Menestheus speaking:
‘ἔρχεο δῖε Θοῶτα, θέων Αἴαντα κάλεσσον,
ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον:
Question about aspect: why is the first imperative present and the second an aorist? Is there a real distinction (that escapes me), or are the two often interchangable and chosen for for instance metric reasons?
I think the present imperative has a sort of dramatic effect here, not simply “go!” but “be going!” As always, a present stem implies a continuous, undelimited action and an aorist stem a complete action. So καλεσσον as an aorist shows that calling Aias is a whole, complete action.
I would say that the form might be chosen for metrical reasons, but that also changes the meaning a bit. I suppose an aorist form might have well been used instead of ερχεο, and then it would mean “go!”.
Hi, Bart.
For what is worth, Gaza preserves the aspect of ἔρχεο (πορεύου) while Psellos switches it to the aorist (ἄπελθε.)
Thanks guys!
Perhaps “Get going!” is a good English equivalent?