And brought into the world a world of wo.
—— Begirt th’ almighty throne
Beseeching or besieging——
Which tempted our attempt——
At one slight bound high overleap’d all bound,
—————— With a shout
Loud as from numbers without number.
One should think it unnecessary to enter a caveat against an expression that has no meaning, or no distinct meaning; and yet somewhat of this kind may be found even among good writers. These make a sixth class.
Sebastian. I beg no pity for this mould’ring clay.
For if you give it burial, there it takes
Possession of your earth:
If burnt and scatter’d in the air; the winds
That strow my dust, diffuse my royalty,
And spread me o’er your clime; for where one atom
Of mine shall light, know there Sebastian reigns.
Dryden, Don Sebastian King of Portugal, act 1.
Cleopatra. Now, what news my Charmion?
Will he be kind? and will he not forsake me?
Am I to live or die? nay, do I live?
Or am I dead? for when he gave his answer,
Fate took the word, and then I liv’d or dy’d.
Dryden, All for Love, act 2.
If she be coy, and scorn my noble fire,
If her chill heart I cannot move;
Why, I’ll enjoy the very love,
And make a mistress of my own desire.
Cowley, poem inscribed, The Request.
His whole poem, inscribed, My Picture, is a jargon of the same kind:
—————— ’Tis he, they cry, by whom
Not men, but war itself is overcome.
Indian Queen.
Such empty expressions are finely ridiculed in the Rehearsal:
Was’t not unjust to ravish hence her breath,
And in life’s stead to leave us nought but death?
Act 4. sc 1.