Part II. The Relations of Propositions One to Another, Especially the Way of Denoting the Mode or Manner of Predication, and the Time of the Thing Predicated.
Chapter V.
The Infinitive and its Tenses.
§ 143 (387)
The Infinitive expresses the notion of the verb in general in its different tenses. By prefixing the article to the infinitive, the notion of the verb is brought out as definite, and having a substantive existence. By this means, the infinitive is at the same time enabled to enter into relations with the other members of the sentence in the manner of a substantive in the different cases.
REM. The infinitive in Greek (as partly in English) is sometimes annexed, in a somewhat lax connexion, to a predicate for the purpose of defining it more nearly, so that it is difficult to assign the limits of the relation, and sometimes the same combination may be taken in a different sense in different connexions, e.g. δυνατὸς ποιεῖν (see § 149, 150; able to do, and in one's power to do = possible to be done). In some constructions, instead of the mere infinitive (more or less rarely) with little or no difference of meaning, the infinitive is used with ὥστε, which particle in general denotes an effect or an intention (so that, in order that), though sometimes the definite meaning of the particle almost entirely disappears.
§ 144 (388)
The infinitive may stand, either as subject or as predicate-noun, when an action is characterized in general (e.g. Τοῦτο μανθάνειν καλεῖται). The infinitive as subject has the article, when it stands out as the given and first term of the sentence, of which something is to be predicated; but it is without the article, where the predicate-noun with ἐστίν coalesces, so to say, into an impersonal expression which stands forward as the principal term, and is completed by the infinitive (in English: IT is good, IT is a sin, to --), or where the predicate consists of a single verb which may be taken in the same way: Τὸ δίκην διδόναι πότερον πάσχειν τί ἐστιν ἢ ποιεῖν; (Pl. Gorg. 476.) Οὐχ οὕτως ἡδύ ἐστι τὸ ἔχειν χρήματα ὡς ἀνιαρὸν τὸ ἀποβάλλειν (Xen. Cyr. 8, 3, 42). Πολλὰ συμβάλλεται εἰς τὰς πράξεις τὸ εὔνους ἔχειν τοὺς ὑπηρέτας. Μεγίστην ἡγοῦμαι συμμαχίαν εἶναι τὸ τὰ δίκαια πράττειν (Isocr. Archid. 59). Τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ ἀδικεῖν, τὸ πλέον τῶν ἄλλων ζητεῖν ἔχειν (Pl. Gorg. 483. So almost always with an infinitive, which is first intimated by a pronoun). -- Οὐχ ἡδὺ πολλοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἔχειν (Dem. 19, 221). Οἰκονόμου ἀγαθοῦ ἐστιν εὖ οἰκεῖν τὸν ἑαυτοῦ οἶκον (Xen. Econ. 1, 2). Ὥσπερ ἐν ἵπποις, οὕτω καὶ ἐν ἀνθρώποις τισὶν ἐγγίγνεται, ὅσῳ ἂν ἔκπλεω τὰ δέοντα ἔχωσι, τοσούτῳ ὑβριστοτέροις εἶναι (Xen. Hier. 10, 1; it lies in the nature of some men to be; but τὸ αἰδεῖσθαι ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις οὐκ ἔνεστιν). Νομίσατε ἀσέβημα μηδὲν ἔλαττον εἶναι τῶν μηδὲν ἠδικηκότων καταγνῶναι ἢ τοὺς ἠσεβηκότας μὴ τιμωρεῖσθαι (Andoc. 1, 32). (Ἡλίκα ἐστὶ τὰ διάφορα ἐνθάδε ἢ ἐκεῖ πολεμεῖν, οὐδὲ λόγου προςδεῖ. Dem. 1, 27; how great the difference is to make war.)
REM. 1. Ὥστε before the infinitive, in this impersonal mode of expression, is very rare: Ἀδύνατον ὑμῖν ὥστε Πρωταγόρου τοῦδε σοφώτερόν τινα ἑλέσθαι βραβευτὴν τῶν λόγων (Pl. Prot. 338).
REM. 2. To an infinitive predicated generally (without a definite subject), a dependent sentence in the third person may be annexed without an expressly assigned subject, this being the same as the subject mentally supplied to the infinitive (one, a person); (but more commonly τις is added.) Τὸ θάνατον δεδιέναι οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἐστὶν ἢ δοκεῖν σοφὸν εἶναι μὴ ὄντα· δοκεῖν γὰρ εἰδέναι ἐστίν, ἃ οὐκ οἶδεν (Pl. Apol. 29). Οὔτ᾽ ἀνταδικεῖν δεῖ οὔτε κακῶς ποιεῖν οὐδένα ἀνθρώπων, οὐδ᾽ ἂν ὁτιοῦν πάσχῃ ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν (Pl. Crito, 49). Likewise αὐτός, ἑαυτοῦ may be referred to the subject implied in the infinitive: Οὐκ ἄρα τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ τὸ μέγα δύνασθαι, τὸ ποιεῖν, ἃ δοκεῖ αὐτῷ (Pl. Gorg. 469).
§ 145 (389)
The infinitive stands (without article) with verbs, the meaning of which refers directly to a certain action of the same subject, and its accomplishment, to indicate that action; likewise with impersonal verbs which express a similar relation between a subject and an action (e.g. possibility or duty), and with many phrases which have the signification of such a personal or impersonal verb. Ἐπιθυμῶ αὐτοκράτωρ γίγνεσθαι ἄρχων (Xen. An. 5, 9, 21). Ἔγνων (I resolved) τὸν ποταμὸν διαβῆναι. Ἡ πόλις ἐκινδύνευσε πᾶσα διαφθαρῆναι (Thuc. 3, 74). Οὐ πέφυκας δουλεύειν. Αἰσχύνομαι πτωχεύειν. Ὀκνῶ λέγειν. Φοβοῦμαι διελέγχειν σε. -- Δέδοκται ἡμῖν (ἔδοξεν) ἀπιέναι. Ἐξῆν μένειν. Συνέβη μοι πεσεῖν. Ὦ Ζεῦ, λαβεῖν μοι γένοιτο τοὺς πολεμίους ὡς ἐγὼ βούλομαι (Xen. Cyr. 6, 3, 11). Ἐκ τοῦ ταῦθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχειν ὑπάρχει ὑμῖν ἀσφαλῶς οἰκεῖν (Dem. 23, 102). -- Ἐν νῷ ἔχω ἐκπλεῖν. Οὐχ ὥρα καθεύδειν. Ἃ τυγχάνω ἀκηκοώς, οὐδεὶς φθόνος λέγειν (Pl. Phæd. 61; I am quite ready to --).
REM. 1. Besides the verbs which in general denote a being willing (a requirement or demand, ἀξιῶ), an ability (πέφυκα, am naturally qualified to, it is my nature to), a duty, habit, inclination (φιλῶ), disinclination (οὐ φθονῶ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς), fear (αἰσχύνομαι [1], εὐλαβοῦμαι), a beginning, lingering, forgetting; in some writers verbs, which in themselves have no such meaning, are occasionally used in a particular connexion with the infinitive; e.g. ξυμβαίνω τινὶ παραδιδόναι ἐμαυτόν (Thuc. 2, 4; agree with a person to surrender myself), πιστεύω παρακατατίθεσθαί τινι χρήματα ἢ υἱοὺς ἢ θυγατέρας (Xen. Mem. 4, 4, 17 = τολμῶ), &c. (Poetically: ἐνίκησε δεῦρο μολεῖν, Soph. Ant. 233, the opinion prevailed = ἔδοξεν. Μένει σε πυθέσθαι παιδὸς δύσφορον ἄταν, Soph. Ajax, 641, it awaits thee.) In particular, many phrases which govern the infinitive, are formed with a substantive denoting a state of mind, or circumstances in reference to an action, and by itself capable of taking an objective genitive, either with ἐστίν, γίγνεται (e.g. φόβος, ὄκνος ἐστὶ τοῖς Ἕλλησι στρατεύειν ἐπὶ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα, ἀνάγκη γίγνεταί μοι ἀπιέναι, or merely ἀνάγκη ἀπιέναι, οὐδεὶς κίνδυνός μοι πάσχειν τι), or with another verb (Δέδοικα, μὴ ἃ νῦν οὐ βουλόμεθα, ὕστερον εἰς ἀνάγκην ἔλθωμεν ποιεῖν, Dem. 1, 15. Ἀνάγκη τις μοι ἐκ τύχης παραβάλλει ἐπιμεληθῆναι τῆς πόλεως, Pl. Rep. 6, 499. Τῶν ζῴων τινὰ φύσιν ἔχει τιθασεύεσθαι, Pl. Pol. 264, = πέφυκεν. Ἐν ἀπόρῳ εἴχοντο οἱ Ἐπιδάμνιοι θέσθαι τὸ παρόν, Thuc. 1, 25. Τοῖς στρατιώταις ὁρμὴ ἐνέπεσεν ἐκτειχίσαι τὸ χωρίον, Thuc. 4, 4). Cf. Genitive of Infinitive, § 156, R. 1. Πολλοῦ, μικροῦ δέω ποιεῖν τι. Σμικροῦ τινος ἐνδεής εἰμι πάντ᾽ ἔχειν (Pl. Prot. 329). Βραχὺ ἀπολείπομεν διακόσιοι εἶναι (Thuc. 7, 70). Παρὰ μικρὸν ἦλθον ἀποθανεῖν (Isocr. Ægin. 22).
[1]: Αἰσχύνομαι θεοὺς Κῦρον προδοῦναι (Xen. An. 2, 3, 22; I am ashamed in the presence of the gods, to betray Cyrus).
REM. 2. Some verbs denoting a meditating and endeavouring (μηχανῶμαι, φροντίζω), are usually followed by ὅπως (§ 122, 123) or an interrogative sentence (εἴ πως, ὡς ἄν).
REM. 3. With some of these verbs and phrases ὥστε is now and then prefixed to the infin., the governing verb being conceived more by and for itself. Οἱ Κορίνθιοι εὐθὺς πρῶτοι ἐψηφίσαντο ὥστε πάσῃ προθυμίᾳ ἀμύνειν τοῖς Συρακουσίοις (Thuc. 6, 88; immediately made a decree, the object of which was --). Πάνυ μοι ἐμέλησεν ὥστε εἰδέναι, ὁπόσον οἱ πολέμιοι κατεῖχον χωρίον (Xen. Cyr. 6, 3, 19; I have taken much pains in the direction towards, i.e. in order to --). Εἰς ἀνάγκην καθέσταμεν ὥστε κινδυνεύειν (Isocr. Archid. 51). (On the insertion of the article, see § 154 b. Rem.)
§ 146 (390, 372)
The infinitive stands after the verbs which denote a working upon others in order to move them to an action (such as, to pray, persuade, instigate, seduce, accustom, command, permit, constrain, counsel, teach, &c.), or a forbidding, dissuading, hindering, to denote the action to which the influence refers; likewise after phrases which have the signification of such a verb: Οἱ νόμοι οὐκ εἴων ἄλλως ποιεῖν (οὐκ εἴων ἡμᾶς ἄλλως ποιεῖν). Ἐκέλευσα τὸν κήρυκα περιμεῖναί με. Δέομαι ὑμῶν συγγνώμην μοι ἔχειν. Παραινοῦμέν σοι πείθεσθαι τοῖς βελτίοσιν. Ἐπήρθην (felt myself impelled) πάλιν γράφειν περὶ ταύτης τῆς ὑποθέσεως (Isocr. Phil. 10). Εἷς τῶν στρατιωτῶν εἶπε (proposed) στρατηγοὺς ἑλέσθαι ἄλλους ὡς τάχιστα (Xen. An. 1, 3, 14). Οἱ Ἕλληνες ἐβόων ἀλλήλοις μὴ θεῖν δρόμῳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τάξει ἕπεσθαι (Xen. An. 1, 8, 19; called one to another not to --). Οἱ ἰατροὶ πάντες ἀπαγορεύουσι τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσι μὴ χρῆσθαι ἐλαίῳ (Pl. Prot. 334. Of μή, see Negations, § 210). Τί Φίλιππον κωλύσει βαδίζειν ὅποι βούλεται; (Dem. 1, 12.) -- Περδίκκας προςέφερε λόγους τοῖς ἐπὶ Θρὴκης Χαλκιδεῦσι ξυναποστῆναι (Thuc. 1, 57; made overtures to the Ch. --). Ψήφισμα εἶπεν ἐν ὑμῖν Ἀριστοφῶν ἑλέσθαι ζητητάς (Dem. 24, 11). Ἡ πόλις ἐν τῷ παρόντι τοῖς πονηροῖς ἐξουσίαν δίδωσι καὶ λέγειν καὶ ποιεῖν ὅ,τι ἂν βουληθῶσιν (Isocr. Antid. 164). Οὐκ ἐνδώσομεν πρόφασιν οὐδενὶ κακῷ γενέσθαι (Thuc. 2, 87).
REM. 1. Besides the verbs which in general have such a signification (among them λέγω, εἶπον, I tell a person to), some are more rarely, or in a special and derived signification, thus used, e.g. δίδωμι, ἀποδίδωμι, allow, ἐξάγω, seduce (ἐπεκλάσθην τῇ γνώμῃ τὰ ὅπλα παραδοῦναι, Thuc. 4, 37, let myself be swayed, was induced --), ἀγγέλλω τινὶ παρεῖναι (send a person word to be forthcoming, συγκαλέσας τοὺς στρατηγοὺς παρεῖναι, Thuc. 2, 10), τῷ ναυτικῷ περιαγγέλλω πλεῖν (send round orders to the fleet to sail, Thuc. 2, 80), παιδεύω τινὰ στρατηγεῖν (to be commander), ἐναντιοῦμαί τινι μὴ ποιεῖν τι (oppose a person's doing something), &c. On phrases with a substantive in itself capable of governing a genitive, see Genitive of Infinitive, § 156, R. 1. On the verbs denoting to hold back from, &c., see § 156, R. 3.
REM. 2. Some of these verbs, especially those denoting a giving orders (παραγγέλλω, διακελεύομαι), or a prohibition (ἀπαγορεύω), also take after them a sentence with ὅπως (ὅπως μή): Διακελεύονται τῷ νέῳ, ὅπως, ἐπειδὰν ἀνὴρ γένηται τιμωρήσεται τοὺς ἀδικήσαντας (Pl. Rep. 8, 549). Some verbs denoting instance (e.g. πείθω, δέομαι) occasionally (Thucyd.) take the infinitive with ὥστε: Οἱ Ἀμπρακιῶται ἐλθόντες πρὸς Εὐρύλοχον πείθουσιν ὥστε μετὰ σφῶν Ἄργει τῷ Ἀμφιλοχικῷ ἐπιχειρῆσαι (Thuc. 3, 102). Ἀφίκετο ἐπιστολὴ πρὸς Ἀστύοχον ἐκ Λακεδαίμονος ὥστε ἀποκτεῖναι Ἀλκιβιάδην (Thuc. 8, 35; a letter to, or, that he should --).
§ 147
The infinitive stands with verbs denoting an opinion or utterance (v. sentiendi et declarandi), when this concerns an action or state of the same subject (φημὶ εἶναι, ὑπισχνοῦμαι ἐλεύσεσθαι), and likewise with verbs denoting to effect (v. faciendi), when the thing effected is an action of the same subject (Γύγης διεπράξατο τῶν ἀγγέλων γενέσθαι τῶν παρὰ βασιλέα, Pl. Rep. 2, 360). See the more particular rules under Accusative with Infinitive, § 160 and 164.
§ 148 (411, R. 2)
The infinitive is added in different ways to some verbs to denote the intent of the action:
a) To the verbs signifying to elect or appoint a person to do or be something; sometimes even to those which denote to bring or convey to a place (send, leave behind), or (more rarely), give, in order to be or to do something, so that the object-accusative (in the passive the subject-nominative) of the leading verb is the subject of the infinitive. (But with the latter verbs, a participle as apposition is more usual, which may also be used with the former sort; see Participles.) Οἱ πρόγονοι τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλὴν ἐπέστησαν ἐπιμελεῖσθαι τῆς εὐκοσμίας (Isocr. Areop. 37). Δῆλον, ὅτι κυβερνᾶν κατασταθεὶς ὁ μὴ ἐπιστάμενος ἀπολέσειεν ἂν οὓς ἥκιστα βούλοιτο (Xen. Mem. 1, 7, 3). Καὶ γυναῖκες ἄρα αἱ τοιαῦται τοῖς τοιούτοις ἀνδράσιν ἐκλεκτέαι συνοικεῖν (Pl. Rep. 5, 456 = αἵτινες συνοικήσουσιν). Ξενοφῶν τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ στρατεύματος κατέλιπε φυλάττειν τὸ στρατόπεδον (Xen. An. 5, 2, 1). Οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι δέκα τῶν νεῶν προὔπεμψαν ἐς τὸν μέγαν λιμένα (τῶν Συρακουσίων) πλεῦσαί τε καὶ κατασκέψασθαι, εἴ τι ναυτικόν ἐστι καθειλκυσμένον (Thuc. 6, 50. More usually πλευσομένας καὶ κατασκεψομένας). Βοιωτοὶ τοὺς ἱππέας παρείχοντο τοῖς Πελοποννησίοις ξυστρατεύειν (Thuc. 2, 12. Usually ξυστρατεύσοντας).
REM. In the poets also with εἶμι, ἥκω, βαίνω, and with εἰμί (am here to --): Μανθάνειν ἥκομεν ξένοι πρὸς ἀστῶν (Soph. Œd. C. 12). Ποῦ δῆτ᾽ ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες; (Eur. Orest. 1473.)
b) To the verbs which denote to give (sacrifice, offer), and take, in order to do something with or to the object given, &c., so that the object of the governing verb is also the object of the infinitive: Παρέχω ἐμαυτὸν τέμνειν καὶ καίειν (Pl. Gorg. 480). Οἱ Φλιάσιοι τὴν πόλιν φυλάττειν τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίοις παρέδωκαν (Xen. Hell. 4, 4, 15). Ὅσοι περιῆσαν τῶν Θηβαίων, παρέδοσαν σφᾶς αὐτοὺς τοῖς Πλαταιεῦσι χρήσασθαι ὅ,τι ἂν βούλωνται (Thuc. 2, 4; to do with them as they pleased). Εἰ βουλοίμεθά τῳ ἐπιτρέψαι παῖδας παιδεῦσαι, ἆρ᾽ ἀξιόπιστον εἰς ταῦτα ἡγησαίμεθ᾽ ἂν τὸν ἀκρατῆ; (Xen. Mem. 1, 5, 2.) Ὅταν οἱ τύραννοι τοὺς κοσμίους καὶ δικαίους διὰ τὸν φόβον ὑπεξαιρῶνται, τίνες ἄλλοι αὐτοῖς καταλείπονται χρῆσθαι (for use) ἀλλ᾽ ἢ οἱ ἄδικοι καὶ ἀκρατεῖς; (Xen. Hier. 5, 2.) (Αἰτῶ πιεῖν, ask to drink; αἱ γυναῖκες πιεῖν ἔφερον τοῖς ἀνδράσιν, Xen. Hell. 7, 2, 9.)
REM. 1. This infinitive rarely stands in the passive, so that the object of the governing verb is taken as the subject of the infinitive: Μηδείς σε πείσῃ τῷ φαρμάκῳ τούτῳ τὴν αὑτοῦ κεφαλὴν θεραπεύειν, ὃς ἂν μὴ τὴν ψυχὴν πρῶτον παράσχῃ τῇ ἐπῳδῇ ὑπὸ σοῦ θεραπευθῆναι (Pl. Charm. 157).
REM. 2. Poetical: Στέφεα δίδοτε, φέρετε· πλόκαμος ὅδε καταστέφειν (Eur. Iph. Aul. 1478, viz. ἐστίν: here is my hair to crown, to be crowned).
REM. 3. Now and then an infinitive stands with the verbs give, have, am here, in the sense to do something with (as instrument, means), do something on, or in, &c.: Οἱ στρατιῶται οὐκ εἶχον ἀργύριον ἐπισιτίζεσθαι (Xen. An. 7, 1, 7). Ἀριστάρχῳ ἔδοτε ἡμέραν ἀπολογήσασθαι (Xen. Hell. 1, 7, 28). Ἐκεῖ σκιά τ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ πόα καθίζεσθαι ἤ, ἐὰν βουλώμεθα, κατακλιθῆναι (Pl. Phæd. 229). Especially the infinitive of an intransitive verb compounded with ἐν is often thus used, to denote that something is given up (is there, &c.) in order that something may be done thereon (as object), therein (as place): Οὐ πάνυ δέδοκται ἐμαυτόν σοι ἐμμελετᾶν παρέχειν (Pl. Phæd. 228). Τὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἀτυχήματα Αἰσχίνῃ ἐνευδοκιμεῖν ἀπέκειτο (Dem. 18, 198).
§ 149
The infinitive stands with adjectives denoting ability, cleverness, and capacity, or forwardness and readiness for something, excellence in something, or the contrary, and with ἄξιος and ἀνάξιος, to define the adjective more nearly (as with the verbs enumerated § 145, so that the subject of the adjective is also that of the infinitive): Θεμιστοκλῆς ἱκανώτατος ἦν εἰπεῖν καὶ γνῶναι καὶ πρᾶξαι (Lys. 2, 48). Τούτου μεῖζον ἀγαθὸν σωφροσύνη οὐ δυνατὴ πορίσαι ἀνθρώπῳ (Pl. Phæd. 256). Ἆρα δυνατὴ αὕτη ἡ πολιτεία γενέσθαι; (Pl. Rep. 5, 471.) Ὁ δῆμος τὸν Εὐφραῖον ἐπιτήδειον εἶναι ταῦτα παθεῖν ἔφη (Dem. 9, 61; was fit to be so treated, i.e. deserved --). Ταπεινὴ ὑμῶν ἡ διάνοια ἐγκαρτερεῖν, ἃ ἔγνωτε (Thuc. 2, 61). Μαλακὸς καρτερεῖν πρὸς ἡδονάς τε καὶ λύπας (Pl. Rep. 8, 556). Τὴν βουλὴν κυρίαν ἐποίησαν τῆς εὐταξίας ἐπιμελεῖσθαι (Isocr. Areop. 39). -- Ἑτοῖμοι ἦσαν πάντα κίνδυνον ὑπομένειν. Οὐ πρόθυμός με εἶ διδάξαι (Pl. Euthyph. 14). -- Ἀνὴρ δεινὸς λέγειν. Αἱ εὐπραξίαι δειναὶ συγκρύψαι τὰ τοιαῦτα ὀνείδη (Dem. 2, 20). Πιθανώτατος λέγειν (Pl. Gorg. 479). -- Ἄξιός εἰμι πληγὰς λαβεῖν (Arist. Eccl. 324). Ἡ πόλις ἀξία ἐστὶ θαυμάζεσθαι (Thuc. 2, 40). Ἀνάξιος τιμᾶσθαι.
REM. With the adjectives which denote, not absolutely a capacity but a quality which comes into consideration on occasion of the action, we have also ὥστε, so as to: e.g. Πότερα παῖδές εἰσι φρονιμώτεροι ὥστε μαθεῖν τὰ φραζόμενα καὶ δεικνύμενα ἢ ἄνδρες; (Xen. Cyr. 4, 3, 11.) Ὀλίγοι ἐσμὲν ἀμύνειν (Thuc. 1, 50), and ὀλίγοι ἐσμὲν ὥστε ἐγκρατεῖς εἶναι τῶν ἀγαθῶν (Xen. Cyr. 4, 5, 15). Also sometimes ἱκανός is followed by ὥστε. Ἄξιος has also an active infinitive in the same sense as the passive, by § 150 a: Ἄξιος θαυμάσαι (Thuc. 1, 138). (Ἀνάξια ἡ βουλὴ πεποίηκε τοῦ στεφανωθῆναι, Dem. 22, 36, by § 156.)
§ 150 (412)
a) An infinitive (active in form or signification) stands with adjectives, to denote that the quality is ascribed to its subject in reference to a certain action conceived as performed upon (and taking place, or going on in) the subject (so that the subject of the adjective is conceived as the object of the infinitive, or as the dative with those verbs which govern this case): Χρῆσθαι τοῖς ῥᾴστοις ἐντυγχάνειν (Xen. Mem. 1, 6, 9; what is easiest to meet with). Ἀνὴρ χαλεπὸς συζῆν (Pl. Pol. 302). Λόγοι ἐμοὶ μὲν ἀναγκαιότατοι προειπεῖν, ὑμῖν δὲ χρησιμώτατοι ἀκοῦσαι (Dem. 21, 24). Καλὸς (αἰσχρὸς) ὁρᾶν, ἰδεῖν (to behold). Λόγος δυνατὸς κατανοῆσαι (Pl. Phæd. 90). Οἰκία ἡδίστη ἐνδιαιτᾶσθαι (Xen. Mem. 3, 3, 8; to live in. So very often the infinitive of verbs compounded with ἐν).
REM. 1. A passive infinitive is rarely used here (so that the subject of the adj. would also be taken as the subject of the infinitive): Κύνες ἄμορφοι καὶ αἰσχραὶ ὁρᾶσθαι (Xen. Cyneg. 3, 3).
REM. 2. In the same manner an infinitive (especially ἀκούειν, ἀκοῦσαι, ὁρᾶν, ἰδεῖν) is sometimes added to intransitive verbs and phrases denoting a quality: Ἀκοῦσαι οὑτωσὶ παγκάλως ἔχει τὸ ψήφισμα (Dem. 19, 47). Οὐδὲν οὗτοι διαφέρουσιν ἰδεῖν χαλκέως φαλακροῦ καὶ σμικροῦ (Pl. Rep. 6, 495). (Πράγματα οἱ ἵπποι παρέξουσιν ἐπιμέλεσθαι, Xen. Cyr. 4, 5, 46, will give trouble, i.e. will be troublesome, to attend to. Ἡ στρατιά, πολλὴ οὖσα, οὐ πάσης ἔσται πόλεως ὑποδέξασθαι, not one for every city to receive. Thuc. 6, 22.)
b) Sometimes the infinitive with the adjective denotes a reference to the action of a different subject, which action is conceived as going on, not upon the subject of the adj. as its object, but in, with, or at the same (as place, instrument, material, &c.), especially with adjectives denoting qualified, adapted, or sufficient, or when the degree of the quality is mentioned in reference to the action: Ὁ χρόνος βραχὺς ἀξίως διηγήσασθαι τὰ πραχθέντα (Pl. Menex. 239). Ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ εἰς ἄστυ ἐπιτηδεία πορευομένοις καὶ λέγειν καὶ ἀκούειν (Pl. Conv. 173). Πότερον λούσασθαι ψυχρότερον τὸ παρὰ σοὶ ὕδωρ ἢ τὸ ἐν Ἀμφιαράου; (Xen. Mem. 3, 13, 3; to bathe in [1].) (Also: Ψυχρὸν τὸ ὕδωρ ὥστε λούσασθαι, Xen. ibid.) (Ὁ αὐτὸς χρόνος ἀρκεῖ ἑνί τε μέρει καὶ πᾶσι πεποιῆσθαι τὰ ἐπιτήδεια, Xen. Cyr. 8, 5, 5, for the provisions to be prepared.)
[1]: But ibid.: πότερον τὸ παρὰ σοὶ ὕδωρ θερμότερον πιεῖν ἢ τὸ ἐν Ἀσκληπίου; (to drink; by a.)
c) After a comparative with ἤ, the infinitive stands in the sense too (great, &c.) to. - The infinitive may not only be referred, either actively or passively, to the subject of the adjective (as in English too weak to go, i.e. than that he could go; too heavy to bear, i.e. than that it could be borne), but also (by b) so that the subject of the adj. is neither subject nor direct object of the infinitive: Ἡ ἀνθρωπίνη φύσις ἀσθενεστέρα ἐστὶν ἢ λαβεῖν τέχνην ὧν ἂν ᾖ ἄπειρος (Pl. Theæt. 149). Τὸ νόσημα μεῖζον ἢ φέρειν (Soph. Œd. R. 1293). The infinitive may take ὥστε: Οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι ᾔσθοντο Ἔκδικον ἐλάττω δύναμιν ἔχοντα ἢ ὥστε τοὺς φίλους ὠφελεῖν (Xen. Hell. 4, 8, 23). Φοβοῦμαι, μή τι μεῖζον ἢ ὥστε φέρειν δύνασθαι κακὸν τῇ πόλει συμβῇ (Xen. Mem. 3, 5, 17). (Also ὡς, § 166 c. R. 2.)
§ 151
An active infinitive with ὡς (more strongly ὥς γε) is prefixed to an infinitive for limitation, to denote the reference to a certain manner of treating the thing, or a certain intention; in general, a certain measure in relation to which the predicate is spoken (if we confine ourselves to this --, if the question be about this, &c.). It is not required, that the infinitive itself should have the given subject as its subj. or obj., but this may happen: Οἱ πολέμιοι ἄοπλοί εἰσιν ὡς ἐκ χειρὸς μάχεσθαι (Xen. Cyr. 6, 4, 16). Οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀτοπώτατοί τινές εἰσιν, ὥς γ᾽ ἐν φιλοσόφοις τιθέναι (Pl. Rep. 5, 475; when one speaks of reckoning them among the philosophers). Εὖ λέγει ὁ ἀνὴρ ὥς γε οὑτωσὶ ἀκοῦσαι (Pl. Euthyph. 3, to listen to in this way). Ταῦτ᾽ οὖν, ὡς ὑπομνῆσαι, νῦν ἱκανῶς εἴρηται (Dem. 6, 37). (Ὡς ἐπὶ πᾶν εἰπεῖν, Pl. Euthyd. 279, to speak generally, ὡς πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰρῆσθαι, Pl. Rep. 10, 595, to be spoken merely to you, i.e. speaking between ourselves; ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, also simply ὡς εἰπεῖν, so to say, ὡς ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν, ὡς συνελόντι εἰπεῖν, cf. § 38 c, to speak it briefly.) Οὐδ᾽ ἐγὼ ψέγω τούτους τοὺς ἄνδρας, ὥς γε διακόνους εἶναι πόλεως (Pl. Gorg. 517, when the question relates to their being servants of a state; considered as servants of --).
REM. 1. With ἀκούειν and especially εἰπεῖν in certain current expressions ὡς may be dropt, more rarely with other infinitives: Ἐς τὸ ἀκριβὲς εἰπεῖν (ἀκριβῶς εἰπεῖν), οὐδὲ ἀδίκως κατεστρεψάμεθα τοὺς Ἴωνας (Thuc. 6, 82; strictly speaking). (Σὺν θεῷ εἰπεῖν, in God's name; σχεδὸν εἰπεῖν, so to say, almost.) (Cf. § 168 b.)
REM. 2. The infinitive εἶναι stands in a restrictive sense with the adj. ἑκών in negative sentences (to be willing, i.e. at least willingly), rarely in affirmative sentences (= and that willingly): Οὐκ ᾤμην ὑπὸ σοῦ ἑκόντος εἶναι ἐξαπατηθήσεσθαι (Pl. Gorg. 499). In the same manner εἶναι stands with certain constructions of a preposition with a case, or of the article with an adverb, which are used in a limiting and restrictive sense; thus, κατὰ δύναμιν (εἰς δύναμιν) εἶναι, according to one's ability, τὸ κατὰ τοῦτον εἶναι, as far as concerns him, as far as depends on him, τὸ ἐπ᾽ ἐκείνοις εἶναι, so far as is in their power, τὸ νῦν εἶναι, τὸ τήμερον εἶναι, for to-day. (Ὠμόσαμεν εὖ ποιεῖν ἀλλήλους ἐκ τοῦ ἐπιλοίπου χρόνου, κατὰ δύναμιν εἶναι, καὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ, Isæ. 2, 32.)