Aeschylus Eumenides 490-565.blass-note-103

491. δίκα τε καὶ βλάβα , the cause and the wrong: the strong contradiction in terms (oxymoron), which comes out in the Greek more than in the English, is intentional and effective: Orestes' δίκα was ἄδικος and βλαβερά in the eyes of the Eumenides.

496. παιδότρωτα πάθεα , woful wounds dealt by a child, woes from the murderous hands of children.

524. ἢ ... τε is irregular :

524. whether city or man we must say in English.

526. ἀνάρχετον . (read for metre's sake), like ἀπεύχετον Cho. 625.

529. παντὶ μέσῳ , ever to the mean god gives success: a common Greek maxim: so Ag. 378 ἔστω δ᾽ ἀπήμαντον ὥστ᾽ ἀπαρκεῖν, ib. 466 τὸ δ᾽ ὑπερκόπως εὖ κλύειν βαρὺ κρίνω δ᾽ ἄφθονον ὄλβον, etc., the idea being that excess was dangerous: so Eur. Fr. 80 τὰ μείζω τῶν μέσων τίκτει νόσους.

530. ἐφορεύει , directs.

531. ξύμμετρον . seems best taken as timely, fitting: a rather fanciful way of saying wise. [Others take it in accord with this, i.e. with the doctrine of moderation: which is a possible meaning and may be defended: only the main point of all this chorus is the need of repressing crime and licence, and the doctrine of moderation is rather a digression.]

538. ἐς τὸ πᾶν , for whate'er befall; i. e. as the first and greatest rule of life.

541. κύριον μένει τέλος , the appointed end abideth: only an impressive way of saying that good and evil alike shall meet their deserts.

546. ξενοτίμους δόμων ἐπιστροφάς , κ.τ.λ., literally, [ let him revere] guest-honouring visits of the house: a characteristically elaborated expression for hospitable welcome.

551. οὐκ ἄνολβος ἔσται , understatement such as is natural and common in Greek, shall not fail to prosper. 11. 553, 4. If the reading is right, the acc. τὰ πολλὰ παντόφυρτ᾽ is governed by the verbal idea in παραιβάταν: The man who dares to resist and commits all manner of transgressions, swerving from Right: such accusatives after verbals are rather in the manner of Aeschylus : θυμοβόρου φρένα Ag. 103, πολλὰ συνίστορα ib. 1090, ἄπορα πόριμος Prom. 904, χοὰς προπομπός Cho. 23, ἀπότροπον ἄγος ib. 155. (So Schol.) Of the corrections proposed Pauw's is the best ... παντόφυρτ᾽ ἄγοντ᾽ ἄνευ (reading παρβάταν for καὶ παραιβάταν), bringing much confusion : but though the grammar is smoother, the sense is weaker.

555. βιαίως , perforce, i. e. the storm shall compel him. καθήσειν, shall lower sail, i. e. shall be made humble and submissive; so ὑφέσθαι is used Ar. Ran. 1220 ὑφέσθαι μοι δοκεῖ, Soph. Εl. 335 πλεῖν ὑφειμένῃ δοκεῖ. [It is far better to make καθήσειν absolute, and make λαῖφος governed by λάβῃ, than with H. to write καθήσειν λαῖφος, ὅταν λάβῃ, κ.τ.λ. The metaphor is then more gradually and naturally introduced: the rhythm is more effective: and also the Schol. clearly takes καθήσειν by itself, for he explains it ταπεινωθήσεται. Such curtailments are common in technical expressions, e. g. in English, luff , put about, lower away.]

556. πόνος , trouble, a word suggestive from its mildness: he means the hurricane.

559. δυσπαλεῖ , taken by some as a verb (Pal. Verrall): but the adj. δυσπαλής is used by Pindar, while the verb is unknown. The sense is equally good, if we take it adj., and the run of the sentence more easy.

560. θερμῷ , headstrong, rash, as often in Greek.

561. τὸν οὔποτ᾽ αὐχοῦντ᾽ , who boasted he ne'er [should suffer], boasted it ne'er should be, the negative used just as in οὔ φημι, οὐκ ἂν ᾤετο, οὐκ ἀξιῶ, etc. So οὔποτ᾽ ἐλπίσαντες, Agam. 1044.

mvp-comment-346-1 νέων:

G. Ald. Hoc dicit, nunc commutationes funt in novas leges, si vincet caussa et noxa huius parricidae.

mvp-comment-347-1 δίκα τε καὶ βλάβα:

Heathius. M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-348-1 εὐχερείᾳ:

Turn. M. teste Franzio. G. Ald. Rob. Flor. Farn. et Bekkero teste Ven.

mvp-comment-349-1 ἔτυμα: Sept. adv. Theb. v. 894.

. V. ad Eum. v. 55.

mvp-comment-350-1 τοκεῦσιν:

Turn. Sed ceteri libri .

mvp-comment-351-1 μεταὖθις:

Par. Rob. Μ. G. (sic G.) Ven. Flor. Farn. Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-352-1 οὐδὲ:

Fritzschius. Libri .

mvp-comment-353-1 μαινάδων:

Farn.

mvp-comment-354-1 ἄλλοθεν:

Turn.

mvp-comment-355-1 λῆξιν ὑπόδυσίν τε μόχθων ἄκεα δ᾽ οὐ βέβαια πλάμων μάταν παρηγορεῖ:

M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. Flor. Ven. ut Heathius scribendum coniecit. Videtur etiam scholiastes legisse, quod non recte interpretatur διαδοχήν. Efugium laborum dicit poeta. Deinde proximo versu Fritzschius. a Schutzio scriptum erat. M. Rob. G. Ald. ex Par. affertur. Ven. Flor. Farn. Turn. Vict. Deinde Fritzschius. Libri . Itaque haec ita scripsi, aliter quam in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 82. Sed dubitari potest an sic potius Aeschylus scripserit, Audiet alius aliunde commemorans propinquorum mala, finem effugiumque laborum atque infirma remedia frustra pro solatio adhibens. Apollonius Rhodius II. 622. ς

mvp-comment-356-1 ὦ δίκα:

Pauwius. Libri .

mvp-comment-357-1 Ἐρινύων:

Μ. G. Rob. Ven. Flor. Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-358-1 οἰκτίσαιτ':

Rob.

mvp-comment-359-1 πίτνει: Libri

.

mvp-comment-360-1 ἔσθ' ὅπου τὸ δεινὸν εὖ τις φρενῶν ἐπίσκοπον δειμανεῖ καθήμενον: Libri

, nisi quod haec ultima verba, omissa sunt in Rob. Schutzius, qui olim scribendum coniecerat, in quod etiam Franzius incidit, postea ut Wakefieldius et ego anno 1799. dedit. Sic etiam Abreschius, sed ille post hoc verbum ponens signum interrogandi. Sed nusquam est terrere. Perperam intellecti sunt Aeschylus Pers. v. 601. , et Plato Leg. IX. p. 865. D. . Apud Quintum Smyrnaeum II. 499. medium est, timore se corripi passi sunt. Itaque quum neque in illa horum versuum conformatione ferri posset, et plane supervacaneum esset, in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 83. seq. ita scribendum putavi, , nonnumquam bonum est timere, et oportet animi custodem constitutum manere. Ita legisse videtur scholiastes, cuius haec est adnotatio, . Eandem coniecturam, , in margine exemplaris Aldini bibliothecae Cantabrigiensis adscriptam commemorat Dobraeus Adv. II. p. 29. Nunc probabilius mihi visum est Aeschylum sic scripsisse, .

mvp-comment-361-1 ξυμφέρει: omissum in Rob.

mvp-comment-362-1 ὑπὸ στένει:

M. Flor. Rob. Τurn. G. Ven. Farn. Ald. Fuerunt qui vel scribendum putarent. Male. Hoc dicitur, conducit rebus angustis coactum sapere.

mvp-comment-363-1 τίς δὲ μηδὲν ἐν δέει καρδίαν ἔτ᾽ ἀνατρέφων, ἢ πόλις βροτός θ' ὁμοίως, ἔτ᾽ ἂν σέβοι δίκαν;: Libri

. Ιd scholiastes interpretatur λαμπρότητι καὶ ὀρθότητι φρενῶν, ut legisse videatur, quod Canterus aliique receperunt. Hoc minime probandum est. Rectissime Auratus . Quae deest syllaba, eam non recte in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 83. inserto post supplendam esse existimavi. In ultimo huius strophae versu Μ. Ceteri . Denique G. Ald. Rob. Turn. Victorius, ex M. ut videtur. Sic etiam Ven. et, ut videtur, Flor. Farn. Scripsi

mvp-comment-364-1 ἀνάρχετον:

M. G. Ald. Rob. Τurn. Farn. Ven. (sic Ven.) Flor. Heathius. Recte videtur Wieselerus scribendum censuisse , ut Aeschylus dixit in Choeph. v. 149. et 615.

mvp-comment-365-1 παντὶ:

Pauwius. Libri .

mvp-comment-366-1 ἀλλ᾽ ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐφορεύει: Deinde error Aldinae,

, fecit ut Turnebus daret . Deinde Μ. Ven. Flor. Farn. Rob. G. deleto accentu gravi, qui in ad ultimam syllabam adscriptus fuerat. Ald. Turn. Scribendum esse Wellauerus vidit. Hoc dicit poeta, omni medio deus primatum concessit: alia enim aliter gubernat, i. e. alia aliis rebus pro suo arbitrio attribuit. Scholiastes quid in mente habuerit, non ausim dicere. Verba eius haec sunt, . Abreschius et Heathius scripsisse eum putaverunt , idque ad v. 510. rettulerunt.

mvp-comment-367-1 δυςσεβίας:

Porsonus, et sic Farn. in quo ιωνικόν adscriptum est. Rob. Ceteri .

mvp-comment-368-1 ὑγιείας:

Rob.

mvp-comment-369-1 αὖ φρενῶν ὁ πάμφιλος: Libri

. Heathio scribenti olim obtemperavi, ut ceteri editores. Sed displicet hoc metrum hic prae eo quod in antistrophico versu libri habent, . Quare scripsi .

mvp-comment-370-1 καὶ:

pro Farn. Habet enim in antistrophicis versibus .

mvp-comment-371-1 δέ σοι:

Μ. G. Par. Ven. Flor. Farn. Rob. Errorem Aldinae, , Turnebus et ceteri servarunt.

mvp-comment-372-1 αἴδεσαι δίκας:

error Ald. Hinc Turn.

mvp-comment-373-1 νιν: Post

in Par. additum , adnotatio scholiastae.

mvp-comment-374-1 ἀτίσῃς:

(sic M.) vel M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. Ven. (sic Ven.) Flor. Farn. Par.

mvp-comment-375-1 ἐπέσται:

pro Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-376-1 τις:

pro Farn.

mvp-comment-377-1 ξενοτίμους:

post addit Farn.

mvp-comment-378-1 δωμάτων ἐπιστροφὰς:

G. Ald. Ceteri , quorum verborum ordinem mutaverat Heathius. V. ad v. 527.

mvp-comment-379-1 αἰδόμενός τις ἔστω:

Ven.

mvp-comment-380-1 ἑκὼν δ᾽ ἀνάγκας ἄτερ: Libri

. Recipienda erat Wieseleri emendatio, .

mvp-comment-381-1 ὢν: omittit Farn.

mvp-comment-382-1 πανώλεθρος δ᾽:

Ald. Rob. Post Pauwius inseruit.

mvp-comment-383-1 παραβάταν:

M. G. Ald. Rob. In G. tamen prius scriptum fuerat. Ven. Farn. Flor. Turn. Victorius. Scholiastes adscripsit παραβεβηκότα. Olim scripseram. Nunc melius visum est quod in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 84. proposui, .

mvp-comment-384-1 τὰ πολλὰ παντόφυρτ᾽ ἄνευ δίκας:

M. Rob. et sic Ven. Flor. nisi quod habent. pro Farn. G. Ald. Turn. sed in G. scriptum prius fuerat . Pauwio scribendum videbatur . Hoc si probandum esset, in antistrophico versu 551. scribi posset . Sed non opus est ut addatur. idem est ac si dixisset .

mvp-comment-385-1 βιαίως:

vitium Ald. Turn. Cohaerent . Male post interpungebatur.

mvp-comment-386-1 ὅταν: Libri

.

mvp-comment-387-1 οὐ δὲν ἐν μέσᾳ δυςπαλεῖ τε δίνᾳ:

M. G. Ven. Flor. Ald. Rob. Turn., nisi quod habent Ald. Rob. Farn. Ex Par. Linwoodius affert. scribendum vidit Abreschius. Deinde Turnebus. Libri . Sic etiam Rob. non .

mvp-comment-388-1 γελᾷ δὲ δαίμων:

Turn. ex lemmate scholii in ed. Rob. quod non habet M. Recte ceteri omnes.

mvp-comment-389-1 θερμῷ:

Pauwius, et sic Farn. in quo adscriptum est. Μ. G. Par. Flor. Ald. Rob. Turn. Ven. scripserat Victorius.

mvp-comment-390-1 ἀμαχάνοις: Libri

.

mvp-comment-391-1 λαπαδνόν: Libri

. Scholiastes . Scribendum esse , i. e. , dixi in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 85. Idem viderunt Musgravius et Fritzschius.

mvp-comment-392-1 οὐδ᾽ ὑπερθέοντ᾽:

plene Turn. G. Ald. Ad conferendi sunt versus Euripidis in Archelao (fr. IV. Matth.) , et Theognidis v. 619. .

mvp-comment-393-1 προςβαλὼν:

Αld.

mvp-comment-394-1 αἴστος:

Porsonus. Libri . Sophocles Ai. v. 515. . V. Bachm. ad Lycophr. v. 71.

mvp-comment-157-1 νῦν καταστροφαί] 'Now we shall have to take up with new laws, if the cause and the wrong of this matricide is to prevail. Cf. Pers. 783

Suppl. 436

ἄνευ δὲ λύπης οὐδαμοῦ καταστροφή.

By θεσμία the laws of filial duty are meant, Suppl. 688 . We might also render καταστροφαὶ, ‘the subversion of old laws so that new ones come in their place,' as μεθαρμόσαι τρόπους νέους, Prom. 317 . But the context rather points to the sense, the end of all this will be that we shall have new laws.

mvp-comment-158-1 ξυναρμόσει] 'Will reconcile them to viewing matricide with indifference. Cf. Plat. Resp. 111. p. 391 ult.

mvp-comment-159-1 προσμένει] await, are in reserve for, parents in times yet to come. - ἔτυμα, real, genuine, not merely told in story.

mvp-comment-160-1 οὔτε γάρ] The γάρ preceding is the same as ἐπεὶ, since no anger for these deeds will attach to them from us, the weird sisters who watch the actions of men, I shall let every kind of death take its own course, i.e. I shall not interfere to prevent or to punish it. Schol.

mvp-comment-161-1 The meaning here is exceedingly obscure; the MS. reading ὑπόδοσίν τε is explained by the Schol.

and it is likely that he read ὑποδοχήν. As for λῆξιν, it may be either from λήγω or fronı λαγχάνω. We may translate, 'and one shall hear from another, while he is predicting the misfortunes of others, that he is himself getting a share of and harbouring in his own home the like trials; and the unhappy man speaks in vain of remedies that are no longer to be relied on.' Schol.

παθὼν δέ τις μάτην ἑαυτὸν παραμυθεῖται τῇ εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐλπίδι.

He appears to have read τλάμων δέ τις μάταν, but the metre of v. 475 requires the omission of an iambus,

mvp-comment-162-1 κικλησκέτω] Schol.

mvp-comment-163-1 ταῦτα] ‘in such strains,' λέγων οι θρηνῶν. See on Pers. 161 .

mvp-comment-164-1 ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου] ‘There are cases in which the dread of retribution should remain enthroned in the heart, keeping a salutary watch even over men's minds (as well as over their actions).' For δεῖ μένειν the Med. has δειμαίνει, but the Schol.

The necessity of some moral control is here strongly inculcated; for without having anything to dread neither city nor private citizen would continue to respect justice.

mvp-comment-165-1 ὑπὸ στένει] through suffering. This doctrine is enlarged upon in Ag. 170 seqq.

mvp-comment-166-1 μηδέν] Supply δεινὸν from v. 491. In the next verse the metre of v. 489 suggests καρδίας ἂν ἀνατρέφων, ‘if he cherishes no fear in the gaiety of his heart, but thinks all will be well however he may act. - ὁμοίως, as he would do were he in constant fear of punishment.

mvp-comment-167-1 ἀνάρχετον = ἄναρκτον (the MS. reading, corrected by Wieseler) may be compared with ἀπεύχετον = ἄπευκτον, Cho. 614 . Hesych.

«The poet here advises the via media in politics, wishing perhaps to warn the party of Pericles to be moderate in their reforms.

mvp-comment-168-1 ἄλλ᾿ ἄλλᾳ] 'But other things (viz. whatever is in extreme) he regards differently, or with disfavour. The more ordinary meaning of the phrase, like alia aliter, is here inapplicable.

mvp-comment-169-1 ξύμμετρον] concise, Schol.

He sums up in a brief maxim the doctrine given at length in Ag. 732 seqq. This is a warning not to overthrow time-honoured institutions, like the court of the Areopagus.

mvp-comment-170-1 ἐς τὸ πᾶν] Generally, and beyond the application to a particular instance. For the altar of Justice,' see Ag. 375 .

mvp-comment-171-1 κύριον τέλος] Το every man a proper and fitting end is in reserve, viz. punishment or reward according to his deserts.

mvp-comment-172-1 αἰδόμενος] This may stand alone as the predicate, for αἰδήμων, ‘let him show respect by honouring parents and guest,' or we may construe let him honour parents and show a due regard to hospitality, lit. 'to the guesthonouring management of his house. Compare δωμάτων ἐπιστροφὰς in Theb. 645 .

mvp-comment-173-1 ἐκών] The doctrine of voluntary justice, i.e. acting from a sense of right and not merely through fear of punishment, a very advanced principle of morality, was enunciated by Simonides quoted by Plato, Protag. p. 345 D . See also Resp. 11. p. 360 c

Such a man, says the poet, will not be unblessed; wholly ruined he never can be, though he may meet with some reverses in life. We should read with real interest such expressions of faith in the reward of virtue; the doctrine is alike profound and sublime. He goes on to say that the sinner who recklessly confuses right with wrong will suffer a shipwreck in the end, and the gods will not bear him in his distress.

mvp-comment-174-1 τὸν ἀντίτολμον] Schol.

Cf. Ag. 366

ἀτολμήτως ἄρη πνεόντων.

Here, perhaps, the adversary of justice is described. In the next verse ἄγοντα is added on the conjecture of Pauw. Construe βιαίως ἄγοντα, a metaphor, perhaps, from the forcible abduction of slaves or captives.

mvp-comment-175-1 καθήσειν] He will take down his sail when it is too late, and when the yard-arm is being broken by the gale.

mvp-comment-176-1 δυσπαλεῖ] aegre luctatur, he struggles hard in the middle of the whirling waves. Herod. VIII. 21

ós. The adjective δυσπαλὴς occurs in Ap. Rhod. Iv. 52 .

mvp-comment-177-1 θερμῷ] rash. Theb. 599

The Schol. explains it ἐπὶ τῷ ἀδίκως πάσχοντι, but perhaps he wrote ἐπὶ τῷ ἀδίκῳ ταῦτα πάσχοντι. – τὸν οὔποτ᾽ αὐχοῦντα, who was too sure it would never come to this. Cf. οὔποτ ηὔχουν-μολεῖσθαι, Prom. 708 , οὐ γάρ ποτ' ηὔχουν, Ag. 489 .

mvp-comment-178-1 λαπαδνόν] ‘brought low, ᾿ ἀλαπαδνόν. This is Musgrave's conjecture for λέπαδνον, which the Schol. explains ὑπεζευγμένον καὶ χαλινωθέντα. -ἄκραν, not skimming the crest of the wave, but swamped. Eur. frag. Archel. 229 , οὐ γὰρ ὑπερθεῖν κύματος ἄκραν δυνάμεσθ.

mvp-comment-179-1 ἔρματι] a sunken reef. See Ag. 977

mvp-comment-191-1 ἡ μὲν Ἀθηνᾶ ἀπῆλθεν εὐτρεπίσαι δικαστάς, ὁ δὲ Ὀρέστης ἱκετεύων μένει, αἱ δὲ Ἐρινύες φρουροῦσιν αὐτόν. μέλος δὲ οἰκεῖον ἄιδουσι τῆι ἑαυτῶν προαιρέσει.

mvp-comment-192-1 τὸ μητροκτονεῖν.

mvp-comment-193-1 τῶν τοὺς βροτοὺς ἐπισκοπούντων.

mvp-comment-194-1 ἡμῶν δῆλον ὅτι.

mvp-comment-195-1 πάντ᾽ ἐφήσω μό(ρον): οὐκέτι τινὰ μὲν ἔννομον ἡγήσομαι μόρον, τινὰ δὲ οὐ, ἀλλὰ πάντα ἐφήσω μόρον, ὅπως τις βούλεται ἀναιρεῖν. οὐ τιμωρήσω τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις, ἀλλὰ συγχωρήσω ἀλλήλους ἀναιρεῖν.

mvp-comment-196-1 πεύσεται δ᾽ ἄλλος: ἀεὶ τὰ ἀλλήλων ἀκούσονται, καὶ οὐ γίνεται κακῶν ἀνάπαυσις.

mvp-comment-197-1 διαδοχήν.

mvp-comment-198-1 παθὼν δέ τις μάτην ἑαυτὸν παραμυθεῖται τῆι εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐλπίδι. ἡ, ἕκαστος δὲ τῶν φονέων παρηγορηθήσεται. τλήμων γὰρ ὁ ἀναιδής· „ἡ δ᾽ ὧδε τλήμων" (Soph. El. 275).

mvp-comment-199-1 ἡμᾶς δηλονότι.

mvp-comment-200-1 θροῶν.

mvp-comment-201-1 ταῦτα ἀναιρούμενος πατήρ ἤ μήτηρ ὑπὸ παιδός.

mvp-comment-202-1 ἐπειδὴ ἀπόλωλε (f: παρόλ. Μ) τὸ δίκαιον (auch f).

mvp-comment-203-1 οὐ πανταχῆι τὸ δεινὸν ἀπεῖναι φρενῶν δεῖ.

mvp-comment-204-1 ὥστε καθήμενον ὑπὸ στένει σωφρονεῖν. ὡσεὶ ἔλεγεν ὑπὸ τῶι δέει. ἔστι δὲ ἀπ᾿ εὐθείας τῆς τὸ στένος.

mvp-comment-205-1 λαμπρότητι, ὀρθότητι φρενῶν.

mvp-comment-206-1 ἀλλὰ τὸν (Rob. f. τῶν) ἠρέμα τούτων ἐφαπτόμενον· παρόσον αἱ μὲν παντάπασι τυραννούμενοι κακῶς βιοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ ἄναρχοι πονηρῶς.

mvp-comment-207-1 προφωνῶν τὰ τῶν.

mvp-comment-208-1 ὑπόδοσιν Μ, ὑπόδυσιν g (-δησιν f).

mvp-comment-209-1 ἄλλα ἄλλως ἐφορᾶι ὁ θεός. ἔσθ᾽ ὅπη(ι) δέους (zu 516, Weckl.).

mvp-comment-210-1 σύντομον.

mvp-comment-211-1 ὕβριν γεννῶσα. οἱ γὰρ ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ θείου καταφρονεῖν ὑβρίζουσι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους.

mvp-comment-212-1 ἐκ δ᾽ ὑγιείας φρενῶν: ἐκ τοῦ ὀρθὰς ἔχειν φρένας. νόσον δὲ φρενῶν τὴν δυσσέβειάν φησιν, ὑγίειαν δὲ ἐξ ἧς ἂν εἴη τιμή· ἐξ ἐκείνης δὲ ὕβρις.

mvp-comment-213-1 καθολικῶς λέγω τὸ ἐπιφερόμενον.

mvp-comment-214-1 τὴν δίκην.

mvp-comment-215-1 ὁ χωρὶς ἀνάγκης δίκαιος ὤν.

mvp-comment-216-1 τὸν τὰ ἐναντία τοῖς εἰρημένοις τολμῶντα. ἀντὶ τοῦ) τὸν ἄδικον. παραβεβηκότα.

mvp-comment-217-1 πάντοθεν συνηγμένα.

mvp-comment-218-1 ἀπὸ τῶν χειμαζομένων, τροπικῶς. ἀντὶ τοῦ ταπεινωθήσεται.

mvp-comment-219-1 ἀτυχία.

mvp-comment-220-1 τοὺς θεούς.

mvp-comment-221-1 γελᾶι, φησίν, ὁ δαίμων ἐπὶ τῶι ἀδίκωι (Stanley f. -ως) (κακῶς) (<κακά) Hartung) πάσχοντι, τὸν μηδέποτε προσδοκήσαντα τιμωρεῖσθαι ἰδὼν ἐν μέσηι τῆι δύηι ὑπεζευγμένον καὶ χαλινωθέντα· τοῦτο γὰρ δηλοῖ τὸ λέπαδνον.

mvp-comment-222-1 τὸν πολυχρόνιον δὲ ὄλβον ἑαυτοῦ προσκρούσας τῶι βράχει (Abresch f. βραχεῖ) τῆς δίκης ὤλετο.

mvp-comment-277-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-277-2 zweites Stasimon: Der Umsturz der alten Satzungen durch den Sieg des Muttermörders müfste schreckliche Zügellosigkeit und sittliche Verwilderung zur Folge haben, da man für Mord und blu- tige Mifshandlungen keinen Rächer mehr zu fürchten hätte. Furcht mufs herrschen; ohne Furcht kann kein Recht bestehen. Keine Gewaltherrschaft, aber auch keine Gesetzlosigkeit! Das Richtige liegt in der Mitte. Diese rechte Mitte hängt zusammen mit Gesundheit des Geistes, während Gottlosigkeit des Sinnes Übermut und damit Zuchtlosigkeit oder Gewaltherrschaft erzeugt ( ὕβρις φυτεύει τύραννον Soph. Oed. T.873 ). Drum übe man Recht, ehre die Eltern und achte das Gastrecht. Wem diese Rechtlichkeit aus innerer Überzeugung hervorgeht, der wird nicht unbeglückt sein; jedenfalls wird er nie ganz zu Grunde gehen. Für den Frevler aber wird über kurz oder lang die Stunde der Demütigung kommen; dann wird niemand sein Flehen erhören; die Gottheit wird sich vielmehr seines Untergangs freuen und sein früherer Glanz wird für alle Zeit verschollen und vergessen sein.

mvp-comment-278-1 ¹

mvp-comment-278-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 288

mvp-comment-278-3 καταστροφαὶ νέων θεσμίων, Umsturz der ausgeht von neuen Satzungen. Meineke vermutet με ταστροφαί, Wechsel zu neuen Satzungen, wodurch die alten abgeschafft werden. δίκα τε καὶ βλάβα d. h. δίκη, die nicht δίκη, sondern βλάβη (Schädigung, Missethat) ist.

mvp-comment-279-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 288

mvp-comment-279-2 Alle Welt wird dieses Ereignis meiner Niederlage in leichter Weise an einander bringen d. h. die Menschen werden es nicht schwer nehmen und sich kein Gewissen daraus machen, auf einander loszugehen. Vgl. Platon Staat p. 391 Ε μὴ ἡμῖν πολλὴν εὐχέρειαν ἐντίκτωσι τοῖς νέοις πονηρίας.

mvp-comment-280-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 288

mvp-comment-280-2 D. i. nach meiner Niederlage dürfen sich für die Zukunft Eltern gefafst machen auf viele handgreifliche Miſshandlungen von Seite der Kinder. ἔτυμα d.i. Wunden nicht im uneigentlichen, sondern im eigentlichen Sinne.- δότρωτα πάθεα wie θηλυκτόνῳ Ἀρει Prom. 886

Soph. Ant. 36 . - παι

mvp-comment-281-1 ²

mvp-comment-281-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 288

mvp-comment-281-3 βροτοσκόπους: bisher achteten sie auf die Schuld der Menschen. - μαινάδας, die Erinyen. ἔπεισι κότος τις τῶνδ᾽ ἐργμάτων (nämlich παιδοτρώτων παθέων).

mvp-comment-282-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 288

mvp-comment-282-2 Jede Todesart (jeden Mord) werde ich hingehen lassen.

mvp-comment-283-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 288

mvp-comment-283-2 Der eine wird da, der andere dort unter lauten Klagen über die von anderen erlittenen Unbilden Aufhören und Abnahme seiner Mühsale erkunden; aber nur mit unwirksamen Heilmitteln kann er, der arme, nichtig trösten. Zu tov πέλας κακά vgl. Krüger I § 47, 5, 1 . I τλάμων, der um Rat gefragte, der selbst von anderen zu leiden hat. Vgl. zu Ag. 71 .

mvp-comment-284-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-284-2 Zu Ag. 1333 .

mvp-comment-285-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-285-2 Es könnte ταῦτα γάρ heissen. ταῦτα ist von ( οἶκτον) οἰκτί σαιτο abhängig. νεοπαθής ist dreisilbig zu lesen: zu 453 und Ag. 1162 .

mvp-comment-286-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-286-2 πίτνει δόμος δίκας: Cho. 643

und oben zu 163.

mvp-comment-287-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-287-2 Gar manchmal ist die Furcht wohlgethan. Cho. 337

mvp-comment-288-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-288-2 φρενῶν ἐπίσκοπον, über den Sinn wachend (die Furcht mufs als Wächterin der Seele niedergesetzt bleiben).

mvp-comment-289-1 ³

mvp-comment-289-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-289-3 conducit rebus angustis coactum sapere (Hermann). Ag.190

mvp-comment-290-1 ⁴

mvp-comment-290-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-290-3 Vgl. 702 τίς γὰρ δεδοικὼς μηδὲν ἔνδικος βροτῶν;

mvp-comment-291-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-291-2 ἢ πόλις βροτός τε (d. i. εἴτε πόλις εἴτε ἰδιώτης) für ἢ πόλις ἢ βροτός oder πόλις τε βροτός τε wie Hom. Β 289 ὥστε γὰρ ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες ἀλλήλοισιν ὀδύρονται.

mvp-comment-292-1 ⁵

mvp-comment-292-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 289

mvp-comment-292-3 Vgl. 699 ff. ἀνάρχετος für ἄναρκτος wie ἀπεύχετος für ἄπευκτος, πανάρκετος und ἀμάχετος bei Aschylos, ἀγάμετος bei Sophokles.

mvp-comment-292-4 ⁶

mvp-comment-293-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-293-2 μέσον, die Mitte zwischen zwei Extremen, das rechte Mafs ( μέτριον). Vgl. zu Ag. 413 , Theogn. 335 μηδὲν ἄγαν σπεύδειν· πάντων μέσ᾽ ἄριστα, Pind. Pyth. ΧΙ 53 τῶν γὰρ ἂμ πόλιν εὑρίσκων τὰ μέσσα μάσσονι σὺν ὄλβῳ τεθαλότα μέμφομ' αἶσαν τυραννίδων, Eur. Med. 125

. — ἄλλ᾽ ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐφορεύει dient nur zur Hebung des Hauptgedankens wie 653 τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα πάντ᾽ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω στρέφων τίθησιν κτέ. Der Mitte verleiht Gott gewifs immer den Vorzug, während er sonst das eine auf diese, das andere auf jene Weise ansieht, d. h. steht das günstige Urteil der Gottheit über irgend etwas fest, so ist dieses die rechte Mitte. Vgl. auch zu Ag. 413 und über die Stellung von dé ebd. 744.

mvp-comment-294-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-294-2 In Ubereinstimmung damit steht der Satz, den ich ausspreche.

mvp-comment-295-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-295-2 Der gleiche Gedanke wie Ag. 755 ff.

wie τέκνον Cho. 645

τεκνοῦσθαι, τίκτει

Ag. 751, 756.

mvp-comment-296-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-296-2 ἐς τὸ πᾶν: καθολικῶς Schol. Über die Stellung von d έ zu Ag. 1084 .

mvp-comment-297-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-297-2 βωμὸν Δίκας: zu 163.

mvp-comment-298-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-298-2 λὰξ ἀτίσῃς d. i. λακτίσας ἀτιμάσης, vgl. Ag. 394

.

mvp-comment-299-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-299-2 Die Stunde der Entscheidung harrt.

mvp-comment-300-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-300-2 πρὸς τάδε, proinde. Vgl. Pers. 173

Häufiger steht in diesem Sinne πρὸς ταῦτα. Die drei Hauptgebote der griechischen Moral ,,ehre die Götter, verletze nicht das Gastrecht, ehre die Eltern" werden auch Suppl. 709 ff. ans Herz gelegt, wo es zuletzt heifst: τὸ γὰρ τεκόντων σέβας, τρίτον τόδ᾽ ἐν θεσμίοις Δίκας γέγραπται μεγιστοτίμου. Vgl. oben zu 270 f.

mvp-comment-301-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-301-2 ξενοτίμους proleptisch wie Soph. El. 242 γονέων ἐκτίμους ἴσχουσα πτέρυγας ὀξυτόνων γόων: man achte den Aufenthalt Fremder im Hause, indem man sie ehrt.

mvp-comment-301-3 ⁷

mvp-comment-302-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 290

mvp-comment-302-2 Die Form αιδόμενος auch Suppl. 367 . τις wiederholt wie Suppl. 58

: zu Cho. 136 .

mvp-comment-303-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 291

mvp-comment-303-2 ἀνάγκας ἄτερ verstärkt ἑκών wie in den Wendungen κατ' αἶσαν οὐδ᾽ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν, ἑκόντα κοὐκ ἄκοντα, βίᾳ τε κοὐχ ἑκών, πρὸς χάριν τε κου βίᾳ, γνῶτα κοὐκ ἄγνωτα, πολλάκις τε κοὐχ ἅπαξ, πάλαι κοὐ νεωστί, βαιοῦ κοὐχὶ μυρίου χρόνου u. a. Der Dichter schliefst damit die Scheinheiligkeit aus. Hor. epist. I 16 oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore.

mvp-comment-304-1 ⁸

mvp-comment-304-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 291

mvp-comment-304-3 τὸν ἀντίτολμον, τὸν τὰ ἐναν τία τοῖς εἰρημένοις τολμῶντα. Im Folgenden ist an die Stelle des eigentlichen Ausdrucks ohne weiteres das Gleichnis gesetzt und deshalb auch das gesetzlose Handeln des Frevlers mit dem vom Schiffer entlehnten Ausdruck ἄγοντα πολλὰ παντόφυρτα wie nachher (567) der Grund des Untergangs mit ἕρμα δίκης bezeichnet: ,,von dem, der gegen diese Gebote (542 ff.) frevelt, behaupte ich, dafs er ein Schiffer, der vieles mit sich führt, was er widerrechtlich von allen Seiten zusammengerafft hat, mit der Zeit gezwungen die Segel streichen wird, wenn Sturmesnot erfafst die zerschellenden Segelstangen" d. h. ,,der Frevler, der rücksichtslos seine Begierde befriedigt, wird schon noch einmal durch Not gedemütigt werden." βαρίβαν: Bekk. Anekd. p. 84, 10 Σοφοκλῆς ἐν Ποιμέσι βαρίβαν λέγει τὸν ναύτην. Βάρις (Schiff) kommt öfters in den Persern und Schutzfl. vor. Nach Herod. II 96 ist das Wort ägyptisch, vgl. Eur. Iph. A. 249 βαρβάρους βάριδας.

mvp-comment-305-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 291

mvp-comment-305-2 παντόφυρτα: Schol. πάντοθεν συνηγμένα. Diese Bedeutung erfordert jedenfalls der Sinn; wahrscheinlich ist deshalb, wie Meineke vermutet, παντόσυρτα zu schreiben. Vgl. Eur. frg. 423

die Segel einziehen und ins Schiff legen, vgl. Hom. ι 72 ἱστία δέ σφιν τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διέσχισε ὃς ἀνέμοιο. καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς νῆας κάθεμεν δείσαντες ὄλεθρον. Schol. ἀντὶ τοῦ ταπεινωθήσεται. Durch θραυομένας wird πόνος näher bestimmt.

mvp-comment-305-3 ⁹

mvp-comment-306-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 291

mvp-comment-306-2 Der Gedanke „und in seiner Bedrängnis findet der Gottlose kein Erbarmen bei der Gottheit" wird der vorhergehenden Allegorie entsprechend gegeben.

mvp-comment-307-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 291

mvp-comment-307-2 γελᾷ κτέ: so wird die Vorstellung vom Neide der Gottheit, welche sich über den Untergang hohen Glückes freut, umgedeutet. θερμῷ (verwegen, frech) wie Sept. 590

.

mvp-comment-308-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 291

mvp-comment-308-2 αὐχοῦντα, der sich dessen nie versah. Vgl. Eur. Herakl. 931

λαπαδνός, σέθεν und Ag. 511 . ἀλαπαδνός. οὐδ᾽ ἄκραν: wie er sich nicht über der Höhe der Wogen halten kann, sondern versinkt. Vgl. Eur. frg. 232

οὐ γὰρ ὑπερθεῖν κύματος ἄκραν δυνάμεσθ' ἔτι γὰρ θάλλει πενία, κακὸν ἔχθιστον, φεύγει δ᾽ ὄλβος

, Theogn. 619 πόλλ᾽ ἐν ἀμηχανίῃσι κυλίνδομαι ἀχνύμενος κηρ· ἄκρην γὰρ πενίης οὐχ ὑπερεδράμομεν.

mvp-comment-308-3 ¹⁰

mvp-comment-309-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 292

mvp-comment-309-2 δι' αἰῶνος wie Ag. 559 .

mvp-comment-310-1 ¹¹

mvp-comment-310-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 292

mvp-comment-310-3 ἕρματι, Schol. τῷ βράχει, verborgene Klippen und Sandbänke. Ag. 994 .

mvp-comment-311-1 ¹²

mvp-comment-311-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 292

mvp-comment-311-3 Vgl. das Homerische οἴχετ' ἄιστος ἄπυστος.

mvp-sidgwick-238-1-1 Now shall come changes to new laws; rather an unusual use of the gen., though possible: we have (Thucyd. 6. 18) μεταβολὴ ἀπραγμοσύνης, change to timid policy, in a very similar use. [The best alteration is νόμων θεσμίων τ' (L. Schmidt): but it is not so forcible as the text, and not necessary.]

δίκα τε καὶ βλάβα , the cause and the wrong: the strong contradiction in terms (oxymoron), which comes out in the Greek more than in the English, is intentional and effective: Orestes' δίκα was ἄδικος and βλαβερά in the eyes of the Eumenides.

mvp-sidgwick-240-1-1 Hereafter this deed shall set all men's hand to license, is the meaning: literally it is, shall join all mortals to readiness (of sin). The commentators aptly quote Plat. Rep. 391 Ε πολλὴν εὐχέρειαν πονηρίας.

παιδότρωτα πάθεα , woful wounds dealt by a child, woes from the murderous hands of children.

mvp-sidgwick-242-1-1 And, for not even from the Furies that watch mankind Shall wrath for these deeds Come upon any man-I will let loose all murder upon them; reading οὐδέ for οὔτε, with most edd., and τιν' for τις with Weil, μαινάδων is subjective gen., τῶνδε ἐργμάτων objective, both after κότος. The γάρ gives the reason for ἐφήσω; which is common enough when ἀλλά precedes, but unusual (as here) with no such connection.

mvp-sidgwick-243-1-1

There is a grandeur and impressiveness of gloomy prophecy which almost remind one of the Hebrew prophets or poets of the Old Testament.

mvp-sidgwick-244-1-1 In this fine stanza the Erinyes speak as the Powers of Justice which the gods have overthrown: The afflicted shall call upon us, but we will not hear is what, in effect, they say.

mvp-sidgwick-245-1-1 Somewhere should fear abide enthroned, watching the heart of man; tis well to be chastened with suffering.

mvp-sidgwick-245-2-1 The doctrine that suffering brings wisdom is a favourite Aeschylean maxim,

Ag. 177 .

mvp-sidgwick-246-1-1 The MSS. read :

The general sense is plain : who, if he have nought to fear will any longer be just? But the text as it stands is corrupt, and as it is easy to rewrite the two lines to give the right sense, there are a vast number of suggestions, none convincing ;—

mvp-sidgwick-246-2-1 (1) Some (Pal. Well. others) retain the first line and read καρδίας: who, if he cherish no [fear] in the gaiety of his heart..., but it is hardly credible that the principal idea, fear should be understood from the last stanza: and therefore-

mvp-sidgwick-246-3-1 (2) The best emendation (without too much alteration) is the old one of Auratus (Herm. Weckl. Schütz. D.)-

who, if he do not train his heart in fear, etc.... There is a further question whether we should keep l. 522

κᾶρδῖ- | ᾶν ӑ- | νᾱτρε- | φῶν or make the correspondence with l. 512

exact, by inserting ἄν; κᾱρδῐ- | ᾱν ᾰν | ἄνᾰτρě- | φῶν. It is perhaps better to insert the av : though the thrice repeated syllable -av- is a little rough.

ἢ ... τε is irregular :

whether city or man we must say in English.

ἀνάρχετον . (read for metre's sake), like

Cho. 625 .

παντὶ μέσῳ , ever to the mean god gives success: a common Greek maxim: so Ag. 378

ib. 466

τὸ δ᾽ ὑπερκόπως εὖ κλύειν βαρὺ κρίνω δ᾽ ἄφθονον ὄλβον,

etc., the idea being that excess was dangerous: so Eur. Fr. 80 τὰ μείζω τῶν μέσων τίκτει νόσους.

ἐφορεύει , directs.

ξύμμετρον . seems best taken as timely, fitting: a rather fanciful way of saying wise. [Others take it in accord with this, i.e. with the doctrine of moderation: which is a possible meaning and may be defended: only the main point of all this chorus is the need of repressing crime and licence, and the doctrine of moderation is rather a digression.]

mvp-sidgwick-252-1-1 This notion, that crime leads to new crime, is familiar from the Agamemnon:

l. 759 ,

ὕβρις παλαιὰ νεάζουσαν ὕβριν τίκτει

l. 763 .

mvp-sidgwick-253-1-1 I take H.'s correction πάμφιλος for πᾶσι φίλος and Hartung's δόμων for

l. 547 : the alternative (to read πᾶσιν, and change the order of δωμάτων ἐπιστροφάς) really alters the text as much, and produces a less likely metre.

ἐς τὸ πᾶν , for whate'er befall; i. e. as the first and greatest rule of life.

κύριον μένει τέλος , the appointed end abideth: only an impressive way of saying that good and evil alike shall meet their deserts.

ξενοτίμους δόμων ἐπιστροφάς , κ.τ.λ., literally, [ let him revere] guest-honouring visits of the house: a characteristically elaborated expression for hospitable welcome.

οὐκ ἄνολβος ἔσται , understatement such as is natural and common in Greek, shall not fail to prosper. ll. 553-554

. If the reading is right, the acc. τὰ πολλὰ παντόφυρτ᾽ is governed by the verbal idea in παραιβάταν: The man who dares to resist and commits all manner of transgressions, swerving from Right: such accusatives after verbals are rather in the manner of Aeschylus :

θυμοβόρου φρένα

Ag. 103 ,

πολλὰ συνίστορα

ib. 1090 ,

ἄπορα πόριμος

Prom. 904 ,

χοὰς προπομπός

Cho. 23 ,

ἀπότροπον ἄγος

ib. 155 . (So Schol.) Of the corrections proposed Pauw's is the best ... παντόφυρτ᾽ ἄγοντ᾽ ἄνευ (reading παρβάταν for καὶ παραιβάταν), bringing much confusion : but though the grammar is smoother, the sense is weaker.

βιαίως , perforce, i. e. the storm shall compel him. καθήσειν, shall lower sail, i. e. shall be made humble and submissive; so ὑφέσθαι is used Ar. Ran. 1220 ὑφέσθαι μοι δοκεῖ, Soph. Εl. 335 πλεῖν ὑφειμένῃ δοκεῖ. [It is far better to make καθήσειν absolute, and make λαῖφος governed by λάβῃ, than with H. to write καθήσειν λαῖφος, ὅταν λάβῃ, κ.τ.λ. The metaphor is then more gradually and naturally introduced: the rhythm is more effective: and also the Schol. clearly takes καθήσειν by itself, for he explains it ταπεινωθήσεται. Such curtailments are common in technical expressions, e. g. in English, luff, put about, lower away.]

πόνος , trouble, a word suggestive from its mildness: he means the hurricane.

δυσπαλεῖ , taken by some as a verb (Pal. Verrall): but the adj. δυσπαλής is used by Pindar, while the verb is unknown. The sense is equally good, if we take it adj., and the run of the sentence more easy.

θερμῷ , headstrong, rash, as often in Greek.

τὸν οὔποτ᾽ αὐχοῦντ᾽ , who boasted he ne'er [should suffer], boasted it ne'er should be, the negative used just as in οὔ φημι, οὐκ ἂν ᾤετο, οὐκ ἀξιῶ, etc. So

Agam. 1044 .

mvp-sidgwick-263-1-1 Wrecking his happiness on the reef of justice: the fine metaphor is kept up to the end.