Is this a direct command? Herodotus Histories 8.60

Phoebus Apollo

Civis Illustris

  • Civis Illustris

ἐν σοὶ νῦν ἐστὶ σῶσαι τὴν Ἑλλάδα, ἢν ἐμοὶ πείθῃ ναυμαχίην αὐτοῦ μένων ποιέεσθαι, μηδὲ πειθόμενος τούτων τοῖσι λόγοισι ἀναζεύξῃς πρὸς τὸν Ἰσθμὸν τὰς νέας.

Does the bit in bold literally mean: 'and do not, by obeying the words of those men, move the ships back to the Isthmus' - ie is is a direct command with μη + subjunctive, or some other construction?

Because I'm not sure whether it's actually a negative indefinite clause following on from the first indefinite clause (ἢν ἐμοὶ πείθῃ ναυμαχίην αὐτοῦ μένων ποιέεσθαι); if that is the case, it would be: 'if you obey me....and if you do not move the ships back to the Isthmus'. Τhe only thing is, the second clause doesn't have ἀν + subjunctive (ie no ἀν with ἀναζεύξῃς ) - unless you are supposed to understand it carried forward from ἠν?

Any help would be appreciated!
 
Top