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[139] Thus be it; let him that brings a ransom take the corpse. ὃς φέροι virtually = “εἴ τις φέροι”, while “ἄγοιτο” is concessive, he may take. Others take the whole line together, let him be here (= come) who may bring the ransom and take the corpse. This is possible, but the use of τ̂ηιδ᾽ εἴη in this way is rather harsh, even when we compare 14.107 “νῦν δ᾽ εἴη ὃς . . ἐνίσποι”, and the other passages there quoted. The ancient critics generally took εἴη = “ἴοι”, let him come; but there is no sufficient authority for this form. Cf. “ἰείη” 19.209. The same question arises in Od. 14.496 “ἀλλά τις εἴη εἰπεῖν Ἀτρεΐδηι κτλ”.

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

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