ἔα is the cry of one startled by a sight or sound ( Aesch. PV 298 “ἔα: τί χρῆμα λεύσσω”;): only here in Soph. μάλ᾽ αὖθις, “"again, and loudly"”: El. 1410 “ἰδοὺ μάλ᾽ αὖ θροεῖ τις.” ἀμφίσταται, because the peals of thunder, now at their loudest, seem to be around them on every side. Cp. Od. 6.122 “ὥστε με κουράων ἀμφήλυθε θῆλυς ἀϋτή”: so “περὶ...ἤλυθ᾽ ἰωὴ ι φόρμιγγος” (17. 261), “ἄσημα περιβαίνει βοῆς” (Ant. 1209): but the phrase here is more vigorous, suggesting the image of a threatening foe. διαπρύσιος, as with “κέλαδος”, Eur. Hel. 1308; “ὀλολυγαί”, Hom. Hymn. 4.19: in Homer only as adv., “ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον” (Il. 8.227): properly, “"going through"” the ear, “"piercing,"” like “τορός, διατόρος”.
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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