| Optative: Other Meanings |
| The grammar books only distinguish two meanings. But this
restriction to two meanings was partly dependent on the belief that
the optative is parallel to the subjunctive, and I don't believe this
parallelism exists. Considering the whole range of optative sentences,
several examples do not fit into the traditional model. I have divided
these into two types: |
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1.
Objective deontic |
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This is non-performative deontic meaning: it is a statement
reporting the existence of an obligation. |
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2.
Dynamic |
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This category mainly refers to the capabilities of the subject and
is usually translated by English 'can'. |
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| I 2.250 |
τὼ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμ' ἔχων
ἀγορεύοις
καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις. |
You must stop taking the names of kings in vain, insulting
them, all the time looking for a chance to get home. |
| O 20.135 |
οὐκ ἄν μιν νῦν, τέκνον, ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳο. |
Child, you shouldn’t hold her responsible this time. |
| I 1.100 |
τότε κέν μιν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν. |
Then we can persuade the gods with our propitiations |
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