one other preliminary is neceffary; which is, to explain the difference between a natural style, and that where tranfpofition or inverfion prevails. There are, it is true, no precife boundaries between them, for they run into each other like the fhades of different colours. No perfon, however, is at a lofs to distinguish them in their extremes: and it is neceffary to make the distinction; because tho' fome of the rules I fhall have occafion to men.. tion are common to both, yet each have rules peculiar to itself. In a natural style, relative words are by juxtapofition connected with thofe to which they relate, going before or after, according to the peculiar genius of the language. Again, a circumstance 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 circumstance 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 the present fubject, it will be neceffary to examine it more narrowly, and in particular to trace the several degrees in which an inverted style recedes more and more from that which is natural. And firft, as to the placing a circumstance before

the

the word with which it is connected, I obferve, that it is the easiest of all inverfion, 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 profess, &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 atmost terrors of conscience, 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 degrees; for the disjunction is more violent in fome instances than in others. And to give a just notion of the difference, there is a neceffity to enter a little more into an abstract fubject, than would otherwife be my inclination.

In nature, tho' 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

but as belonging to fome fubject: it makes indeed a part of the idea which is formed of the fubject. But the oppofite holds not; for tho' I cannot form a conception of a fubject void of all qualities, a partial conception may be formed of it, abstracting 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 horse without regard to his fize. Such partial conception of a subject, is ftill more easy with respect 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 easy than to form an idea of a body at reft. 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 fuggests must subsist 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 circumstance between the fubftantive and its connections. This liberty, therefore, however frequent, will scarce alone be fufficient to denominate a style inverted. The cafe is very different, where the word that occupies the first place denotes a quality or an action; for as these cannot be conceived without a fubject, they cannot without greater violence be feparated from the subject that follows;

and

and for that reafon, every fuch feparation, by means of an interjected circumftance belongs to an inverted ftyle.

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 perfuaders, quicken'd at the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so 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 mystic dance not without fong, refound
His praise.

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

Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and all our wo,
With lofs of Eden, till one greater man

Restore us, and regain the blissful feat,
Sing heav'nly muse.

Upon the firm opacous globe

Of this round world, whose first convex divides

The

The luminous inferior orbs inclos'd

From chaos and th' inroad of darkness 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 confined to the natural order of ideas. I fhall foon have opportunity to make it evident, that by inverfion a thousand beauties may be compaffed, which must be relinquifhed in a natural arrangement. In the mean time, it ought not to escape obfervation, that the mind of man is happily fo conftituted as to relish inverfion, tho' in one respect unnatural; and to relish it fo much, as in many cafes to admit a feparation between words the most intimately connected. It can fcarce be faid that inverfion has any limits; tho' I may venture 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 :

2

He