more terrible than that of the Druids.-HUME. Occupied with other matters than the topics under discussion.-DICKENS. So choose the shade rather than the intrusive glare.-DICKENS. (336.) There is little doubt, from some parts of Mr Goodwin's work, that he was indebted to Mr Edwards.-HALL. Can we doubt that Archimedes did not.-HALL. I cannot doubt that I have contributed something to the general literature of my country.-HALLAM. It is not doubted but the archbishops were constituent members of this council.-HUME. RULE III. 337. Some conjunctions are often properly suppressed. Such are: And and or before all but the last of several words or sentences of the same kind in a series, and even before the last in an elevated style. Either before or, and neither before nor. That, when the connecting word between the principal and the subordinate clause of a sentence. Yet after though. EXAMPLES. (337.) Science has now left her retreats, [] her shades, [] her selected company of votaries.-CHANNING. The impetuous voice of the assembly called aloud for arms and for revenge; [] to march, without a moment's delay, under the banners of a hero, whom they had so often followed to victory; [] to surprise, [] to oppress, [] to extirpate the guilty Olympius and his degenerate Romans; and, perhaps, to fix the diadem on the head of their injured general.GIBBON'S Decline and Fall, chap. 30. A word, [ ] an epithet, paints the whole scene. None of them [] returned his gaze, or seemed to notice it.-DICKENS. Can hopes of heaven [ ] obscure or quench a faculty.-CowPER. But Brutus says [ ] he was ambitious.-SHAKS. 'You're sure [] you did not, sir,' said Mr Winkle.-DICKENS. Though he fall, [] he shall not be utterly cast down. Exercise. Supply the appropriate conjunctions: Such summer clouds travel light.-WILSON. The sermons of Tillotson were for half a century more read any in our language. -HALLAM. Nobody can be taught faster he can learn.-JOHNSON. At Venice you may go to any house - by land water. Fight with small great. He that is slow to anger is better the mighty. To educate a child perfectly, requires profounder thought, greater wisdom, to govern a state.-CHANNING. Everything is so contrived to aggrandise Achilles.-BLAIR. Swifter the course of light.-FALCONER. A brow fairer ROGERS. The press is a mightier power the pulpit.-CHANNING. Man is a greater name president or king.-CHANNING. The genius of the Greeks was in no department of literary composition more distinguished · in history.-TYTLER. For none made sweeter melody alabaster. did the poor blind boy.-WORDSWORTH. PUNCTUATION. 338. Punctuation is the art of dividing written language into sentences, clauses, and members of sentences, so as to convey the sense with greater clearness. chiefly by the following marks: I. Comma [,] This is done in English IV. Period [.] I. THE COMMA. VII. Dash [-] 339. It may be observed in general, that the use of the comma is to group into clauses those words which bear an immediate grammatical relation to each other, and to mark a rest where this connection is broken. 340. If, therefore, a verb and its nominative, a verb and its objective, two nouns agreeing in case, or one governing the other, a noun and its adjective, a pronoun and its antecedent, an adverb and the word it qualifies, a preposition and its objective, stand together—that is, are not separated by words not grammatically related to them—they must not be divided by commas. 341. On the other hand, wherever an ellipsis, an inversion, or parenthetical interruption occurs, it must be marked by a comma. If we say: 'The diligent student will most certainly excel,' there RULE I. 342. Two or more words of the same kind with adjuncts form clauses which are marked as separate from each other. EXAMPLES. (342.) He encouraged the arts, reformed the laws, asserted military discipline, and visited all his provinces in person.-GIBBON. The criminal intent, the libellous matter, the pernicious tendency of the paper itself, were the topics on which he principally insisted.-JUNIUS. The modest virgin, the prudent wife, and the careful matron, are much more serviceable in life than petticoated philosophers and virago queens. They view the assailants as the most merciless of mankind, and their offence as a wanton outrage. We should not make the most of our cares, and the least of our enjoyments. RULE II. 343. Three or more words of the same kind without adjuncts are separated from each other by commas; but no comma is inserted if there are only two such words joined by a conjunction. 344. If, however, the conjunction is suppressed, the comma takes its place. 345. Likewise, if two words of the same kind are placed in contrast, whether connected by a conjunction or not, a comma must be inserted between them. EXAMPLES. (343.) We owe it to ourselves to try our opinions, that we may correct, enlarge, refine, or moderate them if they are narrow or exaggerated. Beauteous Night, all hail! The earth, the sea, And nature, stretching far and wide, Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls.-MILTON. Meek, modest, venerable, A blending of all beauties; streams and dells, Fruit, foliage, crag, wood, corn-field, mountain, vine.-BYRON. Morat and Marathon twin names shall stand.-BYRON. Statues and monuments also were voted by most of our principal cities.-SOUTHEY. (344.) The brief, haughty gratification of revenge is often purchased at the cost of a lasting, humiliating remorse. (345.) True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.-POPE. They are the trustees, not the owners, of the estate.-JUNIUS. The flock, and not the fleece, ought to be the object of the shepherd's care. OBSERVATION. There seems to be considerable difference of opinion as to whether words situated as those described in these two rules, should be pointed off from those to which they are mutually related, as well as from each other. It seems to be admitted, that if adjectives or adverbs, they should not be separated from the words they qualify-A learned, wise, and good man. Correctly, perspicuously, and elegantly written. But when they are nominatives belonging to the same verb, or verbs governing the same objective, some authors place a comma after them; thus Self-conceit, presumption, and obstinacy, blast the prospect of many a youth. To guide, to cheer, to charm, to bless, To sanctify, our pilgrimage on earth. Others would place no comma after obstinacy or sanctify; and as the tendency at present is to the use of much fewer stops than formerly, we are disposed to recommend the omission. RULE III. 346. Successive pairs of connected words are divided by commas from each other, and generally from the words following. EXAMPLES. (346.) Men and women, friends and enemies, monks and prebendaries, were crumbled amongst one another.-ADDISON. He frequented the voluptuous and the frugal, the idle and the busy, the merchants and the men of learning.-JOHNSON. The authority of Plato and Aristotle, of Zeno and Epicurus, still reigned in the schools.-GIBBON. But waking or sleeping, by night or day, in sickness or health, she is the one object of my care.-DICKENS. That peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us.— -Common Prayer. RULE IV. 347. Subordinate clauses should be separated from each other, and from the principal clause. 348. A quotation closely connected with the introductory matter comes under this rule; for it will occur either as a principal or subordinate clause. (On quotations less closely connected, see Rule I. on the Colon, 364.) EXAMPLES. (347.) If the premises were admitted, I should deny the conclusion.JUNIUS. On Sunday, while his brother was at supper, he procured the keys which unlocked her apartment. If his fate could awaken the sympathy even of his foes, what must have been the agony of her whose whole soul was occupied with his image!-W. IRVING. ← (348.) Dr Watts says, Always read with a design to lay your mind open to the truth." According to Miss Landon, Motives are like Harlequin's dresses-there is always a second dress beneath the first.' RULE V. 349. When a relative with its dependencies is not necessary in order to particularise the antecedent, it must be considered as forming a parenthetical clause, requiring to be marked off. 350. Otherwise a comma is inserted only at the end of the clause, to mark the separation of the second verb. Thus-Sailors, who are generally superstitious, say it is unlucky to embark on a Friday.' Here the clause in italics marks a characteristic of all sailors, and the main assertion is independent of it. But if we say-The sailor who is not superstitious, will embark on any day,' the clause, who is not superstitious,' is necessary to indicate the particular kind of sailor of whom only it is true that he will embark on any day. It is followed by a comma, because will embark has been separated from its nominative the sailor. EXAMPLES. (349.) I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.-DICKENS. Ye stars, which are the poetry of heaven. At mercy of the waves, whose mercies are Like human beings during civil war.-BYRON. A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold.-MILTON. (350.) They who conceive that our newspapers are no restraint upon bad men, or impediments to the execution of bad measures, know nothing of this country. JUNIUS. He who hath bent him o'er the dead.-BYRON. He who writes badly thinks badly-COBBETT. The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose. I venerate the man whose heart is warm.-CowPER. RULE VI. 351. Explanatory or circumstantial clauses require to be separated from each other and from the principal clause. EXAMPLES. (351.) The buckler was of an oblong and concave figure, four feet in length, and two and a half in breadth, framed of a light wood, covered with a bull's hide, and strongly guarded with plates of brass.-GIBBON. Your appeal to the sword, though consistent enough with your late profession, will neither prove your innocence nor clear you from suspicion. -JUNIUS. At daybreak, the combined fleets were distinctly seen from the Victory's deck, formed in a close line of battle ahead, on the starboard tack, about twelve miles to leeward, and standing to the south.-SOUTHEY. RULE VII. 352. Clauses of comparison should be separated by a comma. 353. When, however, the clauses are connected by than or us, the relation becomes so close as not to admit of a comma. EXAMPLES. (352.) Like the madman in Le Sage, some libellers scatter their firebrands in sport. As the sun dispels the darkness of earth, so is the gloom of the heart dispelled by the cheering star of hope. (353.) The proud man is more tenacious of his rank than he is anxious to deserve it. The wear of activity does not consume a man so rapidly as the rust of idleness wastes him away. |