The OEdipus tyrannus of Sophocles; with English notes ... By Howard Crosby ...

90 NOT]ES.
255. —For, though the matter were not commanded by eaven,
TO 7rpa~/kCa, i. e., the expiation of the murder of Laius.
26L. —KoLvo here (as in Soph. Antig. line 1,) is used for
a3EXAo;. The meaning here is, " brothers of brothers
would they have been to my offspring, had his line
been prosperous," i. e., if he had had any children to
survive him. For Jocasta, the widow of Laius, was
now the wife of (Edipus.
263.-KELvov, though it may refer to Laius himself, (see
CEd. Col. 1760-1763 for such a construction,) yet
more probably refers to the pjrogeny of Laius; which
progeny, as (Edipus thought, had not survived. This
speech forcibly presents the ignorance of (Edipus regarding his own origin, and prepares the audience for
greater surprise at the discovery that (Edipus is the
son of the slain Laius. - E-vq'XaS', HIas lecaled violently. FIor other examples of this metaphor, see line
1300, and Soph. Ant., line 1347.
264. —v93' dv, Therefor'e, i. e., because I am, as it were,
his heir, having his wife, his kingdom, etc. etc. The
student will note how well-managed all this speech of
(lEdipus is to move an audience. Hle speaks of Laius
so tenderly, and likens him to a father, little aware
that the dead monarch was his father, and that this
very fact formed his own fierce accusation.
265.-. 7rL 71rVT' ao/otact, literally, I will come to all
things, i. e., " I will try all methods."
267. —Tr Aa&3XaKeL[ -rat3o, IloXv&Wpov sE K.l-.., a peculiar
construction for r^) Aa/a&oKov -rat3s, Ilohv3d8pov K.-.X.,
Ta- 7rate& for TOV 7ra3osg, A" Seeking to seize the 2perpetrator of the nmurz'der of the son of Labdacus, and
Polydorus," etc. Labdacus was the father, Polydorus
the grandfather, etc. etc. of Laius.
269. —raTa, the same referred to in line 252. that is,