and disturb'd, that he cannot regularly inlarge upon them. Befides, he has fome Fear, that if he should say all his Indignation would dictate, he might trespass upon the Patience of his Hearers; therefore he only gives fhorter Hints, and pretends that Time and Reverence for them will not allow him to be more copious and exprefs. This Figure is ferviceable to an Orator, in propofing his weaker Arguments; which yet he knows lie more level to the Capacities of fome Part of his Audience ; which he defires to have an Intereft in: therefore he does not quite omit them, because they may make Impreffions on those People to his Advantage: And yet he mentions them with an Air of Modesty and Caution, left he should disgust another Part of his Audience, to whom they don't appear of equal Force and Conviction. This Figure is related to the Irony. Tully in his firft Oration against Catiline points it at that Monster with a juft Severity and Satire : What? What? When upon the Death of your former Wife, you had made Room in your House for a new Marriage, did not you enhance and confummate that Deed of Horror with another Piece of Wickedness monftrous and incredible? Which I pafs by, and am willing it fhould be fupprefs'd in Silence, left it fhould be thought,either that fuch an outrageous Impiety could be committed in this City; or if committed, could be carried off with Impunity. §. 6. ADDRESS or Apoftrophe is when in a vehement Commotion a Man turns himself on all fides, and applies to the Living and Dead, to Angels and Men, to Rocks, Groves, and Rivers. O Woods, Fountains, Hillocks, Dales, and Bow'rs! With other Echo late I taught your Shades Το To answer, and refound far other Song *. When the Paffion is violent, it must break out and difcharge itself. By this Figure the Perfon mov'd defires to intereft univerfal Nature in his Caufe; and appeals to all the Creation for the Juftnefs of his Transport. Adam's Morning Hymn in + Milton, is a Chain and Continuation of the most beautiful and charming Apoftrophes; 'tis an astonishing Flight of Poetry in Imitation of the infpir'd Writers, and can scarce be outdone by human Wit. When the Poets addrefs a Mufe or fome divine Power to affift and direct them, this kind of Apoftrophe or poetical Prayer is called Invocation. By which they gain Efteem both to their Perfons and Poems: They are look'd upon as favour'd, their Poems as infpir'd, by Heaven, In the Progress of *Adam in Milt. Par. Loft. 10, 860, &c. Par. Loft. V. 153, &c. their Poems they often repeat thefe, pious Addreffes; efpecially when a Difficulty arifes, that furmounts human Power, or a Secret is to be reveal'd, that could not be found out by human Sagacity. Thefe Invocations, repeated at feasonable Distances, and upon Occafions that require. them, diverfify the Manner of the Style, refresh the Reader after a long Narration, and gratify him with Change and Novelty. A Species of this Figure I take Communication to be, when the Speaker applies to his Judges and Hearers, and intreats their Opinion upon the Question in Debate. By this a Man declares his hearty and unfeign'd Concern for the Caufe, and pays Deference and Honour to thofe he addreffes; they are pleas'd with his Modefty and Submiffion, and fo inclin'd to hear and judge with Favour. There is a fort of Communication fomething different from this, when a Perfon excufes his Conduct, gives Reafons for it, and and appeals to those about him, whether they be not fatisfactory. What fhould I do? While here I was enchain'd, No Glympfe of godlike Liberty remain'd: Nor could I hope, in any Place but there, §. 7. SUSPENSION begins and carries on a Period or Difcourfe in fuch a Manner as pleafes the Reader all along, and keeps him in Expectation of fome confiderable Thing in the Conclufion. With what infinite Sweetness does Eve carry on, with what grateful Surprise close up, that rapturous Speech to Adam, worthy an Inhabitant of Paradife, and the State of Innocence! Sweet is the Breath of Morn, &c. But neither Breath of Morn, when she afcends * Dryd. Virg. Eclog. 1. |