[*] 2864.
Asseverative ἦ (prepositive)
in truth, in sooth, verily,
upon my honour, etc.; as
ἦ καλῶς λέγεις P. G. 447c.
[*] 2865.
ἦ is usually associated with other particles.
ἦ γάρ when used alone in dialogue =
is it not so? Cp.
n'est ce pas, nicht wahr? Elsewhere it often has the force of
am I to understand that asked with surprise. Thus,
ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;
what,
dost thou in truth intend to bury him, when it is forbidden to the citizens? S. Ant. 44.
ἦ δή expresses lively surprise.
ἦ καί is found in animated questions. Here
καί goes closely with
ἦ.
ἦ μήν (Hom.
ἦ μέν, ἦ μά_ν) prefaces strong asseverations, threats, and oaths, in direct and indirect discourse. Thus, ““
ἦ μὴν ἐγὼ ἔπαθόν τι τοιοῦτον”
in truth this was my experience”
P. A. 22a, ““
ὄμνυ_μι θεοὺς . . . ἦ μὴν μήτε με Ξενοφῶντα κελεῦσαι ἀφελέσθαι τὸν ἄνδρα μήτε ἄλλον ὑ_μῶν μηδένα”
I swear by the gods upon my honour neither did Xenophon nor any one else among you bid me rescue the man”
X. A. 6.6.17.
ἦ που indeed,
methinks, in poetry
I ween. Here the shade of doubt indicated by
πού is not real.
[*] 2866.
Interrogative ἦ (
2650) is probably the same as asseverative
ἦ.
