Now fhield with shield, with helmet helmet clos'd, The following may alfo pafs, though ftretched pretty far. Econjungendo à temerario ardire Che ne trema la terra, e'l ciel balena.. Gierufalem, cant. 6. ft. 46. Quintilian* is fenfible that this figure is natural." For," fays he, not content"ed with truth, we naturally incline to augment or diminish beyond it; and for "that reafon the hyperbole is familiar even among the e vulgar and illiterate." And he adds, very justly, "That the hyperbole "is then proper, when the subject of itself L. 8. cap. 6. in fin. " exceeds From exceeds the common meafure." these premiffes, one would not expect the following conclufion, the only reafon he can find for justifying this figure of fpeech. "Conceditur enim amplius dicere, quia "dici quantum eft, non poteft: meliufque "ultra quam citra ftat oratio." (We are indulged to say more than enough, because we cannot fay enough; and it is better to be over than under). In the name of wonder, why this flight and childish reason, when immediately before he had made it evident, that the hyperbole is founded on human nature? I could not refift this perfonal stroke of criticism, intended not against our author, for no human creature is exempt from error; but against the blind veneration that is paid to the ancient claffic writers, without diftinguishing their blemishes from their beauties. Having examined the nature of this figure, and the principle on which it is erected; I proceed, as in the firft fection, to fome rules by which it ought to be governed. And in the first place, it is a capital fault to introduce an hyperbole in the description fcription of an ordinary object or event which creates no furprise. In fuch a cafe, the hyperbole is altogether unnatural, being deftitute of furprife, the only foundation that can fupport it. Take the following inftance, where the fubject is extremely fa miliar, viz. fwimming to gain the fhore after a fhipwreck. I faw him beat the furges under him, And ride upon their backs; he trode the water; Tempest, att 2. fc. 1. may be gathered In the next place, it from what is faid, that an hyperbole can never fuit the tone of any difpiriting paffion. Sorrow in particular will never prompt fuch a figure; and for that reafon the following hyperboles must be condemned as unnatural. K. Rich K. Rich. Aumerle, thou weep'ft, my tender, hearted coufin! We'll make foul weather with defpifed tears; Richard II. at 3. Sc. 6. Draw them to Tyber's bank, and weep your tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream Do kifs the most exalted shores of all. Julius Cæfar, alt 1. fc. 1¡ Thirdly, a writer, if he wish to fucceed, ought always to have the reader in his eye. He ought in particular never to venture a bold thought or expreffion, till the reader be warmed and prepared for it. For this reason, an hyperbole in the beginning of any work can never be in its place. Example: Jam pauca aratro jugera regia Horat. Carm. lib. 2. ode. 15. In the fourth place, the nicest point of all, is to ascertain the natural limits of an hyperbole, beyond which being overftrained it has has a bad effect. Longimus, in the abovecited chapter, with great propriety of thought, enters a caveat against an hyperbole of this kind. He compares it itona bowftring, which relaxes by overstrain ing, and produceth an effect directly oppofite to what is intended. I pretend not to afcertain any precife boundary: the attempt would be difficult, if not impracticable. I muft therefore be fatisfied with an humbler task, which is, to give a specimen of what I reckon overstrained hyperboles; and I hall be alfo extremely curt upon this fubject, because examples are to be found every where. No fault is more common among writers of inferior rank; and inftances are found even among thofe of the finest taste; witness the following hyperbole, too bold even for an Hotspur. Hotspur talking of Mortimer : In fingle oppofition hand to hand, He did confound the best part of an hour In changing hardiment with great Glendower. Three times they breath'd, and three times did they drink, Upon |