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 '
 
 LECTURES 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 ORATORY. 
 
 DELIVERED IN 
 
 TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, 
 
 BY J O H N L A W S O N, D. D. 
 
 LECTURER in ORATORY and HISTORY, 
 
 o N T H E 
 Foundation of ERASMUS SMITH, Efquire. 
 
 Videmus quid deceat, non aflequimur. 
 
 CICERO De oratore. 
 
 DUBLIN, 
 
 printed by GEORGE FAULKNER. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Reprinted for W. BOWYER, in Wlite Fryars; 
 and L. DAVIS and C. R E v M E R s, 
 
 againft Grafs-Inn-Gate, Holbourn. 
 MDCCLIX.

 
 StacK 
 Anntg 
 
 5 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Moft Reverend, the Right Hon. &c. 
 
 The GOVERNORS of the Schools 
 
 O F 
 
 ERASMUS SMITH,Efq; 
 
 MY LORDS, 
 
 TH E Wifdom of our Anceftors thought 
 fit to eftablifh ProfefTors, and enjoin 
 public Lectures to be delivered in all 
 Seats of Learning, as Means highly conducive 
 to the right Instruction of Youth. Which 
 End they were deemed to anfwer ; obtained 
 Place in all Countries ; and have been held in 
 general Efteem almoft down to the prefent 
 Times. But in late Days, at lead among us, 
 a Diflike of this Inftitution hath been infenfi- 
 bly growing up, and feemeth now pretty wide- 
 ly to prevail j it being in the Nature of Man- 
 kind to become tired of old Cuftoms, and feek 
 after new Inventions, miftaking too often mere 
 Change for Improvement. 
 
 a 2 IT 

 
 iv DEDICATION. 
 
 IT is likely Indeed, that this Inftitution doth 
 not now anfwer the good Purpofes it might, 
 and actually did. Mifmanagement may have 
 crept in : For render a Thing unfalhionable, it 
 muft decline. But we ought not to charge on 
 the Defign Abufes thereof, nor confound the 
 Effect with its Caufe. Thus, general Dif- 
 regard occafions Failure in Execution ; but that 
 Failure mould not be alledged as an Argument 
 to juftify this Difregard ; although when efta- 
 blimed, it keepeth up and encreafeth it. Neg- 
 ligence is at firft the Effect of Contempt, after- 
 wards a Caufe. 
 
 I WOULD not however be underftood to af- 
 fert, that this Plan of Instruction is perfect, that 
 all Objections offered againft it are groundlefs. 
 On the contrary, it is urged with much Shew 
 of Reafon and fome Truth ; " That the con- 
 " tinued Difcourfe of a Profeffor, however ju- 
 " dicioufly compofed, cannot convey fufficient 
 *' Knowledge of any Art or Science j to the 
 <c Attainment of which, Care, Attention, and 
 ct the Slownefs of gradual Progrefs are necef- 
 " &ry. That this efTential Defect hath fur- 
 (( ther an evil Tendency, accuftoming young 
 <e Perfons to content themfelves with fuch 
 ce fuperficial Knowledge as they can glean up 
 " from hearing loofe general Effays, and to 
 
 " con-
 
 
 DEDICATION. v 
 
 cc confider this as a competent Fund of Learn- 
 ' ing; from whence ufually fpring Conceit 
 and Pedantry.'* 
 
 IF we were to trace up the Diflike of this 
 Article of Academic Education to its Source, 
 I fear, that we fhould find it clofely connected 
 with, or rather a Branch of fomewhat, more 
 momentous, of a Prejudice againft the Whole; 
 a Plant, the Seeds of which have been of late 
 induftrioufly fown in the Mind, have taken 
 Root, and been artfully cheriflied there ; until 
 at Length it hath grown to mighty Size and 
 Strength, extending its Branches far and near ; 
 and hath well nigh covered the Land. 
 
 AND yet, upon weighing the Matter, one is 
 at a Lofs to aflign for this Averfion any tolera- 
 ble Appearance of Reafon. Setting aGde Re- 
 velation, are there any Writings, which pre- 
 fent Goodnefs in fo amiable a Light, which 
 recommend the nobleft and moft generous 
 Virtues, Juftice, Friendfhip, the Love of our 
 Country and of Mandkind, in fo warm and 
 ftrong a Manner, as the Volumes tranfmitted 
 to us from Greek and Rctman Antiquity ? Any, 
 that give an higher Idea of the Dignity of 
 human Nature j or any, that contribute more 
 to ftrengthen and elevate the Mind, to raife 
 and unfold all its Talents ? Where are there 
 a 3 offered
 
 vi DEDICATION. 
 
 offered to us more beautiful Models of true 
 masculine Eloquence, finer Sentiments, exhi- 
 bited in all the Grace of pure and unaffected 
 Ornament ? 
 
 Do not they place us amid the bufieft, the 
 moft fplendid Scenes 5 lay before us the great- 
 eft Characters ; acquaint us with the moft 
 private Tranfaclions, and bring us into the 
 Converfation and Intimacy as it were, of the 
 moft extraordinary Perfons; who, joined to 
 the Advantages of Letters, confummate Expe- 
 rience of the World 5 fome of whom moved 
 in the moft exalted Sphere, and gave Law to 
 
 the whole Earth ? 
 
 ' f mem 
 
 AND can it be imagined, that fuch Ideas, 
 fuch Scenes, fuch Patterns and Companions 
 muft not be highly beneficial to Youth ? 
 
 ESPECIALLY, what can equal our Surprize 
 when we enquire into the End propofed from 
 that Form of Education, to which this hath 
 been condemned to give Place ; " A Know- 
 " ledge of modern Languages and of the 
 <c World ?" For furely the beft Foundation of 
 the former is an Acquaintance with the An- 
 tients ; Excellence of Style even in one's native 
 Tongue, is beft learned from their admirable 
 Models ; fince what is effential in Eloquence is 
 common to all Languages. And the latter, to 
 
 a Mind
 
 DEDICATION. vii 
 
 a Mind rude, unlettered, unprincipled, is ufu- 
 ally the greateft of Misfortunes ; it becometh 
 Knowledge of Vice and Folly. 
 
 BUT it is not my Defign at prefent to enter 
 into fo large a Field : The Branch of this Pre- 
 judice I fet out with, which has led me infen- 
 libly into thefe Reflexions, in my Opinion de- 
 ferveth our careful Attention ; efpecially in this 
 Place, bearing, as it doth, a particular Relation 
 to your Lordmips TRUST. 
 
 IT was allowed, that the Objection before- 
 mentioned hath fome Force -, but the Inference 
 does not feem juft. We ought not to condemn 
 from a View of one Side. The Queflion is, are 
 there not Advantages which greatly leflen, 
 which do more than counterbalance the Evils 
 objected ? And may not Methods be found of 
 procuring ftill further Advantages ? 
 
 " THE continued Difcourfe of a Profeflbr 
 <f cannot convey fufficient Knowledge of a Sci- 
 " ence.' ' True : Yet that hinders not, but that 
 it may do a great deal, and profit much. 
 
 THE more diligent Hearers, who join with 
 their Attendance upon fuch regular Courfe, a 
 Perufal of the beft Authors on each Article, 
 may receive from it great Benefit ; becaufe a 
 Man of Genius and good Capacity may com- 
 a 4 prehend
 
 viii DEDICATION. 
 prehend in thofe, however mort compositions, 
 the principal Points ; may open more general 
 Views j and by abridging, fupplying, explain- 
 ing, fet Things in a new and fuller Light. On 
 the other Hand, the Carelefs who do not read, 
 may yet derive from thence fome Knowledge, 
 likely to prove ufeful afterwards, at leaft orna- 
 mental j certainly preferable to total Ignorance. 
 
 AGAIN, Difcourfes coming from the Mouth 
 of an efteemed Perfon naturally make an Im- 
 preffion upon the Minds of the Audience, turn 
 their Thoughts to the Matters treated of, are 
 made the Subjects of Converfation, probably of 
 Debate ; which cannot fail of engaging them 
 in Difquifitions and Enquiries concerning the 
 Things talked of: And among many Perfons, 
 it muft happen, that fome will perfift in thefe 
 Searches, and be led infenfibly from a fimple 
 Defire of knowing fome one Point into an Ac- 
 quaintance with, it may be a mafterly Compre- 
 henfion of the whole Science. For the Seeds 
 of Curioiity are ftrong in every young Mind, 
 however frequently kept dormant by the Love 
 of Pleafure or Force of Fafhion ; but if ftirred 
 up by an apt Occafion, they become quickly 
 full of Life and Motion, moot out, and loon 
 produce fair and valuable Fruit ; efpecially, 
 when warmed by the animating Ray of Emu- 
 lation, the Principle, which above all in human 
 
 Nature,
 
 DEDICATION. ir 
 
 Nature, contributes to the Growth and Flourim- 
 ing of every ufeful Art. 
 
 ANOTHER Confideration of no fmall Moment 
 is, That among very numerous Performances 
 of this Kind, fome there will be of a better 
 Stamp and Frame than the reft, which mail 
 draw public Notice and Applaufe, which fpread- 
 ing beyond the narrow Sphere of academic In- 
 ftruction, mall bring Honour to the Society 
 abroad, it may be to the Country, and enrich 
 with new Treafures the Commonwealth of Let- 
 ters. Experience confirms this Hopej and it 
 would be eafy to cite many celebrated Pro- 
 ductions, which owe their Birth to Occafions 
 of this Sort. 
 
 THUS it feems to me, that the Objection 
 mentioned in the Beginning hath been fully 
 anfwered : And perhaps we may add fome- 
 what, and anfwer yet more fully ; a Method 
 perhaps may be found of improving the ufual 
 Form, and of opening thereby new Benefits. 
 
 IN this Manner of lecturing by perpetual 
 Difcourfe, there is a manifeft Difadvantage, 
 that the Stream of Words pafling away in a 
 rapid Flow, makes a flight Impreffion - 3 they 
 glide fvviftly by with unbroken Current, and 
 little remains in the Hearer's Mind. 
 
 UPON
 
 x DEDICATION. 
 
 UPON other Occafions of Infraction there is 
 a different Form employed : Wherein the young 
 Perfons are directed to ftudy with Exactnefs 
 fome approved Book j a certain Portion of 
 which they are to give an Account of in the 
 Way of Examination. Here, the regular al- 
 ternative of Queftion and Anfwer, the gradual 
 Opening of the Underftanding by the clearing 
 up of Doubts, and rectifying of Miftakes, the 
 Traces engraved in the Memory by frequent 
 Repetition, by Conjectures, Meditation, paft 
 Errors, Endeavours of Recollection, muft be- 
 ftow a diftinct and lading Comprehenfion of 
 what is learned. But this Manner is laborious, 
 is lefs plealing than the other 5 neither doth it 
 give Rife to any lafting Work, which may dif- 
 fufe its Influence and Luftre beyond the pre- 
 fent Circle, illuminate the literary World, and 
 poffibly may extend the Ray down to Pofterity. 
 
 Now fuppofe thefe two Plans of Inftruction 
 combined, and properly united : In this Cafe, 
 we might reafonably hope for the Advantages 
 of both, free from the Inconveniencies of either 
 fingle j which Scheme feems to bid fair for 
 Perfection. 
 
 NEITHER is this a vifionary Project. It actu- 
 ally fubfifteth j and has been in a great Meafure 
 
 executed
 
 DEDICATION. xi 
 
 executed in the Plan of the prefent ORATORY 
 LECTURE, under your Lord/hips' Infpeclion. 
 
 
 HERE the ProfefTor is enjoined, at certain 
 Seafons, to pronounce, according to the firft- 
 mentioned Form, a perpetual Difcourfe. At 
 all other Times, the young Perfons are in- 
 ilruifled in the latter Way : They are required 
 to read aloud fome Paflage of an Hiftorian or 
 Orator, to the End that they tnay be exercifed 
 in the ufeful Art of juft, diftindl Pronunciation : 
 To which, as they advance further, is added the 
 Perufal of fome among the celebrated Treatifcs 
 concerning Oratory, remaining from Antiquity. 
 Thus are they inftrucled betimes in the Princi- 
 ples of juft Criticifm, are taught to think, to 
 cioath their Thoughts in apt Expreflion, and to 
 utter thefe with Propriety and Gracefulnefs. 
 Whilft at the fame Time Compofition is en- 
 couraged, the Curiofity of the Hearers is raited, 
 their Emulation kindled : And it is hoped, that 
 they may have propofed to them a fit Model of 
 good Writing in the Performances of their Pro- 
 feflbr ; fome of which may poflibly, in Length 
 of Time, remain an Ornament to the Commu- 
 nity that produced them, and, fpreading abroad 
 their Fame, may contribute to the Honour or 
 Advancement of Letters. 
 
 FURTHER Improvements, I doubt not, may 
 l?e thought of: Some were not long ago pro- 
 pofed
 
 xii DEDICATION. 
 
 pofed by a Perfon of public Spirit and enlarged 
 Views. One there is, which if I might be 
 allowed to hint at any fuch, I would mention, 
 as following naturally from the Obfervations 
 juft now laid down. 
 
 t( PROFESSORS mould not only read at cer- 
 " tain Seafons, as they are how obliged to do, 
 " original Difcourfes j but they fhould be en- 
 <c joined to publifh a fixed Number of fuch, 
 " within a limited Time." 
 
 THIS Neceflity would take away the Plea, 
 real or pretended, of Modefty, and Delicacy 
 about Reputation ; would overcome that great 
 Enemy even in the beft Capacities to Excel- 
 lence, the Love of Eafe ; and would compel 
 the Writers to exert their whole Force, to 
 weigh with Caution, and polifh with Labour, 
 Works, which they know muft go abroad, 
 muft fuftain the Examination of fevere and pe- 
 netrating Eyes. The Want of which ufeful 
 Compulfion hath, I believe, been felt among us ; 
 and is the Caufe that the prefent (I fear unad- 
 vifed) Undertaking is here, even at this Day, 
 a new, and, as I think, yet unattempted Effay. 
 
 I AM not ignorant, that a Propofal of this 
 Kind is likely to be treated with Contempt or 
 Ridicule. 5 The World, it is faid, abounds 
 
 " with
 
 DEDICATION. xiii 
 " with bad or ordinary Books ; why fhould 
 " we feek to augment the Number?" To 
 which I think the Anfwer not difficult. 
 
 A GOOD Book (and fometimes a good one 
 may be hoped for) is well worthy of being 
 purchafed at the Price of enduring many bad 
 or indifferent j an Evil which falls only upon 
 willing Sufferers -, efpecially, as thefe cannot be 
 lafting Incumbrances 5 for fuch are publifhed, 
 juft talked of, flightly looked into, condemned ; 
 and then turned into fome Corner of a Library, 
 there to moulder amidft Worms and Duft in 
 undifturbed Oblivion. Even bad Books, in the 
 Cafe before us would have one good EffecT: ; 
 they would (hew the Inability of the Writers 
 for the Poft they hold, and give timely Warn- 
 ing to difplace them ; a Difcovery, which, it were 
 to be wifhed, could be rendered univerfal. 
 
 WE may add, that thefe Performances, how- 
 ever in themfelves infignificant, would afford a 
 probable Argument of Diligence in the Writer: 
 For one who mews this Attention in the Dif- 
 charge of no eafy Article of his Duty, cannot 
 well be fufpected of great RemifTnefs in the 
 others. 
 
 THEY bear a Similitude in this refpect to the 
 Prudence of that Inftitution in Cities, which 
 enjoins the Watchmen to go their Circuit and 
 
 proclaim
 
 xiv DEDICATION. 
 
 proclaim the Hour, not fo much for the Sake 
 of informing the Inhabitants in a Point little 
 needful, as becaufe fuch periodical Vociferation 
 furnimeth a Proof, that thefe Guardians of 
 midnight Order do attend, and Watch, whilft 
 others fleep. 
 
 THIS, Diligence, hath its Praife ; and the 
 Difcourfes annexed may, it is hoped, entitle 
 the Speaker to that humble Merit. He walketh 
 his Rounds j and if he call out in no tuneable 
 Voice, nor utter any ufeful. Admonition, yet 
 he thereby proves himfelf to be on his Station, 
 and awake. 
 
 WITH this View, he hath been induced to 
 come forth from the Shade, uncalled ; and to 
 venture out from calm fafe Obfcurity into the 
 Public ; a wide and ftormy Sea, covered with 
 Wrecks of unfuccefsful Writers ; fenfible, at 
 the fame Time, that he is expofed to greater 
 Inconveniencies, than they who mould publifh 
 under the propofed Regulation could encounter 
 with. They would have Neceffity to urge, a 
 juft Plea for Indulgence ; he is a willing Ad- 
 venturer : And more gallant Behaviour is ex- 
 pefted from a Volunteer, than from one im- 
 preffed into the Service. 
 
 THE Nature likewife of this Defign, and 
 the Subject, lay open to peculiar Hardlhips. 
 4 ITS
 
 DEDICATION. xv 
 
 ITS Nature admits not a Criterion, whereby 
 to judge ; whence one can never hope to fa- 
 tisfy all. And in Difference of Opinion, few 
 make befitting Allowances, or even afford to 
 the oppofite one an impartial Hearing. 
 
 AGAIN, continual Criticifm difgufteth. Seek 
 by digreffing to relieve ; you offend againft 
 the Rules of your Art ; thus are thought tire- 
 fome, or trifling. 
 
 IF you be plain, you repeat ; if nice, you re- 
 fine ; you are vulgar, or vifionary. 
 
 THIS like wife is a Subject, which all under- 
 fland, or think they do j hence all are Judges : 
 And among fo many, there muft be Cenfurers. 
 
 THESE, however, are counterbalanced by 
 chearful Confiderations on the other Side. 
 
 IT is pleafing to have endeavoured well j to 
 have given fome Mark of Care, and permit me 
 fo to name it, of an honeft, although it is too 
 likely, unfuccefsful Ambition. 
 
 BESIDES, I am perfuaded that there is in 
 the collective Body of the Public a Fund of 
 Candour, which never fails in the End to caft 
 the Balance. Paffion, Prejudice, Temper, 
 Fafhion, may for a while carry with them the 
 
 public
 
 xvi DEDICATION. 
 
 puplic Suffrage, but they mall at laft fubfide ; 
 and Truth and Reafon be liftened to, .peaking 
 in the Voice of the Majority always juflj ra- 
 ther indeed mild and indulgent, inclined to fa- 
 vour thofe who appear deiirous of deferving 
 well from them. 
 
 WITH thefe Thoughts, relying on the Me- 
 rit of a good Intention, I feek to encourage 
 myfelf ; hoping, in the mean Time, to obtain 
 Pardon for the Liberty I take, of INSCRIBING 
 to your Lordfhips the following Ledures, the 
 FIRST-FRUITS of an Office, derived from 
 your Appointment, and held under your Ap- 
 probation. 
 
 LET them, fo long as they may happen to 
 be remembered, remain a TESTIMONY of the 
 Author's RESPECT for your Lordmips, and a 
 MEMORIAL of his GRATITUDE. 
 
 CON-
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 
 
 CONCERNING Public Lectures. Objection 
 againfl them^ confidered and anfwered. 
 UJ'ual Form, capable of Amendment. Injlance 
 from the prefent Oratory-Lecture. Further 
 Improvement hereof propofed. Ufefuhiefs hereof. 
 Hence Motives to the Publication of the prefent 
 Lectures. Infcription. 
 
 LECTURE I. 
 
 Introduction. Difficulty of the Work. En- 
 couraging Circumftances. Excellence of Elo- 
 quence. Comparijbn of it with Science. 
 
 Examples of its powerful Influence. Objection an- 
 fwered. Difficulty of Oratory. Of Genius, 
 Application^ Tafte. Mi/take concerning this. 
 Remarks concerning the Manner in which the 
 following Lectures are written. Wty in Eng- 
 lifi. Why intermingled with Pee try. Pro- 
 nunciation whyflightly treated cj. 
 
 b LECTURE
 
 xviii CONTENTS. 
 
 LECTURE II. 
 
 Containing an Account of the Rife and Progrefs 
 of Eloquence among the Antients. Plan of the 
 following Letfures. Oratory why firjl culti- 
 vated. Why in free States. Why' not in the 
 Eaft. Why moft in Greece. Principally why 
 in Athens. PERICLES. Of the Sophifls. Of 
 the two great Hiftorians. Character of 
 Ifocrates. Of Demofthenes. Two Remarks 
 upon the Hiftory of Eloquence among the Ro- 
 mans. Why Poefy cultivated before Profe. 
 Why it furvived Profe. 'Two Caufes of the 
 Decay of Eloquence among the Greeks, Simi- 
 litude in its decaying among the Romans. 
 Comparifon oj the Greek and Roman Elo- 
 quence. 
 
 Prejerence given to the former. For four Rea- 
 fons. 
 
 LECTURE III. 
 
 Containing an Abjlraft of the two moft famous 
 Treatifes concerning this Art^ remaining from 
 Antiquity. 
 
 Of Ariftotle's Rhetor ick. Two Remarks ufefulto 
 the right under flanding of this T^reatije. Firft, 
 
 . It was written to remove two general Mi/lakes. 
 Secondly, Caution not to expeffi more in. this 
 Work than the Authr intended. Advantages 
 arifing from the Study of it. Two mentioned. 
 De/ign and Method of the Treafi/e De oratore. 
 Comparifon ofthefe two. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 CONTENTS. xix 
 
 LECTURE IV. 
 
 Temple of Eloquence ^ a Vifion. Introduction. 
 Account of this Piece when written. Afccnt to 
 th' Palace or Temple. Defer iptio?i of the fir ft 
 Apartments. Whom the Writer faw there, 
 a Character of Quintilian. Introduction of Mar- 
 cus Rufus. Harangue of Longinus, with 
 Character of him. Inner Part of the 'Temple. 
 Goddefs and her Attendants. Sudden Change 
 of the Scene. Defer iption of the new Objefts 
 exhibited to the Writer. Prediction and Advice 
 <?/ Mercury. Conclufwn of the Vifion. 
 
 LECTURE V.' 
 
 Continuation of the Hijlory of Eloquence^ Among 
 the Moderns. Method propofed, to make Re?narks 
 on the State of Eloquence jince the Reftoration of 
 Letters ; fecondly^ to point out Ufes of thefe Re- 
 flexions. Fir/l, its State in Italy. In France. 
 In England. Of the Language of this latter. 
 Remarkable Writers in federal Periods. Epi- 
 grammatic 'Turn. Comparifon of Languages. 
 Thofe of the Antients why beft. Caution about 
 writing in them. Of the Englifh Language. 
 Writers incorrect j In/lances from the bejl mo- 
 dern Poet, and bejl Writer of Prcfe. Pro- 
 duclions^ wherein each Country hath excelled. 
 Of Hiftorians. Of Spanifh Language and 
 Writers. Eloquence of the Ear imperfect. 
 Whence. Two Caujh affigned. 
 
 b 2 LECTURE
 
 xx CONTENTS. 
 
 L 6 C T U R E VI. 
 
 Continuation. England excels in the Eloquence of 
 the Pulpit. Caufe hereof. Of Archbijhop 
 Tillotfon. 
 
 Second Article-, UJes derived from this Account. 
 Fir ft. Encouragement to write. Secondly, That 
 Oratory is an Art to 'which Rules are uj'efuL 
 thirdly ', Whom we are toftudy moft carefully , 
 and to what End. Points and fanciful Orna- 
 ments. Inflames from Englifh Tranjlation of 
 the Iliad. Fourth life, Enquire why fo few 
 have been great Orators. Of writing in dead 
 Languages. NegleSl of Greek tongue a "Fault 
 in Education. Tranfition to next Lefture. 
 
 LECTURE VII. 
 
 Of Imitation. Its Ufefulnefs ; andfecondly, Rules 
 of good Imitation. Fir ft, Arguments drawn 
 from Experience and Reafon. ift, Homer 
 probably had Models which he improved upon. 
 AH Greeks and Romans imitated him. adly, 
 Arguments from Reafon drawn from human 
 Nature. Inftance of the Painter Raphael Ur-= 
 bin. Objection. Anfwer. ^Excellent Ori- 
 ginals very rare, adly, Such faulty : Injlances 
 Shakefpear, Correggio. Imitation may hurt. 
 Rules. Firft Rule, Propofe the beft Pattern. 
 Second, Moft Jititable. Third, Follow not too 
 clofely. Fourth, Not confined to one. Fifth, 
 Regard Circumftances of Time, Place, &c. 
 
 Fault
 
 CONTENTS. xxi 
 
 Fault of Sannazario, Michael Angelo. Sixth, 
 Be not a mere Imitator. Not of Moderns, or at 
 lea/I with much Caution. 
 
 LECTURE VIII. 
 
 OfReafon. Unjuft Cen fur e of Eloquence. Opi- 
 nion of Lord Bacon. Fir ft Rnd to convince. 
 Sagacity and Method. Of Toficfa, recommended 
 by Lord Bacon. P raft ice of the Antients. 
 Arguments ufed hi Logician and Orator. Ufe 
 of Logic. More efpe dally of Geometry. Know- 
 ledge 0/" the Stibjeft. Two Advantages. Me- 
 thod of the Oration Jor the Crown. Ufe of 
 Reading. Caution herein. 
 
 LECTURE IX. 
 
 Continuation of the foregoing. Queftion concern- 
 ing Arrangement of Arguments. Cautions 
 necejjary. Arguments from Authority. From 
 Hijtory. Proofs rifmg from y or mixed with 
 Narration. Difference between, that of an 
 Hiftorian and Orator. Ofanfwering Objections. 
 Ridicule. OJhntation of Science. Rules. Con- 
 clujion of two Kinds. 
 
 LECTURE X. 
 
 OfAJdrefs to the Pa/Jims. 
 Mi/lake concerning tbs Operations of the Mind. 
 Origin of Pqffiws. All reduced to two. Paf- 
 fions Actions of the Will. Not to be con- 
 demned.
 
 xxii CONTENTS. 
 
 demned. Ufeful. How governable by the 
 
 Mind. How the Ei-:ls fuftained by others af- 
 
 feft the Paffions. Wly do ObjeSls which difguft, 
 
 yet pleafe in Representation. 'This apply ed to 
 
 Eloquence. Its Effect upon the Pqffions more 
 
 Jlrongthan that of any other Art. Why. Whe- 
 
 . ther the Paf/ions ought to be applyed to. How, 
 
 we may bejl fucceed in thisDeJign. Apology. 
 
 LECTURE XI. 
 
 Continuation. 
 
 Precept of Horace. Relation from Plutarch. 
 Caufe hereof. Of the different Effe^s of pre- 
 meditated and extemporary Difcourfes. 'That 
 an Orator foould be a good Man. Upon what 
 Occafions may an Orator fpeak to the Paffions. 
 Hence the Ufefulnefs of Addrefs to the Pajjions 
 further proved. Inflame from Demofthenes. 
 Cautions in Attempts of this Kind. Firft. 
 Second. Third. Inflames of this lafl from 
 Virgil, Shakefpear. Fourth Rule. Of Elegancy* 
 Lajl Rule. Sum. 
 
 LECTURE XII. 
 
 Of Style. Firft Property, Clearnefs. Hence 
 Words JJjould be known, pure, ranged in natural 
 Order. Caufes of Obfcurity. Principal Caufe. 
 Of Affectation. Clearnefs alone not fufficient. 
 OfPoefy and Profe in their Origine. Of the 
 Difference between them in Style, Ground of 
 this DiftincJion taken from the End proposed in 
 
 each
 
 CONTENTS. xxiii 
 
 each, which is different. Example of this Di- 
 verfity of Style from a Pajfage of Virgil . Larger 
 Example. An Hi/lorical Event related in the 
 Style of an Orator. And In that of a Poet. 
 
 LECTURE XIII. 
 
 Of Ornament. Clearnefs not alone fufficient. Orna- 
 ment nccefj'ary. Wky^ not to be folely or princi- 
 pally regarded. Objection againjt life of it. 
 Direct Speeches- in Hijloriam. Of Imagina- 
 tion. Eloquence to be addrcjjed to it. Caution 
 herein. Mere contrary to PaJJion than it is to 
 Reafon. Addrefs to f Senfe. Of Compofing in 
 dead Languages. Character of a Speaker ^per- 
 fect in Ornament. 
 
 LECTURE XIV. 
 
 Of Compojition. Apology for Repetition. Com- 
 po/ition <what. Care of the Greeks forein. 
 Difficulty of comprehending it exactly. Of 
 Feet in Profe. Attempts cf Moderns to form 
 Ferfes in Feet like thofe of the Antients. Our 
 Profe not capable ofjuch Feet. Tet Care ftould 
 be taken that it be properly harmonious. Fir/I 
 Rule. Second. 'Third Rule conctrning Length 
 of Periods. Conjecture herein. Fourth and 
 Fifth Rules. Sixth and Srcenth. Several Di- 
 rections and Cautions touching this Subject. One 
 Rule of Importance. Examples from Milton. 
 Limitation hereof. Remarks on a Paffage of 
 Mr. Pope's Tranjlation of the Iliad. Rule in 
 concluding. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 xxir CONTENTS. 
 
 LECTURE XV. 
 
 Figures neceffary to render Difcourfe animated. 
 Why pleafaig ? Miftake herein. Several Cauj'es 
 ajjigned. Why they (Figures) arefaidto be the 
 mojl natural Expreffiom. Inflances from Virgil 
 tfWMilton. Caution herein. Ufe of Mechani- 
 cal Part of Rhetor icL Obfervation concerning 
 PaJJion in an Affior and Orator. Concerning 
 the Number of Figures. Excefs faulty three 
 Ways. Concerning the Kinds, how chiefly faulty > 
 Faults in the Application. Of Metaphors. Of 
 Irony. Tranjition to the next Lecture. 
 
 LECTURE XVI. 
 
 Of reading the Poets. Why Dialogue here intro- 
 duced? Occ a/ion of the Dialogue. Objections 
 againft reading the Poets. They addrej's them- 
 fehes only to the Imagination. Deal in Fitfion. 
 Are Enemies to Order. To Argument. Are 
 fwelling^ florid^ and unnatural in Style. Ge- 
 neral Anfwer from Faff and Authority. That 
 Orators a/Jo mujl addrej's themjehes to the Ima- 
 gination. Poets not Enemies to Truth. Ob- 
 jeSlionfrom Style coji/idered. Poets vindicated 
 from the Charge of defpifing Method. 
 
 LECTURE XVII. 
 
 Continuation. That Poets are not Enemies to 
 
 Reafoning. The true Nature of Brevity 
 
 Rated. Poets not prolix. Inftances of Short- 
 
 4 nefe.
 
 CONTENTS. xxv 
 
 nefs. Poets ufeful in teaching Vehemence, 
 Sublimity, Figures ; more efpecially Expreflion. 
 All not to be read equally. OfEpigrammatifis. 
 Lyric Writers, 'the Epic Poets very ufefuL 
 Writers of 'Tragedy moft of all. Injlances in 
 Narration. Speeches. Of Comic Writers. 
 Method recommended^ ofexprejjing in ProJ'e beau- 
 tiful Pajfages of Poets ; or turning Profe into 
 Verfe. Example in a Dialogue from Lucian 
 imitated in Verfe. Another^ in Emilia, an 
 Hijlorical Poem. 
 
 LECTURE XVIII. 
 
 Dejinition and Divifion of Style. 'The Sublime, 
 and fublime Style. Confequences relative to 
 Style. Account of Plato. Confidered as a 
 teacher of Oratory^ and as Eloquent. In the 
 firft Light> his Dialogue, entitled Phaedrus, 
 remarkable^ containing excellent Rules. An 
 Abftraft of this Dialogue. Character of Plato 
 in the fecond Light as a Writer. The Judg- 
 ment of Plato, a Poetical Effay. 
 
 LECTURE XIX, 
 
 Of the Eloquence of the Pulpit. Reafons for 
 confining Remarks to this Kind. Pirjl Thing ta 
 be con/idered, Qualities requifite in a Preacher : 
 Virtue* and Piety ; Knowledge of Hebrew 
 Tongue; of Greek ; Fathers of the Church \ 
 PhUofophers j Mathematical Science ; Human 
 Learning-, of the World \ ofhimfelf; of na- 
 c five
 
 xxvi CON TE-N-T S. 
 
 tive ^Tongue. Second Thing to be confdtred, 
 The End ; Ufe hereof. Means to be employed. 
 
 LECTURE XX. 
 
 
 
 Continuation, ift, Choice cf a Subject. Of 
 Points of Faith. Cauticn in treating cfthefe. 
 Precept. Of Points of Morality, Difficulty 
 in Speaking well concerning theje. sdly, Choice 
 of a T^ext. Incorrvcniencies of this CuJIcvi. 
 Four Errors to be avoided. Precept. 3c3ly, 
 Reading of Writers on the fame Subjctf. Cau- 
 tion herein. The Collecting by this Means Ma- 
 terials. 4thly, Reducing tbefe to Method. Ge- 
 neral Precept. Unity of Subject. General Rule 
 concerning Method. Of the Exordium. Ufful, 
 . Why ? Faults to be avoided. A Precept concentr- 
 ing it. Of the Divifion. Objections againft 
 the Ufe of Dhifton. Why it foould be retained. 
 Difficult. Rules concerning it. Method of the 
 federal Parts, or Members of Difcourfe. 
 
 LECTURE XXI. 
 
 Continuation. Of the Proof or Reafoning Part. 
 Shortnefs, cf Ufe here. Firft Fault. Excefs cf 
 . Proofs. In/lance from a Great Perfon. In- 
 conveniences hereof. Second Faulf, New Opi- 
 nions and Myjlical Points. Third Error. 
 Reafonings made ufe of on common Occafions y 
 too profound and fubtile. Injiances from a 
 great Perfon. Hence., an ufeful Precept, re- 
 gard the Capacities of the Audience. Diflin- 
 
 gwjhing
 
 CONTENTS. xxvii 
 
 .gujking Excellence cf Tiilotfon. Of Proofs 
 from Scripture. Rides to be obferved in -the 
 life of thefe. Of Inferences. Firft Rule 
 Not to be wry general. Second. 'Third. Fourth 
 Obfer'-oation. Of moving the Paffions. Advice 
 on this important Head. Proper Place for this 
 is the Application ; Why Precept ujejul to~ 
 wards fuccecdwg herein. Audience to be confi- 
 dered. Pcjjion of moft Influence. Addrefs to 
 Imagination neccjjary. Caution herein. Rule f 
 
 LECTUR E XXII. 
 
 Continuation. OJ Style. Extremes to be avoided. 
 Ufa oj Figures. Caution in Compofltion. Of 
 Pronunciation. Precepts not very ufeful here 
 Con/ifts of two Parts. A Courj'e of Obfervation 
 propofidi which it is thought may be advantage- 
 ous. A principal Error remarked. Source 
 hereof. Advantages cf Preaching extempore and 
 from Study , compared. Sum of preceding Re- 
 marks. Conjifts in this foort Rule Study Va-= 
 riety. Caution herein. Monotony. Oppofite 
 Extreme. Pitch of the Voice. Familiar or 
 Comic Tone. Of Pronouncing by the Help of 
 Characters or Notes. The J'econd Part of Pro- 
 nunciation, Action or Geflure. Rules from the 
 Antients. General Obfervation propofed as 
 very ufeful in this Point. Concerning the ob- 
 taining of Authority. Means to it. 
 
 L E C T U R E XXIII. 
 
 Of Modern Latin Poefy. State of the Qucftion. 
 Tliree Things to be regarded in Poetical Per- 
 formances.
 
 xxviii CONTENTS. 
 formances. Advantage in all Three, is on the 
 Side of writing Poefy in native Language. 
 Inftances Antient, and Modern. Objection, 
 " Greek and Roman Languages better than 
 " Modern. Performances more excellent'' An- 
 Jwer, from Reafo?i, from Fa5l. Writing in a 
 dead Language not more eajy. Argument of 
 Weight. Whether the 'writing in a Learned 
 tongue jhould be forbidden or defpifed: Why^ 
 and how far ufeful. Applied to Modern Latin 
 Poejy. Peculiar Vindication of the Lecturer, 
 IRENE, Carmen Hifloricum. 
 
 LECTURES
 
 LECTURES 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 ORATORY, 
 
 LECTURE the Firft. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. Praife of Eloquence. Diffi- 
 culty of it. Prejudices removed. 
 
 IT is not without much Diffidence and Solli- 
 citude of Mind that I enter upon the pre- 
 fent Undertaking, this of delivering to you 
 Difcourfes, concerning the Nature, Precepts, and 
 Method of Oratory. I (hall not as a Ground, 
 of fuch Diffidence, however real, urge my own 
 Inability ; fuch Pleas being commonly offered, 
 and (eldom regarded as fincere. The Difficulty 
 of the Work itfelf is a fufficient Ground, com- 
 prehending fo wide a Circuit, and abounding 
 with Points fo various, fubtile, and delicate. 
 
 B WHICH
 
 2 LECTURES concerning Led:. I. 
 
 WHICH Difficulty becomes not a little en- 
 creafed, by the Multitude of Writers upon this 
 Subject. For, in fuch Circumftances, how 
 fhall one proceed ? Have you nothing new to 
 offer ? Perpetual Repetition difgufts. Beiide, 
 if that be the Cafe, why do you write ? Do 
 you feek to inform Men of what they know al- 
 ready? On the other Hand, have you made 
 any Difcoveries? The Probability is, that the 
 Love of Novelty hath led you into Miftakes. 
 At ben:, you will have eftablimed Opinions and 
 Prejudices, no weak Enemies, to encounter with : 
 Wile Men will fufpedt you, the Vulgar at once 
 condemn. To which I may add, that the Fre- 
 quency of Writing and Difcourfe on this Kind 
 of Subjects, indifpofeth Men to the whole Kind : 
 The Ground hath been Ib traverfed and beaten, 
 that they have no Hope of fpringing new Game, 
 and follow thofe who would lead into it, with 
 Reluctance. 
 
 SUCH is the forbidding Afpect of my prefent 
 Undertaking : But it may be confidered in more 
 pleafmg Lights, which take off from thefe Dif- 
 couragements. One of thefe is, the Neceffity 
 laid upon me from the Situation in which I am 
 placed, of making fome Attempt ; and Neceffiy 
 renders even Mediocrity excufable. 
 
 I SHOULD mention as a Second, the Candour 
 and Indulgence of my Hearers, who would ra- 
 ther approve and profit by what is right, than 
 fearch for Errors or Defects, and condemn. 
 But waving this as a Point of too much Delicacy 
 to be infifted on; I am not a little comforted 
 
 by
 
 Led. i. ORATORY. 3 
 
 by a Reflexion which I often make, that 
 notwithftanding the numberlefs Treatifes be- 
 fore-mentioned, it feems that the Subject is 
 not exhaufled ; new and ufefui Obfervations 
 may be ftiil added. My Reafon for think- 
 ing fo, is this: Of the infinite Multitude of 
 rhetorical and critical Compolitions, Accounts 
 of which are fent down to us from An- 
 tiquity, fome, Works of the moft celebrated 
 Authors, fcarcely a Dozen remain at this Day. 
 How then mall we judge ; that among the in* 
 numerable Treatifes which have perifhed, there 
 were not any, which contained ought valuable 
 or peculiar ? You cannot believe, you will not 
 fay it. But if they did contain fuch ; may not 
 the fame or like Thoughts occur at this Time ; 
 and Eloquence be frill enriched by new Inven- 
 tions ? At leaft, we may hope to clear the Road 
 marked out by the Antients, to fmooth and 
 open it ; perhaps in fome Places to ftrike out 
 new and morter Paths. 
 
 THESE Reflexions help to animate : But my 
 chief Encouragement is the Hope, that thefe 
 Lectures, imperfect as they are, may do fome 
 Good. 
 
 THEY may at leaf! turn your Attention to the 
 Subject upon which they are raifed : An Effect, 
 which (pardon the Remark) feemeth at prefent 
 needful to us. Sciences are cultivated not un- 
 happily, Languages are ftudied, polite Authors 
 are read and underfloood among us. But a Spi- 
 rit of imitating them is not lufficiently high. 
 Content to know and admire, who feeks to re- 
 B2 fcmble?
 
 4 .LECTURES concerning Led:, i. 
 
 femble ? Reafon is more exercifed than Inven- 
 tion. Attached to what is folid, we neglect Or- 
 nament. Now the treating publickly of this 
 latter, the hearing much concerning it, will un- 
 avoidably make it the Subject of your Thoughts 
 and Difcourfe : And, , if it hath, as certainly is 
 the Cafe, much of real Value in it, will natu- 
 rally introduce a Fondnefs for it, will recom- 
 mend it to your Study and Care. 
 
 I AM the more at Liberty to hope for this 
 Confequence, as the Trial is new; as Lectures 
 on the prefent Argument have been long dif- 
 ufed ; or rather have never been carried on in a 
 continued and regular Courfe. 
 
 THAT this, ELOQUENCE, is a PorTeffion 
 highly valuable, an Art worthy of your utmoft 
 Application, feemeth not to require Proof. 
 The Hiftories ye read daily, the Writings of 
 thofe whom ye juftly admire, abound with 
 Evidences of its Power, and Praifes of its Dig- 
 nity. There is not any Nation fo barbarous, fo 
 uncultivated by Arts, fo foreign from all Hu- 
 manity, in which there may not be found 
 Traces of its Influence, although in its rude and 
 imperfect State. And in thofe happier Cli- 
 mates where Reafon was improved, wherefo- 
 ever the Beams of Arts and Knowledge were 
 extended, Eloquence obtained likewife Admif- 
 fion, met with proportional Advancement, 
 . and fiourimed together with them. If there 
 be more of Worth in Science, if it be more 
 eftimable to find out Truth than to impart it 
 
 when
 
 i. ORATORY. 5 
 
 when found, to think deeply than to fpeak 
 well; yet is there not lefs Utility in this latter; 
 becaufe, it is abfolutely neceffary to the obtain- 
 ing, in any coniiderable Degree, the Advantages 
 of the other. For of what Importance is the 
 Difcovery of Truth, if it cannot be Communi- 
 cated ? What avails the moft improved Under- 
 ftanding, if incapable of conveying properly its 
 own Notions ? 
 
 Prometheus is faid by the Poets to have ftolen 
 Fire from Heaven, beftowing which to Man- 
 kind, yet wretched and favage, he rendered Life 
 comfortable, and prepared the Way for all the 
 beneficial Arts afterwards invented. Such we 
 may efteem Eloquence ; a divine Ray, which 
 gave Life and Warmth to all the Faculties, 
 teaching them to impart the Fruit of their Ope- 
 rations to others ; by this Means difFuiing Hu- 
 manity, Knowledge, Politenefs of Manners. 
 
 FOR Mankind, however curious and Lovers 
 of Truth, will feldom give Admiflion to her, if 
 prefented in her own native unadorned Shape. 
 She muft foften the Severity of her Afpedr., muft 
 borrow the Embellishments of Rhetorick, muft 
 employ all the Charms and Addrefs of that, to 
 fix, conquer, and win over the Diffractions, Pre- 
 judices, and Indolence of Mankind. If becaufe 
 Reafon is natural to Men, they were to be left 
 to the Power of fimple unaffifted Reafon, the 
 Minds of the Multitude would be in a State as 
 deftitute as their Bodies, if abandoned equally to 
 Nature alone, without Raiment, without Hou- 
 fes. Eloquence we may therefore ftyle the 
 B 3 Cloathing
 
 6 LECTURES concerning Led:, r. 
 
 Cloathing of Reafon, which at firft coarfe and 
 plain, a Defence meerly againft the Rigour of 
 the Seafons, became at length a Source of 
 Beauty, defendeth, preferveth, adorneth it. 
 
 LET us not then attempt to fcparate two 
 Friends thus happily united. You do rightly 
 without Doubt in cultivating Science ; it is the 
 only firm Foundation. But, if you ftop there, 
 you leave your Work imperfect : Add to Sci- 
 ence this Gift of Eloquence, which, if in the 
 Order of Nature inferior, is equal as I laid be- 
 fore, rather indeed preferable, in Ufe and prac- 
 tical Advantage; is more forcible, more fplen- 
 did, more univerfaily powerful. Confider it 
 not in the Light of philofophical abftracted Se- 
 verity, but according to the Rank it actually 
 holdeth in the World ; for we mould be guided 
 in our Choice by Reality, not Speculation: 
 What is there more to be defired, what more 
 admirable, than for one, a private Perfon, by 
 Means hereof, to fix the Attention of a large 
 Aflembly ; notwithftanding their different Tem- 
 pers, Views, and Difpofitions, to infpire alter- 
 nately, Joy, Sorrow, Indignation, Cornpaffion, 
 Love, Averfi^on ; to keep every Motion of their 
 Minds fufpended as it were on his Words; 
 and in the Conclufion, to leave them pleafed, 
 convinced, perfuaded ? Reflect, in what grand 
 Images do the Writers of Antiquity reprefent 
 the Orators of their Days. \a\ Sometimes 
 
 [a] Vehemens ut procella, excitatus ut torrens, incen- 
 fus ut fulmen, tonat, fulgurat, ct rapid is eloqtientiae fluli- 
 bus cun&a proruit, etproturbat. CICERO. 
 
 they
 
 Left, i. ORATORY. 7 
 
 they are Torrents, that rolling with impetuous 
 Fury, bear down every Thing before them. 
 Again, they are Lightnings, that dazzle and 
 flrike blind, that pierce and diflblve. At an- 
 other Time, they are Tempefts, that rage and 
 thunder, that rend, fcatter, overturn. 
 
 IN one Place, you fee a mighty People dif- 
 folved in Luxury and Indolence, effeminate, 
 corrupted, terrible only to thofe who would re- 
 form them ; [] the Orator layeth before thefe 
 their true State; he mews them from without 
 a powerful Enemy deceiving, and ready to en- 
 flave them ; Traitors felling them within ; their 
 Allies infulted, their Territories mangled and 
 alienated, their Armies ufelefs, their Trade de- 
 ftroyed, their Fleets bafled and idle; them- 
 felves in the mean while buried in Sloth, de- 
 voted to Shews and Spectacles, the Contempt 
 of Greece : Which affedling Picture he contrafts 
 with that of their Anceftors, Lovers of their 
 Country, patient of Labour, intrepid, victorious 
 over the innumerable Hofts of the Perjian Mo- 
 narch, the Defenders of Liberty and Greece ', 
 Patriots honoured with immortal Fame. Lo ! 
 this degenerate People are rouzed, kindled, 
 fired ; the Orator's Voice recals the Spirit of 
 their Anceftors ; they rum with Emulation to 
 Arms ; they fight and fall, although un- 
 fuccefsful, yet glorious, on the Plains of CA#- 
 ronea. 
 
 IN another Place, fee a [c] Tyrant trampling 
 on the Laws and Liberties of his Country, in 
 
 [b] DEMOSTHENES, [c] JULIUS CJESAR. 
 
 B i other
 
 8 LECTURES concerning Led:, i. 
 
 other Refpects the moft accomplished of Man- 
 kind : Behold him determined to inflict Death 
 upon an [d] Enemy now in his Power ! [e ] 
 One offereth himfelf to plead for this illuftrious 
 Criminal, and the Ufurper, although refolved to 
 condemn, aflenteth to hear. He ieateth himfelf 
 on his Tribunal, holding the fatal Decree pre- 
 pared beforehand : He lifteneth, his Curiofity is 
 engaged ; as the Advocate goeth on, he is 
 moved, affected, his Compaffion is raifed, he 
 turns pale, he trembles, the Decree drops from 
 his Hand j he forgives [/]. 
 
 BUT thefe Wonders have ceafed : No 
 " fuch Effects have been wrought in modern 
 " Times." 
 
 TRUE: Yet they are ftill poffible; and is it 
 not worth while to cultivate an Art which may 
 poffibly lead to fuch ? At leaft, we cannot 
 doubt, that fomewhat refembling thefe, maybe 
 ftill hoped for. 
 
 BUT, there remains a Confederation of more 
 Importance, " This Art will enable us to do 
 " much Good." 
 
 IN the feveral liberal Profeffions, for which 
 all who now hear me are intended, the Power 
 of Speaking-well qualifies the Pofleflbr to be 
 eminently ufeful. Whether you deliver your 
 Sentiments concerning the Meafures moft be- 
 neficial to your Country, and feek to abrogate 
 hurtful, or enact wife Laws : Whether you do 
 right to injured Innocence, or bring Guilt to 
 
 [d] CAIUS LIGARIUS. [e] CICERO. 
 [/] PLUTARCH in the Life of CICERO. 
 
 due
 
 Led. i. ORATORY. 9 
 
 due Punifhment, recover or defend Property 
 ufurped or attacked: Or whether laftly, you 
 lay before Men their Duty as reafonable Crea- 
 tures and Chriftians, paint the Charms of Reli- 
 gion and Virtue, or difplay the Horrors of In- 
 fidelity and Vice : In all thefe important Offices, 
 of what mighty Efficacy is Eloquence ? With- 
 out this, Knowledge proceedeth faintly, (lowly, 
 like unaffifled Strength in manual Works, 
 which may at length obtain its End, but with 
 much clumfy Labour : Oratory we may com- 
 pare to the mechanical Arts, which, by furnim- 
 ing Engines, and well adapted Inftruments, pro- 
 duce the fame Effects with Eafe, and finifh 
 with Elegancy. 
 
 THOSE who understand the Nature of So- 
 ciety will not, I believe, e^fteem it a Paradox, 
 if we afTert, that the Orator, who employeth his 
 Talent arigl t, is one of the moft uieful Mem- 
 bers of the Community, infufmg Principles of 
 Religion, Humanity, and virtuous induftry in 
 all who hear him, contributing to preferve 1 
 Peace, Juftice, and Harmony among Men. 
 
 WE may therefore lay it down as acknow- 
 ledged, that this Art is excellent. At the fame 
 Time it fhould not be concealed, that it is dif- 
 ficult} and cannot be obtained by meer Appro- 
 bation and indolent Wimes. This we might 
 fully prove, by a bare Recital of the many En- 
 dowments of Mind, which, befide outward Qua- 
 lifications of Perfon, Voice, Action, are requilite 
 to the forming a great Orator : An Afiemblage 
 
 rarely
 
 jo LECTURES concerning Led. I. 
 
 rarely met with ; and where met, ftill infufrt- 
 cient without Care. For Nature hath dealt 
 with the Mind of Man as with the Earth about 
 him, which produceth not Grain, unlefs me 
 hath before fown the Seeds in it, and Culture 
 be afterwards added. 
 
 THIS Remark points out the two great Ar- 
 ticles, of which are formed, as it were, the 
 Root and Stem of this lofty Tree of Eloquence, 
 from whence the lefs Parts, like Branches, 
 quickly (hoot. Thefe are GENIUS and 
 APPLICATION. Concerning which, as 
 fome Obfcurity hath arifen, allow me to add a 
 few Words in Explanation of them. 
 
 THE Air and Features of every Individual in 
 the human Species are different : Not lefs Di- 
 verfity is obfervable in their Minds : Their Dif- 
 pofitions, their Likings, their Powers alfo are 
 altogether different. Take any Number of 
 Perfons, you will find them inclined to different 
 Studies j each capable of fucceeding well in his 
 own, yet averfe from, and ufually unable to 
 make a Progrefs in that chofen by another. No- 
 thing is more commonly met with. Here is 
 one, who in early Youth reads the Poets with 
 Pleafure, learns with Eafe to imitate them, but 
 can fcarcely be brought to comprehend the firft 
 Elements of Geometry : While this other young 
 Perfon can hardly be dragged through a Page of 
 Homer or Horace^ who yet runs over Euclid 
 with Rapidity. As again, others there are, ut- 
 terly inept for Letters, who become good Me- 
 chanicks, or raife a Fortune by Commerce. 
 
 THIS
 
 Led. i. ORATORY. u 
 
 THIS Diftinclion iseiTential; it gives to Life its 
 whole Colour and Character. If a Man fet out 
 in the Path, to which Nature pointeth, he will go 
 on eafily and iwiftly to his utmoft Degree of 
 Perfection ; for there are Limits to all : But, if 
 by wrong Influence or Choice, he be forced or 
 feduced into another Road, he will meet with 
 Difficulties at every Step, go on ftruggling and 
 {tumbling, and if he have Refolution to perfe- 
 vere, will arrive in the End, to Mediocrity. 
 RICHELIEU, the greateft Statefman of his 
 Age, had an immoderate Ambition to be ad- 
 mired as a Poet, and became in that Refpedt 
 ridiculous : Somewhat of the fame Kind we fee 
 in Machiavel; and perhaps Cicero. Even the 
 moft verfatile Mind, that which can befl fuit it- 
 felf to different Things, confefTeth ftill this 
 Power of Nature : For, though it may per- 
 form tolerably well in a foreign Province, yet it 
 doth far better in its own. [g] Every Circum- 
 ftance and Kind of Life, faith the Poet, became 
 AriJlippWy yet we cannot imagine, that ftoical 
 Seventy fuited him fo well, as his own foft vo- 
 luptuous Philofophy. 
 
 IF I might be allowed to borrow a Compari- 
 fon from Science, I would liken fuch Nature, 
 to a Body placed in a Ray feparated by patting 
 through a Prifm, which appeareth always of 
 the fame Colour of that Ray ; but is much 
 brighter, more luminous, when beheld in Light 
 of its own natural Colour. Boccace hath left 
 
 [g] Omnis ARISTIPPUM dccuit color, & flatus, & res. 
 
 HOR. 
 
 i behind
 
 i 2 LECTURES concerning Left. i. 
 
 behind him fome ferious Writings which are de- 
 fervedly neglected; take up his Decameron , you 
 muft be pleafed : What comick Wit and Hu- 
 mour ! What Delicacy, yet Simplicity of Style 
 and Sentiment ! He is a Model in this Kind : It 
 was his Genius. Milton s Sublimity tranfports, 
 ailonifhes 5 his Attempts of Humour move Pity. 
 
 " UNIVERSAL Genius may feem an Excep- 
 tion." This, like univerfal Conqueft, is chi- 
 merical, fought after by many ; always with ill 
 Succefs, and to the Prejudice of the Seeker. 
 No Man feemeth to have fairer Pretenfions to it, 
 than Lord Bacon. What Depth of Thought ! 
 What vaft Extent of Learning ! What grand 
 Ideas ! Yet when he aimeth at Ornament, as 
 he doth not feldom, how doth this great Perfon 
 fail ! He becomes forced, unnatural, obfcure. 
 Nature hath fixed the Bounds. Some exalted 
 Souls have a much wider Range to move in ; 
 within which, they feem to be more than hu- 
 man : beyond, are but as common Men : 
 They are Sampfon, foorn of bis Strength ; Anteus^ 
 held up aloft in Air. Where the Impulfe is 
 ftrong, it cannot be miftaken ; divert, cover, 
 overwhelm it, frill it will fend out Sparks, if it 
 cannot blaze. Mallebranche, an Enthuliaft in 
 the Caufe of Truth, inveigheth againft all rheto- 
 rical Embellishments, as Inftruments of Falfe- 
 hood : and Nature breaks out, betraying him 
 in every Page j he is unawares an Orator, and 
 a fine one. 
 
 IN the general Courfe of Mankind, the Dif- 
 ference is much lefs ftrongly marked ; but 
 
 it
 
 . ORATORY. 13 
 
 it always is. As no Man is alike fit for 
 every Employment, fo there is not any, unfit 
 for all. 
 
 THE Sum is ; in the original Frame of our 
 Souls, there is a Difference proceeding from 
 the Hand of the great Maker, by which, every 
 Man is enabled to make a better Progrefs in 
 fome one Thing, Study, or Art, or Handicraft, 
 than in another ; which natural Ability we 
 name GENIUS. Sometimes it comprehend- 
 eth a wide Circuit j is fometimes confined to one 
 Science or Art, or even to one Branch of each: 
 But the moft extenlive is bounded; the nar- 
 roweft hath open to it its peculiar Path. The 
 Ufefulnefs or final Caufe of which Difpofition 
 is manifeft, that Men thus differently qualified, 
 {hould ftand in Need of, and be benefited by 
 each other ; thus all mutually obliged and 
 obliging, whilfl each moveth in his own pe- 
 culiar Sphere, fhould confpire to promote the 
 Good of the Whole. 
 
 LET us now bring home thefe Obfervations 
 to the Point before us. The firft Article to be 
 regarded in one deftined to the Study of Oratory, 
 is this, GENIUS. It is the Foundation of 
 all ; to this, all fubfequent Improvement muft 
 be proportional ; without fome Degree of it 
 all Attempts are vain, no Progrefs can be made ; 
 in which Cafe, the Attention fhould be turned 
 fome other Way. 
 
 THIS precious Gift being fupplied by the 
 Hand of Nature, you then proceed to the fe- 
 cond Article mentioned as neceffary to perfect 
 
 the
 
 14 LECTURES concerning Led. i. 
 
 the firft; this was faidtobe APPLICATION, 
 which confifteth of two Parts, STUDY and 
 PRACTICE. 
 
 You muft read the Works of the mofl emi- 
 nent Speakers ; read not ilightly or trantiently, 
 nor fo as meerly to apprehend the Senfe, but 
 with Care, Intentnefs, Affiduity; with an [/>] 
 Earneftnefs nearly equal to that of Writing. 
 Make yourfelf Mailer of their Subject. Obferve 
 the Method they have chofen. Follow them 
 through every Tranlition. Attend to their Rea- 
 foning. Take Notice, of the Addrefs with 
 which they prepare Things; how they guard 
 againft Prejudices, prevent or folve Objections ; 
 how they paint, move, amplify, contract ; 
 where abound in Images and Figures, where 
 afTume a plain fimple Style : Penetrate into the 
 feveral Reafons for this Variety. Having ar- 
 rived thus far, learn to difiinguifli the Genius of 
 each Speaker; which being known, you will 
 trace it through every Variety arifmg from Oc- 
 cafions, Circumftances, Conjectures, Imitation : 
 This is the principal Form ; the Key, which 
 gives the Tone to the reft. 
 
 FURNISHED with this Knowledge, you are to 
 compleat all by adding the fecond Branch of 
 Application, PRACTICE. 
 
 You mould by frequent Trial, make your- 
 felf acquainted with the Bent, Strength, Limits 
 of your own Genius; that having learned the 
 proper Cultivation of it, you may lay out your 
 
 [A] Legendum eft pene ad fcribendi follicitudinem. 
 
 QUINT. 
 utmoft
 
 Led. r. ORATORY. 15 
 
 utmofl Efforts in that Way ; and by obferving, 
 correcting, and guarding againft Faults, raife 
 it gradually to the utmoft Perfection, of which 
 it is capable. For as Exercife forms the Body, 
 maketh it ftrong, pliable, and docile j fo doth 
 Practice the Mind, giveth to it Firmnefs, and 
 Force, and Eafe, a Readinefs and Gracefulnefs, 
 not otherwife attainable. But as the enfuing 
 Lectures are to turn chiefly upon Articles re- 
 lative to thefe, STUDY and PRACTICE, 
 I fhall fay no more of them at prefent. 
 
 ONE Thing however it feems, that I ought 
 not to pafs over : It will probably be afked, 
 " Among the Qualities requifite to form an 
 " Orator, why is lafte omitted ? The general 
 " Opinion gives it a high Rank among them." 
 
 I ACKNOWLEGE it. In Writings and Con- 
 verfations upon this and the like Subjects, no 
 Word occurs more often : All Excellence in 
 Compofition and Judgment is refolved into it. 
 But hath this Term a clear Idea annexed ? Aik 
 for an Explanation of it ; you meet with vari- 
 ous Opinions, much Confufion and Controver- 
 fy. Let us then confider the Point : Let us, 
 if we can, fix the Value and precife Meaning 
 of the Term. 
 
 THE firft Thing which occurred to me in 
 enquiring upon this Subject was to afk, in 
 what Senfe was this Word ufed in Greece and 
 Rome, the two great Fountains of that Ele- 
 gance, which Moderns exprefs by Tafte ? I 
 could not recollect to have met with the Word 
 applied at all in this Manner, in any Greek or 
 
 Roman
 
 1 6 LECTURES concerning Left. r. 
 
 Roman Author. And yet, there is a Multitude 
 of Places in the Works of Cicero, and not fewer 
 in thofe of QuintiUan^ where the Subject led 
 them unavoidably to a mention of this Term, 
 if fuch had been at that Time ufed. 
 
 IN this latter, a remarkable Expreffion oc- 
 curreth [/] ; fpeaking of Judgment as connected 
 with Invention, he fayeth, " that Precepts are 
 " here ufelefs [], it can no more be delivered by 
 " Art than Tafte and Smell j" and he adds, 
 " muft be placed in the fame Rank with the 
 " Senfes, which cannot be taught :" A Proof, I 
 fuppofe, that the prefent famionable metaphori- 
 cal Senfe of this Word was not then known. 
 To the fame Purpofe we may cite the Queftion 
 of Horace [/] ;, " Whether Excellence in Poefy 
 " fpringeth from Nature" (that is Genius) " or 
 " Art":" To which, he determines that, " it is 
 " neceflary both mould confpire :" He feemeth 
 to have no Conception of any third Faculty. 
 
 WHAT then ? Do we not rightly infer from 
 hence, that this Term, fince unknown among 
 thofe Nations who excelled all others in the fine 
 Arts, is not necefTary ; that there is no Thing 
 efTential in thofe Arts which may not be expreft 
 without it ? where and when therefore mall we 
 fix it's Origin ? 
 
 IT feemeth to me the moft probable Conjec- 
 ture, that it's Rife is to be dated from the Time 
 
 [] Lib. vi. cap. i. 
 
 [] Nee magis arte traditur quam guftus aut odor. Re- 
 feratur oportet ad fenfus qui non docentur. 
 [/] De arte poetica. 
 
 of
 
 Left. i. ORATORY. 17 
 
 of the Revival of Letters ; and that it's native 
 Country was Italy ^ the great Scene of that Re- 
 vival. In this Conjun&ure Men applied them- 
 felves to Statuary, Painting, and Poetry, with 
 an Ardour that rofe to Enthufiafm; and thus 
 overflowing as they were with Fondnefs for 
 thefe Arts, and unable to exprefs worthily their 
 Rapture of Admiration, they fearched on all 
 Sides for Words adequate to their Ideas; when* 
 among others, this metaphorical Name Gujio 
 or Tq/ie, was introduced j and being judged apt 
 and emphatical, Ipread together with thefe Arts, 
 was transfufed, and by Degrees incorporated 
 into the feveral Languages of Europe. 
 
 " WHAT then," you will fay, " do you re- 
 " jed:, would you abolifh as ufelefs, a Word 
 " fo univerfally received, and deemed of fuch 
 < c Energy ?" By no Means. Let it be frill 
 ufed j I mean only to guard againft the Abufe 
 of it: For in my Opinion the unfkilful and un- 
 certain Ufe of it hath given Rife to Miftakes of 
 ill Confequence. If I underftand rightly the 
 Authors who treat of it, they reprefent it as a 
 diftincl Faculty of the Mind : That as the Un- 
 derftanding judgeth of Truth and Falfehood in 
 Science, fo doth Tafte, of what is beautiful or 
 otherwife in the polite Arts j it is here the Um- 
 pire and fole Judge. Now it hath been laid 
 down as an Acliom, and is not I think difputed, 
 that no more Caufes are to be admitted, than 
 fuch as are real, and fufficient to produce the 
 Effect. If then, the known Faculties of the 
 Mind fuffice to this End which is afcribed to 
 C Tafte,
 
 i8 LECTURES concerning Left. i. 
 
 Tafte, why fhould we fuppofe the Exiftence of 
 this latter ? We muft reject it as altogether ima- 
 ginary. 
 
 AND that they do thus fuffice, I apprehend 
 to be clearly the Cafe. For Proof of which, 
 run over in your own Minds the feveral Arts, 
 Poefy, Eloquence, Mufick, Painting, Architec- 
 ture ; then alk, " Is there any thing in thefe, 
 " which I may not conceive to be produced by 
 " Genius, directed by a good Underftanding, 
 " improved in the Manner above-mentioned ; 
 " by judicious Application ? " I know not any : 
 Proportion, Harmony, Variety, Novelty, Beau- 
 ty, and if there be any other Excellence, may be 
 all accounted for from thefe Caufes. Genius 
 and Underftanding we know to be real Caufes, 
 exifting in Nature, and we find them to be fuf- 
 ficient j what then is Tafte ? Conceived as a Fa- 
 culty diftincl: from them, is it any thing, but 
 a mere Name ? 
 
 IF thefe, Genius and Underftanding have 
 produced, it follows, that they fuffice to judge 
 of thefe Arts. Diftributed in different Degrees, 
 they produce and judge : A great Degree of Ge- 
 nius makes the excellent Artift ; a lefs, joined 
 with good Underftanding, forms the accurate 
 Critick. From whence you fee the Rafbn, 
 why the deepeft Mathematician, however juft 
 his Underftanding, may be a very incompetent 
 Judge of Poefy, or Eloquence : Genius is want- 
 ing : Which Reafoning may be extended to the 
 other Arts. 
 
 IT
 
 Led. i. ORATORY. 19 
 
 IT deferveth particularly to be noted, that this 
 realizing the imaginary Faculty of Tafle, began 
 indeed in the Arts j yet it did not remain con- 
 fined to them ; the Infection fpread farther* 
 was received into the Affairs of common Life, 
 into Modes and Drefs j nay it caught even the 
 Philofophers ; it became the great Standard of 
 Manners} and we have feen a certain inward 
 Senfe, a moral *Tafle^ made the Source of Duty 
 and Obligation j it may be feared with worfe 
 Effects ; as it is more dangerous to refblve Man- 
 ners, the Art of Living well, than other Arts, 
 into chimerical, at leaft refined metaphyfical 
 Principles. 
 
 MY Anfwer then to the Queftion propofed, 
 " Do I allow of the Ufe of the Term Tafte," 
 is direct. 1 do, as a complex Term, exprefT- 
 ing the Refult of " Genius and Underftanding, 
 " improved by due Application ;" in which 
 Senfe you fee it is the fame with the Qualities 
 before mentioned ; but in what I take to be the 
 ufual Suppofition, as a diftincl: Principle from 
 the Underftanding, as an independent LegiQa- 
 tor, I cannot lee any Reafon for admitting it's 
 Exiftence, and I think the Ufe of it hath caufed 
 much Obfcurity, and fome Miftake. 
 
 " BUT Tafte is reprefented as a Sentiment ; 
 <f not as an Adi of the Underftanding, but a 
 Feeling of the Heart \ni\" Another Mi- 
 
 [m] In this .metaphorical Senfe only, as a Retijh for, 
 or liking^ do I find the Word ufed by the Antients ; as, 
 " Guftus verzlaudis ; guftus virtutis :" never as a Talent, 
 or Power of excelling or judging in any Art. 
 
 C 2 take,
 
 2O LECTURES concerning Ledt. i. 
 
 take, as I imagine : For what are all thefe, di- 
 ftinguimed by the fafhionable Name of Senti- 
 ments ? The Understanding approveth or difap- 
 proveth : To thofe Acts, Nature hath annexed 
 certain Degrees of Pleafure or Pain : But thefe 
 Confequences follow fo clolely, that we cannot 
 diftinguifh between them and their Caufes ; and 
 the Feeling being the ftronger Impreffion, we 
 drop the preceding Act of the Underftanding, 
 and name the whole, Sentiment. 
 
 I HOPE that I mail be pardoned for this little 
 Excurfion into Metaphyficks : the Subject re- 
 quired it. What I have faid may appear new, 
 perhaps falfe ; but let it be confidered, that I 
 deliver it only as an Opinion. In Matters of 
 fuch Nicety, where Enquirers muft probably 
 difagree, it becometh us to temper Judgment 
 with Humanity, to chufe the befh Opinion, 
 without greatly condemning the others. 
 
 SURE I am, that an Attempt of reftoring 
 the antient Simplicity ought not to be difcou- 
 raged : But the Danger is, that as Cuftom hath 
 eftablifhed firmly the prefent Notions, the an- 
 tient may be deemed new ; and the Defire of 
 bringing them back looked upon as a Zeal for 
 Innovation. 
 
 IF, after all, any Perfon mould ftill infift 
 upon the Ufe of this Word 'fafle, in a Senfe 
 different from, and additional to, Genius and 
 Application, (for we difpute not about mere 
 Words or Sounds) I mail not contend with 
 him : This only I would propofe as neceffary 
 to avoid Confufion and Miftake j let him fix 
 
 a diftinct
 
 Lect. i. ORATORY. 21 
 
 a diftinct precife Notion of it ; for I confefs 
 myfelf, after much Reflexion, utterly unable 
 to form any fuch. 
 
 I HAVE proceeded thus far in fome general 
 introductory Obfervations, which I thought fit 
 to be premifed, as ufeful in giving Light to 
 what mall follow. In my next Lecture, I pro- 
 pofe to enter upon my main Defign, and to 
 lay before you the Plan of the enfuing Dif- 
 courfes. At prefent, I (hall only beg your In- 
 dulgence to make one or two Remarks, relative 
 to the Manner I have chofen. 
 
 Firft y IT may be neceflary to make an Apo- 
 logy for the Language, which in Academical 
 Lectures, it is thought, mould be Latin. 
 " Why, it may be afked, do you depart from 
 aneftablifhed Rule?" 
 
 IN Anfwer to which Queftion, without en- 
 tering into the comparative Merits or Demerits 
 of writing in a dead Language, which would 
 carry me too far, I /hall only obferve, that on 
 the prefent Occafion at leaft, our own Tongue 
 is preferable : Becaufe, the End now propoled 
 is Improvement in Eloquence ; and how is this 
 Eloquence to be exerted ? In our own Tongue. 
 Thus it is, we are to fpeak at the Bar, in the 
 Senate, in the Pulpit. To it therefore muft 
 our Rules principally relate, and from thofe 
 who have written in it, we mufl draw Cita- 
 tions and Examples: Which we cannot per- 
 form properly in a learned Language ; for al- 
 though Cuftom hath rendered familiar the In- 
 troduction of Latin PafTages in Englifo Dif- 
 C 3 courfe ;
 
 22 LECTURES concerning Led. I. 
 
 courfe ; yet Englifi interwoven in a Latin Com- 
 petition would, I fuppofe, appear abfurd and 
 monftrous. 
 
 Secondly, IT may give Ground for Objection, 
 that Rules and Remarks concerning Eloquence 
 are here illuftrated, very much by Inftances, 
 taken from the Poets. " Would it not be 
 more ufeful as well as pertinent, to draw 
 " them from the Orators ? Why are we at eve- 
 " ry Inftant checked in our Courfe, and hur- 
 ct ried into another Art ?" 
 
 FOR three Reafons. Fir/I, Becaufe, the 
 Connexion between Poefy and Eloquence is fo 
 clofe, that in moft Cafes, Examples from the 
 one extend equally to the other. 
 
 Secondly, BECAUSE Poetical Examples are 
 fhorterj thus more fuited to the Nature of 
 theie Lectures, and eafier to the Memory. 
 
 thirdly, BECAUSE the Poets, lefs ftudious of 
 concealing Art, ufe bolder Ornaments, and 
 more ftriking ; for that Reafon fitter to illuftrate 
 and exemplify, 
 
 BESIDES, Verfes interfperfed form a Variety, 
 which may enliven j and relieve the Attention. 
 In which laft View it is, that I have ventured 
 to intermingle fome few original Performances 
 of the poetical 1 Kind j not as Patterns propofed 
 to your Imitation, for I am fenfible how flen- 
 der, if any, my Vein is in that Way j but mere- 
 ly as Change to diverfify, and Novelty to enter- 
 tain. 
 
 Laftly, WE all know, that the chief Defign 
 propofed in the Eftablimment of the prefent 
 
 Lecture,
 
 Lect. i. ORATORY. 23 
 
 Lecture, was to teach the Art of Speaking, the 
 Rules of diftinct, proper, graceful Pronuncia- 
 tion ; yet this Article hath but fmall Share in 
 the Difcourfes I am about to deliver : " How 
 " is this- to be juftified ?" 
 
 BECAUSE, this Art of Speaking cannot be 
 taught with any good Effect in a continued 
 Difcourfe []. General Precepts avail little to 
 this End, without Experience ; their Ufe lieth 
 in the practical Application, in frequent Trials, 
 wherein an attentive Hearer may interpofe oc- 
 cafionally, remark Errors and Defects, give the 
 due Tone and Cadence, and point out and ex- 
 emplify the right Manner. Hence in the fol- 
 lowing Lectures I have chofen a Subject more 
 capable of being treated in this general Way ; 
 yet I hope not wholly without Advantage ; 
 fuch as may contribute to form your Judgments 
 to a Knowledge of true Eloquence ; leaving to 
 our ufual Weekly Lectures the Care of Pronun- 
 ciation j entreating you at the fame Time, in 
 this laft important Article, to follow my Judg- 
 ment, rather than Example [0]. 
 
 [] See ARIST. Rhetor. Book iii. 
 [o] Quafi non ea praecipiam aliis, quae mihi ipfi defunt. 
 Cic.de Orat. lib. ii. , 
 
 C 4 LEG-
 
 24 LECTURES concerning Lett. 2, 
 
 LECTURE the Second. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 the Hiftory of the Rife and Progrefs of Eloquence 
 among the Antients. 
 
 is not any Art, which hath been 
 more frequently and amply treated of 
 than this of Rhetorick j a Proof at once of its 
 Worth and Difficulty. Difcourfes prepared for 
 this Audience, cannot be fuppofed to compre- 
 hend fo mighty an Object, as this whole Art, a 
 Work as difproportioned to their Nature, to 
 which Concifenefs is eflential, as it is fuperior 
 to the Abilities of the Writer. Their Aim is 
 much more humble j to chufe out fuch Parts as 
 have been lefs accurately handled, or fuch as 
 feem likely to furnifh the moft ufeful Obferva- 
 tions j which Obfervations mall be thrown to- 
 gether, without that exact Regularity neceflary 
 in a formed Syftem, or elaborate Treatife j yet 
 not without Regard to Order ; for even Effays 
 have their Method. That ye may fee as much 
 of this as appeareth requifite, and have fome 
 View of the Courfe through which ye are to be 
 led, I begin here with a fhort Sketch of my 
 Defign. 
 
 IN
 
 Lea. 2. ORATORY. 25 
 
 IN this Lecture, I propofe to treat of the Rife 
 and Progrefs of Eloquence among the Antients. 
 [a] Next, I fhall give fome Account of the 
 moft celebrated Treatifes concerning it, which 
 remain to us from Antiquity. [] Afterwards, 
 fhall follow its Hiftory in modern Times, to- 
 gether with fome Reflections upon it. This 
 leadeth to fome Thoughts concerning [c] Imi- 
 tation. We {hall then proceed to confider Elo- 
 quence in the various Refpects it bcareth to 
 Man, as it addrefTeth itfelf firft to his [d~\ Rea- 
 fon. Secondly, to his [e] Paffions. Thirdly, 
 to his outward Senfes ; under which laft 
 Head, we fhall difcourfe of [f] Style or Elocu- 
 tion^ as it comprehendeth Ornament, Compo- 
 fition, Figures. Laftly, I fhall endeavour to 
 direct thefe Obfervations, this Art, to practical 
 Ufe and Advantage, applying them to our Im- 
 provement in one [g] Profeffion, which almoft 
 all my Hearers are deftined to engage in. 
 
 THIS View openeth to us a large Field to 
 expatiate in. But, I mail contract what I have 
 to fay, touching lightly on many Particulars, 
 that I may dwell on the Principal, avoiding as 
 far as I can, to repeat trite Remarks ; yet not 
 ftudious to feek for fuch as are fingular : As 
 propofmg to inform without tiring, and, ifpof- 
 fible, to entertain without mifleading. 
 
 |>] Lea. 3 & 4. [J] Lea. 5 & 6. [c] Lea. 7. 
 [d] Lea. 8 & 9. (>J Lea. 10 & 1 1. [/] Left. 
 
 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 1 8. 0] Lea. 19, 20, 21, 22. 
 
 4. THE
 
 2,6 . LECTURES -concerning Lecl. 2. 
 
 THE Faculty of Speech was given to Man- 
 kind for excellent Ends, for communicating our 
 Wants, and tranfacting Bufinefs ; to be the In- 
 ftrument of conveying Inftrudion, Advice, Ex- 
 hortation, and Comfort to each other. This, 
 like all other natural Powers, is obierved to ex- 
 ert itfelf with different Degrees of Efficacy in 
 different Men. Some, therefore, excelled ori- 
 ginally in the Ufe of this Faculty, and by this 
 Superiority, were diftinguimed from the reft ; 
 being enabled hereby, to contribute much more 
 than the others, to the Advantage and Pleafure 
 of thofe with whom they converted. Now, 
 this Diftinction mutt have been more confpicu- 
 ous in Society, than among fcattered Individuals, 
 or fmall Families : Moft conlpicuous in thofe 
 Societies, which had rifen to fome Degree of 
 Grandeur : For, as in thefe latter, the Variety 
 gf interfering Interefts is greater, more numer- 
 ous .and nicer Affairs are to be tranfafted, Ex- 
 cellence of this Kind becometh of Courfe more 
 ufeful, and the Perfon thus excelling more 
 eminent. 
 
 IN Societies where Freedom was eftablimed, 
 this was likely to be the Cafe, more than under 
 defpotick Government} becaufe, in this laft, 
 Force rules, in the other, Perfuafion : And 
 where (hall you expecT: to find the Art of Per- 
 fuafion moft cultivated, but there, where it 
 hath the ftrongeft Influence ? 
 
 HENCE we are not to look for it in any great 
 Degree of Perfection in the Eaft, although it is 
 probable that Letters firft flourimed there j be- 
 caufe
 
 Led. 2. ORATORY. 27 
 
 ciulc that Part of the Globe was early and al- 
 moft univerfally fubject to arbitrary Sway. It is 
 ealy to lee, that in mentioning the Eaft I except 
 the People of the Jews, whofe facred Monu- 
 ments abound with Strains of the moft fublime 
 Eloquence : But thefe were of a divine Original, 
 ind fall not within my prefent Argument, 
 which is confined to Effects purely human. 
 
 NEITHER are we to look for Eloquence in 
 Egypf, although the Fountain of Arts. The 
 Spirit of Myftery which prevailed, the hiero- 
 glyphical Characters in which all their Erudition 
 was couched, were mortal Enemies to all Im- 
 provement of this Sort : Intent only on painting 
 their Thoughts, they were carelefs about the 
 Manner of fpeaking them. At leafl there are 
 no Monuments remaining which may induce us 
 to think that they applied themfelves with any 
 Care to cultivate this Art. On the contrary, . 
 many Caufes confpired to render this Art flour- 
 iming among the Greeks. 
 
 LIBERTY, theNurfe of all Arts and Sciences, 
 in a particular Manner the Parent of Eloquence : 
 The number of independent States in Greece^ 
 from whence muft have arifen perpetual Dif- 
 putes, Treaties, and Alliances, which gave con- 
 tinual Exercife to the Talent of Speaking : Com- 
 merce early attended to, which enlarges the 
 Knowledge, Views, and Intercourfe of Men : 
 The great Council inftituted by Amphittyon, 
 in which the Interefts of the feveral States were 
 difcuiTed, and all Differences fettled ; and it is 
 evident, that where Debate is allowed, with 
 
 Exclufion
 
 28 LECTURES concerning Left. 2. 
 
 Exclufion of Force, the Art of Speaking muft 
 be improved. 
 
 WE have no Hiftory of the firft Rife and 
 gradual Advancement of this Art in Greece .* 
 But we are certain, that it had made a confi- 
 derable Progrefs in the Time of Homer, as he 
 hath chara6terifed three principal Kinds of it in 
 three of his Heroes : The fhort, clear, and un- 
 adorned in Menelaus : The diffufe, iniinuating, 
 and pathetick in Neftor : The ftrong, animated, 
 and vehement in Ulyffes. There are alfo many 
 Paflagcs in his Poems, in which he mentioneth 
 with high Praifes the Art of Speaking, and the 
 Efteem in which they who excelled in it, were 
 held even in thofe early Times. And, as he is 
 fuppofed to have drawn with Exa&nefs the 
 Manners of the Age of which he wrote, we 
 may conclude from hence, that Eloquence was 
 known and valued in the Time of the Trojan 
 War. Agreeably to which, we learn from 
 PAUSANI AS, that the firft School of Oratory in 
 Greece was opened under the Reign of ThefiuSy 
 in the Generation preceding this War. 
 
 AMONG all the States of Greece, Athens 
 however it was that carried this Art to its 
 higheft Perfection. To which the Genius of 
 the People, the Form of its Government, and 
 its Laws, more efpecially contributed, 
 
 Firfty THE Genius of the People favoured 
 its Improvement : For they were valiant, Lovers 
 of Liberty, addicted to Commerce, quick of 
 Apprehenfion, vain, exceedingly curious, in- 
 conflant, fond of Novelty j Qualities, fit to ren- 
 der
 
 Left. 2. ORATORY. 29 
 
 der them Admirers and Encouragers of thofe, 
 who could fpeak plaufibly, elegantly, and art- 
 fully. 
 
 THEIR Form of Government had alfo the 
 fame Tendency. All Affairs relating to the 
 State were propofed in the Senate of Five- 
 hundred : From thence, if approved, were car- 
 ried before the Council of Five-thoufand. And 
 in Points of an extraordinary Nature, every Ci- 
 tizen had a Right to give his Suffrage. Were 
 not thefe different Scenes of Debate, the Au- 
 dience enlarging in each, fo many Schools, as it 
 were, to initiate, and perfect an Athenian Se- 
 nator in Eloquence ? 
 
 THE whole Turn of their Laws likewife con- 
 tributed to produce the fame Effect. Of this 
 Sort was the fundamental Law, which ordained 
 every Perfon who had been Magistrate, or ex- 
 ercifed any publick Truft, to give Account of his 
 Adminiftration before the People. 
 
 SUCH likewife was the Law, which punimed 
 with Confifcation of Goods and Baniihment the 
 Accufer, where the Accufed was abfolved by 
 more than two-thirds of the Suffrages. 
 
 No Perfon likewife was permitted to fpeak 
 in publick, who was under a certain Age, or 
 who was proved to be guilty of any great Crime, 
 of publick Immorality, Effeminacy, or Extra- 
 vagance. 
 
 WHOEVER alfo propofed a new Law, if it 
 were rejected, and appeared wrong or perni- 
 cious, was liable to be called to a publick Ac- 
 count,
 
 30 LECTURES concerning Left. 2* 
 
 count, and 1 if condemned, feverely fined. All 
 thefe Laws, and many others of a like Kind, 
 might be recounted, evidently tended to -pro- 
 mote the Study of Oratory. 
 
 I AM likewife inclined to pafs the fame Judg- 
 ment on that Law of the Areopagus^ which 
 made it highly penal for an Advocate, to at- 
 tempt in his Pleading to move the Paffions of 
 the Judges : For, although a great Part of Elo- 
 quence doth confift in the pathetick, yet is the 
 Abufe hereof, the quitting the Point under 
 Debate, and appealing to the Paffions, a prime 
 Caufe of corrupting Eloquence : And it feemeth 
 not improbable, that to this wife Law may, in a 
 great Meafure, be attributed the ciofe, correct, 
 reafoning Manner peculiar to the Orators of 
 Athem. 
 
 FROM thefe concurring Caufes it came to 
 pafs, that Eloquence was the chief, alrnoft the 
 only Way of opening Accefs to Honours in the 
 State. It became more remarkably fo, from the 
 Time of Pericles^ who governed Athens^ not- 
 withftanding its Love of Liberty, for many 
 Years, with almoft abfolute Sway. To which 
 Height he was raifed, and fupported in it, by 
 many great Qualities ; above all, by his fingular 
 Eloquence, wherein Hiftorians agree, that he 
 far excelled all who lived before him. He is 
 defcribed in his Harangues, as Thundering and 
 Lightning, from whence we may conclude, 
 that his Manner was forcible and vehement. 
 
 ABOUT his Time, Greece abounded with ex- 
 temporaneous Orators, named Sophifts, who pro- 
 felled
 
 Lea. 2. ORATORY. 31 
 
 fefled the Art of defending all Caufes, of fpeak- 
 ing without Preparation on arty Point propofed, 
 and rendered themlelves greatly admired for 
 thefe extraordinary Talents. By the Fragments 
 which remain of thefe Perfons, it appears, that 
 however inaccurate and vain-glorious they might 
 have been, yet they had great Abilities, and 
 contributed not a little to the poliming and per- 
 fecting of the Greek Language. 
 
 Socrates,, the great Improver of human Rea- 
 fon, was alfo an Improver of Eloquence, ridi- 
 culing the falle Ornaments of thefe Sophifis, as 
 well as confuting their falfe Realbnings. And 
 his Difciple Plato t by Example as well as by 
 Precept, carried Oratory nearly to its Height. 
 But, concerning him, we mall take an Oppor- 
 tunity of fpeaking more at large hereafter [/']. 
 
 ABOUT the fame Time, Hiftory, which had 
 hitherto appeared in a mean Drefs, arrayed her- 
 felf in all the Charms that Eloquence could 
 beftowj pure, eafy, flowing in Herodotus; in 
 Thucydides, elaborate, deep, fublime. This lat- 
 ter, befide the extraordinary Spirit of his Narra- 
 tion, hath interwoven many admirable Speeches, 
 written with the utmoft Brevity and Force, 
 which render his Work peculiarly fit for the 
 Study of one who would (peak in publick : For 
 all whom, he is an excellent Model, with fomc 
 Variation in one Particular j his Manner is ex- 
 ceedingly clofe and compact, fitter for the 
 Clofet than a large Audience : As abundant in 
 Senfe as frugal or Expreflion, he hath equalled 
 
 [/'] Lecture 18. 
 
 Sentences
 
 32 LECTURES concerning Led. 2 . 
 
 Sentences to Words $ whence Difficulty then, 
 now Obfcurity []. 
 
 I OUGHT not on this Occafion to omit 
 Ifocmtes, who although not in the firfl Rank of 
 Orators, was highly inftrumental in the Ad- 
 vancement of the Art. Born with an eafy and 
 fruitful, although not elevated Genius, of fweet 
 Temper, and gentle Manners, he opened a new 
 Track fuitable to his Difpofition, foft and flow- 
 ry. He firft perfected Compofition ; taught 
 the Periods to fall with tuneful Cadence ; and 
 Profe hitherto wandering in harfh Licence, he 
 firfl retrained by certain Feet and harmonious 
 Meafures [/]. Having alfo lived to extreme 
 old Age, and remained very long at the Head 
 of a famous and flouriming School, he filled 
 Greece with his Difciples, who fpread every 
 where the Politenefs and Elegance of his Man- 
 ner. 
 
 AT length, forming himfelf upon thefe Mo- 
 dels, chiefly upon that of Plato, whom he had 
 heard in his Youth, and that of ThucydidtSy 
 whofe Hiftory he is faid to have tranfcribed 
 eight Times, that he might imprefs it the more 
 deeply on his Memory, Qemojlhenes, railed 
 Eloquence to the Summit of Perfection : Uniting 
 the Elevation and Majefty of the Philofopher, to 
 the deep Senfe and Concifenefs of the Hiftorian, 
 he added to both, the Fire and Vehemence of 
 Pericles, thus equally fitted to inftruct, to affect, 
 
 [] Verborum prope numerum fententiarum numero 
 confequitur. De orat. lib. 2. Subobfcurus THUCYDIDES. 
 Idem. |7] CICERO de claris orator ibus. 
 
 to
 
 . i. ORATORY. 33 
 
 to convince. Examine his Orations attentively j 
 you find nothing fuperfluous, nothing idle, no 
 glittering Points, no affected Turns, no falfe 
 Sublime, no ftudied Pathetickj but all leem- 
 ingly artlefs, plain, and fimple ; yet under that 
 apparent Simplicity, Energy, Vehemence, Sub- 
 limity, Paffion irrefiftible. Is he to compute, 
 to provide for the Expences of a neceffary 
 War ? no Geometer more exact, more metho- 
 dical. Is he to relate a Tranfadion ? he is 
 pure, diftincl:, perfpicuous. Is he to cite the 
 Example, and commend the Behaviour of their 
 Anceftors ? what Pomp, what Grandeur, what 
 Magnificence ! The Verfes of Homer fcarceiy 
 flow with more Copioufnefs and more Har- 
 mony. Is he to reproach the Degeneracy of 
 the prefent Race of Athenians ? what Ardor 1 
 what Keenefs ! mingled with Strokes of Ten- 
 dernefs and Concern ! 
 
 " [m] BEHOLD then, O Athenians, yoilr 
 
 " true State; to what Height of Infolence this 
 
 " Man hath arifen ; fo as hot to leave it in 
 
 " your Power to chufe Adion or Tranquillity. 
 
 " He menaceth, he fpeaks with Arrogance 5 
 
 " and not contented with the Places he hath 
 
 . " fubdued, is continually aiming at more ; and 
 
 <c while we fit carelefs and at Eafe, is drawing 
 
 <c over our Heads a mighty Net. When there- 
 
 c fore, O Athenians, will ye do what ye ought ? 
 
 <* When fomething mall have happened ! 
 
 <c When there is a Neceffity ? What Judgment 
 
 [//z] See firft PHIMP, chap. 4. 
 
 D then
 
 34 LECTURES concerning Led. 2. 
 
 " then mall we form of what hath been al- 
 " ready done, for I think the greateft Neceffity 
 " to ingenuous Spirits, is the Shame of their 
 " own ill Management. Will ye compleat 
 " your own Difgrace ? Will ye perfift in run- 
 " ning through the public AfTembly, afking 
 " each other, Is there any News ? What can 
 " be more new than a Man of Macedon fub- 
 " duing the Athenian^ and governing Greece 
 " at his Pleafure ? Is Philip dead ? No in 
 " Truth, but he is fick. What importeth it 
 " to you, which is the Cafe; for ye will foon 
 " make to yourfelves another Philip ?" 
 
 O GREAT and exalted Genius ! Prince, I 
 had almoft faid God, of Eloquence ! Thou 
 haft pointed out the true Path to Perfwafion. 
 We labour ambitious to tread in thy Foot- 
 fteps, although at an infinite Diftance, con- 
 vinced, that even a faint Refemblance of thee 
 excelleth every other Original. 
 
 BUT I return to the Courfe of my Narration. 
 After the Death of Demofthenes, Eloquence 
 quickly declined, at length totally vanifhed from 
 Greece. At the Diftance of many Years, we 
 behold her reviving in Rome, which having fub- 
 dued Greece by Arms, laboured to force from 
 her the Praife cf Arts like wife. But here, al- 
 though triumphant, and fcarcely diminimed in 
 Luftre, flie made but a fhort Abode : For foon 
 declining, after now and then fome feeble Ef- 
 forts, me at laft funk in the Inundation of Bar- 
 barians with the Empire itfelf : Thus, to ufe 
 4 the
 
 Left. 2. ORATORY. 35 
 
 the Comparifon applied to the [] State and 
 Fall of that Empire, refembling the Rhine, 
 which long a great River, then flowing, divided 
 through feparate Channels, is diminilhed, at 
 length entering into vaft Sands, is abforbed and 
 loft. 
 
 HOWEVER, from the Hiftory of Eloquence 
 among the Latins^ there are two Remarks 
 which I would make. The firft, which I fhall 
 have Occafion hereafter to mention more than 
 once, is, that Poefy was brought to fome Degree 
 of Maturity, long before Eloquence. For 
 EnninSy Terence^ and Plautus, had raifed the 
 Glory of the Roman Mufe very high, before the 
 Name of an Orator was heard of. As far as 
 we can judge, the Cafe was the fame in Greece ', 
 and we have no Caufe to think, that there had 
 appeared a (ingle Piece of good Profe, when 
 the Iliad difplayed Poefy in its meridian Glory. 
 And I believe the Obfervation is true in general. 
 
 I WOULD account for it in this Manner. 
 Men juft coming out of Ignorance are ftruck 
 moft by what is extraordinary j they are fond 
 of the marvellous, and do not approve, except 
 where they admire. Hence Poefy, recom- 
 mended by Harmony of Numbers and Stateli- 
 nefs of Exprefiion, claiming fomewhat luper- 
 natural, and fpeaking in a Style fingular and 
 ftrange, pleafed, charmed, and was cultivated. 
 Time, and Experience, and Reflexion were ne- 
 cefTary to mature the Judgment, and form it to 
 
 [] Confidcrations furies caufes de la grandeur, &c. dea 
 Remains. 
 
 D 2 a Relifh
 
 36 LECTURES concerning Left, i. 
 
 a Relifti of Truth in its plain, natural Drefs. 
 This Account is confirmed by an Obfervation 
 of Ariftotle [0], that the firft Orators afTeded a 
 poetical Style ; at length, a better Judgment 
 taught them to defcend to one more fimple : 
 Wherein, faith he, they had the Example of the 
 Poets themfelves to inftruct them j among 
 whom, they, who writing for the Stage were 
 obliged to give their Fictions an Air of Probabi- 
 lity, thought it neceffary to bring their Rxpref- 
 fions nearer to thofeof Converfation. 
 
 A SECOND Remark is, That Poefy long fur- 
 vived Eloquence. For this latter fell with 
 Cicero, before the former had attained to its 
 Summit : And late, in the Empire, when Ora- 
 tory had been long extinguished, the Roman 
 Mufe appeareth in the Writings of Claudian 
 with many Charms, although leffened in Purity 
 and Majefty. The Reafon whereof feems to 
 be this : The abfolute Power of one, fuppofe 
 him to be a polite and generous Prince, may 
 encourage and cherifh, perhaps better than a 
 Commonwealth, a Poetick Genius : But Free- 
 dom is the only Parent and Nurfe of Eloquence : 
 The Soil of Liberty is the only one, from 
 which her Lawrels can be gathered. A far- 
 ther Inftance of which I think, may be drawn 
 from a neighbouring Nation on the Continent, 
 which governed by one abfolute Monarch, hath 
 produced fome, indeed, excellent Poets; but few 
 Orators, and none by any Means equal in their 
 [<?] Rhetor. Lib. iii. 
 
 Kind :
 
 Left. i. ORATORY. 37 
 
 Kind: As you may prove by reading the moft 
 admired Pieces, delivered in their Academy, 
 and from their Pulpits. 
 
 To return to Greece, from whence on this 
 Subject it is fcarcely poffible to depart, we may 
 ailign two Caufes for the Decay of Eloquence. 
 One is, the Lofs of Liberty ; for the Greeks had 
 palled fuccefiively under the Yoke of Macedon 
 and of Rome. From henceforth the Love of 
 their Country turned into private Faction ; their 
 Eloquence was loft in flaviili Panegyrick, and 
 mean Adulation ; their Learning became a vain, 
 wordy, difputative Philofophy. 
 
 ANOTHER Caufe was; the Multitude of fo- 
 reign Perfons and Cuftoms, which after Alex- 
 ander s Conquefts in the Eail, poured in upon 
 them ; corrupting their Morals, infecting them 
 with Luxury and Effeminacy ; and introducing 
 into their Speech and Writings the Ajiatick 
 Manner, which had been always oppofed to 
 the Attick ; being pompous, fwelling, and re- 
 dundant; whereas the other was pure, neat, 
 and nervous. 
 
 IT may be worth while, in this Place, to re- 
 mark, the Similitude of Degrees, by which this 
 Corruption proceeded in Athens and in Rome. 
 After the Death of Demofthenes and Phocion, 
 this Degeneracy appeared early in the Writings 
 of Demetrius Phalereus, one of high Rank and 
 great Virtues ; but the Man, who is recorded 
 to have \p] firft ftripped Eloquence of her plain 
 manly Drefs, and to have cloathed her in effe- 
 [/>] CICERO, Orator. 
 
 D 3 minate
 
 38 LECTURES concerning Left. 2. 
 
 minate Gaiety. He firft fought after Orna- 
 ments, pointed Turns, glittering -Expreffions, 
 affe&ed Oppofitions, with all the little Pretti- 
 neffes and Elegancies, which may adorn an 
 Epigram, but are unbecoming of Truth and 
 good Senfe. [q] Timteus Siculus added an Af- 
 feitation of Novelty, and the florid Style. At 
 length we fee as it were the laft Glimmerings of 
 Eloquence, about the Time of the Emperor 
 Julian^ in the Writings of Libanius and the 
 other Sophifts, which are high, tedious, pom- 
 pous Declamation. Thus Eloquence in its old 
 Age, as in afecond Infancy, endeth juft as it fet 
 out, in a flowery poetick Style. 
 
 How like to this was its gradual Declenfion 
 in Rome ? You fee its firft Corruption juft ap- 
 pearing in Velleius Paterculus j more ftrongly in 
 Seneca, whofe Writings abound with the little 
 Beauties before-mentioned, ftudied Oppofitions, 
 and fparkling Conceits: Which Manner was 
 followed by Lucius Florw, and carried to the 
 moft refined Height by the younger Pliny. 
 Even the fuperior Genius and profound Senfe 
 of Tacitus could not wholly efcape the Infec- 
 tion j who, probably, to enliven the Drynefs of 
 his Subject, of which he expreffeth his Senfe, 
 and Apprehenfion that it would difguft, added 
 to this fhort affected Point, the foreign Mixture 
 of poetick Exprefllon. Aufonius, and the other 
 late Panegyrifts, from this Corruption funk yet 
 
 [q] LONGINUS gives this Account of him, and pro- 
 duceth an Inftance. 
 
 lower,
 
 Led. 2. ORATORY. 39 
 
 lower, into cold, frothy, prolix Declamation : 
 Until at length, after this long dufky Evening, 
 the Night of Barbarifm, Goths and Vandals > 
 overfpreading all, put out every Spark of Learn- 
 ing and Eloquence. 
 
 FROM thefe Obfervations we might draw 
 LefTons inftructive to ourfelves, which is the 
 nobleft Ufe of Hiftory : And, if I might be 
 permitted to digrefs, I think, that I could mew 
 among us fomething not very unlike this Suc- 
 ceffion of Changes. It is to be hoped indeed, 
 that we have not yet funk far into the Decline 
 of Letters : But, one Symptom there is of the 
 Decay of Eloquence very confpicuous : We 
 have feen the Age of Points, Turns, and flowery 
 Expremon -, Faults, which all, young Perfons 
 efpecially, cannot be too earneftly warned 
 againft. But we mall have a fitter Opportunity 
 of difcourfing hereafter on this Subject. 
 
 I HAVE purpofely deferred hitherto, meaning 
 to conclude with it, a Point much agitated, " 
 and varioufly decided by learned Men, " A 
 " Comparifon of the Greek and Roman Elo- 
 " quence 5" concerning which, I fhali hazard 
 a Conjecture or two. 
 
 IF we fhould fuppofe the Genius of each 
 Nation to have been equal, which may be 
 much doubted, yet there feem to be Reafons, 
 why the Advantage fhould have lain on the 
 Part* of the Athenians. Firjl, Becaufe Elo- 
 quence was not at all ftudied in Rome, during 
 the beft Age of the Commonwealth, the Age 
 of Virtue and Liberty : This we may determine 
 D4 to
 
 40 LECTURES concerning Led:. 2, 
 
 to have been, the Time from the Defeat of 
 Pyrrhus until the entire Conqueft of Carthage 
 by the younger Scipio j during which Space, 
 no Orator of Note is mentioned. Afterwards, 
 little more remained than the Form of a Com- 
 monwealth ; for the Struggles that enfued were 
 not fo properly Contentions for Freedom, as 
 who mould be the Tyrant. In this latter Sea- 
 fon it was, that Eloquence began to appear, and 
 grew up ; a Seafon too ftormy for fo tender a 
 Plant. For, although difturbed Times con- 
 tribute often to confirm Eloquence, marpening 
 the Wits and rouzing the Spirits of Men, yet 
 this mould be an Eloquence already far ad- 
 vanced, ftrong enough to refift Difficulties, 
 and which may gain new Strength by the Con- 
 tention ; if it be in its Infancy, fuch tumultu- 
 ous Seafons nip it in its Bud, at leaft keep down 
 its Growth. This was the Cafe in Rome. For 
 Antony and Craffus, the firft Orators of Note, 
 and after them Hortenfms .and Tulfy, flourifhed 
 in the moft unfettled and corrupt Times of the 
 Republick. In the Writings of this latter, we 
 fee the Struggles of dying Liberty ; and with 
 his laft Groans expired together Freedom and 
 Eloquence. In Athens it was otherwife. For, 
 in the moft glorious Age of that City, from the 
 Time of Themificdes until the Death of Phaeton, 
 Eloquence and the polite Arts were no lefs 
 eagerly attended to, than Arms. From whence 
 it is reafonable to conclude, that they muft 
 }iave been cultivated here more fuccefsfully 
 
 than
 
 Led. 2. O R A T O R*f. 41 
 
 than in Rome, where they fell upon a general 
 Diflblution of Manners, and a declining Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 Secondly, THE Time, during which Elo- 
 quence was cultivated in Rome, was alfo much 
 fhorter than in Athens-, from whence its Im- 
 provement fhould feem to have been lefs. For, 
 as we have juft now faid, Antony and Craffus 
 were the firft celebrated Orators among the 
 Romans, and they were but the Generation be- 
 fore Tully, the laft : Whereas, we may com- 
 pute the Age of Eloquence at Athens, from 
 Solon and Pifijlratus, down to Demetrius Pba- 
 lereus, which contained about 280 Years. 
 
 thirdly, IT feems, that the Language of the 
 Greeks gave them great Advantages over the 
 Romans in this Refpect. The great Variety of 
 Inflections j the Number of different Termina- 
 tions in which it aboundeth, many of them 
 Vowels ; the extraordinary Copioufnefs of the 
 Language ; its Harmony j the Eafe of varying 
 Expreffions in it; of making new and more 
 fignificant Words by Compoiition ; the Num- 
 ber and Diftinctnefs of its Particles, ufeful both 
 for Emphafis and Perfpicuity ; were all im- 
 portant Advantages, which enabled the Greeks, 
 on every fubject to cloath their Thoughts in a 
 Dreis eafy and graceful. Whereas, the Lan- 
 guage of the Romans being lefs rich, lefs har- 
 monious, lefs pliable, they were compelled to 
 have Recourfe to Art ; and, in order to fupply 
 thefe Defedh, fell into fuch harm Tranfpofi- 
 tions, as give an Air of Stiffnefs and Conftraint 
 
 to
 
 42 DfeCTURES concerning Led. 3. 
 
 to their Writings ; often occafion Obfcurity ; 
 and tire the Ear by an uniform Cadence of the 
 Periods. 
 
 Laftly. IF we reft the Merit of both Nations 
 upon two Champions as it were, it feemeth to 
 me that we mall be confirmed in the fame 
 Judgment. We cannot deny the Roman to 
 have been poffeffed of the moft extraordinary 
 Endowments. Where do we meet with fuch 
 Fruitfulnefs of Fancy ? Sentiments fo delicate, 
 yet fo juft ? Such Richnefs of Expreffion with 
 fo much Purity ? In Panegyrick, fuch Pomp 
 with Chaftity of Style j fuch Elegance without 
 Affectation ; fuch Abundance without Super- 
 fluity ; fo much Addrefs in gaining the Affection 
 and Attention of his Hearers ; fuch Art in 
 moving the Paffions, thole efpecially of the 
 fofter Kind, as Pity and Sorrow, in which he 
 hath not any Rival ? On the odier Hand, it 
 muft be acknowledged, that the Athenian Ora- 
 tor is defective in feme, inferior to him in moft 
 of thefe. But are not thefe, if they be real 
 Wants, much 'more than compeniated by a 
 Crowd of Excellencies : Strength, Clofenefs, 
 Vehemence, Rapidity inconceivable ? What 
 Clearnefs, what Concifenefs, what Argument, 
 what Energy, what Grandeur, what Fire, what 
 divine Enthufiafm ! The one winneth your 
 Attention ; this other commandeth it. One 
 windeth about artfully until he gaineth you to 
 his Purpofe j this other forceth you to his. 
 That is a foft gentle Stream, that gradually un- 
 dermineth its Banks, and worketh a Paffage as 
 
 the
 
 Led. 3. ORATORY. 43 
 
 the Ground favours ; the other is an impetuous 
 Torrent, that bearing down all before it, rufheth 
 on in a ftraight Courfe, and teareth to itfelf a 
 Channel. The one entertains, fooths, per- 
 fwades -, the other convinces, terrifies, tranf- 
 ports. In reading Fully, you admire the 
 Orator, you are ever ready to cry out, " How 
 " artful, how delicate, how touching this Sen- 
 " timent ! What an accomplifhed Speaker !" 
 Read Demofthenes ; you inftantly lofe Sight of 
 the Man, and are engroffed by the Subject; 
 you are every Moment ready to cry out, 
 " Come, let us fnatch up Arms, let us march 
 " out againft this Philip, this Tyrant, this 
 " treacherous Invader of our Country." You 
 catch the Speaker's Flame ; you are Athenians ; 
 you are each, a Demofthenes. 
 
 LET us therefore, Gentlemen, diligently con- 
 fider and confult thefe two great Models of 
 Eloquence, both excellent, although different : 
 Him efpecially, the Glory of Athens, whom 
 Tu/fy himfelf propofed as his Model, in whom 
 if any thing be wanting, it feemeth wanting 
 not to the Artift, but to the Art. Let us read, 
 let us fludy, let us commit to Memory, let us 
 if we can, imitate him j afiuring ourfelves, that 
 we then begin to have a Relifh for true Elo- 
 quence, when we become pleafed with his 
 Writings [r], 
 
 [rj Ille fe profecifle fciat, cui CICERO valde placebit 
 QUINT, lib. x. cap. i. 
 
 LECT.
 
 44 LECTURES 'concerning Led:. 
 
 LECTURE the Third. 
 
 Ahftratf of ARISTOTLE'* Rhctorick Of CI- 
 CERO'S Ttreatife concerning 
 far if on ofthefe two Traces. 
 
 I PROCEED now, according to the Method 
 laid down in my laft Lecture, to offer fome 
 Remarks upon the moft celebrated Treatifes 
 concerning Eloquence, which remain to us 
 from Antiquity. I do not mean to prefent you 
 with large Abftradts of thefe, or a com pleat 
 Criticifm upon them ; an Undertaking of too 
 great Length for the prefent Occafion, neither 
 as it feemeth to me, very ufeful, as the Originals 
 themfelves deferve, and will, I hope, obtain 
 your careful Perufal. My Defign is no more, 
 than to lay before you fome Obfervations, which 
 may induce you to make yourfelves acquainted 
 with thefe Writings, and may be of Ufe to you 
 in the Study of them. 
 
 ARISTOTLE is the only one among the Greeks 
 who hath written a general Treatife on this Art, 
 which hath come down to us entire. Thofe 
 who were accuftomed to read the EiTays of mo- 
 dern Criticks, confining too often of a few fu- 
 perficial Remarks fet off with fome Embellifli- 
 ments of Fancy, are apt to be difcouraged at 
 
 firft
 
 Led:. 3. ORATORY. 45 
 
 firir. Entrance into this Book ; which being the 
 Refult of long Study and Obfervation, tracing 
 Things back to their Caufes, and from thence 
 delcending to unfold the feveral particular Ef- 
 fects, demandeth continued Attention in the 
 Reader : From hence at firft Sight, it wears a 
 fevere forbidding Afpect, prefenting us with 
 Toil, where we may have come with hope of 
 Amufement. Yet be not deterred hereby ; for 
 ye may be afllired, that if ye will beftow upon 
 it the Care it deferveth, your Trouble fhall be 
 fully recompenced in the End. The Author's 
 general Plan is this : 
 
 HAVING defined Rhetorick, to be the Art 
 of finding out on all Subjects what is fitted to 
 pcrfwade, he fheweth it's Affinity to Logick j 
 being, like it, founded in the Nature of Man ; 
 and propofing to itfelf an End, Inftrudion or 
 Conviction, by like Means, which are Proofs. 
 From whence he proceedeth to deduce the Ufe- 
 fulnefs of the Art ; efpecially to the Generality of 
 Mankind, who cannot comprehend, or will not 
 lifien to ftrictly logical Reafoning. He then 
 conliders the different Kinds of it, the Delibe- 
 rative, the Judicial, and Demonftrative. The 
 End of the Deliberative is to prove that which 
 is ufeful, or the contrary ; to compare the Va- 
 lue of two Goods, or weigh what is honourable 
 againft that which is profitable. The End of 
 the Judicial is to defend Property or Character 
 when attacked, or attack where others defend. 
 The End of the Demon ftrative is to praife Vir- 
 tue or blame Vice. In all which, the Author 
 
 fheweth
 
 46 LECTURES concerning Led. 2. 
 
 fheweth at large, what previous Knowlege the 
 Orator mould have, in order to fpeak well in 
 each Kind ; and he pointeth out with much Bre- 
 vity, the Sources, from which he may derive 
 Arguments in each. 
 
 THUS far he treateth of Rhetorick as an Art 
 purely rational. But becaufe the Paffions of 
 Mankind do necefTarily interfere in all Caufes 
 of Moment, and therefore the Orator who 
 would perfuade muft gain over thefe alfo, he 
 goes on in his fecond Book, to difcourfe of 
 them : Shewing diftinctly : " Who are the 
 " Men liable to each Paflion : From what 
 " Caufes it fprings : And towards what Kind 
 <% of Perfons it is directed." To which he add- 
 eth, an Account of the Varieties that arife in 
 the Manners of Men from the difference of 
 Ages, Rank, and Fortune. This Part of his 
 Work comprehends that which rendereth Elo- 
 quence generally moft admired and fuccefsful j 
 and is the Product of deep Thought and ex- 
 quifite Difcernment. Accordingly, it hath been 
 always efteemed a Mafterpiece j and although 
 imitated by innumerable Writers, never equal- 
 led. 
 
 IN his laft Book, he treateth of Elocution, or 
 Style ; the Virtues of which he reduceth to Pu- 
 rity, Clearnefs, Propriety, and Ornament. Un- 
 der this laft Head he confiders Figures, and Com- 
 portion, or the Arangement of Words : Con- 
 cluding the Whole, with a mort Account of 
 the feveral Parts which make up a perfect Ora- 
 tion, namely the Exordium, Narration, Proof, 
 
 and
 
 Le<3. 2. ORATORY. 47 
 
 and Peroration j of the Defign and proper Ufe 
 of each Part. 
 
 IN order to your reading this Work with Ad- 
 vantage, and forming a right Notion concern- 
 ing it, there are two Remarks which I would 
 recommend to your Attention. 
 
 Fir ft i THE Constitution of Athens, and the 
 Difpofition of the Inhabitants was fuch, that 
 the Power of Eloquence grew exceedingly 
 great, and became of mighty Importance, we 
 may fay Neceffity, in opening the Way to all 
 Dignities of the State. By Eloquence, were 
 new Laws recommended j Magiftrates elected 
 or depofed ; Treaties of War and Peace con- 
 cluded: Even the Soldiery was to be ha- 
 rangued into Courage ; and the Art of Speak- 
 ing was requifite in a General fcarcely lefs than 
 the Art of War. Thefe Advantages accruing 
 from Eloquence made it very defirable, and 
 much fludied : From whence it came to pafs, 
 as it almoft always happens where the Torrent 
 of Fafhion runs violently one Way, that many 
 Pretenders to this Art appeared j undertaking, 
 however unqualified, to inftruct others therein -, 
 and all Greece, as we learn from the Writers of 
 thole Times, was over- run with numberlefs bad 
 or ordinary Performances on that Subject. 
 Hence moil- who fpoke in Publick, were indu- 
 ced to leave the Road of plain Senfe as a beaten 
 Track, endeavouring to lurprife and pleafe by 
 fomewhat uncommon. And although at the 
 Time in which our Author wrote, Eloquence 
 had arrived to it's height in Demojlbenes, yet 
 
 even
 
 48 LECTURES concerning Let. 3. 
 
 even then, a falfe Tafte had fpread itfelf wide- 
 ly, and the Minds of Men were drawn away 
 from a Love of Simplicity and Truth. Two 
 Miftakes prevailed very generally. 
 
 ONE was, a fcrupulous Attachment to Elo- 
 cution, to the Graces and Harmony of Style, 
 which were preferred before Strength of Argu- 
 ment, and Energy of Diction. This Abufe 
 had its Rife from the great Admiration, which 
 had been for many Years, and was then, paid 
 to I/ocrates, and had introduced an injudicious 
 Imitation of his Manner. Perhaps he himfelf, 
 who had grown old in polifhing Style, in weigh- 
 ing Words, and difcovering Rules for harmo- 
 nious Cadence: carried this Attention toExcefs; 
 being pure indeed, and elegant, yet as appears 
 by his Writings, ftill extant, feeble ; and not 
 without Affectation. This we have Caufe to 
 think was the Judgment paft upon him by Ari- 
 ftotk, who wrote his Rhetorick profefiedly in 
 Oppolition to this celebrated Teacher. For he 
 was wonted to fay, " When Ifocrates teacheth 
 " Oratory, it is ihameful for me to be filent." 
 Accordingly, his firft and great Care is, to lay a 
 folid Foundation to Eloquence, to fix the At- 
 tention upon Things, not upon Words : And 
 having once eftablimed this main Point, he de- 
 livereth fuch Inftrudtions concerning Language, 
 as are confiflent with Nature and Reafon. 
 
 A SECOND, and no lefs general Error was, 
 The Cuftom of Speakers addreffing themfelve? 
 almoft entirely to the Pafiions of their Judges. 
 
 In
 
 Le. 3. ORATORY. 49 
 
 In which, fays our Author, they are encouraged 
 by ths univerfal Confent of Writers concerning 
 Rhetorick, who rmke this whole Art to confift in 
 gaining over, to their own Side, the Affections 
 of their Hearers ; and to this principal End di- 
 rect all their Precepts : A Proceeding contrary 
 to the Reafon of Mankind ; and even to the 
 Laws of the beft regulated Societies, which in 
 Trials of great Importance forbid all Attempts 
 to move the Paffions [#]. 
 
 HOWEVER, as this Method was moft likely 
 to be fuccefsfui where a whole People was the 
 Judge in Caufes of the greateft Moment, it be- 
 came the moft admired Way of Speaking in 
 Athens. As an Inftance how far this pathetick 
 Manner muft have been abufed, obferve the 
 Conclufion of the Oration againft Ctefphon^ by 
 Efchines, who appears to have held the next 
 Rank among Orators to Demofthenes, and to 
 have contended even with him for the Prize. 
 <c And now," faith he, " O Earth, and Sun, 
 " and Virtue, and Prudence, and Learning 
 <c by which we diftinguifh Things excellent 
 " from bafe, I have laid, I have aflifted the 
 " Commonwealth. If my Accufation hath 
 " beenjuft and worthy of the Commonwealth, 
 " I have fpoken as I defigned ; if defective, as 
 " I could. Do ye, from what hath been faid 
 " and admitted, pronounce Judgment, as may 
 " be beft and moft honourable for the State." 
 
 WHICH PafTage, his great Adverfary not un- 
 defervedly derides [], as a vain fwelling Decla- 
 [a] ARIST. Rhet. Book i. [/>] DEMOST. pro Corona. 
 E mation,
 
 50 LECTURES concerning Left. 3. 
 
 mation, fitter for a Tragedy, than a ferious 
 Cauie, in which the Characters of two confi- 
 derable Perfons were to be examined into, by 
 an accurate ftating of Facts, and impartial 
 Reafon. Now, if a Speaker of fuch Experi- 
 ence and diftinguimed Eminence as Efchines 
 was, could err in this grofs Manner, at the 
 Conclufion of a very noble Oration, I believe 
 we may aifume it as certain, that the Excla- 
 mations of the vulgar Sort were highly abfurd 
 and outrageous. 
 
 IT is therefore with a View to correct this 
 great Abufe, that our Author in the Treatife 
 before us, fets out with declaring, that the Firft 
 great Aim of an Orator mould be to perfuade 
 by convincing the Underftanding j that to this 
 Purpofe, he mould make himfeif Matter of his 
 Subject, and furnim himfeif with rational Ar- 
 guments on all Topicks ; that Ornaments and 
 Addrefs to the Parlions mould be only an infe- 
 rior and fecondary Care. And even herein, he 
 prefcribss to make Rcalon our Guide, teaching 
 us not to attempt working upon the Paffions 
 by extravagant Figures and vague Exclamations ; 
 but from a perfect Defcripdon of their Caufes, 
 Effecls, and Motions, he lays down clear and 
 unerring Principles concerning the Treatment of 
 them. 
 
 A SECOND Remark which I propofe to make 
 is : That we fhould not expect more than 
 the Author intended in his Work : The Ground 
 of which Precaution is this. He wrote it fole- 
 ly for the Initruction of thofe, who were to 
 
 fpeak
 
 Left. 3. ORATORY. 51 
 
 fpeak in Publick, in the great Council, or be- 
 fore the Afiembly of the People, concerning 
 Matters relating to the State, or judicial Caufes. 
 Hence the Poet, the Hiftorian, the Philofopher, 
 are not to fearch here for Rules ufeful in their 
 particular Studies and Kinds of Writing ; which, 
 although contained in the general Extent of 
 Eloquence, belong not to the Scheme of our 
 Author. 
 
 NEITHER are we to imagine, that becaufe 
 he doth not among the neceflary Qualifications 
 of an Orator mention Virtue, that he therefore 
 thought flightly of it. He adheres to his parti- 
 cular End, The Art of Perfuafion : And the 
 Language and Appearance of Virtue, being 
 alone neceiTary to that End, them he prefcribes ; 
 the Reality is the Care of another Science. It 
 is his Bufmefs to prepare his Combatant for the 
 Battle, to furnifh him with Arms of Proof, to 
 teach him the Ufe of them ; but he leaves to 
 the Moralifts to direcl: him in the Juftice of his 
 Cafe. 
 
 AFTER what hath been faid, it is needlels to 
 add any thing in Praife of this Work. It is, 
 however, worthy of Obfervation concerning it, 
 that befides its profefled Intention of inftrufting 
 in the Rules of Eloquence, there are two Ad- 
 vantages attainable from the Study of it, which 
 render it peculiarly ufeful to young Perfons. 
 
 ONE is, that it is a perfect Model of good Or- 
 der ; by attending to which, they may learn to 
 range their Thoughts methodically. Every 
 E 2 Part
 
 52 LECTURES concerning Ledt. 3, 
 
 Part is fo difpofed as to prepare the Way for 
 that which fucceeds, the fucceeding gives 
 Strength to that which went before, and in its 
 Turn introduceth what is to follow; fo that the 
 whole Book is one firm, regular, well-compadl- 
 ed Piece, without Flaw or Inequality : Where- 
 as in moft Performances, even in thofe abound- 
 ing with what is good, one meets with ibme 
 Things fuperfluous, others mifplaced, which 
 raife in the Hearer, Diftafte or Confulion. 
 
 A SECOND Advantage is, that from hence 
 they may learn to exprefs their Thoughts with 
 Brevity. There is much Shortnefs in all the 
 Writings of Ariftotle. In this Treatife particu- 
 larly, no Expreffion is idle, every Word hath 
 Meaning; which gives Vivacity, Force and 
 Spirit, is a great Perfection in all Kinds of Writ- 
 ing, in a peculiar Manner is the Life and Soul 
 of the Didactic. For Precepts fhould be fhort, 
 that they may be attended to and remembered. 
 
 THERE is farther, an Excellence rarely found 
 with Concifenefs, yet the moft neceffary of all, 
 Clearnefs ; which two we find here reconciled. 
 Whatever Difficulties occur, arife manifeftiy 
 not from the Diction, throughout fingularly 
 ftrong and proper ; but fometimes from Depth 
 and Subtilty of Thought : Sometimes from the 
 Mixture of Logical Terms. For as this Phi- 
 loibpher had very much improved, and ' as it 
 were invented a new Logick, he continued al- 
 ways to mew a great Fondnefs for it, and intro- 
 duceth it upon all fit Occafions : So that if we 
 would underftand his Writings perfectly, we 
 
 - mould
 
 Left. 3. ORATORY. 53 
 
 mould read his Logick in his own Language : 
 A Study, which if it was for fome Ages over- 
 rated, hath been of late too much defpifed, 
 and, it feems, rafhly exploded. Which how- 
 ever, if it were for this Reafon only, that it is 
 necefTary to the right Knowledge of the beft an- 
 tient Philofophers and Criticks, ought certainly 
 not to be neglected. If they refined formerly, 
 and fubtilized too much, we are in danger from 
 a Fault perhaps worfe, an empty fuperficial Ele- 
 gance. 
 
 AMONG the Romans, Stilly wrote many 
 Things concerning Eloquence, of which a con- 
 fiderable Part hath perimed, but the moft ce- 
 lebrated Treatife remains, His three Books con- 
 cerning The Orator. This Work he hath 
 thrown into a Form entirely different from that 
 of Anjlotle^ chufing, in Imitation of Plato, the 
 Manner of Dialogue. One Advantage of this 
 Form is, that it renders the W T ork more enter- 
 taining. The Fame of the Perfonages intro- 
 duced, ufually of high Consideration ; The De- 
 fcriptbn of their feveral Characters and Man- 
 ners j The Contraft ofthefe expreftand kept up 
 in the Difcourfe attributed to each; The Vari- 
 ety of Opinions, and friendly Contention of well 
 conducted Controverfy exhibit to the Mind a 
 Kind of dramatick Entertainment j by thefe 
 Means taking off from the Drynefs which al- 
 moft always attends upon a long Courfe of 
 Precepts. 
 
 BUT on the other hand, it hath this great 
 
 Diiadvantage, that it lengthens the Difcourfe 
 
 E 3 ibmetimes
 
 54 LECTURES concerning Left. 3. 
 
 fometimes to a Degree of Prolixity. The Pre- 
 faces, the Characters of Perfons, their mutual 
 Praifes or Apologies, with Interruptions of Argu- 
 ment necefTary to keep up the Spirit of Conver- 
 fation, every where breaking in upon, and fuf- 
 pending the main Defign. To which you may 
 add the Genius of 'Tully himfelf, lefs clofe and 
 acute than that of Arijlotle. Hence thofe many 
 Digreffions; A Panegyrick upon Eloquence} 
 Whether an Orator ought to be acquainted with 
 the whole Circle of Science; Whether it be 
 necefiary that he mould be (killed in the Ci- 
 vil Law ; Whether Eloquence or Philofophy 
 fhould be preferred : All which are as it were 
 EpfedeS) having a Relation to the Subject, ra- 
 ta.r than being properly Parts of it. Thefe 
 employ the greater Share of the Firft Book. 
 Beiide which, it contains fome Remarks on the 
 three Kinds of Eloquence above-mentioned; 
 on the Parts of a Difcourfe; with fome Rules 
 for Pronunciation ; and concludes with men- 
 tioning thofe Sciences, the Knowledge of which 
 is moft conducive to form a jufb and folid Elo- 
 quence. 
 
 THUS far Craffus is the principal Speaker. 
 To whom Antonim fucceeding in the Second 
 Book, treats more at large of the different 
 Kinds of Catsfes j of the Parts of an Oration, 
 their Scope and Uie : Then proceeds to dif- 
 courfe of the Pan* ions , In all which he follow- 
 eth Arijlotle with little Variation. Afterwards, 
 he enlarges more copioufly on a Topick fcarce- 
 ly touched upon by the Greek, engaging Cafar 
 
 to
 
 Led. 3. ORATORY. 55 
 
 to difcourfe concerning Facetioufnefs and deli- 
 cate Raillery ; an Art, oftentimes of the great- 
 eft Uie in Publick Pleading ; but one of the 
 moft difficult to conduct well: And he con- 
 cludes with fome Remarks upon Memory. 
 
 IN the Third Book, Cra/its, who refumes 
 the Difcourfe, treats of Elocution or Style. The 
 whole Art hereof he makes to confift in two 
 Things; In Ornament, which gives Majefty 
 and Grandeur to Difcourfe : And, Secondly, In 
 fpeaking fuitably to the Subject. For he diftin- 
 guifheth two Kinds of Ornaments. One, which 
 extendeth itfelf over the whole Difcourfe, 
 which giveth to it Eafe and Dignity, commands 
 the Attention, and raifes the Admiration of the 
 Hearer. The other confifteth in the right Uie 
 of Figures, which are to be placed only in cer- 
 tain Parts. To fet off and compleat the Whole, 
 he recommends great Care in the Compofition : 
 Under which Head he confidereth with the ut- 
 moft Accuracy, the Ranging of Words, the 
 Turning of Periods, and Harmony of Cadence. 
 He doles the Whole, with fome Directions 
 concerning juft, animated, and graceful Action, 
 a Care of the greateft Importance. 
 
 Tins is the Subftance of the laft, and in my 
 Opinion, if I may venture, where all is excellent, 
 to give the Preference to one Part, the beft 
 Book ; as indeed it was natural to expect that 
 it ihould be ib ; That Cicero > who himfelf ex- 
 celled all Mankind in the ornamental Part of 
 Eloquence, mould excel moft in treating of that 
 Part. 
 
 E 4 IT
 
 '$6 LECTURES concerning Lect. 3. 
 
 It muft be an agreeable Sight, to behold two 
 of the greateft Perfons of Antiquity engaged in 
 the fame Career, and to compare the Effects 
 of very excellent, yet different Talents, exerted 
 on the fame Subject If we were to draw a 
 Parallel between thefe two celebrated Perform- 
 ances, perhaps we mould form fome fuch Judg- 
 ment as the following. 
 
 IN each of thefe Tracts, we behold ftrongly 
 expreft the Character of the Writer. The 
 Greek fpeaks itfelf the Work of an Author turn- 
 ed to Speculation, one of fevere Study, and in- 
 tenfe Thought, a Genius fubtile, penetrating* 
 and profound The Latin difcovers the Hand 
 of a Writer long in high Office, polimed by 
 Converfation and Commerce with the Great, a 
 Genius rich, agreeable, and delicate. The one 
 is ftrong, grave, and clofe : The other eloquent, 
 eafy, and copious. That addrefles himfelf to 
 Reafon alone : This calleth in the Afliftance of 
 Imagination. You may liken Ariftofles Book 
 to a vafi: Magazine, compleatly furnifhed with 
 all Materials and Inftruments ufeful to an Ora- 
 tor, all difpofed in the moft exact Order j yet 
 their very Abundance produces a feeming Dif- 
 order j and in this Profufion of Treafure,where 
 no Space remains unpoiTefl, Things rnofl valu- 
 able feem piled up negligently, as if vulgar and 
 ordinary : Cicero s is a much fmaller Store, and 
 for the moil Part fupplied from the other ; but 
 he has polimed every Thing to fo high a Luftre, 
 and hath ranged them with fuch Skill, that 
 they appear in ' the moft advantageous Light, 
 
 and
 
 Left. 3. ORATORY. 57 
 
 and even Trifles in him are Things of Value. 
 The one excelleth in Energy > the other in 
 Beauty. 
 
 Ariflotle never dwelleth upon a Thought, 
 giveth mort, and here and there feemingly im- 
 perfect, but bold and mafterly, Strokes : Cicero 
 carrieth every Thought to its utmoft Perfection ; 
 and you fee his whole Work fmifhed with 
 Touches of the mod patient and exquifite Art. 
 As Cicero^ when writing of Philofophy, by 
 enlivening and adorning the Drynefs of his 
 Matter difcovers the Orator ; fo Arijlotk^ treat- 
 ing of Oratory, difcovers the Philofopher, trace- 
 ing Things back to their firft Caufes, and re- 
 ducing all, as far as maybe, to fixed Principles. 
 This latter engages your Attention by gratifying 
 your Curiofity ; you are ftill pleafed, becaufe 
 ftill learning : Cicero hath little new, but fo 
 embelliflieth the old as to give it the Charms of 
 Novelty. Reading the former you are in the 
 State of one travelling through a ftrange Coun- 
 try, always pleafed, becaufe every Step opens a 
 new Profped : The other, it is true, leads you 
 through a Country already known, but fo beau- 
 tiful both from Nature and Art, that no Repe- 
 tition maketh it tirefome ; you fee indeed what 
 is familiar, but in fuch Lights that it is always 
 charming. 
 
 THE Roman* it is owned, hath this Advantage, 
 that Writing of Oratory, himfelf a moft excel- 
 lent Orator, he exemplifieth his Precepts in his 
 Difcourfe, at once Teacher and Pattern: On 
 
 the
 
 5 8 LECTURES concerning Left. 3. 
 
 the other hand, in Strength of Reafon, in man- 
 ly Brevity, in Depth of Thought, in folid Re- 
 flexion, and capacious comprehenfive Genius, 
 the Athenian is undoubtedly fuperior. If you 
 are not capable of Improvement in Eloquence, 
 from reading Cicero s Work, you reap no Ad- 
 vantage : Whereas with Refpect to Ariftotle we 
 may pronounce, that every attentive Reader 
 cannot but receive much Benefit, from the vail: 
 Fund of good Senfe, the great Infight into hu- 
 man Nature, and the curious Obfervation, 
 which form the peculiar Praife of this judicious, 
 weighty, accurate Treatife. There remain 
 other Rhetorical Writers of Note, whom I mall 
 proceed to confider in the next Lecture. 
 
 URE
 
 Lea. 4 ORATORY. 59 
 
 LECTURE the Fourth. 
 
 *The Temple or Palace of ELOQUENCE, 
 A VISION. 
 
 I PROPOSED to carry on in this Lefture 
 the Scheme begun in the laft, and to lay 
 before you in the fame Manner, fome Account 
 of other celebrated Treatifes concerning Rheto- 
 rick, remaining to us from Antiquity, thofe 
 efpecially of ^uintilian and Longinus. But re- 
 flecting, that the latter of thefe is very familiar 
 to you, that the other is both extremely ufeful 
 throughout, and very eafy, I doubted whether 
 Abftradts of the like Kind were fitting in this 
 Cafe, and whether it were not better to refer 
 you to the Originals themfelves. 
 
 WHILST I was revolving this Point in my 
 Mind, Accident threw into my Way a little 
 Work, which as it is probably unknown to 
 you, as the Manner of it is altogether different 
 from that which I have hitherto employed, and 
 the Subject, if not the fame, very nearly con- 
 nected with this before us, I judged that it 
 might anlwer the fame- End, and prove more 
 entertaining. It is a Poem written in Greek, by 
 an Author whofe Name is not preferved, about 
 
 the
 
 60 LECTURES concerning Left. 4. 
 
 the feventh Century, as may be conjectured 
 from fome hiftorical Allufions contained in it ; 
 in a Style too much indeed infected by theBar- 
 barifm of the Age, but upon a Plan worthy of 
 Notice. I (ball here -give you an Abridgment 
 of it, ftripped of thofe' Ornaments and Digrcf- 
 fions which it weareth in its poetical Drefs. 
 
 As I walked in the great Portico q the 
 Temple of Minerva^ and looked down upon 
 the City of Atbens^ I could not help deploring 
 the great Decay of Arts and Sciences, particu- 
 larly of Eloquence, for which me had been re- 
 nowned over the whole Earth : An Art, to 
 which indeed 1 had long applied myfclf with 
 much Induftry, but with little Encouragement, 
 or Hope of Succefs. Whilfll was wrapt up in 
 Contemplations of this Sort, a Perfon defcend- 
 ing, as it feemed, from the Heavens, fuddenly 
 alighted before me. By his Form, by the 
 Wings on his Heels, and the Caduceus in his 
 Hand, I knew him immediately to be the God 
 Mercury. He addreffed himjelf to me in the 
 following Manner. 
 
 I AM not unacquainted with the Subject of 
 your prefent Meditations, with your Doubts, 
 and Perplexity. Think not that the Degene- 
 racy of this Age in all good Arts, in Eloquence 
 efpeciaily, which is almon: wholly extinguished, 
 arifeth from a Change in the Genius of Man- 
 kind, the Caufe to which you fcem inclined to 
 afcribe it. No : Human Nature is (till the 
 fame ; the Difference fpringeth from the diffe- 
 rent Ufe and Application of its Talents : At 
 
 prefent
 
 Left. 4. ORATORY. 61 
 
 prefent the Methods of Education and Study 
 are totally wrong ; confequently the whole 
 Form and Model of Speech have been corrupt- 
 ed. To give you a more diftincl: Conception of 
 this Matter, added he, pointing upwards with 
 his Finger, look yonder. 
 
 RAISING my Eyes at thefe Words, I was 
 furprized to fee a high Mountain, with a mag- 
 nificent Structure on the Summit. Its Foot 
 was covered with thick Woods, cut into a Va- 
 riety of Paths, in which wandered a Multitude 
 of People. That Edifice, faid he, is the Palace 
 of Eloquence, the Daughter of Liberty. Thofe, 
 whom you behold fcattered over the low 
 Grounds, are they, who flattering themfelves 
 with the Hope of attaining eafily to it, wander 
 at the Foot of the Mountain, through Paths, 
 which engage them in endlefs Deluiion. But 
 come, I will lead you thither. 
 
 THE Road by which we were to afcend, was 
 very fteep and narrow ; barred at the Entrance 
 by a great Gate. The Keeper of which, an 
 aged and venerable Peribn, whofe Looks gave 
 Indications of extraordinary Penetration and Sa- 
 gacity, examined with much Strictnefs all who 
 fought for Admifllon, and rejected far the greater 
 Number. His Name, faid my Guide, is Genius^ 
 without a PafTport from whom, no Man can ar- 
 rive at the Manfion of Eloquence. 
 
 HE made me obferve, during our Afcent, that 
 the Road toward the Mountain-top grew much 
 wider and fmoother, having been opened and 
 levelled by the Labour of feveral excellent Men 
 
 in
 
 62 LECTURES concerning Led. 4. 
 
 in antient Times ; but was now in a great De- 
 gree overgrown with Brambles and Weeds, as 
 it had been for fome Ages almoft wholly unfre- 
 quented. For even thofe few who were ad- 
 mitted at the Gate, impatient of the Slownefs, 
 and extreme Severity and Harfhnefs of Induftry, 
 who is appointed the Guide to conduct them, 
 fbon quitting the ftraight Road, turned into 
 fome one of the By-paths, that ftruck off from 
 it, and feemed far more eafy and pleafant. 
 
 I SHALL not detain you with a Defcription of 
 the Temple itfelf, which is given at full Length 
 by our Poet. It may be fufficient to obfei ve, 
 that it joined to the utmoft Magnificence great 
 Simplicity, its Ornaments being fuch, that 
 while they beautified the Fabrick, they feemed 
 neceffary Parts of it. 
 
 UPON entering, we found the firft great 
 Apartment adorned with Pictures of the moft 
 celebrated Poets. For, as my Conductor took 
 Notice on the Occafion, in all Nations, Poefy 
 was the firft Effort of Eloquence, opening the 
 Way by Degrees for a more juft and natural 
 Style. 
 
 IN the next, we obferved the Portraits of the 
 moft famous Hiftorians, and of thofe who re- 
 corded the Atftions and Sayings of great Perfons. 
 
 IN the third, which was by far the moffc 
 ample and grand, were placed the Statues of 
 excellent Orators j fuch as by Means of their 
 .Eloquence chiefly, had governed great States, 
 who obtained a Sovereignty over the Minds of 
 
 Men
 
 Lea. 4. ORATORY. 63 
 
 Men more powerful and lafting, as well as far 
 more glorious, than Force can confer, or Po- 
 licy enfure. Among thefe 1 diftinguifhed Pe- 
 ricles and Phocion t the younger Gracchus and 
 Julius Ccefar. 
 
 As my Guide was pointing out fome of thefe 
 Peribns to me, one who appeared of Dignity 
 by his Air and Train of Attendants, in paffing, 
 faluted him with a profound Refpect. Upon 
 my enquiring who this was ; You are to know, 
 anfwered he, that all who propofe to excel as 
 Orators, endeavour to gain Admiffion into this 
 Temple, that they may be here prefented to 
 the Deity, and receive her Approbation ; the 
 Confequence whereof is, that they are imme- 
 diately admitted into familiar Converfation with 
 all the famous Orators of Antiquity, who abide 
 here for ever in the Palace of their great Patro- 
 nefs. From whence, after a certain Time, re- 
 turning to Earth, they are allured of obtaining 
 the highefl Honours among Mankind, and their 
 Writings are confecrated to Immortality. 
 
 Now fuch as have conquered the Difficulties 
 of the Afcent, are directed to addrefs them/elves 
 to this Perfon concerning whom you enquire, 
 who is the celebrated Critick ^uintilian ; that 
 he may examine into their Qualifications, and 
 lead fuch as he approveth of, into the inner Part 
 of the Temple. You may read much of the Cha- 
 racter of the Man in his Form and Air. You 
 fee he is grave in his Afpedl, plain in his Drefs, 
 compofed in all his Motions. His peculiar Ex- 
 cellence as a Critick is, that he defcendeth to 
 
 the
 
 64 LECTURES concerning Left. 4. 
 
 the loweft Elements of Rhetorick, leadeth from 
 thence by the Hand as it were, to the higheft 
 and moil refined. He is every where ftrictly 
 methodical, perfpicuous, and fimple, entereth 
 into the moil minute Detail, yet is never tedious, 
 dry, or infipid, animating the Whole with a 
 lively, yet well-governed Fancy. Fallen upon 
 .an Age when Eloquence had for fome Time 
 declined, you may indeed difcover in him, fome 
 little Taint of the general Infection, from which, 
 even his exquifite Judgment could not wholly 
 preferve him [a] j yet he fet himfelf firmly to 
 1 withstand the growing Corruption j and labour- 
 eth above all Things to eftablim a true manly 
 Tafte, joining with the familiar Exa&nels of a 
 Teacher the Spirit and Elevation of an Orator. 
 BUT his Charge doth not extend fo far, as 
 to give immediate Admiffion to the Prefence of 
 the Deity. He delivers thofe committed to his 
 Care over to another, to the Perfon, whom 
 you behold yonder. He feemeth to be far ad^- 
 vanced in Years, and appeareth as fixed in pro- 
 found Thought ; yet o.blerve what Penetration, 
 what Fire in .his Eyes. This is the Sage of 
 Sfagtra. Pie it is, that hath unfolded all the 
 fccret Treafures of Eloquence, who teacheth to 
 pierce into human Nature, to know the Heart, 
 and by Means of that Knowledge to obtain an 
 
 [a] See the Preface to the fixth Book. And he very 
 frequently clofeth his Paragraphs with a Pointed Sentence ; 
 ' many of which have too much of the brilliant Gppofition, 
 hiuiielf condemncth. 
 
 abfolute
 
 Left. 4. ORATORY. 65 
 
 abfolute Government over it. The moft fubtilc 
 and learned of Philofophers, he is likewife the 
 moft judicious of Criticks. 
 
 THE Candidates delivered to him he con- 
 (igneth to two thin fhadowey Forms you behold 
 near him, Silence and Study. Having after- 
 wards fully inftructed them, he at length pre- 
 fents them to the Goddefs. On which Occa- 
 fions, one of the Antients, Orator or Critick, 
 who are differed to abide here in her Prefence, 
 pronounceth an Harangue, containing ufually, 
 with fome Commendation of the admitted, 
 Admonitions ufeful to be obferved by him 
 hereafter in the Courfe of his Studies and Con- 
 verfation among Men. 
 
 FEW Occafions of this Kind have happened 
 of late. But fortunately jufl now falleth out 
 one. For Marcus Rufus^ a Roman Senator, not 
 unknown to you, a worthy Imitator of the An- 
 tients, is about to be prefented. You fee the 
 Crowd preffing inward towards the Center of 
 the Fabrick : That is the Caufe > and I know 
 that the Critick Longinus is to pronounce the 
 Oration. Follow me; I will give you the Op- 
 portunity of a very pleafing Spectacle. 
 
 So faying, he led me forward into the Midfl 
 of the Temple. It was a fpacious Dome j to- 
 wards the upper End of which, was placed the 
 Goddefs, upon a Throne of pure Gold. Be- 
 hind her, ftood the Genius of Atbem^ known 
 by her Olive-branch and the Bird of Pallas. 
 On the other Side, towards the left Hand of the 
 Throne, the Genius of Rome -, leaning on her 
 F Shield,
 
 66 LECTURES concerning Led!. 4. 
 
 Shield, grafping a Spear in her Hand, and 
 bearing an Eagle on her Helmet. 
 
 ON the Steps of the Throne, fat Contem- 
 plation, with her Eyes fixed on the Ground, 
 and her Arms folded. Near her, flood Per- 
 fuafion in the Attitude of one fpeaking, with 
 her Arm ftretched out, Fire in her Eye, and 
 irrefiftible Magick in her Tongue. Below, 
 were placed the Pa/fens > each with her proper 
 Symbols, Handmaids of the Goddefs, always 
 attending to obey her Orders. In the Counte- 
 nance of the Goddefs there was fomewhat inex- 
 preffibly charming ; the Tone of her Voice Ire- 
 witched the Heart. 
 
 BEFORE her lay open a vaft Book, upori 
 which fhe ever and anon cafi her Eye, as 
 making it the Rule of her Judgment and Con- 
 duel. This is named the Volume of Nature. 
 She held in her Hand a Mirror of tranfcendent 
 Brightnefs, to which me applied all Compofi- 
 tions that were prefented for her Approbation : 
 Whatsoever was not of the right Standard this 
 immediately reduced to Aflies : Where it did 
 not confume the Whole in this Manner, yet it 
 never failed to deftroy fbrne, oftentimes the 
 greater Part, leaving that which was pure, alone 
 untouched. This, my Inflruclor informed me, 
 was named the Mirror of Truth. 
 
 HERE my Author proceeds to debfcribe the 
 whole Ceremony of prefenting the new Orator. 
 He gives alfo the Oration pronounced by 
 "Longinus^ much too long to be translated on 
 the prefent Occalion ; It is befidcs chiefly an 
 
 Abftrad;
 
 Lea. 4. ORATORY. 67 
 
 Abftract of the Treatife concerning the Sub- 
 lime, probably little known in thofe Days of 
 Darknefsj but with which ye are all well ac- 
 quainted : The general Heads are thefe. 
 
 HE begins with congratulating Rufus upon 
 the Choice he had made, upon his Perfeverance 
 and good Progrefs in the Study of Eloquence ; 
 upon which, he makes a ftiort, but lofty Pa- 
 negyrick. From this general Eulogy, he de- 
 fcends to one particular Branch of it -, the Sub~ 
 lime. This he fhews to be the greateft Excel- 
 lence, that human Compofitions can attain to : 
 That it may be, if not acquired, yet improved 
 by Art and Precept. He proceeds to diftin- 
 guifh the feveral Fountains from which it flows: 
 Points out the right Ufe of it ; and warns 
 againil fuch Faults as are moft oppofite to it. 
 It dwells not, faith he, with Correctnefs ; 
 faultlefs Sublimity is unattainable to Mortals. 
 But then, it atones abundantly for fuch little 
 Specks as are unavoidable j it charms, it ele- 
 vates, it tranfports. It is a Torrent rapid, irre- 
 fiftible j a Conflagration confuming every Thing 
 around ; a Thunderbolt breaking, tearing, con- 
 fuming what ever is oppofed to it. 
 
 NATURE, adds he, hath given to you, Mar- 
 cus Rufus, Talents for this Sublimity, this Per- 
 fection of Eloquence. Labour inceflantly in 
 cultivating them. Elevate your Mind by the 
 Contemplation of heavenly Things; by the 
 Study and Practice of Virtue. Make the Wri- 
 tings of uncorrupted Antiquity familiar. Efpe- 
 cially bend all your Force to referable thefe Hc- 
 F 2 roes,
 
 68 LECTURES concerning Left. 4. 
 
 roes, whom you behold now encircling the 
 Throne of our Goddefs. After your Return 
 to Mortals, confider thefe when you are about 
 to write or fpeak, as they are at this Hour, your 
 Spectators and Hearers j and endeavour to pro- 
 duce nothing unworthy of fuch Judges, as 
 Homer , P/afo, and Demofthenes, the moil fub- 
 limeof all Mankind [b]. 
 
 I LISTENED, continues my Author, with 
 Attention and Delight to this Diicourie, re- 
 marking through the Whole, though the Style, 
 as my Guide obierved to me, wanted the Sim- 
 plicity and Purity of old Athens^ high Inftances 
 of that Sublimity, which the Speaker recom- 
 mended. Immediately turning towards my 
 Conductor, with Intention to exprels my Plea- 
 fure and Admiration, how greatly was I afton- 
 imed, to find the whole Scene I know not how, 
 entirely changed ! 
 
 I FOUND myfelf in a Place altogether diffe- 
 rent from the former, though I could perceive 
 a Similitude in certain Refpects, as in the Figure 
 and nrft Appearance. In all the new Objects 
 j>refented here to my View, there ieemed in- 
 duflrioufly aimed at a Relemblance of the for- 
 mer, amidft the ftrongeft real Unlikenefs. The 
 Fabrick itfelf was a huge Pile of Gothick Archi- 
 tecture. I beheld in every Part a Supeifiuity of 
 Ornaments, crowded without Unity of Detign 
 or Elegance j fitted by the help of Varnifh and 
 Gilding, to dazzle the unfkilful Eye. The 
 Deity adored in this Temple was feated on a 
 
 [/'j Sec the Treatife of LONG IN us. 
 
 Throne,
 
 Left, 4. ORATORY. 69 
 
 Throne, which, as well as the Garments me 
 wore, feemed all on Fire with what appeared 
 to be precious Stones ; for all their Luflre was 
 counterfeit. Her own Beauty like wife was art-* 
 tiflcial. Her Face glowed with Paint. Her Be- 
 haviour, her Looks, Gefture, the Tone of her 
 Voice, were affected and unnatural. 
 
 SUITABLE to their Queen were her Attend- 
 ants. On one Side flood fquint-eyed Error. 
 On the other, Ignorance, with her head wrapt 
 in perpetual Fogs. There was flattery, paint- 
 ing the Vifages of her Votaries, and at the fame 
 Time covertly befmearing them with Filth all 
 over. Yonder was Imagination, in a Drefs of 
 Rainbow Colours, Growing half-withered Flow- 
 ers on barren Rocks, or over Beds of Snow. 
 Here you might fee Eombafl ftrutting with the 
 Airs and Stature of a Giant, but furveyed more 
 accurately he is found to be a Dwarf mounted 
 upon tall Stilts. There you might behold De- 
 clamation^ roaring aloud with indefatigable 
 Lungs j while No?ifenfe, a many-headed Mon- 
 fter, prompted him : And Sleep followed be- 
 hind, diffuling Numbnefs and Infenfibility over 
 the yawning Multitudes. 
 
 I VIEWED thefe, and many other like Mori- 
 fters with Surprize and Horror. (< Where am 
 " I ? How have I changed the moft beautiful 
 " Objects in Nature for the moft (hocking ? 
 " Speak, O divine Jnftruclor, explain this 
 " Myftery.' This, anfwered he, you may 
 -eafily perceive to be the Palace of falfe Elo- 
 quence. Here it is, that all the Roads which 
 F 3 you
 
 yo LECTURES concerning Left, 4. 
 
 you obferved in our Afcent to branch off from 
 the great one, do at laft terminate. Men are 
 flattered into them from their appearing Eafe 
 and Opennefs ; and enchanted by the falfe Glo- 
 ries of this Place, when they have arrived here, 
 imagine themfelves pofTeffed of all they wifhed 
 for. While the Temple of Eloquence is almoft 
 deferted, behold how this is crowded ! Multi- 
 tudes hourly pour in, and kneel by Thoufands 
 before the Throne, praying to be admitted into 
 the Train of this pretended Divinity, Such at 
 prefent is the Blind nefs of Mankind. Hither 
 Greece and Rome fend all their Sons. Princes, 
 Confuls, Senators, Priefts, Patricians, and Peo- 
 ple, all fall down before her Footftool, Tho 
 Road traced out by iiiuflrious Antiquity is be- 
 come unfrequented. 
 
 BEHOLD there, among other Suitors, many 
 well known to you ; ibme already renowned 
 amongft you j others who are fcon to be ad- 
 mired for rhetorical Compositions. Sophifts, 
 who creep in long, tedious, cold Declamation : 
 Speakers, who delight in Oppositions, in fpark- 
 Kng Conceits, and make every Period an Epi- 
 gram : Declaimers, who foar in Hyperboles, 
 and lofe Sight of defpifed Reafon : Advocates 
 and Haranguers, who on the moft ferious Sub- 
 ject profufely fcatter the faded Flowers of pue- 
 rile Imagination. For fuch at prefent are the 
 Perfons honoured with Applaufe, who bear the 
 rare and valuable Title of Genius, and are fet 
 up as Governors of the publick Taile. 
 
 YET
 
 Led. 4. ORATORY. 71 
 
 YET plunged in Darknefs as the prefent Age 
 is, darker (hall fucceed. A thick Cloud of Ig- 
 norance (hall cover the whole Earth. Error and 
 falfe Eloquence (hall reign abfolute over Man- 
 kind. But defpair not, this State of Barbarifrn 
 (hall not laft until the End. I fee Truth and 
 Eloquence return. Their pure Luftre, though 
 for ever banifhed from forfaken Greece, once 
 more illumines their, favourite Italy. It fpreads 
 beyond the Alps ; It enlightens the adjoining 
 Continent : I behold their Beams extending 
 Weftward, beyond the Limits of Albion^ over 
 IJlands yet fcarcely known to Fame. 
 
 IN the mean Time, O Mortal admitted to 
 the View of Secrets, hidden from all others of 
 the human Race, fail not in applying this 
 Knowledge to thy own Advantage, fince thou 
 can'ft not at prefent to the Publick ; for the 
 Fates forbid as yet the Converfion of a deluded 
 World. Firft and principally, feek after Wif- 
 dom and Virtue ; For Elevation of Soul can 
 alone fupport Sublimity of Genius. Next, Be 
 unwearied in tracing back Eloquence to its true 
 Source, the Monuments of pure Antiquity of 
 thofe Heroes whom you have lately feen. Im- 
 itate their Solidity, their Method, their Juft- 
 nefs, their Purity, their Force, their Sublimity. 
 Hope not however though you (hould fucceed 
 well in this noble Ambition, to obtain the Ap- 
 plaufe of your Fellow-Citizens ; neither be dif- 
 couraged by their Cenfures: Leave them to 
 their own depraved degenerate Tafte. 
 
 HERE
 
 72 LECTURES Concerning ,&. 4. 
 
 HERE he ceafed to fpeak, Tranfported with 
 Delight and Gratitude, I was about to throw 
 myfelf at the Feet of my great Inftrudlor, when 
 looking round, I perceived him no more. To- 
 gether with the God, the whole Scene, Goddefs, 
 Votaries, and Temple vanifhed, like a Dream 
 from the. waking Eye. I found myfelf as at 
 firft, in the Temple of Minerva, and beheld 
 only the City of Athens, the Summits of whole 
 Houfes were now gilded by the Rays of the 
 fetting Sun. 
 
 I RETURNED homeward, meditating deeply 
 on what I had feen, much delighted, and as it 
 feemed, not a little instructed. 
 
 . 
 
 LEO
 
 ORATORY. 73 
 
 LECTURE the Fifth. 
 
 Hi/lory of Eloquence among tbe Moderns. 
 Concerning Languages - t particularly Englifli. 
 
 WE have now taken a (hort View of the 
 Rife and progrefs of Eloquence, and 
 have given a Sketch of the moft celebrated Trea- 
 tifes concerning it, which remain from Anti- 
 quity. It may not be ufelefs or unentertaining 
 to proceed a little farther. Caft your Eyes 
 nearer Home, and obferve what the Induftry of 
 modern Ages hath performed in this Way. 
 That this Speculation may be of fome Advan- 
 tage, I propofe, 
 
 Firft, To lay before you fome Remarks on 
 the State of Eloquence fmce the Reftoration of 
 Learning in Europe. 
 
 And then. To point out the Ufe which is to 
 be made of thefe Reflexions. 
 
 Italy claims our firft Notice, as it had the 
 Merit of being the firft in the Revival of Let- 
 ters, after a long Interval of Ignorance and Bar- 
 barifm. We fhall find confirmed by what hap- 
 pened there, an Obfervation made before con- 
 cerning Greece, that Verfe was cultivated, and 
 brought near to Perfection, fooner than Profe. 
 
 Dantt
 
 74 LECTURES concerning Left. 5, 
 
 Dante flourished about the End of the i3th 
 Century, when as yet there were no Writings 
 of Note in Profe. Although the Plan of his 
 Poem be faulty, and many of his Expreffions 
 are now become obiblete, yet for Sublimity of 
 Thought, for lively Defcription, for Strength 
 and poetick Fire, he hath not been excelled by 
 any, who followed him. 
 
 AFTER him, at no great Diftance, came 
 Petrarch j who although inferior in Tafte and 
 Sentiment, yet improved upon his Numbers j 
 and feems thus early to have brought Verifi- 
 cation to it's Perfection. 
 
 MUCH about the fame Time with this latter, 
 appeared Boccace ; the firft who applied him- 
 iclf with Succefs to polifh and refine Prole 5 
 excelling in lamiliar Narration, as writing in a 
 clear, eafy, and pure Style. It received not till 
 near two Centuries after, it's laft finifhing, ac- 
 quiring Strength and Harmony from Macbiavel 
 and Guicciardino j what Changes it hath fince 
 undergone, being efleemed rather for the worie : 
 About which Time alfo we may fix the moft 
 flourishing ./Era of Poetry, in Ario/h^ who 
 hi'-th adorned the wildeft, moft extravagant Plan, 
 with all the Charms of Diction and Harmony of 
 Numbers. 
 
 QUICKLY after this Period, the true Man- 
 ner began to decline in both Kinds of Eloquence. 
 A Love of Points and Turns, or, as they named 
 them, Concetti y food after almoft univerfally pre- 
 vailed. This was introduced, at leaft was ren- 
 dered faihionable (for the original of them may 
 
 be
 
 5. ORATORY. 7S 
 
 be referred to Petrarch (by the fertile and beau- 
 tiful Genius of TaJJb : Is yet much ftronger in 
 Guarini : And Marini [a], for a long Time the 
 mofl admired of their Poets, is over- run with 
 it. And the fame Infection was fpread through 
 the co-temporary Writers in Profe. 
 
 IF we pafs the Alps, we (hall behold nearly 
 the fame Courfe of Things. Long before any 
 tolerable Orator appeared in France, Marot flou- 
 rifhed. His Verfe in many Refpects, particu- 
 larly for Eafe and Simplicity, or, as they chufe 
 to name it, Naiveri, is much celebrated at this 
 Day. Succeeding Writers indeed loft the Vein 
 he had opened : yet it was not till after it had 
 been recovered, and Poefy much cultivated and 
 refined by Racan, and principally by Malherbe* 
 that Balzoc and Voiture began to improve and 
 polifh Profe, as yet irregular and rude : And 
 Corneille had carried poetical Eloquence to it's 
 Height, before Profe-writing had received it's 
 laft Perfection from Eoffuet, and Eourdakue. 
 
 FROM thence, as we obferved it to have hap- 
 pened in Italy, a Change in Manners began to 
 take Place ; the florid and affected, which exifl 
 indeed at all Times, but are kept down and 
 vanquiihed in the Days of true Genius, began 
 
 [a] See the Adonis ; of which Milton gives the following 
 yery juit Character : 
 
 Qni canit AfTyrios divum prolixus amores, ' 
 Mollis, & Aufonias ftupefccit carmine Nymphas. 
 
 Luxuriant in his Strain, of am'rous Themes j 
 
 Lulcious and foft, he fingsj Italian Dames C 
 
 Admire his fparkling Song, and catch the pleafing Flames. > 
 
 openly
 
 76. LECTURES concerning Le&. g, 
 
 openly to prevail. Recommended by a Perfon 
 of admired Talents, one of lively Imagination 
 and pure and harmonious Style, Flechier, it 
 throve apace, and fpread widely ; being ambi- 
 tioufly purfued by all the Writers of middle 
 Rank ; and infecting in no fmall Degree fome 
 of the higheft, as Fonfenct/e, who valuable as 
 he is, indeed excellent in many Refpects, yet 
 aboundeth with thefe falie Brilliants : At this 
 Day their moft admired Genius, who hath ex- 
 celled fcarcely lefs in Profe than in Verfe, mews 
 a manifeft Fondnefs for thefe ill-judged Orna- 
 ments. And they are fcarcely any where more 
 confpicuous, than in Pieces delivered from the 
 Pulpit, where they are certainly moll: unbe- 
 coming. 
 
 FROM this Account, I cannot help flopping 
 to/repeat one Obfervation : That whenever Elo- 
 quence hath arrived to its Height in a Coun- 
 try, the firft Step towards Declenfion is gene- 
 rally this Epigrammatick Tafte. One Caufe of 
 which may be, That the firft Places in Repu- 
 tation being already poffeft, Writers of Genius 
 labouring to open for themfelves new and un- 
 trodden Paths to Fame, ftrike off from the Road 
 chofen by the others : And as this pointed Way 
 .of Writing hath the Appearance of diftinguim- 
 cd Excellence, being quick and fparkling, they 
 readily fall into that : Which coming thus re- 
 commended, loon gaineth Admirers, and grow- 
 eth the reigning Famion the more fpeedily, 
 as up to- a certain Degree, it is perhaps one of 
 the moft eafy Kinds of Writing to a Perfon of 
 
 lively
 
 Left. 5. ORATORY. 77 
 
 lively Imagination ; in which State of Things, 
 the more Wit a Man hath, he runs the greater 
 Hazard of being involved in this epidemic Con- 
 tagion. It is with Unwillingnefs that I add, Is 
 not this in fome Sort the Cafe of a late Writer [&\ 
 of that Nation, who joining very extennve 
 Knowledge to profound Senfe and extreme Vi- 
 vacity, could not yet wholly avoid this Tempta- 
 tion of Points and Oppolitions, and feemeth juft- 
 ly chargeable with Affectation, Refinement, 
 and Obicurity ? 
 
 IF we turn our Eyes homeward, we fee ftill 
 the fame Order. Englijh Profe, which was 
 written three hundred Years ago, is not now 
 intelligible : Yet how finely did Chaucer write 
 in Verie long before that Time ? Unequal, it is 
 true, often unmufical, yet how ftrong, how 
 fmooth, how beautiful fequently are his Lines ! 
 Every where happy in Imagination, and that 
 Enthufiafm which forms the EiTence of Poefy, 
 he is very often not inferior in Elocution, and 
 often far fuperior, to all who have attempted to 
 tranflate him into a modern Drefs, even al- 
 though Dryden is one of that Number. Sue* 
 ceedmg Times of national Confufion and Mi* 
 fery flopped all Progrefs of Letters. In the 
 Reign of Henry the Eighth, being encouraged 
 in the fouthern Parts of Europe, they revived in 
 England alfo. The Latin Language was writ- 
 ten with great Elegance by Sir Tbomas Moor^ 
 I.inaccr, Aj'cham : And we find at the fame 
 Time the Dawn of Eafe, Harmony, and Polite- 
 
 \b} Muif. dt Mentefquitu in, L'Efprit des lei*, 
 
 nefs
 
 7 8 LECTURES concerning Lccl . ; 
 
 fcefs in the Mufe of Lord Surrey, who feems 
 to have been the firft that wrote in Blank Verfe, 
 at leaft with any Degree of Elegance : As Trif-* 
 fno about the fame Time introduced the Ufe of 
 it into Italy, in an Epic Poem and a Tragedy j 
 iince the Time of which latter, (Sophonijba^) it 
 kath kept PofTeffion of the Drama. The French 
 Tongue is of a Frame too feeble to fupport 
 Verfe without Rhime. 
 
 DURING Queen Elizabeth's aufpicious Reigrij 
 all Branches of Literature were happily culti* 
 vated. Yet Spencer had raifed Veriification to 
 its utiiioft Perfection in the peculiar Style of 
 Poeiy which he chofe, before Profe had met 
 with equal Improvement from the Pen of a 
 Hooker, and a Raleigh; whofe Writings will 
 remain for ever the Model of a ftrong, pure s 
 and mafculine Style. It hath been juftly doubt-* 
 ed, whether the Alterations made in later 
 Times have improved their Manner, yet I think 
 it muft be acknowledged, that their Style is not 
 faultlefs, being hard, long, and cloudy. 
 THE Language was in a great Meafure new- 
 moulded by the Writers in Charles the Second's 
 Days. Their Manner refembles the Humour 
 of the Times, abandoned wholly to Pleafure 5 
 it is eaiy and flowing, but iooie and carelefs 
 and irregular. 
 
 SUCCEEDING Authors, haveinibme Degree, 
 corrected theie Faults j but it may be qaeftion- 
 ed, whether they have not fallen into, and en- 
 couraged others equally wrong. Even in 
 ii ho;vcver worthy of .Rcipe<3: on Ac- 
 count
 
 J. ORATORY. 79 
 
 count of the Caufe, being that of Virtue, in 
 which he was engaged ; however pleafing for 
 the Beauty of his Genius and Exactnefs of his 
 Judgment -, however amiable for the Vein of 
 pure and original Humour running through all 
 his Writings ; yet it feems, that a critical Eye 
 may fpy fome Defects, in this Article of Lan- 
 guage : If I might be allowed to hint at any 
 thing amifs in this excellent Perfon, I would 
 afk, Is there not too much of laboured Elegance 
 in it ? Are there not too frequent Oppofitions ? 
 Periods meafured out into equal correlponding 
 Members, and falling with too uniform a Ca- 
 dence r In fhort, too much of Art and Study ; 
 exquiiite Beauty, if not too nicely and iollici- 
 toufly adorned ? 
 
 S IV '1 FT appears to have approached nearer 
 to uncorrupt Antiquity and Nature j eafy in his. 
 Language, pure, iimple, unaffected : But his 
 Style wanteth that Fire and Elevation, ibme- 
 t'anes neceflary to an Orator. Indeed, the 
 Subjects he chafe, and his Manner of treating 
 them, did not admit of fuch, being taken ufu- 
 ally from common Life ; and thrown into the- 
 familiar or humourous Manner, in which JS(a- 
 ture had given to this Writer great Talents : 
 Let him therefore be efteemed a Model in his 
 own Way : But powerful and perfuafive Eio- 
 quence mutt ibar higher. 
 
 ./ORMABLY to what we hive taken No- 
 tice of in other Countries, here alio, Conceit 
 and Epigram have hid their Turn of reigning j 
 happy, if it were yet ended. One fees in many 
 
 late
 
 80 LECTURES concerning Le&, $> 
 
 late Productions a Similitude of that Manner for 
 which Dr. Sprat was diftinguifhed in Profe; 
 and more lately an eminent Satirifl in Verfe, 
 jfhort, fententious, and pointed ; in the former, 
 mingled with the florid and declamatory : In 
 which, latter Way particularly, many ingenious 
 Perfons, who profefs themfelves Imitators of 
 Milton* have contributed to hurt the Language, 
 foaring beyond the Bounds of Propriety, and 
 tumid where they mould be fublime. 
 
 THIS little Hiftory of modern Eloquence na* 
 turally leads intofome Remarks on the Langua- 
 ges themfelves. If we compare them with 
 thofe of Greece and Rome, we muft acknowledge 
 them to be much Inferior. The great Variety 
 which the Inflexions of the Verbs and Nouns 
 afforded to the Greek and Roman, by Means of 
 which every Word became as it were multiply*- 
 ed j and the different Length of their Syllables 
 competing different Feet, whence their Periods 
 were made capable of great and ever-varing 
 Harmony, are Advantages peculiar to thofc 
 Languages, not to be equalled, nor compenfated 
 by any thing in the modern. We may add a 
 third, flowing from the former of thefe ; the 
 Power of tranfpofing their Words ; which en- 
 abled the Orator to confult Harmony without 
 injuring the Seafe ; whereas the Moderns are 
 confined to a much narrower Range, being 
 bound down nearly to the natural Order of the 
 Words, by the Frame of their Language. 
 
 YET allowing, what I look upon as evident, 
 and if we would judge impartially, as undenia- 
 ble,
 
 : O R A T O R Y. 81 
 
 ble, this Superiority; we fhould not for that 
 Reafon limit ourfelves to write in thofe learned 
 Tongues only. A Fafhion which prevailed 
 exceedingly at the Revival of Letters, and 
 greatly retarded the Improvement of modern 
 Languages : Nay, fo ftrong, and of fuch long 
 Continuance was this Prejudice, that both Fa- 
 ther Paul, who is, notwithftanding, efteemed 
 defective in Purity of Style ; and Davila doubt- 
 ed, and remained long undetermined, whether 
 they mould not write their Hiftories in Latin ; 
 which, if they had done, their Country, indeed 
 all Posterity would have fuffered, in being de- 
 prived of fuch noble Performances : For it 
 cannot be imagined, that in this Way they 
 could have outdone their Countryman Pau- 
 lus Jovius, one of the moft admired among 
 the modern Latinifts; yet, how far mort of 
 theirs doth his Work fall at prefent ? But, not 
 to dwell upon Inftances, of which we might 
 produce many, in a Point fo clear, I believe 
 we may take it as granted, that every Man who 
 maketh Ule of his native Tongue, notwith- 
 ftanding its confeffed Inferiority, fhall excel 
 any Compofition he can produce in a dead one; 
 becaufe here, writing from Books alone, after 
 all poffible Care, he muft often be at a Lofs, 
 muft err, muft want, or forego pure Expreflion, 
 or,which is yet worfe, muft cramp his Thoughts, 
 and cut and pare them to the Dimenfions of 
 Claffical Phrafe : by which Means, he either 
 alters the Truth, or delivers it imperfectly, he 
 Jbecomes barbarous or obfcure, tortures himfelf 
 G with
 
 82 LECTURES concerning Left. $. 
 
 with needlefs Labour, and gives Pain to his 
 Readers. 
 
 IF we proceed in comparing modern Tongues, 
 not with the antient, but with each other, we 
 {hall find Caufe to be contented with our own. 
 If it hath not the Mufick, the Softnefs, the li- 
 quid Lapfe, if I may fo fpeak, of the Italian ; 
 yet is it more bold, more manly, more ftrong. 
 It hath not perhaps the Eafe, the Clearnefs, the 
 Pliablenefs of the French; but it abundantly 
 compenfates by fuperior Force, Energy, Con- 
 cifenefs. 
 
 GRANTING this to be the Cafe, we muft 
 however acknowledge, that our Tongue hath 
 not been improved with the fame Care as the 
 others ; and even our beft Writers have not 
 been very folicitous to preferve its Purity. The 
 Poets are particularly faulty herein. Thefe 
 Gentlemen, under the Excufe of I know not 
 what poetical Licence, fcruple not to break 
 through the Frame and grammatical Conftruc- 
 tion of the Language. Such Licence is in Truth 
 a meer Fiction, the Invention of ignorant Cri- 
 ticks, who would in this Way account for what 
 they do not underftand ; or of Poets, who abufe 
 their Art, and melter their own want of Care 
 under a vulgar Error. 
 
 I WILL mention a very few Inftances of this 
 Kind of Trafgreffions againft the Grammati- 
 cal Purity of the Tongue, which I chufe to 
 take from the moft correct and excellent of our 
 modern Poets. If fuch, even fmall Negligences 
 find place in HIM, though rarely, how often 
 
 may
 
 Left. 5. ORATORY. 83 
 
 may we expert to find the like or much greater, 
 
 in Writers of the common Rank ? 
 
 Grows with his Growth > and Jlrengthem with his 
 Strength [a]. 
 
 Strengthens^ a Verb a&ive, is here ufed as Neuter. 
 Elifs is the fame in Subject or in King, 
 In WHO obtain Defence, or WHO defend []. 
 
 Inftead of, In them who obtain Defence, Gfr. 
 SPEAKING in Praife of Virtue, he fays, 
 And but more relifttd as the more diftreft. 
 Good from each Object from each Place acquird, 
 For ever exercis'd, yet never tird [c]. 
 
 In the fecond of which Lines, all Connexion is 
 
 loft with that which goes before, and that 
 
 which follows. 
 
 DESCRIBING the Life of a certain Peribn in 
 
 Trade, he fays, 
 
 His Compting-houfe employ d the Sunday-morn, 
 Seldom at Church, 'twas fuch a bufy Life, 
 But DULY SENT hi s Family and Wife \d}. 
 
 Inftead of he duly fent. 
 
 TALKING of Voiture, he hath this Line, 
 Still with Efteem no lej's conven d than read [e]. 
 
 Is it that he read as he convers'd with Efteem ? 
 
 But what is reading with EJleem ? Is it that he 
 
 was read with Efteem as he converfed, equally 
 
 [a] Eflay on Man, Ep. ii. 136. [] Eflay on Man, 
 i. iv. 58. (V] Eflay on Man, Epift. iv. 31^. [d] Abufe 
 of Riches, ver. 380. [e] Epiih with Works of Vol- 
 TURE. 
 
 G 2 liked
 
 84 LECTURES concerning Led:. 5. 
 
 liked as an Author and Companion ? In this 
 Senfe, the Expreffion is very faulty : at beft ob- 
 fcure in either Way. 
 
 IN the Dunciad, the Heroe is introduced, 
 faying, 
 
 Eerjince Sir Fopling's Periwig was PRAISE [ /]: 
 That is, was praifed and applauded. 
 
 AGAIN, 
 
 But Fool with Fooljs barbarous civil War [g] 
 inftead of the War of Fool with Fool is bar- 
 barous. 
 
 IN the fame Work, 
 
 Spoil' d his own Language, andacquirdnomore\h\. 
 
 That is, I fuppofe, no other Language. 
 IN the Imitation of Horace he fays of one, 
 
 *With more than Harpy -Throat indud [/]. 
 Indued is applied to Gifts of the Mind, as In- 
 dued with Wit or Senfe : We do not fay, Indued 
 with a Face or Shape, or Throat. 
 
 AGAIN, the Poor, faysJ?, 
 
 Prefer a new JAP ANN ER to their Shoes [k]. 
 Which is a low Expreffion. 
 
 HE fays of his Prince, 
 Wonder of Kings. [/] 
 
 BUT if we mould allow thefe, and ftill great- 
 er Licences to Poets, who may be entitled to 
 
 [/] Dunciad, Book i. 167. [g] Dune. Bock iii. 176. 
 [*] Dune. Book iv. 320. [/'] Satire ii. of 2cl Book, ver. 
 25- [*] iftEpiftleof ift Book, ver. 156. [/] iftEpiftle 
 of 2d Book, ver. 29. 
 
 Indulgence,
 
 5. ORATORY. 85 
 
 Indulgence, fettered as they are by Rhyme j 
 we have Caufe to expert, to infift upon Accu- 
 racy from the Writers of Profe : Among whom 
 we mall not however find it. The common 
 Sort abound with the grofleft Miftakes, and 
 Barbarifms ; nor are the beft free from Errors. 
 I will mention a few Inftances from one of the 
 firft Rank, particularly celebrated for Purity of 
 Style ; which Inftances I have alfo chofen from 
 his moft fmifhed Work (in Point of Style,) I 
 mean the Travels of Gulliver. 
 
 IN the Voyage to Lilliput occurs this Paflage, 
 " Miftakes committed by Ignorance, in a vir- 
 <c tuous Difpofition, would never be of fuch 
 " fatal Confequence, as the Praclifes of a Man, 
 <c whofe Inclinations led him to be corrupt, and 
 " H AD great Abilities to manage, multiply, and 
 " defend his Corruption [/]." 
 That is, and who had great Abilities, &c. 
 
 IN another Place we meet with this low Ex- 
 pretfion, Rowing for Life\ii\. 
 
 " I durfl not ftay, but RUN as faft as I could." 
 [as in DubL Ed.] Inftead of ran []. 
 
 " When they were fat down [o] ;" [as in 
 Dubl. Ed.] infteadof when they had fat down. 
 " On each Side the River [/>] ;" for on each 
 Side OF the River. 
 
 " Put himfelf upon A FOOT with the great- 
 " eft Perfons of the Kingdom [q\ j" a low 
 Expreffion, As again, 
 
 [ml Part k ch. 6. p. 46, (mall 8vo. Engl Ed. [a] Part 
 ii. ch. i p. 72, 73. [o] ibid. p. 77. [p] Part ". ch. 4. 
 p. 102. [q] Page 
 
 ; G 3 What
 
 86 LECTURES concerning Left. 5. 
 
 " What Share of Knowledge they had, and 
 " how they came by it [r]." 
 
 The following is an Exprefiion entirely un- 
 grammatical : 
 
 4 Refunding themfelves for the Charges and 
 " Trouble they were at [s]." 
 
 <c The King when higheft provoked [/]," 
 for moft highly. 
 
 " Found the Natives VERY HARD TO BE- 
 " LIEVE [a]." 
 
 " I had feveral Men died'm my Ship [w]." 
 
 <c Civility and Cleanlinefs, Qualities altoge- 
 " ther fo oppofite to thofe Animals [*]." 
 What are Qualities oppofite to Animals ? 
 
 " Becaufe their Wants and Paffions are fewer, 
 <e ikan among us [y\" 
 
 " Fall together by the Ears [z]." 
 
 " This I filled with the Feathers of feveral 
 " Birds I had taken, and were excellent Food [a}" 
 
 I MIGHT go on to fwell this little Catalogue 
 confiderabiy j but Remarks of this Sort, I would 
 barely mention, not infift upon ; it being an in- 
 vidious and difagreeable Tafk, to fearch for tri- 
 fling Overfights in Works of confpicuous Merit. 
 But the Ufe to be made of thefe Remarks is, 
 that we mould attend to, and endeavour to 
 avoid even fuch Overfights : If we cannot equal 
 the Flight of great Genius, let us make what 
 little amends we can, by more exacl: Corredlnefs. 
 
 [r] Part ii. ch. 6. p. i 21. [i] Partii. ch. 6. p. 122. 
 
 [f] Partiii ch. 3. p. 165. [u] Part iii. ch. 10. p. 205. 
 [w] Part iv. ch. i. p. 214. [#] Ibid. ch. 3. p. 227. [7] Ibid, 
 ch. 4. p. 235. [zj Ibid. ch. 7. p. 256. [a] Ibid. ch. 10, 
 
 P; 2 73- 
 
 4 FARTHER,
 
 Left. 5. ORATORY. 87 
 
 . FARTHER, In tracing after this Manner the 
 Hiftory of Eloquence, it is natural to reflect 
 upon the different Kinds of Productions, in 
 which each Country appears to have excelled. 
 
 AMONG the Moderns it feems beyond all 
 Doubt, that the Prize for Hiftory is due to Italy. 
 No other Country can {hew Writers equal to 
 Machiavel, Guicciardino^ Father Paul^ and Da- 
 vita. Yet furely, he muft carry to a ftrange 
 Height his Partiality in Favour of thefe, who 
 can prefer any one of them, as Lord Eoling- 
 broke doth, before 'Thucydides : But tbat Writer 
 affected fmgular Notions : Happy ! if all had 
 been as innocent as this. 
 
 France hath, it is true, produced two or three 
 voluminous Hiftorians, who although by no 
 Means contemptible, do yet fall fhort not only 
 of the antient Models, but of thefe juft named. 
 Some detached Pieces of Hiftory indeed, A 
 Revolution of Portugal* A League of Cambray, 
 A Conspiracy of Venice^ the moft compleat of 
 all, if it were as truly as it is finely written, me 
 may boaft of, as compofed with much Spirit 
 and Art : But the three great Hiftories, two of 
 her own Affairs and one of our's, muft be ac- 
 knowledged to be very defective. The Branches 
 of Eloquence, Poefy excluded, in which 
 France feemeth to excell, are Memoirs, Fami- 
 liar Epiftles, Dialogues, to which we may add 
 Panegyricks, with fuch other little Works, 
 where Elegance is fought rather than Strength. 
 
 IN Hiftory, England can claim but the third 
 
 Place. Lord Verulams^ however valuable, is 
 
 04 not
 
 88 LECTURES concerning Led:. 5. 
 
 not worthy of the great Author. Lord Claren- 
 don 's y which is the heft, indeed a great Work, 
 hath yet many important Faults, in the Manner, 
 and perhaps in the Matter. Bifhop Burnet, 
 with a great Stock of Knowlege, with a rich 
 and lively Imagination, is yet a carelefs, loofe, 
 inaccurate Writer. 
 
 BUT itieems, that, In Remarks of this Kind, 
 we fhould not omit a People, whofe Language, 
 though little known to us, may vie with any 
 of the others ; I mean that of Spain ; which is 
 expreffive, fonorous, and is affirmed to be the 
 moft copious of all: In Proof of this laft Qua- 
 lity, Spain boafteth of five Novels, of moderate 
 Length, in each of which, one of the five Vowels 
 is wanting throughout; which hath not been 
 performed, it is urged cannot, in any other 
 modern Tongue : Somewhat indeed of a fimilar 
 Nature is related of Tryphiodorus, a Greek Wri-^ 
 ter, who in a Poem, confifting of twenty-four 
 Books, is faid to have omitted every Letter of 
 the Alphabet fucceiTively, one throughout each 
 Book ; and he, we know, wrote in a Language 
 remargably copious. 
 
 IT is amufing to obfeave, how far a Zeal for 
 the Glory of one's Country even in fuch Points 
 as this, carryeth wife Men. A late [b] Writer of 
 Italy r defervedly efteemed, hath advanced a fin- 
 gular Opinion concerning the Italian Tongue. 
 Not enduring that it mould be deemed Latin 
 corrupted by the Barbarians who fubdued the 
 Country, he aflerteth it to be the fame, which 
 [J SCIPIO MAFFEI, nella Verona illujlrata. 
 
 was
 
 Led. 5. ORATORY. 89 
 
 was fpoken by the Peafants and Perfons of low 
 Rank, in the flouriming Time of the Roman 
 State ; who unable or unwilling to obferve the 
 Nicety of Conjugations and Cafes, made ufe, as 
 we Moderns do, of Articles and auxiliary Verbs : 
 An Opinion, which, notwithftanding the very 
 ingenious Arguments brought in its Support, 
 doth not feem likely to meet with general Af- 
 fent. 
 
 THE Spanijh Tongue varyeth not more from 
 Latin ', than doth the Italian: Yet the Royal 
 Academy of Madrid hath not fet up fuch Pre- 
 tenfions , but ingenuoufly acknowlege it as their 
 Sentiment, that their Language is derived from 
 Latin ; which through the long Dominion of 
 the Romans had become univerfal in Spain. 
 The Goths firft, afterwards in a greater Degree, 
 the Moors, who poflefled for fome Centuries 
 almoft the whole Country, corrupted this by 
 blending with it their own Speech : And the 
 whole Mixture forming in the Beginning a rude 
 ill-mingled Mafs, was by Degrees digefted into 
 fome Order 3. in Times of Peace became foft- 
 ened, and poliflied into the prefent Language : 
 which this Society hath laboured by their Dic- 
 tionary to fix and render perpetual j with what 
 Succefs, Time will mew. 
 
 AT the Revival of Letters, the Light which 
 filled the adjoining Continent, extended its 
 Rays to Spain alfo : Where after the firft Dawn- 
 ing, which was bright and promifing, Letters 
 made not a proportionable Progrefs : Not, as I 
 fuppofc, through any Deleft in the Genius of the 
 
 People,
 
 go LECTURES concerning Left. 5. 
 
 People, but from many incidental Caufes, fome 
 of which allow me juft to touch upon. 
 
 ABOUT this Time America was difcovered : 
 The vaft Empires of Mexico and Peru were 
 conquered with furprizing Rapidity, and great 
 Quantities of Gold imported daily into Spain : 
 From whence the whole Nation became pofTeft 
 with a Rage of growing rich, incompatible with 
 Study. 
 
 NEITHER were the Times immediately fuc- 
 ceeding favourable to it j the State being en^- 
 gaged in a long, bloody, and difgraceful War, 
 in which the Low Countries were difmembered 
 from it. 
 
 THE Difpoiition likewife of the Nobles, and 
 in Proportion of the Gentry, was adverfe to Li- 
 terary Improvement ; being high, haughty, at- 
 tached to received Cuftoms and Opinions, and 
 averfe from every thing new: And Mariana, 
 in the Dedication of his Hiftory to Philip the 
 Third, King of Spain, expreflly complains, that 
 there was not any Encouragement for Letters 
 or learned Men. 
 
 THE extreme Bigotry of the People alfo 
 made them unwilling to engage in Studies, 
 grounded on Heathen Rites and Authors. 
 
 BUT above all, the Inquiiition reigning here 
 with abfolute Tyranny, difcouraged all Free- 
 dom of Thought and Speech, and with them 
 all Science: Or at beft, permitted only the 
 Weeds and Tares of Learning to fpring up, 
 fcholaftick Philofophy and Theology, and a 
 vain and dangerous Cafuiftry. 
 
 HENCE
 
 Lea. 5. ORATORY. 91 
 
 HENCE Miftakes, which foon after the Birth 
 of Letters prevailed here as in other Places, 
 were not corrected here, as in them ; but fpread 
 and took deep Root, and infected almofl all the 
 Spanifo Writers. Their Profe was either vainly 
 or extravagantly Swelling, as appears in their 
 Romances and early Hiftories ; or was affected, 
 abruptly and obfcurely Sententious, as in Gra- 
 tian, and others of the fame Time. Their 
 Poefy had more univerfally the fame Errors: 
 It more efpecially abounds with Refinements, 
 with fubtile metaphyfical Sentiments, difpofed 
 into fuch a Variety of laboured Oppofi tions, that 
 their fined Sonnets have the Appearance of 
 Riddles : And it was not until of late that they 
 have feen, and laid afide this unnatural Man- 
 ner. 
 
 PERHAPS there may be fome Propenfity in 
 the national Difpofition to thefe Miftakes ; fince 
 we find Inftances of them among the Antients, 
 in Lucan and Seneca, who were both Spaniards : 
 Both endowed with fine Genius, in fome Re- 
 fpects both excellent Writers : But the one tu- 
 mid in Verfe to the Confines of Bombaft ; and 
 the other prepofterouily decking out the fe- 
 vereft Form of Philofophy with the gay Flowers 
 of juvenile Fancy. 
 
 YET to do Juftice to this People, we mufl 
 acknowlege, that the Genius of the Nation 
 flruggled nobly with all thefe Impediments ; 
 and we fee it burfting through the thick Cloud 
 that covered it, in fome very bright Inftances. 
 Hiftory appears with much Gravity, with a 
 
 ftately
 
 92 LECTURES concerning Left. $. 
 
 fiately and pure Majefty, in Mariana-, with 
 much Spirit and Luftre though too romantick 
 an Air, in De Sclis ; with Simplicity and good 
 Senfe in Herrera. The Difcourfes of Lewis of 
 Granada are lively and eloquent. There is a 
 fine Spirit of Satire, with much Wit, and a Vein 
 of peculiar Humour in the Allegories of Que- 
 'vedo. Lope de Vega wrote a vaft Number of 
 Comedies, all indeed, except four or five, as him- 
 felf owns, irregular ; yet the Criticks, who con- 
 demn him in this Refped:, allow to him the 
 Praife of a moft fertile Imagination, and a true 
 comic Vein. And it is remarkable, that the 
 two firft good theatrical Performances which 
 appeared in France^ one of each Kind, a Tra- 
 gedy [c] and Comedy [//], were both Imita- 
 tions from Spanijh Writers. Cervantes is an ori- 
 ginal Genius, hardly to be matched in any Age. 
 And the Care fince taken to afcertain their Lan- 
 guage, the Kind and Caft of fome later Produc- 
 tions in it, render it probable, that it will make 
 the Figure it deferveth in polite Literature. 
 
 IT might be expected from the Conftitution 
 of England^ in which, Liberty is fo happily bal- 
 lanced with Power, that Eloquence fhould flou- 
 rim here, as it did in Athens and Rome, the 
 Form of her Government being in this Reipedt 
 equally friendly to it. 
 
 ACCORDINGLY, we find that Sort of it, 
 which floweth from and more immediately de- 
 pendeth upon Liberty, hath arrived here to 
 
 [] The CiV, imitated from DE CASTRO. 
 [<:] The Mcnteur, from LOPE DE VEGA. 
 
 great
 
 Led. 5. ORATORY. 93 
 
 great Perfection: I mean, The Speaking in 
 Publick, in Defence of, or in Oppofition to 
 Laws propofed, or with Relation to Meafures 
 ufed in the Adminiftration of national Affairs : 
 In this Article, the Advantage is manifeftly on 
 her Side ; and modern Times can fhew few 
 Pieces of Eloquence equal to many, that are to 
 be met with in the Debates of the Britijh Se- 
 nate. 
 
 NOT few likewife worthy of high Commen- 
 dation are the Growth of the Bar. If we con- 
 fider only the Fame and Ability of the Pleaders, 
 we might expect more of this Kind : But who- 
 ever examines into the Matter will find two 
 Caufes, that fully account for this Rarity. One 
 is, The Form and Nature of our Laws j which 
 being greatly multiplied, and descending to the 
 minuted Circumftances, do neceflarily engage 
 the Advocates in a dry and unpleafing Detail. 
 
 ANOTHER Caufe feems to arife from die 
 P leaden i who give themfelves up fo entirely to 
 the Study of our Laws, their more immediate 
 important Bufinefs, that they neglect to lay 
 thole general Foundations, on which alone a 
 plealing and powerful Eloquence can be raifed. 
 Confining themfelves to what is neceilary, they 
 overlook what appears to be ornamental only : 
 A wrong Way of Proceeding ; for undoubted- 
 ly one Part is defective without the other : And 
 although it would be altogether unpardonable 
 in one who profefleth himlelf to be a Lawyer, 
 to be ignorant of the Laws ; yet it is true on the 
 other hand, that the Knowledge of them would 
 
 acquire
 
 04 LECTURES concerning Led. $. 
 
 quire many real Advantages from Skill in the 
 ornamental Part : Nay, if you confider him as a 
 Pleader, muft be imperfect, muft lofe much 
 of its Power and Ufe, without it. 
 
 WHAT maketh this Omiffion the lefsexcufe- 
 able is, that there is not any Perfon, who has 
 been well and regularly educated, that may not 
 in the Intervals of Bufinefs or neceflary Study , 
 acquire Knowledge of what is named the politer 
 Kind j fomewhat which may be of Ufe to adorn 
 and enliven the dry Deductions, which meef 
 Skill in his Profeffion muft for ever engage him 
 in j fome Mufcles, as it were, and Flefh, to co- 
 ver that uncomely and bare Skeleton of Ufages 
 and Statutes. 
 
 HEREIN it is more especially, that an early 
 Acquaintance with the great Writers of Anti- 
 quity, an Intimacy contracted with them and 
 fuch Moderns as referable them, in the happy 
 Hours of Childhood and Youth, before the In- 
 terruptions of Cares and Bufinefs come on, ap- 
 peareth in its true Light, of being highly ufe- 
 fui and beneficial. It will then beftow to the 
 ^Arguments of the learned Advocate not only 
 Grace and Beauty, but render powerful and ef- 
 fectual that folid Erudition which is afterwards 
 built upon it. It may be compared to thofe 
 Friendmips which are formed with valuable 
 Perfons in the Dawn of Life, grounded indeed 
 upon Sports and Plays ; but afterwards, when 
 we become Actors in the World, they are often 
 unexpectedly found to be of the greateft Ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 LECT.
 
 Lea. 6. ORATORY. 95 
 
 LECTURE the Sixth. 
 
 A CONTINUATION of the Foregoing. 
 
 IN the Eloquence of the Pulpit it is, that 
 England feems to ftand alone, with manifeft 
 unrivaled Superiority. I am not ignorant, that 
 the Countries mentioned have produced many 
 admired Preachers ; but it doth not appear to 
 me from what I have read of them, and ibme 
 of the mofl celebrated I have read with Atten- 
 tion, that any among them have given Proofs 
 of fo juft and mafterly an Eloquence, as fome 
 of our own have done. It is true, we are apt 
 to be partial to our own Language and Coun- 
 try, and in comparing them with others, to 
 give them an unjuft Preference : But on the 
 contrary, I know that we are alfo prone to ad- 
 mire foreign Things and foreign Fafhions, and 
 to fet them above our own : It is the Bufineis 
 of Reafon to fleer equally between both Ex- 
 tremes, to conquer fuch Prejudices, and weigh 
 both Sides in the Scale of Truth and unbiafled 
 Judgment. 
 
 COMPARISONS of this Nature fhould never 
 be made in order to gratify Pride, Pafiion, or 
 mere Curiofity, but may be applied to real 
 Ufe : For wherever we fall fhort of our Neigh- 
 bours,
 
 96 LECTURES concerning Left. 6* 
 
 bours, we may learn of them to fupply the 
 Defect, not by borrowing their Thoughts, but 
 by catching their Air and Manner. Something 
 of which Sort, where the Correfpondence is 
 intimate, will unavoidably happen : Accord- 
 ingly, in the laft Century, our Writers were 
 benefited by an Acquaintance with the French , 
 deriving from them more Exactnefs, founder 
 Criticifm, Method, and a certain Grace and 
 Polifh ; The French have fmce that Time, 
 drawn not lefs Advantage from their Com- 
 merce with us ; and one may with Certainty 
 trace the Britifh Genius in the Strength, Soli- 
 dity, and Concifenefs of fome late Perform- 
 ances in that Language. 
 
 IN this way then of national Comparifon, it 
 is with good Caufe, that in the Article men- 
 tiened, Precedence was given to our own Wri- 
 ters ; I fpeak according to my own belt Judg- 
 ment. For that perpetual Addrefs to the Paf- 
 fions, that Air of Declamation, which runs 
 through all the foreign Productions of this 
 Kind that I have met with, cannot, I think, 
 fuppofing it perfect in its Way, vie with the 
 clear, folid, rational, yet fufficiently animated 
 Difcourfes, which abound in our own Tongue. 
 On this Occafion, one cannot help afking, 
 how it hath come to pafs, that we have ex- 
 celled fo much in this Particular ? And I have 
 often thought the following no improbable Ac- 
 count of the Matter. 
 
 THE great Liberty allowed by the Laws, 
 and Gentlenefs of the Government in "Britain 
 
 to
 
 . 6. ORATORY. 9 ^ 
 
 to Unbelievers of all Sorts, however verging 
 perhaps towards Excefs, and certainly hurtful 
 in fome Refpects, may have contributed to 
 produce this good Effect : Inafmuch as their 
 bold and open Attacks have given Rife to the 
 beft Treatifes in Defence of Religion natural 
 and revealed, that ever appeared in the World 5 
 the immediate Confequence of which Contro- 
 verfy, carried on as it was by the beft Heads 
 in the Nation, and wrought up on both Sides 
 with the utmoft Induftry, muft have been, the 
 Production of a regular, clofe, reafoning Elo- 
 quence, which thus exercifed continually and 
 improved, muft, from the Nature of the Sub- 
 ject, have been quickly transferred into, and 
 hath fhone with conspicuous Luftre in the 
 Pulpit. 
 
 THIS Solution openeth an Anfwer to a 
 Queftion relating to our Neighbours on the 
 Continent; whence is it, that in this Article, 
 they have funk below their other Perform- 
 ances ; for that I am perfuaded is the Cafe. 
 
 THIS Effect is to be attributed to the Form 
 of Religion eftablifhed amongft them. Their 
 Church lays Claim to Infallibility : Whatever 
 therefore me declares to be an Article of Faith, 
 is by that Declaration made fuch : Proofs are 
 needlefs where Contradiction is not allowed. 
 Nay, they may be worfe than needlefs : The 
 very Attempt to prove certain Points before a 
 common Audience may be efteemed dangerous, 
 as it is an Appeal from the facred Tribunal of 
 Authority to that of Reafon, an unfriendly 
 H Power.
 
 98 LECTURES concerning Led:. 6. 
 
 Power. Thus ye fee, that the Preachers of 
 this Church, are in the moft important Points 
 of Doctrine, in a great Meafure fhut out from 
 Argument ; the want of which they cannot 
 otherwife fupply than by addreffing themfelves 
 to Imagination and Paffion. They employ their 
 whole Force and Skill in affecting and adorn- 
 ir-g , which, however right and pleating in a 
 certain Degree, cannot by the utmoft Power of 
 human Genius be fo wrought up, as alone to 
 form true Eloquence. In Confirmation of 
 which, we may obferve, that the [a] Writers 
 in that Language, of the reformed Religion, 
 although perhaps in other Refpects inferior, 
 do yet excel the Catholick Preachers herein; 
 they are more inftructive and rational. 
 
 BUT however this may be, for in Points of 
 general Criticifm it is not expected that all 
 ihould agree, I believe, that in our own Lan- 
 guage, we may juftly propofe the Sermons of 
 Archbifhop Tiilotfon, as Models of good Preach- 
 ing. In Clearnefs of Method, Juftnefs of Ob- 
 fervation, Strength of Argument, at the fame 
 Time in chafte and manly Ornaments, they 
 have few, if any Equals. I do not mean, that 
 all his Difcourfes are alike. His pofthumous 
 Works, fome few excepted, are much inferior 
 to the others : They are indeed, for the moft 
 part, rude Draughts and Sketches, rather than 
 fihimed Performances ; you fee every where 
 the great Strokes of a Mailer-hand, but the 
 
 [] Meff. CLAUDE, DALLE, La PLACETTE, WEREN- 
 FELS, SAURIN, &c. 
 
 Grace
 
 Lett 6. ORATORY. 99 
 
 Grace of Colouring, the laft Touches are 
 wanting. Neither in the moft fmimed of 
 them, mould we expect abfolute Perfection; 
 as indeed in what human Performance may it 
 be expected.? In thofe which he himfelf pub- 
 lifhed, admirable as they are, may I be allowed 
 to fay, that a critical Eye may difcern fome 
 Specks? Doth he not fometimes indulge too 
 much to Fancy ? He is often fublime and pa- 
 thetick ; but doth he never pafs the due Limit ? 
 Although a great Mafter of our Language, 
 tho' bleft with an eafy, copious, and flowing 
 Style, yet is he not fometimes faulty in this very 
 Article ? Is not his Style fometimes ioofe in the 
 Compofition, diffuflve, and redundant? And 
 have you not remarked in him low Phrafes and 
 Expreffions ? 
 
 " BUT the great Author faw and chole 
 " thefe, as fit in popular Difcourfes, more in- 
 " telligible, and better adapted to the Liking 
 " and Apprehenfion of the Hearer." Per- 
 haps fo ; I am willing to believe, that it was in 
 fome Meafure the Cafe : Notwithflanding, it 
 does not appear to me, that his Example herein 
 ought to be followed. The greater! Clearnefs 
 of Language is undoubtedly confident with the 
 utmoft Propriety; and you may be familiar 
 without being low. At leaft, in elaborate Com- 
 pofitions delivered to the World as fuch, the 
 Publick hath a Right to infift upon more Care 
 and Exactnefs ; and you are not to offend the 
 Ear of a well-bred Perfon by mean Language, 
 that you may render your Senfe plain to the Ig- 
 H 2 norant;
 
 loo LECTURES concerning Left. 6. 
 
 norant ; however at the Time of pronouncing 
 a Difcourfe, the Occalion, Circumftances, or 
 Quality of an Audience may juftify, or rather 
 make excufable, fuch Licence and Inaccuracy. 
 The Ear is a merciful Judge -, a Reader is fe- 
 vere, and inexorable. 
 
 BUT it is Time that I (hould clofe this Part 
 of my Defign, and conclude this little Hiftory 
 of the antient and modern State of Eloquence : 
 And becaufe I have recited Facts, only as I 
 thought they might furnim ufefui Remarks, 
 fuffer me to fill up the remaining Part of this 
 Lecture with the Ufes, following naturally from 
 the Obfervations before mentioned. 
 
 FROM this Survey of the prefent State of 
 Eloquence, we fee, that in our own Language 
 there wanteth not Encouragement, Efficient 
 to induce us all to apply ourfelves with Care. 
 Compare it with thofe of our Neighbours, com- 
 pare our Writers with theirs -, and without 
 giving any partial or invidious Preference, this 
 Conclufion at leafi, I am fure, we may fairly 
 draw from fuch Parallel ; that our Tongue is 
 capable of admitting great Excellency; that 
 many have excelled in it, fome very highly : 
 Yet not fo, but that there is ftill left room for 
 new Attempts. In the Regions of Eloquence 
 we have feen, that there are whole Tracts yet 
 untouched, or flightly attempted by the Eng- 
 lijh Genius. If our Talents do at all lead this 
 Way, the Scene is open. Even in thofe which 
 it hath pofleffed, which it hath cultivated more 
 fuccefsfully than any other Nation, remain Va- 
 cancies,
 
 Lc<5l. 6. ORATORY. 101 
 
 cancies, into which, with proper Care, we may 
 gain Admiflion. In the moft complete Wri- 
 ters are little Blemifhes, which we may avoid ; 
 and though we cannot arrive at their Excel- 
 lence, we may out-go them in faultlefs Correct 
 nefs, which is fome Degree of Praife. Every 
 one may, with fome Hope of Succefs, fay, and 
 it ought to be the Principle of all, 
 
 1 alfo mufl attempt myfelf to raife 
 
 From Earth, andfoar upon the Wings of Praie 
 
 Secondly, We have feen from the concurring 
 Practice of all, efpecially of the wifeft and 
 moft polite Nations, what their Perfuafion was 
 concerning the Power of Eloquence : What 
 Care they took in inftrucling young Perfons in 
 it : What Honours they conferred upon thofe 
 who excelled in it. From all which it ap- 
 pears, that their univerfal Belief was, That 
 this Eloquence, is an Art, which may be 
 learned j certainly a natural Ability for it may 
 be much improved by a due Attention to 
 Rules, and by continual Exercife. We mould 
 not therefore rafhly affent to thofe who defpife 
 all fuch Rules, who aflert the Study of Rhe- 
 torick to be vain and ufelefs, who exhort us to 
 truft entirely to Nature, as if (he, having en- 
 dowed us with the Faculty of Speech, where- 
 ever Thoughts are, will quickly furnifh Expref- 
 fion. But all Art is no more, than a Method 
 of employing moft effectually the Powers of 
 
 [] Tentanda via eft, qua me quoque poflum 
 
 Tollerc humo, vi&orq; virurn volitare per ora. VIRG. 
 
 H 3 Nature,
 
 jo2 LECTURES concerning Led. 6. 
 
 Nature, reduced into Rules by long Obferva- 
 tion and Experience : And whofoever rejecting 
 the Aid of thefe in Oratory, chufeth to aban- 
 don himfelf to uninftructed Nature, acteth 
 with the fame Kind of Prudence, as doth the 
 Man, who in a dangerous Difeafe, perfifteth 
 in refufing the Affiftance of Medicine, and 
 leaveth the Cure to the whole Force of Nature ; 
 which fucceedeth fometimes, where all Reme- 
 dies might have failed, but much more fre- 
 quently faileth, where Remedies would have 
 fucceeded. 
 
 A third Confequence is. Study moft care- 
 fully the Writers of the beft Ages, of every 
 Country. Obferve what it is, that formed the 
 Character of Eloquence in that Period , wherein 
 it differem from the Age which preceded or 
 followed. Take particular Notice of the fe- 
 veral Steps by which it declined. Learn accu- 
 rately to diftinguim all Infufions of foreign 
 or corrupt Manner, as they began to be intro- 
 duced, until at length they became the efta- 
 bliihed Fafhion. This Care would ferve effec- 
 tually to guard us againft the like Faults. 
 
 WE obferve in a neighbouring Country, the 
 Inhabitants of which are diftinguimed by their 
 Love of Novelty, a perpetual Flux of Lan- 
 guage and Style, notwithftanding their publick, 
 laborious, and laudable Attempts to fix a cer- 
 tain unchangeable Standard. And herein we 
 are, as in other Things, but too much difpofed 
 to follow them. Now this Kind of Incon- 
 ftancy we fhould firmly refift. Politicians fay, 
 
 that
 
 Le<5t. 6. ORATORY: 103 
 
 that a Form of Government, if become Irre- 
 gular, can be fet right, only by reducing it to 
 its firft Principles : In like manner, Writers 
 fhould endeavour to preferve, or bring back 
 the Form of Writing, to that which was ufed 
 by the beft Authors of the beft Period; the 
 Nature of Mankind being fuch, as rather than 
 not to change, to change for the worie. 
 
 ESPECIALLY, we at this Time fhould do 
 well to guard againft the Ufe of Conceits or 
 Points before mentioned ; a Fault, which feems 
 of late to have gained Ground among us, and has 
 ufually attended the Decline of Letters. This 
 Plant, naturally the Produdl of fertile but ne- 
 glefted Soil, fpreads apace, and fails not, if en- 
 couraged, to end in total Barrennefs, or at beft 
 in Crops of glittering ufelefs Weeds. Soon 
 after the Restoration of Letters it fprung up in 
 the rank Soil of Italy, where it flourifhed 
 long; .and, notwithftanding the commendable 
 Endeavours of fome \c] late judicious Writers, 
 is not likely to be rooted out. From thence 
 the Infection paffed the Alps ; hath been al- 
 ternately cherished and fuppreffed, admired 
 and condemned ; and at prefent feemeth among 
 us in a thriving State, which, if we may judge 
 from the Hiftory of Letters juft recited, is an 
 evil Symptom. 
 
 I DO not deny, that thefe Points where mo- 
 derately ufed, may have a good EfFed : But 
 they are grounded in partial Conceptions of 
 Things, and involve, or almoft always betray 
 [c] ScipioMAFFEi, and GRAVINA. 
 
 H 4 into
 
 IO4 LECTURES concerning Left. 6. 
 
 into, falfe Thoughts ; and where they are 
 true, yet Excefs in them is very faulty. Be- 
 caufe Jewels Ikiifuliy difpofed, may on fome 
 Occafions become, and fet off Beauty to Ad- 
 vantage, Writers of this Kind cover their 
 Mufe all over with them, and deform by Or- 
 naments. The fineft perhaps in theirKind, might 
 be pointed out in our [*/] Englifh Homer: I do 
 not recollect to have obferved a fingle one in the 
 whole Original. 
 
 NOTWITSTANDING the Rule laid down, 
 I acknowledge, that the Authors of corrupt 
 Times may be fometimes read with Improve- 
 ment ; but herein much Caution mould be ufed. 
 The beft of fuch may be compared to Fields, 
 producing Plants of all Kinds, Weeds and 
 Flowers, healthful and poifonous j and Rea- 
 ders are too apt to gather thefe latter, 
 
 Miferos fallunt aconita legentes. 
 Fourthly. As the Study of Eloquence was 
 
 [d] As thefe following : 
 
 And biffing fly thefeather'd Fales below. B. ii. 1. 68. 
 
 And o'er the Vale defcends the living Cloud. ii. 1 16. 
 
 Decay'd our VefTels lie, ii 164. 
 
 And fcarce enfure the wretched Power tofy, 
 'That worjl of Tyrants an ufurping Crowd. ii. 242.- 
 
 Now vanifh'd like their Smoke the Faith of Men. ii. 407. 
 Our Ears refute the Cenfure of our Eyes. iii. i88. 
 
 With Spears eredt a moving Iron Wood. iv. 323. 
 
 Glittering Terrors from his Head unbound, vi. 
 The troubled Pleafure foon cha/lis'd with Fear. 
 Then in the Gen'ral's Helm the Fates are thrown, vii. 212. 
 And (hoot ajhady Luftrt o'er the Field. viii. 
 
 With many others of the fame Kind. 
 
 fo
 
 Led. 6. ORATORY. 105 
 
 fo univerfal in the States of Athens and Rome, 
 as it was the only Gate which opened the Way 
 to Honours in both Commonwealths, and the 
 Treatifes written among them concerning this 
 Art, were almoft without Number, it is natu- 
 ral to enquire, how cometh it to pafs, that of 
 fo many Thoufands, who applied themfelves to 
 this Study, fo very few have excelled ? The 
 vaft Deluge of Time hath fwept away Multi- 
 tudes admired in their own Age, and few, very 
 few remain at this Day above the Flood [*]. 
 Now wherein confifteth the peculiar Excel- 
 lence of thefe few ? Let us confult their Works, 
 examine, reconfider : And this furely is Mat- 
 ter of juft Curiofity; fince they mud have 
 been poflefled of very fingular Merit; For all 
 Men, of different Countries, Ages, Tempers, 
 and Paflions could not have confpired to beftow 
 upon them undeferved Praife. Farther, can 
 we ourfelves catch any Spark of this Fire; 
 which hath rendered their Works immortal ? 
 This is a noble Ambition, and worthy of our 
 Htmoft Toil and Induftry fully to gratify. 
 
 BUT it was before obferved, and allow me, 
 for the Importance of the Point, to repeat it ; 
 That our Admiration of the Productions of 
 Greece and Rome however juft, our Study of 
 them however prudent, mould not lead us into 
 a Fondnefs of emulating their Writers in their 
 own Language ; which we know was the Aim 
 and famionable Purfuit of the Reftorers of 
 
 [e] Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vafto. VIRG. 
 
 Learn-
 
 106 LECTURES concerning Left. 6, 
 
 Learning, at that Time, even in its Excefs and 
 Enthufiafm, perhaps ufeful; but it remained 
 too long, and by drefTing up all the Learned 
 in foreign Habits, prevented the Eftablimment 
 and Growth of Manufactures of their feveral 
 Countries. 
 
 ANOTHER Difad vantage of which Pradice 
 is, that in fuch Attempts the Succefs never can 
 be proportional to the Labour : The utmoft 
 Worth the beft of us can arrive at, is that of 
 a faint and faulty Refemblance. No ; we 
 fhould aim higher. We ihould endeavour to 
 raife ourfelves to the fame Kind of Merit with 
 them, to exprefs their Eafe, Strength, and 
 Solidity, not creep fervilely after Words and 
 Phrafes; to transfufe into our Writings their 
 Spirit, not Sound. Inftead of refembling fome 
 among our young Gentlemen, who bring 
 Home from their Travels, for their whole Im- 
 provement, the Drefs, Grimace, and Phrafe 
 of Foreigners j let us rather follow the Ex- 
 ample of thofe judicious Travellers, who re- 
 taining the outward Habit and Forms of theiy 
 own Country, return with that Politenefs and 
 graceful Freedom, which is the Fruit of large 
 Experience, and much Conversation, conducted 
 by good Senfe and Reflexion. Without this 
 Care, we might write Latin like Cicero, and 
 not deferve to be read j or compofe Veries that 
 may feem to have the Cadence and Harmony 
 of Virgil 's, and merit little Regard. The 
 writing in dead Languages I acknowledge is 
 not altogether without its Ufe: It fhould be 
 
 injoined
 
 Left. 6. ORATORY. 107 
 
 injoined as an Exercife to young Peribns, be- 
 caufe it is not poiTible rightly to underftand 
 fuch a Language, without accuftoming our- 
 lelves to write in it ; fo that otherwife, you 
 cannot become acquainted with the Idiom, 
 with the Frame, and Turn, much lefs with the 
 more delicate Graces of that Language ; nor 
 confequently, have a true Relim for the Com- 
 pofitions in it, which are moft excellent. 
 
 AND let me by the Way obferve, -that the 
 Negledt of this Part of Difcipline in our Edu- 
 cation with regard to Greek, is injudicious, and 
 hath an ill Effect. For not being at all exer- 
 cifed during our early Years in fpeaking or 
 writing in this Tongue, whatever Pains we 
 may take to underftand it when we are grown 
 up, it is hardly pofiible, to attain to fuch exaft 
 Knowledge of it, as to diftinguifh Varieties of 
 Style, to become fkilful Criticks in it, and 
 catch the peculiar Shades and Colourings, that 
 characterife the Work of each Mafter-hand in 
 it. And yet there are obvious Reafons, which 
 prove, that this Kind of Knowledge would be 
 valuable ; nay, I think it might be proved, if 
 this were the Place for entering into fuch Points, 
 that it would be more ufeful towards the lay- 
 ing a Foundation of true Eloquence, than the 
 like Skill in Lafin t which is however fo much 
 cultivated in Shools, or at leaft fo ftrongly re- 
 commended, and fuppofed to be cultivated. 
 
 HOWEVER this may be, undoubtedly it is 
 not by ufing the fame Words, or even Senti- 
 ments, with the Antients, that we fhall become 
 
 like
 
 io LECTURES concerning Left. 6. 
 
 like to them : It is by the grafting upon a 
 Fund of Knowledge and good Senie of our 
 own, their general Air and Manner ; it is by 
 viewing a Subject in the comprehenfive Light 
 which they did j by chufing out like them the 
 moft important Circumftances, and difpofing 
 them in the like juft Order ; and laftly, by 
 giving to the whole Work that inimitable Po- 
 lifli and Luftre, which, the more clofely we 
 furvey their Productions, appeareth the more 
 clear and bright. But I am unawares antici- 
 pating Points, which (hall be treated of more 
 fully hereafter, in their proper Places. This 
 now touched upon, Imitation^ being a great 
 and compendious Method of arriving at Elo- 
 quence, deferveth indeed diftinct Confidera- 
 tion : Nor can I think of a more apt Place for 
 it than the prefent, in which it followeth the 
 Hiftory of Eloquence, and of thofe, who moft 
 excelled therein. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Led. 7. ORATORY. 109 
 
 LECTURE the Seventh. 
 
 Concerning IMITATION. 
 
 ON E of the beft Fruits fpringing from a 
 frequent and careful Perufal of the Works 
 of the Antients is, that we are thereby led to 
 imitate them, and by Degrees may be tranf- 
 formed as it were into their Likenefs. 
 
 BUT as fome Prejudices lye againft Imitation 
 in general, and as they who acknowledge its 
 Ufefulnefs, are yet liable to err in the Applica- 
 tion ^ it feemeth a proper Employment, and 
 peculiarly fuitable to the Courfe of Obferva- 
 tions in which we have been engaged, to make 
 fome Reflexions upon this Subject j fuch as 
 may mew the Ufefulnefs of it ; and afterwards, 
 to point out the Rules of good Imitation. 
 
 THE Arguments by which we prove the 
 Ufefulnefs of Imitation, are drawn from two 
 Sources ; Experience and Reafon. Let us briefly 
 unfold fome of each. 
 
 LOOK back on former Ages : What hath 
 been the Practice of Mankind? How have 
 they, who excelled in any Science or Art, pro- 
 ceeded ? Did they fet out upon their own finglc 
 Stock, or did they borrow from the Fund of 
 others ? The Point is eafily decided. It is a 
 4 Faft
 
 no LECTURES concerning Le<5t. 7. 
 
 Fact not to be controverted, that the moft emi- 
 nent Perfons in all Kinds of Literature, owe 
 their firft Materials to the Difcovery of others ; 
 nay, and derive from Example a great Part of 
 their Skill in the Management of thofe Ma- 
 terials. 
 
 CONCERNING Homer, it feems probable, not 
 only from the Perfection of his Writings, but 
 alfo from the loofe Traditions and obfcure Ac- 
 counts of the Times preceding him, that there 
 were Models, which he followed and im- 
 proved upon. Such we may juftly fuppofe to 
 have been Orpheus, and Linus ^ and Amphion^ 
 and Mufeem-y Names which, however faintly, 
 do ftill mine through the Darknels of Fable, 
 and appear to have been renowned for Skill in 
 Poefy and Mufick. But as all Monuments of 
 thofe very antient Times are now lofl, we can- 
 not determine this Point with any Degree of 
 Certainty. 
 
 LET us therefore allow him the Honour of 
 original Genius, to which his Antiquity hath 
 perhaps contributed not a little to render his 
 Title indifputabie ; it remaineth, however, un- 
 doubted, that the whole Multitude of Writers 
 who flourished fince, have been much indebt- 
 ed to him. The Criticks agree in this Obfer- 
 vation ; and ye may yourfelves, with little Dif- 
 ficulty, confirm it by Inftances from all the Au- 
 thors of Greece. In the unaffected Simplicity 
 of the firft Hiftorian j in the Strength of the 
 fecond ; in the Sublimity of this Philofopher ; 
 in the Eafe and Sweetnefs of that other, and 
 
 in
 
 Led. 7. ORATORY. m 
 
 in the exprefiive Brevity of a third, you may 
 trace the Genius of Homer, his Sentiments, 
 nay his very Words, taken by them, and fitted 
 to the Contexture of their own Profe ; which 
 they thought not to conceal, as Thefts, but were 
 open .and ambitious in their Imitation \ looking 
 upon his Works as of a Rank above human, 
 as a vail Treafure left in common, from which 
 it was allowable for all, who were capable of 
 performing it rightly, to transfer a Gem to en- 
 rich and adorn their own Productions. 
 
 NEXT after the Poets, this Treafure was moft 
 ufeful to the Orators, who found here an in- 
 exhauftible Store of noble and lofty Images ; 
 and to none was it more ufeful than to Demo/t- 
 tienesy who having applied himfelf from the 
 Beginning to acquire a Refemblance of this 
 Poet and of Thucydides, hath happily united 
 the Clearnefs, Abundance, and Elevation of 
 the one, to the Weight, Nerves, and Brevity 
 of the other ; thus fublime without fwelling, 
 and clofe without Drynefs. 
 
 IT would be tedious and unnecerTary to ex- 
 tend this Obfervation to the Romans ; to fhew 
 particularly, that it was the Cafe of Tully and 
 Livy t of Virgil and Horace , and the reft of 
 thole extraordinary Perlbns, who were the Or- 
 naments of the Auguftan Age; of whom it is 
 acknowledged, that they profefledly formed 
 themlelves upon the Models of the Antients, 
 efteeming it fufficient Honour, that they brought 
 home to their own Country the moft precious 
 Treafures of Greece. 
 
 IF
 
 H2 LECTURES concerning Left. 7. 
 
 IF I fhould go one Step farther, and afk 
 you, who among the Moderns have excelled, 
 they who relied upon their own fmgle Force, 
 or they who made a judicious Ufe, and trod in 
 the Steps of antient Wifdom ? the Anfwer will 
 decide the Queftion ; and this muft be the An- 
 fwer, " Almoft all fuch have been in fome 
 " Meafure Imitators" 
 
 THUS Experience is on the Side of Imita- 
 tion. The fecond Source of Arguments on 
 this Head is Reafon. Let us next confult her : 
 She bids us firft apply ourfelves to human Na- 
 ture. Are Men fo formed, that a tingle Per- 
 fon is able, by the Power of his own Genius, 
 to carry an Art from its firft Rudiments to Per- 
 fection ? Do we not fee how gradual Improve- 
 ment hath been in every Nation ? That Arts 
 and Sciences have always had their Infancy and 
 Manhood as it were, no lefs than the human 
 Race ; weak and rude at their firfl Dawing, 
 they received Strength and Growth by Degrees, 
 and at laft arofe to Maturity. Doth not this 
 Obfervation evince, beyond Controverfy, the 
 Ufefulnefs of Imitation ? Men aflift each other. 
 Some lucky Hit, or happy inventive Genius, 
 opens the right Source j others, following his 
 Steps, collect and guide the Waters in proper 
 Channels. For fuch are the Weaknefs and 
 Indolence of Man, fo limited are his Talents, 
 io many the Accidents to which he is liable, 
 nd his Life at the utmoft fhut up within fo 
 narrow Bounds, that it is fcarcely poffible for 
 the fame Perfon to light upon the right Vein, 
 
 to
 
 Led. 7. ORATORY. 113 
 
 to purfue it fteadily, and trace it to its fartheft 
 Limit j No, this muft be the Work of many 
 Hands,*- -imitating and improving each upon the 
 other, for the moft Part of Generations, la- 
 bouring in SuccelTion. Whoever perufeth the 
 Hiftory of Knowledge, will find this to have 
 been the Fact almoft without Exception. The 
 Temple of Arts, if we may fo fpeak, can- 
 not be raifed by one Perfon, feldom in one 
 Age -, Generation after Generation worketh up- 
 on it, each mounting upon the Labours of the 
 foregoing, Nor is it fo perfect at this Day, 
 but that it may admit of Addition j fomewhat 
 is ftill wanting in Extent and Ornament. 
 
 THE Hiftory of the famous Painter * Raphael 
 afFordeth a ftrong Inftance of ufeful Imitation. 
 His firft Manner was like that of his Mafter [a] y 
 dry and cold : Upon feeing fome Paintings of 
 Leonardo de Vinci > he altered this Manner, and 
 gave to his Figures new Life and Graced But 
 after: he had fixed his Abode in Rome, by a 
 continual Study of the beautiful Monuments of 
 Antiquity, of Statutes, Coins, and Bas-reliefs ; 
 and more particularly, as Hiftory relates, by 
 obferving privately the Style^ of Michael Angelo 
 his Rival, he opened a new Way, and raifed 
 himfelf to that animated, noble, and lofty 
 Manner, which fo glorioufly diftinguifheth his 
 lateft Performances. 
 
 IT is nrged, in Oppofition to what hath 
 been' advanced, " That an Original is much 
 " more valuable than any Copy ; that Nature 
 
 [rf] PlETRO PE RUG I NO. 
 
 I is
 
 114 LECTURES concerning Led. 7. 
 
 c< is the beft Guide $ that Men fhould refign 
 te themfelves to her only : Whereas Imitation 
 ct cramps and confines them in the Trammels 
 " of Authority and Example.' 7 
 
 Triis is partly true, " Nature is the beft 
 " Guide :" But will every Man, left to himfelf, 
 follow her as far as fhe can lead him ? Is fhe 
 not to be conducted by Art ? And how may 
 this Art be fo well acquired, as by judicious 
 Imitation ? But to come clofer to the Point, 
 
 FIRST, An excellent Original, one who by 
 the mere Force of his own Abilities hath ftruck 
 out every Thing from himfelf, is exceedingly 
 rare. Look back through the whole Annals 
 of Time, how few, how very few are there, 
 who have in this Manner wrought out from 
 their own unborrowed Stock, and finimed, 
 any great Invention ? Some rare and happy 
 Spirits there may have been, who by their own 
 Vigour have taken Flight, and foared aloft , 
 who, imitating none, are alfo inimitable. But 
 from fuch exceedingly few Inftances, no Con- 
 clufion can be drawn ; we cannot reafon from 
 them to the Generality of Mankind. 
 
 SECONDLY, Even thefe few Originals mufl 
 be imperfed:, and Inftruction and Example 
 would have been ufeful to them : Such is the 
 Condition of frail Mortality. Invention is one 
 of the rareft Gifts of Heaven, and the moft 
 liable, without great Care, to betray into Faults. 
 No Writer feemeth to have a better Title to 
 this fingular Character of original Genius, than 
 pur Shakefpear. What Richnefs of Imagina- 
 a tion !
 
 Led. 7 . ORATORY. n^ 
 
 tion ! What Loftinefs of Thought ! What 
 amazing Command of the Paffions ! Yet how 
 totally different is he from every other Writer? 
 There is. fcarcely a Line of his that doth not 
 bear impreffed his peculiar Genius. In Tra- 
 gedy and in Comedy he is alike new, as un- 
 common in his Vein of free and flowing Hu- 
 mour, as in the higheft Soarings of Imagina- 
 tion. Accordingly, he reigns over us with 
 equal Power in both Extremes ; throws us in- 
 to Fits of Laughter, or calls from our Eyes 
 Streams of Tears. Notwithstanding which, 
 we cannot but fee and acknowledge his ftrange 
 Inequality. It is impoflible not to be diipleafed 
 with the Irregularity of even his beft Pieces, 
 with the Falemood of his Thoughts, and the 
 Affectation and Obfcurity of his Style ; Faults 
 which, though they mould not lefTen our Ad- 
 miration, yet take away from the Delight we 
 fhould otherwife have in reading, or feeing his 
 Pieces reprefented ; which, if he had been ac- 
 quainted with the good Models of Antiquity, 
 he would undoubtedly have avoided : And, in 
 that Cafe, would probably have carried drama- 
 tick Poefy to a Height of Excellence yet un- 
 known. 
 
 GIVE me Leave to add an Inftance in a Sifter- 
 Art. In Painting, the Title of Original is with 
 great Juftice given to Cor r egg w : who poor, 
 without any Inftructor, having never even feen 
 a good Picture, attained to great Eminence. 
 Carried on by a Happinefs of Nature altogether 
 without Example, for Grace and Delicacy of 
 I 2 Pencil
 
 Ii6 LECTURES concerning Left. 7. 
 
 Pencil he vyed with, if not furpafTed, the fore- 
 moft. But Criticks obferve him to be alfo 
 flrangely unequal, to fail mightily in Compofi- 
 tion and DeGgn : Why : Principally, becaufe 
 he had not the Advantage of great Models to 
 confult and copy from. 
 
 THUS it appears evident, that Imitation is in 
 fome Meafure neceffary, is at leaft very ufeful. 
 Experience tells us, that all thofe who have ex- 
 celled in Arts did imitate ; and Reafon afTureth 
 us, that it is beyond the Power of human Na- 
 ture to arrive at Perfection without its Affift- 
 ance. I acknowledge at the fame Time, that 
 it may like wife hurt, and that it hath mifled, 
 as well as fet right. But we are not therefore 
 to reject it ; we are to regulate. To which 
 Purpofe, Rules may be delivered worthy of 
 Attention. 
 
 FIRST, " Propofe to yourfelves the beft Pat- 
 " tern for Imitation." This is fo plain, that 
 it fhould feem needlefs to mention it, if Men 
 did not very often neglect, or tranfgrefs it. We 
 daily fee Peribns chufing the Manner of Ovid 
 and Seneca, rather than that of Virgil and Sal- 
 kift j and it is manifeft, in the Works of a great 
 Tragick Poet [#], that he preferred the Phar- 
 falia as a Pattern, before the Eneid. For which 
 prepoflerous Choice we may affign two Caufes : 
 EITHER they want Difcernment, and ap- 
 prove the worfe ; or they find this more attain- 
 able. It is therefore requifite, firft " to ac- 
 * quire and eflabiiih a good Judgment." Ge- 
 [^] CORN E ILL E. 
 
 nius,
 
 Led. 7- ORATORY. i\j 
 
 nius, the Groundwork of the Whole, is in- 
 deed the Gift of Nature ! but where there is 
 any Ray thereof, Attention and Study will 
 ftrengthen and brighten it. 
 
 NEXT, " Seeing thus what is good, aim at 
 <c that, or write not at all." Chufe your Mo- 
 dels like your Company, the beft ; Acquaint- 
 ance will bring on a Likenefs. 
 
 THE proper Limitation of this Rule, pro- 
 duceth a fecond : Among thefe Good, fome 
 may be more fuitaWe to your Nature than 
 others. Select thefe." 
 
 MEN differ widely in their Difpofitions and 
 Talents. We know that they are often forced 
 into Oppofition with thefe, and may acquit 
 themfelves indifferently well in Undertakings 
 for which Mature had not designed them j but 
 it is paft Doubt, that he will go on with much 
 greater Speed, and proceed farther, who fol- 
 loweth the Impulfe and Direction of Nature. 
 
 You mould conduct yourfelf, as a fkilful 
 Defigner doth an Improvement ; who attempts 
 not to force the Ground to a fixed preconceived 
 Plan, though it be abfolutely the bed, but ra- 
 ther conforms his Plan to the Ground, confults 
 Nature in the Difpofition of his Trees, the 
 Opening of his Profpects, and the Manage- 
 ment of his Water. Thus, becaufe an Author 
 is good, you mould not therefore, although it 
 were poffible, compel yourfelf to take his Ply : 
 The prudent Method is, to .chufe out for your 
 Model one as nearly as you can conformable to 
 your own Genius, although lefs excellent. 
 1 3 Where
 
 u8 LECTURES concerning Left. 7. 
 
 Where you fall fhort in your Plan, you will 
 abundantly compenfate for it, by great Supe- 
 riority in the Execution. 
 
 A THIRD caution is, <e Beware of imitat- 
 " ing even fuch, too clofely " or in the Port's 
 Words, 
 
 Ne defiUas imitator in Arttum. HOR. 
 
 By fo doing,, you cramp your own Genius : 
 you fetter it men Manner, that you cannot 
 exert your Talents : He that labours to tread 
 exactly in the Steps of one going before him, 
 rouft move with Pain and Aukwardnefs : And 
 by this Difference it is, that alrnoft the.beft Co- 
 pies may be diftinguifhed from the Original ; 
 by an Air of StifFnefs ; the Pencil is not free. 
 
 BESIDES, the Merit of a Copy, fuppofe it in 
 other Refpects equal, falleth far fliort of the 
 Merit of an Original. You ought therefore fo 
 to imitate, as to be like, not the fame. 
 
 You cannot learn better to conduct yourfelf 
 herein, than by obferving, how the Roman 
 Poet and Orator imitated the Greek. They are 
 far from copying fervilely : Whatever they take 
 from the others, by mixing with it fomewhat 
 of their own, by giving the whole a new 
 Turn, or applying it in a new Way, they 
 make their own. Oftentimes the Ground is 
 the fame, but the Figures are different, or dif- 
 pofed fo differently, that the Whole feems new. 
 They frequently indeed follow the others ; yet 
 often depart from their Track, and ftrike out 
 unbeaten Paths, not lefs pleafing. They are 
 
 for
 
 Lea. 7^ ORATORY. 
 for the moft Part on the fame Line with their 
 Leaders, and from Imitators become Rivals- 
 The Roman y in his [c] Panegyrick on Ctefar, 
 and his Countryman, in the Epifode of Dido, 
 appear with as much Advantage, as in any 
 o.her Part of their Works ; yet in neither of 
 theie had they their Guides to point out the 
 Way. He only can be an excellent Imitator, 
 who may be a good Original. 
 
 THIS leads to a fourth Rule. " Be very 
 " cautious how you confine yourfelf to the 
 " Imitation of one." In that Cafe you can 
 fcarcely avoid too clofe a Relemblance. 
 
 AT the Revival of Letters in Europe, this 
 was the reigning Miftake : All Writers of Re- 
 putation affected to imitate Cicero. No Period 
 could be endured that had not the Cadence of 
 his ; no Thought could pleaie, that was not in 
 his Manner ; nor Word be admitted, that 
 wanted the Sanction of his Authority. Eraf- 
 mus ridicules this luperftitious Excefs of Fond- 
 nefs with much Humour and good Senfe, in a 
 Dialogue intitled, The Ciceronian : But it is hard 
 to keep the Mean ; he ran into the other Ex- 
 treme, and is charged with a faulty Negligence 
 in Language [//]. 
 
 (/] Oration for MARCELLUS. 
 
 [d] Our Countryman Linacer, hisCotemporary, though 
 excelling in Style, was alfo unreasonably prejudiced from 
 the fame Caufe, againft Cicero \ for it is related of him, 
 that he could not approve of Cicero't Diction, nor hear 
 him read without Wearinefs, Ciceronis ditfionetn nunquam 
 probart potuit t ntc fine fajlidi9 audire. 
 
 Gardinerl Epiftul. ad Chekum. 
 
 I 4 IN
 
 I2O LECTURES concerning Left. 7. 
 
 IN Truth, nothing is more likely to make 
 one ridiculous, than fuch a confined Imitation.. 
 In Drefs and Behaviour it is prudent to follow 
 the beft-bred and moft polite perfon ; but if 
 you mould carry this fo far as to affect every 
 Motion and Gefture, to fpeak in the fame 
 Tone, to fmile and look in the fame Way, with 
 every minute Peculiarity which you obierve in 
 him, muft you not expofe yourfelf tte Ridicule 
 and Laughter ? In outward Deportment there 
 is is a general Grace which becometh all, and 
 every one .mould aim at it ; but there are innu- 
 merable fmall Things, the Graces only of In- 
 dividuals, which are fixed to them, and cannot 
 be transferred, at leafl not fo as to pleafe in an- 
 other. Thus it is in Productions of the Mind : 
 Bind yourfelf down to the Imitation of one, all 
 will fee and laugh at the aukward Refem- 
 blance. 
 
 You mould therefore give yourfelf a larger 
 Scope. As there are many good Writers, fo 
 far as your natural Talents will allow, chufe 
 out of all. By fkilfully mixing and molding 
 them together, you maks fomething that is 
 new and your own : As in the burning of a 
 rich Grecian City, the Confufion of the various 
 Metals which had been melted, and had run 
 together, gave Rife to a new and much valued 
 one, named from the Place of its Origin, Co- 
 rinthian Brafs. 
 
 MEN, with learned Envy, may toil to trace out 
 your feveral Originals, as they have endea- 
 voured to do by Virgil and Horace 5 but none 
 
 regard
 
 Left. 7- ORATORY. 121 
 
 regard them. Such Imitation is ever Original: 
 Like the Sun's Light, it is uniform and beauti- 
 ful. A natural Philofopher may come with his 
 Prifm, and feparate and decompound it into 
 various-coloured Rays; but ftill it remaineth 
 to every Eye one limple, equal, unmixed Splen^ 
 dor ; or, to ufe the common but apt Allufion 
 of the Poet, 
 
 Floriferis ut apes in faltibm omnia lilant. 
 
 You mould, like Bees, fly from Flower to 
 Flower, extracting the Juices fitteft to be turned 
 into Honey. The fevered Criticks allow fuch 
 amiable Plundering. 
 
 IT is true, you may not equal the Merit of 
 any of your Models ; but you acquire a new, 
 and become yourfelf an Original. Thus Cri- 
 ticks in Painting fay, that Annibal Carracio en- 
 deavoured to unite in himfelf the Merit of both 
 Reman and Venetian Schools, to join the Grace 
 and Accuracy of Raphael to the Colouring of 
 Titian ; by which Means, although equal to 
 neither, he yet became himfelf an Original, 
 and worthy of Imitation. 
 
 A FIFTH Rule is; " Have Regard to parti- 
 cc cular Circumftances of Time, Place, and Oc- 
 " cafion." 
 
 THE different Genius of Countries, but 
 much more the Changes which have been made 
 in Religion, Manners, and Cuftoms, render it 
 neceflary in thofe who write or fpeak in pub- 
 lick, to vary from the antient Patterns in many 
 Things. Who doth not feel fomewhat of In- 
 dignation,
 
 122 LECTURES concerning Led:. 7. 
 
 dignation, at hearing a [e] Cardinal in famous 
 Hiftory, inftead of mentioning the Providence 
 of God, introduce the claffical Pagan Expref- 
 fion of Dii Immortales ? In the fame Manner 
 Sa?mazarius, in a [f ] Poem upon the Birth of 
 our Saviour, hath brought in Heathen Divi- 
 nities as Actors ; an Abfurdity, which the Ele- 
 gance of his Verfe cannot atone for. And 
 Michael Angela hath erred in the fame Way, 
 reprefenting Charon with his Ferryboat in the 
 [g] moft awful Tranfaction which the Chriftian 
 Faith hath difclofed. 
 
 IMITATING the Antients, therefore, retain 
 what is common in Eloquence j fuit Particu^ 
 lars to your Occafions and Circumftances. He 
 is not a DemoftbeneSy who can copy with the 
 utmoft Exa&nefs any, even the moft mining 
 PaiTage in his Orations j but He is, who can 
 fpeak or write as Demoftbenes would have done 
 in a parallel Conjucture. A Chriftian, who is 
 about to explain a Point of Religion or Mora- 
 lity, muft exprefs himfelf in a very different 
 Manner from a Heathen Orator j neither can 
 a Difcourfe, delivered to a learned Audience, 
 ferve as an exact Model for one that is addrerTed 
 wholly to the Vulgar and Illiterate : You can- 
 not harangue in the Britijh Parliament, as a 
 Tribune did in the Aflembly of the Roman 
 
 [ e] Bembus, in his Hiftory of Venice. 
 
 [f] Departu Virginis; in which Poem, Proteus is in- 
 troduced, in a prophetick Speech giving an Abftrac-t of our 
 Saviour's Hiftory. 
 
 [g] Piaure of the Refurrcclion. 
 
 People.
 
 Lea. 7. ORATORY. 123 
 
 People. There is not any thing of greater 
 Moment than this Caution. The pureft Style, 
 the nneft Imagination, the heft claffical Imita- 
 tion, is of little or no Value, unlefs employed 
 in fuch Manner as to fuit the Occafion. This 
 Care is like Difcretion in common Life, the 
 Want of which renders the moft fhining Ta- 
 lents ufelefs, or even hurtful. 
 
 LASTLY, " The moft judicious Imitation is 
 " not alone fufficient." A meer Imitator is but 
 a 'ow Character. It was remarkable of a 
 [b] well known Actor in the Reign of Queen 
 Anne, that he had fuch a Power of mimicking, 
 as to counterfeit the Voice and Pronunciation 
 of any, even the beft Player, fo perfectly, that 
 no Hearer could diftinguifh the Copy from the 
 Original ; and yet this Man, fo happy in his 
 aflumed Character, was in his real one but a 
 Player of middle Rank. It is not enough, that 
 you can imitate well the beft Writer j you muft 
 likewife add fomewhat of your own. Nothing 
 is more rare than a perfectly-original good 
 Genius -, yet fome Degree of Invention is not 
 uncommon, and it is expected in every new 
 Work. 
 
 IMITATION is indeed neceffary and fuffi- 
 cient, while you are a Learner, to inftruct and 
 put you into a right Method : If you would 
 fet up for yourfelf, you muft have befide fome 
 Stock of your own. Hitherto you have fub- 
 fifted by the Help and Bounty of others ; you 
 are now fledged, mould leave the Support and 
 
 [//I Eftcourt. &u Speftator. 
 
 Track
 
 124 LECTURES concerning Led:. 7. 
 
 Track of the Parent-Birds, if I may fo fpeak, 
 truft to your own Wings, and ibar alone. 
 
 INDEED the Perfection of Imitation con- 
 fifteth herein ; not in borrowing the Defigns and 
 Words of the Antients, which, if done with 
 Difcretion, is not only allowable, but generally 
 pleafing j but in acquiring their Air and Man- 
 ner, in a Refemblance of their Purity, Life, 
 and Elevation. Let the Materials be as much 
 as you can your own ; but endeavour to pofTefs 
 yourfelf of their Skill in putting them toge- 
 ther, and in finishing ; fo that your Work may 
 in Evennefs, Solidity, and Luftre, refemble the 
 Mafter- pieces which they have left behind 
 them. 
 
 HE who takes the Whole, is rather a Pla- 
 giary than an Imitator : But he who, rich in a 
 Fund of his own, adds to it by difcreetly bor- 
 rowing from the Antients, transferring into his 
 Performance their Skill and Spirit, and making 
 one regular uniform Work, is truly an Imitator, 
 and may be allowed to have the Praife of an 
 Original. 
 
 I have purpofely avoided, in this Ledure, the 
 Mention of imitating modern Writers. In the 
 fame Language it is fcarcely to be ventured up- 
 on ; and, indeed, is not to be attempted with- 
 out very great Caution in any. The Writings 
 of the Antients are confidered, by common 
 Confent, as a Kind of publick Magazine, to 
 which Authors of all Nations may repair, and 
 take from thence what Materials they want. 
 If they have Skill enough to work them up 
 
 well,
 
 . 7 . ORATORY. 125 
 
 well, they are deemed the Property of the 
 Workmen : But every Compofition of a Mo- 
 dern is regarded as belonging to the Author 
 alone, which no other can with Honour in- 
 vade. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 126 LECTURES concerning Led. 
 
 LECTURE the Eighth. 
 
 Concerning Eloquence, as it addreffetb itfelf to 
 REASON. 
 
 TH E Order laid down in the Beginning 
 requireth, that I fhould now proceed, 
 to confider Eloquence, as it addreffeth itfelf to 
 REASON. 
 
 SOME wife and thinking Men, among whom 
 I find Mr. Locke, have been of Opinion, that 
 the Study of Eloquence ought to be difcouraged, 
 as being the Art of deceiving agreeably. In 
 which Cenfure, they have manifeftly miftaken 
 for the Art, the Abufe of the Art. She fur- 
 nifheth Arms for the Defence of Truth only > 
 if any bred up in her Schools have employed 
 thefe in the Service of Falfhood, their's, not 
 her's, is the Reproach j they are not her Sons, 
 but Deferters from her. Eloquence, faith Lord 
 Bacon [a], is inferior to Wifdom in Excellence, 
 yet fuperior in common Ufe. Thus the wife 
 Man faith, The wife in Heart Jhall be called pru- 
 dent 5 and the Sweetnefs of the Lips increafeth 
 Learning \b~\ ; fignifying, that Profoundnefs of 
 Wifdom will help a Man to a Name or Admi- 
 
 [a ] In the Advancement of Learning. 
 [J Prov. chap. xvi. 
 
 ration j
 
 Led. 8. ORATORY. 127 
 
 ration j but that it is Eloquence, which pre- 
 
 vaileth in active Life. 
 
 LET us then confider Eloquence in this Light, 
 
 in her genuine State, as the Handmaid of 
 
 Truth. 
 
 THE firfl great End which mould be pro- 
 pofed by all Speakers, to which every other 
 fhould be fubordinate, is to Convince. 
 
 FROM whence it appears, that every Man, 
 who feeketh to excell in Eloquence, fhould 
 make it his earlicft and principal Care, to 
 flrengthen and improve his reafoning Faculty. 
 He mufl acquire Sagacity in difcovering Argu- 
 ments, and Skill in ranging them to the beft 
 Advantage. ; 
 
 THE former of thefe, Sagacity, is indeed the 
 Gift of Nature : Yet we know from Expe- 
 rience, that it may be much bettered by Study 
 and Exercife: Although we cannot beftow 
 Sight to .a Mind altogether deftitute of it; yet 
 Art can fupply Helps to its Faculty of feeing, 
 can ftrengthen it where weak, and quicken it 
 where dim. 
 
 WITH Refpect to this Operation it is, that 
 the fame [c ] Lord Bacon obferves, Rhetorick 
 to be defective; that one Branch is almoft 
 wholly wanting, namely, the Topical Part : By 
 which is meant, a Number of Oblcrvations on 
 all common Heads, digefted into convenient 
 Order j which fhould be ever ready at Hand, 
 that the Orator may have Recourfe to them; 
 and draw from them, as from a general Store, 
 [t] Advancement of Learning. 
 
 Materials
 
 128 LECTURES concerning Left. 8. 
 
 Materials on all Occafions. The Antients were 
 fenfible of the Ufefulnefs of fucfr Collections ; 
 and many among them laboured much in com- 
 pleating this Part of Rhetorick, although little 
 of that Kind is now extant : But the Defign 
 we find recommended by the Approbation and 
 Practice of the greateft Perfons amongil them. 
 There remain many Precepts to this Purpofe in 
 the Works of Cicero and Quintilian : And De- 
 mofthenes is faid to have prepared Forms, parti- 
 cularly of Exordiums, on all Occafions 5 it be- 
 ing the moft difficult Thing in an extemporary 
 Speech to begin well, and the Part in which a 
 Mrftake is the moft dangerous. 
 
 ON the contrary, the Moderns have not only 
 neglected, but defpifed this whole Matter ; it 
 feems not with good Caufe. And the ill Effect 
 of fuch Contempt appeareth in unpremeditated 
 Difcourfes ; where you often perceive the Speaker 
 at a Lofs for Matter, beating about, and lead- 
 ing you round and round ; when he has ftarted 
 any thing, purfuing it on to irkfome Prolixity : 
 Then, if I may fo fpeak, again at a Fault j fil- 
 ling up the Interval of Argument with tedious 
 Expletives, or unmeaning Digreffions. One, 
 good Way of avoiding which Inconveniency, it 
 feems, would be, the Imitation of the Pru- 
 dence and Induftry of the antient Orators in 
 this Article, who had thefe Topicks always at 
 Hand ; Fountains, as it were, continually full, 
 from which they drew the Streams of Elo- 
 quence, with Eafe and Qmcknefs. 
 
 FROM
 
 . 8. ORATORY. 129 
 
 FROM the Principle laid down, That the 
 great End of Eloquence is to convince ; it fol- 
 lows alfo, That the Orator fhould be early ini- 
 tiated and carefully inftructed in thofe Sciences, 
 which ftrengthen and direct Reafon, by Rules 
 and Exercife. Such profefTedly is Logick. 
 
 [d] ARISTOTLE informeth us, that the 
 Arguments ufed by the Logician are chiefly, 
 Syllogifm and Induction ; and that thofe of the 
 Orator anfwering to them, are Enthymem and 
 Example: The Relation between which, their 
 Difference, the Force and proper Ufe of each, 
 he deduceth at large, with much Subtilty and 
 Solidity. 
 
 WITHOUT entering into this nice Detail, it 
 is eafy to fee, why thefe latter are more fit than 
 the others, for the Orator. The Form of Syl- 
 logifm continually recurring, would be dry and 
 difgufting. Befides, two Proportions give the 
 Senfe of the Whole, the Mind of the Hearer 
 always fupplying the other, which therefore it 
 is better for the Speaker to fupprefs. Again, 
 Induction or an Enumeration of Particulars tire- 
 eth out both Attention and Memory : Example 
 hath the Evidence of Experience and Charm of 
 Novelty to recommend it \ at once proves and 
 entertains. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING, in the Ufe of both, 
 Caution is needful. A continued Chain of 
 Enthymems hath an ill Effect, and is by no 
 Means fuited to a popular Audience. 
 [d] Rhetorick, Bock ift. 
 
 K IT
 
 130 LECTURES concerning Led. 8. 
 
 IT keepeth the Attention on a perpetual 
 Stretch : It becometh too fubtle and thorny, 
 from whence hard and obfcure: And by its 
 abrupt Concifenefs, breaketh the fmooth Cur- 
 rent and Flow of Difcourfe. 
 
 AGAIN, as Examples, flrictly fpeaking, are 
 rather Illustrations and Preemptions, than 
 Proofs ; a Frequency of them enfeebleth your 
 Reafoning, caufeth a Sufpicion of Fallacy, 
 draweth out into immoderate Length : Inftead 
 of proving, at firft they entertain ; next tire ; at 
 lair, neither prove nor entertain. 
 
 WHICH Confideration furnimeth thefe Rules ; 
 
 tc THAT Examples mould be always perti- 
 cc nent. 
 
 < THEY ought to be fhort. 
 
 " As little trite as poffible. 
 
 " YET drawn from known Perfons or 
 " Things." 
 
 FARTHER. Your Difcourfe, however ftrictly 
 argumentative, fhould be at proper Intervals 
 unfolded and opened out from the Clofenefs of 
 Enthymem, into more eafy and ample Propor- 
 tions, that the Mind may have fome Place of 
 paufing, where it mould reft and unbend itfelf. 
 A very rapid Stream, in order to pleafe in Pro- 
 fpecl, mould have certain ample Spaces, into 
 which it diffufeth itfelf with gentler Motion, 
 that the Eye may have whereon to repofe itfelf 
 agreeably. 
 
 THUS it appeareth without Controverfy, that 
 Logick is a necefTary Preparative to Eloquence. 
 It may furnim Helps in the Invention of Ar- 
 guments,
 
 Le<5t.S. ORATORY. t 3 i 
 
 guments/andis certain lyufeful in the fecond Ar- 
 ticle, in the Arrangement of them. But the 
 Science which feems moft conducive to inftruct 
 an Orator in the Art of Reafoning, is Geometry. 
 
 IT proceedeth ufually from the moft fimple 
 Elements to thofe which are lefs known, and fo 
 leadeth by the Hand to the remoteft Truths : 
 Or equally regular in defcending, beginneth 
 with what is general, and condudleth you from 
 thence to particular Truths j both which cor- 
 refpond with the natural Progrefs of the Mind, 
 either in difcovering Truth, or in the commu- 
 nicating it when found, to others ; and are 
 therefore ufeful and agreeable ; this latter efpe- 
 cially, as more fuited to the End propofed by 
 the Orator, Inftruction. 
 
 HAVING afcertained one Truth, Geometry 
 proceedeth to build upon it another, on which 
 it raifeth the fubfequent, fb that the whole Pile 
 becomes firm and unmoveable. It is more ef- 
 pecially beneficial to the Orator, as it demandeth 
 and introduceth an Habit of Attention in each 
 Step, (hutting out every thing foreign from the 
 Purpofe with inexorable Severity; by which 
 Means it preferveth from all needlefs Digref- 
 iion, from wandering and multiplying fuper- 
 fluous Words, Faults exceedingly frequent, and 
 with Difficulty avoided. 
 
 FOR thefe Reafons, the Study of this excel- 
 lent Science never can be too earneftly recom- 
 mended to all young Perfons, who would attain 
 to a rational manly Eloquence, 
 
 K 2 LOGICK
 
 132 LECTURES concerning Led. 8. 
 
 LOGICK may give Acutenefs and Subtiity; 
 but from Geometry it is, that you are to feek 
 for Clearnefs, Strength, and Precifion. 
 
 IT is, however, material to be obferved, that 
 this is indeed the beft Foundation, not the 
 Whole of Eloquence ; the Method of the Ora- 
 tor differeth in many Articles from that of the 
 Geometrician. He muft not, like this latter, 
 require Demonftration in every Step, becaufe 
 his Subjed rarely can admit of it. He muft not 
 extend his Chain of Reafoning to a very great 
 Number of Links, left the Hearer mould not be 
 able to bear in Mind, or recoiled: them. He 
 muft not confine himfelf to the direct Line of 
 clofe Argument, but take in greater Scope ; he 
 muft gather in Circumftances, colled: Proba- 
 bilities j and from the Union and Combination 
 of thefe, form an aggregated Argument. Other 
 Differences there are, fuch as the Neceffity of 
 repeating, of enlarging upon what hath been 
 faid, and of prefenting it in different Lights, in 
 order to imprefs it on the Mind ; that alfo of 
 illuftrating, varying, and adorning, forbidden by 
 the Aufterity of Science ; of which we mail 
 have Occafion to treat more fully hereafter : 
 The Foundation is principally to be inlifted on, 
 
 . " You can fcarcely raife Eloquence on any 
 
 " firm Bafts, except that of Geometrical Know- 
 ledge." 
 
 EXPERIENCE it is true appeareth fometlmes 
 to contradid this Pofition. Ye can name to 
 me perhaps Perfons, who excel in folid Elo- 
 quence, yet are deftitute of all Geometrical 
 
 Science.
 
 Led*. 8. ORATORY. 133 
 
 Science. I diipute not the Fact. But thefe 
 Perfons will be found to have from Nature, 
 what is here recommended as the Effect of Art. 
 Every Kind of Science was meant for the Af- 
 fiftance of Nature ; where this latter hath been 
 exceedingly bountiful, the Affiftance is needlefs : 
 But fuch Inftances are rare, and difprove not the 
 general Ufefulnefs of Science; 
 
 NAY, I am perfuaded, that if we examine 
 into fuch Inftances of this Kind as we are ac- 
 quainted with, we fliall find the foregoing Re- 
 mark confirmed by them : They are natural 
 Geometers. The Truth is, Nature where ex- 
 cellent, may be ftill improved by the Help of 
 this Science ; and where defective, may be fup- 
 plied with what is wanting, and perfected. 
 
 UPON the Whole, I think it may be laid 
 down as an univerfal Rule in the Point, That 
 in laying the Plan of what you are to fay, and 
 in felecting your Materials, you mould arrange 
 all at firft in a Geometrical Method ; by which 
 Means you will fee the juft Value, the Force 
 and Connexion of each Argument : Afterwards, 
 if you think it expedient, in order to win the 
 Attention of the Hearers, to add any Ornament, 
 you may be at leaft certain, that the Founda- 
 tion is right : You have chalked out a well- 
 known and fure Path ; and, if, for the Sake of 
 pleafing Profpects, you mould now and then 
 lead your Hearer to fome Diftance from it, yet 
 you may be certain of recovering it at Will, and 
 of conducting him fafely to his Journey's End. 
 
 IT
 
 134 LECTURES concerning Led. 8. 
 
 IT might feem fcarcely needful to add, that 
 it is a necefiary Caution for all, to make them- 
 felves thoroughly acquainted beforehand with 
 the Subject they are to treat of, if one did not 
 fee frequent Inftances of CarlefTnefs in this Re- 
 ipect : if one did not daily hear Perfons even in 
 premeditated Difcourfes, {peaking fo confufedly 
 and fuperficially concerning Points they under- 
 take to explain, that it is evident, they had- a 
 very imperfect Knowledge of the Things they 
 talked about. 
 
 WHEREFORE, " Revolve a Subject long 
 
 " in your Mind, explore it on all Sides, behold 
 " it in all Lights." Many Advantages arife 
 from this Habit. You will be enabled thereby 
 to talk pertinently and properly. You will 
 avoid Repetitions, which are fo common and 
 tirefome. You will become qualified to go to 
 the Bottom, and exhauft the Whole. You 
 will abridge what you hwe to fay, and by fo 
 doing, acquire Strength and Solidity. 
 
 BESIDE all which, knowing thus before-hand 
 the Quantity and Quality of your Materials, you 
 will learn to give each Part its due Propor- 
 tion, not dilating and extending one beyond its 
 proper Length j which is the Cafe of many 
 Speakers, who are thereby compelled to Ihorten 
 and cramp another Part, it may be of much 
 more Importance, thus refembling imprudent 
 Managers, who, ignorant of the State of their 
 own Affairs, and not forecafting their Expence, 
 fpend in the Beginning profufely, and are after- 
 wards
 
 Ledt. 8. ORATORY. 135 
 
 wards obliged to employ an ill-judged and un- 
 timely Parfimony. 
 
 FROM hence it happens, that you may have 
 obferved one Head to fwallow up almoft a whole 
 Difcourfe : And after having fquandered away 
 Abundance of Words on Trifles or Matters 
 little related to his Purpofe, a Speaker comes 
 wkh an ill Grace to flur over the main Part, in 
 an Apology, becaufe of the Shortnefs of Time, 
 or his Unwillingnefs to trefpafs on the Patience 
 of his Audience : A Method of proceeding not 
 unlike the common OEconomy of Time in the 
 World ; Men throw away Years in Idlenefs and 
 Folly ; yet with Regard to the main Bufmefs of 
 Life, the Attainment of Virtue and Happinefs, 
 are for ever complaining, and excufing them- 
 felves on Account of the Shortnefs of their 
 Lives. 
 
 A FARTHER Advantage of this mature Con- 
 fideration of a Subject, and little attended to, is 
 this : From theView of your whole Scheme, you 
 will be able to fix upon that Method which 
 fuiteth beft with your particular Defign ; where- 
 upon, in a great Meafure, will depend the Force 
 and Succels of your Difcourfe. For, although 
 in Mathematical Reafoning, where the Points 
 confidered are abftracl; Quantities, and flricl: 
 Demonstration is demanded at every Step, all 
 Methods may be reduced to two [e] j yet 
 greater Latitude is admitted, nay muft be taken 
 in the ufual Topicks of Eloquence, in Points 
 {/] ANALYTKK and SYNTHETICK. 
 
 K 4 of
 
 136 LECTURES concerning Left. 8 f 
 
 of Morals or Juftice, in Fads and the cornmon 
 Bufinefs of Life. 
 
 FOR the Evidence here, refulting only from 
 a Combination of Probabilities, much Skill is 
 requifite in collecting and ranging Circumftan- 
 ccs, fo as beft to ftrengthen each other, and 
 when laid together to make the firmed BodyJ 
 that can be compacted frorq fuch : Which Me- 
 thod you may eafily conceive to be capable of 
 almoft endlefs Variety j efpecially, if you add 
 hereto, that the Time, Occafion, the Temper 
 and Difpofition of your Audience ought alfo to 
 be confidered, and mould have great Weight in 
 determining the Courfe you take. I mall en- 
 deavour to explain my Meaning by a remark- 
 able Inftance of this Skill. 
 
 CfESIPHON had propofed a Decree, 
 that tjemoftksnes fhould be honoured with a 
 Crown of Gold, and that the Herald mould 
 publim in the Theatre, that this Honour was 
 conferred upon him, on Account of his Probity 
 and Love of his Country. EJchines accufeth 
 Ctepphon of having violated the Laws by this 
 Decree, in three Points. Jn crowing one who 
 had been a Magiftrate, and had not as yet, ac- 
 cording to exprefs Injunction of the Law, laid 
 before the People an Account of his .Admini- 
 ftratjon : In crowning him in the Theatre be- 
 fore the Greeks, whereas this Ceremony was 
 confined to the AfTembly of Citizens : And 
 laftly, for falfly reprefenting in his Decree De- 
 mojlbems as a good and zealous Citizen of 
 
 Athens^ 
 1
 
 . 8. ORATORY. 137 
 
 ^ who was, according to him, a wicked 
 Man, and a Traitor to his Country. 
 
 IT was natural for Demo/tbenes, who ap- 
 peared as Advocate for Ctefipbon^ to have an- 
 fwered thefe Articles in the lame Order; but 
 obferve how artfully he varies it. He beginneth 
 by removing the ill Impreffion his Adverfary's 
 Accufation might have made on the Minds of 
 his Judges: giving a full Hiftory of his own 
 Life and Actions, proving his Innocence, and 
 difplaying at large the Services he had done to 
 his Country, as Orator, Magiftrate, and Em- 
 balTador. Next, the two Articles relating to 
 his Magiftracy, and to the Place of publickly 
 conferring the Crown, which were of leaf! Con- 
 fequence, and in which he was weakeft, (for 
 the Letter of the Law feems to have been rather 
 againfr. him) he crowds into the Middle ; 
 where they were leaft likely to be obferved 5 
 and returneth to his own Character and Actions, 
 contrafling with them the Behaviour of his Ac- 
 cufer, whofe Treafons and Crimes he defcribeth 
 with fuch a Torrent of rapid and vehement 
 Eloquence, as feemed likely to hurry away with 
 it his Judges j and did in Fact obtain for'him a 
 glorious Victory. 
 
 BESIDE this previous Knowledge, this ma- 
 ture Confederation of the Subject preicribed, it is 
 expedient alfo, to confult the Opinions of other 
 Men, to add the Affiftance of Books to your 
 own Meditation. From them, you may fur- 
 nifli yourielf with necelTary Materials. They 
 alib prcfent the befl Examples to follow ; and 
 
 may
 
 138 LECTURES concerning Led. 8. 
 
 may encourage to a happy Emulation. Betide 
 which, it often happens, that after you have 
 Jong thought to little Purpofe, a particular Paf- 
 fage in a good Author mall open a new Track 
 in the Mind, and waken a Set of Ideas lying 
 hitherto dormant therein ; one of which, when 
 put in Motion, draws after it the whole Num- 
 ber with furprizing Qukknefs and Eafe ; a 
 iingle Hint kindles, as it were, this long Train 
 of Thoughts, and the Mind before cold and 
 dark, becomes at once all Light and Flame. 
 
 THIS is no infrequent good Effect of Read- 
 ing, and is not liable to any Exception. The 
 former, that of employing old Materials, al- 
 though expofed ibmetimes to Objection and 
 Danger, the fevereft Critick cannot wholly dif- 
 approve of, efpecially in ferious Argument. In 
 Productions of Fancy, what is new and original, 
 is more juftly demanded ; for here the unbound- 
 ed Spaces of Fiction lye open, in which, In- 
 vention may expatiate unconfined, and difplay 
 all her native unaffifted Fertility. 
 
 BUT in ferious Argument the Scene is nar- 
 row j Reafon is uniform in her Motions, the 
 Road (he pointeth out is nearly the fame to all, 
 whence it cannot but happen, that many Times 
 different Perfons mould light each on the other, 
 mould travel in the fame Path, fometimes fol- 
 low, and often feem to follow thofe who went 
 before them. In fuch Kinds of Writing the 
 Ground-work is nearly the fame in all, the 
 Manner ufually maketh the Difference. In 
 Works of Fancy, through Novelty we feek for 
 
 Pleafure ;
 
 Lea. 8. ORATORY. 139 
 
 Pleafure ; but in Works of Reafon, through 
 Argument we feek for Truth. 
 
 ALLOWING this Diftindtion, flill it mould 
 be your Care, in ferious Argumentation, what- 
 ever Materials you derive from others, to mix 
 fkilfully and incorporate with what you furnifli 
 from your own Fund of Reafon ; to melt down, 
 and caft, as it were, all anew : So that the whole 
 Compofition mall appear one Mafs, equal, uni- 
 form, and folid. This will obtain, and de- 
 ferveth the Praife of an Original. If this Con- 
 dud: be in a moderate Degree indulged in 
 Works purely of Imagination j how much more 
 muft it have Place in ferious Compositions, in 
 Difcourfes of Reafon and Truth j wherein it 
 feems hardly poflible at this Time, to deferve in 
 any other Way, the Praife of an Original,
 
 140 LECTURES concerning Led:, g. 
 
 LECTURE the Ninth. 
 
 Continuation of the Foregoing. 
 
 CONCERNING the Arrangement of 
 Arguments, which was mentioned as the 
 fecond Article to be confidered in Reafoning, 
 there is a Queftion propofed by [#] Quintilian as 
 of fome Nicety, and varioufly anfwered ; In 
 what Manner mall an Orator difpofe his Argu- 
 ments, fo as to give them the greateft poffible 
 Advantage ? Shall he place in the firft Rank 
 thofe which are ftrongeft, and fo proceed to the 
 weaker ? 
 
 BUT, herein there appeareth manifeft Incon- 
 venience : We know that what is faid laft, ufu* 
 ally maketh the deepeft Impremon 5 from 
 whence it is to be apprehended, that a weak 
 Argument following mail enfeeble the ftronger, 
 which went before ? 
 
 How then ? Shall he take a contrary Courfe ? 
 Shall he fet out with the weaker, and rife gra- 
 dually from thence, concluding with the moft 
 weighty ? Is not this liable to Objection ? Is it 
 not likely, that the Beginning may raife unfa- 
 vourable Prejudices in the Hearer ; and offer- 
 0] Lib. v, Cap. j2. 
 
 ing
 
 Le<2. 9. ORATORY. 141 
 
 ing to his View at firfr, Sight only Trifles or 
 Rcafons of little Force, may excite his Scorn, or 
 at leaft indifpofe him to attend ? 
 
 OR laftly, (hall he marfhal his Arguments 
 according to the Difpofition of Neftors Army 
 in the Iliad [^] ; throw the feebleft Reafons in- 
 to the Middle, as that Leader Rationed the worft 
 Troops in the Centre, while the braved and 
 moft experienced formed his Van and Rear? 
 This feems to be a prudent Difpofition when 
 the Cafe permitteth ; when there is fufficient 
 Variety and Choice of Arguments : But thefe, 
 you are not without Neceflity to multiply, ra- 
 ther than break through a fixed Method ; 
 which, if this Dilpofition were laid down as the 
 beft, you might be tempted to do. 
 
 THE Truth is; as each of thefe Methods 
 hath its Inconveniency, fo are there Occafions, 
 in which each may be the moft fitting ; and the 
 Cafe cannot be reduced to one general Rule. 
 But which of thefe Ways foever you chufe, 
 Cautions neceflary to be obferved, are thefe. 
 USE no Argument that is falfe or frivolous. 
 LAV upon each no more Strefs, than you are 
 allured, that it can really bear. 
 
 WHERE there are Proofs fufficient to fatisfy a 
 reafonable Perfon, do not multiply needlefs Ar- 
 guments. 
 
 As much as may be, avoid thofe which are 
 fubtle ; few can underftand fuch ; ajl fufpect 
 them. 
 
 [A] Iliad, Lib. iv. V. 297. 
 
 ZUIN-
 
 142 LECTURES concerning Led. 9. 
 
 QUINTlLIAN's Anfwer to the Queftion 
 is this ; They may be difpofed in any of theie 
 Ways according to the Nature of the Caufe, 
 with one Exception, that the Difcourfe mould 
 not fink from thofe which are ftrong, to ,the 
 light and feeble. 
 
 IF I might attempt to give a more particular 
 Anfwer, it fhould be the following. 
 
 ALWAYS begin with fome Argument at leafl 
 pertinent ; and end with one weighty, and 
 likely to have EffecT:. If the Caufe require, that 
 you fhould propofe the weightieft firft, (which 
 you muft do if there be but one that is of much 
 Weight) and you judge it needful afterwards 
 to add others more feeble, for fuch feparately 
 inconfiderable, collected may have Force ; in 
 this Cafe, I think it advifeable, at the Clofe to 
 refume, and dwell a little upon that which was 
 firft propofed, that you may leave with the 
 Hearer the moft powerful and convincing. In 
 which Way of Proceeding, you muft take Care, 
 not to exhauft the Argument at firfr, but to 
 fhew ib much of it only, as may be fufficient 
 to raife Attention and good Expectation -, other-' 
 wife, little more being left than meer Repiti- 
 tion at the End, inflead of convincing, it is 
 likely to difguft and tire. 
 
 FARTHER. The Kind, as well as the Or- 
 der of Arguments demands Attention, Thofe 
 drawn from Authority are often ufed. Con- 
 cerning which you are to remark, That al- 
 though coniidered with the Seventy of a Philo- 
 fopher, they are not ftrictly conclufive ; yet 
 
 Tuch
 
 Lea $. ORATORY. 143 
 
 fuch is the Veneration ever paid to the Names 
 of eminent Perlbns, that they have always great 
 Influence in popular Speeches. 
 
 BUT this Caution mould be obferved j That 
 the Citations themfelves, and the Occafions on 
 which they are brought, mould be worthy of 
 thofe Names. In fuch allb, Moderation mould 
 be prefervcd : Numbers of Quotations are di- 
 agreeable, and illuflrious Names heaped on 
 each other at length tire : There is more in it : 
 There is a Pride in Man which makes him un- 
 willing to be governed by any thing, but his 
 own Reafon ; he difdains to bow his Neck to 
 the Yoke of Authority. Wherefore it is pru- 
 dent, to ufe Arguments of this Sort fparingly, 
 and for the moil part, rather as a Confirmation 
 of Points already made probable, than as fuffi- 
 cient Proofs. 
 
 ARGUMENTS alfo drawn from the Expe- 
 rience of others, or from Hiflory, contribute 
 not a little to perfuade j and are the moil en- 
 tertaining of any, relieving the Mind, which 
 Attention quickly fatigues, by a pleafing Va- 
 riety. They are to a Hearer, as to one who 
 hath long journeyed in a clofe and fhadyRoad, 
 are certain large Spaces and Openings, which 
 without leading out of the Way, pleafe and 
 amufe, by letting in upon the Eye wider Proi- 
 pedts, and new Lights and Images. But here- 
 in particularly, Shortnefs is neceffary, as Paflages 
 taken from Hiflory carry often into great Length. 
 
 PROOFS frequently arife from, are often in- 
 terwoven with, Narration j which alfo de- 
 mands
 
 144 LECTURES concerning Left. 9 . 
 
 mands much Care in the Orator, it being no 
 very common Quality to relate well. 
 
 NARRATION mould be clear, lively, and 
 concife. Clear in order to inform ; lively to 
 ftrike and affect j concife, that it may not tire, 
 and that it may be remembered. Clearnefs is 
 obtained by Purity of Style, and Accuracy of 
 Method. Livelinefs fprings from Imagination ; 
 and Concifenefs from a judicious Choice of Cir- 
 cumftances, and from Clofenefs of Diction. In 
 one Word, all may be fummed up in Simplicity t 
 the Perfection of Narration ; which conlifts in 
 true natural Thoughts, exprefled without Af- 
 fectation, without Superfluity j and well con- 
 nected, without Chafm, Abruptnefs, or forced 
 Traniition. 
 
 ONE Miftake, there is relating to this Point, 
 very general and hurtful; That the Narration 
 of an Orator mould be always much more 
 raifed, more adorned, and wrought up with 
 higher Figures, than that which is allowed to 
 an Hiftorian. 
 
 [c~\ 1 MENTION this as a Miftake 5 becaufe it 
 doth not appear to me, that there is a Foun- 
 dation in Reafon for making this Diftinction ; 
 the Ends of both Orator and Hiftorian being in 
 Narration exactly the fame, to give a clear Re- 
 preftntation of a Fact. Nay, I am certain, that 
 actually this Diftinction doth not prevail, is not 
 kept up. 
 
 [f] Narrationes credibiles ( fintj prope quotidiano fer- 
 mone explicate dilucide. Cic. deOrat. 
 
 I no
 
 Led. 9. ORATORY. 
 
 I DO not think that there can be found in any 
 Orator, Pieces of Narration more animated, en- 
 livened with more ftrong and glowing Colours, 
 than the Account of the Plague of Athens given 
 by Thucydides ; than the Relations of the Sack^ 
 ing of Alba, and the Journey of Hannibal over 
 the Alps, by Livy -, that of the Mutiny in the 
 Roman Armies upon the Rhine and in Hungary^ 
 by ^Tacitus ; together with the Murder of 
 Agrippina, Nero's Mother, by the fame Hifto- 
 rian. Compare with thefe, if you pleafe, that 
 admired Narration of Demofthenes which begins 
 with, ct It was Evening^] :" That of the Death 
 of Clodius in Cicero [e] ; or any others the mofl 
 applauded ; and I am perfuaded, you will ac- 
 knowledge, that the Hiflorians do not fall mdrt 
 of the Orators in Fire, or Force, in Strength 
 and Boldnefs of ExprerTion. 
 
 THIS Opinion therefore is, in myApprehen- 
 fion, ill-grounded : And it mould be the more 
 carefully guarded againft, becaufe in Narrations, 
 Occafions, of which, very often occur, through 
 a falfe Notion of Oratory, it betrays the Speaker 
 into Swelling and florid Bombaflj Inftances 
 whereof I could produce in plenty, and from 
 Perfons of Talents not contemptible ; efpecially 
 from the Panegyricks of our Neighbours upon 
 the Continent, who, although in many Re- 
 fpedls commendable, have fallen into this Mif- 
 take more generally I think, than our own 
 
 [d] In the Oration for the Crown. 
 0] Pro MUone. 
 
 L Writers:
 
 146 LECTURES concerning Led:. 9. 
 
 Writers [/ ] : And it is in this Spirit of Criti- 
 cifm, that I have heard the Funeral-Sermons 
 preferved among thole of Tillotfon, feverely 
 cenfured as cold and languid, becaufe that ex- 
 cellent Perfon hath drawn the Characters of his 
 deceafed Friends, by a Relation of their Life 
 .and Actions, delivered with an unaffected, and 
 as I think, truly moving Simplicity. 
 
 BESIDES, this Miftake hath received the 
 Sanction of a [g] much-efteemed Critick in the 
 feventeenth Century, who hath accordingly 
 given Examples of Narratives in both Kinds, 
 conformably to this Idea, lefs happily as I con- 
 ceive, than is ufual, with that Writer. 
 
 IF, however, it be an Opinion perfifted in, 
 that we ought to diftinguifh between thefe two 
 Kinds of Narration, I mould place the Dif- 
 ference, not as ufually is done in the Style, but in 
 the Manner, and mould determine it thus. 
 
 THE Narration of the Hiftorian is continued ; 
 That of the Orator ought not to be purfued to 
 much Length, requiring the agreeable Variety 
 of Interruption from Reflexions and Argu- 
 ments. The Hiftorian delivereth only the great 
 and ftriking Circumflances : The Orator de- 
 fcendeth properly into the minuteft Detail. 
 The Hiftorian giveth a fair, general, impartial 
 Account : The Orator aimeth at a particular 
 
 fjr] The Funeral Orations of BOSSUET, much the 
 beft of any, abound with noble and fublime Paflages j yet 
 with a great Allay of declamatory Embellifliment. 
 
 [g] STRADA in the Dialogue entitled MURETUS. 
 --.,... Point,
 
 Left. 9. ORATORY. 147 
 
 Point, and felecteth, and dwelleth chiefly on 
 the Circumftances conducive to his End. 
 
 BESIDE direct Proofs of your Point hitherto 
 mentioned, it is often neceflary, to refute your 
 Adverfary ; and anfwer Objections made to your 
 Proofs. 
 
 IN the former of thefe, in refuting your Ad- 
 verfary, the moft material Cautions are " To 
 " deal ingenuoufly. To cite from him fairlyv, 
 " To anfwer thofe Objections which have moft 
 " Force, not to chufe out, as often is done, on- 
 " ly the lead weighty. Not to wreft his Words 
 " from their natural and intended Senfe. Not 
 " to catch greedily at an Advantage from an. 
 " unguarded Expreffion. Not to charge him 
 <c with Confequences, which you fkilfully draw 
 e from his Pofitions, but he difavows. And 
 " carefully to avoid all Acrimony." 
 
 I HAVE mentioned Proof and Refutation in 
 this Order, becaufe it feems a more natural Me- 
 thod to begin with eftablifhing Truth : And af- 
 terwards the more fully confirm it, to proceed 
 in removing any Difficulties, which may occa- 
 fion Doubt. This in general : At the fame 
 Time I acknowledge, that this Method may be 
 varied from, nay fuccefsfully inverted. You 
 may begin by removing Prejudices, and after- 
 wards eftablifh Truth. But this hath Place, 
 only where Prejudices have been entertained, 
 fuch as are likely to fhut up the Attention and 
 Understanding againft you. 
 
 UPON this Occafion of refuting it is, that 
 
 Orators are frequently tempted to ftep out of 
 
 L 2 the
 
 148 LECTURES concerning Led:. 9. 
 
 the Province of Reafon, into one altogether 
 different, yet fometimes of great Advantage to 
 their Caufe, that of Raillery and Ridicule. And 
 fo ufeful have thefe been judged, that the greateft 
 [b] Mailers of Rhetorick have taken the Pains 
 of delivering Rules concerning the Art of ex- 
 celling in them, and have, with much Gravity, 
 attempted to teach Men how they might fet 
 others a laughing. 
 
 BUT whether Rules can at all avail towards 
 acquiring or improving a Talent, which feems 
 to depend entirely upon Nature, appeareth at 
 leaft very doubtful. My Judgment is, that 
 confidering the ftrong Propeniity of Mankind 
 to Sallies of this Sort, the beft life of Rules 
 would be, to reilrain and fet Bounds to it, to 
 prefcribe Caution and the utmoft Delicacy in 
 the Management of a Weapon, often more 
 hurtful to the Perfon who wieldeth it, than to 
 him againft whom it is directed. The Ridicu- 
 lum Acri is a true, but hazardous Maxim. 
 Pleafantry hath fometimes the happieft Effecl: ; 
 but it is fo very pernicious when it fails, and it 
 may fail from fo many Caufes, that we mould 
 tremble in touching a Weapon thus keen and 
 unmanageable. Where the Talent is natural, 
 it is but too apt to become exceffive : Where it 
 is not, Rules cannot beflow it. 
 
 ONE Thing we may lay down as certain, that 
 it is an erroneous Opinion to fuppofe Ridicule 
 to be the Teft of Truth : And the Orator, who 
 
 [J Vid. CICERO de Oratore, Lib. ii. 
 QUINT. Lib. vi. Cap. 3. 
 
 attempts
 
 Lect. 9. ORATORY. 149 
 
 attempts to form himfelf upon this Maxim, is 
 as likely to become a bad Speaker, as the Mo- 
 ralift, to be a vain and fuperficial Philofopher. 
 
 AND we may remark by the Way, that the 
 celebrated [/] A Her tor of this Doctrine, hath, in 
 no Part of his Work, failed fo remarkably, as in 
 Attempts of this Kind ; this Mailer of refined 
 Criticiim and polite Style, being, if I miftake 
 not, awkward in his Mirth, and forced and m- 
 fipid in his Ridicule. 
 
 IN anfwering Objections, which was the fe- 
 cond Article mentioned, you tither anfwer 
 thofe which have been, or anticipate thofe 
 which you forefee fhall be, made. In the 
 former of thefe, a fair Field is open. Such 
 Anfwers, if clear and full, are ever heard with 
 Attention and Pleafure. Becaufe, they are 
 Proofs of Quicknefs and a good Capacity in the 
 Anfwerer, appearing, however they may have 
 been before confidered, unpremeditated : And 
 becaufe, we behold with Pleafure Truth drawn 
 forth to View, and Falfhood ftripped of the 
 Ornaments Sophiftry had thrown round her. 
 Add, that we all naturally delight in Compan- 
 ion and Contention. 
 
 BUT in the other, in anticipating or framing 
 to yourfelf imagined Objections, much Care 
 and Circumfpection are neceflary. By multi- 
 plying Objections you fatigue the Hearer ; you 
 break his Attention, fplitting it on fo many- 
 Objects, that it lofeth Sight of the main one. 
 Some enumerate frivolous Objections. Some 
 [/] Lord SHAFTSBURY. 
 
 L 3 revive
 
 150 LECTURES concerning Led:. 9 . 
 
 revive fuch as are exploded. Some raife up 
 others, fo very nice and fubtile, as it is likely 
 would never otherwife have been thought of. 
 But principally, beware of their Miftake, who 
 propofe Objections, which themfelves cannot 
 clearly anfwer : Even if they fhould, the Prac- 
 tice is attended with this Evil, that the Scruple 
 remaineth when the Anfwer is forgotten. 
 
 THE moft prudent Way is, to confine your- 
 felf to Objections which have been urged, and 
 are known : Or, if you think fit to raife up any 
 to yourfelf, let them be fuch only, as fpring al- 
 mofr. neceflarily from the Subject ; fuch as you 
 imagine will, in all Probability,occur, if not men- 
 tioned, to the Minds of the Hearers ; fuch as 
 you think they would wifh, as yourfelf if a 
 Hearer, would wifh, to have cleared up : And 
 let your Reafoning in fuch Cafes be as clear and 
 fhort, as the Nature of the Thing will allow. 
 
 A FARTHER Remark is, That as in Works 
 of Fancy, one is apt to run into Florid and 
 Bombaft; fo in Reafoning, you are ever in 
 Danger of going into Nicety and Subtlety. 
 Diftinctions may be neceffary to expofe the 
 Fallacy of a Sophifm, to clear up a Point, and 
 give a precife Notion of it: But the Ufe of 
 many fuch confounds the Judgment, oppreffeth 
 the Memory, and is highly unpleaiing. Some, 
 who affect the Character of Reafoners, are fond 
 of refining on every Subject, and run up the 
 plaineft into all the Myftery of Metaphyiicks. 
 Others, whatfoever be the Topick, fet out with 
 a huge Apparatus of Lemmas and Propofitions 
 
 premifed,
 
 Lea 9. ORATORY. 151 
 
 premifed, and trail behind an immenfe Train 
 of Corollaries and Confe&aries : We have feen 
 Morality taught to ipeak the Language of Geo- 
 metry; and Pleafures and Pains, Virtues and 
 Vices confronted in all the irnpofmg Pomp of 
 Algebraical Symbols [k]. 
 
 ALL which prepofterous Science flows from 
 Miftake or Ostentation. " Suit your Argu- 
 " ments to your Subjects : Seek not laboriouily 
 " to demonftrate that which is plain: Nor 
 " drefs up in the Garb of Science Truths of 
 " common Senfe :" For nothing that is unna- 
 tural can long pleafe., 
 
 LASTLY. There are two Ways in which 
 a Difcourfe of Argument may be fitly con- 
 cluded. One is, by a Recapitulation of the fe- 
 veral Arguments employed ; the Ufe of which 
 is obvious ; as it collects and fhews at one 
 View, what was more copioufly proved before. 
 
 THIS Part mufl be fhort ; otherwife the Re- 
 petition difgufts: It fliould therefore mention, 
 only the principal Matters. The Art is, to 
 touch upon fuch, as mall beft recall the others 
 to Mind. 
 
 [] This Cenfure is not defigned to include two 
 learned and virtuous Perfons, who may be fuppofed to be 
 here glanced at, Mr. WOLL ASTON and Mr. HUTC HE- 
 SON : But the Fault was very general about the Beginning 
 of this Century, and remained long; occafioned, as I fup- 
 pofe, partly by a Paflage of LOCKE mifunderftood ; 
 partly by the high Honour approaching to Enthufiafm, in- 
 to which the aftonifliing Genius of NEWTON had brought 
 Mathematical Learning. 
 
 L 4 A
 
 '152 LECTURES concerning Led:. 9, 
 
 A SECOND Way of concluding is, by turning 
 from the Underftanding to the Heart, by feek- 
 ing to intereft the Paffions on the Side of Truth. 
 But as this openeth a diftinct Source of Per- 
 fuafion, it deferves to be confidered more at 
 large in another Lecture. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Led. 10. ORATORY. 153 
 
 LECTURE the Tenth. 
 
 
 
 Concerning the PASSIONS. 
 
 ORDER requires that I fhould in the next 
 Place confider Eloquence as addreffed to 
 the Paffions. But as there is much Obfcurity 
 and Confufion in the Notions commonly re- 
 ceived concerning thefe, give me Leave to pre- 
 mife fome mort Obfervations upon the Na- 
 ture, Ufe, and Qualities of the Paffions ; from 
 whence the Duty of an Orator in this Point 
 may be more clearly determined. 
 
 THE Manner in which both Moralifts and 
 Rhetoricians have treated of the Operations of 
 the Mind, hath given Occafion to a great Mif- 
 take concerning them. Examine clofely into 
 the Opinions ufually entertained about them, 
 you will find that they are looked upon as fe- 
 veral independent Principles, diftinct Beings, 
 grafted as it were into the Mind, and acting 
 by their own Force. How elfe, mail a com- 
 mon Reader think of Confcien&y when he 
 meets with it fupporting various Characters : 
 Now it is a Judge, then an Accufer ; at one 
 Time an Advocate, at another a Witnefs ; it 
 h a Bar, a Tribunal, is armed with Lafhes 
 and Scorpions ? What other Idea mall he form 
 
 of
 
 154 LECTURES concerning Led. 10. 
 
 of Tafte, as it is defcribed by Criticks, the 
 chief Author and fole Judge of Order, Beauty, 
 Perfection in the fine Arts. In a like Manner 
 do Metaphyficians fpeak of Underftanding, and 
 Will, and Liberty, defcribe their Power, fettle 
 their Privileges, and limit their Jurifdiction : 
 An Occafion of frequent Mifapprehenfion in 
 the Writers themfelves, I believe j undoubtedly 
 in the Generality of Readers, who follow the 
 Author's Expreffion without taking the Pains of 
 becoming acquainted with the Conftitution of 
 their own Nature. 
 
 A VERY little Application to this Study would 
 teach them, that it is the whole Soul which 
 acts in every Cafe, that judges, imagines, re- 
 members ; that every Mode of Apprehen- 
 iion from fimple Senfation up to the moft ab- 
 ftract Reafbning, many of which we diftin- 
 guim by the Names of feveral Faculties, are 
 only Actions of the fame Faculty of the Un- 
 derftanding j or more properly of the Soul ex- 
 ercifing this Faculty, and differ folely by means 
 of the Objects, or of their Circumftances. 
 Confcience is the Understanding, judging of 
 Actions compared with the moral Law. Tafte, 
 judging of Works according to the Laws pre- 
 fcribed to fuch Works by natural Difcernment, 
 improved by Knowledge and Care : And fo it 
 is in all the others. 
 
 I N purfuing this Train of Thought, it is 
 not difficult to obtain a fufficient Knowledge of 
 our own inward Conftitution. The Mind ap- 
 prehendeth and judgeth. Thefe are efTential 
 
 to
 
 Led, ID. ORATORY. 155 
 
 to it. It ceafeth not, at leaft in our waking 
 Hours, from performing thefe Acts. 
 
 BESIDE which it hath, as infeparable from 
 it as the Confcioufnefs of its own Being, a De- 
 fire of Well-being, or Happinefs. This we 
 feel every Moment of our Lives whenfoever we 
 reflect ; its Influence is perpetual, though not 
 attended to ; and for that Reafon it is likely 
 not attended to ; what is conftant and uniform 
 being, as if it were, not at all. Whatfoever the 
 Mind judgeth to contribute hereto, it liketh and 
 wifheth to obtain ; every thing which thwarts 
 this, it difliketh, and feeketh to avoid or re- 
 move : naming that Good, this Evil : Which 
 varying infinitely in Kind, Degrees, Occalion, 
 Circumftances, Duration, caufe a vaft Variety 
 in thefe Affections, in this Defire and Averfion, 
 that fpringing from them follow their Nature 
 and Proportion, 
 
 IF the Good be abfent and probable, we are 
 affected by Hope ; if Evil, by Fear. If the 
 Good be prefent, by Joy : if Evil, by Grief. 
 Good loft, raifeth Sorrow, Regret ; obtained, 
 Joy. If it be purfued by others, together with 
 us, Emulation ; if obtained by another, often- 
 times it excites Envy : If by the Unworthy, In- 
 dignation. If we have fuftained Evil, we feel 
 Refentment; which continuing becomes Re- 
 venge. If Praife be the Good ardently purfued, 
 the Paffion is named Vanity ; when mingled 
 with a Contempt of others, Pride. If Riches, 
 Avarice. If Honours, Ambition. Evils fal- 
 ling upon another move Companion. 
 
 WITH-
 
 156 LECTURES concerning Led:. 10, 
 
 WITHOUT entering into a more minute De- 
 tail, thus much we infer from what hath been 
 faid, that the Paffions, however the Catalogue 
 may be fwelled by a Multitude of Names, are 
 in Truth no other than the two original Emo- 
 tions of the Mind before mentioned, Defire and 
 Aver/ion, or as they are commonly ftyled, Love 
 and Hatred ; Love of Happinefs and Hatred of 
 Mifery. The reft are no more than different 
 Modifications of thefe two, determined by the 
 different Circumftances, in which the Mind is 
 placed with Refpect to the Objects it is conver- 
 iant about. Yet concerning all thefe, becaufe 
 differing in Names, Men are apt to argue as if 
 they were Actions totally in Kind and Nature 
 diftinct, a Source of much Confulion and Mif- 
 take. 
 
 TRACE Things back to their Original, you 
 will, I believe, find in this Matter a farther 
 Miftake. 
 
 WRITERS agree in mentioning two Facul- 
 ties of the Mind, of undoubted Reality, and al- 
 together different, The Underjlanding and Will. 
 Next after which they place as different Springs 
 of Action, the Pafftens; in this laft it feems, 
 miftaken : For look into your own Breafts : - 
 Is not the Cafe thus ? 
 
 You apprehend a certain Object to be good ; 
 you inftantly defire to obtain it ; if it be of much 
 Importance, vehemently. What then is WilJ, 
 what Paffion ? Are they not the fame Opera- 
 tion, differing but in Degree ? For obferve ; The 
 general Act of defiling, we name Willing \ 
 
 add
 
 Led. io. ORATORY. 157 
 
 add hereto Heat, Ardour, it is Pafjion. Paf- 
 fion then is the Will acting with Vehemence. 
 
 WHAT then mall we fay of that Philofbphy, 
 which condemned all Paffion, as contrary to 
 Virtue ? For all Virtue being neceflarily an Adi: 
 of the Will, and Paffion being fuch like wife, it 
 certainly cannot be contrary thereto in its own 
 Nature : It may be, and often is faulty through 
 Excefs or Choice of wrong Objects ; but this is 
 an Abufe, not its own original Guilt. 
 
 NAY, it is paft Doubt, that the Paffions are 
 ufeful. Without their Affiftance we mould 
 fink into Sloth, and Mankind languifh in total 
 Inaction. For fay, that Reafon were your only 
 Director, and it informs you that fome certain 
 Object is good and fit : You approve of; but 
 will you meerly from this Approbation be in- 
 duced to purfue it, efpecially, if you foreiee that 
 Difficulties mall occur in the Purfuit ? No, un- 
 doubtedly : You would in molt Cafes fit down, 
 wrap yourfelf up in Eafe, and have no more 
 Concern about it. This we fee is really the 
 Conduct of thole who have from Nature weak 
 Paffions, they lie buried in Indolence : It is in- 
 deed the Conduct of all in Cafes, where Paf- 
 fion interfereth not ; the Love of Eafe pre- 
 vailcth. 
 
 THE Conclufion is evident ; Paflion is highly 
 ufeful, or rather neceflary to Man, by prompt- 
 ing him to act, being a Spur within the Mind 
 inceflantly rouzing it from Sloth, and urging it 
 to purfue or avoid with Earneftnefs. Without 
 it, Life would lie as a dull dead Lake, ftagnate- 
 
 ing
 
 158 LECTURES concerning Left. 10. 
 
 ing in muddy Tranquillity : This fupplies the 
 Gales which agitate, keep it moving and pure. 
 
 THE next Queftion is, " Are thefe Paffions 
 " under the Government of the Mind ? If they 
 " be Ads of the Will, as it was laid, it mould 
 <e feem not ; for we muft will the greateft 
 " Good." 
 
 THE Anfwcr is -, In fome Meafure they are ; 
 In fome they are not. It is allowed, that the 
 Will muft tend to Good ; its firft Determina- 
 tion or Tendency cannot be prevented ; which 
 firft is fometimes very violent : Whence I grant 
 that the Paffions may be kindled necenarily; 
 we cannot hinder, we muft feel the firft Emo- 
 tion : But here the governing Power of the 
 Mind beginneth : We can ftop it at this Point, 
 and hinder its Progrefs. 
 
 CONSIDERABLE Differences it is true, muft 
 arife in this Power, from the various Conftitu- 
 tions of Men ; from Temper ; more efpecially 
 from Habit, the great Nurfe of Paffion j as well 
 as from the Strength of Reafon and the Care 
 with which it has been cultivated: Notwith- 
 ftanding, we may lay down as certain, that the 
 Will however in its firft Motions not govern- 
 able, is in the fubfequent. We can reftrain 
 Paffion. This is a prime Article of human Li- 
 berty, and principal Source of human Virtue. 
 
 " BUT how may this Account be true ? Ac- 
 " cording to it, the Paffions being excited by 
 " Views of Happinefs or Mifery, muft be all 
 "'referred to ourfelves. Yet what is more 
 " known, than their interfering with extreme 
 
 " Violence
 
 Left. 10. ORATORY. 
 <c Violence where we are not at all concerned ? 
 We fhed Tears for the Queen of Carthage or 
 " of Troy, who have died many Ages before 
 " our Birth. 
 
 " What's Hecuba to us, or ive to Hecuba \a\ ?" 
 
 IT is true : Yet herein is no real Contradic- 
 tion j the feeming one arifes from not adverting 
 to the very great Celerity of the Mind : for this 
 is the Cafe. 
 
 THINGS which we look upon as productive 
 to us of Happinefs or Mifeiy, we love or hate, 
 pronounce Good or Evil ; this Tendency fixeth 
 their Nature. We form the fame Judgment of 
 their Effects with Regard to other Men, who 
 have the fame Affections as ourfelves. 
 
 HENCE wherefoever they fall, although their 
 Influence fhould not reach to us, we ftill ac- 
 count them Good or Evil ; we are in fome De- 
 gree affected alike ; becaufe the Mind upon 
 their firft Appearance inftantly maketh the Ap- 
 plication to itfelf, and eftimates them from 
 thence. This Act is habitual, immediate, per- 
 petual, and thus by its Quicknefs and Familia- 
 rity paffeth unperceived : And this is the Caufe 
 of that Pleafure and Pain fo commonly ex- 
 perienced in reading a Piece of Hiftory or well- 
 wrought Fiction. The Events relate not to us ; 
 but we feel their Effects by this fecret, conftant, 
 and involuntary Application. 
 
 FARTHER ; that the Paffions may accomplish 
 their End, in rouzing to Action, there is by 
 
 [a] SHAKESPBAR in HAMLET. 
 
 Nature
 
 I6o LECTURES concerning Left. 10. 
 
 Nature annexed to their Operation, Pleafure, 
 independent utterly of the Succefs or Event; 
 for we cannot but obferve numberlefs Inftances 
 wherein we are fond of having Paffions excited, 
 and are pleafed with the Exertion of them. 
 We like to admire, to love, to pity : As Perfons 
 in good Health are impatient of long fitting flill, 
 and receive Pleafure from the Employment of 
 their Limbs, from mere Motion and Exercife ; 
 in like Manner doth the Employment of our 
 Paffions pleafe by the very Agitation, whilfl In- 
 dolence fatigues. 
 
 WHICH however, is to be underftood of Paf- 
 fions not in their own Nature or Degree, di- 
 pleafing. Thus, a certain Sufpenfe of Mind, 
 hoping with fome Mixture of Fear, is agree- 
 able ; encreafe very much this Fear, it will have 
 an oppotite Effect. In playing for fmall Sums 
 of Money the Anxiety about the Event em- 
 ployeth agreeably j make the Sum exceedingly 
 large, this Anxiety becometh painful, fome- 
 times beyond the Power of Diffimulation to 
 conceal. 
 
 THIS Remark openeth an Anfwer to a Que- 
 ftion of Moment in the Point before us. 1 
 " Why do Objects, which difguft when real, 
 " pleafe in Reprelentation ? Paffions torment- 
 " ing, delight when excited by Art ?" Let the 
 Skill of an Orator or Poet raife Terror, Grief, 
 Hatred, painful Affections, they fhall then be- 
 flow great Pleafure : For as a judicious Poet 
 fays,
 
 Left. 10. ORATORY. 161 
 
 [a] Natures ivorfl Forms, that living Jhock 
 
 the Sight, 
 
 Expreft by mimick Art, afford Delight : 
 The Pencil's animating Powr conveys 
 Beauty at Will, and makes evn Monfters pleafe. 
 The Mufe thu* charms us, 'when in tragick Scenes 
 With Wounds frefo-bleeding OEdipus complains. 
 When mad Orejles raves, our Eyes oerjiow 
 With Jo ft Diftrefs, andPleafure Jprings from Woe. 
 In 'what foe er you 'write let Pajjions Seat 
 Search to the Heart, there 'warm, and penetrate ; 
 The Secret is at firfl to pleafe and move ; 
 Find Springs that may attach in Hate and Love. 
 
 THE Obfervation juft made points out the 
 Anfwer. In general, The Exercife of our Paf- 
 iions adminiflers Pleafure : But where thele 
 fpring from Mifery fuffered, or threatened to 
 ourfelves, Pain becomes the predominant Senti- 
 ment, and is alone perceived. Accordingly 3 
 
 [a] ' II nc point de ferpent, ni de monflre odieux, 
 Qui par 1'art imitc ne puifle plaire aux yeux : 
 D'un pinceau delicat 1'artifice agreablc 
 D'un objet tout afFreux fait un objet aimable. 
 Ainfi pour nous charmer la tragedie en plcurs : 
 D'OEdipe tout fanglant fit parler les douleurs, 
 D'Ore/h parricide exprima les alarmes, 
 Et pour nous divertir nous arracha des larmcs. 
 Qtie dans tous vos difcors la paflion emue 
 '* Aille chercher le coeur, 1'echaufFe, ct le remuc. 
 cc Le fecret eft d'abord de plaire et de toucher : 
 " Inventez des refibrtz qui puiflent attacher." 
 
 M remove
 
 1 62 LECTURES concerning Left. 10. 
 
 remove this Mifery, this Apprehenfion for our- 
 felves, the natural Effect follows, the Paflion 
 becometh pleafing. 
 
 HENCE in Fiction, the Diflrefs of a captive 
 Prince, a defpairing Lover, a difgraced Fa- 
 vourite, the Tortures of a jealous Man, and 
 Fury of one angry, excite Anxiety, Grief, Ter- 
 ror } but becaufe the whole Spectacle is accom- 
 panied with a perpetual Confciouihefs of our 
 own Security^ it infpireth Pleafure orily, that 
 before mentioned, which by the Bounty of Na- 
 ture is annexed to the Exercife of Paffion. 
 Bring thefe Evils near ; mew them ready to 
 involve ourfelves, the agreeable Scene vanifheth, 
 we feel Pain, Mifery. 
 
 PLACE upon the Stage a City befieged, with 
 the Calamities ufually attending fuch a State, 
 let it appear even in Flames, we look on with 
 Pleafure ; but fuppofe thefe to have caught any 
 Part of the Houfe, the Reality terrifies beyond 
 Expremon, where the Image delighted. 
 
 BE SIDES, the Image of grievous Diftrefs 
 pleafeth, becaufe it prefents to us, in the mofr. 
 -lively Colours, a View of our own Happinefs, 
 in being exempted from fuch Diflrefs. A Com- 
 parifon with Mifery alleviates Misfortunes, with 
 Misfortunes gives a fweeter Relifh of Profperity. 
 WHICH Reafoning is confirmed by obferving 
 ^ farther, that all Reprefentations affect us more 
 or lefs, according as they bear Relation to our 
 felves in Nearnefs or Similitude : Thus we are 
 more affected by Things animate than the in- 
 animate, by Beafts more than Infects, by hu- 
 man
 
 Lea. 10. ORATOR Y. 163 
 
 man Creatures more than Beafts ; among Men 
 by thole of our own Country more than by Fo- 
 reigners, ftill more by thofe who are in like 
 Circumftances of Age, Fortune, Rank, Rela- 
 tion. The Origin whereof can be no other 
 but this fecret Reference, which we always, 
 however unperceived, make to ourfelves, con- 
 fidering thefe Events as more or lefs probable to 
 become one Day our own Concernments. 
 
 THIS Power of working upon us by engage- 
 ing our Paffions is that which conftitutes the 
 whole Charm of the imitative Arts ; and it is 
 yet more ftrong in Eloquence than in any other. 
 My Realbn for thinking fo is this : 
 
 DISTRESSES, reprefented in Poefy and Paint- 
 ing, are the Sufferings of Perfons who never 
 had Being, or long ago ceafed to have. Now, 
 although in contemplating thcfe, the Mind per- 
 ceiveth Satisfaction, namely, that which Nature 
 hath annnexed to the Exercife of the Paflions, 
 yet hath it intimately prefent with it a Confci- 
 oufnefs of their being unreal, feigned, or paft. 
 It is true, it endeavoureth to fupprefs the ac- 
 tual View hereof, and gives itfelf up induftrioufly 
 to the pleafing Delufion prefented before it. 
 Notwithstanding, this it cannot fo entirely fup- 
 prefs, but that a Senfe thereof ftill accompanies 
 the Mind through all its Motions ; itperceiveth 
 its own Safety, and beholdeth the Danger frorr^ 
 a Point beyond its Reach ; or at moft, the De- 
 ception is momentary, in Ibme great Crifis, and 
 vanishing inftantly enhances the returning Plea- 
 Hire of reflecting on one's own Security. 
 
 M 2 THE
 
 164 LECTURES concerning Led. 10. 
 
 THE Cafe is different in Eloquence. Its 
 End being to perfuade, to exhort or deter Men 
 by prefenting a View of real Advantages or Evils 
 involving themfelves, it is altogether free from 
 Delnfion. The Paffions it excites being ground- 
 ed in Truth, muft be more forcible : Yet they 
 have not the Difadvantage of Reality in giving 
 Pain, becaufe its Aim being to redrefs or pre^ 
 vent Evils, it always mixeth Hope, and foftens 
 the Impreffion : If it terrify by exhibiting the 
 ill or threatning State Affairs, it tells 'you at 
 the fame Time how to remove or avoid the Evil; 
 it joins the Pleafure of Ficlion to the Force of 
 Truth. To which we may add, That in the 
 other Arts there is fome Mixture of Weaknefs 
 in giving Way to the Pathetick ; and although 
 we willingly reiign ourfelves to a Deceit thus 
 agreeable, yet we are conlcious, that herein we 
 indulge the Imperfection of our Nature. In 
 Eloquence, there is not this Diminution. The 
 Paflions railed here are according to our natural 
 Frame ; they fpring from Reality, and are the 
 Minifters of Juftice : The Pleafure is pure with- 
 out Allay j the Paffions are exercifed, and for a 
 worthy End. From whence my Inference, that 
 Eloquence hath a Power over the Paffions fupe- 
 rior to that of Poefy, Painting, or any of the 
 imitative Arts. 
 
 " BUT why fhould there be this Application 
 " to the Paffions ? May it not be an Abufe ? 
 " Would it not be much better to appeal to the 
 " Underftanding only r" 
 
 THE
 
 Led. 10. ORATORY. 165 
 
 THE Anfwer is not difficult. 
 
 As the End of Eloquence is Perfuafion, and, 
 flric'tly fpeaking, all Perfuafion ought to be found- 
 ed in Conviction alone, it mud be acknowledged, 
 that all Addrefs to the Paffions is grounded on 
 the Imperfection of Mankind ; it is faulty if not 
 neceflary. If our Hearers were always ferious, 
 attentive, knowing and unprejudiced, we mould 
 have nothing to do but to lay Truth before them 
 in its own genuine Shape : But as Men actually 
 are, we find it neceflary, not only to (hew them 
 what is right, but to make Ufe of all the Skill 
 we have, to induce them ftedfaftly to behold it. 
 In every publick Aflembly fome are ignorant, 
 many wandering in their Thoughts, or other- 
 wife intent, not few biafled, and all indolent 
 and quickly fatigued : Impediments which eve- 
 ry Speaker muft ftudy to remove, or the Good- 
 nefs of his Caufe will but little avail. Truth 
 hath Enemies within, who would bar up every 
 Avenue againft her ; you muft raife up Friends 
 there, if you feek to have Admifllon granted to 
 her. 
 
 Now this being not the Frailty of particular 
 Perfons, but the State and Frame of human 
 Nature, the Orator who would attempt to per- 
 fuade upon Principles of fevere Reafon, muft be 
 for the moft part unfuccefsful. His Fate would 
 be much the fame with that of the Politician ; 
 who mould deal with Men as if they were per- 
 fectly juft, and ground all his Schemes upon a 
 Suppofition of univerfal Probity. 
 
 M 3 THE
 
 1 6 6 LE c T u R E s concerning Let. i Q. 
 
 THE Philofophy of the Stoicks was built on a 
 Foundation of this Kind, requiring confummate 
 unmixed Virtue, and {hutting out all Paffionas 
 weak and faulty : What was the Confequence ?. 
 As their Philofophy was falfe, their Writings 
 were dry and difgufting ; neither of them could 
 obtain its true End, That could not reform, nor 
 Thefe perfuade. 
 
 ADDRESS to the Paffions being thus necefla^ 
 ry, the firft Queftion fit to be confjdered is, > 
 " How may we beft fucceed in this Deiign ?" 
 
 THE great Mafter in his Rhetorick anfwers \ 
 Make yourfelf thoroughly well acquainted with 
 the Nature of thefe Paffions. For which Pur- 
 pofe he delivers a very accurate Account of 
 them, fo far as they fall within the Purpofe of 
 an Orator : And this Part of his Work cannot 
 be too carefully ftudied by all who feek to ar- 
 rive at this Knowledge : And it is remarkable, 
 that all the Induftry of modern Ages hath ad- 
 ded little that is confiderable to his Difcoveries 
 on this Head. 
 
 BUT the Knowledge which may be acquired 
 by Precepts, however right and judicious, can- 
 not alone fuffice to anfwer the Intentions of an 
 Orator. You mufl add your own Obfervatioo. 
 Look within. What is it that raifeth your Love, 
 or Hatred, Indignation or Pity, that toucheth, 
 warmeth, tranfporteth ? Compare with it the 
 Effects which you fee produced in others. From 
 hence you mall learn by Degrees to know the 
 true Sources of each Pafiion, to make. Allow- 
 ance
 
 Led. io. ORATORY. 167 
 
 ance for the Variety of Tempers and Circum- 
 ftances, and thus you mall hit upon the right 
 Path which opens to you the human Heart. 
 
 UPON looking back on what hath been ad- 
 vanced in this Lecture, the Novelty of Part may, 
 I fear, want an Apology : Permit me to add a 
 few Words to that Purpofe. 
 
 THE Knowledge of our own Frame, of the 
 human Mind, would undoubtedly be very ufe- 
 ful, if it could be obtained ; and the Search in- 
 to it is therefore right, But Difficulties that 
 feem to be infuperable quickly flop our Progrefs, 
 and appear to difcourage all fuch Attempts. 
 Concerning which however, we ought to re- 
 mark, that thefe interrupt not the Search in 
 Points, fo far as we can judge, really ufeful : It 
 is a Spirit of meer Speculation and Curiofity, 
 that pufhes Enquiries into abftrufe Queftions. 
 
 CAST your Eyes on the Performance of Art* 
 ftotle in the Point before us: He though by no 
 Means an Enemy to Subtilty, yet confmeth his 
 Refearches to the Object, Qualities, and out- 
 ward Circumftances of the Paffions j and from 
 thence layeth down Rules for the Orator, as eafy 
 as they are fure. Modern Metaphyiicians en- 
 deavouring to go beyond thefe Bounds, have in- 
 tangled themfelves in endlefs Perplexity. 
 
 AWARE of this, yet willing to gratify a Cu- 
 riofity, in fome Meafure juftified by Cuftom, I 
 have attempted to find a Clue which might 
 guide our Steps through this Labyrinth : And 
 M 4 however
 
 168 LECTURES concerning Lect. 10. 
 
 however probable I may think my own No- 
 tions, yet I do not expert a general AfTent to 
 them. Where Men wander in Twilight with- 
 out a certain Road, each may well be allowed to 
 choofe his own Path. The following Reflection 
 however, before you condemn, let me intreat 
 you to make. 
 
 ASK yourfelves ; In the many Treat! fes on 
 this Subject, in Difcourfe where it hath been 
 mentioned, what have we read or heard ? How 
 are the Paffions defcribed or defined ? As Mo- 
 difications of the Mind, Emotions, Agitations, 
 Inflincts ; Words either vague or metaphori- 
 cal, conveying none, or no clear Meaning. 
 
 TAKE them now in this Point of View. 
 We eafily conceive two Powers or Actions of 
 the Mind, Underftanding and Will. Under .the 
 firft are ranged all the Modes of Thought ; Per- 
 ception, Imagination, Reafoning : Under the 
 fecond, all practical Determination framed 
 thereon, from the firft fimple Motion of Affent, 
 or Preference to the moft rapid Impetus of De- 
 fire or Averfion -, comprehending all the Affec- 
 tions and Pafiions, often fo voluminoufly and 
 obfcurely defcribed. . Here is Order, Plainnefs, 
 Simplicity ; from -whence it feems agreeable to 
 Nature, fimple in Caufes, however abundant 
 and various in Effects. 
 
 BUT whether or how far this Speculation is 
 true, and folid, I leave to your Judgments j 
 adding this only j that however that be, the 
 rnain Point is not greatly Affected thereby : The 
 
 Paffions
 
 Led. 10. ORATOR Y. 169 
 
 Paffions with refpedt to the Influence Oratory 
 hath over them, may be fufficiently known, by 
 confidering them as the great Mailer hath 
 done ; and the Rules herein remain the fame. 
 
 The firft of which we have mentioned ; , 
 
 " Obferve which, of what Kind and Turn are 
 <c the PaiTages, that moft affect ypurfelves ani 
 " others; from thence take your Direction." 
 
 LECTURE
 
 170 LECTURES concerning Lecl. 1 
 
 LECTURE the Eleventh. 
 
 A Continuation of the Foregoing. 
 
 WE mall lay down, as a fecond Rule, the 
 Precept, moft generally recommended 
 and inlifled upon, without which nothing mould 
 be attempted, nothing of Moment can be ac- 
 complifhed in this Way, thus expreffed by the 
 Poet, 
 
 Si vis me fere y dolendum 
 Primum Ifjt tibi. 
 
 " BE yourfelf poflefTed with the Paffion you 
 would excite." 
 
 How would you receive a Perfon fpeaking 
 upon a Subject of the utmoft Importance with 
 Coldnefs and Phlegm 5 or bemoaning a grie- 
 vous Calamity with an Air and Tone of the 
 calmefl Unconcern ? Would you not turn away 
 from him as a Deceiver ; or at leaft defpife him 
 as a Trifler unworthy of Attention ? 
 
 PLUTARCH relates a Paffage of Demjl- 
 lenes very apt to this Purpofe. A Citizen of 
 Aihrns came to this Orator, befeeching him to 
 plead his Caufe againft one, by whom he had 
 been treated with great Cruelty. As the Per- 
 fon
 
 Left. 1 1. ORATORY. 171 
 
 fon made his Complaint with an Air and Style 
 of perfect Coldnefs and Indifference, " This 
 " Affair cannot be as you reprefent it, faid the 
 " Orator ; you have not fuffered hard Ufage." 
 " How," anfwers the other, raifmg his Voice, 
 and with the utmoft Emotion, " I not harfhly 
 " ufed ! I not ill-treated !" te Nay, now," faid 
 Demofthenes, " J begin to believe you, That is 
 " the Form, that the Language of an injured 
 " Man. I acknowledge the Juftice of your 
 " Caufe, and will be your Advocate." 
 
 NATURE hath fo framed us, that all ftrong 
 Pailions ftamp themfelves upon the outward 
 Form. They are vifible in the Air of the 
 Countenance, in every Gefture and Motion. 
 The Ufe or final End of which Conftitution is 
 very evident ; that our Pafiions may be com- 
 municated. Thefe form a Kind of natural 
 Eloquence, which, without the Help of any 
 other, is moft powerful in winning over the 
 Spectator, fpreading as if by Contagion. Hence, 
 in Perfons altogether illiterate, Grief and Anger 
 burft out in Exclamations more affecting, than 
 the moft confummate Power of Speaking unaf- 
 fifted by that inward Impulfe can furnifh, be- 
 caufe flowing frem from the Heart, the Voice 
 of Truth and Nature. 
 
 FROM hence we may account for the remark- 
 able Difference between the Effe&s, produced 
 by extemporary, and by premeditated Dif- 
 courfes. A Difcourfe prepared before-hand, 
 although regular in its Method, juft in the Sen- 
 timents, pure in the Style, fhafl yet move and 
 
 pleaft
 
 172 LECTURES concerning Ledt. u. 
 
 pleafe lefs, than one fpoken off-hand, which is 
 defective in all thefe j becaufe this latter, in- 
 ipired by the Occafion, proceedeth directly from 
 the Heart, from a Mind agitated by the fame 
 Paffiens which the Speaker would raife in his 
 Audience. This Effect is mofl obfervable in 
 Replies, where the Matter being unexpected, 
 the Anfwerer is rouzed and warmed with fuch 
 Heat as enlivens his Difcourfe, animates his 
 Form and Action, and carries the Flames which 
 glow in his Breaft into thofe of his Hearers. 
 The former may be compared to a fine Statue 
 wrought by vaft Labour and Skill into the truefl 
 Symmetry, yet hath it not half the Graces of 
 this other, thofe inimitable Graces, which Life 
 giveth to a Body lefs perfectly proportioned. ' 
 
 THE fame Principles fhew likewife the Truth 
 of a Rule often repeated ; " That an Orator 
 <c ought to be efteemed a good Man." You 
 cannot be be much affected by what he fays, 
 if you do not look upon him to be a Man of Pro- 
 bity, who is in earneft, and doth himfelf be- 
 lieve what he endeavoureth to make out as cre- 
 dible to you. 
 
 Is it not from hence, that there have been 
 Times, in which the Words publick Spirit, 
 Good of the Community, Love of one's Coun- 
 try occurring often in a Difcourfe, however 
 ufed, have yet been treated with fome Degree 
 of Scorn or Ridicule ? Why ? Becaufe thefe 
 Terms, naturally reprefenting very nobl-e Ideas 
 and fublime Springs of Action, had been fullied, 
 contaminated, as it were profaned by Tongues, 
 
 where
 
 Left. n. ORATORY. 173 
 
 where the Heart was governed by corrupt, bafe, 
 and mercenary Principles. 
 
 A VERY material Queftion relating to the 
 Subject before us, is this ; " Upon what Occa- 
 " (ions may an Orator moft properly employ 
 " this Branch of his Art ; addrefs himfelf to 
 " the Paffions ?" 
 
 IN anfwer to which, obferve, firft, Where 
 a Perfon is called upon to fpeak on a Point of 
 Importance before one or few chofen Judges of 
 acknowledged Skill and Integrity, he ought to 
 be very fparing in the Ufe of the Pathetick: 
 Becaufe here the Difcovery of Truth being the 
 only End in View, and Reafon being the only 
 certain Guide leading to that End, every De- 
 viation from it, every Appeal to Paffion will be 
 looked upon by fuch Men as an Attempt to de- 
 ceive, will therefore offend, cannot fail of railing 
 fome Prejudice againfl the Speaker, and it is 
 likely againft the Caufe which he pleadeth. 
 
 THIS Fault becomes unpardonable, if the 
 Caufe be good. It is then like to the Painting 
 over a fair Face, deftroying real Beauty by arti- 
 ficial Embellifhment. In fuch Circumftances a 
 natural, clear, well methodized Explanation of 
 the Cafe is the only juft perfuafive Eloquence. 
 
 A VERY different Conduct is required in thofe 
 who fpeak before a large Audience, as in a po- 
 pular Affembly. Here Addrefs to the Paffions 
 is not only allowable, but neceflary. For the 
 firft Thing to be compaffed, is to gain their At- 
 tention. And this you cannot fo well effect in 
 any Way, as by infmuating yourfelf into their 
 
 Affedion.
 
 174- LECTURES Concerning Led:, u. 
 
 Affection. The Multitude is wonderfully 
 quick, I might fay ram, in forming Judgment. 
 They have not Patience to mark the Series, and 
 wait for the End of an Argument. There muft 
 be fomewhat agreeable to allure them on; dry 
 Truth quickly difgufts them. To make them 
 liften you muft affect them. 
 
 AGAIN, Suppofe this firft Point accomplifhed, 
 that they are attentive. Yet the greater Num- 
 ber cannot comprehend a Chain of clofe Argu- 
 ment. They cannot retain in their Memory 
 the feveral Steps, and before you come to draw 
 your Conclufion, the whole Series of Proofs is 
 vanifhed. Lay your Thoughts in the jufteft 
 Order, exprefs them with all poflible Clearnefs, 
 yet if there be many Arguments, or of various 
 Kinds, they cannot apprehend them ; Atten- 
 tion becomes painful j they cannot underftand, 
 and will not liften. 
 
 SOME Difference in this Rule muft however 
 be fuppofed, where the Genius of the People 
 before whom you fpeak, is very different. The 
 lefs improved and polifhed an Audience is, the 
 more needful is the Pathetick. Criticks attri- 
 bute to this Difference, in a great Meafure, the 
 Unlikenefs between Demofthenes and Cicero : 
 The Athenians, by Nature the moft acute of all 
 the Greeks, by a long and careful Cultivation of 
 Arts, had become in general attentive, curious, 
 and judicious : Whereas the Romans^ engaged 
 from the Birth of their State in perpetual Wars, 
 had not until very late applied themfelves to 
 Arts and Sciences, and were of Confequence 
 
 far
 
 Led. ii. ORATORY. 175 
 
 far lefs polite and difcerning ; which made it 
 requifite for an Orator here to direct himfelf 
 more to the Paflions, than was needful at 
 Athens, more perhaps than would have pleafed 
 there. Not that the Greek is really lefs pathe- 
 tick, but he concealeth it more, and inter- 
 weaveth more and clofer Arguments. 
 
 THIS Kind, the Pathetick, feerns more efpe- 
 cially requifite, where the Delign of the Speaker 
 is to vindicate and recommend the Caufe of 
 Religion and Virtue. Inftruction is indeed the 
 firft Thing necefiary, to which Purpofe the Pa- 
 thetick is ufelefs, nay improper. But that Part 
 is ufually not difficult. 
 
 THE natural Notions of Mankind lead them 
 fo ftrongly to diftinguifli what is good, that 
 fhort Directions, few Proofs are fufficient: 
 The Hardmip is, to engage them heartily in 
 the Purfuit of that which they know and ac- 
 knowledge to be right. Here it is, the Orator 
 is to open the whole Sails of his Eloquence, to 
 wake, to rouze, to fhake the Soul ; to hold 
 out Rewards and Punimments, Promifes and 
 Threatnings, alternately to encourage and ter- 
 rify, to railejoy, Sorrow, Fear, Shame, Hope, 
 Anguifh, Remorfe. To fearch the deepeft Re- 
 cedes of the Heart. To enter as it were into 
 the Soul, and like the facred Orator [a], to 
 make a Governor amid all the Pomp and Power 
 of his Office, hardened befides, and grown old 
 in Sin, to make him tremble []. For the 
 Faflions (landing for the mod part in Oppofi- 
 [a] St. PAUL. [b] FELIX TREMBLED. 
 
 tion
 
 170 LECTURES cohcefbing Lect. tr. 
 
 tion to Virtue, you muft find a Counterpoize 
 to them in Paffions : Without thefe, Reafon 
 is a weak Sovereign, without Forces : In gaining 
 her you gain only a Name, a Shew of Autho- 
 rity -, Power and Activity are on the oppofite 
 Side. 
 
 WHAT hath been faid feems to prove unan- 
 iwerably the Truth of a Point beforementioned, 
 the Ufefulnefs and Neceffity of fpeaking to the 
 Paffions ; a Point which I now return to, be- 
 caufe there are many who afTert, that an Orator 
 fhould feek to prove only, not to move ; a 
 Miftake the more dangerous, as it fets out upon 
 a worthy Principle, the Love of Truth, and can 
 recommend itielf by the Sanction of great 
 Names. But furely the Patrons of this Opinion 
 forget that Paffion belongeth as truly to the Na- 
 ture of Man as Reafon j and however abufed, 
 and by that Abufe rendered pernicious, was 
 given for ufeful Purpofes, and is capable of an- 
 fwering them. What then, mall we totally re- 
 ject it ; or rather fhould we not apply our- 
 felves to regulate it ? There is befides a View in 
 which this Matter hath not, as I remember, 
 been confidered, and yet I think it may help in 
 throwing Light upon it. 
 
 MEN have generally looked upon Reafon as 
 wholly diftinct from, indeed for the mofl part 
 as oppofite to Paffion : Becaufe the Confequence 
 of fuch Oppofition is exceedingly bad when it 
 doth happen, they regard them only in that 
 Light of Oppofition. Wherein there is a Mif- 
 take : For undoubtedly very often, I might fay 
 
 for
 
 Led, ii. ORATORY. 177 
 
 for the moft part, there is an intimate Con- 
 nexion between them ; fo that you cannot 
 make any ftrong Impreflion upon one, without 
 affecting the other. An Inftance may beft ex- 
 plain my Meaning. 
 
 DEMOSTHENES undertakes to ftir up 
 the Athenia?is to make Head againft Philip, at 
 that Time preparing to invade them. Suppofe 
 the Orator to have delivered his Sentiments on 
 this Occafion in the plained, moft unadorned 
 Manner, muft not the bare Enumeration of 
 Philip's former Adions, of his Fraud, Diffimu- 
 lation, of his having corrupted their Allies, 
 their own Magiftrates and Orators, much more 
 the Relation of his many dark Defigns and 
 Plots to rob them of their Glory, their Terri- 
 tory, their Liberties, have raifed violent Indig- 
 nation in their Breads ? Was it pofftble to pro- 
 duce the feveral Arguments offered by the Con- 
 juncture, fo as juft to render them intelligible, 
 without working this Effect ? 
 
 LET us now fay, that you on the other hand 
 aim at ftriking the Paflions only : If you do this 
 with Skill, you muft, without defigning it, con- 
 vince. Here alfo the fame Orator furnifheth an 
 Example. 
 
 INTENDING to inflame the Minds of his 
 Hearers with Hatred againft fiLJchines, his Ad- 
 verfary, he defcribes the Character of this Man * 
 his Youth infamous, his Manhood factious, 
 mean, flagitious ; adds Venality, Calumnies, 
 Treachery, complicated Treafonsj he paints 
 amplifies, inveighs : Now do not thefe Charges 
 N b
 
 178 LECTURES concerning Left, ir; 
 
 by kindling Indignation, Averfion, Horror againft 
 his Accufer, tend directly to acquit himfelf? 
 Gould you feel any of theie Paffions without an 
 Inclination to believe the Innocence of the ac- 
 cufed ? And, doubtlefs, they had an actual In- 
 fluence in the Event. 
 
 I MIGHT eafily point out the Source of this 
 Miftake, by recurring to the Reafoning in my 
 laft Lecture, the evil Habit there mentioned, of 
 considering the Underftanding, and Will, and 
 Paffions, not only as diftinct Actions of the fame 
 Agent the Mind, but as diftinct Agents ;, whence 
 that imaginary Independence, Rivalfhip, En- 
 mity, fo much and confufedly talked of : But 
 I mall not now return to metaphyficai Difqui- 
 fition, in which I fear I may have been thought 
 to have then dwelt too long. This Inference is 
 clear and fufficient to my Purpofe : " We 
 cc mould not feek imprudently to feparate what 
 " Nature hath framed infeparable. The Art 
 " of Perfuafion preferring Reafon, cannot yet 
 " reject Paffion, becaufe very often the clofeft 
 " Reaibn neceffarily affecteth Paffion j the 
 t deepeft Pathetick convinceth Reafon." 
 
 IT remains, to fmifh my Defign, that I mould 
 point out fome Cautions, very ufeful to be db- 
 ferved in Attempts to move the Paffions. 
 
 Firft, " CONSIDER well whether the Point 
 <{ you are to difcourfe upon requires or may 
 " .admit of the Pathetick." It is obvious, that 
 there are many Subjects which do not ; the 
 Value of one, its Circumftances, Nature may 
 render that Treatment improper. For certainly, 
 
 nothing
 
 Led.li. ORATORY. 179 
 
 nothing can be more difgufting to an Audience 
 than to obferve a Speaker torturing himfelf and 
 them, in order to affect them mightily on a 
 Subject of fmall Importance. As again, it mufl 
 be an unpleaiing Difappointment to be paid 
 with Exclamations and Vehemence of Sound, 
 where they expect folid Argument. The Rule 
 is, reflect thus within yourfelf before you begin ; 
 " IF another were to fpeak on this Point, 
 <c how would I wifh him to treat of it ?" 
 " Should I defire to be inftructed or moved, 
 <c pleafed or convinced ? Act thou accordingly." 
 ANOTHER material Obfervation not always 
 adverted to is, that " The principal Regard 
 " mould ever be paid to Reafon. To per- 
 " fuade, you fhould convince." Conviction 
 indeed need not, nay cannot always be brought 
 about by a Chain of ftrict Argument, which few 
 can perfectly comprehend, and yet fewer are 
 difpoled to liften to : But in all Cafes the 
 Groundwork muft be, Reafon. This mould 
 be the Bafis ; upon which you may raife what- 
 foever you think conducive to your Purpofe, of 
 Ornament or Pathetick j but this it is, which 
 muft give Strength and Confiftence to your 
 Difcourfe. Without this, the moft enlivened 
 and moft magnificent Oration is but like thofe 
 Fabricks which appear fometimes in the Clouds, 
 that the firft Blaft of Wind difperfeth into 
 mapelefs Air. 
 
 . THE Ground of this Remark is in human 
 
 Nature. We are confcious that Reafon is the 
 
 governing Principle of our Nature, that we 
 
 N 2 ought
 
 180 LECTURES concerning Left. n. 
 
 ought to be directed by it alone. It is true, we 
 often prefer Paffion, we often follow it in Con- 
 tradidion to Reafon : Yet we well know, that 
 in fo doing we err. Hence we look upon it as 
 a Kmd of Indignity, that others mould appeal 
 directly to our Paffions ; we regard them as 
 Perfons who feek to take Advantage of our 
 Weaknefsj who defpife, or mean to deceive 
 us. 
 
 HENCE follows a third Rule : " Let your 
 " Addrefs to the Paflions be as fhort as it con- 
 " veniently may, for two Reafons," both upon 
 the lad mentioned Account, that you may be- 
 ftow more Time and Care upon the rational 
 Part : And likewife, becaufe, Nothing more 
 quickly tires and difgufts than AddrefTes of this 
 Sort. The Paffions, as we have feen, were 
 given to rouze us from Indolence, to make us 
 active and enterprizing. Hence they are quick, 
 lively, powerful, but fon fubfide. And this 
 was gracioufly ordained, that having anfwered 
 their End, they might become weak, and eafily 
 manageable by Reafon. Wherefore, " Follow 
 <e Nature. Seek not to keep long in Motion a 
 " Spring formed for quick, but fhort Action." 
 
 ACCORDINGLY, we find in the beft Writers, 
 that the Paffages, which affect us mofl, are not 
 long and laboured, but fhort fudden Strokes, 
 like Flafhes of Lightning that juft fhine and 
 vanifh. It would be eafy to bring Inflances 
 hereof from both the Greek and Roman Orators : 
 But for the Sake of Concifenefs, I mall mention 
 
 only
 
 Led. ii. ORATORY. 181 
 
 only fome few from a Poet, who exceileth all 
 others in thefe fhort and delicate Touches. 
 
 SPEAKING of the Weaknefs of Orpheus in 
 looking back on Eurydice, he hath this very 
 affecling Turn (V], 
 
 Cumfabito mcautwn dementia cepit amantem* 
 Ignofcenda quidem, SCIRENT si IGNOSCERE 
 MANES. 
 
 THE following in Eurydice 's Speech is not 
 inferior [d] y 
 
 InixiUdafque tibl tendens, heu non tua ! f almas. 
 
 MUCH of the fame Kind is that beautiful Re- 
 ' petition concerning Caffandra taken Captive [*j, 
 
 Ad ccelum tendens ardentia lumlna fru/lra; 
 LUMINA, nam teneras arcebant vincula palmas. 
 
 WHAT a fine Image of Melancholy do thefe 
 two Lines prefent [/], 
 
 TE, dulcis conjux, TEfolo in littore fecum, 
 TE, vemenfe die, TE, decedente, canebat. 
 
 [r] When fudden Madncfs feiz'd th' unc^uttous Lover, 
 
 Madnefs, to be forgiv'n,^-could Hell forgive. 
 [</J Stretching to thee her feeble Arms, alas ! 
 
 No longer thine f 
 [*] Riiifing in vain to Heav'n her fparkling Eyes; 
 
 Her Eyes y for Fetters bound her tender Hands. 
 [/] THEE deareft Confort, on the lonely Shore 
 
 H< fung ; with rifing Morn, with finking Day, 
 folitary fung. 
 
 N 3 SUCH
 
 1 8 2 LECTURES concerning Left; i TV 
 
 SUCH alfo is that of the young Greek, who, 
 having followed Evander from Argos y was killed 
 in Italy, [g] 
 
 Et dulces moriens reminifcitur Argos. 
 
 IN the Defcription of the Murrain, what a 
 moving Circumftance is the following, \h\ 
 
 It triflis arator 
 
 Mcerentem abjungensfraternd morte juvencum, 
 jltque opere in media defixa relinquit aratra. 
 
 AND this of Dadalus, which I know not 
 whether it can be paralleled in any Poet, [/'] 
 
 Tw quoque magnam 
 
 Par tern opere in tanto^ finer et dolor, Icare, haberes.; 
 Bis conatys erat cafus effingere in auro y 
 Bis patriot cecidere manus. 
 
 OF this Kind is the Queftion of King Lear 
 to Edgar difguifed as a Lunatick -, 
 
 " What, have his Daughters brought him to 
 
 this Pafs? 
 Could'ft thou fave Nothing ? Didft thou give 
 
 them all?" 
 
 [g] And his lov'd Argos recollets in Death. 
 
 [b] Sorrowful 
 
 Departs the Hind, disjoining from the Yoke 
 The Steer that mourns his Brother's Death, and fix'd 
 , In the unfinifh'd Furrow leaves his Plow. 
 
 [/] Thou too, O Icarus, did Grief permit, 
 
 A Place in this illuftrious Toil hadft found ; 
 Twice he eflay'd to frame in living Gold 
 Thy Fall untimely, twice the Father's Hands 
 Sunk down. 
 
 AND
 
 Led. ii. ORATORY. 183 
 
 AND this of Macduff, 
 " HE has no Children." 
 
 Pi TV indeed is the moft difficult of our 
 Paffions to be long kept up : It is eafily niifetl 
 and ceafeth inftantly. For which Reafon. We 
 may obferve, that fuch Tragedies as turn chiefly 
 upon Terror, pleafe more than thofe which are 
 calculated to move Companion: Thelmpref- 
 fion is ftronger and more lafling. Thus we 
 prefer the OEdipus of Sophocles before his 
 Ele&ra, and yet more before his PUloElltei : 
 As indeed this feems to give that Writer the 
 Advantage over Euripides^ who excells in the 
 tender Paffions. 
 
 FOR this Reafon Shaktfpear. is not only the 
 firft of our Tragick Poets, but I am inclined to 
 think him, with all his Faults and Irregularities, 
 the nobleft Genius in that Form of Poefy which 
 ever appeared. I doubt, whether human In- 
 vention can devife a Scene of more (hiking 
 aftonifhing Horror, than, that which is wrought 
 up from the Death .of Btinquo, The TABLE'S 
 FULL." 
 
 A FORMER Obfervation leads to a fourth 
 Rule; " In fpeaking to the Paffions, as 
 " much as pbflible conceal your doing fo." 
 It fhould be perceived only by the .Effecls, 
 otherwife it appears like a Defign to deceive, 
 and puts your Hearer on his Guard. To this 
 Purpofe a Greek Critick \k\ recommends the 
 Ufe of the Sublime, as hiding the other in its 
 fuperior Brightnefs. BUT 
 
 * LONGINUS.
 
 184 LECTURES concerning Left. n. 
 
 BUT there is nothing more carefully to be 
 avoided, more deftructive of the End propofed 
 .in fpeaking to the AfFedtions, than Elegancies 
 and PrettinefTes, fine turned Periods and glit- 
 tering Conceits. 
 
 IN the midft of the deepeft Affliclion, or 
 moft violent Anger, we meet with Perfons in 
 the Tragedies of Seneca, declaiming for feveral 
 Lines together, in all the fententious Wifdom 
 of a Stoick : And our own Poets do not fcruple 
 to introduce an Heroe expiring with a florid Si- 
 mile in his Mouth [/]. The Writings of Se- 
 neca the Philofopher, the younger Pliny > and 
 the Declaimers of the lower Empire, together 
 with Crowds of Moderns, have been before 
 taken Notice of, as abounding with Beauties of 
 this Sort. But as in Life, fo in Writings, Ex- 
 cellence confifts in following Nature ; and with- 
 out Doubt ftrong Paffions exprefs themfelves in 
 the moft unfludied and the lead artificial Man- 
 ner. 
 
 THIS is fo true, that not only Gaiety and 
 Gawdinefs, falfe Decorations of Style, but even 
 the true Ornaments are little fuited to the Pa- 
 thetick. The Sentiments mould be inch as 
 flow naturally from the Paflion, and the Words 
 fuch as the Hearer may be likely to pafs by 
 unnoticed, that is, eafy and fimple. 
 
 HEREIN it is, that the Greek Poet hath far 
 excelled all his Followers, He, that is fo ele~ 
 vatedin his Sentiments, fo lofty in his Style, that 
 defcribeth a Battle or Storm in Numbers 'as 
 [/] See the Death of Mwte&uma in the Indian Emjercr. &c. 
 
 founding
 
 Lea 1 ORATORY. ,gj 
 
 founding and rapid as the Images which he 
 prefenteth, is here humble, and plain, and tin- 
 adorned. If you would form a right Notion 
 of his Excellence Herein, compare the Com- 
 plaints of Euryaluss Mother, or thofe of Evart- 
 der^ occafioned by the Death of their Sons, with 
 the Lamentations of Hecuba^ or with that which 
 is fuperior to every thing of the Sort, the La- 
 mentation of Andromache when He&or was 
 killed j you will fee how far the ftrongefl Ef- 
 forts of the mofl curious 'and beautiful Art fall 
 (hort of Nature. 
 
 AND in this Refpect : Laflfy, There is one 
 Fault very common, againft which we can 
 never be too well prepared ; that is, " The 
 " perfifting in a pathetick Strain before an 
 " Audience entirely unmoved/' In which 
 Cafe a Speaker not only difgufts and tires, but 
 never fails to become ridiculous. If one fpeak 
 off-hand, or from Memory, he may eafily per- 
 ceive how the Audience is affected by vifible 
 Marks in their Countenance and Behaviour : If 
 he find them liftlefs and unconcerned, he may 
 lower his Tone, he may Ihift his Sails, and 
 change his Courfe : But where you rely on a 
 fludied Difcourfe, this is impracticable 5 you 
 have engaged in a Career which you muft 
 finifli, however difgraceful. For this Reafon, 
 an [m] eminent Writer of our own hath laid 
 it down as a Kind of general Rule, not to 
 attempt moving the Paffions in a premeditated 
 Difcourfe, becaufe the odds are that you fail. 
 
 [>J Dr. SWIFT, Vol. ift. 
 
 BUT
 
 * 86 LECTURES concerning Left. 1 1 . 
 
 BUT* he feemeth to; have carried this Matter 
 too far. This Effedl indeed his Argument 
 ought to have, to make Men exceedingly care- 
 ful what they offer to the View of the Publick : 
 If you never attempt to move the Paffions, you 
 can be at befl but a tolerable Speaker : If you 
 perfift in unfuccefsful Attempts, you become 
 ridiculous. But between thefe two, there are 
 various Degrees of Excellency, to which we 
 may and mould afpire. 
 
 THE beft Advice which occurs to me in the 
 Point is this ; " Engage in no Caufe but fuch 
 ." as you approve of : Study it thoroughly. Be 
 ." iincere. PofTefs yourfelf with the Paffion 
 .** you would raife. Never fit down to write, 
 " nor fland up to fpeak but under this Impref- 
 * fion." By thefe Means, you may hope to 
 unite the Juftnefs and Corredtnefs of Study to 
 the Force and Fire of extemporary Elocution. 
 You mall at the fame Time pleafe and con- 
 vince, inftrudt and affed:, become Matter both 
 of the Underftanding and Paflions of your 
 Hearers, 
 
 LECTURE 
 
 '
 
 Led. 12. ORATORY. 187 
 
 " 
 
 LECTURE the Twelfth. 
 
 I or 6 ni Y*is.v. 
 O/* ELOCUTION, 0r STYLE. 
 
 . 
 
 ELOQUENCE, as it addrefleth itfeif 
 to the Senfes, cometh next to be con- 
 fidered in this View, comprehending chiefly 
 Elocution, or Style. Pronunciation, the other 
 Part, I mall take an Occafion to treat of here- 
 after [a]. 
 
 . HERE, as in other Matters, the fureft Way 
 of determining what is right and what is faulty, 
 is to have always in View the End and Defign. 
 Now the great End of Language, being to 
 communicate our Sentiments for the InftruCtion 
 or Perfuafion of other Men, it is manifeft, that 
 the firft and moft neceffary Property is Clearnefs : 
 Whatever renders it very difficult or dark, fo 
 far contradicteth its original Intention. 
 
 HENCE it appears, that we ought to employ 
 fuch Words as common Uie hath made known 
 and familiar. 
 
 FOR the fame Reafon, our Language ought 
 to be pure. Becaufe, whatfoever departs from 
 the true Standard of the Tongue is fo far dark. 
 It is, befides, offenfive on another Account, be- 
 
 [a] Lea. 22d. 
 
 traying
 
 ^ 88 LECTURES concerning JL,et. 12; 
 
 traying either Want of Knowledge, or a low 
 and bad Education. 
 
 THE fame Principle leads to a third Rule. 
 <e As far as the Genius of the Language admits, 
 " range Words in their natural Order." For 
 harm and bold Tranfpofitions always occafion 
 Perplexity in the Hearer. To this Fault the 
 Writers of the 'Roman Language feem peculiarly 
 liable. 
 
 ANOTHER Fault oppofite to Clearnefs, which 
 modern Tongues, more than the antient, our 
 own perhaps more than the others, f eafily fall 
 into, is " Equivocal Expreffion ;" when men- 
 tioning different Perfons or Things, it is not 
 always plain which you mean, but the fame 
 Action or Attribute may be afcribed equally to 
 either. This Fault fhould be carefully avoided. 
 
 FROM thefe Principles it followeth, that we 
 ought to fhun all obfolete Words ; new Phrafes 
 wnich Caprice is for ever introducing ; all low 
 ExprefTions -, conceited, far-fetched, and affected 
 Manners of Speech. 
 
 IT might appear fuperfluous to recommend 
 Ckarnefs, which is the firft and moft obvious 
 Quality requifite in Speaking or Writing, if 
 Obfcurity were not a very common Fault: 
 Nay, and great Perfons among the Antients, 
 who beflowed incredible Pains upon this Article 
 of Style, are juftly charged with it. But we 
 ihall ceafe to wonder hereat, if we reflect, that; 
 there are other Caufes of Obfcurity, befide thofe 
 Mentioned. Such as regard the Thought alone 
 I {hall not infifl upon, as being foreign to the 
 
 prefent
 
 Left. 12. ORATORY. 189 
 
 prefent Defign. Within our own Subbed there 
 is a principal one, " The Ambition difficult 
 " to be fupprefled by the beft Genius, of throw- 
 " ing what one has to fay out of the common 
 " Form, of raifmg it above the Level of fami- 
 " liar Dialect, and of drawing the Notice and 
 " Attention of the Hearers." 
 
 NOT feldom, the Harmony and Sound of 
 Periods are the Speaker's Object. The Thought 
 becomes darkened by a Multitude of Words ; 
 an Exuberance of Leaves concealeth the Fruit : 
 This among the Greeks was named the Apatick 
 Style ; to which was oppofed the Attick, being 
 pure, terfe, and properly concife; 
 
 BUT the principal Caufe of Obfcurity in Per- 
 fons of good Talents, is that mentioned by 
 Horace [], 
 
 " I aim at Shortnefs, and become obfcure." 
 
 They labour to compact their Senfe fb clofely, 
 and wrap it up in fo few Words, that it is dif- 
 ficult to unfold it. Their Writings referable 
 an Army, whofe Ranks are fo clofe, that they 
 cannot weild their Arms. They contain valua- 
 ble Treafures which you cannot well get at -, 
 like one who is poflefled of great Wealth, but 
 confiding wholly in Jewels ; very rich, but not 
 for common Ufe. This is in fome Degree the 
 Character of Thucydides and Tacitus. A Fault, 
 which although fpringing from an excellent 
 Caufe, fuch as indeed is not to be often appre- 
 
 [] Brrvis t/i laboro, 
 
 Qbfcurus fa. De Arte Poet. 
 
 hended,
 
 190 LECTURES "concerning Led. 12." 
 
 bended, yet ftill it were better that we fhould 
 avoid. 
 
 THERE is likewife another Kind of Brevity, 
 which renders Writings obfcure, more danger- 
 ous, becaufe more frequent, not through fuper- 
 abundance of Senfe and Parfimony of Words, 
 but through an Affectation of Elegance. Here, 
 the Speaker affects to give to every Sentiment a 
 quick, brifk Turn ; and contracts his Expref- 
 fion, to make it lively and pointed. Thefe 
 Perfons lead you on from Prettinefs to Pretti- 
 nefs, through a Courfe of Antithefes, a friendly 
 Strife of Words, through a String of Riddles, 
 which have juft Myftery enough to afford you 
 Pleafure in finding them out j like the Shepher- 
 defs in one of our Poets, [c] 
 
 " But feigns a Laugh to fee me fearcfjtaround, 
 " And by that Laugh the willing Fair is 
 . found." 
 
 This is Pliny, Seneca, and Florus. 
 
 WE may compare the Difcourfe of the great 
 Speakers of Antiquity to a River, fometimes 
 .flowing in a ftraight Line, again winding, here 
 fwift, there flow, as the Ground directs ; but 
 always clear, majeftic, and full to the green 
 Verge : On the contrary, the Speech of thefe 
 others is a Torrent rolling over Pebbles, broken 
 .among Rocks, tumbling down Cafcades, here 
 and, there pretty enough, but rattling, mallow, 
 and muddy by its own Agitation. 
 
 0] POPE'S Paftorals. 
 
 THUS
 
 Left. 12. ORATORY. 191 
 
 THUS Difcourfe muft be clear That, 
 
 however, is not enough. It fufficeth, indeed, 
 for Inftruction : But an Orator muft aim at 
 more ; in Truth he hath no other way of cer- 
 tainly arriving at that, but by aiming at more : 
 For what avails it to be clear, unlefs I can 
 make you think it worth your while to attend ? 
 However intelligible I be, importeth not 3 for 
 you will not underftand unlefs you liften, and 
 you will rarely liften if I be no more than in- 
 telligible. The Orator muft therefore />/<?#/ and 
 move. He muft, to Perfpicuity, add Orna- 
 ment. This openeth to us a very large Field. 
 It would be impoffrble to comprehend all Par- 
 ticulars : I mall fpeak briefly of thofe which 
 feem to be of moft Importance, or have been 
 lefs copiouily treated of. 
 
 BUT the remaining Part of this Difcourfe I 
 fhall confine to one Particular, introductory to 
 the reft, and very ufeful to be confidered -, be- 
 caufe it may preferve, from a Fault, the more 
 dangerous, as deceiving under the Appearance 
 of Beauty, and by that Means very incident to 
 young Perfons, who are readily caught by 
 Show and Splendor. 
 
 IT is an Obfervation of Arljlotle^ which I 
 have formerly mentioned, that the firft Kind 
 of Writing, the moft antiently ufed, was Poefy. 
 Hence, they who firft began to compofe Dif- 
 courfes in Profe, which in Greece happened 
 about the Time of the Perjian Cyrus, finding 
 Poefy in PoiTeffion of the publick Efteem, in 
 Compliance therewith, retained the Expref- 
 
 fion
 
 192 LECTURES concerning Led. 12. 
 
 fion of Poefy, although they had departed from 
 its Numbers 5 which Manner continued long ; 
 and, according to him, was that of Gorgias y 
 who was Co-temporary with Socrates : And 
 this Fact is confirmed by fome little Frag- 
 ments of that Sophift remaining at this Day, 
 which are pompous and poetical. Now this, 
 he obfervedh, was an Error 1 . The tragick Poets 
 themfelves found it neceflary to lower the ma- 
 jeftick and grand Elocution which the Mufe 
 hath hitherto made ufe of; and, in order to ren- 
 der their Dialogue natural, invented lambicks, 
 a Meafure approaching to Profe -, a convincing 
 Argument, that Orators mould avoid the Style 
 peculiar to Poets. 
 
 IT muft be confeffed, however, that this 
 Fault, if I may venture in all Cafes to name it 
 fuch, remained always among Writers, both 
 good and bad ; although from different Caufes. 
 The former having their Imagination filled 
 with the Grandeur of their Subject, and being 
 exceedingly deiirous to imprefs due Concep- 
 tions of it upon the Reader's Mind, ventured 
 beyond the Bounds of their Art, and role into 
 Expreffions too high and ardent: Inftances 
 whereof may be obferved in Plato and Longi- 
 nus, in Livy and Tad f us. 
 
 THE others, finding admired, and admiring 
 the Elevation of Poefy, endeavoured to copy 
 out in Profe, her Ornaments ; not confidering, 
 that They are Beauties of different Kinds, and 
 the Embellishments of the one deform the 
 other. This was the Cafe of Writers in the 
 
 Decline
 
 Left.i2. ORATORY. 193 
 
 Decline of the Roman Empire, and is that of 
 Multitudes among the Moderns. 
 
 BESIDES, they found it much eafier tofeatter 
 over a Difcourfe Flowers here and there, than to 
 give it throughout, its due Spirit, Strength, and 
 Connexion. 
 
 IF you mould afk, as fome have done, 
 " What is the Ground of this Difti nation ? 
 " Why mould not that which pleafeth in one 
 " Kind of Writing, pleafe in another?" the 
 Anfwer is eafy: The Ends are entirely diffe- 
 rent, of Courfe the Means. 
 
 [</] THE chief End of Poefy is to pleafe : 
 Inftrudlion indeed contributes, is often neceflary 
 to this End ; Inftruction then is only a fubordi- 
 nate End, that is, the Means. 
 
 WHEREAS in Eloquence the Reverfe hereof 
 obtains : Its chief End is to inftrucT: ; and 
 Pleafure being often a necefTary Mean to In- 
 flruction, becomes here a fubordinate End. 
 The Truth of this Diftinclion appears from 
 hence ; that Poefy, although it mould be in- 
 ftructive, yet if it do not pleafe, is never in 
 Efleem as a poetick Work j fo that Pleafure is 
 its chief End. On the other Hand, let a Piece 
 of Eloquence pleafe : if it convey no InftrucYion, 
 it cannot be held in Efteem j a Proof, that In- 
 ftru&ion is its principal End. The Ends of 
 each being thus fixed, point out the Means, 
 
 [</] Totumquc illud ftudiorum genus ad oftentationem eft 
 comparatum ; prxter id quod voiuptattm SOLAM petit, &c. 
 QUJNT. lib. x. chap. i. (de Poctis loquitur.) 
 
 O and
 
 194 LECTURES concerning Left. 12.. 
 
 and demonftrate that they ought not to be con- 
 founded. 
 
 THE Style of Poets is that of certain Num- 
 bers returning, in the fame Cadence, at ftated 
 Intervals. This Harmony having both Variety 
 and Rule, is agreeable to the Ear, fitted to an 
 Art, the Defign of which is to pleafe. But in 
 ferious Speech, fuch Harmony would be offen- 
 five. For where the View is to inftrucl:, it 
 muft appear too much ftudied, an Indication of 
 fome Lightnefs or trifling Difpofition in the 
 Speaker. Hence we are offended at the Ca- 
 dence of Verfe in a Profe-work, becaufe it is 
 not expedtecf, 2nd thus difappoints the Ear. 
 
 WE find no lefs Difference between thefe two 
 Kinds of Writing in many other Refpects, fome 
 of which, chiefly with Regard to the Point in 
 View, Style, I mall briefly enumerate. 
 
 THE Method ufed by an Orator mould be 
 natural; all Parts mould be difpofed as much 
 as may be in the jufteft Order, both Sentiments 
 and Words : This Regularity tends to per- 
 fuade, hath the Simplicity and ingenuous Air 
 of Truth. Now Poets are by no Means tied 
 down to this Exattnefs ; nay it is fit, that they 
 fhould depart from it, preferring that Difpofi- 
 tton which may ftrike the Fancy and Ear moft 
 agreeably. 
 
 THE Poet generally makes Choice of the 
 moft founding Words, the moff pompous Ex- 
 .preffions, as moft conducive lo Harmony : The 
 Orator is required rather to avoid fuch, as ap- 
 proaching to Affectation. The Poet is allowed 
 
 to-
 
 . 
 Led. 12. ORATORY. 195 
 
 to frame new Words, to revive old, that he 
 may pleafe by Novelty or a venerable Air of 
 Antiquity : Such Licences are forbidden to the 
 Orator, becaufe not readily underftood and un- 
 couth, 
 
 AGAIN. The Poet is obliged to raife his 
 Style above that of Converfation, and make it in 
 Contexture and Colour altogether different : 
 
 O 
 
 The Orator is for the moft part to come near 
 to, never to feem induftriouily to avoid it. The 
 Poet is allowed to tranfgrefs the Bounds of 
 ilritlt Truth ; to raife his Images beyond Na- 
 ture ; to heap Ornaments upon Ornaments j to 
 crowd and vary his Figures, ufing the ftrongcft 
 and moil: bold ; to fport in Allegories ; to wan- 
 der in Digreffions ; entertain with Companions ; 
 enliven with Allulions : His Tranfitions may be 
 quick ; Metaphors may fhine in every Line ; 
 he may extend Defcriptions, introduce as many 
 Perfons fpeaking as he pleafeth, create Perfons 
 who never had Being ; in fhort, he may em- 
 ploy every Art, that cun give Life, and Spirit, 
 and Fire to his Work ; Fable, Sentiment, Fi- 
 gure, Painting, Harmony, ionorous, copious, 
 glowing Expreffion. 
 
 IN all which Particulars, the Orator is re- 
 ftrained to much narrower Limits. He muft 
 confine himfelf to Truth, at lead to the ftrideft 
 Probability; muft be exceedingly fparing in 
 Digreflions ; his Tranfitions fhould be ufually 
 nice, and almoll imperceptible; his Compari- 
 fons tend only to illuilrate ; he fliould rarely 
 venture into Allegory ; his Metaphors fhould 
 O 2 not
 
 196 LECTURES concerning Left. i2, 
 
 not be frequent, feldotn bold ; Hyperboles arc 
 very dangerous to him ; Defcriptions fhould be 
 iliort, and introduced only where they feem nc- 
 cefTary j his whole Style fhould be pure, clear, 
 modeft in its Ornaments, removed, if poffible, 
 from all Appearance of Art, and feeming to 
 flow naturally from the Occaiion. 
 
 As a Kind of Illuftration of what hath been 
 faid, a little Specimen of this Difference, ob- 
 ferve the following PafTage that I have fome- 
 where met with, in which the whole Senfe is 
 taken exactly from the Roman Poet, and the 
 Expreffion fo varied, as to convey the Image 
 contained in his Verfes with fomewhat of their 
 Spirit, in the Language of Profe. 
 
 Sicut in vafta y qualis eft h<zc noftra, civitate, 
 ft forte accendantUT) utfunt mobiles, plebis animi y 
 it primo murmur incertum, dein atrox clamor; 
 bine currunt ad arma, vis vz repellitur : Sin of- 
 fur gat vir j'apientid et virtutc prteclarus^ extemplo 
 jiletur ; Ilk compejcit iras> docilefque ammos faffiit 
 fingitque. 
 
 THE Ori^nal, which moft of you probably 
 recollect, flands thus [V] : 
 
 Ac velufi magno in populo cum Jape cozrta eft 
 vitque animis ignobile vulgus, 
 
 Jamque 
 
 As oft when Strife divides a num'rous State, 
 And the fierce Rabble catch the famous Heat, 
 
 Stones
 
 Left. 12. ORATORY. 197 
 
 Jamque Jaces & faxa volunt ; furor arma minif- 
 
 trat : 
 
 At pictate gravcm et mentis Ji forte virum quern 
 Ccnjfexere y filent, arreSlijque auribus aftant : 
 Ilk rcgit difiis animos^ et temperat iras. 
 
 I SHALL not detain you with a Companion 
 of each particular Expreflion in thefe two Paf- 
 fages, which I think it better to leave to your 
 own Observation. Inftead of this minute Detail, 
 it occurred to me as much better, to lay before 
 you an Inftance more at large, and in our own 
 Language j With which View, I have prepared 
 the fame hiftorical Event, related in the Man- 
 ner firfl of an Orator, then of a Poet. Although 
 the Strokes be lefs bold, and the Colouring 
 much fainter, than in correfponding PafTages, 
 which might be gathered out of the Works of 
 the Orators and Poets of Antiquity ; yet, if the 
 Proportions be kept and the Characters rightly 
 marked, this, however rude Workman/hip, 
 may anfwer the End propofed, and fhew the 
 Difference between the two Manners defcribed. 
 The Ufefulnefs whereof, the Advantages arif- 
 ing to Eloquence from the Study and judicious 
 Imitation of the Poets, I mall take Occafion tp 
 fhew at large hereafter [/ ]. 
 
 THE Fact I have chofen to relate in thefe 
 two Ways might appear incredible, if a parallel 
 
 Stones fly and Torches ; Fury Arms fupplies j 
 But if they fee an honour'd Sage arifc, 
 In Aft to fpeak ; they turn and lift'ning gaze ; 
 He rules their Spirit, and their Rage allays, 
 [/]Ua. 1 6 and 1 7. 
 
 O 3 Event
 
 198 LECTURES concerning Left. 12^ 
 
 Event had not happened before, in one of our 
 own Colonies, at Port-royal in Jamaica \g\- 
 And a Perfon then preferved in the fame won- 
 derful Manner, returned to thefe I (lands, and 
 lived here many Years, well known, and aa. 
 Object of great and juft Curiofity. But I pro- 
 ceed to the Relation itfelf, which runs thus in 
 the Style of an Orator. 
 
 THE Plains, in which Lima, the capital City 
 of Peril) is placed, are the moft beautiful in the 
 World. They are of vaft Extent, reaching 
 from the Foot of the Andes or Cordelier-moun- 
 tains, to the Sea ; and are covered with Groves 
 of Olive-trees, of Oranges, and Citron's j wa- 
 tered by many Streams ; one of the principal 
 among which, warning the Walls of Lima, 
 falls into the Ocean at Callao ; in which latter 
 Place is laid the Scene of the enfuing Hiftory. 
 
 To this City Don "Juan de Mendoza had 
 come over with his Father from old SpMril yet 
 an Infant. The Father, having born many 
 noble Employments in Peru, died much el- 
 teemed and honoured, rather than rich. This 
 young Gentleman had in early Youth conceived 
 a very ftrong Paffion for Donna Cornelia di Pe- 
 rez, Daughter to a very wealthy Merchant, who 
 dwelt in the City of Callao, at that Time the 
 heft Port in the whole weftern World. 
 
 BUT although the young Lady, who was 
 reputed the moil accomplished Perfon in the 
 Indies y returned his Affection j yet he met with 
 an infuparable Difficulty in the Avarice and in- 
 
 [g] See Philofoph. Tranfa&ions, No. 209. 
 
 flexible
 
 Led. 12. ORATORY. 199 
 
 flexible Temper of the Father ; who, preferring 
 Wealth to every other Confederation, abfolutely 
 refufed his Confent. At length, the unfortu- 
 nate Lover faw himfelf under a Neceffity of re- 
 turning to his native Country, the moft mifer- 
 able of all Mankind, torn away for ever from all 
 that he held moft dear. 
 
 HE was now on board, in the Port of Callao. 
 The Ship ready to fail for Spain. The Wind 
 fair. The Crew all employed ; the PafTengers 
 rejoicing in the Expectation of feeing again the 
 Place of their Nativity. Amid the Shouts and 
 Acclamations with which the whole Bay re- 
 founded, Mendoza fate upon Deck alone, over- 
 whelmed with Sorrow, beholding thofe Towers, 
 in which he had left the only Perfon who 
 could have made him happy, whom he was 
 never more to behold : A thouland tender, a 
 thoufand melancholy Thoughts poffcfled his 
 Mind. 
 
 IN the mean Time, the Serenity of the Sky 
 is diflurbed ; fudden Flames of Lightning dart 
 acrofs, which encreafing, fill the whole Air with 
 Flame. A Noife is heard from the Bowels of 
 the Earth, at firft low and rumbling, but grow- 
 ing louder, and foon exceeding the roaring of 
 the moft violent Thunder. This was inftantly 
 followed by a trembling of the Earth : The firit 
 Shocks were of mort Continuance ; bi\t in few 
 Moments they became quicker, and of longer 
 Duration. The Sea feemed to be thrown up 
 into the 'Sky, the Arch of Heaven to bend 
 downwards. The Cordeliers, thehigheftMoun- 
 O 4 tains
 
 2oo LECTURES concerning Led:. 12. 
 
 tains of the Earth, {hook, and roared with un- 
 utterable Noifes, fending forth from their burft- 
 ing Sides Rivers of Flame, and throwing up 
 immenfe Rocks. The Houfes, Arfenal, and 
 Churches of Callao tottered from Side to Side, at 
 laft tumbled upon the Heads of the wretched 
 Inhabitants. 
 
 THOSE who had not perifhed in this Manner, 
 you might fee of every Age and Sex, rufhing 
 into the Streets and publick Roads, to efcape 
 from the like Ruins. But even there, was no 
 Safety : The whole Earth was in Motion ; nor 
 was the Ocean lefs difturbed : The Ships in the 
 Harbour, were fome of them torn from their 
 Anchors, fome of them fwallowed up in the 
 Waves, fome darned on Rocks, many thrown 
 feveral Miles up into the Land. The whole 
 Town of Callao late fo flouriming, filled with 
 half the Wealth of the Indies, difappeared, be- 
 ing partly ingulfed, partly carried away in Ex- 
 plofion by Minerals burfling from the Entrails 
 of the Earth. Vaft Quantities of rich Spoils, of 
 Furniture, and precious Goods, were after- 
 wards taken up floating fome Leagues off at Sea. 
 
 IN the Midft of this afbniming Confufion, 
 Mendoza was perhaps the fole human Creature 
 unconcerned for himfelf. He beheld the whole 
 tremendous Scene from the Ship's Deck, fright- 
 ed only for the Deftrudlion falling on his beloved 
 CORNELIA. He faw, and mourned her Fate 
 as unavoidable, little rejoicing at his own Safety, 
 fince Life was now become a Burthen. 
 
 FOR,
 
 Left. 12. ORATORY. 2 oi 
 
 FOR, after the Space of an Hour this terrible 
 Hurricane ended ; Earth regained her Stability, 
 the Sky its Calmnefs. He then beholdeth clofe 
 by the Stern of his Ship, floating upon an Olive 
 Tree, to a Bough of which me clung, one in 
 the Drefs of a Female. He was touched with 
 Companion, he ran to her Relief : He findeth 
 her yet breathing, and railing her up, how un- 
 fpeakable was his Aftonimment, when he be- 
 held in his Arms, his beloved, his lamented 
 Cornelia ! The Manner of whofe miraculous 
 Deliverance is thus recorded. 
 
 IN this univerfal Wreck, as it were of Nature, 
 in which the Elements of Earth and Water 
 had changed their Places, Filhes were born up 
 into the Mid-land, Trees and Houfes, and Men 
 into the Deep; it happened, that this Fair one 
 was hurried into the Sea, together with the 
 Tree, to which, in the beginning of the Com- 
 motion, fhe had clung, and was thrown up by 
 the Side of that Veflel, wherein her faithful 
 Mendoza was, which was one of the few that 
 rode out the amazing Tempeft. I cannot 
 paint to you the Emotions of his Mind, the 
 Joy, the Amazement, the Gratitude, the Ten- 
 dernefs : Words cannot exprefs them. 
 
 HAPPY Pair ! The Interpofition of Providence 
 in your Favour was too vikble, for any Man to 
 difpute your being at laft united for ever. And 
 O thrice happy Mendoza^ how wonderfully was 
 thyConftancy crowned, thy Merit rewarded. 
 Lo, the Wind is fair ! Hafte, bear with thee 
 to thy native Spain this inestimable Prize. Re- 
 turn
 
 202 LECTURES concerning Led. 12, 
 
 turn, no lefs juftly triumphant, than did for- 
 merly the illuftrious Corfez y loaded with the 
 Spoils of Montezuma, the Treafures of a newly- 
 difcovered World. 
 
 HERE follows the fame Piece of Hiftory in a 
 poetical Drefs, in which the Manner of Spenfer 
 is aimed at, with fome Variation in the Form of 
 the Stanza : 
 
 Infcription j To Dotfor EDWARD MAURICE \b\ 
 
 OTHOU,who imp'dwithPraife the Mufe's Wing, 
 
 Yet feeble, ftill behold with gracious Eyes 
 What from the Critick's Chair me dares to fing, 
 
 Unequal far I ween to fuch emprize. 
 Yet fhould'ft thou, OSSORY, propitious fmile, 
 
 Fearlefs, tho' weak, me'd urge the bold Deftgn, 
 Maugre foul pnvy and Detraction vile; 
 
 For ev'ry Form of Eloquence is thine, 
 Whether high Truths thau teach in nervous 
 
 Profe, 
 Or Fancy's glitt'ring Wealth in tuneful Strain 
 
 difclofe. 
 SUCH mitred [/] Bembits on th' Aufonian Coaft, 
 
 To Latian Notes join'd native T'ufcan Rhime, 
 At one the Poet's and Hiftorian's Boaft ; 
 
 Such Vida y \k\ Critick fage, and Bard fublime. 
 
 [] Late Bifhop of O/ory ; an excellent Preacher and 
 Poet. Among many Performances in both Kinds, he hath 
 left in the Hands of this Le.lurer, a Translation of the 
 Iliad into ;?o7//2>Vcrfe, in the Manner of Milton ; Which, 
 it is hoped, the Publick will fee and approve of. 
 
 [/] [] Two excellent Writers in the fixteenth Cen- 
 tury ; both Bifhops in Italy. 
 
 i Yet
 
 Lett. 12. ORATORY. 203 
 
 Yet what avails, if Adion's current ftray, 
 
 The Poet's Song, or Preacher's Eloquence ? 
 Thy Life is flill more perfect than thy Lay, 
 And Manners add new Energy to Senfe. 
 Here, Sons of ALMA, look, here emulate ; 
 For Genius few, but all may Virtues imitate. 
 
 I. 
 
 " Ye Plains adorn'd in Nature's lavim Pride, 
 " Where Spring and Autumn ever-lmiling 
 
 dwell, 
 " Thou Stream, wjiofe Waters faftby_L/W glide, 
 
 " Imperial City, take my laft Farewel : 
 " Oft ftraying on thy Banks thro' Citron Groves, 
 " The fair CORNELIA heard my tender Pain, 
 <c With Smiles and Blumes heard : (Ill-fated 
 
 Loves 
 " Which Parents ftern forbid and Avarice 
 
 mean !) 
 
 " Pity a Wretch from ev'ry Comfort torn, 
 " And driv'n to native Soil in Banilhment for- 
 lorn. 
 
 II. 
 " AND ye rich Tow'rs of'Callao, that inclofe 
 
 " The faireft Maid e'er feen by mortal Eyes, 
 " Late Scene of Joy now chang'd to bitter 
 
 Woes, 
 
 " Receive my laft Adieu, thefe parting Sighs. 
 " Thou Sun, this World's long wprfhip'd God 
 
 fupreme, 
 
 <{ Outcaftof thy bleft Land, fad Imp of Woe, 
 " Why linger I beneath thy unfelt Beam, 
 " Bereft of Life, of her ? Ah, there beftow 
 
 " Thy
 
 204 LECTURES concerning Lect 12. 
 
 Thy choiceft Gifts, Health, Joyj if fuch 
 
 there be, 
 
 Laft grant her Love a Youth, more fond, 
 more true than me." 
 
 III. 
 THUS from the Ships tall Deck MENDOZA 
 
 mourn'd, 
 
 His Eyes on Callao fix'd : Beneath refound 
 The bufy Crew 3 for ev'ry Bofom burn'd 
 
 To reach Iberian Shores, fweet natal Ground : 
 As Bees that to provide new Seats prepare, 
 With hoarfe mix'd Hum and ruftling Pinions, 
 
 crowd, 
 The Straw-built Dome refounds 5 they mount 
 
 in Air, 
 
 Eager for flight, and hang a living Cloud. 
 Kind Zephyrs breath, Sails open, Streamers fly, 
 The Shores, the Ports, die Streets rebound the 
 Sailor's Cry. 
 
 IV. 
 WHEN fudden mifts the Scene. Dire Sights 
 
 aftound 
 All Hearts : From op'ning Skies red Lighu 
 
 nings gleam, 
 Still bur/ling quicker ; tillHeav'ns Convex r^ound 
 
 Envelop'd, feems one Canopy of Flame. 
 Deep hollow Rumblings roll thro' Earth's dark 
 
 Womb, 
 
 Like Billows breaking on a diflant Shore ; 
 
 Low-murmuring firft, but louder loon become 
 
 Than volly'd Thunder, or Eellonas Roar. 
 
 The
 
 Lea. 12. ORATORY. 205 
 
 The Cordelliers their Entrails, molten Stone 
 And Metals, hurl on high ; the burning Ca- 
 verns groan. 
 
 V. 
 THEN Callaos Domes and Li mas princely 
 
 Tow'rs 
 
 All glitt'ring with Potojis precious Ore, 
 Quake on the waving Ground, like flender 
 
 Flow'rs 
 
 That tremble at the Blaft of Eurus frore ; 
 This Way and that they bend, 'till loofen'd quite 
 The maiTy Fabricks tumble down ; beneath 
 In pond'rous Ruins whelming many a Wight, 
 That wanted Care, or Speed, to fhun fuch 
 
 Skaith : 
 
 Ah, (lain unweeting ! fome retir'd from Day 
 In filent Slumber; fome o'erEv'ning Banquet gay. 
 
 VI. 
 
 THEN might you fee the Crowds diftracled roam, 
 Thronging thro' Streets to Fields and open 
 
 Air, 
 
 For Safety flying from their treach'rous Home. 
 Here Mothers at the Breaft their Infants bear : 
 Round the fad Hufband's Neck with vain Em- 
 brace. 
 There cling new-marry'd Dames, whilil up 
 
 and down 
 
 Virgins and hoary Sires with frantick Pace 
 Totter : Beneath their Footfteps rocks the 
 
 Town. 
 
 Their laft Relief in Pray'r, to Heav'n they call 
 With late Devotion ; one huge Ruin (wallows all. 
 
 VII.
 
 206 LECTURES 'concerning Left. 12. 
 
 VII. 
 
 NIGHT wraps all Nature in her pitchy Robe ; 
 Fame fays, the yawning Graves gave up their 
 
 Dead. 
 
 Forth uTue Spe&res o'er th' aftoniih'd Globe, 
 Indians, who by Spain s cruel Av'rice bled, 
 Thefe, with dire Goblins in the wild Uproar, 
 
 Combin'd, the cradling Elements confound, 
 
 Shake the curs'd Land yet red with guiltlefsGore, 
 
 And mix loud Yellings with the Whirlwind's 
 
 found j 
 
 Dreadful Avengers ! And with fell Delight 
 Their proud OpprefTors whelm in Gulphs of 
 endlefs Night. 
 
 VIII. 
 EARTH, by contending Min'rals inly torn, 
 
 Yawns wide j Part fink into her Bowels drear 
 Ingulft ; Part upwards by Explofion born 
 
 Are hurl'd aloft through the tormented Air, 
 Then Piece-meal fall. Old Chaos feems again 
 
 Returning, Earth and Ocean lie confus'd ; 
 Rich Works of Art float on the diftsnt Main, 
 And fcatter'd Ships on Mid-land Rocks are 
 
 bruis'd. 
 
 Their Cloud-top'd Brows th' eternal Andes bend 
 To boiling Ocean's Brim ; and Seas to Heav'n 
 afcend. 
 
 IX. 
 THE Tumult ceas'd ; the Sky became ferene : 
 
 Earth, long convuls'd, to firmRepofe returned. 
 Mendoza view'd, unhurt, the dreadful Scene, 
 And only for his lov'd Cornelia mourn'd : 
 
 " Now
 
 Left. 12. ORATORY. 207 
 
 " Now art thou loft indeed unhappy Fair, 
 
 " For ever loft, Ah, perifh'd in thy Bloom ! 
 " Yet I furvive. Ye Pow'rs, why did ye fpare 
 
 " A hated Life ? Your cruel Gift refume. 
 cc Earth gape, once more, O fnatch me, fw'al- 
 
 low, rend, 
 
 " And with her mangled Reliques mine, fad 
 Solace, blend !" 
 
 X. 
 
 THUS wail'd he ftooping o'er the VefTels Side: 
 When floating on the Surge,th at fretful fweli'd, 
 A Female dight in gay Attire he fpy'd, 
 
 Born on an Olive Tree, (lie clafping held. 
 Companion fili'd his Breaft ; he flew, he feiz*d. 
 
 And from theWaves the languid Burthen rear'd 
 Yet breathing : Eager on her Face he gaz'd, 
 
 That lovely in the Midft of Death appear'd. 
 O Extafy 1 O Tranfport! heav'nly Face ! 
 Cornelia panting ftill, and warm, thine Arms 
 embrace. 
 
 XL 
 
 REC ALL'D by his Embrace, Life creeps anew 
 
 Thro' the chill Veins, and moots a feeble Ray, 
 With gradual Progrefs lights each kindling Hue j 
 
 Laft op'ning her bright Eyes confirms its Sway. 
 As one condemn'd to die, who kneeling low 
 
 Awaits th' uplifted Steel, fhould Mercy come 
 With fudden Pardon and arreft the Blow, 
 
 Yet pants and trembles, in Amazement dumb j 
 Like PatTions in thy Breaft, Mendoza, roll ; 
 
 Doubt, Wonder, conqu'ring Joys at length 
 pofTefs thy Soul. 
 
 XII.
 
 2 o8 LECTURES concerning Left. 12. 
 
 XII. 
 
 And doft thou live ? Myfterious Heav'n ! I 
 
 " bow 
 
 In Adoration of thy high Beheft ; 
 Tuft are thy Ways : Forlorn and loft but now 
 How haft thou made me beyond Utt'rance 
 
 bleft? 
 
 " O let me clafp thee ever thus, my Bride, 
 Since Parents now no more our Loves con- 
 
 fine, 
 
 In fafer Realms let the dear Knot be ty'd, 
 " Heav'n by preferving thus, decrees thee 
 
 " mine. 
 
 " Yet raife thofe Eyes, yet liften, fix my Fate : 
 <{ She hears j that Smile confents : Enough ; 
 " my Joy's complete. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 " Yet happy, thus poiTefs'd of Life and you, 
 
 " Pardon this Drop ;~ Tis Duty's, Pity's tear j 
 " This Tribute's to a fallen Country due : 
 
 " This to thy Parent honour'd, tho' fevere. 
 " And thou dear Relique of a World deftroy'd, 
 Welcome to Life, to Health, to Blifs. Still 
 
 glide 
 ' Thy Hours thus Heav'n-preferv'd, in Love 
 
 " employed ; 
 " And ye, whom worldly Views too oft mif- 
 
 " guide, 
 " Read in this Day's Event Heav'ns Will made 
 
 " known, 
 
 (< Parents, join Hearts, not Wealth 5 to Merit 
 " Gold poftpone." 
 
 XIV.
 
 Left.i2. ORATORY. 209 
 
 XIV; 
 
 THRICE happy Pair ! Recorded in this Lay 
 Your Tale, (if to thefe Lays fuch Pow'r be 
 
 g iv ' n >). 
 Shall to late Times this LelTon fage convey, 
 
 " Virtue and&uth are ay theCare of Heavn? \ 
 And thou bleft Youth, while fmooth the Skies 
 
 and Main, 
 
 Hafle with thy charming Prize to native Soil, 
 Not fo triumphant to Imperial Spain 
 
 Return'd Columbus from Herculean Toil, 
 With Sails o'er wond'ring Ocean firft unfurl'd, 
 Lefs wealthy in the Spoils of a new-conquer'd 
 World. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 2io LECTURES concerning Left. 13.. 
 
 LECTURE the Thirteenth. 
 
 Concerning ORNAMENT. 
 
 TO what was faid in my laft Lecture con- 
 cerning Clearnefs, this Remark fhould 
 be added ; that, however neceflary, yet it may 
 be ftudied too much. One of our greateft 
 Philofophers, in order to be very Intelligible, 
 hath incurred the Cenfure of Prolixity [#]. This 
 Care, for the fame Reafon that Brevity gives 
 Strength, enfeebles Difcourfe, renders it flat and 
 languid. In purfuing it beyond a certain Point 
 you facrifice to it all the Graces of 'Writing : 
 and befide, make an ill Compliment to your 
 Hearer; of whofe Sagacity this Exa&nefs, Su- 
 perftition let me call it, of Clearnefs, implieth 
 Diftruft: We wifh that fomewhat (hould be 
 lefttoourownUnderftanding to fupply ; enough 
 to employ, yet not to puzzle. 
 
 AN Orator therefore will aim at fomething 
 farther : will, as I faid before, to Purity and 
 Perfpicuity add ORNAMENT; in which is 
 placed, if not the Ufefulnefs, at leaft the chief 
 Splendour of Eloquence. This it is, which 
 gives to Difcourfe Magnificence, Sweetnefs, 
 [V]Mr. LOCKE, 
 
 Beauty ;
 
 ! 
 
 Led. 13. O R A ? 6 R Y. 211 
 
 Beauty ; that engageth the Attention, that cap- 
 tivateth the Hearts, and extorteth the Applaufes 
 of an Audience ; that difHnguifheth the Ora- 
 tor from the Philofopher and Man, of Bufmefs, 
 that raifeth his Language above the Simplicity 
 of common Profe, that tempereth the Aufte- 
 rity of his Arguments, improveth the Keeri- 
 nefs of his Wit, and ehliveneth the brifk Sal- 
 lies of his Fancy, rendering him a Perfon ho- 
 noured and admired. This it is, which pro- 
 perly fpeaking, maketh Rhetorick an Art : All 
 other Parts whereof may be attained by meer 
 Felicity of Nature, but without Difcipline, 
 without much Study and Experience you can- 
 not arrive at the Perfection of Ornament. 
 
 SENSIBLE hereof, Rhetoricians have be- 
 flowed infinite Labour upon this Branch, and 
 have entered into in numerable Details concern- 
 ing it ; through which intricate Labyrinth I 
 {hall not attempt to follow them, as it would 
 lead me out into Length far exceeding the Li- 
 mits prefcribed to Difcourfes of this Kind. 
 
 BESIDES, that in my Opinion, the vaft Num- 
 ber' of Precepts delivered defeateth their End, 
 perplexing what they would clear up', and be- 
 wildering thofe Whom they undertake to di- 
 red. 
 
 HOWEVER, all mould not be pafled over. 
 Two Branches there are, Compofition and Pi- 
 gttres, from which chiefly all true Ornament 
 arifeth. Thefe it feemeth right to make fome 
 Remarks upon, fuch as are moil neceflary, or 
 have been lefs fully explained. But fome ge- 
 P 2 neral
 
 212 LECTURES concerning Led:. 13. 
 
 neral Obfervations there are, which it appeareth 
 fit to premife, as they may clear the Way to 
 others, and afford a more diftincl: Knowledge of 
 this whole Affair : They fhall employ the pre- 
 fent Lecture. 
 
 WITH Refpect to the Point before us, Or- 
 nament, many are of Opinion, that it ought 
 to be principally, if not folely, regarded. What 
 is entirely plain, appears to them infipid : For 
 what is it that fets the Orator above an ordinary 
 Speaker ? What elevates Difcourfe above com- 
 mon Converfation ? What, but Life and Spirit, 
 in other Words, Ornament ? 
 
 Now this is a wrong Judgment. For un- 
 doubtedly there is a beautiful Simplicity, a Plain- 
 nefs where the Expreffion is no more than an 
 Inftrument to convey the Thoughts, unnoticed 
 itfelf it exhibits them : Like a pure tranfpa- 
 rent Stream, whofe Waters the Eye pafleth 
 through unobferved, and beholdeth the Sand 
 and Pebbles of the Bottom. 
 
 AND not feldom is this the beft Manner, as 
 being moft fuitable to the Occafion or Charac- 
 ter of the Speaker. Thus in Narratives of 
 Importance : In Exigencies, in Hafte, wherefo- 
 ever the Speaker is of high Rank or venerable 
 for Wifdom, a plain fhort Style is to be pre- 
 ferred. Such is the Relation of the Funeral in 
 Terence, 
 
 Effertur, imus. 
 
 Such is the Line of Virgil^ expreffing Hurry 
 and Precipitation, 
 
 Ferte
 
 Left. 13. ORATORY. 213 
 
 Ferte citiflammas, date iela> fcandite muros []. 
 And the beautiful Exclamation of NiJ'us [V], 
 Me, Me, adfum qui fed, in me conyertite fer- 
 
 O Rxdul -, meafraus cmnis, nihil ilk nee aufus> 
 Nee potuit, f&lum hoc &? conjcia fidera tejlor s 
 'fantwn mfitiwm nimium dilexit amicum. 
 
 Such is the Eloquence attributed by 'Tacitus to 
 a Roman Emperor : 
 
 Profluens, et quails decebat Princifem, Oratio. 
 
 THIS is the Manner in which the Com- 
 mentaries of Ctefar are written, and for the 
 moft Part the Speeches in Homer ; and is that, 
 which peculiarly diftinguifheth Xenophon ; who, 
 through the whole Courfe of his Writings, 
 whether he relates great Tranfaclions, defcribes 
 Sieges and Battles, draws up Armies, harangues 
 in the Perfon of Generals, recounts private 
 Converfations, or explains the Doctrine of So- 
 crates in philofophical Reafoning, preferveth 
 every where the fame Character, this eafy na- 
 tural Tone, and without any View of pleafing 
 is always amiable : So that one may aptly apply 
 
 [b] Brine Flames; be fwift; give Weapons \ mount the 
 
 Walls. 
 
 [c] Me, me, behold the Criminal, on me 
 Pour all your Darts, mine all the Guilt j but he 
 Nought did nor dar'd j this Heav'n thefe Stars can tell j 
 He only lov'd his wretched Friend too well. 
 
 P 3 to
 
 214 - LECTURES concerting Led;. 13. 
 to him the Words of the Elegiack Poet of his 
 Miftrefs [d] : 
 
 Where erjhe goes, a namelefs Grace pre/ides y 
 Follows unfeen^ and evry. Motion guides. 
 
 Such kind of Simplicity giveth at once an Air 
 of Truth and Grandeur : We think a Perfon 
 iincere, who mews fo little of Care and Study \ 
 and we entertain a high Opinion of one whom 
 we find fo pleating without feeking to pleafe : 
 It is the Cafe of true Beauty in Undrefs, lefs 
 fhining, but more touching. Befides, that a 
 Care about Words feemeth unworthy of a 
 great Character. 
 
 THESE Obfervations lead into an oppofite 
 
 Opinion, which hath alfo had many Defend^ 
 
 ers. This whole Affair, according to them, 
 
 is grounded on Miftake j " The End, the only 
 
 " one worthy of a wife Man in fpeaking, is 
 
 ," to prove: We delire only to be rightly in- 
 
 <c formed, and to be affured that we are fo. 
 
 . <c To which Purpofe, what elfe is neceffary, 
 
 " but to offer your Arguments clearly and me- 
 
 . C 5 thodically ? And the more plainly and fhortly 
 
 " this is done, the better. What then is it 
 
 " which you. call Ornament ? Superfluous, and 
 
 "mould be rejected; or delufive, and fliould 
 
 5 C be abhorred. The AfFedlation thereof it is, 
 
 " which hath perverted Eloquence, and from 
 
 c< a Servant of Truth made her a Patronefs of 
 
 " .Falfehood." 
 
 [^j Quoquo vedigia movit, 
 
 Componitfurtim, lublequiturque decor. XJBULLUS. 
 
 IT
 
 Left. 1 3- ORATORY. 215 
 
 IT is obvious that this Opinion ftrikes at the 
 Foundation of what we would eftablifh, and 
 is inconfiftent with the Courfe of our Reafon- 
 ings hitherto : Let us, however, examine into' 
 it more particularly j the Article we treat of 
 will receive from thence new Light. 
 
 And Firft, We acknowlege the Ground it 
 proceeds upon to be right. Inftruction and 
 Conviction are the only Ends of Eloquence. 
 What then ? Doth the above-mentioned Infe- 
 rence follow ? Are there not ftrong Prejudices 
 in Mankind which refift, and muft be over- 
 come ? How will you raife, how fix their At- 
 tention ? How conquer their Indolence, and 
 Averfion from ferious Thoughts ? By exciting 
 their Curiofity, gaining their good Will : And 
 can this be performed without Ornament ? 
 " Men love Truth naturally," I allow it : But 
 are they not often biaffed by Affection, Habit, 
 Rumor 5 funk in Sloth, governed by Tradi- 
 tions and Fafhion, and drawn afide by every 
 Trifle ? And how may all thefe Hinderances 
 be removed ? " By plain artlefs Truth :" Cer- 
 tainly not ; it muft be fet off and beautified. 
 
 THUS we may conclude, that they refine 
 too much, who would reduce all to the fe- 
 vere Standard of ftrict Truth. Some Criticks 
 carry this Aufterity fo far, as to di (approve the 
 direct Speeches, with which the Works of the 
 beft antient Hiilorians abound ; becaufe they 
 think it incredible, that theie very Words 
 (hould have been pronounced by the Perions 
 P 4 to
 
 2i 6 LECTURES concerning Left. 13; 
 
 to whom they are afcribed ; they are fictitious 
 therefore, and unworthy of Hiftory. 
 
 BUT are we certain, that Speeches of the 
 very fame Import (for about mere Words we 
 contend not) were not then and there delivered, 
 as related by thefe Hiftorians ? The Cuftom of 
 thofe Times had eftabliftied Harangues, made 
 them oftentimes neceflary ; and why may not 
 we fuppofe, that thefe preferred to us were the 
 fame in Subftance at leaft, with thofe made at 
 the Time ? I grant, that modern Hiftorians 
 have erred herein by injudicious Imitation, not 
 confidering the Difference of Times ; for fet 
 Speeches would be abfurd now, on Occafions 
 wherein they would have been neceffary at 
 Athens or Rome. 
 
 BUT if we (hould allow thofe Harangues to 
 be fictitious, they hurt not the Truth of Hi- 
 ftory : They impofe upon none. We regard 
 them only as a full State of both Sides of the 
 Queftion -, rendered more lovely and affecling, 
 by being put into the Mouths of celebrated 
 Perfons, who were real Actors on the Occa- 
 fions. And how have modern Hiftorians avoided 
 this fuppofed Fault ? They give an Abftract 
 or Skeleton, as it were, of the Arguments on 
 each Side in the indirect Way ; or what is yet 
 worfe, deliver their Opinion in their own Per- 
 fons ; during which Time the Action ftandeth 
 ftill, you are called home from this illuftrious 
 Theatre to converfe with the Hiftorian ;. where- 
 as in the other Way, the Action is continued ; 
 you never once lofe Sight of the Actors ; it 
 
 is
 
 Left. 13. ORATORY. 217 
 
 is Cafar and Cato and Scipio, not Salluft or Zruy, 
 with whom you difcourfe ; you remain without 
 Interruption engaged and interefted, by Means 
 of this innocent and beautiful Fiction. 
 
 BUT if you condemn thefe, what will you 
 fay of Parable and Fable, where Truth, in or- 
 der to infmuate herfelf into the Mind, bor- 
 roweth the Drefs even of Fiction ? Yet the 
 wifeft of Men have ufed Fa,bles and Parables : 
 Nay, and one far greater than any of them ; 
 " Behold, a greater than Solomon is here" 
 
 THE right Way of determining this Point, 
 is to confider the Nature of Man. Is Reafbn 
 the fole Principle therein ? If it be, that only 
 are we to regard. But we have already feen, 
 that there is another of mighty Influence ; Paf- 
 fion. We know alfo, that there is a third, to 
 which Regard muft be had, namely, Senfe. 
 And before we go fo far, we (hall find out an- 
 other, a Kind of intermediate Faculty, or ra- 
 ther Act of the Soul, partaking of Reafon and 
 Senfe, which is of great and peculiar Moment 
 in the Point before Us. 
 
 WHEN external Objects are .prefented to the 
 Mind, there are formed therein certain Images 
 of them, which it contemplates, and from the 
 Survey of them, frameth its Judgments. Thofe 
 Objects being removed, the Images difappear, 
 but ufually are not loft; for at the Diftance 
 perhaps of Years they return, and offer them- 
 felves to View, fometimes without apparent 
 Caufe : And the Mind, we know, hath a 
 Power of reviving them at Will, comparing 
 
 them
 
 3i 8 LECTURES concerning Led. 13, 
 
 them anew, and difraiffing, as Occafions re- 
 quire. This Power, which we name Memory 
 or Recollection, is the Foundation of all Learn- 
 ing and Knowledge, and varieth much in dif- 
 ferent Perfons j being in fome wonderfully te- 
 nacious ; in others it exerteth its Action with 
 great Readinefs and Facility, and gives that ufe- 
 ful Quality to Speakers, which we name Qujck- 
 nefs and Prefence.of Mind. 
 
 THE Mind, thus endued with a Faculty of 
 recalling Images before received, fbps not 
 there ; is not obliged to confine itfelf to the 
 Order of real Exiftence, but can range them, 
 when thus recalled, according to its Pleafure; 
 and, by joining or feparating anew, can form 
 Collections of Images which never did exifu 
 This Act of the Mind we name Imagination^ 
 by which it can multiply without Bounds the 
 Number of its Ideas -, deriving, indeed, the 
 Materials from Nature, it works them up into 
 new Forms and Modes of Being, framing with- 
 in itfelf a World altogether its own. Memory 
 we may name the Storehoufe of the Soul, from 
 whence the Understanding furnifheth itfelf 
 with Notions, which it makes the Source of 
 real Knowledge .; the Imagination moldeth thefe 
 into agreeable Scenes, purfuing Pleafure, not 
 Truth. 
 
 ON the Vigour wherewith this latter Opera- 
 tion is exerted, dependeth chiefly Excellence 
 in the imitative Arts. The Painter can draw 
 Figures more finely proportioned, can throw 
 greater Variety into his Landfkips, make his 
 
 Trees
 
 Led. 13. ORATORY. 219 
 
 Trees more fhady, and enrich his Flowers with 
 brighter Colours, than the Hand of Nature 
 hath beftowed. The Poet may fill his Battles 
 with more Horror, may add more Fury to his 
 Tempefts, infpire his Heroes with nobler Sen- 
 timents, and embellifh his Narration with Cir- 
 cumftances more diverfe and more affecting, 
 than are to be found in real Exiftence, or hi- 
 ftorical Record : And in Proportion as they per- 
 form thefe Things with greater Energy, they 
 are deemed more excellent in their Art, obtain- 
 ing, by Means of this Power, a fovereign Em- 
 pire over the Imaginations of thbfe to whom 
 their Works are addreffed. 
 
 Now to apply thefe Obfervations to the Point 
 before us : We have here difcovered to us an 
 Operation of the Mind, which muft needs have 
 mighty Influence in Oratory. A rich and 
 ftrong Imagination is not lefs powerful here, 
 than in the other Arts above-mentioned. Rich, 
 it charms by prefenting a Variety of Images, 
 beautiful and new : Strong, it prefents them 
 lively and glowing, fo as to convey and im- 
 prefs deeply on the Hearer's Mind the fame 
 Images. 
 
 Now this is a necefTary Source of Ornament, 
 which an Orator cannot, without greatly weak- 
 ening his own Power, neglect. If to fatisfy 
 the Underftanding he muft follow Nature and 
 Truth, he muft fet off and embellifh thefe, to 
 win the Imagination. If Reafon makes Dif- 
 courfe convincing, Pallion vehement, a fine 
 
 Imagination
 
 220 LECTURES concerning Left. 13. 
 
 Imagination renders it beautiful and charm- 
 ing. 
 
 FROM whence it happens, that they who 
 fpeak to it chiefly, are very apt to -be miflcd : 
 The flowery Roads, through which it guides, 
 are fo amufing, that one goeth far aftray before 
 he is aware, Such are they, who indulge them- 
 felves in pleafing Defcriptions, gay Allufions, 
 ingenious Allegories, lively Comparifons, who 
 play in Metaphors, glitter in Oppofitions, fwell 
 in Hyperboles ; which feldom promote the main 
 End of fpeaking, as leading from the Purpofe ; 
 and are besides, on Account of their Gaudinefs, 
 very difpleafing to a Man of Senfe. It mould 
 be our Bufinefs to aim at a judicious Ufe of 
 Imagination, which undoubtedly bringeth much 
 Advantage to Difcourfe, foftening the Severity 
 of Reafon, winning Attention and Good-will : 
 Which judicious Ufe we may define to confift 
 chiefly herein ; ' Never to employ it except in 
 " the lighter Parts j fo as to illuftrate the more 
 " ferious, not to obfcure." 
 
 ONE Thing remark ; " Imagination is more 
 " contrary to Paffion, than it is to Reafon." 
 For in the clofeft Argument, fome of its live-* 
 lieft Strokes may find Place ; but it is utterly 
 inconfiftent with the pathetick : Wherever you 
 would affect much, beware of mingling Sal- 
 lies of Fancy ; be iimple, be plain, be natural. 
 Inflances of Failures in this Article you may fee 
 in Ovid, Lucan, and Seneca ; innumerable in 
 modern Tragedies, where you may obferve Rage 
 venting its Fury in harmonious Simile, and 
 
 Sorrow
 
 Left. 13. ORATORY. 221 
 
 Sorrow pouring out its Tears through all the 
 Brilliancy of quaint Antithefis. 
 
 I DO not acquit Shake/pear of this Fault : But 
 it appeareth from a PafTage in his Works, that 
 however unacquainted he is fuppofed to have 
 been with the Rules of Criticifm, yet he knew 
 this, even in committing it, to be a Fault : The 
 Paflage is remarkable ; Ro/s is introduced, re- 
 lating the miierable Eftate of Scotland under the 
 Usurpation of Macbeth, in thefe Words : 
 
 " Alas, poor Country ! 
 Almoft afraid to know itfelf ; it cannot 
 Be cali'd our Mother, but our Grave ; where 
 
 nothing, 
 
 But who knows nothing, is once feen to fmile. 
 Where Sighs, and Groans, and Shrieks that rend 
 
 the Air 
 Are made, not mark'd : Where violent Sorrow 
 
 feems 
 
 A modern Ecftafy. The dead Man's Knell 
 Is there fcarce afk'd for whom ; and good 
 
 Men's Lives 
 
 Expire before the Flowers in their Caps, 
 Dying or e'er they ficken." 
 
 IN Reply to which, Macduff obferves very 
 juftly; 
 
 O Relation 
 Too nice, and yet too true ! 
 
 AND the Ground of this Remark is not dif- 
 ficult to find ; for all ftrong Paflion is ferious ; 
 it muft employ the whole Soul. Points and 
 
 Turns
 
 222 LCTURS concerning Left. 13* 
 
 Turns absolutely deflroy it. And you are to 
 remark, that Paffion being in the Order of Na- 
 ture before Imagination, you are to give it the 
 firft Place : He is more an Orator who affects, 
 than he who entertains; 
 
 THE fourth Faculty of otir Nature is Senfe : 
 In order chiefly to pleafe which, a Care of 
 Style becomes neceffary, that it mould be mu- 
 fical and agreeable to the Ear ; a Care, to which 
 the Antients applied themfelves with incredible 
 Labour. It feemeth ftrange, at firft Sight, to 
 obferve a Perfon of drijlotles deep Knowledge 
 and folid Judgment, fo exceedingly accurate as 
 we find him to be, in a Point thus apparently 
 flight, delivering, as he doth, Precepts concern- 
 ing the ranging of Words according to the 
 Quantity of Syllables in certain Feet, fo that 
 each Period fhould have a numerous Cadence, 
 and each Member flow in due Time and 
 Meafure. 
 
 WE can account for this only from the Ne- 
 ceffity which the Speaker then lay under of 
 employing this minute Care. The Ears of the 
 Athenians were fo delicate, as to be offended 
 with the leaft Violation of this Cadence. At 
 the fame Time it muft be owned, that this is a 
 Degree of Nicety, of which, in Fact, we have 
 but a faint Notion. Nay, we find in antient 
 Criticks, PaiTages celebrated for Exactnefs of 
 this Sort, the Beauty of which abfolutely ef- 
 capeth us. It may be doubted, whether we 
 mould eafily diftinguifh between what is fo 
 
 highly
 
 3 . ORATORY. 223 
 
 highly extolled, and that which perhaps would 
 not have been endured. 
 
 BY the Way, this Remark (hews, in a ftrong 
 Light, an Article before treated of, the Vanity 
 of labouring to compofe, or of admiring ex- 
 ceedingly when compofed, rhetorical or poe- 
 tical Performances at this Time, in the Greek 
 or Roman Languages : In which, we under- 
 ftand but faintly perfect Purity and Force : But 
 of this important Article now mentioned, Num- 
 bers and Harmony, we have no diftinct Con- 
 ception at all. In our own Language, happily, 
 this fcrupulous Accuracy is not required ; yet 
 even here, we are by no Means exempted from 
 all Care of this Kind, free to neglect the Judg- 
 ment of Senie : There are Rules here alfo, 
 built upon the fame Foundation, but varying 
 from the different Genius of the Tongue ; which 
 I mall fpeak of more at large in my next 
 Lecture. 
 
 IN the mean Time, that I may give you in 
 one View my whole Senfe of this Article, Or- 
 nament, I mall conclude with laying before you 
 an Idea of a Speaker perfect herein. 
 
 HE confiders well before-hand the Subject 
 he is about to enter upon ; whether it requires 
 to be explained only, or demands Proof like- 
 wife ; or whether needing both thefe, it doth 
 befides interefl the Pafllons of the Hearers. To 
 judge rightly hereof, he fubftitutes himfelf in 
 the Place of his Hearers : If one mould arife 
 before me to fpeak upon this Point, faith he 
 what would I expect? Explanation, Arguments' 
 
 Pathetic'
 
 224 'LECTURES concerning Led. 13. 
 
 Pathetic^ Imagination. He proceedeth accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 IF his Subject be a complex one, he weighs 
 the feveral Parts of it diftinctly j here he ex- 
 pounds, there argues, again afTeds ; in an- 
 other Place, foftens the Rigour of Reafon and 
 Tumult of Paflion with the gayer Colours of 
 Fancy. He is always pure, clear, and har- 
 monious in his Style; and is more efpecially 
 attentive to fuit it to the Occafion: It feems to 
 fpring from his Subject, and the Words wait 
 ready, without his Induftry, to cloath his 
 Thoughts, as faft as they rife in his Mind. He 
 is plain and modeft in propofing ; diftind and 
 accurate in unfolding ; weighty and preffing in 
 confirming ; in the Application touching, warm- 
 ing, penetrating. He is clofe, connected, full 
 of Dignity and Energy in Reafoning ; clear and 
 diftind in explaining j lively and fhort in re- 
 lating j exad, though concife, in defcribing ; 
 quick, rapid, animated in Paflion. 
 
 HE mingles the Fire of a Poet with the Sim- 
 plicity of a Philofopher, and the grave Majefty 
 of the Hiftorian ; is fparing of Digreffions, 
 eafy in Tranfhions, accurate in Companions, 
 weighty in Reflexions. Never more artful than 
 in concealing Art. Seeming moft natural, 
 where moft fkilful -, moft eafy, where he had 
 laboured moft ; correct with Spirit ; entertain- 
 ing with Solidity ; with feeming Liberty ob- 
 ferving always ftrict Method 5 never appearing 
 to wander, but in order to make his Return 
 more effectual ; nor feeking to pleafe, but with 
 
 a View
 
 Lea.i3. ORATORY. 225 
 
 a View to perfuade. Still gratifying your Cu- 
 riofity with fomewhat new, yet ftill keeping it 
 up by a Profpect of more; ever rewarding 
 your Attention, at the fame Time redoubling 
 it. At every Step, as in the afcending a high 
 Hill, he prefents to you a new Profpect, with 
 a Glimpfe of more opening behind. Thus ftill 
 fatisfied, ftill unfatisfied, you are led on from 
 Expectation to Expe&ation, and remain in Suf- 
 penfe, until you arrive at the Summit, theCbfe 
 and winding up of all j from whence you fee 
 the Scheme compleat, one juft, well-condudted 
 Whole ; and the Mind entirely acquiefceth in it. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 226 'LZCTWRES concerning Left. 14. 
 
 LECTURE the Fourteenth. 
 
 Of COMPOSITION. 
 
 ^ i A H E feveral Parts of Rhetorick are fo 
 clofely connected, that it is fcarcely pof- 
 fible to treat of one Branch, without antici- 
 pating, in fome Meafure, what is to be ex- 
 plained afterwards, or repeating what hath been 
 faid before. The fame Objects recur, although 
 in different Points of View. I take Notice of 
 this, becaufe, in fpeaking of Ornament in ge- 
 neral, I was obliged to mention fome Articles, 
 which I proceed now to difcourfe of more fully : 
 And I am willing to hope, that fuch former 
 imperfect Mention will not caufe to appear fu- 
 perfluous, or to prove tirefome, what I now pro- 
 pofe to confider more at large. Some Figures 
 are grouped, of which you get a partial Glympfe ; 
 but this preventeth not your beholding the fame 
 afterwards with Pleafure, when drawn out fingle 
 and at full Length. 
 
 THERE are many Ways of exprefling the 
 fame Thought j arifmg from hence, that dif- 
 ferent Words convey the fame Notions, and 
 the MaJiner of difpqfing thefe Words may be 
 various. Yet among thefe, generally fpeaking, 
 
 there
 
 Left! 14. ORATORY. 227 
 
 there is but one perfect, one that Venders the 
 Thought with all poffible Compleatnefs : As 
 in viewing a Picture, there is one Point, in 
 which the Whole appears exact in every Linea- 
 ment, from whence the Light and Shade are 
 feen juftly distributed ; beyond, or fhort of 
 which, there is always fomewhat of Confufion. 
 FROM hence it is manifefr., that to chufe the 
 befl Expreffion is a Work of Skill, even in a 
 fhort Courfe of Thought ; but where the Chain 
 is long, as in a confiderable Performance, in a 
 whole Difcourfe, the Variety being greatly in- 
 creafed, renders it a Work of mighty Diffi- 
 culty. This Reflexion leadeth to the Confides 
 ation of that Branch of Eloquence, which we 
 name COMPOSITION; by which is meant, " The 
 " due Arrangement of Words with Regard to 
 " Signification and Sound." 
 
 WITH refpeft to the former, Signification, 
 they are to be placed in fuch Manner, that 
 their Senfe may appear diftincl: and clear; con- 
 cerning which Part, I have nothing material to 
 add to what hath been already faid. The lat- 
 ter, the Arrangement of Words, with refpedl 
 to Sound, I mall now proceed to enlarge upon. 
 I SUPPOSE that you have chofen the moft pro- 
 per Words for expreffing your Thoughts, which 
 requireth a perfedt Knowledge of the Language 
 you write in ; and that I affume as granted, in 
 the prefent Cafe to be your native one, holding 
 it not poffible to be completely Mafter, io as to 
 vary Expreffion at Will, and always properly, of 
 a dead Language. 
 
 QJJ YOUR
 
 LECTURES concerning Left. 14. 
 
 YouR next Care mud be, to place thefe 
 Words in fuch Order, that they may in no Cafe 
 offend, fhould, in general, pleaie the Ear. I 
 make this Diftindtion, becaufe in Matters of 
 meer Argument or Inftruction, it is enough not 
 to offend j in other Cafes, it is requifite, that 
 Language ihould have the Grace of Harmony, 
 and pleafe in order to perfuade. 
 
 THE Greeks very early applied themfelves 
 to cultivate this Art, and attained to a Degree 
 of Perfection in it which no other People, not 
 all the Induftry of the Romans, who from Imi- 
 tators became Rivals, could equal. Dionyfius of 
 HalicarnaJJus hath left aTreatife [rf],which fhews 
 with what wonderful Attention they ftudied, 
 and to what Nicety, icarcely conceivable, they 
 carried their Cenfures in this Point. The Work 
 itfelf, as being of moderate Length, and contain- 
 ing many curious Remarks, I mall not attempt 
 to abridge j but recommend it to your Perufal. 
 
 INDEED the Study of the Greek Originals is 
 ufeful to us, not only in the Article we now 
 treat of, as they afford the beft Models in this 
 Way, in the Art of Compofition ; but alfo, be- 
 caufe their Language bears a peculiar Refem- 
 blance to our own. Whofoever hath attempted 
 to render a Greek Claffick into EnglijJ^ muft 
 have obferved a Similitude between the Idioms 
 of the two Tongues, and that the one flovveth 
 oftentimes naturally into the ocher And in 
 comparing fome Latin Interpretations with 
 thofe in our own Tongue, I think, that I have 
 [a] Of the Competition of Words. 
 
 perceived
 
 14. ORATORY. 229 
 
 perceived the Turn of the Original to be much 
 better preserved in the latter. 
 
 THERE is not any thing, about which Com- 
 mentators have been more divided, than the 
 precife Meaning of thole Precepts, delivered 
 by the Antients, concerning the Obfervation 
 of certain Numbers and Feet in Profe. That 
 this was efteemed not an indifferent or light 
 Matter, is evident from the curious Detail into 
 which the moil famous Criticks [b] have en- 
 tered concerning it, and the great Streis they al- 
 ways lay upon it. The Truth is, Doubts and 
 Difputes herein mould not be wondered at. 
 The Subject feems to me one of thofe, which 
 it is impoflible for us diftinctly to comprehend : 
 For the Whole is grounded in the Manner of 
 Pronunciation peculiar to that People, includ- 
 ing the Tones and Inflexions of the Voice, 
 upon which the Length or Shortnefs of the 
 Syllables, and therefore thefe Feet, muft in a 
 great Meafure depend. Now of thefe we can- 
 not, at this Diftance of Time, form any clear 
 Conception. 
 
 EVEN in Verfe, where the Meafure, as re- 
 gularly returning, is exactly knoxvn, we are 
 yet ignorant of the right Pronunciation ; nor 
 do we, in our Manner of Reading, make any 
 Diftinclion between long and {hort Vowels in 
 many, I might fay in mod Cafes [c] ; which, 
 we cannot doubt, were accurately diftinguifhed 
 
 [b] AR ISTOTLE, CICERO, DIONYSJUS of Halicamaffits, 
 
 QU I N T 1 1. 1 A N , LoN Gl K U. 
 
 [c] As in the firit, and often in the Uft Syllables. 
 
 ill
 
 230 LECTURES concerning Left. 14. 
 
 in their Speech : Much more ignorant muft we 
 be in the Feet of Profe, which depend upon 
 the Ear alone, not being fubjected to any fixed 
 Rule, nor returning at known Intervals. 
 
 THERE cannot be a ftronger Argument of 
 the Truth of what I have now been faying, 
 than the Cafe of Accents, which were an In- 
 vention of modern Greeks , to preferve the feveral 
 Tones ufed by the Antients in fpeaking : And 
 of what Utility have they been ? They have 
 occafioned endlefs Difputes about their true Ufe : 
 They gave Rife to a moft unreafonable Error, 
 which prevailed widely, and is not yet rooted 
 out, that of giving up Quantity to Accent, the 
 pronouncing the fame Words in Verfe and in 
 Profe altogether differently. And they have 
 rendered it an extremely difficult Work to print 
 Greek correctly j without bringing, fo far as I 
 can underftand, any, at leaft any confiderable 
 Advantage. In Truth, the Intention could not 
 be anfwered ; Tones in Speech being innumeiv 
 able, cannot be preferved by Marks, at leafl 
 of this Kind. 
 
 THIS Nicety, therefore, of rythmical or mea- 
 fured Profe, at Deft, we can only guefs at; and 
 it feems the moft prudent Way to give it up 
 rather as a Matter of uncertain Speculation, than 
 to lay out upon it unprofitable Study ; much 
 \efs mould we make it the Ground of Debate 
 and Controverfy. Strong Marks, 1 confeis, of 
 this Skill one may discover in the Writings of 
 the Antients ; but in a Point fo uncertain, a 
 great deal of Imagination, Prejudice, even En- 
 
 thufiafrrij
 
 Led. 1 4. ORATORY. 231 
 
 thufiafm may enter j and it feemeth not fafe to 
 indulge very much to fuch Curiofity, never ufe- 
 ful, often vifionary. 
 
 PASSIONATE Admirers of antient Eloquence 
 have fancied, thatthey might, improve our, own, 
 by transferring thefe Rules of rythmkical Com- 
 pofition, and fitting them to the Englifo Lan- 
 guage. Soon after the Reyival of Letters, the 
 fame Project was attempted with regard to 
 Poefy. We have at this Day in Italian and 
 French^ as well as in our own Tongue, many 
 Effays of this Kind remaining, of Hexameters, 
 Alcaicks, and Sapphicks, fome by celebrated 
 Writers [d]. And whoever will be at the Pains 
 of reading thefe, cannot wonder that the Pro- 
 ject was dropped, I fuppoie for ever ; nothing 
 being more forced, more lame, and unpleafmg, 
 than fuch Performances. 
 
 IF this Attempt proved thus unfuccefsful in 
 
 the Italian Language, which fb nearly re- 
 
 fembles the Lafin, it muft be defpaired of in 
 
 both the others, abounding as they do in Mo- 
 
 nofyllables, and of Confequence failing lef$ 
 
 eafily into Feet. I cannot help confidering 
 
 this other Attempt of fitting our Profe to the 
 
 Rules of the antient Rythmus or Meafure as 
 
 an Enterprize of the fame Kind j or rather ftill 
 
 more chimerical, as it is more difficult to re- 
 
 folve Profe into Feet than Verfe, for the Rea^ 
 
 fon before- mentioned ; in Verfe they are di- 
 
 ftinctly marked j the Ear alone judges in 
 
 the other. From all which I would conclude 
 
 |>] TRISSINO, RONSARD, Sir PHILIP SYDNEY. 
 
 it
 
 232 LECTURES concerning Led. 14. 
 
 it to be a fniitlefs Attempt, wherein we fhould 
 find thrown away much Labour, that might 
 be otherwife ufefully employed. 
 
 IN feje&ing this Nicety, I would not, how- 
 ever, be thought to mean, that none, or little 
 Care mould be taken in the placing of Words. 
 Sound hath great Influence, and whatfoever 
 offends the Ear, will not eafily gain Admiffion 
 into the Mind ; it is prefented with Difadvan- 
 tage; whence the Neceffity of arranging the 
 .Words fkilfully. But herein, the Turn, the 
 Contexture, what is ufually named the Ge- 
 fiius of the Tongue, muft be confulted -, for 
 the Gare which is fuccefsful in one, may be 
 fuperfluous or hurtful in another. I mall go 
 on to mention fuch Obfervations as have oc- 
 curred to me, with relation to this^ Matter, in 
 our own. 
 
 WE have already taken Notice of it, as the 
 firft Thing to be confidered after the Choice of 
 proper Words, ct to place them fo as that the 
 ." Senfe may be clear" All Tranfpofition, 
 whether ufed for the Sake of Emphafis or 
 Harmony, if it do materially hurt Perfpicuity, 
 is to be condemned, as destroying the main 
 End of Language j for who fpeaks or writes 
 without defigning to be understood ? Herein 
 the Reman Writers 1 have been charged with be- 
 ing Faulty. 
 
 NEXT, it is required, cc that this Order fhould 
 " never be fuch as to fhock the Ear with jar- 
 " ring Sounds :" For Inftance, by the Con- 
 
 courfe
 
 Left. 14. ORATORY. 233 
 
 courfe of long and open Vowels. [e\ A French 
 Poet is faid to have been fo exaft in this Article, 
 that no fuch Hiatus is to be found in his Works. 
 'And fome late Writers of that Nation contend 
 to have the Rule extended to Profe : A Degree 
 of Striclnefs, which muft be very burthenfome $ 
 and may, as I think, have an ill Effect, by ren- 
 dering the Style languid and enervate [/]. 
 
 THE Romans avoided this clafhing of Vowels 
 in Verfe by Elifions, which became under the 
 Management of their beft Poets a Source of 
 Beauty, for Elifions, fo far as we can judge, are 
 an Ornament to Virgil* s Verification. Some- 
 thing of this Kind Milton attempted, although 
 fparingly, to introduce among us, wherein how- 
 ever he hath not been followed. 
 
 THE Greeks we find admitted this Meeting 
 of Vowels without Elifion ; in this as in many 
 other Particulars, approaching more nearly to 
 the Form of our own Language. 
 
 BUT fome Cautions are neceflary to be ob- 
 ferved. " Not to permit this Concourfe of 
 " Vowels frequently." " Never in very quick 
 " Succeflion." " Efpecially not in pleafing 
 " Subjects, which demand Smoothnefsj and, 
 " if I may be allowed to ufe the Word, Ame- 
 " nity of Style." Which points out another 
 Rule, <l Such clafhing may be happily em- 
 
 ft 
 
 MALHERBE. 
 
 "] Habet enim ille tanquam hiatus concurfu vocalium 
 molle qutddam, et quod indicet non ingratam negligcntiam, 
 de re hominis magis quam de verbis hborantis. 
 
 Ciccr. dc Oat. 
 
 " ployed
 
 234 LECTURES concerning Left. 14. 
 
 " ployed on Occasions thatfuit with a Style flow, 
 " rough, and difficult." 
 
 A SECOND Rule is, " Be on your Guard 
 <5 againnV Monofyilables ; too frequent in our 
 < Language." You may find twenty. of thefe 
 together even in our good Writers, which ren- 
 der the Speech harfh, heavy > embarraffed, ; It 
 ftould be- your Care to avoid this Fault : Crowd, 
 not fuch together j but, if it be poflible, inter- 
 pofe at proper Diftances Words of Length to 
 fmootli and fupport thefe Broken disjointed 
 Tones, by fome Modulation and Continuity of 
 Sound. 
 
 THIRDLY. cc The Length of Periods de^ 
 tf ferves Attention." When the Language be- 
 gan to be polifhed, our early Writers extended 
 their Periods to a Length oftentimes exceffive : 
 They ran one Sentiment into another in a 
 continued Chain without Interruption, fome- 
 times for Pages together ; in which Practice 
 there are three Evils ; " This Length cauies 
 <e fome Degree of Obfcurity : It overburthens 
 " the Memory: And is alfo difpleafing to the 
 " Ear." For Nature hath in this refpect pre- 
 icribed certain Limits, beyond which every 
 Thing difpleafeth. Thefe Limits are in general 
 determined by our own Frame; as in particular 
 Cafes by the Power of the Speaker : Whatib- 
 ever you can fpeak difr.inctly, without being 
 obliged to paufe improperly for Breath, or to 
 precipitate your laft Words, may be comprized 
 in a Period. Lengthen it beyond this Bound, 
 the Speaker fuffers, and with him the Hearer. 
 
 Inflances
 
 Led. 14. ORATOR Y. 235 
 
 Inftances of this Fault we find in an excellent; 
 Writer, Lord Clarendon j neither are Hooker and 
 Raivleigb, fcarcely indeed any of that Age, free 
 from it. 
 
 MODERNS obferving the Inconvenience of 
 this Manner, have been very careful to a,vokl 
 it ; but frequently by running into a contrary, 
 and perhaps more faulty Extreme, dividing 
 their Senfe, breaking, as it were, and fplitting it 
 into very fhort Sentences ; fo that they prefent 
 you with a new Period almoft in every Line. 
 
 THIS Practice hath fome ill Effects in com- 
 mon with the other ; it caufeth Obfcurity by 
 cramping the Expreffiori, arid by affected Con- 
 cifenefs j it burthens the Memory by prefenting 
 to it many minute Objects : And it hath this 
 peculiar Fault befides, that it is deftructive of 
 Harmony. Long Periods may give Majefty 
 and Pomp to Difcourfc j thefe curtail it. of its 
 due Proportion ; if thofe fometimes overload 
 the Ear, thefe always defraud and difappoint 
 it : A Profpect of the Sea, bounded by no fixed 
 object doth indeed foon tire j but it is much 
 worfe to be hemmed in on all Sides, to have 
 your View (lopped at every, fecond Step you 
 make. 
 
 ONE Caufe of this fhortened Style hath been 
 afligned above, namely, a Soliicitude to avoid 
 the oppofite Fault : Another Icfs obvious hath . 
 occurred to me, which 1 fliall mention, and 
 leave to your Judgment. 
 
 POESY, as it begun before, fo hath it in every 
 
 Country much influenced Prole, poliihing this 
 
 4 as
 
 236 LECTURES concerning Lcct. 14. 
 
 as itfelf improved, and in its own Decline cor- 
 rupting. In Queen Elizabeth's Time, the Kind 
 of Verification, which prevailed moft, was the 
 Stanza ; which, though an harmonious and 
 majeftick Meafure, as we fee in the Mufe of 
 Spencer, was liable to one Fault j being very 
 long, it tempted the Poet to lengthen out his 
 Thought to its own Extent ; thus weakening 
 both Senfe and Style. To the fame March, the 
 Prole of thofe Times conformed its Gait, being 
 full, founding, and flowing in Luxuriancy of 
 Expreffion, in extended and redundant Pe- 
 riods. 
 
 AFTERWADRS Couplets, improved by Waller 
 and perfected by Drydcn, became the reigning 
 poetick Style ; in which the conftant Return of 
 Rhyme cramped the Senfe, ufually to a Diftick : 
 The Infection whereof quickly, as I imagine, 
 reached Prole, which, about the fame Time, 
 began to march in ihort and broken Steps j 
 like one accuftomed to Fetters, who when fet 
 free (hall yet by Force of Habit move in con- 
 tracted Steps. Accordingly we find, that among 
 the French, where the fame kind of heroick 
 Verfe prevailed, it went attended by Prole of 
 the like narrow Gait. 
 
 WHICH Reafoning feems farther confirmed 
 by obferving what parTed beyond the Alps. 
 The Poefy of Italy, in its moft flourifhing Days, 
 was in [g\ Stanza : The Style of Profe was then 
 
 [g] Named, Rhyme Oftave, as confiding of eight Lines ; 
 this is the Meafure ufed by ARIOSTO and TASSO. 
 
 long
 
 Led. 14- ORATORY. 237 
 
 Jong, as you may fee in Guicciardino> Father 
 Paul, and Davifay much more than it was in 
 Boccace long before, or in Bentivoglio, who 
 flourished after them. 
 
 THE Precepts I would deduce from the 
 whole, are thefe : <c Obfervea reafonable Limit 
 " in Periods, never exceeding the ufual Power 
 " of the Breath to utter with Eafe j which 
 " may be about the Length of fix of our he- 
 " roick Verfes [/&]." 
 
 " SELDOM let two, never three of this Ex- 
 " tent iiicceed each other." 
 
 " AVOID no lefs the contrary Extreme of 
 41 fhort Sentences, which are unmufical, harm, 
 " abrupt. Efpecially firing not together many 
 " fuch.". The beft Method is, " to mingle 
 " thofe of each Kind ;" fo may the long de- 
 rive Vigour and Vivacity from the fhort, thefe 
 Numbers and Harmony from the long. 
 
 FOURTHLY, As Periods confift ufually of 
 fcveral Members, " you mould take the fame 
 " Care in each, as of the whole." If there 
 be four or fix Members, which laft Number 
 a Period mould very rarely, if ever, exceed, 
 they mould bear a juft Proportion to each 
 other, either nearly equal, or what is better, 
 unequal in fuch Manner, that they mould go 
 
 [/->] SPE NCER'S Stanza corrfifts of nine Lines ; the laft 
 an Alexandrine. 
 
 C i c R o prefcribes the Length of four Hexameter 
 Lines as ufually the utmoft for a Period : E quatuor, quafi 
 hexamem.rum inftar verftium quod fit, conftat fert plena ' 
 comprehenfio. Cic. de Orat. 
 
 OH
 
 238 LECTURES concerning Left. 74. 
 
 on lengthening, arid the longeft clofe ; for the 
 Ear is in that Cafe filled, and acquiefceth in the 
 Sound as complete. If there be but two Mem- 
 bers, this latter Condition mould be obferved ; 
 only one Caution is to be ufed ; fufFer not many 
 Periods of two Members to follow ; becaufe 
 this giveth StifFnefs and difagreeable Monotony 
 to Difcourfe : At leaft the Members mould be 
 different, equal in fome, in others unequal. 
 
 NEXT in the uniting of Periods, " Much 
 " Attention is required, to make the Joints 
 " fmooth and clofe, both for Clearnefs of Senfe, 
 " and Gracefulnefs of Style." Obferve that 
 nothing be lofe, clumfey, imperfect ; for one 
 of the moil common Faults in Writing, is Ig- 
 norance or Negligence, with regard to the con- 
 necting Particles. 
 
 " Be careful that weaker Expreffions do 
 " not follow ftronger; [/] Let them rife in 
 " Energy, clofing with the ftrongeft." 
 
 " Be fparing in the Ufe of Epithets and fyn- 
 " onymous Terms, which clogs the Difcourfe 
 " with idle Sounds." 
 
 " THE principal Care of Harmony refpects 
 <c the Clofe," for that being the laft Sound 
 left upon the Ear, dwells there, and remains 
 
 [i] As in this Line, 
 
 She moves a Goddefs, and foe looks a Queen. 
 
 POPE'S Horn. Book iii. 
 And in the latter of thefe two Lines, 
 High Heav'n with trembling the dread Signal took, 
 And all * Olympus to the Centre Ihook. 
 
 POPE'S Horn. B. i. 
 * Ibe Mountain Olympus. 
 
 with
 
 Le6l. 14. ORATORY. 239 
 
 with the Hearer : the Voice likewife naturally 
 falling there, is frequently loft, and fupprefleth 
 the laft Syllable : For this Reafon, it were heft, 
 that the concluding Word Ihould be One of 
 Length, or ending with long Syllables, that 
 the Voice dwelling upon it might prevent or 
 leilen this Inconvenience; fo that we Ihould, 
 if poffible, avoid ending with a Monofyllable, 
 especially a ihort one, which it is very difficult 
 to pronounce diftinctly and properly in that Si- 
 tuation. 
 
 THESE are general Rules, which mould be 
 obferved, where-ever the Language permits 
 without Prejudice to the Senfe, for the Senfe 
 is ever to be preferred: In which Refpect, I 
 am lenfible that a fuperftitious Adherence to 
 thefe, or any other Rules relating to Harmony, 
 mud be hurtful. Herein both Greeks and Ro- 
 mans had greatly the Advantage ; the former 
 from the natural Sweetnefs and Copiounefs of 
 their Tongue abounding with harmonious 
 Words ; the other from the Liberty they took 
 of tranfpofing the Verb, or any Word of moft 
 Importance to the End ; a Liberty indeed, as we 
 remarked before, turned into Licence ; in 
 which Practice even Cicero was charged by his 
 Cotemporaries with Affectation on Account of 
 his frequently concluding' Periods, with an Ejje 
 "jidcatur. 
 
 I SHALL not enter into feveral minute Re- 
 marks, which however might have their Ufe, 
 bu' the Time and my Defign allow not of them. 
 Such are theie, " Avoid putting together many 
 
 " Words
 
 240 LECTURES concerning Left. 14. 
 
 u Words of the fame Sound. Let not Mem- 
 " bers of Periods end with like Sounds, which 
 <{ often occur. Shun frequent Riflings of 
 c< Plural Nouns, and of Verbs ending in the 
 " Letter S. Shun likewife Tenfes of Verbs, 
 " which thruft together by Elifion rough Con- 
 " fonants, as judgd^ dijlurtid^ alkdgd; which 
 " you may avoid, by reftoring the fupprefled 
 " Vowel, or by uiing the Expletives or rather 
 " Signs of the Tenfes, did or bath. Set not 
 " out in the Opening of a Paragraph with 
 " harm Sounds j for the firft Words are al- 
 " ways remarked. Avoid the Meafure of 
 " Verfe, and Uniformity of Clofe." But leav- 
 ing thefe and fuch like to each Perfon's own 
 Observation ; I mall add one Remark, which 
 appears to be of Confequence. 
 
 " THE Sound mould be conformable to the 
 " Senfe." Every Paflion hath its peculiar 
 Style : Grief fpeaketh in broken disjointed 
 Accents : Anger burfteth out impetuoufly in a 
 Torrent of Words, ready, quick, rapid, re- 
 dundant : Joy exprefleth itfelf in Numbers 
 light and flowing, full of Chearfulnefs and Vi- 
 vacity. The attributing to one Paffion the 
 Language proper to another, is an Oifence 
 againft Nature and Reafon : It is the fame Im- 
 propriety, as it would be in a Mufician, to fet 
 joyful Scenes to melancholy Meafurcs, or to give 
 Hope and Defpair the fame Movement. 
 
 We may extend this farther. " A good 
 " Speaker even in Defcriptions and Allufions 
 
 " woyld
 
 Lea. 14. ORATORY. 24! 
 
 " would fuit his Style to the Subject." A Dif- 
 courfe that reprefenteth Images of Horror, 
 mould flow in a different Meafure from one, 
 that conveyeth pleafing Ideas : And herein Na- 
 ture favoureth, inclining Men, in the Forma- 
 tion of Names, to preierve a Correfpondence 
 between the Sound and Object, at lead in re- 
 markable Cafes ; and this Conformity we actu- 
 ally find in all Languages; {hocking Things 
 have harm Names ; the pleafing, ulually foft 
 and melodious Appellations. 
 
 EVERY one hath obfcrved Marks of the Care 
 now prefcribed in Poets. Every Book of Cri- 
 ticifm abounds with Inftances of it from Homer 
 and Virgil-, and not fewer, I believe, nor lefs 
 beautiful, might be drawn from our own Mil- 
 ton : Some of which, give me Leave to men- 
 tion ; you may be led thereby to remark many 
 others. 
 
 " Immediately the Mountains huge appear 
 Emergent, and their broad bear backs upheave 
 Into the Skies [k]. 
 
 " Nature from her Seat 
 Sighing gave Signs of Woe [/]." 
 
 " Thee another Flood 
 
 Of Tears and Sorrow a Flood thee alfo 
 
 drown'd [/]." 
 
 " Plumb down he drops 
 Ten thoufand Fathom deep[w]. 
 
 [/*] Parad. Loft, Book vii. [/] Bookix. [m] Book x. 
 [] Book xii. 
 
 R " Awake,
 
 242 LECTURES concerning Led. 14. 
 
 " Awake, arife, or -be for ever fallen {0]." 
 
 " O'er Bog, o'er fteep, thro' ftrait, rough, denfe, 
 
 <c or rare, 
 " He fwims, or finks, or wades, or creeps, or 
 
 " flies [/>]." 
 
 The Oppofition between the two following 
 Defcriptions is remarkably beautiful : 
 
 " On a fudden open fly, 
 With impetuous Recoil and jarring Sound, 
 Th* infernal Doors, and on their Hinges grate 
 Harm Thunder [?]." 
 
 " Heav'n open'd wide 
 Her ever-during Gates, harmonious Sound, 
 On golden Hinges turning [r]." 
 
 [/] Learned Criticks have remarked the fame 
 Care, and brought Inflances of it from Profe 
 Writers, efpecially among the Greeks. But I 
 acknowledge, that in this latter Cafe, the Ob- 
 fervations do not at-firft Sight appear to be as 
 juft, nor the Inftances fo ftrong and certain, as 
 in the Poets. The Reafon of which I take to 
 be this : 
 
 ORATORS, whofe Bufinefs it is to perfuade, 
 not daring openly to depart from : the common 
 Manner of Speech, for that would prejudice 
 their Hearers againft them, which Poets pro- 
 fa] Parad. Loft, Book i. [/>] Book ii. [q] Book ii. 
 [r] Book vi. 
 
 [/] Longinus hath from Demoftbenes ; and more efpe- 
 cially Dionyjjus from that Orator, in the above-mentioned 
 Treatife of the Compofition of Words. 
 
 feffing
 
 Left. 14. ORATORY. 243 
 
 feffing chiefly to pleafe, are free to do, find it 
 neceffary to ufe Art, and to conceal their Art : 
 The good Effect may be, in fome Degree, felt 
 by all ; but the Addrefs ufed in procuring it is 
 difcoverable only to fharp and watchful Eyes. 
 This is the Heart of Man ; we love to be 
 agreeably deceived, but we rife up in Indigna- 
 tion againft a declared Intent of deceiving us ; 
 too fond of Pleafure to love ftricl: Truth, too 
 proud to feem fond of ought but Truth. 
 
 WHICH Remark points out a very ufeful Li- 
 mitation to the Rule laid down. 
 
 " IN this conforming Sound to Senfe, keep 
 within certain Limits." In defcribing uncouth 
 Objects, and in harm Paffions, your Style mould 
 be induftrioufly roughened, but not fo as to 
 offend the Ear: Neither in oppofite Cafes, 
 mould it be foftened into Weaknefs and Effe- 
 minacy. Poets, by carrying the Rule into Ex- 
 cefs, offend often in both Ways. Of the firft 
 Sort feems to be the Tranflation of the beauti- 
 ful Lines in the Iliad [/] . 
 
 Firft march the heavy Mules, fecurely flow, 
 O'er Hills, o'er Dales, o'er Crags, o'er Rocks, 
 
 they go; 
 Jumping high o'er the Shrubs of the rough 
 
 Ground, 
 Rattle the clatt'ring Cars, and the mock'd 
 
 Axles bound. 
 
 [/] Book xxiii. POPE'S Homer. 
 
 ;* 
 
 , iact^aC\a, ri, oo^*c r'i\9or. 
 
 R 2 IN
 
 244 LECTURES concerning Led. 14. 
 
 IN the following Line, how naturally do the 
 Trees fall in the Original, in a fudden and 
 broken Cadence, 
 
 rat 
 
 Which, in the Tranflation, feems to me quite 
 over-laboured. 
 
 deep-ecchoing groan the Thickets brown, 
 Then ruftling, crackling, crafhing, thunder 
 down. 
 
 WHAT is this but a fine Genius, who, {hiv- 
 ing to keep Pace with a great one, overfhooteth 
 himfelf ? His Mufe within certain Bounds en- 
 chantingly melodious, feeking to equal the 
 Sound of the Greek Trumpet, raifeth her Voice 
 until it well nigh cracks. It is Stradas Night- 
 ingale, that labouring to match the Variety and 
 Tones of the Lyre, fwelleth, ftraineth, tortureth 
 her whole Frame ; at length falls breathlefs on 
 the victorious Harp. 
 
 INSTANCES faulty in the other, the fbft and 
 florid Way, abound in our Poets ; fome might, 
 I think, be drawn from the fame Work : Such 
 is the Speech of Paris to Helen, in the third 
 Book ; and fome PalTages in the Epifode, of 
 Juno laying Jupiter afleep on Mount Ida, in the 
 fourteenth. 
 
 I HAVE been fometimes tempted to imagine 
 this Line of Virgil lefs exad: in the Language, 
 than is ufual with that moft accurate Writer : 
 
 Et
 
 Led. 1 3. ORATORY. 245 
 
 " Effo/a infacdfecumjpatiatur arena [u]. n 
 
 Three fucceffive Spondees, fo many Words be- 
 ginning with S, a Letter of difficult Pronun- 
 ciation, and ending with a, a long and open 
 Vowel, exprefs admirably flow and folitary 
 Walking : But are not the Terms Jbla and fe~ 
 cum the very fame in Senfe, and one fuper- 
 fluous ? 
 
 So difficult is it to keep the due Mean : Pafs 
 but the Limit, the greateft Beauties become 
 Faults : And I am apt to think, that the Re- 
 finement of an eminent Mufician, mentioned 
 by Pope in this Line, 
 
 " And jfoves own Thunders follow Marss 
 " Drums [w]," 
 
 who employed Cannon to fill up his Chorus in 
 a rejoicing Anthem, was a Tranfgreffion of the 
 Kind now mentioned, an outragious Imitation 
 of Nature. 
 
 BUT to return to Orators. If it be fit that 
 Poets, the Votaries of Fidtion, mould keep 
 within due Bounds, in this Article of Orna- 
 ment ; it is much more neceflary that thefe 
 others mould, becaufe the Drefs of Truth, 
 whom they ferve, is more fevere. The gene- 
 ral Idea of Beauty is the fame to both ; but 
 thefe mud be difcreet and chafte: To thefe, 
 Beauties border on Faults, a Step beyond Ex- 
 cellence is Defeft, nay Meanefs. Which leads 
 
 [] And wanders by himjilf on the dry Strand 
 Alone, 
 [w] Dunfiady Book iv. L. 68. 
 
 R 3 to
 
 246 LECTURES concerning Led. 14, 
 
 to a general Reflexion that fhall clofe this 
 Lecture. 
 
 THERE is always Hazard to an Orator in en- 
 deavouring to excel. Whence every one who 
 means to fpeak in publick fhould afk himfelf ; 
 
 " SHALL I content myfelf with being meerly 
 " plain and reafonable, thus be a Speaker 
 <c blamelefs, and it is likely not unufeful ? Or 
 " fhall I aim at Excellence, thus rifk Difgrace ?" 
 Weigh well your own Abilities, and act accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 LECT 
 
 URE
 
 Left, i$. ORATORY. 247 
 
 LECTURE the Fifteenth. 
 
 Of FIGURES, or TROPES. 
 
 CLEARNESS, Propriety, and Harmony, 
 are not fufficient to anfwer the Ends of 
 Oratory, which require befide thefe, that Dif- 
 courfe fhould be lively and animated : To this 
 Purpofe, the Uie of Figures is necefTary ; con- 
 cerning which I now proceed to make fome 
 Obfervations. 
 
 IT is a Queftion which hath received various 
 Anfwers^ and occaiioned no fmall Debate, whence 
 it cometh to pafs, that Figures render Difcourfe 
 more pleafing : What is there in the Mind of 
 Man, which difpofeth it to entertain with more 
 Delight, Notions conveyed to it in this Difguife, 
 than in their own natural Form ? 
 
 THE Variety of Opinions concerning this 
 Point feemeth to have fprung from hence, that 
 different Men fixing, upon different Caufes, 
 have perfifted in reducing the Effect, each to 
 the Caufe aligned, by himfelf, excluding all 
 others ; to the Production of which Effedt, ieve- 
 ral, perhaps many, do concur. I will explain 
 myfelf. 
 
 FIRST. It hath been obferved long ago, in- 
 deed Inflances occur every Day in Proof of it, 
 R 4 that
 
 248 LECTURES concerning Led:. 15. 
 
 that the Mind is pleafed with Things uncom- 
 mon and new : Now Figurative Speech hath this 
 Charm of Novelty to recommend it, for leaving 
 the ufual Track, it taketh you thro' Paths un- 
 trodden and unexpected : You fee a certain Point 
 laid down to be proved j you have a general 
 Notion of the Arguments likely to be made ufe 
 of to this Purpofe j but inftead of having thefe 
 placed before you in the common Form, you 
 find them in one very different, and the Know- 
 ledge you fought for, communicated in Expref- 
 fions altogether foreign, yet thefe conducted by 
 fuch happy Skill, that they lead you as rightly 
 and fhortly to the End in View, as the plaineft 
 and mofl literal : Thus you are entertained in 
 your Journey without being retarded. 
 
 ANOTHER Caufe that recommendeth Figures, 
 thofe efpecially diftinguimed by the Name of 
 'Tropes, to our liking, is the Pleafure which the 
 Mind naturally feels in Comparifon. When a 
 Word which in its original Senfe conveyeth a 
 a certain Idea to the Mind, is ufed in fuch Man- 
 ner, as together with this to convey another, 
 connected to the firft by a natural Refemblance ; 
 yet fo that this latter accefTory Idea becomes now 
 the Principal j here the Mind hath the Pleafure 
 of contemplating at once two Images, yet with- 
 out Confufion : Nay, with this Advantage, that 
 by Means of fuch Comparifon, the principal 
 Image becomes more bright and ftriking : As 
 in thefe Examples : 
 
 " Now laugh the Fields [*]." 
 
 [a] Nu/ic rident agri. VIRG. 
 
 " Admires
 
 15. ORATORY. 249 
 
 " Admires new Leaves and Apples not it 3 
 
 " own []." 
 
 " With Floods and Whirlwinds of tempeftuous 
 FireO]." 
 
 THE Pleafure received from the imitative 
 Arts hath its Ground in this Love of Compari- 
 fon. Thus we are delighted with the Likenefs 
 between the Forms and Colours of Nature, and 
 thofe taken from her by the Pencil : Nay we 
 are often pleafed with feeing Nature imitate as 
 it were herfelf, reflecting to our Sight the 
 Landfkips of Wood, and Hills, and Skies, por- 
 trayed on the glafly Surface of untroubled Wa- 
 ter : Something whereof I think there certainly 
 is in the prefent Cafe, in the Ufe of Metaphors 
 or T'ranjlatiom. 
 
 To which you mould add, that thefe Com- 
 parifons are frequently drawn from Objects in 
 themfelves beautiful, which being of Courfe 
 pleafing, diffufe new Charms as well as Light 
 over a whole Difcourfe. 
 
 OTHER Caufes of lefs Influence might be 
 afligned, but I haften to the Chief and mod 
 Univerfal. 
 
 THE trueft Reprefentations of Nature pleafe 
 moft : And it is for this Reafon, that Figures 
 are agreeable, being the Voice of Nature; when 
 rightly ufed, the Way wherein fhe exprefleth 
 herfelf on all fuch Occafions. " Yet how may 
 " this be ? Are not Figures artificial Speech, and 
 " confidcred as fuch ? In what Senfe then do I 
 
 [l>] Miraturque novas frondcs, et non fua poma. VIRO. 
 [(] Miltttti Paradife Loft. Book i.
 
 250 LECTURES concerning Left. 15. 
 
 " flyle-them the Voice and Language of Na- 
 ce ture ?" This will" need fome. Explanation. 
 
 DETERMINE firft, what are the Occafions, 
 upon which Figures are properly employed. 
 Are they not chiefly thofe, in which the Mind 
 is feized, warmed, tranfported by a fudden or, 
 ftrong Paffion, as Admiration, Aftonifhrnent, 
 Love, Rage ? Now confult the great Book of 
 Nature, the Original and Model of all true 
 Art: How do all, young and old, learned and 
 illiterate, Men arid Women, exprefi themfelves 
 in fuch Conjunctures ? Is their Difcourie clear, . 
 direct, and flowing? Or rather is it not difturb- 
 ed, broken, disjointed ? The Mind, overcharged 
 by Paffion, labouring yet unable to pour it all 
 forth, maketh every Effort, ftru.ggles in vain 
 fur Words anfwerable to its Ideas, ftarteth from 
 Hint to Hint, heapeth Images upon Images, 
 and painteth its own Diforder in the Irregularity 
 and Gonfufion of its Language. What doth 
 Indignation ? Invoke Heaven and Earth, and 
 fee,k to interefr, all Nature in its Quarrel. Thus 
 
 Be Arms oppos'd to Arms, be Shore to 
 
 Shpre, 
 
 u May ev'n our Seas with adverfe Billows -roar, 
 <c And ye, my Sons, purfue thro' ev'ry Age 
 " His Offspring with hereditary Rage." 
 \Vhat faith lievenge ? 
 
 [^] Littora littorib^s contraria, flu6libus undas 
 
 Imprecor, arma armis; pugnent ipfique nepotes. 
 
 VIRG. JEneid iv. 
 
 Abfent
 
 Led. 15. ORATORY. 251 
 
 " Abfent, I'll torture thee a vengeful Shade 
 Purfue; Wretch! dearly lhall thy Crimes be 
 " paid [*]." 
 
 " No, let us rather choofe 
 
 Arm'd with Hell-flames and Fury, all at once 
 O'er Heav'ns high Tow'rs to force reiiftlefs Way, 
 Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms 
 Againft the Torturer [f]-" 
 
 What is the Language of Grief ? 
 O Woods, O Fountains, Hillocks, Dales, and 
 
 Bow'rs, 
 
 With other Eccho late I taught your Shades 
 To anfwer, and refbund far other Song !" 
 Of Remorfe and Shame ? 
 
 " Cover me ye Pines, 
 
 Ye Cedars, with innumerable Boughs 
 Hide mefg]." 
 
 FROM thefe Confiderations it appears, that 
 Figurative Speech is fo far from being, as it hath 
 been oftentimes reprefented, meerly artificial, 
 and a Departure from Nature, that it is a faith- 
 ful Image of Nature. Inward Emotion difplay- 
 eth itfelf as readily in the Language as in the 
 Features : and he, who from the Circumftances 
 he defcribeth, or Subject of which he treateth, 
 ought to be, or appear to be pofleft with a ftrong 
 Pailion, yet fpeaketh in a calm, untroubled Ea- 
 fmefs of Style, afteth as much againft Nature, 
 
 [e ] . Sequar atris ignibus abfens. 
 
 Omnibus umbra locis adero, dabis improce pnenas. 
 
 VjRG 
 
 [/] MILTON, Bookii. 
 OJ Bookx. 
 
 as
 
 252 LECTURES concerning Led:. 15. 
 
 as doth the Man who would exprefs great in- 
 ward Agitation of Mind by a fmooth unaltered 
 Serenity of Countenance. 
 
 FIGURES are the Language of PafTion ; Uni- 
 verfal Experience demonftrates this to be the 
 Cafe, as all of every Rank and Capacity who 
 are under the Influence of fuch Paffion, fpeak 
 Figuratively : Now it is acknowledged, that 
 the Orator in almofl all Caufes of Moment find- 
 eth it requifite to excite fome Paflion in his 
 Hearer, which he cannot otherwife accomplifli 
 than by feeling, or feeming himfelf to feel the 
 fame : And how (hall he aflume this Appear- 
 ance ? How ? But by making Ufe of the Lan- 
 guage, which Nature hath rendered infeparable 
 from the Paflions. If you are enflamed with 
 Anger, or foftened with Pity, fpeak to me as 
 Men are wont to do, while they are under the 
 Power of fuch Emotions : Otherwife you talk 
 in vain ; I (hall either not regard you at all, or 
 ihall turn away from you as an Importer. Na- 
 ture hath rendered Paffions, wherefoever ftrongly 
 marked, catching ; but where thefe Marks are 
 wanting, how fliall they catch ? 
 
 WHAT I have been faying is, however, to be 
 underftood with fome Degree of Caution. Ye 
 have doubtlefs heard it obferved, that Figurative 
 Speech is not friendly to the Pathetick, as car- 
 rying the Air of much Study and Artifice, the 
 Work therefore of a Mind vacant and at eafe. 
 
 WHICH Obfervation, how contradictory foever 
 it may appear, yet a little Attention will recon- 
 cile, to what hath been advanced above. To 
 
 this
 
 15. ORATORY. 
 
 this Purpofe, you mould diftinguim Figures in- 
 to two Kinds : One Sort confifts in Words, as 
 Repetitions, Likenefs of Sounds, and Cadence, and 
 Oppofitions ; to which we may add, as being ufe- 
 ful in embellifhing Style, certain Kinds of Me- 
 taphors, Tranjpofitions, Reduplications. Now thefe 
 being calculated to pleafe the Ear or Imagina- 
 tion, being conducive to Prettinefs and Elegance 
 only, are Enemies to the Pathetick ; are too in- 
 fignificant and idle for Occafions of fuch Import- 
 ance, and from all fuch ought to be excluded. 
 
 BUT there are Figures of a fecond Kind, 
 whofe Power affects the Senfe principally, which 
 beftow Force and Spirit j fuch as the Rhetori- 
 cians name Apojlrophes, Hyperboles, \b\ feigning 
 of Perfons ; to thefe it is, that what hath been 
 laid is applicable ; thefe are fo far from hurting 
 the Pathetick or being inconfiftent with it, that 
 they are the natural Language of Paffion. Agi- 
 tated by PafTion, the Peafant breaketh out into 
 fuch, no lefs than the Orator , the only Differ- 
 ence is, that in the latter, the Rudenefs of un- 
 inftructed Nature is polifhed, its Extravagances 
 corrected, the Air and Refemblance are pre- 
 ferved, but foftened and adorned. We may 
 pronounce of Eloquence in this Refpect, as the 
 Poet doth of Comedy, it is not the lefs juft Re- 
 prefentation of Life for rifmg fometimes into a 
 higher Style : 
 
 <c If Chremes in the Drama chide his Heir 
 " Profufe and wild, in Eloquence fevere, 
 [h] Or Profopopoeia. 
 
 f * Doth
 
 254 LECTURES concerning Left. i. 
 
 " Doth not the World's great Stage like 
 
 Scenes difplay, 
 " And Fathers rage as loudly ev'ry Day ?" [/J 
 
 HAVING thus affigned the Caufes why Fi- 
 gures pleafe, it might be expected, that I fhould 
 go on to give a Detail of the feveral Figures, 
 with Examples of each j but this I fhall decline, 
 as they may be found in tjie Writings of every 
 Rhetorician, deduced indeed ufually with tire- 
 fome Exactnefs, fo that it is not altogether with- 
 out Reafon that the wittieft of our Poets faith, 
 
 " For all the Rhetoricians Rules 
 
 " Teach nothing but to name his Tools." HUD. 
 
 FOSSIUS, as I remember, having recounted 
 and hundred, and defined them, excufeth him- 
 felf from proceeding to others ; that is, having 
 oppreffed his Reader with fuch a Multitude, he 
 maketh an Apology for not overwhelming him. 
 The Truth is, thofe Writers have multiplyed 
 them without Caufe. Many which they men- 
 tion are fo trivial and common, that they do 
 not deferve Notice ; not Few are real Faults in 
 Senfe or Language, of which, having gathered 
 up fome Inflances in Authors of Reputation, 
 they immediately erect them into Beauties, and 
 confecrate them under the Appellation of Fi- 
 gures. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING, in thus difapproving 
 an Excefs of Attention to this MinutenerTes, I 
 
 [i] Interdum tumido Chremes delitigat ore : 
 
 Numquid Pomponius iftis 
 
 Audiret leviora, pater ft viveret ? HOR. 
 
 would
 
 Left.-i5- ORATORY. 255 
 
 would not be underftood to recommend entire 
 Negleft of them. Some Acquaintance with 
 them will help us in difcerning where an Ora- 
 tor leaves the beaten Track of Expreftlon, and 
 for what Purpofe ; a kind of Knowlege ufeful 
 in forming and perfecting the Judgment. 
 
 I mention this as the only true Uie of the 
 mechanical Part of Rhetorick which hath been 
 explained with ib much fuperfluous Labour, 
 becaufe the Strefs laid upon it may have, and I 
 believe hath caufed Miflakcs, inducing Men to 
 believe it of great Value. " A celebrated Wri- 
 " ter of Antiquity hath ufed fuch and fuch Fi- 
 " gures in Difcoude, for which Reafon I. (hall 
 <{ fit down to write with a Refolution of em- 
 <e ploying the fame, efteeming my Work the 
 " more perfect, as it abounds more with fuch 
 < Ornaments." 
 
 THUS we often Reafon ; whereas it is neither 
 the Kind nor Number of Figures, but the right 
 Application which renders them commendable, 
 I have read, or met with in Difcourfe, an Ob- 
 fervation which I think judicious and new : An 
 Actor, who would excel, mould appear to be 
 poffefied with the ilrong Pallion his Part ex- 
 prelTeth, and feem the Man he repretents j but 
 he mould not feel that Pafiion, iliould not be 
 that Man. Why ? Becaufe the Strength of the 
 Pafiion would difable him from exprefiing it : 
 Violent Rage, Grief, or Defpair, would choak 
 up his Words j Nature would fwallow up Art, 
 and Imitation be loll in Reality. 
 
 . THIS
 
 256 LECTURES concerning Led!. 15. 
 
 THIS Remark may help to explain fome 
 Things before faid and unavoidably repeated, 
 concerning Points in which we often mifiake. 
 A good Speaker muft feem to feel the Paflion he 
 would excite ; he muft have its Air, its Lan- 
 guage, the Figures moft expreflive of its actual 
 Influence ; but I now add, that he muft not be 
 under that actual Influence : However outward- 
 ly in Tranfport, he muft retain a Fund of Cool- 
 nefs within, Reafon muft Rule there, " Calm 
 " and ferene ride in the Whirlwind, and di- 
 " reel: the Storm :" Otherwife, looting Command 
 of himfelf, he muft ftray from all the Rules of 
 Eloquence. 
 
 [k] THE Perfection of Art, faith a good Judge, 
 is to become ; with which, ftrong Paflion cannot 
 well confift. Accordingly, the greateft Speakers, 
 when they have given Way to fuch, have erred. 
 Is not the perfonal Invective againft Efchines t in 
 the admirable Oration of the Crown, to fay no 
 worfe, unjuftifiably bitter ? In the fecond Phi- 
 lippic, divine as [/] as one ftyles it, arc not the 
 Circumftances of Abufe againft Antony -, height- 
 ened with Paintings defervedly offenfive ? Can 
 one read them without wondering, that an ex- 
 cellent Perfon mould deliver fuch in full Senate, 
 if it be true that this Oration was delivered. 
 
 FROM hence it appears, that Figures being 
 the proper Style of Paflion, they mould not only 
 be juft and natural, but conducted with much 
 
 [k } Caput artis eft decere. Cicero de Oral. lib. i. 
 
 \J] Quam te confpicuae divina Philippics fa ma;, 
 
 Volvctis a primd quse proxima. Ju v SAT. x. 
 
 Care
 
 Led. 15. ORATORY. 257 
 
 Care and Difcretion : Which Remark leads to 
 point out fome Abufes necefTary to be avoided 
 in the Ufe of them. I fhall fpeak of thefe un- 
 derthree Heads j I. the Number j II. the Kinds s 
 III. the Application of Figures. 
 
 Firft, As to the Number of Figures. 
 EXCESS herein is a very common Fault : It is 
 in Writings as in Life, whatever is commended 
 in a certain Degree, we are apt to carry beyond 
 the Bound, and then it becometh wrong. Be- 
 caufe Figures, aptly ufed, have a good Effect, 
 they are multiplyed without Meafure, introduced 
 every where, and heaped up with Profuficn, 
 which produceth the worfl Confequences. 
 
 Firfl, Nothing fo quickly tiretb. The natural 
 Food of the Understanding is Truth j We are 
 indeed fo framed, that this Truth mufl be ren- 
 dered by Art agreeable to the Tafte ; what do 
 thefe Men ? Abufmg that Frame, they give us 
 the Sauces only without Food. We demand 
 fomething plain and folid find all Flourim and 
 Shew. In this Cafe, the Hearer, difappointed, 
 turns away with Difdain. 
 
 Secondly^ This Excefs taketh away Credibility 
 from the Speaker. Truth hath not that Air of 
 Study and Labour : To pleafe, me needs but to 
 be feen : We look not for her amidft a Crowd 
 of Ornaments. Sincerity is moft powerful to 
 perfuade ; Figures are ftrong Inftruments of Per^ 
 fuafion, becaufe ftrong Proofs of Sincerity : But 
 poured forth in Excels, are held Marks of In- 
 iincerity, Means of fetting off a bad Caufe, and 
 of extorting or furprizidg undeferveci AfTent: 
 S Hence
 
 258 LECTURES concerning Left, 15 
 
 Hence the Hearer becometh diffident, fufpi- 
 cious, guardeth himfelf againft the Appearance 
 of dangerous Art, and receives with Prejudice 
 whatfoever is drefled up in thefe elaborate Em- 
 bellifhments. 
 
 Thirdly, THIS Excefs rendereth Difcourfe ob- 
 fcure. The exprefling of Things under borrowed 
 Images muft prefent them to the Mind with 
 lefs Clearnefs, than if offered in their own : And 
 much Skill is requifite in making fuch Choice, 
 that while they add Force to the Thought, 
 they may not diminim Peripicuity. We fee 
 Objects through Figures as in a Mirror : Some 
 are by this Means feen more diftinctly ; fome 
 we cannot view well directly ; fome we behold 
 thus with more Delight -, but if we attempt to 
 /hew all in this Way, the Truth of Things va- 
 nifheth 5 we confound the Original with bor- 
 rowed Forms, and the whole Scene becomes 
 faint and confufed'. 
 
 THIS is the Cafe of Perfius, although other- 
 wife, in many Reipects, commendable ; of Ly- 
 cophron, among the Greeks ; and it feemeth of 
 their Lyrick Poets fometimes, as you may prove, 
 particularly in the Chorus's of the beft Drama- 
 tick Writers, where the Senfe is frequently fo 
 wrapped up in a Cloud of Figures, that it can- 
 not, without much Difficulty, be developed. 
 
 A SECOND Miftake mentioned is in the Kind 
 of Figures. We fhould, generally fpeaking, 
 avoid all fuch as turn meerly upon Sound ; 
 Prettineffes much fought after in former Times, 
 fuch as, 
 

 
 Left. 15. ORATORY, 259 
 
 <c fortunatam natatn me conjule Romam [/]." 
 
 " Befeeching or befieging. 
 
 " And at vhtBoimd high overleapt 2\\Bound []." 
 
 At the Sight of Sin and Death, in the Midft of 
 a fublime Paltage, faith our great Poet, " The 
 " Planets were Planet -jlruck" But thefe at 
 prefent feem defervedly exploded. 
 
 REPETITIONS of the fame Word are alfo 
 fometimes graceful. One of the moft beautiful 
 of which Sort is the PafTage of Virgil^ thus imi- 
 tated by one of our Poets \o\ : 
 
 Yet ev'n in Death Iuridice he fung, 
 Euridice ftill trembled on his Tongue , 
 
 Euridice the Woods, 
 
 Euridice the Floods, 
 Euridice the Rocks and hollow Mountains 
 
 But Beauties of this Kind are, generally fpeak- 
 ing, eafily attained in a Degree of Mediocrity ; 
 and therefore mould be ufed fparingly. 
 
 THERE is a Point of more Nicety, the ufmg 
 many Words nearly fynonimous, of which you 
 may find numerous Inftances in the Roman 
 
 [] 'Till I her Confulfolt confer d her Doom. 
 
 DRYD. Juv. 
 
 [] Parad. Loft, Book x. 
 
 [o] "- . . Euridicen vox ipfa et frigida lingua, 
 Ah miferam Euridictn, anima fugictite, 'vocabdt ; 
 Euridiceit toto rtferebant JJumine riper. VlRG* Georg. iv. 
 
 [/>] POPE, Ode on St. CECILIA. 
 
 S 2 Orator.
 
 260 LECTURES concerning Led. ij. 
 
 Orator. He hath departed, fled, efeaped, broke 
 away [q] . Thefe often weaken the Senfe, and 
 tire the Hearer by a Heap of unmeaning Sounds ; 
 yet are ibmetimes ufeful by giving Strength and 
 Energy. Although each Word do not convey 
 a diftinft Idea, yet taken together, they make 
 the whole collected Idea much larger and more 
 grand. I mould not therefore altogether con- 
 demn fuch ; but recommend the utmoft Cau- 
 tion in employing them. They mould be rare, 
 and introduced on well-chofen Occalions. 
 
 THERE are other Figures affecting the Senfe, 
 which are likewife to be ufed with Caution, 
 fuch as very bold Metaphors, and thofe the 
 Rheroricians name Catachrefes or Abufes; which, 
 although allowed in Verfe, Speakers mould 
 never venture upon, but where the Poverty of 
 the Language may have rendered them neceffa- 
 ry, and Cuftom hath eflablifhed them. 
 
 Hyperboles alfo are dangerous Figures. The 
 Poet mentioning two Perfons of extraordinary 
 Size, defcribes them thus [r] : 
 
 " Youths equal to the Pines 
 *' And Mountains of their Country." 
 
 COW LETT feeking to improve upon this 
 Image, in applying it to Goliab, hath made it 
 altogether extravagant : 
 
 [?] Abiit, exceffit, evafit, erupit. In Catali. Oral. i. 
 [r] Abictibus juvenes patriis et momibus aequos. 
 
 JEneid. ix. 
 
 "The
 
 Led. 1 5.- ORATORY. 
 
 " The Valley now this Monfter feem'd to fill ; 
 " And we, methoughts, look'd up to'him from 
 our Hill [s]. 
 
 HOMER fays very fublimely of an allego- 
 rical Perfon, Difcord, 
 
 11 Her Head me rais'd to Heav'n and trod on 
 Earth :" 
 
 Which Virgil hath applied with great Propriety 
 to another allegorical Perfon, Fame. But is it 
 not with much lefs Exa&nefs imitated of Satan \ 
 defcribed before indeed as of gigantick Size [V], 
 yet far different from this, 
 
 " His Stature reach'd the Sky." 
 
 Poets are indulged in Liberties of this Kind, 
 which they have for the moft Part abufed, the 
 Moderns efpecially ; but the fame Licences are 
 not to be fuffered among thofe, who would per- 
 fuade, who profefs the fpeaking of Truth. 
 
 Oppofition is a Figure, which alfo fhould be 
 ufed difcreetly. If meerly in Words, once a 
 fafhionable Kind of Wit, it is manifeft trifling ; 
 if in Sentiment, it is of a delicate Nature. It 
 fometimes giveth Life and Energy to the 
 Thought, as in this of the [u] Hiftonan, con- 
 cerning a great Perfon, one of much Pride, 
 " He reforted fometimes to Court, becaufe 
 " there only, was a greater Man than himfelf ; 
 
 [5] COWLEY Davideis, Book iii. 
 
 [/] Lay floating many a Rood, Book i. 
 
 [J Lord CLARENDON, Book i. 
 
 S ? c and
 
 262 LECTURES concerning Leel. 15. 
 
 " and went thither the feldomer, becaufe there 
 " was a greater Man than himfelf," which 
 feems to be imitated from a parallel Paffage of 
 ^Cicero concerning Rofcius [ie'j . 
 
 HOWEVER, thefe are dangerous Beauties : I 
 know not of any Writers who have ufed them 
 much, without abufing. Even Cicero, in his 
 nobleft Oration, feems, through Love of them, 
 to have departed for a Moment from the Cha- 
 racter of manly Eloquence. " This new Form 
 " of Judgment, faith he, ftrikes Terror ; we 
 <e are furrounded by Arms, placed, indeed, for 
 " our Security ; but we cannot be \x\ freed 
 t from Fear, without fearing" Is not this too 
 pretty ? And chiefly in the Beginning of his 
 Oration, where Simplicity is moft requilite ? 
 
 SOME few Specks of the lame Kind may be 
 fpyed elfewhere even in his Writings ; but fuc- 
 ceeding Orators carried this Fault to the higheft 
 Excefs. In modern Times it reigned long in 
 Italy j frpm whence it infefted French Ele- 
 gance ; nor did the plainer and more manly 
 Genius of Britain efcape the Contagion. 
 
 UPON the Whole, I dare not venture to con- 
 demn the Ufe of Antithefes. But I am per- 
 luaded, that it is the better Way to follow 
 herein the Example of the Greeks,, who are 
 exceedingly fparing in Ornaments of this Kind, 
 
 \jiy] Etfnim cum Artifex eft ejufmodt, ut folus dlgnus <vidtatur 
 fffe qui fcenam introeat \ turn i>ir ejufmodi, ut folus <vidcatur ctignus, 
 auz eo nan accedat. 
 
 CICERO proQuinto Roscio. 
 \ x\ Ne non tlmere ipiidqni, fine aliquo timore pojfiyius. 
 
 Pro Milone. 
 
 I think
 
 Left. 1 5- ORATORY. 263 
 
 I think rather did ftudioufly avoid them. By 
 rejecting them, you will gain in Strength and 
 Clearnefs, more than you lofe in Glitter and 
 Show. 
 
 THERE is not any Figure more commonly 
 ufed by Orators than Gradation or Climax ; 
 which fetting every Article of the Speaker's 
 Senfe diftinctly before the Hearer's Mind, gives 
 the Whole an Appearance of Grandeur. Yet 
 herein alfo Frequency is faulty ; it favoureth of 
 Affectation, is too artificial, and groweth tire- 
 fome : But the moft common Error arifeth 
 from an ill ordering of the Parts. It is a known 
 Rule that the Gradation fhould grow ftronger r 
 the following Member rifmg flill upon the fore- 
 going; the contrary whereof is not feldom the 
 Cafe. When the Poet calls a fine Piece of 
 Architecture 
 
 The World's juft Wonder. and ev'n thine, O 
 Rome j>], 
 
 Doth this latter Idea comprehend more than 
 the firft ? Doth not the Image rather fink ? Mr. 
 Addijon hath commended a Paflage of Milton ; 
 
 And had Earth been then, 
 All Earth had to her Center fhook. 
 
 Yet it feems that it may be doubted, whether 
 the Poet, after reprefenting all Heaven refound- 
 ing with the Tumult of the Angels engaged in 
 Battle, hath not gone out of his Way, to add 
 an Image that weakens the foregoing. 
 
 [y] EfTay on Criticifm. 
 
 S 4. THE
 
 264 LECTURES concerning Left. 15. 
 
 THE third Miftake was faid to confift in the 
 Application of Figures : Thofe in themfelves 
 good are mifapplied : Which Error arifeth from 
 Want of Attention to the Subject and to the 
 Occafion ; what would be proper and pleafing 
 on one, being offenlive and abfurd on another. 
 
 THE fineft Embellishments Rhetorick can 
 furnifh, introduced in a Caufe which demandeth 
 only Diftinctnefs and Perfpicuity, deform, in- 
 ftead of beautifying. Who can bear the Laws 
 of the lower Empire and Writings of Civilians 
 about that Time, compofed in the long florid 
 Style of Declamation ; And fome of the earlier 
 modern Phyficians, who forgetting or defpifing 
 the proper diftincl: Simplicity of Hippocrates, and 
 Purity of Celfus, load all, one might almoft fay 
 even to their Prefcriptions, with Flourifh ? How 
 long did the moft auguft Aflemblies and na- 
 tional Councils refound with the Pomp of ver- 
 bofe Amplification j and Pulpits lull patient 
 Congregations with the fantaftical Mixture of 
 the Thorns of fcholaftick Theology, and the 
 Flowers of claffical Elegancy ? If, where I feek 
 to be taught, you attempt to put me off with 
 Amufement, I cannot but turn from youinjuft 
 Difdain of fuch Puerility. 
 
 FARTHER, One of the greateft Sources of 
 Beauty in Figurative Writing, is Metaphor -, at- 
 tending which, you may obierve two Dangers : 
 One is, the purfuing it too far. A Train of 
 Metaphors carried on formeth an Allegory ; 
 which Figure, or rather Chain of Figures, if 
 every Part be apt, well connected, and agreeing 
 
 with
 
 Lea. 15. ORATORY. 26; 
 
 with the original Idea, is juftly pleating ; but 
 purfued too far, errs in one of thefe two Ways. 
 Either the Truth fhadpwed under it lies too 
 open, and then it becomes flat and tedious ; the 
 Cafe fometimes of Spenfcrs Allegories, which 
 even the rich Imagination and beautiful Poetry 
 of the Author cannot always fully fupport: Or 
 elfe the Refemblance is too remote ; in which 
 Cafe the Allegory degenerates into a Riddle, and 
 offendeth becaufe it puzzles. Thus you fee the 
 Nicety requifite in the Ufe of this Figure : You 
 muft form a Veil fo tranfparent, that it mall dif- 
 clofe all one wimes to fee, yet thick enough to 
 cover what mould be concealed ; obvious, it 
 fatiates quickly; dark, perplexeth. Let the 
 Mind feem to difcover fomewhat itfelf, but make 
 not that Difcovery a laborious Work. The 
 Epifode of Sin and Death [z] confidered as an 
 Allegory, not Part of an heroick Poem, feems 
 one of the mod perfect. The Moral is impor- 
 tant, the Circumflances affeding, true in their 
 allegorical, juft in their literal Senfe, the Ima- 
 gination noble, the Style grand, fublime. 
 
 A SECOND Danger attending the Ufe of Me- 
 taphors is, the mixing different and inconfiftent. 
 Criticks have taxed even Cicero with a Slip of 
 this Kind [V) ; " I obferve, fays he, my Difcourfe 
 " to be coloured by their Harmony" Nor has 
 the moft correct of Poets efcaped the fame Cen- 
 fure 3 as for this Line, 
 
 [z] Parad.Loft. 
 
 [a ] Sentio orationem meam illorum qttaji 
 Cantu colorari. De Orato. 
 
 And
 
 266 LECTURES concerning Lect. 15. 
 
 " And to the Anvil ill-turn'd Verfes bring 
 Anew []." 
 
 In which Cafe the Cenfure is perhaps unde- 
 ferved : But is the Concluflon of a fine Ode 
 altogether free, 
 
 " Into what Whirlpool art thou plungd, 
 O Youth, O worthy of a better Flame? 
 
 We may obferve the fame of thefe Lines, other- 
 wife beautiful, 
 
 " The Man by his own Brightnefs burns, that 
 
 -weighs 
 
 Inferior Artiftsdown ; yet quench 'd 'his Blaze, \ 
 All love, and crown him with impartial Praife." 
 
 Need I add that much Vigilance is required in 
 guarding againft a Fault, the Infection of which 
 feems to have reached in fome Degree even 
 thefe Heroes ? 
 
 THE laft Figure I mail mention as frequently 
 ill-conducted, is Irony, where the Speaker means 
 differently from what his Words literally un- 
 derftood, import. This Figure is ufeful not 
 only in Comedy and Satire, its moft ufual Pro- 
 vince ; but hath Place alfo in the Pathetick and 
 Sublime : As in this fpirited Irony of Dido, 
 
 [b] Et male tornatos incudi redden verfut, HOR. 
 
 Ah quanta labor as in (harybdi 
 Dlgne puer melioreflammd, 
 Vrit enim fulgore fuo qui przgravat artes 
 Infra ft pojitat : extin&us amabitur idem. 
 
 Go
 
 Lett. 15. ORATORY. 267 
 
 Go, follow Italy thro* Tempefts, hafte, 
 
 Seek flying Kingdoms o'er the watry Wafte [*]." 
 
 And this of Satan, 
 
 " Or have ye chos'n this Place, 
 
 " After the Toil of Battle to repofe 
 
 " You weary Virtue, for the Eafe you find 
 
 " To (lumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n?" 
 
 The Dangers attending this Figure are thefe 
 three ; one is ever apt to break in upon it. 
 Your real Senfe is ready to burft out, and mingle 
 itfelf with the ironical, which makes an odd 
 incoherent Mixture. This Fault, in long con- 
 tinued Irony, feemeth fcarcely avoidable, fince 
 it is laid to the Charge of Lucian, Cervantes, 
 and Swift, the three great Mailers of this Fi- 
 gure. 
 
 ANOTHER Danger is, Ironies are often inter- 
 mixed with ferious Truths, which is abrupt and 
 hard : As in the latter of the two following Lines, 
 fpeaking of Dr. Swift, 
 
 Or thy griev'd Country's Copper Chains unr 
 
 bind, 
 Qr-pratfe the Court or dignify Mankind \b\. 
 
 All before and after the latter of thefe Lines, are 
 underftood in their literal Senfe. 
 
 OR laftly, Ironies are made to turn u.pon 
 Subjects foreign, and are improperly bitter , as 
 in this of the Orator to Antony ; 
 
 [a] 1 fequere Jtaliam ventis, pete regr.a per undas. 
 [JJ POPE'S Dunciad, Book i. 
 
 v In
 
 268 LECTURES concerning Left. i. 
 
 " IN one Place alfo you aimed at Pleafantry ; 
 " Good Gods how little did it become you ! In 
 " which you are faulty ; for you might have 
 " derived fome Wit from your Wife, an Aftrefe." 
 
 To conclude, concerning the Subject before 
 us, it, may be obferved in general, that Excefs 
 and Defect are both Faults : Excefs is indeed 
 the more dangerous : For fpeaking without Fi- 
 gures, you will appear dry, infipid, unaffecting, 
 but ftill may be inftructive ; for which End the 
 Curious will liften : But if you ufe too many, 
 you muft offend, incurring juftly the Cenfurc 
 of Affectation, Vanity, and Obfcurity. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING which, this Fault, Ex- 
 cefs, is more eafily corrected than its oppofite, 
 Defect : For it is eafier to bring down an over- 
 warm Imagination to the Level of plain Senfe, 
 than to elevate the low and creeping to the 
 Height of adorned Eloquence. For this Rea- 
 fbn, as the Poets abound moil in Figures, it 
 might be fit, that all who mean to excell in 
 Eloquence mould, at leaft in their Youth, be 
 converfant in their Writings. But this Subject, 
 as being, in my Opinion of Importance, de- 
 ferveth to be opened more at large in a future 
 Lecture. 
 
 Etiam quodam loco facctus ejje voluijli ; quam id dii boni 
 non te decebat ! in quo eft tua culpa nonnulla ; aliquid enim 
 falls ab uxtre mimd trahere potuijii. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Le<fti6. ORATORY. 269 
 
 LECTURE the Sixteenth. 
 
 Of the USEFULNESS of reading the POETS 
 to an ORATOR. 
 
 IN the Conclufion of the foregoing Lecture, 
 I took Occafion to mention the Expediency 
 of reading the Poets to all, who would excel 
 in Eloquence, on the Account of one Article 
 of mighty Moment, Figures. And I am per- 
 fuaded, that, upon a nearer View, others, not 
 lefs material, will appear to concur in recom- 
 mending it; for the Difcpvery of which, the 
 prefent Difquiiition is intended. But in a Point 
 varioufly thought of, for this hath its Oppofers, 
 and is in its Nature delicate, I do not mean that 
 you mould rely on my Judgment ; inftead of 
 which, I mail lay before you the Sentiments of 
 one well verfed in this, as in moft other Parts 
 of Learning : Sentiments, which may add to 
 Reafbn the Weight of Authority. My Pur- 
 pofe is, to deliver the Subftance of a Conver- 
 fation upon this Subject, held by Eubulus, ;* 
 Perfon of known Eminence both in the Senate 
 and at the Bur, with his Friend Philemon ; 
 which latter was pleafed, at my Requcft, to 
 furnim me with an Account of it. 
 
 THE
 
 276 Lfcc? URES concerning Left. 16, 
 
 THE nnufual Manner, that of Dialogues, in 
 Compofitions of -this Sort, will be compenfated 
 by the Character of the principal Speaker j 
 and it rs hoped, that Indulgence of borrowing 
 will be granted, where one's own Stock afford- 
 eth nothing equal. You readily excufe an Hoft 
 in carrying you abroad, if it be into better Com- 
 pany, and to better Entertainment, than his 
 Home could have afforded. The Occafion 
 which gave Rife to the Converfation abovemen- 
 tioned was this : 
 
 Philemon happened to make a Vifit to Eubulus, 
 then, during the Summer Vacation, in his 
 Country Retirement ; and finding, at his Ar- 
 rival, that his Friend had walked abroad, he 
 went, with the Freedom of an Intimate, to 
 amufe hirnfelf in the Library of Eubulus till 
 his Return j which happening in no long Time 
 after, Eubulus, the firft Salutations being over, 
 exprefled the Pleafure he had in feeing his 
 Friend, and, at the fame Time, his Fear, that 
 Philemon had felt fome Uneafinefs in waitirig 
 for him fo long. 
 
 Phil. BE under no Concern, Eubulus, for 
 I could have pafled much more Time here, 
 without thinking it long. Nothing can be 
 more pleating than the Profpe6l from thefe 
 "Windows. What can be more beautiful than 
 that vaft Bay, which expands itfelf with fuch 
 wide Circuit before us, prefenting to the View 
 fo many Objects : Thofe Ships particularly of 
 different Sizes ; fome fixed at Anchor, fome in 
 Motion, with all their Sails fpread, and fteer-
 
 Lea 16. ORATORY. 271 
 
 ing with the fame Wind, Courfes almoft con- 
 trary. Beyond, we fee the oppofite Coaft, co- 
 vered with Houfes, reflecting the Rays of the 
 Sun, fet off with the darker Shade of Gardens 
 and Groves ; and at ftill greater Diftance, be- 
 hold thofe Mountains which feem to vanifh 
 into the Clouds, and terminate the Scene with 
 a rude and noble Magnificence ! It feems to me, 
 that a View of fo much Beauty and Variety 
 could never tire. 
 
 Eub. THE Profpect is indeed charming ; I 
 have heard Travellers fay, that fcarcely any 
 Country in Europe affords a more beautiful of 
 the like Kind. However, it is certain, that 
 fuch Beauties appear more ftriking to a Vi- 
 iitant than to the Owner j Familiarity renders 
 him indifferent j or, if it did not, I doubt 
 whether fuch Situations be proper for Study, as 
 the Multitude of foreign Objects diftrad: the 
 Attention. 
 
 Phil. SAY rather, that it affords an eafy 
 and ufeful Relaxation. But it feems tome that 
 you have prudently fuited your Kind of Reading 
 to your Situation, at leaft I cannot otherwife ac- 
 count for it, 
 
 Eub. IN what Refpecl ? 
 
 Phil. CURIOSITY led me to take the Li- 
 berty of opening fome of the Books, -which 
 lie in Heaps upon this Table ; and the Truth 
 is, the View furprifed me. I found them to 
 be all of the poetical Kind ; Authors which I 
 iuppofed that you might have convcrfed with 
 in your early Youth, but imagined, that you 
 
 had
 
 272 LECTURES concerning Left. 15. 
 
 had long difmifTed all fuch frivolous Acquaint- 
 ances. 
 
 Eub. SOFTLY, good Philemon ; beware of 
 ufmg fuch harfh Epithets to a Set of Gentle- 
 men, who have been honoured in all Ages -, 
 whofe Names are confecrated to Immortality j 
 who have always laid Claim to peculiar Infpi- 
 ration ; whofe Genius and Language have been 
 cfteemed fomewhat divine. 
 
 Phil. I KNOW they have not been fparing 
 In their Praifes of their own Art : But without 
 amufmg ourfelves with their Enthuliafm, or 
 rather Prefumption, anfwer me ferioufly ; Have 
 thefe Books been thrown here by Accident, or 
 have you really, as it fhould feem by their Si- 
 tuation, been trying to entertain yourfelf with 
 reading fuch ? 
 
 Eub. THE latter is true; I have been trying, 
 and what is more, do pafs much of my Leifure 
 in fuch Entertainment, as you call it ; but, in 
 my Style, Employment, and ufeful Employment. 
 Phil. You amaze me. Is it then true, that 
 Eubulus, engaged as he is in the Study of fe- 
 rious Eloquence, and univerfally allowed to ex- 
 cel therein, confumeth his Time in the Perufal 
 of Writers, not ufelefs only, but exceedingly 
 hurtful to his Purpofe ? 
 
 Eub. Why ufelefs ? Why hurtful ? Why 
 do you think them fo ?. There remains yet 
 fome Time until Dinner, and the Heat of the 
 Weather prevents us from any Amufement 
 without Doors, What fay you ? Shall we fpend 
 this Interval in difcuffing that Matter ? It may 
 
 be
 
 Led. 1 6. ORATORY. 273 
 
 be no unufeful Speculation. Let us then fit 
 down together in this Bow- Window, from 
 whence you have a full Command of your ad- 
 mired Profped: Very well. Now, if you 
 
 pleafe, explain upon what Grounds do you 
 build upon this Opinion ? 
 
 Phil. You take me ill prepared for fuch a 
 Difquifition -, I have never yet thought ma- 
 turely oh the Point, much lefs have I in Rea- 
 dinefs Arguments to produce, ranged in Form 
 and Method. Yet I look upon it as one of 
 thofe Truths in themfelves fo clear, that Ar-? 
 guments for the Proof of them can never be 
 wanting. 
 
 Eub. BE fo good then as to propofe them : 
 I req-ueft it not through Love of difputing, but 
 from a better Principle ; I would gladly juftify 
 myfelf to you j belide, I have fome Hope of 
 doing you real Service, by reconciling you to 
 an Acquaintance, which we ufually commence 
 early in Life, but break off too foon, to reap 
 the Pleafure and Advantage it would afford to 
 our riper Years ; at which Time, Pifufe, Bu- 
 finefs, and miftaken Notions, prevent the Re- 
 newal of it. 
 
 Phil. I HOPE that I fhall be always open to 
 Conviction ; and fince you will have it fo, I 
 will mention Things briefly, and without Or- 
 der, as they occur to me. My charge is, that 
 Poets are Enemies to true Oratory; the Reafons 
 I ground it upon are thefe : AnUver me, Eu- 
 bulus, Are not the Ends of Eloquence to inform 
 and to convince ? 
 
 T Eub.
 
 274 LECTURES concerning Left. 1 6, 
 
 Eub. THEY are. 
 
 Phil. FOR this Purpofe, muft not the Un- 
 demanding be enlightened ? 
 
 Eub. IT muft. 
 
 Phil. BUT Poets addrefs themfelves to the 
 Imagination and Paffions -, therefore turn away 
 their Admirers from the true Ends of Oratory. 
 
 Eub. SHALL I ftop you now ? Or were it 
 not better, that you fhould propofe all your 
 Objections, which we will afterwards confider 
 diftindtly ? 
 
 Phil. WITH all my Heart ; it is the fhorter 
 Way. Well, then, you have heard my firft 
 Objection. 
 
 NEXT, Poets deal entirely in Fiction ; they 
 fubfift by it ; thus infufe an Indifpofition to, a 
 Diflike of, Truth. 
 
 THEY confound Times, Perfons, Circum- 
 flances, and Characters ; and throw their 
 Thoughts together (fuch as they are) with 
 the utmoft Confufion ; nay, they condemn Re- 
 gularity as infipid, and formal, and inconiiftent 
 with their imaginary Beauty. 
 
 THEY abhor Argument, the only Inftrument 
 of Knowledge and rational Perfuafion ; and, to 
 compleat the Whole, are fwelling, florid, and 
 unnatural in their Style. I need not delay you 
 by giving Inftances of each Particular, which 
 are well known to you ; for their Works abound- 
 with them. 
 
 Eub. THIS, indeed, Philemon, is a fummary 
 Way of Proceeding. If thefe Things be fo, 
 the Poets are not only guilty of your Charge, 
 
 of
 
 LC& 16. ORATORY. 
 
 of being hiirtful to Eloquence, but are Ene- 
 mies to Reafdn and common Senfe. But let us 
 examine thefe Articles in Detail. Before I go 
 into Particulars, give me Leave to propofe a 
 Queftion or two, the Ahfwers to which may 
 clear up fome Prejudices that lye againfl your 
 whole Argument. Ought not Facts, where 
 they can be had, to hold the firft Place among 
 Arguments, as being obvious, not liable to Mi- 
 ftake, Indeed carrying with them Conviction at 
 firft Sight ? 
 
 Phi). THEY ought. 
 
 Eub. Now, Philemon, what do Facts fay ? 
 Do they agree with your Reafoning ? 
 
 Phil. THAT Queftion cannot be anfwefed oh 
 the fiidden. 
 
 Eub. IT may be fo : I will therefore affift 
 you In the Anfwer : If I miftake, fet me right. 
 
 Phil. I 'mall not fail. 
 
 Eub. IT feems, then, that the greateft Ora- 
 tors have fludied, nay, and have copied from 
 the Poets. This is fo.manifeil in the Cafe of 
 pemoftbenes, the firft of all Orators, that Lucian 
 has written a Dialogue upon this Subject alone, 
 his Imitation of Homer. Lovginus affirms the 
 fame Thing of Pldto ; adding, that he was 
 not the Imitator only, but the Rival of Homer. 
 Another Greek Critick carrieth this very far : 
 The Profe of Demojlbeftes, faith he, is pleafing, 
 becaufe it refembles the Verfe of Homer : And 
 the Verfes of Homer charm us, on Account of 
 their Similitude to the Profe of DemoJIhenes \a\. 
 [a] DIONYSIUS HALICARNASSENSIS. 
 
 T 2 Open
 
 276 LECTURES concerning Left. 16. 
 
 Open Livy ; you will find him in many Places 
 fcarcely lefs poetical than Virgil himfelf : And 
 Criticks have charged 'Tacitus with Excefs in 
 this Way. You difcover the Fancy and Ex- 
 preffion of a Poet in many fpirited Defcriptions 
 of the elder Pliny. TuHy himfelf, although 
 no good Poet in Verfe, is yet in Profe often- 
 times an excellent one. Now, doth not this in- 
 contestable Facft overthrow all your Arguments ? 
 If the moft admirable Orators have ftudied, and 
 manifeflly copied from Poets, can the Reading 
 of Poets be hurtful to Oratory ? 
 
 Phil. IT may be in general dangerous, al- 
 though it proved not hurtful to them. The 
 Skilful only can extracl Medicines from Poifons. 
 Eub. WELL, but do thefe very Perfons think 
 fo? Confult them : Hear Cicero. " The Poet 
 " is allied to the Orator ; more confined in Num- 
 " bers, but enjoying more Freedom in the Ufe 
 ct of Words : In every Kind of Ornament a 
 <c Partaker, and almoft equal. The Poets are 
 " to be read. In an Orator is required nearly 
 " the Exprefllon of a Poet []." 
 
 QUINT'ILIJlN is very exprefs to the fame 
 Purpofe [c]. Tbeophraftus faith, he, affirms, 
 ct That an Orator may derive much Advan- 
 <e tage from" reading Poets, and many agree 
 <c with him, not undefervedly : For Energy 
 " in Senfe, and Sublimity in ExprefTion, and 
 " Skill in moving the Pailions, and what is 
 " becoming in Character, are derived from 
 " them." The PafTage is remarkable, and 
 
 [b] Lib. i, De oratore. [*] Lib. x. cap. i. 
 
 goes
 
 Led. 1 6. ORATORY. 277 
 
 goes on farther ; I will turn to it in his Book, if 
 you pleafe; it is worthy of your Perufal. 
 
 PhiL I DOUBT it not; but I looked for Ar- 
 guments drawn from Reafon, not Authority. 
 
 Eub. I DO not mean to convince you meerly 
 by Authority : Its Ufe, and I intend no more, 
 I take to be this : Before an Opinion is proved, 
 the Authority of eminent Perfons removeth 
 Prejudices which may lie againft it, mewing it 
 to be at leaft not abfurd : If it hath been proved, 
 ftrengthens and confirms it, and may help to 
 make the Mind acquiefce in it more ealily. 
 
 BUT not to infift longer on what you feem to 
 lay fmall Strefs upon, I proceed to follow you 
 in your own Way : to Facts and Authority I 
 fhall add Reafon; 
 
 You fay, firft, That Poets addrefs themfelves 
 to the Imagination and Pafllons. Granted : But 
 muft not the Orator alfo ? 
 
 PhiL WHY is it neceflary to him ? 
 Eub. Is not his End to perfuade ? In order 
 to obtain which, muft he not pleafe ? 
 
 Phil. IT is fufficient if he addrefs himfelf 
 to Reafon, the higheft and ruling Faculty. 
 
 Eub. THE higheft, I grant, in the Order of 
 Nature, but never the only, and often not the 
 ruling one. This Sovereign is acceffible only 
 through her Officers, the Fancy and Affections. 
 Now it follows, from your own Argument, that 
 the Poets can beft inftruct in this Art; they 
 who make it their principal Aim to footh and 
 flatter thefe Favourites. Tell me, Philemon^ 
 do you think that a Chain of Geometrical Pro- 
 T 3 pofitions
 
 LECTURES concerning Left. 16. 
 petitions would have any Effect either in teach- 
 ing or perfuading a common Audience ? 
 
 Phil. IT could not. 
 
 ILub. JUST fuch a Chain is every Difcourfe 
 confifting of pure, ftrong, clofely-connected 
 Reafoning, fuch as you recommend j Demon- 
 firation to the intelligent Liftener will not be 
 liftened to, nor can it be comprehended, by 
 the Many. 
 
 Phil. WELL, but if this were the Cafe, if 
 it were needful to work upon Fancy and Paffion, 
 the Poets are pernicious Teachers. Their Art 
 fubfifts by Fiction, is wild and extravagant in 
 its Images, confounds all Truth and Nature, 
 What more oppofite to every Idea of Elo- 
 quence ? 
 
 Eub. THIS is the heaviefl Article in ypur 
 Charge, and deferves to be well weighed. An- 
 fwer me then j Do you mean, that Poefy is an 
 Enemy to all Kipds of Truth, and always B or 
 is ihe a Friend to Truth in general, and De- 
 parts from it only on certain Occafions, and in 
 certain Circumfrances ? 
 
 Phil. POESY is an Enemy to Truth in gene- 
 ral j not at all, or fcarcely ever befriending it, 
 and then by Accident, not Defign. 
 
 Eub. How may that be ? Certainly all Poets 
 profefs the contrary. Say the Ground of their 
 Work be a Fable, the Circumftances fictitious, 
 yet there is a Moral ufually intended, which is 
 fome important Truth. Could a Tragedy 
 pleafe, if there were not Jnftice in the Senti- 
 ments, Confidence in the Delign, Truth in 
 
 the
 
 Led.i6. ORATORY. 2*79 
 
 the Characters ? It is the fame in every other 
 Branch of this Art : Nature and Probability 
 mufl be preferved; and what are they but 
 Truth ? And the Poets who neglect thefe, do 
 not understand, but abufe their Art. 
 
 Phil. BUT Probability is only the Appearance 
 of Truth, not Truth. 
 
 Eub. Right, but it differs not in Effect from 
 Truth, where the avowed End is not to de- 
 ceive. Otherwife you might infer, that every 
 Figure of Rhetorick is Falmood, and fo de- : 
 ftroy all Eloquence, I might fay, all Difcourfe, 
 which cannot be kept up without fome Mixture 
 of Figures. But I will try to put this Matter 
 in another Light. Confider, in every Art there 
 is Ibmewhat peculiar to itfelf 5 yet may it net 
 have many Things in common with other Arts ; 
 fbme of which it can fupply better than thofe 
 others, and which it may be prudent to borrow 
 from it ? 
 
 Phil. I BELIEVE that may be the Cafe. 4 
 
 Eub. NAY, this is the Cafe in different 
 Branches of the fame, Art. I will explain my 
 Meaning by an Inftance. A Maker of Por- 
 traits hath a very diftinct Bufmefs from that of 
 an Hiftory-painter ; he is tied down clofely to 
 a fixed Model, to the Features, the Air, the 
 Mien of the Perfon whofe Picture he draws : 
 In all which, the other, provided that he do 
 not violate the Truth of Hiftory, is at Liberty to 
 follow his own Invention : Yet this hinders not, 
 but that a Maker of Portraits may derive much 
 Advantage from the Study of hiftorical Paint- 
 T 4 ing,
 
 a8o LECTURES concerning Left. 16, 
 
 ing, may labour with much Improvement to 
 attain the Expreffion of a Raphael, or the Co- 
 louring of a Titian. 
 
 Now to apply this to the Subject before us. 
 The Orator you may call a Maker of Portraits, 
 he is confined to one Caufe, to its Circum- 
 ftances, and to Truth : The Poet, like the Hi- 
 ftory-Painter, hath indeed his Rules of Truth 
 and Nature, which he may not tranfgrefs, but 
 is yet left much at large, and may give great 
 Scope to Invention. Notwithstanding which, 
 t}ie former may ftudy this latter with much 
 Advantage, and draw from him many Graces 
 and valuable Embellishments. For the Man- 
 ner in which Fiction is treated, may fet off 
 Truth j and the being converfant with the 
 Lofty, even extravagant Images, which the 
 unbounded Regions of Fable prefent to the 
 Fancy, may warm and elevate a judicious well- 
 governed Imagination. Your venerable *Juno 
 of the Orators may borrow the Ceflus^ the 
 Drefs of the Smiles and Graces, from the 
 Laughter-loving Goddefs, the Venus of the 
 Poets, provided thefe new Charms be put on 
 for a good Purpofe, to make a lawful Con- 
 queft. 
 
 Phil. IT is not clear to me, that a Lover of 
 Truth may venture fafely into this your un- 
 bounded Region of Fable ; he may catch fome 
 Part of the Infection, which is but too general. 
 Or granting for the prefent what you advance, 
 how ridiculous a Figure muft he make in his 
 Return from thence, with his borrowed Orna- 
 A ments,
 
 Led. 16. ORATORY. 281 
 
 ments, in his poetick Drefs ; delivering what he 
 would have pafs for ferious Truths, in the 
 fwelling Bombaft of poetick Language. 
 
 Enb. You come now to another Article of 
 your Charge ; but here likewife I am prepared 
 for you. Tell me, Philemon, would a Perfon 
 of Senfe, who has learned to fing perfectly, for 
 that Reafon fpeak or read publickly, in the 
 Tone or Cadence of finging ? 
 Phil. No, certainly. 
 
 Eub. DEMOSTHENES is faid to have learned 1 
 Pronunciation from an Actor. Cicero confulted 
 Rofcius in his Art. Now, do you think, that 
 either of thefe great Men brought into the 
 Senate-houie of Athens or Rome, all the fcenical 
 Poftures and Gefticulations, all the Violence 
 arid comick Mimickry, neceflarily employed 
 by thofe Actors ? Or did they retain only fb 
 much of the Art of thofe others, as might 
 be applied with Grace and Propriety to their 
 own. 
 
 Phil THE latter 4 Undoubtedly. 
 Eub. -AGAIN, do you fuppofe that any Man 
 of good Understanding, fay even a Poet -by 
 Proieiiion, if he were to talk with you, or to 
 write a Letter about ferious Bulinefs, would 
 fpeak or write in Vcrfe ? 
 Phil. I think not. 
 
 Eub. IN my Opinion, thefe Inftances fully 
 reach your Objection. Etfercife and Skill in 
 Mufkk and Acting, may improve the Voice 
 and Pronunciation in grave Difcourfe j yet you 
 not in fuch, either ling or act. In like 
 
 Manner,
 
 282 LECTURES concerning Left. 16. 
 
 Manner", the more fpirited Style of Poets may 
 raife and enliven Profe j yet you would not 
 play the Poet in Profe. A Poet will not ufe 
 the Meafure of Verfe, where he knows that 
 he ought to employ Profe : Why ? Becaufc 
 they are different Arts, and the Diflindion is 
 ftrongly marked : And as he will not ufe the 
 Meafure, fo neither will he ufe the Language 
 peculiar to Verfe, which is almoft as ftrongly 
 marked : Such as long Comparifons, daring 
 Metaphors, crowded Figures, lively and florid 
 Defcriptions, unufual Expreffions j which be- 
 longing, or indulged to his own Art, cannot be 
 transferred from thence into Profe j or, if that 
 mould be attempted, would offend the Un- 
 derftanding, as much as the Cadence of Verfe 
 often intermingled, does the Ear. Notwith- 
 ftanding which, nothing hinders, but that the 
 bold Painting of Poets, their animated Phrafe, 
 their ftrong and concife Sentences, their lively 
 and glowing Colouring may be ftudied with 
 Profit, may with Care and Difcretion be advan- 
 tageoufly and happily copied in Profe-writings. 
 It is, as the Poet fays, very aptly [], 
 
 They move eafieft who have learn'd to dance. 
 
 The Movement of Dancing would be ridicu- 
 lous in ordinary Walking, yet it is confeffed, 
 that, Skill in Dancing beftows Gracefulnefs in 
 our common Motion. 
 
 Phil. BUT the Difficulty of keeping within 
 
 [] Efiay on Criticifm, 
 
 thefc
 
 Le<3.i6. ORATORY. 283 
 
 thefe Limits is great, the Danger of tranf- 
 greffing mighty, the Effect very abfurd. 
 
 Enb. 1 grant it. But Excellency in every 
 Art, is expofed to Danger and Difficulties. If 
 you aim only at plain Senfe with the Pro- 
 bability of being dry and infipid, it is well ; 
 ftudy Logick and Geometry, or confine your- 
 felf to your Statutes and Reports : But, if you 
 afpire to fomewhat nobler, to add the Pleafing, 
 the Sublime, the Pathetick, you muft have Re- 
 courfe to thofe who exercife Power over the 
 Fancy and Paflions. After all, Philemon, you 
 feem in the whole Turn of your Argument to 
 fhut out good Senfe and all Regard to Truth from 
 Poefy, in which you deal unjuftly by it : Thefe 
 are pecefTary as well as to Poets as Orators. 
 
 Phil. THAT is a Point which I believe would 
 puzzle you to make out. 
 
 Rub. NOT according to my Manner of con- 
 ceiving Things. The Difference between the 
 Arts 1 take to be this. 
 
 IT is my Intention to furnifh out for Man- 
 kind a polite Entertainment, or fay, that I wifli 
 to inftrucl and make them better, which if it 
 ieldom is, yet fhould be one View of a Poet in 
 Writing : I am to be read in their Clofets ; for 
 to this, even theatrical Performances muft come 
 in the End : In either Cafe, you fee that I muft 
 endeavour to pleafe 5 it is a capital Point ; for 
 otherwife Men, not being under any Necefllty ' 
 free from every urgent Motive, will not fit 
 dov/n to read my Work. This is the Poet's 
 
 Cafe,
 
 284 LECTURES concerning Left. 16. 
 
 Cafe. -Pleating therefore becomes to him a 
 main Point ; he can do nothing without it. 
 
 BUT again ; I am to inftruct them in fome- 
 what of immediate neceffary Utility, in the 
 Decifion of Property, in a weighty Point of 
 Morality, or in the enacting of a good Law j 
 here the vifible great Ufe difpofes them to hear ; 
 neverthelefs, fuch is the Nature of Mankind, 
 that if my Subject carries me out into any 
 Length, Men will not liften, unlefs I can con- 
 trive to make my Difcourfe agreeable. Pleafuro 
 is, then, even in this Cafe, a moft beneficial 
 Help, or rather neceffary Means. And how 
 {hall you enable yourfelf to employ thefe 
 Means, this powerful Inftrument ? How, but 
 by confulting and learning from thofe to whom 
 it is indifpenfably necefTary, to whom it be- 
 comes, for that Reafon, the main EWof their 
 Art. You therefore borrow Ornaments from 
 Poefy to drefs up and make Truth beautiful j 
 but it muft be your Care to borrow fuch as 
 really beautify, not hurt or deform her. 
 
 Phil. I fear that he muft be not only very 
 iharp-fighted in difcerning, but fmgularly dif- 
 creet in the Choice of Ornaments, who can 
 Hop precifely within thefe Limits. But what 
 will you reply to my other Objection ? I think 
 you will allow, that Method is neceflary to a 
 Speaker ; and that the Poets are profefled Ene- 
 mies to Method. It hath a Formality to them 
 intolerable ; they are perfuaded that it would 
 render their Works dry and infipid ; and caft 
 Fetters on their Imagination, which is never 
 
 fo
 
 Left. 1 6. ORATORY. 285 
 
 fo well pleafed as when fully indulged, and 
 left free to rove in all the Luxuriancy of wild 
 uncontrolled Irregularity. 
 
 Rub. I DO not know how this Opinion hath 
 obtained Admiflion, and become prevailing* 
 deftitute, as it feems to me, of all Foundation. 
 On the contrary, I am perfuaded that Method 
 is effential to every good Compofition. But it 
 is of different Kinds ; from not attending to 
 which, it is likely, the Miftake arifeth. There 
 is one Kind of Method ufeful in the finding 
 out of Truth, and another faid to be moft 
 proper for teaching it when found: In one 
 you begin with the fimplefl and moft known 
 Truth, from thence proceeding to the more, 
 complex and obfcure j in the other, beginning 
 with what is complex, you defcend to the 
 Simple \ you refolve Caufes into their Effects, or 
 trace back Effects to their Caufes. 
 
 AGAIN, there is a declared Method, which 
 leading you from Step to Step, points out each, 
 as it proceeds : And there is a concealed one 
 as regular, but lefs difiinct in the feveral Parts 
 of its Progrefs, which hath likewife its pecu- 
 liar Ufes. There is farther, an hiftorical Me- 
 thod, which follows the Order of Time ; and 
 a Poetical, which breaks that Order, but in a 
 certain Way, and for a certain End. Every 
 Man of Senle, on all Subjects, rangeth his own 
 Thoughts in the moil natural Order ; but it doth 
 not follow, that he would, or ought to chufe the 
 faine Order in unfolding them to others. 
 
 Phil.
 
 286 LECTURES wheeling Left. 16. 
 
 Phil WHY fo ? You order jour "Thoughts, 
 that you may conceive clearly ; and clear Con- 
 ception produceth clear Expreffiori. 
 
 Eub. TRUE : But it is manifeir. from what 
 we faid before, that Clearnefs is not enough i 
 you muft amufe, entertain, attract ; how eiie 1 
 will you obtain Audience from Men ufually 
 nice, faftidious Judges, always indolent ? Hence 
 it is, that Orators, however regularly they con- 
 ceive Things, do yet find it neceiTary On many 
 Occafions, quitting the natural Method, to imi- 
 tate that of Poets, who chufe fuch as, by railing 
 Curiofity, keepeth the Reader attentive. They 
 difpofe all their Thoughts and Incidents fo, as 
 that each may give Luftre to the other, and the 
 whole by that Means appear agreeable as well 
 as intelligible. An obferving Perfon, though 
 little fkilled in Drawing, can mark down feveral 
 Objects occurring in a fine Profpect, fuch as 
 this now before you ; all in their natural Form 
 and Situation ; here a declining Ground, there 
 Sea or a River, beyond Houfes or Trees, at & 
 great Diftance Rocks and Sky : You under- 
 ftand all perfectly : But put this Tafk into the : 
 Hands of a Painter, he will chufe out the moft 
 flriking Objects, he will difpofe them according 
 to the Rules of Perfpective, he will throw fome 
 back in Shades, bring others forward, and give 
 'you not only a true Image of the Landfkip, but 
 fhew it to you in the beft Manner, in all its 
 Beauty and fair Proportion. 
 
 NAY, I will venture to fay, that an Orator 
 muft facrifice Clearnefs, to a certain Degree, to 
 
 Beauty :
 
 Led. 16. ORATORY. 287 
 
 Beauty: It is what every good Speaker hath 
 done from the Beginning : And what is more, 
 it is what even the beft Mathematicians have 
 done, for the Sake of Concifenefs and Elegance 
 in their Demonstrations. The Nicety and Per- 
 fection of Art is to hit the true Bound j for 
 Neatnefs ends if carried into Obfcurity. 
 
 I AM perfuaded moreover, that a Poet mould 
 obferve as exact Method as the Orator is bound 
 to, who muft rarely employ more than he can 
 conceal j for the Cuftom of dhTecting his Dif- 
 courfe before his Hearer, into its conftituent 
 Parts, and the diftinct Enumeration of each 
 Member, as it is brought up and as it is clofed, 
 mutt needs give to it an Air of difgufting For- 
 mality. And this Perfuafion of mine is con- 
 nrmed by Fact : For the Harangues in the 
 Greek Dramatick Poets, which are very fre- 
 quent, and ufually highly poetical, are often 
 not lefs methodical or clofe than thofe even of 
 the Greek Orator. I cannot think the Epiftles 
 of Horace lefs regular than the Treatifes of G- 
 cero, notwithftanding the Judgment of a cele- 
 brated Poet concerning them [c] : 
 
 " Horace charms by graceful Negligence, 
 " And without Method talks us, into Senle." 
 
 But I confider this as fpoken from a firft flight 
 View, and in Contradiitinction to formal logi- 
 cal Method. Take any one, fuppofc the Epillle 
 to Augujlu^ I am much miltaken, if I could 
 not ihew, that one Scheme is carried on thro* 
 
 f fj Eflay on Criticifm. 
 
 the
 
 288 LECTURES concerning Left. j6. 
 
 the whole with good Method, that there is 
 preferved throughout Order, but with Eafe; 
 Regularity, bat with Gracefulnefs.i But fee, 
 we are fummoned to go in. 
 
 Phil. I ATTEND you j but with Condition, 
 that after Dinner we {hall return hither to fi- 
 nilh this Subjedt j for my Scruples are not yet 
 removed, nor what is more, my Curioftty fa- 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 289 
 
 LECTURE the Seventeenth. 
 
 Continuation of fix Foregoing* 
 
 Phil. TAM glad that 'we have been releafed 
 J[ from our Company fo early : We mall 
 have Time to fmilh our Converfation, before the 
 Evening oblige me to return Home. If I remem- 
 ber rightly, one Part of my Objection remains yet 
 unanfwered : It was to this Purpofe j Argument 
 is abfolutely neceiiary to a publick Speaker, 
 which the Poets avowedly abhor ; mud not the 
 Study of them be hurtful to an Orator ? 
 
 Eub. IT feems that it would, if the Cafe really 
 were as you put it : But that may well be doubt- 
 ed. I allow, that Poefy does not endure the 
 Courfe of a long Chain of Reafoning running on 
 Link after Link : At the fame Time it is alfo true 
 that it employs Reafoning, oftentimes clofe and 
 very urgent j but requires, that it mould be inter- 
 mingled with Illuftrations, and enlivened with 
 Images ; and the Perfection of its Art confifts in 
 fo difpofing thefe, as to add Grace without di- 
 miniming Strength. And ought not this to be 
 the very Plan of the Orator ? He is by no Means 
 to firing Syllogifms together, nor proceed by 
 Lemmas, Proportions, and Corollaries. He who 
 would be a popular Speaker muft follow the Ex- 
 ample' of the Poet, in tempering the Auflerity of 
 ilridt Argument ; and, while he feeks to convince 
 the Underflanding, endeavour to allure the At- 
 tention. 
 
 U Phil. I
 
 290 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 Phil. I WILL not fay, Eubulus y that your Rea- 
 fons have made me an entire Convert to the 
 Poets ; but I acknowledge, that they have re- 
 moved fome Prejudices. However, in the mean 
 Time, granting you to have proved one Point, 
 that the Study of Poets is not hurtful to a 
 Speaker ; yet how will you make out your fe- 
 cond, that it is ufeful ? which I look upon to be 
 of Importance in the prefent Queftion. 
 
 Eub. IN my Opinion, that follows eafily from 
 the Obfervations already made : But, for your 
 farther Satisfaction, I will enter into fome Detail. 
 I only premife once for all ; that there is a wide 
 Difference to be made between ufeful and ne- 
 ceflary; a fine Imagination may excel without 
 any Affiftance from Poefy, indeed from Art at 
 all : I only mean, that notwithftanding fuch 
 Affiftance is in general advantageous. 
 
 Phil. I AGREE to, and fhali bear in Mind 
 your Limitation. 
 
 Eub. TELL me then, Philemon, is not Short- 
 nefs, fuch as doth not prejudice Clearnefs, a Per- 
 fection in Speaking ? 
 
 Phil. GRANTED; but this makes againft you. 
 For the Poets abound in Paraphraie ; they never 
 lead you directly to any Point, but feek for amufing 
 and round-about Ways. 
 
 Eub. LET us confider. Is that Difcourfe al- 
 ways to be efteemed the morteft, which is pro- 
 nounced in the fmalleft Space of Time ? 
 
 Phil. How can that be doubted ? 
 
 Eub. How ? Suppofe a Man to fpeak but a few 
 Minutes, yet little to the Purpofe j another many, 
 
 but
 
 Lea. 17. ORATORY. 
 
 but fo clofefy and pertinently, that every Period 
 tends to the Illuftration of his Subject; I afk, 
 which of thefe two, cohfidering Shortnefs in the 
 Light we now do, as a Degree of Perfection, do 
 you account the fhorter Speaker? 
 
 Phil. I MUST own, the Man who fpeaks only 
 what is neceffary. 
 
 Eub. VERY well. You fee then, that Brevity 
 is two- fold. One is computed only by the Num- 
 ber of Words uttered, or by the Minutes that 
 flow during the Pronunciation, which affects not 
 the prefent Queftion. The other is that Number 
 of Words or Minutes, compared with the Pro- 
 priety of what is faid : Which latter it is that 
 principally determines Brevity, as it is a Perfection; 
 the Quality, not the Quantity of Difcourfe. So 
 that he, who fpeaks for half an Hour, may be in 
 reality a morter Speaker, than him, whofe Decla- 
 mation exceeds not one fourth Part of that Time. 
 Phil. I CANNOT deny it. 
 Eub. Now apply this Diftindtion to the Poets. 
 I acknowledge, that whatever Subject they treat 
 of, they ufually are, it is requifite that they mould 
 be, circumftant'al : They are minute in De- 
 fcriptions, diftinct in Painting, enter into great 
 Detail: Infift and amplify, fo that the whole 
 Work may be of confiderable Extent ; but does 
 it follow from thence that they are prolix ? 
 
 Phil. IF the Senfe and Subfhnce of what they 
 fay can be comprized within narrower Limits, 
 why not ? 
 
 Eub. TELL me, Do you think the Oratioa 
 for the Crown prolix ? 
 
 Phil. IT contains nothing fuperfluous. 
 
 U 2 Eub. TRUE ;
 
 292 LECTURES concerning Lect. 17. 
 
 Eub. TRUE ; yet the Work itfelf is of fome 
 length. Will you fay that the Defence of Milo 
 is more tedious than one of the Declamations 
 afcribed to Quintilian> which might have been de* 
 livered in half of the Time required by the other? 
 
 Phil. MUCH other wife. 
 
 Eub. Lucius FLORUS relates the Confpiracy 
 of Catiline^ in a fingle Page, which employs, I 
 believe, an hundred fuch in the Hiftory of Sal- 
 luft j will you infer that this latter is prolix, or 
 that the other is a better Hiftorian ? 
 
 Phil. WELL, fuppofing me to anfwer as you 
 would have me, which doubtlefs I muft do, what 
 is the Tendency of all thefe Queftions ? 
 
 Eub. THAT Poets, altho' they do make Ufe of 
 many Words, are not prolix j becaufe they felect 
 only fuch Circumftances as are of Importance, 
 either inftructive or pleafing, and they treat of each 
 in fuch Manner, as constantly to keep up, even 
 while they are gratifying, your Curiolity : And 
 herein principally confifts their great Art; how- 
 ever bulky their whole Work may be, they never 
 fay too much, each Part appears to be laboured 
 with the mofl judicious Care. In this very Parti- 
 cular it is, that I fay the Orator may imitate them 
 with much Profit. He mould chufe the moft ma- 
 terial Circumftances, mould handle each in fuch 
 Way as never to fatiate the Hearer, but to keep up 
 his Attention through every Article, perpetually 
 teaching or entertaining. In my Opinion, the 
 Man who doth this, whatever be the abfolute 
 Duration of his Difcourfe, fpeaks mortly. 
 
 LET me give an Inftance of what I am faying. 
 
 [a] A French Author, of not mean Talents, but a 
 
 [a] La Moth Houdart. Critick
 
 Led:. 17. ORATORY. .293 
 Critick of over-much, allow me to fay, conceited 
 Delicacy, accufeth Homer, among many other pre- 
 tended Faults, of intolerable Prolixity; acknow- 
 ledging at the fame Time, that the Iliad contains 
 Jriany noble PafTages, and deferves to be made 
 Known to his Countrymen -, which he undertakes 
 to do. And how doth he proceed ? He attempts 
 to render that Poem into rrarfl&Vcrfo purged of 
 all Superfluity j in which Way he contracts it 
 into lefs than a third Part of the Original ; and 
 is I (hould not fay, more, but is, truly prolix. 
 
 Phil. BECAUSE his Work compared with the 
 Original is flat and languid. 
 
 EZ^.TRUE : But this ingenious Perfon feems to 
 have judged of Brevity merely from the Number 
 of Lines. You look as if you thought that I have 
 been maintaining a Paradox ; but if you examine it, 
 I am perfuaded that you will find it to be ftrictlytrue. 
 
 Phil. I MEAN at prefent to learn, not to dif- 
 pute : But I own, I find much Difficulty in ad- 
 mitting your Do&rine, that the Poets are 
 Teachers of Brevity. 
 
 Eub. YET their Works abound with Inftances 
 hereof: What think you of this Paflage, when 
 JEneas, after his Addrefs to the Ghofl of Hetfor, 
 fays [/?], 
 
 " He nothing, nor to Queflions vain replies : 
 " Haile from thefe Flames, fly, Goddefs-born, (he 
 
 " cries) 
 
 " Greece hath our Walls i 'troy tumbles from her 
 " Height." 
 
 \V\ Ille nihil, nee me quserentem vana moratur. 
 
 Heu, fuge, nate Dea, teque his, ait, eripe fiammis ; 
 Huftis habet muros j ruit alto a culmine Troja, ^Eneid. ii. 
 
 U 3 SHEW
 
 294 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 SHEW me in any Profe-writer more Senfe in 
 the fame Number of Words, than is contained 
 in this Line [c] : 
 
 *' Matchlefs in Manners, Beauty, Prudence, Arts." 
 BUT indeed Inftances may be produced with- 
 out Number. 
 
 Phil. WELL if you pleafe, let us pafs on 
 from this Point. - 
 
 INFORM me, are there any other Articles betide 
 
 this of Shortnefs, in which Poets may be ufeful ? 
 
 Eub. I THINK there are; and fame confiderable, 
 
 THAT admirable Quality, which diftinguifhed 
 
 Demoflhenes above all other Orators, for which 
 
 our Language hath not a Name, but we may 
 
 call [d\ Vehemence, is greatly promoted by ftu- 
 
 dying their Writings. I take this Vehemence to 
 
 confift chiefly in lofty Sentiments, bold Figures, 
 
 and Expreflions full of Energy. 
 
 CONCERNING the firft of thefe lofty Sentiments, 
 there is no Difficulty in mewing that the Poets 
 excel peculiarly in them. 
 
 AN unanfwerable Proof of which is, that they 
 who have written upon Sublimity of Sentiment 
 have drawn the Examples they cite, chiefly from 
 Poets : And this, it is plain, muft be the Cafe, both 
 from the Nature of the Thing, and from Fact. 
 By a lofty Sentiment is meant, as I fuppofe, what- 
 ever conveys to the Mind an Idea of fornewhat 
 noble and grand, whether it ftrike more imme- 
 diately the Understanding, or, as fome love to 
 fpeak, the moral Tafte or Senfe ; or whether it 
 
 Ov $ipa.$ t u$t <pvnv, aV j' jwaj, e^e T tgy. Iliad, lib. i.
 
 Led, 17. ORATORY. 295 
 
 ftrike the Imagination. Of the former Kinds 
 are moral Sentiments, fuch as befpeak Greatnefs 
 of Soul; a fublime difinterefted Virtue; or un- 
 daunted Courage, unbounded Ambition. Of 
 the other Sort, are fuitable Defcriptions of mag- 
 nificent Objects. Of the firft is the Anfvyer of 
 
 Hetfor to Polydamas [*] 
 
 His Sword the brave Man draws, 
 And afks no Omen, but his Country's Caufe. 
 
 POPE. 
 That of Ajax in his Prayer to 'Jupiter ; 
 
 Grant me to fee, and in the Light deftroy. 
 Such like wife is that of Satan fo well fuited to. 
 the Speaker [f] : 
 
 Better to reign in Hell, than ferve in Heav'n. 
 This alfo of Coriolanus, when Sentence of Ba- 
 nifhment had been juft pronounced againft him 
 by the Tribunes [g] : 
 
 ~ 1 bani/h you. 
 
 And that which follows foon after, indeed truly 
 magnanimous : 
 
 Thus I turn my Back ; 
 
 Tbere is a World, elfewbere. 
 Not lefs nobly Cafar in the Stornv: 
 
 Tou carry C<efar. 
 
 Such is the Infult of Macbeth over his Enemy 
 flain: 
 
 Thou wert't born of Woman. 
 
 [<] Iliad, Bookxii. 
 
 [/] Paradife Loft, Book i. ver. 263. 
 
 [/"I Shake fpear. 
 
 V 4 Such
 
 296 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 Such is this otCorneilk Medea's Anfwer to her 
 Attendant, who fays [&], 
 
 Thy Lord betrays thee, Athens hates, -~ all fly -, 
 In this Diftrefs what is remaining? L 
 And this admired PafTage in the Horace of the 
 fame : Old Horatius fays to Julia [/'] ; 
 Deplore our Race now ftain'd with Infamy : 
 Jul. What mould he do, when thre- oppoie him ? 
 
 Hor. Die. 
 
 OF the latter Kind, fublime Sentiments that 
 ftrike the Imagination ; there are Inflances innu- 
 merable in the Iliad and Paradife Loft. That 
 of Neptuneis juftly celebrated. I cannot help men- 
 tioning the two laft Lines of Mr. Pope's Tranila- 
 tion, which deviates from the plain Magnificence 
 of the Greek into O-vidian Elegance \K\ : 
 The parting Waves before his Courfers fly, 
 The wond'ring Waters leave the Axle dry , 
 PbiL You bring to my Mind a Note of his 
 more extraordinary : I mean the Judgment he 
 paries on La Moth's Imitation of the Ceilus, 
 which he calls wonderfully beautiful [/] ; the Paf- 
 fage ends with this Epigram, furely much mif- 
 placed here [m] : 
 
 Venus prefented, Juno took the Zone, [grown. 
 And prov'd it's Pow'r, from handfome charming 
 
 [h] Votre pais vous halt, votre epoux eft fans foy : 
 
 Dans un fi grand revers quc voua refte-t-il ? Mo Y. 
 [/'] Hor. Pleuiez le deflionneur de toute notre race. 
 
 Jul. Qiie vouliezvous qu'il fit centre trois ! 
 
 Hor. Qu'il mourut. 
 [*] 11. lib. xili. 
 
 [/] Pop. Horn. Note on the xivth Book 21 8th Line, 
 [w] En prenant ce tuTu,que Venus lui prefente, 
 
 Junon n,le.toit que belle, el!e devient charmante 3 
 
 The
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 297 
 
 The Smiles and Graces at tke Change amaz'd 
 Which was the real Venus doubting gaz'd : 
 Ev'n Love miftakes, preferring Juno's Charms, 
 And flies with erring Fondnefs to her Arms. 
 
 But I afk Pardon for this Interruption : .. 
 
 Proceed. - 
 
 Eub. THE eighth Book of the Iliad concludes 
 with a glorious Comparifon in this Kind, which 
 I will repeat to you in the Tranflation of a 
 Friend, whom we both defer vedly efteem. 
 As when the Moon, with her attendant train 
 Of living Sapphires mounts the cloudlefs Sky, 
 Snatching from Nature's face the veil of Night -, 
 Sudden the Valleys wind, the Rocks afcend, 
 And Mountains in rude majefty ; from Heav*n, 
 Burfts wide Effulgence, whilft unnumber'd Stars 
 Gild the blueVault: The S wains enraptur'd gaze[]. 
 
 OF this Sort alfo, in Paradlfe Loft, are the Paf- 
 fage of Satan thro' Chaos, the whole Epiibde of 
 Sin and Death, the Battle of the Angels, and par- 
 ticularly the Defcription of the Mefliah, his Victo- 
 ry and Return ; to which I might add, if need 
 were, a Multitude of others equal, or little inferior. 
 
 Now I afk : Can a Man, capable of under- 
 ftanding and of relifhing thefe Writers, be much 
 
 Les Graces et Jes Ris, les Plaifirs ct !es Jeux 
 Surprifes cherchent Venus, doqtant qui 1'eft des deux : 
 L'Amour meme trompe trouve Junon plus belle, 
 Et fon arc a la main, deja vole apres elle. 
 [n] Mr. Pope's Imitation is extremely beautiful ; but the 
 
 two laft Lines feem to lengthen out and weaken the 
 
 Thought ; 
 
 i oi TI 
 
 The confcious Swains, rejoicing in the Sight, 
 Eye the blue Vault, and blefs the ufeful Light. 
 
 and
 
 LECTURES concerning Led:. 17. 
 and intimately converfant with them, without 
 acquiring fome Spark of their noble Fire, which 
 fhall break out fometimes, which (hall fhine out 
 through the Gravity of Argument, and fpread 
 Warmth and Luftre even thro' the Drynefs and 
 Coldnefs of Bufmefs and Queftions of Law ? 
 
 THE fecond Article mentioned, as conftituting 
 Vehemence, was, Figures j of which I need not 
 fay much, as they are in a Manner peculiar to 
 Poefy ; it is built upon, and fubfifts by them. 
 And it will not furely be denied, that they migh- 
 tily enliven whatever they are brought to adorn. 
 Where fo well as from the Poets fhall we learn 
 to break out into a fpirited Apoftropfe [o] ? 
 
 Othou that with furpafiing Glory crowned, 
 
 Look'ft from thy fole Dominion, like the God 
 
 Of this new World. 
 
 WHERE fhall we learn to fufpend, or change 
 beautifully the begun Senfe [/>] 
 
 Quanquam O, fed motos prasftat componere fluc- 
 
 I will have fuch Revenges on you both [tus. 
 
 That all the World (hall I will do fuch Things 
 
 What they are yet I know not j-~ but they fhall be 
 
 The Terrors of the Earth, Sbak. Lear, 
 
 WHERE fhall we learn to feign happily alle- 
 gorick Perfons [q] : 
 
 Confufion heard his Voice. 
 
 AND this very fine one [q\; 
 Silence was pleafed. 
 
 THIS fublime one [^5 
 
 On his Creft 
 Sat Horror plum'd. r- 
 
 M Paradife Loft, Book iii. 
 
 [>] Altho' yet let me rather ftill the Waves, ViRo.Aln. 
 
 \q] Paradife Loft. With
 
 Left. 17. ORATORY. 299 
 
 With this other of the fame Kind [q] 
 Expectation flood in Horror. 
 
 WHO fo abundant in Tranflations as the Poets, 
 fo rich in Comparifons, fo full of pathetick Repe- 
 titions ; above all, who fo well qualified to inftruct 
 us in an Art, upon which the Succefs of Speeches, 
 Pleadings, Sermons, in a great Meafure depends, 
 that of reprefenting Things in fuch Manner as to 
 place them before the Eyes of the Hearer ? 
 
 WHEN you read the following Line [r], 
 
 " Sounded the Bow, String twang'd, and Arrow 
 
 " flew;" 
 
 who does not hear the Sound of the Bow-firing, 
 and fee the Flight of the Arrow ? Such m Milton 
 is the Defcription of Satan and Death meeting ; 
 you fee the Joy of the latter in this noble Picture, 
 
 " Grinn'd horrible a ghaftly Smile." 
 
 I BELIEVE it may be affirmed, that whoever 
 is Mailer of this Art, altho' he fliould not excel in 
 clofe Reafoning, tho* he fhould not be concife, 
 nor very correct, yet will never fail to pleafe, rare- 
 ly to perfuade ; at leaft in a popular Aflembly. 
 It was rightly obferved, [/] that whatever we 
 hear, affe&eth us more faintly than what we fee : 
 Now Things told fimply, altho' with Elegance, 
 we only hear j what is told in this fpirited Man- 
 ner we fee ; and thus it is that Poets tell, 
 
 [?] ParadifeLoft. 
 
 [r] Aiy|i |Sof, nv%v> & ply' i'at^w, aXro $' &i>oi. Hom. 11. lib. IV. 
 
 [/] Segnius irritant animos demifla per aures, 
 
 Quam quae funt oculis fubjedla fidelibus. 
 
 Hor. de Arte Poetica. 
 
 NEITHER
 
 300 LECTURES concerning Led. 17. 
 
 NEITHER can we reafonably doubt concern- 
 ing the laft- mentioned Article. Expreflion hath 
 ever been the peculiar Study of the Poets - it is 
 that which diftinguifhes them from all other 
 Writers at firft Glance, which is eflential to the 
 Excellence of their Art, which adds Life and 
 Grace and Beauty inexpreffible to every Subject 
 it is ufed to adorn, and if it be not the nobleft, is 
 one of the moft pleating Productions of Genius. 
 This I freely acknowledge is raifed in Poefy by 
 Art into a Kind of Language foreign from com- 
 mon Ufe, too bold, too glowing, too harmonious, 
 to be adopted exactly by any Speaker. Never- 
 thelefs, I am firmly affured, that a perfect Ac- 
 quaintance with this Language conduceth much 
 to the Improvement of Eloquence. The Rich- 
 nefs of its Phrafes, the inexhauftible Variety of its 
 Turns, its Licences, its Boldnefs, its Luxuriances, 
 its very Reftraints and Difficulties from Meafure, 
 Melody, and Rhime, all contribute to furnifh one 
 converfant in it with much greater Plenty of 
 Words, with more Change and Newnefs, and not 
 feldom with a more happy Boldnefs of Exprefficn, 
 than the unpoetical Speaker ever can attain to. 
 
 Phil. BUT you take no Notice of the mighty 
 Dangers which attend thefe Advantages. 
 
 Eub. THAT Objection I thought obviated be- 
 fore. " I have fmall Hope, faith a good Judge [#], 
 " of a young Orator, who is perfectly correct : 
 " Give me one, who hath much youthful Re- 
 " dundancy; Inftruction and Experience will 
 " bring him down to the true Standard." So we 
 
 [o] ^Atnti&an. 
 i may
 
 Left. 17. ORATORY. 301 
 
 may fay here : Give me the Man, who, warmed 
 with the Flames of poetick Genius, ventures be- 
 yond the Limits ufually prefcribed to Profe ; 
 Time, and growing Difcretion, will keep that 
 Flame within due Bounds. He who fets out 
 low and cold, wifl. grow by Time mean and 
 frigid. You may cool, but how mail you 
 kindle ? 
 
 PbiL BUT, if the Poets be thus really ufeful, 
 tell me, Eubulus, are all to be read with Ad- 
 vantage, or fome only ? If fome, which ? I afk 
 for the Direction of my own Choice, that I need 
 not wander idly through a Multitude, nor yet 
 neglect the few who may be read with Profit. 
 
 Eub. PERHAPS none are to be altogether ex- 
 cluded ; but it is neceflary to makeaDiftinction. 
 In genera], Poets of the lighter Kind, as Writers 
 of Paftorals and Elegies, are rather for elegant 
 Amufement, than of much Advantage. We 
 may pronounce nearly the fame Sentence on 
 Lyric Writers. 
 
 SOME others have a Tendency rather hurt- 
 ful ; fuch as the Epigrammatifts, who from 
 their lively Manner are but too likely to pleafe, 
 and often recommend to the Imitation of their 
 Admirers their fharp-pointed Turn of Wit, ever 
 a dangerous Enemy to Eloquence. The Greeks 
 indeed, and, among the Romans, Catullus^ are 
 pretty free from thete Conceits, which, in after- 
 times, became the fafhionablc Way of Writing, 
 fpreading from thefe Trifles their Infection to 
 the mod ferious Works. And I cannot help 
 thinking it a very hurtful Miftake in modern 
 
 Education,
 
 302 LECTURES concerning Lecl. 17. 
 
 Education, to bring up, as, I am informed, is 
 induftrioufly done, young Perfons in making 
 Epigrams after the Model of Martial, the great 
 Hero of this falfe Tafte: By which Exercife 
 they are likely to get a wrong Turn, and retain 
 it through their whole Lives* 
 
 TAKE one Inftance of this Manner. There 
 is not, I believe, in all Antiquity, a more natural, 
 even fublime Sentiment, than that of Arria, 
 when having, in order to encourage her Huf- 
 band to die bravely, ftabbed herfelf, fhe deli* 
 vered to him the Sword with thefe Words j 
 Paetus, it is not painful [] : How has Martial 
 hurt this noble Thought by falfe Refinement ? 
 and yet I look upon it to be one of his befl 
 Epigrams, and I doubt not, there are very many 
 who prefer it to the hiflorical Narration [<:]. 
 
 When Arria from her Bofom drew the Sword, 
 And gave it, yet frefh- reeking, to her Lord 5 
 This hurts not, P<tus ; that alone, Hie cries, 
 That Wound fhall hurt, by which my Ptstus dies. 
 
 SOMETIME, as I faid, among the Greeks, 
 we meet with little Pieces of this Sort where 
 both Thought and Expreffion are natural and 
 pathetick ; and now and then in Latin, as ifi 
 this modern one, 
 
 [b] PJETE, non dolet. 
 
 {/] Cafta fuo gladium cum traderet Arria Pseto, 
 
 Quern de vifceribus traxerat ipfa fuis ; 
 Si qua fides verbis, Hoc vulnus non dolet, inquit 5 
 At quod tu facies, hoc mihi, Paete, dolet. 
 
 Idyd
 
 ;. ORATORY. 303 
 
 I dy'd untimely ; happier Doom be thine, 
 Live out thy Years, beft Hufband, live out 
 mine [d]. 
 
 HOWEVER, it may well be doubted whether 
 the Danger of converting much with Perfons of 
 Wit, fucn as thefe are, who abound with agree- 
 able Faults, is compensated by any Advantages 
 they may afford. 
 
 BUT not to dwell longer on fuch Minute- 
 nefles, we may affirm in general, that the Study 
 of good Epic Writers is highly beneficial to an 
 Orator. They are grand, lofty, pathetick, excel 
 in Narration, are rich, copious in ExprefTion, 
 with Variety and Dignity harmonious. They 
 open and enlarge the Mind j they give a Ma- 
 ttery over the PafTions ; they inflame the Ima- 
 gination, they infpire a Love for, an Emulation 
 of heroic Virtue. 
 
 BUT it feems to me, that the moft ufeful of 
 all are the Writers of Tragedy, efpecially thofe 
 of antient Greece; my Reafons for thinking fo, 
 are thefe : 
 
 Fir/t, THE Style they write in, approaches 
 more than that of the others, to Prcle : The 
 Nature of their Work required that it mould 
 be fuch ; it being entirely Dialogue, in which 
 many Things mud be laid recurring often in 
 ordinary Converfation, and the Whole ought to 
 have a natural Air. Again, the Kind of Verle 
 they employ is admirably fuited to this Purpofe, 
 
 <fj Immatura peri: fed tu feliciorannos 
 
 Vive tuos, conjux optime, vivc meos. 
 
 differing
 
 304 LECTURES concerning Led:. 17* 
 
 differing little, except in the Regularity of the 
 Meafure, from harmonious Profe : Thus with 
 the Simplicity of almofl common Converfation, 
 it is capable of being elevated to all the Lofti- 
 nefs of Poefy. In which lafl Particular we, as 
 well as the Italians^ by the Ufe of Blank Verfe, 
 have a great Advantage over the French^ who 
 are forced to ufe the fame Meafure for their 
 Tragick, as their Epick Performances. 
 
 BESIDE this general Advantage, thefe Wri- 
 ters of the Drama may be of much Ufe to an 
 Orator, as they excel in thofe particular Things 
 in which he mould endeavour to xcel, be- 
 caufe frequently occurring ; fuch is, for Inffonce, 
 Narration. 
 
 THE Poets, in order to preferve the Unities of 
 Place and Time, were obliged to make frequent 
 Ufe hereof} and to -prevent the Audience from 
 being tired or growing inattentive, of which, in 
 fuch Cafes, there is perpetual Danger, they 
 wrought up thefe Paflages with their utmoft 
 Skill. If you read the Hiftory of the Death of 
 \e\ Polyxena-y of [/*] Oedipus blinding him- 
 felf 5 of [g] the Death of the fame Oedipus, and 
 of [fj\ Hczmon and Antigone - y [/] the Relation of 
 the Rage of Hercules when poifoned, and the 
 beautiful one of [k~\ Ajax killing himfelf ; I am 
 perfuaded that you will be delighted with 
 them, and acknowledge them to be Models of 
 perfect Narration. What Choice of Circum- 
 
 [*] In the Hecuba of Euripides^ [f] Oedipus Zyrannus. 
 [g] Oedipus 'Coloneus. [h] In the Antigone. [i] The 
 Trachinex. [] Ajax of Sophocles. 
 
 fiances !
 
 Lecl. 17. ORATORY. 305 
 
 fiances ! What Order, Clearness and Brevity in 
 relating! What Strength and Beauty of Ex- 
 preflion ! And above all, what natural, af- 
 fecting, bold Painting ! This Art of the Antients 
 leemeth indeed to make the whole Tragedy 
 uniform ; you appear to be a Speftator no lefs 
 of what is related, than of what is reprefented. 
 Some Moderns, although rarely, do alfo afford 
 Examples of this Skill ; fuch is the Relation of 
 Sampforis Death [/] ; and that of Polyphonies in 
 the Merope of Scipio Maffei j of which latter, 
 as the Piece is not common among us, nor the 
 Language fo much ftudied as it deferves, I will 
 here prefent you with a Tranflation, as a Kind 
 of Proof of what I have advanced : Here it is j 
 you may read it. 
 
 [Prieft 
 
 Phil. And now began the folemn Rites : The 
 Had newly fever'd from the Victim's Brow 
 The facred Lock, and thrown into the Flames. 
 Here was the Tyrant plac'd ; there Merope, 
 As one refolv'd to die. The Crowd around, 
 Intent in Expectation, filent gaz'd, 
 And motionlels. I plac'd by Chance on high 
 Beheld Cresfontes open thro' the Prefs 
 His Way with Labour won, in Vifage chang'd. 
 And all inflam'd. At length he fix'd himlelf 
 Fad by the Altar, at the Tyrant's Side ; 
 There ftood a while, gloomy, and darting round 
 Fell Looks afkance. How (hall I fpeak the reft ? 
 
 [/] Sampfon Agonijlei of MILTON. 
 
 X Since
 
 306 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 Since on -the facred Ax which lay prepar'd 
 For Sacrifice, with both his Hands to feize, 
 To rear, to brandim, and impetuous cleave 
 The Neck of the Ufurper, was the Work 
 Of but one Moment : The fame Inftant fhcw'd 
 The Steel uplifted glitter thro' the Air, 
 And the unhappy Prince fall prone to Earth : 
 Sudden the fpouting Blood the Pncfrs white 
 
 Robe 
 With Crimfon fprinkled. Shouts refound. The 
 
 Youth 
 Phrc'd, with new Wounds, him fallen. To his 
 
 Aid 
 
 Advanc'd Adrajlu^ whom the Conq'ror's Hand 
 Arrefting fwifter, plung'd into his Breaft 
 The reekingWeapon.-- But the [m] Mother, who 
 Can paint ? Fierce as a Tigrefs rouz'd to Rage, 
 Whom of her Young the Hunters would bereave, 
 Forward (he fprung, and flood before her Son ; 
 To ev'ry Jav'lin pointed at his Breaft 
 Her own oppofing j whilil aloud me cry'd 
 In broken Words, " He is my Son he is 
 " Crefphontes, is your King." The Tumult 
 
 drpwh'd 
 
 Her Voice. One feeks to fly, one to advance ; 
 Thus forward, backward, prefs'd, repell'd, the 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Like heavy Harvefts bending to the Winds, 
 Alternate wav'd ; not knowing why, confus'd, 
 They rum, retire, afk, juftle, murmur, grieve. 
 Shouts, Shriekings, Terror, Children trampled 
 
 down, 
 
 \m\ Merepe t Mother of Crefphentts, 
 
 Women
 
 Led*. 17. ORATORY. 307 
 
 Women o'erturn'd, O Scene of dire Difmay ! 
 Spread wild Diforder round. Mean while the 
 
 Bull 
 
 Raging at Will, now free, augments the Fright, 
 And bounds and bellows -, the vaft Dome re- 
 founds. 
 
 Thefe ftruggle to get forth, haften, and choak 
 The Paflage, by their Speed delay 'd : In vain 
 The Guards which at the Temple-gates were 
 
 plac'd, 
 
 Attempt to enter, by the Torrent's Force 
 O'erpower'd and born away. A Bane} of Friends 
 Mean Time around us gather. In the Midfl 
 Crefphonie^ eager for the Fight, his Eyes 
 Sparkling with Courage, labours to break thro* 
 Environ'd. I, who difengag'd, beheld 
 At Diftance, to the dark and fecret Gate 
 Which open'd to the Palace iafe Accefs 
 My Steps directed, fearful, looking round : 
 When in mid' Way, Sight horrible and foul ! 
 Lo t Polypbontes mangled, and deform'd, 
 Struck my fcar'd View : Amid a Lake of Blood 
 Proftrate he lay, cloven his Head, his Side 
 Rive.n with gaping Wounds. Adraflus near 
 Wallow'd yet half alive, and in the Pangs 
 Of Death ftill writhing. Me, blank Horror 
 
 thrill'd 
 
 To mark him as he lay, with Face convuls'd, 
 Open in fighing deeply his glaz'd Eyes. 
 The Altar lay o'ertufned, diipers'd and broke 
 Vafes and Tripods, Canifters and Knives. 
 
 y > ' 
 
 X 2 But
 
 308 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 But wherefore do we loiter ? Arm your Slaves, 
 
 Hafte, g'^ard the Gates, all Means of ftrong 
 
 Defence 
 Provide, for fierce and fudden comes the Foe. 
 
 JLub. THIS Relation, even under the Dif- 
 advantage you fee it, that of Tranflation, does, 
 I think, give no Mean Idea of the Original, and 
 may ferve as a Confirmation of what I have been 
 faying, that the Tragick Poets afford excellent 
 Models of diftinct fpirited Narration. 
 
 THE fame Poets introduce into their Trage- 
 dies very often fet Speeches, a Cuflom which 
 ftridtly fpeaking, they carry to Excefs j but this 
 they did to comply with the Liking of the 
 Athenian People, who were exceedingly fond 
 of Harangues, Thus Hecuba and Polymnefior 
 plead their Caufe before Agamemnon^ as in a 
 Court before a Judge [] : Oedipus and Creon 
 before 'Thefeus [0]. 
 
 INDEED there is fcarcely one of the Greek 
 Tragedies, that doth not afford Inftances here- 
 of. And you will find upon Examination, that 
 thefe Harangues are compleat, regular Pieces of 
 Eloquence, very clofe in the Reafoning Part, 
 fhort, nervous, and pathetic, containing ufually 
 in fmall Compafs, Matter enough to furnifh out 
 a Declaimer with a long Oration. Which fhews 
 the Truth of a Remark formerly made, that the 
 Poets in Argument and Moral Obfervation ef- 
 pecially, afford Patterns of the moft compre- 
 henfive Brevity. 
 
 [] In foe Hecuba. 
 
 f 0] In the Otdipus Cokneus* 
 
 IN
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 309 
 
 IN this Way of Harangues, Cornej//e y who 
 hath imitated the Antients much in this Article, 
 has ventured to introduce an extraordinary 
 Scene -, that wherein he gives a Detail of the 
 ileafons for and againft Auguftus C&Jhr's re- 
 figning the Imperial Power, put into the Mouths 
 of Maximus and Cinna [p]. Without Doubt, 
 a long Debate fuch as this, meerly political, 
 muft have proved very tedious and difgufting to 
 the Audience, if it had not been enlivened and 
 fupported by fmgular Force of Argument and 
 ExprefTion. And the fame Tragedy affords a 
 Piece of noble and fublime Eloquence, in the 
 Scene which pafleth bet ween Auguftus and Cinna> 
 where the former convicts, upbraids, and at 
 length pardons this Confpirator. 
 
 1 SHOULD upon this Occafion mention Come- 
 dy alfo, which is recommended particularly by 
 [?] Quintilian as ufeful to an Orator : But of 
 this Kind one Writer [r] only remains from an- 
 tient Greece, and he, on feveral Accounts, the 
 lead proper. Rome furnifheth two [j], who 
 Ihould not be omitted. I purpofely avoid fay- 
 ing much of our own Countrymen, however 
 excellent in their Way, as lefs beneficial in our 
 View. The Tafle for Wit and Humour, which 
 they principally follow, carries them another 
 Courfe. Befides,' their Confinement of them- 
 felves to Profe, whatever other Advantages it 
 may have, cuts off this of ferious Eloquence. 
 
 [ pi In his Tragedy of Cinna. [?] Lib. x. chap. i. 
 
 [r] Ariftophanes. [f] Plautus and Terence. 
 
 X 3 PERHAPS
 
 310 LECTURES concerning Led. 17. 
 
 PERHAPS the Poets on the new Settlement of 
 the Stage after the Reftoration, miftook in the 
 Manner they eftabiifhed, and might with betrer 
 Judgment, even Succels, have retained that of 
 B'Gumont and Fletcher fo far as relates to Style. 
 Comedies, in eaiy well compofedMeafures might, 
 it ieems, admit Familiarity without Meaneis ; 
 and Serioufnefs, and, on fit Occailcns, even bub- 
 limity, without Drynefs or Bombaft. This was 
 the antient Model ; and is ftill followed by the 
 heft Writers among our Neighbours. 
 
 THIS Oblervation, however, I fhall not infift 
 upon ; but go on jufl to mention one other 
 Particular, very ufeful to an Orator, in which 
 the fame Tragick Poets remarkably excel, that 
 is, a Courfe of Debate carried on in fhort An- 
 fwers and Replies, where ufually one, at moft 
 two Lines contain an Argument, retorted on 
 the Adverfary with the utmofl: Brevity and 
 Acutenefs. Such is the Controverfy between 
 [/] Teucer and Menelaus : Between \u\ Tirefias 
 and Oedipus : [w] Eleffira and Clytaemnejira , and 
 is more efpecially frequent in Euripides. A Ta- 
 lent manifeftly of the greateft Efficacy in De- 
 bates, where it is required that one mould re- 
 ply; and even in continued Difcourfes by no 
 Means ufelefs. 
 
 THESE among others are the Reafons, Pbile- 
 moriy which induce me to lay out fome Time 
 and Care in reading the Poets, not only as affbrd- 
 
 [t] In the djax of SophocLs. [] Oedipus Ty- 
 
 rannus. f w J In the Elefira .of the fame. 
 
 ing
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 311 
 
 ing an agreeable Amufement ; but highly bene- 
 ficial in my chief Scheme of Study ; as moft 
 likely to fet off the Knowledge required in my 
 Profefiion by the Edition of copious and pow- 
 erful Elocution. I will not fay that 1 have 
 found good Effects from this Kind of Applica- 
 tion, for we are too apt to flatter ourfelves ; 
 yet to a Friend I may venture to own, "that I do 
 imagine, I have. Thus much at leaft I am 
 fure of, that I have perceived ill Effects from 
 the Want of it in others ; in Advocates, who 
 defeat in a great Meafure the good Confequence 
 of many valuable Endowment?, of Sagacity, 
 Learning, Acutenefs, by the dry, infipid, unaf- 
 fecting Coldnefs of their Manner, the Inele- 
 gance, and often offenfive Meanefs of their Lan- 
 guage. 
 
 FOR which Reafon, as you are yet young and 
 have before you much Time, I recommend to 
 join with your more ferious and tirefome Studies 
 a Knowledge of the good Poets, both anticnt 
 and modern. Among the latter, thofe chiefly 
 of our own Country, for the Sake of Style and 
 Language : Among the former, I would advife 
 by -no Means to neglect the Greeks as the Cuf- 
 tom is, who befides that they are at leaft equal 
 to thofe of Rome in Strength and Elevation, 
 have much more of Simplicity and natural Beau- 
 ty ; an Excellence I believe in Poefy ; certainly 
 a great and valuable one in Eloquence. 
 
 Phil. I AM much obliged to you for your 
 
 Advice, and (hall not fail to obferve it; what 
 
 X 4 may
 
 312 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 may be wanting in your Arguments to convince 
 me, being abundantly made up in your Authority. 
 Eub. I WISH that I could merit this De- 
 ference. In return, I will entruft you with what, 
 I fear, even you will efteem a Weaknefs in me : 
 So thoroughly am I fatisfied of this Advantage 
 arifing from the Study of the Poets, that I often 
 employ myfelf in putting into Profe fuch PafTages 
 of them as pleafe me moft, imagining that by 
 this Practice I mall gradually transtufe fome 
 Part of their Spirit into my own Speech and 
 Writing. This I have lately done by the 
 Speeches of the fallen Spirits in the fecond Book 
 of Paradife Loft j Pieces of Eloquence in my 
 Opinion no ways inferior to thofe of the moft 
 confummate Orators or Hiftorians. 
 
 NAY;, I have carried this Matter much far- 
 ther ; I have lometimes taken the Trouble of 
 turning into Verfe, PafTages from Orators or 
 Hiftorians, hoping by thefe Means, not indeed 
 to produce any Thing in the poetical Way 
 worthy of being preferved, but to elevate my 
 Fancy and Style, and borrow fome Sparks of 
 poetick Fire. 
 
 You fmile, Philemon, at this Inftance of En- 
 thufiafm : Yet allow me to add, that I think this 
 .Trouble not altogether thrown away. Jf I 
 have, as you are pleafed to fay, at the Bar, and 
 cfpecially in Parliament, tranlported as it were 
 by Zeal, for my Client or Country, foared at 
 jfometimes to an unuiual Height, and perfuaded 
 or born down by a Torrent of Elocution even 
 unwilling Hearers -, behold the Caufe ! I open 
 
 to
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 313 
 
 to you here the Fountains from whence I draw 
 this Practice ; which, 1 think, you ftill continue 
 to condemn. 
 
 Phil. I SHALL not eafily condemn what you 
 pronounce, efpecially from Experience, to be 
 ufeful ; the good Effe&s -whereof I hove tike- 
 wife leen often and admired. .But whatever I 
 may think of your Arguments on thfs Head, 
 this laft Inftance of laborious- Induftry convinces 
 me that you are fincere in them. I mull add 
 farther, that 1 mould be mightily pleafcd with 
 feeing one of your little Works of this Sort. I 
 have my Eye at this Inftant, upon fome Papers 
 lying loofe upon the Table, which greatly raife 
 my Curiofity ; by the even Length of the Lines 
 I conjecture that they contain Verfes, which are 
 probably of the Sort you mention, 
 
 Eub. VERY true. And as you exprefs Curi- 
 ofity about them I mail not diiappoint it. Trifles 
 of this Kind may end more agreeably a Conver- 
 fation, which has been perhaps too ferious and 
 dry. Here are two Performances. This fhorter 
 is a Dialogue taken from Luciaris Profe j here 
 is the Original marked down, with which you 
 may compare it. This other is a Fact related 
 by an Ecclefiaftical Hiftorian [x] : which I have 
 endeavoured to tell in Verfe, with fuch Varia- 
 ation of Circumftances as I judged proper. You 
 may amufe yourfelf, if you can, with reading 
 them, until your Coach be got ready. In the 
 mean while, I will ftepinto the Garden, to give 
 
 [x] Nicephorus. 
 
 fome
 
 314 LECTURES concerning Left . 1 7. 
 
 fome Orders, which I perceive from hence to be 
 much wanted. 
 
 Phil. I thank you ; and am fure, that I fliall 
 not think the Time of my Stay here tedious. 
 
 A DIALOGUE. 
 
 rENU.'S : znA CUPID. 
 
 V E N U S. 
 
 O'ER Heav'nand Earth, my Son, thyPow'r 
 extends, 
 
 And Jove himfelf beneath thy Empire bends, 
 In vain his Thunders roll, his Lightnings fly, 
 Thine Arrows pierce the Monarch of the Sky. 
 But fay, why Pal/as, in her blooming Age 
 A ftubborn Virgin, triumphs o'er thy Rage. 
 Henceforth renounce thy Pow'r, refign thy Dart, 
 Thus impotent to wound a female Heart. 
 
 CUPID. 
 
 STUCK with juft Terror I revere, O Queen, 
 Her Form majeftick and her warlike Mien. 
 Whene'er I would approach, Tmrink thro' Fear, 
 Aw'd by her nodding Helm and beamy Spear, 
 Eager to wound, but without Force I ftand ; 
 And the Bow drops unftrung from my flack 
 Hand. 
 
 VENUS. 
 
 THE Iron God of War thyPow'r obeys j 
 And mrinks thy Soul if female Armour blaze ? ' 
 
 CUPID.
 
 Left. 17. ORATORY. 315 
 
 CUPID. 
 
 THE God of War himfelf demands the 
 
 Stroke, 
 
 Tempts me to conquer, and invites the Yoke ; 
 Softens in Smiles the Rigour of his Face, 
 And runs with open Arms to my Embrace j 
 Pleas'd from the Toils of Battle to remove, 
 And tafte the Sweets of Luxury and Love. 
 But me, attentive ftill when I draw nigh, 
 Beholds me with a fierce fufpicious Eye : 
 In Oppoiition ftern as I advance 
 The Gorgon's Head uprais'd and pointed Lance 
 Forbid approach ; in vain I bend the Bow, 
 Fear chills my Blood, and difappoints the Blow, 
 
 V E NU.S: 
 
 POORLY evaded : What? Shall Arms affright 
 That Courage, which can Jove's own Thunder 
 
 flight ? 
 
 Yet grant thy Plea were juft ; let Cupid fly, 
 And Pallas bright in Arms thy Shafts defy ; 
 Whence is it that the Mufe's tuneful Train 
 Fair, lovely, mild, unconquer'd ftill remain ? 
 Is their Form dreadful ? Do they alfo wield 
 The threat' ning Spear, and poize the Gorgon- 
 Shield ? 
 
 , C U P I D. 
 
 A BAND of Virtues throngs to their Defence, 
 Sweet Modefty, and bafhful Innocence ; 
 Pure Decency, fair Truth, Difcretion fage, 
 White Chaftity, and Wifdom's rev'rend Age. 
 Bclides, when joining in harmonious Quire 
 They raife the Song, and tune the facred Lyre, 
 
 Evn
 
 316 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 Ev'n I, attentive to the heav'nly Sound, 
 Catch the foft Rapture, and forget to wound. 
 
 V E N U S. 
 
 BY Harmony and Wifdom guarded fo, 
 Grant that the Mufes may defy thy Bow : 
 Yet mail Diana range each Vale and Grove, 
 Love's dole RecefTes, and not yield to Love ? 
 
 CUPID. 
 
 DIANA'S Bofom can I hope to mare, 
 PofTeil already by a difFrent Care j 
 With the mrill Horn to wake the early Dawn. 
 And iri full Chace ikim o'er the dewy Lawn ? 
 
 
 
 FOR once let Cupid teach, and lift'ning Youth 
 Thro' Fiction's Veil difcern this moral Truth ; 
 " By Courage and by Wiidom Love's fub- 
 
 " d;:'d 3 
 " Bus'neis and other Cares his Fires exclude." 
 
 E M I L I A. 

 
 Led.j 7 . ORATORY. 317 
 
 EMILIA. 
 
 A N 
 
 HISTORICAL POEM. 
 
 T^ROM Scythian Realms, where Winter rears 
 
 her Throne, 
 
 White with eternal Snows, a Race unknown, 
 Rude, hardy, fierce, their Limits burfting, run 
 To happier Climates, and a fouthern Sun : 
 Fierce TOTILA leads on th' unnumbered Swarm: 
 Rome's Genius finks beneath his thund'ring Arm j 
 A Prey the World's Imperial Miftrefs falls 
 To GctLick Fury. Thro' her gaping Walls 
 They rufh victorious. 'Twas ftill Midnight's 
 
 Hour, 
 When from her fmoaking Ramparts down they 
 
 pour, 
 
 Intent on Plunder : Rage and Av'rice dire 
 Range her broad Streets, and wrap her Walk 
 
 in Fire; 
 
 Campanian Skies reflect the horrid Blaze, 
 Nor lefs the Sword beneath wide-wafting flays 
 Bathes the warm Pavement in a crimfon Flood, 
 And fwells the Tiber with Patrician Blood. 
 The mighty Manes, Greek and Punick Dead, 
 Heroes, that by Rome's wild Ambition bled, 
 
 Behold
 
 3 1 8 LECTURES concerning Lect. 1 7.. 
 
 Behold, and fmile aveng'd. Mean while, the 
 
 worft 
 
 Offspring of War, lewd Violence accurft, 
 With the Sword's Havock joins more impious 
 
 Force ; 
 Loud Shrieks and Screams attend the Monger's 
 
 Courfe : 
 
 Thro' Temples, Palaces, he burfts his Way, 
 And from the Altar drags his trembling Prey. 
 Chafte Maids and Matrons, ah how late ador'd ! 
 Your Love now bleeding by the hoftiie Sword 
 Leaves you forlorn, defencelefs ; vain your Cries, 
 Heav'n only can relieve, and Heav'n denies. 
 
 BUT loudeil rofe the Storm, where with the 
 nrft 
 
 The Monarch fights in Blood and Slaughter 
 nurd, 
 
 Excites their Fury, rules the wild Uproar, 
 
 And bids th' impurpled Conduits foam with 
 Gore. 
 
 Lefs dreadful Mars, when adverfe Hofts en- 
 gage. 
 
 In groaning 'Thrace infpires, and guides their 
 
 Rage 
 In the grim Front of War ; with Blood and 
 
 Slain 
 
 He dyes the River, and he heaps the Plain ; 
 Fear, Grief, Diimay, his Train, around deftroy; 
 Earth trembles, Heav'n refounds, Hell fmiles 
 
 with Joy. 
 
 THERE flood a Palace in an open Space, 
 The Manfion of the fam'd Emilian Race : 
 
 This
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 319 
 
 This Dome with Carnage and with Gore he 
 
 fills, 
 
 On the ftain'd Marble Rome's beft Blood diftills. 
 Here flying from the Tumult, he defcry'd 
 The young Emilia ; Rome in all her Pride 
 Ne'er vaunted Daughter deck'd with Gifts Ib 
 
 rare, 
 
 A Soul fo noble, and a Form fo fair. 
 Amazement ftruck the Prince j he faw, he gaz'd 
 Attorned, motionlefs j new Paflion feiz'd 
 His ruthlefs Heart, and Love, a Stranger-Gueft, 
 Furious at once inflam'd his favage Bread : 
 As Heaps of nitrous Grain, for warlike Deed 
 Picpar'd, if touch'd by Spark or kindling Reed, 
 Catch the contagious Fire - t with rapid Glare 
 A fudden Blaze illumines the fcorch'd Air. 
 He ftretch'd his Arms to feize : Can Words 
 
 impart 
 
 The Pain, the Terror, of her virtuous Heart ? 
 Low on the Floor before the favage Man 
 She fell, and mingling Sighs with Words began : 
 
 O BY whatever Name is dear, if Love 
 E'er touch'd thy Breaft, if Pity e'er could move, 
 By.Friendthip, Virtue, thofe whom all revere 
 Gods of thy Country ; I befeech thee, fpare ! 
 O let not Violence thele Limbs profane, 
 Nor fpot my Innocence with brutal Stain ! 
 Alas ! my Parents, Brethren are no mere, 
 Yet reeks this Marble with their facred Gore ; 
 () let me follow ; pierce this Bofom here 
 While yet unliillied; Force, not Death, I fear. 
 
 Free '
 
 320 LECTURES concerning Left. 17. 
 
 Free let me fa!!, not live a guilty Slave: 
 Strike, kill ; -Way doubt'ft thou? Death's a 
 Boon I crave. 
 
 SHE faid. He heard abafh'd, and firft knew 
 
 Shame ; 
 Such Po'v/r hath virtuous Beauty : But his 
 
 Flame 
 
 Reviving, quell'd Remorfe : Again he prefl 
 Onward to feize.' She milder thus addreft : 
 
 CRUEL, fince thou art deaf to Pity's Cry, 
 Yet hear j no more I Mercy beg, but buy. 
 I know thee, Gothic Prince, beheld afar 
 Oft from our Wails, the Thunder-bolt of War, 
 Conqueft thy prime Delight, thy Goddefs Fame: 
 Yet would'fl thou gain in Arms a deathlefs 
 
 Name, 
 
 What Hun or Vandal hath atchiev'd excel, 
 I can the Means impart ; a magick Spell 
 Poflefling of ftrange Pow'r, that mid the Strife 
 Of Battle mall beftow immortal Life, 
 Preferve th* impaffive Body free from Wound; 
 Swords (hall ftrike harmlefs, and vain Spears 
 
 rebound j 
 
 This I difclofe: But by the Gods firft fwear 
 To give me Freedom, and my Honour fpare. 
 
 HE liftens, paufing ; much the Offer mov'd 
 His Soul intent on Arms, yet much he lov'd, 
 Befides, tho' credulous of Magick, ftill 
 He fears a Stratagem, and doubts her Skill. 
 
 SHE mark'd ; and in his Silence, Air and Eyes 
 The Doubts which combated within, defcries. 
 
 NAY
 
 Led. 17. ORATORY. 321 
 
 NAY, doubt not, then rejoins; thy felf fhaU 
 
 try; 
 
 Suffer me juft retiring, to apply 
 The Spell Heav'n- wrought ; then ftrike; the 
 
 mighty Charm 
 Shall guard my Life, and fcorn thy baffled Arm. 
 
 Which mould he chufe; fecure from Wound to 
 
 fight 
 
 Immortal; or indulge in Love's Delight? 
 Cruel, yetfweet Alternative; by Turns 
 He pants for Pleafure, and for Glory burns. 
 
 AT length 'tis fix'd to learn the Charm ; his 
 
 Fires 
 Then quench by Force : He fwears : The Maid 
 
 retires : 
 
 Low-kneeling, to the Pow'r that rules the Pole 
 She thus in Pray'r lifts up her fpotlefs Soul. 
 
 ALMIGHTY, thou beholdeft in what Net 
 Thy Servant ftruggles, with what Ills befet ; 
 Direct, confirm: And O! if what is thine, 
 This Life, thy Gift, too rafhly I refign. 
 Father, forgive ! Yet wherefore doubt I ? 
 
 Death 
 Is now thy Gift; -Life was: Receive this 
 
 Breath, 
 
 Accept this Sacrifice. At Virtue's Call, 
 Let me chafte Victim on thy Altars fall. 
 When Age or Sicknefs kill, 'tis nam'd thy Dee<J, 
 Fall I Ids thine in Virtue's Caufe, who bleed, 
 Ere Chains or foul Dishonour blot, yet free ? 
 Can I more nobly ? Rome, I fall with thee. 
 Y I come
 
 LECTURES concerning Left. 1 7. 
 I come, great Anceftors, your Shades to join, 
 Yet pure, and worthy of your noble Line. 
 
 So pray'd {he, with firm Purpofe fix'd : Then 
 
 fheds 
 
 A Cake of melting Wax, and forming fpreads 
 Around her Neck : And this, me hopes, might 
 
 well 
 
 Pafs with the rude Barbarian for the Spell 
 Feign'd to preferve from Wound by Magick 
 
 Lore, 
 
 A coarfe Device; the Time allow'd no more; 
 And, knowing Beauty helps Delufion's Snare, 
 She adds new Ornaments to feem more fair. 
 
 As the bright Moon, if Clouds a while 
 
 conceal 
 
 Her Beams, emerging from the dufky Veil 
 Adorns her Silver Orb with purer Light, 
 And pours new Glory on the vanquim'd Night : 
 Thus deck'd, and fmiling gay, the Fair returns 
 Bright in augmented Charms. He fees, he burns 
 With double Hope. Behold at length apply 'd 
 The Spell I juftly boafted of, me cry'd ; 
 This Gift from a renown'd Enchantrefs came, 
 Whofe potent Art controll'd all Nature's Frame. 
 Pale Mortals oft have feen at her Command 
 Night blot the Sun, dire Earthquakes rock the 
 
 Land, 
 
 Seas undifturb'd by Winds loud-roaring fwell, 
 And fummon'd Spectres rife from yawning Hell. 
 This Spell to me, much-lov'd, (he dying, gave ; 
 And thou but mindful of thy Oath, receive, 
 
 Unhurt,
 
 7. ORATORY. 323 
 
 Unhurt, unfpotted to preferve my Youth. 
 Nor doubt ; letftri&eft Proof confirm my Truth ; 
 Here ftrike j I fhrink not; nay defy, O Prince^ 
 Ev'n thy dread Arm : This Trial muft convince, 
 
 SHE fpoke, in Semblance dauntlefsj mejm 
 
 while Fear 
 
 Ran chill within, for Death look'd dreadful near ; 
 But tow'ring Virtue feeble Thoughts difdain'd, 
 Check'd ftruggling Nature, and her Brow feren'd, 
 
 NOR long the Paufe : For fudden attheWor.cJ> 
 Full on her Neck defcends th' impetuous Sword* 
 " Receive me Heav'n," me cry'd, with fault'ring 
 
 Tongue, 
 
 Heavri thro' the lofty Dome re-echoing rung. 
 The Trunk yet panting on the Floor fallsdead ; 
 Far on the flippery Marble rolls the Head. 
 Ah late of Form divine ! how chang'd it lies ! 
 Pale that bright Cheek, and quench'd thofe 
 
 flarry Eyes ! 
 
 As fome tall Poplar, Glory of the Woods 
 That grace thy Bank, broad SHANNON, King of 
 
 Floods, 
 
 Beneath whofe Shade theDryadslead theirQuires, 
 And Nymphs and Shepherds breath their faith- 
 ful Fires, 
 
 Uprooted by the Thunder's Stroke, pround 
 Spreads its fair Ruins o'er the blafted Ground ; 
 Torn from the Trunk the fcatter'd Honours lye, 
 Yet green in vernal Pride, and with'ring dye. 
 
 UPON the headlefs Trunk aghaft, amaz'd, 
 In Silence long the fierce Barbarian gaz'd ; 
 
 Y ^ Then
 
 324 LECTURES concerning Led. 17. 
 
 Then firft knew Pity, and his favage Soul 
 Wond'ring relented, Sighs unwilling ftole : 
 His ravifh'd Blifs awhile he fallen mourn'd; 
 Thence to deftroy with double Rage return'd. 
 
 Go, Monfter, glut thy Fury : Yet fhall Fate 
 Hunt thy fell Steps, 'till at Ravenna s Gate 
 Thy Carcafe amid Heaps unbury'd huii'd, 
 Avenge the murder'd Fair, and pillag'd World. 
 
 HAIL, gloriousVirgin ! Be thy Praife and Deed 
 Rais'd fromOblivion'sDarknefsj bold to bleed 
 Honour's chafte Sacrifice in Beauty's Prime, 
 'Preferring Wounds to Shame, and Death to 
 
 Crime ! 
 
 Worthy of Rome's beft Blood, that fill'd thy Veins, 
 Pride of thy Sex : O may thefe humble Strains 
 To late Pofterity record thy Name, 
 And weeping Virgins emulate thy Fame ! 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Left. 1 8. ORATORY. 
 
 3*5 
 
 LECTURE the Eighteenth; 
 
 Of S T Y L E. Of P L A T o. 
 
 STYLE is, AnAfTemblage of Words 
 tc conlidered with regard to Propriety of 
 " Signification, and Arrangement in Sound." 
 As the Methods of exprefling Thoughts are 
 various, and thefe Expreflions may be different- 
 ly ordered, there muft be great Diverfities of 
 Style. The moft antient Divifion, that of Homer, 
 is perhaps the befl : It is threefold ; the Concife 
 and Nervous ; the Copious and Sweet ; the Ve- 
 hement and Sublime j which feveral Kinds he 
 hatji exemplified in three of his Heroes ; pre- 
 ferving to each his diftinclive Character of Elo- 
 quence through the whole Poem. 
 
 IT is not however to be imagined, that a 
 Work of Length mould be written wholly in 
 any one of thefe Kinds ; becaufe the different 
 Parts of it, may each require a diftindt Kind ; 
 ib that every fuch Work may and ufually doth 
 contain Inftances of all the three Sorts : Yet this 
 hindereth not, but that one may be predo- 
 minant ; which we may extend from the Works 
 to the Authors. For every Perfon hath from 
 Nature a peculiar Genius, and although he may 
 
 employ,
 
 3 26 LECTURES concerning Led. 1 8 . 
 
 employ, as beft fuits with his Argument, thefe 
 various Forms of Speech, yet that which is mofl 
 conformable to his own Difpofition will prevail, 
 and constitute what we call his Character. Thus 
 Thucydides, Tacitus, and Montefquieu, write in the 
 firfl Manner : Plato, Cicero, and Tillotfon in the 
 Second : Homer , Demofthenes, and Milton in the 
 Third. 
 
 WITH refpect to this laft Kind, fome mo- 
 dern Criticks have been at much Pains in di- 
 ftinguiming the Sublime from fublime Style ; a 
 Diitinction according to my Judgment imagi- 
 nary. For this I take to be the Truth. If a 
 PafTage confift but of one grand Thought or 
 Image, the more fimple the Expreffion, the 
 more Sublime ; becaufe it renders a grand 
 Thought with Precifion : As in this, 
 
 His dantemjura Catonem. VIRG. 
 
 IF there be a Courfe of lofty Sentiments con- 
 nected together, the Expreffion muft be con- 
 tinued, muft have Length, and be fupported 
 'by fuitable Harmony and Strength, as in thefe 
 Lines of the Iliad [#] : 
 
 Hell felt the Shock, and her aftounded King 
 Leap'd yelling from his Throne, afraid left Earth 
 Should yawn, by Neptune riven, and difclofe 
 To Gods and Men his dreary Realms, in Smoke 
 And $tench involv'd, and dreadful ev'n to Gods. 
 
 [<?] Book xxiii. 
 
 In
 
 Left. 18. ORATORY. 327 
 
 In both Cafes, the Style, though in Appearance 
 different, is alike fublime, being in both, the 
 moil proper Exprefiion of fublime Concep- 
 tion. 
 
 FROM thefe Obfervations may be drawn ufe- 
 ful Confequences. Some of which I will briefly 
 mention. 
 
 FIRST, Style is truly a Part of Genius, and 
 fo far depends upon Nature. For being deter- 
 mined to Thought, and this Power of Thinking 
 arifing from the Frame of the Soul, Style muit 
 in this Refpect be the Produd of a natural Ta- 
 lent j fo that without this Foundation, this 
 Talent, no Degree of Art or Care can beftow a 
 fine one ; the utmoft which thefe can do, is to 
 preferve from grofs Errors ; and thus advance to 
 Mediocrity. 
 
 HENCE Secondly; The firft Endeavour of 
 all Teachers mould be, by forming the Judg- 
 ment to aflift the Genius. A young Peribn 
 who is capable of thinking well, may be train* 
 ed up to think better, to know what is right, 
 to chufe among his own Thoughts the beft, 
 and range them to Advantage : The Confe- 
 quence whereof will be, that he mall of Courfe 
 form to himfelf a good Style, for Thoughts 
 make Words and mould them to their own 
 Size. Whereas the ufual Method is oppofite 
 hereto ; to lay out much Time and Pains upon 
 Words, to overwhelm the Memory with Rules 
 concerning Tropes, Figures, Periods, Har- 
 mony ; with little Care to form the Underfland- 
 ing, to fettle diftincl: Notions of what is right 
 Y 4 and
 
 328 LECTURES concerning Left. 18, 
 
 and wrong, true and falfe ; which is to be- 
 
 5 in at the wrong End : Style cannot beftow 
 udgment ; perfed the Judgment, it will create 
 a Stile. 
 
 THIRDLY, We may from hence learn how 
 to anfwer a Queftion often afked, and much 
 disputed about, " Is a good Style valuable, and 
 " why?" 
 
 As it is really a Part of Genius, infeparable 
 from, and not to be acquired without that, it is 
 like every other Branch of Genius, valuable. 
 But the Queftion is, " In what Refpecl: is it 
 " fuch Part, being fo far only of Value r" I 
 anfwer, Entirely as a proper Cloathing of 
 Thought: For fine Words without fuitable 
 Conceptions are ridiculous Sound; and the 
 Cloathing of good Conceptions in mean Lan^ 
 guage is difguifing and debating them : Of 
 which latter the Hazard is much lefs, as it 
 can happen from peculiar Circumftances only : 
 For, 
 
 FOURTHLY. In general ; clear, ftrong, 
 Jofty Ideas paint themfelves in conformable 
 Words; but the following Conditions are fup- 
 pofed in the Speaker : That the Language he 
 employs hath arrived at fome tolerable Degree 
 of Perfeclion, otherwife Inftruments for Ge- 
 nius to work with are wanting : That the 
 Speaker hath a good Knowledge of this Lan- 
 guage : And that by Exercife he hath acquired 
 a Facility of expreiling himfelf therein. To 
 which may be added, that he mould have re- 
 gard to fhc Age, to Cuflom, to the Mode of 
 
 Pronun-
 
 Lea. 18. ORATORY. 329 
 
 Pronunciation, fo as not to ufe Terms obfolete 
 or low, nor depart from the received Tone or 
 Idiom : MinutenefTes, however eafy, by no 
 Means to be difregarded : In thefe Particulars 
 Style dependeth not at all upon Genius, but on 
 Converfation and Knowledge of the World ; 
 accordingly, the Obfervance of them merits 
 not Praife, but the Ignorance or Neglect of them 
 is unpardonable. 
 
 I SHOULD now pafs on to the laft Head pro- 
 pofed in the Plan of thefe Lectures, but am 
 called back by the Recollection of an Omiffion 
 which I have been guilty of. In my fecond 
 Difcourfe, I juft mentioned Plato as an Im- 
 prover of Eloquence among the Greeks, and pro- 
 mifed to give a fuller Account of him : This I 
 now proceed to do, in as few Words as the Sub- 
 'edt will admit. 
 
 PLATO is to be considered in two Lights, as a 
 Teacher of Eloquence by Precept ; and as an 
 eloquent Writer. Many Strokes of the firlt 
 Kind are found difperfed in his Works ; but one 
 intire Dialogue; the Phtedrus^ is in this Way ; 
 and contains much excellent Inftruction. I 
 will trace out a fhort Idea of it, that ye 
 may fee fomewhat of his Manner, and be in- 
 duced, I hope, to fludy it at Length in the 
 Original. 
 
 PH^EDRUS a young noble Athenian, is re- 
 prefented as charmed with a Difcourfe of Ly- 
 Jias, a famous Orator, which he had juft heard, 
 -and of which he had received a Copy. So- 
 crates prevails upon him to read it : A hardy 
 
 Attempt
 
 330 LECTURES concerning Led, 18. 
 
 Attempt in our Author ; it being probably an 
 Oration compofed by himfelf in Imitation of 
 Lyfias y then living in Athens, and much ad- 
 mired. The Judgment formed of this Piece 
 by Socrates is very different from that of his 
 young Friend. He agrees in the Praifes given 
 to the Style, but perceiveth many Defeats in the 
 Work. Lyjias, he fays, hath given no diftinct 
 Explanation of his Subject : The Subject itfelf 
 is faulty, fingular, and affected : He wants Me- 
 thod, beginning with what mould be the Con- 
 clufion, and confounding the intermediate Parts 5 
 which led him into another Fault, frequent Re- 
 petition of the fame Thought in various Ex- 
 preffion, as if through a juvenile (Mentation of 
 Fancy and Copioufnefs of Language. 
 
 To illuftrate thefe Remarks, Socrates repeats 
 an extemporary Difcourfe on the fame Subject, 
 which is altogether free from the Faults he had 
 objected to in the other : And becaufe the Er- 
 ror of the Subject ftili remained, he adds another 
 upon a different one, which is indeed a Noble 
 and a Sublime Oration. 
 
 PHJEDRUS filled with Admiration, beginneth 
 to fee his former Miftake, and defireth to know 
 whether Rhetorick be an Art, and if any Rules 
 for writing well can be delivered. Socrates 
 thinks there may : And layeth it down as the 
 firft. 
 
 THAT the Orator mould have a perfect 
 Knowledge of his Subject, that he may fpeak 
 not plaulibly only, but folidly and ufefuliy : 
 For Rhetorick confifts not merely as the So- 
 
 phifts
 
 Left. ii. ORATORY. 331 
 
 phifts taught, in haranguing to a Multitude, but 
 extends to all Subjeds and Occafions, even to 
 common Converfation. 
 
 A SECOND Rule is, that a Difcourfe fhould be 
 regular and fo difpofed in all its Parts, that each 
 {hould have its own Place, and its Ufe in con- 
 tributing to the Strength of the Whole : For it 
 {hould be confidered as an animal Body, made 
 up of many Members, all different in Office and 
 Situation, yet neceffary to the Whole, and to 
 each other. , , 
 
 A THIRD Rule is, Reduce your Subject to 
 its moft general Idea, which having defined, 
 diftinguiih accurately the ieveral Species con- 
 tained under it, that ye may have a full View of 
 that you treat upon, with its Connexions, and 
 the Differences bordering on it. 
 
 THESE Rules Pbtedrus thinks to be juft, 
 " but they are rather Logical than Rhetorical." 
 What then, anfwers Socrates, do you efteem 
 to be Rhetorical ? Thofe commonly laid down 
 by our Rhetoricians ? Such as relate to the Ex- 
 ordium, then following in order the Narration, 
 Witneffes, Confirmation, Refutation, and laftly 
 the Peroration, which repeats fuccindly the 
 Sum of all : To thefe they add Common- 
 places, Obfcrvations concerning Figures, Simi- 
 litudes, Ornaments of Diftion, Inftructioijs 
 how to excite Anger, or melt an Audience in- 
 to Pity. Points in the Opinion of Phadrus of 
 very great Efficacy in the Art of Perfualion ; 
 but Socrates thinks them not the only, nor the 
 main Points, and as they were then delivered far 
 
 from
 
 LECTURES concerning Left. iS. 
 from being at all ufeful ; for Rhetoricians in 
 laying down thefe Precepts did not inftruct Men 
 in the Manner of employing them : It is, faith 
 he, as if a Man having learned fome good Me- 
 dicines fhould fet up for a Phylician, although 
 utterly ignorant upon what Occafions, and how 
 to apply them. He then proceedeth to deliver 
 his own Doctrine. 
 
 To form a good Orator, he fays, that three 
 Things are necefTary. Natural Genius, Know- 
 ledge, and Pratice[b]. Which three met in 
 the heft Speaker of our Days, Pericles ; who 
 born with a great Talent for Speaking, added 
 Knowledge which he learned from Anaxagorm, 
 Logick namely, and the Science of Nature > 
 and alfo continual Exercife, Logic teaches the 
 Art of Realbning clearly. The Study of Na- 
 ture leads into the Knowledge of the human 
 Mind, the Balis of all true Oratory. For the 
 Mind is the Origin of all the Variety of Tempers 
 and Difpofitions among Mankind : Which 
 knowing, with the Influence that each Kind of 
 Difcourle hath upon each, you will of Courfe 
 know how to direct yourfelf with Succefs to 
 every Kind of Difpofition : And herein confifts 
 the Ground of the whole Ait of Perfuafion, the 
 End of all Eloquence. 
 
 HAVING now pofferTed yourfelf of this fun- 
 damental Knowledge, then it is, and not before, 
 that you may make good Ufe of the above- 
 mentioned Precepts of Rhetoricians ; then you 
 fliall diftinguim^ when you ought to be con- 
 
 cife, 
 [b] No mention is made of Tajie.
 
 Le&i8. ORATORY. 333 
 
 cife, when to amplify ; when you fhould be fim- 
 pie, when adorned, as your Subject and the Na- 
 ture of your Hearers require. 
 
 PH^EDRUS acknowledges this Doctrine to be 
 reafonable; but he objects to it as very difficult. 
 Let us fee, replies Socrates, perhaps there is an 
 eafier Way. Do you like better that of the 
 Sophifts, who maintain that an Orator need not 
 be at the Trouble of underftanding perfectly the 
 Point he fpeaketh upon ? He is to perfuade die 
 Multitude ; why mould he regard Truth ? Jt is 
 enough if he ufeth probable Arguments, fuch as 
 appear true to them. A dangerous and per- 
 nicious Doclrine, deceiving Men it may be, to 
 the Deir.ru<ftion of themlelves, and of the 
 State. 
 
 BUT grant it right for a Moment. How 
 can you underftand the Doctrine of Likenefies, 
 but by undemanding that of Realities ? Who 
 difcerns beft what is like Truth, but he who 
 knows Truth ? If the Appearance of Truth per- 
 fuades, mud not Truth itfelf more effectually 
 perfuade ? 
 
 BUT it is not fo, Phtrdriis; this whole is a 
 deflructive Error, ft/ias, and Gorgias, and 
 Prodicus holding thofe Doctrines, corrupt Elo- 
 quence as well as Morality. On the contrary, 
 the true Orator will confider himlclf as fpeak- 
 ing not to Men alone, but to the Gods ; to his 
 Lords and Sovereigns, not to his Fellow-fervants 
 only ; and will therefore fpeak truly and fincere- 
 ly. Much more ought we to obferve the fame 
 Rules in Writing, and employ therein more 
 
 Pains,
 
 334 LECTURES concerning Left. 1 8. 
 Pains, as it is intended to remain a lafting Mo- 
 nument to Pofterity ; in the fame Manner as 
 Trees which are to be of Ufe and Ornament to 
 our Defcendents are planted with more Labour 
 and Care. 
 
 THE Sum is j the compofing or fpeaking of 
 Difcourfes is not a Difhonour to the greatefl 
 Perfon ; it is the compofing or fpeaking ill alone, 
 that is fuch. The true Orator knoweth fully 
 his Subject : Defineth clearly : Traceth up 
 his particular Point to its general Idea, then 
 defcending by fkilful Divifions, fixeth plain 
 and diftinct Notions of it. He is perfectly ac- 
 quainted with the human Mind, and the fe- 
 veral Tempers and Difpofitions arifing from its 
 Frame -, and knowing what kind of Difcourfe 
 fuiteth beft with each j maketh his own agree, 
 and be in Unifon, as it were, with the Hearts 
 of his Hearers : Then employeth fkilfully and 
 juftly the Difcoveries of SophiAs, in adorning his 
 Speech by Figures, Pathos, and Elegance of 
 Expreffion. 
 
 TELL thefe Obfervations which we have 
 made, O Phadrus y to Lyfias j I will not fail to 
 repeat them to my young Friend Ifocrates, whofe 
 Genius fuperior, in my Opinion, to that of Lyftas, 
 and, more efpecially his mild and virtuous Man- 
 ners, promife great Excellence. 
 
 " AND now, O Pan, and all ye Gods, Guar- 
 " dians of this Place, grant me inward Beauty, 
 " and fuch outward Things as may be friendly 
 " thereto : May, I think, the wife' Man only 
 
 rich
 
 . ORATORY. 335 
 
 c< rich ; and poiTefs juft fo much Wealth as is 
 Cf confident with Virtue !" 
 
 WITH this Prayer the Dialogue concludes. 
 And from this imperfect Sketch you may fee, 
 that it contained! the fundamental Precepts of 
 Rhetorick ; enlarged afterwards, and reduced 
 into a regular Syftem by Ariflotk - y to which 
 fucceeding Writers have added little new ; even 
 the Eloquence and Experience of Tu/fy did not 
 much more than adorn thefc. 
 
 IF we confider Plato in the fecond Light, as 
 a Writer y we mall acknowledge that Eloquence 
 owed yet more to his Example than Precept. 
 It is true, the Form of Philofophy which he 
 learned from Socrates^ that of enquiring and 
 tUH feeming to doubt, together with the Man- 
 ner of Dialogue into which this naturally led, 
 oblige him to conceal the Method he purfued. 
 But whoever will have Patience to read his Di- 
 alogues throughout, and afterwards to reconfider 
 attentively the Defign and Contexture of the 
 Whole, will perceive, that there is in each a 
 regular Scheme carried on with infinite Art; 
 that what you at hrft object again ft as Digref- 
 fion and altogether foreign, is yet conducive to 
 his Purpofe, and leads to the Conclufion aimed 
 at: He feems to go far back; but it is that he 
 may advance more fwiftly, and finifh his Career 
 with more Force and Rapidity. 
 
 OBJECTIONS doubtlels there are, and fome 
 too well grounded, to particular Parts: But 
 fetting thefe afide, it may be affirmed, that 
 Antiquity hath tranfmitted to us nothing for 
 
 Strength
 
 336 LECTURES concerning Left. jH. 
 
 Strength of Reafon, for Delicacy and Juftnefs 
 of Thought, for Sublimity of Sentiment and 
 Moral, enriched with all the Ornaments of a 
 ftrong and lively Imagination, fuperior to the 
 Writings of this Philofopher. His Style, with 
 all the Embellimmenrs of Art, hath the Eafe 
 of Nature. He defcends to the common 
 Phrafe of Converfation, and rifeth from thence, 
 without Conftraint or Abruptnefs, into the 
 loftieft Speculations of refined Metaphyficks. 
 He is fweet and infinuating ; is alfo concile and 
 vehement. He can be fimpie and artlefs ; yet 
 when his Subject requires it, he enlivens mo- 
 ral Argument with the Harmony and Elevation 
 of Poefy. 
 
 IN which latter Article he is accufed of hav- 
 ing taken exceffive Licence ; of having foared 
 above the Limits of Profe, both in Thought 
 and Style : Some Inflances whereof may be 
 found in the fecond Speech of Socrates, in this 
 very Pbtzdnu. 
 
 THIS Error, if fuch it muft be called, fol- 
 lows very naturally from what is related of 
 Plato in his Youth ; at which Time he ap- 
 plied himfelf wholly to Poetry. He wrote a 
 Tragedy or two ; and is faid to have attempted 
 an Epic Poem : But he afterwards quitted the 
 Mufe for Philofophy. Yet his nrfr. Habit, al- 
 though checked, retained fome Force : This 
 original Talent appears in his Profe ; and amidft 
 the Depth of philofophick Realbning, the 
 Beams of poetick Genius by Fits burft forth. 
 
 UPON
 
 Left. 1 8. ORATORY. 337 
 
 UPON this Part of his Hiftory, together with 
 the Plan of a celebrated Fable, The Judgment of 
 Hercules, which Xenophon hath preferved to us, 
 is grounded a little poetical Eflay, which I take 
 the Liberty of prefenting to you, in Hope of 
 your ufual Indulgence. 
 
 To the RIGHT HONOURABLE the 
 
 EARL of CHESTERFIELD. 
 
 GRAC'D with the Talents of each Rank and 
 Age, 
 
 Statefman, or Ruler, Patriot, Poet, Sage, 
 To thee, O STANHOPE, I addrefs the Lay, 
 From Climes that felt, that ftill record, thy Sway, 
 "When dire Rebellion fbook the neighb'ring Land, 
 Safe in thy Prudence and well-poiz'd Command []; 
 [] Which offer'd Troops declining, wifely bold, 
 Watch'd without Fear, and without Force controll'd. 
 O early loft, thro* an illuftrious Choice ! 
 Prais'd, blefs'd, lamented, by a Nation's Voice ; 
 
 [a] His Lordfhip was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland dur- 
 ing the Time of the late Rebellion in Scotland, in 1745* 
 and was removed from thence by his MAJESTY to be Se- 
 cretary of State. 
 
 [b } An Offer was made of raifing 4000 Men ; but de- 
 clined by his Lordfhip, as of unneceflary Expence to the 
 Publick. 
 
 Z who
 
 338 LECTURES concerning Left. 18. 
 
 Who now, fecure from the loud Storms of State, 
 Enjoy 'ft thy Mufes, glorious in Retreat ; 
 Incline the lawrel'd Head, and Audience deign 
 To the low Mufick of a moral Strain, 
 Which ALMA'S Youth would raife from Sound to 
 
 Senfe, 
 And build on Wifdom manly ELOQUENCE. 
 
 woti 
 
 
 THE
 
 Left. 18. ORATORY, 339 
 
 THE 
 
 JUDGMENT of PLATO. 
 
 IF Fancy, without Reafon wildly gay, 
 At beft fweet Trifler, fport in idle Play ; 
 And rigid Reafon without Fancy's Aid, 
 Wife to no End, unheard, unrelilh'd, plead, 
 How fhall I hit the Mean? How juftly fteer, 
 Gay, yet not gaudy, folid not fevere ? 
 How Senfe with Beauty, Clofenefs join with Eafe, 
 Adorn without Redundance, teach yet pleafe ? 
 
 AH ! let not Youth, unfeafonably wife, 
 The Mufe's tuneful Elegance defpife : 
 Nor yet bewilder'd in her Maze too long, 
 To ferious Age protract th* untimely Song. 
 
 IN Fancy fee a BlofTom of the Spring, 
 That fpreads its Foliage to the Zephyr's Wing, 
 Fed by kind Suns and Show'rs fair-op'ning blooms, 
 And fills the gladden'd Air with foft Perfumes, 
 In vain ; if Age, mild Autumn's fober Beam 
 Mature not into Fruit its tender Frame, 
 Which elfe frail Flow'r, foon pierc'd by mortal 
 
 Wound, 
 
 Pines on the Bough, or withers on the Ground : 
 So blooms young Fancy, unlefs Reafon's Pow'r 
 Fix and mature, a gay, a fhort-liv'd Flow'r. 
 As ev'ry Seafon mould its Blefiing bring, 
 Ufe crown the Autumn, Beauty deck the Spring, 
 
 Z 2 Thus
 
 340 LECTURES concerning Left. iB. 
 
 Thus mould each Age obtain its Grace ; if youth 
 Sport in light Strain, let Man contemplate Truth. 
 Youth's polifh'd Toysdifhonour rev'rend Age, 
 And grey-hair'd Dullnefs threats the beardlefs Sage; 
 Happy, where each reigns its allotted Hour, 
 And Wifclom fairer fprings from Fancy's Flovv'r. 
 
 THIS Truth, fince Truths in Morals dryly told 
 Tales can enliven, let a Tale unfold. 
 
 THE firft of Sages, PLATO, juftly nam'd, 
 No kfs'the Poet's Lawrel might have claim'd, 
 If Fancy ftarting firft, her rapid Courfe 
 Had held, unchecked by following Reafon's Force. 
 In Dawn of op'ning Youth he wing'd his Flight, 
 Born by ftrong Fancy o'er Parnajfus' Height , 
 Nor to one Mufe confin'd, with various Fire 
 Now trod the Bufkin, and now ftrung the Lyre ; 
 Yet bolder, woo'd imperial Clio's Charms, 
 Nor fear'd the Epick Trump, and Din of Arms. 
 Greece heard, and hail'd the Bard with glad Prefage, 
 And hop'd an Iliad from his riper Age. 
 
 BUT as he rofe to Manhood, Love of Truth 
 Grew on his Mind, and check'd impetuous Youth : 
 Man he reflects was born to Views fublime, 
 Not fram'd to fetter Words in tuneful Chime, 
 Fictions, however fweet, delude ; the Mind 
 In Truth alone can lading Pleafure find : 
 Such Thoughts difturb his anxious Bofom, long 
 Unfix'd, and oft' fufpend th' unfinifh'd Song. 
 
 ONCE in a Grove, 'tis faid, the Youth retir'd, 
 Where oft' he wandcr'd by the Mufe infpir'd ; 
 
 Where
 
 Lecl.i8. ORATORY. 34I 
 
 Where under thickeft Shade Hi/us ftrays, 
 Meandring fweet in many a Silver Maze ; 
 Penfive he walk'd for Thoughts of ferious Kind 
 Conflicting rife, and fadden all his Mind : 
 Much he reflects which Study he mould chufe, 
 Think with the Sage, or warble with the Mufe, 
 This Fancy urges, Reafon that approves, 
 One he admires, yet ftiil the other loves. 
 
 So doubts the Youth, whom loud Alarms invite 
 From his lov'd Beauty to the Toils of Fight ; 
 Hither his Country's Danger calls ; and there 
 With dreaming Eyes intreats the clinging Fair ; 
 His Breaft is torn by oppofite Defires, 
 Now Fondnefs melts him, and now Glory fires ; 
 Stern Honour bids Depart^ Loves urges Stay, 
 He fighs, oft bids adieu, and (lowly moves away. 
 
 WHILE thus he wander'd, anxious and diftreft, 
 Reafon with Rapture warring in his Bread, 
 Sudden two Forms celeftial (truck his Sight, 
 The Foreft glitter'd with unufual Light. 
 One, rofy Youth adorn'd with ev'ry Grace-, 
 And Bloom immortal brighten'd in her Face; 
 Her Hand fuftain'd a Lyre j a lawrel Bough 
 Inwov'n with twining Ivy wreath'd her Brow : 
 The youthful Poet foon defcry'd his Queen, 
 Her Eyes far- beaming, and her graceful Mien. 
 
 AND now alighted on the Green, each Fair 
 Approach'd ; when haft'ning with familiar Air 
 And confcious Beauty ; firft the tuneful Maid 
 Began j celeftial Mufic fills the Shade ; 
 
 Z 3 Attention
 
 342 LECTURES 'concerning Led. 18. 
 
 Attention holds admiring Nature ftill, 
 
 Soft the Breeze whifpers, and fcarce purls the Rill. 
 
 WHAT mean thefe Doubts that in thy Bofom rife, 
 Illuftrious Plato, fav'rite of the Skies ? 
 Know better thy own Worth ; to thee are giv'n 
 Invention, Genius,- Tafte, beft Boon of Heav'n : 
 Yet doubt'ft thou ? Can'ft thou fuch high Talents 
 
 fcorn ? 
 
 Canft thou forfake the Mufe celeftial born, 
 For HER of earthly Mold, obfcure to dwell 
 With Want and Meannefs in the Sage's Cell ? 
 O rather follow where I point the Road ! 
 Come follow Nature, 'tis the Voice of God. 
 Why glows thy Bofom with poetic Flame ? 
 From T-Ieav'n, from Heav'n the early Impulfe came. 
 Canft thou to Fame thus call'd, inglorious lye, 
 And creep on Earth, who mould afcend the Sky ? 
 Behold, I lead the Way ! Come, wing thy Courfe 
 Rapt by ftrong Genius, to Caftalia's Source, 
 Where on the Margin of the facred Spring 
 The tuneful Nine immortal Numbers fing: 
 Oft from his Sun-bright Car the God of Day 
 Defcends, his Lyre attuning to the Lay, 
 Celefdal Symphony! Bards Lawrel-crown'd 
 Enraptur'd lilien to the facred Sound; 
 Fame takes the Note, and with her Trumpet fends 
 The deathlefs Song to Earth's remoteft Ends. 
 Hither I guide : To thefe with happy Choice 
 Companion not unworthy, add thy Voice. 
 Such, Orpheus (truck the Lyre, and Heav'n-taught 
 
 fung; 
 
 Beafts fawn'd, Trees followed, Torrents lift'ning 
 hung j The
 
 Left. 18. ORATORY. 343 
 
 The Force of Mufic Hell relenting felt, 
 Stern Pluto weeps, and fnake-crown'd Furies melt. 
 Such was Ampbion^ whofe melodious Call 
 Rocks heard, obey'd, and rear'd the Tbeban Wall. 
 
 SEE the M^eonianMufc exalted rife, 
 "With what a rapid Wing me cleaves the Skies ; 
 Nations purfue her Flight with loud Acclaim, 
 Age follows Age, and fwells her growing Fame : 
 As the fwift Flood, that foaming from the Source 
 Gathers a thoufand Torrents in his Courfe, 
 Enlarging as he rolls his 3ed difdains, 
 And pours a founding Ocean o'er the Plains. 
 
 SEE Hofts difmay'd! Tyrtteits calls to Af*ms, 
 Difplays in tuneful Numbers Glory's Charms ; 
 They hear tranfported, combat, conquer, bleed : 
 The fled the Poet fings and Sparta's freed. 
 
 [e] EV'N Solon thy great Sire, who rais'd to Fame 
 Atbtns erft grov'ling, felt and lov'd my Flame, 
 Polifh'd by me gave Statutes wife and good ; 
 Her Son, her DRACO wrote bis Laws in Blood. 
 
 EQUAL in Worth, in Glory equal thofe, 
 Scorning dull Earth, and philofophic Profe. 
 In untun'd Profe let the harm Sophift creep, 
 And argue ev'ry Reader into Sleep, 
 Obfcurely ufeful, like the rugged Stone 
 Doom'd in the maflTy Pile to lye unknown ; 
 While the fine Genius like the Di'mond bright, 
 Polifli'd and fet by Art attracts the Sight, 
 
 [/) PLATO was defcended from COD R us the laft King 
 of Athens^ and from SOLON. 
 
 Z 4 Deftin'd
 
 344 LECTURES concerning Left. 18. 
 
 Deftin'd on Crowns and royal Hands to glare, 
 Or flame on fnowy Bofoms of the Fair. 
 
 SUCH are my Sons : Thou happier than the reft, 
 Be deai- to Beauty, and by Fow'r careft ; 
 Eyes that charm Worlds (hall thro'thy Volumes rove, 
 Weep with thy Woe, and languilh with thy Love. 
 Thy Form on breathing Canvas (hall be ihown, 
 Enrich the Gold, and animate the Stone ; 
 Aflfcmbled Greece thy Merit mail proclaim, 
 And crouded Fabrics labour with thy Famej 
 Thee next to Phoebus Mortals mail invoke, 
 And fr. grant Incenfe on thy Altars fmoke. 
 Hear lov'd of Heav'n, enjoy thefe Gifts divine, 
 And leave pale SCIENCE o'er her midnight Lamp to 
 pine. 
 
 THE Goddefs ceas'd, yet left in Plato's Ear 
 So fweet her Voice that he flill feem'd to hear ; 
 As one, his Thirft allay'd who left the Rill, 
 Hears its fweet Murmurs in his Fancy flill. 
 
 MEAN Time the other Form advanc'd: A Dame 
 Lefs winning foft, but of majeftic Frame ; 
 Mature flic feem'd in Life's meridian Prime, 
 Her Afpect ferious, and her Port fublime, 
 With eafy Grandeur : Eagle-like to view 
 Her Eye, and feem'd to look all Objects thro'. 
 Ere Accents flow'd, her Looks Attention draw, 
 Imprint Refpect, and Love infpire with Awe; 
 The Bough of Pallas trembles in her Hand ; 
 And thus her Words the lill'ning Soul command. 
 
 I come, PHILOSOPHY, no Stranger Gueft 
 To Plato, oft by thee in Pray'r addreft. 
 
 Thy
 
 Led. 18. ORATORY. 345 
 
 Thy Mind perplex'd I faw , to fix defcend, 
 And from this wily Sorcerefs defend. 
 
 WEIGH well my Son, what fpecious Words ex- 
 
 prefs, 
 
 Flatt'ry is Error's moft pernicious Drefs. 
 Ill boarts the Mufe her late Returns of Praife ; 
 A Life's long Labour (he rewards with Bays ; 
 But Folly's Garland cannot long adorn ; 
 Seek'ft thou for Glory ? 'tis of Virtue born. 
 
 VICE fwells Iyer Voice, Vice trembles on her 
 
 Strings ; 
 
 The Cares of Love and Joys of Wine me fmgs ; 
 Strows Flow'rs on Falfehood's Path, deters from 
 
 Truth ; 
 
 And leads to Pleafure's Altars giddy Youth : 
 At Youth too furely Pleafure aims the Dart, 
 Wit adds the Wings that fend it to the Heart. 
 
 EV'N her exalted Homer fi : ls the Skies 
 With Monfters ; Luft and Fury deifies ; 
 His Chiefs revengeful, fierce Gods i partial blind 
 Pervert theThoughtlcfs, mock the Reas'ning Mind: 
 Yet hope not with M<eonian Wings to rile; 
 Howc'er the Mufe may flatter, Heav'n denies j 
 Like Genius glows not in thy Bread ; his Lay, 
 UnrivaPd, leaves thee but a fecond Bay. 
 
 WHAT tho' p>->etic Spirit wsrms thy Breaft, 
 Miftake not Fancy's Warmth for HeavVs Beheft. 
 Say you may Ihine in Verff -, in Science too 
 You may , and wil; yo-.i the Jefr Good purfue? 
 As rheredundam Moidure which would fhoot 
 In Leaves, by Culture is improv'd to Fruit, 
 
 The
 
 346 LECTURES concerning Left. iS. 
 
 The Fire which would itfelf in Vifions fpend, 
 By Difcipline is render'd Wifclom's Friend, 
 Lends Reafon Ornament, and places Senfc 
 In the ftrong Lights of manly Eloquence. 
 
 THUS foil'd by Truth the Mufe to Fable runs, 
 Amphion, Orpheus, boldly calls her Sons ; 
 Both Sages, Friends to Truth, and Virtue's Caufe, 
 Who founded Cities, Governments, and Laws, 
 Mufic's known Pow'r em ploying to afiwage 
 Hearts yet unfoften'd in a barb'rous Age : 
 What was Neceflity to praife me ftrains, 
 Virtue the End forgets, andVerfe txtols the Means. 
 
 TYRT^US fung, - and Cowards conquer'd ; 
 
 Whence ? 
 
 Becaufe Opinion fways the Crowd, not Senfe : 
 No Poet, Courage, and no Augur, needs ; 
 His Countries Voice demands, the brave Man 
 
 bleeds : 
 
 Infpir'd by me, fuch Codrus falling cry'd, 
 " Athens is fav'd ; I thank ye Gods :" and dy'd. 
 And fhalt thou wafte thy Life in idle Strains, 
 With Blood thus fhed for Athens in thy Veins ? 
 Rarely fo well employ'd, her higheft Aim 
 Is to commend with Skill, I give the Flame. 
 
 IN erring, Draco fhew'd the Path to good ; 
 SOLON was rnild, becaufe HE wrote in Blood. 
 Thus Heav'n hath doom'd, that Man mould gradual 
 
 rife 
 
 By flow long Toil, thro' Errors to be wife. 
 Unbending, Solon trifled with the Nine ; 
 Theirs was a leifure Hour, his Laws were mine. 
 
 To
 
 Lea. 18. ORATORY. 347 
 
 [r] To the footh'd Ear lefs pleating Sounds impart 
 The Lute and Lyre, than Reafon to the Heart : 
 Nor ever Poet feign'd, or Painter drew 
 A Form more lovely to the outward View, 
 Than to the Mind's purg'd Eye the Soul ierene, 
 Where Paflion fpreads no Cloud, nor Vice a Stain. 
 [d] Could Virtue to the Sight unfold her Charms, 
 Mankind would rum enamour'd to her Arms, 
 Hang on her heav'nly Lips, her Nod obey, 
 And never, never from her Dictates ftray. 
 
 WHAT Credit can the Mufe's Words obtain. 
 Whofe Study's to deceive, whofe Praife to feign? 
 Her Fount, her Pindus, her Elyfian Scenes: 
 Of Harmony, exift but in her Strains : 
 The Choir of Mufes, and the God of Day, 
 The Fame whofe Trumpet fpreads the deathlefs Lay, 
 Are pompous Vifions by her Art devis'd, 
 .Figures of Speech, and Fancy realiz'd. 
 
 THEN hear my Voice, ere yet in Error's Way 
 Thy Youth but half milled, for ever ftray. 
 By me inftructed, Good from 111 difcern, 
 To know tnyfclf, Man's highcft Knowledge, learn. 
 
 I FIX your Notions, Actions regulate, 
 Unfold the Duties of each Age and State, 
 With Precepts ftrengthen Riafon's tott'ringSway, 
 Quell Appetite, teach Paflion to obey, 
 Explain Ironi whence is Man, for what defign'd, 
 His End, his Nature, his immortal Mind, 
 
 [c] PLATO in Menon. 
 
 [d] Quae (Pittas) fi confpici poflet (ut ait PLATO) 
 mirabiles fui amores excitaret. CICERO. 
 
 Raifc
 
 348 LECTURES concerning Left. iS. 
 
 Raife his fhort View to Heav'n, and fix it there, 
 
 On the firft Excellent, firft Good, and Fair, 
 
 Teach him to draw his Rules of Life from thence, 
 
 And graft on Piety Benevolence ; 
 
 That Man like God at gen'ral Good ftiould aim, 
 
 And Happinefs and Virtue are the fame: 
 
 That Virtue opens Heav'n to mortal Race, ( 
 
 Life but a Trial, Death a Change of Place : 
 
 And the pure Soul mould claim its native Sky, 
 
 Bright Emanation of the Deity. 
 
 THESE Arts be thine : Thefe render good and 
 
 wife 5, 
 
 Fame is their meaneft Gift, ber vaunted Prize. 
 How worthlcfs are the pompous Scenes flie draws, 
 Her Statues, Portraits, Theatres, Applaufe j 
 Pow'r, Beauty, Greece, commending? More is giv'n 
 To my fcorn'd midnight Lamp the Praife of Heav'n. 
 Leave Shadows, Numbers, Fable, Emptinefs, 
 With me Senfe, Knowlege, Virtue, Worth poflefs : 
 Be thou the firft to light the moral Ray, 
 And pour on Greece the philofophic Day ; 
 With mine for ever blended mall thy Name 
 Defcend, and Truth and Plato be the fame. 
 
 SHE ceas'd ; and doubtful feem'dth* Event to wait: 
 The Mufe fecure advanc'd with Looks elate : 
 
 " THEE I prefer, thee, Wifdom, Plato cry'd 
 Tranfported; come my Goodefs, Guardian, Guide; 
 " O take me, feize me, all my Heart engage, 
 " Light of my Youth, and Glory of my Age !" 
 
 Aso'erNight's fparklingHoft, with keener Beams 
 At Dawn's firft Rife, the Star of Morning flames ; 
 
 But
 
 Led. 18. ORATORY. 349 
 
 But when the S'un his orient Light difplays, 
 
 It fades, it fickens in the conq'ring Blaze : 
 
 The Mufe thus vanquifh'd blends with fhapelefsAir : 
 
 .Pallas remains in Victory more fair. 
 
 WELL haft thou chofen, thus the Queen rep/y'd, 
 My Pow*r (hall guard you, and my Counfels guide. 
 Thus far was right, and ufefully you ftray'd ; 
 Science beft flourifhes where Fancy play'd, 
 "Whofe wandring Beam within due Limits brought 
 Gives Life to Knowledge, and infpirits Thought. 
 
 THE Mufe departs: Yet grieve not ; Lo ! I fend 
 To form thy growing Years, a nobler Friend, 
 A Sifter-nymph, to whom by kinder Heav'n 
 The Mufe's Charms without her Faults are giv'n ; 
 In artlefs Beauty, unaffected Air. 
 Humble tho* lovely, tho* polite fincere, 
 Quick without Ramnefs, without Weaknefs fwcet, 
 Adorn'd yet natural, tho* gay difcreet, 
 Her Speech harmonious as dpollo's Lyre, 
 Yet full of Spirit, Energy, and Fire ; 
 Her, ELOQUENCE, I fend, a heav'nly Gueft-, 
 Receive her, Plato, open all thy Breaft, 
 Imbibe her purer Rays. Her fkill Divine 
 Shall temper friendly, and mail perfect, mine ; 
 The Store by me fupply'd, with pleafing Art 
 Shall to Mankind a public Good impart ; 
 And whilft I deck the Soul, her Voice fhall w 
 the Heart. 
 
 As touch'd by Pegafus thy Mufe hath fung 
 From her rent Cliff that burfting Waters fprung, 
 
 Fountain
 
 350 LECTURES concerning Le<5t 18. 
 Fountain of Poefy , in After-time 
 "Whence laurel'd Bards inhai'd their Rage fublime; 
 Thus open'd by her Touch ftiall Wifdom's Sojrce 
 From thee o'erflowing, in its boundlefs Courfe, 
 To ev'ry Age convey the facred Lore, 
 And Realms yet barbarous my Pow'r adore. 
 
 THE Goddefs fpoke : When fudden to the Skies 
 On founding Pinions born, he faw her rife, 
 In a long Trail of Light; behind her med 
 Ambrofial Odours heav'nly Fragrance fpread ; jr jr 
 The Youth enraptur'd gaz'd : Then homeward 
 
 turn'd 
 His Steps i with Hopes fublime his Bofom burn'd. 
 
 
 
 T 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Left. 19. ORATORY. 351 
 
 * 
 
 LECTURE the Nineteenth; 
 
 Concerning the Eloquence of the PULPIT. 
 
 WE have lately been employed about 
 thofe Articles of Oratory which regard 
 the Surface chiefly, and are calculated in a great 
 Meafure for Shew and Ornament, as ^Style, 
 Compofition, Figures : I have even ventured 
 to conduct you through the flowery Paths of 
 Poefy; in which I fear that I have detained 
 you too long, deceived by the Charms of the 
 Place. I am now to open a more fevere Scene; 
 and I hope, that what may be wanting in Agree- 
 ablenefs herein, (hall be made up in Utility. I 
 have arrived at that Part of my Undertaking, 
 in which I propofed to confider Eloquence as it 
 relateth to Difference of Profeffion, its ultimate 
 .View ; lince the End of all Study mould be fe- 
 rious, to render us in our refpedive Ranks truly 
 uicful to Society. 
 
 Two Forms of Life, two Situations in which 
 this Quality is highly neceffary, I fhall not par- 
 ticularly treat of; becaufe few of the prefent 
 Audience in Companion with the reft, are likely 
 to have Occafion of appearing in either of thole 
 Lights. And befides, I cannot without Pro- 
 
 fumption
 
 352 LECTURES concerning Left. 19. 
 
 fumption attempt to deliver any other than ge- 
 neral Remarks, on Scenes of Bufinefs, which 
 it hath been my Lot to behold only at a Di- 
 flance. Directions more immediately refpecting 
 fuch mould be taken from thofe only, who are 
 themfelves engaged in them, who join Expe- 
 rience to Obfervation. 
 
 I SHALL therefore in this and the following 
 Lectures, confine myfelf to that Kind of Speak- 
 ing, which treats vi f acred Subjects. 
 
 A MATTER in itfelf of the utmofl Import- 
 ance ; and an Office, for which the greater 
 Number of Perfons here educated are undoubt- 
 edly defigned. 
 
 IT is not however my Intention, to give a re- 
 gular full Account of the Eloquence of the Pul- 
 pit, an Undertaking which would demand a 
 large Treatife : Agreeably to the Nature of thefe 
 Difcourfes, I mall limit myfelf to a much nar- 
 rower Compafs, making fuch Remarks, and 
 delivering fuch Precepts as appear to be mofl 
 wanted j and fuch at the fame Time, the Know- 
 lege of which feems mofl proper to unfold other 
 -Particulars, and difcover to you the moft im- 
 portant Confiderations : Such, as the Obferva- 
 tion of what is right, what wrong in others, add- 
 ed to the Examples of thofe in pafl Times, who 
 have left behind them Monuments of this Kind, 
 together with the Experience of my own Mif- 
 takes, have furnifhed me with. In which I 
 fhall endeavour fo far as may confift with Clear- 
 nefs, to avoid repeating Things before laid 
 down, and fhall dwell only upon fuch Rules of 
 
 Eloquence
 
 'Lea. 19. ORATORY. 353 
 
 Eloquence as are peculiar to this Kind : For w^ 
 cannot, flricliy fpeaking, propofe to ourfelves 
 any of the antient Orators as Models in this 
 Way ; where the Subject, wholely of a different 
 Sort, requires a Manner very different, and fuired 
 to itlelf alone. General Precepts before deli- 
 vered extend their Ulefulncfs hither; what is 
 peculiar remains now to be added : And I pro- 
 ceed without farther Preface to the Point itfelf. 
 
 WHOEVER intends to undertake an Office of 
 this Sort, ought, Firft, to reflect on the Duali- 
 ties necefTary to be poffeft by a Preacher, that 
 he may previouily acquire, or, if he hath them 
 not, defift from the Attempt. 
 
 THE nrft of theie is VIRTUE. 
 
 THE antient Writers lay it down as a Maxim, 
 that an Orator mould be a good Man. If this 
 be required in public Pleadings and Confulta- 
 tions, how much more necelTary is it, where the 
 fole Defign of the Speaker is to make Men wife 
 and good ? Truth, ft is confeffed, ought to con- 
 vince from any Mouth ; yet fuch are the Preju- 
 dices of Mankind, that we never can entirely 
 feparate what is laid from the Character of the 
 Peribn who fayeth it. We feel juft Indignation 
 at hearing facred Tiuths uttered, we may ftyle 
 it, profaned, by a wicked Man ; and through 
 Averfion from him, it is but too eafy, however" 
 wrong, to contract an Indifference to, it may be 
 an Averfion from them. 
 
 BESIDES nothing contributes more to Per- 
 fuanon, than a Belief of Sincerity in the Speaker- 
 Here is a Man who profeffeth to have well con- 
 A -a lidered
 
 3 '54 LECTURES concerning Led:. r<r. 
 
 fidered a Point, and from that Preparation to 
 treat concerning it ; his Authority as well as Ar- 
 guments will have Weight with the Bulk of 
 fen kind ; it addeth Weight to thofc Argu- 
 ments. But if his known Practice contradict 
 h : s Difcourfe, that Influence ceafeth j nay, be- 
 cometh oppofite ; he is a DifTembler and Hypo- 
 crite, we (hut our Ears and Hearts againft him. 
 To which ye may add j That all are Judges of 
 Actions, not of Ileafoning. 
 
 MORE efpecially,. the Preacher mould join a 
 Love of Religion and Piety to moral Virtue. 
 If a noted Unbeliever or Defpifer of Religion, 
 "idifcourfe concerning the holy Myfleries of Re- 
 ligion, fuch Difcourfes however fkilfully framed,, 
 are not only rendered ufelefs by his Character, 
 font raife Horror in every good Mind ; and tend 
 'to confirm the Infidel and Scoffer in their evil 
 Difpofiticns. It is true, we argue folidly againft 
 the Injuflice of charging upon Religion the ill 
 . Lives and bad Principles of its Miniflers j but 
 notwithstanding, fuch is the Nature f Men, that 
 they will be led more by Senfe than Speculation ; 
 and be tempted to doubt of the Truth of Re- 
 ligion from a Perfuafion of Unbelief in its Teach" 
 -ers, rather than be influenced by their Reafon- 
 ' ings to believe. 
 
 BESIDES, a Perfon who hath no Reverence 
 to, or firm Belief of Religion, although of good 
 Capacity and Learning, never can recommend 
 it with the fame natural, ingenuous, efficacious 
 Eloquence, as doth the Man, who is heartily 
 convinced of the Truth of what he advanceth: 
 
 There
 
 Left. 19. ORATORY. 
 
 There is in all that fuch an one fayeth, 1 know 
 not what, of forced and artificial, which appears 
 through the Difguife, difgufteth and offendeth. 
 Few, none but prudent confiderate Men, be- 
 lieve or even attend much to Arguments, which 
 they are perfuaded, that the Speaker who em- 
 ploys them, doth not himfelf believe. 
 
 A SECOND Quality is KNOWLEDGE. It is ob- 
 vious, that he whofe Duty it is to teach others, 
 mould himfelf know ; otherwife he mail mif- 
 take and miflead ; at heft can talk but fuper- 
 ficially, convey empty imperfect Notions. In 
 the prefent Cafe, every one fees, that a Know- 
 ledge of the facred Writings is neceflary. The 
 more extenfive and exact this is, the better S 
 And although a perfect Acquaintance with the 
 Original of the Old Teftament cannot be ex- 
 pected from all, yet fome Progrefs in the Know- 
 ledge of it is highly ufeful, that they who inflruct 
 others mould not themfelves be obliged in all 
 Points relative hereto, to depend upon the Au- 
 thority of others; efpecially, as the Connexion 
 between the Sacred Writings of the Jews, and 
 thofc upon which our holy Faith is grounded, 
 isib clofc and intimate, and they throw much 
 Light on each other. 
 
 I MIGHT, if this were a proper Place, lament 
 the Abufc which hath ari fen from a good Caufe, 
 the Study of this Original Hebrew, of late 
 much cultivated among our Neighbours. For 
 on : Humour hath prevailed of finding out there- 
 in, and deducing from thence, Syftcms of na- 
 tural 'Caufes, and a new Philolbphy j as well 
 A a 2 as
 
 LECTURES concerning Led; r< 
 js the moft profound Myftcries of the Chriftian 
 Religion, revealed to Mankind, not until many 
 Ages after, by the divine Author : To this 
 End, thefe Peribns indulge themfelves in ftrange, 
 and, as it feemeth, very dangerous Licences, in 
 altering the received Orthography of the Laiv 
 guagc, and inventing odd and unheard of Ex- 
 plications ; the Confequences of which Proceed- 
 ing may be very hurtful. Yet, while we (him 
 the Error of thefe Men, let us imitate their 
 laudable Indufhy, in applying ourfelves to the 
 Study of the Hebrew Tongue. If we join to 
 this laduftry other folid Learning and good 
 Sen-fey we (hall be in no Danger f falling into 
 their Error ; fuch Miftakes being 1 obferved to 
 meet with beft Reception,, either among thofe 
 who underftand the Language but fuperficially, 
 or understand the Language only. 
 
 IT (eems fcarcely needful to add, that a cri- 
 tical Skill in the Language of the New Tefta- 
 ment is requifite ; both, as it contains our whole 
 Faith, which whofoever teaches, ought furely 
 by no Means to take upon Truft : And alfb,. as 
 the Greek Tongue, in which it is written, is a 
 very ufeful, if not neceffary, Introduction, to Elo- 
 quence, indeed to every Branch cf politeLiterature. 
 
 SOME Acquaintance with the Fathers of the 
 Church, if not perfect Knowledge, mould be re- 
 commended to the Preacher. Thofe, who lived 
 Jieareft to the Times of the Apoftles, ought to 
 be ftudyed on two Accounts ; Their Authority 
 is defervedly great, as they derived their Doc- 
 trines from Perfons who were Difciples of, and 
 
 con-
 
 Led. 19. ORATORY. 357 
 
 converfed immediately with the Apoftles. And 
 fecondly, their Manner of Writing, although un- 
 artful and unpolimed, hath that Simplicity, that 
 genuine Air of Truth, which is moft becommg 
 of a Preacher of the Gofpel, and is difficult to 
 attain and prefer ve, in thefe Days of Pvefme- 
 raent and Curiofity. 
 
 MANY of the Succefibrs to thefe good Men, 
 are valuable for Eloquence as well as Piety. 
 Among whom, in the firft Rank are St. Cbry- 
 Jo/lcm, and St. Auguftinp One the Light of the 
 Greek, as the other was of the Latin Church : 
 The one eafy, copious, flowing, pathetic ; the 
 other learned, clofe, fubtle, even fublimo. 
 Whom I alfo particularly mention, becaufe both 
 of them have in fome Degree treated of the 
 Subject now before us, \vith much good Senfe 
 and Observation : Cbryfijlom, although not ex- 
 prefly, yet hath intermixed many Remarks to this 
 Purpofe in his excellent Work concerning the 
 Priejity -Office : The other more fully and di- 
 rectly in the fourth Book concerning the City of 
 God: The careful Perul'al of which Treadles I 
 earneftly recommend to you, as my Delign per- 
 mits me to employ but a very fmall Part of the 
 lame Materials, to tranfplant but few Articles, 
 as it were fome detached Shrubs from their no- 
 ble and lofty Groves. Befides, that after .a-ll the 
 Induflry and Skill we late Comers, whether 
 Commentators, Critics, or Imitators, can ule, to 
 divcrfiiy, enlarge, adorn, I know not how, there 
 is ftill more of Pleafure, and I believe oi Uki, in 
 drawing directly from the Fountain Head. 
 
 A a 3 THE
 
 358 LECTURES concerning Left. 19. 
 
 THE feveral Branches of human Learning do 
 not appear to relate immediately to the Office of 
 a Preacher, yet are they of undoubted Utility, 
 The Writings of Philosophers and Moraliils are 
 eminently Ib, furnifhing many excellent Argu- 
 ments and Obfervations concerning Manners; 
 at the fame Time, laying before him the befl 
 Models of Competition in that Kind. 
 
 ERUDITION likewife of a more abflrufe Sort, 
 and feemingiy foreign from his Purpofe, that 
 which is coi.verfant about Numbers and Quan- 
 tity, appearcth from what we have formerly 
 obierved, to be very beneficial to him ; iharpen- 
 ing the Appreheniion j enlarging the Capacity, 
 and teaching the Art of find: and clofe Reafon- 
 ing. 
 
 AFTER this, it feemeth hardly necefTary to 
 add, that he ought to be verfed in the whole 
 Circle of polite Literature j this being the 
 Source, from whence is derived every Thing 
 which tends to Perfection of Style, all jufi Grace 
 and Ornameut, 
 
 To thefe fhould be added likewife a compe- 
 tent Knowledge of thcWorld. The Man, whofe 
 Duty and Profeflion lead him to preferve from 
 Vice, or to reform the Vicious, ought to be 
 well acquainted with the Nature, Manners, and 
 Behaviour of Mankind, For Difcourfe from 
 mere Speculation is likely to be not feldom 
 wrong, at beft vague and general ; if it fhould 
 be reafonable, yet rarely touching the Heart. 
 To tell Men, with any good EfTedt, how they 
 pught to live, vye fhould know firlt how they 
 
 do
 
 Q. ORATORY. 359 
 
 do live; what are their Faults, their Paffions, * 
 their Delufions, the various Sophifms of Self- 
 love by which they deceive themfelves. We 
 muft lay open to them their own Hearts; 
 and how can we, if we know not even their 
 Actions ? 
 
 A Perfon with this Knowlege, will not be in 
 Danger of falling into loofe general Declamation. 
 His Obfervations drawn from Nature and Truth 
 will not be fcattered at Random among the 
 Crowd, but will ftrike, will be felt Each In- 
 dividual will find his -Sentiments, his own 
 Heart painted in them;; -and imagine that the 
 Preacher fpeaks to hi.mfelf. Thus mail the 
 Difcourfe be as a well-drawn Portrait ; Specta- 
 tors behold it from different Parts of the Cham- 
 ber ; and it appears to each as having its Eyes 
 fixed upon himfelf. 
 
 AND after all, this Work of Reformation is 
 not to be executed bluntly and abruptly ; but 
 with much Addrefs, according to the Manners, 
 and with fome Compliance to the Prejudices of 
 the World ; which Precautions judicioufly taken 
 will open an eafier Reception for Advice, and 
 are almoft always neceffary to make Reproof 
 
 EVEN the Prophets infpired and fent imme- 
 diately by God himfelf have given us Examples 
 herein, worthy of Imitation. When Nathan 
 was fent to admonifh David, and by before 
 him the Heinoufnefs of his Crime, with Regard to 
 Uriah, he doth not immediately upbraid him with 
 the horrid Blacknels of his complicated Guilt, 
 A a 4 nor
 
 360 L-&CTURES concerning Left. 19. 
 
 jior thunder in his Ears with the Authority of a 
 Divine Meilengcr -, but he addrefleth himfelf to 
 him in a Piece of plain familiar Hiftory, de- 
 Jcribeth to him his own Crime, couched under 
 the Action of another, refembling in general Cir- 
 cumftances, hut far lefs {infill ; and having raifed 
 his Abhorrence of it in this feigned Reprefent- 
 ation, and his exprefs Denunciation as King, 
 that the guilty Perfonficuld die^ he then apply- 
 eth it directly to himfclf, Thou art the Man: 
 The Stroke was irreiiftible ; it proved, convinced, . 
 aftoniflicd : The King confeffeth and hum- 
 bleth himfelf in fincere Repentance. 
 
 To the Knowledge of other Men, the Preach- 
 er fliould join that of himfelf. What is it of 
 which you are capable ? . What may you fafely 
 undertake? What "fliould you avoid? What 
 Imperfections ought you to amend ? In which 
 Manner are you moil likely to excel ? It is fit 
 that you fliould weigh all thefe maturely, and 
 as far as you may without Prejudice ; other-wife 
 fetting out wrong, you never fhall arrive to the 
 Worth you are capable of; and may belide go 
 on to the laft in a wrong Way. 
 
 WHEN we {poke of Acquaintance with the 
 learned Languages, it was by no Means intend- 
 ed, that a Preacher fhould neglect the Study of 
 his own : On the contrary, this is an Article in 
 which he fliould omit no Pains to acquire a ma-, 
 llerly Skill. Certainly nothing can be more > 
 iir.reafonable, more evidently wrong, than to 
 difregard the very Tongue in which one is to 
 /peak j and yet we cannot doubt that the Cafe 
 
 is
 
 Lea. 19. ORATORY." 361 
 
 is common. A r Perfon well verfed in Latin * 
 lhall offend by harm, oblcure, even barbarous 
 Style in his native Dialeit : The Foundations of 
 which Evil are laid in the ufual Methods of 
 Education; wherein great Pains are taken to 
 inftruct young Perfons in the Words, Form, 
 and Structure of the Latin Tongue, fo that 
 they may be enabled to fpeak it readily, and 
 write in it with Eaie, perhaps Purity, leaving 
 them at the fame Time to pick up fuch imper- 
 fect Knowledge of their native Tongue, as 
 Chance, Company, and the ordinary Occur- 
 rences of Life throw in their Way. The 
 Confequence whereof is very difadvantageous, 
 when they afterwards come into the World, 
 where real Bufmefs is to be tranfacted, and 
 they mu ft converfe with Englijh, not Romany 
 or Athenians. 
 
 FOR which Reafon it mould be laid down as 
 an invariable Rule, to bring up from Infancy 
 young Perfons, in early Knowledge of what is 
 proper and pure in their native Dialect, and 
 exercife them in conftant Habits of Speaking 
 and Writing in it correctly : And Latin, which 
 is now the firft in Intention, mould hold but the 
 fecond Place, being cultivated chiefly with a 
 View to the other, as it may contribute to ren- 
 der them accurate therein, furnifliing excellent 
 Models, whole Graces they may transfufe or 
 exprefs in their own Speech. 
 
 My Opinion of the other learned Tongue, 
 the Greek, I have before declared ; and the 
 more I reflect upon it, am the more confirmed 
 
 in
 
 362 LECTURES concerning Led, IQ.. 
 
 in a Perfwnfion of the great Uiefulnefs of an 
 early Application to it. For our prefent Man- 
 ner of ftudying it, by the Help of literal Tranfla- 
 tions, feldoni enabling us to go on far without 
 fuch poor AfTiilance, hurteth rather than bring- 
 th Benefit; fuch Translations feldom rendering 
 the compleat Senfe, never any Part of the Spirit 
 and beautiful Simplicity of the Original ; in 
 which laft moft valuable Quality, the Writers 
 of that Nation bear away the Prize from all 
 their Followers. 
 
 WHAT I have been faying is a Proof, how 
 much Care is requiiite in the choice of Perfons, 
 who undertake this Office of Preachers ; how 
 much thofe Perfons mould ftudy themfelves ; 
 what Labour they mould employ in obtaining, 
 perfecting, and preferving the neceffary Quali- 
 fications. And although, acccording to the 
 Courfe of Things, it is not to be expected, that 
 all who offer themfelves for this Purpofe mould 
 be accomplifhed in the Manner laid down j and 
 confequently, that the venerable Order of Men 
 with whom the Wifdom of the Society hath 
 entrufted the Power of appointing them, mould 
 infift upon admitting only fuch ; yet undoubt- 
 edly, it is the Duty of all who have taken upon 
 them the Charge, to employ their utmoft Care 
 in fitting themfelves as nearly as they can in the 
 Manner defcribed, for the due Execution of it. 
 
 As to Caution in electing fucb, it would ill- 
 become one of my Mediocrity in Rank and 
 Talents to interpofe his Opinion ; I mail 
 therefore refer you in the Point to one of ap- 
 proved
 
 Left. 19. ORATOR Y. 363 
 
 proved Authority, to Erafmus, who hath writ- 
 ten a Treatife on this Art of Preaching ; in 
 which, although published in Hafte, and never 
 rightly rimmed, whence fometimes prolix, there 
 is much good Observation and folid Learning ; 
 and the whole Work well deferves your careful 
 Ferufal. I except fome Reflexions dipped in 
 Gall, not to be approved of, much lefs imitated 
 by us ; which the Times and Manners then 
 very corrupt, may excufe perhaps, if not juftify 
 in him ; we have fallen on better. 
 
 ANOTHER Thing which ihould be well 
 weighed by every one who is, or propofeth to 
 be employed in this facred Office, is the End, 
 which he mould intend and aim at in the Dif- 
 charge of it, namely the Advancement of Piety 
 and Virtue, by laying before Men their Duty, 
 and engaging them to the Practice thereof. 
 This Reflexion duly repeated and infifted on, 
 cannot fail of impreffing upon the Mind a deep 
 Senfe of the Excellence of the Work which it 
 hath undertaken ; will fupport it under the Dif- 
 ficulties that attend the Preparation for it ; will 
 not fail to infpire that Serioufnefs and Earneft- 
 nefs fo neceffary and becoming in the Per- 
 formance of it ; and will be a conftant Preferva- 
 tive againft Faults too frequently obfervable, 
 which are incident to the bed Capacities, thofe 
 which fpring from Vanity and Oftentation : 
 Such as an Affectation of deep and fingular 
 Learning ; or an Ambition of difplaying Wit 
 and Invention ; and, in Confequence of thefe, 
 the Ufe of obfcure Subtilties, abltracted Erudi- 
 tion,
 
 364 LECTURES concerning Led. 19. 
 
 tion, pompous, glittering, and conceited Didlion* 
 For I am of Opinion, that fome do indeed fail 
 in executting this Office through Defe6t of Ca- 
 pacity ; many more through Want of Care ; yet 
 rnoft of all through wrong Motives and unfit 
 Paffions. 
 
 THIS Counfel of regarding the End is, I own, 
 obvious, yet for its mighty Utility is worthy of 
 being repeated, inculcated. It alone might 
 fliind initead of many Rules ; at leaft would 
 render eafy the Obfervation of all. It would raife 
 the Priefthood to the Degree of Ufefulnefs it 
 was intended to have, and would make it ap- 
 pear in the fame advantageous Light to others. 
 Complaints have been loud, and for fome Time 
 paft, have, I believe, encreafed, of the Contempt 
 thrown upon this Order of Men ; how unjuftly 
 thrown is not the Bufmeis of this Place ta 
 prove : But thus much one may affirm ; that if 
 the Conditions mentioned took Place, if Men of 
 this Order were generally qualified in the Man- 
 ner required, and efpecially, if they were actu- 
 ated by an earner! Defire of anfwering the End 
 of their Miniftry, which is in the Power of all, 
 thefe Complaints would quickly fubfide. 
 
 IN Fact, what Sight could be fo ftriking, as 
 that of a Number of Men exempted from the 
 Necefiity of Labour and civil Induftry that they 
 may explain to others the Nature, Excellence, 
 and Benefits of Virtue ; enforcing their Doc- 
 trines by Example j recommending them by 
 Humanity, by Gentlenefs of Manners, by the 
 Advantages of ibiid, and the Ornaments of po^ 
 
 lite
 
 Left. 19. ORATORY. 365 
 
 lite Learning ? What could be a more beautiful 
 Spectacle in a moral Light, even in a political 
 what more ufeful ? What Method fo probable, 
 of diffufing through a Society, Probity, Peace 
 and Regularity ? This Perfection, it is true, can- 
 not,, as the World is now conftituted, be hoped 
 for ; yet fhould we not defpair of approaching 
 to it ; and it ought to be the Care, as it is the 
 Duty of every one in this facred Office, to have 
 it conftantly in View, and contribute his beft En- 
 vours to the Accomplishment of it. 
 
 THIS End will further point out the particu- 
 lar Means you fhould employ, namely to Er- 
 plain, to Prove y to Affeft. You are to explain, 
 in order to inftruct j you are to prove, in order to 
 convince ; you are to affect, in order to perfuade. 
 The mention of which Articles leads from thefe 
 previous Remarks to fomewhat more clofe and 
 precife. 
 
 LECTURE
 
 3^66 LECTURES concerning JLe6h 20. 
 
 LECTURE the Twentieth. 
 
 Continuation of the Former. 
 
 LET us fuppofe now that you are thus 
 rightly qualified, and fit down to com- 
 pole a Sermon : The firft Thing you mould 
 attend to is the Choice of a Subjeffi , as from 
 hence muft flow, in a good Meafure, the Ufe- 
 ,fulnefs and Importance of what you are to fay. 
 
 IN general, this ought to be either fotne Ar- 
 ticle of revealed Doctrine, fome Point of Faith 
 neceffary to be firmly believed by your Hear- 
 ers; or fome Branch of Morality, fomewhat 
 fit to be done. Which different Subjects re- 
 quire a Diverfity in the Manner of handling 
 them. 
 
 As our Church hath appointed certain Days 
 for the Commemoration of great Events, which 
 involve fome principal Articles of our Faith, it 
 is agreeable to the Defign of fuch Inftitution, 
 and may be reafonably expected by the Audi- 
 ence, that every Preacher mould, on fuch Days 
 at leaft, difcourfe to them concerning thefe Ar- 
 ticles; the not performing of which may be 
 well judged an Omiffion. For the right Exe- 
 cution hereof* fome Precautions are neceflary, 
 
 fome
 
 Led. 19, ORATORY. 367 
 
 ibme Reflections there are, which it may be ufe- 
 ful to obferve. 
 
 PRINCIPALLY, on fuch Occasions, avoid en- 
 tering into nice and fubtle Queftions. Abfkin 
 from very difficult and abftracted Reafonings. 
 In Times of Ignorance the Schoolmen intro- 
 duced many of the firir. Kind, and the Ser- 
 mons remaining from thofe Ages are crowded 
 with Diftinctions for the moil Part ufelefs and 
 unintelligible j fome of which Controverfies do 
 continue to be frill agitated among us, although 
 the Manner of Writing admired in thofe Days 
 be now grown obfolete. 
 
 IN more modern Times, Metaphyficks, long 
 a fafhionable Study, brought in the latter Sort ; 
 and fnore particularly, the Necefiity of purfu- 
 ing Unbelievers through all the Subtilties and 
 Refinements which their Art and Indaftry in 
 attacking Religion had opened to them, en- 
 gaged many pious and learned Men' to go far 
 into this Way, and confute Subtilty by Subtilty. 
 But however right this may have been in thofe 
 who fpoke from the Prefs, it is not to be imi- 
 tated by the Men who fpeak from die Pulpit j 
 in which laft Cafe, their Hearers cannot be 
 fuppofed to underfland, and confequently will 
 not attend to them. The Thread is too fine 
 for vulgar Eyes. It muft happen, that plain 
 rational Men, after having taken fome Pains to 
 . apprehend their Meaning, when they find it to no 
 Purpofe, {hall give it up ; and perceiving it a vain 
 Attempt to keep Pace with them, mail flop 
 
 fkfrt.
 
 368 LECTURES concerning Led:. 20. 
 
 fhort, and leave them to finifh their Career 
 alone. 
 
 FURTHER, It doth not feem prudent to urge 
 nice Objections, many of which late Libertine 
 Days have produced, before a plain Audience ; 
 nor feek to engage them in all the Intricacy of 
 perplexed Controverfy. Much lefs doth it feem 
 right, on fuch facred Occafions, to heap fevere 
 Remarks and bitter Invectives againft Unbe- 
 lievers ; which, I think, is not very uncommon 
 among good Men, of more Zeal than Prudence. 
 The Minds of Men do not need to be fharpened. 
 Indignation, even in fo juft a Caufe, mould be 
 moderated, and, if it could be, fuppreffed. De- 
 fend the Truth ; confute known and dangerous 
 Errors ; but fpare the Perfons. 
 
 IN general; What you mould aim at in thefe 
 Subjects, Articles of religious Belief, is, a plain, 
 clear Explanation of the Doctrine, confined as 
 nearly as may be to the Words of the Revela- 
 tion, or deduced from them by eafy unftrained 
 Interpretation, without entering into hazardous 
 Conjectures, or attempting to gratify an un- 
 bounded, often prefumptuous Curiofity : Which 
 Explanation you mould proceed to imprefs on 
 the Minds of the Hearers, by laying before 
 them the Ufes it ought naturally to have, in 
 exciting their Devotion, or in regulating their 
 Conduct. 
 
 POINTS of Controverfy among Chriftians 
 fhould not be altogether mut out from the Pul- 
 pit, thofe efpecially which fubfift between us 
 and the Church of Rome, whofe Doctrines are 
 
 the
 
 Led. 20. ORATORY. 369 
 
 the mod grofly erroneous ; and befides, import 
 Danger to the State. But the Treatment of 
 thele is difficult. For you are to reprefent the 
 Tenets of that Church impartially, not aggra- 
 vating or altering ; not following the Autho- 
 rity of particular Perfons ; nor. haftily charging 
 Confequences as Doctrines. Your Arguments 
 mould be fimple, yet ftrong ; drawn from 
 Scripture, or plain Reafon ; not embarraffed 
 with hiftorical Deductions, or the Erudition 
 of Quotations, or the Perplexity of numerous 
 Objections propofed and folved; for you do 
 not write to Readers, but fpeak to be under- 
 ftood. And what is perhaps the hardefl Part, 
 you are to preferve the due Mean : Convince, 
 but do not irritate -, mew the Heinoufnefs of 
 the Miftakes, without raifmg Abhorrence of 
 the Miftaken ; keep up your Hearers Zeal, 
 without inclining to Perfecution ; and join the 
 Moderation of a Chriftian with the Vehemence 
 of an Orator. 
 
 As to the Articles in Difpute between us and 
 our diffenting Brethren, thefe, if to be at all 
 admitted ; mould be referved for a mafterly 
 Hand. In Points of Difference which affect 
 not EfTentials, Prudence, as well as Religion, 
 directeth to fweeten and reconcile Mens Spirits 
 on both Sides j to win over, if it be poftible, 
 thofe who are divided from us, by the foft Me- 
 thods of Gentlenefs and Affection : And moft 
 fkilful and happy is the Preacher, who can 
 open fuch Wounds with a Touch fo delicate, 
 as to afluage rather than enflame. 
 
 Bb SUBJECTS
 
 3 70 LECTURES concerning Led:. 20. 
 
 SUBJECTS of the fecond Sort, Points of Mo- 
 rality, a' -bough of great Importance, require 
 not the fame Kind of Delicacy : They are not 
 liable to the fame Enquiries, have not been at- 
 tacked with fuch Violence, nor do they give like 
 Offence to the Pride of impatient, and, in its 
 own Conceit, ali-fnfticient Reafon. But you 
 are to obferve, that they have aifo their Incon- 
 veniencies. 
 
 THEY are the moil trite of all Subjects. 
 The Arguments they afford being drawn from 
 common Senfe, are fuch as muft occur to many; 
 may to all. Men in their own Minds anticipate 
 what you are about to fay ; from whence they 
 are apt to grow liftlefs and fatigued. The only 
 Remedy for fuch Evils is, that you fhould la- 
 bour the more in giving Force, and Weight, 
 and Power to all you utter j that you mould 
 avoid Prolixity, common-place Repetitions, 
 vague and general Reflexions. 
 
 FOR there is a wrong Method, very common, 
 in treating of thefe Points, to which Perfons 
 of Genius are liable ; theWay of Effay- writing : 
 That is, a Courfe of general Obfervations, neatly 
 expfefied, put together with Eafe and Free- 
 dom. In which Way, Wx.Addijbn furnimes 
 excellent Models. This, however, is not w r ell- 
 fuited to the Pulpit ; which demands a feverer 
 Form. You may open your Defign with fome 
 fuch Reflexions j but thefe, we expect, fhali 
 quickly lead us into your Subject ; to which 
 you are to confine yourfelf ftridly ; to pur- 
 iue it through its whole Extent 5 fit it to the 
 I Lives 3
 
 Left. 20. ORATORY. 371 
 
 Lives, and prefs it clofely upon the Confciences 
 of your Hearers. The great Art is, to be ge- 
 neral, without wandering in lax, unlinking Re- 
 marks ; to go into Detail, without minutenefs 
 or trifling. 
 
 SPEAKERS of other Kinds, as in the Courts 
 of Juftice, and great Counfel of the Nation, 
 have ufually Matters of lefs Dignity to difcourfe 
 upon ; but their Arguments are often new. 
 There are Laws, Fa<5s, Evidences to be ex- 
 plained, ftated, compared j which naturally 
 faife Curiofity, and keep up Attention : Preach- 
 ers have, as we obferved, the Advantage of 
 Subjedls fuperior in Weight, Beauty, and Ex- 
 cellence -, but then all are beaten and exhaufl- 
 ed : And there is nothing within the Reach of 
 human Art more difficult, than to beftow up- 
 on what is common the Graces of Novelty. 
 The wonderful Magnificence of Nature in its 
 regular Courfe pafTeth unobferved; every the 
 leaft Variation from ,this furprizeth and en- 
 gageth. And it hath been .well obferved, that 
 it is eafier to rife to Indifference in Preaching, 
 than in Pleading; more difficult to arrive at 
 Excellence. 
 
 WHEN you have thus fixed upon a Subject, 
 your next Care ihould be, to chufe. a proper 
 Text. The Manner of chufing'a fhort Pallage 
 of holy Scripture, and forming a Difcourfe 
 upon that, was introduced very late into the 
 Church [a] ; and is liable to much Inconve- 
 
 [a] Inftanccs of it are found in fome of the antient Fa- 
 thers : but are very rare. 
 
 B b 2 nience ;
 
 372 LECTURES concerning Left. 20. 
 
 nience ; it mightily cramps the Preacher, limit- 
 ing him uiuaily to a Part of a Subjedt, feen in 
 a particular Light. It confines him often to a 
 Method ftrained and unirstural : And frequent- 
 ly occasions Prolixity. But fince v/e now find 
 this Manner univerfally efbbiimed, it mould 
 be our Bufmefs, inftead of enlarging on its 
 Evils, to guard againft them, and improve on 
 its Advantages, for ibme it may poffibiy have ; 
 one acknowledged ; being uleful to prevent a 
 vague undetermined Way of Declamation ; for 
 which Purpofe it was probably at firft intro- 
 duced. 
 
 IT feemeth to be no uncommon Practice, 
 after the Difcourfe hath been compofed, then 
 to fearch for a fuitable Text ; a Proceeding 
 which cannot fucceed well. For by this Means 
 it cometh to pafs, that the Text is little more 
 than a Lemma or Motto, as it were, to the Dif- 
 courfe, bearing only a faint and diftant Refem- 
 blance. The Preacher appeareth to have little 
 Regard to it. After the firft fetting out, he 
 quickly lofeth Sight of it, and return eth to it 
 no more -, which is both improper and ungrace- 
 ful. For the Difcourfe mould be the Text un- 
 folded, the Text fliould be the Difcourfe in 
 Abftra<ft: They fhould be as the Seed and 
 Plant ; which latter is the Seed drawn out by 
 Nutriment, and organifed in its juil and full 
 Dimenfions. 
 
 FROM the Text whatfcever you obferve 
 /houla TIL '.v naturally, as from its Source ; 
 (hpuld tend to illuftrate, to confirm 3 its Senfe, 
 
 or
 
 Left. 20. ORATORY. 373 
 
 or mould recommend Confequehccs deduced 
 from it ; for we fhould firft form right No- 
 tions, and then make them the Foundation of 
 right Practice. 
 
 FARTHER, Experience teaches, that when- 
 ever your Text is pronounced, every attentive 
 Hearer immediately formeth to himfelf fome 
 general confuted Notion of that which you 
 feem prepared to difcourfe upon : Inflead of 
 proceeding in which, if you carry him a quite 
 different Road, you difappoint him, and there- 
 fore for the mofl Part difpleafe. 
 
 AGAIN. Some Perfons delight in chufing 
 a very fingular Text, that they may mew their 
 own Art in the Ufe made of it, in extracting 
 much from what appears barren. Others again 
 felecl one the moft diftant, and exhibit, as they 
 think, furprifing Skill in bending it to their 
 Purpofe. Not ieldom ye may dbferve others to 
 pick out a difficult PafTage, and make pompous 
 Oftentation of Learning in clearing all Doubts, 
 and unfolding its true Senfe : Or what is lefs 
 jufliflable, they chufe out a known Text, yet 
 give it a new Interpretation, and make this 
 imagined Diicovcry the Ground-work of their 
 fubfequent Remarks. Many other Singularities 
 of a like Sort one might enumerate ; but it may 
 fuffice to have mentioned theie, and to ob- 
 ferve, once for all, that every Thing of this Sort, 
 every Deviation from the plain Road of Cuflom 
 and common Senfe in this Article, bordering on 
 Affectation, and fpringing from, or juftly fu- 
 fpected of Vanity, ought to be avoided. The 
 B b 3 Scrip-
 
 374 LECTURES concerning Left. 20. 
 
 Scipture aboundeth in Doctrines and Pre- 
 cepts exprefled with Clearnefs and Strength: 
 Chufe out one the moft appofite, full, and of 
 moderate Length, fo as not to puzzle the At- 
 tention, or burthen the Memory of the Hearer : 
 From hence, as the Fountain, let your Difcourfe 
 flow. 
 
 WHEN you have in this Manner determined 
 on your Point, you mould above all Things 
 carefully confider it; revolve it often in your 
 Mind, turn and return it, view it on every Side, 
 in all Lights, in every Afpect and Petition, in 
 its feveral Connexions, Refemblances, Oppoii- 
 tions, Differences : Confult alfo thofe who have 
 written well upon it, that you may have the 
 fullefr, moft accurate Survey of it whicji is 
 poffible. 
 
 BUT in this laft Article ufe fome Caution : 
 By reading you may furnifh yourfelf with Ma- 
 terials ; but the forming of thefe, the Work- 
 manfhip, muft be your own : Wherefore, be- 
 ware of following any other too clofely; an 
 Inconvenience apt to fpring from Study ; your 
 Thoughts, inftead of opening to themfelves a 
 new Courfe, will flbw in the Channel already 
 opened. To prevent which, allow yourfelf, 
 after the Perufal of good Writers, a proper In- 
 terval, before you attempt to write ; that you 
 may. in the mean while, have forgotten the 
 Form and Order of what you have read that 
 now, finding the Materials diflblved and fcat- 
 tered, you may work them up according to 
 
 your
 
 Lea 20. ORATORY. 375 
 
 your own Faculties, into a new Piece, of your 
 own Competition and Contcxtui . 
 
 THUS you fliould gather your Materials from 
 all Parts, and make your Collection as copious 
 as may be, becaufe out of thefe you are to fe- 
 lect the beft and fitteft ; and Superfluity is ne- 
 cefTary, that you may be able and willing to re- 
 jcft. 
 
 Do we not hear every Day, Difconrfes flimfy, 
 thin-fpun, and Wire-drawn ? The Caufe of 
 which is, that the Speakers fet out upon fcanty 
 Materials, and not having Stuff enough to laft 
 out properly their Half-hour, are forced to make 
 it up as they can, beating out into Surface what 
 Ihould have gone into Solidity. 
 
 GLIDE not over, as the Manner too often, 
 is, and lightly fkim a Subject ; but endeavour 
 to go to the Bottom, touch only upon what 
 may be ufeful, but exhauft that, and endeavour 
 to leave your Hearers entirely fatisfie'd. Some 
 Perfons labouring to grafp great Ex tent, embrace 
 nothing but Surface : Let it be your Care to 
 go deeper, and contract your Compafs. 
 
 AFTER having collected your Materials; 
 your next Care is to range them in good Order. 
 Method is an Article principally to be regarded, 
 becaufe upon it chiefly depend the Clearnefs and 
 Strength of what you deliver, of Confcquerce, 
 its Influence and Ufefulnefs : And [a] Foreigners 
 
 [a] See a very extraordinary Judgment in thh Matter, 
 attributed to Monfieur DACUESSEAU, lately Chancellor 
 of France, in the Preface of the 3d Tome of a Co,lle&ion 
 
 B b 4 who
 
 376 LECTURES concerning Lect. 20. 
 
 who do Juftice to the good Senfe and Un- 
 derftanding of the Englijh, charge them with 
 Defect herein j they have Abundance, but in 
 Confufion. 
 
 WHEN therefore you have felected out of 
 the Mafs abovementioned the Thoughts fitter! 
 for your Purpofe, you are to difpofe each in its 
 proper Place, thus forming the Chain and Se- 
 ries of your Difcourfe. You may know when 
 this is rightly accomplifhed by this Trial : Can 
 you leave out any Part : Can you tranfpofe any 
 without injuring the Whole? For whilft this 
 may be done, there is fome Defect in the Dif- 
 pofition; and you muft not quit the Work, un- 
 til it ftand the Proof of this Effay! This Tafk 
 claims your firft Care : Afterwards, you may 
 apply yourfelf to polifhand adorn. 
 
 HEREIN you may look upon yourfeif as fol- 
 lowing the Example of a Painter, fuppofe of Hi- 
 ftory or Landfkip : He firft lays his Defign, fix- 
 eth upon the Figures moft fuitable to his Pur- 
 pofe, difpofeth them in the beft Manner, fketches 
 them out rudely, traceth the Out-lines ; which 
 being done, he proceeds to work upon them, 
 beftoweth Subftance and Colour ; and laftly, re- 
 touching all, addeth thofe lively Graces which 
 compleat and animate the Whole. 
 
 BUT before you proceed thus far, there is 
 one Thing relative to Delign, worthy of parti- 
 
 of Voyages, by Abbe PREVOST. His Words are thefe, 
 Voilavos Anglois, difolt il\ avccde Pefprit far" du f avoir, qiion 
 . ne leur coniejlf pas, Us riant jarr.aif enUndu la vrale Jormt 
 d'un livre. 
 
 cular
 
 Lea. 20. ORATORY. 377 
 
 cular Obfervation : That every Difcourfe fhould 
 have one principal Subjeft ; the Explanation, 
 Proof, and Enforcement whereof mould be the 
 main Scope, to which all other Heads ftiould be 
 fubordinate ; or rather they mould be only 
 Branches or different Views of it, and all concur 
 in the End to its Strength and Illuftration. 
 
 THERE is no Work of Art, in which this Uni- 
 ty of Defign is not efiential to its Beauty and 
 Perfection. Thus it is in Painting, where every 
 Piece ihouid reprefent one Subject, and contain 
 one principal Figure. The Violation of which 
 Rule is allowed to be a Defect in the Mafter- 
 piece of the greateft Artift, the Transfiguration, 
 which comprehends in one Piece, two diftindt 
 independent Actions ; although it is at the fame 
 Time confer!, that each of thefe fingly con- 
 fidered, is admirable. The fame Remark ex- 
 tends equally to Poefy ; and the Hecuba of Eu- 
 ripides is in like Manner defective, containing 
 two diftinct Actions, faulty thus joined, feparate- 
 ly very beautiful. 
 
 THE Rule is indeed' founded in Nature. We 
 can contemplate but one Object at once ; this 
 engageth our whole Attention j and although 
 its feveral Appendages and Relations may plenfe 
 by adding an agreeable Variety, yet the Mind 
 frill feeketh to dwell on this one, and the chief 
 Object muft predominate, muft govern, and 
 reign through the Whole. 
 
 HENCE we fee how unfkilfully they act, who 
 making Choice of a Text, containing a Recital 
 of different Virtues or Vices, take their Divi- 
 
 (ion
 
 LECTURES concerning Lect. 2<x- 
 fion from thence, and treat feparately of each. 
 Thus they form, properly f peaking, not one 
 Difcourfe, but feveral tacked together, which 
 bears a clumfy Appearance, and being confufed, 
 is burthenfome to the Memory. BeSdes, mul- 
 tiplying Subjects, they talk fuperficially of all. 
 
 THIS Error, where it is not the Effect of 
 Lazinefs, fprings from Barrennefs of Invention ; 
 when one unable to write concerning one Point, 
 fo as to frame a Difcourfe of proper or cuftomary 
 Length, tries to help this Poverty, by taking in 
 a Multiplicity of Subjects. 
 
 INSTANCES hereof we fee in the Comedies 
 of Terenct, who borrowing the Plots from 
 Menander* hath formed each Play by crowding 
 two of the Greek Poet, into one : And our mo- 
 dern Tragedies are ufually compofed in the fame 
 Way j where the Poets wanting Genius, or Art, 
 or Application, or partly perhaps in Compliance 
 to the ill Judgment of a prejudiced Audience, 
 inftead of working up one important Fact into 
 a compleat Drama, choofe two or more inde- 
 pendent Tranfactions ; thut unfkiifully fupply- 
 ing in ill-joined Facts, Defect in Nature, Senti- 
 ment, and weli-fupported Character. 
 
 THE following may be a general Direction 
 concerning Method in the Kind of Compofitions 
 now bofore us. 
 
 IF there be any Degree of Obfcurity in your 
 Text, whether in the Expreffion, or ariiing 
 from its Connexion with other Parts, explain 
 it, 
 
 DISTINGUISH
 
 Lett. 20. ORATORY. 379 
 
 DISTINGUISH the feveral Particulars which 
 are contained in it, and which are to form the 
 feveral Heads. 
 
 NEXT prove the Truth of each. 
 AFTER, remove, if you think it neceffary, 
 Obje<ftions. 
 
 Lajlly, DEDUCE important (practical) Con- 
 fequences. 
 
 CONCERNING each of which I mall proceed 
 to make fome fhort Remarks. . 
 
 BUT before thefe, I fhould take Notice, that 
 it is ufual to place an Exordium, or Introduction : 
 Which feems to be a convenient and reafonable 
 Cuftom, becaufe it leadeth the Hearer gently 
 and by eafy Degrees into the SubjecT:, the En- 
 trance into which would otherwife be harm and 
 abrupt. This was the Pradice of the antient 
 Orators, except in fome very rare Cafes of high 
 Paffion, or in Affairs of unforefeen Hurry and 
 Precipitation : Or, as Milton finely exprefies it, 
 " As when of old fome Orator renown'd 
 " In Athens^ or free Rome, where Eloquence 
 " Flouriih'd, fince mute, to fome great Caufe ad- 
 
 " drefs'd ; 
 
 " Stood in himfelf collected. 
 " Sometimes in Height began, as no Delay 
 " Of Preface brooking thro* his Zeal of Right: 
 " The Tempter all impaflion'd thus began." 
 Of this latter vehement Kind is the firft Oration 
 againft Catiline ; and that ofsljax in Ovid. 
 
 BUT this, if to be ventured upon at all in the 
 prefent Cafe, fhould be very feldom. It hath 
 been attempted by Perfons of good Talents, 
 
 and
 
 380 LECTURES concerning Led. 20. 
 
 and their Succefs, I think, not encouraging [*zj. 
 If indeed you begin with ardent Paffion, how 
 fhall you keep it up ? There is great Danger of 
 the Flame ending in Smoke [<]. It is therefore 
 fit to premife fome few Words, that may be- 
 fpeak Attention, may conciliate Favour, or ex- 
 cite Curiofity. But Care mould be taken, that 
 fuch Introduction be fhort > not far-fetched, 
 nor pompous ; not refined in Thought, nor 
 affected in Diction ; fomething different from, 
 yet nearly connected with the Text ; fuch as 
 falleth without ftraining, into your Defign -, fuch 
 as feemeth not to have been looked for, but to 
 have offered itfelf. 
 
 IT is of mighty Importance that this Part 
 fhould be rightly executed, and it is that, in 
 which there is moft Danger of failing. The 
 beft Precept appears to be this : " When you 
 " have formed your whole Plan, fearch among 
 " your Inferences for the moft eafy and natural 
 " one : This will furniih a good Introduction : 
 " But take Care that it do not afterwards ap- 
 " pear ; at leaft in the fame Light." 
 
 AFTER this Preface, you go on in the next 
 Place, to propofe the feverai Articles, which 
 you intend to make the Heads of your enfuing 
 Difcourfe. Concerning which Cuftom, Opi- 
 nions differ. 
 
 [<z] Of this Kind is the 22d Sermon of Dr. Atterlury 
 On thefe Words, Bleffed is be who fo all not be offended In me ; 
 which beginneth thus, c< And can any Man be offended 
 " in thee, blelFed Jefu, who haft undertaken, and done,'and 
 " fuffered fo much? &c." 
 
 [] Non fumumex fulgore,fed exfumo dare lucem. HOR. 
 
 IN
 
 Left.20. ORATORY. 381 
 
 IN Oppofition to it, fome have affirmed, 
 " That it gives a difguftingAir of Drynefsand 
 " Formality, by preferring to the Hearer be- 
 t( forehand, a View of the Entertainment 
 " which is defigned for him ; which Anticipa- 
 " tion taketh away from it the Charm of No- 
 " velty, and blunteth the Edge of his Curiofity : 
 " Whereas it would be much better to lead 
 " him on by Degrees, and let the Subject un- 
 " fold itfelf. Then would all be preferred 
 <c new: And befides, he would have the Plea- 
 ct fure of difcovering himfelf that Method, 
 " which thefe Divifions too officioufly point out 
 " to him. Accordingly it is in this Manner, that 
 " the polite Antients have written ; and if you 
 " were to reduce a moral Treatife of Tu/fy to 
 " the failiionable Form of diftincT: Heads, you 
 <c would greatly diminifh its Elegance and 
 Beauty." 
 
 THIS Reafoning, it is acknowledged, hath 
 Force ; and is in a great Meafure juft with Re- 
 gard to Works, which are intended as were the 
 Treatifes of the Antients there cited, to be read 
 in the Leifure and Silence of the Clofet : But 
 doth it extend to thofe which are pronounced 
 only ? A Reader may paufe to confider, may 
 look back, may recoiled:, and if the Thread 
 hath efcaped, may ufe all Helps of Thought 
 and Examination to recover itj none of which 
 are in the Hearer's Power j but the Words once 
 uttered if they be not imprinted on his Memo- 
 ry, or if they pals too quick for his Apprehea- 
 fion, cannot be recalled. Such additional Helps 
 
 there-
 
 382 LECTURES concerning Left. 20. 
 
 therefore as can be offered, to his Underftand- 
 ing and remembring what is faid, ought certain- 
 ly to be fupplied. 
 
 IT feems for this Reafon to be a wife and 
 ufefnl Cuftom, to lay before your Audience a 
 fuccinct Account of the principal Points, which 
 you mean to fpeak upon. This general Survey 
 will excite their Curiofity : Each new Head you 
 pafs on to will be a kind of Breathing-place, and 
 ferve to renew their Attention : And when the 
 Whole is fmimed, they will, by this Means, have 
 a more diftinct Remembrance of what you paft 
 through. When you are to conduct one through 
 a ftrange Country j by (hewing to him a fmall 
 Chart of it, or a (hort Defcription of the chief 
 Towns or remarkable Objects, he is to meet 
 with, you would contribute to render his Jour- 
 ney more agreeable ; he would behold them af- 
 terwards with more Pleafure becaufe of this im- 
 perfect Glimpfe ; and would have alfo the Satif- 
 fadion of knowing frequently, what Part of his 
 intended Courfe he was in. 
 
 THIS Part of dividing your Subject properly 
 is of great Moment. And of fo nice and diffi- 
 cult a Nature is it, that Critics have obferved 
 among the many Divifions in the Works of 
 T&//X, but one which they allow to be perfect, 
 not liable to Objection [c]. This we niay well 
 
 [r] The Divifion in the Oration for Murtsna: " The 
 <c whole, Accufation, O Judges, may be reduced to three 
 " Heads. One cpnfifts in Obje&ions againft his Life ; 
 " the fecond relates to the Dignity of his Office ; the 
 *' third includes the Corruption with which he is charged." 
 This, faith Erafmus, is perfectly clear j contains nothing 
 
 account
 
 Led. 20. ORATORY. 383 
 
 account Hypercriticifm and Excefs of Delicacy. 
 What feems moft material to obferve is : 
 
 " THAT the Heads of your Difcourfe fhould 
 " arife eafily from the Text. That they fhould 
 " be few, I fuppofe hardly exceeding four or 
 " five at moft. That each one mould be alto- 
 " gether diftinct from the others. And, if it 
 " may be, each fpring from the foregoing.'* 
 
 IT would not be difficult to produce many 
 Inftances from our own Writers of good Divi- 
 fions; but Examples in thefe Cafes fuit ill with 
 the Brevity of my Defign. One however of 
 more than ordinary Exactnefs I mall juft mention. 
 THE Text is this Judas, betrayeft thou the 
 Son of Man 'with a Kifi ? The Preacher confi- 
 ders firft the Fact ; next makes fome ufeful Ob- 
 fervations upon it.- Upon the former Article, 
 every Word in the Text faith he, tends to co- 
 lour the Fact with a feveral Blacknefs. ift. 
 Betrayejl thou, denoteth Malice. 2d. Judas, 
 the Name prefixed pointing out the Betrayer, 
 meweth Perfidioufnefs. 3d. Judas betrayeft 
 thou THE SON OF MAN ? impiyeth Ingratitude. 
 4th. Betrayeft tbou, WITH A Kiss ? Charges 
 him with Hypocrify. After which, he goes on 
 to prove under the fecond Head, that every vo- 
 luntary Act of Sin in fome Degree contained! 
 all thefe. The Application concerneth every 
 Man [</]. 
 
 fuperfiuous ; comprehends the whole Caufe : Aud alfo is 
 furnifhcd by the Adverfary. De artt conclonandi^ lib. i. 
 \d~\ bee Sermons by Dr. Yaung^ voJ. i. 
 
 As
 
 384 LECTURES concerning Led. 20. 
 
 As to the concealed Method before contended 
 for, that, in which the feveral conftituent Arti- 
 cles are not fpecified, it is to be obferved, that al- 
 though you do not make Ufe of it in the Whole 
 of your Sermon, yet you may, and ought in the 
 feveral Parts thereof. For, as every Head hath 
 its Method, fo is it refolvable into feveral Heads, 
 which although you treat of in their exacl: Or- 
 der, yet you are not to enumerate. 
 
 THUS may your Difcourfe be faid to refem- 
 ble an Animal Body, in which the great 
 Parts are at firft Sight diftinguimed j but the 
 many lelfcr VeiTels which fupport and compofe 
 the greater, the Veins, Arteries, and Nerves, 
 although equally diftinct and elTential to the 
 Whole, are concealed from View, and appear 
 only by Difledion, 
 
 LECTURE
 
 Led. 21. ORATORY. 38$ 
 
 LECTURE the Twenty-firft, 
 
 On the fame Subjeft. 
 
 TH E Proof or Reafoning Part, which is 
 the next in Order, you are to regard as 
 the moft important of all, and accordingly take 
 Care to be moft exact herein. I (hall not re- 
 peat the Obfervations [a] formerly made on this 
 Head, all which are applicable here j but fome, 
 not at all, or then flightly mentioned, as being 
 peculiar to this Place, I fhall now go on to lay 
 before you. 
 
 IN this Part you never can be too clear ; the 
 only Caution is, in feeking Perfpicuity not to 
 become prolix. For Shortnefs is here of efpe- 
 cial Ufe : It keeps up Attention by the quick 
 Succeffion of Ideas j it renders Argument more 
 eafy to the Memory ; and alfo gives Strength to 
 it. For in lengthening the Chain, you weaken 
 it. Mathematicians, the great Mafters of Rea- 
 fon are fenlible of this Truth ; the moft fkilful 
 among them ftudy as much as they conveni- 
 ently may, to abridge Demonftrations : And 
 herein it is, that the Analytic Method, in many 
 Refpects inferior, hath a confiderable Advan- 
 
 0] Ledure VIII. and JX. 
 
 C c tage
 
 386 LECTURES concerning Led. 21. 
 
 tage over the Geometrical, being more con- 
 cife. 
 
 A Fault before touched upon, and among 
 Preachers even of Note, too common, is a Re- 
 dundancy in this Article : The ufing of a Mul- 
 titude of Arguments. Zeal for Truth is apt to 
 miflead a Speaker into thinking, that no Proofs 
 fhould be omitted \ that he hath never faid 
 enough while any Thing remains unfaid. As 
 an Inftance of this Excels, I believe one may 
 cite the Works of Doctor Barrow ; who having 
 a ftrong Faculty of Reafon, together with a vaft 
 Compafs of Learning, and a lively Imagination, 
 abounds with excellent Arguments on every 
 Subject : He exhaufts whatever he ti eateth of ; 
 you can add nothing : But fuch Plenty often 
 caufeth Confuilon. If fomewhat were retrench-> 
 ed the reft would have more Vigour : You 
 would fee more diftinctiy, and comprehend 
 more fully : For the Mind, like a Veffel once 
 full, if you pour in more, runs over and lofes : 
 Or as the Poet well expreffes it, 
 
 Omne fupervacuum pleno de peffiore manat. 
 BESIDES, in thus bringing together nume- 
 rous Arguments, it is probable, that you will 
 employ fbme that are weak, dubious, perhaps 
 falfej and Lord Bacon [/>] juftly obferves, that 
 one idle Reafon weakeneth ail the good which 
 went before. 
 
 You mould choofe few, clear, and ftrong, 
 and juft ; fet thefe in the faireft Light from Or- 
 der and Expreffion; drive them to a Point: 
 
 0] Eflays. 
 
 Thus
 
 Led. 2i. ORATORY. 387 
 
 Thus (hall their Force make ample Compenfa-* 
 tion for the Want of Numbers. A fkilful Ge- 
 neral preferreth few, well-difciplined Troops 
 to a raw unpractifed Multitude, whofe Number 
 makes them unwieldy and unactive, a Crowd 
 rather than an Army. 
 
 A Preacher after declaring that he hath de- 
 monftrated a Point, yet goes on to new Proofs : 
 But why ? At any Rate, I (hall not liften ; for if 
 he hath performed what he fays, what Need of 
 more ? What can be added to Demonftration ? 
 If he hath not; how (hail I believe him now ? 
 Or, already deceived, expect better ? 
 
 A fecond Fault, not lefs common nor lefs 
 hurtful is this. Perfons who write in thefe Days 
 complain, that they have come into the World 
 too late ; that there remain to them Gleanings 
 only, to gather up, in the Harvefl of Letters : 
 They have been prevented in all Subjects ; and 
 if they would not, as too often is the Cafe, 
 teize with endlefs Repetition, they find them- 
 felves compelled to leave the beaten Road. 
 Hence their Ambition is, on all Occafions, to 
 fay, not that which is juft, but new; which, in 
 Morals, mufl needs be oftentimes falfe. 
 
 To this Cauie we may attribute the extraor- 
 dinary Doctrines, of which modern Times have 
 been fo wonderfully and unhappily fruitful. 
 
 SUCH is the fancied Confpiracy between 
 Divines and Atheifts, with which the Imagina- 
 tion of a late Writer fcems to have been as much 
 haunted, as was that of Don Quixot by his Ne- 
 cromancers. Hence the chimerical Suppo- 
 C c 2 iition,
 
 388 LECTURES concerning L e<5l. 2 1 . 
 
 fition, that becaufe Reafon in its higheft Degree 
 of Perfection may difcover a Man's whole Duty, 
 therefore in all Cafes and under all Difadvantages, 
 it may. And the contrary Extreme to this ; that 
 all moral Knowledge undifcoverable otherwife, 
 flows immediately from Revelation. Hence the 
 Affertion, that the proper Trial of Truth is by 
 Ridicule. And the Attempt to prove, that the 
 Writings of Mofes are divinely infpired, from this 
 {ingle Confideration, that he hath not made men- 
 tion of a future State. 
 
 SOME of thefe are advanced with an ill De- 
 fign j others by pious Men, and intended well : 
 1 take Notice of both Sorts, that we may be the 
 more on our Guard ; for all Errors, thofe flow- 
 ing from the beft Caufes, may be dangerous : 
 And it is by thefe Means, this Study of Novelty, 
 thatmofl of the. Well-meaning at leaft, are be- 
 trayed into them. 
 
 BUT if, in all Cafes they are hurtful, they 
 are alfo mcfl abfurd in Sermons ; which are de- 
 figned for Practice, not Speculation ; to make 
 Men good Livers, not acute Difputants. I re- 
 member to have heard more than once from 
 the Pulpit, the mofl fubtle Conjectures con- 
 cerning the Nature of the Soul, its Subiiflence 
 and Actions in a feparate State, explained, as 
 the Preacher called it, to a drowzy, or afto- 
 nifhed, afluredly fatigued Audience, I know 
 not whether more unintelligibly, or prefump- 
 tuoufly. I remember to have heard in the fame 
 Manner, Attempts to reconcile the Fore-know- 
 ledge of God with the Liberty of Man. The 
 
 moft
 
 Le<5l. 21. 'ORATORY. 389 
 
 moft facred Myfteries of the Chriftian Faith, 
 the Motives and Counfels of the Almighty, I 
 have known likewife examined into with the 
 fame Temerity. Sometimes a plain reafonable 
 Audience is entertained with new Difcoveries 
 in the Old Te/lament, deduced from a profound 
 Skill in the Hebrew Tongue : Or, again, is edi- 
 fied with Attempts to revive the long dormant 
 Notion of a Millennium. 
 
 I SPEAK not at prefent concerning the Truth 
 of thefe Matters, nor concerning the Propriety 
 or Expediency of difcufling fuch in general : 
 But certainly they ought not to be difculled on 
 thefe Occafionsj this is not their Place. On 
 the contrary, retain you always in View the 
 only End of preaching, the reforming the Lives 
 of Men, the making them wife unto Salvation : 
 You then cannot go wrong. Ufeful Points ex- 
 plained, recommended with Strength of Reafon 
 and Sincerity, make up the Whole j do this, and 
 you need not apprehend that you (hall not be 
 liftened to ; good Arguments well handled are 
 always fuffkiently new. 
 
 INGENIOUS Men are liable to a third Error. 
 From a Manner of reading and thinking deeply, 
 they fix in themfelves fo flrong an Habit, that 
 on all, on the iimplefl Occafions, they are apt 
 to run into this their accuflomed Way. Are 
 they to recommend a Branch of moral Duty, as 
 Juftice or Temperance ? They raiie upon it 
 Speculations, which a plain Man cannot rightly 
 undcrftand : They are for ever running back to 
 the Foundation, drawing Proofs from the eternal 
 C c 3 Dif-
 
 390 LECTURES concerning Led. 21. 
 
 Difference of Things, from the Love of Truth, 
 univerfal Benevolence, or a fuppofed moral 
 Tafte: Which Principles, whether wrong or 
 rightly fixed upon, is not now the Queftion j 
 but undoubtedly, here they are altogether mif- 
 placed ; and a Phyfician called upon for Ad- 
 vice, might as properly undertake to preferve or 
 recover Health, by entertaining his Patient 
 with a learned DifTertation of Anatomy, the 
 animal Oeconomy, or Nature and Operation of 
 Medicines. 
 
 FEW, if any there are, who ferioufly ?doubt 
 whether they ought to be temperate and juft : 
 But wherein confift thefe Duties ; what Advan- 
 tages they lead to ; how we may be induced to 
 pradife them j what Motives there are to en- 
 courage, what Precepts to direct, what Tempta- 
 tions to avoid : Thefe are Articles intelligible 
 and ufeful, not involved with Subtilties, and af- 
 fecting all Mankind. 
 
 THE Writings of a very learned [c] Prelate 
 feem liable to this Objection. In Difcourfes, 
 wherein he profefledly deduceth the Obligation 
 to Virtue, from confidering the Frame of hu- 
 man Nature, compofed with ilrong and mafter- 
 ly Reafoning, yet as Sermons, in my Appre- 
 henfion, not unexceptionable, allow to him, if 
 you pleafe, this Manner} at leaft, he hath ex^ 
 celled in them fo much, that even in blaming, 
 we cannot but admire. What I would remark 
 is, that on other Subjects, where this Nicety of 
 
 [rj Dr. Butler, Bifhop of Durham. 
 
 Dif-
 
 Led. 2i. ORATORY. 391 
 
 Difquiiition is not necefiary, he, notwithfta'nd- 
 ing, ufeth the fame. 
 
 DOTH he treat of Companion ? Its Nature, 
 Origine, the Texture, as it were, of the Soul is 
 here analyzed with refined Sagacity. If he is 
 to warn you againft Self-deceit, he leads you 
 into the in moil RecefTes of the Heart; with 
 much good Senfe; but who can follow ? So it 
 is in treating of Refentment; even in explaining 
 the mod obvious of all practical Duties, the Love 
 of our Neighbour. It is indeed a reigning Cha- 
 racter. And however valuable the Works of 
 this good and learned Man are, for this I do 
 with Pleafure acknowledge, yet, confidered as 
 delivered from the Pulpit, they are herein 
 faulty. And I mention this Defect, the rather, 
 as I have obferved Men of Senfe to have been led 
 often aftray by an Imitation of him j and in 
 Truth fuch only can imitate him. 
 
 HENCE the Faults of eminent Writers, how- 
 ever unwilling we are to cenfure fuch, ought 
 chiefly to be remarked in Lectures of this Kind, 
 not only as the Merit of the cenfured makes the 
 Example more ftriking, but becaufe their Faults 
 are more likely to infect others, the Genius 
 which excufeth their Errors, rendering them 
 more dangerous : And this, I hope, will plead 
 my 4-pology, if I fometimes blame where I mofl 
 honcW. 
 
 THE Sum is; We mould in preaching on 
 
 moral, as well as religious, Points, avoid whatever 
 
 Things are nice, difficult, fubtile : They puzzle 
 
 without inflructing, they confound without con- 
 
 C c 4 vincing ;
 
 392 LECTURES concerning Left. 2 r . 
 
 vincing ; and with regard to the Bulk of Man- 
 kind, in this Cafe molt to be regarded, are alto- 
 gether uielefs. 
 
 THIS leads to a farther Obfervation : You 
 fhould as much as pomble, adapt yourfelf to the 
 Capacities of your Audience It may be a learned 
 one ; a mixed, or an illiterate. 
 
 BEFORE one of the firft Kind, you are more 
 at Liberty in the Point mentioned ; but the Cafe 
 occurs ib rarely, that it is fcarcely worth While 
 to make an Exception for it. 
 
 BEFORE the fecond, you may be allowed to 
 argue with Clofeneis; to a certain Degree of 
 Length; perhaps not altogether without Subtil- 
 ty j becaule you may fuppofe that very many of 
 your Hearers mall comprehend you fo far ; and 
 I will not fay, but that in a mixed Audience, it 
 may be reaibnable to indulge fomewhat to the 
 pleanng of one Part, where due Care is taken of 
 inftructing the other. - 
 
 BUT in the laft Cafe, which is vaftly the mofl 
 frequent, every Thing of this Sort, all nice, cu- 
 rious, and complicated Reafonings mould belaid 
 afide j Arguments mould be ufed, that are plain, 
 confifting of few Steps, drawn from Authority, 
 common Senfe, and Experience. 
 
 AND of the three, this laft, although lead 
 prized, is, I believe, the hardeft to execute very 
 well. To be perfectly clear; yet never tedious, 
 unadorned j yet never infipid, clofe in Reafon- 
 ing ; yet never obfcure, is no fmall Tafk : The 
 true Value of which Simplicity is little under- 
 ftood or attended to by the Generality, who 
 
 think
 
 Led. ai. ORATORY. 393 
 
 think that any Thing, however careledy writ-* 
 ten, may be fufficient for an unlearned Crowd; 
 an Imagination as groundlefs, as it is prefump- 
 tuous. For there is a Fund of natural Reafon 
 in the Breafls of the Illiterate, which enables 
 them, fo far as their Knowledge extends, to 
 judge rightly. And it may be obferved in Fa- 
 vour of fuch, that a fine Difcourfe which (hall 
 pleafe a learned Hearer, and pieafeth ufually the 
 more, becaule it is addreffed to him exclufively, 
 is indeed loft as to thefe ; yet a plain one fuited 
 to thefe, is, and deferves to be, approved by the 
 moft learned Hearer: Good Senfe is for all 
 Ranks and Underflandings. 
 
 BUT here is a Difficulty which lies in the 
 Way ; " How can one be fuppofed to vary 
 " the Form and Tenor of his Diicourfes ac- 
 " cording to the Diverfities of his Audience ? 
 " This is not pofiible." 
 
 FOR which Reaibn the following feems to be 
 good Advice. Form them originally in fuch 
 Manner, as to be capable of being adapted by 
 fmall Changes to every Kind of Audience : 
 The Way to accomplish which is, by bringing 
 them as near as may be to the amiable Simpli- 
 city beforementioned, which is fuited to the 
 Liking of all Ranks. 
 
 THIS I acknowledge is by no Means eafy: 
 Some happy Difpofitions indeed there are, who 
 fall into it naturally, but ufually it is the Fruit 
 of ferious Reflexion and long Experience : It 
 cofts a Man of quick Parts .in J cxtenfive Know- 
 ledge, much Pain and Sell-denial to rejeft every 
 
 Thing
 
 394 LECTURES concerning Left. 21. 
 Thing curious, and fine, and acute, which his 
 Faculties and Erudition offer to him, and con- 
 fine himfelf within the Limits of common 
 Senfe. But after all, the principal Difficulty 
 herein is not from Nature, but our own Fault, 
 from wrong Paffions, Ambition, Intereft, or 
 Love of Praife. " Preach not for Preferment 
 * c or Fame, but for God and Virtue : If your 
 " Genius admits it, you will then be concife, 
 11 nervous, and plain." 
 
 THIS Quality it is, which, in my Opinion, di- 
 ftinguifheth Ti Hot/on as a Preacher. Barrow is 
 more copious ; Clarke more learned j Atterbury 
 more neat; Sherlock more new, more concife, 
 more ingenious : But it feems, that none have 
 preferved together with fuch a Thread of juft 
 clear Reafoning, properly enlivened, fo much 
 pure unaffected Simplicity. His Language is 
 that of Sincerity and good Underftanding, fo 
 flowing and eafy, that it is not until after examin- 
 ing and reflecting, that you difcover it to be the 
 Production of fine Genius : Which is perhaps 
 the Caufe, that his Works are now lefs read by 
 the Laity, and, as I think, lefs imitated by the 
 Clergy, than they formerly were. 
 
 BESIDES thefe Proofs, drawn from Reafon, 
 which we have hitherto treated of, others there 
 are, taken from holy Scripture, which carrying 
 with them the Weight of Divine Authority, are 
 of the greateft Efficacy ; upon which alfo there 
 are fome Remarks fit to be attended to. 
 
 INSTEAD
 
 Left. 2i. ORATORY. 395 
 
 INSTEAD of crowding in a great Number, 
 oftentimes the Cafe, you mould choofe fuch Pa 
 fages as are exprefs to your Point. 
 
 CHOOSE fuch, as in the original Intention of 
 the facred Writer were meant in the Senfe 
 wherein you apply them : For you may have 
 obferved, that Words are often cited as Autho*- 
 rity, which yet compared with the Context have 
 originally a very different Meaning. 
 
 NEITHER ought you to prove any AfTertion 
 by difficult and doubtful Paflages, when you 
 may do it by fuch as are plain : Yet this is no 
 uncommon Practice ; and betides other Inconve- 
 niences to which it is fubject, hath alfo the Ap- 
 pearance of Oftentation. 
 
 IT feems, that Doctor Clarke although un- 
 doubtedly not from this laft mentioned Motive, 
 hath exceeded herein. He goes out of his Way 
 fometimes for a Page or two together, in ex- 
 plaining difficult Parts of holy Scripture, al- 
 though not neceilary to the Proof of his Doctrine, 
 and fometimes fcarcely, if at all connected with 
 his Text. 
 
 " BUT his Reader is thereby ufefully in- 
 ct ftructed." I do not deny it ; and, if I were 
 to confult my own Liking, I will add, if ^ou 
 pleale, Advantage, I would not have them fewer; 
 but we fpeak now of Propriety, of what is in 
 itfelt fit, not what is recommended by extra- 
 ordinary Talents ; and that appears not to be 
 the Place for fuch Injtruftion. The Doctor acts 
 here the Part of a very good Annotator, but 
 not that of a Preacher. Why not write a Com- 
 ment
 
 396 LECTURES concerning Left. 21. 
 
 ment for this Purpofe ? Why Sermons ? It is 
 true, his Genius, as well as Reading, led him 
 this Way, as he was very learned, fagacious, 
 and happy in fuch Interpretation ; but here he 
 fhould have refifted and confined his Genius. 
 The Remark, at leaft, may be fo far ufeful, in 
 warning thofe not to follow his Manner, who 
 want his Genius. 
 
 IT is not unufual, befide Quotations, to in- 
 terweave with your own, ExprefTions of holy 
 Scripture, which gives to Style an Air of Gravity 
 and Dignity : Wherein however a Mean fhould 
 be preferved. You fhould not appear to feek 
 after fuch. Nor make the Mixture too fre- 
 quent. Nor alter often the Contexture of the 
 Scripture by breaking it and intermingling indif- 
 criminately your own, which is not enough 
 refpedtful : Neither ufe it on flight Occafions. 
 Leaft of all> fhould you introduce thefe PafTages, 
 in Order to give them a new Application or Turn, 
 containing Livelinefs and Wit. 
 
 HEATHEN Antiquity likewife furnimes both 
 Examples and Arguments of much Strength 
 and Weight in the Caufe of Virtue : But thefe 
 fhould be at all Times ufed fparingly ; before a 
 popular Audience, fcarcely ever : Becaufe, they 
 have an Air of Erudition, there mifplaced : Be- 
 caufe, on fuch Occafions our Thoughts are turn- 
 ed to a much higher Hiftory and Authority : 
 And becaufe, they are not necerTaryj Reafon 
 and Scripture want not fuch Aid. 
 
 To conclude this Head. It is fit for the 
 moft Part, in a Courfe of long Reafoning, and 
 
 confift-
 
 Led. 21. ORATORY. 397 
 
 confifting of many Branches, at the End of each 
 Head, or rather when the Whole is ended, to 
 give a fummary or fhort Recapitulation of all; 
 which, (hewing at once the Subftance of the 
 whole Series of Argument, will both prefent a 
 more diftincl View of it, and will imprefs it more 
 deeply on the Memory: And fuch Recapitu- 
 lation may not improperly be ufed to clofe the 
 Difcourfe. 
 
 BUT the more cuflomary, and generally 
 fpeaking, a much better Way of concluding, is 
 that, we have before laid down ; with an Ap- 
 plication to your Hearers by Way of INFE- 
 RENCES ; for this is the laft Article comprized 
 under Method, which I undertook to fpeak 
 upon. 
 
 IN the Choice of thefe, as in them chiefly 
 confifts the Utility and main End of the whole 
 Difcourfe, great Care mould be employed. The 
 chief Cautions which occur to my Thoughts are 
 the following : 
 
 Fir/t, CONFINE not yourfelf to very GENE- 
 RAL Inferences. There is not any Text, from 
 which you may not draw Inferences relative to 
 our general Duty, or to almoft any Branch of it, 
 that you pleafe j but this is unfkilful and un- 
 pleafing. 
 
 CHOOSE out fuch only, or principally, as are 
 peculiar to your Text, and fpring from it in the 
 Light wherein you have confidered it : They 
 mould follow, and not be dragged after ; mould 
 be fuch, as every Man, when he hath heard 
 them, imagines that he would himfelf have 
 
 thought
 
 398 LECTURES concerning Led:. 21. 
 
 thought of. Thus you mall preferve Unity, 
 and make your whole Work entire and of one 
 Piece ; which Union, befide its agreeable Im- 
 prerfion on the Mind, will give Strength to every 
 Part. 
 
 FuRTHER,Take Care, that the fame Inference 
 do not appear in different Places ; that the Be- 
 ginning, or what was ufed in the reafoning Part, 
 or had occurred as an incidental Obfervation, 
 be not here brought again into View j which of- 
 fends by the Want of Method, and by Repe- 
 tition : Or, if fbmetimes that be allowable, you 
 muft fet it in a new Light, or fliew it to be worthy 
 of this fecond Examination from its extraordinary 
 Moment. 
 
 INFERENCES mould be fo difpofed, that they 
 may grow upon the Hearer ; that each may be 
 of more Weight than the preceding, and the 
 moft ftriking be placed laft. The fame I would 
 have underftood of their Extent; the more ge- 
 neral mould lead, the particular follow, ending 
 with that which is clofeft, and comes home to 
 each Man's own Bread. 
 
 THEIR Order like wife mould be fuch, that 
 each may bring in naturally the following j 
 which will render them more clear to the Un- 
 derftanding, and eaiier to the Memory. 
 
 REMARK efpecially, that although Reafon 
 hath Place in every Part, yet theie Inferences 
 are moft properly the Seat of Paffion. You have 
 convinced and taught ; here you are to incline, 
 to perfuade. 
 
 AN
 
 Led. 21. . O R A T O R Y. 399 
 
 AN eminent Perfon [c] feems tcrhave been 
 defective in this Part. His Inferences right in 
 Matter, juft in Senfe, clear in Reafon, are yet 
 cold : They leave the Hearers Mind indifferent, 
 unenlivened/ 
 
 YOUR Inferences grounded in Truth and good 
 Senfe, mould, if poffible, be highly moving; 
 your Thoughts and Words fhould be Darts, as 
 it were, of Flame, to pierce, to kindle, and re- 
 main fixed in the Hearts of your Hearers. 
 
 THIS laft Confideration leads to a new Arti- 
 cle in the Competition of a Sermon, very wor- 
 thy of Confideration ; the Addrefs to the Paf- 
 fions. Concerning which Subjecl, before pretty 
 largely treated of, there remain fbme Things un- 
 touched, and belonging more efpeciaily to this 
 Kind of Writing, which I fhall mention with 
 all convenient Brevity. 
 
 IT is allowed, that a Preacher fliould be able 
 to move the Paflions : But the Attempt is deli- 
 cate j if he mifcarry, it is greatly prejudicial ; he 
 then becomes difgufting, not feldom ridiculous. 
 " What therefore mall I do ? Shall I give up 
 " as defperate, the only Way whereby one can 
 " greatly excel ? Or lhall I run fo great a Rifk 
 " of Contempt r" 
 
 IN Anfwer, the bed Advice I can think of 
 is the following: Consider well, have you a 
 Genius turned to this Pathetic ? If not j by 
 no Means attempt it ; for you never can fuc- 
 ceed well; Precept, Labour, Study, all are 
 vain. 
 
 0] Dr. Clarke. 
 
 BUT
 
 400 LECTURES concerning Led . 2 1 . 
 
 " BUT how mall I know my own Genius ? 
 " Nothing is more hard. Men misjudge there - 
 <c in every Day." 
 
 IT is true : And the following Rules may, I 
 think, be of Ufe. 
 
 RECOLLECT if you can, in the EfTays of your 
 younger Years, which is the Courfe you have 
 taken : For at that Time Genius, lefs altered by 
 Imitation or Art, difplayeth its innate Bent, and 
 Impalfe. 
 
 OBSERVE afterwards. In thinking of any 
 Subject, what is the Path into which your firft 
 Thoughts hurry you, before Reflection checks 
 their Career? This fpontaneous Wandering 
 fheweth the Direction of Nature. 
 
 AGAIN, Which are the Studies you are moft 
 inclined to? Do you lean towards Mathema- 
 tics, or Metaphyfics, or Works of Fancy ; and 
 in the mixed, which Part draws you mofl 
 powerfully ? In the Writings of others, what is 
 it which pleafeth you moft at firft View ? This 
 Inclination, this Preference fpeaks the Voice of 
 Genius. 
 
 SUPPOSE that each of thefe Marks fail, that 
 all taken together may ; I believe you may ftill 
 judge fecurely, if to them you add thefe others. 
 
 REFLECT, wherein do you make the eafieft 
 and quickeft Progrefs. Every regular Difcourfe 
 conlifteth of feveral Kinds 5 it would be abfurd 
 to make one wholly up of Pathetic : Now, 
 which of thefe feveral Kinds do you fall into 
 moft readily, and advance m moft fwiftly ? 
 
 IF
 
 Led. 21. ORATORY. 46! 
 
 IF your Genius be truly pathetic, you will 
 indeed take Care of the plain and argumentative 
 Parts, becaufe they are neceffary to your Delign, 
 and to the Succefs of the -Whole ; but you will 
 not find in them the fame Facility, or Delight, 
 as in the others : You will go through them, like 
 a Traveller in a rugged Road, with Difcretion 
 and Caution ; whereas you come to the other as 
 fair champain Ground, which you fly over with 
 Pleafure and Rapidity. 
 
 AND laftly, to make this Characterise com- 
 pleat, take in the Succej's alfo. 
 
 EVERY Perfon may be fure of discovering this 
 by the Help of reafonable Attention, without 
 Imputation of Lightnefs or curious Anxiety; 
 efpecially in the Point before us. Public Mif-* 
 carriage herein, affords- too great Triumph to a 
 revengeful or fatirical Perfon, to be long paft over 
 in Silence. As you find the Event, regulate 
 your Conduct, 
 
 FOR, if in all Cafes, as we before obferved, 
 Men ought to be cautious of attempting the Pa- 
 thetic, furely in this, we ought to be more efpe* 
 cially fo ; becaufe the more important the Sub- 
 ject, the more ferious the Defign and Argument, 
 the plainer mould be the Manner, the more re- 
 mote from all Appearance of Skill, or Sufpicion 
 of Seduction. 
 
 So much for the general Attempt to addrefs 
 the Paffions : Particular Obfervations are thefe. 
 
 OCCASIONS often occur in every Part of your 
 Difcourfe, in the Explanatory, in the Argu- 
 mentative, where the Pathetic may be proper.: 
 Dd But
 
 402 LECTURES concerning Led. 21, 
 
 But in thofe Places, it ought to be merely a 
 Stroke, a Flam, rapid and inftantly difappear- 
 ing. Infift upon, lengthen fuch PafTages : You 
 foon offend, or fatigue. 
 
 THE Situation moft fit for, I may fay, pecu- 
 liar to this Kind, is the Application* Here it 
 is, that you are to unfurl all the Sails, or to raife 
 the Metaphor, that you are to pour forth the 
 whole Storm of your Eloquence j to move, to 
 exhort, to comfort, to terrify, to inflame, to 
 melt. Your Thoughts, your Language, your 
 Voice, your whole Form mould be animated. 
 You cannot be too foft, too infinuating, too ra- 
 pid, too various, too fublime. Among others, we 
 fee two Caufes, why this (the Application) 
 mould be the peculiar Seat of the Pathetic. 
 
 ONE is, that before Conviction, every Ave- 
 nue through which Paflion might reach the 
 Mind is (hut up, or guarded, and nothing from 
 that Quarter admitted without careful Exami- 
 nation. Convince your Hearer: Sufpicion. 
 ceafeth ; you obtain Credit with him j he con- 
 fidereth you as a fair and fafe Guide ; thus 
 openeth out his Pafllons to your Call j nay, con- 
 fpireth with you, and induftriouily affifteth you 
 in your Defign of moving them. And becaufe 
 the Exertion of Paffion is in the Aft itfelf, from 
 our original Conftitution, pleafing, he affifteth 
 herein the more willingly, as he is now fecure, 
 that he may exert it fafely. Before, you 
 wrought againfl the Stream with much Labour 
 and little Progrefs ; here the Current fets with 
 you, and you glide down eafily and fwiftly. 
 
 ANOTHER
 
 Lea. 2i. ORATORY. 
 
 ANOTHER Caufe is, that Iriiprefiions made 
 on the Pafiions are the ftrongeft, and moil ieri- 
 fibly felt by all Men ; whence it is prudent as irt 
 this Cafe, to leave them laft in the Mind. A 
 Man convinced by Argument belie veth, ac- 
 quiefceth ; and often thinks no more of the 
 Matter : Intereft his PafTions warmly, the Images 
 remain, will be, for a long Time at lead, eafiiy 
 revived, and for ever returning, [d] Did not 
 cur Hearts burn within us while he talked *with 
 US) is the Character given of his Eloquence, who 
 fpttke as never Manfpakt. 
 
 IT is true, wife" States [e~\ prohibited byex- 
 prefs Laws, Pleaders to direct their Difcourfe to 
 the Paffions of the Judges : But the Cafe of 
 Preachers is very different. A Judge cannot 
 intereft himfelf in the Caufe of the Parties with- 
 out Injuftice; to engage his Patnons is there- 
 fore to feduce him : But in the Duty of a 
 Chriftian, religious and moral, his moil precious 
 Intereih are directly concerned; fo that to 
 judge of them rightly, his PafTions rriufl be, 
 ought to be ftrongly engaged. 
 
 THE bed Advice on this Head which WC 
 would do well conflantly to fallow, is this. 
 Raife your Imagination by a lively Portraiture 
 of all the Circumftances, thofe in which you 
 v/rite, and thofe in which you ihall pronounce 
 \vhat is written" : The Dignity of the Subject, 
 Excellence of the Defign, Zeal becoming of 
 your Office, Good that may be wrought, the 
 
 [J] St. Lvkt xxiv. 33. 0] Eyft and dtktr.t. 
 
 D d a Place,
 
 404 LECTURES concerning Left. 2i 
 
 Place, . the Occafion, the Audience, the Still- 
 nefs, the Attention, fuppofe all prefent at the 
 Inftant : This will awaken every Spark of Ge- 
 nius within you ; your Thoughts will be warm- 
 ed, they will flow in Expreffions, flrong, lively, 
 glowing ; you will have Fire, Force, Dignity. 
 
 A PREACHER fhould further note on this Oc- 
 cafion, that the Effects of the Pathetic vary toge- 
 ther with the Audience, and fhould take his 
 . Meafures accordingly. 
 
 THE Paffions are more eafily excited in the 
 young than in the old ; in Women, as being of 
 a Frame more delicate, than in Men 5 in the 
 Poor and Diftreft, than in the Rich and For- 
 tunate, for Profperity hardeneth the Heart : In 
 the Illiterate, than in the Learned, becaufe more 
 prone to admire ; and, for the fame Reafon, in 
 thofe who have lived privately, than in Men of 
 large Experience and much converfant with 
 Affairs. 
 
 FURTHER, Fear is the mofl powerful of our 
 Paffions. Its Impreffions are the mofl fudden, 
 fink the deepeft, remain the longeft. This 
 mighty Engine therefore you mould not fail to 
 employ in the Caufe of Religion ; notwithfland- 
 ing the vifionary Notions of Perfection and Dif- 
 intereft, with which fome have endeavoured to 
 flatter Mankind, in Contradiction to univerfal 
 common Experience, You fhould feek, not 
 only to win Men to Virtue by Reprefentations of 
 its amiable Nature, but deter them from Vice, 
 by juft Pictures of its Deformity -, and efpecially, 
 of its dreadful Confequences -, and difplay be- 
 fore
 
 Led. 21. ORATORY. 405 
 
 fore the Eyes of the Sinner, in as ftrong Colours 
 the unfpeakable Terrors, as the tender Mercies 
 of the Almighty Judge : 'Which I the rather 
 mention, becaufe in this polifhed Age, I think, 
 there are not wanting, Inftances of that falfe 
 and dangerous Delicacy, well defcribed by the 
 Poet, 
 
 To Reft the Cufliion and foft Dean invite, 
 "Who never mentions Hell to Ears polite. 
 
 POPE.' 
 
 INFERENCES we have faid form the beft Kind 
 of Conclufion : But here one Thing mould be 
 ad verted to, " The Time of concluding." Have 
 you not obferved many, in the Midfl of Argu- 
 ment or warm Exhortation, furprize their Au- 
 dienceat once with a fudden unexpected End- 
 ing ? But every Thing abrupt is ungraceful. 
 
 OTHERS there are, who fall into an oppofite 
 and worfe Extreme; who know not how to 
 have done ; who feem never to think that they 
 have faid enough : But when the Length of the 
 Time, when their own Matter and Manner pro- 
 mife the End to be at Hand, when their Hearers 
 expect it, add yet more, go round and round, 
 and continue hovering about a Point, teizing by 
 this Difappointment and fatiguing the Congre- 
 gation. This ill Habit, whether proceeding 
 from Zeal or wrong Judgment, omit no Pains 
 to avoid, or correct, 
 
 LEARN to diftinguifh the precife Time of 
 
 concluding ; that is, " When you have executed 
 
 <c the Scheme at firft laid down ; when you 
 
 " have nothing new to fay ; nothing of more 
 
 D d 3 Weight
 
 406 LECTURES concerning Led:. 21. 
 
 " Weight and Force than what hath been faid ; 
 * ( when you have brought your Argument to a 
 f Point] while the Impreffion is ftrong and ftill 
 ff warm in the Hearer's Mind." 
 
 FOR this Reafon it feems not an advifeable 
 Cuftom, to make feveral Sermons on the fame 
 Text. In which Way, each one lofeth of its 
 Beauty and Ufefulnefs. Of its Beauty, becaufe 
 there is no Point from whence you can have at 
 once a View of the Whole, and fo judge of the 
 Proportions. Of its Ufefulnefs, becaufe the 
 former Parts leave the Inftriiction imperfect ; 
 the others bring it late, to a faint and now con^ 
 fufed Memory. 
 
 ABUNDANCE of Matter is alledged as a Rea- 
 fon : A good one, where real ; but you may for 
 the mofl Part either take a narrower Compafs $ 
 prabri4ge Words, and bycondenfing, ftrengthen 
 Senfe. I dare not, however, condemn a Cuftom 
 juftified by great Authorities : And mall only 
 remark j " That it is much fitter for a Reader 
 " than Hearer : That it fhould be ufed feldom : 
 ? c - And not extended beyond two Difcourfes." 
 
 yNDER the Heads of Proofs and Inferences, 
 we have remarked what feems moft material in 
 the Preacher's Addrefs to Reafon and Paffion : 
 It is further ufeful, fometimes neceflaryj tq re- 
 lieve and mitigate the Severity of Reafon and 
 Vehemence of Paffion, by Strokes of Imagina- 
 tion : But, in Works of this very grave Caft, 
 theie fhould be ufed fparingly and with Difcre- 
 ?ion. Such Licences are and may be indulged 
 to young Perfons, in whom fome Degree of 
 
 Luxuriant)*
 
 Led. 21. O R A T O R V. 407 
 
 Luxuriancy is to be wifhed for ; that old Age 
 may have fomewhat to lop and prune away, 
 without Injury to the Stock : But thefe ill agree 
 with riper Years, and more ferious Character. 
 A good Rule feems to be this, borrowed from a 
 Work ferious in its Kind. 
 
 IN Tragedy, fay the Critics, every Incident, 
 every Speech, one may almoft add, every Line 
 fhould have a Refpect to the main Defign, 
 fhould contribute to the Cataftrophe. It is an 
 Imperfection ever to let the Plot ftand ftill, to 
 leave the Stage empty, much more to go out 
 of the Way. In like Manner, having fixed ex- 
 actly the Plan and Series of your Difcourfe, exa- 
 mine every Period ; doth it go on in the fame 
 Line ? Doth it lead your Hearer nearer to the 
 Conclufion ? Do your Images throw in Light to 
 direct, illuftrate, prove? Or do they merely en- 
 tertain ? If this latter be the Cafe, reject, cut 
 them off as fuperfluous. Admit nothing idle, 
 howfoever pleaiing or pretty it may appear. 
 Obferving this Rule fteddily, you (hall not much 
 tranfgrefs in the Ufe of Imagination -, your Or* 
 naments will be chaft and manly. 
 
 
 . 
 d LECTURE
 
 408 LECTURES concerning Left. 22. 
 
 LECTURE the Tweny-fecond, 
 
 On the fame Sub] eft. 
 
 WE have now taken a particular View of 
 the chief Qualifications requifite in 3 
 . Preacher. We have led him through the Com- 
 pofition of his Sermon j have chofen his Text ; 
 fixed on his Manner of collecting Materials; 
 of fetting out; of refolving the whole into 
 Jleads. We have confidered him as addreffing 
 himfelf to Reafon in his Proofs ; to PaiTion in 
 the Inferences j or to imagination by inter- 
 mingling decent Ornament. Nothing now re- 
 maineth but to make fome Reflexions on the 
 outward Part, that which is directed to Senfe, 
 on Style and Pronunciation. 
 
 OF the former I have little to add. If the 
 Sentiments be fuch as have been defcribed, they 
 will quickly form to thcmfelves a fuitable Style, 
 clear, eafy, and unaffected 3 preferving through- 
 out a certain Air of Serioufnefs and Sincerity, of 
 Plainnefs and Probity. 
 
 WHAT hath been remarked as the principal 
 pxcellence of hiflorical Style, may be applied 
 
 here
 
 Left.22. ORATORY. 409 
 
 here with yet ftricter Propriety : Which, faith 
 one, fhould be like Oil, itfelf deftitute of Scent 
 and Tafte, yet beftowing an agreeable Flavour 
 and relifh to other Things. It fhould appear to 
 have no other Ufe, but to (hew and commu- 
 nicate the Thought it prefents, itfelf in the mean 
 Time unnoticed ; like pure Cryftal, which ex- 
 hibiteth external Objects with fuch perfect 
 Tranfparency, that it efcapeth the Eye, and no- 
 thing feems interpofed. 
 
 HENCE on the one Side, the Florid and 
 Swelling, fet out with hard Words and pom- 
 pous Phrafes, or encumbered with a Load of 
 fuperfluous Epithets, or rattling through the te- 
 dious Concatenation of fonorous Parenthefes, or 
 twining through the unmeaning Circuit of long, 
 languid, polite Phrafeology, ought carefully to 
 be avoided. On the other hand, an aiming at 
 the Familiar, the defcending into minute Details, 
 a Defire of being particular and exact, the Paint- 
 ing of domeftic Oeconomy, or private Life* in 
 their fmalkft Circumftances. have betrayed 
 many good well-meaning Men into Notions 
 and Exprefiions, grofs and low, mean or un- 
 feemiy, have rendered oftenfive or ridiculous. 
 
 FIGURES fliould be ufed moderately. They 
 are too artificial, and hurt Clearnefs. Hyper- 
 boles and feigning of Perfons leaft of all : 
 They have the Air of, ufually approach too 
 much to, Fiction. Apoftrophe's break the At- 
 tention, if frequent; difpleafe, as turning away 
 from, and for the Time forgetting as it were, the 
 .Audience. All Study of Harmony alfo, Sen- 
 tences
 
 4io LECTURES concerning Lect. 22. 
 
 tences ballanced in Oppoiitions, rounded Periods, 
 meafured Cadence : As again, broken rugged 
 Concifenefs, frequent Interrogation, harfh Tranf- 
 pofitions, obfolete or unufual Conftructions j all 
 new Terms, whether Abufes of the Vulgar, or 
 coined in the fruitful Mint of Vanity and con- 
 ceited innovating Mode, are Faults diligently to 
 be guarded againft -, as deftrudtive of that na- 
 tural Simplicity, which is the Perfection of this 
 Kind of Writing. 
 
 BUT, it is now Time, that I mould proceed to 
 the la# Article PRONUNCIATION. Concern- 
 ing which, the living Voice, the Counfei of a 
 judicious Friend, or Inftrudtions of a Teacher 
 will be of much more Ufe, than Volumes of 
 Precepts, written in a Clofet. Thefe can no 
 more lead to Perfection herein, than the ftudy- 
 ing the moft exact Theory of Mufic, can alone, 
 enable a Reader to play well upon an Inftru- 
 ment, whereto long Application and Practice 
 are requisite. In like Manner, good Pronunci- 
 ation muft be the Effect of frequent Trials, of 
 Pifcipline, and long Experience. Precepts may 
 perfect the Judgment, but help little the per- 
 forming Power; make Critics, not Speakers. 
 However, that nothing, fo far as I can, may be 
 wanting to my Subject, I will not altogether 
 omit this important Article. 
 
 IT comprehends two Parts, Pronunciation 
 ftrictly fo named, or Speaking - y and Action, or 
 Gefture. I will fay fomewhat of each. 
 
 IN the former, two Things are to be confi- 
 dered, the Voice, and the Management of it.
 
 Lea. 22. ORATORY. 411 
 
 The firft, is the Gift of Nature ; and is to be 
 wifhed for clear, full, and harmonious; and 
 where it fails in thefe, fuch Defects may, to a 
 certain Degree, be remedied, or helped by Care 
 and Exercife, 
 
 THE Management of it, as being in our own 
 Power, deferves to be weighed more exactly. 
 In which Point I go on to lay before you a 
 Courfe of Obfervation, that I have often 
 thought may be ufeful ; may, at leaft aifift, 
 a young Perlon to fet out rightly, and put him 
 in the Way of Improvement. 
 
 EVERY Art hath its Origine in Nature, is 
 founded therein ; and hath been gradually im- 
 proved by an Imitation of it. A Collection of 
 Obfervations, made by judicious and experience^ 
 Perfons on the Procedure and Operations df 
 Nature, cleared from all Abufes and Perverfions, 
 form the Rules of each Art. 
 
 HENCE the right Method of knowing the 
 true Point of Perfection in any Art, is by tracing 
 it back to its firft Element, that Nature ', where- 
 in it is grounded; from thence returning, by 
 purfuing it upward to its higheft Limit, you 
 will fee its Connexion with the Original, in 
 every Step, until it arrive at its Height; by 
 ' which Muans, you will clearly diftinguifh what 
 is genuine from all Corruptions, foreign Infu- 
 fions, and Mixtures of Conceit, Prejudice, or 
 Ignorance. Apply this for Example to the Point 
 before us. 
 
 WOULD you determine what is the propereft 
 inner of pronouncing a Sermon ? Carry your 
 
 Enquiry
 
 412 LECTURES concerning Left. 2 2 . 
 
 Enquiry down to Nature in her limpleft Form. 
 See what Instructions me affordeth when beheld 
 in this Light : Follow her from thence up to 
 that Point of Art, whither you would arrive : 
 You will by this Mean, find a Criterion where- 
 by to fix your Judgment in the Article re- 
 quired. 
 
 THUS caft your Eye upon the fimpleft Form 
 of Speech, upon two Perfons converfing on a 
 Point indifferent : Here every Thing is fami- 
 liar, eafy, and compofed. 
 
 IMAGINE a Subject of Debate ftarted : The 
 Voice is infbntly raifed ; the Words are uttered 
 with more Emphafis, and follow each other with 
 more Swiftnefs, encreafing herein as the Di- 
 pute grows warm; and the Dialogue lofeth 
 wholely its former tranquil Air. 
 
 SUPPOSE next the Scene enlarged. Let one 
 of thefe Perfons talk to a larger Number, as a 
 Company, or whole Family, other Circumftances 
 remaining the fame; The Neceffity of railing 
 the Voice with the Increafe of Number, will, in 
 this Cafe, occafion fome Change ; the Accent 
 will be ftronger; the Emphafis every where 
 more marked ; the Words will flow with greater 
 Rapidity. 
 
 OR, we may fet this in a fuller Point of 
 View. You have, it is likely, heard one Perfon 
 relate to feveral, to a Dozen, or more, affembled, 
 an Event> containing many Circumftances; of 
 fome Length therefore and Variety; and further 
 of a Nature interefting greatly the Hearers. 
 Here you obferve all the Diverfity beforemen- 
 
 tioned,
 
 Left. 22. ORATORY. 413 
 
 tiSned, but more con fpicuous from the Circum- 
 ftances and Occafion, from the great Diver fity of 
 Matter, and the ftronger Effects upon the Au- 
 dience, which, like Light reflected, act in their 
 Turn by warming the Speaker. Nature herfelf 
 dictates thefe unftudied Tones, familiar, low, 
 foft, quick, acute, loud, and vehement, as the 
 Accidents related demand : To all which the 
 Appearance of the Hearers, as by Sympathy, ex- 
 actly correfponds. 
 
 ADVANCE but a few Steps further, and you 
 arrive at the Point now under Consideration. 
 
 TRANSPORT in your Imagination, this Man 
 into a Church. Employ him there, in laying 
 before a large AlTembly, Truths of the greateft 
 Moment ; wherein he is to explain, prove, en* 
 courage, exhort, deter, holding forth Rewards 
 and Punifhments without End. Manifeft it is, 
 that here alfo, the Manner of Speaking will re- 
 main the fame. As the Audience is now much 
 enlarged, it is true the Voice muft be raifed in 
 Proportion ; all will be therefore fomewhat aug- 
 mented; more Strength, more Vehemence, 
 more Paflion,more Rapidity in Reafbning, more 
 Inflexions of the Voice, and more evident Va- 
 riety; yet the whole Form of Pronunciation, 
 the Tones, the Changes, the Emphafis are the 
 fame. It is frill the fame Nature that operates 
 through all thefe Gradations ; that reigns equally 
 from the placid Sounds of familiar Dialogue, to 
 the higheft Strains of adorned Declamation. 
 
 Now it fecms, that a due Attention to thefe 
 Remarks would guard againfl the principal Er- 
 rors,
 
 414 LECTURES concerning Le&. 22." 
 
 rors, daily committed by public Speakers ; efpe- 
 cially, from the Pulpit. One of the chief 
 among which I have obferved to be this. 
 
 A PERSON afcendihg the Pulpit imagines, that 
 he is not to exprefs himfelf from thence in any 
 Sort, as he doth in private ; but with this new 
 Situation aflumeth to himfelf a Character alto- 
 gether new, a (lately, folemn, pompous Gravity. 
 His Language, his Utterance, his Cadences be- 
 come all affected, and his Voice feigned ; which 
 Practice is undoubtedly wrong. 
 
 OBSERVE the Foundation, the Progrefs of Na- 
 ture ; keep her Manner, her feveral Tones j only 
 heightened fb much as to be proportioned to the* 
 Place, and fuited to the Subject. This is the 
 lure, the fole Way to excel. Every Deviation 
 from hence is- wrong. 
 
 THE feveral Sentiments of our Minds have 
 each their own peculiar Form of Expreffion, in 
 the outward Frame of the Body, efpecially, irt 
 the Complexion and Features of the Face. The 
 Paffions chiefly, difplay themfelves by evident 
 Signs j their Language is univerfal, extends -to; 
 and is underftood by all. 
 
 EACH of thefePaffions hath no lefs its pecu^ 
 liar Tone of Voice, by which it expreffeth itfelf, 
 even in Sounds inarticulate ; an Exclamation, 
 an Interjection, a iimple Cry betray the Emotion, 
 at that Inftant predominant. 
 
 IN articulate Language, thefe Tones are ftili 
 more various j and the Ear is exquifitely formed 
 to catch every the minuteft Difference, every 
 Shade, if I may be allowed fo to /peak,, irt'thfc 
 
 marvellous
 
 Led. 22. ORATORY. 415 
 
 marvellous Variety^ and report it faithfully to the 
 Mind. 
 
 IF then you feek to change this eftablifhed 
 Order of Nature, if departing from her, you en- 
 deavour to utter thefe Sentiments or Affe&ions 
 in a new Manner and Cadence, what do you but 
 perplex and confound ? No Ear will acknow- 
 ledge you ; every Heart will be hut againft you ; 
 you offend, or at beft talk to empty Air. Preach- 
 ers ought maturely to confider this ; and not to 
 fuppofe, as too often manifeflly is the Cafe, that 
 their Office doth immediately invert them with 
 a new Perfon, and place them without the Li- 
 mits of Nature and received Cuftom, 
 
 AND yet, we may remark much of the fame 
 Miftake prevailing in our Theatres alfo. Some 
 who fpeak plainly and well in Comedy, when 
 they afcend into tragic Parts, afTume a new 
 Voice j their Cadence, Emphafis, Tones, are 
 totally different ; all become fwoln, and high, 
 and ranting. The Caufe is, knowing in general, 
 that there ought to be preserved a Difference be- 
 tween the two Kinds, but not conceiving what 
 Ihould remain common to both, theyoverftretch . 
 this Difference to every Article ; and thus be- 
 come forced, and falfe, and offenfive. 
 
 IT is worth while to trace this affected, how- 
 ibever we name it, Gravity or Solemnity, in 
 Preachers, to its Source, that we may the better 
 guard ourfclves againft it. It may be in a great 
 Meafure accounted for thus. 
 
 THEY who have the Care of Children in 
 their carlieft Years, teach them to read in an 
 
 unnatural
 
 41 6 LECTURES concerning Left. 22* 
 
 unnatural Tone. Attend to the fame Children 
 talking and reading ; their whole Voice is dif- 
 ferent. In this latter Cafe, they go on in a cer- 
 tain even, unchanging Uniformity, painful ori- 
 ginally to themfelves, and inharmonious to the 
 Hearer. And however Experience and Con- 
 verfation may afterwards leflen this Difference, 
 yet they fcldom entirely correct it ; and very few 
 read with the fame Eafe and genuine Variety of 
 Pronunciation, with which they converfe. Now, 
 as it is among us the univerfal Cuftom to read 
 our Sermons, the Influence of this early Habit 
 fheweth itfelf here : We fall into the fame un- 
 natural formal Pronunciation. 
 
 THAT this Account is true, we fee further 
 confirmed by the Example of the Sectaries 
 among us, who ufe extemporary Sermons : They 
 have not any thing of this formal Stiffnefs and 
 the Uniformity, of this, if I may fo call it, Book- 
 utterance. 
 
 THIS Remark openeth to us a confiderable 
 Advantage f that which was the antient Way, 
 the preaching extempore. Herein the Preacher 
 delivering himfelf up, without Controul to his 
 Genius, and uttering the Sentiments of his 
 Heart, as in animated Converfation, exprefleth 
 himfelf in the fame genuine, unaffected, always 
 the moil perfuafive, Manner ; thus transfufmg 
 in all their Heat and Vigour, his own Senti- 
 ments, into the Breafts of his Hearers. 
 
 BUT, in order to do Juftice to this Point, we 
 
 fhould obferve equally, that the Way of reading 
 
 which we follow, hath alfo its Advantages* 
 
 i Sermons
 
 Led. 22. ORATORY. 417 
 
 Sermons by the Help of Study are more cor- 
 rectly compofed, with Reafoning more juft, In- 
 ft.ructions more judicious, Points of Faith and 
 Doctrine more fully and truly explained, and, 
 what is of mighty Importance, with more exact 
 Regularity and Method : So that, upon the 
 whole, it is not perhaps eafy to decide, which of 
 thefe deferveth the Preference, the Advantages 
 and Inconveniencies being balanced on each 
 Side. 
 
 NOR is it material to us ; for being as we are 
 by Cuftom confined to one, we mould rather 
 ihidy to improve that, than admire or vainly re- 
 gret the other. This much however we may 
 learn from the Comparifon. 
 
 As that extemporary Difcourfe, which ap- 
 prcacheth mod to a iludied one in Regularity 
 of Compofition and Purity of Style, is the beft; 
 in like Manner, among ftudied Difcourfes that 
 undoubtedly excelleth, which is compofed with 
 the eafy Air, and pronounced with the unaffected 
 Warmth and Fluency of the Extemporary. 
 
 OF Courfe, the woril of all, is the Method 
 purlued in foreign Churches, that of fpeaking 
 elaborate Sermons without Book; which ex- 
 pofeth to all the Difadvantages of Reading, 
 difturbing the Utterance by perpetual Fear of 
 forgetting, and Hazard of mifplacing j with the 
 additional Diiadvantage of mifpending much 
 Time and Pains, in committing iiich a Burthen 
 of Words to the overloaded Memory. 
 
 HENCE it follows, that the beft, at leafl in 
 
 uor Circumftanccs the bcft, Method is, by fre- 
 
 E e quent
 
 4i 8 LECTURES concerning Led. 22. 
 
 quent Perufal, to render yourfelf fo perfectly 
 well acquainted with your Difcourfe, that you 
 can with very little Affiftance, from looking upon 
 your Notes, repeat it throughout. This Care 
 will enable you to join in a great Degree, the 
 Exadlnefs of elaborate Competition, with the 
 Spirit of extemporary Elocution. 
 
 THE Sum of thefe Remarks is, " That we 
 " mould endeavour to acquire that Kind of 
 " Pronunciation, which approacheth moft to the 
 " Tone ufed in Difcourfe, by a wife and grave 
 " Man, naturally eloquent, fpeaking upon a fe- 
 <c rious and interefting Subject." 
 
 IT is more eafy to conceive than exprefs 
 Things of this Sort : But, if I were to explain 
 by defcending to Particulars, wherein this Kind 
 chiefly confifteth, I would reduce it to this 
 capital Precept : Study Variety. This is the 
 great Dictate of Nature. Obferve her fpeaking 
 in the Young, the Unlearned, or where Paffion 
 throweth off all Reftraint ; fhe is for ever chang- 
 ing in Accent, Tone, Emphafis. But herein 
 keep always in Mind one Caution, F^aryjo y as 
 ftillto become. Beware of running into Excefs : 
 For there are certain Limits, beyond which Va- 
 riety difpleafeth; as you may have oftentimes 
 obferved in Converfation, where fome are harfh 
 or fhrill, fome too low, and link into Faintnefs 
 and Languor. 
 
 IT is manifeft from a thoufand Inftances, 
 that among us who read our Sermons, the moft 
 common Fault is Monotony. We go on for half 
 an Hour, with fcarcely any Change of Voice, 
 
 except
 
 Lett. 22. ORATORY. 419 
 
 except the neceflary finking at the End of a 
 Period to take Breath : And this Paufe is alfo 
 continually die lame ; which periodical Rifing 
 and Falling conftantly repeated, like the Whittling 
 of Wind, or Fall of Water, fpreads Indolence 
 and Liftleflhefs, and tendeth ufually to lull the 
 Audience into Sleep. 
 
 THE Fault oppofite hereto, which hath not, 
 that I know, a diftind Name, is of Courfe 
 among us very rare ; but is general among the 
 Enthufiafts of all Seds ; who rufh violently from 
 one Extreme into the other, paffmg from the 
 loweft Key, at one Bound, unto the utmoft Pitch 
 of the Voice ; in which Manner, they go on to 
 the End, alternately Whifpering and Bawling, 
 without Regard to Senfe or Propriety, but merely 
 by thefe fudden mighty Changes of Sound, to 
 rouze, affect, and aftonim the Audience ; which 
 Method, however to a judicious Hearer more 
 abfurd and offenfive, hath better Effects upon 
 the Multitude, than the other over-cool and 
 equal Way ; becaufe this latter is altogether un- 
 natural ; whereas that, although a Perverfion 
 of, is yet grounded in, Nature, the only Source 
 of what is right and pleating : And an Error in 
 the Extreme of what is right, may well pafs 
 with the Bulk of Mankind for right, and fo 
 pleafej but a Miftake in the contrary Extreme 
 cannot have the fame Effect ; nay, muft offend 
 in Proportion as the other pleafed. 
 
 VA R i E T Y therefore, however neceffary, 
 
 fliould not be carried into Irregularity. Ever 
 
 change ; it is the Life of Pronunciation : But 
 
 E e 2 change
 
 420 -LECTURES concerning Left. 22, 
 
 change with Caufe ; not for the Sake of vary- 
 ing, but fuitably to the Senfe. 
 
 As in a public Affembly, the Voice mould 
 be raifed to a certain Pitch, otherwife not be- 
 ing audible to all, with refpect to a Part the Ad- 
 vantage expected muft be loft ; fo Care mould 
 be taken, that it be not advanced much beyond 
 this Pitch j left it be forced thereby and ft rain- 
 ed ; which, always difagreeable in the Sound, is 
 painful, and may be hurtful to the Speaker : 
 And, is befides, liable to the ill Conlequence be- 
 fore-mentioned, that of not being well heard ; 
 for the Voice, wherever it is compelled beyond 
 the natural Compafs, becomes indiftinct and in- 
 articulate. 
 
 A PERSON, who hath a tolerable Ear, cannot 
 fail of difcovering this Limit in himfelf, and 
 of knowing where he mould ftop. The Re- 
 turn of the Sound, when it fufficiently fills 
 the whole furrounding Space, hath fomewhat 
 peculiar, that a fhort Experience will enable 
 him to diftinguiih : Or, if there mould be any 
 Doubt, he may form a pretty certain Judg- 
 ment, from the Looks and Pcftures of hi& 
 Hearers. 
 
 WHEN he hath hit upon this Key, it mould 
 be his Care to remain within it, defcending 
 from, and returning fkilfully to it, as his Matter 
 requires. For it is an injudicious and hurtful 
 Miftake to fuppofe, that the more loudly one 
 fpeaks, he is heard the further ; the Sounds may 
 indeed ipread further, conveying with them but 
 few Words, ill articulated, much lei's the entire 
 Senfe. IF
 
 Lett. 22. ORATORY. 421 
 
 IF it were poffible, he mould reilrain himfelf 
 to thofe Limits, within which he can fpeak with- 
 out Pain; becaufe wherever one fpeaks with 
 Uneafmefs, he is heard with the fame. An Ex- 
 ception, and I know not another, to this Rule, 
 may have Place in very young Perfons ; who 
 fhould be encouraged, where it is fafe, to fpeak 
 rather above the Extent of their Voice ; becaufe 
 at that Seafon of Life, Exercife and Habit may 
 ilrengthen, and raife it to this Height. 
 
 UNIFORMITY of Pronunciation, before 
 blamed, hath produced one Peculiarity; that 
 going on thus evenly, finking at the Ciofe, and 
 returning to its Height at the Beginning of each 
 Period, by this regular Circulation of Cadence, 
 it acquires an Air of Singing, not uncommon, 
 and very ditagreeable. 
 
 AGAIN, I have known fome Preachers above 
 the ordinary Rank of Understanding, defcend in 
 duftriouily into the familiar Air of Converfation, 
 nay, even of comic Dialogue : In which Kind, 
 I will not fay, but fomewhat may be done with 
 good ErFe6t ; but I think the Attempt very ha- 
 zardous : While you feek for Eafe, you may 
 lofe all Dignity, and fink into unbecoming Le- 
 vity ; on this Occafion, one of die leaft pardon- 
 able Faults. 
 
 BEFORE we quit this Subject, it may not be 
 amifs to add one Obfervation. Men are de- 
 firous of accomplifhing every Thing by their 
 own Skill, of fupplying, by Art alone, whatib- 
 ever is furnifhed by Nature and Genius. This 
 Ambition manifefts itfelf on all Occaiions, in 
 E e 3 great
 
 422 LECTURES concerning Left. 22. 
 
 great and fmall Enterprizes ; from the cele- 
 brated Defeat to, who undertook to frame a 
 World by Laws of his own Contrivance j down 
 to the ingenious Artift, who devifed Tables for 
 the making of Verfes, by pure Mechanifm. 
 
 IN like Manner, fome learned Perfbns have 
 imagined a Method of rendering juft Pronun- 
 ciation eafy to all, in a Way which we may 
 name mechanical ; by marking the Tones, with 
 which every Word in a Speech or Sermon, nay, 
 every Syllable, is to be fpoken, in the fame Way, 
 as Pieces of Mufic are written : By which 
 Means, any Perfon, even without Knowledge 
 of the Senfe, may learn to pronounce juftly, in 
 the fame Manner as one may, by the Help of 
 mufical Notes, fing truly, a Song which he doth 
 not at all understand. And it is further affirm- 
 ed, that this valuable Art was known to, and 
 commonly practifed by the Antients [a ] : Which, 
 if it were true, would ilrongly concur with thefe 
 Perfons, and might recommend this Invention 
 to prefent Study and Enquiry. 
 
 THE fir ft Queftion upon the Point muft 
 therefore be ; Is this Fact true ? Was this Art 
 pradlifed in Greece or in Rome ? Cicero and Quin- 
 tilian^ who fpeak very fully of thefe Matters, the 
 laft particularly, as is his Cuftom, defcendeth to 
 a very minute Detail, do not once hint at this 
 Art ; a ftrong Prefumption againfl its Exiflence. 
 And the Authorities cited in Proof of its Rea- 
 lity, are at befc very obfcure and doubtful, as in 
 
 0] Reflexions fu-r la Poefie, h Peinture, & la Mufique, 
 Tom, iii. 
 
 fuch
 
 Led. 22. ORATORY. 423 
 
 fuch a Subject may reasonably be expected j but 
 in general, have been much more probably in- 
 terpreted in another Senfe, as it would be eafy 
 to me\v, if this were a proper Place for fuch Dil- 
 quiiition. Inefficient Grounds thefe furely, for 
 the Belief of a Thing in its Nature thus mar- 
 vellous. 
 
 IT may well be ftyled marvellous, fmce the 
 very Poffibility of this admired Art hath been, 
 with much Appearance, at leaft of Reafon, called 
 in Queftion. 
 
 IT hath been obferved, that mufical Tones 
 proceed in a certain known Proportion, and at 
 fixed Intervals j which enableth us to reprefent 
 them by Signs ; and thus to communicate the 
 Knowledge of them to the Experienced, by In- 
 fpection : Whereas, in Speech, the Tones pro- 
 ceed not in any known Proportion, but are in- 
 definite, and vary in numberlefs Degrees, all 
 which cannot be marked, as the Skilful in Har- 
 mony fay, by the Sounds of any muiical Inftru- 
 ment ; how then can they be recorded, or com- 
 municated in the fame Manner ? 
 
 BUT whatever may have been the Cafe among 
 the Antients, for that is rather Matter now of 
 Curiofity than Ufe ; whether the Fact be even 
 poffible or not ; this we may aflert, and it is fuf- 
 ficient to our prefent Purpofe, that with regard 
 to the Elocution we now treat of, that of the Pul- 
 pit, the Scheme is altogether chimerical. 
 
 FOR fuppofe all the Tones of Speech to be 
 
 thus marked, in fomc fuch Way as the Notes 
 
 are in Mufic ; whom do you propofe to benefit 
 
 E e 4 thereby ?
 
 424 LECTURES concerning Let. 22. 
 
 thereby? The young and unexperienced, who 
 may, by this Help, learn mechanically to pro- 
 nounce juftly. But ftill the Labour of learning 
 all thefe Marks muft be very great j that of be- 
 ing able at firft Sight to hit exactly the true Value 
 of each, muft be next to infuperable, the Labour 
 indeed of a long Life : Where then is its Utility ? 
 Doth not this Scheme overthrow itfelf ? You 
 devife an Art ufefui to the young and unexpe- 
 rienced; which, if at all ufefui, can be fo only 
 in old Age. 
 
 AND would this Utility, if real, recompence 
 the Pains of acquiring ? Confider, in the Cafe 
 of one who is to preach the Gofpel, is all the 
 Time necefTary for the more important Acqui- 
 fition of Knowledge in Things divine and hu- 
 man, to be given up to this immenfe Toil of 
 mere Pronunciation ? 
 
 OR laftly, waving thefe Objections, granting 
 the Scheme to be practicable, that Time and 
 Labour may be afforded, ftill we afk, What may 
 be learned by thefe Signs or Notes ? The Seafons 
 of raifing or lowering the Voice, the Emphafis 
 and Cadences. But how fmall a Part do thefe 
 m:ike ? It is the Warmth, the Vehemence, the 
 natural Earneftnefs joined to Variety in the Ora- 
 tor, which form the Excellence of Pronun- 
 ciation, which alone have mighty Influence on 
 the Heart and Mind, of the Hearer. 
 
 THUS, among an infinite Number of Tones, 
 a Miftake in one may alter the Senfe of a Paf- 
 fage, and caufe much Confufion : Can Skill fo 
 nice and complicated be conveyed mechanically 
 
 to
 
 Left.22. ORATORY. 425 
 
 to one ignorant of, or inattentive to the Senfe ? 
 Or, iuppofe it conveyed, will this Man therefore 
 fpeak well ? Muft not the Features, Air, Motion, 
 whole Perfon correfpond with the Difcourfe? 
 Hence Silence, Attention, Sympathy in the Au- 
 dience. Without thefe, Exactnefs of Tone is 
 dull, dead Juftnefs. Words are Inftrument ; 
 Soul only can act on Soul : and this is diffufed 
 through the whole Man. Say then that you 
 may communicate juftly ever-varying Tones; 
 what avails it ? Can your Notes communicate 
 alfo Knowledge, Vivacity, Ardour ? Can they 
 infufe a Soul ? 
 
 WHEREFORE, leaving all fuch refined and 
 vifionary Projects, let us return to our firft Plan. 
 " Obferve Nature well : Trace her from her 
 " fimpleft Elements up through every higher 
 " and more complex Form ; and adhere to her 
 " as clofely as you can, with proper Confidera- 
 " tion of Circumftances, of Subject, Place, and 
 " Audience." 
 
 THE fecond Part of Pronunciation was faid 
 to be Gejlure or Action. Cicero and QuintiKan 
 have left fcarely any thing to be added on this 
 Subject. They direct the Speaker, not to ftand 
 altogether dill and without Action, which is 
 lifelefs and unafTecting. Yet not to ufe immo- 
 derate Motion, becaufe light and unbecoming. 
 Not to loll and lean, as arguing Indifference, 
 and want of Refpect to your Audience. Not 
 to ufe extravagant, or theatrical Geflures. To 
 tvoid all Grimace and Distortion. They take 
 Notice of the due Pofition of the Head, the 
 
 ' Dif-
 
 426 LECTURES concerning Left. 22. 
 
 Difpofition of the Features, the Motion of the 
 Eyes, and more efpecially of the Hands, which 
 you fhould not tofs about, not raife too high, 
 nor fuffer to hang loofely down. Particularly, 
 Cicero recommends in the ftrongeft Manner Mo- 
 defty j a Virtue, without which he thinks there 
 never was a great Orator : And mentions, in the 
 Perfon of Craffks, what was true of himfelf ; that 
 he never began to plead without turning pale, 
 and even trembling [$]. 
 
 OTHER Precepts there are, which I need not 
 recite, as you may with more Profit confult the 
 Originals. And betides, we may remark of all 
 Rules in this Matter, that they help you to avoid 
 Faults, rather than am" ft in doing well ; which 
 alfo will be performed much better by a well- 
 judging Friend, than by the wifeft Rules j and 
 fuch therefore you mould by no Means fail to 
 confult.. 
 
 BUT there is one general Obfervation, which, 
 if we would confider it well, and keep ever in 
 our Minds, ready to be applied on all Occafions, 
 would, if I be not deceived, anfwer the End 
 propofed by thefe and the like Rules, more ful- 
 ly. It may be traced out in this following 
 Manner. 
 
 NATURE, we know, hath adapted to the 
 Sentiments and Paffions their proper Look : She 
 hath further, as we have juft now feen, fitted 
 to them their feveral Tones of Voice : And we 
 are now to obferve, that me hath in the fame 
 Manner appropriated to each its own Gefture. 
 [] De Oratore, Lib. i. 
 
 Anger,
 
 Left. 22. ORATORY. 427 
 Anger, Fear, Love, Hatred, Admiration, 
 Aftonifhment, exprefs themfelves immediately, 
 by involuntary Changes in the Features, in 
 the Attitude of the Body, in the Motions of its 
 feveral Parts, of the Head, the Eyes, and prin- 
 cipally of the Hand, the Weapon of the Ora- 
 tor, as one aptly names it, not lefs clearly, than 
 by the Sound of the Voice. The Conflancy 
 and Univerfality of which Expreffion it is, that 
 makes fome Degree of Adion neceffary, wher&- 
 ever the Matter of the Dilcourfe is interefting ; 
 becaufe, in fuch Cafes, it is natural, it is always 
 expected -, the Want of it therefore difappoints, 
 offends : You cannot be deemed fincere with- 
 out it, and will not for that Reafon obtain Be- 
 lief, fcarcely Attention. 
 
 THIS indeed is more variable from Cuftom, 
 than are the Tones of the Voice. The Inha- 
 bitants, for Inftance, of warmer Climates, ufe 
 more Adion than thofe of the colder -, our 
 Neighbours on the Continent more than we : 
 Which Difference, we mould in fpeaking have 
 Regard to j becaufe univerfai Cuftom is to be 
 confidered as Nature. There is not therefore 
 required among us, the fame Variety in Gefture 
 as in Pronunciation ; nor is it an Article of equal 
 Importance, although by no Means to be neg- 
 Jeded. 
 
 ONE Thing let me add further : A fcrupu- 
 lous Adherence to Rules, the meditating and 
 pradifing beforehand Geftures, and affixing to 
 each Period or Member of each, its peculiar 
 one, is, I believe, however recommended, very 
 
 pre-
 
 428 LECTURES concerning Led:. 22. 
 
 prejudicial. For the Effort ufed in recollecting 
 and applying thefe rightly, according to the 
 pre-eftablifhed Purpofc, employeth the Mind, 
 diftradeth greatly its Attention, and muft em- 
 barrafs the Delivery: And the Coniequence 
 will be, that you (hall become, through this di- 
 vided Care, faulty in fpeaking, and afFeded in 
 Adion. 
 
 THE better Way is, " After fome general 
 " Care in obferving what is graceful, what un- 
 " becoming ; make yourfelf perfed Matter of 
 " what you are to fay, and of the Manner in 
 " which you are to pronounce it : This done,, 
 " leave your Adion to Nature. She will faith - 
 " fully attend, and accompany your Sentiments 
 " and Words as they flow, with aptly-cor- 
 " refponding Geftures." 
 
 ONE Limitation add: There are few who 
 do not, in their younger Years, contract fome 
 Aukwardnefs or Ungracefulnefs of Manner, 
 which groweth imperceptibly, and becometh 
 confirmed by Habit. This we mould ever be 
 fufpicious of, and confult fome well-judging 
 Friend concerning it. When we have been 
 informed of any fuch, we mould endeavour to 
 retain always, during the Time of fpeaking, fo 
 much Attention to Gefture, as may be fufficient 
 to guard againfl this ill Cuitom, ever ready to 
 return upon us. 
 
 THUS to comprize in few Words this Article : 
 " You mould employ Gefture; Nature and 
 <c Truth require it. Suit it to the received Cu- 
 " flomj that is Nature with you. Much Study 
 
 " herein
 
 Led. 22. ORATORY. 4*9 
 
 <{ herein is hurtful ; only correct faulty Habits. 
 <{ Beware of taking Models from the Stage; 
 <f they fit not the Gravity of this Place and Sub- 
 <c ject. Lean to the moderate Side : Too much 
 <c Gefhire in our Climate is offenfively Faulty ; 
 " too little, but Imperfection." 
 
 THE Conclufion of the Whole is this : The 
 great Endeavour of every one who preaches 
 the GofpeJ, mould be, to acquire, with his Au- 
 dience, Authority. It is not to be expected, that 
 all mould arrive near to Perfection in the feveral 
 Articles treated of, in folid Reafoning, good 
 Competition, true Ornaments j neither can the 
 Bulk of Mankind diftinguifh nicely in thefe 
 Points : But this Authority^ if obtained, will make 
 up abundantly for whatever may be wanting in 
 your Genius, or defective in their Conceptions. 
 It fets every thing you lay in a favourable Light, 
 hiding Imperfections, and doubling the Value of 
 what is good. It giveth Spirit to your Diction,, 
 Force to your "Arguments, Strength and Weight 
 to your Advice. It rendereth you beloved and 
 reverenced, and by Means thereof, ufeful ; in- 
 deed, a public Bleffing. 
 
 How then mall we obtain this fo valuable 
 Authority ? Ye may be allured of it by a rcafon- 
 able Attention to what hath been delivered : 
 " By eftabliihing a Belief, that you are pofleft of 
 " a competent Degree of Knowledge, of per- 
 c feet Sincerity, of Diligence. By compofing 
 " your Difcouries with due Cure; by exact At- 
 " tention in the right Choice of Subjects ; dif- 
 ' pofing them with clear Method; treating 
 
 " them
 
 430 LECTURES concerning Left. 22. 
 
 " them with clofe Reafon, well moderated Paf- 
 " fion, and chafte Fancy ; by exprefiing your 
 c Senfe properly, with Perfpicuity and Short- 
 " nefs ; and by delivering the Whole with a na- 
 " tural, becoming Warmth and Variety?' 
 
 AND more efpecially, if you would do Good 
 by Preaching, or maintain any Degree of this 
 Authority^ " Preferve a ftricl: Conformity of 
 " Manners to your Doctrines : Be what you re- 
 * { commend." 
 
 LECTURE
 
 23. ORATORY. '431 
 
 LECTURE the Twenty-third. 
 
 Of modern LATIN POESY. 
 
 HAVING finifhed the feveral Articles pro- 
 pofed in the Beginning of thefe Lectures 
 to be treated of, I had intended to have clofed 
 the whole Courfe with the preceding one : And 
 it is a Reafon of a particular Kind, which hath 
 occafioned the Addition of the prefent Dif- 
 courfe. Some Things accidentally mentioned 
 in the Series of the foregoing Lectures, have 
 been thought liable to Objection, and, as I am 
 further informed, have even offended. 
 
 " IT is faid, that I have fpoken with too 
 " much Contempt of modern Latin Poefy : I 
 " have, it is urged, rafhly condemned At- 
 <c tempts, ever held ufeful, recommended by 
 " the Learned, and authorized by the Practice 
 < of the moil: eminent Perfons j to an Excel- 
 < lence in which, fome of the moft diftin- 
 <c guifhed Names in the Commonwealth of 
 " Letters owe their whole Splendor." 
 
 IT teems to me of Importance to clear up 
 this Point : As the bed Means to which, I fhall 
 deliver my Sentiments concerning it, as briefly 
 as I can. 
 
 THE
 
 423 LECTURES concermrg Led. 22. 
 
 THE Article which gave Rife to the Objec- 
 tion, was a Companion between the Writing of 
 Verie in one's own Tongue, and in a dead Lan- 
 guage j wherein I did not hefitate to pronounce 
 the former to be clearly preferable [c] -, Which 
 Decilion, however difpleafing it may be to 
 fome, upon reconfidering the Affair, appeareth 
 to me right. 
 
 IN poetical Performances, which are to be 
 Works of Length and Care, (for I fpeak not 
 of Trifles) you are to regard chiefly three 
 Things : 
 
 How you may be moft ufeful. How you may 
 moil generally pleafe. And in which particular 
 Kind you are moft likely to excel. 
 
 CONCERNING the two former of thefe, no 
 Doubt can be entertained; A Poet in his native 
 Language hath manifeftly the Advantage. If 
 his Competitions be fuch as are capable of 
 giving Pleafure, or of being ufeful, they will 
 produce thefe Effects more generally than the 
 others, becaufe they are written in a Tongue 
 univerfally fpoken and underftood ; whereas 
 the others are confined to the Few veried in claf- 
 fical Literature ; and that to a certain Degree of 
 Proficiency, lefs common, perhaps, than is ufu- 
 ally imagined. 
 
 THE People of Syracufe, after the Victory 
 obtained over Nicias, fpared thofe among the 
 Athenian Prifoners who could repeat Verles of 
 Euripides ; for he was then alive, and his Works 
 had not reached Sicily : A Proof, how fenfible 
 [<] See Ledures V, VI. XIII. 
 
 even
 
 Left, 23. ORATORY. 43 j 
 
 even the common Sort were of the Beauty of his 
 Tragedies. 
 
 THE Italian Peafants in many Places have 
 large Portions of Ariofto and 'TaJJb [a] by Heart, 
 which they (ing or recite with a Kind of R.ap- 
 ture. And I have met with a Story relating to 
 the former, that being fallen into the Power of 
 noted Robbers, who were about to treat him 
 with their ufual Violence, one of the Band having 
 before accidentally feen him, difcovered to the 
 reft his Name and Condition : Whereupon they 
 difmiffed him with much Honour 5 In Return j 
 faid they, for the Pleafure he had given them by 
 his Verfes. For, there is not any Rank of Men, 
 in which fome may not be found capable of re- 
 liming, and being delighted with a Work of 
 true Genius. But no fuch Effects as thefe 
 abovementioned, can happen with refpect to 
 the moft excellent Poets in a dead Tongue: 
 Nine Parts in ten of the Public are fliut out 
 from them. 
 
 THE third Article it is, for which the Ad- 
 vocates of Latin Poefy moft earneftly contend. 
 tc It is acknowledged, fay they, that the Ro- 
 " mans have left behind more perfect Models 
 " of poetical Competition, than any fmce pro- 
 " duced : How then are we moft likely to cx- 
 " eel ? By following them as clofely as we can. 
 " Their Language alfo for Energy and Har- 
 " mony is far fuperior to every modern one ; 
 <e the beft among which are but Corruptions 
 
 [*] See dddifoiis Travels into ///y, under the Article 
 of Vwht. 
 
 F f of
 
 434 LECTURES concerning Led, 23. 
 
 ct of it ; an Advantage, that mould determine 
 " in its Favour the Choice of all Writers, who 
 '* are defirous to excel." 
 
 I SHALL not enter into the comparative Me- 
 rit either of Writers or Language, a Point which 
 would bear much Debate : Suppofe for the pre- 
 fent what is afTumed, that the Romans are fu- 
 perior in both. My Doubts are thefe j Whe- 
 ther I may not imitate a good Model in a dif- 
 ferent Language ? Whether I mall not imitate 
 it better in this different Language, if I be much 
 more fkilled therein, than I could in that of the 
 original Author? Whether, although the Lan- 
 guage of the Model be much the finer, yet I 
 mall not produce a Performance in this worie 
 Language, but more familiar to me, better than 
 in the other, better and lefs known? I can- 
 not help thinking the Anfwer to thefe Points 
 clear. 
 
 BUT whether thefe Arguments be ftrictly ap- 
 plicable to the Cafe before us, fome have 
 doubted, or affedted to. doubt- Yet how can 
 we ? Let a Perfon of the beft Capacity ftudy a 
 modern Language with the utmoft Application 
 and Exactnefs, merely in Books ; let him com- 
 pofe a Poem in itj what innumerable Inele* 
 gancies and Improprieties would a fkilful Na- 
 tive find therein ? And this is precifely the Cafe 
 of Latin Verfes made at this Day -, except that 
 in the latter Cafe, there are no fuch Judges to 
 detecl the Errors ; the Writers may efcape Cri- 
 ticifm, becaufe the Readers are equally ignorant 
 with themfelves. 
 
 IT
 
 Left. 23* ORATORY. 435 
 
 IT is agreed, that we know not at all the 
 Pronunciation of antient Rcme: Muft we not 
 then offend perpetually in Point of Harmony ? 
 It is not poflible, that we mould be acquainted 
 with the precife Signification of Words, oc- 
 curring but feldotn in the few Books which now 
 remain: And it is equally clear, that we can- 
 not tell how the Signification of Words may 
 be changed by their Union with others ; which 
 Ignorance muft be a Source of great Impro- 
 prieties. That very Diforder and Tranfpofition 
 peculiar to this Tongue, which feemeth to us 
 arbitrary, had undoubtedly its Rules and Limits, 
 which can be at bell but faintly gueffed at now. 
 Writing therefore under thefe Difadvantages, we 
 can proceed only by Conjecture ; like one walk- 
 ing in dim Twilight, feeling out our Way, and 
 chufing our Steps with much timorous Caution. 
 We have a narrow Path chalked out for us by 
 Authority, with many void Places and Chafms 
 in it, in which we can at beft but hobble and 
 halt ; whereas a Poet mould fly and foar ; mould 
 fubdue his Language to Enthuiiafm, not creep 
 its Slave. 
 
 THE Bulk of Mankind, whofe Judgment 
 ought to have great Weight in fuch Matters, 
 hath determined accordingly. In all Coun- 
 tries, which are the Poets moft highly cele- 
 brated, and read with univerfal Applaufe ? 
 Thofe who have written in the Dialed of their 
 refpeclive Countries. Thus all Italians have 
 heard of Ariojlo and Ttiflo; moft read, all ail- 
 mire them: How few, comparatively, have any 
 F f 2 Know-
 
 436 LECTURES concerning Led;. 23. 
 
 Knowledge of Vida, Sannazar, or Fracaftorio, 
 the befl Latin Verfifyers perhaps among the 
 Moderns ? Doth any Frenchman fet the Fame 
 of Saint-Martbe, Santeuil[b~\, or Poligniac, in 
 Competition with that of Corneille, or La Fon- 
 taine? In our own Iflands, can Buchanan, and 
 all the Writers of the Mufa Anghcamz put to- 
 gether, be compared with a Shakefpear, a Mil- 
 ton, or a Pc/> ? 
 
 AT the fame Time, I cannot agree with an 
 admired French Writer, who remarks, and, if 
 I remember rightly, repeats it as a favourite 
 Obfervation, that becaufe fome of his Country- 
 men who have written well in Latin Verfe, have 
 not written in French, the former is therefore 
 more eafy : An Inference, it feems, not rightly 
 drawn. To prove this, he mould have {hewn, 
 that they had attempted the latter, and failed ; 
 which, I believe, does not appear to have been 
 the Cafe in any Inftance by him" mentioned. 
 
 IF we were to judge merely from Reafon, it 
 fhould feem on the contrary, that a poetic Ge- 
 nius, in all Languages necefTary to Excellence, 
 if it appeared well in a dead Tongue, would 
 exert itfelf with equal Vigour, and more Eafe, 
 in one known and familiar. Which Reafoning 
 is alfo confirmed by Fact. Sannazar hath left 
 in his Arcadia, Italian Verfes juftly efteemed. 
 Bembo has written well in both Languages. 
 Ariojlo applied himfelf firft, according to the 
 Fafhion of the Age, to Latin, in which fome 
 
 [] Voltaire, Sleek de Louts quatorze, under the Article 
 of Santeull'y and more particularly of Polign'iac. 
 
 of
 
 Led. 23. ORATORY. 437 
 
 of his Verfes yet remain, pure and fpirited : And 
 it is known, that his Friend Cardinal Eembo 
 thought fo highly of his Latin Vein, that he 
 earneftly exhorted him to write his Heroic Poem 
 in that Language, which Advice he wifely and 
 happily rejected. We have Caufe to conclude, 
 from Milton 's early Productions, that he would 
 have equalled any Latin Writer of late Times, 
 if he had not prudently preferred his native 
 Tongue. To whom we may add Cowley, and 
 Addifon^ efpecially the latter. 
 
 FROM all which my Inference is, that now, 
 Jjja thefe Days, as Latin poetical Compofitions 
 are the lefs excellent, fo neither are they more 
 eafy; another Argument againft applying to 
 them Time and Genius, which might be more 
 ufefully employed. 
 
 IT would be eafy to multiply Arguments; 
 but they are not needful in a Point, according to 
 my Appprehenfion, fufficiently clear : One, how- 
 ever, there is of a peculiar Nature, worthy of be- 
 ing mentioned. 
 
 IN every Undertaking of Moment which a 
 Man engages in, he ought to intend and execute 
 in fuch Manner, as to contribute, if it be pof- 
 fible, to the Advantage and Honour of his Coun- 
 try. This, it is true, in the Point before us, can 
 be the Cafe of few; very few are qualified to 
 improve a Language, or fpread the Glory of a 
 Country by poetical Compofitions. Notwith- 
 ftanding, the Intention, the Endeavour is right ; 
 and, in Difappointment, ftill it is a pleating Re- 
 F f 3 flexion.
 
 438 LECTURES concerning Left. 23. 
 
 flexion, that one hath exerted his utmoft Skill 
 towards accomplishing a good Dciign. 
 
 I SHOULD not omit the Judgment of Horace, 
 in a parallel Cafe, which is exprefs : 
 
 " Atque ego cumGrascos facerem natus mare citra 
 Verficulos ; vetuit me tali voce Quirinus, 
 Poft mediam noctem vifus, cum ibmnia vera: 
 In fylvam non ligna feras infanius, ac fi 
 Magnas Graecorum malis implere catervas." 
 
 AFTER this Preference given, as I imagine 
 juftly, to our native Tongue, the Queflion re- 
 turns ; " What ? are then Latin Compofitions 
 forbidden ? Do you think that they mould be 
 difcouraged and defpifedr" Herein it is, that 
 I fuppofe a preceding Leclure to have been mif- 
 underftood. Few Words will fuffice to explain 
 my Opinion. 
 
 IN former Mention made of this Matter, 
 Works of Erudition and Science were excepted, 
 which, for obvious Reafons, it may be prudent 
 to compofe in Latin. And it were to be wifli- 
 cd, for general Utility, that thefe might be writ- 
 ten with Clearnefs and Purity of Style, and, 
 where the Subject admits, with Elegance : One 
 of the befl Treatiies extant on the \c\ Law of 
 Nature, appears with great Difad vantage from 
 the Uncouthnefs and Obfcurity of the Latin 
 Style. . For this Reafon it is fit, that all, who 
 mean to cultivate Letters, fhould acquire a. Skill 
 of compofing well m Latin; for which Pur- 
 
 0] Dr. Cumberland. 
 
 pofe
 
 Led. 23. ORATORY. 
 
 pofe the making of Verfes in that Tongue is 
 very ufeful : And therefore it is an Exercife 
 much to be recommended to young Perfons. It 
 is indeed the only Way, in which they are likely 
 to obtain a full Knowledge of the Poets j a great, 
 if not a neceflary, Source of Elegance in every 
 Language. 
 
 THIS Exercife is further ufeful, as teaching 
 the Force and Compafs of the Tongue, and by 
 this Means enabling them afterwards to vary at 
 Will the Form of their Expreffion. 
 
 BESIDES, this Exercife in riper Years willfur- 
 ni(h them with an Amufement fomewhat more 
 than innocent, in fome Sort ufeful, certainly 
 polite. 
 
 MOREOVER, it may juftly recommend thofe 
 who arrive at Excellence in it to Notice and 
 Efteem, as being a Proof of their Acquaint- 
 ance with the beft Authors, of their Difcern- 
 ment, and as Men love to fpeak, of a Clafficd 
 <Ta/le. 
 
 AND potfibly, though in exceedingly rare In- 
 ftances, this Talent may do Honour to a Coun- 
 try among Foreigners ; which, we are told, was 
 the Effect the Perufal of the Mufa Anglican* 
 had upon a famous French Critic [c]> who judged, 
 that a Nation capable of producing fuch Latin 
 Poems, muft have very fine Compofuions in its 
 own Language. 
 
 THESE are the chief Advantages, which I can 
 recoiled of writing in Latin Verfe j and tiicle 
 rightly weighed point out the Degree of Efteem 
 
 [d] Boi/eau. 
 
 F f 4 wherein
 
 44 o LECTURES concerning Led:. 23. 
 
 wherein it ought to be held : "A neceffary 
 " Branch of early Education. Afterwards, a 
 C pleafing Amufement. An Accomplishment ; 
 " and very rarely, if ever, a Study or Bufinefs. 
 " Never contemptible j and Praife worthy to a 
 " certain Degree." 
 
 I HOPE, that thefe Obfervations will be fuffi r 
 cient to anfwer the Objections made on this 
 Head, or Sufpicions entertained ; probably 
 from my having exprefied myfelf on the Qcca- 
 fion, too fhortly, or imperfectly. 
 
 ZEAL to juftify myfelf, tempts me to pro- 
 duce yet a further Proof, of another Kind ; one 
 fully decifive as to my own Opinion, but attend- 
 ed with fome Hazard : This Zeal gets the bet-? 
 ter of Difcretion fo far as to make me own, 
 that I have myfelf made more than one At- 
 tempt in this Way: And I believe, that the 
 having taken Pains to perform well may be al- 
 lowed a ftrong preemptive Proof, that the 
 Perfomer difliketh not, nor defpifeth the Art, 
 or that Branch of it, in which he thus labour- 
 eth. Nay, I have been induced to go yet fur- 
 ther ; and venture to lay before you the fol- 
 lowing Latin Compofition; an Argument of 
 my liking the Kind, however unable I may be 
 to excel in it. 
 
 IRENE
 
 Left. 23. ORATORY. 441 
 
 / R E N E, 
 
 Carmen HISTORICUM. 
 
 Ad Prtebonorabilem Vice-comltem BOYLE. 
 
 ROMANOS dum Mufa modos, alienaque tentat 
 Regna, tremens,dubiopaflu, fub luce maligna, 
 Heu ! male dulciloqui numeros imitata Maronis, 
 Te, BOYL^EE, vocat : Tibi non ignota fonat vox, 
 Quas primis admota annis, mentique tenellae, 
 Pieridum nitidos puerum te duxit in hortos ; 
 Ergoadfis, dum fas nimirum, et blandajuventus 
 Crefcentis vits callem tibi floribusornans, 
 Ridet adhuc, levibufque dat otia fallere nugis, 
 His faltem ; quibus ipfa fevero numine Pallas 
 Nempe docet juvenes altis proludere cceptis, 
 Senfim affurgentes. Teque ecce ! volubilis aetas 
 Ad majora rapit \ Sapientum evolvere fcripta, 
 Grsecia quos peperir, quos artibus inclyta Roma, 
 Nee minor his, Britonum, Phoebo carifiima tellus : 
 Hinc regere eloquio populos, fandlumque fenatunii 
 Confilioque gravi patriam fulcire labantem, 
 Atque novum claras poteris decus addere ftirpi. 
 Tu quoque florenti jam nunc gratularis alumno, 
 ALMA PARENS: Qiiinhujusetcft mihiponiolaudis. 
 JAM Scythia? Jinquens hiemes, fluviofque perenni 
 Conftriclos glacie, folique impervia regna, 
 Gens effrasna virum vaftabat cladibus orbem 
 Attonitum. Non perpetua juga cana pruina, 
 Murorumque morse, rapidos non asquora curfus 
 Oppofitseve acies rumpunt. Orientis ab oris, 
 Occiduum ad Phcebum, qua littora Bofphorus urget 
 
 Per-
 
 442 LECTURES cmccrmng Left. 23. 
 
 Perpetuo fremitu, dira cum ftrage procella 
 Jntonat. Euxinifiudtus et Calpia regna, 
 Caucafeae rupe?, vaftique trcmunt juga Tauri ; 
 It fupplex rutilas voivens Paclolus arenas. 
 
 QUINETIAM imperio tot quondam Grascia terras, 
 Tot populos complexa ruit. Jam regia [/] cingit 
 Moenia vidor ovans : Tormentis ferrea grando 
 Funditur, et celfas quatiunt nova fulmina turres. 
 Murorum folida tandem compage foluu r 
 Ingreditur, captaque ferox dominatur in urbe 
 Hoftis; et in fummis vexilla trementia muris 
 Auratas prsbent vento difFundere Lunas. 
 Canvellunt portas, et inundant ftrata viarum 
 Milite : Turn rapidas jadlant ad culmina flammas ; 
 Ssevit atrox ignis, vi6lorque incendia volvit 
 Cum ftrepitu, ccekim etlonge mariaaltarelucent. 
 Effufus furor hinc, et plena licentia ferro. 
 Sternitur infclix populus difcrimine nullo, 
 Infantes, canique patres, innuptaque Virgo, 
 Et gemitus tota morientum perfonat urbe. 
 
 IPSE MAHUMEDES fulgentibus arduus armis 
 Agmen agit, bello invidus, csecumque tumuitum 
 Dirigir, exacuens iras, et funera mifcet ; 
 Huac Ludtis, gelidufque Favor comitantur euntem, 
 Et Lethum crudele ; lavat veftigia fanguis. 
 
 Nkcmora; Regales confellim tarba penates 
 Aggreditur , i upto ^ratfe jam cardine valvas 
 Difliliunt, temeratque novus loca facratumultus : 
 Turn fragor armorum, turn foeminei ululatus 
 Ingeminare, minreque immifbe -, it clamor ad auras. 
 
 AT CaHar, fatis utcunque oppreflus iniquis, 
 Cun&a videns amifiTa et ineluctabile numen, 
 Pugnat adhuc inter Primores, fidaque bello 
 
 [I] Byzantii vel Conftantinopolis, Pedora,
 
 Led. 23. ORATORY. 443 
 
 Fedora, non dubiam quserens per vulnera mortem. 
 Hunc audentem animis, et adhuc vana arma moven- 
 
 tern, 
 
 Hoftis atrox cingit, mediifque in millibus unum 
 Claudit, et everfum fternit : turn multa pedum vis 
 Infill^ illiditque folo, calcatque, premitque 
 Exhalantem animam ; non regia celfa gementi 
 Adgemit, exuperat mifto clamore tumukus, 
 Et longe fevas voces vafta atria volvunt : 
 Concidit inform! letho ; pariterque vetuftum 
 Imperium ruit, et ductum per faecula regnum. 
 INTEREA trahitur magna comitante caterva, 
 Eximia virgo forma, et florentibus annis; 
 Quam trepidam, dubioque fequentem devia paflu, 
 Cum clamore trahunt captam, fpolia amplaTyranno. 
 Conftitit Hcec ccetu in medio, fine more fluentes 
 Sparfa comas, lacrymifque genas madefafla decoras : 
 Qualis ubi lucis portas Aurora recludit ; 
 Qua rofeos tollit vukus Dea, rore madel'cunt 
 Punicei fiores, gemmataque prata renident. 
 
 STANT Proceres taciti-, durufque haftilia miles 
 Inclinant, denfique inhiant et fingula luftrant, 
 Infolitam fpeciem ac divinse munera forma?, 
 Ambrofiafque comas, teneris rorantia nimbis 
 Lumina, marmoreumque premens fufprria peclus. 
 Speclat inexplctum, fubico perculfus amore 
 Rex Afiae, figitque avidos in virgine vultus. 
 1'um fari hortatur qua? fit ; quo fanguine creta ; 
 Quid peiat ; et trepidam verbis folatur amicis. 
 
 [c] Ac veluti citharam doclus pulfare ibnantem, 
 Et liquido cantu fufpenfas ducere mentes, 
 
 [c] Qual mufico gcntil.prima che chiara 
 Altaipente la lingua al canto frjodi : 
 Airharmonia gli animi d'altrui prepara ; 
 Con dolci riccrcatc, in baffi modi Pro-
 
 444 LECTURES concerning Left. 23, 
 
 Protinus baud voce ingenti facra ora refolvit, 
 Dulcia fed tenui fleclens modulamina cantu 
 Proludit, fenfimque illabitur intima chorda: 
 Talis et hsec artis memor in difcrimine fumma 
 Foemineae, dcmifTa caput, fufpiria ducit, 
 Et lacrymis faciles aditus ad peclora pandit ; 
 Circumfufa armis rofeo dein incipit ore. 
 
 O Rex, attonitum vafto qui turbine mundum 
 Concutis inviftus, patriafque in moenia lunas 
 Erigis, invalids fahem miferere puella?, 
 Jam paflas mala dura, et adhuc graviora timentis. 
 Non humilis tamen, et plebeio fanguine creta 
 Compleclor genua, illacrymans ; .fed regibus ort^ 
 Sceptrigeris, quibus haec olim pulcherrima tellus 
 Paruit, exuitans meliori Grsecia fato. 
 Ipfeetiam Ceefar, qui funera multa fuorum 
 Videratheu! mifer, etmiferajam mprte peremptus, 
 Me natam, caras Genitricis nomine di&am 
 Irenen, in fpem regni pater optimus alti 
 Eduxit ; nunc vincla ferunt contraria fata. 
 O Patria ! O Genitor ! Domus o per fecula, terras 
 Regnatrix ! Vos templa Dei, demiflaque coelo 
 Relligio ! ergo omnes radice evertit ab ipfa. 
 Gens effufa polo, atque asterni numinis ira. 
 Me tamen hand lethi facies, vibrataque terrent 
 Spiculai defcendam teto jamfunere ad imos, 
 Cafta tamen, Manes, et digna parentibus umbra : 
 Quin refera hoc gremium, vitamque abrumpe mo 
 rantem. 
 
 Cofi coftei, che ne la doglia amara 
 Gia tutte non oblia 1'arti et le frodi ; 
 Fa di fofpir breve concento in prima, 
 Per difpor 1'alma, in cui le voci iraprima. 
 
 TASSO GIERUS Canto xvi. Stanza 45-
 
 Left. 23. ORATORY. 445 
 
 Sed te per teneros, fen fit fi petftus, amorcs, 
 
 Per dulces natos, cafti per tbedcra lefti, . 
 
 Per majorum umbras oro, per quicquid ubique eft 
 
 Sacrati, prohibe infandos a corpore tactus, 
 
 Neu mihi virgineos vis barbara polluat artus. 
 
 Hvtc ait, et gtmitus preffit ludantia verba. 
 Scant proceres innixi haftis, infuetaque flexit 
 Corda dolor, lacrymas manant invita p"r ora. 
 Non eadem Regi fades, non priftina man fit 
 Durities ; animum fpecies pra^clara loquentis 
 Accendir, majorque affiidlje gratia forrnse. 
 
 TUNC olli breviter : Quis te 4 pulcherrima Virgo, 
 Lsederet, aut caftrum violaret yulnere corpus, 
 Crudelis ? Non hse nobis viftoribus irx : 
 Solve metus : Neu finge animo nos impia ferre 
 Sceptra,et inhumanis fasvos gaudcre triumphis. 
 Gloria non mendax, non praedai infana cupido 
 Armatos in bella trahunt ; aft ardua jufia 
 Divini Vatis* ccelique fuprema voluntas i 
 Exulet ut vetus impieta c , ut fulgcat akc 
 Vera fides, iret magnis Tub legibus orbis. 
 Ipfe tibi, incenfus tantje virtutis amore, 
 Munera magna feram, majoraque regna paternis 
 Subjiciam ; preme fingultus. . His demere diclis 
 ./Eger amore ftudec curas, folvitque timorem. 
 
 HANC Selymus, cui foemincx cuftodia prceJce 
 Credita, deducit moeftam in penetralia celfj, 
 Lsetnntes inter turmas, crcpitantiaque arma. 
 
 IMPERII Rex inde gravi de pondere, canis 
 Cum patribus, qua vi gentes fraenare fuperba?, 
 Quos bello vaftare, quibus dare jura fuba&is, 
 Confulit ; et regni furgentis lubrica firmat. 
 INTERS A fummo, juflu vicloris, honore 
 Excipitur Virgo. Thalamis iiilgentibus oftro, 
 
 Auratis
 
 446 LECTURES concerning Led .23. 
 
 Auratis excelfa toris, et murice fpreto, 
 Mosfta jacet: Sculptas oneranc convivia menfas, 
 Nequicquam ; vinum gemmato fpumat in auro. 
 Centum florentes forma et juvenilibus annis, 
 Barbara quas acies regum de ftirpe creatas 
 Sedibus abripuit crudeli forte paternis, 
 Circumftant agiles Nymphae ; blandifque miniflrant 
 Officiis : Fundit dulci pars carmina voce ; 
 Pars tremulos do&o percurrit pollice nervos ; 
 Scilicet infixas ut poffint fallere curas, 
 Exuat et lentos fenfim mens azgra dolores. 
 
 IPSE ferox vi&or, durum cui pectus amore 
 JEftuat, afiiduis precibus faftidia tendit 
 Vincere, nunc votis fupplex, nunc leniter urgens 
 Blanditiis, fimul et promifla ingentia mifcet, 
 Regalem exponens oculis longo ordine pompam. 
 
 QUID potuit Virgo infelix ? Qua rumpere tantas 
 Infidias; qua vi favis obfiftere fatis ? 
 Hinc regalis honos, menti quoque grata poteftas 
 Fcemineae, clarufque faventi marte tyrannus 
 Sollicitant; fubita abfterrent proftrata ruina 
 Inde paterna domus, miferce fola ipfa fuperftes 
 Relliquise ; et tepidi cognato fanguine rivi. 
 
 AT natura trahens intus, fpes lasta, juventns 
 FJexilis, et tempus quod ienit acerba, Jabantem 
 Evicere animum, fallacifque ardor amoris 
 Dulcis inexpertje. Qualis flos imbre gravatus 
 Labitur, ec mceftis moriens languefcit in hortis , 
 At zephyro fpirante levis fe tollit ad auras, j 
 Purpureos pandens lasto fub fole colores : 
 Non fecus Irene luclu lacrymifque fugatis, 
 Enituit: medios inter Regina iriumphos 
 Incedit, niveam cingens diaC.emate frontem, 
 
 i Exultans
 
 23. O R A T O Pv Y. 447 
 
 Exultans umbra, titulifque infiata fuperbis. 
 Ah mifera ! immitem tentris amplexibus hoftem, 
 Immemor everfe paniae caefique parentis, 
 Ergo loves faciiis, fortifqu; Ignara futurce ? 
 
 JAM belli vox rauca lilet. Non serea cantu 
 Accendit tuba florentts ad proelia turmas ; 
 Non undare cruor, non armis fulgere campos ; 
 Mcenia non trernere horribili concufTa fragore : 
 Afper at exuta molleicit caffide miles, 
 Regis ad exemplum, luxuque efFrasnis inerti 
 Lalcivit. Viridem pars lente fufa per herbam 
 Umbrifcros inter ramos, et murmur aquarum, 
 Concentufque avium, longis exhaufla periclis 
 Membra fovet, vetiti libantes pocula bacchi, 
 Inftaurantque dapes : Pars cseco vulnere fixa 
 Haunt amans teneras curas, et blanda venena, 
 Captarum illecebris, et grata compede vinfta. 
 
 QUALIS ubi rapido belli de turbine Mavors 
 Pulverulentus adhuc et fervens czde recenti, 
 Viflusamore, Cyprum quaerens Paphiofque receflus, 
 Cceleftes petit amplexus, et dulcia furta : 
 7'um belli filuere minae ; fremit Ira, Pavorqne 
 Nequicquam, infrendet telo Mors faeva repreflb ; 
 Candidaque eftulget laetis Pax reddita terris. 
 
 SED non longa quies : Accendit priftinus ardor 
 Corda virdm, et turpi pudct indulfifle veterno : 
 Extimulat Pietas atrox ; fimulalta priorum 
 Gloria geftorum , atque angens fatiata Libido 
 Ergo indignantcs luxu fregille vigorem, 
 Arma fremunt omnes, et mollia vincula rumpunt. 
 
 PR^ETEREA vulgus non cseco murmure regem 
 Incufat, quern nunc, pudet hcu ! muliercula vitfum 
 Detinet amplexu indigno > dum colligit hoftis 
 
 DUp.rfos
 
 44 8 LECTURES concerning Led. 23, 
 
 Difperfas acies, et bellum fponte minatur, 
 Hsec agitant, glifcitque truci violentia turbas. 
 
 SENSERAT infolito mifceri caftra tumultu 
 Muftapha, quem claro virtus infignis honore 
 Evexit, Regique decile fulgere fecundum 
 Imperio : Metuens igitur ne ferperet ultra 
 Tanta mail labts, fnmantque incendia vires, 
 Prascipitare moras ftatuit, regemcjue requirit : 
 Atque ita fublimem compellat voce tyrannum. 
 
 O decus heroum, fummi fate fanguine Vatis* 
 Quem tellus devifta tremit, qua flavus Hydafpes 
 Gurgite fumanti tepidos fecat aureus agros, 
 Threicias longead hierries Hebrumque nivalem ; 
 Sit fas vera loqui, finceraque promere dih, 
 Afperiora licet ; veftrae res afpera pofcunt. 
 
 QUICQJIID foloriens luftrat, terras ubi niinquani 
 Romani fulfere aquilas, devicimus armis : 
 Nuncquoque totducibus, tot quondam Isetatriumphis 
 Grsecia vafta tremit, regnique vetufta fuperbi 
 Fumat adhuc fedes, fpumatque cruore recenti. 
 Unde quies igitur ? . Belli cur fulmina ceifant ? 
 Deterior bello nos luxus fregit. Ad arma 
 En ! iterum denias excuflb torpore catervse 
 Conveniunt, haftafque minaci murmure vibrant, 
 Concuffifque fremunt clypeis, regemque repofcnnt. 
 c Cur medio, exclamanr, languet Victoria curfu ? 
 c Cur torpent dextras, et ceffat Bellona tonare ? 
 Et nunc attoniti repetitis cladibus hoftes 
 Exhauftas reparant vires. En ! agmina cogunt, 
 Auratafque cruces iterum dant fulgere vencis. 
 Quid Rex interea, fasva quem ftrage cruentum 
 Horruerant toties, qui Grasco fanguine tinxit 
 Flumina, et evertit fumantes fulmine muros ? 
 
 " Imbelles
 
 Left. 23. ORATORY. 449 
 
 <c Imbelles fovet amplexus, inhoneftaque carpit 
 " Gaudia, et ingentes fcedo fpcs rumpit amore.'* 
 Scilicet hasc mandant divini oracula Vatis ? 
 Sic Proavi meruere ? Fidem fie protegis armis ? 
 Surge, age, mollejugum collo excuce, clarus, utolim> 
 Egredere, O noftrum decus. En ! horrentia ferro 
 MiJlia multa vocant, ingens clamore remugit 
 Bofphorus, armorumque relucet fulgure ccelum. 
 
 ExARsixViflor monkis ; excufTus amoris 
 Torpor abit, rurfumque animis fremit arduus arma: 
 \a~\ Sic bellator equus, quern moilis inertia pugnae 
 Detinet oblitum, per pafcua Iseca vagantes 
 Inter equas, mulcetquefolutum blanda cupido ; t 
 Arma crepent fi forte, tubas vel acuta fonet vox, 
 Igne recalefcit folito; tremit, arrigit aures, 
 Scintillatque oculis ; refonant hinniribus arva. 
 
 TUNC breviter ; Cum lux referabitcraftinaccelum? 
 Agmina die octant inftructis cuncla maniplis, 
 Atque forum repleant; folium fublime locetur: 
 Ipfe adero, et vanos pellam ratrone timores. 
 Dixerat. Hie Regis properans mandata facefllt. 
 
 POSTERA cceruleos fluchis Aurora reliquit, 
 Pallidaque emcrgens extinxit fidera Titan, 
 Cum tuba clara canic : Tune agmina denfa coire 
 Cernerc erat, juftifque forum ftipare maniplis, 
 Fraenatis in equis ; inter quos limite longo 
 Ductorcs volitant, auroque oftroque decori : 
 
 [a] ' { ? en T'? rare; Tinrof* oruV Js-J <?*, &C. 
 
 HoM.Il.vi. ?o6. 
 
 Quern locum imitatus eft Virgilius, & ferme zquavit ; Tor- 
 quatus quoque TafFus, uti folet, elegantir, G it R u s. Canto xri. 
 btanz. 28. 
 
 Qual feroce deftrier, ch' al faticofo 
 Onor de T arme vir.citor fia tolto, &c. 
 
 G g Pondecr
 
 450 LECTURES concerning Lett. 23, 
 
 Pondere terra gemit , per templa domofque corufcaE 
 JEnea lux, longoque illuftrat fulgure ccelum : 
 Miile tremunt vexilla, finufque ad flamina pandunt 
 Purpureos, curvae difcurrunt acre luna\ 
 Star circum inftruclus Miles, pacataque vibrat 
 Tela manu ; ferri tremulus nitor exit ad auras 
 Concuffi, dum turba fremens movet ordine denfo : 
 Qualis ubi primum jubarextulit astherius Sol, 
 Mane novo, fummum leviter cum flamina ftringunt 
 Oceanum, crifpantur aquae ; mox tollitur, altum 
 Magna mole fremens ; albefcunt cserula fpumis. 
 
 lNCERTi,quecaufa vocat, quidve inflet agendum, 
 Sufpenfis dubitant animis, quaeruntque paventque, 
 Arre&i ad vanos ftrepitus ; hinc corpore vafto 
 FJucluat hue illuc inclinans turba, viciffim 
 Puifaque-, et impellens, motuque reciproca vibrat. 
 
 AST ubi, cum magno Princeps clangore tubarum 
 Arduus ingreditur, multoque fateliite cincl:us, 
 Hue omnes tendunt, oculifque et mentibus hserent: 
 Hand fecus alma Ceres, gravidis quae nutat ariftis, 
 Coilis apricus ubi aut felix uligine campus 
 Semina Iseta fovet, dum vefpertinus oberrat 
 Aer et incerto variantur cardine venti, 
 Hue levis atqvie illuc fluitat, qua fpiritus urget 
 Mobilis , at dubio fi tandem regnet olympo 
 Eurufve, Zephyrufve, aut imbribus humidus Aufter, 
 Hsec fequitur facilis viclorem, huicaurea culmos 
 Flcctit, ec unanimi procumbit meffe fupina. 
 
 EXCELSUM in medio folium fupereminet, amplis 
 Porreclum fpatiis, multoque inflernitur oftro; 
 Confidet hie ingens Viclor ; fimul inclyta regum 
 Gra^corum foboles, cui fplendida murice et auro 
 Veftis et infignis gemmarum luce corufcat ; 
 
 At
 
 23. ORATORY. 451 
 
 At velo caput abdiderat, vultufque decoros. 
 Turn vero cecidit fonus omnis, ut alta filet nox. 
 Tandem confurgens clara Rex voce profatur: 
 
 AUDIVI, nee me latuerunt murmura veftra 
 Queftufque infani, Miles ; me nempe prioris 
 Oblitum decoris, me relligionis avitse 
 Immemorem, fcedo languere cupidine captum. 
 Scilicet hasc merui ? Me ficcine noftis, iniqua 
 Peftora, qui totum laceravi casdibus orbem 
 Chrifticolam, qui tantum everti fedibus imis 
 Imperium ? Ecquando fegnem me, aut forte moran- 
 
 tem, 
 
 Vel cupidum vitae tranquilla et aita fequentem 
 Vidiftis, dum pugna furit ? Vos teftor : An ultro 
 Incendentem animos, medioque in turbine belli 
 Pulvere confperfum, multoque cruore rubentem ? 
 Quis fluvios innare ferox, quis mcenia primus 
 Scandere, per denfos hoftes, per tela, per ignes, 
 Stridentefque globos, et faeva tonitrua ferro ; 
 Atque triumphantes muris infigere Lunas ? 
 Hsec mea laus ; fileam quid enim, quod Gratia, quod 
 
 Sol 
 
 Teflatur, quod adhuc in peftore multa cicatrix ? 
 Dextera nee, magis hac, ditavit manibus umbras. 
 
 CZSSAVI fateor i belli vox rauca parumper 
 Conticuiti dedimus nos corpora lafia quieti. . 
 Ufque adeone nocer, poft tot difcrimina rerum, 
 Vel Judis animum, vel membra fovere fopore ? 
 Nee venit in mentem quae fit fors afpera vita: 
 Mortalis, qnam fefla malis infractaque, pofcat 
 Alternas mens aegra vices, et dulce levamen ? 
 
 G g 2 INSUPER.
 
 452 LECTURES concerning Left. 23, 
 
 INSURER audite, atque animis hsec figite dicta, 
 Rex fum, non titulos jaftans et inania fceptra ; 
 Haud veftrum eft igirur fcrutari pectora regis, 
 Senfufque arcanos j led contra horrore vereri 
 Sandto perculfos : Veftrum eft parere, jubebo : 
 Mors premet invitos ; eft omne rebellio murmur. 
 QUID tamen admifi facinus ? quse tanta peregi ? 
 (Ut loquar ex sequo.) Quid enim ? Male-cautus 
 
 amabam. 
 
 Efto : novum crimen vos primi fingitis. Ergo 
 Rex, Juvenis,Viclor nunquam fine crimine amabit ? 
 Nil mos, nil leges, pietas nil tale profatur. 
 Ipfe Mahummedes, qui fancta oracula coelo 
 Deduxit puramque fidem mortalibus sgris, 
 Divinus vates ; cum bellum pace mutavit, 
 Otia foemineo vacuus confumpfit amore. 
 Quid pretii iperat fuper ignea fidera virtus ? 
 Quern fequimur finem ? Perfunclis munere vitas 
 Egregiis Deus ipfe viris quas dona rependet ? 
 Scilicet infignes praeftanti corpore nymphas, 
 Atque immortali florentes vere juventse, 
 Halantes per agros, ad aquarum murmura blanda, 
 Concentus inter volucrum, viridante fub umbra, 
 Amplecli dabit , et viventes omne per jevum 
 Carpere perpetua fcmper nova gaudia flamma. 
 Hujus at erroris (fi me tamen abftulit error) 
 Quas mihi caufa fuit -, qu difcite, qualis origo, 
 Compede qua teneor : Sic enim fmt ferrea vobis 
 Corda licer, fpero tamen ignofcetis amanti, 
 Cernentes faciem, quae me pulcherrima vicit 
 ^theriis fimilem, et radiantia lumina flammis. 
 Afpicite : atque meum, ft fas, reprendite crimen.
 
 Led. 23. ORATORY. 453 
 
 HJEC fatus, velum detraxit ab ore puellse. 
 Quails ubi fpifia dudum Sol coriditus umbra", 
 Aureus emergir, tandem caligine pulsa, 
 Splendidior ; ridet diffufo lumine ccelum. 
 Non aliter pofito velamine, regia proles 
 Extulit os rofeum, folioque refulfit ab alto. 
 Attonitse ftupuere acies, avidofque tuendo 
 Defixse pafcunt oculos, tacitasque pererrant 
 Quam faciem ! quali cum majeftate venuftam ! 
 Atque genas divse fimiles ; ac laftea colla ; 
 Perque humeros crines, eteburneape6tora,fparfos. 
 
 INDZ repentino cum primum erepta ftupore 
 Libera mens rediit, tollunt ad fidera plaufus 
 Sponte fua, dignamque fatentur crimine formam. 
 
 CONSTITIT, atque diu trux agmina circumfpcxit, 
 Terribiles volvens oculos, turn murmura dextra 
 Compefcens, torvo fie addidit ore, Tyrannus. 
 
 JAM fatis eft ; fifto me crimine folvitis : Illam 
 Quis non vidtricem agnofceret ? ^Ethere talem 
 Ipfe ingens Vates vix credam ampleftitur ulnis. 
 Es, fateor, mihi jure tuo cariffima, vultu 
 ^mula Coelicolis, animi neque dotibus impar, 
 IRENE, mea lux, regum certiffima proles : 
 Non radii folis^ non vitas carior ipfe 
 Spiritus hie, non qui nutrit praecordia fanguis j 
 Eft tamen his radiis, eft vita carior ipsa 
 Gloria, et invidia tandem laus bellica major: 
 Nee frangent animum molles, ne fingite, curse. 
 Quid quod amem ? tamen et Rex fum, Bellator, et 
 
 Heros : 
 
 Forfan amantem oetas, imbellem haud poftera, tradet. 
 Fracta meas iterum plorabit Grascia vires, 
 Occiduique orbis dominatrix, impia Roma: 
 
 Ecce!
 
 4 54 LECTURES concerning, &c. Led. 2 3 . 
 Ecce ! incenfa ruunt delubra, crucefque profanse, 
 Et fimulacrorum fra&us refonabit humi grex. 
 
 QUIN base accipite, et veftrum cognofcite Regem. 
 Audebit quicunque meos reprendere mores, 
 Immeuiorem carpens famse, luxuque folutum, 
 Quid cara pro laude geram, quid vindice dextra 
 Molior, afpiciat : " Mcque inde tremifcite, cuncli." 
 
 H^EC ait, et gladium di(tringens,impulit iftu 
 In collum IRENES. Cadis heu! pulcherrima, dextra 
 Qua minime decuit, fevas data vidima famae : 
 Felix, fi patriis jacuiffes cafta ruinis, 
 Nee tibi barbarici placuiflfent foedera lefti \ 
 Nam mutilus fubita truncus procumbit humi vi, 
 Singultanfque tremenfque cruorem tramite multo 
 Purpureis ftillans rivis : caput exilit alee 
 Avulfum, longo rapiturque volubile tractu. 
 
 COELESTES, Illi fcedos jam languine, vultus, 
 Pallentefque genas, extindtaque lumina cernunt, 
 Attoniti j exanguefque metu : labefacta per ofla 
 Horror iit. Siluere diu : Mox undique triftis 
 Prorupit gemitus, perque agmina vafla cucurrit. 
 Rexabit, infrendens graviter, vifumque relinquic. 
 
 FINIS.
 
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