How to parse. ...

210

DI1FFICULTIES.

[Par. 347.

The reason is, obviously, (II.) Confusion with the
regular construction: -
(16) " Whom say ye me to be "
But, doubtless, euphony (the same feeling that
makes the French say "c'est moi" and English
children " it's me ") is the reason for such irregularities as Shakspeare's: -
(17) " No mightier than thyself or me."
(18) " Is she as tall as me?"
(19) "It is thee I fear."
Milton has " Than whom." Perhaps, " than" and
"as " were regarded as quasi-Prepositions.
Pope (Sat. viii. 275) has"And lin'd with Giants deadlier thalC 'em all."
II. Prepositions.
347 The English Prepositions originally represented
local meanings, i.e. they indicated rest or motion in
place. For example, "of," " off," meant " motion
from;"- "by " meant "neighborhood," and so did
" with; " "for " meant "' before."
By degrees the uses of the Prepositions were
extended to denote the relations of time as well as
of space. For example, " before " and " after " are
used of both relations. But sometimes a Preposition assumed two forms, one to denote space, the