How to parse. ...

268 CONCESSIONAL CLAUSES. [Par. 470-473.

470 "' Without" is sometimes used for "unless":
(1) " He will not come without he's compelled."
But this is not to be imitated.
471 " Save " seems originally to have been used as
a Passive Participle, like " except," " provided," &c.,
with a Noun used as a Subject absolutely.' But
now (like " except ") it is used as a Preposition, and
is followed by an Object.
Concessional Clauses.
472 A Concessional Clause is sometimes expressed by
the old Subjunctive used interrogatively (Par. 463)
without any Conjunction: —
(1) "Be it a trifle, it should be well done."
(2) " Which refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer,
charm he never so wisely,"
i.e. " (though) he (should) charm so wisely (as)
never (he charmed before)."
(3) " He will never equal his brother in singing, sing
he ever so well."
473 The last Example, which is the modern idiom,
appears to have arisen from a misunderstanding of
the old negative. We say, colloquially, " He was
ever so ill;" but the correct (though old fashioned)
1 " All the conspirators save only he." - Julius Ccesar.