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468. The Present, especially in colloquial language and poetry, is often used for the Future:—
  1. “īmusne sessum ” (De Or. 3.17) , shall we take a seat? (are we going to sit?)
  2. “hodiē uxōrem dūcis ” (Ter. And. 321) , are you to be married to-day?
  3. quod sī fit, pereō funditus (id. 244), if this happens, I am utterly undone.
  4. “ecquid mē adiuvās ” (Clu. 71) , won't you give me a little help?
  5. “in iūs vocō tē. nōn eō. nōn īs ” (Pl. Asin. 480) , I summon you to the court. I won't go. You won't?

Note.-- Eō and its compounds are especially frequent in this use (cf. where are you going to-morrow? and the Greek εἶμι in a future sense). Verbs of necessity, possibility, wish, and the like (as possum , volō , etc.) also have reference to the future.

For other uses of the Present in a future sense, see under Conditions (§ 516. a. N.), antequam and priusquam (§ 551. c), dum (§ 553. N. 2), and § 444. a. N.

Historical Present

Ginn and Company, 1903.

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