#etsī#, #tametsī# (#tamenetsī#), #etiamsī#.
2116. #etsī#, #tametsī#, _though_, #etiamsī#, _even if_, or sometimes
simple #sī#, _if_, is used to introduce a concessive protasis. The verb
of the protasis is either indicative or subjunctive; but the indicative
is the prevailing construction, especially with #etsī#. The apodosis
often has #tamen# as an adversative correlative, even with #tametsī#.
#etsī# is rare in poetry; not in Sallust. Sometimes it is used like
#quamquam# to append a fresh main sentence (2153). #tametsī# belongs
chiefly to colloquial style, though Sallust often uses it; not in the
Augustan poets or Tacitus. #etiamsī# is not found in Plautus or Caesar.
(_a._) #nōn vīdī eam, etsī vīdī#, Pl. _MG._ 407, _I saw her not,
although I saw her_. #quō mē habeam pactō, tametsī nōn quaeris, docēbō#,
Lucilius in Gell. 18, 8, 2, _I’ll tell you how I am, though you do not
inquire_. #etiamsī multī mēcum contendent, tamen omnīs superābō#, _Fam._
5, 8, 4, _though I shall have many rivals, yet I will outdo them all_.
#tametsī causa postulat, tamen praeterībō#, _Quinct._ 13, _though the
case calls for it, still I will let it pass_. #Caesar, etsī in hīs locīs
mātūrae sunt hiemēs, tamen in Britanniam proficīscī contendit#, 4, 20,
1, _though the winter always sets in early in these parts, nevertheless
Caesar made haste to proceed to Britain_. #Caesar, etsī intellegēbat,
quā dē causā ea dīcerentur, Indutiomarum ad sē venīre iussit#, 5, 4, 1,
_though Caesar was aware of his motives in saying so, he directed
Indutiomarus to come to him_.
(_b._) #etsī taceās, palam id quidem est#, Pl. _Aul._ 418, _though you
should hold your tongue, still that at least is plain_. #etsī nihil
aliud Sūllae nisi cōnsulātum abstulissētis, tamen eō contentōs vōs esse
oportēbat#, _Sull._ 90, _even though you had robbed Sulla of nothing but
the consulship, still you ought to be satisfied with that_. #equidem,
etiamsī oppetenda mors esset, in patriā māllem quam in externīs locīs#,
_Fam._ 4, 7, 4, _for my part, even though death were to be faced,
I should prefer it in my native land rather than abroad_.
[Erratum:
2116a ... etiamsī multī mēcum contendent,
contendent.]