XXXVI. able thus, but Ariftides did not come. AS LECT. to order, the plaineft and cleareft difpofition, both of the words and members of sentences, and what is most agreable to the natural construction, best suits with this character. For one of its principal beauties is perfpicuity. And a proper connection likewise of fentences, with a regular order in the dependence of things one upon another, very much contribute to this end. With regard to the collifion of fyllables in different words, for preventing either an hollowness or asperity of found, greater liberty may be taken in this ftile, than in the other characters. Here it may be allowed to fay: Virtue is amiable to all, tho all do not pursue it. But in an higher character perhaps, in order to prevent the hollow found of the words, tho all, a person would choose to vary the expreffion a little, and say, tho few pursue it. So, Xerxes's expedition, may be tolerable here; but in the florid ftile, the expedition of Xerxes, would found much better. THE laft thing to be confidered, with respect to the language, is dignity, or the ufe of tropes and figures. And as to tropes, they ought to be ufed cautiously; unless fuch as are very common, and by time. XXXVI. L'ECT. have either come into the place of proper words, or at least are equally plain and clear. So in the inftance mentioned above, Diodorus Siculus, fpeaking of the forces of Xerxes, calls them an innumerable comLib. i. pany. Where, by a fynecdoche, he has c. 5. chose to make use of an uncertain number for a certain, as lefs liable perhaps to exception. Other examples might be given, if neceffary. And with regard to figures, as moft of those which confift in words, and are therefore called verbal figures, ferve cheifly to enliven an expreffion, and give an agreable turn, they are often not improper for this character. Nor are figures of fentences wholly to be excluded, especially fuch as are cheifly used in reafoning or demonftration. But thofe which are more peculiarly adapted to touch the paffions, or paint things in the strongest colors, are the more proper ornaments of the higher ftiles, as will be fhewn hereafter. UPON the whole therefore, pure nature, without any colouring, or appearance of art, is the diftinguishing mark of the low ftile. The defign of it is to make things plain and intelligible, and fet them in an eafy light. And therefore the proper fubjects of it are epiftles, dialogues, philofo XXXVI. phical differtations, or any other difcourfes, LECT. that ought to be treated in a plain and familiar manner, without much ornament, or address to the paffions. A freedom and ease both of thought and expreffion, attended with an agreable humor and pleafantry, are its peculiar beauties, that engage us. As we see perfons of fashion and good breeding, tho in the plaineft habit, have yet fomething in their air and manner of behaviour, that is very taking and amiable. Somewhat of the like nature attends this ftile. It has its difficulties, which are not fo eafily difcerned, but from but from experience. For it requires no small skill, to treat a common fubject in fuch a manner, as to make it entertaining. The fewer ornaments it admits of, the greater art is neceffary to attain this end. often engage and captivate Lofty subjects the mind by the sublimity of the ideas. And the florid ftile calls in all the affiftance of language and eloquence. But the plain ftile is in a great measure striped of those advantages › and has little more to recommend it, than its own native beauty and fimplicity. VOL. II. L LEC LECT. * Pro Marcell. c. 8. LECTURE XXXVII. Of the Middle Stile. AVING in HAV laft difcourfe finished my what relates to the low ftile, I now procede to give fome account of the middle character, which I fhall treat in the fame manner as I did the former, by confidering firft the matter, and then the language proper for it. AND as the fubjects proper for this stile are things of weight and importance, which require both a gravity and accuracy of expreffion; fo fine thoughts are its diftinguifhing mark, as plain thoughts are of the low character, and lofty thoughts of the fublime. Now a fine thought may deferve that character from fome or other of the following properties. AND the firft property I fhall mention, is gravity and dignity. Thus Cicero in a fpeech to Caefar fais: It has been often told me, that you have frequently faid, you have lived long enough for yourself. I beleive it, if you either lived, or was born for yourself only. Nothing could either be more fit and proper, than this was, when it XXXVII. it was fpoken; or at the fame time a finer LECT. compliment upon Caefar. For the civil war was now over, and the whole power of the Roman government in the hands of Caefar; fo that he might venture to say, he had lived long enough for himself, there being no higher pitch of glory, to which his ambition could afpire. But then there were many things in the ftate, that wanted redreffing, after thofe times of disorder and confufion, which he had not yet been able to effect, and of which Cicero here takes an opportunity to remind him. I fhall produce another example from Curtius. Philotas, one of Alexander's captains, having formed a confpiracy against him, was convicted of it, and put to death. Amintas, who was fufpected of the fame crime, by reafon of his great intimacy with Philotas, when he comes to make his defence, among other things speaks thus: I am fo far from denying my intimacy with Philotas, that I own I courted his freindship. Do you wonder that we fhewed a regard to the fon of Parmenio, whom you would have to be next to yourself, giving him the preference to all your other freinds? You, Sir, if I may be allowed to speak the truth, have brought me into this danger. For to whom else is it owing, L2 |