And with respect to the former, communication of thought being the principal end of language, it is a rule, That perspicuity ought not to be sacrificed to any other beauty whatever. If it should be doubted whether perspicuity be a positive beauty, it cannot be doubted, that the want of it is the greatest defect. Nothing therefore in the structure of language ought more to be studied, than to prevent all obscurity in the expression; for to have no meaning, is but one degree worse than to express it so as not to be understood. Want of perspicuity from a wrong arrangement, belongs to the next branch. I shall give a few examples where the obscurity arises from a wrong choice of words; and as this defect is so common in ordinary writers as to make examples from them unnecessary, I confine myself to the most celebrated authors. * * * * * Livy, speaking of a rout after a battle, Multique in ruina majore quam fuga oppressi obtruncatique. _L. 4. § 46._ Unde tibi reditum _certo subtemine_ Parcæ Rupere. _Horace, epod. xiii. 22._. Qui persæpe cava testudine flevit amorem, _Non elaboratum ad pedem_. _Horace, epod. xiv. 11._ Me fabulosæ Vulture in Appulo, Altricis extra limen Apuliæ, Ludo, fatigatumque _somno_, Fronde nova puerum palumbes Texere. _Horace, Carm. l. 3. ode 4._ Puræ rivus aquæ, silvaque jugerum Paucorum, et segetis certa fides meæ, Fulgentem imperio fertilis Africæ Fallit sorte beatior. _Horace, Carm. l. 3. ode 16._ Cum fas atque nefas exiguo _fine_ libidinum Discernunt avidi. _Horace, Carm. l. 1. ode 18._ Ac spem fronte serenat. _Æneid iv. 477._ There is want of neatness even in an ambiguity so slight as that is which arises from the construction merely; as where the period commences with a member which is conceived to be in the nominative case, and which afterward is found to be in the accusative. Example: “Some emotions more peculiarly connected with the fine arts, I propose to handle in separate chapters[81].” Better thus: “Some emotions more peculiarly connected with the fine arts, are proposed to be handled in separate chapters.” * * * * *