: magnificent Phrases: they tell us he was an ADMIRABLE Perfon; that his Virtues were CELESTIAL; that he was rather an ANGEL, than a Man. And thus the whole Encomium is a mere Declamation, without any Proof; and without drawing a juft Character. On the contrary, the antient Greeks made little Use of these general Terms which prove nothing but they infifted much on Facts, and the Particulars of a Character. For instance XENOPHON does not once fay in all his Cyropadia, that CYRUS was an Admirable Man: but throughout the Work he makes us really admire him. Thus it is that we ought to praise holy Perfons, by entering into the particular Detail of their Sentiments and Actions. But there prevails an affected Politeness among the pedantick and conceited Part of all Ranks and Profeffions, who value theinfelves upon their Wit, or Learning. They never venture to use any Expreffion but what they reckon fine and uncommon. They talk always in a *high Strain; and wou'd think it beneath them * Prima eft Eloquentiæ virtus PERSPICUITAS; & quo quifque ingenio minus valet, hoc fe magis attollere, & dilatare conatur: ut ftatura breves in digitos eriguntur; & plura infirmi minantur. Nam TUMIDOS, & corruptos, & tinnulos, & quocumque alio cacozeli genere peccantes, certum habeo, non virium, fed infirmitatis vitio laborare: ut coprora non robore, fed valetudine, inflantur. QUINT. lib. ij. c. 3. them to call Things by their proper Names. Now in true Eloquence almost every thing may be introduc'd. The Perfection of Poetry itself, (which is the loftieft kind of Composure) depends on a full and lively Defcription of Things in all their Circumftances. When VIRGIL represents the Trojan Fleet leaving the African Shore or arriving on the Coast of Italy, you fee every proper Circumftance exactly describ'd. But we must own that the GREEKS enter'd still further into the particular Detail of Things and follow'd Nature more closely in reprefenting the smallest Circumftances. For which reason, many People wou'd be apt (if they dar'd) to reckon HoMER too plain and fimple in his Narrations. In this antient beautiful Simplicity, (which few are able to relifh,) this Poet very much resembles the Holy Scripture: But in many Places the Sacred Writings furpafs his, as much as he excells all the other Antients, in a natural and lively Representation of Things. B. In relating Facts then ought we to defcribe every individual Circumstance that belongs to them? A. No: we fhou'd reprefent nothing to the Hearers but what deferves their Attention; and help's to give a clear and juft Idea of the Things we defcribe: So K that that it requires great Judgment to make I See Lon- a right | Choice of Circumftances. But ginus. §.x. we must not be afraid of mentioning fuch as can be any-way ferviceable: for 'tis a falfe Politenefs that leads us to fupprefs fome ufeful Things, because we don't think 'em capable of any Ornament. Befides, HOMER has fhown us by his Example, that we might give a * proper Grace and Embellishment to every Subject. B. Seeing you condemn the florid fwelling Stile; what kind do fitteft for publick Ufe? you reckon A. There ought to be a Variety of Stile in every Difcourfe. We fhou'd rise in our Expreffion when we fpeak of lofty Subjects; and be † familiar, on common ones, *First follow NATURE, and your Judgment frame Mr. POPE'S Effay on Criticism. † Εν ἄρ ὁ ἰδιωτισμός ενίοτε 7 κόσμο απολὺ ἐμ φανισικώτερον· ἔπιγινώσκεται δ' αυτόθεν εκ * κοινδ βίκο Τὸ 5 στηθες ἤδη πιςότερον — Ταῦτα τὰ ἐγγὺς ξύει ἢ ἰδιώτω, ἀλλ' ἐκ ἰδιωτεύει τῷ σημαντικῷ. LONGINUS. §. xxxj. ones, without being coarse, or grovelling. In moft Cafes, an eafy Simplicity and Exactness is fufficient: tho' fome Things require Vehemence, and Sublimity. If a Painter fhou'd draw nothing but magnificent Palaces, he cou'd not follow Truth; but muft paint his own Fancies; and by that means, foon cloy us. He ought to copy Nature in its agreable Varieties: and after drawing a stately City, it might be proper to represent a Defart, and the Huts of Shepherds. Most of those who aim at making fine Harangues injudiciously labour to cloath all their Thoughts in a * pompous gaudy Drefs: and they fancy that they have fucceeded happily, when they exprefs fome general Remarks in a florid lofty Stile. Their only Care is to fill their Difcourfe with abundance of Ornaments, to please the vitiated Taste of their Audience: like ignorant Cooks who know not how to feafon Dishes, in a proper, natural way; but fancy they must give them an exquifite Relish by mixing K 2 exceffive Nanque illud genus oftentationi compofitum, folum petit audientium voluptatem : ideoque omnes dicendi artes aperit, ornatumque orationis exponit Mala affectatio, per omne dicendi genus peccat. Nam & tumida, & exilia, & prædulcia, & abundantia, & ar ceffita, & exultantia fub idem nomen cadunt. Denique naxónov vocatur, quicquid eft ultra Virtutem ; quoties Ingenium judicio caret, & fpecie boni falletur; omnium in Eloquentia vitiorum peffimum: nam cætera cum vitentur, hoc petitur. QUINTIL. lib. viij. c. 3. exceffive Quantities of the most seasoning Things. But the Stile of a true Orator has nothing in it that is fwelling or oftentatious he always adapts it to the Subjects he treats of, and the Perfons he inftructs: and manages it fo judicioufly that he never aims at being fublime and lofty, but when he ought to be fo. : B. What you faid concerning the Language of Scripture, makes me with earnestly that you wou'd fhew us the Beauty of it. May we not see fome time you -to-morrow? A. I fhall hardly have time to-morrow: but I'll endeavour to wait on you this Evening. And fince you feem fo defirous of it, we will talk of the Word of Gob: for hitherto we have only spoken of the Language of Men. C. Farewell, Sir, I beg of you to be punctual otherwife we must come and find you out. THE |