[f1]
Eurip. Phœnissae. Prolog., and Argument to the same from the Cod.
Guelpherbyt. in Matthiae.
[f2]
πρῶτος ᾿εν ᾿ανθρώποις τὴν ἀῤῥενοφθορίαν ἑυρων.--Compare ROMANS i, 27.
[f3]
Μὴ σπ(ε)ίρε τέκνων ἄλοκα δαιμόνων βίᾳ, κ.τ.λ.--Eurip. Phœnis. 19.
[f4]
ὀιδέω to swell, and ποῦς a foot; literally _swell-foot_. Welcker remarks
that there is a peculiar significancy in the appellations connected with
this legend; even Λάϊος being connected with λαικάζω, λαισκαπρος, and
other similar words--(_Trilog_. p. 355)--but this is dangerous ground.
[f5]
The σχιστή ὁδος.--See Wordsworth's Greece, p. 21.
[f6]
It is particularly mentioned in the oldest form of the legend, that he
considered his sons had not sent him his due share of the flesh offered
in the family sacrifice.--Scholiast Soph. O. C. 1375. This is alluded to
in the fifth antistrophe of the third great choral chaunt of this play,
v. 768. WELL. See my Note.
[f7]
The subject of "The Eleusinians" was the burial of the dead bodies of the
chiefs who had fallen before Thebes, through the mediation of
Theseus.--See Plutarch, Life of that hero, c. 29.
[f8]
See Welcker's Trilogie, p. 359, etc.
[f9]
Classical Museum, No. XXV. p. 312.
[f10]
See PALEY's Note.
[f11]
See Introductory Remarks.
[f12]
See Note 35 to the Suppliants, p. 235 above.
[f13]
CHANCE (Τύχη), it must be recollected, was a divine power among the
ancients.
[f14]
See Note 60 to the Choephoræ.
[f15]
The name PARTHENOPAUS, from παρθένος, a virgin, and ὤψ the countenance.
[f16]
See Note 60 to Agamemnon.
[f17]
See Note 73 to the Choephoræ.
[f18]
See PAPE. _in voce_ αλφηστής.
[f19]
Maritime similes are very common in Æschylus, and specially
this.--Compare Agamemnon, p. 70, Strophe II.
[f20]
Another pun on POLYNICES, see above, p. 278.
[f21]
_i.e._ Raging flood, _Thyad_, from θύω, to rage.
[f22]
See Note 67 to Agamemnon.