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[322] ἐξεύροι is unusual, the aor. “ἐπῆλθε” in a simile not being a historic tense. There are however a few similar cases of the opt. thus expressing a hope after a present; “ἔτι τὸν δύστηνον ὀΐομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν . . θείη,” Od. 20.224 (so Od. 2.351; Od. 14.496 is rather different as “εἰ . . ἐποτρύνειε” follows an opt. of wish. The nearest case in Il. is 11.792 “τίς οἶδ᾽ εἴ κέν οἱ . . θυμὸν ὀρίναις”;). It is possible that the constr. may have been affected by the use of “εἰ” with opt. as an independent form of wish. i.e. we may (as grammarians) imagine the lioness saying “εἴ ποθεν ἐξεύροιμι”, would I could find.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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