]

This subjunctive is very frequent after verbs of _commanding_.

See that there _be_ no traitors in your camp.--TENNYSON.

Come, tell me all that thou hast seen,
And look thou _tell_ me true.
--SCOTT.

See that thy scepter _be_ heavy on his head.--DE QUINCEY.

VIII. Concessive Clauses.

229. The concession may be expressed--

(1) In the nature of the verb; for example,--

_Be_ the matter how it may, Gabriel Grub was afflicted with
rheumatism to the end of his days.--DICKENS.

_Be_ the appeal _made_ to the understanding or the heart, the
sentence is the same--that rejects it.--BROUGHAM

(2) By an indefinite relative word, which may be

(_a_) _Pronoun._

Whatever _betide_, we'll turn aside,
And see the Braes of Yarrow.
--WORDSWORTH.

(_b_) _Adjective._

That hunger of applause, of cash, or whatsoever victual it _may
be_, is the ultimate fact of man's life.--CARLYLE.

(_c_) _Adverb._

Wherever he _dream_ under mountain or stream,
The spirit he loves remains.
--SHELLEY.

Prevalence of the Subjunctive Mood.

230. As shown by the wide range of literature from which these
examples are selected, the subjunctive is very much used in literary
English, especially by those who are artistic and exact in the
expression of their thought.

At the present day, however, the subjunctive is becoming less and
less used. Very many of the sentences illustrating the use of the
subjunctive mood could be replaced by numerous others using the
indicative to express the same thoughts.

The three uses of the subjunctive now most frequent are, to express a
wish, a concession, and condition contrary to fact.

In spoken English, the subjunctive _were_ is much used in a wish or a
condition contrary to fact, but hardly any other subjunctive forms
are.

It must be remembered, though, that many of the verbs in the
subjunctive have the same form as the indicative. Especially is this
true of unreal conditions in past time; for example,--

Were we of open sense as the Greeks were, we _had found_ [should
have found] a poem here.--CARLYLE.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

[Sidenote: _Definition._]

231. The imperative mood is the form of the verb used in direct
commands, entreaties, or requests.

[Sidenote: _Usually second person._]

232. The imperative is naturally used mostly with the second
person, since commands ar