4. Ill blows the wind that profits nobody.

4. Ill blows the wind that profits nobody.

5. Alas! it is we ourselves that are getting buried alive under this avalanche of earthly impertinences.

6. This method also forces upon us the necessity of thinking, which is, after all, the highest result of all education.

7. I know that there are many excellent people who object to the reading of novels as a waste of time.

8. I think they are trying to outwit nature, who is sure to be cunninger than they.

[Sidenote: _Parsing_ what, _the simple relative_.]

120. The relative _what_ is handled differently, because it has usually no antecedent, but is singular, neuter, third person. Its case is determined exactly as that of other relatives. In the sentence, "What can't be cured must be endured," the verb _must be endured_ is the predicate of something. What must be endured? Answer, _What can't be cured_. The whole expression is its subject. The word _what_, however, is subject of the verb _can't be cured_, and hence is in the nominative case.

"What we call nature is a certain self-regulated motion or change." Here the subject of _is_, etc., is _what we call nature_; but of this, _we_ is the subject, and _what_ is the direct object of the verb _call_, so is in the objective case.

[Sidenote: _Another way._]

Some prefer another method of treatment. As shown by the following sentences, _what_ is equivalent to _that which_:--

It has been said that "common souls pay with _what_ they do, nobler souls with _that which_ they are."--EMERSON.

_That which_ is pleasant often appears under the name of evil; and _what_ is disagreeable to nature is called good and virtuous.--BURKE.

Hence some take _what_ as a double relative, and parse _that_ in the first clause, and _which_ in the second clause; that is, "common souls pay with _that_ [singular, object of _with_] _which_ [singular, object of _do_] they do."

INDEFINITE RELATIVES.

[Sidenote: _List and examples._]

121. INDEFINITE RELATIVES are, by meaning and use, not as direct as the simple relatives.

They are _whoever_, _whichever_, _whatever_, _whatsoever_; less common are _whoso_, _whosoever_, _whichsoever_, _whatsoever_. The simple relatives _who_, _which_, and _what_ may also be used as indefinite relatives. Examples of indefinite relatives (from Emerson):--

1. _Whoever_ has flattered his friend successfully must at once think himself a knave, and his friend a fool.

2. It is no proof of a man's understanding, to be able to affirm _whatever_ he pleases.

3. They sit in a chair or sprawl with children on the floor, or stand on their head, or _what_ else _soever_, in a new and original way.

4. _Whoso_ is heroic will always find crises to try his edge.