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[95] 95-136. This long episode, which the last few lines (from 88 or 90) are designed to introduce, has all the appearance of having been worked into the story from an independent Herakleia. It is needless to point out how unsuitable such a digression is at this point; though indeed many speakers with a bad case take refuge in telling stories. — It will be seen that the doings and even the very words of the gods are narrated by an actor in the story; elsewhere they are told only by the poet himself, who knows them of course by direct inspiration. This no doubt was the case in the original Herakleia.

Both the Ζ῀ην᾽ of our MSS. and “Ζεύς” of Ar. are defensible. The trans. use of the mid. is supported by the two cases of “ἀᾶται” in the context, without which we should be bound to read either “ἄασε” (Brandreth) or “Ζεύς”. Did. thinks the latter “ποιητικώτερον”, but the epithet may with at least equal justice be applied to the acc., as more directly expressing the subjection of Zeus to this external power.

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

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