[514] vv. 779 _sq._ [515] vv. 428-30, 671, 894-7, 1287 _sq._ [516] v. 230. [517] vv. 814-9, 1187-94. [518] In 427 B.C. [519] vv. 905 _sqq._ [520] vv. 342-78. [521] vv. 518-82. [522] vv. 953-67. [523] vv. 796 _sq._ provide an example:— ἔκτεινε, τύμβου δ’, εἰ κτανεῖν ἐβούλετο, οὐκ ἠξίωσεν, ἀλλ’ ἀφῆκε πόντιον. [524] Note his absurd insistence (vv. 531-3) on his own trivial part in the sacrifice-scene. [525] vv. 592-603 (the last line being an apology for the digression), 864-7. [526] vv. 799 _sqq._ [527] vv. 585 _sqq._, 806-8. [528] v. 421: ἡμεῖς δὲ πεντήκοντά γ’ ἄμμοροι τέκνων. Comment seems obvious: “Actually enough children to row a galley!” (πεντηκόντορος ναῦς). [529] vv. 68 _sqq._ [530] vv. 702 _sqq._ [531] Probably it was composed during the early years of the Peloponnesian war, as the scholiast suggests in a note on v. 445. [532] Schol. on v. 445. [533] Her son, who is not given a name in the play, no doubt obtains it from this prophecy. [534] Mention of such a conflict naturally occurs (vv. 588 _sq._) in the heat of their quarrel, but it comes to nothing. That the old king has no military following seems certain from the silence of both parties. See particularly vv. 752 _sqq._ [535] vv. 732 _sqq._ Note the stammering repetition of τις—he cannot even suggest a name. [536] It may be answered that here, as elsewhere, the time consumed by the choric ode is conventionally supposed long enough to allow for the alleged synchronous action. But how much time is required? Orestes is to place Hermione in Menelaus’ care, journey to Delphi, and arrange his plot; then the slaves are to carry the body home. This certainly means three days; one would expect a week. Thus Peleus only hears of Hermione’s departure three days (perhaps a week) after it has occurred. Is this credible? See also the conversation between him and the chorus which implies that the news has reached him within an hour or two. [537] _Four Plays of Euripides_, pp. 1-42. [538] vv. 1239 _sqq._ (Δελφοῖς ὄνειδος). [539] It is usually supposed to mean “one of the second-rate plays”. [540] vv. 929-53. [541] vv. 595-601. [542] v. 964: ἦλθον δὲ σὰς μὲν οὐ σέβων ἐπιστολάς, κτἑ. There can be hardly a doubt that these words refer to their parting before her marriage, when she forbade him to see her again. [543] vv. 639, 708 _sqq._ Cp. Verrall, p. 38. [544] _Eg._ vv. 229 _sq._ [545] Cp. Verrall, pp. 29 _sq._ [546] v. 166. This is the type of drama at which Sophocles shook his head and which Aristophanes reviled. But it must have made many a slave-holding citizen in the theatre suddenly raise his brows and fall to thinking of words let drop an hour ago at home. [547] vv. 1147 _sqq._: The some one of course might be anyone. The speaker elects to assume that the god is actually present. [548] vv. 1002 _sqq._, especially 1004. [549] vv. 464-94. [550] vv. 147-80. [551] vv. 164 _sqq._ [552] vv. 445-63. [553] _Eg._ vv. 632 _sqq._