[1914.] In general past statements antequam and priusquam introduce the subjunctive imperfect or pluperfect; but this use is very rare: as, dormīre priusquam somni cupīdō esset, S. C. 13, 3, a-sleeping always before they felt sleepy. ita saepe magna indolēs virtūtis, priusquam rē̆ī pūblicae prōdesse potuisset, extīncta est, Ph. 5, 47, thus character of unusual promise was oftentimes cut off, before it could do the government any good.
IN PARTICULAR STATEMENTS.
[1915.] In particular present or future statements, antequam and priusquam introduce a present, either indicative or subjunctive; in future statements the future perfect is also used, and regularly when the main verb is future perfect: as,
antequam ad sententiam redeō, dē mē pauca dīcam, C. 4, 20, before I come back to the motion, I will say a little about myself ([1593]). est etiam prius quam abīs quod volo loquī, Pl. As. 232, there’s something else I want to say before you go. antequam veniat in Pontum, litterās ad Cn. Pompēium mittet, Agr. 2, 53, before he reaches Pontus, he will send a letter to Pompey. prius quam ad portam veniās, est pistrīlla, T. Ad. 583, there’s a little bakery just before you get to the gate. nihil contrā disputābō priusquam dīxerit, Fl. 51, I will not argue to the contrary before he has spoken ([1626]). neque prius, quam dēbellāverō, absistam, L. 49, 39, 9, and I will not leave off before I have brought the war to an end. sī quid mihī̆ acciderit priusquam hōc tantum malī vīderō, Mil. 99, if anything shall befall me before I see this great calamity. neque prōmittō quicquam neque respondeō prius quam gnātum vīderō, T. Ph. 1044, I’m not promising anything nor making any answer before I see my son ([1593]). Tacitus uses neither the present indicative nor the future perfect.
[1916.] In old Latin the future and the perfect subjunctive also occur: as,
prius quam quoiquam convīvae dabis, gustātō tūte prius, Pl. Ps. 885, before you help a single guest, taste first yourself; but Terence does not use the future, and it is found only once or twice later. nūllō pactō potest prius haec in aedīs recipī, quam illam āmīserim, Pl. MG. 1095. on no terms can I take my new love to the house, before I’ve let the old love drop; but usually the perfect subjunctive is due to indirect discourse.
[1917.] In particular past statements antequam and priusquam introduce the perfect indicative, especially when the apodosis is negative. The imperfect subjunctive rarely occurs, chiefly in late writers.
([a.]) omnia ista ante facta sunt quam iste Ītaliam attigit, V. 2, 161, all these incidents occurred before the defendant set foot in Italy. neque prius fugere dēstitērunt quam ad Rhēnum pervēnērunt, 1, 53, 1, and they did not stay their flight before they fairly arrived at the Rhine. prius quam hinc abiīt quīndecim mīles minās dederat, Pl. Ps. 53, the captain had paid down fifteen minae before he left here. (b.) nec prius sunt vīsī quam castrīs adpropinquārent, 6, 37, 2, they were not seen before they drew near to the camp. This use of the imperfect subjunctive, not to be confounded with that mentioned in 1919, is not found in old Latin or in Cicero. It is found in Nepos and Livy.
[1918.] The present indicative also occurs in particular past statements in old Latin: as, is priusquam moritur mihi dedit, Pl. Cu. 637, before he died he gave it me. The indicative imperfect occurs four times in Livy and once in late Latin, the pluperfect once in old Latin and once in Cicero.