DEPENDENT SUBSTANTIVE CLAUSES (2574-2635)
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2574
A subordinate clause may play the part of a substantive in relation to the main clause. Such clauses are generally the object, sometimes the subject, of the verb of the main clause.
he said that they had not come to wage warεἶπεν ὅτι οὐ πόλεμον ποιησόμενοι ἥκοιεν
they were managing how some reinforcements should comeἔπρᾱσσον ὅπως τις βοήθεια ἥξει
I am afraid lest we may forget the way homeδέδοικα μὴ . . . ἐπιλαθώμεθα τῆς οἴκαδε ὁδοῦ
2575
There are four main divisions of substantive clauses.
1. Dependent Statements: subordinate clauses stating that something is; as
he says that nothing is more unjust than talk about a man's characterλέγει ὡς οὐδέν ἐστιν ἀδικώτερον φήμης
2. Dependent Clauses of will or desire: subordinate clauses denoting that something should be or should be done. These clauses have been treated under the following divisions:
a. Dependent clauses after verbs of effort (2209).
b. Dependent clauses after verbs of fearing (2221).
N.—On dependent voluntative clauses with the accusative and infinitive (indirect petition), see 1991 ff.
3. Dependent Questions: subordinate clauses asking a question; both parts of the sentence together forming a statement; as
I asked what the matter wasἠρώτων ὅ τι ἐστὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα
4. Dependent Exclamations: subordinate clauses setting forth an exclamation; both parts of the sentence together forming a statement; as
observing how great the extent of their territory was and how excellent its qualityδιαθεώμενος αὐτῶν ὅσην μὲν χώρᾱν καὶ οἵᾱν ἔχοιεν
DEPENDENT STATEMENTS
2576
Dependent statements, or subordinate clauses stating that something is, are expressed in various ways:
1. By an infinitive, with or without an accusative (explained in 1972 ff., 2016 ff.). Thus,
for I think that you are both fatherland and friends to meνομίζω γὰρ ὑ̄μᾶς ἐμοὶ εἶναι καὶ πατρίδα καὶ φίλους
I think that I knowοἶμαι εἰδέναι
2. By a participle, with or without an accusative (explained in 2106 ff.). Thus,
for they did not know that he was deadοὐ γὰρ ᾔδεσαν αὐτὸν τεθνηκότα
I remember that I heardμέμνημαι ἀκούσᾱς
3. By ὅτι or ὡς (and some other conjunctions) with the indicative or optative. On this form of dependent statement see 2577 ff., and under Indirect Discourse.
a. In any form of substantive clause the subject of the subordinate verb may be made the object of the principal verb (2182).
b. A clause with ὅτι (ὡς) may precede the principal clause. Cp. 2586.
DEPENDENT STATEMENTS INTRODUCED BY ὅτι OR ὡς
2577
The conjunctions ὅτι or ὡς that introduce dependent statements in the indicative and optative
After verbs of saying, knowing, perceiving, showing, etc.
After verbs of emotion (rejoicing, grieving, wondering), etc.
Or such dependent statements contain an explanation of the main clause or of a word in that clause, no special verb introducing the conjunction.
τοῦτο ἄξιον ἐπαινεῖν τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν τότε ναυμαχησάντων, ὅτι τὸν . . . φόβον διέλῡσαν τῶν Ἑλλήνων it is right to praise this in the men who engaged in the sea-fight of those days, (namely) that they dispelled the fear felt by the Greeks P. Menex. 241b.
2578
The conjunctions introducing dependent statements are ὅτ<*> (Homeric also ὅττι, ὅ and ὅτε), ὡς, διότι, ὅπως (rarely), οὕνεκα and ὁθούνεκα (both poetic).
a. ὅτι meaning that was originally, like Hom. ὅ, perhaps an accusative of the inner object (cognate): ὁρῶ ς` νοσεῖς lit. I see what sickness you are sick (= ἣν νόσον νοσεῖς). But by the time of Homer both ὅ and ὅτι had become mere formal conjunctions. Hom. ὅτε that seems to be a weakened ὅτε when; but this is disputed.
b. διότι originally = διὰ τοῦτο, ὅτι on account of this, that = because (as T. 1.52); then = ὅτι that in Hdt. and in Attic after Isocrates, who uses διότι for ὅτι to avoid hiatus.
c. ὡς strictly an old ablative of ὅς (2989) meaning how, in what way, as in exclamatory clauses and indirect questions. The meaning how (cp. how that) may be seen in οἶδα γὰρ ὥς μοι ὀδώδυσται κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος for I know how (that) the famed earth-shaker has been wroth against me ε 423, and also in Attic (And. 2.14; I. 2.3, 3. 10, 16. 11, 16. 15; Aes. 2.35; D. 24.139). The development of ὡς how to ὡς that followed from the use of ὡς after verbs signifying to see, perceive, know, and the like. Cp. “he sayed how there was a knight.”
d. ὅπως (2929) that is common in Herodotus (ὅκως), rare in Attic, most used in poetry and Xenophon. From its original use in indirect questions ὅπως how gradually acquired the meaning that. Thus,
do not even entertain the thought that I am annoyed at maintaining youἀλλ᾽ ὅπως μὲν . . . ἐγὼ ἄχθομαι ὑ̄μᾶς τρέφων, μηδ᾽ ὑπονοεῖτε
e. οὕνεκα = οὖ ἕνεκα, for τούτου ἕνεκα, ὅ, properly causal: on account of (as regards) this, that, and then = that, even in Homer (Odyssey and Λ 21) and later in poetry. Thus,
announce that Oedipus has distributed such honours to his sonsἐξάγγελλε . . . οὕνεκ᾽ Οἰδίπους τοιαῦτ᾽ ἔνειμε παισὶ τοῖς αὑτοῦ γέρᾱ
f. ὁθούνεκα = ὅτου ἕνεκα, for τούτου ἕνεκα, ὅτι; and then = that. It is found only in tragedy, as
report that Orestes is deadἄγγελλε . . . ὁθούνεκα τέθνηκ᾽ Ὀρέστης
2579
Some verbs of saying are followed either by ὅτι or ὡς or by an infinitive (2017). In most cases the choice is optional with the writer. Affirmative clauses usually take the infinitive or ὅτι; but ὡς is apparently preferred to ὅτι when a writer wishes to mark a statement as an opinion, a pretext, as untrue, and so when the main clause is negative, or when the subordinate clause is negative (or both are negative). Thus,
the local belief is that Hephaestus is working at his forgeνομίζουσιν οἱ ἐκείνῃ ἄνθρωποι . . . ὡς ὁ Ἥφαιστος χαλκεύει
I have often wondered with what possible arguments the accusers of Socrates succeeded in convincing the Athenians that he deserved deathπολλάκις ἐθαύμασα τίσι ποτὲ λόγοις Ἀθηναίους ἔπεισαν οἱ γραψάμενοι Σωκράτην ὡς ἄξιος εἴη θανάτου
a. Dependent statements in the optative in indirect discourse after verbs of saying are chiefly post-Homeric.
2580
Verbs of thinking almost always take the infinitive (2018) but ὡς occurs; as with νομίζω T. 3.88 (2579), ἐλπίζω 5. 9, οἴομαι X. H. 6.3.12, ὑπολαμβάνω X. C. 8.3.40. ὅτι is very rare (with οἴομαι in P. Ph. 87c). λογίζομαι (ὅτι) is a verb of saying.
a. μαρτυρῶ with ὅτι (ὡς) expresses reality; with the infinitive it denotes uncertainty.
2581
Verbs of intellectual perception usually take ὅτι (ὡς); less often the participle, which is normal after verbs of physical perception. A verb of physical perception, if followed by ὅτι (ὡς), virtually becomes a verb of intellectual perception.
2582
Many verbs take ὅτι (ὡς) or the participle either in indirect discourse or not in indirect discourse (2106-2115). Here the construction with the finite verb is less dependent than that with the participle; but the meaning is essentially the same in Attic. Many verbs take ὅτι (ὡς), the infinitive, or the participle, often without great difference in meaning in Attic (2123-2145).
2583
ὅτι (ὡς), when separated from its clause by another clause, may be repeated. Thus,
he said that, if they did not descend, he would burn their villages to the groundἔλεγεν ὅτι, εἰ μὴ καταβήσονται . . . , ὅτι κατακαύσει . . . τὰ̄ς κώμᾱς
2584
The personal δῆλός εἰμι ὅτι, λανθάνω ὅτι , etc. are often used instead of the impersonal δῆλόν ἐστιν ὅτι, λανθάνει ὅτι, etc. Thus,
not even you fail to perceive that they are the very worstὅτι πονηρότατοί εἰσιν οὐδὲ σὲ λανθάνουσιν
2585
δῆλον ὅτι (δηλονότι) evidently, οἶδ᾽ ὅτι ( εὖ οἶδ᾽ ὅτι ) surely, εὖ ἴσθι ὅτι be assured are so often used parenthetically and elliptically as to become mere formal expressions requiring no verb. ὅτι here loses all conjunctive force. Thus,
the case then stands clearly thus about these mattersἔχει δὴ οὑτωσὶ̄ δῆλον ὅτι τούτων πέρι
nor assuredly would you have ceasedοὔτ᾽ ἂν ὑ̄μεῖς οἶδ᾽ ὅτι ἐπαύσασθε
a. Plato (Sophistes and Leges) uses δῆλον (ἐστίν) ὡς for δῆλον ὅτι.
2586
ὅτι (and by analogy ὡς) are often attached loosely to the main clause with the meaning as a proof (in support) of the fact that. Thus, ὅτι δ᾽ οὕτω ταῦτ᾽ ἔχει, λέγε μοι τὸ τοῦ Καλλισθένους ψήφισμα as a proof of the fact that this is so, read me the bill of Callisthenes D. 18.37.
2587
Verbs of emotion (to rejoice, grieve, be angry, wonder, etc.) take ὅτι (ὡς) with a finite verb (negative οὐ), but more commonly the participle (2100) when the subject is not changed.
a. Hom. prefers ὅτι, ὡς to the participle or infinitive.
b. The accusative and infinitive with verbs of emotion are rare; as with θαυμάζω E. Alc. 1130. (θαυμάζω may be followed by a dependent question: D. 37.44).
c. On verbs of emotion with εἰ instead of ὅτι, ὡς (negative, generally μή), see 2247. On the use in dependent exclamations, see 2687.
2588
μέμνημαι, οἶδα, ἀκούω and like verbs, may take ὅτε instead of ὅτι (2395 A. N.). Cp., in Homer, Φ 396, π 424.
INDIRECT DISCOURSE
2589
The words or thoughts of a person may be quoted in direct or indirect form after verbs, or other expressions, of saying or thinking.
a. In reporting a speech, in making a quotation, or in dialogue, a verb of saying is often repeated (P. Pr. 310b, 345 c, X. A. 7.6.5-6). So also in such cases as Πάνθεια εἶπεν, ἀλλὰ θάρρει, ἔφη, ὦ Κῦρε X. C. 7.3.13.
2590
(I) Direct Discourse (Oratio Recta).—In a direct quotation the words or thoughts quoted are given at first hand in the exact form used by the original speaker or thinker.
Μεγαρέες ἔπεμπον ἐπὶ τοὺς στρατηγοὺς τῶν Ἑλλήνων κήρῡκα, ἀπικόμενος δὲ ὁ κῆρυξ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔλεγε τάδε· “Μεγαρέες λέγουσι· ‘ἡμεῖς, ἄνδρες σύμμαχοι, οὐ δυνατοί εἰμεν τὴν Περσέων ἵππον δέκεσθαι μοῦνοι’” the Megarians sent a herald to the generals of the Greeks, and on his arrival the herald spoke as follows: “The Megarians say: ‘we, oh allies, are not able to sustain the attack of the Persian cavalry by ourselves’” Hdt. 9.21; and often in Hdt. (cp. 3. 40, 3. 122, 5. 24, 7. 150, 8. 140).
a. Direct quotation may, in prose, be introduced by ὅτι, which has the value of quotation marks. Thus, οἱ δὲ εἶπον ὅτι ἱκανοί ἐσμεν but they said (that) “we are ready” X. A. 5.4.10. So usually when the finite verb is omitted; as ἀπεκρί̄νατο ὅτι οὔ he answered (that) “no” 1. 6. 7. The use of direct speech introduced by ὅτι is, in general, that of familiar style. The first example is Hdt. 2.115. ὡς for ὅτι is very rare (Dinarchus 1. 12, 1. 102). Cp. “the emperor sends thee this word that, if thou love thy sons, let Marcus . . ., or any one of you, chop off your hand” Shakesp. Tit. Andr. 3. 1. 151.
2591
(II) Indirect Discourse (Oratio Obliqua). In an indirect quotation the words or thoughts are given at second hand with certain modifications to indicate that the words or thoughts are reported.
a. The original form may be preserved except that there is a change from the first or second person to the third person: so πάντ᾽ ἐθέλει δόμεναι H 391 reporting πάντ᾽ ἐθέλω δόμεναι H 364. In such cases there is no grammatical dependence.
b. The narrator may report in dependent form the words or thoughts of a person from the point of view of that person. This is the common form of indirect discourse.
c. The narrator may report in dependent form the words or thoughts of a person from his own point of view. See 2624.
2592
The constructions of indirect discourse are regulated by the character of the leading verb or expression.
a. Verbs of saying take either ὅτι or ὡς and a finite verb or the infinitive (2017, 2579).
b. Most verbs of thinking and believing take the infinitive (2018, cp. 2580).
c. Most verbs of knowing, perceiving, hearing, showing take the participle (2106, 2110), but admit the construction with ὅτι or ὡς. Some are followed by the infinitive (2123 ff.).
d. On the construction of verbs of hoping, promising , and swearing, see 1868, 1999, 2024.
2593
Indirect discourse is said to be implied in subordinate clauses dependent on verbs which involve an idea of saying or thinking (2622).
2594
A speaker may state his own words or thoughts in the form of indirect discourse. Cp. 2614, 2615, etc.
2595
Clauses standing in indirect discourse are substantive clauses, and usually object of the leading verb; its subject, when that verb is passive or intransitive. The infinitive in substantive clauses after verbs of saying and thinking retains the time of the corresponding finite verb of direct discourse.
2596
Indirect questions (2677) have the constructions of indirect discourse.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INDIRECT DISCOURSE
2597
Simple and compound sentences, and principal clauses of complex sentences, introduced by ὅτι or ὡς are treated as follows:
2598
(I) After primary tenses, the original mood and tense are retained, except that the person of the verb may be changed.
2599
(II) After secondary tenses, primary tenses of the indicative and all subjunctives may be changed to the same tense of the optative; but an indicative denoting unreality (with or without ἄν) is retained. Imperfects and pluperfects are generally retained (2623 b).
2600
The verb of simple and compound sentences, and of principal clauses of complex sentences, when introduced by a verb taking the infinitive or participle, passes into the infinitive or participle in the corresponding tense. ἄν is kept, if it was used in the direct form.
2601
Subordinate clauses of complex sentences introduced by ὅτι or ὡς are treated as follows:
2602
(I) Subordinate clauses of a sentence introduced by a leading verb in a primary tense, must remain unchanged in mood and tense.
2603
(II) If subordinate clauses are introduced by a leading verb in a secondary tense, all primary tenses of the indicative and all subjunctives (with or without ἄν) may be changed to the corresponding tenses of the optative without ἄν. All secondary tenses of the indicative (with or without ἄν) remain unchanged.
2604
Verbs standing in subordinate clauses of sentences introduced by a leading verb requiring the participle or the infinitive, follow the rules of 2602, 2603.
2605
The principal and subordinate clauses of the direct form retain the names principal and subordinate in indirect discourse though the whole clause in which they stand itself depends on the verb introducing the indirect discourse (the leading verb).
2606
The change from direct to indirect discourse is almost always a change of mood, not of tense. The time of a participle introducing indirect discourse is determined by that of the leading verb. The person of the verb is often changed.
2607
ἄν of the direct form is retained in indirect discourse except when a dependent subjunctive with ἄν becomes optative after a secondary tense. Here ἐά̄ν, ὅταν, ἐπειδάν, ἕως ἄν, etc., become εἰ, ὅτε, ἐπειδή, ἕως, etc.
2608
The same negative (οὐ or μή) used in the direct discourse is commonly kept in the indirect form. But in some cases with the infinitive and participle μή takes the place of οὐ (2723 ff., 2730, 2737).
2609
No verb ever becomes subjunctive by reason of indirect discourse. The subjunctive (with or without ἄν) may, after a secondary tense, become optative without ἄν.
2610
No verb can be changed to the optative in indirect discourse except after a secondary tense, and since, even after a secondary tense, indicatives or subjunctives may be retained for vividness, no verb must become optative by reason of indirect discourse.
2611
All optatives with or without ἄν in the direct form are retained (with or without ἄν) in indirect discourse introduced by ὅτι or ὡς. After verbs requiring the participle or infinitive, such optatives in principal clauses become participles or infinitives (with or without ἄν), but remain unchanged in subordinate clauses.
a. The optative in indirect discourse may represent either the indicative or the subjunctive after a secondary tense.
b. A present optative in indirect discourse may represent (1) the present indicative; (2) the imperfect (2623 b) indicative; (3) the present subjunctive with or without ἄν; (4) the present optative.
2612
The imperative is commonly replaced in indirect discourse by a periphrasis with χρῆναι. Cp. 2633 b.
2613
The retention of the mood of direct discourse, where either the direct or indirect form is possible, lies solely in the option of the writer or speaker. The vivid form reproduces the time and situation in which the quoted words were used. The vivid form is preferred by some writers, as Thucydides; the indirect form by others, as the orators, Plato, and Xenophon.
SIMPLE SENTENCES IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE
1. Indicative and Optative after ὅτι or ὡς
2614
After primary tenses, the verb of the direct form remains unchanged in mood and tense.
he says that I am an insolent personλέγει δ᾽ ὡς ὑβριστής εἰμι
but we must remember on the one hand that we were born womenἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μέν, γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι ἔφῡμεν
I know that you would not blame me even for thisοἶδ᾽ ὅτι οὐδ᾽ ἂν τοῦτό μοι ἐμέμφου
he replied that he would say nothing of thisἀπεκρί̄νατο ὅτι οὐδὲν ἂν τούτων εἴποι
2615
After secondary tenses, an indicative without ἄν usually becomes optative, but may be retained unchanged. An indicative with ἄν and an optative with ἄν are retained.
a. Optative for Indicative.—
they recognized that their fear was groundlessἔγνωσαν ὅτι κενὸς ὁ φόβος εἴη
they said that the king of the Indians had sent themἔλεξαν ὅτι πέμψειε σφᾶς ὁ Ἰνδῶν βασιλεύς
it was reported that the Lacedaemonians had been defeated and that Peisander was deadἠγγέλθη ὅτι ἡττημένοι εἶεν οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι . . . καὶ Πείσανδρος τεθναίη
N.—The first example of the optative in indirect discourse is later than Homer (Hymn to Aphrodite 214). Aeschylus has four cases. See 2624 c.
b. Direct Form Retained.—
a report spread that Cyrus was pursuing themδιῆλθε λόγος ὅτι διώκει αὐτοὺς Κῦρος
they withdrew immediately on answering that they would send envoysἀποκρῑνάμενοι ὅτι πέμψουσι πρέσβεις, εὐθὺς ἀπήλλαξαν
2. Infinitive and Participle
2616
The infinitive and participle are used in indirect discourse to represent the finite verb of direct discourse.
they suspected that they were to go against the kingὑπώπτευον ἐπὶ βασιλέᾱ ἰέναι
he said that he would either bring the Lacedaemonians or kill them on the spotἔφη ἢ ἄξειν Λακεδαιμονίους ἢ αὐτοῦ ἀποκτενεῖν
for they did not know that he was deadοὐ γὰρ ᾔδεσαν αὐτὸν τεθνηκότα
For examples of the infinitive, see 1846, 1848, 1849, 1867, 2022; for examples of the participle, see 1846, 1848, 1874, 2106, 2112 b.
COMPLEX SENTENCES IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE
2617
When a complex sentence passes into indirect discourse, its principal verb is treated like the verb of a simple sentence and stands either in a finite mood (after ὅτι or ὡς) or in the infinitive or in the participle.
2618
After primary tenses, all subordinate verbs retain the original mood and tense.
they say that, when a good man dies, he enjoys great esteem and honourλέγουσιν ὡς, ἐπειδάν τις ἀγαθὸς ὤν τελευτήσῃ, μεγάλην μοῖραν καὶ τῑμὴν ἔχει
give plain warning that whoever revolts shall be punished with deathπαράδειγμα σαφὲς καταστήσατε, δ̀ς ἂν ἀφιστῆται θανάτῳ ζημιωσόμενον
2619
After secondary tenses, all subordinate verbs in the present, future, or perfect indicative, and all subjunctives, are usually changed to the corresponding tenses of the optative, or they are retained. Subjunctives with ἄν lose ἄν on passing into the optative.
a. Optative for Indicative and Indicative Retained.—
he said that he was bringing a man whom it was necessary to lock upεἶπε . . . ὅτι ἄνδρα ἄγοι . . . δ̀ν εἶρξαι δέοι
Cyrus shouted to Clearchus to lead his troops against the enemy's centre because the king was thereΚῦρος . . . τῷ Κλεάρχῳ ἐβόᾱ ἄγειν τὸ στράτευμα κατὰ μέσον τὸ τῶν πολεμίων, ὅτι ἐκεῖ βασιλεὺς εἴη
for they said that they knew well that they would comeεὖ δὲ εἰδέναι ἔφασαν ὅτι παρέσοιντο
he said I might think myself well off if I saved my lifeἀγαπήσειν με ἔφασκεν, εἰ τὸ σῶμα σώσω
N.—Except in the future the change to the optative of the indicative after εἰ is rare: as προσῆλθον λέγων ὅτι . . . ἕτοιμός εἰμι, εἴ τινα βούλοιτο ( = βούλει), παραδοῦναι βασανίζειν I went and said that I was ready to give up the slaves to be tortured, if he wished any one of them L. 7.34, εἶπεν ὅτι Δέξιππον μὲν οὐκ ἐπαινοίη, εἰ ταῦτα πεποιηκὼς εἴη he said that he did not commend Dexippus, if he had done this X. A. 6.6.25 ( = ἐπαινῶ, εἰ πεποίηκε).
b. Optative for Subjunctive and Subjunctive Retained.—
he said that he would smart for it unless he kept quietεἶπεν ὅτι οἰμώξοιτο, εἰ μὴ σιωπήσειεν
they refused to go unless a largess were given themοὐκ ἔφασαν ἰέναι, ἐὰ̄ν μή τις αὐτοῖς χρήματα διδῷ
he said that they intended to attack him when he led his forces awayεἶπεν ὅτι ἐπιτίθεσθαι μέλλοιεν αὐτῷ, ὁπότε ἀπάγοι τὸ στράτευμα
2620
Subordinate verbs in the imperfect, aorist (but see 2623 c, N. 3), or pluperfect indicative, and all optatives, remain unchanged.
ἐπιστεῖλαι δὲ σφίσιν αὐτοῖς τοὺς ἐφόρους . . . εἰπεῖν ὡς ὧν μὲν πρόσθεν ἐποίουν μέμφοιντο αὐτοῖς κτλ. they reported that the ephors enjoined them to say that they blamed them for what they had done before X. H. 3.2.6 ( = ἐποιεῖτε, μεμφόμεθα ὑ̄μῖν),
they expected that the Sicels whom they had sent for would meet them hereἤλπιζον τοὺς Σικελοὺς ταύτῃ, οὓς μετέπεμψαν, ἀπαντήσεσθαι
he said that he would enter into negotiations if he should receive hostagesεἶπεν ὅτι ἔλθοι ἂν εἰς λόγους, εἰ ὁμήρους λάβοι
2621
The following table shows where, after εἶπεν ὅτι or ἔφη, the optative (and infinitive after ἔφη) may be substituted for the indicative or subjunctive in conditional sentences in indirect discourse.
| DIRECT | INDIRECT | |
| εἶπεν ὅτι | ἔφη | |
| εἴ τι ἔχω, δίδωμι | εἴ τι ἔχοι, διδοίη | (διδόναι) |
| εἴ τι εἶχεν, ἐδίδουν | εἴ τι εἶχεν, ἐδίδου | (διδόναι) |
| εἴ τι ἔσχον, ἔδωκα | εἴ τι ἔσχεν, δοίη [Note: * The combination of aorist indicative and aorist optative is unusual.] | (δοῦναι) |
| ἐά̄ν τι ἔχω, δώσω | εἴ τι ἔχοι, δώσοι | (δώσειν) |
| εἴ τι ἕξω, δώσω | εἴ τι ἕξοι, δώσοι | (δώσειν) |
| ἐά̄ν τι ἔχω, δίδωμι | εἴ τι ἔχοι, διδοίη | (διδόναι) |
In the following sentences there is no change of mood after ὅτι:
| εἴ τι εἶχον, ἐδίδουν ἄν | εἴ τι εἶχεν, ἐδίδου ἄν | (διδόναι ἄν) |
| εἴ τι ἔσχον, ἔδωκα ἄν | εἴ τι ἔσχεν, ἔδωκεν ἄν | (δοῦναι ἄν) |
| εἴ τι ἔχοιμι, διδοίην ἄν | εἴ τι ἔχοι, διδοίη ἄν | (διδόναι ἄν) |
Temporal and relative sentences (cp. 2561) are converted in the same way. For an infinitive representing an imperative in the apodosis, see 2633 c.
IMPLIED INDIRECT DISCOURSE
2622
Indirect discourse is implied in the case of any subordinate clause, which, though not depending formally on a verb of saying or thinking, contains the past thought of another person and not a statement of the writer or speaker. Implied indirect discourse appears only after secondary tenses, and in various kinds of dependent clauses.
a. Conditional clauses, the conclusion being implied in the leading verb. Thus, after a verb of emotion,
others pitied them if they should be capturedοἱ δ᾽ ᾤκτῑρον εἰ ἁλώσοιντο
he gave his property to the people in case he died childlessτὰ χρήματα τῷ δήμῳ ἔδωκεν, εἴ πως τελευτήσειεν ἄπαις
b. Temporal clauses implying purpose, expectation, or the like (cp. 2420). Thus, σπονδὰ̄ς ἐποιήσαντο, ἕως ἀπαγγελθείη τὰ λεχθέντα they made a truce (which they agreed should continue) until what had been said should have been reported X. H. 3.2.20 (ἕως ἂν ἀπαγγελθῇ would be the direct form). Cp. ἕως δ᾽ ἂν ταῦτα διαπρά̄ξωνται, φυλακὴν . . . κατέλιπε he left behind a guard (which he intended should remain) until they should settle these matters 5. 3. 25.
c. Causal clauses. See 2242.
d. Ordinary relative clauses. Thus, εἴρετο παῖδα, τὸν Εὐάδνᾱ τέκοι he asked for the child which Evadna had borne Pindar, Ol. 6. 49. Here relative and interrogative are not sharply distinguished.
e. Clauses depending on an infinitive especially when introduced by a verb of will or desire, e.g. command, advise, plan, ask, wish (1991, 1992). Here the infinitive expressing command, warning, wish, is not itself in indirect discourse. The negative is μή. Thus, ἀφικνοῦνται (historical present) ὡς Σιτάλκην . . . βουλόμενοι πεῖσαι αὐτόν, εἰ δύναιντο, . . . στρατεῦσαι ἐπὶ τὴν Ποτει´δαιαν they came to Sitalces with the desire of persuading him (if they could) to make an expedition against Potidaea T. 2.67 ( = ἐὰ̄ν δυνώμεθα), cp. 2633 a.
f. Clauses of purpose and object clauses after verbs of effort admit the alternative constructions of indirect discourse.
REMARKS ON THE CONSTRUCTIONS OF INDIRECT DISCOURSE
2623
Past Tenses in Indirect Discourse.—The following rules govern past tenses in indirect discourse.
a. The potential indicative with ἄν, the indicative in a condition denoting unreality with ἄν or without ἄν (as ἐχρῆν, ἔδει, etc.), always remain unchanged in order to prevent confusion with the optative of the direct form.
they pleaded that they never would have been so foolish, if they had knownἀπελογοῦντο ὡς οὐκ ἄν ποτε οὕτω μῶροι ἦσαν . . . εἰ ᾔδεσαν
he said that it would have been better for him to die thenὅτι κρεῖττον ἦν αὐτῷ τότε ἀποθανεῖν
b. The imperfect and pluperfect in simple sentences usually remain unchanged after secondary tenses to prevent ambiguity; but when there is no doubt that a past tense stood in the direct form, the imperfect passes into the present optative, the pluperfect into the perfect optative. In subordinate clauses both tenses are retained unaltered.
he heard that the Chaldaeans often went to the Indian kingἤκουσεν ὅτι πολλάκις πρὸς τὸν Ἰνδὸν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι ἐπορεύοντο
for he was able to say both that alone of the Greeks they had fought on the side of the king at Plataea and that later they had never at any time taken the field against the kingἐπὶ βασιλέᾱ
N.—The change to the optative is not made when the time of the action of imperfect (and pluperfect) is earlier than that of a coőrdinated verb in the same quoted sentence; as ἔλεγέν τ᾽ ὡς φιλαθήναιος ἦν καὶ τἀ̄ν Σάμῳ πρῶτος κατείποι he said that he both had been a lover of Athens and that (afterwards) he was the first to tell what had happened at Samos Ar. Vesp. 282.
c. The aorist indicative without ἄν in a simple sentence or in a principal clause may be changed to the aorist optative after a secondary tense; but in subordinate clauses (except those denoting cause, N. 3) it remains unchanged to avoid ambiguity with the aorist optative, which usually represents the aorist subjunctive.
I answered him that I did not takeἀπεκρῑνάμην αὐτῷ ὅτι . . . οὐ λάβοιμι
he said that he would use his own money that his father had given himτοῖς ἰδίοις χρήσεσθαι ἔφη, ἃ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῷ ἔδωκεν
N. 1.—The retention of the aorist indicative is here the essential point of difference between subordinate clauses and principal clauses or simple sentences.
N. 2.—In a subordinate clause the time of the aorist usually expresses an action prior to that of the leading verb.
N. 3.—In causal clauses with ὅτι or ὡς a dependent aorist indicative may become aorist optative; as εἶχε γὰρ λέγειν . . . ὡς Λακεδαιμόνιοι διὰ τοῦτο πολεμήσειαν αὐτοῖς, ὅτι οὐκ ἐθελήσαιεν μετ᾽ Ἀ̄γησιλά̄ου ἐλθεῖν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν for he was able to say that the Lacedaemonians had gone to war with them (the Thebans) for the reason that they (the Thebans) had not been willing to attack him (the Persian king) in company with Agesilaus X. H. 7.1.34 (direct ἐπολέμησαν ἡμῖν, ὅτι οὐκ ἠθελήσαμεν). Rarely in temporal clauses with ἐπεί (X. C. 5.3.26).
2624
Inserted Statement of Fact.—When the present or perfect indicative would have stood in the direct discourse, a past tense of historical narration is often used as a statement of fact by the writer from his own point of view, though the rest of the sentence may be given in indirect discourse after a secondary tense from the point of view of the subject of the leading verb.
she knew that it was not possible for her to be savedᾔδει ὅτι οὐχ οἷόν τ᾽ ἦν αὐτῇ σωθῆναι
they said that he was not freeing Greece in the right way if he put men to deathἔλεγον οὐ καλῶς τὴν Ἑλλάσα ἐλευθεροῦν αὐτόν, εἰ ἄνδρας διέφθειρεν
he showed by his death that this was not trueἀποθανὼν ἐδήλωσεν ὅτι οὐκ ἀληθῆ ταῦτα ἦν
he said that he had in his possession all that had not been expendedἔφη εἶναι παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ ὅσον μὴ ἦν ἀνηλωμένον
the Greeks were accordingly in great perplexity on reflecting that they were at the king's gatesἐννοούμενοι μὲν ὅτι ἐπὶ ταῖς βασιλέως θύραις ἦσαν
a. The use of past tenses of historical narration instead of present tenses of direct discourse occurs, in simple sentences, especially after verbs of knowing, perceiving, showing, and verbs of emotion (rarely after verbs of saying w. ὅτι).
b. Such inserted statements of fact are often difficult to distinguish from indicatives in indirect discourse; and the two forms of expression may occur in the same sentence (X. C. 4.2.35-36). The common explanation of the use of the imperfect and pluperfect for the present and perfect is that Greek had the same assimilation of tense as English.
c. Except in indirect questions, the optative of indirect discourse is unknown to Homer. (εἰπεῖν ὡς ἔλθοι ω 237 may be considered as interrogative.) After primary or secondary tenses Homer employs, in the dependent clause, the same past tense that would have been used in an independent clause, from the point of view of the speaker, and not the tense which would have been used in direct discourse from the point of view of the subject of the main clause. Thus, γίγνωσκον δ̀ ( = ὅτι)
I knew that he was planning evilδὴ κακὰ μήδετο
nor did he know this, that she had no thought to complyοὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη, ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν
d. That this use of statements of fact standing outside indirect discourse is optional only, is seen from a comparison of the first example in 2624 with
for he knew full well that I am first-rate in this lineκαλῶς γὰρ ᾔδειν ὡς ἐγὼ ταύτῃ κράτιστός εἰμι
he knew that he held the centre of the Persian armyᾔδει αὐτὸν ὅτι μέσον ἔχοι τοῦ Περσικοῦ στρατεύματος
2625
An optative with or without ἄν is regularly retained after ὅτι (ὡς).
they showed that they always followed them in their campaigns wherever they ledἐδίδασκον ὡς . . . συνεστρατεύοντο ὅποι ἡγοῖντο
he replied that they would sooner die than surrender their armsἀπεκρί̄νατο . . . ὅτι πρόσθεν ἂν ἀποθάνοιεν ἢ τὰ ὅπλα παραδοίησαν
2626
In some cases the optative with ἄν in temporal and relative sentences is used to represent the subjunctive with ἄν; but many scholars expel ἄν.
they gave orders to them that they should not attack before some one of their number had either fallen or been woundedπαρήγγειλαν αὐτοῖς μὴ πρότερον ἐπιτίθεσθαι πρὶν ἂν τῶν σφετέρων ἢ πέσοι τις ἢ τρωθείη
2627
An optative occasioned by indirect discourse may stand after a primary tense when it is implied that the thought quoted has been expressed in the past.
the story goes that Neoptolemus asked Nestorλέγει ὁ λόγος ὅτι Νεοπτόλεμος Νέστορα ἔροιτο
it is reported that he said that he wishedλέγεται εἰπεῖν ὅτι βούλοιτο
a. The historical present is a secondary tense:
and those who had been sent told Cyrus that they hated the Assyriansοἱ δὲ πεμφθέντες λέγουσι Κύ̄ρῳ ὅτι μῑσοῖεν τοὺς Ἀσσυρίους
2628
Indirect discourse may be introduced by ὅτι (ὡς) and then pass into the infinitive as if the introductory verb had required the infinitive.
ἡ δὲ ἀπεκρί̄νατο ὅτι βούλοιτο μὲν ἅπαντα τῷ πατρὶ χαρίζεσθαι, ἄ̄κοντα μέντοι τὸν παῖδα χαλεπὸν εἶναι νομίζειν ( = νομίζοι)
she answered that she wished to do everything to oblige her father, but that she considered it unkind to leave the child behind against his inclinationκαταλιπεῖν
a. It is unusual to have the infinitive first, and then ὅτι (T. 5.65).
b. One and the same clause may even begin with ὅτι (ὡς) and then (sometimes after a parenthesis) be continued by an infinitive, less often by a participle. Thus, ἀκούω ὅτι (omitted in one Ms.)
I hear too that some of his sons became your companions in the chaseκαὶ συνθηρευτά̄ς τινας τῶν παίδων σοι γενέσθαι αὐτοῦ
2629
An optative dependent on ὅτι (ὡς) may be followed, in a parenthetical or appended clause (often introduced by γάρ or οὖν), by an independent optative, which is used as if it itself directly depended on ὅτι (ὡς).
ἔλεγον πολλοὶ . . . ὅτι παντὸς ἄξια λέγοι Σεύθης· χειμὼν γὰρ εἴη καὶ οὔτε οἴκαδε ἀποπλεῖν τῷ ταῦτα βουλομένῳ δυνατὸν εἴη κτλ. many said that what Seuthes said was of much value; for it was winter and neither was it possible for any one who so desired to sail home, etc. X. A. 7.3.13 (here we might have had χειμῶνα γὰρ εἶναι by 2628).
a. Such an independent optative may also follow an infinitive in indirect discourse (L. 13.78), an indicative after ὅτι (Is. 8.22), or a participle (Is. 9.5). After an optative in indirect discourse the appended clause may contain an indicative (X. A. 6.2.10, I. 17.21).
2630
An infinitive in indirect discourse may follow a sentence which merely involves the idea of indirect statement.
ὁ δὲ αὐτοὺς εἰς Λακεδαίμονα ἐκέλευεν ἰέναι· οὐ γὰρ εἶναι κύ̄ριος αὐτός he recommended them to go to Lacedaemon; for (he said that) he was not himself empowered to act X. H. 2.2.12.
2631
In subordinate temporal and relative clauses the infinitive is often used for the indicative or optative by attraction to an infinitive standing in the principal clause after a verb of saying. In some cases ἔφη may be mentally inserted.
ἔφη . . . ἐπειδὴ δὲ γενέσθαι ἐπὶ τῇ οἰκίᾳ τῇ Ἀγάθωνος, ἀνεῳγμένην καταλαμβάνειν τὴν θύραν he said that, when he arrived at the house of Agathon, he found the door open P. S. 174d ( = ἐπειδὴ ἐγενόμην, καταλαμβάνω). See also the sentence quoted in 1228 b, end. So οὗτοι δὲ ἔλεγον ὅτι πολλοὺς φαίη Ἀριαῖος εἶναι Πέρσᾱς ἑαυτοῦ βελτί̄ους, οὓς οὐκ ἂν ἀνασχέσθαι αὐτοῦ βασιλεύοντος and they said that Ariaeus said that there were many Persians better than himself, who would not endure his being king X. A. 2.2.1 ( = πολλοί εἰσι ἐμαυτοῦ βελτί̄ους, οἳ οὐκ. ἂν ἀνάσχοιντο ἐμοῦ β.). Here the relative is equivalent, in sense, to καὶ τούτους. The infinitive occurs even in clauses with εἰ (T. 4.98, and often in Hdt.), and with διότι (Hdt. 3.55).
a. The infinitive is rare in such relative clauses as
they make a clear distinction in cases where it is permitted to killδιορίζουσι σαφῶς ἐν οἷς ἐξεῖναι ἀποκτιννύναι
2632
For the sake of variation, a mood of the direct form may be used in the same sentence with a mood of the indirect. The main verb may be kept in the direct form, while the subordinate verb becomes optative, or, less often, the subordinate verb may be retained in the direct form though the main verb becomes optative.
these said that Cyrus was dead but that Ariaeus had fledοὗτοι ἔλεγον ὅτι Κῦρος μὲν τέθνηκεν, Ἀριαῖος δὲ πεφευγὼς . . . εἴη
it seemed to be clear that they would elect him if any one should put it to voteἐδόκει δῆλον εἶναι ὅτι αἱρήσονται αὐτὸν εἴ τις ἐπιψηφίζοι
they gave orders that, when they had supped, they should rest and follow when any one gave the commandπαρήγγειλαν, ἐπειδὴ δειπνήσαιεν, . . . ἀναπαύεσθαι καὶ ἕπεσθαι, ἡνίκ᾽ ἄν τις παραγγέλλῃ
2633
The idea conveyed by an imperative or a hortatory (or even deliberative) subjunctive of direct discourse may be set forth in the infinitive by a statement as to what ought to be.
a. In an infinitive dependent on a verb of will or desire (such as ask, command, advise, forbid, etc. 1992) which does not properly take the construction of indirect discourse.
εἷς δὲ δὴ εἶπε (1997) . . .
and some one urged that they choose other generalsστρατηγοὺς μὲν ἑλέσθαι ἄλλους
he forbade any one to shootἀπηγόρευε μηδένα βάλλειν
N.—Here may be placed the infinitive after ἡγοῦμαι, νομίζω, οἴομαι in the sense of δοκῶ I think it proper (or necessary); as
they thought that they should retireᾤοντο ἀπιέναι
b. In an infinitive dependent on ἔφη χρῆναι (δεῖν), as
he said that they ought to sail to Syracuseἔφη . . . χρῆναι πλεῖν ἐπὶ Συρᾱκούσᾱς
c. In the simple infinitive, as τὰ̄ς μὲν ἐπιστολὰ̄ς . . . ἀνέγνωσαν, ἐν αἷς πολλῶν ἄλλων γεγραμμένων κεφάλαιον ἦν πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους οὐ γιγνώσκειν ὅ τι βούλονται . . . εἰ οὖν τι βούλονται σαφὲς λέγειν, πέμψαι μετὰ τοῦ Πέρσου ἄνδρας ὡς αὐτόν they read the dispatches, in which of much besides therein written to the Lacedaemonians the substance was that the king did not understand what they wanted; if therefore they wished to make explicit statements, let them send men to him in company with the Persian T. 4.50. Cp. T. 1.27. 1 μένειν ῀ μενέτω.
2634
Long sentences (and even some short complex sentences), or a series of sentences, in indirect discourse depending on a single verb of saying or thinking, are uncongenial to the animated character of Greek, which resists the formal regularity of Latin. Some long speeches in indirect discourse do, however, appear, e.g. Andoc. 1. 3842, Thuc. 6. 49, Xen. C. 8. 1. 10-11, Plato R. 614 b (the entire Symposium is given in reported form). To effect variety and to ensure clearness by relieving the strain on the leading verb, Greek has various devices.
a. ἔφη (ἔλεξε, εἶπεν, ἤρετο) is repeated, e.g. T. 7.48.
b. The indirect form is abandoned for the direct form, e.g. X. A. 1.3.14, 1. 9. 25, 4. 8. 10; often with a change, or repetition, of the verb of saying (X. A. 5.6.37, X. H. 2.1.25).
c. ἔφη χρῆναι (δεῖν) or ἐκέλευσε is inserted or repeated (T. 6.49. 4).
N. 1.—Transition from direct to indirect discourse is rare (X. A. 7.1.39, cp. X. C. 3.2.25).
N. 2.—An interrogative clause always depends immediately on the introductory verb, hence such clauses do not occur in the course of a long sentence in indirect discourse.
EXAMPLES OF INDIRECT DISCOURSE
| ἔφη γὰρ εἶναι μὲν ἀνδράποδόν οἱ ἐπὶ Λαυρίῳ, δεῖν δὲ κομίσασθαι ἀποφορά̄ν. ἀναστὰ̄ς δὲ πρῲ ψευσθεὶς τῆς ὥρᾱς βαδίζειν· εἶναι δὲ πανσέληνον. ἐπεὶ δὲ παρὰ τὸ προπύλαιον τοῦ Διονύ̄σου ἦν, ὁρᾶν ἀνθρώπους πολλοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ Ὠιδείου καταβαίνοντας εἰς τὴν ὀρχήστρᾱν· δείσᾱς δὲ αὐτούς, εἰσελθὼν ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰ̄ν καθέζεσθαι μεταξὺ τοῦ κίονος καὶ τῆς στήλης ἐφ᾽ ᾗ ὁ στρατηγός ἐστιν ὁ χαλκοῦς. ὁρᾶν δὲ ἀνθρώπους τὸν μὲν ἀριθμὸν μάλιστα τριᾱκοσίους, ἑστάναι δὲ κύκλῳ ἀνὰ πέντε καὶ δέκα ἄνδρας, τοὺς δὲ ἀνὰ εἴκοσιν· ὁρῶν δὲ αὐτ ῶν πρὸς τὴν σελήνην τὰ πρόσωπα τῶν πλείστων γιγνώσκειν. καὶ πρῶτον μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες, τοῦθ᾽ ὑπέθετο δεινότατον πρᾶγμα, οἶμαι, ὅπως ἐν ἐκείνῳ εἴη ὅντινα βούλοιτο Ἀθηναίων φάναι τῶν ἀνδρῶν τούτων εἶναι, ὅντινα δὲ μὴ βούλοιτο, λέγειν ὅτι οὐκ ἦν. ἰδὼν δὲ ταῦτ᾽ ἔφη ἐπὶ Λαύριον ἰέναι, καὶ τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ ἀκούειν ὅτι οἱ Ἑρμαῖ εἶεν περικεκομμένοι· γνῶναι οὖν εὐθὺς ὅτι τούτων εἴη τῶν ἀνδρῶν τὸ ἔργον. ἥκων δὲ εἰς ἄστυ ζητητά̄ς τε ἤδη ᾑρημένους καταλαμβάνειν καὶ μήνῡτρα κεκηρῡγμένα ἑκατὸν μνᾶς.—Andocides 1. 38. | For Dioclides said that he had a slave at Laurium, and that he had to fetch a payment due him. Rising early he mistook the time and set out, and there was a full moon. When he was by the gateway of the sanctuary of Dionysus, he saw a body of men coming down from the Odeum into the orchestra, and through fear of them he betook himself into the shade and sat down between the column and the block on which the Bronze General stands. He saw about three hundred men, some standing round about in groups of fifteen, others in groups of twenty. On seeing them in the moonlight he recognized the faces of most. In the first place, gentlemen, he has concocted this most extraordinary tale, in order, as I believe, that it might be in his power to include among these men any Athenian he wished, or to exclude any he did not wish. On seeing this he said he went to Laurium, and on the day after heard that the statues of Hermes had been mutilated. So he knew forthwith that it was the work of these men. On his return to the city he found that commissioners of inquiry had already been appointed and that a hundred minae had been offered as a reward. |
Herbert Weir Smyth.
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