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2627. An optative occasioned by indirect discourse may stand after a primary tense when it is implied that the thought quoted has been expressed in the past.

““λέγει λόγος ὅτι Νεοπτόλεμος Νέστορα ἔροιτοthe story goes that Neoptolemus asked NestorP. Hipp. M. 286b. This may be expressed by λέγεται εἰπεῖν ὅτι. Cp. ““λέγεται εἰπεῖν ὅτι βούλοιτοit is reported that he said that he wishedX. C. 1.4.25.

a. The historical present is a secondary tense: ““οἱ δὲ πεμφθέντες λέγουσι Κύ_ρῳ ὅτι μι_σοῖεν τοὺς Ἀσσυρίουςand those who had been sent told Cyrus that they hated the AssyriansX. C. 4.2.4.

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  • Cross-references to this page (1):
    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 3.2.2
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