Herbert Weir Smyth [
n.d.],
A Greek Grammar for Colleges; Machine readable text [
info] [
word count] [
Smyth].
2167
Asyndeton also appears when the unconnected sentence
a. Summarizes the main contents, or expresses the result, of the preceding.
-- 485 -- Thus, πάντ' ἔχεις λόγον
you have the whole story
A. Ag. 582, ἀκηκόατε, ἑωρἁ_κατε, πεπόνθατε, ἔχετε· δικάζετε
you have heard, you have seen, you have suffered, you have the evidence; pronounce your judgment
L. 12.100, φυλακῇ μέντοι πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν ἐντευξόμεθα· ἔστι γὰρ ἀεὶ τεταγμένη. οὐκ ἂν μέλλειν δέοι, ἔφη ὁ Κῦρος, ἀλλ' ἰέναι however, we shall meet with a guard in front of the gates, for one is always stationed there. We must not delay, but advance, said Cyrus X. C. 7.5.25. This is often the case when a demonstrative takes up the foregoing thought (as ἔδοξε ταῦτα X. A. 1.3.20) or continues the narrative, as in ἀκούσα_σι τοῖς στρατηγοῖς ταῦτα ἔδοξε τὸ στράτευμα συναγαγεῖν 4. 4. 19 (cp. cross2061).
b. Expresses a reason or explains the preceding. Thus, μι_κρὸν δ' ὕπνου λαχὼν εἶδεν ὄναρ· ἔδοξεν αὐτῷ . . . σκηπτὸς πεσεῖν κτλ. when he had snatched a little sleep, he saw a vision; a bolt of lightning seemed to him to fall, etc. X. A. 3.1.11, ἱκοῦ πρὸς οἴκους· πᾶς σε Καδμείων λεὼς καλεῖ
come home; all the Cadmean folk calls thee
S. O. C. 741. Here γάρ or ἄρα might have been used. So often after a preparatory word (often a demonstrative); as ταὐτὸν δή μοι δοκεῖ τοῦτ' ἄρα καὶ περὶ τὴν ψυ_χὴν εἶναι· ἔνδηλα πάντα ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ ψυ_χῇ ἐπειδὰν γυμνωθῇ τοῦ σώματος κτλ. now it seems to me that this is the same with regard to the soul too; everything in the soul is open to view when a man is stripped of his body P. G. 524d. ἑνὶ μόνῳ προέχουσιν οἱ ἱππεῖς ἡμᾶς· φεύγειν αὐτοῖς ἀσφαλέστερόν ἐστιν ἢ ἡμῖν
in one point alone has the cavalry the advantage of us: it is safer for them to run away than for us
X. A. 3.2.19, and so when ὥσπερ is followed by οὕτω καί (P. R. 557c). Also when μέν γε . . . δέ take up what precedes, as ὅμοιός γε Σόλων νομοθέτης καί Τι_μοκράτης· ὁ μέν γε . . . ὁ δέ D. 24.106. Furthermore after τεκμήριον δέ ( cross994), as T. 2.50.
c. Repeats a significant word or phrase of the earlier sentence (anaphora). Thus, καὶ ὅτῳ δοκεῖ ταῦτα, ἀνατεινάτω τὴν χεῖρα· ἀνέτειναν ἅπαντες
and let him who approves this, hold up his hand; they all held up their hands
X. A. 3.2.33. In poetry a thought is often repeated in a different form by means of a juxtaposed sentence (S. Tr. 1082).
d. Sets forth a contrast in thought to the preceding. This is commoner in poetry than in prose. Thus, μέλλοντα ταῦτα· τῶν προκειμένων τι χρὴ πρά_σσειν
this lies in the future; the present must be thy care
S. Ant. 1334.
e. Introduces a new thought or indicates a change to a new form of expression. Thus, ἀλλ' ἰτέον, ἔφη. πρῶτόν με ὑπομνήσατε ἃ ἐλέγετε but we must proceed, said he. First recall to my mind what you were saying P. Ph. 91c.
f. Is introduced by a word stressed by emotion, as ταῦτα D. 3.32, ἐγώ 4. 29.
On juxtaposition of participles, see cross2147.
Herbert Weir Smyth [
n.d.],
A Greek Grammar for Colleges; Machine readable text [
info] [
word count] [
Smyth].
