[*] 558. A subjunctive clause with quīn is used after verbs and other expressions of hindering, resisting, refusing, doubting, delaying, and the like, when these are negatived, either expressly or by implication:—
- “nōn hūmāna ūlla neque dīvīna obstant quīn sociōs amīcōs trahant exscindant ” (Sall. Ep. Mith. 17) , no human or divine laws prevent them from taking captive and exterminating their friendly allies.
- “ut nē Suessiōnēs quidem dēterrēre potuerint quīn cum hīs cōnsentīrent ” (B. G. 2.3) , that they were unable to hinder even the Suessiones from making common cause with them.
- “nōn posse mīlitēs continērī quīn in urbem inrumperent ” (B. C. 2.12) , that the soldiers could not be restrained from bursting into the city.
- “nōn recūsat quīn iūdicēs ” (Deiot. 43) , he does not object to your judging.
- “neque recūsāre quīn armīs contendant ” (B. G. 4.7) , and that they did not refuse to fight.
- praeterīre nōn potuī quīn scrīberem ad tē; (Caesar ap. Cic. Att. 9.6A), I could not neglect to write to you.
- “Trēverī tōtīus hiemis nūllum tempus intermīsērunt quīn lēgātōs mitterent ” (B. G. 5.55) , the Treveri let no part of the winter pass without sending ambassadors. [Cf. B. G. 5.53; B. C. 1.78.]
- “nōn cūnctandum exīstimāvit quīn pūgnā dēcertāret ” (B. G. 3.23) , he thought he ought not to delay risking a decisive battle.
- “paulum āfuit quīn Vārum interficeret ” (B. C. 2.35) , he just missed killing Varus (it lacked little but that he should kill).
- neque multum āfuit quīn castrīs expellerentur (id. 2.35), they came near being driven out of the camp.
- “facere nōn possum quīn cotīdiē ad tē mittam ” (Att. 12.27.2) , I cannot help sending to you every day.
- “fierī nūllō modō poterat quīn Cleomenī parcerētur ” (Verr. 5.104) , it was out of the question that Cleomenes should not be spared.
- “ut efficī nōn possit quīn eōs ōderim ” (Phil. 11.36) , so that nothing can prevent my hating them.
- “nōn dubitābat quīn eī crēderēmus ” (Att. 6.2.3) , he did not doubt that we believed him.
- “illud cavē dubitēs quīn ego omnia faciam ” (Fam. 5.20.6) , do not doubt that I will do all.
- “quis īgnōrat quīn tria Graecōrum genera sint ” (Flacc. 64) , who is ignorant that there are three races of Greeks?
- nōn erat dubium quīn Helvētiī plūrimum possent (cf. B. G. 1.3), there was no doubt that the Helvetians were most powerful.
- “neque Caesarem fefellit quīn ab iīs cohortibus initium victōriae orīrētur ” (B. C. 3.94) , and it did not escape Cæsar's notice that the beginning of the victory came from those cohorts.
[*] Note 1.-- Dubitō without a negative is regularly followed by an Indirect Question; so sometimes nōn dubitō and the like:—
- “nōn nūllī dubitant an per Sardiniam veniat ” (Fam. 9.7) , some doubt whether he is coming through Sardinia.
- “dubitāte, sī potestis, ā quō sit Sex. Rōscius occīsus ” (Rosc. Am. 78) , doubt, if you can, by whom Sextus Roscius was murdered.
- “dubitābam tū hās ipsās litterās essēsne acceptūrus ” (Att. 15.9) , I doubt whether you will receive this very letter. [Epistolary Imperfect (§ 479).]
- “ quālis sit futūrus, nē vōs quidem dubitātis ” (B. C. 2.32) , and what it (the outcome) will be, you yourselves do not doubt.
- “nōn dubitō quid sentiant ” (Fam. 15.9) , I do not doubt what they think.
- dubium illī nōn erat quid futūrum esset (id. 8.8.1), it was not doubtful to him what was going to happen.
[*] Note 2.-- Nōn dubitō in the sense of I do not hesitate commonly takes the Infinitive, but sometimes quīn with the Subjunctive:—
- “nec dubitāre illum appellāre sapientem ” (Lael. 1) , and not to hesitate to call him a sage.
- “dubitandum nōn exīstimā vit quīn proflcīscerētur ” (B. G. 2.2) , he did not think he ought to hesitate to set out.
- “ quid dubitās ūtī temporis opportūnitāte ” (B. C. 2.34) , why do you hesitate to take advantage of the favorable moment? [A question implying a negative.]
- “plūra nē dīcam tuae mē lacrimae impediunt ” (Planc. 104) , your tears preveni me from speaking further.
- “nec aetās impedit quōminus agrī colendī studia teneāmus ” (Cat. M. 60) , nor does age prevent us from retaining an interest in tilling the soil.
- “nihil impedit quōminus id facere possīmus ” (Fin. 1.33) , nothing hinders us from being able to do that.
- “obstitistī nē trānsīre cōpiae possent ” (Verr. 5.5) , you opposed the passage of the troops (opposed lest the troops should cross).
[*] Note.--Some verbs of hindering may take the Infinitive:—
- “nihil obest dīcere ” (Fam. 9.13.4) , there is nothing to prevent my saying it.
- “prohibet accēdere ” (Caec. 46) , prevents him from approaching.