BOOK XVII. CAP. II.

the aforementioned, and first concerning the ordination of the parts of speech, although some, seeking solace for their own ignorance, say that one ought not to inquire about such things, suspecting that the positions of arrangements are fortuitous. But insofar as their opinion goes, it results generally that nothing is accepted through ordination, nor is any sin committed against ordination; which is entirely stupid to think. If, however, they concede that there is ordination in some things, it is necessary to concede it in all. Just as therefore a speech is rendered perfect by proper ordination, so the parts of speech have been handed down by the most learned writers of the arts with proper ordination, when they placed the noun in the first place, the verb in the second: indeed, since no speech is completed without these; which is permissible to show from construction, which contains almost all parts of speech. From which if you take away the noun or the verb, the speech becomes imperfect: but if you subtract the others, it is not necessary for the speech to fail, as if I should say: Idem homo lapsus heu hodie concidit The same man, having fallen, alas, today falls down, behold all parts of speech are present without a conjunction; which if it is added, it demands another speech. 13 Therefore if you take away the noun or the verb, the speech will fail, desiring either a noun or a verb, as if I should say: Idem lapsus heu hodie concidit The same [having fallen] alas today falls down, or: idem homo lapsus heu hodie the same man having fallen alas today. But if you subtract the adverb, the speech will not fail entirely, as, idem homo lapsus heu concidit the same man having fallen alas falls down. Nor also if you take away the participle, will it fail in this way, as, idem homo heu hodie concidit the same man alas today falls down; nor if [you remove] the preposition and interjection, as, idem homo concidit the same man falls down; nor even if [you remove] the pronoun, as, homo concidit man falls down. I do not say, however, that a speech is not also perfected from a pronoun and a verb...