Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 1566

1565-1567. mvp-comment-833-1 For even although many sorrows have been coming on thee without bringing any good, it may be that a just Deity will again exalt thee.' For καί with a participle in the genitive absolute, having the force of καίπερ, cp. Εl. 657, τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα πάντα καὶ σιωπώσης ἐμοῦ | ἐπαξιῶ σε δαίμον᾽ ὄντ᾿ ἐξειδέναι. ἱκνουμένων is in the imperfect tense, and the force of av extends to both parts of the sentence, as if it were πολλὰ μὲν ἂν πήματα μάταν ἱκνοῖτο, ὅμως δὲ κἂν αὔξοι σε δαίμων δίκαιος ὤν. The chorus now express their belief in the possibility of what Ismene had said, supra 394, νῦν γὰρ θεοί σ᾽ ὀρθοῦσι, πρόσθε δ' ἄλλυσαν. It is doubtful whether μάταν means (1) 'causelessly, as some have explained it, or (2) without result, i. e. bringing no good after them. The latter is more probable; i.e. Though no such result has been produced as yet. σε has been unnecessarily changed to σφε. The apostrophe gives liveliness to what would otherwise be a frigid sentiment. The change from the 3rd person to the 2nd is not more violent than the change a few lines below from the 2nd to the 3rd, 1568, ὦ.. σῶμα θηρός,... 1574, ὅν, κ.τ.λ. Cp. also Ο. ΤT. 1202, ff.