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[73] The idea of tempting the army has been compared with a similar story told of Cortes; a proposal on his part to return was made merely to excite the spirits of his followers, and met with complete success. ἣ θέμις ἐστί, as the words stand, can only apply to the verb “πειρήσομαι”, but it is impossible to see how such a temptation can be an ‘established’ or ‘rightful custom.’ It is usual to join them with “ἐγών”, ‘it is rightful for me as king to do so’; but this gives a hardly better sense, and is against the order. The whole conclusion of the speech can only be explained by supposing that the author is trying to hurry over an impossible task, suggesting the idea of the temptation in words whose exact bearing is to be forgotten as quickly as possible.

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

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