General Remarks on the Emphasis of Sense. 168. Words forming a sentence are not significant of the meaning individually, but collectively, and the effect of any one of them taking an emphasis, is a peculiar force given to the whole sentence. 169. A sentence is frequently so constructed, that something more is to be collected from it than is really expressed by the words. In such a case, it has an extra meaning-a reference to something presupposed, to something in contradistinction, to something antithetical and unsaid. When such a case occurs, the allusion to what is antithetical and unsaid, must be made so apparent by the manner of uttering what is to be said, that there needs no other indication to point it out; and the true idea will not be developed by what the speaker says, independently of the manner in which he says it. 170. This peculiarity of manner, which makes the meaning of the objects named so positive, that equal or greater positiveness may be inferred with regard to those not named, consists in an unusual arrangement of the inflections of the voice, and their combination with one or more of the expressive agencies of speech. 171. When the style of a writer is very suggestive, and his glimpses of character are of deep significance, this peculiarity of manner will serve to excite the imagination; and impress the idea much more. vividly than if the writer had depended on words alone for his purpose. 172. In many sentences, it may be a question as to the word on which the emphasis should be placed, and the inflection and kind of intonation which, to use the language of painters, will give it "the highest relief." In such cases, it is only at the tribunal of genius, where a just taste and cultivated understanding preside, that the matter can be satisfactorily decided. But, in most cases of reasoning and of simple narrative, we are not called upon, nor is it of any importance, to determine either point. 173. When the sentence is intended to convey a plain piece of information, just what the words actually express, and nothing more,-when the meaning does not go beyond the terms of the sentence, then the common arrangement of the inflections in unimpassioned utterance, and the conditions of a significant pronunciation, will make the idea as clear as reading can make it. 174. The importance of this emphasis is such, that, if it be not laid on the right word, the meaning of the passage will be entirely altered. Thus, officers saw him, Pilate saith unto 175. When the chief priests, therefore, and they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. them, Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him. 176. The sense of the latter clause, when read with the emphasis on the word "ye," is what was intended by the evangelist; for Pilate desired them to do as their own act, and on their own responsibility, what he himself saw no reason for doing. 177. But if it be read differently, with the emphasis on the word "fault," thus, Take ye him and crucify him; for I find no fault in him; the sense would then be, that Pilate told them to take Jesus and crucify him, because he was persuaded of his innocence. 178. As the emphasis of sense always implies opposition, either expressed or understood, when the opposition is expressed the emphasis is sufficiently obvious, and needs very little force to make it perceived. Thus, 179. Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners. The notions of Dryden were formed by comprehensive speculation, those of Pope by minute attention. There is more dignity in the knowledge of Dryden, and more certainty in that of Pope. 180. In the above passage, the antithetic words are all expressed; each is opposed to some other as its correlative, and there being no doubt as to what ideas are meant to be contrasted, a very slight degree of force is sufficient. But when the antithesis, although expressed, comes in negatively, or when it comes in under the form of a comparison, by the words more, less, neither, and than, the emphasis must be marked by a greater degree of force than in the former case. Thus, 181. You were paid to fight against Alexander, not to rail at him. It was Cæsar who won the battle, not Pompey. 182. It is a custom more honored in the breach than the observance. 183. But, of the two, less dangerous is the offence, 184. When the words or phrases in contradistinc tion are expressed, there is no difficulty in deciding as to the emphatic words, as may appear by referring to the above examples. But the great and important point is, to discover those words which are in opposition to something not expressed, but understood. 185. The only way to decide correctly in this case is, to take the word which is supposed to be emphatical, and see whether it will admit of the words being supplied which an emphasis on it would suggest; and if the words are found not only to coincide with what is supposed to be the meaning of the writer, but greatly to embellish it, the word may then be pronounced emphatical. Let this be illustrated by the following example: 186. By the joys Which yet my soul hath uncontrolled pursued, Though all thy force were armed to bar my way. 187. When we examine this sentence by the method pointed out above, we shall find, if the word "thy" be pronounced with emphatic force, the meaning of the passage will be greatly embellished, and the exact idea will be brought out in the most vivid manner. A strong emphasis on the words "thy force" suggests to the mind an antithetical term, which, in this case, is the "force of others;" and it is equivalent to saying, I would not turn aside from my least pleasure, not only though the force of all others, but even "thy force," great and powerful as it is, and wisely directed as it may be, were armed to bar my way. 188. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. 189. By placing the emphasis on the word "general," the exact meaning of the sentence will be fully manifested. The antithesis to the words "general coffers" is private coffers; and the emphasis on the word "general" suggests, with deep significance, that others would have taken the "ransom of the captives," and put it into their own coffers, instead of giving it to the public, as Cæsar had done. 190. A man of polite imagination is let into a great many pleasures, which the vulgar are not capable of receiving. He can converse with a picture, and find an agreeable companion in a statue. 191. When we place an emphasis on the word "picture," we find it is not only an advantage to the thought, but in some respects necessary to it; for it conveys to the mind that a man of polite imagination can converse not only with intelligent beings, like himself, but even with such a dumb, inanimate object as a picture. And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony 193. When we examine the above passage, it will be found to indicate much more than is expressed by the words. Emphasis, in this case, and in the three preceding examples, and indeed in all cases similarly constructed, is merely a shortened climax. When the emphasis is laid on the word "stones," it suggests intelligent beings as the antithetic term; and the effect of emphasis on the word is equivalent to saying that an orator, having at his command such powers as Brutus possessed, could, on that occasion, with the greatest ease, excite not only ordinary and unre |