By what I seek, but others to make
Such as I.”—Milton.
Bentley says, that it should be me. We concur with Dr. Lowth in rejecting this correction, and approving the expression of Milton. There is no ellipsis of the verb make; others and I are not under the government of the same word. The meaning is not, “to make others such, as to make me,” but, “such as I am” the substantive verb being understood.
In the following passage, on the contrary, the ellipsis seems evident: “I found none so fit as him to be set in opposition to the father of the renowned city of Rome.” It has been contended, that the author should have said, “as he,” and not “as him:” but it appears to me, that the verb found is understood in the secondary clause, and that the expression is correct, the sense being, “I found none so fit, as I found him.”
In the following passage the two subjects belong to the same verb:
“The sun, upon the calmest sea,
Appears not half so bright as thee.”—Prior.
It ought to be, “as thou;” that is, “as thou appearest.”
“So as,” and “as, as,” though frequently, have not always the same import. “These things,” said Thales to Solon, who was lamenting the supposed death of his son, “which strike down so firm a man as you, have deterred me from marriage.” The expression clearly refers to Solon; but, if he had said “as firm a man as you,” it might have referred to a different person from Solon, but a man of equal fortitude.
“For ever in this humble cell,