“This is the Leviathan, from whence the terrible wits of our age are said to borrow their weapons.”—Swift. From is here redundant; whence, denoting “from which place.”
“An ancient author prophecies from hence.”—Dryden. Here a similar impropriety is involved. It should be, hence.
“E’er we can offer our complaints,
Behold him present with his aid.”
E’er, a contraction for ever, which is synonymous with always, and also at any time, is here improperly used for ere or before.
In the two following passages, there appears to me to be a similar error: “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken.”—Bible. “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”—Ibid.
“And, as there is now never a woman in England, I hope, I may talk of women without offence.”—Steele.
“He spake never a word.”—Bible.
This usage of the word “never,” is now, I believe, entirely confined to the vulgar.