The Climar rifes by regular fteps from one circumftance to another until the thoughts cannot be carried to a greater elevation. Of this figure an inftance is given by St. Paul, when he fays-Whom God did foreknow, them he also called; whom he called, them he alfo juftified; and whom he justified, them he alfo glorified.

Whether thefe ornaments of compofition occur in rude or refined languages, they arife, for the most part, from one fource, which is the affociation of fimilar ideas. The mind unites those ideas which are moft ftriking, and makes one appear to the fullest advantage by joining it with another. Of their beauty every one must be convinced who has any relish for the Scriptures and the Claffics. And their ufe is no less evident; for they raife language above the level of common expreffion, they fix attention, and excite admiration: to them Poetry and Eloquence are not only indebted for their ornaments, but for their very effence. They enable us, as Ariftotle fays, to fee one thing through another, and they increase the pleafures of the imagination by prefenting thofe images, which, if they be clear, juft, and natural, will not only ftrike us by their novelty, but produce the fame pleasure the more frequently they are confidered. They are most agreeable when, like the flowers which spring spontaneously from a genial foil, they rife of themselves out of the fubject.

IV. The

IV. The Arrangement of the different Parts of a Compofition.

It is neceffary that all parts of a speech be placed in their proper order, and united in fuch a manner, as to render the whole clear in itself and eafy to be understood. A regular arrangement of parts is of the greatest advantage to the speaker, as it affifts his memory, and carries him through his difcourfe, without tautology or confufion. He ought never to forget that perfpicuity of order is as neceffary as perfpicuity of language.

Cicero divided an oration into fix parts, namely, the introduction, narration, propofition, confirmation, confutation, and conclufion; and this is the arrangement usually adopted in fyftems of Rhetoric. The fimpleft divifion, however, is that recommended by Ariftotle in his Rhetoric, confifting only of the introduction, the statement of the fubject, its proofs, and the conclufion.

Itis ridiculous to obferve the Commentators in the Delphin Edition of Virgil endeavouring to fetter one of the most impaffioned fpeeches of Dido, in the fourth book of the Eneid, in these technical chains: when even the greatest masters of the art themfelves frequently departed from a ftrict obfervance of the rules of divifion. There are many excellent fpeeches, where several of these parts are wanting,

* See the note on Eneid; 4. 1. 305.

8

where

where the fpeaker, for inftance, ufes no introduction, as is the cafe in the firft Oration againft Catiline, but begins abruptly. There are others, which he finds it unneceffary to divide into parts, as in fome orations of Demofthenes, but enters at once into his fubject, and is borne along by the rapid tide of argument, till he reaches his conclufion. As however thefe have always been confidered as the conftituent parts of a speech, and as in every one fome of them muft neceffarily be found, they properly obtain a place in all fyftems of Rhetoric.

Digreffion, tranfition, and amplification give great beauty, if judiciously managed, to Poetry and Eloquence. Of digreffion there are ftriking examples in Cicero's Oration for the poet Archias; where he leaves the main fubject of the vindication of his client, to exprefs his commendation of polite literature. Tranfition is abfolutely neceffary, where a difcourfe confifts of many parts: but it is the rapid and abrupt tranfition, which is moft to be admired for its effect in roufing the attention. Of this there are various inftances in the Orations of Cicero.

Amplification does not merely fignify a method of enlarging an object, but of representing it in the fulleft and moft comprehenfive view, that it may in the most lively manner firike the mind, and influence the paffions. Of this an inftance is given in the noble encomium on eloquence, which forms the introduction

introduction to this chapter. There is another ex ample in the Oration of Cicero for the Manilian Law; when, having first lamented the want of good generals at that time among the Romans, he expatiates upon the qualities requifite to constitute a complete commander; and clofes his defcription with proving, that all these qualities were united in Pompey.

The power of eloquence appears in nothing to fuch advantage, as in copious expreffion, fuited to the nature of the fubject. A fhort detail is too often attended with obfcurity, from an omiffion of fome material circumstances. But when the images of things are drawn in their juft proportion, painted in their proper colours, fet in a clear and full light, and reprefented under different points of view, with all the strength and beauty of eloquence, they captivate the minds of the audience, and, by an irrefiftible force, move and bend them to the will of the speaker. And this is precifely the effect produced by the Evagyaa, or evidentia, fo much infifted upon, and fo fully defcribed by Ariftotle, Cicero, and Quintilian. This figure makes us, as it were, fpectators of what is defcribed; it requires plain and forcible, not metaphorical, language: it renders every object vifible, diftinct, and affecting; every being appears to live, move, and act; and every circumftance is with a happy felection of topies brought forward, that can convince the judgment, or affect the heart. No writers excel more in the difplay of this figure than Livy and Tacitus.

The

The Orator, who wishes to obtain a lasting reputation, must be free from all infincerity. He only can addrefs himself effectually to the hearts, and the feelings of others, whofe mind glows with the warmth of fenfibility, and whofe arguments refult from conviction. He muft feel the influence of those paffions and emotions, which he wishes to infpire. An affumed character and an affectation of feeling will not be long concealed under the mask of duplicity. The greatest orators were diftinguished by the virtues which they laboured the moft ftrenuoufly to inculcate. Demofthenes and Cicero were eminent for a patriotic fpirit; and thofe fpeeches, into which they have infused it, have always attracted moft admiration from the world.

IV. Propriety of Delivery and Action.

IV. In the delivery of a fpeech great judgment is neceffary; and there is no part of eloquence, which ftands more in need of inftructions. The orator must be careful to avoid the extremes of awkwardnefs and affectation; he must not be inanimate on the one hand, or theatrical on the other. If he be too rapid in his delivery, he will not be understood; if he be too flow, he will be tirefome. To well regulated tones, emphasis and paufes, must be united propriety of delivery and action. It is juftly remarked by Cicero, that every thought and

VOL. I.

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