THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR, MADE BY BEN JONSON, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL STRANGERS, OUT OF HIS OBSERVATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, now sFOKEN AND IN USE st. Consuetudo, certissima loquendi magistra, utendumque planè sermone, ut nummo, cui publica forms QUINCTIL. Non obstant hæ disciplinæ per illas euntibus sed circa illas hærentibus. - QUINCTIL. Major adhuc restat labor, sed sane sit cum venia, si gratiâ carebit: boni enim artificis partes sunt, quam paucissima possit omittere. SCALIG. lib. 1. c. 25. THE profit of Grammar is great to strangers, who are to live in communion and commerce with us, and it is honora ole to ourselves: for by it we communicate all our labors, studies, profits, without an interpreter. We free our language from the opinion of rudeness and barbarism, wherewith it is mistaken to be diseased: we shew the copy of it, and matchableness with other tongues; we ripen the wits of our own children and youth sooner by it, and advance their knowledge. Confusion of language, a curse. Experience breedeth art: lack of experience, chance. Experience, observation, sense, induction, are the four triers of arts. It is ridiculous to teach any thing for undoubted truth, that sense and experience can confuté. So Zeno disputing of Quies, was confuted by Diogenes, rising up and walking. In grammar, not so much the invention, as the disposition is to be commended: yet we must remember, that the most excellent creatures are not ever born perfect; to leave bears, and whelps, and other failings of nature. GRAMMATICA ANGLICANA. 'Jul. Cæsar Scaliger. de caus. Ling. Lat. Grammatici unus finis est rectè loqui. Neque necesse habet scribere. Accidit enim scriptura voci, neque aliter scribere debemus, quàm loquamur. — Ramus in definit. pag. 30. Grammatica est ars benè loquendi. 3 Dictionis natura prior est, posterior orationis. 4 Syllaba est elementum sub accentu. - Scalig. lib. 2. Litera est pars dictionis indivisibilis. Nam quamquam sunt literæ quædam duplices, una tamen tantùm litera est, sibi quæque sonum unum certum Scalig. zervans. THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR. CHAP. I. OF GRAMMAR, AND THE PARTS. 1 GRAMMAR is the art of true and well-speaking a language: the writing is but an accident. The parts of Grammar are Etymology, which the true notation of words Syntax, is the right ordering of them. 3 A word is a part of speech, or note, whereby a thing is known, or called; and consisteth of one or more syllabes. A syllabe is a perfect sound in a word, and consisteth of one or more letters. A letter is an indivisible part of a syllabe, whose prosody, or right sounding, is perceived by the power; the orthography, or right writing, by the form. Et Smithus, ibid. Litera pars minima vocis articulatæ. • Natura literæ tribus modis intelligitur; nomine, quo pronunciatur; potestate, quâ valet; figurâ, quâ scribitur. At potestas est sonus ille, quo pronunciari, quem etiam figura debet imitari; ut his Prosodiam Orthographia sequatur.- Asper. 1 Prosodia autem, et Orthographia partes non 1 Prosody, and orthography, are not parts of sunt; sed, ut sanguis, et spiritus per corpus uni-grammar, but diffused like the blood and spirits versum fusa. Scal. ut suprà. Ramus, pag. 31. through the whole. Litera, à lineando; undè, linere, lineaturæ, literæ, et lituræ. Neque enim à lituris literæ quia delerentur; priùs enim factæ, quàm deletæ sunt. At formæ potius, atque ovoias rationem, quàm interitus, habeamus. - Scal. ibid. CHAP 11. OF LETTERS AND THEIR POWERS." In our language we use these twenty and four letters, A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. V. W. X. Y. Z. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. 1. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. v. w. x. y. z. The great letters serve to begin sentences, with us, to lead proper names, and express numbers. The less make the fabric of speech. Litera genus quoddam est, cujus species primariæ duæ vocalis et consonans, quarum natura, et constitutio non potest percipi, nisi priùs cognoscantur differentiæ formales, quibus factum est, ut inter se non convenirent. - Scal. ibid. 4 Literæ differentia generica est potestas, quam nimis rudi consilio veteres Accidens appellarunt. Est enim forma quædam ipse flexus in voce, quasi in materia, propter quem flexum fit; ut vocalis per se possit pronunciari: Muta non possit. Figura autem est accidens ab arte institutum; potestque attributa mutari. Jul. Cæs. Scal. ibidem. De vi, ac potestate literarum tam accuratè scripserunt Antiqui, quàm de quávis aliâ suæ professionis parte. Elaborarunt in hoc argumento Varro, Priscianus, Appion, ille, qui cymbalum dicebatur mundi: et inter rhetores non postremi judicii, Dionysius Halicarnassæus, Caius quoque Cæsar, et Octavius Augustus.- Smith. ibid. 5 Literæ, quæ per seipsas possint pronunciari, vocales sunt; quæ non, nisi cum aliis, consonantes. Vocalium nomina simplici sono, nec differente à potestate, proferantur. Consonantes, additis vocalibus, quibusdam præpositis, aliis postpositis. Ex consonantibus, quorum nomen incipit à Consonante, Mutæ sunt; quarum à vocali, semivocales: Mutas non indè appellatas, quòd parùm sonarent, sed quòd nihil. Omnes Vocales ancipites sunt; (i. e.) modò longæ, modò breves eodem tamen modo semper All letters are either vowels or consonants; and are principally known by their powers. The figure is an accident. A vowel will be pronounced by itself: a consonant not without the help of a vowel, either before or after. The received vowels in our tongue are, • Consonants be either mutes, and close the sound as b. c. d. g. k. p. q. t. Or half vowels, and open it, as f. l. m. n. r. s. x. z. H. is rarely other than an aspiration in power, though a letter in form. W. and Y. have shifting and uncertain scats, as shall be shewn in their places. CHAP. III. OF THE VOWELS 7 All our vowels are sounded doubtfully. In quantity, (which is time) long or short. Or, in Is pronounced with a mean opening the mouth, the tongue turned to the inner roof of the palate, and softly striking the upper great teeth. It is a letter of divers note and use; and either soundeth, or is silent. When it is the last letter, and soundeth, the sound is sharp, as in the French i. Example in mé, seé, agree, yé, shé; in all, saving the article the. Where it endeth, and soundeth obscure and faintly, it serves as an accent to produce the vowel preceding: as in máde, stéme, stripe, óre, cúre, which else would sound, màd, stèm, stripe, dr, cùr. It altereth the power of c, g, s, so placed, as in hence, which else would sound henc; swinge, to make it different from swing; use, to distinguish it from us. It is mere silent in words where is coupled with a consonant in the end; as whistle, gristle, brittle, fickle, thimble, &c. Or after v consonant, as in love, glove, move. Where it endeth a former syllabe, it soundeth longish, but flat; as in dérive, prépare, résolve. Except in derivatives, or compounds of the sharp e, and then it answers the primitive or simple in the first sound; as agreeing, of agree; foreseeing, of foresee; being. of be. Where it endeth a last syllabe, with one or more consonants after it, it either soundeth fla and full; as in descent, intent, amend, offend, rest, best. Or it passeth away obscured, like the faint i, as in these, written, gotten, open, sayeth, &c. Which two letters e and i have such a nearness in our tongue, as oftentimes they inter change places; as in enduce, for induce: endite, for indite. quoque loco i fuit: ut Menerva, leber, magester : pro Minerva, liber, magister. I Porrigit ictum genuino propè ad ipsos Minimumque renidet supero tenus labello. Terent. I vocalis sonos habet tres: suum, exilem: alterum, latiorem proprioremque ipsi e; et tertium, obscuriorem ipsius u, inter quæ duo Y Græcæ vocalis sonus continetur: ut non inconsultò Victorinus ambiguam illam quam adduximus vocem, per Y scribendam esse putârit, Optimus. Scalig. Ante consonantem I sempèr est vocalis. Ante vocalem ejusdem syllabæ consonans. 3 Apud Hebræos I perpetud est consonans; ut apud Græcos vocalis. ▲ Ut in Giacente, Giesù, Gioconda, Giustitia. 50 pronunciatur rotundo ore, linguâ ad radices hypoglossis reductâ. ò μixgor, et à μiya, unica tantùm nota, sono differenti. Profertur, ut v. 7 Ut oo, vel ou Gallicum. Una quoniam sat habitum est notare forma, Pro temporibus quæ gremium ministret usum. Igitur sonitum reddere vales minori, Retrorsùs adactam modicè teneto linguam, Rictù neque magno sat erit patere labra, At longior alto tragicum sub oris antro Molita, rotundis acuit sonum labellis. Terent. Differentiam o parvi valdè distinctam Franci tenent: sed scripturâ valdè confundant. O, scribunt perinde ut proferunt. At w scribunt modò per au, modò per ao, quæ sonum talem minimè sonant, qui simplici, et rotundo motu oris proferri debet. Quanta sit affinitas (0) cum (u) ex Quinct. I Is of a narrower sound than e, and uttered with a less opening of the mouth; the tongue brought back to the palate, and striking the teeth next the check teeth. It is a letter of a double power. As a vowel in the former, or single syllabes, it hath sometimes the sharp accent; as in binding, minding, pining, whining, wiving, thriving, mine, thine. Or all words of one syllabe qualified by e. But the flat in more, as in these, bill, bitter, giddy, little, incident, and the like. In the derivatives of sharp primitives, it keepeth the sound, though it deliver over the primitive consonant to the next syllabe; as in divi-ning, requi-ring, repi-ning. For, a consonant falling between two vowels in the word, will be spelled with the latter. In syllabes and words, composed of the same elements, it varieth the sound, now sharp, now flat: as in give, give, alive, live, drive, driven, title, title. But these, use of speaking, and acquaintance in reading, will teach, rather than rule. 2 I, in the other power, is merely another letter, and would ask to enjoy another character. For where it leads the sounding vowel, and beginneth the syllabe, it is ever a consonant; as in James, John, jest, jump, conjurer, perjured. And before diphthongs; as jay, joy, juice, having the force of the Hebrew Jod, and the Italian Gi. But oftener upon the u; as in sòund, bound, ? how, now, thou, cow. In the last syllabes, before n and w, it frequently loseth its sound; as in person, action, willòw, billòw. It holds up, and is sharp, when it ends the word, or syllabe; as in gó, fró, só, nó. Except intò, the preposition; twò, the numeral, do, the verb, and the compounds of it; as undʊ, and the derivatives, as doing. It varieth the sound in syllabes of the same character, and proportion; as in shove; glove, grove. Which double sound it hath from the Latin : a Voltus, vultus, vultis, veltis. permutate invicem, ut Hecobe, et Notrix, Culchides, et Pulixena, scriberentur? sic nostri præceptores, Cervom. Servomque u et o litteris scripserunt; Sic dedêront, probaveront, Romanis olim fuêre, Quinct. lib. 1. Deinque o, teste Plinio apud Priscianum, aliquot Italiæ civitates non habebant; sed loco ejus ponebant u, et maximè Umbri, et Tusci. Atque u contra, teste apud eundem Papyriano, multis Italiæ populis in usu non erat; sed utebantur ; unde Romanorum quoque vetustissimi in multis dictionibus, loco ejus o posuerunt: Ut poblicum, pro publicum; polcrum, pro pulcrum; colpam, pro culpam. Quam scribere Graius, nisi jungat Y, nequibit Hanc edere vocem quotiès paramus ore, Nitamur ut U dicere, sic citetur ortus Productiùs autem, coëuntibus labellis Natura soni pressi altiùs meabit. Terentian. Et alibi. Græca diphthongus ov, literis tamen nostris vacat, Sola vocalis quod u complet hunc satis sonum. Ut in titulis, fabulis Terentii præpositis. Græca Menandru Græca Apollodoru, pro Mevavdov, et 'Anokhodúoov, et quidem, ne quis de potestate cocalis hujus addubitare possit, etiam à mutis animalibus testimonium Plautus nobis exhibuit è Penculo Menechmi. ME. Egon' dedi? PE. Tu, tu, inquam, vin' afferri noctuam, Quæ tu, tu, usque dicat tibi: nam nos jam nos defessi sumus. Ergò ut ovium balatus ra literæ sonum: sic noctuarum cantus, et cuculi apud Aristophanem sonum hujus vocalis vindicabit. Nam, quando u liquescit, ut in quis, et sanguis, habet sonum communem cum Y Grecd, χ' ἀποθ ̓ ὁ κόκκυξ εἴποι κόκκυ. Et quando Coccyx dixit Coccy. 2 Consonans ut u Gallicum, vel Digamma profertur. Hanc et modò quam diximus J, simul jugatas, Verum est spacium sumere, vimque consonatum. Ut quæque tamen constiterit loco priore: Nam si juga quis nominet, J consona fiet. Terent. Versa vice fit prior V, sequatur illa, ut in vide. W 3 Ut Itali proferunt Edoardo in Edouardo, et Galli, ou-y. Suavis, suädeo, etiam Latini, ut sov-avis, &c. At quid attinet duplicare, quod simplex queat suffiere? Proindè W pro copia Characterum non reprehendo, pro novâ literà certè non agnosco. Veteresque Anglo-Saxones pro eâ, quando nos W solemus uti, figuram istius modi solebant conscribere, quæ non multùm differt ab eâ, quâ et hodiè utimur simplici, dum verbum inchoet. Smithus de rect. et amend. L. A. Script. Is sounded with a narrower and mean compass, and some depression of the middle of the tongue, and is like our i, a letter of a double power. As a vowel, it soundeth thin and sharp, as in use; thick and flat, as in us. It never endeth any word for the nakedness, but yieldeth to the termination of the diphthong ew, as in new, knew, &c. or the qualifying e, as in sue, due, true, and the like. "When it followeth a sounding vowel in a syllabe it is a consonant; as in save, reve, prove, love, &c. Which double force is not the unsteadfastness of our tongue, or incertainty of our writing, but fallen upon us from the Latin. W 3 Is but the V geminated in the full sound, and though it have the seat of a consonant with us, the power is always vowelish, even where it leads the vowel in any syllabe; as, if you mark it, pronounce the two uu, like the Greek ov, quick in passage, and these words, ov-ine, ov-ant, ov-ood, ov-ast, sov-ing, sov-am ; will sound, wine, want, wood, wast, swing, swam. So put the aspiration afore, and these words, hov-at, hov-ich, hov-eel, hov-ether; Will be, what, which, wheel, whether. In the diphthongs there will be no doubt, as in draw, straw, sow, know. Nor in derivatives, as knowing, sowing, drawing. Where the double to is of necessity used, rather than the single u, lest it might alter the sound, and be pronounced knoving, soving, drav ing; As in saving, having. |