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APPARENT EXCHANGE OF οὐ AND μή

2737. Where μή is used when we expect οὐ the negative expression usually depends on a verb that either has μή or would have it, if negatived.

a. After imperatives. Thus, σάφ᾽ ἴσθι μή με θωπεύσοντά σε know well that I shall not fawn upon thee E. Heracl. 983, ““νόμιζε μηδὲν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων βέβαιον εἶναιconsider nothing in human life to be secureI. 1.42 ( = μὴ νόμιζέ τι κτλ.), ““ὡς οὖν μὴ μόνον κρί_νοντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεωρούμενοι, οὕτω τὴν ψῆφον φέρετεcast your ballots then in the belief not only that you are passing judgment but also that the eyes of the world are upon youAes. 3.247 (cp. 2732). See also 2086 b.

b. After conditional expressions. Thus, ““εἰ δέ τις . . . νομίζει τι μὴ ἱκανῶς εἰρῆσθαιbut if any one thinks some point has not been sufficiently mentionedAnd. 1.70, λύ_σετε δὲ οὐδὲ τὰ_ς Λακεδαιμονίων σπονδὰ_ς δεχόμενοι ( = ἐὰ_ν δέχησθε) ἡμᾶς μηδετ<*>´οων ὄντας ξυμμάχους and by receiving us, who are allies of neither, you will not be violating the treaty with the Lacedaemonians either T. 1.35. Cp. 2736 a.

c. Other cases: ““κελεύει μεῖναι ἐπὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ μὴ διαβάνταςhe ordered them to remain by the river without crossingX. A. 4.3.28 (here μεῖναι, if negatived, would take μή, 2720), ““ὑπέσχετο εἰρήνην ποιήσειν μήτε ὅμηρα δοὺς μήτε τὰ τείχη καθελώνhe promised that he would bring peace about without giving hostages or destroying the wallsL. 12.68 (here ποιήσειν, if negatived, would take μή, 2725).

N.—But οὐ may assert itself even under the above circumstances; as μὴ γε οὐ χρὴ ποίει don't do what is really wrong P. Eu. 307b, ““ ἀφί_ετέ με μὴ ἀφί_ετε ὡς ἐμοῦ οὐκ ἂν ποιήσαντος ἄλλαeither acquit me or do not acquit me in the knowledge that I should not act otherwiseP. A. 30b (cp. 2732), ““εἰ νομίζεις οὐχ ὑφέξειν τὴν δίκηνif thou thinkest not to suffer the penaltyS. O. T. 551 ( = οὐχ ὑφέξω), εἰ γνωσθησόμεθα ξυνελθόντες μέν, ἀμύ_νεσθαι δὲ οὐ (some Mss.) ““τολμῶντεςif we shall be known to have come together, and yet not to have the courage to avenge ourselvesT. 1.124 (it would be said of them: ξυνῆλθον μέν, ἀμύ_νεσθαι δὲ οὐκ ἐτόλμων, a contrast, cp. 2690).

d. On μή in questions where we might expect οὐ, see 2676 b.

2738. οὐ is sometimes used where we expect μή.

a. Where οὐ stands in a clause introduced by εἰ or other words after which μή might be expected (2698). Thus, ““ὄφρα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλων τις ἀναγκαίῃ πολεμίζοιthat every one must of necessity fight even though he would notΔ 300 (cp. 2692 a).

b. Where οὐ goes strictly with the leading verb though it stands with the infinitive. Thus, βουλοίμην δ᾽ ἃν οὐκ εἶναι τόδε I would fain it were not so (I should not wish that this were so) E. Med. 73, ““ὀμώμοκεν οὐ χαριεῖσθαι . . . ἀλλὰ δικάσειν κατὰ τοὺς νόμουςhe has sworn, not that he will show favour, but that he will judge according to the lawsP. A. 35c (some explain this as the οὐ of direct discourse).

c. Where οὐ in a contrast goes closely with a following word or words, or stands in a partial parenthesis. Thus, κελεύων οὐκ ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τῷ θεά_τρῳ τὴν ἀνάρρησιν γίγνεσθαι (he has violated the law) in demanding that the proclamation be made not in the Assembly but in the theatre Aes. 3.204, ““ὁμολογοίην ἂν ἔγωγε οὐ κατὰ τούτους εἶναι ῥήτωρI should acknowledge that I am an orator, but not after their styleP. A. 17b, ““ὑ_μᾶς νῦν ἀξιοῦντες οὐ ξυμμαχεῖν, ἀλλὰ ξυναδικεῖνdemanding that you should be, not their allies, but their partners in wrong-doingT. 1.39.

d. When a compound negative with the infinitive repeats οὐ used with the leading verb. Thus, ( νόμος) ““οὐκ ἐᾷ εἰσιέναι, οὗ ἂν τετελευτηκώς, οὐδεμίαν γυναῖκαthe law does not permit any women to enter where the dead may beD. 43.63.

e. When οὐδείς may be resolved into οὐ and τὶς, οὐ going with the leading verb. Thus, οὐδενὸς ( = οὔ τινος) ἁμαρτεῖν . . . δίκαιός ἐστιν there is nothing he deserves to miss Ant. 4. a. 6 ( = he does not deserve to miss anything), ““ἀξιῶ ἐγὼ ὧν ὀμωμόκατε παραβῆναι οὐδένI ask that you do not break any of the conditions to which you have swornX. H. 2.4.42 ( = οὐκ ἀξιῶ . . . παραβῆναι τι). Cp. S. Ph. 88.

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