Some of the sub-vowel elements, in certain combinations, admit of quantity; the aspirates, seldom. Quantity upon the consonant elements, is inadmissible at the beginning of syllables. In reading or reciting sublime pieces, or solemn passages of Scripture, care must be taken not to give quantity to every syllable, nor the same long quantity to every word. Words require a greater or less degree, according to their real or comparative importance. To avoid monotony, and that disagreeable tone which consists in a recurrent melody, the voice must not be permitted to rest, for many moments, on the same pitch. It must be constantly undergoing such changes as sentiment demands in the rising, falling, and circumflex inflections.

Quantity cannot be given, without considerable compass of voice. The term, in its most extended sense, implies volume or fulness of sound. In elocution, as in music, a sound may be either loud or soft on the same note. Speakers and readers who wish to excite the admiration of their hearers, would do well to increase their compass of voice, instead of raising their key. Quantity, in its perfection,

-"Comes o'er the ear, like the sweet south,
Which breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odor.".

The other elements of expression, are pitch, force, and quality, or kind of voice; each of which is of consequence, because every syllable must be sounded, either on a higher or lower key; it must have more or less force, and have some one quality of voice, as well as consume more or less time in its utterance. It is, however, deemed unnecessary to bestow special attention upon any of the elements of expression, in this work, except quantity.

It is believed that teachers who introduce this work into their schools, academies, or colleges, and gentlemen who may peruse it, will exercise good taste enough to pitch the voice, and give it that quality and degree of force which circumstances, sentiments, or pieces may require.

The different combinations of the four elements which are here mentioned, and the most important of which, it need not be repeated, is quantity, produce all the varieties of expression, of which the writer has any knowledge.

Emphasis, the laws of which should not be, by any means, disregarded, results from force and pitch combined. It consists in elevating the voice and giving it a forcible stress upon words or syllables. To prevent emphasis from being confounded with quantity, as well as with a view to elucidate its meaning, it will be treated of in the next article.

ON EMPHASIS.

By emphasis, is meant a particular and forcible utterance of significant words, so as to convey their meaning in the most lively and striking manner. It consists chiefly in the Loudness of the note in which they are uttered. It imparts brilliancy to composition. It requires that words which are the most important in sense, be made the most manifest to the ear of the hearer.

No precise rules can properly be laid down to regulate the application of emphasis. In order that it may be cor. rectly used, the exact import of what is read, must be understood. To avoid that jerking emphasis which is some. times witnessed on the part of readers and speakers, let them employ a portion of quantity. Emphasis and quantity, judiciously combined, constitute the very soul of delivery. A caution, however, must be given against uniting them too frequently. Emphasis itself, is inseparably associated with sentiment and emotion. Thoughts, to which it is given, should beam from the eye and play upon the countenance, before they are uttered. A speaker or reader should be enamoured with his subject. It should fill his heart. Then will emphatic stress be spontaneous, natural, and deeply impressive.

Cicero says, that "every emotion of the mind has naturally its peculiar countenance, voice, and gesture, which, like the strings of a musical instrument, act agreeably to the impressions they receive from the mind." The place and amount of emphasis, must be determined by the sense of the passage, and by the exercise of good taste and enlightened reason. An emphatic word is generally, but not always, used antithetically, with some other word or phrase. To assist the student in reading and oratory, a few ex

amples will now be given, in which the emphatic words are distinguished. Let it not be supposed that the same quantity of emphasis is due to each word thus marked. It will be perceived from the following specimens, that emphatic stress is sometimes absolute.

ABSOLUTE EMPHASIS.

"I warn you, do not dare to lay your hands on stitution."

"Why will ye die?”

the con

"Has the gentleman done, has he completely done?"

"Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that; for the last ten years.'

"We must fight.”

"Conquest awaits you."

"To arms! to arms!"

"Who dares to tremble, by this weapon, dies."

"UP! comrades, UP!"

"Haste! pass the seas. Fly hence! Begone!"

"Soldiers! stand firm."

"On! on! ye brave. Rise! fellow-men !"

"Back, to the infernal pit, I drag thee chained. WHENCE and what art thou, execrable shape?"

"Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.”

EMPHATIC STRESS BY CONTRAST, OR ANTITHETIC EMPHASIS.

"Virtue, not rolling suns, the mind matures.” "The man of wisdom, is the man of years." "But own man born to live, as well as die."

"Virtue alone outbuilds the pyramids ;
Her monuments shall last, when Egypt's fall,"

"High worth is elevated place."

"Short pleasures for long woes are to succeed."

"Kind souls, what! weep you, when you but behold Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here! Here is HIMSELF.”

"And wisdom at one entrance, quite shut out."

"At thirty, man suspects himself a fool."

"Thou sun! of this world both eye and soul, Acknowledge Him thy greater."

"A day, an hour of virtuous liberty, is worth a whole eternity of bondage."

"Oh! swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon," "O, Death, the good man's dearest friend."

"The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds."

“And Nathan said to David, thou art the man,”

"Then said the chief priests of the Jews, to Pilate : Write not, the king of the Jews; but that he said, I am king of the Jews."

"Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

“And Paul said: I wonld to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and ALTOGETHER Such as I am, except these bonds,"

"And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes."

"But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.'

"Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?”

"I came not to baptize, but to preach the GOSPEL.”

"The queen of the south came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold! a greater than Solomon is here."

"It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”

"If you seek to make one rich, study not to increase his stores, but to diminish his desires."

Alexander." I could honor thy courage, but I detest and must punish thy crimes."

Robber. "What have I done, of which you can complain.'

Gomez." Silence, or tremble!

Orozembo." Beardless robber! I never yet have learned to tremble before man: why before thee, thou less than

man ?"

Rolla.-"That soldier, mark me, is a man. All are not men that wear the human form."

Dionysius" What wonder's this? Is he thy brother?

Pythias.-No, not quite my brother!
Not—yes, he is he is my brother!

Dion.-Damon, is this a quibble of thy school?
Damon.-No quibble, for he is not so in kin,
Not in the fashion that the world puts on,
But brother in the heart!"

Othello.-"What dost thou mean?

Iago.-Good name in man, and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls;