17. He is the Carlyle of America.

18. For such a crime they brought the tyrant to the block.
19. He is one of the most unhappy beings I know of.
20. She had seen but six winters when she died.

21. All things are open to the view of the Omniscient.

22. Twenty sail of the line entered the harbor.

23. Hastings fully deserved to be admitted into such a Pantheon.

DIRECTION.

EXERCISE LXXVII.

SYNECDOCHE.

Recast the sentences, using at least one synecdoche.

1. The object of his ambition was money.

2. He has a large number of cattle in this yard.
3. She is an unhappy woman.

4. Immense numbers have made the attempt.
5. She was a maiden of sixteen years.
6. They lacked the necessaries of life.
7. He was a man of great wisdom.

8. God always beholds our acts.

9. His wealth was beyond computation. 10. The house protects us from the storm.

II. She is a very wicked woman.

12. He is very quick at all kinds of work.

13. Tell the members the queen is now prepared.

14. These murderers should all be executed.

15. In that instant years seemed to roll over his mind.

DIRECTION. State the rhetorical value of the following hyperboles.

1. You are musty chaff; and you are smelt above the moon. 2. On the battle-field were rivers of blood and hills of slain. 3. The miller took the grist and sent the farmer home with the toll.

4. The train flew at lightning speed.

5. They sent up a shout that tore hell's concave and beyond frighted chaos and old Night!

6. The waves ran mountains high.

7. Make or find sentences in each of which one of the following subjects is apostrophized: home, sleep, money, moon, night, flowers, spring, stars, morning, sun, avarice, wine.

LESSON XXXVIII.

FIGURES OF SPEECH.-ANTITHESIS.

Antithesis consists in putting in juxtaposition two things unlike, so that each will appear more striking by the contrast.

Rhetorical Value. The effect of this figure arises chiefly from the fact that an object or idea appears most striking when it stands side by side with its opposite. White appears whiter when bordered with black; sound seems louder when followed by silence. If, therefore, we wish to give a thought special emphasis, we can employ no more effective method than to place it in contrast with its opposite.

Examples. "To be a blessing, and not a curse." "The prodigal robs his heir, the miser robs himself."

Rule. In antithesis the contrasted ideas should be expressed by similar constructions; nouns should be contrasted with nouns, adjectives with adjectives, verbs with verbs, and so on; and the arrangement of the words in the contrasted clauses should be as nearly alike as possible; as,

Flattery brings friends; truth brings foes."

"Enemies in war; in peace, friends."

"Forewarned, forearmed."

"Fit the same intellect to a man, and it is a bow-string; to a woman, and it is a harp-string."

EPIGRAM.

The Epigram is a figure of speech in which there is a conflict or contradiction between the literal meaning of the words and the meaning really intended. Thus, "The child is father of the man." Its Relation. The epigram is akin to the antithesis on the one hand and to the pun on the other. The element of contrariety in the epigram, however, differs from that in the antithesis. In the former, it exists between the real and the apparent meaning of the words, while in the latter, it is between the things that are brought together. Epigram often consists mainly in taking words in different senses; in this respect it resembles the pun, which turns entirely upon using words in a double meaning. Thus, Horne Tooke said of the poor poets : "We may well be called a republic of letters for there is not a sovereign among us."

EUPHEMISM.

Euphemism is a softened way of saying what would be disagreeable or offensive if told in plain language. It is usually based on some other figure, as synecdoche, metonymy, or metaphor. Thus, "He fell asleep," may be used for "He died."

IRONY.

Irony is language which taken literally expresses the contrary of what is meant. The real drift of the speaker is seen in his tone or manner. Thus, Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Cry aloud, for he is a god."

Rhetorical Value. These figures by stating not what is meant, but something else which suggests it, produce a livelier impression than does the direct statement. Moreover, the surprise, arising from finding that words may convey a meaning so different from that which they literally bear, or one so skilfully interwoven with it, interests and delights the reader.

For Interrogation and Climax, see pages 120, 121.

EXERCISE LXXVIII.

ANTITHESES.

DIRECTION.-Point out the words that denote the objects, actions, qualities, or circumstances contrasted; and recast the sentences without using the antitheses.

1. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote.

2. At his touch, crowns crumbled and beggars reigned.

3. She is a help, not a hindrance to her mother.

4. As when a husband or a lap-dog dies.

5. Every man would live long, but no man would be old.

6. If you regulate your desires according to the standard of nature, you will never be poor; if according to the standard of opinion, you will never be rich.

7. The rich man complains aloud ; the poor man repines in secret. 8. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

9. He loves the whole human family, and hates to see the least member of it injured.

10. As we wax hot in faction, in battle we grow cold.

DIRECTION. — Point out any violations of the rule given for Antithesis, and rewrite the sentences so as to make the figure as directed.

II. Better reign in hell, than be in the condition of a servant in heaven.

and

12. Fools rush where angels would be afraid to venture. 13. The battle of Sadowa was won by the schoolmaster, the battle of Sedan was lost because the people are not so well educated (ignorance).

14. If the end brings me out right, what is said against me is of no account; if in the end I am wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.

15. My people are to do what they please, and it is agreed that I shall do what pleases me.

16. I would rather die after having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live.

17. Kings will be tyrants from policy when those who are under them are rebellious from principle.

18. If you wish to make a man rich, study not to increase his stores, but that his desires may be diminished.

19. If in the morn of life you remember God, you will not be forgotten by Him in your latter days.

20. A blind man is a poor man, and blind a poor man is; for the former sees no man, and the latter is not seen by any one.

EXERCISE LXXIX.

THE EPIGRAM AND OTHER FIGURES.

DIRECTION.-Name the figures, rewrite the sentences in plain language, and note the effect.

1. It was conspicuous by its absence.

2. Beauty, when unadorned, is adorned the most.

3. When you have nothing to say, say it.

4. Summer has set in with its usual severity.

5. Words were given to hide our thoughts.

6. He is a disciple of Bacchus.

7. That merchant prince has stopped payment. 8. You are laboring under a mistake.

9. The tall oaks reach far up into the clouds.

10. He appropriated the money to his own use.

II.

you.

No doubt ye are the people and that wisdom will die with

12. The obedient wife commands her husband.