and it is neceffary to make the diftinction; because though fome of the rules I fhall have occafion to mention are common to both, yet each hath rules peculiar to itself. In a natural style, relative words are by juxtapofition connected with those to which they relate, going before or after, according to the peculiar genius of the language. Again, a circumftance connected by a prepofition, follows naturally the word with which it is connected. But this arrangement may be varied, when a different order is more beautiful: a circumftance may be placed before the word with which it is connected by a prepofition; and may be interjected even between a relative word and that to which it relates. When fuch liberties are frequently taken, the ftyle becomes inverted or transposed.

But as the liberty of inverfion is a capital point in handling the prefent fubject, it will be neceffary to examine it more narrowly, and in particular to trace the feveral degrees in which an inverted ftyle recedes more and more from that which is natural. And first, as to the placing a circumftance before the word with which it is connected, I obferve, that it is the eafieft of all in. verfion, even fo eafy as to be confiftent with a style that is properly termed natural: witness the following examples.

In the fincerity of my heart, I profefs, &c.

By our own ill management, we are brought to fo low an ebb of wealth and credit, that, &c.

On Thursday morning there was little or nothing tranfacted in Change-alley.

At St Bride's church in Fleet-ftreet, Mr Woolfton, (who writ against the miracles of our Saviour), in the utmost terrors of confcience, made a public recantation.

The interjecting a circumftance between a relative word and that to which it relates, is more properly termed inverfion; because, by a disjunction of words intimately connected, it recedes farther from a natural ftyle. But this licence has alfo degrees; for the difjunction is more violent in fome cafes than in others. And to give a juft notion of the difference, there is a

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neceflity

Ch. XVIII. neceffity to enter a little more into an abstract subject, than would otherwife be my inclination.

In nature, though a fubject cannot exift without its qualities, nor a quality without a fubject; yet in our conception of thefe, a material difference may be remarked. I cannot conceive a quality but as belonging to fomne fubject: it makes indeed a part of the idea which is formed of the fubject. But the oppofite holds not; for though I cannot form a conception of a subject devoid of all qualities, a partial conception may however be formed of it, laying afide or abftracting from any particular quality: I can, for example, form the idea of a fine Arabian horfe without regard to his colour, or of a white horfe without regard to his fize. Such partial conception of a fubject, is ftill more eafy with refpect to action or motion; which is an occafional attribute only, and has not the fame permanency with colour or figure: I cannot form an idea of motion independent of a body; but there is nothing more ealy than to form an idea of a body at rest. Hence it appears, that the degree of inverfion depends greatly on the order in which the related words are placed : when a fubftantive occupies the first place, the idea it fuggefts muft fubfift in the mind at least for a moment, independent of the relative words afterward introduced; and that moment may without difficulty be prolonged by interjecting a circumftance between the fubftantive and its connections. This liberty therefore, however frequent, will scarce alone be fufficient to denominate a ftyle inverted. The cafe is very different, where the word that occupies the first place denotes a quality or an action; for as thefe cannot be conceived without a fubject, they cannot without greater violence be separated from the fubject that follows; and for that reafon, every fuch feparation by means of an interjected circumftance belongs to an inverted style.

To illuftrate this doctrine examples are neceffary, and I fhall begin with those where the word first introduced does not imply a relation:

-Nor Eve to iterate

Her former trespass fear'd.

Hunger and thirst at once,

Powerful

Powerful perfuaders, quicken'd at the fcent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me fo keen.

Moon that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fli'st
With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that flies,
And ye five other wand'ring fires that move
In myftic dance not without fong, refound
His praife.

In the following examples, where the word firft introduced imports a relation, the disjunction will be found more violent.

Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal tafte
Brought death into the world, and all our woe,
With lofs of Eden, till one greater man
Reftore us, and regain the blifsful feat,
Sing heav'nly mufe.

Upon the firm opacous globe

Of this round world, whofe first convex divides

The luminous inferior orbs, inclos'd

From chaos and th' inroad of darknefs old,

Satan alighted walks,

On a fudden open fly,

With impetuous recoil and jarring found,
Th'infernal doors.

Wherein remain'd,

For what could elfe? to our almighty foe
Clear victory, to our part lofs and rout.

-Forth rufh'd, with whirlwind found,
The chariot of paternal Deity.

Language would have no great power, were it confind to the natural order of ideas: I fhail foon have opportunity to make it evident, that by inverfion, a thoufand beauties may be compaffed, which must be relinquifhed in a natural arrangement. In the mean time, it ought not to efeape obfervation, that the mind of man is happily fo conftituted as to relish inverfion, though ia one refpect unnatural; and to relish it fo much, as in many cafes to admit even fuch words to be feparated as are the most intimately connected. It can icarce be faid that invertion has any limits; though I may venture

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to

Ch. XVIII. to pronounce, that the disjunction of articles, conjunctions, or prepofitions, from the words to which they belong, has very feldom a good effect: the following example with relation to a prepofition, is perhaps as tolerable as any of the kind.

He would neither feparate from, nor act against them.

I give notice to the reader, that I am now ready to enter upon the rules of arrangement; beginning with a natural style, and proceeding gradually to what is the moft inverted. And in the arrangement of a period, as well as in a right choice of words, the firft and great object being perfpicuity, the rule above laid down, that perfpicuity ought not to be facrificed to any other beauty, holds equally in both. Ambiguities occafioned by a wrong arrangement are of two forts; one where the arrangement leads to a wrong fenfe, and one where the fenfe is left doubtful. The first, being the more culpable, fhall take the lead, beginning with examples of words put in a wrong place.

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence muft exalt a genius, we may obferve merely from the influence which an ordinary prefence has over men.

Characteristics, vol. 1. p. 7.

This arrangement leads to a wrong fenfe: the adverb merely feems by its position to affect the preceding word; whereas it is intended to affect the following words, an ordinary prefence; and therefore the arrangement ought

to be thus:

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence muit exalt a genius, we may ob erve from the influence which an ordinary prefence merely has over men. [Or better], which even an ordinary prefence has over men.

The time of the election of a poet-laureat being now at hand, it may be proper to give fome account of the rites and ceremonies antiently used at that folemnity, and only discontinued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times. [Guardian.

The term only is intended to qualify the noun degeneracy, and not the participle difcontinued; and therefore the arrangement ought to be as follows:

and

and difcontinued through the neglect

and degeneracy only, of later times.

Sixtus the Fourth was, if I mistake not, a great collector of books at least.

Letters on biftory, vol. 1. let. 6 Bolingbroke. The expreffion here leads evidently to a wrong fenfe: the adverb at least, ought not to be connected with the fubftantive books, but with collector, thus:

Sixtus the Fourth was a great collector at least, of books.

Speaking of Lewis XIV.

If he was not the greateft king, he was the best actor of majesty at least, that ever filled a throne.

Better thus:

Ibid. letter 7.

If he was not the greatest king, he was at least the best actor of majesty, &c. .

This arrangement removes the wrong fenfe occafioned by the juxtapofition of majesty and at least.

The following examples are of a wrong arrangement of members.

I have confined myself to thofe methods for the advancement of piety, which are in the power of a prince limited like ours by a strict execution of the laws.

A project for the advancement of religion. Swift. The ftructure of this period leads to a meaning which is not the author's, viz power limited by a strict execution of the laws. That wrong fenfe is removed by the following arrangement:

I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which, by a ftrict execution of the laws, are in the power of a prince limited like ours.

This morning, when one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over fome hoods and ribands brought by her tirewoman, with great care and diligence, I employ'd no lefs in examining the box which contained them.

Guardian, N° 4.

The