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[95] εἴρεσθαι, almost the only instance in Homer of a pres. inf. after “μέλλω” meaning ‘to be about to’: see on 14. 133., 18. 138. The exceptions are, “νέεσθαι” (6. 110, Il.17. 497,—where however it may be fut.), and “λίσσεσθαι” in Il.10. 455.The aor. inf. is also very rare (Krüger, Dial.§ 53, 8, 6).

109-114. These lines are not quite in place here. The general words of l. 108 form a sufficient introduction to the speech of Ulysses. And, as Friedländer has pointed out (Analecta Hom. p. 462), l. 115 “τῶ ἐμὲ νῦν κτλ.” implies that a reason has been given why Penelope should not ask who the stranger is—a reason which the lines in question cannot be thought to supply. In substance and in style they are Hesiodic: see the very similar passage Hes. Op.225-237. The mention of fishing as an important source of wealth points to a post-Homeric state of things. The scanning πα_ρέχῃ is perhaps to be defended by “συ_νεχές” in 9. 74, but is at least unusual. Probably we have here one of the instances of a fragment of early gnomic poetry finding its way into epic narrative.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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