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ἄρτι: i.e. this new hope (if such she has) is one of which long experience might have taught her the vanity.

Ajax is now withdrawn into the tent on the eccyclema (“εἰσκυκλεῖται”), and the entrance is closed. Tecmessa and her child retire by another door into the part of the dwelling which is supposed to represent the “γυναικών”. They re-enter after the Choral ode, and are present while Ajax speaks (see 684 ff.). Some, indeed, suppose that they remain on the scene during the ode; but the command of Ajax to Tecmessa in 579 f., “μηδ᾽ ἐπισκήνους γόους δάκρυε”, is against this.

Welcker thinks that not only Tecmessa (with the child), but Ajax also, remain present during the ode. (Rhein. Mus. for 1829, part 3, p. 87.) It is clear, however, from v. 593 that Ajax withdraws into the tent.


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