their old habits: but as the writers became popular, the fashion spread.

According to the modern custom of using these tenses, the second future, as above arranged, has somewhat of the force of the Hebrew hiphil form: it implies that the speaker is either expressing a very resolute will to act on his own part, or an equally resolute will in causing action on the part of others, with modifications, however, in intensity, which are expressed by a change of emphasis, or by the use of an adverb; I WILL go is equivalent to Je veux aller.

When put interrogatively the same word is used by the querist as by the replicant; as may be seen in the before quoted passage from Shakespeare. "Wilt thou, Silvius?" must be replied to by, I will, or I will not: SHALL he go? will be answered by, Yes he shall.

The same distinctions exist with regard to the subjunctive or potential mode; the simple future is

Sing. If I should

Thou wouldst > love.

He would

*To cause to do.

F

Plu. If We should

Ye or you would love.
They would

The second tense implies duty or will, and has but little connection with the future time: often it is used for the past. It is thus conjugated.

"You swore to me, when I did give it you, That you would wear it till your hour of death, And that it should lie with you in your grave: Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, You should have been respective, and have kept it."*

In the above example, the first word marked in italics is in the simple, or first future; the next in the second future, in its imperatively future sense the third implies duty, and applies to a past time.

Although the idiomatic use of this verb will always be surrounded with difficulties to a foreigner, it is nevertheless probable, that were the above arrangement of the tenses adopted in

Shakespeare.

grammars, instead of the customary one of, I shall or will go, &c. much confusion would be avoided.*

The next auxiliary that takes an effective part in the formation of the English verb is MAY. When, like SHALL, it is compounded with the infinitive, omitting the to, it signifies permission, as, you MAY go;-you MAY read that book: but when compounded with have and a participle, it gives some uncertainty to the expression, as, "Among innumerable instances that may be given." I MAY have said so; He MAY have had reason to think it, in which latter it is equivalent to, c'est possible que. When it is a second limb of a sentence beginning with a verb in the subjunctive mode, or the conjunction when, it implies a possibility of doing a thing, the first condition being fulfilled, as "When there is a battle in the Haymarket Theatre one may hear it as far as Charing Cross."+ It is thus conjugated.

* The experiment was once tried by the writer, in teaching a foreigner, English. He was not allowed to learn anything but the first or simple future, till he knew the language well. The writer has heard him speak English very commonly since that, but never knew him to make a blunder in the use of shall and will.

+ Addison.

Thou mightest love. Ye or you might love.

66

When compounded with have and a participle, this last becomes a past tense, as, Supposing these people had endeavoured to kill me with their spears and arrows while I was asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength as to have enabled me," &c; but when joined with the infinitive it is future in its sense, as, "I thought it the most prudent method to lie still till night when, my left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself; and as for the inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring against me

* Swift.

CAN is the next auxiliary, and is very simple in its use; for its only sense is that of capability or power. Like MAY, it has its indicative and subjunctive modes alike, and is thus conjugated.

MUST is also to be considered as a defective auxiliary, for it is regularly compounded with the infinitive, like SHALL, &c.; but its conjugation is alike in all persons and tenses, as

Then must the Jew be merciful.

On what compulsion must I? tell me that."*

"Fade flowers, fade, nature will have it so ;
"Tis but what we must in our autumn do."+