Abstract

Eur. Hel. 1032 ff. Ελ. Μενέλαε, πρς μν παρθένου σεσσμεθα. τονθένδε δ σ τοÙς λυς έροντα ρ κοινν ζυνπτειν μηανν ωτηρίας. If the text as given above is sound, then Helen effaces herself from the discussion which is to follow: σ is stressed, τος λους is roughly equivalent to ‘all that is to be said’, and the simple øέροντα does duty for a compound like εσøροντα. There is evidently a tinge of artificiality about this interpretation, and, if the unbroken usage of the tragedians counts, then τος λους øρειν should mean ‘to bring the message“, and no more: cf. e.g. Ion 1110 τιε προθυμία | ποδν ει σε, κα λους τίνας ρεις; El 228 κω øρων σοι σο κασιγντου λγους, Or. 853 λγους | ᾃκουσνν, ος σοι δυστυε῕ς κω øρων, Soph. Track. 493 ώς λγων τ’ πιολς øρς, and so with øμας or øμην Eur. Hel. 1282, øτιν Soph. O.R. 86, Aesch. Ag. 9, Soph. At. 826, μθον O.C. 357, and with various periphrases. For other senses a compound is called in, or a prepositional phrase is appended. Hence, in this passage, the credibility of the tradition is not exactly enhanced by the fact that the difference between ΔHCε and ΔΗС—or, for that matter, ΔεΙʗ—is, to all intents and purposes, negligible.