XI. Let us begin with the stile, which at first sight seems the most
easy part of all: how difficult and arduous is it, to hit upon that
precise medium which is suitable to, and required for history? It should
neither be vulgar nor poetic, although if a writer will content himself
with only avoiding those two extremes, he may without much difficulty
hit upon one, (especially if he is of the numerous set which nature has
limited, and does not permit to go beyond a middling stile) that neither
borders on the vulgar, nor is tinged with the poetic, and is equally
distant from the croaking of the raven, and the chant of the swan. But
by being contented with this, the narrative would be left without grace,
and the history without attraction. This medium is not reprehensible,
but it is insipid. Some of those who undertake to write histories are
incapable of arriving so far as this degree of excellence; and they are
very few, who can go beyond it. These few have many dangerous rocks
and shoals in their way; and it is extremely difficult now and then to
avoid striking upon one or other of them. Affectation is the most common
fault that is incurred, and also the worst; for a barbarous expression
is less disgusting to me than an affected one; as a clown cloathed in
his ordinary habit, set off with rustic trappings, is less unpleasing
in my eye, than a person finely dressed in a gay suit, bedecked with
jewels, which are ill chosen, and aukwardly disposed. The first dresses
himself humbly and in character; the second is adorned fantastically and
ridiculously. All in the stile, which is not natural, is contemptible;
and although a natural colour gives beauty to the face; whenever
we perceive it is imitated with artificial ingredients, it appears
disgusting to us.
XII. To the danger of running into an affected stile, there is annexed
another, which is, the hazard of that appearing affectation to the
reader, which is not so. Some judge so grossly in this matter, as to
think, that whatever does not appear natural to them, seems unnatural to
every body else. Sometimes envy excites an illiberal censurer to call a
stile affected, when he does not think it so; and occasions him, like an
ill-tempered woman, who has a bad skin, to exclaim that all those who
have better complexions have created them by means of artificial paints
and washes. But, after all, the hazards that an author is exposed to from
the quarter of ignorance, and the envy of readers, are unavoidable; and,
if he was to be discouraged by this, there are none but ignorant and dull
writers who would venture to take pen in hand. Let him who deserves some
applause content himself with having deserved it; and make himself happy
with this reflection, that there will not be wanting those who will do
justice to his merit. Nor should he attempt any punishment of an envious
man, but leave the execution of that business to himself; for nobody
could impose on him a more cruel one than that which is inflicted by his
own furious rancour, that is incessantly gnawing his heart.