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To this Figure may be referr'd that eloquent Infinuation, whereby the Orator, after he has us'd all his Arguments to perfuade his Hearers, as it were, once more fets them at Liberty, and leaves them to their own Election; it being the Nature of Man to stick more stedfastly to what is not violently impos'd, but is our own free and deliberate Choice. If it feem evil unto you to ferve the Lord, chufe you this Day whom you will ferve. When the great Joshua had, under God, in the most aftonishing Manner conquer'd the People of Canaan, and conducted the Ifraelites into their Land; he exhorts them to a fteady Adherence to the Worship of the true God, who had fo vifibly appear'd for them, and made them fo gloriously triumph over their Enemies. In the Conclufion of his Speech, well knowing the Advantage and Merits of his Caufe, and that he

*Tillotfon on Joshua xxiv. 15. Serm. 27. p. 308. K 3 might

might fafely appeal to their own Confcience and Experience for the Truth of what he had faid, he seems to leave them to their own Liberty and Choice. As if that brave Man had faid, My Friends and Countrymen ! if I should inlarge on a Matter fo plain, it might seem a Diftruft upon both your Understanding and Ingenuity. I leave all to you, not in the leaft fufpecting that you can refift fuch Arguments, as cannot fail to work upon any one, who has either Reason or Gratitude.

We have an Ironical Conceffion in Cato's Speech about the Punishment of the Traitors in Catiline's Confpiracy, which is cutting and fatirical: "Let them then, fince the Genius of "the Age is fo careless and corrupt,

be liberal out of the Fortunes of "our Allies; let them be compaffi"onate to the Thieves of the Trea

fury: But let them not difpofe of "our Blood, and while they fpare a "few

"few profligate Villains, go to deftroy all good Men. '

§. II. REPETITION is a Figure which gracefully and emphatically repeats either the fame Word, or the fame Senfe in different Words. Care is to be taken, that we run not into infipid Tautologies, nor affect a trifling Sound and Chime of infignificant Words. All Turns and Repetitions are fo, that do not contribute to the Strength and Luftre of the Discourse, or at least one of them. The Nature and Defign of this Figure is to make deep Impreffions on those we addrefs. It expreffes Anger and Indignation, full Affurance of what we affirm, and vehement Concern for what we have efpous'd.

The moft charming Repetitions are thofe, whereby the principal Words in a Sentence, either the fame in Sound, or Signification, are repeated with fuch Advantage and Improvement, as raises a new Thought, or K 4 gives

gives a mufical Cadence and Harmony to the Period. Thefe in English are call'd fine Turns, and are either upon the Words only, or the Thought, or both. A dextrous Turn upon Words is pretty; the Turn upon the Thought fubftantial; but the Confummation and Crown of all is, when both the Sound of the Words is grateful, and their Meaning comprehenfive; when both the Reason and the Ear are entertain'd with a noble Thought vigorously exprefs'd, and beautifully finish'd. That in Mr. Prior's Henry and Emma is a very agreeable Turn:

Are there not Poisons, Racks, and Flames,

[and Swords That Emme thus muft die by Henry's Words?

Yet what could Swords, or Poifon, Racks,
[or Flame,
But mangle and disjoint this brittle Frame?"

More fatal Henry's Words: They murder
[Emma's Fame*.

Prior's Poems, p. 192.

Strong

Strong and vehement Paffions will not admit Turns upon Words; not ought they to have place in Heroic Poems, or in grave Exhortations,. and folemn Difcourfes of Morality. To this Figure, which has a great Variety, and many Branches, may be referred the ufing of many Words of the fame Signification to express one important Thing. When a Man is full of his Subject, and eager to communicate his Thoughts with Vigour, he is not fatisfy'd with one Ex-preffion, tho' never fo ftrong; but. ufes all the fignificant Variety he can. recollect. So Tully for Milo*; The Affaffin was baffled, Force repelled. by Force, or rather Boldness overcome by Bravery. If Reafon prefcribes this to the Learned, and Neceffity to Barbarians, Custom to Nations, and Nature itself to brute Beafts, always to beat off all manner

* Select Orat. in ufum Del. Lond. 1706. p. 316. §. 7.

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