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1780. Unattainable Wish.—A wish, referring to the present or past, which cannot be realized, is expressed by a past tense of the indicative with εἴθε or with εἰ γάρ (negative μή). The imperfect refers to present time, the aorist to past time (cp. 2304, 2305).

εἴθ᾽ εἶχες βελτἱ_ους φρένας would that thou hadst (now) a better heart E. El. 1061, ““εἴθε σοι τότε συνεγενόμην” would that I had then been with thee” X. M. 1.2.46.

American Book Company, 1920.

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    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 1.pos=2.2
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