NOTES ON ALCESTIS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Euripides and Buckley, Theodore Alois
[36] An apparent allusion to the fable of Death and the Old Man. B
[37] Aristophanes' version of this line is, ω παι, τιν αυχεις, ποτερα Λυδον η Φρυγα Μορμολυττεσθαι δοκεις. B.
[38] Turned by Aristophanes into an apology for beating one's father, Nub. 1415. κλαουσι παιδες, πατερα δ' ου κλαειν δοκεις. See Thesmoph. 194. B.
[39] Cf. Æsch. Choeph. sub init. and Gorius, Monum. Libert. p. 24. ad Tab. x. lit. A.
[40] Theocrit. i. 27. Και βαθυ κισσυβιον κεκλυσμενον ‛αδει καρωι, Τω περι μεν χειλη μαρευεται ‛υψοθι κισσος. B.
[41] Hamlet, v. 1.
—Hold off the earth awhile,
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms:
[ leaps into the grave.]
Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead. B.
[42] Cf. vs. 195. ‛ον ου προσειπε και προσερρηθη παλιν. B.
[43]Ορφεια γαρυς, a paraphrasis for Ορφευς.
[44]αντιτεμων, μεταφορικως απο των τας ‛ριζας τεμνοντων και ‛ευρισκοντων. SCHOL. TR. Cf. on Æsch. Agam. 17. B.
[45] In Phavorinus, among the senses of κλισια is κλινη και κλινητηριον.
[46] It will be remembered that the tombs were built near the highways, with great magnificence, and sometimes very lofty, especially when near the sea-coast (cf. Æsch. Choeph. 351. D'Orville on Charit. lib. i. sub fin. Eurip. Hecub. 1273). They are often used as landmarks or milestones, as in Theocr. vi. 10, and as oratories or chapels, Apul. Florid, i. p.340, ed. Elm. B.
[47] This appears the most obvious sense, as connected with what follows. All the interpreters, however, translate it, I thought myself worthy, standing, as I did, near thy calamities,(i.e. near thee in thy calamities,) to be proved thy friend.
[48] In the same manner ‛ηβαι is used in Orestes, 687, ‛οταν γαρ ‛ηβαι δημος εις οργην πεσων.
[49] i.e. the severed head of the Gorgon. Valckenaer observes, that this is an expression meaning facie aversa, and compares l. 465 of the Phœnissæ.
[50] Winter's Tale, v. 3.
Start not: her actions shall be holy, as,
You hear, my spell is lawful: do not shun her,
Until you see her die again; for then
You kill her double: Nay, present your hand:
When she was young you woo'd her; now, in age,
Is she become the suitor?
Compare also Much Ado about Nothing, v. 4. B.
[51]‛αφαγνιζειν h. l. non purificare sed desecrare. Orcus enim, quando gladio totondisset Alcestidis capillos, eam diis manibus sacram dicaverat, quod diserte ‛ηγνισαι appellat noster, vide 75—77. Contraria igitur aliqua ceremonia desecranda erat, antequam Admeto ejus consuetudine et colloquio frui liceret. HEATH.