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[32] The thought evidently is, ‘be wise before you have come to harm; even a fool is wise after the event.’ Cf. Hesiod Opp. 218 “παθὼν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω”, Pl. Symp. 222B “κατὰ τὴν παροιμίαν ὥσπερ νήπιον παθόντα γνῶναι”. The word “παθέειν” has evidently at once suggested the proverb here and involved the slight change of “παθών” to “ῥεχθέν”. The clause πρὶν . . παθέειν belongs strictly to “ἰέναι, μὴ δ᾽ . . ἐμεῖο” being parenthetical.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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hide References (2 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Hesiod, Works and Days, 218
    • Plato, Symposium, 222b
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