Rules of Construction in English Grammar, Part 2
The ſecond Concord.
The ſecond concord.Qu. WHat is the ſecond concord, or rather betwéene what things is the ſecond concord?
An. The ſecond concord is betwéene the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue.
Qu. How ſhall you finde out the ſubſtantiue vntounto the adiectiue?
How the ſubſtantiue vntounto the adiectiue is to be found out.An. By aſking this queſtion Who, or what, and the word that anſwereth to the queſtion, ſhall be the ſubſtantiue, as in theſe examples, It is my master, aſke this queſtion who, or what, ſaying, My who, or what is it, and the anſwer is, maſter, the which héereby I do know to be the ſubſtantiue vntounto this adiectiue my. Againe, when I ſay thus in Engliſh, A ſure friend, if I aſke this queſtion who, or what, and ſay, a ſure what? the anſwer is, friend, the which héereby I know to be the ſubſtantiue vntounto the adiectiue ſure, and the like is to be done for the finding out of other ſubſtantiues in like caſes.
Qu. In how many things doth the adiectiue and the ſubſtantiue agrée?
Wherein the adiectiue and ſubſtantiue agree.An. The adiectiue and his ſubſtantiue do agrée in thrée things, namely, in caſe, gender, and number.
Qu. What call you to agrée in caſe, gender, and number?
What it is to agree in caſe, gender, and number.An. To be of the ſame caſe, gender, and number that the ſubſtantiue is of, as if the ſubſtantiue be the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, the adiectiue alſo muſt be the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number.
If the ſubſtantiue be the ablatiue caſe, the feminine gender, and ſingular number, the adiectiue muſt likewiſe be the ablatiue caſe, the feminine gender, and ſingular number, and ſo foorth, as appéereth by the examples of this ſecond concord.
Qu. What is the rule in your Accidence concerning this concord betwéene the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue?
The rule for the agreeing of the ſubſtantiue and adiectiue togither.An. The adiectiue, whether it be a noune, pronoune, or participle, agréeth with his ſubſtantiue in caſe, gender, and number: as Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur, A ſure friend is tried in a doubtfull matter. Homo armatus, A man armed. Ager colendus, A field to be tilled. Hic vir, This man. Meus herus eſt, It is my master.
Qu. What do you by the way, gather generally out of this rule?
Three ſorts of adiectiues.An. That there are thrée kinds of adiectiues, that is to ſay, a noune adiectiue, a pronoune adiectiue, and a participle adiectiue.
Qu. Shew by the examples of the rule by you rehearſed before, how the adiectiue agréeth with his ſubſtantiue in caſe, gender, and number.
The applying of the examples of the rule for the agreement of the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue. The firſt example.An. Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. In this example there be two ſubſtantiues, and two noune adiectiues, namely, Amicus certus, and re incerta, where the firſt noune adiectiue certus agréeth with the firſt ſubſtantiue amicus in caſe, gender, and number, that is to ſay, the firſt adiectiue certus is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and the ſingular number, bicauſe his ſubſtantiue amicus is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, by this rule, The adiectiue whether it be a noune, &c. And the ſecond noune adiectiue incerta, agréeth with the ſecond ſubſtantiue re, in caſe, gender, and number, that is to ſay, the ſecond adiectiue incerta, is the ablatiue caſe, the feminine gender, and ſingular number, bicauſe his ſubſtantiue re, is the ablatiue caſe, the feminine gender, and ſingular number, by the ſame rule.
The 2. example applied.In the ſecond example Homo armatus, the participle adiectiue armatus is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, bicauſe his ſubſtantiue homo is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, by this ſame rule.
The 3, example applied.In the third example Ager colendus, the participle adiectiue colendus, is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, bicauſe ſo is his ſubſtantiue ager, by the ſame rule.
The 4. example applied.In the fourth example Hic vir, the pronoune adiectiue hic is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, bicauſe his ſubſtantiue vir is ſo, by the ſame rule.
The 5. example applied.In the fift example, Meus herus eſt, the pronounce adiectiue meus is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, bicauſe his ſubſtantiue herus is the nominatiue caſe, the maſculine gender, and ſingular number, by the ſame rule, The adiectiue whether it be a noune, pronoune, and ſo foorth, as it is in the words of this rule.
Some ſhew of diſagreement betweene the ſubſtantiue & the adiectiue, and when?Qu. Is this rule ſo generall concerning the agréement of the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue, that it hath no exception?
An. Yes, there falleth out ſomtimes ſome ſhewe of diſagréement betwéene the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue both in gender and in number, eſpecially when many ſubſtantiues ſingular, that is, of the ſingular number, are ioined togither with a coniunction copulatiue.
Qu. What reaſon is there of this?
An. Bicauſe that then the adiectiue muſt firſt be of the plural number, though the ſubſtantiues be al of the ſingular number, and ſecondly the adiectiue doth not agrée with all the ſubſtantiues in gender, if they be of diuers genders, but with ſome one of them, that is, the adiectiue is not of the ſame gender that all the ſubſtantiues are of, but of the ſame gender of the which ſome one of the ſubſtantiues is of, the which they call the ſubſtantiue of the moſt woorthy gender, bicauſe (as it was ſaid before in the woorthines of the thrée perſons one aboue the other) he hath this prerogatiue, to cauſe the adiectiue to agrée with him in gender, that is, to be of the ſame gender that he himſelfe is of.
Qu. What are the rules in your Accidence touching theſe points?
An. They be in number two, whereof the firſt is of the woorthines of one gender aboue another: and the ſecond of the adiectiues being of the plurall number, and agréeing with the ſubſtantiue of the moſt woorthy gender.
Qu. Set downe the words of the firſt rule.
The rules for the woorthines of the genders.An. Where note, that the maſculine gender is more woorthy than the feminine, and the feminine more woorthy than the neuter.
Qu. What is the meaning of this rule?
The meaning of the rule of the woorthines of the genders.An. When an adiectiue hath for his ſubſtantiue more than one word, that is, two or more ſubſtantiue of diuers genders coupled togither with a copulatiue coniunction, if one of the ſubſtantiues be the maſculine gender, and the other the feminine, or neuter gender, yet ſhall the adiectiue be the maſculine gender: or if one of the ſubſtantiues be the feminine gender, and the other the neuter gender, then ſhall the adiectiue be the feminine gender, and not of the neuter gender. For where there is diuerſity of genders in the ſubſtantiues vntounto the adiectiue, there the adiectiue ſhall rather agrée with the ſubſtantiue of the maſculine gender, than with the ſubſtantiue of the feminine gender, and with the ſubſtantiue of the feminine gender, than with the ſubſtantiue of the neuter gender, except it be in ſubſtantiues betokening things without life, of the which ſome thing ſhall be ſpoken héereafter in handling the next rule.
Qu. What is your ſecond rule of the adiectiue his being of the plurall number, albeit the ſubſtantiues be of the ſingular number, and of his agréeing with the ſubſtantiue of the moſt woorthy gender.
The rule, of the adiectiue his ſeeming to diſagree with his ſubſtantiue in number and gender.An. Many ſubſtantiues ſingular, hauing a coniunction copulatiue comming betwéene them, will hauehave an adiectiue plurall, which adiectiue ſhall agrée with the ſubſtantiue of the moſt woorthy gender: as Rex et regina beati, The king and the queene are bleſſed.
Qu. How do you apply this example vntounto your rule?
The applying of the example vntounto the rule.An. In this example there are two ſubſtantiues Rex and regina coupled togither by this coniunction copulatiue et, wherefore they do cauſe the adiectiue beati, to be the plurall number, and bicauſe one of theſe ſubſtantiues, namely Rex, is the maſculine gender, and the other regina, the feminine gender, therefore doth the adiectiue beati agrée with the ſubſtantiue Rex in gender, rather than with the ſubſtantiue regina, that is to ſay, is rather the maſculine gender with Rex, than the feminine gender with regina, bicauſe Rex the maſculine gender is more woorthy than regina the feminine gender, that is, cauſeth the adiectiue rather to be put in the maſculine, than in the feminine gender.
Qu. Doth the adiectiue being referred vntounto ſubſtantiues of diuers genders, alwaies rather agrée with the maſculine gender than with the feminine, and with the feminine rather than with the neuter?
A ſubexception, or an vnderunder-exception from the exception before.An. If the ſubſtantiues betoken things without life, then is the neuter gender the moſt woorthy gender, that is, if there be any of them the neuter gender, the adiectiue ſhall likewiſe be the neuter gender: nay if one of them be the maſculine gender and the other the feminine, and none of them the neuter, yet ſhall the adiectiue be the neuter gender.
An example of the first branch of the former rule, and the ſame alſo applied vntounto the rule.Qu. Bring ſome examples for the making more plaine of this that you hauehave ſaid.
An. Coelum et terra ſunt à Deo condita: Heauen and earth were made by God. In this ſentence are two ſubſtantiues coelum and terra, coelum the neuter gender, and terra the feminine gender, and bicauſe that both of them do ſignifie things not hauing life, therefore doth the participle adiectiue condita agrée in gender with the ſubſtantiue coelum, and not with the ſubſtantiue terra, with the which, if they had ſignified things hauing life, it ought to hauehave agréed, that is, therfore in this example the adiectiue condita, is of the neuter gender with the ſubſtantiue coelum, and not the feminine gender with the ſubſtantiue terra, bicauſe that in things not hauing life, the neuter gender is the moſt woorthy, that is, doth make the adiectiue to be of the neuter gender rather then of any other gender.
Qu. GiueGive an example, of the adiectiue being the neuter gender, when one of the ſubſtantiues is the feminine gender, and the other the maſculine gender, and none of them of the neuter gender.
An example of the ſecond branch of this rule, and the ſame applied. More examples Labor & voluptas ſunt natura diſſimillima. Ira & aegritudo permixta ſunt.An. Requies et iocus in vita neceſſaria eſſe videntur, Reſt and ſport do ſeeme in life to be neceſſarie. Here are two ſubſtantiues Requies and iocus, Requies the feminine gender, and iocus the maſculine gender, betokening things without life, and yet is the adiectiue neceſſaria the neuter gender, bicauſe that in ſubſtantiues betokening things without life, though none of them be the neuter gender, yet ſhall the adiectiue notwithſtanding be put in the neuter gender.
And in both the examples before going, the adiectiue condita in the firſt, and likewiſe the adiectiue neceſſaria in the ſecond is the plurall number, though the ſubſtantiues be the ſingular number, bicauſe that manie ſubſtantiues of the ſingular number being coupled togither with a coniunction copulatiue, will cauſe the adiectiue to be of the plurall number.
Qu. But is there nothing elſe to be marked as touching this rule of the adiectiue to be put in the neuter gender, when he is to be referred vntounto ſubſtantiues ſignifieng things without life?
Figuratiue ſpeeches doe cauſe the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue not to agree. Obiection.An. The figures called Syllepſis and Zeugma, do often cauſe an alteration in this rule. But bicauſe that theſe are with the hardeſt for yoong beginners, we will leaue them to be opened by their learned maſters, at ſuch time as for their capacities, they ſhall thinke moſt conuenient.
Qu. What if the ſubſtantiues ſignifieng things without life be both of one gender, that is, either both the maſculine gender, or both the feminine gender?
Anſwer.An. Then may the adiectiue agrée with them in gender, that is, if the ſubſtantiues be the maſculine gender, the adiectiue may be the maſculine gender: if the ſubſtantiues be the feminine gender, the adiectiue may alſo be the feminine gender.
Qu. Shew this by example, for the yoong beginners ſake.
Example of the maſculine gender.An. I may ſay in latin, Codex et culter meus ſunt amiſſi, My booke and my knife are loſt: where the participle adiectiue amiſſi, is the maſculine gender, bicauſe both the ſubſtantiues codex and culter are the maſculine gender.
Example of the feminine gender.So I may ſay, Iuſtitia & temperantia ſunt amplectendae, Iustice and temperance are to be imbraced, where the participle adiectiue amplectendae is the feminine gender, bicauſe both the ſubſtantiues iuſtitia and temperantia, are the feminine gender, but yet in theſe kind of ſpéeches it is more vſuall to hauehave the adiectiue put in the neuter gender.A note worth the marking. As Polypus & Chamaeleon glabra ſunt. ex Solino, teſtante Deſpauterio.
And here is further to be vnderſtanded, that ſometimes when as both the ſubſtantiues do ſignifie things hauing life, yet is the adiectiue found to be put in the neuter gender, though the ſubſtantiue be of the maſculine or feminine gender, but this is a thing that falleth out very ſeldome, but yet not to be paſſed ouer without marking.
Qu. What elſe hauehave you to ſay concerning this concord of the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue?
An. Some Grammarians giuegive this rule, that when a participle adiectiue that commeth either of a verbe ſubſtantiue as factus of fio, or of a verbe paſſiue hauing the ſignification of calling, or the like, as dictus, of dicor, appellatus, of appellor, An other rule to be marked. Made, Factus. Called Dictus Appellatus Nominatus Vocatus Salutatus Saluted Habitus Accounted Viſus Seene or ſeemed Exiſtimatus Eſteemed Theſe and ſuch like are ſaid to be participle adiectiues ſignifiyng calling, &c.is put betwéene two ſubſtantiues of diuers genders, then ſhall that adiectiue agrée with the firſt ſubſtantiue, that is, be of the ſame gender that the firſt ſubſtantiue is of, as, pecunia dicta eſt neruus belli, Monie is called the ſinewes, or ſtrength of war, where the participle adiectiue dicta, called, comming of dicor to be called, being put betwéene two ſubſtantiues of diuers genders, namely pecunia the feminine gender, and neruus the maſculine gender, it doth agrée with pecunia the former ſubſtantiue, and not with neruus the latter ſubſtantiue. But if the adiectiue participle comming of ſuch verbes as is aforeſaid, or the like be put after two ſubſtantiues of diuerſe genders, then he may indifferently agrée with either of the ſubſtantiues, that is, be of the ſame gender, that either of the ſubſtantiues is of,Terentius; Nunquam aeque ac modò paupertas mihi onus viſum eſt, & miſerum & graue. Here the participle viſum agreeth with onus by this rule. as Ludos Megaleſia appellatos, Plaies called Megaleſia: Gens vniuerſa Veneti appellati, The whole people called Venetians. In theſe two examples there are two participle adiectiues of calling, whereof appellatos in the firſt example being ſet after theſe two ſubſtantiues of diuers genders ludos and Megaleſia, Ludos the maſculine gender, and Megaleſia the neuter gender, the adiectiue participle appellatos is the maſculine gender with the firſt ſubſtantiue ludos.
In the ſecond example the ſame participle adiectiue appellati, being ſet after gens & Veneti, gens the feminine gender, and Veneti the maſculine gender, it doth agrée with the latter ſubſtantiue Veneti being the maſculine gender, as it is, ſhewing that in ſuch like placing of the ſubſtantiues, the adiectiue may agrée with whether of them you will, ſo that you may ſay, Ludos Megaleſia appellatos, or Ludos Megaleſia appellata. Gens vniuerſa Veneti appellati, or Gens vniuerſa Veneti appellata: Paupertas onus viſum eſt, or Paupertas onus viſa eſt, & ſo of ſuch like, if the nature of the word will beare the ſame.
Qu. Why ſay you if the nature of the word will beare the ſame?
An. Bicauſe you can not ſay in latine, Verbum caro facta eſt, but Verbum caro factum eſt. nor Aqua vinum factum eſt, but aqua vinum facta eſt, for otherwiſe you ſhould ſpeake againſt the nature and truth of the matter.
Qu. HaueHave you now done with this ſecond concord?
Figures doe cauſe diſagreement betweene the ſubſtantiue and the adiectiue.An. There is yet further to be conſidered, that manie times the adiectiue and the ſubſtantiue are of diuers numbers and genders, and caſes by reaſon of certaine figuratiue ſpéeches, as by Syntheſis, Antiptoſis, Enallage and ſuch like, wherof when ſchollers are of further learning and vnderſtanding, their maſters muſt inſtruct them.
What gender and number the adiectiue must be, when he hath no caſuall word for his ſubſtantiue.Laſtly the adiectiue (like as the verbe before ſpoken of in the firſt concord) hath for his ſubſtantiue ſometimes, the infinitiue moode, ſometimes a whole ſentence, or péece of a ſentence, and ſometimes an aduerbe with his genitiue caſe, and then in the thrée former, he ſhall be the ſingular number and neuter gender: but if the adiectiue hauehave more then one infinitiue moode, or more then one ſentence, or more then one péece of a ſentence, coupled with a coniunction copulatiue, for his ſubſtantiue, then ſhall the adiectiue be the neuter gender and plurall number.
And when an adiectiue hath for his ſubſtantiue an aduerbe with his genitiue caſe, then the adiectiue muſt be the ſame gender and number, that his genitiue caſe comming after the aduerbe, is of.