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[34] Various reasons have been urged by Bentley and many others for rejecting this line. It introduces violent changes of subject in 33-35 — “ἔστενε” Achilles, “δείδιε” Antilochos, “ἀποτμήξειε” Achilles, “ὤιμωξεν” Achilles. (Hence some ancient critics actually thought that Antilochos feared lest his own throat should be cut by Achilles; or that Achilles feared lest Hektor should cut off Patroklos' head!) It introduces the idea of suicide, which is elsewhere unknown in the Iliad, and in Od. is mentioned only in a very late passage, Od. 11.277-78 (Od. 4.539, Od. 10.50 are only distant allusions). And it uses “σίδηρος” to mean sword or knife, again a late Odyssean use (see Od. 16.294), and implying a longer familiarity with the use of iron than the Iliad elsewhere admits (see note on 4.123). To the first of these objections it may be replied that a similar series of abrupt changes occurs in H 186-89, to the last that a precisely similar use of “σίδηρος” is found in 23.30, cf. 4.485; though weapons of iron are practically unknown to the Iliad, tools are not, and the word here and in 23.30 may be used of a knife. Still one would be glad to think that Antilochos holds Achilles' hands in 34 out of affectionate sympathy, and that this is an explanatory line added by a man too dull to understand such an action. — The vulg. ἀποτμ́ηξειε is simpler than Ar.'s “ἀπαμήσειε”. The latter regularly means to mow or reap (551, 24.451, Od. 9.135, cf. 11.67, 19.223) and is used in Od. 21.301 of slicing off ears and nose. In all these places it has “α_”-. In 3.359 (= 7.253) “διάμησε χιτῶνα” it means cut through, and has “α^. ἀμήσασθαι” = to collect (24.165, Od. 5.482, Od. 9.247) is presumably a different word altogether (conn. with “ἅμα”?). And the distinct variation in sense combined with that of quantity makes it tempting to separate “διάμησε” from “α?μάω”. In that case “ἀπαμήσειε” would be inappropriate here, for shear off, however applicable to corn and ears, could hardly be applied to the throat. But if it be only a derivative of cut appearing in “διάμησε”, it will be synonymous with “ἀποτμήξειε”, and admissible. But then the difference of quantity is hard to get over; Schulze's attempt to explain it (Q. E. p. 365 n.) is wholly unacceptable. At best it might be the result of a confusion of “α?μῆσαι” and “α?̓μήσασθαι”. For ἀπο- meaning apart, not off, see 16.390. δείδιε, plpf. as in 24.358; “ἔδϝιε” van L., “ἔδδιε” Brandreth as aor. (comparing “εἴδειε: ἐφοβεῖτο”, Hesych.); so “δίε ῀ δϝίε” *e 566 etc.

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

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