Gray in his bard says, "They mocked the air with idle state,” "Silken son of dalliance" is found in Ben Jonson. Answer 18th.-The Bastard here addresses the nobles as "stars." Bacon does the same in his Essay on Sedition. 66 Right motion" means turning on its own orbit. The art alluded to here is that of alchemist and the science chemistry originated from it. Answer 19th.-"Toys" means news we find it in Ben Jonson's Sejanus. "This is a toy which I hear." In Bacon Essay 48th on the viccessitudes of things. In Hamlet, 66 Swinged" means to beat we find one instance of this in North's Plutarch, in Henry VI. 66 Scrayles" means dirty people, we find it in Ben Jonson. "Swart" means brown, we find it in Henry VI. "Prodigious" marked with spots found in Richard III. "Peesed" balanced, we find many in Ovid, in Henry VI. we have some. "Rounded in the ear," whispered in the ear, there are many in Shakespeare in Henry IV. I believe it is to be found. "Clip" to catch. "Utmost corner of the west" means England, called by Milton the " utmost isle," by the ancients called, "Ultima thuli." "Rankness" means land producing weeds. "Scath" to injure. We find in Milton Book I. the same word. ADDISON. Answer 20th.-This is a satire, shewing the bad notion of some who would write Epitaphs in Greek and Hebrew. Addison very finely says that some persons are so modest that they do not like they might be known by any; and for that reason they write on tombs in dead languages. Then he says he saw some monuments that were unworthy of their False humour delights upon false, or mean things. The virtuous, alike the vicious, are subjects to the censure of a man, who has in him false humour. He will bite the same hand which gives him maintenance, and while all are silent he is full of noise. But the contrary is the case with a man of humour. He ridicules the bad, pleases the good and propagates virtue negatively by hindering evil. He is silent while all around him laugh. And thus enjoys the praise of others. Answer 22nd.-"Poetical justice" or doing justice in poetry; is the act of conferring good on the virtuous, and evil on the vicious. Mr. Addison objects to this uncalled for justice. If we are to represent by Tragedy our state in this world we are quite sure that we do not always get here our rewards for the good acts, neither our punishment for the evil. So the representation directed by poetical justice will lead us into a gross mistake. If we witness a tragedy, but knowing well that the Hero will be punished, or rewarded, as he acts; our mind is calmed from the very beginning. So where is the delight that Tragedy gives? Aristotle observed that when tragedies were written in which "poetical justice" was set aside; and our common state of life taken as model the writers were better received than when the Hero according to the Poet's justice was served as his acts. "Poetical justice" destroys the beauty of a good tragedy, for it acts against the natural course of things. Answer 23rd.-Addison objects the invention of tragi-comedy. He considers tragedy as only that part of life which contains nothing but doleful events; and therefore he calls tragi-comedy "a monstrous invention." And he further adds that it would be proper for us to believe the adventures of Æneas, and Hudibras; as to write tragicomedy. But time rolled on and brought its usual changes on its wings; and we see now his opinion at once overturned. Macaulay says that the object of the drama is the painting of the human hearts, and as it contains the events of a whole life; he concludes that it is by the poets by representing in a short space a long series of action they arrive at the end of dramatic representation. "The mixture" says he of tragedy and comedy, and the length and extent of the action which the French consider as errors, were the chief causes that led to the eminence of our older dramatists. The first is necessary to render the drama a natural representation, for the laughers and the weepers are in perpetual jostling and every event has its serious and ludicrous side. In this respect, the Works of Shakespeare are the miracles of art. Answer 24th.-Addison has taken the "Wilderness of Sweets" from Milton. Answer 25th.-True wit consists a delight in the mind of the reader. of words. in the congruety of ideas; raising False wit consists in the similarity Laughter is of the family of false humour; and it is neither required by wit nor humour. Dryden says, wit consists in the resemblance of words and its suiting to the subject. Which is false, or at least not truly belonging to the characteristic of true wit. If this defination be true Addison says Euclid was the greatest wit of the world. Answer 26th.-The quotations from Hudibras contain humour. The quotation out of Cervante's Don Quixote is witty. Answer 27th." Anagram" or the turning and twisting of letters to form some fancyfull word which by chance might be formed out of them as. 66 Lawyers" is turned into "slyware." "Acrostics" are poems; the first letter of every line of which formes the innitial of some name. "Pun" or play on words. "Rebus" or pictures representating a name: as an elephant means Cesar. A cock a Frenchman. 66 Wings" are poems formed into that shape. Montaigne in his Essay on vain subtleties speaks very hard against this false kind of poems. "Alters" are poems in the form of pedestals, or alters, abridged, or lengthened as required. Answer 28th.-The "Gothic Style" is that species of writing which has its thought borrowed from things very slightly relating to the subject. Adorned in a variety of new and old things, it represents a sight pleasing to the sharp only. The unlearned cannot relish it. The thoughts are not natural but far fetched, and so allow only the learned to comprehend them. Mr. A. Cowley abounds in it. Any man can appreciate two pages of Homer, but very few will understand two lines of Cowley. Nature breathes in every heart, and therefore all can freely have it. Answer 29th.-Lady Macbeth calls it the "Milk of Human Nature." "Some Village Hampden that with dauntless breast Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood. Answer 31st.—The following is a very fine species of humourous writing. A man that uses money for his arguments, that is, he who uses bribes, convinces his rival sooner than philosophy could do. Gold he says very admirably when used in convincing proves things very clearly, by pointing out very soon the right way: obliging the most stubborn to agree, the bad becomes silent. And a man will consent to do any mean thing for it. Philip used this arguments of gold with great success. He defeated the greatest statesmen of Greece, confounded the orators, and then by arguments make them slaves. Answer 32nd." To correct the vices, ridicule the folies, and dissipate the ignorance, which too generally prevented, at the commencement of the eighteenth century" has been truly observed; "the great and noble objects the spectator ever holds in view." By enlivening morality with wit, and tempering wit with morality, not only were those objects attained in an eminent degree, but the author conferred a lasting benefit on his country, by establishing and making popular a species of writing, which materially tended to clear the understanding, refine the taste, and augment and purify the moral feeling of the successive generations. The vices, follies and weaknesses saterised Addison in his Spectators the following is the list— Answer 33rd.-Any thing whether it be the gift of nature, attained by our own exertions are equally subjected to affliction if not managed with It was the eloquence of Cicero that brought him unto an early grave. He attained eloquence to so great a heigth, that after all he fell a prey to its vigour, and heat. care. The impetuous courage of Charles XII., caused his ruin. Let us enter a little more unto the closset of History, and here we find the same occurences. Alcibiades when at the head of the Athenian Navy, one day being required out he left Nickolas a Captain under him in charge of the fleet, but, at the same time leaving the strictest orders not to engage Lysander who was all the while watching him. The youth in the absence of Alcibiades engaged the Spartans and met with a total overthrow. The same cause led to the death of the King of Bohemia on the plain of Crecy. I mean impetuous courage. The eloquence of Desury the defender of Louis Capet XVI. was made conspicuous and being marked out by Robespierre, and others as a man of dangerous parts, he was led to the scaffold. Answer 34th.-The tribes there alluded were the men of the time of Johnson. They are called "supple" because they are liable to be bribed and turned. "Patriots" means here one who speaks in the Parliament in the common defence. They should ask the question how to judge correctly, and, not of voting (being bribed) for others. "Weekly Libels" means Sunday newspaper. "Septennial Ale" means Ale giving in the seventh year of the Parliament, when members are chosen. The meaning of the whole is this: that the English of the time of Johnson were fond only of reading newspaper, and drinking once in seven years the Ale given by the members newly elected. And doing nothing to increase the happiness of their country. Answer 35th.-Johnson suffered much for a patron. Hearing once that Lord Chesterfield recommended his Dictionary to the public; he wrote him a very sarcastical letter, which is extant to this day, and may be properly called the emblem of the force of English Literature. 66 Slowly wise" for they become wise when the person is dead, such was the dealing of the Athenians towards Socrates. 66 Meanly just" for their justice is only half meanness for they did not ever think of raising a statue in memory of Socrates but a meagre bust. Answer 36th.-Johnson applies this to Charles the twelfth. Goldsmith applied these two lines to Cromwell. But it may be better applied to Edward the first. He is mentioned in Gray's Bard. Answer A.-The followers of the King watched all the while to see the behaviour of the King towards Wolsey. If he turned towards him an eye of displeasure, they copied him. Answer B.—The fall of Wolsey was attended with the fall of all his pomp. His furnitures being confiscated Answer C.-The many servants that Wolsey had; is described by Answer D.-Menial Lords, or Lords who served as servants. Oh Cromwell, Cromwell had I but served my God, with half the zeal I served my King, he would not have left me in my age naked to mine enemies. Answer 38th.-Johnson says, must helpless man, remain quiet in ignorant, and decay, going to ruin just as his fate directs. Milton has used in his Paradise Lost, "darkling." And has been justly. Answer 39th.-" Sycophant" means a flatterer it is derived from the Greek, meaning one that steals fig. 1. Our author defines Eloquence to be that talent or art by which a discourse is adapted to its end. The ends of are chiefly four; to enlighten the understanding, to please the imagination, to move the passions and to influence the will. One of these form the ultimate end of all discourse but some of these are used as subordinate to the ultimate aim. Thus it is necessary to inform the mind in order to please the imagination. To move the passions it is necessary to impart pleasure to the imagination. And to influence the will it is necessary both to convince the understanding with appropriate arguments as well as to move the passions. In all these it is to the ultimate end that the discourse is adapted and the subordinate ends to the ultimate end. It is to be observed that these four ends are modified in such a manner as to add to the preceding category. In adressing to the understanding we sometimes intend to inform or convey to it new knowledge, and at others to convince it or induce belief by arguments. In adressing to the imagination we sometimes wish to excite admiration* and at others to excite surprise. In adressing the passions we sometimes intend to excite the serious passions and at other times laughter. The simple ends of discourse are therefore information, conviction, pleasing the imagination by exciting admiration, diverting the fancy by exciting surprise, moving the serious emotions, and moving laughter. These ends have such an effect on the character of a discourse that they should be distinguished. They are included in our author's enumeration. 2. Our author uses the word in its most extensive signification of what is capable of exciting the passions. He says that the word impassioned is a good substitute for it. The vehement in discourse is that which is adapted by proper mixture of argument and appeals to the passions, to pursuade. In another place he uses the expression "vehemence of contention" to mean the corre The word admiration must be understood our authors limitation to mean only a feeling. k |