Vp vlv W * IRARYQr 5SI \ MIFO/?^ R) /aan-^ 1 g iRARYQ^ ITVD-JO^ AlIF mtifr , irrl ^E-UNIVER% b a- I 1 e i 1 | | \ i g f^ri i^c^J !_ " 1 S^" \\f-UNIVER% ' 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 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 ; ] 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 ] 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. ] 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- ] ;" 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]." 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 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 " 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 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. / 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, ). 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- ] 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, 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 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 : ] 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 ]." 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 ] 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, ] 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 ir ejufmodi, ut folus ], 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 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 ] 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, affeð 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 ' 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 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. [ 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->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 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 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. [ 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 - 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- ? 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 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 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 %>JW:HO> \ \ I er z < i fc ^ - I I 3 "%3AINIH\\V N rfSSfc ^ ^ S 3 %UDW-SOl^ E-UBRARY^ ^IIIBRARY^ i trZ \\r-% T 1 mtm^f V O U. ^.^^^4? x, ^-^ ^' A