Tell them, though 'tis an awful thing to die'— And bids "the pure in heart behold their God." SERIES. A series is a number of particulars, immediately following one another, whether independent, (1), or having one common reference, (2). EXAMPLES. (1) The wind and rain are over; Calm is the noon of day: The clouds are divided in heaven; Over the green hill flies the inconstant sun': Red through the stony vale comes down the stream of the hill'. (2) The characteristics of chivalry were-valour`, humanity', courtesy', justice', and honour'. When the members of a series consist of several words, as in the former for example, the series is called compound; when of single words,* as in the latter, it is called simple. When a series begins a sentence, but does not end it, it is called a commencing series; when it ends it, whether it begins it or not, it is called a concluding series. COMMENCING SERIES. RULE X. Each particular of a commencing series takes the rising inflection—with this special observance, that the last particular must have a greater degree of inflection, thereby intimating, that the enumeration is finished. EXAMPLES. Beauty', strength', youth', and old age", lie undistinguished, in the same promiscuous heap of matter`. Hatred', malice, and anger", are passions, unbecoming a disciple of Christ`. Regulation', proportion', order', and colour", contribute to grandeur as well as to beauty`. * The addition of an article, a preposition, or a conjunction, does not render a series compound; nor the introduction of a compound member, when the majority of the members are simple. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or, whither shall I flee from thy presence` ? If I ascend up into Heaven', thou art there; if I make my bed in hell', behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning', and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea", even there shall thy hand lead me', and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say', Surely the darkness' shall cover me', even the night" shall be light about me`. Yea, the darkness' hideth not from Thee;" but the night shineth as the day: the darkness' and the light' are both alike to Thee.` The verdant lawn', the shady grove', the variegated landscape', the boundless ocean', and the starry firmament", are contemplated with pleasure by every beholder`. I conjure you', by that which you profess', Though bladed corn be lodged', and trees blown down"; Their heads to their foundations"; though the treasure Ev'n till destruction sicken"- -answer me CONCLUDING SERIES. RULE XI. Each particular of a concluding series, except the last, takes the rising inflection. The particular preceding the last requires a greater degree of the rising inflection than the others, thereby intimating, that the next particular will close the enumeration. The last is pronounced with the falling inflection. EXAMPLES. They, through faith, subdued kingdoms', wrought righteousness', obtained promises', stopped the mouths of lions', quenched the violence of fire', escaped the edge of the sword', out of weakness were made strong', waxed valiant in fight", and turned to flight the armies of the aliens'. Where'er he turns', he meets a stranger's eye; The liv'ried army", and the menial lord. True gentleness' teaches us to bear one another's burdens`, to rejoice with those' who rejoice', to weep with those' who weep; to please every one his neighbour' for his good`; to be kind', and tender-hearted'; to be pitiful' and courteous'; to support the weak"; and to be patient towards all men`. What though no weeping loves' thy ashes grace`, EMPHASIS. RULE XII. Emphasis, in the most usual sense of the word, is that stress with which certain words are pronounced, so as to be distinguished from the rest of the sentence. Among the number of words we make use of in discourse, there will always be some, which are more necessary to be understood than others: those things, with which we suppose our hearers to be pre-acquainted, we express by such a subordination of stress as is suitable to the small importance of things already understood; while those, of which our hearers are either not fully informed, or which they might possibly misconceive, are enforced with such an increase of stress as makes it impossible for the hearer to overlook or mistake them. Thus, as it were in a picture, the more essential parts of a sentence are raised, as it were, from the level of speaking; and the less necessary are, by this means, sunk into a comparative obscurity. EXAMPLES. A man's first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart'; his next, to escape the censures of the world. It will be difficult for her to retain the decorous and dignified semblance of love for him', who has cared but little for the reality of it. Those governments which curb not evils', cause! And a rich knave's' a libel on our laws'. Religion' raises men above themselves": Irreligion' sinks them beneath the brutes. We must forget all feelings' save the one- NOTE. Emphasis, according to Knowles, is of two kinds, absolute and relative. Relative emphasis has always an antithesis, either expressed or implied: absolute emphasis takes place, when the peculiar eminence of the thought is solely -singly considered. 'Twas base and poor, unworthy of a peasant`, To forge a scroll so villainous and loose, And mark it with a noble lady's name. Here we have an example of relative emphasis; for, if the thought were expressed at full, it would stand thus :Unworthy not only of a gentleman, but even of a peasant. 'Twas base and poor, unworthy of a man, To forge a scroll so villainous and loose, And mark it with a noble lady's name. Here we have an example of absolute emphasis; for, if the thought were expressed at full, it would stand thus:Unworthy a being composed of such perfections as constitute a man. When we wish to give a phrase with the utmost possible force, not only every word which enters into the composition of it, becomes emphatic, but even the parts of compound words are pronounced as if they were independ ent. EXAMPLES. There was a time, then, my fellow citizens, when the Lacedemonians were sovereign masters both by sea and land; when their troops and forts surrounded the entire circuit of Attica; when they possessed Euboea, Tanagra, the whole Baotian district, Megara, Ægina, Cleone, and the other islands; while this State had not one ship-no, NOT-ONE-WALL. That's truly great! what think you 'twas set up At Aulis-one pour'd out a daughter's life, A third, the theme of all succeeding time, Nay, some for virtue have entomb'd themselves, But there is ONE-STEP-LEFT-above them all! A wife!-bride!-mistress unenjoy'd !-Do that! CLIMAX. RULE XIII. A climax must be read, or pronounced with the voice progressively ascending to the last member; accompanied with increasing energy, animation or pathos, corresponding with the nature of the subject. EXAMPLES. It is pleasant to be virtuous and good, because that is to excel many others'; it is pleasant to grow better, because that is to excel ourselves'; it is pleasant to mortify and subdue our lusts, because that is victory'; it is pleasant to command our appetites' and passions', and to keep them in due order', within the bounds of reason and religion", because that is empire`. See, what a grace was seated on this brow! A combination' and a form' indeed, If I were an American as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms--never, never', never`. Come, shew me what thou'lt do': Woul't weep'? Woul't fight'? Woul't fast"? Woul't tear thyself"? I'll do t. Dost thou come here to whine'? To outface me with leaping in her grave'? Be buried quick with her', and so will I`! And if thou prate of mountains', let them throw |