Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

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IMPLIED INDIRECT DISCOURSE

[*] 2622. Indirect discourse is implied in the case of any subordinate clause, which, though not depending formally on a verb of saying or thinking, contains the past thought of another person and not a statement of the writer or speaker. Implied indirect discourse appears only after secondary tenses, and in various kinds of dependent clauses.

a. Conditional clauses, the conclusion being implied in the leading verb. Thus, after a verb of emotion, ““οἱ δ᾽ ᾤκτι_ρον εἰ ἁλώσοιντο” others pitied them if they should be captured” X. A. 1.4.7. The original form was ‘we pity them thinking what they will suffer εἰ ἁλώσονται if they shall be captured.’ In other εἰ clauses, as ““τὰ χρήματα τῷ δήμῳ ἔδωκεν, εἴ πως τελευτήσειεν ἄπαις” he gave his property to the people in case he died childless” And. 4.15 (i.e. that the people might have it, in case he should die: direct ἐὰ_ν τελευτήσω, and here ἐὰ_ν τελευτήσῃ might have been used).

b. Temporal clauses implying purpose, expectation, or the like (cp. 2420). Thus, σπονδὰ_ς ἐποιήσαντο, ἕως ἀπαγγελθείη τὰ λεχθέντα they made a truce (which they agreed should continue) until what had been said should have been reported X. H. 3.2.20 (ἕως ἂν ἀπαγγελθῇ would be the direct form). Cp. ἕως δ᾽ ἂν ταῦτα διαπρά_ξωνται, φυλακὴν . . . κατέλιπε he left behind a guard (which he intended should remain) until they should settle these matters 5. 3. 25.

c. Causal clauses. See 2242.

d. Ordinary relative clauses. Thus, εἴρετο παῖδα, τὸν Εὐάδνα_ τέκοι he asked for the child which Evadna had borne Pindar, Ol. 6. 49. Here relative and interrogative are not sharply distinguished.

e. Clauses depending on an infinitive especially when introduced by a verb of will or desire, e.g. command, advise, plan, ask, wish (1991, 1992). Here the infinitive expressing command, warning, wish, is not itself in indirect discourse. The negative is μή. Thus, ἀφικνοῦνται (historical present) ὡς Σιτάλκην . . . βουλόμενοι πεῖσαι αὐτόν, εἰ δύναιντο, . . . στρατεῦσαι ἐπὶ τὴν Ποτείδαιαν they came to Sitalces with the desire of persuading him (if they could) to make an expedition against Potidaea T. 2.67 ( = ἐὰ_ν δυνώμεθα), cp. 2633 a.

f. Clauses of purpose and object clauses after verbs of effort admit the alternative constructions of indirect discourse.