may be conferred upon men than the alleviation of their physical

sufferings.

11. My malice is no deeper than a moat,

No stronger than a wall.

12. Thou art a girl as much brighter than her,
As he was a poet sublimer than me.

488. 'His mind is more receptive than (his mind is) inventive.'

'I would rather go than stay'='I would rather (=sooner) go than (I would soon) stay.'

You are more judicious than (you would be judicious) to be misled by these representations.'

They have turned out better than (it) could have been expected (that they would turn out well).' 'They have turned out better than we expected (that they would turn out well)-than we expected (them to turn out well).'

EXERCISE 413.

1. He is more willing than strong. 2. The conversation at this time was more reserved than before. 3. He is in better health than usual. 4. No whiter page than Addison's remains. 5. His army was more formidable to himself than to the enemy. 6. They are more cautious than to take such a step rashly. 7. His temper inclined him rather to brood over his griefs than to give utterance to them. 8. William was not less fortunate in marriage than in friendship. 9. In no country has the enmity of race been carried farther than in England. 10. The Marians soon found that they could succeed in the halls of justice not less readily than in the comitia. 11. Never had the fortunes of England sunk to a lower ebb than at the moment when Elizabeth mounted the throne. 12. Never has English life been painted in more glowing hues than by Chaucer.

489. 'I know no more how to steer than (I should know well how to steer) if I had lost my compass.' (Compare § 484, note.)

'I am no less firmly resolved than (I was firmly resolved) when we last met.'

EXERCISE 414.

1. He is much smarter than when he first came to town. 2. We do not seem to be nearer a settlement now than before the

case was discussed. 3. He was never less comfortable than when he was from home. 4. He spoke with more effect than if he had made special preparation.

5. I were a fool, not less than if a panther

Were panic-stricken by the antelope's eye,

If she escape me.

6. It could not be done more easily than where it was done before. 7. He never enjoyed better health than since he went abroad. 8. Your services are more valuable now than when you entered the office. 9. Perhaps few things would have disappointed her more than if he had at this moment started up.

10.

Nor was his ear less pealed

With noises loud and ruinous (to compare

Great things with small) than when Bellona storms
With all her battering engines, bent to rase

Some capital city; or less than if this frame
Of heaven were falling, &c.

Ellipsis in Adverbial Clause of Belief.

490. Clauses expressing Belief, Disbelief, or Uncertainty, are occasionally introduced after the manner of some clauses of Degree. The phraseology of Degree appears in such cases as this: As sure as I stand here, I saw him.' Resolving the expression, we may explain it as a shorter form for I saw him: (that is) as sure as (it is sure that) I stand here. Modifying circumstances of Belief, &c., most readily assume the form of separate co-ordinate statement. And the prominent placing of the assurance would be due to a perfectly natural inversion. (§§ 229, 318, 396).

Ellipsis in Adverbial Clause of Condition.

491. This is strange, if (it be) true.'

'How could he go, if (he were) not invited?— unless (he were) invited?'

'There were no disturbances except (there were disturbances) in one county.'

EXERCISE 415.

2. One guest

1. If unassailed, we depart assailing no one. resided generally, if not constantly, at the Castle. 3. Objections,

if any, should now be stated. 4. I will not come except on these terms. 5. Learning and eloquence were regarded with suspicion, if not with aversion. 6. He would not have joined the company, unless strongly urged. 7. Ascetic rejection of human delights, save for the common good, was held to be thanklessness to the Giver. 8. No man of English extraction would have risen except by becoming in speech and habits a Frenchman. 9. Their weapons can never be used save to drive back an invader from their land.

10.

Wherefore should we turn
To what our fathers were, unless to mourn?

492. Though (he was) quite unarmed, he defended himself bravely.'

'All contributions, however small (they may be), are thankfully accepted.'

Whether (he be) right or (he be) wrong, he will insist on his demand.'

The last example may be more clearly exhibited as a Compound Sentence, with other conjunctions. Thus:

If he be right,

and

Though (or if) he be wrong,

he will insist on his demand.

EXERCISE 416.

1. The deeds themselves, though mute, speak loud the doer. 2. However useful in its own place, it is out of place here. 3. His knowledge, though not always accurate, was of immense extent. 4. Whate'er the motive, pleasure is the mark. 5. Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar. 6. This result, however unlikely, is by no means impossible. 7. Burnet, though not guilty of any legal offence, was pursued by the vengeance of the Court. 8. Whether supported or not, I will do what I can for you. 9. I disdained to mingle with a herd though to be leader. 10. Whether with reason or with instinct blest,

Know all enjoy that power which suits them best.

493. Conditional Conjunction omitted. 'He were no lion, were not Romans hinds' = 'He were no lion, (if) Romans were not hinds.'

'None can hear him, cry he ne'er so loud' = 'None can hear him, (though) he cry ne'er so loud.'

• Come what may, I will not submit '=' (Though)

what(ever) may come, I will not submit.' Or (Compare Exercise 417, 10, below):-' (Though) what may (come) come, I will not submit.'

The omission of the conditional conjunction is accompanied with inversion of the conditional clause.

The following example shows the two forms side by side: 'But ere you wed with any, bring your bride,

And I, were she the daughter of a king,

Yea, tho' she were a beggar from the hedge,

Will clothe her for her bridals like the sun.'-Enid. Though the general meaning of these and similar examples is clearly concessive, yet the proper way of filling out the clauses is not always so clear. In the last example above, two alternatives are given. Compare also cases with 'as.' Old as Cato was, he began to study Greek': we say also-Old though Cato was, he began to study Greek': the form with 'as' bringing out specially the meaning of degree. We might be tempted then to say shortly-As Cato was old (= Though Cato was so old), he began to study Greek'; yet after all we come to the full form(Though Cato was so) old as Cato was (old), he began to study Greek.' 'Work as he could, he failed' As (Though soHowever hard) he could work, he failed'; or, more properly, "(Though he worked as hard) as he could work (hard), he failed.

EXERCISE 417.

=

1. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd
Were the graced person of our Banquo present.

2. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. 3. Had the king been wise, he would have pursued a cautious and soothing policy. 4. Were I in his place, I should act differently.

5.

Creep time ne'er so slow,

Yet it shall come for me to do thee good.

6. Walk as I could, I did not overtake them. 7. Even were I disposed, I could not gratify the reader. 8. Labour as you may, you will not excel your brother. 9. Buy it, cost what it may. Come what come may,

10.

Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

Ellipsis in Adverbial Clause of Manner.

494. 'You may dispose of the property as you choose (to dispose of it).

'As a flower of the field (flourishes), so he flourishes.'

'He is famous as a dramatist (is famous).'

'That proposal is considered as absurd''That proposal is considered as (an) absurd (proposal is considered).'

'So,' in the second example, is not pleonastic, except in consequence of usage. The sentence runs literally thus: He flourishes so (= in that way) as (= in which way) a flower of the field (flourishes).' In common usage, 'as' stands alone with the acquired force of 'so as,' namely, in the way in which.'

6

In examples like the third, the ellipsis tends to be less and less felt, as taking in practice the meaning of 'in the manner of,' 'in the capacity of,' in the character of,' &c.

In the fourth and similar examples, as' appears to be practically pleonastic. Perhaps the very same impression would be conveyed to most people by-'That proposal is considered absurd.'

EXERCISE 418.

1. He cannot be allowed to do as he likes. 2. He spoke as one having authority. 3. As an historical authority, Froissart is of no great value. 4. The news of the repeal of the tax was taken as the close of the strife. 5. Let him be regarded as the noblest corse. 6. You had a perfect right to do with it as you liked. 7. That strikes me as very strange. 8. No more shall they be held as friends. 9. William desired to reign not as a conqueror, but as a lawful king.

10. As mountain cat that guards her young,

Full at Fitz-James's throat he sprung.

495. 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as (thou lovest) thyself?

The common god of the English, as (he was the common god) of the whole German race, was Woden.'

=

He spoke of the enterprise as dangerous': 'He spoke of the enterprise as (he would speak oj a) dangerous (enterprise).'

EXERCISE 419.

1. The unthinking have censured this as partiality. 2. The House of Commons expelled Wilkes as a libeller. 3. The magistrates of London set aside the proclamation as without legal force. 4. We consider this tendency as a weakness. 5. As in different ages, so in different climes, love varies wonderfully