54630
> だが、主であるそなたの許可 **なくば** それも許されぬ…！

I understand it pretty much means "However, being our master, we can't even do
that without your permission." but I don't get why なく and ば are both together.
I would have said : "なく" or "なければ" but never "なくば". What could the explanation
behind this be ?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T13:44:43.363
54629
2017-11-20T21:19:21.743
2017-11-20T21:19:21.743
20501
question
grammar conditionals archaic-language
The logic behind なくば
なくば is an older form of なければ. It's not generally used in modern Japanese
(outside of perhaps a few fossilised expressions like さもなくば), but is still
recognised and can be used as part of an affected style of speech.

This character's speech is clearly somewhat archaic in flavour (as also
evidenced by the use of そなた and the ぬ negation), so the use of なくば seems in
fitting with that style.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T13:59:52.667
54630
2017-11-20T13:59:52.667
25107
54629
answer