Page:Home Education by Isaac Taylor (1838).djvu/244

 two only of the sensessight and hearing, made by the precipitous descent of a body of water, are reducible to a hundred and fifty, or more, distinguishable elements, each of which, as denoted by an appropriated term, holds a place in the mind, and may be thought of by itself. But then to these hundred and fifty terms might be added, in the way of opposition, contrast, or negotiation, nearly as many more. Indeed as the descriptive words, assembled in these verses, relate principally to motion and sound, the number might be greatly increased by adding those which convey ideas of colour, light, and shade, and form.

A good exercise, with the view of assembling the contrasted terms, might be found in describing the sullen majesty of the Ganges, in its course through the jungled swamps of Bengal; and the materials for such descriptions are at hand in every library. But it should be remembered that, whereas, in geographical descriptions, such as those recommended in the last chapter, the precise intention is merely to bring the scene vividly before the mind, in the most concise and appropriate terms, the intention in the present case is, to accumulate, or may I say, to conglomerate, words and phrases, so as to familiarize the mind with the copia verborum, as related to any particular aspect or accident of visible nature. It is another and a later work, so to instil the principles of good taste, as shall serve to reduce, within due bounds, a too florid or exuberant style. A chaste style is not to be obtained by stinting the mind in its materials, or by chilling the fancy; but by training it to command its conceptions, and to husband its resources. What we are now about is the process of accumulation, apart from which the maxims of severe taste apply to nothing that is positive, and are brought in to regulate{bar|1}}inanity.

It cannot be necessary to specify the many objects and scenes of nature which may be made use of in furnishing