[136] μέγα τε σθένος. Here “μέγα” is strictly an epitheton ornans—‘his greatness of strength.’ Some take this clause as if it were the summing up of the foregoing details, but it is simpler to couple it directly with φυήν, and to regard “μηρούς τε . . στιβαρόν” as an appositional epexegesis of “φυήν”. The athletic form of Odysseus is similarly described Od.18. 67“φαῖνε δὲ μηροὺς”
“καλούς τε μεγάλους τε, φάνεν δέ οἱ εὐρέες ὦμοι”,“στήθεά τε στιβαροί τε βραχίονες”.
In what follows, οὐδὲ … δεύεται, the meaning is, ‘he is not past the prime of life;’ συνέρρηκται means ‘he is broken down.’
