Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

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[*] 1991. Verbs of will or desire (and their opposites) are often followed by an infinitive. The infinitive with a subject accusative denotes that something should (may) be or be done. The negative is μή (see 2719-2721).

““ἤθελον αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν” they were willing to listen to him” X. A. 2.6.11, ““ἐβουλεύοντο ἐκλιπεῖν τὴν πόλιν” they planned to leave the city” Hdt. 6.100, ““τὰ ἥδιστα . . . ζητεῖ ποιεῖν” he seeks to do what he likes best” X. M. 4.5.11, ““βασιλεὺς ἀξιοῖ σὲ ἀποπλεῖν” the king asks that you sail away” X. H. 3.4.25, ἱ_κέτευε μὴ ἀποκτεῖναι he entreated that they should not put him (self) to death L. 1.25, πέμπουσιν . . . στρατεύεσθαι ἐπὶ Κα_ρία_ν they send orders that he shall march upon Caria X. H. 3.1.7, ““ἔδοξε πλεῖν τὸν Ἀλκιβιάδην” it was decided that Alcibiades should sail” T. 6.29.

a. Verbs of will or desire with an accusative subject of the infinitive form one of the classes of substantive clauses introduced in English by that, though the infinitive in English is often more idiomatic.