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[451] In λέκτο δ᾽ ἀριθμόν and λέκτο καὶ αὐτός we have identical forms from different roots. The root “λεγ”, from which come “λέγω, λόγος”, Lat. lěgo, lěgio, etc., means ‘to reckon,’ and in Homer is never (see Buttm. Lexil. s. v.) convertible with “εἰπεῖν”, but always contains the idea of recounting in order, like our ‘tell’ and ‘tale.’ So “ἐλέγμην” Od.9. 335; but cp. “λεγώμεθα” Od.3. 240, “λέγε” Il.2. 222.The other root “λεχ”, from which come “λόχος, λεχώ, λέκτρον”, Lat. lec-tus, means ‘lie.’ Translate, ‘He reckoned their number, and reckoned us first among the seamonsters . . and then lay down himself.’ The “παρήχησις” between the two forms is doubtless intentional. For a list of remarkable jingles and assonances in Homer see J. E. Ellendt, Einige Bermerk. über Hom. Sprachgebr. Königsberg, 1863. The Schol. here seems confused by the double form “ὅτι τῇ αὐτῇ λέξει παραλλήλως οὐκ ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ σημαινομένου κέχρηται”.

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

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