[256] εἰκὸς ἦν The imperfect indic. of a verb denoting obligation（ἔδει, χρῆν, προσῆκεν, εἰκὸς ἦν）, when joined without ἄν to an infinitive, often implies a conditional sentence with imperfect indic. in protasis and apodosis: e.g. οὐκ εἰκὸς ἦν ἐᾶν = οὐκ ἂν εἰᾶτε （εἰ τὰ δέοντα ἐποιεῖτε）, you would not （now） be neglecting it （if you did your duty）: Xen. Mem. 2.7.10 “εἰ μὲν τοίνυν αἰσχρόν τι ἔμελλον ἐργάσεσθαι” [if I were now intending—as I am not], θάνατον ἀντ᾽ αὐτοῦ προαιρετέον ἦν, = προῃρούμην ἂν （εἰ τὰ δέοντα ἐποίουν）. Thuc. 6.78 “καὶ μάλιστα εἰκὸς ἦν ὑμᾶς ... προορᾶσθαι,” = προεωρᾶτε ἂν εἰ τὰ εἰκότα ἐποιεῖτε. So ἐβουλόμην, ἠξίουν, without ἄν, of that which one wishes were true, but which is not so.
οὕτως in this （careless） manner: cp. Soph. OC 1278 “ὡς μή μ᾽ ἄτιμον ... ι οὕτως ἀφῇ με”: Soph. Ant. 315, Soph. Phil. 1067.This text is part of:
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