McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader Part 9

In the following examples, the relative emphasis is applied to three sets of ant.i.thetic words.

15. The difference between a madman and a fool is, that the former reasons justly from false data; and the latter, erroneously from just data.

16. He raised a mortal to the skies, She drew an angel down.

Sometimes the ant.i.thesis is implied, as in the following instances.

17. The spirit of the white man's heaven, Forbids not thee to weep.

18. I shall enter on no encomiums upon Ma.s.sachusetts.

EMPHASIS AND ACCENT. (37)

When words, which are the same in part of their formation, are contrasted, the emphasis is expressed by accenting the syllables in which they differ.

See Accent, page 33.

EXAMPLES. (37)

1. What is the difference between probability and possibility?

2. Learn to unlearn what you have learned amiss.

3. John attends regularly. William, irregularly.

4. There is a great difference between giving and forgiving.

5. The conduct of Antoninus was characterized by justice and humanity; that of Nero, by injustice and inhumanity.

6. The conduct of the former is deserving of approbation, while that of the latter merits the severest reprobation.

EMPHASIS AND INFLECTION. (37)

Emphasis sometimes changes the inflection from the rising to the falling, or from the falling to the rising. For instances of the former change, see Rule II, and Exception 1 to Rule IV. In the first three following examples, the inflection is changed from the rising to the falling inflection; in the last three, it is changed from the falling to the rising, by the influence of emphasis.

EXAMPLES. (37)

1. If we have no regard for religion in youth', we ought to have respect for it in age.

2. If we have no regard for our own' character, we ought to regard the character of others.

3. If content can not remove' the disquietudes of life, it will, at least, alleviate them.

4. The sweetest melody and the most perfect harmony fall powerless upon the ear of one who is deaf',

5. It is useless to expatiate upon the beauties of nature to one who is blind',

6. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren'; but rather let them do them service.

EMPHATIC PHRASE. (38)

When it is desired to give to a phrase great force of expression, each word, and even the parts of a compound word, are independently emphasized.

EXAMPLES. (38)

1. Ca.s.sius. Must I endure all this?

Brutus. All this!--Ay,--more. Fret, till your proud--heart--break.

2. What! weep you when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look ye here, Here is himself, marred, as you see, by traitors.

3. There was a time, my fellow-citizens, when the Lacedaemonians were sovereign masters, both by sea and by land; while this state had not one s.h.i.+p--no, NOT--ONE--WALL.

4. Shall I, the conqueror of Spain and Gaul; and not only of the Alpine nations, but of the Alps themselves; shall I compare myself with this HALF--YEAR--CAPTAIN?

5. You call me misbeliever--cutthroat--dog.

Hath a dog--money? Is it possible-- A cur can lend three--thousand--ducats?

EMPHATIC PAUSE. (39)

A short pause is often made before or after, and sometimes both before and after, an emphatic word or phrase,--thus very much increasing the emphatic expression of the thought.

EXAMPLES. (39)

1. May one be pardoned, and retain--the offense?

In the corrupted currents of this world, Offense's gilded hand may shove by--justice; And oft 'tis seen, the wicked prize itself Buys out the law: but 't is not so--above: There--is no shuffling: there--the action lies In its true nature.

2. He woke to hear his sentries shriek, "To arms! they come! the Greek! the Greek!

He woke--to die--midst flame and smoke."

3. This--is no flattery: These--are counselors That feelingly persuade me what I am.

4. And this--our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues--in tree, books--in the running brooks, Sermons--in stones, and--good in everything.

5. Heaven gave this Lyre, and thus decreed, Be thou a bruised--but not a broken--reed.