purpose, the works of fuch men as Milton and Shakespear. It may be expected, that, like other Critics, I fhould next speak of the Paffions: But as the main end and principal effect of the Bathos is to produce Tranquillity of Mind, (and fure it is a better defign to promote fleep than madnefs) we have little to fay on this fubject. Nor will the short bounds of this discourse allow us to treat at large of the Emollients and the Opiats of Poefy, of the Cool, and the manner of producing it, or of the methods ufed by our authors in managing the Paffions. I shall but tranfiently remark, that nothing contributes fo much to the Cool, as the use of Wit in expreffing paffion: The true genius rarely fails of points, conceits, and proper fimiles on fuch occafions: This we may term the Pathetic epigrammatical, in which even puns are made use of with good fuccefs. Hereby our beft authors have avoided throwing themselves or their readers into any indecent Tranfports. But as it is fometimes needful to excite the paffions of our antagonist in the polemic way, the true fludents in the law have conftantly taken their methods from low life, where they obferved, that, to move Anger, ufe is made of fcolding and railing; to move Love, of bawdry; to beget Favour and Friendship, of grofs flattery; and to produce Fear, of calumniating an adverfary with crimes obnoxious to the State. As for Shame, it is a filly pas fion, of which as our authors are incapable themfelves, fo they would not produce it in others. CHAP. X. Of Tropes and Figures: And firft of the variegating, confounding, and reverfing Figures. BUT UT we proceed to the Figures. We cannot too earnestly recommend to our authors the study of the Abufe of Speech. They ought to lay it down as a principle, to fay nothing in the ufual way, but (if poffible) in the direct contrary. Therefore the Figures must be so turn'd, as to manifeft that intricate and wonderful Cast of Head which distinguishes all writers of this kind; or (as I may fay) to refer exactly the Mold in which they were formed, in all its inequalities, cavities, obliquities, odd crannies, and distortions. It would be endless, nay impoffible to enumerate all fuch Figures; but we shall content ourfelves to range the principal, which moft powerfully contribute to the Bathos, under three Claffes. I. The Variegating, Confounding, or Reversing Tropes and Figures. II. The Magnifying, and We cannot avoid giving to these the Greek or Roman Names; but in tenderness to our countrymen and fellow writers, many of whom, however exquifite, are wholly ignorant of those languages, we have alfo explained them in our mother tongue. I. Of the first fort, nothing fo much conduces to the Bathos, as the CATACHRESIS. A Mafter of this will fay, Mow the Beard. Shave the Grafs, Nail my Sleeve. From whence refults the fame kind of pleasure to the mind, as to the eye, when we behold Harlequin trimming himflf with a hatchet, hewing down a tree with a rafor, making his tea in a cauldron, and brewing his ale in a tea-pot, to the incredible fatisfaction of the British fpectator. Another fource of the Bathos is, The MiroONYMY, the inverfion of Caufes for Effects, of Inventors for Inventions, etc. Laced in br* Cjns were appear'd the bride, And with an oir dircine ber › Colmar ply'd : Then oh! She cries, what faves I round me fee? Here a bright Redcoat, there a fmart Toupee. The SYNECHDOCHE, k which confifts, in the ufe of a part for the whole. You may call a young woman fometimes Prettyface and Pigs-eyes, and fometimes Snotty-nofe and Draggle-tail. Or of Accidents for Perfons; as a Lawyer is called Split-cause, a Taylor Prick-louse, etc. Or of things belonging to a man, for the man himself; as a Sword-man, a Gown-man, a T-m-T--d-man: a White-Staff, a Turn-key, etc. The APOSIOPESIS. What An excellent figure for the Ignorant, as, "fhall I fay?" when one has nothing to fay: or "I can no more," when one really can no more. Expreffions which the gentle reader is fo good as never to take in earnest. The METAPHOR. The first rule is to draw it from the lowest things, which is a certain way to fink the highest; as when you fpeak of the Thunder of Heaven, fay, 1The Lords above are angry and talk big. If you would defcribe a rich man refunding his treasures, express it thus, * A fort of Perriwig: All words in use in this prefent Year 1727. P. 1 Lee Alex. 1 B Tho' he (as faid) may Riches gorge, the Spoil The Second, that, whenever you start a Metaphor, you must be fure to run it down, and purfue it as far as it can go. If you get the fcent of a State negotiation, follow it in this manner. The ftones and all the elements with thee Wild beasts their favage temper shall forget, Or if you reprefent the Creator denouncing war against the wicked, be fure not to omit one circumftance ufual in proclaiming and levying war. • Envoys and Agents, who by my command Refide in Paleflina's land, To whom commiffions I have given, To manage there the interefts of heaven: Ye holy heralds, who proclaim Or war or peace, in mine your mafter's name : Blackm. Job, p. 9', 93. n Job, p. 22. |