The various turns of fate below;

And, now and then, a sigh he stole,

And tears began to flow.

Narrative.

The mighty master smiled, to see
That love was in the next degree;
"T was but a kindred strain to move;
For pity melts the mind to love.

Soft and smooth.

Softly sweet in Lydian measures,
Soon, he sooth'd his soul to pleasures.

Quick.

Now, strike the golden lyre again;

Loud.

A louder yet, and yet a louder strain;
Break his bands of sleep asunder,

And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder.

Soft and full.

Hark! hark! the horrid sound

Has raised up his head,

As awaked from the dead;

And amazed, he stares around.

Loud and quick.

Revenge! revenge! Timotheus cries,

See the furies arise!

See the snakes that they rear,

How they hiss in their hair,

And the sparkles that flash from their eyes!

Slow and grave.

Behold a ghastly band,

Each a torch in his hand!

These are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain,

And, unburied, remain

Inglorious on the plain.

Loud and quick.

Give the vengeance due

To the valiant crew!

Dignified.

Behold, how they toss their torches on high!
How they point to the Persian abodes,
And glittering temples of their hostile gods!

Thus, long ago,

Narrative.

Ere heaving bellows learned to blow,
While organs yet were mute;
Timotheus, to his breathing flute

And sounding lyre,

Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.

SECTION III.

PERSONATION.

PERSONATION implies those changes or variations of the voice necessary to represent two or more individuals as speaking.

Personation is employed in reading dialogues, and other colloquial compositions. These writings derive much of their force and beauty from the skillful application of this principle. The pupil, therefore, should exercise his ingenuity and discrimination in studying the characters of the speakers, from their language and other circumstances, in the same manner as he would if they were actually before him.

RULE. Consider the condition, the feelings, and the temperament of the characters to be represented, and vary the voice in such a manner as best to personate them.

QUESTIONS. What is personation? In what kind of reading is personation employed? How may the characters of the speakers be studied? What is the rule for personation?

EXERCISE.

SCENE FROM "VIRGINIUS."-J. S. KNOWLES.

Virginia was the daughter of Lucius Virginius, a Roman centurion, and was betrothed to Lucius Icilius, one of the tribunes. Appius Claudius, a Roman decemvir, smitten by her beauty, employed Marcus Claudius to seize her as a slave, and deliver her over to him. Virginius, her father, being unable to recover her, seized a butcher's knife, and plunged it to her heart, exclaiming, "This is the only way, my child, to keep thee free and unstained."

Lucius. VIRGINIUS! you are wanted

In Rome.

Virginius. On what account?

Luc. On your arrival

You'll learn.

Vir. How is it something can't be told

At once? Speak out, boy! Ha! your looks are loaded
With matter,- Is 't so heavy that your tongue
Cannot unburthen them? Your brother left
The camp on duty yesterday,- hath aught
Happened to him? Did he arrive in safety?
Is he safe? Is he well?

Luc. He is both safe and well.

Vir. What then? What then?-tell me the matter, Lucius.

Luc. I have said

It shall be told you.

Vir. Shall! I stay not for

That "shall," unless it be so close at hand

It stop me not a moment,―'t is too long
A coming. Fare you well, my Lucius.
Luc. Stay,

Virginius; hear me with patience.

Vir. Well,

I am patient.

Luc. Your Virginia

Vir. Stop, my Lucius!

I'm cold in every member of my frame!

If 't is prophetic, Lucius, of thy news,

Give me such token as her tomb would, Lucius,—

I'll bear it better,- Silence.

Luc. You are still

Vir. I thank thee, Jupiter! I am still a father!
Luc. You are, Virginius. Yet-

Vir. What, is she sick?

Luc. No.

Vir. Neither sick nor dead! All well! No harm? Nothing amiss! Each guarded quarter safe,

That fear may lay him down and sleep, and yet
This sounding the alarm! Thou tell'st

A story strangely. Out with 't! I have patience
For any thing, since my Virginia lives,
And lives in health!

Luc. You are required in Rome

To answer a most novel suit.

Vir. Whose suit!

Luc. The suit of Claudius.

Vir. Claudius!

Luc. Him that's client

To Appius Claudius, the decemvir.

Vir. What! Ha! Virginia! You appear To couple them. What makes my fair Virginia In company with Claudius?-His suit! What suit?. Answer me quickly!-Quickly! lest suspense,

Beyond what patience can endure, coercing,

Drive reason from her seat!

Luc. He has claimed Virginia.

Vir. Claimed her! Claimed her!

On what pretense?

Luc. He says she is the child

Of a slave of his, who sold her to thy wife.

Vir. Go on,-you see I am calm.

Luc. He seized her in the school,
And dragged her to the forum, where
Appius was giving judgment.

Vir. Dragg'd her to the forum!-Well,
I told you, Lucius, I would be patient.
Luc. Numetoriousa there confronted him.
Vir. Did he not strike him dead?

True, true, I know it was in the presence of
The decemvir. O! had I confronted him!
Well! well! the issue? Well, o'erleap all else,
And light upon the issue. Where is she?

Luc. I was dispatch'd to fetch thee, ere I could learn.
Vir. The claim of Claudius-Appius's client-Ha!

I see the master-cloud this ragged one,

That lowers before, moves only in subservience

To the ascendant of the other

- Jove,

With its own mischief break it and disperse it,
And that be all the ruin! Patience! Prudence!
Nay, prudence, but no patience. Come! a slave
Dragged through the streets in open day! My child!
My daughter! my fair daughter, in the eyes

Of Rome! O! I'll be patient. Come! the essence
Of my best blood, in the free common ear
Condemned as vile. O! I'll be patient. Come!
O! they shall wonder,- I will be so patient.

Numetorious, the uncle of Virginia