TITLE. AUTHOR. PAGE. 1. Anecdote of the Duke of Newcastle Blackwood's Magazine. 63 2. The Needle Samuel Woodworth. 67 3. Dawn Edward Everett. 68 4. Description of a Storm Benjamin Disraeli. 70 5. After the Thunderstorm James Thomson. 72 6. House Cleaning Francis Hopkinson. 73 7. Schemes of Life often Illusory Samuel Johnson. 78 8. The Brave Old Oak Henry Fothergill Chorley. 81 9. The Artist Surprised 82 10. Pictures of Memory Alice Cary. 88 11. The Morning Oratorio Wilson Flagg. 90 12. Short Selections in Poetry:
I. The Cloud John Wilson. 94
II. My Mind William Byrd. 94
III. A Good Name William Shakespeare. 95
V. Sunrise James Thomson. 95
V. Old Age and Death Edmund Waller. 95
VI. Milton John Dryden. 96
13. Death of Little Nell Charles Dickens. 96 14. Vanity of Life Johann Gottfried von Herder. 100 15. A Political Pause Charles James Fox 102 16. My Experience in Elocution John Neal. 104 17. Elegy in a Country Churchyard Thomas Gray. 108 18. Tact and Talent 113 19. Speech before the Virginia Convention Patrick Henry. 115 20. The American Flag Joseph Rodman Drake. 119 21. Ironical Eulogy on Debt 121 22. The Three Warnings Hester Lynch Thrale. 124 23. The Memory of Our Fathers Lyman Beecher. 128 24. Short Selections in Prose: I. Dryden and Pope Samuel Johnson. 130 II. Las Casas Dissuading from Battle R.B. Sheridan. 130 III. Action and Repose John Ruskin. 131 IV. Time and Change Sir Humphry Davy. 131 V. The Poet William Ellery Channing. 132 VI. Mountains William Howitt. 132 25. The Jolly Old Pedagogue George Arnold. 133 26. The Teacher and Sick Scholar. Charles Dickens. 135 27. The Snow Shower William Cullen Bryant. 141 28. Character of Napoleon Bonaparte Charles Phillips. 143 29. Napoleon at Rest John Pierpont. 146 30. War Charles Sumner. 148 31. Speech of Walpole in Reproof of Mr. Pitt Sir R. Walpole. 151 32. Pitt's Reply to Sir Robert Walpole William Pitt. 152 33. Character of Mr. Pitt Henry Grattan. 154 34. The Soldier's Rest Sir Walter Scott. 156 35. Henry V. to his Troops William Shakespeare. 158 36. Speech of Paul on Mars' Hill Bible. 160 37. God is Everywhere Joseph Hutton. 161 38. Lafayette and Robert Raikes Thomas S. Grimke'. 163 39. Fall of Cardinal Wolsey William Shakespeare. 167 40. The Philosopher John P. Kennedy. 171 41. Marmion and Douglas Sir Walter Scott. 176 42. The Present Adelaide Anne Procter. 178 43. The Baptism John Wilson. 180 44. Sparrows Adeline D. Train Whitney. 185 45. Observance of the Sabbath Gardiner Spring. 186 46. God's Goodness to Such as Fear Him Bible. 189 47. Character of Columbus Washington Irving. 192 48. "He Giveth His Beloved Sleep." Elizabeth B. Browning. 195 49. Description of a Siege Sir Walter Scott 197 50. Marco Bozzaris Fitz-Greene Halleck. 202 51. Song of the Greek Bard Lord George Gordon Byron. 205 52. North American Indians Charles Sprague. 209 53. Lochiel's Warning Thomas Campbell. 211 54. On Happiness of Temper Oliver Goldsmith. 215 55. The Fortune Teller Henry Mackenzie. 218 56. Renzi's Address to the Romans Mary Russell Mitford. 221 57. The Puritan Fathers of New England F. W. P. Greenwood. 223 58. Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers Felicia Dorothea Hemans. 226 59. Necessity of Education Lyman Beecher. 228 60. Riding on a Snowplow Benjamin Franklin Taylor. 231 61. The Quarrel of Brutus and Cassius William Shakespeare. 284 62. The Quack John Tobin. 238 63. Rip Van Winkle Washington Irving. 242 64. Bill and Joe Oliver Wendell Holmes. 240 65. Sorrow for the Dead Washington Irving. 249 66. The Eagle James Gates Percival. 251 67. Political Toleration Thomas Jefferson. 253 68. What Constitutes a State? Sir William Jones. 255 69. The Brave at Home Thomas Buchanan Read. 256 70. South Carolina Robert Young Hayne. 257 71. Massachusetts and South Carolina Daniel Webster. 259 72. The Church Scene from Evangeline H. W. Longfellow. 262 73. Song of the Shirt Thomas Hood. 266 74. Diamond cut Diamond. E'douard Rene' Lefebvre-Laboulaye. 269 75. Thanatopsis William Cullen Bryant. 275 76. Indian Jugglers William Hazlitt. 278 77. Antony over Caesar's Dead Body William Shakespeare. 281 78. The English Character William Hickling Prescott. 286 79. The Song of the Potter. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.290 80. A Hot Day in New York William Dean Howells. 292 81. Discontent.—An Allegory Joseph Addison. 295 82. Jupiter and Ten. James T. Fields. 301 83. Scene from "The Poor Gentleman" George Colman. 303 84. My Mother's Picture William Cowper. 310 85. Death of Samson John Milton. 312 86. An Evening Adventure 315 87. The Barefoot Boy John Greenleaf Wittier. 317 88. The Glove and the Lions James Henry Leigh Hunt. 321 89. The Folly of Intoxication William Shakespeare. 322 90. Starved Rock Francis Parkman. 325 91. Prince Henry and Falstaff. William Shakespeare. 327 92. Studies. Sir Francis Bacon. 332 93. Surrender of Granada. Sir Edward George Bulwer-Lytton. 334 94. Hamlet's Soliloquy. William Shakespeare. 339 95. Ginevra Samuel Rogers. 340 96. Inventions and Discoveries John Caldwell Calhoun. 344 97. Enoch Arden at the Window Alfred Tennyson. 347 98. Lochinvar Sir Walter Scott. 350 99. Speech on the Trial of a Murderer Daniel Webster. 352 100. The Closing Year George Denison Prentice. 355 101. A New City in Colorado Helen Hunt Jackson. 358 102. Importance of the Union Daniel Webster. 362 103. The Influences of the Sun John Tyndall. 364 104. Colloquial Powers of Franklin William Wirt. 366 105. The Dream of Clarence William Shakespeare. 368 106. Homeward Bound Richard H. Dana, Jr. 371 107. Impeachment of Warren Hastings T. B. Macaulay. 375 108. Destruction of the Carnatic Edmund Burke. 379 109. The Raven Edgar Allan Poe. 382 110. A View of the Colosseum Orville Dewey. 389 111. The Bridge Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.392 112. Objects and Limits of Science Robert Charles Winthrop. 394 113. The Downfall of Poland. Thomas Campbell. 396 114. Labor Horace Greeley. 398 115. The Last Days of Herculaneum Edwin Atherstone. 401 116. How Men Reason Oliver Wendell Holmes. 405 117. Thunderstorm on the Alps Lord Byron. 408 118. Origin of Property Sir William Blackstone. 410 119. Battle of Waterloo Lord Byron. 415 120. "With Brains, Sir" John Brown. 417 121. The New England Pastor Timothy Dwight. 410 122. Death of Absalom Bible. 420 123. Abraham Davenport John Greenleaf Whittier. 424 124. The Falls of the Yosemite Thomas Starr King. 426 125. A Psalm of Life Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.429 126. Franklin's Entry into Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin. 431 127. Lines to a Waterfowl William Cullen Bryant. 434 128. Goldsmith and Addison William Makepeace Thackeray. 435 129. Immortality of the Soul Joseph Addison. 438 130. Character of Washington Jared Sparks. 440 131. Eulogy on Washington Henry Lee. 444 132. The Solitary Reaper William Wordsworth. 446 133. Value of the Present Ralph Waldo Emerson. 447 134. Happiness Alexander Pope. 451 135. Marion William Gilmore Simms. 453 136. A Common Thought Henry Timrod. 456 137. A Definite Aim in Reading Noah Porter. 457 138. Ode to Mt. Blanc Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 462
NAME PAGE NAME PAGE 75. PITT 152 93. TAYLOR, B. F, 231 76. POE, EDGAR ALLAN 382 94. TENNYSON 347 77. POPE 451 95. THACKERAY 435 78, PORTER, NOAH 457 96. THOMSON, JAMES 72, 95 79. PRENTICE, GEO. D. 355 97. THRALE. HESTER LYNCH 124 80. PRESCOTT 286 98. TIMROD, HENRY 456 81. PROCTER, ADELAIDE ANNE l78 99. TOBIN, JOHN 238 82. READ, T. B. 256 100. TYNDALL 364 83. ROGERS, SAMUEL 340 101. VON HERDER. J. G. 100 84. RUSKIN, JOHN 131 102. WALLER, EDMUND 95 85. SCOTT 156,176,197,350 103. WALPOLE 151 86. SHAKESPEARE. 95, 158, 167 104. WEBSTER 259, 352, 362 234, 281, 322, 327, 339, 368 105. WHITNEY, ADELINE D. T. 185 87. SHERMAN, R. B. 130 106. WHITTIER 317, 424 88. SIMMS, WILLIAM GILMORE 453 107. WILSON, JOHN 94, 180 89. SPARKS, JARED 440 108. WINTHROP, R.C. 394 90. SPRAGUE, CHARLES 209 109. WIRT, WILLIAM 366 91. SPRING, GARDINER 186 110. WOODWORTH, SAMUEL 67 92. SUMNER 148 111. WORDSWORTH 440
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. (10)
Page Drawn by Engraved by
GINEVRA Frontspiece H. F. Farney. Timothy Cole.
DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 65 H. F. Farney. F.Juengling
GRAY'S ELEGY 112 Thomas Moran. Henry Bogert.
MARMION 177 C. S. Reinhart. J. G. Smithwick.
THE QUACK 240 Howard Pyle. J. P. Davis.
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND 272 Alfred Kappes. Timothy Cole.
THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS 321 H. F. Farney. Smithwick and French.
HERCULANEUM 401 Charles D. Sauerwein. Francis S. King.
The subject of Elocution, so far as it is deemed applicable to a work of this kind, will be considered under the following heads, viz:
Articulation is the utterance of the elementary sounds of a language, and of their combinations.
As words consist of one or more elementary sounds, the first object of the student should he to acquire the power of uttering those sounds with distinctness, smoothness, and force. This result can be secured only by careful practice, which must be persevered in until the learner has acquired a perfect control of his organs of speech.
An Elementary Sound is a simple, distinct sound made by the organs of speech.
The Elementary Sounds of the English language are divided into Vocals,
Subvocals, and Aspirates.
Vocals are sounds which consist of pure tone only. They are the most prominent elements of all words, and it is proper that they should first receive attention. A vocal may be represented by one letter, as in the word hat, or by two or more letters, as in heat, beauty. A diphthong is a union of two vocals, commencing with one and ending with the other. It is usually represented by two letters, as in the words oil, boy, out, now.
Each of these can he uttered with great force, so as to give a distinct expression of its sound, although the voice be suddenly suspended, the moment the sound is produced. This is done by putting the lips, teeth, tongue, and palate in their proper position, and then expelling each sound from the throat in the same manner that the syllable "ah!" is uttered in endeavoring to deter a child from something it is about to do; thus, a'—a'—a'—.
Let the pupil he required to utter every one of the elements in the Table with all possible suddenness and percussive force, until he is able to do it with ease and accuracy. This must not he considered as accomplished until he can give each sound with entire clearness, and with all the suddenness of the crack of a rifle. Care must be taken that the vocal alone be heard; there must be no consonantal sound, and no vocal sound other than the one intended.
At first, the elementary sounds may be repeated by the class in concert; then separately.
Long Sounds.
Sound as in
a hate e err a hare i pine a pass o no a far oo cool a fall u tube e eve u burn
Short Sounds.
Sound as in
a mat o hot e met oo book i it u us
Diphthongs. oi, oy, as in oil, boy. ou, ow, as in out, now.
REMARK I.—In this table, the short sounds are nearly or quite the same, in quantity, as the long sounds. The difference consists chiefly in quality. Let the pupil determine this fact by experiment.
REMARK II.—The vocals are often represented by other letters or combinations of letters than those used in the table: for instance, a is represented by ai as in hail, by ea as in steak, etc.
REMARK III.—As a general rule, the long vocals and the diphthongs should be articulated with full, clear utterance; but the short vocals have a sharp, distinct, and almost explosive utterance. Weakness of speech follows a failure to observe the first point, while drawling results from carelessness with respect to the second.
Subvocals are those sounds in which the vocalized breath is more or less obstructed.
Aspirates consist of breath only, modified by the vocal organs.
Words ending with subvocal sounds may be selected for practice on the subvocals; words beginning or ending with aspirate sounds may be used for practice on aspirates. Pronounce these words forcibly and distinctly, several times in succession; then drop the other sounds, and repeat the subvocals and aspirates alone. Let the class repeat the words and elements, at first, in concert; then separately.
Subvocals. as in
b babe d bad g nag j judge v move th with z buzz z azure (azh-) w wine
Aspirates. as in
p rap t at k book ch rich f life th smith s hiss sh rush wh what
REMARK.—These eighteen sounds make nine pairs of cognates. In articulating the aspirates, the vocal organs are put in the position required in the articulation of the corresponding subvocals; but the breath is expelled with some force, without the utterance of any vocal sound. The pupil should first verify this by experiment, and then practice on these cognates.
The following subvocals and aspirate have no cognates:
SUBVOCAL as in
l mill ng sing m rim r rule n run y yet
h, as in hat.
Substitutes are characters used to represent sounds ordinarily represented by other characters.
a o what y i hymn e a there c s cite e a freight c k cap i e police ch sh machine i e sir ch k chord o u son g j cage o oo to n ng rink o oo would s z rose o a corn s sh sugar o u worm x gz examine u oo pull gh f laugh u oo rude ph f sylph y i my qu k pique qu kw quick
The most common faults of articulation are dropping an unaccented vowel, sounding incorrectly an unaccented vowel, suppressing final consonants, omitting or mispronouncing syllables, and blending words.
1. Dropping an unaccented vocal.
gran'a-ry gran'ry a-ban'don a-ban-d'n im-mor'tal im-mor-t'l reg'u-lar reg'lar in-clem'ent in-clem'nt par-tic'u-lar par-tic'lar des'ti-ny des-t'ny cal-cu-la'tian cal-cl'a-sh'n un-cer'tain un-cer-t'n oc-ca'sion oc-ca-sh'n em'i-nent em'nent ef'i-gy ef'gy ag'o-ny ag'ny man'i-fold man'fold rev'er-ent rev'rent cul'ti-vate cult'vate
2. Sounding incorrectly an unaccented vowel.
lam-en-ta'-tion lam-un-ta-tion ter'ri-ble ter-rub-ble e-ter'nal e-ter-nul fel'on-y fel-er-ny ob'sti-nate ob-stun-it fel'low-ship fel-ler-ship e-vent' uv-ent cal'cu-late cal-ker-late ef'fort uf-fort reg'u-lar reg-gy-lur
The vocals most likely to be dropped or incorrectly sounded are italicized.
He attended divine service regularly.
This is my particular request.
She is universally esteemed.
George is sensible of his fault.
This calculation is incorrect.
What a terrible calamity.
His eye through vast immensity can pierce.
Observe these nice dependencies.
He is a formidable adversary.
He is generous to his friends.
A tempest desolated the land.
He preferred death to servitude.
God is the author of all things visible and invisible.
3. Suppressing the final subvocals or aspirates.
John an' James are frien's o' my father.
Gi' me some bread.
The want o' men is occasioned by the want o' money.
We seldom fine' men o' principle to ac' thus.
Beas' an' creepin' things were foun' there.
He learned to write.
The masts of the ship were cast down.
He entered the lists at the head of his troops.
He is the merriest fellow in existence.
I regard not the world's opinion.
He has three assistants.
The depths of the sea.
She trusts too much to servants.
His attempts were fruitless.
He chanced to see a bee hovering over a flower.
4. Omitting or mispronouncing whole syllables.
Correct is improperly pronounced
Lit'er-ar-ry lit-rer-ry co-tem'po-ra-ry co-tem-po-ry het-er-o-ge'ne-ous het-ro-ge-nous in-quis-i-to'ri-al in-quis-i-to-ral mis'er-a-ble mis-rer-ble ac-com'pa-ni-ment ac-comp-ner-ment
He devoted his attention chiefly to literary pursuits.
He is a miserable creature.
His faults were owing to the degeneracy of the times.
The manuscript was undecipherable.
His spirit was unconquerable.
Great industry was necessary for the performance of the task.
5. Blending the end of one word with the beginning of the next.
I court thy gif sno more.
The grove swere God sfir stemples.
My hear twas a mirror, that show' devery treasure.
It reflecte deach beautiful blosso mof pleasure.
Han d'me the slate.
This worl dis all a fleeting show,
For man' sillusion given.
The magistrates ought to arrest the rogues speedily.
The whirlwinds sweep the plain.
Linked to thy side, through every chance I go.
But had he seen an actor in our days enacting Shakespeare.
What awful sounds assail my ears?
We caught a glimpse of her.
Old age has on their temples shed her silver frost.
Our eagle shall rise mid the whirlwinds of war,
And dart through the dun cloud of battle his eye.
Then honor shall weave of the laurel a crown,
That beauty shall bind on the brow of the brave.
Inflection is a bending or sliding of the voice either upward or downward.
The upward or rising inflection is an upward slide of the voice, and is marked by the acute accent, thus, ('); as,
Did you call'? Is he sick'?
The downward or falling inflection is a downward slide of the voice, and is marked by the grave accent, thus, ('); as,
Where is London'? Where have you been'?
Sometimes both the rising and falling inflections are given to the same sound. Such sounds are designated by the circumflex, thus, (v) or thus, (^). The former is called the rising circumflex; the latter, the falling circumflex; as,
But nobody can bear the death of Clodius.
When several successive syllables are uttered without either the upward or downward slide, they are said to be uttered in a monotone, which is marked thus, (—); as,
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean—roll
Does he read correctly' or incorrectly'?
In reading this sentence, the voice should slide somewhat as represented in the following diagram:
Does he read cor-rectly or incorrect-ly?
If you said vinegar, I said sugar,
To be read thus:
If you said vinegar, I said sugar,
If you said yes, I said no.
To be read thus:
If you said yes, I said no.
What! did he say no?
To be read thus:
What! did he say no?
He did'; he said no',
To be read thus;
He did; he said no.
Did he do it voluntarily', or involuntarily'?
To be read thus:
Did he do it voluntarily, or involuntarily?
He did it voluntarily', not involuntarily',
To be read thus:
He did it voluntarily, not involuntarily.
Do they act prudently', or imprudently'?
Are they at home', or abroad'?
Did you say Europe', or Asia'?
Is he rich', or poor'?
He said pain', not pain'.
Are you engaged', or at leisure'?
Shall I say plain', or pain'?
He went home' not abroad'.
Does he say able', or table'?
He said hazy' not lazy'?
Must I say flat', or flat'?
You should say flat' not flat'.
My father', must I stay'?
Oh! but he paused upon the brink.
It shall go hard with me, but I shall use the weapon.
Heard ye those loud contending waves,
That shook Cecropia's pillar'd state'?
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
Look up', and tremble at your fate'?
First' Fear', his hand, its skill to try',
Amid the chords bewildered laid';
And back recoiled', he knew not why'
E'en at the sound himself had made'.
Where be your gibes' now? your gambols'? your songs'? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar'?
Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; "I dwell in the high and holy place."
RULE I.—Sentences, and parts of sentences which make complete sense in themselves, require the falling inflection.
1. By virtue we secure happiness'.
2. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven': I will exalt my throne above the stars of God': I will sit, also, upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north'.
3. The wind and the rain are over'; calm is the noon of the day\: the clouds are divided in heaven'; over the green hills flies the inconstant sun'; red through the stormy vale comes down the stream'.
4. This proposition was, however, rejected,' and not merely rejected, but rejected with insult'.
Exception.—Emphasis sometimes reverses this rule, and requires the rising inflection, apparently for the purpose of calling attention to the idea of an unusual manner of expressing it.
1. I should not like to ride in that car'. 2. Look out! A man was drowned there yesterday'. 3. Presumptuous man! the gods' take care of Cato',
RULE II.—The language of emphasis generally requires the falling inflection.
1. Charge', Chester, charge'; on', Stanley, on'.
2. Were I an American, as I am an Englishman, while a single' foreign troop' remained' in my country, I would never' lay down my arms'—never', never', never.'
3. Does anyone suppose that the payment of twenty shillings, would have ruined Mr. Hampden's fortune? No'. But the payment of half twenty shillings, on the principle' it was demanded, would have made him a slave'.
4. I insist' upon this point': I urge' you to it; I press' it, demand' it.
5. All that I have', all that I am', and all that I hope' in this life, I am now ready', here, to stake' upon it.
RULE III.—Interrogative sentences and members of sentences, which can not be answered by yes or no, generally require the falling inflection.
1. How many books did he purchase'?
2. Why reason ye these things in your hearts'?
3. What see' you, that you frown so heavily to-day'?
4. Ah! what is that flame which now bursts on his eye'?
5. Whence this pleasing hope', this fond desire',
This longing after immortality'?
Exception.—When questions usually requiring the falling inflection are emphatic or repeated, they take the rising inflection.
1. Where did you say he had gone'?
2. To whom did you say the blame was to be imputed'?
3. What is' he? A knave. What' is he? A knave, I say.
RULE IV.—The rising inflection is generally used where the sense is dependent or incomplete.
REMARK.—This inflection is generally very slight, requiring an acute and educated ear to discern it, and it is difficult to teach pupils to distinguish it, though they constantly use it. Care should be taken not to exaggerate it.
1. Nature being exhausted', he quietly resigned himself to his fate.
2. A chieftain to the Highlands bound',
Cries', "Boatman, do not tarry!"
3. As he spoke without fear of consequences', so his actions were marked with the most unbending resolution,
4. Speaking in the open air', at the top of the voice', is an admirable exercise.
5. If then, his Providence' out of our evil, seek to bring forth good', our labor must be to prevent that end.
6. He', born for the universe', narrowed his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
REMARK.—The names of persons or things addressed, when not used emphatically, are included in this rule.
7. Brother', give me thy hand; and, gentle Warwick!,
Let me embrace thee in my weary arms.
8. O Lancaster', I fear thy overthrow.
9. Ye crags' and peaks', I'm with you once again.
Exception 1.—Relative emphasis often reverses this and the first rule, because emphasis is here expressed in part by changing the usual inflections.
1. If you care not for your property', you surely value your life'.
2. If you will not labor for your own' advancement, you should regard that of your children'.
3. It is your place to obey', not to command'.
4. Though by that course he should not destroy his reputation', he will lose all self-respect'.
Exception 2.—The names of persons addressed in a formal speech, or when used emphatically, have the falling inflection.
1. Romans, countrymen, and lovers', hear me for my cause, etc.
2. Gentlemen of the jury', I solicit your attention, etc.
3. O Hubert', Hubert', save me from these men.
RULE V.—Negative sentences and parts of sentences, usually require the rising inflection.
1. It is not by starts of application that eminence can be attained'.
2. It was not an eclipse that caused the darkness at the crucifixion of our Lord'; for the sun and moon were not relatively in a position' to produce an eclipse'.
3. They are not fighting': do not disturb' them: this man is not expiring with agony': that man is not dead': they are only pausing'.
4. My Lord, we could not have had such designs'.
5. You are not left alone to climb the steep ascent': God is with you, who never suffers the spirit that rests on him to fail.
Exception 1.—Emphasis may reverse this rule.
We repeat it, we do not' desire to produce discord; we do not' wish to kindle the flames of a civil war.
Exception 2.—General propositions and commands usually have the falling inflection.
God is not the author of sin'. Thou shalt not kill.
RULE VI.—Interrogative sentences, and members of sentences which can be answered by yes or no generally require the rising inflection.
1. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation'?
2. Does the gentleman suppose it is in his power', to exhibit in Carolina a name so bright' as to produce envy' in my bosom?
3. If it be admitted, that strict integrity is not the shortest way to success, is it not the surest', the happiest', the best'?
4. Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens, To wash this crimson hand as white as snow'?
Exception.—Emphasis may reverse this rule.
1, Can' you be so blind to your interest? Will' you rush headlong to destruction?
2. I ask again, is' there no hope of reconciliation? Must' we abandon all our fond anticipations?
3. Will you deny' it? Will you deny' it?
4. Am I Dromio'? Am I your man'? Am I myself'?
RULE VII.—Interrogative exclamations, and words repeated as a kind of echo to the thought, require the rising inflection.
1. Where grows', where grows it not'?
2. What'! Might Rome have been taken'? Rome taken when I was consul'?
3. Banished from Rome'! Tried and convicted traitor'!
4. Prince Henry. What's the matter'?
Falstaff. What's the matter'? Here be four of us have taken a thousand pounds this morning.
Prince H. Where is' it, Jack, where is' it?
Fal. Where is' it? Taken from us, it is.
5. Ha'! laughest thou, Lochiel, my vision to scorn?
6. And this man is called a statesman. A statesman'? Why, he never invented a decent humbug.
7. I can not say, sir, which of these motives influence the advocates of the bill before us; a bill', in which such cruelties are proposed as are yet unknown among the most savage nations.
RULE VIII.—Words and members of a sentence expressing antithesis or contrast, require opposite inflections.
1. By honor' and dishonor'; by evil' report and good' report; as deceivers' and yet true'.
2. What they know by reading', I know by experience'.
3. I could honor thy courage', but I detest thy crimes'.
4. It is easier to forgive the weak', who have injured us', than the powerful' whom we' have injured.
5. Homer was the greater genius', Virgil the better artist'.
6. The style of Dryden is capricious and varied'; that of Pope is cautious and uniform'. Dryden obeys the emotions of his own mind'; Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition.' Dryden is sometimes vehement and rapid'; Pope is always smooth, uniform, and gentle'. Dryden's page is a natural field, rising into inequalities, varied by exuberant vegetation'; Pope's is a velvet lawn, shaven by the scythe and leveled by the roller'.
7. If the flights of Dryden are higher', Pope continues longer on the wing'. If the blaze of Dryden's fire is brighter', the heat of Pope's is more regular and constant'. Dryden often surpasses' expectation, and Pope never falls below' it.
REMARK l.—Words and members connected by or used disjunctively, generally express contrast or antithesis, and always receive opposite inflection.
1. Shall we advance', or retreat'?
2. Do you seek wealth', or power'?
3. Is the great chain upheld by God', or thee'?
4. Shall we return to our allegiance while we may do so with safety and honor', or shall we wait until the ax of the executioner is at our throats'?
5. Shall we crown' the author of these public calamities with garlands', or shall we wrest' from him his ill-deserved authority' ?
REMARK 2.—When the antithesis is between affirmation and negation, the latter usually has the rising inflection, according to Rule V.
1. You were paid to fight' against Philip, not to rail' at him.
2. I said rationally', not irrationally'.
3. I did not say rationally', but irrationally'.
4. I said an elder' soldier, not a better'.
5. Let us retract while we can', not when we must'.
REMARK 3.—The more emphatic member generally receives the falling inflection.
1. A countenance more in sorrow', than anger'.
2. A countenance less in anger', than sorrow'.
3. You should show your courage by deeds', rather than by words.
4. If we can not remove' pain, we may alleviate' it.
A series is a number of particulars immediately following one another in the same grammatical construction.
A commencing series is one which commences a sentence or clause.
Faith, hope, love, joy, are the fruits of the spirit.
A concluding series is one which concludes a sentence or a clause.
The fruits of the spirit are faith, hope, love, and joy.
RULE IX.—All the members of a commencing series, when not emphatic, usually require the rising inflection.
1. War', famine', pestilence', storm', and fire' besiege mankind.
2. The knowledge', the power', the wisdom', the goodness' of God, must all be unbounded.
3. To advise the ignorant', to relieve the needy', and to comfort the afflicted' are the duties that fall in our way almost every day of our lives.
4. No state chicanery', no narrow system of vicious politics', no idle contest for ministerial victories', sank him to the vulgar level of the great.
5. For solidity of reasoning', force of sagacity', and wisdom of conclusion', no nation or body of men can compare with the Congress at Philadelphia.
6. The wise and the foolish', the virtuous and the evil', the learned and the ignorant', the temperate and the profligate', must often be blended together.
7. Absalom's beauty', Jonathan's love', David's valor', Solomon's wisdom', the patience of Job, the prudence of Augustus', and the eloquence of Cicero' are found in perfection in the Creator.
REMARK.—Some elocutionists prefer to give the falling inflection to the last member of a commencing series.
Exception.—In a commencing series, forming a climax, the last term usually requires the falling inflection.
1. Days', months', years', and ages', shall circle away, And still the vast waters above thee shall roll.
2. Property', character', reputation', everything', was sacrificed.
3. Toils', sufferings', wounds', and death' was the price of our liberty.
RULE X.—All the members of a concluding series, when not at all emphatic, usually require the falling inflection.
1. It is our duty to pity', to support', to defend', and to relieve' the oppressed.
2. At the sacred call of country, they sacrifice property', ease', health', applause' and even life'.
3. I protest against this measure as cruel', oppressive', tyrannous', and vindictive'.
4. God was manifest in the flesh', justified in the Spirit', seen of angels', preached unto the Gentiles', believed on in the world', received up into glory'.
5. Charity vaunteth not itself', is not puffed up', doth not behave itself unseemly', seeketh not her own', is not easily provoked', thinketh no evil'; beareth' all things, believeth' all things, hopeth' all things, endureth' all things.
REMARK.—Some authors give the following rule for the reading of a concluding series: "All the particulars of a concluding series, except the last but one, require the falling inflection." Exception l.—When the particulars enumerated in a concluding series are not at all emphatic, all except the last require the rising inflection.
He was esteemed for his kindness', his intelligence', his self-denial', and his active benevolence'.
Exception 2.—When all the terms of a concluding series are strongly emphatic, they all receive the falling inflection.
1. They saw not one man', not one woman', not one child', not one four-footed beast'.
2. His hopes', his happiness', his life', hung upon the words that fell from those lips,
3. They fought', they bled', they died', for freedom.
RULE XI.—A parenthesis should be read more rapidly and in a lower key than the rest of the sentence, and should terminate with the same inflection that next precedes it. If, however, it is complicated, or emphatic, or disconnected from the main subject, the inflections must be governed by the same rules as in the other cases.
REMARK.—A smooth and expressive reading of a parenthesis is difficult of acquisition, and can be secured only by careful and persistent training.
1. God is my witness' (whom I serve with my spirit, in the gospel of his Son'), that, without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my prayers; making request' (if, by any means, now at length, I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God'), to come unto you.
2. When he had entered the room three paces, he stood still; and laying his left hand upon his breast' (a slender, white staff with which he journeyed being in his right'), he introduced himself with a little story of his convent.
3. If you, AEschines, in particular, were persuaded' (and it was no particular affection for me, that prompted you to give up the hopes, the appliances, the honors, which attended the course I then advised; but the superior force of truth, and your utter inability to point any course more eligible') if this was the case, I say, is it not highly cruel and unjust to arraign these measures now, when you could not then propose a better?
4. As the hour of conflict drew near' (and this was a conflict to be dreaded even by him'), he began to waver, and to abate much of his boasting.
RULE XII.—The circumflex is used to express irony, sarcasm, hypothesis, or contrast.
NOTE.—For the reason that the circumflex always suggests a double or doubtful meaning, it is appropriate for the purposes expressed in the rule. It is, also, frequently used in sportive language; jokes and puns are commonly given with this inflection.
1. Man never is, but always to be, blest.
2. They follow an adventurer whom they fear; we serve a monarch whom we love. They boast, they come but to improve our state, enlarge our thoughts, and free us from the yoke of error. Yes, they will give enlightened freedom to our minds, who are themselves the slaves of passion, avarice, and pride. They offer us their protection: yes, such protection as vultures give to lambs, covering and devouring them.
RULE XIII.—The use of the monotone is confined chiefly to grave and solemn subjects. When carefully and properly employed, it gives great dignity to delivery.
1. The unbeliever! one who can gaze upon the sun, and moon, and stars, and upon the unfading and imperishable sky, spread out so magnificently above him, and say, "All this is the work of chance!"
2. God walketh upon the ocean. Brilliantly
The glassy waters mirror back his smiles;
The surging billows, and the gamboling storms
Come crouching to his feet.
3. I hail thee, as in gorgeous robes,
Blooming thou leav'st the chambers of the east,
Crowned with a gemmed tiara thick embossed
With studs of living light.
4. High on a throne of royal state, which far
Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous east, with richest hand
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted sat.
5. His broad expanded wings
Lay calm and motionless upon the air,
As if he floated there without their aid,
By the sole act of his unlorded will.
6. In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds
On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes monarchs.
That syllable in a word which is uttered more forcibly than the others, is said to be accented, and is marked thus, ('); as the italicized syllables in the following words:
morn'ing. pos'si-ble. ty'rant. re-cum'bent. pro-cure'. ex-or'bi-tant, de-bate'. com-pre-hen'sive.
Common usage alone determines upon what syllable the accent should be placed, and to the lexicographer it belongs, to ascertain and record its decision on this point.
In some few cases, we can trace the reasons for common usage in this respect. In words which are used as different parts of speech, or which have different meanings, the distinction is sometimes denoted by changing the accent.
sub'ject sub-ject' pres'ent pre-sent' ab'sent ab-sent' cem'ent ce-ment' con'jure con-jure'
There is another case, in which we discover the reason for changing the accent, and that is, when it is required by emphasis, as in the following:
1. His abil'ity or in'ability to perform the act materially varies the case. 2. This corrup'tion must put on in'corruption.
In words of more than two syllables, there is often a second accent given, but more slight than the principal one, and this is called the secondary accent; as, em"igra'tion, rep"artee', where the principal accent is marked ('), and the secondary, ("); so, also, this accent is obvious, in nav"iga'tion, com"prehen'sion, plau"sibil'ity, etc. The whole subject, however, properly belongs to dictionaries and spelling books.
Emphasis consists in uttering a word or phrase in such a manner as to give it force and energy, and to draw the attention of the hearer particularly to the idea expressed.
This is most frequently accomplished by an increased stress of voice laid upon the word or phrase. Sometimes, though more rarely, the same object is effected by an unusual lowering of the voice, even to a whisper, and not unfrequently by a pause before the emphatic word.
The inflections are often made subsidiary to this object. To give emphasis to a word, the inflection is changed or increased in force or extent. When the rising inflection is ordinarily used, the word, when emphatic, frequently takes the falling inflection; and sometimes, also, the falling inflection is changed into the rising inflection, for the same purpose.
Emphatic words are often denoted by being written in italics, in SMALL
CAPITALS, or in CAPITALS.
Much care is necessary to train the pupil to give clear and expressive emphasis, and at the same time to avoid an unpleasant "jerky" movement of the voice.
Where the emphasis is independent of any contrast or comparison with other words or ideas, it is called absolute emphasis.
1. We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
2. Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean—roll!
3. Arm, warriors, arm!
4. You know that you are Brutus, that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
5. Hamlet. Saw, who?
Horatio. The king, your father.
Hamlet. The king, my father?
6. Strike—till the last armed foe expires;
Strike—for your altars and your fires;
Strike—for the green graves of your sites;
God, and your native land!
Where there is antithesis, either expressed or implied, the emphasis is called relative.
1. We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
2. But I am describing your condition, rather than my own.
3. I fear not death, and shall I then fear thee?
4. Hunting men, and not beasts, shall be his game.
5. He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.
6. It may moderate and restrain, but it was not designed to banish gladness from the heart of man.
In the following examples, there are two sets of antitheses in the same sentence.
7. To err is human, to forgive, divine.
8. John was punished; William, rewarded.
9. Without were fightings, within were fears.
10. Business sweetens pleasure, as labor sweetens rest.
11. Justice appropriates rewards to merit, and punishments to crime.
12. On the one side, all was alacrity and courage; on the other, all was timidity and indecision.
13. The wise man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool, when he gains the applause of others.
14. His care was to polish the country by art, as he had protected it by arms.
In the following examples, the relative emphasis is applied to three sets of antithetic words.