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14. In dependent clauses expressing purpose or the object of exertion or of fear, the optative is never an original form; but it always represents a dependent subjunctive or future indicative (8, b; 10) in the changed relation in which either of them is placed when its leading verb is changed from present or future to past time.

We represent this change in English by a change from may to might, or from shall or will to should or would; as ἔρχεται ἵνα ἴδῃ, he comes that he may see, ἦλθεν ἵνα ἴδοι, he came that he might see; ἐπιμελεῖται ὅπως τοῦτο γενήσεται, he takes care that this shall be done, ἐπεμελεῖτο ὅπως τοῦτο γενήσοιτο, he took care that this should be done; φοβεῖται μὴ τοῦτο πάθῃ, he fears that he may suffer this; ἐφοβήθη μὴ τοῦτο πάθοι, he feared that he might suffer this. Here the original subjunctive or future indicative (especially the latter) is very often used in place of the optative.

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