§441. Subjunctive Mood

The Optative Subjunctive is used to express a Wish. The present tense denotes the wish as possible, the imperfect as unaccomplished in present time, the pluperfect as unaccomplished in past time. The negative is nē:—

• ita vīvam (Att. 5.15), as true as I live, so may I live.
• ne vīvam sī sciō; (id. 4.16.8), I wish I may not live if I know.
• dī tē perduint (Deiot. 21), the gods confound thee!
• valeant, valeant cīvēs meī; sint incolumēs (Mil. 93), farewell, farewell to my fellow-citizens; may they be secure from harm.
• dī facerent sine patre forem (Ov. M. 8.72), would that the gods allowed me to be without a father (but they do not)!

a. The perfect subjunctive in a wish is archaic:—

• dī faxint (Fam. 14.3.3), may the gods grant.
• quod dī ōmen āverterint (Phil. 12.14, in a religious formula), and may the gods avert this omen.