The Greeks fearing to be surrounded on all sides wheeled about and halted with the river on their backs. Nor was Philip wanting to corrupt Demosthenes, as he had most of the leading men of Greece. Parmenio had served, with great fidelity, Philip the father of Alexander, as well as himself, for whom he first opened the way into Asia. Belisarius was general of all the forces under Justinian the First, a man of rare valor. Lysias promised his father never to abandon his friends. Carthage was demolished to the ground so that we are unable to say where it stood, at this day. Thus ended the war with Antiochus, twelve years after the second Punic war, and two after it had been begun. Claudius was canonized among the gods, who scarcely deserved the name of a man. He was at a window in Litchfield, where a party of the royalists had fortified themselves, taking a view of the cathedral. 976. Another class of improprieties arises from the improper omission of words, by which the grammatical construction of a sentence is broken up. As a general rule, the fewer the words are by which we express our ideas, the better, provided the meaning is clearly brought out. This may often be done without using all the words necessary to the full grammatical form of a sentence, and hence, as the tendency always is to abbreviate speech, such words as can be spared, according tɔ the usage of the language, are properly omitted. This omission is called ELLIPSIS (1044-1). Respecting the use of this figure, nothing more definite can be laid down than what is contained in the following SPECIAL RULES. 977. RULE 1.-An ellipsis, or omission of words, is admissible when they can be supplied by the mind with such certainty and readiness as not to obscure the sense. Thus- Instead of saying, "He was a learned man, and he was a wise man, and he was a good man," we may say, "He was a learned, wise, and good man." 978. According to common usage, an ellipsis of the different parts of speech is allowed in the following cases, viz. :— 1. NOUN AND PRONOUN.-When two or more things are asserted of the same subject, the noun or pronoun is expressed before the first verb, and omitted before the rest. Also, when the same noun or pronoun is the object of several verbs, it is omitted after all except the last; as, "I love, fear, and respect him," instead of, “ I love him, I fear him, and I respect him." 2. A noun is frequently omitted after the comparative degree; as, "I will puli down my barns, and build greater [barns]." 3 When two or more adjectives qualify the same noun, the noun is omitted after all except the last; as, “A great, wise, and good man," for 'A great man, a wise man, and a good man." 4. ADJECTIVE AND ARTICLE-When an adjective qualifies two or more nouns, it is omitted before all except the first only; as, "Good qualities and actions""Happy boys and girls"-" He is an honest, learned, and well-bred man," for," an honest, a learned, and a well-bred man." 5. VERBS.-A verb is often omitted after its subject, preceded by the compara ́tive degree; as. "He is wiser than I [am]”'-"I am youuger than he [is].” 6. When several clauses come together, having the same predicate verb, the verb often expressed in the first, and omitted in the rest; as, "The Italians have imitated the Latins; the English, the Italians; and the Americans, the English." Sometimes it is omitted in the first, and expressed in the last; as, "Not only men, but nations, imitate one another." 7. The verb to be, with its subject, in dependent clauses, is often omitted after the connectives, if, though, yet, when, &c.; as, " Study, if [it is] neglected, becomes irksome."-" Though [he was] poor, he was honest" (965). 8. In poetry, verbs which express address or answer, are often omitted; as, "To him the prince [replied]." Also, when the words connected readily indicate what the verbs must be, if expressed; as, "I'll hence to London"-"I'll in”—“ Away, old man!"-Shaks.-" Up, up, Glenarkin!"-W. Scott. 9. The verb is often omitted in the second clause of a sentence after the auxiliary, when the same verb is used in the first clause; as, You have read, but I have not [read]." Also, verbs connected in the same voice, mood, and tense, having the auxiliary with the first, omit it with the rest; as, "He will be loved and respected for his virtues." 10. ADVERB.-When an adverb modifies more words than one, it is placed only with the last; as, "He spoke and acted gracefully." 66 11. PREPOSITION.-When the same preposition connects two or more subsequent terms of a relation with one antecedent term, it is usually omitted before all except the first as, Over the hills and the valleys"-" Through woods and wilds." 12. CONJUNCTION.-When several words and clauses come together in the same construction, the conjunction is sometimes omitted entirely, sometimes between each pair, and sometimes before all except the last; as, "He caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the lepers to be cleansed."-" We ran hither and thither, seeking novelty and change-sympathy and pastime-communion and love."-" Youth is the season of joy, of bliss, of strength and pride." 13. INTERJECTION.-The interjections are never omitted, but, in the expression of sudden emotion, all but the most important words are commonly omitted; as, "Well done!" for. "That is well done!" Also, after interjections, there is often an ellipsis of the obvious word; as, “O for a lodge," &c., that is, “O how I long for a lodge," &c.-"A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" that is, “Bring me a horse. I would give my kingdom for a horse." 979. RULE 2.-An ellipsis is not allowable, when it would obscure the sentence, weaken its force, or be attended with an impropriety; as, "We speak that we do know," for that which, &c. 980. In general, no word should be omitted by ellipsis, that is ne cessary to the usual construction or harmony of a sentence or to render the meaning perspicuous. 981. Articles, pronouns, and prepositions, should always be repeated when the words with which they stand connected are used emphatically. Under such cir cumstances, even nouns, adjectives, and verbs, must often be repeated; as, "Not only the year, but the day and the hour were appointed." 982. It is generally improper, except in poetry, to omit the antecedent to a relative; and it is always so, to omit a relative when it is in the nominative. EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED. In the following sentences, omit such words as are not necessary to the sense :— (977-1) Cicero was an eloquent man, an able man, a generous man, and he was a truly patriotic man. Avarice and cunning may gain an estate, but avarice and cunning can not gain friends. I venerate him, I respect him, I love him, on account of his virtues. -(977-4) He has an affectionate brother and an affectionate sister. (977-6) Genuine virtue supposes our benevolence to be strengthened and to be confirmed by principle. Perseverance in laudable pursuits will reward all our toils, and will produce effects beyond our calculation. (977-10) We often commend imprudently, as well as censure imprudently.-(977-11) Changes are almost constantly taking place in men and in manners, in opinions and in customs, in private fortunes and in public conduct.—(977–1. 6. 9.) He is temperate, he is disinterested, he is benevolent. He regards the truth, but thou dost not regard it. We succeeded, but they did not succeed. In the following sentences, supply the words improperly omitted, and state why they should be restored : (979) We are naturally inclined to praise who praise us, and to flatter who flatter us. Who best can suffer best can do. A beautiful garden and trees were sold. His honor, interest, religion, were all embarked in this undertaking. Many days and even weeks pass away unimproved. The captain had several men died in his ship. His conduct is not scandalous, and that is the best can be said of it. They enjoy a free constitution and laws. That is a property most men have, or at least may attain. This property has or will be sold. You suppose him younger than I. It requires few talents to which most men are not born, or at least may not acquire. He may be said to have saved the life of a citizen, and consequently entitled to the reward. The people of this country possess a healthy climate and soil. I have purchased a house and orchard. A noble spirit disdaineth the malice of fortune; his greatness of soul is not to be cast down. SYNTACTICAL PARSING. 983. SYNTACTICAL PARSING includes etymological, and adds to it a statement of the relation in which words stand to each other, and the rules according to which they are combined in phrases and sentences. Before parsing a sentence syntactically, it should first be analyzed, as directed (658), and exemplified (659). MODEL OF SYNTACTICAL PARSING. "The minutest plant or animal, if attentively examined, affords a thousand wonders, and obliges us to admire and adore the Omnipotent hand by which it was created." This sentence contains all the parts of speech except the interjection. It is parsed etymologically (581 and 582), and analyzed (659–7), which see. It may now be parsed syntactically, as follows: The . . . . . is the DEFINITE ARTICLE; it belongs to plant or animal (711), and shows these words to be limited.-RULE III., 2. "The article the is put," &c. (707). minutest ... or..... is an ADJECTIVE, compared here by er and est, superlative, and quali fies plant or animal.—RULE II., 1. "An adjective or participle," &c. (676). plant. is a NOUN, neuter, in the nominative singular, the subject of affords and obliges.-RULE VI. "The subject of a finite verb," &c. (760). is a DISJUNCTIVE CONJUNCTION, connecting as alternates plant and animal (569).-RULE XIX. "Conjunctions connect," &c. (944). is a NOUN, neuter, in the nominative singular-same as plant-and connected with it by or. animal if it .... is a CONJUNCTION; it connects its clause with the preceding as a con- is examined is a VERB, transitive, regular,* in the present indicative, passive, ex pressing an act done to its subject it, with which it agrees.-RULE VIII. "A verb agrees," &c. (776). attentively. is an ADVERB, derived from attentive, and compared by more and most; it modifies is examined.-RULE XVIII. "Adverbs modify," &c. (922). * Conjugation is here omitted for brevity, it being unnecessary, because the verb is mentioned as regular (491, note). affords. a is a VERB, transitive, regular; in the present indicative, active, third person singular; agrees with, and affirms of plant or animal.-RULE 3 under RULE VIII. 66 Two or more substantives singular," &c. (785). is the INDEFINITE ARTICLE, and belongs to thousand. It shows that the number is regarded as one aggregate (716) —RULE III., 1. “The article a or an," &c. (707 and 726). thousand.. is a NUMERAL ADJECTIVE, cardinal, qualifying wonders.-RULE II, 1. "An adjective or participle," &c. (676). wonders and .. obliges us. is a NOUN, neuter, in the objective plural, the object of, and governed by, affords.-RULE X. “A transitive verb," &c. (801). is a COPULATIVE CONJUNCTION; it connects affords and obliges.RULE XIX. "Conjunctions connect," &c. (944). is the same as affords. See above. is a PERSONAL PRONOUN, first person, masculine or feminine, in the objective plural, the object of, and governed by, obliges.-RULE X. "A transitive verb." &c. (801). It is at the same time the subject of to admire and to adore.-RULE 3 under RULE XV. "The infinitive as the subject," &c. (872 and 873). to admire. . is a VERB, transitive, regular, in the present infinitive, active, governed by obliges.-RULE XV. "The infinitive mood is governed," &c. (865). and. to adore. the.. is a COPULATIVE CONJUNCTION; it connects to admire and to adore -RULE XIX. "Conjunctions connect," &c. (944) is the same in parsing and construction as to admire. is the DEFINITE ARTICLE; it belongs to hand, and shows it to be limited.-RULE III., 2. "The article the," &c. (707). Omnipotent is an ADJECTIVE, not compared, because it does not admit of increase (223). It qualifies hand.-RULE II., 1. "An adjective or participle,' &c. (676). which it .... . is a NOUN, neuter, in the objective singular, governed by to admire and to adore.-RULE X. "A transitive verb," &c. (801). is a PREPOSITION; it shows the relation between was created and which (538). is a RELATIVE PRONOUN, neuter, in the objective singular; refers to, and agrees with, hand as its antecedent-RULE V. The relative agrees," &c. (742); and is governed by by.-RULE XI. "A preposition governs," &c. (818). It connects its clause with hand, and describes it (645 and 610-5). is a PRONOUN, same as before; is the subject of was created.-RULE VI. "The subject of a finite verb," &c. (760). was created is a VERB, transitive, regular, in the past indicative, passive, third person singular; affirms of, and agrees with it.-RULE VIII. "A verb agrees," &c. (776). In the same manner, parse the other sentences analyzed (659); and analyze and parse the exercises following them, page 139, and any correct sentences from any good author. |