Ariftotle obferves, that the fable of an epic poem fhould abound in circumftances that are both credible and aftonishing: Milton's fable is a mafter-piece of this nature; as the war in heaven, the condition of the fallen àngels, the state of ìnnocence, the temptation of the fèrpent, and the fall of mán, though they are very astonishing in themselves, are not only credible but actual points of faith. Spectator, No 315. Rule VIII. When five members of a sentence, each of which contains more than a fingle word, follow in a concluding feries, the three first may be pronounced with the falling inflexion, and the two laft with the rifing and falling inflexion, as in Rule II. EXAMPLES. Though we feem grieved at the shortnefs of life in general, we are wishing every period of it at an end. The minor longs to be at àge, then to be a man of business, then to make up an estàte, then to arrive at hónours, then to retìre. Spect. No 93. There is no bleffing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a difcreet and virtuous friend. It eafes and unloads the mind, clears and improves the understanding, engenders thoughts and knowledge, animates virtue and good refolutions, and finds em. ployment for the most vacant hours of life. Ibid. N° 93. The devout man does not only believe but feels there is a Deity; he has actual fensations of him; his experience concurs with his reason, he fees him more and more in all his intercourfes with him, and even in this life almost loses his faith in conviction. Ibid. N° 465. Rule IX. When fix members of a sentence, each of which contains more than a single word, follow in a commencing feries, the first five may be pronounced with the falling inflexion, every member rifing above the preceding one, and the two last members as in Rule II. EXAMPLES. That a man, to whom he was, in a great measure, beholden for his crown, and even for his life; a man to whom, by every honour and favour, he had endeavoured to exprefs his gratitude; whofe brother, the earl of Derby, was his own father-in-law; to whom he had even committed the truft of his perfon, by creating him lord chamberlain; that a man, enjoying his full confidence and affèction; not actuated by any motive of dif content or apprehenfion; that this man fhould engage in a confpiracy against him he deemed abfolutely falfe and incredible. Hume's Hift. of England, Vol. I. p. 363. I would fain afk one of thofe bigoted infidels, fuppofing all the great points of atheism as the cafual or eternal formation of the world, the materiality of a thinking fubftance, the mortality of the soul, the fortuitous organization of the body, the motions and gravitation of matter, with the like particulars, were laid together, and formed into a kind of creed, according to the opinions of the most celebrated atheists; I fay, fuppofing fuch a creed as this were formed, and impofed upon any one people in the world, whether it would not require an infinitely greater measure of faith than any fet of articles which they fo violently oppofe. Spectator, No 168. Under this rule may be placed that grand and terrible adjuration of Macbeth: I conjure you by that which you profess Though bladed corn be lodg'd and trees blown dòwn; Though palaces and pyramids do flope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Ev'n till destruction sicken, answer me where, by placing the falling inflexion, without dropping the voice, on each particular, and giving this inflexion a degree of emphatis, increasing from the first member to the fixth, we shall find the whole climax wonderfully enforced and diversified: this was the method approved and practifed by the inimitable Mr. Garrick; and though it is poffible that a very good actor may vary in fome particulars from this rule, and yet pronounce the whole agreeably, it may with confidence be afferted, that no actor can pronounce this paffage to fo much advantage as by adopting the inflexions laid down in this rule. Rule X. When fix members of a fentence, each of which confifts of more than a fingle word, fucceed each other in a concluding feries, the four first may be pronounced with the falling inflexion, each member afcending above the preceding and the two laft, as in Rule II. EXAMPLE. For if we interpret the Spectator's words in their literal meaning, we muft fuppofe that women of the first quality used to pafs away whole mornings at a puppet-show; that they attested their principles by patches; that an audience would fit out an evening to hear a dramatic performance, written in a language which they did not understand; that chairs and flower-pots were introduced as actors on the British stage; that a promifcuous affembly of men and women were allowed to meet at midnight in maíks within the verge of the court, with many improbabilities of the like nature. Spectator, N° 10z. Rule XI. When seven or more members of a fentence, each of which confifts of more than a fingle word, fucceed each other in a commencing feries, all but the laft member may be pronounced with the falling inflexion, each fucceeding member rifing above that which precedes it, and the two laft members as in Rule I. EXAMPLE. Nature has laid out all her art in beautifying the fàce; she has touched it with vermilion; planted in it a double row of ivory; made it the feat of fmiles and blùfhes; lighted it up and enlivened it with the brightness of the eyes; hung it on each fide with curious organs of fènfe; given it airs and graces that cannot be described; and surrounded it with such a flowing shade of hair, as fets all its beauties in the most agreeable light. Spectator, N° 98. Series of Seriefes. Preliminary Obfervation. When the members of a feries, either from their fimilitude or contrariety to each other, fall into pairs or triplets; these pairs or triplets, confidered as whole members, are pronounced according to the rules refpecting thofe members of a series that confift of more than a fingle word; but the parts of which these members are compofed, if confifting of fingle words, are pronounced according to thofe rules which relate to those members that confift of fingle words, as far as their fubordination to the whole feries of members will permit. Hence arifes, Rule I. When feveral members of a sentence confifting of diftinct portions of fimilar or oppofite words in a feries, follow in fucceffion, they must be pronounced fingly, according to the number of members in each portion, and together, according to the number of portions in the whole fentence, that the whole may form one related compound feries. EXAMPLES. The foul confifts of many faculties, as the understànding and the will, with all the fenfes both inward and outward; or, to fpeak more philofophically, the foul can exert herself in many different ways of action: fhe can understand, will, imàgine; fée, and hear; love and difcóurfe; and apply herfelf to many other like exercises of different kinds and natures. Spectator, No 600. The firft portion of this feries of feriefes, he can understand, will, imagine, as it contains one complete portion, may be confidered as a concluding feries; and as it forms but one portion of a greater feries, it may be confidered as a commencing one, and must be pronounced in fubferviency to it; that is, the first and second word must have the rifing, and the laft the falling inflexion, but without dropping the voice. The next portion must be pronounced in a fimilar manner; that is, the firft word with the rif ing, and the laft with the falling inflexion, with the voice a little higher and more forcible on the word bear than on the word imagine : the next portion, being the laft but one, alters its inflexions; the firft word having the falling and the laft the rifing inflexion, agreeably to the rule laid down in the preliminary obfervation to the Compound Series. On the other hand, thofe evil fpirits, who, by long cuftom, have contracted in the body habits of lúft and fenfuality; málice and revenge; an averfion to every thing that is good, jùft, and laudable, are naturally feafoned, and prepared for pain and mifery. Spectator, No 447. As this is a commencing feries of feriefes, the last member but one of the fecond feries may be pronounced with the falling inflexion at revenge and as the laft member has a feries of three fingle words, they come under Rule III. of the Simple Commencing Series. The condition, fpéech, and behaviour of the dying parents; with the age, innocence, and diftrefs of the children, are fet forth in fuch tender circumftances, that it is impoffible for a reader of common humanity not to be affected with them. Spectator, N° 85: |