Each of these keys or pitches of the voice has different degrees of loudness; and it is important that the pupil should exercise his voice in speaking in all of these keys, both quietly and forcibly.

[The pupil may read the following sentence in each of the different keys.]

550. They have rushed through like a hurricane ; like an army of locusts they have devoured the earth; the war has fallen like a water-spot, and deluged the land with blood.

[Read the following in the high key.]

551. Next Anger rushed;-his eyes on fire, in lightnings owned his secret stings; in one rude clash he struck the lyre, and swept with hurried hands the strings.

[Read the following in the low key.]

552. With woful measures wan Despair-low sullen sounds his grief beguiled:-a solemn, strange, and mingled air:-'twas sad by fits, by starts 'twas wild.

[Read the following in the middle key.]

553. But thou, O Hope! with eyes so fair, what was thy delighted measure? Still it whispered promised pleasure, and bade the lovely scenes at distance hail!

554. [Read with high key.] But with a frown Revenge impatient rose. He threw his blood-stained sword in thunder down; and with a withering look, the war-denouncing trumpet took, and blew a blast so loud and dread, were ne'er prophetic sounds so full of woe. And ever and anon he beat the doubling drum with furious heat: [Low key, very slowly.] and though sometimes, each dreary pause between, dejected Pity at his side, her soul-subduing voice applied, [High key, rapidly.] yet still he kept his wild, unaltered mien, while each strained ball of sight seemed bursting from his head.

555. [Middle key.] Alexander the Great demanded of a pirate, whom he had taken, by what right he infested the seas? By the same right, replied the pirate, that Alexander enslaves the world. But I am called a robber, because I have only one small vessel; and he is styled a conqueror, because he commands great fleets and armies.

LESSON XXVIII.

TRANSITION.

It is important that the pupil practise a change or transition of the voice from loud and forcible utterance to a softer and lower tone; and from rapid to slow pronunciation.

In this lesson he is presented with a few examples in which such a change of manner is required.

556. [Softly and slowly,] An hour passed on-the Turk awoke; that bright dream was his last. [More loudly.] He woke to hear the sentry's shriek, [Very loud and rapid.] "To arms! they come! the Greek! the Greek!" [Slowly and softly.] He woke to die midst flame and smoke, and shout and groan, and sabre stroke, and [Faster and louder.] death shots falling thick and fast, as lightnings from the mountain cloud : [Still louder.] and heard, with voice as trumpet loud, Bozzaris cheer his band. [Very loud, rapidly, and with much animation.] Strike-till the last armed foe expires, Strike-for your altars and your fires-Strike-for the green graves of your sires, God-and your native land."

66

[In a softer and slower manner.] They fought — like brave men, long and well,-they piled that ground with Moslem slain, they conquered-[Very slowly, and in a mournful manner.] but Bozzaris fell, bleeding at every

vein.

557. [In a gentle manner and low tone.] When, doffed his casque, he felt free air, around 'gan* Marmion wildly stare;-[Much louder, and in a wild and somewhat angry manner.] Where's Harry Blount? Fitz Eustace, where? Linger ye here, ye hearts of hare? Redeem my pennon, -- charge again! Cry Marmion to the rescue.' [Very slowly and almost in a whisper.] Vain! Last of my race, on battle plain that shout shall ne'er be heard again! [Increasing in loudness.] Yet my last thought is England's :-[Louder, and with more earnestness.] fly

* A contraction for began. See Apostrophe, Lesson XX. p. 38.

Fitz-Eustace, to Lord Surrey hie: [More rapidly.] Tunstall lies dead upon the field; his life-blood stains the spotless shield: Edmund is down-my life is reft;-the Admiral alone is left. [With much earnestness of manner.] Let Stanley charge with spur of fire, with Chester charge and Lancashire, full upon Scotland's central host, [Slowly.] or victory and England's lost. [Angrily.] Must I bid twice?-Hence, varlets! fly! Leave Marmion here alone -to die.

558. [Distinctly, slowly, and in a moderate tone.] Yet still Lord Marmion's falcon flew with wavering flight, while fiercer grew around the battle yell. [Loudly and quickly.] A Home! a Gordon! was the cry.

559. [Slowly, and with feeling.] Oh what a fall was there, my countrymen! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down [Loudly, and with emphasis.] while bloody treason flourished over us.

560. [Softly and slowly.] Oh now you weep; and I perceive you feel the dint of pity:-these are gracious drops. Kind souls! [Quickly, louder, and with strong emphasis.] What, weep you when you but behold our Caesar's VESTURE wounded? [Very loudly and earnestly.] Look ye here!-here is HIMSELF-marred as you see by traitors.

561. [Very slowly and sorrowfully.] Oh I could play the woman with mine eyes, and braggart with my tongue! -[With earnestness, and louder.] But, gentle heaven, cut short all intermission; front to front bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; [Still more forcibly, but with a lower tone.] within my sword's length set him; if he escape, heaven forgive him too.

562. [Proudly, and in a loud and angry manner.] But here I stand and scoff you;-here I fling hatred and defiance in your face. [In a much milder manner, slowly and in derision.] Your consul's* merciful-For this—all thanks. [Very loud, and in a threatening manner. See § 529.] He dares not touch a hair of Catiline.

*The pupil will notice that there are many abbreviations of this kind made in this book in pieces which appear to be prose. All the sentences which are poetical have been printed in the form of prose, to prevent the "sing-song" manner of reading. But it must be understood and recollected that although abbreviations are allowable in poetry, they are not admitted in prose.

563. [In a low tone, very softly.] His words do take possession of my bosom.-[Louder, and with earnestness.] Read here, young Arthur. [Very softly.] How now, foolish rheum! turning despiteous torture out the door! I must be brief, lest resolution drop out at my eyes in tender womanish tears.-[Louder, and as if striving to hide his tears.] Can you not read it?-Is it not fair writ?

564. [Slowly, and in a very sad manner.] Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect. [In an entreating manner.] Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?

[In a stern manner.] Young boy, I must.

[In a very sorrowful and supplicating manner.] And will you?

[Sternly, and in an apparently determined manner.] And I will.

565. [With a very earnest, sorrowful, and entreating manner. r.] Will you put out mine eyes? These eyes that never did, nor never shall, so much as frown on you?

566. [In a rough manner, but still struggling to conceal his pity.] I have sworn to do it; and with hot irons must I burn them out.

567. [In a very pathetic manner.] If an angel should have come to me, and told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would have believed no tongue but Hubert's.

568. [In a kind, relenting, and very feeling manner.] Well-see to live; I will not touch thine eyes, for all the treasure that thine uncle owns. -Yet I am sworn, and I did purpose, boy, with this same very iron to burn them out.

569. [In a joyful and grateful manner.] O, now you look like Hubert! all this while you were disguised.

570. [In an animated manner.] The combat deepens[Very loudly, rapidly, and with much energy.] On ye brave, who rush to glory, or the grave! Wave, Munich, all thy banners wave; and charge with all thy chivalry.

571. [In a slow, solemn, and mournful manner.]—Ah! few shall part where many meet! The snow shall be their winding sheet, and every turf beneath their feet, shall be a soldier's sepulchre.

LESSON XXIX.

ELLIPTICAL SENTENCES.

An Ellipsis means an omission; and when anything is omitted, or purposely left out, it is said that there is an ellipsis in the sentence, and the sentence is called an elliptical

sentence.

Elliptical sentences occur very frequently; and it is necessary, in reading such sentences, to supply in our minds all that is omitted, in order to give the proper tone, accent, emphasis, and expression. Thus in the following questions,— "What went ye out into the wilderness to see ? A reed shaken by the wind?"—there is an ellipsis or omission of the words, "did you go out to see;" and when these words are supplied the questions will be, "What went ye out into the wilderness to see? Did you go out to see a reed shaken by

the wind ?"

Elliptical sentences must always be read in the same manner, with the same emphasis, tone, accent, and expression, that they would be if the ellipses were supplied.

In the following sentences the ellipsis is supplied in Italic letters in parentheses. The pupil will first read them as they stand, and then read them with the omission of those parts which are in Italic letters.

572. What sought they thus afar? (Did they seek) Bright jewels of the mine? (Did they seek) The wealth of seas? (or) the spoils of war? (No, they did not seek either of these, but) They sought a faith's pure shrine.

573. What then would it be reasonable to expect from the fanciful tribe, from the musicians and poets of such a region? (Would it be reasonable to expect) Strains expressive of joy, tranquillity, or the softer passions? No; their style must have been better suited to their circumstances.

574. Art thou the Thracian robber, of whose exploits I have heard so much?

* See Lesson XIX. page 36.