270 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book II. 



new word, which is done by derivation and ccmpofition, it expref- 

 les by fome fmali changes very many circumftances belonging to the 

 thing exprefled by the word, and which otherwife muft have been ex- 

 prefled by different words. Of this great art of language the verb is a 

 remarkable example; for, by certain changes of the word, it expreffes 

 numbers, perfotis, times, and befides all thefe, the d'ifpofitions of the bu- 

 ma7t viind ivith refpeEl to the aBion of the verb * ; and it alfo expref- 

 fes whether the a£tion be done or fuffered. To exprefs, by any flec- 

 tion or change of the word, all the various fubje£ls of the adlion of 

 the verb, is by nature impoffible. But the art of the Greek language 

 has gone fo far, (and I think it was impoflible that it could go far- 

 ther), as to exprefs, in that way, the fubjecH: of the adlion, when it 

 happens to be the fame with the adtor. This is done by what is 

 called the middle voice in Greek f. In fliort, the verb in that lan- 

 guage is fo wonderful a piece of art, that I knew a Profeffor of Di- 

 vinity who could not believe that it was the invention of man, but 

 had come down from heaven ready made. 



Fledtion, too, in a language of art, is of the greateft ufe in that 



moft important part of grammar, called fyntax ; and which is the 



completion of the grammatical art; being that, without which, the o- 



• ther parts of the art would fignify nothing, as by it the words are 



fo conne£led together as to make fpeech or difcourfe %• 



But the art of a perfed language does not confine itfelf to articu- 

 late founds, nor even to the variety of things expreffed by thofe 

 founds ; but it joins to the moll ufeful art among men, the moft 

 pleafant art ; I mean mufic. By this the reader will underftand, 



that 



* Page 119. 



\ See further concerning the wonderful variety of the fledion of the verb, p. 1 19. 



t Page 1 19. — I2C, 



