46. +Characteristics of the Two Elements of English.+-- If we keep our attention fixed on the two chief elements in our language-- the English element and the Latin element-- the Teutonic and the Romance-- we shall find some striking qualities manifest themselves. We have already said that whole sentences can be made containing only English words, while it is impossible to do this with Latin or other foreign words. Let us take two passages-- one from a daily newspaper, and the other from Shakespeare:-- (i) “We find the _functions_ of such an _official_ _defined_ in the _Act_. He is to be a _legally_ _qualified_ _medical_ _practitioner_ of skill and _experience_, to _inspect_ and _report_ _periodically_ on the _sanitary_ _condition_ of town or _district_; to _ascertain_ the _existence_ of _diseases_, more _especially_ _epidemics_ _increasing_ the _rates_ of _mortality_, and to _point_ out the _existence_ of any _nuisances_ or other _local_ _causes_, which are likely to _originate_ and _maintain_ such _diseases_, and _injuriously_ _affect_ the health of the _inhabitants_ of such town or _district_; to take _cognisance_ of the _existence_ of any _contagious_ _disease_, and to point out the most _efficacious_ _means_ for the _ventilation_ of _chapels_, _schools_, _registered_ _lodging_-houses, and other _public_ buildings.” In this passage, all the words in italics are either Latin or Greek. But, if the purely English words were left out, the sentence would fall into ruins-- would become a mere rubbish-heap of words. It is the small particles that give life and motion to each sentence. They are the joints and hinges on which the whole sentence moves. --Let us now look at a passage from Shakespeare. It is from the speech of Macbeth, after he has made up his mind to murder Duncan:-- (ii) “Go bid thy _mistress_, when my drink is ready, She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed!-- Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come! let me clutch thee! --I have thee not; and yet I see thee still.” In this passage there is only one Latin (or French) word-- the word _mistress_. If Shakespeare had used the word +lady+, the passage would have been entirely English. --The passage from the newspaper deals with large +generalisations+; that from Shakespeare with individual +acts+ and +feelings+-- with things that come +home+ “to the business and bosom” of man as man. Every master of the English language understands well the art of mingling the two elements-- so as to obtain a fine effect; and none better than writers like Shakespeare, Milton, Gray, and Tennyson. Shakespeare makes Antony say of Cleopatra:-- “Age cannot wither her; nor _custom_ stale Her infinite _variety_.” Here the French (or Latin) words _custom_ and _variety_ form a vivid contrast to the English verb _stale_, throw up its meaning and colour, and give it greater prominence. --Milton makes Eve say:--