Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges
J. B. Greenough, G. L. Kittredge, A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, Ed.

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[*] 450. Prohibition is regularly expressed in classic prose (1) by nōlī with the Infinitive, (2) by cavē with the Present Subjunctive, or (3) by nē with the Perfect Subjunctive:—¹

1. (1) “ nōlī putāre” (Lig. 33) , do not suppose (be unwilling to suppose).
2. “ nōlī impudēns esse ” (Fam. 12.30.1) , don't be shameless.
3. “ nōlīte cōgere sociōs ” (Verr. 2.1.82) , do not compel the allies.
4. (2) cavē “putēs” (Att. 7.20) , don't suppose (take care lest you suppose).
5. “ cavē īgnōscās ” (Lig. 14) , do not pardon.
6. “ cavē festīnēs ” (Fam. 16.12.6) , do not be in haste.
7. (3) “ nē necesse habueris” (Att. 16.2.5) , do not regard it as necessary.
8. “ nē sīs admīrātus ” (Fam. 7.18.3) , do not be surprised.
9. “hōc facitō; hōc nē fēceris ” (Div. 2.127) , thou shalt do this, thou shalt not do that.
10. “ nē Apellae quidem dīxeris ” (Fam. 7.25.2) , do not tell Apella even.
11. “ nē vōs quidem mortem timueritis ” (Tusc. 1.98) , nor must you fear death.

All three of these constructions are well established in classic prose. The first, which is the most ceremonious, occurs oftenest; the third, though not discourteous, is usually less formal and more peremptory than the others.

[*] Note 1.--Instead of nōlī the poets sometimes use other imperatives of similar meaning (cf. § 457. a):—

1. “ parce piās scelerāre manūs ” (Aen. 3.42) , forbear to defile your pious hands.
cētera mitte loquī; (Hor. Epod. 13.7), forbear to say the rest.
2. “ fuge quaerere ” (Hor. Od. 1.9.13) , do not inquire.

[*] Note 2.-- Cavē nē is sometimes used in prohibitions; also vidē nē and (colloquially) fac nē : as,fac nē quid aliud cūrēs (Fam. 16.11), see that you attend to nothing else.

[*] Note 3.--The present subjunctive with nē and the perfect with cavē are found in old writers; nē with the present is common in poetry at all periods:—

1. “ nē exspectētis ” (Pl. Ps. 1234) , do not wait.
2. “ nē metuās ” (Mart. Ep. 1.70.13) , do not fear.
3. “ cave quicquam responderis ” (Pl. Am. 608) , do not make any reply.

[*] Note 4.--Other negatives sometimes take the place of nē :—

1. “ nihil īgnōveris ” (Mur. 65) , grant no pardon (pardon nothing).
2. “ nec mihi illud dīxeris ” (Fin. 1.25) , and do not say this to me.

[*] Note 5.--The regular connective, and do not, is nēve .

[*] a. The Present Imperative with nē is used in prohibitions by early writers and the poets:—

1. “nē timē ” (Pl. Curc. 520) , don't be afraid.
nimium nē crēde colōrī; (Ecl. 2.17), trust not too much to complexion.
2. “equō nē crēdite ” (Aen. 2.48) , trust not the horse.

[*] b. The Future Imperative with nē is used in prohibitions in laws and formal precepts (see § 449. 2).

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INFINITIVE MOOD