[*] 123. Periphrastic subject. In the case of a periphrastic subject like “τό” or “τά” with the genitive plural, “ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο” and the like, the verbal predicate regularly agrees in number, and the participial or adjective predicate in number and gender with the real subject which is contained in the genitive. PLATO, Legg. 657D: “τὸ δὲ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων” (= “οἱ δὲ πρεσβύτεροι”) “ἡμῶν, ἐκείνους” (sc. “τοὺς νέους”) “αὖ θεωροῦντες διάγειν ἡγούμεθα πρεπόντως, χαίροντες κτἑ”. Cf. Phileb. 45 È: “τὸ δὲ τῶν ἀφρόνων τε καὶ ὑβριστῶν” (opposed to “τοὺς μὲν σώφρονας”) “μέχρι μανίας ἡ σφοδρὰ ἡδονὴ κατέχουσα περιβοήτους ἀπεργάζεται”. Rpb. 563 C: “τὸ μὲν γὰρ τῶν θηρίων . . . ὅσῳ ἐλευθερώτερά ἐστιν ἐνταῦθα ἢ ἐν ἄλλῃ, οὐκ ἄν τις πείθοιτο ἄπειρος”. SOPH. Ph. 497-9: “ἀλλ᾽ ἢ τέθνηκεν, ἢ τὰ τῶν διακόνων”, | “ὡς εἰκός, οἶμαι, τοὐμὸν ἐν σμικρῷ μέρος” | “ποιούμενοι τὸν οἴκαδ᾽ ἤπειγον στόλον”, “But either he is dead, or else, methinks, my messengers—as was likely—made small account of my concerns, and hastened on their homeward voyage.”—Jebb. HOM. Od. 11.90-1: “ἦλθε δ᾽ ἔπι ψυχὴ Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο”, | “χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων”. 16.476-7: “μείδησεν δ᾽ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο” | “ἐς πατέρ᾽ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών”. Il. 11.690: “ἐλθὼν γάρ ῤ̔ ἐκάκωσε βίη Ἡρακληείη”. Cf. 17.755-6 (120).
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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