[*] 355. The impersonals interest and rēfert take the Genitive of the person (rarely of the thing) affected. The subject of the verb is a neuter pronoun or a substantive clause:—
- Clōdī intererat Milōnem perīre (cf. Mil. 56), it was the interest of Clodius that Milo should die.
- “aliquid quod illōrum magis quam suā rētulisse vidērētur ” (Iug. 111) , something which seemed to be more for their interest than his own.
- “videō enim quid meā intersit, quid utrīusque nostrum ” (Fam. 7.23.4) , for 1 see what is for my good and for the good of us both.
- quid tuā id rēfert? māgnī; (Ter. Ph. 723), how does that concern you? much. [See also the last two examples above.]
- “vehementer intererat vestrā quī patrēs estis ” (Plin. Ep. 4.13.4) , it would be very much to your advantage, you who are fathers.
[*] Note.--This is the only construction with rēfert in classic prose, except in one passage in Sallust (see example above).
[*] b. The accusative with ad is used with interest and rēfert to express the thing with reference to which one is interested:—- “māgnī ad honōrem nostrum interest ” (Fam. 16.1) , it is of great consequence to our honor.
- “rēfert etiam ad frūctūs ” (Varr. R. R. 1.16.6) , it makes a difference as to the crop.
[*] Note 1.--Very rarely the person is expressed by ad and the accusative, or (with rēfert ) by the dative (probably a popular corruption):—
- “quid id ad mē aut ad meam rem rēfert ” (Pl. Per. 513) , what difference does that make to me or to my interests?
- “quid rēferat intrā nātūrae fīnīs vīventī ” (Hor. S. 1.1.49) , what difference does it make to me who live within the limits of natural desire?
- nōn rēferre dēdecorī (Tac. Anu. 15.65), that it makes no difference as to the disgrace.
[*] Note 2.--The degree of interest is expressed by a genitive of value, an adverb, or an adverbial accusative.