The
author does not strain the muscles of coincidence's arm to bring them
into relation. Then the long arm of coincidence rolled up its sleeves
and set to work with a rapidity and vigour which defy description_.
Modern overdoing, apart from burlesque, is chiefly accidental, and
results not from too much care, but from too little. _The most
irreconcilable of Irish landlords are beginning to recognize that we
are on the eve of the dawn of a new day in Ireland_. 'On the eve of'
is a dead metaphor for 'about to experience', and to complete it with
'the dawn of a day' is as bad as to say, _It cost one pound sterling,
ten_ instead of _one pound ten_.
C. Spoilt Metaphor
The essential merit of real or live metaphor being to add vividness to
what is being conveyed, it need hardly be said that accuracy of detail
is even more necessary in metaphorical than in literal expressions;
the habit of metaphor, however, and the habit of accuracy do not
always go together.
_Yet Taur?s was the Samson who upheld the pillars of the Bloc._
_Yet what more distinguished names does the Anglican Church of the
last reign boast than those of F.D. Maurice, Kingsley, Stanley,
Robertson of Brighton, and even, if we will draw our net a little
wider, the great Arnold?_
_He was the very essence of cunning, the incarnation of a book-thief._
Samson's way with pillars was not to uphold them; we draw nets closer,
but cast them wider; and what is the incarnation of a thief? too, too
solid flesh indeed!
D.
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