humorous incongruity and abruptness that is
sometimes forcible. For example, after the climax ending with the
line--

"Go, teach Eternal Wisdom how to rule,"

Pope adds--

"Then drop into thyself, and be a _fool_."

*40 a. A new construction should not be introduced without cause.*--A
sudden and apparently unnecessary change of construction causes
awkwardness and roughness at least, and sometimes breaks the flow of
the sentence so seriously as to cause perplexity. Thus, write
"virtuous and accomplished," or "of many virtues and accomplishments,"
not "of many virtues and accomplished;" "riding or walking" or "on
foot or horseback," not "on foot or riding." In the same way, do not
put adjectives and participles, active and passive forms of verbs, in
too close juxtaposition. Avoid such sentences as the following:--

"He had good reason _to believe_ that the delay was not _an accident_
(accidental) but _premeditated_, and _for supposing_ (to suppose, or
else, for believing, above) that the fort, though strong both _by art_
and _naturally_ (nature), would be forced by the _treachery of the_
governor and the _indolent_ (indolence of the) general to capitulate
within a week."

"They accused him of being _bribed_ (receiving bribes from) by the
king and _unwilling_ (neglecting) to take the city."

*41. Antithesis adds force, and often clearness.*--The meaning of
_liberal_ in the following sentence is ascertained by the
antithesis:--

"All the pleasing illusions which made _power_(a) _gentle_(b) and
_obedience_(a') _liberal_(b') ... are now to be destroyed."

There is a kind of proportion. As _gentleness_ is to _power_, so
_liberality_ (in the sense here used) is to _obedience_. Now
_gentleness_ is the check on the excess of power; therefore _liberal_
here applies to that which checks the excess of obedience, _i.e._
checks servility. Hence _liberal_ here means "free."

The contrast also adds force. "They aimed at the _rule_(a), not at the
_destruction_(a'), of their country. They were men of great _civil_(b)
and great _military_(b') talents, and, if the _terror_(c), the
_ornament_(c') of their age."

Excessive antithesis is unnatural and wearisome:--

"Who can persuade where _treason_(a) is above _reason_(a'), and
_might_(b) ruleth _right_(b'), and it is had for _lawful_(c)
whatsoever is _lustful_(c'), and _commotioners_(d) are better than
_commissioners_(d'), and _common woe_(e) is named common
_wealt