πρὸς γενείου: a formula of solemn appeal, accompanied, perhaps. by the gesture of raising her right hand towards his face. In Il. 1. 500 f. Thetis clasps the knees of Zeus with her left hand, and places her right under his chin. The same two acts of supplication are associated in Eur. H. F. 1207, Eur. Andr. 573, etc. Cp. Eur. Hec. 344“μή σου προσθίγω γενειάδος”.
The reading of the MSS., μ<*> ᾿ξέλη, is stronger and more pathetic than μ᾽ ἐξέλῃ: and “με” is easily understood. For the reiterated “μή”, cp. O. C. 210“μή, μή μ᾽ ἀνέρῃ”: Ai. 191“μή, μή μ̓, ἄναξ”,.. | ..“κακὰν φάτιν ἄρῃ.”
ἐξέλῃ, properly, ‘take out of my keeping,’ while “ἀφέλῃ” would be simply ‘take away from me.’ So Her. 3. 137“ἑξαιρεθέντες τε τὸν Δημοκήδεα καὶ τὸν γαῦλον..ἀπαιρεθέντες.”
τὰ φίλτατα: cp. O. C. 1110“ἔχω τὰ φίλτατ̓” (his daughters): Ph. 434“σοῦ πατρὸς ἦν τὰ φίλτατα” (Patroclus).
