TONES. What is here meant by tones, is that general intonation which pervades whole periods, and parts of a discourse. Tones may be divided into two kinds; natural and instituted. The natural, are such as belong to the passions of man in his animal state, which are implanted in his frame by the hand of nature, and which spontaneously break forth, whenever he is under the influence of any of those passions. These form a universal language, equally used by all the different nations of the world, and equally understood and felt by all. Thus, the tones expressive of sorrow, lamentation, mirth, joy, hatred, anger, love, pity, &c. are the same in all countries, and excite emotions in us analogous to those passions, even when accompanying words which we do not understand. The instituted tones are those, which are settled, by compact, to mark the different operations, exertions and emotions, of the intellect and fancy, in producing their ideas; and those, in a great measure, differ in different countries, as do the languages. Directions for using the Tones. The voice should express, as nearly as possible, the very sense or idea; designed to be conveyed by the emphatical word, whether by a strong, rough, and violent, or a soft smooth, and tender sound. Thus, the different passions of the mind, are to be expressed by a different tone of voice. Love, by a soft, Smooth, languishing voice; anger, by a strong, vehement, and elevated one; joy, by a quick, sweet, and clear voice; fear, by a dejected, tremulous, hesitating one; courage, by a firm, bold, and swelling voice; and perplexity, by a grave; steady, and earnest voice. Briefly, in exordiums, the voice should be low, but yet distinctly heard; in narration, distinct; in reasoning, slow; in persuasion, strong: It should thunder in anger; seften in sorrow; tremble in fear; and melt in love. Upon the proper use and management of tones, accompanied by suitable locks and gestures, all that is pleasura ble, all that is forcible and affecting, in elocution, entirely depends! B SELECT RULES, WITH EXAMPLES. [BY MR. SCOTT.] RULE I. Antithesis, or the Opposition of Words or Sentiments. WORDS set in oposition, or forming an Antithesis, should be pronounced with such emphasis and variation of voice as may make the opposition sufficiently striking. EXAMPLES. A wise man endeavours to shine in himself, a fool to outshine others. The former is humbled by the sense of his own infirmities; the latter is lifted up by the discovery of those which he observes in others. The wise man considers what he wants; and the fool what he abounds in. The wise man is happy when he gains his own approbation; and the fool when he recommends himself to the applause of oth ers. Two principles in human nature reign,- RULE II. Enumeration, or the mentioning of Particulars. In the enumeration of particulars, a degree of emphasis should be thrown upon each; pauses between them should be carefully observed, and the pronunciation, should, in general, be adapted to the nature of the persons or things mentioned. It is proper to add, that the voice should generally fall at one or more of the leading particulars. EXAMPLES. The subject of a discourse being opened, explained, and confirmed; that is to say, the speaker having gained the attens tion and judgment of his audience, he must proceed to complete his conquest over the passions; such as imagination, admiration, surprise, hope, joy, love, fear, grief, anger. Now he must begin to exert himself: Here it is that a fine genins may display itself, in the use of amplification, enumeration, interrogation, metaphor, and every ornament that can render a discourse entertaining, winning, striking, and enforc Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, Suspension, or a delaying of the Sense. While the sense is suspended, the pitch of the voice should be low, and the emphasis moderate; where the suspension ends, the voice should be kept up, with a remarkable pause; after which it should, in general, be more elevated and forcible. EXAMPLES. As in the successions of seasons, each, by the invariable laws of nature, affects the productions of what is next in course: so, in human life, every period of our age, according as it is well or ill spent, influences the happiness of that which is to follow. Nor Fame I slight, nor for her favours call; But the fall'n ruins of another's fame; Then, teach me, Heaven, to scorn the guilty bays; RULE IV. Parenthesis, or Words interposed in Sentences. BLAIR. The matter, contained in a parenthesis, should be pronounced in a pitch of voice different from the rest of the sentence, generally lower and quicker; a short pause should be made at the beginning and end of it. EXAMFLES. If envious people were to ask themselves, whether they would exchange their entire situations with the persons envied, (I mean their minds, passions, notions, as well as their persons, fortunes, dignities, &c.)-I presume the selflove, common to all human nature, would generally make them prefer their own condition.^ Let us (sinca life can little more supply RULE V. Interrogation, or Questioning. In pronouncing questions, care should be taken to give them the tone peculiar to them, and to raise or sink the voice naturally at the conclusion The following rule will generally be found proper. When a question is introduced as governed by a verb, the voice should rise at the close ; in any other case, it should fail. EXAMPLES. A certain pasenger, at sea, had the curiosity to ask the pilot of the vessel, what death his father died of. What death said the pilot; why he perished at sea, as my grandfather did before him. And are you not afraid of trusting yourself to an element that has proved thus fatal to your family? Afraid! by no means: Is not your father dead ? Yes; but he died in his bed : And why, then, returned the pilot, are you not afraid of trusting yourself to your bed? What is the blooming tincture of the skin, But these, these only, can the heart retain. RULE VI. Climax, or gradual Increase of Sense or Passion. In a climax, or gradual increase of sense or passion, there should be a corresponding increase of emphasis and animation. EXAMPLES. Consult your whole nature. Consider yourselves not only as sensitive but as rational beings; not only as rational, but social; not only as social, but immortal. A SELECTION OF LESSONS IN THE VARIOUS KINDS OF PROSE. THE HE manner of reading is as important as the matter. In order to talk well, we must learn first to hear. A clear conscience is better than a clear estate. A good man has nothing to fear; a bad man every thing. A good man gets good out of evil: a wicked man turns good to evil. II. You had better find out one of your own weaknesses, than ten of your neighbour's. Obedience is the great lesson to be taught children. To a man of business, knowledge is an ornament; to a studious man, action is a relief. Love your fellow creatures, though vicious. Hate vice in the friend you love the most. LESSON II. HE who knows the world will not be too bashful. No man is so foolish but he may give good counsel sometimes no man is so wise but he may err, if he take no counsel but his own. Never suffer your courage to be fierce, your resolution obstinate, your wisdom cunning, nor your patience sullen. II. It is as great a point of wisdom to hide ignorance, as to discover knowledge. Philosophy is then only valuable, when it serves for the law of life, and not for the ostentation of science. Wit, without humanity, degenerates into bitterness: learning, without prudence, into pedantry. Never offer advice, but where there is some probability of its being followed. |