4

rable model of oratorical narrations, receives the finishing touch of the master-hand.

SECOND PART.

THE PARTICULAR ANALYSIS.

7. FIRST ASSERTION. - “Cicero's narration has the quality of perspicuity. Reason: According to Rules under Nos. 5 and 6, Art. I, Chap. I, perspicuity means, that a fact must be related in an orderly and lucid manner; which is obtained by stating by whom, when, where and how the fact occurred.

Now, all this is observed in Cicero's narration; therefore, it has the quality of perspicuity.

SECOND ASSERTION. “Cicero's narration has the quality of probability." Reason: According to Rule under Nos. 8 and 9, Art. I. Chap. I, probability means, that the truthfulness of a fact must not be questionable; which is obtained by the veracity of the narrator, and by the fact being free from conflicting adjuncts of time, place, persons, or objects.

Now, these requisites are fulfilled in Cicero's

(8.) Advance the first and second assertion, and their reason, with respect to the second part of the analysis of Cicero's narration.

narration; therefore, it has the quality of probability.

8. THIRD ASSERTION. -" Cicero's narration has the quality of brevity." Reason: According to Rule under No. 5, Art. I, Chap. II, brevity means, that only the adjuncts, which favor the case, or the object of an orator, should be mentioned.

Now, this is observed by Cicero, in said narration, and the periods are only seven in number, and short; therefore, Cicero's narration has the quality of brevity.

FOURTH ASSERTION. -" The style of Cicero's narration is adorned." Reason: According to Rule under No. 6, Art. I, Chap. II, adorned style, in oratorical narrations, signifies the use not only of the middle, but of the sublime also; especially when the passions of the mind must be aroused.

In Cicero's narration this is evidently observed, especially at the close; therefore, the style of Cicero's narration is adorned.

Final Remark-In making the application of a rule, or definition to the subject under

(8.) What is the third and fourth assertion and reason?

A person's ability to write and criticise a work of literature will chiefly depend on what?

URIVE:

analysis, we have deemed it unnecessary to note in particular all the points, whereby the narration conforms with the rules or definitions; for they are apparent in the narrative, and the pupil can easily indicate them if necessary.

This method of analyzing and criticisinga composition, and extracts from authors in general, should be strictly followed by students on all kinds and subjects of composition; and they may rest assured, that on the frequent practice of this excellent and necessary exercise, will chiefly depend their faculty of writing and criticising well a work of literature in after times.

I.-EXERCISE.

9. Find an oratorical narration in your Rhetorical Reader; make a general and particular analysis, according to the method shown in the foregoing praxis.

II.-EXERCISE.

Narrate in an oratorical manner the death of Lincoln.

III.-EXERCISE.

Analyze your composition, and show how you have observed the general and particular qualities demanded by it.

CHAPTER III.

OF FICTITIOUS AND SEMI-FICTITIOUS NARRA

TIONS.

1. A fictitious narration, which admits a high degree of probability, and also a narration partly true and partly fictitious, if it comprise a single event, and is written in prose, is called a Parable; if it comprise a series of notable events, connected with the acts of a conspicuous person, and is written in verse, is termed an Epic Poem; and if written in prose, is either a Novel, or Romance: but if such a narrative, either in verse or prose, is designed to be spoken, and represented by stage-actors, as actually occurring, the composition is then styled a Drama.

2. When in a poem, novel, romance, and drama, facts, or adjuncts are introduced, which are either absurd, or very improbable, that part of the poem, novel, romance, and drama, is called fabulous; such are the poems of the ancient classics, which abound in mythology, and personification of inanimate things, according to the notions of the Pagan Era.

3. Parables, which are designed chiefly to instruct, or to illustrate a proposition, must be probable and simple in style. The Gospel affords beautiful examples of this kind of composition; which, however, is in our days obsolete.

4. Omitting, therefore, parables, we shall detail the general and particular qualities and rules of the Epic Poem, Novel, Romance, and Drama, and their subordinate branches, in three distinct articles.

ARTICLE I

OF THE GENERAL QUALITIES, PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF THE EPIC POEM, NOVEL, ROMANCE, AND DRAMA.

1. The general qualities of the Epic Poem, Novel, Romance, and Drama, relate to four heads, Viz: FIRST, the subject; SECOND, the object; THIRD, the plot; FOURTH, the peculiar ornaments.

(3.) What must be the qualities of parables ?

What book offers beautiful examples of parables ?

(1.) To what do the general qualities of an epic poem, novel, romance, and drama, relate?