Note 411 — Chapter XI

With δόναξ and κύρτος, cf. the πλεκτὸν ὕφασμα in Archestratus (frag. xv. 6). See pp. 147 and 176 ff. of Paulus Brandt’s Parodorum epicorum Græcorum et Archestrati Reliquiæ, Leipzig, 1888. Brandt argues that the expression describes a nassa, qua retis loco piscatores utebantur, and on the analogy of the Dalmatian fishermen (cf. Brehm, Thierleben, IV., vol. II. p. 533) who, when the sea is not quite calm, drop from the bow of the boat pebbles dipped in oil to make smooth the surface, and so more easily detect the fish, explains δονεῖν ψήφους in Frag. XV. line 8. Although Archestratus’s statement that the fish are not to be seen (oὐd’ ἐσιδεῖν ὄσσοισιν), except by those who resort to the πλεκτὸν ὕφασμα, and εἰώθασι δονεῖν ψήφους, gives some colour to Brandt’s ingenious identification, the lack of any mention of the essential factor in such a calming operation, the oil, seems to rule it out.