delivery of many Preachers, and in the readers of the Lessons. They arrive at the end of the last sentence abruptly, and before the hearers are prepared for it.

EMPHASIS.

Emphasis, when applied to speech, means marking by any very considerable alteration of the voice either a word or phrase as more important than other parts of a sentence, or such words or phrases as are assimilated to or contrasted with each other. Emphasis may be effected in several ways by more forcible, and, in general, by louder utterance; by variation of inflection; by a combination of any two or of all of these variations; or by making a pause before or after the emphatic word, or sometimes before as well as after it. In the application of the preceding several species of emphasis, the following varieties require principal attention :

Rule XIV. The Objective Emphasis, or emphasis of sense, i.e., the stress of the voice by which proportionate importance is given to the word or words conveying the substantive matter or leading object of the sentence; as 'I am desirous of becoming acquainted with the nature of man.' That is to say, 'the nature of man is

a subject to which I am desirous of directing some inquiry;' an idea which may be expressed either with reference to some other subject, or without any such reference whatever; in which latter case no antithesis is either expressed or implied; and the simple emphasis of import is conveyed by an increased stress of voice thrown upon the inflections which would be employed in pronouncing the compound name of that object, namely ‘The náture of màn The emphasis might be strengthened, if requisite, by slower

utterance.

Rule XV. When a pronoun is followed by a relative which modifies it, the pronoun becomes emphatic: e.g.

He cannot exalt his thoughts to anything great or noble, who only believes that after a short turn on the stage of the world he is to sink into oblivion, and lose all consciousness for ever.

Even if the relative is not expressed, the preceding pronoun is emphatic: e.g.,

Defend us, thy humble servants-i.e. (who are thy humble servants.) may obtain of Thee, (who art) the God of all mercy.-(Collect for Ash Wednesday.)

Rule XVI.-Antithetic Emphasis is that characteristic stress and inflection of the voice by which the opposition between two ideas, or parts of a

compound idea, is pointed out, and emphatically impressed on the mind. The antithesis may be either expressed or implied.

Of the direct or expressed antithesis we have an illustration in the following sentence:

"It is not with the nature of man-that-I-amdesirous-of-becoming-acquainted, but with the nature of God;"

in which man and God are the emphatically antithetic words; the former is pronounced with the suspensive slide, carried in a continuative tone over the rest of the member; and the latter with. the conclusive slide.

When there are several contrasted parts, all of which are expressed, emphatic force, though admissible in the pronunciation, is not always required. The meaning will be clearly conveyed if the opposed words receive opposite inflections:

Ex.-Exténded èmpire, like expanded gold, exchanges sòlid stréngth for féeble splèndour.

In this sentence, the application of much or of little stress will be a matter of indifference, provided that the inflections be properly arranged.

Words are sometimes emphasized for the purpose of preparing the hearer for some antithetic words that are to follow.

Ex.-By giving stress to the pronounour' in the clause Forgive us our trespasses,' the mind

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is, led to anticipate an antithesis: as wè forgive them that trespass against us.'

N.B.-The Collect for Advent contains three exemplifications of this remark, in the words 'darkness' and 'light; 'mortal' and 'ìmmortal ;' 'humílity' and 'majesty.'

Rule XVII.—Implied Antithesis. Let the preceding passage, 'I am desirous,' &c., be requoted with an emphasis on the word 'nature' only, and that emphasis be expressed by a forcible downward inflection, in which a little of the upward slide is heard before the descent of the voice; e.g.,

I am desirous of becoming acquainted with the nâture of man

the words have changed, to a certain degree, their signification; an antithesis is implied, and the interpretation becomes,

"It is not the history—the form-complexion, or any other particular incident relative to man, but his general nature, his physical and moral attributes, that I am desirous of knowing." (Ree's Cyclopædia.)

When the inflections are used in cases of implied antithesis, they may be distinguished by the names of the Suspensive and of the Strong Emphasis; and the following rules respecting the application of them demand particular notice.

Rule XVIII.-The Suspensive Emphasis, expressed by the upward inflection, declares positively, but leaves doubtful whether the implied antithesis is included or not.

Ex. I would not treat a dóg-ill.

This is a positive declaration; but whether I could ill-treat other animals (the implied antithesis), is left doubtful.

Rule XIX.-The Strong Emphasis, expressed by the downward inflection, declares positively, and at the same time either includes or excludes the implied antithesis: e.g.,

1. Exercise and temperance strengthen even an indifferent constitution; that is, not only a common constitution, but even an indifferent one.

Here the implied antithesis is included; for exercise and temperance would strengthen a common constitution, as well as an indifferent one. 2. He requires a vòluntary service.

Here the implied antithesis (not an involuntary service) is excluded.

"These two emphatic inflections are seldom simple slides, but are generally circumflexed; at least are always liable to be so; that is to say, a little of the opposite slide is heard before they are carried upward or downward "-Smart.

These peculiar turns of the voice abound in conversation; scarely a sentence in animated