struction of the sentence does not require it, or suspended longer than the ordinary pauses would require. Thus, in briefly describing two persons or objects by contrast or contraries (a figure of speech called antithesis, see p. 141), we naturally express the first clause of the contrast in a little higher tone of voice than we apply to the latter, with a pause, more or less prolonged, between them. Thus: "Homer was the greater genius-Virgil the better artist'." "To your faith add virtue'; to virtue' knowledge'; to knowledge temperance'; to temperance patience'." See, also, the casural pause, p. 330. Sometimes the rhetorical pause is made without any inflection, and sometimes with one. It is denoted by the short superior dash.

PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL APPLICATION. The first and most important is, "Be sure you understand what you read, and endeavor to express the sentiments of the author as you would express the same if they were your own, and you were talking." No one can read well who does not fully adhere to this principle.

In the second place, those who would excel in reading should cultivate every manly and noble virtue; for no one can fully express noble sentiments unless he feels them. Counterfeit imitations will be detected. In the language of Dr. Blair: "A true orator" (and, we may add, a correct and effective reader) "should be a person of generous sentiments, of warm feelings, and of a mind turned toward the admiration of all those great and high objects which mankind are naturally forced to admire. Joined with the manly virtues, he should at the same time possess strong and tender sensibility to all the injuries, distresses, and sorrows of his fellow-creatures; a heart that can readily enter into the circumstances of others, and make their case his own." (See, also, Divisions XX., XXI., and XXII.) ·

REFERENCES TO THE RULES.

Throughout the body of the work the references to the Rules are by figures corresponding to the number of the Rule; and where the reference is to some Note, or division under the Rule, such Note or division is denoted by the letter which is placed before it. Thus, 1, c, refers to Rule I., division c.

KEY TO THE SOUNDS OF THE LETTERS.

Fate, făt, fär, câre, låst, call, what, mēte, mět, thêre, term, prey, pïque, pīne, pin, bird, note, not, dove, pröve, wolf, book, müte, but, rûle, full.

Call, chaise, chorus, gentle, has, thine, lon"ger, vi"cious.

LESSON I.

NARRATION AND DESCRIPTION.

[Analysis.-1. What is Narration? Description?-2. History? Biography ?-8. Further illustrations of narration and description.-4. How the two are cften combined.-5. The requisites for each. Genius requisite to excel in narrative.-6. Poetical narration and description.]

1. NARRATION is a relation of the particulars of transactions or events; as of the march of an army, or the details of a siege. DESCRIPTION is an account of objects and scenes'; as a description of cities, towns, and scenery; of beauties and defects; of characters and attributes.

2. We give a narrative of the events that make up national life'; and this is history'4. In the form of narrative, also, we relate the travels', the adventures', the dangers2, and the escapes of individuals; and this is biography.

3. We give a narrative of that which passes, or of what occurred, as of the events of a journey; and in the same article we may describe the scenes presented to our view. Narration', when confined to a person', is limited to what he does: description relates to what he is. The latter may include whatever distinguishes a man from others', either in his mode of thinking', or acting'; in his habits', in his manners', in his language2, or his tastes'. Both narration and description are employed in fiction', as well as in truthful history'.

4. Furthermore, a narrative is a relation of several connected incidents, in the order in which they occurred; while a description consists in the presentation of several unconnected particulars respecting some common object. Hence,

1, 2, etc. Note.-Observe that the superior figures throughout the work refer to the corresponding numbers of the Elocutionary Rules. All the marks for the rising inflection in this lesson are illustrative of Rule II., and those for the falling inflection, of Rule IV. Let the pupils study these Rules, and note their application.

B.

while we give a narrative of events, as they occurred, in the march of an army, or in the life of a nation', we may, in the same connection, describe the particulars of a battle', of a tempest', of a conflagration', or of an earthquake”—picturing forth the scenes to the eye as of something to be viewed. Hence narration and description are often combined; and the one frequently runs into the other.

5. To be clear', distinct', impartial', truthful', concise', and yet lively', are the qualities chiefly required in narration; while description requires the same qualities', together with a more vivid painting', to give to the scenes depicted something of the reality of life'. Narrative is the plainest kind of writing', and the easiest understood'; and yet eminent success in it is to be attained only by writers of genius'. There are many writers of annals', and memoirs', and lives', and yet there are but few great historians.

6. But narrative is not confined to prose'; for the epic poet', who recites the incidents of some illustrious enterprise', tells his story in verse'; and both the historian and the poet strive to enliven their works with descriptions of characters', and objects and scenes of interest'. Shorter narratives in verse are also common; but they also generally introduce more or less of description.

LESSON II.

THE PUNISHMENT OF A LIAR.

True Narrative.-Bible, 2 Kings, v.

[Some of the best examples of plain narrative are found in the Bible; but even here they are seldom altogether free from description. Thus, in the following narrative, the 1st verse contains a description of Na'ăman; the beginning and close of the 5th verse describe him as being angry; the close of the 6th is descriptive; and the last clause in the lesson-in italics-is purely descriptive also. Observe that the reference figures refer to Elocutionary Rules of corresponding numbers.]

1. Now Na'ăman, captain of the host of the King of Syria2, was a great man with his master', and honorable', because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor'; but he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive, out of the land of Israel, a little maid'; and she

waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my Lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

2. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. And the King of Syria said, Go to, go; and I will send a letter unto the King of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver', and six thousand pieces of gold', and ten changes of raiment'. And he brought the letter to the King of Israel, saying, Now, when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

3. And it came to pass, when the King of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me, to recover a man of his leprosy'1? Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

4. And it was so, when Elisha, the man of God, had heard that the King of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes13? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came'4, with his horses and with his chariot'4, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him', saying', Go and wash in the Jordan seven times', and thy flesh shall come again to thee', and thou shalt be clean'.

5. But Naaman was wroth', and went away', and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Ab'ănä and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters. of Israel'1? May I not wash in them, and be clean'1? So he turned, and went away in a rage.

6. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing', wouldest thou not have done it'1? how much rather', then', when he saith to thee, Wash', and be clean'? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh

came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean13.

7. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. So he departed from him a little way.

8. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought; but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

9. So Gehazi followed after Naaman: and when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well'1? And he said, All is well'. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me, from Mount Ephraim, two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

10. And Naaman said, Be content; take two talents. And he urged' him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags', with two changes of garments', and laid them upon two of his servants'; and they bare them before' him. And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed. But he went in and stood before his master.

11. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou'3, Gehazi'?? And he said, Thy servant went no whither',". And he said unto him, Went not my heart with thee when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee'1? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and maid-servants'1? The leprosy, therefore, of Naaman shall cleave unto thee.-And he went out from his a leper as white as snow13.

presence