I would have things so excelling, and so wholly possessing the imagination of him that hears, that he should have something else to do, than to think of words.

The way of speaking that I love, is natural and plain, the same in writing as in speaking, and a sinewy and muscular way of expressing a man's self, short and pithy, not so elegant and artificial as prompt and vehement; "Haec demum sapiet dictio, qux feriet;" ["That has most weight and wisdom which pierces the ear." ("That utterance indeed will have a taste which shall strike the ear.") -- Epitaph on Lucan, in Fabricius, Biblioth.

Lat., ii.

10.] rather hard than wearisome; free from affectation; irregular, incontinuous, and bold; where every piece makes up an entire body; not like a pedant, a preacher, or a pleader, but rather a soldier-like style, as Suetonius calls that of Julius Caesar; and yet I see no reason why he should call it so.

I have ever been ready to imitate the negligent garb, which is yet observable amongst the young men of our time, to wear my cloak on one shoulder, my cap on one side, a stocking in disorder, which seems to express a kind of haughty disdain of these exotic ornaments, and a contempt of the artificial; but I find this negligence of much better use in the form of speaking.