[51] τῶν ἀνδρῶν. The number of the suitors, and the places whence they came, Telemachus tells to Odysseus ( Od.16. 247) “ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα” . .
“ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρές τε καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν”,“ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν:”
“ἐκ δ᾽ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι”. The Schol. tells us it was an old difficulty why the Ithacan suitors alone [“ἐνθάδε γε”] are complained of here, and he gives us the explanations—“ἴδιον τὸ ἀδίκημα ἐποίησεν, ὡς καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τούτοις ἀκολουθησάντων”. This may be expanded into the true interpretation, namely, that the Ithacan suitors had the privilege of familiar access to the court, which they enjoyed from living so near it; and it was by their abuse of this privilege that the others were emboldened to the like licentious behaviour; and hence they specially are the objects of Telemachus' anger.
