Exhorting

The imperfect of verbs of sending, going, saying, exhorting, etc., which imply continuous action, is often used where we might expect the aorist of concluded action. Thus, in ἔπεμπον, the action is regarded as unfinished since the goal is not reached: ἄγγελον ἔπεμπον καὶ τοὺς νεκροὺς ὑποσπόνδους ἀπέδοσαν they sent a messenger and surrendered the dead under a truce T. 2.6. In ἐκέλευον gave orders, urged, requested the command, etc., is regarded as not yet executed. In ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς τοιάδε he spoke to them as follows X. H. 1.6.4 (followed by the speech and ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτ᾽ εἶπεν 1. 6. 12) the speech is not thought of as a finished whole, but as developed point by point, as in ἐπἐιδὴ δὲ οὗτος ταῦτα ἔλεγεν, ἔλεξα but when he had said this, I said Ant. 6.21.

a. In messenger's speeches the speaker may go back to the time of receiving a command: ἰέναι σ᾽ ἐκέλευον οἱ στρατηγοὶ τήμερον the generals order you to depart to-day Ar. Ach. 1073.

Verbs of effort include verbs denoting to take care or pains, to strive.

ἐπιμελοῦμαι, μέλει μοι, μελετῶ, φρουρῶ, πρόνοιαν ἔχω, βουλεύομαι, μηχανῶμαι, παρασκευάζομαι, προθῡμοῦμαι, πρᾱ́ττω, πάντα ποιῶ (ποιοῦμαι), σπουδάζω, etc.

a. The same construction follows certain verbs of will signifying to ask, command, entreat, exhort , and forbid, and which commonly take the infinitive (αἰτῶ, δέομαι, παραγγέλλω, ἱκετεύω, δια- or παρακελεύομαι, ἀπαγορεύω, etc.).

b. Some verbs take, by analogy, but in negative clauses only, the construction either of verbs of effort or of verbs of fearing. These verbs signify to see to a thing: ὁρῶ, σκοπῶ (-οῦμαι), ἐσκεψάμην, σκεπτέον ἐστί, τηρῶ; to be on one's guard: εὐλαβοῦμαι, φροντίζω, φυλάττω (-ομαι). See 2220.

These verbs may take μή with the infinitive. εὐλαβοῦμαι and φυλάττομαι take the infinitive when they mean to guard against doing something.

Verbs of will or desire signifying to ask, command, entreat, exhort , and forbid, which usually have an infinitive as their object, may take ὅπως (ὅπως μή) with the future indicative (or optative) or the subjunctive (or optative). The ὅπως clause states both the command, etc. and the purpose in giving it. Between take care to do this and I bid you take care to do this the connection is close. Cp. impero, postulo with ut (ne).

διακελεύονται ὅπως τῑμωρήσεται they urge him to take revenge P. R. 549e, δεήσεται δ᾽ ῡ̔μῶν ὅπως . . . δίκην μὴ δῷ he will entreat you that he may not suffer punishment Ant. 1.23, παραγγέλλουσιν ὅπως ἂν (2215) τῇδε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τελευτήσῃ they give orders (to the end) that he die to-day P. Ph. 59e, Λακεδαιμονίων ἐδέοντο τὸ ψήφισμ᾽ ὅπως μεταστραφείη they begged the Lacedaemonians that the decree might be changed Ar. Ach. 536, ἀπηγόρευες ὅπως μὴ τοῦτο ἀποκρινοίμην you forbade me to give this answer P. R. 339a.

Verbs of commanding and exhorting (κελεύω, λέγω, βοῶ), asking (αἰτῶ, ἀξιῶ), advising (συμβουλεύω), and other verbs of will or desire of like meaning, take μή.

ἐκέλευε . . . μὴ ἐρεθίζειν he ordered him not to provoke his wrath P. R. 393e, ἔλεγον αὐτοῖς μὴ ἀδικεῖν they told them not to commit injustice T. 2.5, ἐβόων ἀλλήλοις μὴ θεῖν they shouted to each other not to run X. A. 1.8.19, ῑ̔κέτευε μὴ κτεῖναι he besought them not to kill him L. 1.25, συμβουλεύω σοι . . . μὴ ἀφαιρεῖσθαι ἃ ἂν δῷς I advise you not to take away what you may have given X. C. 4.5.32.