The localities of those towns which are important, from their being the seats of manufacture or commerce, should be sought out upon the map.

Hughes.

The Duke purposed quitting the country. Foot it featly here and there. Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow. You had no welcomes home. In nothing, except personal appearance, was he distinguished. Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. I was now five miles nearer the city. He darted on the Bruce at once. We deeply regret his removal from amongst us. We talked of things in general. Will you procure me a board ten inches square and half an inch thick? I knew to what issue things would come. I am a great deal better. I could not help wishing him success. Misc.

CHAP. VII.

ADVERBS.

1. An adverb may modify a preposition phrase. This arises from the circumstance that adverbs may modify adverbs,these being equivalent to preposition phrases. Compare “I speak quite candidly" and "I speak quite in candour;" -in the former sentence, the adverb quite modifies the adverb candidly; in the latter, the adverb quite modifies the preposition phrase, in candour. Thus, also, in the sentence, "The boy went nearly round the hill, and fell almost into the water," the italicised preposition phrases are modified, respectively, by the adverbs nearly and almost.

2. An adverb occasionally seems to modify a noun; but, in such an instance, it will sometimes be found, that the noun is regarded as involving the meaning of an adjective or of a verb, and that it is the implied adjective or verb which allows modification by the adverb. Thus, "He was truly man," that is, truly human, or truly a human being; "We mourn thy departure hence," that is, thy having departed hence.

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The adverbs in these examples are equivalent to preposition phrases forming adjuncts to the nouns; as will appear by the translated forms "He was man in reality;" "We mourn thy departure from this place."

3. Adverbs occur with the signification of nouns. In the preceding chapter reference has been made to adverbs used as objective nouns after prepositions; but the adverbial noun may occur also in the nominative case, and may be defined by an adjective; as, "An eternal now does always

last."

The adverb so may be employed instead of such, as a pronominal representative of an adjective or a noun; as, "John is a good boy, and you are not so." The adverb otherwise may be used in the same way.

4. Many adjectives have acquired sanction to be used adverbially, as abridgments of preposition phrases; as, "The cause is little promoted;" "He is no wiser;" "She fain would go;" - that is, to little extent. - in no degree — in fain or wishful spirit.

The words even and only are primarily adjectives, and should be parsed as such when they refer immediately to nouns; as, "Even infancy was disregarded," that is, very infancy; "He dreaded even his fears," that is, his very fears; "Man only is unmindful," that is, man alone. But these adjectives are very commonly employed as adverbs, with the respective significations of evenly (that is precisely, or verily,) and solely; as, "It only makes my brother more cautious;" "I am even worse."

5. Those adverbs which, when translated by a preposition phrase, contain a relative pronoun, have a conjunctive as well as modifying influence; they modify both a preceding and a succeeding term; and they are, therefore, appropriately named relative or conjunctive adverbs. The words When, While, Where, Why, How, As, Whenever, Wherever, occur with this character; as, "I placed the book where you

found it;" that is, in the position in which; "You talk while I work ;" that is, in the time in which.

The conjunctive adverbs where and when sometimes have the kindred adverbial antecedents there and then.

6. Adverbs in some instances relate to verbs understood, and may be parsed by supplying the verb that is modified, or else by considering the given expression as an interjection; as, "He went, certainly, but not soon enough;" that is, it is certainly known; “ Away, ye gay landscapes!" that is, be away, or go away; "As yet, there was no rain;" that is, among such things as had yet happened.

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7. Such adverbs as can be related to almost any part of speech ought to be carefully placed in a sentence, so as not to hazard the sense. The word only is frequently misplaced. Thus, the sentence," It only makes my brother more cautious" should be understood as having its verb modified by the adverb only; but if only preceded my brother, it might be an adjective defining brother; and if it preceded more cautious it might be an adverb modifying that adjective. Indeed, as the sentence stands, there is some uncertainty whether only should be regarded as an adjective defining the pronoun it, or as an adverb modifying makes. This ambiguous character might be removed by using the adjective alone, if the pronoun it were to be defined, or by using the adverb but, if the verb makes were to be modified.

The use of but, as an adverb equivalent to only, is elliptical, having the force of the conjunction but preceded by the adverb not or some other negative. Compare the assertions "I could not but think the same," and "I could but think the same."

8. EXERCISES.

His history we heard from others, soon after our arrival here; since our acquaintance began, we have had it at different times from himself. Mackenzie.

Many have been surprised at the almost miracle of Dante creating at once a new language and a new cast of poetry. Douglas.

My brother, those were happy days, when thou and I were children yet.

Moultrie.

Myself and all the angelic host our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds.

Full well I know that reverend form. Moultrie.

Milton.

It would have less the appearance of digression, and conduce more to perspicuity, to consider the topics severally.

Dr. Campbell.

Is death uncertain? therefore, thou be fixed,
Fixed as a sentinel, all eye, all ear,

Princes may confer honours, or rather titles or names of honour; but they are a man's or a woman's own actions which must make him or her truly honourable.

South.

'Tis Heaven itself that points out an hereafter.

Addison.

The symbols are mere counters, without even the semblance of a meaning apart from the convention, which is renewed each time they are employed. J. S. Mill.

All that belongs to utility is thrown out of sight behind these forms of vastness. Foster.

From out the trees the Sabbath bell

Rings cheerful far and wide. Dana.

Words are but the loose garments of things, and so may easily be put off and on, acccording to the humour of him who bestows them.

South.

Why, look you, how you storm!

I would be friends with you, and have your love.

Shakspeare.

My liege, this lodging likes me better. Shakspeare. Forbear to inquire why so small a part is placed within the reach of your powers. Foster.

When reduced to a certain temperature, water, instead of contracting by a farther radiation of heat, begins to expand.

Moseley.

No direct or open offence had as yet been offered by either

"How beautiful," he often cried, "is Nature! how lovely, even in her wildest scenes." Goldsmith.

He would fain not deprive himself of this powerful and apparently indispensable aid. Schiller.

Whilst there is nothing but nominal Christianity, there is peace, the peace of death; whilst nothing but vital, there is peace, the peace of heaven. Melvill.

Full many a rose-bud rears its blushing head.

Beattie.

Whence, then, is this increased love of life, which grows upon us with our years? Whence comes it, that we thus make greater efforts to preserve our existence, at a period when it becomes scarce worth the keeping? Goldsmith.

My dear friend, it is quite time to dismiss this whole subject.

Foster.

We look round with discontent, are displeased with the abode, and yet the length of our captivity only increases our fondness for the cell.

Goldsmith.

Such an undertaking would have well accorded with his temper, and with the principles wherewith his pernicious education had thoroughly imbued him.

Southey.

He is like a traveller, who, amidst his indolent musings in some soft bower, where he has sat down to be shaded a little while from the rays of noon, falls asleep. Foster.

It is not ours to judge, far less condemn.

Byron.

Prompt and impetuous by nature, he was so on this occasion from principle.

Schiller.

Though he had had a return of his illness but the day before, he continued, for an hour or more, to walk backwards and forwards on the green, talking and laughing.

Lockhart.

It was impossible that religion could any longer be effectually superintended by so few eyes as were formerly sufficient. Schiller* Wherefore should not strength and might there fail where virtue fails? Milton.

In the mean time, too, the period had elapsed within which the Spanish troops were to have left the country, and as yet there was no appearance of their being withdrawn. Schiller.

Life sues the young like a new acquaintance; the companion, as yet unexhausted, is at once instructive and amusing; its company pleases; yet, for all this, it is but little regarded. Goldsmith.