[*] 90. When the aorist subjunctive depends on ἐπειδάν (or ἐπάν, ἐπήν), after that, it is referred by this meaning of the particle to time preceding the action of the leading verb, so that ἐπειδὰν τοῦτο ἴδω, ἥξω means after I (shall) have seen this, I will come; and ἐπειδὰν τοῦτο ἰδω, ἀπέρχομαι, after I have seen this, I (always) depart. In such cases it may be translated by our future perfect when the leading verb is future, and by our perfect when the leading verb denotes a general truth and is translated by the present. As the subjunctive here can never depend upon a verb of simply present time, it can never refer to time absolutely past; and we use the perfect indicative in translating such an aorist after a verb expressing a general truth, merely because we use the present in translating the leading verb, although this is properly not present but general in its time. In like manner, after ἕως, πρίν, and other particles signifying until, before that, and even after the relative pronoun or ἐάν, the aorist subjunctive may be translated by our future perfect or perfect, when the context shows that it refers to time preceding that of the leading verb. E.g.
- “Χρὴ δὲ, ὅταν μὲν τιθῆσθε τοὺς νόμους, ὁποῖοί τινές εἰσι σκοπεῖν, ἐπειδὰν δὲ θῆσθε, φυλάττειν καὶ χρῆσθαι,” “while you are enacting laws, you must look to see of what kind they are; but after you have enacted them, you must guard and use them.” DEM. xxi. 34. (Here the present τιθῆσθε with ὅταν, while, refers to an action continuing through the time of the leading verb; but θῆσθε with ἐπειδάν, after that, refers to time past relatively to the leading verb.)
- “Ταῦτα, ἐπειδὰν περὶ τοῦ γένους εἴπω, τότε, ἂν βούλησθε ἀκούειν, ἐρῶ,” “when I shall have spoken about my birth, then, if you desire to hear, I will speak of these things.” DEM. lvii. 16 . (Here the aorist εἴπω, though absolutely future, denotes time past with reference to ἐρῶ.)
- “Ἐπειδὰν διαπράξωμαι ἃ δέομαι, ἥξω,” “when I shall have accomplished what I desire, I will come.” XEN. An. ii. 3, 29.
- “Ἐπειδὰν δὲ κρύψωσι γῇ, ἀνὴρ ᾑρημένος ὑπὸ τῆς πόλεως λέγει ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἔπαινον τὸν πρέποντα,” “when they have covered them with earth, etc.” THUC. ii. 34.
- “Ἕως ἂν σῴζηται τὸ σκάφος, τότε χρὴ προθύμους εἶναι: ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἡ θάλαττα ὑπέρσχῃ, μάταιος ἡ σπουδή,” “as long as the vessel remains in safety (present); but the moment that the sea has overwhelmed it (aorist).” DEM. ix. 69.
- “Ἕως ἂν ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχ᾽ ἐλπίδα,” “until you have learnt fully, have hope.” SOPH. OT 834.
- “Μία δὲ κλίνη κενὴ φέρεται τῶν ἀφανῶν, οἳ ἂν μὴ εὑρεθῶσιν ἐς ἀναίρεσιν,” “and one bier is always carried empty, in honour of the missing, whose bodies are not (have not been) found.” THUC. ii. 34.
- “Διανοεῖται, ἃ ἂν ἄλλοι τῇ ἀρετῇ καταπράξωσι, τούτων ἰσομοιρεῖν;” “i.e. he thinks of having an equal share in those things which others by their valour have acquired?” XEN. Cyr. ii. 3, 5
- “Πάνθ᾽ ὅσ᾽ ἂν ἐκ πολέμου γιγνομένης εἰρήνης προεθῇ, ταῦτα τοῖς ἀμελήσασιν ἀπόλλυται,” “all things which are (or have been)abandoned when peace is made are always lost to those who abandoned them.” DEM. xix. 151.
- “Ἢν δ᾽ ἄρα καί του πείρᾳ σφαλῶσιν, ἀντελπίσαντες ἄλλα ἐπλήρωσαν τὴν χρείαν,” “if they have been disappointed in anything, they always supply the deficiency, etc. （154 and 171).” THUC. i. 70.
- “Οὐχὶ παύσομαι, πρὶν ἄν σε τῶν σῶν κύριον στήσω τέκνων,” “I will not cease before I have (shall have) made you master of your children.” SOPH. OC 1040.
- “Μὴ στέναζε πρὶν μάθῃς,” “do not groan until you have heard.” SOPH. Ph. 917.
