Rēgulus in senātum vēnit, mandāta exposuit, reddī captivōs negāvit esse ūtile, Regulus came into the Senate, set forth his commission, said it was useless for captives to be returned.
1. Occasionally the Historical Perfect is used of a general truth ('Gnomic Perfect').
Pluperfect Indicative.
[263]. The Latin Pluperfect, like the English Past Perfect, denotes an act completed in the past; as,—
Caesar Rhēnum trānsīre dēcrēverat, sed nāvēs deerant, Caesar had decided to cross the Rhine, but had no boats.
a. In those verbs whose Perfect has Present force ([§ 262], A), the Pluperfect has the force of an Imperfect; as,—
nōveram, I knew.
Future Perfect Indicative.
[264]. The Future Perfect denotes an action completed in future time. Thus:—
scrībam epistulam, cum redieris, I will write the letter when you have returned (lit. when you shall have returned).