Discussion of Greek accentuation rules: combination of grave accents into one, effects after synaeresis (examples like Δημοσθένεος/Δημοσθένους, χρυσέος/ἀργυρέος), guidance on which syllable bears the accent, citing Herodian’s treatise and offering selected practical rules for learners.
ὀξυνθέντα. αἱ δύο βαρεῖαι εἰς βαρεῖαν συναιροῦνται, ὡς τὸ Δημοσθένὲὸς Δημοσθένους. πάλιν τὸ χρύσὲὸς καὶ ἀργύρὲὸς μετὰ τὴν συναίρεσιν περιεσπάσθη διὰ τὸν εἰρημένον κανόνα, ὡς τὰ εἰς 'ους' ἁπλᾶ περιεσπᾶσθαι θέλει. Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἱκανὰ τοῖς εἰδόσιν ἐπὶ ποίας συλλαβῆς ἔδει τὸν τόνον τιθέναι. Πολλῆς δὲ οὔσης τούτων διδασκαλίας, ἣν ἡμῖν Ἡρωδιανὸς ἐν τῇ καθόλου παρέδωκε πραγματείᾳ, ὀλίγα ἐξ αὐτῶν τὰ χρειωδέστερα συντόμως ἐκλεξάμενοι παραθήσομεν, ὡς εὐχερεστέραν εἶναι τοῖς στίζειν ἐθέλουσι τὴν τούτου μάθησιν.
When they have been accented with an acute. Two grave accents contract into a grave, as in Δημοσθένὲὸς → Δημοσθένους. Again, χρύσὲὸς and ἀργύρὲὸς, after contraction, take a circumflex in accordance with the stated rule, namely that simple forms in -ους wish to be circumflexed. These points, then, are sufficient for those who know on which syllable it was necessary to place the accent. But since this instruction is extensive, which Herodian handed down to us in his general treatise, we shall set forth briefly, selecting from it a few of the more necessary points, so that the learning of this may be easier for those who wish to punctuate.