29.  He should neither praise nor blame nor defend his equals.

30.  There was no iron to be seen, nor did they appear acquainted with its properties; for they unguardedly took a drawn sword by the edge, when it was presented to them.

PREPOSITIONS..

305.  The word preposition implies place before:  hence it would seem that a preposition is always before its object.  It may be so in the majority of cases, but in a considerable proportion of instances the preposition is after its object.

This occurs in such cases as the following:—­

[Sidenote:  Preposition not before its object.]

(1) After a relative pronoun, a very common occurrence; thus,—­

     The most dismal Christmas fun which these eyes ever looked
     on.—­THACKERAY.

     An ancient nation which they know nothing of.—­EMERSON.

     A foe, whom a champion has fought with to-day.—­SCOTT.

     Some little toys that girls are fond of.—­SWIFT.

     “It’s the man that I spoke to you about” said Mr.
     Pickwick.—­DICKENS.

(2) After an interrogative adverb, adjective, or pronoun, also frequently found:—­

     What God doth the wizard pray to?—­HAWTHORNE.

     What is the little one thinking about?—­J.G.  HOLLAND.

     Where the Devil did it come from, I wonder?—­DICKENS.

(3) With an infinitive, in such expressions as these:—­

     A proper quarrel for a Crusader to do battle in.—­SCOTT.

     “You know, General, it was nothing to joke about.”—­CABLE

     Had no harsh treatment to reproach herself with.—­BOYESEN

     A loss of vitality scarcely to be accounted for.—­HOLMES.

     Places for horses to be hitched to.—­Id.

(4) After a noun,—­the case in which the preposition is expected to be, and regularly is, before its object; as,—­

     And unseen mermaids’ pearly song
     Comes bubbling up, the weeds among. 
     —­BEDDOES.

     Forever panting and forever young,
     All breathing human passion far above. 
     —­KEATS.

306.  Since the object of a preposition is most often a noun, the statement is made that the preposition usually precedes its object; as in the following sentence, “Roused by the shock, he started from his trance.”

Here the words by and from are connectives; but they do more than connect. By shows the relation in thought between roused and shock, expressing means or agency; from shows the relation in thought between started and trance, and expresses separation.  Both introduce phrases.