mvp-comment-1162-1
The MS.
ποῖ δῆτ’...ἕξω
has been defended in two ways, neither of which is satisfactory: (1) by an ellipse of
μολοῦσα
: (2) as=
"until
when ?"
As in 383 (n.) we should read
ὅπου
for
ὅποι
, and in 335 (n.)
ποῦ
for
ποῖ
, so here I feel sure that
ποῦ is right. It suits the sense better than the
v.l.
πῇ , besides being closer to the MSS. The
v.l.
ἄξω , (which would justify
ποῖ ,) is plainly a mere corruption of
ἕξω
.
mvp-comment-1162-2
αὖθις
1
mvp-comment-1163-1
In these verses the utterances usually assigned to Antigone all turn on her anxiety as to a refuge, and her desire to return to Thebes. Such feelings, at this moment, are more in harmony with the character of Ismene (cp. 1735). Antigone is at present absorbed in the yearning to visit her father's tomb, or at least the spot where she last saw him alive (1724). When Theseus appears, it is this wish which she instantly presses on him. Only when it has been put aside does she think of a return to Thebes (1769).
mvp-comment-1163-2
Ought we, then, to read
ΙΣ.
for
ΑΝ.
throughout vv. 1737—1750? This has been suggested by Bergk. I may observe that the Laur. MS. leaves the question open. At 1730 it has
ΑΝ.
before
τί τόδ’ ἐπέπληξας
. After that, there is no indication of any person, but only short lines (-), until at 1741
ΑΝ.
again stands before
φρονῶ
. The next words,
τί δῆθ’
etc., have
ΧΟ.
before them: but after that no person is indicated till 1751, where
ΧΟ.
(instead of
ΘΗ.
) is erroneously placed before
παύετε
.
mvp-comment-1163-3
I am disposed to think that Sophocles wrote the words for Ismene, but that the fourth-actor difficulty had led to a fluctuation of stage-practice, which helps to account for the ambiguity of the MS. tradition. See the note on the Dramatis Personae. If the part of Ismene,
after v. 509, was ever taken by a
κωφὸν πρόσωπον
, there may then have been a wish to keep her part in this scene as small as possible. Similarly at 1689 ff. there is a doubt as to which sister ought to have the words
οὐ κάτοιδα...βιωτός
.
