HORAT. Carm. lib. i. ode 27.
Eighthly, If crowding figures be bad, it is still worse to graft one figure upon another: For instance,
While his keen falchion drinks the warriors lives.
Iliad, book xi. l. 211.
A falchion drinking the warriors blood, is a figure built upon resemblance, which is passable. But then in the expression, lives is again put for blood; and by thus grafting one figure upon another, the expression is rendered obscure and unpleasant.
Ninthly, Intricate and involved figures, that can scarce be analyzed, or reduced to plain language, are least of all tolerable:
Votis incendimus aras. Æneid, book iii. l. 279.
————— Onerentque canistris
Dona laboratæ Cereris Æneid, book viii. l. 180.
Arma æri facienda viro: nunc viribus usus,
Nunc manibus rapidis, omni nunc arte magistra:
Præcipitate moras. Æneid, book viii. l. 441.
————— Huic gladio, perque ærea scuta,
Per tunicam squalentem auro, latus haurit apertum.
Æneid, book x. l. 313.
Scruberis Vario fortis, et hostium
Victor, Mæonii carminis alite.