰ ¹⁰³⁹

mvp-comment-446-1 θανάσιμον ¹⁰⁴⁰

mvp-comment-446-2 ὅπως ἔχω ¹⁰⁴¹

mvp-comment-446-3 ὀρθοῦσθαι ¹⁰⁴²

mvp-comment-447-1 οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου ¹⁰⁴³

mvp-comment-448-1 γέ τοι ¹⁰⁴⁴

mvp-comment-449-1 ἄκρον … ποδὸς ¹⁰⁴⁵ φλέψ ¹⁰⁴⁶

mvp-comment-450-1 ὄμμασι δ’ ἀντίσχοις ¹⁰⁴⁷ τάνδ’ αἴγλαν ἃ τέταται τανῦν ¹⁰⁴⁸ τάνδε ¹⁰⁴⁹ αἴγλαν ¹⁰⁵⁰ τέταται ¹⁰⁵¹

mvp-comment-450-2 The words could not mean, ‘keep off this sunlight from his eyes.’ ὄμμασι ¹⁰⁵² ἀντίσχοις ¹⁰⁵³ αἴγλαν ¹⁰⁵⁴ ἀντίσχοις ¹⁰⁵⁵ τάνδ’ αἴγλαν ¹⁰⁵⁶

mvp-comment-451-1 ἴθι ἴθι ¹⁰⁵⁷

mvp-comment-452-1 ποῦ στάσει ¹⁰⁵⁸

mvp-comment-453-1 The MSS. give here ποῖ δὲ βάσει πῶς δέ μοι τἀντεῦθεν ¹⁰⁵⁹ κεῖνό μοι, κεῖνο λάθρᾳ ¹⁰⁶⁰ ποῖ δέ μοι τἀνθένδε βάσει ¹⁰⁶¹ ποῖ ¹⁰⁶² φροντίδος ¹⁰⁶³

mvp-comment-453-2 τἀνθένδε ¹⁰⁶⁴

mvp-comment-454-1 ὁρᾷς ἤδη ¹⁰⁶⁵ ὁρᾷς, εὕδει ¹⁰⁶⁶

mvp-comment-455-1 πρὸς τί μενοῦμεν ¹⁰⁶⁷ πράσσειν ¹⁰⁶⁸

mvp-comment-456-1 καιρός ¹⁰⁶⁹ πάντων γνώμαν ἴσχων ¹⁰⁷⁰

mvp-comment-456-2 < πολύ τι > πολὺ ¹⁰⁷¹

mvp-comment-456-3 παρὰ πόδα ¹⁰⁷²

mvp-comment-457-1 ἀλλ’ ὅδε μὲν ¹⁰⁷³

mvp-comment-457-2 θήραν … ἔχομεν ¹⁰⁷⁴

mvp-comment-458-1 τοῦδε … τοῦτον ¹⁰⁷⁵

mvp-comment-458-2 ὁ στέφανος ¹⁰⁷⁶

mvp-comment-459-1 κομπεῖν δ’ ¹⁰⁷⁷ ἀτελῆ σὺν ψεύδεσιν ¹⁰⁷⁸

mvp-comment-460-1 ἀλλά, τέκνον ¹⁰⁷⁹

mvp-comment-460-2 ὀψεται ¹⁰⁸⁰

mvp-comment-461-1 ὧν ¹⁰⁸¹ λόγων ¹⁰⁸² ἀμείβῃ ¹⁰⁸³

mvp-comment-462-1 πάντων ¹⁰⁸⁴ λεύσσειν ¹⁰⁸⁵ εὐδρακὴς ¹⁰⁸⁶

mvp-comment-463-1 ἀλλ’ ὅτι δύνᾳ ¹⁰⁸⁷ λάθρᾳ ¹⁰⁸⁸

mvp-comment-463-2 δύνᾳ ¹⁰⁸⁹

mvp-comment-463-3 κεῖνο … κεῖνο ¹⁰⁹⁰ δή ¹⁰⁹¹

mvp-comment-463-4 μοι ¹⁰⁹²

mvp-comment-463-5 ὅτι δ. μάκιστον ¹⁰⁹³ ἐξιδοῦ ¹⁰⁹⁴

mvp-comment-463-6 ὅπᾳ ¹⁰⁹⁵ ὅπως ¹⁰⁹⁶

mvp-comment-464-1 οἶσθα γὰρ ἃν … πάθη ¹⁰⁹⁷ ἃν ¹⁰⁹⁸ ὧν ¹⁰⁹⁹ ὃν ¹¹⁰⁰ γνώμαν ¹¹⁰¹ οἶσθα γὰρ ἃν αὐδῶμαι ¹¹⁰² ταύταν ¹¹⁰³ κεῖνο ¹¹⁰⁴ τούτῳ ¹¹⁰⁵ πυκινοῖς ¹¹⁰⁶ ἐνιδεῖν ¹¹⁰⁷ ἄπορα πάθη ¹¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-465-1 οὖρος ¹¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-466-1 οὐδ’ ἔχων ἀρωγὰν ¹¹¹⁰ νύχιος ¹¹¹¹

mvp-comment-467-1 ἀλεὴς ὕπνος ἐσθλός ¹¹¹² ἀλεής ¹¹¹³ ἀλέας ¹¹¹⁴ ἀδεὴς ¹¹¹⁵ δ’ ¹¹¹⁶ ἀλεὴς ¹¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-467-2 Some reject ἀλεὴς ὕπνος ἐσθλός ¹¹¹⁸ ἀδεὴς ¹¹¹⁹ ἀδεὴς πόνος ἐσθλός ¹¹²⁰ πόνος ὁ μὴ φοβῶν κράτιστος ¹¹²¹ ἀδεὴς πόνος ἐσθλός ¹¹²²

mvp-comment-468-1 οὔ τινος ¹¹²³

mvp-comment-469-1 Ἀΐδᾳ πάρα κείμενος ¹¹²⁴ παρακείμενος ¹¹²⁵

mvp-comment-470-1 ὅρα, βλέπ’ ¹¹²⁶ ὅρα ¹¹²⁷ ὁρᾷ ¹¹²⁸

mvp-comment-470-2 εἰ καίρια φθέγγει ¹¹²⁹

mvp-comment-471-1 τὸ δ’ ἁλώσιμον ἐμᾷ φρ. ¹¹³⁰

mvp-comment-471-2 πόνος ὁ μὴ φοβῶν κράτιστος ¹¹³¹ ὁ μὴ φοβῶν ¹¹³² πόνος ¹¹³³

mvp-comment-472-1 μηδ’ ἀφεστάναι φρενῶν ¹¹³⁴

mvp-comment-473-1 ὦ φέγγος ¹¹³⁵ τό τ’ ¹¹³⁶

mvp-comment-473-2 ἐλπίδων ἄπιστον ¹¹³⁷ οἰκούρημα ¹¹³⁸

mvp-comment-474-1 τοῦτ’ ¹¹³⁹ ἐξηύχης’ ¹¹⁴⁰ τλῆναι ¹¹⁴¹ ἂν ¹¹⁴² τλῆναι ¹¹⁴³ ἐξηύχης’ ¹¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-474-2 μεῖναι ¹¹⁴⁵ τἀμὰ πήματα ¹¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-474-3 ξυνωφελοῦντά μοι ¹¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-475-1 οὔκουν ¹¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-475-2 εὐφόρως ¹¹⁴⁹ εὐπόρως ¹¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-476-1 κἀξ εὐγενῶν ¹¹⁵¹ ἐν εὐχερεῖ ἔθου ¹¹⁵²

mvp-comment-476-2 γέμων ¹¹⁵³

mvp-comment-477-1 λήθη ¹¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-477-2 δή ¹¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-478-1 σύ μ’ αὐτὸς … ποτέ ¹¹⁵⁶ κόπος ¹¹⁵⁷ ού μ’ αὐτὸς ἆρον, σύ με κατάστησον ¹¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-478-2 νῦν δ’ αἶρε σαυτόν ¹¹⁵⁹ ἵν’, ἡνίκ’ ἂν κόπος μ’ ἀπαλλάξῃ ποτέ ¹¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-478-3 ZippmannA. , whom Nauck and Cavallin follow in their texts, deletes both v. 880 and v. 889 as spurious, and transposes 879 to a place between 888 and 890. His two main objections to the traditional text are:—Why should Ph. , formerly so eager to start, now wish to wait till his

κόπος

has passed off? (880). And why should he desire to rise before that moment, instead of resting on the ground? The view of the whole situation which I have given above will show why I believe the traditional text to be sound.

mvp-comment-479-1 ἐπίσχωμεν ¹¹⁶¹ τὸ πλεῖν ¹¹⁶²

mvp-comment-480-1 ἀλλ’ ἥδομαι μέν ¹¹⁶³ μέν ¹¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-480-2 ἀνώδυνον ¹¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-480-3 βλέποντα ¹¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-480-4 κἀμπνέοντ’ ¹¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-481-1 ὡς οὐκέτ’ ὄντος ¹¹⁶⁸ συμβόλαια ¹¹⁶⁹ τὰς παρούσας ξυμφορὰς ¹¹⁷⁰ πρὸς ¹¹⁷¹ τὰς παρ. ξυμφοράς ¹¹⁷² πρὸς τὰς παρ. ξυμφορὰς ¹¹⁷³

mvp-comment-481-2 συμβόλαια ¹¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-482-1 νῦν δ’ αἶρε σαυτόν ¹¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-482-2 εἰ δέ σοι μᾶλλον φίλον ¹¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-482-3 τοῦ πόνου γὰρ ¹¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-483-1 αἰνῶ τάδ’, ὦ παῖ ¹¹⁷⁸ αἰνῶ τάδε ¹¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-484-1 ἔασον ¹¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-484-2 ὀσμῇ ¹¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-484-3 συνναίειν ¹¹⁸²

mvp-comment-485-1 ἔσται τάδ’ ¹¹⁸³

mvp-comment-485-2 ἵστω ¹¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-485-3 καὐτὸς ἀντέχου ¹¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-486-1 σύνηθες … ἔθος ¹¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-487-1 τί δῆτ’ ἂν δρῷμ’ ¹¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-487-2 δρῷμ’ ¹¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-487-3 τοὐνθένδε γε ¹¹⁸⁹ γε ¹¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-488-1 ἐξέβης ¹¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-488-2 λόγῳ ¹¹⁹² λόγων ¹¹⁹³

mvp-comment-489-1 οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅποι χρὴ ¹¹⁹⁴ στρέφειν ¹¹⁹⁵ τρέπειν ¹¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-490-1 ἀπορεῖς δὲ τοῦ σύ ¹¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-491-1 ἐνθάδε … τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους ¹¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-492-1 οὐ δή ¹¹⁹⁹ ὥστε ¹²⁰⁰ ἔπεισεν ¹²⁰¹

mvp-comment-492-2 ναύτην ¹²⁰²

mvp-comment-493-1 ἅπαντα δυσχέρεια ¹²⁰³

mvp-comment-493-2 τὴν αὑτοῦ φύσιν ¹²⁰⁴ λιπών ¹²⁰⁵ τὰ μὴ προσεικότα ¹²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-494-1 οὐδὲν ἔξω τοῦ φυτεύσαντος ¹²⁰⁷ φυτεύσαντος ¹²⁰⁸ προσεικότος ¹²⁰⁹ τοὐμφυτευθέντος ¹²¹⁰

mvp-comment-494-2 ἐσθλὸν ¹²¹¹

mvp-comment-495-1 πάλαι ¹²¹²

mvp-comment-496-1 οὔκουν ¹²¹³ ἐν οἷς γε δρᾷς ¹²¹⁴ ἐν οἷς δὲ αὐδᾷς ¹²¹⁵

mvp-comment-496-2 ὀκνῶ ¹²¹⁶ δρᾷς ¹²¹⁷

mvp-comment-497-1 δράσω ¹²¹⁸ λέγων αἴσχιστ’ ἐπῶν ¹²¹⁹ κρύπτων ἃ μὴ δεῖ ¹²²⁰

mvp-comment-498-1 ἁνὴρ ὅδ’ ¹²²¹

mvp-comment-498-2 εἰ μὴ )γὼ ¹²²² γνώμην ¹²²³ γνώμων ¹²²⁴

mvp-comment-498-3 τὸν πλοῦν στελεῖν ¹²²⁵

mvp-comment-499-1 λιπὼν ¹²²⁶

mvp-comment-499-2 πέμπω ¹²²⁷ πέμπων ¹²²⁸ τοῦτ’ ¹²²⁹ τοῦτ’ ἀνιῶμαι πάλαι ¹²³⁰

mvp-comment-500-1 οὐδέν σε κρύψω ¹²³¹

mvp-comment-500-2 γὰρ ¹²³²

mvp-comment-501-1 τί <δ)> εἶπας ¹²³³ δ’ ¹²³⁴ τί εἶπας ¹²³⁵ τί μ’ εἶπας ¹²³⁶ τί γ’ εἶπας ¹²³⁷

mvp-comment-501-2 πρὶν μάθῃς ¹²³⁸

mvp-comment-501-3 ποῖον μάθημα ¹²³⁹

mvp-comment-501-4 δρᾶσαι ¹²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-502-1 σῶσαι κακοῦ ¹²⁴¹

mvp-comment-502-2 ξὺν σοὶ ¹²⁴²

mvp-comment-503-1 καὶ ταῦτ’ ¹²⁴³

mvp-comment-503-2 ἀληθῆ ¹²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-503-3 κρατεῖ τούτων ¹²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-504-1 ὦ ξένε ¹²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-505-1 ἀλλ’ οὐχ οἷόν τε ¹²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-505-2 τῶν ἐν τέλει ¹²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-505-3 927 ff. While Philoctetes makes this appeal, Neoptolemus stands with averted face (935), still holding the bow. Despairing anguish could not be more pathetically expressed than by the transitions from imprecation to entreaty, and from entreaty to the half-soliloquy in which he imagines the future (952).

mvp-comment-506-1 πῦρ ¹²⁴⁹ πῦρ ¹²⁵⁰ δεῖμα ¹²⁵¹

mvp-comment-506-2 πᾶν δεῖμα ¹²⁵² δεῖμα ¹²⁵³

mvp-comment-506-3 πανουργίας … τέχνημα ¹²⁵⁴ τέχνημα ¹²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-507-1 εἰργάσω ¹²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-508-1 τὸν προστρόπαιον ¹²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-509-1 τὸν βίον ¹²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-509-2 932 A dactyl is here followed by a tribrach, as in 1029 we have two tribrachs. In both verses the rhythm marks agitation.

mvp-comment-510-1 θεῶν πατρῴων ¹²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-510-2 με μὴ ἀφέλῃ ¹²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-511-1 προσφωνεῖ ¹²⁶¹

mvp-comment-511-2 ὡς μεθήσων μήποθ’ ¹²⁶² ὁρᾷ πάλιν ¹²⁶³

mvp-comment-512-1 λιμένες ¹²⁶⁴ προβλῆτες ¹²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-512-2 ξυνουσίαι θηρῶν ¹²⁶⁶

mvp-comment-512-3 καταρρῶγες ¹²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-513-1 λέγω ¹²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-513-2 ἀνακλαίομαι ¹²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-513-3 παροῦσι ¹²⁷⁰ τοῖς εἰωθόσιν ¹²⁷¹ παροῦσι ¹²⁷²

mvp-comment-514-1 ὀμόσας ¹²⁷³

mvp-comment-514-2 προσθείς ¹²⁷⁴ προθείς ¹²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-515-1 ἱερὰ ¹²⁷⁶ τοῦ Ζηνὸς Ἡρακλέους ¹²⁷⁷ ἱερὰ ¹²⁷⁸ τοῦ Ζ. Ἡρ ¹²⁷⁹ τοῦ Ζ. Ἡρακλ. ¹²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-516-1 φήνασθαι ¹²⁸¹ φήνασθαι ¹²⁸² φήνασθαι ¹²⁸³

mvp-comment-516-2 Seyffert, placing only a comma after θέλει ¹²⁸⁴ κοὐχ ὡς ¹²⁸⁵ κοὐκ οἶδ’ ¹²⁸⁶ ὡς ¹²⁸⁷ κοὐχ ὡς ¹²⁸⁸ ὡς ¹²⁸⁹ θέλει ¹²⁹⁰ ὡς ἑλὼν ¹²⁹¹

mvp-comment-517-1 κοὐκ οἶδ’ ¹²⁹²

mvp-comment-517-2 ἐναίρων νεκρὸν ¹²⁹³

mvp-comment-517-3 καπνοῦ σκιάν ¹²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-517-4 εἴδωλον ἄλλως ¹²⁹⁵ ἄλλως ¹²⁹⁶

mvp-comment-518-1 ἐπεὶ οὐδ’ ¹²⁹⁷

mvp-comment-519-1 ἀλλ’ ¹²⁹⁸

mvp-comment-519-2 ἀλλὰ νῦν ¹²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-519-3 ἐν σαυτῷ γενοῦ ¹³⁰⁰ ἔτι ¹³⁰¹ ἐν σαυτοῦ ¹³⁰²

mvp-comment-520-1 σιωπᾷς ¹³⁰³ οὐδέν εἰμ’ ¹³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-521-1 ὦ σχῆμα πέτρας δίπυλον ¹³⁰⁵ σχῆμα ¹³⁰⁶

mvp-comment-521-2 αὖθις αὖ πάλιν ¹³⁰⁷

mvp-comment-521-3 953 The MSS. and edd. give πρὸς σὲ ¹³⁰⁸ πρός σε ¹³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-521-4 ψιλός ¹³¹⁰

mvp-comment-522-1 αὐανοῦμαι ¹³¹¹

mvp-comment-523-1 πτηνὸν ¹³¹² ὀρειβάτην ¹³¹³

mvp-comment-523-2 τοισίδ’ ¹³¹⁴ τοισίδ’ ¹³¹⁵ τοῖσδ’ ἔτ’ ¹³¹⁶

mvp-comment-524-1 παρέξω δαῖτα ¹³¹⁷ ὑφ’ ὧν ἐφερβ ¹³¹⁸

mvp-comment-524-2 Wunder proposes

ἀφ’ ὧν

, objecting that

ὑφ’ ὧν

implies active ministration, ‘as by a nurse.’ It is true that

τρέφομαι ὑπό τινος

properly refers to the nurse, while the source of nourishment is denoted by

τινί, ἀπό τινος

, or

ἔκ τινος

( cp. 535 ). But here Ph. is poetically saying that he had forced the beasts to become his

τροφεῖς

,—as he will now be theirs; and so ὑπό ¹³¹⁹ ἀπό ¹³²⁰

mvp-comment-525-1 καί μ’ ¹³²¹ κἄμ’ ¹³²² ἐθήρων ¹³²³ θηράσουσι ¹³²⁴

mvp-comment-526-1 ῥύσιον ¹³²⁵ φόνον φόνου … ῥύσιον τείσω ¹³²⁶ φόνου ¹³²⁷

mvp-comment-526-2 τοῦ δοκοῦντος ¹³²⁸

mvp-comment-526-3 οὐδὲν εἰδέναι κακόν ¹³²⁹

mvp-comment-527-1 ὄλοιο ¹³³⁰

mvp-comment-527-2 μήπω ¹³³¹ μήπω ¹³³²

mvp-comment-527-3 πρὶν μάθοιμ’ ¹³³³

mvp-comment-527-4 εἰ καὶ πάλιν ¹³³⁴ καὶ ¹³³⁵ εἰ ¹³³⁶ καὶ ¹³³⁷ εἰ καὶ πάλιν ¹³³⁸

mvp-comment-527-5 καὶ ¹³³⁹ πάλιν ¹³⁴⁰ μετοίσεις ¹³⁴¹ πάλιν μετοίσεις ¹³⁴²

mvp-comment-528-1 δρῶμεν ¹³⁴³

mvp-comment-528-2 ἐν σοὶ ¹³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-528-3 προσχωρεῖν ¹³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-529-1 ἐμοὶ μὲν ¹³⁴⁶

mvp-comment-529-2 ἐμπέπτωκε ¹³⁴⁷ οὐ νῦν πρῶτον ¹³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-530-1 ἐλἐησον ¹³⁴⁹

mvp-comment-530-2 παρῇς σαυτοῦ βρ. ὄνειδος ¹³⁵⁰

mvp-comment-530-3 ἐκκλέψας ¹³⁵¹

mvp-comment-531-1 μήποτ’ ¹³⁵² λιπεῖν ¹³⁵³ ὤφελον ¹³⁵⁴

mvp-comment-531-2 Σκῦρον ¹³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-532-1 νῦν δ’ ἄλλοισι δοὺς ¹³⁵⁶ οἷς εἰκός ¹³⁵⁷ οὐκ εἶ κακὸς σύ ¹³⁵⁸ ἄλλοισι ¹³⁵⁹

mvp-comment-532-2 Other interpretations are: (1) δοὺς ¹³⁶⁰ ἄλλοις σε δοὺς ¹³⁶¹ οἷα ¹³⁶² ἄλλοισι ¹³⁶³

mvp-comment-532-3 974 We are to suppose that Odysseus,—disquieted when he found that the

ἔμπορος

(627) was not quickly followed by N.,—had set out to inquire into the cause of the delay. From a place of concealment close to the scene he has overheard the last part of the conversation, and now, at the critical moment, he springs forward. The abruptness of his entrance is marked by the divided verse (

ἀντιλαβή

mvp-comment-532-4 975 Join εἶ … πάλιν ¹³⁶⁴

mvp-comment-533-1 πέπραμαι ¹³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-534-1 ἅμ’ αὐτοῖς ¹³⁶⁶ στελοῦσί σε ¹³⁶⁷ αὐτοῖς ¹³⁶⁸

mvp-comment-535-1 τολμήστατε ¹³⁶⁹

mvp-comment-536-1 οἵδ’ ¹³⁷⁰

mvp-comment-536-2 μὴ ἕρπῃς ¹³⁷¹ η ¹³⁷² ε ¹³⁷³ α ¹³⁷⁴ γ’ ¹³⁷⁵ ἕρπῃς ¹³⁷⁶

mvp-comment-536-3 986 f. For the voc. combined with nom., cp. 867 n.

mvp-comment-536-4 τὸ παγκρατὲς σέλας Ἡφαιστότευκτον ¹³⁷⁷

mvp-comment-536-5 The Lemnians had an early repute as workers in iron: Tzetzes on Lycophr. 460

Λήμνιοι, ὡς φησὶν Ἑλλάνικος, εὗρον ὁπλοποιΐαν

. The local cult and the local industry of Lemnos were both expressed by its name

Αἰθάλεια

(‘sooty’), acc. to Polybius ap. Byz. Steph. s. v.

Αἰθάλη

. The same name was given to Ilva (Elba), on account of its iron-stone.

mvp-comment-537-1 εἰ … ἀπάξεται ¹³⁷⁸

mvp-comment-537-2 τῶν σῶν ¹³⁷⁹

mvp-comment-538-1 Ζεύς ¹³⁸⁰ ἵν’ εἰδῇς ¹³⁸¹

mvp-comment-539-1 μῖσος ¹³⁸²

mvp-comment-539-2 καὶ ἐξανευρίσκεις ¹³⁸³ λέγειν ¹³⁸⁴ λέγων ¹³⁸⁵

mvp-comment-540-1 προτείνων ¹³⁸⁶ ψευδεῖς τίθης ¹³⁸⁷

mvp-comment-541-1 ἀληθεῖς ¹³⁸⁸

mvp-comment-541-2 ἡ δ’ ὁδὸς ¹³⁸⁹

mvp-comment-542-1 οὐ φήμ’ ¹³⁹⁰

mvp-comment-542-2 ἐγὼ δὲ φημί ¹³⁹¹

mvp-comment-542-3 πειστέον τάδε ¹³⁹²

mvp-comment-543-1 ἡμᾶς μὲν ¹³⁹³

mvp-comment-544-1 τοῖς ἀρίστοισιν ¹³⁹⁴

mvp-comment-544-2 κατασκάψαι ¹³⁹⁵

mvp-comment-545-1 οὐδέποτέ γ’ ¹³⁹⁶

mvp-comment-545-2 πᾶν … κακόν ¹³⁹⁷

mvp-comment-545-3 γῆς τόδ’ αἰπεινὸν βάθρον ¹³⁹⁸

mvp-comment-546-1 ἐργασείεις ¹³⁹⁹

mvp-comment-547-1 πέτρᾳ ¹⁴⁰⁰ αἱμάξω ¹⁴⁰¹

mvp-comment-547-2 πέτρας ¹⁴⁰² πεσών ¹⁴⁰³ ἄνωθεν ¹⁴⁰⁴

mvp-comment-548-1 ξυλλάβετον αὐτόν ¹⁴⁰⁵ ξυλλάβετ’ αὐτόν ¹⁴⁰⁶ γε ¹⁴⁰⁷ ξυλλάβετε ¹⁴⁰⁸

mvp-comment-548-2 μὴ )πὶ τῷδ’ ¹⁴⁰⁹

mvp-comment-549-1 ὦ χεῖρες ¹⁴¹⁰

mvp-comment-549-2 ἐν χρείᾳ ¹⁴¹¹

mvp-comment-549-3 συνθηρώμεναι ¹⁴¹²

mvp-comment-550-1 ὦ μηδὲν ὑγιὲς … φρονῶν ¹⁴¹³

mvp-comment-550-2 μηδὲν ὑγιές ¹⁴¹⁴

mvp-comment-550-3 ἐλεύθερον ¹⁴¹⁵

mvp-comment-551-1 οἷ’ αὖ μ’ ὑπῆλθες ¹⁴¹⁶

mvp-comment-551-2 ὑπῆλθες ¹⁴¹⁷

mvp-comment-552-1 πρόβλημα ¹⁴¹⁸

mvp-comment-553-1 ἀνάξιον μὲν σοῦ ¹⁴¹⁹ σοῦ ¹⁴²⁰

mvp-comment-553-2 οὐδὲν ᾔδει πλὴν ¹⁴²¹

mvp-comment-554-1 καὶ νῦν ¹⁴²²

mvp-comment-554-2 οἷς ¹⁴²³

mvp-comment-555-1 διὰ μυχῶν βλέπους’ ¹⁴²⁴

mvp-comment-555-2 ἀφυᾶ ¹⁴²⁵ ‐εα ¹⁴²⁶ ε ¹⁴²⁷ ‐εᾶ ¹⁴²⁸ ι ¹⁴²⁹ υ ¹⁴³⁰ ‐ιᾶ ¹⁴³¹ ‐λῆ; ‐υᾶ ¹⁴³² ‐υῆ ¹⁴³³ ᾶ ¹⁴³⁴ ῆ ¹⁴³⁵

mvp-comment-555-3 προὐδίδαξεν ¹⁴³⁶

mvp-comment-556-1 συνδήσας ¹⁴³⁷ ἄγειν ¹⁴³⁸

mvp-comment-556-2 προὐβάλου ¹⁴³⁹

mvp-comment-556-3 ἄπολιν ¹⁴⁴⁰

mvp-comment-557-1 θεοὶ ¹⁴⁴¹

mvp-comment-557-2 1022 ff. Seyffert puts a comma after ζῶ ¹⁴⁴² σὺν κακοῖς πολλοῖς ¹⁴⁴³ γελώμενος ¹⁴⁴⁴ σὺν κακοῖς πολλοῖς ¹⁴⁴⁵ ζῶ ¹⁴⁴⁶ σὺν κακοῖς πολλοῖς ¹⁴⁴⁷ ζῶ ¹⁴⁴⁸

mvp-comment-557-3 τῶν Ἀτρέως … στρατηγῶν ¹⁴⁴⁹

mvp-comment-558-1 κλοπῇ τε κἀνάγκῃ ζυγεὶς ¹⁴⁵⁰ ζυγεὶς ¹⁴⁵¹

mvp-comment-559-1 ἑπτὰ ναυσὶ ¹⁴⁵²

mvp-comment-560-1 ἔβαλον ¹⁴⁵³ ὡς σὺ φής ¹⁴⁵⁴

mvp-comment-561-1 ἄγετε ¹⁴⁵⁵ ἀπάγεσθε ¹⁴⁵⁶

mvp-comment-561-2 οὐδέν εἰμι ¹⁴⁵⁷ τέθνηχ’ ὑμῖν ¹⁴⁵⁸

mvp-comment-562-1 σοι ¹⁴⁵⁹

mvp-comment-562-2 δυσώδης ¹⁴⁶⁰

mvp-comment-562-3 πῶς … ἔξεσθ’, ὁμοῦ ¹⁴⁶¹ πῶς … εὔξεσθ’, ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁶² εὔξεσθ’ ¹⁴⁶³ εὔξεσθ’ ¹⁴⁶⁴ ἔξεσθ’ ¹⁴⁶⁵ ὁμοῦ ¹⁴⁶⁶ ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁶⁷ εὔξεσθ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁶⁸ ἔξεστ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁶⁹ ἔξεσθ’ ὁμοῦ ¹⁴⁷⁰ θ’ ¹⁴⁷¹ θεοῖς ¹⁴⁷²

mvp-comment-562-4 Against ἔξεσθ’ ¹⁴⁷³

mvp-comment-563-1 ὄλοισθ)· ὀλεῖσθε δ’ ¹⁴⁷⁴

mvp-comment-564-1 μέλει γ’ ¹⁴⁷⁵

mvp-comment-564-2 ἐπεὶ οὔποτ’ ¹⁴⁷⁶ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου ¹⁴⁷⁷

mvp-comment-564-3 1039 For the place of τι ¹⁴⁷⁸

mvp-comment-564-4 κέντρον … ἐμοῦ ¹⁴⁷⁹

mvp-comment-565-1 θεοί τ’ ἐπόψιοι ¹⁴⁸⁰

mvp-comment-565-2 Thus the invocation of πατρῴα γῆ ¹⁴⁸¹ ἐπόψιοι ¹⁴⁸²

mvp-comment-566-1 τείσασθε ¹⁴⁸³

mvp-comment-566-2 ἀλλὰ τῷ χρόνῳ ¹⁴⁸⁴

mvp-comment-567-1 κἄμ’ ¹⁴⁸⁵

mvp-comment-568-1 τῆς vόσου ¹⁴⁸⁶

mvp-comment-569-1 βαρύς ¹⁴⁸⁷

mvp-comment-569-2 κοὐχ ὑπείκ. ¹⁴⁸⁸

mvp-comment-570-1 παρείκοι ¹⁴⁸⁹

mvp-comment-570-2 ἑνὸς κρατῶ λόγου ¹⁴⁹⁰

mvp-comment-571-1 γὰρ ¹⁴⁹¹

mvp-comment-571-2 τοιούτων ¹⁴⁹² τοιούτων ¹⁴⁹³ πανούργων ¹⁴⁹⁴

mvp-comment-571-3 κρίσις ¹⁴⁹⁵

mvp-comment-571-4 μου ¹⁴⁹⁶

mvp-comment-572-1 νικᾶν ¹⁴⁹⁷

mvp-comment-572-2 γε μέντοι ¹⁴⁹⁸

mvp-comment-572-3 εἰς σέ ¹⁴⁹⁹

mvp-comment-572-4 ἐκστήσομαι ¹⁵⁰⁰

mvp-comment-573-1 ἄφετε γὰρ αὐτόν ¹⁵⁰¹ γὰρ ¹⁵⁰²

mvp-comment-573-2 οὐδὲ σοῦ ¹⁵⁰³ οὐδέ σου ¹⁵⁰⁴ προσχρῄζομεν ¹⁵⁰⁵ σοῦ ¹⁵⁰⁶ τά γ’ ὅπλ’ ¹⁵⁰⁷

mvp-comment-574-1 Τεῦκρος ¹⁵⁰⁸ τήνδ’ ἐπιστήμην ¹⁵⁰⁹

mvp-comment-574-2 παρ’ ἡμῖν ¹⁵¹⁰ πάρεστι ¹⁵¹¹

mvp-comment-575-1 ἐγώ θ’ ¹⁵¹²

mvp-comment-575-2 μηδ’ ἐπιθύνειν ¹⁵¹³

mvp-comment-575-3 After a verb of thinking or saying,

οὐ

is the ordinary negative with the inf.: but

μή

sometimes occurs ( O. T. 1455 n., 2nd ed.). Here the question is, why the second inf. should have μηδ’ ¹⁵¹⁴ οὐδὲν ¹⁵¹⁵ οὐδὲν ¹⁵¹⁶ κάκιον ¹⁵¹⁷ κρατύνειν ¹⁵¹⁸

mvp-comment-575-4 (2) The less probable view is that οὐδὲν ¹⁵¹⁹ κρατύνειν ¹⁵²⁰ μηδ’ ¹⁵²¹ ἐπιθύνειν ¹⁵²² οἶμαι ¹⁵²³ οὐ ¹⁵²⁴ μηδέ ¹⁵²⁵ οὐ … μηδέ ¹⁵²⁶ οὐ … οὐδέ ¹⁵²⁷

mvp-comment-575-5 Nauck's conjecture, ἠδ’ ἐπευθύνειν ¹⁵²⁸

mvp-comment-576-1 τὴν Αῆμνον ¹⁵²⁹

mvp-comment-577-1 γέρας ¹⁵³⁰

mvp-comment-577-2 ἣν σὲ χρῆν ¹⁵³¹ ἣν σ’ ἐχρῆν ¹⁵³²

mvp-comment-577-3 1064 Since ἐν ¹⁵³³ Ἀργείοις ¹⁵³⁴ ὅπλοισι κοσμηθεὶς ¹⁵³⁵

mvp-comment-578-1 μή μ’ ἀντιφώνει ¹⁵³⁶

mvp-comment-578-2 δή ¹⁵³⁷

mvp-comment-579-1 προσφθεγκτός ¹⁵³⁸

mvp-comment-579-2 οὕτως ¹⁵³⁹

mvp-comment-580-1 γενναῖός περ ὤν ¹⁵⁴⁰ τὴν τύχην διαφθερεῖς ¹⁵⁴¹

mvp-comment-580-2 ὅπως μὴ ¹⁵⁴²

mvp-comment-581-1 ναυκράτωρ ¹⁵⁴³

mvp-comment-582-1 ἀκούσομαι ¹⁵⁴⁴

mvp-comment-583-1 εἰς ὅσον ¹⁵⁴⁵

mvp-comment-583-2 τά … ἐκ νεὼς στείλωσι ¹⁵⁴⁶ στείλωσι ¹⁵⁴⁷

mvp-comment-583-3 θεοῖς εὐξώμεθα ¹⁵⁴⁸

mvp-comment-584-1 ὁρμώμεθον ¹⁵⁴⁹

mvp-comment-585-1 ὁρμᾶσθαι ¹⁵⁵⁰ ταχεῖς ¹⁵⁵¹

mvp-comment-586-1 γύαλον ¹⁵⁵² κοίλας πέτρας ¹⁵⁵³

mvp-comment-586-2 θερμὸν καὶ παγετῶδες ¹⁵⁵⁴

mvp-comment-587-1 θνῄσκοντι συνείσει ¹⁵⁵⁵ συνοίσει ¹⁵⁵⁶ συνοίσει ¹⁵⁵⁷ συνοίσει ¹⁵⁵⁸ συνοίσεις ¹⁵⁵⁹ συνοίσει ¹⁵⁶⁰ συνείσει ¹⁵⁶¹

mvp-comment-588-1 αὔλιον ¹⁵⁶²

mvp-comment-588-2 λύπας τᾶς ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁵⁶³ πληρέστατον ¹⁵⁶⁴

mvp-comment-589-1 τίπτ’ αὖ ¹⁵⁶⁵

mvp-comment-589-2 τὸ κατ’ ἆμαρ ¹⁵⁶⁶

mvp-comment-590-1 σιτονόμου … ἐλπίδος ¹⁵⁶⁷

mvp-comment-590-2 τοῦ … πόθεν ¹⁵⁶⁸

mvp-comment-590-3 1092 ff. A discussion of this passage, and a notice of conjectures, will be found in the Appendix. Here I briefly give the results.

mvp-comment-590-4 πέλειαι δ’ ἄνω ¹⁵⁶⁹ εἴθ’ ¹⁵⁷⁰ μ’ ἕλοιεν ¹⁵⁷¹ ἕλωσί μ’ ¹⁵⁷² ἐλῶσιν ¹⁵⁷³ ἕλωσί μ’ ¹⁵⁷⁴ ἴσχω ¹⁵⁷⁵ ἰσχύω ¹⁵⁷⁶ αἰθέρος ¹⁵⁷⁷ εἴθ’ ¹⁵⁷⁸ πτωκάδες ¹⁵⁷⁹ αἰθίρος ¹⁵⁸⁰

mvp-comment-590-5 But if so, the corruption has been a deep one; i.e., εἴθ’ αἰθέρος ¹⁵⁸¹

mvp-comment-590-6 ὀξυτόνου … πνεύματος ¹⁵⁸²

mvp-comment-590-7 οὐκέτ’ ἴσχω ¹⁵⁸³ οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἰσχύω ¹⁵⁸⁴ ἐλῶς)· ἔτ’ οὐ γὰρ ἴσχω ¹⁵⁸⁵ γὰρ ¹⁵⁸⁶

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

266. mvp-comment-187-1 τῆς] Musgrave conjectured τῇδ', which is equally near the MSS. But cp supr. note on 262. Moreover such a direct reference to his present state makes an unpleasing interruption in the description of his original misfortune.

267. mvp-comment-188-1 φοινίῳ] The reading of Eustathius is adopted against the MSS., not because the tautology of ἀγρίᾳ . . ἀγρίῳ is impossible, but because φοινίῳ is the more appropriate epithet, and ἀγρίῳ with ἀγρίᾳ preceding is a natural corruption. Cp. Trach. 770, 1, εἶτα φοινίας | . . ἐχίδνης ἰὸς ὡς ἐδαίνυτο,

268. mvp-comment-189-1 ξὺν ᾗ] Sc. νόσῳ. The relative points to the prior antecedent, the words τῆς . . χαράγματι being epexegetic.

268-269. mvp-comment-190-1 προθέντες.. ᾤχοντ] 'Cast forth and departed.' Cp. Hdt. 1. 112, τοῦτο μὲν φέρων πρόθες. The word implies the helplessness of his condition. 'Thus afflicted was I when they cast me forth here companionless and left me.'

269. mvp-comment-191-1 ἐκ τῆς ποντίας Χρύσης] The island of Chrysa, distinguished by the epithet ποντία from the sea-coast town of that name mentioned in the first Iliad as sacred to Apollo. Cp. Fr. 352, ὦ Λήμνε Χρύσης τ' ἀγχιτέρμονες πάγοι.

270. mvp-comment-192-1 κατέσχον] (1) They had put in.' The whole Achaean fleet is imagined as having been at Chrysa and again at Lemnos. Thus only can this passage be reconciled with the narrative of Odysseus, supr. 4-11. Otherwise (2) it might seem natural to suppose that Philoctetes was the leader of the expedition to Chrysa, and that κατέσχον, like ἐναυστόλουν, infr. 279, was in the first person singular.

271. mvp-comment-193-1 ἄσμενοι .. εἶδον] ‘They saw with delight.' The sleep of Philoctetes favoured their purpose and also relieved them from his crying. ἄσμενον, which Dindorf reads, is not in point. They did not leave him when they saw how glad he was to rest, but when, to their great relief, they saw him asleep. ἐκ πολλοῦ σάλου] (1) 'After much tossing.' He slept the more soundly because of the previous discomfort on-board-ship. (2) Hermann understands these words metaphorically, After my long trouble.'

273. mvp-comment-194-1 οἷα φωτὶ δυσμόρῳ] 'Such as accorded with my wretched state.' Cp. Thuc. 8. 84. οἷα δὴ ναῦται.

274. mvp-comment-195-1 προθέντες] Ср. Ant. 775, φορβῆς τοσοῦτον, ὡς ἄγος, μόνον προθείς.

275. mvp-comment-196-1 οἳ αὐτοῖς τύχοι] 'May the like provision be their own some day!' The Scholiast rightly says καταρᾶται. Cp. infr. 315.

276-277. mvp-comment-197-1 'And when they were gone, you may imagine, my son, to what agony I awoke.'

278. mvp-comment-198-1 ποῖ᾽ ἀποιμώξαι κακά] 'What lamentation do you think I made over my woe?' 'ποῖα hic bis dictum πῶς' (Hermann). Cp. Ο. Τ. 421, ποῖος Κιθαιρών : 1467, κάποκλαύσασθαι κακά.

279. mvp-comment-199-1 Philoctetes naturally looked to see if his own vessels were there.

281-282. mvp-comment-200-1 νόσου κάμνοντι συλλάβοιτο] Cp. Ar. Vesp. 733, σοὶ δὲ νῦν τις θεῶν παρὼν ἐμφανὴς | συλλαμβάνει τοῦ πράγματος. The expression νόσου συλλαμβάνεσθαί τινι is nearly analogous to πόνου συλλ. τινι.

284. mvp-comment-201-1 But of this I found sufficient store, my son:' (more literally, 'Abundant opportunity'). This is said with a bitter smile.

284. mvp-comment-201-2 But of this I found sufficient store, my son:' (more literally, 'Abundant opportunity'). This is said with a bitter smile.

285. mvp-comment-202-1 Well, after a while I found the time advancing.' Cp. Hdt. 3. 140, τοῦ χρόνου προβαίνοντος. διὰ χρόνου implies that a certain interval elapsed before Philoctetes completely realised his situation.

285. mvp-comment-202-2 Well, after a while I found the time advancing.' Cp. Hdt. 3. 140, τοῦ χρόνου προβαίνοντος. διὰ χρόνου implies that a certain interval elapsed before Philoctetes completely realised his situation.

286. mvp-comment-203-1 τι] 'More or less.' For this modest expression, or litotes, cp. Ant. 35, ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ. βαιῇ] So the best MSS. But B. and others have βαίᾳ, the more regular form.

286. mvp-comment-203-2 τι] 'More or less.' For this modest expression, or litotes, cp. Ant. 35, ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ. βαιῇ] So the best MSS. But B. and others have βαίᾳ, the more regular form.

287. mvp-comment-204-1 διακονεῖσθαι] Το minister to myself.' For this direct middle, see Essay on L. § 31. p. 52.

287. mvp-comment-204-2 διακονεῖσθαι] Το minister to myself.' For this direct middle, see Essay on L. § 31. p. 52.

288. mvp-comment-205-1 ἐξεύρισκε 'Procured.' Cp. Trach. 25, μή μοι τὸ κάλλος ἄλγος ἐξεύροι ποτέ.

288. mvp-comment-205-2 ἐξεύρισκε 'Procured.' Cp. Trach. 25, μή μοι τὸ κάλλος ἄλγος ἐξεύροι ποτέ.

289. mvp-comment-206-1 For τοῦτο used of a general antecedent, cp. Ant. 709, οὗτοι, κ.τ.λ.

289. mvp-comment-206-2 For τοῦτο used of a general antecedent, cp. Ant. 709, οὗτοι, κ.τ.λ.

290. mvp-comment-207-1 νευροσπαδὴς ἄτρακτος] · The shaft drawn back with the string,' i. e. The arrow from my bow.

290. mvp-comment-207-2 νευροσπαδὴς ἄτρακτος] · The shaft drawn back with the string,' i. e. The arrow from my bow.

291. mvp-comment-208-1 δύστηνος] Schaefer and Hermann defend δύστηνος on the ground that τάλας is a mere exclamation and δύστηνος a predicate. I myself (unhappy one!) would writhe distressfully dragging my foot up to this.' And the broken language suits the situation well. But Canter's conjecture, δύστηνον, is not improbable. Cp. infr. 1377, τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί. εἰλύομαι describes a wriggling, uneven motion, like that of a worm.

291. mvp-comment-208-2 δύστηνος] Schaefer and Hermann defend δύστηνος on the ground that τάλας is a mere exclamation and δύστηνος a predicate. I myself (unhappy one!) would writhe distressfully dragging my foot up to this.' And the broken language suits the situation well. But Canter's conjecture, δύστηνον, is not improbable. Cp. infr. 1377, τῷδε δυστήνῳ ποδί. εἰλύομαι describes a wriggling, uneven motion, like that of a worm.

292. mvp-comment-209-1 πρὸς τοῦτ᾽ ἄν] This resumption is in keeping with the somewhat disjointed tenour of the whole speech, and the 'dragging phrase' has also a descriptive effect. ἄν here and in ll. 290, 294, 295, indicates that which happened repeatedly, and therefore might be expected to happen on any particular occasion. Cp. Hdt. 3. 19; 4. 128, 130. εἴ τ᾽ ἔδει] ‘Or if there was need to get some fresh water.' Bergk (with L²) altered εἴ τ' τo εἶτ' (cp. 295), but this introduces an awkward asyndeton at ταῦτ᾽ ἄν in 294.

292. mvp-comment-209-2 πρὸς τοῦτ᾽ ἄν] This resumption is in keeping with the somewhat disjointed tenour of the whole speech, and the 'dragging phrase' has also a descriptive effect. ἄν here and in ll. 290, 294, 295, indicates that which happened repeatedly, and therefore might be expected to happen on any particular occasion. Cp. Hdt. 3. 19; 4. 128, 130. εἴ τ᾽ ἔδει] ‘Or if there was need to get some fresh water.' Bergk (with L²) altered εἴ τ' τo εἶτ' (cp. 295), but this introduces an awkward asyndeton at ταῦτ᾽ ἄν in 294.

293. mvp-comment-210-1 καί που] ‘And perchance.' πάγου χυθέντος] This circumstance suggests not only the necessity of gathering wood, but the discomfort of doing so.

293. mvp-comment-210-2 καί που] ‘And perchance.' πάγου χυθέντος] This circumstance suggests not only the necessity of gathering wood, but the discomfort of doing so.

294. mvp-comment-211-1 θραῦσαι] ‘Το break.' Philoctetes had no axe or other implement and must break the firewood with his hands. He could not do much of this at one time, and hence might well be overtaken by the want of firewood in a time of frost. Nor could he afford much fire. Infr. 297, and note.

294. mvp-comment-211-2 θραῦσαι] ‘Το break.' Philoctetes had no axe or other implement and must break the firewood with his hands. He could not do much of this at one time, and hence might well be overtaken by the want of firewood in a time of frost. Nor could he afford much fire. Infr. 297, and note.

295. mvp-comment-212-1 εἶτα .. παρῆν] 'And then (when I had got the wood) there would be no fire (to kindle it with).' ἄν is still descriptive, not inferential (as if ἀλλά were εἰ μή).

295. mvp-comment-212-2 εἶτα .. παρῆν] 'And then (when I had got the wood) there would be no fire (to kindle it with).' ἄν is still descriptive, not inferential (as if ἀλλά were εἰ μή).

296. mvp-comment-213-1 ἐκτρίβων] Seyffert defends ἐκθλίβων (see v. rr). But although this is the less obvious word, it is also less descriptive of a lengthened process. And the use of θλίβω is more frequent in later Greek. The compound with ἐκ denotes more effort than the simple verb. μόλις is to be joined with ἔφηνα.

296. mvp-comment-213-2 ἐκτρίβων] Seyffert defends ἐκθλίβων (see v. rr). But although this is the less obvious word, it is also less descriptive of a lengthened process. And the use of θλίβω is more frequent in later Greek. The compound with ἐκ denotes more effort than the simple verb. μόλις is to be joined with ἔφηνα.

297. mvp-comment-214-1 ἔφην'] The aorist here denotes a momentary action in uncertain time, viz. whenever the need arose. ἄφαντον has been taken to mean simply 'hidden,' and Wakefield compared Virg. Georg. 1.155, 'ut silicis venis abstrusum excuderet ignem.' 'I produced the hidden light.' But the verbal opposition ἔφην' ἄφαντον is then without much point. Either (1) (α = δυσ-) 'I made appear the light that would not appear, i. e. That seemed as if it would never kindle;' or, rather, (2) 'I lighted a dim spark.' Ср. infr. 534, ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν. The fire was but a poor business, a makeshift for a fire. The words then indicate either (1) the difficulty of kindling the fire, or (2) the smallness of the fire when kindled.

297. mvp-comment-214-2 ἔφην'] The aorist here denotes a momentary action in uncertain time, viz. whenever the need arose. ἄφαντον has been taken to mean simply 'hidden,' and Wakefield compared Virg. Georg. 1.155, 'ut silicis venis abstrusum excuderet ignem.' 'I produced the hidden light.' But the verbal opposition ἔφην' ἄφαντον is then without much point. Either (1) (α = δυσ-) 'I made appear the light that would not appear, i. e. That seemed as if it would never kindle;' or, rather, (2) 'I lighted a dim spark.' Ср. infr. 534, ἄοικον εἰσοίκησιν. The fire was but a poor business, a makeshift for a fire. The words then indicate either (1) the difficulty of kindling the fire, or (2) the smallness of the fire when kindled.

298. mvp-comment-215-1 Philoctetes here states his own experience. It is unnecessary to suppose, with some editors, that he is making a general observation.

298. mvp-comment-215-2 Philoctetes here states his own experience. It is unnecessary to suppose, with some editors, that he is making a general observation.

300ff. mvp-comment-216-1 Neoptolemus as a Greek (234), a neighbour (242), and above all as the son of Achilles (260), has completely won the confidence of Philoctetes, whose misery and isolation, while embittering his sense of wrong, have left unimpaired the open trustfulness of his nature. After pouring out his troubles, he begins to describe the island, his rugged nurse, for which he has formed such an affection (936 foll. 1452 foll.). But this soon brings him back to the main theme, his homeless and hopeless state.

300ff. mvp-comment-216-2 Neoptolemus as a Greek (234), a neighbour (242), and above all as the son of Achilles (260), has completely won the confidence of Philoctetes, whose misery and isolation, while embittering his sense of wrong, have left unimpaired the open trustfulness of his nature. After pouring out his troubles, he begins to describe the island, his rugged nurse, for which he has formed such an affection (936 foll. 1452 foll.). But this soon brings him back to the main theme, his homeless and hopeless state.

300. mvp-comment-217-1 φέρ᾽.. μάθῃς] The construction is the same that is usual in the first person, because φέρε.. μάθῃς is a courteous equivalent for φέρε διδάξω σε. Cp. Ar. Plut. 1027, τί γὰρ ποιήσῃ ; In what follows Philoctetes speaks of Lemnos as he knows it. Cp. supr. l. 2 and note. In some traditions Philoctetes was said to have been cast forth on a desert islet in the neighbourhood of Lemnos. At best Lemnos (Λήμνος ἠγαθέη) was imagined as a wild, uncultivated region in the early times.

300. mvp-comment-217-2 φέρ᾽.. μάθῃς] The construction is the same that is usual in the first person, because φέρε.. μάθῃς is a courteous equivalent for φέρε διδάξω σε. Cp. Ar. Plut. 1027, τί γὰρ ποιήσῃ ; In what follows Philoctetes speaks of Lemnos as he knows it. Cp. supr. l. 2 and note. In some traditions Philoctetes was said to have been cast forth on a desert islet in the neighbourhood of Lemnos. At best Lemnos (Λήμνος ἠγαθέη) was imagined as a wild, uncultivated region in the early times.

302. mvp-comment-218-1 ὅρμος] Cp. Aesch. Phil. fr. 246, ἔνθ᾽ οὔτε μίμνειν ἄνεμος οὔτε πλεῖν ἐᾷ, where, however, the language may be metaphorical.

302. mvp-comment-218-2 ὅρμος] Cp. Aesch. Phil. fr. 246, ἔνθ᾽ οὔτε μίμνειν ἄνεμος οὔτε πλεῖν ἐᾷ, where, however, the language may be metaphorical.

303. mvp-comment-219-1 ἐξεμπολήσει] Sc. ἐκεῖθεν. ἢ ξενώσεται] «Or be well received.' Fut. mid. with passive meaning.

303. mvp-comment-219-2 ἐξεμπολήσει] Sc. ἐκεῖθεν. ἢ ξενώσεται] «Or be well received.' Fut. mid. with passive meaning.

305. mvp-comment-220-1 †τάχ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε] 'Well, it may be, one did put in here against his will.' τάχα used as in τάχ᾽ ἄν. Cp. Plat. Legg. B. 4. 711 Α, ὑμεῖς δὲ τάχα οὐδὲ τεθέασθε τυραννουμένην πόλιν. οὖν introduces a modification or admission. 'No one puts in here willingly; unwillingly. however, some one may have brought his ship this way.' ἔσχε] For the aor., cp. supr. 297, ἔφην. ἔσχε = κατέσχε, the simple verb for the compound. But query *κατ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε (i. e. κατέσχε τις οὖν ἄκων)? (For a case of tmesis in the senarii, cp. infr. 817). πολλὰ γὰρ . . χρόνῳ] 'Such incidents might happen many times in the long course of human history.' πολλά is predicative and τάδε = τοιάδε. For this, cp. Aj. 1246, ἐκ τῶνδε μέντοι τῶν τρόπων οὐκ ἄν ποτε | κατάστασις γένοιτ᾽ ἂν οὐδενὸς νόμου. It may be doubted whether ἀνθρώπων is to be taken with τάδε = 'Such human accidents,' or with χρόνῳ = ' The time during which men have existed.' For the latter, cp. Hdt. 6. 109, μνημόσυνα λιπέσθαι ἐς τὸν ἅπαντα ἀνθρώπων βίον. And for the idea, cp. Hdt. 5. 9, γένοιτο δ᾽ ἂν πᾶν ἐν τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ: Agathon, Fr. 9. τάχ᾿ ἄν τις εἰκὸς αὐτὸ τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι λέγοι | βροτοῖσι πολλὰ τυγχάνειν οὐκ εἰκότα.

305. mvp-comment-220-2 †τάχ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε] 'Well, it may be, one did put in here against his will.' τάχα used as in τάχ᾽ ἄν. Cp. Plat. Legg. B. 4. 711 Α, ὑμεῖς δὲ τάχα οὐδὲ τεθέασθε τυραννουμένην πόλιν. οὖν introduces a modification or admission. 'No one puts in here willingly; unwillingly. however, some one may have brought his ship this way.' ἔσχε] For the aor., cp. supr. 297, ἔφην. ἔσχε = κατέσχε, the simple verb for the compound. But query *κατ᾽ οὖν τις ἄκων ἔσχε (i. e. κατέσχε τις οὖν ἄκων)? (For a case of tmesis in the senarii, cp. infr. 817). πολλὰ γὰρ . . χρόνῳ] 'Such incidents might happen many times in the long course of human history.' πολλά is predicative and τάδε = τοιάδε. For this, cp. Aj. 1246, ἐκ τῶνδε μέντοι τῶν τρόπων οὐκ ἄν ποτε | κατάστασις γένοιτ᾽ ἂν οὐδενὸς νόμου. It may be doubted whether ἀνθρώπων is to be taken with τάδε = 'Such human accidents,' or with χρόνῳ = ' The time during which men have existed.' For the latter, cp. Hdt. 6. 109, μνημόσυνα λιπέσθαι ἐς τὸν ἅπαντα ἀνθρώπων βίον. And for the idea, cp. Hdt. 5. 9, γένοιτο δ᾽ ἂν πᾶν ἐν τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ: Agathon, Fr. 9. τάχ᾿ ἄν τις εἰκὸς αὐτὸ τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι λέγοι | βροτοῖσι πολλὰ τυγχάνειν οὐκ εἰκότα.

306. mvp-comment-221-1 ἄν om add

306. mvp-comment-221-2 ἄν om add

308. mvp-comment-222-1 μέν] Νo doubt,' belonging in sense rather to λόγοις than to ἐλεοῦσι. καί που .. προσέδοσαν] ‘And perchance have gone so far (προσ-) as to impart to me some portion of food.' The gnomic aorist is used of that which happens now and again. 'They always express pity, they sometimes give.'

308. mvp-comment-222-2 μέν] Νo doubt,' belonging in sense rather to λόγοις than to ἐλεοῦσι. καί που .. προσέδοσαν] ‘And perchance have gone so far (προσ-) as to impart to me some portion of food.' The gnomic aorist is used of that which happens now and again. 'They always express pity, they sometimes give.'

309. mvp-comment-223-1 οἰκτείραντες, Touched with compassion, 'is also in the 'momentary' tense.

309. mvp-comment-223-2 οἰκτείραντες, Touched with compassion, 'is also in the 'momentary' tense.

310. mvp-comment-224-1 ἐκεῖνο] «That which is always in my thoughts.' Cp. Ar. Nub. 657, ἐκεῖν, ἐκεῖνο, τὸν ἀδικώτερον λόγον. The pronoun here stands in the place of an infinitive.

310. mvp-comment-224-2 ἐκεῖνο] «That which is always in my thoughts.' Cp. Ar. Nub. 657, ἐκεῖν, ἐκεῖνο, τὸν ἀδικώτερον λόγον. The pronoun here stands in the place of an infinitive.

311. mvp-comment-225-1 σῶσαι] Cp. infr. 488, 496.

311. mvp-comment-225-2 σῶσαι] Cp. infr. 488, 496.

312. mvp-comment-226-1 ἔτος .. δέκατον] These words are to be joined with ἀπόλλυμαι and resumed with βόσκων.

312. mvp-comment-226-2 ἔτος .. δέκατον] These words are to be joined with ἀπόλλυμαι and resumed with βόσκων.

313. mvp-comment-227-1 βόσκων] 'Supporting.' Philoctetes only lived to suffer. Cp. infr. 795, 1167. ἀδηφάγον] Cp. infr. 756-8.

313. mvp-comment-227-2 βόσκων] 'Supporting.' Philoctetes only lived to suffer. Cp. infr. 795, 1167. ἀδηφάγον] Cp. infr. 756-8.

314. mvp-comment-228-1 ἤ τ᾿ Οδυσσέως βία] ‘And great Odysseus.' Cp. infr. 321, 344. The Epic phrase is used with a touch of sarcastic irony, but probably (unlike Virgil's 'violentia Turni') without direct reference to the violence of the act.

314. mvp-comment-228-2 ἤ τ᾿ Οδυσσέως βία] ‘And great Odysseus.' Cp. infr. 321, 344. The Epic phrase is used with a touch of sarcastic irony, but probably (unlike Virgil's 'violentia Turni') without direct reference to the violence of the act.

315. mvp-comment-229-1 Whom may the Olympian gods some day cause to suffer in their own persons (αὐτοῖς) full requital for my wrong!' So Brunck, Linwood, Paley, rightly. For the emphatic αὐτοῖς here opposed to ἐμοῦ, cp. supr. 275. In order to avoid this Porson conjectured οἱ Ὀλύμπιοι θεοί.

315. mvp-comment-229-2 Whom may the Olympian gods some day cause to suffer in their own persons (αὐτοῖς) full requital for my wrong!' So Brunck, Linwood, Paley, rightly. For the emphatic αὐτοῖς here opposed to ἐμοῦ, cp. supr. 275. In order to avoid this Porson conjectured οἱ Ὀλύμπιοι θεοί.

317. mvp-comment-230-1 ἔοικα] It would seem that I.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1007, λέγων ἔοικα πολλὰ καὶ μάτην ἐρεῖν.

317. mvp-comment-230-2 ἔοικα] It would seem that I.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1007, λέγων ἔοικα πολλὰ καὶ μάτην ἐρεῖν.

317-318. mvp-comment-231-1 The Chorus express pity for Philoctetes, but tacitly remind themselves that their pity will not be shown in action.

317-318. mvp-comment-231-2 The Chorus express pity for Philoctetes, but tacitly remind themselves that their pity will not be shown in action.

319. mvp-comment-232-1 Neoptolemus. But I do more than pity him, for I am a witness on his side.' καί with the whole sentence. For ἐν, ὢν has been conjectured. But ἐν may well express that Neoptolemus enters into the cause of Philoctetes, and is not merely an auditor of his case. Myself a witness in this plea, I know it to be well-founded.'

319. mvp-comment-232-2 Neoptolemus. But I do more than pity him, for I am a witness on his side.' καί with the whole sentence. For ἐν, ὢν has been conjectured. But ἐν may well express that Neoptolemus enters into the cause of Philoctetes, and is not merely an auditor of his case. Myself a witness in this plea, I know it to be well-founded.'

320. mvp-comment-233-1 συντυχών] συντυχεῖν is generally construed with a dative, and the preposition has therefore here a separate meaning. Having in like manner found. So the Scholiast and Nauck.

320. mvp-comment-233-2 συντυχών] συντυχεῖν is generally construed with a dative, and the preposition has therefore here a separate meaning. Having in like manner found. So the Scholiast and Nauck.

324. mvp-comment-234-1 May it be mine one day to satiate my wrathful soul with violent action!' There can be little doubt that the correction is right. For a similar confusion in all the MSS., cp. O. Т. 376.

324. mvp-comment-234-2 May it be mine one day to satiate my wrathful soul with violent action!' There can be little doubt that the correction is right. For a similar confusion in all the MSS., cp. O. Т. 376.

327. mvp-comment-235-1 εὖ γ᾽, ὦ τέκνον] 'Well said, my son!' Philoctetes' delight in Neoptolemus is further heightened by this supposed discovery of a common resentment. τίνος . . ἐλήλυθας] ‘For what cause do you thus bring against them the accusation of your violent anger?' τίνος, genitive of the reason (Essay on L. § 10. p. 15). Cp. Ο. Τ. 698, ὅτου μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις. γάρ asks for explanation. ἐλήλυθας is redundant (Essay on L. § 40. p. 75). τὸν μέγαν χόλον] The mighty anger which you now evince.' For the slight inexactness in ἐγκαλεῖν χόλον, cp. О. Т. 702, λέγ', εἰ σαφῶς τὸ νεῖκος ἐγκαλῶν ἐρεῖς.

327. mvp-comment-235-2 εὖ γ᾽, ὦ τέκνον] 'Well said, my son!' Philoctetes' delight in Neoptolemus is further heightened by this supposed discovery of a common resentment. τίνος . . ἐλήλυθας] ‘For what cause do you thus bring against them the accusation of your violent anger?' τίνος, genitive of the reason (Essay on L. § 10. p. 15). Cp. Ο. Τ. 698, ὅτου μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις. γάρ asks for explanation. ἐλήλυθας is redundant (Essay on L. § 40. p. 75). τὸν μέγαν χόλον] The mighty anger which you now evince.' For the slight inexactness in ἐγκαλεῖν χόλον, cp. О. Т. 702, λέγ', εἰ σαφῶς τὸ νεῖκος ἐγκαλῶν ἐρεῖς.

329. mvp-comment-236-1 μόλις δ᾽ ἐρῶ] 'Though I shall find it hard to speak of it, i.e. To command myself sufficiently to do so. Schol. ὑπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς. Cp. Ο. C. 326, λύπῃ . . μόλις βλέπω.

329. mvp-comment-236-2 μόλις δ᾽ ἐρῶ] 'Though I shall find it hard to speak of it, i.e. To command myself sufficiently to do so. Schol. ὑπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς. Cp. Ο. C. 326, λύπῃ . . μόλις βλέπω.

331. mvp-comment-237-1 ἐπεὶ γάρ] These words introduce the occasion of his coming, in explanation of μολών. ἔσχε.. θανεῖν] 'The fate of death overtook Achilles.' θανεῖν, epexegetic inf. For ἔσχε, cp. Eur. Hec. 5, ἐπεὶ Φρυγῶν πόλιν | κίνδυνος ἔσχε δορὶ πεσεῖν Ἑλληνικῷ.

331. mvp-comment-237-2 ἐπεὶ γάρ] These words introduce the occasion of his coming, in explanation of μολών. ἔσχε.. θανεῖν] 'The fate of death overtook Achilles.' θανεῖν, epexegetic inf. For ἔσχε, cp. Eur. Hec. 5, ἐπεὶ Φρυγῶν πόλιν | κίνδυνος ἔσχε δορὶ πεσεῖν Ἑλληνικῷ.

332-339. mvp-comment-238-1 This brief digression and the longer one below (410-460), have the effect (a) of showing the generous nature of Philoctetes, who, beneath his apparently obdurate resentment, really retains an unabated interest in the affairs of the army, and (b) of giving opportunity for the growth of friendly feeling between him and Neoptolemus. The news of Achilles' death so affects him as to make him for a moment forget his own suffering (339-40).

332-339. mvp-comment-238-2 This brief digression and the longer one below (410-460), have the effect (a) of showing the generous nature of Philoctetes, who, beneath his apparently obdurate resentment, really retains an unabated interest in the affairs of the army, and (b) of giving opportunity for the growth of friendly feeling between him and Neoptolemus. The news of Achilles' death so affects him as to make him for a moment forget his own suffering (339-40).

334. mvp-comment-239-1 ἀνδρός is genitive of cause, for which ὕπο afterwards supplies a more distinct construction.

334. mvp-comment-239-2 ἀνδρός is genitive of cause, for which ὕπο afterwards supplies a more distinct construction.

335. mvp-comment-240-1 τοξευτὸς .. δαμείς] Subdued, so they tell the tale, with an arrow from the bow of Phoebus.' τοξευτός is a subsidiary predicate to δαμείς, for which word in this connection, cp. Il. 19. 417, θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι. ἐκ rather than ὑπό, because the arrow came from the hand of Apollo. Cp. Il. 21. 277, 8, ἥ μ᾿ ἔφατο Τρώων ὑπὸ τείχεϊ θωρηκτάων | λαιψηροῖς ὀλέεσθαι᾿ Απόλλωνος βελέεσσιν. Or, if the arrow were that of Paris, ἐκ denotes the remote agent, and Neoptolemus must be supposed to avoid mentioning the slight man' who had been the immediate author of Achilles' death.

335. mvp-comment-240-2 τοξευτὸς .. δαμείς] Subdued, so they tell the tale, with an arrow from the bow of Phoebus.' τοξευτός is a subsidiary predicate to δαμείς, for which word in this connection, cp. Il. 19. 417, θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι. ἐκ rather than ὑπό, because the arrow came from the hand of Apollo. Cp. Il. 21. 277, 8, ἥ μ᾿ ἔφατο Τρώων ὑπὸ τείχεϊ θωρηκτάων | λαιψηροῖς ὀλέεσθαι᾿ Απόλλωνος βελέεσσιν. Or, if the arrow were that of Paris, ἐκ denotes the remote agent, and Neoptolemus must be supposed to avoid mentioning the slight man' who had been the immediate author of Achilles' death.

336. mvp-comment-241-1 Cp. Il. 21. 280, τῷ κ᾿ ἀγαθὸς μὲν ἔπεφν᾽, ἀγαθὸν δέ κεν ἐξενάριξεν.

336. mvp-comment-241-2 Cp. Il. 21. 280, τῷ κ᾿ ἀγαθὸς μὲν ἔπεφν᾽, ἀγαθὸν δέ κεν ἐξενάριξεν.

337-338. mvp-comment-242-1 The delicate courtesy of these lines is no less obvious than their self-forgetfulness.

337-338. mvp-comment-242-2 The delicate courtesy of these lines is no less obvious than their self-forgetfulness.

342. mvp-comment-243-1 ὅτῳ σ᾽ ἐνύβρισαν] ὅτῳ (governed by ἐν in ἐνύβρισαν) is best taken separate from τὸ σὸν πρᾶγμα. ‘Tell me your own affair; what was the point in which they insulted you?'

342. mvp-comment-243-2 ὅτῳ σ᾽ ἐνύβρισαν] ὅτῳ (governed by ἐν in ἐνύβρισαν) is best taken separate from τὸ σὸν πρᾶγμα. ‘Tell me your own affair; what was the point in which they insulted you?'

343. mvp-comment-244-1 ἦλθον.. μέτα = μετῆλθον. ποικιλοστόλῳ] = σὺν ποικιλίαις ἐσταλμένῃ, 'Decked out with ornament,' as being sent on an honorific mission. Others, With variegated prow' (στόλος); but in this less poetical sense it would be better to read ποικιλοστόμῳ. See v. rr.

343. mvp-comment-244-2 ἦλθον.. μέτα = μετῆλθον. ποικιλοστόλῳ] = σὺν ποικιλίαις ἐσταλμένῃ, 'Decked out with ornament,' as being sent on an honorific mission. Others, With variegated prow' (στόλος); but in this less poetical sense it would be better to read ποικιλοστόμῳ. See v. rr.

344. mvp-comment-245-1 δῖος] The constant Homeric title, which Neoptolemus uses out of habit. χώ τροφεύς] Phoenix.

344. mvp-comment-245-2 δῖος] The constant Homeric title, which Neoptolemus uses out of habit. χώ τροφεύς] Phoenix.

345. mvp-comment-246-1 μάτην] 'Groundlessly.'

345. mvp-comment-246-2 μάτην] 'Groundlessly.'

346. mvp-comment-247-1 ὡς . . γίγνοιτ'] 'That it came to be a thing irreconcileable with destiny.' Cp. Ant. 260, κἂν ἐγίγνετο, and note.

346. mvp-comment-247-2 ὡς . . γίγνοιτ'] 'That it came to be a thing irreconcileable with destiny.' Cp. Ant. 260, κἂν ἐγίγνετο, and note.

348-349. mvp-comment-248-1 οὐ πολὺν .. ταχύ] · They did not long restrain me, but that I set forth with speed.' On the indirectness of this way of saying, 'Their words were like a goad inciting me,' see Essay on L. § 42, a. p. 79. For μή we should rather expect μὴ οὐ. But though the addition of οὐ is permissible in such cases, there is no absolute rule. And ὦ ξένε, by suggesting 'You may imagine,' gives an hypothetical turn to the expression.

348-349. mvp-comment-248-2 οὐ πολὺν .. ταχύ] · They did not long restrain me, but that I set forth with speed.' On the indirectness of this way of saying, 'Their words were like a goad inciting me,' see Essay on L. § 42, a. p. 79. For μή we should rather expect μὴ οὐ. But though the addition of οὐ is permissible in such cases, there is no absolute rule. And ὦ ξένε, by suggesting 'You may imagine,' gives an hypothetical turn to the expression.

351. mvp-comment-249-1 οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην] 'For I had not seen my father.' Schol. ζῶντα. It is objected to this that when Achilles went to Troy from Scyros, Neoptolemus must have been old enough to remember him. But this is one of those improbabilities which are external to the action and were it otherwise, there is no proof that Sophocles in the Philoctetes follows the version of the story which made Scyros Achilles' starting-point for Troy. Nor would there be anything unnatural in Neoptolemus saying, 'I had not seen him,' without adding, for so long.' Cp. Aj. 570, εἰσαεί, and note; Eur. Troad. 377, οὐ παῖδας εἶδον, sc. πάλιν. Seyffert reads, οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εἰδόμην, and Prof. Jebb has suggested εἰ γὰρ εἰδόμην. But (a), as Mr. Blaydes remarks, it is natural to infer from 359 that Neoptolemus did see the body of Achilles: and (b) does not such an ejaculation unduly interrupt the flow of the narrative? Neoptolemus is not speaking from real feeling, and there is no occasion for him to 'daub it so far, nor for the poet to invent the circumstance of his failing to see the body. The language resembles that of Od. 4. 200, 1, οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε | ἤντησ᾽ οὐδὲ ἴδον, said by Peisistratus of his eldest brother Antilochus. But Peisistratus (Od. 3. 401) would be a mere infant at the time of the departure for Troy.

351. mvp-comment-249-2 οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην] 'For I had not seen my father.' Schol. ζῶντα. It is objected to this that when Achilles went to Troy from Scyros, Neoptolemus must have been old enough to remember him. But this is one of those improbabilities which are external to the action and were it otherwise, there is no proof that Sophocles in the Philoctetes follows the version of the story which made Scyros Achilles' starting-point for Troy. Nor would there be anything unnatural in Neoptolemus saying, 'I had not seen him,' without adding, for so long.' Cp. Aj. 570, εἰσαεί, and note; Eur. Troad. 377, οὐ παῖδας εἶδον, sc. πάλιν. Seyffert reads, οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εἰδόμην, and Prof. Jebb has suggested εἰ γὰρ εἰδόμην. But (a), as Mr. Blaydes remarks, it is natural to infer from 359 that Neoptolemus did see the body of Achilles: and (b) does not such an ejaculation unduly interrupt the flow of the narrative? Neoptolemus is not speaking from real feeling, and there is no occasion for him to 'daub it so far, nor for the poet to invent the circumstance of his failing to see the body. The language resembles that of Od. 4. 200, 1, οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε | ἤντησ᾽ οὐδὲ ἴδον, said by Peisistratus of his eldest brother Antilochus. But Peisistratus (Od. 3. 401) would be a mere infant at the time of the departure for Troy.

352-353. mvp-comment-250-1 However, besides this, the proposal had a fair colour given to it in their declaration that, if I came (ἰών), Ι should take the citadel that commanded Troy.' For ὁ λόγος, cp. supr. 345-7. προσῆν] Cp. supr. 129, ὡς ἂν ἀγνοία προσῇ.

352-353. mvp-comment-250-2 However, besides this, the proposal had a fair colour given to it in their declaration that, if I came (ἰών), Ι should take the citadel that commanded Troy.' For ὁ λόγος, cp. supr. 345-7. προσῆν] Cp. supr. 129, ὡς ἂν ἀγνοία προσῇ.

353. mvp-comment-251-1 For εἰ.. αἱρήσοιμι, see Essay on L. § 28. p. 46.

353. mvp-comment-251-2 For εἰ.. αἱρήσοιμι, see Essay on L. § 28. p. 46.

355. mvp-comment-252-1 πικρὸν Σίγειον] 'Cruel Sigeum,' i. e. where I was destined to find so much vexation: the mourning for his father, who was buried there, being embittered by the refusal of the arms. Cp. Rhes. 734, ὦ στυγνοτάτην Τροίαν ἐσιδών. To this, however, some editors prefer the conjecture of Burges, 'π' ἄκρον Σίγειον ! οὐρίῳ πλάτῃ] · With favourable voyage.' This is objected to, apparently because oars would not be used under a fair wind. But πλάτη often occurs in Tragedy in the general sense of making way at sea. Cp. Eur. Hel. 192, Ι. Τ. 242. And as the vessel drew near shore the sail would of course be lowered, and the oars brought into play.

355. mvp-comment-252-2 πικρὸν Σίγειον] 'Cruel Sigeum,' i. e. where I was destined to find so much vexation: the mourning for his father, who was buried there, being embittered by the refusal of the arms. Cp. Rhes. 734, ὦ στυγνοτάτην Τροίαν ἐσιδών. To this, however, some editors prefer the conjecture of Burges, 'π' ἄκρον Σίγειον ! οὐρίῳ πλάτῃ] · With favourable voyage.' This is objected to, apparently because oars would not be used under a fair wind. But πλάτη often occurs in Tragedy in the general sense of making way at sea. Cp. Eur. Hel. 192, Ι. Τ. 242. And as the vessel drew near shore the sail would of course be lowered, and the oars brought into play.

356-357. mvp-comment-253-1 κατηγόμην, | καὶ καὶ . . εὐθὺς .. ἐκβάντα] The narrative is condensed.

356-357. mvp-comment-253-2 κατηγόμην, | καὶ καὶ . . εὐθὺς .. ἐκβάντα] The narrative is condensed.

358. mvp-comment-254-1 'Achilles, who no longer lived, alive again.' Cp. the Trag. fr. quoted by Plutarch, Alc. 203 D, οὐ παῖς ᾿Αχιλλέως ἀλλ᾽ ἐκεῖνος αὐτὸς εἶ.

359. mvp-comment-255-1 ἔκειτ'] 'Lay low.' The most natural way of understanding this is to suppose that Neoptolemus saw his father laid out and buried, without being burned. Cp. Aj. sub fin. (from 1402). It might also mean that Achilles was already buried when Neoptolemus arrived. But, as Hermann observes, there is nothing to indicate that the hope expressed in supr. 351 was thus disappointed. The fiction of Neoptolemus is rather that after the funeral the question of the arms was quickly disposed of whilst he was absorbed in his grief.

360. mvp-comment-256-1 οὐ μακρῷ χρόνῳ] • Before long.' These words are connected with what follows, and imply that the mourning did not long detain him from the object of his ambition.

361. mvp-comment-257-1 πρὸς φίλους, ὡς εἰκὸς ἦν] i. e. πρὸς ᾿Ατρ. ὡς πρὸς φίλους, ὥσπερ εἰκὸς ἦν αὐτοὺς εἶναι φίλους. For the omission of ὡς with ὡς following, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 73, 5, a. 'Assuming their friendship, as I had reason to do.'

362. mvp-comment-258-1 ὅσ᾽ ἦν] Sc. τοῦ πατρός.

363. mvp-comment-259-1 οἴμοι expresses not only personal disappointment (infr. 368, καταλγήσας), but also grieved astonishment that men could be so hardened.

364-365. mvp-comment-260-1 τἄλλα .. πατρῷ᾽ ἑλέσθαι] Cp. Αj. 572, μήθ᾽ ὁ λυμεὼν ἐμός. In ordinary Greek the article would be repeated with πατρῷα, which, however, is here resumed in close connection with ἑλέσθαι. 'To take in right of your father the other things:' i. e. To take the other things which are yours in right of your father.

365. mvp-comment-261-1 κείνων] "Those well-known arms,' viz. τῶν Ἡφαιστοτεύκτων.

367-368. mvp-comment-262-1 Then tears burst from me, and I straightway rose in grievous wrath, and broke forth on them indignantly, and said.' καταλγήσας, sc. κατ᾿ αὐτῶν.

369. mvp-comment-263-1 ὦ σχέτλι', ἢ τολμήσατ᾽] The voc. sing. σχέτλιε is addressed to Agamemnon, or whichever was the spokesman of the Atreidae. It is unnecessary to suppose a crasis of σχέτλιοι ἦ. For ἀντ' ἐμοῦ, cp. Αj. 444, οὐκ ἄν τις αὔτ᾽ ἔμαρψεν ἄλλος ἀντ᾿ ἐμοῦ.

370. mvp-comment-264-1 τὰ τεύχη τἀμά] The repeated article here emphasizes both words. 'Those arms, my arms, without consulting me!' πρὶν μαθεῖν ἐμοῦ] 'Before understanding from me,' sc. my will concerning them.

371. mvp-comment-265-1 ὁ δ᾽ εἰπ᾿ Ὀδυσσεύς] The order of words is in the Epic manner (see Essay on L. § 21. p. 33, 5), the noun being placed in apposition to the article as a demonstrative pronoun. 'Then spake that other, Odysseus, for he was at hand.' ὢν κύρει] The omission of the augment, Epicè, in narrative ῥήσεις is proved by the crucial instance τινὸς | θώϋξεν in O. C. 1623, 4. It was therefore unnecessary to resort to conjectural emendation here. (ἦν κυρῶν, Brunck.)

372. mvp-comment-266-1 ναί, παῖ] 'Yea, child!' Odysseus is supposed to treat the youth with insolent condescension.

373. mvp-comment-267-1 This achievement of Odysseus is alluded to in Od. 5. 309, ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦρα | Τρώες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλείωνι θανόντι. It was doubtless fully narrated in the Ilias Minor, from which Ovid probably derived it, Met. 13. 284, (quoted by Gedike): 'His humeris, his, inquam, humeris ego corpus Achillis | Et simul arma tuli, quae nunc quoque ferre laboro.' παρών hints the reproach which comes out afterwards, l. 379.

374. mvp-comment-268-1 ἤρασσον] 'I laid it on ;' ἀράσσω is here used absolutely. Cp. Ar. Nub. 1373, ἐξαράττω. And for the meaning, 'To assail with violent words,' cp. also Aj. 725, (αὐτὸν . . ὀνείδεσιν) ἤρασσον ἔνθεν κἄνθεν.

375. mvp-comment-269-1 οὐδὲν ἐνδεὲς ποιούμενος, εἰ] The clause with εἰ (for which see Essay on L. § 28, 1. p. 46), depends on the notion of the middle voice in ποιούμενος. Not caring to make any omission' (sparing no abuse) 'when I thought how my arms were to be taken from me by Odysseus.' Cp. Od. 21. 170, (νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τ᾽ ἀκούων) εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει | θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς. ποιούμενος is subj. middle, - for my part.'

376. mvp-comment-270-1 κεῖνος] i. e. ὁ κακὸς κἀκ κακῶν Ὀδυσσεύς, infr. 384.

377. mvp-comment-271-1 ἐνθάδ᾽ ἥκων] 'At this pass,' i. e. when he found himself resisted by a boy.

378. mvp-comment-272-1 δηχθεὶς πρὸς ἁξήκουσεν] ‘Stung at what he heard.' πρός with accusative, as in πρὸς ταῦτα. πρὸς ἀξ. should be joined in the first instance with δηχθείς, and resumed with ἠμείψατο.

379. mvp-comment-273-1 ἵν᾿ οὐ σ᾽ ἔδει] Sc. ἀπεῖναι. 'Where you ought to have been present.' The reproach is not that Neoptolemus was at Scyros, but that he was not in the battle field at Troy at the time when his father fell. Schol., οὐ παρῆς, ἔνθα ἔδει σε παρεῖναι. Infr. 429.

380. mvp-comment-274-1 The language is not perfectly exact; ταῦτα is primarily the object of ἔχων, but is to be resumed with λέγεις in a different sense. For such ellipse, see E. on L. § 39. p. 73, and cp. supr. 361, and note.

384. mvp-comment-275-1 κἀκ κακῶν] Alluding to the supposed Sisyphian parentage, which threw suspicion on the nobility of δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς. To this extent Neoptolemus follows the suggestion of Odysseus, supr. 64, 5.

385. mvp-comment-276-1 ὡς = τοσοῦτον ὅσον, cp. Aj. 679, 80, Ant. 775.

386-387. mvp-comment-277-1 'For a city or army depends wholly upon those who govern.' ἔστι with the genitive here means, 'Is determined by,' i. e. Takes its character from.' πᾶσα = σύμπασα, Wholly, rather than 'Every city.'

388. mvp-comment-278-1 διδασκάλων.. κακοί] Have teachers from whose instruction their badness flows.' This remark is not immediately relevant to Odysseus, but rather to the vote of the army by which the arms were awarded to him, and which is supposed to have been instigated by the Atreidae. Schndw. conjectured δ. τρόποισι.

390. mvp-comment-279-1 ἐμοί θ᾽ ὁμοίως... φίλος] The sentence in being expanded is changed from an assertion to a wish; i.e. ἐμοί τέ ἐστι φίλος καὶ ὁμοίως εἴη καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς φίλος. Cp. Ant. 686, οὔτ᾽ ἂν δυναίμην, μήτ' ἐπισταίμην λέγειν.

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.

391. mvp-comment-281-1 The Great Mother, who is here invoked, is said to have been worshipped at Lemnos as well as in Phrygia Steph. Byz. s. ν. Λήμνος, quoted by Gedike). And there is besides a special appropriateness in the invocation of this primal power of nature upon a desert shore, where no temples were to be seen. Bernhardy's remark, that the invocation of Rhea confirms the late date of the Philoctetes, is hardly warranted.

392. mvp-comment-282-1 ἃ . . νέμεις) 'That givest the mighty river Pactolus to be rich in gold.' For νέμω, meaning, 'To dispense or give forth,' cp. O. C. 687, Κηφισοῦ νομάδες ῥεέθρων. εὔχρυσον is a supplementary predicate = ὥστε εὔχρυσον εἶναι οἱ ῥεῖν. μέγας is, 'Deserving awe and reverence.' Cp. Plato, Phaedo, 62 Β, ὁ . . ἐν ἀπορρήτοις λόγος . . μέγας τέ τίς μοι φαίνεται καὶ οὐ ῥάδιος διϊδεῖν. The Pactolus comes from the mountains of Phrygia, and its peculiar virtue is attributed to the bounty of the universal mother, whose home was there.

395. mvp-comment-283-1 ἐπηυδώμαν ἐπηυδώμαν The middle voice expresses, 'I invoked for my behoof.'

396. mvp-comment-284-1 ὕβρις πᾶσα] 'The boundless insolence.' For πᾶς intensive, see E. on L. § 55. p. 101, 6. The bacchic rhythm shows that πᾶσα is not to be taken predicatively with ἐχώρει.

397. mvp-comment-285-1 παρεδίδοσαν] 'They were wrongfully giving away from him.' Cp. supr. 64, παρέδοσαν, and note.

400. mvp-comment-286-1 ἰὼ . . ἔφεδρε] This long parenthesis belongs to the wild nature of the strain, and would be assisted with significant gestures. λεόντων ἔφεδρε, 'Thou that sittest above the lions,' that draw thy car. Cp. the use of ἵπποι as equivalent to ἅρμα in Epic Greek.

401. mvp-comment-287-1 τῷ Λαρτίου . . ὑπέρτατον] 'Investing the son of Laertes with supreme glory.' The accusative, σέβας ὑπέρτατον, is in apposition either (1) to τεύχεα, or (2) to the action of παρεδίδοσαν. The dative is not to be taken with παρεδίδοσαν, but with σέβας ὑπέρτατον, sc. γενέσθαι, i. e. ὥστε τὸν Λ. ὑπέρτατον σέβας ἔχειν, (Ant. 304.)

402ff. mvp-comment-288-1 A point of rest has now been gained, and the action remains stationary for a little while. Neoptolemus has completely won the friendship of Philoctetes, and is confident of the attainment of his purpose. Cp. О. С. 631, 667.

402-403. mvp-comment-289-1 ἔχοντες σύμβολον σαφές | λύπης . . πεπλεύκατε] 'The grief ye have brought with you in sailing forth is a token which clearly commends itself to me.' Cp. Aristid. vol. 1. p. 416, ἱκανόν ἐστι πρὸς αὐτήν, ὥσπερ ἄλλο τι σύμβολον, αὐτὸ τὸ σχῆμα τῆς ἀτυχίας, a passage which shows that πρὸς ἡμᾶς should be taken with ἔχοντες σύμβολον rather than with πεπλεύκατε. The participle has the chief emphasis: see Essay on L. § 41. p. 77. β.

405. mvp-comment-290-1 καί μοι προσᾴδεθ'] 'And your words strike on a note that is in unison with my experience.' For a similar metaphor, cp O. T. 1112, 3, ἔν τε γὰρ μακρῷ γήρᾳ ξυνάδει τῷδε τἀνδρὶ σύμμετρος.

407. mvp-comment-291-1 ἂν . . θιγόντα] I know that he would not refrain his tongue from any mischievous word or from any villany.' The effect of ἄν here is to mark that the supposed fact is in accordance with general probability.

408. mvp-comment-292-1 ἀφ᾿ ἧς . . ποιεῖν] 'Whereof the issue in his hands was likely to be some great iniquity.' For the indirect form of expression, see E. on L. § 42. p. 79.

409. mvp-comment-293-1 δίκαιον δὲ βαιον δίκαιον μηδέν] μή, because of the hypothetical nature of the sentence implied in ἂν θιγόντα. ἐς τέλος] 'In the end.' Cp. Eur. Ion 1615, χρόνια μὲν τὰ τῶν θεῶν πως, εἰς τέλος δ᾽ οὐκ ἀσθενῆ. μέλλοι] The optative because ἂν θιγόντα = ὅτι ἂν θίγοι.

410-411. mvp-comment-294-1 ἀλλ᾽ εἰ . . ἠνείχετο] Sc. θαυμάζω. 'But' (it does seem marvellous) 'if the taller Ajax, being there, endured to see this done.' παρών] i. e. supposing him to be at Troy, and not absent on some expedition. ὁ μείζων] The son of Telamon is so distinguished from the Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας.

412. mvp-comment-295-1 Editors have raised the question whether the award of the arms and the death of Ajax are supposed to precede or follow the arrival of Neoptolemus at Troy. But the Greek drama is not careful of such minute adjustments of time, especially in what the audience know to be a fictitious tale. The true story about Ajax in relation to the arms was not suited for Neoptolemus' purpose. The supposition which best suits the context is that, according to Neoptolemus, the award of the arms took place immediately after the funeral of Achilles, while he, the chief mourner, was still absorbed in his grief; and that the death of Ajax is not connected by him with the arms at all.

415. mvp-comment-296-1 νόει κεῖνον ὡς μηκέτ' ὄντα ἐν φάει] μή, because of the subjective meaning of νόει.

417. mvp-comment-297-1 'Nor the son whom Laertes bought of Sisyphus.' (The other reading, Λαερτίου, would mean, Laertes' son whom he bought from Sisyphus.' But the two genitives are here extremely improbable).

421-422. mvp-comment-298-1 τί δ᾽ ὃς.. ἔστιν] ‘But what of him who was an old man, and a good man, and a friend of mine, Nestor the Pylian? Is he yet alive?' ὃς has been much questioned, but appears sound.

422-423. mvp-comment-299-1 Here the question is raised, whether Philoctetes had been at all at Troy. But this point also is ἔξω τοῦ μυθεύματος, and is not necessarily determined by the poet. Philoctetes had been long enough with the host, at Tenedos or elsewhere, to know the characteristics of the chief men.

424. mvp-comment-300-1 κεῖνός γε ‘Ay, he.' γε gives a modified assent to the meaning of the question.

425. mvp-comment-301-1 The words ὅσπερ ἦν γόνος, '(The son whom he had') are slightly wanting in point, but they are commended by their simplicity, and no thoroughly satisfactory alternative has been proposed. The Scholiast mentions μόνος as having been read for γόνος. But although this reading, ὅσπερ ἦν μόνος, 'His only son,' affords a possible context (supposing the ellipse of υἱός), it involves (as the Scholiast felt) too great a departure from the common tradition, according to which Nestor had other sons remaining when Antilochus was no more. The conjectures most deserving mention are ὃς παρῆν γόνος, Herm. ('His son who was with him,') ὃς παρῆν μόνος, Musgr., and ὃς παρῆν πόνοις, Arndt., ('Who supported him in toils of war').

426. mvp-comment-302-1 δύ᾽ αὕτως δείν᾽ ἔλεξας] (1) In those few words (αὕτως), you have told me a twofold calamity, (affecting those) of whom, etc.' Or, (2) 'In those few words you tell me sad news of two, of whose misfortune, etc.' (δεινά being cognate and almost adverbial, as if it were δεινῶς ἔχοντε). The alternative reading, δύ' αὖ τώδ' ἐξέδειξας (inferred by Porson from the Scholia, see v. rr.), although more plausible than some others recorded by the διορθωτής of L, is not really better. It is slightly improved upon by Prof. Jebb and Mr. Blaydes, who propose to read, δύ᾽ αὖ τώδ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἔλεξας: (the letters erased after δεὶν' in L. were said by Dübner to be ἄν).-It has been commonly assumed that Ajax and Antilochus are the persons meant. But line 415 is too remote to allow of this, whether αὕτως or αὖ τώδ' is the reading chosen. The meaning is that the death of Antilochus is a twofold calamity, destroying the life of one good man (Antilochus) and the happiness of another (Nestor). But οἵδε in l. 428 infr. includes not only Ajax and Antilochus, but also Achilles. The doubt remains, whether δεινά is not too strong a word for the connection. (Qu. δύ᾽ αὐτ᾿ ἀλγείν᾽ ἔλεξας?)

427. mvp-comment-303-1 For ὀλωλότοιν, including Nestor's desolation, cp. Aj. 896, El. 674.

428. mvp-comment-304-1 τί δῆτα δεῖ σκοπεῖν] i. e. ποῖ βλέπωμεν εἰς σωτηρίαν; Το what must we look, when Providence so manifestly fails us?' Cp. Ant. 922, 3, τί χρή με τὴν δύστηνον εἰς θεοὺς ἔτι | βλέπειν; Ο. Τ. 964, El. 924, 5, τἀκείνου δέ σοι | σωτήρι ἔρρει· μηδὲν εἰς κεῖνών γ᾽ ὅρα. Ὀδυσσεὺς δ᾽ ἔστιν αὖ] But Odysseus, on the contrary, is alive.'

429. mvp-comment-305-1 κἀνταῦθ᾽] 'And in such a juncture of affairs.' The crisis implied in the narrative of Neoptolemus (viz. the exigency which led to his being brought from Scyros) required that the mischievous Odysseus should be replaced by better men. Philoctetes again involuntarily shows his interest in the success of the army. Hermann's way of joining the words, Ulysses is found to be alive, as in other emergencies, so again in this,' is not satisfactory. Nor is there any real ground for his objection to Buttmann's rendering of αὖ, - Av si, ut Buttmanno videtur, ex altera parte significaret, deberet statim post Ὀδυσσεύς positum esse. As if there were not also an antithesis between τεθνᾶσιν and ἔστιν! The notion of Odysseus always turning up at critical moments, as lively as ever, is pleasant enough, but αὖ should have something to refer to, and ἵνα must be correlative to ἐνταῦθα, and cannot mean 'whereas.'

430. mvp-comment-306-1 αὐτόν = eum, not ipsum, though with a certain emphasis. αὐδᾶσθαι indicates the desire of Philoctetes to hear of Odysseus' death.

431-432. mvp-comment-307-1 Neoptolemus says this to humour Philoctetes, and encourage him to hope that his wish may be some day realized. But to the audience the words also suggest an anticipation of the complications which follow.

433. mvp-comment-308-1 γάρ is used with conversational freedom. ποῦ . . ἐνταῦθα] 'Where, then, in the circumstances which you describe?'

436. mvp-comment-309-1 τοῦτ᾽] 'This truth: i. e. the general truth of which these facts are instances. πόλεμος, κ.τ.λ.] This, like the preceding τί δεῖ σκοπεῖν, is a bit of commonplace pessimism. Cp. Aesch. Fr. 94, ἀλλ᾿ ῎Αρης φιλεῖ | ἀεὶ τὰ λῷστα πάντα τἀνθρώπων στρατοῦ: Soph. fr. 652, ῎Αρης γὰρ οὐδὲν τῶν κακῶν *λωτίζεται. ἑκὼν αἱρεῖ = φιλεῖ αἱρεῖν.

438. mvp-comment-310-1 κατ' αὐτὸ τοῦτο] ‘In connection with this very point,' viz. Your observation that the bad survive.

439. mvp-comment-311-1 ἀναξίου .. φωτός] Sc. πέρι. For this genitive, see E. on L. § 8. p. 13, 3. ἀναξίου = οὐδενὸς ἀξίου.

440. mvp-comment-312-1 τί= πῶς : cp. Εl. 1424, πῶς κυρεῖτε, E. on L. § 22. p. 36.

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.

1045. mvp-comment-721-1 Cp. Ant. 471, 2, δηλοῖ τὸ γέννημ' ὠμὸν ἐξ ὠμοῦ πατρὸς | τῆς παιδός· εἴκειν δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπίσταται κακοῖς. For the hypallage in φάτιν.. ὑπείκουσαν, cp. O. C. 977, πῶς *δἂν τὸ γ' ἶκον πρᾶγμ᾽ ἂν εἰκότως ψέγοις;

1048. mvp-comment-722-1 εἴ μοι παρείκοι] Sc. τὸ πρᾶγμα ὥστε πολλὰ λέγειν. 'Did but my leisure serve me.' νῦν δ᾽ ἑνὸς κρατῶ λόγου] 'But, as it is, I have only one thing to say.' This refers to infr. 1054 foll. 'All I can now say is that we need not take him, if he will not come. The bow is enough.' Odysseus means that this is not the time for justifying his act. He will do and say only what is necessary for his end. When the plea of justice is required, arguments will not fail him. κρατῶ has been suspected. The nearest parallel to it is O. T. 409, τοῦδε γὰρ κἀγὼ κρατῶ.

1049. mvp-comment-723-1 τοιούτων .. τοιοῦτος have here a general meaning, and τοιούτων may be either (1) neuter, or (2) masculine. (1) 'Where this or that line of conduct is required, I follow that course;' or (2) 'Where this or that character is needed, I am of that character.' Cp. Plato, Rep. 4.429 B, 437 E, Phaedr. 271 D; Eur. Or. 1680 ( ΜΕ. πείθεσθαι χρεών.) ΟΡ. κἀγὼ τοιοῦτος (sc. τῇ γνώμῃ εἰμὶ ὥστε πείθεσθαι). Others suppose a vague reference to the accusation of injustice in Philoctetes' speech.

1050-1051. mvp-comment-724-1 Cp. supr. 83-5.

1052-1053. mvp-comment-725-1 νικᾶν γε . ἐκστήσομαι] 'However, while in all other cases I am certainly solicitous to overcome, I make an exception in regard to you. On the contrary, I am willing to let you have your way.' The paratactic structure ( cp. supr. 1043) assists the surprise in πλὴν εἰς σέ, which is thus brought in suddenly. σοί γ᾽] γε reaffirms εἰς σε with ironical courtesy.

1054. mvp-comment-726-1 ἄφετε] Cp. supr. 1003.

1055. mvp-comment-727-1 προσχρήζομεν] προσ-, 'in addition.'

1056. mvp-comment-728-1 μέν] 'If no one else.'

1057. mvp-comment-729-1 Cp. Od. 8. 219, where Odysseus boasts that he is second to none but Philoctetes in the use of the bow, and contrast Aj. 1120, ὁ τοξότης ἔοικεν οὐ σμικρὸν φρονεῖν. It is necessary to the plot of the Philoctetes that skill in archery should be spoken of with respect, as in heroic times, whereas Menelaus in the Ajax expresses the contempt of a hoplite of the time of Pericles for the light-armed bowman.

1058. mvp-comment-730-1 ἐγώ θ'] 'And I too.' 'Post πόρεστι μὲν Τεύκρος sequi dedebat πάρειμι δ' ἐγώ, pro quo mutata orationis forma ἐγώ τε illatum est, quia hoc sine verbo positum est.' Dindorf. E. on L. § 36. p. 65. Cp. infr. 1424-8. ὃς οἶμαι, κ.τ.λ.] The bow of Odysseus is not less famous than that of Heracles. See Introd. to Trachiniae.

1058-1059. mvp-comment-731-1 οὐδὲν .. μηδ'] οὐ belongs strictly to οἶμαι, as in οὗ φημι, οὐ φαίνεται, etc. μή is to be taken closely with the infinitive, which receives an hypothetical turn from av preceding. Wunder quotes Plat. Prot. 319 Β, ὅθεν δὲ αὐτὸ ἡγοῦμαι οὐ διδακτὸν εἶναι μηδ' ὑπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων παρασκευστὸν ἀνθρώποις, δίκαιός εἰμι εἰπεῖν, but οὐ there rather adheres to διδακτόν. The repetition of the negative is here emphatic.

1060. mvp-comment-732-1 Cp. supr. 2, and note.

1062. mvp-comment-733-1 ἣν σ᾽ ἐχρῆν ἔχειν] Here, as above in 997, 8, Odysseus alludes to the prophecy, of which, however, Philoctetes has not been told. He was too impatient to listen to Neoptolemus, supr. 919, 20.

1064. mvp-comment-734-1 For the absence of caesura in this line, cp. infr. 1369.

1066-1067. mvp-comment-735-1 φωνῆς .. προσφθεγκτός] The pleonasm is pathetic. 'Shall I no more hear your voice addressing me?' Philoctetes, who supr. 220 foll. was overjoyed at the sight of Greeks, and longed to hear them speak, is now being left in tenfold desolation. He still clings to his hope in Neoptolemus, and makes a last appeal to the mariners, who, 507 foll., 676 foll., had shown some pity for him.

1074-1075. mvp-comment-736-1 'Odysseus will tell me that I am a victim of weak pity: but still, if Philoctetes craves it, go not yet.' ἀκούσομαι] · 'I shall be reviled.' Cp. supr. 607, and note. οἴκτου] Cp. O.C. 1636, οὐκ οἴκτου μέτα. πλέως is used in reproachful phrases, e.g. Aesch. Prom. 696, πρό γε στενάζεις καὶ φόβου πλέα τις εἶ.

1076. mvp-comment-737-1 εἰς ὅσον] Sc. χρόνον. Cp. O. C. 1701, El. 1075. and notes. τὰ ἐκ νεώς] 'Things on board.' For ἐκ, with the genitive denoting the whereabouts of a thing, cp. πρός with genitive, ἐγγύθεν, πόρρωθεν, etc. Cp. also supr. 630, and note.

1079. mvp-comment-738-1 ἡμῖν with λῴω. νώ] Neoptolemus and Odysseus. Some critics object to the form ὁρμώμεθον and read ὁρμώμεθα with Γ.

1080. mvp-comment-739-1 ὁρμᾶσθαι] Infin. for imper. ταχεῖς, predicative. Cp. supr. 526, ὁρμάσθω ταχύς: Thuc. 5. 9. § 7, σὺ δέ, ὦ Κλεαρίδα, . . αἰφνιδίως τὰς πύλας ἀνοίξας ἐπεκθεῖν.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-1 Philoctetes now feels that he is left completely alone and helpless. For the shipmates of Neoptolemus are only to remain for a little while, in the vain hope that he will change his mind. The following commos may be divided into two chief portions. The first, 1081-1160, is in effect one long monody of Philoctetes from the stage, of which the pauses are filled with short recitatives addressed to him by single chorcutae. Without noticing these, he continues the strain of his lament. In the second part, 1161-1217, there is a real interchange of lyric numbers between the Chorus and the chief actor. Still chanting singly, the mariners renew their efforts to win his attention. When they succeed in this, he bids them depart. They make as if to go. Then he calls them back again and begs for means of self-destruction. The commos ends on the re-appearance of Neoptolemus followed by Odysseus. It is evident that the second part of it especially must have been accompanied with various gestures and movements to and fro in the orchestra. The 'melodramatic' character of this portion of the Philoctetes (ll. 730-1217) may be compared with the opening of the Oedipus Coloneus. The metrical scheme (in which again there are several doubtful points) is as follows :- α'.
(1.)
_ _ _ _ _UU_
__UU_U_ _
_ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
_UU_UU_UU_UU_
(?)_U_U_U_
(2.)
_UU_UU_UU_U_ _
¹²
_ Iambic.
_UU_U_ Glyconic.
Glyconic _UU_U_
Dactylic { _UU_UU_
Iambic _U_U_ _ _
β'.
(1.)
_ _ _ _
__UU_U_ _
__UU_U_ _
_UU_UU_U_
_ _
10 _UU_UU_
(2) _U_U_ _
_U_UU_U_UU__
_U__UU_U_U_U_UU_
15 _UU_U_U_UU_UU_UU_U__³
(2.)
__UU_U_U__
_ _ _ _ _UU_
_ _ _ _ _UU_
_U_UU__
U_ _U_UU_U_U__
⁴⁵⁶

For the substitution of − ᴗ – for ᴗ ᴗ in Ionic verse, which is allowed by some writers on metre, see Christ's Metrik, § 521.

ἐπ. (ἀπολελυμένα).
(1.)
_U_U_
_ _U_U_U_U_U_U_U_
_U_U_U_
_ _ _ _
_U_UU__UU__UU__
_ _
_ _UU_UUUUUU⁷
_U_U_ _U_U_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _UU_U_
__UU_U_U_
20 U_U_U_
U_UU_UU_
_U_U_U_U_U_U_U_U_
_UU_U_
(2.)
_UU_UU_U_
_ _ _U_UU__
_ _ _ _ _U__
_UU_U_U_UUUUU__
_ _ _
30 U_U_U_U_
_UU_U_
_ _U_U_U_U_
_U_U__U_U_
35 U_U_U_

If the irregularities of the above scheme are compared with those noticed in the note on O. C. 117-254, in vol. 1. p. 298, it will be found that they cannot be adequately accounted for by supposing extensive corruptions of the text. For (a) they are similar in kind to those in O. C., (b) they do not as a rule in either case violate the general laws of metre. While admitting some corruptions, it is reasonable also to suppose that in these later plays of Sophocles the severity of rhythm is relaxed in the lyric dialogue as well as in the senarii. This may be partly accounted for by the 'melodramatic' element encroaching on tragedy, and partly by contemporary innovations in the art of music.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-2 In antistrophe _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-3 2 Or, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Cp. β' (2), ll. 2, 3.

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-4 3

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-5 In antistrophe U_ _ _

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-6 2 In antistrophe U_UU_U__

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-7 3 In antistrophe _ _UU_U_UU_UU_U_U_

1081-1217. mvp-comment-740-8 10

1081-1082. mvp-comment-741-1 ὦ.. παγετῶδες] ‘Ο cavernous rocky cell, sultry and chill (by turns)!' This phrase presents the other side of the comfortable description given by Odysseus in supr. 17-19.

1084-1085. mvp-comment-742-1 ἀλλὰ .. συνοίσει] ‘But in death also thou wilt be with me.' 'Comes eris,' Lamb. For συμφέρειν in a nearly neutral sense = συνεῖναι, cp. Hes. Op. and D. 300, λιμὸς γάρ τοι πάμπαν ἀεργῷ σύμφορος ἀνδρί. And for the future middle, cp. O. C. 641, τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι. Porson's and Reiske's conjecture, συνείσει, ('Thou wilt know of me'), is therefore unnecessary.

1087-1088. mvp-comment-743-1 πληρέστατον . . ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ] 'Overfull of my sorrow.' This refers not only to physical evils, supr. 38, 9.-but to the resonance of his cries and the remembrance of his moments of despair. For such clinging of association to a spot, cp. Tennyson's Elaine, 'A horror lived about the tarn, and clave | Like its own mists to all the mountain-side.' Also Maud, 'The red-ribbed ledges drip with a silent horror of blood, | And Echo there, whatever is ask'd her, answers, Death.'

1089. mvp-comment-744-1 τί ποτ᾿ αὐ μοι τὸ κατ᾿ ἀμαρ ἔσται] 'What henceforth shall be my daily portion?' Ср. O. С. 3. 4, τίς τὸν πλανήτην Οἰδίπουν καθ᾿ ἡμέραν τὴν νῦν σπανιστοῖς δέξεται δωρήμασιν ;

1090-1091. mvp-comment-745-1 τοῦ . . σιτονόμου ἐλπίδος ;] 'What hope of obtaining food?' For τοῦ, attributive, see E. on L. § 21. p. 33. And for the double interrogation, cp. Trach. 421, τίς πόθεν μολών, κ.τ.λ. σιτονόμου = τοῦ νέμεσθαι σίτον. For this condensation of a phrase into an adjective, see Essay on L. § 43. p. 81 , and cp. especially El. 857, 8, ἐλπίδων . . κοινοτόκων | εὐπατρίδων τ᾽ ἀρωγαί.

1092. mvp-comment-746-1 εἴθ᾽.. ἕλωσι] 'I wish that from the skies aloft the cowering creatures there may cleave the shrilling winds to conquer me.' εἴθε is not elsewhere found with the conjunctive. Either (1) there is a confusion of ἕλωσι (conjunctive for imperative) with εἴθ' ἕλοιεν, or (2) the text is unsound. In the latter case a possible emendation is to read εἶ' (ela) for εἴθ'. Cp. Plat. Soph. 239 B, ἀλλ᾽ εἷα δή, νῦν ἐν σοὶ σκεψώμεθα. (Where however α is sometimes read.) Hermann conjectures ἴθ'.

1093. mvp-comment-747-1 ὀξύτονος, which elsewhere is descriptive of sound, may here suggest (1) the whistling of the wind amongst the rocks. But, possibly, (2) the meaning is simply 'Strong.'

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Will you forsake me, and not pity me?

Chorus

Current edition Experimental

ΦΙΛΟΚΤΗΤΗΣ.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΦΙ. ἀντ.α΄. (1.)

Φιλοκτήτης πάλιν πάλιν παλαιὸν ἄλγημʼ ὑπέμνασας, ὦ 1170 λῷστε τῶν πρὶν ἐντόπων. τί μʼ ὤλεσας; τί μʼ εἴργασαι;

Χορός τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας;

Φιλοκτήτης εἰ σὺ τὰν ἐμοὶ στυγερὰν Τρῳάδα γᾶν μʼ ἤλπισας ἄξειν. 1175

Χορός τόδε γὰρ νοῶ κράτιστον.

Φιλοκτήτης ἀπό νύν με λείπετʼ ἤδη.

Χορός φίλα μοι, φίλα ταῦτα παρήγγειλας ἑκόντι τε πράσσειν. ἴωμεν ἴωμεν ναὸς ἵνʼ ἡμῖν τέτακται. 1180

Φιλοκτήτης μή, πρὸς ἀραίου Διός, ἔλθῃς, ἱκετεύω.

Χορός μετρίαζʼ.

Φιλοκτήτης ὦ ξένοι, μείνατε, πρὸς θεῶν.

Χορός τί θροεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δαίμων δαίμων· 1185 ἀπόλωλʼ ὁ τάλας· ὦ ποὺς πούς, τί σʼ ἔτʼ ἐν βίῳ τεύξω τῷ μετόπιν τάλας; ὦ ξένοι, ἔλθετʼ ἐπήλυδες αὖθις. 1190

Χορός τί ῥέξοντες ἀλλοκότῳ γνώμᾳ τῶν πάρος, ὧν προύφαινες;

Φιλοκτήτης οὔτοι νεμεσητόν, ἀλύοντα χειμερίῳ λύπᾳ καὶ παρὰ νοῦν θροεῖν. 1195

Χορός βᾶθί νυν, ὦ τάλαν, ὥς σε κελεύομεν.

Χορός ποῖον ἐρεῖς τόδʼ ἔπος;

Φιλοκτήτης ξίφος, εἴ ποθεν, ἢ γένυν ἢ βελέων τι προπέμψατε.

Χορός ὡς τίνα δὴ ῥέξῃς παλάμαν ποτέ; 1205

Φιλοκτήτης χρῶτʼ ἀπὸ πάντα καὶ ἄρθρα τέμω χερί· φονᾷ φονᾷ νόος ἤδη.

Χορός τί ποτε;

Φιλοκτήτης πατέρα ματεύων.

Χορός ποῖ γᾶς; 1210

CH. 1 Thou child of misery! 1095 No mightier power hath this decreed, 1095 But thine own will and deed Hath bound thee thus in grief, Since, when kind Heaven had sent relief And shown the path of wisdom firm and sure, Thou still hast chosen this evil to endure.

PHI

Der Chor. Du selbst, du selbst erkorst dir dieses, 1065 Unseliger; ja, kein Andrer sonst, Kein Größerer band dich an dieses Geschick. Dein war die Wahl des Bessern; Aber das Heil hast du verschmäht, und dir erwählt das Schlimm're. Erste Gegenstrophe.

Chorus Unhappy man ! 1095 Thou hast provoked thy fate ; thyself alone Art to thyself a foe, to scorn the good, Which wisdom bids thee take, and choose misfortune.

Philoctetes

Chorus It was you, you, I say, doomed one, that chose this fate; and this fortune to which you are captive comes from no other source, nor from a stronger man’s compulsion. For when in fact it was in your power to show sense, 1095 you chose to reject the better fate, and to accept the worse. 1100

Chorus Doom, god-sent doom constrained you to suffer this, not, I tell you, any treachery to which my hand was lent. 1115 Aim your hate-filled, baneful curse elsewhere, since I prefer that you not reject my friendship. 1120

Chorus A man must always assert what is right. But, when he has done so, he must not let loose malignant, stinging taunts. The man was the sole representative of the whole army, and at their mandate 1140 he achieved a universal benefit for his friends. 1145

Philoctetes Again, again, you have recalled the old agony to my thoughts—kindest though you are of all who have visited before! Why have you ruined me? What have you done to me? 1170

Chorus What do you mean?

Philoctetes That it was your hope to take me to that Trojan land I abhor. 1175

Chorus Yes, I believe that to be the best course.

Philoctetes Leave me, then—immediately!

Chorus Pleasant, pleasant, indeed, is the task you set me, and I am ready to obey. Come, let us be going, each to his station in the ship! 1180

Philoctetes By Zeus who hears men’s curses, do not go, I implore you!

Chorus Be moderate.

Philoctetes Friends, in the name of the gods, stay!

Chorus Why do you call? 1185

Philoctetes Ayee, ayee! Doom, Doom! My suffering kills me! Foot, my foot, what shall I do with you in the days to come? O friends, return, come back to me! 1190

Chorus To do what that has a different spirit from that of your former commands?

Philoctetes There is no reason for indignation when the words of one crazed by a storm of pain are senseless. 1195

Chorus Come with us, then, poor man, as we bid you.

Philoctetes Never, never—of that be certain! Not even if the lord of the fiery lightning comes to wrap me in the blaze of his thunderbolts! Ilium be damned, and as many of the men before its walls as dared reject this foot of mine! But oh, friends, grant me one wish! 1200

Chorus What would you ask?

Philoctetes A sword, if you can find one, or an axe, or any weapon— please, pass it to me! 1205

Chorus That you may execute what scheme?

Philoctetes Mangle all this body, and sever limb from limb with my own hand! Death, death is my thought now!

Chorus Why, why ever would you—

Philoctetes I am seeking my father— 1210

Chorus In what land?

Philoctetes In Hades; he dwells in the sunlight no more. Ah, my city, city of my fathers! I crave to see you, unhappy man that I truly am for leaving your sacred stream and going to help the Danaans, my enemies! I am nothing now, nothing anymore! Exit Philoctetes into the cave. 1215

Commentary

Stable identifiers

ΦΙ.

ἀντ.α΄. (1.)

Φιλοκτήτης

πάλιν πάλιν παλαιὸν ἄλγημʼ ὑπέμνασας, ὦ
1170

λῷστε τῶν πρὶν ἐντόπων.

τί μʼ ὤλεσας; τί μʼ εἴργασαι;

Χορός

τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας;

Φιλοκτήτης

εἰ σὺ τὰν ἐμοὶ στυγερὰν

Τρῳάδα γᾶν μʼ ἤλπισας ἄξειν.
1175

Χορός

τόδε γὰρ νοῶ κράτιστον.

Φιλοκτήτης

ἀπό νύν με λείπετʼ ἤδη.

Χορός

φίλα μοι, φίλα ταῦτα παρήγγειλας ἑκόντι τε πράσσειν.

ἴωμεν ἴωμεν

ναὸς ἵνʼ ἡμῖν τέτακται.
1180

Φιλοκτήτης

μή, πρὸς ἀραίου Διός, ἔλθῃς, ἱκετεύω.

Χορός

μετρίαζʼ.

Φιλοκτήτης

ὦ ξένοι, μείνατε, πρὸς θεῶν.

Χορός

τί θροεῖς;

Φιλοκτήτης

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δαίμων δαίμων·
1185

ἀπόλωλʼ ὁ τάλας·

ὦ ποὺς πούς, τί σʼ ἔτʼ ἐν βίῳ

τεύξω τῷ μετόπιν τάλας;

ὦ ξένοι, ἔλθετʼ ἐπήλυδες αὖθις.
1190

Χορός

τί ῥέξοντες ἀλλοκότῳ

γνώμᾳ τῶν πάρος, ὧν προύφαινες;

Φιλοκτήτης

οὔτοι νεμεσητόν,

ἀλύοντα χειμερίῳ

λύπᾳ καὶ παρὰ νοῦν θροεῖν.
1195

Χορός

βᾶθί νυν, ὦ τάλαν, ὥς σε κελεύομεν.

Χορός

ποῖον ἐρεῖς τόδʼ ἔπος;

Φιλοκτήτης

ξίφος, εἴ ποθεν,

ἢ γένυν ἢ βελέων τι προπέμψατε.

Χορός

ὡς τίνα δὴ ῥέξῃς παλάμαν ποτέ;
1205

Φιλοκτήτης

χρῶτʼ ἀπὸ πάντα καὶ ἄρθρα τέμω χερί·

φονᾷ φονᾷ νόος ἤδη.

Χορός

τί ποτε;

Φιλοκτήτης

πατέρα ματεύων.

Χορός

ποῖ γᾶς;
1210

CH. 1

Thou child of misery!
1095

No mightier power hath this decreed,
1095

But thine own will and deed

Hath bound thee thus in grief,

Since, when kind Heaven had sent relief

And shown the path of wisdom firm and sure,

Thou still hast chosen this evil to endure.

Der Chor.

Du selbst, du selbst erkorst dir dieses,
1065

Unseliger; ja, kein Andrer sonst,

Kein Größerer band dich an dieses Geschick.

Dein war die Wahl des Bessern;

Aber das Heil hast du verschmäht, und dir erwählt das Schlimm're.

Erste Gegenstrophe.

Chorus

Unhappy man !
1095

Thou hast provoked thy fate ; thyself alone

Art to thyself a foe, to scorn the good,

Which wisdom bids thee take, and choose misfortune.

Chorus

Doom, god-sent doom constrained you to suffer this, not, I tell you, any treachery to which my hand was lent.
1115

Aim your hate-filled, baneful curse elsewhere, since I prefer that you not reject my friendship.
1120

Chorus

A man must always assert what is right. But, when he has done so, he must not let loose malignant, stinging taunts. The man was the sole representative of the whole army, and at their mandate
1140

he achieved a universal benefit for his friends.
1145

Philoctetes

Again, again, you have recalled the old agony to my thoughts—kindest though you are of all who have visited before! Why have you ruined me? What have you done to me?
1170

Chorus

What do you mean?

Philoctetes

That it was your hope to take

me to that Trojan land I abhor.
1175

Chorus

Yes, I believe that to be the best course.

Philoctetes

Leave me, then—immediately!

Chorus

Pleasant, pleasant, indeed, is the task you set me, and I am ready to obey.

Come, let us be going, each to his station in the ship!
1180

Philoctetes

By Zeus who hears men’s curses, do not go, I implore you!

Chorus

Be moderate.

Philoctetes

Friends, in the name of the gods, stay!

Chorus

Why do you call?
1185

Philoctetes

Ayee, ayee! Doom, Doom! My suffering kills me! Foot, my foot, what shall I do with you in the days to come?

O friends, return, come back to me!
1190

Chorus

To do what that has a different spirit from that of your former commands?

Philoctetes

There is no reason for indignation when the words of one crazed

by a storm of pain are senseless.
1195

Chorus

Come with us, then, poor man, as we bid you.

Philoctetes

Never, never—of that be certain! Not even if the lord of the fiery lightning comes to wrap me in the blaze of his thunderbolts!

Ilium be damned, and as many of the men before its walls as dared reject this foot of mine! But oh, friends, grant me one wish!
1200

Chorus

What would you ask?

Philoctetes

A sword, if you can find one, or an axe, or any weapon—

please, pass it to me!
1205

Chorus

That you may execute what scheme?

Philoctetes

Mangle all this body, and sever limb from limb with my own hand! Death, death is my thought now!

Chorus

Why, why ever would you—

Philoctetes

I am seeking my father—
1210

Chorus

In what land?

Philoctetes

In Hades; he dwells in the sunlight no more. Ah, my city, city of my fathers! I crave to see you, unhappy man that I truly am

for leaving your sacred stream and going to help the Danaans, my enemies! I am nothing now, nothing anymore! Exit Philoctetes into the cave.
1215