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[*] 814. The infinitive with τὸ μὴ οὐ may be used in a negative sense in various constructions with verbs and expressions which do not have a negative meaning, provided these are themselves negatived or are interrogative implying a negative. Though τὸ μὴ οὐ is more common here, τὸ μή is also allowed. E.g. “Κουδείς γέ μ᾽ ἂν πείσειεν ἀνθρώπων τὸ μὴ οὐκ ἐλθεῖν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν,” “and no man can persuade me not to go after him.” AR. Ran. 68. Οὐ μέντοι ἔπειθέ γε τὸ μὴ οὐ μεγαλοπράγμων τε καὶ κακοπράγμων εἶναι, “but he did not persuade them that he was not full of great and evil undertakings.” XEN. Hell. v. 2, 36. (For similar expressions with μὴ οὐ without τό, see 749 and 815, 2) Τοῖς θεοῖς οὐδὲν ἂν ἔχοιμεν μέμψασθαι τὸ μὴ οὐχὶ πάντα πεπραχέναι, we cannot blame the Gods for not having done everything. Id. Cyr. vii. 5. 42 (cf. “ταῦτ᾽ οὖν ὑμῖν μέμφομαι,” AR. Nub. 525 ). Οὐδὲ ὅσιον ἔμοιγε εἶναι φαίνεται τὸ μὴ οὐ βοηθεῖν τούτοις τοῖς λόγοις πάντα ἄνδρα. Leg. 891 A. Ἄλογον τὸ μὴ οὐ τέμνειν. Soph. 219 E (see 817). Τοῖς δὲ οὐδὲ λόγος λείπεται τὸ μὴ οὐ πονηροῖς εἶναι. DEM. xxiv. 69.1 Οὔκων ἐστὶ μηχανὴ οὐδεμία τὸ μὴ ἐκεῖνον ἐπιβουλεύειν ἐμοί, “there is then no way by which I can believe that he is not plotting against me.” HDT. i. 209 (cf. PLAT. Phaed. 72 D). “Ἕξει τίνα γνώμην λέγειν τὸ μὴ εὐρύπρωκτος εἶναι;” AR. Nub. 1084. Ἔφη οὐχ οἷόν τε εἶναι τὸ μὴ ἀποκτεῖναί με, “he said it was not possible not to condemn me to death.” PLAT. Ap. 29 C.
Macmillan. London, Melbourne, Toronto. 1889. reprint edition:. St. Martin's Press. New York. 1965.
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