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sented, setting forth David's offence as committed by another, with a change of circumstances-the object unlawfully taken being a ewe lamb instead of a wife.

REMAINING FIGURES OF SIMILARITY.

31. The term "Synecdoche" is applied to different kinds of Figures. The following forms of synecdoche are figures of similarity :—

(1.) Putting the Species for the Genus: as, bread for the necessaries of life generally; cut-throat for murderer or assassin; sums for arithmetic.

The force of this figure depends on the superior effect-as regards both the understanding and the feelings—of the Special and the Concrete over the General and the Abstract. Food is general; bread is particular, and more readily calls up a distinct object to the mind. The principle is one that will frequently re-appear.

(2.) The Antonomasia puts an Individual for the Species. "Every man is not a Solomon ;" "he is a Cræsus" (in wealth); a Jezebel.

This merely carries the same effect a step farther. Speciality or Concreteness reaches the utmost point in the Individual. See the stanza in Gray's Elegy-"Some village Hampden,” &c.

(3.) Putting the Genus for the Species; as, a vessel for a ship, a creature for a man.

To substitute the more general for the less is a rare and exceptional form. It can impart force only when by chance the generic name has a peculiar expressiveness. Thus, in designating a dance as a measure, the effect lies in stating one of the characteristic attributes, the measured or rhythmical step.

This is a common form of the figure called "Euphemism,” or the indicating of something that delicacy forbids being specifically named. Thus, to avoid naming death, we have such

phrases as deceased, departed, removed, falling asleep, gone to rest. Campbell suggests that the translators of the Bible might have used this figure in Martha's expression respecting Lazarus, "Lord, by this time he smelleth," for "he stinketh."

(4.) Putting the Concrete for the Abstract.

As in Dryden :

Again :

"Nor durst begin

To speak, but wisely kept the fool within."

"A tyrant's power in rigor is exprest,

The father yearns in the true prince's breast."

Fool is put for folly, and father, the concrete, is used for fatherly affection.

The opposite case of putting the abstract for the concrete is, like the general for the particular, an exception. Youth, beauty, may sometimes stand for the young, the beautiful; the figurative effect lies in isolating, as it were, the main quality, and thus giving it greater prominence.

A minor figure of similarity is the application of numbers to things that can not be estimated with numerical precision; as when, in describing a public man's patriotism, we say, "He gave one to his country and two to himself." "Nine-tenths of every man's happiness," says Paley, "depends on the reception he meets with in the world." The advantage gained is obvious.

EXERCISE.

Point out and name the figures in the following passages:— Sy. A second Daniel come to judgment.

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The stream of time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabric of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.

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The soul of man is like the rolling world,

One half in day, the other dipt in night.

Galileo was the Columbus of the heavens.

Benevolence descends into the cellars, where Poverty lies on n. the damp floor, while Pestilence stands at the door, like the cherubim at the entrance of Eden, forbidding Selfishness to enter.

Teachers are the parents of the mind.

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Terrors are turned upon me; they pursue my soul as the wind, and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent. Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: in the mountain of the height of Israel will I 2. plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish.

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Destruction and Death say, we have heard thereof with our

ears.

Aut. Night is the summer when the soul grows ripe

With Life's full harvest.

There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,

To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall awhile repair,

To dwell a weeping hermit there.

Correct the following figures:

In the ferment of political revolutions, the dregs of society are sure to rise to the surface, and once there assume the reins of power with bold and unscrupulous hand.

Many a youth launches forth on the journey of life with no fixed goal in view.

The fire of jealousy will soon root all happiness out of the domestic circle.

Happy is it for the community when there are some unselfish hearts ready to step forward, and pluck the thoughtless and erring, like brands, from the abyss of vice.

Followers and friends, around the dying hero's couch, hold their breath, while the last spark of life is ebbing and the soul is preparing to take its heavenward flight.

FIGURES OF CONTIGUITY.

32. In this class of Figures, a thing is named, either by some accompaniment (Metonymy), or by some part (Synecdoche), that is peculiarly forcible or suggestive.

33. METONYMIES have been classified according to the nature of the accompaniment singled out.

(1.) The Sign, or Symbol, is used for the thing Signified.

As the crown or sceptre for royalty; the mitre, the lawn, the altar, the baton, the silk-gown, the purple, the ermine, the ballot-box. Red tape is the routine of office. Peace is signified by sheathing the sword, shutting the temple of Janus.

These signs and circumstances are usually more striking than the main subject; in many instances, however, all that is sought or gained is variety of expression.

(2.) The Instrument for the Agent.

Cowley says of Cromwell, "he set up Parliaments by the stroke of his pen, and scattered them with the breath of his mouth," the intention being to substitute for the hidden operations of the mind, some outward and expressive action.

In like manner, we say the arbitration of the sword; a thousand horse, a hundred lances; "to associate to our arms the tomahawk and the scalping-knife of the savage."

(3.) The Container for the thing Contained.

"He

"They smote the city." "Ye devour widows' houses." So we say familiarly, the kettle boils. The bottle is a powerful figure for intoxicating drink. "He keeps a good table." drank the cup." A carpet bag, for luggage. The purse for money. From the cradle to the grave. The palace and the cottage. "I should rather be ruled by St. James's (the residence of the Court) than by St. Giles's (peopled by the lowest population)." "France would not consent."

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A period of time is sometimes used for the productions or events included in it. In trade, we hear of a good season, a successful voyage.

"Blossoms, and fruits, and flowers, together rise,

And the whole year in gay confusion lies."

The whole year stands for all the vegetable productions of the year.

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(4.) An Effect for the Cause; as, the shade for trees. When gray hairs is put for age, we may call it both an effect and a sign.

(5.) An Author for his Works: "they have Moses and the prophets;" "a copy of Milton."

In like manner, the name of the inventor is used for his invention; as when the miner speaks of his Davy, meaning his safety lamp (invented by Davy). The names of mythological personages were similarly used in old times; as, Ceres for bread, Bacchus for wine. So, Mars, Neptune, Pallas, Venus, are put for war, the ocean, wisdom, love.

The interest attaching to personification, already alluded to, is what gives force to the figure in the present case also.

34. (1.) The chief form of the SYNECDOCHE consists in naming a thing by some Part of it.

As, fifty sail; all hands at work; they sought his blood; the rule of three.

In putting sail for ship, the part is selected on account of its prominence or suggestiveness; the expression is thereby rendered more picturesque. So, when we speak of the redcoats, the greenbacks, the waves.

In the other instances, the part chosen is what most concerns the end in view; a workman's efficiency depends on his hands; the blood is more particularly identified with life. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings."

Other examples:-A passenger in a cab is called a fare. "I abjure all roofs." "She gave her hand but not her heart." "She had seen sixteen summers; his life had extended to seventy winters." Parts are here selected that will express the contrast between youth and age. A colt is said to be “three years old next grass," that is,—next spring. "The moment is at hand." "He was useful in his day."

On the same principle, a person is named by the part of his character suited to the occasion. "Thus spoke the tempter."

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