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ORATORY.

his figure, that at the time of Catiline’s conspiracy, Cicero ap-peared like Cicero . The sense would remain the same, but thefigure would be lost, if we should say, at that time Cicero appear-ed I ke himself. So when two or more sentences, or members ofa sentence, end with the same word, it "is called Epistrophe ; aswhen we say, To lose all relish of life, is in effect to lose life.But if the order of the words be changed in the latter clause thus,To lose all relish of life, is to lose life in effect; the figure vanishes.Such is the nature of the verbal figures. But it is not so in figuresof sentences; they continue the same, whatever alterations aremade in the words.

I. Verbal figures may be distinguished into three sorts, asthey consist in a deficiency, a redundancy, or a repetition, ofwords.

I. Of the first sort are ellipsis and asyndeton.

i. Ellipsis, is when one or more words are wanting in a sen-tence, to complete the construction, and fully express the sense.This figure is often used in proverbial expression : as w hen wesay, Many men, many minds; i.c. have many minds; and, Themore danger, the more honour ; f. c. gains more honour. Butwhere more is intended by such expressions than mere brevity,and especially w hen they are the effect of some passion, the figureis called Aposiopesis.

ii. Asyndeton is when the particles that connect (lie membersof a sentence are left out, to represent either the celerity of an ac-tion, or the haste and eagerness of the speaker. Thus Osar, ex-presses his speedy conquest of Pharnaces: I came, l saw, I con-quered. If he Itad inserted the copulatives, and said, I came, andI saw, and l conquered, it would have retarded the expression,and not given so full and just an idea of the swiftness of theaction.

II. The second sort of verbal figures is contrary to these, andconsists ia a redundancy or multiplicity of words; which are like-wise two, pleonasmtls and polysyndeton.

i. When we use more words than are necessary to express athing, it is called Pleonasmus . This is done sometimes for greaterempliasis, as when we say, Where in the world is lief At othertimes it is designed to ascertain the truth cf what is said.

ii. When the several parts of a sentence are united by properparticles, it is called Polysyndeton. This adds a weight and gra-vity to an expression, ami by retarding the course of the sentence,gives the mind time to reflect upon every part distinctly. Weoften meet with this figure in Demosthenes , w hich very well suitswith the gravity of his style. So he encourages the Athenians toprosecute the war against Philip II. from this consideration, thatnow “ they had ships, and men, and money, and stores, and allother things, which might contribute to the strength of the city,in greater number and plenty than in former times.” Every arti-cle here has its weight; but if we remove the copulatives, the sen-tence will lose much of its force.

III. The third kind of verbal figures consists in a repetition.Either the same word in sound or sense, is repeated ; or one of alike sound, or signification, or both.

I. Of the former sort there are ten, called antanaclasis, ploce,epizeuxis, climax, anaphora, epistrophe, symploce, epanalepsis,anadiplosis, and epanodos. The two first of these agree in sound,but differ iu sense ; the eight following agree in both. 1. Whenthe same word in sound, but not in sense, is repealed, it is calledAntanaclasis. As when a son, to clear himself of suspicion, assur-ed his father he did not wait for his death ; his father replied, ButI desire you would wait for it. Here the word wait is taken intwo different senses. 2. Sometimes the name of some person orthing is repeated, to denote some particular character or property ;and then it is called ploce. Thus Cicero says, Young Cato wantsexperience, but yet he is Cato ; meaning he had the steady tem-per of the family. 3. When a word is repeated with vehemenceirt the same sense, it is.called Epizeuxis. As O Jerusalem, Jeru-salem , who killest the prophets ! 4. Climax is a beautiful kind

of repetition, when the word, which ends the first member of aperiod, begins the second, and so through each member, till (bewhole is finished. As in this example : There is no enjoyment ofproperty without government, no government without a magis-trate, no magistrate without an obedience, and no obediencesphere every one acts as he pleases. 5. When several sentences,«r members of a sentence, begin with the same word, it is called

Anaphora. This is a lively and elegant figure, and serves verymuch to engage the attention. For by the frequent return of thesame word, the mind of the hearer is held in an agreeable sus-penre, till the whole is finished. “ You do nothing, (says Cieeroto Catiline, ) you attempt nothing, you think nothing, but what Inot only hear, but also see, and plainly perceive.” t>. Epistropheis contrary to the former, and makes the repetition at the end of eachmember or sentence. As thus : since concord was lost, friend-ship was lost, fidelity was lost, liberty was lost; all was lost. 7.Symploce takes in both these lust figures. As in that of Cicero :

“ You would pardon and acquit him, whom the senate hath con-demned, whom the people of Rome have condemned, whom alfmankind have condemned.” 8. When a sentence concludeswith the word with which it began, it is called Epanalepsis. Asin that expression of Plautus, “ Virtue contains all things; hewants no good thing who lias virtue.” 9 . When the next sen-tence begins with the same word with which the first concluded,it is termed Anadiplosis. As in the following instance: “ Let usthink no price too great for truth ; truth cannot be bought loodear. This figure generally suits best with solemn discourses.10. Epanodos is the inversion of a sentence, or repeating it back-wards, so that it takes in the two last figures ; for it both beginsur.d ends with the same word, and the same word is likewise re-peated in the middle. It serves to illustrate and enfor< e the sense,by setting it in two opposite view.-. As in that expression of theprophet: “ Wo unto them who call good evil, and evil good;who put darkness for light, and light for darkness 1” &c.

II. T hose figures which comist in a repetition of words of alike sound or signification, or both, are four; paronomasia, ho-moioptoton, synonymia, and derivatio; the two first of which re-spect words that are similar in sound only, the third in sense, andtiie last in both.

i. When two words very near in sound, but different in sense,respect each other in the same sentence, it is caded Paronomasia.As when we say, Alter a feast comes a fast; and, a friend in needis a friend indeed.

ii. When the several parts of a sentence end with the same case,or tense of a like sound, this is the figure, named Homio|'toton. Asthus: No marvel though wisdom complain that she is either wil-fully despised, or carelessly neglected ; either openly ston.ed, orsecretly abhorred.

iii. The next figure is Synonymia. Strictfy speaking, s\ nonv-mous words are those which have exactly the same sense. Butthere being few such, the term is extended to comprehend wordsof a nearer affinity in their signification, which in discourse arefrequently put for one another. So, to desire, and intreat, areused as equivalent terms; and esteem and honour are often takenfor synonymous words, though they have not precisely the samesense, for esteem is the good opinion we entertain of a person, andhonour the outward expression of that opinion. When twoor more such words come together, they constitute this fi-gure.

iv. When such words as spring from the same root, as justice,just, injustice, unjust, and the like, come together in the samesentence, they make the figure called Derivatio. This figure re-ceives an additional beauty when repeated, in two opposite mem-bers ; as, lie wished rather to die a present death, than to live amiserable life.

11. Figures of Sentences. Of these some are principally adapt-ed for reasoning, and others to move the passions.

I. Figures suited for proof, are six : prob-psis, hypobole, ana-eoinosis, epitrope, parabole, and antithesis.

i. Prolepsis, or Anticipation, is so called, when the orator fir^tstarts an objection, which he toresees may be made either againsthis conduct or cause, and then answers it. Its use is to preventthe exceptions of an adversary, which cannot afterwards be intro-duced with so good a grace.

ii. Hypobole, or Subjection, is like the former; and is, whenseveral things are mentioned that seem to make lor the contraryside, and each of them refuted in order.

iii. Auacoinosis, or Communication ; by which the speaker de-liberates or expostulates either with the judges, or hearers, or theadversary.

iv. Epitrope, or Concession, grants one thing, to obtain anothermore advantageous. It is either real or feigned ; and either the

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