Monsieur Bossu's Treatise
OF THE
EPICK POEM.
BOOK VI.
Concerning the Thoughts and
the Expression.
CHAP. I.
The Foundation of this Doctrine.
The Doctrine of the Thoughts and that of the Expression stand upon the same Foundation. Both This and That is nothing else but the Art of imprinting on our Auditors such Ideas as we would have them receive. It seems as if this Notion belonged rather to the Expressions than the Thoughts; since the Thoughts being nothing else but Ideas, one would imagine that if they were well Expressed, that would be sufficient to imprint them on the minds of the Hearers. But you will see that this is not enough, if you reflect, that there is a great deal of difference between making any one comprehend what we think and have a mind to, and the inspiring into him the same Inclinations, and the same Thoughts. A good Ex-
pression
