NOTES ON THE BACCHÆ
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Euripides and Buckley, Theodore Alois
[37] Compare a fragment of Didymus apud Macrob. Sat. v. 18, who states Αχελωον παν ‛υδωρ Ευριπιδης φησιν εν ‛Υψιπυληι. See also comm. on Virg. Georg. i. 9.
[38] The reader of Scott will call to mind the fine description of Ireton lunging at the air, in a paroxysm of fanatic raving. See "Woodstock." So also Orestes in Iph. Taur. 296 sqq.
[39]ανεισαν, solvuntur, liquescunt. BRODEUS.
[40] Cf. Soph Ant. 243 sqq.
[41] These two cities were in ruins in the time of Pausanias. See ix. 3. p. 714, ed. Kuhn.
[42] Cf. Athenæus, p. 40. B. Terent. Eun. iv. 5. "Sine Cerere et Libero friget Venus." Apul Met. ii. p. 119, ed. Elm. "Ecce, inquam, Veneris hortator et armiger Liber advenit ultro," where see Pricæus.
[43] More literally, perhaps, "keep it and be thankful."
[44] Theocrit. i. 40. μεγα δικτυον ες βολον ‛ελκει.
[45] But εκ των απειλων conveys a notion of change = instead of.
[46] Elmsley remarks that ανθρωποισι belongs to both members of the sentence. I have therefore supplied. The sense may be illustrated from Hippol. 5 sq.
[47] See Matthiæ.
[48] i.e. step. This is ridiculed by Aristoph. Ran. 100, where the Scholiast quotes a similar example from our author's Alexandra.
[49] Compare Havercamp on Lucret. ii. sub init.
[50] Compare Virgil, Æn. iv. 469. "Et solem geminum, et duplices se ostendere Thebas." In the second passage of Clemens Alexandrinus quoted by Elmsley, γερων is probably a mistaken reference to Tiresias.
[51] An obscure hint at the impending fate of Pentheus. Nonnus has led the way to the catastrophe by a graphic description of Agave's dream. Dionys. 45. p. 751.
[52]φερομενος may mean either "carried in a litter," or "carried to burial." There is a somewhat similar play in the epigram of Ausonius, xxiii. "Mater Lacæna clypeo obarmans filium, cum hoc, inquit, aut in hoc, redi."
[53] Burges more rightly reads ματρος τε Γας. See Elmsley's note.
[54] As one must make some translation, I have done my best with this passage, which is, however, utterly unintelligible in Dindorf's text. A reference to his selection of notes will furnish some new readings, but, as a whole, quite unsatisfactory.
[55] Compare the parallel account in Nonnus, 46. p. 784.
[56] Alluded to by Oppian, Cyn. iv. 300. απτε σελας φλογερον πατρωιον, αν δ' ελεληξον Δαιαν, αταρτηρον δ' οπασον τισιν ωκα τυραννου. He then relates that Pentheus was transformed into a bull, the Mænads into panthers, who tore him to pieces.
[57]στοχος is either the aim itself, or the mark aimed at, as in this passage, and Xenoph. Ages. 1. 25.
[58] I have done my best with this extraordinary expression, of which Elmsley quotes another example from Archilochus Fragm. 36. Perhaps the notion of excessive rapidity is intended to be expressed.
[59]θηρ seems metaphorically said, as in Æsch. Eum. 47. Nonnus, 45. p. 784, 23. above, 922.
[60] Compare Nonnus, 46. p. 784.
Και τοτε μιν λιπε λυσσα νοοσφαλεος Διονυσου,
και προτερας φρενας εσχε το δευτερον: αμφι δε γαιηι
γειτονα ποτμον εχων κενυρην εφθεγξατο φωνην.
* * * * * *
μητερ εμη δυσμητερ απηνεος ιοχεο λυσσης,
θηρα ποθεν καλεεις με τον ‛υιεα.
The whole passage is very elegant, and even pathetic.
[61] Alluding to the horns of Bacchus. Cf. Sidon. Apoll. Burg. Pontii Leontii, vs. 26, "Caput ardua rumpunt Cornua, et indigenam jaculantur fulminis ignem." See some whimsical reasons for this in Isidor. Origg viii. 2. Albricus de Deor. Nu. xix. But compare above, vs. 920. Και ταυρος ‛ημιν προσθεν ‛ηγεισθαι δοκεις, και σωι κερατε κρατι προσπεφυκεναι.
[62] Elmsley has rightly shown that ‛ελικα could not of itself mean "a bull" or "heifer," although Homer has ειλιποδας ‛ελικας βους. I have therefore followed Hermann, who remarks, "‛ελιξ seems properly to be meant for the clusters of ivy with which the thyrsus was entwined. Hence Agave says that she adorns the thyrsus with a new-fashioned wreath, viz. the head of her son." Such language is, however, more like the proverbial boldness of Æschylus, than the even style of our poet.
[63] "κορυθα, ornamentum capitis, vix potest dubitari quin pro ipso capite posuerit." HERMANN. There is considerable variation in the manner in which the following lines are disposed.
[64] Or, "Bacchus-mad."
[65] I have marked a lacuna with Dindorf.
[66] See the commentators on Virg. Æn. i. 11. "Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ?"
[67] After τλημονες φυγαι supply μενουσιν. ELMSLEY.
[68] A word is wanting to complete the verse.
[69] See Musgrave. Cranes are chiefly celebrated for parental affection.