Page:The Comic English Grammar.djvu/94

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The relation which words and phrases bear to each other in point of time, should always be duly marked: instead of saying, "Last night I intended to have made strong love to her," we should say, "Last night I intended to make strong love to her;" because, although the intention of making strong love may have been abandoned (on reflection) this morning, and is now, therefore, a thing which is past, yet it is undoubtedly, when last night and the thoughts connected with it are brought back, again present to the mind.

Participles have the same power of government with that of the verbs from which they are derived: as, "Oh, what an exquisite singer Rubini is! I am so fond of hearing him." "Look at that horrid man; I declare he is quizzing us!" "No, he is only taking snuff." "See, how that thing opposite keeps making mouths." "How fond they all are of wearing mustaches! Don't you like it?" "Oh, yes! there is no resisting them." "Heigho! I am dying to have an ice—"

Participles are sometimes used as substantives: as, "The French mouth is adapted to the making of grim faces." "The cobbler is like the parson; he lives by the mending of soles." "The tailor reaps a good harvest from the sewing of cloth." "Did you ever see a shooting of the moon?"

Is this what the witches mean when they sing, in the acting play of Macbeth,