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CHAP. II.] OF RHETORIC. 333 guage to his theme, choose words of the most difficult utterance , and through the whole performance studiously avoid harmony and grace, far from securing to himself admiration, he would not even be read. I shall only add, that though it is not prudent in an author to go a step out of his way in quest of this capricious beauty, who, when she does not act spontaneously, does nothing gracefully, a poet in particular may not unreasonably be more solicitous to avoid her opposite, especially in the expression of the more striking thoughts; as nothing in such a case can be more nngraceful in the style, than when, either in sound or in measure, it serves as a contrast to the sentiment. CHAPTER II. Of Vivacity as depending on the Number of the Words. SECTION I. -This Quality e:eplained and e:eemplijied. When I entered on the subject of vivacity,2 I observed that this quality of style might result either from a happy choice of words, from their number, or from their arrangement. The first I have already discussed, and shown how words may conduce to vivacity, not only from their sense, whether they be proper or fignrative, but also from their sound. I come now to consider how far vivacity may be affected by the number of the words. On this article it may be established as a maxim that admits no exception, and it is the only maxim which this article admits, that the fewer the words are, provided neither propriety nor perspicuity be violated, the expression is always the more vivid. "Brevity," says Shakspeare , " is the soul of wit."8 Thus much is certain, that of whatever kind the sentiment be, witty, humorous, grave, animated , or sublime; the more briefly it is expressed, the energy is the greater, or the sentiment is the more enlivened, and the particular quality for which it is eminent the more displayed. Among the ancients the Lacedoomonians were the most remarkable for conciseness. To use few words, to speak energetically , and to be laconic, were almost synonymous. As when the rays of the sun are collected into the focus of a. burning-glass, the smaller the spot is which receives them, 2 Book III. Chap. i. S Hamlet. 334 THE PHILOSOPHY [BOOK III. compared with the surface of the glass, the greater is the splendour; or as in distillation, the less the quantity of spirit is, that is extracted by the still, compared with the quantity of liquor from which the extraction is made, the greater is the strength; so in exhibiting our sentiments by speech, the narrower the compass of words is, wherein the thought is comprised , the more energetic is the expression. Accordingly we shall find, that the very same sentiment expressed diffusely, will be admitted barely to be just; expressed concisely, will be admired as spirited. To recur to examples, the famous answer returned by the Countess of Dorset, to the letter of Sir Joseph Williamson, secretary of state to Charles the Second, nominating to her a member for the borough ofAppleby, is an excellent illustration of this doctrine. "I have been bullied," says her ladyship, "by an usurper, I have been neglected by a court, but I will not be dictated to by a subject; your man sh'n't stand."· If we consider the meaning, there is mention made here of two facts, which it was impossible that ~ny body of common sense, in this lady's circumstances, should not have observed, and of a resolution inconsequence of these, which it was natural for every person who had a resentment of bad usage to make. Whence then results the vivacity, the fire which is so manifest in the letter? Not from any thing extraordinary in the matter, but purely from the laconism of the manner. An ordinary spirit would have employed as many pages to express the same thing, as there are affirmations in this short letter. The epistle might in that case have been very sensible, and withal very dull, but would never have been thought worthy of being recorded as containing any thing uncommon, or deserving a reader's notice. Of all our English poets none hath more successfully studied conciseness, or rendered it more conducive to vivacity, than Pope. Take the following lines as one example of a thousand whICh might be produced from his writings:See how the world its veterans rewards! A youth of frolics...

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