LESSON IX.

PERSONATION.

1. PERSONATION is the varying of the voice in pitch, quantity, or quality, so as to represent the voices of two or more individuals.

2. Personation has sometimes been termed Ventriloquism, Rhetorical Dialogue, &c. It is not properly a distinct department of Elocution, but it is merely the practical application of the principles of Modulation.

3. Some are able by their skill in this art to deceive—a tact neither necessary nor desirable. This skill can not be expected of every one, yet all can and should become sufficiently skilled in the management of their voice, to be able to personate, to some extent, the different individuals represented as speaking in a dialogue or conversation,

4. The voices of individuals, so far as their general practice is concerned, differ in pitch, quantity, or quality, or in all of these respects. Each voice is therefore distinguished from others by some prevailing characteristic. Hence, to personate with propriety, it is necessary to determine the prevailing characteristic which each individual would be most likely to practice. This is commonly ascertained either from the character of the individual, or the part taken in the colloquy. Then, by assuming that certain peculiarity of voice for each, the different characters may readily be personated. In general, it will be sufficiently accurate to modulate the voice in pitch and quantity, to represent two or more persons. Thus, a father would be personated by a low, firm tone; a child, by a high, sprightly one.

5. To discipline the voice, preparatory to personating in reading a dialogue, first attend to the exercises proposed in pitch and quantity, presented in previous lessons. These may be made concert exercises, in disciplining the voices of a class.

What is meant by Personation? By what other terms is it sometimes called? In what do voices of individuals mainly differ? In general, how may different voices be personated?

6. For exercise in personation, the following extracts are presented. It is expected that all the parts will be read or spoken, in connection, by one voice.

7. The following extract from Shakspeare, represents mainly an angry dispute between individuals, each ambitious of superior authority. Gloster may be personated by a full, commanding voice; Winchester, by a low, heavy tone, expressive of defiance.

[SCENE before the Gates of the Tower.— GLOSTER with servants.} Gloster.-I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear there is conveyance. Where are these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates,-Gloster it is that calls.

[Servants knock.]

Woodville. [Within.]-What voice is this? What traitors have we here? Glos.—Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear ?

Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter.

Wood. [Within.]-Have patience, noble duke, I may not open,--

The Cardinal of Winchester forbids.

From him I have express commandment,

That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.

Glos. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me?
Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

Servts. Open the gates unto the lord protector;

Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

[Enter WINCHESTER, with Servants in tawny coats.] Winchester.-How now, ambitious Humphrey? what means this? Glos.-Peeled priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win.-I do, thou most usurping proditor,

And not protector of the king or realm.

Glos. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;

Thou that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord.

Win.-Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot;
This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Glos.-I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back,-
Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth,

I'll use, to carry thee out of this place.

Win.-Do what thou dar'st,-I beard thee to thy face.
Glos.-What! am I dar'd, and bearded to my face?
Draw, men, for all this privileged place. *

Now beat them hence,-why do you let them stay?
Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.-
Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet hypocrite!

8. The following conversation between citizens who had assembled for witnessing the execution of an innocent victim, may be represented, the first by an elevated, the second by a middle, and the third by a low tone of voice-Procida by a full, commanding tone.

1st Citizen. The morning breaks,—his time is almost come. Will he be led this way ?

To die before that gate, through which he purposed
The foe should enter in.

And yet I would my hands were pure as his,

From the deep stain of blood. Didst hear the sounds
In the air last night?

21 Cit.

Since the great work of slaughter,

Who hath not heard them duly at those hours

Which should be silent?

Deep groan of man in his last agonies!

And now and then there swell'd upon the breeze
Strange, savage bursts of laughter, wilder far

Than all the rest.

1st Cit.

Of our own fate, perchance,

These awful midnight wailings may be deemed
An ominous prophecy. Hark!

[Distant sound of trumpets.]

2d Cit. 'Twas but the rushing of the breeze.

3d Cit.-E'en now, 'tis said, the hostile bands approach.

2d Cit.-Again! That sound

Was no illusion. Nearer yet it swells

They come! they come!

Procida.-The foe is at your gates;

[Enter PROCIDA.]

But hearts and hands prepared shall meet his onset ;

Why are you loitering here?

Cit.

My lord, we come

Proc.-Think ye I knew not wherefore ?-'Twas to see
A fellow-being die! Aye, 'tis a sight

Man loves to look on, and the tenderest hearts
Recoil, and yet withdraw not from the scene!
For this ye come.-What! is our nature fierce?
Or is there that in mortal agony,

From which the soul, exulting in its strength,
Doth learn immortal lessons?

9. The following dialogue by Mrs. Hemans, portrays the sterling integrity which has eminently characterized many who have been compelled to suffer persecution and martyrdom for the sake of their religion.

[SCENE in a Prison.-EDITH alone.]

Edith.-Morn once again! Morn in the lone dim cell,

The cavern of the prisoner's fever dream!
And morn on all the green rejoicing hills,

And the bright waters round the prisoner's home,

Far, far away! Now wakes the early bird
That in the lime's transparent foliage sings,

Close to my cottage lattice! Now doth the lake
Darken and flash in rapid interchange

Unto the matin breeze; and the blue mist
Rolls like a furling banner, from the brows

Of the forth-gleaming hills and woods! Bright world!

Gomez-Daughter, hail! I bring thee tidings.
Ed.-Heaven will aid my soul

Calmly to meet whate'er thy lips announce.
Gom. Nay, lift a song of thanksgiving to Heaven,
And bow thy knee down for deliverance won!

[Enter GOMET.]

Hast thou not prayed for life? and wouldst thou not
Once more be free?

Ed.-Have I not pray'd for life'! Heaven, thou knowest
The gushings of my prayer! And would I not
Once more be free! I that have been a child

Of breezy hills, a playmate of the fawn
In ancient woodlands, from mine infan'cy!

A watcher of the clouds and of the stars,
Beneath the adoring silence of the night'!
And a glad wanderer with the happy streams,
Whose laughter fills the mount'ains! O, to hear
Their blessed sounds again!

Gom.

Rejoice! rejoice!

Our queen hath pity, maiden, on thy youth;
She wills not thou shouldst perish.-I am come
To loose thy bonds.

Ed-Blessings upon thee! my quick heart
Hath deem'd thee stern,-say, wilt thou not forgive
The wayward child, too long in sunshine rear'd—
Too long unused to chastening? Wilt thou not?
But Herbert-is he too free?

Gom.

His freedom lies

In his own choice-a boon like thine.

Ed.-Thy words fall changed and cold upon my boding heart. Leave not this dim suspense o'ershadowing me.

Who freely pours the joy of sunshine forth,
And the bright quickening rain, on those who serve,
And those who heed Him not!

Gom. [Laying a paper before her.]-Is it so much
That thine own hand should set the crowning seal
To thy deliverance? Look! thy task is here.
Sign but these words for liberty and life.

Ed. [Examining and then throwing it from her.]

Sign but these words'! And wherefore saidst thou not,
"Be but a traitor to God's light within ?"
Cruel! O cruel! thy dark sport hath been

With a young bosom's hope! Farewell, glad life!
Bright opening path to love and home, farewell!
And thou-now leave me with my God alone!
Gom.-Dost thou reject Heaven's mercy?
Heav'en's! Doth Heaven

Ed.

Woo the free spirit for dishonor'd breath
To sell its birth-right? Doth Heaven set a price
On the clear jewel of unsullied faith,

And the bright calm of conscience? Away!
God hath been with me 'midst the holiness

Of England's mountains. Not in sport alone

I trod their heath-flowers; but high thoughts rose up

From the broad shadow of the enduring rocks,

And wandered with me into solemn glens,
Where my soul felt the beauty of His word.

I have heard voices of immortal truth,

Blent with the everlasting torrent sounds

That make the deep hills tremble.-Shall I quail?

Shall England's daughter sink?-No! He who there

Spoke to my heart in silence and in storm,

Will not forsake His child!