[98] A. Murray has rejected sung as the preterite, and L. Murray has rejected sang. Each preterite, however, rests on good authority.
The same observation may be made respecting sank and sunk.
[99] Sitten, though formerly in use, is now obsolescent. Laudable attempts, however, have been made to restore it. “To have sitten on the heads of the apostles.”—Middleton.
“Soon after the termination of this business, the parliament, which had now sitten three years,” &c.—Belsham’s Hist.
“And he would gladly, for the sake of dispatch, have called together the same parliament, which had sitten under his father.”—Hume, vol. vi. p. 199.
Respecting the preterites which have a or u, as slang, or slung, sank, or sunk, it would be better were the former only to be used, as the preterite and participle would thus be discriminated.
[100] Pope has used the regular form of the preterite:
“In the fat age of pleasure, wealth, and ease,
Sprung the rank weed, and thrived with large increase.”
Essay on Crit.