Diacope.
Diacope is a figure which repeateth a word putting but one word betweene, or at least verie few.
An example: I will now frame my song of Jove, how Jove hath dealt with me.
An example of king David, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.”
Psal.57.
The use of this figure.
This figure may be used to expresse any affection, but it is most
fit for a sharpe invective or exprobration, as, Thou knowest not foolish man, thou knowest not the price or value of vertue, and
also an apt ornament for meditation: Thou art my portion O my God, thou art my portion. I have sinned, O thou maker of men, I have sinned, and what shall I do?
The Caution.
The repetition of a wanton or idle word is a vice to be shunned
in this figure, which is a fault (I confesse) in the matter and not in the forme, but the faults in the forme are either in the word repeated or in the interposition: in the word repeated, when it is too short, as to say, O sicke and very sicke, O sicke and like to
2.Too short a word maketh an ill sound. |
die. In the interposition, when likewise it consisteth of too fewe syllables, thus: Will, I say, will is the cause of my wo, which forme of speaking doth rather offend the eare then please it.
