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[546] ἤ κεν … κτεῖνεν. Fäsi here interprets κεν as = “που” or “οἶμαι”, quoting Il.14. 484“τῷ καί κέ τις εὔχεται εἶναι”. But “εὔχεται” here can hardly be a subjunctive, as there is no clear instance of Thematic stems forming the subjunctive with a short vowel; Monro, H. G. § 82. Perhaps we should read “καί τέ τις” with two MSS. But “κεν κτεῖνεν” (unless we suppose “κεν” to be a sort of anticipation of “ἀντιβολήσαις”） may be regarded as a loosely stated apodosis to an unexpressed protasis. ‘Either you will find him alive or [if you do not] Orestes will have slain him, and you will come in for the funeral feast.’ Thus “κεν κτεῖνεν” expresses an act which probably has taken place, and “κεν ἀντιβολήσαις” an act which probably will take place.

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

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