The personal pronouns are not often used reflexively, however, when they are direct objects. This occurs in poetry, but seldom in prose; as,—
Now I lay me down to sleep.—Anon.
I set me down and sigh.—Burns.
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid them down
In their last sleep.
—Bryant.
REFLEXIVE OR COMPOUND PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
Composed of the personal pronouns with -self, -selves.
94. The REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS, or COMPOUND PERSONAL, as they are also called, are formed from the personal pronouns by adding the word self, and its plural selves.
They are myself, (ourself), ourselves, yourself, (thyself), yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves.
Of the two forms in parentheses, the second is the old form of the second person, used in poetry.
Ourself is used to follow the word we when this represents a single person, especially in the speech of rulers; as,—