[247] ἄριστοι, supply “εἰμέν” from the preceding line. Here the omission of the substantive verb occurs in a clause coupled to a preceding one containing a finite verb. Cp. Od.7. 89“σταθμοὶ δ᾽ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ”,
“ἀργύρεον δ᾽ ἐφ̓” [= “ἐπῆν] ὑπερθύριον Od., 20. 208 τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοισι”, Il.16. 768“αἵ τε πρὸς ἀλλήλας ἔβαλον τανυήκεας ὄζους”“ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, πάταγος δέ τε ἀγνυμενάων Il., 17. 688 πῆμα θεὸς Δαναοῖσι” “κυλίνδει”
“νίκη δὲ Τρώων”. For the omission of “εἰμί” cp. Il.20. 434; 21. 108, 482; Od.18. 64; of “ἐσσί” Il.2. 201; 8.423; Od.4. 206; 18. 126: of “εἰμέν”, Il.8. 205; 9.225; Od.2. 60; 6. 203: of “ἐστέ”, Il.1. 335; 7.281; Od.10. 463: of “ἦν”, Il.1. 404; 3.214; Od.7. 87, 90; 12. 235: of “ἦσαν”, Il.2. 217; 4.90; 11. 692: of “ᾖ”, Il.1. 547; 5.481; Od.15. 394: of “ἔσται”, Il.18. 278.