from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered-that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. Woe unto the world because of offenses ! for it must be that offenses come; but woe to that If we shall sup man by whom the offense cometh.' pose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope-fervently do we praythat this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid with another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.' 66 With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in ; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations."-Swett's Common School Readings. 3. The sublime style may be acquired, first, by conceiving noble and lofty ideas; second, by using dignified words which inspire respect and veneration; third, by using figures of speech and metaphors in particular; thus, Cicero to Cæsar : "There is no fountain of eloquence, no power of speaking or writing ever so great, O, Cæsar, that can, I shall not say commend, but relate even thy great exploits." Fourth, by the frequent and careful reading of authors who excel in the sublime style. NOTE. In all the following exercises the praxis of analysis must be observed as given in Part 1, Article 1, No. 3, et seq. The analysis and criticism made by the student must be general and particular, and the examples for illustrating the rules must be two at least-a right and wrong one; the former for the positive, and the latter for the negative illustration. How these examples may be obtained, and what system should be followed by the teacher and pupil for a successful analysis and criticism, has been clearly shown in the cited place. I.-EXERCISE. In the above examples, show, first, the ideas that are noble and lofty; second, those that in (3.) How may the sublime style be acquired? spire respect and veneration; third, the figures of speech. II. EXERCISE. Point out in your Rhetorical Reader some passage which contains the sublime style. Show the ideas and words which seem to you high and dignified. III.-EXERCISE. Find an example wherein the rules of the sublime style have not been observed; or commit some violations in a good one, and make a criticism. IV. EXERCISE. THEME." It well becomes man, the masterpiece of creation, to be immortal." In amplifying this sentence, use the sublime style. V.-EXERCISE. Read your own composition, and state what style you have used, and prove it by the rules before given. ARTICLE II. OF THE SIMPLE OR FAMILIAR STYLE. 1. The simple or familiar style "is that which expresses plain or simple ideas, in plain and simple language." (1.) What is the simple, or familiar style? 2. The requisites of the simple style are especially three-first, clearness; second, purity; third, simplicity of ornament. Clearness of style means, that the ideas must be clearly conceived, and properly expressed, by using appropriate words. Purity of style means, that neither the ideas, nor the language must be vitiated by the mixture of foreign idioms or words. Simplicity of ornament means, that poetical imaginations, vivid figures of speech, flowery diction, are to be avoided in the simple style. 3. Virgil affords an example of the simple style, in the first Ecloga: "I, a simple man, thought once, O Melibeus, that the city which they call Rome was like this village of ours, where we shepherds are accustomed to gather our lambs. For so, I was wonted to compare little dogs to their fathers, and little goats to their mothers, and little things to great things." 4. Also the following description of the rose plucked after it had been washed by a shower, as it contains simple ideas in simple language, is an example of the simple style : (2.) What are the requisites of the simple style? THE PLUCKED ROSE. "The rose had been washed, just washed in a shower, Which Mary to Anna conveyed; The plentiful moisture encumbered the flower, The cup was all filled, and the leaves were all wet, And it seemed, to a fanciful view, To weep for the buds it had left with regret, I hastily seized it, unfit as it was For a nosegay, so dripping and drowned; Regardless of wringing and breaking a heart This elegant rose, had I shaken it less, Might have bloomed with its owner awhile; Thus the tear that is wiped, with a little address, May be followed perhaps by a smile." I.-EXERCISE. In the extracts just given, point out the qualities of clearness, purity and simplicity, which are peculiar to the simple style. II.-EXERCISE. Find in your Rhetorical Reader a passage which illustrates the simple style. Point out the three qualities of the simple style, viz: Clearness, Purity and Simplicity. |