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[289] It is not clear whether τό οἱ . . ὄλεθρον is an independent clause descriptive of the shield (which had saved him, viz. 268 above), or is to be included under the idea of contingency in the preceding and following clauses, “κε” being virtually supplied from them, which would have in that case warded off. The former seems preferable, as the relative “τό” is regularly used to introduce such subordinate descriptive touches. But the whole sentence, with its long chain of unrealised possibilities, is by no means in the Homeric manner.

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