with candour, rather than fcrutanized Ch. IV. with rigour. Varro's words on a Subject near akin are for their aptness and elegance well worth attending. Non mediocres enim tenebræ in filvâ, ubi hæc captanda ; neque eò, quò pervenire volumus, femita trita; neque non in tramitibus quædam objecta, quæ euntem retinere poffunt * To conclude this Chapter. We may collect, from what has been faid, that both NUMBER and GENDER appertain to WORDS, because in the firft place they appertain to THINGS; that is to fay, becaufe Subftances are Many, and have either Sex, or no Sex; therefore Subftantives have Number, and are Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter. There is however this difference between the two Attributes: NUMBER in ftrictnefs defcends no lower, than to * De Ling. Lat. L. IV. Ch.IV. to the laft Rank of Species (k): GENDER on the contrary stops not here, but defcends to every Individual, however diverfified. And fo much for SUBSTANTIVES, PROPERLY SO CALLED. (4) The reason, why Number goes no lower, is, that it does not naturally appertain to Individuals; the cause of which fee before, p. 39. CHAP. СНАР. V. Concerning Subftantives of the Secondary WDARY RACE OF SUBSTANTIVES, E are now to proceed to a SECON-Ch. V. a Race quite different from any already mentioned, and whofe Nature may be explained in the following manner. EVERY Object, which presents itself to the Senfes or the Intellect, is either then perceived for the first time, or elfe is recognized, as having been perceived before. In the former cafe 'tis called an Object * πρώτης γνώσεως, of the firft knowledge or acquaintance (a); in the latter 'tis called an (a) See Apoll. de Syntaxi, 1. 1. c. 16. p. 49. 1. 2. c. 3. p. 103. Thus Prifcian - Intereft autem inter demonftrationem & relationem hoc ; quod demonftratio, interrogationi reddita, Primam Cognitionem oftendit; 4 Quis Ch. V. an Object & deurepas yraσews, of the fecond knowledge or acquaintance. Now as all Conversation paffes between Particulars or Individuals, these will often happen to be reciprocally Objets f πρώτης grows, that is to fay, till that inflant unacquainted with each other. What then is to be done? How fhall the Speaker address the other, when he knows not his Name? or how explain himself by his own Name, of which the other is wholly ignorant? Nouns, as they have been described, cannot answer the purpose. The first expedient upon this occafion feems to have been Aegis, that is, Pointing, or Indication by the Finger or Hand, fome traces of which are still to be obferved, as a part of that Action, which naturally attends our speaking. But the Authors of Language were not content Quis fecit? Ego: relatio vero Secundam Cognitionem fignificat, ut, Is, de quo jam dixi. Lib. XII. p. 936. Edit. Putschii. content with this. They invented a Race Ch. V. of Words to Supply this Pointing; which Words, as they always food for Substantives or Nouns, were characterized by the Name of 'Artaruuial, or PRONOUNS (b). Thefe alfo they diftinguished into three feveral forts, calling them Pronouns of the First, the Second, and the Third Perfon, with a view to certain diftinctions, which be explained as follows. may SUPPOSE the Parties converfing to be wholly unacquainted, neither Name nor Countenance on either fide known, and the (b) Ἐκεῖνο ἦν ̓Αντωνυμία, τὸ μετὰ ΔΕΊΞΕΩΣ ἢ ἀναφορᾶς ̓ΑΝΤΟΝΟΜΑΖΟΜΕΝΟΝ. Apoll. de Synt. L. II. c. 5. p. 106. Prifcian seems to confider them so peculiarly deftined to the expreffion of Individuals, that he does not fay they fupply the place of any Noun, but that of the proper Name only. And this undoubtedly was their original, and ftill is their true and natural use. PRONOMEN eft pars orationis, quæ pro nomine proprio uniufcujufque accipitur. Prifc. L. XII. See alfo Apoll. L. II. c 9. p. 117, 118. F |