Aeschylus Eumenides 397

Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator)

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Eumenides. Aeschylus. Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator). New York. 1926.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Εὐμενίδες (Greek) (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.)

Editions (11)
Εὐμενίδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 397-489 focus
Εὐμενίδες (1518 edition; OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides, 1518 edition. VLM-assisted OCR with native lineation and automated correspondence to the Smyth edition.) — 397 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 397 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 397 focus
ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 397 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Arthur Sidgwick, 1887.) — 397 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 397 focus
πρόσωθεν ἐξήκουσα κληδόνος βοὴν
400
ἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου γῆν καταφθατουμένη,
ἣν δῆτ᾽ Ἀχαιῶν ἄκτορές τε καὶ πρόμοι,
τῶν αἰχμαλώτων χρημάτων λάχος μέγα,
ἔνειμαν αὐτόπρεμνον εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἐμοί,
ἐξαίρετον δώρημα θησέως τόκοις·
405
ἔνθεν διώκουσ᾽ ἦλθον ἄτρυτον πόδα,
πτερῶν ἄτερ ῥοιβδοῦσα κόλπον αἰγίδος,
πώλοις ἀκμαίοις τόνδ᾽ ἐπιζεύξασ᾽ ὄχον.
καινὴν δ᾽ ὁρῶσα τήνδ᾽ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς
ταρβῶ μὲν οὐδέν, θαῦμα δ᾽ ὄμμασιν πάρα.
410
τίνες ποτ᾽ ἐστέ; πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐς κοινόν λέγω,
βρέτας τε το μὸν τῷδ᾽ ἐφημένῳ ξένῳ,
ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ὁμοίας οὐδενὶ σπαρτῶν γένει,
οὔτ᾽ ἐν θεαῖσι πρὸς θεῶν ὁρωμένας
οὔτ᾽ οὖν βροτείοις ἐμφερεῖς μορφώμασιν.
415
λέγειν δ᾽ ἄμορφον ὄντα τοὺς πέλας κακῶς
πρόσω δικαίων ἠδ᾽ ἀποστατεῖ θέμις.
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Martin L. West, 1990.) — 397 focus
Aeschyli Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Eumenides. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 397 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by F. A. Paley, 1885.) — 397 focus
πρόσωθεν ἐξήκουσα κληδόνος βοὴν
375
ἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου, γῆν καταφθατουμένη,
ἣν δῆτ᾽ ᾿Ἀχαιῶν ἄκτορές τε καὶ πρόμοι,
τῶν αἰχμαλώτων χρημάτων λάχος μέγα,
ἔνειμαν αὐτόπρεμνον εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἐμοὶ,
ἐξαίρετον δώρημα Θησέως τόκοις·
380
ἔνθεν διώκουσ᾽ ἦλθον ἄτρυτον πόδα,
πτερῶν ἄτερ ῥοιβδοῦσα κόλπον αἰγίδος,
πώλοις ἀκμαίοις τ νδ᾽ ἐπιζεύξασ᾽ ὄχον.
καινὴν δ᾽ ὁρῶσα τήνδ᾽ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς
ταρβῶ μὲν οὐδὲν, θαῦμα δ᾽ ὄμμασιν πάρα,
385
τίνες ποτ᾽ ἐστὲ, πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω,
βρέτας τε τοὐμὸν τῷδ᾽ ἐφημένῳ ξένῳ·
ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ὁμοίας οὐδενὶ σπαρτῶν γένει,
οὔτ᾽ ἐν θεαῖσι πρὸς θεῶν ὁρωμένας,
οὔτ᾽ οὖν βροτείοις ἐμφερεῖς μορφώμασιν, -
390
λέγειν δ᾽ ἄμομφον ὄντα τοὺς πέλας κακῶς,
πρόσω δικαίων, ἠδ᾽ ἀποστατεῖ θέμις.
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by Friedrich Blass, 1907.) — 397 focus
πρόσωθεν ἐξήκουσα κληδόνος βοὴν
ἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου, γῆν καταφθατουμένη,
ἣν δῆτ᾽ Ἀχαιῶν ἀκτορές τε καὶ πρόμοι,
τῶν αἰχμαλώτων χρημάτων λάχος μέγα,
400
ἔνειμαν αὐτόπρεμνον ἐς τὸ πᾶν ἐμοί,
ἐξαίρετον δώρημα Θησέως τόκοις·
ἔνθεν διώκουσ᾽ ἦλθον ἄτρυτον πόδα,
πτερῶν ἄτερ ῥοιβδοῦσα κόλπον αἰγίδος,
πωλοῖς ἀκμαίοις τόνδ᾽ ἐπιζεύξασ᾽ ὄχον.
405
καινὴν δ᾽ ὁρῶσα τῆνδ᾽ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς
ταρβῶ μὲν οὐδέν, θαῦμα δ᾽ ὄμμασιν πάρα.
τίνες ποτ᾽ ἐστέ; πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω·
βρέτας τε τοὐμὸν τῶιδ᾽ ἐφημένωι ξένωι,
ὑμᾶς θ᾽ ὁμοίας οὐδενὶ σπαρτῶν γένει,
410
ἀντ. ε
οὔτ᾽ ἐν θεαῖσι πρὸς θεῶν ὁρωμένας
οὔτ᾽ οὖν βροτείοις ἐμφερεῖς μορφώμασιν.
λέγειν δ᾽ ἄμομφον ὄντα τοὺς πέλας κακῶς
πρόσω δικαίων ἠδ᾽ ἀποστατεῖ θέμις.
Translations (11)
Eumenides Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 397 focus
The Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (The Eumenides. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 397 focus
From afar I heard the sound of a voice from Scamander, where I occupy 1
, a land which in truth the leaders and chiefs of the Greeks, a great portion of the captured posses­ sions, assigned for ever to me, root and branch, a chosen gift to the children of Theseus. From thence I have come, plying an unwearied foot, without wings with rustling noise bran­ dishing my hollow aegis 2
, having yoked this car to vigorous steeds. But beholding this strange company, I am by no means afraid, but a wonder is before my eyes. Who, pray, are you? I speak to all in common: both to this stranger seated at my image, and to you resembling no race of beings produced, nor beheld among goddesses by gods, nor yet like to mortal forms; but for neighbours to speak ill of one deformed is far from proper, and justice is absent from it.
LES EUMÉNIDES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES EUMÉNIDES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 397 focus
de loin entendu l'appel d'une voix : sur les bords du Scamandre, je prenais possession du pays que les rois et les chefs de la Grèce m'ont attribué comme
une riche part de leur butin de guerre et dont le sol désor- mais est à moi, lot de choix accordé aux enfants de Thésée 1 . C'est de là que j'ai porté ici mes pas infatigables, laissant, en guise d'ailes, frémir aux vents mon égide gon-
flée, char magique attelé de robustes coursiers 2 . Mais à voir cette troupe nouvelle en ce pays, si mon cœur ne tremble pas, mon regard du moins s'étonne. Qui donc êtes-vous? Je m'adresse à tous également à cet étranger
accroupi devant mon image; à vous aussi, qui ne ressem- blez à nulle créature : les dieux ne vous voient point au
The Furies (OCR draft) Experimental (The Furies. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 397 focus
Mine the prize of old ordain'd,
Never with diſhonour ſtain'd,
Tho' my drear abode profound
Night and darkneſs cover round.
Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 397 focus
Da lungi udito ho de l'appello il suono,
dallo Scamandro, ove la sede mia
435
stabilita ho nel suol, che, parte eletta
dei predati trofei, tutto a me sacro,
per sempre, i duci e i prenci d'Argo vollero,
e ai figli di Tesèo dono ne fecero.
Di lí spingendo il pie' mai stanco, giunsi
440
senz'ali, e ai venti fremea gonfia l'egida.
Or, qui veggendo cosí nuova accolta,
non temo io già, ma stupefatta resto.
Chi siete mai? Lo chiedo a tutti. A questo
che, straniero, all'idol mio si stringe,
445
e a voi, disformi ad ogni essere nato,
cui né mai tra le Dee videro i Numi,
né somigliate alle parvenze umane.
Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 397 focus
Procul exaudiui rumoris uocem
Ab Scamandro accenſam,
380
Quam uidelicet Achiuorum duces, & primarij
Captarum rerum ſortem magnam
Distri buerunt robur ipſum omnino mihi
Electum donum Theſei filijs.
Inde perſequens ueni indomito pede.
385
Sine alis abſorbens sinum Aegidis,
Pullis robustis hoc coniugans uehiculum,
Et nunc uidens hanc conuerſationem terræ,
Timeo quidem nihil, admiratio adeſt in oculis.
Quiſnam tandem eſtis? omnibus uerò in comūne dico.
390
Simulacrum uerò meum huic miti hoſpiti,
Vosq; ſimiles nulli generi Spartanorum,
Neq; inter deas uisis à dijs,
Neq; in mortalibus ferendæ formæ.
Dicere deformem exiſtentem propinquos malè.
395
Procul à iuſtis Themis uerò abſtinet.
Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 397 focus
Fern am Skamandros hab' ich einer Stimme Laut
vernommen, die nach mir verlangte. Beuteland
Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Eumenides. Anna Swanwick, 1886.) — 397 focus
English (E. D. A. Morshead, 1889, second edition) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, The Furies — Morshead translation. Wikisource transcription; speech corresp and card milestones aligned to Smyth perseus-grc2.) — 397 focus
Far off I heard the clamour of your cry,
As by Scamander's side I set my foot
470
Asserting right upon the land given o'er
To me by those who o'er Achaia's host
Held sway and leadership: no scanty part
Of all they won by spear and sword, to me
They gave it, land and all that grew thereon,
475
As chosen heirloom for my Theseus' clan.
Thence summoned, sped I with a tireless foot,—
Hummed on the wind, instead of wings, the fold
Of this mine ægis, by my feet propelled,
As, linked to mettled horses, speeds a car.
480
And now, beholding here earth's nether brood,
I fear it nought, yet are mine eyes amazed
With wonder. Who are ye? of all I ask,
And of this stranger to my statue clinging.
But ye—your shape is like no human form,
485
Like to no goddess whom the gods behold,
Like to no shape which mortal women wear.
Yet to stand by and chide a monstrous form
Is all unjust—from such words Right revolts.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1854; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylos. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Stuttgart: Hoffmann, 1854. Native Donner line citations, Smyth card correspondence, selected textual readings and metrical facsimiles. Remaining OCR differences and unattributed reading notes are documented in the linked review inventory.) — 397 focus
Fernher am Strom Skamandros hört' ich lauten Ruf,
Als ich von jenem Lande schnell Besiy ergriff,
Das mir Achäa's Fürsten und Gewaltige
375
Als schönes Loos aus ihrer Beute reichem Schay
Auf immerdar mit allen Wurzeln heiligten,
Dem Stamm des Theseus ein erles'nes Eigenthum.
Dort komm' ich her mit unermüdlich schnellem Schritt,
Des Schildes Wölbung schwingend, ohne Fittige,
380
Die starken Rosse vorgeschirrt dem Wagen hier.
Und nun gewahr' ich diese Schaar in meinem Land,
Wohl schreckt mich's nicht, doch Staunen fesselt meinen Blick.
Wer seid ihr? Alle red' ich euch in Einem an,
Ihn, der an meinem Bilde sikt, den Fremdling dort,
385
Und euch, vergleichbar keinem, was geboren ist,
Von Göttern nie gesehen unter Göttinnen,
Noch Erdenkindern an Gestalt und Bildung gleich.
Doch Andre schelten, welche dir kein Leid gethan,
Ist Hohn der Tugend, Themis haft, wer solches thut.
390
English (Smyth; revised Bannon and Nagy, CHS) (OCR draft) Experimental (CHS Primary Sources revision of Herbert Weir Smyth’s translation by Cynthia Bannon and Gregory Nagy, with transliterated Greek terms tagged and aligned to the Smyth edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Commentary

Commentary on Aeschylus: Eumenides (Aeschylus. Eumenides. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1887.)

398. γῆν καταφθατουμένη . Some further alter γῆν into γῆς, and translate hastening from; but the land of Scamander would be a strange expression, and a much fuller and better sense is gained by translating

398. καταφθατουμένη , occupying, hasting to claim the land. (So Hesych. who has καταφθατουμένη, κατακτωμένη.)

401. αὐτόπρεμνον , bold metaphor, root and branch, i. e. utterly, land and all therein.

402. ἐξαίρετον . : it was a custom, from Homer's time, to take out of the spoil a special gift for kings (or, as here, gods). So Homer frequently γέρας ἔξελον υἱὲς Ἀχαιῶν. So Thucydides tells us at the destruction of Mitylene (3. 30) the Athenians made 3000 holdings of the land, and 300 of these τοῖς θεοῖς ἱεροὺς ἐξεῖλον.

405. ἐπιζεύξασ᾽ ὄχον . You can't talk of yoking a car on your legs. It is better to take it metaphorically: the

405. ὄχος is the aegis, the

405. πῶλοι are the winds. So exactly Aristophanes calls Athena αἰγίδος ἠνιόχος Clouds 602.

410. ὑμᾶς θ᾽ , the construction is irregular but natural: she means, and you [I call] like to no race begotten, etc. (or perhaps even a stronger verb of abuse is meant to finish the sentence): but she checks herself 1. 413.

414. ἀποστατεῖ θέμις , Right holds aloof, stately phrase for ,it is wrong,.

417. ἐν οἴκοις γῆς ὕπαι , not for τοῖς γῆς ὕπαι, but 'in our home, beneath the earth, both phrases going with verb κεκλήμεθα.

418. ἐπωνύμους , not in its usual sense called after; but simply 'the names men call you by.'

419. γε μὲν δή , adversative as usual. My office, however, thou shalt learn. So Ag. 661, 887, 1213.

423. μηδαμοῦ: . the μή generalises as usual: Some place where joy is all unknown: the Chorus mean in Hades: but the indefinite or generic way of putting it is quite idiomatic and more imaginative and impressive. μηδαμοῦ νομίζεται, lit. is held of no account.

424. ἐπιρροιζεῖν , to clamour after, of noisy and terrifying pursuit ; To such a flight do ye hound him on?

425. ἠξιώσατο , took on him, rarely med. Cp. Ag. 370 θεοὺς ἀξιοῦσθαι.

426. ἀνάγκη .

427. ὡς often used for ὥστε in poetry: Epic usage.

431. σοφῶν , subtlety.

433. εὐθεῖαν δίκην , poet. for εὐθυδικία, the regular legal term for the 'real issue' opposed to some side question.

434. ἐπὶ . . . τρέποιτ' , entrust, more frequently in the compound ἐπιτρέπω. The separate form (tmesis) is found in poetry, e. g. Ant. 1107 μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

434. τέλος , the final settlement, the decision.' Somewhat similar is Ag. 934 ἐξεῖπον τέλος.

435. κἀπ᾿ ἀξίων (Arnald's correction, adopted by Paley, must be right), a worthy child of worthy sire, i.e. a great goddess, and daughter of Zeus. So Schol. ἀξίων οὖσαν γονέων. [Other corrections numerous, but all less simple and natural.]

Critical apparatus to Eumenides (OCR draft) (Latin and Greek critical apparatus to Gottfried Hermann's 1852 edition of Eumenides.) focus

mvp-comment-284-1 γῆν καταφθατουμένη: Libri τὴν καταθατουμένην. Robortellus corrigi iubet καιταφατουμένην. Stanleius et Bentleius scribendum viderunt γῆν καταφθατουμένη. Nominativum participii scholiastes legit, qui καταφθάνουσα adscripsit: hoc enim, non καταφθάνουσαν, habent M. G. Hesychius ex hoc loco καταφατουμένη (sic), κατακτωμένη, κυρίως δὲ τὸ ἐκ προκαταλήψεως. Scholiastes Μιτυληναῖοι ἐμάχοντο πρὸς Αθηναίους περὶ πόλεως Σιγείου. ἔδοξεν οὖν μονομαχία (sic M.) λῦσαι τὸν πόλεμον· καὶ ὑπὲρ μὲν Μιτυληναίων ἐπολέμει Πιττακός, ὑπὲρ δὲ Ἀθηναίων Φρύνων. ηττηθέντος δὲ Φρύνωνος διελύθη τὰ τῆς μάχης. ἔοικεν οὖν παρορμῶν Ἀθηναίους ὁ Αἰσχύλος εἰς τὸ ἀντέχεσθαι πάλιν Σιγείου, λέγων τὴν θεὸν ἐκεῖθεν ἐληλυθέναι. V. Strabonem XIII. p. 599. seq. et interpretes Herodoti ad V. 94. 95.

mvp-comment-285-1 ἣν δῆτ᾽: Scribendum est fortasse ἣν δή γ' Ἀχαιῶν etc.

mvp-comment-286-1 τόκοις: τέκνοις pro τόκοις Flor. Farn. et Bekkero teste Ven.

mvp-comment-287-1 ῥοιβδοῦσα: ῥοιδοῦσα G. Ald.

mvp-comment-288-1 πώλοις ... ἐπιζεύξασ᾽: Libri πώλοις. Hinc ad v. 389. scholiastes adnotavit ἐπὶ ὀχήματος ἔρχεται. Idem ad v. 396. ὡς ἀρμένῳ χρωμένη τῇ αἰγίδι. Exornavit hanc currus aerii fictionem O. Müllerus. Ineptam eam esse, rectissimeque Wakefieldium scripsisse κώλοις, demonstravi in Opusc. VI. 2. p. 174. seqq. Per auras advenit Minerva, Aegide tamquam alis utens eaque pedum gressum accelerans. ἐπιζεύξας G. Ald.

mvp-comment-289-1 καινὴν δ᾽ ... τήνδ': καινὴν δ᾽ emendatio est Canteri. Libri καὶ νῦν δ'. Deinde Par. τῆςδ'.

mvp-comment-290-1 ταρβῶ: ταρβῶμεν Ven.

mvp-comment-291-1 πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω: πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω, scilicet θαυμάζειν με ὑμᾶς, εἰ tibi, Oresta, et vobis: sed mulans constructionem dicit ὑμᾶς τε.

mvp-comment-292-1 ξένῳ: στένω pro ξένῳ Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-293-1 ὁμοίας: ὁμοίως Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-294-1 ὁρωμένας: ὁρωμένας Stanleius. Libri ὁρωμέναις.

mvp-comment-295-1 οὔτ᾽ οὖν ... μορφώμασιν: οὔτ᾽ οὖν M. G. Par. Ven. Flor. Rob. οὔτ᾽ ἐν Ald. Turn. μορφώμασιν Μ. G. Par. Ven. Farn. Ald. Rob. μορφώμασι Flor. Turn.

mvp-comment-296-1 ἄμομφον ... τοὺς πέλας: δ' omittunt Ald. Turn. Deinde άμομφον Robortellus. Ceteri ἄμορφον. Denique τοῦ πέλας Ven. Ceteri τοὺς πέλας. Heathii aliorumque ante eum coniecturam, τὸν πέλας, olim receperam, ac necessario recipere debet, qui ἄμορφον retinet. Sed recte libri τοὺς πέλας habent, recipiendum est autem Robortelli άμομφον. Qui nihil, inquit, habet de quo queratur, ei non licet reprehendere alios. Intellexit hoc Elmsleius ad Med. p. 93. addens hanc vocem άμομφος, ter in hac fabula (hic et v. 467. 670.) ab Aeschylo usurpatam, extra eam apud Atticos non exstare.

mvp-comment-297-1 ἠδ᾽: ήδ' Rob. ἡδ' G. Ald. Turn. ἥδ' Ven. Farn. Scribendum est fortasse, ut Abreschius voluit, deleta interpunctione, πρόσω δικαίων ἥδ᾽ ἀποστατεῖ θέμις.

mvp-comment-298-1 πεύσει: Libri πεύσῃ.

mvp-comment-299-1 ἐσμεν ... αἰανῆς: ἐσμεν Farn. ἐς μὲν Ald. Deinde α'ανή M. G. Rob. αἰεινῆ Ald. αἰανή etiam scholiastes legit, qui sic interpretatur, σκοτεινά. ἢ θρηνητικὰ ἢ (sic M.) αλάζειν ποιοῦντα. Sed αἰανῆς Ven. Flor. Farn. Turn. Tzetzes ad Lycophr. v. 406. κατὰ δὲ Αἰσχύλον Ἐρινύες “Νυκτὸς αἰανῆς τέκνα.” Id praestat, ut in Sophoclis Ai. v. 672. νυκτὸς αἰανῆς κύκλος, ubi v. quae a Lobeckio et a me dicta sunt.

mvp-comment-300-1 Ἀραὶ ... ὑπαὶ κεκλήμεθα: ἀραὶ Canterus, et sic Ven. Flor. ἀρὰ M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἐνοίκοις Αld. ὑπαὶ κεκλήμεθα Stanleius. Επαι κεκλήμεθα Victorius, et sic Franzio teste M. Flor. Ven. Sed ex Ven. Bekkerus ὑπαικεκλήμεθα attulit, idque habent G. Farn. Ald. υπεκεκλήμεθα Rob. ύλαι κεκλήμεθα Turn.

mvp-comment-301-1 κληδόνας τ᾽: κλύδονάς τ' Αld.

mvp-comment-302-1 τιμάς: Personarum index in Rob. hic et deinceps yo. In G. Ven. Flor. Ald. Turn. εὐμ. Idem aut lineola in M.

mvp-comment-303-1 ἐμφανῆ: ἐκφανῆ Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-304-1 ποῦ τὸ τέρμα τῆς φυγῆς: Libri τοῦτο τέρμα τῆς σφαγής. Arnaldus et Tyrwhittus ποῦ τὸ τέρμα, Scaliger, Casaubonus, Tyrwhittus τῆς φυγῆς.

mvp-comment-305-1 ἦ ... ἐπιρροιζεῖς: ή M. Ven. Flor. Rob. ἢ G. Ald. Deinde ἐπιρροιζεῖς Stanleius sive potius Scaliger. ἐπιρροιζει M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἐπιρροιζεῖν Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-306-1 οὔτινος: οὔτινος M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἢ τίνος Ven. ἤ τινος ex Flor. Farn. affertur.

mvp-comment-307-1 παρόντοιν ... λόγος: παρόντων Ven. Farn. λόγος Ven. Flor. Rob. λόγου M. G. Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-308-1 οὐ δοῦναι θέλοι: Libri οὐ δοῦναι θέλει. Recte Schutzius οὐ δοῦναι θέλοι scripsit. Διωμοσίαν, quam Aeschylus intelligit, his verbis definit memoratus a Stanleio Lysias in or. X. quae est I. in Theomnestum, §. 11. ὁ μὲν γὰρ διώκων ὡς ἔκτεινε διόμνυται, ὁ δὲ φεύγων ὡς οὐκ ἔκτεινε.

mvp-comment-309-1 πένει: πένηι Μ. πένῃ G. Ald. Turn. πένη Rob. πέλη Ven. Flor. et supra adscripto εἰ Farn.

mvp-comment-310-1 τὰ μὴ: τὰ μὲν ριο τὰ μὴ Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-311-1 ἦ κἀπ᾿ ἐμοὶ: ή κἀπ' ἐμοὶ M. Ven. Flor. η κάπε, μοί Rob. ἦν ἐπ' ἐμοὶ G. Ald. Turn. Deinde πρέποιτ᾽ ἂν Ven. Farn.

mvp-comment-312-1 σέβουσαί γ' ἀξίαν γ᾽ ἐπαξίων: πῶς δ᾽ οὔ· σέβουσαι γ᾽ ἀξίαν τ᾽ ἐπαξίων Μ. G. Ald. Ita eliam Rob. Turn. nisi quod ἐπ᾽ ἀξίων habent. κἀξίαν τ᾽ ἔπαξίων sic Par. σέβομαι γ' ἀξίαν τ᾽ ἐπ' ἀξίων Ven. Bekkero teste, et sic, ut videtur, Flor. nisi quod hic ἐπαξίων habere dicitur. σέβομέν γ' ex Farn. affertur. Scholiastes ἀξίων οὖσαν γονέων. Eum putant ἀπ' ἀξίων legisse, ut scribendum esse coniecit Stanleius. Scribendum πῶς δ᾽ οὔ, σέβουσαί γ' ἀξίαν γ' ἐπαξίων.

Commentary on the Eumenides (OCR draft) (Brief English notes on Aeschylus' Eumenides by F. A. Paley, 1885.) focus

mvp-comment-122-1 πρόσωθεν] Athena, invoked by Orestes at v. 287 to hasten to his aid, now appears on the μηχανή in an aerial car, as it seems from v. 383. She has arrived, she says, from the Troad, where she was taking first possession (in the name of her Athenian people) of Sigeum, the right to which was then, the Schol. tells us, being contested by the Mitylenians. Hesych.

καταφθατουμένη· καταντωμένη· κυρίως δὲ τὸ ἐκ προκαταλήψεως.
With φθατέω and ἔφθην compare στατέω and ἔστην. The compound does not elsewhere occur.

mvp-comment-123-1 δώρημα] The claim on the Athenian side is thus based on a supposed donation of Theseus. For the dative following the noun compare Trach. 603

δώρημ᾽ ἐκείνῳ τἀνδρί.

mvp-comment-124-1 πώλοις] Schol.

ἐπὶ ὀχήματος ἔρχεται.
It is impossible to say with certainty how the appearance of the goddess was contrived. She may seem to flutter her aegis, which is nothing but the bright cloud enveloping the dawngoddess. In this case κώλοις should be read, with Wakefield and Hermann, meaning that the aegis was moved by the arms like bats' wings.

mvp-comment-125-1 πᾶσι] ‘To all here present, both to you, the chorus, and to this suppliant at my sacred statue.'

mvp-comment-126-1 ὑμᾶς δὲ κ.τ.λ.] But as for you, who resemble neither gods nor mortal women, well, one must not speak ill of others without having a reason for finding fault: it is not just or right. We get a fair sense by reading ἄμομφον for ἄμορφον, and supposing a break or aposiopesis. To speak of another as uncomely is unjust,' may be thought to refer to the Greek's instinctive admiration for τὸ καλόν. The Scholium here is very obscure, and probably corrupt.

mvp-comment-127-1 αἰανῆ] ‘eternal.' The Schol. explains σκοτεινά, which seems a confusion with αἰανῆς. See Soph. Aj. 672

νυκτὸς αἰανῆς
(al. αἰανὴς) κύκλος. In Pers. 638
δύσθροα αἰανῆ βάγματα
 seems to mean doleful cries of alaî, and so in ν. 922, ἵετ' αἰανῆ πάνδυρτον δύσθροον αὐδάν. See also inf. 902. Hesych.
αἰανόν· χαλεπὸν, αἰνόν.
 Inf. 542, εἰς τὸν αἰανῆ χρόνον, and 642.

mvp-comment-128-1 Αραί] The imprecation of vengeance is the origin of this name. Cf. Od. 11. 132

ἐπεὶ μήτηρ στυγερὰς ἀρήσετ᾽ Ἐρινῦς.

mvp-comment-129-1 ποῦ τὸ for τοῦτο is Tyrwhitt's necessary correction on account of the next verse, which means, in reply, where the absence of all joy is the law of the place. Schol.

ἐν τῷ "Αιδῃ.
Cf. Ag. 1013 , ἔχεις παρ᾿ ἡμῶν οἱάπερ νομίζεται, you have from us just what is customary, and nothing more.

mvp-comment-130-1 ἐπιρροιζεῖς] Schol.

ἐπιβοᾷς, ἐπιβάλλεις.
See sup. 382, Eur. Herc. Fur. 860 , from which it appears that, like θωΰσσειν, it is a hunter's term.

mvp-comment-131-1 ἄλλης κ.τ.λ.] Was there not some strong constraint (from a god) whose anger he had to fear? The Schol. perhaps read ἀλλ ἐξ ἀνάγκης, ἤ τινος τρέων κότον; Was it from constraint, or from fear of somebody?

mvp-comment-132-1 ἥμισυς λόγος] The proceedings are those of an Athenian law-court. The defendant has to put in his declaratory oath, ἀντωμοσία, but he refuses to plead. He will neither take an oath himself nor tender one to us, the two oaths, called διωμοσία, being a necessary preliminary proceeding. Pollux, VIII. 55

προωμοσία μὲν ὅρκος ὃν ὁ κατήγορος προομνύει, ἢ μὴν ἀληθῆ κατηγορεῖν, ἀντωμοσία δὲ ὅρκος ὃν ὁ κατηγορούμενος ἀντομνύει, ἢ μὴν μὴ ἀδικεῖν, διωμοσία δὲ ὁ παρ' ἑκατέρου ὅρκος.

mvp-comment-133-1 πράξαι] Supply δικαίως from δίκαιος. The chorus does not see the point of the reproof, which the Schol. well explains μὴ πρότεινε αὐτῷ ὅρκον καὶ διὰ τούτου θέλε νικᾶν. The reply or explanation of Athena amounts to this; 'I tell you not to try to carry an unjust cause by force of oaths. It seems that Orestes, confident in the support of the god, declines to take the oath required by the legal process ( πρόκλησις), that he is innocent. The chorus, baffled in this, next say (411), then proceed to cross-question, and decide the suit by ( εὐθυδικία) omitting the legal form of διωμοσία. But, asks Athena, will you accept me as judge? - Certainly, they reply (413), as we hold you in deserved respect both for your wisdom (409) and for your parentage, as the daughter of Ζεὺς Τέλειος.

mvp-comment-134-1 The Med. has ἀξίαν τ' ἐπαξίων, but the Schol. explains ἀξίων οὖσαν γονέων, and it is likely that ἀπ᾿ ἀξίων should be read.

Selected scholia accompanying Blass's Eumenides (OCR draft) (The mixed Greek, Latin, and German scholia register printed with Friedrich Blass's 1907 edition, aligned to O. L. Smith's later recensional editions.) focus

mvp-comment-159-1 ἐπὶ ὀχήματος ἔρχεται.

mvp-comment-160-1 Μιτυληναῖοι ἐμάχοντο πρὸς Αθηναίους περὶ πόλεως Σιγείου. ἔδοξεν οὖν μονομαχίωι λῦσαι τὸν πόλεμον· καὶ ὑπὲρ μὲν Μιτυληναίων ἐπολέμει Πιττακός, ὑπὲρ δὲ Ἀθηναίων Φρύνων. ἡττηθέντος δὲ Φρύνωνος διελύθη τὰ τῆς μάχης. ἔοικεν οὖν παρορμᾶν Ἀθηναίους ὁ Αἰσχύλος εἰς τὸ ἀντέχεσθαι πάλιν Σιγείου, λέγων τὴν θεὸν ἐκεῖθεν ἐληλυθέναι. καταφθάνουσα.

mvp-comment-161-1 ὡς ἀρμένωι χρωμένη τῆι αἰγίδι.

mvp-comment-162-1 καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς. τῶν σπειρομένων.

mvp-comment-163-1 μὴ πρότεινε αὐτῶι ὅρκον καὶ διὰ τούτου θέλε νικᾶν (steht bei 429; berichtigt von Weckl.). οὐκ ὀφείλει ὁ ἀδικῶν ὅρκωι φεύγειν τὴν κατηγορίαν· ἐπιορκήσει γάρ.

mvp-comment-164-1 ἀξίων οὖσαν γονέων.

Wecklein’s commentary on Eumenides (1888; German; OCR draft) (Explanatory commentary, pp. 251–322; HW42J8 and HXJHA8 OCR collated, with missing comparison pages 294–295 explicitly marked. Unresolved OCR and provisional reference mappings are explicitly marked.) focus

mvp-comment-216-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 280

mvp-comment-216-2 drittes Epeisodion. Athena erscheint und nachdem sie sich von der Chorführerin und Orestes den Sachverhalt hat darlegen lassen (gleichsam die ανάκρισις oder προδικασία), entschliefst sie sich den Fall durch einen neuen Gerichtshof entscheiden zu lassen. Nach 407 könnte man glauben, dafs Athena wie im Aias des Sophokles auf dem θεολογεῖον auftrete. Da sie aber am Schlusse dieser Scene abgeht, um sich in die Stadt zu begeben, und später (569) auf der gewöhnlichen Bühne auftritt (vgl. 738), so mufs man annehmen, dafs sie auch hier auf dem λογεῖον, nicht in der Höhe erscheint. Sie kommt von der linken Seite.

mvp-comment-216-3 1

mvp-comment-217-1 2

mvp-comment-217-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 280

mvp-comment-217-3 ἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου wie πρό σωθεν (fern am Skamander): vgl. zu Ag. 543 . καταφθατουμένη: κατακτωμένη· κυρίως δὲ τὸ ἐκ προκαταλήψεως Hesych. Vgl. φθ ( ο) α- τήσει: φθάσει κτήσασθαι ebd. Das Wort kommt nur an unserer Stelle vor, wo die Erklärung κατακτωμένη dem Sinne gut entspricht. Die Ableitung von φθάνω scheint unrichtig. Gemeint ist das Gebiet von Sigeion, wo Athena einen Tempel hatte ( Herod. V 95 ). Nach der Darstellung des Aschylos wurde das Land schon im trojanischen Kriege den Söhnen des Theseus (und der Athena) zugesprochen. Es verhält sich mit diesem uralten Besitztitel ähnlich wie mit dem aus Homer abgeleiteten Anspruch auf Salamis. Als gegen Ende des siebenten Jahrh. v. Chr. attische Kolonisten unter Anführung des Olympioniken Phrynon sich in Sigeion festgesetzt hatten und die Mytilenäer Sigeion als ihr Eigentum zurückforderten, machten ihnen die Athener gegenüber geltend, dafs ihnen und allen Hellenen, welche Menelaos in der Ahndung des Raubes der Helena unterstützt hätten, ebenso viel Recht auf das Gebiet von Troas zukomme wie den Äoliern ( Herod. V 94 ). Ein Zweikampf des Pittakos und des Phrynon sollte den Streit entscheiden. Phrynon unterlag. Als der Krieg trotzdem fortdauerte, wurde Periander von Korinth von beiden Parteien zum Schiedsrichter erwählt. Dieser entschied, beide Teile sollten das Land behalten, das sie besäfsen. So kamen die Athener in den vollen Besitz des Landes ( Herod. V 95 , Strabon XIIIp. 600 , Diog. L. I 74 ) und die Meinung des Schol., dafs Äschylos mit unserer Stelle die Athener aufreize, wieder auf Sigeion Anspruch zu machen, scheint unbegründet.

mvp-comment-218-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 281

mvp-comment-218-2 δῆτα, eben. ᾿Αχαιῶν: mit diesem Worte sind hinreichend die Teilnehmer des trojanischen Krieges angezeigt.

mvp-comment-219-1 3

mvp-comment-219-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 281

mvp-comment-219-3 αυτόπρεμνον, αὐτόρριζον (samt der Wurzel, mit Grund und Boden). Soph. Ant. 713

αὐτόπρεμν ἀπόλλυται
und zu Ag. 142 .

mvp-comment-220-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 281

mvp-comment-220-2 Θησέως τόκοις, Akamas und Demophon. Erst das nachhomerische Epos, so die Ιλιὰς μικρά des Lesches ( Paus. X 25, 8 ), kennt diese als Teilnehmer des trojanischen Krieges.

mvp-comment-221-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 281

mvp-comment-221-2 διώκουσα (rasch bewegend) πόδα wie Sept. 358

διώκων πομπίμους χνόας ποδῶν
, Eur. Or. 1344
ἰδού, διώκω τὸν ἐμὸν εἰς δόμους πόδα. ἄτρυτον
 erinnert an den Beinamen der Athene Ἀτρυτώνη.

mvp-comment-222-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 281

mvp-comment-222-2 τόνδε ὄχον, dieses Fahrzeug eigener Art, mit Bezug auf die Agis. Die Ägis hat mich durch die Luft getragen so rasch wie ein Wagen, dem kräftige Rosse vorgespannt sind. Hom. B 447 Ἀθήνη αἰγίδ᾽ ἔχουσ᾽ ἐρίτιμον, ἀγήραον ἀθανάτην σὺν τῇ παιφάσσουσα διέσσυτο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν. τε ..

mvp-comment-222-3 4

mvp-comment-223-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 281

mvp-comment-223-2 ὁμιλίαν χθονός wie 714, 1031 (Besuch, Genossenschaft des Landes), vgl. ὁμιλεῖν χώρα 723.

mvp-comment-224-1 5

mvp-comment-224-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-224-3 ὑμᾶς mit wechselnder Konstruktion von λέγω: und euch meine ich". Sept. 216

ἀνδρῶν τάδ' ἐστί, σφάγια και χρηστήρια θεοῖσιν ἔρδειν, πολεμίων πειρωμένοις
(als ob ἀνδράσι προσήκει vorherginge). σπαρτών, Gezeugter.

mvp-comment-224-4 6

mvp-comment-225-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-225-2 οὔτε .. οὔτ᾽ οὖν wie εἴτε . . εἴτ᾿ οὖν, zu Cho. 679 .

mvp-comment-226-1 7

mvp-comment-226-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-226-3 Den Nächsten ( ὁ πέλας wie Eur. Med. 86 , Thuk. I 32 , gewöhnlich οἱ πέλας) tadeln, weil er mifsgestaltet ist, geziemt sich nicht. πρόσω δικαίων ἐστί, vgl. πρόσω πατρός Eur. Hek, 1158.

mvp-comment-227-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-227-2 Zu 69. graves filiae. αἰανῆ τέκνα,

mvp-comment-227-3 8

mvp-comment-228-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-228-2 Ἀραί, Dirae, vgl. Sept. 70

᾿Αρά τ' Ερινὺς πατρὸς ἡ μεγασθενής. γῆς ὑπαί
: zu Ag. 1276 .

mvp-comment-229-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-229-2 κληδόνας ἐπωνύμους, τὰ ἐπώνυμα οἷς καλεῖσθε Schol.

mvp-comment-230-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-230-2 πεύσῃ τάχα (,,allsogleich") wie 457, Soph. El. 35 , wo die Angabe unmittelbar folgt.

mvp-comment-231-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-231-2 Vgl. 301. μηδαμοῦ gehört zu dem Infn. χαίρειν. Schol. ἐν τῷ Αιδῃ.

mvp-comment-232-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-232-2 ἐπιρροιζεῖς, Schol. ἐπι βοᾷς, du gebietest mit kreischender Stimme.

mvp-comment-232-3 9

mvp-comment-233-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-233-2 ἠξιώσατο, er hat es für sich als recht erachtet, er hat es über sich gebracht.

mvp-comment-234-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-234-2 ἄλλης ἀνάγκης κότον, ohne von anderer Seite kommenden Zwang, der ihn mit Groll bedrohte, zu fürchten ? Über ἄλλης Krüger I § 50, 4, 11 οἱ ἄλλοι ξένοι, die anderen, nämlich die Fremden).

mvp-comment-235-1 10

mvp-comment-235-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-235-3 ποῦ γὰρ .. κέντρον ὡς ( ὥστε), nein, denn wo gäbe es einen so mächtigen Stachel, dafs er antriebe u. s. w. Damit setzt sie sich über die intellektuelle Urheberschaft des Apollon hinweg.

mvp-comment-236-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 282

mvp-comment-236-2 D. h. ich kann in betreff der Schuld dir nicht ohne weiteres beistimmen; ich mufs erst den anderen Teil hören. Der Schol. :

μηδὲ δίκην δικάσῃς, πρὶν ἂν ἀμφοῖν μύθον ἀκούσῃς
. ἥμισυς λόγου wie ὁ ὕστατος τοῦ χρόνου Ag. 1299 .

mvp-comment-237-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-237-2 Weder wird er den ihm zugeschobenen Eid annehmen, da der Thatbestand feststeht, noch fällt es ihm ein, uns den Eid zuzuschieben. Schol. :

οὕτως, φησί, φανερόν ἐστιν τὸ κατ᾽ αὐτὸν ὡς μήτε αὐτὸν δύνασθαι ὀμόσαι ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι τοιοῦτος μήτε θέλειν ὅρκον ἡμᾶς αὐτῆσαι, εἰ δικαίως αὐτὸν κολάζομεν
. Man hat also nicht an die διωμοσία, an die Vereidigung der beiden Parteien am Anfang der ανάκρισις ( Lys. X § 11
ὁ μὲν διώκων ὡς ἔκτεινε διόμνυται ὁ δὲ φεύγων ὡς οὐκ ἔκτεινε
), sondern an die πρόκλησις εἰς ὅρκον zu denken. Vgl. Demosth. 39, 4
δίδωσι τὸν ὅρκον· ἡ δὲ δεξαμένη οὐ μόνον . . κατωμόσατο κτἑ.
 Allerdings wird ὅρκον δοῦναι καὶ δέξασθαι auch von gegenseitiger eidlicher Verpflichtung gesagt wie Herod. VI 23
ὅρκον δοὺς καὶ δεξάμενος
, aber von einer solchen Verpflichtung kann hier nicht die Rede sein.

mvp-comment-238-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-238-2 ἢ ( δικαίως oder δίκαια) πρᾶξαι. „Dir ist es nur um das formale Recht zu thun, welches du auf deiner Seite hast, nicht um volle sachliche Gerechtigkeit." Die Erinyen als titanische Naturmächte kümmern sich blofs um die That, nicht um die Beweggründe der That.

mvp-comment-239-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-239-2 τῶν σοφῶν (Neutrum) οὐ πένῃ, als Göttin der Weisheit.

mvp-comment-240-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-240-2 Dadurch dafs die Eide wegen des Thatbestandes nicht geleistet werden können, soll das Unrecht nicht siegen. Denn es kann sich nicht blofs um den Thatbestand, sondern auch darum handeln, ob ein δίκαιος φόνος vorliegt oder nicht.

mvp-comment-241-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-241-2 εὐθεῖαν δίκην d. i. εὐθυδι κίαν: εὐθυδικίαν ( εὐθυδικία) εἰσιέra wurde von dem Beklagten gesagt, wenn er ohne Einrede gegen die Einführung der Klage (durch διαμαρτυρία oder παραγραφή) sich ohne weiteres auf den Prozefs einliefs. Vgl. Meier und Schömann att. Proc. S. 649. Hier sagt die Erinye:,,Gut, so schreite zum Verhör und entscheide in direkter Verhandlung ohne Rücksicht auf Einreden."

mvp-comment-242-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-242-2 ,,Wollt ihr wirklich mir die Entscheidung eurer Anklage anheimstellen ? ἐπ' ἐμοὶ τρέποιτε, ἐπιτρέποιτε ἐμοί. Vgl. Soph. Ant. 1107

δρᾶ νυν τάδ᾽ ἐλθὼν μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε
.

mvp-comment-243-1 11

mvp-comment-243-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-243-3 σέβουσαι ἀξίαν ἐπάξια, wir verehren ja die würdige nach Verdienst. Vgl. Ag. 1528 , Plaut. Poen. V 4, 100

eveniunt digna dignis
. Uber επάξια vgl. Krüger I § 46, 6, 4 .

Commentary (Arthur Sidgwick, 1887) (OCR draft) (Arthur Sidgwick's commentary on the Eumenides, aligned to the canonical Greek text.) focus

γῆν καταφθατουμένη . Some further alter γῆν into γῆς, and translate hastening from; but the land of Scamander would be a strange expression, and a much fuller and better sense is gained by translating

καταφθατουμένη , occupying, hasting to claim the land. (So Hesych. who has καταφθατουμένη, κατακτωμένη.)

mvp-sidgwick-188-2-1 The Schol. tells us there was a reference here to a dispute between Athens and Mitylene for Sigeum in the Troad, settled in favour of M. by single combat. According to Herodotus (5.95) the dispute was an old one: the struggle began about 606, and was settled by mediation of Periander, who gave Sigeum to Athens. But evidently the dispute went on: for Herodotus tells us in the same chapter that Peisistratos (presumably about 550 B.C.) conquered Sigeum. It is quite in Aeschylus' manner to refer to this event in a bold and imaginative way, by making the land given to Athena as choice offering of the spoil by the chiefs of Achaioi. There was a temple of Athena on the promontory.

αὐτόπρεμνον , bold metaphor, root and branch, i. e. utterly, land and all therein.

ἐξαίρετον . : it was a custom, from Homer's time, to take out of the spoil a special gift for kings (or, as here, gods). So Homer frequently γέρας ἔξελον υἱὲς Ἀχαιῶν. So Thucydides tells us at the destruction of Mitylene (3. 30) the Athenians made 3000 holdings of the land, and 300 of these τοῖς θεοῖς ἱεροὺς ἐξεῖλον.

mvp-sidgwick-191-1-1 Flapping the fold of my aegis in wingless flight, a splendid and picturesque line: the goddess needing no wing to fly, the aegis serves her as a wing, and is accompanied with the ῥοῖβδος or whirring noise of wings.

mvp-sidgwick-191-2-1 The αἰγίς was the wonderful shield of Zeus

gleaming and fringed, that Hephaistos made
(and therefore metal), Iliad 15. 307:
it was tasselled, crowned about with Terror, and Strife, and Might, and fearful Fray is therein, and the dread monster's Gorgon head
, Iliad 5. 738. Athena wears it also, as well as Zeus, in Homer. The word probably meant storm or rushing originally (αἰγ- ἀϊσσω) : but later it was conceived as a goatskin (αἴγ), and so here has a κόλπος or fold.

ἐπιζεύξασ᾽ ὄχον . You can't talk of yoking a car on your legs. It is better to take it metaphorically: the

ὄχος is the aegis, the

πῶλοι are the winds. So exactly Aristophanes calls Athena αἰγίδος ἠνιόχος Clouds 602.

ὑμᾶς θ᾽ , the construction is irregular but natural: she means, and you [I call] like to no race begotten, etc. (or perhaps even a stronger verb of abuse is meant to finish the sentence): but she checks herself l. 413

.

mvp-sidgwick-194-1-1 The MSS. reading ἄμορφον (retained by Dind. Weck. and read by Schol.) is translated, For neighbours to revile a hideous monster is far from justice, which is rather crude and inappropriate; and ὄντα, idiomatic with the subject, is hardly grammar when it constitutes the object. Robortelli's ἄμομφον makes excellent sense: but for one who is not aggrieved (lit. who has no wrong to complain of) to revile others is unjust. (This is confirmed by l. 678

, where Ven. reads again ἄμορφος for ἄμομφος.)

ἀποστατεῖ θέμις , Right holds aloof, stately phrase for ,it is wrong,.

mvp-sidgwick-196-1-1 It is doubtful whether to read αἰανῆ (from αἰανής) or αἰανῆς (from αἰανός). M. G. and Schol. read here αἰανῆ (agreeing with τέκνα) and αἰανής is the ordinary form used elsewhere by Aeschylus,

αἰανῆ χρόνον
l. 572 ,
αἰανὴς νόσος
ll. 479, 941 . On the other hand, Hesychius (Alexandrine grammarian and lexicographer, 4th century, A.D.) quotes a form αἰανός, usually read in Soph. El. 506
ἔμολες αἰανή.
 In Soph. Aias 672 there is the same doubt as here, whether to read νυκτὸς αἰανῆς κύκλος, or αἰανής. But both there and here it is rather more natural to have adj. agreeing with νυκτός: and here particularly: accordingly I take αἰανῆς, the reading of Fl. Fa. Ven.

mvp-sidgwick-196-2-1 As to the meaning: the word certainly sometimes means eternal (

αἰανῆ χρόνον
l. 572 ,
αἰανῶς μένοι
l. 672 ): but it also is used in the sense of grievous, terrible, (αἰανὴς κόρος, αἰανὲς κέντρον Pind., αἰανὲς δεῖπνον Archil.). Either sense will suit here: perhaps eternal is the most impressive,

ἐν οἴκοις γῆς ὕπαι , not for τοῖς γῆς ὕπαι, but in our home, beneath the earth, both phrases going with verb κεκλήμεθα.

ἐπωνύμους , not in its usual sense called after; but simply the names men call you by.

γε μὲν δή , adversative as usual. My office, however, thou shalt learn. So Ag. 661, 887, 1213 .

mvp-sidgwick-200-1-1 I might learn, if one would show a plain tale; a touch of ironic scorn for the dark hints of the Chorus.

μηδαμοῦ: . the μή generalises as usual: Some place where joy is all unknown: the Chorus mean in Hades: but the indefinite or generic way of putting it is quite idiomatic and more imaginative and impressive. μηδαμοῦ νομίζεται, lit. is held of no account.

ἐπιρροιζεῖν , to clamour after, of noisy and terrifying pursuit ; To such a flight do ye hound him on?

ἠξιώσατο , took on him, rarely med. Cp. Ag. 370

θεοὺς ἀξιοῦσθαι.

ἀνάγκη .

mvp-sidgwick-204-2-1 There is no need to alter the line: the Schol. quotes and explains it thus.

ὡς often used for ὥστε in poetry: Epic usage.

mvp-sidgwick-206-1-1 There are two suitors here, and we have heard but half the pleas, i.e. we must wait till we have heard both sides. The reading of Μ. ἥμισυς λόγου is regular Attic use (as well as λόγος): τῇ ἡμισέᾳ τῆς γῆς Thuc., ὁ ἥμισυς τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ Plat.

mvp-sidgwick-207-1-1 (The correction θέλοι for θέλει is almost necessary, as otherwise it would seem as if the proposal had been made to Orestes.) The reference in this line, he would take no oath, nor challenge us to swear, is to the custom of the ἀνάκρισις or preliminary investigation of causes at Athens, before a magistrate: at this all the evidence was produced; and the first thing was for the injured party to swear (προωμοσία) he had suffered, the defendant to swear (ἀνθωμοσία) he was innocent.

mvp-sidgwick-207-2-1 These oaths, say the Chorus, are impossible here: Orestes will not deny his guilt: he will neither ask us to swear (δοῦναι) nor swear when we ask him (δέξασθαι). The whole of this passage is intended to correspond in a general way to the ἀνάκρισις: after hearing the preliminary statement of either party, Athena refers the whole case to the formal judgment of the Areiopagos.

mvp-sidgwick-208-1-1 The name of Just, not Justice, is thy desire, δίκαια being easily supplied with πρᾶξαι. She means: just forms, rather than justice.

σοφῶν , subtlety.

mvp-sidgwick-210-1-1 I say that injustice must not prevail by oaths, i.e. the issue must not be settled by oaths, but by the real justice of the case. Practically, Athena admits that Orestes cannot swear his innocence, but pleads that in this exceptional case it must not go against him for that: the true issue (εὐθυδικία) must be tried; see next note.

εὐθεῖαν δίκην , poet. for εὐθυδικία, the regular legal term for the real issue opposed to some side question.

ἐπὶ . . . τρέποιτ' , entrust, more frequently in the compound ἐπιτρέπω. The separate form (tmesis) is found in poetry, e. g. Ant. 1107

μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοισιν τρέπε.

τέλος , the final settlement, the decision.' Somewhat similar is Ag. 934

ἐξεῖπον τέλος.

κἀπ᾿ ἀξίων (Arnald's correction, adopted by Paley, must be right), a worthy child of worthy sire, i.e. a great goddess, and daughter of Zeus. So Schol. ἀξίων οὖσαν γονέων. [Other corrections numerous, but all less simple and natural.]