Aeschylus Eumenides 436

ed. Martin L. West

Table of Contents

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

Eumenides. Aeschylus. ed. Martin L. West. Stutgardiae. 1990.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) (Greek) (Εὐμενίδες. Martin L. West, 1990.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (11)
Εὐμενίδες First1KGreek (Aeschyli Tragoediae. Sidgwick, Arthur, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 397-489 focus
Εὐμενίδες Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.) — 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.) — 436 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Guilielmus Dindorfius, 1882.) — 436 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Gottfried Hermann, 1852.) — 436 focus
ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ (OCR draft) Experimental (ΕΥΜΕΝΙΔΕΣ. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 436 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. Arthur Sidgwick, 1887.) — 436 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Εὐμενίδες. N. Wecklein, 1885.) — 436 focus
τί πρὸς τάδ᾽ εἰπεῖν, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἐν μέρει θέλεις;
λέξας δὲ χώραν καὶ γένος καὶ ξυμφορὰς
440
τὰς σάς, ἔπειτα τόνδ᾽ ἀμυναθοῦ ψόγου·
εἴπερ πεποιθὼς τῇ δίκῃ βρέτας τόδε
ἧσαι φυλάσσων ἑστίας ἁμῆς πέλας
σεμνὸς προσίκτωρ ἐν τρόποις Ἰξίονος.
τούτοις ἀμείβου πᾶσιν εὐμαθές τί μοι.
445
Aeschyli Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschyli Eumenides. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1914.) — 436 focus
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by F. A. Paley, 1885.) — 436 focus
τί πρὸς τάδ᾽ εἰπεῖν, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἐν μέρει θέλεις ;
λέξας δὲ χώραν καὶ γένος καὶ ξυμφορὰς
415
τὰς σὰς, ἔπειτα τόνδ᾽ ἀμυνάθου ψόγον·
εἴπερ πεποιθὼς τῇ δίκῃ βρέτας τόδε
ἧσαι φυλάσσων ἑστίας ἁμῆς πέλας,
σεμνὸς προσίκτωρ, ἐν τρόποις Ιξίονος.
τούτοις ἀμείβου πᾶσιν εὐμαθές τί μοι.
420
Εὐμενίδες (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek text of Aeschylus' Eumenides, edited by Friedrich Blass, 1907.) — 436 focus
τί πρὸς τάδ᾽ εἰπεῖν, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἐν μέρει θέλεις;
λέξας δὲ χώραν καὶ γένος καὶ ξυμφορὰς
τὰς σάς, ἔπειτα τόνδ᾽ ἀμυνάθου ψόγον·
εἴπερ πεποιθὼς τῆι δίκηι βρέτας τόδε
ἦσαι φυλάσσων ἑστίας ἐμῆς πέλας
440
σεμνὸς προσίκτωρ ἐν τρόποις Ἰξίονος·
τούτοις ἀμείβου πᾶσιν εὐμαθές τί μοι.
Translations (10)
Eumenides Perseus (Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 397-485 focus
The Eumenides (OCR draft) Experimental (The Eumenides. Theodore Alois Buckley, 1849.) — 436 focus
What do you wish, O stranger, to answer in your turn to these things? But having told your country and race and your misfortunes, after that repel this charge; if, trusting to justice, you sit keeping station at this image beside my shrine, a venerated suppliant after the fashion of Ixion 2
. To all these answer something easily understood by me.
LES EUMÉNIDES (OCR draft) Experimental (LES EUMÉNIDES. Paul Mazon, 1920-1925.) — 436 focus
l'hommage qui t'est dû.
The Furies (OCR draft) Experimental (The Furies. Robert Potter, 1779.) — 436 focus
Say, ſtranger, what can'ſt thou reply to this?
Speak firſt thy race, thy country, thy misfortunes;
Then urge thy plea againſt this accuſation;
If truſting in the juſtice of thy cauſe,
490
Thus ſeated near my altar, thou embrace
With reverend hands, a ſuppliant as Ixion t
,
My ſtatue. Be thy anſwer ſhort and clear.
Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli (OCR draft) Experimental (Eschilo, Le Eumenidi: traduzione italiana di Ettore Romagnoli. Ettore Romagnoli, 1922.) — 436 focus
E tu, che cosa opporre, ospite, puoi ?
Di' la tua patria, la progenie tua
e le vicende, e dalle accuse scólpati,
se fede hai pur nella giustizia, e siedi
475
perciò, come Ission, supplice sacro
vicino all'ara e al simulacro mio.
Rispondi a tutto, e fa ch'io chiaro intenda.
Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Eumenides: versio Latina Ioannis Sanravii. Ioannes Sanravius, 1555.) — 436 focus
Quid adhæc uerò dicere ò hoſpes uiciſsim uis?
Dicens uerò regionem, & genus, & calamitates
Tuas, deinde ultoris uituperium.
420
Si confisus iuſticiæ, statuam hanc
Pergis cuſtodire, propè meam aram.
Grauis ſupplex in modis Ixionis.
His reſponde omnibus docilis mihi.
Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation (OCR draft) Experimental (Aeschylus, Die Eumeniden: German translation. Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1919–1923.) — 436 focus
Was hast du darauf zu erwidern, fremder Mann?
Erst nenne Heimat und Geschlecht und deine That,
dann wehre die Bezichtigung des Klägers ab,
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.) — 436 focus
O man unknown, make thou thy plea in turn;
Speak forth thy land, thy lineage, and thy woes;
Then, if thou canst, avert this bitter blame—
If, as I deem, in confidence of right
Thou sittest hard beside my holy place,
515
Clasping this statue, as Ixion sat,
A sacred suppliant for Zeus to cleanse,—
To all this answer me in words made plain.
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.) — 436 focus
Was sagst du, Fremdling, wider dies für deinen Theil?
Erst nenne Heimat und Geschlecht und Lebensloos,
Und diesen Vorwurf wehre dann von deinem Haupt,
Wenn, auf das Recht vertrauend, du zu diesem Bild
415
In meines Herdes Nähe dich geflüchtet hast,
Um Sühne flehend, heilig wie Ixion einst.
Auf alles dies entgegne wohlverständlich mir.
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

Notes on the current edition

Eumenides

1. 432 τὰ μὴ Σ M: τὰ μὲν τ — 434 πρέποιτ᾽ τ
2. 435 σεβούσηι anon.⁵: σέβουσαι M: σέβομαί τ (σέβοιμέν τ᾽: Gˢˢ T Fˢˢ Eˢˢ)
3. ἄξι᾽ ἀντ᾽ Hermann⁵: ἀξίαν τ’ Ω: ἀξίαν σ’ Wakefield — ἐπ᾽ ἀξίων G T E: κἀπ᾽ ἀξίων Portus² propter Σ ἀξίων οὖσαν γονέων, sed hic puto nihil aliud legit quam codd.
4. 438 τόνδ’ M T — ἀμυναθοῦ Elmsley⁵ ad Med. 186, at v. praef. LI
5. 440 ἁμῆσ M: ἐμῆς τ
6. 441 ἂν in spat. vac. vi–vii litt. add. Ms: an μὴ ὢν? cf. 443 sqq. Ixion nondum purgatus Iovem supplicavit (Σ, cf. fr. 93)
7. 445 sq. ἔχει μύσος . . . ἐφεζομένη Ω: corr. Wieseler² 135
8. 448 ἄφωνον τ — 449 προσαρδμοῖς Weil⁶
9. 450 -ξουσιν οθηλοῦ M (θήλου Ma), -ξουσιν ὀθνείου τ: corr. Turn. (νεοθήλου), Abresch II 67 — βοροτοῦ τ
10. 451 ἀφωσιώμεθα Blaydes⁶ 146 — 452 βροτοῖσι GFE

Commentary

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

373. ὑπ᾿ αἰθέρι , beneath the sky, i.e. when they are living on earth.

374. κατὰ γᾶν , on earth, is the MS. reading: but as Hermann said, the sense below the earth, κατὰ γᾶs, is required in antithesis to ὑπ᾿ αἰθέρι. The same mistake occurs again 11. 838, 871. 11. 375, 376. Bold and imaginative expressions :

Before our black-robed assault,
And the vengeful measures of our foot;
i.e. [their human glories come to naught] when we the Furies attack them and weave these magic dances which make them our captive (as we are doing to Orestes).

377. λυμή is the destruction which attacks his mind, and blinds him to the threatening evil;

377. τόδε is best taken (not of the fall as many edd., which would be simply

377. πίπτων οὐκ οἶδεν , but) of the presence and power of the Furies.

378. κνέφας . is in apposition to

378. μύσος , and is predicative: we should say, So dark a cloud of pollution hovereth over him .

378. ἐπί , Epic adverbial use (tmesis) of the preposition, going with the verb.

381. μένει γάρ , for the law abides: so μίμνει Ag. 1563. But it is obscure and abrupt: and possibly corrupted.

382. ἐσμέν is easily understood: Crafty are we, and unfailing to accomplish.

385-388. διόμεναι is rather a strange word (though the English to pursue a task or charge exactly illustrates it): hence Heath ingeniously suggested διέπο- μεν. But διόμεναι was read by Schol. and the MS. may stand.

387. ἀνηλίῳ λάμπᾳ , lit. in sunless light, an oxymoron, meaning in a light which is no light, where no sunlight shines. [Others translate

387. λάμπᾳ , filth, mould; for there is a very late word λάμπη, 'scum; and Dind. adopts Wieseler's conj. λάπᾳ in the same sense. But the strain of meaning is very harsh, and the word in the last degree unlikely.]

387. δυσοδοπαίπαλα is suspicious, as the metaphor is rather harsh (though perhaps continued from διόμεναι): the metre does not correspond with the antistrophe (καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνα); and the double compound with δυσis unusual, indeed unique.

393. δοθέντα τέλεον , adj. used proleptically, granted for sure accomplishment.

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.]

442. τούτοις πᾶσιν , neut. to all this, i. e. the accusation of the Eumenides.

452. οἴκοισι . is governed by πρός: the other datives are instrumental.

452. πόρος , stream, is frequent in Aeschylus.

453. ἐκποδῶν λέγω , I speak away the misgiving: rather bold use of the words, but unmistakeable.

460. ποικίλοις , crafty.

466. ἀντίκεντρα , like a spur, see 11. 38, 136.

469. πράξας πανταχή , idiomatic use for howsoe'er I fare. So Antig. 634 πανταχῆ δρῶντες φίλοι,

howsoe'er we act, we are dear.
ἐν σοί commonly
in thy power' with the verb to be
:

469. ἐν τῷ δαίμονι Ο. Τ. 1443, ἐν σοὶ ἐσμέν ib. 314, ἐν θεῷ τὸ τέλος ἦν Dem. 292. Here it has rather a different shade of meaning, at thy hands, under thy rule .

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

mvp-comment-262-1 δόξαι τ᾿ ἀνδρῶν: δόξαι τ' ἀνδρῶν eliam M. δόξαι τ' ἀνδρῶ ΑΙ.

mvp-comment-263-1 τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶς: τακόμεναι ad prius a supra adscripto η Flor. τ᾿ ἀκόμεναι G. Ald. Deinde libri κατὰ γῆν. Scripsi κατὰ γᾶς. Tum μηνύθουσιν Farn.

mvp-comment-264-1 ἡμετέραις: ἡμετέροις Rob. ἐφόδους μελανοίμοσιν Αld.

mvp-comment-265-1 ἐπιφθόνοις: ἐπὶ φόνοις Rob. Ceteri επιφόνοις. Emendavit Heathius.

mvp-comment-266-1 πίπτων δ᾽ οὐκ οἶδεν ... λύμα: πίπτον Αld. οἶδεν M. G. Ald. Rob. οἶδε Ven. Flor. Turn. λυμα Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-267-1 ποῖον ἐπὶ ... μύσος πεπόταται: τοῖον ἐπὶ Heathius. Libri τοῖον γὰρ ἐπί. Deinde μύσος Victorius. μύσος M. Ven. Rob. Turn. μῖσος G. Ald. Denique επιπόταται Rob.

mvp-comment-268-1 δνοφεράν ... ἀχλὺν κατὰ δώματος: κεδνοφεράν et καταδύματος Rob. ἀχλήν Αld.

mvp-comment-269-1 μένει γάρ: μένει γάρ, manet enim firmum hoc: sumus promptae, i. e. nos esse promptas. Ag. v. 1530. μίμνει δὲ μίμνοντος ἐν θρόνῳ Διὸς παθεῖν τὸν ἔρξαντα. V. Opusc. VI. 2. p. 74.

mvp-comment-270-1 τε: τε recte et necessario Wakefieldius. Libri δέ. Particulae τε και etiam in antistropha in eodem loco sunt.

mvp-comment-271-1 τε μνήμονες, σεμναὶ: τε τλήμονες σεμναὶ Par. τε μνήμονες τε σεμναὶ Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-272-1 δυςπαρήγοροι: δυσπαράγωγοι Farn.

mvp-comment-273-1 ἀτίετα: ἀτίετα Canterus. ἀτίεται M. G. Par. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἀτίετον Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-274-1 διχοστατοῦντ᾽: διχοστατοῦντο Ven. Flor. Rob. διχοστατοῦ | τ' Μ. G. Turn. διχοστατού | τ' Αld.

mvp-comment-275-1 λάμπα, δυςοδοπαίπαλα: λάμπαι Μ. G. Par. Farn. Ald. λαμπα Ven. Flor. Rob. λάμψαι Turn. Perperam Wieselerus scribendum coniecit λάπα, situ, quod verum putaverunt et alii et Dindorfius in Parisiensi editione Thesauri Stephani. Rectissime Canterus λάμπα. Vsus est hoc vocabulo Aeschylus, ut videtur, etiam infra v. 1022. et, ut Musgravius intellexit, Euripides in Suppl. v. 993. ubi scribendum est λάμπαι δ᾽ ὠκύθοοί νιν ἀμφιππεύουσι δι᾽ ὄρφνας. Nihil autem aliud ἀνηλίῳ λάμπα significatur quam sole destituta caligo, quae mox v. 388. δυςήλιον κνέφας dicitur. Sic in Simonidis carmine de Danae νυκτιλαμπεῖ κυανέῳ τε διάφοτανυσθείς, et sexcenta alia, in quibus lucis et similium rerum notio tantum ad augendum contrarium adiicitur. V. Seidl. ad Eur. Troad. v. 566. Deinde δυσοδοπαίπαλα M. Turn. δυσοδοπαίπαλα G. δυσόδῳ παίπαλα Ald. δυσοπαίπαλα Ven. Flor. Farn. Rob.

mvp-comment-276-1 δερκομένοισι: δερχομένοισι Ald. καὶ δερκόμενοισι, adscripto ἴαμβος, Farn.

mvp-comment-277-1 ἅζεται: οὐχ ἅζεται Turn. οὐχάζεται M. G. Ven. Flor. Farn. Rob. οὐχ ἄζεται Ald.

mvp-comment-278-1 δέδοικεν: Libri δέδοικε.

mvp-comment-279-1 θεσμὸν: θεσμῶν Par.

mvp-comment-280-1 τὸν μοιρόκραντον: μοιρόκραντον Turn. et, ut videtur, M. μοιρόκραντον G. Ald. μοιρόκρατον Rob. μυρόκραντον, ad v supra adscripto or, Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-281-1 ἔτι δέ μοι ... γέρας παλαιόν: ἔπι δέ μοι γέρας etc. M. G. Ven. Flor. et sic Victorius. ἐπὶ δέ μοι γέρας etc. Ald. Rob. ἔστι δέ μοι γέρας etc. Turn. ἔπι scholiastes interpretatur ἔπεστιν. Scripsi ἔτι δέ μοι * μένει* γέρας παλαιόν etc. Nam iambum excidisse patet.

mvp-comment-282-1 κύρω: Libri κυρῶ. Metri caussa iam olim dedi κύρω. V. ad Soph. Ai. v. 314.

mvp-comment-283-1 τάξιν: τάξιν γ' Ven. Flor. et adscripto ἴαμβος Farn.

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.

mvp-comment-313-1 ὦ ξέν: ὦ ξεῖν G. Ald.

mvp-comment-314-1 τόνδ᾽ ... ἀμυνάθου: τόνδε plene Rob. τῶνδ᾽ Ven. Flor. auvratov Dindorfius ex praecepto Elmsleii ad Med. v. 186. V. ad Phoen. v. 1184.

mvp-comment-315-1 ἀμῆς: ἁμησ' Μ. ἁμῆς G. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἐμῆς Par. Ven. Flor.

mvp-comment-316-1 προςτρόπαιος ... μύσος: προτρόπαιος Rob. et sic M. sed ab alia manu ad primam syllabam o supra adscriptum est. μύσος Ald. Rob.

mvp-comment-317-1 τὴμῇ τὸ σὸν ἐφημένου βρέτας: προήχειρὶ τῇ τῇ Rob. Deinde τόσον G. Ald. Deinde libri ἐφεζομένη. Turnebus ἐφεζομένῃ. Porsonus ἐφημένῃ. Recte Butlerus et Burgesius ἐφημένου. Supra v. 401. βρέτας τε τούμὸν τῷδ᾽ ἐφημένῳ ξένη.

mvp-comment-318-1 ἄφθογγον: ἄφωνον Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-319-1 ἔςτ᾽ ἂν πρὸς: ἐπ᾽ ἂν Ald. male lecta codicis G. scriptura. Hine ἐπὼν Turn.

mvp-comment-320-1 καθαιμάξωσι νεοθήλου βοτοῦ: καθαιμάξωσι νεοθήλου βοτοῦ Turn. καθαιμάξουσινοθήλου βοτοῦ Μ. καθαιμάξουσι νοθήλου βοτοῦ G. Ald. καθαιμάζουσιν ὀθήλου βοτοῦ Rob. καθαιμάξουσιν ὀθνείου βροτοῦ Ven. Flor. καθαιμάξωσιν ὀθνείου βροτοῦ Farn. Abreschius νεοθηλούς scribendum putavit. Recte vero Turnebus νεοθήλου scripsisse videtur, aθηλάζειν. Apollonius Rhodius IV. 704. πρῶτα μὲν ἀτρέπτοιο λυτήριον ἥ γε φόνοιο τειναμένη καθύπερθε στὸς τέκος, ἧς ἔτι μαζοὶ πλήμμυρον λοχίης ἐκ νηδύος, αἵματι χεῖρας τέγγεν, ἐπιτμήγουσα δέρην.

mvp-comment-321-1 βοτοῖσι: βροτοῖσι Ven. Deinde τόροις vitium Ald.

mvp-comment-322-1 ἐκποδὼν: ταύτη Rob. μὲν omittit Par. ἐκποδὼν G. Ven. ἐκποδῶν M. Flor. ἐκ ποδῶν Ald. Rob. Turn.

mvp-comment-323-1 πεύσει: Libri πεύσῃ.

mvp-comment-324-1 Ἀγαμέμνονα, ... ναυβατῶν: ἀγάμεμν error Ald. ναυβατῶν H. Ven. Flor. Farn. ναυατῶν Ald. Turn. et supra adscripto βα

mvp-comment-325-1 ἔφθιν᾽ οὗτος: ἔφθιθ᾽ οὗτος Par. ἔφθιθ᾽ οὕτως M. G. Ald. Rob. ἔφθηθ' οὗτος Ven. Flor. Farn. οὗτος ἔφθιτ' a Turnebo illatum erat.

mvp-comment-326-1 ἀγρεύμασιν: ἀγρεύμασιν M. G. Par. Ven. Farn. Ald. Rob. ἀγρεύμασι Flor. Turn.

mvp-comment-327-1 κρύψασ', ἃ λουτρῶν ἐξεμαρτύρει φόνον: κρύψασα λουτρών M. G. Ald. Rob. Τurn. λουτρών etiam scholiastes legit, qui haec ita, sed perperam, interpretatur, ἐκήρυττε τὸν διὰ τῆς ἐπιχύσεως τῶν λουτρῶν γενόμενον αὐτῷ φόνον. λέγεται γὰρ μετὰ τὸ φονεῦσαι γυμνὸν ἐξαγαγεῖν καὶ δεῖξαι τοῖς πολίταις. κρύψασα λουτρὸν δ᾽ Ven. Flor. κρύψασα λούτρον δ' Farn. λουτρών, coniecturam, ut videtur, commemoravit Stephanus. In Opusc. IV. p. 339. haec ita emendanda esse dixi, αλλά νιν κελαινόφρων ἐμὴ μήτηρ κατέκτα ποικίλοις ἀγρεύμασιν ä κρύψασ', ἃ λουτρῶν ἐξεμαρτύρει φόνον. Ita scribendum esse viderat etiam Musgravius. Subtili disputatione Schoemannus demonstrare studuit non ita scripsisse Aeschylum, sed κρύψασα· λουτρών δ᾽ ἐξεμαρτύρει φόνον. In idem incidit Franzius. Mihi aliter iudicandum videri dixi in Annal. Vindob. vol. CXI. p. 262. Neque enim recte dici potuit artificiosis retibus eum contegens: balneum autem letabatur caedem: balneum enim neque caedem neque insidias testari poterat, sed vestis tantum illa ampla, sanguine Agamemnonis maculata, ut in Choeph. v. 1005. dictum est μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοι φάρος τόδ᾽, ὡς ἔβαψεν Αιγίσθου ξίφος. Neque vero si dicitur artificiosis eum relibus contegens, quae caedem in balneo perpetratam testabantur, in balneo facta caedes tamquam nota res commemoratur, quae Schoemanni opinio est, sed adiicitur tantum in balneo caedem Agamemnonis esse perpetratam.

mvp-comment-328-1 πρὸ τοῦ: προτοῦ Farn.

mvp-comment-329-1 κοινῇ: καὶ τῶν δεχοινῆ Ald.

mvp-comment-330-1 ἔρξαιμι τοὺς ἐπαιτίους: Choeph. v. 270. εἰ μὴ μέτειμι τοῦ πατρὸς τοὺς αἰτίους. Ennius in Eumenidibus apud Nonium in v. exantlare, p. 292. nisi patrem materno sanguine exantlando ulciscerem. Nescio autem an Aeschylus scripserit εἰ μὴ ἀντιδρῶν ἔρξαιμι τοὺς ἐπαιτίους.

mvp-comment-331-1 σὺ δ᾽: Libri σύ τ'. Emendavit Pearsonus. κρίνων G. Ald. δίκης Farn.

mvp-comment-332-1 αἰνέσω: παταχῆ Rob. αἰνέσσω Ald. Coniecturas, quibus hunc versum vexarunt critici, nihil attinet commemorare. V. Valcken. ad Hippol. v. 324.

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

mvp-comment-116-1 It is easy however to read σπευδομένα. Between τάσδε and τᾶσδε there is a further doubt; a gloss in the Med. explains the latter of Clytemnestra. We may perhaps (comparing inf. 808) translate, 'and in my eagerness to remove another (i.e. Apollo) from this care, -for the gods can only prevent prayers to me from being fulfilled, but they must not come to a dispute with me, since Zeus disowns, as unworthy of converse, this blood-dripping and accursed race, -in doing this, I say ( γὰρ οὖν), I bring down from far above the heavy-falling force of my foot, my nimble limbs which trip up in the end even runners in a long course, a calamity hard for them to bear. That is, that Apollo may not rescue him, I now pursue him. The Schol. seems here right, τοῖς τανυδρόμοις αὐτῶν ἐπάγουσα τὰ σφαλερά μου κῶλα, οἷον, καὶ οἱ ταχυδρόμοι οὐ δύνανταί με ἐκφυγεῖν. For the notion of a demon leaping down see on 4--2 v. 169. As to ἀτέλειαν, ‘non-fulfilment,' the doctrine is held in view, that the gods do not directly thwart or interfere with each other's designs: see Eur. Hipp. 1330 .

mvp-comment-117-1 δόξαι κ.τ.λ.] Even the proud and high conceits of men are brought low in the other world in those who come under the spell of our weird dance. Schol.

καὶ τοὺς ὑψηλοὺς καθαιροῦμεν.

mvp-comment-118-1 οὐκ οἶδεν] The proud man is for long unconscious that we have him in our grasp. Like the physical pining by blood-draining (v. 257), so the moral and social descent of the family is gradual and unperceived; a gloom comes over the house, and evil things are said of it: it is under a cloud, as we express it.

mvp-comment-119-1 Schol.

αὐτὸ τὸ μύσος κνέφας εἴρηκεν.
Id. κακὴ δὲ φήμη περὶ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ λέγεται. Perhaps he read δνοφερὰ ἀχλὺς, by which this sentence more nearly fits the syntax of the preceding. Cf. Eur. Phoen. 125
οὗτος Μυκηναῖος μὲν αὐδᾶται γένος.
 Hesych.
αὐδᾶται: λέγεται.
 But αὐδᾶται may be the middle voice, or ἀχλὺν may stand in apposition to the sentence. Pers. 666
Στυγία γάρ τις ἐπ᾿ ἀχλὺς πεπόταται.

mvp-comment-120-1 μένει γάρ] 'For 'tis an abiding law. If we compare Ag. 1540

μίμνει δὲ, μίμνοντος ἐν χρόνῳ Διὸς, παθεῖν τὸν ἔρξαντα, θέσμιον γὰρ,
we shall conclude that the poet means to say that the fate he has described is inevitable. It is called a θεσμός, inf. 369. And the Furies go on to declare that they have means to work out their will, never forget and never forgive either in this world or the next. Cf. Prom. 524
Μοῖραι τρίμορφοι μνήμονές τ᾿ ᾿Ερινύες.
 Αjax 1390
μνήμων τ᾽᾽ Ερινὺς καὶ τελεσφόρος Δίκη.

mvp-comment-121-1 λάμπᾳ] Inf. 994 and in Eur. Suppl. 993 the word seems the same as λαμπάς, but the Schol. explains, our duties are kept apart from those of the gods through the sunless gloom in which we exercise them ( τῷ προσόντι αὐτοῖς σκότει). Photius, λάμπη· παχὺς ἀφρὸς ἐπιπολῆς τοῦ οἴνου. Perhaps the Schol. took a sunless torch to mean the absence of sunlight. There was a word λάπη, which Hesychius (in λάπτης) explains βόρβορος, and Wieseler proposed to restore it here. ibid. δυσοδοπαίπαλα] Schol.

δυσπαράβατα καὶ τραχέα ζῶσι καὶ τοῖς θνήσκουσιν.
In place of λάχη we seem to want some word meaning ὁδοὺς, 'pursuing them over rough and difficult ways. By a harsh figure, the duties ( λάχη) of the pursuers are themselves called rough and rugged for the pursued.

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.

mvp-comment-135-1 ἐν μέρει] Athena at once commences her office, and asks the defendant what he has to say about himself, and in answer to the charge. She adds, that he would not now be a suppliant at her statue unless he had confidence in the justice of his cause.

mvp-comment-136-1 Ιξίονος] Schol.

δν τρόπον κἀκεῖνος προσεκάθητο τῷ ναῷ τοῦ Διὸς καθαρισθησόμενος· πρῶτος γὰρ Ιξίων φόνον ποιήσας ἐκαθαρίσθη ὑπὸ Διός.
The name itself was fancifully derived from ἱκέσθαι. The myth of Ixion, says Sir G. W. Cox (Aryan Mythology, 11. p. 36), exhibits the sun as bound to the four-spoked wheel which is whirled round everlastingly in the sky. The story of Tantalus, he observes, who was punished for aspiring to heaven, is precisely similar in its origin. For ἐν τρόποις, ‘after the manner of,' cf. Ag. 891
γυναικὸς ἐν τρόποις.

mvp-comment-137-1 Construe τὰ ὕστατα τῶν σῶν ἐπῶν. By the term προσίκτωρ, Orestes understood a guilty suppliant ( Schol.

ἐναγής),
and he replies, I am indeed your suppliant, but no longer a guilty one. - For the MS. reading οὐδ᾽ ἔχει and ἐφεζομένη the most probable correction is Wieseler's, οὐδ᾽ ἔχων —ἐφεζόμην, ‘nor do I sit at your statue with defilement on my hand.

mvp-comment-138-1 As a proof that he is not now, i.e. since his purification, polluted and unfit to take sanctuary, Orestes appeals to Athena's words τούτοις ἀμείβου, κ.τ.λ., and pleads that the very fact of holding converse with him is a legal recognition of his right.

mvp-comment-139-1 Construe ἀνὴρ αἵματος καθάρσιος, a man who performs the office of lustration. Cf. sup. 63.

mvp-comment-140-1 πρὸς ἄλλοις οἴκοις] See v. 230. -καὶ βοτοῖσι, κ.τ.λ., both by (the blood of) victims and by running water.

mvp-comment-141-1 φροντίδα] Schol.

τὴν τοῦ μύσους.

mvp-comment-142-1 γένος δέ] See v. 415.

mvp-comment-143-1 ἱστορεῖς] i.e. γιγνώσκεις.

mvp-comment-144-1 ἐξεμαρτύρει] See Agam. 1167 Cho. 967, 998 , where the blood-stained garment was exhibited in illustration of the murder. Pollux (VIII. 36) defines ἐκμαρτυρία, ῾Ὅταν τις παρὰ τοῦ ἰδόντος ἀκούσας λέγῃ.

mvp-comment-145-1 ἀντίκεντρα] See v. 131. The goading griefs, here alluded to, are enumerated in Cho. 280 seqq.

mvp-comment-146-1 πράξας γὰρ κ.τ.λ.] For however I may have fared in your tribunal, I shall be content. Schol.

τὰ κατὰ τὴν σὴν κρίσιν ἀποβαίνοντα, ὁποῖα ἂν ᾖ, ἐπαινέσω.

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-148-1 καὶ τοὺς ὑψηλοὺς καθαιροῦμεν.

mvp-comment-149-1 τοῖς τανυδρόμοις αὐτῶν κώλοις ἐπάγουσα τὰ σφαλερά μου κῶλα. ἢ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλης ἀρχῆς, καὶ τοῖς τανυδρόμοις γίνεται σφαλερὰ τὰ κῶλα διὰ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν αὐτοῖς ἄτην δύσφορον ὑπ᾿ ἐμοῦ. οἷον, καὶ οἱ ταχυδρόμοι οὐ δύνανταί με ἐκφυγεῖν.

mvp-comment-150-1 παραφρονῶν (Steph. f. περιφρ.) γὰρ οὐκ αἰσθάνεται τοῦ κακοῦ.

mvp-comment-151-1 σκότος φρενῶν. λείπειν φασὶ διά, διὰ (Kirchh. f. δὲ) μύσος· οὐκ ἔστι δέ, αὐτὸ γὰρ τὸ μύσος κνέφας εἴρηκεν.

mvp-comment-152-1 κακὴ δὲ φήμη περὶ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ λέγεται.

mvp-comment-153-1 λείπει τὸ ἐσμέν. ἡμεῖς γὰρ εὐμήχανοι ἐσμεν καὶ ἐπιτελεστικαὶ καὶ τῶν κακῶν μνήμονες.

mvp-comment-154-1 οὐ ταχέως παρηγορούμεναι ὑπὸ βροτῶν.

mvp-comment-155-1 ἀφωρισμένα τῶν θεῶν τῶι προσόντι αὐτοῖς σκότει. μετερχόμεναι λάχη ὑπὲρ ὧν οὐ τιμώμεθα ὑπὸ θεῶν.

mvp-comment-156-1 δυσπαράβατα καὶ τραχέα ζῶσι καὶ τοῖς θνήισκουσιν (καὶ τεθνηκόσιν Wieseler).

mvp-comment-157-1 τὸν ὑπὸ Μοιρῶν καὶ θεῶν τετελεσμένον.

mvp-comment-158-1 ἔπεστιν.

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.

mvp-comment-165-1 ἀντὶ τοῦ) ἔγκλημα.

mvp-comment-166-1 ὃν τρόπον κἀκεῖνος προσεκάθητο τῶι ναῶι τοῦ Διὸς καθαρισθησόμενος· πρῶτος γὰρ Ἰξίων φόνον ποιήσας ἐκαθαρίσθη ὑπὸ Διός.

mvp-comment-167-1 ἀποκρίνου μοί τι εὔγνωστον.

mvp-comment-168-1 ἐναγής.

mvp-comment-169-1 σημείωσαι. τὸν φονέα.

mvp-comment-170-1 καὶ εἰς οἶκον εἰσῆλθον, καὶ ὑδάτων μετέλαβον.

mvp-comment-171-1 τὴν τοῦ μύσους.

mvp-comment-172-1 διατάκτορα, βασιλέα.

mvp-comment-173-1 διὰ τούτων φιλοποιεῖται τὴν θεόν.

mvp-comment-174-1 δολιόφρων.

mvp-comment-175-1 τῶι πέπλωι.

mvp-comment-176-1 ἐκήρυττε τὸν διὰ τῆς ἐπιχύ σεως τῶν λουτρῶν γενόμενον αὐτῶι φόνον. λέγεται γὰρ μετὰ τὸ φονεῦσαι γυμνὸν ἐξαγαγεῖν καὶ δεῖξαι τοῖς πολίταις.

mvp-comment-177-1 πάντων. τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ „ἄλλης ἀνάγκης οὔτινος τρέων κότον“ (426).

mvp-comment-178-1 τὰ κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν ἀποβαίνοντα, ὁποῖα ἂν ἦι, ἐπαινέσω.

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-191-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 276

mvp-comment-191-2 erstes Stasimon, welches besonders in den Ephymnien den Charakter des ὕμνος δέσμιος hat. ,, Apollon beraubt uns unseres Rechtes, indem er uns diesen Flüchtling entzieht, der uns zur Sühne des Muttermords zukommt und dem unser grauser Gesang gilt. Denn SO hat das Schicksal bestimmt, dafs wir die Mörder verfolgen und peinigen. Drum weil Umsturz von Häusern unser Los ist, haben die Götter des Lichts keine Gemeinschaft mit uns und Feste der Freude sind uns versagt. Dafür sind die Götter dieser traurigen Sorge überhoben und brauchen sich nicht mit Blutbefleckten zu befassen. Wir verfolgen den Mörder und stürzen ihn von der Höhe seines Ruhms. Er wird, ohne dessen in seiner Geistesnacht inne zu werden, von der Stimme des Volkes verurteilt und allgemeine Mifsachtung umnachtet sein Haus (vgl. Cho. 53 ff. , Ag. 463 ff. ). So steht es fest: Geniessen wir auch nicht die Ehre, den oberen Göttern gesellt zu sein, so haben doch die Sterblichen die vom Schicksal gegebene Satzung, auf der unser altheiliges Amt beruht, zu fürchten und zu verehren." Wenn man aus den drei Ephymnien schliefsen darf, wird jedes der drei ersten Strophenpaare von einem Stoichos, die Ephymnien und das vierte Strophenpaar von dem Gesamtchore vorgetragen.

mvp-comment-210-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 278

mvp-comment-210-2 ὑπ᾽ αἰθέρι wie οὐρανόμηκες κλέος: der Ruhm der stolz bis zu den Sternen sich hebt, sinkt nieder zur Erde und vergeht in ἐπιφθόνοις, gehässig,

mvp-comment-211-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 279

mvp-comment-211-2 Mit gewaltigem Sprunge setze ich von oben auf ihn nieder die schwer auf ihn fallende Spitze des Fufses, die ihn um so sicherer zum Falle bringt, als den Weitausholenden die Fülse leicht ausgleiten. ποδὸς ἀκμάν wie Pers. 1061

πέπλον δ᾽ ἔρεικε κολπίαν ἀκμῇ χερῶν
(mit den Fingerspitzen), Soph. Oed. T. 1243
κόμην σπῶσ᾽ ἀμφιδεξίοις ἀκ μαῖς. σφαλερὰ (γάρ ἐστι τανυδρόμοις καλα
 steht als Zwischensatz und als Begründung zu δύσ φορον ἄταν (schwer zu tragendes Unheil), welches Apposition zu βαρυπεσῆ ποδὸς ἀκμάν ist. δρόμοις, weil sie mir entrinnen wollen. τανυ

mvp-comment-212-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 279

mvp-comment-212-2 Er stürzt ohne sich dessen zu versehen infolge verderblichen Wahnsinns; so grofs ist die Dunkelheit, welche mit der Befleckung auf dem Manne gelagert ist, wie auf seinem Hause schwarze Finsternis ruht, welche die vielen Klagen des Volkes auf dasselbe werfen. τοῖον κνέφας steht prädikativ zu dem Subjekt μύσος. — ἐπιπεπότα ται ebenso Pers. 672

Στυγία γάρ τις ἐπ᾽ ἀχλὺς πεπόταται. Ζη δνοφερὰν αὐδᾶται
(med.) πολύστονος φάτις vgl. Ag. 463 , Cho. 51
δνόφοι καλύ πτουσι δόμους
.

mvp-comment-213-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 279

mvp-comment-213-2 μένει γάρ wie Ag. 1562 . Der Gesamtchor fafst das von den einzelnen Reihen Vorgetragene zusammen. εὐμήχανοι τε καὶ τέλειοι ( οὖσαι), d. i. die wir (die uns zufallende Rache) vollbringen und dazu viele Mittel und Wege haben. τε vor μνήμονες braucht nicht als lange Silbe betrachtet zu werden, zu Ag. 980 . μνήμονες wie Prom. 532

Μοϊραι τρίμορφοι μνή
- μονές τ' Ερινύες. σεμναί, unnahbar. ἄτιμ᾽ ἀτίετα κτέ, das Amt, dessen wir walten, ist nicht geehrt, nicht geachtet, insofern wir fern von den Göttern in sonnenlosem Moder unsere Stelle haben. διέπομεν wie 932. διχοστα τοῦντα, vgl. 350. ἀνηλίω λάπα das gleiche wie ζόφω ευρώεντι Hymn. auf Demeter 482. λάχη δυσοδοπαίπαλα κτἑ., Schol. δυσπαράβατα καὶ τραχέα ζῶσι καὶ τεθνηκόσιν. Schwer wandeln den rauhen Pfad zu mir Lebende wie Tote. Vgl. Hom. ω 10 ευρώεντα κέλευθα, Verg. Aen. VI 462 per loca senta situ noctemque profundam. Also,,ich habe meinen Wohnsitz fern von den Göttern an dunkler, unzugänglicher Stätte". Indes ist δυσοδοπαίπαλα wegen mangelhafter Responsion mit καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνα (398) zu beanstanden. Heimsöth vermutet δυσποροπαίπαλα, Weil δυσποδοπαίπαλα, Oberdick δύσβατα, παίπαλα, Davies δυσβατοπαίπαλα. δερκομένοισι καὶ δυσομμάτοις wie ἀλαοῖσι καὶ δεδορκόσιν 323.

mvp-comment-214-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 280

mvp-comment-214-2 Schol. τὸν ὑπὸ Μοιρῶν καὶ θεῶν τετελεσμένον. Die Mören haben die Satzungen der Erinyen festgesetzt, das junge Göttergeschlecht hat sie bestätigt.

mvp-comment-215-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 280

mvp-comment-215-2 καίπερ τάξιν ἔχουσα ὑπὸ χθόνα καὶ δυσήλιον κνέφας. Vgl. zu Cho. 990 .

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 .

mvp-comment-244-1 12

mvp-comment-244-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-244-3 ψόγον, ἔγκλημα Schol.

mvp-comment-245-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-245-2 βρέτας . . φυλάσσων wie 243.

mvp-comment-246-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 283

mvp-comment-246-2 ἐν τρόποις Ιξίονος: Schol. ὃν τρόπον κἀκεῖνος προσεκάθητο τῷ ναῷ τοῦ Διὸς καθαρισθησόμε νος· πρῶτος γὰρ Ιξίων φόνον ποιήσας ἐκαθαρίσθη ὑπὸ Διός. Vgl. 721. Ixion hatte zuerst durch die hinterlistige Ermordung seines Schwiegervaters Deioneus Blut eines Stammgenossen vergossen ( ἐμφύλιον αἷμα πρώτιστος οὐκ ἄτερ τέχνας ἐπέμιξε θνατοῖς Pind. Pyth. II 32 ) und wurde von Zeus gesühnt, als er sich als der erste Schutzfehende ( προσίκτωρ) an ihn als Ζεὺς ἱκέσιος wandte (vgl. Schol. zu Pind. a. O. und zu Eur. Phoen. 1185 , Diod. IV 69 ). Die Sage von Ixion hat Aschylos im Ιξίων und in den Περραιβίδες behandelt σεμνός s. v. a. aidoios, dem Schonung und Erbarmen gebührt. Athena kennt das 237 ff. Gesagte nicht; sie hat in der Ferne nur den Ruf 288 f. gehört.

mvp-comment-246-3 13

mvp-comment-247-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 284

mvp-comment-247-2 Die Konstruktion τούτοις πᾶσιν (auf alle diese Fragen) ἀμείβου τι erklärt sich aus der Bedeutung,,austauschen" ( Herod. VII 152

τὰ οἰκήια κακὰ ἀλλάξασθαι τοῖσι πλησίοισι
).

mvp-comment-248-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 284

mvp-comment-248-2 μέλημα, Anliegen, Bedenken ( φροντίδα 456).

mvp-comment-249-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 284

mvp-comment-249-2 παλαμναΐον, αὐτόχειρα, φονέα. Zur Sache vgl. Schol. 276 :

οἱ ἐναγεῖς οὔτε ἐν ἱερῷ προσήεσαν οὔτε προσέβλεπον οὐδὲ διελέγοντο τινι. καὶ παρ᾽ Εὐριπίδῃ τί σιγᾷς; μῶν φόνον τιν εἰργάσω;“
In den Mysern des Äschylos kommt Telephos als παλαμναῖος ἄφωνος von Tegea nach Mysien. Vgl. Eur. Iph. Τ. 951 und den Scherz des Komikers Alexis frg. 178 K. δειπνεῖ δ᾽ ἄφωνος Τήλεφος νεύων μόνον πρὸς τοὺς ἐπερωτώντάς τι.

mvp-comment-249-3 14

mvp-comment-250-1 15

mvp-comment-250-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 284

mvp-comment-250-3 παλαγμοῖς αἵματος wie frg. 340 πρὶν ἂν παλαγμοῖς αἵματος χοιροκτόνου αὐτός σε (wahrscheinlich ist Ixion angeredet) χράνῃ Ζεὺς και ταστάξας χεροίν. νεόθηλος, gebildet wie εὔθηλος, im Sinne von νεογλαγής, recens lactatus. βοτοῦ, eines Ferkels. Man schlachtete ein junges vom Euter weggenommenes Ferkel und liefs das Blut aus der Wunde am Halse auf die Hände des Mörders herabfliefsen. Vgl. Einl. S. 17 N. 2, oben 283 und aufser dem eben angeführten Fragmente Apoll. Rh. IV 704 :

πρῶτα μὲν ἀτρέπτοιο λυτήριον ἥ γε φόνοιο τειναμένη καθύπερθε συὸς τέκος, ἧς ἔτι μαζοὶ πλήμμυρον λοχίης ἐκ νηδύος, αἵματι χεῖρας τέγγεν, ἐπιτμήγουσα δέρην
. - Da παλαγμοὺς αἵματος καθαρσίου die nähere Ausführung zu καθαιμάξωσι ist, so scheint ursprünglich die Stellung folgende gewesen zu sein: ἔστ᾽ ἂν καθαιμάξωσι νεοθήλου βοτοῦ σφαγαί παλαγμοῖς αἵματος καθαρσίου. Ubrigens ist νεοθήλου dreisilbig zu lesen (zu Ag. 1162 ). Denn Äschylos bildet nirgends die Arsis des vierten und den fünften Fufs zusammen aus einem Worte von der Messung eines ionicus a min. ( Suppl. 336 ist νεοδρέπτους gleichfalls dreisilbig, frg. 305 D. διαπάλλει in διαπαλεῖ zu verbessern, frg. 320 παρπαίων für παραπαίων zu schreiben.)

mvp-comment-251-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 284

mvp-comment-251-2 Das Asyndeton, weil dieses gleichsam der Nachsatz zu dem Vor- hergehenden ist:,,gut, wir sind längst u. s. w. ,,An anderen Häusern sowohl mit Ferkelblut als mit fliefsendem Wasser." Aber die Trennung von οἴκοισι und βοτοῖσι ist unnatürlich. Vielleicht hat es ursprünglich πρὸς ἄλλων ταῦτ᾽ ἀφιε ρώμεθα | χοιροκτόνοις δρόσοισι καὶ φυτοῖς πόροις geheilsen. Vgl. zu 238 f.

mvp-comment-251-3 16

mvp-comment-252-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-252-2 ταύτην, τὴν τοῦ μύσους Schol.

mvp-comment-253-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-253-2 τάχα: zu 422.

mvp-comment-254-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-254-2 ἱστορεῖς, οἶσθα, wie Ag.681 , Pers. 457

κακῶς τὸ μέλλον ἱστορῶν
.

mvp-comment-255-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-255-2 Τροίαν kann nicht richtig überliefert sein, da Ιλίου πόλιν folgt. Meineke vermutet dafür πρώην oder πρῴαν, Dindorf πρόσθεν. ἄπολιν πόλιν: zu Ag. 1137 . Der Schol. bemerkt: διὰ τούτων φιλοποιεῖται τὴν θεόν.

mvp-comment-255-3 17

mvp-comment-256-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-256-2 ποικίλοις (bunt), vgl. τοῦ ποικίλματος Cho. 1011 . ἀγρεύ μασιν: Cho. 490 f.

mvp-comment-257-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-257-2 ,,Das Gewand legte Zeugnis ab von dem Mord im Bade", weil es mit Blut gefärbt war. Cho. 1008 .

mvp-comment-258-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-258-2 ἀντικτόνοις . . πατρός: vgl. Soph. El. 246 αντιφόνους δίκας und zu Ag. 17 .

mvp-comment-259-1 18

mvp-comment-259-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-259-3 κοινῇ μεταίτιος ähnlich wie Prom. 325

μεθάρμοσαι νέους τρόπους
, Hom. Ξ 53 οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως Ζεὺς .. παρατεκτήναιτο, Eur. Iph. A. 343 μεταβαλὼν ἄλλους τρόπους.

mvp-comment-260-1 19

mvp-comment-260-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-260-3 Cho. 270 ff. wie 136. Vgl. Enn. Eum. frg. II nisi patrem materno sanguine exanclando ulciscerem. ἀντίκεντρα

mvp-comment-260-4 20

mvp-comment-261-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-261-2 δικαίως: έρξα ergänzt sich aus dem vorhergehenden ἔρξαιμι.

mvp-comment-262-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 285

mvp-comment-262-2 Wie ich auch immer durch dich fabre, ich werde damit zufrieden sein. Vgl. Soph. Ant. 634

ἢ σοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς πανταχῇ δρῶντες φίλοι
; Ai. 1369 ὡς ἂν ποήσῃς, πανταχῇ χρηστός γ᾽ ἔσῃ, Herod. IX 27
πάντῃ γὰρ τεταγμένοι πειρησόμεθα εἶναι χρηστοί
. ἐν σοί: zu Cho. το 769. Der Gedanke kehrt öfter wieder, z. B. Lykurg. g. Leokr. § 12 τὸ ἐν Ἀρείω πάγῳ συνέδριον, σοῦτον διαφέρει τῶν ἄλλων δικαστηρίων, ὥστε καὶ παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς ὁμολογεῖσθαι τοῖς ἁλισκομένοις δικαίαν ποιεῖσθαι τὴν κρίσιν.

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

ὑπ᾿ αἰθέρι , beneath the sky, i.e. when they are living on earth.

κατὰ γᾶν , on earth, is the MS. reading: but as Hermann said, the sense below the earth, κατὰ γᾶs, is required in antithesis to ὑπ᾿ αἰθέρι. The same mistake occurs again ll. 838, 871

. ll. 375, 376
. Bold and imaginative expressions :
Before our black-robed assault,
And the vengeful measures of our foot;
 i.e. [their human glories come to naught] when we the Furies attack them and weave these magic dances which make them our captive (as we are doing to Orestes).

mvp-sidgwick-177-1-1 After this line in the MSS. comes μάλα γὰρ οὖν . . . μάταν ( ll. 367-371

). It is possible that the words are repeated as a refrain both here and after l. 380
.

λυμή is the destruction which attacks his mind, and blinds him to the threatening evil;

τόδε is best taken (not of the fall as many edd., which would be simply

πίπτων οὐκ οἶδεν , but) of the presence and power of the Furies.

κνέφας . is in apposition to

μύσος , and is predicative: we should say, So dark a cloud of pollution hovereth over him.

ἐπί , Epic adverbial use (tmesis) of the preposition, going with the verb.

mvp-sidgwick-180-1-1 Again a highly imaginative and picturesque phrase which needs no alteration:

And the voice of many a groan
Proclaims against the house a mist of gloom.
The groans of the past victims are heard as it were making a horror of gloom about the house of wickedness.

μένει γάρ , for the law abides: so

μίμνει
Ag. 1563 . But it is obscure and abrupt: and possibly corrupted.

ἐσμέν is easily understood: Crafty are we, and unfailing to accomplish.

διόμεναι is rather a strange word (though the English to pursue a task or charge exactly illustrates it): hence Heath ingeniously suggested διέπο- μεν. But διόμεναι was read by Schol. and the MS. may stand.

ἀνηλίῳ λάμπᾳ , lit. in sunless light, an oxymoron, meaning in a light which is no light, where no sunlight shines. [Others translate

λάμπᾳ , filth, mould; for there is a very late word λάμπη, 'scum; and Dind. adopts Wieseler's conj. λάπᾳ in the same sense. But the strain of meaning is very harsh, and the word in the last degree unlikely.]

δυσοδοπαίπαλα is suspicious, as the metaphor is rather harsh (though perhaps continued from διόμεναι): the metre does not correspond with the antistrophe (καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνα); and the double compound with δυσis unusual, indeed unique.

mvp-sidgwick-184-3-1 There are many suggestions to cure the metrical fault, δυσποροπ., δυσποδοπ., δυσμολοπ., δυσβατοπ., etc. But it is best to leave it.

mvp-sidgwick-185-1-1 Compare

ἀλαοῖσι καὶ δεδορκόσιν
l. 322 .

δοθέντα τέλεον , adj. used proleptically, granted for sure accomplishment.

mvp-sidgwick-187-1-1 Two syllables are wanting to make the metre correspond: and they are usually supplied among the iambics of l. 394

, with adoption of Hermann's κύρω for κῠρῶ; but possibly l. 394
is all right, and the loss is in l. 395
.

mvp-sidgwick-187-2-1 [Enter Athena from above in the air.]

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.]

mvp-sidgwick-214-1-1 Ixion killed Deioneus, his mother's father, by treachery at a banquet by preparing a pit into which he fell. Pindar says (Pyth. 2. 31) that he was the first of men to shed kindred blood. When all shunned him for the guilt, Zeus took pity on him and purified him. Of course a connection was felt between the name Ιξίων and ἱκ-, the root of the words of supplication: possibly even the origin of the story is to be sought there.

τούτοις πᾶσιν , neut. to all this, i. e. the accusation of the Eumenides.

mvp-sidgwick-216-1-1 MSS. read ἔχει μύσος, and ἐφεζομένη, which has neither sense nor metre. ἐφημένου and ἐφημένη have been suggested; but no tolerable construction has been made of the line.

mvp-sidgwick-216-2-1 I follow Weil. Kirch. Weckl. in adopting Wieseler's far better emendation ἔχων... ἐφεζόμην: the corruption of ἐφεζόμην entailed that of the other.

mvp-sidgwick-216-3-1 Nor with pollution on my hand did I fall suppliant before thy image.

mvp-sidgwick-217-1-1 Till by the hand of the purifier of murder the blood of the slain suckling besprinkle him.

mvp-sidgwick-217-2-1 The form of purification was with water and the blood of a pig, which was commonly used at Athens in such καθάρσεις: e.g. in purifying the space where the public meetings were held: [ἐντὸς τοῦ καθάρματος Ar. Ach. 44.]

οἴκοισι . is governed by πρός: the other datives are instrumental.

πόρος , stream, is frequent in Aeschylus.

ἐκποδῶν λέγω , I speak away the misgiving: rather bold use of the words, but unmistakeable.

mvp-sidgwick-220-1-1 The order is Τροίαν Ἰλίου πόλιν ἄπολιν ἔθηκας. The Schol. remarks on the skill of Orestes in conciliating Athena by reminding her of the former bond between her and Agamemnon.

ποικίλοις , crafty.

mvp-sidgwick-222-1-1 That bare witness to the murder in the bath: for Klytaimnestra had cast the robe about Agamemnon like a net (ἄγρευμα) in the bath and stabbed him and Orestes ( Choeph. 980 ) had held up the bloody robe before the Chorus as a proof and reminder of her deed.

ἀντίκεντρα , like a spur, see ll. 38, 136

.

πράξας πανταχή , idiomatic use for howsoe'er I fare. So Antig. 634

πανταχῆ δρῶντες φίλοι,
howsoe'er we act, we are dear.
 ἐν σοί commonly in thy power' with the verb to be :

ἐν τῷ δαίμονι Ο. Τ. 1443 ,

ἐν σοὶ ἐσμέν
ib. 314 , ἐν θεῷ τὸ τέλος ἦν Dem. 292. Here it has rather a different shade of meaning, at thy hands, under thy rule.