[*] 246. The same principle applies to the moods. The change of tense from present to aorist is often to be accounted for by a change from positive to negative, and vice versa. “μηδὲν ἁμαρτεῖν ἐστι θεῶν καὶ πάντα κατορθοῦν”, Epigr.ap. DEM.18.289; To make no blunder and do all things right, (that) is (the province) of the gods (alone). DEM. (Epigr. ap.), 18.289 (see above). ISOC.4.11: “ὥσπερ . . . τὸν . . . ἀκριβῶς ἐπιστάμενον λέγειν ἁπλῶς οὐκ ἂν δυνάμενον εἰπεῖν”. ANTIPHON, 1.6: “ἐξουσία ἦν σαφῶς εἰδέναι . . . οὐκ ἦν πυθέσθαι”. PLATO , Alc. II, 143 B: “ὅπερ οὖν οὐδεὶς ἂν οἰηθείη, ἀλλὰ τοῦτό γε πᾶς ἂν οἴοιτο ἱκανὸς εἶναι”. Ion, 531 B: “εἰ δὲ σὺ ἦσθα μάντις, οὐκ, εἴπερ περὶ τῶν ὁμοίως λεγομένων οἷός τ᾽ ἦσθα ἐξηγήσασθαι ῟ οὐχ οἷός τ᾽ εἶ ἐξηγήσασθαι）, καὶ περὶ τῶν διαφόρως λεγομένων ἠπίστω ἂν ἐξηγεῖσθαι;” XEN. An. 2.4.6: “ἀδύνατον διαβῆναι”. THUC.1.70.2: “τὰ ὑπάρχοντά τε σῴζειν καὶ ἐπιγνῶναι μηδέν”. AR. Lys. 129: “οὐκ ἂν ποιἠσαιμι” (no metrical necessity). AESCHYL. P.V. 63: “πλὴν τοῦδ᾽ ἂν οὐδεὶς ἐνδίκως μέμψαιτό μοι” (no metrical necessity). PIND. N. 8.44-5: “τὸ δ᾽ αὖτις τεὰν ψυχὰν κομίξαι” | “οὔ μοι δυνατόν” (no metrical necessity).
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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