The Works of James Harris Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1801 Excerpt: ...to explain what we mean by the words, seeking the Cause or Reason, as often as we feel works of Art and Ingenuity to affect us. If I might advise a Beginner in this elegant pursuit, it should be, as far as possible, to recur for Principles to the most plain and stmple Truths, and to extend every Theorem, as he advances, to its utmost latitude, so as to make it suit, and include, the greatest number of possible Cases. I Would advise him farther, to avoid subtle and far-fetched Restnement, which, as it is for the most part adverse to Perspicuity and Truth, may serve to make an able Sophift, but never an able Critic. A Word more--I would advise a young Critic, in his Contemplations, to turn his Eye rather to the Praise-worthy than the Blameable; that is, to investigate the Causes of Praise, rather than the Causes of Blame. For tho' an uninformed Beginner may in a single instance happen Part II. happen to blame properly, 'tis more than probable, that in the next he may fail, and incur the Censure past upon the criticizing Coblex, Nesutor ultra crepidam. We are now to inquire concerning Numerous Composition. Thote, who wish to see the origin os this ingenious Proverb, may find it in Flint/, L. XXV. f. 12, and in Vatcrhn Maximm, L. VIII. c. 12. CHAP. II. Numerous Composition--derived from Quantity Syllabic--antiently essential both to Verse and Prose--Rhythm--Peans and Cretics, the Feet for Prose--Quantity Accentual--a Degeneracy from the Syllabic--Inflames of it--first in Latin--then in Greek--Versus Politici--Traces of Accentual Quantity in Terence--essential to Modern Languages, and among others to Englisti, from which last Examples are taken. AS Numerous Composition arises from a just Arrangement of Ch. II. Words-, so is that Arrangement just, when formed upo...