ἐδεξάμην τὸ ῥηθέν, ‘I welcome the omen’ (of “λόγους ἡδεῖς”). For the aor., cp. 1322, 1479: Ant. 1307“ἀνέπταν”: O.C. 1466 “ἔπτηξα”: Ai. 693“ἔφριξα”: and n. on O.T. 337. Instant recognition of an utterance as well-omened was a way of appropriating the omen. The proper formula was “δέχομαι τὸν οἰωνόν” or “τὸν ὄρνιν” ( Her. 9. 91; Ar. Pl. 63). But “δέχομαι” alone was enough ( Xen. An. 1. 8. 17: cp. Aesch. Ag. 1653“δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε”). The phrase used here recurs in Her. 8. 114“δεξάμενος τὸ ῥηθὲν ἀπαλλάσσετο”: cp. also Eur. El. 622 “προσηκάμην τὸ ῥηθέν” . εἰδέναι … σου: cp. 565 n.
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Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VI: The Electra. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1894.
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