An English Grammar Part 62

18. I speak, therefore, of good novels only.

19. Let her loose in the library as you do a fawn in a field.

20. And whether consciously or not, you must be, in many a heart, enthroned.

21. It is clear, however, the whole conditions are changed.

22. I never rested until I had a copy of the book.

23. For, though there may be little resemblance otherwise, in this they agree, that both were wayward.

24. Still, she might have the family countenance; and Kate thought he looked with a suspicious scrutiny into her face as he inquired for the young don.

25. He follows his genius whithersoever it may lead him.

26. The ma.n.u.script indeed speaks of many more, whose names I omit, seeing that it behooves me to hasten.

27. G.o.d had marked this woman's sin with a scarlet letter, which had such efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her, save it were sinful like herself.

28. I rejoice to stand here no longer, to be looked at as though I had seven heads and ten horns.

29. He should neither praise nor blame nor defend his equals.

30. There was no iron to be seen, nor did they appear acquainted with its properties; for they unguardedly took a drawn sword by the edge, when it was presented to them.

PREPOSITIONS..

305. The word _preposition_ implies _place before_: hence it would seem that a preposition is always _before_ its object. It may be so in the majority of cases, but in a considerable proportion of instances the preposition is _after_ its object.

This occurs in such cases as the following:--

[Sidenote: Preposition not before its object.]

(1) _After a relative p.r.o.noun_, a very common occurrence; thus,--

The most dismal Christmas fun _which_ these eyes ever looked _on_.--THACKERAY.

An ancient nation _which_ they know nothing _of_.--EMERSON.

A foe, _whom_ a champion has fought _with_ to-day.--SCOTT.

Some little toys _that_ girls are fond _of_.--SWIFT.

"It's the man _that_ I spoke to you _about_" said Mr.

Pickwick.--d.i.c.kENS.

(2) _After an interrogative adverb, adjective, or p.r.o.noun_, also frequently found:--

_What_ G.o.d doth the wizard pray _to_?--HAWTHORNE.

_What_ is the little one thinking about?--J.G. HOLLAND.

_Where_ the Devil did it come _from_, I wonder?--d.i.c.kENS.

(3) _With an infinitive_, in such expressions as these:--

A proper _quarrel_ for a Crusader to do battle _in_.--SCOTT.

"You know, General, it was _nothing_ to joke _about_."--CABLE

Had no harsh _treatment_ to reproach herself _with_.--BOYESEN

A _loss of vitality_ scarcely to be accounted _for_.--HOLMES.

Places for _horses_ to be hitched _to_.--_Id._

(4) _After a noun_,--the case in which the preposition is expected to be, and regularly is, before its object; as,--

And unseen mermaids' pearly song Comes bubbling up, the weeds _among_.

--BEDDOES.

Forever panting and forever young, All breathing human pa.s.sion far _above_.

--KEATS.

306. Since the object of a preposition is most often a noun, the statement is made that the preposition usually precedes its object; as in the following sentence, "Roused _by_ the shock, he started _from_ his trance."

Here the words _by_ and _from_ are connectives; but they do more than connect. _By_ shows the relation in thought between _roused_ and _shock_, expressing means or agency; _from_ shows the relation in thought between _started_ and _trance_, and expresses separation. Both introduce phrases.

[Sidenote: _Definition_.]

307. A preposition is a word joined to a noun or its equivalent to make up a qualifying or an adverbial phrase, and to show the relation between its object and the word modified.

[Sidenote: _Objects, nouns and the following_.]

308. Besides nouns, prepositions may have as objects--

(1) _p.r.o.nouns_: "Upon _them_ with the lance;" "With _whom_ I traverse earth."

(2) _Adjectives_: "On _high_ the winds lift up their voices."

(3) _Adverbs_: "If I live wholly from _within_;" "Had it not been for the sea from _aft_."

(4) _Phrases_: "Everything came to her from _on high_;" "From _of old_ they had been zealous worshipers."

(5) _Infinitives_: "The queen now scarce spoke to him save _to convey_ some necessary command for her service."