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[270] The perf. opt. βεβλήκοι with the thematic form is very rare. Cf. 4.35 “βεβρώθοις”, (21.609 “πεφεύγοι”?), Hymn. Ap. 165 “ἱλήκοι”. But the iterative opt. on the whole seems best among all the other iterative forms; cf. “ἐπεὶ ζεύξειεν” in 24.14, with similar surroundings, and Od. 24.254 “ἐπεὶ λούσαιτο φάγοι τε”. The indic., however, is defensible, especially in connexion with the aor. ὄλεσσεν, which shews that a single case is taken for the sake of illustration, the repetition being for the moment lost sight of. The Epic style always tends thus to drop the general in favour of the particular. It is needless to follow Bekker in writing “ὄλεσκεν”, with very faint MS. support. The clause “ὁ μὲν .. ὄλεσσεν” is interposed in such a way as to leave “ἥρως” as a nom. pendens till it is taken up again by “ὁ” in 271.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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