CHAPTER VIII.

OF TWO SORTS OF STYLES.

There be two sorts of _styles_. The one _continued_, or to be _comprehended at once_; the other _divided_, or _distinguished_ by periods.

The first sort was in use with ancient writers; but is now out of date. An example of this _style_ is in the history of Herodotus; wherein there is no period till the end of the whole history.

In the other kind of _style_, that is distinguished by periods, a _period_ is such a part as is perfect in itself; and has such length, as may easily be comprehended by the understanding.

This latter kind is pleasant, the former unpleasant; because this appears finite, the other infinite. In this the hearer has always somewhat set out, and terminated to him; in the other he foresees no end, and has nothing finished to him. This may easily be committed to memory, because of the measure and cadence; which is the cause that verses be easily remembered: the other not.

Every sentence ought to end with the _period_, and nothing to be interposed.

_Period_ is either _simple_, or _divided into parts_.

_Simple_, is that which is _indivisible_; as, _I wonder you fear not their ends, whose actions you imitate_.

A _period divided_, is that which not only has perfection and length convenient for respiration, but also _parts_. As, _I wonder you are not afraid of their ends; seeing you imitate their actions_: where in these words, _I wonder you are not afraid of their ends_, is one _colon_ or _part_; and in these, _seeing you imitate their actions_, another: and both together make the period.

The _parts or members_, and _periods_, of speech, ought neither be _too long_, nor _too short_.

_Too long_, are they which are produced beyond the expectation of the hearer. _Too short_, are they that end before he expects it.

Those that be _too long_, leave the hearer behind; like him that walking goes beyond the usual end of the walk, and thereby out-goes him that walks with him.

They that be _too short_, make the hearer stumble; for when he looks far before him, the end stops him before he be aware.

A _period_ that is _divided_ into parts, is either _divided only_; or has also an _opposition_ of the _parts_ one to another.

_Divided only_ is such as this; _This the senate knows, the consul sees; and yet the man lives_.

A _period_ with _opposition of parts_, called also _antithesis_, and the parts _antitheta_, is when _contrary parts_ are put together, or also joined by a third.

Contrary parts are put together as here; _The one has obtained glory, the other riches; both by my benefit_.

_Antitheta_ are therefore acceptable, because not only the _parts_ appear the better for the _opposition_, but also for that they carry with them a certain appearance of that kind of enthymeme, which leads to _impossibility_.

_Parts_ or _members_ of a _period_, are said to be _equal_, when they have altogether, or almost, equal number of syllables.

_Parts_ or _members_ of a _period_, are said to be _like_, when they _begin_ or _end_ alike: and the more _similitudes_, and the greater _equality_ there is of syllables, the more graceful is the period.

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