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[10] There seems to be no choice here but to accept the vulgate εὖτ᾽ in the sense of “ἠύτε”, like as; though the only other instance of it is 19.386 (q. v.). The reading of the Massaliot, “ἠύτε” (“ἠύτ᾽”) “ὄρευς”, introduces a non-Homeric contraction, as Ar. pointed out; the few other instances of it are very suspicious (“Ἐρέβευς, θάρσευς, θέρευς, θάμβευς”, see H. G. § 105. 3). The reading of G, “ὥς τ᾽”, adopted by van L., is merely another instance of the passion of that MS. for the introduction of Attic forms into the text. “ἠύτε” and “εὖτε” are obviously different forms of the same word, cf. “ἠύς” by “εὖ”: there is indeed nothing to prevent our writing “ηὖτε” at once, as in the old alphabet they were indistinguishable. And the two senses as and when pass into one another with the greatest ease, just as with “ὡς”. Some ancient commentators took “εὖτε” in the ordinary sense, when, making 12 into the apodosis; but such a form for the expression of a simile is quite without parallel in H.

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

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