§ 391. The Perfect Subjunctive is sometimes found in Secondary Sequence instead of the Imperfect.
It is hardly ever so used except in Consecutive sentences, and where a single definite act is meant.
| Dĭŏnȳsĭŭs ĕō factŏ sīc dŏlŭĭt nĭhĭl ŭt grăvĭŭs tŭlĕrĭt in vītā | Dionysius was so much pained at that occurrence that he took nothing more to heart in his life. |
For another use of the Perf. Subj. in Secondary Sequence, see § 420.
§ 392. Apparent exceptions to the Sequence of Tenses.—These occur when it is important to denote the exact time of an action, and a false impression would be conveyed if it were referred to the time of the leading Verb.
| Vĭdĕō causās essĕ permultās quae istum impellĕrent | I see there were (at that time) many causes to urge him on. |
| Haec quantum īn prōvinciā vălĕant vellem expertus essem | I wish I had learned from experience how much weight these things have in a province. |
| Sĭcĭlĭam Verrēs per trĭennĭum ĭtă vexāvĭt ŭt ĕă resĭtĭī ĭn antīquum stătum nūllō mŏdō possĭt | Verres so persecuted Sicily for three years that it cannot possibly now be restored to its original condition. |
The Subjunctive Mood.
§ 393. Consecutive Sentences.—These denote the consequence or result of an action. This may be either—
(a) An Action Caused, or
(b) An Action Prevented.
(a) An Action caused is expressed by ŭt: sōl efficit ŭt omnĭă flōrĕant the sun makes all things bloom; quĭs tam dēmēns ŭt sŭa vŏluntātĕ maerĕăt? who is so senseless as to grieve of his own choice?
(b) An Action Prevented is expressed:
By ŭt . . nōn, after a Positive sentence: ĭtă mĭsĕr est ŭt mortem nōn tĭmĕăt he is so wretched that he does not fear death.
