Lamentation of Xerxes and the Chorus and Their Exit

Notes

1. §934κακὸν ἄρ᾽ ἐγενόμαν — The particle ἄρα (ἀρ᾽) is used here with an imperfect tense to express a sudden, painful realization of a pre-existing fact ("as it turns out," "after all"). Xerxes realizes too late that he has indeed become a curse to his own land.
2. §941ἵετ᾽ — The verb form ἵετ᾽ is understood as the second-person plural imperative of ἵημι (either active ἵετε or middle ἵεσθε, shortened by elision), functioning as a self-exhortation of the Chorus to "send forth" or "utter" their lamenting voices.
3. §950Ἰάνων γὰρ ἀπηύρα — The verb ἀπηύρα (from ἀπαυράω, "to take away") here governs Ἰάνων as a genitive of separation ("from the Ionians" or "by the Ionian war-god"), while the direct object (the Persian soldiers) is understood from the context. The subject is Ἄρης in the next line.
4. §976ἑνὶ πιτύλῳ — The noun πίτυλος originally refers to the rhythmic sweep of oars or a sudden onset of waves. In the dative phrase ἑνὶ πιτύλῳ, it is used metaphorically to mean "with a single stroke" or "in a single clash," emphasizing the suddenness of the naval destruction.
5. §1049μέλειν πάρεστι — The impersonal verb πάρεστι ("it is within one's power/duty") is paired with the infinitive μέλειν ("to be a care to"). It expresses the Chorus's submissive and dutiful assent to Xerxes' command: "it is ours to attend to [this lamentation]."