1449.
mvp-comment-771-1
*νέα, added by Hermann, for the sake of the metre, also rather improves the sense. ،
1450.
mvp-comment-772-1
εἴ τι μοῖρα μὴ κιγχάνει Polynices (1426) referred the curse to his father's caprice: Antigone (1424, 1440) to some higher inspiration. The chorus waver between the two suggestions.
Coming from the blind stranger: if this be not haply the hand of fate. The Homeric expression κιχάνει or κιγχάνει, is here left without a distinct object. The Scholiast suggests ἡμᾶς: later critics αὐτόν: and some have rendered, Evil comes to me from the stranger, unless his fate overtake him now. Cp. II. 22. 436, νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ Μοῖρα κιχάνει. But the emphasis is on μοῖρα, and the verb is used absolutely. Lit. Unless it be Fate who in some respect attains her aim. τι as cognate accusative in part supplies the place of the regular object. This explanation harmonizes with the next line.
1451.
mvp-comment-773-1
For I cannot tell of any decree of Gods that hath been in vain.' For ἔχω φράσαι, cp. Aesch. Ag. 367, Διὸς πλαγὰν ἔχουσιν εἰπεῖν. And for the adverbas predicate, see Essay on Language p. 40. 1454-1455. Either (1) 'Time ever keeps (the execution of the Divine Will)
in view, one day making some things rise and grow, and other things again on the day following. For this interpretation, cp. Aj. 646, ἅπανθ᾽ ὁ.. χρόνος φύει τ᾿ ἄδηλα καὶ φανέντα κρύπτεται: Ib. 131-132, ὡς ἡμέρα κλίνει τε κἀνάγει πάλιν | ἅπαντα τἀνθρώπεια: Τr. 132 ff.: Hdt. 1. 5, τὰ γὰρ τὸ πάλαι μεγάλα ἦν, τὰ πολλὰ αὐτῶν σμικρὰ γέγονε· τὰ δὲ ἐπ᾿ ἐμεῦ ἦν μεγάλα, πρότερον ἦν σμικρά. τὴν ἀνθρωπηΐην ὧν ἐπιστάμενος εὐδαιμονίαν οὐδαμὰ ἐν τωὐτῷ μένουσαν, ἐπιμνήσομαι ἀμφοτέρων ὁμοίως. And for αὔξων ἄνω, infr. 1567, πάλιν σε δαίμων δίκαιος αὔξοι. In this interpretation ἐπεὶ μέν is supposed to be used after the analogy of ὅτε μέν. And this is hardly admissible, if the usage, ὅτε μὲν ὅτε δὲ.. is to be explained, as seems most probable, by the original identity of the relative with the demonstrative. Cp. ὃς μὲν .. ὃς δὲ .. (2) To meet the difficulty Canter conjectured ἐκεῖ, i. e.
In yonder case. Others have supposed that ἐπεί is the corruption of a verb or participle. The words τρέπων τὰ ἤδη αὐξηθέντα, in the confused note of the Scholiast, have suggested στρέφων (Schndw., who reads δέδοικα δ' in the antistrophe), i.e.
turning backward: (τρέπει is nearer to the MSS, but the indicative could not be followed by a participle with dé coming between). But although Eur. fr. 540 says φεῦ τὰ τῶν εὐδαιμονούντων ὡς τάχα στρέφει θεός, the word is less natural here. Another conj., which gives the same general meaning without altering the rhythm, is áveis, 'letting go'-the opposite of ἀνέχων οἱ ἐπέχων :-'dropping some things, and lifting others on high.' Cp. Aj. 1214, νῦν δ᾽ οὗτος ἀνεῖται : Pind. Pyth. 2. 89, (χρὴ δὲ πρὸς θεὸν οὐκ ἐρίζειν) ὃς ἀνέχει ποτὲ μὲν τὰ κείνων, τότ᾽ αὖθ᾽ ἑτέροις ἔδωκεν μέγα κύδος. 1455- έτερα CA.
1451.
mvp-comment-773-2
(τάδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἤματ᾿ B Vat.) (3) The above conjectures suppose an alteration of the antistrophe. The conj. ἐριπὼν μὲν ἕτερα, suggested in our former edition, requires no further change, and, in common with that of Schndw., gives the rhythm (ト(レト υιυΐυιτών. Dind. conj.
1451.
mvp-comment-773-3
ἄγων. Qy. ἀπάγων ? (4) It has been suggested to give ἕτερα the meaning of
bad, ' sinister,' as in Pind. Pyth. 3. 34, 5, δαίμων δ᾽ ἕτερος | ἐς κακὸν τρέψας ἐδαμάσσατό νιν. But this does not help us to a clear context. (5) The MS. reading τὰ δὲ πήματ᾿ can be rendered metrical by the simple insertion of γε: τὰ δέ γε πήματ'. But πήματα αὔξειν ἄνω is not a natural expression, whether a succession of miseries is spoken of, as in Aesch. Cho. 1020, μόχθων δ᾽ ὁ μὲν αὐτίχ᾽, ὁ δ᾽ ἥξει, or αὔξειν πήματα is imagined to mean
to cure misfortune. Although the text is uncertain, the general meaning probably is, Time casts down some things, and others that yesterday were mean, to-day he glorifies. Cp. Aj. 131-132, ὡς ἡμέρα κλίνει τε κἀνάγει πάλιν | ἅπαντα τἀνθρώπεια.
1457.
mvp-comment-774-1
Some critics, including Elmsley, have imagined that the thunder is heard immediately on the departure of Oedipus. But a more natural connection is preserved if the chorus are supposed first to express the gloomy forebodings with which the curse of Oedipus has filled their minds, and then to be panic-stricken on hearing the thunder. If it had already thundered, this would in some way have been clearly announced. See Schol. on l. 1450, εἰ μὴ κατὰ μοῖραν ταῦτα πάσχω, εἴποιμι ἂν ἐκ τοῦ Πολυνείκους νέα μοι κακὰ ἐληλυθέναι. And on 1456, μεταξὺ οὖν τῶν τοῦ χόρου λόγων γίνεται τοῦτο.
1457.
mvp-comment-774-2
εἴ τις ἔντοπος
If there is any one at hand. Said with the uncertainty of a blind man. Cp. Phil. 212.
1458.
mvp-comment-775-1
δεῦρο .. πόροι
Bring hither. For this meaning of πορεῖν, in which there is a feeling of its etymological connection with πόρος, πορεύω, infr. 1476, cp. Hom. Il. 9. 513, πόρε .. ἕπεσθαι: 6. 228, κτείνειν ὅν γε θεύς γε πόρῃ ('May bring in my way'). See Essay on Language p. 99.
1459.
mvp-comment-776-1
τἀξίωμα.
The intention ; i.e. τί ἀξιοῖς γενέσθαι σοι τῇ κλήσει; Note the recurrence of the word after 1451.
1462.
mvp-comment-777-1
ἴδε μάλα
Lo! now again. μάλα emphasizing the repetition, as in μάλ᾽ αὖθις, cp. Aesch. Cho. 870, ἔα, ἔα μάλα: S. c. Τ. 915, δόμων μάλ᾽ ἀχὰν ἐς οὖς προπέμπει δαΐκτωρ γόος: Pers. 1045, οἱ μάλα καὶ τόδ᾽ ἀλγῶ: Hdt. 1. 181, καὶ ἕτερος μάλα ἐπὶ τούτου.
1462.
mvp-comment-777-2
μέγας . . διόβολος
There comes mightily crashing down the unutterable roar of the Zeus-hurled bolt. As in πτερωτὸς βροντή supra, the thunder has the attributes of the lightning.
1462.
mvp-comment-777-3
ἄφατος, of an overwhelming sensation, as in O. T. 1314, νέφος.. ἐπιπλόμενον ἄφατον.
1464.
mvp-comment-778-1
ἐς.. φόβαν (1)
And fear hath crept even to the very hair of my head. ἄκραν, adverbial. Or (2)
to the very tips of my hair; with a suggestion of the hair standing on end.
1466.
mvp-comment-779-1
ἔπτηξα θυμόν 'I am cowed at heart. On the aorist used when the speaker reflects on his own state, see Essay on Language § 32. p. 55, and cp. esp. Αj. 693. ἔφριξ᾽ ἔρωτι. The MS. reading οὐρανία, which is metrically indefensible, can be best accounted for as a mistaken gloss on οὐρανοῦ, which, however, is not really a descriptive genitive (like ἄστρων .. εὐφρόνη in El. 19), but =
from heaven,
from the region of the sky. Meineke conj. οὐρανόν, i. e.
Lights up the heaven.
1467.
mvp-comment-780-1
μάν gives to the question a wondering expression.
1469.
mvp-comment-781-1
τί.. τέλος 'What event will it bring forth?" Cp. φωνήν, ἀράς, χροιὰς ἀφιέναι.
1469.
mvp-comment-781-2
δέδια τόδ' The reading of l. 1454 being uncertain, it is better not to alter this the corresponding line, for the sake of the metre only, seeing that IC is not an impossible rhythm. Hence it is better to retain τόδ', which has a good meaning (τὸ τῆς βροντῆς χρήμα) and also gives a reason for the neuter gender of ἅλιον.
1469-1470.
mvp-comment-782-1
οὐ γὰρ.. ξυμφορᾶς
For it never goes forth resultless, never without grave issues. For the repetition of οὐκ, see Essay on Language § 29. p. 48. Heath conj. οὐδ᾽.
1471.
mvp-comment-783-1
ὦ μέγας αἰθήρ
Tremendous power of the sky. Cp. Aj. 173, ὦ μεγάλα φάτις, in a similar expression of awe and dread.
1472.
mvp-comment-784-1
θέσφατος Heaven-ordained;' i. e. Both decreed by the Gods and foretold by them. Cp. supr. 87-95, infr. 1511-1512. For ἐπί, see Essay on Language § 19. p. 27, and cp. ἐφήκω in Thuc. 8. 67, ἐπειδὴ ἡ ἡμέρα ἐφῆκε.
1473.
mvp-comment-785-1
κοὐκέτ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀποστροφή
And there is no avoiding it, now it is come.
1473.
mvp-comment-785-2
ἀποστροφή here and Eur. Fr. 447 is not a place of refuge, but has the primary verbal sense.
1474.
mvp-comment-786-1
There are two strong reasons for giving this and l. 1488 to Antigone: (1) The speeches of Oedipus are addressed to her and Ismene (1457, ὦ τέκνα, 1472, ὦ παῖδες, 1486, τέκνα, 1490, σφιν, 3rd person): (2) The antistrophic nature of the passage leads us to expect an entire correspondence with l. 1459. It may be added that the chorus are at present too much occupied with their own sensations to attend to Oedipus.
1478.
mvp-comment-787-1
ἰδού Cp. Αj. 870, ἰδού, δοῦπον αὖ κλύω τινά.
1478.
mvp-comment-787-2
ἀμφίσταται
Envelopes me. Cp. Hom. Od. 17. 261, περὶ δέ σφεας ἤλυθ᾽ ἰωὴ | φόρμιγγος: 19.444, περὶ δὲ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖῖν: 1. 352, ἥτις ἀκουόντεσσι νεωτάτη ἀμφιπέληται: Phil. 1263, τίς αὖ παρ᾿ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς; Eur. Her. 73, τίς ἡ βοὴ βωμοῦ πέλας ἕστηκεν ;
1479.
mvp-comment-788-1
διαπρύσιος ότοβος
The deafening, booming sound. Sophocles and Euripides revived this adjective, of which (except in Hymn to Aphrodite, 1. 19) only the neuter in an adverbial sense is found in Homer.
1480.
mvp-comment-789-1
ἵλεως Sc. γενοῦ. Cр. О. Т. 696. In favour of the form ἵλεως it may be observed (1) that the quantity of ἵλᾶος is improbable: (2) that Ionic forms are elsewhere retained in dochmiacs. Cp. supr. 884, λέως.
1481.
mvp-comment-790-1
ἀφεγγές
Gloomy, i. e.
Of dark significance. The epithet is perhaps suggested by the lowering sky. (Schneidewin.) Cp. Shakespeare, Macbeth, 2. 4, Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man's act, | Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock 'tis day. | And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp: Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame, | That darkness doth the face of earth entomb, | When living light should kiss it?' 1482. (1) Reading ἐναισίου (see v. rr.), sc. ἀνδρός, translate:
May I meet with a righteous man, and not from having seen an accursed man, partake in some way of his unenvied recompence. The construction of συντύχοιμι with the genitive follows the analogy of ἀντάω, οι ἐπαυρεῖν. (2) Reading ἐναισίῳ:
May I share the fortune of the righteous. For ἄλαστος,
abominable, cp. II. 22.261. The Scholiast on l. 1447 understands this also (as well as supr. 1447 ff.) of Polynices. But although suggested by recent impressions this reflection of the chorus is probably quite general. Such a reference to Oedipus at this point is certainly out of the question.
1488.
mvp-comment-791-1
And what is it that you would have thus steadfastly rooted in your mind? Lit.
What is the steadfast purpose, etc.; but πιστόν is proleptic. Antigone repeats her father's thought in κατορθοῦντος φρένα, in order to elicit from him the cause of his agitation; and asks him for what special reason he wishes to have his mind clear when Theseus comes.
1489-1490.
mvp-comment-792-1
In return for their kindness (I desire) to pay them in full the promise which I made at the time of my obtaining my petition.' Cp. Plato, Legg. 11. 730 Α, οὐκ ἄν ποτε ἀτιμώρητος πάθοι ὁ τυχών: Hdt. 1. 213, δεηθεὶς .. ἔτυχε, ib. 5. 23, from which it appears that τυγχάνειν was used in reference to a suppliant, of obtaining a request. Cp. also Pind. Pyth. 3. 103.4. χρὴ πρὸς μακάρων | τυγχάνοντ᾽ εὖ πασχέμεν. τυγχάνων. here is = ὅτε ἐτύγχανον ὧν ἐβουλόμην, or ὧν ἔπασχον εὖ. The older explanation (as old as Eustathius) that τυγχάνων ὑπεσχόμην = ἔτυχον ὑποσχόμενος, besides making an imperfect tense equivalent to an aorist, makes τυγχάνων an unmeaning addition to the line. The correspondence in tense of ἔπασχον εὖ and τυγχάνων is a reason in favour of the explanation given above.
1490.
mvp-comment-793-1
δοῦναι Sc θέλω. σφιν has been explained asol. But this is wholly without authority, and the common meaning need create no difficulty, when l. 1488 is given to Antigone. The case of supr. 547 is different, because the participle there is emphatic. For the communication of the secret to Theseus was the bestowal of a boon on the whole people. Cp. infr. 1496.
1490.
mvp-comment-793-2
προβᾶθι was approved by Elmsley and Hermann, and secures correspondence with the strophe. θαυμαστῶς ὁ χόρος βοᾷ· ἐπείγει γὰρ τὸ πρᾶγμα. Schol. Observe the recurrence of ἄκραν in 1464, 1491, and of τυγχάνειν in 1491, 1493. Hol my son, come on thy way (from Athens), or if thou now art consecrating to Poseidon, God of Sea, the altar with its hollow surface that crowns the height,' or (2) ('that crowns the hill above the hollow place,')
come hither!
Chorus sic loquitur, ut qui domi esse Theseum putat: sed deinde ei in mentem venit, a sacris faciendis avocatum fuisse, ut ipse v. 1158 (1159) dixerat, et nunc fortasse in iis peragendis esse occupatum. Herm. Ср. О. Т. 517, 1104.
τυγχάνεις is suited to express the uncertainty where Theseus is.
1490.
mvp-comment-793-3
ἄκραν indicates the position of the altar of Poseidon on the top of Colonus.
1490.
mvp-comment-793-4
ἐπιγύαλον is either (1) a descriptive epithet, referring to the concave surface of the altar, or (2) means
above the hollow place, referring to some peculiarity of the ground, which is no longer visible. The agency of the Earthshaker may have been recognised in some rift of the rock of Colonus, near which his altar was placed. The read. ing Ποσειδαωνίῳ may have arisen from being written over the a of the Doric form.
1495.
mvp-comment-794-1
ἁγίζων does not necessarily imply that the altar was being used for the first time. It was in a manner consecrated afresh for every sacrifice.
