To cultivate the Aspirate in the Explosive Form, practice the following sounds, words, and sentences in the Explosive Form and Aspirate Quality.

1. This is a sorry sight.

2. Who lies in the second chamber?

EXERCISES

Contrasting Pure Tone and Aspirate in the Effusive, Expulsive, and Explosive Forms.

Repeat the above sounds, words, and sentences with 1. Effusive Pure Tone.

2. Effusive Aspirate.
3. Expulsive Pure Tone.
4. Expulsive Aspirate.
5. Explosive Pure Tone.
6. Explosive Aspirate.

ASPIRATE, EXPLOSIVE FORM-WHEN USED.

The Aspirate in the Explosive Form is the quality of voice appropriate for the expression of intense fear, horror, awe, and dread. Mingled with the Orotund, it intensifies the expressions excited by sudden terror and alarm.

There are few selections that will require the Aspirate Explosive throughout. It will be most frequently required in the utterance of two or three words, or a short sentence, as in the words "hush," "hark," "avaunt," etc.

In the following scene the parts in italics should be given with the Explosive Aspirate, the other parts with Expulsive Aspirate and Pure Tone or Orotund combined.

EXAMPLE: HORROR AND DREAD.

Aspirate Explosive.

Macbeth. Scene ii. Act ii.

Enter LADY MACBETH.

Lady M. That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;

What hath quench'd them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,

Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it:

The doors are open; and the surfeited

grooms

Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd their

possets,

That death and nature do contend about them,

Whether they live or die.

Macb. [Within.] Who's there? what, ho!
Lady M. Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.

Enter MACBETH.

My husband!

Macb. I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise ? Lady M. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.

Macb. This is a sorry sight.

[Looking on his hands.

Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

Macb. There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried "Murder!"

That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:

But they did say their prayers, and address'd them

Again to sleep.

Lady M.

There are two lodged together.

Macb. One cried "God bless us!" and "Amen" the other; As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.

Listening their fear, I could not say "Amen,"

When they did say "God bless us!"

Lady M.

Consider it not so deeply.

Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce "Amen ?"

I had most need of blessing, and “Amen”

Stuck in my throat.

Lady M.

These deeds must not be thought

After these ways: so, it will make us mad.

Macb. Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep," the innocent sleep,

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,—

Lady M.

What do you mean?

Macb. Still it cried "Sleep no more!!" to all the house; "Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor

Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think

So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: go, carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.

Macb.

I'll go no more:

I am afraid to think what I have done;

Look on't again I dare not.

Lady M.

Infirm of purpose!

Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead

Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;
For it must seem their guilt.

[Exit.

Macb.
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appalls me?
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,

Making the green one red.

Re-enter LADY MACBETH.

Lady M. My hands are of your color; but I shame
To wear a heart so white. I hear a knocking
At the south entry: retire we to our chamber;
A little water clears us of this deed:

How easy is it, then! Your constancy

Hath left you unattended. Hark! more knocking.
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,

And show us to be watchers. Be not lost

So poorly in your thoughts.

Macb. To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

[Exeunt.

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the element in this lesson?

2. What is the topic?

3. What is the principle?

4. In the utterance of what styles of thought and feeling will the Explosive Aspirate be chiefly employed?

5. Why does the scene require Explosive Aspirate and Aspirate and Pure Tone or Orotund combined?

6. To which class does the Aspirate belong?

7. What is the difference between the Aspirate and Pure Tone?