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not carefully keep them separate by pauses, and at the same time give an additional diversity to the opposing parts by a different shade of sound: that is, if we do not give the former part of the contrast a higher sound, and the latter a somewhat lower.

The same observations will hold good in pronouncing the following passage in Cicero's Oration for Roscius of America.

Therefore, O ye Judges! you are now to consider, whether it is more probable that the deceased was murdered by the man who inherits his estate, or by him, who inherits nothing but beggary by the same death. By the man who was raised from penury to plenty, or by him who was brought from happiness to misery. By him whom the lust of lucre has inflamed with the most inveterate hatred against his own relations; or by him whose life was such, that he never knew what gain was but from the product of his own labours. By him, who, of all dealers in the trade of blood, was the most audacious; or by him who was so little accustomed to the Forum and trials, that he dreads not only the benches of a court, but the very town. In short, ye Judges, what I think most to this point is, you are to consider whether it is most likely that an enemy, or a son, would be guilty of this murder.

The Series.

THERE is a species of sentences, which forms one of the greatest beauties of composition, and which, if well pronounced, is among the most striking graces of delivery: that is, where a number of particular members follow in a series, and form something like a gradation or climax. If we consider the nature of such a sentence, it will, in some measure, direct us to a just pronunciation of it. It is a whole composed of many particulars, arranged in such order as to show each part distinctly, and, at the same time, its relation to the whole. In order to mark these

particulars distinctly, they must not be suffered to blend with each other and at the same time to show that they have a common relation to the whole sentence, they must not be pronounced entirely different. In short, the similitude and diversity in the pronunciation should be an exact picture of the similitude and diversity in the composition. For as a climax in writing ought to rise in force as it proceeds, so the voice, in pronouncing it, ought gradually to increase its force upon every subsequent member. Here is the diversity; but, as the members have a similar form, and stand equally related to the object of the sentence, they ought to have a similar inflexion of the voice. Here is the uniformity: for it is this inflexion or slide of the voice that classes speaking sounds more specifically than any other distinction. But as these particulars, when they form a climax, are really emphatical, and require the falling slide, so every series of particulars, whether they really increase in force or not, may, for the sake of gratifying the ear, and giving an importance to the subject, adopt the falling inflexion likewise. This, however, must be understood only as a general rule.

These observations premised, we may proceed to distinguish the series into two kinds: that, where the series begins the sentence, but does not either end it, or form complete sense; which we may call the commencing series: and that, where the series either ends the sentence, or forms complete sense; which we may call the concluding series. For the pronunciation of these different sentences, we may lay down this general rule.

In a Commencing series, pronounce every particular with the falling inflexion but the last; and in a Concluding series, let every member

have the falling inflexion except the last but one; and this ought to have the falling inflexion likewise, if it be of sufficient length to admit of a pause with a rising inflexion before the end.

In order to convey as clear an idea as possible of the pronunciation of this Figure, a Plate is annexed, delineating the inflexions of Mr. Addison's beautiful description of Milton's Figure of Death. See page 109.

Commencing Series.

To advise the ignorant, relieve the nèedy, comfort the afflícted, are duties that fall in our way, almost every day of our lives. Spectator, No 93.

In our country, a man seldom sets up for a poet without attacking the reputation of all his brothers in the art. The ignorance of the mòderns, the scribblers of the age, the decay of poetry, are the topics of detraction, with which he makes his entrance into the world. Ibid. No 253.

The miser is more industrious than the saint. getting, the fear of losing, and the inability of wealth, have been the mark of satire in all ages.

The pains of enjoying his Ibid. N° 624.

When ambition pulls one way, interest another, inclination a third, and perhaps reason contrary to áll, a man is likely to pass his time but ill, who has so many different parties to please. Ibid. No 162.

As the genius of Milton was wonderfully turned to the sublime, his subject is the noblest that could have entered into the thoughts of man: every thing that is truly great and astonishing, has a place in it: the whole system of the intellectual world, the chaos and the creation, Heaven, Earth, and Héll, enter into the constitution of his poem. Ibid. No 315.

Labour or exercise ferments the hùmours, casts them into their proper channels, throws off redundances, and helps nature in those secret distribútions, without which the body cannot subsist in its vigour, nor the soul act with cheerfulness.

Ibid. No 115.

Were the books of our best authors to be retailed to the public, and every page submitted to the taste of forty or fifty thousand readers, I am afraid we should complain of many fat expressions, trivial observations, beaten topics, and com. mon thoughts, which go off very well in the lump.

Ibid. No 124.

To preserve in Macbeth a just consistency of character, to make that character naturally susceptible of those desires that were to be communicated to it, to render it interesting to the spectator by some amiable qualities, to make it exemplify the dangers of ambition, and the terrors of remorse, was all that could be required of the tragedian and the moralist.

Mrs. Montague's Essay on Shakespeare, p. 198. The descriptive part of this allegory is likewise very strong, and full of sublime ideas. The figure of Death, the regal crown upon his head, his menace to Sàtan, his advancing to the combat, the outcry at his birth, are circumstances too noble to be passed over in silence, and extremely suitable to this king of terrors. Spectator, N° 310.

Aristotle observes, that the fable of an epic poem should abound in circumstances that are both credible and astonishing. Milton's fable is a master-piece of this nature; as the war in Heaven, the condition of the fallen àngels, the state of innocence, the temptation of the sèrpent, and the fall of mán, though they are very astonishing in themselves, are not only credible, but actual points of faith. Ibid. N° 315.

The inconveniences of attendance on great inen are more lamented than felt. To the greater number, solicitation is its own reward. To be seen in good company, to talk of familiarities of men in power, to be able to tell the freshest nèws, to gratify an inferior circle with predictions of increase or decline of favour, and to be regarded as a candidate for high offices, are compensations more than equivalent to the delay of favours, which, perhaps, he that asks them, has hardly the confidence to expect. Johnson.

Let a man's innocence be what it will, let his virtues arise to the highest pitch of perfection attainable in this life, there will still be in him so many secret sins, so many human frailties, so many offences of ignorance, passion, and prejudice, so many unguarded words and thoughts, and, in short, so many defects in his best actions, that without the advantages of such an expiation and atonement as Christianity has revealed to it is impossible that he should be cleared before his sovereign Judge, or that he should be able to stand in his sight. Spectator, N° 513.

us,

I would fain ask one of those bigotted infidels, supposing all the great points of atheism, as the casual or eternal formation of the world, the materiality of a thinking substance, the mortality of the soul, the fortuitous organization of the body, the motion and gravitation of matter, with the like particulars, were laid together, and formed into a kind of creed, according to the opinions of the most celebrated atheists; I say, supposing such a creed as this were formed and imposed upon any one people in the world, whether it would not require an infinitely greater measure of faith than any set of articles which they so violently oppose? Spectator, N° 168.

Concluding Series.

Our lives, says Seneca, are spent either in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the púrpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. Ibid. No 93.

It was necessary for the world that arts should be invented and improved, books written, and transmitted to postérity, nations conquered and cìvilized. Ibid. No 255.

All other acts of perpetuating our ideas, except writing or printing, continue but a short time: statues can last but a few thousands of years, edifices féwer, and colours still fewer than édifices. Ibid. No 166.

This persuasion of the truth of the Gospel, without the evidence which accompanies it, would not have been so firm and so dùrable; it would not have acquired new force with àge, it would not have resisted the torrent of tíme, and have passed from age to age to our own days.

Life consists, not of a series of illustrious actions, or elegant enjoyments; the greater part of our time passes in compliance with necessities, in the performance of daily duties, in the removal of small inconvéniences, in the procurement of petty pleasures. Johnson.

A man has frequent opportunities of mitigating the fierceness of a party, of doing justice to the character of a deserving man, of softening the envious, quieting the ángry, and rectifying the prejudiced; which are all of them employments suited to a reasonable nature, and bring great satisfaction to the person who can busy himself in them with discretion. Spectator.

Though we seem grieved at the shortness of life in general, we are wishing every period of it at an end. The minor longs to be at age, then to be a man of business, then to make up an estate, then to arrive at hónors, then to retire. Ibid. No 93.

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