Thomas W. Allen, E. E. Sikes, Commentary on the Homeric Hymns

[43] ΝἮ Ἤδη: Hermann's correction, if not quite certain, is strongly supported by h. Apoll. 392 “ἠμαθόην”, corrected by “Γ”, the second hand of M, and Demetrius to “νῆα θοήν. νἦ ἤδη” would have been written in full “ΝηΑηΔη”, i.e. “νηδηδη”, from which “μηδηδη” is a slight step. It is to be observed that the MSS. except M have been further corrupted. The fact that there is no instance of the collocation “ἤδη τότ᾽ ἔπειτα” is not serious; the nearest approach is the formula “δὴ τότ᾽ ἔπειτα, λ” 44, Apoll. Arg. 4.716, 1629, which always begins a sentence or clause; cf. however Solon fr. 16. 3 “εἴην δὴ τότ᾽ ἐγώ”. The other emendations may be disregarded: the older editors, taking “πελάαν” as intrans. (a rarer Homeric use), looked for the steersman's name, i.e. “Μηδείδην” or “Μήδην δή”. A name “Μηδείδης” would be suitable for an “experienced” steersman; cf. Od. 3.282 “ Φρόντιν”, in the ship of Menelaus. The form could be supported by “Μεγαμηδείδαο”, h. Herm. 100. But the name should have been mentioned before (i.e. at 15), if at all; in Ovid and Hyginus the helmsman is called Acoetes, but no other name is given in the accounts. An adj. agreeing with “κυβερνήτην” (cf. 49) might be thought in place, i.e. from “μῆδος”; but none exists.