FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE.

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to defcribe a whole objedt by fome remarkable L e c t.part of it; as when we fay, “A fleet of fo many XIV.

“ fail,'” in the place of “ ftiips;’’ when we ufethe “ head” for the “perfon,” the “pole” for the“ earth” the “ waves” for the “fea.” In like manner,an attribute may be put for afubjcdt; as,“Youth and“ Beautvfor the young and beautiful;” and fome-times a fubject for the attribute, But it is needlefsto infill longeron this enumeration, which ferveslittle purpofe. 1 have fa id enough, to give anopening into that great variety of relationsbetween objects, by means of which, the mindis affifted to pafs eafily from one to another;and, by the name of the one, underftands theother to be meant. It is always fome accefforyidea, which recals the principal to the imagina-tion ; and commonly recals it with more force,than if the principal idea had been exprelfed.

The relation which, of all others, is by farthe moll fruitful of Tropes, I have not yetmentioned; that is, the relation of Similitudeand Refembiance. On this is founded what is•called the Metaphor : when, in place of uiingthe proper name of any objedt, we employ, in•its place, the name of fome -other which is like•it; which is a fort of pidlure of it, and whichthereby awakens the conception cf it with moreforce or grace. This figure is more frequent thanall the reft put together; and the language,both of profe and v-erfe, owes to it much of its■elegance and grace. This, therefore, defervesvery full and particular confideration; and fhallbe the fubject qf the next Lecture ,