§ 177. Incomplete Tenses.—I. The Present and Imperfect are used for actions of general or frequent occurrence: prŏbĭtās laudātur ĕt algĕt honesty is praised and freezes, Pausănĭās ĕpŭlābatŭr mōrĕ Persārum Pausanias used-to-banquet in the style of the Persians.
For the Perfect and Pluperfect in Dependent clauses see § 224 (2).
§ 178. II. The same tenses, especially the Imperfect, are also used of an action purposed or attempted, but not carried out : quĭd me terres? why do-you-try-to frighten me? sēdābant tŭmultūs they tried-to-allay the outbreaks.
This use affects the translation of many Verbs. Thus: dĕdi is I gave; but dō, dăam, often mean I offer, I offered.
§ 179. III. They are also used with iam already, and similar Adverbs, of actions which have been going on for some time; and they are then to be translated by English Completed tenses : annum iam audĭō Crătippum I have been already hearing (i.e. attending the lectures of) Cratippus for a year, iamdūdum tĭbĭ adversābăr I had long been opposing you.
§ 180. Completed Tenses denote a sudden action: terră trĕmit, fūgērĕ fĕrae the earth quakes, the wild beasts have fled (flee at once); terră trĕmŭĭt, fūgĕrant fĕrae the earth quaked, the wild beasts at once fled; sī terră trĕmĕt (or trĕmŭĕrĭt), fūgĕrint fĕrae if the earth quakes, the wild beasts will at once flee.
§ 181. Imaginative Uses of the Tenses.—Sometimes, by an effort of the imagination, the speaker transports himself to some point in the Past or the Future, and uses the Tenses which would then be correct.
§ 182. Present for Past.—The Present is often used vividly in speaking of past events; Iŭgurthă vallō moenĭă circumdat, Jugurtha surrounded the-walls with-an-entrenchment.
This use is called the Historic Present. It is regularly found with dum whilst.
