Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 304

mvp-comment-885-1 καὶ μὴν ¹

mvp-comment-885-2 ἡμῖν ²

mvp-comment-886-1 ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος ³

mvp-comment-887-1 ἀστακτὶ ⁴

mvp-comment-887-2 ἀστακτὶ ⁵

mvp-comment-887-3 ὧδε ⁶

mvp-comment-888-1 κατείχομεν γνώμῃ ⁷

mvp-comment-889-1 δράσω ⁸

mvp-comment-890-1 ἐνθάδ’ ἐκβεβλημένον ⁹

mvp-comment-891-1 σὺν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-891-2 τῆς ¹¹

mvp-comment-891-3 γέρων … πίνος ¹²

mvp-comment-891-4 συγκατῴκηκεν ¹³

mvp-comment-892-1 πλευρὰν μαραίνων ¹⁴

mvp-comment-892-2 κρατὶ ὀμματοστερεῖ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-892-3 ἀκτένιστος ¹⁶

mvp-comment-892-4 ᾄσσεται ¹⁷

mvp-comment-893-1 ἀδελφὰ … τούτοισιν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-893-2 φορεῖ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-894-1

:

mvp-comment-894-2 ἥκειν ²⁰

mvp-comment-894-3 τροφ. ταῖς σαῖσιν ²¹

mvp-comment-894-4 μὴ )ξ ἄλλων ²²

mvp-comment-895-1 ἀλλὰ … γὰρ ²³

mvp-comment-895-2 Ζηνὶ σύνθακος θρόνων ²⁴

mvp-comment-895-3 Αἰδὼς ²⁵

mvp-comment-895-4 ἐπ’ ἔργοις πᾶσι ²⁶

mvp-comment-895-5 καὶ πρὸς σοί ²⁷

mvp-comment-896-1 τῶν γὰρ ἡμαρτημένων ²⁸

mvp-comment-896-2 προσφορὰ ²⁹

mvp-comment-897-1 τί σιγᾷς ³⁰

mvp-comment-898-1 μή μ’ ἀποστραφῇς ³¹

mvp-comment-898-2 ἀτιμάσας ³²

mvp-comment-899-1 ὦ σπέρματ’ ³³

mvp-comment-899-2 ἐμαὶ δ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-900-1 ἀλλ’ ὑμεῖς γε ³⁵

mvp-comment-901-1 δυσπρόσοιστον ³⁶

mvp-comment-901-2 στόμα ³⁷

mvp-comment-902-1 ὡς μή μ’ ἄτιμον … οὕτως ἀφῇ με ³⁸

mvp-comment-902-2 Elmsley's conjecture

, which Hartung adopts, is unmetrical. has ι^ always in pres. subj. and opt.: Il. 13.234

μεθίῃσι μάχεσθαι

: Hom. Hymn. 4.152

προίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα

: Theogn. 94 : Od. 2.185

ὧδ’ ἀνιείης

. In Aristoph. Lys. 157

τί δ); ἢν ἀφίωσιν ἄνδρες ἡμᾶς, ὦ μέλε

(so the MSS.), Kuster brought in a gratuitous error by writing , which Dindorf has adopted. (As Chandler says, is a false accent for . Accent. , 2nd ed. § 794, cp. § 820.) In the pres. indic., imper., inf., and part., ι— is normal, but Homeric verse usually has ι^ in thesis (as when ends a line); and the part. ( in Aristoph. Eq. 522 ) occurs with in Trag. ( Aesch. Th. 493 , etc.). Cp. El. 131 n.

mvp-comment-902-3 ἀφῆται ³⁹

mvp-comment-902-4 τοῦ θεοῦ γε ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-902-5 προστάτην ⁴¹

mvp-comment-902-6 οὕτως ⁴²

mvp-comment-903-1 χρείᾳ ⁴³

mvp-comment-904-1 τὰ πολλὰ ῥήματα ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-904-2 ἢ τέρψαντά τι ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-905-1 ἀφωνήτοις ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-906-1 ἐξηγεῖ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-907-1 ποιούμενος ᾀρωγόν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-907-2 ὧδε ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-907-3 ἀνέστησεν ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-908-1 λέξαι τ’ ἀκοῦσαί τ’ ⁵¹

mvp-comment-908-2 ἐξόδῳ ⁵²

mvp-comment-909-1 βουλήσομαι ⁵³

mvp-comment-910-1 θέλω δὲ λέξαι ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-911-1 πανάρχοις ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-911-2 γεραίτερος ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-911-3 In Attic prose the comparative of

always implies the contrast between youth and a more advanced period of life ( Thuc. 6.18

ἅμα νέοι γεραιτέροις βουλεύοντες

). The use in the text, to denote merely priority of birth (Attic ), is Ionic, as Her. 6.52

ἀμφότερα τὰ παιδία ἡγήσασθαι βασιλέας, τιμᾶν δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν γεραίτερον

: and poetical, as Theocr. 15. 139

ὁ γεραίτατος εἴκατι παίδων

.

mvp-comment-912-1 ἀνθ’ ὧν ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-913-1 λόγῳ ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-913-2 εἰς ἔλεγχον ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-913-3 χειρὸς οὐδ’ ἔργου ⁶⁰

mvp-comment-914-1 μάλιστα μὲν ⁶¹

mvp-comment-914-2 τὴν σὴν Ἐρινὺν ⁶²

mvp-comment-914-3 μάντεων ⁶³

mvp-comment-915-1 The γὰρ seems meant to introduce a further account of what the

at Argos had said; but no such explanation is given. γὰρ cannot be explained, at this point in the story, as the mere preface to narrative ( O. T. 277 ); that should have stood in 1292. Yet I would not write δ’ ἄρ’ . The hearers are left to understand that he found the seers among his new allies.

mvp-comment-915-2 τὸ Δωρικόν ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-916-1 γῆς Ἀπίας ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-917-1 τετίμηνται ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-917-2 δορί ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-918-1 τὸν ἑπτάλογχον … στόλον ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-919-1 πανδίκως ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-919-2 τοὺς τάδ’ ἐκπρ ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-920-1 εἶεν ⁷¹

mvp-comment-921-1 αὐτός τ’ ⁷²

mvp-comment-922-1 τάξεσιν … λόγχαις ⁷³

mvp-comment-923-1 δορυσσοῦς ⁷⁴

mvp-comment-923-2 δορυσσόος ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-923-3 Ἀμφιάρεως ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-923-4 τὰ πρῶτα μὲν … πρῶτα δέ ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-923-5 οἰωνῶν ὁδοῖς ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-924-1 The thirteen lines (1313— 1325) which contain the list of chiefs illustrate the poet's tact. There is no pomp of description, no superfluous detail; but the three most interesting points are lightly touched,—the character of Amphiaraus, the character of Capaneus, and the parentage of Parthenopaeus. The dramatic purpose is to dignify the strife, and to heighten the terror of the father's curse, which falls not only on the guilty son, but on his allies (cp. 1400).

mvp-comment-924-2 The list agrees in names, though not in order, with Aesch. Th. 377—652 , where each name is associated with one of the seven gates of Thebes, as probably in the epic Thebaid. (Cp. Ant. 141 ff., where the seven champions appear as having been slain and spoiled ,—the special doom of Amphiaraus being ignored.) Eur. Phoen. 1104 —1188 also has this list, except that Eteoclus is omitted, and Adrastus (the one survivor) substituted. In his Supplices Eteoclus and Adrastus are both included, while either Hippomedon or Amphiaraus seems to be omitted.

mvp-comment-925-1 Τυδεύς ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-925-2 Ἐτέοκλος ⁸¹

mvp-comment-925-3 Ἱππομέδοντ’ ⁸²

mvp-comment-926-1 κατασκαφῇ … δῃώσειν πυρί ⁸³ πυρί ⁸⁴ κατασκαφῇ ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-926-2 Καπανεὺς ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-927-1 Παρθενοπαῖος ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-927-2 ἐπώνυμος τῆς πρόσθεν ἀδμήτης ⁸⁸ χρόνῳ μητρὸς λοχευθείς ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-927-3 χρόνῳ ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-928-1 ἐγὼ δὲ σός ⁹¹

mvp-comment-928-2 πότμου ⁹²

mvp-comment-929-1 ἀντὶ παίδων ... ἱκετεύομεν ⁹³

mvp-comment-930-1 μῆνιν ...εἰκαθεῖν ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-930-2 τοὐμοῦ ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-931-1 Since πάτρας must clearly go with both verbs, it would seem that, aided by ἐξέωσε , the poet has used ἀπεσύλησεν with the constr. of

. Elsewhere we find only , to strip a thing from a man (cp. 922), or , to strip a man of a thing. We cannot here take πάτρας as gen. of the person robbed, ( ) since ἐξέωσε implies that the expeller is within the country. Nor could we well read πάτραν ( ).

mvp-comment-932-1 χρηστηρίων ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-932-2 προσθῇ ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-932-3 ἔφασκ’ ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-933-1 κρηνῶν ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-934-1 πιθέσθαι ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-934-2 The v.l. πτωχὸς for ξένος doubtless arose from a feeling that the word repeated should be that which immediately preceded μέν (cp. on 5

): but forms one notion, in which is the more important element.

mvp-comment-935-1 θωπεύοντες ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-936-1 δαίμον’ ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-936-2 ἐξειληχότες ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-936-3 ἐξειληφότες ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-937-1 τάλας ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-937-2 ἁβρύνετι ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-938-1 φρενί ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-939-1 ὄγκῳ ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-939-2 σὺν ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-939-3 διασκεδῶ ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-939-4 στήσω … στήσω δ’ ¹¹²

mvp-comment-939-5 ἄγων ¹¹³

mvp-comment-940-1 οὐδὲ σωθῆναι ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-941-1 τοῦ πέμψαντος ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-941-2 εἰπὼν … ἔκπεμψαι ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-942-1 δημοῦχοι ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-943-1 δικαιῶν ὥστ’ ¹¹⁸

mvp-comment-944-1 ὀμφῆς ¹¹⁹

mvp-comment-945-1 ἀξιωθεὶς … κἀκούσας γ’ ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-945-2 τοιαῦθ’ ¹²¹

mvp-comment-946-1 ὅς γ’, ὦ κάκιστε ¹²²

mvp-comment-946-2 σκῆπτρα καὶ θρόνους ¹²³

mvp-comment-947-1 ἃ ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-948-1 τὸν αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-948-2 ἔθηκας ἄπολιν … καὶ φορεῖν ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-948-3 ἄπολιν ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-948-4 ταύτας ¹²⁹

mvp-comment-949-1 πόνῳ … κακῶν ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-949-2 βεβηκὼς ¹³¹

mvp-comment-949-3 ἐμοί ¹³²

mvp-comment-950-1 κλαυστὰ … οἰστέα ¹³³

mvp-comment-950-2 ἐμοὶ μὲν ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-951-1 I have little doubt that τάδ’, ἕωσπερ , not τάδ’, ὥσπερ , is the true reading here. The synizesis of ἕως was familiar through Homer: Od. 2.148

: Il. 17.727

ἕως μὲν γάρ τε θέουσι διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες

. In Ph. 1330

ὡς ἂν αὑτὸς ἥλιος

, Scaliger rightly changed to (first adopted by Wunder); Brunck, with less probability, to . In Ai. 1117

ὡς ἂν ᾖς ὀ=ός περ εἶ, ὡς

is more easily defended; but there also (I now think) was rightly conjectured by Scaliger.

mvp-comment-951-2 ἕωσπερ ¹³⁵

mvp-comment-951-3 φονέως ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-951-4 μεμνημένος ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-952-1 μόχθῳ … ἔντροφον ¹³⁹

mvp-comment-952-2 ἐκ σέθεν ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-953-1 ἐπαιτῶ ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-954-1 εἰ δ’ ἐξέφυσα … μὴ ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-954-2 τὸ σὸν μέρος ¹⁴⁴

mvp-comment-955-1 εἰς τὸ συμπονεῖν ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-955-2 ἀπ’ ἄλλου ¹⁴⁶

mvp-comment-956-1 τοιγάρ σ’ ὁ δαίμων ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-956-2 I hold εἴπερ to be right: it refers to the statement made by Polyneices, which it does not call in question, but merely notes as the condition.

mvp-comment-956-3 κινοῦνται ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-957-1 κείνην ἐρείψεις ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-957-2 αἵματι … μιανθεὶς ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-958-1 τοιάσδ’ ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-958-2 ἐξανῆκ’ ¹⁵²

mvp-comment-958-3 ξυμμάχους ¹⁵³

mvp-comment-959-1 ἀνακαλοῦμαι ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-960-1 ἵν’ ἀξιῶτον ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-960-2 τοὺς φυτεύσαντας σέβειν ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-961-1 καὶ μὴ )ξατιμάζητον ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-961-2 ἔφυτον ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-962-1 τοιγὰρ τὸ σὸν θ. ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-962-2 Δίκη ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-962-3 θάκημα ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-962-4 κρατοῦσιν ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-963-1 ἡ παλαίφατος ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-964-1 ξύνεδρος ¹⁶⁴ Ζηνὸς ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-964-2 ἀρχαίοισνόμοις ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-965-1 κἀπάτωρ … ἐμοῦ ¹⁶⁷

mvp-comment-966-1 συλλαβὼν ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-966-2 καλοῦμαι ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-966-3 ἐμφυλίου ¹⁷⁰

mvp-comment-967-1 δόρει ¹⁷¹

mvp-comment-967-2 νοστῆσαι ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-967-3 τὸ κοῖλον Ἄργος ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-968-1 κτανεῖν θ’ ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-968-2 ¹⁷⁵

mvp-comment-969-1 πατρῷον ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-969-2 I prefer (1), but suspect that the poet used

with some measure of deliberate vagueness, leaving the hearers to choose between its possible associations, or to blend them. No emendation seems probable: see cr. n.

mvp-comment-969-3 ἀποικίσῃ ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-970-1 τάσδε δαίμονας ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-970-2 Ἄρη ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-971-1 ἐξάγγελλε ¹⁸⁰

mvp-comment-972-1 γέρα ¹⁸¹

1250. mvp-comment-666-1 Here comes, as it would seem, the man from Argos, shedding copious tears:-and, father, it is indeed no other-. For ἡμῖν, cp. esp. supr. 81, and note. Here we have approaching to disturb us.' ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος] (1) Some appear to take this with λείβων δάκρυον, Weeping, unlike other men. Praeter morem virorum.' (Hermann.) But, besides the poverty of such a sense, the weeping of men is not uncommon in Greek poetry, or even in Greek history. Others (Schndw.) take μοῦνος = μονωθείς, Without companions, referring to the apprehension expressed in 1206-1207. This is rightly rejected by Dindorf. Antigone does not at once name Polynices, for fear of offending her father, but she cannot help ejaculating It is indeed no other; i. e. than Polynices, whom you supposed him to be (1. 1171). Cp. supra 321, μόνης τόδ᾽ ἐστὶ δῆλον Ἰσμήνης κάρα (' Ismene and no other'), 319, οὔκ ἐστιν ἄλλη: Τr. 261, μόνον βροτῶν : 355, μόνος θεῶν : Εl. 531, μοῦνος Ἑλλήνων. The imperfect expression makes the question of Oedipus more natural, τίς ούτος; Whom do you mean? 1252-1253. ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν γνώμῃ] Supra 1171.

1254. mvp-comment-667-1 Cp. the first words of Ismene, 11. 324-326.

1255. mvp-comment-668-1 τὰ τοῦδ᾽ ὁρῶν τά is in the same construction with κακά, governed by δακρύσω: but is also governed by ὁρῶν, which is added epexegetically. 1258, foll. In such raiment, whose hateful soilure hath grown old and settled on his aged frame, withering his side.' The conjectural emendation πίνος, which is due to Scaliger, agrees admirably with the context as well as with l. 1597, and the MS. reading is here indefensible.

1260. mvp-comment-669-1 The rhythm here curiously resembles that of supr. 314. 5.

1260. mvp-comment-669-2 κρατί is a locative dative, and ὀμματοστερής has a passive meaning.

1261. mvp-comment-670-1 ᾄσσεται The middle or passive form is used as in the Homeric expression ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται | ὤμοις ἀΐσσονται, ΙΙ. 6.510. 1263-1264. 'And of a piece with these miseries, as it would seem. is the provision for the poor belly's nourishment which he carries with him.' The word φορεῖ, taken in connection with the preceding context, shows that the remark of Polynices refers to the appearance of the scrip or wallet in which Oedipus, like the Telephus of Euripides, carried the scanted gifts which he received. (1. 3.)

1265-1266. mvp-comment-671-1 And I declare that thy neglected condition proves me basest of Ask not others about me. For the correction, cp. El. 1225, μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ. The confusion of µ and λλ would easily occur with μὴ ἐξ ἄλλων following. For the meaning of ἥκειν, see Essay on Language § 52. p. 97; and for the dative τροφαῖς, ib. § 14. p. 21 (2).

1267. mvp-comment-672-1 But seeing that even Zeus has Mercy at his side in all his counsels, let her have place also by thee, O my father.'

1269-1270. mvp-comment-673-1 For while it is possible to remedy the errors that have been committed, to add to them is now impossible; i.e. We can restore you to some comforts, but you cannot be made more miserable. For the expression, cp. Aesch. Eum. 645, πέδας μὲν ἂν λύσειεν, ἔστι τοῦδ᾽ ἄκος.

1269-1270. mvp-comment-673-2 μέν ἐστι .. οὐκ ἔστ' This accentuation was retained by Elmsley from previous editions. The stress in the first clause is on ἄκη, in the second on οὐκ ἔστι.

1271. mvp-comment-674-1 The interrupted verse marks the solemn pause in which Polynices waits for his father to break silence.

1274. mvp-comment-675-1 ἃ μηνίεις Ε. on L. § 17. p. 25.

1277. mvp-comment-676-1 To unlock our father's lips, that will not speak nor be spoken to.' δυσπρόσοιστον = χαλεπὸν προσφέρεσθαι.

1277. mvp-comment-676-2 ἀπροσήγορον has rather a reciprocal than either an active or a passive meaning. Cp. Phil. 1353, τῷ προσήγορος; Eur. Alc. 195, ὃν οὐ προσείπε καὶ προσερρήθη πάλιν. Cp. supr. 1141 and note. For κινεῖν = ‘Τo excite to speech,' cp. Plat. Rep. 329 D, βουλόμενος ἔτι λέγειν αὐτὸν ἐκίνουν.

1279. mvp-comment-677-1 οὕτως *ἀφῇ γε The second με was rightly rejected by Turnebus. The second γε, on the other hand, gives an intelligible emphasis to οὕτως, which is further explained by μηδέν.. ἔπος. 1280 ff. The wisdom of this counsel is in keeping with the tact, beyond her years, which Antigone herself elsewhere displays.

1281-1282. mvp-comment-678-1 'For speech, when lengthened out, may either by gratifying some fancy, by awakening some impatience or some pity. For the causative use of δυσχεραίνω and κατοικτίζω, which is assisted by the active τέρψαντα preceding, see Essay on Language § 53. p. 98, and cp. the passive κατῳκτίσθην in Eur. I. A. 686. The more usual meaning, By expressing anger or pity, is unsuited to the circumstances (Polynices was not likely to move Oedipus by expressing anger or pity), and affords no suitable connection with the following line.

1286. mvp-comment-679-1 ἔνθεν From whose altar. ἀνέστησεν] On raising the suppliant, cp. supra 264. 276, and notes.

1290. mvp-comment-680-1 κυρεῖν To be made good. For this emphatic use of κυρέω, cp. Tr. 291, νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ.

1291. mvp-comment-681-1 ἅ Cp. supra 1274, and note.

1294. mvp-comment-682-1 γονῇ ·· γεραιτέρᾳ Of elder birth. See Essay on Language § 42. p. 80.

1295. mvp-comment-683-1 φύσει By birth, answering to πεφυκώς, supra. Cp. Hdt. 7. 134, φύσει γεγονότες εὖ.

1297. mvp-comment-684-1 χειρὸς οὔτ᾽ ἔργου i. e. οὔτε χειρὸς οὔτ᾽ ἔργου. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 532, Πάρις γὰρ οὔτε συντελὴς πόλις, κ.τ.λ. The first οὔτε may be suppressed because of οὔτε preceding. But Hermann's conj., οὐδ', is not improbable.

1300. mvp-comment-685-1 The reading of Lis more distinct than that of Par. A, but there is still some degree of inexactness in the language. For μάλιστα μέν does not oppose Polynices' own opinion to the words of the prophets, but the anger of Oedipus to other causes of disaster at Thebes.

1301. mvp-comment-686-1 The connection shows that the μάντεις are the soothsayers of his new army, who had obtained information of the oracle given to the θεωροί from Thebes: infr. 1331-1332, cp. supr. 387 ff.

1301. mvp-comment-686-2 Ἄργος .. Δωρικόν) The plain of Argolis, as distinguished from the Pelasgic Argos in Thessaly. II. 2. 681. rex

1303. mvp-comment-687-1 γῆς .. Ἀπίας

Hermann: whose inference is, however, scarcely justified by the words of Aeschylus.

1304. mvp-comment-688-1 καὶ τετίμηνται δόρει And are honoured most in war. The superlative notion is continued from πρῶτοι. Ср. О. Т. 1205 and note.

1305. mvp-comment-689-1 τὸν ἑπτάλογχον.. στόλον The article is probably used by an anachronism: i. e. The well-known expedition of the seven chieftains. Cp. supra 1066, and note. For the adj. cp. infr. 1311.

1305. mvp-comment-689-2 ἐς Θήβας depends on the idea of motion implied in the sentence = στόλον στειλάμενος.

1306. mvp-comment-690-1 πανδίκως Might either die and make an end, as is fitting. The latter part of the compound is subordinate, but supplies a certain notion of fitness, i. e. πανδίκως = πάντως, ὡς δίκαιον. The same thought is present as in Aj. 479-480, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ καλῶς ζῆν, ἢ καλῶς τεθνηκέναι | τὸν εὐγενή χρή.

1310. mvp-comment-691-1 ἐμαυτοῦ On my own account. Essay on Language § 9. p. 12.

1311. mvp-comment-692-1 σὺν ἑπτά τε λόγχαις Cp. Ant. 106, τὸν . . Ἀργόθεν φῶτα βάντα πανσαγία: 141-142. ταχθέντες ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἔλιπον Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τέλη. (1) The uplifted spear of each leader is singled out for special mention as that to which all eyes would turn for the signal to march, etc. Cp. Trach. 856, κελαινὰ λόγχα προμάχου δορός, Aesch. Eum. 766, εὖ κεκασμένον δορύ. Although λόγχη, like ἀσπίς, is sometimes used collectively, ἑπτὰ ἀσπίδες could never mean seven heavy-armed battalions. (2) If τάξις might have the special meaning of a troop of cavalry, it might mig be proposed to read λόχοις for λόγχαις.

1313. mvp-comment-693-1 Ἀμφιάρεως.

1314. mvp-comment-694-1 πρώτα δ᾽ οἰωνῶν ὁδοῖς And skilled before all men in the intricate meanings of the flight of birds.

1318-1319. mvp-comment-695-1 κατασκαφῇ Dative of the manner: πυρί, dative of the instrument: In utter demolition to burn with fire.

1320. mvp-comment-696-1 ὄρνυται Rushes on. The word indicates the fiery youth of Parthenopaeus.

1321. mvp-comment-697-1 ἐπώνυμος.. λοχευθείς Called so, because the late offspring of a mother, who beforetime was long a virgin. The genitive is governed partly by ἐπώνυμος and partly by λοχευθείς, which is added epexegetically. Cp. supra 1255, and note. Essay on Language § 43. p. 82.

1321. mvp-comment-697-2 χρόνῳ refers to the long-continued maidenhood of Atalanta, and is in construction either (1) with πρόσθεν, or rather (2) with λοχευθείς.

1322. mvp-comment-698-1 πιστός Steadfast: δίκαιος κἀγαθὸς παραστάτης, Ant. 671. An ornamental epithet, suitably applied by Polynices to one of his faithful companions. Cp. infra 1395.

1323-1325. mvp-comment-699-1 ἐγὼ δὲ.. ἄγω Polynices ends with the mention of himself, but, instead of continuing the enumeration, distinguishes himself from the rest as the leader of all.

1323-1325. mvp-comment-699-2 σός Sc. γόνος.

1323-1325. mvp-comment-699-3 τοῦ κακοῦ πότμου φυτευθείς Cp. Ο. Τ. 1080, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν παῖδα τῆς τύχης νέμων, κ.τ.λ.

1323-1325. mvp-comment-699-4 Ἄργους is partly gen. of place = rdv ἐξ Ἄργους opposed to ἐς Θήβας, partly descriptive = 'Αργεῖον.

1326. mvp-comment-700-1 To make his supplication more impressive Polynices represents the whole army, which he has described, as joining in it. Ср. О. Т. 326-327, ἐπεὶ | πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδ᾽ ἱκτήριοι.

1326. mvp-comment-700-2 ἀντὶ.. ψυχῆς] 'By these thy children, and by thy life. This rare use of ἀντί is to be explained by the notion of equivalence. At the price of your children; i. e. As you love them. Cp. El. 537, ἀλλ ἀντ᾿ ἀδελφοῦ. 'But for his brother's sake.'

1328. mvp-comment-701-1 μήνιν εἰκαθεῖν Το yield your wrath.' The construction is singular, but εἰκαθεῖν = χαλᾶν. Essay on Language § 16. p. 23.

1330. mvp-comment-702-1 πάτρας The accusative would be an equally regular construction, but the genitive is preferred because admitting of a construction with both verbs.

1331-1332. mvp-comment-703-1 For, if any event is to be believed in as issuing from prophecy, the God declared the victory to be with those whom you support.' ἐκ χρηστηρίων, sc. ἀποβαίνον. προσθῇ, SC. ἀλκήν, or the like. Cp. Hdt. 2. 160, τῷ ἀστῷ ἀγωνιζομένῳ προσθήσονται.

1333. mvp-comment-704-1 Now, by the wells and by the Gods of our race. Although ὁμογνίων adheres closely to θεῶν, the same idea is extended to κρηνῶν, The wells of which our fathers drank. The v. r., πρὸς θεῶν, deserves attention.

1336. mvp-comment-705-1 ἄλλους.. θωπεύοντες Courting favours from others at Argos and at Athens. οἰκοῦμεν) We obtain a dwellingplace.

1337. mvp-comment-706-1 ἐξειληφότες Having received. Cp. Plat. Soph. 227 B, where there is a similar doubt between εἰλήφασι and εἰλήχασι and the MSS. are strongly in favour of εἰλήφασι. For ἐξειληχότες, which is equally probable, cp. El. 760.

1340-1341. mvp-comment-707-1 ὃν.. διασκεδῶ Whose forces I will scatter to the winds.' Eteocles stands for his power, as Polynices for his in Ant. 106, τὸν λεύκασπιν Αργόθεν φῶτα βάντα, κ.τ.λ.

1340. mvp-comment-708-1 τήμῇ · · φρενί If you will side with me. For this periphrasis, cp. Ant. 1015, τῆς σῆς ἐκ φρενός : ib. 1063, μὴ ᾿μπολήσων .. τὴν ἐμὴν φρένα: Τr. 538, ἐμπόλημα τῆς ἐμῆς φρενός.

1341. mvp-comment-709-1 With little effort and in brief time.' ὄγκος, is originally bulk' or mass. Hence it has the two secondary senses of (1) importance, (2) effort. Cp. Eur. Troad. 107-108, ὦ πολὺς ὄγκος ξυστελλομένων | προγόνων, ὡς οὐδὲν ἄρ᾽ ἦσθα. Virg. Aen. 1. 37,

For διασκεδῶ, cp. supra 620, Ant. 287, γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν.

1348. mvp-comment-710-1 The objections to δημοῦχοι, which has the authority of the first hand of L. (but cp. 1355), are well stated by Hermann: Reisigius ingeniose conjecit, ἄνδρες τῆσδε δημοῦχοι χθονός. Non est tamen credibile, ita scripsisse poetam, tum quia tam verbosa compellatio minus convenit homini irato, tum quod nudum nomen Thesei hic, ubi regia auctoritate se permotum indicare vult Oedipus, non satis grave est. For δημοῦχος, as applied to Theseus, cp. supra 1087.

1350. mvp-comment-711-1 For the amplification of the phrase with ὥστε, cp. Phil. 901, ἔπεισεν ὥστε μὴ μὲ ἄγειν ναύτην ἔτι; Eur. Hipp. 1327, ἤθελ᾽ ὥστε γίγνεσθαι τάδε.

1351. mvp-comment-712-1 ὀμφῆς τῆς ἐμῆς My voice. For the solemn association attaching to ὀμφή, cp. supra 550, κατ' ὀμφὴν σήν, and note.

1352. mvp-comment-713-1 νῦν δ᾽ ἀξιωθεὶς εἶσι But now this shall be vouchsafed him ere he go; yea, and he shall hear words that shall in nowise cheer his path of life: thine, O thou wretch,' etc.

1356. mvp-comment-714-1 τὸν αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ For αὑτοῦ = σεαυτοῦ, and for the order of words, cp. supr. 930.

1357. mvp-comment-715-1 στολάς Supr. 1258.

1357. mvp-comment-715-2 φορεῖν Governed by the notion of causation in ἔθηκας = ἐποίησας.

1359. mvp-comment-716-1 κακών Added to supplement πόνῳ. Cp. supra 1029-1030, ὕβριν τόλμης. .. 1360-1361. This is no case for tears. By me these things must be borne, however I live, never forgetting that you are my murderer.' κλαυστά] Some editors read κλαυτά. Dd2 The MS. reading is defended by Hermann, who says, Ego quidem suspicor in hoc nomine verbali idem accidisse, quod in γνωστός et γνωτός factum videri at Oed. R. 362 (361) adnotavi, ut hae formae subtili quodam significationis discrimine distinguerentur. Nam, nisi fallor, κλαυτός proprie est defletus, deinde autem ad exemplum aliorum verbalium lacrimabilis; κλαυστός autem lacrimandus, i. e. quem convenit defleri.

1361. mvp-comment-717-1 ὥσπερ ἂν ζῶ Whatever my life may be. Cp. Hom. Od. 17. 586, οὐκ ἄφρων ὁ ξεῖνος δίεται, ὅσπερ ἂν εἴη. Some take ὡs in this place for ἕως (see Essay on Language § 28. p. 47), but such a use of ὥσπερ is inadmissible. As above rendered, the words have an obvious reference to 1357-1359, and to supr. 1625, 6, I ask not for your compassion; whether I live happily or miserably, I shall equally regard you as my murderer.

1361. mvp-comment-717-2 μεμνημένος is nominative by attraction to the relative clause.

1363. mvp-comment-718-1 ἐκ σέθεν In consequence of your acts. Essay on Language § 19. p. 28. According to Sophocles in this play, Polynices was the elder brother. Supr. 1295.

1365. mvp-comment-719-1 For the position of μή, see Essay on Language § 41. p. 78. 1370-1371. (1) (Reading οὗ τί πω) Therefore the Avenging eyes are upon τροφαὶ ΑR. thee, not indeed as they will be by-andby, if once those battalions move towards the town of Thebes. The curse of Oedipus is absolute: but its immediate execution depends on the action of Polynices. Antigone may be supposed to have these words in her mind when she entreats her brother to turn his army back. Infr. 1416 ff. The apodosis to which μέν looks forward (εἰσόψεται δέ) is absorbed in the relative clause, ὡς αὐτίκα, SC. εἰσόψεται. (2) Retaining που from L, and supposing ὡs to be pleonastic as in various adverbial expressions (cp. esp. El. 1452, ὡς ἐτητύμως: Phil. 58, πλεῖς δ᾽ ὡς πρὸς οἶκον), a different turn may perhaps be given to the expression. Therefore the eye of Heaven regards thee, I do not say for immediate vengeance, since these battalions are on their march to Thebes.' In this case Oedipus contrasts the proud advance of Polynices at the head of the Argive host (cp. Ant. 119 ff.) with his impending ruin. For this momentary suspension of the curse, cp. Phil. 961, ὅλοιο μή πω, κ.τ.λ. The deferred apodosis is resumed by implication in 1372 ff. εἴπερ, with the indicative, suits better with (2): if. as you tell me. This is a real example of tragic irony. In this case που is slightly better than πω, because assisting the ironical expression. Not, I suppose, for instant retribution, since your great host is still upon its way. ὡς αὐτίκα, sc. εἰσορῶν, i. e. κολάζων. In support of the above suggestion (2), it may be urged that αὐτίκα rarely opposes future time to present, though it is occasionally so used by Plato (Gorg. 459 C, Rep. 495 С).

1371. mvp-comment-720-1 οἵδε .. λόχοι Oedipus speaks as if he saw the army which Polynices has described. Cp. supr. 1326 ff.

1372-1373. mvp-comment-721-1 οὐ γάρ, κ.τ.λ. The town, I say, for there is one who shall never call Thebes his "city." In the edition of Turnebus, ἐρεῖ τις is changed to ἐρείψεις, on which Hermann justly remarks, Etiam si illa fortasse codicis alicuju alicujus scriptura est, non levis manet suspicio, ingenioso eam correctori potius quam ipsi poetae deberi, non quod ἐρείψεις gravius verbum sit quam expectes, aut quod κείνην addi non opus fuerit; in hujusmodi rebus enim non est argutandum: sed quod codicum et veterum editionum scriptura tantum abest ut sensu careat, ut propterea tantum, quia difficilior est, correctione opus habuisse videatur.' The interpretation of the passage turns on the associations surrounding the word πόλις. (Cp. supra 837, 858.) Oedipus, in speaking to Polynices of Thebes, avoids the word πόλις, and uses ἄστυ instead, because, as he says with a sort of angry logic, Thebes shall never more be a city to Polynices, who shall be ἄπολις Θήβης as he is ἀπάτωρ ἐμοῦ (1383). It is to be remembered that the words πόλις and πατρίς were used by Greeks with the same affection. ate familiarity, and the same consciousness of the privileges attaching to them, as the words πατήρ, μήτηρ, ἀδελφός, and the like. This is not equally the case with ἄστυ, which is rather the place, while πόλις is the commonwealth, furnished well with men. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 613, Π. ὦ πόλις. ΕΤ. μολὼν ἐς Ἄργος ἀνακάλει Λέρνης ὕδωρ. On the use of the indefinite for the second personal pronoun, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 36. It may be further observed, against the reading of Turnebus, that Oedipus, who is looking forward to the defeat of the Thebans at his grave, is not likely thus to emphasize the impregnable strength of their city.

1375. mvp-comment-722-1 τοιάσδ᾽ ἀράς Viz. the curse of mutual slaughter. Sophocles here returns to the old legend, which he had altered so as to give a dramatic and ethical propriety to the curse of Oedipus. See Introd. p. 269. The curse thus solemnly recalled is the original curse of the old story, and not a mere accidental utterance like that in supra 421, foll.

1376. mvp-comment-723-1 ἀνακαλοῦμαι I invoke them anew in my behalf. So in Eur. Suppl. 626, κεκλημένους μὲν ἀνακαλούμεθ᾽ αὖ θεούς.

1377. mvp-comment-724-1 ἵν᾿ ἀξιῶτον, κ.τ.λ. For similar language accompanying a threat, cp. Ant. 310, 311: Tr. 1110-1111.

1378. mvp-comment-725-1 καὶ μὴ ἐξατιμάζητον, εἰ And may not think it a light matter that ye have been such sons to your blind father.

1378. mvp-comment-725-2 ἀτιμάζειν c. inf. in Eur. 608-609, is to neglect a duty. Hence ἐξατιμάζειν here means to persist in making light of a sin. For the compound, cp. ἐξουδενίζω. See Essay on Language p. 101. The clause εἰ.. ἔφυτον is the object of the verb. For the ethical force of ei='to think that,' see Essay on Language § 28. p. 46.

1378. mvp-comment-725-3 τυφλοῦ πατρὸς τοιώδ᾽ ἔφυτον is condensed for τυφλοῦ πατρὸς φύντες ἐγένεσθον τοιώδε: i. e. When your father was blind, you proved so undutiful.

1379. mvp-comment-726-1 Ultima hujus versus verba αἵδε γὰρ τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἔδρων, hac simplicitate sua admirabilem habent planeque divinam vim tum ad magnitudinem doloris propter impietatem filiorum, tum ad caritatem, quam filiae meruerunt, declarandam.' Herm.

1380-1381. mvp-comment-727-1 Therefore they have power to frustrate thy supplication and thy claim upon the throne.' They, viz. (1) my curses,' which are the main subject, the reflection αΐδε ἔδρων being inserted parenthetically. For this, cp. Phil. 351, οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην: 668, καὶ δόντι δοῦναι: 1034, αὕτη γὰρ ἦν σοι πρόφασις ἐκβαλεῖν ἐμέ: supra 280, φυγὴν δε του μήπω γενέσθαι φωτὸς ἀνοσίου βροτῶν. Otherwise (2), they, viz. the daughters, whose virtues justify the repulse of the son: sc. αὗται τοιαῦται γενόμεναι. But, although the verb is thus made to agree with the nearer subject, the words do not naturally bear this meaning. τὸ σὸν θάκημα has been interpreted to mean thine enthronement,' the whole line thus recalling the words of Polynices, supr. 1293, τοῖς σοῖς . . ἐνθακεῖν θρόνοις. But θάκημα has been used twice previously of the supplication of Polynices (11. 1160, 1179; cp. also 1163, 1166); and this meaning is here in point. Polynices has appealed not only to his right of primogeniture, but to the protection of Poseidon, from whose altar Theseus raised him with a solemn promise (supr. 1285-1290, 1293-1294). Оеdipus rejoins that both these claims are quashed by the righteousness of his paternal curse, which is justified by the filial ingratitude of both his sons, ap- 1380 1385 pearing still darker when contrasted with the piety of Antigone and Ismene.

1381-1382. mvp-comment-728-1 If the righteousness of which old legends tell presides in the immemorial rule of Zeus. Demosth. Ρ. 772-725, τὴν ἀπαραίτητον καὶ σεμνὴν Δίκην, ἣν ὁ τὰς ἁγιωτάτας ἡμῖν τελετὰς καταδείξας Ὀρφεὺς παρὰ τὸν τοῦ Διὸς θρόνον φησὶ καθημένην πάντα τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐφορᾶν. The latter part of the compound παλαιφάτουis subordinate, so that it is little more than παλαιοῦ, but with an association from φάτις, φήμη, cp. Τr. 823; Hes. Op. 257. The laws of Zeus are personified, like the νόμοι ἄγραφοι in O. T. 866. But the eternal laws are here imagined rather as ruling over events than as claiming the allegiance of the heart: in their retributive more than their directive aspect. Cp. Ant. 604, ff., τεάν, Ζεῦ, δύνασιν τίς ἀνδρῶν | ὑπερβασία κατάσχοι ; τὸ τ᾽ ἔπειτα καὶ τὸ μέλλον καὶ τὸ πρὶν ἐπαρκέσει | νόμος ὅδ'.

1383. mvp-comment-729-1 ἀπόπτυστος.. ἐμοῦ Disowned, ay, and abhorred by me. Essay on Language § 41. p. 78, B, b. ἐμοί, from ἐμοῦ following, is probably to be supplied with ἀπόπτυστος. For the genitive of respect after the privative, see Essay on Language § 10. p. 16.

1385. mvp-comment-730-1 ἅς σοι καλοῦμαι Which I invoke on thee. Cp. infr. 1389, 1391. The force of the middle voice here is to mark the intensely personal nature of the act: which I invoke on them from my very soul. In supr. 1376 it is rather, which being my own, I summon to my aid. σοι is dative of direct reference. Essay on Language § 12. p. 18.

1385. mvp-comment-730-2 γῆς ἐμφυλίου The land of thine own kin. The word marks the sacrilegious nature of Polynices' enterprise. Cp. αἷμ' ἐμφύλιον.

1387. mvp-comment-731-1 τὸ κοῖλον Ἄργος The vale of Argos, as in supra 378. Cp. 1301, and Homer's κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα.

1387-1388. mvp-comment-732-1 συγγενεῖ χερὶ . . ἐξελήλασαι] i. e. With brother's hand to slay and to be slain.' συγγενεῖ χερί and ὑφ' οὗπερ ἐξελήλασαι belong equally to both the infinitives. The phrase ὑφ' οὗπερ ἐξελήλασαι is a formal amplification, giving greater solemnity. For the legend, see Pind. Isthm. 7. (6.) 10.

1389-1390. mvp-comment-733-1 And I invoke the hated gloom of the abyss to carry thee away to his place. πατρῷον is obscure. Either (1), there is an allusion to the curse upon the Labdacidae, I invoke on thee the horrid gloom of Erebus, thy sole inheritance from our sire: or (2) simply, where my father is: or (3), πατρῷος is used as an epithet of Tartarus, to mark off a special function; cp. ZΖεὺς ξένιος, ἱκετήσιος, etc. The gloom of the nethermost abyss, that avenges fathers.The dreadful hell that waits upon a father's curse.' Taken either way πατρῷον conveys more of horror than Nauck's κάτωθεν, or Meineke's στυγνοπρόσωπον. Τάρταρος, like Όλυμπος, is less definite in Sophocles than in earlier poetry. 1395

1389. mvp-comment-734-1 τό τοῦ LA.

1389. mvp-comment-734-2 τοὺσ-ουσ Β Vat.

1389. mvp-comment-734-3 ἐμβεβληκότα ἐ(κ?)βεβληκότα LL². ἐμ1393. κἀξάγγελλ' κἐξάγγελ' Α.

1391. mvp-comment-735-1 τάσδε δαίμονας Oedipus invokes the Eumenides against Polynices, as against Creon supr. 1010 ff., rather as his patron deities than in their primary character as Erinyes. See Introd. p. 281, and contrast Ajax' invocation of the same deities, Aj. 843.

1391. mvp-comment-735-2 Ἄρη The God of strife and destruction, who in Sophocles is often regarded as an evil power. Cp. O. T. 190.

1392. mvp-comment-736-1 For δεινόν, cp. supr. 336.