[*] 532. The principal clause, on which a final clause depends, is often to be supplied from the context:—
- “ac nē longum sit ... iussimus ” (Cat. 3.10) , and, not to be tedious, we ordered, etc. [Strictly, in order not to be tedious, I say we ordered.]
- “sed ut ad Dionȳsium redeāmus ” (Tusc. 5.63) , but to return to Dionysius.
- “sed ut eōdem revertar, causa haec fuit timōris ” (Fam. 6.7.3) , but, to return to the same point, this was the cause of fear.
- “ satis incōnsīderātī fuit, nē dīcam audācis ” (Phil. 13.12) , it was the act of one rash enough, not to say daring.
[*] Note 1.--By a similar ellipsis the Subjunctive is used with nēdum (sometimes nē ), still less, not to mention that:—
- “ nēdum salvī esse possīmus ” (Clu. 95) , much less could we be safe.
- nēdum istī nōn statim conquīsītūrī sint aliquid sceleris et flāgitī; (Leg. Agr. 2.97), far more will they hunt up at once some sort of crime and scandal.
- “ nēdum in marī et viā sit facile ” (Fam. 16.8) , still less is it easy at sea and on a journey.
- quippe secundae rēs sapientium animōs fatīgant; nē illī corruptīs mōribus victōriae temperārent (Sall. Cat. 11), for prosperity overmasters the soul even of the wise; much less did they with their corrupt morals put any check on victory.
[*] Note 2.--With nēdum the verb itself is often omitted: as,aptius hūmānitātī tuae quam tōta Peloponnēsus, “ nēdum Patrae” (Fam. 7.28.1) , fitter for your refinement than all Peloponnesus, to say nothing of Patræ.
For Substantive Clauses involving purpose, see §§ 563-566.