of one emotion to that of another. Some passages re quire frequent and entire changes of every trait of voice, to keep up with the perpetually shifting effect of sentiment and expression, in the language of the composition. The following are but a few specimens of the requisite exercises in this department of elocution; but they may suffice to suggest the mode in which practice should be conducted. INVOCATION OF LIGHT.-Milton. Sublimity. "Orotund Quality," Full Force, "Median Stress," ""Low" Pitch, Prevalent "Falling Inflection," and "Monotone," "Slow Movement," Long Pauses, Moderate Emphasis, Powerful "Expression." "Hail holy Light! offspring of Heaven first-born, Or of the Eternal co-eternal beam May I express thee unblamed? Since God is Light, Dwelt from eternity; dwelt then in thee, The rising world of waters, dark and deep, Escaped the Stygian pool, though long detained I sung of chaos and eternal night, Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down Though hard and rare. Thee I revisit safe, Deep Pathos. "Quality" as before, Force "Subdued," " Stress" as before, "Lowest" Pitch, "Semitone" and plaintive effect of "minor" intervals, "Slowest Movement," Pauses as before, Tender and subdued "Expression." "But thou Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; Tranquility, Solemnity, and Sublimity. "Quality" as before, Force "Moderate," ," "Stress" as before, "Middle" Pitch, "Inflection " varied, "Movement" and Pauses "Moderate," "Expression" moderate. "Yet not the more Cease I to wander where the muses haunt Those other two, equalled with me in fate, Beauty, added to the preceding emotions. "Quality" as before, Force softened, "Stress" as before, Pitch deepened, Prevalent "Monotone," "Movement" slower, Pauses longer, "Expression " ardent but gentle. "Then feed on thoughts that voluntary move Deep Pathos. "Quality" as before, Force "Subdued," "Stress" as before, Pitch "Low," Prevalent "Semitone" and occasional "Minor Thirds," "Movement Slow," Pauses long, "Expression" deeply plaintive "But not to me returns Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, Deep Grief and Melancholy. "Aspirated Orotund Quality," Force "Suppressed," "Vanishing Stress," "Lowest " Pitch, Prevalent "Falling Inflection," "Slowest Movement," Long Pauses, Strong Emphasis, Intense “Expression." "But cloud, instead, and ever during dark Of Nature's works, to me expunged and rased; Sublime and Devout Aspiration. "Pure Orotund Quality," Earnest and " 'Empassioned" Force "Median Stress," "Middle" Pitch, Prevalent "Falling Inflection," "Moderate Movement," Moderate Pauses, Strong Emphasis, Intense "Expression." "So much the rather, thou, celestial Light, Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers * The distinction between "suppressed” and “subdued” force, is that the latter is "pure," the former "aspirated." "Subdued" force merges the breath wholly in sound: "suppressed" force merges, partially, sound in breath, and causes a slightly hoarse or whispering effect to the ear. SOLILOQUY OF SATAN.-Milton. Hatred. "Aspirated Orotund Quality," Intense Force, "Thorough Stress,” Of this new world, at whose sight all the stars Regret. "Pure Orotund Quality," Softened Force, "Median Stress," "Low" Pitch, Prevalent "Falling Inflection" of "Minor Third," "Slow Movement," Long Pauses, Subdued "Expression." "That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once! - above thy sphere, Till pride and worse ambition threw me down, Warring in heaven against heaven's matchless king. Remorse. Style, in all respects, as before, but "Expression" deepened in "Ah! wherefore? every trait. He deserved no such return Self-Reproach. Style, as before, but deepened, and rendered more intense, through out. "Yet all his good proved ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up so high, Grief and Regret. "Pure Orotund Quality," Intense but "Subdued" Force, "Vanishing" and tremulous "Stress," Pitch varying from "High" to “Middle,” “Plaintive Inflection" of "Minor Third,” “ Slow Movement," Long Pauses, "Expression" intense, but plaintive and subdued. "Oh! had his powerful destiny ordained Me some inferior angel, I had stood Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised Hesitation. "Aspirated Orotund Quality," "Suppressed" Force, "Radical Stress," ," "High" Pitch, Prevalent "Falling Inflection," "Moderate Movement," Pauses Long, Earnest "Expression." As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, Envy. "Aspirated Pectoral and Guttural Quality," "Empassioned" Force, 'Explosive Radical Stress," "Low" Pitch, "Falling Inflection," 66 |