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425. Similar to this is the occasional use of ἐβουλόμην (with out ἄν) and the infinitive, to express what some one wishes were now true (but which is not true). E.g. Ἐβουλόμην μὲν οὖν καὶ τὴν βουλὴν καὶ τὰς ἐκκλησίας ὀρθῶς διοικεῖσθαι καὶ τοὺς νόμους ἰσχύειν, I would that both the Senate and the assemblies were rightly managed, and that the laws were in force (implying the opposite of ὀρθῶς διοικεῖσθαι and ἰσχύειν). This is analogous to ὤφελεν εἶναι, would that it were, and ἔδει εἶναι, it ought to be (but is not). AESCHIN. iii. 2. Ἐβουλόμην μὲν οὐκ ἐρίζειν ἐνθάδε, I would that I were not contending here (as I am), or I would not be contending here. AR. Ran. 866. Ἐβουλόμην τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ λέγειν ἐξ ἴσου μοι καθεστάναι τῇ συμφορᾷ, “I would that power of speech equal to my misfortune were granted me.” ANT. v. i. Ἐβουλόμην κἀγὼ τἀληθῆ πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰπεῖν δυνηθῆναι, “I would that I had found the power to tell you the truth.” ISAE. x. 1. Ἐβουλόμην μηδ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἑνὸς ἀδικεῖσθαι τῶν πολιτῶν, I would I had not been wronged by a single one of the citizens. Frag. Id. 4 (Scheibe): see Frag. 22.

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