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[64] It will be seen that there are two main variants in this line, πόντος ὑπ᾽ αὐτῆς and “πόντον ὑπ᾽ αὐτῆι”. The former is supported by the analogy of Od. 12.406 “ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπ᾽ αὐτῆς”. Ar. preferred the latter probably because verbs in “-άνω” and “-αίνω” are almost always trans. in H. But in 20.42 “κυδάνω” is intrans. (in 14.73 trans.), and “ἱζάνω” always, except in 23.258. But the formation of “μελάνω” direct from “μελαν-” is in any case very unusual, and quite distinct from that of other verbs in “-ανω”. The regular Homeric form is of course “μελαίνω”. The Alexandrines (Ap. Rhod., Kallim., Aratos) use the form “μελανεῖν”, which is, however, no better than “μελάνειν”. We can only suppose that the word is a coinage based on the false analogy of “κυδάνειν” beside “κυδαίνειν”.

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

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