MOODS of VERBS. 229 



moods, properly ib called, and taking only the roots or bafes 

 of the verbs refpeclively, Ego die — fu — Ilium. Any perfon 

 may eafily try the effect of fuch a refolution of any plain ele- 

 gant compofition, either in profe or verfe, wherein the indica- 

 tive and fimply fubjunclive moods are chiefly or folely em- 

 ployed ; as for inftance, the following beautiful lines of Ovid, 

 containing an account of Pythagoras. 



Vir fuit hie ortu Samius : fed fugerat una 

 Et Samon et dominosj odioque tyrannidis exul 

 Sponte erat : if que licet coeli regione remotus 

 Mente deos adiit : et qua Natura negabat 

 * Vifibus humanis, oculis ea pecloris hausit. 

 Cumque animo, et vigili perspexerat omnia cura, 

 In medium difcenda da bat: catumque filentum y 

 Diclaque mirantum, magni primordia mundi, 

 Et reru?n cauffas, et quid Natura, docebat :■ 

 §>uid Deusj unde nivesj qua fulminis esset origo : 

 Juppiter, an venti, difcuffa nube tonarent : 

 §>uid qu ate ret terras j qua fidera lege me a rent ;• 

 Et quodcunque latet. Primufque animalia menfs 

 Arc u it imponi : primus quoque talibus or a 

 Do6la quidem solvit, fed non et credita, verbis. 



In thefe fifteen lines, there are fixteen verbs, either in the 

 indicative or in the fimply fubjunclive mood. Without the ufe 

 of fuch a mood, the thoughts exprefled in the lines, fimple and 

 eafy of apprehenfion as they may appear, could hardly have 

 been exprefTed intelligibly j or if this, with much labour and 

 ingenuity, could be accomplifhed, {till the beauty, the charm, 

 of the compofition would be completely loft. The poet, the 

 orator, the philofopher, the hiftorian, and indeed every perfon 

 who has the gift of fpeech, or who makes ufe of language in 

 any way, has almoft conflant occafion to employ that mood, 



and 



