"would be of so abject a Spirit, as to deny "his utmost Affiftance. But if amongst this "Hurry and Confufion, another should ar"rive, and cry out, This is the Author of "these Disorders the miferable accused, "unjudged, and unfentenced, would perish on the Spot." So Hyperides, when he was accused of paffing an illegal Decree, for giving Liberty to Slaves, after the Defeat of Charonea; " It was "not an Orator, faid he, that made this De cree, but the Battle of Charonea." At the same time, that he exhibits Proofs of his legal Proceedings, he intermixes an Image of the Battle, and by that Stroke of Art, quite paffes the Bounds of mere Perfuafion. It is natural × to us, to hearken always to that, which is extraordinary and furprizing; whence it is, that we regard not the Proof, fo much as the Grandeur and Luftre of the Image, which quite eclipfes the Proof itself. This Biafs of the Mind has an eafy Solution; fince, when two fuch Things are blended together, the ftronger will attract to itself all the Virtue and Ef ficacy of the weaker. These Obfervations will, I fancy, be fufficient, concerning that Sublime, which belongs to the Senfe, and takes its rife either from an Eleva Elevation of Thought, a Choice and Con nexion of proper Incidents, Amplification, Imitation, or Images. PART II. THE Pathetic, which the Author, Sect. viii. laid down for the fecond Source of the Subs lime, is omitted here, because it was reserved for a diftinct Treatise. See Sect. xliv. with the Note PART III. SECTION XVI. THE Topic that comes next in order, is that of Figures; for thefe, when judiciously ufed, conduce not a little to Greatnefs. But fince it would be tedious, if not infinite Labour, exactly to describe all the Species of them, I shall inftance only fome few of those, which contribute moft to the Elevation of the Stile, on purpose to fhew, that we lay not a greater Strefs upon them than is really their due. up Demofthenes is producing Proofs of his right Behaviour, whilft in publick Employ. Now which is the most natural Method of doing this? ("You were not in the wrong, "Athenians, when you couragioufly ventured (6 your & your Lives, in fighting for the Liberty and "Safety of Greece, of which you have do"mestic illuftrious Examples. For neither <x were they in the wrong, who fought at Ma"rathon, who fought at Salamis, who fought "at Platea.") Demofthenes takes another Course, and fill'd as it were with fudden Infpiration, and tranfported by a God-like Warmth, he thunders out an Oath by the Champions of Greece: "You were not in the wrong, no, you were not I fwear, by those "noble Souls, who were fo lavish of their "Lives in the Field of Marathon, * Sc." He feems, by this figurative manner of fwearing, which I call an Apoftrophe, to have deified their noble Ancestors; at the fame time inftructing them, that they ought to swear by Perfons, who fell fo gloriously, as by fo many Gods. He ftamps into the Breasts of his Judges, the generous Principles of those applauded Patriots; and by transferring what was naturally a Proof, into a foaring Strain of the Sublime and the Pathetic, ftrengthened by fuch a folemn, such an unusual and reputable Oath, he inftils that Balm into their Minds, which heals every painful Refle"ation, and affuages the Smart of Misfortune, I * Orat. De Corona, p. 124. ed. Oxon. He Elevation of Thought, a Choice and nexion of proper Incidents, Amplificatio tation, or Images. PART II. THE Pathetic, which the laid down for the fecond lime, is omitted here, ber for a diftinct Treatife. Note SE THE T that of F used, co fince; tb a fons. he wrong, who fought at Ma on the SUBLIME. Greece, of which you have do trious Examples. For neither Lives, in fighting for the Liberty d ht at Salamis, who fought were with fudden In- were not in the 47 ontifts not in the bare Oath, but in applying it in Place, in a pertinent manner, at bou actest Time, and for the strongest Rea Yet in Eupolis there is nothing but an Oath, and that addrefs'd to the Athenians at time they were flufh'd with Conqueft, and confequently did not require Confolation. Befides, the Poet did not swear by Heroes, whom he had before deified himself, and thereby raise Sentiments in the Audience worthy of fuch Virtue; but deviated from those illuftri ous Souls, who ventured their Lives for their Country, Marathon. try, to fwear by an inanimate Object, thè In Demofthenes, the Oath is addrefs'd 'nquished, to the end that the Defeat 7 may be no longer regarded by as a Misfortune. It is at one monftration that they had done on the SUBLIME. ives, in fighting for the Liberty and ecce, of which you have doxamples. For neither ho fought at Ma ho fought 47 a 'ves occafion for an illuftrious Oath artfully addrefs'd, a a moving Exhortation. tion might be thrown of a Defeat partly ill Conduct, and by those celebrated Victo Orator took care to weigh all ..ords in the Balafices of Art, and thereby brings them off with Security and Honour. From which prudent Conduct we may infer, that Sobriety and Moderation must be observa ed, in the warmeft Fits of Fire and Transport. In fpeaking of their Ancestors he says, "Those "who fo bravely expofed themfelves to dan<c ger in the Plains of Marathon, those who << were in the naval Engagements near Sala"mis and Artemifium, and those who fought "at Platea;" induftriously fuppreffing the very mention of the Events of those Battles, because they were fuccessful, and quite oppo fite to that of Charonea. Upon which ac |