they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions."

HYPERBOLE excess denotes.-Behold!
Her eyes are stars! their beams are liquid gold!

IRONY Conveys a meaning opposite to the expression, and is shown either in the manner of the speaker or the nature of the subject. The sarcasm differs from the irony in being more severe and keen in its application. "Cry aloud," said the prophet Elijah to the false prophets of Baal, when they were invoking that idol to send fire from heaven, to consume

the sacrifice," cry aloud, for he is a God; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked."

TO IRONY dissembling words belong; As-Thanks, proud peacock, for thy tuneful song!

The SYNECDOCHE varies a common expression, by putting a part for the whole, the singular number for the plural, a species for a genus, or the reverse of any of these. In common conversation we say, so many head of cattle; twenty sail of the line; he lives at the next

door. The prophet Isaiah says,— "Then shall the Assyrian fall by the sword."

SYNECDOCHE does comprehension mean ;

A part for whole;-the whole for part is seen :Beneath this roof ten summers have I passed;— Yon fleet of twenty sail is anchor❜d fast.

And, praising spring, a voice from Virgil hear! "Green are the woods, most beautiful the year."

The METONYMY puts the cause for the effect, the author for his work, the sign for the thing signified, the thing containing for that which it contains; as in these examples :-" They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."

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"The sceptre shall not depart

from Judah."-" The whole city

came out to meet us."

METONYMY a change of name denotes,

And serves in various phrase to dress our thoughts.

As-John reads Virgil; meaning Virgil's works. Respect grey hairs.-Cold death in ambush lurks. The kettle boils.-The warrior's conquering steel.

Assume the sceptre and thy power reveal!

INTERROGATION proposes questions, not so much for the sake of information, as to give spirit to ideas; for example:-our Saviour said to the multitude, concerning John the Baptist, "What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But

what went ye out to see? A man clothed with soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." These fine ideas would lose all their effect, if they were expressed only by a plain assertion.

INTERROGATION questions puts with force, And gives both life and spirit to discourse.You have I promised;-shall I not fulfil ? You have I guarded ;-shall I turn and kill?

The PROSOPOPOEIA gives life, passion, and action, to inanimate beings; as for instance :-" The waters saw thee, O God, the waters