between the literary men of different ages, being drawn from the same common storehouse of imagery and facts. The Comparison, Metaphor, and Allusion, are founded on the fondness of the mind for tracing unexpected resem blances. There are other relations which give rise to other attempts to please. One thing is the cause of another; here is the relation of cause and effect. One thing is the symbol of another; here is the relation of the sign to the thing signified. We look on the goblet, and we think of the generous wine with which it is wont to be filled; here is the relation of the container to the thing contained. Again, one thing is part of another; here is the relation of a part to the whole. One thing is a species in relation to another which is its genus; here is the relation of the species to the genus. The relations which have now been stated, are not often formally referred to with the design of illustration or ornament; but instances frequently occur, in which they are implied and suggested to the mind by the peculiar use of a word. The manner in which this is done, has been already shewn in the case of the Metaphor. To give examples of the different tropes, or figures, founded on these several relations, would be of little practical advantage. Besides, in these instances, the writer does not found his attempts to please solely on the fondness of the mind for discovering unexpected relations. Most frequently it is his wish to increase the distinctness of the reader's view, or in some other way to excite an emotion of Instead then of making these different figures, as the Metonymy, Synecdoche, Metalepsis and others, disti objects of attention, I shall more fully explain the nature the figurative use of language, and in another chapter, when treating of vivacity, as a quality of style, give examples of the most important of these figures. taste. A word is said to be used literally, when it is used in a manner, which is authorized by the general consent of those who speak and write with correctness the language, in which it is found. A word is used figuratively, when, though it retains its usual signification, it is applied in a manner different from its common application. When I speak of the pillar which supports the edifice, I use the word pillar literally, or as it is usually applied by those who speak the English language. If I say of a man, that he is the pillar of the State, I still use the word pillar in its common signification, as denoting that which, firmly fixed, gives a solid support, but I apply the word to an object different from those to which it is usually applied. Instead of a solid mass of wood, or stone, the object to which it is applied, is an intelligent being; and instead of supporting a material edifice, it is the support of the State. This, then, is an example of the figurative use of language. It might be expected, that from their being often used in a manner different from their common literal use, the significations of this class of words would in time be subject to change. And this, in examining the history of a language, is often found to be the case. In our own language, there are many words, which were at first literally applied to material objects only, and figuratively used to denote those which are intellectual. Many of these have now altogether lost their original meaning, and retain only that derived from their figurative use. Who would now speak of the apprehension of a chair, or of the ardor of his fire? But such, in their original signification, was the common use of these words. In other instances, where the signification of the word in its literal use has not become obsolete, the meaning derived from its figurative use is more readily suggested. It may be said, if this change is progressive, and the meaning of a word, as used figuratively, supersedes the original literal signification, how are we to determine, in respect to a word thus changing, whether it be used figurativeiy or literally ? The answer is, that whenever a word of this class ceases to have any influence on the imagination, in ieading it to trace out an unexpected relation, it is no longer used figuratively, but its figurative meaning has become its literal. The changes in a language introduced by the figurative use of words, are attended with inconvenience, so far as they cause uncertainty in the signification of terms. But this inconvenience is amply compensated by the advantages resulting from the same source. Some of these I shall here mention; .. 1. The figurative use of words increases the copiousness of a language. It has already been stated, that when a word is used figuratively, its original meaning is retained, but this meaning is modified by the new application which is made. These new applications, then, are to be regarded as modifications of the original meaning of the word, and the effect is similar to the multiplying of derivatives from the radical terms of a language. The following uses of the word "tide" illustrate this remark. "What a tide of woes come rushing on this woful land! Now these different applications of the word tide do in fact so modify its meaning, that the effect is the same, as if so many new words had been introduced into the language. Thus it is that a language is made more copious. 2. As a necessary consequence from the preceding, the richness of language is increased. We have a greater variety of terms and expressions for conveying the same thought, or describing the same object, and are enabled to mark with distinctness minute shades of difference in our thoughts and in the appearance of objects. To illustrate this remark, I introduce several different ways in which the shining of the Sun is represented; "Behold, the Sun hath burst the Eastern gates, And all his splendor floods the towered walls." His flaring beams." "Right against the eastern gate, Where the great Sun begins his state, Rob'd in flames and amber light." "Thou'rt purpling now, O Sun, the vines of Canaan, The quiver of thy noontide rays "a dazzling deluge reigns." "Phœbus bade farewell to every leaf and flower." The aid derived from the figurative use of words in pointing out minute differences in the appearance of objects, may be learnt from the following expressions which describe the passage of light. "A peculiar melancholy reigns over the aisle where Mary lies buried. The light struggles dimly through windows darkened by dust." "The last beams of day were now faintly streaming through the painted windows in the high vaults above me." "The time shall come, when the garish sunbeam shall break into these gloomy mansions of death." The advantages derived from the figurative use of words in giving copiousness and richness to a language, are not confined to descriptive writing. Without aid of this kind, it would be difficult for the intellectual philosopher to conduct his reasoning and explain the phenomena of the mind. 3. The increased power of language may be mentioned as a third particular, in stating the advantages arising from the use of figurative terms. By the increased power of language, I here refer to its influence on the distinctness of our views, and in exciting the feelings and emotions of which we are susceptible. The passages quoted when treating of vivacity as a quality of style, illustrate this remark. I shall therefore state but few instances here, and these without comment. "Men looked up With mad disquietude on the dull sky, The pall of a past world." "Thoughts rush in stormy darkness through the soul. "It broke the Sabbath stillness round." "The heavens present an immense concave reposing on the circular boundary of the world." A fondness for life and animated beings in preference to inanimate objects, may be stated as one of the principles in man, on which attempts to excite emotions of taste are founded. Whenever, therefore, a writer causes the imagination of his readers to regard inanimate objects, or such as have an existence in the mind only, as living and acting, or having the properties of a living being, such attempts, if authorized by the subject and occasion, are approved by literary taste. This is called PERSONIFICATION. There are different ways in which the imagination is led to give life to inanimate objects. Sometimes it is by a direct address to them as listening, sometimes by a description of them as acting, and sometimes by merely ascribing to them the properties of intelligent or animated beings. |