οὐ μὴν ἀλλά, not but what

Greek Learning Greek
1

It seems that these expressions are literally æquivalent: ‘nothing else is the case but that …’

But for the English expression I have found almost no literary evidence, except for maybe a quote in the OED. Are Englishmen familiar with this?

2

You’ll find “not but what” is common enough in pre-20th century English literature.

3

Thanks. What about ‘not but (that)’? simply a variant or is there a nuance or historic difference?

4

Fowler, in his Modern English Usage, tells us that “but that” is literary and “but what” is colloquial. Presumably the same distinction applies to “not but that” and “not but what”; if so, there is a subtle difference in register between the two, but not much else.

5

I hadn’t thought to look in Fowler. Thanks.