Chapter XX: Part 20

2018. The apodosis is usually declarative. Often, however, it is interrogative, exclamatory, or imperative, or it may take any other form which the thought or the context may require. The apodosis has rarely a correlative to #sī#: as, #igitur#, _it follows that_, #idcircō#, _for all that_, #tum#, _then_, #ita#, #sīc#, _only_, #eā condiciōne#, _on condition_; #at#, _but_, #tamen#, _nevertheless_, #certē#, #saltem#, _at any rate_, #tum dēnique#, #tum dēmum#, _then and not till then_.

2019. #sī# is sometimes followed by #quidem# or, from Cicero on, by #modo#: #sī quidem#, _that is if_, _since_, _even if_, #sī modo#, _if only_. #sī tamen#, _at least if_, is found in Lucretius, Sallust, the Augustan poets and in late writers. #sīve ... sīve# (#seu . . . seu#) or, in old Latin, #sī . . . sīve#, _whether . . . or_, with the indicative or the subjunctive of the indefinite second person (1556), leaves a choice between two cases possible. By abbreviation of the protasis #sīve# becomes a coordinating particle: see 1672.

2020. The negative of #sī# is #sī nōn#, _if not_ (#sī nēmō#, #sī nūllus#, &c.), or #nisi#, _unless_, _if not_, used especially of an exception or after a negative, #nisi sī#, chiefly in old, colloquial, or late Latin, or, particularly in solemn language or poetry, #nī# is sometimes used for #nisi#. A restriction, usually an ironical afterthought, may be introduced by #nisi forte# (rare before Cicero) or #nisi vērō# (in Cicero and Pliny the Younger) with the indicative.

#nisi# is sometimes found in an adversative sense in old and colloquial Latin, especially after #nesciō#; from Cicero on, it may be strengthened by #tamen#. For #nisi quod#, see 1848.

2021. When a second conditional period is opposed to a first, it is sometimes introduced by #sī# (or #sī autem#), but usually by #sīn# (or #sīn autem#). If the second period is negative, and its verb is not expressed, #minus# or #aliter# is preferred to #nōn#.

CLASSES OF CONDITIONAL PROTASES.

2022. Conditional protases may be divided into two classes:

2023. I. INDETERMINATE protases, that is such as merely suppose an action, without implying either its occurrence or its non-occurrence; these may take:

(A.) Any tense of the indicative required by the sense; or (B.) the present subjunctive, less frequently the perfect subjunctive, to express a condition in the future.

2024. II. Protases of ACTION NON-OCCURRENT, that is such as suppose action not taking place. These take the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive.

Thus, in the period #sī diēs est, lūcet#, _Inv._ 1, 86, _if it is day, it is light_, the protasis _if it is day_ is indeterminate, neither implying that _it is_, or _is not day_. But in #sī vīveret, verba eius audīrētis#, _if he were alive, you would hear his evidence_, _RC._ 42, the protasis denotes action non-occurrent, _if he were alive_, implying _but he is not_. The whole period, like the protasis, is either an _Indeterminate Period_ or a _Period of Action non-occurrent_.

I. INDETERMINATE PROTASES.

(A.) INDICATIVE USE.

2025. The indicative in a conditional protasis may state present, past, or future time.

The mood and tense of the apodosis are determined by the sense. The following combinations occur:

(1.) PROTASIS IN THE PRESENT.

2026. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#sī sunt dī, beneficī in hominēs sunt#, _Div._ 2, 104, _if there are gods, they are kind to men_. #sī nescīs, tibī̆ īgnōscō#, _Fam._ 10, 26, 3, _if you do not know, I pardon you_. #deus sum, sī hoc itast#, T. _Hec._ 843, _I am a god, if this is so_. #erus sī tuos domīst, quīn prōvocās?# Pl. _Ps._ 638, _in case your master is at home, why don’t you call him out?_ #hōc mortuō, aut sī quī ex reliquīs excellit dignitāte, succēdit, aut, sī sunt plūrēs parēs, dē prīncipātū contendunt#, 6, 13, 9, _when this man dies, if there is any one of the rest superior in position, he always takes his place; or if there are several with equal claims, they have a contest about the supremacy_. #sī vīs, potes#, H. _S._ 2, 6, 39, _you can, if you will_. #in corpore sī quid eius modī est quod reliquō corporī noceat, id ūrī secārīque patimur#, _Ph._ 8, 15, _in the human body if there is anything likely to damage the rest of the body, we always allow it to be cauterized and cut_. #sī cui vēnae sīc moventur, is habet febrim#, _Fat._ 15, _if a man’s pulse beats thus and so, he always has fever_. The present is sometimes loosely used of future time (1593): as, #sī illum relinquō, e͡i͡us vītae timeō#, T. _Andr._ 210, _if I desert him, I tremble for his life_. #assequor omnia, sī properō; sī cunctor, āmittō#, _Att._ 10, 8, 5, _I shall compass all my ends, if I hurry; if I delay, I shall lose everything_. #castra nunc vōbīs hostium praedae dō, sī mihī̆ pollicēminī vōs fortiter operam nāvātūrōs#, L. 7, 16, 4, _I give you the camp of the enemy as booty now, if you promise me you will quit you like men_.

2027. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#sī hominēs ratiōnem ā dīs datam in fraudem convertunt, nōn darī illam quam darī hūmānō generī melius fuit#, _DN._ 3, 78, _if men apply reason, the gift of the gods, to purposes of mischief, it would have been better it should not be given to the human race than given_ (1495). The perfect of the apodosis is ordinarily used of future time (1612): as, #occidī, sī tū vēra memorās#, Pl. _Most._ 369, _I’m a dead man, if what you say is true_. #nunc sī indicium faciō, interiī; sī taceō, interiī tamen#, Pl. _MG._ 306, _now if I tell, I’m dead and gone; if I keep dark, I’m dead and gone the same_. #nī illōs hominēs expellō, ego occidī plānissumē#, Pl. _St._ 401, _if I don’t drive those people off, all’s up with me_. #nam sī argentum prius adfert, continuō nōs ambō exclūsī sumus#, Pl. _As._ 360, _for if he brings the money first, then we’re at once left out in the cold_.

2028. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect.#

#sed sī domīst, Dēmaenetum volēbam#, Pl. _As._ 452, _but if he is at home, Demaenetus I wanted_. #iam tum erat senex, senectūs sī verēcundōs facit#, T. _Ph._ 1023, _he was already old, if age is what makes shamefastness_. #sī singula vōs forte nōn movent, ūniversa certē tamen movēre dēbēbant#, _DN_. 2, 163, _if these points taken severally do not affect you, yet collectively they surely should have done so_ (1495).

2029. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect.#

#cesseram, sī aliēnam ā mē plēbem fuisse voltis, quae nōn fuit, invidiae#, _Sest._ 64, _I had yielded, if you will have it that the commons were opposed to me, though they were not, to hatred_. #hoc mī ūnum relicuom fuerat malum, sī puerum ut tollam cōgit#, T. _Hec._ 570, _this was the only evil left in store for me, if he compels me to adopt the child_.

2030. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#sī interpellās, ego tacēbō#, Pl. _Men._ 1121, _if you persist in breaking in, I’ll hold my tongue_. #hīc tū sī laesum tē esse dīcis, patiar et concēdam; sī iniūriam tibī̆ factam quereris, dēfendam et negābō#, _Caecil._ 58, _if you assert that you are hurt in this matter, I am perfectly willing to admit it; but if you complain that it is a violation of your rights, I shall stoutly maintain the contrary_. Often in this combination the present is loosely used of future time (1593): as, #nunc sī ille hūc salvos revenit, reddam suom sibī̆; sī quid eō fuerit, habeō dōtem unde dem#, Pl. _Tri._ 156, _now if our absent friend comes safely back, I’ll give him back his own again; if anything befalls him, I’ve wherewith a dower to give_. #nisi id cōnfestim facis, ego tē trādam magistrātuī#, N. 15, 4, 3, _if you do not do it at once, I will hand you over to a magistrate_. #sī pāce fruī volumus, bellum gerendum est; sī bellum omittimus, pāce numquam fruēmur#, _Ph._ 7, 19, _if we wish to enjoy peace, we shall have to make war; if we give up war, we never shall enjoy peace_. #convincam, sī negās#, _C._ 1, 8, _I will bring it home to you, if you deny it_. #tibi dīvitiās dabō, sī impetrās#, Pl. _MG._ 1213, _I’ll make you rich, if you succeed_.

2031. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Future Perfect.#

#sī nequeō facere ut abeās, egomet abierō#, Pl. _Poen._ 442, _if I can’t make you go, I’ll instantly begone myself_ (1629). #sī id nōn facis, ego quod mē in tē sit facere dignum invēnerō#, T. _Hau._ 107, _if you don’t do it, I will have a proper course devised to use with you_.

2032. (_g._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

#dā mihī̆ hoc, mel meum, sī mē amās#, Pl. _Tri._ 244, _give me this, honey mine, an thou lov’st me_. #redargue mē, sī mentior#, _Clu._ 62, _refute me, if I am not speaking the truth_. #dēsilīte, mīlitēs, nisi vultis aquilam hostibus prōdere#, 4, 25, 3, _jump overboard, men, unless you choose to abandon your eagle to the enemy_. #nī iūdicātum facit, sēcum dūcitō, vincitō compedibus#, Twelve Tables in Gell. 20, 1, 45, _unless he satisfies the judgement, the complainant shall take him with him, and put him in gyves_ (1593, 1575). #quā rē, sī haec ita sunt, sīc mē colitōte ut deum#, _CM._ 81, _therefore, if this is so, you are to honour me as a god_.

2033. (_h._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sī quid habēs certius, velim scīre#, _Att._ 4, 10, 1, _if you have anything more definite, I should like to know_ (1554). #sīn aliter animātus es, bene, quod agās, ēveniat tibī̆#, Pl. _Tri._ 715, _but if you’re minded otherwise, may all you do betide you well_ (1540). #quod sī nōn possumus facere, moriāmur#, _Ph._ 7, 14, _if we cannot do it, let us die_ (1547). #sī mihī̆ fīlius genitur, isque prius moritur, et cētera, tum mihī̆ ille sit hērēs#, _DO._ 2, 141, _if a son is born to me, and the boy dies before &c., &c., then so and so is to be my heir_ (1593, 1548). #sī est spēs nostrī reditūs, eam cōnfirmēs#, _Fam._ 14, 4, 3, _if there is a hope of my coming back, strengthen that hope_ (1550). #eum sī reddis mihi, praetereā ūnum nummum nē duīs#, Pl. _Cap._ 331, _if you restore my boy to me, you needn’t give one penny more_ (1551). #sī hīc pernoctō, causae quid dīcam?# T. _Ad._ 531, _if I sleep here, what reason can I give_ (1563)?

[Erratum:
2026a ... #sī illum relinquō, e͡i͡us vītae timeō#
The vowels “eiu” are joined with single ligature]
2028c ... _DN._ 2, 163
_DN_ 2,]

(2.) PROTASIS IN THE PERFECT.

2034. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#sī quid vēnāle habuit Heius, sī id quantī aestimābat, tantī vēndidit, dēsinō quaerere cūr ēmeris#, _V._ 4, 10, _if Hejus had anything for sale, if he sold it at his own valuation, I stop enquiring why you bought_. #sī vērē est ā nōbīs philosophia laudāta, eius trāctātiō optimō quōque dignissima est#, _Ac._ 2, 6, _if philosophy has been extolled by me with justice, its study is eminently worthy of the good_. #sī honōris causā statuam dedērunt, inimīcī nōn sunt#, _V._ 2, 150, _if they contributed a statue as a compliment, they are not enemies_. #postēs quoiusmodī? . . . etiam nunc satis bonī sunt, sī sunt inductī pice#, Pl. _Most._ 818, _what think you of the posts? . . . they’re pretty good even now, if they are only smeared with pitch_. This combination is common in general conditional periods (1613): as, #hominēs aegrī sī aquam gelidam bibērunt, prīmō relevārī videntur#, _C._ 1, 31, _if sick people drink cold water, at first they always seem refreshed_. #sī quod est admissum facinus, īdem dēcernunt#, 6, 13, 5, _if a crime has been committed, they also act as judges_. #abiūrant, sī quid crēditumst#, Pl. _Cur._ 496, _they always swear they haven’t it, if anything is trusted them_. #sī puer parvus occidit, aequō animō ferendum putant#, _TD._ 1, 93, _if a baby dies, they always think the affliction should be borne with resignation_.

2035. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#sī peccāvī, īnsciēns fēcī#, T. _Hau._ 631, _if I’ve done wrong, it was in ignorance_. #haec bona in tabulās pūblicās sī rediērunt, tabulae pūblicae conruptae sunt#, _RA._ 128, _if this property has been entered on the state books, then the state books have been tampered with_. #quō in bellō sī fuit error, commūnis ē̆ī fuit cum senātū#, _Ph._ 11, 34, _if there was a mistake in this war, it was common to him and the senate_. #interiī, sī abiīt#, Pl. _Ps._ 910, _I’m lost, if he has gone_ (1608). Also in general periods (1613): as, #animī sī quandō vēra vīdērunt, ūsī sunt fortūnā atque cāsū#, _Div._ 2, 108, _if the mind has ever seen the truth, it has used in every case luck and chance_. #studiōsē equidem ūtor nostrīs poētīs, sed sīcubi illī dēfēcērunt, vertī multa dē Graecīs#, _TD._ 2, 26, _I use our own poets carefully, it is true: but whenever they have failed me, I have always translated a great deal from Greek_.

2036. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect.#

#sī illud iūre rogātum dīcere ausī sunt, oblītīne erant?# _PC._ 45, _if they ventured to say that that measure was brought forward in due form, had not they forgotten?_

2037. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#sī quis oriente canīculā nātus est, is in marī nōn moriētur#, _if anybody is born when the dogstar is rising, he will never die at sea_ (general): #sī Fabius oriente canīculā nātus est, Fabius in marī nōn moriētur#, _Fat._ 12, _if Fabius was born when the dogstar was rising, Fabius will not die at sea_ (particular). #sī parum intellēxtī, dīcam dēnuō#, Pl. _R._ 1103, _if you don’t understand, I’ll say again_. #nōn ūtar eā cōnsuētūdine, sī quid est factum clēmenter, ut dissolūtē factum crīminer#, _V._ 5, 19, _I will not avail myself of the common practice, and if a thing has been done in a spirit of mercy, charge that it was done in a lax way_. #nisi iam factum aliquid est per Flaccum, fīet ā mē#, _Fam._ 3, 11, 3, _unless something or other has been done already through Flaccus, it will be done by me_.

2038. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

#sī plūs minusve secuērunt, sē fraude estō#, Twelve Tables in Gell. 20, 1, 49, _if they cut too much or too little, it shall be without penalty_ (1613). #sī vīdistis, dīcite#, Pl. _R._ 323, _if ye have seen, declare_. #sī quid est peccātum ā nōbīs, prōfer#, T. _Hec._ 253, _declare it, if we’ve erred at all_. #sī numquam avārē pretium statuī artī meae, exemplum statuite in mē#, T. _Hau._ 48, _if never like a miser I have set a price upon my art, a pattern set in me_. #sī quōs propīnquus sanguī̆s patrōnōs dedit, iuvāte perīclitantem#, Ta. 3, 12, _if relationship has made any of you his advocates, help him in his straits_.

2039. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sī nūlla colōris prīncipiīs est reddita nātūra, extemplō ratiōnem reddere possīs#, Lucr. 2, 757, _if atoms have no colour, you might explain at once_ (1556). #meritō maledīcās mī, sī nōn id ita factumst#, Pl. _Am._ 572, _you might with perfect right abuse me, if it is not so_ (1556).

2040. (_g._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#sī nēmō hāc praeteriīt, postquam intrō abiī, cistella hīc iacēret#, Pl. _Cist._ 683, _if nobody has passed along this way, since I went in, a casket must have been lying here_ (1560). #nam cūr tam variae rēs possent esse requīrō, ex ūnō sī sunt ignī pūrōque creātae?# Lucr. 1, 645, _for how could things so motley be, I ask, if they are made of pure and simple fire_ (1565)?

2041. (_h._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect Subjunctive.#

#sī Antōniō Crassus ēloquēns vīsus nōn est, tibī̆ numquam Cotta vīsus esset#, _O._ 106, _if Antony did not hold Crassus eloquent, you would never have held Cotta so_ (1561).

(3.) PROTASIS IN THE IMPERFECT.

2042. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#sī tum nōn pertimēscēbās, nē nunc quidem perhorrēscis?# _V._ 4, 78, _if you were not getting afraid then, are you not getting scared even now?_ #sī quī senēs āc dēfōrmēs erant, eōs in hostium numerō dūcit#, _V._ 5, 64, _if any were old and homely, he considers them in the light of enemies_ (1590). #sī ad illum hērēditās veniēbat, vērī simile est ab illō necātum#, _Inv._ 1, 89, _if the inheritance was coming to so and so, it is likely that the murder was committed by that man_. #adulēscentī nihil est quod suscēnseam, sī illum minus nōrat#, T. _Ph._ 361, _I have no cause for anger with the youth, if he was not acquainted with the man_.

2043. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#sed sī properābās magis, prīdiē nōs tē hūc dūxisse oportuit#, Pl. _Poen._ 525, _but if you were in greater haste, you should have brought us here the day before_.

2044. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect.#

This combination is used chiefly of contemporaneous action (1732), in general conditional periods: as, #sī quod erat grande vās, laetī adferēbant#, _V._ 4, 47, _if any good-sized vase was ever found, they would always bring it to him in high glee_. #atque ea sī erant, magnam habēbās dīs grātiam#, Pl. _As._ 143, _and if them you ever had, you were monstrous grateful to the gods_. #sī quae rēs erat maior, populus commovēbātur#, _Sest._ 105, _if a thing of more than ordinary importance occurred, the populace was always aroused_. #hī, sī quid erat dūrius, concurrēbant#, 1, 48, 6, _whenever there was any pretty sharp work, these men would always fall to_. For the subjunctive in such protases, see 2071.

2045. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#flēbunt Germānicum etiam īgnōtī: vindicābitis vōs, sī mē potius quam fortūnam meam fovēbātis#, _Ta._ 2, 71, _as for weeping for Germanicus, that will be done by strangers too; vengeance will be yours, if you honoured in me more the man than the position_. See _Att._ 14, 1, 1.

2046. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#fāc animō magnō sīs, et sī turbidissima sapienter ferēbās, tranquilliōra laetē ferās#, _Fam._ 6, 14, 3, _be of great heart, and if you bore anarchy like a stoic, bear a more orderly condition of things with good cheer_ (1550).

2047. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#sī amābās, invenīrēs mūtuom#, Pl. _Ps._ 286, _you should have borrowed, if you were in love_ (1559). #quod sī meīs incommodīs laetābantur, urbis tamen periculō commovērentur#, _Sest._ 54, _if they did exult over my mishaps, still they ought to have been touched by the danger to Rome_ (1559).

(4.) PROTASIS IN THE PLUPERFECT.

2048. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#sī hoc ita fātō datum erat, ut ad pācem petendam venīrem, laetor tē mihī̆ sorte potissimum datum, ā quō peterem#, L. 30, 30, 3, _if it was so ordained by fate that I should come to sue for peace, I am glad that you are allotted me, of all men in the world, to sue from_.

2049. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#tum id, sī falsum fuerat, fīlius quōr nōn refellit?# T. _Ph._ 400, _if that had been untrue, why did not at the time your son disprove it?_ #vel officiō, sī quid dēbuerat, vel errōrī, sī quid nescierat, satis factum esse dūxit#, _D._ 13, _he thought he had done enough for duty, if he had been under any obligation, enough for delusion, if he had been acting under mistaken ignorance_.

2050. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect.#

#sed in aedibus quid tibi meīs nam erat negōtī mē absente, nisi ego iusseram?# Pl. _Aul._ 427, _but what business had you in my house in my absence, unless I had ordered?_ #sī nihil in istā pugnā Rōsciī fēcerant, quam ob causam tantīs praemiīs dōnābantur?# _RA._ 108, _if the Rosciuses had not done service in that fight, why were they presented with such rewards?_ Often of antecedent action, in general conditional periods: as, #sī quicquam caelātī adspexerat, manūs abstinēre, iūdicēs, nōn poterat#, _V._ 4, 48, _if he ever caught sight of a bit of chased work, why, gentlemen, he never could keep his hands off_. #stomachābātur senex, sī quid asperius dīxeram#, _DN._ 1, 93, _the old gentleman was always nettled, if I said anything harsh_. #ac seu longum post tempus vēnerat hospes, sīve convīva per imbrem vīcīnus, bene erat nōn piscibus urbe petītīs#, H. _S._ 2, 2, 118, _and if a friend dropped in, after an absence long, or neighbour, come to take pot-luck upon a rainy day, we feasted not on fish brought out from town_. For the subjunctive in such protases, see 2071.

2051. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#ante sōlem exorientem nisi in palaestram vēnerās, haud mediocrīs poenās penderēs#, Pl. _B._ 426, _ere sunrise so you came not to the wrestling school, amercement strong you had to pay_ (1552).

(5.) PROTASIS IN THE FUTURE.

2052. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#eam sei cūrābeis, perbonast#, Pl. _Merc._ 526, _if you’ll take care of her, she is first-rate_. #quod sī perferre nōn poterō, opprimī mē mālō#, _RA._ 10, _if I cannot succeed in bearing it, I would rather be crushed_.

2053. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#quam nisi dēfendēs, Rōmulus nōn bene vīdit avēs#, _Prop._ 4 (5), 6, 43, _unless thou savest her, ’twas ill that Romulus espied his birds_. #āctumst, sī quidem tū mē hīc lūdificābere#, T. _Eu._ 717, _all’s up, that is in case you fool me here_ (1612). #cui sī esse in urbe licēbit, vīcimus#, _Att._ 14, 20, 3, _if he shall be allowed to stay in town, the day is ours_ (1612).

2054. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#sī erum īnsimulābis malitiae, male audiēs#, T. _Ph._ 359, _you’ll hear what you won’t like, if you insinuate anything wrong against master_. #vīcīnīs bonus estō: sī tē libenter vīcīnitās vidēbit, facilius tua vēndēs; sī aedificābis, operīs, iūmentīs, māteriē adiuvābunt#, Cato, _RR._ 4, _be obliging to your neighbours: if the neighbourhood looks on you with favour, you will find a readier sale for your produce; if you fall to building, they will help you with labour, draught animals, and building material_. #sī id audēbis dīcere, causam inimīcī tuī sublevābis#, _Caecil._ 12, _if you venture to say that, you will promote the cause of your enemy_. #sī fortūna volet, fīēs dē rhētore cōnsul; sī volet haec eadem, fīēs dē cōnsule rhētor#, J. 7, 197, _if fortune shall ordain, a magnate from a teacher thou shalt be; again shall she ordain, a teacher from a magnate shalt thou be_. #nōn modo nōn laedētur causa nōbilitātis, sī istīs hominibus resistētis, vērum etiam ōrnābitur#, _RA._ 138, _the interests of the nobility will not be damaged, if you resist those creatures; oh no, on the contrary, they will be promoted_. The clause with #sī# is apt to take the future perfect (2061). The future in the apodosis often denotes action holding good at all times: as, #dēfēnsor prīmum, sī poterit, dēbēbit vītam eius, quī īnsimulābitur, quam honestissimam dēmōnstrāre#, _Inv._ 2, 35, _the advocate ought in the first place, if he can, to prove that the life of the accused is eminently respectable_. #quod adsequēmur, sī cavēbimus nē in perturbātiōnēs incidāmus#, _Off._ 1, 131, _we shall attain this end if we take care not to be subject to fits of passion_. Sometimes in exemplifications: #sī patriam prōdere cōnābitur pater, silēbitne fīlius?# _Off._ 3, 90, _if a father shall try to betray his country, will the son keep silent?_ But see 2090.

2055. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future Perfect.#

#oculum ego ecfodiam tibī̆ :: dīcam tamen; nam sī sīc nōn licēbit, luscus dīxerō#, Pl. _Tri._ 463, _I’ll dig your eye out :: but I’ll speak, nathless; for if I may not as I am, I’ll say my say as one-eyed man_. #sed sī tē aequō animō ferre accipiet, neclegentem fēceris#, T. _Andr._ 397, _but if he sees you take it placidly, you’ll have him off his guard_. The more usual combination is as in 2062.

2056. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

#vir tuos sī veniet, iube domī opperīrier#, Pl. _Cist._ 592, _in case your husband comes, tell him to wait at home_. Almost always the second imperative is used (1577): as, #sī volet, suō vīvitō#, Twelve Tables in Gell. 20, 1, 45, _if the prisoner wish, he may subsist on his own food_. #sī veniet nūntius, facitō ut sciam#, Pl. _St._ 148, _if a messenger shall come, be sure you let me know_. #sī dē mē ipsō plūra dīcere vidēbor, īgnōscitōte#, _Sest._ 31, _if I seem to harp too much on myself, you must excuse me_.

2057. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sī quid erit, quod scrībendum putēs, velim faciās#, _Att._ 11, 13, 5, _if there shall be anything which you think worth writing, I wish you would write_ (1555). #nam sī altera illaec magis īnstābit, forsitan nōs reiciat#, T. _Ph._ 717, _for if the other lady presses more, perhaps he’ll throw us out_ (1554). #peream, sī tē ferre poterunt#, Brut. in _Fam._ 11, 23, 2, _may I die, if they shall find it possible to endure you_ (1541). #sī quandō illa dīcet ‘Phaedriam intrō mittāmus,’ Pamphilam cantātum prōvocēmus#, T. _Eu._ 441, _if ever she shall say ‘let us have Phaedria in,’ then let us call out Pamphila to sing_ (1548). #habeat, sī argentum dabit#, Pl. _R._ 727, _she’s welcome to them, if she pays the cash_ (1548).

2058. (_g._) #Apodosis in the Perfect Subjunctive.#

#sī mē audiētis, adulēscentēs, sōlem alterum nē metuerītis#, _RP._ 1, 32, _if you will hearken to me, my young friends, never fear a double sun_ (1551). #sīn erit ille gemitus ēlāmentābilis, vix eum virum dīxerim#, _TD._ 2, 57, _but if his groan be a long-drawn wail, I could scarcely call him a man_ (1558).

(6.) PROTASIS IN THE FUTURE PERFECT.

2059. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#salvae sunt, sī istōs flūctūs dēvītāverint#, Pl. _R._ 168, _they are saved, if they escape those waves_ (1593). #rēx sum, sī ego illum hominem adlexerō#, Pl. _Poen._ 671, _I’m a millionaire, if I allure the man_ (1593). #crīmen probāre tē cēnsēs posse, sī nē causam quidem maleficī prōtuleris?# _RA._ 72, _do you think you can prove your charge, if you do not even bring forward a motive for the crime?_ #quod sī meam spem vīs improbōrum fefellerit, commendō vōbīs meum parvum fīlium#, _C._ 4, 23, _but if the might of the wicked disappoints my hope, unto your keeping do I commend the little son of mine_.

2060. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#victus sum, sī dīxeris#, Pl. _Am._ 428, _I am beaten if you tell_ (1612). #sī sēnserit, periī#, T. _Andr._ 213, _if he scents it, I’m done for_ (1612). #sī cōnservātus erit, vīcimus#, _Fam._ 12, 6, 2, _if he is saved, our success is assured_ (1612). #tum, hercule, illō diē quō ego cōnsul sum creātus, male gesta rēs pūblica est, sī tuleritis#, L. 3, 19, 11, _in that case it was indeed a bad day for the country when I was made consul, if you make the proposition_ (1608).

2061. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#perībō, sī nōn fēcerō, sī faxō vāpulābō#, Pl. in Gell. 3, 3, 8, _I shall be done for if I don’t do it, if I do, I shall be done up too_ (1626). #oculum ego ecfodiam tibī̆, sī verbum addideris#, Pl. _Tri._ 463, _I’ll gouge your eye out for you, if you say another word_. #sī tē interficī iusserō, residēbit in rē pūblicā reliqua coniūrātōrum manus#, _C._ 1, 12, _if I order you to be dispatched, the rest of the gang of conspirators will be left in the state_.

2062. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future Perfect.#

#sī dīxerō mendācium, solēns me͡o mōre fēcerō#, Pl. _Am._ 198, _if fiction I relate, I shall have done but in my usual way_. #sī tū argentum attuleris, cum illō perdiderō fidem#, Pl. _Ps._ 376, _if you, sir, bring the cash, I’ll break my word to him_. #respīrārō, sī tē vīderō#, _Att._ 2, 24, 5, _I shall be myself again, if I see you_. #pergrātum mihī̆ fēceris, sī dē amīcitiā disputāris#, _L._ 16, _you will do me a very great favour, if you will discourse on friendship_.

2063. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

Generally the longer forms of the imperative are used (1577): #patrōnus sī clientī fraudem fēcerit, sacer estō#, Twelve Tables in Serv. to V. 6, 609, _if a patron shall cheat his client, let him be doomed_. #servītum tibi mē abdūcitō, nī fēcerō#, Pl. _Ps._ 520, _if I don’t do it, take me off to be your slave_. #hoc sī effēceris, quodvīs dōnum ā mē optātō#, T. _Eu._ 1056, _if you do this, ask any gift you please of me_. #sī mē adsequī potueris, ut tibī̆ vidēbitur, sepelītō#, _TD._ 1, 103, _if you can ever find me, then bury me as you think best_. Rarely the shorter forms: #inpinge pugnum, sī muttīverit#, Pl. _B._ 800, _drive your fist into him if he says booh_. #sī tumidōs accēdere fastūs sēnseris, inceptō parce referque pedem#, O. _AA._ 1, 715, _if thou shalt see disdain come swelling high, give o’er and beat retreat_.

2064. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sibī̆ habeat, sī nōn extemplō ab eō abdūxerō#, Pl. _Per._ 164, _he may keep her, if I don’t carry her off that minute_ (1548). #caecum mē ferrī cōnfitear, sī tē potuisse superārī dīxerō#, _Planc._ 6, _if I say that you can be surpassed, I should own myself swept along like a blind man_ (1556). #tum magis adsentiāre, sī ad maiōra pervēnerō#, _RP._ 1, 62, _you would agree all the more if I come at once to weightier points_ (1556).

SOME SPECIAL USES.

2065. An indicative protasis with #sī# is often used to assume a general truth as a proof either for another general truth, or for a particular fact.

(_a._) #sī voluptātis sēnsum capit, dolōrēs etiam capit#, _DN._ 3, 32, _if it is susceptible of pleasure, it is also susceptible of pain_. #sī omnēs, quī rē̆ī pūblicae cōnsulunt, cārī nōbīs esse dēbent, certē in prīmīs imperātōrēs. sī ferae partūs suōs dīligunt, quā nōs in līberōs nostrōs indulgentiā esse dēbēmus#, _DO._ 2, 168, _if all people who are devoted to the public service are dear to us, then assuredly our military men ought always to be particularly dear. If wild beasts always love their young, how kind ought we always to be to our own children_. (_b._) #sī pietātī summa tribuenda laus est, dēbētis movērī, cum Q. Metellum tam piē lūgēre videātis#, _DO._ 2, 167, _if filial affection is always to be held in high honour, you ought to be touched in this instance, seeing such affectionate grief in Metellus_. #sī nox opportūna est ēruptiōnī, sīcut est, haec profectō noctis aptissima hōra est#, L. 7, 35, 10, _if night is always favourable for a sortie, and it always is, this particular hour of the night is the very best time_.

2066. An indicative protasis with #sī# often assumes a fact, past or present, as an argument for another fact, or for a general truth.

In this case the apodosis, which is usually a question, often takes the subjunctive (1565).

#sī Sūlla potuit efficere, ut dictātor dīcerētur, cūr hīc nōn possit?# _Att._ 9, 15, 2, _if Sulla could succeed in being appointed dictator, why cannot this man?_ #sī Zēnōnī licuit inaudītum rē̆ī nōmen impōnere, cūr nōn liceat Catōnī?# _Fin._ 3, 15, _if Zeno was allowed to give a new name to a thing, why should not Cato be allowed?_ #quod sī Graecī leguntur ā Graecīs, quid est cūr nostrī ā nostrīs nōn legantur?# _Fin._ 1, 6, _but if Greeks are read by Greeks, why should not Romans be read by Romans?_

2067. An indicative protasis with #sī# often assumes a fact which is declared in the apodosis to be no reason for another fact.

In this case the negative usually begins the period. #sī#, for which #quia# or #etsī# is sometimes substituted, sometimes has #idcircō#, #īlicō#, or #continuō#, rarely #proptereā# or #ideō#, as correlative in the apodosis.

#nōn, sī tibī̆ anteā prōfuit, semper prōderit#, _Ph._ 8, 12, _even if it has done you good in the past, that is no reason why it always will in the future_. #nōn sī Opīmium dēfendistī, idcircō tē istī bonum cīvem putābunt#, _DO._ 2, 170, _suppose you did defend Opimius, that is no reason why your friends will think you a patriot_. #nec sī omne ēnūntiātum aut vērum aut falsum est, sequitur īlicō, esse causās immūtābilīs, quae prohibeant secus cadere atque cāsūrum sit#, _Fat._ 28, _and even if every declaration is either true or false, it does not follow without any further ado that there are unchangeable causes to prevent a thing falling out different from the way it promises to fall out_. #nōn continuō, sī mē in gregem sīcāriōrum contulī, sum sīcārius#, _RA._ 94, _it does not forthwith follow that if I have joined a band of bravoes, I am a bravo_.

[Erratum:
2065a ... _DN._ 3, 32,
3, 32.]

#mīror#, #mīrum sī#.

2068. #mīror# or #mīrum est# (#mīra sunt#) may introduce a conditional protasis, instead of a clause with #quod# (1851) or the accusative with the infinitive (2188).

Generally the main clause is actually or virtually negatived: as, #minus mīrandumst, illaec aetās sī quid illōrum facit#, Pl. _B._ 409, _’tis not to be wondered at, if youth does things like that_. #idne tū mīrāre, sī patrissat fīlius?# Pl. _Ps._ 442, _can you, sir, wonder at it if the son plays the father?_ #nec mīrum sī ūtēbātur cōnsiliō#, _Quinct._ 18, _and it is no wonder if he followed the advice_. #mīrer, sī vāna vestra auctōritās est?# L. 3, 21, 4, _can I think it strange if your influence is of no account_ (1565)_?_ Rarely the main clause is positive: as, #mīrābar hoc sī sīc abīret#, T. _Andr._ 175, _I wondered if it was going to end so_ (1773). #mīror sī quemquam amīcum habēre potuit#, _L._ 54, _I wonder if he could have had a friend in the world_. In old colloquial style #mīrum nī# is found: as, #mīrum nī hīc me exossāre cōgitat#, Pl. _Am._ 319, _strange that he doesn’t think of boning me_. #ubi nunc ipsus? :: mīrum nī domīst#, T. _Andr._ 598, _where is he now? :: at home of course_. So once in Livy: #mīrum esse nī castra hostium oppugnentur#, L. 3, 28, 5,_ that he shouldn’t be surprised if the enemy’s camp were being stormed_ (1724). #gaudeō sī# is found once in Cicero, and #terreō, metus est sī#, or the like occurs a few times in Tacitus. For #sī# in expressions of trial, hope, expectation, &c., see 1777.

THE SUBJUNCTIVE FOR THE INDICATIVE.

2069. The indicative in the protasis is occasionally replaced by the subjunctive, as follows:

2070. (1.) The present or perfect subjunctive is sometimes used in general present suppositions, regularly in the indefinite second person singular, rarely with other persons (1730): as,

(_a._) #nam dolī nōn dolī sunt nisi astū colās, sed malum maxumum, sī id palam prōvenit#, Pl. _Cap._ 221, _for tricks are never tricks, unless you handle them with craft, but damage dire, in case the thing gets out_; here the indicative #prōvenit# shows that #colās# is due to the person. #nec calidae citius dēcēdunt corpore febrēs, textilibus sī in pīctūrīs ostrōque rubentī iactēris, quam sī in plēbēiā veste cubandum est#, Lucr. 2, 34, _nor sooner will hot fevers leave the limbs, if on gay tapestries and blushing purple you should toss, than if perforce your bed you make on pallet rude_. #quod est difficile, nisi speciem prae tē bonī virī ferās#, _Off._ 2, 39, _and this is a hard thing, unless you have the exterior of a good man_. #nec habēre virtūtem satis est nisi ūtāre#, _RP._ 1, 2, _and to have virtue is not enough, unless one use it_. #sīquoi mūtuom quid dederīs, fit prō propriō perditum#, Pl. _Tri._ 1051, _if aught you’ve lent to anyone, ’tis not your own, but lost_. #nam nūllae magis rēs duae plūs negōtī habent, sī occēperīs exōrnāre#, Pl. _Poen._ 212, _for no two things give more trouble if you once begin to fit them out_. #nūlla est excūsātiō peccātī, sī amīcī causā peccāverīs#, _L._ 37, _it is no excuse for a sin if you have sinned from friendship_.

(_b._) #suōs quisque opprimī nōn patitur, neque, aliter sī faciat, ūllam inter suōs habet auctōritātem#, 6, 11, 4, _nobody suffers his vassals to be put down, and if he ever act otherwise, he has no influence among his people_. #laeduntur artēriae, sī ācrī clāmōre compleantur#, Cornif. 3, 21, _it always hurts the windpipe, if it be filled out with a sharp scream_. #turpis excūsātiō est, sī quis contrā rem pūblicam sē amīcī causā fēcisse fateātur#, _L._ 40, _it is always a discreditable apology, if a man confess that he has been unpatriotic from motives of friendship_. #Britannī iniūncta imperiī mūnera impigrē obeunt, sī iniūriae absint#, Ta. _Agr._ 13, _the Britons are always perfectly ready to perform the duties enjoined on them by the Roman government, if they be not maltreated_.

2071. (2.) The imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive is sometimes used in general past suppositions (1730).

This use begins with Catullus and Caesar, the indicative being the regular classical construction (2044, 2050).

#chommoda dīcēbat, sī quandō commoda vellet dīcere Arrius#, Cat. 84, 1, _hadvantages said Arrius, if advantages he ever meant to say_. #sī quis prehenderētur, cōnsēnsū mīlitum ēripiēbātur#, Caes. _C._ 3, 110, 4, _every time a man was taken up, he was rescued by the joint action of the rank and file_. #sīn autem locum tenēre vellent, nec virtūtī locus relinquēbātur, neque coniecta tēla vītāre poterant#, 5, 35, 4, _but if on the other hand they undertook to hold their position, there was never any opening for bravery, nor could they ever dodge the shower of missiles_. #sīn Numidae propius accessissent, ibī̆ virtūtem ostendere#, S. _I._ 58, 3, _they showed forth their valour every time the Numidians drew near_ (1535).

(B.) SUBJUNCTIVE USE.

2072. The present or perfect subjunctive may be used in a conditional protasis of future time.

2073. The apodosis is usually in the present subjunctive, less frequently in the perfect subjunctive. The imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive are rare (2089).

2074. The indicative is sometimes used in the apodosis, especially in expressions of ability, duty, &c. (1495); #nōn possum# is regularly in the indicative when the protasis is also negative. For the future indicative the periphrastic form is sometimes used.

2075. In the early period, before the imperfect subjunctive had been shifted to denote present time in conditional sentences (2091), the present subjunctive was used to express action non-occurrent in present time. Examples of this use are found in Plautus: as, #sī honestē cēnseam tē facere posse, suādeam; vērum nōn potest; cave faxīs#, Pl. _MG._ 1371, _if I thought that you could do the thing with credit to yourself, I should advise you to; but ’tis impossible; so don’t you do it_. #vocem tē ad cēnam, nisi egomet cēnem forīs#, Pl. _St._ 190, _I should ask you home to dine, if I were not dining out myself_. Such sentences must not be confused with those in which an action from the nature of things impossible is represented as of possible occurrence.

(1.) PROTASIS IN THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.

2076. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#at pigeat posteā nostrum erum, sī vōs eximat vinculīs#, Pl. _Cap._ 203, _but it may rue our master by and by, if he should take you out of bonds_. #quid sī ēveniat dēsubitō prandium, ubī̆ ego tum accumbam?# Pl. _B._ 79, _suppose a lunch should suddenly come off, where is your humble servant then to lie_ (1563)? #hanc viam sī asperam esse negem, mentiar#, _Sest._ 100, _if I say that this path is not rough, I should not tell the truth_. #sī deus tē interroget, quid respondeās?# _Ac._ 2, 80, _if a god ask you, what would you answer?_ #haec sī tēcum patria loquātur, nōnne impetrāre dēbeat?# _C._ 1, 19, _if thy country plead with thee thus, ought she not to carry her point?_ #sī existat hodiē ab īnferīs Lycūrgus, sē Spartam antīquam āgnōscere dīcat#, L. 39, 37, 3, _if Lycurgus rise this day from the dead, he would say that he recognized the Sparta of yore_. #eōs nōn cūrāre opīnor, quid agat hūmānum genus; nam sī cūrent, bene bonīs sit, male malīs, quod nunc abest#, E. in _Div._ 2, 104, _DN._ 3, 79, _but little care the gods, I trow, how fares the race of man; for should they care, the good were blest, the wicked curst; a thing that really cometh not to pass_.

2077. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect Subjunctive.#

#sī aequom siet mē plūs sapere quam vōs, dederim vōbīs cōnsilium catum#, Pl. _E._ 257, _if it becoming be for me to have more wit than ye, sage counsel might I give_ (1558). #aufūgerim potius quam redeam, sī eō mihi redeundum sciam#, T. _Hec._ 424, _I’d run away sooner than go back, if I should hear I had to_ (1558). #nec satis sciō, nec sī sciam, dīcere ausim#, L. _praef._ 1, _in the first place I do not know very well, and secondly if I should know, I should not venture to say_ (1555). #iniussū tuō extrā ōrdinem numquam pugnāverim, nōn sī certam victōriam videam#, L. 7, 10, 2, _without orders from you I never should fight out of ranks, no, not if I saw victory was certain_ (1558). #tum vērō nēquīquam hāc dextrā capitōlium servāverim, si cīvem commīlitōnemque meum in vincula dūcī videam#, L. 6, 14, 4, _upon my word, in that case I should prove to have saved the capital in vain, if I saw a townsman and brother-in-arms of mine haled to jail_. #multōs circā ūnam rem ambitūs fēcerim, sī quae variant auctōrēs omnia exequī velim#, L. 27, 27, 12, _I should make a long story about one subject, if I should undertake to go through all the different versions of the authorities_.

2078. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Present Indicative.#

#quī sī decem habeās linguās, mūtum esse addecet#, Pl. _B._ 128, _if you should have a dozen tongues, ’tis fit you should be dumb_ (2074). #sī prō peccātīs centum dūcat uxōrēs, parumst#, Pl. _Tri._ 1186, _if he should wed a hundred wives in payment for his sins, ’tis not enough_. #intrāre, sī possim, castra hostium volō#, L. 2, 12, 5, _I propose to enter the camp of the enemy, if I be able_. #tē neque dēbent adiuvāre, sī possint, neque possunt, sī velint#, _V._ 4, 20, _they ought not to help you, if they could, and cannot, if they would_. #sī vōcem rērum nātūra repente mittat, quid respondēmus?# Lucr. 3, 931, _if Nature of a sudden lift her voice, what answer shall we make?_ #sī quaerātur, idemne sit pertinācia et persevērantia, dēfīnītiōnibus iūdicandum est#, _T._ 87, _if it be asked whether obstinacy and perseverance are the same, it must be settled by definitions_ (2074).

2079. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#quadrīgās sī īnscendās Iovis atque hinc fugiās, ita vix poteris effugere īnfortūnium#, Pl. _Am._ 450, _Jove’s four-in-hand if you should mount, and try to flee from here, even so you’ll scarce escape a dreadful doom_. #sīquidem summum Iovem tē dīcās dētinuisse, malam rem effugiēs numquam#, Pl. _As._ 414, _e’en shouldst thou say imperial Jove detained thee, chastisement thou’lt ne’er avoid_. #sī frāctus inlābātur orbis, inpavidum ferient ruīnae#, H. 3, 3, 7, _should heaven’s vault crumbling fall, him all undaunted will its ruin strike_. #neque tū hoc dīcere audēbis, nec sī cupiās, licēbit#, _V._ 2, 167, _you will not dare to say this, sir, nor if you wish, will you be allowed_.

2080. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Future Perfect.#

#nōn tantum, sī proeliō vincās, glōriae adiēceris, quantum adēmeris, sī quid adversī ēveniat#, L. 30, 30, 21, _you will not acquire as much glory, if you succeed in battle, as you will lose, if any reverse occur_.

2081. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Periphrastic Future.#

#nōn latūrus sum, sī iubeās maxumē#, Pl. _B._ 1004, _I don’t intend to be the bearer, should you urge me e’er so much_. #quid, sī hostēs ad urbem veniant, factūrī estis?# L. 3, 52, 7, _suppose the enemy march on the town, what do you intend to do?_

2082. (_g._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#cantus et Lūnam dēdūcere temptat et faceret, sī nōn aera repulsa sonent#, Tib. 1, 8, 21, _magic essays to draw Luna down and would succeed if clashing brass should not resound_ (1560). #nē sī nāvigāre quidem velim, ita gubernārem, ut somniāverim; praesēns enim poena sit#, _Div._ 2, 122, _again, suppose I undertake to go sailing, I should not lay my course as I may have dreamed; for the penalty would be swift_ (1560). #sī hodiē bella sint, quāle Etrūscum fuit, quāle Gallicum; possētisne ferre Sextium cōnsulem esse?# L. 6, 40, 17, _suppose there be wars to-day like the Etruscan and the Gallic wars: could you bear to see Sextius consul_ (1565)?

2083. (_h._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect Subjunctive.#

#carmina nī sint, ex umerō Pelopis nōn nituisset ebur#, Tib. 1, 4, 63, _suppose there be no verse, from Pelops’ shoulder ne’er had ivory gleamed_ (1561).

(2.) PROTASIS IN THE PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE.

2084. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#dēbeam, crēdō, istī quicquam furciferō, sī id fēcerim#, T. _Eu._ 861, _I should be, forsooth, responsible to the rogue, if I should do it_ (1556). #sī dē caelō vīlla tācta siet, dē eā rē verba utī fīant#, Cato, _RR._ 14, 3, _if the villa be struck by lightning, let there be utterances about the case_ (1547). #sī ā corōnā relictus sim, nōn queam dīcere#, _Br._ 192, _if I should ever be abandoned by my audience, I should not be able to speak_. #id sī acciderit, sīmus armātī#, _TD._ 1, 78, _if this have happened, let us be on our guard_ (1548). #cūr ego simulem mē, sī quid in hīs studiīs operae posuerim, perdidisse?# _Par._ 33, _why should I have the affectation to say that if I have spent any time in these pursuits, I have thrown it away_ (1563)? See also 2090.

2085. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect Subjunctive.#

#sī paululum modo quid tē fūgerīt, ego perierim#, T. _Hau._ 316, _should you have missed the smallest point, a dead man I should be_. See also 2090.

2086. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Future Indicative.#

#sī forte līber fierī occēperim, mittam nūntium ad tē#, Pl. _MG._ 1362, _if haply I should be by way of getting free, I’ll send you word_. #sī forte morbus amplior factus siet, servom intrō iisse dīcent Sōstratae#, T. _Hec._ 330, _if her illness should get worse, they’ll say a slave of Sostrata’s went in there_.

2087. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Periphrastic Future.#

#sī Vēīs incendium ortum sit, Fĭ̄dēnās inde quaesītūrī sumus?# L. 5, 54, 1, _if a fire break out at Vei, are we going to move from there to Fidenae?_

2088. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#sīquis hoc gnātō tuō tuos servos faxit, quālem habērēs grātiam?# Pl. _Cap._ 711, _suppose a slave of yours has done this for a son of yours, how grateful should you have been?_

[Erratum:
2087d ... L. 5, 54, 1
L 5,]

CONVERSION TO PAST TIME.

2089. An indeterminate subjunctive protasis is rarely thrown into the past, the present and perfect becoming respectively imperfect and pluperfect. In this case the form is the same as that of a protasis of action non-occurrent (2091), and the conversion occurs only when it is evident from the context that past action is supposed, which may or may not have occurred: as,

#cūr igitur et Camillus dolēret, sī haec post trecentōs et quīnquāgintā ferē annōs ēventūra putāret, et ego doleam, sī ad decem mīlia annōrum gentem aliquam urbe nostrā potītūram putem?# _TD._ 1, 90, _why then would Camillus have fretted, if he thought this would occur after a lapse of some three hundred and fifty years, and why should I fret, if I think that some nation may seize Rome some ten thousand years hence?_ #erat sōla illa nāvis cōnstrāta; quae sī in praedōnum pugnā versārētur, urbis īnstar habēre inter illōs pīrāticōs myoparōnēs vidērētur#, _V._ 5, 89, _this was the only vessel with a deck; and supposing she figured in the engagement with the corsairs, she would have loomed up like a town, surrounded by those pirate cock-boats_. #Sardus habēbat ille Tigellius hoc; Caesar sī peteret nōn quicquam prōficeret#, H. _S._ 1, 3, 4, _Tigellius the Sardian had this way; supposing Caesar asked him, naught had he availed_.

PERIODS OF EXEMPLIFICATION.

2090. The present subjunctive is particularly common in exemplification. The perfect is sometimes used in the protasis, rarely in the apodosis: as,

#sī pater fāna expīlet, indicetne id magistrātibus fīlius?# _Off._ 3, 90, _if a father should plunder temples, would the son report it to the magistrates?_ #sī quis pater familiās supplicium nōn sūmpserit, utrum is clēmēns an crūdēlissimus esse videātur?# _C._ 4, 12, _assume for the sake of argument that a householder have not inflicted punishment, would he seem merciful, or a monster of cruelty?_ #sī scierīs aspidem occultē latēre uspiam, et velle aliquem imprūdentem super eam adsīdere, improbē fēcerīs, nisi monuerīs nē adsīdat#, _Fin._ 2, 59, _suppose a man should know, e.g. that there was a snake hiding somewhere, and that somebody was going to sit down on the snake unawares; he would do wrong, if he did not tell him he must not sit down there_. In such periods the future is also used, but less frequently: see 2054.

[Erratum:
2090 ... see 2054.
final . missing]

II. PROTASES OF ACTION NON-OCCURRENT.

2091. A conditional period in which the non-occurrence of the action is implied takes the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive both in the protasis and in the apodosis. The imperfect usually denotes present or indefinite time, and the pluperfect denotes past time.

For the present subjunctive in such conditions, see 2075.

2092. The imperfect sometimes denotes past time (1559). When future time is referred to, the protasis is usually in the imperfect of the periphrastic future, commonly the subjunctive, but sometimes the indicative (2108).

2093. The apodosis is very rarely in the present subjunctive (2098). The periphrastic future is sometimes used, commonly in the indicative (2097, 2100).

(1.) PROTASIS IN THE IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE.

2094. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

(a.) Protasis and apodosis both denoting present action; this is the usual application: #sī intus esset, ēvocārem#, Pl. _Ps._ 640, _I should call him out, if he were in_. #is iam prīdem est mortuus. sī vīveret, verba eius audīrētis#, _RC._ 42, _that person has long been dead; if he were alive, you would hear his evidence_. #adnuere tē videō; prōferrem librōs, sī negārēs#, _DN._ 1, 113, _I see you nod assent; I should bring out the books, if you maintained the opposite_. #sī L. Mummius aliquem istōrum vidēret Corinthium cupidissimē trāctantem, utrum illum cīvem excellentem, an ātriēnsem dīligentem putāret?# _Par._ 38, _if Mummius should see one of your connoisseurs nursing a piece of Corinthian, and going into perfect ecstasies over it, what would he think? that the man was a model citizen or a thoroughly competent indoor-man?_ #quod sī semper optima tenēre possēmus, haud sānē cōnsiliō multum egērēmus#, _OP._ 89, _now if we could always be in possession of what is best, we should not ever stand in any special need of reasoning_.

(b.) Protasis and apodosis both denoting past action: #haec sī neque ego neque tū fēcimus, nōn siit egestās facere nōs; nam sī esset unde id fīeret, facerēmus; et tū illum tuom, sī essēs homō, sinerēs nunc facere#, T. _Ad._ 103, _if neither you nor I have acted thus, ’twas poverty that stinted us; for if we’d had the means, we should have done so too; and you would let that boy of yours, if you were human, do it now_. Here #esset# refers to past time, #essēs# to present. #num igitur eum, sī tum essēs, temerārium cīvem putārēs?# _Ph._ 8, 14, _would you therefore have thought him, if you had lived then, a hotheaded citizen?_ #sī ūniversa prōvincia loquī posset, hāc vōce ūterētur; quoniam id nōn poterat, hārum rērum āctōrem ipsa dēlēgit#, _Caecil._ 19, _if the collective province could have spoken, she would have used these words; but since she could not, she chose a manager for the case herself_.

2095. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect Subjunctive.#

#invēnissēmus iam diū, sei vīveret#, Pl. _Men._ 241, _were he alive, we should have found him long ago_. #sī mihi secundae rēs dē amōre meō essent, iam dūdum sciō vēnissent#, T. _Hau._ 230, _if everything were well about my love, I know they would have been here long ago_. #quae nisi essent in senibus, nōn summum cōnsilium maiōrēs nostrī appellāssent senātum#, _CM._ 19, _unless the elderly were in general characterized by these qualities, our ancestors would not have called the highest deliberative body the body of elders_.

2096. (_c._) #Periphrastic Apodosis.#

#quibus, sī Rōmae esset, facile contentus futūrus erat#, _Att._ 12, 32, 2, _with which, if he were in Rome, he would readily be satisfied_ (2093). #quōs ego, sī tribūnī mē triumphāre prohibērent, testēs citātūrus fuī rērum ā mē gestārum#, L. 38, 47, 4, _the very men whom I was to call to bear witness to my deeds, if the tribunes should refuse me a triumph_.

(2.) PROTASIS IN THE PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE.

2097. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#