If these things were true, society could not hold together. 
     —­LOWELL.

     Did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great
     deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.—­FRANKLIN.

Had he for once cast all such feelings aside, and striven energetically to save Ney, it would have cast such an enhancing light over all his glories, that we cannot but regret its absence.—­BAYNE.

NOTE.—­Conditional sentences are usually introduced by if, though, except, unless, etc.; but when the verb precedes the subject, the conjunction is often omitted:  for example, “Were I bidden to say how the highest genius could be most advantageously employed,” etc.

Exercise.

In the following conditional clauses, tell whether each verb is indicative or subjunctive, and what kind of condition:—­

     1.  The voice, if he speak to you, is of similar physiognomy,
     clear, melodious, and sonorous.—­CARLYLE.

     2.  Were you so distinguished from your neighbors, would you, do
     you think, be any the happier?—­THACKERAY.

     3.  Epaminondas, if he was the man I take him for, would have sat
     still with joy and peace, if his lot had been mine.—­EMERSON.

     4.  If a damsel had the least smattering of literature, she was
     regarded as a prodigy.—­MACAULAY.

     5.  I told him, although it were the custom of our learned in
     Europe to steal inventions from each other,... yet I would take
     such caution that he should have the honor entire.—­SWIFT.

     6.  If he had reason to dislike him, he had better not have
     written, since he [Byron] was dead.—­N.P.  WILLIS.

     7.  If it were prostrated to the ground by a profane hand, what
     native of the city would not mourn over its fall?—­GAYARRE.

     8.  But in no case could it be justified, except it be for a
     failure of the association or union to effect the object for
     which it was created.—­CALHOUN.

II.  Subjunctive of Purpose.

223.  The subjunctive, especially be, may, might, and should, is used to express purpose, the clause being introduced by that or lest; as,—­

     It was necessary, he supposed, to drink strong beer, that he
     might be strong to labor.—­FRANKLIN.

     I have been the more particular...that you may compare such
     unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made
     there.—­Id.

     He [Roderick] with sudden impulse that way rode, To tell of what
     had passed, lest in the strife They should engage with Julian’s
     men.—­SOUTHEY.