OBS. 12.—­As our old writers often formed the infinitive in en, so they sometimes dropped the termination of the perfect participle.  Hence we find, in the infancy of the language, done used for do, and do for done; and that by the same hand, with like changes in other verbs:  as, “Thou canst nothing done.”—­Chaucer.  “As he was wont to done.”—­Id. “The treson that to women hath be do.”—­Id. “For to ben honourable and free.”—­Id. “I am sworn to holden it secre.”—­Id. “Our nature God hath to him unyte.”—­Douglas.  “None otherwise negligent than I you saie haue I not bee.”—­Id. See W.  Allen’s E. Gram., p. 97.

   “But netheless the thynge is do,
    That fals god was soone go.”—­GOWER:  H.  Tooke, Vol. i, p. 376.

OBS. 13.—­“May is from the Anglo-Saxon, maegan, to be able.  In the parent language also, it is used as an auxiliary.  It is exhibited by Fortescue, as a principal verb; ‘They shall may do it:’  i. e. they shall be able (to) do it.”—­W.  Allen’s Gram., p. 70. “May not, was formerly used for must not; as, ‘Graces for which we may not cease to sue.’  Hooker.”—­Ib., p. 91. “May frequently expresses doubt of the fact; as, ‘I may have the book in my library, but I think I have not.’  It is used also, to express doubt, or a consequence, with a future signification; as, ’I may recover the use of my limbs, but I see little probability of it.’—­’That they may receive me into their houses.’ Luke, xvi, 4.”—­Churchill’s Gram., p. 247.  In these latter instances, the potential present is akin to the subjunctive.  Hence Lowth and others improperly call “I may love,” &c. the subjunctive mood.  Others, for the same reason, and with as little propriety, deny that we have any subjunctive mood; alleging an ellipsis in every thing that bears that name:  as, “’If it (may) be possible, live peaceably with all men.’  Scriptures.”—­W.  Allen’s Gram., p. 61. May is also a sign of wishing, and consequently occurs often in prayer:  as, “May it be thy good pleasure;”—­“O that it may please thee;”—­“Mayst thou be pleased.”  Hence the potential is akin also to the imperative:  the phrases, “Thy will be done,”—­“May thy will be done,”—­“Be thy will done,”—­“Let thy will be done,”—­are alike in meaning, but not in mood or construction.

OBS. 14.—­Can, to be able, is etymologically the same as the regular verbs ken, to see, and con, to learn; all of them being derived from the Saxon connan or cunnan, to know:  whence also the adjective cunning, which was formerly a participle.  In the following example will and can are principal verbs:  “In evil, the best condition is, not to will;