of Rome, the people saying to one another, as they passed, "This is the lion, who was the man's host; this is the man, who was the lion's physician." 3. NARRATION FROM HEADS. Exercise 44. Write narrative paragraphs from the following detached sentences: EXAMPLE. Cincinnatus. Cincinnatus was chosen consul. He had for some time lived in retirement, cultivating a small farm. He regretted that his assistance should be required. He resolved to side with neither the patrician nor the plebeian faction. Having restored tranquillity, he returned home. An assembly having been appointed for choosing another consul, the senate fixed upon Quintius Cincinnatus. This noble Roman had, for some time, given up all views of ambition, and retired to a little farm, where the deputies of the senate found him holding the plough, and dressed in the humble attire of a labouring husbandman. Preferring the charms of country retirement to the fatiguing splendours of office, he appeared but little elevated by the dignity which was offered to him, and rather testified a concern that his aid should be wanted. Having taken a tender leave of his wife, he departed for the city, where he found the two parties violently inflamed against each other. The new consul, however, resolved to side with neither; but, by a strict attention to the interests of his country, instead of gaining the confidence of faction, endeavoured to secure the esteem of all. By his moderation, humanity, and justice, he at length restored to the people that tranquillity which he so much loved himself; when he again renounced the splendours of ambition, and returned with increasing relish to the enjoyment of his farm. 1. Cincinnatus was chosen dictator. He was the only person on whom his countrymen could depend. As before, he was found labouring in his field. He was astonished, but not elated, by the unbounded power offered to him. He nominated Tarquitius, another poor man, his master of the horse. Cincinnatus delivered his country, and resigned the dictatorship in fourteen days. He was content with temperance and fame. 2. The city of Falerii was besieged by Camillus, general of the Romans. A schoolmaster decoyed the children of the principal citizens into the Roman camp. He told Camillus that the possession of these children would soon make the citizens surrender. Camillus replied, that the Romans loved courage, but hated treachery. He ordered the schoolmaster to be whipt into the city by the boys. The citizens immediately submitted to the Romans. 3. The city of Troy was taken by the Greeks. The conquerors permitted every free citizen to choose any one thing which he valued most. Æneas carried away his household gods. The Greeks gave him permission to take what he valued next. He raised his aged father upon his shoulders. The Greeks then gave him leave to carry away all his property. 4. Damon was condemned to death by the tyrant Dionysius. He was permitted to go home to settle his affairs. Pythias offered to submit to death if his friend did not return. The tyrant blamed Pythias for his foolish confidence. Dionysius pardoned Damon, and begged to be honoured with the friendship of two such worthy men. 5. After the battle of Cressy, Calais was besieged by Edward III. Provoked by the resistance of the inhabitants, he ordered them to choose six of their number to be put to death. While all were struck with horror at this sentence, Eustace de St Pierre offered himself for one. Five more soon joined him; and they came with halters about their necks to Edward. He ordered them to be executed; but his queen pleaded so powerfully for them, that he pardoned them. The queen not only entertained them sumptuously in her own tent, but sent them back loaded with presents. 6. David was born at Bethlehem. He was sent to the camp to inquire for his brothers. He was provoked to hear the Israelites challenged by Goliah. He slew their champion with a stone thrown from a sling, and the Philistines fled. 4. FABLES AND STORIES. Exercise 45. Write detached sentences on the following incidents, and then write paragraphs from these: 1. The Hare and the Tortoise. 3. The Elephant and the Tailor. 6. Washington and his Axe. 9. The Surrender of Calais. 10. The Death of Sir Thomas Moore. 12. The Tea Chests of Boston. SECTION III.-PARAPHRASE. Paraphrase is a kind of translation. Translation is usually applied to the process of rendering an author's thoughts in a different language. But we may take an author's thoughts in our own language, and render them in a different form. What he has expressed in the abstract form, we may express in the concrete. What he has expressed in the concrete form, we may express in the abstract, or in a new concrete form. This is paraphrase, properly so called. To perform this exercise, we must first make the author's thought our own, and then we must express it in our own language. For example, Shakespeare says "With taper light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, We may paraphrase this thought by saying, in the words of the proverb, that "it is absurd to hold a candle to the sun," or that "it is a waste of labour to attempt to beautify what is already most beautiful." Exercise 46. Let the Pupil express the ideas contained in the following passages, in sentences of his own construction and arrangement: EXAMPLE. When a man says, in conversation, that it is fine weather, does he mean to inform you of the fact? Surely not; for every one knows it as well as he does. He means to communicate his agreeable feelings. Almost every one whom you meet by the way begins the conversation by remarking, “It is a fine day." But when he does so, it is not because he supposes the fact known to him and not to you; he is merely giving expression to those agreeable feelings which the fineness of the weather excites. 1. The private path, the secret acts of men, 2. Listen to the affectionate counsels of your parents; treasure up their precepts; respect their riper judgment; and enjoy, with gratitude and delight, the advantages resulting from their society. Bind to your bosom, by the most endearing ties, your brothers and sisters; cherish them as your best companions, through the variegated journey of life; and suffer no jealousies and contentions to interrupt the harmony, which should ever reign amongst you. 3. Nature expects mankind should share Who's born to sloth? To some we find Some the swift-sliding shuttle throw; Some, studious of the wind and tide, From pole to pole our commerce guide; |