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THE SEMICOLON.

The SEMICOLON [;] is used to separate the parts of a sentence, somewhat less closely connected than those which are separated by a comma.

RULE I.

A SENTENCE CONSISTING OF TWO CLAUSES.

When a sentence consists of two clauses, connected by a particle, the one clause complete in itself, and the other added as an inference, or to give some explanation, they are separated by a semicolon; as,

Do not think yourself perfect; for imperfection is natural to humanity. Genius breaks from the fetters of criticism; but its wanderings are sanctioned by its majesty and wisdom. - Modesty is one of the chief ornaments of youth; and it has ever been esteemed a presage of rising merit.

The sun went down; but the summer noon
Rose up from her eastern harem soon,
And flung on the path of approaching Night
Soft gleams from her bosom of pearly light.

Pale Evening paused, as she turned and wept
On the folded flowers, as they sweetly slept;

But the Rose still sighed on her trembling tree,-
"My own loved Nightingale, come to me!"

REMARK 1. In well-constructed sentences, the clauses of which are united by the conjunction and, without being subdivided, the use of the comma is preferable to that of the semicolon. For instance, the following mode of punctuation, "Innocence confers ease and freedom on the mind, and leaves it open to every pleasing sensation," is less stiff than if the sentence were thus pointed: "Innocence confers ease and freedom on the mind; and leaves it open to every pleasing sensation." See COMMA, Rule XVII. REMARK 2. - A similar observation will apply to other sentences, when the second clause is connected by the conjunction but, and the nominative is not repeated; as, " Anger glances into the breast of a wise man, but rests only. in the bosom of a fool."-If the nominative were repeated, the semicolon would be the preferable mark; as, " Anger glances into the breast of a wise man; but it rests only in the bosom of fools."

EXERCISES.

Write the following sentences, and point them agreeably to the preceding rule:

Economy is no disgrace for it is better to live on a little, than to outlive a greal deal. The little, bleak farm, sad and affecting in its lone and extreme simplicity, smiled like the paradise of poverty when the lark, lured thither by some green barley-field, rose ringing over the solitude. - Straws swim on the surface but pearls lie at the bottom. To sail on the tranquil surface of an unruffled lake, and to steer a safe course through a troubled and stormy ocean, require different talents and, alas! human life oftener resembles the stormy ocean than the unruffled lake. - Experience teaches us, that an entire retreat from worldly affairs is not what religion requires nor does it even enjoin a long retreat from them.-Idleness is the parent of every vice but well-directed activity is the source of every laudable pursuit and worldly attainment. — Prosperity is naturally, though not necessarily, attached to virtue and merit and adversity to vice and folly. - Make a proper use of your time for the loss of it can never be regained. Most of our pleasures may be looked on as imaginary but our disquietudes may be considered as real.Never value yourself upon your fortune for this is the sign of a weak mind. — Prince's poems are beautifully composed and I have perused them with no common degree of pleasure.

RULE II.

CLAUSES DIVISIBLE INTO SIMPLER PARTS.

When a sentence can be divided into two or more parts, either or all of which are again divisible by a comma into smaller portions, the clauses are separated by a semicolon; as,

It is the first point of wisdom to ward off evils; the second, to make them beneficial.

Though studious, he was popular; though argumentative, he was modest; though inflexible, he was candid; and though metaphysical, yet practical.

As we perceive the shadow to have moved, but did not perceive it moving; so our advances in learning, as they consist of such minute steps, are only perceivable by the distance.

EXERCISES.

Write the sentences which follow; and point them, both as respects the comma and the semicolon, in agreement with the principle laid down in the foregoing rule :

He was respectful not servile to superiors affable not improperly familiar to equals and condescending not supercilious to those beneath him. As the passion for admiration when it works according to reason improves the beautiful part of our species in every thing that is laudable so nothing is more destructive to them when it is governed by vanity and folly. By a proper mixture of long and short periods the ear is gratified and a certain sprightliness is joined with majesty but when a sort of regular compass of phrase is employed the reader soon becomes fatigued with the monotony. At one time the beauty and sublimity of natural scenery will produce all their characteristic effect upon the mind and at another when our thoughts are turned into a different channel they will be viewed with indifference. — Ninus founded the Assyrian empire Cyrus the Persian empire and Romulus the Roman empire.

RULE III.

A SERIES OF CLAUSES, HAVING A COMMON DEPENDENCE. When a sentence consists of a series of clauses which bear a relation to each other, and depend on a commencing or a concluding portion of the sentence, the particulars are separated by semicolons.

EXAMPLES.

CLAUSES DEPENDING ON THE COMMENCEMENT OF A SENTENCE.Philosophers assert, that Nature is unlimited in her operations; that she has inexhaustible treasures in reserve; that knowledge will always be progressive; and that all future generations will continue to make discoveries, of which we have not the slightest idea.

To

CLAUSES DEPENDING ON THE CONCLUSION OF A SENTENCE. give an early preference to honour above gain, when they stand in competition; to despise every advantage which cannot be attained without dishonest arts; to brook no meanness, and stoop to no dissimulation; are the indications of a great mind, the presages of future eminence and usefulness in life.

REMARK. Commas are not unfrequently preferable to semicolons, when none of the particulars of the series, with perhaps the exception of the last, are divisible into simpler portions. This mode of punctuation, however, is chiefly adopted, when several clauses, each commencing with a verb, have only one common nominative on which they depend, as in the following example: "Poetry | reveals to us the loveliness of nature, brings back the freshness of early feeling, revives the relish of simple pleasures, keeps unquenched the enthusiasm which warmed the spring-time of our being, refines youthful love, strengthens our interest in human nature by vivid delineations of its tenderest and loftiest feelings, spreads our sympathies over all classes of society, knits us by new ties with universal being, and, through the brightness of its prophetic visions, helps faith to lay hold on the future life."

EXERCISES.

Write the following sentences, and insert the semicolons in their proper places:

He was framed to enjoy equally the fire of poetic, or the abstruseness of philosophical writings to watch the meteor flash of oratory or to trace in history's page the even course of milder eloquence. There are men whose powers operate in leisure and in retirement, and whose intellectual vigour deserts them in conversation whom merriment confuses, and objection disconcerts whose bashfulness restrains their exertion, and suffers them not to speak till the time of speaking is past or whose attention to their own character makes them unwilling to utter at hazard what has not been considered, and cannot be recalled.

But who the melodies of morn can tell?

The wild brook, babbling down the mountain's side

The lowing herd the sheepfold's simple bell

The pipe of early shepherd, dim descried

In the lone valley echoing far and wide,

The clamorous horn along the cliffs above
The hollow murmur of the ocean-tide

The hum of bees, the linnet's lay of love,

And the full choir that wakes the universal grove.

The world is still renewed with fresh life and beauty with a constant succession of trees and plants with a new race of animals with a new generation of men. That benevolence which prompted Jesus to incessant exertion which supported him through unparalleled suffering which was alike the soul of his discourses, his actions, and his miracles which shone through his life and his death whose splendours were around his brow, when he expired on the cross, and when he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: what is it but a glorious revelation of the glorious truth, that God is love?

RULE IV.

SHORT SENTENCES SLIGHTLY CONNECTED.

When several short sentences follow each other, slightly connected in sense or in construction, they may be separated by a semicolon; as,

Stones grow; vegetables grow and live; animals grow, live, and feel. Every thing grows old; every thing passes away; every thing disappears. The epic poem recites the exploits of a hero; tragedy represents a disastrous event; comedy ridicules the vices and follies of mankind; pastoral poetry describes rural life; and elegy displays the tender emotions of the heart.

EXERCISES.

Write the following sentences, and separate the members, or simple sentences, by means of semicolons:

She presses her child to her heart she drowns it in her tears her fancy catches more than an angel's tongue could describe.—Wisdom hath builded her house she hath hewn out her seven pillars she hath killed her beasts she hath mingled her wine she hath also furnished her table. The pride of wealth is contemptible the pride of learning is pitiable the pride of dignity is ridiculous and the pride of bigotry is insupportable. - The Christian orator speaks the truth plainly to his hearers he awakens them he shows them their impending danger he excites them to action. -There is in England an active spirit of inquiry the arts and sciences flourish amazingly her efforts in the cause of freedom have often been successful and her philosophers, her statesmen, her patriots, have gained immortal honour. The evidences of religion have been collected its doctrines have been elucidated the attacks of its enemies have been repelled the morals of its professors, upon the whole, have been purified.We teach the savage the art of healing we assist him in fencing off the inclemency of the weather we show him the advantages of government and laws.—The wind and rain are over; calm is the noon of day; the clouds are divided in heaven; over the green hill flies the inconstant sun.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene,

The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.