[139] Thus be it; let him that brings a ransom take the corpse. ὃς φέροι virtually = “εἴ τις φέροι”, while “ἄγοιτο” is concessive, he may take. Others take the whole line together, let him be here (= come) who may bring the ransom and take the corpse. This is possible, but the use of τ̂ηιδ᾽ εἴη in this way is rather harsh, even when we compare 14.107 “νῦν δ᾽ εἴη ὃς . . ἐνίσποι”, and the other passages there quoted. The ancient critics generally took εἴη = “ἴοι”, let him come; but there is no sufficient authority for this form. Cf. “ἰείη” 19.209. The same question arises in Od. 14.496 “ἀλλά τις εἴη εἰπεῖν Ἀτρεΐδηι κτλ”.
