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[804] The omission of this line in several MSS. is not accidental. It was apparently unknown to Ar., for Nikanor says “συναπτέον πάντα μέχρι τοῦ “χαλκὸν ἑλόντε,” οὐ λείποντος τοῦ μάχεσθαι ἤ τινος τοιούτου”. He compares the absolute use of Od. 21.175 “ὥς φάτο, καί ῥ᾽ ἐκέλευσε Μελάνθιον”, where, however, the substance of the command is expressed directly, in the following speech, instead of by an infin.; and 24.90 “τίπτέ με κεῖνος ἄνωγε θεός”, which has the double acc. Neither is a sufficient authority for taking the word in the sense summon forth. It is indeed used of urging on horses, 24.326, and cf. 4.286 “σφῶϊ μὲν οὐ γὰρ ἔοικ᾽ ὀτρυνέμεν, οὔ τι κελεύω”, and a few similar phrases; but this sense is inapplicable here, as “περὶ τῶνδε” has nothing to go with except “πειρηθῆναι”, and the line is therefore indispensable, and its omission would hardly be compensated even if we read “ἑλέσθαι” for ἑλόντε.

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

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