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Book Ten
but the episode is superficially well constructed and its coherence is enhanced
by many cross-references within it:
3 Agamemnon cannot sleep -25 neither can Menelaos -116 Nestor
suspects that Menelaos is slumbering;
18 Agamemnon decides to consult Nestor - 54 repeats his intention -
82 rouses Nestor;
37 Menelaos mentions sending out a spy - 204 Nestor proposes it;
53 Agamemnon proposes to rouse Aias and Idomeneus - 109 Nestor
adds Diomedes, Odysseus, Meges and the other Aias - 148 Nestor
rouses Diomedes and Odysseus - 179 Diomedes rouses Aias and
Meges;
56 Agamemnon suggests to Menelaos inspecting the watch - 97 he
suggests to Nestor the watch may be sleeping - 180 the watch are
alert.
Beneath this superficial cohesion, however, the whole episode lacks a sense
of direction. Agamemnon sets off to find Nestor and devise some plan to
save the army (17-20); then his consultations expand to include Aias and
Idomeneus (53); Nestor is roused to see if the watch are keeping proper
guard (97-9); then Nestor tells Odysseus the issue is whether to flee or fight
(146-7), but cites an undefined moment of crisis to Diomedes.
1-20 These verses make up a typical scene of reflection leading to decision,
cf. Arend, Scenen 106-15. The key word uepur|pi£eiv does not appear
but lurks behind TTOAACX 9pgoiv opiaocivovTa, a formula (2X //., 2X Od.)
whose nominative case is TTOAACX 9p€ai uepur)pi£cov {Od. 1.427). The presence
of the theme and the absence of |i£pnr|pi£siv exemplify a difference
between this Book's handling of traditional topics and that of the Iliad,
which is more evident in its treatment of dressing and arming scenes. For
detailed discussion see Danek, Dolonie 214-29.
1-4 As a transitional passage, verses 1-4 are closely parallel to 2.1-2
&AA01 |i6v pa Oeoi T6 KOCI dvepes iTTTTOKOpuoTori | e08ov TTOVVUXIOI, Aia 5' OUK
6X6 vf)8u[ios OTTVOS, cf. 24.677-9. A similar situation, but in different language,
introduces book 24. As they stand, the verses serve to link this Book
with book 9, which (712—13) ended with the retirement of the Achaean
chiefs to bed. But the link is more apparent than real: the Achaeans retired
in a resolute frame of mind after some rousing words from Diomedes, now
they are all in as much despair and perplexity as at the beginning of book 9.
1-2 Aristotle {Poet. I46iai6) was misled by the similarity of the opening
of book 2 to quote 2.1-2 where 10.1-2 were intended. He went on to
transpose verses 12 and 13. Nothing about the text can be inferred from the
philosopher's faulty recollection. Verse 13 is inorganic, and like many such
verses has been ejected by austere modern critics on that ground.
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