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[273] οὐ γὰρ Ζεὺς εἴασε ‘Zeus did not suffer it—.’ The sentence is elliptical: what it was that Zeus did not suffer is not expressed, but is implied in the following clause “τῶ κέ κτλ.”=‘if he had, we should have silenced Telemachus.’ Thus the whole sentence is a paratactic way of saying ‘for Zeus did not suffer us to silence him as we should otherwise have done.’ Antinous naturally chooses to use somewhat veiled language.

For τῶ=‘in that case,’ when the case is one that has not happened, cp. 14. 369 “τῶ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν κτλ.” It is commoner after a wish, as in 18. 402., 24. 32, Il.21. 280 Il., 432. Il., 22. 427.

276-278. As to this feast of Apollo see on 14. 158ff. The mention of it is rather abrupt. It serves to remind us that the eventful day had now come.

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