I. The old man filled the mixingbowl with sweet wine for those who were coming; then, pouring it out, he prayed long to Athena. I should not wish to see Greece, which is now free, enslaved. The leaders had gone to rest near the ship, and had fallen into a pleasant sleep. After hearing these things, they immediately followed Nestor's advice. On their arrival, Alexander spoke to them as follows. These things, it is said, gave much spirit and courage to the soldiers. It was difficult for the leaders to keep the soldiers from pushing on to the front. Brave men, when the fight is over, lay aside with their arms the hatred which accompanies strife. They sent the herald home to announce the great victory, and to proclaim that not one of the Lacedæmonians had fallen, but that a very great number of the enemy were dead. After this man had died, Lucius Cæsar, in order to get the utmost advantage from his death, called a council of the people and delivered a harangue in which he urged them to open the gates; for he hoped much, he said, from the clemency of Cæsar. II. The old man filled the mixingbowl for those coming with sweet wine, and, pouring it out prayed much to Athena. Instead of Freedom, I would not wish to see Greece enslaved. The leaders had gone to rest near the ship merged in pleasing sleep. They, when they had heard these things, immediately followed Nestor's advice. And to them, having arrived, Alexander spake as follows. Thus from all these things, much spirit and courage is said to have possessed the soldiers. It was work to the leaders to hinder the soldiers pushing on to the front. Brave men place with war itself and arms, that hatred of contention. They sent the herald home to announce the greatness of the victory and that of the Lacedæmonians no one fell, but a very great number of the enemy. This man having perished, Lucius Cæsar, that he might get aid to himself from this thing, the people being called together, a council being held, he harangued all that they should open the gates, saying he had great hopes in the clemency of Cæsar. The best comment on these specimens of students' attempts to translate Cæsar, Cicero, or Homer is a remark in one of Mr. Swinburne's recent essays : "A phrase or a construction which makes very good Latin may make very bad English." The injurious effects of translating good Latin or Greek into bad English too often appear in "English" compositions. Orlando would marry Rosalind Orlando would marry Rosaif she were willing. lind, she being willing. In this sentence as originally written, the influence of the Latin ablative absolute is apparent. It is hard to say on what model these sentences as originally written were constructed; but it certainly was not an English one. I. He at last devised the scheme of wading over to the island where the enemy lived, and of drawing off their fleet. II. He at last devised the scheme of wading over to the island where the enemy dwelt, and to draw off their fleet. In this sentence as originally written, two expressions that are not in the same construction are treated as if they were. Other examples are I. He finds that he is bound by thousands of threads, and that little men six inches high are all round him. He finds himself bound by thousands of threads, and surrounded by little men six inches high. The charm of these "Travels" is due in part, no doubt, to Swift's pure, plain style; but more, I think, to the intense gravity with which Gulliver's adventures are described. Eager to make voyages (or, to travel) and to see more of the world, Gulliver sets out on a sea voyage. The character of Addison is a pleasant one to contemplate. It is one of those which we love to read of and which we never tire of admiring. II. He finds himself bound by thousands of threads, and that little men six inches high are all around him. The charm of these travels is due no doubt, in part, to Swift's pure, plain style but more I think on account of the intense gravity with which Gulliver's adventures are described. Gulliver is a man eager for voyaging and to see more of the world, so he sets out on a sea voyage. The character of Addison is one of pleasure to contemplate. It is one of those of which we love to read and never tire of admiring. I. It was the first time that I read verse, not only intelligently, but with avidity. I told them, as well as I could, that I wished to have my head at liberty, and that I was suffering from hunger and thirst. II. It was the first time that I read verse not only intelligently but devoured it. I requested them, as best I could, that I wished to have my head freed and that I was suffering from hunger and thirst. "I requested them that I wished" is not an English Vulgar speakers and "ready writers" alike invent compound expressions which are not good English. I. Too little is told of his actions to enable one to judge of his military abilities. II. Too little is told of his actions to pass any remark on his military abilities. In this sentence as originally written, words grammatically necessary to the construction are omitted. I. Whoever wants soft hands or a clear complexion can have both. II. Whoever wants soft hands or a clear complexion, he and she can have both. In this sentence as originally written, the introduction of superfluous words makes the construction incorrect. I. Portia informs him that the property of any man who plots against the life of a citizen is, by the laws of Venice, confiscated. II. Portia informs him that whoever plots against the life of any citizen, his property, by the laws of Venice, are confiscated. This sentence as originally written is obscure as well as ungrammatical. The "And Which" Construction. Among constructions that have been widely condemned is the use of “and,” "but," "or," or "nor" to connect parts of a sentence that are not co-ordinate. I. The grocer who sells a cheap and inferior flavoring extract, which proves unsatisfactory to his customers, is blamed, and his trade is damaged. He was watching me with his sharp, sleepy eyes, which always reminded me of those of a cat shamming sleep. Sharp words had ensued from Joan, who had offered to leave at once. I am in receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, containing certain inquiries to which a categorical answer is expected. In reply, I beg to observe that when a correspondence of this nature is originated, which (or, one which) concludes with the intimation, etc. II. The grocer who sells a cheap and inferior flavoring extract and which proves unsatisfactory to his customers, the blame comes on him and his trade is damaged. He was watching me with his sharp, sleepy eyes, and which always reminded me of a cat shamming sleep. Sharp words had ensued from Joan, and who had offered to leave at once. I am in receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, containing certain inquiries to which a categorical answer is expected from me, and in reply I beg to observe that when a correspondence of this nature is originated, and which concludes with the intimation,1 &c. 1 From a letter by the Duke of Marlborough, Minister of Education, quoted by W. B. HODGSON: Errors in the Use of English. Appleton & Co., New York, 1882. |