[393] λόγοις, talk or possibly tales. The word occurs only here and Od. 1.56 in H., and is evidence of the lateness of the passage. Nauck prefers to adopt the variant “λούων” (“λόϝων”) of Sch. T; when we last heard of Patroklos (11.848) he was washing Eurypylos' wound, and his haste when he left Nestor (11.647) should confine him to the actual work of surgery. But on the other hand the length to which the battle has extended demands an occupation of more elastic duration than the mere washing of a wound; nor does “ἔτερπε” suit “λόων” as well as “λόγοις”. There is therefore no reason to depart from the text. Van Herwerden conj. “ϝέπεσσ᾽” for “λόγοις”, and this van L. adopts, but without justification.
