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"of Nations*.”

§. 9. PREVENTION is when an Author ftarts an Objection, which he forefees may be made against any thing he affirms, defires, or advifesto; and gives an Anfwer to it.

What then remains? Are we depriv'd of Will? Must we not ask, for fear of asking Ill? Receive my Counsel, and fecurely move; Intrust thy Fortune to the Pow'rs above. Leave God to manage for thee, and to grant What his unerring Wisdom fees thee want §.

This generally gets the Author the Reputation of Forefight and Care; of Diligence, and a generous Affurance of the Reason and Justice of his Cause.

* Germanicus in his noble Speech to his mutinous Soldiers, Tacit. Annal. I. 27. &c. See alfo Scipio's noble Speech to the Mutineers at Sucro, Liv. Vol. 3. lib. 28. p. 360. Ed. Hearne.

Dryd. Juv. Sat. 1o. v. 346, &c.

When

When he puts the Objections against himself in their full Force, it is plain that he does not fear the cleareft Light, nor decline the ftricteft Examination. By it likewise fome Advantage is gain'd over an Adverfary: He is foreftall'd and prevented in his Exceptions; and either filenc'd, or oblig'd to a Repetition; which is not fo grateful as the Mention of a Thing fresh and untouch'd.

To this Figure may be referr'd Premunition, whereby the Speaker, especially in the Entrance and Beginning of his Difcourfe, cautiously guards himself against Prejudice and Mifapprehenfion; that he may neither leffen his Intereft with his Friends, nor inflame the Malice, and increase the Power of those who watch to do him Mischief.

10. CONCESSION freely allows Something that yet might bear fome Difpute, to obtain fomething that a

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Man would have granted to him, and which he thinks cannot fairly be deny'd.

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This Figure is fometimes favourable in the Beginning, but severe and cutting in the Clofe; as Tully upon the Greeks "I allow the Greeks "Learning and Skill in many Sciences; Sharpness of Wit, and Fluency of Tongue; and if you praise them "for any other Excellencies, I fhall "not much contradict you; but that "Nation was never eminent for Ten"derness of Conscience, and Regard "to Faith and Truth.' Sometimes the first Parts are fretting and fevere, but the Conclufion healing " I

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am, Sir, I own, a Pimp, the com"mon Bane of Youth, a perjur'd Villain, a very Peft; but I never did you any Injury*” The Shew of Candor and Veracity a Man makes by

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35.

Sannio to Æfchinus in Terence Adelph. 2. 1. 34,

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this Figure in frankly granting fo much, removes from him the Sufpicion of Partiality; and gives him more Credit and Authority in what he denies.

Another fort of Conceffion is, when fearing we cannot obtain all we defire, we give up one Part to carry the rest. When Dido defpairs of prevailing with Æneas to fettle with her at Carthage, fhe only intreats he would stay a little longer, to allow her fome Time to affuage her Grief, and prepare to bear his Departure.

The Nuptials he disclaims, I urge no more;
Let him pursue the promis'd Latian Shore.
A fhort Delay is all I ask him now,

A Paufe of Grief, an Interval from Woe*.

'Tis by this Figure that opprefs'd People, in the Extremity of their

*Dryd. Virg. Æn. IV.

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Indignation, provoke their Enemies to do them all the Mischief they can, and proceed still to farther Degrees of Barbarity; that fuch lively Reprefentations of their Injuftice and Cruelty may ftrike them with Horror and Shame, and difpofe them to relent. The Complaints and Upbraidings of jarring Friends and Lovers are most emphatically exprefs'd in this Figure: The Defign of which is to give the guilty Perfon a deep Senfe of his Unkindness, and to kindle all the old Paffion and Tenderness.

Proceed, inhuman Parent, in thy Scorn,

Root up my Trees, with Blights deftroy my
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My Vineyards ruin, and my Sheepfolds burn:
Let loose thy Rage, let all thy Spite be shown;
Since thus thy Hate pursues the Praises of thy

[Son *.

Dryden's Virgil, G.IV. 329, &c.

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