Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 1284

ed. Francis Storr

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Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1912.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 1. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1912.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1284 focus
ἀλλʼ ἐξερῶ· καλῶς γὰρ ἐξηγεῖ σύ μοι·
πρῶτον μὲν αὐτὸν τὸν θεὸν ποιούμενος
1285
ἀρωγόν, ἔνθεν μʼ ὧδʼ ἀνέστησεν μολεῖν
ὁ τῆσδε τῆς γῆς κοίρανος, διδοὺς ἐμοὶ
λέξαι τʼ ἀκοῦσαί τʼ ἀσφαλεῖ σὺν ἐξόδῳ.
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀφʼ ὑμῶν, ὦ ξένοι, βουλήσομαι
καὶ ταῖνδʼ ἀδελφαῖν καὶ πατρὸς κυρεῖν ἐμοί.
1290
ἃ δʼ ἦλθον ἤδη σοι θέλω λέξαι, πάτερ.
γῆς ἐκ πατρῴας ἐξελήλαμαι φυγάς,
τοῖς σοῖς πανάρχοις οὕνεκʼ ἐνθακεῖν θρόνοις
γονῇ πεφυκὼς ἠξίουν γεραιτέρᾳ.
ἀνθʼ ὧν μʼ Ἐτεοκλῆς, ὢν φύσει νεώτερος,
1295
γῆς ἐξέωσεν, οὔτε νικήσας λόγῳ
οὔτʼ εἰς ἔλεγχον χειρὸς οὔτʼ ἔργου μολών,
πόλιν δὲ πείσας. ὧν ἐγὼ μάλιστα μὲν
τὴν σὴν Ἐρινὺν αἰτίαν εἶναι λέγω·
ἔπειτα κἀπὸ μάντεων ταύτῃ κλύω.
1300
ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἦλθον Ἄργος ἐς τὸ Δωρικόν,
λαβὼν Ἄδραστον πενθερὸν ξυνωμότας
ἔστησʼ ἐμαυτῷ γῆς ὅσοιπερ Ἀπίας
πρῶτοι καλοῦνται καὶ τετίμηνται δόρει,
ὅπως τὸν ἑπτάλογχον ἐς Θήβας στόλον
1305
ξὺν τοῖσδʼ ἀγείρας ἢ θάνοιμι πανδίκως,
ἢ τοὺς τάδʼ ἐκπράξαντας ἐκβάλοιμι γῆς.
εἶεν· τί δῆτα νῦν ἀφιγμένος κυρῶ;
σοὶ προστροπαίους, ὦ πάτερ, λιτὰς ἔχων,
αὐτός *τʼ ἐμαυτοῦ ξυμμάχων τε τῶν ἐμῶν,
1310
οἳ νῦν σὺν ἑπτὰ τάξεσιν σὺν ἑπτά τε
λόγχαις τὸ Θήβης πεδίον ἀμφεστᾶσι πᾶν·
οἷος δορυσσοῦς Ἀμφιάρεως, τὰ πρῶτα μὲν
δόρει κρατύνων, πρῶτα δʼ οἰωνῶν ὁδοῖς·
ὁ δεύτερος δʼ Αἰτωλὸς Οἰνέως τόκος
1315
Τυδεύς· τρίτος δʼ Ἐτέοκλος, Ἀργεῖος γεγώς·
τέταρτον Ἱππομέδοντʼ ἀπέστειλεν πατὴρ
Ταλαός· ὁ πέμπτος δʼ εὔχεται κατασκαφῇ
Καπανεὺς τὸ Θήβης ἄστυ δῃώσειν πυρί·
ἕκτος δὲ Παρθενοπαῖος Ἀρκὰς ὄρνυται,
1320
ἐπώνυμος τῆς πρόσθεν ἀδμήτης χρόνῳ
μητρὸς λοχευθείς, πιστὸς Ἀταλάντης γόνος·
ἐγὼ δέ, σός, κεἰ μὴ σός, ἀλλὰ τοῦ κακοῦ
πότμου φυτευθείς, σός γέ τοι καλούμενος,
ἄγω τὸν Ἄργους ἄφοβον ἐς Θήβας στρατόν.
1325
οἵ σʼ ἀντὶ παίδων τῶνδε καὶ ψυχῆς, πάτερ,
ἱκετεύομεν ξύμπαντες ἐξαιτούμενοι
μῆνιν βαρεῖαν εἰκαθεῖν ὁρμωμένῳ
τῷδʼ ἀνδρὶ τοὐμοῦ πρὸς κασιγνήτου τίσιν,
ὅς μʼ ἐξέωσε κἀπεσύλησεν πάτρας.
1330
εἰ γάρ τι πιστόν ἐστιν ἐκ χρηστηρίων,
οἷς ἂν σὺ προσθῇ, τοῖσδʼ ἔφασκʼ εἶναι κράτος.
πρός νύν σε κρηνῶν καὶ θεῶν ὁμογνίων
αἰτῶ πιθέσθαι καὶ παρεικαθεῖν, ἐπεὶ
πτωχοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς καὶ ξένοι, ξένος δὲ σύ·
1335
ἄλλους δὲ θωπεύοντες οἰκοῦμεν σύ τε
κἀγώ, τὸν αὐτὸν δαίμονʼ ἐξειληφότες.
ὁ δʼ ἐν δόμοις τύραννος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,
κοινῇ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐγγελῶν ἁβρύνεται·
ὅν, εἰ σὺ τἠμῇ ξυμπαραστήσει φρενί,
1340
βραχεῖ σὺν ὄγκῳ καὶ χρόνῳ διασκεδῶ.
ὥστʼ ἐν δόμοισι τοῖσι σοῖς στήσω σʼ ἄγων,
στήσω δʼ ἐμαυτόν, κεῖνον ἐκβαλὼν βίᾳ.
καὶ ταῦτα σοῦ μὲν ξυνθέλοντος ἔστι μοι
κομπεῖν, ἄνευ σοῦ δʼ οὐδὲ σωθῆναι σθένω.
1345
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1284 focus
I will tell my need:—
First claiming for protector the dread God
From whose high altar he who rules this land
1285
Hath brought me under safe-guard of his power,
Scatheless to speak and hear and go my way.
His word, I am well assured, will be made good,
Strangers, by you, and by my sisters twain,
And by our sire.—Now let me name mine errand.
1290
I am banished, father, from our native land,
Because, being elder-born, I claimed to sit
Upon thy sovereign throne. For this offence
Eteocles, thy younger son, exíled me,
Not having won the advantage in debate
1295
Or trial of manhood, but through guileful art
Gaining the people’s will. Whereof I deem
Thy Fury the chief author; and thereto
Prophetic voices also testify.
For when I had come to Dorian Argolis,
I raised, through marriage with Adrastus’ child,
1300
An army bound in friendly league with me,
Led by the men who in the Apian land
Hold first pre-eminence and honour in war,
With whose aid levying all that mighty host
Of seven battalions, I have deeply sworn
1305
Either to die, or drive from Theban ground
Those who such wrongs have wrought. So far, so well.
But why come hither? Father, to crave thine aid
With earnest supplication for myself
And for my firm allies, who at this hour,
Seven leaders of seven bands embattled there,
1310
Encompass Thebè’s plain. Amphiaráus,
Foremost in augury, foremost in war,
First wields his warlike spear. Next, Oeneus’ son,
Aetolian Tydeus; then Etéoclus
Of Argive lineage; fourth, Hippomedon,
1315
Sent by his father Tálaüs, and the fifth
Is Capancus, who brags he will destroy
Thebè with desolating fire. The sixth,
Parthonopaeus, from the Arcadian glen
Comes bravely down, swift Atalanta’s child,
1320
Named from his mother’s lingering maidenhood
Ere she conceived him. And the seventh am I,
Thy son, or if not thine, but the dire birth
Of evil Destiny, yet named thy son,
Who lead this dauntless host from Argolis
Against the Theban land. Now one and all
1325
We pray thee on our knees, conjuring thee
As thou dost love these maids and thine own life,
My father, to forgive me, ere I go
To be revenged upon my brother there
Who drave me forth and robbed me of my throne.
1330
If aught in prophecy deserves belief,
’Tis certain, whom thou favourest, those shall win.
Now by the wells whereof our fathers drank
And by the Gods they worshipped, hear our prayer,
Grant this petition: since alike in woe,
Alike in poverty and banishment,
1335
Partakers of one destiny, thou and I
Cringe to the stranger for a dwelling place.
Whilst he at home, the tyrant, woe is me,
Laughs at us both in soft luxurious pride.
Whose might, so thou wilt favour my design,
1340
I will lightly scatter in one little hour;
And plant thee in thy Theban palace home
Near to myself, hurling the usurper forth.
All this with thy consent I shall achieve,
But without thee, I forfeit life and all.
1345
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1284 focus
So red' ich; denn ersprießlich sind' ich deinen Rath.
1275
Und erst erfleh' ich jenen Gott als Helfer mir,
Von dessen Altarschwelle mir des Landes Fürst
Entbot hieher zu kommen, und ein frei Gespräch
Und ungefährdet abzuzieh'n verstattete.
Und dieses, wünsch' ich, werde mir, o Fremdlinge,
1280
Von euch, vom Vater und den Schwestern hier gewährt.
Doch jezt, o Vater, sag' ich dir, weßhalb ich kam.
Ein Flüchtling irr' ich, aus der Väter Reich verbannt,
Weil mich verlangte, deinen allgebietenden
Thron einzunehmen; bin ich doch der ältre Sohn.
1285
Dafür verstieß mich aus dem Land Eteokles,
Der jüng're, siegend weder durch des Wortes Macht,
Noch durch des Armes Proben und der That Beweis;
Das Volk gewann er, Vater! Und ich sage dir:
Dein Nachegeist vor Allem trägt hieran die Schuld;
1290
Und eben dieses lehrte mich der Seher Wort.
Denn als ich Argos heimgesucht im Dorerland,
Und mir Adrastos Schwäher ward, verband ich mir
Mit hohem Eidschwur Alle, die in Apia 1
Die Besten heißen und im Kampf gepriesen sind,
1295
Daß ich, die siebenfache Schaar vor Kadmos' Burg
Mit ihnen sammelnd, fall' in ehrenvollem Kampf,
Wo nicht, vom Land austreibe, die mir das gethan.
Wohlan! Zu welchem Ende nun erschein' ich hier?
Dich, Vater, geht mein heißes demuthvolles Fleh'n
1300
Für mich zugleich und meine Streitgenossen an,
Die nun zu sieben mit dem siebenfachen Heer
Der Theber Stadt umlagern und die Gauen rings.
Da streitet Amphiaraos, im Gewühl der Schlacht
Und auf der Vögel Bahnen weit der erste Mann;
1305
Zum zweiten Deneus' Sprößling aus Aetolia,
Tydeus; sodann Eteokles, der aus Argos stammt;
Als vierten sandte Talaos Hippomedon,
Den Sohn; der fünfte, Kapaneus, schwört hoch, mit Glut
Die Theberstadt zu tilgen aus der Städte Zahl;
1310
Der sechste Parthenopäos aus Arkadia,
Sich also nennend nach der lang jungfräulichen
Mutter Atalanta, deren ächter Sohn er ist.
Und ich, der dein', und wenn der deine nicht, ein Kind
Des bösen Schicksals, aber doch dein Sohn genannt,
1315
Führ' Argos' unerschrocknes Heer vor Thebe's Stadt.
Bei deinem Leben, Vater, bei den Töchtern hier,
Beschwören wir dich alle denn und fleh'n dich an:
Laß ab vom schweren Zorne, nicht mehr grolle mir,
Der wider seinen Bruder sich zur Nach' erhob,
1320
Den Räuber, der mich aus dem Vaterreiche stieß.
Denn lügen Göttersprüche nicht, so wird der Sieg
Dem werden, heißt es, welchem du dich zugesellst.
Drum bei den Quellen, bei den Göttern unsres Stamms,
Gib nach, o Vater, fleh' ich, folge meinem Wort;
1325
Wir sind ja Bettler, Fremde hier, fremd auch du selbst,
Und Fremden schmeichelnd leben wir, ich so wie du,
Nachdem das gleiche Mißgeschick uns heimgesucht.
Und er, daheim der Herrscher, (ich Unseliger!)
Verlacht in stolzer Ueppigkeit uns beide hier;
1330
Doch ihn, wofern du meinem Sinn dich beigesellst,
Werd' ich zerstäuben mühelos in kurzer Frist:
Ich führe dich in deiner Ahnen Haus zurück
Und mich, vertrieb ich mit Gewalt den Frevler dort.
Und also darf ich prahlen, bist du meines Sinns;
1335
Doch ohne dich ist keine Rettung mir gegönnt.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1284 focus
'Tis well advised, and I will tell thee all.
Oh ! may that deity propitious smile
1285
Whose altar late I left, whence Theseus raised
This w^retched suppliant, and in converse free
Mixed gracious with me ! May I hope from you
The like benevolence ? And now, my father,
I'll tell thee wherefore Polynices came.
1290
Thou seest me banished from my native land —
Unjustly banished, for no other crime
But that I strove to keep the throne of Thebes,
By birthright mine, from him who drove me thence.
The young Eteocles : not his the claim
1295
By justice, nor to me his fame in arms
Superior ; but by soft persuasive arts
He won the rebel city to his love.
Thy curse, my father, was the cause of all —
I know it was ; for so the priests declared
1300
In oracles divine. To Argos then
I came, and, to Adrastus' daughter joined
In marriage, gained the Argive chiefs, renowned
For martial deeds ; seven valiant leaders march
To Thebes, resolved to conquer or to die.
1305
Therefore to thee, my father, came I here,
To beg thy aid for me and these my friends,
Companions of the war, who threaten Thebes
With their united powers, in order thus :
The wise and brave Amphiaraus, or skilled
1310
To cast the spear, or with prophetic tongue
Disclose the will of Heaven ; with CEneus' son
-^tolian Tydeus, and Eteocles,
At Argos born ; to these Hippomedon,
1315
Sent by Talaus, his renowned sire ;
Bold Capaneus, who threatens soon to raze
The walls of mighty Thebes ; to close the train,
Parthenopsean Areas comes, the son
Of Atalantis, from her virgin name
1320
So called. With these thy hapless son (the child
Of dire misfortune rather) leads his force
From Argos to rebellious Thebes. For these,
And for their children, for the lives of all,
Suppliant to thee we come — in humble prayer
1325
To deprecate thy wrath against a wretch
Who, injured much, but seeks the vengeance due
To a base brother, whose oppressive hand
Hath drove me from my country and my throne.
If there be truth in what the gods declare,
1330
On him shall victory smile for whom thy vows
Shall rise propitious ; therefore, by our gods
And native fountains, oh ! remit thy anger,
And smile upon me, on a banished man,
A beggar like thyself, who lives, like thee,
1335
By others' bounty — in one common fate
We are united, whilst the tyrant sits
In ease at home, and laughs our woes to :
Yet if thou wouldst but listen to my vows,
Soon might I cast him forth, restore thee soon
1340
To thy dear native hind, and seat myself
In my own kingdom. Thy assent, my father,
Is all I ask ; but, oh ! without thy aid
I have no hope of safety or revenge.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1284 focus
Then I will speak, for well hast thou advised,
Imploring first this god, that he would deign
To be my guardian, at whose altar placed
1285
The sovereign of this country raising me
Gave me to come, to hold free converse here,
And back in safety to return. And this
Of you, O strangers, of my sisters this,
This of my father wish I to obtain.
1290
To thee, my father, I would now unfold
Why I am here. From my paternal realms
I am driv'n forth an exile, on thy throne 1.
Because I aim'd in regal state to sit,
My birth-right; but Eteocles, to years
By nature less indebted, thrust me out,
1295
Not in just right triumphant, nor his claim
Brought to the proof of arms, or noble deeds,
But winning with insidious arts the state.
Of this I know, and from the Seers have heard,
That the chief cause was thy infuriate curse.
In Doric Argos I sought refuge; there
1300
The daughter of Adrastus made my bride,
Associates in my cause I raised the Chiefs,
Lords of the Apian land, and honour'd high
For martial deeds; that I 'gainst Thebes might lead
Seven bands commanded by seven valiant Chiefs,
1305
And bravely die, or from my country chase......
Those who have wrong'd me. But of this enough.
What sanction, hither coming, claim I then?
To thee, my father, supplicating pray'rs,
For me, and my compeers in arms, I bring,
Who with seven bands beneath seven spears arranged,
1310
Are now encamp'd o'er all the plain of Thebes.
In martial prowess first, and first in skill.
To mark the flight of birds, Amphiaraus;
Ætolian Tydeus marches next, the son
Of Œneus; and next him of Argive race
1315
Eteoclus; there tow'rs Hippomedon
1315
Sent by his father Taläus; in arms
Advances Capaneus with menace high
Instant to rend the rampires to the ground.
Parthenopæus, an Arcadian, fierce
Advances, from his mother's virgin state
1320
His name deriving, the undoubted son
Of Atalanta. I these chiefs among,,
Thy son, or if not thine, at least the son
Of unpropitious Fortune, yet call'd thine,..
Lead against Thebes th' intrepid Argive troops.
By these thy daughters, by thy life, we all
1325
Suppliant entreat thee, O my father, yield,
Remit thy anger, raging 'gainst this wretch
Now roused in arms t' avenge the wrongs sustain'd
From a base brother, who hath driv'n me out,..
And robb'd me of my kingdom. But the fates,
1330
If there be faith in oracles, declare
1330
That where thou art, there Victory attends.
Now by our country's fountains, by her gods,
Let, I implore thee, my entreaties touch
Thy heart; be thou appeased; for I, like thee,
Am poor, and wander in a foreign land;
1335
One fate to us assign'd, to thee and me,
Submissive to another's will we live.
He lives in royal state, unhappy me!
And 'midst luxurious pleasures laughs alike
At thee and me. But if thy fav'ring mind
Accord with mine, him with no mighty toil,
1340
No arduous effort, will I put to flight,
And lead thee back, replace thee in thy house,
Replace myself, and drive him out by force.
This boast, if thou assent, I will achieve;
But without thee my efforts have no pow'r.
1345
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1284 focus

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-906-1 ἐξηγεῖ 1

mvp-comment-907-1 ποιούμενος ᾀρωγόν 2

mvp-comment-907-2 ὧδε 3

mvp-comment-907-3 ἀνέστησεν 4

mvp-comment-908-1 λέξαι τ’ ἀκοῦσαί τ’ 5

mvp-comment-908-2 ἐξόδῳ 6

mvp-comment-909-1 βουλήσομαι 7

mvp-comment-910-1 θέλω δὲ λέξαι 8

mvp-comment-911-1 πανάρχοις 9

mvp-comment-911-2 γεραίτερος 10

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

γεραιός
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
πρεσβύτερος
), 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 11

mvp-comment-913-1 λόγῳ 12

mvp-comment-913-2 εἰς ἔλεγχον 13

mvp-comment-913-3 χειρὸς οὐδ’ ἔργου 14

mvp-comment-914-1 μάλιστα μὲν 15

mvp-comment-914-2 τὴν σὴν Ἐρινὺν 16

mvp-comment-914-3 μάντεων 17

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

μάντεις
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 18

mvp-comment-916-1 γῆς Ἀπίας 19

mvp-comment-917-1 τετίμηνται 20

mvp-comment-917-2 δορί 21

mvp-comment-918-1 τὸν ἑπτάλογχον … στόλον 22

mvp-comment-919-1 πανδίκως 23

mvp-comment-919-2 τοὺς τάδ’ ἐκπρ 24

mvp-comment-920-1 εἶεν 25

mvp-comment-921-1 αὐτός τ’ 26

mvp-comment-922-1 τάξεσιν … λόγχαις 27

mvp-comment-923-1 δορυσσοῦς 28

mvp-comment-923-2 δορυσσόος 29

mvp-comment-923-3 Ἀμφιάρεως 30

mvp-comment-923-4 τὰ πρῶτα μὲν … πρῶτα δέ 32

mvp-comment-923-5 οἰωνῶν ὁδοῖς 33

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 34

mvp-comment-925-2 Ἐτέοκλος 35

mvp-comment-925-3 Ἱππομέδοντ’ 36

mvp-comment-926-1 κατασκαφῇ … δῃώσειν πυρί 37 πυρί 38 κατασκαφῇ 39

mvp-comment-926-2 Καπανεὺς 40

mvp-comment-927-1 Παρθενοπαῖος 41

mvp-comment-927-2 ἐπώνυμος τῆς πρόσθεν ἀδμήτης 42 χρόνῳ μητρὸς λοχευθείς 43

mvp-comment-927-3 χρόνῳ 44

mvp-comment-928-1 ἐγὼ δὲ σός 45

mvp-comment-928-2 πότμου 46

mvp-comment-929-1 ἀντὶ παίδων ... ἱκετεύομεν 47

mvp-comment-930-1 μῆνιν ...εἰκαθεῖν 48

mvp-comment-930-2 τοὐμοῦ 49

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

ἀπεστέρησεν
. Elsewhere we find only
ἀποσυλᾶν τί τινος
, to strip a thing from a man (cp. 922), or
ἀποσυλᾶν τινά τι
, to strip a man of a thing. We cannot here take πάτρας as gen. of the person robbed, (
"snatched me from my country,"
) since ἐξέωσε implies that the expeller is within the country. Nor could we well read πάτραν (
"took my country from me"
).

mvp-comment-932-1 χρηστηρίων 50

mvp-comment-932-2 προσθῇ 51

mvp-comment-932-3 ἔφασκ’ 53

mvp-comment-933-1 κρηνῶν 54

mvp-comment-934-1 πιθέσθαι 55

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
πτωχοὶ καὶ ξένοι
forms one notion, in which
ξένοι
is the more important element.

mvp-comment-935-1 θωπεύοντες 56

mvp-comment-936-1 δαίμον’ 57

mvp-comment-936-2 ἐξειληχότες 58

mvp-comment-936-3 ἐξειληφότες 59

mvp-comment-937-1 τάλας 60

mvp-comment-937-2 ἁβρύνετι 61

mvp-comment-938-1 φρενί 62

mvp-comment-939-1 ὄγκῳ 63

mvp-comment-939-2 σὺν 64

mvp-comment-939-3 διασκεδῶ 65

mvp-comment-939-4 στήσω … στήσω δ’ 66

mvp-comment-939-5 ἄγων 67

mvp-comment-940-1 οὐδὲ σωθῆναι 68

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

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

Apis ut Sicyonii teste Pausania 2, 5, 5, ferebant, fuerat Peloponnesi, a quo tota Peloponnesus nomen Apiae terrae accepit. Ex iis, quae de eo rege Aeschylus Suppl. 270 seqq. (260 foll.) refert, intelligitur illud τὸν ἤπιον significare, fabulamque illam ad vitae humanioris cultum in illis locis introductum spectare.
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,

Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem.
For διασκεδῶ, cp. supra 620, Ant. 287, γῆν ἐκείνων καὶ νόμους διασκεδῶν.