Not to public speakers alone, however, is the study of Elocution necessary. In a country where literature furnishes not only the most delightful occupation to the solitary student, but a favourite entertainment to the social circle, the art of reading with propriety and elegance forms an essential part of a polite education. While the splendid productions of genius, which are constantly issuing from the British press, and which diffuse an unexampled lustre over our age and country, afford the most refined pleasure to polished society, the power of reading them with due effect must necessarily confer no small degree of distinction. Nor is this to be valued merely as an exterior accomplishment. Here the ear and the understanding afford mutual aid; and as he alone who can duly appreciate the beauties of his author, can develop them by a judicious and graceful utterance; so he who can read them best, will have the fullest enjoyment of their various charms. So generally is this now understood, that Elocution is daily attracting more of the general attention. Anxious to facilitate the acquisition of so important an accomplishment, the compiler of this volume selected, principally from Walker, the rules which it contains, and the extracts by which these rules are exemplified. The very extensive and rapid circulation of the six former editions, affords him a double gratification,-as a proof, that his labours have been found conducive to the end which he had in view, and as a satisfactory indication of a growing attention to this elegant art. For the use of junior classes, he had previously published the English Learner, the success of which has been fully commensurate with that of the Principles of Elocution; to which, indeed, it forms a natural and proper introduction. He has lately completed his plan by the publication of his Rhetorical Exercises, for the use of those students who have gone through the Principles of Elocution, and are thus prepared for the higher department of the art. These books, he would gladly flatter himself, will be found of peculiar utility to both teachers and pupils; and if they contribute, in any degree, to disseminate among ingenuous youth an ardour for this pleasing and useful study, they will have fully answered his fondest hopes. Edinburgh, January 1, 1825, Page DIFFERENT Methods by which the Principles and Lessons may be General Rules and Observations on Reading and Recitation,. ..............16 .15 CONTENTS. Direct Periods commencing with Participles,......... Sentences depending on Adjectives,.. Compound Commencing Series,............ Compound Concluding Series,.... Sentences containing both a Commencing and a Concluding Series,. Rules for Rhetorical Pauses,....................... SELECT EXTRACTS FOR RECITATION. 1. The Song of Saul before his Last Battle,............. .62 11. On Consistency in Behaviour,.. 12. Interview between an Old Major and a Young Officer,.. 16. How a Modern Lady of Fashion disposes of her Time,. 17. On Pronunciation, or Delivery,.... 18. Discontent, the common Lot of all Mankind,. 19. The Funeral of Mr Betterton,. 20. *The Folly of mispending Time,..... *The Lessons marked thus (*) have the principal inflections marked. 35. The Difficulty of conquering Habit,....... 36. On Cruelty to inferior Animals,... 37. Effects of Sympathy in the Distresses of Others,...... .............................................. ........ 41. The present Life to be considered only as it may conduce to the 43. The Impudent and the Absurd,....................... 44. On Grieving for the Dead,.. 46. On the increased Love of Life with Age,... 5. The Siege of Quebec, and the Death of General Wolfe,.......... ................................... HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL EXTRACTS. 1. Our natural Fondness for History, and its true Use,...................177 & A Comparison of Cæsar with Cato,. .................................................................. 1. True Pleasure defined,..... 2. Religion never to be treated with Levity,........ 3. The Condition of the Wicked,.. 5. Religious Knowledge, a Source of Consolation,.... 6. On the Enlargement of our Intellectual Powers,. .....173 10. Obedience to the Commandments of God will be rewarded,.. 11. The Birth of the Saviour announced,... 185 186 .187 ..187 .....190 5. Lord Lyttelton's Speech on the Repeal of the Act, called the Jew Bill,224 6. Sir John St Aubin's Speech for Repealing the Septennial Act,.....226 7. Sir Robert Walpole's Reply,.... 8. Mr Pulteney's Speech on the Motion for Reducing the Army,......230 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT ELOQUENCE. 1. The Speech of a Roman Officer to his Soldiers,.. 2. Speech of Charidemus to Darius,.. 3. The Scythian Ambassadors to Alexander,... 4. The Beginning of the First Philippic of Demosthenes, 5. Hannibal to his Soldiers,.......... 6. Scipio to the Roman Army,........................................ 8. Confidence in God, * 10. Hope, the Friend of the Brave,...... 11. The Moral Change anticipated by Hope,........... 12. On the Downfal of Poland,.. 13. The Anticipations of Hope,..... 14. The Influence of Hope at the Close of Life, 15. On the Effects of Time and Change,................ 16. On True Dignity,......................................... 20. Song from the Lady of the Lake,....... 21. On the Arrival of the British Army in Portugal,.. 22. From the Bride of Abydos,............................... 26. Lines written on visiting a Scene in Argyleshire,.. 27. Part of a Poem on the Fear of God,... 28. The last Speech of Cyrus,.., 29. A Lady's Salutation to her Garden in the Country,.... |
Get this book in print
0 Reviews Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified Write review |