Indignation

Infinitive in Exclamations.—The infinitive is often used in exclamations of surprise or indignation. The subject stands in the accusative.

ἐμὲ παθεῖν τάδε that I should suffer this! A. Eum. 837, τοιουτονῑ̀ τρέφειν κύνα to keep a dog like that! Ar. Vesp. 835.

On the infinitive with ἐφ᾽ ᾧ (ἐφ᾽ ᾧτε) see 2279; with πρίν, see 2453.

εἶτα and ἔπειτα (more emphatic κᾆτα, κᾱ̓́πειτα) introduce questions expressing surprise, indignation, irony, etc.; and often indicate a contrast between what a person has or has not done and what is or was to be expected of him. Thus, εἶτα πῶς οὐκ εὐθὺς ἐπήγειράς με; then why did you not rouse me at once? P. Cr. 43b.

In questions, γάρ asks for confirmation of a preceding statement, or expresses assent or dissent; asks whether an act before mentioned was not reasonable; asks a question prompted by some form of emotion; and serves to indicate transition, etc.

a. In questions γάρ often marks surprise or indignation, and may frequently be translated by what, why, then, really, surely. Thus, ταυτῑ̀ λέγεις σὺ στρατηγὸν πτωχὸς ὤν; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πτωχός; do you, beggar that you are, address your general thus? what! I a beggar? Ar. Ach. 593, ἦ ζῇ γὰρ ᾱ̔νήρ; is the man really alive? S. El. 1221, οἴει γάρ σοι μαχεῖσθαι . . . τὸν ἀδελφόν; do you really think that your brother is going to fight? X. A. <*> 7. 9. So τίς γάρ; who then, why who?

b. Brief interrogative for<*>ulae asking for confirmation of a preceding statement are:

τί γάρ; what then, how when, how else? τί γάρ also serves as a formula of transition (now, well then, now what . . ., furthermore).

ἦ γάρ; is it not so? surely this is so? (cp. n'est ce pas). Often of surprise.

οὐ γάρ; is it not so? often in indignant questions; when not standing alone, why not?

<*>ῶς γάρ; πόθεν γάρ; imply that something is impossible (often of surprise). Cp. πῶς γὰρ οὔ; in negative rhetorical questions.

δαί is used in colloquial Attic after interrogative words to express wonder, indignation, etc. Thus, τί δαί; πῶς δαί; what then? how so?

In questions, καί before an interrogative expression marks an objection occasioned by surprise or indignation; as καὶ τίς θανόντων ἦλθεν ἐξ Ἅιδου πάλιν; and, pray, who of the dead has come back from Hades? E. H. F. 297. So καὶ πῶς; pray, how comes it that? Cp. Eng. and when a speaker is stopped by an abrupt question.

a. After an interrogative expression adverbial καί asks for further information concerning a statement assumed to be true. Thus, ποίου χρόνου δὲ καὶ πεπόρθηται πόλις; but when was the city captured? A. Ag. 278. Cp. 2884.