The next example is the same sentence, with the exception that the last group is divided into three, by the insertion of two adjectives. The separation of the two adjectives from each other, shows that both belong to the same noun.

We will continue the same passage, and divide the words into the smallest allowable groups. For convenience of printing, we shall be compelled to divide the second phrase into three parts, and the last into two. This division, however, will be made by the voice, if the speaking is very slow and strong.

These examples will be abundantly sufficient for illustrating the grammatical principles of grouping. We have taken pains to select such as admit of short groups, and such as have pauses of meaning between them. In some of the examples for practice which we have already furnished, and in many of those

which we shall hereafter present, much longer groups will be found. Groups of extreme length are indeed always divided, in the slowest and strongest speaking, into such small portions as we have now presented. When we do not so divide them, it is because rapid or very glowing delivery would be injured by thus breaking the close connexion. It must be remembered, however, that when two groups are united, though no absolute pause, or total cessation of sound may perhaps occur, yet the regular articulating and rhythmical pauses must come in. For the description of these, the student is requested to turn back before leaving this section, to p. 138, in the chapter on rhythm. In this part of our treatise we shall indicate mere articulating and rhythmical pauses, by a hyphen placed in a wider space between the words.

To the statement that nouns and verbs take the strong accent, there are certain exceptions, which need to be noticed. Many monosyllabic verbs of the most common occurrence, in very frequent instances, and especially in familiar and rapid delivery, take the weak accent. The same is also true of a few which have two syllables. These verbs are such as see, know, come, go, make, bring, put, seem, think, deem, &c.—also, become, suppose, appear, and others. A few nouns likewise are often used in the same way. The principal are man and men. The first two phrases of our last example afford instances of this principle in reference to the verb see, and the noun man. will reprint them with the grouping of rapid delivery.

And I tell them

We

they will see every honest and independent man in Ireland,

But when groups are made of such length, the speaker's articulation is apt to be indistinct, unless he has well established habits of accuracy in respect both of articulation and rhythm. If, on the other hand, his habits in these respects are of the

most perfect kind, the whole of this second phrase may be uttered with merely two articulating or rhythmical pauses and at one impulse of the voice. This may even be done without a hurried degree, of rapidity. In impassioned argument or sentiment, such fusing of the groups, when executed with perfect distinctness, often produces a glowing and captivating effect.

As we shall explain, in a subsequent section, strong emphasis sometimes in glowing or vehement delivery, fuses groups together and makes them very long.

In the following example, the word defendant is used like a pronoun, and indeed the pron. he, might with propriety be substituted for it. In the same example we have likewise the verbs forced and become, uttered with a weak accent, on account of the strong emphasis which follows each.

Groups that are grammatically subdivided by an articulating pause, we shall call compound groups. We shall distinguish them in the mode of printing, by employing a hyphen placed in a somewhat wider space.

PHRASES OF UTTERANCE.

We have seen that words are united into groups by two principles. First, they may be so essentially connected in grammar, that without such union each word of the group, except the accented one, would be destitute of meaning. Secondly, when such union is prevented by an intervening word or words, unaccented words are united to the first subsequent one that has an accent-this union being not grammatical, but rhythmical.

It has also been seen that groups may be compounded, so that a considerable number of words are uttered with one im

pulse of the mind and voice, as if they were one extremely long word; the whole collection having a unity given to it, by the ardor of the mind in setting forth the relations of thought.

On principles precisely similar, the union of groups forms phrases of utterance. The former being so far as utterance is concerned the words of discourse, their union into grammatical clauses forms phrases, which being considered each as a whole, are uttered with one continuous act. The reason for using the term phrase, instead of giving them the same appellation which they receive in grammar, is, that although a clause is always a grammatical whole, yet in delivery it may often be divided into two or more parts, for the sake of dwelling on each with a more earnest enforcement of its importance.

We apply the term phrase, then, to such a portion of a sentence as is delivered with one earnest look, attitude and gesture, and with that tone of continuity in the voice which expresses a short course of thought, and one of such a kind, that the mind prepares for its utterance beforehand, and rests momentarily after it.

If the style of a discourse be faultless, and the delivery not only rapid and familiar, but without force or earnestness, the phrases of utterance will invariably coincide with the grammatical clauses of the periods. No matter how long these may be, each will be uttered with one continued progress of the voice. An instinctive effort will likewise be made to utter each during a single expiration. If breath be taken in the course of one of them, it will be done so quickly, that the reader or speaker will be unconscious of the act.

It is this natural effort to read a clause at a breath, for the sake of exhibiting the meaning, that causes unskillful persons to complain generally of long periods as being fatiguing to read. Coleridge, when ridiculing the fashion prevalent in the latter part of the last century, for writing in very short periods, speaks of such styles of composition as being calculated for short-wit

ted intellects and asthmatic lungs. Unpractised readers, for the same reason, incline to read long clauses and sentences faster than short ones.

One of the earliest things to be learned in reading or speaking, is to acquire the power of keeping the unity of clauses clearly and steadily present to the mind, while at the same time the physical act of delivery is rendered deliberate and easy, by pauses of such length and frequency, as prevent any degree of hurry or fatigue. It requires, however, considerable mental discipline, and at least some experience in delivery, to manage a composition written in a diffuse style and in periods of great length, in such a way that the sense shall be exhibited with perfect clearness, while at the same time the elocution shall be as deliberately slow and impressive as if the sentences were very short, and each with a full cadence at the end. Yet this skill must be acquired, and its acquisition is not so difficult as would at first be supposed.

It is easy to acquire it, because nothing more is needed, than to practise in reference to written composition, what every one exhibits in conversation; it being as essential to the very nature of language, as is the articulation of single words. The principles which form clauses are few and simple, and are exemplified by children as perfectly as by men of the most comprehensive intellects. Each clause generally begins with some connecting word, which at once indicates the grammatical arrangement that is to follow. The mind of the reader sets out at the beginning of the clause, with a clear apprehension of what will be the subsequent construction; which construction continues till the end of the clause. Independent of punctuation, the end is shown by the very fact, that not until arriving at it, do the words of the clause form a complete construction. The next clause then begins with a similar warning to the mind, and so on throughout the whole course of the period. In this way, there is no real necessity-at least in the case of a well