Speaking of Shakespear:

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

Hiftory of G. Britain, vol. 1. p. 138.

This is ftudying 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 fame manner as we over-rate the greatnefs of bodies which are difproportioned and mishapen.

To

Next as to the length of the members that fignify the resembling objects. produce a resemblance betwixt fuch members, they ought not only to be constructed in the fame manner, but as nearly as poffible be equal in length. By neglecting this circumftance, the following example is defective in neatnefs.

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 difcharge of this principal duty.

Differtation upon parties, dedication.

In the following paffage all the errors are accumulated that a period expreffing a resemblance can well admit:

Minifters are anfwerable for every thing done to the prejudice of the constitution, in the fame pro portion as the preservation of the constitution 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.

Diflertation upon parties, dedication.

The fame rule obtains in a comparison where things are opposed to each other. Objects contrafted, not lefs than what are fimilar, require a resemblance in the members of the period that express them. The reafon is, that contraft has no effect upon the mind, except where the things compared have a refemblance in their capital parts *. Therefore, in oppofing two cir

* See chap. 8.

M m 2

cumstances

cumstances to each other, it remarkably heightens the contraft, to make as entire as poffible the resemblance betwixt the other parts, and in particular betwixt the members expreffing the two circumstances contrafted. As things are often beft illustrated by their contraries, I shall also give examples of deviations from the rule in this cafe.

Addison fays,

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes. Spectator, No 399.

Would it not be neater to study uniformity instead of variety? as thus:

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

For here the contraft is only betwixt a friend and an enemy; and betwixt all the other circumstances, including the members of the period, the resemblance ought to be preferved as entire as poffible.

Speaking of a lady's head-dress:

About ten years ago it fhot up to a very great

height,

height, infomuch that the female part of our species were much taller than the men.

Spectator, No 98.

It should be,

Than the male

part.

The wife man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool when he recommends himself to the applause of those about him.

Ibid. No 73.

Better:

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

thers.

Sicut in frugibus pecudibufque, non tantum semina ad fervandum indolem valent, quantum terræ proprietas cœlique, fub quo aluntur, mutat. Livy, 1. 38. § 17.

Salluft, in his hiftory of Catiline's confpiracy:

Per illa tempora quicumque rempublicam agitavere, honeftis nominibus, alii, ficuti populi jura defenderent, pars, quo fenati auctoritas maxuma

foret,

foret, bonum publicum fimulantes, pro fua quif que potentia certabant. Cap. 38.

We proceed to a rule of a different kind. During the course of a period, the same scene ought to be continued without variation. The changing from person to perfon, from fubject to fubject, or from person to subject, within the bounds of a fingle period, diftracts the mind, and affords no time for a folid impreffion. I illuftrate this rule by giving examples of deviations from it.

Honos alit artes, omnesque incenduntur ad ftudia gloriâ; jacentque ea femper quæ apud quofque improbantur. Cicero, Tufcul. quæst. l. 1.

Speaking of the diftemper contracted by Alexander bathing in the river Cydnus and of the cure offered by Philip the phyfician :

Inter hæc à Parmenione fidiffimo purpuratorum, literas accipit, quibus ei denunciabat, ne salutem fuam Philippo committeret.

Quintus Curtius, 1. 3. cap.6.

Hook,