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[118] The variant “τὸν δέ” (or “τόνδε”) is accepted by some on the ground that δόξ may have been inserted to explain the construction of acc. and infin., for which see 2.413. The change of subject in ἐλθεῖν, if it means ‘that he may come,’ is very violent, but no emendations are acceptable. It is simple enough to translate ‘that I may come within spear cast of him.’ ἑλεῖν, kill, is put first by a slight prothysteron, cf. 24.206, 1.251, and Virgil's moriamur et in media arma ruamus. In all cases the second member, though precedent in time, is only secondary in importance. The hiatus is illicit; there is no other evidence of an initial “ϝ”, and very many passages exclude it. “ἀνέρ᾽ ἑλεῖν” (Heyne) or “ἄνδρ᾽ ἑλεεῖν” (Brandreth) are simple conjectures.

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

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