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[433] πείρατα. This plural is used elsewhere with “νίκης, ὀλέθρου, γαίης, ἀέθλων”, also ( Il.23. 350） “ἑκάστου πείρατ᾽ ἔειπεν”. The singular “πεῖραρ” is used with “ὀιζύος”, Od.5. 289, and for the issue of a trial, Il.18. 501.Here translate, ‘wherein lie the issues of art,’ i.e. on which art depends for its accomplishment; through which the artistic conception is realized. Eustath. “περατωτικά”. Or, if we emphasise the notion of ‘boundary’ in “πεῖραρ”, we may speak of the tools as the ‘limits within which the craft lies;’ which will produce a similar meaning by a different process. For a fuller discussion of “πεῖραρ” see on Od. 12.51.

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

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