Accius, Tragedies

LCL 314: 326-327

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Accius

Tragoediae

Achilles

This play has been taken to be the same as The Myrmidons (see pp. 480–485; cf. R., 349 ff.). If this is right the chorus was composed of Myrmidons. But cf. C. B. Earp, A study of the frs. of three related plays of Accius., Diss. Columb. Univ., 1939. (Achilles, Myrmidones, Epinausimache). We owe all

1

Nonius, 110, 11: ‘Flaccet,’ languet, deficit . . . Accius Achille—

Achilles

. . . An sceptra iam flaccent? Ferat!

2

Nonius, 98, 4: ‘Delica,’ explana, indica . . . —

Patroclus

Qua re alia ex crimine inimicorum effugcre possis, delica.

Cp. Non., 277, 38.

3

Nonius, 503, 32: ‘Fervat’ pro ferveat . . . —

Ne tum cum fervat pectus iracundiae.

  • 1ferat cdd. fera Quich., fortasse recte
  • 3iracundiae cdd. iracundia ed. 1526 ne dum c. f. victus iracundia Fruter.
326

Plays

Tragedies

Achilles

the fragments of both plays and their titles to Nonius alone. Several pairs of plays in Accius have been thought, as will be seen, to be one play under two titles, but it is hardly likely that in these several instances Nonius has at random used sometimes one title, sometimes another, of the same play.

1

Achilles is contemptuous of Agamemnon’s difficulties:

Nonius: ‘Flaccet,‘droops, fails. . . . Accius in Achilles—

Achilles Or else droops now his sceptre? Let him bear it! a 2

Patroclus pleads with Achilles after the unavailing embassy:

Nonius: ‘Delica’ (strain, make clear), explain, indicate. . . .—

Patroclus Make clear in what way else you can escape From the indictments of unfriendly men. 3

Nonius: ‘Fervat’ for ‘ferveat’ . . .—

Yes, then—when seethes the breast with anger full. b

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DOI: 10.4159/DLCL.accius-tragedies.1936