an implicit submission to the laws only; and an affection to the magistrate, proportioned to the integrity and wisdom with which he distributes justice to his people, and administers their affairs."

In these sentences, every idea is expressed with the utmost brevity; every word is significant, and none is introduced but what is requisite to convey the meaning. The mind is entertained with some new thought in every member of the sentence; while the words employed are chosen with accuracy, and the ideas are expressed with decision. The style, indeed, is destitute of smoothness and elegance; but, as it was the intention of the author to convince the understanding, he has therefore adopted vigorous expressions and short sentences, which are best adapted to make a forcible impression on the mind.

EXERCISES.

1. The English are naturally fanciful, and very often disposed, by that gloominess and melancholy of temper which is so frequent in our nation, to many wild notions and visions, to which others are not so liable.

2. By soothing those inequalities, which the necessary difference of ranks and conditions has introduced into society, religion not only reconciles us to the highest eminences of life, but leads us to consider them as affording to the social world, that sublime contrast which the landscape derives from the diversity of hill and dale, and as sending down those streams of benignity which refresh and gladden the lower stations.

3. The usual acceptation takes profit and pleasure for two different things, and not only calls the followers or votaries of them by several names of busy and idle men, but distinguishes the faculties of the mind that are conversant about them, calling the operations of the first wisdom, and of the other wit, which is a Saxon word that is used to express what the Spaniards and Italians call ingenio, and the French esprit, both from the Latin; but I think wit more peculiarly signifies that of poetry, as may occur upon remarks on the Runic language.

4. There are few personages in history who have been more exposed to the calumny of enemies, and the adulation of friends, than Queen Elizabeth; and yet there is scarcely any whose reputation has been more certainly determined by the unanimous consent of posterity. The unusual length of her administration, and the strong features of her character, were able to overcome all prejudices; and, obliging her detractors to abate much of their in

vectives, and her admirers somewhat of their panegyrics, have at last, in spite of political factions, and what is more, of religious animosities, produced a uniform judgment with regard to her conduct.

II.-FIGURATive Language.

THE LANGUAGE in which ideas are expressed may be either plain or figurative.

Language is said to be plain, when it is to be understood according to its literal and ordinary signification; as, A good man enjoys comfort in the midst of adversity.'

Language is said to be figurative, when, either by the words employed, or by the peculiar manner of their application or arrangement, ideas are expressed with the addition of circumstances which render the impression more strong and vivid; as, "To the upright there ariseth light in darkness.'

Figures in language are divided into two kinds, figures of words or tropes, and figures of thought.

In tropes, the words are employed to signify something different from their original and ordinary meaning; as, 'A clear head;' A hard heart.'

In figures of thought, the words are used in their literal meaning, but are not applied or arranged in the ordinary manner; as, 'Awake, O sword, against my shepherd.'

The figures of words and thought, which most frequently occur, are, Metaphor, Comparison, Allegory, Personification, Apostrophe, Hyberbole, Antithesis, and Climax.

SECTION I.

METAPHOR.

METAPHOR is a figure founded on the resemblance of two objects, the name and properties of the one being

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ascribed to the other; as, 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.'

The following rules ought to be observed in the use of metaphors —

I. Metaphors should be suited to the nature of
the subject of which we treat, being neither
too numerous, too gay, nor too elevated.
II. Metaphors should never be drawn from objects
which are mean or disagreeable.

III. Metaphors should be founded on points of re-
semblance, which are neither far-fetched, nor
difficult to be discovered.

IV. Metaphors should be expressed in simple and appropriate language.

V. Metaphors should not be mixed together in the same sentence, nor crowded on the same object.

VI. Metaphorical and plain language should not be so interwoven, that part of a sentence must be understood figuratively, and part literally.

VII. Metaphors should not be too far pursued.

Express the following ideas in metaphorical language:- -

EXAMPLE.

It was now growing dark, and objects could not be distinctly seen in the twilight.

Now came still ev'ning on, and twilight grey
Had in her sober liv'ry all things clad.

EXERCISES.

1. The water of the lake was without motion.

2. He could not be seen on account of the darkness of the night.

3. The grass grows in the meadows in spring, and summer

soon succeeds.

4. There are scenes in nature, which are pleasant when we are sad, as well as when we are cheerful.

5. The number of people who are alive, is small compared with those who have died.

6. Wise men may suffer hardships in the present world, and foolish persons must find trouble.

7. Perfect taste knows how to unite nature with art, without destroying the simplicity of nature in the connexion.

SECTION II.

COMPARISON.

COMPARISON, or Simile, is a figure founded on the resemblance of two objects, the one being likened to the other; as, 'The actions of princes are like those great rivers, the course of which every one beholds, but the springs of which have been seen by few.'

The following rules ought to be observed in the use of comparison:

I. Comparisons should not be drawn between ob

jects, the resemblance of which to one another is either too near and obvious, or too remote and faint.

II. Comparisons should not be drawn from images which are disagreeable, or profane.

III. Comparisons, when used for the purpose of illustration, should be taken from objects better known than those to be explained.

IV. Comparisons, when used for embellishment, should be drawn from objects that are important and dignified.

Find comparisons for the following objects:

A troubled conscience.

EXAMPLE.

A troubled conscience is like the ocean when ruffled by a storm.

EXERCISES.

1. A virtuous man slandered by evil tongues.

2. Mournful yet pleasant music.

3. An elevated genius employed in little things.

4. Hope and fear alternately swaying the mind.

5. He who has no opinion of his own, and the man of decision. 6. A mind formerly settled in its principles, disturbed by doubt. 7. The death of the virtuous man.

SECTION III.

ALLEGORY.

ALLEGORY is a figure founded on resemblance, one subject being represented by another analogous to it; as in the following passage from the 80th Psalm, in which the people of Israel are represented under the image of a vine :

'Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all which pass by the way do pluck her? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine.'

The principal rule to be observed in conducting an allegory, is, that the figurative and literal meaning be not inconsistently mingled.

Represent the following subjects by allegories:

EXAMPLE.

Luxury and Avarice.

There were two very powerful tyrants engaged in perpetual war against each other, one of whom was named Luxury, and the other