Comb down his hair!-look! look! it stands upright,
Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul.
Give me some drink, and bid th' apothecary
Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.

VI.-Impassioned Sentiment.

Shakspeare.

The passions have their origin in the constitutional nature of man, but their exciting cause is generally to be found in the sympathies of virtue or the incitements of vice. To a like source we may trace many sentiments of a highly emotional character, which, although not expressing themselves in the language of passion, are frequently its precursor, and evince great depth of feeling.

Such sentiments require, in reading, that the excitement of passion should be avoided, but feeling and expression be duly regarded.

The following Examples will sufficiently illustrate subjects of this class :

1. A noble-minded Abhorrence of Slavery.
Yes, to keep sadness sullenly resigned,
He feels his body's bondage in his mind;
Puts off his generous nature; and, to suit
His manners with his fate, puts on the brute.
O, most degrading of all ills, that wait
On man,-a mourner in his best estate !
All other sorrows virtue may endure,
And find submission more than half a cure;
Grief is itself a medicine, and bestow'd
T'improve the fortitude that bears the load,—
To teach the wanderer, as his woes increase,
The path of Wisdom, all whose paths are peace;
But Slavery!-Virtue dreads it as her grave:
Patience itself is meanness in a slave !

I would not have a slave to till my ground,
To carry me, to fan me while I sleep,

And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth
That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.
No dear as freedom is, and in my heart's
Just estimation, prized above all price,

I had much rather be myself the slave,

And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him.
Slaves cannot breathe in England! If their lungs
Receive our air, that moment they are free;
They touch our country and their shackles fall.
That's noble! and bespeaks a nation proud
And jealous of the blessing. Spread it, then,
And let it circulate through ev'ry vein
Of all your empire :-that where Britain's power
Is felt, mankind may feel her mercy too!

Cowper.

2. A high regard for Woman's Reputation.

A woman's name is linked to something holy!
It is a thing to love-to estimate-

To honour-to defend; a woman's name!
Oh! 'tis her wealth, her power, her patrimony;
Which wanting, opulence is beggary;

All other strength, all other vigour-weakness!
It is the very magnet of her life;

The charm, the grace, the sweetness of her being;
And he whose rancorous breath-or viler still-
Whose coward treachery that name assails,

Is villain deeper stained than language finds
Contempt for!

C. Swain.

VII.-Point and Wit.

Point and Wit require a ready perception of the word or words on which their force depends, and also

a happy mode of expression and intonation to read with effect, and do justice to the author's meaning.

The Epigram, Repartee, Sarcasm, Facetia, and Anec. dote, may be regarded as subjects of this kind.

When different persons are represented as speaking, there must be a corresponding difference of voice in their respective parts.

(1.) EPIGRAM.

The Epigram is always concluded with some pointed remark, often witty, but always forcible, whether humorous or serious; and requires to be read in that unpretentious manner, which lays due stress upon the main points, and gives them pungency and quick effect, without the appearance of a studied purpose.

1. Wit Described.

As in smooth oil, the razor best is whet,
So wit is by politeness sharpest set;

Their want of edge, from their offence is seen;
Both pain us least when equisitely keen.

2. An Epigram described.

One day in Chelsea meadows walking
Of poetry and such things talking,
Says Ralph, a merry wag—
"An epigram, if smart and good,
In all its circumstances should

Be like a jelly-bag."

"Your simile, I own, is new,

Young.

But how wilt make it out?" says Hugh.
Quoth Ralph, "I'll tell thee, friend,-
Make it at top both wide and fit

To hold a budget full of wit,

And point it at the end."

Anon.

3. The Manchester Millers, named Bone and Skin.
Bone and Skin, two millers thin,
Would starve us all, or near it;
But be it known to Skin and Bone,

That flesh and blood can't bear it.

Dr. Byrom.

4. On seeing the Leaves of a well-bound Book Worm-eaten.
Through and through the inspired leaves,
Ye maggots, make your windings;
But, oh! respect his lordship's taste,
And spare his golden bindings.

Burns.

5. "Dum vivimus vivamus." (While we live, let us live.) "Live whilst you live," the epicure would say, "And taste the pleasures of the passing day," "Live whilst you live," the sacred preacher cries, "And give to God each moment as it flies." Lord! in my life let both united be;

I live to pleasure, if I live to Thee.

6. On Robert Bloomfield.

Dr. Doddridge.

Bloomfield, thy happy-omen'd name
Ensures continuance to thy fame;

Both sense and truth this verdict give,-
While fields shall bloom, thy name shall live!

H. Kirke White.

7. Waller's Excuse to Charles II.

When Charles, at once a monarch and a wit, Some smooth, soft flatt'ry read, by Waller writ, (Waller, who erst to sing was not asham'd,

That "Heaven in storms, great Cromwell's soul had claim'd,")

Turn'd to the bard, and with á smile, said he—

"Your strains for Crom. excel your strains for me."

:

The wit, his cheeks with conscious blushes red,
Thus to the king return'd, and bow'd his head :-
"We bards, so Heav'n and all the Nine decreed,
In fiction better than in truth succeed."

8. On Interfering in the Quarrels of others.
As Thomas was cudgell'd one day by his wife,
He took to the street, and he fled for his life:
Tom's three dearest friends came by in the squabble,
And sav'd him at once from the shrew and the rabble;
Then ventur'd to give him some sober advice;—
But Tom is a person of honour so nice,

Too wise to take counsel, too proud to take warning, That he sent to all three a challenge next morning : Three duels he fought, thrice he ventur'd his life; Went home-and was cudgell'd again by his wife. Dean Swift.

(2.) REPARTEE.

The Repartee is a short, sharp, witty reply, partaking very much of the character of an epigram, and, like it, depending for effect on the skill and tones with which the points are brought out.

1. Dispute between Dr. Radcliffe and Sir Godfrey Kneller. Sir Godfrey and Radcliffe had one common way Into one common garden-and each had a key. Quoth Kneller, "I'll certainly stop up that door, If ever I find it unlock'd any more.'

"Your threats," replied Radcliffe, "disturb not my ease, And so you don't paint it, e'en do what you please." "You're smart," rejoins Kneller, "but say what you will, I'll take any thing from you,-save potion and pill."

2. Reproof of Vanity.

Anon.

Says a beau to a lady, "Pray, name if you can,
Of all your acquaintance, the handsomest man?"
The lady reply'd-"If you'd have me speak true,
He's the handsomest man, that's the most unlike you."

Anon.