3. An idea may be amplified by describing several antecedents, or consequents connected with it.

4. Thus, Virgil amplifies the idea, "It was night," by describing the consequents of it:

"It was night, and wearied bodies were taking rest all over the earth. And the wrathful sea, and the turbulent forests were still. It was the time when the stars revolve in their spheres, and are in the middle of their course; when every field is silent, and the cattle, and the painted birds that dwell in the woods near the water, and in the mountainous villages, are silent. All creatures, in the still night, were mitigating their cares by rest, and refreshing their bodies weary with labor."

5. The same idea is thus, beautifully rendered into English by a Poet. •

"Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad.
Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,
They, to their grassy couch, these to their nest,
Were sunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ;
She, all night long, her amorous descant sung;
Silence was pleased. Now glowed the firmament
With living sapphires! Hesperus, that led
The starry host, rode brightest; till the Moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen, unvailed her peerless light,
And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw."

Q. How may an idea be amplified by this mode? (3.)
A. By describing several antecedents or consequents.

EXERCISE.

THEME" It was New Year's day." Amplification from consequents. Form three or more periods.

T VI.

OF AMPLIFICATION OF IDEAS BY COMPARISONS AND SIMILITUDES.

1. A Comparison is the act of confronting a thing with another, and of inferring their mutual agreement, or disagreement, in one

respects.

or more

2. A Similitude is the resemblance, in some respect, of two objects. If the resemblance be perfect in every respect, it is called identity.

3. Comparison differs from similitude-First, because, by comparison, not only the similarity, but also the dissimilarity of two things may be Q. What is Comparison? (1.)

A. It is the act of confronting a thing with another, and of inferring their mutual agreement, or disagreement in one or more respects.

Q. What is Similitude? (2.)

A. It is the resemblance of two objects.

Q. If the resemblance be perfect, how is it called? (2.)

A. Identity.

Q. How does comparison differ from similitude? (3.)

A. First, by comparison not only the similarity, but the dissim

ilarity also, of two things may be inferred. Second, by comparison the similarity of two objects is discovered; by similitude, their similarity is always presupposed.

inferred. Second, by comparison, the similarity of two objects is discovered; by similitude, their similarity is always presupposed.

4. Amplification by comparison is made by comparing an idea or object with others, and thence drawing the conclusion, that "as they are alike or unlike, so they must be judged accordingly."

5. Thus Martial, a Latin poet, by comparisons, ironically amplifies the idea: "Thou, O Gaurus, art vicious, and may be excused in all respects but one."

"That thou, O Gaurus, likest to spend a great part of the night in drinking, I can forgive. This vice thou hast in common with Cato. That thou writest poetry without any wit or poetical talent, thou deservest praise, for this was also Cicero's fault; that thou dost often vomit, thou art like unto Anthony; that thou indulgest in luxury, thou art similar to Apicius; but that thou art a thief, please tell me to whom art thou alike?"

6. Amplification by similitudes is made by describing such things as bear resemblance to the idea of the writer or speaker. Thus, Virgil, by similitudes, describes the youth of Pallantes at the time of his death:

Q. How is an idea amplified by this mode? (4.)

A. By comparing the idea, or the object which it represents, with other ideas or objects, and thence drawing a suitable conclusion.

Q. How is an object amplified by similitude? (6)

A. By describing such things as bear resemblance to the idea of the writer or speaker.

"Here they lay the youth on a bed of leaves, like a flower cut by the fingers of a virgin, or as a soft violet, or a languid hyacinth.”

And an English poet thus, by similitude, describes the generations of man :

"Like leaves on trees, the race of man is found; Now green in youth, now withering on the ground. Another race the following Spring supplies;

They fall successive, and successive rise.

So generations, in their course, decay

So flourish these, when those are passed away."

EXERCISE.

THEME." Little Edward was a pattern of beauty, but soon passed away." Amplification by similitudes. Form three or four periods.

T VII.

OF AMPLIFICATION OF IDEAS BY EXAMPLES.

1. An Example is anything which may serve as a model of imitation, or as an illustration to another.

2. The amplification of an idea by examples is made by quoting such examples as will illustrate or prove it, or serve as models of imitation.

Q. What is an Example? (1.)

A.

An example is anything which may serve as a model of imitation, or as an illustration.

Q. How is an idea amplified by examples? (2.)

A.

By quoting such examples as will illustrate or prove it, or serve as models of imitation.

3. In this manner Cicero amplifies the idea that "Milo must not be condemned to death for killing Clodius."

"They assert that he who acknowledges to have killed a man, must not live.

But in what city do these

Namely: in a city that

most silly men sustain this? for the first time saw a capital case tried in the person of that most valiant hero, Marcus Horatius, who, at a time when the city was not yet free, was nevertheless acquitted by the Comitia of the Roman people, after he had acknowledged that he had killed, by his hand, his own sister."

EXERCISE.

THEME.—“ N—is entitled to a military distinction for his bravery in the battle-field." Amplification from examples of others who have been promoted for similar or less brave deeds. Form three or four periods.

¶ VIII.

OF THE AMPLIFICATION OF IDEAS BY ANTI

THESES.

1. Antithesis means opposition, or contrast. It is of two kinds, of words, and sentences.

Q. What does Antithesis mean? (1.)

A. It means opposition or contrast.

Q. How many kinds of antithesis or opposition are there? (1.)

A. Two kinds; opposition of words and sentences.