She replied, she would give it up, for it had satisfied her of a new principle which must be observed in the exposition of all language, which accords with facts as developed in physical and mental science.

I continued, not only does that rock act in resisting the force of the small one which lays upon it, but, by the attraction of gravitation it is able to maintain its position in the side of the mountain; by cohesion it retains its distinct identity and solidity, and repels all foreign bodies.  It is also subject to the laws which govern the earth in its diurnal and annual revolutions, and moves in common with other matter at the astonishing rate of a thousand miles in an hour!  Who shall teach children, in these days of light and improvement, the grovelling doctrine of neutrality, this relic of the peripatetic philosophy?  Will parents send their children to school to learn falsehood?  And can teachers be satisfied to remain in ignorance, following with blind reverence the books they have studied, and refuse to examine new principles, fearing they shall be compelled to acknowledge former errors and study new principles?  They should remember it is wiser and more honorable to confess a fault and correct it, than it is to remain permanent in error.

Let us take another example of the verb “to lie.”  A country pedagogue who has followed his authorities most devotedly, and taught his pupils that lie is a “neuter verb, expressing neither action nor passion, but simply being, or a state of being,” goes out, during the intermission, into a grove near by, to exercise himself.  In attempting to roll a log up the hill, he makes a mis-step, and falls (intransitive verb, nothing falls!) to the ground, and the log rolls (nothing) on to him, and lies across his legs.  In this condition he is observed by his scholars to whom he cries (nothing) for help.  “Do (nothing) come (intransitive) and help me.”  They obey him and remain neuter, or at least act intransitively, and produce no effects.  He cries again for help and his cries are regarded.  They present themselves before him.  “Do roll this log off; it will break my legs.”  “Oh no, master; how can that be?  The log lies on you, does it not?” “Yes, and it will press me to death.”  “No, no; that can never be.  The log can not act. =Lies= is a neuter verb, signifying neither action nor passion, but simply being or a state of being.  You have a state of being, and the log has a state of being.  It can not harm you.  You must have forgotten the practical application of the truths you have been teaching us.”  It would be difficult to explain neuter verbs in such a predicament.

    “Now I lay me down to sleep.”

“She died and they laid her beside her lover under the spreading branches of the willow.”