[416] 416-17. Athetized by Ar. as needless; ‘we know that wind is the swiftest, but “φασί” is used of a report about something not certainly known; nor is it suitable in the mouth of a horse.’ These reasons are not convincing. “φασί” is often used of things well known, and indeed to emphasize the fact that they are well known (see for instance 96). It is here a naïve way of bringing a natural fact into relation with mankind, as we should say, ‘Zephyros has the swiftest flight known to man.’ A somewhat more serious difficulty might be raised upon 16.149 f.; the poet here clearly does not know that Zephyros is Xanthos' own father. αὐτῶι, to contrast Achilles with the speaker; as we might say ‘on your own account,’ apart from us.
