δυσσεβέστατ̓, ὦ (Dawes) seems right: it amends the MS. τὰ τῶν κακίστων δυσσεβεστάτων by simply striking off the final ν. "The most impious among the worst of deeds" is a vehement phrase suited to the passion of the appeal. Among evil deeds, “τὰ κακά”, those which outrage gods or kinsfolk form a class, “τὰ δυσσεβῆ”. If κακίστων were changed to κάκιστα, the latter must be an adv., and τῶν δυσσεβεστάτων must be masc.: "the deeds of men who in the worst way are most impious." “κἀσεβεστάτων” ("the deeds of the worst and most impious men") is less probable.
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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