An Essay on Elocution

So all was cleard, and to the field they haste. But first from under shady arborous roof, Soon as they forth were come to open sight Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce uprisen, With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim, Shot parallel to the earth his dewey ray, Discovering in wide landscape all the east Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began Their orisons, each morning duly paid In various style; for neither various style Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise Their Maker, in fit strains pronounc'd, or sung Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse; More tuneable than needed luie or harp To add more sweetness.

LOVE.
AND said I that my limbs were old,
And said I that my blood was cold,
And that my kindly fire was fled,
And my poor withered heart was dead,

And that I might not sing of love ?
How could I to the dearest theme
That ever warmed a minstrel's dream,
So foul, so false a recreant prove!
How could I name love's very name,
Nor wake my heart to notes of flame!

In peace, Love tunes the shepherd's reed;
In war, he mounts the warrior's steed;
In halls, in gay attire is seen;
In hamlet's dances on the green.
Love rules the court, the camp, the grove,
And men below, and saints above;
For love is heaven, and heaven is love.

CONTENTS.

Page

Preface,
Essay on Elocution,
Termination of the Essay,
Remarks on reading Prose, Verse, and blank Verse, ..
Suggestions to Instructors of the Art of Elocution,
Select Sentences,

7
48
49
53
55

CAUSES OF BAD READING AND SPEAKING.

59
59

60

..... Ibid.

60
61
61
62

Too slightly sounding the accented Vowels, ......... .Dwyer.
Too slightly sounding the unaccented Vowels,. Ibid.
Wavering pronounciation of the Vowels under the secondary
accent,

Ibid.
The liquid sound of K, C, or G hard, before the Vowels
A and I,......

Ibid.
The suppressing the sound of the final consonants,.
The sounds of the letter R, .

.Ibid.
Pronouncing S, indistinctly after St,

Ibid.
Not sounding the H where it ought to be sounded, and
the reverse,

... Ibid.
Improper pronounciation of the words for, from and by,. Ibid.
Tribute of respect to the Memory of Noah Webster,.
Observations on the pronounciation of certain words

frequently mistaken in reading or speaking, Ibid.
When you is to be pronounced like ye, and

my
like meg.

Ibid.
On the pronoun my, ...

Ibid.
When of, for, from and by, are to have a long, and when a
short sound,....

Ibid.
How to pronounce the possessive pronoun thy,.... .Ibid.
How to pronounce the adjective possessive pronoun,
mine,

Ibid.
Improper and indistinct pronounciation of the word, not,. Ibid.
Improper pronounciation of the terminating ing, Ibid.
Waproper pronounciation of the word to....

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