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[308] Cf. 13.486, where the change of mood is not found; Syr.here has “φέροιτο” for “φέρηισι”, and this is adopted by Nauck and von Christ, while Naber conj. “φέρωμι” for “φεροίμην”. But the text is sufficiently defended by passages like 17.648-51, Od. 4.692, Od. 12.156-57, and see H. G. § 275 b. The opt. cannot be used in a sense derived from that of wish (as though = ‘or else would I might gain it’), for the use of “κε” is inconsistent with the wish. The mood must be potential, ‘it might be that I should gain.’ The peculiarity of the passage is that the alternative thus hesitatingly put is not that which is most remote in the speaker's mind; for the whole speech, and especially this part, is confident even to boastfulness. It can only be said that the alternative given by the opt. is logically thrown into the background because it is not the one necessary to the leading thought: ‘I will face him, even in the expectation that he will win’ is followed by ‘or on the other hand I might win’ only as a subordinate correction.

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