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ig- no- rant

in spite of ex

pe- ri- ence.

In this example I have marked the accented or heavy syllables which require pulsation of voice; and it will be observed that the first note of the bar is always accented, or its place is supplied by a rest, or pause, which, with the other notes, fills up the cadence, and completes the bar; for rests, or pauses, are as essential a part of the rhythm as the notes themselves, and, in verse especially, it is on their due and proportionate observance, as well as of the heavy and light syllables, that rhythm depends. All this is more fully explained hereafter: but I thought thus much, on the subject of quantity and stress, (or accent,) necessary to be remarked before proceeding with Emphasis, of which stress is an essential constituent.

The power of emphasis to strengthen or change the meaning of any sentence is very great; and its proper use in delivery adds greatly to the point and power of a discourse; hence some orators are called emphatic speakers, when it is intended that their style is pointed and forcible. But Emphasis is not merely stress or weight of voice: it is made up of stress and inflection; accordingly,

EMPHASIS is stress and inflection of voice.

There are two principal kinds of Emphasis―

1. Emphasis of sense.

2. Emphasis of force.

1. Emphasis of sense is that emphasis which marks and indicates the meaning or sense of the sentence; and which being transferred from word to word, has

power to change and vary the particular meaning of such sentence. In other words, it is the placing on the particular word which carries the main point of the sentence, or member of the sentence, the inflection due to such sentence or member, and giving weight or emphasis to such inflection :-the word so marked and distinguished is called the emphatic word.

RULE.

To make the emphasis of sense, throw the inflection proper to the sentence, or member of it, on the emphatic word; and give weight or stress on that inflection.

Thus

The following interrogative sentence requires the rising inflection. Now, by placing that inflection on any one word, and at the same time giving weight or stress to that inflection-the sense will be emphasized on that particular word; and as the emphasis of sense is changed from word to word, the point of the sense will be varied accordingly.

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tion and meaning of a sentence, or member of it, on some particular word: and the inflection is rising or falling according to the rule applicable to the particular sentence, or member of it, in which that word

occurs.

There are branches of the emphasis of sense, incidental to particular rules of inflection, as

Antithetical Emphasis

Emphasis with pronominal phrase, &c.

of which I shall speak under the proper heads.

2. Emphasis of force (or it might be called Emphasis of feeling,) is that emphasis or stress which a speaker uses arbitrarily to add force to some particular idea or expression; not because the sense or meaning intended to be conveyed requires it,—but because the force of his own feeling dictates it.

RULE.

The emphasis of force is always made with the falling inflection; whatever may be the inflection proper to the sentence, without such emphasis.

EXAMPLES.

Could you be so cruel?

Could you be so cruel?

I did not say so.

These sentences-interrogative and negative-by ordinary Rule, would have the rising inflection; ; but the emphasis of force being placed on the word could, or cruel, and not, gives

them the falling inflection: without at all affecting the sense. -though it gives force to the idea conveyed by the words.

Bear in mind, therefore, that this emphasis of force, when it is made, is independent of and paramount to all general rule of inflection; which it controls and over-rules.

Emphasis of force is sometimes doubled, as

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In which, the force is thrown on two words, and expresses as much as if the speaker said,

Can it be possible that you are what I consider so shockingly cruel!

There is also CUMULATIVE or accumulated emphasis of force; that is, when the emphasis is heaped or accumulated on several words in succession, as

I tell you, I will not do it; nothing on earth shall persuade

me.

This is the strongest expression of force. I shall have occasion to illustrate it more fully hereafter.— (Part 3d of this Division.)

Let the Student now practise aloud-as an exercise on the foregoing rules-the following extract, until he can read it perfectly, as it is marked for PAUSE, INFLECTION, EMPHASIS; and till he have ascertained each particular rule under which it is so marked.

PORTIA'S SPEECH ON MERCY.

(Marked with Pause, Inflection, and Emphasis.)

The quality of Mercy is not strain'd

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heav'n
Upon the place beneath- It is twice bless'd

It blesseth him that gives and him that takesTM–

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'Tis mightiest in the mightiest - it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown

His sceptre shows the force of temporal powerTM_ The attribute to awe and majesty

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings

But mercy is above this sceptred sway

It is enthroned in the hearts of kingsTM

It is an attribute to God himself

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. I Therefore Jew

Tho' justice be thy pleaTM consider this

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And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of Mercy. I

Shaksp.

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