§531. Clauses of Purpose (Final Clauses)

Final Clauses take the Subjunctive introduced by ut ( utī), negative nē ( ut nē), or by a Relative Pronoun or Adverb.—

• Pure Clauses of Purpose, with ut ( utī) or nē ( ut nē), express the purpose of the main verb in the form of a modifying clause:—

  • ab arātrō abdūxērunt Cincinnātum, utdictātor esset (Fin. 2.12), they brought Cincinnatus from the plough that he might be dictator.
  • ut sint auxiliō suīs, subsistunt (B. C. 1.80), they halt in order to support (be an aid to) their own men.
  • nē mīlitēs oppidum inrumperent, portās obstruit (id. 1.27), he barricaded the gates, in order that the soldiers might not break into the town.
  • scālās parārī iubet,nē quam facultātem dīmittat (id. 1.28), he orders scalingladders to be got ready, in order not to let slip any opportunity.
  • ut nē sit impūne (Mil. 31), that it be not with impunity.
  • lēgumidcircō servī sumus,ut līberī sīmus (Clu 146), for this reason we are subject to the laws, that we may be free.
  • cōpiās trānsdūxit eō cōnsiliō, utcastellum expūgnāret (cf. B. G. 2.9), he led the troops across with this design—to storm the fort.

• Relative Clauses of Purpose are introduced by the relative pronoun quī or a relative adverb ( ubi, unde, quō, etc.). The antecedent is expressed or implied in the main clause:—

  • mittitur L. Dēcidius Saxaquī locī nātūram perspiciat (B. C. 1.66), Lucius Decidius Saxa is sent to examine the ground (who should examine, etc.).
  • scrībēbat ōrātiōnēsquās aliī dīcerent (Brut. 206), he wrote speeches for other men to deliver.
  • eō exstīnctō fore unde discerem nēminem (Cat. M. 12), that when he was dead there would be nobody from whom (whence) I could learn.
  • huic nē ubi cōnsisteret quidem contrā tē locum relīquistī; (Quinct. 73), you have left him no ground even to make a stand against you.
  • habēbam quō cōnfugerem (Fam. 4.6.2), I had [a retreat] whither I might flee.

a. The ablative quō (= ut eō) is used as a conjunction in final clauses which contain a comparative:—

• comprimere eōrum audāciam, quō facilius cēterōrum animī frangerentur (Fam. 15.4.10), to repress their audacity, that the spirit of the others might be broken more easily (by which the more easily).
• lībertāte ūsus est, quō impūnius dicāx esset (Quinct. 11), he took advantage of liberty, that he might bluster with more impunity.

For quōminus (= ut eō minus) after verbs of hindering, see § 558. b.