sarce syllables, and are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables, and four of three, as follow:

7

The hyphen - marks a long, and the breve a short syllable.

GESTURE.

THE ancients comprehended action, as well as elocution, under the term pronunciation. The action should be as easy and as natural as the elocution; and, like that, it must be varied and directed by the passions. An affected violence of motion is as disagreeable and disgustful as an affected vehemence of voice; and no action, as bad as no emphasis: which two faults commonly go together, as do the other two just before

mentioned.

Those parts of the body which are to be principally employed in oratorical action, are the HEAD, the FACE, the EYES, the HANDS, and the upper part of the WHOLE

BODY.

The HEAD. This should generally be in an erect position; turning sometimes on one side, and sometimes on the other, that the voice may be heard by the whole audience, and a regard paid to the several parts of it. It should always be on the same side with the action of the hands and body, except when we express an abhorrence or refusal of anything, which is done by rejecting it with the right hand, and turning away the head to the left. (Fig 1.)

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The COUNTENANCE.

In this is the seat of the soul,

FIG. 1.

and the very life of action. Every passion, whilst uttered with the tongue, should be painted in the face. There is frequently more eloquence in a look, than it is possible for any person to express in words. By this we are awed, charmed, incensed, softened, grieved, rejoiced, raised, or dejected, according as we catch the fire of the speaker's passion from his face. In short, there is no end in recounting the force and effects of this dumb oratory; which Nature only teaches, and which persons

of low passions lose all the advantages of. Let any person look well upon a good piece of painting where the passions are strongly delineated, and he will instantly conceive the power of it.

The EYES. These should be carried from one part of the audience to the other, with a modest and decent aspect; which will tend to recall and fix their attention, and animate the speaker's own spirit by his observing that attention closely fixed. But if their affections be strongly moved, and the observing it be a means of raising his own too high, it will be necessary then to keep the eye from off them; for, though an orator should always be animated, it is necessary that he guard against being overcome by his passions. The language of the eye is inexpressible. It is, in fact, the window of the soul, from which sometimes the whole heart looks out at once, and speaks more feelingly than all the

warmest strains of oratorical eloquence; indeed, it comes effectually in aid of it, when the passion is too strong to be uttered.

The HANDS. The left hand should never be used alone, unless it be to attend the motion of the head and eyes in an address to the audience on the left side.

FIG. 2.

The right hand may be frequently used alone. When a person speaks of the body, he may point to it with the middle finger of the right hand. When he speaks of his soul or conscience, he may lay his right hand gently on his breast. (Fig. 2.) It should be often displayed with an easy motion, to favor an emphasis; but seldom be quite extended.

Both the hands displayed, and the arms extended, is a violent action, and never just or decent unless the audience be noisy, and part of them at a considerable distance from the speaker, and he is laboring to be heard; and even then they should never be extended higher than the head, unless pointing at something above the audience. (Fig. 3.) The motions of the hand should always correspond with those of the head and eyes, as they should with the passions expressed.

In deliberate proof or argumentation, no action is more proper or natural, than gently to lay the first finger of the right hand on the palm of the left. (Fig. 4.)

How considerably the proper motion of the hand assists pronunciation, and how many passions may be

very strongly indicated thereby, when attended with that of the head and eyes, it is not easy to describe, but may be quickly observed even in common conversation.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 4.

FIG. 5.

FIG. 6.

The posture of the BODY. (Fig. 5.) This should be usually erect; not continually changing, nor always motionless; declining in acts of humiliation, and raised in acts of praise and thanksgiving. It should always accompany the motion of the hands, head, and eyes, when they are directed to any particular part of the audience, but never so far as to let the back be turned tc any part of it.

It is in the level parts of a discourse, such as narration, explanation, &c., that the speaker is most fre quently at a loss for a graceful management of the hands. A slight elevation of the right hand, as in Fig. 6, is here appropriate. A slight elevation of both hands,