LOCHIEL. -Down, soothless insulter! I trust not the tale; For never shall Albin a destiny meet So black with dishonor-so foul in retreat. Though my perishing ranks should be strewed in their gore, Lochiel, unattainted by flight or by chains, While the kindling of life in his bosom remains, Shall victor exult, or in death be laid low, With his back to the field, and his feet to the foe! And leaving in battle no blot on his name, Look proudly to heaven from the death bed of fame. CAMPBELL. XIX. METAPHOR. Metaphor is that figure which changes one thing into another, or a real subject into a figurative, and ideal one. If judiciously used it imparts beauty and often sublimity. The rule for reading or speaking metaphorical passages, is to give them in the spirit of the subjects whence the passages are taken, and to read the metaphor in a more subdued tone than the subject. Examples. "Here stands the oak, the monarch of the wood."-HOME. "He is a rock opposed to the rude sea that beats against it.” G. COLMAN THE YOUNGER. "He arose a colossal pillar to perpetuate to future ages" DWYER. XX. COMPARISON. Metaphor and comparison being often confounded with each other, it is proper that the distinction should be pointed out. Metaphor, as has been said, absolutely changes one thing into another; as, for instance, speaking of a courageous man, we say he is a lion; when, by comparison, it would be, he is like a lion. Examples. "Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." 2 SAMUEL, i. 23. "As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm, GOLDSMITH. "She came in all her beauty, like the moon from the cloud in the east. Loveliness was around her, as light. Her steps were like the music of songs." OSSIAN. XXI. PERSONIFICATION OR PROSOPOPOEIA. Personification is that figure by which we attribute life and motion to inanimate objects. It aspires to the utmost heights of poetry, and furnishes one of the best tests by which an author's merits may be fairly judged; for nothing but genius will supply this sublimely poetic essential. Personification should be read or spoken in consonance with your subject in which monotone frequently occurs as in all passages which approach the sublime. Examples. "Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, how hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols; the worm is spread under thee and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the na ven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? all the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain thrust through with a sword that go down to the stones of the pit, as a carcass trodden under feet." ISAIAH, 14th CHAP. "He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow; his ways are everlasting. The mountains saw thee, and they trembled; the overflowing of the water passed by; the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high." HABAKKUK, iii. 6th & 10th. These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then! To us invisible, or dimly seen In these thy lowest works; yet these Declare thy goodness, beyond thought, and pow'r divine. Speak ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs If better thou belong not to the dawn And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st. Examples. "Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." 2 SAMUEL, i. 23. "As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm, GOLDSMITH. "She came in all her beauty, like the moon from the cloud in the east. Loveliness was around her, as light. Her steps were like the music of songs." OSSIAN. XXI. PERSONIFICATION OR PROSOPOPOEIA. Personification is that figure by which we attribute life and motion to inanimate objects. It aspires to the utmost heights of poetry, and furnishes one of the best tests by which an author's merits may be fairly judged; for nothing but genius will supply this sublimely poetic essential. Personification should be read or spoken in consonance with your subject in which monotone frequently occurs as in all passages which approach the sublime. Examples. "Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, how hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols; the worm is spread under thee and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the na ven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit al80 upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? all the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain thrust through with a sword that go down to the stones of the pit, as a carcass trodden under feet." ISAIAH, 14th CHAP. "He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow; his ways are everlasting. The mountains saw thee, and they trembled; the overflowing of the water passed by; the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high." HABAKKUK, iii. 6th & 10th. These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then! To us invisible, or dimly seen In these thy lowest works; yet these Declare thy goodness, beyond thought, and pow'r divine. Speak ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs If better thou belong not to the dawn And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st. |