ἄριστος combines the ideas of “τὸ γενναῖον” and “τὸ εὐγενές”: cp. 636 “ἐκ” “πατρῴας ἥκων γενεᾶς ἄριστος”. The conjecture ἀριστεὺς is needless, and is also less suitable, since it would imply a recognised rank which Teucer did not actually hold. ἀριστέοιν is probably right; but “ἀριστέων” (see cr. n.) would be tenable (cp. 237 “δύο..κριούς”, El. 701“δύο ι Λίβυες”). τοὺς πρὸς αἵματος: cp. El. 1125“ἢ φίλων τις ἢ πρὸς αἵματος” (n.). Agamemnon had told Teucer to bring some free man to plead the cause of Ajax (1260 f.). Teucer asks, ‘Why should it dishonour Ajax to have his cause pleaded by the son of Telamon and Hesionè?’ For the allusive plur., cp. 734, 1092.
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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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