511. The conditional sentence differs from other complex sentences in that the form of the main clause (APODOSIS) is determined in some degree by the nature of the subordinate clause (PROTASIS) upon the truth of which the whole statement depends. Like all complex sentences, however, the conditional sentence has arisen from the use of two independent sentence forms to express the parts of a thought which was too complicated to be fully expressed by a simple sentence. But because the thoughts thus expressed are in reality closely related, as parts of a single whole, the sentences which represent them are also felt to be mutually dependent, even though the relation is not expressed by any connecting word. Thus, speak the word: my servant shall be healed is a simpler and an earlier form of expression than If thou speak the word, etc.
The conditional particles were originally pronouns without conditional meaning: thus, sī (if) is a weak demonstrative of the same origin as sīc, so [sī-ce like hī-ce, see § 215.5], and had originally the meaning of in that way, or in some way. Its relative sense (if) seems to have come from its use with sīc to make a pair of correlatives: thus . . . thus (see § 512.b).
In its origin the conditional sentence assumed one of two forms. The condition was from the first felt to be a condition, not a fact or a command; but, as no special sentence form for a condition was in use, it employed for its expression
either a statement of fact (with the indicative) or a form of mild command (the subjunctive). From the former have come all the uses of the Indicative in protasis; from the latter all the uses of the subjunctive in protasis.
The apodosis has either (1) the indicative, expressing the conclusion as a fact, and the present and perfect subjunctive, expressing it originally as future— and hence more or less doubtful—or (2) the imperfect and
pluperfect subjunctive expressing it as futūrum in praeteritō,1 and so unfulfilled in the present or past. Thus,
rīdēs, mâiōre cachinnō concutitur (You laugh, he shakes with more boisterous laughter), is the original form for
the indicative in protasis and apodosis; sī rīdēs originally means merely
For the classification of Conditional Sentences, see § 513.
2. Compare potius dīceret [he should rather have said (§ 439.b)].
3. There are, however, some cases in which this implication does not arise.
Deciēns centēna dedissēs nīl erat in loculīs. (Hor. S. 1.3.15)
If you'd given him a million, there was nothing in his coffers.
4. “There was a certain lender which ought him five hundred pieces.” -Tyndale's New Testament.
512. A complete conditional sentence consists of two clauses the protasis and the apodosis. The clause containing the condition is called the PROTASIS the clause containing the conclusion is called the APODOSIS.
sī quī exīre volunt [PROTASIS], cōnīvēre
possum [APODOSIS] (Cat. 2.27)
If any wish to depart, I can keep my eyes shut.
Sī est in exsiliō [PROTASIS], quid amplius
postulātis? [APODOSIS] (Lig. 13)
If he is in exile, what more do you ask?
It should be carefully noted that the apodosis is the main clause and the Protasis the dependent clause.
a. The protasis is regularly introduced by the conditional particle sī (if), or one of its compounds.
Note— These compounds are sīn, nisi, etiam sī, etsī, tametsī, tamenetsī (see Conditional and Concessive Particles, § 224). An indefinite relative, or any relative or concessive word, may also serve to introduce a conditional clause: see Conditional Relative Clauses (§ 519, § 542); Concessive Clauses (§ 527).
b. The apodosis is often introduced by some correlative word or phrase: as, ita, tum (rarely sīc), or eā condiciōne etc.
Ita enim senectūs honesta est, sī sē ipsa dēfendit. (Cat. M. 38)
On this condition is
old age honorable, if it defends itself.
Sī quidem mē amāret, tum istuc prōdesset. (Ter. Eun. 446)
If he loved me, then this
would be profitable.
sīc scrībēs aliquid, sī vacābis (Att. 12.38.2)
If you are (shall be) at leisure, then you will write something.
c. The apodosis is the principal clause of the conditional sentence, but may at the same time be subordinate to some other clause, and so appear in the form of a participle, an infinitive, or a phrase.
sepultūrā quoque prohibitūrī, nī rēx humārī iussisset (Q. C. 8.2.12)
intending also to
deprive him of burial, unless the king had ordered him to be interred
Quod sī praetereā nēmō sequātur, tamen sē cum sōlā decimā legiōne itūrum. [esse] (B. G. 1.40.14)
But if no one else should follow, he would go with the tenth legion alone.
sī quōs adversum proelium commovēret, hōs reperīre posse (id. 40.8)
If the loss of a
battle alarmed any, they might find , etc.
Note— When the apodosis itself is in indirect discourse, or in any other dependent construction, the verb of the protasis is regularly in the subjunctive (as in the above examples, see § 589).
513. Conditions are either (1) Particular or (2) General.
514. The principal or typical forms of Conditional Sentences may be exhibited as follows.
PARTICULAR CONDITIONS
A. SIMPLE CONDITIONS (nothing implied as to fulfillment)
Present indicative in both clauses.
Sī adest, bene est.
If he is [now] here, it is well.
Imperfect or perfect indicative in both clauses.
Sī aderat, bene erat.
if he was [then] here, it was well.
Sī adfuit, bene fuit.
If he has been [was] here, it has been [was] well.
B. FUTURE CONDITIONS (as yet unfulfilled)
a. Future indicative in both clauses.
Sī aderit, bene erit.
If he is (shall be) here, it will be well.
b. Future perfect indicative in protasis, future indicative in apodosis.
Sī adfuerit, bene erit.
If he is (shall have been) here, it will [then] be well.
a. Present subjunctive in both clauses.
sī adsit, bene sit
If he should be (or were to be) here, it would be well.
b. Perfect subjunctive in protasis, present subjunctive in apodosis.
Sī adfuerit, bene sit.
If he should be (should have been) here, it would [then] be well.
C. CONDITIONS CONTRARY TO FACT
Imperfect subjunctive in both clauses.
Sī adesset, bene esset
If he were [now] here, it would be well.
(but he is NOT here)
Pluperfect subjunctive in both clauses.
sī adfuisset, bene fuisset
If he had [then] been here, it would have been well.
(but he was NOT here)
Note— The use of tenses in protasis is very loose in English. Thus if he is alive now is a PRESENT condition, to be expressed in Latin by the present indicative; if he is alive next year is a FUTURE condition, expressed in Latin by the future indicative. Again, if he were here now is a PRESENT Condition Contrary to Fact, and would be expressed by the imperfect subjunctive; if he were to see me thus is a FUTURE Condition Less Vivid, to be expressed by the present subjunctive; and so, if you advised him, he would attend may be Future Less Vivid.1
GENERAL CONDITIONS
General Conditions do not usually differ in form from Particular Conditions (A, B, and C), but are sometimes distinguished in the cases following.
a. Present subjunctive 2nd person singular (indefinite subject) in protasis, present indicative in apodosis.
Sī hōc dīcās, crēditur.
If any one [ever] says this, it is [always] believed.
b. Perfect indicative in protasis, present indicative in apodosis.
Sī quid dīxit, crēditur.
If he [ever] says anything, it
is [always] believed.
a. Pluperfect indicative in protasis, imperfect indicative in apodosis.
Sī quid dīxerat, crēdēbātur.
If he [ever] said anything, it was [always] believed.
b. Imperfect subjunctive in protasis, imperfect indicative in apodosis.
Sī quid dīceret, crēdēbātur.
If he [ever] said anything, it was [always] believed.
(= whatever he said was always believed)2
2. Cf. the Greek forms corresponding to the various types of conditions.
| A. 1. εἰ πράσσει τοῦτο, καλῶς ἔχει. | 2. εἰ ἔπρασσε τοῦτο, καλῶς εἶχεν. |
| B. 1. ἐὰν πράσσῃ τοῦτο, καλῶς ἕξει. | 2. εἰ πράσσοι τοῦτο, καλῶς ἂν ἔχοι. |
| C. 1. εἰ ἔπρασσε τοῦτο, καλῶς ἂν εἶχεν. | 2. εἰ ἔπραξε τοῦτο, καλῶς ἂν ἔσχεν. |
| D. 1. ἐάν τις κλέπτῃ, κολάζεται. | 2. εἴ τις κλέπτοι, ἐκολάζετο. |
515. In the statement of present and past conditions whose falsity is NOT implied, the present and past tenses of the indicative are used in both protasis and apodosis.
Sī tū exercitusque valētis, bene est. (Fam. 5.2)
If you and the army are well, it is
well.
[Present Condition]
Haec igitur, sī Rōmae es; sīn abes, aut etiam sī ades, haec negōtia sīc sē habent. (Att. 5.18)
This, then, if you are at Rome; but if you are away—or even if you are there—these matters are as follows.
[Present Condition]
Sī Caesarem probātis, in mē offenditis (B. C. 2.32.10)
If you favor Cæsar, you find
fault with me.
[Present Condition]
Sī quī māgnīs in eō genere exstitērunt, nōn satis Graecōrum glōriae respondērunt. (Tusc. 1.3)
If any have shown themselves of great genius in that department, they have failed to compete with the glory of the Greeks.
[Past General Condition, not distinguished in form from Particular]
Accēpī Rōmā sine epistulā tuā fasciculum litterārum in quō, sī modo valuistī et Rōmae fuistī, Philotīmī dūcō esse culpam nōn tuam. (Att.
5.17)
I have received from Rome a bundle of letters without any from you, which, provided you have been well and at Rome, I take to be the fault of Philotimus, not yours.
[Mixed:
Past condition and Present conclusion]
Quās litterās, sī Rōmae es, vidēbis putēsne reddendās (id. 5.18)
As to this letter, if
you are at Rome, you will see whether in your opinion it ought to be delivered.
[Mixed: Present and Future]
Sī nēmō impetrāvit, adroganter rogō. (Lig. 30)
If no one has succeeded in obtaining it,
my request is presumptuous.
[Past and Present]
a. In these conditions the apodosis need not always be in the indicative, but may assume any form, according to the sense.
Sī placet . . . videāmus. (Cat. M. 15)
If you please, let us see.
[Hortatory
Subjunctive, § 439]
Sī nōndum satis cernitis, recordāminī. (Mil. 61)
If you do not yet see clearly,
recollect.
[Imperative]
Sī quid habēs certius, velim scīre.(Att. 4.10)
If you have any trustworthy information,
I should like to know it.
[Subjunctive of Modesty, § 447.1]
Note— Although the form of these conditions does not imply anything as to the truth of the supposition, the sense or the context may of course have some such implication.
nōlīte, sī in nostrō omnium flētū nūllam lacrimam aspexistis Milōnis, hōc minus ei parcere (Mil.
92)
Do not, if amid the weeping of us all you have seen no tear [in the eyes] of Milo, spare him the less for that.
Petimus ā vōbīs, iūdicēs, sī qua dīvīna in tantīs ingeniīs commendātiō dēbet esse, ut eum in vestram accipiātis
fidem (Arch. 31)
We ask you, judges, if there ought to be anything in such genius to recommend it to us as by a recommendation of the gods, that you receive him under
your protection.
In these two passages, the protasis really expresses cause, but the cause is put by the speaker in the form of a non-committal condition. His hearers are to draw the inference for themselves. In this way the desired impression is made on their minds more effectively than if an outspoken causal clause had been used.
FUTURE
516. Future conditions may be More Vivid or Less Vivid.
a. In the Future More Vivid future condition the future indicative is used in both protasis and apodosis.
Sānābimur, sī volēmus. (Tusc. 3.13)
We shall be healed if we wish.
Quod sī legere aut audīre volētis, . . . reperiētis. (Cat. M. 20)
If you will
[shall wish to] read or hear, you will find.
Note— In English the protasis is usually expressed by the present indicative, rarely by the future with SHALL. Often in Latin the present indicative is found in the protasis of a condition of this kind (cf. § 468).
Sī vincimus, omnia nōbīs tūta erunt; sīn metū cesserimus, eadem illa advorsa fīent (Sall. Cat. 58)
If we conquer, all things will be safe for us; but if we yield through fear, those same things will become hostile.
Sī pereō, hominum manibus perlisse iuvābit. (Aen. 3.606)
If I perish, it will be pleasant to have perished at the hands of men.
b. In the Future Less Vivid condition the present subjunctive is used in both protasis and apodosis.
Haec sī tēcum patria loquātur, nōnne impetrāre dēbeat? (Cat. 1.19)
If your country
should thus speak with you, ought she not to prevail?
Quod sī quis deus mihi largiātur, . . . valdē recūsem (Cat. M. 83)
But if some god were
to grant me this, I should stoutly refuse.
Note— The present subjunctive sometimes stands in protasis with the future (or the present) indicative in apodosisfrom a change in the point of view.1
Sī dīligenter attendāmus, intellegēmus. (Inv. 2.44)
If
we attend (should attend) carefully, we shall understand.
Nisi hōc dīcat, “iūre fēcī,” nōn habet dēfēnsiōnem. (id. 1.18)
Unless he should say this, “I acted justifiably,” he has no defence.
c. If the conditional act is regarded as completed before that of the apodosis begins, the future perfect is substituted for the future indicative in protasis, and the perfect subjunctive for the present subjunctive.
Sīn cum potuerō nōn vēnerō, tum erit inimīcus. (Att. 9.2 A.2)
But if I do not come when
I can, he will be unfriendly.
Sī ā corōnā relictus sim, nōn queam dīcere. (Brut. 192)
If I should be deserted by the
circle of listeners, I should not be able to speak.
Note— The future perfect is often used in the apodosis of a future condition.
Vehementer mihi grātum fēceris, sī hunc adulēscentem hūmānitāte tuā comprehenderis. (Fam. 13.15)
You will do (will have done) me a great favor, if you receive this young man with your usual courtesy.
d. Any form denoting or implying future time may stand in the apodosis of a future condition. So the Imperative, the participles in -dus and -rus, and verbs of necessity, possibility, and the like.
Alius fīnis cōnstituendus est, sī prius quid maximē reprehendere Scīpiō solitus sit dīxerō. (Lael. 59)
Another limit must be set, if I first state what Scipio was wont most to find fault with.
Sī mē praecēperit fātum, vōs mandāsse mementō. (Q. C. 9.6.26)
If fate cuts me off too
soon, do you remember that I ordered this.
Nisi oculīs vīderitis īnsidiās Milōnī ā Clōdiō factās, nec dēprecātūrī sumus nec postulātūrī, etc. (Mil. 6)
Unless you see with your own eyes the plots laid against Milo by Clodius, I shall neither beg nor demand, etc.
Nōn possum istum accūsāre, sī cupiam. (Verr. 4.87)
I cannot accuse him, if I
should (so) desire
e. Rarely the perfect indicative is used in apodosis with a present or even a future (or future perfect) in protasis, to represent the conclusion rhetorically as already accomplished.
Sī hōc bene fīxum in animō est, vīcistis. (Liv. 21.44)
If this is well fixed in your
minds, you have conquered.
[For you will have conquered.]
Sī eundem [animum] habueritis, vīcimus. (id. 21.43)
If you shall have kept the same spirit, we have conquered.
f. A future condition is frequently thrown back into past time, without implying that it is contrary to fact (§ 517). In such cases the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive may be used.
Nōn poterat, nisi dēcertāre vellet. (B. C. 3.44)
He was not able, unless he wished to
fight.
Tumulus appāruit . . . sī lūce palam īrētur hostis praeventūrus erat (Liv. 22.24)
A hill
appeared ... if they should go openly by daylight, the enemy would prevent.
The first two appear like indirect discourse, but are not. An observer describing the situation in the first example as present would say nōn potest nisi velit (see d.), and no indirect discourse would be thought of.
Caesar sī peteret . . . nōn quicquam prōficeret (Hor. S. 1.3.4)
If even Cæsar were to
ask, he would gain nothing.
Here the construction is not contrary to fact, but is simply Sī petat, nōn prōficiat, thrown into past time.
CONTRARY TO FACT
517. In the statement of a supposition impliedly false, the Imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive are used in both protasis and apodosis.2 The imperfect refers to present time, the pluperfect to past.
Sī vīveret, verba êius audīrētis. (Rosc. Com. 42)
If he were living, you would hear his
words.
[Present]
Nisi tū āmīsissēs, numquam recēpissem. (Cat. M. 11)
Unless had lost it, I should not
have recovered it.
[Past]
Sī meum cōnsilium valuisset, tū hodiē egērēs, rēs pūblica nōn tot ducēs āmīsisse. (Phil. 2.37)
If my judgment had prevailed [as it did not], you would this day be a beggar, and the republic would not have lost so many leaders.
[Mixed Present
and Past]
a. In conditions contrary to fact the Imperfect often refers to past time, both in protasis and apodosis, especially when a repeated or continued action is denoted, or when the condition if true would still exist.
Sī nihil litterīs adiuvārentur, numquam sē ad eārum studium contulissent. (Arch. 16)
If
they had not been helped at all by literature, they never would have given their attention to the study of it.
[Without the condition, adiuvābantur]
Hīc sī mentis esset suae, ausus esset ēdūcere exercitum? (Pison. 50)
If he were of sane
mind, would he have dared to lead out the army?
[Here esset denotes a continued state, past as well as present.]
Nōn concidissent, nisi illud receptāculum classibus nostrīs patēret. (Verr. 2.3)
[The power of Carthage] would not have fallen, unless that station had been [constantly] open to our fleets.
[Without the condition, patēbat]
b. In the apodosis of a condition contrary to fact the past tenses of the Indicative may be used to express what was intended, or likely, or already begun. In this use, the imperfect indicative corresponds in time to the imperfect subjunctive, and the perfect or pluperfect indicative to the pluperfect subjunctive.
Sī licitum esset, mātrēsveniēbant (Verr. 5.129)
The mothers were coming if it had been
allowed.
in amplexūs fīliae Ruēbat, nisi līctōrēs obstitissent. (Tac. Ann. 16.32)
He was about rushing into his daughter's arms, unless the lictors had opposed.
Iam tūta tenēbam, nī gēns crūdēlis ferrō invāsisset. (Aen. 6.358)
I was just reaching a
place of safety, had not the fierce people attacked me.
Note 1— Here the apodosis may be regarded as elliptical.
mātrēs venièbant (et vēnissent),
etc.
The matrons were coming (and would have kept on) if, etc.
Note 2— With paene and sometimes prope (almost) the Perfect Indicative is used in the apodosis of a past condition contrary to fact.
pōns iter paene hostibus dedit, nī ūnus vir fuisset (Liv. 2.10)
The bridge had almost given a passage to the foe, if it had not been for one hero.
c. Verbs and other expressions denoting necessity, propriety, possibility, duty, when used in the apodosis of a condition contrary to fact, may be put in the imperfect or perfect indicative. Such are oportet, decet, dēbeō, possum, necesse est, opus est, and the 2nd periphrastic conjugation.3
Nōn potuit fierī sapiēns, nisi nātus esset. (Fin. 2.103)
He could not have become a
sage, if he had not been born.
Sī prīvātus esset hōc tempore, tamen is erat dēligendus. (Manil. 50)
If he were at this
time a private citizen, yet he ought to be appointed.
quod esse caput dēbēbat, sī probārī posset (Fin. 4.23)
what ought to be the main point,
if it could be proved
sī ita putāsset, certē optābilius Milōnī fuit (Mil. 31)
if he had thought so, surely it
would have been preferable for Milo
Note 1— In present conditions the imperfect subjunctive (oportēret, possem, etc.) is the rule, the indicative being rare; in past conditions both the subjunctive (usually pluperfect) and the indicative (usually perfect) are common. For pār erat, melius fuit, and the like, followed by the infinitive, see § 521, Note.
Note 2— The indicative construction is carried still further in poetry.
Sī nōn alium iactāret odōrem, laurus erat. (Georg. 2.133)
It were a laurel,
but for giving out a different odor
d. The participle in -ūrus with eram or fuī may take the place of an imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive in the apodosis of a condition contrary to fact.
quid enim futūrum fuit [ = fuisset], sī, etc. (Liv. 2.1)
What would have happened if, etc.
Relictūrī agrōs erant, nisi ad eōs Metellus litterās mīsisset. (Verr. 3.121)
They would
have abandoned their fields, if Metellus had not sent them a letter.
Neque ambigitur quīn ... id factūrus fuerit, sī, etc. (Liv. 2.1)
Nor is there any
question that he would have done it, if , etc.
[Direct: fēcisset]
Adeō parāta sēditiō fuit ut Othōnem raptūrī fuerint, nī incerta noctis timuissent. (Tac. H. 1.26)
So far advanced was the conspiracy that they would have seized upon Otho, had they not feared the hazards of the night.
[In a main clause: rapuissent, nī timuissent]
e. The present subjunctive is sometimes used in poetry in the protasis and apodosis of conditions contrary to fact.
Nī comes admoneat, inruat. (Aen. 6.293)
Had not his companion warned him, he would have
rushed on.
cf. Tū sī hīc sīs, aliter sentiās (Ter. And. 310)
If you were in my place, you would
think differently.]
Note 1— This is probably a remnant of an old construction (see next note).
Note 2— In old Latin the present subjunctive (as well as the imperfect) is used in present conditions contrary to fact and the imperfect (more rarely the pluperfect) in past conditions of the same kind. Thus it appears that the imperfect subjunctive, like the imperfect indicative, once denoted past time, even in conditional sentences. Gradually, however, in conditional sentences, the present subjunctive was restricted to the Future Less Vivid and the imperfect (in the main) to the Present Contrary to Fact, while the pluperfect was used in past conditions of this nature. The old construction, however, seems to have been retained as an archaism in poetry.
f. In Plautus and Terence absque mē (tē, etc.) is sometimes used to introduce conditions contrary to fact.
Absque tē esset, hodiē nusquam vīverem. (Pl. Men. 1022)
If it were not for you, I should
not be alive to-day.
Absque eō esset, rēctē ego mihi vīdissem. (Ter. Ph. 188)
If it had not been for him, I
should have looked out for myself.
2. The implication of falsity, in this construction, is not inherent in the subjunctive; but comes from the transfer of a future condition to past time. Thus the time for the happening of the condition has, at the moment of writing, already passed; so that, if the condition remains a condition, it must be contrary to fact. So past forms of the indicative implying a future frequently take the place of the subjunctive in the apodosis in this construction (see c., d., and § 511).
3. Observe that all these expressions contain the idea of futurity (cf. p. 328, footnote). Thus, decet mē [hodiē] īre crās, means it is proper for me [today] to go tomorrow and decēbat mē [herī] īre hodiē, it was proper for me [yesterday] to go today, usually with the implication that I have not gone as I was bound to do.
518. General Conditions (§ 513.2) have usually the same forms as Particular Conditions. But they are sometimes distinguished in the following cases.
a. The subjunctive is often used in the 2nd person singular, to denote the act of an indefinite subject (you = any one). Here the present indicative of a general truth may stand in the apodosis.
Vīta hūmāna prope utī ferrum est: sī exerceās, conteritur; sī nōn exerceās, tamen rōbīgō interficit. (Cato de M.)
Human life is very like iron: if you use it, it wears away; if you don't use it, rust still destroys it.
Virtūtem necessāriō glōria, etiamsī tū id nōn agās, cōnsequitur. (Tusc. 1.91)
Glory
necessarily follows virtue, even if that is not one's aim.
Sī prohibita impūne trānscenderis, neque metus ultrā neque pudor est. (Tac. Ann. 3.54)
If you once overstep the bounds with impunity, there is no fear or shame any more.
b. In a General Condition in present time, the protasis often takes the perfect indicative, and the apodosis the present indicative. For past time, the pluperfect is used in the protasis, and the imperfect in the apodosis.
Sī quōs aliquā parte membrōrum inūtilīs nōtāvērunt, necārī iubent. (Q. C. 9.1.25)
If
they [ever] mark any infirm in any part of their limbs, they [always] order them to be put to death.
[Present]
Sī ā persequendō hostīs dēterrēre nequīverant, ab tergō circumveniēbant. (Iug. 50)
If [ever] they were unable to prevent the enemy from pursuing, they [always] surrounded them in the
rear.
[Past]
c. In later writers (rarely in Cicero and Cæsar), the imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive are used in protasis, with the imperfect indicative in apodosis, to state a repeated or customary action in past time (Iterative Subjunctive).
Sī quis ā dominō prehenderētur, concursū mīlitum ēripiēbātur. (B. C. 3.110)
If
any (runaway) was arrested by his master, he was (always) rescued by a mob of soldiers.
Accūsātōrēs, sī facultās incideret, poenīs adficiēbantur. (Tac. Ann. 6.30)
The accusers,
whenever opportunity offered, were visited with punishment.
Sī quis collēgam appellāsset, ab eō ita discēdēbat ut paenitēret nōn priōris dēcrētō stetisse. (Liv. 3.36.8)
If any one appealed to a colleague, he [always] came off in such case that he repented not having submitted to the decree of the former
decemvir./p>
cf. Sōcratēs, quam sē cumque in partem dedisset omnium fuit facile prīnceps (De Or. 3.60)
In whatever direction Socrates turned himself, he was (always) easily the foremost (if in any. etc.).
519. A clause introduced by a relative pronoun or relative adverb may express a condition and take any of the constructions of protasis1 (§ 514).
Quī enim vitiīs modum adpōnit, is partem suscipit vitiōrum. (Tusc. 4.42)
He who
[only] sets a limit to faults, takes up the side of the faults.
[ = sī quis adpōnit. Present, nothing
implied.]
Quī mentīrī solet, pēierāre cōnsuēvit. (Rosc. Com. 46)
Whoever is in the habit of lying,
is accustomed to swear falsely.
[= sī quis solet. Present, nothing implied.]
Quicquid potuit, potuit ipsa per sē. (Leg. Agr. 1.20)
Whatever power she had, she had by
herself.
[ = sī quid potuit. Past, nothing implied.]
quod quī faciet, nōn aegritūdine sōlum vacābit, sed, etc (Tusc. 4.38)
and he who
does (shall do) this, will be free not only, etc.
[ = sī quis faciet. Future More Vivid.]
Quisquis hūc vēnerit, vāpulābit. (Pl. Am. 309)
Whoever comes here shall get a
thrashing.
[= sī quis vēnerit. Future More Vivid.]
Quō volēs, sequar. (Clu. 71)
Whithersoever you wish (shall wish), I will follow.
[ = sī quō volēs. Future More Vivid.]
philosophia, cui quī pāreat, omne tempus aetātis sine molestiā possit dēgere (Cat. M. 2)
philosophy, which if any one should obey, he would be able to spend his whole life without vexation
[ = sī quis pāreat. Future
Less Vivid.]
Quaecumque vōs causa hūc attulisset, laetārer. (De Or. 2.15)
I should be glad whatever
cause had brought you here.
(i.e. if any other, as well as the one which did)
[ = sī . . . attulisset. Contrary to Fact.]
The relative in this construction is always indefinite in meaning, and very often in form.
520. The special constructions of General Conditions are sometimes found in Conditional Relative Clauses.
Bonus tantum modo sēgnior fit ubi neglegās, at malus improbior. (Iug. 31.28)
A good
man merely becomes less diligent when you don't watch him, but a bad man becomes more shameless.
[Present General Condition]
Cum hūc vēnī, hōc ipsum nihil agere mē dēlectat. (De Or. 2.24)
Whenever I come here,
this very doing nothing delights me
(whenever I have come, etc.).
[Present General Condition]
Cum rosam vīderat, tum incipere vēr arbitrābātur. (Verr. 5.27)
Whenever he
saw (had seen) a rose, then he thought spring was beginning.
[Past General Condition]
Ubi imbēcillitās māteriae postulāre vidērētur, pīlae interpōnuntur. (B. C. 2.16)
Wherever the weakness of the timber seemed to require, piles were put between.
[Past General Condition: interpōnuntur =
interpōnēbantur]
Quōcumque sē intulisset, victōriam sēcum trahēbat.(Liv. 6.8)
Wherever he advanced,
he carried victory with him.
[Past General Condition]
521. In many sentences properly conditional, the protasis is not expressed by a conditional clause, but is stated in some other form of words or implied in the nature of the thought.
a. The condition may be implied in a clause, or in a participle, noun, adverb, or some other word or phrase.
Facile mē paterer—illō ipsō iūdice quaerente—prō Sex. Rōsciō dīcere. (Rosc. Am. 85)
I
should readily allow myself to speak for Roscius if that very judge were conducting the trial.
[Present contrary to fact: sī quaereret, paterer]
Nōn mihi, nisi admonitō, vēnisset in mentem. (De Or. 2.180)
It would not have come into
my mind unless [I had been] reminded.
[Past contrary to fact: nisi admonitus essem]
Nūlla aliagēns tantā mōle clādis nōn obruta esset. (Liv. 22.54)
There is no other people
that would not have been crushed by such a weight of disaster.
[Past contrary to fact: sī alia fuisset]
Nēmō umqua sine māgnā spēimmortālitātis sē prō patriā offerret ad mortem. (Tusc. 1.32)
No one, without great hope of immortality, would ever expose himself to death for his country.
[Present contrary to fact: nisi māgnam spem
habēret]
Quid hunc paucōrum annōrum accessiōiuvāre potuisset? (Lael. 11)
What good could the
addition of a few years have done him (if they had been added)?
[Past contrary to fact: sī accessissent]
Quid igitur mihi ferārum laniātus oberit nihil sentientī. (Tusc. 1.104)
What harm will
the mangling by wild beasts do me if I don't feel anything?
(me . . . feeling nothing)
[Future more vivid: sī nihil sentiam]
Incitāta semel prōclīvī lābuntur sustinērīque nūllō modō possunt. (id. 4.42)
If once
given a push, they slide down rapidly and can in no way be checked.
[Present General: sī incitāta sunt]
Note— In several phrases denoting necessity, propriety, or the like, the imperfect, perfect, or pluperfect Indicative of esse is used in the apodosis of a condition contrary to fact, the protasis being implied in a subject infinitive (cf. § 517.c).
Quantō melius fuerat prōmissum nōn esse servātum! (Off. 3.94)
How much better would it have been if the promise had not been kept!
[prōmissum . . . servātum = sī prōmissum nōn esset servātum.]
Morī praeclārum fuit. (Att. 8.2.2)
It would have been
honorable to die.
Sed erat aequius Triārium aliquid dē dissēnsiōne nostrā iūdicāre. (Fin. 2.119)
But it would be more equitable if Triarius passed judgment on our dispute.
[Triārium iūdicāre = sī Triārius iūdicāret]
Satius fuit āmitteremīlitēs. (Inv. 2.73)
It would have
been better to lose the soldiers.
[āmittere = sī āmīsisset]
b. The condition may be contained in a wish (Optative Subjunctive), or expressed as an exhortation or command (Hortatory Subjunctive or Imperative).
Utinam quidem fuissem! Molestus nōbīs nōn esset. (Fam. 12.3)
I wish I had been
[chief]: he would not now be troubling us.
[i.e. if I had been; Optative Subjunctive]
Nātūram expellās furcā, tamen ūsque recurret. (Hor. Ep. 1.10.24)
Drive out nature with a
pitchfork, still she will ever return.
[Hortatory]
Rogēs enim Aristōnem, neget. (Fin. 4.69) For ask Aristo, he would deny.
Manent ingenia senibus, modo permaneat studium et industria. (Cat. M. 22)
Old men keep
their mental powers, only let them keep their zeal and diligence. (§ 528, Note)
[Hortatory]
Tolle hanc opīniōnem, lūctum sustuleris. (Tusc. 1.30)
Remove this notion, and you will
have done away with grief. [Imperative]
Note— The so-called Concessive Subjunctive with ut and nē often has the force of protasis (§ 527.a, Note).
Ut enim ratiōnem Platō nūllam adferret, ipsā auctōritāte mē frangeret. (Tusc. 1.49)
Even if Plato gave no reasons, [still] he would overpower me by his mere authority.
c. Rarely the condition takes the form of an independent clause:
Rīdēs: mâiōre cachinnō concutitur. (Iuv. 3.100)
You laugh; he shakes with louder
laughter.
(= if you laugh, he shakes)
commovē : sentiēs, etc. (Tusc. 4.54)
Stir him up, [and] you'll find, etc.
Dē paupertāte agitur: multī patientēs pauperēs commemorantur. (id. 3.57)
We speak of
poverty; many patient poor are mentioned.
For Conditional Relative Clauses, see §§ 519 - 520.
522. The protasis is often wholly omitted, but may be inferred from the course of the argument.
Poterat Sextilius impūne negāre: quis enim redargueret? (Fin. 2.55)
Sextilius might have
denied with impunity; for who would prove him wrong (if he had denied)?
a. In expressions signifying necessity, propriety, and the like, the Indicative may be used in the apodosis of implied conditions, either future or Contrary to Fact.
quod contrā decuitab illō meum [corpus cremārī] (Cat. M.
84)
whereas on the other hand mine ought to have been burnt by him
Nam nōs decēbat domum lūgēre ubi esset aliquis in lūcem ēditus. (Tusc. 1.115)
For it
were fitting for us to mourn the house where a man has been born
(but we do not).
Quantō melius fuerat.(Off. 3.94)
How much better it would have been.
Illud erat aptius, aequum cuique concēdere. (Fin. 4.2)
It would be more fitting to yield
each one his rights.
Ipsum enim exspectāre māgnum fuit? (Phil. 2.103)
Would it have been a great matter
to wait for the man himself?
longum estea dīcere, sed, etc. (Sest. 12)
It would be tedious to tell, but,
etc.
[Future]
Note 1— In this construction, the imperfect indicative refers to present time; the pluperfect to simple past time, like the perfect. Thus oportēbat means it ought to be [now], but is not; oportuerat, means it ought to have been, but was not.
Note 2— In many cases it is impossible to say whether a protasis was present to the mind of the speaker or not (see third example above).
523. Either the protasis or the apodosis may be a complex idea in which the main statement is made with expressed or implied qualifications. In such cases the true logical relation of the parts is sometimes disguised.
Sī quis hōrum dīxisset . . . sī verbum dē rē pūblicā fēcisset . . . multa plūra dīxisse quam dīxisset putārētur. (Rosc. Am. 2)
If any of these had spoken, in case he had said a word about politics he would be thought to have said much more than he did say.
Here the apodosis of dīxisset is the whole of the following statement (sī ... putārētur), which is itself conditioned by a protasis of its own: sī verbum, etc.
quod sī in hōc mundō fierī sine deō nōn potest, nē in sphaerā quidem eōsdem mōtūs sine dīvīnō ingeniō potuisset imitārī (Tusc.
1.63)
Now if that cannot be done in this universe without divine agency, no more could [Archimedes] in his orrery have imitated the same
revolutions without divine genius.
Here sī potest (a protasis with nothing implied) has for its apodosis the whole clause which follows, but potuisset has a contrary-to-fact protasis of its own implied in sine . . . ingeniō.
Peream male sī nōn optimum erat. (Hor. S. 2.1.6)
Confound me (may I perish
wretchedly) if it wouldn't be better.
Here peream is apodosis to the rest of the sentence, while the true protasis to optimum erat, contrary to fact, is omitted.