I fhall only add, that the very sfensible and ingenious Monsieur ROLLIN fays, "That the Metaphor gives moft ornament, ftrength, and "grandeur to a discourse. The most exquisite exprefsions are generally metaphorical, and "derive all their merit from this figure. It in"riches a language in fome measure with an infinity of expressions, by fubftituting the figu

rative in the room of the simple and plain: it "throws a great variety into the ftile: it raifes "and aggrandifes the most minute and common

things it gives us a great pleasure by the in"genious boldness with which it ftrikes out in

queft of exprefsions, instead of the natural "ones which are near at hand: it deceives the "mind agreeably, by fhewing it one thing, and

meaning another. In fine, it gives a body, "if we may so say, to the things that are spiri“tual, and makes them almoft the objects of

hearing and sight, by the fensible images it "delineates to the imagination *.”

Thus we find that the celebrated Writers of ancient and modern times unite in the highest praises of Metaphors: and indeed whoever duly considers their nature, muft confefs, that of all the flowers that embellish the regions of Eloquence, there is none that rises to such an eminence, that bears fo rich and beautiful a blof

fom,

τροπικαί, και ως υψηλοποιον αι μεταφοραι, και οτι οι παθη τικοί και φρασικοί κατα το πλείςον αυταις χαίρεσι τοποι. LONGIN. de Sublimitate, § 32.

ROLLIN on the Belles Lettres, Vol. ii. p. 142.

fom, that diffuses fuch a copious and exquisite fragrance, or that fo amply rewards the care and culture of the Poet or the Orator, as the Metaphor.

8. But though the Metaphor is fo excellent and lovely a Trope, when happily produced and nurtured, yet it requires much wisdom and delicacy to conduct it; and as nothing is more pleas ing than a good and well-regulated Metaphor, fo there is nothing more difgustful than a Me taphor ill-chosen and ill-conducted, according to the old maxim, Corruptio optimi eft peffima.

$9. Two things ought to be efpecially re garded as to Metaphors, that they are not in the leaft degree inconsistent, and that they are not purfued too far.

We fhould take heed that our Metaphors are not in the leaft degree inconsistent. After we have begun à Metaphor, we are to beware left we fpoil it, by introducing fomething repugnant and difsimilar to the firft image. Sometimes we fhall find in Metaphors, when they compose a fentence or fentences, a company of Subftantives, Adjectives and Verbs, whofe meanings can no more accord with one another, than the iron and clay in the feet of the image in NEBUCHADNEZZAR's dream. 66 Many perfons, fays QUINTILIAN, when they have fet out with a tem"peft, have ended with a conflagration; and "thus the effect of all has been a most shameful

incon

'

inconsistency *.” Were there never fuch exprefsions used, either from the pulpit or the prefs, or both, as that of calling GoD a fountain of bowels? or that fuch a virtue is an effential branch of a Chriftian's walk? or that many evils flow from fuch a root? or why Should we dabble in dry controverfy? Have not the merits of our blefsed LORD been ftiled the rock of falvation, on which we are to caft anchor? when the idea of cafting anchor upon a rock is abfolutely abfurd; and were it attempted by a vessel in a storm, would end in its destruction. These instances may ferve to fhew what I intend by inconsistent Metaphors; and upon the slighteft consideration the mind difcovers their miferable incongruity.

§ 10. But at the fame time we should be careful to preferve an harmony in our Metaphors, and beware how we heap together in the fame fentence difcordant images; it may be proper we fhould leave a full fcope for rhetorical indulgence and privilege. To this end let it be observed, that we may on the fame fubject, and in a manner in the fame breath, introduce very different Metaphors, without exposing ourselves to any juft cenfure for mixing and confounding them. LoN

GINUS

Nam id quod imprimis eft cuftodiendum, ut quolex genére cœperis tranflationem hoc defines. Multi enim cum initium à tempeftate fumpferunt incendio aut ruina finiunt; quæ eft inconfequentia rerum fœdiffima. QUINTIL. lib. viii. cap. 6. § 2.

GINUS obferves, that "as to the number of Metaphors, CECILIUS feems to agree with them "who are for reftraining them to two or three ce at the most. DEMOSTHENES, adds LONGINUS, ee is our standard in these matters. The time of « using them is when the passions rush like a

torrent, and bear along with them a multi«tude of Metaphors as necefsary for the occa❝sion. Men, fays DEMOSTHENES, contami

nated, peftilent, crouching, who have every "foul of them mangled their country, and drank "away its freedom in healths, first to PHILIP, " and now to ALEXANDER ; who measure their happiness by their belly, and the gratification of the most brutifh lufts; who have over"thrown that Liberty, and difdain of a Master « over us, which were formerly esteemed by "the Grecians the ftandard and teft of felicity. "Here, in a clufter of Tropes, the indignation " of the Orator burfts out against these trai"tors: I aver that feafonable and vehement

pafsions, and a noble fublimity, are a fuffi"cient apology for the number and boldness of Metaphors; for, it is natural for the pafsions and fublimity, by their own impetuous violence, "to feize and carry all before them, and therefore "as by an abfolute necefsity they challenge the

boldest Metaphors; nor will they give leisure for "the Hearer to cavil against their number, as they "inspire him with all the ardor of the Speaker *."

The

Περι δε πληθές και μεταφορών, ο μεν ΚεκιλιΘ- εοικε σύγκ

The ingenious Translator of LONGINUS, the Rev. Mr WILLIAM SMITH, in a note upon the passage which LONGINUS quotes from DEMOSTHENES, obferves, "that DEMOSTHENES in this inftance

burfts not out upon the traitorous creatures of "PHILIP with fuch bitterness and severity, and « ftrikes them not dumb with fuch a continua❝tion of vehement and cutting Metaphors, as "St JUDE treats fome profligate wretches in his Epiftle, ver. 12, 13. There are pots in your σε feafts of charity, when they feaft with you, feeding themselves without fear. Clouds they are « without water, carried about of winds; trees, whofe fruit withers, without fruit, plucked up by « the roots : vaging waves of the fea, foaming out "their

σε

66

κατατιθέθαι τοις δυο, η το πλείσον τρεις επι ταύτα νομοθέτησε τατλεπαν. Ο γαρ Δημοσθένης ορθο και των τοιυτων ο της Χρείας δε καιρία, ενθα τα παθη χειμαρρε δικην ελαυνέται, και την πολυπληθείαν αυτών, ως αναγκαιαν ενταυθα, συνεφελκεται. Ανθρωποι, φησι, μιαροί, και αλαςορές, και κολακες ηκρωτη βιασμένοι τας εαυτων εκαςοι πατρίδας, την ελευθερίαν προπεπω· κοτες, πρότερον μεν Φιλιππω, νυνι δε Αλεξάνδρω, τη γαυρο με τρυντες και τοις αισχίσοις την ευδαιμονιαν την δ' ελευθερίαν και το μηδενα εχειν δεσπότην, α τοις πρότερον ελλήσιν οροι των αγαθων ησαν και κανονες, ανατετροβολές. Ενταυθα τω πληθεί των τροπικών ο καλα των προδοτων επιπρεθει το Ρητορα θυμούν Εγω δε και ταυτα μεν αποδεχομαι, όμως δε πληθές και τολμης μεταφορών τα ευκαιρα και σφόδρα παθη, και το γεναιον υψ είναι φημι ίδια τινα αλεξιφαρμακα οτι τω ροθίω της φοράς ταυτι πεφυκεν απαντα τ' αλλά παρασύρειν και προωθείν, μαλα λον δε και ως αναγκαια παντως εισπρατίεσθαι τα παραβολα και εκ εκ την ακροατην χολάζειν περι τον τε πλήθος ελέξα χον, δια το συνενθεσίαν τω λεγοντι. LONGIN. de Sublimitate, $33.