Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek

The middle is not compulsory. The use of the active where the middle might have been expected may sometimes be ascribed to the aristocratic disdain of effect (see Pindaric examples below), just as in late Greek the middle is sometimes used in order to produce a grander sound.

“τὰ χρήματα . . . ἐξεκόμισε”, LYCURG.38; He got his money out safe.

LYCURG.38(see above).

PLATO, Protag. 324D: “οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ ἀγαθοὶ . . . τοὺς αὑτῶν υἱεῖς διδάσκουσι ἃ διδασκάλων ἔχεται”, with which compare ibid. 325 D: “οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ἄνδρες . . . τὰ μὲν ἄλλα διδάσκονται τοὺς υἱεῖς . . . τὰ μὲν ἄλλα ἄρα τοὺς υἱεῖς διδάσκονται”.

HDT.2.51: “τοῦ δὲ Ἑρμέω τὰ ἀγάλματα ὀρθὰ ἔχειν τὰ αἰδοῖα ποιεῦντες οὐκ ἀπ᾽ Αἰγυπτίων μεμαθήκασι, ἀλλ̓ ἀπὸ Πελασγῶν”, with which compare just below: “ὀρθὰ ὦν ἔχειν τὰ αἰδοῖα τἀγάλματα τοῦ Ἑρμέω Ἀθηναῖοι πρῶτοι Ἑλλήνων μαθόντες παρὰ Πελασγῶν ἐποιήσαντο”. 2.143: “ἀρχιερεὺς γὰρ ἕκαστος αὐτόθι ἱστᾷ” (v. l. “ἵσταται”) “ἐπὶ τῆς ἑωυτοῦ ζόης εἰκόνα ἑωυτοῦ”.

PIND. P. 1.49: “οἵαν” (sc. “τιμάν”) “οὔτις Ἑλλάνων δρέπει”, and similarly P. 4.130 and 6.48; with which compare N. 2.6-10: “ὀφείλει δ᾽ ἔτι . . . θαμὰ μὲν Ἰσθμιάδων δρέπεσθαι κάλλιστον ἄωτον . . . Τιμονόου παῖδ”（“α”).

HOM. Il. 5.859: “ἐκ δὲ δόρυ σπάσεν αὖτις”, And out again he plucked the shaft; and similarly 6.65; 12.395; 13.178. (For the use of the middle in similar examples, see 147). Ibid. 8.336: “οἳ δ᾽ ἰθὺς τάφροιο βαθείης ὦσαν Ἀχαιούς”, But they thrust the Achaeans straight toward the deep trench; and similarly 13.193; 16.45; 569; 17.274. (For the use of the middle in similar examples, see 147.)