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[142] ἐμμεμαώξ answers to “μεμαώς” in 135; the lion, like Diomedes, is only the more aroused by the wound, cf. 17.735. Bentley, feeling natural difficulty in the conjunction of “ἐμμεμαώς” with the retreat implied in “ἐξάλλεται”, conj. “ἐμμαπέως”, cf. 836; but the inconsistency lies in the word “ἐξάλλεται” in its relation to the next line. It is feeble to say ‘as furiously as a lion retreats, so furiously did D. attack.’ Hence Bayfield would reject 141-2 as an awkward addition meant to supply “ἐμμεμαώς” to answer “μεμαώς” in 135; the real answer being sufficiently implied in “σθένος ὦρσεν”. There is no doubt that the omission makes the simile more effective; but in the Epic style one would expect to be told the fate of the sheep. βαθέης, as Od. 9.239 “βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς”: we should use the converse ‘high.’

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

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