§366. Indirect Object with Intransitives

The Dative of the Indirect Object may be used with any Intransitive verb whose meaning allows:—

• cēdant arma togae (Phil. 2.20), let arms give place to the gown.
• Caesarī respondet, he replies to Cæsar.
• Caesarī respondētur, a reply is given to Cæsar (Cæsar is replied to). [Cf. § 372.]
• respondī maximīs crīminibus (Phil. 2.36), I have answered the heaviest charges.
• ut ita cuique ēveniat (id. 2.119), that it may so turn out to each.

a. Many phrases consisting of a noun with the copula sum or a copulative verb are equivalent to an intransitive verb and take a kind of indirect object (cf. § 367. a. N.2):—

• auctor esse alicui, to advise or instigate one (cf. persuādeō).
• quis huic reī testis est (Quinct. 37), who testifies (is witness) to this fact?
• is fīnis populātiōnibus fuit (Liv. 2.30.9), this put an end to the raids.

b. The dative is sometimes used without a copulative verb in a sense approaching that of the genitive (cf. §§ 367. d, 377):—

• lēgātus frātrī (Mur. 32), a lieutenant to his brother (i.e. a man assigned to his brother).
• ministrī sceleribus (Tac. Ann. 6.36), agents of crime. [Cf. sēditiōnis ministrī (id. 1.17), agents of sedition.]
• miseriīs suīs remedium mortem exspectāre (Sall. Cat. 40), to look for death as a cure for their miseries. [Cf. sōlus meārum miseriārumst remedium (Ter. Ad. 294).]