God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me'; give me liberty`, or GIVE ME DEATH.

REMARK.

- In the above extract, may be found an illustration of most of the principles of emphasis.

The most important emphatic words and pauses only are marked. On this point there is always room for difference of opinion. Scarcely any two persons would pronounce a sentence with precisely the same emphasis. Observe, in the above lesson the all-controlling power of emphasis in determining to the falling inflection. The words "see," “hear,” and “my," in the first paragraph, the word "that" in the second, and "spurned" and "contempt" in the fourth paragraph, are examples of this. Let the reader remember that a high degree of emphasis is sometimes expressed by a whisper.

XXXIV. VANITY OF LIFE.

FROM HERDER'S HEBREW POETRY.

1. MAN, born of woman,

Is of few days,

And full of trouble.

He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down`;

He fleeth also as a shadow,

And continueth not.

2. Upon such dost thou open thine eye,

And bring me unto judgment with thee?
Among the impure is there one pure?
Not one.

3. Are his days so determined?

Hast thou numbered his months,
And set fast his bounds for him,
Which he can never pass?

Turn then from him that he may rest,
And enjoy, as an hireling ́, his day`.

4. The tree hath hope, if it be cut down,
It becometh green、 again,

And new shoots are put forth.

If even the root is old in the earth,
And its stock die in the ground,
From vapor of water it will bud,

And bring forth boughs as a young plant.

5. But man dieth, and his power is gone; He is taken away, and where is he`?

6. Till the waters waste from the sea,
Till the river faileth and is dry land,
Man lieth low, and riseth not again.

Till the heavens are old, he shall not awake,
Nor be aroused from his sleep.

7. Oh! that thou wouldst conceal me

In the realm of departed souls!

Hide me in secret, till thy wrath be past;
Appoint me then a new term,
And remember me again.
But alas! if a man die^,
Shall he live again?

8. So long, then, as my toil endureth ́,
Will I wait till a change come to me.
Thou wilt call me, and I shall answer;
Thou wilt pity the work of thy hands.
Though now thou numberest my steps,
Thou shalt then not watch for my sin.
My transgression will be sealed in a bag`,
Thou wilt bind up and remove my iniquity.

9. Yet alas! the mountain falleth and is swallowed up, The rock is removed out of its place,

The waters hollow out the stones,

The floods overflow the dust of the earth,

And thus, thou destroyest the hope of man.

10. Thou contendest with him, till he faileth`,

Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
Though his sons become great and happy ́.

Yet he knoweth it not;

If they come to shame and dishonor`,
He perceiveth it not`.

In this and some following Lessons, the principles applicable to the reading of poetry are illustrated.

1. In slumbers of midnight || the Sailor-boy lay,

His hammock | swung loose || at the sport of the wind;
But watch-worn | and weary, || his cares | flew away,
And visions of happiness || danced o'er his mind.

2. He dream'd of his home, || of his dear native bowers,
And pleasures that waited || on life's merry morn,
While Memory each scene || gayly cover'd with flowers,
And restored every rose, but secreted the thorn.

3. Then Fancy her magical pinions | spread wide,

And bade the young dreamer | in ecstasy rise;
Now, far, far behind him || the green waters glide,
And the cot of his forefathers || blesses his eyes.

4. The jessamine clambers || in flower o'er the thatch,
And the swallow sings sweet || from her nest in the wall;
All trembling with transport || he raises the latch,
And the voices of lov'd ones | reply to his call.

5. A father bends o'er him || with looks of delight;
His cheek is impearl'd || with a mother's warm tear;
And the lips of the boy || in a love-kiss unite

With the lips of the maid || whom his bosom holds dear.

6. The heart of the sleeper || beats high in his breast,

Joy quickens his pulse, || all his hardships seem o'er;
And a murmur of happiness || steals through his rest-
"O God! thou hast blest me, || I ask for no more.

7. Ah! whence is that flame || which now bursts on his eye? Ah! what is that sound || that now larums his ear? 'Tis the lightening's red glare || painting hell on the sky! 'Tis the crashing of thunders, || the groan of the sphere!

8. He springs from his hammock, || he flies to the deck;
Amazement confronts him || with images dire;
Wild winds and mad waves || drive the vessel a wreck,
The masts fly in splinters, || the shrouds are on fire!

9. Like mountains the billows || tumultuously swell,
In vain the lost wretch || calls on mercy to save;
Unseen hands of spirits || are ringing his knell ́,
And the death-angel flaps || his broad wings o'er the wave.
10. Oh, Sailor-boy! || woe to thy dream of delight!

In darkness || dissolves the gay frost-work of bliss;
Where now is the picture || that Fancy touch'd bright;
Thy parents' fond pressure, || and love's honey'd kiss?

11. Oh, Sailor-boy! Sailor-boy! || never again

Shall home, love, or kindred, || thy wishes repay;
Unbless'd and unhonor'd, || down deep in the main,
Full many a score fathom, || thy frame shall decay.
12. No tomb shall e'er plead || to remembrance for thee,
Or redeem form or fame || from the merciless surge;
But the white foam of waves || shall thy winding-sheet be,
And winds, in the midnight || of winter, thy dirge.

13. On beds of green sea-flower || thy limbs shall be laid;
Around thy white bones || the red coral shall grow;
Of thy fair, yellow locks, || threads of amber be made ́,
And every part suit | to thy mansion below.

14. Days, months, years, and ages`, || shall circle away,
And still the vast waters || above thee shall roll;
Earth loses thy pattern || forever and aye;

Oh Sailor-boy! Sailor-boy! || peace to thy soul.

SIR WALTER SCOTT was born at Edinburgh, in 1771. After his admission to the Scottish bar, he determined to devote himself to literary pursuits, and his path to fame was opened by the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. After the publication of some other poems, he chose a new department of literature, and, concealing his name, commenced the series called the Waverly Novels. He also produced several historical works. He died at Abbotsford, in 1832.

Pibroch; an instrument of music used in Scotland.

Reveille, (pro. re-vel-ya); signal for mustering.

1. SOLDIER, rest! || thy warfare o'er",

Sleep the sleep | that knows not breaking;

Dream of battle-fields || no more,

Days of danger, || nights of waking,
In our isle's enchanted hall,

Hands unseen || thy couch are strewing,
Fairy strains of music || fall,

Every sense || in slumber dewing.
Soldier, rest! || thy warfare o'er ́,
Sleep the sleep || that knows not breaking`;
Dream of battle-fields || no more,

Morn of toil, || nor night of waking`.

2. No rude sound shall reach thine ear",
Armor's clang, or war-steed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here,
Mustering clan', or squadron tramping.
Yet the lark's shrill fife may come,
At the daybreak from the fallow`,
And the bittern sound his drum ́,
Booming from the sedgy shallow.
Ruder sounds shall none be near,
Guards nor warders challenge here
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing",
Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.

3. Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done;
While our slumb'rous spells assail ye,
Dream not with the rising sun ́,
Bugles here shall sound reveille.

Sleep! the deer is in his den`;

Sleep! thy hounds are by thee lying`;
Sleep! nor dream in yonder glen ́,
How thy gallant steed lay dying.
Huntsman! rest! thy chase is done;
Think not of the rising sun",
For at dawning to assail ye,
Here no bugle sounds reveille.