Ye go to Canterbury; God you speed. --Chaucer.
Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this
place. --Shak.
In vain you tell your parting lover You wish fair winds
may waft him over. --Prior.
Note: Though you is properly a plural, it is in all ordinary
discourse used also in addressing a single person, yet
properly always with a plural verb. ``Are you he that
hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind is so
admired ?'' --Shak. You and your are sometimes used
indefinitely, like we, they, one, to express persons
not specified. ``The looks at a distance like a
new-plowed land; but as you come near it, you see
nothing but a long heap of heavy, disjointed clods.''
--Addison. ``Your medalist and critic are much nearer
related than the world imagine.'' --Addison. ``It is
always pleasant to be forced to do what you wish to do,
but what, until pressed, you dare not attempt.''
--Hook. You is often used reflexively for yourself of
yourselves. ``Your highness shall repose you at the
tower.'' --Shak.
Art thou he that should come? --Matt. xi. 3.
Note: ``In Old English, generally, thou is the language of a
lord to a servant, of an equal to an equal, and
expresses also companionship, love, permission,
defiance, scorn, threatening: whilst ye is the language
of a servant to a lord, and of compliment, and further
expresses honor, submission, or entreaty.'' --Skeat.
Note: Thou is now sometimes used by the Friends, or Quakers,
in familiar discourse, though most of them corruptly
say thee instead of thou.