The crying sin of all governments is, that they meddle injuriously with human affairs, and obstruct the processes of nature by excessive legislation. One of the most useful effects of action is, that it renders repose agreeable. The only advantage which, in the voyage of life, the cautious had above the negligent, was, that they sunk later, and more suddenly. The characteristic peculiarity of the "Pilgrim's Progress" is, that it is the only work of its kind which possesses a strong human interest. The proper end of instruction is, not that the scholar should be able to repeat the thoughts of others, but that he should have the power to think correctly for himself. The physician's directions were, that the patient should travel to the South, that he should avoid excitement, and that he should be careful in diet. XII.-Adjective Clauses. EXAMPLE ANALYZED. "Whoever yields to temptation, debases himself with a debasement from which he can never arise." ANALYSIS.-This is a complex declarative sentence. The subject nominative is he (comprehended in the double relative whoever); the predicate verb is debases; the object is himself. The adjunct of the subject nominative is the simple adjective clause, who yields to temptation; the adjunct of the predicate is the complex phrase, with a debasement from which he can never arise. The principal part of the phrase is debasement, and its adjuncts are a and the simple adjective clause, from which he can never arise. The chief misfortunes that befall us in life, can be traced to some vices and follies which we have committed. Every society has a right to prescribe for itself the terms on which its members shall be admitted. There is no foundation for the popular doctrine, that a state may flourish by arts and crimes. It is necessary to combat vigilantly that favorite idea of lively ignorance, that study is an enemy to originality. Most of the troubles which we meet with in the world, arise from an irritable temper, or from improper conduct. Neither his vote, his influence, nor his purse, was ever withheld from the cause in which he had engaged. He that has light within his own clear breast, No flocks that range the valley, free, Taught by that power that pities me, XIII.-Adverbial Clauses. EXAMPLE ANALYZED. "Education, when it works upon a noble mind, draws out to view many latent virtues and perfections, which, without its aid, would never be able to make their appearance." ANALYSIS. This is a complex declarative sentence. The principal clause is, Education, when it works upon a noble mind, draws out to view many latent virtues and perfections; and the dependent is, Which, without its aid, would never be able to make their appearance. The connective is which. The first is a complex member; the subject is education; the predicate verb is draws; the objects are virtues and perfections. The adjuncts of the verb are the adverbial clause, when it works upon a noble mind, out, and the simple adverbial phrase to view; the adjuncts of the objects are many and latent. The subject of the adverbial clause is it, the predicate verb is works. The adjuncts of the verb are when, and the adverbial phrase, upon a noble mind. The connective is when. The subject of the dependent clause is which; the predicate verb is would be; the attribute is able. The adjuncts of the predicate are the phrase, without its aid, and never; the adjunct of the attribute is the simple adverbial phrase, to make their appearance, of which to make is the principal part, and its adjunct the object appearance, modified by their. When sickness, infirmity, or reverse of fortune, affects us, the sincerity of friendship is proved. When the Creator had finished his labor on our planet, his last and noblest work being man, he conferred on him a partnership in his labors. Loose conversation operates on the soul, as poison does on the body. When Education had proceeded, in this manner, to the part of the mountain where the declivity began to grow craggy, she resigned her charge to two powers of superior aspect. While I was musing on this miserable scene, my protector called out to me, "Remember, Theodore, and be wise, and let not Habit prevail against thee." While this thought passed over my mind, I lost sight of the remotest star, and the last glimmering of light was quenched in utter darkness. The agonies of despair every moment increased, as every moment augmented my distance from the last habitable world. I reflected with intolerable anguish, that, when ten thousand thousand years had carried me beyond the reach of all but that Power who fills infinitude, I should still look forward into an immense abyss of darkness, through which I should still drive without succor and without society, farther and farther still, forever and forever. XIV. Explanatory Clauses. EXAMPLE ANALYZED. "Why is it that to man have been given passions which he cannot tame, and which sink him below the brute ?" ANALYSIS. This is a complex interrogative sentence, The subject is it; the predicate verb is is; the adjunct of the subject is the complex explanatory clause, to man have been given passions which he cannot tame, and which sink him below the brute; the connective is that: the adjunct of the predicate is why. The subject noun of the explanatory clause is passions; the predicate is have been given. The adjuncts of the subject are the simple adjective clauses, which he cannot tame, and which sink him below the brute. [Each to be analyzed as in previous exercises.] It was the fate of Dr. Bentley, that every work, executed or projected by him, should be assailed. It is surprising in what countless swarms the bees have overspread the far West, within but a moderate number of years. To tell you the why and the wherefore would take too long; suffice it to say, that they hate us with a deadly hatred. Seeing these, I at length comprehended the meaning of those terrible words, "Must we kill them both ?" It might be expected, that humanity itself would prevent them from breaking into the last retreat of the unfortunate. It is an exquisite and beautiful thing in our nature, that when the heart is touched and softened by some tranquil happiness or affectionate feeling, the memory of the dead comes over it most powerfully and irresistibly. Interesting it is to observe how certainly all deep feelings agree in this, that they seek for solitude, and are nursed by solitude. Is it because foreigners are in a condition to set our malice at defiance, that we are willing to contract engagements of friendship ? See! and confess, one comfort still must rise; XV.-Parenthetical Clauses. EXAMPLE ANALYZED. "The virtuous man, it has been beautifully said, proceeds without constraint in the path of his duty." ANALYSIS. This is a compound declarative sentence; composed of the simple clause, The virtuous man proceeds without constraint in the path of his duty, and the parenthetical clause, It has been beautifully said. [Let the pupil analyze each clause as in the preceding exercises.] OBS.-Sentences of this form may often be analyzed by considering the parenthetical clause, the principal one, and the rest of the sentence dependent upon it. The mode of analysis, indicated in the example, is, however, preferable; as, although the parenthetical clause is united in construction with the other part of the sentence, it is not necessary to complete the sense. How dangerous soever idleness may be, are there not pleasures, it may be said, which attend it? "I leave my second son, Andrew," said the expiring miser, "my whole estate; and desire him to be frugal." "Go forth," it had been said to Elijah, "and stand upon the mount before the Lord." "I think, boys," said the schoolmaster, when the clock struck twelve, "that I shall give you an extra half-holiday this afternoon." "You remember my garden, Henry," whispered the old man, anxious to rouse him, for a dullness seemed gathering upon the child, "and how pleasant it used to be in the evening-time?" "Therefore," said he, "hath it in all confidence been ordered by the Commons of Great Britain, that I impeach Warren Hastings of high crimes and misdemeanors." "Oh, no," said the Earth, "thou shalt not lie, Neglected and lone, on my lap to die, Thou fine and delicate child of the sky." No further seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose,) The bosom of his Father, and his God. Compound Sentences. XVI.-Independent Clauses. OBS. 1.-In analyzing compound sentences, at this stage of the pupil's progress, the leading clause should be distinguished from the subordinate clause. It must, however, be understood, that the dependence of the latter upon the former, is logical, not grammatical, differing in this respect altogether from the relation of the principal and the dependent clause of a complex sentence, which is purely grammatical, since the latter is an adjunct, or used as one of the principal parts, in the principal clause. OBS. 2.-Some clauses are simply connected without logical or grammatical dependence. These may be called co-ordinate clauses. In the following examples of analysis, for the purpose of abbreviation, and in order to furnish the pupil with a ready method of clearly representing, in written exercises, the parts of a sentence and their relations, the compound clauses or members are marked by capitals; the simple clauses, by numerals; and the phrases, by small letters. When these are all written out in the order in which they occur, care being taken to unite in brackets dependent clauses contained in the same sentence or member, the character and composition of the sentence analyzed will be exhibited. According to this mode of representation, a simple sentence would, of course, have no numerical or literal designation; 1 would indicate a complex sentence with a simple dependent clause; 1, 2, a compound sentence, consisting of two simple clauses, but if enclosed in brackets thus [1, 2], a complex sentence containing two dependent clauses; A, 1, 2, B, 3, 4, a compound sentence composed of two compound members; but A, [1, 2], B, [3, 4], a compound sentence composed of two complex members, each containing two dependent clauses; A, 1, B, 2, a compound sentence composed of two complex members, each containing one dependent clause; A, 1, 2, B, 3, a compound sentence composed of a compound and a complex member; A, 1, B, 2, 3, a compound sentence containing a complex and a compound member; A, B, 1, a complex sentence containing a complex dependent member, which itself contains a complex dependent member; and so on. This mode of presenting to the eye the general conformation of a sentence, its members, clauses, etc., in their order and, partially, their dependence, will be found easy after the previous practice, and cannot fail to be useful. In the forms of analysis given, S. stands for the subject noun or pronoun without its adjuncts; P., for the predicate verb; O., for the object; Att., for the attribute; Ad., for adjuncts. It must be borne in mind by the pupil that the complete subject consists of the subject noun or pronoun and all its adjuncts; and the complete predicate, of the predicate verb and all its adjuncts, including the object and attribute;-that, in fact, there are but two parts in every sentence, each of which is separable into one primary part and adjuncts. EXAMPLES ANALYZED. 1. "Let him that hastens to be rich, take heed lest he suddenly become poor." ANALYSIS.-Compound imperative sentence, consisting of A. (Leading) Let him that hastens to be rich, take heed; 1. (Subordinate) He sudden'y become poor. Connective, lest. A. Complex imperative member. S. Thou (understood); P. let; O. him that hastens to be rich take heed. (B.) B. Complex infinitive member. S. him; P. take; O. heed. Ad. S. that hastens to be rich. (2.) 2. Simple adjective clause. S. that P. hastens; Ad. P. to be rich. (a.) |