Reginald Walter Macan, Herodotus, The Seventh, Eighth, & Ninth Books with Introduction and Commentary

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ἀνεδιδάσκετο Εὐρυβίαδης: the verb has full middle force: ‘allowed himself better instruction’—changed his mind (his instructions), ‘was converted’; cp. 4. 95 (ἀναδιδάσκειν, to change the ideas, beliefs, of others). Materially it is important to observe that everything depended on the mind of Eurybiades.

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δοκέειν δέ μοι. This expression of personal opinion and judgment by Hdt. is noticeable, especially for the reason given, that without the Athenians the Greeks would have been unable to resist the Persian successfully; cp. the still more elaborate statement of the same verdict, 7. 139 supra. Perhaps that passage is of later composition than this straightforward matter-of-course judgement here, though its simple directness might be ascribed to the very fact that a more elaborate statement and discussion has preceded.

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οὐκέτι ἐγίνοντο ἀξιόμαχοι: i.e. ἐγίνοντο οὐκέτι ἀξιόμαχοι, and ἐγίνοντο = ἔμελλον γίγνεσθαι, or γενήσεσθαι.

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αὐτοῦ μένοντας διαναυμαχέειν. This γνώμη involves two elements—(i.) αὐτοῦ μένειν, (ii.) διαναυμαχέειν. If the preceding narrative be correct there was no question about (ii.); the only question was where the battle was to take plaee: in which case, the decision now is simply αὐτοῦ μένειν, i.e. αὐτοῦ διαναυμαχέειν. But Mnesiphilos above has been allowed to point out that the two were one—if the Peloponnesians left Salamis no battle would be fought anywhere.