Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

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οὐ AND μή WITH THE INFINITIVE NOT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE

[*] 2713. μή is the regular negative after all verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and substantives, which take an infinitive not in indirect discourse. Thus, after verbs and other words denoting ability, fitness, necessity (and their opposites). Cp. 2000-2007.

““εἰκὸς σοφὸν ἄνδρα μὴ ληρεῖν” it is proper for a wise man not to talk idly” P. Th. 152b, ““τὰ_ς ὁμοία_ς χάριτας μὴ ἀντιδιδόναι αἰσχρόν” it is disgraceful not to repay like services” T. 3.63.

[*] 2714. χρή (χρῆν, ἐχρῆν) takes either μή or οὐ.

““χρὴ μὴ καταφρονεῖν τοῦ πλήθους” one must not despise the multitude” I. 5.79, ““χρῆν οὔ σ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν” thou oughtst not to do wrong” E. Hipp. 507, χρῆ δ᾽ οὔποτ᾽ ““εἰπεῖν οὐδέν᾽ ὄλβιον βροτῶν” it is not right ever to call any son of man happy” E. And. 100.

a. For original οὐ χρή was substituted (for emphasis) χρὴ οὐ, where the οὐ was still taken with χρή; ultimately οὐ was felt to belong with the infinitive and hence came to be separated from χρή.

b. δεῖ takes μή, as ““μὴ ὀκνεῖν δεῖ αὐτούς” they must not fear” T. 1.120. οὐ δεῖ may be used for δεῖ μή (2693). In ““δεῖ οὐχ ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν” one must not speak in a general way” I. 15.117 οὐχ is adherescent. Note οἶμαι δεῖν οὐ, φημὶ χρῆναι οὐ, οἶμαι χρῆναι μή.

[*] 2715. μή is used with the infinitive in wishes and prohibitions. Thus, ““θεοὶ πολῖται, μή με δουλεία_ς τυχεῖν” ye gods of my country, may bondage not be my lot” A. Sept. 253, ““οἷς μὴ πελάζειν” do not approach these” A. Pr. 712.

[*] 2716. μή is used with the infinitive in oaths and protestations. Thus, ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα . . . μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο let earth now know this (i.e. I swear by earth) that I will not devise any harmful mischief to thine own hurt ε 187. Cp. 2705 i.

[*] 2717. μή is used with the infinitive of purpose (cp. 2719) or result (2260). Cp. 2759. On ἐφ᾽ ᾧ μή see 2279; on ὥστε οὐ see 2269.

[*] 2718. μή is used when the infinitive stands in apposition (1987), and hence is like τὸ μή with the infinitive. Thus, ““τοῦτο ἕν ἐστιν ὧν φημι, μηδένα ἂν ἐν βραχυτέροις ἐμοῦ τὰ αὐτὰ εἰπεῖν” this is one of the things I maintain—that no one can say the same things in fewer words than I can” P. G. 449c. Cp. A. Pr. 173, 431, 435, P. R. 497b. Such cases are not to be confused with μή after verbs of asseveration or belief (2725).

[*] 2719. μή is used with the infinitive introduced by verbs of will or desire (1991) or by verbs expressing activity to the end that something shall or shall not be done; as ““τὴν Κέρκυ_ραν ἐβούλοντο μὴ προέσθαι” they wished not to give up Corcyra” T. 1.44, ““φυλακὴν εἶχε μήτ᾽ ἐκπλεῖν . . . μηδένα μήτ᾽ ἐσπλεῖν” he kept guard against any one either sailing out or in” T. 2.69.

[*] 2720. Verbs of commanding and exhorting (κελεύω, λέγω, βοῶ), asking (αἰτῶ, ἀξιῶ), advising (συμβουλεύω), and other verbs of will or desire of like meaning, take μή.

ἐκέλευε . . . μὴ ἐρεθίζειν he ordered him not to provoke his wrath P. R. 393e, ““ἔλεγον αὐτοῖς μὴ ἀδικεῖν” they told them not to commit injustice” T. 2.5, ““ἐβόων ἀλλήλοις μὴ θεῖν” they shouted to each other not to run” X. A. 1.8.19, ἱ_κέτευε μὴ κτεῖναι he besought them not to kill him L. 1.25, ““συμβουλεύω σοι . . . μὴ ἀφαιρεῖσθαι ἃ ἂν δῷς” I advise you not to take away what you may have given” X. C. 4.5.32.

[*] 2721. οὐ is used after verbs of will or desire only when it is attached to the leading verb or to some particular word; when it marks a contrast inserted parenthetically; where a compound negative takes up οὐ used with the leading verb; and when οὐδείς may be resolved into οὐ and τὶς, οὐ going with the leading verb. Examples in 2738.