Asseverations

(III) Verbs of swearing.

ὀμνύναι swear by (τοὺς θεούς, pass. Ζεὺς ὀμώμοται) and swear to (τὸν ὅρκον, pass. ὁ ὅρκος ὀμώμοται). So ἐπιορκεῖν swear falsely by.

a. ὀμνύναι τοὺς θεούς may be an abbreviation of ὀμνύναι ὅρκον (internal object) τῶν θεῶν.

b. The accusative is used in asseverations with the adverbs of swearing μά, οὐ μά, ναὶ μά, νή.

Nay, by Zeus: μὰ (τὸν) Δία, οὐ μὰ (τὸν) Δία.

Yea, by Zeus: ναὶ μὰ (τὸν) Δία, νὴ (τὸν) Δία.

μά is negative, except when preceded by ναί. μά may stand alone when a negative precedes (often in a question) or when a negative follows in the next clause: μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω, οὔκ Ar. Thesm. 269. μά is sometimes omitted after οὐ, and after ναί: οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον S. O. T. 1088, ναὶ τᾱ̀ν κόρᾱν Ar. Vesp. 1438.

c. The name of the deity may be omitted in Attic under the influence of sudden scrupulousness: μὰ τὸν—οὐ σύ γε not you, by—P. G. 466e.

μά asseverative (cp. μήν, μέν asseverative) with the accusative of the divinity or thing by which one swears. In negative sentences we have οὐ μά or μά alone with the accusative; in affirmative sentences, ναὶ μά, but more commonly νή. The omission of the accusative may sometimes be due to indecision or to indifference and not always to scrupulousness (1596 c). μά means properly in truth, verily; but apparently governs the accusative after the ellipse of such verbs as I call to witness.

(III) Verbs of swearing.

ὀμνύναι swear by (τοὺς θεούς, pass. Ζεὺς ὀμώμοται) and swear to (τὸν ὅρκον, pass. ὁ ὅρκος ὀμώμοται). So ἐπιορκεῖν swear falsely by.

a. ὀμνύναι τοὺς θεούς may be an abbreviation of ὀμνύναι ὅρκον (internal object) τῶν θεῶν.

b. The accusative is used in asseverations with the adverbs of swearing μά, οὐ μά, ναὶ μά, νή.

Nay, by Zeus: μὰ (τὸν) Δία, οὐ μὰ (τὸν) Δία.

Yea, by Zeus: ναὶ μὰ (τὸν) Δία, νὴ (τὸν) Δία.

μά is negative, except when preceded by ναί. μά may stand alone when a negative precedes (often in a question) or when a negative follows in the next clause: μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω, οὔκ Ar. Thesm. 269. μά is sometimes omitted after οὐ, and after ναί: οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον S. O. T. 1088, ναὶ τᾱ̀ν κόρᾱν Ar. Vesp. 1438.

c. The name of the deity may be omitted in Attic under the influence of sudden scrupulousness: μὰ τὸν—οὐ σύ γε not you, by—P. G. 466e.

μά asseverative (cp. μήν, μέν asseverative) with the accusative of the divinity or thing by which one swears. In negative sentences we have οὐ μά or μά alone with the accusative; in affirmative sentences, ναὶ μά, but more commonly νή. The omission of the accusative may sometimes be due to indecision or to indifference and not always to scrupulousness (1596 c). μά means properly in truth, verily; but apparently governs the accusative after the ellipse of such verbs as I call to witness.

μή is often used with verbs and other expressions of asseveration and belief, after which we might expect οὐ with the infinitive in indirect discourse. Such verbs are those signifying to hope, expect, promise, put trust in, be persuaded, agree, testify, swear, etc. The use of μή indicates strong assurance, confidence, and resolve; and generally in regard to the future. Cp. 2723.

ἐλπὶς ῡ̔μᾶς μὴ ὀφθῆναι there is hope that you will not be seen X. C. 2.4.23, ὑπῑσχνοῦντο μηδὲν χαλεπὸν αὐτοὺς πείσεσθαι they promised that they should suffer no harm X. H. 4.4.5, πιστεύω . . . μὴ ψεύσειν με ταύτᾱς τᾱ̀ς ἀγαθᾱ̀ς ἐλπίδας I trust that these good hopes will not deceive me X. C. 1.5.13, θαυμάζω ὅπως ἐπείσθησαν Ἀθηναῖοι Σωκράτην περὶ θεοὺς μὴ σωφρονεῖν I wonder how the Athenians were persuaded that Socrates did not hold temperate opinions regarding the gods X. M. 1.1.20, ὁμολογεῖ μὴ μετεῖναί οἱ μακρολογίᾱς he acknowledges that he cannot make a long speech P. Pr. 336b, αὐτὸς ἑαυτοῦ καταμαρτυρεῖ μὴ ἐξ ἐκείνου γεγενῆσθαι he proves by his own testimony that he is not his son D. 40.47, ὤμοσεν ἦ μὴν μὴ εἶναί οἱ υἱὸν ἄλλον μηδὲ γενέσθαι πώποτε he swore that he had no other son and that none other had ever been born to him And. 1.126, ὤμνυε . . . μηδὲν εἰρηκέναι he swore that he had said nothing D. 21.119, ὀμοῦμαι μήποτ᾽ . . . ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ I will swear that I will never ward off the evil day Φ 373. Cp. Ar. Vesp. 1047, 1281, And. 1.90, Lyc. 76. With ὄμνῡμι the infinitive may refer to the present, past, or future.

ἦ is usually associated with other particles.

ἦ γάρ when used alone in dialogue = is it not so? Cp. n'est ce pas, nicht wahr? Elsewhere it often has the force of am I to understand that asked with surprise. Thus, ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει; what, dost thou in truth intend to bury him, when it is forbidden to the citizens? S. Ant. 44.

ἦ δή expresses lively surprise.

ἦ καί is found in animated questions. Here καί goes closely with ἦ.

ἦ μήν (Hom. ἦ μέν, ἦ μᾱ́ν) prefaces strong asseverations, threats, and oaths, in direct and indirect discourse. Thus, ἦ μὴν ἐγὼ ἔπαθόν τι τοιοῦτον in truth this was my experience P. A. 22a, ὄμνῡμι θεοὺς . . . ἦ μὴν μήτε με Ξενοφῶντα κελεῦσαι ἀφελέσθαι τὸν ἄνδρα μήτε ἄλλον ῡ̔μῶν μηδένα I swear by the gods upon my honour neither did Xenophon nor any one else among you bid me rescue the man X. A. 6.6.17.

ἦ που indeed, methinks, in poetry I ween. Here the shade of doubt indicated by πού is not real.