How to parse. ...

266 CONDITIONAL CLAUSES. [Par. 466, 467.

(3) " It is shameful that he should be treated thus."
Confusion of (1) "It is shameful that he has
been " and (2) "It would be shameful, if, or that, he
should be."
(4) "It is not strange that he should have succeeded."
Confusion of (1) "It is not strange that he has
succeeded" and (2) "It would not have been strange,
if, or that, he should have succeeded." 1
(5) "It will be better that I should withdraw."
Confusion of (1) "It will be better that I (shall)
withdraw " and (2) " It would be better, if, or that, I
should withdraw."
466 " Unless " was once " on less," and followed by
"than," e.g.(1) " This cannot be, on less than (i.e. on a less condition than this, viz. that) we gain the battle."
The notion of comparison falling out of sight, the
Conjunctive "that" was substituted for " than," and
lastly " that" was omitted for brevity.
467 " But," meaning radically "except," was very
early used for "if not," with the Subjunctive. We
still retain this use in -
(1) "It never rains but it pours."
(2) " Ten to one but he comes."
1 See Par. 236, note.