The preparations for the grand expedition to South America which had been so long in preparation went on without intermission.1 The concourse of strangers attracted by its celebrity, its monuments, its galleries, its theatres, and its other attractions was immense. Twelve persons were seized in the cathedral under the most suspicious circumstances, but five only were concealing a conspiracy which was only punishable with imprisonment. In many of his works we see a complete acquaintance with the secret springs of evil which are ever springing up in the breast. Such was the pitiable state of weakness to which the British naval force had been reduced by the ceaseless reductions of previous years. The constituents of the boroughs were persons renting tenements rented at from 107. to 201. The contraction of the currency and consequent fall of the prices of agricultural produce 50 per cent. fell with crushing effect upon the country. So general was the feeling on this subject that it was made the subject of a distinct pledge to the electors. This proposal was no great violation of the liberties of the subject, for it only proposed to subject military persons to the trial of their military superiors. 375. Sentences containing too many words are said to exhibit Pleonasm (otherwise Redundancy) or Tautology. Both must be carefully avoided, though the distinction between the two is of no practical importance. 376. When there is pleonasm or tautology, a sentence must be too long. When there is neither, it may sometimes be shortened by the employment of various devices, such as (1) By the use of one word for several; as My burden is more than I can bear. | My burden is intolerable. (2) By inserting only once the common Subject of several Verbs. (3) By using words in Apposition instead of an explanatory sen tence; as His father was named Charles Goldsmith. He studied in the reign of Queen Anne at the diocesan school of Elphin. He became attached to the daughter of the schoolmaster, he married her, he took orders and he settled at a place called Pallas in the county of Longford. His father, Charles Goldsmith, studied in the reign of Queen Anne at the diocesan school of Elphin, became attached to the daughter of the schoolmaster, married her, took orders, and settled at a place called Pallas in the county of Longford. 1 This and the remaining sentences of this Exercise are quoted-in Breen's Modern English Literature. In their primitive state of simplicity the Germans were surveyed by the discerning eye of Tacitus. They were also delineated by his masterly pencil. He was the first of historians who, &c. In their primitive state of simplicity the Germans were surveyed by the discerning eye and delineated by the masterly pencil of Tacitus, the first of historians who applied the science of philosophy to the study of facts. (4) By inserting only once the common Complement of several Verbs; as Oliver early became a passionate admirer of Irish music and through life continued to be one [or such]. Oliver early became and through life continued to be a passionate admirer of Irish music. (5) By inserting only once an Adjunct common to several words; as Goldsmith, while he suffered all the humiliations of his situation, threw away all its advantages. (6) By inserting only once the They were as little disposed to endure an injury as to offer one. as Goldsmith, while he suffered all the humiliations, threw away all the advantages of his situation. common Object of several words; as They were as little disposed to endure as to offer an injury. (7) By inserting only once the Verb common to several Subjects; His style was always pure and easy, and on proper occasions it was pointed and energetic. His narratives were always amusing, his descriptions were always picturesque, his humour was rich and joyous, yet it was not without an occasional tinge of amiable sadness. His style was always pure and easy, and on proper occasions pointed and energetic. His narratives were always amusing, his descriptions always picturesque, his humour rich and joyous, yet not without an occasional tinge of amiable sadness. (8) By using a Participial Phrase for a Clause or Sentence; as 377. It must not be supposed that, because rules have been given for securing brevity, brevity is always worth securing. We have already seen (Pars. 353–360) that it may be inconsistent with clearness. It may also be inconsistent with simplicity and naturalness. Thus the sentence I have read about, passed through and lived near New York is shorter, but much less agreeable than I have read about New York, lived near it and passed through it. Exercise 131. Shorten the following sentences : He spells words as they are pronounced. He has joined the majority. These structures are very minute, but it is quite possible to see them and they can be easily felt. The dish is very agreeable to the taste. This word is accented on the last syllable but one. Italy is almost surrounded by the sea. The Rev. John Smith is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the priestly class. He became the common butt of boys and masters, he was pointed at as a fright in the playground and he was flogged as a dunce in the schoolroom. After a war of about forty years, which was undertaken by the most stupid of all the emperors, which was maintained by the most dissolute of them, and which was terminated by the most timid of them, the far greater part of the island submitted to the common yoke. As they were engaged in the pursuit of pleasure or as they were engaged in the exercise of tyranny, the first Cæsars seldom showed themselves to the armies or to the provinces. As the feeble assembly was deserted by the people and was threatened by a military force it was compelled to ratify the choice of the Prætorians. They did not attempt to preserve conquests which were separated from the provinces of the empire by a large tract of intermediate desert. The feeble sovereigns of Osrhoene were placed on the dangerous verge of two contending empires; they were attached from inclination to the Parthian cause, but the superior power of Rome exacted from them a reluctant homage. The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; they were all considered by the philosopher as equally false; and they were all considered by the magistrate as equally useful. They knew and they valued the advantages of religion. The masters of the Roman world surrounded their throne with darkness they concealed their irresistible strength and they humbly professed themselves the accountable ministers of the senate whose decrees they dictated, and they obeyed. STRENGTH. 378. The strength of a sentence cannot be to any large extent a matter of rules. When there is inherent weakness in the thought, no skill in the choice or the arrangement of the words can make the expression of it strong; though, on the other hand, lack of skill in the choice or the arrangement of the words may weaken the expression of a thought inherently strong. 379. It follows that the first points to be attended to are the choice and arrangement of words. As these subjects have already been discussed at great length, little need be said about them now. A few hints may, however, be given. (1) Words of English origin are more forcible than words of foreign origin. He is an adept in the art of natation is weak (as well as vulgar) compared with He swims well. (2) Particular terms are more forcible than general. For instance : There was a great storm, but it did no damage to the house, for it had a firm foundation, is much less forcible than The rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. (3) Metaphor may be stronger than literal statement; thus: is stronger than Unfaltering on its dreadful brink To his red grave he went He showed no signs of fear as he was led to execution. (4) A Simile is often worth a score of Superlatives. The sentence' Life is tedious' would not, if half the Adverbs in the dictionary were placed before the Adjective, be so strong as Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man. (5) When a sentence consists of several parts they should be arranged in the order of their strength, the weakest first; thus: This decency, this grace, this propriety of manners to character, is so essential to princes in particular, that, whenever it is neglected, their virtues lose a great degree of lustre, and their defects acquire much aggravation. Nay, more; by neglecting this decency and this grace, and for want of a sufficient regard to appearances, even their virtues may betray them into failings, their failings into vices, and their vices into habits unworthy of princes, and unworthy of men. 380. Such an arrangement is called a Climax. The word Climax is often used as if it meant the highest point ['Things have now reached a climax']. Climax, however, is the Greek word (kλîμag) for a ladder, and as a term in rhetoric means an ascent. 381. The opposite to Climax is Anti-Climax or Bathos. This is exemplified when an ascent is followed by a descent; thus :For forty centuries the thunders of Sinai have echoed through the world 'Thou shalt not steal.' This is also a principle of the common law and a rule of equity. Prisoner, not only have you committed murder, but you have run a bayonet through the breeches of one of her Majesty's uniforms. MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCES TO It seems but the other day that we were attending the consecration service in Westminster Abbey, and listened to the eloquent address. Then having got up to move another amendment requesting the Government to appoint an inquiry committee, the chairman stopped him. According to the best information I can obtain, the prospect of prolonged peace has never for fifteen years been so tangible. My lords, I regret to have to inform your lordships that H.M.S. |