the contrary, regard Virtue as a part of Religion; "* the omission of the first word would not alter the sense, but would destroy the Period; to produce which is its only use. The MEN, 4E, and TE of the Greek are, in many places, subservient to this use alone.

The modern languages do not indeed admit, as was observed above, of so Periodic a Style as the ancient do: but an author, who does but clearly understand what a Period is, and who applies the test I have laid down, will find it very easy, after a little practice, to compose in Periods, even to a greater degree than, in an English writer, good taste will warrant. His skill and care will be chiefly called for in avoiding all appearance of stiffness and affectation in the construction o them, —in not departing, for the sake of a Period, too far from colloquial usage, and in observing such moderation in the employment of this style, as shall prevent any betrayal of artifice, any thing savouring of elaborate stateliness; which is always to be regarded as a worse fault than the slovenliness and languor which accompany a very loose style.

Loose and

periodic

clauses.

§ 13.

It should be observed, however, that, as a sentence which is not strictly a Period, according to the foregoing definition, may yet approach indefinitely near to it, so as to produce nearly the same effect, so, on the other hand, periods may be so constructed as to produce much of the same feeling of weariness and impatience which results from an excess

of loose sentences. contain an enumeration of many circumstances, though the sentence be so framed, that we are still kept in expectation of the conclusion, yet it will be an impatient expectation; and the reader will feel the same kind of uneasy uncertainty when the clause is to be finished, as would be felt respecting the sentence, if it were loose. And this will especially be the case, if the rule formerly given with a view to Perspicuity be not observed,* of taking care that each part of the sentence be understood, as it proceeds. Each clause, if it consist of several parts, should be continued with the same attention to their mutual connection, so as to suspend the sense, as is employed in the whole sentence; that it may be, as it were, a Periodic clause. And if one clause be long and another short, the shorter should, if possible, be put last. Universally indeed a sentence would often be, practically, too long, i. e. or shorter will have a tedious, dragging effect, merely from its concluding with a much longer clause than it began with; so that a composition which most would censure as abounding too much in long sentences, may often have its defects, in great measure, remedied, without shortening any of them; merely by reversing the order of each. This of course holds good with respect to all complex sentences of any considerable length, whether periods, or not. An instance of the difference of effect produced by this means, may be seen in such a sentence as the following: "The State was made, under the pretence of serving it, in reality, the prize of

If the clauses be very long, and

* Part iii. chap. i. § 3.

Precedence of the longer

clause.

their contention, to each of those opposite parties, who professed in specious terms, the one, a preference for moderate Aristocracy, the other, a desire of admitting the people at large to an equality of civil privileges." This may be regarded as a complete Period; and yet for the reason just mentioned, has a tedious and cumbrous effect. Many critics might recommend, and perhaps with reason, to break it into two or three; but it is to our present purpose to remark, that it might be, in some degree at least, decidedly improved, by merely reversing the clauses; as thus: "The two opposite parties, who professed in specious terms, the one, a preference for moderate Aristocracy, the other, a desire of admitting the people at large to an equality of civil privileges, made the State, which they pretended to serve, in reality the prize of their contention."

Another instance may be cited from a work, in which any occasional awkwardness of expression is the more conspicuous, on account of its general excellence, the Church Liturgy; the style of which is so justly admired for its remarkable union of energy with simplicity, smoothness, and elegance the following passage from the Exhortation is one of the very few, which, from the fault just noticed, it is difficult for a good reader to deliver with spirit; "And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God, || yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble — and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to

* Thucydides, on the Corcyrean sedition.

ask those things which are requisite and necessary,— as well for the body as the soul." This is evidently a very loose sentence, as it might be supposed to conclude at any one of the three places which are marked by dashes(); this disadvantage, however, may easily be obviated by the suspension of voice, by which a good reader, acquainted with the passage, would indicate that the sentence was not concluded; but the great fault is the length of the last of the three principal clauses, in comparison of the former two: (the conclusions of which are marked by which a dragging and heavy effect is produced, and the sentence is made to appear longer than it really is. This would be more manifest to any one not familiar, as most are, with the passage; but a good reader of the Liturgy will find hardly any sentence in it so difficult to deliver to his own satisfaction. It is perhaps the more profitable to notice a blemish occurring in a composition so well known, and so deservedly valued for the excellence, not only of its sentiments, but of its language.

It is a useful admonition to young writers, with a view to what has lately been said, that they should always attempt to recast a sentence which does not please; altering the arrangement and entire construction of it, instead of merely seeking to change one word for another. This will give a great advantage in point of Copiousness also; for there may be, suppose, a substantive, which, either because it does not fully express our meaning, or for some other reason, we wish to remove, but can find no other to supply its place; but the object may perhaps be easily accomplished by means of a verb, adverb, or some other part of speech, the substitution of

which implies an alteration of the construction. It is an exercise according. which may be recommended as highly conducive to the improvement of Style, to practise casting a sentence into a variety of different forms. It is evident, from what has been said, that in compositions intended to be delivered, the Periodic style is much less necessary, and therefore suitable, than in those designed for

Difference

of structure for

the writer and the

much less

speaker. the closet.

The speaker may,

The speaker may, in most instances, by the skilful suspension of his voice, give to a loose sentence the effect of a Period: and though, in both species of composition, the display of art is to be guarded against, a more unstudied air is looked for in such as are spoken.

The study of the best Greek and Latin writers may be of great advantage towards the improvement of the Style in the point concerning which I have now been treating, (for the reason lately mentioned,) as well as in most others and there is this additional advantage, (which, at first sight, might appear a disadvantage,) that the style of a foreign writer cannot be so closely imitated as that of one in our own language: for this reason there will be the less danger of falling into an obvious and servile imitation.*

§ 14.

Antithesis has been sometimes reckoned as one form of the Period; but it is evident that, according to the view here taken, it has no necessary connec

Antithesis.

* Bolingbroke may be noted as one of the most Periodic of English writers; Swift and Addison (though in other respects very dif ferent from each other) are among the most loose.