and the proper Word it is put for, or the Thing intended to be exprefs'd by it. When there is not this Suitableness and Relation, the Expreffion at best will be harsh and unpleasant; but often barbarous and ridiculous. Such was that Saying of the Roman expos'd by Tully- The Commonwealth was caftrated by the Death of Cato. The Connexion between.the Trope and the proper Word, ought to be fo clofe and evident, that the one cannot be mention'd without raifing the Idea of the other. This Connexion is either natural or artificial. The natural is when the Things express'd by their proper and metaphorical Names naturally refemble. one another. When 'tis faid a Man has Arms of Brafs, that Expreffion readily and naturally conveys to ones Understanding, a Notion of the extraordinary Strength and Firmness of that Man's Arms. The artificial Connexion depends upon Vfe and efta eftablifh'd Custom. The Turks are generally efteem'd a barbarous and cruel People; a rude and unrelenting Perfon is by Custom call'd a Turk; and the frequent Use of it in this Senfe makes the Idea of the Word Turk raife in the Mind the Idea of a rude and unrelenting Man. The other way of preferving the Proportion abovemention'd is, that a Trope don't exprefs more or lefs than the Thing requires: That Things capable of Heightening and Ornament be not debas'd and vilify'd by low Expreffi- · ons; nor fmall Matters over-magnify'd by pompous and fwelling Words of Vanity. Euripides is cenfur'd by Ariftotle for calling Rowing the Exercife of the Empire of the Oar; and fo may Cato in Agellius for calling a Hill cover'd with Brakes and Thickets, by the Name of a Wart. But if a Trope feem to be a little harth, and yet is neceffary and very fignificant, you may mollify and Imooth it by a good Epithet, or in few Words without Formality begging the Reader or Hearer to pardon the Expreffion. 3. A Trope ought to be obvious and intelligible; and therefore must not be fetched from Things too remore, so as to require much Reading and Learning to apprehend it. If a Man, fpeaking of a Houfe of Debauchery, fays 'tis a dangerous Rock of Youth, the Relation lies plain to an ordinary Capacity: But if he calls it the Syrtes of Youth, 'tis farfetch'd and obfcure, because few know that the Syrtes are Sands on the Coast of Afric, which inevitably fwallow up all the Ships that fall into 'em. 4. No Tropes are to be us'd which convey a fordid or lewd Idea to the Mind. Vile and debauch'd Expreffions are the fure Marks of an abject and groveling Mind, and the filthy Overflowings of a vicious Heart. Heart. He who fo far forgets the Design and Dignity of Speech as to endeavour to poyfon and debauch by it, instead of inftructing in Virtue, and pleafing Men in order to do them good, acts against Reason, and all the Decencies and Modesty of human Nature. To conclude, Tropes and metaphorical Expreffions are us'd either for Neceffity, Emphasis, or Decency. For Neceffity, when we have not proper Words to declare our Thoughts; for Emphasis, when the proper Words we have are not fo comprehenfive and fignificant; for Decency, when plain Language wou'd give Offence and Diftaft to the Rea der. CHAP H 3 СНАР. ІІ. Containing a particular Account of the Chief Tropes of Language. S. I. MO Etaphor is a Trope by M which we put a strange Word for a proper Word; by reafon of its Refemblance and Relation to it. All Tropes are in ftrict fpeaking Metaphors or Tranflations; yet this is more peculiarly call'd fo by reafon of its conftant Ufe, and peculiar Beauty. But more plainly to diftinguish this particular Trope from the general Name, it may be thus defin'd. A Metaphor is a Simile or Comparison intended to enforce and illuftrate the Thing we speak of, without the Signs or Form of Comparison. Thus: if we fay, God is a Shield to good Men; 'tis a Metaphor, because the Sign of Comparison is not exprefs'd, tho' |