καὶ δόντι δοῦναι. These words are not only genuine, but mark a delicate turn of phrase. Instead of saying, ‘You shall be allowed to handle the bow, on condition of returning it,’ he says, ‘You shall be allowed to handle the bow and to return it.’ The clause “καὶ δόντι δοῦναι” coheres closely with “θιγγάνειν”. The condition which qualifies the boon is thus lightly and courteously hinted,— being inserted between the words (“θιγγάνειν, κἀξεπεύξασθαι”) which express the privileges conceded. Cp. 774 “οὐ δοθήσεται” | “πλὴν σοί τε κἀμοί”.—The aorist δοῦναι expresses the moment of giving, and ἐπεύξασθαι the moment of vaunting; while the pres. θιγγάνειν denotes the continuing act of touching. Cp. Dem. or. 2 § 26 “πολὺ γὰρ ῥᾷον ἔχοντας φυλάττειν ἢ κτήσασθαι πάντα πέφυκεν”. 669 The acc. μόνον is correct; it represents the nom. of the direct form, “εὔχει ἐπιψαῦσαι μόνος”. Here, however, after δόντι, it is slightly awkward. Nauck wishes to read μόνῳ. I should prefer to keep μόνον and insert ς᾿ after ἀρετῆς. The direct form implied would then be, “εὔχει σὲ ἐπιψαῦσαι μόνον”. Cp. Plat. Gorg. 474B “ἐγὼ γὰρ δὴ οἶμαι καὶ ἐμὲ καὶ σὲ... ἡγεῖσθαι”.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part IV: The Philoctetes. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1932.
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