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J. N. Madvig, Syntax of the Greek Language: Appendix, On the Use and Meaning of the Particles

Syntax of The Greek Language, especially of the Attic dialect, for the use of schools, Dr. J. N. Madvig, professor in the university of Copenhagen. Translated from the German by the rev. Henry Browne, M. A and edited by the rev. Thomas Kerchever Arnold, M. A, late rector of Lyndon, and formerly fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Together with an Appendix on the Greek Particles, by the Translator. 2nd edition. Rivingstons: London, Oxford, and Cambridge, 1873.

Pages 211–254 of the book.

Appendix.

On the Use and Meaning of the Particles.

§ 221

The office of the particles is either
(1) adverbial, i. e. as they are used to denote certain modifications, qualifications, or affections of the assertion, or of one or more of its terms (viz. affirmation and denial ; absoluteness and conditionality ; concession and opposition ; confirmation and limitation; parity and disparity, etc.), or
(2) conjunctional, as they serve for connexion of sentences or terms of sentences. The two uses at so many points run over into each other, that it will be more convenient, for the purpose of this Appendix, to comprise the subject under one general view. As the principal uses of conjunctions have been already described in Chapter VII, the adverbial, which is also the original, use will here principally come under consideration.

§ 222

καί, connected by its origin with the form κο- of the relative and interrog. pronoun, is therefore cognate with que and τε, which are forms of the same pronoun, but as indefinite. Hence the primary force of the combination τε – καί is any-where (some-where), any-how, &c. – where, how (so), &c.; of καὶ – καί, where, how, &c. – where (there), how (so). Of καί, as conjunction, see § 185. As adverb, etiam, also, too, it denotes increase by accession.

The adverbial καί corresponds to another καί sometimes expressed, but as often left to be understood. Καὶ ὁ Σωκράτης ταῦτα ἔλεξεν, Socrates, too, said this, i. e. καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι (or the like) καὶ ὁ Σ., originally where the others, there S. So in οὐ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ –, the full construction is οὐ μόνον, ἀλλὰ [καὶ –,] καὶ –, not only –, but [where –,] there –.

In ὥσπερ (or other relatives) καὶ –, καὶ –: εἴπερ καὶ – καὶ –: the original parataxis καὶ – καί is taken into the syntactic form, i. e. καὶ ὁ Σ. καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι, united with ὥσπερ οἱ ἄλλοι, οὕτως ὁ Σ., gives the form καὶ ὁ Σ. ταῦτα ἔλεξεν, ὥσπερ καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι, S. also said this, as did also the others.

§ 223

Where both clauses are expressed, the καί is often omitted in one or other: the first, when in conceiving the first clause the speaker has not the second clause or its καί distinctly present to his thoughts; thus, ὁ Σ. ταῦτ᾽ ἔλεξεν, ὥσπερ καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι: the second, when he means to make the first more weighty than the other, καὶ ὁ Σ. ταῦτ᾽ ἔλεξεν, ὥσπερ οἱ ἄλλοι. Often, also, the καί seems to be drawn over by a kind of attraction from the clause in which the thought would rather seem to demand its presence, to the other: thus, στρατεύονται μεθ᾽ ὧνπερ καὶ οἰκοῦσι, for with those they live with, they also take the field; ὁ Σωκράτης, εἴπερ τις καὶ ἄλλος, where we should say, καὶ ὁ Σ., εἴπερ τις ἄλλος. – In like manner it is often withdrawn from the (preceding) temporal or conditional secondary sentence to the (following) primary, to denote immediate sequence: it may then be rendered immediately, forthwith: Αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε –, καί οἱ πλησάμενος δῶκε σκύφον, Od. 14, 112, after he had supped –, he also (forthwith) filled the cup and presented it to him. So in Hom. εἰ – καί, and ὅτε – καὶ τότε. Ὡς δὲ ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐχώρουν εὐθύς, Thuc. 2, 93, for ὡς καί, simulatque: simulac decretum est ab iis continuo discesserunt. (In these instances the original relative and demonstrative force of καί is distinctly perceptible.)

As the relative clause is often omitted, e. g. καὶ ὁ Σ. ἔλεξεν (viz. ἅπερ οἱ ἄλλοι), so is often the demonstrative clause: Πῶς οὖν, ἔφη, τῷ ἀῤῥύθμῳ σώματι ἁρμόττοντα τὸν θώρακα εὔρυθμον ποιεῖς; Ὥσπερ καὶ ἁρμόττοντα, ἔφη (sc. οὕτω καὶ εὔρυθμον), Xen. Mem. 3, 10, 11.

§ 224

In the single clause, it depends upon the nature of the unexpressed clause whether the καί heightens (aggravates) or lowers (extenuates): even = after all, in addition to all the rest, or even = but (so much as) independently of all the rest. In rendering this particle it is sometimes necessary to add to, or even substitute for, the literal rendering of the καί, some other particle or adverb. Thus:

a) really, indeed: Ἥνπερ καὶ φρονῶν φαίνῃ, ὅσαπερ λέγεις πρὸς ἡμᾶς, if you make it good that [besides professing] you also (really) entertain the sentiments you profess (or, that you do entertain).

b) even him- (her-, it-) self: aye –: and that –: Καὶ ἂν Διὶ πατρὶ μάχοιτο. So καὶ λίην, καὶ κάρτα, καὶ πάνυ, καὶ πολύς, καὶ πᾶς.

c) still, yet, with comparatives and in some other cases: καὶ μᾶλλον, yet more, καὶ ἀμείνονας ἵππους, still better horses, πολλοῦ γε καὶ δέω, I still want much of = far from it: καὶ ἄλλοτε, καὶ πάλιν, καὶ τρίς, &c., ἔτι καὶ νῦν, καὶ ὀψέ (late though it be, yet still), καὶ ἔπειτα, καὶ δή: καὶ ὥς, καὶ οὕτως, still even so, for all this.

d) even already (without going further): Ἀλλ᾽ ἀρκέσει καὶ ταῦτα, this already (of itself) will suffice. καὶ αὔτως (Hom.) even (already) as it is. To this head may also be reduced: καὶ πρίν, καὶ χθές, καὶ πάλαι, καὶ πρότερον, καὶ αὐτίκα, καὶ ἄρτι, καὶ ἤδη, καὶ δή.

e) only, but (so much as): Εἰ πώποτ᾽ ἔκλεψα τῶν σῶν ἄξιόν τι καὶ τριχός, worth but a hair. Ὀκνῶ καὶ λέγειν, I fear but (even) to say it.

f) Often it is best rendered by the emphatic present or past (do, did), or emphatic auxiliary: εἰ δέ τις καὶ οἴεται, but if a man does think. Τί γὰρ ἄν τις καὶ ποιοῖ ἄλλο; why, what else should one do? Especially the καί following an interrogative: Πῶς καὶ διώλετ᾽, εἰπέ, how did he perish? "Τί χρὴ λέγειν asks, What is one to say? not, Whether there is anything to say: but τί χρὴ καὶ λέγειν not only asks what, but doubts whether anything at all is to be said (fully: quid dicendum est, si omnino aliquid dicendum est?)" [1] Or, more strongly, at all, on earth: Τί χρὴ καὶ προσδοκᾶν, what on earth is one, or, what is one at all, to expect? Ἔστιν ἄρα δικαίου ἀνθρώπου βλάπτειν καὶ ὁντινοῦν ἄνθρωπον; Plat. Rep. 1, 335, B, any human being at all, be who it may? ἵνα καὶ ἴδῃς ὅσα καὶ εἴδη ἔχει ἡ κακία, ib. 4, 445, C, how many forms (after all). In like manner, the frequent combination ἵνα καί, especially with εἰδῶ, ἴδῃς, &c., may be explained, that if there is anything (or, as there is something) to know, I may know it.


[1]: Hermann ad Vig. p. 837, 320. But Krüger says, that the καί emphasizes the term to which it is prefixed, as being the particular point about which one requires to have full information. Similarly Klotz: "si dico τί χρὴ καὶ λέγειν; proprie hoc quæro, quid sit dicendum etiam si solum de dicendo cogitemus."

§ 225

In καὶ γάρ, nam etiam, the καί belongs to the next following word, from which it is separated by the necessity of placing γάρ second in the sentence: Καὶ γὰρ πρὸς τούτους αὐτῷ ἐπεποίητο συμμαχίη, Hdt. 1, 77, for with these also. Καὶ γὰρ νῦν ὁμολογῶ, i. e. καὶ νῦν, Plat. Gorg. 467, B. Sometimes it is namque, and then the καί is not idle, but denotes the reciprocal correspondency of the clauses: ἀκούσατε, ἔφη, καὶ γὰρ ἄξιον, for, let me also tell you, it is worth hearing.

§ 226

In εἰ καί, the καί is even, and refers not merely to the εἰ, but to the whole concessive sentence = etsi, quamquam: Εἰ καὶ μητρὶ διαφορὰν ἔχει, if it even be that he has a quarrel with their mother, if it be ever so much the case that –: in καὶ εἰ, the καί refers only to the condition, = etiamsi. Κεἰ μὴ πέποιθα, even if (for all that) I have no confidence. Εἴ τι καὶ ἀγροικότερον εἰρῆσθαι, Pl. Gorg. 486, C, if it be even somewhat rude (as it is), i. e. though I own it is somewhat rude: but καὶ εἰ ἀγροικότερόν τι εἰπεῖν ἐστιν, ib. 509, A, even if it be somewhat rude (which I do not allow). Both forms are abbreviated into the participial construction: thus, τὰ αὐτὰ ἂν ἔπραξε καὶ πρώτη λαχοῦσα, Pl. Rep. 10, 620 = εἰ καὶ or καὶ εἰ πρώτη ἔλαχεν. See § 175, e.

τε, also, so, denoting parity of the term appended. See § 222, and for the use as conjunction, § 185.

§ 227

The adverbial use of this particle is almost entirely confined to the ancient epic style, having disappeared, except a few traces, from the later language. Its meaning is so faint that, for the most part, it does not admit of being rendered otherwise than by an exaggerated analogy: it does little more than intimate the correspondency of the clauses which it accompanies. In its origin, τε is cognate with enclitic τις: in its use, it almost exclusively accompanies other particles which connect protasis and apodosis or other parallel members, and sometimes appears in both, oftener only in one. Τε τε, any-where, -how, -way, -time, &c.... somewhere, how, &c.: hence it is the slightest possible intimation of as – so, alike – alike: Κραιπνότερος μὲν γάρ τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις, Il. 23, 591, as on the one hand the mind is more rapid, so also on the other is the counsel slight. Εἴπερ τε νοήσῃ, ἀλλά τε οἱ βράσσων τε νόος λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις, Il. 10, 224, although in-any-wise he has the wit, yet likewise slower alike (on the one hand, μέν om.) the wit, scanty alike on the other hand the counsel. Οὐ μὴν οἱ τόγε κάλλιον οὐδέ τ᾽ ἄμεινον, yet is this not for his honour, and (as not for his honour) so not for his good either. Ος κε θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται, μάλα τ᾽ ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ, whoso obeys the gods (as he obeys them) so do they hear him. In sentences correlated by demonstr. and relative, te is used only when the dem. and rel. do not come close together, or when the dem. is not expressed: in other combinations it is frequent: thus we have, εἴπερ τε ἀλλά τε, or simply τε: εἴπερ τε: and εἴπερ τε with second clause omitted. Μέν τε – δέ τε or ἀλλά τε (sometimes the μέν τε, sometimes the second re, omitted), also (μέν omitted) τε δέ τε: δὲ ΤΕ: ΤΕ δέ: TE

αὐτάρ. Again, ἢ τε, so surely: καί τε (as -) so also: γάρ τε, for (as -), so: and sometimes ἤτε, or ἤτε – ἤτε.

§ 228

Hence the usage of τε attached to relative words in dependent sentences to give force and clearness to the correlation: thus, ὅστε, he, or, that, who (Hom., lyr. poets, and lyrical parts of Tragedy, sometimes Herodot.), also ὅστις τε, οἷος τε, ὅσος τε (just such, or so great, as), ὥστε, so as, so that, ὡσεί τε, ἅτε, ὅπως τε, ἠΰτε, ὅτε τε (then when), ὅθι τε, ἵνα τε (there where). Of these the Attic prose has retained οἷός τε εἶναι, I am in such sort as to, in a condition to –: ὥστε, ὡσεί τε, ἔστε (ἐς ὅτε) quoad, ἅτε, quippe, ἐφ᾽ ᾧτε, on condition that (Herod. also ἐπείτε, postquam). Corresponding forms in Lat. (τε = que, -pe) are namque (γάρ τε, comp. καὶ γάρ, etenim), atque (= ad-que καί τε), quippe (ἅτε), also quisque with its adverbial forms, as ubique, &c., uterque, usque, and the suffix -cumque.

§ 229

δέ, on the other hand (comp. μέν, on the one hand, § 232). Opposition is denoted by the particles which originally denote on the other hand, viz. αὖ or αὐτε, and αὐτάρ (= αὐτ᾿ ἄρα), which, shortened, is ἀτάρ. Synonymous with these is dé, which, both as adverb or mere particle, and as conjunction, in virtue of its origin (cognate with the second numeral δύο, the δείς in οὐδείς, and the pronoun of the second person), means in the second place. For the conjunctional use, see §§ 188, 189. The adverbial use appears in

α) καὶ δέ, and on the other hand, and also (moreover). In Homer the particles usually stand together; in Attic, the word that has the emphasis comes between. Καὶ δ᾽ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον, and of another also ye take it amiss. Καὶ σὺ δ᾽ αὐθάδης ἔφυς, Eur. El. 1122, and thou too art self-willed (not Ægisthus only). Καὶ οἵ τε ἄλλοι..

ὑπηρέτουν, καὶ ἡ τῶν Θηβαίων δὲ πόλις... ξυνέπεμπε, Xen. Hell. 5, 2, 37, and Thebes also -.

REM. Kai being both and and also, the Greek was obliged to have recourse to

dé to express and also.

b) in the demonstrative sentence or the apodosis of a condition: Οἵη περ φύλλων γενεή, τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν, as is the nature of the leaves, so is, on the other hand (also) that of man. Οἱ δ᾽ ἄρα Μηθώνην... ἐνέμοντο, τῶν δὲ Φιλοκτήτης ἦρχεν, Il. 2, 716, (comp. οἱ δ᾽ Ἄργισσαν ἔχον..., τῶν αὖθ᾽ ἡγεμόνευε... Πολυποίτης, ib. 738). Ἐγὼ μὲν οὓς ἂν τῶν λόγων ἀλγῶ κλύειν, Λαερτίου παῖ, τοὺς δὲ καὶ πράσσειν στυγῶ, Soph. Phil. 86, I also, on the other hand, hate to do. Αἰ δέ κε λίσσηαι ἑτάρους..., οἱ δέ σε... δεόντων, Od. 12, 54, let them, on the other hand (or, however), bind thee. ᾿Αλλ᾽ εἰ σύγε Παυσανίαν αἰνεῖς, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ᾿Αριστείδαν ἐπαινέω, I, on the contrary, praise Α. ᾿Αλλ᾽ εἰ μηδὲ τοῦτο βούλει ἀποκρίνασθαι, σὺ δὲ τοὐντεῦθεν λέγε, do thou, however, say. So, especially in Attic, dé after an abbreviated protasis in the form of a participle: Θαυμάζω σου, εἰ ἐκείνους ῥᾳδίως χειρούμενος, τούτοις δὲ μηδένα τρόπον οἴει δυνήσεσθαι προσενεχθῆναι, Xen. Mem. 3, 7, 8, that although, yet –. Cf. § 188, R. 6.

When in an alternative, two protases, each with its apodosis, are opposed to each other, the form may be μὲν – μέν (prot. and ap.), δὲ- dé (prot. and ap.), or also μὲν – δέ, δὲ – δέ: thus, ὃς μέν τ᾽ αἰδέσεται κούρας Διὸς...., τὸν δὲ μέγ᾽ ὤνησαν...., ὃς δέ κ᾿ ἀνῄνηται.. · λίσσονται δ᾽ ἄρα ταίγε Δία, Il. 9, 509, whoso reverences the:- virgins, him they benefit (might also be τὸν μὲν..) -: but whoso repulses them, then they pray, &c. For Attic instances, see § 188, Rem. 4.

c) in the combination οὐδέ, μηδέ, also not, not even. Here the particle dé stands for itself and also for καί, as καί cannot follow οὐ and μή in this sense. Its usage, therefore, exactly agrees with that of καί; so that οὐδ᾽ ὡς, not so too, not so either, stands on the same footing with καὶ ὥς, οὐδὲ γάρ, neque enim, with καὶ γάρ, etenim, οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδέ, neque vero etiam, with καὶ μὴν καί, et vero etiam, οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ, for also not, or for not even, with καὶ γὰρ καί. The particle sometimes puts the things on a par (also not), sometimes exalts the latter (not even), ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε, because it is also not seemly (therefore must it also not be). Τὰ γὰρ πεπρωμέν᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὑπερβαίην ποτ᾽ ἄν, Eur. Ion, 1388, that which is fated for me can I also not escape. Οὐδέ νυ τοῦπερ φείσατο, 11. 24, 235, not even him did he spare; οὐδ᾽ ὄναρ, not even in a dream. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος, Od. 8, 32, etenim ne alius quidem. Οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ Τρώας ἀγήνορας εἴασ᾽ Ἕκτωρ εὕδειν, Il. 10, 299. Not, however, the T. either (any more than the others).

Not the Trojans moreover (either) did H. suffer to sleep. μέν, on the one hand, indeed.

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