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[152] μολπή. The Schol. interprets this word as “ἡ μετ᾽ ᾠδῆς παιδιά”. The view taken by Aristarchus was ‘“semper apud Homerum dictum esse de ludo et maxime de lusu saltationis, nonde cantu.”’ (Lehrs, de Aristarch. Stud. 138） “Docuit primitivam vocis significationem esse potius ludendi; quod ex vocabulo me/lphqra (Il. 13. 233) apparere, item in pilea Nausicaae (Od. 6. 101), denique in quibusdam exemplis saltationis lusum offerentibus.” Cp. Il.7. 241; 16.182; 18.572; Od.23. 145.The present passage, however, inclines in the direction of a less strict interpretation. “μολπή” suggests the music and the song of Phemius, and, in verse 421, the suitors “ἐς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο”. On the whole question, Lehrs decides, “Haec omnia cum considero Aristarcho in “μολπή” cantus significationem excludenti assentiri dubito. Sed hoc tenebimus “μολπή” et “ἀοιδή, μέλπεσθαι” et “ἀείδειν” non prorsus idem esse, sed sic dici cantum quatenus lusus et delectatio est.”

τὰ γάρ τ᾽ ἀναθήματα δαιτός. The “τά” is attracted to the gender of the predicate. When the Schol. renders “ἀναθήματα” as “πληρώματα, κοσμήματα. ἡ μεταφορὰ ἀπὸ τῶν τοῖς θεοῖς ἀνατιθεμένων”, the first word chosen is nearer the truth; the second gives a postHomeric sense. “ἀναθήματα” is not here equivalent to “ἀγάλματα”, but is used rather in the sense of ‘accompaniments,’ ‘accessories.’ For “ἀνατιθέναι” in the sense of to ‘attach’ cp. Il.22. 100“ἐλεγχείην ἀναθήσει” with “μῶμον ἀνάψαι” Od.2. 86.So Homer speaks of the “φόρμιγξ” as “δαιτὶ συνήορος” Od.8. 99, “δαιτὸς ἑταίρην” Od.17. 270.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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