on the order in which the related words are placed. When a fubftantive occupies the first place, we cannot foresee what is to be faid of it. The idea therefore which this word fuggefts, must subsist in the mind at least for a moment, independent of the relative words afterward introduced; and if it can fo fubfift, that moment may without difficulty be prolonged by interjecting a circumstance betwixt the fubftantive and its connections. Examples therefore of this kind, will scarce alone be fufficient to denominate a style inverted. The case is very different, where the word that occupies the first place, denotes a quality or an action; for as thefe cannot be conceived without a subject, they cannot without greater violence be feparated from the fubject that follows. And for that reason, every such separation by means of an interjected circumftance belongs to an inverted style.

To illuftrate this doctrine examples being neceffary, I fhall begin with those where the word first introduced does not imply a relation.

Nor

Nor Eve to iterate

Her former trefpaís fear'd.

Hunger and thirst at once,

Powerful perfuaders, quicken'd at the fcent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me fo keen.

Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fli'ft
With the fix'd ftars, fix'd in their orb that flies,
And ye

five other wand'ring fires that move In mystic dance not without fong, refound

His praise.

In the following examples, where the word first introduced imports à relation, the disjunction will be found more violent,

Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and all our wo
With lofs of Eden, till one greater man
Restore us, and regain the blessful seat,
Sing heav'nly mufe.

Upon the firm opacous globe

Of this round world, whofe first convex divides

The luminous inferior orbs, inclos'd

From chaos and th' inroad of darkness old

Satan alighted walks.

On

On a fudden open fly,

With impetuous recoil and jarring found,
Th'infernal doors.

Wherein remain'd,

For what could elfe? to our almighty foe
Clear victory, to our part lofs and rout.

Forth rufh'd with whirlwind found

The chariot of paternal Deity.

Language would have no great power, were it confined to the natural order of ideas. A thoufand beauties may be compaffed by inverfion, that must be relinquished in a natural arrangement. I fhall foon have an opportunity to make this evident. In the mean time, it ought not to escape observation, that the mind of man is happily fo conftituted as to relifh inverfion, though in one respect unnatural; and to relish it fo much, as in many cases to admit a violent disjunction of words that by the sense are intimately connected. I fcarce can say that inverfion has any limits; though I may venture to pronounce, that the disjunction of articles, conjunctions, or prepofitions,

from

from the words to which they belong, never has a good effect. The following example with relation to a prepofition, is perhaps as tolerable as any of the kind.

He would neither feparate from, nor act against them.

I give notice to the reader, that I am now ready to enter upon the rules of arrangement; beginning with a natural style, and proceeding gradually to what is the most inverted. And in the arrangement of a period, as well as in a right choice of words, the first and great object being perfpicuity, it is above laid down as a rule, That perfpicuity ought not to be facrificed to any other beauty whatever. Ambiguities occafioned by a wrong arrangement are of two forts; one where the arrangement leads to a wrong fenfe, and one where the fenfe is left doubtful. The first being the more culpable, shall take the lead, beginning with examples of words put in a wrong place.

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence muft exalt a genius, we may obferve merely from VOL. II. P p

the

the influence which an ordinary presence has over Characteristics, vol. 1. p. 7.

men.

This arrangement leads to a wrong fense: The adverb merely feems by its pofition to affect the preceding word; whereas it is intended to affect the following words an ordinary prefence; and therefore the arrangement ought to be thus.

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence must exalt a genius, we may obferve from the influence which an ordinary prefence merely has o

ver men.

The time of the election of a poet-laureat being now at hand, it may be proper to give some account of the rites and ceremonies anciently used at that folemnity, and only difcontinued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times.

Guardian.

The term only is intended to qualify the noun degeneracy, and not the participle difcontinued; and therefore the arrangement ought to be as follows.

and