Of vivacity as depending on the arrangement of the words.

contrary, the richer the beverage is, the danger is the greater, and therefore it ought to be used with the greater caution. Quintilian hath remarked concerning the writings of Seneca, which are stuffed with antithesis, that " they abound in pleasant faults *." The example had not been dangerous, if the faults had not been pleasant. But the danger here was the greater, as the sentiments conveyed under these figures were excellent. The thought recommended the expression. An admiration of the former insinuated a regard to the latter, with which it was so closely connected, and both very naturally engaged imitation. Hence Seneca is justly considered as one of the earliest corrupters of the Roman eloquence. And here we may remark, by the way, that the language of any country is in no hazard of being corrupted by bad writers. The hazard is only when a writer of considerable talents hath not a perfect chastity of taste in composition; but, as was the case of Seneca, affects to excess what in itself is agreeable. Such a style compared with the more manly elocution of Cicero, we call effeminate, as betraying a sort of feminine fondness for glitter and ornament. There is some danger that both French and English will be corrupted in the same manner. There have been some writers of eminence in both, who might be charged, perhaps as justly as Seneca, with abounding in pleasant faults.

* Instit. Lib. x. Cap. 1. Abundant dulcibus vitiis.

BUT enough of the antithesis, I return to the consideration of periods in general. And on this head I shall only further remark, that when they consist of complex members, we must follow the same rule in arranging the clauses of each member, in order to give all possible energy to the sentence, that we do in arranging the members of the period. By doing thus, we shall never be in danger of thinking that the member is complete till it actually be so, just as by the structure of the period we are prevented from thinking the sentence finished before the end. A disappointment in the former case is of less moment, but it is still of some. In each it occasions a degree of languor, which weakens the expression.

I SHALL give an example of a period where, in one of the members, this rule is not observed.

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Having already shown how the fancy is affected by the works "of Nature, and afterwards considered in general "both the works of Nature and of Art ||, how they mutually assist and complete each other, || in forming such scenes and prospects || as are most apt to delight the mind of the beholder; I shall in "this paper throw together some reflections on that particular art, |, which has a more immediate tendency than any other, to produce those pleasures of the imagination, which have hitherto been the subject of this discourse." This sentence is a pe

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Spectator, No. 415. O.

1

Of vivacity as depending on the arrangement of the words.

riod, agreeably to the definition formerly given. Wherever we stop, the sentence is, imperfect till we reach the end. But the members are not all composed according to the rule laid down. It consisteth of three members. The first ends at Nature, is a single clause, and therefore not affected by the rule; the second is complex, consisting of several clauses, and ends at beholder; the third is also complex, and concludes the sentence. The last member cannot be faulty, else the sentence would be no period. The fault must then be in the structure of the second, which is evidently loose. That member, though not the sentence, might conclude, and a reader naturally supposes that it doth conclude, first at the word art, afterwards at the word other, both which are before its real conclusion. Such a composition, therefore, even in periods, occasions, though in a less degree, the same kind of disappointment to the reader, and consequently the same appearance of feebleness in the style, which result from long, loose, and complex sentences. A very little alteration in the faulty member will unite the clauses more intimately, and entirely remove the exception, as thus," and after"wards considered in general, how in forming such

scenes and prospects, as are most apt to delight the "mind of the beholder, the works both of Nature "and of Art mutually assist and complete each other."

Ir may be thought, and justly too, that this care will sometimes make the expression appear elaborate.

I shall only recommend it as one of the surest means of preventing this effect, to render the members as simple as possible, and particularly to avoid synonymas and redundancies, of which there are a few in the member now criticised. Such are scenes and prospects, assist and complete, mutually and each other. With the aid of this reformation also, the whole period will appear much better compacted as follows: Having already shown how the fancy is affected by "the works of Nature;

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and afterwards consider"ed in general, || how in forming such scenes as are "most apt to delight the mind of the beholder, || the "works both of Nature and of Art assist each other; I shall in this paper throw together some re"flections on that particular art, which has a more “immediate tendency than any other, to produce "those primary pleasures of the imagination, || which have hitherto been the subject of this discourse."

PART III....Observations on loose sentences.

IN complex sentences of looser composition, there is, as was observed, a much greater risk of falling into a languid manner. This may arise from different causes. First, even where the sentence is neither long nor complex, the members will sometimes appear disjointed. The consequence always is, that a hearer will at first be in doubt, whether it be one sentence or Take the following for an example: "However, many who do not read themselves, || are seduced

more.

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Of vivacity as depending on the arrangement of the words.

by others that do ;

and thus become unbelievers upon trust, and at second hand; and this is too frequent a case *." The harmony of the members taken severally, contributes to the bad effect of the whole. The cadence is so perfect at the end both of the first member and of the second, that the reader is not only disappointed, but surprised, to find the sentence still unfinished. The additional clauses appear out of their proper place, like something that had been forgotten.

ANOTHER cause of languor here is the excessive length of a sentence, and too many members. Indeed, wherever the sentiments of an author are not expressed in periods, the end of a member or clause, or even an intermediate word, as hath been observed already, may be the end of the sentence. Yet the commonness of such sentences, when they do not exceed an ordinary length, prevents in a great measure a too early expectation of the end. On the contrary, when they transgress all customary limits, the reader begins to grow impatient, and to look for a full stop or breathing-place at the end of every clause and member. An instance of this excess you have in the succeeding quotation: "Though in yesterday's paper, "we considered how every thing that is great, new, or beautiful, is apt to affect the imagination with pleasure, we must own that it is impossible for us to as

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* Swift's sermon on the Trinity.