observes that as far as the future and future perfect of direct speech when transferred to are concerned, 'the usage of Caesar appears to be irreducible to general rules'. Indicative in subordinate clauses Although the verb in a subordinate clause in is usually in the subjunctive mood, when the verb of speaking is 1st or 2nd person, the indicative can be used: (Cicero) 'I hope that if (Catiline) is acquitted, he will work more closely with me in my election campaign' (Cicero) 'I'm afraid that once I see you I may forget everything' The present indicative can also be retained after : (Cicero) 'tell them, stranger, at Sparta that you have seen us lying here while we obey the sacred laws of our country' A relative clause which is merely explanatory also uses the indicative: (Cicero) 'who would deny that all these things which we see are ruled by the power of the immortal gods?' The use of the indicative is more common after a primary tense introductory verb than a historic one, and also sometimes in cases where the use of the subjunctive might cause ambiguity. Extended passages of indirect speech Roman writers, especially historians, often use quite extensive passages of indirect speech. An example is the following, which is from a letter by an ex-consul Servius Sulpicius Rufus to Cicero: (Servius Sulpicius Rufus) 'Around the tenth hour of the night, Publius Postumius, a friend of his, came to me and reported to me that Marcus Marcellus, our colleague, after dinner time had been stabbed with a dagger by Publius Magius Cilo, a friend of his, and had received two wounds, one in the stomach and the other on the head, behind his ear; it was hoped, however, that he would be able to live; Magius had killed himself afterwards; he himself had been sent to me by Marcellus to report these things and to ask me to send some doctors for him.' The whole passage above, which mainly consists of indirect statements, is dependent on the verb 'he reported'. That it is indirect is shown by the fact that most of the verbs have been changed to infinitives (shown in bold), while the subjects of the verbs are put into the accusative case. The last clause, with its imperfect subjunctive ( 'that I should send'), is an indirect command. Many passages of indirect speech are found in Julius