4.

"Indeed," replied the stranger (looking grave),
"Then he's a double knave;

He knows that rogues and thieves by scores
Nightly beset unguarded doors:

And see, how easily might one
Of these domestic foes,

Even beneath your very nose,
Perform his knavish tricks`;

Enter your room, as I have done,

Blow out your candles—thus—and thus`—,
silver candlesticks,

Pocket your

And—walk off`—thus`”—

5. So said, so done; he made no more remark,
Nor waited for replies,

But march'd off with his prize,
Leaving the gouty merchant in the dark.

XXXIII. SPEECH BEFORE THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION. FROM PATRICK HENRY.

PATRICK HENRY was a distinguished American statesman during the Revolutionary war. He was a native of Virginia, held its highest offices, and was a member of the convention which met to deliberate upon uniting with the other states in resistance to Great Britain. Observe that the emphatic pause is freely used.

1. Ir is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth`, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this-the part of wise men', engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty'! Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who, having eyes,-see not, and having ears,―hear not the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation"? For my-part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost", I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst`, and to provide for it.

2. I have but one lamp, by which my feet are guided; and that-is-the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future, but by the past`; and, judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years', to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to

solace themselves and the house? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received-? Trust it not: it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss`. Ask yourselves, how this gracious reception of our petition, comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets-and armies-necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force-must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves. These are the implements of war` and subjugation`; the last arguments to which kings resort.

to call for No`, she

3. I ask, gentlemen', what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us into submission? Can gentlemen assign any other-possible-motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy'-in this quarter of the world, all this accumulation of navies and armies? has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains, which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? We have been trying that, for the last -ten-years. Have we any thing new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light in which it was capable; but it has been all in vain.

4. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication-? What terms shall we find, which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, deceive ourselves longer. We have done every thing that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have PROSTRATED ourselves at the foot of the throne, and implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt`; from the foot of the throne.

5. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free; if we mean to

preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained; we must fight! I repeat it`, WE MUST FIGHT`!! An appeal to arms and the God of Hosts, is all that is left us.

6. They tell us, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be, when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs ́, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope", until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot'! We are not weak, if we make proper use of those means", which the God of nature hath placed in our power.

The

7. Three millions of people ́, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, we shall not fight our battles-alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations'; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. battle, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant -the active—the brave. Besides, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable; and—let it come`!! I repeat it, LET IT COME`!!

8. It is in vain to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry peace', peace'; but there is no peace. The war is actually begun. The next gale that sweeps from the north, will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we—here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear ́, or peace so sweet', as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty

Gōd! I know not what course others may take; but as for me'; give me liberty`, or GIVE ME DEATH.

REMARK.

In the above extract, may be found an illustration of most of the principles of emphasis.

The most important emphatic words and pauses only are marked. On this point there is always room for difference of opinion. Scarcely any two persons would pronounce a sentence with precisely the same emphasis. Observe, in the above lesson the all-controlling power of emphasis in determining to the falling inflection. The words "see," "hear," and "my," in the first paragraph, the word "that" in the second, and "spurned" and "contempt" in the fourth paragraph, are examples of this. Let the reader remember that a high degree of emphasis is sometimes expressed by a whisper.

XXXIV. VANITY OF LIFE.

FROM HERDER'S HEBREW POETRY.

1. MAN, born of woman,

Is of few days,

And full of trouble.

He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down`;
He fleeth also as a shadow,

And continueth not.

2. Upon such dost thou open thine eye,
And bring me unto judgment with thee?
Among the impure is there one pure?

Not one`.

3. Are his days so determined"?

Hast thou numbered his months",
And set fast his bounds for him,
Which he can never pass?

Turn then from him that he may rest,
And enjoy, as an hireling, his day`.

4. The tree hath hope, if it be cut down,
It becometh green again,

And new shoots are put forth.

If even the root is old in the earth,
And its stock die in the ground,
From vapor of water it will bud,

And bring forth boughs as a young plant.

5. But man dieth, and his power is gone`; He is taken away, and where is he?

6. Till the waters waste from the sea,
Till the river faileth and is dry land,
Man lieth low, and riseth not again.

Till the heavens are old, he shall not awake,
Nor be aroused from his sleep.

7. Oh! that thou wouldst conceal me

In the realm of departed souls"!

Hide me in secret, till thy wrath be past`;
Appoint me then a new term,
And remember me again.

But alas! if a man die ́,
Shall he live again?

Thou wilt call me, and I shall answer;
Thou wilt pity the work of thy hands.
Though now thou numberest my steps,
Thou shalt then not watch for my sin.
My transgression will be sealed in a bag,
Thou wilt bind up and remove my iniquity.

9. Yet alas! the mountain falleth and is swallowed up, The rock is remov'd out of its place`,

The waters hollow out the stones,

The floods overflow the dust of the earth,
And thus, thou destroyest the hope of man.

10. Thou contendest with him, till he faileth,

Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
Though his sons become great and happy",

Yet he knoweth it not;

If they come to shame and dishonor,

He perceiveth it not`.