These, perhaps, and the like, might be reduced to the Head of Descriptions; but they are very short and imperfect ones, and, if I may so speak, are from their very Imperfection the more perfect. The Mind of Man does not love to have every Thing too minutely laid before it; it pleases itself in having Room for Exercise, and to walk alone, as it were, without leading.
There are many other Things, which Poets chuse to express paraphrastically, and in short Descriptions, rather than in simple Terms. Every Body is acquainted with the usual little Images they give us (the larger ones I have at present nothing to do with) of the Morning, Night, Noon, and Evening; as
[36]Oceanum interea surgens Aurora reliquit.
Mean while Aurora rising from the Sea.
[37] Vertitur interea cœlum, & ruit Oceano nox.
Mean while the Hemisphere rolls round, and Night Swift rushes from the Sea.
[38] Nunc etiam pecudes umbras & frigora captant, Nunc virides etiam occultant spineta lacertas.
Our Cattle now the cooling Shades enjoy, Now the green Lizards lurk in prickly Brakes.
[39] Et jam summa procul villarum culmina fumant, Majoresque cadunt altis de montibus umbræ.
And now the Village Tops at Distance smoke. And lofty Shades from lofty Mountains fall.