Many verbs of the 3d Conjugation end in sco, and as they express the beginning of action they are called Inchoative or Inceptive Verbs. Among these are—

FOURTH CONJUGATION.

Most of the Verbs are conjugated like audio, audire, audivi,

NOTE 1. Děsilio, leap down, makes desilui, desultum.

Insilio, leap on, makes insilui, insultum.

NOTE 2: The Perfect and Supine of ferio are supplied by percussi, percussum.

PART IV.

ON CASE-CONSTRUCTIONS.

1. THE ACCUSATIVE AND INFINITIVE.

186. In the sentence Video nostros amicos cupere bellum, the last four words must be regarded as the Object of the transitive verb video. In English they would be put in a separate clause, introduced by the conjunction that—I see that our friends are eager for war.

So again with the Past Infinitive—

Cicero dixit se ad Caesarem scripsisse, Cicero said that he wrote (or, had written) to Caesar.

and again with the Future Infinitive

Placiturum tibi esse librum meum spero, I hope (that) my book will please you.

This construction, which occurs very frequently, is called the construction of the Accusative and Infinitive.

NOTE. With impersonal expressions such as-Constat, it is admitted; certum est, it is determined; fama est, it is reported, the Accusative and Infinitive forms the Subject of the sentence., Constat Ascanium Albam Longam condidisse.

Certius tibi est me esse Romae quam mihi te Athenis.
Fama fuit Themistoclem venenum sua sponte sumpsisse.

140

187. The accusative with infinitive is used as the object after Verbs of stating, perceiving, hoping, thinking, rejoicing.

Thales Milesius aquam dixit esse initium rerum.
Anaxagoras nivem nigram dixit esse.

Cato dicebat nihil agendo homines male agere
discere.

Plinius dicere solebat amorem magistrum esse optimum.

Laelius negat eum bene cenare, qui omnia ponat in voluptate.

Negat Diagoras esse Deos.

Sentimus calere ignem, nivem esse albam, dulce mel.

Vides Demosthenem multa perficere, nos multa conari.

Audio Catonem mortuum esse.

Sic enim a majoribus nostris accepimus, praetorem quaestori suo parentis loco esse oportere. Spero me tibi causam probasse.

Spero te mihi ignoscere.

Credo vos non pecuniam sed gloriam concupisse.
Gaudeo tibi iucundas meas esse litteras.

Quis miratur me ad accusandum descendere ?
Miror te ad me nihil scribere.

Deos esse dubitavit Protagoras.

Thales dixit homines existimare oportere deos omnia cernere.

Fama nuntiabat te isse in Syriam.

2. CASES DEPENDING ON CERTAIN ADJECTIVES.

188.

Genitive with Adjectives.

Many adjectives take an objective genitive (§ 77). The following are all thus used by Cicero

Cupidus,. Conscius,

Expers,

Ignārus,

Invidus,

Měmor,

Immĕmor,

Pěritus,

Rudis,

Similis,

Certus,

you.

Sum cupidus te audiendi, I am anxious to hear
Ego mihi nullius culpae conscius sum, I am not
conscious of having done any wrong.

Homo expers consilii, A fellow devoid of judg

ment.

Ignarus mearum rerum fui, I was ignorant about my own affairs.

Invidus laudum mearum, Envious of the praise bestowed on me.

Memores erant virtutis tuae, They remembered your high character.

Ne me immemorem mandati tui putaveris, Do
not think me unmindful of your commission.
Constat inter omnes neminem te juris peritiorem
esse, All allow that your knowledge of law is
unsurpassed.

Graecarum litterarum rudis, Unacquainted with
Greek.

Phidias sui similem speciem inclusit in clipeo
Minervae, Phidias inserted a likeness of himself
in the shield of Minerva.

Very commonly in the phrase, Certiorem facere, to make a man better informed, to inform :

Utinam tui consilii certior factus essem;

Pompeius certiorem me sui consilii fecit.

Verbal adjectives in ax are seldom used with a genitive by Cicero, but they are often found in other writers—

Vir capax imperii, A man well fitted to rule.-TAC.
Vir tenax propositi, A man steadfast in purpose.-HOR.
Tempus, edax rerum, Time, devourer of things.—Ov.

So also Present Participles used as Adjectives—
Civis amans patriae, A patriotic citizen.-CIC.

Ad nos tui amantissimos veni, Come to us who are so entirely
devoted to you.-CIC.