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[*] 758. The infinitive may depend on adjectives denoting ability, fitness, desert, qualification, sufficiency, readiness, and their opposites; and, in general, those expressing the same relations as the verbs which govern the infinitive (747). The omitted subject of the infinitive is the same as the substantive to which the adjective belongs. E.g. Δυνατὸς ποιεῖν, able to do. Δεινὸς λέγειν, skilled in speaking. Ἄξιός ἐστι ταῦτα λαβεῖν, he deserves to receive this. Ἄξιος τιμᾶσθαι, worthy to be honoured. Οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν τοῦτο ἰδεῖν, he was not able to see this. Πρόθυμος λέγειν, eager to speak. Ἕτοιμος κίνδυνον ὑπομένειν, ready to endure danger. Θεμιστοκλέα, ἱκανώτατον εἰπεῖν καὶ γνῶναι καὶ πρᾶξαι. LYS. ii. 42. Αἱ γὰρ εὐπραξίαι δειναὶ συγκρύψαι τὰ τοιαῦτα ὀνείδη. DEM. ii. 20. Κυρίαν ἐποίησαν ἐπιμελεῖσθαι τῆς εὐταξίας, they gave it (the Areopagus) power to superintend good order. ISOC. vii. 39. Βίην δὲ ἀδύνατοι ἦσαν προσφέρειν. HDT. iii. 138. Μαλακοὶ καρτερεῖν, “too effeminate to endure.” PLAT. Rep. 556B. Ταπεινὴ ὑμῶν ἡ διάνοια ἐγκαρτερεῖν ἃ ἔγνωτε, your minds are too dejected to persevere, etc. THUC. ii. 61. (In the last two examples, μαλακοί and ταπεινή govern the infinitive by the idea of inability implied in them.) Χρήματα πορίζειν εὐπορώτατον γυνή. AR. Eccl. 236. Σοφώτεροι δὴ συμφορὰς τὰς τῶν πέλας πάντες διαθρεῖν ἢ τύχας τὰς οἴκοθεν. EUR. Fr. 103. “Ἐπιστήμων λέγειν τε καὶ σιγᾶν.” PLAT. Phaedr. 276 A. “Τἄλλα εὑρήσεις ὑπουργεῖν ὄντας ἡμᾶς οὐ κακούς.” AR. Pax 430. For examples of nouns followed by the infinitive in a similar sense, see 749. (See also 766.)
Macmillan. London, Melbourne, Toronto. 1889. reprint edition:. St. Martin's Press. New York. 1965.
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