There might be fome particular Rules given to find the Emphatical Word, fuch as thefe:

ift, When a Question is asked, the Emphafis often lies on the questioning Word, fuch as who, what, when, whither; as Who is there? What is the Matter? Whither did you go? But 'tis not always fo, as, Who was the strongest, or the wifeft Man? In which Sentence wifeft and strongest are the Emphatical Words.

2dly, When two Words are fet in Oppofition one to the other, and one of them is pronounced with an Emphafis, then the other fhould have an Emphafis alfo; as, If they run, we will run, for our Feet are as good as theirs. In this Sentence they and we, ours and theirs, are the Emphatical Words.

In reading a Difcourfe which we know not before, fometimes we happen to place the Emphafis very improperly; then we must read the Sentence over again, in order to pronounce it with a proper Sound: But when a Person speaks his own Mind,

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or reads a Difcourfe which he is acquainted with, he fcarce ever gives the Emphasis to the wrong Word. To make it appear of how great Importance it is to place the Empbafis aright, let us confider, that the very Senfe and Meaning of a Sentence is oftentimes very different, according as the Accent or Emphafis is laid upon different Words; and the particular Defign of the Speaker is diftinguish'd hereby, as in this short Question, May a Man walk in at the Door now? If the Emphafis be laid upon the Word Man, the proper Ne gative Answer to it is, No, but a Boy may. If the Emphafis be laid on the Word walk, the Anfwer is, No, but he may creep in. If the Emphafis be put on the Word Door, the Anfwer will be, No, but he may at the great Gate; and if the Emphasis be placed on the Word now, the negative Anfwer is plainly this, No, but he might Fefterday. And let us but confider how impertinent either of thefe Anfwers would be, if the Inquirer did not lay the Emphafis

on

on the proper Word, that should give the true Meaning of his Queftion.

Take the utmoft Care therefore in Reading, to diftinguish the Emphatical Word; for the Beauty and Propriety of Reading depends much upon it and that every Reader may fully understand me, I would lay down these four particular Rules concerning the Emphafis.

ift, Carefully avoid Uniformity of Voice, or reading without any Emphafis at all; like a meer ignorant Boy, who knows not what he reads, expreffing every Word with the fame Tone, and laying a peculiar Force of Sound no where: for fuch a one pronounces the most pathetic Oration, as tho lie were conning over a meer Catalogue of fingle Words,

2dly, Do not multiply the Accents, nor change the Tone of your Voice fo often as to imitate Singing or Chanting for this is another Extreme, and as faulty as the former. The Reader fhould not make new Emphases beyond the Defign of the Writer; and therefore,

3dly, Take heed of laying a Stress or Accent on Words where there ought to be none. Some Perfons have got a very unhappy Cuftom of placing a ftrong Sound on Words, not fo much according to their Sense, as according to the Length of the Sentence, and the Capacity of their Breath to hold out in pronouncing it: therefore you fhall find them ftrengthen their Tone perhaps at the End of every Line or Comma; and others fhall do it perhaps only at a Colon, or a Period. Now tho toward the End of a Sentence, the Voice fhould ufually fuffer an agreeable Turn, yet not always grow louder; for the Emphatical Word may ftand perhaps in the Middle of the Sentence, where there is no Stop at all. But this leads me to the fourth Rule.

4thly, Have a care of omitting the Accent, or Eniphafis, where it ought to be placed; for this will make the Sentence lofe, all its Force, and oftentimes conceal the Meaning of it. - from the Hearer.

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Perhaps I have been too tedious here; but if these Rules are not observed in Reading, the Speech of the finest Orator, with all the nobleft Ornaments of Eloquence, will become flat, and dull, and feeble, and have no Power to charm or perfuade.

CHAP. XVI.

Obfervations concerning the Letters in printed Books, and in

I.

Writing

T

www.tubite". HE Twenty-four Letters are called the Alphabet, because Alpha, Beta, are the Names of the two firft Greek Letters A and B. Note that the great Letters are called Capitals, and the others Small.

2. The round, full, and upright Print is called the Roman, as, Father. The long, narrow, and leaning Letters are called Italic, or Italian, as Father. The old Black Letter is cal-led the English, as father.