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327. The Homeric uses of the imperative present little or no difficulty. We may notice the use in concession, ironical or real.

Il. 4.29 ἔρδʼ, ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

The forms ἄγε and ἄγετε are often combined with other imperatives for the sake οf emphasis, and sometimes ἄγε is treated as indeclinable, and used where the context requires a plural.

Il. 2.331 ἀλλʼ ἄγε μίμνετε πάντες κτλ.

So Il. 1.62, 6.376, etc.

Similarly ἴθι is a kind of interjection in

Il. 4.362 ἀλλʼ ἴθι, ταῦτα δʼ ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθʼ κτλ.

and so we have βάσκʼ ἴθι (like εἴπʼ ἄγε). And δεῦτε hither! is evidently an imperative: cp. Il. 14.128 δεῦτʼ ἴομεν πόλεμονδε. The corresponding 2nd singular doubtless enters into the formation of δεῦρο; but it is not clear how that word is to be analyzed.

Suggested Citation

D.B. Monro, A Grammar of the Homeric Dialect. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-947822-04-7. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/grammar/monro/imperative