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[170] ἀπείρητος. The interpretations vary between ‘unskilled,’ and ‘unproved.’ He can hardly mean that his prophecies about the ultimate fate of Odysseus had proved his prophetic powers, as the fulfilment had not yet appeared, though the prophet confidently expects it: so it seems better to accept the interpretation of the Schol. sc. “ἄπειρος καὶ ἀμαθής”. In Il.12. 304ἀπείρητος” is used actively, ‘without making an effort;’ cp. Il.17. 41.In both these passages, however, we seem to see that “πειρᾶσθαι” implies ‘awaiting an alternative of possibilities,’ so that “ἀπείρητος” here would mean, ‘without abiding the ordeal of the [still future] event,’ i. e. without challenging the event to prove me false or true, or, more literally still (assigning a semimiddle sense to the verbal as well as to the verb), ‘without allowing myself to be tested.’

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