Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 1773

mvp-comment-1186-1 After οὐ in 1776 the MS. γάρ must be struck out, as Hermann saw, so that the anapaests spoken by Theseus may end with a paroemiac. When anapaests spoken by the Chorus close a tragedy, these always form a system separate from the anapaests (if any) which precede them. This was plainly necessary, in order to avoid an unduly abrupt ending. But if we point thus:— πρὸς χάριν· οὐ δεῖ μ’ ἀποκάμνειν , the asyndeton has a crude effect. Hence, placing only a comma after πρὸς χάριν , we should render:— "Not only will I do these things, but in all things which I am likely to do for your advantage (etc.) I must not wax weary. " The sentence begins as if the constr. was to be δράσω καὶ τάδε καὶ πάντα . But the new verb added at the end requires πάντα to be acc. with ἀποκάμνειν . (Cp. on 351

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mvp-comment-1186-2 ὁπόσ’ ἂν ¹

1773. mvp-comment-942-1 ὅσα *γ΄ This is nearer to the MSS, and otherwise better than either ὁπόσ᾽ ἄν οἱ ὅσσ᾽ ἄν. 1773, foll. δράσω.. ἀποκάμνειν] Not only will I do this; but in all that I can do that may give help to you or pleasure to him below who is just gone, I ought not to weary. The emendation of Hermann, who omits γάρ before ἀποκάμνειν, rests on the observation that an anapaestic speech immediately before the final words of the chorus naturally ends with a paroemiac. Phil. 1468, Aj. 1416, alib. It may be further remarked that the resumption (Essay on Language p. 64, 6) is more harmonious than the new sentence beginning in the last line, and the full pause after πρὸς χάριν is unrhythmical.