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[190] μετασπών, catching them up. This sense may be derived from the primitive sense of “ἕπειν”, to handle; in aor. to lay hands upon in the sense of attaining an end. But in Od. 14.33, the only passage where this aor. part. recurs, this sense is hardly so suitable — “συβώτης ὦκα ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπών” (sc. “κύνας”); the sense required is not overtaking the dogs, but rather, on the analogy of the other uses of “μεθέπειν”, getting them under control, by kicking them. If this explanation is right it would seem that the word here is copied and misunderstood, being taken for an archaic form of “μετασπόμενος” (e.g. 13.567). But the act. and mid. of this verb seem never to be interchangeable. Nauck marks the line ‘spurius?’ without giving reasons, but probably as made up from Od. 19.301 and Od. 14.33. It could certainly be well spared.

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

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