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[181] 181-87 seem to be wrongly repeated from above, for Priam is in the sequel evidently ignorant of any such promise; he does not mention it to Hekabe, nor does he recognize his guide when he meets him; Hermes has to tell his name at the last moment. Those who reject these lines (which were first athetized by Payne Knight) deal in the same way with 152-58; but for this there is no justification. For the sake of the audience the poet makes Zeus announce beforehand that Priam will be safe; but that the old man himself should be ignorant of this heightens the heroism of his journey, and holds the sympathy of the hearer while avoiding the suspense and anxiety which do not consort with the Epic style. It may further be noticed that the substance of 152, the only part of 152-58 which needs to be communicated to Priam, is already given in 171. Moreover, a precisely parallel structure occurs in the message of Zeus carried by Thetis; for she only tells Achilles the end at which Zeus is aiming, but does not repeat 117-19 which tell the means by which it is to be attained — thus bringing about the graphic scene of Achilles' surprise at the appearance of Priam in person. It is far more surprising that 117-19 should not have been interpolated at the end of the speech of Thetis than that 152-58 should have been added to that of Iris.

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

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