DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48956#0162
15S BEAUTY OF LANGUAGE. Ch. XVIII,
disagreeable: a thing that is loathsome, or a scene
of horror to make one’s hair hand on end, may
be described in a manner so lively, as that the dis-
agreeableness of tN su’ ss jss even obscure
the agreeableness of the description. The causes
of the original beauty of language, considered as
signisicant, which is a branch of the present subjedt,
will be explained in their order. I lliall only at
present observe, that this beauty is the beauty of
means sitted to an end, that of communicating
o
thought: and hence it evidently appears, that of
severalexpressions all conveying the same thought,
the molt beautiful, in the sense now mentioned, is
that which in the molt persect manner answers its
end.
The several beauties of language above men-
tioned, being of different kinds, ought to be han-
dled separately. I lhall begin with those beauties
of language that arise from sound; after which
will follow the beauties of language considered as
signisicant: this order appears natural; for the
sound of a word is attended to , before we consi-
der its sirnification. In a third sedlion come those
singular beauties of language that are derived from
of the former. But they are clearly distinguishable ; and it
is not uncommon to find subjesss of great dignity dressed in
mean language. Theopompus is celebrated for the force of
his diflion ; but erroneoussy : his subjefl indeed has great
force , but his style very little.
disagreeable: a thing that is loathsome, or a scene
of horror to make one’s hair hand on end, may
be described in a manner so lively, as that the dis-
agreeableness of tN su’ ss jss even obscure
the agreeableness of the description. The causes
of the original beauty of language, considered as
signisicant, which is a branch of the present subjedt,
will be explained in their order. I lliall only at
present observe, that this beauty is the beauty of
means sitted to an end, that of communicating
o
thought: and hence it evidently appears, that of
severalexpressions all conveying the same thought,
the molt beautiful, in the sense now mentioned, is
that which in the molt persect manner answers its
end.
The several beauties of language above men-
tioned, being of different kinds, ought to be han-
dled separately. I lhall begin with those beauties
of language that arise from sound; after which
will follow the beauties of language considered as
signisicant: this order appears natural; for the
sound of a word is attended to , before we consi-
der its sirnification. In a third sedlion come those
singular beauties of language that are derived from
of the former. But they are clearly distinguishable ; and it
is not uncommon to find subjesss of great dignity dressed in
mean language. Theopompus is celebrated for the force of
his diflion ; but erroneoussy : his subjefl indeed has great
force , but his style very little.