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[*] 2675. Indirect alternative questions are introduced by the particles signifying whether . . . or: πότερον (πότερα) . . . ἤ, εἴτε . . . εἴτε, εἰ . . . ἤ, εἰ . . . εἴτε. See also under Particles. a. πότερον (πότερα) . . . ἤ: Thus, ““διηρώτα_ τὸν Κῦρον πότερον βούλοιτο μένειν ἢ ἀπιέναι” she asked Cyrus whether he wanted to stay or go away” X. C. 1.3.15, ““θαυμάζω πότερα ὡς κρατῶν βασιλεὺς αἰτεῖ τὰ ὅπλα ἢ ὡς διὰ φιλία_ν δῶρα” I wonder whether the king asks for our arms as a conqueror or as gifts on the plea of friendship” X. A. 2.1.10. N.—πότερον . . . ἤ may denote that the second alternative is more important than the first. πότερον is omitted when the introductory clause contains the adjective πότερος (X. C. 1.3.2). b. εἴτε . . . εἴτε gives equal value to each alternative. Thus, ““τὴν σκέψιν ποιώμεθα εἴτε ὠφελία_ν εἴτε βλάβην παρέχει” let us make the inquiry whether it produces benefit or injury” P. Phae. 237d. N. 1.—In Homer εἴτε . . . εἴτε (εἴ τε . . . εἴ τε) almost always retains the meaning either . . . or (A 65). N. 2.—The first εἴτε is rarely omitted in prose, as ““πόλις εἴτε ἰδιῶταί τινες” a State or certain individuals” P. L. 864a; more often in poetry, as ““λόγοισιν εἴτ᾽ ἔργοισιν” by words or deeds” S. O. T. 517. c. εἰ . . . ἤ indicates that the second alternative is preferable or more probable. Thus, ἠρώτα_ εἰ αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἀνδράσι σπένδοιτο τοῖς ἰοῦσι καὶ ἀπιοῦσιν, ἢ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἔσοιντο σπονδαί he asked whether he was making a truce merely with the individual men who were coming and going or whether the truce would be with the rest as well X. A. 2.3.7. d. εἰ . . . εἴτε is like εἴτε . . . εἴτε. Thus, ““εἰ δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἔμψυ_χος γυνὴ εἴτ᾽ οὖν ὄλωλεν, εἰδέναι βουλοίμεθ᾽ ἄν” we should like to know whether the lady is still alive or dead” E. Alc. 140. e. ἢ (ἠὲ) . . . ἦ (ἦε) occurs in Homer, as ““ὄφρ᾽ ἐὺ εἰδῶ ἠὲ νέον μεθέπεις ἦ καὶ πατρώιός ἐσσι ξεῖνος” that I may know well whether thou art newly a visitor or art actually an ancestral guest-friend” α 175. Cp. 2661. ἢ . . . ἤ is doubtful in Attic.
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