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555. In Attic Greek an optative in the relative clause sometimes depends on a verb of obligation, propriety, possibility, etc., with an infinitive, the two forming an expression nearly equivalent to an optative with ἄν, which would be expected in their place. (See 502.) E.g. Ἀλλ᾽ ὃν πόλις στήσειε, τοῦδε χρὴ κλύειν, we should obey any one whom the state might appoint (if the state should appoint any one, we ought to obey him). SOPH. Ant. 666. (Χρὴ κλύειν is followed by the optative from its nearness to δικαίως ἂν κλύοι τις.) Ἀλλὰ τοῦ μὲν αὐτὸν λέγειν μὴ σαφῶς εἰδείη φείδεσθαι δεῖ, i.e. we ought to abstain, etc.; like φείδοιτο ἄν τις. XEN. Cyr. i. 6, 19. Οὓς δὲ ποιήσασθαί τις βούλοιτο συνεργοὺς προθύμους, τούτους παντάπασιν ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ ἀγαθοῖς θηρατέον εἶναι (θηρατέον εἶναι = θηρᾶν δεῖν). Ib. ii. 4, Ib. 10. Ὑπερορᾶν οὐ δυνατὸν ὑμῶν ἀνδρὶ ὃς εἰδείη κυρίους ὄντας τι βούλεσθε αὐτῷ χρῆσθαι. Id. Hell. vii. 3, Id. Hell. 7.So Ib. iii. 4, Ib. 18. Σωφρόνων ἐστὶ μηδὲ εἰ μικρὰ τὰ διαφέροντα εἴη πόλεμον ἀναιρεῖσθαι. Ib. vi. 3, Ib. 5.So after πολὺ ῥᾷόν (ἐστι), Ib. vi. 5, Ib. 52. Σωφρόνων ἐστὶν, εἰ μὴ ἀδικοῖντο, ἡσυχάζειν, i.e. it is proper for prudent men, etc. THUC. i. 120. Ἀποδοτέον οὐδ᾽ ὁπωστιοῦν τότε, ὁπότε τις μὴ σωφρόνως ἀπαιτοῖ. PLAT. Rep. 332A. So AESCH. Eum. 726.

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