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[442] πόδας καὶ χεῖρε. Notice the confusion of plural and dual (“σύγχυσις”), ‘I let down hands and feet for a plunge (lit. ‘so as to be carried down’), and I plumped down in the middle [of the water], beyond the long timbers.’ Cp. Od.15. 479“ἄντλῳ δ᾽ ἐνδούπῃσε πεσοῦσ᾽ ὡς εἰναλίη κήξ”.

445, 446. The reason given by the Schol. for the rejection of these two lines (see crit. note) is, that there was really no danger from Scylla, as she could not leave her rock. At any rate we cannot suppose that she could reach as far as Charybdis. This difficulty would be removed by understanding “ἐμέ” as the subject to εἰσιδέειν. Zeus pitied Odysseus, and suffered him not to set eyes on Scylla again. This view would also help us to understand how Zeus is here spoken of as the protector of Odysseus from Scylla; whereas, sup. 124, he is bidden in his extremity “βωστρεῖν Κραταιίν”. Ameis suggests that the line may have been compiled from sup. 223, Od.9. 286; Il.16. 256, by some editor who thought it required explanation that Scylla did not get Odysseus into her clutches.

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

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