The Syntax of Early English - Cryptm.org

142 The syntax of early Englishnon-finite verb, as in (16). A rare example of a different position is given in(17).(15) nu wille we eow hwæt lytles be him gereccannow want we you what of-little about him tell‘now we want to relate to you a little thing concerning him’(ÆCHom II, 35.260.1)(16) onne wolde æt Iudeisce folc, æfter Godesthen would the Jewish people after God’sæ, mid stanum hi oftorfianlaw with stones her stone‘then the Jewish people would have stoned her to death with stones afterGod’s law’ (ÆCHom I, 13.196.10)(17) nu wylle we sum ing scortlice eow be him gereccannow want we some thing briefly you about him tell‘now we want to tell you briefly something about him’ (ÆCHom II, 9.72.9)Pronominal objects very occasionally occur on the right of a non-frontedverb; (18) and (19) are two examples. Note that in (18) there are two objects,one of which is pronominal.(18) We wylla secgan eow sum bigspellWe want tell you a parable‘We want to tell you a parable’ (ÆCHom I, 14.1.212.6)(19) He nolde geniman us neadunge of deofles anwealdehe not-wanted take us forcibly of devil’s power‘He would not forcibly take us from the devil’s power’ (ÆCHom I, 1.26.29)Koopman (1994) notes that pronominal objects following the non-finite verbare very infrequent and are found only in texts later than 950. This must thereforebe considered an innovative pattern.Adverbs of any kind usually appear in some position to the left of any nonfrontedverb, which suggests that they are restricted to preverbal position. Thisis illustrated by (20) and (21). (22) is an exceptional example where the adverbfollows the infinitive:(20) Simon . . . getigde ænne ormætne ryan innan am geate . . .Simon tied a huge mastiff inside the gateæt he færlice hine abitan sceoldeso-that he suddenly him bite might‘Simon . . . tied a huge mastiff inside the gate . . . so that he might suddenlybite him’ (ÆCHom I, 26.372.33)(21) Hwa wolde me æfre gelyfan . . .?who would me ever believe‘Who would ever believe me . . . ?’ (ÆCHom II, 6.53.37)