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Λακεδαιμονίους δὲ, . . . ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς εἶναι. The words ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς εἶναι are an afterthought. In the acc. and inf. construction of the treaty Λακεδαιμονίους δὲ τρέφειν, ἢν βούλωνται is intended. ‘The Laced. shall, if they so wish, maintain their own fleet.’ But Thucydides, or the author of the treaty, joins τρέφειν closely with ἢν βούλωνται, and supplies the infinitive by ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς εἶναι, leaving Λακεδαιμονίους without structure. ‘The Laced. shall, if they choose to maintain their own fleet, have the right to do so’; but for this e.g. ἐᾶσθαι would be required in strict grammar. ἐπὴν a form occurring in Thucydides only in two treaties, here and v. 47. It is, however, sufficiently common Attic. τελευτῶντος a quasi-perfect like νικῶν, ἀδικῶν etc.
Commentary on Thucydides Book 8. T.G. Tucker. London. MacMillan & Company. 1892.
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