Ecphonsis..
Ecphonesis of the Latines called Exclamatio, is a forme of speech by which the orator through some vehement affection, as either of love, hatred, gladnesse, sorrow, anger, marvelling, admiration, feare, or such like, bursteth foorth into an exclamation or outcrie, signifying thereby the vehement affection or passion of his mind.
Examples of the love, this example of David. “O how amiable are thy tabernacles thou Lord of hosts?”
Psalm.84
Another of Solomon: “O lord how gratious and sweet is thy spirit?”
Sap.12.
Of Hatred? O most wicked presumption, from whence art thou sproong up to cover the earth with falshood and deceit?
Of joy or gladnesse, an example of the Apostle Paul: O Death where is thy sting? O Grave where is thy victorie?
O how joyfull a thing is mercy in the time of anguish and trouble?
Of sorrow, an example of Ieptha: Alas my daughter thou hast brought me low.
Another: O lamentable miserie, alas for pitie.
Of anger: O cursed tyrannie, O most detestable crueltie.
Another of the Apostle Paul: “O full of all subtiltie and deceit, thou child of the divell, & c.”
Act.13.
Of marvelling: O man what art thou? which disputest with God, & c.
Another, “O the deepenesse of the riches of the wisedome and knowledge of God, & c.”
Rom.11.
Of feare: “O thou man of God flee such thinges.”
1.Tim.6.
This is worthy by the way to be noted, that albeit singuler examples are here set for the explication of singular affections or passions, yet notwithstanding many and iverse affections may meete and joyne in causing of our exclamation, as may be seene in the example of Paul to Timothie last expressed: O man of God flee such things.
The causes of this exlamation are more than one: There is love in Paul toward Timothie, for because he loveth him he disswadeth him from danger. There is feare in Paul, for that which he possesseth by love, he feareth lest it should be lsot by negligence.
There is also in Paul an hatred of the evil, from which he doth disswade Timothie. There is in Paul a care of Gods glory lest it should be obscured in his owne servant: all which affections joyning together caused the Apostle to say: O thou man of God flee such thinges.
The use of this figure.
The princpall end of use of this figure is by the vehemency of our voice and utterance to expresse the greatness of our affections
To move the like affection in others. |
and passions, and htereby to move the like affections in our hearers.
The Caution.
There are diverse and necessarie observations to be considered concerning the use of this figure.
First that it be not used without some great cause that may instly move to so vehement a forme of speech, for it is a manifest
1. Not to be used without some great cause. |
token of follie to use an exclamation upon small occasions, and for light causes.
Secondly, that it be not too often used lest it become odious.
2. Often used it becometh odious. |
Thirdly, that it be not applyed unaptly in the partes of a treatise or publick Oration: it were ridiculous to begin a publike speech with this figure, crying, O, or Alasse: it might sooner move
3. Unfit to be in an oration. |
laughter then lamentation.
Fourthly regard ought to be had, that the utterance of the exclamation fall not into an extremitie, either offending in
defect or in excesse, for too low and soft an exclamation, betokeneth
a cold affection, and contrariwise, that which is too much strainde, signifieth either extremeitie of passion, or want of discretion.
Lsstly, that it be not put in the conclusion of an oration or publike speech, for in so doing it might be the cause of merry effect.
