Page:A Dissertation on Reading the Classics and Forming a Just Style.djvu/150

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Offences against

arise from the Confusion of the Writer's Thoughts, and his Want of proper Words. If a Man hath not a clear Perception of the Matters he undertaketh to treat of, be his Style never so plain as to the Words he useth, it never can be clear; and if his Thoughts upon his Subject be never so just, and distinct; unless he hath a ready Command of Words, and a Faculty of easy Writing in plain obvious Expressions, the Words will perplex the Sense, and cloud the Clearness of his Thoughts.

It is the Unhappiness of some, that they are not able to express themselves clearly:

Their