An English Grammar Part 48

With respect to novels, what _shall_ I say?--N. WEBSTER.

How _shall_ I describe the l.u.s.ter which at that moment burst upon my vision?--C. BROCKDEN BROWN.

[Sidenote: _Second and third persons._]

(2) With the SECOND AND THIRD PERSONS, _shall_ and _should_ are used,--

(_a_) To express authority, in the form of command, promise, or confident prediction. The following are examples:--

Never mind, my lad, whilst I live thou _shalt_ never want a friend to stand by thee.--IRVING.

They _shall_ have venison to eat, and corn to hoe.--COOPER.

The sea _shall_ crush thee; yea, the ponderous wave up the loose beach _shall_ grind and scoop thy grave.--THAXTER.

She _should_ not walk, he said, through the dust and heat of the noonday; Nay, she _should_ ride like a queen, not plod along like a peasant.--LONGFELLOW.

(_b_) In _indirect quotations_, to express the same idea that the original speaker put forth (i.e., future action); for example,--

He declares that he _shall_ win the purse from you.--BULWER.

She rejects his suit with scorn, but a.s.sures him that she _shall_ make great use of her power over him.--MACAULAY.

Fielding came up more and more bland and smiling, with the conviction that he _should_ win in the end.--A. LARNED.

Those who had too presumptuously concluded that they _should_ pa.s.s without combat were something disconcerted.--SCOTT.

(_c_) With _direct questions_ of the second person, when the answer expected would express simple futurity; thus,--

"_Should_ you like to go to school at Canterbury?"--d.i.c.kENS.

[Sidenote: _First, second and third persons._]

(3) With ALL THREE PERSONS,--

(_a_) _Should_ is used with the meaning of obligation, and is equivalent to _ought_.

I never was what I _should_ be.--H. JAMES, JR.

Milton! thou _should'st_ be living at this hour.--WORDSWORTH.

He _should_ not flatter himself with the delusion that he can make or unmake the reputation of other men.--WINTER.

(_b_) _Shall_ and _should_ are both used in _dependent clauses_ of condition, time, purpose, etc.; for example,--

When thy mind _Shall_ be a mansion for all stately forms.--WORDSWORTH.

Suppose this back-door gossip _should_ be utterly blundering and untrue, would any one wonder?--THACKERAY.

Jealous lest the sky _should_ have a listener.--BYRON.

If thou _should'st_ ever come by chance or choice to Modena.--ROGERS.

If I _should_ be where I no more can hear thy voice.--WORDSWORTH.

That accents and looks so winning _should_ disarm me of my resolution, was to be expected.--C.B. BROWN.

253. Will and would are used as follows:--

[Sidenote: _Authority as to future action--first person._]

(1) With the FIRST PERSON, _will_ and _would_ are used to express determination as to the future, or a promise; as, for example,--

I _will_ go myself now, and _will_ not return until all is finished.--CABLE.

And promised...that I _would_ do him justice, as the sole inventor.--SWIFT.

[Sidenote: _Disguising a command._]

(2) With the SECOND PERSON, _will_ is used to express command. This puts the order more mildly, as if it were merely expected action; as,--

Thou _wilt_ take the skiff, Roland, and two of my people,... and fetch off certain plate and belongings.--SCOTT.

You _will_ proceed to Mana.s.sas at as early a moment as practicable, and mark on the grounds the works, etc.--_War Records._

[Sidenote: _Mere futurity._]

(3) With both SECOND AND THIRD PERSONS, _will_ and _would_ are used to express simple futurity, action merely expected to occur; for example,--

All this _will_ sound wild and chimerical.--BURKE.

She _would_ tell you that punishment is the reward of the wicked.--LANDOR.

When I am in town, _you'll_ always have somebody to sit with you.

To be sure, so you _will_.--d.i.c.kENS.

(4) With FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PERSONS, _would_ is used to express a _wish_,--the original meaning of the word _will_; for example,--

[Sidenote: _Subject_ I _omitted: often so._]

_Would_ that a momentary emanation from thy glory would visit me!--C.B. BROWN.

Thine was a dangerous gift, when thou wast born, The gift of Beauty. _Would_ thou hadst it not.--ROGERS

It shall be gold if thou _wilt_, but thou shalt answer to me for the use of it.--SCOTT.

What _wouldst_ thou have a good great man obtain?--COLERIDGE.