[12] Cf. Æsch. Sept. c. Th. 40 sq., also Soph. Œd. T. 6 sqq.
[13] i.e. μαντεις κατ' αστυ θυηφολουσι. ELMSLEY.
[14] Pausanias, i. 32, states that the oracle expressly required that one of the descendants of Hercules should be devoted, and that upon this Macaria, his daughter by Deianira, voluntarily offered herself. Her name was afterward given to a fountain. Enripides probably omitted this fact, in order to place the noble-mindedness of Macaria in a stronger light. The curious reader may compare the similar sacrifices of Codrus, (Pausan. vii. 25. Vell. Patere. i. 4,) Menœceus, (Eur. Phœn. 1009, Statius Theb. x. 751 sqq.,) Chaon (Serv. on Virg. Æn. iii. 335). See also Lomeier de Lustrationibus, § xxii., where the whole subject is learnedly treated.
[15] Cf. Æsch. Ag. 206 sqq.
[16] I prefer understanding ‛ενεκα εξοδων εμων with Elmsley, to Matthiæ's forced interpretation. Compare Med. 214 sqq.
[17] The cognate accusative to δρασειεν must be supplied from the context.
[18] There is some awkwardness in the construction. Perhaps if we read σπερμα, της θειας φρενος! πεφ. the sense will be improved.
[19] The construction is thus laid down by Elmsley: παλαι γαρ ωδινουσα [περι] των αφιγ. ψ. ετ. ει. ν. [αυτων] γενησεται. He remarks that νοστος often means "arrival," in the tragedians.
[20] See Matthiæ. I should, however, prefer παις for που, with Elmsley.
[21] κατα is understood, as in Thucyd. v. 67. ELMSLEY.