tion and meaning of a sentence, or member of it, on some particular word: and the inflection is rising or falling according to the rule applicable to the particular sentence, or member of it, in which that word

occurs.

There are branches of the emphasis of sense, incidental to particular rules of inflection, as

Antithetical Emphasis

Emphasis with pronominal phrase, &c.

of which I shall speak under the proper heads.

2. Emphasis of force (or it might be called Emphasis of feeling,) is that emphasis or stress which a speaker uses arbitrarily to add force to some particular idea or expression; not because the sense or meaning intended to be conveyed requires it,—but because the force of his own feeling dictates it.

RULE.

The emphasis of force is always made with the falling inflection; whatever may be the inflection proper to the sentence, without such emphasis.

EXAMPLES.

Could you be so cruel?

Could you be so cruel?

I did not say so.

These sentences-interrogative and negative-oy ordinary Rule, would have the rising inflection; ; but the emphasis of force being placed on the word could, or cruel, and not, gives

them the falling inflection: without at all affecting the sense -though it gives force to the idea conveyed by the words.

Bear in mind, therefore, that this emphasis of force, when it is made, is independent of and paramount to all general rule of inflection; which it controls and over-rules.

Emphasis of force is sometimes doubled, as

Could you be so cruel?

In which, the force is thrown on two words, and expresses as much as if the speaker said,

Can it be possible that you are what I consider so shockingly cruel!

There is also CUMULATIVE or accumulated emphasis of force; that is, when the emphasis is heaped or accumulated on several words in succession, as

I tell you, I will not do it; nothing on earth shall persuade

me.

This is the strongest expression of force. I shall have occasion to illustrate it more fully hereafter.(Part 3d of this Division.)

Let the Student now practise aloud-as an exercise on the foregoing rules the following extract, until he can read it perfectly, as it is marked for PAUSE, INFLECTION, EMPHASIS; and till he have ascertained each particular rule under which it is so marked,

PORTIA'S SPEECH ON MERCY.

(Marked with Pause, Inflection, and Emphasis.)

The quality of Mercy is not strain'd

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heav'n
Upon the place beneath- It is twice bless'd-

It blesseth him that gives and him that takesTM–
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest"- it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power_

The attribute to awe and majestyTM

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kingsTM

But mercy is above this sceptred swayTM

It is enthroned" in the hearts of kings

It is an

attribute to God himself'

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. I Therefore Jew

Tho' justice be thy plea consider this

That in the course of justiceTM none of us

Should see salvation we do pray for mercy

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of Mercy. I

Shaksp.

A PRACTICE

ON

PART I. OF THE SECOND DIVISION.

"PRESS ON."

THIS is a speech, brief, but full of inspiration and opening the way to all victory. The mystery of Napoleon's career was this,-under all difficulties and discouragements, "PRESS ON!" It solves the problem of all heroes, it is the rule by which to weigh, rightly, all wonderful successes and triumphal marches to fortune and genius. It should be the motto of all, old and young, high and low, fortunate and unfortunate, so called.

"PRESS ON!" Never despair; never be discouraged, however stormy the heavens, however dark the way; however great the difficulties, and repeated the failures, "PRESS ON!"

If fortune has played false with thee to-day, do thou play true for thyself to-morrow. If thy riches have taken wings and left thee, do not weep thy life away; but be up and doing, and retrieve the loss by new energies and action. If an unfortunate bargain has deranged thy business, do not fold thy arms, and

give up all as lost; but stir thyself and work the more vigorously.

If those whom thou hast trusted have betrayed thee, do not be discouraged, do not idly weep, but 66 PRESS ON !" find others; or, what is better, learn to live within thyself. Let the foolishness of yesterday make thee wise to-day. If thy affections have been poured out like water in the desert, do not sit down and perish of thirst, but press on; a beautiful oasis is before thee, and thou mayst reach it if thou wilt. If another has been false to thee, do not thou increase the evil by being false to thyself. Do not say the world hath lost its poetry and beauty; 'tis not so; and even if it be so, make thine own poetry and beauty by a brave, a true, and, above all, a religious life.

STORM AT SEA.

THE storm increased with the night. The sea was lashed into tremendous confusion. There was a fearful, sullen sound of rushing waves and broken surges. Deep called unto deep. At times, the black volume of clouds over-head seemed rent asunder by flashes of lightning that quivered along the foaming billows, and made the succeeding darkness doubly terrible. The thunders bellowed over the wide waste of waters, and were echoed and prolonged by the mountain waves. As I saw the ship staggering and plunging among these roaring caverns, it seemed miraculous that she regained her balance, or preserved her buoy