[*] 2895.
μέν was originally an asseverative, emphatic particle (
surely,
certainly,
indeed) and a weaker form of
μήν. Cp. Epic
ἦ μέν, καὶ μέν, οὐ μέν in asseverations and protestations. Asseverative
μέν survived as
μέν solitarium and in combination with other particles. Antithetical (concessive)
μέν owes its origin to the fact that, as emphasis. may indicate a contrast, the clause in which
μέν stood was felt as preliminary to an adversative member of the sentence. Through association with this adversative member
μέν gradually lost its primitive asseverative force.
[*] 2896.
μέν solitarium occurs when a clause with
μέν is not followed by a clause with
δέ. This is especially common when the antithetical clause is to be supplied in thought, as when
μέν emphasizes a statement made by a person with reference to himself as opposed to others (often with a tone of arrogance or of credulity). Here any possible opposition or difference of opinion, however justifiable, is left unexpressed. Thus,
ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα I for my part do not know (though others
may)
X. C. 1.4.12, ““
ἀπέπλευσαν, ὡς μὲν τοῖς πλείστοις ἐδόκουν, φιλοτι_μηθέντες”
they sailed away since they were jealous as it seemed to the majority at least”
X. A. 1.4.7. So in such phrases as
δοκῶ μέν, ἡγοῦμαι μέν, οἶμαι μέν.
[*] 2897. Sometimes
μέν solitarium merely emphasizes a word in its clause and does not imply a contrast. Thus, ““
ἐμοὶ μὲν οἰστέα τάδε”
this must be borne by me on my part”
S. O. C. 1360.
[*] 2898.
μέν solitarium is commonest after personal pronouns; but occurs also after demonstrative pronouns (
L. 25.16), after relatives (
Aes. 3.209), after substantives without the article (
D. 9.15), or after the article and before its substantive (
L. 29.1), after adjectives (
L. 1.27), after adverbs (
L. 12.91), after verbs (
D. 19.231). In questions
μέν alone is rare (
P. Men. 82b).
[*] 2899. In combination with other particles, especially
δή and
οὖν, asseverative
μέν either has a simple confirmatory force or is used adversatively. The following cases must be distinguished from those in which
μέν is correlative to
δέ.
[*] 2900.
μὲν δή expresses positive certainty, especially in conclusions. It is common in summing up and in transitions, and is used either alone or with other particles (sometimes it is followed by
ἀλλά or
δέ). Thus, ““
ταῦτα μὲν δὴ τοιαῦτα”
so much for that”
A. Pr. 500. So also, e.g.
ἀλλὰ μὲν δή but certainly in fact (
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ μὲν δή in rejecting an alternative);
ει᾽ μὲν δή if indeed in truth; καὶ μὲν δή and in truth, and in fact (often in transitions);
ου᾽ μὲν δή certainly not at all,
nor yet, in truth (often used adversatively).
[*] 2901.
μὲν οὖν lit.
certainly in fact,
μέν being a weaker form of
μήν. μὲν οὖν has two common uses, according as the particles have a compound force, or each has its own force.
a. The
compound force of
μὲν οὖν is seen in affirmations; as in replies:
πάνυ (
μάλιστα)
μὲν οὖν yes,
by all means; certainly,
by all means; aye truly,
εὖ μὲν οὖν οἶδα nay,
I am sure of it,
οὐ μὲν οὖν indeed not, ““
ἆρ᾽ ου᾽ τόδε ἦν τὸ δένδρον ἐφ᾽ ὅπερ ἦγες ἡμᾶς; τοῦτο μὲν οὖν αὐτό”
isn't this the tree to which you were bringing us? To be sure this is it”
P. Phae. 230a.
b. The compound force appears also when
μὲν οὖν indicates a correction;
nay rather (
imo vero); as
λέγε σύ: σὺ μὲν οὖν μοι λέγε do you say. Nay,
rather you
Ar. Eq. 13,
ἄτοπον τὸ ἐνύπνιον, ὦ Σώκρατες. ἐναργὲς μὲν οὖν the dream is strange,
Socrates. Nay rather, it was distinct P. Cr. 44b.
c. Each particle has its own force especially where
μὲν οὖν indicates a transition to a new subject. Here
μέν points forward to an antithesis to follow and indicated by
δέ, ἀλλά, μέντοι, while
οὖν (inferential) connects with what precedes. Here
so then, therefore may be used in translation. Thus, ““
Κλέαρχος μὲν οὖν τοσαῦτα εἶπε. Τισσαφέρνης δὲ ὧδε ἀπημείφθη”
such then were the words of Clearthus; and on the other hand Tissaphernes answered as follows”
X. A. 2.5.15 Sometimes
μὲν οὖν (like
igitur) shows that a subject announced in general terms is now to be treated in detail (
P. Ph. 70c).
[*] 2902. Common collocations are
ἀλλὰ μέν (
ἀλλὰ . . . μέν)
but for a fact,
γὲ μέν, ἦ μέν, καὶ μέν.
[*] 2903.
Antithetical (concessive)
μέν distinguishes the word or clause in which it stands from a following word or clause marked usually by
δέ or by other particles denoting contrast, such as
ἀλλά, ἀτάρ, μέντοι, μήν; and even by copulative
τέ, καί (Hom.
ἠδέ).
μέν never connects words, clauses, or sentences.
[*] 2904.
μὲν . . . δέ serves to mark stronger or weaker contrasts of various kinds, and is sometimes to be rendered by
on the one hand . . . on the other hand,
indeed . . . but; but is often to be left untranslated. The
μέν clause has a concessive force when it is logically subordinate (
while,
though,
whereas, cp.
2170). Thus, ““
ἡ μὲν ψυ_χὴ πολυχρόνιόν ἐστι, τὸ δὲ σῶμα ἀσθενέστερον καὶ ὀλιγοχρονιώτερον”
the soul lasts for a long time, the body is weaker and lasts for a shorter time”
P. Ph. 87d, ““
καὶ πρόσθεν μὲν δὴ πολλοὶ ἡμῶν ἦρχον μὲν οὐδενός, ἤρχοντο δέ: νῦν δὲ κατεσκεύασθε οὕτω πάντες οἱ παρόντες ὥστε ἄρχετε οἱ μὲν πλειόνων, οἱ δὲ μειόνων”
and whereas in fact many of us hitherto commanded no one, but were subject to the command of others, now however all of you who are present are so placed that you have command, some over more, others over fewer”
X. C. 8.1.4.
a. So
ἄλλοτε μὲν . . . ἄλλοτε δέ, ἅμα μὲν . . . ἅμα δέ at once . . . and,
partly . . . partly,
ἔνθα μὲν . . . ἔνθα δέ, ἐνταῦθα μὲν . . . ἐκεῖ δέ, πρῶτον μὲν . . . ἔπειτα δέ (or
ἔπειτα alone). On
ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ see
1107. Instead of
ὁ (
οἱ)
δέ we find e.g.
ἄλλος δέ, ἔνιοι δέ, ἔστι δ᾽ οἵ. So
τοῦτο μὲν . . . τοῦτ᾽ ἄλλο (or
αὖθις).—
μέν may stand with a participle,
δέ with a finite verb, in an antithetical sentence. Example in 2147 c.
b. εἰ, οὐ (
μή) standing before
μὲν . . . δέ exercise their force on
both opposed clauses.
[*] 2905. When several verbs referring to the same person or thing are contrasted, or when several attributes are contrasted, the first has
μέν, the others
δέ. Cp. Lyc. 5,
X. A. 3.1.19. But
μέν is sometimes omitted.
[*] 2906.
μέν . . . δέ is used in successive clauses which contain either the same word (
anaphora) or a synonymous word; as
ἐγὼ δὲ σύνειμι μὲν θεοῖς, σύνειμι δὲ ἀνθρώποις τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς quoted in 1159, ““
ἦλθε μὲν καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἐρυθραία_ς ἀγγελία_, ἀφι_κνεῖτο δὲ καὶ πανταχόθεν”
news came from the district of Erythrae itself and arrived also from all quarters”
T. 3.33. But
μέν is sometimes omitted, as ““
στήσω σ᾽ ἄγων, στήσω δ᾽ ἐμαυτόν”
I will bring thee and stablish thee, and I will stablish myself”
S. O. C. 1342.
[*] 2907. If more than two clauses are contrasted, only the first clause has
μέν, while each of the following clauses has
δέ (
X. A. 1.3.14,
X. C. 4.2.28).
[*] 2908. A contrast indicated by
μέν and
δέ may stand inside another contrast indicated in the same manner, as
ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ τοιαῦτα μὲν πεποίηκε, τοιαῦτα δὲ λέγει: ὑ_μῶν δὲ σὺ πρῶτος, ὦ Κλέαρχε, ἀπόφηναι γνώμην ὅ τι σοι δοκεῖ the man has acted thus,
and speaks thus; but do you,
Clearchus,
be the first to make known what you think best X. A. 1.6.9.
[*] 2909. Two relative (or conditional) clauses each with
μέν may be followed by two demonstrative clauses each with
δέ; but the second
δέ is usually omitted, and there are other variations. Thus,
ὁπόσοι μὲν . . . οὗτοι μὲν . . . ὁπόσοι δὲ . . . τούτους ὁρῶ X. A. 3.1.43, cp.
X. O. 4.7,
P. A. 28e.
[*] 2910. A clause with
μέν is often followed by a contrasted clause without
δέ but with a particle containing an element of opposition, as
πρῶτον μὲν . . . ἔπειτα . . . εἶτα.
[*] 2911. A shift in the construction may cause
δέ to be omitted (
S. Ant. 1199).
[*] 2912.
μέν after an emphatic demonstrative may resume
μέν of the antecedent clause (
D. 2.18).
[*] 2913.
μὲν . . . τε (and even
καί) is used where the second clause is merely
added instead of being coördinated by means of
δέ. Thus, ““
ταχὺ μὲν ὅποι ἔδει περιγιγνόμεθα ἀθρόοι τε τῷ ἄρχοντι ἑπόμενοι ἀνυπόστατοι ἦμεν”
we have quickly reached the places to which we had to go, and by following our leader in a compact body we have been invincible”
X. C. 8.1.3.
[*] 2914.
Position of μέν (
and δέ).—
μέν and
δέ are commonly placed next to the words they contrast, and take precedence over other postpositive particles. But when two words belong closely together,
μέν and
δέ are placed between. Thus, when nouns with the article are contrasted,
μέν and
δέ stand after the article; if the nouns depend on prepositions
μέν and
δέ stand after the preposition and before the article.
a. But this rule may be neglected in order to emphasize the preceding word, as
τὰ μὲν ἀνθρώπινα παρέντες, τὰ δαιμόνια δὲ σκοποῦντες neglecting human affairs,
but speculating on things divine X. M. 1.1.12, ““
ἀνὰ τὸ σκοτεινὸν μέν”
in the darkness”
T. 3.22.
b. If the noun has no article and is governed by a preposition,
δέ usually takes the third place.
c. Postponement of
δέ (and some other postpositive particles) to the fourth place is only
apparent after an introductory vocative, which is not regarded as forming an integral part of the sentence.
[*] 2915.
μέν and
δέ are sometimes referred to the entire clause or to the predicate and not to the words that are opposed to each other. This arrangement is often adopted to preserve the symmetry of the juxtaposed clause.
μέν and
δέ are thus often placed after personal or demonstrative pronouns. Thus,
ἔλεγε μὲν ὡς τὸ πολύ, τοῖς δὲ βουλομένοις ἐξῆν ἀκούειν Socrates
for the most part was wont to talk, while any who chose could listen X. M. 1.1.10,
πῶς ἂν πολλοὶ μὲν ἐπεθύ_μουν τυραννεῖν . . . ; πῶς δὲ πάντες ἐζήλουν ἂν τοὺς τυράννους;
why should many desire to possess despotic power? why should everybody envy despotic rulers? X. Hi. 1.9 (for
πάντες δὲ πῶς ἐζήλουν ἄν). Cp.
ἐν μὲν τούτοις . . . ἐν ἐκείνοις δέ Lyc. 140,
περὶ αὑτῶν μὲν . . . περὶ δὲ τῶν δεσποτῶν L. 7.35, etc.
a. The transposition is often designed to produce a chiastic (
3020) order, as ““
ἔπαθε μὲν οὐδέν, πολλὰ δὲ κακὰ ἐνόμιζε ποιῆσαι”
he suffered no loss, but thought that he had done a great deal of damage”
X. A. 3.4.2 (here
οὐδέν and
πολλά are brought close together).
[*] 2916. In poetry
μέν and
δέ often have a freer position than in prose.
δέ may often come
third when an emphatic word is placed before it, and even
fourth.
