[*] 364. e)/dei, e)xrh=n, etc., of the present. When “ἔδει, ἐχρῆν”, and the like refer to the present and not to the past, a modal sense is set up, and the dependent infinitive becomes unreal.1 “ἐχρῆν . . . ὅσιον εἶναι τοῦτο πράττειν”, LYCURG.141; It ought to be consonant with piety to do this (but it is not). LYCURG.141(see above). DEM.15.32: “ἐχρῆν . . . τὴν αὐτὴν ἔχειν διάνοιαν ὑμᾶς” (= “ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἔχετε”) “περὶ τῆς ἐν τῇ πολιτείᾳ τάξεως, ἥνπερ περὶ τῆς ἐν ταῖς στρατείαις ἔχετε”. THUC.6.78.4: “καὶ μάλιστα εἰκὸς ἦν ὑμᾶς . . . μὴ μαλακῶς ὥσπερ νῦν ξυμμαχεῖν”. HDT.3.80: “καίτοι ἄνδρα γε τύραννον ἄφθονον ἔδεε εἶναι, ἔχοντά γε πάντα τὰ ἀγαθά. τὸ δὲ ὑπεναντίον τούτου ἐς τοὺς πολιήτας πέφυκε: φθονέει γὰρ κτἑ”. COM. Hermipp.2.399: “τοὺς μὲν ἄρ᾽ ἄλλους οἰκουρεῖν χρῆν”. EUR. Or. 1030: “ζῆν ἐχρῆν σ᾽, ὅτ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἶ” .
1 MSS and editors often fluctuate between “ἔδει” and “δεῖ, χρῆν” and “χρή”. The present indicative gives the simple statement, the imperfect indicative surprise or disappointment. Cf. ANTIPHON, 5.91, where the codices have “χρή”, Blass “χρῆν”; Andoc. [4]Andoc., 16, where Blass has “ἔδει” for MS “δεῖ”.
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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