[467] “παρέσταν”, the reading of P, was long ago conjectured by Bentley in place of παρέστασαν, on account of the “ϝ” of “ϝοῖνον”. The aor., bringing the actual arrival, not the mere presence, of the ships into the picture, adds something to the liveliness of the narrative. Unfortunately it appears to contravene the rule about lengthening before the bucolic diaeresis (see note on 2.751); but there is a possibility that the “α” is long by nature, see on 4.146.