Classic Greek Drama_ 10 Plays by Euripides in a Single File [NOOK Book] - Euripides [71]
[35] So called after Neis the son of Amphion and Niobe, or from [Greek: neatai], "_Newgate_." SCHOL.
[36] Argus himself might be called [Greek: stiktos], but not his eyes, hence [Greek: pyknois] is proposed by Heinsius. Abreschius receives [Greek: stiktois] in the sense of [Greek: hois stiktos esti].
[37] The Scholiast makes [Greek: bleponta] the accusative singular to agree with [Greek: panopten]. Musgrave takes it as agreeing with [Greek: ommata]; in this latter case [Greek: kryptonta] is used in a neuter signification. Note [F].
[38] This is Musgrave's interpretation, by putting the stop after [Greek: hos], which also Porson adopts; others would join [Greek: hos] with [Greek: preson]. It seems however more natural that the torch should be referred to Tydeus's emblem, than to himself.
[39] Commentators and interpreters are much at variance concerning the word [Greek: strophinxin]. For his better satisfaction on this passage the reader is referred to the Scholia.
[40] [Greek: geissa] is in apposition to [Greek: laan] in the preceding line. Cf. Orestes, 1585.
[41] Commentators are divided on the meaning of [Greek: enelata]. One Scholiast understands it to mean the uprights of the ladder in which the bars are fixed. Eustathias considers [Greek: enelaton bathra] a periphrasis for [Greek: bathra, enelata] being the [Greek: bathra] or [Greek: bathmides], which [Greek: enelelantai tois orthois xylois].
[42] Musgrave would render [Greek: hygrotet' enantian] by "mobilitatem male coalescentem;" in this case it would indicate the bad omen, and be opposed to [Greek: akran lampada], which then should be translated "the pointed flame." Valckenaer considers the passage as desperately corrupt. See Musgrave's note. Cf. Note [G].
[43] If the flame was clear and vivid.
[44] If it terminated in smoke and blackness.
[45] The construction of this passage is the same as that of Il. [Greek: D] 155. [Greek: thanaton ny toi horki' etamnon]. "Foedus, quod pepigi, tibi mortis causa est." PORSON.
[46] Beck, by putting the stop after [Greek: petron], makes [Greek: hypodromon] to agree with [Greek: kolon], "_his limb diverted from its tread_."
[47] The construction is [Greek: phonos krantheis phonoi]: [Greek: aimati] depends on [Greek: en] understood.
[48] Most MSS. have [Greek: xynetos]. Here then is a remarkable instance of the same word having both an active and a passive signification in the same sentence.
[49] [Greek: makropnoun], not [Greek: makropoun], is Porson's reading, [Greek: makropnous zoe] is explained "vita in qua longo tempore spiratur; ergo longa."
[50] See note at Hecuba 65.
[51] The old reading was [Greek: ti tlas; ti tlas;] making it the present tense. Brunck first edited it as it stands in Porson. Antigone repeats the last word of her father.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES.
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[A] "Signum interrogandi non post [Greek: neanias], sed post [Greek: lochagos] ponendum. [Greek: lochagos] in libris pedagogo tribuitur: quod correxit Hermannus." DINDORF.
[B] Porson and Dindorf (in his notes) favor Reiske's conjecture, [Greek: pyknoisi] for [Greek: pyrgoisi].
[C] Dindorf rightly approves the explanation of Musgrave, who takes [Greek: stephanoisi], like the Latin _corona_, to mean the _assemblies_. He translates: "_nec in pulchros choros ducentibus circulis juventutis_."
[D] The full sense, as laid down by Schoefer and Dindorf, is, "for ever when an old man travels, whether in a carriage, or on foot, he requires help from others." [Greek: pasa apene pous te] is rather boldly used, but is not without example.
[E] i.e. "_you ask a thing_ (i.e. your son's safety) _dangerous to the city, which you can not preserve_." SCHOEFER.
[F] These three lines are condemned by Valck. and Dind.
[G] Matthiae attempts to explain these words as follows: "[Greek: empyroi akmai] may be put for [Greek: ta empyra], in which the seers observed ([Greek: enomon]) two things, viz. the divisions ([Greek: