ἢν μή γ̓. Piderit is clearly right (I think) in giving this verse to the Chorus, not to Creon. Creon, who has long since dropped the semblance of courtesy with which he began (759), cannot, of course, mean to express serious deference for the wishes of Theseus; while, as an ironical defiance, the words would be extremely tame. In the mouth of the Chorus, however, the threat has point, since they know their king's public resolve (656); it has also dramatic force, since he is soon to appear (887). The words of Oed. (863) refer to 861. ἀπειργάθῃ: cp. El. 1271 “εἰργαθεῖν” (and so Eur.): Aesch. Eum. 566 “κατειργαθοῦ” (aor. imper. midd.). The forms “ἐέργαθεν, ἀποέργαθε” (aor., or, as some would call them, impf.) are Homeric. See n. on O. T. 651 “εἰκάθω”.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part II: The Oedipus Coloneus. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1899.
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