AN ENGLISH ACCIDENCE; OR, ABSTRACT OF GRAMMAR; For the USE of those who, Without making GRAMMAR a Study, Wish to Speak and Write correctly. With Rules for reading Prose and Verse.
By the Rev. Dr. JOHN TRUSLER.
LONDON:
Printed for the AUTHOR, and sold by R. BALDWIN, in
Pater-noster Row,
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PREFACE.
ALL Authors of Grammar lay claim to clearness and conciseness, whereas nothing is more evident than that they have missed of the end proposed; the various English grammars hitherto published being so complex, and the whole matter made such a study, that the
desideratum
sought for is not to be acquired without the assistance of a master, and the application of years. The design of this Abstract is to teach a person acquainted with English how to speak and write correctly, without entering into all the
minutiae
of Grammar, which serve only to perplex and confound. The Author aims not at teaching his pupil what words are particles, what prepositions, and so on; but merely to avoid false concords and incorrect language; and he flatters himself the few following pages will answer all the purposes better than more complete or regular systems. He has also added some few rules for reading, which, if attended to, must lead to reading well.
ABSTRACT OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
Of the denomination of Words.
THE only words necessary to be known grammatically, are
Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs,
and
Participles.
A
Noun
is the name of a thing, as
Horse, Boat, Knife,
&c.
A
Pronoun
is a substitute for a Noun, as
I, he, she,
&c.
An
Adjective
expresses the quality of a Noun, as a
sound Horse;
an
open Boat;
a
sharp Knife;
here
sound, open,
and
sharp,
are Verbs.
A
Verb
implies the action of the Noun, and an
Adverb
the action of the Verb, as the horse
gallops,
the boat
sails,
the knife
cuts:
Here
galloping
is the action of the horse;
sailing
the action of the boat; and
cutting
the action of the knife; of course,
gallops, sails,
and
cuts
are Verbs.
An Adverb expresses the action of the Verb. Thus the horse gallops
quick;
the boat sails
briskly;
the knife cuts
badly.
Here
quick
expresses the action of
galloping; briskly
that of sailing, and
badly
that of
cutting;
of course
quick, briskly,
and
badly
are Adverbs, that is, addition to Verbs.
A Participle partakes of the qualities of both Noun and Verb, and implies, acting or being acted on.
These are the different parts of speech, I would wish my pupil to be acquainted with. I will treat of them in their order.
Of
NOUNS.
Nouns Substantives are the
general
names o
things, except proper names, which are
particular
ones. A horse, for example, is a
general
name, it may be
my
horse or
yours,
so is a boat, a knife, &c. but proper names are
particular
ones, as
Thomas,
the name of a man:
Jolly,
the name of a horse, &c.
Horse, boat, knife,
&c. then are Nouns.
Nouns have two numbers, the
singular
and the
plural.
The singular number expresses
an individual,
as a
horse,
a
boat,
a
knife;
the plural expresses many, as
horses, boats, knives,
&c.
In other languages Nouns have a variety of
cases,
that is, vary in their terminations, but in English there are but two: these correspond with the
genitive
and
accusative.
Thus, instead of the head
of a horse,
we say,
a horse's head,
(not
horses,
which is the plural number of horse, but
horse's,
which we call the genitive case singular); so
boat's, knife's,
as the
boat's
side, the
knife's
edge.
Plurals ending in
s
have no genitive cases, we write
womens,
not
women's; mens,
not
men's;
and so on.
No Nouns have accusative cases, but Pronouns; these vary their terminations when they follow or are acted upon by verbs.
I
preceding a verb, is changed to
me
when following one.
We
to
us.
Thou
to
thee
or
you.
Ye
to
you.
He
to
him.
She
to
her.
They
to
them.
Who
to
whom.
Thus we say, "
I
love you."
I
here
precedes
the verb
love;
but
I
could not
follow
the same verb with propriety, it would be rendered
me.
We should not say "You love
I,
" but "you love
me.
" So again, "
Thou
lovest me;" "I love
thee." Thou
before the verb,
thee
after it. "
We
love God;" "God loves
us;
" and so on.
The words
who
and
whom
require a little further explanation. We say, "Kings are personages
whom
we revere." Here, though, in the present mode of speech,
whom
precedes the verb
revere,
it is nevertheless used in the accusative case, being the word which the verb
revere
governs and acts upon, answering to
them,
when we say "we revere them." So in the following example: "William was the person
who
came to me." Here the pronoun
who
precedes the verb
came,
and governs it. "William was the person to
whom
I spoke." Here
whom,
though it precedes, or is placed, before the verb
spoke,
(to render it more agreeable to the ear) is governed or acted on by it.
English Nouns are then thus declined, none having accusative cases but the Pronouns.
Sing.
Horse
Gen.
Horse's
Plur.
Horses.
Sing.
Boat
Gen.
Boat's
Plur.
Boats.
Note,
The genitive case implies
of
or
belonging to
The word
whose
is sometimes used as the genitive of
which,
and chiefly in poetry.
"—The fruit
"Of that forbidden tree,
whose
mortal taste
"Brought death into the world."
MILTON
But
of which
is now most common. "The matters
of which
I spoke." Though
whose
may be used with propriety, when it refers to persons; as "This is the young woman
whose
worth I know."
The genitive of the other Pronouns are as follow:
I
Gen.
mine or my
Thou
Gen.
thine or thy
He
Gen.
his
She
Gen.
hers
we
Gen.
ours or our
ye
Gen.
yours or your
they
Gen.
theirs or their
It
Gen.
its
Mine, thine, ours, yours
or
theirs,
may be used without a noun annexed, but
my, thy, our, your, their,
never. Thus, "Whose book is this?" The answer may be
mine,
or
thine,
or
ours,
or
yours,
or
theirs,
alone; but if we use
my, thy, our, your,
or
their,
we must add the noun book to it, a say,
my book, thy book, our book, your book,
or
their book.
When the word
own
is added to the pronouns
my, thy, his, hers, our, your,
or
their,
it is to render the expression more emphatical; as, "I live in my
own
house;" "I did it with my
own
hand." &c.
The plural number is formed, by adding
s
at the end of the singular number, as in the following:
Sing.
Plur.
Sing.
Plur.
House
Houses
Table
Tables
Walk
Walks
Sister
Sisters
Stool
Stools
Outrage
Outrages, &c.
Lance
Lances
But there are some exceptions to this general rule, as the following irregular plurals will shew.
Sing.
Plur.
Sing.
Plur.
Loaf
Loaves
Foot
Feet
Calf
Calves
Church
Churches
Shelf
Shelves
Fish
Fishes
Half
Halves
Box
Boxes
Self
Selves
Ox
Oxen
Sheaf
Sheaves
Man
Men
Thief
Thieves
Sow
Swine
Wife
Wives
Child
Children
Wolf
Wolves
Brother
Brethren
Knife
Knives
Woman
Women
Louse
Lice
Penny
Pence
Mouse
Mice
Body
Bodies
Die
Dice
Mercy
Mercies
Goose
Geese
Enemy
Enemies
Tooth
Teeth
Witness
Witnesses, &c.
and
This
These
That
Those
The singular and plural of some few words are the same, as
sheep, deer, fern, hose,
in which case the singular number is pointed out by
a
going before them, as
a sheep, a deer.
Some words also have no singular number, as
annals, arms, ashes, bellows, breeches, cresses, entrails, ides, lungs, means, nones, scissars, sheers, snuffers, thanks, tongs, wages, dregs, news,
&c.
Proper names of men, cities, rivers, countries, &c. have no plurals. This rule, however, is not without some exceptions. We say, "There were ten
Williams
in company." And when speaking of families, we say, the
Marlboroughs,
the
Cavendishes,
the
Howards,
&c.
I can, at no better time, mention the proper use of the pronouns
who, which,
and
what,
as interrogatives or not.
Who
is used only when speaking of persons, as, "
Who
is that man, or that woman?"
Which,
when we speak of things, as, "
Which
is your cane?
What,
when we are speaking of the kind, quality, or order of persons or things, as, "
What
lady is that?" "
What
house is this?" "
What
(or which) place do you chuse?"
When
who
and
which
are not interrogatives, that is, do not ask a question, they are used with the same distinction, that is,
who
for persons, and
which
for things. We say, "William was the person
who
came to me." "This is the horse
which
I bought."
Now we are upon the subject of nouns, it is proper to say something of gender.
There are three genders the
male, female,
and
neuter.
The
male
and
female
distinguish the two sexes; whereas the
neuter
is applied to things without life, as not properly belonging to either of the other, as table, st
ne, rock, &c.
When we speak of the
male
gender, we use the pronoun
he;
when of the
female
gender,
she;
when of the
neuter, it.
Thus,
The bridegroom,
he
came from the barn;
The bride,
she
came in from the field;
The table,
it
fell on the floor.
We indeed deem most things that contain any thing within them to be of the female gender, as the
earth,
a
ship,
a
house,
&c. and in poetry, where writers will frequently give slight to their fancy, and personify inanimate substances, they are deemed o the male or female gender, according to the idea of the Poet. Thus
Death, Time,
the
Sun,
&c. are generally of the male gender;
Faith, Hope, Charity,
&c. of the female, as being of the softer virtues.
But our language, in many instances, save us the necessity of adding pronouns to express genders, for we often distinguish the different sexes by distinct words; as for example,
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Father
Mother
Sloven
Slut
Husband
Wife
Man
Woman
Brother
Sister
Rake
Jilt
Uncle
Aunt
Boar
Sow
Widower
Widow
Buck
Doe
Master
Mistress
Cock
Hen
Nephew
Niece
Dog
Bitch
Wizzard
Witch
Drake
Duck
Bachelor
Maid
or
Virgin
Gander
Goose
 
Horse
Mare
Bridegroom
Bride
Ram
Ewe
Whoremonger
Whore
or
Strumpet.
Steer
Heifer
 
Boy
Girl
Bull
Cow
King
Queen
Lad
Lass
Lord
Lady
Duke
Duchess
Milter
Spawner
&c.
There are also some few words, which distinguish the female sex from the male, by the ending;
Male
Female.
Male.
Female.
Abbot
Abbess
Shepherd
Shepherdess
Actor
Actress
Executor
Executrix
Baron
Baroness
Administrator
Aministratrix
Heir
Heiress
Prior
Prioress
&c.
Lion
Lioness
Where there are no words to distinguish the sexes, we frequently add one to answer the purpose. Thus we say, a
male-child,
a
female-child,
a
he-goat,
a
she-goat,
a
man servant,
a
maid-servant,
a
cock-sparrow,
a
hen-sparrow,
or the like.
Of
ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives are words which cannot stand alone, but are added to nouns to express their quality, as
black, white, wise, foolish, round, square,
&c. Thus we say, a
black dog,
a
wise
man, a
round table.
There are three degrees of Adjectives, called
degrees of Comparison,
the
positive, comparative,
and
superlative.
1. The
positive
degree is the quality itself, simply, as
black, white, wise,
&c.
2. The
comparative
expresses more of any one thing than another, and is formed by adding
er
to t
e positive, as
blacker, whiter, wiser:
sometimes, instead of saying
blacker,
we say
more black;
for
white, more white;
for
wiser, more wise,
&c.
3. The
superlative
degree implies the highest, and is formed
y the termination
es
,
or the
most
before the positive. Thus
blackest,
black; whitest,
or
most white; wisest
or
mo
Some superlatives are formed, by adding
most
as a termination; thus
nether
outer, outermost; under, undermost; upper, uppermost; in, inner, innermost,
&c.
Many Adjectives do not admit of comparison by terminations, but are only compared by
more
and
most,
as
benevolent, more benevolent, most benevolent.
Some authors have used
shadiest, virtuousest, famousest, mortalest, naturallest, powerfullest, inventivest, triflingest,
&c. but these are liberties which every one cannot take, and are inelegant after all.
Some again are irregularly compared, as,
Positive.
Compar.
Superl.
Good
Better
Best
Bad
Worse
Worst
Little
Less
Least
Near
Nearer
Nearest
Much
More
Most
Late
Later
Last
Indeed, the comparison of Adjectives is very uncertain, and being much regulated by the ear or agreeableness of sounds, cannot well be reduced to rules.
When a noun is substituted for an adjective, and added to another noun by hyphen (-), such two words are called compound words, as
Turkey-Leather, Mountain-wine, man-servant, sea-fish,
&c.
Of
VERBS.
Verbs, as I observed, express the action of Nouns.
A Verb is said to have several
moods
and
tenses.
We shall have occasion only to name the Infinitive mood, which is known by the word
to
preceding it, as
to love, to hate,
&c. and two of the
Tenses,
the
present,
and the
past:
these two are expressed by terminations, the other tenses are expressed
the auxiliary verbs
shall, will,
and
have,
precedin
them, of course it is not necessary to mention ther
as we have nothing to do but with the right use words
themselves.
The
present
time or tense is expressed by the ve
itself, as
burn, love, hate;
the
past
time by the termination
ed,
as
burned, loved, hated.
A Verb has also three
persons,
1st, 2d, and 3
and, like Nouns, two
numbers,
singular and plur
.
The three persons in the singular of verbs are
thou,
and
he
or
she;
in the plural,
We, ye,
a
they.
Thus,
Persons.
Present tense, singular.
1.
I love
2.
Thou lovest
3.
He
or
she loveth
or
love
Plural.
1.
We love
2.
Ye love
3.
They love.
Past time, singular.
1.
I loved
2.
Thou lovedst
3.
He
or
she loved.
Plural.
1.
We loved
2.
Ye loved
3.
They loved.
Infinitive mood.
To love.
Participle present.
Loving.
— past.
Loved.
There are two sorts of verbs,
active
and
passive.
love
is a verb
active; to be loved,
a verb
passive;
still, according to my first definition of a verb,
love,
or
be loved,
implies the action of the person
ving.
The passive verb is formed by the addition of the
xiliary or assisting verb,
to be.
Thus, in the pre
nt tense or time,
Sing.
I
am,
thou
art,
he
or
she
is.
Plur.
We
are
or
be,
ye
are
or
be,
they
are
or
be.
Past tense
or
time.
Sing.
I
was,
thou
wast
or
was,
he
or
she
was.
Plur.
We
were,
ye
were,
they
were.
Participle present.
Being.
— past.
Having been.
Infinitive mood.
To be.
Now, by adding the word
love
to each, it will
thus:
I am loved,
Thou wast loved,
He was loved,
&c.
And so through the whole.
The other auxiliary verbs are
have, shall, will,
, may, can. Have
being the principal, we will
through the tenses of this.
Present tense
or
time.
Sing.
I
have,
thou
hast,
he
or
she
hath
or
has.
Plur.
We
have,
ye
have,
they
have.
Past tense.
Sing.
I
had,
thou
hadst,
he
or
she
had.
Plur.
We
had,
ye
had,
they
had.
Participle present.
Having.
— past.
Had.
Infinitive mood.
To have.
There is still another form of English ver
in, which the sign of the Infinitive mood
to
added to the verb
do,
which it is necessary to learn.
Present tense.
Sing.
I
do,
thou
dost,
he
or
she
doth.
Plur.
We
do,
ye
do,
they
do.
Past tense.
Sing.
I
did,
thou
didst,
he
or
she
did.
Plur.
We
did,
ye
did,
they
did.
In the subsequent tenses,
did
is changed to
do
I have
done,
I had
done,
&c.
Infinitive mood.
To do;
or
to have done.
Participle present.
Doing.
— past.
Done.
By rapid utterance, or poetical contraction,
love
is often used for
loved; snatch'd
for
snatch
dwelt
for
dwelled; smelt
for
smelled;
and so on.
But not to multiply rules, and burthen the learner's memory with terms, the following list of regular Verbs in their present and past tenses w
be sufficient to instruct. These he should well
member.
Present time.
Past.
Participle.
Awake
awoke
awoke
Abide
abode
abode
Be
been
being, been
Bend
bent
bent
Bear
bore, bare
borne
Begin
began
begun
Present time.
Past.
Participle.
Bereave
bereft
bereft
Beseech
besought
besought
Beat
beat
beaten, beat
Bind
bound
bound
Bite
bit
bitten
Bleed
bled, blooded
bled
Blow
blew
blown
Break
broke
broken
Breed
bred
bred
Bring
brought
brought
Buy
bought
bought
Catch
caught, catched
caught
Chide
chid
chidden
Chuse
chose
chosen
Cleave
clave, clove
cleft, cloven
Come
came
come
Creep
crept, creeped
crept
Crow
crew, crowed
crown
Dare
dared, durst
dared
Die
died
dead
Do
did
done
Draw
drew
drawn
Dream
dreamed, dreamt
dreamt
Drank
drank
drunk
Drive
drove
driven
Dwell
dwelled, dwelt
dwelt
Eat
eat, ate
eaten, eat
Fall
fell
fallen
Feed
fed
fed
Feel
felt
felt
Fight
fought
fought
Find
found
found
Flee
fled
fled
Fling
flung
flung
Present time.
Past.
Participle.
Fly
flew, fled
flown
Forsake
forsook
forsaken
Freight
freighted
fraught
Geld
gelded, gelt
gelt, gelded
Get
got
gotten, got
Give
gave
given
Gild
gilded, gilt
gilded, gilt
Gird
girded, girt
girded, girt
Grind
ground
ground
Go
went
gone
Grow
grew
grown
Hang
hung, hanged
hung
Have
had
had, having
Hear
heard
heard
Help
helped, helpt
holpen
Hew
hewed
hewn
Hid
hid
hidden, hid
Hold
held
holden
Keep
kept
kept
Know
knew
known
Lay
laid
laid
Lead
led
led
Leave
left
left
Leap
leaped, leapt
leapt
Lie
lay
lain
Lose
lost
lost
Make
made
made
Mean
meant
meant
Mow
mowed
mown
Meet
met
met
Rend
rent
rent
Ride
rode, rid
ridden
Ring
rang
rung
Rise
rose
risen
Present time.
Past.
Participle.
Run
ran
run
Say
said
said
See
saw
seen
Seek
sought
sought
Seethe
sod
sodden
Sell
sold
sold
Send
sent
sent
Shake
shook
shaken
Shear
sheared, shore
shorn
Shew
shewed
shewn
Shine
shined
shone
Shoot
shot
shot
Shrunk
shrank
shrunk
Sing
sang
sung
Sink
sank, sunk
sunk
Sit
sat
sat
Slay
slew
slain
Slide
slid
slidden
Sleep
slept
slept
Sling
slang
slung
Smell
smelt
smelt
Smite
smote
smitten
Speak
spoke
spoken
Spell
spelled, spelt
spelt
Spill
spilled, spilt
spilt
Spend
spent
spent
Spin
span
spun
Spit
spat
spun
Spring
sprang
sprung
Stand
stood
stood
Stick
stuck
stuck
Sting
stung
stung
Steal
stole
stolen
Stink
stank
stunk
Present time.
Past.
Participle.
Strike
struck
stricken
Strive
strove
striven
Swear
swore
sworn
Sweep
sweeped, swept
swept
Swell
swelled
swoln
Swing
swang, swung
swung
Swim
swam, swum
swum
Take
took
took, taken
Tear
tore
torn
Teach
taught
taught
Tell
told
told
Think
thought
thought
Thrive
throve
thriven
Throw
threw
thrown
Tread
trod
trodden
Weep
wept
wept
Win
won
won
Wind
wound
wound
Wear
wore
worn
Weave
wove
woven
Write
wrote, writ
written, writ
Work
worked, wrought
wrought
Wring
wrung
wrung
These rules premised, the great art in writing and speaking correctly, is to avoid false concords; that is, the singular number must never be coupled with the plural, &c. Also,
1. The noun or pronoun, and the verb following it, must be of the same number and person. We must not say,
I were, I
being the first person,
were
the second, but
I am,
both in the first person; neither should we say,
thou were, thou
being singular, and
were
plural, but
thou wert,
both singular.
2. We must take care to use the proper word to express the right time, whether it be present or past. In the irregular verbs, the foregoing list will point out the word, in the regular ones, the termination
ed
will always express the past time. Thus, for example, we must not say, "he
breaked
the bowl," but
broke
it; not "he
come
home," but
came.
3. In the use of the words
this
and
that,
which in the plural number are
these
and
those,
we must take care that they agree with the number of he word they refer to. We must not say
this men
or
that men,
the one being singular, the other plural, but
this
or
that man, these
or
those men.
But where a noun has no singular number, we may add
this
or
that
to the plural of such words: thus we may say with propriety, "by
this
or
that means.
" So nouns wanting a singular number are sometimes joined to a verb singular, but inelegantly, as, "the news
is
sta
e;" "your wages
is
small."
4. Two or more names or things in the singular number, require the verb to be in the plural. Thus "William and John
are
(not
is
) good lads," "The sun and wind
overcame
(not
overcome
) me."
5. Names of a multitude may have either a singular or a plural verb. Thus we may say, "The Parliament
is
or
are
sitting."
6. When two or more nouns, of different numbers, follow each other with the word
or
or
nor
between them, and are equally related to a common verb; the verb should agree with the noun next it. For example, "Either the husband, the wife,
or
their children,
are
in the house", "Neither the husband, the children,
nor
the wife,
is
in the house.".
7. Two negatives make an affirmative. "I wasn't good for nothing," implies, "It was good so something." "I can't eat no more," means, "can eat more."
8. The participle present is frequently substituted for the In
initive mood of a verb, and with elegance. Thus, instead of "I like to work," we may say "I like working." "For he delights to walk, we may say, "He delights in walking."
9. After the auxiliary verb
have,
it would be improper to put the past time; the participle should always follow. Thus, it would be ingrammatica
to say, "I have
saw,
or "I have
wrote;
" it should be, "I have
seen,
" or "I have
written.
"
10. When the leading adverbs are
whether
o
either, or
must follow in the same sentence; where the leading adverb is
neither, nor
must follow Thus, "Whether you
or
I shall go, is not yet determined." "Either your
or
I must ride." "Neither you
nor
I must speak."
11. All repetitions of the same word, nay of words which express the same thing, are carefully to
voided, except when the sense would be otherwise obscure, or when it is to excite the attention. For example, a repetition of the word
from
in the following sentence is allowable: the passage would not be clear without it. "It proceeds not
from
stupidity, or a slothful neglect, but
from
a generous liberality of soul. When it is to excite attention, a repetition is beautiful. "Every action, nay
every
attention,
every
design of man, is known to the Almighty."
12. With respect to Adjectives, none should be used but such as are
necessary
to explain the subject more fully. To say
burning
or
shining
fire, is inelegant, because the first idea of fire is, that it burns and shines; but if necessary, we may employ adjectives to express its other qualities, as
consuming, sparkling, brisk,
&c.
In short, the words of a sentence ought generally to be as different from one another, both in sense and sound, as the nature of the subject and the harmony of the period will admit. On this the beauty of a sentence depends, the sound being, as it were, an echo to the sense, and, independent of this, on the smoothness of the words, the choice of adjectives, and the easy flow of its diction. And in general, the shorter the period, the more nervous and emphatical it is.
An
OBSERVATION
or two on
WRITING
and
READING.
In writing, never use capital letters to begin a word, unless it be a proper name, or at the beginning of a sentence.
Note,
A full stop, or note of admiration (!) or interrogation (?), always ends a sentence.
If you quote an Author in his own words, always begin the quotation with a capital letter.
The word
I
or
Oh
should be always written with a capital. Every word you wish to mark as emphatic, should begin with a capital, and have a line drawn under it; thus, Mark.
In order to read well,
1. Every one should read in an easy familiar tone, as if he were speaking, (expect it be a prayer, in which case, a degree of solemnity is required) and should adapt his voice to the subject-matter he is reading.
2. When reading, cast your eye forwards to the words following, that you may have seen them before you are to pronounce them. This will prevent stammering, or a disagreeable pause.
3. Attend to the stops, and pause at a comma, (,) whilst you can count
one;
at a semicolon, (;)
two;
at a colon, (:)
three;
and at a full stop, (.)
four,
Notes of interrogation (?) and admiration, (!) are full stops. A line (thus, —) intimates a longer pause than that of full stop, and at every fresh paragraph we are to pause longer still.
4. Never fetch or draw the breath, where there is no stop; nor pass a stop without a pause. Pause proportionably at every stop, utter each word distinctly, sound the last letter of every word, read slow, and you will read very intelligibly.
5. In reading a sentence, the voice should be gently raised, until you get to the middle, (and the middle of a sentence is generally marked with a colon) and then should gradually fall to the end of it: but take care, that at the end of a sentence, you drop not the voice too low, so as not to be well heard to the last word.
6. In questions and passages of admiration, the voice should not fall, as at a full stop, but be kept up higher and higher to the end.
7. To give spirit and energy to a sentence, the leading or principal word, should be pronounced emphatically. To find out which is the emphatical word, consider the chief design of the writer, and that word which shews such design most, is the word to be uttered emphatically.
When a noun is the emphatical word, and attended with an adjective, the stroke of the voice should be on the noun, and the adjective be only swelled; unless it appears that the stress is to be laid on the adjective. The emphatic words in the following passage are printed in Italics.
Hail,
Source
of Beings! universal
Soul
Of Heav'n and Earth, essential
Presence,
hail!
But where two words are set in opposition to each other, and one is pronounced emphatically, the other should be so too; as in the sentence. "If
they
attack,
we
will attack; for
our
cause is as good as
theirs.
"
The emphasis is of such importance in reading and speaking, that wrong placing it may alter the sense materially. The following line is an old example upon this subject.
Will you ride to town to-day?
By laying the emphasis on
will,
the answer may be
yes
or
no.
By laying it on
you,
the answer may be, "
No,
but my
son
will."
By laying it on
ride,
the answer may be, "I intend to
walk.
"
By placing it on the word
town,
the answer may be, "No, I shall ride to my
farm.
"
And laying it on
to-day,
the answer may be, "Not until
to-morrow.
"
Last of all, lay no emphasis on words where there should none be laid; for this is as great a mark of ignorance, as not laying it where it should be laid.
Rules for reading English verse.
The general rule is to pronounce it, as if it wer
prose, but with more deliberation; to observe th
stops with great exactness, placing the accent whe
it ought to be placed, (as will be shewn hereafter and the emphasis upon the proper words on each line. Though there should be no stop at the end of the line, the reader should pause whilst he can count one, merely to give notice to the hearer that the line is ended; and if the last word will bear two sounds, (as words ending in
y
will) give it tha
which chymes best with its sister line. I mean that line with which it is designed to rhyme.
For example,
Were I but once from bondage free,
I'd never sell my liberty.
Here
ty
in liberty, is sounded as
tee;
but in the following line it should be sounded as
ti.
My soul ascends above the sky,
And triumphs in her liberty.
However, whether pronounced as
tee
or
ti,
the last syllable should be so feebly uttered, as not to fix any stop or accent upon it.
If verse be read with the above attention, and still sound harsh upon the ear; the fault is not in the reader, but the poet, for those verses are not well penned, that cannot be read gracefully by the common rules of pronunciation.
In verses of three syllables, the accent is to be placed on the 1st and 3d. Thus,
He´re we ma´y
Thin´k and pra´y,
E´re that De´ath
Sto´ps our brea´th.
In verses of four syllables, the accent is to be placed on the 2d and 4th. Thus,
With ra´vish'd ea´rs,
The Mo´narch hea´rs.
DRYDEN.
In verses of six syllables, on every other syllable. Thus,
Though i´n the u´tmost pea´k
Awhi´le we do´ remai´n,
Amo´ngst the mou´ntains ble´ak,
Expo´s'd to sle´et or ra´in,
No spo´rt nor hou´rs shall brea´k,
To e´xerci´se our ve´in.
DRAYTON.
In verses of seven syllables, in the 1st, 3d, 5th, and 7th. Thus,
Fai´rest pie´ce of well´-form'd ear´th
Ur´ge not thu´s your hau´ghty bir´th.
In those of eight, which is the usual measure of short poems, on the 2d, 4th, 6th, and 8th. Thus,
And ma´y at la´st my wea´ry ag´e
Find ou´t the pe´aceful He´rmitag´e.
MILTON.
In those of ten, which is heroic or tragic poetry on the 2d, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th. Thus,
Confu´s'd and chi´ding, li´ke the ho´llow ro´ar
Of ti´des, rece´ding fro´m th' insu´lted sho´re.
DRYDEN.
In those of twelve syllables, on every other syllable, beginning with the 2d.
Of a´ll the Cam´brian shi´res their he´ads that bea´ so hi´gh,
And far´th´st surve´y their soi´ls with a´n ambi´tiou
ey´e,
Mervi´nia fo´r her hi´lls, as fo´r their ma´tchles
crou´ds,
The nea´rest tha´t are sai´d to ki´ss the wan´dring clou´ds,
Espe´cial au´dience cra´ves, offen´ded wi´th th
thron´g,
That she´, of a´ll the re´st, neglec´ted wa´s so lon´g
DRAYTON
In those of fourteen, as in those of twelve Thus,
And a´s the mi´nd of suc´h a ma´n that ha´th a lo´ng way go´ne,
And ei´ther kno´weth no´t his wa´y, or els´e woul
le´t alon´e
His pur´pos'd jour´ney, i´s distrac´t.
CHAPMAN
The verse of fourteen syllables is now broken inalternate lines of eight and six. Thus,
When a´ll shall prai´se, and ev'´ry la´y
Devo´te a wre´ath to the´e
That da´y; for co´me it will´, that da´y
Shall I´ lamen´t to see´.
The Alexandrine verse of twelve syllables is now
used to diversify heroic lines of ten. Thus,
Waller was smooth, but Dryden taught to join
The varying verse, the full-resounding line,
The long majestic march—and energy divine.
In pronouncing this line of twelve syllables, the
ce must pause at the end of the sixth.
In verses of quick measure, the words are ac
ted as below.
May I go´vern my pa´ssions with a´bsolute swa´y,
And grow wi´ser and be´tter, as li´se wears awa´y.
So again,
Dio´genes sur´ly and prou´d.
I thin´k not of I´ris, nor I´ris of me´.
So in verses with double rhymes,
They nei´ther ad´ded nor´ confoun´ded;
They nei´ther wan´ted nor´ aboun´ded.
'Twas whe´n the sea´s were ro´aring
With ho´llow bla´sts of win´d,
A dam´sel lay´ deplor´ing
All on´ a roc´k recli´n'd.
When ter´rible tem´pests assai´l us,
And mou´ntainous bi´llows affri´ght,
Nor pow´er nor we´alth can ava´il us,
But ski´lful Indus´try steers ri´ght.
For resi´stance I´ could fea´r none,
Bu´t with twen´ty ship´s had done
Wha´t thou, bra´ve and hap´py Ver´non,
Has´t atcchie´v'd with si´x alo´ne.
FINIS.