. Ye nymphs of Solyma"! begin the song; To heav'nly themes", subliner strains belong. But if it should happen that words which have so strict and intimate a connexion, as not to bear even a momentary separation, are divided from one another by this casural pause, we then feel a sort of struggle between the sense and the sound, which renders it difficult to read such lines harmoniously. The rule of proper pronunciation in such cases, is to regard only the pause which the sense forms: and to read the line accordingly. The neglect of the casural pause may make the line sound somewhat unharmoniously; but the effect would be much worse, if the sense were sacrificed to the sound. For instance, in the following lmes of Milton, "What in me is dark, "Illumine; what is low, raise and support." the sense clearly dictates the pause after illumine, at the end of the third syllable, which, in reading ought to be made accordingly; though, if the melody only were to be regarded, illumine should be connected with what follows, and the pause not made till the fourth or sixth syllable. So in the following line of Pope's Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot; "I sit, with sad civility I read." the ear plainly points out the cæsural pause as falling after sad, the fourth syllable. But it would be very bad reading to make any pause there, so as to separate sad and civility. The sense admits of no other pause than after the second syllable sit, which therefore must be the only pause made in reading this part of the sentence. There is another mode of dividing some verses, by introducing what may be called demi-cæsuras, which require very sight pauses; and which the reader should manage with judgment, or he will be tpt to fall into an affected sing-song mode of pronouncing verses of this kind. The following lines exemplify the demi-casura. "Warms in the sun", refreshes in the breeze, "Glows in the stars", and blossoms in the trees; "Lives' through all life"; extends' through all extent, Spreads' undivided, operates unspent." Before the conclusion of this introduction, the Compiler takes the liberty to recommend to teachers, to exercise their pupils in discovering and explaining the emphatic words, and the proper tones and pauses, of every portion assigned them to read, previously to their being called out to the performance. These preparatory lessons, in which they should be regularly examined, will improve then judgment and taste; prevent the practice of reading without attention to the subject; and establish a habit of readily discovering the meaning, force, and beauty, of every sen tence they peruse,P a Dil-i-gence, dil'-é-jênse, industry, h Tran-quil-li-ty, b In-dus-try, in-das-trẻ, diligence, i Re-treat, ré-trete', retirement, to SECTION I. trân-kwil'-e-tè, assiduity. quiet, calmness. assiduity. real, essential. d Ac-qui-sit-ion, bé-nêf-e-sense, act of goodness. Ôs-tên-ta-shủng vain show. retire. c Ma-te-ri-al, mâ-tè-rẻ-âl, corpo-k Be-nef-i-cence, âk-kwè-zish'-in, Os-ten-ta-tion, the act of acquiring. e En-dow-ment, en-doù-mênt, m Com-pas-sion-ate, kôm-påsh'-inwealth bestowed, gifts of nature. åte, merciful, to pity. ƒ Ba-sis, ba'-sis, the foundation ofn Con-science, kôn -shênse, the faany thing. g Pu-ri-fy, pu-rè-fi, to make or grow pure. b culty by which we judge of ourselves. DILIGENCE, industry, and proper improvement of time, are material duties of the young. The acquisition of knowledge is one of the most honourable occupations of youth. Whatever useful or engaging endowments we possess, virtue is requisite, in order to their shining with proper lustre. NOTE. In the first chapter the compiler has exhibited sentences in a great variety of construction, and in all the diversity of punctuation. If well practised upon, he presumes they will fully prepare the young reader for the various pauses, inflections, and modulations of voice, which the succeeding pieces require. The Author's " English Exercises," under the head of Punctuation, will afford the learner additional scope for improving himself in reading sentences and paragraphs variously con structed. Virtuous youth gradually brings forward accomplished and flourishing manhood. Sincerity and truth, form the basis of every virtue. Disappointments and distress are often blessings in dis guise. Change and alteration form the very essence of the world. True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise. In order to acquire a capacity for happiness, it must be our first study to rectify inward disorders. Whatever purifies, fortifies also the heart. From our eagerness to grasp, we strangle and destroy pleasure. A temperate spirit, and moderate expectations, are excellent safeguards of the mind, in this uncertain and changing state. There is nothing except simplicity of intention, and purity of principle, that can stand the test of near approach and strict examination. The value of any possession is to be chiefly estimated, by the relief which it can bring us in the time of our greatest need. No person who has once yielded up the government of his mind, and given loose rein to his desires and passions, can tell how far they may carry him. Tranquillity of mind is always most likely to be attained, when the business of the world is tempered with thoughtful and serious retreat. He who would act like a wise man, and build his house on the rock, and not on the sand, should contemplate human life, not only in the sunshine, but in the shade. Let usefulness and beneficence, not ostentation' and vanity, direct the train of your pursuits. To maintain a steady and unbroken mind, amidst all the shocks of the world, marks a great and noble spirit. Patience, by preserving composure within, resists the impression which trouble makes from without. Compassionate affections, even when they draw tears from our eyes for human misery, convey satisfaction to the heart. + They who have nothing to give, can afford relief to others, by imparting what they feel. Our ignorance of what is to come, and of what is really good or evil, should correct anxiety about worldly success. The veil which covers from our sight the events of succeeding years, is a veil woven by the hand of mercy. The best preparation for all the uncertainties of futurity, consists in a well ordered mind, a good conscience," and a cheerful submission to the will of Heaven. SECTION II. a Folly, fol-le, weakness, depravity.k U-ni-verse, yu'-ne-verse, the whole world. Dis-trust, dis-trůst', to doubt, suspicion. m Cav-il, kåv-il, to raise captious objections, a captious argument. d In-do-lence, în'-do-lênse, laziness. e Cre-a-tor, kre-à-tür, God, onen Scep-tic-al, sêp'-tik-ål, disbeliev ƒ Cur-rent, kůr -rẻnt, circulatory, o In-di-ca-tion, în-de-kå ́-shẩn, mark, running stream. symptom. g Frus-trate, frus-tråte, to defeat, p Big-ot-ry, big-gût-trẻ, blind zeal, balk. superstition. h Con-fer, kon-fer', to bestow, dis-q Max-im, māks'-Im, a general princourse with. Ex-ter-nal, êks-têr -nål, outward, apparent. ciple. THE chief misfortunes that befall us in life, can be traced to some vices or follies which we have committed. Were we to survey the chambers of sickness and distress, we should often find them peopled with the victims of intemperance and sensuality, and with the children of vicious indolenced and sloth. To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very different, as rarely to coincide. Man, in his highest earthly glory, is but a reed floating on the stream of time, and forced to follow every new diIrection of the current. The corrupted temper, and the guilty passions of the bad, frustrates the effect of every advantage which the world confers on them. The external misfortunes of life, disappointments, poverty, and sickness, are light in comparison of those inward distresses of mind, occasioned by folly, by passion, and by guilt. No station is so high, no power so great, no character so unblemished, as to exempt men from the attacks of rashness, malice, or envy. |