The words πατρὶ ξυνθανεῖν γεραιῷ are not suspicious in themselves (though Nauck demurs to calling a dead man “γεραίος”); but they are in metrical excess of 1715 f. Now, if ξυνθανεῖν γεραιῷ is omitted, πατρί must go also, or else be altered. For ἕλοι πατρί could not mean "take for" (i.e. to join) “"my father."” I prefer to leave πατρὶ ξυνθανεῖν γεραιῷ, and to suppose a lacuna after 1715. The sense is: “"may deadly Hades lay me low (“καθέλοι"”), so that I may share the death of mine aged sire.” Cp.
.“καὶ μητέρ᾽ ἄλλη μοῖρα τὸν φύσαντά τε
καθεῖλεν Ἅιδου θανασίμους οἰκήτορας
”
