The MS. νεαρᾶς seems the right word: with Bellermann, I insert σὺ, though Wecklein's τε is also possible. For the iterated “νεο-” cp.
. The objection to γε is that it supposes κρόκαισιν to be the genus of which μαλλῷ is a species. μαλλός, however, means, not a woollen texture, but a fleece of wool, flocks of which were to be made into a festoon (στέφος) for the brim of the κρατήρ, like that which the suppliant put on his ἱκετηρία (O. T. 3). νεώρους is tempting, but elsewhere means "recent," "fresh" (730, El. 901), not "young." The drawback to Dindorf's νεαλοῦς is the sense. νεαλής in class. Attic meant not young, but fresh as opp. to exhausted: Xen. Cyr. 8.6.17 “παραλαμβάνειν τοὺς ἀπειρηκότας ἵππους καὶ ἀνθρώπους καὶ ἄλλους πέμπειν νεαλεῖς”. Plat. Polit. 265B “νεαλέστεροι ὄντες” (we shall travel better) while we are fresh. Aristoph. fr. 330 “ἕως νεαλής ἐστιν αὐτὴν τὴν ἀκμήν” is an isolated line, but the word seems to have the same sense there. Nicander Alexipharmaca 358 (circ. 150 B.C.) is the first writer quoted for νεαλής as = "young." λαβών, sc. “αὐτόν”: cp. Tr. 1216 “（ διδούς ）”: Aristoph. Av. 56 “σὺ δ᾽ οὖν λίθῳ κόψον λαβών” (in O. T. 607 “λαβών” is not similar): Il. 7.303 “δῶκε ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον—σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι”. The guardian of the grove (506) would supply the μαλλός.
