Definite time is first a point of time, a moment; of time viewed as a point, a circle of

next any space

time, a minute, an hour, a day, a year, &c.

Indefinite time is the taking any part or parts

of time at random from a longer period,

as,

When he was in India, he hunted,' i. e.

6 Quum esset,'

not all the time, but at various periods not fixed. In double time clauses where the time of each clause is exactly commensurate with that of the other, the time is definite,

'When he was in India, he lived at Calcutta.'

'Dum erat.'

All time sentences where the time is a fixed point have Indicatives.

All time sentences where the time is a fluctuat

ing point have Subjunctives.

The second clause of a time sentence is always Indicative as far as the time construction is concerned.

There is this rule in Latin: In double claused sentences, Presents always follow Presents, and Past Tenses always follow Past Tenses.

The Future Tense denotes the present impres

sion that an action is going to take place.

The strict Past Tenses are the

Imperfect and Pluperfect Tenses.

The Imperfect Subjunctive denotes continuance. The Pluperfect Subjunctive denotes completion, and will be used therefore for anything finished, and viewed as single and one.

The Perfect Tense is sometimes Present and sometimes Past. It is Present when it denotes a Past action the effect of which continues, as, 'I am come,' 'veni.'

It is Past when it denotes an action done at some previous time, as, 'I came,' 'veni.'

It will be observed that in Latin the context alone determines the precise sense of the Perfect Tense.

In English, Time constructions are always Indicative.*

Relative Clauses follow the Tenses and Moods of the principal clause, unless they refer to a positive fact separated from the supposition, or other main clause.

The Tame Stag.

Cervus erat forma præstanti et cornibus ingens,
Hunc procul errantem rabidæ venantis Iuli

Commovere canes, fluvio cum forte secundo Deflueret, ripaque æstus viridante levaret.-VIRG.

The Course.

Ut canis in vacuo leporem cum Gallicus arvo
Vidit, et hic prædam pedibus petit, ille salutem,
Alter inhæsuro similis, jam jamque tenere
Sperat, et extento stringit vestigia rostro;
Alter in ambiguo est, et ipsis

Morsibus eripitur, tangentiaque ora relinquit.—

The Theft discovered.

Ovid.

Interea, quum jam stabulis saturata moveret
Amphitryoniades armenta, abitumque pararet,
Discessu mugire' boves, atque omne querelis
Impleri nemus, et colles clamore relinqui,
Reddidit una boum vocem, vastoque sub antro
Mugiit, et Caci spem custodita fefellit.-VIRG.

The Unwelcome Calm.

Pastor 3 quum traheret per freta navibus
Idæis Helenam perfidus hospitam,

1 Amphitryoniades, a descendant of Amphitryon, Hercules.
2 Infinitives are sometimes put without a governing verb,

with the sense, 'begin to,' or, are in the habit of.'

3 Pastor, the shepherd Paris.

Ingrato celeres obruit otio
Ventos-Nereus '.-HOR.

A Farmer's Cares.

Nunc tempestates autumni et sidera dicam,
Atque ubi jam breviorque dies et mollior æstas,
Quæ vigilanda viris, vel quum ruit imbriferum ver,
Spicea jam campis quum messis inhorruit, et quum
Frumenta in viridi stipula lactentia turgent.
Sæpe ego quum flavis messorem induceret agris
Agricola, et fragili jam stringeret hordea culmo,
Omnia ventorum concurrere prælia vidi,

Quæ gravidam late segetem ab radicibus imis
Sublime expulsam eruerent.-VIRG.

Ulysses.

Rursus quid virtus et quid sapientia possit,
Utile proposuit nobis exemplar Ulixen.
Qui domitor Troja, multorum providus urbes,
Et mores hominum inspexit, latumque per æquor,
Dum sibi dum sociis reditum parat, aspera multa
Pertulit, adversis rerum immersabilis undis.-HOR.

1 Nereus, a sea god.

Address to Augustus.

Cum tot sustineas et tanta negotia solus,

Res Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes,
Legibus emendes, in publica commoda pecco,
Cum longo sermone moror tua tempora Cæsar.-HOR.

Corydon's Complaint.

Non sum adeo informis, nuper me in littore vidi, Quum placidum ventis staret mare, non ego

Daphnin

Judice te metuo, nam me non fallit imago.-VIRG.

Morning.

Dumque ea magnanimus Phaethon miratur, opus

que

Perspicit, ecce vigil rutilo patefecit ab ortu
Purpureas Aurora fores, et plena rosarum
Atria, diffugiunt stellæ, quarum agmina cogit
Lucifer, et cœli statione novissimus exit.—Ovid.

Juno's Hatred of Troy.

Illum1 ego lucidas

Inire sedes, ducere nectaris

Succos, et ascribi quietis
Ordinibus patiar Deorum,

i Illum, Augustus.