[*] 36. The imperfect, like the present (25), sometimes denotes attempted action, being here strictly an imperfect tense. So especially ἐδίδουν and ἔπειθον. E.g.
- “( Φίλιππος ) Ἁλόννησον ἐδίδου,” “Philip offered Halonnesus (literally, tried to give it).” AESCHIN. iii. 83.
- “Ἕκαστος ἔπειθεν αὐτὸν ὑποστῆναι τὴν ἀρχήν,” “each one tried to persuade him to undertake the command.” XEN. An. vi. 1, 19 .
- “Κῦμα ἵστατ᾽ ἀειρόμενον, κατὰ δ᾽ ᾕρεε Πηλείωνα,” “and was about to overpower the son of Peleus.” Il. xxi. 327.
- “Ἐμισθοῦτο παρ᾽ οὐκ ἐκδιδόντος τὴν αὐλήν,” “he tried to hire the yard of one who refused to let it.” HDT. i. 68.
- “Πέμψαντες ἐς Σάρδις χρυσὸν ὠνέοντο,” “they sent to Sardis and wanted to buy gold.” HDT. i. 69.
- “Ἐπεθύμησε τῆς χλανίδος, καὶ αὐτὴν προσελθὼν ὠνέετο,” “he took a fancy (aor.) to the cloak, and tried to buy it.” HDT. iii. 139.
- “Ἃ ἐπράσσετο οὐκ ἐγένετο,” “what was attempted did not happen.” THUC. vi. 74.
- So “προσετίθει,” “she wanted to add,” AR. Nub. 63.