THE PREDICATIVE INFINITIVE WITH u (w)UTON.” 
199 
This theory as to the origin of the predicative infinitive after verbs of 
motion seems applicable likewise to the predicative infinitive after verbs of 
rest, — a construction very rare in Anglo-Saxon (only four examples occur), but 
not uncommon in the High Germanic languages: see Chapter XVI, section v. 
VI. PREDICATIVE INFINITIVE WITH “ (W)UTON.” 1 
A. THE ACTIVE INFINITIVE. 
As stated incidentally in the preceding section, the predicative infinitive 
after ( w)uton was probably originally final in sense, as in the case of the predica¬ 
tive infinitive after verbs of motion in general. The purpose idea paled away, 
and the infinitive came to be complementary instead of final in sense. This 
view is generally accepted, and has been several times expressed by others, as 
by Professor C. A. Smith 2 and by Professor Shearin. 3 Not quite so definite 
is the statement of Professor Einenkel: “ gon mit reinem Infinitiv ist entweder 
auxiliar und periphrastisch und zwar in den Fallen, in denen es dem AE. wutan , 
utan entspricht, also in der 1. Person Pluralis steht: go we then soupe, quod he, 
III, 16; . . . oder es ist Begriffsverbum und der abhangige Infinitiv hat, wie 
oben bei gon to, nur eine etwas schwachere, finale Bedeutung: Go brynge hir 
forth and put hir in hir warde, III, 81.” 4 
The idea of motion pales away in ( w)uton , and it becomes equal to the 
modern let as an exhortation. 
The infrequency of the construction in Anglo-Saxon poetry, where less 
than fifty examples are found, and in Alfred, where about twenty-five examples 
are found, was noted above, Chapter VI, p. 93. No example occurs in the 
Chronicle, but the construction is frequent in iElfric, and very frequent in 
Wulfstan. 
In the Anglo-Saxon translations, (w)uton plus an infinitive usually 5 renders 
a Latin adhortative subjunctive corresponding in sense to the Anglo-Saxon 
infinitive. In a few instances, however, the Latin has an adhortative verb of 
motion in addition, as in JElf. Hept.: Gen. 37.20 b : Uton hine ofslean and don 
hine on bone . . . pytt and secgan = Venite, oceidamus eum et mittamus in 
cisternam veterem! dicamusqne. All examples observed of this use of veni 
and of venite are given in a note to Chapter VI, p. 95; as are, also, the Anglo- 
Saxon imitations of the same. While, as indicated in the preceding paragraphs, 
I believe the ( w)uton construction to be of native English origin, it is impossible 
to resist the belief that its great vogue in Anglo-Saxon is in no small measure 
due to Latin influence. This belief rests not only on the statement just given 
as to the Latin correspondents in the Anglo-Saxon prose translations, but on 
the further fact that only four examples of the infinitive with wuton have been 
found in Beowulf, and that most of the remaining examples in Anglo-Saxon 
poetry occur in poems known to be based on Latin originals (Gen., 3; Chr., 4; 
And., 1; Ps., 14; Minor Poems, 16). 
Concerning the predicative infinitive in the other Germanic languages, see 
Chapter XVI, section vi. 
1 See Chapter VI, p. 93. 2 In his explanation of uton in his An Old English Grammar , p. 184. 
3 Shearin, 1 1. c., p. 12. i Einenkel, 1 1. c., p. 238. 
6 About 76 times out of a total of 94 examples. The other correspondents are: an appositive participle, 1; 
an imperative, 1; no Latin, 15. 
