Hyperbole.
Hyperbole of Cicero called Superlatio, of Quintilian Superiectio, and
it is a sentence or saying surimounting the truth onely for the cause
of increasing or diminishing, not with purpose to deceive by speaking
untruly, but with desire to amplifie the greatnesse or smalnesse of
things by the exceeding similitude.
This figure Cicero useth much in the praises of Pompey, He hath made
saith he (meaning Pompey) moe battels then others have read, and
conquered moe provinces then others have desired. Now in this excesse
of his praise, Cicero meant not so much as he spake, but by making an
incredible report, he doth signifie that the noble actes of Pompey
were so worthy, and his victories so many, that they were almost
incredible.
This figure is either simple or compared. Simple, as to call the
belly of a great glutton bottomlesse him that is most hastie in his
furie braineless, a notable coward hearlesse: who knoweth not that the
meaning of thse sayings is otherwise than the words do properly
expresse? For by this kinde of large speech the excesse of those
vices are aptly signfified.
Another example: Streames of teares gushed out of her eyes, and the
greatnesse of her griefe rent her heart in sunder. Here by these
incredible reports, her incredible lamentation and sorrow is
signified.
This forme of speech is found in the sacred Scriptures, and that in many places. Examples: “David
saith, that his eye is consumed for very heavinesse, and that his
bones are putrified for the sorrow of his sinne.”
Psal.31.10.11.
Job saith, that “his feare was so great, that it did terrifie his
bones, and made them to tremble.”
Job.4.14.
And in another place, he saith ye “his bones did cleane to the skin.”
Job.19.20.
Also Paule saith to the Galathians,
“If it had bene possible you would have plucked out your own eyes &
given them to me.”
Gal.4.15.
Hyperbole is compared two maner of wayes. First by equalitie of
comparison, as, to call a beautifull virgine an Angell, a good man a
Saint, a shrew a devill, a drunkard a swine, an executioner a wolfe.
Secondly by the comparative degree, & that from many places.
1 First from like things, as sweeter then hony, whiter then snow,
lighter then smoke, heavier then lead.
2 Secondly from living creatures, as swifter then the swallow, slower
then the snaile, more loving then the turtle, more odious then the
toade.
3 Thirdly from fained and false gods, as, mightier then Mars, fairer
then Venus, wiser then Pallas, more eloquent then Mercurie.
4 Fourthly from persons fained in fables, as wearier then Sisiphus,
thirstier then Tantalus, more chast then Penelope, more foolish then
Grillus.
5 Fiftly from persons in Comedies, as, more glorious then Thraso, more
covetous then Mitio.
6 Sixtly from persons in histories, as, more envious then Zoilus, more
unkind then Timon, richer Craesus, poorer then Codrus, stronger then
Milo.
7 Seventhly from Nations, as more cruell then a Scithian, more false
then a Cretian, more wanton then a Miletian.
8 Eightly from dignities, offices, and conditions of life, as, more
stately then an Emperour, more vigilant then the watchman, more base
then a swineheard, more vaine then a vice, more hated then a hangman.
The use of this figure.
The use hereof serveth most fitly for amplification, and that
especially when matter require either
to be amplified in the greatest degree, or diminished in the least:
by this figure the
Orator
either lifteth up high or calleth downe low, either stretcheth things to the uttermost length, or presseth them to the least quantitie: so high is the reach, & so wide is the compasse of this figure,
that it mounteth to the highest things, compasseth the widest, and comprehendeth the greatest.
The Caution.
Two things especially are here to be noted and avoyded, the one, that this figure be not used to amplifie trifles, or
diminish the estimation of good things, by the one it becometh a vice of speech called Bomphiologia, by the other it is turned into
2.Defacing of good things. |
Tapinosis: for these two are faults of speech offending in contrary extremities. The other, that albeit matters require (and that worthily) to be amplified, that yet there be not too great an excesse in the
comparison: but that it may be discreetly moderated, ut nequid nimis.
