performances, he ventured to say to himself, "And why may not I, too, become a Guidotto?" 8. Meanwhile Guidotto continued to bear away the palm from all competitors. Brunello struggled a while to contest with him, but at length gave up the point, and consoled himself, under his inferiority, by ill-natured sarcasm and petulant criticism. Lorenzo worked away in silence, and it was long before his modesty would suffer him to place any piece of his in view at the same time with one of Guidotto's. 9. There was a certain day in the year, in which it was customary for all the scholars to exhibit their best performance in a public hall, where their merit was carefully compared by a number of select examiners, and a valuable prize was awarded to the most excellent. 10. Guidotto had prepared for this anniversary with a piece which was to excel all he had before executed. He had just finished it on the evening before the exhibition, and nothing remained to be done but to heighten the coloring by means of a transparent varnish. 11. The envious Brunello contrived artfully to convey into the vial, containing this varnish, some drops of a caustic preparation, the effect of which would be to destroy entirely the beauty and splendor of the piece. Guidotto laid it on by candle-light, and then, with great satisfaction, hung up his picture in the public room for exhibition on the following day. 12. Lorenzo, too, with beating heart, had prepared himself for the day. By great application, he had finished a piece, which he humbly hoped might not appear greatly inferior to some of Guidotto's earlier performances. 13. The important day had now arrived. The company assembled, and were introduced into the great room, where the light had just been fully admitted, by drawing up a curtain. All went up with raised expectations to Guidotto's picture, when, behold! instead of the brilliant beauty they had conceived, there was nothing but a dead surface of confused and blotched colors. 14. Surely, they cried, this cannot be Guidotto's! The unfortunate youth himself came up, and on beholding the dismal change of his favorite piece, burst out into an agony of grief, and exclaimed that he was betrayed and undone ' The vile Brunello, in a corner, was enjoying this distress. But Lorenzo was little less affected than Guidotto himself. 15. "Indeed, gentlemen," said he, "this is not Guidotto's work. I saw it when only half finished, and it was a most charming performance. Look at the outline, and judge what it must have been before it was so basely injured." 16. The spectators were all struck with Lorenzo's generous warmth, and sympathized in the disgrace of Guidotto; but it was impossible to adjudge the prize to his picture, in the state in which they beheld it. They examined all the others attentively, and that by Lorenzo, who was till then an unknown artist to them, gained a great majority of suffrages. 17. The prize was therefore awarded to him; but Lorenzo, on receiving it, went up to Guidotto, and presenting it to him, said, “Take what merit would undoubtedly have acquired for you, had not the basest malice and envy defrauded you of it. To me it is honor enough to be accounted your second. If, hereafter, I may aspire to equal you, it shall be by means of fair competition, not by the aid of treachery.” 18. Lorenzo's nobleness of conduct excited the warmest encomiums among the judges, who at length determined that from this time there should be two equal prizes distributed ; since, if Guidotto had deserved the prize of painting, Lorenzo was entitled to that of virtue. QUESTION. What instruction is contained in this piece? SECTION IV. INFLECTION. INFLECTION is a modification of the voice in reading or speaking, commonly referring to the upward and downward slides. There are four inflections; namely, the Rising Inflection, Falling Inflection, Circumflex, and Monotone. A mark inclining to the right ('), denotes the rising inflection. A horizontal mark (), denotes the monotone. EXERCISE I. The Rising and Falling Inflections. The rising inflection is an upward turn or slide of the voice; as, Will you go to Bóston? The falling inflection is a downward turn or slide of the voice; as, Where is New York? RULE 1. Direct questions, or those 'hat can be answered by yes or no, generally require the rising inflection, and the answers the falling. EXAMPLES. 1. Are you direct from Álbany? Yès. 2. Did you pass the night in Boston? I did not. 3. Did Cortez conquer Spáin? Nò; it was Mexico. QUESTIONS. What is inflection? What are the four inflections used in reading? How is the rising inflection denoted? How the falling? How is the circumflex denoted ? How the monotone? What is the rising inflection? What the falling inflection? What is the rule for direct questions? Read the examples, and point out the inflections. Which is the first word in this piece marked with the rising inflection? Why has it the rising inflection? 4. Have you read the life of Washington? I have. 5. Do you remember his bírth-place? I dò. 6. Was he an honor to his country? He wàs. 7. Can you name the greatest poet of Greece? Yès; Homer. 8. Was the art of printing known to the ancients? It was not. 9. Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? 10. Spoke he of mé? He did, my lord. 11. Didst thou sée anything? Nothing, my lord. 12. Are all apóstles? are all próphets? are all teachers? are al workers of míracles? FLATTERY REPROVED. Canute. Is it true, my friends, as you have often told me, that I am the greatest of mónarchs ? Offa. It is true, my liege; you are the most powerful of all kings. Oswald. We are all your slaves; we kiss the dust of your feet. Offa. Not only we, but even the elements are your slaves. The land obeys you, from shore to shore; and the sea obeys you. Canute. Does the sea, with its loud, boisterous waves, obey mé? Will that terrible element be still at mý bidding? Offa. Yès, the sea is yours; it was made to bear your ships upon its bosom, and to pour the treasures of the world at your royal feet. It is boisterous to your enemies, but it knows you to be its sovereign. Canute. Is not the tide coming up? Oswald. Yès, my liege; you may perceive the swell already. Canute. Bring me a chair, then; set it here upon the sands. Offa. - Where the tíde is coming up, my gracious lord? Canute. Yès, set it just here. Oswald, Aside. I wonder what he is going to do. QUESTIONS. Which is the first word that has the falling inflection? Why has it the falling inflection? Point out the other words marked with the rising inflection, and those with the falling inflection. What may you learn from this lesson? Offa. [Aside.] Surely he is not such a fool as to believe us! Canute. O mighty ocean! thou art my subject; my courtiers tell me so; and it is thy duty to obey me. Thus, then, I stretch my scepter over thee, and command thee to retire. Roll back thy swelling waves, nor let them presume to wet the feet of me, thy royal master. Oswald. [Aside. I believe the sea will pay very little regard to his royal commands. Offa. See, how fast the tide rises! Oswald. The next wave will come up to the chair. It is folly to stay; we shall be covered with salt water! Canute. Well, does the sea obey my commands? If it is my subject, it is a very rebellious one. See, how it swells and dashes the angry foam and salt spray over my sacred person! Vile sycophants! did you think I was the dupe of your base lies? that I believed your abject flatteries? Know, there is but one Being whom the sea will obey. He is sovereign of heaven and earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords! It is only he who can say to the ocean, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." A king is but a man; and a man is but a worm. Shall a worm assume the power of the great God, and think the elements will obey him? May kings learn to be humble from my example, and courtiers learn truth from your disgrace. EXERCISE II. Rising and Falling Inflections. RULE 2. When words or clauses are contrasted, they take opposite inflections; the first member usually requires the rising inflection, and the latter the falling; but this order is sometimes reversed. QUESTION. What is the rule for words or clauses contrasted? |