Book 1
Book 1 (α)
Commentary on line 1
e)/nnepe is the assimilated form of ἔνσεπε (from stem σεπ), as the Aeolic aorist ἔτεννα stands for ἔτενσα. We may compare the Lat. word insece, which is actually used in the translation of this line by Livius Andronicus, Virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum.
moi is enclitic, = prithee; as distinguished from the emphatic dative ei)pe\ kai\ h(mi=n, l. 10. For the order observed as to the place and succession of Enclitics in Homeric Greek, see Monro, Homeric Grammar, Append. E.
*mou=sa = Μοντια, Μονσα, from root μεν, to think. In l. 10 the muse is called θύγατερ Διός, as in Il. 2. 491 Ὀλυμπιάδες Μοῦσαι, Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο θυγατέρες. They are represented as nine in number in Od. 24. 607, but their names are first given in Hesiod.
polu/tropon, of many devices, versutus. This epithet of Odysseus recurs only Od. 10. 330; but it has many equivalents in Il.and Od., e. g. πολύμητις, πολύφρων, πολυμήχανος, ποικιλόμητις, the general sense of which seems to fix its meaning. Cp. the phrase by which Odysseus characterises himself, Od. 9. 19 εἴμ' Ὀδυσεὺς Λαερτιάδης ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισιν
ἀνθρώποισι μέλω. Nitzsch explains it as equivalent to πολύπλαγκτος, and takes the words ὃς μάλα πολλὰ πλάγχθη as its epexegesis. Cp. inf. 300 πατροφονῆα ὅς οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα, Od. 18. 1 πτωχὸς πανδήμιος ὃς κατὰ ἄστυ πτωχεύεσκε, Il. 5. 63; 9. 124; 11. 475; 12. 295; 13. 452; which suggests that the Homeric usage is, in some cases, to repeat some portion of the word, at least, in the epexegetical clause. See Lehrs, Rhein. Mus. 1864, p. 303, and Nitzsch, De Odysseae Exordio, Hannov. 1824.
