An English Grammar Part 95

Exercise.

See if the word _other_ should be inserted in the following sentences:--

1. There was no man who could make a more graceful bow than Mr.

Henry.--WIRT.

2. I am concerned to see that Mr. Gary, to whom Dante owes more than ever poet owed to translator, has sanctioned, etc.--MACAULAY.

3. There is no country in which wealth is so sensible of its obligations as our own.--LOWELL.

4. This is more sincerely done in the Scandinavian than in any mythology I know.--CARLYLE.

5. In "Thaddeus of Warsaw" there is more crying than in any novel I remember to have read.--THACKERAY.

6. The heroes of another writer [Cooper] are quite the equals of Scott's men; perhaps Leather-stocking is better than any one in "Scott's lot."--_Id._

[Sidenote: _Use of the superlative degree._]

430. The superlative degree of the adjective (or adverb) is used regularly in comparing more than two things, but is also frequently used in comparing only two things.

Examples of superlative with several objects:--

It is a case of which the _simplest_ statement is the _strongest_.--MACAULAY.

Even Dodd himself, who was one of the _greatest_ humbugs who ever lived, would not have had the face.--THACKERAY.

To the man who plays well, the _highest_ stakes are paid.--HUXLEY.

[Sidenote: _Superlative with two objects._]

Compare the first three sentences in Sec. 428 with the following:--

Which do you love _best_ to behold, the lamb or the lion?

--THACKERAY.

Which of these methods has the _best_ effect? Both of them are the same to the sense, and differ only in form.--DR BLAIR.

Rip was one of those ... who eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got _easiest_.--IRVING.

It is hard to say whether the man of wisdom or the man of folly contributed _most_ to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the party.--SCOTT.

There was an interval of three years between Mary and Anne. The _eldest_, Mary, was like the Stuarts--the _younger_ was a fair English child.--MRS. OLIPHANT.

Of the two great parties which at this hour almost share the nation between them, I should say that one has the _best_ cause, and the other contains the _best_ men.--EMERSON.

In all disputes between States, though the _strongest_ is nearly always mainly in the wrong, the _weaker_ is often so in a minor degree.--RUSKIN.

She thought him and Olivia extremely of a size, and would bid both to stand up to see which was the _tallest_.--GOLDSMITH.

These two properties seem essential to wit, more particularly the _last_ of them.--ADDISON.

"Ha, ha, ha!" roared Goodman Brown when the wind laughed at him.

"Let us see which will laugh _loudest_."--HAWTHORNE.

[Sidenote: _Double comparative and superlative._]

431. In Shakespeare's time it was quite common to use a double comparative and superlative by using _more_ or _most_ before the word already having _-er_ or _-est_. Examples from Shakespeare are,--

How much _more elder_ art thou than thy looks!--_Merchant of Venice._

Nor that I am _more better_ than Prospero.--_Tempest._

Come you _more nearer_.--_Hamlet._

With the _most boldest_ and best hearts of Rome.--_J. Caesar._

Also from the same period,--

Imitating the manner of the _most ancientest_ and _finest_ Grecians.--BEN JONSON.

After the _most straitest_ sect of our religion.--_Bible_, 1611.

Such expressions are now heard only in vulgar English. The following examples are used purposely, to represent the characters as ignorant persons:--

The artful saddler persuaded the young traveler to look at "the _most convenientest_ and _handsomest_ saddle that ever was seen."--BULWER.

"There's nothing comes out but the _most lowest_ stuff in nature; not a bit of high life among them."--GOLDSMITH.

_THREE FIRST_ OR _FIRST THREE_?

432. As to these two expressions, over which a little war has so long been buzzing, we think it not necessary to say more than that both are in good use; not only so in popular speech, but in literary English. Instances of both are given below.

The meaning intended is the same, and the reader gets the same idea from both: hence there is properly a perfect liberty in the use of either or both.

[Sidenote: First three, _etc._]

For Carlyle, and Secretary Walsingham also, have been helping them heart and soul for the _last two_ years.--KINGSLEY.

The delay in the _first three_ lines, and conceit in the last, jar upon us constantly.--RUSKIN.

The _last dozen_ miles before you reach the suburbs.--DE QUINCEY.

Mankind for the _first seventy thousand_ ages ate their meat raw.--LAMB.

The _first twenty_ numbers were expressed by a corresponding number of dots. The _first five_ had specific names.--PRESCOTT.