All hot, and bleeding, will we offer them!

The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit

And yet not ours!

Come, let me take my horse,

Which is to bear me like a thunderbolt

Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales:

Thus we see that Pitch, Force, and Time constitute expression: united, with just discrimination and in perfect keeping, they reach the climax of the power of Elocution, the acme of its art,-PASSION.

The mimicry of Passion, by the simultaneous expression of voice, gesture, face, and attitude, is the Actor's study. It is not my design to form a theatrical style; but it is desirable that the student should make himself master of certain tones and variations of expression, a judicious use of which will add much to the beauty and power of his declamation, and is, in fact, absolutely necessary to be attained before he can aspire to the high character of a perfect ORATOR.

With a view to assist him in this object, I have prepared the PRACTICE which follows.

185

PRACTICE

ON

THE THIRD DIVISION.

EXERCISE ON INTONATION.

PROSPERO'S INVOCATION. SHAKS.

Begin in a deep tone, and gather force and volume in progressing.

Largo-maestoso.

<

BYE Elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves;

P.

And ye that on the sands with printless foot,
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him
When he comes back; you demi-puppets, that
By moonshine do the green, sour ringlets make,
Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime
Is to make midnight mushrooms; that rejoice

To hear the solemn curfew: by whose aid,

(Weak masters though ye be,) I have bedimm'd

f.

The noon-tide sun,—call'd forth the mutinous winds,

And 'twixt the green sea and the azure vault

staccato. f.

Set roaring war; to the dread rattling thunder

fz.

Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak

With his own

803. f. <

bolt: the strong-bas'd promontory

Have I made shake, and by the spurs

Pluck'd up the pine and cedar: graves at my command

Have wak'd their sleepers; op'd and let them forth
By my so potent art.

Transition to middle pitch and a softer tone :

P.

But this rough magic

I here abjure; and when I have requir’d

dolce,

Some heavenly music, (which even now I do,)

To work mine end upon their senses, that

This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,

And deeper than did ever plummet sound,

I'll drown my book.

THE DEATH OF SAMSON.-MILTON.

This being narrative, does not admit of so solemn a tone as the preceding;

Andante-moderato.

THE building was a spacious theatre,

Half-round, on two main pillars vaulted high,
With seats where all the lords, and each degree

Of sort, might sit in order to behold.

The other side was open, where the throng

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand.

m. f.

The feast and noise grew high; and sacrifice

Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine,

accelerando.

When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately
Was Samson as a public servant brought,
In their state livery clad: before him pipes
And timbrels, on each side went armed guards,
Both horse and foot; before him and behind,

Archers and slingers, cataphracts and spears.
At sight of him, the people with a shout

fz.

Rifted the air, clamoring their God with praise,

Who had made their dreadful enemy their thrall.
He patient, but undaunted, where they led him,
Came to the place; and what was set before him,
Which without help of eye might be assay'd,

To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd,

leg.

All with incredible, stupendous force;

None daring to appear antagonist.

At length, for intermission's sake, they led him
Between the pillars; he his guide requested,
As over-tir'd, to let him lean awhile

With both his arms on those two massy pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main support.

He, unsuspicious, led him; which, when Samson

P.

Felt in his arms, with head awhile inclin❜d,

And eyes fast-fix'd, he stood, as one who pray'd,

retard.

Or some great matter in his mind revolv'd: |

presto.

f.

At last, with head erect, thus cried aloud:

mod.

"Hitherto, lords, what your commands impos'

I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,
Not without wonder or delight beheld:

Now, of my own accord, such other trial

I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater,
As with amaze shall strike all who behold."

This utter'd, straining all his nerves, he bow'd: BAs with the force of winds and waters pent,

When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars

He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came, and drew

The whole roof after them with burst of thunder,

Upon the heads of all who sat beneath;

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,

Their choice nobility and flower,

Met from all parts, to solemnise this feast, |

maestoso.

Samson with these immix'd, inevitably

Pull'd down the same destruction on himself!

2. EXERCISE ON RHYTHMICAL READING.

The object of the following exercise is practically to school the ear of the pupil to a just rhythmical pulsation of voice in the reading of verse: for that purpose, the accents are marked as a guide to the pupil for pulsation and remission of voice; he must also fill up the rhythm with proper rests.