A past tense with dum (usually so long as ) makes the time emphatic by contrast; but a few irregular cases of dum with a past tense occur where no contrast is intended: nec enim dum eram vōbīscum, animum meum vidēbātis (Cat. M. 79) , for while I was with you, you could not see my soul. [Here the time when he was alive is contrasted with that after his death.] coörta est pūgna, pār dum cōnstābant ōrdinēs (Liv. 22.47) , a conflict began , well matched as long as the ranks stood firm. But,— dum oculōs hostium certāmen āverterat ( id . 32.24), while the struggle kept the eyes of the enemy turned away. dum ūnum adscendere gradum cōnātus est , vēnit in perīculum (Mur. 55) , while he attempted to climb one step [in rank] he fell into danger. In later writers, dum sometimes takes the Subjunctive when the classical usage would require the Indicative, and dōnec , until , is freely used in this manner (especially by Tacitus):— dum ea in Samniō gererentur , in Etruriā interim bellum ingēns concītur (Liv. 10.18) , while this was being done in Samnium , meanwhile a great war was stirred up in Etruria. illa quidem dum tē fugeret , hydrum nōn vīdit (Georg. 4.457) , while she was fleeing from you she did not see the serpent. dum per vīcōs dēportārētur , condormiēbat (Suet. Aug. 78) , while he was being carried through the streets he used to fall dead asleep. Rhēnus servat nōmen et violentiam cursūs ( quā Germāniam praevehitur ) dōnec Ōceanō misceātur (Tac. Ann. 2.6) , the Rhine keeps its name and rapid course ( where it borders Germany ) until it mingles with the ocean. temporibusque Augustī dīcendīs nōn dēfuēre decōra ingenia dōnec glīscente adūlātiōne dēterrērentur ( id . 1.1), for describing the times of Augustus there was no lack of talent until it was frightened away by the increasing servility of the age.

For dum , provided that , see § 528 .

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