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[85] ἄφαρ κεραοί. The interpretation of this line depends upon the force which we assign to “τελέθουσι”. If we follow the view of Herodotus (4. 29) who quotes this line substituting “ὅθι” for “ἵνα”, we shall render ‘begin at once to become horned;’ for he says, “ἐν τοῖσι θερμοῖσι ταχὺ παραγίγνεσθαι τὰ κέρεα”. This view Eustath. follows, only pointing out that “ἄφαρ” is stronger than “ταχύ”. See further on Od. 11.274. But comparing Od.7. 52; 8.583; 17.486; 19. 328; Il.9. 441; 12.347; 21.465; 23. 499 we gather that “τελέθω” is rather identical in meaning with “πέλω” than with “γίγνομαι”, so that we should rather translate, ‘are horned at once,’ i.e. come to birth with horns ready grown or at least sprouting, and this harmonises best with the interpretation of Aristotle, Hist. Anim. 8. 28 “καὶ ἐν μὲν Λιβύῃ εὐθὺς γίνεται κέρατα ἔχοντα τὰ κερατώδη τῶν κριῶν （“ζώων” σξην.᾿, οὐ μόνον οἱ ἄρνες, ὥσπερ Ὅμηρός φησιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τἆλλα” . The connection with τρὶς γάρ which follows is:—Such a fact illustrates the genial productiveness of Libya; for it ranges itself with other facts pointing the same way, such as that there are three sets of lambs in a year. This fertility would be something astonishing; compare Aristot. Mirab. 81 “παρὰ τοῖς Ὀμβρικοῖς φασὶ τὰ βοσκήματα τρὶς τίκτειν τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ”, and Virg. Georg. 2. 150 “‘bis gravidae pecudes, bis pomis utilis arbos.’”

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

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