Part 45

#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]