of oratory, and is called interrogation. The force of the figure is not destroyed if the orator, with emphasis answers his own question. The formulas, "Can any one doubt," "Will it be believed," "Can any intelligent person suppose," &c., often introduce this figure. Oratorical interrogation frequently involves strong affirmation, appeal, sometimes challenge, also defiance, and even a triumphal indignation. The orator should avoid using this figure so frequently as to make it monotonous and consequently forceless. Writers upon this subject recommend that the speaker pause long enough after the question is asked for the hearer to collect his thoughts and mentally answer it. The danger in the use of this figure is that by introducing several questions, the speaker will institute an inquiry differing essentially from the point at issue.

The following quotations will serve for illustrations:

"But when, O my countrymen, will you begin to exert your vigor? Do you wait till roused by some dire event, till forced by necessity? What, then, are we to think of our present condition? . . . Or say, is it your sole ambition to wander through the public places each inquiring of the other, What news? Can anything be more new than that a man of Macedon should conquer the Athenians and give laws to Greece? Is Philip dead? No, but he is sick. Pray, what is it to you whether Philip is sick or not?"

See also pp. 44, 45.

Demosthenes.

Cicero in his defence of Ligarius used this figure with great effect:

"But I ask, who says that it was a crime in Ligarius that he was in Africa? It is a man who himself wished to be there a man who complains that Ligarius prevented him from going, and one who has assuredly borne arms against Cæsar. For, Tubarus, wherefore that naked sword of yours in the lines of Pharsalia? Whose breast was its point seeking? What was the meaning of those arms of yours? Whither looked your purpose? your eyes? your hand? your fiery courage? What were you craving? what wishing?"

Cæsar, who was listening to these interrogative threats, became so agitated that he let fall the paper containing the condemnation of Ligarius. See also opening sentences of Cicero against Catiline.

"I put it to your oaths: do you think that a blessing of that kind that a victory obtained by justice over bigotry and oppression — should have a stigma cast upon it by an ignominious sentence?". Curran.

"What is it we want here to a great act of national justice? Do we want a cause, my lords? . . . Do you want a criminal, my lords? Where was there so much iniquity ever laid to the charge of any one?"-Burke.

"But, sir, the high-sheriff was threatened—and how? Was it by threats of assaulting him? No. Was it by holding up the fear of danger to him by mobs or riots? No."

Fox.

See, also, Barnes' Lecture on the Evidences of Christianity, beginning with the sentence, "On what points outside of the small circle," &c.

And see Gen. xii. 18; Nnmb. xxxiii. 19: Judges v. 28: 1 Kings xviii. 21; xix. 13: Job x. 3-6; xxvi. 2-4; xxxviii.: Ps. lxii. 3; lxxvii. 7: Prov. xxiii.

29: Isa. lviii. 3-7; lxiii. 1: Matt. xi. 79; xii. 3, 4: Mark ii. 9, 19, 25; iii. 4, 23, 33: Luke vii. 24–26: John vii. 48; viii. 46: Acts xxvi. 26: Ro. vii. 24; viii. 32: 2 Cor. xi. 22, 23: Heb. ii. 3.

7. Exclamation. When in the course of the address there is a sudden and emphatic interruption of the narrative or argument, for the purpose of arresting attention, the speech employed is called the figure of exclamation. It is in its nature emotional, and is used for the purpose of extreme emphasis. It often takes the form of personification and apostrophe. It is frequently introduced by the words, "oh," "alas," “I affirm," "I assure you," &c. There is scarcely any masterpiece in the field of oratory which is without this figure. For examples of its use by Demosthenes, see pp. 44-5. See, also, Webster's Bunker Hill speech, beginning at "Venerable men! you have come down to us," &c. See Whitefield's sermon preached before the sailors of New York, beginning at "Well, my boys, we have a clear sky," &c. And see Job xxix. 2: Ps. cvii. 15: Is. xlvi. 12; lxiv. 1 Jer. ix. i.: Ezek. xviii. 29: Joel i. 11: Zech. ix. 9: Matt. xxiii. 37; xxvi. 42: Rom. vii. John iii. 1.

27; xi. 33

8. Command. When the speaker's mind is impassioned, and he has risen to a conscious superiority over his audience, he frequently heightens the emphasis by using the figure called command. The person or thing commanded is often imaginary. This figure sometimes involves apostrophe and personation, together with warning, reproach, reproof,

and invitation. The following examples are illustrative: Demosthenes, see p. 47.

"Tell me not of rights, talk not of the property of the planter in his slaves."

of a precipice; beware!

"You are standing on the brink Now, then, let the planters

beware let their assemblies beware - let the government at home beware let Parliament beware." - Brougham.

"Listen! for if you are not totally callous, if your consciences are not seared, I will speak daggers to your souls, and awake you to all the horrors of guilty recollection. I will follow you with whips and stings through every maze of your unexampled turpitude, and plant thorns under the rose of ministerial approbation.” — Burke.

"Go home if you dare; go home, if you can, to your constituents, and tell them that you voted it down."— "— Clay. "Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss."- - Patrick Henry.

See also, 2 Sam. xvi. 7: Ezek. xviii. 31: Matt. v. 38-49; vi. 25, 33; vii. 1-6: Mark xvi. 15: Acts ii. 38: Eph, v. 14; vi. 10-17: 1 Tim. vi. 13: Rev.

ii. 5.

9. Denunciation. This figure in secular oratory is an emphatic and impassioned disapproval of such men, things, or sentiments, as are supposed to be pernicious to the public good. In pulpit oratory, denunciation is indispensable when branding outbreaking sins and hypocrisy. It often involves scorn, menace, and anathema; there is peril, therefore, in using it against persons except those who cannot be gained over to the right, or to the orator's cause.

Demosthenes abounds in this figure. See pp. 47, 51. Cicero's first oration against Catiline is denunciative almost throughout. Note also the following from his oration against M. Antonius:

"Is, then, Lucius Antonius the patron of the Roman people? Plague take him! For I fully assent to your outcry. I won't speak of this bandit whom no one would choose to have for a client."

"These abominable principles, and this more abominable avowal of them, demand the most decisive indignation." Chatham against Lord Suffolk.

See King Lear's denunciation of his daughter Goneril, beginning with, "Blasts and fogs upon thee," &c.

See also, Ex. xxxiii. 3: Is. v. 18-22; xiv. 12-15; xxxi. 1: Jer. xlviii. 35-47: Hab. ii. 15: Amos vi. 1 : Mic. ii. 1 Matt. iii. 7; viii. 32; xii. 34; xvi. 23; xxiii. 13-30: John viii. 44: Acts vii. 51, 52; xiii. 9, 10; xxiii. 2, 3.42

10. Appeal to Deity. This figure is in form a prayer, but, strictly speaking, is mere emphasis without devotion. It is employed, perhaps, more often in secular than in sacred oratory. It befits, like the oath, none but the grandest altitudes of oratoric passion. Demosthenes furnishes many illustrations; see pp. 32-57: "I,-let the gods be my witness," &c. See also, pp. 46, 47. See Cicero against Verres, sentence beginning, "You, you Alban mounds," &c. Also Brougham's peroration of Speech for Queen Caroline, sentence beginning,