[32] This Verb is also formed like those of i long into i short; Write, writ, written; and by Contraction writ in the Participle, but, I think, improperly.
[33] Frequent mistakes are made in the formation of the Participle of this Verb. The analogy plainly requires sitten; which was formerly in use: “The army having sitten there so long:”⸺“Which was enough to make him stir, that would not have sitten still, though Hanibal had been quiet.” Raleigh. “That no Parliament should be dissolved, till it had sitten five months.” Hobbes, Hist. of Civil Wars, p. 257. But it is now almost wholly disused, the form of the Past Time sat, having taken its place. Dr. Middleton hath with great propriety restored the true Participle:⸺“To have sitten on the heads of the Apostles:”⸺“to have sitten upon each of them.” Works, Vol. II. p. 30. “Blessed is the man,⸺that hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.” Ps. i. 1. The old Editions have sit; which may be perhaps allowed as a Contraction of sitten. “And when he was set, his disciples came unto him:” καθισαντος αυτου. Matt. v. 1.⸺“who is set on the right hand;”⸺“and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God:” in both places εκαθισεν. Heb. viii. 1. & xii. 2. Set can be no part of the Verb to sit. If it belongs to the Verb to set, the Translation in these passages is wrong: for to set signifies to place, but without any designation of the posture of the person placed; which is a circumstance of importance expressed by the original.
[34] This Neuter Verb is frequently confounded with the Verb Active to lay, [that is, to put, or place;] which is Regular, and has in the Past Time and Participle layed, or laid.
[35] “Thus having chosed each other.⸺” Clarendon, Hist. Vol. III. p. 797. 8ᵛᵒ. Improperly.
[36] That is, as a bird, volare; whereas to flee signifies fugere, as from an enemy. This seems to be the proper distinction between to fly, and to flee; which in the Present Time are very often confounded. Our Translation of the Bible is not quite free from this mistake. It hath flee for volare in perhaps seven or eight places out of a great number; but never fly for fugere.
[37] Essay xxix.
[38] The whole number of Verbs in the English language, Regular and Irregular, Simple and Compounded, taken together, is about 4300. See Dr. Ward’s Essays on the English Language; the Catalogue of English Verbs.
⸺“He would have spoke.”
Milton, P. L. x. 517.