[53] [Greek:  ta Meneleo kaka] must mean the ills resulting from Menelaus, the mischiefs and toils to which his wife led, as in Soph.  Antig. 2. [Greek:  ton ap Oidipou kakon], “the ills brought about by the misfortunes or the curse of Oedipus.”  But I should almost prefer reading [Greek:  leche] for [Greek:  kaka], which would naturally refer to Helen.

[54] This line is metrically corrupt, but its emendation is very uncertain.

[55] I have endeavored to convey the play upon the words as closely as I could.  Elmsley well suggests that the proper reading is [Greek:  hestexeis] in vs. 675.

[56] [Greek:  ophthenai korais], “non, ut hic, a viris et exercitu.”  BRODAEUS.

[57] Porson on Orest. 1090, remarks on that [Greek:  ho kyrios] was the term applied to the father or guardian of the bride.  We might therefore render, “Jove gave her away,” etc.

[58] If this be the correct reading, we must take [Greek:  kalos] ironically.  But I think with Dindorf, that [Greek:  kakos, anankaios de].

[59] This verse is condemned by the Cambridge editor.

[60] Barnes rightly remarked that [Greek:  eixa] is the aorist of [Greek:  aisso], conor, aggredior.

[61] These three lines are expunged by the Cambridge editor.

[62] I have expressed the sense of [Greek:  e me trephein] (= [Greek:  me echein gynaika]), rather than the literal meaning of the words.

[63] I must inform the reader that the latter portion of this chorus is extremely unsatisfactory in its present state.  The Cambridge editor, who has well discussed its difficulties, thinks that [Greek:  Pergamon] is wrong, and that [Greek:  eryma] should be introduced from vs. 792, where it appears to be quite useless.

[64] I have ventured to read [Greek:  dakryoen tanysas] with MSS.  Pariss., omitting [Greek:  eryma] with the Cambridge editor, by which the difficulty is removed.  The same scholar remarks that [Greek:  dakryoen] is used adverbially.

[65] There is obviously a defect in the structure, but I am scarcely pleased with the attempts made to supply it.

[66] Read [Greek:  kai paidas] with Musgrave.

[67] But see ed.  Camb.

[68] But see ed.  Camb.

[69] But the Cambridge editor admirably amends, [Greek:  eis mellonta sosei chronon], i.e. “it will be a long time before it preserves them,” a hit at the self-importance of the old gentleman.

[70] I have little hesitation in reading [Greek:  pelas moi] with Markland, in place of [Greek:  gelai moi].

[71] There is much difficulty in this passage, and Markland appears to give it up in despair.  Matthiae simply takes the first part as equivalent to [Greek:  hypselophron esti], referring [Greek:  metrios] to both verbs.  The Cambridge editor takes [Greek:  diazen] as an infinitive disjoined from the construction.  Vss. 922 sq. are indebted to Mr. G. Burges for their present situation, having before been assigned to the chorus.