HKB
Just as a lion feeds on an eaten bull,--
instead of saying the lion eats up the bull. And so he passes the limits of the sentence (I. ii. 333):--
He said, and loudly cheered the Greeks--and loud From all the hollow ships came back the cheers-- In admiration of Ulysses' speech.
The order is the Argives applauded with a great shout the speech of divine Odysseus.
Of the same kind is the figure called Parembole, or interposition, when something outside having nothing to do with the subject is introduced. If it is removed, the construction is not affected (I. i. 234):--
By this I say and with an oath confirm By this my royal staff, which never more Shall put forth leaf nor spray, since first it left Upon the mountain side its parent stem Nor blossom more; since all around the axe Hath lopped both leaf and bark--...
and the rest as much as he has said about the sceptre, then joining what follows with the beginning (I. i. 340):--
The time shall come when all the sons of Greece Shall mourn Achilles' loss.
He uses also Palillogia--that is the repetition of some part of a sentence, or several parts are repeated. This figure is called Reduplication, such as (I. xx. 371):--
Encounter him well! Though his hands were hands of fire, Of fire, his hands, his strength as burnished steel.
Sometimes certain insertions are made and they are repeated, as in (O. i. 22):--
Howbeit Poseidon had now departed for the distant Ethiopians, the Ethiopians that are sundered in twain, the uttermost of men.
This is a figure revealing the feeling of the speaker and at the same time affecting the hearer.
Of the same kind is Relation; when at the commencement of several members of a sentence the same part is repeated. An example of this from the poet is (I. ii. 671):--
Nireus three well-trimmed ships from Syme brought. Nireus to Charops whom Aglaia bore. Nireus the goodliest man of all the Greeks.
This figure is likewise adapted to excite the emotions and give sweetness to the expression.
He has also Regression. This is when one puts forward two names of objects. When the sense is not yet complete, the poet returns to both of the names, completing what is lacking in the sense, as (I. v. 518).--
Followed the thronging bands of Troy, by Mars and fierce Bellona led: she by the hand wild uproar held; while Mars a giant spear brandished aloft.
The characteristic of this figure is variety and perspicuity.
He has also the figure called Homoioteleuton in which the parts of the sentence have endings similar in sound and have the same syllables at the end (O. xv. 74):--
Men should love a guest while he is with them, and send him on his way when he would depart,--
and in the following (O. vi. 42):--
And she departed to Olympus, where they say is the seat of the gods that standeth fast forever. Not by the wind is it shaken nor ever wet with rain nor doth the snow come nigh thereto, but most clear air is spread about it cloudless and the white light floats over it.
When periods or their members end in nouns which are of the same declension this is properly called Homoioptolon, as the following (I. ii. 87):--
[Greek omitted]
As swarms of bees, that pour in ceaseless stream From out the crevice of some hollow rock.
The above and others like them add grace and attractiveness to the narrative.
As a proof of his care in composition we often see he employs two figures in the same verses, as Epanaphora and Homoioteleuton (I. ii. 382):--
Each sharpen well his spear, his shield prepare Each to his fiery steeds their forage give.
Belonging to these is the figure called Parison, which is formed out of two or more numbers having an equal number of words (I. vii. 93):--
Shamed to refuse, but fearful to accept.--
and again (I. xvi. 282):--