Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges
J. B. Greenough, G. L. Kittredge, A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, Ed.

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[*] 441. The Optative Subjunctive is used to express a Wish. The present tense denotes the wish as possible, the imperfect as unaccomplished in present time, the pluperfect as unaccomplished in past time. The negative is nē :—

1. “ita vīvam ” (Att. 5.15) , as true as I live, so may I live.
2. ne vīvam sī sciō; (id. 4.16.8), I wish I may not live if I know.
3. “dī tē perduint ” (Deiot. 21) , the gods confound thee!
4. “ valeant, valeant cīvēs meī; sint incolumēs ” (Mil. 93) , farewell, farewell to my fellow-citizens; may they be secure from harm.
5. “dī facerent sine patre forem ” (Ov. M. 8.72) , would that the gods allowed me to be without a father (but they do not)!

[*] a. The perfect subjunctive in a wish is archaic:—

1. “dī faxint ” (Fam. 14.3.3) , may the gods grant.
quod dī ōmen āverterint (Phil. 12.14, in a religious formula), and may the gods avert this omen.