From conjunctions and disjunctions in general, we proceed to comparisons, which make one fpecies of them, beginning with fimiles. And here alfo, the intimate connection that words have with their meaning, requires that in defcribing two refembling objects, a resemblance in the two members of the period ought to be ftudied. To illuftrate the rule in this cafe, I fhall give various examples of deviations from it; beginning with refemblances expreffed in words that have no resemblance.

I have obferved of late, the ftyle of fome great minifters very much to exceed that of any other productions. Letter to the Lord High Treasurer. Swift.

This, inftead of studying the refemblance of words in a period that expreffes a comparison, is going out of one's road to avoid it. Instead of productions, which refemble not minifters great nor fmall, the proper word is writers or

authors.

If men of eminence are exposed to cenfure on the one hand, they are as much liable to flattery on the other. If they receive reproaches which are not due to them, they likewise receive praises which they do not deserve, Spectator.

Here the fubject plainly demands uniformity in expreffion inftead of variety; and therefore it is fubmitted, whether the period would not do better in the following manner:

If men of eminence be exposed to cenfure on the one hand, they are as much exposed to flattery on the other. If they receive reproaches that are not due, they likes wise receive praises that are not due.

I cannot but fancy, however, that this imitation, which passes so currently with other judgments, must at fome time or other have ftuck a little with your Lordship*. [Better thus:] I cannot but fancy, however, that this imitation, which paffes fo currently with others, must at some time or other have fuck a little with your Lordship.

A glutton or mere fenfualift is as ridiculous as the other two characters.

Shaftesbury, Vol. i. p. 129.

They wifely prefer the generous efforts of good-will and affection, to the reluctant compliances of fuch as obey by force.

Remarks on the Hiftory of England, Letter 5.
Bolingbroke.

Titus Livius, mentioning a demand made by the people of Enna of the keys from the Roman governor, makes him fay,

Quas fimul tradiderimus, Carthaginienfium extemplo Enna erit, fœdiusque hic trucidabimur, quam Murgantia præfidium interfectum eft.

L. 24. § 38.
Quintus

* Letter concerning Enthufiafm. Shaftesbury.

Quintus Curtius, fpeaking of Porus mounted on an elephant, and leading his army to battle:

Magnitudini Pori adjicere videbatur bellua qua vehebatur, tantum inter cæteras eminens, quanto aliis ipfe præftabat.

L. 8. cap. 14.

It is ftill a greater deviation from congruity, to affect not only variety in the words, but also in the construction. Defcribing Thermopyla, Titus Livius fays,

Id jugum, ficut Apennini dorfo Italia dividitur, ita mediam Græciam diremit.

Speaking of Shakespeare:

L. 36. § 15.

There may remain a suspicion that we over-rate the greatness of his genius, in the fame manner as bodies appear more gigantic on account of their being difproportioned and mishapen.

Hiftory of G. Britain, Vol. i. p. 138.

This is studying variety in a period where the beauty lies in uniformity. Better thus:

There may remain a fufpicion that we over-rate the greatness of his genius, in the same manner as we overrate the greatness of bodies that are difproportioned and mishapen...

Next as to the length of the members that fignify the resembling objects. To produce a refemblance between fuch members, they ought not only to be conftructed in the fame manner, but as nearly as poffible be equal in length. By neglecting this circumftance, the following example is defective in neatness:

As the performance of all other religious duties will not avail in the fight of God, without charity; fo neither will the discharge of all other ministerial duties avail in the fight of men, without a faithful discharge of this principal duty.

Differtation upon parties, Dedication.

In the following paffage are accumulated all the errors that a period expreffing a refemblance can well admit.

Ministers are answerable for every thing done to the prejudice of the constitution, in the fame proportion as the preservation of the conftitution in its purity and vigour, or the perverting and weakening it, are of greater confequence to the nation, than any other inftances of good or bad government.

Differtation upon parties, Dedication.

Next of a comparifon where things are oppofed to each other. And here it must be obvious, that if refemblance ought to be ftudied in the words which exprefs two refembling objects, there is equal reason for ftudying oppofition in the words which exprefs contrafted objects. This rule will

be

be best illuftrated by examples of deviations from

it:

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes.

Spectator, No 399.

Here the oppofition in the thought is neglected in the words, which at first view seem to import, that the friend and the enemy are employed in different matters, without any relation to each other, whether of refemblance or of oppofition. And therefore the contraft or oppofition will be better marked by expreffing the thought as follows:

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy his crimes.

The following are examples of the fame kind.

The wife man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool when he recommends himself to the applause of thofe about him. Ibid. N° 73

Better:

The wife man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool when he gains that of others.

Sicut in frugibus pecudibusque, non tantum femina ad fervandum indolem valent, quantum terræ proprietas cœlique, fub quo aluntur, mutat.

Livy, lib. 38. § 17.

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