310 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



"Having seen the splendour of her countenance, like the spotless 

 gentle moon." 



When the resemblance between the comparates is merely 

 implied, the figure is a metaphor ; as 



"Her delicate arms were like flashes of lightning." 



The usual order of comparates is sometimes changed with 1 

 a view to give prominence to the object to which a com- 

 parison is instituted. Thus we say, ®% s^cte 3 I 



'A dog runs about like this child.' There is 

 greater vivacity in this sentence than if we expressed it 

 03©cs* ®% (3§)q33 &uS, ' This child runs about like a dog.' 

 In the latter the comparison is simply instituted, but in the i 

 former stress is laid on the propensity of the child to mischief, 

 which it is intended to correct. So likewise, to use an illus- I 

 t ration given in the work before us ; 



"A full blown lotus is like thy face (0 gentle creature!") 

 The change of the usual order in the use of the comparates 

 renders the compliment more expressive. A comparison is t 

 sometimes repeated by reversing the order of the comparates j 

 in the repetition, as when we say • £«, §\&S ©<aa<58 \ 



gj£)©c5*a) c^s* ©teodS, " Like him is this fellow a thief, and 

 like this fellow is he a thief." The repetition conduces ■ 

 much to the energy, or vicacity of expression. We shall 1 

 present the reader with an example from the work before us : 



"Thy face is like a lotus, and the lotus is like thy face (Gentle creature"). 



A comparison or metaphor limiting the similitude of the 

 subject compared to one particular object, conduces greatly 

 to elevate or degrade the subject, according to the design of 

 the writer or speaker ; as when we say <&c&&$ saG)Q8s5&*, 

 ©g§gg, 'Thy face is (like) the very lotus.' Comparisons 

 or metaphors exhibiting the similitude to divers objects are 



