is CO ient, even in a philosophical treatise, to con- 
poem them in conjunction with the noun. 
"i. Lhe Nomynative has been represented by some as 
oF ing nothing more than the name of the idea ex- 
ene any noun, and therefore the least complex of 
_theeases. But it always has a reference to a verb, and 
this verb for the most part follows it in the same sen- 
tence. It often that, compared to the other ca- 
_. ses, it is short, that the others are distinguished by 
__. the addition of one or more syllables. Of this we have 
instances in the Latin nouns wr and sermo. But it more 
frequently that the nominative has a peculiar 
termination, that in the formation of the other cases 
this is left out, and its place supplied by different termi- 
mations affixed to the radical letters. The radical letters 
of dominus are domin-, and the -us is as much a sepa- 
_ fate sign as the -7, -0, -wm, -e, -orum, -os, and -is, which 
_ form the other cases. D: minus is therefore something 
more —— name and i object. ~f pe pete con- 
if trary tot analogy nguage, the opera- 
tions: of the human pce tie the least correct, to 
‘uppose that the syllable -us has no original meaning. 
We may pronounce it a superfluity, if the definite ap- 
plication of the noun which it expresses can be under- 
stood without it. Yet we have no right, on this ac- 
count, to pronounce it destitute of meaning, It is in 
fact a sign of connection with another word of definite 
character and use, the verb. 
We have farther to observe, that the nominative 
gives the noun a hi rank in a sentence than the 
other cases, It differs from them in a manner nearly 
resembling that in which the noun differs from the 
other parts of speech, It expresses the central or focal 
idea, to the description of which the other words in a 
sentence, including the other parts of speech and nouns 
in the other cases, are subordinate. 
The sentences which may open exceptions to this 
doctrine are very numerous. This is occasioned by 
pursuit of that variety which gives ele- 
gance to language, and by the presence of other cir- 
cumstances which preserve the importance due to the 
leading subject of discourse.. By some writers the hero 
_of a biographical narrative is mentioned in the nomi- 
ative case more uniformly than by others; but by none 
is such a rule invariably followed. Suetonius probably 
follows it as often as any writer, and thus gives his 
biographical delineations a more concentrated force. 
Yet this author, in relating the death of Julius Czsar, 
introduces the persons by whom he was killed in the 
nominative case in preference to Cesar himself, thus 
making them apparently the most important subjects for 
atime. AssipENTEM ConsPIRATI specie officii circumste- 
terunt : illicoque Cimber TuLiis, gui pyimas partes sus- 
ceperat, quasi aliquid rogaturus, propius accesstt: renuen- 
tigue et gestu in aliud tem) us differenti. ab utroque humero 
appreheniitt, deinde clamantem; ‘‘ Ista quidem vis 
ALTER Cassivs adversum vu/nerat paulum infra 
‘ The conspirators, under pretence o' shewing 
* Czesar respect, stood up around him as he sat. Then 
€ Cimber Tullius, who had undertaken to commence the 
* deed, nearer to him, with the apparent de- 
‘ sign of meking some request. As soon as he observed 
‘that Cassar, by a wave of hishand, declined conversation, 
_ and put him off till a future time, hedaid hold of him by 
* the tega on both shoulders, an act which made Caesar ex- 
‘claim, “ This isdownright force.”. At that instant one 
_ fofthe Cassii wounds Ceesarin the neck.’ In the relation 
of these circumstancesCasarmight bave been mentioned 
in the nominative case, thus: ‘Cesar was surrounded by 
VOL. X. PART 11. : 
cr 
aa 
BF echt? 
GRAMMAR. 
400 
‘ the conspirators affecting to pay him respect, was ap- Universt 
* proached by theirchiefCimber Tullius, whopretended to Gramm, 
‘make some request, and, on waving his advances, was “~ Y~~ 
‘ seized by the toga on both shoulders; but as he exclaim- 
‘ed, This is downright force,” he received a direct thrust 
‘ of a mortal weapon from the hand of one of the Cassii.’ 
This mode of writing would keep the mind of the read- 
er more constantly fixed on the person who is the chief 
subject of the narrative as a whole; but it would ofter 
render language insupportably monotonous, The au- 
thor, therefore, relieves the attention of his readers, by 
assigning in some of his details a subordinate place to 
the ponepel personage. His importance is always 
maintained by the ultimate tendency of the narra- 
tive, as well as by the advantage of being more frequent= 
ly than any other subject mentioned in the nominative. 
After the historian has, in the manner now described, 
varied the current of his language, he is enabled, with 
gracefulness as well as force, to introduce the chief 
subject in that mode of diction in which he will hold, 
by means of the nominative case, the most dignified 
rank in the sentence. After these details of the con- 
duet of the conspirators, Suetonius thus proceeds : 
Casar Cassii brachinm arreplum graphio trajeecit : 
conatusque prosilire alio vulnere tardaius est. Utque 
animadvertit undique se strictis pugionibus peti, toga ca~ 
put oiwolvit : simul sinistra manu sinum ad una crura 
deduct, quo honestius cadrret. Atque its tribus et vigin 
ti plagis confossus est ; uno modo ad primum rctum gemuit, 
sine voce edito. ‘ Caesar seized the arm of Cassius, pier- 
‘ced it with his writing style, then endeavoured to rush 
‘forward, but was prevented by another wound. Find- 
‘ing himself sad in every direction with drawn 
‘ swords, he covered his head with his toga, and, in or- 
‘der that he might fall with the greater decency, drew 
‘the “P of it with his left hand over his limbs. Thug 
‘he fell, stabbed with twenty-three wounds. He emit- 
‘ted a single groan when he received the first ; but met 
‘his fate without uttering a word.’ The peculiar pro- 
priety and force of these latter sentences, and a slight 
character of inv: rsion of which we are sensible in read- 
ing those which precede them, are proofs of the superior 
rank of the nominative case. 
The Vocative case, or that which is used in naming The Voea- 
the person addressed, comes next in order, not merely tive. 
from its frequent coincidence in form with the nomina- 
tive, but trom its being probably of earlier origin in 
the proper names of persons than any other form 
of the noun. It is peculiar to nouns which designate !* eatly 
, because it applies only to beings capable of 
Serine what is said. In these, however, it seems to be 
rior in the order of nature tothe nominative. The 
tin vocative, wherever it differs from the nomi- 
native, inclines to. greater brevity. Virgilius was ad- 
dressed Virgili, Minuttus, Minuti, Dominus, Domine, 
and Filius, Fili, In this characteristic the vocative case 
of the noun resembles the imperative of the verb. Be- 
ing the earliest use of the word, it is its shortest form. 
When we enter on the consideration of the Gen:live, 
Accusative, and Dative eases, especially the two last, it 
is found difficult to assign to each an invariable mean- 
ing, however general. In icular phrases their uses 
are steady ; but no principle strictly universal seems to The ote 
-regulate their application. The most comprehensive that 
we ean adopt is found liable to exceptions. The most 
likely way to discover their original mieaning is to ob- 
serve the prevailing application of each, and also to en- 
quire if there is any circumstance of application, how- 
ever limited, which is peculiar to one, 11 is thus also 
3F 
