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The Ignorance of Antilochus The Classical Review http://journals.cambridge.org/CAR Additional services for The Classical Review: Email alerts: Click here Subscriptions: Click here Commercial reprints: Click here Terms of use : Click here The Ignorance of Antilochus L. H. Allen The Classical Review / Volume 34 / Issue 1-2 / February 1920, pp 6 - 10 DOI: 10.1017/S0009840X00013226, Published online: 27 October 2009 Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0009840X00013226 How to cite this article: L. H. Allen (1920). The Ignorance of Antilochus. The Classical Review, 34, pp 6-10 doi:10.1017/S0009840X00013226 Request Permissions : Click here Downloaded from http://journals.cambridge.org/CAR, IP address: 138.251.14.35 on 07 May 2015 THE CLASSICAL REVIEW removed for the non-imperative use of 91 "T/jufivaov et al. In the same line Sevre, Bavre, or Bij^re to mean ' hither '; KaxdvOrjv is accusative of Kcneavdr)?, like and so both here and in Theocr. n. 22. XpyaavBrp, iroXvavdqs, Trop<f>vpavOi}<}, cf. I would now take it as equivalent to Brj, Nicander Alex. 420 KaKavffijeis. The the effect here being to recall the reader TreSd'Yp'i) of 1. 20 is imperative of •nreSay- to the first request of the Ode,—' when pem or TreBdyprjfii; cf. Hesych. ireBdr/- return he does, as I am praying he perov • /j,eraSl,a)KTov, Theocr. 29. 28 may.' In 1. 18, for the elision of the t •n-aXivdypeTov, and the Lesbian use-of of \exea-ai, cf. Bergk, P.L.G. Frag. dypeco for aipieo. Adesp. 51 apfiArea-ff o^/tevo?, where the dialect points to Alcaeus or Sappho; J. M. EDMONDS. cf. also OTT' efup Sa. 1. 17. For ydai= Jesus College, yaldi in 1. 19, cf. Sa. 44* <&a>/c&a<s, Cambridge. THE IGNORANCE OF ANTILOCHUS. A STUDY IN INTERPOLATION. WE should be grateful indeed if some sciously started at the gibe. Result, beneficent fairy could unroll for us a explosions from the audience. mental cinematograph-film, showing us Of the two I confess I prefer the old- the different interpolators of Homer at fashioned style ; for the piece is a little work, and disclosing their thoughts and poem of itself, and I prefer to sacrifice motives in the process. We to-day have realism to poetry rather than poetry to studied the art of analysis to a nicety, realism. I believe that a Greek would and it often causes us to misunderstand have listened in this spirit of detachment the art of interpolation. Accustomed to such a piece as the weeping of to dissection, we are apt to expect that Achilles' horses. It might delay the the interpolator, before inserting his action of the battle; it might be a piece, went through the same rigid piece of sentiment out of place. But process as we do. This is not always it was moving in itself and subdued the case. A particular gem must have criticism. If a rhapsode had omitted it, sometimes demanded its way into the popular clamour would probably have whole by popular applause, and it would demanded its restoration. have been listened to uncritically for its There are, however, other interpola- intrinsic beauty. A good instance of tions which considerably affect the our change in habit of mind appears in action, which must have demanded the present stage-rendering of famous some acute analysis before insertion, Shakesperean passages and that of a and which evidence remarkable skill in. generation ago. An elderly acquaintance smoothing, if they fail to obliterate, of mine has told me that in his youth a inconsistencies. The presence of a speech like ' All the world's a stage ' contradiction by no means infers lack of would be spoken by the star, detached dexterity. Let any modern try to insert from the action of the play, and simply the story of Cain and Abel into reciting to the audience. On the other Paradise Lost. If he could deceive hand, when: I saw Mr. Oscar Asche in an acute man hunting for difficulties the character of Jaques, he took after his tenth reading of the poem he elaborate measures to assimilate this would be clever indeed. For we must speech to the action and atmosphere of remember that it is the acute manr the woodland scene. He spoke it hunting for difficulties, and not the sitting at a rustic table and eating an ordinary reader, who finds them. apple. At the reference to the 'lean The Patrokleia, or more properly and slippered pantaloon' he pointed speaking, the original fight and death meaningly to a Guy - Fawkes - like of Patroclus, is a centre-point in the character, obviously dressed, to make great contest, and was bound to receive this piece of business, who self-con- additions. Xi we are content to expect THE CLASSICAL REVIEW certain inconsistencies arising from Originally there was one dead man— their insertion, we shall be struck with Patroclus; and Euphorbus, though admiration at the skill in the inter- very useful to the self-esteem of the weaving. We shall be convinced that Greeks when alive, simply becomes a the authors of the main expansions had nuisance when dead, and is obliterated an adequate view of the general frame- in summary fashion. work and were able to justify their Little cracks and fissures thus appear, work by the choice of sufficient but the wonder is that there are so few. motives. More have been found in abundance, I One growing idea was behind the know, but many are existent only in main drift of certain interpolations—the hypercritical brains. Let any modern belittlement of Hector. In the ages poet, I say again, determine to insert a nearer to the Trojan war the Achaean lengthy Biblical episode into Paradise chiefs could give the dues of chivalry to Lost; let him do it under the spell of a greatly fallen foe. In the original inspiration, and he will find the rivetting Menis Hector alone slays Patroclus, work amazingly troublesome. stripping him of his arms. As the war For the bards of these particular receded into the dimness of time, the episodes certainly were under the spell Greek bards increased the glory of of inspiration. They had worked them- their national chieftains at the expense selves into the situations and were of the Trojans. Thus it is that Hector faithful to the characteristics of the becomes merely a third-hand slayer of heroes. Patroclus. This is evident enough in the main, It was this idea which introduced the but I take occasion here to defend a Euphorbus episode and the donning of passage in which this is questioned— Achilles* armour by Patroclus. where Hector dons the armour of If one reads the story with the Achilles (XVII. 140 ff.). ' It is some- excitement and hurry of battle in his what startling to find Hector, after his mind, the traces of these insertions will great promises, and his appeal to not be glaringly apparent. There is an Glaucus to stand by his side and amazing verve and continuity in the watch, suddenly leaving the field of narrative such as would carry a battle.1 Such is the verdict of Leaf. rhapsode clear through with an audience. But consider the circumstances, and Yet the traces are there. For instance, it is not startling. Glaucus is a thorough even in the Sarpedon-episode, which has grumbler; he does not seem to have very little to do with the belittling of his heart in the fight, or, in fact, Hector, somebody has made a slip. in the war. He is concerned to Zeus, as he gazes down at the fight over keep Hector alive to the kindness of the fallen Lycian, considers whether the Lycians in coming to Troy at all. he will allow Hector there and then to So, in XVI. 538, he chides Hector few slay Patroclus and strip him of his armour neglecting his allies, and seems to (XVI. 650). Here is a vestige of the regard him as responsible for Sarpedon's original story, but it has been forgotten death. Now, too, the old grudge is that Apollo is to do this for Hector. fresh, and he even threatens to withdraw Moreover, though we are told that his men. Hector is readily responsive Apollo did so in XVI. 804, yet at to an appeal to Ms chivalry, and Ms XVII. 125 we find that Hector did it. reply shows how deeply his senge of So, too,the introduction of Euphorbus honour is% stung. It consists of the leads to a confusion between his armour defence that Zeus is against him, add and that of Patroclus. When Hector ends with a curt command to Glaucus hears that Euphorbus is killed by to stand at his side and see what he wiH Menelaus, he sees the victor, as he da. searches the lines, stripping Euphorbus It is a good phrase, i8e epyov; it of his armour (XVII. 84-85). When he means that Hector is too moved and too hurries up to engage Menelaus, the proud to say more. A sudden idea has latter draws back, regretting that he seized him. Zeus may be against bint, must leave Patroclus and his armour (91). but he will thwart the Thunderer by 8 THE CLASSICAL REVIEW donning the magic armour. Glaucus clus' body, despatches* Menelaus to will not have long to wait; he will soon advise Antilochus of Patroclus' death, be back in double vigour. with the request that he convey the As he rallies back to the fight, he news to Achilles, in the hope of rousing shows what point in Glaucus' speech him to revenge (XVII.
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