>>It cannot be but«: It cannot be, I find, but such a face should bear a wicked mind (Sh. Lucr. 1539). It cannot be but thou hast murdered him (Sh. Mids. III, 2, 56). It cannot be but he was murder'd here (Sh. 2 Henry VI. III, 2, 177). It cannot be but they will do you justice (Byron, van Dal.). Similarly: It cannot be but a dishonour (Milton, Chambers 1, 417).

>>I cannot choose but«: Words that could not choose but please (Spenser, F. Q. I, 1, 54). She cannot choose but love (Sh. Ven. and Adon. 79). That cannot choose but amaze him (Sh. Wiv. V, 3, 18). She cannot choose but be old (Sh. 2 Henry IV. III, 2, 221). A voice so sweet and clear That I could not choose but hear (Longfellow I, 122). I cannot choose but weep for thee (Shelley III, 79). This cannot choose but strike confusion among the Burgundians (Scott, Qu. Durward 462).

A similar vague relation of the infinitive to the verb of the principal sentence is found in the following passage: I would not but have seen this letter for half I am worth (Richardson, Sir Ch. Grandison, London 1770, III, p. 6).

The use already met with in O. E., that the verbs of sensual and intellectual observation, when used negatively, may be followed by »but«, is expanded in Mod. E. inasmuch as this use is also extended to other verbs of a similar meaning, likewise only when negatived or used in an interrogation expecting an answer in the negative. »But« is mostly met with in this case; not rarely however we also find >but that«. I never heard it before, but that it (Ireland) was always divided into fowre ... kingdomes (Spenser, A view ect.). I never saw but Humphrey did bear him like a noble gentleman (Sh. 2 Henry VI. I, 1, 138). I see not but you may be king of England nevertheless (Scott, Kenilw. 32). They think not but that every eye can see the

same disgrace (Sh. Lucr. 750). Sh. Oth. III, 3, 325. You cannot think but that they are quarrelling (Tom Brown's school days I). Do not believe but I shall do thee mischief (Sh. Mids. II, 1, 236). Oh! who shall believe but you misuse the reverence of your place (Sh. 2 Henry IV. IV, 2, 22). Your uncle must not know but you are dead (Sh. K. John IV, 1, 128). We did not know but that the crowd might be very great (Dickens, Pict. of It., Rome). He had no suspicion but that I had dined long since (Fielding, Tom Jones 8, 12). I cannot be persuaded but that marriage is one of the means of happiness (Johnson, Rassel. 28). He could not be persuaded but that he was etc. (Lamb, Tal. fr. Sh.). I can hardly persuade myself but you're alive (Dickens, M. Chuzzlew. 1, 2). This does not convince me but that marriage is one of the means of happiness (Goldsm. Good nat. M. 3). Yet I'll not pledge myself, but that those letters may furnish you, perchance, with proofs against him (Coler., Picc. III, 3). Father, never dream . . . But ill must come from ill (Shelley, Cenci 1, 3). I never read but England's kings have had large sums of gold and dowries with their wives (Sh. 2 Henry VI. I, 1, 128).

>>But what instead of »but that«: The countess never suspected but what the horse had been placed there to meet them by the precaution of the guide (Scott, Hr. Gr.). I see not but what it may benefit the man that has been pricked with a sword (Scott, ib.).

To expressions such as it is impossible«, it is not probable ect. the accessory sentence may be annexed in the same manner as to those verbs, these expressions having a similar sense. It is impossible but that they live yet (Beaum. and Fl., London 1839, I, 112). It is impossible but what I shall take Cronstadt (Bulwer, What will he ect., III, 11). It was scarce probable but what the in

habitants of the cavern had some mode of issuing from it otherwise than by the lake (Scott, Wav. 18). I had no idea but what the story was true. He had no information but what the men were honest (The last two instances are quoted by Mr. Brown).

Here we have also to mention the phrases »>not but<< and »not but that«, which are elliptically to be explained, before >>not<< a verb of saying being to be supplied, which >>but<< or »but that depends on: I do not say but (but mean to say that not

that) i. e. I do not

man and French we

....

In Ger

have similar elliptical phrases, >>nicht

dass nicht«, »nicht als ob nicht« and »non que . . . ne

But for their own sakes

and for fear They were not safe when I was there (Butl. Hudibr. II, 2, 549). Not but upon these occasions no man in England is more punctual than (Sam. Foote, Chamb. I, 768). Not but your father had good qualities (Bickerstaff, Lionel Clarissa I, 1). Pray don't desire it of me: not but that you may persuade me to any thing, sooner than any person in the world (Southerne, Oroonoko I, 1). Thus we lived several years in a state of much happiness, not but that we sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhaunce the value of its favours (Goldsm. Vic. I).

Instead of »not but that we also find »not but what<< made use of. Not but what I hold it our duty never to foster into a passion (Bulwer, The Caxtons 18, 8). Not but what there were some two or three youngsters who manifested the first drawings of what is called fire and spirit (Irv. Hist. of New York III, 4).

The juxtaposition of the conditional and the indirect interrogative sentences to each other seems to be the cause

of the occurrence of >but« in negative indirect interrogative sentences, especially after »to know«. - Ne wote I but thou didst these 'goods bereave from rightful owner (Spenser, F. Q. II, 7, 19). Who knows yet but from this lady may proceed a gem? (Sh. Henry VIII. II, 3, 78). Who knows but that God, who made the world, may cause that Giant Despair may die (Bunyan, Hr. 161). Who knows but all the matter which he told us might be intended as a warning to us (Fielding, Schmitz, E. Gr. 1). How did you know but you would cut my lining too (Sterne, Tr. Sh. 48). She knew not but some new treachery was menacing her (Irving, Schmitz, E. Gr.). Who knows but he may be at Arnwood (Capt. Marryat, The Children of the NewForest, 1). Also here instead of »but that« we occasionally meet with »but what«. — I did not know but what it was so (Schmitz, E. Gr.).

-

»But«, »but that« after the verbs of doubting and denying, when negatived or used in interrogative sentences expecting an answer in the negative. Noe doubt but some there be incorruptible (Spenser, A view ect.). Fear not but she will love you (Sh. Gentl. III, 2, 1). If you shall see Cordelia as fear not but you shal show her this ring (Sh. Lear III, 1, 47). Let it not be doubted but he'll come (Sh. Wiv. IV, 4, 43). I do not doubt but that my noble master will appear such as he is (Sh. Caes. IV, 2, 11). Doth any man doubt, that if there were taken out of men's mind vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would leave the minds of a number of men, poor shrunken things ? (Bacon, Hr. 106). In this instance the blending of >that< and >but« in the resumption of the conjunction is

1) Bernhard Schmitz, Englische Grammatik. Berlin 1874.

remarkable. Yet doubt not but in valley and in plain God is as here (Milton, P. L. XI). Doubt not but that sin Will reign among them (ib. XII). I do not doubt but the comets will bear a part in this tragedy (Burnet, Hr. 144). He doubted not but such villanous arts had been made use of to destroy him (Fielding, Tom Jones 8, 5). He had no doubt but that this chum was certainly the thief (ib. 8, 11). It was no longer doubted but that she was the object that induced him to be our visitor (Goldsm. Vic. VII). He had not a doubt but this was the bedchamber of his beautiful unknown (Irving, Hr. Gr.). I doubt not but the expected pleasure of performing it was a principal motive with him (Scott, Wav. 48). -The negative may also be replaced by little<: Be this as it may, up this river did the adventurous Hendrick proceed, little doubting but it would turn out to be the much looked for passage to China (Irv. Hist. of N. Y. 2, 1). There is very little doubt but he would have made the greatest governor of his size on record (ib. 4, 5). Making little doubt but that his instrument would be as effectual and offensive in war as was that of the Paladin Astolpho (ib. 4, 3). »But« is also retained when the accessory sentence is turned into an infinitive: I doubt not but to fashion (Sh. Much ado II, 1, 384). I do not doubt but to hear (Sh. Mids. IV, 2, 44). I doubt not shortly but to reign sole king (Marlowe, Tamburl. I, 1). He doubted not but to overtake his Sophia before she would set out from St. Albans (Fielding, Hr. Gr.).

You will not denye but it is to be abolished (Spenser, A view etc.). I cannot deny but that anciently it was common to most (ib.). It must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain (Sh. Much ado I, 3, 33). I neither can nor will deny but that I know him (Sh. All's well V, 3, 167). I deny not but that it is of the greatest concern