Ούτε μη μεμνησθαι δυνάμαι αυτού ούτε μεμνημενος μη ουκ επαινειν. Why do we have in the first instance μη and in the second ου μη?
Negatives can be confusing. (You got the order wrong in the question, it is μὴ οὐ, not οὐ μή). This is explained in Smyth 2745-47:
II. μὴ οὐ with the Infinitive depending on Negatived Verbs
[*] 2745. Any infinitive that would take μή, takes μὴ οὐ (with a negative force), if dependent on a negatived verb. Here οὐ is the sympathetic negative and is untranslatable.““οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην μὴ οὐ τάδ᾽ ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς” I cannot consent not to learn this exactly as it is” S. O. T. 1065.
[*] 2746. μὴ οὐ with the infinitive thus often follows verbs and other expressions formed by οὐ (or α-privative) with a positive word and denoting what is impossible, improbable, wrong, senseless, and the like.
““οὐδεὶς οἷός τ᾽ ἐστὶν ἄλλως λέγων μὴ οὐ καταγέλαστος εἶναι” no one by speaking otherwise can avoid being ridiculous” P. G. 509a, ““ὑπέσχου ζητήσειν ὡς οὐχ ὅσιόν σοι ὂν μὴ οὐ βοηθεῖν δικαιοσύνῃ” you promised to make the inquiry on the ground that it would not be right for you not to assist justice” P. R. 427e, ““πάνυ ἀνόητον ἡγοῦμαι εἶναί σοι μὴ οὐ καὶ τοῦτο χαρίζεσθαι” I think it is utterly senseless for me not to grant you this favour also” P. S. 218c.
[*] 2747. Such expressions are, e.g. οὐχ ὅσιός τ᾽ εἰμί, οὐχ ὁ̂όν τ᾽ ἐστί, οὐχ ἱκανός εἰμι, οὐκ ἔστι, ἀδύνατός εἰμι, οὐ δίκαιόν ἐστι, οὐχ ὅσιόν ἐστι, οὐ προσδοκία_ ἐστί, ἄλογόν ἐστι, οὐκ ἀνεκτόν ἐστι, ἄνοιά ἐστι, and many others.
So the οὐ following the μή is normal before infinitives after negative verbs, and it doesn’t negate the negative, but is “sympathetic” with it.
Right, sorry for the mistake, but it should rather be based on what Smyth says ούτε μη ου μεμνησθαι δυναμαι…
οὔτε μή μεμνῆσθαι without οὐ is also fine (as Xenophon probably knows better than Smyth and us), and the meaning is almost the same.
Smyth mentiones this also, of course:
- Instead of μὴ οὐ we find also μή, τὸ μή, τοῦ μή, τὸ μὴ οὐ (but not τοῦ μὴ οὐ).
a. μή (rarely; cp. 2744. 1): ““ἔλεγον ὅτι . . . οὐ δυνήσοιντο μὴ πείθεσθαι τοῖς Οηβαίοις” they said that they could not help submitting to the Thebans” X. H. 6.1.1, ““αἰσχρὸν . . . γίγνεται ἐμέ γε μὴ ἐθέλειν” it is disgraceful for me at least not to be willing” P. G. 458d.
Thanks, any deeper insight? That would go beyond Smyth?