How to parse. ...

228

THE INFINITIVE. [Par. 393-395.

After several Intransitive Verbs of the feelings,
e.g. " wonder," " rejoice," " sorrow," " to " followed
by a Verb is used, or " at" followed by a Verbal
Noun:
(7) "I wondered, rejoiced, laughed, &c., to see him
there," i.e., " at seeing."
(8) "I blushed, was ashamed, angry, sorry, &c., to
hear it."
393 After Adjectives, the Infinitive is sometimes used
to limit the scope of the Adjective, " to " being used
very much like " in ":
(9) "Sad to relate," i.e., "in relating," 1 rather than
"for the purpose of relating."
(10) "He was the first to come," i.e., "in coming."
(11) "You are unwise to speak so hastily," i.e., "for
speaking."
(12) "This was strange to hear, after all his professions."
394 "To " is also used after many Nouns resembling
or implying Verbs that would naturally take "to"
after them:(13) "I have no wish, hope, ambition, desire, &c.,
to succeed."
(14) " Give me your promise to obey."
395 Somewhat different is the use of " to " after Nouns
preceded by " the": —
(15) "He had the sense to perceive his mistake," i.e.,
"the sense necessary, or enough, to perceive."
1 Compare " mirabile dictu."