§532. Clauses of Purpose (Final Clauses)

The principal clause, on which a final clause depends, is often to be supplied from the context:—

• ac nē longum sit ... iussimus (Cat. 3.10), and, not to be tedious, we ordered, etc. [Strictly, in order not to be tedious, I say we ordered.]
• sed ut ad Dionȳsium redeāmus (Tusc. 5.63), but to return to Dionysius.
• sed ut eōdem revertar, causa haec fuit timōris (Fam. 6.7.3), but, to return to the same point, this was the cause of fear.
• satis incōnsīderātī fuit, nē dīcam audācis (Phil. 13.12), it was the act of one rash enough, not to say daring.

• nēdum salvī esse possīmus (Clu. 95), much less could we be safe.
• nēdum istī nōn statim conquīsītūrī sint aliquid sceleris et flāgitī; (Leg. Agr. 2.97), far more will they hunt up at once some sort of crime and scandal.
• nēdum in marī et viā sit facile (Fam. 16.8), still less is it easy at sea and on a journey.
• quippe secundae rēs sapientium animōs fatīgant; nē illī corruptīs mōribus victōriae temperārent (Sall. Cat. 11), for prosperity overmasters the soul even of the wise; much less did they with their corrupt morals put any check on victory.

For Substantive Clauses involving purpose, see §§ 563-566.