FIGURA
FIGURA
FIGURA.-A rhetorical FIGURE, is a certain kind of change of the ordinary and simple language otherwise used, attended with an accession of power. Moreover that power is twofold. For either it makes the language sweeter, or more weighty, and on both accounts imparts ORNAMENT to the language. Furthermore, Figures impart sweetness, either by a certain kind of sound, or by the sense, or by the copiousness thus produced: for both certain sounds naturally delight the ears and minds of hearers; and a certain conformation of the sentences is sweeter than a different one; in fine, copiousness of expression naturally charms us all. Moreover, Figures have the effect of producing Gravity, either by that same copiousness, if it serves to increase and accumulate the particulars of a subject, or else by moving some mental affection. In fine, Figure is itself double; the one in the words, the other in the sentiments [termed respectively, Figures of diction, and Figures of sentiment]. ERNESTI Init. Rhet. P. II. ch. iii. p. 166. Comp. GLASSII Phil. S. L. V. Tract. ii. p. m. 1989, etc.