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But when the casural pause requires a place which the sense de nies to it, a difficulty occurs. The only alternative in such cases is to regard the sense, and let the poet be answerable for the consequence. The following presents a case of this kind

"I sit, with sad civility I read."

-

Here the sense requires the pause after sit, and it would do it violence not to observe it, although the melody would require it after sad, where the sense denies the least suspension of the voice.

In reading blank verse, the sense often requires no pause at the end of the line; but the best writers on this subject agree, that however intimately connected one line may be with the next following, in sense, there should be a sufficient suspension of the voice at the end, to enable a hearer to distinguish one line from another. The following will illustrate it :

"O! blest of Heaven, whom not the languid songs

Of luxury, the syren not the bribes

Of sordid wealth, nor all the gaudy spoils...

Of pageant honor, can seduce to leave

..

Those ever blooming sweets, which, from the store..
Of Nature, fair Imagination culls,

To charm the enlivened soul."

WALKER, in speaking of this pause, says,-" The affectation which most writers of blank verse have of extending the sense beyond the line, is followed by a similar affectation in the printer, who will often omit a pause at the end of a line in verse, when he would have inserted one in prose; and this affectation is carried still farther by the reader, who will run the sense of one line into another where. there is the least opportunity for doing it, in order to show that he is too sagacious to suppose that there is any conclusion in the sense, because the line concludes."

When the vowels e and o in poetry are apostrophized, their sound should not be entirely omitted; but should be spoken in a manner so light, as easily to unite with the following syllable. The following is an example:

"But of the two less dang'rous is th' offense,
Who durst defy th' omnipotent to arms."

NEW ENGLISH READER.

PART I.

PIECES IN PROSE.

CHAPTER I.

SELECT SENTENCES.

SECTION I.

THE great business of man, is, to improve his mind and, govern his manners.

The whole universe is his library; conversation living studies; and remarks upon them are his best tutors.

Learning is the temperance of youth, the comfort of old age, and the only sure guide to honor and preferment.a

Aristotle says, that to become an able man in any profes sion whatever, three things are necessary,-which are, nature, study, and practice.

To endure present evils with patience, and wait for expected good with long suffering, is equally the part of the christian and the hero.

Adversity overcome, is the highest glory; and willingly undergone, the greatest virtue: sufferings are but the trials of gallant spirits.

It is a Spanish maxim-he who loses wealth, loseth much; he who loseth a friend, loseth more; but he who loseth his spirits, loseth all.

There is no man so contemptible, but who, in distress, re quires pity. It is inhuman to be altogether insensible to another's misery.

Envyf is fixed only on merit; and, like a sore-eye, is offended with every thing that is bright.

Never employ yourself to discern the faults of others; but be careful to amend and prevent your own.

a Prefer'ment, advancement to office. b Ar-is-to-tle, a wise man of Greece, € Ad-vere--ty, affliction, calamity.

d Maxim, an established principle. en-sous-ble, destitute of feeling. J'En-vy, pain excited by another's pres perity.

There is an odious spirit in many persons, who are better pleased to detect a fault, than commend a virtue.

The worthiest people are most injured by slanderers; as we usually find that to be the best fruit, which the birds have been picking at.

b

If some are refined, like gold, in the furnace of affliction, there are many more, who, like chaff, are consumed in it. Sorrow, when it is excessive, takes away fervor from piety, vigor from action, health from the body, light from reason, and repose from the conscience.

The expectation of future happiness, is the best relief of anxious thoughts, the most perfect cure of melancholy, the guide of life, and the comfort of death.

Fear unruly passions more than the arrows of an enemy; and the slavery of them more than the fetters of a conqueror. It is more prudent to pass by trivial offenses, than to quarrel for them: by the last you are even with your adversary, but by the first above him.

Restrain yourself from being too fiery and flaming in matters of argument. Truth often suffers more from the heat of its defenders, than from the argument of its opposers. Nothing does reason more right, than the coolness of those who offer it.

When a man loses his integrity, he loses the foundation of his virtue.

A contented mind is a continual feast; and the pleasure of the banquet is greatly augmented, by knowing that each man may become his own entertainer.

Senecad says, there is no difference between possessing a thing, and not desiring it.

Be very cautious of speaking or believing any ill of your neighbors; but be much more cautious of making hasty reports of them to their disadvantage.

Upon whatsoever foundation happiness is built, when that foundation fails, happiness must be destroyed; for which reason, it is wisdom to choose such a foundation for it, as is not liable to destructive accidents.

We must never undervalue any person. The workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence. God is present every where, and every person is his work. What good is it to the blind, that his parents could see? What benefit is it to the dumb, that his grandfather was eloquent ? Even so, what is it to the mean, that their predeces sors were noble?

a O'-dl-ous, hateful, very offensive.
b Ex-cess'-ive, exceeting just limits
Triv't-al, small, trifting.

& Ben'e-ca, a Roman philosopher.

e Li'-a-ble, subject, responsible.

JE'o-quint, proaking with elegimos.

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Man is born for society; without which, virtue would have no followers; the world would be without allurements, and life without pleasures.

It is natural for us to contract the passions as well as the habits of those with whom we are familiar; to follow their vices as well as to imitate their virtues.

Be sincere in all your words, prudent in all your actions, and obliging in all your manners.

He who begins an affair without judgment, ought not to be surprised if it end without success.

If justice direct you in the pursuit of gain, tranquillity will attend you in the enjoyment of it.

He who looks upon the misfortunes of others with indiffe rence, ought not to be surprised if they behold his own without compassion.

Seriousness is the greatest wisdom, temperance the best medicine, and a good conscience the best estate.

The two great ornaments of virtue, which exhibit her in fairest colors, are cheerfulness and good nature.

He is truly wise, who can patiently endure evil, and rationally enjoy good.

We are more indebted to our parents than to all the world besides. To other persons we may owe much, but to them we owe ourselves. Ifingratitude to others, therefore, be hateful, that which is shown to parents is most horrid and de testable.

The human soul is too noble in itself to be confined to the contemplation of earth, or the enjoyment of vanity.

Make a proper use of your time; and remember that when it is once gone it can never be recalled.

Attend diligently to thy business; it will keep thee from wickedness, from poverty, and from shame.

He who harbors malice in his heart, will find to his sor row, that a viper has been nourished in his bosom..

Men make themselves ridiculous, not so much by the qualities they have, as by the affectation of those they have not. To say little and perform much, is the characteristic of a great mind.

No preacher is so successful as time. It gives a turn to thought to the aged, which it was impossible to inspire while they were young.

The injuries we do, and those we suffer, are seldom weigh ed in the same balance.

Men generally put a greater value upon the favors they bestow, than upon those they receive.

a In-grat'-i-tude, want of a Cae sense of & Af-fect-a-tion, conceit, formalits favors.

3

He who is puffed up with the first gale of prosperity, will bend beneath the first blast of adversity.

Indulge not desire, at the expense of the slightest article of virtue; pass once its limits, and you fall headlong into vice.

SECTION II.

To be angry, is to punish myself for the fault of another. The most profitable revenge, the most rational, and the most pleasant, is, to make it the interest of the injured person not to hurt you a second time.

Precipitationa ruins the best contrived plan; patience ripens the most difficult.

The pensionary De Witt being asked how he could transact such a variety of business without confusion, answered, that he never did but one thing at a time.

When you descant on the faults of others, consider whether you be not guilty of the same. To gain knowledge of ourselves, the best way is to convert the imperfections of others, into a mirror for discovering our own.

The best practical rule of morality is, never to do but what we are willing all the world should know.

No man is so foolish but he may give good counsel at a time: no man so wise but he may err, if he take no counsel but his own.

He whose ruling passion is love of praise, is a slave to every one who has a tongue for detraction.

Vile and obscene expressions are the sure marks of an abject and grovelling mind, and the corrupt overflowings of a vicious heart.

Modesty in your discourse will give a luster to truth, and an excuse to your errors.

Speak always according to your conscience; but let it be done in terms of good nature, civility, and good manners. Common swearing argues in a man a perpetual distrust of his own reputation, and is an acknowledgment that he thinks that his bare word is unworthy of credit.

From ill air we take disease; from ill company, vices and imperfections.

Sincerity of heart and integrity of life, are the great and indispensablef ornaments of human nature.

Useful knowledge can have no enemies except the igno rant. It cherishes youth, delights the aged, is an ornament. in prosperity, and yields comfort in adversity..

a Pre-cip-i-ta'-tion, rash haste.
b Des-cant', discourse, comment..
Mirror, a looking glass.

De-traction, slander, defamation.

é Ob-scene', offensive to chastity and do Hoecy.

Jin-dis-pens'-a-ble, not to be spared.

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