[283]
[285] ταῦτ᾽ (α) “κτλ.”, § 121.
[286] Hector disdainfully applies a shameful word, ἀλήμεναι (from “εἴλω”), to the retreat proposed by Polydamas (ll. 254, 255).
[288] μέροπες: note the ictus on the short ultima in spite of the fact that no pause follows, an evident reminiscence of the familiar “μερόπων ἀνθρώπων” A 250, etc.
[289] μυθέσκοντο, ‘used to speak of [the city] as’; with double accusative.
[290] δόμων, genitive of separation after “ἐξαπόλωλε”, ‘have been lost out of the houses.’
[292] περνάμεν̓ (α), ‘sold,’ in trade; to support the besieged city and pay the allies (cf. note on I 402).
[299] ἐγρήγορθε (“ἐγείρω”), perfect imperative active (probably), second person plural, ‘keep awake.’ The form is equivalent to “ἐγρηγόρατε”. Compare “πέποσθε” (3.99).
[300] To cast a slur on Polydamas, Hector suggests that his counsel betrays over-anxiety about saving his property; and as the course that Polydamas advises will lead only to the destruction of the city and the consequent loss of everything, Hector proposes with fine irony that advocates of this course at once share their goods with the mass of the Trojans, who—rather than the Achaeans—ought to be allowed to enjoy them, if the goods are bound to perish anyway.
[302] τῶν, relative; translate by conjunction (“γάρ”) and demonstrative: ‘for it is better that every man of them [“τῶν”] should enjoy them.’
[304] ἐγείρομεν, aorist subjunctive.
[305] παρὰ ναῦφιν, ‘from beside the ships.’
[306] αἴ κ᾽ ἐθέλῃσι, add “μάχεσθαι”.
[308] κε φέρῃσι, an emphatic future, here contrasted with the optative, “κε φεροίμην”, on which less stress is laid. Monro, Homeric Grammar^{2}, § 275 (b).
[309] ‘Ares “is our common lord” [Chapman] and often slays the wouldbe slayer.’ Compare Z 339, “νίκη δ᾽ ἐπαμείβεται ἄνδρας”, with note; and Od. 11.537, “ἐπιμὶξ δέ τε μαίνεται Ἄρης”, ‘Ares rages indiscriminately.’ A similar sentiment is found in Cicero, Pro Milone, 21, 56.
[314] With αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοί the narrative continues the scene described in ll. 231-238; before, the mournful procession was pictured; now the chief figures are evidently in the lodge of Achilles.
[316] ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο, ‘led the choking cry of sorrow.’—For ἁδινοῦ see note on B 87.
[318] ὥς τε (always two words in Homer), ‘like.’—For quantity of τε see § 38.
[319] ὕπο, ‘by stealth.’
[322] εἰ, ‘in the hope that.’
