[106] οἷά τε φύλλα. The point of comparison is the constant movement of the women at their task. This is better than the notion, which Nitzsch espouses, of their sitting as close together as leaves grow on the aspen. Leaves in general, while they may afford an illustration of multitude, as Il.2. 468, 800, supply similes for other ideas as well; for instance, they are a type of perishableness, Il.21. 464.The leaves of the aspen are not remarkable for their closeness but for their tremulous movement. Besides, Nitzsch's interpretation would rather require “ὅσσα τε” than οἷά τε. The Schol. M. P. V.gives both interpretations: “φύλλα δὲ ἤτοι διὰ τὸ πλῆθος, ἢ διὰ τὸ εὐκίνητον τῶν χειρῶν ἐν τῷ στρέφειν τὴν κρόκην, ὡς καὶ τὰ φύλλα τῆς αἰγείρου ἀντεστραμμένα ἀλλήλοις καὶ εὐκίνητα ῥᾳδίως καὶ ὑπὸ τυχούσης αὔρας, ὡς καὶ Σοφοκλῆς ἐν Αἰγεῖ” (Frag. Dind. 24) “ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν φύλλοισιν αἰγείρου μακρᾶς”,
“κἂν ἄλλο μηδὲν, ἀλλὰ τοὐκείνης κάρα”“κινεῖ τις αὔρα κἀνακουφίζει πτερόν”.
