Ant_222“«There lies our hope, if hope it be.»”
Modern English no longer uses the present subjunctive after
if. You will find it, however, in older usage, and in modern works that attempt to create the atmosphere of by-gone times, and perhaps in sayings and proverbs which have retained their old forms in spite of changes in the rest of the language. Modern English: ...
if hope it is or
... if it is hope.
Ant_222 “a strange chance, if chance it was.»”
This is simply the expected modern indicative. I don't think the intent is to say,
If it were a chance, it would be a strange chance.
but,
It was a strange chance. Or maybe chance played no part in it at all.
so the subjunctive is not used in spite of the if.
CJ