When we are reading verse, there is a peculiar diffi culty in making the pauses justly. This difficulty arises from the melody of verse, which dictates to the ear pauses and rests of its own. There are two kinds of pauses that belong to the melody of verse; one is the pause at the end of the line; the other, the cesural pause in or near the middle of it. With regard to the pause at the end of the line, which marks that strain or verse to be finished, rhyme renders this always sensible; and in respect to blank verse, we ought also to read so as to make every line sensible to the ear; if we do not, we degrade it into mere prose. At the same time that we attend to this pause, every appearance of sing-song and tone ought to be avoided. The close of the line, where it makes no pause in the meaning, ought not to be marked by such a tone as is used in finishing a sentence; but without either fall or elevation of voice, it should be denoted only by so slight a suspension of sound, as may distinguish the passage from one line to another without injuring the meaning. The cesural pause is not so great as that which falis at the end of a line, but it is still sensible to an ordinary ear. Questions. In what is there a peculiar difficulty in reading verse? How many kinds of pauses are there that belong to the melody of verse? What renders the pause at the end of the line always sensible to the ear? What is said in respect to blank verse? What must be carefully guarded against in attending to this pause ? Where there is no pause in the sense, how ought this pause at the end of the line to be marked ? How great a pause is the other, which falls somewhere about the middle of the line? 2* SEQUEL. LESSON I. Application of Mind.-NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW. No virtue is more rare than economy in the division and use of time, and in the few instances where this has been rigidly practised, the world has seen prodigies of attainment. Seneca tells of the vigilance with which he seized on every moment of time as it passed; not a day at its close could reproach him with idleness, and his studies were drawn out to a late hour of the night. Sir William Jones is a remarkable example in point; with talent of a high order, it is true, but more especially by an industry that never tired, and a methodical appropriation of every moment of his time to some definite purpose, he made acquisitions in the midst of a busy life, that astonish the mind, accustomed to observe only the ordinary result of intellectual labor. His aims were always fixed high, and he seldom fell below them; the vast schemes, which he did not live to mature, were not without their use in carrying his mind upward, and giv⚫ing it the excitement of a lofty motive. It cannot be denied, that there is sometimes danger to be apprehended from this very propensity for grasping so much. By indulging in so wide a range, the mind necessarily acquires a habit of dwelling on particulars, and, without the exercise of much caution and good judgment, its energy will be lost on trifles. In the same proportion it will lose the power of developing broad principles, and of drawing from particular, general and philosophical Fåte, får, fåll, fat-mè, met-pine, pin-no, move, nor not-tube, tůb, bull, oil, pound, thin, This. As this SEQUEL is designed for a higher class, than its predecessor, the words, on the left-hand page, whose definitions, &c., are given on the right, are not marked, as in the Analytical Reader; nor will the one always be found on a line directly opposite to the other. The additional task which is hereby put upon the attention of the scholar, will be amply compensated by other advantages. Spell economy, practised, prodigies, seized. Spell remarkable, talents, especially, definite. In point, in illustration of the preceding remarks, in proof of what has just been said. What is that ? Spell purpose, busy, only, always. Spell schemes, their, carrying, excitement. -Lofty, high, elevated, noble, aspiring, proud, haughty. Motive, that which moves or influences a person to act, feeling, object aimed at, end in view. Spell deny, denied, very, exercise. -Apprehended, seized, laid hold on, understood, fear ed. Propensity, inclination, tendency, disposition to any conclusions. This was doubtless, in some degree, true of Sir William Jones; not that his mind was deficient in the powers of philosophical discrimination, but his eagerness for new attainments was so great, that time was not left, nor space in his thoughts, for arrangement and combination. In many cases he reasoned and thought profoundly, but take all his labors together, we are amazed rather at what he learned, than at what he has taught. There is good counsel in Seneca's Second Epistle, on the subject of diversity of study. The best proof of a well ordered mind,' says he, 'is its power of remaining quiet and keeping company with itself. Be cautious that the reading of many authors, and those of all descriptions, do not produce vagueness and instability. Close application to a few writers of rare merit is necessary, if you would treasure up any thing, which will settle faithfully into the mind.-He, who is everywhere, is nowhere; and the traveller who is always in motion, may experience much hospitality, but make no friendships. • So it will be with those, who dwell not on a particular branch of study, till they become familiar with it, but are always hurrying from one thing to another. Nothing so impedes a restoration to health, as frequent change of medicine; a wound will not heal, which is iritated by repeated applications; a plant will not flourish, which is often removed to a new soil; and in short, perpetual change is injurous to every thing. A multitude of books distract the mind. Since, therefore, you cannot read all you can obtain, it is enough that you possess as many as you can read. But, you reply, 'I wish to look a little into this volume, and a little into that.' It is the mark of a fastidious stomach to desire to taste of many dishes, which, when of various kinds, vitiate, rather than nourish the body. Hence, let your reading be confined to the most approved authors, and if at any time you seek for amusement in others, return again to the first.' Sir Matthew Hale is an illustrious example of the wonders that may be wrought, by a methodical use of time; his application was unremitted, and the compass of his knowledge almost without bounds, but he knew how to estimate it rightly; he made all his acquisitions subserSpell necessary. Spell necessarily. What letter is changed? Energy, strength, power of acting, force, efficacy. Developing, unfolding, obtaining or imparting a knowledge of something intricate. Spell broad, principles, philosophical, amazed. Discrimination, power of distinguishing or perceiving differences, distinction. Arrangement, reducing ideas or objects to order. -Combination, classification, union, association, league, conspiracy. Spell many, epistle, divinity, study, studies. -Profoundly, deeply, with deep concern, with deep insight. -.Counsel, advice, prudence, design, those that plead a cause. -Description, act of describing, sort, class, kind. Vagueness, habit of wandering, an unfixed or unsettled state. Instability, inconstancy, fickleness, mutability of opinion or conduct. Spell travel, traveller, medicine, irritated. .Impedes, hinders, obstructs, retards. -Distract, pull different ways at once, divide, perplex, make mad. Fastidious, easily disgusted, disdainful, squeamish. Spell stomach, body, first, Matthew. -Vitiate, deprave, spoil, make less pure. .Nourish, cause to grow, promote strength, support by food. Illustrious, bright, splendid, celebrated, conspicuous. Spell wrought, unremitted, knowledge, almost. Springs of society, the motives which lead men to unite in societies, the sources of those laws which sustain and regulate social intercourse. Spell subservient, society, lessons. |