1773-1776
After
οὐ in
1776 the MS.
γάρ must be struck out, as Hermann saw, so that the anapaests spoken by Theseus may end with a paroemiac. When anapaests spoken by the Chorus close a tragedy, these always form a system separate from the anapaests (if any) which precede them. This was plainly necessary, in order to avoid an unduly abrupt ending. But if we point thus:—
πρὸς χάριν: οὐ δεῖ μ᾽ ἀποκάμνειν, the asyndeton has a crude effect. Hence, placing only a comma after
πρὸς χάριν, we should render:— "Not only will I do these things, but
in all things which I am likely to do for your advantage (etc.) I must not
wax weary." The sentence begins as if the constr. was to be
δράσω καὶ τάδε καὶ πάντα. But the new verb added at the end requires
πάντα to be acc. with
ἀποκάμνειν. (Cp. on
351.)
ὁπόσ᾽ ἂν seems slightly preferable to
ὅσα γ᾽ ἂν as a correction of the MS. “
ὅσ᾽ ἂν” (or “
ὅσα ἂν”), because the qualification which
γ̓ would imply is sufficiently provided for by
πρόσφορα etc.: cp.
“τελεῖν δ᾽ ὅσ᾽ ἂν
μέλλῃς φρονῶν εὖ ξυμφέροντ᾽ αὐταῖς ἀεί
”
.
