If its original meaning be closely adhered to, we must expect every dependent clause to have its verb in the subjunctive mood, and every clause _not_ dependent to have its verb in some other mood.
But this is not the case. In the quotation from Hamilton (Sec. 215, 2) several subjoined clauses introduced by _if_ have the indicative mood, and also independent clauses are often found having the verb in the subjunctive mood.
Three cautions will be laid down which must be observed by a student who wishes to understand and use the English subjunctive:--
(1) You cannot tell it always by the form of the word. The main difference is, that the subjunctive has no _-s_ as the ending of the present tense, third person singular; as, "If he _come_."
(2) The fact that its clause is dependent or is introduced by certain words will not be a safe rule to guide you.
(3) The _meaning_ of the verb itself must be keenly studied.
218. The subjunctive mood is that form or use of the verb which expresses action or being, not as a fact, but as merely conceived of in the mind.
219. The following are examples of this use:--
God _grant_ you find one face there You loved when all was young.--KINGSLEY.
Now _tremble_ dimples on your cheek, Sweet _be_ your lips to taste and speak.--BEDDOES.
Long _die_ thy happy days before thy death.--SHAKESPEARE.
II. A Contingent Declaration or Question.
220. This really amounts to the conclusion, or principal clause, in a sentence, of which the condition is omitted.
Our chosen specimen of the hero as literary man [if we were to choose one] _would be_ this Goethe.--CARLYLE.
I _could lie_ down like a tired child, And _weep_ away the life of care Which I have borne and yet must bear.--SHELLEY.
Most excellent stranger, as you come to the lakes simply to see their loveliness, _might_ it not _be_ as well to ask after the most beautiful road, rather than the shortest?--DE QUINCEY.
221. The most common way of representing the action or being as merely thought of, is by putting it into the form of a _supposition_ or _condition_; as,--
Now, if the fire of electricity and that of lightning _be_ the same, this pasteboard and these scales may represent electrified clouds.--FRANKLIN.
Here no assertion is made that the two things _are_ the same; but, if the reader merely _conceives_ them for the moment to be the same, the writer can make the statement following. Again,--