1 S. 15. Seeming Contradiction is when the Members of a Period quite difagree in Appearance and Sound, but perfectly agree and are consistent in Senfe. Cowards die many times before their Deaths; The Valiant never taft of Death but once h This Figure, when noble and perfect, fhews a bold and enterprizing Genius, that encounters Dangers without Fear, and walks steadily and fecurely upon a Precipice. Therefore it strikes vigorously upon the Mind of the Reader, calls forth new Thoughts, and raises Admiration and Surprize. Every judicious Reader admires the daring Flights of a sublime and noble Genius; and eafily forgives fome few fmaller Faults for the fake of his ma b Shakespear in Julius Cæfar. ny ny vigorous Beauties: But defpifes a little groveling Writer, who creeps on in a heavy Road, and dares not attempt to rife; but being content to fhun a Grammatical Fault, never reaches at an Excellency. S. 16. Oppofition is a Figure whereby things very different or contrary are compar'd and plac'd near, that they may fet off each other. White plac'd near Black fhines brighter: Innocence compar'd with Guilt appears with double Charm and Loveliness. The Poets, Hiftorians and Orators improve their Subject, and much heighten the Pleasure of their Reader by the beautiful Oppofition of their Characters and Defcriptions. i Tacitus defcribes the exceffive Dalliances and frantic Revels of the Emprefs Meffalina with Silius a little before their Death, in wonderful i Annal. 1. p. 252 Pomp k Pomp and Gayety of Expreffion; that the Reader may be the more furpriz'd and astonish'd at the Suddennefs and terrible Circumstances of her Fall. The Poet in his fine Description of Dido's Despair the Night before her Death, reprefents all the Creation enjoying profound Tranquillity and fweet Reft, to render that mifeTable Queen's Difquietudes more moving. She was depriv'd of the common Privilege indulg'd to the poorest and most despicable Creatures; Sleep fled from her Eyes, and Quiet was banish'd from her Breast. This Manner of ufing this Figure is very agreeable and noble, because the Oppofition does not lie in Words but Things. In Virgil's fecond Georgic there is a very agreeable Contraft and Oppofition in that fine Comparison between theCourt and the Countrey. The Pomp Virg. n. 4. X. 522. and and Hurry of State, and the Freedom and pure Pleasures of Retirement and Agriculture. Upon a full Enumeration of the several Conveniences and Enjoyments of both ways of Living, what Advantage and Over-balance does the Poet give to the latter! The very Manner of his Expreffion, and Turn of his Poetry, are with great Judgment and Dexterity vary'd, and made fuitable to his different Subjects. The Defcription of the Pride and Statelinefs of the Great is drawn to the Life in a pompous Run of Verfe, and variety of very bold Tropes. -Ingentem foribus Domus alta Mane falutantúm totis vomit Æ- -Varios inhiant pulchra telu dine Poftes, Georg. ii. . 461, &c. 1. But But you have the Innocence and Plainnefs, the Sweetnefs and undifturb'd Quiet of the Countrey, naturally reprefented in proper Words, in plain and eafy Expreffion, and in the fmootheft and sweetest Numbers. At fecura quies & nefcia fallere Dives opum variarum, at latis Spelunca, vivique Lacus; at fri- Mugitufque Boum, mollefq; fub m S. 17. Comparison beautifully fets off and illuftrates one thing by refembling and comparing it to another, to which it bears a manifeft Relation and Refemblance. m Ib. . 467. The |