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The Text of the Homeric Hymns: II

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

Extract

In the first part of this dissertation an account was given of the MSS. which contain the Homeric Hymns, their families ascertained and an approximation made towards the character and ages of their archetypes. Our next step is to compare these four archetypes, m x y and p, among themselves, with the view of discovering if, and how, they are related to each other, and what is the intrinsic value of their respective traditions. To do this I examine the readings of each archetype in detail, judging each variant in its turn and comparing it with such examples as I can produce that illustrate its particular case. I endeavour to assign each variant to the category of correct original, independent variation, pure corruption, half-intentional correction, and intentional interpolation. Upon the totals of these different classes given by each archetype depends its character and value. It will be seen that I am a disbeliever in the a priori method of dealing with MS. tradition, the method which selects, whether on good or bad grounds, one family as the source of pure tradition and rejects the rest as doctored and vicious, calls their good readings corrections, and their additions interpolations. I see rather in the divergence of families the working of accident, incalculable and not to be formalized.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies 1895

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References

1 As I send these sheets to press I receive, through the kindness of the writer, Dr. Hollander's tract Ueber die neu bekannt gewordenen Handschriften der homerischen Hymnen, Osnabrück 1895. I see on a first reading that the same view in essentials of the single MSS. and their relations is taken that I have expressed in Part I.

2 H 32, ὑμȋν ἀθανάτῃσι, the MSS. are about equally divided between ῃσι and οισι. Zenodotus read the fem.

3 MSS. taken from editions are distinguished by inverted commas.

4 i.e. Barberini i. 161.

5 Monte Cassino S 94.

6 Parma H H ii. 27.

7 Perugia E 48.

8 See Part I. p. 165.

9 I may perhaps be permitted to coin this word, the natural correlative of homoeoteleuton.

10 La Roche, , Hom. Untersuchungen i. p. 53Google Scholar, 54.

11 A = Angelica C i. 2.

12 The passage that follows, 209—213, is no touchstone to decide the excellence of MSS. Where many proper names come together and a corruption takes place the particular form that they will assume is almost pure chance; the authority lies in the facts of the story, not in one or another family. Find once a consistent story for Apollo's amours, and the names will be decided independently of diplomatic evidence. The actual ll. given by the MSS. are much on a level; 209 ἀτλαντίδα m is not necessarily a conjecture more than ἀζαντίδα of cett., nor 211 is ἀμαρύνθω) y necessarily superior to ἅμ’ ἐρϵχθϵῖ m or ἅμ’ ἐρϵυθϵῖ x. 213 ἐλέλιψϵν m is enigmatical, possibly a corruption for ἐνέλϵιψϵν intended as the 1 aor. of ἐλλϵίπω, but in face of the total absence of direction from the context one cannot call it a conjecture (Schneidewin's notion that ἐνέλιπϵν of xp represented a marginal note ἐλλϵίπϵι has met with no one's acceptance but Baumeister's. Λϵίπϵι, not ἐλλϵίπϵι, is the word found in this connection.) Τρίοπος 213 is genitive; the form Τρίοψ is warranted by Apollodor. i. 7, 4, 2 Κανάκη δὲ ἐγέννησϵν Τρίοπα, 3 Ἱφιμέδϵιαν τὴν Τρίοπος. Translate ‘he came not short of Triops (his ancestor),’ cp. Δ 399, 400, though of whom this is said, as the passage stands, is doubtful.

12a This passage is discussed by Peppmüller, , Philologus, 1894 f. 261sqGoogle Scholar. I regret that I cannot agree either with his alteration of αὐτῷ (317), nor his bracketing of 318–321.

12b As lately Peppmüller, l.c. n. 8, has maintained.

13 Mo = Modena iii. D 4.

13a Another parenthesis which interrupts the logical order, but in past time, is Theoer, xiii, 22–24.

13b I am glad to find myself in agreement here with R. Peppmüller, , Philologus liii. p. 270Google Scholar,

13c I refer generally to Ludwich's edition (1891), in which are summed up his articles in the Neue Jahrbücher für Philologie 1886–1889, Rheinisches Museum, 1888–1890.

14 Ludwich's αῖψα is an attempt at the right sense.

15 Prof. Tyrrell has anticipated this Tennysonian reminiscence. Another is suggested by Aphr. 219 sq.; who does not think of ‘And thee returning on thy silver wheels’?

16 Herodotus uses it in two places of a road; see Ilgen, or the Lexx.

16a Ludwich, , N. J. f. Ph. 1888, p. 734Google Scholarsq.

16b Ludwich, , N. Jahrb. f. Phil. 1889, p. 415Google Scholar and ed. alone of recent writers doubts this palmary instance of m's superiority—surely without ground.

17 Ἂντην is not certain; Hollander emends it ἀντᾷς, Gemoll after Schneidewin ἀντῇς.

18 It may be noticed that the of Thucydides is far from ‘sinnlos,’ as Gemoll carelessly asserts. The sense is perspicuous: ‘You, Apollo, at one time walk about on rocky Delos, at another you wander through the islands and mankind, for you have many temples and groves, and all heights and peaks and streams are dear to you; but when, you take your pleasure in Delos in especial, then (apodotic) the Ionians gather.’ The MS. tradition is more emphatic in favour of Delos: ‘but it is in Delos that you take your pleasure; there (relative) the Ionians gather.’

Incidentally it may be worth suggesting that a proposition such as ‘Thucydides quotes from memory’ is intrinsically absurd. What do we know of the circumstances under which a Greek of the fifth century wrote a book? All we are entitled to say, as judges of evidence, is ‘Thucydides quotes.’

18a is supported by the identical phrase in Theognis 791.

19 Compare also the variants given by Pausanias, in Dem. 482Google Scholar, and by Antig. Carystius, in Herm. 51Google Scholar.

19a Wherein the reader may turn for literary speculation to Kirchhoff, A., Beiträge zur Geschichte der gr. Rhapsodik, Sitzungsber. der k. preuss. Akad. xlii. 1893Google Scholar, for historical to Dr.Verrall, A. W., J.H.S. xiv. 1Google Scholarff..

20 I agree with Maass, E., Deutsche Litteraturzeitung, 12 Aug. 1893Google Scholar, that these vv. are alternatives.

21 274, 5 and 276, 7 are probably alternatives.