accent should be regulated, not by any arbitrary rules of quantity, but by the number and nature of the fimple founds.

In every fentence diftinguish the more fignificant word's by a natural, forcible, and varied EMPHASIS.

EM

MPHASIS points out the precife meaning of a fentence, fhews in what manner one idea is connected with, and rises out of another,, marks the several clauses of a sentence, gives to every part its proper found, and thus conveys to the mind of the reader the full import of the whole. It is in the power of emphafis to make long and complex fentences appear intelligible and perfpicuous. But for this purpose it is neceffary, that the reader should be perfectly acquainted with the exact conftruction and full meaning of every sentence which he recites. Without this it is impoffible to give thofe inflexions and variations to the voice, which nature requires: and it is for want of this previous ftudy, more perhaps than from any other caufe that we so often hear fo

perfons

perfons read with an improper emphasis, or with no emphasis at all, that is, with a stupid monotony. Much study and pains are neceffary in acquiring the habit of juft and forcible pronunciation; and it can only be the effect of close attention and long practice, to be able, with a mere glance of the eye, to read any piece with good emphafis and good difcretion.

Ir is another office of Emphasis to exprefs the oppofition between the several parts of a fentence, where the ftyle is pointed and antithetical. Pope's Effay on Man, and his Moral Effays, and the Proverbs of Solomon, will furnish many proper exercises in this species of speaking. In some fentences the antithefis is double, and even treble; these must be expreffed in reading, by a very distinct emphasis on each part of the oppofition. The following inftances are of this kind:

ANGER may glance into the breast of a wife man; but refts only in the bofom of fools.

An angry man who fuppreffes his paffion, thinks worfe than he speaks and an angry man that will chide, fpeaks worse than he thinks.

BETTER to reign in hell, than ferve in heaven.

He rais'd a mortal to the skies;

She brought an angel down.

EMPHASIS

EMPHASIS likewife ferves to express some particular meaning not immediately arifing from the words, but depending upon the intention of the speaker, or fome incidental circumftance. The following short sentence may have three different meanings, according to the different place of the Emphafis: Do you intend to go to London this fummer?

In order to acquire a habit of speaking with a just and forcible emphasis, nothing more is neceffary, than previously to study the construction, meaning, and fpirit of every fentence, and to adhere as nearly as poffible to the manner in which we distinguish one word from another in converfation; for in familiar discourse we scarcely ever fail to express ourselves emphatically, and feldom place the emphafis improperly. With respect to artificial helps, fuch as diftinguishing words or clauses of fentences by particular characters or marks; I believe it will always be found, upon trial, that they mislead instead of affifting the reader, by not leaving him at full liberty to follow his own understanding and feelings.

THE

THE most common faults refpecting emphafis are, laying fo ftrong an emphasis on one word as to leave no power of giving a particular force to other words, which, though not equally, are in a certain degree emphatical; and placing the greateft stress on conjunctive particles, and other words of fecondary importance. These faults are strongly characterised in Churchill's cenfure of Moffop.

WITH ftudied improprieties of fpeech

He foars beyond the hackney critic's reach.
To epithets allots emphatic state,

Whilft principals, ungrac'd, like lacquies wait;
In ways first trodden by himself excels,
And ftands alone in indeclineables;
Conjunction, prepofition, adverb, join

To stamp new vigour on the nervous line:
In monofyllables his thunders roll,

HE, SHE, IT, AND, WE, YE, THEY, fright the foul.

EMPHASIS is often deftroyed by an injudicious attempt to read melodiously. Agreeable inflexions and eafy variations of the voice, as far as they arife from, or are confiftent with juft speaking, are deferving of attention. But to fubstitute one unmeaning tune, in the room of all the proprieties and graces of good elocution, and then to applaud this manner, under the appellation of mufical fpeaking,

speaking, can only be the effect of great ignorance and inattention, or of a depraved taste. If public fpeaking must be mufical, let the words be fet to mufic in recitative, that these melodious speakers may no longer lie open to the sarcasm; Do you read or fing? if you fing, you fing very ill. Seriously, it is much to be wondered at, that this kind of reading, which has fo little merit confidered as mufic, and none at all confidered as fpeaking, fhould be so studiously practised by many speakers, and fo much admired by many hearers. Can a method of reading, which is fo entirely different from the ufual manner of converfation, be natural and right? Is it poffible that all the varieties of fentiment, which a public fpeaker has occafion to introduce, fhould be properly expreffed by one melodious tone and cadence, employed alike on all occafions and for all purposes?

RULE VII.

Acquire a juft variety of Paufe and Cadence.

NE of the worst faults a speaker can have, is to make no other pauses than what he finds barely neceffary for breathing. I know of

nothing