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[271] εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε, with the varieties “εἰ δ᾽ ἄγετ᾽” Il.22. 381, and “εἰ δέ” Il.9. 46, 262, has passed into a regular idiom, and so, though in the second person singular, may be used with a plural subject. Cp. Il.6. 376“εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε μοι δμωαὶ νημερτέα μυθήσασθε”. It has been generally taken as an ellipse for “εἰ δὲ βούλει ἄγε”, but is found introducing an apodosis in Od.4. 832.Düntzer explains “εἰ” as being interjectional, like Latin eia! a view maintained by Lange (De formula “εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε” commentatio, Lips. 1873), who remarks that it forms a perfect parallel to the optative of Wish with “εἰ”. See Monro, H. G. § 321. Autenrieth refers “εἰ” to “ἴθι”, comparing the imperatives “πρόσει, ἔξει”.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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