The next change admitted for the sake of variety, without prejudice to melody, is the intermixture of Pyrrhics and Spondees; in which, two impressions in the one foot make up for the want of one in the other; and two long syllables compensate two short ones, so as to make the sum of the quantity of the two feet, equal to two Iambics, Ŏn the green bank to look into the clear

Smooth lake that to mẽ seem'd another sky.
Stood rul'd stood vast infinitude confin'd.

The next variety admitted is that of the Amphibrach.
Which many ǎ bārd hăd cháuntěd máný a day.

In this line, we find that two of the feet are Amphibrachs; and three, Iambics.

1

We have before shown that the cæsura improves the melody of verse; and we shall now speak of its other more important office, that of being the chief source of harmony in numbers.

The first and lowest perception of harmony, by means of the cæsura, arises from comparing two members of the same line with each other, divided in the manner to be seen in the instances before mentioned; because the beauty of proportion in the members, according to each of these divisions, is founded in nature; being as one to two-two to three-or three to two.

The next degree arises from comparing the members of a couplet, or two contiguous lines: as,

See the bold youth" strain up the threat'ning steep,
Rush thro' the thickets" down the valleys sweep.

Here we find the cæsura of the first line, at the end of the second foot; and in the middle of the third foot, in the last line.

Hang o'er their coursers' heads" with eager speed,
And earth rolls back" beneath the flying steed.

In this couplet, the cæsura is at the end of the third foot in the first line; and of the second, in the latter line

The next perception of harmony arises from comparing a greater number of lines, and observing the relative proportion of the couplets to each other, in point of simi larity and diversity, as :

Thy forests Windsor'' and thy green retreats,
At once the monarch's" and the muse's seats,
Invite my lays." Be present Sylvan maids,
Unlock your springs'' and open all your shades.
Not half so swift" the trembling doves can fly,
When the fierce eagle" cleaves the liquid sky;
Not half so swiftly" the fierce eagle moves,.

When through the clouds' he drives the trembling
doves.

In this way, the comparison of lines variously apportioned by the different seats of the three cæsuras, may be the source of a great variety of harmony, consistent with the finest melody. This is still increased by the introduction of two cæsuras, and much more by that of semipauses. The semi-pauses double every where the terms of comparison; give a more distinct view of the whole and the parts; afford new proportions of measurement, and an ampler scope for diversity and equality, those sources of beauty in harmony.

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.

3d. The last object in versification regards expression. When men express their sentiments by words, they naturally fall into that sort of movement of the voice, which is consonant to that produced by the emotion in the mind; and the Dactylic or Anapæstic, the Trochaic, Iambic, or Spondaic, prevails even in common discourse, according to the different nature of the sentiments expressed. To imitate nature, therefore, the poet, in arranging his words in the artificial composition of verse, must take care to make the movement correspond to the sentiment, by the proper use of the several kinds of feet: and this is the first and most general source of expression in numbers.

That a judicious management of the feet and pauses, may be peculiarly expressive of particular operations and sentiments, will sufficiently appear to the learne r, by few select examples under each of those heads.

In the following instance, the vast dimensions of Satan

are shewn by an uncommon succession of long syllables, which detain us to survey the huge arch fiend, in his fixed posture.

Sō strecth'd out hūge in length the arch fiend lãy. The next example affords instances of the power of a Trochee beginning a line, when succeeded by an Iambus. -and sheer within

Lights on his feet: as when a prowling wolf
Léaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold.

The Trochee which begins the line shews Satan in the act of lighting : the Iambus that follows, fixes him"Lights on his feet.”

The same artifice, in the beginning of the next line, makes us see the wolf" leap o'er thě fénce."-But as the mere act of leaping over the fence, is not the only circumstance to be attended to, but also the facility with which it is done, that is strongly marked, not only by the smooth foot which follows-"with ease"-itself very expressive, but likewise by a Pyrrhic preceding the last foot-" into the fold"-which indeed carries the wolf— "with ease into the fold."

The following instances show the effects produced by cæsuras, so placed as to divide the line into very unequal portions such as that after the first, and before the last semipede.

-thus with the year

Seasons return, but not to me returns

Day" or the sweet approach of even or morn.

Here the cæsura after the first semipede Day, stops us unexpectedly, and forcibly impresses the imagination with the greatness of the author's loss, the loss of sight. No sooner had th' Almighty ceas'd but all The multitude of angels, with a shout

Loud' as from numbers without numbers' sweet
As from blest voices uttering joy——

There is something very striking in this uncommon casura, which suddenly stops the reader, to reflect on the importance of a particular word.

We shall close the subject, with an example containing

the united powers of many of the principles which have been explained.

Dire was the tossing" deep the groans" Despair"
Ténded the sick" búsiest from coúch to couch"
And over thèm triún phánt deăth his dárt
Shook" but delay'd to strike.

Many of the rules and observations respecting Prosody, are taken from "Sheridan's Art of Reading;" to which book the Compiler refers the ingenious student, for more extensive information on the subject.

PUNCTUATION.*

PUNCTUATION is the art of dividing a written composition into sentences, or parts of sentences, by points or stops, for the purpose of marking the different pauses. which the sense, and an accurate pronunciation require.

the

The Comma represents the shortest pause; Semicolon, a pause double that of the comma; the Colon, double that of the semicolon; and the Period double that of the colon.

The precise quantity or duration of each pause, cannot be defined; for it varies with the time of the whole. The same composition may be rehearsed in a quicker or a slower time; but the proportion between the pauses should be ever invariable.

In order more clearly to determine the proper application of the points, we must distinguish between an imperfect phrase, a simple sentence, and a compound sentence.

An imperfect phrase contains no assertion, or does not

* As punctuation is intended to aid both the sense, and the pronunciation of a sentence, it could not have been exclusively discussed under the part of Syntax, or of Prosody. The nature of the subject, its extent and importance, and the grammatical knowledge which it presupposes, have induced us to make it a distinct and subsequent article.

amount to a preposition or sentence: as, "Therefore, in haste; studious of praise.".

A simple sentence has but one subject, and one finite verb, expressed or implied: as, "Temperance preserves health.'

A compound sentence has more than one subject, or onc finite verb, either expressed or understood; or it consists of two or more simple sentences connected together : "Good nature mends and beautifies all objects;" "Virtue refines the affections, but vice debases them."

as,

In a sentence, the subject and the verb, or either of them, máy be accompanied with several adjuncts: as, the object, the end, the circumstance of time, place, manner, and the like and the subject or verb may be either immediately connected with them, or mediately; that is, by being connected with something which is connected with some other, and so on: as, "The mind, unoccupied with useful knowledge, becomes a magazine of trifles and follies."

Members of sentences may be divided into simple and compound members. See page 128.

CHAPTER I.

Of the COMMA,

THE Comma usually separates those parts of a sentence, which, though very closely connected in sense and construction, require a pause between them.

RULE I. With respect to a simple sentence, the several words of which it consists have so near a relation to each other, that, in general, no points are requisite, except a full stop at the end of it: as, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." "Every part of matter swarms with living creatures."

A simple sentence, however, when it is a long one, and the nominative case is accompanied with inseparable ad juncts, may admit of a pause immediately before the verb as, "The good taste of the present age, has not allowed as to neglect the cultivation of the English language

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