C.VIII as being rather among the Elegancies, than the Effentials of Language, which Essentials are the Subject of our present Inquiry. The principal of these now remaining is THE DIFFERENCE OF VERBS, AS TO THEIR SEVERAL SPECIES, which we endeavour to explain in the following man

ner.

CHAP.

CHA P. IX.

Concerning the Species of Verbs, and their other remaining Properties.

A

LL Verbs, that are strictly fo called, Ch.IX. denote (a) Energies. Now as all Energies are Attributes, they have reference of course to certain energizing Substances. Thus 'tis impoffible there should be fuch Energies, as To love, to fly, to wound, &c. if there were not fuch Beings as Men, Birds, Swords, &c. Farther, every Energy doth not only require an Energizer, but is neceffarily converfant about fome Subject. For example, if we say, Brutus loves we must needs fupply-loves Cato, Caffius,

(a) We use this word ENERGY, rather than Motion, from its more comprehenfive meaning; it being a fort of Genus, which includes within it both Motion and its Privation. See before, p. 94, 95.

Ch.IX. Caffius, Portia, or fome one. The Sword wounds—i. e. wounds Hector, Sarpedon,

Priam, or fome one.

And thus is it, that

every Energy is neceffarily fituate between two Substantives, an Energizer which is active, and a Subject which is passive. Hence then, if the Energizer lead the Sentence, the Energy follows its Character, and becomes what we call A VERB ACTIVE. Thus we fay Brutus amat,

Thus

Brutus loves. On the contrary, if the pas-
five Subject be principal, it follows the
Character of this too, and then becomes
what we call A VERB PASSIVE.
we say, Portia amatur, Portia is loved.
'Tis in like manner that the fame Road be-
tween the Summit and Foot of the fame
Mountain, with refpect to the Summit is
Afcent, with respect to the Foot is Descent.
Since then every Energy refpects an Ener-
gizer or a paffive Subject; hence the Rea-
fon why every Verb, whether active or
paffive, has in Language a neceffary Re-
ference

ference to fome Noun for its Nominative Ch.IX.

Cafe (b).

BUT to proceed ftill farther from what has been already obferved. Brutus loved Portia-Here Brutus is the Energizer'; loved, the Energy, and Portia, the Subject. But it might have been, Brutus loved Cato, or Caffius, or the Roman Republic; for the Energy is referable to Subjects infinite. Now among these infinite Subjects, when that happens to occur, which is the Energizer alfo, as when we say Brutus loved himself, flew himself, &c. in fuch Cafe the Energy hath to the fame Being a double Relation, both Active and Paffive. And this 'tis which gave rife

among

(b) The doctrine of Imperfonal Verbs has been juftly rejected by the best Grammarians, both antient and modern. See Sanct. Min. L. I. c. 12. L. III. c. 1. L.IV. c. 3. Prifcian. L. XVIII. p. 1134. Apoll. L.III. fub fin. In all which places they will fee a proper Nominative supplied to all Verbs of this fuppofed Character.

Ch.IX. among the Greeks to that Species of Verbs,

called VERBS MIDDLE (c), and such was

their true and original Ufe, however in many inftances they may have fince happened to deviate. In other Languages the Verb ftill retains its active Form, and the paffive Subject (se or himself) is expreft like other Accufatives.

AGAIN, in fome Verbs it happens that the Energy always keeps within the Energizer, and never passes out to any foreign extraneous Subject. Thus when we fay, Cæfar walketh, Cæfar fitteth, 'tis impoffi

ble

(c) Τὰ γὰρ καλέμενα μεσότητος χήματα συνέμπλως σιν ἀνεδέξατο ἐνεργετικῆς καὶ παθητικῆς διαθέσεως, The Verbs, called Verbs middle, admit a Coincidence of the ac tive and paffive Character. Apollon. L. III. c. 7. He that would fee this whole Doctrine concerning the -power of THE MIDDLE VERB explained and confirmed with great Ingenuity and Learning, may consult a small Treatife of that able Critic Kufter, entitled, De ver Ufu Verborum Mediorum. A neat edition of this fcarce piece has been lately published.