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[267] ἀοιδὸς ἀνήρ. Eustath. quotes from Athenaeus (1. 14 B), who describes the minstrel as “φύλακα καὶ παραινετῆρά τινα, ὃς πρῶτον μὲν ἀρετὰς γυναικῶν διερχόμενος ἐνέβαλέ τινα φιλοτιμίαν ἐς καλοκἀγαθίαν, εἶτα δὲ διατριβὴν παρέχων ἡδεῖαν ἀπεπλάνα τὴν διάνοιαν φαύλων ἐπινοιῶν”. He also quotes a certain Timolaus as saying that this minstrel was brother of Phemius, “ὃν ἀκολουθῆσαί φησι τῇ Πηνελόπῃ εἰς Ἰθάκην φύλακα”. But, as Dr. Hayman remarks, Odysseus appointed no one to watch (“εἴρυσθαι”) Penelope. Mentor's commission extended only to the house and goods ( Od.2. 225). For this use of “εἴρυσθαι” cp. Od.16. 463; 23.229.

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