The Recreative Magazine

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491

THE

RECREATIVE MAGAZINE.

MODES OF EXPRESSION.

AUTHORS AUTHORS are sometimes extremely careless in expressing themselves; others pique themselves on a quaintness or an oddity, more honoured in the breach than the observance. However, we do not pretend to carp or cavil in the following article; our office being merely to exhibit the extremely odd way in which some think and write, (and great ones, too, among them,) but who, perhaps, have been caught napping. Let us view some of these eccentricities, not with the green magnifying glasses of criticism, but with those of a student, who goes to the theatre by way of relaxation, determined to be pleased. The display might have been considerably increased from our common-place book; for the present, however, these will serve to mark a great variety in modes of expression.

Roger ASCHAM, describing Lady Jane Grey, expresses himself thus:-" At the time (says he) that the rest of the company were gone out a hunting, and to their other amusements, found-O Jupiter and all the gods!-this divine young lady reading the Phædo of the divine Plato, in Greek," &c. Surely there was no occasion to disturb Jupiter and the conclave of Olympus, by thus calling upon them so abruptly.

The vulgarity of the prophets is demonstrated by the Rev. C. ABBOT. These are his words:" But it unhappily often occurs, that, with the feelings of renewed life, the sentiments adopted under the pining stroke of sickness vanish, and the sinner returns to all his former corruptions, like (as the prophet inelegantly expresses it) the dog to his vomit, or the sow to her wallowing in the mire.""-(Abbot's Parochial Divinity, page 196.)

It is scarcely credible, that the tasteful ADDISON Sould use the word authenticalness for authenticity.

In the AIX LA CHAPELLE GUIDE is a verbose description of the several paintings there, among which is the "natural looks of poor souls in purgatory."

SIR THOMAS BROWNE who gives his creed in his Religio Medici, does it, however, quaintly; for instance, he says, "I can believe that Lazarus was raised from the dead, yet not demand where in the interim his soul awaited; or raise a lawcase whether his heir might lawfully detain his inheritance bequeathed unto him by his death, and he, though restored to life, have no plea or title unto his former possessions." And again, "I dispute not whether Adam was an hermaphrodite, as the Rabbins contend upon the letter of the text; because it is contrary to reason there should be an hermaphrodite before there was a woman; or a composition of two natures, before there was a second composed."-(See also Tostatus on Genesis.) Sir THOMAS BROWNE, (Vulgar Errors,) speaking of those bright omens, called letters in the candle, tells us, They only indicate a moist and pluvious air, which hinders the avolation of the light and favillous particles, whereupon they settle upon the snast." No explanation could be clearer: Sir Thomas was a learned man, and a man of genius, but a most affected writer. Again, the same author, in his Religio Medici, reasons and expresses himself thus, "That all flesh is grass, is not only metaphorically but literally true; for all those creatures we behold are but the herbs of the field, digested into flesh in them, or more remotely carnified in ourselves. Nay, further, we are what we all abhor, anthropophagi and cannibals, devourers not only of men but of ourselves; and that not only in an allegory but a positive truth: for all this mass of flesh which we behold came in at our mouths; this frame we look upon hath been upon our trenchers; in brief, we have devoured ourselves !"" Again, Sir Thomas, p. 153, Religio Medici, tell us, "I could digest a salad gathered in a church-yard as well as in a garden." Now such a thing might be possible, but where is the necessity for declaring it? Of death," he says, "I am not so much afraid as ashamed thereof; 'tis the very disgrace and ignominy of our natures, that in a moment it can so disfigure us, that our nearest friends, wife, and children, stand afraid and start at us :" then adding, "Not that I can accuse nature for playing the bungler in any part of me, or my own vicious life for contracting disease, whereby I might not call myself as wholesome a morsel for the worms as any."-(Relig. Med. 111.)

Upon the Romish ceremony of extreme unction, we find the following remark in the BEEHIVE OF THE ROMISH CHURCH, Book III. Chap. ii. p. 232-3. "Whensoever any body lies a passing, so that there is no more hope of life in him, the prieste shal then anoynt him with holy oyle, blesse him with crosses,

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