RULES FOR SPEAKING.

General Remarks on Pronunciation.

Pronunciation, which was also called Action, was considered by the most competent judges among the ancients, as the primary part of an Orator's province -as almost the only source from which he can hope to succeed, in the Art of persuasion. When Cicero, in the person of Crassus, had discoursed in a diffuse and elegant manner upon all the other branches of Oratory, coming at last to speak of this, he said, "all the former have their effect according as they are pronounced." It is the action alone which governs in speaking; without this, the best orator is of no value -and is often defeated by one, in other respects, much his inferior." And Cicero lets us know, that the great Demosthenes was of the same opinion. When he was asked, what was the principal thing in oratory? he replied "Action," and being asked again, a second and a third time, what was of next importance, still replied, "Action." And indeed, had he not judged this to be highly necessary in an orator, he would never have taken so much pains, in correcting those natural defects under which he laboured at first, in order to acquire it. He had to surmount two very formidable obstacles-a weak voice, and an impediment in his speech; the latter was so great, that he could not even pronounce some particular letters. But the former of these defects he overcame, partly by speaking

as loud as in his power, upon the shore, when the sea
roared and was boisterous---and partly by pronouncing
long sentences as he walked up some hill. Both of
these methods had a joint effect in strengthening his or-
gans of speech; and he also found his pronunciation
to become more clear and distinct from a use of peb-
bles placed under his tongue. Nor was he less careful
in endeavouring to acquire the habit of a becoming and
decent gesture; and for this purpose he used to pró-
nounce alone before a large mirror. And knowing
that he had an ungracious habit of shrugging up his
shoulders when he spoke, to correct that, he used to
suspend a sword over them with the point downwards.
Such were some of the pains taken-such, some of the
many efforts made by this man-this greatest of an-
cient Orators, to surmount difficulties which would be
considered even in these days, by a less aspiring mind,
sufficient to discourage and deter from every pursuit
in the least connected with Oratory. But he overcame
them-by indefatigable diligence and perseverance ;
and under all these discouraging circumstances, he
reached the highest pitch of perfection, as an Orator
among the ancients. This was acknowledged by the
conduct of his great antagonist and rival in Elo-
quence,
Eschines-who, having been eclipsed by De-
mosthenes in the cause of Ctesiphon, could not en-
dure the mortification of it in the region where it hap-
pened, but retired in disgrace to Rhodes. After his
arrival here, however, in compliance with the desire
of the Rhodians, he repeated to them his own Ora-
tion upon that occasion, and the day following they
requested to hear that of Demosthenes---which request

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he readily gratified; and having pronounced it in a most graceful and animating manner, to the admiration and astonishment of every hearer, he observed: "How much more would you have wondered if you had heard him speak it himself!" To these authorities might be added the sentiments of Quintilian.-He says that, "It is not of so much moment what our compositions are, as how they are pronounced; since it is the manner of the delivery by which the audience is moved."

The truth of this sentiment of the ancients concerning the power and efficacy of pronunciation, might be proved by producing many instances. Hortensius, a cotemporary with Cicero, and whilst he lived next to him in reputation for being eloquent, was highly extolled for his graceful action. But his Orations when published after his death, Quintilian informs us, did not appear answerable to the reputation he had while living whence he concluded, there must have been something peculiarly pleasing and fascinating in his action, by which he gained that character, which was lost when we came to read them. And here indeed, we can find no instance of this, more prominent and forcible than that furnished by Cicero himself. Pompey being now dead, and Cæsar in uncontrolled possession of the government, many of his acquaintances interceded with him for their relations and friends, who had been of Pompey's party in the late commotions; and amongst others Cicero appeared before Cæsar to solicit for his friend Ligarius-and when Tubero became apprised of it, who owed Ligarius a grudge, he appeared to oppose it, representing Cicero's friend Ligarius as unwor

thy of his mercy; and Cæsar himself, was prejudiced against him—and hence, he said, when the cause was to come before him; "we may venture to hear Cicero display his eloquence in this case, for I know the person he pleads for to be an ill man and my enemy." But we find, however, that in the course of his Oration, Cicero so affected Cæsar, that the frequent changes in his countenance evinced no ordinary emotions of mind; and as the Orator touched upon the battle of Pharsalia which had given Cæsar the Empire of the World, he presented it in such a moving manner, that Cæsar could no longer controul his feelings-and was thrown into such a paroxysm, that he dropped the papers and documents which he held in his hands! This was the more remarkable, inasmuch, as Cæsar was himself, one of the greatest Orator's of his age-all the sart of address, and every avenue to the passions were well known to him, and of course he was the better prepared to guard against their influence. But neither his skill in Oratory, nor deep-rooted prejudice against Ligarius, was a sufficient guard against the power of Eloquence; but this Conquerer of the World became a captive to the charms of Cicero, and contrary to his predetermined sentence, he pardoned Ligarius. Now, that Oration is still extant; and though it certainly appears to be well calculated to move the finer feelings and springs of the soul, yet we cannot discern on reading it, how it should have had so astonishing an effect! and this effect must have been principally owing to the address and oratory of Cicero.

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The more natural our pronunciation is, the more moving it will be; since the perfection of art consists,

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in its nearest resemblance to nature. Hence it is not without the best of reasons, that the ancients make it an indispensable qualification in an orator, that he ap pear to be a sincere and good man; because a person of this character will make the cause he espouses his own, and the more sensibly he is moved himself, the more natural will be his pronunciation; and of course the greater will be its effect upon others. It is certain that reality in every thing excels imitation; but if that were sufficient of itself, in pronunciation, we should have no occasion to recur to art. In this case, therefore, as well as in many others, art, if well managed, will help to perfect nature.

But this is not all; for it often happens that we find the force of it so great and powerful, that where it is entirely counterfeit, it will, for a time, produce the same effect, as if it were founded in truth. This is well known by those who have been conversant with the representations of the theatre. In tragedies, though we are sensible that every thing we see and hear, is fictitious; yet such is the fascinating power of action, that many, whose good sense and accomplishments are worthy to be employed in some real and more dignified scene, are often affected by it in the same manner, as if it were all reality. Anger and resentment at the exhibition of wanton cruelty; concern and solicitude for suffering virtue, rise in our breasts, and tears are extorted from us for persecuted innocence-and at the same moment, perhaps we are ready to blush at ourselves for being thus decoyed. If art then have so great an influence upon us, when supported by fancy and imagination only, how powerful must be its influ