02.09.26: Level 3+; Conditional clauses [4]: sī + quis, quid, quandō

[1] Conditional clauses can be indefinite, i.e. they do not refer to any specific person, thing, or time, but express general or open-ended reference.

[i]

(a) sī + quis (which can decline): if anyone / someone

Ac sī quis est tālis … nōn est ista mea culpa (Cicero)

• But if there is anyone of that sort … that’s not my fault.

Sī quī exīre volunt, cōnīvēre possum (Cicero)

• If anyone wishes to leave, I can look the other way.

(b) Similarly with nisi:

Nisi quis retinet, īdem suāsor auctorque cōnsiliī erō (Tacitus)

• Unless someone holds (me back), I shall be the proposer and instigator of the plan.

Quid igitur? quī nunc vocāre? / Nēmō nisi quem iusseris (Plautus)

• Well then — who am I to summon now? / No one, unless you order someone.

[ii]

(a) sī + quid: if anything / something

• Sī quid est ... prōvidendum est (Cicero)

If there is anything, it should be guarded against.

Ego ad tē, sī quid audierō citius, scrībam (Cicero)

• If I hear anything, I shall write to you first.

(b) Similarly with nisi:

Ego eō ad forum, nisi quid vīs (Plautus)

• I’m going to the forum unless you want anything.

Ego, nisi quid mē vīs, eō lavātum (Platusu)

• If you do not want me for anything / Unless you want me for something, I’m going to get washed.

[iii] sī + quandō: if ever

In senātū sī quandō praeclārē prō rē pūblicā dīxerō (Cicero)

• If I ever make a notable speech in the Senate on behalf of the republic

Sī quandō opus erit, … (Cicero)

• If there is ever a need …

Examples:

Sī quis ¦ quid reddit, magna habenda est grātia (Terence)

• If anyone gives anything back, one should be very grateful

Sī quid in tē peccāvī … ignōsce (Cicero)

• If I have wronged you in any respect, forgive me.

Dumtaxat rūmōrēs, vel etiam sī qua certa habēs dē Caesare, exspectō (Cicero)

• At the very least, I am waiting for rumours or even if you have any certain (news) about Caesar

Nec posthāc quisquam damnābitur, nisi quī hominem occīdent (Cicero)

• And from now on, no one shall be condemned, except those who kill a man.

Cicero referring to statues:

Illa omnia in Tusculānum dēportābō. Cāiētam, sī quandō abundāre coeperō, ōrnābō.

• I’ll bring all those to my place at Tusculum. If I ever start filling it too much [ = literally: if I ever start to overflow], I’ll decorate Caieta.