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[206] κατέβαιν᾽ ὑπερώϊα must mean ‘came down from the upper chambers,’ a use only found here and in 23. 85. Elsewhere in the Odyssey “καταβαίνω” with the acc. means ‘to come down to’ or ‘by’ (a ladder, &c.). The constr. is not found in the Iliad.

207-211 = 1.331-335, and 213 = 1. 366.

214-243. These lines are almost certainly an interpolation, as has been shown by Wilamowitz (Hom. Unt. p. 30). The Suitors are described as struck with admiration of the beauty of Penelope (212-213), and their admiration is expressed in glowing language by Eurymachus (244 ff.). It is evident that the speech of Eurymachus was intended to follow immediately on the statement in ll. 212-213. Furthermore, the dialogue which thus breaks in upon the thread of the narrative is irrelevant to the context, as it has nothing to do with the appearance of Penelope in the “μέγαρον”. Moreover, it is a dialogue which must have been intended to be secret: yet it is carried on in the presence of the Suitors, with every circumstance that could tend to arrest their attention. The interpolation was no doubt suggested by Penelope's words in l. 166, though the ‘word to Telemachus’ there indicated is quite different from what she now says. See also the note on 244-245.

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

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