Aeschylus Eumenides 499

478. χώρᾳ , put first to emphasise what is affected, is in sense dependent on ἄφερτος αἰανὴς νόσος.

478. φρονημάτων , wrath.

480-481. ἀμφότερα . . . ἐμοί to let them stay, to drive them forth, both are a peril and a perplexity to me. The change of subject with the inf. ( that they should stay, that I should drive) is much less harsh in Greek: the inf. expresses the simple verbal idea, and the subject need not be consciously supplied.

482. δεῦρ᾽ ἐπέσκηψεν , has fallen to me, i. e. to arrange. 11. 483, 4. The general sense of these lines is plain: but the MS. reading requires to be altered, and the original text must remain C uncertain: I have taken Casaubon's ὁρκίους αἱρουμένη as the least alteration on the whole: I shall choose judges of murder bound by oaths, and appoint them as an ordinance for ever.

482. τόν then agrees with θεσμόν, an ordinance that which [shall be] for all time. But Wecklein's φανῶ δικ. ὁρκίων αἰδουμένους θεσμόν, is ingenious.]

486. ἀρωγὰ ὁρκώματα , apposition to μαρτύρια: Summon evidence and proof, sworn testimony in aid of justice. The Scholiast says ὅρκους αὐτοὺς αἰτήσατε, misunderstanding apparently ὁρκώματα to refer to the judges' oath, whereas it is best to refer it to the oath of witnesses. There is no need to insert θ' before ὁρκώματα, as H. Weil.

487. τὰ βέλτατα , abstract collective for τοὺς βελτίστους. So τάδε μὲν Περσῶν Pers. 1, τὰ πρῶτα τῆς μοχθηρίας Ar. Ran. 421.

488. διαιρεῖν . is epexegetic or consec. inf., that they should decide, the subject being carried on in sense from τὰ βέλτατα, becoming (naturally) masc. in the participle, next line.

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.

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.

mvp-comment-337-1 χώρᾳ μεταὖθις: χωροῖεν αὖθις, Turnebi coniectura, obtinuit donec veram scripturam, χώρα μεταὖθις, quam confirmat scholiastae ad τυχοῦσαι adnotatio, ἀντὶ τυχουσῶν, Wellauerus restituit. χώραι μετ' αὖθις Μ. G. Ven. Flor. Farn. Ald. χῶραι μετ' αὖτις Par. χῶραιμε τ' αὖθις Rob.

mvp-comment-338-1 αἰανὴs: αἰανὴ Ven. Flor. αἰανής M. G. Ald. Rob. Τurn.

mvp-comment-339-1 μένειν: Falsus est Linwoodius, quum μένειν in μ' ἑλεῖν mutavit.

mvp-comment-340-1 πέμπειν τε, δυςπήμαντ᾽ ἀμηχάνως ἐμοί: Libri πέμπειν δέ. Scribendum esse πέμπειν τε viderunt Abreschius et Tyrwhittus. Deinde δυσπήματ' ἀμηχάνως ἐμοί M. Ven. Rob. et ad δυσ supra adscripto δὴ Flor. Farn. δυσσήματ᾽ ἀμηχάνως ἐμοί G. Ald. Turn. Recte Stanleius sive potius Scaliger δυςπήμαντἀμηχάνως ἐμοί. Aliorum commenta praeterire satius erit. Propter scholiastae adnotationem, quae haec est, πέμπειν αὐτὰς ἀμηνίτως δυςχερές ἐστιν ἐμοί, Tyrwhitto scribendum videbatur πέμπειν τε δυςσήμαντ᾽ ἀμηνίτως ἐμοί, Dindorfio πέμπειν τε δυςπήμαντ᾽ ἀμηνίτως ἐμοί. Non puto scholiastam legisse αμηνίτως, sed eo vocabulo interpretatum esse sequentis versus sententiam.

mvp-comment-341-1 ἐπέσκηψεν: ἐπέσκηψεν Μ. Rob. ἐπέσκηψε G. Ald. Turn. ἀπέσκηψεν Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-342-1 φόνων δικαστὰς ὁρκίους αἱρουμένη ... Θεσμόν, τὸν εἰς ἅπαντ᾽ ἐγὼ θήσω χρόνον: Libri ορκίων αἱρουμένους. Male Linwoodius inter δικαστὰς et ὁρκίων aliquid excidisse putavit. Recte Casaubonus sive Pearsonus ὁρκίους αἱρουμένη. Scholiastes ad hunc versum hoc adscripsit oἷον ενόρκους δικαστάς. Verum quod sequitur, θεσμὸν τὸν εἰς ἅπαντ᾽ ἐγὼ θήσω χρόνον non potest ita explicari quasi idem sit atque θεσμὸν τὸν ἀΐδιον. Neque enim articulus recte positus esset, et obstat in medio collocatum ἐγὼ θήσω. Scribendum potius est θεσμόν, τὸν εἰς ἅπαντ᾽ ἐγὼ θήσω χρόνον. Excidit autem ante θεσμόν versus hac sententia, σέβειν κελεύσω τῶν ἐμῶν ἀστῶν πόλιν. Itaque lacunae signa posui.

mvp-comment-343-1 καλεῖσθ', ἀρωγὰ τῆς δίκης θ' ὁρκώματα: καλεῖθ᾽ ἀρωγὰ Rob. Deinde libri τῆς δίκης ὁρκώματα. Pauwio ὀρθώματα scribendum esse videbatur. Ορκώματα agnoscit etiam scholiastes, qui ad v. 477. haec adscripsit, ὑμεῖς δὲ ὅρκους αὐττοὺς (sic M. G. αὐτὸν Rob.) αἰτήσατε. Recte Wellauerus τῆς δίκης θὁρκώματα.

mvp-comment-344-1 ἥξω ... ἐτητύμως: Libri ἥξω. Auratus ἄξω, Schneidewinus τάξω, H. L. Ahrens ζω. Nihil omnino mutandum est. Ad litigantes se venturam dicit Minerva, i. e. in Areopagum. ἑτητύμως Farn.

mvp-comment-345-1 ὅρκον πορόντας μηδὲν ἔκδικον φράσειν: Hic versus omissus est in Farn. In Ven. Flor. post v. 478. collocatus est. ὅρκον περώντας μηδὲν (μηδέν Turn.) ἔκδικον φρεσὶν M. G. Ald. Rob. Τurn. ὅρκον περῶντας μηδὲν ἔνδικον φρενὶ Ven. et Linwoodio teste Flor. ex quo Franzius ἔκδικον φρενὶ affert. Scribendum erat ὅρκον πορόντας μηδὲν ἔκδικον φράσειν. Et φράσειν quidem scribendum esse viderunt Marklandus ad Eur. Suppl. v. 112. et Wakefieldius: πορόντας scholiastes legit, cuius haec adnotatio in M. adscripta est, ὅρκον διδόντας.

mvp-comment-345-2 Haec locuta Minerva in interiora templi se recipit.

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-151-1 αἰανής] See on v. 394.

mvp-comment-152-1 ἀμφότερα] Both alternatives, for them to stay or for me to send them off, are full of harm and difficulty to me. The Schol. seems to have found ἀμηνίτως οι ἀμηνί· τους. The passage is in some way corrupt; but it is very difficult to suggest a correction.

mvp-comment-153-1 τόν] Supply ἐσόμενον or μενοῦντα εἰς ἅπαντα χρόνον.

mvp-comment-154-1 ὑμεῖς] Do you, the Furies, call on the evidences and the proofs. The Schol. took this to mean, Do you swear the judges when they arrive, ὑμεῖς δὲ ὅρκους αὐτοὺς αἰτήσατε.

mvp-comment-155-1 τὰ βέλτατα] See on Pers. 1 . The aristocratic constitution of the Areopagus is here alluded to. -ἥξω, ‘I will return.' Pallas leaves the stage to bring back with her the members of her newly-founded court. Meanwhile the chorus sing an ode on the necessity of some control on human passions through the influence of Fear.

mvp-comment-156-1 φράσειν] that they will deliver no unjust verdict. The MS. has περῶντας-φρεσὶν, but the Schol. gives ὅρκον διδόντας.

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-184-1 ὡς σκηπτὸς

mvp-comment-185-1 πέμπειν αὐτὰς ἀμηνίτως δυσχερές ἐστιν ἐμοί. εἰσῆλθεν.

mvp-comment-186-1 οἷον ἐνόρκους δικαστάς.

mvp-comment-187-1 διετέλεσε γὰρ τὸ Ἀρειοπαγιτικὸν συνέδριον.

mvp-comment-188-1 ὑμεῖς δὲ ὅρκους αὐτοὺς αἰτήσατε.

mvp-comment-189-1 βέλτιστα (τὰ μέγιστα f).

mvp-comment-190-1 ὅρκον διδόντας.

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-207-1 προφωνῶν τὰ τῶν.

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

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-269-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 286

mvp-comment-269-2 τυχοῦσαι, als ob folgte μηνίσειαν ἄν. Ζη 95. πράγματος νικηφόρου: Soph. Trach. 186

.

mvp-comment-270-1 ²

mvp-comment-270-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 286

mvp-comment-270-3 ιος .. πεσών, der giftige Schaum, der infolge ihres grimmigen Schnaubens zu Boden fällt. Vgl. 785 f. -- αἰανής (gravis) νόσος wie 943.

mvp-comment-271-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-271-2 ἀμφότερα wie 800 μαρτύ ρια, Suppl. 393

. Vgl. zu 488.

mvp-comment-272-1 ³

mvp-comment-272-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-272-3 δυσπόνητ': solcher Verse, die durch den Mangel der gewöhnlichen Cäsur in zwei Hälften zerfallen, giebt es wenige bei Aschylos, die meisten, nämlich sieben, in den Persern. Doch ist hier die Lesart unsicher. Vgl. Anbang. δυσπόνητα (ἐστὶν ἀμηνίτως, es schwer ohne dafs ich Groll ernte zu bewerkstelligen.

mvp-comment-272-4 ⁴

mvp-comment-273-1 ⁵

mvp-comment-273-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-273-3 φανῶ wie Hom. Ο 26 εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν. Vgl. εὐτρεπίσαι in dem zu 492 angef. Scholion. ὁρκίων wie Ag. 1432 ὁρκίων ἐμῶν θέμιν. αἰδουμένους wie 713 αἰδουμένους τὸν ὅρκον. Ich werde Richter bescheren, welche die Schwursatzung achten, die ich für alle Zeit geben werde.

mvp-comment-274-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-274-2 μαρτύρια: der Tribrachys des dritten Fufses besteht manchmal aus den letzten Silben eines mehrsilbigen Wortes, nie aus einem einzigen dreisilbigen Worte.

mvp-comment-275-1 ⁶

mvp-comment-275-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-275-3 καλεῖσθε (wie Pers. 690

), weil μαρτύρια s. V. a. μάρτυρας. Dieses hat vornehmlich Bezug auf Apollon. ἀρωγὰ ὁρκώματα, eidlichen Beistand für die Sache, was besonders von den μαρτύρια, den eidlichen Zeugenaussagen, gilt. ὅρκωμα kommt noch 771, sonst nirgends vor und bedeutet ungefähr s. v. a. πίστωμα (vgl. 214), da ὁρκοῦν und πιστοῦν sich nahe stehen. --xxx πε-

mvp-comment-276-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 287

mvp-comment-276-2 βέλτατα: dieselbe Form Suppl. 1065 . Ζυ ἀστῶν τὰ βέλτατα vgl. Pers. 1

, Kallim. Hymn. I 70 είλεο δ᾽ αἰζηῶν ὅ τι φέρτατον. μηδὲν ὅρκων περῶντας (übertreten, verletzen), wie frg. 283 τῷ περῶντι τὴν θέμιν. ρῶντας, als ob τοὺς βελτάτους vorherginge. ἄξω διαιρεῖν wie 633 ἐφήμενοι διαιρείν, Eur. Ion 1559

ἡμᾶς δὲ πέμπει τοὺς λόγους ὑμῖν φράσαι

. Krüger I $ 55, 3, 20 . Damit tritt Athena rechts ab, um in die Stadt zu gehen. Schol. :

ἡ μὲν ᾿Αθηνᾶ ἀπῆλθεν εὐτρεπίσαι δικα στάς, ὁ δὲ Ὀρέστης ἱκετεύων μένει, αἱ δὲ Ἐρινύες φρουροῦσιν αὐτόν. μέλος δὲ οἰκεῖον ᾄδουσι τῇ ἑαυτῶν προαιρέσει

.

mvp-comment-276-3 ⁷

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 ⁸

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 ⁹

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.

χώρᾳ , put first to emphasise what is affected, is in sense dependent on ἄφερτος αἰανὴς νόσος.

mvp-sidgwick-231-2-1 The construction μὴ τυχοῦσαι ... ἰὸς πεσὼν νόσος is the not uncommon anacoluthon called nominativus pendens: compare Ag. 1008

Theb. 681

θάνατος ὧδ᾽ αὐτοκτόνος οὐκ ἔστι γῆρας τοῦδε,

Cho. 520

πάντα γάρ τις ἐκχέας ... μάτην ὁ μόχθος.

So Cho. 791 , Soph. O. C. 1150 .

φρονημάτων , wrath.

ἀμφότερα . . . ἐμοί to let them stay, to drive them forth, both are a peril and a perplexity to me. The change of subject with the inf. ( that they should stay, that I should drive) is much less harsh in Greek: the inf. expresses the simple verbal idea, and the subject need not be consciously supplied.

δεῦρ᾽ ἐπέσκηψεν , has fallen to me, i. e. to arrange. ll. 483-484

. The general sense of these lines is plain: but the MS. reading requires to be altered, and the original text must remain C uncertain: I have taken Casaubon's ὁρκίους αἱρουμένη as the least alteration on the whole: I shall choose judges of murder bound by oaths, and appoint them as an ordinance for ever.

τόν then agrees with θεσμόν, an ordinance that which [shall be] for all time. But Wecklein's φανῶ δικ. ὁρκίων αἰδουμένους θεσμόν, is ingenious.]

ἀρωγὰ ὁρκώματα , apposition to μαρτύρια: Summon evidence and proof, sworn testimony in aid of justice. The Scholiast says ὅρκους αὐτοὺς αἰτήσατε, misunderstanding apparently ὁρκώματα to refer to the judges' oath, whereas it is best to refer it to the oath of witnesses. There is no need to insert θ' before ὁρκώματα, as H. Weil.

τὰ βέλτατα , abstract collective for τοὺς βελτίστους. So

Pers. 1 , τὰ πρῶτα τῆς μοχθηρίας Ar. Ran. 421.

διαιρεῖν . is epexegetic or consec. inf., that they should decide, the subject being carried on in sense from τὰ βέλτατα, becoming (naturally) masc. in the participle, next line.

mvp-sidgwick-237-1-1 The MSS. ὅρκον περῶντας μηδὲν ἔκδικον φρεσίν is obviously corrupt: and I take the easiest correction which gives any natural sense, πορόντας (Herm.) and φράσειν (Markland)- Swearing an oath to utter naught unjust. πορόντας will then be poetic equivalent for the ordinary διδόντας (or rather δόντας) by which the Schol. interprets it.

mvp-sidgwick-237-2-1 Both errors are of the kind due to the text being dictated and misheard.

mvp-sidgwick-237-3-1 [The line is misplaced by V. Fl. after l. 484

, and omitted by Fa., and hence some have thought it spurious. But its very corruption is in favour of its genuineness.]

mvp-sidgwick-237-4-1 [Athena retires into the temple.]

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 .