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Book Nine
according to Szemerenyi, Syncope in Greek and Indo-European (Naples 1964)
71-8, commends one who knows how to behave towards his elders or
betters, cf. 58 and n.
691-2 = 427-8 with change to the 3rd person.
694 Zenodotus (Did/AT) did not read this verse but, as usual, it was read
but athetized by Aristophanes and Aristarchus. Their objection was that
KpocTEpcos described the manner of Akhilleus, not that of Odysseus: true, but
the objection fails to take account of the habits of formular composition.
The verse is repeated, with ayopeuae for oaresnrev, from 431. It is absent
from the parallel run of verses 29-31 (29 = 693, 30-1 = 695-6), but that
is without significance, for by no means could Agamemnon's defeatist manner
at the beginning of the Book be described as speaking Kpcrrspcos. The
same run, with 694 but without 695, recurs at 8.28-30, an instance of the
way that these long formulas are adapted to their context. Verse 695 by
repeating 30 emphasizes the utter failure of the Achaeans' initiative; they
end the Book exactly where they began - but this is before Diomedes has
spoken.
697-709 The characterization of Diomedes as a self-confident warrior
(cf. his assumption that a flag of truce is sign of weakness, 7.400-2, and his
boast at 48-9), a double in that respect of Akhilleus but keeping some sense
of Agamemnon's rank, is well maintained in this short speech. Note the tact
attributed to him in trying circumstances at 4.4016°. and his careful language
at 32-41 above. AicjcrecjOai (698) and uupioc 8copa (699) are bitter
comments on the embassy and neatly expose the false situation into which
Agamemnon's generosity has led him: the more he offers the less he negotiates
from the position of a (3aaiA£UT6pos.
699 dyrjvcop may be complimentary, a briefer synonym of ueyaAfjTGOp,
but here = ayav uppionriKOS (Arn/A). The implication is that Akhilleus has
not heeded Phoinix' appeal Sauaaov duuov usyav (496), cf. Odysseus'
words to the ghost of Aias Sduao-ov 8e uevos KCU ayfjvopa Ouuov (Od. 11.562).
701-9 Diomedes' vigorous language is heavily formular: 701 = Od.
14.183; in 703, the formula Ouuos evi orfjOeaaiv avcoyrj (3X ) is drawn back
by its enjambment from the verse-end position; 704 = 2.139 etc. (6x //.,
2X Od.); 705, cf. TSTapTrouEvos xe 91A0V Kfjp (Od. 1.310); 706 = 19.161; 707
imperfectly recalls fjuos 8' f)piyeveia 9&vr| £o8o8dKTuAos 'Hcbs (20X Od.,
but only once previously (1.477) m ^0> 7°9> £V * ( U£T &) 'npcoToiai u&x«T0ai
etc. (6x ).
709-9 Diomedes turns back to Agamemnon, as the singulars in 709
show, with a pointed remark. Agamemnon did not lead the battle that
began at 4.446 - first blood went to Antilokhos — still less the fighting that
began at 8.60; but he did not conduct the battle always from the safety of
the rear either. He heads the list of victors at 5.38-83 (but not that at
H9