“The word is then depos’d, and in this view,
    You rule the scripture, not the scripture you.”—­Dryden, p. 95.

UNDER RULE XVI.—­OF NEEDLESS CAPITALS.

“Be of good cheer:  It is I; be not afraid.”—­ALGER:  Matt., xiv, 27.

[FORMULE.—­Not proper, because the word It begins with a capital I, for which there appears to be neither rule nor reason.  But, according to Rule 16th, “Capitals are improper wherever there is not some special rule or reason for their use.”  Therefore, ‘it’ should here begin with a small letter, as Dr. Scott has it.]

“Between passion and lying, there is not a Finger’s breadth.”—­Murray’s Key, p. 240.  “Can our Solicitude alter the course, or unravel the intricacy, of human events?”—­Ib., p. 242.  “The last edition was carefully compared with the Original M. S.”—­Ib., p. 239.  “And the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?”—­ALGER:  Matt., xxvii, 11.  “Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame, that say, Aha, Aha!”—­FRIENDS’ BIBLE:  Ps., lxx, 3.  “Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame, that say unto me, Aha, aha!”—­IB.:  Ps., xl, 15.  “What think ye of Christ? whose Son is he?  They say unto him, The Son of David.  He saith unto them, How then doth David in Spirit call him Lord?”—­SCOTT:  Matt., xxii, 42, 43.  “Among all Things in the Universe, direct your Worship to the Greatest; And which is that?  ’T is that Being which Manages and Governs all the Rest.”—­Meditations of M. Aurelius Antoninus, p. 76.  “As for Modesty and Good Faith, Truth and Justice, they have left this wicked World and retired to Heaven:  And now what is it that can keep you here?”—­Ib., p. 81.

   “If Pulse of Terse, a Nation’s Temper shows,
    In keen Iambics English Metre flows.”—­Brightland’s Gram., p. 151.

PROMISCUOUS ERRORS RESPECTING CAPITALS.

LESSON I.—­MIXED.

“Come, gentle spring, Ethereal mildness, come.”—­Gardiner’s Music of Nature, p. 411.

[FORMULES.—­1.  Not proper, because the word spring begins with a small letter.  But, according to Rule 10th, “The name of an object personified, when it conveys an idea strictly individual, should begin with a capital.”  Therefore “Spring” should here begin with a capital S.

2.  Not proper again, because the word Ethereal begins with a capital E, for which there appears to be neither rule nor reason.  But, according to Rule 16th.  “Capitals are improper whenever there is not some special rule or reason for their use.”  Therefore, “ethereal” should here begin with a small letter.]