ORATORY.

149

and decency. This faculty is called eloquence ; and those whoare possessed of it are styled eloquent. Elocution, according torhetoricians, consists of elegance, composition, dignity, andstyle. A discourse which has all these properties suitably adjust-ed, must, with respect.to the language, be perfect in its kind.

Or Elegance.

Elegance consists in Purity and Perspicuity; both with re-ject to single words, and their construction in sentences.These properties in language give it the name of elegant, for alike reason that we call other tilings so, which are clean and neatin their kind.

I. Purity signifies the choice of such words and phrase? as areagreeable to the use of the language in which we speak: and soratnmarians reduce the faults they oppose to it to two sorts, calledarbarism and solecism: the former of which respects singlewords, and the latter their construction. But in oratory, neitherall words, nor ail expressions, are called pure, which occur in lan-guage; but such only as come, recommended by the authority ofthose who speak with accuracy and politeness.

IT. Perspicuity, as well as purity, consists partly in single words,and partly in their construction.

i. As to single words, those are generally best understood whichare used in their proper sense. But it requires no small attentionand skill to be well acquainted with the force anti propriety ofwords. Ali words may be divided into proper words and tropes.Those are called proper words, which are expressed in their pro-per and usual sense: and tropes are such words as are applied tosome other thing than what they properly denote, by reason ofsome similitude, relation, or contrariety, between the two things.So, wiicn a subtle man is called a fox, the reason of the name isfounded in a similitude of qualities. If we say, Cicero will alwayslive, meaning his works, the cause is transferred to the effect.Sometimes two or more words have the same signification, andmay therefore be used synonymously. Of this kind are the wordspity and compassion. There are other words of so near an affi-nity to each oilier, that they are commonly thought synonymous.Sucli are mercy and pity ; though mercy in its strict sense is ex-crciseii towards an offender, and pity respects one in distress.This peculiar force and distinction of words is carefully to be at-tended to. Though words, when taken in their proper significa-tion, generally convey the plainest and clearest sense; yet someare more forcible, sonorous, or beautiful, than others. And bythese considerations we must often be determined in our choice ofthem. So whether we say, he got, or lie obtained, the victory,the senseis the same; but the latter is more full and sonorous.

ii. Rut perspicuity arises not only from a choice of single words,but likewise from the construction of them in sentences. For themeaning of all the words in a sentence, considered by themselvesmay be very plain and evident; and yet, by a disorderly placingof them, or confusion of the parts, the sense of the whole may lieobscured. It is certain that the most natural order is the plainest,when both the words and parts of a sentence are so disposed, asbest agrees with their mutual relation and dependence upon eachother. And a want of a proper disposition of the words in a sen-tence is often the cause of ambiguity and obscurity.

Of Composition.

Composition, in the sense here used, gives rules for the struc-ture of sentences, with the several members, words, and syllables,of which they consist, in such a manner as may best contribu'e totbe force, beauty, and evidence, oi tbe whole. Composition con-sists of four parts, which rhetoricians call period, order, juncture,and number. The first treats of the structure of sentences; thesecond of the parts of sentences, which are words and members;and the two last of the parts of words, which are letters and sylla-bles. For all articulate sounds, and even the most minute partsof language, come under the cognizance of oratory.

I. Of Period. In every sentence or proposition, something issaid of something. That of which something is said, logicians callthe subject, and that which is said of it, the predicate: bill ingrammatical terms, the former is a noun substantive, and the lattera finite verb, denoting affirmation, and some state of being, acting,or suffering. A simple sentence consists of one sucli noun andverb, with whatever else is joined to either or both of them. And

VOL. IV. —NO. 165. 1

a compound sentence coniaius two or more of them ; and may bedivided into so many distinct propositions, as there are such nounsand verbs, either expressed or understood. Some sentences con-sist either wholly, or ,n part, of sucli members as contain in themtwo or more compound ones, which may therefore, for distinc-tion’s sake, be called decompound members. In the proper dis-tinction and separation of the members in such complex sentences,the art of pointing chiefly consists. For the principal use of acomma is to divide the simple members, a semicolon the com-pound ones, a colon such as are decompounded, and a period thewhole from the following sentence. See Punctuation. Sen-tences, with respect to their form or composition, are distinguish-ed into two sorts, called by Cicero tracta, straight or direct; andcontorts,bended or winding. By the former are meant those whosemembers follow each other in a direct order, without any induc-tion; and by the latter those, which, strictly speaking, are calledperiods. For ra-EjioJ©' in Greek signifies a circuit or circle: amiso the Latins call it circuitus and ambitus: by which both mean asentence consisting of correspondent parts, so framed., that thevoice in pronouncing them muv have a proper elevation and ca-dency, and distinguish them by its inflection; and as the latterpart returns back, and unites tbe former, the period, like a circle,surrounds and incloses the whole sense. This elevation of thevoice, in the former part of the period, is by the Greeks calledwjovrsffij, and by die Latin propositio; and the depression of it intbe latter part, bv the one awoSoa-i;, and by the other redditio. Assimple sentences have not these correspondent parts, which re-quire any inflection of the voice ; nor a circular form, by reasonol their brevity ; they are not properly periods, in the strict senseof die word: though in common speech, the words sentence andperiod are used as equivalent terms. As to those compound sen-tences, whose members iolloweuch other in a direct order, withoutany inflection, there is a little art required in their composition.Since such sentences, therefore, may be limited at pleasure, itseems more convenient botli for the speaker and hearers to confinethem to a moderate length.

But the principal art relating to this part of composition lies in theframe and structure of sucli compound sentences as are properlycalled periods. In the formation of these, two things are chieflyto be regarded ; their length, and cadency. As the length oughtto be suited to the breath of the speaker, the ancient rhetoriciansscarce admit of more than four colons ; by which we may under-stand compound members of a moderate size, which will be gene-rally found a suitable and proportionate length. As to the ca-dency, Cicero has observed, that the eais judge what is full andwhat is deficient; and direct us to fill up our periods, that nothinghe wanting of what they expect. When the voice is raised at thebeginning of a sentence, they are in suspenee till it be finished;and are pleased with a full and just cadency, but are sensible ofany defect, and displeased with redundancy. Therefore caremust be taken that periods be neither deficient, and as it weremaimed, so as to defraud the cars of what seemed to be promisedthem ; nor, on tbe other hand, offend them by loo long and im-moderate excursions. This rise and cadency of lhe voice in pro-nunciation, depend on the nature and situation of the members.By the word members, are to be understood such as are uncom-pounded. In a period of two members the turn of the voice be-gins with tiie latter member. If a sentence consist of three mem-bers, the inflection is best made at the end of the second member:for if it begin immediately after the first, the voice will lie eitherapt to sink too low, and not to be heard, before it reach the end ;or else be precipitated, to prevent it. But a period of four mem-bers is reckoned the most complete and perfect, where tiie inflec-tion begins at the middle, that is with tiie third member. Nor isit tiie same case here, as if, in a sentence of three members, thecadency be made at the second. For in proportion to the timeof raising the voice may the space be allowed for ils sinking. Butwhere the sense ooes not suit with this division at the entranceupon the third member, it should lie made at the fourth.

II. Of Order. By order rhetoricians mean the placing ofeachword and member of a sentence in such a manner as will mostcontribute to tbe force, beauty, or evidence of (lie whole. Orderis of two kinds, natural and artificial. And each of the s e n av beconsidered with respect to the parts either of simple or compoundsentences.

2 Q j. As