88 Ernest Heinrich Klotsche 



" For if he dwelleth in the underworld 

 Midst those that are no more, he is strengthless all." 



and fr. 536 : 



"... All who have died 

 Are shadows and dust: nothingness fades to nothingness." 



These passages are striking examples of the contradictions which 

 are so common in Euripides. For the poet's opposite view on the 

 subject cf. El. 677 ff.; Hec. 534-41 ; Troad. 1302, 1307. 

 Reference to oath is made : 



fr. 491 : 



ofxvvixi. 6' lepov ali}kp', oiKrjaiv Aios. 



" I swear by holy Ether, the dwelling of Zeus." 



and fr. 1030: 



(TvyyvcjOfxovas tol tovs &eovs elvai So/ceis, 

 orav Tts opKU ^avarov eK(pvyeiv jJeXj?; 



" Dost thou believe the Gods are disposed to pardon, if someone 

 wishes to escape death by oath? " 



Zeus is called the most truthful ixavTis among the Gods, 

 f r. 87s : 



Zeiis ev ^eolai fiavris aipevdeararos 

 Kal reXos avros exet- 



Melanippe is described as one who proclaimed unerring proph- 

 ecies : 



f r. 485 : 



fj TrpSira pev to. d^ela irpovpavrthcraTO 

 XPV'^poiai aa4>k(nv darepcci' e7r' avroXals 



The following fragments are in keeping with the poet's usual con- 

 tempt for soothsayers : 



fr. 963: 



pavTis 6' apicTTOs octtls eiKafei koKcos. 

 " The best seer is he who guesses well." 



and f r. 793 : 



tI SrJTa ^aKOis pavTLKols hvijpevo!. 

 <ra4>u)s diopvva^' eidevai rd, datnovar;, 



142 



