[532]. Compare note on v. 419.
[533]. In the legend of Admetos son of Pheres, and king of Pheræ in Thessalia, Apollo is represented as having first given wine to the Destinies, and then persuaded them to allow Admetos, whenever the hour of death should come, to be redeemed from Hades, if father, or mother, or wife were willing to die for him. The self-surrender of his wife, Alkestis, for this purpose, forms the subject of the noblest of the tragedies of Euripides.
[534]. Partly as setting at nought the power of Erinnyes and the Destinies, partly as giving wine to those whose libations were wineless.—Comp. Sophocles, Œd. Col. v. 100.
[535]. The practice of the Areopagos is accurately reproduced. When the votes of the judges were equal a casting vote was given in favour of the accused, and was known as that of Athena.
[536]. Another reading gives—
“By spurting from your throats those venom drops.”
[537]. The conservative poet enters his protest through the Erinnyes against the innovating spirit that looked with contempt upon the principles of a past age.
[538]. Cock-fighting took its place among the recognised sports of the Athenians. Once a year there was a public performance in the theatre.
[539]. The Temple of the Eumenides or Semnæ (“venerable ones”) stood near the Areopagos.
[540]. Some two or three lines have probably been lost here.