compared, the latter noun or pronoun is not go verned by the conjunction than or as, but agrees with the verb, or is governed by the verb or the preposition, expressed or understood; as, "Thou art wiser than I ;" that is, "than I am." "They loved him more than me," i. e. "more than they loved me." The sentiment is well expressed by Plato, but much better by Solomon than him :" that is, "than by him."

RULE XXI.

In

To avoid disagreeable repetitions, and to express our ideas in few words, an ellipsis, or omission of some words, is frequently admitted. stead of saying, “He was a learned man, he was a wise man, and he was a good man ;" we use the ellipsis, and say, "he was a learned, wise, and good man."

When the omission of words would obscure the sentence, weaken its force, or be attended with an impropriety, they must be expressed. In the sentence, "We are apt to love who love us," the word them should be supplied. "A beautiful field and trees," is not proper language. It should be, "Beautiful fields and trees:" or, "A beautiful field and fine trees."

RULE XXII.

57

inaccurate: "He was more beloved, but not so much admired, as Cinthio." It should be, "He was more beloved than Cinthio, but not so much admired."*

PROSODY.

PROSODY Consists of two parts: the former teaches the true pronunciation of words, comprising ACCENT, QUANTITY, EMPHASIS, PAUSE, and TONE; and the latter, the laws of VERSIFICATION.

ACCENT.

Accent is the laying of a peculiar stress of the voice on a certain letter or syllahle in a word, that it may be better heard than the rest, or distinguished from them; as, in the word presume, the stress of the voice must be on the letter u, and second syllable, sume, which take the accent.

QUANTITY.

The quantity of a syllable is that time which is occupied in pronouncing it. It is considered as long or short.

A vowel or syllable is long, when the accent is on the vowel; which occasions it to be slowly joined, in pronunciation, to the following letter; as, "Fall, bale, mōōd, hōuse, feature ”

A syllable

consonant which occasions the vowel to be quickly joined to the succeeding letter; as, an't, bon'net, hun'ger."

A long syllable requires double the time of a short one in pronouncing it: thus, "Mate" and "Nōte" should be pronounced as slowly again as Mat" and "Not."

EMPHASIS.

By emphasis is meant a stronger and fuller sound of voice, by which we distinguish some word or words on which we design to lay particular stress, and to show how it affects the rest of the sentence. Sometimes the emphatic words must be distinguished by a particular tone of voice, as well as by a greater stress.

PAUSES.

Pauses or rests, in speaking and reading, are a total cessation of the voice, during a perceptible, and, in many cases, a measurable space of time.

TONES.

Tones are different both from emphasis and pauses; consisting in the modulation of the voice the notes or variations of sound which we ploy, in the expression of our sentiments.

VERSIFICATION.

em

Versification is the arrangement of a certain number and variety of syllables, according to cer

tein laws

e

ер

e

PUNCTUATION.

Is the art of dividing a written composition into sentences. or parts of sentences, by points or stops, for the purpose of marking the different pauses, which the sense and an accurate pronunciation require.

The Comma represents the shortest pause; the Semicolon, a pause double that of the comma; the Colon, double that of the semicolon; and the period, double that of the colon.

The points are marked in the following man

ner:

The Comma,

The Semicolon;

COMMA.

The Colon:
The period.

The Comma usually separates those parts of a sentence, which, though very closely connected in sense, require a pause between them; as, "I remember, with gratitude, his love and

ser

vices." "Charles is beloved, esteemed, and respected."

SEMICOLON.

The Semi-colon is used for dividing a compound sentence into two or more parts, not so closely connected as those which are separated by a com Oma, nor yet so little dependent on abled those

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

COLON

The Colon is used to divide a sentence into two or more parts, less connected than those which are separated by a semicolon; but not so independent as separate, distinct sentences; as, "Do not flatter yourselves with the hope of perfect happiness: there is no such thing in the world."

PERIOD.

When a sentence is complete and independent, and not connected in construction with the following sentence, it is marked with a period; as, "Fear God. Honour the king. towards all men." Have charity

Besides the points which mark the pauses in discourse, there are others that denote a different modulation of voice, in correspondence to the sense. These are,

as,

The Interrogative point?

The Exclamation point!
The Parenthesis ()

"Are you sincere ?"

How excellent is a grateful heart!"

"Know then this truth, (enough for man to know,)

is bouniness below "