Φοιτα γ' αλλοτε μεν προσθ ̓ Εκτορος, αλλοτ' (δε) οπισθεν. He goes sometimes before Hector, and sometimes behind him. 24. The foregoing are almost the only instances of ellipses, that occur with a frequency approaching to regularity. Many other expressions are found, sometimes elliptical, and sometimes complete, according to the pleasure of the writers. III. PLEONASM. 25. In order to express ideas strongly, without instituting any direct comparison of them with others, the same words are sometimes repeated, or synonymous ones used.a They departed quickly. Οφελον κατευθυνθείησαν αἱ ὁδοι μου. O that my ways were directed. Βασκ' ιθι. Go quickly. a This practice is founded in nature; thus, infants naturally repeat epithets, as " good, good," to express a high degree. This primitive manner of expression is used, with great beauty, in the ancient Hebrew and Celtic languages. Thus, וקרא זה אל זה ואמר קדוש קדוש קדוש יהוה צבאות And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. Isaiah, vi. 3. In the Celtic language, synonymous epithets are more used; and, in the choice of these, a correspondence, in initials and cadences, is studied; so as to give, at once, melody of sound, and harmony of expression; while, by different shades, as it were, of the same colour, the picture is completed: thus, An curaidh, crodha, calma, Conlaoch, The gentle, valiant, hero Conloch. b This idiom is borrowed from the Hebrew, which language, having no superlative degree, expresses it by two words of the same import; as, 70 E darkness of obscurity, i. e. very thick. Exod. x. 22. The double optative, in this expression is exceedingly beautiful; and completely justifies the departure from the common rule, which requires opeλov to be followed by the infinitive. Ακοη ακούσετε, και ου μη συνητε. & Δος ανύσασα. b Βη δ' ίμεν αν' τε μαχην. Απεκρίθη και ειπε, ο By hearing ye shall hear, and not understand. Give me instantly. And he went eagerly up the battle. He answered and said. 28. In some instances there appears to be a pleonasm in the use of ival, when there is really none; for, by analysing the expressions, we shall find every word have its own distinct force; as, Ουκ αν ψευδοιντο έκοντες είναι. Verbatim, oux av would not be lying, éxovtes, willing, eval, to be, i. e. not be willing to be lying. Evdoтo, they Ουτε πυρος έκων ειναι άπτομαι. Verbatim, ουτε, neither ; πυρος, fire; Exwv, willing; val, to be; aтoμal, I am touching, i. e. neither am I willing to be touching fire. 'Exay sival Tirabouevos, not, willingly forgetting, but willing to be after forgetting. 29. Prepositions are, sometimes, and Particles, very frequently, repeated, or synonymous ones used, especially negatives. It is not, for a moment, to be imagined that the Greek language, which is so extremely accurate and energetic, in all its parts, could admit the use of one superfluous word. What is said therefore of expletive particles, proceeds only from the ignorance of those who use the expression, and who would conceal their own incompetency to explain the minuter parts of the Greek language, under a grievous charge against the writers of it. At the same time it is evident, that the same pleonasm is used, with respect to particles, and for the same purpose, as in the other parts of speech; thus, Αμφι περι κρηνην. Ου μη σε ανω. Round about a fountain. a This idiom is, also, adopted from the Hebrew original; viz. 10w l'an .שמיע ואל b The double past tense, in this command, is incapable of being expressed in any other language. It has been ingeniously conjectured that the augment of verbs is a remain of an original method of repeating the verb, to express time past; as, τετυφα for τυπ-τυφα. Hence the Attics use ολωλα, for wλα, and the like. See Jones's Greek Grammar. AжEkρion is very frequently used, at the beginning of a speech, particularly in the New Testament, where it signifies only, that what is said, followed in consequence of some circumstances then, or before, mentioned. In this sense it is equivalent to apa, or ETTEITα, in a similar situation ; as τον δ' α' ημείβετο. Τον δ' ημείβετ' έπειτα. Therefore, or thereupon, he answered to him. Τουτω δ' ου παλιν αυτις αποίσετον ωκέες ίπποι. Αμην, αμην λεγω ὑμιν. Αυταρ άρα Ζευς δωκε (σκήπτρον). But the swift horses shall not bear them away back again. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Again (or next) then Jupiter gave the sceptre. Το αμην, is equivalent τo, i. e. τουτῳ (χρηματι), or, τῷ (εργῳ), in this thing, really, which is often repeated, especially after yap, TOL Yap To, for really, really. 30. Upon the same principle that the preposition which follows a verb, or noun, must be of the same import with that verb, or noun, particles corresponding to the sense of the words with which they are connected, are very frequently used; as, Μιν παλιν αυθις ανήσει θυμος α- His bold spirit will return him back again. γηνωρο IV. ΑΝΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑ. 31. This kind of expression is, when a term is used absolutely in the nominative, in the beginning of a sentence, though a more regular arrangement of ideas required it to be placed farther in the sentence, and in an oblique case; and vice versâ ; as, Ο δε Ασσύριος, εγω μεν οιμαι ἱπ πεας αξειν (for τον Ασσύριον). Λεγουσι δ ̓ ἡμᾶς, ὡς ακινδυνον βιον ζωμεν. The Assyrian, I think that he will bring cavalry; for, I think that the Assyrian, &c. They say that we live a life free from danger. 32. To this principle may be reduced such expressions as the following: a Πολλη γαρ ἡ στρατια ουση, ου πα σης εσται πολεως ὑποδεξασθαι. For, the army being numerous, it will not be in the power of every state to accommodate them. a This corresponds to the nominative absolute, in English, as will be seen, by comparing the Greek words with the translation. Instances of avakoλovia are to be found in all languages. If too frequent, they would be disgusting; but, occasionally used, give a pleasing variety and animation to plain narrative, or didactic style; as, -Quæ prima solo ruptis radicibus arbos Vellitur, hinc atro linquuntur sanguine guttæ. Virg. Quæ quatuor, quanquam inter se colligata atque implicata sunt, tamen ex singulis certa officiorum genera nascuntur. Cicero. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? Psalm xciv. Such are a few remarks upon the most striking, and general idioms of the Greek language. The following observations, on the idiomatical use of certain parts of speech, will assist the learner, in forming an idea of it. V. ARTICLE. 33. The article corresponds, in its general use, to the definite article, in English; as, avoρwños, a man; i avlρwños, the man. 34. In arrangement, the article precedes its noun; but, when two or more nouns, with articles connected with each of them, come together, the prior article agrees with the posterior noun; as, Οἱ την των εχοντες. ἁπαντων φροντιδα They who have the care of all the things. 35. But besides the use of the article, which is common to Greek, and English, it is frequently used, in Greek, where the expression, in English, could not correspond, without understanding it as elliptical; or, at least, more emphatical than the Greek appears to be. a 36. Thus the article is, often, used before proper names; as, : Zanpaτns, Socrates. In English, we prefix it only to the plural of such words; as, the Addisons. 37. The names of abstract ideas also, are, usually, specified, in Greek, by the article; as, apετn, virtue; nania, vice.b 38. When the force of the possessive pronoun is included in the nominative to the verb, the following noun, commonly, The subject of the Greek article has been, lately, investigated by the Rev. T. F. Middleton, in his Doctrine of the Greek Article. In this ingenious treatise, he gives a multitude of rules, and examples, to show when the article is to be used, and when omitted. But, as the greater number of such rules are liable to exceptions, it appeared unnecessary to transcribe any of them. These observations were written, before Mr. Middleton's work was known to the author: and, in the general principles, appear to coincide with his view of the subject. After all that can be said upon it, nothing but practice, and the careful reading of the best authors, can be a guide to the writer in Greek, as to the insertion, or omission, of the article. b The French language approaches more nearly to the Greek idiom, in such expressions as these; thus, la vertu, le vice; j'ai mal à la tête. has the article; as, aλyew Tηy uspaλny, I have a pain in my head, a 39. With the infinitive (which mood expresses a substantive state of being, action, or passion) the neuter article is used, in all the cases of the singular, with strict propriety. The Latins, and even the English, have a very vague method of translating this Greek idiom; as, το εράν, του εραν, amare, amandi, to love. Where we may observe that the nominative only is properly translated, and used, accordingly, as the subject of a verb; as, amare est jucundum, to love is pleasant. The other cases are rendered by the inflections of the gerund, in Latin, and by the present participle in English.b 40. The article is, frequently, used with a participle put absolutely in the number, gender, and case of the substantive understood. This is perfectly agreeable to the English idiom; but the ellipsis is much more correct, and definite, in Greek, than in English. For we always supply the word person, or thing, whereas the Greek often requires the identical word to be inserted: as, Ο (ανθρωπος) ερχομενος. τουσα. The (person) coming. A favour is the (thing) producing a favour. The Latin idiom requires such expressions to be made by the relative, and indicative; which is also admissible, both in Greek and English; as, Ο τυπτων, ὃς τυπτεί, qui verberat, he who strikes. 41. That the article is, originally, a pronoun, appears, from the frequent use of it, by the early Ionic, and Doric writers, in place of different pronouns; as, They are the most ingenious of any whom I know. Bread which they call Cyllestis. But I will not release her. Yet some of our old English poets followed the Greek idiom more strictly; as, "For not to have been dipp'd in Lethe's lake Could save the son of Thetis from to die." |