Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bad_a	good_a	see_v	1,466	5	3.4614	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49144	A treatise of the loftiness or elegancy of speech written originally in Greek by Longin, and now translated out of French by Mr. J.P.; Ars rhetorica. English. 1680	Longinus, Cassius, ca. 213-273.; J. P.	1680 (1680)	Wing L3001; ESTC R31704	42,960	188

that had Virgins in his Eyes and not immodest Women But enough of such trash now what think you of Plato who otherwise a most Divine Author Speaking of the Tables of Cypress-Wood whereon the Laws were Written said When they had wrought all these things they placed the Monuments of Cypress in the Temples And in another place he saith as touching the Walls Megillas The Spartans had then no Wall I am of Opinion with the Spartans to let them sleep and not raise 'em so long as they are layne downe to rest There is a very ridicilous passage in Herodotus when he calls beautiful Women the disease of the Eyes but this is the more tollerable in respect 't is supposed to be spoken by a company of Barbarians in the heat of their Debaucheries yet for that these sort of People are of no great credit 't is not wisely done by the using an undecent expression to run the hazard of displeasing future Ages CHAP. IV. Of the cause of a Faint Stile ALl these mean Childish affections proceed from a too great fondness of new thoughts a very Epidemicall disease amongst the Writers of the present times Certain it is that good and bad do often come from the same source therefore we see that the self same thing which sometimes serves to adorne a piece that I say the self same thing which often gives the grace and beauty to Elocution does at other times work clear contrary effects as plainely may appeare by Hyperboles and other Figures called Pluralls but how dangerous 't is to use them shall be shown elsewhere Now then let us see how we may avoid those Errors which seem slightly to pass for loftiness and without doubt we shall arive at our intended purpose if we can obtain a clear and distinct knowledge and learn to judge rightly thereof which is no very easy thing since that a true Judgment of distinguishing between the Elegancy and Weakness of Speech must be the Product of a long practice and consummated Study But to proceed I will now Chalk out a way which perhaps may serve to lead thither CHAP. V. The means in general how to know loftiness WE cannot say dear Terentianus that the things of this life are great when there is a manifest greatness in the very undervaluing and despising the same such are riches power honour Empire and other like seeming blessings glorious 't is true in appearance but such as can never pass with a discreet man for real and substantial good Hence is it that we admire not so much those who do as others who may but out of a nobleness of mind will not enjoy them The same may be said of the works of Poets and Orators and we ought to be very cautious not to take a hideous noise and jingling of words shuffled together for Sublime Eloquence For that which is truly Sublime has this inseparable quality that it affects the Soul of him who hears it and makes her conceive a better Opinion of her self filling her with an unusual Joy and a kind of a I know not what pride as if she her self had been the Author of what she does but barely hear When therefore any thing is recyted to a Judicious and understanding man if after hearing it repeated several times he does not find himself edifyed or any impression left upon his mind but if on the other hand after listning to it attentively he still remains unmoved or is rather dejected we must believe there is nothing in it that is weighty or sublime but that it is an empty sound which strikes the ear and reaches not the mind 'T is an infallible sign of a lofty Speech when it sets our thoughts a working and has that effect over us which 't is difficult if not impossible to withstand leaving behind a strong remembrance and Idea of the things we have heard In a word you may conclude a piece to be Sublime and Elegant when there is a pleasing Symmetrie throughout For when a great Assembly of men of as different humors and inclinations as age or profession are equally touch'd with a Speech that concurrence of opinions and joynt approbation is an undoubted proof of the force and greatness thereof CHAP. VI. Of the five Sources or Heads of Loftiness THere are five principal Heads of Loftiness but they all presuppose a good faculty of speaking as a common foundation without which they cannot stand That therefore being suppos'd the first and most considerable is a regular elevation of thought As is already shewn in our remarks upon Xenophon The second consists in being pathetical by which is meant that Enthusiasm and Natural vehemency which touches and affects us These two first we owe chiefly to Nature and have from our Cradles whereas the two latter do partly depend upon Art The third is nothing but figures diversly fashioned And those are of two sorts figures in thoughts and figures in words The fourth shall be a staetliness of Expression Which may be subdivided into two parts viz. the choice of words and elegant figurative Phrases The fifth and last whence properly speaking all greatness is derived and which includes the other four is the ordering and well placing of sentences according to their magnificence and dignity Now then as to every one in particular but by the way let me mind you that Cecilius has forgot some of these and amongst the rest that of being Pathetical which if he has done out of an Opinion that it always goes hand in hand with loftiness and that both make but one he is mightily deceived Since there are some passions which are void of all greatness as trouble fear and sorrow and again many Sublime and lofty things without any passion at all As is that which Homer says of the * These were the Gyants Odyss l. 11. Aloydes By them vast Pelion was on Ossa thrown To storm the skies and snatch the Heavenly Crown Nay he goes yet further Sure they had done it too c. And in prose Panegyricks and such sort of Speeches made only for Ostentation may be full of greatness and sublimity tho' there be no passion So that amongst Orators themselves that which is most pathetical is least fit for Panegyrick and on the other hand that which is most proper for Panegyrick is least able to affect the Passions But if Celicius believes that the being Pathetical does no ways contribute to loftiness and therefore not worth mentioning he is as grosly mistaken for I dare be bold to say there is nothing sets off speech more than a genteel movement and a passion well carried on To be short 't is a kind of Enthusiasm or divine rapture which is the life and vigour of speech CHAP. VII Of loftiness of Thought THough of the five things whereof we have spoken the first and most material viz. the Elevation of the fancy be rather a gift of Heavens than a qualification altogether to be acquired yet