mvp-comment-125-1
237 ff. The ode corresponds to 283 ff., as appears from the number of the lines and the equivalence of 244 to 290. The metre, which is quite simple, is iambic (cretic). The ithyphallic clausula may be illustrated by
Ant. 852
, 976,
El. 1089
. The ends of the lines have been admirably restored by Diehl, Murray, Hunt, and Wilamowitz.
νύμφα : see on 65.-
βαθύζωνε: the word is now generally distinguished from
βαθύκολπος, but its original (Homeric) meaning is uncertain. Helbig, who formerly explained it as 'long-waisted' from € 231, has since changed his mind and now agrees with Studniczka that the meaning is 'slender, with small waist.' (Iwan Mueller, Privatalt.2 p. 83.)
βαθύζωνος does not occur in Eur. or elsewhere - in Soph., and in Aesch. the commentators are not agreed whether it is merely an ornamental epithet applicable to any woman, or carries with it an implication of luxury and delicate nurture (see Verrall and Tucker on Theb. 850 and
Cho. 168
). In Pindar it is applied to Leda, Latona, the Graces, and the Muses (Gildersleeve on Ol. 3. 37), and it is a fair inference that Sophocles used it as a complimentary epithet to signify beautiful proportions and elegant apparel.
mvp-comment-126-1
238
ἥκω φέρων (cr. n.), as in
O.C. 357
,579,
Phil. 1267
, is better than Murray's
ἥκει σέ τοι (cf. for the acc. fr. 94).
mvp-comment-127-1
239
οὐδ᾽. If the text is right,
οὐδέ is intended to contrast the second clause instead of correlating it. That is to say, it would imply: 'no, nor yet....' Where this is intended, we often have
οὐδ' αὐ,
οὐδέ γε, etc.: Kuehner-Gerth II 290. See also Bury on
Pind. Isthm. 2. 44
. In
O.C. 1141
Jebb accepted Elmsley's
οὔτε,
mvp-comment-127-2
and it is not clear that
οὐδ' is justified here. -
ἄξενος, uncivil, as in
Plat. soph. 217
Ε τὸ δὲ αὖ σοὶ μὴ χαρίζεσθαι
...
ἄξενόν τι καταφαίνεταί μοι καὶ ἄγριον.
mvp-comment-128-1
240
μάταιος, expressing the presumption of rash folly, as (in another sphere) in
Trach. 565
ψαύει ματαίαις χερσίν
. Such recklessness of speech was exhibited by Lycurgus:
Ant. 961
ψαύων τὸν θεὸν ἐν κερτομίοις γλώσσαις
.
mvp-comment-129-1
241
προψαλάξῃς: see on fr. 550. Here the meaning is: 'don't assail me too soon with taunts.'
mvp-comment-130-1
242
εὐπετῶς: readily. So
Eur. Cycl. 526
ὅπου τιθῇ τις
,
ἐνθάδ᾽ ἐστὶν εὐπετής ('contented').
mvp-comment-131-1
243
νέρθε γᾶς is of course only a guess, although it suits the context very well. If the sound of the lyre was represented as coming from under the ground, it would agree with
κάτω δονεῖ (282). Robert thinks that is why the chorus went on all fours (119 ff.): see also on 212.
mvp-comment-132-1
244
θέσπιν αὐδάν sounds like a travesty of Homer's
θέσπιν ἀοιδήν (
θ 498), which, by a curious coincidence, is applied by Euripides to the music of the lyre (
Med. 425
).
