Absolute personal pronouns.
The forms mine, thine, yours, hers, theirs, sometimes his and its, have a peculiar use, standing apart from the words they modify instead of immediately before them. From this use they are called ABSOLUTE PERSONAL PRONOUNS, or, some say, ABSOLUTE POSSESSIVES.
As instances of the use of absolute pronouns, note the following:—
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands. —Shakespeare.
And since thou own'st that praise, I spare thee mine.—Cowper.
My arm better than theirs can ward it off.—Landor.
Thine are the city and the people of Granada.—Bulwer.
Old use of mine and thine.
Formerly mine and thine stood before their nouns, if the nouns began with a vowel or h silent; thus,—
Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn?—Shakespeare.