MOODS of VERBS. 213 



ferring of any word or phrafe, and employing it to exprefs a 

 thought different from what it denotes in its original, ftricl, and 

 literal fignification ; which I take to be the very eflence and pro- 

 per definition of this figure of fpeech. 



In like manner, the interrogative mood, inftead of the condi- 

 tional or fubjunclive, which would fully and clearly have ex- 

 prefled the literal meaning of the poet, gives peculiar anima- 

 tion and fpirit to the following lines: 



Fervet avaritia miferoque cupidine peEtus f 

 Laudis amore tumes ? 



Are you a covetous wretch f Are you a coxcomb f — If you are a 

 mifer, If you are a coxcomb , would furely be flat. 



And, on the fame principle, fuch expreflions as the follow- 

 ing, Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and pall we not 

 alfo receive evil f — Shall I do this great evil, and fin againjl God ? 

 are more animated and forcible than the plain literal expreflions 

 of the fame thoughts would be. 



It is more remarkable, that fometimes a kind of beauty and 

 force, not indeed from greater animation, for fimple command 

 and interrogation, as exprefled by the imperative and interroga- 

 tive moods, are, I believe, the moft animated enunciations of 

 thought, but from greater folemnity, may be given by employ- 

 ing the indicative mood, where either the imperative or the inter- 

 rogative would fully have exprefled the fpeaker's meaning. 



Lydia Die per omneis 



T!e deos oro, Sybarin cur properes amanda 



Perdere : cur, &c. 



Then follow all the articles of interrogation. The general 

 meaning would have been completely exprefled without the 

 imperative. Die, and the indicative oro j yet I prefume no perfon 



of 



