AGAIN, we are told by Pliny (whofe C. VII. authority likewise is confirmed by many Gems and Marbles ftill extant) that the ancient Painters and Sculptors, when they fixed their names to their works, did it pendenti titulo, in a fufpenfive kind of Inscription, and employed for that purpose the Tenfe here mentioned. 'Twas 'ATελλῆς ἐποίει, Apelles faciebat, Πολύκλειτο εποίει, Polycletus faciebat, and never ἐποίησε or fecit. By this they imagined that they avoided the fhew of arrogance, and had in cafe of cenfure an apology (as it were) prepared, fince it appeared from the work itfelf, that it was once indeed in hand, but no pretenfion that it was ever finished (q).

IT

fee the Ship-race, but yet might fill continue failing towards the fhore within.

-Inruerant Danai, & tectum omne tenebant.

en

The Greeks HAD ENTERED, and WERE THEN POSSESSING the whole Houfe; as much as to fay, they had tered, and that was over, but their Poffeffion continued still. (g) Plin. Nat. Hift. L. I. The firft Printers (who were most of them Scholars and Critics) in imitation of

C. VII.

Ir is remarkable that the very manner, in which the Latins derive these Tenfes from one another, fhews a plain reference to the System here advanced. From the paffing Prefent come the paffing Past, and Future. Scribo, Scribebam, Scribam. From the perfect Prefent come the perfect Past, and Future. Scripfi, Scripferam, Scripfero. And fo in all instances, even where the Verbs are irregular, as from Fero come Ferebam and Feram; from Tuli come Tuleram and Tulero.

WE fhall conclude by obferving, that the ORDER of the Tenfes, as they stand ranged by the old Grammarians, is not a fortuitous Order, but is confonant to our, Perceptions, in the recognition of Time, according to what we have explained al

ready

the antient Artists used the fame Tenfe.

Excudebat H.

Stephanus. Excudebat Guil. Morelius. Abfolvebat Joan. Benenatus, which has been followed by Dr. Taylor in his late valuable edition of Demofthenes.

ready (r). Hence it is, that the Prefent C.VII. Tense stands first; then the Paft Tenses; and laftly the Future.

AND now, having feen what authorities there are for Aorifts, or those Tenfes, which denote Time indefinitely; and what for those Tenfes, opposed to Aorists, which mark it definitely; (fuch as the Inceptive, the Middle, and the Completive) we here finish the subject of TIME and TENSES,and proceed to confider THE VERB IN OTHER ATTRIBUTES, which 'twill be neceffary to deduce from other Principles.

(r) See before p. 109, 110, 111, 112, 113. Scaliger's obfervation upon this occafion is elegant.-Ordo autem (Temporum fcil.) aliter eft, quam natura eorum. Quod enim præteriit, prius eft, quam quod eft, itaque primo loco debere poni videbatur. Verùm, quod primo quoque tempore offertur nobis, id creat primas fpecies in animo: quamobrem Præfens Tempus primum locum occupavit; eft enim commune omnibus animalibus. Præteritum autem iis tantum, quæ memoriâ prædita funt.

paucioribus, quippe quibus datum

Futurum verò etiam eft prudentiæ officium.

De Cauf. Ling. Lat. c. 113. See also Seneca Epift. 124. Mutum animal fenfu comprehendit præfentia; præteritorum, &c.

CHA P.

C.VIII.

W

CHA P. VIII.

Concerning Modes.

E have observed already (a) that the Soul's leading Powers are those of Perception and thofe of Volition, which words we have taken in their most comprehenfive acceptation. We have observed alfo, that all Speech or Difcourfe is a publifhing or exhibiting fome part of our Soul, either a certain Perception, or a certain Volition. Hence then, according as we exhibit it either in a different part, or after a different manner, hence I fay the variety of MODES or MOODS (b),

IF

(a) See Chapter II.

(b) Gaza defines a Mode exactly confonant to this doctrine. He fays it is · βέλημα, ἐπ ̓ ἂν πάθημα ψυχῆς, διὰ φωνῆς σημαινόμενου-α Volition or Affection of the Soul, fignified through fome Voice, or Sound articulate. Gram. L. IV. As therefore this is the nature of Modes, and Modes belong to Verbs, hence 'tis Apollo

If we fimply declare, or indicate fome- C.VIII. thing to be, or not to be, (whether a Perception or Volition, 'tis equally the fame) this constitutes that Mode called the DECLARATIVE or INDICATIVE.

If we do not strictly affert, as of fomething abfolute and certain, but as of something poffible only, and in the number of

Con

nius obferves τοῖς ῥήμασιν ἐξαιρέτως παράκειται ἡ ψυ Xin diabeσis-the Soul's Difpofition is in an eminent degree attached to Verbs. De Synt. L. III. c. 13. Thus too Prifcian: Modi funt diverfæ INCLINATIONES ANIMI, quas varia confequitur DECLINATIO VERBI. L. VIII. p. 821.