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with a peculiar emphafis. In expreffing an elevated fubject, the voice ought to be raifed above its ordinary pitch; and words fignifying dejection of mind, ought to be pronounced in a low note. A fucceffion of founds gradually afcending from low to high notes, represents an afcending feries of objects. An oppofite fucceffion of founds, is fitted for objects or sentiments that defcend gradually. In Dryden's ode of Alexander's feast, the line, Faln, faln, faln, faln, ought to be pronounced with a falling voice; and is pronounced in that manner, by every one of tafte, without inftruction. Another circumftance contributes to the resemblance betwixt fenfe and found, which is flow or quick pronunciation. For though the length or shortness of the fyllables with relation to each other, be in profe ascertained in fome measure, and in verse always; yet taking a whole line or period together, it is arbitrary to pronounce it flow or faft. Hence it is, that a period expreffing what is folemn or deliberate, ought to be pronounced flow; and ought to be pronounced quick, when it expreffes

preffes any thing brifk, lively, or impe

tuous.

The art of pronouncing with propriety and grace, being calculated to make the found an echo to the fenfe, fcarce admits of any other general rule than that above mentioned. This rule may indeed be branched out into many particular rules and obfervations: but thefe belong not properly to the present undertaking, because they cannot be explained in words. We have not words to fignify the different degrees of high and low, loud and soft, fast and flow; and before these differences can be made the subject of regular inftruction, notes must be invented refembling those employ'd in mufic. We have reason to believe, that in Greece every tragedy was accompanied with fuch notes, in order to ascertain the pronunciation. But the moderns hitherto have not thought of this refinement. Ci cero indeed *, without the help of notes, pretends to give rules for afcertaining the feveral tones of voice that are proper

De oratore, 1. 3. cap. 58.

in ex

preffing

preffing the feveral paffions; and it must be acknowledged, that in this attempt he has exhaufted the whole power of language. At the fame time, every perfon of judgement must fee, that these rules avail little in point of inftruction. The very words he employs, are fcarce intelligible, except to those who beforehand are acquainted with the subject.

Το vary the scene a little, I propose to close with a flight comparison betwixt finging and pronouncing. In this comparison the five following circumftances relative to articulate found, muft be kept in view. Ift, It is harfh or smooth. 2d, A found or fyllable, is long or fhort. 3d, It is pronounced high or low. 4th, It is pronounced loud or foft. And, laftly, a number of words in fucceffion conftituting a period or member of a period, are pronounced flow or quick. Of these five, the first depending on the component letters, and the second being afcertained by custom, admit not any variety in pronouncing. The three last are arbitrary, depending on the will of the person who pronounces ;

and

and it is chiefly in the artful management of these, that just pronunciation confists, With respect to the first circumftance, mufic has evidently the advantage; for all its notes are agreeable to the ear, which is not always the cafe of articulate found. With respect to the second, long and short fyllables variously combined, produce a great variety of feet; yet far inferior to the variety which is found in the multiplied combinations of mufical notes. With refpect to high and low notes, pronunciation is still more inferior to finging. For it it observed by Dionyfius of Halicarnaffus *, that in pronouncing,. i. e. without altering the aperture of the windpipe, the voice is confined within three. notes and a half. Singing has a much greater compass. With respect to the two last circumstances, pronunciation equals finging.

In this difcourfe, I have mentioned none of the beauties of language, but what arise

De ftructura orationis, fect. 2.

from

from words taken in their proper fenfe. Those beauties that depend on the metaphorical and figurative power of words, are reserved to be treated in chap. 20.

SECT. IV.

VERSIFICATION.

THE mufic of verse, though handled by every grammarian, merits more attention than has been given it. The subject is intimately connected with human nature; and to explain it thoroughly, feveral nice and delicate feelings must be employ'd. Entering upon this fubject, it occurs as a preliminary point, By what mark is verse distinguished from profe? The dif cuffion of this point is neceffary, were it for no other purpose but to ascertain the nature and limits of our fubject. To produce this diftinguishing mark, is a task not perhaps so easy as may at firft be apprehended. Verse of every fort, has, it is true, rules for VOL. II. Y y

its

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