junctions I have derived; and, if you think it worth the while, we will examine the conjectures of other persons concerning them; and fee whether I have not something better than the authorities you ask after in my favour. B. I should be glad you would do fo. ΕΠΕΑ 로 IF F and AN may be used mutually and indifferently to fupply each other's place. Besides having Skinner's authority for IF, I fuppofe that the meaning and derivation of this principal supporter of the Tripod of Truth *, are fo very clear, fimple and univer * See Plutarch Περι του ΕΙ του εν Δελφοις, Εν δε Διαλεκτικη δη σε μεγίςην εχει δυναμιν ὁ συναπτικς ετοσι συνδεσμο, ετε δη το λογικώτατον σχηματίζων αξιωμα. Το γαρ τεκνικον και λογικον, ώσπερ ειρήται, γνωσις ακολυθίας, την δε προσληψιν ή αισθησις τω λογω διδωσιν. ὅθεν εκ και αισχρον είπεν, εκ αποτρεψομαι τέλο είναι τον της αληθείας τριποδα τον λοίον, ὃν την τα λεγοντος προς το προηγέμενον ακολυθίαν θέμενος, είδα προσλάβων την ύπαρξιν, επαγει το συμπερασμα της αποδείξεως. Τον εν Πυθιον ει δη μεσικη τε ηδέζαι, και κυκνων φωναίς και κιθαρας ψοφοις, τι θαυμαςον εςι Διαλεκτικης φιλια τέτο ασπάζεσθαι τε λόγο το μέρος και αγαπαν, ώ μάλισα και πλείσω προσχρωμένες όρα της φιλο σοφος. 9 fally fally allowed, as to need no farther discourse about them. Skinner fays "IF (in agro Linc. Gif) ab As.. "Hoc a verbo Lipan, dare, q. d. Dato." Gif. Si. Lye, in his edition of Junius, fays-" Haud infcitè "Skinnerus, qui deduxit ab A. s Liran, dare, q. d. Dato." GIF is to be found not only, as Skinner fays, in Lincolnshire, but in all our old writers. G. Douglas almost always ufes Gif: once or twice only he has used If; once he uses GEWE, and once GIFFIS, and fometimes IN CASE and IN CAIS for GIF. "GIF luf be vertew, than is it leful thing; Douglas. Prol. to 4th boke. Pag. 95. "Thocht fum wald fwere, that I the text haue waryit, "Or that I haue this volume quite myscaryit, "Or threpe planelie, I come neuer nere hand it, Douglas Preface Pag. 11, "Be "Be not ouer studyous to spy ane mote in myn E, CE Quha lift attend, GYFFIS audience and draw nere." Douglas Preface, Pag. 12. Chaucer commonly uses IF; but fometimes YEUE, YEF and YF. "Lo here the letters felid of thys thyng "That I mote beare in all the hafte I may; "YEUE ye woll ought unto your fonne the kyng, "I am your feruaunt bothe nyght and day." Chaucer. Man of Lawes tale. Fol. 22. Pag. 1. Col. 2. "And therfore he of full auisement "Nolde neuer write in non of his fermons "Of fuche unkynde abhominacions "Ne I ne wol non reherce, YEF that I may." Chaucer. Man of Lawes prologue. Fol. 18. Pag. 2. Col. 1. "She was fo charytable and so pytous "She wolde wepe YF that she fawe a mous Caught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde." Prol. to Canterbury tales. Prioreffe. And it is to be obferved that in Chaucer and in other old writers, the verb to GIVE fuffers the fame variations in the manner of writing and pronouncing it, whether used conjunctively or otherwife: as does alfo the Noun derived from it. "And after on the daunce went Largeffe, that fet al her entent "For to ben honorable and free, "Of Alexanders kynne was she, "Her most joye was ywis "Whan that she YAFE, and fayd: Haue this. "Not Auarice the foule caytyfe "Was halfe to grype fo ententyfe "As Largeffe is to YEUE and fpende, "And god alway ynowe her fende, "For both wyfe folke and unwyfe "Were wholy to her bandon brought "So wel with YEFTES hath fhe wrought." Chaucer. Romaunt of the Rofe. Fol. 125, P. 2. C. 1, "A wyfe is goddes YEFTE Verely "Al other maner YEFTES hardely "As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune "Or mouables, all ben YEFTES of fortune "That paffen, as a fhadowe on a wall "A wyfe wol laste and in thyn house endure "Wel lenger than the lyft parauenture.” Chaucer. Marchauntes tale. Fol. 28. Pag. 2. Col. 2. "FORGIFF me, Virgill, GIF I thee offend." Douglas. Preface. Pag. 11. |