[38] i.e. being a barbarian, and therefore not knowing whither to go.

[39] [Greek:  harmateion], such a strain as that raised over Hector, [Greek:  helkomeno, dia tou harmatos].  See two other explanations in the Scholia.

[40] [Greek:  hipposyna, hetis hyperches hippelasia tou G.] BRUNCK.

[41] Literally, her Mycenian slipper.

[41a] Read [Greek:  thanein] with Pors.  Dind.

* * * *

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

* * * *

[A] But Dindorf reads [Greek:  ktypou e egaget’. ouchi]; interrogatively, thus:  “Ye were making a noise.  Will ye not ... enable him,” etc.?

[B] Dindorf would continue this verse to Orestes.

[C] Dindorf supposes something to be wanting after vs. 314.

[D] The use of [Greek:  allos heteros] is learnedly illustrated by Dindorf.

[E] Elmsley, on Heracl. 852, more simply regards the datives [Greek:  soi sei t’ adelphe] as dependent upon [Greek:  episeiso], understanding [Greek:  hoste dounai diken].  This is better than to suppose (with Porson) that [Greek:  dounai diken] can mean to inflict punishment.

[F] Dindorf (in his notes) agrees with Porson in omitting the following verse.

[G] Dindorf’s text and punctuation must be altered.

* * * * * *

THE PHOENICIAN VIRGINS.

* * * *

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

  JOCASTA. 
  TUTOR. 
  ANTIGONE. 
  CHORUS OF PHOENICIAN VIRGINS. 
  POLYNICES. 
  ETEOCLES. 
  CREON. 
  MENOECEUS. 
  TIRECIAS. 
  MESSENGERS. 
  OEDIPUS.

The Scene is in the Court before the royal palace at Thebes.

* * * * *

THE ARGUMENT.

* * * *

Eteocles having gotten possession of the throne of Thebes, deprived his brother Polynices of his share; but he having come as an exile to Argos, married the daughter of the king Adrastus; but ambitious of returning to his country, and having persuaded his father-in-law, he assembled a great army for Thebes against his brother.  His mother Jocasta made him come into the city, under sanction of a truce, and first confer with his brother respecting the empire.  But Eteocles being violent and fierce from having possessed the empire, Jocasta could not reconcile her children.—­Polynices, prepared as against an enemy, rushed out of the city.  Now Tiresias prophesied that victory should be on the side of the Thebans, if Menoeceus the son of Creon would give himself up to be sacrificed to Mars.  Creon refused to give his son to the city, but the youth was willing, and, his father pointing out to him the means of flight and giving him money, he put himself to death.—­The Thebans slew the leaders of the Argives.  Eteocles and Polynices in a single