_On laisse aux Discours du Peuple les manieres de s'appliquer en Proverbes._ 'Tis for the Vulgar only to express themselves by Proverbs. But what are Proverbs, _&c._ to _Collier_'s huddling of Metaphors, a Vice in Eloquence which is hardly taken Notice of in _English_ Writings; _To be always pouring in Oil, is the Way to overset the Flame and extinguish the Lamp: If you lay a Country constantly under Water, you must spoil the Soil._ Here Fire and Water most lovingly agree together to do the same Business. _To overset a Flame_ is a fine Way of speaking, and as easily to be conceiv'd, as to overset a Cockboat or a _Wherry_. Again, _I fancy we shall sift the Gentleman to the Bran, and make him run the Gauntlet before he gets clear._ The _Bran_ Gentleman having run the Gauntlet, we will add one Instance more, and have done with his Metaphors; _They will glean up the best Thoughts, they will draw of the Spirit of the Argument when the Mine has been work'd by such Hands._ The _Gleaner_, the Chymist, and the Miner, are at once at work for him in the same short Sentence. If the Writer or Reader's Head can be clear under such Operations, it will be a Wonder. The _Spectator_ has a Remark on this Subject, equally pleasant and judicious: _Thus I have known a Heroe compar'd to a_ Thunder-bolt, _a_ Lion, _and the_ Sea, all _and each of them proper Metaphors for Impetuosity, Courage, and Force; but by bad Management it hath so happen'd, that the_ Thunder-bolt _hath overflow'd the Banks, the_ Lion _has been darted through the Skie, and the Billows have roll'd not of the_ Lybian _Desart_; neither of which is so bad as _Collier_'s burning and drowning the same Thing at the same Time.