τίνος ποτ᾽ ἆρ᾽ ἔπραξε “κ.τ.λ.” The antistrophic verse is 951, “ἄγαν ὑπερβριθὲς ἄχθος ἤνυσαν”. I believe that the text is sound here, and that “γὰρ” has dropped out before “ἄχθος” in 951. The case is parallel with that of vv. 369 and 384, in the latter of which a syllable was lost. The only tolerable emendation of ἔπραξε is ἔρξε: and “ἔπραξε” is the fitter word, since, with its possible sense of ‘contrived,’ it suits the hypothesis that he may have procured death from another's hand; while “ἔρξε” would, in that case, be somewhat forced. It may be added that the aorist of “ἔρδω” is never used by Sophocles in the indicative (though he has “ἔρξειεν” Tr. 935, “ἔρξον” ib. 1201, “ἔρξας” Ph. 117 etc.); and by Aeschylus only once, Th. 924“ἐρξάτην” (lyr.): for in Ag. 1529“ἦρξεν” is right, and “ἔρξεν” only a conjecture. As to v. 951, the insertion of “γὰρ” is not only admissible, but desirable.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VII: The Ajax. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1907.
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