Of Ne.
The reason why so few can directly vnderstand, or truely make vse in speaking or writing of this Particle Ne, which in the Italian tongue is so often and so gracefully vsed, proceedeth of this, that as yet (as farre as I haue seene) none did euer shew directly, or rightly set down the essentiall proprietie, the certaine and distinct significations, and the vndoubted vse thereof, amusing the learner and stranger, with saying that it is but an ornament and affected grace of the tongue, and that it might well, or for the most part be spared; when if your Maiesty rightly examine the same, you shall finde it to be a most necessary, a most gracefull, and most significant part of speech: yea, and so significant, so gracefull, and so necessary, as the Italian tongue is lame, harsh, imperfect and gracelesse without it. I haue therefore as briefly as I could set downe the seuerall significations, and direct vses therof, and what it doth import, or may signifie, and without the compasse of which I would yet neuer heare, reade, or finde it. Remember therefore that Ne hath onely fiue seuerall significations, and more it cannot haue.
First Nè, is sometimes an Aduerbe of distinction, or as some count it, of deniall or refusall, and is commonly accented, and without a verb, and in the beginning of a sentence, or immediately after a Comma, signifying in English, Nor, or Neither, or thus, Nè ti sóno amíco, nè ánco lo vóglio ẻssere, per chè, nè tù lo mẻriti, nè se ne contẻnterẻbboro i miẻi amíci. I neither am thy friend, nor will I be, because neither dost thou deserue it, nor would my friends be therewith contented. Or thus, Nè quésto, nè quéllo ti concẻdo, imperochè, nè mi ámi, nè mi puói vedére. Nor this, nor that doe I graunt to thee, for thou dost neither loue me, nor canst abide to see me, &c.
Secondly, Ne is somtimes an Aduerb local or of place, or as some cal it, a Preposition, importing In, In the, or Into, but then is the Article I. included, and somtimes apostrophed, and somtimes not, as thus, Spasseggiándo ne' cámpi, m'imbattéi ne' miẻi nemíci, walking in the fields, I chanced to fal into mine enemies. Or thus, Trouándomi ne' cámpi, finding my selfe in the fieldes. Or thus, Leggẻndo ne' libri, reading in the bookes, Or thus, Ne' sáuij si truóuano buóni consíglij, in wise men are good counsels found, &c.
Thirdly, Ne. being ioyned to a verbe of motion, as Andáre, Fuggíre, Voláre, Veníre, &c. is sometimes an Aduerbe locall or of place, signifying in English Thence, Hence, or Away, as Lui se ne ẻ andáto; He is gone away. Io me ne vádo, I goe hence. Io me ne vóglio fuggíre, I will runne away or flie hence, Lui se ne ẻ fuggito, He is fled away thence or hence. Volándosene via, Flying thence away. Venitéuene, Come away thence, &c.
Fourthly, Ne. serueth sometimes for the Pronoune primitiue, Noi, Vs, being euer of the Datiue or Accusatiue cases, except with verbes of priuation, with which it is of the Ablatiue. As for example, Vedẻndone giuocáre lui ne diẻde denári, Seeing vs play he gaue vs money. Incontrándone lui ne diẻde il buón giórno, Meeting vs, he bade vs good morrow, with priuatiue verbes, let this example serue. Lui ne hà tólto il nóstro ripóso, furátone i nóstri denári, ẻd ascóstone i nóstri béni, He hath taken from vs our rest, stolne our money from vs, and hidden our goods from vs.
Fifthly and lastly, Ne. being ioyned with a verbe doth most often and most commonly serue for an Aduerbe of quantity, or relation, signifying in English, Some, Of it, Any, Part of, There of, Of them, and sometimes, Therewith, hauing euer relation vnto the chief substantiue, mentioned, spoken of, or glanced at in the sentence, at being reciprocall vnto it, and is most elegantly and gracefully so often vsed of all the best Italians, to auoide that harshnesse or trouble of often iterating the same vpon euery occasion, and in continuance of the sense, as for example, Di grátia Signór mio se hauéte denári fátemene párte, Signóre Io non ne hò, se ne hauéssi, ve ne farẻi párte, quándo ne hauerò, ne potréte dispórre, mi dispiáce non hauérne, vísto chè tánti ne hánno, chè non ne sóno degni, &c. which in English is thus. Of courtesie Sir if you haue any money, lend me some. Sir I haue none, if I had any you should haue part thereof, when I shall haue some, you may dispose of it. I am sorry I haue not any, seeing so many haue some that are not worthy of it, &c. much more might be said of the vse thereof, but I thinke this sufficient. Now let vs come vnto the verbes.