CPAPTER VII. OF PERSPICUITY AND THE STRUCTURE OF THEMES. Nobis prima sit virtus perspicuitas, propria verba, rectus ordo, non in longum dilata conclusio, nihil neque desit, neque superfluat. Ita sermo et doctis probabilis, et planus imperitis erit. Hæc est eloquendi observatio.-Quint. QUINTILIAN has here comprised, in very few words, the most essential requisites of perspicuity. Nothing renders the style more perspicuous than the selection of pertinent and appropriate words: and though we have already taken notice of this, yet it will not be unnecessary in this part to repeat that not only must our ideas be clearly arranged, but the words must correspond with the greatest propriety to each idea. When the scholar is able to determine the true Latinity of words, a selection of which, a diligent reading of the authors of the Augustan age will greatly facilitate; (and it must not be forgotten, that all English idioms, foreign expressions, grecisms, words of doubtful authority, and ambiguous meaning, are to be carefully avoided) his first care will be to attend to the conjunction and suitableness of each; that the verb for instance be appropriate and answerable to the substantive: thus, a way was taken away from me, or given me. We should not say, viæ mihi sunt ereptæ, but occlusæ, obseptæ; nor data, but patefac tæ, apertæ, &c. We cannot say, accipere gradum honoris, but ad honoris gradum ascendere or pervenire. We should not say, naufragium pati, but facere; nor damnum pati, but facere, accipere; not panas accipere, but dare, luere, persolvere. Thus also many Roman phrases, though derived from their own customs, must be preserved; as we say, dictatorem dicere, because the Consul alone created him; we say legem ferre, because it was carried to the people for their approbation, and then legem jubere or sciscere, because the people alone had the power to order it to be ratified. In the use of adverbs also, care must be taken that they be suitable to the verbs, to which they are joined as we should say enixè rogare, not obnixè; facilè pati, not libenter, for no one receives pleasure in suffering. The same rule may be applied to substantives and adjectives. Adjectives must, in their meaning, strictly correspond to the idea conveyed by the substantive: we should not say sapiens consilium, but bonum or fidele, for wisdom belongs strictly to men and not to the counsel; and, accurately speaking, we should not say prudens consilium, but prudentis viri consilium; nor can we say bona aut mala conscientia; it is only what we are conscious of, that can be good or bad; therefore we ought to say conscientia rectè vel malè actorum. Speaking of the stature of a man, we should not say magnus vir, but procerus; for magnus refers to his virtues or actions. And with a little consideration also, it will be easy to discover the true force and meaning of a word, whether it is taken in a metaphorical or literal sense : as finis used for consilium; we should not say bonus, egregius, but we may say certus, felix; we should not say materna lingua, but vernacula. Such and so many adjectives must also be joined to the substantives, as will tend to define their proper attributes and qualities, and thus illustrate the whole subject. Speaking of benefits, we shall find that number and greatness, being the attributes of benefits, we may say, multa et magna beneficia; as, we ought to love God, not on account of his benefits merely, but on account of his many and great benefits: and here, if we wished to join some adjectives to God, we should find that the attributes of God, more particularly applicable to the idea of this sentence, are his liberality and his mercy; therefore we may say, Deum liberalissimum et benignissimum. Or, instead of an adjective, if we wish to define more clearly any one substantive, and to give greater elegance and perspicuity to the subject, another substantive, denoting the quality, the property, or the cause of the former, is often added, and then the first substantive, or pronoun ille, &c. is put in the genitive. Thus, Cicero desiring the historian Lucceius to celebrate his actions in his writings, tells him that he wishes to enjoy the benefit of his testimony, benevolence and genius, But because the testimony of Lucceius will have great weight among his readers, he says, auctoritate testimonii: the testimony of the historian will be a certain proof of his benevolence, he says, indicio benevolentia; and because the genius of an eminent and elegant writer conveys great pleasure and satisfaction to the reader, he says, suavitate ingenii. As: Though I had always wished most ardently to see your writings, yet they greatly exceeded my fondest expectations; and I was so charmed and enraptured with them, that I quickly formed a wish to have the memorial of my actions engraved on such lasting monuments. Nor were my views carried merely to the hope of living for ever in the annals of posterity, but also to the desire of having the full enjoyment, during my own life, of your testimony, your benevolence and your genius. The army being drawn up, rather according to the place, the declivity of the hill, and according to the time, than agreeable to order and the rules of war, the legions were forced to engage separately, some in one place, some in another (Here, nature of the place, and necessity of the time, may be supplied.) THE peculiar beauty of Terence is elegance and perspicuity. In the following passage, for instance, Simo will be found to deliver himself in simple and appropriate language. It is et doctis probabilis, et planus imperitis. Si sensero hodiè quicquam in his te nuptiis Aut velle in eû re ostendere quàm sis callidus ; Verberibus cæsum, te in pistrinum, Dave, dedam usque ad necem; Ea lege atque omine ut, si te inde exemerim, ego pro te molam. Care must also be taken, that the order of the words be just and clear, that the members of the sentence be not too prolix, that they be not drawn out into superfluous divisions and subdivisions, which would only render the style obscure and confused, and might perhaps answer the purpose of that master in Quintilian, who exhorted his scholars to study obscurity, and who often used to exclaim, Tanto meliùs, ipse non intelligo; but would make the style neither intelligible nor elegant. This Period of Pliny, on the contrary, shows, that by avoiding any unnecessary dilatation of the members, great perspicuity may be given to the sentence: Ut enim crudum vulnus medentium manus reformidat, Deinde patitur, atque ultrò requirit ; Sic recens animi dolor consolationes rejicit ac refugit, Mox desiderat, et clementer admotis adquiescit. As therefore what we write or speak is with a view to be understood, and to attract the attention of our readers or hearers, so perspicuity must be regarded as the primary excellence of language. But perspicuity does not merely relate to words, but also to arguments, and to a nice and accurate arrangement of them; in such a manner that the sense may be perceived at once, and that nothing be left to conjecture; an |