T. G. Tucker, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 8

ἦρξαν ‘had obtained empire over.’

ἐνεῖναι The reading of all the MSS. but one is ἐνῆν. That one gives ἐχρῆν. I have written Bekker's ἐνεῖναι in the text, though without confidence that it is correct. In meaning and construction it is open to no objection, but there seems no easy way of accounting for its corruption, least of all into ἐχρῆν. ἐνῆν could only be an explanatory remark of Thucydides himself, not of Lichas, and the construction would be ἔφη δεινὸν εἶναι . . . (ἐνῆν γὰρ . . .) καὶ τοὺς Λακ. ἂν περιθεῖναι. This is approved by Classen; but it is awkward, and the explanatory remark especially, containing the opprobrious δουλεύειν, is instmctively felt to be an argument of Lichas. Thucydides' comment would rather be ἦρξαν γὰρ νήσων ἀπάσων κ.τ.λ. Of itself ἐνεῖναι is suited to a provision in a document. Cf. Dem. 487, ἀκούετε . . . ὅτι ἐνταῦθ᾽ ἔνι καὶ τοὺς ἀξίους ἔχειν τὰ δοθέντα. ‘For in this provision was involved a renewal of the slavery of all the islands and of Thessaly, etc.’ I feel, however, that the MS. discrepancy, as well as geographical and historical considerations, points to Θρᾴκην as the true reading; and that this suffered a common fate of proper names occurring in continuous writing (cf. Xen. Hell. i. 5, 15, where all MSS. give ἠιόνα for Τέων). Θ is commonly confounded with Ε through shape, and AI with E through pronunciation. The passage of ΘΡΕΚΗΝ to ΕΧΡΗΝ is, therefore, not so difficult as it might seem. ‘For,’ he said, ‘by this treaty Thrace and all the islands and Thessaly, etc. (which were once reduced by Xerxes) are again in slavery.’

ἀντ᾽ ἐλευθερίας The reference is to the Lacedaemonian argument that it was Sparta's mission to free Hellas from slavery to Athens. See iv. 86 (a speech of Brasidas), and cf. inf. c. 46, § 3. In Μηδικὴν Ἕλλησι there is a strong antithesis.