CASES are changes of form to which nouns are subjected for the purpose of denoting annexation. Some of them are more general than others. The marks of annexation are external to the name of the object, and might therefore be expressed by separate words. But they are often attached to the name in the form of terminations. This circumstance, though not affecting their meaning, occasions a particulari ty of aspect in certain languages in a written state, by abridging the number of words, and also a particularity of sound when a language is spoken, because a termination is placed after the name of the object, but a preposition be fore it. The cases often express eh cumstances so general and so evanescent, that no separate word to represent them has ever been used. On this account, it is convenient, even in a philosophical treatise, to consider them in con junction with the noun.
The Nominative has been represented by some as im plying nothing more than the name of the idea expressed by any noun, and therefore the least complex of the cases. But it always has a reference to a verb, and this verb for the most part follows it in the same sentence. It often happens that, compared to the other cases, it is short, and that the others are distinguished by the addition of one or more syllables. Of this we have instances in the Latin nouns vir and sermo. But it more frequently happens that the nominative has a peculiar termination, and that in the formation of the other cases this is left out, and its place supplied by different terminations affixed to the radical letters. The radical letters of dominus are domin-, and the is as much a separate sign as the i, -o, -08, and •8, which form the other eases. Dominus is there fore something more than the name of an object. It would be contrary to the analogy of language, and of all the ope rations of the human mind, even the least correct, to sup pose that the syllable has no original meaning. We may pronounce it a super fluity, if the definite application a the noun which it expresses can be understood without it. Yet we have no right, on this account, to pronounce it destitute of meaning. It is in fact a sign of connection with another word of definite character and use, the verb.
We have farther to observe, that the nominative gives the noun a higher rank in a sentence than the other cases. It differs from them in a manner nearly resembling that in which the noun differs from the other parts of speech. It expresses the central or focal idea, to the description of which the other words in a sentence, including the other parts of speech and nouns in the other cases, are subor dinate.
The sentences which may appear exceptions to this doctrine are very numerous. This is occasioned by the general pursuit of that variety which gives elegance to language, and by the presence of other circumstances which preserve the importance due to the leading subject of discourse. By some writers the hero of a biographical narrative is mentioned in the nominative case more uni formly than by others ; but by none is such a rule invaria bly followed. Suetonius probably follows it as often as any writer, and thus gives his biographical delineations a more concentrated force. Yet this author, in relating the death of Julius Cxsar, introduces the persons by whom he was killed in the nominative case, in preference to Cxsar himself, thus making them apparently the most important subjects for a time. ASSIDEN7EM CONSPIRATI specie officii
circumsieterunt : illicoque CIaIBER TCLLICS, qui primas partes susceperal, quasi aliquid rogaturus, propius accessit : renuentique et gestu in aliud tempus differenti, ab utroque hunter° togaznapprehendit, deinde clamantem," Ista quidem vis est." ALTER CASSIUS adversum vulnerat paulum infra jugulum. ' The conspirators, under pretence of shelving Cxsar respect, stood up around him as he sat. Then ' Cimber Tullius, who had undertaken to commence the deed, approached nearer to him, with the apparent de ' sign of making some request. As soon as he observed ' that Cxsar, by a wave of his hand, declined conversation, ' and put him off till a future time, he laid hold of him by ' the toga on both shoulders, an act which made Cxsar ex ' claim, This is downright force." At that instant one of the Cassii wounds Cxsar in the neck.' In the relation of these circumstances Cxsar might have been mentioned in the nominative case, thus : Cxsar was surrounded by the conspirators, affecting to pay him respect, was ap ' proached by their chief Cimber Tullius, who pretended ' to make some request, and, on waving his advances, was seized by the toga on both shoulders ; but as lie exclaim ' ed, " This is downright force," he received a direct thrust of a mortal weapon from the hand of one of the Cassii.' This mode of writing would keep the mind of the reader more constantly fixed on the person who is the chief sub ject of the narrative as a whole ; hut it would often render language insupportably monotonous. The author, there fore, relieves the attention of his readers, by assigning in some of his details a subordinate place to the principal personage. His importance is always maintained by the ultimate tendency of the narrative, as well as by the ad vantage of being more frequently than any other subject mentioned in the nominative. After the historian has, in the manner now described, varied the current of his lan guage, he is enabled, with gracefulness as well as force, to introduce the chief subject in that mode of diction in which he will hold, by means of the nominative case, the most dignified rank in die sentence. After these details of the conduct of the conspirators, Suetonius thus pro ceeds: CsAR Cassii brachium arreptum graphio trajecit : conatusque prosilire alio vulnere tardatus est. Utque ani madvertit undique se strictis pugionzbus peti, toga raput obvolvit :.sinful sinist ra manic sinum ad Tina crurx deduxit, quo' honestius caderet. -*vie ita trtbus et viginti plagis confossus est : uno modo ad primum ictum gemuit, sine •ocC. edito. Cxsar seized the arm of Cassius, pierced it with ' his writing style, then endeavoured to rush forward, but was prevented by another wound. Finding himself assaied in every direction with drawn swords, lie co vered his head with his toga, and, in order that he might fall with the greater decency, drew the lap of it with his left hand over his limbs. Thus he fell, stabbed with twenty-three wounds. He emitted a single groan when he received the first ; but met his fate without utter , ing a word.' Fhe peculiar propriety and force of these latter sentences, and a slight character of inversion, of which we are sensible in reading those which precede them, are proofs of the superior rank of the nominative ease.