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[403] This verse occurs seven times in Il. and four times in Od. (all in “ε”). In the whole of H. there are only nineteen other passages where the “ϝ” of “ϝός” is neglected, and eight of these can be easily emended. Forty-five passages absolutely require the “ϝ”, and over 170 admit of it (Knös p. 215). It seems strange that this formula, which must be an old one, should afford so large a proportion of the violations. Emendation is easy (“ϝεῖπε ϝεόν” — rather “ϝε<*>πεν ἑϝόν” — Bentley, “ἄρ᾽ ἔφη” Heyne, “ϝεῖπε δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὀχθήσας”, or “ποτὶ” for “πρὸς ὅν”, van L., “προτί” for “πρὸς ὅν” Brandreth) but indefensible. The line is in fact the strongest support for Usener's theory that the last syllable of the (dactylic) 3rd foot was originally an anacrusis for the second half of the line, and common in quantity. See note on B 400. But it must not be forgotten that we have an equally startling violation of “ϝ” in what seems to be an equally old formula, “ὧς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν <*>κάστου”.

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

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