[299] ἕρκος κτλ.: to be a defence, etc. Cf. 137. Const. with both “ἱππῆας” and “πεζούς”.
ἔμεν: “εἶναι”, § 34 g. κακούς: worthless, unwarlike,—without moral quality.—This passage was often used as an illustration by the ancient rhetoricians: weak arguments were to be sandwiched between the stronger arguments which should begin and close the speech.—cf. “καὶ γὰρ ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τούς τε πρώτους ἀρίστους δεῖ τάττειν καὶ τοὺς τελευταίους, ἐν μέσῳ δὲ τοὺς χειρίστους ἵνα ὑπὸ μὲν τῶν ἄγωνται, ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν ὠθῶνται” Xen. Mem. iii. “Ι”. 8.This text is part of:
Homer's Iliad, Books IV-VI. Thomas D. Seymour. Boston. Ginn and Company. 1891.
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