[236] ἀτάρ. Fäsi makes this word serve as an antithesis to “ἐσθλῶν”—‘good men indeed, but [even virtue has its trials for,] the god grants,’ etc., etc.; only the thought is thrown into quite a general form. See however Classen (Homerisch. Sprachgeb. pp. 9 foll.), who points to this passage as an instance of the parenthetical and paratactical style of Homeric syntax. It is common enough to find a prolepsis or anticipation of the clause containing the reason, so that it precedes the main clause, as Od.1. 337“Φήμιε, πολλὰ γὰρ . . τῶν ἓν ἄειδε”, and similarly Od.5. 29; 8.159; 10. 190, 226; 12. 154, 208 Od., 320.Here, therefore, we may explain ἀτάρ as a similar anticipation of a clause which would naturally come in by way of antithesis to, or reason for, the main clause “ἦ τοι νῦν δαίνυσθε”. Cp. Il.6. 429“Ἕκτορ, ἀτὰρ σύ μοι ἐσσὶ πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ”
“ἠδὲ κασίγνητος, σὺ δέ μοι θαλερὸς παρακοίτης:”“ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε νῦν ἐλέαιρε”. See Schol. on Od. 5.429, who says “τὸ σχῆμα καλεῖται σχέσις”.
