How to parse. ...

Par. 478,479.] "SO AS," "SO THAT."

271

Result; Purpose.
478 A result following an action is naturally expressed
by stating that " the action was done so (i.e. in such
a way) that (in which way) the result followed."
Hence " that " and "as" (both of which mean " in
which way") are Conjunctions naturally used to
introduce sentences expressing result.
" That" was once used for "so that," and is
found so used in Shakspeare:(1) "A sheet of paper
Writ on both sides the leaf, margent and all,
(So) That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name."
This irregularity (of which (I.) " brevity" is a
sufficient explanation) was common in Early English, and might perhaps explain -
(2) " He never sees me that he doesn't mock me."
But " that" here is more probably " when." See
Par. 455.
479 " As " is used after " so," to denote, not exactly
resultant facts, but results regarded as possible or
future; hence " as" is used before Infinitives:(1) "He was so kind as to promise."
This is nearly the same as " he was so kind that
he promised," but not quite so strong.1
1 Compare the use of %Z-re with the Infinitive to denote possible
consequeiwe, and with the Indicative to denotefact. See Par. 204.