The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent.

PERIPHRASIS & PARAPHRASIS.

There is in the best Writers oftentimes a vain of stile, wherein vulgar fancies are exceedingly plea∣sed, and know not wherewith. For they admire this most, that there is some excellency in it, and yet they themselves suspect that it exceeds their ad∣miration. In some examples I would gladly dis∣cover the reason hereof: It cannot be, that if ei∣ther the meaning of the words be obscure, and un∣familiar to a mans understanding, that the speech so composed, should be so accepted: And yet it is possible that there may be some extraordinary fancy in ordinary words, and plain meanings, how then shall we determine? It is as in many usual dishes at a table, both eyes and taste give them commendation, not for the substance, but for the dressing and service. What plainer meaning then, sleep among thieves? And verily sleep, life trust and thieves, are common English words, yet is it no common way of speaking, to say, To trust a sleeping life among thieves. In the same sense, when they had slept a while, is ordinary. But when they had a while hearkened to the perswasion of sleep, is extra∣ordinary. Though all the words of it by them∣selves are most known and f••miliar; yet the or∣dering and fetch of it is strange and admirable to the ignorant; We therefore call it Periphrasis or Circumlocution, and it is much helped by Meta∣phors, as before: inclined to sleep is exprest by a Metaphor taken from one who moves and inclines by perswasions. But let us have one combate more with our adversary sleep; for, having risen early, having striven with the suns earliness; Instead of Mopsa wept ill-favouredly, Mopsa disgraced weeping

with her countenance. Instead of saying▪ they that guarded Amphialus, were killed themselves; its said, seeking to save him, they lost the fortresses, which na∣ture had planted them in. Instead of Plangus speech began to be suspected; it is said, Plangus speech be∣gan to be translated into the language of suspicion. Thus purposely did Sir Philip write, to keep his stile from flatness. As being to name a Thresher, he calls him one of Ceres servants, Instead of his name was known to high and low; he saith, That no Prince could pretend highness, nor beggar lowness, to bar him from the sound thereof. And this is by going a CONCRETO AD ABSTRACTUM, and divers other ways.

If a short ordinary sense be oddely exprest by more words, it is Pariphrasis; but if by as many other, it is Paraphrasis: as, manifest Oathes, plen∣tiful perjury. To make a great shew of himself. To make a muster of himself in the Island: for kill any marryed man; make his sword cursed by any widow, which is by consequence, seeking by curtesie, to undo him. Making curtesie the outside of mischief, by Simi∣litude or Metaphor: so then the course is, instead of any ordinary words importing a trivial matter, to take the abstracts, or some consequence, simi∣litude, note, property or effect, and thereby ex∣press it. These two figures serve for Illustration.

It is sometimes requisite for gaining life and lustre in your discourse, to represent some unex∣pected strangeness, besides the tenor of your Theame or Story: and, as it were, to act your meaning; which is done either by faigning the presence or the discourse of some such persons, as either are not at all: or if they be, yet speak not but by your imagination. The first is by Apostrophe or Prosopopeia.

APOSTROPHE, is a turning of your speech to some new person, as to the people or witnesses, when it was before to the ••udges or Defendant: as, Herein you witnesses are to consult with your own consciences, and to enter into a true examination of your own memory. Did you mark ••is looks? Did you note his speeches? Did you truly conceive the parti∣cular proceedings of the Action? To the people thus, Now let me intreat any man here present, that thinks himself not exempted from misfortunes, and pri∣viledged from all mischiefs, to imagine himself in my case, and to undertake for my sake some few thoughts of my Distress. Sometimes the occasion is taken from some quality or other thing, whereto your self gives shew of life; as, Hope tell me, what hast thou to hope for? Love, be ashamed to be called Love. But to animate, and make dead men speak is PROSO∣POPAEIA; as, If your Ancestors were now alive, and saw you defacing so goodly a Monument by them erected, would they not say thus, &c. And as Sir Philip Sid∣ney gives sense and speech to the Needle and Silk in Pamela's hands, as learning, as a Lily: as death it self is faigned to live, and make a speech.

Another way of clearing and reviving your dis∣course, is by deliberating, by entring into communi∣cation, by preventing and answering Objections. In deliberating sometimes you are amazed; as, Whom shall I blame? what shall I pretend? shall I make learn∣ing hateful to you by my reprehensions? shall I make my silence accessary to your idleness? It is not in my power, It is not in my discretion to reform it. Under this fi∣gure are Philoclea's wishes of Zelmaine.

There is another kinde of Deliberation, which proposes many things with intricating or intang∣ling a mans self: as Nothing can assure me of the counte∣nance of your love towards me, if you discontinue the

study of speaking well. For suppose you marry into some worthy Family; suppose they inrich you with some new friends; may not a vain of thriving rob me of your ac∣quaintance? may not I lose you? nay, may not you lose your self in a labyrinth of worldly cares? Sometimes we enter into Communication; as, Were it your case, what would you answer? Tell me, I appeal to your se∣cret thoughts. Your friend hath esteemed better of his own stomack, then of the eternal love vowed betwixt you, and prefers the tryal of his valour, before the re∣gard of both your credits, which must dye, however ei∣ther or both of you survive the combat. Would you not judge him unworthy to be your friend, that began his fi∣delity with an inviolable Covenant never to be an E∣nemy.

Prevention of an Objection hath two figures; the one is Occupatio, the other Subjectio.

Occupatio is thus, You will say to me, that in a facti∣ous Countrey, it is the only policy to stand neutral. I say, not unless many circumstances help you; viz. These, if none of your friends be entred into the quarrel, If you be assured that your wealth and discretion is equal to the best. If there be a likelihood to scatter the reliance on both sides, and make a new park, then it is wisdom to stand aloof a while, that if you please, you may adde the victory to which side you will. But having declared your self, you intend to be upright? you will grow con∣temptible, you offer Reconciliation? your strength will forsake you, you dispraise your adversaries? you will be deemed envious. You commend his wisdom? you be∣tray your own weakness: praise then his wealth, his Ancestors, his Beauty, his pleasures; but praise not his foresight nor his valour. Are you Judge amongst your neighbors and inferiors? be precisely just and rightful. Are you Assistant to your friend? be advisedly and throughly partial. You would be counted liberal? testi∣fie

it seldom; but if publiquely, worthyly. You would thrive in bargaining? let your transactions be private: for many small breaches of conscience are more infa∣mous, then one great one. But ••ffend not your conscience willingly to be Treasurer of all the Indian Mynes. Thu•• you see how Counsels, Precepts and Sentences may be tra••slated into the form of Occupatio and Subjectio. Sometimes Occupatio is left out, and an Argument brought to the contrary; as Cecropia perswading her son Amphialus to offer violence to Philoclea, presupposed that he would say, He must be modest: she replyes, Each vertue hath his time, the souldier that should march formost, must not give way for modesty. There is Occupatio and Subjectio in Ar∣cadia, if she contemned, then thus— if otherwise, then &c. Did I walk abroad to see my delight? my walking was the delight it self. He saw her alive; he was glad to see her alive. He saw her weep: he was sorry to see her wee••. He heard her comfortable speeches: nothing more joyful.

This figure cannot be out of season, unless pur∣posely, as it was in the fustian speech: You listen to my speeches, I must needs confess it; you hearken to my words? I cannot deny it; you look for some sense? I partly believe it: But you finde none? I do not much regard it.

There is another figure, which hath been called by the name of Concessio. But I mean to mistake Occupatio and Concessio, one for the other, till I can distinguish them better. The form of Concessio is this, I admit you are resolute: I grant your determina∣tion is immoveable, but it is in things against your friends judgements. And in things against your own praise and profit.