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[262] οὔτε after “μή” shews a change of mind from the form of swearing to simple asseveration. The meaning of πρόφασιν is not clear. It recurs in H. only in 302, where it is generally taken in the familiar sense, by way of pretext (but see note there). But this does not suit the context; as this particular treatment of Briseis was the worst that could be expected, it could not be alleged as an excuse for anything else. “πρόφασις” in fact means a profession, without necessarily implying that it is a false one; and it is in fact often used of a real cause, as the Lexica will shew. We can therefore take “εὐνῆς πρόφασιν” together, for the sake of my bed (“κοίτης χάριν” Sch. B), when κεχρημένος will mean desiring her. This is of course the regular sense of the word in H., but it must be admitted that in this context there is some suspicion of the later phrase “χρῆσθαι γυναικί” — a constr. strange to H. except in the single Odyssean phrase “φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητ᾽ ἀγαθῆισιν”. Monro joins “εὐνῆς κεχρ”. together, desiring her bed, and “πρόφασιν” as an adverb = professedly (‘of a true ground’). But it is hard to see what sense the addition of the word gives; at best it is ambiguous and reduces the oath to nothing.

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

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