mvp-sidgwick-370-1-1
Wanting in V. Fl. Va. It is clear that it is not this refrain but the second repetition (
ll. 808-822
) that V. Fl. Fa. copied, as they follow M. G. in reading erroneously
ἀντιπαθῆ
l. 812
, and
ἐπεσσυμένος
l. 816
, whereas M. G. have the correct forms in the first refrain.
mvp-sidgwick-381-1-1
Athena soothes them, and persuades them not to execute the threats,
ll. 780-782
.
δαιμόνων σταλάγματα
, if right, must mean
immortal venom: the word δαιμόνων emphasising the supernatural and terrible power of the blighting drops. The word has been much emended, the best suggestion being Wakefield's πλευμόνων or λαιμάτων : for, as Hartung says, the expressions in this speech are largely determined by the Chorus, and the corresponding phrase is (
l. 784
) καρδίας σταλαγμόν.
mvp-sidgwick-383-1-1
Corroding stings, devastating the seed; a fine characteristic line. It is best thus to make the gen. dependent on ἀνημέρους : the latter word meaning
wild,
waste, and here, by a common stretch of usage, applied not to the αἰχμάς but to their effects. For the masc. form βρωτήρας with fem. αἰχμάς compare
τύχη σωτήρ
Ag. 664
,
Ο. Τ. 80
: see note on
l. 186
.
ὑπίσχομαι
,
promise, for the common form ὑπισχνοῦμαι, somewhat as οἴχομαι οἰχνέω, λήθω λανθάνω, φεύγω φυγγάνω, πεύθομαι πυνθάνομαι. [Heath, followed by Herm. Schöm., read ἐνδίκους : but the MSS. gen. is finer: Athens, as the Athenians were fond of boasting, was the
righteous land: so
O. C. 1006
εἴ τις γῆ θεοὺς ἐπίσταται τιμαῖς σεβίζειν, ἥδε τοῦθ᾽ ὑπερφέρει.
So again below
ll. 869, 920
.
κευθμῶνας
,
cavern,
grot. There is a chasm or hole in the rock, with a dark spring of water, on the N. E. side of the Areiopagos. This is no doubt the place constantly referred to as the κευθμών or θάλαμοι (
l. 1004
) of the Eumenides: and explains the phrases κατὰ γᾶς σύμεναι (
l. 1007
), τοὺς ἔνερθε καὶ κατὰ χθονὸς τόπους (
l. 1023
), γᾶς ὑπὸ κεύθεσι (
l. 1036
). The clearest reference is Eurip. Elektr. 1270, where he speaks of the Eum., defeated in this trial of Orestes, as
entering a chasm of the earth close by the hill itself: δειναὶ μὲν οὖν θεαὶ τῷδ᾽ ἄχει πεπληγμέναι πάγον παρ᾿ αὐτὸν χάσμα δύσονται χθονός.
λιπαροθρόνοισι
,
with shining seats [not with oil as Müller, etc., for the regular libations to the Eumenides were honey and water, fully detailed in
Soph. O. C. 470-481
], but merely
bright or
splendid marble seats for the great goddesses.
