Heavy Construction
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417.
Certain adjectives of quantity are used in the
Genitive to denote indefinite value. Such are migni, parvi, tanti,
quanti, plt*ri8, min*ris:
-
- mea migni interest, it is of
great consequence to me.
- illud parvi r*fert (Manil. 18),
this is of smatl account.
- est mihi tanu (Cat. ii. 15),
it is worth the price (it is of so much).
- Verr*sue tibi tsnti fuit (Verr. ii. 1.77), was Verres of 80 much account to you?
- tant5ne n'in5ris decuinae v*ni*unt
(id. iii. 106), were the tithes sold for so much less?
- Ut t* redinigs captum quam quens ninja: Si
nequens paulull, at quant! quess (Ter. Eun. 74), to ransom
yourself when captured, at the cheapest rate you can; if you can't for a
small sum, then at any rate for what you can.
NOTE: These are really Genitives of Quality (§345. b).
a. The genitive of certain colorless nouns
is used to denote indefinite value. Such are nihill (nili), nothing;
assis, a farthing (rare); flocci (a lock of wool), a straw nCn ilocci
facis (Att. xiii. 50), 1 * twt a straw. [Colloquial.]
- utinaxii ego istuc abs te factum nil!
penderem (Ter. Eun. 94), O that I cared nothing for this
*eing done by you! [Colloquial.]
b. With verbs of exchanging, either the
thing taken or the thing given in exchange may be in the Ablative of
Price. Such are mUti, commUt*, permut*, vert*
- fidem suam et religiOnem peco-nilt
commutare (Clu. 129), to *arter his faith and conscience for
money.
- exsilium patria s5de muta* vii (Q. C. iii. 7.11), he exchanged his natit'e land for exile (he took exile in exchange for his native land).
- velsx saepe Lucre*tilem mitat Lycaeo Faunus
(Hor. Od. 1. 17.1), nimble Faunus often changes Lyco'us for
Lucretilis. [He takes Lucretilis at the price of Lyc*us, i.e. he
goes from Lycaus to Lucretilis.]
- Tertere ftineribus triumphts (id. i. 85.4), to change the triumph to the funeral train (exchange triumphs for funerals). [Poetical.]
NOTE: With verbs of exchanging cum is often used, pa rhals
with a different co ception of the action: as, -
- an.e*s . . . nim crocec mu ta bit
vellera late- (Eel. iv. 44), ram shall change his fleece for
Lone dyed with the eeŁ*ow sa*on.
c. With verbs of 1)uying and selling the
sim*e Ablative of Pri must be used, except in the case of tanti-, quanti,
plu riB, mln*ris:
- quanti earn e*mit I viii... quot
minis? quadriginta minis (Pl. Epid. 51) what did he buy her
for? Cheap. For how many mina'? Forty.