[635] θεᾶς βρέτας is now the prescription, as we may call it. Cp. vv. 980, 985-6, and 1038-40. [636] vv. 939 _sqq._ [637] ψῆφος (v. 945). He means “assembly (which votes),” but he has ψῆφος on the brain, as well he might have (vv. 965 _sq._). [638] vv. 739 _sq._ and 1046: Πυλάδης δ’ ὅδ’ ἡμῖν ποῦ τετάξεται φόνου—if this is a task set by Apollo there must be murder in it. [639] v. 933. [640] _Arrangement_: protagonist, Electra; deuteragonist, Orestes, Clytæmnestra; tritagonist, farmer, old man, messenger, Castor. Pylades and Polydeuces were represented by a mute actor. [641] From vv. 1347-56 it is clear that the Sicilian expedition had already sailed, but that news of the disaster had not yet reached Athens. [642] Bernhardy, _Geschichte der griechischen Poesie_ II, ii. p. 490. [643] vv. 1041-3. [644] vv. 9-10. [645] 1142-6. [646] vv. 652-60. [647] v. 54. [648] The peasant tells us that Electra’s banishment to the country is due to her mother’s efforts when Ægisthus wished to kill her (vv. 25 _sqq._). Electra puts the matter very differently (vv. 60 _sq._). The horrible story in vv. 326 _sqq._ is probably untrue; cp. ὡς λέγουσιν. [649] vv. 77-8, 354 _sq._ [650] vv. 367 _sqq._ [651] vv. 255 _sqq._ [652] vv. 1294, 1296 _sq._, 1302. [653] vv. 737-45. [654] Expedit esse deos. [655] “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.” [656] vv. 1245 _sq._ [657] vv. 1327 _sqq._ [658] vv. 1301-7. The first line, μοῖρά τ’ ἀνάγκης ἦγ’ ᾗ τὸ χρεών, is an exceptionally fine instance of misty verbiage. [659] See Verrall’s discussion in his edition of the _Choephorœ_ (Introd. pp. xxxiii-lxx). [660] _Probable Arrangement_: protagonist, Helen, the god (whether Castor or Pollux); deuteragonist, Teucer, Menelaus, Egyptian messenger; tritagonist, old woman, Greek messenger, Theonoe, Theoclymenus. [661] v. 616: ὦ χαῖρε, Λήδας θύγατερ, ἐνθάδ’ ἦσθ’ ἄρα; [662] v. 151. [663] vv. 832, 1048, 491, 1050-2. [664] vv. 183 _sqq._ [665] vv. 1107 _sqq._ [666] vv. 878 _sqq._ [667] vv. 1013-6:— καὶ γὰρ τίσις τῶνδ’ ἐστὶ τοῖς τε νερτέροις καὶ τοῖς ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. ὁ νοῦς τῶν κατθανόντων ζῇ μὲν οὔ, γνώμην δ’ ἔχει ἀθάνατον, εἰς ἀθάνατον αἰθέρ’ ἐμπεσών. The precision of the wording is remarkable. [668] _Troades_, 884 _sqq._ [669] See _Four Plays of Euripides_, pp. 43-133 (_Euripides’ Apology_). [670] vv. 1301 _sqq._ [671] The idea is taken from the famous recantation of Stesichorus, which asserted that Helen never went to Troy. [672] In the inflated affectation of such things as vv. 355-6 and 629 parody of some contemporary lyrist is quite possible. [673] vv. 20-1, 256-9 (rejected by Murray, after Badham). [674] vv. 138 _sqq._, 205 _sqq._, 284-5. [675] vv. 744-60. [676] _Arrangement_ (according to Croiset): protagonist, Jocasta, Creon; deuteragonist, Antigone, Polynices, Menœceus; tritagonist, pædagogus, Eteocles, Tiresias, messengers, Œdipus.