[1760.] (3.) An indirect question in the present or perfect sometimes retains its original tense with a main secondary tense ([1744]): as,
hīc quantum in bellō fortūna possit, cōgnōscī potuit, 6, 35, 2, here there was a chance to see how potent dame Fortùne is in war. Here possit represents potest of a general truth ([1588]); but usually general truths have the regular sequence ([1748]). cūr abstinuerit spectāculō ipse, variē trahēbant, Ta. 1, 76, why the emperor did not go to the show, they accounted for in this way and that, representing cūr abstinuit? quō cōnsiliō redierim initiō audīstis, post estis expertī, Ph. 10, 8, what my idea was in coming back, you learned first by hearsay, afterwards by personal observation, representing quō cōnsiliō rediī?
[1761.] The subordinate subjunctive has sometimes the sequence of the nearest verb, instead of that of its proper verb: as, cūrāvit, quod semper in rē pūblicā tenendum est, nē plūrimum valeant plūrimī, RP. 2, 39, he arranged it so, a point which is always to be held fast in government, that the greatest number may not have the greatest power.
[Tense subordinate to a Subjunctive.]
[1762.] When the leading verb is a subjunctive, the present is regarded as primary, and the imperfect and pluperfect as secondary: as,
([a.]) exspectō eius modī litterās ex quibus nōn quid fīat, sed quid futūrum sit sciam, Att. 5, 12, 2, I am expecting a letter of a kind to let me know not what is going on, but what will be going on. quid prōfēcerim faciās mē velim certiōrem, Fam. 7, 10, 3, how far I have succeeded I wish you would let me know. (b.) quālis esset nātūra montis quī cōgnōscerent mīsit, 1, 21, 1, he sent some scouts to find out what the character of the mountain was. quid mē prohibēret Epicūrēum esse, sī probārem quae dīceret, Fin. 1, 27, what would prevent me from being an Epicurean, if I accepted what he said? quae sī bis bīna quot essent didicisset Epicūrus, certē nōn dīceret, DN. 2, 49, Epicurus would certainly not say this, if he had ever been taught how much twice two is ([1748]).
[1763.] An imperfect subjunctive of action non-occurrent at the present time has occasionally the present sequence: as, mīrārēris, sī interessēs, quā patientiā valētūdinem toleret, Plin. Ep. 1, 22, 7, you would be amazed to find, if you were with him, with what dogged endurance he bears up under his illness. But the secondary sequence is far more common.
[1764.] (1.) The perfect subjunctive in independent main sentences of prohibition ([1551]) or of action conceivable ([1558]) is regarded as a primary tense: as,
nē dubitārīs quīn id mihī̆ futūrum sit antīquius, Att. 7, 3, 2, don’t entertain any doubt that this course will be preferable in my eyes. quid nōn sit citius quam quid sit dīxerim, DN. 1, 60, I could sooner tell what is not, than what is.