Journeys Through Bookland Volume X Part 30

1. _Vehement._ This word is derived from two Latin words, meaning _to carry_ and _the mind_; hence a vehement speech is one that is supposed to carry the mind away by force. We use the word _furious_ when we wish to speak of anger or other pa.s.sions, but the word _vehement_ when we speak of zeal, love, expression. In this paragraph the Opposition was loud and tried _to carry the minds of others by force_.

2. _Formidable._ Synonyms of _formidable_ are _dreadful_, _terrible_ and _shocking_, yet it is rarely the case that two words are exact synonyms.

In this case, _formidable_ means something that excites fear, but it is neither sudden nor violent in its action. A _dreadful_ thing would excite fear or dread, and might act violently, but not suddenly. _A shocking_ thing would startle us because it was both violent and sudden.

Does _formidable_ appear to be the right word by which to characterize the Opposition?

3. _Influence._ This word is derived from two Latin words which mean _flowing over_, and consequently an _influence_ brings about change by gradual process. There is no idea of right in the word _influence_ as there is in the word _authority_. Does it seem that _influence_ is the right word here?

4. _Talents._ The history of this word is an interesting one. In origin it is Greek, and there it was the name of a weight, which in silver had a certain money value. The same word appearing in Hebrew had a similar meaning. A Hebrew talent in silver would be worth something over seventeen or nineteen hundred dollars of our money. In the New Testament (see _Matthew_ XXV, 14 to 30), Christ utters the parable of the talents.

We now use the word to mean intellectual ability or capacity, or skill in accomplis.h.i.+ng things, or some special gift in some art or science. It is probable that this figurative meaning of the word has originated from the parable, and although many writers have criticised the use of _talent_ in our sense, it has become well established in the language.

5. _Odious._ The Latin word from which _odious_ is derived means _hatred_. An _odious_ thing is a thing to be _hated_. Our word _odium_ differs slightly in use from our word _hatred_. We exercise _hatred_, but we endure _odium_.

6. _Desire._ The origin of this word is not certain, but it was probably derived from the French words which mean literally _from the stars_ or _constellations_.

7. _Immense._ This word is derived from two Latin words which mean _cannot be measured_.

8. _Coalition._ The two Latin words from which _coalition_ is derived mean _to grow with_; consequently, a _coalition_ is a thing composed of several elements which have grown together. We should not expect a _coalition_ to be suddenly formed; it must come about by process of growth.

9. _Appease._ Literally, _appease_ means _to make peace_. It also means _to satisfy_, and is derived directly from the Latin. We try to _appease_ those who are in pa.s.sion and try to _calm_ those who are in trouble or apprehension. Does Macaulay use the word properly when he speaks of _appeasing_ indignation?

10. _Fluency._ The Latin word from which _fluency_ is derived means _to flow_. Accordingly, a _fluent_ person is one from whom speech flows smoothly and readily. To lack _fluency_ Macaulay considers an unfortunate defect in Francis.

11. _Asperity._ The Latin word _asper_ means _rough_ or _harsh_, and was applied to things which had a rough surface. Macaulay uses the word as we now know it, in the same figurative sense in which we now sometimes use the word _roughness_.

12. _Lapse._ This word from the Latin means _sliding_ or _following_. In speaking of the _lapse_ of years Macaulay intimates that they gradually slid away.

13. _Pharisaical._ The _Pharisees_ were a sect of the Jews who were noted for the strict way in which they followed the rites and ceremonies that had been handed down to them by tradition, and who believed themselves superior in sanct.i.ty to the other Jews. They held themselves apart and were charged with being hypocrites. The word _Pharisaical_ has now come into common English use, and means _hypocritical_.

14. _Ostentation._ This is a Latin word meaning _show_ or _parade_.

_Ostentation_ and _parade_ both imply effort, but the former refers to the intent rather than to the manner. _Ostentation_ may be shown by _parade_.

From _The Death of Caesar_

(Volume IX, page 143)

As preliminary to the intensive study of the speech alluded to below, read to the cla.s.s or have them read all of the three selections, namely: _The Death of Caesar_, from Plutarch (page 126); The _Death of Caesar_, from Shakespeare (page 143), and _Julius Caesar_, from Froude (page 155). As an example of selections worthy of close reading, take the speech of Caesar as given on page 153, beginning, "I could be well mov'd, if I were as you."

Bring out by questions these facts:

A. _Words._ "Moved"; induced to change my mind.

"Constant"; fixed, unchangeable, immovable.

"Northern star"; the pole star; the north star. To us this star always appears fixed in the northern heavens. The other stars and the constellations revolve around it; Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, is most conspicuous, and by a line through its two front stars we may always locate the North Star and, hence, the direction, _north_. Mariners have steered by this star for centuries. Many a lost and wandering man has found his way to safety by its fixed light.

"Resting"; always stationary.

"Fellow"; equal.

"Firmament"; sky, heavens.

"Painted"; decorated.

"Sparks"; stars.

"Doth"; does.

"Furnished"; filled.

"Apprehensive"; doubtful, filled with forebodings and easily moved.

"Una.s.sailable"; not subject to attack; here the meaning is rather that of _unconquerable_.

"Constant"; _insistent_, the first time the word appears; but _unchangeable_, the second time.

B. _Phrases._ "Well moved"; easily moved.

"If I were as you"; if I were as you are, or if I were like you.

"Could pray to move"; could try to change the opinion or the determination of someone else.

"True-fixed and resting quality"; quality of always remaining true or fixed to the one spot in the heavens.

"So in the world"; as all the unnumbered stars s.h.i.+ne in the heavens and all move but one, thus in the world.

"Holds on his rank unshak'd of motion"; is fixed in his ideas and unmoved by prayers and pet.i.tions.

"And that I am he"; and I am that one immovable man.

"Let me a little show it"; let me give a little proof.

C. _Sentences._ The first sentence means: If I could beg others to change their purposes, I could be induced to change mine; but I am as fixed in my conclusions as the north star is fixed in the heavens. The second sentence says: As there are unnumbered movable stars in the heavens and only one that is fixed, so in the world there are unnumbered changeable men and only one who is fixed in his determination; that I am the one determined man let me prove a little by saying that, as I was persistent in banis.h.i.+ng Cimber so will I continue to keep him in banishment.

D. _The paragraph._ The whole speech is a refusal on Caesar's part to grant the pet.i.tion of the conspirators who plead that Cimber may be brought back from banishment. The words are well calculated to stir up resentment and to fix the plotters in their plan to murder Caesar. Even Brutus would be convinced by such sentiments that Caesar was a dangerous man; if the great Roman thought himself the only man with such determination, might he not think himself the one man of the world in all respects? The conspirators were looking for an excuse for killing Caesar, and they might find it in this speech; Brutus was being led to believe that Caesar was too ambitious and here was the final argument to convince him.

CHAPTER X

CLOSE READING--(Concluded)

_The Author--Figures of Speech_

Real appreciation of literature is dependent on effort, and each acquired impression aids all others in proportion to its intensity. We can interpret only by what our minds already contain, so that the earlier years of one's reading are largely devoted to the acquirement of material for future use. In this way the myths and folk stories with which children fill their minds become the touchstones that enable them in later years to read with interest and judge accurately the literature that falls within their reach. The later one begins his reading, the more difficult it is for him to master the art. He has not the simplest standards of literary judgment nor even the ideas from which such standards are to be formed. Elegance of style and skill in the choice of words are entirely lost upon him, as is the delicate meaning involved in the play of appropriate figures and in the brilliance of the pictures limned in colors to which his eye is blind. Such a person can come to enjoy the pleasures of literature, but it is by way of a long and careful course of study, and it is probable that his appreciation will never be as keen as it would have been if he had gathered his literary stock in trade at the same time that his senses were first opening to the world. Then the skies and the flowers, the song of birds and the hum of insects, the quiet reaches of still lakes and the roaring surge, gave to him the sensations to which literature appeals.

There is no need for one to feel discouragement when at first he does not admire all that the critics say is beautiful, but prefers some of the simple things that he knew in his childhood. The critic is right from his point of view, but there is merit, too, in the judgment of the humble reader. A person would hesitate to say the critic's judgment is the higher were it not for the fact that anyone reading carefully will find his tastes changing and constantly approximating higher standards.