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[631] ἀφ́ηηι: the opt. “ἀφείη” is defended by Delbrück (S. F. i. 226) on the analogy of 23.494, Od. 6.286 “καὶ δ᾽ ἄλλωι νεμεσᾶτον, ὅ τις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι”. There, however, the opt. expresses a merely assumed possibility, ‘you are ready to be angry, supposing any man to do such things’; and similarly “ὅν τινά γ᾽ ὕπνος ἕλοι” after “ἔσσεται,” Od. 19.510. This does not suit the present passage, where Aias is referring not to imaginations but to present realities. The MSS. virtually give us our choice between “ἀφ”（“ἐφ-”）“είηι, -ίηι, ήηι. ἐφίηι” is the original reading of A, but the quantity of the “ι” is sufficient proof that there is no pres. subj. in question: “ἵημι” has “ι^” except under very definite limitations, see App. D, c. 3. Of the other two -“είηι” is in accordance with the common practice of the MSS. (H. G. p. 384), but we have (“ἀν”) “ήηι” well attested in B 34, so that we can hardly be wrong in writing it here, with La R. For ἅπτεται = hit the mark cf. 11.85.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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