Page:A Dissertation on Reading the Classics and Forming a Just Style.djvu/223

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the Nature of the Subject, is the chief Commendation of an Historian's Style. History giveth us a Draught of Facts and Transactions in the World. The Colours these are painted in, the Strength and Significancy of the several Faces: the regular Confusion of a Battel: the Distractions of a Tumult sensibly depicted: every Object, and every Occurrence so presented to Your View, that while You read, You seem indeed to see them; this is the Art and Perfection of an historical Style. And Your Lordship will observe, that those who have excelled in History, have excelled in this especially, and what

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hath