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[260] The MS. evidence gives us our choice between “δὲ καὐτός, δὲ κ̓”（“αὶ”） “αὐτός”, and “δέ κ̓”（“ε”) “αὐτός”. La Roche discusses the question of crasis in Homer H. U. pp. 283-7, and decides in favour of the first. Crasis in Homer is established, as far as the Alexandrian text is concerned, by “οὑμός” 8.360, “ωὑτός” 5.396, “ὥριστος τἆλλα οὕνεκα τοὔνεκα”, etc.; and though “κε” in the present passage is possible, yet “καί” gives a better sense. In 13.734, Od. 3.255, Od. 6.282, “καί” alone seems to be admissible. Cf. also 2.238 “χ᾽ ἡμεῖς”. It is not improbable that in all these cases, however, the “αι” is really elided, as not unfrequently in verbal forms; so we find “σ᾽” and “μ᾽” for “σοι” and “μοι” (1.170). The instances of crasis are then reduced to a very small number; for “ὤριστος” the metre always allows “ὁ ἄριστος”, for “ωὑτός” we may read “αὐτός” or “οὗτος”, for “οὑμός ὁ ἐμός”, or better, with Brandreth, “ἀμός”. See H. G. § 377, and note on 5.393-400.

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

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