We owe to Mr N. G. Wilson – C.R. XXI (1971), 172 – the demonstration of an analogy between the maxim Ὅμηρον ἐξ Ὁμἠρου σαφηνίӡειν and Agathon's remark, as reported in Aelian's Varia Historia 14. 13, λέληθας σεαυτὸν τὸν Ἀγάθωνα ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγάθωνος ἀφανίӡων. Mr Wilson goes on to argue that the maxim post-dates the remark. I shall here argue the converse.

Consider the two following forms of words:

A. Ἀγάθωνα ἐξ Ἀγάθωνος ἀφανίӡειν.

B. Ὅμηρον ἐξ Ὁμήρου σαφηνίӡειν.

We are agreed that they are related, for their structure is almost identical, viz. proper name in accusative, same preposition with proper name in genitive, two verbs differing only by two letters (in speech the difference would be even less – … ς ἀφανίӡειν and σαφηνίӡειν). This particular relationship is such as to exclude the possibility of a common source, for there is no other quadrisyllabic verb plausibly available to rhyme with either of these, and no other name that could plausibly replace either the greatest Greek poet or the greatest Greek tragedian after the classic Three. One of these two forms is primary, the other secondary. But which is which ?