tones which nature teaches him to use in common conversation, or when he is affected by strong feelings. Thus, if he have such a sentence as the following to read, 66 Sirrah, savage, dost thou pretend to be ashamed of my company? Dost thou know that I have kept the best com pany in England ?” He will of course read it in quite a different manner from that which he would use in this which follows: "Are you sick, Hubert? You look pale to-day. In sooth, I would you were a little sick, that I might sit all night and watch with you. I warrant I love you more than you do me." [The following sentence should be read in an angry manner.] 547. Father, what sort of a tree is that which you have given me? It is as dry as a broomstick; and I shall not have ten apples on it. You have treated my brother Edmund better than you have me. You have given him a tree which is full of apples. You ought to make him give me half of them. [The following should be read in a milder manner.] 548. Give you half of them? Your tree was as fruitful and in as good order as his; but you have not taken good care of it. Edmund has kept his tree clear of hurtful insects; but you have suffered them to eat up yours in its blossoms. I shall not direct him to share his apples with so idle a boy as you have been. [To be read in a respectful, calm, but decided manner.] 549. Alexander! I am your captive- I must hear what you please to say, and endure what you please to inflict. But my soul is unconquered; and if I reply at all to your reproaches, I will reply like a free man. [To be read in a threatening manner.] 550. He DARES not touch a HAIR of Catiline. 551. [With surprise.] What! does life displease thee? [Calmly, but with emphasis.] Yes;-it displeases me when I see a tyrant. 552. [Mildly.] The sun not set yet, Thomas? Not quite, sir. It blazes through the trees on the hill yonder, as if their branches were all on fire. 553. [With energy.] Sirrah, I begin with this kick, as a tribute to your boasted honor. Get you into the boat, or I will give you another. I am impatient to have you condemned. 554. [With moderation.] Stranger, if thou hast learnt a truth, which needs experience more than reason, that the world is full of guilt and misery; and hast known enough of all its sorrows, crimes, and cares, to tire thee of itenter this wild wood, and view the haunts of nature. 555. [Proudly and haughtily.*] Do you pretend to sit as high on Olympus as Hercules? Did you destroy tyrants and robbers? You value yourself greatly on subduing one serpent. I did as much as that while I lay in my cradle. 556. [With fear.] Mirza, terror and doubt are come upon me. I am alarmed as a man who suddenly perceives that he is on the brink of a precipice, and is urged forward by an irresistible force; but yet I know not whether my danger is a reality or a dream. 557. [In a threatening manner.] I know thou art a scoundrel! Not pay thy debts! Kill thy friend who lent thee money, for asking thee for it! Get out of my sight, or I will drive thee into the Styx. 558. [In a commanding manner.] Stop, I command thee. No violence. Talk to him calmly. 559. [In a solemn manner.] Such are the excuses which irreligion offers Could you have believed that they were so empty, so unworthy, so hollow, so absurd? And shall such excuses be offered to the God of heaven and earth? By such apologies shall man insult his Creator? 560. [In a mournful manner.] Oh, my dear, dear mother! don't you know your son! your poor boy, George? 561. [In a terrified manner.] The Lord have mercy upon - what is this? us 562. [In a proud, disdainful manner.] Why then dost thou frown on Fingâl? Or shake thine airy spear? But thou frownest in vain: I never fled from mighty men. And shall the sons of the wind frighten the King of Morven? No; he knows the weakness of their arms. 563. [In an energetic manner.] Now launch the boat upon the wave, the wind is blowing off the shore - I will not live a cowering slave on these polluted islands more. * See Number 128, page 33. Beyond the wild, dark, heaving sea, there is a better home for me. 564. [In a plaintive, sorrowful manner.] O Switzerland! my country! 'tis to thee I strike my harp in agony: - My country! nurse of liberty, home of the gallant, great, and free, my sullen harp I strike to thee. Oh! I have lost you all! — parents, and home, and friends. 565. [With quickness and emphasis.] Talk to me of dangers? Death and shame!- is not my race as high, as ancient, and as proud as thine? By heaven, it grieves me, Harry Percy, preaching such craven arguments to me. 566. [With humility.] Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 567. With horror.] How frightful the grave! how deserted and drear! with the howls of the storm wind-the creaks of the bier, and the white bones all clattering together. 568. [With calmness.] How lovely, how sweet the repose of the tomb! No tempests are there; but the nightingales come, and sing their sweet chorus of bliss. 569. [In an authoritative manner.] Heat me these irons hot; and look thou stand within the arras: when I strike my foot upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth, and bind the boy, which you shall find with me, fast to the chair: be heedful hence, and watch. 570. [In a supplicating tone.] Alas! what need you be so boisterous rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stonestill. For heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! Nay, hear me, Hubert! drive these men away, and I will sit as quiet as a lamb; I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, nor look upon the irons angrily; thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, whatever torments you do put me to. 571. [Solemn caution.] Lochiel! Lochiel, beware of the day when the Lowlands shall meet thee in battle array! for a field of the dead rushes red on my sight, and the clans of Culloden are scattered in fight. ALEXANDER'S FEAST. 572. Martial Description. 'T was at the royal feast for Persia won Awe. Aloft, in awful state, Admiration. His valiant peers were placed around, Delight. The lovely Thais, by his side, Rapture. Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, Triumph. None but the brave, deserve the fair. 573. Description. Timotheus, placed on high, Amid the tuneful choir, With flying fingers touch'd the lyre: The song began from Jove, Awe. A dragon's fiery form belied the god : And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world Surprise increased. "A present deity!" they shout around; "A present deity!" the vaulted roofs rebound. The monarch hears, Importance. Assumes the god, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres. 574. Jovial description. The praise of Bacchus, then the sweet musician sung; The jolly god in triumph comes! Sound the trumpets! beat the drums! He shows his honest face. Inciting. Now give the hautboys breath. He comes! he comes! Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain; Swelling. And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain! Observing. The master saw the madness rise; His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes: (rapidly.) And while he heaven and earth defied, (Slowly.) Chang'd his hand, and check'd his pride.* 576. Sorrowful. He chose a mournful muse, Soft pity to infuse; (very slowly.) He sung Darius great and good! By too severe a fate, Fallen! fallen! fallen! fallen! (gradually sinking.) (Louder.) Fallen from his high estate, And weltering in his blood! * There should be a transition in the voice here, as in the strain of Timotheus, from heroic to pathetic; as rapid too. |