As an apology for what folloara, Hermann haa temsAed that nsage and
the wboie spirit of andent tragedy forbade the poet to omit (he customary
lamenution for the death of the hero, or to leave hia aaditora in uncer-
tainty as to ths bm'ial of his remains, whilst in the vindictive cmolty
imputed to Hsndaos, as a type and iilnstratioa of Lakedaimonian feding
and mamieia (see notes to w. 989, lOT I , infra'), ihen muat have been
something eminently captivating to Athenian ears. A far more weighty
reason, as it appears to ua, remains to tte alleged, and it is (hia, that (As
smier uhich fnUoto att a tteeettan/ tMf^tkmatl to the prmoia comttnvtion
of the ph^, atid to the poet's ddateatiom of titt Eharactv of AioM, In
relation to the first, it will be auffieient to observe that the part taken by
Tekmessa, Eurysakes, and OdysaeoA in the action, and the ftequeat refbr-
ence to Teuknis in tlie dialogue, compel the poet to gratify the cnrioeity he
had excited as to their subsequent adventures and behavior. The appn-
hen«oa eipressed by Aias, also, in regard to the sepulture of his remains,
forming, aa it doubtless Ad, a large and essential element in the ming1«l
hope and fear with wbidi the audience had wslcbsd the devdopment of
the plot, claimed, in eonlbimity with Greek elhica, to be set at rest. I^



DoliiHihyGoOHlc



NOTES. 349

on the otber bud, we look to the Sophoklean conception of the hero, ire
shall be almoat induced to think that the poet would bsve constmcled. Dot
s tngedj, bnt s prolonged moDologae like Lykophron's Katiaxdra, if the
play had terminated with bia death. Had Aiu been one of tbote heroes
who are Impelled to aotion not so mnch liy the exercine of Ihmr own intellect
as by mere external coneideratione, this might hare been appropriate, iur
in that caw the iatea of those with whom or agiiuBt whom he had acted
iruuld, beyond oU imeertaiaty or doabt, be dedded by bis own. Bat ^e
drcamstances in the present case are widely diStoant^ tot a deeper inTcs-
tjgation of the intention of the poet will show that the meatal conflict
resulting li>om the disappointment of his hero la the trial for the arms is
the oj^^a and [nvot of the whole tragic action. The complete and dr.
