6. THE SO-CALLED ETHICAL DATIVE.-With the first personal pronoun, Shakspere frequently employs the socalled ethical dative to imply interest on the part of the speaker. The pronoun, of course, has no grammatical relationship with the rest of the sentence. The only clear instance of this in "Julius Cæsar" is in the words, "He pluck'd me ope his doublet” (i, 2, 264). RELATIVE PRONOUNS 7. THAT, WHO (WHICH), AS.-These three forms are interchangeable, particularly in the correlative expres sions such these or those as, this or that that; and that. And yet the usual modern forms occur on the same page, perhaps, with the obsolete forms, in "Julius Cæsar." Examples (who for which): A lion, Who glar'd (i, 3, 20); As the flint bears fire, Who, much enforced, etc. (iv, 3, 110-1). Examples (modern use of the correlatives): That you have no such mirrors as will turn (i, 2, 56); Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him, etc. (i, 2, 186-7); Those sparks of life That should be in a Roman (i, 3, 57-8). Examples (Elizabethan use of the correlatives): That gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have (i, 2, 33-4); Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us (i, 2, 174-5); To such a man That is no fleering tell-tale (i, 3, 116–7). 8. THE WHICH.-This form (cf. the French lequel) is used only once in "Julius Cæsar," though it is common enough in Shakspere. The antecedent is likely to be indefinite. how the people Example: There shall I try take The cruel issue of these bloody men; According to the which, thou shalt discourse (iii, 1, 293-6). 9. RELATIVE AND ANTECEDENT COMBINED.-In this union either the relative or the antecedent may be omitted. Examples: Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar (v, 5, 70); Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos'd (i, 2, 307-8); I may do that I shall be sorry for (iv, 3, 64). NOTE. All this freedom of usage in relative pronouns is but of a piece with the freedom in regard to case forms of the personal pronoun. ADJECTIVES 10. DOUBLE COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES.-The most famous instance of this rather common habit is Mark Antony's "This was the most unkindest cut of all" (iii, 2, 183). See also "The most boldest and best hearts of Rome" (iii, 1, 122). 11. THE ARTICLE A (n).-" Julius Cæsar" employs the an before words beginning with u or h, where American usage, at least, tends to a. Examples: An universal shout (i, 1, 47); An hundred senators (iv, 3, 173). 12. OMISSION OF α AFTER What.-This omission occurs when what means what kind of. Example: Cassius, what night is this! (i, 3, 42). 13. ADJECTIVES USED FOR ADVERBS.- "Julius Cæsar " contains several instances of this now faulty construction. Examples (in the positive degree): Some will dear abide it (iii, 2, 114)'; Thou couldst not die more honourable (v, 1, 160); And went surly by (i, 3, 21). Examples (in the comparative degree): Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death? (iii, 1, 197); He put it by thrice, every time gentler than other (i, 2, 229–30); For mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer (iii, 1, 6-7). VERBS 14. THE VERBAL ENDING -eth. This antique ending of the third singular present is very common in "Julius Cæsar" and almost invariably gives an effect of impressive dignity. Examples: The enemy increaseth every day (iv, 3, 214); The taper burneth in your closet (ii, 1, 35); But it sufficeth that the day will end (v, 1, 124); Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? (v, 3, 91); But it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on (ii, 1, 333-4). 15. THE PLURAL INDICATIVE Be.—The use of be in the indicative is sometimes like that of the subjunctive, to express doubt. But it frequently has no such signification. It is generally found, in the indicative, only in the plural. One case of it occurs in "Julius Cæsar." Example: Such men as he be never at heart's ease (i, 2, 208). 16. PRETERITE TENSE.-The formation of the preterite of strong verbs varies from modern prose usage. Examples: Thy Brutus bid' me give it thee (v, 3, 86); You durst not (iv, 3, 59); That Metellus spake of (ii, 1, 311). 1 This, to be sure, is in the speech of the "First Citizen." 17. PAST PARTICIPLES.-In Shakspere's time the final en of past participles was becoming archaic, and the Elizabethan writers substitute, where the participle might be taken for an infinitive, the past tense of the verb. "Julius Cæsar" shows this tendency. Examples: Where I have took them up (ii, 1, 50); You've stole from my bed (ii, 1, 237-8); Till Antony have spoke (iii, 2, 61). A curious uncertainty in "Julius Cæsar" shows struck (i, 2, 177), strucken (ii, 2, 114), and stricken (ii, 1, 192) as past participial forms (the last two to express the same idea). 18. OMISSION OF TO OF THE INFINITIVE.-After certain verbs the sign of the infinitive is omitted. Example: You ought not walk (i, 1, 3). Compare "Will you go see the order of the course ? (i, 2, 25). For the converse, compare the line "That makest my hair to stare" (iv, 3, 278). 19. THE AUXILIARY Do.-The invariable effect of the use of the auxiliary do is like that of the verbal ending -eth; it adds dignity or solemnity to the passage. Examples: I do fear the people Choose Cæsar for their king (1, 2, 79-80); And those sparks of life That should be in a Roman, you do want (i, 3, 57-8); Ye gods, it doth amaze me (i, 2, 128); Held up his left hand, which did lame and burn (i, 3, 16). 20. OMISSION OF DO IN QUESTIONS.-Similar to the preceding is the effect of this frequent usage in inverted quesLions. Examples: Brought you Cæsar home? (i, 3, 1); Why stare you so? (i, 3, 2); Why, saw you anything more wonderful? (i, 3, 14); Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? (i, 3, 36); Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? (ii, 1, 234). Occasionally this dignified inversion is found in simple exhortation: "Then walk we forth 21. Shall AND Will.-In regard to these difficult auxiliaries, Shakspere is singularly in accord with the best modern usage. When he uses will in the first person, it almost invariably expresses determination, inclination, or promise; similarly, shall in the second or third person generally expresses a threat, a promise, or a command. Examples: I do not know the man I should avoid (i, 2, 200); The senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king; And he shall wear his crown, etc. (i, 3, 85-87); Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us (i, 3, 147); Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar? (ii, 1, 154); We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house; And he shall say (ii, 2, 52-3). 22. USE OF AUXILIARIES: OMISSION OF THE WORD Go. -This omission is very frequent. Examples: We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi (iv, 3, 223); Early to-morrow will we rise and hence (iv, 3, 228); We must out and talk (v, 1, 22); I will myself into the pulpit first (iii, 1, 237); And thither will I straight to visit him (iii, 2, 267). 23. SINGULAR VERB WITH PLURAL SUBJECT.-This use occurs in relative clauses, or when the subject follows the verb, and may therefore be considered indeterminate. Examples: There's two or three of us (i, 3, 138); Three parts of him Is ours already (i, 3, 154-5); Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? (i, 3, 148); Casca, you are the first that rears your hand (iii, 1, 30); There is tears for his love (iii, 2, 26); You know that you are Brutus that speaks this (iv, 3, 13). |