Rules of Construction in English Grammar, Part 3
The third Concord, betweene the antecedent and the relatiue.
The third Concord.Qu. WHat is the thirde concord, or betwéene what things is the third concord?
An. The third concord is betwéene the antecedent and the relatiue.
Qu. In how many things doth the antecedent and the relatiue agrée?
An. In thrée things, that is to ſay, in gender, number and perſon.
Qu. By what rule?
The rule of the third Concord.An. By this rule: the relatiue agréeth with his antecedent in gender, number, and perſon: as, Vir ſapit, qui pauca loquitur, That man is wiſe, that ſpeaketh fewe things or words.
Qu. How ſhal you know the antecedent vntounto the relatiue.
How to find out the Antecedent.An. The antecedent is a word that commonly goeth before the relatiue, and therefore hath his name in latine of foregoing, and is knowen by aſking this queſtion, who, or what, for the word next before the relatiue, and being rehearſed againe of the relatiue by aſking this queſtion who, or what, and anſwereth vntounto the ſame, is the antecedent.
An. Shew this by the example of your rule before going.
Qu. The man is wiſe that ſpeaketh few things or words. In this example this word that is the relatiue, & this word man going before him is the antecedent, the which by aſking this queſtion who, or what with the relatiue that, is rehearſed againe by the relatiue, & anſwereth to the queſtion who, or what, whereby I know it to be the Antecedent: as for example, The man is wiſe that ſpeaketh, &c. Aſke the queſtion who, or what, by the Relatiue that, ſaying, That who or what is wiſe, the anſwere is, that man, where the word man anſwereth to the queſtion, who or what, & is rehearſed againe of the relatiue before whom in the ſentence it went, and therefore it is the antecedent. And thus you muſt do for the finding out of the antecedent in all other ſentences.
Qu. Now let me heare you apply the Latin example vntounto the rule of the third concord betwéene the antecedent and the relatiue.
The example applied to the rule of the third Concord.An. Vir ſapit, qui pauca loquitur. Héere the relatiue qui agréeth in gender, number, and perſon with his antecedent vir, that is to ſay, the relatiue qui is the maſculine gender, the ſingular number, and the third perſon, bicauſe his antecedent vir, is the maſculine gender, the ſingular number, and the third perſon by this rule, The relatiue agréeth with his antecedent in gender, number and perſon.
Qu. How is the relatiue qui, quae, quod engliſhed for the moſt part?
An. It is moſt commonly engliſhed by this word which, and ſomtime by this engliſh that, which may be turned into this Engliſh which, as in my example before alledged, The man is wiſe, that ſpeaketh few things or words. The relatiue that may be engliſhed alſo by the word which: for I may ſay as well, The man is wiſe, which ſpeaketh few things or words.
Qu. Wherefore ſerueth this note?
A difference in engliſh between the Relatiue That, and the coniunction That.An. To put a difference betwéene the relatiue that, when it may be turned into this Engliſh which, being in Latin called qui, quae, quod, and the coniunction quod or vt, the which is alſo engliſhed by this word that. But this is the difference, that this word that, when it is a relatiue, may be turned into this Engliſh which, but this word that, when it is a coniunction, cannot ſo be turned.
Qu. What rule hauehave you for this in your Accidence?
The rule for the difference betweene the Relatiue That, and the coniunction That.An. When this Engliſh that, may be turned into this engliſh which, it is a relatiue, otherwiſe it is a cōiunction, which in Latin is called quòd, or vt: and in Latin making it may elegantly be put away by turning the nominatiue caſe into the accuſatiue caſe, and the verbe into the infinitiue moode: as Gaudeo quòd tu bene vales: Gaudeo te bene valere, I am glad that thou art in good health. Iubeo vt tu abeas: Iubeo te abire, I bid that thou go hence.
Qu. Is this the onelyonly cauſe of making this rule, thereby to put a difference betwéene the relatiue that, and the coniunction that?
An other vſe of the rule aforegoing.An. No, there is yet a further vſe of this rule, namely this, to teach that when this Engliſh that, is not a relatiue, but a coniunction, called in Latin quòd or vt, comming betwéene two verbs perſonals, that then in Latin this word quòd or vt may elegantly for the moſt part be put away, by turning the nominatiue caſe before which it is ſet, into the accuſatiue caſe, and the latter of the two verbs into the infinitiue moode.
Qu. Shew me this by the two examples in your rule before.
The examples applied vntounto the rule.An. Gaudeo quod tu bene vales. Héere is in Latin the coniunction quòd, in Engliſh that, put before two verbs perſonals, Gaudeo and vales, and bicauſe that this Engliſh that, cannot be turned into this Engliſh which, for it is no good Engliſh to ſay, I am glad which you are in good health, but, that you are in good health, therefore I know this word that to be a coniunction and no relatiue: this quòd therefore may be better put away, turning the nominatiue caſe tu comming after it, into the accuſatiue caſe te, and the latter verbe vales into the infinitiue moode valere, ſaying, Gaudeo te bene valere.
The ſecond example applied.So in the ſecond example, Iubeo vt tu abeas, the coniunction vt, in Engliſh that (therefore a coniunction, and not a relatiue, bicauſe it cannot in this ſentence be turned into this Engliſh which, for it is no Engliſh to ſay, I am glad which thou art in good health, but, that thou art in good health) this coniunction vt (I ſay) comming betwéene theſe two verbs perſonals Iubeo and abeas, may elegantly be put away, by turning the nominatiue caſe tu, into the accuſatiue caſe te, and the latter verbe of the ſubiunctiue moode abeas, into the infinitiue moode abire, ſaying, Iubeo te abire.
Qu. Why, is it not good Latin to ſay, Gaudeo quòd tu bene vales: or Iubeo vt tu abeas?
An. It is congrue or true Latin, but not good and fine Latin, but rather Portuis or Popiſh prieſts Latin for the moſt part, in all ſuch kind of ſpéeches, and therefore yoong ſchollers were better not to know it, than to be acquainted with it. So that this rule is much better for them borowed from the Latin Grammar: Verbes of the infinitiue moode comming after verbs perſonals, in ſtead of a nominatiue caſe, will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe before them.
Qu. Hath the relatiue alwaies for his antecedent a word declined with caſe?
A whole ſentence put for the antecedent.An. No: for ſomtimes the whole reaſon or ſentence before going, is put for the antecedent, and then ſhall the relatiue be the neuter gender, and the ſingular number.
Qu. What is your rule for this?
The rule for the ſame.An. Sometime the relatiue hath for his antecedent the whole reaſon that goeth before him, and then he ſhall be put in the neuter gender, and ſingular number: as In tempore veni, quod omnium rerum eſt primum, I came in ſeaſon, which is the chiefest thing of all.
Qu. Declare the meaning of this rule by the example?
The example applied to the rule.An. In this ſentence, theſe words In tempore veni, being the whole reaſon or ſentence before the relatiue quod, is put for the antecedent vntounto the ſaid relatiue, and therfore is quod the neuter gender, and ſingular number by this rule.
More than one ſentence put for the antecedent.Qu. But what if there be two, or more ſentences, or péeces of ſentences put in ſtead of the antecedent?
An. Then the relatiue ſhall be the neuter gender, and plurall number by this rule:
The rule for the ſame.But if the relatiue be referred to two clauſes, or parts of ſentences, or more, the relatiue ſhall be put in the plurall number, and neuter gender: as, Tu multùm dormis, & ſaepe pota… quae ambo ſunt corpori inimica, Thou ſleepest much, and drinkest often, which both things are naught for the body.
Qu. Apply the example to make plaine the meaning of the rule.
An. In this example, theſe two clauſes or parts of a ſentence, Tu multum dormis, and & ſaepe potas, are put for the antecedent vntounto the relatiue quae, and therefore is the ſaid relatiue put in the plurall number, and the neuter gender by this rule.
An aduerb with his genitiue caſe put for the antecedent.And further héere is to be vnderſtood, that like as hath béene already noted in the two concords before going, ſometime the relatiue hath for his antecedent an aduerbe with his genitiue caſe, and then ſhall the relatiue be the ſame gender and number, that the genitiue caſe gouerned of the aduerbe is of.
Qu. Let theſe exceptions ſuffice to hauehave ſhewed, that the relatiue ſomtime hath for his antecedent a word that is not declined with caſe. And now go to the next exception, where the antecedent and the relatiue do ſéeme to be of contrary gender and number.
Another exception of diſagreement in ſhew betweene the antecedent and the relatiue.An. Many antecedents ſingular (that is, of the ſingular number) hauing a coniunction copulatiue betwéene them, will hauehave a relatiue plurall (that is, of the plurall number) which relatiue ſhall agrée with the antecedent of the moſt woorthy gender: as, Imperium & dignitas, quae petijſti, The rule and dignity, which thou hast required.
Qu. Let me heare how you can make this example agrée with the rule.
The example applied to the rule.An. Héere are many antecedents (for by many in this place is meant more than one) of the ſingular number, namely Imperium and dignitas, hauing the coniunction copulatiue et, comming betwéene them, and therefore by this rule they cauſe the relatiue quae to be the plurall number, and bicauſe theſe two antecedents are of diuers genders, that is, Imperium the neuter gender, and dignitas the feminine gender, therefore doth the relatiue quae agrée with the antecedent imperium, the moſt woorthy gender, that is, the relatiue quae is the neuter gender with the antecedent imperium, and not the feminine gender with the antecedent dignitas.
Obiection.Qu. You ſaid before in the ſecond concord, that the feminine gender was more woorthy than the neuter, that is, doth cauſe the adiectiue or relatiue to be rather the feminine gender than the neuter, when two ſubſtantiues or antecedents one of the feminine gender, and the other of the neuter gender do come before an adiectiue or relatiue?
Anſwer.An. So it is indéed in ſubſtantiues or antecedents being the names of things that hauehave life, but in things hauing no life the neuter gender is moſt woorthy, that is, cauſeth the adiectiue or relatiue rather to be of the neuter gender.
Qu. HaueHave you a rule for this in relatiues?
The rule for the gender of the relatiue referred vntounto antecedēts ſignifieng things without life.An. This is the rule: In things not apt to hauehave life, the neuter gender is moſt woorthy, yea and in ſuch caſe, though the ſubſtantiues or antecedents, be of the maſculine, or of the feminine gender, and none of them of the neuter, yet may the adiectiue or relatiue be put in the neuter gender: as Arcus et calami ſunt bona, The bow and the arrowes are good: Arcus et calami, quae fregiſti, The bow and the arrowes which thou hast broken.
Qu. Fit the examples to expreſſe the meaning of this rule.
The first example applied.An. Arcus et calami ſunt bona, this is an example of an adiectiue referred vntounto ſubſtantiues of contrarie gender, for héere theſe two ſubſtantiues arcus and calami, being both the maſculine gender, are notwithſtanding ioined with the adiectiue bona of the neuter gender, bicauſe that in ſubſtantiues of things without life, though none of them be the neuter gender, yet may the adiectiue be the neuter gender, as héere it is by this rule.
Note.Yet note, that bicauſe both theſe ſubſtantiues are of one gender, namely the maſculine, therefore may the adiectiue alſo be the maſculine gender, ſo that you may ſay, Arcus et calami ſunt boni, as well as bona.
The ſecond example applied.The ſecond example is more proper vntounto this place, for that it is of a relatiue referred vntounto antecedents of things without life. In the latter example therefore, Arcus et calami quae fregiſti, the relatiue quae is the neuter gender, though his antecedents arcus and calami be both of the maſculine gender, bicauſe that in antecedents betokening things without life (as bow and arrowes do) the relatiue ſhall be the neuter gender, as héere it is, though the antecedents be both of the maſculine gender, as héere they are by this rule.
Let this be well marked.Note alſo that if the antecedents be both of one gender, as héere they are, the relatiue alſo may be of the ſame gender, ſo that you may ſay, Arcus et calami, quos fregiſti, as well as quae fregiſti.
Qu. What other exceptions hauehave you yet behind conteining ſome ſhew of diſagréement betwéene the relatiue and the antecedent?
An. There are yet two, the one to be fet from the ende of the treatiſe of the caſe of the relatiue folowing, bicauſe it is fitter to be handled héere, in as much as it agréeth with the matter in hand, and the other is to be ſupplied from elſe where.
Qu. Rehearſe the exception ſet downe in the ende of the treatiſe of the caſe of the relatiue.
A rule for the gender of the relatiue betweene two ſubſtantiues of diuers genders.An. When a relatiue commeth betwéen two ſubſtantiues of diuers genders, it may indifferently agrée with either of them: as Auis, quae paſſer appellatur, or Auis, qui paſſer appellatur, The bird which is called a ſparrow.
Yea though the ſubſtantiues be of diuers numbers, yet may the relatiue agrée with either of thē: as, Eſt nè ea Lutetia, quā nos Pariſios dicimus? Is not that called Lutetia, that we do call Paris? or elſe, Eſt nè ea Lutetia, quos nos Pariſios dicimus?
Qu. Shew how theſe examples agrée with this exception.
The firſt example applied.An. Auis quae paſſer appellatur. Héere the relatiue quae being put betwéene theſe two ſubſtantiues auis the feminine gender, and paſſer the maſculine gender, agréeth with auis the feminine gender. And where it is ſaid auis qui paſſer appellatur, there the relatiue qui agréeth with paſſer the latter ſubſtantiue of the maſculine gender by this rule.
The ſecond example applied.Eſt nè ea Lutetia quam nos Pariſios dicimus. In this ſentence the relatiue quam being put betwéene theſe two ſubſtantiues Lutetia and Pariſios, of diuers genders and alſo numbers, Lutetia the feminine gender & ſingular number, and Pariſios the maſculine gender and plural number, it doth agrée with the ſubſtantiue Lutetia of the feminine gender and ſingular number, according to this rule. And in the other ſaying, Eſt nè ea Lutetia, quos nos Pariſios dicimus, the relatiue quos agréeth with the latter ſubſtantiue Pariſios of the maſculine gender and plural number by the ſame rule. For in ſuch like caſes the relatiue may aſwell agrée with the one ſubſtantiue as with the other.
Qu. What is your other exception?
The other exception, which apperteineth vntounto adiectiues alſo.An. Sometime the relatiue agréeth not with the thing or antecedent that went next before, This rule being ſomewhat darke muſt with examples be made plaine by the diligence of the maſter.but with the perſon vntounto whom the thing belongeth, as Laudabant fortunam meam, qui filium haberem tali ingenio praeditum, They praiſed my fortune, which had a ſonne indued with ſuch a diſpoſition or nature. Héere the relatiue qui agréeth not with fortunam, that went next before, for it is the feminine gender, and qui the maſculine gender, but qui is referred to the perſon wherof he ſpeaketh, namely himſelfe, of whom he ſpeaketh in the firſt perſon ego vnderſtood, which being the maſculine gender, the relatiue qui alſo is in this ſentence put in the maſculine gender.
Figuratiue ſpeeches.Further it is héere alſo to be noted, that figuratiue ſpéeches do often cauſe the relatiue and antecedent to be of diuers genders, numbers, and perſons, the which for the hardnes ſake, we will not cumber yoong wits withall, truſting to the helpe of their painfull teachers in this behalfe.