EXERCISES.

165. Neatly transcribe the following Examples, underlining the words exemplifying the Figure, and subjoining to each Example a few Remarks tending to show the propriety of each :

1. Hyperbole; ;-a. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.— Genesis, ch. xiii.

Remarks.

b. To possess cities great, and fenced up to heaven.

Deut. ch. ix.

c. The (mariners) mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble. - Psalm cvii. 26.

Remarks.

d. Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews,

Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones,
Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans forsake
Unsounded deeps to dance on sands.

Remarks.

2. Irony;

a. Burke, in a speech delivered before the House of Commons in 1790, thus ironically speaks of the French

"The French have shown themselves the ablest architects of ruin that have hitherto appeared in the world; in one short summer they have pulled down their monarchy, their church, their nobility, their law, their army, and their revenue."

b. Solomon thus ironically exposes the follies of youth, Eccles. xi. 9:

of

"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou,

hyperboles generally appear in the higher kinds of poetry and b. An hyperbole should neve thing ordinary or familiar; and w as possible. In instances, howe are frequently introduced pur In poetry, also, a greater latitu here, we should be on our guard

162. a. IRONY is a very reverse of what stood, with a view to our observations. "A mighty honest cally. The real evinced by the sne vagance of the p known character o

b. This figure is generally. mankind; for, those indiv would have no effect, are lery. We therefore find. occasions, had recourse Elijah, sneeringly challen deity in these words, or he is pursuing, or he is must be awaked."

163. Sarcasm, expression, intend thus, The Jews, sultingly said, "*

not save."

164. Paralep we pretend to o

168. VISION OF IMAGERY is a figure used only in animated and dignified compositions, when, instead of relating something that is past or future, we employ the present tense, and describe it as actually passing before our eyes.

Thus, Cicero, in his fourth oration against Catiline, says, "I seem to myself to behold this city, the ornament of the earth, and the capital of all nations, suddenly involved in one conflagration. I see before me the slaughtered heaps of citizens, lying unburied in the midst of their ruined country. The furious countenance of Cethēgus rises to my view, while, with a savage joy, he is triumphing in your miseries."

169. a. CLIMAX is a figure in which the sense rises, by successive steps, to what is more and more important, or descends to what is more and more minute; as, "There is no enjoyment of property without government; no government without a magistrate; no magistrate without obedience; and no obedience where every one acts as he pleases."

b. Climax is the same as Amplification, Enumeration, or Gradation.

c. A writer or speaker, who, by force of argument, has established his principal point, may sometimes introduce this figure with advantage at the close of his discourse.

170. The Anti-clamax, or the opposite of Climax, is sometimes introduced to diminish great objects, and render such as are diminutive even more so.

171. In addition to the preceding figures of

that for all these things God will bring thee into judg

ment.

Remarks.

c. Archbishop Tillotson, speaking of Popery, thus expresses himself:

"If it seem good to us to put our necks once more under that yoke which our fathers were not able to bear; if it be really a preferment to a prince to hold the pope's stirrup, and a privilege to be disposed of him at pleasure, and a courtesy to be killed at his command:- - if, to pray without understanding: to obey without reason:—and to believe against sense: if ignorance and implicit faith, and an inquisition be in good earnest such charming and desirable things; then, wel'come Popery, which, wherever thou comest, dost infallibly bring all these wonderful privileges and blessings along with thee.

-

Remarks.

LESSON 78.

INTERROGATION, EXCLAMATION, VISION, CLIMAX.

166. An INTERROGATION is used literally to ask a question; but, figuratively, it is employed, when the passions are greatly moved, to affirm or deny more strongly. Thus, "The Lord is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

167. EXCLAMATION is used to express agitated feeling, admiration, wonder, surprise, anger, joy, grief, &c.; thus, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

168, VISION or IMAGERY is a figure used only in animated and dignified compositions, when, instead of relating something that is past or future, we employ the present tense, and describe it as actually passing before our eyes.

Thus, Cicero, in his fourth oration against Catiline, says, "I seem to myself to behold this city, the ornament of the earth, and the capital of all nations, suddenly involved in one conflagration. I see before me the slaughtered heaps of citizens, lying unburied in the midst of their ruined country. The furious countenance of Cethegus rises to my view, while, with a savage joy, he is triumphing in your miseries."

169. a. CLIMAX is a figure in which the sense rises, by successive steps, to what is more and more important, or descends to what is more and more minute; as, "There is no enjoyment of property without government; no government without a magistrate; no magistrate without obedience; and no obedience where every one acts as he pleases."

b. Climax is the same as Amplification, Enumeration, or Gradation.

c. A writer or speaker, who, by force of argument, has established his principal point, may sometimes introduce this figure with advantage at the close of his discourse.

170. The Anti-clamax, or the opposite of Climax, is sometimes introduced to diminish great objects, and render such as are diminutive even more so.

171. In addition to the preceding figures of