324 Kepokt 8.A.A. Advanckaikxt of Scikxck. 



to the action, an idea for which in an English sentence one must look 

 to the context. Accordingly in Latin the mind dwells longer on each 

 terra ; there is more thought to take in. 



Some illustrations of the freedom of the order in Latin and the 

 force of inflections are now given. The adjective aflFords the most 

 striking example. In English the attributive adjective must be placed 

 beside the noun it qualifies, as proud man, fair woman ; while in Latin 

 it must have the same inflection as the noun it qualifies, i.e. the speaker 

 gives the adjective the same attitude, the same logical relationship to 

 the action. Accordingly it does not require to be placed beside the 

 noun it qualifies ; it may be removed from its noun by the whole 

 length of the sentence. For example, in the sentence given above — 

 "Evening the time, Arc, etc." — the adjectival phrases "sharp the 

 instrument," " fat the object " might have been inserted among the 

 terms in any order, and yet it would have been evident that " sharp " 

 went with "arrows" in meaning and fat with "buck." 



Some examples are now given from the Latin poets. Horace, 

 speaking of the lape of Helen, writes : — 



" Pastor cum traheret per freta navibus 

 Idaeis Helenen perfidus hospitam ; " 



Observe the position of the two adjectives, per/iduf, hospifam, re- 

 moved from the nouns they qualify ; and yet what distinctness of 

 meaning is given by the inflections It might be rendered in English 

 thus : False villain to do it on his entertainer's wife. 



The active force expressed by the nominati^■e inflection in perfidus 

 calls for and is completed by the objective inflection in hospitam. 



Horace is fond of such collocations. The artist describes his 

 method : — 



" Ego apis Matinae 

 More modoque. 



Grata carpentis thyma per laborem 

 Plurimum, circa nemus uvidique 

 Tiburis ripas operosa parvus 

 Carmina fingo." 



Here there is the same antithesis in the adjectives, operosa, pa7'i-iis. 

 Toilsome the work, and the woi-ker small. 



Many other instances of this cnriosa felicitas can be found. 



The following two passages exhibit clearly the ancient feelings 

 associated with the nominative and accusative cases respectively : — 



Compare the line 



Felix (jui jiotuit rcrum cognoscere causas. 



and 



Felicem Nioben quamvis tot funera vidit (juae posuit sensum^. 

 saxea facta, mali. 



