[*] 395. Optative with ei)/qe, ei) ga/r. The optative may have, but does not require, “εἴθε” (“αἴθε”), “εἰ γάρ” (“αἲ γάρ”), and the like.1 “εἴθ”（“ε”) . . . “ἐκβάλοις τὴν ἔνθεσιν”, AR. Eq. 404; May you give up the sop. “εἰ γὰρ γενοίμην, τέκνον, ἀντὶ σοῦ νεκρός”, EUR. Hipp. 1410; If I could fall a corpse, my child, instead of thee. AR. Eq. 404 (see above). EUR. Hipp. 1410 (see above). fr. 360.53-4: “ὦ πατρίς, εἴθε πάντες οἳ ναίουσί σε” | “οὕτω φιλοῖεν ὡς ἐγώ”. SOPH. Ph. 791-2: “ὦ ξένε Κεφαλλήν, εἴθε σου διαμπερὲς” | “στέρνων ἔχοιτ᾽ ἄλγησις ἥδε”. ALCMAN, 29: “Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἲ γὰρ ἐμὸς πόσις εἴη”. HOM. Od. 4.697: “εἰ γὰρ δή, βασίλεια, τόδε πλεῖστον κακὸν εἴη”. 6.244: “αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοιόσδε πόσις κεκλημένος εἵη”. 7. 331-2: “Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἵθ᾽ ὅσα εἶπε τελευτήσειεν ἅπαντα” | “Ἁλκίνοος”. Il. 13.825-7: “αἲ γὰρ . . . εἴην . . . τέκοι . . . τιοίμην”.
1 Explained by many grammarians as elliptical conditional sentences. See Conditional Sentences.
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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