Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
mvp-comment-440-1 γε μήν 1
mvp-comment-441-1 πότερα 2
mvp-comment-441-2 ἐγγενῶν 3
mvp-comment-441-3 κἀμοῦ 4
mvp-comment-442-1
Kayser's
ἄναξ, χρῄζουσι (for
ἀναγκάζουσι ) is exactly what the sense requires, and is fairly near to the MS. reading, while the latter is (I think) certainly corrupt. The verse must not be considered alone, but in close connection with 590, and with the whole context. It has been rendered:—(1)
"They are for compelling (
my protectors ) to convey me to Thebes."But the ellipse of
τινά before
κομίζειν is intolerable. And the protectors could not be required to do more than surrender him. Therefore it is no cure to propose
εἴ σ’ (for
κεῖσ’ )
ἀναγκάσουσί με . To read
σε for
με merely shifts the first difficulty, and leaves the second. (2)
"They are for putting constraint on me, so as to carry (me) to Thebes." Such an epexegesis by the
act. infin. is impossible here. Who could write
ἀναγκάζει σε ἄγειν ἐκεῖσε , meaning,
"he is forcing thee, so as to take (thee) thither" ? (3)
κομίζειν has been taken as=
"to return," =
κομίζεσθαι . This needs no comment. We want either: (1) instead of
κομίζειν , a word=
"
to return "; but
κατελθεῖν is very unlikely, and no other substitute is obvious: or (2) instead of
ἀναγκάζουσι , a word =
"they
wish ,
seek. "That the fault lies in
ἀναγκάζουσι is very strongly suggested by 590, where L has
ἀλλ’ εἰ θέλοντ’ ἄν γ’ , evidently corrupted, by dittographia of
γ’ , from
ἀλλ’ εἰ θέλοντά γ’ , which L2 has. This gives a clear and fitting sense, if in 589 we read
ἄναξ, χρῄζουσί με . All the trouble, for the MSS. and for the edd., has arisen from
ἀναγκάζουσι . Hence (1) Goebel,
ἀλλ’ οὐ θελόντων ,
"but if they do not wish thee" (
φεύγειν ): (2) Reisig,
ἀλλ’ εἰ θέλοντάς γ’ ,
"but what if it be not seemly for thee to shun them when willing (to receive thee)?" Both these are forced. Campbell supplies
εἰ βούλοιντο κομίζειν to explain
θέλοντα , keeping L's
θέλοντ’ ἄν : but
ἄν can stand with a partic. only when the latter is equiv. to an apodosis, as it is in 761. So far as the tense of
ἀναγκάζουσι is concerned, a change to the
fut. is no gain: it is the pres. of tendency or intention. But the whole mention of
compulsion or violence is premature in 589. Oed. leads very gently up to the disclosure of his sons' unnatural conduct (599).
587. mvp-comment-323-1 Yet be advised; this is no trifling matter.' ἁγὼν ὅδε, the struggle or endeavour or peril implied in granting the request.
588. mvp-comment-324-1 πότερα τὰ τῶν σῶν ἐκγόνων, ἢ μοῦ λέγεις;] In saying this, are you speaking of what relates to your sons, or of something that relates to me?' Theseus is bewildered by the words of Oedipus. Hearing of a contest in connection with the death of Oedipus, he naturally thinks of the impending conflict at Thebes, of which he cannot but have heard something. But, as he afterwards says more explicitly, he does not Z2 see how he is to be involved in this. Cp. Phil. 1384, λέγεις δ' Ἀτρείδαις ὄφελος, ἢ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ τόδε;
589. mvp-comment-325-1 ἀναγκάζουσι If this is the right reading, which, from the frequent confusion of and o, is not quite certain (cp. 603), the present is used with future meaning, as in Aesch. Prom. 513, ὧδε δεσμὰ φυγγάνω: ib. 525, δεσμοὺς ἀεικεῖς καὶ δύας ἐκφυγγάνω. Cp. Phil. 1379, κἀποσώζοντας νόσου. The subject of κομίζειν (sc. τινά, cp. infr. 933) is to be gathered from the context. They will enforce my being taken thither;' i. e. They will force the consent of Theseus and the Athenians to this. Universe eos intelligit, qui tradendi Oedipi potestatem habeant. Herm. Another rendering has been proposed - They will use compulsion against me to carry me back thither.' But such a use of ἀναγκάζω with the infinitive is inadmissible.