Of this sentence the word indignation forms the natural conclusion: what follows, is altogether foreign to the proposition with which the author set out. EXAMPLES In which the rules of unity are violated. Inelegant. The Britons, daily harassed by cruel inroads from the Picts, were forced to call in the Saxons for their defence; who consequently reduced the greater part of the island to their own power; drove the Britons into the most remote and mountainous parts; and the rest of the country in customs, religion, and Better thus. The Britons, daily harassed by cruel inroads from the Picts, were forced to call in the Saxons for their defence. These people reduced the greater part of the island to their own power; and drove the Britons into the most remote, and mountainous parts. The rest of the country, in customs, religion, and lan language, became wholly "guage, became wholly Saxons. Saxons. This prostitution of praise does not only af fect the gross of mankind, Not only the gross part of mankind, who take their notion of cha who Inelegant, who take their notions of characters from the learned; but also the better sort must, by this means, lose some part at least of their desire of fame, when they find it promiscuously bestowed on the meritorious and undeserving. Desires of pleasure usher in temptation, and the growth of disorderly passions is forwarded. The sun approaching melts the snow, and breaks the icy fetters of the main, where vast sea monsters pierce through floating islands, with arms which can withstand the crystal rock; whilst others, that of themselves seem great as islands, are by their bulk alone armed E 3 Better thus. racters from the learned, are affected by this prostitution of praise; the better sort must also by this means lose some part at least of their desire of fame, when they find it promiscuously bestowed on the meritorious and on the undeserving. Desires of pleasure usher in temptation, and forward the growth of disorderly passions. The sun approaching melts the snow, and breaks the the main. icy fetters of Here vast sea monsters pierce through floating islands, with arms which can withstand the crystal rock; whilst others, that of themselves seem great as islands, are by their bulk against Inelegant. against all but man, whose superiority over creatures of such stupendous size and force should make him mindful of his privilege of reason; and force him humbly to adore the great Composer of these wondrous frames, and the Author of his own superior wisdom. Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth; and for the same reason, despair not of to-morrow; for it may bring forth good as well as evil; which is a ground for not vexing thyself with imaginary fears; for the impending black cloud, which is regarded with so Better thus. alone armed against all but man. The superiority which he possesses over creatures of such stupendous size and force, should make him mindful of his privilege of reason; and force him humbly to adore the great Composer of these wondrous frames, and the Author of his own superior wisdom. Boast not thyself of to-morrow; thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. For the same reason, despair not of tomorrow; it may bring forth good as well as evil. Vex not thyself with ima ginary fears. The im pending black cloud, which is regarded with so much dread, may pass by harmless; or though much OF STRENGTH IN THE STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES. 1. To promote the strength of a sentence divest it of all redundant words. It is a general maxim, that any words which do not add some importance to the meaning of a sentence, always spoil it. that 4 that can be supplied in the mind is better left out in the expression. Ex. "I went home, full of a great many serious reflections." Better thus, "I went home full of serious reflections." 2. As sentences should be cleared of redundant words, so also of redundant members. As every word ought to present a new idea, so every member ought to contain a new thought. Ex. "The very first discovery of it strikes the mind with inward joy, and spreads delight through all its faculties." In this instance little or nothing is added by the second member of the sentence to what was already expressed in the first. 3. Attend particularly to the use of copulatives, relatives, and all the particles employed for transition and connection. These little words but, and, which, whose, where, &c. are frequently the most important words of any; they are the joints or hinges upon which all sentences turn, and of course, much, both of their gracefulness and strength, must depend on them. The varieties in using them are indeed so infinite, that no particular system of rules respecting them can be given. But some observations may be made; as First. |