Henry Peachum., The Garden of Eloquence (1593): Schemas

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SCHEMATES RHETORICAL

Schemates Rhetorical be those figures or forms of speaking, which do take away the wearisomnesse of our common speech, and do fashion a pleasant, sharpe, and evident kind of expressing our meaning: which by the artificiall forme doth give unto matters great strength, perspicuitie and grace, which figures be devided into three orders.

The first order

The first order containeth those figures which do make the oration plaine, pleasant, and beautifull, pertaining rather to words then to sentences, and rather to harmonie and plesant proportion, then to gravitie and dignitie, and the figures of this first order I devide into fower kinds, according to their sundrie formes, of which the first are of Repetition, the second of Omission, the third of conjunction, the fourth of separation.

Figures of Repetition.

• Epanaphora
• Epiphora
• Symploce
• Ploce
• Diaphora
• Epanalepsis
• Anadiplosis
• Epizeuxis
• Diacope
• Traductio
• Paroemion

These are called the figures or repetition, by which one word may with much comelinesse be rehearsed in diverse clauses, and may ten maner of wayes be pleasantly repeated: and likewise one and the same letter by Paroemion may be repeaated in the beginning of diverse words.

Epanaphora.

Epanaphora, or Anaphora, is a forme of speech which beginneth diverse members, still with one and the same word.

• First in long periods. An example of Cicero in the praises of Pompey: A witnesse is Italie, which Lucius Cilla being bictor confessed, was by the vertue and counsell of this man delivered: A witnesse is Celicia, which being environed on every side with many and great dangers, he set at libertie, not with terror of warre, but quicknesse of counsel: A witnesse is Africa, which being opprest with great armies of enemies, flowed with the blood of slaine men: A witnesse is France, through which a way was made with great slaughter of Frenchmen for our armies into Spaine: A witnesse is Spaine, which hath very often seene, that by this man many enemies have ben overcome and vanquished.
• By short periods, Examples of holy Scriptures: The Lord sitteth above the water floods. The Lord remaineth a king for ever. The Lord shall give strength unto his people. The Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace. Psal.29.
• By Comaes. An example of Scripture: Whom they loved, whom they served, whom they ran after, whom they sought and worshipped. Jerem.8.
• By Interrogation: Where is the wise? Where is ye Scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? 1.Cor.1.
• By a double Epanaphora in an Antithesis, thus, The covetous man is ever poore. The contented man is alwayes rich. The covetous man is an enemie to him selfe. The contented man is a friend to others. The covetous man is full of care. The contented man is full of comfort.
• By a certaine increase in the clauses following, thus, I desire you for the love I have borne to you, for the love you have borne to me, and for the love which our good God doth beare to us all, that you will remember these my last words, uttered with my last breath.

The use of this figure.

1.To repate a word of importance.

The use hereof is chiefly to repeate a word of importance, and effectuall signification, as to repeate the cause before his singular effects, or contrariwise the effect before his severall causes,

2.To delight the eare.

or any other word of princiapll accompt. It serveth also pleasantly to the eare, both in the respects of the repetition, and also of the varietie of the new clause.

The Caution.

Although this figure be an exornation of great use, yet it may be too often used in an oration. Secondly ye repetitions ought not to be many, I meane the word ought not to be repeated too oft, as some do use it, in a most wearisome Tautalogie. Thirdly heede ought to be taken, that the word which is least worthie or most weake, be not taken to make the repetition, for that were very absurd.

This text is based on the following book(s):
The Garden of Eloquence (1593). Henry Peachum. Delmar, New York 12054. Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, Inc. 1977.
ISBN: 0-8201-1225-9

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