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[156] σύν τεύχεσιν seems to imply a confusion of the comitative and instrumental senses, ‘armed them with their shields’ as in English. We may compare “σὺν ἔντεσι μαρμαίροντας” 279, and “σὺν μεγάλωι ἀπέτισαν” 4.161. Sch. T remarks that “κόσμησεν” would be better than “θώρηξεν”, but this is an opinion only, not a variant. For πάντας Zen. read “πάντηι”, the more usual expression, e.g. 1.384; he is followed by Nauck. The verb of οἱ δέ is forgotten till we come to “ῥώοντο”, 166. — The following elaborate simile is unique as presenting two distinct scenes, first the rending of the body, and then the rush to the spring. The second part, 160-63, contains several strange expressions, and is quite unsuited to its place; for though the eager Myrmidons may be compared to wolves tearing a deer (though even this is premature, while they are only arming), there is less than no point in comparing them to glutted wolves going off to drink. The Epic poet often expands a simile with touches which do not directly bear on the main comparison, but not with a further development directly contradicting it. The natural history of 163 is wrong, for a glutted wolf is a thorough coward. ἀγεληδόν too seems out of place in a simile expressly confined to the leaders only (164). In spite therefore of the vigorous character of the four lines, we must condemn them with Hentze. They may be interpolated from some poem where they were more appropriately applied to an army returning from victory. And one cannot but feel a reluctant suspicion that the directness of the Epic style would be better preserved by the excision of 158-64 altogether. We thus get rid of the “ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες” (164), so that it is the whole body (“πάντας” 156) which is compared to the herd of wolves, as it should be.

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

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