[1723.] A direct quotation or question gives the words of the original speaker without alteration. When the original words of a quotation or question are changed to conform to the construction of the sentence in which they are quoted, it is called Indirect Discourse.
[1724.] In the complete form of indirect discourse, the subjunctive is subordinate to an infinitive or an accusative with the infinitive, dependent on a verb of saying or thinking ([2175]): as,
negat Epicūrus iūcundē posse vīvī, nisi cum virtūte vīvātur, TD. 3, 49, Epicurus avers there is no living happily, without living virtuously; directly, iūcundē vīvī nōn potest, nisi cum virtūte vīvitur. Sōcratēs dīcere solēbat, omnēs in eō quod scīrent, satis esse ēloquentēs, DO. 1, 63, Socrates used to maintain that all men were eloquent enough in a matter they knew; directly, omnēs in eō quod sciunt satis sunt ēloquentēs.
[1725.] The idea of saying or thinking is often not formally expressed in the main sentence, and the indirect discourse is intimated by the subordinate subjunctive only: as,
noctū ambulābat in pūblicō Themistoclēs, quod somnum capere nōn posset, TD. 4, 44, Themistocles used to walk the streets nights, ‘because he could not sleep,’ given as Themistocles’s reason; the writer’s would be poterat. Paetus omnēs librōs, quōs frāter suus relīquisset, mihī̆ dōnāvit, Att. 2, 1, 12, Paetus made me a present of all the books ‘that his brother had left.’ dum reliquae nāvēs eō convenīrent, in ancorīs expectāvit, 4, 23, 4, he waited at anchor till the rest of the vessels should gather there ([2005]). pervēnit priusquam Pompēius sentīre posset, Caes. C. 3, 67, 4, he got there before Pompey should be able to learn of his coming ([1919]). Xerxēs praemium prōposuit, quī invēnisset novam voluptātem, TD. 5, 20, Xerxes offered a reward to anybody who should devise a new form of entertainment ([2110]).
[1726.] A speaker or writer may quote his own thoughts in the indirect form, like another person’s: as, haec tibi dictābam post fānum putre Vacūnae, exceptō quod nōn simul essēs, cētera laetus, H. E. 1, 10, 49, I write thee this behind Vacuna’s mouldering pile, in all else well, except that thou’rt not here the while ([1601]).
[1727.] Instead of an intimation of indirect discourse by a mere subjunctive, a verb of thinking or saying is sometimes introduced by quī, or especially quod, sometimes by cum, and put illogically itself in the subjunctive: as, litterās, quās mē sibī̆ mīsisse dīceret, recitāvit, Ph. 2, 7, he read off a letter, which he said I sent him, i.e. quās mīsissem. impetrāre nōn potuī, quod religiōne sē impedīrī dīcerent, Sulpicius in Fam. 4, 12, 3, I could not get leave, because they said they were hampered by religious scruple, i.e. quod impedīrentur. cum dīceret, DN. 3, 83, saying as he did. This construction is common in Cicero, somewhat so in Caesar, rare in Sallust.
[1728.] The subjunctive is used in sentences expressing an essential part of the thought, which are subordinate to another subjunctive, or to an infinitive. This is called the Subjunctive of Attraction, or of Assimilation: as,
vereor nē, dum minuere velim labōrem, augeam, Leg. 1, 12, I am afraid I may make the work harder, while I am aiming to make it less. sī sōlōs eōs dīcerēs miserōs, quibus moriendum esset, nēminem eōrum, quī vīverent exciperēs, TD. 1, 9, if you should pronounce only such people unhappy as had to die, you would not except one of those who were living. mōs est Syrācūsīs, ut sī quā dē rē ad senātum referātur, dīcat sententiam quī velit, V. 4, 142, it is the custom at Syracuse, that if any question is discussed in the senate, anybody who pleases may express his opinion. sapiēns nōn dubitat, sī ita melius sit, migrāre dē vītā, Fin. 1, 62, the sage does not hesitate, if this be the better course, to withdraw from life. mōs est Athēnīs laudārī in cōntiōne eōs, quī sint in proeliīs interfectī, O. 151, it is the custom in Athens to eulogize in public assembly such as have fallen in action.