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Pericles and Demofthenes, oppreffed by the defpotic government of the Turks, and immerfed in superstition, are ignorant of the pure phrafeology of their illustrious ancestors; and it is a remarkable fact, that of the feventy different jargons, which are now fpoken in Greece, that of the Athenians is held to be the moft corrupt and barbarous. The mixture of their language with the dialect of barbarians, may remind us of the magnificent fragments of marble temples, remarkable for exquifite architecture, which are feen in the streets of Athens to fupport the rude cottages and mean fheds of the Grecian flaves.

From the whole of this furvey of the English, Latin, and Greek languages, we may form a judgment of the origin, progrefs, characteristics, and beauties of each; and we may be enabled to determine their respective merits. When we allow to the Greek all its due praife for harmony, copioufnefs, and that amazing ductility, by which it could exprefs with eafe, in derivative and compound words, new indeed, but perfectly analogical, every discovery in fcience, or invention in the arts; when we commend the Latin for its majefty, precifion, and vigour;-and when we hold up the claffical writers in both as the best examples of learning and taste, let us not neglect to form a proper eftimate of our own language. Deriving its ftock of words from fo many different fources,

De Pauw, v. i. p. 70.

and

and very imperfectly understood without the aid of Greek and Latin, it is energetic, copious, and flexible. It is remarkably fimple in its conftruction, and has fufficient fweetness and melody for poetical diction. And, perhaps, if we were confined to the knowledge of one modern language to the exclufion of all others, no one could be found more excellent, or more deferving the praife, which we have, it is prefumed on a due confideration of its comparative merits, affigned to it'.

See p. 132 of this volume.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER VI.

Eloquence.

"NOTHING feems to me more excellent, than to be able to engage the affections, convince the understandings, and guide the inclinations of mankind, and even to divert thofe inclinations from their original courfe into a new channel, by the commanding powers of eloquence. This noble faculty has in every free ftate, more particularly in times of peace and tranquillity, been held in the highest efteem, and obtained the greatest influence. And indeed what can be a jufter subject of admiration, than that amidst a multitude of perfons one man only, or very few, fhould rife fuperior to all others in the exercife of that power, which nature has equally beftowed upon all the human race? Or what is fo pleafing to the ear, or fo gratifying to the understanding, as a judicious and folid difcourfe delivered in elegant and polished language? Or what is fo efficacious, or fo noble, as to influence the fenate, the judges, and the people, by the charms of oratory? What is fo great, fo generous, or divine, as to refcue the virtuous from oppreffion, and protect the unfortunate from injuftice? Can any thing be more ufeful than to be always furnished with the arms

which eloquence fupplies, to affert your rights, and to repel the attacks of injury? And not to confine our observations to the courts of juftice, or the fenate-house, what is there in the midst of retirement from business more agreeable and entertaining; what better proof can be given of the refinements of a liberal education, than a flow of elegant and polished converfation? It is indeed the peculiar characteristic of our nature, which diftinguishes us from the brute creation, that we can exprefs our thoughts by language, and both enjoy and communicate the pleafures of focial intercourfe. Who therefore does not hold fuch an endowment in great eftimation? and who does not think it an object of honourable ambition to furpafs others in the exercise of that faculty, in which rational beings fhew their afcendency over inferior animals? But not to dwell upon inconfiderable points, let us proceed to the moft material.—What other power than that of eloquence could have proved fufficient to induce the fcattered individuals of mankind to quit a rude and favage life, in order to form regular communities? and what other power could have foftened them by the refinements of civilized manners; or after states were founded, what other power could have reftrained them by falutary inftitutions, and fecured their profperity and happinefs by forms of government, and establishments of law? To close this fubject, which is indeed almost inexhaustible, I lay it down as an indifputable principle, that upon the talents and the difcretion of an accomplished speaker, not only his own perfonal refpectability,

refpectability, but the welfare of numerous individuals, nay even the fafety of the government may depend. I therefore earneftly exhort you, my young friends, to cultivate with inceffant diligence the ftudy of eloquence, for the fake of your own reputation, the advantage of your friends, and the profperity and glory of your country "."

In this tranflation the reader fees an imperfect representation of the animated encomium, which Cicero, in the beginning of his Dialogue de Oratore, pronounced upon his favourite art. And to teach the beft ufe of the faculty of fpeaking, and point out the method by which it can be made to answer the most important purposes, is the great end of the art of Rhetoric. It is evident that no study more fully repays the labour bestowed upon its cultivation, if we reflect upon the rife and progrefs of eloquence in the early ages of the world, and the great improvements which have been made in it both in ancient and modern times. We may recollect the extraordinary degree of perfection to

Cicero de Oratore, lib. i. fect. 30. Edit. Prouft. And he has comprized the advantages of eloquence in another paffage too beautiful to be omitted." Jam vero domina rerum eloquendi vis, quam eft præclara, quamque divina! quæ primum effecit, ut ea quæ ignoramus, difcere, & ea quæ fcimus, alios docere poffimus. Deinde hâc cohortamur, hâc perfuademus, hâc confolamur afflictos, hâc deducimus perterritos a timore, hâc geftientes comprimimus, hâc cupiditates, iracundiafque reftinguimus; hæc nos juris, legum, urbium focietate devinxit, hæc a vita immani & fera fegregavit." De Natura Deorum, lib. 2.

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