should be alternated with what other, and the places where it
162 ON ciiniSTiAN DOCTRINE. [dooi: :v.
once it has been sufficiently excited, tlic lii;^^lier the pitch to whicli it is raised, can be maintained the shorter time. And therefore we must be on our guard, lest, in striving to carry to a higher point the emotion we have excited, we rather lose what we have already gained. But after the interposition of matter that we have to treat in a quieter style, we can return with good effect to that which must be treated forcibly, thus making the tide of eloquence to ebb and flow like the sea. It follows from this, that the majestic style, if it is to be long continued, ought not to be unvaried, but should alternate at intervals with the other styles ; the speech or wTiting as a whole, however, being referred to that style which is the prevailing one.
CuAP. XXIII. How the various styles should he mingled.
52. Now it is a matter of importance to determine what style should be alternated with what other, and the places where it is necessary that any particular style should be used. In the majestic style, for instance, it is always, or almost always, desirable that the introduction should be temperate. And the speaker has it in his discretion to use the subdued style even where the majestic would be allowable, in order that the majestic when it is used may be the more majestic by comparison, and may as it were shine out with greater brilliance from the dark background. Again, whatever may be the style of the speech or writing, when knotty questions turn up for solution, accuracy of distinction is required, and this naturally demands the subdued style. And accordingly tliis style must be used in alternation with the other two styles whenever questions of that sort turn up ; just as we must use
A the temperate style, no matter what may be the general tone
whenever praise or blame is to be given i without any ulterior reference to the condemnation or acquittal of any one, or to obtaining the concurrence of any one in a course of action. In the majestic style, then, and in the quiet likewise, both the other two styles occasionally find place. The temperate style, on the other hand, not indeed always, but occasionally, needs the quiet style ; for example, when, as
I have said, a knotty question comes up to be settled, or when some points that arc susceptible of ornament are left unadorned