καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἔτλη τις “κ.τ.λ.” For the place of “τις”, cp. Ph.104“οὕτως ἔχει τι δεινὸν ἰσχύος θράσος”; (n.). κτίσαι implies that the deed was momentous: schol. “κατασκευάσαι καὶ ποιῆσαι: καλῶς δὲ ὡς ἐπὶ μεγάλῳ τολμήματι εἶπεν τὴν λέξιν”. When “κτίζειν” is thus a tragic synonym for “ποιεῖν”, there is usu. a predicative adj., as Aesch. Eum.17“τέχνης δέ νιν Ζεὺς ἔνθεον κτίσας φρένα”: cp. Aesch. Suppl.138: Aesch. Ch.441. Hermann rejects this v. and the next, because the Chorus, not knowing the nature of the deeds (“οἰ̔̂ ἔδρασε”), ought not yet to marvel at them. The verses were inserted, he thinks, to soften the abruptness of “ἐπεὶ παρῆλθε” (900) after “κάρτ᾽ ἂν ᾤκτισας” (897). It may be granted that they are not very forcible; but they seem genuine. The Nurse has hitherto been led from point to point by questions. A direct question (898) is needed to prompt her narrative. It would be less like her to begin it spontaneously.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part V: The Trachiniae. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1902.
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