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[724] Note that the enclitic μ᾽ is used, not the orthotone form “ἐμέ”. Bekker lays down the rule (H. B. i. 220) ‘an antithesis which is not foreseen and announced at the beginning of the sentence, but introduced only by a development, expansion or change of thought or expression, cannot be indicated at the beginning by the accent — in the pronoun by orthotonesis’ (cf. also Lehrs, Q. Ep. 112). Here the main thought is the change in tacties, and the emphasis lies on the verb “ἀνάειρε”, not on the opposition of persons; ‘let us hoist — try you with me or I with you.’ The idea evidently is that each in turn is to offer only a passive resistance, and let his adversary try to fling him thus. A similar case is that of the boxing-match of Kreugas and Damoxenos at the Nemean games. After boxing till dusk without result they agreed that each should in turn hold up his hands and allow the other a blow — with the ghastly result related by Pausanias (viii. 40. 3). For the rare shortening of ἤ see note on Od. 21.576.

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

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