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[351] σ᾽ αὐτὸν χρυσῶι ἐρύσασθαι, pay thy weight in gold, lit. weigh thy body (see 1.4) with gold; cf. Theognis 77 “πιστὸς ἀνὴρ χρυσοῦ τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἀντερύσασθαι ἄξιος”. This settles the meaning of the verb; to take it merely as to ransom with gold reduces the sentence to a ridiculous anticlimax. Though it is not easy to see how the transition of meaning comes in, we may at least compare the use of “ἕλκειν” in weighing, see 212. “ὁ δὲ Αἰσχύλος ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας ἀντίσταθμον χρυσὸν πεποίηκε πρὸς τὸ Ἕκτορος σῶμα ἐν Φρυξίν”,An. For ἀνώγοι Bekker and others read “ἀνώγηι”, with a few MSS., to suit the preceding “στήσωσι”. But the change is quite natural; that a large ransom will be offered is likely, but that it should be equal to Hector's weight in gold is an impossible exaggeration and is therefore expressed by the mood of imagination. In 9.379-85 the opt. is used in both the clauses, because both are equally imaginary and impossible.

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

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