§. 2. DOUBT expreffes the Debate of the Mind with itfelf upon a preffing Difficulty. A Man in a fevere Strait and Perplexity firft takes up one Refolution, and then lays it afide; after thinks another Method more convenient, and then changes again. He is tofs'd to and fro with strong Tides of Paffion; and at last, after terrible Struggles, fearce fixes upon a final Determination. Thus Dido upon the Departure of her Lover:

What shall I do? What Succour can I find?
Become a Suppliant to Hiarbas' Pride?
And take my Turn to court, and be deny'd?
Shall I with this ungrateful Trojan go?
Forfake an Empire, and attend a Foe?

Then fhall I feek alone the churlish Crew;

Or with my Fleet their flying Sails purfue?

Rather with Steel thy guilty Breast invade,

And take the Fortune thou thyself hast made*.

This Figure keeps the Soul in eager Attention, and moves all her Tenderness and Compaffions for an unhappy Sufferer.

§. 3. CORRECTION is a Figure whereby a Man earnestly retracts and recals, what he had faid, or refolv'd.

First and laft

On me, me only, as the Source and Spring
Of all Corruption, all the Blame lights due:
So might the Wrath! Fond Wish! couldft
Thou fupport

* Dryd. Virg. Æn. 4.

That

That Burden, heavier than the Earth to bear;

Than all the World much heavier * ?

When what an Author had faid appears too much, he abates it by correcting himself, and ufing fome leffening Expreffion. What is it then can give Men the Heart and Courage; but I recal that Word, because it is not true Courage, but Foolhardiness, to outbrave the Judgments of God? When what has been faid appears too little, he ftrengthens the Expreffion, and enlarges the Thought. This was a great Trouble to me, but that much more, that before my Face they thus entertain'd, carefs'd, and kifs'd my Enemy: My Enemy, did I fay? Nay, the Enemy of the Laws, the Courts of Juftice, of Peace, his Country, and all good Men §. An Author thus correcting and checking himself, prevents Cavils and Ob

* Adam in Milt. Par. Loft, X. 851, &c.

+ Tillotson.

§ Cicero.
I 6

jections;

jections; and by the unexpected Quickness of the Recollection and Turn, pleafingly furprises the Reader, and all of a fudden fires him with his own Paffion. The Height of this Figure is when a Perfon having lately declar'd an Inclination to a Thing, prefently rejects it with Horror, and vows againft it with Imprecations.

But may I first in op'ning Earth fink down, Or to the lowest Hell be Thunder-thrown, In Night's eternal Shades shut up beneath, Ere I my Honour wound, or break my Faith!

S. 4. SUPPRESSION is a Figure whereby a Perfon in Rage, or other Disturbance of Mind, Speaks not out all be means, but fuddenly breaks off bis Difcourfe.

* Dido in Lauderdale's Virg. Æn. 4.

The

The Gentleman in Terence, extremely incens'd against his Adverfary, only accofts him with this abrupt Saying, Thou of all! The Excefs of his Indignation and Rage choaked the Paffage of his Voice, and would not fuffer him to utter the reft. But in thefe Cafes, tho' the Difcourfe is not complete, the Meaning is readily underftood; and the Evidence of the Thought eafily supplies the Defect of Words.

Suppreffion fometimes proceeds from Modefty, and Fear of uttering any Word of ill and offenfive Sound.

§. 5. OMISSION is when an Author pretends, that he conceals and omits what he declares. I do not mention my Adversary's fcandalous Gluttony and Drunkennefs; I take no Notice of his brutal Lufts; I fay not a Syllable of his Treachery, Malice, and Cruelty. In eager Paffion and Contests Variety of Arguments croud into a Man's Thoughts; but he is fo mov'd

and