5 My interpretation is substantially that of Kamerbeek in his edition (1949): ποσις ‘lawful husband’ ‘spouse’, άνήρ ‘mate’, with its physical implications. However, any translation which obscures the regular use of άνήρ as ‘husband’ is unsatisfactory, as indeed all translations must be. Kamberbeek rightly disagrees with Jebb’s supplying of ή with άνήρ, and with his translation of άνήρ as ‘paramour’. Language would not work if a word in regular use as ‘husband’ could suddenly mean ‘paramour’. (Jebb’s ‘mate’ in his translation is better.)
Longò, O., Commento linguistico (Padua, 1968),Google Scholar quotes for the ‘exceptional’ άνήρ ‘amante’ Theoc.l5. 131, where Adonis is the άνήρ of Cypris, but there is nothing to show that in such a case the poet would differentiate between ‘husband’ and ‘lover’, any more than would man if it were standard English; also Pherecr. 155: