Note v. 41 — A. PERSIUS FLACCUS (continued 2)
Reading edition
41. an: when used alone is more or less rhetorical, and is intended to force a conclusion involved in the foregoing; ‘What?’ ‘So then?’ G., 459; A., 71, 2, b. Persius’s use of it is instructive: v. 87; 2, 19. 26; 3, 19. 27. 61; 5, 83. 125. 163. 164; 6, 51. 63.—velle meruisse: See G., 275, 2; A., 53, 11, d, for the tense of meruisse. The Perf. after velle is legal rather than Greek. Comp. v. 91, qui me volet incurvasse querela. So Hor. (Sat. 2, 3, 187), mimicking the legal tone: ne quis humasse velit Aiacem, Atrida, vetas? cur? Other Perf. Infinitives with varying motives are found: 1, 132; 2, 66; 4, 7. 17; 5, 24. 33; 6, 4. 6. 17. 77.