GREEK PREPOSITIONS. 367 



the nouns with which the different prepofitions are joined, and 

 which, in technical language, they are faid to govern. In lay- 

 ing down the grammatical principles of the language, this is un- 

 doubtedly a matter of fome importance ; but in inveftigating the 

 origin and radical fenfe of the prepofitions, little light, I appre- 

 hend, can be derived from that circumftance. Even in regard 

 to their fignification and ufe, it is far from being a certain or ac- 

 curate guide. Dr Moor has indeed conftrudled an ingenious 

 theory about the mode of their application, deduced from the 

 cafes they are found to govern ; but the principles of this theory 

 are in many cafes contradi<fled by the ufes of the prepofitions in 

 the mofl accurate Greek writers *. And, indeed, I fufpe(5l the the- 

 ory 



* Dr Moor fuppofes, for inftance, that the following diftinclion In the ufe of 

 the prepofitions, with the different cafes, may be regarded as conftant and certain. 

 With the genitive, he thinks, that the peculiar relation denoted by the prepofition 

 is reprefented as in a ftate of reft or continued juniSion with the objeft: with the 

 accujative, as in a ftate of tendency towards : with the dative, as in a ftate of junc- 

 tion under fome particular modification. Thus, he fays, etti with the genitive de- 

 notes reft or fituation upon ; with the accufative, motion diiefted upon ; with the 

 dative, fome particular mode in which one objeft maybe faid to be upon another. 

 He applies the fame theory to Im, and fome of the other prepofitions governing 

 different cafes. But many examples might be brought in direft oppofition to this 

 theory. Thus, in TnucrDiDES, i'^t ©{««?,- 5-{stT£/j«» ni^tts-xuual^iTii', " he prepares aa 

 '• expedition, — direBed upon or againft Thrace." 'Ex! "Aiyturja '{-m-; " to flow to- 

 " wards Egypt." In Homer we find, 



OUT« fA0» iyX^ft'J) «>) 6t' i^figWTaf. 



" So may my fame be eftablilhed or exift among men, — refting upon or among 

 " men." In like manner, we find Itt'o with the genitive denoting tendency under. 



'l«a'»6 i« n£ia««;«. QuiNT. Smyrn. 



" He comes towards the prefence,— or under the view of Priam." The fame pre- 

 pofition occurs with the accufative very frequently, denoting reft or fituation 

 under. v^xxxK^yinh inl ri). «v§«,, (Herod.), " he conceals it, refting under or 

 " behind the door." 



Vol. v.— P. II. 3B 



