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οὗ δῆτα. Blaydes conjectures οὗ δὴ σύ. But “δῆτα” is right. It means, ‘then, of course’—differing from “δή” by implying more clearly that the step prescribed by “δέχου” is the obvious one.— οὗ=“παρὰ οὗ”, with δέχου: cp. O. T. 1163ἐδεξάμην δέ του”. This is better than to take “οὗ...αὐδωμένου” as gen. absol.

ποικίλως, ‘craftily,’—i.e., in terms fitted to beguile Philoctetes. Not, ‘in riddling speech,’ as if the point of the artifice lay in second meanings which Neoptolemus was to divine. The word could, indeed, mean that (cp. O. T. 130 ποικιλῳδὸς Σφίγξ”): but the more general sense agrees better with vv. 542—627.

αὐδωμένου, midd., as 852, Ai. 772: the pass. occurs below, 240, 430.

τὰ συμφέροντα: for the neut., cp. 24 n. τῶν ἀεὶ λόγων, the words spoken by him from moment to moment,—the tenor of his discourse. The phrase is explained by the dialogue between the disguised “σκοπός” and Neo ptolemus (vv. 542—627). The “σκοπός” tells a story; N. follows his lead, and strikes in from time to time with artful comments, —reasserting his hatred of the Atreidae, his sympathy with Philoctetes, etc. These opportunities, or ‘cues,’ are ‘the useful hints’ (“τὰ συμφέροντα”).

σοὶ παρεὶς τάδε, ‘having committed these matters to thee,’ —a parting reminder of the responsibility. Not, ‘having given thee these directions.’


hide References (7 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (7):
    • Sophocles, Ajax, 772
    • Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, 1163
    • Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, 130
    • Sophocles, Philoctetes, 24
    • Sophocles, Philoctetes, 240
    • Sophocles, Philoctetes, 430
    • Sophocles, Philoctetes, 852
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