Menaechmi 2:2 Dī tē amābunt

[cinefactus]

Dī tē amābunt quisquis es

Just wondering how to interpret this. How is it different from dī tē ament?

Thanks

 

[Katarina]

Isn't it that amabunt is future indicative form, so meaning 'gods are going to love you', and ament is present subjunctive form, I would take it as ''may the gods love you.

 

[cinefactus]

That is how I took it, but why use one form over the other?

 

[AoM]

Definitely a bump there, huh?

Checking PHI, ament is more common (at least 30+) than amabunt (9).

I haven't checked the uses, but maybe it depends on the type of character and context (e.g., boastful/bragging). Or just a less common variation with no other reasoning.

 

[scrabulista]

Isn't the present subjunctive called "future less vivid" in situations like this?