Note 21 — WORDS.
Reading edition
“Before the sun, Before the heav’ns thou wert.” Milton.
“Remember what thou wert.” Dryden.
“I knew thou wert not slow to hear.” Addison.
“Thou who of old wert sent to Israel’s court.” Prior.
“All this thou wert.”⸺ Pope.
Shall we in deference to these great authorities allow wert to be the same with wast, and common to the Indicative and Subjunctive Mode? or rather abide by the practice of our best antient writers; the propriety of the language, which requires, as far as may be, distinct forms for different Modes; and the analogy of formation in each Mode; I was, Thou wast; I were, Thou wert? all which conspire to make wert peculiar to the Subjunctive Mode.