Of verbs requiring certain prepositions, Verbs requiring the preposition de, notes and exercises, Of Conjunctions, notes and exercises, Of Interjections, notes and exercises, PREFACE. Ir is a remarkable circumstance, that the Spanish language, which, since the days of Shakspeare, has remained in a state of oblivion, should now become an indispensable study, in a polite or commercial education. The gallant struggle of the Spaniards against the efforts of Napoleon; and the glorious achievements accomplished in South America, are the principal causes to which this revolution may be attributed. To support the Spanish literature, or to exhibit the merits of the illustrious men, who have enriched it with their productions, has, until lately, been considered a useless and an idle task. It is only within these last eighteen years, that the English reviewers,* the German professors,† and the French literati,‡ have viewed with astonishment and surprise the "prodigious" * See the Edinburgh Review, for Oct. 1806, p. 224-the Edinburgh Review, for Oct. 1823-24, p. 393. This number contains a critical essay on the lyric poetry of Spain, which highly supports the eminent character of this periodical work. † Lectures on the History of Literature, Ancient and Modern, by Frederick Schlegel, in 2 vols., vol. 1, pp. 343–346; vol. 2, lectures xi. xxii. and pp. 186, 187, 188, &c. See the 3d vol. of the excellent History of Elegant Literature, by Bouterwek, (Geschichte der Poesie und Beredsamkeit seit dem Ende des dreizehnten Jahrhunderts,) 12 vols. 8vo., 1801-1819. See Sismundi's Literature of the South, (De la Littérature du Midi de l'Europe,) 4 vols. 8vo., 1813. genius of Lope de Vega, and Calderon de la Barca; the "sublimity and sympathetic feeling" of Garcilaso, and Boscan; and the "lofty merits" of Frai Luis de Leon, Mendoza, Montemayor, Ercilla, &c. Cervantes himself, whose Don Quixote is, "of all works of wit, the richest in spirit and invention," and his Numancia, a perfect piece of dramatic composition, had not, until lately, been shown in a proper light. Now, however, that the merits and defects of the Spanish literature. are daily placed before our view, in an able and unprejudiced manner,* and that perfect translations† of the authors of merit who have been concealed for ages, are continually issuing from the press, the public may judge for itself. While the pens of the literary world are thus employed in tracing the beauties and merits of the authors and language of Spain; it has been presumed, that to * A course of lectures on the History and Criticism of Spanish Literature, has been written by Professor George Ticknor, of Boston. This is certainly the production of much taste and labour. Although it has not yet been published, we have had the pleasure of perusing it; and we do not hesitate to pronounce this work, for plan and execution, the best of the kind, that has yet appeared, The perfect acquaintance which this gentleman pos. sesses with the Spanish language; the access which he has to the best editions of the many works he mentions; and his indefatigable industry in the pursuit of literary and scientific knowledge, hayé rendered him so completely master of the subject he handles, that his production may be considered an invaluable acquisition, and entitled to the thanks of every friend to literature and science. See the works of Garcilaso de la Vega, surnamed the prince of Castilian poets, translated into English verse; with a critical and historical essay on Spanish poetry, and a life of the author; by J. K. Wiffen, ayo. labour in a work, which might tend to facilitate the acquisition of this noble idiom, could not but be desirable. This is the object of the present performance: how far it may prove successful, experience alone can determine. The anxiety which the author feels for the diffusion of his native tongue, and the sense of gratitude which he cherishes towards this nation, are the only motives that have induced him to embark in the present undertaking. In the composition and arrangement of this grammar, it has been the wish of the author to adapt it to all classes of learners. It is not, however, to be presumed, that the necessity of teachers will be superseded. The impression that a work can be written, by means of which alone, any capacity may learn the science it treats, is as common as it is fallacious. We cannot regard the books or methods adopted to compass the object of our pursuit, under any other aspect, than indispensable or necessary aids. They may afford more or less advantages, in proportion as they are adequate or indifferent; but the final success of the student will, and must absolutely depend, on his application, knowledge, capable instructors, particular. talents, or appropriate age. This is as true as it is apparent. Can a youth, who has scarcely had time to learn the rudiments of his own language, understand the nature of another, with the same facility as the adult, who, by study and reflection, has acquired experience; quickened his penetration, and matured his judgment? Or, can a person without any general knowledge, and perhaps imperfect in his maternal tongue, apprehend as rapidly, and apply as judiciously, the rules of any science, as he who has made universal information the object of his constant pursuit? It must be confessed that these considerations have prevented the author from annexing to this volume the common and attractive phrase of "without a teacher," not, however, from bestowing upon it all the labour and study possible, to render it as perspicuous and intelligible, as the subject would permit. The conviction, that human capacity is limited in its operations, and that it is to very few individuals that nature has been bountiful in her gifts; has also induced the author to use his utmost efforts in endeavouring to place the contents of this grammar in a constant and regular gradation; and to make its arrangement suitable to the various modes of instruction. On the present edition of this work, more care and attention have been bestowed, than it was supposed it would ever require. The rapidity with which the first impression has been exhausted; the encomiums past upon it by the most eminent American journals; and the promptitude with which it was introduced into the institutions of the United States, where the Spanish forms a branch of their instruction, are circumstances as flattering as they were unexpected to the writer. They have given impulse to new studies and researches; new discoveries have ensued, and when a second edition of this performance has become necessary, the additions and improvements have been so numerous, that it may be pronounced almost a different book. It is hoped that, although no grammar can be entirely new, this may have claims, both in plan and execution, to some originality. It has not been a hasty production, nor has the zeal of the author been abated by |