Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 510

mvp-comment-151-1 ἄν ¹

mvp-comment-151-2 εἴποιμεν … ἀκούσαιμεν ²

mvp-comment-151-3 ἄν ³

mvp-comment-151-4 εὐσεβίας ἐπιβαίνοντες ⁴

mvp-comment-152-1 καὶ μὴ χρ. πολ. ⁵

mvp-comment-153-1 αὐτοῦ ⁶

mvp-comment-153-2 αὐτοπέτρου βήματος ⁷

mvp-comment-154-1 πόδα κλίνῃς ⁸

mvp-comment-155-1 ἦ ἑσθῶ; ⁹

mvp-comment-155-2 λέχριός γ’ … ὀκλάσας ¹⁰

mvp-comment-155-3 βραχὺς ¹¹

mvp-comment-155-4 ἄκρου ¹²

mvp-comment-155-5 λᾶος ¹³

mvp-comment-156-1 ἐμὸν τόδ’ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-157-1 δύσφρονος ¹⁵

mvp-comment-158-1 τλάμων ¹⁶

mvp-comment-158-2 χαλᾷς ¹⁷

mvp-comment-159-1 τίς ὁ πολ. ¹⁸

mvp-comment-159-2 τίν’ ἂν … πατρίδ’ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-160-1 Oed. replies to their second question by ἀπόπτολις , which is almost an exclamation; — "I have no πατρίς now": he deprecates their first question ( τίς ἄγει; ) altogether. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1410 (the Argive elders to Clytaemnestra)

. Soph. has ἀπόπτολις in O. T. 1000 (dialogue) and Tr. 647 (lyr.). Cp. 1357.

mvp-comment-161-1 μή, μή μ’ ἀνέρῃ ²¹

mvp-comment-162-1 Wunder's correction of the MS. δεινὰ to αἰνὰ is required by the Ionic measure ( uu | - uu ): see Metr. Analysis.

mvp-comment-162-2 φύσις ²²

mvp-comment-163-1 γεγώνω ²³

mvp-comment-163-2 τίνος εἶ σπέρματος ²⁴

mvp-comment-163-3 πατρόθεν ²⁵

mvp-comment-164-1 τί πάθω … ; ²⁶

mvp-comment-165-1 ἐπ’ ἔσχατα βαίνεις ²⁷

mvp-comment-166-1 Hermann's μέλλετον (for the MS. μέλλετ’ ) is fitting, since Oed. and Ant. have just been speaking together; and is clearly better than μέλλετέ γ’ (Triclinius) or μέλλομεν (suggested by Elms.). The sing. τάχυνε rightly follows, since it is from Oed. alone that a reply is sought.

mvp-comment-166-2 μακρὰ ²⁸

mvp-comment-167-1 Λαΐου ἴστε τιν’ ²⁹

mvp-comment-168-1 The family patronymic was taken from Labdacus (the father of Laïus), though the line was traced directly up to Cadmus, father of Polydorus and grandfather of Labdacus ( O. T. 267 ; Her. 5.59 ).

mvp-comment-169-1 The relat. clause ὅσ’ αὐδῶ is most simply taken as representing an accus., governed by δέος ἴσχετε μηδὲν as= μὴ δειμαίνετε (rather than a genitive depending on δέος ): Tr. 996

: Dem. De Fals. Legat. § 81

ὅ γε δῆμος ὁ τῶν Φωκέων οὕτω κακῶς...διάκειται, ὥστε...τεθνάναι τῷ φόβῳ...τοὺς Φιλίππου ξένους

: Aesch. Theb. 289

μέριμναι ζωπυροῦσι τάρβος ³⁰

τὸν ἀμφιτειχῆ λεών

: Eur. Ion 572

τοῦτο κἄμ’ ἔχει πόθος

. Cp. below, 583

, 1120

. In such instances the acc. might also, however, be taken as one of "respect."

mvp-comment-170-1 The MSS. give the one word δυσμορος to Oed., as uttered by him between the exclamations of the Chorus. It thus marks his despair at their refusal to hear him. There is dramatic force in the sentence of expulsion (226) being the first articulate utterance of the Chorus after the disclosure which has appalled them.

mvp-comment-171-1 ποῖ καταθήσεις; ³¹

mvp-comment-172-1 οὐδενὶ μοιριδία τίσις ἔρχεται ³²

mvp-comment-172-2 ὧν ³³

mvp-comment-172-3 With Wunder's ἃν some construe:— οὐδενὶ τὸ τίνειν ἃ ἂν προπάθῃ ἔρχεται μοιριδία τίσις , "for no one retaliation becomes (= γίγνεται ) a fate-doomed punishment": but could the τίσις itself thus stand for the cause of the τίσις ? The ὧν of the MSS. is confirmed by other passages where, instead of an acc. governed by the infin., we have a gen. depending on another word, and then the infin. added epexegetically: El. 542

: Plat. Crito 52B

οὐδ’ ἐπιθυμία σε ἄλλης πόλεως οὐδ’ ἄλλων νόμων ἔλαβεν εἰδέναι

: Rep. 443 B

ἀρχόμενοι τῆς πόλεως οἰκίζειν

.

mvp-comment-173-1 ἀπάτα δ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-173-2 ἀπάτα ἑτέρα ³⁵

mvp-comment-173-3 παραβαλλ ³⁷

mvp-comment-174-1 ἑδράνων ³⁹

mvp-comment-175-1 χρέος … προσάψῃς ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-176-1 αἰδόφρονες ⁴¹

mvp-comment-176-2 ἀλλ’ ⁴²

mvp-comment-176-3 This whole

of Antigone (237 — 253) , with the tetrastichon of the Chorus (254 — 257) , was rejected by some of the ancient critics, acc. to the schol. on L: But, as the schol. rightly adds, it is natural and graceful that an appeal to pity ( ),— which the daughter makes,—should precede the father's appeal to reason ( ). The schol. further remarks that Didymus ( circ. 30 B.C. ) had not obelized any part of the passage. This is important, as making it most improbable that the rested on the absence of these verses from the older Alexandrian copies. Though the text is doubtful in some points, the internal evidence cannot be said to afford any good ground for suspicion.

mvp-comment-177-1 γεραὸν … ἐμὸν ⁴³

mvp-comment-178-1 ἀκόντων ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-178-2 ἀΐοντες αὐδάν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-178-3 ἔργων ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-179-1 ἀλλ’ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-180-1 Hermann's τοὐμοῦ μόνου (for the MS. τοῦ μόνου ) is metrically right, but μόνου can hardly be sound. It must mean (1) "for my father alone" (and not for my own sake): not (2) "lonely, as he is": nor (3) "for my own father" (Campbell's view, which I do not comprehend). ΤΟΥΜΟΝΟΥ may have come from ΤΟΥΔΑΘΛΙΟΥ (Mekler), but

in 246 is against this (see, however, on 554 ). Perhaps τοῦδ’ ἀμμόρου .

mvp-comment-181-1 οὐκ ἀλαοῖς ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-181-2 προσορωμένα ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-182-1 ὥς τις ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-183-1 ἐν ὔμμι κείμεθα ⁵¹

mvp-comment-183-2 κείμεθα ⁵²

mvp-comment-184-1 νεύσατε ⁵³

mvp-comment-184-2 τὰν ἀδόκητον χάριν ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-185-1 πρός ς’ ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-186-1 ἢ χρέος ἢ θεός ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-187-1 ἀθρῶν ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-188-1 ἄγοι ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-190-1 τὰ δ’ ἐκ θεῶν ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-191-1 For τῶν as 1st syll. of 3rd foot cp. Ant. 95

.

mvp-comment-192-1 ῥεούσης ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-193-1 εἰ ⁶²

mvp-comment-193-2 θεοσεβεστάτας ⁶³

mvp-comment-194-1 μόνας ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-194-2 τὸν κακούμενον ξένον ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-194-3 These two examples are cited in Her. 9.27 ; in the spurious

ascribed to Lysias ( or. 2 §§ 4-16 ); and in that ascribed to Demosthenes ( or. 60 §§ 7, 8 ). Isocrates quotes them in the Panegyricus , as showing how the Athenians

διετέλεσαν τὴν πόλιν κοινὴν παρέχοντες καὶ τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις ἀεὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἐπαμύνουσαν

(§ 52) ; also in his Encomium Helenae § 31 ; and again in his Panathenaicus , where he remarks that Tragedy has made them familiar to all ( § 168

τίς οὐκ ἀκήκοε τῶν τραγῳδοδιδασκάλων Διονυσίοις

;). They figure, too, in the Platonic Menexenus , with the comment that Athens might justly be accused of too great compassion, and too much zeal for "the weaker cause":

ὡς ἀεὶ λίαν φιλοικτίρμων ἐστὶ καὶ τοῦ ἥττονος θεραπίς,

244 E . Cp. Her. 8.142

αἰεὶ καὶ τὸ πάλαι φαίνεσθε πολλοὺς ἐλευθερώσαντες ἀνθρώπων

. Andocides or. 3 § 28

τοὺς κρείττους φίλους ἀφιέντες ἀεὶ τοὺς ἥττους αἱρούμεθα

.

mvp-comment-195-1 σῴζειν ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-195-2 οἵας τε ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-196-1 κἄμοιγε ποῦ ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-196-2 καί ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-196-3 οἵτινες ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-197-1 As 276 shows, ἐξάραντες refers to his first seat, in the grove. They had induced him to leave that seat ( 174 ff. ), on a pledge that no one should remove him from the resting-place outside of the grove. Yet now they command him to quit Attica ( ἐλαύνετε : 226

).

mvp-comment-197-2 τάδε βάθρα ⁷¹

mvp-comment-198-1 οὐ γὰρ δὴ τό γε ⁷²

mvp-comment-199-1 ἐπεὶ … ἔξοιδα ⁷³

mvp-comment-200-1 πεπονθότ’ … δεδρακότα ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-201-1 "Ye shrink from me as from a guilty man. And yet ( καίτοι ),— evil as were my acts (in themselves),— how have I shown an evil disposition (

), or incurred moral guilt? Before I struck my father, he had struck me ( : see O. T. 809 ). Even if I had been aware ( ) who he was, I might plead this in my defence: but, in fact, I did not know. Nor did I recognise my mother. They , on the other hand, had deliberately tried to kill their babe." — Note that the clause , which could not apply to the incest, limits the reference of to the parricide; while ( 273 ) refers to both stains.

mvp-comment-202-1 He has two distinct pleas, (1) provocation, and (2) ignorance. These could have been expressed by ἀντέδρων (1) παθὼν μέν , (2)

. But (2) is forestalled by the thought that, if he had known, (1) would have excused him. This hypothesis is then contrasted with the fact (273) ; and the fact on his side is next contrasted with the fact on the other (274) . Hence παθὼν μέν has no clause really answering to it; for νῦν δ’ answers to εἰ φρονῶν , and ὑφ’ ὧν δ’ to οὐδὲν εἰδώς . The impf. ( ἀντέδρων ) expresses the situation ("I was retaliating"): the aor. (273) , an act accomplished at a definite moment.

mvp-comment-203-1 ἱκόμην ἵν’ ἱκόμην ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-204-1 ὑφ’ ὧν δ’ ἔπασχον ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-204-2 ἔπασχον ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-205-1 ὥσπερ με κἀνεστής ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-206-1 θεοὺς … τοὺς θεοὺς ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-207-1 μοίραις ποεῖσθε ⁸¹

mvp-comment-207-2 ποεῖσθε ⁸²

mvp-comment-208-1 The place of του before φωτός (cp. Ai. 29

, Ph. 519

μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς

) would be less awkward if φυγὴν and μήπω changed places: but the latter is reserved for the emphatic place at the beginning of the verse.

mvp-comment-209-1 μήπω ⁸³

mvp-comment-209-2 φωτὸς … βροτῶν ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-210-1 ξὺν οἷς ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-210-2 μὴ κάλυπτε ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-210-3 τὰς εὐδαίμονας ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-211-1 ἔλαβες ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-211-2 τὸν ἱκέτην ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-211-3 ἐχέγγυον ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-212-1 ἐκφύλασσε ⁹¹

mvp-comment-213-1 δυσπρόσοπτον ⁹²

mvp-comment-214-1 ἱερός ⁹³

mvp-comment-214-2 εὐσεβής ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-214-3 φέρων | ὄνησιν ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-215-1 ὁ κύριος … τις ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-216-1 τὰ δὲ μεταξὺ τούτου ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-216-2 τὰ ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-217-1 τἀπὸ σοῦ ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-218-1 ὠνόμασται ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-218-2 βραχέσι ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-219-1 ἄνακτας ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-219-2 διειδέναι ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-220-1 The

had spoken of Theseus as

ὁ κατ’ ἄστυ βασιλεύς

(67) , but had not said where he then was.

mvp-comment-221-1 πατρῷον ἄστυ γῆς ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-221-2 ἔχει ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-221-3 σκοπὸς ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-222-1 κἀμὲ ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-222-2 ἔπεμψεν ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-222-3 στελῶν ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-223-1 Wecklein brackets these nine verses, thinking that they arose from a misunderstanding of 551-554 . Theseus divined the name of Oedipus from the description of his person; but these vv. were inserted by one who thought it necessary to explain how Theseus knew the name. I hold the verses to be genuine. The

must have been sent to Athens by the Chorus before they came to the grove (117) , and could not, therefore, know the name of Oedipus (first disclosed at 222 ). He could only tell Theseus that there was a blind stranger at Colonus, who hinted at his own power to confer benefits (72) , and who looked noble (76) . Theseus, on entering (551) , at once greets Oedipus by name, though he had never seen him before (68) . He had divined the identity through a knowledge of the history (553) — i.e. he started from Athens on the strength of what the could tell. And on the way to Colonus (adds Theseus) he has been made certain of the fact (554) — i.e. he had heard the name. Now, it was precisely for such certainty that the dramatist meant this passage to provide. He felt that otherwise there might have been too great improbability in the instant confidence of the recognition by Theseus.

mvp-comment-224-1 Join αὐτὸν with ἐλθεῖν , not with ἕξειν : cp. O. T. 6

.

mvp-comment-225-1 καὶ κάρθ’ ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-226-1 κέλευθος ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-227-1 πλανᾶσθαι ¹¹²

mvp-comment-227-2 τῶν ¹¹³

mvp-comment-228-1 θάρσει, παρέσται ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-228-2 πολὺ ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-229-1 κεἰ βραδὺς εὕδει ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-229-2 εὕδω ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-229-3 βραδύς ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-230-1 κλύων σοῦ ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-231-1 τίς γὰρ ἐσθλός ¹²¹

mvp-comment-232-1 τίλέξω ¹²³

mvp-comment-232-2 ποῖ φρενῶν ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-233-1 τί δ’ ἔστι; ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-234-1 Αἰτναίας … πώλου ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-234-2 Αἰτναίας ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-235-1 κρατὶ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-235-2 Θεσσαλὶς κυνῆ ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-236-1 πρόσωπα ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-237-1 Elms. cp. Eur. I. T. 577

mvp-comment-237-2 πλανᾷ ¹³¹

mvp-comment-238-1 Arist. Metaphys. 3. 6

mvp-comment-238-2 τί φῶ ¹³³

mvp-comment-239-1 φαιδρὰ ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-239-2 σαίνει με ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-240-1 The δῆλον of the MSS. can mean only "manifest to me" (a very weak sense): for it could not bear the emphatic sense, "in living presence" (as opp. to "in my fancy"). Nor, again, can it well be taken as a parenthetic adv., "'tis clear" (like Ai. 906

). The conjecture ἀδελφὸν (cp. Ant. 1

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα

) may be right.

mvp-comment-241-1 Ismene has come from Thebes, where she has hitherto continued to live, in order to bring her father important tidings. The Thebans will shortly make an attempt to fix his home, not within, but near their borders. A war has already broken out between his sons.

mvp-comment-241-2 There is no contrast in this play, as in the early part of the Antigone , between the spirit of the sisters. But the contrast between their circumstances indirectly exalts Antigone. She is wandering barefooted, enduring heat and cold ( 349 f. ), — Creon is struck by the suffering shown in her aspect ( 748 ), — while Ismene has at least the ordinary comforts of life.

mvp-comment-241-3 ὦ δισσὰ πατρὸς καὶ κασιγν ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-242-1 δεύτερον ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-242-2 λύπῃ ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-243-1 ὁρᾶν ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-244-1 In the MSS. the verse ἦ τῆσδε κἀμοῦ ; etc. stands immediately after the verse πρόσψαυσον, ὦ παῖ , etc. Musgrave has been followed by nearly all subsequent editors, in separating these two verses by the insertion between them of the verse ὦ σπέρμ’ ὅμαιμον etc. This transposition is plainly necessary: else Ismene will say that she touches not only her father and sister, but herself. Campbell defends

as meaning, "I too am linked in this unhappy circle": adding that The source of the confusion in the MSS. was obviously that the gen. ἦ τῆσδε κἀμοῦ etc. could depend, in grammar , either on θιγγάνω or on τροφαί , though the sense leaves no choice. Nauck further places v. 327 ( ) after v. 329 ( ). Wecklein places v. 328 ( ) after v. 329 . Neither of these changes is hurtful; but neither appears necessary.

mvp-comment-245-1 ὦ δυσάθλιαι τροφαί ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-245-2 ὅμαιμον ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-246-1 σῇ ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-247-1 πότερα ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-247-2 πόθοισι ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-247-3 λόγων αὐτάγγ ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-248-1 ξὺν ᾧπερ … μόνῳ ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-249-1 πονεῖν ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-249-2 ποῦ ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-250-1 οὗπέρ εἰσι ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-250-2 τανῦν ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-251-1 Αἰγύπτῳ ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-252-1 φύσιν ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-252-2 τροφάς ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-253-1 ἱστουργοῦντες ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-254-1 τἄξω βίου τροφεῖα ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-255-1 σφῷν δ’ ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-256-1 Not noticing Ismene's hint (336) , Oedipus imagines his sons in repose at Thebes. He is soon to learn that one of them, an exile, is levying war against the other (374) .

mvp-comment-256-2 οἰκουροῦσιν ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-256-3 ὥστε ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-256-4 παρθένοι ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-257-1 τἀμὰ δυστήνου ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-258-1 νέας τροφῆς ἔληξε ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-258-2 κατίσχυσεν ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-259-1 γερονταγωγεῖ ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-260-1 νηλίπους ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-261-1 ἡγεῖται ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-261-2 τὰ τῆς ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-262-1 εἰ … ἔχοι ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-262-2 τροφὴν ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-263-1 μαντεῖα πάντα ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-264-1 τοῦδε σώματος ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-264-2 φύλαξ δέ μοι ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-264-3 μοι ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-265-1 στόλος ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-266-1 μὴ οὐχὶ … φέρουσα ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-267-1 From Thebes to Athens is a short day's journey; but Ismene has sought her father far and wide. This could not well have been if, as Campbell supposes (on 355 ), the oracles which she herself had formerly brought to him had directed his course towards Attica.

mvp-comment-268-1 ζητοῦσα τὴν σὴν τροφήν ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-269-1 ἀμφὶ … παίδοιν ¹⁸²

mvp-comment-270-1 Eteocles and Polyneices were young boys at the fall of Oedipus (see on 1

), and their uncle Creon (brother of Iocasta) became regent ( O. T. 1418 ). As the two brothers grew up, they agreed, at first, in wishing to resign the throne, of which they were joint heirs, to Creon, lest Thebes should be tainted by their own rule; but afterwards they fell to striving with each other for the sole power.

mvp-comment-270-2 ἔρως ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-270-3 Κρέοντί τε ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-270-4 Paley's

is, however, highly probable. It would mean, "to Creon in the next resort." So δὴ is used of succession in Ant. 173 , where Creon says , I next (the sons of Oed. being dead); and Aesch. Eum. 3

ἣ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδ’ ἕζετο | μαντεῖον

.

mvp-comment-271-1 ἐᾶσθαι ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-271-2 πόλιν ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-272-1 λόγῳ ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-272-2 τὴν πάλαι … φθοράν ¹⁸⁸

mvp-comment-273-1 κἀλιτηρίου ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-274-1 The dat. after εἰσῆλθε is strictly a dat. of the person interested, but was perh. influenced by the analogy of the dat. in

, "it occurred to me," and the like; cp. Tr. 298

ἐμοὶ γὰρ οἶκτος... εἰσέβη

: Her. 1.86

) λέγεται ( τῷ Κροίσῳ … ἐσελθεῖν...τὸ τοῦ Σόλωνος

: but 6. 125

τὸν Κροῖσον γέλως ἐσῆλθε

: and so Eur. Med. 931

εἰσῆλθέ μ’ οἶκτος

.

mvp-comment-274-2 τρὶς ἀθλίοιν ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-275-1 If νεάζων ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-276-1 τὸν πρόσθε ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-277-1 ἀποστερίσκει ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-278-1 πληθύων ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-279-1 Ἄργος ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-280-1 κῆδος ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-280-2 καινόν ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-281-1 ὡς ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-281-2 ὡς … Ἄργος … καθέξον ἢ … βιβῶν ²⁰²

mvp-comment-282-1 τιμῇ ²⁰³

mvp-comment-282-2 καθέξον ²⁰⁴

mvp-comment-282-3 πρὸς οὐρ. βιβῶν ²⁰⁵

mvp-comment-283-1 ἀριθμός ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-284-1 If the MS. ὅποι (Vat. ὅπη ) is right, the phrase is harsh beyond example. ποῖ, ὅποι , instead of ποῦ, ὅπου , are often boldly used, when the verb implies either ( a ) motion , as 227

, 476

τελευτῆσαι

, Eur. Bacch. 184

καθιστάναι

, etc.; or ( b ) patience up to a point, as Aristoph. Lys. 526

ποῖ γὰρ καὶ χρῆν ἀναμεῖναι;

But it is hard to see how ὅποι κατοικτιοῦσιν could mean " how far they will prolong (thy woes) before they pity them." To supply προελθόντας or προαγαγόντες is to cut the knot. If the phrase meant anything, it ought rather to mean, " up to what point they will pity them." As in 335

ποῖ

is a MS. error for ποῦ , so here ὅποι for ὅπου (Wecklein prefers ὅπῃ , "in what way"). Note that, in this context, πόνους = the woes of Oed. generally (mental and physical), not merely his toils in wandering: this is against the emend. κατοικιοῦσιν .

mvp-comment-285-1 ὡς … ἕξειν ²⁰⁷

mvp-comment-285-2 ὡς … θεοὺς ἕξειν ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-286-1 Since ἔγωγε is virtually one word, this v. cannot be regarded as an instance of γε used twice in the same sentence. Such repetition is allowable when more than one word is to be emphasised, as Eur. Phoen. 554

, but no certain example happens to occur in Soph.: see on O. T. 1030 .

mvp-comment-287-1 The purport of this new oracle seems to have been: — "The welfare of Thebes depends on Oed., alive or dead." Ismene paraphrases it: — "It shows that you will be in request with the Thebans some day (

, i.e. some day soon , 397 ), — not merely after your death, but while you live." She knows that Creon is coming in the hope of carrying Oed. back — not to Thebes, but to some place just beyond the Theban border, where his person, and afterwards his grave, should be under Theban control. Cp. on 1331

.

mvp-comment-288-1 εὐσοίας ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-289-1 A and other MSS. have

, which gives a clear constr. It seems arbitrary to assume that in L's reading the syllable lost was rather τι after τίς δ’ ἂν , the gen. being one of source. Herm. supports the latter view by O. T. 1006

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι

, but there the gen. is absolute. Wecklein gives comparing ; but in such phrases = not

mvp-comment-290-1 ἐν σοὶ ²¹¹

mvp-comment-290-2 γίγνεσθαι ²¹²

mvp-comment-290-3 φασί ²¹³

mvp-comment-290-4 κράτη ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-291-1 ἀνήρ ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-292-1 ὤλλυσαν ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-293-1 see on 1

.

mvp-comment-293-2 δ\ς πέσῃ ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-294-1 καὶ μὴν ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-294-2 γε ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-295-1 βαιοῦ … χρόνου ²²⁰

mvp-comment-295-2 κοὐχὶ μ. ²²¹

mvp-comment-296-1 στήσωσι ²²²

mvp-comment-297-1 ὅρων ²²³

mvp-comment-298-1 The tenor of this fine passage should be observed.

mvp-comment-298-2 Oedipus took

(392) to mean that the welfare of Thebes depended on his presence there. He is thinking of a restoration to his Theban home (395) . He asks, therefore, —"Of what use can I be to them if I am left at their doors, and not received within their land?" "They will suffer," she replies, "if your tomb is neglected." Oedipus does not see the force of this answer: he still infers (from θανόντα in 390 ) that, whatever may be his doom in life, he is at least to be buried at Thebes. "Why, of course they will," he replies (403) . " So " — pursues the daughter (404) — "they mean to keep you within their grasp." A new suspicion flashes on him. "They will bury me at Thebes?" "It cannot be." That is enough. He will never give himself into their hands. — Remark that he was supposing Apollo's former decree (91) to have been cancelled by this later one (389) . He now sees that the new oracle does not cancel the former, but merely confirms it in one aspect, viz. in the promise of

ἄτην τοῖς πέμψασιν

(93) .

mvp-comment-298-3 θύρασι ²²⁴

mvp-comment-298-4 κειμένου ²²⁵

mvp-comment-299-1 κείνοις ²²⁶ βαρύς ²²⁷

mvp-comment-299-2 δυστυχῶν ²²⁸

mvp-comment-300-1 Cp. O. T. 398

. It needed no oracle to tell one that they would incur divine anger for neglecting the first duties of piety towards their late king.

mvp-comment-301-1 σε προσθέσθαι ²²⁹

mvp-comment-301-2 ἂν … κρατοῖς ²³⁰

mvp-comment-302-1 καὶ ²³¹

mvp-comment-303-1 τοὔμφυλον αἷμα ²³²

mvp-comment-304-1 συναλλαγῆς ²³³

mvp-comment-305-1 σοῖς … τάφοις ²³⁴

mvp-comment-306-1 θεωρῶν ²³⁵

mvp-comment-306-2 ἑστίας ²³⁶

mvp-comment-307-1 ἐφ’ ἡμῖν ²³⁷

mvp-comment-308-1 οἱ μολόντες ²³⁸

mvp-comment-309-1 παίδων τις ²³⁹

mvp-comment-310-1 καὶ εἶτα ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-310-2 τῶνδ’ ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-310-3 πάρος … προὔθεντο ²⁴²

mvp-comment-311-1 τοὐμοῦ πόθου ²⁴³

mvp-comment-312-1 φέρω δ’ ὅμως ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-313-1 ἀλλ’ ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-313-2 σφιν ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-313-3 τὴν πεπρωμένην ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-314-1 ἐν δ’ ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-314-2 ἐν ἐμοί ²⁴⁹

mvp-comment-315-1 κἀπαναίρονται ²⁵⁰

mvp-comment-315-2 ἐπαναιροῦνται δόρυ ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-316-1 ὡς ²⁵²

mvp-comment-317-1 οἵ γε ²⁵³

mvp-comment-318-1 ἀτίμως ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-319-1 οὐκ ἔσχον ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-319-2 ἤμυναν ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-319-3 ἀνάστατος ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-320-1 αὐτοῖν ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-320-2 ἐξεκηρύχθην ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-321-1 εἴποις ἂν ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-321-2 θέλοντι ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-321-3 τότε ²⁶²

mvp-comment-322-1 The ι in L's κατηίνυσεν speaks for κατῄνεσεν ,— clearly much fitter here than κατήνυσεν . Cp. 1633

, 1637

κατῄνεσεν

. The contrast is between exile imposed as a doom or granted as a boon,—not merely between a wish fulfilled or unfulfilled.

mvp-comment-323-1 ἡμέραν ²⁶³

mvp-comment-323-2 τὴν αὐτίχ’ ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-324-1 λευσθῆναι πέτροις ²⁶⁵

mvp-comment-325-1 ἔρωτ’ ἐς τόνδ’ ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-326-1 πέπων ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-327-1 ἐκδραμόντα ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-328-1 The gen. might be taken with μείζω , "a chastiser greater than the sins," i.e. "severer than they merited" (

.); but it is simpler to take it with κολαστήν , "too great a chastiser of the sins." As is "violent anger," so which is over-violent can be called . The rhythm of the verse will not permit us to disjoin (as by a comma) from .

mvp-comment-329-1 τὸ τηνίκ’ ἤδη ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-329-2 τοῦτο μέν ²⁷³

mvp-comment-330-1 χρόνιον ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-330-2 ἐπωφελεῖν ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-331-1 οἱ τοῦ πατρὸς τῷ πατρί ²⁷⁶

mvp-comment-331-2 τὸ δρᾶν ²⁷⁷

mvp-comment-332-1 ἔπους σμικροῦ χάριν ²⁷⁸

mvp-comment-333-1 σφιν ²⁷⁹

mvp-comment-334-1 τοῖνδε ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-335-1 τροφάς ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-336-1 γῆς ἄδειαν ²⁸²

mvp-comment-336-2 Nauck's

seems too suggestive of a fixed home to suit (3): Wecklein's makes a detail too prominent in this general acknowledgment. With regard to or (Blaydes), remark that never occurs with a gen. of that against which one is safe. The καὶ before seems genuine: were it absent, the before must answer to that before . And, for a rhetorical passage, γῆς is in some degree confirmed by the assonance with .

mvp-comment-336-3 γένους ²⁸³

mvp-comment-337-1 The constr. is, εἱλέσθην θρόνους, καὶ κραίνειν σκῆπτρα , etc.

mvp-comment-337-2 κραίνειν ²⁸⁴

mvp-comment-337-3 σκῆπτρα ²⁸⁵

mvp-comment-338-1 As most editors since Elmsley have allowed, the MS. οὔ τι ... οὔτε cannot be right. And οὔ τι ... οὐδέ is clearly more forcible than οὔτε ... οὔτε .

mvp-comment-338-2 λάχωσι ²⁸⁶

mvp-comment-338-3 τοῦδε ²⁸⁷

mvp-comment-338-4 συμμάχου ²⁸⁸

mvp-comment-339-1 The oracle newly brought by Ismene is distinguished from the oracle given to Oedipus himself at Delphi in former years (see on 87

). He calls the former her oracle, because she brings it. Both oracles alike concern him. We must not, then, change τἀξ to τἀπ’ ( ).

mvp-comment-339-2 τὰ ἐξ ἐμοῦ παλαίφατα ²⁸⁹

mvp-comment-339-3 ἐξ ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-340-1 ἤνυσεν ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-341-1 ὁμοῦ | προστάτισι ²⁹²

mvp-comment-341-2 In the reading

, note these points: (1) would not mean, "defend me," but rather "defend against me" (cp. on 1524

): we must at least have μοι . (2) πρός yields no tolerable sense. , "ye, in addition to the goddesses," ranks the Coloniates with, or above, their deities. The gloss , written in L over (whence it came into other MSS.), was a palliative. Nor could mean here, "close to their shrine."

mvp-comment-341-3 For Dindorf's

it may be urged:—(1) is in all MSS., which would be strange if were genuine; while is simply explained by ( ) . (2) A change of into might have produced the change of into . (3) After in 455 it is easy to dispense with the pronoun.—Cp. O. T. 882

θεὸν οὐ λήξω ποτὲ προστάταν ἴσχων

: Tr. 209

Ἀπόλλωνα προστάταν

: Porphyry Antr. Nymph. 12

νύμφαις ὑδάτων προστάτισιν

.

mvp-comment-342-1 δημούχοις ²⁹³

mvp-comment-343-1 ἀλκὴν ποεῖσθαι ²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-344-1 ἀρεῖσθε ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-344-2 The ἐμῆς in L (where

perh. preceded ) gives some colour to the conjecture (or ) : yet τοῖς δ’ ἐμοῖς seems right. Oedipus is following the train of thought in which benefits to Attica are bound up with retribution for his own wrongs ( 92 ); and he thus gives the Chorus another pledge that their interest is one with his. With is best in 459 : with would have been fitter.

mvp-comment-345-1 ἐπάξιος ²⁹⁶

mvp-comment-345-2 κατοικτίσαι ²⁹⁷

mvp-comment-346-1 αὐτός τε παῖδές θ’ ²⁹⁸

mvp-comment-347-1 ἐπεμβάλλεις ²⁹⁹

mvp-comment-347-2 τῷδε λόγῳ ³⁰⁰

mvp-comment-348-1 Editors usu. give either

(with L), or (as Elms.). But νυν seems best in 465 , νῦν in 466 .

mvp-comment-348-2 προξένει ³⁰¹

mvp-comment-348-3 ὡς … τελοῦντι ³⁰²

mvp-comment-349-1 καθαρμὸν τῶνδε δαιμόνων ³⁰³

mvp-comment-350-1 The libation is due (1) as a greeting to the

of Attica, (2) as an atonement for trespass on the grove. The words form an independent sentence, and not a second relative clause (as if were supplied from ): see on 424

.

mvp-comment-350-2 κατέστειψας ³⁰⁴

mvp-comment-351-1 ἀειρύτου ³⁰⁵

mvp-comment-352-1 δῑ ὁσίων χειρῶν ³⁰⁶

mvp-comment-353-1 τοῦτο ³⁰⁷

mvp-comment-353-2 ἀκήρατον ³⁰⁸

mvp-comment-354-1 κρατῆρές εἰσιν ³⁰⁹

mvp-comment-354-2 εὔχειρος ³¹¹

mvp-comment-354-3 τέχνη ³¹²

mvp-comment-355-1 The crater had various forms, some of them local (thus Her. 4.61 speaks of a

, and 4. 152 of an ): but the general type was that of a large bowl, supported by a foot with a broad base, and having a handle at each side (cp. Guhl and Koner, p. 150).

mvp-comment-355-2 κρᾶτ’ ³¹³

mvp-comment-355-3 λαβὰς ἀμφιστόμους ³¹⁴

mvp-comment-356-1 θαλλοῖσιν ³¹⁵

mvp-comment-357-1 The MS. νεαρᾶς seems the right word: with Bellermann, I insert σὺ , though Wecklein's τε is also possible. For the iterated

cp. Ant. 157

νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι θεῶν

ἐπὶ συντυχίαις

. The objection to γε is that it supposes κρόκαισιν to be the genus of which μαλλῷ is a species. μαλλός , however, means, not a woollen texture, but a fleece of wool, flocks of which were to be made into a festoon ( στέφος ) for the brim of the κρατήρ , like that which the suppliant put on his ἱκετηρία ( O. T. 3 ). νεώρους is tempting, but elsewhere means "recent," "fresh" ( 730 , El. 901 ), not "young." The drawback to Dindorf's νεαλοῦς is the sense. νεαλής in class. Attic meant not young , but fresh as opp. to exhausted : Xen. Cyr. 8.6.17

παραλαμβάνειν τοὺς ἀπειρηκότας ἵππους καὶ ἀνθρώπους καὶ ἄλλους πέμπειν νεαλεῖς

. Plat. Polit. 265B

νεαλέστεροι ὄντες

(we shall travel better) while we are fresh. Aristoph. fr. 330

ἕως νεαλής ἐστιν αὐτὴν τὴν ἀκμήν

is an isolated line, but the word seems to have the same sense there. Nicander Alexipharmaca 358 ( circ. 150 B.C. ) is the first writer quoted for νεαλής as = "young."

mvp-comment-357-2 λαβών ³¹⁶

mvp-comment-358-1 τὸ δ’ ἔνθεν ³¹⁷

mvp-comment-358-2 ποῖ τελ. ³¹⁸

mvp-comment-359-1 χοὰς χέασθαι ³¹⁹

mvp-comment-359-2 πρὸς πρώτην ἕω ³²⁰

mvp-comment-359-3 The schol. here says that persons performing expiatory rites (

) or purifications ( ) faced the East (as the region of light and purity), quoting El. 424 f., where Electra , and Cratinus (the title of the comedy was , Bothe, Frag. Com. p. 47): ,—the squill being used in purifications.

mvp-comment-359-4 Statues of gods were oft. set to face the East ( Paus. 5.23.1 , etc.): also, victims about to be sacrificed ( Sen. Oed. 338 ). Cp. the precept of Zoroaster

(Max Müller, Chips 1. 175). Conversely, in pronouncing solemn curses the priests faced the West ,—waving red banners: [Lys.] In Andoc. § 51 .

mvp-comment-360-1 κρωσσοῖς ³²¹

mvp-comment-360-2 οἷς ³²²

mvp-comment-360-3 χέω ³²³

mvp-comment-361-1 πηγάς ³²⁴

mvp-comment-361-2 τρισσάς ³²⁵

mvp-comment-361-3 τὸν τελευτ ³²⁶

mvp-comment-362-1 θῶ ³²⁷

mvp-comment-363-1 μελίσσης ³²⁸

mvp-comment-363-2 προσφέρειν ³²⁹

mvp-comment-364-1 μελάμφυλλος ³³⁰

mvp-comment-365-1 αὐτῇ ³³¹

mvp-comment-365-2 ἐξ ἀμφοῖν χεροῖν ³³²

mvp-comment-366-1 ἐπεύχεσθαι ³³³

mvp-comment-367-1 τούτων ³³⁴

mvp-comment-367-2 μέγιστα ³³⁵

mvp-comment-368-1 Εὐμενίδας ³³⁶

mvp-comment-368-2 ἐξ ³³⁷

mvp-comment-369-1 τὸν ἱκέτην ³³⁸

mvp-comment-369-2 σωτήριον ³³⁹

mvp-comment-370-1 σύ τ’ ³⁴⁰

mvp-comment-371-1 ἄπυστα ³⁴¹

mvp-comment-371-2 μηκύνων ³⁴³

mvp-comment-372-1 ἀφέρπειν ³⁴⁴

mvp-comment-372-2 ἄστροφος ³⁴⁵

mvp-comment-373-1 παρασταίην ³⁴⁶

mvp-comment-374-1 προσχώρων ³⁴⁷

mvp-comment-375-1 ὁδωτά ³⁴⁸

mvp-comment-375-2 λείπομαι ³⁴⁹

mvp-comment-375-3 ἐν ³⁵⁰

mvp-comment-376-1 δύνασθαι ³⁵¹

mvp-comment-377-1 ἀρκεῖν … παρῇ ³⁵²

mvp-comment-378-1 ἀλλ’ ἐν τάχει τι ³⁵³

mvp-comment-379-1 δίχα ³⁵⁴

mvp-comment-380-1 τελοῦσα ³⁵⁵

mvp-comment-380-2 τὸν τόπον ³⁵⁶

mvp-comment-381-1 χρῆσται ³⁵⁷

mvp-comment-381-2 τοῦτο ³⁵⁸

mvp-comment-382-1 ἄλσους ³⁵⁹

mvp-comment-383-1 ἔποικος ³⁶⁰

mvp-comment-384-1 Ἀντιγόνη, σὺ δ’ ³⁶¹

mvp-comment-385-1 οὐδ’ ³⁶²

mvp-comment-387-1 κείμενον … ἐπεγείρειν ³⁶³

mvp-comment-388-1 Mekler's ὥρα με (for ἔραμαι ) would give a closer correspondence between strophe and antistrophe: see on 523

.

mvp-comment-389-1 τί τοῦτο ³⁶⁴

mvp-comment-390-1 τᾶς ³⁶⁵

mvp-comment-390-2 ἀπόρου φανείσας ³⁶⁶

189. mvp-comment-114-1 ἵν᾿ ἄν The use of the optative mood with ἄν after a relative, following an imperative, and conveying an implied purpose, is analogous to the Epic construction of such passages as Hom. Il. 8.289 foll., πρώτῳ τοι μετ' ἐμὲ πρεσβήϊον ἐν χερὶ θήσω, |... ἠὲ γυναῖχ᾽ ἣ κέν τοι ὑμὲν λέχος εἰσαναβαίνοι: Theocr. 25.61, ἐγὼ δὲ τοι ἡγεμονεύσω | αὖλιν ἐς ἡμετέρην ἵνα κεν τέτμοιμεν ἄνακτα. The use of ἄν in such places is equivalent to the use of ἄν with the optative in independent clauses. The usage, however, is rare, and has not been generally retained in later Greek.

189. mvp-comment-114-2 In εὐσεβίας ἐπιβαίνοντες there is a confusion of the literal and metaphorical sense, like that noticed in ἥκομεν, l. 12. Partly coming where we may stand without impiety. like ἐπίβαινε in l. 178, and partly relying on pious action, as in Phil. 1463, δόξης οὔποτε τῆσδ᾽ ἐπιβάντες, where, as here, there is a reminiscence of Epic Greek. Od. 23.13, σαοφροσύνης ἐπέβησαν, etc.

191. mvp-comment-115-1 And let us not fight with necessity.

192. mvp-comment-116-1 αὐτοῦ There; i.e. That is where I bid you stay. The ellipse is probably a colloquial idiom. Cp. ἔτι; l. 180, supra.

192-193. mvp-comment-117-1 μηκέτι .. κλίνῃς Stir not again from this rocky platform. For the periphrasis in πόδα κλίνῃς, cp. 113, καὶ σύ μ᾽ ἐξ ὁδοῦ πόδα κρύψον, Ο. Τ. 468, πόδα νωμᾷν. The expression ἀντίπετρον βῆμα, A rock-like platform. would suggest to those who had seen the sacred place at Colonus some peculiarity in the basement of the low seats at the entrance of the grove, or possibly means that while Oedipus remains on this narrow restingplace his foot is placed immovably on the rock. The conjecture αὐτοπέτρου is plausible but unnecessary. The Scholiast says, ἀντιπέτρου, ὅτι ἀντὶ πέτρας χαλκοῦν ἦν, referring to the χάλκους ὀδός. Cp. supr. l. 57, and note. ἀντίπετρος, like ἀντίθεος, ἀντίδουλος, ἀντήλιος, ἀντίπαις, ἀντίπυργος, ἀντίσποδος.

192-193. mvp-comment-117-2 Ιη πόδα κλίνῃς there is a reminiscence of the Epic use of κλίνω. II. 10. 349, 50, ὡς ἄρα φωνήσαντε παρέξ ὁδοῦ ἐν νεκύεσσιν | κλινθήτην.

195. mvp-comment-118-1 The form ἑσθῶ is questionable in Attic, according to Thom. Mag. p. 483, and Phryn. p. 269. But the word ἐκαθέσθην, which was afterwards in common use, may be supposed to have had a source in the earlier language. And the alternative reading στῶ is less in accordance with what precedes and follows. For this question, as implied in οὕτως; has been already answered, and the rejoinder, λέχριός γ'. ὀκλάσας. is more natural, when supposed to give assent to a request to be allowed to sit. Shall I be seated? Yes, bending low adown upon the surface of the stone. λέχριος, not 'sideways, but simply opposed to ὀρθός, and probably connected by Sophocles with λέχος, i. e. halfrecumbent, bending; cp. Eur. Med. 1168, where it is used of a person ready to fall backwards. λέχριος conveys the general notion of a position other than upright.

196. mvp-comment-119-1 ὀκλάσας (der. from κλάω) gives the more particular notion of bending the limbs together, as one does who is on a low seat. Cp. Il. 13. 281, ἀλλὰ μετοκλάζει καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἀμφοτέρους πόδας ίζει :-of the coward in an ambush, who keeps shifting from one constrained position to another. The MSS. give 0 λάου, for which form, instead of dãos, the Schol. quotes the authority of Herodian.

197. mvp-comment-120-1 ἐν *ἡσυχαίᾳ If the metre is to correspond to l. 182, we must read thus for ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ. The words are commonly taken to mean, (1) Adjust thy step to my quiet tread,-Leaning forward thine aged body on my loving hand. i. e. Antigone presses her foot against her father's to steady him while he sits down, and, lest he should fall forward, supports him with her hand. But βάσει (which the Schol. interprets τῇ καθέδρᾳ) may be understood to mean the stone support for the foot attached to the seat. (2) Fit thy foot into its quiet resting-place. Cp. βήματος in 193.

197. mvp-comment-120-2 ἡσυχαίᾳ has then associations from 176-177, as well as from the general silence and peacefulness surrounding the grove. The repetition of the same word in a different sense would be less felt than if we said in English, Step on that step.' P

198. mvp-comment-121-1 ἅρμοσαι The MS. reading ἁρμόσαι is inconsistent with the following clause. There is now a pause. The chorus are relieved from their horror, but only to be more horror-stricken.

198. mvp-comment-121-2 στεί

202. mvp-comment-122-1 δύσφρονος Cruel. ἄτη personified. Ant. 185, τὴν ἄτην χουσαν. ..

203. mvp-comment-123-1 ὅτε νῦν χαλᾷς (1) ‘Now that X 2 there is an end of this trouble about you,' or (2) Now that there is an end of your troubles' For (1) cp. supr. 169. For the absolute use of xaλᾷs, see Essay on Language p. 88. Cp. Eur. Ion 637, εἴκειν ὁδοῦ χαλῶντα τοῖς κακίοσιν : Ar.

203. mvp-comment-123-2 Αν. 383, οἵδε τῆς ὀργῆς χαλἂν εἴξασιν.

204. mvp-comment-124-1 τίς ἔφυς βροτῶν τίς ἔφυς, like οἴσεις, supr. 166, is reading supplied by an early hand on the margin of L. For is sup supplementary predicate, cp. Ο. Τ. 151, τίς ἔẞas; And for ἔφus = εἶ φύσει, cp. Ο. Τ. 1015, παίς γ᾽ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν. The reading of B, etc. is against metre. The same hand gives τίς ὁ πολύπονος ἄγει; which, (1) like τίς ἔφυς, is unlikely to have been invented, and is more forcible than τίς ὢν πολύπονος ἄγει; which is read in all MSS, and acknowledged by the Scholiast, but does not correspond to 186, τέτροφεν ἄφιλον ἀποστύγειν. (2) One interpretation of the Scholiast, τίς ὢν ἄγῃ ἀπὸ σῆς πόλεως; points to an ancient variation of reading, such as τίς ὢν ἄπολις ἄγει; which Blaydes suggests.

204. mvp-comment-124-2 ἀπόπτολις may have crept in from below. For τίς ὤν, cp. Aesch. Prom. 611, τίς ὤν, τίς ἄρα μ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἐτήτυμα προσθροεῖς;

211. mvp-comment-125-1 Nor search me out, inquiring farther. Cp. Od. 19. 116, μηδ' ἐμὸν ἐξερέεινε γένος καὶ πατρίδα γαίαν, | μή μοι μᾶλλον θυμὸν ἐνιπλήσῃς ὀδυνάων.

212. mvp-comment-126-1 τί τόδε; δεινὰ φύσις, αὔδα τί is extra metrum: cp. 1. 215. Elmsley conjectures τί δέ; κ.τ.λ.: cp. 1469. Herm. τί τοδ᾽; ΟΙ. αἰνά, κ.τ.λ. The former is the more probable of the two emendations. On φύσις in the sense of birth, see Essay on Language p. 91.

216. mvp-comment-127-1 ὤμοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω Il. 11.404, Od. 5. 465. Essay on Language § 45. p. 85.

217. mvp-comment-128-1 ἐπ᾿ ἔσχατα βαίνεις Your foot is on the verge, i. e. You are driven as it were to the edge of a precipice.

219. mvp-comment-129-1 Hermann's correction of this line is adopted without denying that some other (e. g. μέλλεις, Blaydes) may possibly be right.

220. mvp-comment-130-1 By simply rejecting lov from the Laurentian reading (i. e. λ. ἴ. τ. ἀ. -ὦ ὤ.), we might obtain a dactylic tetrameter, as in 224, 226, with a resolution of the 3rd arsis, for which, cp. Eur. Or. 1485, ἥσσονες ῾Ἑλλάδος ἐγενόμεθ᾽ αἰχμᾶς. But the regular alternation of the paroemiac with-0-0-0-gives a more probable rhythm. And ἀπόγονον may be a gloss on Λαΐου. If the several choreutae are supposed to speak in turn the line may have run: ΟΙ. Λαΐου ἴστε τιν'; ΧΟ. α΄. ὦ· ΧΟ. β'. ἰού, ἰού. And so Herm. read in 1839. For the sense, ср. О. Т. 1383, τὸν ἐκ θεῶν | φανέντ᾿ ἄναγνον καὶ γένους τοῦ Λαΐου : where the fatal birth from Laius makes the climax of horror.

224. mvp-comment-131-1 δύσμορος Alas. Oedipus, having been assured of peace, once more finds himself an outcast.

227. mvp-comment-132-1 ἃ δ᾽ ὑπέσχεο 176-177, But where will you make good your promise? i.e. But what becomes of your promise? Cp. Plat. Symp. 183 E.

229. mvp-comment-133-1 To no man cometh punishment from the fates for a matter in which he has been the first to suffer, that he κ.τ.λ. should be punished for this:' 1. ε. τίσις (τούτων), ὧν (genitive of relation) προπάθῃ, τὸ τίνειν, sc. τούτων τίσιν. Cp. infr. 271, ὅστις παθὼν μὲν ἀντέδρων, For the construction of ὧν, cp. Ant. 1194-1195, τί γάρ σε μαλθάσσοιμ᾽ ἄν, ὧν ἐσύστερον ψεῦσται φανούμεθ᾽; “For why should I soothe thee with a tale, in regard to which we shall presently be found false speakers?' See Essay on Language § 9. p. 13 This is better than (2) to make τίνειν = τίνεσθαι, ('nemo punitur ob injuriam prius acceptam, si eam rependit,' Herm., διὰ τὸ τιμωρεῖν ὑπὲρ ὧν προπάθῃ. . λείπει ἡ διά, Schol.): or (3) to make τὸ τίνειν the object of προπάθῃ; retribution for an act, of which he has already suffered the retribution: or (4) taking the genitive as after προ in comp. to render, that he should suffer for an act previously to which he has been wronged.' The chorus feel the gravity of their position in breaking a promise made in presence of the Erinyes, but plead that it was made under a false impression. Cp. Aesch. Fr. 294, ἀπάτης δικαίας οὐκ ἀποστατεῖ θεός. The form μοιράδιος, see v. rr., is questionable.

230. mvp-comment-134-1 For the collocation of words, cp. Phil. 138, τέχνα γὰρ τέχνας ἑτέρας προὔχει: Eur. Bacch. 905, ἕτερα δ᾽ ἔτερος ἕτερον ὄλβῳ καὶ δυνάμει παρῆλθεν. But deception, matching deception, makes return, not of good, but of evil.

233. mvp-comment-135-1 τῶνδ᾽ ἑδράνων The exact words of the promise (supr. 176) are repeated in retracting the promise.

234. mvp-comment-136-1 ἄφορμος ἐμᾶς χθονός The explanation of the Scholiast, ἄφορμος, ἀφορμηθείς, has been commonly accepted; but the derivation from ὅρμος gives more point, and is supported by the language of Oedipus, supr. 148. (1) Leaving my land;' (2) Driven from the harbour of my land. 235. Lest you bring some further burden on my state. χρέος, lit, debt. obligation, here, by a litotes, the obligation of removing pollution.

237-253. mvp-comment-137-1 O religious-minded strangers, yet, seeing ye could not bear with this my aged sire. because the sound of deeds which he did unwittingly was in your ears, yet, sirs, have pity, we entreat you, on me, the hapless one, who pray you for my own father, pray, looking in thine eyes with no blank gaze (like a daughter who had sprung from your own blood), that the unfortunate may find mercy. We are in your hands, and you are in the place of God to us in our misery. Come then, vouchsafe the unhoped for boon. By what thou lovest, of thy very own, pray thee, child, help-mate, duty, sacred name. For look as closely as you will, you shall not find the mortal who can resist the leading of a God.

237-253. mvp-comment-137-2 The pleading glyconic rhythms of l. 207 ff., which were broken off by the discovery of Oedipus, are here renewed, and as they proceed are mingled with a rapid dactylic strain, which meets the impetuosity of the chorus in l. 229 ff. with corresponding earnestness. This combined movement has given rise to some doubt, and, in order to keep the dactylic verse continuous, some would read in 247, ἐν ὑμῖν ὡς θεῷ, or ἐν ὕμμι γὰρ ὡς θεῷ, and in 252, with Triclinius, οὐ γὰρ ἴδοις ἂν ἀθρῶν βροτόν. But the syncopated thesis and change of rhythm in both places, as in ll. 7, 14, may give the effect of lingering earnestness (τὸ λιπαρές) combined with the eagerness of her supplication. On the other hand the slight alteration of the last two lines, approved by Hermann, appears probable on comparing ll. 235-236. The MS. reading of 253 may be scanned Cp. infr. 1676, 1703. In comparing this passage with El. 236-250 on the one hand, and on the other with Phil. 1170-1217, Eur. Or. 1452-1503, we seem to trace the increasing use of monostrophic μέλη ἀπὸ σκηνῆς. From the Aj., Ant., O. T., Trach. this phenomenon is absent, except in such short epodes as Ant. 876-881, ἄκλαυτος, ἄφιλος .. οὐδεὶς φίλων στενάζει. In the scheme of metres on pp. 301-302, it has been thought better not to divide the strophes into parts. Their structure will be sufficiently evident to the student, although a sharp division between the main portion of each, and the prelude or conclusion, can hardly be maintained.

237. mvp-comment-138-1 αἰδόφρονες This is not merely a propitiatory epithet = as you are merciful, have mercy, but is addressed to the religious spirit which the chorus have shown. As you are full of reverence for the Gods, have respect to the suppliant.' Antigone appeals from the religion of custom to the religion of the heart, and the way is thus prepared for the rebuke of Oedipus in 277-278.

237. mvp-comment-138-2 ἀλλά opposes this last prayer to the expressed determination of the chorus. The second ἀλλά resumes this with a slightly different force, contrasting her own supplication with that of her father, which they had rejected.

238. mvp-comment-139-1 γεραιὸν [ἄλαον πατέρα τόνδ' ἐμόν] Supposing the second a of ἄλαον short, as in 149, 244, this line is an iambic pentapody.

240. mvp-comment-140-1 ἀκόντων = ἀκουσίων, cp. 977, πῶς *δἂν τὸ γ' ἶκον πρᾶγμ᾽ ἂν εἰκότως ψέγοις. Essay on Language $ 50. 3. P. 94. For the metaphorical use of αὐδά, see Essay on Language p. 97.

243. mvp-comment-141-1 The reading of B Vat. etc. gives a glyconic verse similar to 239, if the first ἄντομαι is transferred to the next line- πατρὸς ὑπὲρ τοὐμοῦ ἄντομαι ἄντομαι -. But this is hardly the most natural or rhythmical division. μόνου, if genuine, simply adds emphasis to τοὐμοῦ πατρός. For my own father. μόνοs is one of the favourite words of Sophocles. Essay on Language p. 96.

245. mvp-comment-142-1 ὥς τις, κ.τ.λ. i. e. Looking up to you with the frank reliance of a daughter. ὡς ἂν τῆς κοινῆς ἀνθρωπότητος ἔχουσα τὸ συγγενές. Schol.

246. mvp-comment-143-1 τὸν ἄθλιον αἰδοῦς κῦρσαι These words are joined as an epexegesis or resumption with πατρὸς ὑπὲρ τοὐμοῦ ἄντομαι.

248. mvp-comment-144-1 Cp. Od. το. 69, ἀλλ᾽ ἀκέσασθε, φίλοι, δύναμις γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν: 13. 230-231, σοὶ γὰρ ἔγωγε | εύχομαι ὥς τε θεῷ. For the metre, cp. II. 242, 249, 252.

249. mvp-comment-145-1 νεύσατε is a poetical word, usually applied to the Gods.

249. mvp-comment-145-2 τὰν ἀδόκητον χάριν Unlooked for and therefore more prized. Cp. infr. 1104-1105, τὸ μηδαμὰ | ἐλπισθὲν ἥξειν σῶμα βαστάσαι δότε. 57

250. mvp-comment-146-1 πρός σ᾽ ὅ τι σοι φίλον Cp. Phil. 469, πρός τ' εἴ τι σοι κατ' οἶκόν ἐστι προσφιλές.

250. mvp-comment-146-2 ἐκ σέθεν] Coming from thyself. These words apply properly only to τέκνον, but are to be connected by a sort of zeugma in a more general sense with *λέχος, χρέος, θεός, just as τὰ ἔκ Tivos may mean all that is closely connected with him. Elmsley's conjecture οἴκοθεν deserves notice.

251. mvp-comment-147-1 ἢ τέκνον, ἢ *λέχος, ἢ χρέος It has been attempted to defend the MS. reading λόγος, by interpreting it suit, or petition. But λέχος, the conjecture of Reiske, accepted by Brunck and most editors, is probably right.

251. mvp-comment-147-2 χρέος Object of care.Antigone knows that property is dear to old men.

252. mvp-comment-148-1 βροτῶν was altered to βροτόν by Tricl. merely for the sake of the metre, and the comparison of ll. 242, 247 proves the change to have been unnecessary. See note on 237 ff. 254 ff These lines of the chorus, and the preceding speech of Antigone, were suspected by some ancient critics. But they are justly defended by the Scholiast, who observes that the passage was not obelized by Didymus. The lyrical interchange is followed as usual by a dialogue in senarii. Cp. esp. El. 251 ff. The chorus are ignorant of the divine purposes towards Oedipus, and are simply bent on defending the sacred precinct which is entrusted to their care. But they are not inhuman, and after the final appeal of Oedipus, who professes himself the saviour of Athens, they own that the matter is too hard for them, and are willing to refer it to Theseus as the supreme authority. 256, τὰ δ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν τρέμοντες] But fearing what the Gods may do. Cp. Hdt. 8. 15, τὸ ἀπὸ Ξέρξεω δειμαίνοντες. Y 261 ff. What value then has glory on the praise of men, that flows in unmeaning stream?' μάτην, i. e. without corresponding reality.

263. mvp-comment-149-1 κάμοιγε.. ἐστίν ; Ay, and of all this what do I find? Hermann would continue the force of eἰ: 'since Athens has this reputation which in my case proves vain. But the sentence is too long to be so compact. For καί, cp. infr. 606, El. 883, καὶ τίνος, κ.τ.λ.; and for ποῦ, 8,9. Schol. καὶ ὁ Κυρηναῖος· οὕνεκεν οἰκτείρειν οἶδε μόνη πολέων· ἐν τῷ β΄ τῶν αἰτιῶν. See on O. T. 355: Essay on Language § 24. p. 41.

263. mvp-comment-149-2 οἵτινες βάθρων (1) When ye, after lifting me up from this resting-place, then drive me away from it. For the want of antecedent in a passage expressing strong feeling (οἵτινες = εἰ ὑμεῖς), see Essay on Language p. 72. The sacredness of the ground was a reason for protecting the suppliant who was found there. L. 276 shows that ἐξάραντες refers not with ἐλαύνετε to 226, but to 149-196. Those who removed a suppliant from the hearth, altar, or other consecrated place, were bound to succour him. Cp. O. T. 142, where the king is acceding to the prayer of the petitioners, ὑμεῖς μὲν βάθρων | ἵστασθε, τούσδ᾽ ἄραντες ἱκτῆρας κλάδους. Otherwise (2), if βάθρων is taken strictly of the seat, called ἕδρανα, supr. 176, Who after removing me' (from the sacred ground) then drive me from this resting-place, or (3), Who remove and drive me from this resting-place. For the plural βάθρων in the more general sense, cp. Eur. Erechth. fr. 362, l. 47 .

266. mvp-comment-150-1 For my actions have indeed been sufferings and not actions.' See Essay on Language § 30. p. 51. The words of Lear (3. 2) have often been compared, I am a man | More sinned against than sinning. What

268. mvp-comment-151-1 εἰ . . χρείη Were it fitting. Cp. Τr. 749, εἰ χρὴ μαθεῖν σε. Oedipus here shrinks from saying, he 265 270

268. mvp-comment-151-2 χρείη χρεῖ' ἡι L. (ει from η). utters afterwards under pressure from the chorus (521 ff.), and under provocation from Creon (985 ff.).

269. mvp-comment-152-1 τοῦτο Sc. ὅτι διὰ ταῦτα ἐκφοβεῖ με.

270. mvp-comment-153-1 φύσιν has a strong emphasis. Whatever my actions may have been, my nature was surely not wicked; cp. Αj. 472, μή τοι φύσιν γ᾽ ἄσπλαγχνος ἐκ κείνου γεγώς, i. e. That I was not really a coward, though the award of the arms to Ulysses proclaimed me such.

271. mvp-comment-154-1 φρονῶν i. e. With clear knowledge. See on O. T. 316. Seeing that first of all I was returning a wrong, so that even had I done it knowingly, I should not have been guilty. But as it was, I went all unwittingly on my path of woe, whereas those who planned my destruction knew well what they were doing. The imperfect tense in ἀπωλλύμην expresses an intention not carried into effect (as in διδόναι, κτείνειν, etc.). Cp. Thuc. 3. 57, οἵτινες Μήδων τε κρατησάντων ἀπωλλύμεθα. The words παθών .. ἀντέδρων refer to the parricide: but it is doubtful whether παθών means simply in self defence, or contains an allusion to his father's act in preparing the destruction of his infant. Similarly it is doubtful whether l. 274 applies to Creon and his sons, or again to his parents. There may seem to be a certain harshness in supposing Oedipus to speak thus of Laius, and the tone of 521 ff., 985 ff. is certainly different. Yet this is the most obvious interpretation of the present passage, and receives some confirmation from O. Τ. 718-719, 1454, ἵν' ἐξ ἐκείνων, οἵ μ᾿ ἀπωλλύτην, θάνω. The peace of Oedipus does not include forgiveness of those who have wronged him; nor is it imagined that the natural relations so broken can be restored. See Introduction, p. 279.

276. mvp-comment-155-1 The raising of the suppliant implied a promise of protection. Cp 284.

278. mvp-comment-156-1 Do not while you think to honour the Gods, in reality dishonour them,' i.e. by driving out the suppliant. Some editors have attempted, reading μοῖραν, as in the early recension, or μοίpas, which is found in two MSS, to render, Do not, while ye honour the Gods suppose them to be fates' (or 'a fate'). By no means,' etc. But this sharp distinction between God and Fate belongs to a much later age. Sophocles would no more have spoken irreverently of the μοίραι than of the other deities. And the interpretation has no meaning that is relevant to the context. For how would the rejection of Oedipus imply that the Gods were blind fates? Was it not rather based on a misinterpretation of their will? The conjectures μαυρούς (Nauck), μείους (Martin) are not more satisfactory. The best hitherto is Schndw.'s μοίρᾳ ἐμποιεῖσθε. With regard to the reading of the text, which has strong MS. authority, it may be noticed; (1) that there is no difference of meaning between μοίραις and μοίρᾳ, if this is supposed equivalent το ἐν μοίρᾳ. This poetical al dative plural occurs in Plat. Legg. 923 Β, τὸ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου κατατιθεὶς ἐν μοίραις ἐλάττοσι δικαίως. (2) Next, that the omission of ev, or the substitution of the instrumental dative (Essay on Language § 14 p. 20) is supported by the similar use of τιμαῖς (r mg. C²*. 275 280 278. μοί- = ἐν τιμῇ ἀγόμενος, in Ο. Τ. 909, κούδαμοῦ τιμαῖς Ἀπόλλων ἐμφανής. See note in loco. (3) This explanation of μοίραις requires μηδαμῶς to be taken separately from μή, and to have the force of an independent negative. This is very unusual, but may be defended, a. by the consideration that μή negatives the sentence as a whole, and a subordinate negative is therefore more easily admissible; b. that μηδαμῶς may be taken closely with μοίραις after ποιεῖσθε = ὥστε μηδαμῶς ἐν μοίραις εἶναι. c. In Plat. Legg. 11, 913 A, there is a parallel instance in a participial clause, μηδ' αὖ κινήσειε μηδὲ τὸ βραχύτατον ἐμὲ μηδαμῇ μηδαμῶς πείθων. Nor again let him move anything, however small, without any sort of consent from me. And in El. 336, καὶ μὴ δοκεῖν μὲν δρᾶν τι, πημαίνειν δὲ μή, although the force of μή is continued in the latter part of the line, the second μή has an independent force. Cp. also Eur Erechth. fr. 362. 1. 46, οὐδ᾽ ἀντ᾿ ἐλάας χρυσέας τε Γοργόνος | τρίαιναν ὀρθὴν στᾶσαν ἐν πόλεως βάθροις | Εύμολπος οὐδὲ Θρᾶξ ἀναστέψει λεὼς | στεφάνοισι, Παλλὰς δ᾽ οὐδαμοῦ τιμήσεται. The antithesis between the literal observance of the local sanctities and the higher obligations of justice and mercy is the point of this part of the play. Cp. Phil. 451. 2, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν, ὅταν | τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν, τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς; Ant. 924, τὴν δυσσέβειαν εὐσεβοῦσ᾽ ἐκτησάμην, for similar contrasts of expression. The use of μοῖρα for τιμή is in keeping with the language of the play. See Introduction, p. 270.

281. mvp-comment-157-1 φωτὸς ἀνοσίου βροτῶν Cp. Aj. 1358, τοιοίδε μέντοι φῶτες ἔμπληκτοι βροτῶν : Οd. 17. 587, οὐ γάρ που τινες ὧδε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων | ἀνέρες ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται: 23. 187, ἀνδρῶν δ᾽ οὐ κέν τις ζωὸς βροτός. Essay on Language $ 40. p. 75-

282. mvp-comment-158-1 ξὺν οἷς i. e. (1) ξὺν τοῖς θεοῖς. These words properly belong to ῥύου με κάκφύλασσε, but are also joined with the prohibitive sentence that is interposed. Cp. Od. 1. 74, 5, ἐκ τοῦ δὴ Ὀδυσῆα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων | οὔτι κατακτείνει, πλάζει δ᾽ ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης. ξὺν ols has also been taken (2) as referring to the nearest words, φωτὸς ἀνοσίου βροτῶν. But it is better to refer it to the principal word in the previous sentence. Both interpretations are acknowledged in the Scholia.

282. mvp-comment-158-2 κάλυπτε Cloud with disgrace. Cp. Pind. Nem. 10. 40, Ἄργεϊ μὴ κρύπτειν φάος ὀμμάτων : Aesch. Pers. 536, ἄστυ τὸ Σούσων ἠδ' Ἀγβατάνων πένθει δνοφερῷ κατέκρυψας : also the metaphorical use οἱ ἀφανίζειν. The abruptness of the expression is softened by the explanatory clause, esp. the dative ἔργοις, i. e. Do not obscure the brightness of Athens by the impious deeds to which you minister.

284. mvp-comment-159-1 But as you have received your suppliant under a pledge.' ἐχέγγυος generally means able to give a pledge, and so trustworthy. But for the passive use of a word generally active, see Essay on Language p. 99; and cp. σωτήριον, l. 487 ;

284. mvp-comment-159-2 πιστωθείς, l. 1039 .

285. mvp-comment-160-1 ἐκφύλασσε Guard me to the end.

286. mvp-comment-161-1 δυσπρόσοπτον Unsightly.

288-289. mvp-comment-162-1 ὁ κύριος τις Your sovereign, whoever he is. For the combination of definite and indefinite, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 36; and cp. O. T. 107, τοὺς αὐτοέντας. τινάς. Oedipus has heard the name of Theseus, supr. 69, but he speaks cautiously, as if he depended on the chorus for information. For the courteous form of expression, cp. Pind. Pyth. 4. 230, βασιλεύς, | ὅστις ἄρχει ναός.

290-291. mvp-comment-163-1 τὰ δὲ | μεταξύ τούτου 'In your actions between that moment and this; i e. Meanwhile.

293-294. mvp-comment-164-1 λόγοισι γὰρ οὐκ ὠνόμασται βραχέσι] They are expressed in no light terms. The more literal meaning, in brief words, does not suit with ταρβεῖν. Why should a lengthy speech produce more awe than a shorter one? On the other hand, the meaning slight, insignificant, is supported by Plat. Legg. 692 C, ὡς ὄντων ἡμῶν βραχέος ἀξίων: Thuc. 1. 14, βραχέα ἐκέκτηντο: ib. 8. 76, βραχὺ . . καὶ ουδενὸς ἄξιον.

294-295. mvp-comment-165-1 τοὺς δὲ τῆσδε γῆς ἄνακτας] Plural for singular. Essay on Language § 20. p. 30. δέ opposes the middle course of waiting for Theseus, to the immediate reception of Oedipus.

297. mvp-comment-166-1 πατρῷον ἄστυ γῆς 'The citadel of the land, which was his father's.' The words designate the ancient πόλις, in the immediate neighbourhood of the Acropolis towards the south. Thuc. 2.15.

297-298. mvp-comment-167-1 σκοπός .. ὃς κἀμὲ δεῦρ᾽ ἔπεμπεν] The informant, who brought me hither. The Eévos is thus described, because he has seen Oedipus and will give Theseus true information. Schol. εὖ τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ, ὥστε μὴ διατριβάς γενέσθαι, τίς ὁ καλέσων ἔσται;

300. mvp-comment-168-1 *αὐτὸν ὥστ᾽ ἐλθεῖν αὐτόν, conjectured independently by Porson and Elmsley. It is doubted whether the pronoun is unemphatic and subject of έξειν, or emphatic (= 'in person') and subject of ἐλθεῖν. The latter suits better with the preceding speech, and with the feeling of Oedipus. As the Schol. observes, the Ξένος had not heard the name of Oedipus. But for dramatic purposes it is assumed that things told upon the stage become immediately more widely known. Cp. О. Т. 151, Aj. 148 ff. Triclinius read κἀπόνως, which is metrically unobjectionable, but it gives a poor meaning, and the aorist is harsh with έξειν preceding. Those who are not satisfied with Porson's emendations may prefer ὥστ᾽ ἀπόντ᾽ ἐλθεῖν πέλας; See Essay on Language § 32. p. 54, 2. 301 τοὔνομ᾽ αἴσθηται] αἴσθηται = ἀκούσῃ, hence the accus. The whole object is perceived, and not a part only.

303. mvp-comment-169-1 μακρὰ κέλευθος Cp. 165, πολλὰ κέλευθος ἐρατύει. See Introd. p. 275, supr. 15.

303. mvp-comment-169-2 πολλά Adverbial.

305. mvp-comment-170-1 πολύ Supplementary predicate, with the meaning celeber, much spoken of. Cp. Aesch. S. c. Τ. 6, πολὺς κατὰ πτόλιν ὑμνοῖθ᾽ ὑπ᾿ ἀστῶν: Hdt. 1. 98, ὁ Δηϊόκης ἦν πολλὸς.. αἰνεόμενος. Thy name in frequent repetition hath reached all men.'

306-307. mvp-comment-171-1 κεί βραδύς εὕδει Even though he be slow and slumbering. For the use of the adjective, see Essay on Language § 23. p. 38. 2; and cp. Aj. 47, δόλιος ὁρμᾶται. It is here slightly proleptic, i. e. εὕδει ὥστε βραδὺς εἶναι. The form of the expression is influenced by the antithesis of ταχύς. For the thought, cp. Ο. Τ. 65, ὥστ᾽ οὐχ ὕπνῳ γ' εὕδοντά μ' ἐξεγείρετε. εύδει, though added by an afterthought, has the chief emphasis. The conjectures ἕρπει, σπεύδει, are both in different ways injurious to the sense. The expression is hyperbolical, or figurative as in Eur. Suppl. 1147. For κλύων σοῦ, SC. ἀγγελίαν, cp. Ant. 1182, κλύουσα παιδός.

308. mvp-comment-172-1 Well, may he come, and in his coming be blest unto his own city as well as to me; for what good man is not a friend unto himself?' i.e. Who does not befriend himself in doing good? For the active meaning of φίλος (Sch.

308. mvp-comment-172-2 ἀντὶ τοῦ χρήσιμος), cp. Aj. 1359, Ant. 99, Phil. 1385, σοί που φίλος γ᾽ ὧν χώ λόγος τοιόσδε μου : Pind. Ol. 2. 103, φίλοις.. εὐεργέταν πραπίσιν : Aesch. Cho. 1051, φίλτατ᾿ ἀνθρώπων πατρί. For αὑτῷ, referring to αὑτοῦ, the more remote antecedent, and for the emphasis on αὑτοῦ, see Essay on Language § 41. p. 78. Cp. esp. Εl. 251, καὶ τὸ σὸν σπεύδουσ᾽ ἅμα καὶ τοὐμὸν αὐτῆς ἦλθον, and for the sense, infra 1505-1506, καί σοι θεῶν | τύχην τις ἐσθλὴν *ἧκε τῆσδε τῆς ὁδοῦ: 635, γῇ τῇδε κἀμοὶ δασμὸν οὐ σμικρὸν τίνει: 1124-1125, θεοὶ ποιοῖεν ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω | αὐτῷ τε καὶ γῇ τῇδ᾽: Hom. Il. 13.732-734, ἄλλῳ δ᾽ ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖ νόον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς | ἐσθλόν, τοῦ δὲ τε πολλοὶ ἐπαυρίσκοντ᾽ ἄνθρωποι, | καί τε πολέας ἐσάωσε, μάλιστα δέ κ᾿ αὐτὸς ἀνέγνω : infra 1518-1519, ἐγὼ διδάξω, τέκνον Αἰγέως, ἅ σοι | γήρως ἄλυπα τῇδε κείσεται πόλει. According to another interpretation, the words are added in excuse for ἐμοί τε, = Who is not dear to himself? (Schndw.. Nauck.) But (1) this requires the conjectural correction ἔσθ' ὅς (for ἐσθλός is then too absurd); and (2) the reflection is unsuitable to the context and to the general feeling of the play. Where a similar proverb occurs elsewhere in Sophocles, it is either the maxim of a schemer like Ulysses, or implies blame (Aj. 1366, ἦ πάνθ' ὅμοια πᾶς ἀνὴρ αὑτῷ πονεῖ). 310 ff. The coming of Ismene prepares the way for what follows by giving a forecast of the attempt of Creon and of the fruitless visit of Polynices. It also diverts attention from Theseus, whose arrival at Colonus from the Acropolis (a distance familiar to the spectators) would be less probable and also less impressive if he came too suddenly.

310. mvp-comment-173-1 ποῖ φρενῶν ἔλθω For the genitive, see Essay on Language § 10. p. 16. The broken lines mark (1) the disturbance of feeling caused by the surprise of Ismene's coming, and (2) the suspense of uncertainty. Cp. О. Т. 1468, 1471, 1475, and notes.

312-314. mvp-comment-174-1 Αἰτναίας .. Θεσσαλίς The epithets (see Scholia) are picturesque, and also call attention to the condition of Ismene, who having still a home at Thebes is well clothed and mounted, whereas Antigone is barefoot and sunburnt, infr. 348-349. The particular meaning of Αίτναία πῶλος and Θεσσαλὶς κυνῆ is of course uncertain, except that the one implies a horse of a fine breed and the other denotes a comfortable and shady riding-hat.

313. mvp-comment-175-1 βεβῶσαν Essay on Language p. 97.

313. mvp-comment-175-2 κρατὶ δ᾽ ἡλιοστερής The implied use of στέρομαι = to avert, keep away, may be paralleled from Aesch. Supp. 1063, Ζεὺς ἄναξ ἀποστεροίη γάμον δυσάνορα δάϊον. Essay on Language p. 98. Hence the substitution of ἡλιοσκεπής, or ἡλιοστεγής, which, equally with this, would be ἅπαξ λεγόμενα, is unnecessary. The use of the word is more natural if κρατί is dative of reference, than when κρατί is taken separately as a locative dative, though both constructions may be thought of; i.e. And on her head to screen it from the sun. Cp.

Shak. G. of V. 4, 2.

315. mvp-comment-176-1 τί φῶ; The uncertainty of Antigone continues until Ismene is dismounted and advances towards them. The single iambus is very unusual.

316. mvp-comment-177-1 ἢ γνώμη πλανᾷ Or does my judgment deceive me?

318. mvp-comment-178-1 τάλαινα Unhappy that I am. Said in the distraction of her doubt.

319-320. mvp-comment-179-1 φαιδρὰ ἀπ᾿ ὀμμάτων | σαίνει με She greets me with bright looks from her eyes. σαίνω is first to wag the tail (said of a dog or other quadruped). then to make signs of recognition or of pleased attention, and lastly is transferred to the impression produced on the person to whom this action is directed. Cp. Ant. 1214, παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος: Aesch. Cho. 194, σαίνομαι δ' ὑπ᾿ ἐλπίδος.

320-321. mvp-comment-180-1 σημαίνει κάρα And in doing so convinces me that this is certainly no other than Ismene's self.

320-321. mvp-comment-180-2 δῆλον after σημαίνει has been thought pleonastic, but the pleonasm is expressive.

323. mvp-comment-181-1 μαθεῖν To learn the fact, that this is Ismene.

324-325. mvp-comment-182-1 O father and sister, names that I love to use. The name is often interchanged with the thing or person named. Cp. Phil. 234, Φ. ὦ φίλτατον φώνημα. Eur. Suppl. 801-802.

325-326. mvp-comment-183-1 How hardly I have found you, and now again (δεύτερον) how hardly I can see you for sorrow; i. e. And now that I have found you, my sorrow almost prevents me from seeing you. For λύπη, which is dat. of cause, see Essay on Language § 14. p. 21.

327. mvp-comment-184-1 ὁρᾶν Essay on Language § 33. P. 57.

328-331. mvp-comment-185-1 Editors since Musgrave, who followed the Scholiast's hint, μὴ ἄρα πρὸς τὸ δυσαθλία; have transposed these lines, placing 328 between 330 and 331, on the ground that Ismene cannot be supposed to touch herself. Not much is gained by this: for Ismene is rather struck by the contrast of her father's and her sister's mode of life to her own at Thebes than by the misery she shares with them. And the construction of a reply, in this sort of dialogue, is not to be pressed too closely. Cp. amongst other passages, El. 1036, ἀλλ᾽ οὖν ἐπίστω γ' οἱ μ᾿ ἀτιμίας ἄγεις. | ΧΡ. ἀτιμίας μὲν οὔ.

328-331. mvp-comment-185-2 προμηθίας δὲ σοῦ, where προμηθίας has really no construction. Perhaps all that is meant is, I too am linked in this unhappy circle. For δυσάθλιαι, which has been questioned, cp. δυστάλαινα, δυσπόνητος, δυσθρήνητος.

331. mvp-comment-186-1 δυσμόρου δ' And you must include me, unhappy. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 341, τρίτη δ᾽ ἐγὼ δύστηνος ὡς ἀπόλλυμαι. There is no reason for changing δέ το τε.

333. mvp-comment-187-1 λόγοις The meaning of the dative is varied from the cause to the concomitant. By reason of longings? Yes, and also with intelligence, which I myself would bring. The reading λόγων is probably an early conjecture. The repetition of the same construction in a slightly different sense is frequent in the language of this period.

334. mvp-comment-188-1 ξύν, κ.τ.λ. is said by attraction for ξὺν τούτῳ, ὅνπερ εἶχον πιστὸν μόνον.

335. mvp-comment-189-1 πονεῖν i. e. εἰς τὸ πονεῖν. And what is become of the young men your brothers in the matter of this service? Cp infr. 342, οὓς μὲν εἰκὸς ἦν πονεῖν τάδε. A similar construction occurs in Eur. Οr. 1473, ποῦ δῆτ᾽ ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες; cp. Il. 13.312, ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι. ποῖ is more expressive than ποῦ (which there is no reason to suppose the Scholiast to have read in the text).

335. mvp-comment-189-2 ποῖ, SC. οἶχονται. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 405, ποῖ ποὶ δὴ νερτέρων τυραννίδες; For the implied negative in epexegesis expressing defect, i. e. πονεῖν = τὸ μὴ πονεῖν, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 63. The other explanation of the Scholiast, ποῦ τοῦ πονεῖν εἰσι, is not so good.

336. mvp-comment-190-1 They are, where they are. For similar expressions, implying something too bad to name, see О. Т. 1376, βλαστοῦσ᾽ ὅπως ἔβλαστε, and note.

336. mvp-comment-190-2 δεινὰ δ᾽ ἐν κείνοις τὰ νῦν Things are terrible with them now.' The Scholiast in saying vῦν δὲ τὰ ἐν ἐκείνοις δεῖνά ἐστιν implies this reading. Others read δεινὰ τὰν κείνοις τανῦν.

338. mvp-comment-191-1 φύσιν .. τροφάς In character and mode of life.

338. mvp-comment-191-2 Hdt. 2. 35, Αἰγύπτιοι.. τὰ πολλὰ πάντα ἔμπαλιν τοῖσι ἀλλοῖσι ἀνθρώποισι ἐστήσαντο ἤθεα καὶ νόμους.

338. mvp-comment-191-3 ἐν τοῖσι αἱ μὲν γυναῖκες ἀγοράζουσι καὶ καπηλεύουσι· οἱ δὴ ἄνδρες, κατ' οἴκους ἐόντες, ὑφαίνουσι.

341. mvp-comment-192-1 τάξω βίου τροφεῖα The outdoor means of supporting life. Cp.

341. mvp-comment-192-2 πυρεῖα, means of obtaining fire. There is a slight redundancy in βίου τροφεία. Cp. 343, κατ' οἶκον οἰκουροῦσιν, and see Essay on Language § 40. p. 75.

342. mvp-comment-193-1 σφῶν δ᾽ And in your case. Dat. of relation: i. e. You find it so. Some editors, taking σφῷν as gen., suppose the dual to be used of the two pairs of children.

344. mvp-comment-194-1 κακά For the accusative. see Essay on Language § 16. p. 23, and cp. O. T. 264, τάδ᾽ ὡσπερεὶ τοὐμοῦ πατρὸς | ὑπερμαχοῦμαι. δυστήνου (sc. ἐμοῦ) agrees κατὰ σύνεσιν with ἐμά, but is also resumed with ὑπερπονεῖτον.

345. mvp-comment-195-1 Antigone had followed her father as soon as she had the strength.

351. mvp-comment-196-1 ἡγεῖται The sentence returns to the indicative from the participial construction. Essay on Language p. 64. 1, b.

351. mvp-comment-196-2 τὰ τῆς οἴκοι διαίτης (1) The comforts of the life at home, or (2) What subsistence she herself may find; cp. Τr. 730, ᾧ μηδέν ἐστ᾽ οἴκοι βαρύ.

355. mvp-comment-197-1 ἃ τοῦδ᾽ ἐχρήσθη σώματος] 'Which were given respecting me. Essay on Language § 9. p. 13. The context shows that the oracle here referred to was one obtained by the Thebans respecting Oedipus after they had sent him forth. The plot of the O. C. does not permit us to suppose that Creon had waited for the response, according to O. T. 1438-1439, before hastening the king's exile. This oracle directed the course of Oedipus towards Athens.

356. mvp-comment-198-1 γῆς ὅτ᾽ ἐξηλαυνόμην The order of events is inverted in the narration. Essay on Language p. 78.

358. mvp-comment-199-1 τίς σ᾽ ἐξῆρεν οἴκοθεν στόλος A figurative inversion of the common expression, αἴρειν στόλον, What errand sped thee from home?

360. mvp-comment-200-1 μὴ οὐχί, κ.τ.λ. Added in explanation of κενή. οὐχί is added because of the previous oὔ. Essay on Language p. 49.

362. mvp-comment-201-1 Seeking how thou wast maintained or where.' ποῦ κατοικοίης defines the notion of τροφήν.

363. mvp-comment-202-1 παρεῖσ᾽ ἐάσω Cp. Ο. Τ. 283, μὴ παρῇς τὸ μὴ οὐ φράσαι.

365. mvp-comment-203-1 ἀμφὶ .. παίδοιν Dative. ‘Encompassing your wretched sons.'

367-369. mvp-comment-204-1 This passage has been generally regarded as corrupt, and ἦν ἔρις has been changed to ἦν ἔρως, ἦν ὅρος, ἤρεσεν. Some edd., including Meineke, who reads κραίνεσθαι, explain, They contended with Creon, urging that the throne should be left vacant. And the authors of the punctuation in AV³ and of the gloss ὁ τε πλεονάζει, must have so taken the words. But, as this gloss indicates, the expression Κρέοντί τε for πρὸς Κρέοντα is not quite natural or harmonious here. And the antithesis of ἔρις κακή in what follows, assisted by the parallelism of construction, ἐᾶσθαι.. λαβέσθαι. isstrongly in favour of the MS. reading. ἔρις may be supported by supposing the brothers to have jointly resisted a party amongst the citizens who desired that one of them should take his father's throne. Cp. Thuc. 6. 35, τοῖς δέ (sc. ἔρις ἦν). Beforetime their contention was that they should relinquish -to Creon their rights in the throne, and that the city should not suffer pollution; professing in their argument to have regard to the ancient ruin of their race, etc. ἐᾶσθαι is middle voice. Cp. λαβέσθαι infr. For λόγῳ, cp. infr. 1296, οὔτε νικήσας λόγῳ. And for τε.. μηδὲ Eur. Iph. Τ. 697, ὄνομά τ᾽ ἐμοῦ γένοιτ' ἂν οὐδ᾽ ἄπαις δόμος | πατρῷος οὑμὸς ἐξαλειφθείη ποτ᾿ ἄv. Essay on Language p. 65.

371. mvp-comment-205-1 *ἀλειτηροῦ Although ἀλιτήριος has the first short, ἀλειτηρός may be defended by comparing ἀλείτης, ἄλοιτος. Eustathius mentions ἀλιτηρός as a word used by Sophocles. If any change is needed, ἀλειτηροῦ, which is partly supported by the reading ἀλητηροῦ, is the most probable. The heaven-sent infatuation, which leads to their destruction, is assisted by their own evil mind.

374. mvp-comment-206-1 χὼ μὲν νεάζων And the younger spirit.' The participle implies youthful qualities (impetuosity, ambition etc.), as well as the fact of being the younger. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 713, μῶν νεάζων οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σ᾽ ὁρᾶν, addressed to Eteocles.

376. mvp-comment-207-1 Pherecydes and Hellanicus differed about this. See Schol. Eur. Phoen. 71.

377. mvp-comment-208-1 ὁ πληθύων Lit. the more numerous, i. e. having the majority of voices. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 860.

378. mvp-comment-209-1 τὸ κοῖλον Ἄργος The hollow vale of Argos. Cp. infr. 1301, Ἄργος ἐς τὸ Δωρικόν.

381. mvp-comment-210-1 ὡς αὐτίκ᾿Ἄργος κ.τ.λ. For the construction, see Essay on Language § 21. p. 44, and cp. O. T. 101, ὡς τόδ' αἷμα χειμάζον πόλιν. It has been suggested to read αὐτός for Ἄργος, (with καθέξων in 381), but the words express the motive held out to the Argive followers of Polynices, to whom he would naturally represent the struggle as one between their city and Thebes. Cp. infr. 1325, ἄγω τὸν Ἄργους ἄφοβον εἰς Θήβας στρατόν.

381. mvp-comment-210-2 τὸ Καδμεῖον πέδον Καδμεῖον here, as in Ο. Τ. 29, δῶμα Καδμεῖον, is the more poetical reading.

381. mvp-comment-210-3 τιμῇ καθέξον Το obtain with honour.' For τιμῇ = ἐντίμως, see Essay on Language § 14. p. 20.

381. mvp-comment-210-4 ἢ πρὸς οὐρανὸν βιβῶν Or to raise it to heaven. According to the frequent vaunt of the Homeric heroes, ἠε τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν, ἠε τις ἡμῖν. ΙΙ. 12. 328, 13. 487. Cp. Aesch. S. c. T. 46. ἢ πόλει κατασκαφὰς θέντες λαπάξειν ἄστυ Καδμείων βίᾳ | ἢ γῆν θανόντες τήνδε φυράσειν φύνῳ. Should the expedition fail, the splendour of the Argive host would be the measure of the glory of the Cadmeans.

382. mvp-comment-211-1 ἀριθμὸς.. λόγων A mere heaping together of words. Cp. Eur. Eu Tro. 476, οὐκ ἀριθμὸν ἄλλως, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπερτάτους Φρυγῶν.

383. mvp-comment-212-1 ὅποι At what point? i.e. how long they must first continue. A pregnant expression, like ἡ μάχη ἐτελεύτα ἕως ὀψέ, Thuc. 3. 108. Cp. El. 958, ποῖ γὰρ μενεῖς ῥάθυμος;

385. mvp-comment-213-1 ἤδη γὰρ ἔσχες ἐλπίδ' What? had you begun to entertain a hope?' ὡς ἐμοῦ θεοὺς | ὥραν τιν᾿ ἕξειν] A confusion of the two constructions, ὡς ἕξοιεν θεοί and ἕξειν θεούς. Cp. Aesch. Eum. 799, αὐτὸς ἦν ὁ μαρτυρῶν | ὡς ταῦτ᾽ Ὀρέστην δρῶντα μὴ βλαβὰς ἔχειν. See Essay on Language § 36. p. 67.

387. mvp-comment-214-1 τοῖς νῦν.. μαντεύμασιν By reason of what is now feretold.

390. mvp-comment-215-1 εὐσοίας χάριν For their own preservation. εὐσοίας is mentioned in the Scholia as the better reading.

391. mvp-comment-216-1 τοιοῦδ᾽ ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρός Who can derive prosperity from such as I am? Herm. reads τίς ἄν *τι τοιοῦδ᾽ ἀνδρός..;

392. mvp-comment-217-1 φασί They say. The subject is to be inferred from l. 413, viz. ἄνδρες θεωροὶ Δελφικῆς ἀφ᾽ ἑστίας. For similar vagueness of subject in reference to a reported prophecy, cp. О. Т. 110.

395. mvp-comment-218-1 φλαύρον A poor business. There is not much good in raising up in age one who fell in youth. On the omission of ἄv, see Essay on Language § 27. P. 45.

401. mvp-comment-219-1 θύραισι κειμένου Laid at their doors. The word κειμένου, though perhaps chosen with a view to what follows, as expressing Oedipus' presentiment of his end, has more immediate reference to the inactivity of age. A young warrior received within their gates might be of some avail, but what profit was there in an old man lying idle beyond their confines? Cp. the Homeric λυγρῷ ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ, and Shakespeare's unregarded age in corners thrown. Y 2

402. mvp-comment-220-1 The difficulty of interpreting this line has arisen from not observing that the dative is governed of δυστυχῶν (= δυστυχῶς γιγνόμενος) as well as of βαρύς. Cp. supr. 308. Your burial, happening in a way unfortunate for them, is a danger to them.' According to this rendering, the point of the reply is obvious enough. It needs no divine intimation to teach us this.'

405. mvp-comment-221-1 μηδ᾽ ἵν᾽ ἂν σαυτοῦ κρατῆς But not in any place where you will be your own master. The subjunctive, as usual, after a relative adverb with av. Some editors have changed κρατῆς το κρατοῖς. But although this is favoured by the explanation of the Scholiast, ὅπου κρατοῖς ἂν σαυτοῦ, and by the comparison of l. 190, the change is unnecessary. For the adversative μηδέ, cp. El. 132, οὐδ᾽ ἐθέλω προλιπεῖν τύδε.

406. mvp-comment-222-1 κατασκιῶσι Will they overshadow me? Cp. infra 1707 τύμβον.. εὐσκιαστον: The Two Noble Kinsmen, 1, 1, Human grace Affords them dust and shadow.

407. mvp-comment-223-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐᾷ.. σ᾽ Sc κατασκιασθῆναι Θηβαίᾳ κύνει.

407. mvp-comment-223-2 τοῦμφυλον αἷμα The guilt of parricide. Cp. Ant. 703, νεῖκος.. ξύναιμον : О. Т. 1406. Cp. Plat. Legg. 9. 871 D. (of the punishment of homicide), ὁ δὲ ὀφλὼν θανάτῳ ζημιούσθω καὶ μὴ ἐν τῇ τοῦ παθόντος χώρᾳ θαπτέσθω, where it is added that the intention to kill is to be punished in the same way, except in the matter of burial.

410. mvp-comment-224-1 ποίας φανείσης συναλλαγῆς On what conjuncture having arisen?' 414. ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν With regard to me.' Cp. Ο. Τ. 829, ἐπ᾿ ἀνδρὶ τῷδ᾽ ἂν ὀρθοίη λόγον.

415. mvp-comment-225-1 οἱ μολόντες Those who returned, viz. the θεωροί.

416. mvp-comment-226-1 For the indefinite Tus in a question, cp. supra 66, ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν; The use of τις = πότερος, where only two are spoken of, is remarkable.

419-420. mvp-comment-227-1 It may seem unreasonable in Oedipus to expect his sons to disregard the interest and the law of Thebes. But he is absorbed in his own destiny, and is full of indignation at the thought of being taken to the borders of his country without being restored to it. This he thinks that his sons ought to have interfered to prevent. He regards the oracle as expressing the intention of Phoebus to glorify him at the expense of his countrymen if they persist in rejecting him. See Introduction, p. 281, note 2.

420. mvp-comment-228-1 φέρω δ᾽ ὅμως But still, such are the news I bring. Cp. Aesch. Pers. 248, φέρει σαφές τι πρᾶγος κλύειν : Ag. 639, ὅταν . . πήματ᾿ ἄγγελος.. φέρῃ. 421 ff. The correspondence of clauses is not perfect, a new train of thought being introduced with δέ in 422. The broken thread is resumed in 425-426. Oedipus is saying, Let their quarrel go on to the end, and may the end be the worst for both. His passion interrupts him with the further thought, Let me only have the ending of it, and then-. For the expression, cp. Pind. Nem. 10. 29, 30, πᾶν δὲ τέλος ἐν τὶν ἔργων.

424. mvp-comment-229-1 ἔχονται The present here rather marks the beginning than the continuance of the action. Take hold of,' i.e. obstinately engagein, rather than cling to, persevere in. Cp. ἔργου ἔχεσθαι.

424. mvp-comment-229-2 κἀπαναιροῦνται δόρυ. And are taking up the spear for battle.' As ἐπαναιρεῖσθαι φιλίαν, πόλεμον, are quite good expressions, there seems no reason to suspect this more literal use. And δόρυ, as elsewhere, almost = πόλεμον. ἐπαναίρονται is less suitable, for the sons of Oedipus, though preparing for the contest, are not actually engaged.

425. mvp-comment-230-1 ὡς οὔτ᾽ ἂν κ.τ.λ. This clause adds an explanation of ἐν ἐμοὶ τέλος γένοιτο, defining the manner of the end which Oedipus desired, and which he would bring about if the matter rested with him. May it be mine to determine the end-which I will determine in such a way that neither he who now holds the sceptre and the throne should remain,' etc ὡς (with the optative and av) is not here exactly equal to ἵνα with subjunctive or optative, which would mean ' (May it be mine to end it) that so neither he that holds the sceptre might remain,' etc. A slightly different way of taking the words is, May it be mine, etc:-so (since then) neither would he.etc.

426. mvp-comment-231-1 πάλιν Nor should he that is gone forth ever come back again.' The reading of Par. A, though only slightly supported by MS. authority, is possible. Cp. infr. 1372, and note. 'Nor should he that is gone forth ever be restored to his own city. But that in the text is simpler and more natur l. Cp infr. 601, ἔστιν δέ μοι | πάλιν κατελθεῖν μήποθ᾽, ὡς πατροκτόνῳ.

428. mvp-comment-232-1 So dishonoured by being thrust forth from my native land. For the expression of the predicate by an adverb, see Essay on Language § 24. p. 40; and cp. Plat. Rep 3.406 C, ὁ ἡμεῖς γελοίως οὐκ αἰσθανόμεθα.

429. mvp-comment-233-1 οὐκ ἔσχον Stayed me not, nor shielded me, but suffered me to be made a homeless outcast and proclaimed a banished man. For the dative αὐτοῖν, see Essay on Language § 13. p. 19. f.

432. mvp-comment-234-1 κατήνυσεν Fulfilled for me this boon, which I then desired. κατήνεσεν, assented to, accorded, the reading of B, is less forcible in the connection. The question is not one of promise but of performance. For the desire of Oedipus, see O. T. 1410 sqq., 1449 sqq.

436. mvp-comment-235-1 ἔρωτος τοῦδε In respect of this desire I found no helper. For the genitive, see Essay on Language § 9. p. 13. The genitive after ὠφελεῖσθαι, e. g. τοῦδε τοῦ νόμου, Antiphon, 131. 27, which has been quoted as parallel is really different from this, being a genitive of participation.

437. mvp-comment-236-1 When my grief was now all mellowed.' Cp. ὀργὴ πέπειρα, Τr. 728, and the metaphorical sense of ὠμός.

438-439. mvp-comment-237-1 And I began to know that my rage had run to excess and been too severe in chastising my former errors.' It is more probable that τῶν.. ἡμαρτημένων is genitive in regimen with κολαστήν than genitive of comparison after μείζω, (Aesch. Cho. 519), because μείζω thus receives an exclusive emphasis. Forμείζων, used thus absolutely, cp. Plat. Soph. 231 Α, μὴ μεῖζον αὐτοῖς προσάπτωμεν γέρας, and Heindorf's note.

441. mvp-comment-238-1 χρόνιον I say, after a time; resuming χρόνῳ (437), which contains the point of the sentence. The time is not imagined as being really long, though it seemed so to Oedipus. For a similar use of χρόνιος, cp Eur. Cycl. 249, χρόνιος δ᾽ εἴμ᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων βορᾶς: Οr. 740.

443. mvp-comment-239-1 ἔπους σμικροῦ χάριν For a little word; i, e. For want of a little word, which they might have spoken for Cp. Eur. Or. 84, νεκρὸς γὰρ οὗτος οὔνεκα σμικρᾶς πνοῆς. He is a corpse, were it not for a little breath. And for a similar thought, Thuc. 3. 53, ὁ μὴ ῥηθεὶς λόγος τοῖς ὧδ᾽ ἔχουσιν αἰτίαν ἂν παράσχοι ὡς εἰ ἐλέχθη σωτήριος ἂν ἦν.

444. mvp-comment-240-1 σφιν Cp. αὐτοῖν, supra 430. 446-447. I have subsistence and a land where I can dwell safely.

448-449. mvp-comment-241-1 εἰλέσθην . . χθονός (1) Chose the possession of a throne, and to sway the sceptre, and to be sovereign over the land. This arrangement of the words gives a better rhythm than if (2) θρόνους is made to depend, with σκήπτρα, or κραίνειν. (3) Another explanation makes θρόνους and σκῆπτρα to be taken with εἱλέσθην, and also, in a secondary construction, with κραίνειν as epexegetic infinitive. Cp. O. Τ. 237, κράτη τε καὶ θρόνους νέμω. For the accusative, cp. the use of the passive verb in Phil. 140, παρ' ὅτῳ Διός σκῆπτρον ἀνάσσεται.

450. mvp-comment-242-1 τοῦδε Sc. ἐμοῦ.

451. mvp-comment-243-1 οὔτε σφιν It has been thought that either οὗ τι in 450 must be changed to οὔτε, or οὔτε here to οὐδέ. If so, the latter is preferable, for οὔ τι is expressive.

453. mvp-comment-244-1 συννοών *τε *τἀξ ἐμοῦ And comparing with them in thought those ancient oracles, which I bring from my own store, the same which Phoebus once accomplished upon me. Cp. supr. 93

453. mvp-comment-244-2 τὰ ἐξ ἐμοῦ, Which come from my side; i. e. in making the comparison. Cp. Τr. 631, τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ. The correction, although questioned by Dindorf, who supposes some deeper corruption of the text, is probable enough.

457-460. mvp-comment-245-1 ἐὰν γὰρ . . ἀρεῖσθε Cp. 72, ὡς ἄν, προσαρκῶν μικρά, κερδάνῃ μέγα: 647-648, ΘΗ. μέγ᾽ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας. ΟΙ. εἰ σοί γ᾽ ἅπερ φὴς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι: 815, τίς δ'᾽ ἄν με τῶνδε συμμάχων ἕλοι βίᾳ; 1206, ΟΙ. μόνον, ξέν', εἴπερ κεῖνος ὧδ᾽ ἐλεύσεται, μηδεὶς κρατείτω τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς ποτέ: 1489, 90, ΟΙ. ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔπασχον εὖ, τελεσφόρον χάριν δοῦναί σφιν, ἥνπερ τυγχάνων ὑπεσχόμην. The extension of present aid is everywhere put forward as a condition of the permanent blessing. The task of defence which he here entreats them to undertake, is fulfilled by them in resisting Creon.

457. mvp-comment-246-1 μου is genitive of the object, for which see Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

458. mvp-comment-247-1 πρὸς * ταῖσδε ταῖς σεμναῖσι δημούχοις θεαîs] In addition to these dread goddesses that protect your deme. This seems the most probable as it is the simplest emendation of this line. Others are πρὸς ταῖσι τρισσεμναῖσι, ὁμοῦ | προστάτισι ταῖς, ξὺν προστάταις. πρός harmonizes well with the emphatic ὑμεῖς. σύν has probably been inserted as a gloss L² has ταῖς σεπταῖσι.

459. mvp-comment-248-1 ἀλκὴν ποιεῖσθαι 'Το undertake defence,' like τὰς μήχας ποιούμενος, Εl. 302: ἐποιοῦντο βουλήν, Hdt. 6. 101.

459. mvp-comment-248-2 τῇδε μὲν πόλει This reading is preferred (1) for the antithesis; (2) because tῇ may be accounted for as a corruption of yῇ explaining πόλει.

460. mvp-comment-249-1 τοῖς δ᾽ ἐμοῖς ἐχθροῖς Oedipus reverts to his own personal objects, as in 308-309 (εὐτυχὴς ἵκοιτο τῇ θ᾽ αὑτοῦ πόλει ἐμοί τε). although, as in that passage, the chief stress is laid on what is mentioned first. At the same time he leaves it to be implied that his enemies are the enemies of Athens. Cp. infra 646, ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμ᾽ ἐκβεβληκότων. The corruption in Lis due to itacism. 461 ff. The coming of Theseus is still delayed, and the scruples of the chorus cannot be set at rest without some formal expiation on the part of Oedipus. The presence of Ismene enables this to be made without Oedipus or Antigone leaving the stage. She goes to perform this service, and the chorus continue harping on the interminable theme (adding the confessional to the sacrifice), when Theseus at last enters bringing with him a very different spirit. His coming clears the air at once.

463. mvp-comment-250-1 ἐπεμβάλλεις You add, to give further weight, as if throwing into the scale. Cp. supra 293, λόγοισι γὰρ οὐκ ὠνόμασται βραχέσι. And since you add in what you have now said that you are yourself the saviour of this land. λόγῳ is partly instrumental dative, partly governed by ev in ἐπεμβάλλεις.

464. mvp-comment-251-1 παραινέσαι.. τὰ σύμφορα Το give you advice that will assist you.'

465. mvp-comment-252-1 προξένει 'Give me friendly instructions. On the uses of this word, see Essay on Language p. 97. It is here specially applicable to the position of Oedipus as a stranger, and of the chorus who are advising him in a matter where they are most of all at home.

466. mvp-comment-253-1 θοῦ νυν καθαρμὸν τῶνδε δαιμόνων) Institute a propitiation of these deities. Lit. A purification in relation to them. For the genitive, see Essay on Language $9. p. 12; and for θέσθαι in this sense, O. T. 134, τήνδ ἔθεσθ᾽ ἐπιστροφήν. vuv seems preferable to vûv after the imperative.

467. mvp-comment-254-1 καὶ κατέστειψας πέδον ὧν (or αὐτῶν) may be supplied from ἐφ᾽ ἅs. The reading is doubtful. κατέστεψας is unmeaning; but κατάστεψον πέδον, Adorn the ground with garlands, receives some support from the description that follows. For κατέστειψας, which gives the most natural meaning and best rhythm, cp. supra 56, ὃν δ' ἐπιστείβεις τόπον. And for the thought, cp. supr. 84, 5 and note.

470. mvp-comment-255-1 ἐνεγκοῦ Have brought. ferendam cura.

470. mvp-comment-255-2 δι᾽ ὁσίων χειρῶν θιγών The minute directions belong to the ceremonial of the place possibly still in use in the time of Sophocles. ὁσίαι χεῖρες here as in Aesch. Cho. 378, are hands pure from guilt. So Horace, Od. 3. 23. 17, Immunis aram si tetigit manus, Non sumtuosa blandior hostia Mollivit aversos Penates Farre pio et saliente mica, in lines which also recall the spirit of infra 498-499, ἀρκεῖν γὰρ οἶμαι κἀντὶ μυρίων μίαν | ψυχὴν τάδ' ἐκτίνουσαν, ὴν εὔνους παρῇ. The precept to wash the hands (Schndw.) is probably included, but with a ceremonial significance. Cp. Αj. 655, λύμαθ᾽ ἁγνίσας ἐμά.

472. mvp-comment-256-1 τέχνη Abstract for concrete. See Essay on Language p. 94; and cp. Phil. 35, 36, φλαυρουργοῦ τινὸς τεχνήματ᾿ ἀι δρός. For the (Epic) form of the sentence, cp. Τr. 752, ἀκτή τις ἐστιν. ἔιθα, κ.τ.λ.

473. mvp-comment-257-1 κρᾶτα is probably plural here, as in Pind. Fr. 3 (Eustath. 1715. 63), τρία κρᾶτα. Cp. the Homeric κράατα.

473. mvp-comment-257-2 ἀμφιστόμους Projecting on either side, rather than On either side the brim. See L. and S. s. ν. στόμα IΙI. The latter part of the compound is unemphatic.

475. mvp-comment-258-1 οἰός * γε νεαρᾶς *εὐπόκῳ μαλλῷ λαβών] The insertion of γε (Heath) is the most probable of the various corrections (νεώρου, νεώρους, νεώρας, νεώρει, ν ογνῆς, νεαλοῦς, γε νεαρᾶς) of the first part of this line. γε refers to κρόκαισιν, which it confirms and amplifies. Yes, with a fillet of wool from a young ewelamb.' νεοτόκῳ, lately born, would express the feeling of ceremonial superstition with more exactness than veo- πόκῳ, which is made up by combining the MS. readings, and may mean either newly-clipped (an etymological use, for which cp. Essay on Language pp. 99, 100) or consisting of young wool.' But there is no motive for a twofold resolution (2) in this line, and εὐπόκῳ gives a simple and natural sense. Cp. Τr. 675, ἀργῆτ᾽ οἰὺς εὐείρῳ πύκῳ. Supposing ve to have crept in from the previous word, the variation of reading may be easily accounted for.

477. mvp-comment-259-1 χοὰς χέασθαι.. Hom. Od. 10. 518, χοὴν χεῖσθαι. Cp. Crat. Com. 2. p. 151, ἄγε δὴ πρὸς ἕω πρῶτον ἁπάντων ἵστω καὶ λάμβανε χερσὶν | σχῖνον μεγάλην: Sen. Oed. 338, Altum taurus attollens caput primos ad ortus positus expavit diem. The place of offering was probably on the eastward side of the hill. See Introd. p. 273.

478. mvp-comment-260-1 ἦ.. χέω Cp. supr. 195, ἢ ᾿σθῶ;

479. mvp-comment-261-1 πηγάς El. 894-895, νεορρύτους | πηγὰς γάλακτος.

479. mvp-comment-261-2 τὸν τελευταῖον δ' ὅλον i. e. τὸν τελευταῖον κρωσσὸν χέοις ἂν ὅλον.

480. mvp-comment-262-1 With what am I to fill this that I may make the libation?" πλήσας is suggested by ὅλον. θῶ would properly govern χοήν (cp. 466), for which κρωσσών is substituted. Three vessels are to be used for the threefold libation (Ant. 431, χοαῖσι τρισπώνδοισι τὸν νέκυν στέφει); two partly filled with pure water, the third, filled to the brim with water and honey.

481. mvp-comment-263-1 The asyndeton as elsewhere in enumeration. Cp. supr. 17. Instead of a third element, which the hearer might have expected, the prohibition of wine is interposed.

481. mvp-comment-263-2 μελίσσης For the metonymy, see Essay on Language p. 81. Schol. ἀπὸ γὰρ τοῦ ποιοῦν.

481. mvp-comment-263-3 τος τὸ ποιούμενον. καὶ ἐν Ἐρασταῖς: Γλώσσης μελίσσης τῷ κατερρυηκότι.

481. mvp-comment-263-4 μηδέ But not. Cp. 405, note.

482. mvp-comment-264-1 The earth covered with dark leaves;' whether referring to the dark greensward (a slight variation of γαῖα μέλαινα), or to the deep shades of Colonus. Cp. supr. 157 ff.

483. mvp-comment-265-1 ἐξ ἀμφοῖν χεροῖν Οn both sides.' For αὐτῇ = εἰς αὐτήν, see Essay on Language § 11. p. 18. Philochorus quoted by Schol. on l. 100: οὐ μόνον θυσίας νηφαλίους, ἀλλὰ καὶ ξύλα τινά.

484. mvp-comment-266-1 τάσδ᾽ ἐπεύχεσθαι λιτάς Το add this prayer.' Cp. O. T. 1275 and note.

485. mvp-comment-267-1 μέγιστα γάρ The prayer appears to Oedipus more important than the external rites, which, however, he is ready to fulfil. τούτων is neuter.

487. mvp-comment-268-1 σωτήριον The passive use of adjectives in -τήριος is rare, and it has been attempted to give σωτήριον here an active meaning, inasmuch as Oedipus proclaims himself the saviour of Athens. But the chorus have very imperfectly realised this conception, and the expression of it would have seemed to them little in accordance with the humility of a prayer. The terms of petition are general, like the description of the previous ceremony. That they would receive their suppliant and afford him safety. See Essay on Language p. 99.

488. mvp-comment-269-1 αἰτοῦ σύ γ', αὐτός γε adds a slight emphasis to the reply.

489. mvp-comment-270-1 μηκύνων βοήν Speaking aloud. Cp. the Homeric μακρὸν ἀϋτεῖν, and the like. According to Polemo, quoted by the Scholiast on this line, the sacred rites of the Eumenides were entrusted to the family of the Ἡσυχίδαι.

491. mvp-comment-271-1 θαρσῶν ἂν παρασταίην I will defend you without fear. Said in reply to ll. 458-459. For the fears of the chorus, cp infr. 1483-1485.

494. mvp-comment-272-1 χώ τι δεῖ πρόστασσε And appoint us what we must do. For the order of words, see Essay on Language $ 41. P. 77.

496. mvp-comment-273-1 τῷ μὴ δύνασθαι μήθ᾽ ὁρᾶν 'The want of strength as well as sight. Two objections have been made to this reading-that μήτε requires a preceding μήτε, and that δύνασθαι cannot be equivalent to ἰσχύειν. But the former objection appears arbitrary (cp. supra 451): and with regard to the latter, for δύνασθαι applied to bodily strength, cp. II. 20. 360, ὅσσον δύναμαι χερσίν τε ποσίν τε: Lys. 168. 26, τῷ σώματι δύνασθαι : Plat. Phaedr. 269 D, and the Homeric use of δύναμις. See also Essay on Language pp. 95, 96. Compare Shakspeare, As You Like It, 2. 7, Oppressed with two weak evils, age and hunger.'

498-499. mvp-comment-274-1 The value of a pure intention is similarly asserted in the two lines, preserved from the Aletes of Sophocles by Stobaeus, ψυχὴ γὰρ εὔνους καὶ φρονοῦσα τοῦνδικον | κρείσσων σοφιστοῦ παντός ἐστιν εὑρέτις. Fr. 98.

499. mvp-comment-275-1 τάδ᾽ ἐκτίνουσαν Paying these dues. The change from the MS. reading is very slight, being a correction of the simplest itacism (cp. Ant. 856, where L gives ἐκτείνεις for ἐκτίνεις) and ἐκτείνουσαν has never been successfully defended.

500. mvp-comment-276-1 τι is idiomatic. Cp. Tr. 305, εἴ τι δράσεις: Phil. 286, κἄδει τι . . διακονεῖσθαι.

500. mvp-comment-276-2 μόνον δέ . . λείπετ' But leave me not alone. This gives the reason for 497, where only one of the two sisters is told to go.

502. mvp-comment-277-1 ὑφηγητοῦ γ' άνευ Hermann preferred ὑφηγητῶν ἄνευ οἱ ὑφηγητοῦ δίχα.

504. mvp-comment-278-1 χρῆ ᾿σται is equivalent to a future of χρή. Where I am to find. This form, which occurs also in a fragment of the Triptolemus quoted by the Scholiast on this passage, Fr. 539, is variously explained as a contraction for χρεία ἔσται or for χρὴ ἔσται or χρῆ ἔσται, the form χρή or χρῆ being differently regarded as a primitive indeclinable noun, whence also χρῆν and χρῆναι, or as a contraction of χρεία. Linwood conjectures ἵνα χρῆ ᾿σταί μ' ἐφευρεῖν ταῦτα. But Ismene's perplexity is more simply expressed in the text.

504. mvp-comment-278-2 κείται.

505. mvp-comment-279-1 τοὐκεῖθεν ἄλσους Sc. ὁ τόπος

506. mvp-comment-280-1 ἔποικος A resident, who had charge of the sacred utensils, etc.

509. mvp-comment-281-1 οὐδ᾽ εἰ πονῇ τις On the meaning of the subjunctive with εἰ, see Essay on Language § 27. p. 44. For the reading of Par. A, cp. O. T. 317, and v. rr. Ismene having gone to perform the sacred rites, there is a further pause before the arrival of Theseus. 510, foll. The pause is filled by a short lyrical interchange between the several members of the chorus and Oedipus, who is thus brought to make confession while Ismene performs her offering. But his confession is a defence. The chorus, although importunate, are gentler than in the former scene. The opening line is scanned as choriambic, although it may perhaps be questioned whether the Ionic metre, which occurs above in 11. 212 ff., is not more suitable here and in 517. The other metres in the Ist strophe and antistrophe are logaoedic, with one iambic colon (518 = 532); those of the 2nd strophe and antistrophe are mostly iambic. The scheme is the following :clcclcla=alalcc-a (?) 기기 9-

509. mvp-comment-281-2 The distribution of the parts amongst the members of the chorus is very uncertain. Most probably the coryphaeus speaks throughout the Ist strophe, and then the others interpose in turn.

510. mvp-comment-282-1 δεινὸν μὲν τὸ πάλαι κείμενον ἤδη κακόν, ὦ ξεῖν, ἐπεγείρειν Cp. the proverb, μὴ κινεῖν κακὸν εὐ κείμενον (Plat. Phil. p. 40), and Plat. Legg. 2. 657 E (of the poet's power of recalling the feelings of youth), τοῖς δυναμένοις ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν νεύτητα μνήμῃ ἐπεγείρειν.

514. mvp-comment-283-1 The hapless misery which you encountered. arising ing without remedy.' For the genitive (= περὶ τᾶς, κ.τ.λ.), see Essay on Language § 9. p. 13, and cp. El. 317, τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φής;

514. mvp-comment-283-2 ξυνέστας] Cp Hdt. 7. 170, λιμῷ συνεστεῶτας : 8.74, τοιούτῳ πόνῳ συνέστασαν.