[43] Cf. vs. 107. κατ' αντρ', ‛α ποντιος νοτιδι διακλυζει μελας. On αγμος (Brodæus' happy correction for ‛αρμος) the Cambridge editor quotes Nicander Ther. 146. κοιλη τε φαραγξ, και τρηχεες αγμοι, and other passages. The manner of hunting the purple fish is thus described by Pollux, i. 4, p. 24. They plat a long rope, to which they fasten, like bells, a number of hempen baskets, with an open entrance to admit the animal, but which does not allow of its egress. This they let down into the sea, the baskets being filled with such food as the murex delights in, and, having fastened the end of the rope to the rock, they leave it, and returning to the place, draw up the baskets full of the fish. Having broken the shells, they pound the flesh to form the dye.
[44] εφθαρμενους. Cf. Cycl. 300. Hel. 783. Ed. Camb.
[45] Compare Orest. 255 sqq.
[46] χιτωνων is probably corrupt.
[47] Cf. Lobeck on Aj. 17. Hesych. κοχλος τοις θαλαττιοις (i.e. κοχλοις) εχρωντο, προ της των σαλπιγγων ευρεσεως. Virg. Æn. vi. 171. "Sed tum forte cava dum personat æquora concha."
[48] "Moriamur, et in media arma ruamus." Virg. Æn. ii.
[49] Such seems to be the sense, but εξεκλεψαμεν is ridiculous, and Hermann's emendation more so. Bothe reads εξεκοψαμεν, which is better. The Cambridge editor thinks that the difficulty lies in πετροισι.
[50] I would omit this line as an evident gloss.
[51] See the Cambridge editor.
[52] Reiske's emendation, ‛οσια for ‛οια, seems deserving of admission.