it is the fruit of long cultivation, and the acquisition of labour and care. A plain understanding is often joined with great worth. The brightest parts are sometimes found without virtue or honour. How feeble are the attractions of the fairest form, when nothing within corresponds to them! Piety and virtue are particularly graceful and becoming in youth. Can we, untouched by gratitude, view that profusion of good, which the Divine hand pours around us? There is nothing in human life more amiable and respectable, than the character of a truly humble and benevolent man. What feelings are more uneasy and distressful, than the workings of sour and angry passions? No man can be active in disquieting others, who does not, at the same time, disquiet himself. A life of pleasure and dissipation, is an enemy to health, fortune, and character. To correct the spirit of discontent, let us consider how little we deserve, and how much we enjoy. As far as happiness is to be found on earth, we must look for it, not in the world, or the things of the world; but within ourselves, in our temper, and in our heart. Though bad men attempt to turn virtue into ridicule, they honour it at the bottom of their hearts. Of what small moment to our real happiness, are many of those injuries which draw forth our resentment! In the moments of eager contention, every thing is magnified and distorted in its appearance. Multitudes in the most obscure stations, are not less eager in their petty broils, nor less tormented by their passions, than if princely honours were the prize for which they contend. The smooth stream, the serene atmosphere, the mild zephyr, are the proper emblems of a gentle temper, and a peaceful life. Among the sons of strife, all is loud and tempestuous. CHAP. II. EXERCISES IN PARSING, AS IT RESPECTS BOTH ETYMOLOGY Article. Substantive. Adjective. Pronoun. Verb. AND SYNTAX. SECT. I. Syntactical Parsing Table. Why is it the definite article' Why omitted? Why repeated? Why is it in the possessive case? Why in the objective case? Why in apposition ?. Why is the apostrophick s omitted? What is its substantive? Why in the singular, why in the plural number? Why placed after its substantive ? Why omitted? Why repeated? What is its antecedent? Why is it in the singular, why in the plural number? Why of the masculine, why of the feminine, why of the neuter gender? Why of the first, of the second, or of the third person? Why is it the nominative case? Why the possessive? Why the objective? What is its nominative case? Adverb. Preposition. What case does it govern? Why is it in the singular? Why in the plural number? Why in the first person, &c. ? What relation has it to another verb, in point of Why do participles sometimes govern the objec- Why is the verb omitted? Why repeated? Why is the double negative used? What case does it govern! Which is the word governed? Why this preposition? Why omitted? Why repeated? Conjunction. What modes, tenses, or cases, does it connect? Inter ection. And why? What mood does it require? Why omitted? Why repeated? Why does the nominative case follow it? Why the objective? Why omitted? Why repeated? Vice is a common substantive, of the neuter gender, the third person, in the singular number, and the nominative case. Degrades is a regular verb active, indicative mood, present tense, third person singular, agreeing with its nominative "vice," according to RULE I. which says; (here repeat the rule.) Us is a personal pronoun, first person plural, in the objective case, and governed by the active verb "degrades," agreeably to RULE XI. which says, &c. "He who lives virtuously, prepares for all events.' He is a personal pronoun, of the third person, singular number, and masculine gender. Who is a relative pronoun, which has for its antecedent "he," with which it agrees in gender and number, according to RULE V. which says, &c. Lives a regular verb neuter, indicative mood, present tense, third person singular, agree. ing with its nominative, "who," according to RULE VI. which says, &c. Virtuously is an adverb of quality. Prepares a regular verb neuter, indicative mood, present tense, third person singular, agreeing with its nominative, "he." For is a preposition. All is an adjective pronoun, of the indefinite kind, the plural number, and belongs to its substantive, "events," with which it agrees, according to RULE VIII. which says, &c. Events is a common substantive, of the neuter gender, the third person, in the plural number, and the objective case, governed by the preposition, "for," according to RULE XVII. which says, &c. "If folly entice thee, reject its allurements." If is a copulative conjunction. Folly is a common substantive, of the neuter gender, the third person, in the singular number, and the nominative case. Entice is a regular verb active, subjunctive mood, present tense, third person singular, and is governed by the conjunction, "if," according to RULE XIX. which says, &c. Thee is a personal pronoun, of the second person singular, in the objective case, governed by the active verb "entice," agreeably to RULE XI. which says, &c. Reject is a regular active verb, imperative mood, second person singular, and agrees with its nominative case "thou," implied. Its is a personal pronoun, third person, singular number, and of the neuter gender, to agree with its substantive "folly," according to RULE v. which says, &c. It is in the possessive case, governed by the noun "allurements," agreeably to RULE X. which says, &c. Allurements is a common substantive, of the neuter gender, the third person, in the plural number, and the objective case, governed by the active verb, "reject," according to RULE XI. which says, &c. SECT. III. Exercises on the first, second, third, and fourth Rules of Syntax.* 1. The contented mind spreads ease and cheerfulness around it. The school of experience teaches many useful lessons. In the path of life are many thorns, as well as flowers. *In parsing these exercises, the pupil should repeat the respective rule of Syntax, and show that it applies to the sentence which he is parsing. Thou shouldst do justice to all men, even to enemies. 2. Vanity and presumption ruin many a promising youth. Food, clothing, and credit, are the rewards of industry. He and William live together in great harmony. 3. No age, nor condition, is exempt from trouble. Wealth, or virtue, or any valuable acquisition, is not attainable by idle wishes. 4. The British nation is great and generous. The company is assembled. It is composed of persons possessing very different sentiments. A herd of cattle, peacefully grazing, affords a pleasing sight. SECT. IV. Exercises on the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth Rules of Syntax. 5. The man, who is faithfully attached to religion, may be relied on with confidence. The vices which we should especially avoid, are those which most easily beset us. 6. They who are born in high stations, are not always happy. Our parents and teachers are the persons whom we ought, in a particular manner, to respect. If our friend is in trouble, we, whom he knows and loves, may console him. 7. Thou art the man who has improved his privileges, and who will reap the reward. I am the person, who owns a fault committed, and who disdains to conceal it by falsehood. |