Notes on the Oresteia

Extract

The openings of the strophe and antistrophe do not correspond, and many unavailing efforts have been made, from Triclinius to Lawson, to bring them into conformity. But, as I have shown elsewhere (Greek Lyric Metre, pp. 117–18), the discrepancy appears to be intentional and appropriate. For other instances of the same thing see 709–10, 715–16 (ibid. pp. 113–14), and there is yet another in Cho. 422–4 (resolved iambics for lamentation, loc. cit. p. 88) = 443–5 (dochmiac in anticipation of the climax). In 1005 πρ⋯παρ (MSS) is not only better attested than προιθ' (Triclinius), but it makes a much better rhythm:

τ⋯ δ' ⋯π⋯ γ⋯ν πεσ⋯ν ἄπαξ θαν⋯σιμον πρν⋯σιμον πρ⋯παρ ⋯νδρ⋯ς μ⋯λαν αἶμα τ⋯ς ἄν…