ton'! whose science was truth, and the foundation of whose knowledge of it was philosophy; not those visionary and arrogant presumptions which too often usurp its name, but philosophy resting on the basis of mathematics, which, like figures, cannot lie.-Newton' who carried the line and rule to the utmost barrier of creation, and explored the principles by which, no doubt, all created matter is held together and exists. ACCENT.* GENERAL RULE. Whatever inflection be adopted, the accented syllable is always louder than the rest; but if the accent be pronounced with the rising inflection, the accented syllable is higher than the preceding, and lower than the succeeding syllable; and if the accent have the falling inflection, the accented syllable is pronounced higher than any other syllable, either preceding or succeeding. EXAMPLES. Sooner or later virtue must meet with a rewa`rd. Most certainly virtue will meet with a reward, not punish ment. If virtue must have a rewa'rd, it is our interest to be virtuous. What earthly name to interrogatories, Shall task the free wrath of a sacred king? RULE. Emphasis requires a transposition of accent, when two words which have a sameness in part of their formation, are opposed to each other in the sense. EXAMPLES. This corruptible inust put on in'corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Religion raises men above themselves'; ir'religion sinks them beneath the brutes'.' * Mr. Walker corrects an error into which people generally fall, in observing upon provincial tones, "that such and such a one speaks English with an Irish or Scotch accent." The people of these nations accentuate on precisely the same syllable as the English; the error is in the inflection; the Scotch pronouncing far the greater part of their words with the acute, and the Irish with the grave inflection. For example: Scotch. E'xercise and teꞌmperance strengthen the constitution. Irish. Exercise and temperance strengthen the constitution. whereas, the English judiciously vary the inflection: English. Exercise and temperance strengthen the constitution. EMPHASIS. Emphasis is an earnest, vehement, or expressive signification of one's mind it is a form of speech that indicates more than there is expressed by words, and can be comprehended only from a significant manner of pronunciation. Emphasis may be divided into two branches, viz. explanatory and expressive; by the first is meant that stress of utterance which presents more clearly to conception the meaning of what we deliver. In cases where the sense is doubtful, proper emphasis is indispensably necessary, for instance : 2 8 Did the Englishman deserve to die? Let the reader emphasise this passage alternately on did, Englishman, deserve, and die, and the importance will be obvious. Expressive emphasis is that which we use to render a passage, whose meaning is obvious, more forcible :— He bids the spiry firs arise, The cedar vig'rous pierce the skies, Fearless amid conflicting storms The towering stork his cradle forms High on the sounding bough. In which the characteristics of the fir, cedar, stork, &c. are strikingly indicated by a marked emphasis. RULE. Both the cause and effect, in any sentence, require an emphasis. EXAMPLE. To live well, is to die happy. To be good, is to be great. Guilt is the source of sorrow. EMPHASIS AND INFLECTION. The proper emphatic word being fixed, the particular inflection which should accompany it must be ascertained; for, as the meaning is absolutely perverted by placing the emphasis on a wrong word, so is the sense perverted by putting a wrong inflection on the right word. Rules for this purpose are of little value, simple or complex emphasis being nothing but examples of antitheses. However, they can do no harm. SINGLE EMPHASIS. RULE. When a sentence is composed of a positive and a negative, the positive must have the falling, and the negative the rising inflec tion. EXAMPLES. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God! therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Those governments which curb' not evils, cause'! DOUBLE EMPHASIS. RULE. The falling inflection takes place on the first emphatic word, the rising on the second and third, and the falling on the fourth. EXAMPLES. Justice seems most agreeable to the name of God', and mercy' to that of man'. The foulest stain and scandal of our nature Became its boast. One murder makes a villain' Peace' its ten thousands. TREBLE EMPHASIS. RULE. The rising inflection takes place on the first and third, and the falling on the second of the first three emphatical words; the first and third of the other three have the falling, and the second has the rising inflection. EXAMPLES. The difference between a madman and a fool is, that the former reasons justly from false' data, and the latter erroneously' from just data. The generous fragrant spirit is a power Which in the virtuous mind doth all things conquer. It lifts the saint' to heaven. CLIMAX. Climax is that progressive force and exaltation of expression which more powerfully impresses each subject on the mind, and is not only of indispensable use but highly ornamental. In the execution of climax there is much nicety, as the rise in most cases should be gradual, always harmonious, and upon many occasions very forcible. EXAMPLE. If these,* As I am sure they do, bear fire enough To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour The speech of Brutus must be delivered with a smooth, philosophic weight and dignity. To prick us to redress? What other bond That this shall be, or we will fall for it. The great attraction in elocution consists in increasing the volume of the voice, and then permitting it to dissolve in softness. And rapid urge the way, Till, dying off-the distant-sounds decay. It is not loudness that conveys sound the greatest distance; it is perfection in modulating the words. Garrick was an example in this particular; he was distinctly heard in the softest sound of his voice, when others were barely intelligible, though offensively loud. (See MODULATION.) This essential quality was chiefly owing to the speaker's dwelling with nearly uniform loudness on the whole length of every syllable, and confining the extent of the accents, acute and grave, within the compass of four or five tones; and also to adopting in general a deliberate, instead of a rapid measure of delivery. One more instance of Climax, of a fervid nature: EXAMPLE. Come, show me what thoul't do! Woot weep, woot fast-woot fight? woot tear thyself- I'll do't! Dost thou come hither but to whine? Be buried quick with her, and so will I! And if thou prats't of mountains, let them heap Singeing its pate against the burning zone, MODULATION. The art of harmonious expression is distinguished by the term Modulation; for a better comprehending of which, let us borrow a division from Music-counter-tenor, tenor, and base; or upper, medium, and lower notes.* * HARMONY IN SPEECH. A graceful or musical cadence of the voice is, of all other qualities in the art of speaking, the least cultivated and the least understood. We have reason to believe that the ancients cultivated this species of harmony from principles as fixed and regular as those from which we learn to play upon an instrument. They considered the voice in three views, viz. in that of conversation, in that of singing, and in that of reciting or declaiming. The voice of conversation they distinguished by the term continued, that is, it was more even and uniform, and more confined in its gradations. The voice of song was variable and extensive; and the voice of oratorical declamation, or of pronouncing verses, was a medium between that of conversing and singing. The two former species of voice we use daily amongst us; but the latter is almost entirely unknown. It rose and flourished in Athens, and perished in the ruins of Rome. Cicero What some men are prompted to do by conscience, duty, or religion, which are only different names for the same thing', others are prompted to do by honour'. The very first Of human life must spring from woman's breast, RULE 6. At the end of a Concession use the Rising Inflection. EXAMPLES. Were there no bad men in the world to vex and distress the good, the good might appear in the light of harmless innocence'; but they could have no opportunity of displaying fidelity, magnanimity, patience, and fortitude." One may be a speaker, both of much reputation and much influence, in the calm argumentative manner; but to attain the pathetic and sublime in oratory, requires those strong sensibilities of mind, and that high power of expression, which are given to few. This, however, I say concerning the Greeks I grant them learning, the knowledge of many sciences; I do not deny that they have wit, fine genius, and eloquence; nay, if they lay claim to many other excellencies, I shall not contest their title'; but this I must say, that nation never paid a proper regard to the religious sanctity of public evidence, and are total strangers to the obligation, authority, and importance of truth. RULE 7. Inverted periods* require the Rising Inflection, with a considerable pause between their two principal constructive parts. EXAMPLES. Though I would have you consider the present life as a state of probation, and the future as a certain rectifier and recorder of all the good and evil committed here'; yet live innocently, live honestly, and, if possible, apart of that interesting consideration. By a multiplicity of words, the sentiments are not set off and accommodated'; but, like David equipped in Saul's armour, they' are encumbered and oppressed. I can desire to perceive those things that God has prepared for those that love him'; though they be such as eye hath not seen, ear heard nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive. When the first part of a sentence forms perfect sense, and yet is modified or determined in the latter, it is said to be inverted. |