=Can.= This word is found as a principal verb and as a noun in our language, especially in the Scotch dialect. "I _ken_ nae where he'd gone." Beyond the _ken_ of mortals. Far from all human _ken_. It signifies to _know_, to perceive, to understand. I knew not where he had gone. Beyond the knowledge of mortals. Far from all human reach. To _con_ or _cun_ is a different spelling of the same word. _Cunning_ is that quick _perception_ of things, which enables a person to use his knowledge adroitly. The child _can_ read; _knows_ how to read. It _can_ walk. Here it seems to imply _power_; but power, in this case, as in most others, is gained only by knowledge, for =knowledge is power=. Many children have strength sufficient to walk, long before they do. The reason why they _can not_ walk, is, they do not _know how_; they have not learned to balance themselves in an erect position, so as to move forward without falling.
A vast proportion of human ability is derived from knowledge. There is not a being in creation so entirely incapable of self-support, as the new-born infant; and yet, by the help of knowledge, he becomes the lord of this lower world. Bonaparte was once as helpless as any other child, and yet by dint of _can_, _ken_, _cunning_, or knowledge, he made all Europe tremble. But his knowledge was limited. He became blind to danger, bewildered by success, and he _could_ no longer follow the prudent course of wisdom, but fell a sacrifice to his own unbridled ambition, and blinded folly. An enlightened people _can_ govern themselves; but _power_ of government is gained by a knowledge of the principles of equality, and mutual help and dependency; and whenever the people become ignorant of that fact, they _will_ fall, the degraded victims of their own folly, and the wily influence of some more knowing aspirant for power.
This is a most important topic; but I dare not pursue it farther, lest I weary your patience. A few examples _must_ suffice.
"Jason, she cried, for aught I _see_ or _can_, This deed," &c. _Chaucer._
A famous man, Of every _witte_ somewhat he _can_, _Out take_ that him lacketh rule, His own estate to guide and rule. _Gower._
=Do= has been called a _helping_ verb; but it needs little observation to discover that it is no more so than a hundred other words. "_Do_ thy diligence to come before winter." "_Do_ the work of an evangelist."--_Paul to Timothy._ I _do_ all in my power _to expose_ the error and wickedness of false teaching. _Do_ afford relief. _Do_ something to afford relief.