مدِينَتَيْنِ إِذَا اتَّفَقُوا عَلَى رَأْيِ وَاحِدٍ أَهْلُهُمَا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَتَمَكَّنُ ohile the inhabitants of thoo منهما عدو فَإِذَا افْتَرَنَا هَلَكَا جَمِيعًا cities are of one accord, no enemy prevails() against them; but when thy quarrel between themselves, they perish (K) together: here both forms are used in corresponding parts of the sentence to make general assertion (see § 964. 3.), and either of them might in consequence be termed a present with as much propriety as the other. Accordingly, as the author has sought throughout the present work to derive his authorities from an examination of the language itself rather than from the subjective views of writers on language, he cannot be induced to acquiesce with Professor LEE in the opinion of the native grammarian referred to, in opposition as it is to those which have been entertained by the great majority of Arabian writers on the subject. Having, however, given to the reviewer's remarks the attentive consideration demanded by the able manner in which they are enforced, and having replied to all the objections raised against the terminology he has thought proper after mature deliberation to adopt, the author hopes that the arguments brought forward here and in the chapter on the tenses will prove satisfactory to the reviewer, and that he will assent to the propriety of adhering in this particular to the ancient nomenclature. The treatment of the tenses is followed by that of the modes both personal and impersonal. To this succeeds a chapter on the construction of words with prepositions; which is again followed by a detailed exhibition of the various powers of the prepositions and other particles, each of which has received that full developement which the now acknowledged importance of this department of language requires; and it will easily be seen how much has been left to be done in this respect by GESENIUS, notwithstanding his valuable labours on the subject in his lexicon. The Syntax closes with a short chapter on the collocation of words and another on the most important figures of speech. The fourth book contains the Prosody, under which head we have included a description of the characteristic features which distinguish Hebrew poetry from prose, and a chapter on the use and consecution of the accents. The former has been transferred in substance from the Grammatical Analysis already published, as belonging more properly in this place. The latter subject has been discussed with considerable fulness, it being one imperfectly understood and generally neglected; although its importance as an exegetical help as well as the harmony of its system, render it worthy of more attention than it commonly receives. These are the general features of the plan on which the present work has been conducted; and it is hoped that the original research and laborious care which have been bestowed on every part of it, as also the pains that have been taken in its typographical execution, will not escape the notice of the attentive reader. There remains for me only to make some remarks with regard to the important assistance afforded me by my friend Mr. WM. W. TURNER throughout the composition and execution of the work; and I am happy to state, not simply from feelings of good will, but under a sense of moral obligation both to him and to the public, that not only does it owe to his skill and learning its English dress, but also that the scientific treatment of its details, as well as the completeness and symmetry of its parts, which it is hoped it will be found to possess, are in great measure to be attributed to him, who digested the whole subject as an independent scholar, and united his mental strength to mine with the single view of rendering the work as perfect as it was possible for us to do. With heartfelt thanks to Almighty God,, and with fervent prayers that it may be instrumental in promoting his glory through a correct understanding of the truths of his Holy Word, the book is now respectfully presented to the public. New York University, January, 1841. |