The Comic Latin Grammar: A new and facetious introduction to the Latin tongue

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Leigh Percival. The Comic Latin Grammar: A new and facetious introduction to the Latin tongue

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PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

COMIC LATIN GRAMMAR

OF A NOUN

NUMBERS OF NOUNS

CASES OF NOUNS

GENDERS AND ARTICLES

DECLENSION OF NOUNS SUBSTANTIVE

DECLENSIONS OF NOUNS ADJECTIVE

COMPARISONS OF ADJECTIVES

OF A PRONOUN

DECLENSION OF PRONOUNS

OF A VERB

OF MOODS

OF GERUNDS AND SUPINES

OF TENSES

OF NUMBERS AND PERSONS

OF A PARTICIPLE

OF AN ADVERB

OF A CONJUNCTION

OF A PREPOSITION

OF AN INTERJECTION

OF THE GENDERS OF NOUNS,

OF THE PRETERPERFECT TENSE, &c. OF VERBS

SYNTAXIS,

PROSODY

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A great book, says an old proverb, is a great evil; and a great preface, says a new one, is a great bore. It is not, therefore, our intention to expatiate largely on the present occasion; especially since a long discourse prefixed to a small volume, is like a forty-eight pounder at the door of a pig-stye. We should as soon think of erecting the Nelson Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Indeed, were it not necessary to show some kind of respect to fashion, we should hasten at once into the midst of things, instead of trespassing on the patience of our readers, and possibly, trifling with their time. We should not like to be kept waiting at a Lord Mayor’s feast by a long description of the bill of fare. Our preface, however, shall at least have the merit of novelty; it shall be candid.

This book, like the razors in Dr. Wolcot’s story, is made to sell. This last word has a rather equivocal meaning – but we scorn to blot, otherwise we should say to be sold. An article offered for sale may, nevertheless, be worth buying; and it is hoped that the resemblance between the aforesaid razors, and this our production, does not extend to the respective sharpness of the commodities. The razors proved scarcely worth a farthing to the clown who bought them for eighteen-pence, and were fit to shave nothing but the beard of an oyster. We trust that the “Comic Latin Grammar” will be found to cut, now and then, rather better, at least, than that comes to; and that it will reward the purchaser, at any rate, with his pennyworth for his penny, by its genuine bonâ fide contents. There are many works, the pages of which contain a good deal of useful matter – sometimes in the shape of an ounce of tea or a pound of butter: we venture to indulge the expectation, that these latter additions to the value of our own, will be considered unnecessary.

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Nouns are called doubtful when declined with the article hic or hæc – whichever you please, as the showman said of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte. Anguis, a snake, is a doubtful noun. At all events he is a doubtful customer.

After all, there is no rule in the Latin language about gender so comprehensive as that observed in Hampshire, where they call every thing he but a tom-cat, and that she.

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