NOTES ON IPHIGENIA IN AULIS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Euripides and Buckley, Theodore Alois
[35] This and the two following lines are condemned by Dindorf.
[36] Bœckh, Dindorf, and the Cambridge editor rightly explode these three lines, which are not even correct Greek.
[37]λησομεν, latebo faciens.
[38]παρα for παρον, ed. Camb.
[39] i.e. by the gift of Venus. For the sense, compare Hippol. 443.
[40] Read διαφοροι δε τροποι with Monk, and ορθως with Musgrave.
[41] But παιδευομενων is better, with ed. Camb.
[42] I have partly followed Markland, partly Matthiæ, in rendering this awkward passage. But there is much awkwardness of expression, and the notes of the Cambridge editor well deserve the attention of the student. εξαλλασσουσαν χαριν seems to refer to μετρια χαρις in vs. 555, and probably signifies that the grace of a reasonable affection leads to the equal grace of a clear perception, the mind being unblinded by vehement impulses of passion.
[43] i.e. quiet, domestic.
[44]ενων is only Markland's conjecture. The whole passage is desperate.
[45] I read μυριοπληθη with ed. Camb. The pronoun ‛ο I can not make out, but by supplying an impossible ellipse.
[46] The Cambridge editor rightly reads ιου, ιου, as an exclamation of pleasure, not of pain, is required.
[47] Dindorf condemns this whole paragraph.
[48] The Cambridge editor thinks these two lines a childish interpolation. They certainly are childish enough, but the same objection applies to the whole passage.
[49] But read ‛οι δ' with Dobree. The grooms are meant.
[50] Porson condemns these four lines, which are utterly destitute of sense or connection.
[51] These "precious" lines are even worse than the preceding, and rightly condemned by all.
[52] See Elmsl. on Soph. Œd. C. 273. The student must carefully observe the hidden train of thought pervading Agamemnon's replies.
[53]τα Μενελεω κακα must mean the ills resulting from Menelaus, the mischiefs and toils to which his wife led, as in Soph. Antig. 2. των απ Οιδιπου κακων, "the ills brought about by the misfortunes or the curse of Œdipus." But I should almost prefer reading λεχη for κακα, which would naturally refer to Helen.
[54] This line is metrically corrupt, but its emendation is very uncertain.
[55] I have endeavored to convey the play upon the words as closely as I could. Elmsley well suggests that the proper reading is ‛εστηξεις in vs. 675.
[56]οφθηναι κοραις, "non, ut hic, a viris et exercitu." BRODÆUS.
[57] Porson on Orest. 1090, remarks on that ‛ο κυριος was the term applied to the father or guardian of the bride. We might therefore render, "Jove gave her away," etc.
[58] If this be the correct reading, we must take καλως ironically. But I think with Dindorf, that κακως, αναγκαιως δε.
[59] This verse is condemned by the Cambridge editor.
[60] Barnes rightly remarked that ηιξα is the aorist of αισσω, conor, aggredior.
[61] These three lines are expunged by the Cambridge editor.
[62] I have expressed the sense of η μη τρεφειν (= μη εχειν γυναικα), rather than the literal meaning of the words.
[63] I must inform the reader that the latter portion of this chorus is extremely unsatisfactory in its present state. The Cambridge editor, who has well discussed its difficulties, thinks that Περγαμον is wrong, and that ερυμα should be introduced from vs. 792, where it appears to be quite useless.
[64] I have ventured to read δακρυοεν τανυσας with MSS. Pariss., omitting ερυμα with the Cambridge editor, by which the difficulty is removed. The same scholar remarks that δακρυοεν is used adverbially.
[65] There is obviously a defect in the structure, but I am scarcely pleased with the attempts made to supply it.
[66] Read και παιδας with Musgrave.
[67] But see ed. Camb.
[68] But see ed. Camb.
[69] But the Cambridge editor admirably amends, εις μελλοντα σωσει χρονον, i.e. "it will be a long time before it preserves them," a hit at the self-importance of the old gentleman.
[70] I have little hesitation in reading πελας μοι with Markland, in place of γελαι μοι.
[71] There is much difficulty in this passage, and Markland appears to give it up in despair. Matthiæ simply takes the first part as equivalent to ‛υψηλοφρον εστι, referring μετριως to both verbs. The Cambridge editor takes διαζην as an infinitive disjoined from the construction. Vss. 922 sq. are indebted to Mr. G. Burges for their present situation, having before been assigned to the chorus.
[72] I have closely followed the Cambridge editor.
[73] See the notes of the same scholar.
[74] Dindorf has rightly received Porson's successful emendation. See Tracts, p. 224, and the Cambridge editor.