[1] The present subjunctive of volō i.e. velim is the equivalent of
English: I should
/ would like
French / Russian
(conditional): je voudrais; ya khotel by
[Я хотел бы]
Spanish / German
(imperfect subjunctive): quisiera / ich möchte
[2] The verb velim
itself is considered in grammar to be
a potential subjunctive i.e. something that you would like to do. However, both in Latin and in the other
languages given above, it conveys polite wish rather than a forceful
command.
[i] Referring to
self + infinitive
Scīre velim. (Cicero)│ I would like ¦ to know.
Aetātem velim
servīre (Plautus) │ I would be willing ¦ to be a slave all my
life.
[ii] Referring to
others
(1)
+ ut +
subjunctive
Velim ut
tibi amicus sit (Cicero) │ I would like ¦ him ¦ to be a friend to
you
Velim quidem,
hercle, ut ūnō nummō plūs petās (Plautus) │ I would certainly
wish, by Hercules, ¦ that you would ask for one coin more.
(2)
+
accusative + infinitive
Nunc ego illam
mē velim convenīre (Plautus) │
Now I should like her ¦ to meet me.
Velim tē
arbitrārī factum (Plautus) │ I would like you ¦ to consider it
done.
[iii] Cicero, for
example, frequently omits ut with the subjunctive, but it is the same
construction:
Velim ad mē scribās │ I would like you to write to me.
Velim domum ad tē scrībās │ I would like
you to write (to your) home.
Et scrībās ad
mē velim dē gladiātōribus │ And I would like you to write to me about
the gladiators.
Et velim
mihi mittās dē tuīs librāriolīs duōs aliquōs│ I would like you to send
me two of your library slaves.
Ignōscās
mihi velim │ I would like you to forgive me.
Dionȳsium velim salvēre iubeās │ I should like you to send greetings to
Dionysius.
Faciās mē
certiōrem velim │ I would like you to let me know.
From Plautus:
Nunc ego, ille hūc
veniat, velim │ Now I do wish that he would come here.
[3] You will come
across further examples of verbs of wishing which will show the features
discussed above, but we will focus on:
nōlō, nōlle: to
not want / refuse > present subjunctive; nōlim │ I would not wish
mālō, mālle:
prefer > present subjunctive: mālim │ I would prefer
[i] Referring to
self
Scīre nōlō (Plautus) │ I don’t want
¦ to know
Laudārī multō mālō (Plautus) │ I
much prefer ¦ to be praised.
[ii] Referring to
others
(1)
Nōlō ut fallās fidem (Hyginus) │ I
don't want you to break faith.
Note the more
common omission of ut:
Nōlō, inquam, ōrēs (Plautus) │ I wish
you would not request me, I tell you.
Nōlim praetermittās (Cicero) │ I would
not want you to overlook (it).
“Tū mālim,"
inquiēs, "āctum nē agās." (Cicero) │ You will say, “I would
prefer you not to do what has already been done.”
(2)
Nōlō ego tē assentārī mihi (Plautus)
│ I don’t want you to flatter me.
Nōlō equidem tē afflīgī (Plautus) │ I
really don’t want you to be hurt.
Mānīlium
Persiumve haec legere nōlō (Gaius Lucilius) │ I do not want
Manilius or Persius to read these things.
Num nōn vīs mē
obviam hīsce īre? (Plautus) │ Won't you let ¦ me go to find them?
[literally: Surely you don’t refuse …]
Nōn vult populus Rōmānus obsolētīs crīminibus accūsārī
Verrem (Cicero) │ The Roman people do not want Verres to be accused on
the basis of outdated charges.
Tē nōlim discēdere (Cicero)│ I would
not want you to leave.
Id caput sānē nōlim
novōs tribūnōs plēbis ferre (Cicero) │ That clause I would
rather the new tribunes did not propose.
Mālim tē
mihi graviter īrāscī quam libenter ignōscere (Fronto) │ I
would prefer you to be seriously angry with me than willingly forgive me.
The key
“take-away” is to be aware of different structures with verbs of wishing. There
are other verbs that operate in similar ways.
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