would affirm or deny by vehement interrogation, thus exhibiting the strongest confidence in the truth of their statements. Most of our finest examples of senatorial and argumentative eloquence abound with the interrogation. The pupil should carefully study the following examples, until he clearly understands them; then, as far as possible, he should bring himself under the influence of the proper spirit, and give the passage, in an appropriate tone and manner, with directness, force, and earnestness. Pause at the end of every question, as if you waited an answer; this will render your tone and manner much more direct, natural, and effective. Keep the voice full and clear, and in a pitch in which you can readily control its modulations. EXAMPLES. 1. But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee came not all hell, broke loose? 2. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak! for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak! for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak! for him have I offended. 3. Tried and convicted traitor! at his peril on my head? Who says this? Who'll prove it 4. Our brethren are already in the field. Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? 5. Are not you, sir, who sit in that chair-is not he―our venerable colleague near you, are not you both already the proscribed and predestined objects of punishment and of vengeance? Cut off from all hope of royal clemency, what are you, what can you be, while the power of England remains, but outlaws? 6. They tell us, sir, that we are weak-unable to cope with so formidable an adversary; but when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely upon our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. 7. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? he that chastiseth the heathen, shall he not correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall he not know? Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest, a man shall not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man shall not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou that makes thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dishonorest thou God? Why formed at all; and wherefore as he is; Or does he sit regardless of his works? His ashes, where? and in what weal or wo? 9. 'Tis strange the miser should his cares employ, Is it less strange the prodigal should waste His wealth to purchase what he ne'er can taste? 10. Is it the cold and languid speaker, whose words fall in such sluggish and drowsy motion from his lips, that they can promote nothing but the slumbers of his auditory, and minister opiates to the boly, rather than stimulants to the mind; is it the unlettered fanatic without method, without reason, with incoherent raving, and vociferous ignorance, calculated to fit his hearers not for the kingdom of heaven, but for a hospital of lunatics; is it even the learned, inge aious and pious minister of Christ, who, by neglect or contempt of the oratorical art, has contracted a whining, monotonous sing-song delivery to exercise the patience of his flock, at the expense of cther Christian graces? or is it the genuine orator of heaven with a heart sincere, upright, and fervent: a mind stored with that universal knowledge. required as the foundation of the act with a genius for the invention, a skill for the disposition, and a voice for the elocution of every argument to convince and every sentiment to persuade ? EXERCIS PITCH. No definite rules can be given for the regulation of the pitch of the voice. The nature of the sentiment and discriminating taste must determine the appropriate key-note of delivery. HIGH PITCH. To obtain good control of the voice in a high pitch, practice upon such examples as the following with great force, in the highest key in which you can manage the voice. Remember to drop the jaw, so as to keep the mouth and throat well open, and whenever the voice breaks into a falsette, or impure tone of any kind, stop immediately, and rest for a few moments, then begin again. EXAMPLES. 1. Boat ahoy! Boat ahoy! 2. Charcoal! Charcoal! Charcoal! 3. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 4. Up drawbridge, grooms!—what, warder, ho! 5. Follow your spirits, and upon this charge, 6. The combat deepens: On, ye brave! Who rush to glory or the grae. 7. Bursts the storm on Phocis' walls! 8 Yet, though destruction sweep these lovely plains, 9. Quick! man the boat! 10. "Jump far out, boy, into the wave! Jump, or 1 fire" he said: "This chance alone your life can save, 11. To arms! To arms!--a thousand voices cried. Most of the examples in Repetition are appropriate examples for practice in high pitch and sustained force. The foregoing exercise is one of the very best for increasing the compass and flexibility of the voice; but the student, to profit by it, must practice frequently, and wit ll the force he can command. EXERCISE XVI. LOW PITCH. The best way to obtain a good control of the voice in a low pitch, is to practice such exercises as those given under REPETITION and HIGH PITCH, until you are somewhat fatigued with your exertions, then, after resting the lungs and vocal organs, for two or three hours, practice in the lowest and deepest tone you can command, upon passages which require the deepest, lowest, and most prolonged tones. of the voice. If found very laborious and difficult to sustain a full, clear, and resonant tone in a low key, rest a few moments occasionally, and then, "try again." EXAMPLES. 1. How hollow groans the earth beneath my tread; Is there an echo here? methinks it sounds As though some heavy footstep followed me: I will advance no farther. 2. My soul was hushed within me, and a dread Of what I knew not, charmed mine awe-struck thought With murmurings, as if the ocean dead Were moaning in their sleep; the billows brought 8. Come to the bridal chamber, Death! Come to the mother, when she feels, For the first time, her first-born's breath; Come, when the blessed seals With banquet-song, and dance, and wine- The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier, 4. How reverend is the face of this tall pile, In sullen silence stalks forth PESTILENCE: All that they touch, or taste, or breathe, is DEATH! G. Thou breathest;-and the obedient storm is still, 7 And time, when viewed through Thy eternity, Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction? 'Tis the Divinity that stirs within us; 'Tis Heaven itself that points out an hereafter, And intimates eternity to man. |