is a great beauty in composition. In general, to preserve members distinct that signify things distinguished in the thought, the best method is, to place first in the consequent member, some word that cannot connect with what precedes it. If it shall be thought, that the objections here are too scrupulous, and that the defect of perspicuity is easily supplied by accurate punctuation; the answer is, That punctuation may remove an ambiguity, but will never produce that peculiar beauty which is perceived when the sense comes out clearly and distinctly by means of a happy arrangement. Such influence has this beauty, that by a natural transition of perception, it is communicated to the very sound of the words, so as in appearance to improve the music of the period. But as this curious subject comes in more properly afterward, it is sufficient at present to appeal to experience, that a period so arranged as to bring out the sense clear, seems always more musical than where the sense is left in any degree doubtful. A rule deservedly occupying the second place, is, That words expressing things connected in the thought, ought to be placed as near together as pos sible. This rule is derived immediately from human nature, prone in every instance to place together things in any manner connected:* where things are arranged according to their connexions, we have a sense of order; otherwise we have a sense of disorder, as of things placed by chance : and we naturally place words in the same order in which we would place the things they signify. The bad effect of a violent separation of words or members thus intimately connected will appear from the following examples. For the English are naturally fanciful, and very often dispos ed, by that gloominess and melancholy of temper which is so * See chapter I, frequent in our nation, to many wild notions and visions, to which others are not so liable. Spectator, No. 419. Here the verb or assertion is, by a pretty long circumstance, violently separated from the subject to which it refers: this makes a harsh arrangement : the less excusable that the fault is easily prevented by placing the circumstance before the verb, after the following manner: For the English are naturally fanciful, and, by that gloominess and melancholy of temper which is so frequent in our nation, are often disposed to many wild notions, &c. For as no mortal author, in the ordinary fate and vicissitude of things, knows to what use his works may, some time or other, be applied, &c. Spectator, No. 85. Better thus: For as, in the ordinary fate and vicissitude of things, no mortal author knows to what use, some time or other, his works may be applied, &c. From whence we may date likewise the rivalship of the house of France, for we may reckon that of Valois and that of Bourbon as one upon this occasion, and the house of Austria that continues at this day, and has oft cost so much blood and so much treasure in the course of it. Letters on History, vol. I. let. vi. Bolingbroke. It cannot be impertinent or ridiculous, therefore, in such a country, whatever it might be in the Abbot of St. Real's, which was Savoy, I think; or in Peru, under the Incas, where Garcil. asso de la Vega says it was lawful for none but the nobility to study-for men of all degrees to instruct themselves, in those affairs wherein they may be actors, or judges of those who act, or controllers of those that judge. Ibid. let. v. If Scipio, who was naturally given to women, for which anecdote we have, if I mistake not, the authority of Polybius, as well as some verses of Nevius, preserved by Aulus Gellius, had been educated by Olympias at the court of Philip, it is improbable that he would have restored the beautiful Spaniard, Ibid. let. iii. If any one have a curiosity for more specimens of this kind, they will be found without number in the works of the same author. A pronoun, which saves the naming a person or thing a second time, ought to be placed as near as possible to the name of that person or thing. This is a branch of the foregoing rule; and with the reason there given another concurs, viz. That if other ideas intervene, it is difficult to recal the per son or thing by reference: If I had leave to print the Latin letters transmitted to me from foreign parts, they would fill a volume, and be a full defence against all that Mr. Partridge, or his accomplices of the Portugal inquisition, will be ever able to object:(who, by the way, are the only enemies my predictions have ever met with at home or abroad. Better thus: --and be a full defence against all that can be ob jected by Mr. Partridge, or his accomplices of the Portugal in quisition; who, by the way, are, &c. There being a round million of creatures in human figure, throughout this kingdom, whose whole subsistence, &c. A Modest Proposal, &c. Swift. Better: } There being throughout this kingdom, a round million of creatures in human figure, whose whole subsistence, &c. Tom is a lively impudent clown, and has wit enough to have made him a pleasant companion, had it been polished and rectified by good manners. Guardian, No. 162. It is the custom of the Mahometans, if they see any printed or written paper upon the ground, to take it up, and lay it aside carefully, as not knowing but it may contain some piece of their Alcoran. Spectator, No. 85. The arrangement here leads to a wrong sense, as if the ground were taken up, not the paper.-~ Better thus: It is the custom of the Mahometans, if they see upon the ground any printed or written paper, to take it up, &c. The following rule depends on the communication of emotions to related objects; a principle in human nature that hath an extensive operation : and we find this operation, even where the objects are not otherwise related than by juxtaposition of the words that express them. Hence, to elevate or depress an object, one method is, to join it in the expression with another that is naturally high or low: witness the following speech of Eumenes to the Roman Senate, Causam veniendi sibi Romam fuisse, præter cupiditatem visendi deos hominesque, quorum beneficio in eafortuna esset, supra quam ne optare quidem auderet, etiam ut coram moneret senatum ut Persei conatus obviam iret. Livy, 1. xiii. cap. xi. To join the Romans with the gods in the same enunciation, is an artful stroke of flattery, because it tacitly puts them on a level. On the other hand, the degrading or vilifying an object, is done successfully by ranking it with one that is really low: I hope to have this entertainment in a readiness for the next winter; and doubt not but it will please more than the opera or puppet-show. spectator, No. 28, Manifold have been the judgments which Heaven from time to time, for the chastisement of a sinful people, has inflicted upon whole nations. For when the degeneracy becomes common, 'tis but just the punishment should be general. Of this kind, in our own unfortunate country, was that destructive pestilence, whose mortality was so fatal as to sweep away, if Sir William Petty may be believed, five millions of Christian souls, besides women and Jews. God's Revenge against Punning. Arbuthnot. Such also was that dreadful conflagration ensuing in this famous metropolis of London, which consumed, according to the computation of Sir Samuel Moreland, 100,000 houses, not to mention churches and stables. Ibid. But on condition it might pass into a law, I would gladly exempt both lawyers of all ages, subaltern and field-officers, young heirs, dancing-masters, pick-pockets, and players. An infallible Scheme to pay the Public Debt. Sooner let earth, air, sea, to chaos fall, Swift. Rape of the Lock. Circumstances in a period resemble small stones in a building, employed to fill up vacuities among those of a larger size. In the arrangement of a period, such under-parts crowded together make a poor figure; and never are graceful but when interspersed among the capital parts. I illustrate this rule by the following example. It is likewise urged, that there are, by computation, in this kingdom, above 10,000 parsons, whose revenues, added to those of my Lords the Bishops, would suffice to maintain, &c. Argument against abolishing Christianity. Swift. Here two circumstances, viz. by computation, and in this kingdom, are crowded together unnecessarily they make a better appearance separated in the following manner: It is likewise urged, that in this kingdom there are, by compu tation, above 10,000 parsons, &c. If there be room for a choice, the sooner a circumstance is introduced, the better; because circumstances are proper for that coolness of mind, with which we begin a period as well as a volume: in the progress, the mind warms, and has a greater relish for matters of importance. When a circumstance is placed at the beginning of the period, or near the beginning, the transition from it to the principal subject is agreeable: it is like ascending, or going upward. On the other hand, to place it late in the period has a bad effect; for after being engaged in the principal subject, one is with reluctance brought down to give attention to a cirVOL. II. 7+ |