formation by means of a common genus2; for both are past their prime. Now, the similes of the poets 3. and also produce the same effect; on which account, should similes. they be neatly managed, an elegance strikes you. For the simile, as has been remarked before3, is metaphor with the difference of the addition [of a particle denoting similitude]; on which account it is less pleasing, because more at length: and it does not assert that "this is that;” the mind therefore does not at all require it1. which elegant. It cannot but be, then, both that the style and the 4. Words arguments which render the act of information rapid, produce are elegant; on which account, neither are superfi- rapid μácial arguments held in approbation; (for, by superθησις are ficial, I mean such as are obvious to every one, and which require no search;) nor those which, when stated, are not understood 5: but all those whatsoever which are apprehended, either simultaneously with their being uttered, (supposing even that no previous knowledge of them existed,) or by which the intellect is a little left behind; for there accrues, as it were, a piece of information; in the two former cases, however, none. must be As far, then, as respects the meaning of what is 5. The exsaid, reasonings of this description are approved; but pression as to the expression, if they be worded (in figure) antitheti antithetically; as, "deeming the common peace of cai. 2 "By the genus; that is, where the common quality which constitutes the likeness immediately occurs," etc. Twining. This metaphor, according to the distinction of the Poetic, would be called ἀπ ̓ εἰδοῦς ἐπὶ εἶδος—from one species of things decayed to another. 3 In the fourth chapter of this book. For the mind, hurrying on to obtain further information respecting the object in question, without pausing to ascertain what it is like or equal to, desires only to know what it really is. See chap. 4, § 1. The case with these two descriptions of argument is the same as with the γλῶτται and κύρια ὀνόματα respectively. With this passage compare book ii. c. 24, § 30. The consideration of dorea having been ranged under the heads of their diúvoia and Xégis, he proceeds here to subdivide his discussion of λégis, in reference to its whole sentences, Three things to the rest, a very war to their individual interests :" 6. here "war" is opposed to "peace;" and (in single words) if they possess metaphor, and this neither farfetched, for it will be difficult to view it in connexion; nor superficial, for it produces no effect: and, moreover, if they place the object before your eyes; for it needs must be, that one sees more clearly what is actually in the course of being done, than what is about to be. We ought then to aim at three things, metaphor, antithesis, and personification". be aimed at: meta ones the best. But of metaphor, which is fourfold, that species phor, an- is in the highest degree approved which is constructtithesis, ed on similar ratios; just as Pericles said, "that the personification. youth which had perished in the war, had so vanished 7. Meta- from the city, as if one were to take the spring from phors are the year 9." And Leptines, speaking of the Lacedæfourfold: analogical monians," that he would do all in his power to prevent Greece from being deprived of an eye." And Cephisodotus, when Chares was eager to present the accounts about the Olynthiac war, grew nettled, and said, "Now that he has got the populace with their necks in a halter, he is endeavouring to present his accounts." Again, when he once was exhorting the Athenians, as they were going for provisions, to go to Euboea for them, he said, "the decree of Miltiades should go forth to the expedition." And Iphicrates, when the Athenians had made a league with Epidaurus and the neighbourhood of the coast, was indignant, and exclaimed that, "of themselves they had (i. e. its figure, oxnua,) or its single words, (i. e. what is usually called trope). 7 From the variety of words by which vipyɛia has been rendered, "personification" has been selected, as approaching the nearest to the correspondent expression, πρὸ ὀμμάτων. The effect is produced by representing inanimate objects as the agents in any thing: thus, " pontem indignatus Araxes." See the next chapter. A metaphorical word is a word transferred from its proper sense, either from genus to species, or from species to genus, or from one species to another, or in the way of analogy. Poet. xxi. transl. by Twining. See chap. 2, § 14, seq. See book i. 7, § 34. Herodotus puts a similar expression in the mouth of Gelon, book vii. 162. 1 " cut off the very provision of the war." And Pitho- Various laus called [the state yacht] Paralus, "the mace of instances of apthe populace;" and Sestus," the corn-chest of the proved Piræus." And Pericles bade them away with Ægina, metaphors. "the eye-sore of the Piræus." And Morocles said, "that he was no more a knave than the other," naming some good sort of man; "since that person indeed played the rogue at the rate of thirty per cent., himself however merely at ten per cent. usury 10' And that iambic verse of Anaxandrides on his daughters, who were long in getting married: "The virgins have forfeited the nuptial recognisance"1 " And that saying of Polyeuctus about one Speusippus, who was struck by apoplexy, "that he was unable to keep quiet, bound as he was by fortune in a complete pillory of a disease." Cephisodotus, too, used to call the triremes, "painted corn-mills:" as did the Cynic Diogenes the taverns, "the public tables 12 of Athens." Æsion, too, used the expression, "pouring out the city into Sicily," (for this is metaphorical, and sets the object before the eyes,) "so that all Greece exclaimed;" and this too is in a certain way a metaphor, and personifies. And as Cephisodotus bade them be 10 The highest rate of interest (Tókos) permitted among the Greeks appears to have been one third of the principal (ETÍTρITOS); the lowest rate which was usual was one tenth merely of the principal (iπidékaтos): So that Marocles was less a villain than this Tkns, in the same ratio in which ten per cent. was less usurious than three and thirty. The metaphor, however, is stated by some as resulting from the comparison of the ratio of character to the ratio of usury; and by others, from the application of the general word, Tovпρεvεσbai, to the transactions of usurers in particular. It will be observed, that in translating TiTpiros, the round numbers have been taken. 11 Addison, too, classes certain of his fair readers (though certainly differently circumstanced from the daughters of Anaxandrides) under the metaphorical appellation of “demurrers,” borrowed from the English legal nomenclature. See Spectator, No. 89. 12 Daidíτia, the public tables of Lacedæmon, remarkable for their plainness and frugality: so that, in saying that the only Editia of Athens were its taverns, Diogenes conveyed a most bitter sarcasm against the manners of its citizens. on their guard, "lest they rendered their very popular assemblies so many rows;" just as Isocrates, also, [used the expression] of persons" making a row in the general convention." And as in the funeral speech [of Lycias]," there was reason for Greece to shear her locks over the grave of those who fell at Salamis, since her liberty had been buried jointly with their valour:" for had he said that "there was reason she should weep, her liberty having been buried with them;" it would indeed have been a metaphor, and have given personification; but the words, "their valour,' ," "her liberty," convey a kind of antithesis. And, as Iphicrates said, "The path of my arguments is through the midst of the actions of Chares:" the metaphor here is on similar ratios, and the expression, "through the midst," produces personification. Also the saying, " that he challenged dangers to be his allies against dangers," is both a personification and a metaphor. And Lycoleon, pleading for Chabrias, said, "[What, not pardon him] out of a respect for the suppliancy 13 of his brazen statue:" for in the then crisis it was a metaphor, but not always; but the personification [was perpetual]; for pending his trial the statue acts as suppliant, the inanimate as an animated object," that memento of the exploits of the state." Again, "Making it their study, by every means, to think meanly;" [this is metaphorical,] since study is with a view to advance [not to diminish]. And the expression that "God has kindled the intellect as a light in the soul;" for both in a certain sense illuminate." For we put no period to our wars, but put them off;" since both putting off, and a peace of 13 Chabrias seems to have been the first who ordered his troops to assume a kneeling position in receiving the charge of an enemy: at the time when he adopted this manœuvre, he headed some Athenian troops auxiliary to the Boeotians, and completely succeeded in repulsing the forces of Agesilaus. This improvement in tactics seems to have been so favourably received, that statues were decreed him to be erected in the attitude of kneeling. Ὁ δὲ Χαβρίας πολλῶν αὐτῷ πεπραγμένων κατὰ πόλεμον, ἐπὶ τούτῳ μάλιστα ἐσημνεύετο τῷ στρατηγήματι, καὶ τὰς ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου δοθείσας αὐτῷ καθίστανεν ἐχούσαι τοῦτο τὸ σχῆμα Diodorus Siculus, 15. And this description, are alike things of the future. Thus, then, it has been stated that the elegancies result from metaphor constructed on similar ratios, and from personification. CHAP. XI. Of Personification. tion re as ani BUT it must be stated what we mean by the expres- 1. Persion, "setting forth to the eyes," and in doing what sonifica this effect results. I mean, then, that those expres- presents sions which represent the object as in action, do all the object of them produce the setting before the eyes: for in- mated. stance, the saying of "a good man," that he is " a 2. cube," is a metaphor; for both are perfect; but this does not personify: whereas the speaking of one as "having his prime yet blooming," is a personification. And this, "but you just as a thing let loose," is a personification. And [in the line] "Then the Greeks springing forth with their feet2;-" the expression, "springing," is both a personification and a metaphor, for it expresses rapidity. Again, as Homer has in 14 We cannot forbear adding to this long catalogue the metaphor used by Herodotus, in speaking of the scheme for the defence of Peloponnesus, at the time of the Persian invasion, by throwing a wall across the Isthmus: his words are, that even many cloaks of walls would be insufficient ;-ei kai πολλοὶ τειχέων ΚΙΘΩΝΕΣ ἦσαν ἐληλαμένοι, κ.τ.λ. Book vii. c. 139. See the expression, Eth. Nich. book i. c. 10. |