[*] 2775.
ἀλλά, a strongly adversative conjunction (stronger than
δέ) connects sentences and clauses, and corresponds pretty closely to
but; at times
ἀλλά need not or cannot be translated (2781 b). In form (but with changed accent)
ἀλλά was originally the same wor<*> as the accusative neuter plural
ἄλλα other things used adverbially =
on the other hand.
ἀλλά marks opposition, contrast, protest, dif<*> ference, objection, or limitation; and is thus used both where one notion entirely excludes another and where two notions are no<*> mutually exclusive.
ἀλλά is often freely repeated in successive clauses.
[*] 2776.
The Antecedent Statement is Negative.—In its simplest use
ἀλλ<*> introduces a positive statement after a negative clause. Thus,
οὐκ ἀνδρὸς ὅρκο<*> πίστις, ἀλλ᾽ ὅρκων ἀνήρ his oath is not the warrant of a man, but the man is war rant of his oath A. fr. 394,
οὐ γὰρ κραυγῇ ἀλλὰ σι_γῇ ὡς ἀνυστὸν . . . προσῇσαν fo<*> they came on, not with shouts, but with as little noise as possible X. A. 1.8.11.
a. After a question implying a negative answer or a question to be refute<*>
ἀλλά may have the force of (
nay)
rather,
on the contrary. Thus,
τί δεῖ σε ἰένα . . .; ἀλλὰ ἄλλους πέμψον what's the need of your going? Nay rather send oth<*> ers X. A. 4.6.19. Here
ἀλλ᾽ ου᾽ (
μή) has the force of
and not rather (2781 b) as
τίδεῖ ἐμβαλεῖν λόγον περὶ τούτου, ἀλλ᾽ οὐχὶ προειπεῖν ὅτι οὕτω ποιήσεις;
why is i<*> necessary to propose a discussion about this and not rather announce that you will have it so? X. C. 2.2.19.
[*] 2777. After a negative clause, or a question implying a negative answer
ἀλλά, or more commonly the colloquial
ἀλλ᾽ ἤ, may mean
except, the combination being equivalent either to
ἀλλά or to
ἤ. In the preceding clause a form of
ἄλλο or
ἕτερος is often expressed. Thus, ““
ἔπαισε . . . νιν οὔτις ἀλλ᾽ ἐγώ”
no one smote him except myself”
S. O. T. 1331, ““
οὐδὲν ἐθέλοντες ἐπαινεῖν ἀλλ᾽ ἢ τὸν πλοῦτον”
wishing to praise nothing except wealth”
P. R. 330c (here
ἀλλ᾽ ἤ is detached from
οὐδέν)
τίνα ἄλλον ἔχουσι λόγον βοηθοῦντες ἐμοὶ ἀλλ᾽ ἢ τὸν ὀρθόν κτλ.;
what other reason<*> have they for supporting me except the true reason, etc.?
P. A. 34b.
a. Distinguish the use of
ἀλλ᾽ ἤ except (=
εἰ μή) in
τὸ γοῦν σημεῖον ἕτερον φαί νεται, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ οὐ καθορῶ the device at any rate appears different, unless I can't se<*> Ar. Eq. 953.
[*] 2778.
οὐδὲν ἀλλ᾽ ἤ nothing but is also used elliptically, apparently by a<*> original suppression of a form of
ποιῶ or
γίγνομαι; in effect, however, the phras<*> has acquired a purely adverbial sense (
merely). Thus,
διεφθάρμεθα . . . ὑπ᾽ ἀνδρῶ οὐδὲν ἀλλ᾽ ἢ φενα_κίζειν δυναμένων we have been ruined by men who are able (to do
nothing except deceive (i.e.
able merely to deceive)
I. 8.36.
a. With the above use compare
οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἤ nothing else than, used without, and with, ellipse; as
οἱ μύ_ριοι ἱππεῖς οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ μύ_ριοί εἰσιν ἄνθρωποι your ten thousand horse are nothing more (
else)
than ten thousand men X. A. 3.2.18,
οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ πόλιν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀπόλειπων ἕκαστος doing
nothing else than each abandoning his own city T. 2.16. So also
οὐδὲν ἄλλο . . . ἤ D. 8.27. Cp.
ἄλλο οὐδὲν ἤ, as in
ἄλλο οὐδὲν ἢ ἐκ γῆς ἐναυμάχουν they did
nothing else than conduct ( =
they practically conducted)
a sea-fight from the land T. 4.14. Cp.
946,
2652.
[*] 2779. The origin of
ἀλλ᾽ ἤ is disputed, some scholars regarding
ἀλλ᾽ as
ἀλλά (originally
ἄλλα,
2775), while others derive
ἀλλ᾽ directly from
ἄλλο, which is thought to have lost its force and consequently its accent. In some passages the Mss. do not distinguish between
ἀλλ᾽ and
ἄλλ᾽; and
ἀλλ᾽ ἤ and
ἄλλο ἤ differ only slightly in meaning. In some of the above cases
ἀλλ᾽ has an adjectival force, in some it hovers between an adjective and a conjunction, and in others it clearly has become a conjunction.
[*] 2780. After a comparative (
μᾶλλον, τὸ πλέον) in a negative clause
ἀλλά has the force of
as. Thus,
καὶ ἔστιν ὁ πόλεμος οὐχ ὅπλων τὸ πλέον ἀλλὰ δαπάνης and war is not so much (lit.
more)
a matter of arms as (
but rather)
of money T. 1.83. Here the clause with
ἀλλά is more emphatic than if
ἤ had been used. Cp. “there needed no more but to advance one step”: Steele.
[*] 2781.
The Antecedent Statement is Affirmative.—
ἀλλά is sometimes found after an affirmative statement.
a. The antecedent clause often has a concessive force, and frequently takes
μέν (
2900). Thus, ““
τὰ μὲν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ καλῶς ἔχειν: ἀλλὰ τὰ πλάγια λυ_πεὶ με”
the part where we are seems to me to be well disposed, but the wings cause me uneasiness”
X. C. 7.1.16.
b. ἀλλ᾽ ου᾽ (
μή) after an affirmative statement often has the force of
and not,
and not rather, instead of (sometimes with a touch of irony). Thus,
ἐκεῖθεν ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐνθένδε ἡρπάσθη she was carried off from there and not (or simply
not)
from here P. Phae. 229d,
ἐμοὶ ὀργίζονται ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ αὑτοῖς they are angry with me instead of (or
and not rather with)
themselves P. A. 23c. In such cases
καὶ οὐ (
μή) would not repudiate the opposition.
[*] 2782.
ἀλλά in Apodosis.—After a concession or a condition expressed or implied, the apodosis may be emphatically introduced by
ἀλλά, ἀλλὰ . . . γε, ἀλλ᾽ οὖν γε still,
yet,
at least. Thus,
εἰ σῶμα δοῦλον, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ νοῦς ἐλεύθερος if the body is enslaved, the mind at least is free A. fr. 854,
εἰ δ᾽ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις ἡττῴμεθα, ἀλλὰ τό γέ τοι πῦρ κρεῖττον καρποῦ ἐστιν but if we should be baffled in all these points,
still,
as they say, fire is stronger than the fruit of the field
X. A. 2.5.19. So also in clauses other than conditional; as
ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ . . . πατέρα τόνδ᾽ ἐμὸν οὐκ ἀνέτλα_τ᾽, . . . ἀλλ᾽ ἐμὲ . . . οἰκτί_ρατε but since ye did not bear with my father,
pity me at least S. O. C. 241.
[*] 2783.
ἀλλά attached to Single Words.—
ἀλλά, attached to a single word in an adverbial sense, may stand in the interior of the sentence (not in Hom.). Thus,
ἀλλὰ νῦν now at least, as in
τί δῆτ᾽ ἂν ἀλλὰ νῦν σ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ὠφελοῖμ᾽ ἐγώ,
how pray,
can I serve thee even now? S. Ant. 552. So with
γέ, as ““
ἐὰ_ν οὖν ἀλλὰ νῦν γ᾽ ἔτι . . . ἐθελήσητε”
if therefore you still desire even now”
D. 3.33 (and often in D.). Here
ἀλλὰ νῦν implies
εἰ μὴ πρότερον. ἀλλά sometimes apparently implies
εἰ μή τι ἄλλο or
εἰ μὴ ἄλλοις, etc., as
λέγ᾽ ἀλλὰ τοῦτο say this at least (
say but this)
S. El. 415.
[*] 2784.
ἀλλά opposing Whole Sentences.—
ἀλλά well,
well but, nay but, however is often used, especially at the beginning of a speech, in opposition either to something said (or supposed to be meant) by another, or to a latent feeling in the mind of the writer or speaker himself. Thus,
ἀλλὰ πρῶτον μὲν μνησθήσομαι . . . ὃ τελευταῖον κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ εἶπε well,
I will first allude to the charge against me which he mentioned last X. H. 2.3.35,
ἀλλ᾽ ὤφελε μὲν Κῦρος ζῆν: ἐπεὶ δὲ τετελεύτηκεν κτλ.
well,
I would that Cyrus were alive; but since he is dead, etc.
X. A. 2.1.4. Often of remonstrance or protest, as
ἀλλ᾽ ἀμήχανον nay,
it is impossible E. El. 529.
ἀλλά is also especially common when a previous train of thought or remark is impatiently interrupted, as
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν τί δεῖ λέγειν;
but what is the need of recounting this? S. Ph. 11. Similarly in
a. Replies (often in quick, abrupt, or decisive answers):
ἤρετο ὅ τι εἴη τὸ σύνθημα: ὁ δ᾽ ἀπεκρἱ_νατο: Ζεὺς σωτὴρ καὶ νἱ_κη: ὁ δὲ Κῦρος ἀκούσα_ς Ἀλλὰ δέχομαί τε, ἔφη, καὶ τοῦτο ἔστω he asked what the watchword was; and he replied: “
Zeus the saviour and Victory;”
and Cyrus,
on hearing this, said, “
Well,
I accept it and so let it be”
X. A. 1.8.17.
b. Assent, with an adversative sense implied (cp.
oh,
well):
ἀλλ᾽ ει᾽ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν well,
if it pleases thee, let us be going S. Ph. 645.
c. Appeals, exhortations, proposals, and commands: ““
ἀλλ᾽ ἴωμεν”
but let us go”
P. Pr. 311a,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐμοὶ πείθου καὶ μὴ ἄλλως ποίει nay,
take my advice and don't refuse P. Cr. 45a. The tone here is often impatient.
d. Wishes and imprecations:
ἀλλ᾽ εὐτυχοίης well,
my blessings on thee! S. O. T. 1478.
e. Questions, to mark surprise:
πῶς εἶπας; ἀλλ᾽ ἦ καὶ σοφὸς λέληθας ὤν;
what dost thou mean? can it really be that thou art subtle too and without my knowing it? E. Alc. 58.
[*] 2785.
ἀλλά is often used when a speaker introduces a supposed objection (either in his own name or in that of his opponent), and immediately answers it; as
ἀλλὰ νὴ τὸν Δία ἐκεῖν᾽ ἂν ἴσως εἴποι πρὸς ταῦτα κτλ.
but,
by Zeus,
he might perhaps say in reply to this, etc.
D. 20.3.
ἀλλά may here put the supposed objection and also give the answer. Thus,
τί γὰρ καὶ βουλόμενοι μετεπέμπεσθ᾽ ἂν αὐτοὺς ἐν τούτῳ τῷ καιρῷ; ἐπὶ τὴν εἰρήνην; ἀλλ᾽ ὑπῆρχεν ἅπα_σιν: ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τὸν πόλεμον; ἀλλ᾽ αὐτοὶ περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ἐβουλεύεσθε for with what possible desire would you have been sending them at that juncture? With a view to peace? Why (
but)
peace was open to all. With a view to war? Why (
but)
you were yourselves deliberating about peace D. 18.24. Cp. French
mais introducing a reply to a question.
a. So in rapid dialogue objections may take the form of questions, in which each
ἀλλά after the first may be rendered by
or. Cp.
2654.
[*] 2786.
ἀλλά with other Particles.—For example:
ἀλλὰ γάρ 2816; on
ου᾽ γὰρ ἀλλά, see
2767.
ἀλλὰ . . . γε but at any rate.
ἀλλά γέ τοι (
τοί γε)
yet at least, yet be sure.
ἀλλὰ δή well then.
ἀλλ᾽ ἦ;
why how? can it really be that? what,
can it be true? Here
ἀλλά marks surprise, while
ἦ asks the question.
ἀλλὰ μέντοι nay,
but; well,
however; yet truly. On
ου᾽ μέντοι ἀλλά, see
2767.
ἀλλὰ μήν nay,
but; but then; but surely. Often to introduce an objection, to reject an alternative, often merely to introduce a new idea or to resume an interrupted thought. On
ου᾽ μὴν ἀλλά, see
2767.
ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως but still. Often without a verb, to introduce the reply to an objection.
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ is sometimes used elliptically, as in
ὑπὲρ . . . ὧν οὗτος ἀπήγγειλε πρὸς ὑ_μᾶς ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ μι_κρόν nay,
there is not even ever so little (not only not a great deal
but not even a little)
concerning which he reported to you D. 19.37.
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ μὲν δή is often used to reject an alternative.
ἀλλ᾽ οὖν (
γε)
but then, well then, well at any rate; stronger than
δ᾽ οὖν.