[*] 54. First person plural for the first person singular. The use of the first person plural for the first person singular is due to modesty, which readily becomes affectation. The particular is sunk in the generic, the individual in the class, the woman in her male kindred. It occurs less frequently in Greek than in the more rhetorical Latin. ISOC. [1]ISOC., 11: “ἐπιλίποι δ᾽ ἂν ἡμᾶς ὁ πᾶς χρόνος, εἰ πάσας τὰς ἐκείνου πράξεις καταριθμησαίμεθα . . . δηλώσομεν . . . ἐξενηνόχαμεν”. 5.105: “φοβοῦμαι μή τινες ἐπιτιμήσωσιν ἡμῖν εἰ . . . τολμῴην σοὶ παραινεῖν”, and so often to avoid hiatus. 12.42: “τοὺς μὲν οὖν παλαιοὺς ἀγῶνας . . . ὕστερον ἐροῦμεν” (no hiatus), “νῦν δὲ ποιήσομαι . . . τοὺς λόγους”. XEN. Cyr. 1.1: “ἔννοιά ποθ᾽ ἡμῖν ἐγένετο” , etc. (15 times without change to singular). Mem. 1.2.46. EUR. Alc. 383 (see 55). Andr. 355-61 (see 55). H. F. 858: “ἥλιον μαρτυρόμεσθα δρῶσ᾽ ἃ δρᾶν οὐ βούλομαι”. Ion, 391: “κωλυόμεσθα μὴ μαθεῖν ἃ βούλομαι.” Ibid. 1250-1: “διωκόμεσθα” . . . | “Πυθίᾳ ψήφῳ κρατηθεῖς᾿, ἔκδοτος δὲ γίγνομαι”. I. A. 823-4 (see 55). Ibid. 1025-6: “ἢν δ᾽ αὖ τι μὴ πράσσωμεν ὧν ἐγὼ θέλω” (Klytaemestra), | “ποῦ σ᾽ αὖθις ὀψόμεσθα;” (to Achilles). Med. 314-315 (see 55). SOPH. Ant. 926 (see 55). El. 399 (ibid.). Tr. 491-2 (ibid.). See comm. on P. 4.27. HOM. Od. 16.44-5: “ ἧσο, ξεῖν̓: ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ ἄλλοθι δήομεν ἕδρην
σταθμῷ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ
”. Il. 3.440. Ibid. 13.257-8: “τό νυ γὰρ κατεάξαμεν, ὃ πρὶν ἔχεσκον”, | “ἀσπίδα Δηιφόβοιο βαλών” (Meriones speaks). Ibid. 21.60-1.
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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