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288. Εἰ βούλεσθε θεωρήσωμεν, if you wish us to examine, quoted in 287, shows that we have in βούλεσθε with the subjunctive a parataxis not yet developed into a leading and a dependent clause. It is probable that nothing like this was felt in the simple subjunctive as it is found in Homer. The original interrogative subjunctive is probably the interrogative form corresponding to the subjunctive in exhortations (256); ἔλθωμεν, let us go, becoming ἔλθωμεν; shall we go? (See Kühner, § 394, 5.) When βούλει and βούλεσθε were first introduced in appeals to others, the two questions were doubtless felt to be distinct; as βούλεσθε; εἴπω; do you wish? shall I speak?— which were gradually welded into one, do you wish that I speak? Compare in Latin cave facias, — visne hoc videamus? etc. No conjunction could be introduced to connect βούλει or θέλεις to the subjunctive in classic Greek, as these verbs could have only the infinitive; but in later Greek, where ἵνα could be used after θέλω, the construction was developed into θέλετε ἵνα εἴπω; do you wish me to speak? See πάντα ὅσα ἂν θέλητε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, N. T. MATTH. vii. 12. So θέλω ἵνα δῷς μοι τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ. MARC. vi. 25.These forms appear in the New Testament side by side with the old construction without ἵνα; as τί σοι θέλεις ποιήσω; what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? with the answer, ἵνα ἀναβλέψω, that I may receive my sight, LUC. xviii. 41.So βούλεσθε ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων; IOH. xviii. 39.

From θέλετε ἵνα εἴπω; comes the modern Greek θέλετε νὰ εἴπω; will you that I speak? and probably also the common future θὰ εἴπω, I shall speak (if θά represents θέλω νά).

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    • William Watson Goodwin, Commentary on Demosthenes: On the Crown, 180
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