494

495

496

after "than,” i.e. "than (is the counsel that) John has given;" but the use of "than" without the Relative Pronoun in Early English is so common that this easy explanation does not seem to be correct. Compare:

(2) "This is as fine a horse as I have ever seen," i.e. "As (in what degree) whereas I have ever seen (a fine horse), this is as fine a horse."

times omitted, perhaps for euphony as well as for brevity :

(3) "Rather than (that) he should be punished 1 would make any sacrifice."

"Other," conveying a notion of comparison, is followed by "than":

(1) "This boy is no other than my long-lost son."

But here it is difficult to supply the Verb omitted after "than." It seems as though it would logically be "Whereas my long-lost son (is of a certain nature) John is no other, i.e. in no way different." But more probably the sentence is formed by Confusion, on the analogy of "no taller than, shorter than, &c. ;" "other" being felt, by its termination, to have a comparative force.

"Than" in this phrase (and sometimes in others)

has occasionally assumed the force of a Preposition,

e.g. in Shakspeare:

(2) "Elect no other king than him.”

(3) "And lin❜d with giants deadlier than 'em all.”

POPE.

" or

"other from "

Hence sometimes "other but " is used for "other than." "Who else than," though supported by Byron's authority, (and though "else” is, by derivation, an Adverb meaning "otherwise,") is scarcely to be imitated; it is more customary to say "who else but.”

497

Adjective Clauses: Relative Pronouns.

The use of "the... that," with a Superlative between them, seems to require explanation. Compare

(1) "He is the old man that I saw yesterday."
(2) "He is the oldest man that I know."

In (1) the Antecedent of "that" is "old man,” and you can substitute "old man" for "that" thus: "He is the old man which old man I saw yesterday." But substitute similarly in (2), and what is the result? "He is the oldest man which oldest

man I know."

This is at once felt not to be the meaning: the meaning is "He is the oldest man of the men that I know."

498

499

500

66

How then account for (2)? The explanation appears to be as follows: It was usual (and logical) to say (a) "He is the oldest man in England among my friends, acquaintances, &c." But "a man among my acquaintances" is the same thing as a man that I know." Hence came (b) "He is the oldest man-that-I-know." But "man that I know" is a sort of Compound Noun, and the Antecedent of "that" is not "oldest man " but "man."

An Antecedent is rarely implied in a Possessive Adjective:

"Theirs is the fault, who began the quarrel."

But this is common in Shakspeare; see Shakspearian Grammar, Par. 218.

"But" when used for the Relative and "not," is generally Subject. It is rare to find —

in

"Who ne'er knew joy but friendship might divide." POPE.

"That" is (rarely) used for "for which," "why,"

(1) "This is the reason that I sent for you (for)."

In Early English the different uses of "that were more numerous; the word represented (2)" where ;" (3) "when ;" (4) "with which:

(2) "In the place that they were."

(3) "At the first sight that (i.e. when) men see the souldan."
(4) "With the loudest voice that (i.e. with which) they could."

...

see Par. 159.

"That" in "It is that.
you
From the Relative use of "that" in "It is you

that," we must distinguish the Conjunctive use in

(1) "It was then that the Danes first came to England."

Here the words "that the Danes... England" are equivalent to "The 'Danes' invasion of England;" "it" is redundant (see Par. 162), and the sentence is "The Danes' invasion was, i.e. took place, then." But "that" seems not a Conjunction but a Relative Pronoun in

(1) "It was of you that I spoke.”

This is the same as

(2) "It was you that I spoke of, or mentioned," where "that" is clearly Relative.

Hence it would seem that "It was of you that I spoke" is a transposition of " It that I spoke of was you." On the other hand, in "It was owing to you that I failed," the meaning is "My failure was owing to you," and "that" would appear to be a Conjunction.

501

CHAPTER II.

POETICAL CONSTRUCTIONS.

The object of ordinary Prose is to give information, but the object of Poetry is to give pleasure. Hence Poetry is (1) archaic; (2) irregular; (3)

terse.

I. Poetry is archaic, because pleasing associations are often connected with many old-fashioned words and forms that may have fallen into disuse in Prose, as not being the fittest to give information.

II. Poetry is irregular, because it is more "pas sionate " 1 than Prose. Hence it readily breaks the rules that bind Prose, wherever these rules hamper the expression of passion.

III. Poetry, disliking lengthiness, abridges grammatical constructions (though it expands, and dwells on, ornament, e.g. preferring the expanded form of the Simile to the compressed form of the Metaphor). Pope speaks of:

'Prose swell'd to verse; verse loit'ring into prose."

66

1 Poetry, according to Milton, ought to be "simple," sensu.. ous" i.e. appealing to the senses, "and passionate."