“There’s nothing comes out but the most lowest stuff in nature;
     not a bit of high life among them.”—­GOLDSMITH.

THREE FIRST OR FIRST THREE?

432.  As to these two expressions, over which a little war has so long been buzzing, we think it not necessary to say more than that both are in good use; not only so in popular speech, but in literary English.  Instances of both are given below.

The meaning intended is the same, and the reader gets the same idea from both:  hence there is properly a perfect liberty in the use of either or both.

[Sidenote:  First three, etc.]

     For Carlyle, and Secretary Walsingham also, have been helping
     them heart and soul for the last two years.—­KINGSLEY.

     The delay in the first three lines, and conceit in the last,
     jar upon us constantly.—­RUSKIN.

     The last dozen miles before you reach the suburbs.—­DE QUINCEY.

     Mankind for the first seventy thousand ages ate their meat
     raw.—­LAMB.

     The first twenty numbers were expressed by a corresponding
     number of dots.  The first five had specific names.—­PRESCOTT.

[Sidenote:  Three first, etc.]

     These are the three first needs of civilized life.—­RUSKIN.

     He has already finished the three first sticks of it.—­ADDISON.

     In my two last you had so much of Lismahago that I suppose you
     are glad he is gone.—­SMOLLETT.

     I have not numbered the lines except of the four first books. 
     —­COWPER.

     The seven first centuries were filled with a succession of
     triumphs.—­GIBBON.

ARTICLES.

[Sidenote:  Definite article.]

433.  The definite article is repeated before each of two modifiers of the same noun, when the purpose is to call attention to the noun expressed and the one understood.  In such a case two or more separate objects are usually indicated by the separation of the modifiers.  Examples of this construction are,—­

[Sidenote:  With a singular noun.]

     The merit of the Barb, the Spanish, and the English breed
     is derived from a mixture of Arabian blood.—­GIBBON.

     The righteous man is distinguished from the unrighteous by
     his desire and hope of justice.—­RUSKIN.

     He seemed deficient in sympathy for concrete human things either
     on the sunny or the stormy side.—­CARLYLE.

     It is difficult to imagine a greater contrast than that between
     the first and the second part of the volume.—­The Nation,
     No. 1508.