Thaumasmus.
Thaumasmus in Latine Admiratio, is a forme of speech, by which the Orator declareth how much hee marvelleth at something as either why a thing is done, or left undone, or at some strange effect, whose secret cause maketh him to wonder.
An Example of Job. βHe doth great things, and unsearcheable, yea marvellous things without number.β
Job.9.10.
Another: βO the deepenes of the riches, of the wisedome and knowledge of God, & c.β
Rom.11.
Holy men have alwaies had the works and wisedome of God, in great reverence and admiration, to the extolling of his glory, and open confession of their own wickednesse.
By this figure the Orator sometime wondereth, at the boldnesse and pudency of wicked deedes.
Sometime at the negligence of men, in not preventing danger, or at their brutish security when the battel axe of desruction hangeth over their heads.
Sometime at impunitie, when he seeth great wickednesse pass free without punishment or rebuke.
Sometime at the accusation of some person, in whom he hath a good opinion.
The use of this figure.
The vertue of this Figure is very great and Emphaticall in a prudent Orator, and serveth to sundry and excellent purposes, as in praising highly persons or things: As when the Orator declareth his admiration at their goodnesse and excellency.
Excelent to praise and commend. |
In dispraising most hatefully: As by wondering that such a notorious
2. Most apt to dispraise or rebuke. |
& wicked person is not either cut off by ye lawes of men, or destroied by the judgements of God. In reproving and rebuking, as in saying: I marvell or wonder much what moved you to do it, or to be so far overseene as to take it once in hand: & likewise in blaming the negligence and omission of some necessarie and profitable thing, and that by a marvelling at the cause: to speake briefly, it hath many uses, and is very significant, and Emphaticall.
The Caution.
The speciall parts of this Caution do tend to give warning that this forme of speech be note used to marvell at common things, or small matters, and also that it be too often used, lest too
2. At common things, or smal matters. |
common a custome of admiration and wondring weakeneth the strength of it, and impaireth the dignitie, and may also betoken an ignorance in the speaker, according to the common saying, Qui saepe admiratur neceire videtur.
