English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Part 55

"The a.s.syrian came down, like the wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming with purple and gold; And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee."

4. A METONYMY is where the cause is put for the effect, or the effect for the cause; the container for the thing contained; or the sign for the thing signified.

When we say, "They read _Milton_," the cause is put for the effect, meaning "Milton's _works_." "Gray hairs should be respected;" here the effect is put for the cause; meaning by "gray hairs," _old age_, which produces gray hairs. In the phrase, "The kettle boils," the container is subst.i.tuted for the thing contained. "He addressed the _chair_;" that is, the person in the chair.

5. A SYNECDOCHE OR COMPREHENSION. When the whole is put for a part, or a part for the whole; a genus for a species, or a species for a genus; in general, when any thing less, or any thing more, is put for the precise object meant, the figure is called a Synecdoche.

Thus, "A fleet of twenty _sail_, instead of, _ships_." "The _horse_ is a n.o.ble animal;" "The _dog_ is a faithful creature:" here an individual is put for the species. We sometimes use the "head" for the _person_, and the "waves" for the _sea_. In like manner, an attribute may be pat for a subject; as "Youth" for the _young_, the "deep" for the _sea_.

6. PERSONIFICATION or PROSOPOPOEIA is that figure by which we attribute life and action to inanimate objects. When we say, "The ground _thirsts_ for rain," or, "the earth _smiles_ with plenty;" when we speak of "ambition's being _restless_," or, "a disease's being _deceitful_;" such expressions show the facility, with which the mind can accommodate the properties of living creatures to things that are inanimate.

The following are fine examples of this figure:

"Cheer'd with the grateful smell, old _Ocean smiles_;"

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

7. AN APOSTROPHE is an address to some person, either absent or dead, as if he were present and listening to us. The address is frequently made to a personified object; as, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O _death!_ where is thy sting? O _grave!_ where is thy victory?"

"Weep on the rock of roaring winds, O _maid_ of Inistore; bend thy fair head over the waves, thou fairer than the ghost of the hills, when it moves in a sun-beam at noon over the silence of Morveu."

8. ANt.i.tHESIS. Comparison is founded on the resemblance, ant.i.thesis, on the contrast or opposition, of two objects.

_Example._ "If you wish to enrich a person, study not to _increase_ his _stores_, but to _diminish_ his _desires."_

9. HYPERBOLE or EXAGGERATION consists in magnifying an object beyond its natural bounds. "As swift as the wind; as white as the snow; as slow as a snail;" and the like, are extravagant hyperboles.

"I saw their chief, tall as a rock of ice; his spear, the blasted fir; his shield, the rising moon; he sat on the sh.o.r.e, like a cloud of mist on the bills."

10. VISION is produced, when, in relating something that is past, we use the present tense, and describe it as actually, pa.s.sing before our eyes.

11. INTERROGATION. The literal use of an interrogation, is to ask a question; but when men are strongly moved, whatever they would affirm or deny with great earnestness, they naturally put in the form of a question.

Thus Balaam expressed himself to Balak: "The Lord is not man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repeat. Hath he said it?

and shall he not do it? Hath he spoken it? and shall he not make it good?" "Hast thou an arm like G.o.d? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?"

12. EXCLAMATIONS are the effect of strong emotions, such a surprise, admiration, joy, grief, and the like.

"O that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men!"

"O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest!"

13. IRONY is expressing ourselves in a manner contrary to our thoughts; not with a view to deceive, but to add force to our remarks. We can reprove one for his negligence, by saying, "You have taken great care, indeed."

The prophet Elijah adopted this figure, when he challenged the priests of Baal to prove the truth of their deity. "He mocked them, and said.

Cry aloud for he is a G.o.d: either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or, peradventure, he sleepeth, and must be waked."

14. AMPLIFICATION or CLIMAX consists in heightening all the circ.u.mstances of an object or action, which we desire to place in a strong light.

Cicero gives a lively instance of this figure, when he says, "It is a crime to put a Roman citizen in bonds: it is the height of guilt to scourge him; little less than parricide to put him to death: what name, then, shall I give to the act of crucifying him?"

KEY.

_Corrections of the False Syntax arranged under the Rules and Notes_.

RULE 4. Frequent commission of sin _hardens_ men in it. Great pains _have_ been taken, &c.--_is_ seldom found. The sincere _are_, &c.--_is_ happy. What _avail_, &c.--Disappointments _sink_--the renewal of hope _gives_, &c.--_is_ without limit, _has_ been conferred upon us.--Thou _canst_ not heal--but thou _mayst_ do, &c.--_consists_ the happiness, &c.--Who _touchedst_, or _didst touch_ Isaiah's hallowed lips with fire.

_Note 1._ And _wilt thou_ never be to Heaven resigned?--And _who_ had great abilities, &c.

_Note 2._ Are peace and honor.--_was_ controversy.

RULE 7. _Them_ that you visited.--_him_ that was mentioned.--_he_ who preached repentance, &c.--_they_ who died.--_he_ who succeeded.

RULE 8. Time and tide _wait,_ &c.--_remove_ mountains.--_are_ both uncertain.--_dwell_ with, &c.--_affect_ the mind, &c.--What _signify_ the counsel and care, &c.--_are_ now perished.--Why _are_ whiteness and coldness, &c.--bind _them_ continually, &c.--render _their_ possessor, &c.--There _are_ error and discrepance--which _show_, &c.

RULE 9. _Is_ the same in idea.--_is_ in the porphyry.--_is_ remarkable, &c.--which _moves_ merely as _it is_ moved.--_affects_ us, &c.--Man's happiness or misery _is_, in a great measure, &c.--for _it_ may be, &c.--_was_ blameworthy.

RULE 10. The nation _is_ powerful.--The fleet _was_ seen, &c.--The church _has_, &c.--_is_, or ought to be, the _object_, &c.--_it_ is feeble.

RULE 11. My people _do_, &c.--The mult.i.tude eagerly _pursue_ pleasure as _their_, &c.--_were_ divided in _their_ sentiments, and _they have_ referred, &c.--The people _rejoice_--give _them_ sorrow.

RULE 12. _Homer's_ works are, &c.--_Asa's_ heart. _James Hart's_ book.

_Note 1._ It was the _men_, _women_, and children's lot, &c. or, _It was the lot of_ the men, women, and children.--_Peter_, _John_, and Andrew's, &c.

_Note 2._ This is _Campbell_ the poet's production; or, _The production of Campbell, &c._--The silk was purchased at Brown's the _mercer_ and _haberdasher._

_Note_ 4. The _pupil's_ composing, &c.--_rule's_ being observed.--of the _president's_ neglecting to lay it before the council.

RULE 13. Of _his_ audience.--put _it_ on Jacob.--sprinkle _them_--and they shall, &c.--of _his_ reputation.

_Note_. You were blamed; you _were_ worthy.--where _were_ you?--how fat _were_ you?

RULE 14. Who _hast_ been, &c.--_who is_ the sixth _that has_ lost _his life_ by this means.

Who all my sense _confinedst;_ or, _didst confine_.

_Note_. And _who broughtest_ him forth out of Ur.

RULE 15, _Who_ shall be sent, &c.--This is the man _who_, &c.

RULE 16. They _to whom_ much is given, &c.--_with whom_ you a.s.sociate &c.--_whom_ I greatly respect, &c.--_whom_ we ought to love, and _to whom_, &c--They _whom_ conscience, &c.--With _whom_ did you walk?--_Whom_ did you see?--To _whom_ did you give the book?

RULE 17. Who gave John those books? _We_.--_him_ who lives in Pearl street--My brother and _he_.--_She_ and _I_.

RULE 18: _Note_ 2. Thirty _tuns_.--twenty _feet_--one hundred _fathoms_.

_Note_ 6. He bought a pair of _new_ shoes--piece of _elegant_ furniture.--pair of _fine_ horses--tract of _poor_ land.