Command.

1. Charge! Chester, charge! On! Stanley, on!

2. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!
3. Jump far out, boy, into the wave!

Jump, or I fire!

41

Compass is the variation of the voice above and below the key taken in reading; the distance between the highest and lowest tones being the compass of the voice.

NOTE.-Every one has a certain pitch of voice in which he can speak most easily to himself and most agreeably to others; this may be called the natural pitch. This is the pitch in which we converse; and this must be the basis of every improvement we acquire from art and exercise. In order, therefore, to strengthen this middle tone, we ought to read and speak in it as loud as possible without suffering the voice to rise into a higher key. This, however, is no easy operation. It is not very difficult to be loud in a high tone, but to be loud and forcible without raising the voice into a higher key, requires great practice and management.

The best method of acquiring this power of voice is to practice reading and speaking some strong, animated passages in a small room, and to persons placed at as small a distance as possible; for, as we naturally raise our voice to a higher key when we speak to people at a great distance, so we naturally lower our key as those to whom we speak come nearer. When, therefore, we have no idea of being heard at a distance, the voice will not be so apt to rise into a higher key when we wish to be forcible; and consequently, exerting as much force as we are able in a small room, and to people near us, will tend to swell and strengthen the voice in the middle tone.

EXERCISES IN COMPASS.

1. He said, and on the rampart heights arrayed
His trusty warriors, few but undismayed;
Firm-paced and slow, a horrid front they form,
Still as the breeze, but dreadful as the storm!
Low, murmuring sounds along their banners fly,
Revenge or death! the watchword and reply:
Then pealed the notes, omnipotent to charm,
And the loud toscin tolled their last alarm!

2. The combat deepens! ON, YE BRAVE!

Who rush to GLORY or the GRAVE!

WAVE, Munich, all thy banners WAVE!

And CHARGE with all thy CHIVALRY!
Ah! few shall part where many meet!
The snow shall be their winding-sheet,
And every turf beneath their feet

Shall be a soldier's sepulcher!

3. His speech was at first low-toned and slow.

Sometimes his voice would deepen, like the sound of distant thunder; and anon, his flashes of wit and enthusiasm would light up the anxious faces of his hearers, like the far-off lightning of a coming storm.

LESSON VIII.

FORCE.

Force is the degree of intensity with which sound is uttered, without reference to its tone, pitch, rate, or form. There are four kinds commonly used in reading or speaking, viz.: Subdued, moderate, energetic, and sustained.

Subdued force is used when the ideas to be expressed contain the element of fear, sadness, or intense disgust, reverence, and awe.

"God save us!" cried the settler's wife;

"The prairie's a-fire· — we must run for life!"

2. Hark! I hear the bugles of the enemy! They are on their march along the bank of the river. We must retreat instantly or be cut off from our boats. I see the head of their column already rising over the height.

Our only safety is in the screen of this hedge. Keep close to it; be silent; and stoop as you run. For the boats!

Forward!

3. Oh, coward conscience, how dost thou affright me!
The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight;
Cold, fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.

Sadness.

1. Alas! my noble boy! that thou shouldst die!
Thou, who wert made so beautifully fair!
That Death should settle in thy glorious eye,

And leave his stillness in this clustering hair!
How could he mark thee for the silent tomb,
My proud boy, Absalom!

1. Hence, horrible shadow!

Unreal mockery, hence!

2. Tell me I hate the bowl?
Hate is a feeble word:

I loathe, abhor, my very soul

With strong dusgust is stirred
Whene'er I see, or hear, or tell,
Of the dark beverage of hell!

3. I scorn forgiveness, haughty man!
You've injured me before the clan;
And naught but blood shall wipe away
The shame I have endured this day.

4. Thou worm! thou viper! to thy native earth
Return! Away! Thou art too base for man
To tread upon! Thou scum! Thou reptile!

MODERATE FORCE.

Moderate force is used in common conversation and simple narration, and is generally combined with the pure tone.

EXAMPLES.

1. Methinks I love all common things

The common air, the common flower;

The dear, kind common thought, that springs
From hearts that have no other dower,

No other wealth, no other power,
Save love; and will not that repay

For all else fortune tears away?

2. There is an ugly kind of forgiveness in this world- a kind of hedgehog forgiveness, shot out like quills. Men take one who has offended, and set him down before the blowpipe of their indignation, and scorch him, and burn his faults into him; and when they have kneaded him sufficiently with their fiery fists, then they forgive him.

3. I heard a man who had failed in business, and whose furniture was sold at auction, say that when the cradle and the piano went, tears would come, and he had to leave the house to be a man.

ENERGETIC FORCE.

Energetic force is used in intense excitement, or in giving command, and is generally combined with the expulsive or explosive forms of voice.

EXAMPLES.
Excitement.

1. The lake has burst! The lake has burst!
Down through the chasms the wild waves flee:
They gallop along with a roaring song,
Away to the eager awaiting sea!

2. And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed,
The mustering squadron, and the clattering car
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed,
And swiftly forming in the ranks of war.

Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,
Pray to the gods to intermit the plagues.

2. Half a league, half a league, half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade! charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.

3. Rise-fellow-men! our country-yet remains!
By that dread name we wave the sword on high,
And swear for her· - to live· - with her — to die.

4. Go ring the bells, and fire the guns,

And fling the starry banners out;
Shout "Freedom!" till your lisping ones
Give back their cradle-shout.

SUSTAINED FORCE.

Sustained force is used when commands are given, during intense excitement, or in fierce anger.

EXAMPLES.

Intense Excitement.

1. Ye call me chief; and ye do well to call him chief who, for twelve long years, has met upon the arena every shape of man or beast the broad empire of Rome could furnish, and who never yet lowered his arm.

2. A moment there was awful pause

When Berkeley cried, "Cease, traitor, cease!

God's temple is the house of peace!"