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[616] This verse is expunged as meaningless by almost all recent editors (Heyne, Bekker, Död., Ameis, Düntzer, Fäsi, von Christ and van Leeuwen). But it is possible to explain it as a hyperbolical expression meant to be taken in irony rather than earnest: ‘ask what you will, you shall have even the half of my kingdom (but do not expect me to change my mind)’; only for the last clause he substitutes ‘these shall take my message,’ i.e. I do not recall it. μείρομαι does not occur again; but it would be a legitimate present of “ἔμμορε”, for “μερ-j-ομαι”. Hes. Theog. 801, Hes. Opp. 578 has “ἀπομείρομαι. ἥμισυ” must be taken as neut. acc. used adverbially, ‘share my honour to the half.’

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

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Hesiod, Theogony, 801
    • Hesiod, Works and Days, 578
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