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[48] πειθώμεθα, cf. 645 “γήραϊ λυγρῶι πείθεσθαι”. The phrase is not very exact, as ‘the feast’ must mean ‘the necessity of eating.’ But this seems hardly ground enough for concluding that the line is a reminiscence of 8.502 (= 9.65) “πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνηι” (cf. 7.282 “ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι”). There is a peculiar appropriateness when Achilles speaks of food as an inevitable power. The variant “τερπώμεθα” is quite out of place in his mouth. Compare Od. 7.216 “οὐ γάρ τι στυγερῆι ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον ἄλλο”, Od. 18.53 “ἀλλά με γαστὴρ ὀτρύνει κακοεργός”, whence Peppmüller conj. “γαστρί” for “δαιτί” here.

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

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