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[54] τῷ ἴκελος. This line seems a mere tautology after ἐοικώς, but for a corresponding repetition in a simile cp. Il.5. 87, 93“θῦνε γὰρ ἂμ πεδίον ποταμῷ πλήθοντι ἐοικώς . . ὣς ὑπὸ Τυδείδῃ πυκιναὶ κλονέοντο φάλαγγες”. On ἐοικώς Schol. P. says, “κατὰ τὴν ὁρμὴν οὐ κατὰ τὴν μορφὴν, ὡς καὶ Ἶρις μολυβδαίνῃ ἰκέλη” ( Il.24. 80). The words are only meant to imply that Hermes swooped down, and swam on the water like a sea bird.

With πολέεσσιν cp. Trachin. 112 foll. “πολλὰ . . κύματα . . βάντ᾽ ἐπιόντα τε”.

ὀχήσατο, ‘rode on the thronging waves,’ i. e. made them his “ὄχημα”.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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