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It is contended, by some authors, that in all cases where words are emphatic, there is contrast, either expressed or understood. By others, and much the larger number, it is maintained that there are many instances in which the emphatic force laid upon a word is absolute, in the most literal sense of the term, because the thought expressed by it is forcible in itself, without any aid from comparison or contrast.

We incline to the latter opinion, and subjoin the following example as a strong case of absolute emphasis.

EXAMPLE.

Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?

In this sentence, there is no contrast expressed, nor is it easy to conceive how it can be implied, or in what it could consist. Hence, we shall explain this class of words, together with those in which contrast is not expressed, or obviously implied, under the head of absolute emphasis.

RULE 1. All words important in meaning, or peculiarly significant, are emphatic.

EXAMPLES.

1. To be moderate in our views, and to proceed temperately in the pursuit of them, is the best way to insure success.

2. The voice of pity soothed and melted her; and when the Prince bade her be comforted, a feeble smile passed slowly over her pale countenance, like moonlight on a marble statue.

3. Geography comprises a general description of the earth, and especially of the locality and extent of the several countries; their climate, soil, and productions; the manners, customs, language, laws, religion, arts, and literature of the people; and the mountains, rivers, lakes, and physical resources of each locality.

QUESTIONS. What opinion is maintained, by some authors, in regard to emphasis? What by others? What example illustrates the latter opinion? What class of words, in this work, is marked under the head of absolute entphasis? What is the rule for absolute emphasis ?

EXERCISE.

BEAUTY AND SUBLIMITY OF SCOTTISH SCENERY.

RICHMOND.

not, but Eng

1. The exquisite beauty and sublimity of this country, almost makes a pen move of itself. Never did I pass so beautiful a day as this at the lakes. I shall sing the praises of October, as the loveliest of months. This morning, at six o'clock, I was walking on the banks of Winandermere,a to catch a sun-rise. 2. I had every thing I could wish, and observed the progress of the day with delight. The mysterious rolling of clouds. across the hills, announced the first influence of the sun. Tints, the most beauteous, skirted the eastern clouds; those on the west caught them as by sympathy. Various patches of mountains soon gleamed with the reflection of the yet unseen luminary; and such innumerable vicissitudes of light and shade filled the scene, as no tongue can describe.

3. The lake, in all its length of thirteen miles, lay beneath me, with its thirty islands. I heard the early lowing of the cows, the bleating of the sheep, the neighing of the horses, the twittering of the birds, the rustling of the breeze, the rippling of the water, and the dashing of the oar, in a gentle kind of harmony. The sun advanced, and threw a blaze of magnificent luster over this landscape.

4. I crossed over the lake, and passed through rich scenes of wonder and loveliness. Clusters of mountains and lesser hills, clothed with crags, brown fern, red lichens, green grass, purple heath, barren gulleys, cascades, wild streaks, rolling mists, and bright sunshine, presented incessant variety. Hill

Mere, a lake, and Winander, the name of its owner.

towered above hill; Alpine peaks reared their heads; groves filled the valleys, and cottages were sprinkled in wild profusion.

5. While standing on an eminence, and looking down on the exquisitely lovely lake of Grasmere, environed by its amphitheater of mountains, a momentary shower produced a rainbow. It extended from hill to hill over the valley, and seemed like a bridge for angels, to pass over from one district of Paradise to another.

SECTION III.

RULE 2. A succession of emphatic words, or particulars, usually requires a gradual increase of emphatic force on each succeeding word or particular.

EXAMPLES.

1. His hope, his HAPPINESS, his very LIFE, hung on the next words from those lips.

2. Disease, poverty, DISAPPOINTMENT, and even SHAME, are far from being, in all instances, the unavoidable doom of man. 3. A day, an HOUR of virtuous liberty, is worth a whole ETERNITY in bondage.

4. Since concord was lost, friendship was lost, FIDELITY was lost, LIBERTY was lost, ALL was lost.

NOTE. The specification of particulars, such as counting, enumerating, and the like, requires sufficient emphatic utterance to mark the several distinctions.

EXAMPLES.

1. One, two, three, four, &c. First, second, third, fourth, &c. 2. Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, &c. 3. Second epistle of Peter, fourth chapter, and ninth and tenth verses.

QUESTIONS. What is the rule for a succession of emphatic words or particulars? Give an example. What is said of the specification of particulars, such as counting, &c.

4. You will find my quotation in Josephus,a book first, chapter second, and section third.

EXERCISE.

1. Regularity, proportion, ORDER, and COLOR, contribute to grandeur, as well as beauty.

2. Beauty, strength, YOUTH, and OLD AGE, lie undistinguished in the same promiscuous heap of matter.

3. Valor, humanity, COURTESY, JUSTICE, and HONOR, were the characteristics of chivalry.

4. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

5. The roaring of the winds, the rushing of the waters, the darkness of the night, all conspired to overwhelm his guilty spirit with dread.

6. The splendor of the firmament, the verdure of the earth, the fragrance of flowers, and the music of birds, conspire to elevate the affections, and captivate the heart.

7. An ostentatious, a feeble, a harsh, or an obscure style of writing, is always considered faulty; while perspicuity, strength, neatness, and simplicity, are beauties at which the writer should aim.

8. There is no enjoyment of property without government; no government without a magistrate; no magistrate without obedience; and no obedience where every one acts as he pleases.

9. Were we united to beings of a more exalted order; beings

a Josephus, a celebrated Jewish historian, born A. D. 37, at Jerusalem. He was of the order of the priesthood.

whose nature raised them superior to misfortune, placed them beyond the reach of disease and death, who were not the dupes of passion and prejudice, all of whose views were enlarged, whose goodness was perfected, and whose spirit breathed nothing but love and friendship, then would the evils of which we now complain, cease to be felt.

10. When I consider the period at which this prosecution is brought forward; when I behold the extraordinary safeguard of soldiers; when I catch the throb of public anxiety; when I reflect what may be the fate of a man of the most beloved personal character; of one of the most respected families; himself the only individual of that family, I may almost say of that country, who can look at that possible fate with unconcern.

PANEGYRIC ON SHERIDAN'S ELOQUENCE. - BURKE.

a

1. He has this day surprised the thousands who hung with rapture on his accents, by such an array of talents, such an exhibition of capacity, such a display of powers, as are unparal leled in the annals of oratory; a display that reflects the highest honor upon himself, luster upon letters, renown upon parliament, and glory upon the country.

2. Of all species of rhetoric, of every kind of eloquence that has been witnessed or recorded, either in ancient or modern times; whatever the acuteness of the bar, the dignity of the senate, the solidity of the judgment-seat, and the sacred morality of the pulpit, have hitherto furnished, nothing has surpassed, nothing has equaled, what we have this day heard in Westminster b hall.

• Burke, (Edmund,) a writer, orator, and statesman, of great eminence. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1730. b Westminster hall, one of the largest rooms in Europe unsupported by pillars, being 270 feet in length, 90 feet in height, and 74