72 SYCHOLOGY. 



ideas, clearly and classically expressed. It requires euphony and 

 purity of words and phrases ; that is, that they should be neither 

 harsh, quaint, nor vulgar : foreign, nor barbarous ; but such as are 

 used by the best writers and speakers. It requires also unity and 

 congruity of sentences ; in order that the ideas may be clearly and 

 easily conveyed. We may here remark, that an affectation of 

 French, Latin, or other foreign words, renders the style barbarous ; 

 and generally detracts from its elegance : but when appropriate 

 English words can be selected, of which the sound alone would 

 convey an idea of the signification, it adds both force and elegance 

 to the composition. 



A diffuse style, is one in which more words are used, than are ne- 

 cessary to convey the intended meaning ; the ideas being more or 

 less repeated. A diffuse style is generally feeble, or wanting in force, 

 unless occasionally employed with a view to dwell upon some import- 

 ant point ; whereas a concise, or brief style is generally nervous or 

 spirited. A style which is wanting in perspicuity, is said to be ob- 

 scure : and one which is deficient in energy, is said to be tame. A 

 simple style, in opposition to an affected one, is that in which the 

 more common and familiar words, and collocation, are used, to express 

 the ideas intended to be conveyed. A style is termed dry, plain, neat, 

 ' or flowery, in reference to the degree of ornament ; the latter using 

 digressions, illustrations, and figures of speech freely ; while in the 

 former, they are scarcely used at all. 



2. Figures of Speech, are peculiar modes of expressing, or im- 

 pressing ideas; serving to enrich language, to adorn, or dignify style, 

 and to render the subject more attractive or striking. They abound 

 in the most ancient writers ; and are beautiful, when properly intro- 

 duced ; but like other ornaments, they should be used sparingly and 

 with discrimination. These figures which refer only to individual 

 words, are called Tropes. We have only room to describe briefly the 

 principal figures of speech, in a classified order. 



A Simile, is a Comparison of one thing with another, to show the 

 resemblance or contrast between them ; and it is usually expressed by 

 the introduction of the words, like, as, or so: as in the sentence, " an 

 able minister, like a pillar, upholds the state." A Metaphor, is a 

 comparison in a concealed form ; substituting for one idea, another, to 

 which it should have a clear and congruous resemblance : as, " an 

 able minister is a pillar of the state." An Allegory, is a continued 

 metaphor, or series of metaphors ; such as the fables and enigmas of 

 antiquity ; and the parables of Scripture. A beautiful allegory is 

 found in the comparison of Israel to a vine, in the 80th Psalm. 



An Antithesis, expresses, not a resemblance, but a contrast, to make 

 the idea more striking; and it is often used in epigrams. Irony, is 

 the figure, by which we express the very contrary of what we mean ; 

 in order to convey that meaning more vividly ; as when Elisha said 

 to the priests of Baal, ' Cry aloud, for he is a god." An Hyperbole, 

 is an exaggeration, or a diminution of our meaning, to express it more 

 strongly ; a figure which should be sparingly used. The common 

 comparisons, "as white as the snow," "as bright as the sun," "as 

 swift as the wind," and the like, are often hyperbolical, A Climax, 



