(4) After a noun,—the case in which the preposition is expected to be, and regularly is, before its object; as,—
And unseen mermaids' pearly song
Comes bubbling up, the weeds among.
—Beddoes.
Forever panting and forever young,
All breathing human passion far above.
—Keats.
306. Since the object of a preposition is most often a noun, the statement is made that the preposition usually precedes its object; as in the following sentence, "Roused by the shock, he started from his trance."
Here the words by and from are connectives; but they do more than connect. By shows the relation in thought between roused and shock, expressing means or agency; from shows the relation in thought between started and trance, and expresses separation. Both introduce phrases.
Definition.
307. A preposition is a word joined to a noun or its equivalent to make up a qualifying or an adverbial phrase, and to show the relation between its object and the word modified.
Objects, nouns and the following.
308. Besides nouns, prepositions may have as objects—
(1) Pronouns: "Upon them with the lance;" "With whom I traverse earth."