_SIR_,
[Sidenote: IV.]
The fourth thing to be consider'd is, _Virgil_'s _mixing the Singular
and Plural Numbers_. This has a wonderful Effect, and is very
diligently attended to by _Virgil_; but I believe never once thought
of by _Ovid_, or any other _Roman_ Writer in the Days of _Augustus_.
"_Quid faciat lætas_ Segetes, _quo sidere_ terram
_Vertere, Mæcenas, ulmisque adjungere_ vites,
_Conveniat: quæ cura boum, qui cultus habendo
Sit_ pecori, apibus _quanta experientia parcis_.
Here you have _segetes_ and _terram_, and then _vites_, and after that
_pecori_ and _apibus_.
Again,
"--_Camposque, & flumina late
Curva tenent: ut molle_ siler, _lentæque_ genistæ,
Populus, & _glauca canentia fronde_ Salicta.
_Pars autem posito surgunt de semine: ut altæ_
Castaneæ; _nemorumq; Jovi quæ maxima frondet_
Esculus, _atque habitæ Graiis oracula_ quercus.
Here are _Siler_ and _Genistæ_, _Populus_ and _Salicta_, _Castaneæ_
and _Esculus_, and _Quercus_.
Again,
"Arma Virumque _cano, Trojæ qui primus ab oris_
Italiam, _fato profugus_, Lavinaque _venit_
Litora. _Multum ille &_ terris _jactatus &_ alto,
_Vi_ Superum _sævæ memorem_ Junonis _ob iram.
Multa quoq; & bello passus, dum conderet_ urbem,
_Inferretque_ Deos _Latio_: genus _unde Latinum
Albanique_ patres, _atque altæ moenia Romæ_.
These _two first Words_ of the _Æneid_ are an Example
of what I am taking notice of; and then we have in this Introduction
_Italiam_ and _Litora Lavina_, _Terris_ and _Alto_, _Superum_ and
_Junonis_, _Urbem_ and _Deos_, _Genus_ and _Patres_.
But the most beautiful Passage of this Nature is in the _Georgics_.
Here the thing to be done, and the Instrument with which it is to be
done, are varied alternately.
"_Quod nisi & assiduis_ terram _insectabere_ rastris,
_Et_ sonitu _terrebis_ aves, _& ruris opaci_
Falce _premes_ umbras, votisq; _vocaveris_ imbrem.
Terram _rastris_, sonitu _aves_, falce _umbras_, votis _imbrem_.
Upon which _La Cerda_ makes this Remark:
"_Placet_ Virgilius _semper, sed cur placeat sæpe ignoratur. In
rebus quatuor recensendis numquam pluralem cum plurali, neque
singularem cum singulari, quod minus ad varietatem: sed semper cum
singulari pluralem. Unica terra multis rastris insectanda est, unica
pluvia multis votis petenda. Contra, multæ aves terrendæ unico
sonitu, multæ umbræ unica falce compescendæ._"
Now in _Ovid_ nothing of this Art is to be found.
"_Ante_ mare & tellus, _& (quod tegit omnia)_ coelum,
_Unus erat toto naturæ_ vultus _in orbe,
Quem dixere_ chaos: _rudis indigestáque_ moles,
_Nec quicquam nisi_ pondus _iners_.
Here are _Mare_, _Tellus_, _Coelum_, _Vultus_, _Chaos_, _Moles_, and
_Pondus_, without any one word of the Plural Number amongst them.
V. The next Particular to be taken notice of, is _Virgil_'s uncommon
Use of the Particles _Et_ and _Que_.
"--_Multum ille_ et _terris jactatus_ et _alto_;
_Multa quoque_ et _bello passus_--
Et _premere_, et _laxas sciret dare jussus habenas_.
And more frequently in his most finish'd Piece.
_Quid tibi odorato referam sudantia ligno.
Balsama_que, et _Baccas_--
_Quod nisi_ et _assiduis terram insectabere rastris_,
Et _sonitu terrebis aves_, et _ruris opaci
Falce premes umbras, votis_que _vocaveris imbrem.
Si vero viciam_que _seres, vilem_que _Faselum_.
This Manner of using these connecting Particles, gives Majesty and
Strength to the Verse. It gives Majesty, because it occasions Suspense
and raises the Attention. For Example:
_Si vero Viciam_que _seres_--
Here the _que_ hinders the Sense from being concluded, till you have
read the rest of the Line,
--_Vilemque Faselum._