2.  It is used of an attempted action (’Conative Present’); as,—­

    dum vitant vitia, in contraria currunt, while they try to avoid
    (vitant) vices, they rush into opposite ones.

3.  In lively narration the Present is often used of a past action (’Historical Present’); as,—­

    Caesar imperat magnum numerum obsidum, Caesar demanded a large number
    of hostages (lit. demands).

4.  In combination with jam, jam diu, jam pridem, and similar words, the Present is frequently used of an action originating in the past and continuing in the present; as,—­

    jam pridem cupio te visere, I have long been desiring to visit you
    (i.e.  I desire and have long desired).

Imperfect Indicative.

260. 1.  The Imperfect primarily denotes action going on in past time; as,—­

    librum legebam, I was reading a book.

  a.  This force makes the Imperfect especially adapted to serve as the
  tense of description (as opposed to mere narration).

2.  From the notion of action going on, there easily develops the notion of repeated or customary action; as,—­

    legatos interrogabat, he kept asking the envoys;

    C. Duilium videbam puer, as a boy I often used to see Gaius Duilius.

3.  The Imperfect often denotes an attempted action (’Conative Imperfect’) or an action as beginning (’Inceptive Imperfect’); as,—­

    hostes nostros intra munitiones progredi prohibebant, the enemy tried
    to prevent (prohibebant) our men from advancing within the
    fortifications (’Conative’);

    ad proelium se expediebant, they were beginning to get ready for
    battle (’Inceptive’).

4.  The Imperfect, with jam, jam diu, jam dudum, etc., is sometimes used of an action which had been continuing some time; as,—­

    domicilium Romae multos jam annos habebat, he had had his residence at
    Rome for many years (i.e. he had it at this time and had long had it).

Future Indicative.

261. 1.  The Latin is much more exact in the use of the Future than is the English.  We say:  ‘If he comes, I shall be glad,’ where we really mean:  ‘If he shall come,’ etc.  In such cases the Latin rarely admits the Present, but generally employs the Future.

2.  Sometimes the Future has Imperative force; as, dices, say!

Perfect Indicative.

262.  A. PRESENT PERFECT.  Several Present Perfects denote the state resulting from a completed act, and so seem equivalent to the Present; as,—­

    novi, cognovi, I know (lit. I have become acquainted with);

    consuevi, I am wont (lit. I have become accustomed).